Xi urges opening new ground for development during inspection tour in Yunnan Xinhua) 08:05, March 21, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local residents while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) KUNMING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on southwest China's Yunnan Province to break new ground for its development in the pursuit of Chinese modernization. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour in the province on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited a modern flower industrial park in the city of Lijiang. At an exhibition center, Xi learned about fresh-cut flower varieties. He also inspected a rose cultivation area and a rose grading and packaging production line in the park. Yunnan's flower industry has broad prospects, Xi said, emphasizing the importance of developing the whole industrial chain so that the "beautiful industry" can deliver more benefits to the people. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, the Old Town of Lijiang boasts a history of more than 800 years. Visiting the town, Xi learned about its history and the distinctive dwellings of the Naxi ethnic group. He also learned about local efforts in protecting and utilizing cultural heritage, and in promoting the integrated development of culture and tourism. Fresh from a spring snow, the town was bustling with tourists. Xi chatted with local residents and tourists in the town, asking about the state of local businesses and the experience of tourists. Xi stressed the need to strike a balance between protection and development to make the beautiful old town shine with new vigor and vitality. During the inspection tour, Xi also visited the provincial capital Kunming, where he heard the provincial authorities' work report on Thursday. Xi emphasized that promoting industrial transformation and upgrading is essential for high-quality development, calling on Yunnan to strengthen, optimize and expand its resource-based industries through scientific and technological innovation, while proactively developing future industries and emerging strategic industries. He urged the province to accelerate the development of the cultural and tourism industries and the distinctive agriculture unique to plateau areas. Yunnan should leverage its strategic location to enhance high-standard opening up and establish itself as a key gateway to South and Southeast Asia, Xi stressed. He called on the province to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with neighboring countries in areas such as economy, science and technology, talent development, health and culture to generate tangible benefits in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Highlighting Yunnan's significant role in ecology, Xi urged the province to serve as an ecological security barrier in southwest China, while emphasizing the importance of enhancing governance to ensure ethnic unity and stability in this border region with diverse ethnic groups. Stressing that the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for the advancement of all endeavors, he called on officials at all levels to fulfill their responsibilities in Party self-governance, and to take exemplary actions in improving the political environment within the Party. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection tour. On Thursday, Xi met with senior officers and representatives of the soldiers and civilian staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops stationed in Kunming. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local residents and tourists while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a modern flower industrial park in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local residents and tourists while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about the culture of the Naxi ethnic group at an exhibition while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asks about the state of local businesses while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local residents and tourists while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local residents and tourists while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local residents and tourists while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asks about the state of local businesses while visiting the Old Town of Lijiang in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a rose grading and packaging production line at a modern flower industrial park in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a modern flower industrial park in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers and technicians working at a rose cultivation area of a modern flower industrial park in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about fresh-cut flower varieties at an exhibition center of a modern flower industrial park in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 19, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with senior officers and representatives of the soldiers and civilian staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops stationed in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 20, 2025. Xi made an inspection tour in Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Gang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Chinese tourists expected to flock to Japan, South Korea for cherry blossoms in Qingming holidays: platform Global Times) 10:24, March 21, 2025 An influx of Chinese tourists is expected in Japan and South Korea during the upcoming public holidays, drawn by the cherry blossoms there, an industry platform reported Thursday. The cities of Fukuoka, Nagoya, Kobe, and Naha in Japan, Busan and Incheon in South Korea will see a large number of Chinese tourists during the coming Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, which falls on April 4, according to online travel service provider qunar.com. April marks peak cherry blossom season in Japan and South Korea, making it an ideal time for travel, qunar.com noted. The platform attributed the travel peak to the lower airfare, about 50 percent cheaper than those sold during the Spring Festival holidays. On the qunar platform, the air tickets from Beijing to Hanoi, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Jeju Island on April 4 are all less than 1,000 yuan ($138), and the prices for popular destinations of Seoul and Osaka are less than1,400 yuan per ticket. A flight from Shanghai to Bangkok now costs less than 500 yuan, while flights to Cheongju, Jeju Island, and Daegu in South Korea, Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, and Takamatsu in Japan, cost less than 1,000 yuan. Searches for accommodations in Japan by Chinese travelers have surged to 2.5 times that of the same period last year, said Airbnb in a report released earlier. Traditional popular destinations Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are the top three most searched cities for the three-day Qingming Festival holidays. The growing demand among Chinese travelers to experience unique and authentic cherry blossoms is expanding the "Cherry Blossom Chasing Map". This spring, destinations in Japan such as Sapporo, Fukuoka and Nagoya have also emerged, the Airbnb said. The Japan National Tourism Organization said that the number of foreign tourists in February increased to 3.26 million, marking a 17 percent year-on-year increase, setting a new record for the month. Among them, 722,700 visitors were from China, marking a 57 percent surge from a year earlier. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Franklyn Frankie McIntosh D.Litt inducted into the Performing Arts category the DCO Hall of Fame for his immeasurable impact on the musical landscape of the Caribbean. The Brooklyn, New York-based Dynamite Cultural Organization (DCO) parent organization of the Dynamite Calypso Tent of New York the lone Vincentian calypso tent in North America says that legendary Caribbean musical arranger Franklyn "Frankie McIntosh D. Litt will be among five Vincentian "icons to be inducted, during DCOs inaugural Cultural Hall of Fame on April 19 at Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn. DCO said on Sunday that McIntosh will be inducted for his role in the performing arts. The other inductees are Veronica John and Roy "The Dragon Ralph (both posthumously) for culinary arts and visual arts respectively; the Spiritual Baptist Religion in the heritage and legacy category; and historian Dr. Adrian Fraser for literary arts. Frankie McIntosh DCO described McIntosh, D.Litt., as "a true giant in the world of Caribbean music. It said his "holding an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of the West Indies reflects his vast accomplishments, and that he is "celebrated as a musical genius, calypso maestro and a foundational architect of Soca music. "His innovative arrangements, infectious melodies and profound inspired contributions have left an indelible mark on the Caribbean music scene, solidifying his place as a not only a national but also a regional treasure, DCO said. Veronica John It remembered John as a "culinary visionary, who founded VeeJays Restaurant in Kingstown, the Vincentian capital. DCO said John had "profound impact on Vincentian cuisine, and that VeeJays was "more than just a restauranteur. "She was a culinary matriarch, who defined the essence of Vincentian hospitality and championed the unique flavors of the nation, it said. "Her influence on the Vincentian palate and culinary traditions continues to resonate today. Spiritual Baptist DCO characterized the Spiritual Baptist Religion as "a cornerstone of Vincentian history and identity, which is "recognized for its enduring legacy. "This seminal institution shaped the social and spiritual fabric of the nation, embodying resilience and unwavering faith in the face of historical persecution, it said. "Its inclusion highlights the importance of faith and community in the Vincentian narrative. Roy Ralph DCO said Ralph was "an iconic mas man and visionary costume designer. "His revolutionary contributions transformed Vincy Mas, injecting creativity, innovation and awe-inspiring artistry into the annual carnival celebrations, it said. "He pushed the boundaries of costume design and brought a fresh perspective to traditional mas, leaving an enduring legacy for future generations of mas men and women. Dr. Adrian Fraser Dr. Fraser, DOC said, "a distinguished historian, author and educator, is recognized for his unwavering dedication to preserving and disseminating Vincentian and Caribbean history. "His extensive research, insightful publications and commitment to education have played a vital role in fostering a deeper understanding of our and the regions rich cultural heritage, and complex historical narratives, it said. The selection process DCO said the selection of the inaugural inductees was "a meticulous and comprehensive process. It said nominations were solicited from the Vincentian public, and that "each submission underwent a rigorous vetting and fact-checking process by a diverse panel, comprising DCO members and Vincentians residing both in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and across the Diaspora. "This commitment to inclusivity ensured that the selection panel truly represented the global community of Vincentians, guaranteeing a process free of bias and rooted in genuine merit, DCO said. It said the Hall of Fame will recognize excellence across five distinct categories, offering "a comprehensive portrait of the diverse artistic and cultural landscape of St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Culinary Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Heritage & Legacy. "The inaugural class of inductees represents a pantheon of Vincentian luminaries, each a titan in their respective field, DCO said. "This landmark initiative aims to enshrine the legacies of individuals and institutions that have significantly shaped and enriched Vincentian culture and heritage both within St. Vincent and the Grenadines and across the Diaspora. "The event promises to be a momentous occasion, celebrating the extraordinary contributions of those who have dedicated their lives to preserving, innovating and sharing the vibrant mosaic of Vincentian identity, it added. DCOs public relations officer, Glenroy "Gobells Phillips, said his organization is "incredibly honored to launch the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Cultural Hall of Fame. "These inductees embody the very best of Vincentian culture, their contributions enriching our community and the world at large, he said. "This ceremony is a tribute to their remarkable achievements and enduring legacies, ensuring they receive the recognition they so richly deserve. Balliceaux will be acquired from the Linley family whose claim to ownership of the islands is said to date back to Thomas Franklyn Linley who became proprietor of Balliceaux and Battawaya in 1899. Balliceaux Island has officially become part of the nations patrimony. This was declared by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in a Ministerial Statement in parliament on March 6. The Prime Ministers indication came after the stipulated second declaration was published on March 5 in the Government Gazette, the first declaration having been done so on February 25, clearing the way for governments acquisition of the island. Those who show proper title to it, we will of course in pursuance of the constitution and the law, (will) give reasonable compensation within a reasonable time, Dr. Gonsalves said in his Ministerial Statement. Going forward And he has given the assurance that Balliceaux will not develop into a touristic site. Instead, the Government will set in motion a process of full consultation for the development of Balliceaux. The consultation, Dr. Gonslaves noted, "will include the Garifuna in the Diaspora and here at home, to develop Balliceaux as a cultural, historic, memorial site to keep as part of our patrimony. The next step in the process involves discussions with the titled owners of the island, i.e. the Linley family, who in earlier times had quoted on the open market, an asking figure of US$30m for the islands. In January 2024, Prime Minister Gonsalves said he had asked the Chief Surveyor to have a valuation done for the privately owned island of some 323 acres, in preparation for an announcement of official acquisition on Heroes Day, March 14, of that year. He followed that up in March of 2024 assuring, "My government will acquire Balliceaux in the interest of its historical importance to this country. Historical significance Balliceaux holds deep historical and cultural importance for the Garifuna people as it serves as a sacred site, representing the death and rebirth of their culture after their exile from Saint Vincent and their subsequent journey to Roatan. Five thousand Garifuna were banished to Balliceaux, after their defeat at the hands of the British. The majority of them died on the island. The remainder was transported to Roatan from where many took refuge on mainland Honduras which was later partitioned into Honduras (Spanish) and Belize where most Garifuna reside today. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protestors who gathered in Dominicas capital, Roseau, on Wednesday, as Parliament began debating electoral reform legislation. Citizens were responding to a call from Opposition Leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine to demand electoral reform. The political leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), had urged Dominicans to "turn out in large numbers today at the Parliament building in Roseau to demand electoral reform, one that the people of Dominica have asked for. His statement came during a press conference organised by the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) on Tuesday. The government presented the Electoral Commission Bill 2024, House of Assembly Elections Bill 2024, and Registration of Electors Bill 2024 for their second and third readings in Parliament on Wednesday. However, the ERC has strongly opposed the move, arguing that any electoral reform must include key provisions such as campaign finance regulations, biometric voter ID cards for voting purposes, and a re-registration process. Demonstrators gathered near the Parliament building as the bills were being debated. They chanted slogans and called for more comprehensive electoral changes. However, tensions escalated as stones were thrown at police officers, fights broke out, and tear gas and rubber bullets were fired at the protestors. The government has defended the proposed bills, arguing that they will strengthen the electoral process. However, opposition leaders and activists remain firm in their stance that further measures are necessary to ensure free and fair elections. Earlier there were reports from Dominica that in anticipation of mass protest during the parliament sitting, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had intended to ask the regional Security Services for assistance in "beefing up the resources of the local constabulary. Speaking on national radio the Dominica leader said: "I am saying to the country that I have directed the minister of national security to put the Regional Security System on alert... anybody who believes that they are going to storm Parliament or create mischief in Dominica, it will not happen. He says while persons are allowed to protest, they must do so peacefully. Close to 1000 persons remain inconvenienced or displaced as they await repairs to their houses in Union Island, following the damage inflicted on the housing stock in that Grenadine island by Hurricane Beryl on July 01, 2024. In the interim, the government is providing accommodation and paying utilities for those families who have been displaced. This undertaking has already cost some EC$3 million for the last six months of 2024. All of this was disclosed by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves during his address, March 14, at the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the obelisk, at Dorsetshire Hill. And in an effort to ensure the earliest possible attention to this outstanding matter, the Government is intensifying the housing rebuilding efforts on that island, which will require an increased number of skilled men and women to do the work. According to Dr. Gonsalves, who has repeatedly made the appeal for skilled men and women to join the rebuilding effort in the Grenadines, informed ". for the ordinary worker in Union Island, we pay them $135.00 dollars a day with one meal the remuneration is much more than here on St. Vincent. To assist in the reconstruction on Union Island and the Southern Grenadines in general, and to ensure a speedy completion of another phase of the rebuilding process, twenty-five (25) members of the Guyana Defence Force - Army Construction Brigade, recently arrived in the country. They are expected to be here for 2-3 months. Dr. Gonsalves noted that over the past eight (8) months, the Government has rebuilt or repaired close to 3,000 houses across the country, this out of approximately 6,000 houses that have been assessed for repair or reconstruction. This undertaking is estimated to cost EC$450 million, Dr. Gonsalves said. The $22M Palace being built in St Kitts to house the Governor of the ECCB. There has been a shift of focus of blame for approval of a EC$22 million residence for the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). This is according to at least one media house, The New Today of Grenada, the birthplace of the ECCB Governor, Timothy Antoine. Who to blame Blame has now shifted, it appears, to the Board of Directors of the St. Kitts-based ECCB. for the fiasco surrounding the construction of the EC$22 million residence for the Governor. According to our understanding, the ECCB Board of Directors is tasked with oversight of the operations of the Bank. This sweeping term of reference hands the Directors the responsibility of approving just about everything happening in the bank, including approving the cost and possible overruns in constructing the new residence for the Governor. As of March 31, 2024, as per the Banks Annual report, the members of the Board of Directors were: Timothy Antoine (Governor and Chairman), Dr. Valda Henry (Deputy Governor), Kathleen Rogers (Anguilla), Whitfield Harris (Antigua and Barbuda), Denise Edwards (Dominica), Mike Sylvester (Grenada), John Skerrit (Montserrat), Hilary Hazel (St Kitts/Nevis) Francis Fontelle (St Lucia) and Edmond Jackson (St Vincent and the Grenadines). We understand further that each Director is expected to keep his Minister of Finance up to date as a far as decisions the Board makes and developments at the Bank are concerned. The ongoing saga of the new residence for the Governor was ignited by the leak of a letter from the Prime Minister of St Vincent Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in which he was critical of Governor Timothy Antoine and the building of a luxurious "palace to serve as his home, an undertaking Gonsalves described as an "absolute scandal. The saga entered a new phase, so to speak, when the New Today reported that a Grenadian with knowledge of the ECCB affairs told that publication that he was aware of the issue involving the premier financial institution in the Eastern Caribbean with significant cost overruns about two years ago. The New Today quoted that source as saying, ""There were initial concerns over the cost of the project when it started. The issue was whether or not they had to build a new residence or refurbish the one that (the late Sir Dwight) Venner lived in. Even with one of their fellow countrymen at the helm of the ECCB, Grenadians are pointing fingers at the ECCB, accusing it of "massive mismanagement. The fallout of the construction of the new residence for the ECCB Governor will not go anytime soon, it appears. (Partial Source: The New Today) The government of Antigua and Barbuda moved quickly to dispel media indication of a travel ban between the USA and that twin island nation. Antigua and Barbuda government officials have issued a formal statement today clarifying that there is no travel ban affecting movement between the United States and the twin-island nation, despite recent media speculation. "Nationals and legal residents of the United States continue to enjoy visa-free entry when travelling to and from Antigua and Barbuda, the statement emphasized, directly addressing concerns that emerged last week when reports surfaced about a potential new US travel restriction system. According to those reports, several Caribbean nations were categorized into a tiered system of potential travel restrictions. While Cuba was reportedly placed in the most severe "red tier with a complete entry ban, and Haiti in an "orange tier with significant restrictions, Antigua and Barbuda was among four Eastern Caribbean nationsincluding Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Luciaallegedly listed in a "yellow tier. Countries in this category would reportedly have 60 days to address security protocol concerns. However, the Antiguan government has moved quickly to counter these reports, stating that "no such ban has been imposed, nor has the United States Government indicated that such a measure is under consideration. Officials further noted that they maintain open communication channels with US authorities and have received no advisories suggesting changes to current travel arrangements. The government statement highlighted the importance of the US-Antigua relationship, noting that American citizens have long favoured the Caribbean destination and "remain warmly welcomed. Travelers seeking accurate information are encouraged to consult official sources, including the US Department of States travel website and the Government of Antigua and Barbudas official online platforms. (Source: Loop News) Roderick Jones, Chester Kings local lawyer said he had received confirmation that his client was not wanted on a murder charge in his homeland- St. Lucia. St. Lucian national Chester King has never been arrested for any murder or wanted for any murder in St. Lucia, contrary to information from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), and Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. King, a 38-year-old florist of Denry, St. Lucia, was recently held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on four immigration charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared at the Kingstown Magistrates Court on February 12, and Prosecutor Shamrock Pierre objected to bail. Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie upheld the objection, and ordered that King be remanded until February 24 for bail review. However, when the matter was recalled on February 24, King could not be produced, and the Court heard that he was removed from the state, much to the amazement of Magistrate McKenzie as the Court had never made a removal order for King. Police and PM on same page The RSVGPFs release, dated March 7, 2025, stated, in part, that, "During the time of his (Kings) detention, the RSVGPF received credible information from the Royal St. Lucia Police Force that Mr. King was wanted in that country (St. Lucia) in connection to several heinous murders. "A warrant for the King, issued by the High Court in St. Lucia was dispatched to the authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In an effort to facilitate the suspects appearance before the High Court in St. Lucia, Mr. King was repatriated back to St. Lucia. The Prime Minister commenting on the issue on NBCs Morning Cup programme on March 5, 2025, stated in part, "The police acted quickly because that person (King) was needed, was to be questioned in relation to two or three murders, and as I understand, he has been charged for one, at least one. No questioning on murder But Kings local lawyer Roderick Jones, told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday that according to the information he received this week from King himself and his lawyer in St. Lucia, Stanley Felix, King was never questioned in St. Lucia in relation to any murder, and he was never arrested on any murder charge. Jones said that he also received information from the Crown Prosecution Service in St. Lucia, confirming that King has one charge for attempted murder, dating back to 2014, and he was charged with controlled drugs and gun-related offenses in 2023. These charges are pending and for which he was on bail. However, when King was recently taken back to St. Lucia, in the custody of the police from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he was returned to police custody in St. Lucia because he had breached his bail conditions. Jones also told this publication he received information from King, through his lawyer in St. Lucia, that King was taken by local police from the Prisons in SVG on February 21, 2025 and taken to the local Coast Guard base at Calliaqua, from where he was transported by the local Coast Guard to St. Lucia. He was then handed over to the authorities in that country. Police beating On February 25, just after an inquiry held by Magistrate McKenzie to determine who authorized Kings removal from SVG was discontinued, Jones told THE VINCENTIAN that King had told him that he was severely beaten by local police when he was arrested here on immigration charges. The lawyer disclosed to the publication on Wednesday that he had written to the Supt. of Prisons and the administrator at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital requesting medical reports on King, but is yet to receive a response from either institutions. To date, pertinent questions surrounding Kings removal from the state are still unknown. Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (3/7) uoc du bao co the giam tu 6,8 - 7,5% so voi ky ieu hanh truoc o. Cu the, gia ban le xang E5 RON 92 co the giam 1.412 ong (6,9%) ve muc 19.118 ong/lit; xang RON 95-III co the giam 1.440 ong (6,8%) ve muc 19.670 ong/lit. Trong khi o, dau hoa co the giam 7,5% ve muc 17.631 ong/lit; dau mazut co the giam 7,2% ve muc 15.730 ong/kg; dau diesel co the giam 7,1% ve muc 17.977 ong/lit. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Bilateral trade between Trinidad and Tobago and India reached a record TT$1.2 billion (US$368.96 million) in the last fiscal year, according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She disclosed this as she announced that her Government aims to expand exports to tap into Indias market of 1.4 billion consumers, and will pursue a Partial Scope Trade Agreementthe first from a Caricom countrywhile laying the foundation for a new Bilateral Investment Treaty. This years Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results have revealed a concerning learning gap among primary school students, Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath has said. Speaking at a recognition ceremony for the top five performers in the 2025 SEA yesterday at the ministrys head office in Port of Spain, Dowlath said the data will be analysed for better performance moving forward. Last Tuesday, Gwynne Dyer headlined his Express column Stupid old men. You could substitute all sorts of adjectives before the words, old men, to describe the characteristics of the cohort that has had the most influence on the world we inhabit. Greedy, self-righteous, racist, arrogant, selfish, a multitude of negative words readily suit the clique. At first, angrily thinking about the subject of todays column, I was focusing on Caribbean men in leadership positions who have been sleazy lechers, foisting themselves on hapless females and males with impunity. The Cinco de Mayo Bull Run Festival at Old Tucson has been canceled, Pima County officials said Tuesday. But the organizer says he was surprised to hear about the festival being a no-go and called the countys cancellation a pile of malarkey. The Cinco De Mayo Bull Run Festival was set to happen from Friday, May 2, through Sunday, May 4, with runs each day in which people would pay to outrun 12 bulls that would be released in waves of four onto the 15-foot wide course. The contracted vendor was unable to provide proof of the required insurance as required by the county, Jan Lesher, the county administrator, said in a memo. And Natalie Eleftheriadis, Old Tucsons marketing manager, confirmed Thursday that Glendale-based Bullrun Festival, organizers of the event, had been unable to provide the required insurance. The cancellation was news to Chad Merwin, Bullruns event manager. He said Thursday that neither he nor his partner, Phil Immordino, had not been told anything at all of the event being called off. No ones ever talked to us, no ones ever approached us. This is the very first time weve actually heard of anything. So from that perspective, were going to do everything we can to make sure (Lesher) gets whatever she needs, and we hope that shes being truthful, that theres not some other agenda or something that someones trying to cancel us, Merwin said Thursday. We upgraded our insurance also, so that seems farfetched ... Im just kind of dumbfounded that that was going to be their first take on it. Despite the memo, Merwin said that he and his staff are still 100% full-steam ahead in getting ready to have the festival. I can tell you, its been thousands (of people) that weve had that have inquired to come forward, and that have moved forward and actually purchased tickets, he said. We want to do everything we can to make sure that this thing goes forward, and that location is great too. Pima County, Old Tucsons landlord, did not appear concerned about any liability over the event when it was first reported by the Star in early February. In a February memo, Lesher told County Supervisors that Full responsibility for the event ultimately rests with American Heritage Railways and the event promoter, and not with Pima County. Two big-name Democrats are considering a run to replace Rep. Raul Grijalva, who died March 13. So is the last Republican to challenge Grijalva and lose. And theyre among more than a dozen people who have formally signaled their interest in running for the seat Grijalva held for 22 years. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has joined Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva in saying that he is considering joining the race for the Democratic nomination in Congressional District 7. Fontes publicly formalized his interest in a social media post Tuesday, in which he said, I am strongly considering a run to represent AZ-07, a place where I was born and raised, served my country in the Marine Corp and protected democracy. Fontes, an attorney, is originally from Nogales. The big question before him is whether Grijalvas daughter will pursue the seat. Adelita Grijalva previously said she will announce her intentions after her fathers services, which take place next week. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination in the heavily Democratic district could have a familiar Republican opponent. Daniel Butierez announced this week his plan to run again for Grijalvas seat. Butierez lost to Grijalva by 63.4% to 36.6% of the vote in the November 2024 election. In addition to Butierez, 13 other people have filed statements of interest to run for the seat. The Republicans are: William Hunter III, Carolyn Norris, Michael Rebeiro, Jorge Rivas, Gabriel Tabia, Raul Verdugo and Joe Wells. Adelita Grijalva and Fontes have not filed statements of interest, but four other Democrats have: David Bies, Patrick Harris Sr., Samantha Severson and Stefawna Welch. Green Party member Richard Grayson and Libertarian Alan Aversa also filed statements of interest. The deadline for candidates to submit petition signatures is April 14. Dem starts in CD 6 Republican Juan Ciscomani has his first serious challenger in Congressional District 6. Joanna Mendoza of Pinal County launched her campaign in February and said in an interview Thursday she has raised more than $500,000, though she has not detailed her campaign finances in a filing yet. Mendoza, 48, ran for state Senate in 2020, losing to incumbent Sen. Vince Leach by 54.4% to 45.6%. Mendoza is a Pinal County native who lives in Red Rock and cites her experience as a Marine Corps veteran and a child of farmworkers in stating her case against Ciscomani. People are looking for leadership, and theyre looking for a way to fight back, Mendoza said. Were giving them that opportunity by jumping in so early. Mendoza served three years in the Navy and then more than 17 years in the Marine Corps before retiring, she said. She served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. As a person who has benefited from federal programs, she said, she views Ciscomani as vulnerable on the issue of the sweeping cuts the Trump administration is making. He is going to have a really hard time trying to justify the ransacking of our agencies, she said. Other potential Democratic candidates are considering a run, but the primary election isnt until Aug. 4, 2026, 16 months away. GOP checks city budget The first answer has been given to Tucson Mayor Regina Romeros demand that opponents of Prop. 414 say what the city should cut. After Prop. 414 lost badly last week, Romero challenged those who opposed the sales-tax measure to come up with city budget solutions themselves. The Pima County GOP issued a report this week recommending cuts and efficiencies. Their first recommendation: Resume charging bus fares of $1 to $1.50 per ride, with discounts for low-income riders. Their projection for fare revenue: $15 million to $25 million. That will be a hard number to reach: The last full year that Sun Tran charged fares, fiscal year 2019, it netted about $10.9 million in passenger revenue. Among the reports other recommendations: Cut and consolidate city housing programs and shifting to partnerships with non-profits Explore outsourcing and technological innovation to improve the efficiency of business services Cut environmental initiatives that are part of citys waste-collection efforts The GOP estimates the total savings at $34 million to $54.7 million. Someone wake him up It was near the end of the Tucson City Councils meeting Tuesday night when the members started voting on one of the rare issues with an unknown outcome: Whether to ban camping in washes. Mayor Regina Romero, council member Karin Uhlich and council member Nikki Lee voted yes. Council members Paul Cunningham, Lane Santa Cruz and Kevin Dahl voted no. So Ward 5s Richard Fimbres would cast the deciding vote. And Fimbres, who has been attending meetings remotely since the pandemic began, didnt say anything and was invisible on his office camera. Someone wake him up, grumbled a voice from the dais. It was Dahl. Cunningham later piped up, If Richards awake, he should vote on that item that went 3-3. In the end, Fimbres didnt vote and the proposal died. His office did not reply to Star reporter Charles Borlas request for an explanation. For his part, Dahl said when he spoke up, it was late and the comment was out of frustration. Cunningham contended Thursday night that he now believes something was wrong with Fimbres' audio and that he actually voted yes but was unheard. The council may rehear the issue. Lake confronts Gallego at club When Kari Lake ran into Sen. Ruben Gallego at a private club in Washington D.C. last month, she greeted him with what he thought was a warm, two-handed handshake. But then came her acid words: "How does it feel to be bought and paid for by the cartels?" The Bulwark, an online publication, reported the interaction this week, and Gallego confirmed it happened. Gallego beat Lake 50.1% to 47.7% to win the U.S. Senate seat in the November, 2024 election. His response, he said, was not what he (or at least his wife) wished it would have been: "'Easily: I won.' " The University of Arizona is pausing and reassessing construction of a $300 million bioscience hub in downtown Phoenix where a cancer research focus is planned due to federal funding uncertainties. Recent developments in federal research funding require an evaluation of all research-intensive university infrastructure needs, including capital investments and operations, the UA said, through spokesperson Mitch Zak. With annual fixed costs associated with U of A buildings and utilities that cannot be eliminated, reductions in (federal) research funding will impact all facets of the universitys operations, the announcement said. The Trump administration has issued numerous orders variously pausing, stopping or threatening federal research funding to universities. The goal of the bioscience hub, called the Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies or CAMI, is to develop new strategies for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune conditions, UA announced in October. We are dedicated to advancing groundbreaking research that will improve lives in Arizona and beyond, UA Chief Operating and Financial Officer John Arnold said this week in the announcement about pausing construction. While we remain committed to our research at the Phoenix Bioscience Core, we need to pause and reassess CAMI given the uncertainties. The hub is intended to anchor an innovation district aimed at cell and gene therapy research. The seven-story, more than 200,000-square-foot building is to house research laboratories and a clinical suite, among other features. Completion of construction had been expected in 2027. In hailing plans for the hub in October, the UA said in a news release that CAMI would advance research already underway by University of Arizona Health Sciences to improve health outcomes. In June 2024, the Phoenix City Council approved providing more than $20 million in funding for the project, The Arizona Republic reported. A UA website says economic gains from the research hub could be as high as $4.8 billion, according to an analysis by Rounds Consulting Group of Tempe, and that CAMI would attract more than 150 companies to greater Phoenix as well as at least 7,500 new bioscience-related jobs and 13,000 supporting jobs. A donor has given $14.2 million to the University of Arizona College of Medicine to provide scholarships for students bound for medical school in Tucson. Pat Gerleman, of San Francisco, made the gift in memory of her late husband, James Anthony Gerleman, and his brother, John Edward Gerleman, the UA announced Friday. Their generosity will have far-reaching impact in giving our students the financial freedom to pursue their dreams and in the lives of the people who will be cared for by our future physicians and health care professionals, UA President Suresh Garimella said in a news release. James Gerleman inherited $700,000 when his brother John, a UA alum who admired the work of the College of Medicine here, died, the release said. Before his death, John told Jim to use the account to pay for the education of his nieces and nephews and donate the remainder to the College of Medicine Tucson. Through tech stock investment and dividend reinvestment, (James) Gerleman grew the account to $14 million before his death in 2023. Now that those nieces and nephews have completed their educations, Pat is following through on her husbands final wishes, the release said. Pat Gerleman was quoted as saying, The gift is not a portion of a large estate. It is a sum of years of hard work and of lives without luxury Both Jim and John shared an ideal: to make a difference in the lives of their family and in the lives of future doctors, to help those who need it most. The bequest will fund scholarships for students in two programs: the Pre-Medical Admissions Pathway and the Honors Early Assurance Program. PHOENIX State lawmakers want to allow, for the first time, religious chaplains to counsel students on public school campuses. Phoenix Republican Rep. Matt Gress said the legislation, which gained preliminary House approval Thursday, would make such counseling strictly voluntary. He said it would be up to districts to decide whether to participate. He also said parents would have to grant permission and could choose among any chaplains who have offered to make themselves available. But that isnt exactly true as the proposal is written. To get on an approved list, a person would have to be a chaplain from a local religious group, meaning one that meets at least once a month at a location in which the school district is located. So any religion that doesnt have a church, synagogue, mosque or meeting hall within that district there are more than 200 districts throughout the state could not offer up someone to counsel students. Senate Bill 1269 further defines who is a religious group whose chaplains would be considered eligible. The definition specifically includes only those religions that have a hierarchy of teachers, clergy, sages or priests, regularly engage in a ceremony, ritual or protocol, and acknowledges the existence of and worships one or more supernatural entities that possess power over the natural world. Phoenix Democratic Rep. Stephanie Simacek pointed out that locks out someone who is an atheist from providing in-school counseling, even if that is the preference of the parents. And others questioned whether it is proper or even legal to have chaplains of any faith counseling students. Proponents made no secret they want religion in public schools. Gress, in pushing the measure, told colleagues, Its almost as if God is being treated like a four-letter word. We are a religious people and we presuppose a supernatural being. Rep. Justin Olson, discussing the measure in the House Education Committee, had his own take. We have become a secular society and that is damaging to our society, said the Mesa Republican. We need to have opportunities for people to look to a higher power. Rep. David Marshall, a Snowflake Republican, said he was not convinced by foes arguments that it takes education and training for someone to become a social worker or counselor and qualify them to provide guidance and advice. Are there some good psychologists? he asked. Im sure there are. But I think Jesus is a lot better than any psychologist. The measure still needs a roll-call vote in the Republican-controlled House. It then has to go back to the Senate, which approved the original proposal by Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, and has some differences in wording. If it becomes law, look for legal challenges to school districts that agree to participate. Gaelle Esposito, representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, said the measure runs afoul of First Amendment prohibitions against schools sponsoring religious activities. It explicitly authorizes chaplains to be able to conduct religious exercise, Esposito said. She does not think this can be excused simply because a parent gives consent, any more than a parent agreeing to allow a child to be taught creationism in a public school would make that activity legal. Dianne Post, legal director of the Secular Coalition for Arizona, said the fact that there are some 2,700 different religions in the United States means there is no way adherents to each of them can get their choice of a counselor. But not everyone thinks there is a legal issue. Rep. Lisa Fink said the concept of a separation between church and state is nowhere in the Constitution. Instead, the Glendale Republican said, it was in a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists where he used the phrase a wall of separation between church and state. And what he was targeting, she said, was the concept that those who did not belong to a specific and state-sanctioned church could not be barred from participating in public discussions. Fink supported the measure, saying it has plenty of guardrails, including the fact that participation would be voluntary. But Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, a Tucson Democrat, called the plan outrageous. Public schools are not places for religious teaching, she said. They are places for math and science and reading. We have no need for chaplains in our public schools. Gutierrez, who is a teacher, also noted this comes amid perennial claims by some lawmakers that educators are indoctrinating students. If we want to talk about indoctrination going on in our public schools, this would be it, she said of the legislation. Rep. Lupe Diaz, a Benson Republican who is a pastor, said having chaplains available would help youngsters deal with issues. Most people in your community, even with students, they will approach a religious leader or a chaplain, a pastor, rabbi and whoever it is before they consider going to a counselor or a psychologist, he said. Diaz said he doesnt see a danger, even if chaplains lack professional training in counseling. A well-trained chaplain will know that they can take a person only so far, and then they will refer them, he said. And I think that thats really, really critical to be able to have someone they can go to, that they feel safe, before they are referred somewhere else or recommended to be referred somewhere else. Gress insisted there would be no proselytizing for any specific religion. But he acknowledged that whats in the legislation goes beyond mere advice or counseling on a specific course of action. I think that perhaps there is a spiritual deficit that needs to be addressed, Gress said. The Downtown Clifton, a 22-room boutique hotel in Tucson's Armory Park, abruptly closed early this month, leaving guests with paid reservations scrambling to get their money back and make alternate plans. The hotel did not notify incoming guests of the closure and several arrived to find a note on the door announcing that "due to renovations the lounge and hotel will be closed until further notice." The sign also said the hotel's water was "unexpectedly turned off," which led to the abrupt closing. The note advised guests to leave their keys in their room at check out. It's not clear if the hotel had any guests staying at the time and if those guests had been notified in advance that the hotel had closed. The property's owner, Equilibrium Villas DTC LLC, did not respond to repeated attempts for comment. Moniqua Lane, who owned the property at 485 S. Stone Ave. until Equilibrium bought it in June 2021, said she turned over operation of the hotel on March 2. She posted a note on Facebook March 12 announcing that she no longer owned the hotel. "It was not economically feasible to continue to operate the Downtown Clifton," she said in an email to the Star. "We do not own the physical facilities and we are still negotiating the details of the business assets and intellectual property with the new owners." Lane said she offered to continue running the hotel until Equilibrium found a new operator, but "they asked us to leave everything as is so that they could step in to operate immediately during the high season." As of Thursday, the hotel's phone was disconnected, although its website was still operational, including online reservations. There are no openings until mid-May, when standard room rates are listed at $1,000 a night. Lane, whose name and contact information was included on the note, said she is in conversations with guests about refunds. But several said they have yet to hear anything. A few days before she was to check into the hotel on Monday, Gina Carani got an auto-email from the hotel saying they were looking forward to seeing her. But when the Alaska resident who works as a traveling cook Googled the hotel for directions, it said it was temporarily closed. I was a little surprised. I tried calling the number that was in the email and that was coming up with the Verizon message this number is not available," she said on Thursday. "I emailed and the email bounced back. At that point I was getting kind of worried, did I fall for some sort of scam?" Carani said she has not had any response about refunding her $150 deposit for a two-night stay; the remaining amount was not charged to her credit card. "I havent received any communications except an email today saying we hope you enjoyed your stay," she said Thursday. Phoenix librarian and Tucson native Jennifer Brown said she received a similar "looking forward to your stay" email from the hotel before she was set to check in last Saturday. She was in town for the Tucson Festival of Books and had paid the $140 cost when she booked the room online on Feb. 20. After spending Saturday on the University of Arizona campus, she got to Downtown Clifton just after 5 p.m. "and there was nobody in the parking lot," she said. "I thought that was weird," said Brown. "I went to the door and I saw the note. It looked like it had been up for a week or so." Brown said she had stayed at the hotel a couple of times in recent years. Its a good location and it had a cute little bar and restaurant that I liked and the rooms are interesting and unique," she said. "They have local popcorn and jams. Its very Tucson and thats one of the reasons I liked it." Lane and two partners opened Downtown Clifton in 2015 after buying the property and the adjacent parcel on the corner of Stone and 16th Street for $550,000. The partners renovated the original 10 rooms and added the Red Light Lounge and a dozen more rooms in 2019. The property was built in 1948 and operated as a hotel for a couple of years. It had been used for transitional housing by Primavera Foundation in the years before it became Downtown Clifton. Downtown Clifton was the first of two boutique hotels Lane operated. She invested $2.5 million into the renovation of the old Citizen newspaper building downtown to convert it into the 10-room Citizen Hotel at 82 N. Stone Ave. It was open just over a year when she closed it in May 2023. Rio Nuevo, which invested $333,333 into the project, is suing Lane to recoup its money. That suit is wending its way through the courts, according to Rio Nuevo Chairman Fletcher McCusker. Last August, Unicorn Zebra, a South African-themed bar, opened in the Citizen building. PHOENIX A deeply divided Arizona House rejected a measure giving churches the right to put homes on their land, amid worries that established neighborhoods would be overrun with high-density housing, that developers would take advantage of leases, and even that witches could move in. The measure that would have allowed established churches across the state to lease out portions of their property to developers to build single-family homes failed Thursday even though it was greatly watered down to try to win over opponents. And in a rare move, the Republican-controlled House also voted to deny backers the routine ability to bring House Bill 2191 back for another vote. Although that move is not fatal, since lawmakers have other options to revive the bill, it makes it much more difficult. The bill is touted as one way to boost affordable housing in the state, which like many others is struggling with a housing shortage. But it drew the ire of neighborhood groups and cities because it would override local zoning rules, and it even received opposition from a pastor who is a member of the House. The pastor, Rep. Lupe Diaz, R-Benson, said the measure puts churches at risk of losing their tax-exempt status. He also said federal fair housing laws would kick in if homes were built on church-owned land, meaning the homes couldnt be sold to only church members. The housing is going to be available to the general public, No. 1, which means that (anyone), contrary to what you believe, can come in, Diaz said. It could be a witch coven, he said. It could be Satanists who move in, and that puts the church in a very critical position and very vulnerable position for lawsuits and that kind of thing. More divisive for many Republican members were concerns about overriding city zoning rules something theyve been open to doing in other housing bills that passed last year and are moving in the Legislature this year. Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, a member of the GOPs Freedom Caucus, said he can see conservative reasons to both support and oppose the measure. But on a much deeper level, Im not torn whatsoever, he said, saying he trusts his constituents and didnt want to change the character of their community without their consent. Theyre smart people, theyre hard-working people, theyre thoughtful people, and theyre people who are driven to do the right thing, Kolodin said while explaining his no vote. My voters do not need me to screw things up for them and to ruin what theyve worked so hard for. Kolodin and Diaz acknowledged the state has a housing crisis. But neither would vote to override cities and towns and their residents. The measure gathered 28 votes in favor with 26 against, with both backing and opposition from members of both parties. But it takes a majority of all 60 House members present or not to get final approval. As originally introduced, the measure would have allowed churches to lease out parts of their properties for construction of multi-story apartment buildings on land near single-family homes. The bill sponsor, Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria, amended the measure last week and again this week to address concerns. Still, Livingston couldnt get the needed votes. Its tough to get enough votes on this bill today with six members missing, but Im asking for your yes vote, Livingston pleaded to members during the vote. He said he would commit to making additional changes if the bill made it to the Senate, with House members then getting a chance to vote on it again in its final form. Livingston also said some members of the public were still not aware of the major changes he already made to narrow its scope. As originally crafted, the measure would have allowed apartment buildings on church property. To try to line up votes, Livingston agreed to limit such developments to just single-family homes, as many as 17 homes on each acre of land but possibly as few as four or five per acre, depending on existing neighborhood zoning. They would be limited to two stories or just one if that was the character of the neighborhood and could be no closer than 75 feet to existing neighborhoods. Significant changes were made to the rules allowing churches to lease land to developers to address one of the many concerns. Another change limited the measure to established churches those in existence for 15 years or more to address worries that developers would find a loophole and partner with a new church created just to take advantage of the ability to make money by building homes. I would like to have churches more involved in the community, Livingston said. That is whats driving me on this bill. Rep. Khyl Powell, R-Gilbert, said that while he is convinced housing is a critical need, he cant back the measure because he remains worried about the land lease specifics and that density bonuses developers could be awarded based on affordability could let them pack in more homes. He also said he remains unconvinced that as written the bill only allows single-family homes. They say that townhouses wont be allowed, but still, theres a possibility that it could be worked in there by developers, Powell said. Rep. Sarah Liguori, D-Tucson, said the shortage of affordable housing in the state means lawmakers have to act. She noted that young people are considering moving out of state to find a home they can afford to buy, or are forced into long commutes because they cant afford to live near their jobs. The cynics some might call them the realists said Tulsa never had a shot at landing Teslas CyberTruck Gigafactory. Well never know. But this much they got right: The electronic vehicle maker will build its latest production facility in Austin, Texas. Or, as Elon Musk called the Austin site, an ecological paradise. We are going to make a factory that is going to be stunning, Musk said during a meeting with investors and analysts Wednesday afternoon. It is right on the Colorado River, so were actually going to have a boardwalk where there will be a hiking, biking trail. It is going to basically be an ecological paradise. Birds in the trees, butterflies, fish in the stream, and it will be open to the public, as well. The news brings to an end for now Tulsas dream of partnering with the visionary entrepreneur to advance the promise of electric vehicles and, in so doing, reimagine the city itself. Musk made clear Wednesday that he was impressed with what Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma had to offer, and he hinted that the parties might talk again some day. Thank you very much to the Tulsa team, the economic development team and the governor, Musk said. Really, I was super impressed the whole team was super impressed and we will for sure strongly consider Tulsa for future expansions down the road. Minutes after the announcement, Gov. Kevin Stitt and other elected officials and business leaders released statements praising Tulsas efforts and congratulating Austin. Over the past few months, Tulsans and Oklahomans as a whole showed the nation and the world that our state is worthy of being one of two finalists for an innovative, cutting-edge company like Tesla, Stitt said. The state will continue to recruit Tesla suppliers to Oklahoma, Stitt said, and he wished the company the best. In fact, I wish them so much success they are forced to expand again, because I know just the place, he said. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum offered his congratulations to Austin and thanked those who had been part of the push to bring Tesla to Tulsa. When you compete at the highest levels, you cant always win, Bynum said. We congratulate the city of Austin on landing this incredible facility. Tesla is just a remarkable organization remarkable products, remarkable mission, remarkable leader, and a remarkable team. Tulsa was honored to be considered for this opportunity, and we are eager to find other ways down the road that we can help the team at Tesla succeed. I cant properly convey my gratitude for all the Tulsans who rallied around this opportunity because they wanted the best for our city. The Austin assembly plant will build the Cybertruck pickup, the Tesla Semi truck and the Model Y SUV, Musk said. The plant is expected to employ at least 5,000 people. Oklahoma state and local officials, joined by a groundswell of grass-roots supporters, had been lobbying hard for the factory since it became public in mid-May that Tulsa was a finalist for the assembly plant. Tulsa was sold as an innovative and surging city that would make a perfect fit for Musks visionary company. Multiple sites were considered for the project, with the likeliest one thought to be just southeast of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, near the interchange of Interstate 44, U.S. 412 and the Creek Turnpike. The local effort to lure Tesla included a sustained social media blitz and the painting of Musks image on Tulsas iconic Golden Driller. The campaign caught Musks attention. He visited Tulsa on July 3 for a brief meeting with Stitt and Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Sean Kouplen at the proposed site of the project, the exact location of which was never announced. Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, said in a prepared statement that the publicity surrounding the competition to land the Tesla manufacturing center has raised Tulsas profile substantially. Individuals and organizations that previously might not have given us a serious look now see our advantages including a low cost of living and short commute times, as well as an eager, well-trained workforce, access to top engineering talent and a centralized location, Neal said. Neal praised the George Kaiser Family Foundation and GKFF Chief Operating Officer Jeff Stava for their efforts to showcase the city and region. No one was more involved in trying to deliver Tesla to Tulsa than Kouplen. Tulsa, he acknowledged again Wednesday, was always the underdog. Next time, who knows? Tesla will continue to grow and, when it is ready to reconsider Oklahoma for a future location, they will be welcomed with open arms, Kouplen said. Tesla + Tulsa promotional video Gallery: Tesla in Tulsa? Tulsans, local officials make their pitch Documentary Australia and Doc Society have announced an inaugural Climate Story Lab Australia to be held from 5-7 August 2025 at Artspace on Gadigal Land in Sydney. The Climate Story Lab model was first piloted by Doc Society and Exposure Labs in New York in 2019, and has since been rolled out with 33 events around the world from the Brazilian Amazon to East and West Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. In collaboration with Screen NSW, Screen Queensland and Shark Island Foundation, Documentary Australia and Doc Society are now seeking applications from climate storytelling projects (screen or audio documentaries) that envision a climate just future. Documentary Australia Impact Director and initiative lead Stephanie King says, We are thrilled to collaborate with Doc Society to launch Australias first ever Climate Story Lab on Gadigal Lands in Sydney. As we have seen through our Environmental Accelerator and Incubator programs, documentary storytelling has a key role to play in addressing the climate crisis. As we head to a federal election and see a shift in the priorities of the climate movement, it is a critical time to re-group with the sector and spark the next generation of strategic climate storytelling. Doc Society Director of Special Projects and initiative lead Hollie Fifer says, Australia has the potential of being at the forefront of climate storytelling globally. Bringing the Climate Story Lab to Australia for the first time as a national event alongside Documentary Australia is a vital step in realising this. We are looking for boundary pushing, courageous, sensitive stories that dont just reflect back where we are, but can help build the world we are all in need of and seed the cultural movement that makes that possible. Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney says, Screen Queensland is proud to support the inaugural Climate Story Lab Australia, providing a vital opportunity for local factual filmmakers to work with climate experts on powerful screen stories. Screen Queensland is committed to supporting our states documentary practitioners to address the big issues in ways that engage audiences with global impact. We are excited to see the outcomes from this collaboration in shaping a sustainable environment for both our planet and our screen industry. Shark Island Foundation Executive Director Kate Hodges says, This is a fantastic opportunity for Australian filmmakers. Doc Societys narrative strategy work with the Climate Story Unit is an inspiration to cultural organisations and foundations wanting to shift attitudes and perspectives within society to create a fairer world. Over three days, the two organisations will bring together climate documentary makers with climate experts, First Nations leaders, impact strategists, political consultants, community organisers, advocates and philanthropists to workshop strategic climate storytelling. This interdisciplinary group is charged with addressing the following questions: What climate stories does the world need now? Whose voices should tell them? Which audiences need to see and hear these stories, and how do we ensure those audiences are reached? The Lab aims to strengthen existing climate storytelling projects and impact campaigns, spark the creation of compelling new projects, spur partnerships to mobilise strategic audiences and funding opportunities, and grow confidence in the power of social impact storytelling. Applications close 22 April 2025. Learn more about Climate Story Lab Australia, including details on how to apply, here. WASHINGTON Gov. Greg Abbott praised President Donald Trumps efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday, waving away concerns that the move would create uncertainty for funding and civil rights protections in public education. Its insanity that we had this massive bureaucracy at the Department of Education where weve been spending countless dollars of American money and not getting results for it, Abbott said during an executive order signing at the White House. We will get far better results by having this money go directly to the states, where the states know far better how to appropriate this money to yield better results. Trumps executive order directs the secretary of education to take all legal means to close the department. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it drastically reduces the scale of the Education Department but does not fully eliminate it. Congress has the authority to create and eliminate federal agencies, and Congress allocates funds disbursed by the department. Texas is a major recipient of federal funding for education. The Education Department oversaw over $12 billion in funds for Texas in the 2023 fiscal year, not including funds granted on a competitive basis. Trump vowed not to stop funding for critical programs students and educators use, such as Pell Grants and student loans. He has proposed moving those programs under different agencies. Opponents of the move have expressed concern that it will be a blow to the federal governments civil rights enforcement. The department is the principal federal agency for protecting civil rights in public education, and its unclear what agency will oversee those efforts in the future. It makes perfect sense for Gov. Greg Abbott to be on hand for the dismantling of the Department of Education, said Zeph Capo, labor union president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, in a statement. It has been the only governmental entity holding his administration accountable for guaranteeing parents and students rights to a free and fair education. Democrats also expressed concern over the vagueness of the executive order, which does not outline what other agencies would take over the responsibilities of the Education Department, including the funding streams Trump promised to protect. The Presidents announcement is filled with uncertainty over how critical programs will be implemented, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, said in a statement. Just last year, I helped secure $163 million in Title I funds for public schools in the 34th Congressional District of Texas. This money goes to hiring teachers, helping schools purchase supplies and technology for improved learning, funding training for teachers and parents, and much more. The administration has no plan for how these funds will continue to exist. But Abbott said he was confident those programs will continue under a new umbrella in the federal government, though it was unclear which that would be. He also emphasized that he plans to increase funding for public schools this legislative session, including for students with disabilities and teacher pay raises of up to $5,500 or $10,000 for teachers in rural schools. Coming out of this session, we will be providing more funding than ever before for public schools in the history of the state of Texas, Abbott said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton were also at the executive order signing ceremony on Thursday. Eliminating the department has been a priority of the right for years, and Trump repeatedly promised to do so on the campaign. Several Democratic state attorneys general proactively sued the Trump administration earlier this month over its moves to lay off hundreds of Education Department staff. The attorneys general assert only Congress has the power to appropriate funds and set up or dismantle agencies. Education is at the center of Abbotts agenda this legislative session. He has expressed confidence that legislation to create voucher-like education savings accounts for private and parochial schools will pass this year. The legislation failed to pass last session, with several rural Republicans joining Democrats in voting it down, citing concerns it would reduce funding for public schools. Abbott denies public school funding will go down. Though the effort is being advanced at the state level, several federal actors have thrown their support. Sen. Ted Cruz has been a vocal supporter of the education savings accounts, also introducing similar legislation in Congress and endorsing Republican candidates who support the measure in last years primaries. Both Trump and Elon Musk voiced support for the Texas legislation. This Saturday, Rose Rudman Park will be the place to be for dog lovers as it will be home to the first-ever FurFest 5K Dog Walk and Expo. The event is the brainchild of Nash Jones, an eighth grade student at All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler. Nash organized the event, which invites community members and their dogs to participate in the 5K and day of fun, as part of his school project. The cost to participate is $15 per family, and all proceeds benefit the SPCA of East Texas. I really wanted to do this for the pets that are at the SPCA, as they cant communicate with us, Nash said. I feel like were kind of just speaking for them and how its not fair for them to be in adoption centers and not in a home with people who would love them. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rose Rudman Park, located at 450 Shiloh Road in Tyler, FurFest will feature a 5K walk, food trucks, and craft stations where attendees can make dog toys and collars. There will also be a photo booth. According to Nash, eighth grade classes at All Saints Episcopal School have been working on make a difference projects annually, partnering with nonprofit organizations to identify needs and find ways to help. Since October, Nash and his classmates have been researching various organizations, visiting a couple of them in person to take photos and make notes on what stood out to them during their visits. I went to the SPCA, and they were talking about how overcrowded they are, Nash said. They explained how stressful its been for them with so many dogs and cats coming in, and it really stood out to me. He said he also liked how the volunteers were passionate about working there. They were talking about how they dont get paid but how much they really love what they do and how much they love caring for these animals, Nash said. You could really see how much effort they put into the facility it really reflects on how much they care about volunteering. The SPCA of East Texas, located at 3245 W. Grande Boulevard in Tyler, is a nonprofit, foster-based animal rescue dedicated to improving the lives of animals in the community. The organization works to alleviate animal suffering and promote humane treatment through rescue, adoption, education, and affordable spay and neuter services. Emily Heglund, executive director of the SPCA of East Texas, said she first met Nash a few months ago during a career day-type presentation at All Saints. He and his fellow students were so impressive, she said. They all had custom business cards made, and all shook hands and introduced themselves to me. In addition to the 5K and food trucks, Nashs classmates will showcase their creativity with handmade items for sale, including snuffle mats and custom collars. To register for the 5K, visit tinyurl.com/nhz2waj8. We are thrilled to be supporting FurFest and are so grateful that Nash and his family have such a heart for pets, Heglund said. We cant wait to get out and meet all the FurFest attendees and their furry companions. For more information about adopting or fostering through SPCA of East Texas, visit spcaeasttx.com. AUSTIN Texas voters would have to prove they are U.S. citizens to register to vote under a state bill lawmakers began debating Thursday. The proposal from Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, is one of several election bills filed this legislative session. It would further the states current voter ID laws by requiring people to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, passport or naturalization certificate, to be added to the voter rolls. Hughes represents Smith and surrounding counties in the Texas Senate. Texas adopted a sweeping law also pushed by Hughes in 2021 that included requiring ID requirements for mail-in ballots. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made Hughes latest bill a priority this year. State and federal law only allow citizens to vote. Generally, the onus of determining the citizenship of a voter is placed on the state. Hughes proposal Senate Bill 16 would place that responsibility on the prospective voter. It would apply to new voters and existing voters who did not provide proof of citizenship when they registered. Hughes presented the bill for a public hearing on Thursday. No action was taken. However, with all Senate Republicans signed on as co-authors of the bill, the legislation appears poised to pass the Senate. Opponents fear the bill would create new barriers to voting in order to tackle an exceedingly rare issue. Supporters, such as David Carter, a Bell County election judge, testified that a large number of Texans already provided proof of citizenship when obtaining a drivers license or state ID renewal with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Its a non-issue to provide proof. Theyve already done it, Carter said. Last year, 187 voters had their registration canceled because they were suspected non-citizens, roughly 0.0001% of the total number of Texas voters, according to Danny Woodward, a policy attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project who testified that it is a vanishingly small problem. Most of those were failure to respond to a query about their citizenship status, Woodward said. Gov. Greg Abbotts office has said it found about 6,500 potential non-citizens on Texas voter rolls. Questions have been raised about the states ability to prevent non-citizens from registering to vote, Hughes said, referencing Abbotts statements. But Abbotts numbers have been called into question. An October investigation from ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Votebeat found that several people in the governors numbers were inflated, and the list contained several U.S. citizens. The bill emulates Arizonas proof of citizenship law and would create a split ballot system in which voters who have not proven they are citizens could only vote in U.S. House and Senate races. They could not vote in presidential elections, which could run afoul of a Supreme Court ruling on the Arizona law that created that states divided federal-state ballot system. County election offices would use state databases and other resources to try to find proof that registered voters are citizens. If no proof is found, an affected voter would receive a notification via mail. They would be allowed to vote in all elections, but their vote would not be counted in state and local elections unless they can provide proof of citizenship within six days of the election. While voters across all spectrums could be impacted, the bill could have a disproportionate effect on older, Republican voters who registered before any voter ID laws were in effect, according to Jessica Hulett, Houston regional director for the election access advocacy group VoteRiders. Kaden Mattingly, a Baylor University political science student, said Republicans strong support for the measure despite its possible negative impact on their prospects at elections indicated how serious of an issue it is to conservatives. I was surprised to find out that this is not already the law, Mattingly said. High fire risk conditions persist in East Texas, including in Smith County, and officials are urging people to be careful. On March 14, Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue warned residents to avoid outdoor burning and make sure any past controlled burns were completely put out. The area is experiencing dry conditions, low humidity and strong winds making it easier for fires to start. Since the fire marshals office put out the warning last week, fire departments outside of incorporated cities have since responded to 29 grass fires, three structure fires, three smoke investigations and eight illegal burns. Hogue said these numbers are somewhat high but not extreme. We had asked people not to burn because of predicted high winds, Hogue said. Escaped controlled burns have been the most common issue. The severity has varied, with some fires burning a few acres while one fire spread across about 6 acres. Some fires crossed property lines and came dangerously close to structures, though they did not cause any damage. The potential for harm was there, Hogue said. Weve had good fire department response. Theyve got good equipment, good manpower. All that plays a factor, Hogue said. As of Thursday, Smith County is between 0 to 200 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) used to determine drought conditions in Texas. The countys average KBDI is 132, with the lowest being 117 and the highest 151. The KBDI measures how much moisture is in the soil. The drought index goes from 0 to 800. A score of 0 means there is no moisture loss in the soil, while a score of 800 means the soil is completely dry. Higher numbers raise the risk of wildfires. That goes to show thats not really a factor in the fires were seeing, Hogue said. The wind speeds, relative humidity and temperature are the main things that were seeing affect the fires. The grass that dies in the winter but remains standing is called freeze-cured. After a frost or freeze, it stays upright but is no longer alive. It lacks hydration and water, so when the air becomes dry, it becomes very easy to burn. Currently, fires are burning over the dead grass, while the new grass is beneath it. In the next few weeks, as more new growth appears, the hydrated grass will slow the spread of fires. Hogue has discussed the possibility of a burn ban with officials. He said he is opposed to a burn ban at this point because the fire danger is only high for a few days at a time. During the summer or fall, when a burn ban is enacted, the dangerous conditions are continuous. If people follow safety guidelines, burning could be done on safer days, but need to use caution because the fire danger is varying day-to-day. I think most people want to do the right thing, and most people know that when the wind is excessive, dont burn, Hogue said. That also means that the fire that they burned yesterday needs to be put out completely, I like to say out cold. Hogue said there will be periods of low humidity Thursday and Friday. By Saturday, the wind will drop to around 15 miles per hour. While its still windy, its not as strong as the 25-35 mph winds with gusts of 40-45 mph that have been happening. Those strong winds are very dangerous, even if people follow safety precautions. A person responsible for starting a fire could get a verbal warning, a written warning or a Class C misdemeanor citation. They are also responsible for any damage to other peoples property. The cost of the damage depends on what burns and how much damage is done. Anytime that you start a fire, youre responsible for what it does, Hogue said. A few outdoor burning rules, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, include: Burns should only happen outside city limits unless the city permits it. Burning should occur only when weather conditions are safe, ensuring smoke doesnt affect roads, airports, lakes or nearby homes and businesses. If smoke may affect roads, someone must be posted to flag traffic. Fires must be at least 300 feet away from neighboring structures unless the property owner gives written permission. Burning can only start one hour after sunrise and must end one hour before sunset. A responsible person must always supervise the fire, and any smoldering remnants must be put out. Burning should only happen when wind speeds are high enough to move the smoke but low enough to keep the fire controlled. It is prohibited to burn hazardous materials such as treated wood, plastics, electrical wiring or chemicals. Hogue encourages people to read the full outdoor burning rules and regulations, which are available at tceq.texas.gov on the TCEQ Outdoor Burning Guide. From Staff Reports Tyler native and technology entrepreneur Therelee D. Washington II will return to his hometown as the featured speaker for the Empowerment Community Development Corporations Distinguished Lecture Series. Washingtons lecture, The Technological Shift: Navigating the Future of Education, Employment, and Society, will explore how technology is changing business, education and jobs. The free, public event is set for March 27 at the Tyler ISD Career and Technology Campus. Washington will also honor his late father, Therelee Washington Sr., who dedicated more than 40 years to education in Tyler as a teacher, principal and school board trustee. My father made sure students had the resources they needed to succeed, Washington said. Today, technology is the key to opportunity. If we dont give students the right skills, we risk leaving entire communities behind. To help students access technology careers, Texas Premier Technology Institute (TPTI) will award six full-tuition scholarships each year. These scholarships will cover training in high-demand fields like IT support, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Washington is the founder and CEO of AgiliShare Solutions Group, an IT consulting and apprenticeship company, and TPTI, a career school focused on technology training. He works to help people transition into high-paying tech jobs and to ensure businesses have skilled workers. For more details about the event contact Kayla Adams by emailing info@kaylatuckeradams.com or calling 214-403-9852. AUSTIN The Texas Senate has given initial passage to a bill that would ban residents of and organizations based in China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from owning property in Texas. The bills passage comes as many Asian community groups have decried the proposal from Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, as discriminatory. The bill now heads to the House, where a similar proposal has also been filed. The nations targeted in the ban are derived from annual threat assessment reports by the Director of National Intelligence. China, Iran, North Korea and Russia are the only countries listed as hostile nations in the most recent federal threat assessment reports. This is the second time Kolkhorst has proposed a property ban linked to hostile nations. Her previous attempt in 2023 passed the Senate but never came up for a vote in the House. A key change in the bill from Kolkhorsts previous bill is that it would not ban citizens of those countries from owning property in Texas as long as their primary home is not in a banned country. Weve had some that say that has weakened the bill. Not at all, Kolkhorst said prior to the vote. I think that it has made it stronger and constitutional, more constitutional. With a larger and more conservative majority in the House, Kolkhorsts is seen as having a greater chance of becoming law this year. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the proposal a priority bill this session designated by a low bill number Senate Bill 17. The bill passed 24-7, with four Democrats, including Dallas Sen. Royce West, joining Republicans in favor of the bill. It will require another vote before it heads to the House, though the margins rarely change. No senators spoke against the bill, but Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said that it could have unintended consequences of putting the state between the private property rights of those involved in a land sale. Perry voted for the bill. The bill bans people who are domiciled in banned countries from buying property in Texas, using a legal term that generally refers to the place a person considers their principal home. Organizations and companies based or controlled by banned countries similarly cannot buy property in the state. At a committee hearing in early March, Matt Wen, a McKinney banker from China, said that changing the bill to exclude people domiciled in banned countries could still create barriers to property ownership. You can argue that, well me, a person like me, could be not considered as a domiciled American, Wen said. Well, if you ask me, I spent more days in Turkey last year than I spent in China. I actually didnt go back to China at all last year. Dual citizens and permanent legal residents from banned countries are allowed to own property in Texas under the bill. People of any immigration status can own a home as long as it is listed as their permanent homestead. The attorney generals office would enforce the ban. A seller would not be penalized if found in violation. A district court would appoint a conservator who would work to find a new buyer for the property. However, the buyer from a banned country could lose out on money if the new buyer pays less than what their purchase price was. Flower Mound resident Zhengang Cheng said the bill alienates the states Chinese communities. By attempting to strip us of our equal rights in housing, investment, education, immigration and employment, you perpetuate a narrative that casts every Chinese individual as a potential adversary, Cheng said. Their music may seem highbrow by contemporary standards, but back in the 18th and 19th centuries, popular classical composers were the rock stars of their day, often achieving great wealth and privilege and engendering the admiration of everyone from peasants to kings. Though many were serious, aloof, and square, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, perhaps more than any of his peers, embraced the role. He partied, spent frivolously, and died young under mysterious circumstances. Artists blessed with such enviable gifts often live outside the norm, and attempting to connect Mozart's quirks and idiosyncrasies to his lofty musical legacy undoubtedly inspired many Mozart biographies, as well as one unforgettable drama. Amadeus may perpetuate the legends and myths that swirl about this musical icon, but Milos Forman's film adaptation celebrates the composer's genius so completely that anyone who sees this Oscar-winning work will take away one emotion above all others awe. Which is exactly what rival composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) feels when he first comes in contact with Mozart (Tom Hulce) at the court of Austria's emperor, Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones). Salieri's only dream is to create sublime music that will be revered by the masses both in his lifetime and well beyond, yet he's stymied by a limited talent and growing obsession with the "giggly, dirty-minded creature" who consistently eclipses him. That creature, of course, is Mozart, a self-confessed vulgar man, who's also a living conduit for some of the most beautiful music the world has yet heard. Finished symphonies reside in his "noodle," and he effortlessly transcribes them without alteration or correction, almost, Salieri says, as if he's taking dictation. Humility, however, isn't a trait many geniuses possess, and Mozart's arrogance coupled with an annoying, effeminate guffaw and an immature attitude about everything except music alienates those around him, especially Salieri. Mozart also doesn't hide his disdain for mediocrity, and that includes Salieri's compositions, which he attacks with a barrage of stinging barbs that rapidly turn the court composer's jealousy into hatred. Salieri's quarrel, however, isn't just with Mozart; it's also with God, who he damns for instilling in him a passion for music but cruelly withholding the tools to create immortal works. "Why would God choose an obscene child to be his instrument?" Salieri laments. And why would He use that child to torment the hard-working, pious Salieri so unrelentingly? To retaliate against both the spirit that wronged him and the human that exposes his shortcomings, Salieri influences the emperor to block lucrative teaching positions for Mozart and limit the exposure his symphonies and operas receive. Eventually, Salieri becomes so consumed with envy that he hatches a deranged, potentially violent scheme to steal Mozart's glory, inflate his own reputation, and stick it to a God that has forever delighted in torturing him. Amadeus is largely fictitious, but it cleverly takes seeds of truth and grows them into a compelling, substantive narrative. Both Mozart and especially Salieri are well-drawn, complex creations, and Peter Shaffer (who won a Tony Award for his play and an Oscar for his adapted screenplay) instills in them a multitude of conflicting qualities. We admire Mozart, but it's hard to like him; we can relate to Salieri, yet can't condone his reprehensible actions. What makes Salieri such a marvelous character is that despite all his ill will, it's impossible for him to temper his unabashed wonder over the perfection of Mozart's music. Sure, he takes glee in sabotaging Mozart, but he's also the composer's biggest fan. And tragically, the pure, simple beauty of Mozart's notes and phrases music that elevates so many plunges Salieri's soul into darkness. Forman and Shaffer transform a rather simple stage play into an epic, injecting Amadeus with pageantry, style, and sophistication, but never letting such elements outshine Mozart's music or the dramatic conflict at the film's core. Throughout its history, Hollywood has struggled to depict composers' lives, but Amadeus finally gets it right by taking a different tack than a standard linear biopic. Most importantly, the music isn't presented as a simple byproduct of Mozart's genius or a pleasant diversion for the audience; it's the most influential character in the drama, driving the actions of both Mozart and Salieri. The Prague locations, lavish costumes, and meticulous set design add immeasurable authenticity, yet Forman makes the atmosphere so relatable, we often forget we're watching a period picture. Today, even more so than when the film was first released 40 years ago, it's easy to see why Amadeus won so many Oscars. All the acting is terrific, especially Abraham as the tormented, conniving Salieri. His scenes as an elderly man recalling his relationship with Mozart and confessing his sins are riveting and devoid of the affectations so many less talented performers employ when playing "old." Hulce captures Mozart's randy playfulness and sly conceit, as well as his sober sense of purpose and enslavement to music. His silly laugh becomes grating over time, but of course that's the point. As Mozart's commoner wife, Elizabeth Berridge is far better than I remembered her to be and her no-nonsense, rough-around-the-edges personality nicely contrasts with the stuffy, fawning atmosphere of the emperor's court. And in a small supporting role, a teenage Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) makes a notable splash as a naive servant girl Salieri hires to spy on the Mozarts. On its surface, Amadeus may seem like a story of revenge and bitterness, but it's really about the transformative power of music and how it can shape and twist fragile human psyches. It's a stirring, impeccably produced work and deserving of all the accolades it received. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Amadeus arrives on 4K UHD packaged in a standard case inside a sleeve. A leaflet containing the code for the Movies Anywhere digitlal copy is tucked inside the front cover. Video codec is 2160p/HEVC H.265 with HDR and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0. Once the disc is inserted into the player, HA NOI The Ministry of Construction (MoC) has submitted several additional proposals to the National Assembly to address an ongoing cement oversupply that has been causing significant losses for the sector. However, these proposals have yet to be approved or incorporated into the law, leaving the industry to continue facing persistent challenges. The ministry highlighted these issues in a report to the Prime Minister following news that the cement sector has yet to resolve its ongoing supply and demand issues. The MoC said it had proposed adding cement sector planning to the list of specialised technical planning under the Planning Law. However, this proposal was not approved by the National Assembly during the revision of the Planning Law on November 29, 2024. As a result, the cement supply issues remain unresolved. Viet Nam has 92 cement production lines with a combined capacity of over 122 million tonnes per year, according to the report. However, in 2024, total cement and clinker output reached about 95 million tonnes, with domestic consumption estimated at 65.3 million tonnes and exports at 29.7 million tonnes. This means that cement production lines operated at just 77 per cent of their total design capacity last year. Since 2011, investment in cement production has been guided by the Prime Minister's plan for the development of Viet Nam's cement industry, as outlined in Decision No. 1488 (Plan 1488). As part of this plan, cement consumption reached 72.7 million tonnes in 2015, meeting 98 per cent of the target, and increased to 100.2 million tonnes per year in 2020, surpassing the plan by 7 per cent. However, since 2020, cement supply has increased significantly following the Planning Law approved in 2017, which abolished Plan 1488. As a result, investment in cement production lines is now governed by market mechanisms and investment laws, falling under the authority of provincial peoples' committees. Local governments have granted in-principle approval for the development of 13 cement production lines, with a combined design capacity of 35.3 million tonnes per year. Amid the rapid increase in cement factories, the MoC has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister outlining a strategy for developing Viet Nam's construction materials sector through 2030. The strategy includes a roadmap for cement factory investments. Specifically, the total design capacity will be capped at 125 million tonnes per year by the end of this year and 150 million tonnes per year by 2030. In 2021, the ministry sent a document to the people's committees, urging them to carefully consider the approval of investment policies for cement production projects. It also emphasised the need to avoid widespread investment that could lead to oversupply and the waste of social resources. VNS HA NOI With just a smartphone or tablet, consumers can now shop for their favourite products virtually anywhere. The speed and convenience of e-commerce have transformed purchasing habits, creating a thriving online marketplace. However, this convenience comes with a growing problem - the rise of counterfeit goods, substandard products and commodities of unknown origin on digital platforms. Authorities warn that tackling these issues requires not only regulatory intervention but also greater vigilance from businesses and consumers alike. On February 13, market management team No 2, under the ong Thap Province Market Management Department, inspected a local business and seized a shipment of denim clothing being sold via TikTok livestreams. The authorities found that garments lacked documentation proving their origin. These cases are by no means uncommon. In late 2024, authorities uncovered a suspected smuggling operation run from an apartment complex in Ha Noi, where a prominent TikToker, with over four million followers, had been livestreaming sales. More than 10,000 bottles of perfume, branded as True Love, First Love, Mon Paris, Maiden and Karri, were seized, all without clear origin. This is just one of several typical cases uncovered by the authorities recently. In 2024 alone, market management teams conducted over 3,400 inspections targeting e-commerce violations. Of these, 1,256 involved counterfeit goods or intellectual property infringements. Administrative fines totalled around US$1.9 million, while nearly $2 million worth of goods were confiscated. The explosive growth of online business, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has made Viet Nam one of the most dynamic e-commerce markets in ASEAN, according to Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Management and Development Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. He noted that the rapid expansion has opened loopholes that are being exploited by bad actors. Authorities report that fake goods and prohibited products are increasingly being traded online, with some criminals using e-commerce platforms to defraud customers and distribute banned materials. The violations are growing more complex, both in scale and in their operational reach. Chu Xuan Kien, Director of the Ha Noi Market Management Department, said that the challenge lies in how online transactions occur almost instantly and often leave minimal trace, while enforcement efforts depend on clear signs and solid evidence of violations. Offenders tend to operate on a small scale, which makes them harder to detect and prosecute. Compounding the issue is the anonymity of the internet, identities are easily faked, evidence can be erased and illegal activities often span regions. Offenders might sit in one location while carrying out operations in several others, Kien said. Technological response To address these challenges, authorities are turning to technology. In 2024, the General Department of Market Management, now the Domestic Market Management and Development Department, signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Public Securitys Department of Security Industry. Together, they aim to develop a data-driven software system that can trace goods sold via e-commerce platforms. A pilot programme focusing on school textbooks is expected to roll out in 2025. This initiative is about safeguarding both consumers and businesses, said Nguyen uc Le from the Domestic Market Management and Development Department. Protecting legitimate business rights also helps foster social and economic development. The Governments strategy to combat counterfeiting in e-commerce was formalised in 2023 under Decision No 319/Q-TTg, signed by the then Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang. The project aims to strengthen legal frameworks, introduce tougher penalties and apply new technologies to detect and handle violations more effectively. Le said that cooperation is critical. Close coordination is needed between enforcement bodies, including cybercrime units, market management agencies, customs authorities, the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, the Competition and Consumer Authority, and tax agencies. The goal is to build a networked response to online smuggling, counterfeiting, and fraud. Local police forces must also play a role, helping to prevent suspects from destroying evidence or fleeing when discovered. At the same time, businesses should be encouraged to commit to not dealing in fake or smuggled goods, he said. The Director of Investigations and Enforcement at REACT Viet Nam, part of an international anti-counterfeiting network, Pham Thanh Hien, said enforcement efforts would benefit from stronger ties between brand owners, regulators and e-commerce platforms. Hien suggested that online sales activities should be considered valid evidence and emphasised the need for an early-warning system based on consumer feedback to identify substandard products. He also called for targetted public awareness campaigns to help consumers and small traders recognise and avoid counterfeit goods. VNS HA NOI Trade between Viet Nam and Singapore continued its strong upward trend in early 2025, rising by 27.15 per cent year-on-year during the first two months, according to Enterprise Singapore (ESG). The two-month trade reached over S$6.57 billion (approximately US$4.91 billion), solidifying Viet Nam's position as Singapores ninth-largest trading partner. Ranking 14th among exporters to Singapore, Vietnamese shipments to the city state exceeded S$1.54 billion in JanuaryFebruary, marking a 23.21 per cent increase. Meanwhile, Viet Nam was the seventh-biggest importer of Singaporean goods, worth nearly S$5.06 billion during the period, up 28.38 per cent. In February alone, bilateral trade topped S$3.18 billion, a 40.41 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. Vietnamese exports to Singapore grew by 31.01 per cent to S$721.37 million, while imports surged by 43.43 per cent to nearly S$2.46 billion last month, statistics show. In February, Viet Nam's key imports from Singapore also posted significant increases, including mobile phones, electronic components, and spare parts (up 44.58 per cent); petrol, oil, and petroleum products (up 24.73 per cent); and industrial boilers, reactors, machine tools, and machinery spare parts (up 142.75 per cent). Some commodities saw exceptional spikes such as lead products (up 34 times) and pharmaceuticals (up 2.3 times), whereas pearl, gem stones, and jewellery products dropped 52.48 per cent, and watches and compoments fell 42.29 per cent. Looking ahead, Cao Xuan Thang, Viet Nam's Trade Counsellor in Singapore, emphasised continued support for Vietnamese enterprises seeking to expand in the market. He highlighted that efforts will be made to provide market updates, facilitate trade connectivity, and promote Vietnamese brands through trade fairs and business networking events. Additionally, initiatives to attract Singaporean investment into Viet Nam's industrial, commercial, and service sectors will be further strengthened, he said. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Finance has submitted a draft resolution to the Government proposing a pilot programme for the issue and trading of cryptocurrencies and digital assets, alongside a mechanism for coordinated oversight involving three key agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank of Viet Nam. The information was disclosed on March 20 by Bui Hoang Hai, Vice Chairman of the State Securities Commission, under the Ministry of Finance. He noted that the purpose of the coordinated framework is to strictly monitor cryptocurrency exchange activities, minimise risks and ensure financial security. According to Hai, cryptocurrencies and digital assets are rapidly developing sectors that carry significant risks for both investors and the broader market. As such, the pilot will be implemented on a limited scale and under strict regulatory supervision. This approach mirrors international practices aimed at mitigating money laundering, terrorism financing and other illegal activities. Currently, Viet Nam lacks clear definitions of cryptocurrency and digital assets, and no legal framework exists to regulate the trading or business activities involved. Existing regulations only cover electronic money that is tied to fiat currency (a type of government-issued currency that is not backed by a precious metal, such as gold or silver) such as prepaid cards or e-wallets. Due to the absence of a legal framework, authorities are unable to implement appropriate tax policies. However, should cryptocurrencies be recognised as legal assets, they could fall under existing tax regimes, including value-added tax and both corporate and personal income tax. In reality, many Vietnamese start-ups have opted to register in jurisdictions, such as Singapore and the United States, only to return and operate domestically. This has resulted in tax revenue losses and a weakening of Viet Nams competitive edge in the digital asset arena. Establishing a legal framework would help define and value digital assets, thereby improving transparency and enabling enterprises to access bank credit and secure investment more easily. According to the Viet Nam Blockchain Association (VBA), around 17 million Vietnamese held digital assets in 2024, ranking the country in seventh place globally. However, the total volume of cryptocurrency flowing into Viet Nam last year reached US$105 billion, down from $120 billion in 2023. VNS HA NOI The process of building the first nuclear power plant in Viet Nam requires a significant amount of time, with many stages to be done. Over the recent past, the country has taken many key steps to ensure that this plant can become operational by 2032 to meet the national energy demand and secure sustainable development. Nuclear science and technology research centre Top priority Professor Pham Duy Hien, an atomic energy expert and former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VAEI) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, affirmed that the development of nuclear power is becoming increasingly important and necessary amid global energy challenges such as the shortage of clean energy sources, climate change, and the growing energy demand. The reactivation of nuclear power projects will help Viet Nam diversify its energy supply sources, guarantee energy security, and achieve its economic growth target as well as its commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, as pledged at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). According to the professor, in the countries that have developed nuclear energy, they first studied and operated research reactors basing on which they would build and develop a nuclear industry. In Viet Nam, the a Lat Nuclear Reactor officially began running on March 20, 1984, with a capacity of 500 kWt. Over 40 years of the reactor's operation, the VAEIs research and development activities have made significant contributions to the country's socio-economic development. This reactor can be considered the first step in introducing atomic energy to Viet Nam, and the upcoming construction of a nuclear science and technology research centre in the southern province of ong Nai will serve as a milestone to ensure that the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant project is completed on schedule. Therefore, Hien emphasised, Viet Nam needs to accelerate the establishment of the centre with a large research reactor as the top priority in the countrys nuclear power development programme. He also expressed his belief that completing and putting this centre into operation will serve as a "cradle" for training human resources needed for Viet Nams nuclear power plants. Readying human resources for nuclear power projects VAEI Director Tran Chi Thanh shared that nuclear science and technology is considered the "backbone" for socio-economic development and national defence security safeguarding. Over the years, the atomic energy sector has been silently preparing to strengthen its workforce and human resources in anticipation of Viet Nam's resumption of its nuclear power project. Restarting the project is not only a strategic decision for national energy security but also contributes to the transition to a sustainable green economy, thereby elevating the country's science and technology to new heights, he remarked. To ensure the success of this project, developing high-quality human resources is one of the key factors. Acknowledging this, the Ministry of Science and Technology has developed plans to build a skilled and long-term workforce, especially personnel for the management and implementation of the nuclear science and technology research centre project in various stages. The ministry has also put forward plans to prepare manpower for the safe and efficient operation of the centre once it is operational, as well as to train human resources for the construction, operation, and development of nuclear power plants. Cao ong Vu, Director of the VAEI's a Lat Nuclear Research Institute, noted that over the past years, the a Lat institute has carried out numerous technical support projects and research contracts with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other partners. In addition, it has actively participated in other multilateral collaboration frameworks, including the Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation, the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia, and bilateral cooperation with national-level laboratories in the US, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, among others. Every year, it also hosts and organises several international seminars and specialised training courses, focusing on radiation safety, reactor technology, nuclear applications in industry and the environment, environmental radiation monitoring, and response to radiation and nuclear emergencies, Vu went on. Deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam Ishikawa Isamu confirmed that the VAEI has devoted much effort to nuclear energy research. This dedication has served as a cornerstone in restarting and promoting the implementation of nuclear power projects. Studies on nuclear power, nuclear technology, and even small modular reactor technology have shown that Vietnam still maintains continuity and is always ready to provide human resources for nuclear power development, he added. VNS HA NOI As news spread that the five-storey building, nicknamed 'Ham Ca Map' (The Shark Jaw), one of Ha Nois most controversial contemporary buildings on the northern bank of Lake Hoan Kiem, is set to be demolished, crowds of residents and tourists flocked to the site for one last visit. The iconic building is being torn down before April 30 and large numbers have been heading to the lake to see it for themselves and, of course, for one last farewell photo. In recent days, the area around ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Hoan Kiem District has been bustling with visitors eager to capture moments with the famed building, nicknamed due to its shape. The normally crowded square has become even livelier, as people enthusiastically check in with this architectural symbol of Hoan Kiem Lake before its removal. Taking advantage of a weekday afternoon to snap some photos, Nguyen Thi ao, 23, from Thai Binh Province, was surprised to see so many people gathered there. Despite having lived and worked in Ha Noi for only a few years, she considers the location a familiar meeting spot whenever she strolls around the lake. "Going to cafes in The Shark Jaw' building has always been my go-to whenever there were music events at ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, ao said. Sitting up there, I could easily watch performances below while enjoying a panoramic view of the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake." Constructed between 1991 and 1993, on the site of a former tram station and Bach Hoa Bo Ho (department store), 'The Shark Jaw' building is known for its distinctive design, resembling a giant shark's mouth. Beyond its eye-catching architecture, the building's prime location at the heart of Ha Noi has made it a memorable landmark for locals and visitors alike. For Huyen Trang, 39, a Ha Noi resident, the building holds cherished memories of her and her husband. "We often came here for dates, enjoying meals and drinks at our favourite spots. Sitting together in the evening, looking out from at Hoan Kiem Lake and the shimmering The Huc Bridge, always felt warm and intimate," Trang recalled. Meanwhile, for Thanh Ha, 62, who was born and raised in Ha Noi, 'The Shark Jaw' building has been an inseparable part of her daily life. "I've taken many photos here over the years, but this final one before its removal feels the most sentimental," she said. However, she agrees that dismantling the building to create a more open and valuable space for the surrounding area is a reasonable decision. Despite the nostalgia, the influx of visitors has raised concerns about public order and traffic safety. The Ha Noi Traffic Police Department has urged residents and tourists not to stop, park or gather in large crowds on roads and pavements around ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, as it poses risks to both safety and urban aesthetics. The multi storey building is scheduled for removal before the end of April, part of a broader urban renewal project. Once demolished, the space, combined with surrounding streets, will create a 1.2-hectare community area in ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square. This initiative is part of a major effort to renovate, enhance and revitalise the Hoan Kiem Lake area, a site of immense historical and cultural significance. VNS A NANG The Viet Nam Japan Cultural Exchange 2025, hosted by ong A University in the central city of a Nang, offered visitors various experiences of the two countries' cultural heritage, aiming to help strengthen ties between the two nations. Marking its 10th edition at ong A University, the annual event commemorated 52 years of the Viet Nam Japan diplomatic relations (1973 2025). It drew over 500 high school students and an art troupe from Tokyo. The Japanese troupe delivered 14 captivating performances, including a live reenactment of scenes from the iconic anime Naruto, kimono showcases, Ikebana floral art, Japanese ink painting, and large-scale calligraphy demonstrations. The event also featured folk games from both cultures, such as Yabusame (Japanese horseback archery), Kingyo Sukui (goldfish scooping), and O an quan (Vietnamese stone game). Attendees immersed themselves in Japanese culture through kimono try-ons, themed photography zones, the Nagashi Somen bamboo noodle festival, and a lively cosplay celebration. A standout feature was the Fusion of Cultures flashmob competition, where 300 students from eight high schools creatively blended Vietnamese and Japanese cultural elements through music, fashion, and dance. Students of ong A Universitys Japanese language and culture faculty further explored aspects of Japanese life, including sports, wellness, music, and workplace skills. Japanese Consul General in a Nang Mori Takero hailed the event as a meaningful bridge for cultural exchange, allowing students to experience Japans beauty while deepening bilateral ties. Dr. Ngo Quang Vinh, Vice Rector of ong A University, emphasised the programmes role in fostering cultural appreciation and strengthening VIet Nam Japan friendship. On this occasion, the organising committee awarded 16 scholarships to ong A University students, enabling them to undertake internships and work in Japan starting in the second quarter of 2025. VNA/VNS The Law on Data was passed by the National Assembly on November 30 last year and will officially take effect on July 1. The decrees guiding the implementation of the law are under public consultation until the end of this month. Ha Thi Dung, partner at Mori Hamada Vietnam*, speaks to Viet Nam News reporter Bao Hoa about the highlights of the law, which play an important role in regulating Viet Nams digital environment. What is your general understanding of the Law on Data? According to the document introducing the draft Law on Data, the goal of the law is to provide a legal basis for Vietnamese State agencies to build a comprehensive national database, which will be a centralised database that can support the State in building a digital Government. Viet Nam has wanted to build a digital Government for a long time, but has not been able to have all systems and data in sync. The data law is one of the laws that aims to support the Government in collecting and building a consistent national database. It also aims to create a legal basis for State agencies and organisations to collect data and build, manage, operate, connect, share and use that database. A major focus of the law is on cross-border data transfers. Can you explain what they are? There are three cases of cross-border data transfers stipulated by the law. They are when data stored in Viet Nam is transferred to data storage systems outside the country, when Vietnamese agencies, organisations and individuals transfer data to foreign organisations and individuals, and when they use platforms outside of Viet Nam to process data. However, only in cases where the data transferred is core and important must data transferors submit impact assessment documents before transferring. The criteria for assessing the data are not provided in the law or in the draft decree regulating the implementation of the law, but in the draft decision of the Prime Minister on core and important data. The criteria in this draft decision are also quite broad, but they do point towards banks, insurance companies, credit organisations, hospitals, e-commerce platforms, intermediary payment services and social media platforms that will be subject to filing an impact assessment. What else should be noticed about the law? Another important point is that this is an official legal document by the State that recognises ownership of data as a property right as prescribed by civil law. This has many impacts and legal implications. It means that parties which own data have the rights of a property owner to buy, sell, give, exchange and decide what to do with the data. It also applies to when a party steals data. A case in point is when a hacker breaks into a system and steals data. Currently, the legal responsibility of this case is only related to the crime of illegally accessing another person's computer network, telecommunications network or electronic device. But when the data law comes into effect, it can become a type of property theft, and the probability of considering the hacker as having committed a crime is higher especially since the value of the stolen property doesn't need to be high to constitute a crime. In fact, the value is quite low: only VN2 million (US$78) needs to be stolen. So an individual who steals employee data or corporate data can also be considered for theft of property charges. There are many implications behind the recognition of data ownership as a property right. This is what the Vietnamese legislature is gearing up for, similar to the draft Law on Digital Technology Industry, which regulates that ownership of digital products can be established as a property right. Do the cross-border data transfer regulations restrict the flow of data and contradict other laws on the digital economy, especially the Law on Digital Technology Industry, which aims to boost the development of artificial intelligence in Viet Nam, requiring substantial data exchanges? There are actually no provisions in the Law on Data that prohibit transferring data out of Viet Nam, it just requires data transferors to carry out an impact assessment before transferring. Data transfer will only be stopped when the transferred data is discovered to be used for activities that violate national security and interests, the legitimate interests of organisations and individuals that are the data owners, or when data loss or disclosure occurs. However, if data transferors comply and submit impact assessment documents before transferring, they can still transfer data and will not be restricted. In my opinion, the Law on Data does not contradict other laws that govern technology development, products using artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things, such as the Law on Digital Technology Industry. But it will increase the cost of compliance for data transferors. They will have to do a data audit and carry out annual or periodic assessments to comply with the law. VNS *Mori Hamada Vietnam is part of Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, a law firm headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. HA NOI To enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of State management, the Politburo has issued a conclusion regarding the research and proposals to continue reorganising the structure of the political system. It includes the merger of some provincial-level administrative units, the elimination of some at district-level and the further merger of commune-level units. Issuing conclusion 127-KL/TW of the Politburo and the Secretariat on February 28, 2025 is being seen as an important step in the administrative reform process, contributing to streamlining and improving service quality for the people and optimising resources. Many experts believe that to effectively implement this policy, a suitable roadmap and concerted solutions are necessary to ensure the rationality of the organisational structure, avoid overburdening local administrations, and guarantee the maximum legitimate rights and interests of the people. Policy should be piloted on small scale According to Professor Dr ang Huy Huynh, chairman of the Viet Nam Heritage Tree Association, reorganising the administrative apparatus towards a leaner structure is a necessary step, in line with the trend of reform in many other countries worldwide. They include Denmark that cut the number of administrative units to save money, optimise resources, and improve management efficiency, and France where the number of administrative regions have also been reduced. Affirming his support for the policy, Huynh also pointed out some challenges that Viet Nam needs to be aware of. One of them is that when district-level administrative units are eliminated, local administrations at the commune level may have to take on more responsibilities, leading to the risk of overload. This requires reasonable adjustments in organisation and staffing, as well as promoting the use of technology to reduce manual workloads. In addition, to ensure the effective implementation of this policy, the professor suggested it should be piloted in small localities to assess the impact and draw lessons before rolling it out nationwide. Furthermore, there needs to be stronger decentralisation to local authorities, enhancing the empowerment of commune-level administrations to ensure uninterrupted management work. Regarding the promotion of digital transformation, he stressed that investing in an e-government system aims to support citizens in carrying out administrative procedures online, thereby easing the pressure on local administrative bodies. At the same time, it is essential to strengthen training and capacity-building for officials and civil servants, helping them adapt to such changes and improve their public management skills. Ensuring financial resources and infrastructure is also a crucial factor in enabling commune-level governments to effectively carry out new tasks transferred from the district level. Streamlining the administrative apparatus is not only about merging administrative units but also requires revamping management methods, applying technology and enhancing the capacity of the staff. If the work stays on the right track, it will be a breakthrough in administrative reform, contributing to improving State management efficiency and better serving the people. Maximum convenience for the people Not only has the policy received support from experts and scientists, but it has also been endorsed by many citizens. However, alongside this support, there are concerns regarding the accessibility of public administrative services once the district level is eliminated. According to Nguyen Tien Vinh, deputy secretary of the Party Cell of Residential Area No. 3, Lac Trung Street, Vinh Tuy Ward, Ha Noi's Hai Ba Trung District, the elimination of the district level may require citizens to travel longer distances to complete administrative procedures. Currently, many people are used to going to district headquarters to handle paperwork such as birth and business registrations and land use rights certification. If these procedures are moved to the provincial level or down to the commune level, a reasonable mechanism needs to be in place to ensure convenience for the people, Vinh said, questioning the capacity of commune-level administrative units to handle additional tasks from the district level. Commune officials are already very busy, and adding more responsibilities could affect the speed of work processing. Therefore, there needs to be a specific plan to ensure no pressure on the system and service quality. In light of this reality, Vinh suggested expanding online public administrative services, allowing citizens to complete procedures from home, without needing to travel long distances. Additionally, inter-regional administrative centres should be established to allow citizens to complete procedures quickly without travelling to the provincial level. Furthermore, there is a need to strengthen communication and guidance to help people understand the implementation roadmap and the new operational methods, so they can proactively adapt to the changes. If the Government has a clear plan and invests in technology, the elimination of the district level will make sense, helping to reduce administrative procedures and make things more convenient for the people. VNA/VNS HA NOI - Viet Nam values its relationship with the US and hopes that bilateral ties will continue to develop positively, becoming increasingly substantive and deeper, said National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man at a reception for visiting US Senator Steven David Daines in Ha Noi on March 20. Man welcomed Daines' visit, saying it takes place in the year marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the second year of implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership. He reaffirmed Viet Nam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of relations, and active and proactive international integration. The top legislator appreciated the US Congress and senators support for the strengthening of bilateral ties and urged Senator Daines to continue promoting cooperation between the two sides. He emphasised the importance of exchanges and contacts at all levels, especially high level, including parliamentary engagements, and called for enhanced collaboration in such areas as economy, trade and investment, science and technology, energy, and war legacy remediation for the benefit of both countries' people and businesses, as well as for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. For his part, Daines expressed his delight at visiting Viet Nam for the first time. He said he is honoured to be the first US senator to visit the country in 2025, and is impressed by Viet Nams strong development and the hospitality of its people. He affirmed that Viet Nam is a key partner of the US in the region and thanked Vietnams leaders for heeding the development of bilateral relations. He also commended the achievements Viet Nam has made over the past 30 years and expressed optimism about the future of the two countries' relations. The senator agreed with Mans proposals for strengthening bilateral cooperation and pledged to continue contributing to the growth of US-Viet Nam ties. He stressed the need to increase exchanges and visits by the two countries' lawmakers, and expand economic, trade and investment co-operation, including between the US state of Montana and Vietnamese localities. VNS VIENTIANE Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam on March 20 visited the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee's Commission for External Relations to extend congratulations on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of the Party (March 22, 1955 2025). Tam conveyed the congratulatory message from the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee to the LPRP Central Committee, while also delivering a bouquet from CPV General Secretary To Lam to LPRP General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith; former LPRP Chairman and former President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone; and former LPRP General Secretaries and Presidents of Laos Choummaly Sayasone and Bounnhang Vorachit. The ambassador congratulated the Lao Party for its great, comprehensive achievements over the past seven decades and reaffirmed Viet Nams unwavering support for Laos renewal efforts. He expressed his belief that under the LPRP's leadership, the Lao people will reap greater attainments in all fields. He also expressed deep gratitude for the great, valuable and wholehearted support the Lao Party, State, and people have provided to Viet Nam throughout history, stressing Viet Nams commitment to always preserving and fostering the special Viet Nam -Laos relationship For his part, Bounleua Phandanouvong, acting head of the Lao Party's Commission for External Relations, thanked Viet Nam for its longstanding and heartfelt support and assistance to Lao during its past struggles for independence as well as current development efforts. Both sides noted with pleasure the thriving great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos. They also reaffirmed close co-ordination to effectively implementing the agreements reached by the two countries' high-ranking Party and State leaders, as well as the cooperation plan set at the 47th Viet Nam -Laos Intergovernmental Committee meeting. Earlier the same day, Ambassador Tam paid a floral tribute at Kaysone Phomvihane Museum in honour of the esteemed Lao revolutionary leader and close friend of the Vietnamese people. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered that Long Thanh International Airport must be basically completed by December 31 this year, ensuring it is ready to welcome its first flight. During an inspection visit to the construction site in southern province of ong Nai and accompanied transport projects on March 20, the PM emphasised the projects critical significance. The first phase of Long Thanh International Airport, with an investment of over VN109 trillion (US$4.6 billion), has been under construction since 2020 and is scheduled for completion in 2026. Progress varies among the four sub-projects due to certain difficulties and obstacles. Talking to ministries, sectors, contractors, and local authorities, PM Chinh stressed that all stakeholders must remain committed to the December 31, 2025 deadline. Giving several key directions to ensure the project stays on track, he ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to begin construction of the plant and animal quarantine offices without delay and complete them before the end of 2025. He instructed the contractors working on the passenger terminal to strictly adhere to their commitments. For imported equipment, he told them to send personnel abroad to expedite shipments and escort deliveries to ensure timely arrival. The PM directed Vietnam Airlines to take responsibility for developing aircraft maintenance infrastructure and services at Plots 1 and 2, while assigning Vietjet to handle the work at Plots 3 and 4. To resolve the shortage of construction materials, he tasked Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha with overseeing efforts to secure new supply sources. He also urged Dong Nai province to facilitate access to local quarries for stone and sand. In parallel with the airport project, several major transport links are being developed to ensure smooth connectivity. These include the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, the HCM City Long Thanh Expressway, the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, Ring Road 3 in HCM City, and the Long Thanh - Thu Thiem light railway. According to the Ministry of Construction, work on the T1 and T2 roads connecting with the airport are progressing rapidly. The T1 road is expected to technically open to traffic on April 30, while T2 is scheduled for completion in July. The remaining roadworks are set to be finished and put into use on September 2, three months ahead of schedule. Inspecting the construction of some facilities, PM Chinh recognised the progress made so far,. He praised the workers at the sites and urged them to continue accelerating construction. He called on them to continue working around the clock, including on public holidays and weekends, ensuring all deadlines are met. To ensure long-term transport connectivity, the leader also asked for consideration of a metro line linking Long Thanh Airport with Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City. VNA/VNS HA NOI Viet Nam values its relationship with the US and hopes that bilateral ties will continue to develop positively, becoming increasingly substantive and deeper, said National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man at a reception for visiting US Senator Steven David Daines in Ha Noi on Thursday. Man welcomed Daines' visit, saying it takes place in the year marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the second year of implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership. He reaffirmed Viet Nam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of relations, and active and proactive international integration. The top legislator appreciated the US Congress and senators support for the strengthening of bilateral ties and urged Senator Daines to continue promoting cooperation between the two sides. He emphasised the importance of exchanges and contacts at all levels, especially high level, including parliamentary engagements, and called for enhanced collaboration in such areas as economy, trade and investment, science and technology, energy, and war legacy remediation for the benefit of both countries' people and businesses, as well as for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. For his part, Daines expressed his delight at visiting Viet Nam for the first time. He said he is honoured to be the first US senator to visit the country in 2025, and is impressed by Viet Nam's strong development and the hospitality of its people. He affirmed that Viet Nam is a key partner of the US in the region and thanked Viet Nam's leaders for heeding the development of bilateral relations. He also commended the achievements Viet Nam has made over the past 30 years and expressed optimism about the future of the two countries' relations. The senator agreed with Mans proposals for strengthening bilateral cooperation and pledged to continue contributing to the growth of US-Viet Nam ties. He stressed the need to increase exchanges and visits by the two countries' lawmakers, and expand economic, trade and investment cooperation, including between the US state of Montana and Vietnamese localities. VNA/VNS HA NOI Floating fish cages on La Juventud reservoir in Palacios town, Pinar del Rio province, stand as a testament to the Viet Nam Cuba friendship as Vietnam's tilapia farming technology has transformed this region into a key aquacultural hub, contributing to the Caribbean nations food security. In 2011, Vietnamese experts introduced the tilapia sex reversal technique to the basic business unit (UEB) of the La Juventud fish farm. By administering male steroid to newly hatched fry, the rate of male fish which grow faster and attain higher harvest body weight than females has been raised to 98 per cent. This has become the core technique at intensive farming models. UEB Director Pedro Antonio Gonzalez Graveran said it is the key to productivity breakthrough. Challenges arose when the project was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2023, two pilot cages farming 16,000 fingerlings that weighed 2550g each reaped an impressive result when tilapia reached an average weight of 860g in just 34 months. Some even weighed over 1kg. Mercedes Dominguez, a veterinarian at the farm, said the growth of 8g per day had been previously a dream of Cuba's fisheries sector. Vietnamese specialists adapted the technology to Cuban conditions, replacing modern aeration systems with floating cages that utilise natural water flows. Locally available feed such as corn and cassava by-products was used instead of costly imports. This has led to a rise in yields, from 4 tonnes per ha in 2011 to 13.3 tonnes per ha in 2023, while workers' monthly wage surged from US$13 in 2015 to $58 in 2023. The ambition is to harvest 7080 tonnes of fish for the commercial purpose in 2025, raising the project's total output to over 100 tonnes. It is expected that Cuba will able to master fry production and monosex tilapia farming technoligies by next year, when the project ends. Cuban Deputy Minister of the Food Industry Miladys Naranjo hopes the project will be expanded nationwide, contributing to a $2 billion reduction in annual food import costs. Meanwhile, Minister Alberto Lopez Diaz said Viet Nam has been assisting Cuba to develop highly-skilled aquaculture technicians. Cuba has proved its aquaculture potential thanks to learning Viet Nam 's experience, he noted, adding that it pledges to turn this into a key sector to contribute to food security and export. During a recent visit to the farm, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Quang Long stressed that bilateral cooperation in aquaculture is a testament to the solidarity and knowlwedge sharing between the two countries, affirming Viet Nam 's readiness to stand side by side with Cuba in the new period. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam always attaches importance to its traditional friendship with Sri Lanka, Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Nguyen uc Hai told Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on March 20. Hai, who is on an official visit to the South Asian country from March 19-22, expressed his delight at the continuous development of bilateral relations over the past 55 years, emphasising that the two countries have together cultivated relations with a long history and high political trust as well as warm affections. Harini Amarasuriya welcomed and appreciated Hais opinions, particularly the need to continue promoting all-level delegation exchanges, resume the implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms in 2025, including the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, to review and set directions for future collaboration, and continue to review and sign new agreements in promising fields. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, and investment, with an aim to soon reach US$1 billion in two-way trade; consider negotiating and signing a free trade agreement soon; and promote the possibility of a direct air route to facilitate exchanges, trade, and tourism, and tap into the potential and strength of each country. She affirmed that her country will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to invest long-term in Sri Lanka, especially in areas where Sri Lanka has demand and Viet Nam has strengths, such as agriculture, infrastructure, services, tourism, and retail. The two sides also agreed to strengthen and deepen collaboration in other potential fields such as tourism, education and training, cultural and religious exchanges, and people-to-people connections. The Prime Minister stressed that Viet Nam and Sri Lanka share many similarities on regional and international issues. Therefore, in the context of the complex developments in the world and regional situations, mutual trust and alignment of viewpoints serve as the foundation for the two countries to further strengthen their cooperation and support each other at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. She reiterated Sri Lanka's proposal to soon become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and expressed her hope that Viet Nam will support and assist her country in this process, based on the strong and friendly relations between the two countries. On the same day, the Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman had a meeting with Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, during which he affirmed that Viet Nam always remembers the valuable support that Sri Lanka extended to it during its struggle for national reunification in the past, and continues to highly value the nurturing of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the South Asian nation today. Wickramaratne showed his hope that Viet Nam will share its experience in international economic integration, foreign investment attraction, and agricultural development with Sri Lanka. Hai shared Viet Nam's experiences in agricultural development, and the building of the OCOP (One Commune, One Product) model, and suggested Sri Lanka send delegations to Viet Nam for further exchange on this field. He also thanked Sri Lanka for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living and studying there; and requested it to implement preferential policies to encourage Vietnamese businesses to strengthen trade and investment cooperation. Both sides agreed to continue promoting the implementation of signed agreements, expand cooperation between localities, as well as promote cultural, educational, tourism, and Buddhist cooperation, while encouraging Sri Lankan students to study in Viet Nam. They pledged to intensify delegation and people-to-people exchanges, and organise practical activities to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. In the context of both Viet Nam and Sri Lanka striving to achieve their socio-economic development targets, their parliaments should strengthen cooperation and share experiences, especially in the areas of building institutions and perfecting the legal system for the development of the digital economy and digital society, they stressed. The two sides also exchanged and shared experiences in developing policies aimed at creating favourable conditions for the development of ethnic minorities in remote and rural areas, as well as those for environmental protection and sustainable development. Also on March 20, Hai met with Sri Lanka's Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, during which they shared experiences in the development of economy, agriculture and trade, and digital transformation, and discussed the possibility of signing the FTA between the two countries. Within the framework of his visit, the NA Vice Chairman also held talks with Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Rizvie Salih, met with the newly established Sri Lanka-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group, and planted a commemorative tree in the grounds of the Sri Lankan Parliament. He then visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Colombo, where they met with diplomats and representatives of the Vietnamese community there. The Vietnamese community in the South Asian country has about 150 people, including 70 monks and nuns. VNS BRUSSELS The Viet Nam Intellectual Association in Belgium and Luxembourg (ViLaB) made its debut in Luxembourg on March 20 with the presence of Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Nguyen Van Thao, and a large number of financial experts. This event marks a significant milestone in strengthening the connections and contributions of the Vietnamese intellectual community in these two European countries. The launch event was part of a roundtable between Vietnamese financial experts in Luxembourg and a Vietnamese Government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh with an aim to promote cooperation in building, operating, and developing financial centres in Viet Nam. Addressing the event, Dr. Phung Quoc Tri, a scientist from Belgiums Nuclear Research Centre and Chairman of ViLaB, highlighted the association's mission to connect intellectuals and promote sustainable development, aiming to realise the anticipated potential for cooperation between Viet Nam and the European Union. He said that ViLaB has outlined three core strategic goals serving as platform for information exchange on science and technology, innovation, education, economy, and culture among its members; fostering cooperation in scientific research and technology transfer, providing mutual support in applying innovations in practice and business; and strengthening scientific and technological collaboration between Viet Nam, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Europe as a whole. The association's activities will focus on four key pillars - digital transformation and high technology; renewable energy, nuclear energy, and green technology; health care and biotechnology; and education, support for international integration and business development. Currently, ViLaB has attracted over 150 members, including experts and intellectuals based in Belgium and Luxembourg. Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc underlined the significance of the establishment of ViLaB, describing it as an essential foundation for fostering cooperation in finance and entrepreneurship. She acknowledged the valuable contributions of Vietnamese financial experts, highlighting that their practical experience plays a crucial role in helping Viet Nam develop its innovation networks and financial markets amidst global integration. Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao praised the contributions of Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in Luxembourg. He expressed confidence that these ideas and initiatives will play a vital role in the future development of Viet Nam's financial centres. The ambassador also emphasised that the intellectual network in Belgium and Luxembourg is a crucial bridge for expanding cooperation not only between these two countries but also with the wider European region. The leaders of HCM City, a Nang, the State Securities Commission of Viet Nam, and the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) also acknowledged that the insights from Vietnamese experts in Luxembourg are not only practical but also highly applicable. Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh stressed that Viet Nam is preparing for a new era of development. It is projected that by 2026, the economy will grow at a minimum rate of 10% per year. By 2045, the centennial anniversary of Viet Nams founding, the country aims to become a developed nation with an average income per capita of US$17,000, three times the current figure. Binh highlighted the vital role of the Vietnamese intellectual diaspora in this vision. He proposed a strategy for training financial professionals, including sending them to Luxembourg for study, to contribute to the development of key financial centres in HCM City and a Nang. VNS HA NOI - Viet Nam values the traditional friendship and cooperation with Mozambique, considering it a priority partner in Africa, and hopes to expand solidarity, friendship and traditional cooperation with the country for mutual benefit as well as for peace, cooperation and development in the world. The remark was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique Tran Thi Thu Thin while presenting State President Luong Cuong's credentials to Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo in Maputo on March 19. Chapo congratulated Thin on her appointment as Viet Nams Ambassador to Mozambique, expressing his belief that she will make significant contributions to strengthening all-around relations between the two nations. He highlighted the positive development of the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries over the past half-century, citing the success of Movitel - a joint venture between Viet Nam's Viettel Group and Mozambique's SPI company as a symbol of bilateral cooperation. He expressed his hope that more Vietnamese businesses will invest in Mozambique in the future. Thin affirmed her commitment to strengthening the good friendship and expanding multifaceted cooperation between the two nations, especially in new areas such as mining, telecommunications, information technology, and digital transformation. She called on the Mozambican government to support the Vietnamese community in the country, thus further strengthening the friendship between the two nations. The diplomat conveyed the regards and best wishes of Party Genreal Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong to Daniel Francisco Chapo on his election as Chairman of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) and his inauguration as the President of Mozambique. She also relayed an invitation from Viet Nams leaders to the host President to visit Viet Nam soon. VNS HA NOI A special gathering of Vietnamese and Chinese alumni was held in Ha Noi on March 20 to celebrate 75 years of the two countries' diplomatic relations and the Year of Viet Nam China Humanistic Exchange 2025. The event, organised at the Viet Nam China Friendship Palace, was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations, Viet Nam Television, and the Viet Nam News Agency. Participants, including past and present students who have learned in the two countries, reflected on their experiences and the long-standing friendship between Viet Nam and China. Among them was Huang Xiaolong, a doctoral student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, and a lecturer at the Guangxi University. She said she plans to return to China after completing her PhD programme to teach the Vietnamese language. She hopes to inspire students to strengthen the Viet Nam China friendship and deepen their understanding of various aspects of Viet Nam. Having lived in Viet Nam for eight years, Huang has witnessed the transformation of the country. She shared that her interest in Viet Nam began in her childhood, motivated by Vietnamese women in elegant "ao dai" visiting the Dongxing Mong Cai border gates as well as her mothers close relationship with Vietnamese friends. She first arrived in Viet Nam in 2009 through a joint university programme. She said she has received strong support from Vietnamese teachers, who have not only guided her academically but also introduced her to the Vietnamese cuisine and culture. Meanwhile, former child actress Tran Thien Tu earned a masters degree at Chinas Central Academy of Drama. She has long nurtured her passion for the Chinese language and culture, and now gained TikTok fame for performing Vietnamese songs with Chinese lyrics. Reflecting on her time in China, she highlighted opportunities to promote Vietnamese culture through festivals, traditional attire, folk games, tourist destination introduction, and cuisine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tu and her friends began translating Vietnamese songs into Chinese for fun. Their works later gained unexpected attention and won high evaluation of listeners on social media, evolving into a meaningful cultural exchange. Encouraged by the positive response, they have focused on maintaining translation quality to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. Expressing her honour to attend the event, Tu said she looks forward to more cultural collaboration projects between Viet Nam and China in the future, particularly in theatre and film, where former students like her could leverage their expertise and help foster the bilateral friendship. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received R.N. Minnikhanov, Head of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation in Ha Noi on Saturday, where he called on Tatarstan to consider building a Kamaz automobile manufacturing plant in Vietnam. PM Chinh told his guest that Vietnam treasures its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the Russian Federation and lauded the dynamic development of the bilateral relations across various sectors, particularly their frequent high-level exchanges and significant achievements in economic, trade, investment, cultural, tourism, and educational cooperation. Applauding the outcomes of the Tatarstan delegations working session with Ha Noi authorities and recent business networking events between the two sides, the Government leader expressed confidence that the visit would help strengthen collaboration between Tatarstan and Vietnamese localities, further deepening the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. For his part, Minnikhanov talked about Tatarstans potential and strengths, sharing a keen interest in cooperation with Viet Nam in artificial intelligence, information technology, automotive industry, chemicals, civil aviation, food chemistry, garment-textiles, furniture manufacturing, and education-training, among other fields. He also proposed opening a direct flight route between Kazan and Ha Noi for stronger cooperation between the two sides. Agreeing on the guests suggestions for collaboration in areas aligned with strengths and interests of both Viet Nam and Tatarstan, PM Chinh urged Tatarstan to enhance locality-to-locality cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. On this occasion, Minnikhanov extended his invitation to PM Chinh to visit Tatarstan at a convenient time. VNS HA NOI A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam Peoples Army Sen. Lieut. Gen Le Quang Minh visited the Lao Embassy in Ha Noi on March 21 to congratulate its officials and staff on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) (March 22). Minh hailed the LPRPs founding in 1955 as a historic turning point that ushered in a heroic chapter in Laos fight for national liberation and its efforts to build and protect the homeland. He also praised the LPRPs steadfast leadership, which not only secured glorious victories against colonial and imperial forces, preserved independence and territorial integrity, but also drove notable progress in national development. Expressing delight at the Laos tremendous achievements under the LPRPs leadership, he affirmed that the special solidarity between the two countries Parties, States, and people is an invaluable asset and a fundamental principle for their survival and development. The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence always highly values its cooperation with the Lao counterpart, considering it one of the key pillars of bilateral relations, he said, adding that both sides have effectively rolled out numerous practical defence cooperation activities over the past years. Lao Vice Ambassador to Viet Nam Latana Sihalaj, in response, affirmed that the Lao Party, State, Government, army and people are always grateful to the Vietnamese counterparts unwavering support throughout their journey, from its past struggles for independence and unification to its ongoing efforts in national construction, defence, and development. Affirming the unique, exemplary and rare nature of Laos-Viet Nam relationship, Sihalaj spoke highly of the close and meaningful cooperation between the two defence ministries in recent years, calling it crucial to further strengthen and deepen the Laos-Vietnam partnership. VNS HA NOI Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations and international organisations in Vienna, Austria, has expressed his hope for stronger ties with Interpol to bolster Viet Nams role as a member state and curb transnational crimes. In a working session with Head of the Interpols Permanent Observer Office to the UN Floriane Bacconnier on Thursday, Hoang said as the Chair of the Asia-Pacific Group at international organisations in Vienna, Viet Nam stands ready to serve as a bridge to further boost cooperation between Interpol and regional countries, contributing to maintaining an environment of peace, stability, security, and sustainable development. He noted that since joining Interpol in 1991, Vietnamese authorities have successfully combated foreign-related and transnational crimes through Interpol cooperation. The diplomat hailed Interpol as an effective network enabling Vietnamese authorities to work with international counterparts on the sharing of anti-crime information and experience, joint investigations, the handling of transnational organised crime cases, and the apprehension of numerous internationally fugitives. Viet Nam has been actively working with Interpol and other countries on training and capacity-building programmes to enhance law enforcement capabilities and practical expertise in combating transnational crimes, he said. Hoang congratulated Interpol on its impressive achievements in combating transnational organised crimes worldwide, particularly in the fight against terrorism and cybercrime. He highlighted Interpols active participation and valuable contributions to the successful drafting of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, which is scheduled to be opened for signing in Ha Noi this year. Bacconnier underlined the crucial role of permanent missions in facilitating practical cooperation between Interpol and national law enforcement agencies. She expressed her hope for closer collaboration with Viet Nams Permanent Mission in the near future to launch new initiatives aimed at improving effective partnerships between Interpol and Asia-Pacific countries, including Viet Nam. Interpol looks forward to Viet Nam successfully hosting the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime and hopes for its early entry into force, she said, adding that the convention acknowledges Interpols essential role in promoting international cooperation through the rapid and secure sharing of information on cybercrime and related offenses. VNS HA GIANG The Lung Cu border guard station under the Border Guard Command of the northern province of Ha Giang on Friday conducted a joint patrol along the Viet Nam-China border with the Fu Ning border guard unit under the Chinese People's Liberation Army. During the operation, the two sides met to discuss border security and other related issues. The patrol covered the section of the shared border between Marker No. 424 and Marker No. 426, ensuring the protection and integrity of the boundary markers. Observations from the joint work confirmed that the markers remain intact, reflecting the stability and development of border communities on both sides. Local residents have not only maintained stable livelihoods but also actively contributed to border security, adhering to regulations and agreements governing the area. The joint patrol was part of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and its Chinese counterpart, signed on November 12, 2017, in a bid to strengthen bilateral friendship, border management, and solidarity. VNS HA NOI The Department for Roads of Viet Nam (DRV) has urged relevant units to promptly complete the rectification, repair and improvement of traffic signals which remain problematic. The traffic light system and road signs are integral components of road safety and traffic management. Addressing any shortcomings in these systems is crucial to ensuring smooth and safe traffic flow for the public. Rectifying these issues promptly to enhance overall road safety and efficiency must be prioritised, according to the department. In an official dispatch sent to the Ministry of Construction regarding the results of a comprehensive review to address inconsistencies in the road sign and traffic light system, DRV Deputy Director Nguyen Thanh Hoai stated that as of March 13, reports from 38 out of 63 provinces and road management units showed that 2,716 traffic light clusters at intersections were reviewed. The number is expected to increase as major cities and provinces with large urban areas submit additional reports. Among these, 1,500 ones have been handed over to the traffic police, while 1,216 ones have yet to be transferred. The review identified 586 problematic traffic lights, of which 139 have been rectified, while 447 are still under repair. On national highways and expressways, there are 1,839 traffic lights at intersections, of which 1,100 ones have been handed over to the traffic police, while 739 ones have yet to be transferred. And the review found 447 problematic lights, with 83 already fixed and 364 still being addressed. For local roads, reports from 38 provinces and centrally governed cities indicate that there are 877 traffic light clusters at intersections, of which 400 clusters have been transferred to the traffic police, while 477 clusters remain. Additionally, 139 clusters were found to pose risks to travellers, with 56 already rectified and 83 still being addressed. DRV also identified several issues with traffic light clusters, including lights that have been in operation for more than five years and are affected by weather conditions including sun, rain and wind, causing unstable green and red signals and power supply failures, damaged electrical cabinets, faulty components, or old batteries, leading to weak signal output. Traffic lights and countdown lights can also be damaged due to accidents light bulbs are burned out, many light clusters do not have countdown lights, there are no pedestrian signal lights at intersections or they are broken and not working or the location of the signal poles is unreasonable or hidden. The delay in handing over 739 traffic light clusters on national highways is mainly because these lights are installed at intersections between local roads and national highways, Hoai said. These were invested and managed by local authorities, provincial traffic safety committees, or other agencies using local or socialised funds. Therefore, further procedural steps are needed to finalise the handover, he said. For damaged or problematic traffic lights, road management agencies must complete repairs as per Decree No. 165/2024/N-CP before handing them over to the traffic police. Some localities, such as the Department of Construction of Soc Trang Province, have reported delays in the handover process due to ongoing organisational restructuring. Road sign issues Regarding the national road sign system, there are currently 5,962 problematic road signs across the entire road network, of which 4,386 have been addressed, while 1,576 remain unresolved. There are 957 problematic road signs on national highways and expressways, and 2,403 ones on local roads in 38 provinces. Some signs are installed in the wrong locations that need moving to ensure traffic safety. Along some roads, the traffic volume and density of vehicles participating in traffic are increasing, so it is necessary to rearrange signs to help drivers easily see them. Based on findings of the existing shortcomings and inconsistencies in the traffic signal and road sign system, DRV has requested local departments of construction, People's committees at all levels, and BOT enterprises managing national highways and expressways to urgently complete the rectification, repair and improvement of problematic signalised intersections. It also urges the prompt and definitive resolution of the handover process for the operation, management, and use of the traffic signal system to the traffic police force. Furthermore, any road signs that conflict with the new national traffic sign standard (QCVN41:2024/BGTVT), which has taken effect since January 1, this year, must be replaced or adjusted immediately to ensure uniform, safe and efficient traffic operations. Signs that do not fully conform to the new standard but do not cause misinterpretation must be replaced by August 20, 2030. Until these issues are fully addressed, road management agencies must take interim measures such as cleaning road signs, reapplying reflective surfaces and repairing damaged signs to enhance traffic safety and efficiency. VNS 30 Naxals, policeman killed in separate gunfights in India's Chhattisgarh Xinhua) 10:31, March 21, 2025 NEW DELHI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 Naxals and one policeman were killed Thursday in two separate fierce gunfights in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said. The gunfights between Naxals and joint contingents of police and paramilitary forces broke out in the forests of Bijapur and Kanker districts, south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. While 26 Naxals were gunned down in a forest area of Bijapur bordering Dantewada, a policeman of the District Reserve Guard force was also killed in the stand-off. "Initially we recovered 18 bodies from the gunfight site but now with the recovery of eight more bodies, the death toll of Naxals in Bijapur has risen to 26," a senior police official said. "A policeman was also killed fighting these Naxals." In a separate gunfight in Kanker, four Naxals were killed in an exchange of fire with government forces near Koroskodo village. Police also claimed recovery of many automatic and semi-automatic weapons, besides some ammunition from the possession of slain Naxals. India's federal Home Minister Amit Shah described the killings as a "big success." "The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering despite all the facilities ranging from surrender to inclusion. The country is going to be Naxal-free before 31 March next year," Shah said in a brief statement posted on social media. Last month, 31 Naxals and two policemen were killed in a similar gunfight in the forests of Indravati National Park in Bijapur district. Reports said that with Thursday's action, so far 113 Naxalites have been killed in the state since the beginning of this year. Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India. The insurgency reportedly has claimed hundreds of lives besides rendering thousands of poor inhabitants homeless. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh were shocked when a fan sent them her public hair. A fan once sent Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh a piece of their pubic hair The 'Real Gone Kid' hitmakers encountered some "unhinged" people at the height of their fame and while frontman Ricky Ross has "erased" the memory of one disturbing parcel from his mind, his wife and bandmate Lorraine McInotsh, wasn't so lucky. Lorraine told ContactMusic.com: "Someone sent their pubic hair!" A stunned Ricky interrupted: "No! I dont remember that. No!" His spouse insisted: "I do. Yeah. Photographs of her with her hamsters, and then a piece of her pubic hair. "Oh, that was a long time ago." Ricky quipped: "I mustve erased that one!" Lorraine doesn't think artists recieve so much unwanted post these days because of the rise of social media and the interactions it offers between musicians and fans. She said: "There are some unhinged people out there. "Now, they would just go online and say something, but in those days, they would write, and they would send photographs of themselves - and up to all sorts of things!" Despite one "stalky" incident over the years, the couple - who founded the band alongside James Prime, Dougie Vipond, Ewen Vernal and the late Graeme Kelling - are relieved they have largely only enjoyed "positive" experiences with fans. Ricky said: "It was really mostly positive, to be honest with you. It was mostly positive. "There were a few - there was this one particular time when someone was kind of getting a little bit too stalky, but we got a pretty easy ride." Lorraine added: "That was one person out of thousands. And the amazing thing is we've made friends with some of these fans who have been coming to our gigs for years, and we see them every tour." And some fans have even become close friends of the 'Dignity' hitmakers. Ricky shared: "One of my best friends I just saw for dinner recently was a guy called Jimmy; I should mention Jimmy Rice he's a great friend, and he bought tickets for all his pals to come see us supporting Ben E. King in Manchester [in 1987], we were supporting Ben E. King. "And then he and his friends would start coming to like tiny gigs - there was no one there; it was, maybe, 20 people there at Huddersfield Polytechnic or something like that. "And he and his pals would come, and they were the ones that all started singing back, like, Loaded'. "Loaded was the first - it wasnt Dignity - it was Loaded, and we just became friends. "We just became really good friends. So, we're grateful for that, and we've got friends across the world as well that we've met, which has been lovely." Deacon Blue - which now features Gregor Philp and Lewis Gordon alongside Ricky, Lorraine, James and Dougie - are celebrating 40 years of the band in 2025 by releasing their highly anticipated 11th studio album 'The Great Western Road', as well as going out on two tours. 'The Great Western Road' is out now and available on music streaming platforms. Deacon Blue 2025 tour dates: March 30 - Edinburgh Usher Hall March 31 - Bradford St Georges Hall April 2 - Bristol Beacon Theatre April 3 - Cambridge Corn Exchange April 4 - London Shepherds Bush Empire September 19 - Liverpool M+S Bank Arena September 20 - Brighton Centre September 22 - Birmingham Utilita Arena September 23 - Leeds FirstDirect Arena September 25 - Bournemouth International Centre September 26 - Cardiff Utilita Arena September 28 - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena September 29 - Sheffield Utilita Arena October 1 - Manchester AO Arena October 3 - London Wembley OVO Arena October 5 - Hull Connexin Live October 6 - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Utilita Arena October 8 - Dublin 3Arena October 10 - Glasgow Hydro October 11 - Glasgow Hydro HA NOI Ha Noi's city government has directed its subordinate agencies to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to prioritise and expedite the processing of critical documents, aiming to slash approval times by at least 60 per cent. The move is part of a broader effort to accelerate the implementation of major projects, particularly those contributing to the city's Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) target for 2025. Under the directive, agencies are required to label priority documents with a 'fast lane' stamp, ensuring immediate processing and significantly reduced approval times. The agencies must also monitor the progress of 'fast lane' documents to prevent delays and hold accountable any units responsible for sluggish processing. By March 25, all subordinate agencies are mandated to publicly disclose hotline numbers, official websites, email addresses, and social media accounts for receiving and responding complaints about deplays in 'fast lane' document processing. Agencies must address such complaints within 48 hours of receipt. Additionally, agencies are required to report their document processing results to the city's People's Commitee, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Public Administration Service Centre quarterly. The 'fast lane' system will prioritise documents related to investment and infrastructure development, construction permits for large-scale projects, export and international trade, work permits for foreign experts and highly-skilled workers, and smart city and e-government development. For certain projects, such as the renovation of ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, upgrades to roads around West Lake, the revitalisation of the To Lich River, the construction of the Hanoi Biotechnology High-Tech Park and the Belt Road 4 project, agencies are required to process documents within 24 hours of receipt. The city government expects these measures to help the city achieve its goal of surpassing 8 per cent GRDP growth by 2025, as outlined at the beginning of the year. VNS GIA LAI By skilfully using local resources, Ro Mah H'Diu has successfully made a special mark with the idea of developing a 'traditional craft weaving village for youth'. The idea will both create jobs for young people from ethnic groups and preserve Viet Nams traditional cultural values. Returning to her hometown after graduating from university in HCM City, Ro Mah HDiu, secretary of the Ia Krieng Commune Youth Union in uc Co District in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, could not help but worry about the difficulties in her community. The COVID-19 pandemic left many people unemployed, especially young ethnic people, who found a lot of obstacles while searching for career opportunities. Witnessing a great number of young people struggling to make a living, she was determined to find a new direction to help develop her hometown. After sensing the potential in the Central Highlands' ethnic traditional weaving craft, HDiu came up with the idea of building a project to create a 'traditional craft weaving village for youth'. When establishing the project, I not only wanted to solve the employment problem for ethnic youth, but also hoped to encourage elderly and disadvantaged people so that they have the opportunity to improve their family economy and life, said HDiu. Although the model works in practice, at first it ran into difficulties in gathering young people. But with the desire to preserve and promote the Jrai peoples traditional identity, HDiu found solutions to draw in more people. She organised practical activities and invited village elders and artisans to join in. At last, HDiu succeeded in inspiring young people's interest in weaving, helping them better understand traditional values and become aware of their responsibility in maintaining local cultural identity. Along with her success in engaging young people, HDiu also participates in the traditional cultural experiences, including introducing basket weaving to students. Artistic programmes, field trips, games related to weaving and folk games are cleverly integrated into the project, creating excitement for the students. Experiential activities are no longer limited to a single group of people. We strive to spread traditional cultural values to students at all levels, from primary to high school. The enthusiastic support from parents is a great source of encouragement for us to continue promoting the project," said HDiu. Since its implementation, the project has attracted about 15 young people and more than 700 students in local primary and junior secondary schools. Climate change response The project 'traditional craft weaving village for youth' won the first prize in the sixth Creative Startup Ideas Contest 2022 and was among the top 40 finalists of the Rural Youth Startup Project 2023 organised by the Central Youth Union. With her contributions, H'Diu was honoured as one of 100 youth union officials nationwide to receive the Ly Tu Trong Award 2025. HDiu said that she took advantage of local natural materials like bamboo, reed and rattan to create unique handicraft products for the project. In addition to generating income for local people, the project also raises awareness about the use of products made from environmentally friendly materials like bamboo. Ia Krieng Commune often faces floods due to climate change. Growing bamboo along streams and riverbanks is an effective solution to prevent erosion and maintain geological stability, thanks to the plant's deep roots. Bamboo and rattan are natural resources, easy to grow and highly applicable, creating favourable conditions for people to sustainably realise the project, HDiu said. But she said that the project is still in its early stages, so there will inevitably be difficulties in training workers as well as finance. At the moment, project activities are largely based on support from residents, with no official investment source or professional advice available. HDiu hopes that local authorities and departments will help encourage artisans to upgrade traditional products, and at the same time create conditions for them to access resources and markets. Currently, the project is only being conducted on a small scale, focusing on producing baskets for tourists. In the future, I hope to create more diverse products with wider appeal, such as TRung lutes, bamboo baskets and pen holders to meet customers' needs, she said. VNS A NANG Professor Erich Johann Lejeune, Founder of Heart for Heart Foundation for Life and Dr Irene Lejeune the CEO of the foundation have been given civic awards for their work supporting the city's healthcare services over past decades. The award ceremony was organised during the occasion of the inauguration of the third Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) system donated by Heart for Heart Foundation to the a Nang General Hospital. Doctor and director of the a Nang General Hospital Le uc Nhan said the German medical professionals, Erich Johann Lejeune and his wife Irene, supported the hospitals cardiology centre with medical equipment and facilities worth millions of euros, and established the first congenital heart ward in 2006. Three DSA systems have been donated to the hospital with support and help from Professor Erich Johann Lejeune and his wife, while they helped bring doctors Henrich Netz and Le Trong Phi to give surgeries to people with heart disease, Nhan said. Thousands of hearts were revived, while families of patients enjoyed happiness thanks to the support from Johann Lejeune, his wife and the other doctors, he said. The Lejeune family and Heart for Heart Foundation donated the first DSA system in 2006 before supporting the introduction of the Congenital Heart ward and the second DSA in 2013. The third DSA donation and a package of angiography with auxiliary equipment was given to the hospital in 2024. A report from the hospital said that more than 350,000 children in central Viet Nam had received free screen examinations for congenital heart defects thanks to the services, leading to diagnosis in around 3,000 cases. Doctors Henrich Netz and Le Trong Phi, with support from Heart for Heart Foundation, had performed surgeries and treated more than 3,000 underprivileged youngsters suffering from heart disease. The foundation also provided medical training courses for doctors and staff at the hospital, as well as helping upgrade medical equipment and treatment facilities in the cardiovascular department. Last month, an American rehabilitation therapist and a volunteer at the central citys Traditional Medicine Hospital, Virginia Mary Lockett, was given the Friendship Medal by the Party General Secretary To Lam, for her contribution to healthcare and friendship ties between the US and Viet Nam. a Nang currently has 12 hospitals, including four international standard hospitals the a Nang General Hospital, Family Hospital, Hoan My-a Nang and VinMec a Nang providing health services for both local Vietnamese and foreigners. More than 1,000 doctors are working at public and private hospitals and more than 620 consulting rooms and medical care centres are operating. The citys general hospital also assigned the first 200-bed cardiology centre to offer examinations, treatment and surgeries for patients in the city, and the sick from the central and Central Highland provinces. The hospital also debuted a smart medical kiosk system to support patients with easily accessible data and procedure details. The stroke centre under the hospital also won platinium status from the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) for their efforts in caring for stroke victims in 2021. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, in his role as Chair of the Asia-Pacific Group at international organisations and the United Nations in Vienna, has reiterated Viet Nams resolve to combat drug challenges, underlining the pivotal role of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the global fight against drug issues. Leading a Vietnamese inter-sectoral delegation, Hoang made the pledge at the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Austria from March 10-14, with over 2,000 delegates from 100 UN member states, international and non-governmental organisations attending. He underscored the essential need for multilateral cooperation to fight drug crimes, particularly through capacity building, technical assistance, and technology transfer for developing countries. According to the diplomat, regional countries are deeply concerned over the growing links among drug trafficking, organised crime, and other illicit activities such as money laundering, terrorism, and human trafficking, calling for for an integrated, comprehensive, and multi-sectoral response. All drug prevention and control efforts must align with the UN Charter, international law, and respect national sovereignty, he said. The Vietnamese delegation attended the main sessions and side events and held a working session with the UNODC to plan future cooperation, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in Austria. The UNODC is responsible for coordinating global drug policy and strategy, overseeing the implementation of the three international drug control conventions, all of which Viet Nam is a signatory. Held annually, the CND session is the world's largest forum for international cooperation and policymaking in drug prevention and control. VNS BANGKOK Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has called on everyone to join hands in conserving water resources on the occasion of World Water Day (March 22). Accordingly, the Thai government aligns its water policies with the UNs Sustainable Development Goal 6 which includes clean water and sanitation issues to ensure adequate access to clean water while addressing challenges posed by urbanisation and climate change. Thailands water management strategy focuses on conservation, restoration, and flood and drought prevention, promoting responsible water use, waste management, and community participation in protecting local water sources. PM Paetongtarn also highlighted the need for proper waste disposal to prevent pollution. Internationally, Thailand actively engages in regional and global water cooperation, working with the international community to tackle water crises and environmental challenges. The government is committed to fostering unity and collaboration as key solutions to water security issues. In the lead-up to World Water Day 2025, the PM urged Thai citizens, businesses, and organisations to contribute to water conservation efforts and adapt to global water challenges. Emphasising the role of sustainable water management in securing the countrys future water supply, she reiterated that every individual has a responsibility to ensure sustainability and encouraged practical steps toward responsible water consumption and environmental protection. VNS Ngu Truong, managing partner and Trang Nguyen, senior associate of law firm Vilasia Several important changes and significant improvements have been introduced in Decree No.57/2025/ND-CP over Decree No.80/2024/ND-CP, creating new opportunities and providing a more favourable environment for the development of a competitive electricity market in Vietnam. Key updates, such as greater flexibility in defining large electricity customers, the inclusion of biomass power, clearer participation rules for rooftop solar power in the direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) mechanism, and the introduction of a surplus electricity sales mechanism, reflect the governments proactive approach and long-term vision in advancing the DPPA framework, encouraging renewable energy, and safeguarding the environment. While the previous decree established the initial framework for the DPPA mechanism, Decree 57 represents a major step forward, swiftly and flexibly addressing its shortcomings. It expands the pool of participants while ensuring fairness and transparency in electricity transactions. This marks a new phase of progress, which is expected to further accelerate the development of the renewable electricity market, liberalise the clean energy sector, and contribute to building a sustainable, green energy system for the future. Key differences Decree 80 allowed renewable energy producers and large electricity consumers to freely negotiate electricity prices without being restricted by specific price thresholds. In contrast, Decree 57 imposes a more rigorous rule: while parties are still free to negotiate prices, the price must not exceed the maximum limit set within the electricity generation price framework for the respective energy source. The goal is to ensure fairness and transparency in electricity transactions, regulate electricity prices, and prevent parties from arbitrarily agreeing on inflated or excessively low prices, while safeguarding the interests of both investors and customers involved in the DPPA mechanism. Under the previous rules, to participate in the DPPA mechanism via the national grid, customers needed to meet certain conditions, including an average consumption of 200,000 kWh/month, connection at 22kV or higher, and usage for production purposes. However, these requirements have raised several issues in defining the participation conditions. For example, should electricity output be calculated based on each individual measurement point or aggregated from multiple points? How should businesses that use electricity both for production and for commercial or residential activities be accounted for? And should the connection voltage level be based on the connection agreement or the location of the metering system? To address these challenges, Decree 57 has introduced significant adjustments. Specifically, it no longer applies the rigid criterion of average consumption of 200,000kWh/month for large customers participating in DPPA. Instead, this criterion will be adjusted flexibly by the minister of industry and trade, in alignment with the evolving stages of the power systems development. While the detailed regulations will await further guidance from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), this is a positive signal, reflecting the governments flexibility and long-term vision for the DPPA mechanism. Furthermore, Decree 57 no longer restricts large electricity customers to only using electricity for production purposes. Large customers using electricity for services such as electric vehicle charging are now also permitted to participate in DPPA through the national grid. This not only broadens the range of eligible participants but also creates opportunities to boost investment in electric vehicle support services, contributing to the sustainable development of green transportation systems in Vietnam The new regulations set flexible guidelines for identifying large electricity users. The concept has undergone a significant change between decrees. While the previous one applied a rigid criterion of average consumption or registered usage of 200,000kWh/month to define large customers, Decree 57 has introduced more flexibility by granting the MoIT the authority to adjust capacity and consumption levels according to the different stages of development of the power system. This reflects the governments proactive and flexible approach in adjusting the mechanism to align with practical realities and the evolving trends in the energy sector. Meanwhile, although only wind and solar power were allowed to participate in the DPPA mechanism, Decree 57 has expanded the scope by including biomass power as a new energy source eligible to participate in the mechanism through the national grid. The MoIT explained in a January report that the decision to include biomass power, rather than expanding to other renewable energy sources, was due to the significant potential of biomass energy. Many biomass power plants with capacities exceeding 10MW are already operational, with a total current capacity of around 332MW. It is projected that by 2030, biomass power capacity will increase by an additional 300MW. Moreover, biomass power is highly stable, helps reduce environmental pollution, and promotes investment in clean, sustainable technologies. Wider participation The fresh rules also allow power companies to participate in the DPPA mechanism via the national grid. In January, the MoIT explained that the decision to include power companies in the DPPA mechanism was made to address issues encountered during the implementation of Decree 80. Specifically, Khanh Hoa Power JSC, a subsidiary of Central Power Corporation, was licensed to retail electricity in Khanh Hoa province but was not allowed to participate in the DPPA mechanism. This restriction prevented large electricity consumers in Khanh Hoa from engaging in DPPA transactions with the company. In response to this issue, the MoIT has made adjustments to allow power companies to participate in the DPPA mechanism, thus creating a more favourable environment for large electricity consumers. Elsewhere, the connection structure of rooftop solar power systems was not included in the definition of private connection grids, which led to ambiguity regarding their eligibility to participate in the DPPA mechanism. However, Decree 57 has clarified that the private connection grid of rooftop solar power systems is now considered a type of private connection grid eligible for participation in the DPPA mechanism. Decree 57 introduces a new mechanism allowing rooftop solar power systems to sell surplus electricity to Vietnam Electricity or its subsidiaries, provided that the surplus does not exceed 20 per cent of the actual electricity output. The sale price will be based on the average electricity price from the previous year and cannot exceed the maximum price set for ground-mounted solar power under the electricity pricing framework; and retail electricity providers in specific zones or clusters, with the surplus electricity and purchase price negotiated between the parties, but again, not exceeding the maximum price for ground-mounted solar power as outlined in the pricing framework. This provision, a new addition, opens up opportunities for rooftop solar owners to reduce their electricity costs and actively participate in the retail electricity market. It enhances flexibility and efficiency in the use of renewable energy. Finally, Decree 57 shifts the calculation of compensation costs from a monthly to an annual basis. This adjustment alleviates the calculation burden for parties involved in DPPA transactions, resulting in significant resource savings and increased efficiency. As the legal framework for DPPA evolves rapidly, businesses must stay updated, collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders, and carefully evaluate the new adjustments to mitigate legal risks. This approach will help expedite investment, streamline the signing of DPPA contracts, and optimise strategies for clean energy usage, ultimately supporting sustainable development and ensuring long-term, stable benefits. New law marks shift for electricity market Last year the National Assembly issued the new Law on Electricity, which took effect from February 1. Pham Hoang Vu, associate and deputy head of project and infrastructure, and Pham Dac Hoang, junior associate of Indochine Counsel, outline key highlights of the law that could potentially transform Vietnams energy sector. Australia and Vietnam to develop competitive electricity market The Australian Embassy in Vietnam and the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV) signed an MoU on April 17 to collaborate on the development of a competitive electricity market. Inconsistent regulations are hindering progress for various solar and wind ventures Photo: Le Toan In a petition sent to the government earlier in March, 28 signatories including private equity fund Dragon Capital, ACEN, the Vietnamese subsidiary of the Philippines ACEN energy group, and investors from Thailand, the Netherlands, Singapore, and China expressed worry that they will no longer enjoy a previous feed-in tariff (FiT) price. On February 18, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) sent a letter to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) stating that projects currently benefiting from FiT pricing but lacking official construction completion acceptance from the relevant state authority will no longer receive FiT payments. The proposed policy changes would involve a retrospective review of eligibility criteria for these FiTs, even for projects that are already operational. If this requirement is implemented, not only will a series of renewable energy projects face great risks, when suffering losses corresponding to all equity capital, threatening $13 billion of investment, but also a series of capital suppliers and financial institutions will be affected, the petition said. This is having a very serious financial impact, with some projects already facing default on their debt obligations to domestic and international lenders. Law firm Vilasia pointed out that inconsistent regulations has led to complications in determining FiT eligibility. A previous decision in 2017 clearly stated that meeting investment and construction conditions was a prerequisite for EVN to sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) and apply the preferential FiT rate of 9.35 US cents/kWh, the firm said. However, Decision No.13/2020 shifted the approach, basing FiT eligibility on the projects commercial operation date (COD) instead of construction investment conditions. Since CODs do not explicitly reference construction investment requirements, revoking FiT incentives solely due to incomplete construction acceptance is questionable. A representative of one foreign energy company told VIR that although investment incentives were granted, in 2019 when projects were booming because this was a new type of energy, investors had no experience and had to hire foreign consultants and contractors, causing costs to rise. In particular, the price of solar panels was also about 150-200 per cent higher than at present. Many investors were even pressured to complete progress in the context of the pandemic in 2020-2021, so many costs were pushed very high, he said. Up to now, most projects have only completed about 40 per cent of the loan term of credit contracts. The cash flow is only enough to pay interest and bank principal, and the owners equity has not been recovered. Investors via the petition called on the government to pay attention to the FiT electricity purchase price agreed under the PPA for these projects and requested EVN to properly perform its contractual obligations. Investors recommend that the government, the MoIT, and EVN confirm and enforce the initially approved COD of the affected project, and ensure that EVN fully performs its contractual obligations under the signed PPAs with full and timely payment for affected projects, so as to avoid their financial exhaustion, the document said. Organised by WeHub, Savills Hotels, and other partners, the biannual event brought together over 60 industry leaders and more than 1,000 investors, hotel owners, management companies, design firms, and consultants. MTE serves as a platform for collaboration, delivering forward-looking insights and strategic solutions to help stakeholders navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and drive sustainable growth in Vietnams evolving real estate and hospitality landscape. According to Mauro Gasparotti, senior director, head of SE Asia Hotel Advisory and creator of the MTE series, commented that Vietnams hospitality market had experienced a strong year, with international tourist arrivals rebounding to pre-COVID levels. Nationwide, hotel occupancy rose by nearly 15 percentage points, while room rates saw an approximate 5 per cent increase, primarily driven by the luxury segment, Gasparotti said. Key destinations such as Nha Trang saw exceptional growth, with accommodated international arrivals surging by 125 per cent on-year in 2024. Likewise, Phu Quoc experienced a significant tourism boom in late 2024, fuelled by a growing network of direct international flight routes. This positive momentum is expected to continue, particularly as Phu Quoc prepares to host the APEC Summit in 2027, further solidifying its status as a premier global destination, added Gasparotti. Mauro Gasparotti, senior director, head of SE Asia Hotel Advisory at MTE HCMC 2025. Source: WeHub Vietnams tourism landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, with new business models, brands, and resorts redefining the market. Concepts such as branded residences, ultra-luxury residential developments, rooftop bars, beach clubs, wellness retreats, and all-inclusive resorts illustrate the sectors dynamic evolution, seamlessly blending luxury, lifestyle, and destination appeal, he added. Meanwhile, emerging technologies like AI are poised to revolutionise travel, streamlining processes and personalising experiences for both leisure and business travellers. These innovations will drive the next phase of Vietnams hospitality and real estate growth, attracting top-tier brands and shaping the industrys future. Now is the perfect time to reassess the industry as a long-term investment opportunity, he added. At the event, keynote speeches from industry leaders representing HotStats, Vinacapital, Savills Hotels, Minor Hotels, and CMV Architects provided in-depth insights into hotel trading performance on both global and local scales, as well as the real estate landscape from a developers perspective. The presentations also highlighted successful case studies of mixed-use and all-inclusive resorts, offering valuable strategies for the future of the hospitality industry. Senior executives from Accor Hotels Group, Masterise Group, SonKim Land, Sovico Hospitality Group, Minor Hotels, M Village, Fusion Hotel Group, and Club Med further shared their perspectives on Vietnams rapidly evolving hospitality market. The panel discussion emphasised the increasing demand for innovative hospitality concepts, including midscale limited-service hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and lifestyle hotels and resorts, which are expanding opportunities for both developers and travellers. Uyen Nguyen, associate director for Southeast Asia, Savills Hotels shared that infrastructure developments were transforming Vietnams hospitality landscape, with expansions planned for five airports Cat Bi, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Ca Mau, and Phu Quoc to increase capacity. In Ho Chi Minh City, the completion of the first phase of Long Thanh International Airport and its metro connection will significantly improve accessibility for both domestic and international travellers. This enhanced connectivity is expected to drive longer stays, boost hotel occupancy in non-CBD areas, and strengthen the citys meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions tourism sector, Uyen said. She added that hotels near metro stations, particularly in key commercial and tourist districts, were expected to experience higher demand and stronger room rates. As a result, new hotel developments will likely concentrate around major metro stops, with focused-service and lifestyle hotels leading the way. This may also create opportunities for the luxury hotel segment to expand beyond its current concentration in District 1, she added. At the MTE conference, industry leaders highlighted the rapid rise of branded residences and ultra-luxury properties in Vietnam. As the country emerges as a key destination for high-end real estate, experts explored the factors driving this growth, including pricing premiums, buyer expectations, luxury interior design, and the increasing integration of wellness into residential developments. Representatives from Savills, QUO, Group GSA, and Gamuda Land provided valuable insights, offering a comprehensive perspective on Vietnams evolving luxury property landscape. Gasparotti remarked that buyers today are no longer just seeking property ownership or choosing a brand name, they are looking for a complete lifestyle package. To meet these expectations, developers must embrace wellness elements, sustainable design, and hospitality-inspired services, which are becoming defining features of high-end residential projects. Failing to uphold these standards could impact buyer confidence in the sector as a whole, he said. Vietnams capital markets continue to attract strong interest, particularly from Asian investors and family offices. However, despite this demand, transaction volumes remain limited due to ownership complexities, regulatory challenges, and prolonged negotiation processes. Investors are particularly drawn to prime locations in key cities with strong infrastructure connectivity, prioritising assets that offer long-term value appreciation and stable demand. The evolving legal framework and upcoming infrastructure projects, such as Long Thanh International Airport and metro system expansions, could significantly shape investment trends in the coming years, potentially unlocking new opportunities in both the hospitality and real estate sectors. Vietnams tourism industry continues to gain momentum, driven by favourable visa policies, improved tourism infrastructure, and strategic marketing efforts from both local authorities and businesses. The country's strong reputation as a welcoming and safe destination further strengthens its global appeal. According to the Vietnam National Tourism Department, in the first two months, Vietnam welcomed nearly four million international arrivals, a 30.2 per cent on-year increase, the highest growth rate in the region. MTE Hanoi conference set to embrace a new cycle for real estate The 2024 Meet The Experts (MTE) conference will be held in Hanoi on October 24 and will focus on key global trends and local market movements to equip professionals in Vietnams real estate and hospitality sectors to prepare for the upcoming growth cycle. Promoting tourism and hospitality with sustainability Vietnam continues to pull in travellers from all over the world. Albert Lafuente, general manager of Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City, shared his insights on Vietnams tourism and hospitality industry with VIRs Quyen Chi. Vietnams hospitality landscape poised for growth Vietnams hotel management and tourism sector holds exceptional growth potential, according to Rati Romanadze, founder and managing director of management and consulting firm Aspecture Global. Romanadze spoke to VIRs Thuy Nguyen about the future of the industry. Outlook bright for hospitality and real estate market Following a highly positive year for Vietnam's hospitality market, marked by a strong rebound in tourist arrivals, the sector is now poised for further advancements. Spanning across an area of 5.5 hectares with a total usable area of over 2.6ha, the Dong Nai Cold Chain Logistics Centre boasts a cold storage warehouse and a conventional storage facility. It is slated to be put into full operation in May 2026. The facility offers comprehensive logistics services, including import and export, storage, and delivery. It also features cold storage and distribution capabilities for a wide range of product groups, including fresh foods and high-value-added items. The venture not only enhances the company's logistics capabilities in Vietnam but also facilitates the expansion of South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises in the country. The initiative follows an MoU signed between LOTTE Global Logistics and Korea Ocean Business Corporation in May 2024 to bolster global logistics supply chains. In addition, the facility also plans to collaborate with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency as a logistics support centre. The collaboration will address logistics difficulties faced by helping South Korean companies with tailoring consulting services suitable for local conditions. A representative from LOTTE Global Logistics said, "We plan to continue expanding our logistics domain centred on this facility to provide services covering all of Vietnam. We aim to elevate it as a central hub leading Vietnamese distribution logistics." In Vietnam, LOTTE Global Logistics has built and operated five warehouses in key areas nationwide. In the Mekong Delta region, its cold storage warehouse for rent in Long Hau Industrial Park has been operational since 2008, with a capacity of 25,000 pallets. The Dong Nai Cold Chain Logistics Centre is the latest venture in the key port area of southern Vietnam. Moving forward, the South Korean company will scale up its operation to other localities, including a 7,400-pallet cold storage facility in Binh Minh Industrial Park, Vinh Long province, with a capacity of 7,400 pallets. Foreign companies ramp up interest in Vietnam's cold storage market On August 11, Lineage Logistics, a United States-based international cold chain solutions provider, announced its expansion in Vietnam through a joint venture with Hanoi-based, cold-storage warehouse operator SK. Cold storage providers offering wide service range The cold storage market remains one of the most promising logistics segments in Vietnam, propelled by the robust growth of import-export activities, food and beverage franchised stores, and modern retail trade. Kuala Lumpur Though Malaysia is making great strides in its effort to become a major player in the global semiconductor industry, analysts warn that the country still faces tough challenges and obstacles. Experts said internal constraints such as a talent crunch, funding problems, and other supply chain gaps are key hurdles the country must overcome if it wants to compete with top industry giants such as Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea (RoK), and Japan. Shafiq Kadir, an equity analyst at CGS International, said local integrated circuit (IC) design houses face challenges in accessing large-scale funding, and lack a pool of experienced engineers. One of the main reasons is that the countrys higher education system is not yet well-prepared to produce graduates with right skills, he said. Sharing the view, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association Wong Siew Hai said although Malaysians have experience in working with multinational companies, many choose to work abroad for higher salaries and better career advancement opportunities. In a deal signed on March 5, Malaysia will pay Softbank-owned Arm 250 million USD over a decade to access its intellectual property. The deal also includes the training of 10,000 local semiconductor engineers. The Malaysian Governments 5.3-billion-USD allocation over the next decade to upscale Malaysias semiconductor sector is considered small compared with state investments by China and the US. Shafiq said the tools and equipment required for chip production could run into billions of US dollars apart from the need for highly skilled engineers and operators, adding that competing with semiconductor powerhouses will not be easy as they developed the ecosystems to support technological leadership in the past few decades. Malaysias semiconductor exports were valued at 387.98 billion RM (87.52 billion USD) in 2024, making the country one of the worlds top 10 chip exporters, according to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation. The Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association is aiming for the countrys chip exports to reach 270 billion USD by 2030. Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys have never argued. Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys have been married since 2010 The 46-year-old record producer married Alicia, 44, back in 2010, and Swizz insists that they've never had an argument in all the time they've been together. He told Us Weekly: "Marriage is definitely a big word, but look at it like your best friend. "The communication is there. Weve never had an argument. Since weve been together, our kids [have] never seen it; never seen us raise our voice [or] never seen us yell. Never seen us curse at each other. Why? Because of communication." The loved-up couple - who have sons Egypt, 14, and Genesis, ten, together - feel that nothing can be resolved by arguing. Swizz - whose real name is Kasseem Dean - said: "People think they can own people. You cant. Its not property that you own. Theres a whole human, right? "So, were very clear on that. Shes her own boss. Im my own boss. Thats how we make magic when we come together. I think that helps because people start getting very territorial and making their partner property, and I think thats the biggest mistake." Swizz was born and raised in the Bronx, in New York, and the producer hopes that his success can inspire some up-and-coming stars. The producer - who also has Prince Nasir, 24, Kasseem Jr, 18, and, Nicole, 16, from previous relationships - said: "Coming from the South Bronx, if I can do it, anybody can do it. "I come from the lowest of the low. I hope I can leave a legacy where people that doubt themselves can just go hard and use what Ive done - what my family is doing - as a stepping stone and a blueprint to get into the next level." Thanks to Decree No.69/2025/ND-CP, which will come into effect on May 19, banks with mandatory transfers like MB, HDBank, and VPBank can increase their foreign ownership limit to 49 per cent. According to the previous regulations, the total shareholding of foreign investors in a Vietnamese credit institution was not permitted to exceed 30 per cent of the charter capital. Meanwhile, four weak banksCB, Oceanbank, DongA Bank, and GPBankhave been transferred to Vietcombank, MB, HDBank, and VPBank, respectively as part of a restructuring scheme for credit institutions, aimed at addressing shortcomings and strengthening the banking sector in line with government policies. The change in the foreign ownership limit will open up opportunities for such banks to attract foreign investment, strengthen their financial capacity, and support the restructuring process of weak banks. In addition, Decree 69 also requires foreign investors who surpass the regulated thresholds to reduce their ownership percentage within six months to comply with the limits. Will HDBank raise its foreign ownership limit to 49 per cent according to EVFTA? HDBank is rumoured to be looking to raise its foreign ownership limit to 49 per cent to get a foreign partner on board, as part of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). VIB likely to increase its foreign ownership limit to 30 per cent Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) has announced the final registration date to finalise the list of shareholders to collect written opinions, including the content of adjusting the foreign ownership limit (FOL). In early March, Vietnamese rooftop solar provider SmartSolar raised $1.85 million in a seed funding round, co-led by Picus Capital and 2degrees, and with participation from Iterative. Could you shed light on the firms latest investment in Vietnam? Abhijay Thacker We see a strong demand side/bottom-up pull from Vietnams massively growing energy market due to overlapping trends of rising GDP/economy growth. There is an increasing energy consumption due to energy intensiveness of manufacturing intensive economies. Another factor is rising temperatures in already hot climates, driving air conditioner penetration. In Vietnam alone, two million air conditioners are sold annually. Vietnam also boasts favourable economics for electric vehicles, especially two and three-wheelers, which will further electrify the overall energy demand mix away from fossil fuels. This is driving the supply side of energy tech startups such as SmartSolar to step in to fill the gap with clean, inexpensive energy - we are confident that more risk capital as well as developmental finance capital and green bonds will flow into Vietnam to support such entrepreneurs. How do you see Vietnamese companies transforming the energy landscape with innovation and tech? Having seen the journey of rooftop solar companies like Enpal in Germany and Niko in Mexico, we see immense potential in formalising, upskilling, and applying global best practices to the currently highly unorganised and fragmented installer market - over 240 registered rooftop solar systems in Vietnam alone, and approximately 2,000 across Asia-Pacific. This will generate employment opportunities nationwide, as well as reduce blackouts, increase industrial productivity, and improve national energy security, all while decarbonising the grid. Moreover, we believe in the technological vision of a fully integrated energy system in every household and small and medium-sized enterprises, with rooftop solar, bidirectional smart metres, electric vehicle charging, and home batteries, managing behind the metre consumption as well as interfacing ahead of metre via virtual power plants and grid balancing activities. We look forward to working with SmartSolar and the next generation of energy entrepreneurs building such innovative solutions, to drive a comprehensive decarbonised future. What is Picus Capitals plan to increase investments in Vietnamese companies in 2025? Our early investments in fintech firm Aspire and HR management platform OmniHR have demonstrated the limitless potential of Southeast Asia - we believe it will be a global powerhouse, and companies that can operate in multiple geographies in this region will be well positioned to capture these deepening revenue pools. Particularly when it comes to Vietnam, given the macro tailwinds of GDP growth, population growth, and rising technological adoption we are quite optimistic - another one of our early investments in Southeast Asia was POC Pharma, which is now also present in Vietnam, among other Southeast Asia and African markets. Since then, we have also led SmartSolars seed funding, and continue to be keen to partner with leading entrepreneurs who bring digitalisation and modernisation to everyday problems right from their first round, followed by continuous double downs in future growth financings, to be a long-term partner to our portfolio companies. Decree upgrade becomes electricity market catalyst When first issued, Decree No.80/2024/ND-CP was regarded as a groundbreaking move, serving as a significant catalyst for investors in renewable energy. However, it has already been replaced with a new regulation. Ngu Truong, managing partner and and Trang Nguyen, senior associate of law firm Vilasia, analyses the differences between both decrees, and deciphers if the move is a real boost for electricity market development. Reasons outlined for maintaining petrol and aircon tax, photo Le Toan At last weeks meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC), Hoang Thanh Tung, Chairman of the NAs Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs, expressed concern that petroleum and air conditioners are still suffering from special consumption tax (SCT). Gasoline is an essential commodity, not only an input for the economy but also in peoples lives. Moreover, it has already subjected to environmental protection tax, he said. Therefore, we should reconsider whether to include it in the list of commodity subject to SCT or not. Similarly, with air conditioners now set up in every house across the country, a more specific and convincing explanation is required for the status quo to remain, he added. We should carefully consider and calculate the impact of SCT to make the best decision, both controlling consumption of luxury goods, and mitigating the impact on production and business activities that could affect the countrys economic growth goal, Tung said. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the NAs Economic and Financial Committee, said that environmental protection tax will also contribute to limiting the use of petrol and air conditioners. If considering an essential input of the economy, SCT is not essential to impose, but we can maintain imposing environmental tax, Mai said. The amended draft law on SCT that the Ministry of Finance has submitted to the NASC still names petrol and air conditioners (less than 90,000BTU) to be imposed SCT at 7-10 per cent. Cao Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Finance, said that in recent years, the demand for air conditioning in Vietnam has been increasing, although some equipment has seen their technology upgraded to mitigate the use of refrigerants that are harmful to the environment and apply energy-saving technology. However, air conditioners are still using different refrigerants, some of which are harmful to the environment, causing global warming. And although inverter technology may save 20-40 per cent of electricity consumption compared to other products, it still causes harm to the environment, Tuan said. In 2024, the prime minister established a national plan for the regulation and eradication of ozone-depleting substances and controlled greenhouse gases. Other countries such as South Korea, India, and Norway are imposing SCT on hydrofluorocarbons, synthetic gases used as refrigerants and coolants in air conditioners, and which contribute to climate change. In Europe, to save energy, many countries have issued regulations on the use of air conditioners. For example, Spain prohibits setting air conditioners less than 27 degrees. In the United Kingdom, homeowners who want to install air conditioners must apply for a licence and receive regular checks for efficiency and performance. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to impose SCT on air conditioners with a capacity of less than 90,000BTU to raise awareness of limiting consumption, as well as orienting consumption to save electricity and protect the environment, Tuan said. For petroleum, Tuan explained that E5 and E10 biofuels are mixed in proportions corresponding to 95 and 90 per cent, while RON92 petrol includes 5-10 per cent of bioethanol. Petrol consists of plenty of fossil fuels and is not renewable, and so is required to be used economically. Many countries apply SCT on petrol and at low rates for biofuel, such as the UK, some EU members, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, China, and more. The original law on SCT from 2008 has been updated four times, following the introduction of a tax system reform strategy for 2011-2020 and alongside changes in international commitments, high-income consumption regulations, and environmental protection awareness. Vietnam faces petrol shortage risks Alhough the petrol situation in Vietnam is stable at present, a lack of investment, market barriers, and poor planning could potentially result in a shortage in the coming months. Vietnam slashes taxes on petrol imports The Ministry of Finance (MoF) formally implemented a new petrol import tax at the start of July in what it says is a periodic adjustment based on operational reality, with the ASEAN Free Trade Area's tax reduction plan being cited as the main factor influencing the reduction. WATERLOO Supporters of the post office held a rally Thursday, chanting The U.S. Mail is not for Sale. The community activists and retired postal workers gathered at the Waterloo post office, 300 Sycamore St. That was among more than 150 locations across the country where protests were held against President Donald Trumps proposal to privatize the U.S. Postal Service or transfer its duties to another agency. Trump said he may put the Postal Service under the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce while one of his advisors, Elon Musk, said it should be sold entirely. I think logically we should privatize anything that can reasonably be privatized, Musk said at a conference earlier this month. I think we should privatize the post office and Amtrak for example. We should privatize everything we possibly can. A government-controlled postal system has existed since 1775 and is included in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Kimberly Karol, the president of the Iowa Postal Workers Union, said she led the rally to remind people the post office is a public entity. We get to decide how the post office serves our community. We get to decide where we might receive delivery, she said. Its really important that the public stands up and speaks out because, again, when we stand together, we are successful. Karols grandchildren, Luke and Ellie, are regulars at the rallies, holding signs and handing out fliers. I think it would make a change, Ellie, 9, said on why she participates at such a young age. We need to save the post office. Leandra Sunseri attended the rally as a regular post office user. She said she is afraid the proposal of privatization is legitimate and that an executive order would not be stopped if signed. Executive orders cannot override existing laws and could be challenged by federal courts. We appear to have a threat of the executive branch not honoring judicial decisions, Sunseri said. And if courts are the only thing that can stop this and the executive branch just chooses to ignore judicial orders and Congress wont insist on it, whos going to stop them? Karol, who recently retired from the Postal Service after 32 years at the Waterloo facility, said thoughts of privatization have floated around in the past, but this is the first serious threat. She said rural states would be the most affected by this decision, estimating about 80% of Iowa is considered rural by the Postal Service. Its not a business thats been created for profit, we are an institution that was created for service, she said. Were going to see small towns in Iowa and other places in rural America that are not going to be able to receive delivery because its not profitable. Its possible they may have to drive miles in order to receive delivery. Companies like Amazon, FedEx and UPS utilize the Postal Service to deliver its rural unprofitable packages. Along with letters, newspapers and packages, the service also delivers government documents to anyones mailbox. That includes Medicare, (Veterans Affairs) benefits, the assistance to farmers so they can continue to feed the world, Karol said. Thats part of what happens here in Iowa and we want to make sure that continues all across the country. Sunseri said shes talked with many older residents who live in rural areas who are worried about a change, saying they dont have a cellphone, internet or access to transportation to take them to an urban area. The Postal Service has about 640,000 workers who make deliveries to rural areas and islands, according to PBS. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is working with Musks Department of Government Efficiency to cut 10,000 workers in order to save money. DeJoy, who announced he is stepping down from the job once a replacement is found, also created a Delivering for America plan in 2021. The plan invested $40 billion for changes in processing, transportation and delivery networks. In Waterloo, the building at 300 Sycamore St. previously processed and dispatched mail to the northeast Iowa region. After a facility review, the Waterloo location is now a local processing center and sends mail to Des Moines to be sorted and redistributed back to the area. Karol said that for example, mail leaving Decorah to be sent to another nearby address would then be sent to Waterloo, then to Des Moines, and then back to Waterloo to be distributed adding another two or three days to delivery. Currently, drivers collect mail for delivery and disperse it in the small towns, then on their way back to Waterloo, they pick up any mail in small town post offices to be sorted and distributed in the Waterloo facility. She said by the end of the month, mail carriers will not pick up any mail on their way back and that mail will sit in the small post offices overnight. (The government) thinks that its going to make the transportation more efficient, Karol said. But we are striving for efficiency at the expense of service to the public and thats a problem. This article is old - Published: Friday, Mar 21st, 2025 Wrexham.com has invited the four North Wales Members of the Senedd to write a monthly column with updates on their work. You can find their updates along with contributions from the Wrexham and Clwyd South MPs and MSs here. In his monthly column for Wrexham.com, Welsh Conservative MS Mark Isherwood writes: I Chair a number of Cross-Party Groups in the Senedd/Welsh Parliament, including the Cross-Party Group on Deaf Issues, which discusses issues, barriers and equality regarding Deaf, and hard of hearing people of all ages, as well as making changes on a legal, educational and social level. In this role, I hear regularly from members of the Deaf Community who are struggling because their needs are not being met. Therefore, earlier this month in the Senedd Chamber, I put forward a motion highlighting the need for service providers to meet the needs of the Deaf Community. Opening my Members Debate, I stressed that people with hearing loss are severely disadvantaged compared to people who have unaffected hearing. I also emphasised that British Sign Language, BSL, is the preferred method of communication for many Deaf people, and raised concern about the decision by Qualifications Wales not to progress with a GCSE in sign language. My Motion also called on the Welsh Government to ensure that the Disability Rights Taskforce it established specifically captures the issues and barriers that affect the lives of Deaf people, and to have a greater involvement with the Deaf community to ascertain their needs. I welcomed the establishment of the Disability Rights Taskforce, but expressed concern that its nature and terms of reference limit its work to the general rather than the specific, when Disabled people facing barriers related to their specific conditions, including Deaf people, need both. I said: After last Novembers announcement that the Welsh Government would establish a BSL Stakeholder Group, the new Welsh BSL Consortium of organisations representing deaf and signing people reported to me that the Welsh Governments BSL Policy team had been approaching individuals and organisations about this, and that they all remain in support of my BSL (Wales) Bill. Evidence shows that Deaf people have twice the rate of mental health problems experienced by hearing populations, yet Wales is the only UK country without a Deaf mental health service. Quoting the All Wales Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Group of academics, clinicians and experts, both Deaf and hearing, who are working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, I stressed that The main issue is a lack of access to health and mental health services. Health and Care staff do not have Deaf awareness training, and do not know how to book BSL interpreters. Due to complaint services also being inaccessible, few complaints are received by Health Boards. I emphasised that BSL is not just a language; it is also a gateway to learning, and the means whereby Deaf people survive and flourish in a hearing world. In February 2021, during the last Senedd Term, and again in December 2022, during this Senedd Term, the Welsh Parliament voted in favour of noting my proposal for a Bill that would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language or BSL in Wales and improve access to education and services in BSL. Voting in the Senedd in June 2024, the Welsh Parliament then agreed that I could introduce my British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill, which has since been moving forward. Speaking in my Members Debate this month, I referred to the fact that in October 2024, Qualifications Wales took the decision to suspend the development of a BSL GCSE. I said: Part of the justification for the decision was that in Wales there is not a ready-made workforce of qualified teachers who could teach a GCSE in this subject. This gets to the crux of the argument of why a BSL Act in Wales is needed. Given the lack of BSL interpreters and translators in Wales, it is not surprising that there is also a lack of qualified teachers for a BSL GCSE. This goes to the heart of why BSL signers are indirectly excluded from Welsh society, through a lack of awareness of the barriers they face, and therefore a lack of proactive planning and adjustments made for Deaf people and BSL signers. I said that the National Deaf Childrens Society Cymru has warned that falling numbers of Teachers of the Deaf, and other issues with the Welsh Governments Additional Learning Needs reforms, is hindering deaf pupils. I added: Deafness is not a learning difficulty, but deaf children are being disabled by the continuing inequity in outcome, as the gap between deaf children and their hearing peers risks becoming even wider, in breach of the Equality Act. I stressed that my BSL (Wales) Bill would not be a means to an end in itself, but act as a platform to ensure improved services for the deaf community and people with hearing loss, and improve the support currently offered, so people can fully engage in things like employment, health and education. With a BSL Act in England and Scotland and a proposed Executive Bill in Northern Ireland, it would be a betrayal of BSL signers across Wales if a BSL Act does not come to fruition in Wales. Incident near Moneypenny resolved police provide update This article is old - Published: Friday, Mar 21st, 2025 UPDATE: North Wales Police have deleted a social media post regarding the incident, with no further information proactively released. The incident has now been resolved. Wrexham.com queried NWP over the incident, and they say the incident was connected to a missing person who has now been safely located and safeguarded. Original information below. An area around the Moneypenny offices is currently closed off by police this morning. Police have said, North Wales Police are advising members of the public to avoid Moneypenny at Western Gateway in Wrexham due to an ongoing incident. Please avoid the area and consider alternative routes on your travels while emergency services deal. One nearby resident has told us Moneypenny is locked down, and the police drone is overhead. More shortly. Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner announced on Wednesday that he will be stepping down from his position to "ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration." His decision follows comments from Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who recently suggested that both the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak should be privatized. Gardner, who became Amtrak's CEO in 2022, has worked for the company for 16 years. He was the 13th executive to lead the federally chartered corporation since its creation in 1971. In a statement, the Amtrak board expressed its commitment to working with President Trump and Secretary Duffy, as the company seeks to build a "world-class passenger rail system this country deserves." Musk, a Trump ally, recently shared his views on U.S. passenger rail during a speech at the Morgan Stanley Technology Media & Telecom conference. He criticized the state of Amtrak, describing it as "kind of embarrassing" compared to the rail systems in other countries. Musk argued that privatizing Amtrak would create a "feedback loop for improvement," emphasizing that "something's got to have some chance of going bankrupt or there's not a good feedback loop for improvement." As a federally chartered corporation, Amtrak is majority-owned by the federal government, with its board of directorsincluding the U.S. Transportation Secretaryappointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Under Gardner's leadership, Amtrak saw a significant recovery after the pandemic, carrying a record 32.8 million passengers in fiscal year 2024, a 15% increase from the previous year. Ticket revenue also reached a record $2.5 billion, though the company still posted an operating loss of $635 million. Despite this loss, Amtrak pushed back on Musk's privatization proposal. In a memo released in March, the company argued that criticisms of its financial performance were based on "a false premise," highlighting that profitability was never its main mission. Amtrak was originally created to support freight railroads, which were losing money on passenger service. The company also pointed out that heavily subsidized national railroads in other countries are not expected to be profitable either. Amtrak further explained that Congress has mandated it to continue long-distance service to rural communities, which contributes to its operating losses. The company also cited decades of inadequate federal funding, which has left it with aging infrastructure that is costly to maintain. Currently, Amtrak operates intercity passenger rail services in 46 states, Washington, D.C., and two Canadian provinces, covering more than 21,400 miles of routes. As of the end of fiscal 2024, the company employed over 22,000 people. City centre road reopens following road traffic collision This article is old - Published: Friday, Mar 21st, 2025 Update: The road has since reopened. A city centre road has been closed due to a road traffic collision. Emergency services are in attendance at the incident, which has taken place on King Street. People are being urged to avoid the area if possible. In a statement, a North Wales Police spokesperson said: King Street in Wrexham is currently closed due to a Road Traffic Collision. Emergency Services are dealing. Please avoid the area and consider alternative routes on your travels. We are not waiting 10 years Minister vows to improve school attendance This article is old - Published: Friday, Mar 21st, 2025 Wales education secretary vowed to get to grips with secondary school attendance amid concerns it could take more than a decade to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Lynne Neagle told the Senedd she wants to see pre-pandemic secondary school attendance levels restored by the end of the Senedd term in May next year. Average attendance which was 90.5% in the 2023/24 academic year, down from 94.3% in 2018/19 has ticked up to 90.9% so far in 2024/25, according to latest statistics. Ms Neagle welcomed some small improvements in the academic year to date but said: Progress has been too slow and there is more to do. I want to see pre-pandemic levels restored within this Senedd term. That will require a collective, sustained effort. With average attendance among pupils eligible for free school meals at 84.8%, a fall from 91.2% pre-pandemic, Ms Neagle stressed: The significant amount of learning lost by those eligible for free school meals is a particular concern and must improve. Troubling trends Estyns 2023/24 annual report warned it would take more than a decade for secondary attendance to return to pre-pandemic levels at the current rate of improvement. Leading a debate on March 18, Ms Neagle said: I am really concerned about the messages in the report about attendance and I can say to you absolutely that we are not waiting 10 years to restore our attendance levels to what they need to be. The Conservatives Tom Giffard said the proportion of secondary-age pupils absent for at least 20% of sessions leapt from 4.6% to 16.3% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. He told the Senedd: Weve previously seen the Welsh Government welcome the slight increase in attendance numbers in Wales compared to the last academic year but again completely ignore the fact that our numbers are so much lower than the rest of the UK. Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds called for bold steps to break the cycle between poverty and low educational attainment, warning of troubling trends among the poorest pupils. Outcomes will suffer Plaid Cymrus Cefin Campbell added: We cannot allow the next generation, particularly those who are most disadvantaged, to wait as long as a decade to see improvements. Mr Campbell raised concerns about a lack of suitably qualified teachers in secondary schools, particularly in mathematics, sciences and through the medium of Welsh. Labours Buffy Williams said: Estyns report sets out some examples of good practice but it is also clear that, in some areas, the school system is not performing as it should. She told the Senedd that Owen Evans, Estyns chief inspector, found that teacher shortages are having a tangible impact on the quality of teaching and learning. Ms Williams, who chairs the Senedds education committee, warned outcomes for pupils will suffer if schools continue to struggle to recruit and retain high-quality teachers. Poor perception Lee Waters, a fellow Labour backbencher, highlighted Estyns finding that the number of students training to be secondary teachers has declined by nearly half in the past decade. Mr Waters, a former minister, highlighted that the chief inspector pointed to a poor public perception of the profession as one of the underlying issues hindering recruitment. Good teachers change lives, good teachers inspire a generation, he said. We dont talk enough about teachers as public service servants, teachers as inspirational figures, teachers as people who can lift up others. Mr Waters, a father of children in the education system, told the Senedd he has been struck by how joyless teaching and learning has become at times. He said: I think weve created a system we teach to a test, we push for a set of results and metrics, and its killed the joy of learning and the spirit of inquiry too much. by Chris Haines ICNN Senedd Reporter Monetta White, executive director of the Museum of the African Diaspora, came up with the idea of a week highlighting Black artists in the Bay Area, which was inaugurated last October. At this years San Francisco Art Fair, White will discuss the now-annual event on the Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week panel, where shell be joined by Lava Thomas, who created the Maya Angelou monument outside the main library; Jonathan Carver Moore, founder of the eponymous Market Street gallery; and artist, creative director, and author of Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen, George McCalman. The fair, the longest running in San Francisco, will have more than 80 exhibitors and several dozen cultural partners when it arrives at Fort Mason on April 17th. Public programming will include a variety of talks and panels on topics such as the SF underground, collecting Black art, and the intersection of art and techmany of which will take place in a theater featuring surrealist art from the nonprofit Root Division . There will also be performances like the one by Marc Horowitz on the fairs opening night. Horowitzs social experiments include doing errands first with strangers, and then with a mule. He also spent a year driving around the country to have dinner with people who called his number after he wrote it on a dry-erase board in a Crate & Barrel catalog shoot. Who knows what hell do next? Ilhwa, Kim, 'Geographic Matter,' 2024 (Courtesy of Maybaum Gallery/San Francisco Art Fair) Booths from cultural partners will also be open for exploration, including the group exhibition (Re)Constructed Worlds co-curated by the founders of COL Gallery , Callie Jones and Julia Li, for the San Francisco Art Dealers Association. Creativity Explored , the beloved San Francisco studio and artist community where adults with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art, will present Jewel Box, a selection of small abstract works in gem-like purples, greens, and golds. Fair director Kelly Freeman says the event will bring together and highlight the vibrancy of the Bay Area artistic community, ensuring that visitors to this years fair will see and hear things they havent before. Were thrilled to dive into areas we havent previously, like motherhood and art with a panel moderated by Mother Magazine s Katie Hintz-Zambrano. Also, artificial intelligence in the artists studio with the nonprofit Gray Area , featuring professors from UC Berkeley and Stanford. This year there will be a focus on the East Bayincluding activations and partnerships with pt. 2 Gallery , Richmonds NIAD Art Center , Oakland Art Murmur , and the Berkely Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive as well as a number of new participants, including Chinatowns fabulous Jessica Silverman and Mill Valleys Anthony Meier . Chelsea Ryoko Wong, 'Nobody Gets Out of Here Alive', 2024 (Courtesy of Jessica Silverman/San Francisco Art Fair) Gallerist Micki Meng is one of those joining the fair for the first time. Her booth is supporting a land conservation initiative by an artist who's based in Marin, Haley Mellin , she says. Her art practice is throughconserving lands around the globe to mitigate the climate crisis, and I'm a deep supporter and believer of this as well. We are showing 50 canvases that will all be sold for $500 each, and were asking people in our community to make those canvases, Meng elaborates over the phone from Paris. Chris Bedford, the director of SFMOMA , and Bob Fisher, who is the board chair of SFMOMA will make something. Ali Gass, the director of ICA San Francisco , will make something, and so will artist and activist Felix de Rosen , who is on the environmentalist side. Meng, who goes to a lot of fairs, says this one is important to her to attend. San Franciso is at the center of the intersection between arts and technology, and many [of the] conversations being had around issues of our time. I feel like any major activity or moment that draws not only the local community but also the international community together, is very important, and I see the art fair as a leader in this. Yiwei Lu , who has galleries in Venice Beach and Wuhan, China, agrees. We really like San Francisco Art Fair because San Francisco has a large Asian population, and we work a lot with Asian diaspora artists, she says. Also, San Francisco has a long culture and history of artists living there and patrons supporting art, and all the museums are very awesome. Liu Tianlian, 'Laundromat' (Courtesy of Yiwei Gallery/San Francisco Art Fair) This fair is very beautiful, Lu continues. We love the formation. It's really different than L.A. because whenever there's an art week in L.A., things are so spread out. [Here] everything is so centered. I love when things are all happening at the same time. Lus gallery will present a solo exhibition of Liu Tianlian, who immigrated to the U.S. several years ago and uses traditional brushwork to explore American subjects. Tianlian was exactly the kind of artist whose voice Lu wanted to make space for when she opened her gallery in 2019. Since her move to the States, she really dives into immigrant-centered worlds like nail salons and laundromats, says Jiayi Hou, the show's curator. We think that's very appropriate to show in a city like San Francisco, where Chinese immigration started really early on, and where it has the largest Chinatown in the world. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:00:00] Bob: This week on The Perfect Scam. [00:00:02] Phil Prazan: Coconut Grove is one of the older neighborhoods in the city. There's a specific area historically known as the Black Grove. It was an African American community, that has a really long and deep and strong roots in the culture of Miami. [00:00:21] (news clip): The economic crimes unit in the Miami Police Department is investigating a new case of financial real estate fraud. [00:00:26] Phil Prazen: This vacant lot in Coconut Grove has been in Shirley Gibson's family her entire life. [00:00:31] Shirley Gibson: I'm distraught from all of this, that I have to fight to keep my property. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:00:37] Bob: Picture this you try to pay your property taxes and find out someone else had already paid them! Your first thought might be, Well, that's lovely. But I hope your next thought would be, Something has gone really wrong here. Fortunately, that's what Shirley Gibson thought when the 80-something Florida resident found the taxes had been paid on her modest empty lot, a piece of property that had been in her family for more than 100 years. So, she starts to ask questions and finds out, someone else paid those taxes because someone else now owns the land! The lot had been sold to investors, without anyone even so much as texting or calling her. And as she asks more questions, this long-time community organizer learns that dozens of homeowners all around her largely African American community have suffered the same fate. It sounds almost impossible. How can someone buy property that isn't for sale? You'll see how in this two-part episode. We plucked it from our archives while we work on new episodes of The Perfect Scam. I must confess Shirley is one of my favorite guests, and this is one of my favorite stories because of how she fights back for her family and her community. Here's part 1. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:01:57] Bob: Welcome back to The Perfect Scam. I'm your host Bob Sullivan. And today's story brings us to sunny Miami, to historic Coconut Grove, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, a tropical oasis that's south of South Beach, a place founded by artists, intellectuals, pioneers, and adventurers in the 19th century. The Grove is a little Bahamian and a little Bohemian. Inside the Grove is West Grove, a black majority neighborhood undergoing a dramatic renaissance, gentrification which means empty lots are hard to come by and valuable really, really valuable. So valuable that certain kinds of people are attracted to the market. Local journalist Phil Prazan, of Miami's NBC affiliate has witnessed the dramatic activity. [00:02:49] Phil Prazan: South Florida is one of the fraud capitals of the country. It's a land of easy money and fast deals. You get kind of used to all types of weird, strange, unique stories. Being a reporter in South Florida, this was just another, you dont want to call it another day, but it kind of was. [00:03:13] Bob: Prazan is an investigative reporter, so he knows a good tip when he hears one. And in this case, the tip comes from a source who works in real estate at a title insurance company. He's seen some really weird, strange property sales coming across his desk. Someone, or some set of people is trying to sell properties they don't own to unsuspecting buyers. [00:03:37] Phil Prazan: He reached out to us and said, "Hey, I have three properties that are trying to be sold, and they all have the same picture on their ID with different names." So, this is strange. And we think that there's some type of fraud going on, and it's not just us, right, like this is obviously kind of a wide net, and we're just spotting it. [00:04:04] Bob: It's a bold crime selling properties you don't own. How is that even possible? And the idea that many title insurance companies are fighting this, well, it sounds like something is really going on. Prazan decides to start pulling on the threads of this story. Owners who were victims, well, they have no idea any of this is happening. [00:04:25] Phil Prazan: I was more just curious of how this all worked. We went and talked to one of the homeowners whose name is Alfred Thomas who did not really know this was all happening, that somebody was trying to sell or to buy his property without him knowing about it. So that was the first one. And then we started calling all of the phone numbers that were associated with these IDs. We found all these Zillow accounts and, and we began notifying the property owners and doing follow-up stories on this, and you know, two of these property owners that we notified; we said, "Hey, your property is on the market. Do you know? And are you selling?" And they said, "No, this is, this is not me. This is a fraud." [00:05:13] Bob: As Phil starts to call other potential victims, the conversations become more alarming. One victim even thinks Phil must be the criminal. [00:05:22] Phil Prazan: One that sticks out to me in particular, you know, they didn't believe me. They, they thought that I was the scammer. They're like, sure, yeah, yeah. You know it's, it's, this must be some type of joke, right? And then we were just like, "Hey listen. Go on the Miami-Dade County registry and see online that you are no longer the owner of this vacant lot. And then call me back. Go verify for yourself. It's all right there." And then, you know, we'd hang up, and then they'd call me back in 15 minutes, and they go, "Okay. What's going on?" [00:05:57] Bob: These weren't just Zillow ads, these were transactions that were, at least some of them were already completed. [00:06:02] Phil Prazan: Yes, so the original story I did, did not go through. It was caught at the last minute by the owner and the title insurance company. Then we notified two others that already happened. [00:06:14] Bob: Properties, empty lots, all over Miami being sold right out from underneath their owners? This is no paperwork headache, no joke. The county website shows there's a new owner. Still confused about what might be going on, Phil hears from another source who is going to help fill out the whole picture. [00:06:33] Phil Prazan: And then like that same week, David Winker who's a contact of mine uh just from, you know, reporting in Miami, called me and said, "Hey, I have this really interesting case. There's this elderly woman named Shirley Gibson and someone's trying to sell her property without her knowing about it." And I was like, "You have no idea. I've been down this rabbit hole all the time. This is a much bigger deal than I think you are aware of, and I was aware of." So it, it is a, it is happening all over the city of Miami, and probably South Florida. So that's how I got to the Shirley Gibson case, kind of just covering that similar topic. [00:07:16] Bob: And that's how we get to Coconut Grove. Shirley Gibson is an 80 something year old firebrand, a retired librarian, a community leader who still hosts meetings on her empty lot in town. The family has lived there since her great-grandmother immigrated from the Bahamas. [00:07:33] Shirley Gibson: The area that I lived in is called Coconut Grove, but now it's known as West Grove where the Blacks live. And my grandfather came to this country in 1904 and my great-grandmother came in 1879. Now the property that's I'm having problems with now... [00:07:59] Bob: This property means a lot to your family, right? [00:08:01] Shirley Gibson: Yeah, its been in the family over 100 years. [00:08:05] Bob: Through the years, Shirley's family was lucky enough to own a couple of lots in West Grove, and while her childhood home no longer stands, the empty lots are still in her family. [00:08:15] Shirley Gibson: They're, they're vacant lots, and they're each 50 x 100, 50 x 111. I think that's the standard lot size in that area. 50 x 100. [00:08:28] Bob: The lot that begins this twisted tale is actually the plot of earth where Shirley lived as a child. [00:08:34] Shirley Gibson: It's full of greenery, trees, which I like to see the trees and the grass. [00:08:39] Bob: How far away from your empty lot do you live? [00:08:43] Shirley Gibson: Oh I live about maybe about 30 minutes or 40 minutes away. [00:08:49] Bob: So do you just drive by every once in a while to have a look at the trees and the grass? [00:08:53] Shirley Gibson: Well I try to go over every week two or three times to the neighborhood. Because I still do business in that area. And I ride by the lots. [00:09:03] Bob: Is there a single word that comes to mind when you, when you look at the property when you drive by? [00:09:08] Shirley Gibson: I'm just happy that I still own them. I own the property. At one time there were all houses on there because my grandfather had maybe about 16 to 20 parcels of lots at one time. But over the years when he retired, he started selling them, the houses to Black people. [00:09:30] Bob: And so yours had a house on it at one point? [00:09:32] Shirley Gibson: Yeah, yeah, uh-huh. I lived there for almost 40 years and my father was born there in 1911. [00:09:41] Bob: Oh wow. [00:09:42] Shirley Gibson: He lived there until he died in '80--, '86. 1986. [00:09:47] Bob: So at some point the house was, was old and, and removed or... [00:09:52] Shirley Gibson: Yeah, yeah. And I got a lot of problems from the, from the city inspectors, so I just demolished them, and another one I, I sold. [00:10:03] Bob: Still, the vacant lots mean a lot to Shirley and her family. They represent generational wealth. Someday, she expects her nieces and nephews to inherit the land, that's why what happens when she goes to pay her taxes is so distressing. [00:10:19] Shirley Gibson: I went online to check the amount that was due, and that's when I saw a company in Brooklyn, New York, with their name on one piece of property. [00:10:32] Bob: So you go online to pay your taxes, and, and it says someone else in New York owns your property? What did, what did, what was that like? How did that feel? [00:10:42] Shirley Gibson: Well, I went down to the tax office to pay the taxes although I saw that on there, and when I gave her the tax bill for one piece of property, she said, "The taxes have been paid." And I said, "No, I did not pay them, and I did not give anyone authority to pay the taxes." And then she spoke to her supervisor, and they came up with a fraud, fraudulent warranty deed. And I said I did not sign that. [00:11:13] Bob: I've seen a copy of this deed. It sure looks real. It says, quote, "On this 4th day of March 2021, Shirley Gibson hereby grants, sells, conveys, and confirms unto the grantee all that certain land." It says Shirley granted the property to someone else who then sold it to the New York company for $230,000. Staring at the fake deed, the then obviously fake signature, Shirley walks out of the tax office confused, frustrated, not knowing what to do. She calls one attorney she knows. He's busy. So she heads over to West Grove where by coincidence, she plans to attend a community meeting later that day. It turns out that's the best thing that happened to Shirley on this dark day. [00:12:02] Shirley Gibson: Luckily, the neighbors in Coconut Grove have a little organization that Mr. Winker is the attorney, and luckily, we were having a meeting that, that weekend. When I went to the meeting, I told Mr. Winker that I'd like to speak to him after the meeting. [00:12:21] Bob: Mr. Winker is lawyer David Winker, the source who knows journalist Phil Prazan. David is in the neighborhood that night for a meeting. He's been helping with West Grove legal issues for years. [00:12:32] David Winker: So I was in a community meeting, I happened to be there on a, on another issue, and she was upset, visibly upset to the point of where I thought there was a physical problem like she was having a health issue. And I took her by the hand, I know her, and I, you know, she's a very articulate 80-year-old. Um, she's very with it. She has a great mind, and former librarian, retired librarian, and she wasn't acting normal. And I was like, what is wrong? Are you okay? And she said, "Something terrible happened to me today. I'll have to tell you about it afterwards." [00:13:06] Bob: So Shirley tells him about the tax office, about the deed the official there actually showed her with her fake signature on it. [00:13:13] David Winker: The reason she found out about it was she went to pay her taxes in person, with a cashier's check, like she does every year, and the person said, "Your taxes have already been paid." "There must be some mistake. I haven't paid the taxes." "Well they've been paid." The officer goes back, the taxpayer goes back and comes back and says, "Listen, you no longer own this property." And they gave her a copy of the fake deed, right, the fraudulent deed. They were just like, good luck old lady. [00:13:46] Bob: David had known Shirley a long time, knew her to be smart and level-headed, so he knew something must be terribly wrong. [00:13:54] David Winker: Shirley is like a really important person. I mean she's kind of a, you know, she's a prominent person in that neighborhood who I had worked with over the years. We had worked in the past on different things like celebrating certain heritage, African American heritage issues, and she's kind of a, the resident historian um, on different things. So we would bring her in to speak to things, to educate us as to things. In this specific case, it had to do with a, they were going to put a, an Airbnb up, they were going to commercial a couple lots and she and many of the neighbors were opposed to it, so I was working with the neighborhood to kind of have our voice heard in front of the city commission regarding the zoning change that the developer was asking for. [00:14:41] Bob: So not only did Shirley have friends, allies, she had a better understanding of real estate than many people might. [00:14:47] David Winker: I think she was very, how do you put it, like surprised, you know, like that they would go after her. And honestly, you know, like she had the wherewithal to go after, to fight back. Does that make sense, like she, you know, they, they messed with the wrong lady. [00:15:04] Bob: The first thing David does is march Shirley right to the police station to make sure the police believe there's a problem and make sure he gets a police report. [00:15:12] David Winker: Well the police and the State Attorney can do 100 things more than I can. When you need law enforcement, you need law enforcement. We went to the police station and I'm sitting with Ms. Gibson, and the first thing I said to Ms. Gibson was, "Give me all your credit cards and ID." And she's looking at me like, what? And it was like, "No, no, I need, like I want to go show this police officer, you know, behind this glass thing, like this is not your signature." And it, it sounds funny, but like you know, I had a great-grandma and Ms. Gibson's handwriting is that old-fashioned like, it looks like somebody who had signed the, the Declaration of Independence. [00:15:49] Bob: (chuckles) [00:15:50] David Winker: This big, loopy, beautiful cursive, and it looked like it was signed by my 8-year-old. You know, Shirley Gibson in block letters. And I wanted to show the cop from the beginning like this is so clearly fraud. [00:16:04] Bob: Yes, the signature on the fake deed looks childlike, looks nothing like Shirley's signature. And the police take a report. Still, that's not going to get Shirley her property back. As David gets back to his office and starts to research what happened, he finds out that this is much more than a paperwork slip-up or a recording error. Someone made money, a lot of money off the sale of Shirley's property. [00:16:32] David Winker: I immediately called the company that had closed the loan. There was a, a name on a deed, you know, who pre--, it says "prepared by..." And there was the company, and I called the company, and you know the, the president called me back and immediately sent an email to everybody involved and was like, "Hey, there's something wrong here. We're being told this is a fraud." In this case they sold to, you know, someone who impersonated Ms. Gibson and sold the property to an innocent third party. The way that this went down was, they received a deed, you know by FedEx, and then they sent out a cashier's check, right, a cashier's check. So you know, they were out real money, right, this, this company's out real money. [00:17:21] Bob: So someone was able to collect $230,000 from the sale of Shirley's land. The land she grew up on, that her father grew up on. And Shirley never received so much as a phone call or a text message. Meanwhile, as David starts to research the legal options, Shirley makes another shocking discovery. That lot is not her only lot the criminals are targeting. [00:17:46] Bob: You know, my understanding is that while you were going through all this, you went online, and you saw that another property that you own was also for sale on Zillow? [00:17:54] Shirley Gibson: Yes. I'm also fortunate to have a neighbor in that area who, he discovered it, that piece of property. And he's a friend of, of David's. And that's how I found out about the other piece of property. [00:18:11] Bob: So he calls you and says, "Hey, did you know you're, this other thing is happening too? Is that what happened? [00:18:15] Shirley Gibson: Yes, it's on uh, Zillow. [00:18:17] Bob: Yeah. So what do you think now? Do you feel like you're being attacked by these criminals who are trying to steal your properties? [00:18:25] Shirley Gibson: Yes. I, I do. I, I am a little upset about it. But then I said, it's fortunate that it happened to me because I jumped on it immediately. [00:18:38] Bob: David is scrambling to help Shirley at this point. But she is surprisingly calm about the whole thing. You can hear it in Shirley's voice even now. [00:18:48] Bob: But I'm just trying to picture, I mean I would shocked, I would be stunned. I would be sick to my stomach if, if I saw something like that happen to me. [00:18:56] Shirley Gibson: Well, I'm a calm person. [00:18:59] Bob: Calmer than me (chuckles). [00:19:02] Shirley Gibson: And I leave it in the hands of an higher authority. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:19:07] Bob: While David admires Shirley's patience, he is not able to stay quite so calm. He decides he needs to make sure the theft of Shirley's property gets the attention it deserves. So he reaches out to Phil Prazan, the TV journalist. And that's when the size of the problem starts to come into focus. [00:19:28] Phil Prazan: When David told me that, you know, his, he's, his client was trying to get her property back, and I said, well, you know, we've been working on this similar issues for the last you know, couple weeks. So yeah, does she want to talk? So and he said, of course. Yeah, I said, "David, this is way bigger than Shirley Gibson." You know, this is happening. And, and before that actually the City of Miami Police told us that they were investigating 50 similar cases. And Shirley Gibson was just one of them. [00:20:01] Bob: But with Shirley's story, this crime wave has gone one step farther. It's become far more serious. So Phil takes a camera crew to West Grove to meet Shirley at her property. Well, the property that is supposed to be hers. [00:20:16] Phil Prazan: When I walked up, she was sitting down on kind of like a, a stoop that is next to her property, 'cause she is a, a little older. So she stood up and shook my hand and said hello, and she was wearing a mask because it was COVID, and, and I was wearing a mask, and our photographer was wearing a mask. And then, you know, we chatted for a little bit, and then she, you know, she sat back down on the, on the stoop and at first glance, she seems very softspoken, right. She doesn't raise her voice; she just speaks matter of factly. And you know, that has a certain strength to it, you know, it's just, this is the situation, and this is what we're going to do about it, and this is what happened, and this is what I learned. And this is, these are the steps that we're taking next. I got the impression like she had, you know, seen a thing or two in her day. [00:21:07] Bob: (laugh) Um, but, but so you said she was concerned, but, but she was also kind of on the matter of fact, you know, we're going to, we're going to fix this sort of frame of mind. [00:21:16] Phil Prazan: Absolutely. I mean she was very determined, and she seemed to understand the process of how to fight back, and she was in that process of doing it. [00:21:26] Bob: And Phil is sure Shirley isn't fight just for herself, she's fighting for her neighbors, for justice, for history. The vast majority of victims are Black families. [00:21:39] Phil Prazan: Coconut Grove is one of the older neighborhoods in the city. And, you know, there's a specific area called the, you know, historically known as the Black Grove, right. It was a, it was an African American community, that has a really long and deep and strong roots in the culture of Miami. And over, over the years it has been, you know, gentrified, if you will, people have been coming in and purchasing the old land, and buying fancier houses with it, you know, or, or building fancier houses with it, and so I think that's why, for the African American community to own property in the Black Grove, in Coconut Grove, is so important, right, because it is holding onto what's left of their historical heritage in that neighborhood. And we found that, you know, in these other cases of vacant lot frauds, they're all, nearly all elderly, nearly all African American, and they all say that owning property is important to us so we can pass it down to our children and their children's children, because it's all about building generational wealth for them. Miami has a history of segregation and a hist--, you know it's, its Florida, but it's still the South. So there, there is a history of racial conflict and, and I think people in the Black community really feel like that owning property and passing it down through generational wealth is a way to overcome some of those hurdles. [00:23:26] Bob: So, Phil and Shirley go public with the story. It topped the news on May 17th. [00:23:32] (news clip): The economic crimes unit in the Miami Police Department is investigating a new case of financial real estate fraud. ...that is part of an increase in that type of crime. NBC 6 investigators have covered since the pandemic began. NBC 6 investigator Phil Prazan has this latest case. We've reported on these vacant lot scams several times this spring. This deal actually went through, and it is a pain for those involved. This vacant lot in Coconut Grove has been in Shirley Gibson's family her entire life. She intended to pass it onto her niece and nephew. So that Blacks will have some property in West Grove. For me, it's been disturbing. I'm distraught from all of this, that I have to fight to keep my property. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:24:20] Bob: Does Shirley get her land back? What happens to the $230,000 that someone got paid selling her property? And what about the other 50 victims? And what happens to the criminals and to the neighborhood, and could this happen to you? That's next week on The Perfect Scam. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:24:49] Bob: If you have been targeted by a scam or fraud, you are not alone. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. Their trained fraud specialists can provide you with free support and guidance on what to do next. Our email address at The Perfect Scam is: theperfectscampodcast@aarp.org, and we want to hear from you. If you've been the victim of a scam or you know someone who has, and you'd like us to tell their story, write to us. That address again is: theperfectscampodcast@aarp.org. Thank you to our team of scambusters; Associate Producer, Annalea Embree; Researcher, Becky Dodson; Executive Producer, Julie Getz; and our Audio Engineer and Sound Designer, Julio Gonzalez. Be sure to find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For AARP's The Perfect Scam, I'm Bob Sullivan. (MUSIC SEGUE) END OF TRANSCRIPT Drinking water is essential for health, but can too much be deadly? A shocking case in Ireland suggests it can. A 59-year-old man died from water intoxication at a hospital after being encouraged to hydrate following a routine procedure, according to details revealed in court. Sean O'Donnell, 59, walked into a Dublin hospital for a routine day procedure in January 2020, expecting a quick recovery. The operation was successful, with no complications, and the staff advised him to drink plenty of water but did not monitor his intake. What seemed like harmless advice turned fatal when O'Donnell consumed excessive amounts of water in a short period, leading to a rare but deadly condition known as water intoxication. Excess water intake led to low sodium levels, brain swelling, seizures, cardiac arrest, and ultimately, O'Donnell's death. The hospital allegedly failed to properly care for, manage, supervise, or treat O'Donnell, the court heard. When a person drinks too much water in a short period, it can cause a chemical imbalance, as the body is unable to clear the excess fluid naturally through sweating or urination. This results in the dilution of blood, reducing electrolytes in it, and increased pressure on the brain, which can lead to an altered mental state and, in severe cases, fatality. Early symptoms include nausea and vomiting. Other signs of water intoxication include headaches, drowsiness, and muscle-related issues such as weakness, pain, and cramps. As the condition worsens, it can impair mental function, leading to confusion, irritability, and dizziness. In severe cases, excess water can cause swelling in the hands, feet, and abdomen. To avoid water intoxication, it is important to listen to your body and stay mindful of your hydration needs. Although the hydration needs can be different, a good rule of thumb is to drink when you feel thirsty and stop once you feel satisfied, rather than forcing yourself to drink more. Most people can comfortably process about 1 to 2 liters of water a day, and symptoms of overhydration may appear if you exceed this significantly in a short time, such as drinking several liters in just an hour or two. Another way to check if you are drinking too much water is by observing the color of your urine. If it is colorless and you are experiencing symptoms of water intoxication, stop drinking water, as it may indicate overhydration. Originally published on Medical Daily North Korea's military has ordered soldiers to stop picking up discarded cigarette butts from the streets. The order comes as commanders continue to withhold portions of their cigarette rations, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported, citing members of the country's armed forces. The issue was raised during a March 14 video conference of the General Political Bureau of the army, a soldier in the northern province of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons. "The meeting very seriously discussed the issue of lax discipline among commanders and soldiers," the military member said, noting that desertion and theft were also cited as examples of poor discipline. "At this meeting, soldiers were strongly warned against picking up cigarette butts," he added. "It was officially declared that any soldier caught picking up cigarette butts on the street would be punished with revolutionary labor for at least three months." Revolutionary labor assignments typically involve grueling chores as punishment. The soldier said that scavenging cigarette butts is a relatively new problem, but military officials see it as a breach of decorum. "Each soldier is provided with 15 packs of cigarettes per month, but the commanders take them all up. So, the soldiers are left picking up the butts because they don't have any cigarettes to smoke," he said. "In the past, it was just the lower-ranked soldiers who looked for butts, but now even the higher-ranked soldiers are doing it too." Another military source from the same province, who also requested anonymity, told RFA that cigarette rations have decreased significantly. "In the case of the border guards, each soldier used to be supplied with 15 packs of Baekseung-brand cigarettes per month, but since last fall, they have only been supplied with 10 packs," he said. "After the commanders skim off the top, the soldiers are left only seven packs per month," he added. The source said that every afternoon, border guard leaders assign two soldiers to collect cigarette butts because there is a shortage of cigarettes within the units. "Even the border guard units, which are supposedly well-supplied, are in this state, and situations are much worse with other infantry units," he said. "What is more troubling is that this year, even female soldiers have been spotted out on the streets, picking up cigarette butts." While male soldiers seek tobacco remnants, female soldiers are more interested in cigarette filters, which contain cotton that can be repurposed for clothing or ceremonial wedding blankets, a traditional gift for newlyweds. "The womenwho aren't allowed to smoke at alltrade the tobacco they collect in exchange for the filters that the men collect," the source explained. "With the money they get for selling the filters, they buy food for their unit." He added that the situation is dire, with soldiers now selling cigarette butts just to afford food. "The supply chain for soldiers is in such a sad state that soldiers are selling cigarette butts for food," he said. "I wonder if threats like revolutionary labor can even work against these soldiers." The Cyberabad police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 celebrities, including prominent Tollywood actors and social media influencers, for allegedly endorsing illegal gambling and betting applications. Among those named in the complaint are actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal, who are accused of promoting gambling platforms through advertisements and social media promotions. The FIR was filed following a complaint by businessman P.M. Phanindra Sarma, who alleged that these promotions led to financial distress among the public. The accused are said to have endorsed platforms such as Junglee Rummy, A23 Rummy, Yolo247, Fairplay Live, and Jeet Win through digital advertisements, pop-ups, and sponsored content. Key Allegations: Rana Daggubati & Prakash Raj Accused of promoting Junglee Rummy via pop-up advertisements. Vijay Deverakonda Allegedly endorsed multiple gambling platforms, including A23 Rummy, Yolo247, Fairplay Live, and Jeet Win. Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, and Nidhi Agarwal Accused of promoting gambling apps through social media and digital ads. Influencers Harsha Sai, Bayya Sunny Yadav, and Tastyteja Allegedly promoted gambling platforms through sponsored videos and online advertisements. Cyberabad Commissioner of Police, Avinash Mohanty, confirmed that an investigation is underway to examine the apps, their origins, and those involved in their promotion. Authorities allege that these platforms exploit vulnerable individuals, encouraging them to invest in gambling, leading to financial losses. Investigators suspect a larger network of celebrity endorsements and plan to trace financial transactions linked to these promotions. Duroflex, Indias leading sleep solutions brand, made a disruptive move by partnering with Myntra, Indias largest fashion destination, to redefine mattresses as a key lifestyle essential. As Myntras much anticipated Birthday Sale kicked off on March 01, Duroflex is leading an industry shift as the first-ever mattress brand to debut on the platform selling sleep solutions as part of a style statement. The campaign, Sleep Great to Look Good, challenges traditional perceptions by positioning sleep as a must-have beauty and fashion essential. By moving beyond mainstream transactional selling platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, Duroflexs collaboration with Myntra transforms sleep from a basic necessity into a lifestyle statement. Together they are shaping a new conversation, one that goes beyond sales to tell a compelling story about the connection between sleep, confidence and style. Myntra continues to set fashion trends, while Duroflex with its cutting edge sleeping solutions highlights the critical role of sleep in looking and feeling your best. The idea of Sleep Great to Look Good reinforces that true style starts with well-being. After all, the best look shines brightest when youre well-rested. By teaming up with Myntra, Duroflex is going beyond selling mattresses, it's making quality sleep a part of fashion and self-care. Through this collaboration, Duroflex brought fashion and sleep together with eye-catching and impactful outdoor ads. Featuring witty, luxury-inspired visuals, the campaign reimagines popular lifestyle brands from the lens of sleep. These bold adaptations have emphasized the integral role of sleep in personal style and well-being. The creatives were amplified across mediums through OOH ads in Bangalore, immersive AI video-led ads, and engaging social media content. With added visibility on Myntra, mock outdoor creatives, and widespread online placements, the campaign has made sleep a fashion statement. Speaking about the collaboration, Sridhar Balakrishnan CEO, Duroflex Group said, Duroflexs partnership with Myntra marks a category-first move, positioning sleep solutions in a fashion-first space for the very first time. By shifting from conventional ways of selling to immersive storytelling, we are redefining how consumers perceive mattressesnot just a necessity but as a lifestyle choice. This collaboration strengthens Duroflexs brand desirability by highlighting that great sleep is essential for great style in the lifestyle-conscious market. Ullas Vijay, CMO, Duroflex further added, At Duroflex, we believe great sleep is the foundation of both good health and effortless style. With Indias first AI-powered campaign that connects sleep and fashion, we are bringing a fresh perspective to the category. Our partnership with Myntra is structured to thoughtfully combine sleep into the world of self-care and style, while engaging with a trend-savvy audience. This collaboration strengthens Duroflexs lifestyle narrative and sets a new standard for innovation in sleep marketing. By stepping into Myntras fashion-first space, Duroflex has revolutionized how sleep is marketed and perceived. As Duroflex continues to innovate, this partnership has set the stage for a new era where great sleep fuels great style. The European Commission has issued preliminary findings against Google, alleging the tech giant is breaching antitrust laws by unfairly promoting its own Shopping, Hotels, and Flights services within its search results. This marks a significant step in the EU's enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at curbing the power of tech "gatekeepers." According to the Commission's initial assessment, Google's parent company, Alphabet, is giving its own services preferential treatment in search rankings, disadvantaging rival comparison providers. Furthermore, the EU claims Alphabet is violating anti-steering rules under the DMA by restricting app developers on its Play Store from directing users to alternative distribution channels. The EU's concerns center on Google's alleged practice of favoring its own services, effectively limiting visibility and fair competition for other businesses. This, the Commission argues, stifles innovation and limits consumer choice. On the Play Store front, the EU asserts that Google is hindering app developers' ability to offer consumers cheaper alternatives outside of the Google Play ecosystem. Google, however, disputes the EU's findings. The company argues that the proposed changes to its search results would negatively impact consumers, potentially leading to higher prices. Regarding the Play Store, Google contends that the EU's interpretation creates a false dichotomy between openness and security, potentially exposing users to harmful content. This preliminary ruling sets the stage for a potential clash between Google and the EU. Google has the opportunity to challenge the Commission's findings and implement further compliance measures before a final decision is reached. Should the EU find Google in violation of the DMA, the company could face substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 10% of its global annual revenue. The EU's actions underscore its commitment to fostering a competitive digital landscape and ensuring fair market practices. This ruling, along with previous investigations into other tech giants, signals a growing determination by European regulators to rein in the power of dominant digital platforms. Hombale Films' Salaar: Part 1 Ceasefire was undoubtedly the biggest film that set records at the time of its release. Arriving like a storm, the film captivated audiences with its compelling story and mind-blowing action. While it received immense love upon its initial release, its Telugu re-release is garnering an even more overwhelming response, with fans celebrating it in a grand manner. The Salaar: Part 1 Ceasefire saga is once again taking over the masses with its Telugu re-release. Fans have unveiled a massive poster of the film on the streets, adding to the excitement. Another remarkable phenomenon unfolded as fans introduced the Khansaar stamp entry, creating a frenzy as everyone eagerly sought to get it on their hands. It is rare to witness such an extraordinary response for any film, and fans are celebrating its re-release as if it were a festival. The super-premium cat food SHEBA brand, part of the Mars family of brands, has proudly partnered with Bollywood actor and passionate pet parent, Sharvari, to celebrate the evolving bond between cats and their parents in India. This collaboration is a tribute to the special connection pet parents share with their cats, based on the universal insight that they go to great lengths to please them. As globally cat parents outpaces dog parents, The SHEBA brands latest digital campaign, All They Want Is SHEBA, underscores that true contentment is found in meals that match a cats discerning palate. The campaign reflects the dedication of cat parents and the emotional depth that underpins every feeding momenta gesture of love, care, and bonding. Speaking on the occasion, Natalia Ball, Global Chief Growth Officer, Mars Pet Nutrition, said, The SHEBA brand stands for uncompromised taste, quality, and quality nutrition that cats cannot refuse - qualities that have made it a brand of choice for millions of pet parents worldwide. In India, over 70% of cat parents consider their cats as family, and more than 69% of them are first-time pet parents. This new generation of pet parents is committed to going the extra mile to develop a lasting bond with their catsfeeding becomes more than a necessity; it is an expression of love and care. Ayesha Huda, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Petcare India, said, It is heartening to see the growing love for SHEBA brand in India spurred by pet parents in metro cities where demand and awareness for high quality feeding experience, combined with quality nutrition for pets is on the rise. We are shaping the pet food category in India through innovation, education, and its diverse portfolio of super premium offerings. Sharvaris reputation as a credible and talented actor and her personal pet parenting journey aligns with the SHEBA brands values, making her the right brand ambassador to reflect the thoughtful choices discerning pet parents make to indulge their cats. Expressing her excitement, Brand Ambassador Sharvari said, The one thing common for all pet parents is that pets are family. Every choice we make for them matters - from how we care for them to how we nurture and connect with them. Feeding pets is such an important part of that bond, and I believe that food should be as much about nutrition and high quality meals as it is about creating memorable mealtime moments of love and connection. This is what SHEBA brand stands for - making mealtimes a meaningful ritual to create deeper bonds with pets. The event also served as a platform for insightful discussions between cat pet parents and influencers on pet parenting and the importance of quality cat nutrition. The conversations focused on the evolving landscape of cat ownership in India, the rising demand for quality nutrition, and the role of indulgent gourmet experiences in strengthening bonds between cats and their parents. The SHEBA brands super-premium offerings are designed for cat parents who refuse to compromise on quality, taste, or the joy of mealtime. Every recipe is crafted with the quality ingredients, including meat, fish, or poultry products, packed with quality ingredients. Available in exquisite flavors like Maguro & Bream, Fish with Sasami, Skipjack & Salmon under SHEBA Rich range; and variants like WITH TUNA PUMPKIN & CARROT, CHICKEN WITH TUNA, CHICKEN under SHEBA Fine Food range, SHEBA Kitten, all designed to transform every mealtime into an experience that strengthens the bond between cats and their parents. TVS Motor Company (TVSM) - a leading global automaker in the two and three-wheeler segment today announced the appointment of Peyman Kargar as Head International Business. He will be based out of Dubai and report to K N Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Company. Peyman is an accomplished global automotive leader with over three decades of experience across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Announcing the appointment, K. N. Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Company said, Peymans prolific global leadership experience and expertise will add significant value to the company. The Company has been strengthening its position in international markets and has plans to expand further in advanced economies. We are confident that under his leadership, we will further strengthen our market position and continue to set benchmarks. We wish him the very best and welcome him to the TVSM family. Peyman was the Global Chairman & President of INFINITI, the luxury brand of Nissan Company. He led the full value chain of the INFINITI brand globally, including Product Planning, R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Sales & Marketing, and Finance. Over three years until March 2023, he transformed the brand, resulting in a 20% increase in volume and setting the business on a trajectory toward USD 1 billion in annual profit. Previously, he was the Chairman & Sr VP of Africa Middle East India Region CEO of the DATSUN brand. He oversaw more than 80 countries for NISSAN Group. Earlier, from 2014 to 2017, he was the VP Sales & Marketing, Renault Group for 50 countries in Africa, Middle East, Iran & India, managing a 4 Bn Euro Turnover & 400,000 Sales per year. His two previous roles included being the Managing Director of Renault Middle East and the Country Manager Director in Iran. He was managing all Functions in the country including R&D, Manufacturing, S&M, aftersales. Peyman is a Mechanical Engineer and an MBA with a focus on Finance, Strategy, and Leadership. The 9th edition of the DIGIXX Summit and Awards 2025, held in Delhi on March 20, showcased the cutting edge of Indias digital marketing revolution. While AI, AR/VR, and social commerce dominate headlines, a crucial element for impactful brand communication was highlighted in a dynamic panel discussion on The Power of Regional Languages in Digital Advertising. This session explored how, in a nation of one India, many Indias, leveraging regional languages is no longer an afterthought, but a strategic imperative. The session was chaired by Boby Paul, Senior General Manager - Marketing, ManoramaOnline, and panelists included: Sajit Gopal, Media Head, Dominos Minal Kasturia, National Head, Sakal Media Group Veda Bashishtha, Digital Marketing Lead, McNROE (Wild Stone and Secret Temptation) Vishal Pathania, Head Digital & D2C, Relaxo Footwear Commencing the discussion, Boby Paul remarked, There is no better time to discuss this aspect than now, as digital is now Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000 crore, almost half of the entire AdEx. The next millions and billions are going to come through regional and vernacular forms. Being from a regional media force, I have been in the mix for a long time. I also come from the agency side, where almost a decade back, when you spoke about regional, it was always an afterthought: Copy and paste from Hindi and English. Sajit Gopal said, I strongly believe regional languages play a key role, and its not just now, it has always been that way. Yes, there were certain sectors where it was simply copy-paste. But now, to a great extent, we have marketers who actually want to connect with their audience. The objective is to build an emotional connection, and a great way to do that is to be immersed in the dialects. We easily say India is one India and many Indias at the same time. So, you need to know the languages and dialects to have that connection and have that impact with the consumer. Agreeing with Gopal, Veda Bashishtha said, It has always been there. We have seen amazing ads in print and TV, especially the vernacular ones. The only query that remains is: has it happened over the digital medium? In the last decade, we have seen a drastic shift, especially in the last 3-5 years. It is growing exponentially. The reason being, brands now recognize the power of vernacular content and how it can deeply connect with audiences and build brand loyalty, as compared to other aspects. Vishal Pathania noted, The shift is underway, and it has accelerated after COVID. The percentage is rapidly increasing towards the digital side. It is relevant to the consumer. As a brand, you have to understand the consumer journey, which starts from search engines. Consumers are going to various places, whether to physical stores or online shops. Its for the brand to understand this. Thats why this shift was required and it is relevant to the consumer. Speaking about the role regional languages play in fostering consumer engagement, Minal Kasturia said, Regional languages provide a lot of depth. According to a KPMG study, 70% of people want to consume content in their own language, and that's something very powerful. It helps brands connect. In India, German brands are a prime example. We see Mercedes and BMW advertising in English only. But in Maharashtra, when they advertise in Marathi, the CTR rate is double that of English. This is the power of regional media and regional languages. Watch the entire discussion here: New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call snap elections on Sunday, sending voters to the polls on April 28, two government sources told AFP. "The prime minister is expected on Sunday to announce elections for April 28," one of the officials, who requested anonymity ahead of a formal announcement, said Thursday. A second source, who also asked for anonymity, confirmed the expected timing of the vote. The election is set to be dominated by US President Donald Trump, whose trade war and repeated questioning of Canada's sovereignty have upended Canadian politics. Carney's Liberal party had been trailing badly to the opposition Conservatives, but recent surveys show a dead heat race, indicating some voters trust Carney to confront the US president. This will be the first campaign for Carney, a 60-year-old former central banker who took over from former prime minister Justin Trudeau just last week, after winning the leadership of the ruling Liberal Party in a landslide party vote. Carney has never held elected office. But he has argued that his experience leading the Bank of Canada through the 2008-2009 financial crisis and as head of the Bank of England surrounding the Brexit vote make him the ideal candidate to lead during a time of economic turmoil. Trump has imposed tariffs on a range of Canadian goods and threatened further levies, which economists warn could plunge Canada into a recession. Carney has called Trump's United States a country Canada can "no longer trust" and warned Canadians that relations with Washington may be permanently altered. Conservatives had been seeing a rise in polling numbers over the past year and their leader Pierre Poilievre looked on track to be prime minister after nearly a decade of Liberal governance under Trudeau. In calling the snap polls, Carney is seeking to take advantage of apparent polling momentum, which appears to show the Liberals erasing the Tories' double digit lead. Trump has also taken to mocking Poilievre, saying the Canadian Conservative is "stupidly no friend of mine." Poilievre has been under pressure to distance himself from Trump, a deeply unpopular figure across Canada, amid his repeated threats to make the country the 51st US state. Image: PTI The Bombay High Court has ruled that passing a comment or singing a song about a woman colleagues hair does not amount to sexual harassment at the workplace. This verdict granted relief to Vinod Kachave, an associate regional manager at HDFC Bank in Pune, who had been demoted after the banks Internal Complaints Committee found him guilty of misconduct under the POSH Act. Justice Sandeep Marne, in his order dated March 18, observed that even if the allegations were accepted as true, there was no concrete inference that Kachaves actions amounted to sexual harassment. The court criticized both the banks internal committee and the Pune industrial court for failing to assess whether the alleged conduct truly fit the definition of harassment under the law. The complaint involved comments about the womans hair and a song referring to her hair. Another allegation included a remark made about a male colleagues private part in the presence of female colleagues. However, the court noted that the woman herself had not initially perceived the comments as harassment and had even exchanged friendly messages with Kachave afterward, thanking him for his encouragement. The high court pointed out that the complaint was filed only after the woman resigned from the company and that the second incident did not involve her presence at all. Declaring the industrial courts findings clearly perverse, the high court set aside the internal report and the demotion order, stating there was no substantiated case of sexual harassment against the petitioner. Nagpur Violence: Fadnavis Blames Poor Social Media Tracking, Denies Intelligence Failure 2 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has pointed fingers at poor social media monitoring as a major lapse in handling the recent Nagpur violence. Speaking at an ABP Majha event, Fadnavis emphasized that tracking online activity on the day of the incident could have helped the police anticipate and counter the violence. However, he firmly denied any intelligence failure and defended the police response as appropriate. He raised concerns over social media messages containing Bengali content and hinted at a possible larger conspiracy, given its use in Bangladesh as well. Fadnavis, who also heads the states home department, admitted that social media surveillance on that day was not up to the mark and stressed the need to build that habit among law enforcement. The violence broke out on Monday evening after rumors spread that a chadar with holy inscriptions was burned during VHP-led protests demanding the removal of Aurangzebs tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Stone pelting and arson were reported across several parts of Nagpur. Fadnavis confirmed that mobilization happened via social media messages and assured that arrests are ongoing. Defending the police, he highlighted their courage in controlling the situation, especially in narrow lanes where the situation was more volatile. Police officials had earlier reported identifying over 140 inflammatory social media posts and videos aimed at provoking communal unrest. Thirty-three police personnel, including three senior officers, were injured in the violence. Seventeen accused, including key suspect Fahim Khan, have been remanded in police custody till March 22 on charges of sedition and spreading misinformation. Fadnavis also addressed political questions, distancing himself from Uddhav Thackeray while maintaining contact with Raj Thackeray. He confirmed that the ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP will contest upcoming local body elections, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, together. 'Not a Trash Bin!' Allahabad HCBA Explodes Over Justice Yashwant Varma's Transfer After 15 Crore Cash Haul 2 The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has strongly opposed the Supreme Court collegiums decision to transfer Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court, following reports of 15 crore in unaccounted cash discovered at his official residence. In a fiery resolution signed by association president and senior advocate Anil Tiwari, the Bar called the transfer an insult, stating, Are we a trash bin? The association expressed shock at the decision and highlighted the existing struggles of the Allahabad High Court, including a severe shortage of judges leading to pending cases and public distrust in the justice system. We are not ready to accept corruption, the resolution declared, criticizing the move as an attempt to dump questionable appointments onto their court. The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, reportedly initiated the transfer after taking cognizance of the incident and has begun a preliminary inquiry by seeking a report from the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. Further action is expected. Justice Varma, aged 56, originally from Allahabad, did not hold court on Friday. His career includes serving as the special counsel for the Allahabad High Court and chief standing counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government before becoming a permanent judge in 2016. However, the massive cash recovery from his residence has cast a long shadow over his judicial integrity, sparking a rare and public backlash from his home court, which refuses to be turned into what it calls a dumping ground for corrupt judges. Vengeful Bus Driver Staged Fire That Killed Four Employees of Pune Firm: Police 2 The fire on a private firms minibus that killed four employees near Pune was allegedly an act of sabotage by a vengeful driver who was upset over a dispute with some staffers and a pay cut, police have said. Investigation has shown that the fire was not an accident but sabotage, deputy commissioner of police Vishal Gaikwad of Pimpri Chinchwad Police told PTI Videos on Thursday. Janardan Hambardekar, the accused driver, had a dispute with some of the employees and wanted to take revenge, the official said. The driver was also disgruntled due to a salary cut, he said. The employees against whom he held a grudge were not among the deceased four, the DCP said. The incident took place in the Hinjawadi area near Pune city on Wednesday morning as the bus, owned by Vyoma Graphics and carrying 14 of its employees to the workplace, caught fire. The accused had procured benzene (a highly inflammable chemical). He had also kept a piece of cloth, typically used for soaking (industrial) toners to wipe surfaces, in the bus. On Thursday, as the bus neared Hinjawadi, he lit a match and set the cloth on fire, said the DCP. The accused jumped off the moving bus, which then continued about a hundred metres before coming to a halt, the official said. Hambardekar had already suffered burns before he got out, as per the probe. The driver was undergoing treatment at a hospital and will be arrested later, the police official said. Four of the employeesShankar Shinde (63), Rajan Chavan (42), Gurudas Lokare (45) and Subhash Bhosale (44)died as they were sitting in the rear and could not open the emergency exit door in time. Besides, six passengers sustained burn injuries. Further probe was on, the DCP added. More than 82,500 job ads were active online across Alabama in January, including many advertised by Huntsville Hospital. (Kayode Crown) Kayode Crown Job openings in Alabama are on the rise, especially for nurses, retail workers and truck drivers. In 2024, the states employers added more than 25,000 jobs, the Alabama Department of Workforce said in an announcement earlier this week. This means that employers remain confident in our job market and are continuing to expand their businesses, said Greg Reed, Alabamas secretary of workforce, in a statement. The employers who posted the most online job ads in Alabama in January are: Huntsville Hospital: 1,041 ads UAB Medicine: 799 ads Taco Bell: 736 ads Walmart: 713 ads Jacks Family Restaurants: 519 ads Dominos Pizza: 475 ads Baptist Health: 386 ads Circle K: 329 ads Arbys: 329 ads Walgreens: 327 ads More than 82,500 job ads were active online across the state in January up nearly 15% from the previous month, according to the most recent data from the Alabama Department of Workforce. Jonathan McNair, public information officer for the workforce department, said one reason for the uptick in job postings is that employers are anticipating seasonal changes as tourism picks up. A lot of restaurant and hospitality postings, thats for spring break and summer seasons, he said. Those people need to stop at the gas stations, they stop at the fast food places along I-65, and those companies know theyre going to need a lot more employees to handle those folks. McNair also noted population growth in Alabamas metros, especially Huntsville. That growth comes with the need of more people in drugstores, needing more people in retail stores, needing more people in the restaurants that are needed to serve all these new Alabamians that have come here to join us, he said. Other jobs with the most openings in January included fast food and counter workers and food service managers. Nearly 27,500 of those jobs were salaried, according to the workforce department: 29% of them paid $70,000 or more 17% paid between $50,000 and $69,000 26% of them offered pay ranging between $35,000 and $49,000 28% of job ads had salaries below $35,000, according to the state agency. But where are the candidates to fill these jobs? During January, the state had nearly 78,300 residents who were unemployed. Thats an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which stayed flat from the previous month and rose from the rate of 2.9% a year earlier. Alabamas unemployment rate is lower than the national rate, which was 4% in January. The counties with the lowest unemployment rates in January, according to the workforce department, were: Shelby County (2.7%) Elmore, Limestone, Marshall and St. Clair Counties (2.8%) and Madison, Lee and Morgan Counties at 2.9%. Three Black Belt counties reported the highest unemployment rates: Greene County (9.1%), Wilcox County (6.9%), and Perry County (6.6%). Alabama has 57 career centers that work to connect residents with jobs and companies with talent, McNair pointed out. If youre an employer, and youre struggling to find employees and your online ads arent netting the results that you want, you can also reach out to that local career center, he said. Theyre able to organize job fairs and theyre in contact with the people that you would need to fill those positions at your company. The states labor force participation rate in January stood at nearly 58%, Reed said. That includes more than three out of four prime-age workers those who are 25 to 54 years old. We will continue our efforts to increase this number overall, by increasing training opportunities and targeting populations that have traditionally been marginalized when it comes to labor force participation, Reed said. A former state employee has been indicted on charges she stole more than $100,000 in public funds. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Thursday said 59-year-old Natalie Colette Lewis,of Montgomery, was indicted on multiple felony charges, including aggravated theft of property, use of office for personal gain, and violation of the Alabama Computer Crimes Act. Lewis formerly worked at the Alabama Medicaid Agency. She surrendered to the Montgomery County Detention Facility shortly before 12:30 p.m. Thursday and was released on a $30,000 bond. Details surrounding the alleged theft have not yet been made public. Marshall said the Attorney Generals Medicaid Fraud Control Unit launched an investigation after the theft was discovered and reported by the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Public trust is the foundation of government service, and when a state employee abuses that trust for personal gain, it is a direct assault on the taxpayers of Alabama, Marshall said in a press release. My office is committed to rooting out fraud and holding those who steal from the public accountable. This case serves as a stark reminder that no one is above the law. Aggravated theft of property is a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $60,000. Use of office for personal gain is a Class B felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000. Violation of the Alabama Computer Crimes Act is a Class C felony, punishable by one to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to $15,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Bruce Lieberman, Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding$1.2 million for Fiscal Year 2024through an annual grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. A woman was arrested Tuesday after police said she drowned her dog in an Orlando International Airport restroom because she couldnt take it on her flight. Police say Alison Agatha Lawrence, 57, of Clermont, killed Tywinn a 9-year-old white miniature Schnauzer in the airport bathroom Dec. 16 before her flight to Bogota, Colombia, according to her arrest warrant affidavit. She was arrested by the Lake County Sheriffs Office on a charge of aggravated animal abuse a third-degree felony and was released from jail on $5,000 bond. According to the affidavit, the dog was discovered in the bathroom by an airport employee. The employee told police she saw a woman later identified as Lawrence in a bathroom stall cleaning up water and dog food from the floor. The employee returned to clean the bathroom about 20 minutes later and saw Lawrence leave the stall. When she went to remove the trash bag she noticed it was unusually heavy and found the dog. The Orlando Police Department responded to the scene along with Orange County Animal Services. The affidavit said police found other items in the bag with the dogs body which appeared extremely damp including a dog tag with Lawrences name and phone number on it, a dog collar, dog travel bag and harness that said SERVICE DOG. Animal Services examined the dogs body and found blood on its left leg along with it being warm and damp. A necropsy ruled cause of death as drowning/submersion into water, according to court records. Animal Services located a microchip under the dogs skin that revealed Tywinn was registered to Allison Holt another name used by Lawrence which police learned using a law enforcement database, court records show. Police identified the phone number on the dog tag as belonging to Lawrence listed under the Holt name. Airport surveillance footage shows Lawrence talking to an airline agent at a ticket counter for about 15 minutes, something the report notes is longer than normal for interactions at a ticket counter which usually last less than five minutes. She then walked with Tywinn to the bathroom about 20 feet from the ticket area, according to the affidavit. The affidavit said footage shows Lawrence later exiting the bathroom without the dog then walking toward the exit to the street and leaving the main terminal. She then walked toward the next-closest door and re-entered the terminal which the report described as unusual behavior. She later went on to board her plane. Court records said U.S. Customs and Border Protection determined Lawrence had connecting flights to Ecuador but did not have a flight booked to return to the United States as of when the report was written in January. OPD has not provided any information regarding her return to the United States. --------- 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 20 to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all. But the department cant actually be shut down without an act of Congress -- and neither can your student loan debt. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Thursday that she expected some key functions of the Education Department, including federal student loans and special education funding, to remain at the reduced agency. What does this mean for FAFSA, college aid programs? Right now, nothing is changing in terms of federal student aid programs. Students and families still can submit the FAFSA. Congressionally funded and authorized programs such as the Pell grants remain in effect. What does this mean for student loan payments? Most of the Education Departments job is basically to act as a bank. It lends billions to students and parents each year and oversees the collection of roughly $1.6 trillion in outstanding loans for over 40 million borrowers. The White House was reportedly shopping that portfolio around to other agencies, but as of Thursday, no one wants to take it on. So the Education Department remains in charge of overseeing loan repayments and forgiveness. Individual borrowers shouldnt see any changes to their loans, but should always keep records of payments. Should I keep making my loan payments? Yes. One important thing to keep in mind: The terms and conditions of your federal student loans cannot change even if the agency overseeing them does, experts say. Borrowers rights were guaranteed when they signed the master promissory note when their loans were originated. What happens to student loan forgiveness? Without the Education Department operating at full capacity, borrowers may find their applications for existing loan forgiveness programs stalled. Federal student loan borrowers can be eligible for debt cancellation under income-driven repayment plans or if they become disabled, among other reasons. Alabamas CHOOSE Act, the states new and largest school choice program, will mostly benefit current private school and homeschool students, state data shows. So far, 25,537 students have signed up for the program, which provides families with up to $7,000 in education savings accounts that can be used for private school tuition or other educational expenses. Alabama law gives some priority to public school students, especially those who attend schools with low test scores. But early estimates show that few have tried to take advantage of the program. Data provided by the Alabama Department of Revenue shows that just a quarter of applicants, about 6,300, are current public school students. Another 45% of applicants already attend a private school, and about 24% are homeschooled. ALDOR spokesman Frank Miles said the remaining amount, about 5-6%, will enter kindergarten in the upcoming year. In a statement to AL.com, Gov. Kay Ivey said she was proud to see a range of applications from all of Alabamas 67 counties. Whether they are public, private or homeschool students, they are all from taxpaying Alabama families, and it is clear that taxpaying Alabama families want school choice, the statement read. Governor Ivey is excited to see many Alabama families looking to take advantage of this program. Most states with voucher-like programs have a similar makeup of applicants, said Josh Cowen, an education professor at Michigan State University who has spent years researching school vouchers. And its not always a guarantee that private schools will accept public school students, even if theyre approved. Just because the state gives you dollars to spend does not mean, emphatically, that the state is going to require a private school to take your child, he told AL.com. Your feedback matters Does someone in your family attend or plan to attend an Alabama private school? Tell us which school and why you chose it. This year, Alabamas program has room for about 14,000 students, with priority given to students with disabilities, military students and lower-income students. Applications close on April 7. Families should get money in July. As of March 20, 18,952 students have applied for the full $7,000 award to attend local private schools. Another 6,340 students plan to use $2,000 tax credits for homeschool or tutoring expenses. The Alabama State Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. Some of Alabamas private schools, meanwhile, say they arent expecting many changes. So far 220 schools can accept ESAs. What private schools are saying about CHOOSE At Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, just over 500, or about 40%, of current families receive some financial assistance. President Justin Castanza said he suspected that many current students would qualify for the CHOOSE Act. From an infrastructure standpoint, were not really built to expand, and I dont know that you find any private school that really is, he said. I think what were really going to see is were going to see a slight increase in new students at each of those [private] schools, but were also going to see some funding relief for the kids who are already there, he added. Theres only so many kids that each of these schools can accommodate. Were filling just a few spots at each grade level; its not going to be a major transition. About 632 students received grants this year through the Alabama Accountability Act, which gives scholarships to low-students who attend priority schools, or public schools that received a D or an F on their state report card. Only a quarter of scholarships, however, can be awarded to students who are continuously enrolled in private schools. State law also prohibits students from accepting funds from both the Accountability and the CHOOSE Act. Once you attend a private school, its right next to impossible to get an accountability scholarship, and the CHOOSE Act doesnt care about that, said Kris White, principal of River Region School in Montgomery. She said she expects a couple of students with disabilities to qualify for the CHOOSE Act credits. The school, known for its small class sizes, has room for maybe 40 more students, she added. Schools said they will continue to fundraise and administer financial aid, even with the help of state support. McGill-Toolen, a private Catholic high school in Mobile, expects about 60 or 70 students to take advantage of the program, based on current financial aid disbursements. I really dont think well have very much impact, if any, from students who are not already there, Father Bry Shields told AL.com. But he said he expected to see some shifts in the long-term, especially if more public school students opt to enroll in private elementary schools. Margaret Dubose, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, which serves about 19 K-12 private schools, said its too early to tell how schools could be impacted. However, in many schools, as many as 60 to 80% of the current students could qualify for these funds. She said the Diocese has done a lot of outreach in local churches, and schools have been preparing over the past year to make sure their services align with the law. Earlier school choice programs, like the Accountability Act, have already helped schools adjust and adapt to varied student needs, she said. We want children and families who desire a Catholic education, but again, we have to make sure that we can adequately serve those children according to their needs and the resources that we have, she said. And that can be academic, it can be behavioral, because we want to do what is right for that child and for the family. Castanza, at Montgomery Catholic, said cost is a barrier for lots of families, including those who want the kind of faith-based education that many private schools offer. But ultimately, its up to schools to decide whether theyll be a good fit. What were not going to do is open up the floodgates and just say, Oh, you got $7,000? Come on in, he said. Theres no intent on our part to do that, because were going to focus first on the culture and the identity. But theres also no mechanism to do that. The U.S. State Department maintains a list of current travel advisories and a few spring break hot spots some Caribbean islands and Mexico are included. Getty Images Spring is here and for many, that means traveling. Thats especially true for legions of families and college students who are headed out for spring break, particularly those who are planning on leaving the country. The U.S. State Department maintains a list of current travel advisories and a few spring break hot spots some Caribbean islands and Mexico are included. Most tourist destinations reach the Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution level through parts of Mexico, albeit those infrequently visited by casual tourists, are under the highest Level 4 Do Not Visit classification. Wherever youre going, a recent FBI alert ofcovered the basics of traveling during spring break. Whether its families looking to escape the final throes of winter or a college student seeking a brief respite from the rigors of academic life, know that the risks are there, FBI Assistant Director in Charge, Akil Davis said. Maintain vigilance throughout your travels and be prepared to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate should the need arise. If you are traveling abroad, the FBI recommends: Establish points of contact for your traveling party in case there is an emergency Use only authorized taxis and shuttles. Be on alert when using unauthorized travel as passengers have been robbed or kidnapped when traveling, the FBI warns Stay aware of your surroundings and alert to the possibility of being watched or followed. Seems like an obvious one but avoid anything that is illegal, improper or indiscreet, including offers of sexual companionship that could lead to a room raid, photography or blackmail. Beware of new acquaintances who probe for information or attempt to get your involved in what could become a compromising situation. To view the latest travel advisories, go here. If you see suspicious activity when youre traveling, contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Hamas said it fired rockets at Israeli commercial hub Tel Aviv on Thursday in its first military response to the growing civilian death toll from Israel's resumption of air and ground operations in Gaza. Israel said it had closed off the territory's main north-south route as troops expanded the ground operations they resumed on Wednesday. Gaza's civil defence agency said 504 people had been killed so far in the Israeli assault, including more than 190 children. Its previous death toll was at least 470. The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said it fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israel's "massacres" of Gaza civilians. The Israeli army said it intercepted one projectile fired from Gaza and that two others struck an uninhabited area. After weeks of stalemate, Israel resumed its air campaign early Tuesday with a wave of deadly strikes that drew widespread condemnation. The offensive shattered a relative calm that had pervaded in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory since a ceasefire took hold on January 19. At the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, grieving families knelt by the bodies of their loved ones enveloped in blood-stained white shrouds. "We want a ceasefire! We want a ceasefire!" one of them, Mohammed Hussein, told AFPTV, appealing for the international community to stop the killing. "We are defenceless Palestinian people," he added. On Thursday, the Israeli army banned traffic on the territory's main north-south artery. Palestinians were seen fleeing south along Salaheddin Road near the Nusseirat refugee camp atop donkey-drawn carts piled high with belongings. "Over the past 24 hours, IDF soldiers have begun a targeted ground operation in the central and southern Gaza Strip in order to expand the security zone between the northern and southern parts," army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X. Movement along Salaheddin Road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip is prohibited "for your safety", he said. "Instead, travel from northern Gaza to the south is possible via the Al-Rashid coastal road," Adraee added, without spelling out whether that meant movement from south to north was banned. Asked by AFP for clarification, the army had no immediate comment. An official from Gaza's Hamas-run interior ministry said the Israeli army had closed what it calls Netzarim Junction, on Salaheddin Road just south of Gaza City, on Wednesday evening. The official said Israeli tanks had deployed at the junction, where the road artery crosses Israel's main supply route, "following the withdrawal of American special security forces yesterday (Wednesday) morning". He was referring to American private security contractors deployed in February after the pullback of Israeli forces under the terms of the January ceasefire. The first stage of the ceasefire expired early this month amid deadlock over next steps. Israel rejected negotiations for a promised second stage, calling instead for the return of all of its remaining hostages under an extended first stage. That would have meant delaying talks on a lasting ceasefire, and was rejected by Hamas as an attempt to renegotiate the original deal. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Thursday deplored "an endless unleashing of the most inhumane ordeals" on the people of Gaza since Israel resumed its military offensive. "Israeli Forces bombardment continues from air & sea for the third day," Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X. "Under our daily watch, people in Gaza are again & again going through their worst nightmare." The war began with Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Gaza's civil defence agency had said on Wednesday that at least 470 people had been killed in the territory since Israel resumed its strikes. Among them was a worker for the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) who the Gaza health ministry said was killed in an Israeli strike on the agency's headquarters in Deir el-Balah. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called for a "transparent investigation" into the strike on the UN compound in which a UK citizen was among five wounded. The overall death toll in Gaza since the start of the war stands at 49,617, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Books that have either been banned from a library or challenged at an Alabama library on display during a town hall meeting hosted by the organization Read Freely Alabama on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship in Fairhope, Ala. John Sharp Alabamas state library board on Thursday voted to cut Fairhope Public Librarys $42,000 in state funding because it allegedly didnt comply with new library codes. But the decision came a month after the head of the state library board gave Fairhope supporters assurances that the library was in compliance. John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama State Library Services board of directors and chair of the Alabama State GOP, wrote in a Feb. 7 email that the Fairhope Public Library was in compliance with revisions last year to the Alabama Public Library Services code. Wahls email was in response to a letter signed by over 100 Fairhope parents who accused him of prioritizing the concerns of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing group that has pushed to remove or relocate books deemed harmful to children. Related: Extremists: Alabama GOP chair, anti-censorship group blast each other over libraries Wahl said during Thursdays state library board meeting that Fairhope is refusing to look at books or give parents redress agreements, according to a report by Alabama Reflector. The funding cut was described in a news release as temporary. Funding would be restored if Fairhope library officials comply by state guidelines, the release states. The APLS Board has a strong track record of defending parental rights and safeguarding children from sexually explicit material, Wahls statement reads. Recent code changes made it clear that local libraries had to relocate inappropriate content from youth sections. Our goal is not to punish anyone but to ensure that all libraries receiving state funding adhere to the established standards that protect our children. Surprise cut Wahls statement also reads that he looks forward to working with Fairhope officials to resolve the matter so funding can be restored. The funding cut came as a surprise to Fairhope officials, with Mayor Sherry Sullivan stating she was unaware of the situation and lacked information on why funding was pulled. I got notification (Thursday) from the Friends of the Library president that APLS had pulled state funding, Sullivan said. They didnt know why or what books. They are waiting today to get information apparently from the APLS. Library board members also said they were unaware of what might happen during the APLS board meeting. Randal Wright, the boards secretary, said the local library board had no warning, no idea that the cut was coming. Were all devastated, gobsmacked, she said. We just cant quite believe it. Sullivan is asking what kind of appeals process the APLS has in place. She also wants to know how long it will take to come into compliance. We were never notified of anything, Sullivan said about the potential violations to the APLS code that could result in a cut of funding. Sullivan said its unlikely that the Fairhope City Council will want to provide the funding to supplant the state funding cut. Fairhope Public Library supporters are launching a grassroots effort to raise funds and are blaming Moms for Liberty for the funding cut. The people of Fairhope overwhelmingly support our library, and we will not see it fall victim to censorship, said Elizabeth Williams, the Baldwin County chapter organizer with Read Freely Alabama. Moms for Liberty Library supporters are blaming Wahl of conspiring with Moms for Liberty, led in Baldwin County by Rebecca Watson. Wahl said in an email Friday that the accusation that the APLS Board is acting with or on behalf of Moms for Liberty is ridiculous. Our priority is to the people of Alabama and not to any group, Wahl said. When a concerned citizen comes before the board, they are not asked or requested to be a member of a group. We look at every person who comes before us as a unique individual, regardless of any affiliation. Watson was at the board meeting Thursday in Montgomery, and read passages of the 2009 novel, Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. The book is located in the librarys teen section. Its a book that dives into touchy issues like drug and sexual abuse and suicide and was among the 10 most banned books in the U.S. last year, according to PEN America. Wahl, in the email to AL.com, admitted the state funding cut was the result of what he described as incredibly vulgar and explicit books that were presented at the board meeting. He said previous requests to have them relocated to the adult section had been denied. Other books cited at the Fairhope library, as cited by a representative of Clean Up Alabama, include: Sex is a Funny Word, Boy Toy, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Beyond Magenta, Trans+: Love, Sex and Being You. This left the APLS board with no choice but to enforce the very clear state code addressing this issue, Wahl said. Books that have either been banned from a library or challenged at an Alabama library on display during a town hall meeting hosted by the organization Read Freely Alabama on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship in Fairhope, Ala. John Sharp The letter to Wahl from the Fairhope parents last month accuses Moms for Liberty of sowing division and undermining individual liberty in Fairhope. They do not represent the values of our community, the letter to Wahl reads. Their attempts to restrict and control access to words and ideas are wholly antithetical to the spirt of Fairhope, a town founded by utopian free-thinkers who were inspired by an idea they read in a book. The letter also states that most parents in Fairhope trust the library and staff to provide safe, welcoming spaces for children to learn, grow and explore. Prior to the libraries becoming hot beds for the national culture wars in recent years, there have been no other issues raised in the past about content within the Fairhope Public Library. Watson, in an email last month to AL.com, said the APLS policies are clear in that if libraries are not compliant with APLS standards, their funding will be at risk. If these policies are not satisfactory, it is the responsibility of those who disagree to address them with APLS, Watson said. She said the Fairhope library had complied with the tiered library card system implemented by the APLS last year as part of the policy changes. The library also developed a material selection policy, she said. Fairhope has a three-tiered library card system with restricted access cards for teens (ages 13-17) and juveniles (ages 3-12), as well as all-access cards. However, they have refused to move the books that are in violation and that is where the problem lies, Watson said. Its unclear exactly what titles are causing the concerns. You can develop policies, but that does not make you compliant, she said. To be compliant, you have to follow the policies. Watson defended Moms for Liberty by saying the group is supporting our libraries by ensuring they remain compliant, so funding is not jeopardized. We love our libraries and our children, and our request is simple: move the books that violate APLS policies to the adult section so our libraries do not risk losing funding. Watson also accuses the people who do not oppose the relocation of the books for not reading them, nor visiting the childrens section to see them, including city council members and Sullivan. Unfortunately, some librarians have, unbeknownst to parents, shelved inappropriate materials in the childrens section, Watson said. We all have the right to voice our opinions, but policies must be upheld. The majority of residents in Fairhope and Baldwin County are in agreement, children should be protected, we have an obligation, and our state and city-funded libraries have a responsibility to listen. Policy concerns The policies drafted and approved by the APLS continue to raise concerns about vagueness and censorship. Read Freely Alabama has long challenged the policies, claiming they are constitutionally questionable. The group filed a federal lawsuit challenging restrictive policies adopted in 2023 by the Autauga-Prattville Library, alleging they violate the First Amendment. The policies have significant ramifications. Without APLS approval, libraries could lose state aid, creating major budgetary issues. APLS distributes state aid funding to libraries quarterly on a per capita basis. Libraries have been Ground Zero for the culture wars in the United States in recent years, pitting conservative groups against library proponents. The focus has been mainly on LGBTQ-focused titles in young adult sections, which groups like Clean Up Alabama and Moms for Liberty have argued are more suitable for adult sections in libraries. Read Freely Alabama and other library proponents say the conservative activists are seeking to censor content inside public venues. Words like pedophiles, groomers and authoritarianism have animated the debate at school board, city council and state legislative body meetings for the past several years. The issue in Alabama is unlikely to be resolved soon. At the APLS board meeting Thursday, Nancy Pack was terminated as the director of the state library service. She expressed concern about the boards ideology regarding public libraries in Alabama. However, Wahl said the APLS board is not censoring books and are not banning them. He said the groups goal is to put parents back in charge over access to library materials. Reporter Williesha Mooris contributed to this report. This story was updated with additional comments from John Wahl. Librarians and advocates were dismayed at the sudden firing of Nancy Pack, who has been the executive director for the Alabama Public Library Service for the last decade. This is an awfully dark day for libraries, said board member Ron Snider, after being the sole person to vote against Packs termination at the March 20 board of trustees meeting. Snider said Pack was fired not because of her performance but due to unfounded attacks by extremists, including on this board, because she is not sufficiently supporting censorship. Pack offered a letter of resignation for later this year but board member Amy Minton moved to fire her immediately. I want to thank Dr. Pack for her service to the APLS organization, and I appreciate that she recognizes the need for her resignation, Minton said. However, I believe the APLS needs an immediate shift in direction. The termination comes after nearly two years of statewide clashes between anti-censorship groups and people who believe books about the LGBTQ community or sensitive topics like sex and violence should be moved out of the young adult section. Legislators tried to criminalize librarians and change oversight, and updated laws for childrens library cards. Alabama Library Association president Craig Scott said for the last decade, Pack kept libraries always at the top of her list. He said over time, shed lost connections with library directors and the state legislature. Conservative group Clean Up Alabama, which has been challenging books since 2023, claimed a big win on their Facebook page. Finally, after years of resistance to protecting children in Alabama libraries, Nancy Pack has been immediately terminated as APLS director, the group said. We look forward to the leadership of Interim Director Kelyn Ralya and the continued commitment to safeguarding Alabamas children from harmful materials. Anti-censorship group Read Freely Alabama said in a statement that conservative groups like Moms For Liberty and Clean Up Alabama attacked Dr. Nancy Pack for protecting Alabama families right to access information without discrimination. Alabama libraries do not contain obscene material nor do they distribute obscene material to minors, Read Freely wrote. Age-appropriate sex educational materials are not obscene. These attacks on our public libraries will continue across Alabama as ideological extremists are allowed to control our institutions and impose their unconstitutional demands on state residents. The United Methodist Church was denied in an effort to get an injunction against the breakaway congregation at Perdido Methodist Church. Perdido Methodist Church A United Methodist official in Alabama released a statement this week responding to two court rulings against the Alabama-West Florida Conference that came down last week. The Alabama-West Florida Conference recently received rulings in two pending court cases, both of which denied the conferences motions, wrote the Rev. Emily Kincaid, president of the Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Trustees. The two rulings involved churches in Auburn and Perdido Key. On March 10, Lee County Circuit Judge Mike C. Fellows denied the conferences motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Auburn Methodist Coalition contesting the conferences control and ownership of the Auburn United Methodist Church property. The administrative board of Auburn United Methodist Church had voted April 24, 2023, not to pursue disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. A group of members of that church, the Auburn Methodist Coalition, filed a lawsuit on Oct. 16, 2023, against the Alabama-West Florida Conference. A group calling themselves the Auburn Methodist Coalition sued the conference, claiming ownership rights to the church property, Kincaid wrote. Our motion to dismiss this lawsuit was denied. We will continue to defend our position as the legal process moves forward. The other case involved a lawsuit filed by the conference. The Alabama-West Florida Conference filed a lawsuit against Perdido Bay Methodist Church, challenging the amendment to its incorporation documents that declare it is no longer affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The congregation voted to drop UMC affiliation from its charter but kept two appointed clergy on staff and banned denominational officials from setting foot on the campus popular with Gulf Coast residents and tourists. The Alabama-West Florida Conference filed a lawsuit Nov. 21 against the Perdido Bay Methodist board of trustees and two pastors who had been appointed by the conference, Levi Gardner and Scott Hohn, who stayed with the church as it voted to leave the denomination. On March 10, an Escambia County judge ruled against the conferences request for a temporary injunction. Most recently, the conference sought a temporary injunction for trespass due to actions by former pastor Levi Gardner and other leaders, Kincaid wrote. In a letter dated October 31, 2024, attorneys for Perdido Bay Methodist Church stated that any attempt by the conference to access the property would result in removal by law enforcement if necessary. Conference leaders, however, noted that in the judges ruling, there was an opening for the conference to hold its own United Methodist worship service in the building while the case was awaiting a final ruling. The conference had asked the Escambia County judge for declaratory relief, quiet title, ejectment, in an effort to gain control of the church property at 13660 Innerarity Point Road in Pensacola, east of Alabamas Ono Island. While we are disappointed in the courts ruling, Circuit Court Judge Stephen Pitre stated in his order that no sufficient showing is made of any peculiar irreparable harm because access to UMC for purposes of worship is not or no longer prohibited, Kincaid wrote. He further noted that United Methodist members would not be restricted from worshiping at the church properties as they had before the litigation. Kincaid announced plans for an official United Methodist service to resume at the building this Sunday. Based on this ruling and Dr. Gardners sworn testimony on March 4 that all are welcome at Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, we are formally requesting use of the churchs activity center for a worship service at 10 a.m. each Sunday, beginning March 23, 2025, as well as on special holy days such as Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, Kincaid wrote. These services will be led by Rev. Dr. Debora Bishop, the appointed pastor of Perdido Bay United Methodist Church. We await a response to our request from Dr. Gardner. Despite the two court setbacks last week, the conference remains confident in its case, Kincaid said. The Alabama-West Florida Conference remains confident in our legal team and the facts of these cases, Kincaid wrote. Our Trustees, Chancellors, and legal counsel remain committed to upholding the trust clause and protecting the conferences interests wherever unauthorized or unlawful actions have occurred. Perdido Bay Methodist was one of more than 40 churches in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle whose requests to leave the denomination were stalled before the Dec. 31, 2023 disaffiliation deadline. Paragraph 2553, a special provision allowing disaffiliation due to disagreement over issues such as gay marriage, expired at that point. The United Methodist General Conference voted in May 2024 to reverse its longstanding bans on gay marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy. Congregations that were opposed to that change but not allowed to leave have adopted a new tactic: either suing the conference, saying the church property belongs to the congregation, not the denomination; or simply voting to change the churchs legal documents that have any mention of the United Methodist Church. Kimyatta Henry, left, receives gifts from Sheree Kennon, founder of What About Us, a support group for those who have experienced the loss of a child. Both lost sons to homicide in Birmingham. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times) This is another installment in AL.coms series Beyond the Violence," which explores solutions that could make Birmingham safer, healthier and happier. Sign up for the newsletter here. In response to Birminghams record number of homicides last year , local gun violence survivors and national public safety advocates are launching Alabamas first chapter of the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network to raise awareness about victim compensation resources. On Friday, March 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1200 Tuscaloosa Ave. in Birmingham, advocates will be hosting an event where survivors of violence will be taught how to apply to the states victim compensation program, share their experiences accessing victim compensation and advocate for improvements that will make it easier to access resources. A lot of people dont even know that the service is there for them. We want to be able to educate them, show them the process of how to apply for the application, fill it out step by step, hand in hand, and just give them some tools and tips on how to fill it out, Sheree Kennon, founder of What About Us , a Birmingham grief support group, told AL.com. Kennon will be leading the event alongside other advocates on Friday. Kennon founded What About Us to help other mothers after her son DeTraio Whorton, 27, was shot and killed in 2021. The support group is only the beginning of the work Kennon is doing to help families heal as her advocacy has extended into a project that helped 122 families fill out victims compensation applications last year. That process that can be overwhelming, slow and disheartening, especially for those who are injured or grieving. I was able to sit down with these families one by one, but their mind space was totally like, I cant do this right now. Just the anger, just not being able to concentrate to really read the application and put the correct informationthen, its not just filling out the application, you have to submit the paperwork, your credentials, the victims credentials, receiptsCalling and checking up on the application, Kennon said. ts a lot and people just dont know. Aswad Thomas, a survivor of gun violence and the national director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice , an Alliance for Safety and Justice project, is hosting the awareness event alongside Kennon. He is also doing a national tour to educate other survivors and advocate for policy changes. Thomas started advocating for other survivors after he was shot in the back twice and released from the hospital with no resources to recover emotionally and no knowledge of the victims compensation program. I was released from the hospital back into the same neighborhood where I was shot. My doctors and nurses told me about the physical challenges that I would have, but they never mentioned the psychological effects of being a victim, surviving a shooting and having to recover in the same neighborhood where I was shot, Thomas said. I was dealing with the flashbacks, the nightmares, the PTSD, the deep stages of depression, the anger with no help. Only 4% of violent crime survivors knew about victim compensation - meaning that 96% of victims of violent crime did not receive victim compensation to help in their recovery, according to a 2022 Alliance for Safety and Justice report . There are also multiple barriers that prevent victims from accessing the compensation program, including quick deadlines, confusing rhetoric and strict standards for who can apply. Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is a national network of more than 200,000 crime victims advocating for policies and resources that prioritize healing, prevention and recovery. Weve all had plenty of interactions with the justice system, but none that ever led to any help, Thomas said. Advocates say victim compensation programs can play a critical role in survivor healing, by covering urgent costs like counseling, funeral expenses and lost wages. The reason God spared my life that night was to be doing this work and connecting with other survivors across the country and sharing our stories of healing together. But also to train them to be organizers, train them to be advocates, and train them to change policies and laws that could bring more resources to their communities, Thomas said. Im excited to be here in Alabama, to be working with some amazing survivors, amazing organizations, so that we can bring some more healing and safety to this community. An Alabama lawmaker has filed a bill to prevent water boards from closing lakes, even those that provide drinking water, for public recreational use. Rep. Shane Stringer, R- Citronelle, sponsored the bill in response to the Mobile County Water and Sewer System closing Big Creek Lake to recreational use. HB473 prohibits any water or sewer commission from prohibiting the publics recreational use of a body of water, or portion thereof, owned or controlled by the board, including for fishing and boating. In a Facebook post on Thursday Stringer said the bill would protect, public access to our natural resources. The citizens of District 102 have fought tirelessly to get the Mobile Area Water System to reverse its decision to close Big Creek Lake to all recreational activities, Stringer said in the post. This bill is a step toward protecting public access to our natural resources. I stand with my constituents in this fight! In February the water system in Mobile announced the public could no longer use Big Creek Lake for recreational purposes, citing a concern for invasive species that could alter the water quality. About 70% of Mobile County residents are served by Big Creek Lake as it provides around 41 million gallons of drinking water per day. The utility has waged a battle against invasive species for years, primarily a giant floating fern called Giant Salvinia. The plant is problematic because it can disrupt water quality by obstructing sunlight to other plants within the lakes ecosystem The permanent closure has left many local residents upset, with hundreds of them complaining on Facebook . Some of those residents created a public group called, Take Back Big Creek Lake From MAWSS. Elon Musk listens during an event in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Elon Musk is set to be briefed Friday at the Pentagon on top-secret military plans for a potential war with China, according to a report. The unusual access given to Musk, the billionaire and top donor to President Donald Trump, would be a dramatic expansion of his already extensive role as an adviser to President Trump and leader of his effort to slash spending and purge the government of people and policies they oppose, the New York Times reported, citing two unnamed U.S. officials. Another official granted anonymity told The Times the briefing will be centered on China but did not divulge further information while a fourth official -- also unnamed -- would only confirm that Musk was set to be at the Pentagon on Friday. Already facing accusations that his role with the Department of Government Efficiency conflicts with his business interests, Musks meeting at the Pentagon will cause further alarm. Musk runs Tesla, which needs the Chinese government on its side to succeed there, and SpaceX, which secured $22 billion in federal government contracts -- including billions from the Defense Department -- last year. According to the Times, the Pentagon plans are among the militarys most closely guarded secrets and are heavily coveted by foreign nations. The China war plans consist of about 20 to 30 slides that lay out how the United States would fight such a conflict, the Times reported, including potential targets in China. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said late Thursday that he would be meeting with billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon Friday to discuss innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Musk, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency have played an integral role in the administrations push to dramatically reduce the size of the government. Musk has faced intense blowback from some lawmakers and voters for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs, although Trumps supporters have hailed it. A senior defense official told reporters Tuesday that roughly 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the Defense Department. In a post on Musks X platform, Hegseth emphasized that this is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans, denying a story published by The New York Times late Thursday. Hegseth is also scheduled to deliver remarks with Trump at the White House Friday morning. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) listens during a news conference on border security at the U.S. Capitol Building on September 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Getty Images U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. has come out in support of President Donald Trumps executive order on Thursday that effectively dismantles the countrys Department of Education, saying she prefers to keep these choices closer to home. Educational decisions should be made at the most local level possible- starting with parents, she said in a post to X Thursday. [Trump] and Linda McMahon are putting students and families first. This is the way. Educational freedom opens the door to the American Dream nationwide, she continued. Educational decisions should be made at the most local level possiblestarting with parents. @POTUS and @Linda_McMahon are putting students and families first. This is the way. Educational freedom opens the door to the American Dream nationwide. Lets make America the envy of Katie Britt (@KatieBrittforAL) March 21, 2025 Lets make America the envy of the world again when it comes to education. Trump cannot immediately eliminate the Education Department due to its establishment by Congress, but he vowed Thursday to eliminate the agency once and for all, according to a report from USA Today. Some key elements of the order include: Decreased funding for specific federal education initiatives, particularly in areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender ideology Development of a strategy to redirect federal education funds to states, local governments, and individual students Maintenance of federal support for students with disabilities and underprivileged schools Continuation of federal student loan programs The Trump administration has already significantly reduced the departments workforce by approximately 50% through layoffs and voluntary departures, according to a report from Kiplinger Consumer News Service and Tribune News Service. While supporters hail this move as a step toward educational freedom and local control, some critics argue that it could lead to inconsistent educational standards across the country and potentially reduce resources for disadvantaged students. It is clear that our current education system isnt working, Britt said in a recent statement to AL.com. For far too long, the Department of Education has catered to far-left bureaucrats at the expense of students and parents. Secretary McMahon will get bureaucracy out of the way so educational decision-making is driven by those closest to it, not federal bureaucrats, she continued. McMahon, the former CEO of professional wrestling enterprise WWE and Trumps pick as Education secretary, told senators during her confirmation hearing in February that it is not the presidents goal to defund the programs, its only to have it operate more efficiently and return education to the states. Trump told reporters earlier that month that he hoped McMahon would put herself out of a job. A burned Tesla vehicle is shown at a Tesla collision center Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Las Vegas. Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP President Donald Trump suggested that Tesla protesters, and American citizens, could serve prison sentences in an El Salvador prison system known for having brutal conditions. Trump made the remark in a Truth Social post on Friday morning, calling individuals who have acted against Tesla properties, sick terrorist thugs. I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla, Trump wrote. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions. Trumps reference to El Salvador is because the U.S. recently struck a deal with the foreign country to send deportees there to be held at a prison human rights experts say has inhumane conditions. Over the weekend, the Trump administration deported over 200 Venezuelans accused of being gang members to El Salvador where they are held at the CECOT prison. However, families are asserting that not all of the men were gang members including one who had no criminal record, according to CBS News. Elon Musk, billionaire owner of Tesla, has drawn intense ire from citizens due to what he has done after taking a prominent role in the Trump administration. Musk is the figurehead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unofficial government agency, Trump administration personnel says is rooting out, waste, fraud and abuse. Since Trump returned to the White House, DOGE has acted to slash funding for several federal programs and lay off or fire thousands of federal employees. Protesters have demonstrated their opposition to his actions by burning, shooting and vandalizing Tesla cars and showrooms at several locations across the country. This has led to Trump, Musk and the administration labeling the acts, domestic terrorism. Trump previously insinuated, without evidence, that the individuals performing the protests were being paid by, political people on the left. On Thursday, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of three individuals from separate states accused of vandalizing Tesla properties. Severe weather last Saturday, March 15, spawned 17 confirmed tornadoes in Alabama as well as many wind damage reports. Storm Prediction Center The tornado count from last Saturdays high risk severe weather day is now at 17, and it could stay there. The National Weather Service has likely wrapped up storm surveys and has added two tornadoes to the list. One was in central Alabama, where the majority of the tornadoes were. The other is a new addition from south Alabama, which until this point didnt have any confirmed twisters. There was also a single tornado in north Alabama which was confirmed earlier this week. The storms left widespread damage across Alabama and claimed three lives. Several others were also injured. The two new tornadoes on the list are an EF-0 in Mobile and Washington counties and an EF-0 in Tuscaloosa County. For the event as a whole there were five EF-0s, five EF-1s, six EF-2s and one EF-3. The tornado in south Alabama, which is being called the Citronelle tornado, had top winds of 80 mph. It touched down at 8:20 p.m. that Saturday in Mobile County near Meinhardt Loop Road west and was on the ground for 6.28 miles, taking it into Washington County. There were no injuries. The newly added tornado in central Alabama, which is being called the Lake Tuscaloosa tornado, is one that had been included with the Sipsey tornado. However the weather service has determined it was its own separate storm. The Lake Tuscaloosa tornado had top winds of 80 mph, a path length of 11.54 miles and a path width of 400 yards. There were no injuries. The tornado touched down at 4 p.m. last Saturday along Highway 43 near Smith Landing Road and lifted east of Highway 69. 35 1 / 35 Severe Weather in Alabama: March 15th weekend Here are all the tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service from March 15: 1. Lexington tornado (Lauderdale County): EF-1, top winds 108 mph. Path length 2.29 miles; path width 63 yards. No injuries. Tornado touched down at 2:21 p.m. Saturday near Lexington. Lewiston-Holman tornado (Greene/Pickens/Tuscaloosa counties): EF-1, top winds 90 mph. Path length 26.26 miles; path width 1,200 yards. No injuries. The tornado touched down at 3:08 p.m. Saturday near near Highway 14 in Greene County and lifted near Highway 82 in Tuscaloosa County. Lake Tuscaloosa tornado (Tuscaloosa County): EF-0, top winds 80 mph. Path length 11.54 miles; path width 400 yards. No injuries. Tornado touched down at 4 p.m. March 15 near Lake Tuscaloosa Tierce Patton Bridge and lifted southwest of Windham Springs. Windham Springs/Sipsey tornado (Tuscaloosa/Walker counties): EF-2, top winds 120 mph. No injuries. The tornado touched down at 4:12 p.m. March 15 south of Windham Springs in Tuscaloosa County and lifted in Walker County northwest of Empire. Gordo tornado (Pickens County): EF-2, top winds 115 mph. Path length 21.53 yards; path width 950 yards. No injuries. The tornado touched down at 4:58 p.m. near County Road 2 and lifted near Zion Road. Alamuchee Creek tornado (Sumter County): EF-2, top winds 120 mph. Path length 3.32 miles; path width 650 yards. No injuries. The tornado touched down at 5:20 p.m. near Loon Curl Road in a hunting camp and lifted near County Road 13. Allenville Road tornado (Hale/Perry counties): EF-0, top winds, 80 mph. Path length 21.72 miles; path width 500 yards. No injuries. Tornado touched down at 6:39 p.m. Saturday near Gallion in Hale County and lifted near Morgan Springs in Perry County. Deer Creek Road tornado (Bibb County): EF-0, peak winds 80 mph. Path length 7.63 miles; path width 75 yards. No injuries. Tornado touched down at 7:39 p.m. Saturday near the Talladega National Forest in Bibb County and lifted near Ashby. Calera tornado (Chilton/Shelby counties): EF-1, peak winds 90 mph. Path Length 7.28 miles; path width 250 yards. No injuries. Tornado touched down at 7:57 p.m. near Minooka Park in Chilton County and lifted near Camp Branch in Shelby County. Lawler Drive tornado (Shelby County): EF-1, peak winds 90 mph. Path length 2.55 miles; path width 150 yards. No injuries. Tornado touched down at 8 p.m. Saturday near Montevallo in Shelby County and lifted near American Village. Citronelle tornado (Mobile/Washington counties): EF-0, top winds 81 mph. No injuries. Path length 6.28 miles; path width 200 yards. Tornado touched down at 8:20 p.m. March 15 east-northeast of Citronelle in Mobile County and lifted east-northeast of Chestang in Washington County. Winterboro tornado (Talladega County): EF-2, peak winds 120 mph. Path Length 3.63 miles; path width 500 yards. One death and one injury. Tornado touched down at 8:42 p.m. Saturday in Winterboro in Talladega County and lifted nearby. The tornado did significant damage to the Old Winterboro High School building and gym. One person was killed when a single-wide manufactured home was destroyed near Bob White Road. Plantersville tornado (Dallas/Autauga/Chilton counties): EF-3, peak winds 140 mph. Path length 24.33 miles; path width 1,000 yards. Two deaths and two injuries. The tornado touched down at 8:50 p.m. Saturday near Valley Creek Junction in Dallas County and lifted near Clanton in Chilton County. More details still to come. County Road 29 tornado (Coosa County): EF-1, top winds 110 mph. Path length 12.02 miles; path width 200 yards. No injuries. The tornado touched down at 9:33 p.m. over the Coosa Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Coosa County and lifted near County Road 18. Horseshoe Bend tornado (Tallapoosa County): EF-2, top winds 120 mph. Path length 20.44 miles; path width 800 yards. No injuries. The tornado touched down near Dare Park in Tallapoosa County and lifted near Daviston. Pike County tornado (Pike and Bullock counties): EF-2, top winds 130 mph. Path length 21.29, path width 1,400 yards. Three injuries. The tornado touched down at 11:02 p.m. Saturday on Pike County Road 2228 south of Troy and lifted in Bullock County west of Perote. Snapper Creek tornado (Chambers County): EF-0, top winds 80 mph. Path length 3.80 miles; path width 100 yards. No injuries. The tornado touched down at 11:59 p.m. Saturday near Snapper Creek and lifted before reaching County Road 83. See the report on the south Alabama tornado here. See the report on the central Alabama tornadoes here. See the report on the north Alabama tornado here. Federal authorities will deport two brothers of Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan man convicted of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, after the pair pleaded guilty to possessing fraudulent documents. A former roommate of the Ibarra brothers, also found with fake identification, will be deported as well. Diego Ibarra, 29, was arrested during the investigation into Riley's killing after presenting a counterfeit green card to police. He was sentenced to four years in federal prison for possessing fraudulent documents and will be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation following his sentence, according to the Department of Justice. A third brother, Argenis Ibarra, 25, and former roommate, Rosbeli Flores-Bello, 29, were sentenced to time served for similar offenses and will be immediately turned over to ICE, as reported by The Associated Press. Federal agents discovered fake green cards and counterfeit Social Security cards for Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello in the apartment they shared with Diego and Jose Ibarra. The Justice Department stated that authorities believe Diego Ibarra is affiliated with the Venezuelan gang "Tren de Aragua", citing his tattoos and social media images displaying gang-related symbols. Jose Ibarra, 27, was convicted in November 2024 of the murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley, who was attacked while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February 2024. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The murder of Laken Riley became a focal point in the national debate over immigration enforcement. In response, President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, the first legislation enacted during his second term. The law expands the federal government's authority to detain undocumented immigrants, including for minor offenses such as shoplifting, and mandates detention for those charged with assaulting law enforcement or causing death or serious injury. Republicans have argued that Riley's murder could have been prevented had the law been in effect earlier, citing Ibarra's previous shoplifting charge in New York, where he was not detained by immigration authorities. "If this act had been the law of the land, he never would have had the opportunity to kill her," said Representative Mike Collins of Georgia back in January. The Laken Riley Act passed with bipartisan support, including votes from 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats. Originally published on Latin Times The spectacle of global diplomacy rarely produces moments of unvarnished clarity, but when President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on February 28, the message could not have been starker: the war in Ukraine is no longer sustainable, and a deal must be struck before defeat becomes inevitable. Despite the lofty rhetoric surrounding indefinite support for Kyiv, President Trump laid down an uncomfortable truthUkraine is losing momentum. The country is under pressure from Russia, with reports suggesting that as many as 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers face prosecution for refusing to continue fighting. Without a settlement, Ukraine risks collapse, undoing the resilience it has displayed thus far. While Ukraine has managed to hold Russia at bay and achieve a notable moral victory, reality has set in. Realpolitik, President Trump holds, now demands a realistic peace deal. The situation is far from simple. The EUs historical mishandling of Ukraine, which mirrors its missteps during the dissolution of Yugoslavia, has exacerbated the crisis. While the Russian invasion is indefensible, the window for peace must be seized before it closes and throws the world into chaos. President Trumps approach to this dilemma is as pragmatic as it is unsentimental. He made it clear that the United States will not engage in direct military action to expel Russia, knowing that doing so risks triggering World War III. The Strategic Importance of the Critical Minerals Deal Initially, Zelensky miscalculated a pivotal element of American strategy: the critical minerals agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine. This deal is central to the evolving U.S. policy in Europe. President Trump sees it as an implicit security guarantee. By winning access to Ukraines rich mineral resources, the U.S. establishes economic and industrial interests without deploying boots on the ground in the region. The agreement effectively allows an American protection shield in Ukraine without the need for military confrontation with Russia. The Components of President Trumps Peace Plan President Trumps broader strategy is taking shape. His plan calls for a comprehensive agreement: the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and Donbas, Ukraines accession to the European Single Market, and the stationing of Europeanrather than Americanpeacekeeping forces at Ukraines borders with Russia. From a tactical standpoint, this outcome is a win-win for all parties. Russia secures its Black Sea position and gains control over Ukraines eastern regions, which are rich in basic minerals, such as titanium and non-ferrous metals, crucial for Russias aerospace and defense sectors. Ukraine would gain economic integration with Europe and a security framework that avoids NATO troops. The western part of Ukraine, rich in specialty minerals like nickel, graphite, lithium, and uranium, would remain firmly under U.S. control. Specialty minerals are of significant interest to a range of industries. The deployment of European peacekeeping forces would finally grant Europe the long-sought geopolitical role it has struggled to attain. In addition, the reconstruction of Ukraine would provide the U.S. with deal currency. With contracts worth $324 billion earmarked for U.S. companies, the deal would offer economic opportunities, creating a new market for American firms. This would provide a significant boost to the U.S. economy and also give President Trump the leverage to bring British industry (BP, Shell, Rio Tinto) into the fold, compensating the UK for its security endeavors. From a strategic point of view, the Trump plan represents an American victory on the geopolitical stage. With NATOs recent expansion to include Sweden and Finland, Russia is now encircled by Western powers to the north, losing access to critical Northern seas routes. Its primary naval force is confined to the Arctic, where Arkhangelsk remains frozen for much of the year. A settlement over Ukraine would force Russia to shift its focus southward, where it would inevitably find itself caught in the U.S.-China strategic rivalry. Additionally, while Russia secures a foothold in the Black Sea, it will face direct competition with Turkey for control over key waterways, weakening its longstanding geopolitical alignment with Ankara. The London Summit and Europes Strategic Defeat Meanwhile, the European summit on Ukraine, held in London on March 2, has irreversibly altered the continents geopolitical trajectory. Europes long-standing ambition to carve out an independent geopolitical role has been dealt a decisive blow. The exclusion of key countries like the Baltic States, Hungary, Slovakia, and Greece underscores the end of the ever closer union. Greeces absence, in particular, reflects the desire not to upset its delicate relationship with Turkey, with Ankaras engagement seen as a way to destabilize Russias strategic position in the Balkans. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, eager for relevance, pushed his own ceasefire proposal at the summit. However, this appeared more as a political gesture than a serious policy shift, in light of President Trumps already articulated terms. While Sir Keir sought the spotlight in London, Lord Peter Mandelson, the British ambassador to the U.S., was in Washington doing the real diplomatic heavy lifting. In a pointed interview with ABC News, Lord Mandelson said, President Zelensky must unequivocally back the initiative that President Trump is taking to end the war and bring a just and lasting peace. I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow, before adding, and then, as part of the unfolding plan for this negotiation, the Europeans and perhaps some other countries too, have got to consider how they are going to put forces on the ground to play their part in providing enduring security and deterrence for Ukraine. Lord Mandelsons words reflect a broader reality: while Europe dithers, the U.S. is firmly in control of the peace process. The Monroe Doctrine Redux: U.S. Leverage Over Russia Hidden by the agreement on a limited ceasefire and prisoner swap, the conversation between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18, revealed the end game behind this strategic shift. According to the U.S. readout, a peace settlement in Ukraine could pave the way for economic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. This is neither an act of goodwill nor an ideological concession but a recalibration of global influence. President Trump recognizes that, with Chinas growing dominance, isolating Russia is unsustainable. Instead, offering economic incentives creates strategic leverage. The US aims to support Russias development in Siberia in exchange for access to its mineral resources, seeking to weaken Moscows growing alignment with Beijing. The normalization of U.S.-Russia relations also entails a crackdown on Iran, with Moscow agreeing to restrict Tehran's nuclear ambitionsa significant concession in the Middle East in exchange for U.S. mediation to end the war in Ukraine. These developments reflect the essence of the Monroe Doctrinelimiting adversarial influence through selective engagement. Despite his defiant posture, Putin understands economic imperatives. If President Trump presents a viable alternative to Chinas, Moscow may reconsider its trajectory. Critics may dismiss this as mere transactional diplomacy, but in geopolitics, transactions shape outcomes. Bepi Pezzulli is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales specializing in Governance as well as a Councillor of the Great British PAC. He tweets at @bepipezzulli Image: Public domain. Appearing March 18 on ABCs The View, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer criticized Americans who think their taxes are too high. Channeling his inner Barack Obama (you didnt build that), Schumer asserted: Their attitude is, I made my money all by myself. How dare your government take my money from me? I dont want to pay taxes. Or I built my company with my bare hands. How dare your government tell me how I should treat my customers, the land and water that I own, or my employee? Lots of commentators, coming from a political perspective, scored Schumer for promoting high taxes. A couple, however, dug deeper: They noted that the New York Democrats remarks told people exactly what he thought about their money. Whys that important? Because when you start talking my money or your money or their money, youve moved out of politics into a more important (though less discussed) field: morality. What belongs to somebody, how much belongs to him, and who has rights in justice to demand some part of it are all ethical questions that come into play when ones right to goods is at play. Unfortunately, too much of the moral ground on questions of taxation has been ceded to the left. Weve let the left collapse the moral question of taxation itself into an ethical question of tax rates: Is X paying his fair share? Implicit in that question is the unspoken belief that rich guy X isnt. As a moral theologian, I want to challenge that paradigm. Catholic theology recognizes that government has some claim to taxes because human beings are not isolated individuals who neither have social ties nor derive benefits from living and working together with others in community. Communal goods infrastructure, utilities, rule of law are not free lunches. They are benefits that cost. It is just for us all to pay for them. But Catholic theology also insists on another social principle that Schumer et al. often forget: subsidiarity. Subsidiarity means that responsibility for a given problem should not be entrusted to any higher an authority than necessary. If a problem can be handled by a family, it should not become a responsibility of government. If ones local town can take care of the problem, it shouldnt be a state matter. If states can deal with the problem (with responses perhaps tailored to local needs), theres no justification for its federalization. So, although society has some claim to compensation (i.e., taxes) for things that benefit the common good, there are two moral tests that need to be assessed: the burden of proof and the proper level of responsibility. First, in contrast to Schumer, we need to flip the burden of proof. The burden of proof is not that the government asserts a tax claim and the taxpayer yields. The burden should be that the government proves that it must (not would like to or wants) to address this issue and is doing so at the most efficient minimum price. The Supreme Court recognized this in a 2023 case, Tyler v. Hennepin County. Geraldine Tyler was a senior citizen whose family moved her out of her condominium to an assisted living facility. The family kept the condo but forgot about property taxes. Twenty-three hundred dollars in actual property tax arrears accrued on the property. The Minnesota county tacked on another $13,000 in interest and penalties. Eventually, it seized the property and sold it for $40,000. Tim Walzs heaven didnt just then take $15,300 and send the Tylers a check for $24,700. It kept it all and went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend its right to profit from an old womans home. The Supreme Court swatted it down. Adapting the biblical injunction, it affirmed that one must render unto Caesar what is due Caesar, and no more than that. The problem with the Caesar Schumers of this world is that they hold the power to assert unilaterally what is due them and that price is what more and more Americans are pressing back against. The moral question of taxation needs to start with not How much can the state take?, but Why is the state justified in taking this? Theres a right claim at stake here, and Thou shalt not steal has no governmental exception. The second issue, closely allied to the first, is whether the costs these taxes are supposed to pay are happening at the proper level of responsibility. The erosion of federalism has transferred more and more tasks to Washington, whose remoteness makes oversight harder. Before we hand out Department of Education grants to local schools, we need to ask: Why is this coming from Washington rather than New Jersey or Texas or Idaho? Before we send $47,000 to Colombia for a transgender opera, we need to ask: why should the government be paying for any opera, foreign or domestic? Losing sight of the moral question then turns taxation into a question governed not by principles, but by the give-and-take horse trading of political compromise. And then, sooner or later, you have a $35-trillion deficit. Its time to reclaim the moral high ground on taxation. John Marshall recognized that over two centuries ago, in his famous line in McCulloch v. Maryland: The power to tax is the power to destroy. In his case, it was a bank. In ours, its a nation and its hardworking taxpayers. Image: pasja1000 via Pixabay, Pixabay License. I grew up in the shadow of World War II. It had been over for almost 30 years by the time I started school. Nonetheless, WWII was probably the most talked about subject in my history classes throughout. But the funny thing is, as close as it was, it seemed like it was ancient history. It was finished. The evil Nazis were vanquished, and the world had moved on. America and her allies had won, and there were new enemies to slay. While too young to understand Vietnam when it was raging, by high school, I had a better grasp of world events, plus we were living on Guantanamo Bay, down in Cuba. Although today its more well known for its prison facilities, at the time, it was a U.S. Navy training/support station, and the enemy was the Soviets and Fidel Castro. In the late 1980s, after college, I was stationed with the Army in West Germany. Our biggest alerts were usually related to the East Germans, who killed an American officer while I was there. I dont remember all the details, but the Americans said he was on an approved inspection mission, and the East Germans said he was spying. Image by Vince Coyner. Throughout these decades, I always knew that America was on the right side of history. It was not that Id been brainwashed, but it always seemed to me that an objective analysis of the circumstances, from WWII to Korea to Vietnam to the Cold War, revealed America as the good guy, trying to do whats right. Theres a funny thing about the good guy framework, however: Everybody, even the guys who we know are the bad guys, think theyre the good guys! Nor is it that I never questioned anything. In college (of course), I had professors who said the US was the bad guy in Vietnam and that the Soviets only built missiles to defend themselves against the imperialist Americans. I disagreed, but my words fell on deaf ears. So now we are here, 35 years since the collapse of our last superpower enemy and a quarter century from 9/11, and Im starting to wonder if Americas still the good guy. Some time ago, it dawned on me that for most of my life, I had given the government the benefit of the doubt. Indeed, while imperfect and often inefficient and ineffective on a wide variety of policies, my default position for most of my life had been that the government was, at the end of the day, working for the American people. Today, sadly, my default position is literally the opposite. In college, I read Robert A. Caros biography of Lyndon Johnson. According to Caro, LBJ was a deeply egotistical, power-hungry son of a bitch who would sell his mother to get power. While I think thats clearly true, it seems that once in office, he was genuinely interested in helping people and solving Americas problems. While he was a feckless buffoon as it relates to Vietnam, in domestic matters, he wanted to help solve long-standing problems, and that intention is not diminished by the fact that his programs were stunning failures. Thats the way it is sometimes; people in government make mistakes. We all know that. But what has happened over the last two decades is a much different animal. Beginning with Barack Obama using the IRS to shut down Tea Party groups and right up until the moment someone in the White House used Joe Bidens autopen to give pardons to half the Democrat Party and their swamp comrades , the American government has transformed from a virtuous, if frequently stumbling, vehicle for safely navigating the country through the chaos of life into an autonomous Borg that largely operates without effective constraint and almost solely for the purpose of perpetuating itself. Biologists frequently say that the fundamental nature of life is to propagate the species, and that seems to be the path the Borg of American government has taken. In the 21st century, weve seen an amalgamation of the Democrat party and the bureaucratic state, with a bastardization of both. Maybe no better example exists than the Department of Education. Educating children is easily one of the most important things a society can do to help perpetuate its culture and civilization, and the DOE spends $280 billion a year on it. Sadly, of that number, less than $70 billion actually goes to educating children. The rest goes to bureaucracy, consultants, NGOs, and, ultimately, back into the pockets of Democrat politicians. This would be a crime even if schools were properly educating children, but theyre not. Across the country you have failing schools where kids cant do simple math , easily the most basic skill one should take from school. But you know what they are learning? How to be LGBT . This, like so much of the rest of government, is far beyond incompetence. Its criminal. Its ceased to be a vehicle for ensuring the freedom of American citizens and promoting the interests of the United States. Its literally become the opposite. From funding prosecutors who release violent criminals into American communities and funding leftist election theft while quashing free speech internationally to funding the invasion of our country and undermining the Bill of Rights , the American government has become the enemy within. If nothing else, Donald Trump and DOGE should be applauded for exposing what so many of us felt for so long but could never quite put our fingers on. Somewhat like learning that there is no Santa Claus, in the back of my mind, Im a bit wistful for that feeling of inner peace I had when I used to think of the country and the government as a single inherently good entity. While I think the former still is good, the latter, not so much, and I was late to the party in internalizing the idea of a difference between the two. For me, Uncle Sam was America and the government combined. Sadly, the Democrats werent under that illusion, and the fact that they recognized this dichotomy long ago gave them decades to brainwash their constituents and hide the inner workings of their machine in plain sight behind countless official-looking government seals and compassionate-sounding NGOs. Despite what the Democrat/bureaucrat Borg has wrought, I firmly believe America remains a great, if imperfect, nation, and I remain convinced that, taken as a whole, throughout most of her 250 years, the county and the government have been mostly on the right side of history. To the degree that thats no longer true for the government, Im glad were at a point where much of its malfeasance and malevolence is being exposed. It will take a long time and a lot of courage on the part of Republican politicians to fix this situation, but at least its being exposed before its too late. Well see in the next two years if the GOP has the courage necessary to set a course for bringing government back under the citizens control. Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and Thomas Massie have their work cut out for themselves Its to be hoped theyll get some help along the way. Follow Vince on X at ImperfectUSA Most of us have heard about the high tariffs that U.S. businesses pay to Canada for the export of dairy and (some) meat products to that country. It is absolutely true that Canada can impose astronomically high tariffs, such as these: milk 250%, butter 290%, whey 208%, cheese 240%, poultry 238%, and some animal meat 265%. However, effective rates can be higher or much lower. Those high tariffs kick in only after the US has hit a certain Trump-negotiated quantity of tariff-free dairy sales to Canada each year and as the US dairy industry acknowledges, the US is not hitting its allowed zero-tariff maximum in any category of dairy product. However, so-called fact checkers almost always ignore another part of the story one that President Trump has mentioned several times: non-monetary tariffs. In some cases, those non-monetary tariffs are the reason U.S. exports rarely exceed Canadas allowed zero-tariff maximums. The term, non-monetary tariffs, is Trumps moniker for the myriad protectionist policies of our northern neighbor. Canada uses many tools, in addition to tariffs, to block countries from selling products and services to Canadas businesses and citizens, and to keep imports from exceeding the allowed zero-tariff maximums. This is particularly true for the dairy industry. Here is a list of the top ten non-tariff trade barriers employed by Canada, as prepared by World Integrated Trade Solutions (WITS), which is a statistical tool developed by the World Bank: Consumption taxes, including a 5 percent national sales tax, an even higher liquor tax, and separate provincial sales taxes Product quality and/or performance requirements (e.g., growth hormones are not permitted in Canadian cattle) Various certification requirements Product registration requirements Overly restrictive technical barriers to trade (e.g., special requirements for the composition of cheese, and special front-of-package labeling requirements for certain ingredients) Testing requirements Traceability requirements Traceability information requirements (identifying the components of the supply chain for a product) Export subsidies to boost Canadian businesses competing against U.S. businesses Special packaging requirements In addition to these top ten requirements there are other trade impediments, including quotas, differing trade requirements for each of Canadas ten provinces, and certain limitations on foreign ownership of Canadian businesses. Although many of these trade requirements may be beneficial to Canadian consumers, some appear to be unreasonable obstacles designed to impede foreign exports to Canada or, in some cases, designed to promote Canadian businesses that are competing with U.S. businesses. To be fair, the United States has its own top ten list of non-monetary tariffs, and in many cases, they are similar to those of Canada. However, in total, the United States has fewer such restrictions. According to WITS, the top-ten non-monetary tariffs in the U.S. cover 61.5% of all U.S. products, while the top ten non-monetary tariffs in Canada pertain to 95.5% of its products. In truth, Canada has a long history of protectionism, and President Trump is not the first to complain about it. In an article published in Policy Options, professors Bernardo Blum and Walid Hejazi lament the negative impact of Canadas protectionist policies on economic growth: Canadas economy is already characterized by significant levels of protectionism. Studies from a wide range of sources, including the Bank of Canada, highlight the significant costs that such protectionism has on the economy. In an article published by Joseph Quesnel, a senior research fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, the author issues this advice: Canada should resist reactionary protectionist measures and instead focus on removing internal trade barriers a longstanding economic challenge that continues to fragment the national economy. When Canadas tariff rates are assessed in combination with its protectionist policies (i.e., its non-monetary tariffs), it is clear that the effective tariff rates may be quite high. Are trade deficits an accurate measure of trade fairness? President Trump has complained repeatedly about the U.S. trade deficit with Canada. In 2024, the U.S. purchased $63 billion more goods and services from Canada than vice versa. In other words, the U.S. had a trade deficit of $63 billion. In a pathetic effort to make Trump appear to be wrong, some fact checkers note that the U.S. actually had a trade surplus in 2024 if we remove the U.S. importation of Canadian oil from the equation. But...why would we do that? Actually, the presidents complaints about the trade deficit may be understated, rather than overstated. Some economists lament that Canadas protectionist policies make its industries less efficient than those of the United States. For example, Blum and Hejazi have reached this conclusion regarding Canadas protectionist policies: Higher prices, which are then transferred to consumers from firms within protected industries, are often the end result. Just think of telecom, banking, air transportation and supply management, where there are significant restrictions on foreign participation. Protectionism in these industries has resulted in restricted supply, reduced variety, and significantly higher prices. Less efficient industries tend to produce less valuable products. If that is the case with Canada, then it is likely that the people of both countries would purchase more American goods and services than Canadian goods and services, at any given price level. That would create a U.S. trade surplus. It would be the norm. President Trump needs to discuss the issue of trade with more consistency and transparency With tariffs, President Trump is trying to achieve two distinct goals, but he does not always identify and distinguish between them. As a result, Canadian leaders and the general public may be confused. Trumps first goal is to reduce fentanyl poisoning in the United States. To achieve that worthy goal, the U.S. is imposing a 25 percent tariff on many exports from Canada, ostensibly to motivate Canada to find ways to reduce drug trafficking over the border. I believe that the high fentanyl death rate justifies Trumps tough stand. Trumps other goal is to reduce the trade deficit and achieve trade parity. However, that is supposed to be the purpose of the reciprocal tariffs that wont start until April 2, 2025. The issue of reciprocity is not as simple as it sounds. Will the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. exactly match the corresponding rates charged by Canada? Or, will Trump charge an additional rate to compensate for Canadas excessive non-monetary tariffs (i.e., the protectionist policies itemized above)? As an example, will the U.S. match the 240% Canadian tariff on cheese, or will the U.S. rate be even higher, to compensate for the onerous requirements regarding the exact composition of cheese? I applaud Trump for establishing these two goals, but he must distinguish them clearly. Finally, the President should continue to honor the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement while it is in force. Under terms of the agreement, it can be terminated or renegotiated in July 2026, if any signatory so wishes. Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA who has performed and reviewed hundreds of certified financial audits. He is the author of Debunked? An auditor reviews the 2020 election and the lessons learned (Republic Book Publishers, 2022). It explains why the certifications of six swing state elections were made prematurely. He also authored Who Really Drove the Economy into the Ditch, which describes the true causes of the 2008 financial crisis. Joes totally free substack account is found at joefriedcpa.substack.com. Image generated by AI. It appears that a federal judge is determined to bring out in public the aircraft flight plans of criminal gang members flying from America to El Salvador. It is a stupid, foolish, and potentially life-threatening request. As reported Thursday, March 20, 2025: [James Boasberg, the top federal judge in Washington, D.C.] has given the Trump administration until Friday morning to provide a sworn declaration from a cabinet-level official about invoking state-secrets privilege. How nice of a judge to assume the role of president and commander-in-chief by ordering aircraft movements and flight planning focused on specific national security missions being made public. The famous political cliche, pick a hill to die on, now has a new and real meaning. In this case the judges request is actually Give American enemies closely escorted by U.S. Law Enforcement targeting information. Such information in the hands of evil people with means, motive, and opportunity to take down an aircraft in flight is a deadly threat. It may be seen as a Hollywood movie plot device to build tension when criminals decide to clean up loose ends, meaning kill potential informants, AKA rats. That dynamic of criminals killing witnesses and also targeting fellow criminals turning states evidence is real, as exemplified by extensive official U.S. witness protection protocols. Consequently, when criminal syndicates such as cartels or even state-sponsored gangs from Venezuela are directly threatened by law enforcement, our military forces, and I.C. members who may gain priceless information from captured criminals, they will eliminate those who would rat them out if given the opportunity. The effort to take down a flight to El Salvador prisons needs only an understanding of means, motive, and opportunity. The judges intrusion into national security flight planning can easily present opportunity, especially if one looks at the death-dealing reach of MANPADs, which become the means of taking down an aircraft in flight. The motive is crystal-clear: Eliminate the threat using the famous Stalin quote: No man, no problem. More than 50 MANPADS attacks against civilian aircraft have occurred, mostly in Africa and Asia. Aircraft are most vulnerable after take-off, during the initial climbing period, and while gaining altitude when the planes are at slow speeds and in regular flight patterns. Some thirty attacks have been fatal and have resulted in almost 1,000 civilian deaths. Most attacks against civilian plans occurred within active war zones. Fifty-nine non-state armed groups are confirmed to possess or suspected to possess MANPADS according to a 2019 RAND Corporation study. Knowing the time and route of flight allows for ground-based anti-air missiles, which have been proven effective, to go weapons free targeting at takeoff, depending on altitude during route of flight, and especially at landing. These missiles, estimated at close to a million in the world, are called man-portable, or MANPADs. They have various effective seeker heads, and some versions can reach 15,000 feet. When a prison flight takes off, the route of flight, the duration of flight, and the destination airport should be classified information at the highest level. Our enemies are not playing games. If the courts help facilitate a deadly strike, then shame on the judge and all those cheering him on. Image via Picryl. Currently, we are experiencing the worst overt, monolithic Jew-hatred in American history. One would think Jews would band together in battle against this threat. But no useful idiots and just plain ignoramuses have jumped to the head of the line to enhance the madness. Has-been Jewish actress Debra Winger, of An Officer and a Gentleman and Terms of Endearment faded fame, recently exclaimed she had a debt to repay, presumably to the Jewish people. Perhaps she hadnt followed all of the Commandments or observed important holidays, or donated sufficiently to Jewish causes. But no not one of those categories applied. Winger, in horrifying ignorance of both the Torah (the five books of Moses) and American law, proclaimed she had not done enough to protest for and defend against the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil a notorious Jew-hater, agitator, and all-around troublemaker. Wingers ignorance and misguided allegiance is astonishing, but then again, she gets another fifteen minutes of infamous fame. Joe Rogan doesnt need more fame. He has been famous for at least 15 years, depending on ones perspective. His super-celebrity status exploded when it was revealed how he helped President Trump win the presidency by more than three million votes. As a podcaster, UFC commentator, and YouTuber, Rogan enjoys approximately 14.5 million listeners on Spotify alone, nineteen and a half million subscribers per episode in total, with after-views exceeding five and one half billion! So when Rogan talks, billions listen. Historically, Rogan has hosted many guests that make many Jews nervous because they have been viewed as borderline or actually antisemitic. Rogans latest response has been that Jews are overreacting. Overreacting? With increasingly loud and violent protests against Jews in the United States happening almost daily since October 8, 2023, on university campuses, and with only approximately 35% of the Democrats siding with Israel over Hamas, overreaction is an underestimation. Rogan is either tone-deaf or antisemitic, as his detractors accuse, or both. Fortunately, President Trump is not accepting the mayhem, and foreigners who have overextended their visas are being caught and deported. From the mid-1930s in Berlin, initially German Jews did not want to believe the evolving Jew-hatred emanating from the four corners of a once highly civil society. But emanated it did, and ultimately six million Jews and others were murdered before the Nazi regime was vanquished. That these anti-Jewish protests are occurring here and now in the United States, true hate and violent speech, is prolific, horrifying, and incomprehensible. Image: hendricjabs via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Lord Ismay, the first Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), reportedly observed that the purpose of the Alliance was to keep the Americans in Europe, the Russians out, and the Germans down. A majority understand what is meant by keeping the Americans in and Russians out, but few grasp the full implications of keeping the Germans down. Lord Ismay was referring to using NATO as a tool for locking Germany into a military and political straitjacket which would impose limitations on the future direction of German foreign and domestic policy. In the minds of post-WWII policy planners, this goal was as important as keeping the Russians from rolling their tanks across the whole of the Northern European Plain. Germany had just fought two wars to establish hegemonic primacy over Europe, including the prized Eastern European borderlands within the Russian, and later Soviet, empire. The wars exhausted Germany, leaving it physically in ruins, politically divided, and spiritually scarred. After WWII, in many respects, it was the German people that took the lead in trying to ensure its neighbors that it was no longer a threat to European security. However, the victorious WWII allies that included the USSR, were not taking any chances. Germany remained politically divided between East and West. The western half became integrated into the NATO alliance, and the eastern half was absorbed into the Soviet Warsaw Pact. Firmly ensconced in NATO, former German nationalist ambitions seemed to be in check and West Germany seemed aligned with the vision of Western liberalism. In the post-WWII period, a new generation of Germans reflected on their parents behavior in waging a war of annihilation against their Slavic neighbors and the Jews of Europe, and were repulsed and deeply ashamed. As a result, a pacifism took root in German society that had not existed before. German shame for the war and the Holocaust had repercussions decades later though, when Germany came to feel that they had no moral standing to keep refugees out of their country. Taking a stance against the dilution of the native German population with foreigners from alien cultures was too reminiscent of the Nazi ideology of building a nation from pure Aryan blood. As a result, massive waves of migrants from the Middle East and Africa were welcomed into Germany under Angela Merkels reign as German Chancellor. As one would expect, this caused social tension in German society, ushering in the ascendancy of the populous Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The German ruling party establishment has censored and ostracized the AfD, showing the extent to which they fear that the straitjacket may loosen. German economic resurgence in the post-war period was remarkable by any standard. It was in part due to the natural industriousness of the German people, but it was also due to the post-WWII world economic order established at Bretton Woods that ensured Germany and other nations unencumbered access to resources and markets throughout the Western world. Germany, along with Japan, were early beneficiaries of the rise of modern Western liberal hegemony. Although West Germany carried a portion of the burden of defending Europe from the Soviet bloc threat, the lions share of NATOs cost fell on the shoulders of the United States. This freed Germany to provide its citizens with lavish social entitlements that the United States could not match because of the costly defense of not only Europe but the entire free world. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and dissolution of the Soviet Empire, Germany was reunited. Although the economic cost of integrating East Germany into West Germany was steep, the lessening of tensions with Russia allowed Germany to take a respite from the burdens of defending Europe during the Cold War. The peace dividend resulting from the end of the Cold War profoundly benefited Germany, more so than in the United States as it continued to sustain defense expenditure at a high level after the Cold War ended. The reassertion of Russian military strength and Trumps determination to make NATO allies pay their fair share has changed everything for Germany. It is faced for the first time in several generations of needing to decide between guns and butter. Lavish social benefits may need to be curtailed if Germany intends to resurrect its military prowess. Germany could finance a military buildup by mortgaging its future, like the U.S. has done. (U.S. debt-to-GNP stands at 122% compared with German debt-to-GNP of 63%). However, all the talk in Germany and the EU of continuing the war in Ukraine in the absence of U.S. participation, and the longer-term goal of building up German and EU military strength to substitute for a waning U.S. military presence, may be just talk and no action. It could very well be that Germans have constructed a straitjacket from which they will never be able to extricate themselves. Image from Grok. If you build it, they will come. Set up an open border. Fund a vast, costly, NGO network with public funds, let organized criminal networks operate unchecked to collect from it. And don't be surprised if huge numbers of migrant deaths result from this development 'model.' That's the sorry record of the great migrant surges in recent years, but it isn't stopping the United Nations's International Organization for Migration (IOM) from putting out this report, as if to blame and shame the West for what they themselves helped build: Berlin/ Geneva, 21 March 2025 - At least 8,938 people died on migration routes worldwide in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record, according to new data collected by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The 2024 toll continues a five-year trend of more deaths each year and last year's toll tops the previous record in 2023, when 8,747 migrant deaths were recorded. The tragedy of the growing number of migrant deaths worldwide is both unacceptable and preventable. Behind every number is a human being, someone for whom the loss is devastating, said IOM Deputy Director General for Operations Ugochi Daniels. The increase in deaths across so many regions in the world shows why we need an international, holistic response that can prevent further tragic loss of life. Image: International Organization of Migration (IOM) 2025 // press release There's no disputing that needless deaths have occurred based on this modern equivalent to the slave trade. And yes, as the IOM notes, almost every death here is a human tragedy (I'm not going to include cartel deaths over human-smuggling disputes or deaths of criminals among the illegal migrant masses), and the numbers are unacceptably high. It is like war. Yet the people who brought it never admit their own role in bringing it about. Fact is, this need never have happened. Instead of encouraging discontented people in their home countries to improve those countries and elect the kind of responsible people they'd like to live under, they encourage leaving. Foreign governments in the world's mostly socialist hellholes love this as they draw huge streams of remittances from migrants who leave without having to deal with the migrants politically at home, who, in hefty numbers, might just challenge them if they stayed in-country. That helps keep dictators situated, so it's a double gift to them -- streams of money for them and their own entrenchment in power. Yet the propaganda keeps saying that everyone leaving is fleeing war and violence (and global warming) which is anything but largely true. There are few place in the world that have wars on which really would drive immigration, and those refugees prove their genuineness by accepting the first country of refuge. Some truly bad countries with totalitarian socialism live in the equivalent of war footings, too, but as for the rest, there is no reason to emigrate other than enticement. The migrants in the new migrant-surge model shop for countries based on the greatest likelihood of being allowed to stay and the biggest benefit packages. It says something that emigration is a phenomenon of the world's lower middle classes with a small amount of money, and not the world's truly poor. The IOM information here is a prelude to a major report coming out, (which I'd like to read) which says that ten percent of the migrant deaths from this monstrous total in the last year of Joe Biden's terrible administration, are from violence. That's what happens when people are placed in the hands of organized crime, which doesn't exactly have good customer service or humane treatment of migrants as any sort of priority. What the politicians and their publicly funded NGOs do is sweeten the pot, encouraging illegal immigration that otherwise wouldn't happen, enticing people to leave their homelands with services and conveniences and benefits on offer, yet without any truly legal process. We know the UN hands out maps to illegal migrants and often provides "free" transport to speed the illegal border crossers along to their destinations of choice, as do the NGOs. We know the Europeans, and Joe Biden, have been quick to provide catch-and-release, wreaking havoc on rule of law, blowing out city budgets, and inflicting crime waves on the citizens who are affected. That's why the West's leftist pols and the NGO encouragings are problematic, both from lax open borders and continuous enabling of the vast, international migrant pipelines. The result is death, lots of deaths, and it's time for all of them to own it. The University of Oxfordone of the oldest continuously operating universities in the worldhas a wealth of traditions, which is unsurprising given its long history. Some, like "trashing," where students have their uniforms doused in confetti and foam after their final exam, are relatively modern, dating back only about 50 years. Others stretch back centuries, their origins obscured by time. Some traditions are so ancient and mysterious that even the University itself has no record of their beginnings. The Bodleian Librarys Archives and Manuscripts blog discusses about one such mystery: the curious case of Henry Symeonis. The Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, and one of the oldest libraries in Europe. Photo credit: Deposit Photos Students undergoing various undergraduate and post graduate courses at the University of Oxford are required to take oaths before they begin their academic session. These oaths are fairly standard, containing standard pledges to uphold the University's statutes, privileges, liberties, and customs, as well as to refrain from inappropriate activities such as lighting fire inside the library. However, among these seemingly routine pledges, one stood out Bachelor of Arts students pursuing a Master of Arts degree had to swear that they would never consent to the reconciliation of Henry Symeonis. The official recorded oath in Latin was: Magister, tu jurabis quod nunquam consenties in reconciliationem Henrici Simeonis, nec statum Baccalaurei iterum tibi assumes, which translates to: Master, you shall swear that you will never consent to the reconciliation of Henry Symeonis, nor will you assume again the status of Bachelor. This peculiar clause came to light in 1827, when University officials were reviewing its extensive rules and regulations. The most baffling part was that no one knew who Henry Symeonis was or what he had done to provoke the University. Brian Twyne, the first Keeper of the Archives and a noted 17th-century antiquary, speculated in his Antiquitatis Academiae Oxon Apologia (1608) that Symeonis had been a Regent in Arts at Oxford who fraudulently claimed to hold a BA in order to gain admission to a foreign monastery. However, Twyne provided no evidence or source for this claim. In 1651, an attempt was made to abolish the statute concerning Henry Symeonis, but the proposal was rejected without explanation. By then, knowledge about Henrys crime had already faded from collective memory, and the University may have simply chosen not to meddle with a rule they knew nothing about. It was not until 1827 that the institution finally decided the grudge had lasted far too long and officially removed the clause. The identity of Henry Symeonis remained a mystery until 1912, when Reginald Lane Poole, then Keeper of the University Archives, finally uncovered the truth. Symeonis was the son of Henry Symeonis the Elder, a wealthy townsman of Oxford. The younger Henry inherited several properties around Oxford and he too was one of the richest men in early 13th-century Oxford. Pooles research revealed that in 1242, Henry and several other townsmen were convicted of murdering a University student. As punishment, King Henry III fined them 80a substantial sum at the timeand ordered them to leave Oxford. They were permitted to reside in Northampton or farther north but were forbidden from returning until the King returned from abroad. Later that same year, after the Kings return to England, Henry was back in Oxford. In 1264, tensions between King Henry III and his barons erupted into civil war, with Oxford at its center. To protect the citys masters and scholars from harm, the King temporarily suspended the University and ordered its members to leave. Many departed, with a large number relocating to Northampton, where a thriving university was emerging. A few weeks later, the King issued a proclamation pardoning Henry Symeonis for the murder committed 22 years earlier. He ordered the University to allow Henry to return to Oxford and live there in peace, provided he remained "of good behavior." Additionally, the King forbade the University from leaving Oxford in protest of his return. It seems that Henry had secured his pardon through payment and the King was willing to allow his return if the University agreed to it. However, as Poole noted, the scholars were outraged at having Henry Symeonis forced back upon them after years of exile. Their anger escalated into a serious riot between students and townspeople. Not only did they defy the Kings order to reconcile with Henry, but they also made their resentment clear by swearing an oath never to forgive him. And so, the oath against Henry Symeonis remained part of University regulations for more than five and a half centuries before finally being abolished in 1827. However, this was not due to a sudden change of heartby then, the details of Henrys crime had long been forgotten. The decision-makers likely acted that way because they didnt knew what exactly they were abolishing. The irony is that, by codifying its grudge against Henry Symeonis, the University ensured his name endured for centuries. In seeking to mark him as a villain, it had unwittingly granted him a peculiar form of immortality. Earlier this week, Samsung announced that the rollout of One UI 7 would officially begin on April 7. And in the US, it would start in earnest on April 10. However, it now seems like that might have changed, already. SamMobile noticed that the US website for Samsungs Newsroom, has been scrubbed of that release date. And the original page is now throwing a 404 error. Samsung seems to have taken down, at least made private the press release announcing the dates. However, the interesting thing here is that this only applies to the US. The information is still available on Samsung Newsroom in other markets including Korea, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore, Belgium and more. This does look like yet another delay for One UI 7, however since this is just a single market right now, were going to wait and see whats actually going on. If this was the case across all of Samsungs markets, then it might be cause for concern. One UI 7 has proven to be trouble for Samsung One UI 7 which is based on Android 15, is a pretty big update for Samsung and its devices. Complete with new animations, new icons, and its also much smoother than older versions of One UI. However, its proving to be quite the issue for Samsung. Typically, Samsung is able to push out their update within a month or two of Google pushing it to the Pixel. However, we are now looking at mid-late April before it even starts to roll out to the first devices. Thats not common for Samsung. To put even more salt in the wounds, most Chinese OEMs have even released their Android 15 update. And they are notorious for being extremely slow, if they even release the update. So this begs the question, whats going on with Samsung? While we dont know specifically, it does seem like there are some bugs that Samsung is still trying to squash on One UI 7. Hopefully, this isnt a huge delay, as Samsung users have already waited long enough. Rapper Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Deandre Conway, has been arrested and is being held on suspicion of capital murder for hire, officials confirmed. His arrest is linked to the 2020 murder of fellow Dallas rapper Mo3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, who was shot dead in daylight on the Interstate 35E highway. According to TMZ, Conway is accused of having paid Kewon White to kill Noble. White had already been charged with conspiracy to murder in this shooting, but the new indictment signals that prosecutors now see Conway as a key player in planning the attack. The grand jury referral outlines the fatal shooting of Noble on November 11, 2020, when he was chased and shot on foot several times on the highway. Conway was arrested in Dallas for allegedly financing the hit, prosecutors said. A chargesheet was leaked on social media, naming "Capital Murder with Remuneration," a class of Capital Murder in Texas, with a potential punishment of life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Yella Beezy has been charged with capital murder in connection to the 2020 death of Mo3. pic.twitter.com/AeyXyI1u35 SAY CHEESE! (@SaycheeseDGTL) March 20, 2025 Beef In the Dallas Rap Scene Conway's arrest comes with a new focus on the on-again, off-again tension between himself and Mo3. Both were up-and-coming rappers in Dallas and had been feuding due to gang ties, diss records, and social media posts. Although no official connection was ever made, Conway himself was the victim of a drive-by shooting in Lewisville, Texas, in 2019. There was speculation at the time whether their feud contributed to the incident, but no charges were ever filed. The Dallas County charges against Conway were not officially filed until March 18, 2025. He has been remanded to custody pending the trial. The 33-year-old could face the death penalty upon conviction of capital murder for hire. A spokesperson for his legal team has not commented publicly on the case. Prosecutors are still working to build their case against both the rapper and those who helped him with the murder of Mo3. Originally published on Music Times Last year, Android 15 brought some of the neat features to its users, one of which is Instant Hotspot. Although support for the feature wasnt initially available on Samsung devices, thats going to change now. According to a recent report, the Instant Hotspot feature is reportedly available for the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. Galaxy S25 lineup now compatible with Instant Hotspot feature Instant Hotspot allows you to connect any Android smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook to an Android phones hotspot quickly. The only catch is that all the devices must be logged into the same Google account. Notably, Google initially didnt bring support for Instant Hotspot to Samsung devices, as One UI 7 already has a similar feature called Auto Hotspot. Do note that Auto Hotspot only works on Galaxy devices. For example, if you have a Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, you can automatically connect it to a Galaxy S25s hotspot. However, things work differently if you have a non-Galaxy device. In order to connect to a Galaxy phones hotspot, youll have to manually configure everything with Auto Hotspot. So, its not as simple as with the Instant Hotspot feature. Thankfully, Google has decided to bring Instant Hotspot support to all Galaxy S25 phones. Google has confirmed it on its official website Google has updated its support page to confirm the new development. In case youre wondering, the feature wont be available to older Galaxy devices, although they support One UI 7. With Instant Hotspot set, youll see a notification on your non-Galaxy Android tablet asking if you want to use your phones hotspot. When you tap the connect button, the system will create a temporary hotspot on your Galaxy S25 Ultra or other models from the series to which your tablet can connect. Interest in the artificial intelligence industry continues to grow among investors. Thanks to this, the value of several AI startups has increased exponentially in recent years through investment rounds. Perplexity AI has been one of the firms that benefited the most thanks to its success in the segment. Now, a report reveals that Perplexity plans to increase its total valuation to $18 billion. As reported by Reuters, the Perplexity board is currently in talks with potential partners to conduct a new funding round. The company expects to raise between $500 million and $1 billion during the round. This could value Perplexity at $18 billion. For reference, the AI-focused company had an approximate valuation of $9 billion in November 2024. Therefore, we could see its value double in just a few months. A new funding round could bring up to $1 billion to Perplexity, raising its valuation to $18 billion Its no surprise that Perplexity is generating a lot of interest among artificial intelligence enthusiasts and technology investors. The firm has been making significant moves in recent months. The most recent was the announcement of a partnership with Deutsche Telekom to work on an AI phone. The device will be unveiled this year and is expected to hit the market in 2026. In February, the company launched Comet, a web browser that offers AI-powered tools to assist you and improve your navigationeven proactively. That same month also saw the arrival of Perplexitys Deep Research tool, which, to date, is the most generous with free users of AI chatbots. In January, the startup launched an Android app with agentic features that wants to replace Gemini on your Android phone. Perplexity has even been among the bidders to acquire TikTok in the US. Furthermore, the firm is a direct competitor to Google in the Mountain View giants plans to launch an AI-powered search engine. As you can see, Perplexity has several fronts in the works, and many of these announcements have been made in recent months. The company has attracted the interest of investors such as Jeff Bezosfounder of Amazon.comand SoftBank Group. Samsung not only deals in tech gadgets but is also one of the leading manufacturers of smart appliances. The company even holds a separate event every year to unveil and promote its latest smart home automation products. Now, that time has come once again. Samsung has announced it will hold its annual Welcome to Bespoke AI event on March 26, in Seoul, South Korea, teasing the AI Home Experience. Samsung teases AI Home Experience ahead of its annual Welcome to Bespoke AI event At the upcoming event, Samsung will launch its latest smart home appliances and possibly share its strategy for the product segment for this year. The company says all new smart home products will be launched under the Home Living Made Simple theme. Per the announcement, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and CEO, JH Van, will be the keynote speaker. Van will introduce a new range of Bespoke AI products and share the companys vision for the AI Home. The company is reportedly pushing its AI efforts as it wants to become the undisputed leader in AI by this year. Samsung has also published a video to tease AI Home Experience ahead of the Welcome to Bespoke AI event. In the teaser video, the company showcases a smartphone and a few smart home appliances, like a refrigerator and washing machines connected over SmartThings, working seamlessly with each other. Besides refrigerators and washing machines, Samsungs new range of smart home appliances might include new dishwashers, microwave ovens, dryer washers, and dryer combos. It could also launch handheld and robotic vacuum cleaners and mops as well as air conditioners at the upcoming event. The company will also be participating in Chinas largest home appliances exhibition Samsung has also unveiled that it will be participating in Chinas Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE) 2025. The event will kick off in Shanghai, China, from the 20th to the 23rd (local time). It will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. At the event, Samsung will unveil different Bespoke AI home appliances. It notes that these products will offer people AI for All and AI Home experiences. These include the Bespoke AI Hybrid refrigerator, Bespoke Kitchen Fit Max refrigerator, Bespoke AI Combo washer and dryer, and Bespoke AirDresser. The company further notes it will demo how its SmartThings-based home appliances would leverage Bixby and Knox at the event. Moreover, the VP of Samsung Electronics DA Business Division, Hwang Tae-hwan, said, Bespoke AI home appliances equipped with various AI functions and screens provide differentiated AI experiences to consumers. Rhinopithecus bieti, also known affectionately by locals as the golden hair monkey, is a primate found in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan. The loss of their habitats has forced these primates to adapt to extreme altitudes with below-freezing temperatures and extremely thin air. As a result, these monkeys have developed unique facial features: vibrant pink lips and the absence of nasal bones, resulting in their snub-nosed moniker. They are also considered endangered. As Tim Flach, photographer and President of the Association of Photographers, puts it, they look like theyve had cosmetic surgery. Photographing these monkeys was not easy. Flach had to venture into the mountains for days before, by sheer luck or fate, he managed to snap a winning photo that made it into his book. Flachs efforts to achieve his masterpieces are similar to those of many artistsphotographers, graphic designers, painters, journalists, and novelistswho have gone to painstaking, time-consuming, and costly lengths to achieve their work. They didnt just press a magic button to make it all happen. But now? Google wants them to hand their creations overfor free. Thats the essence of Googles recent policy proposal on artificial intelligence (AI). Crying out that the AI industry is held back by regulations and copyright law, Google has crafted a policy proposal that puts forth its own ideas on how the AI industry should be governed. Google is spinning a fairy tale, one where it plays the benevolent hero. Except that this proposal favors Google in every single way imaginable. Remember Googles dont be evil mantra? Turns out, theres a footnote: Unless theres profit to be made. Navigating Copyright and Fair Use: Is Google Exploiting Legal Loopholes? A few years ago, Flach, received a phone call. His work had been stolen by AI. Speaking to The Times, Flach didnt mince words. This harvesting of our work its the same as a parasite that sucks the light out of its host without invitation. He was told that he was one of the most scraped artists in the world, another way of saying that companies have used his photoswithout his permissionto train their AI systems. In Flachs case, his photos were used to train Midjourney, an image generator that uses AI to create images on the fly. Adding insult to injury, the system didnt just steal his work; it let users replicate his entire photographic style with the click of a button. I reached out to Flach to get his thoughts on Googles policy proposal. Flach called Googles policy statement egregious from a creators perspective. For me copyright is the lifeblood of my professional career; it gives me the power and opportunity to control and licence my work, which in turn means that any income I make I can invest back into my business which allows me to carry on photographing and contributing to conservation projects. Its common for artists to sell their styles as presets. Selling presets is a legitimate way for artists to profit from their style. But Google? It doesnt want to buy presets, it wants to take them without paying a cent under the guise of balanced copyright rules. Google insists that these so-called balanced copyright rules are critical for AI to unlock scientific and social advances. It also downplays any impact on rightsholders, claiming the harm will be minimal. But the real giveaway? Googles true concern isnt fairness: Its about avoiding highly unpredictable, imbalanced, and lengthy negotiations. Is Fair Use Really Fair? But this is where it gets tricky. Basic fair use law allows the limited use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission. To put it simply: Using an image as my desktop wallpaper? Fair use. Printing and selling a thousand copies? Copyright infringement. Google will have a hard time defending this, though. A recent ruling in Thomson Reuters v. Ross Intelligence makes that clear. Judge Stephanos Bibas set a precedent: Training AI with copyrighted data is not fair use. But beyond the legal battles, this raises a deeper philosophical question: Is AI truly learning from human work, or is it merely replicating it? I think the key distinction lies in intent and scale, Flach tells me. A budding photographer or student studying Ansel Adams is engaging in a deeply human, interpretative process. They learn, internalise, and then create something new through their own lensliterally and figuratively. AI, on the other hand, doesnt learn in that way. It ingests vast amounts of work, including copyrighted material, and then generates outputs without necessarily transforming it in a way that reflects individual creativity. If an AI is trained on my images and can produce something indistinguishable from my work, is that really learning, or is it replication? The Copyright Controversy: Googles Longstanding Battle with Content Creators This isnt the first time Google has been accused of using copyrighted data and profiting from it. Google has long been accused of exploiting copyrighted contentlike displaying website snippets in search results. While this made life easier for users, it siphoned traffic away from publishers, cutting into their ad revenue. This battle escalated in 2024 when a group of artists sued Google, claiming its Imagen AI was trained on their work without permission. Google isnt alone in this, either. Getty Images accused Stability AI of scraping millions of images from its website without consent. Its not just limited to images. The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for unauthorized use of its articles to train GPT large language models. But why do these companies risk legal battles just to scrape data? Because, like a well-read scholar, an AIs intelligence is only as good as its sources. The accuracy and success of AI models depend on how much data it has been trained on. The more an AI learns how we write and draw, the better it becomes at mimicking us, making it more valuable. Plus, theres only so much truly free data out there, like books, artwork, and music that are in the public domain. This is why companies turn to copyrighted data, which includes articles written and published by news organizations, videos uploaded to YouTube by content creators, images drawn by artists and shared on Instagram, and photographs taken by photographers like Flach. Playing By A Different Set of Rules This wouldnt be an issue if AI companies played by the same rules like Spotify paying record labels for music or news agencies licensing Getty images. But instead of compensating creators, these companies are bypassing them entirely. Flach acknowledges that licensing AI training data could be a path forward, but only after companies are held accountable for past copyright violations. Without transparency, he argues, creators will continue to be exploited in the shadows. The main issue is about transparency over what creative works are being used to train, weight, and fine-tune certain GAI (generative artificial intelligence) programs and how I as a creator can protect my photographs from being exploited without my permission or compensation, and whether a program released to users unfairly competes with my profession as a photographer. If these AI giants refuse to pay for content, the least they could do is follow Metas leadgiving users the right to opt-out. But even that seems too much to ask. But individuals and organizations with copyrighted materials arent the only ones Google wants to screw over. In its policy proposal, Google wants more oversight of AI patents. The company claims that this is to discourage low-quality patents. Google also calls for the Inter Partes Review (IPR) process to continue, allowing companies to challenge invalid AI-related patents to avoid patent roadblocks. It sounds like a good thing, but the reality of it is that Google wants to use these as weapons to challenge the patents from smaller firms that have fewer resources. Big Tech: Taking A Page Out of Big Pharmas Playbook For years, pharmaceutical giants have used legal loopholes and aggressive patent tactics to suppress competition, extend monopolies, and block innovation. Now, Big Tech is following the same playbook with AI. In the pharmaceutical industry, patents are weapons. Companies use strategies like evergreening, where they make minor tweaks to existing drugs (such as changing a pills coating) to extend patents and block generics from entering the market. They also file patent thickets. This consists of dozens of overlapping patents on a single drug to bury competitors in litigation. Lastly, they also use litigation as a weapon. They drown smaller biotech firms in lawsuits they cant afford, forcing them to sell or shut down. These tactics have kept life-saving medications expensive and delayed cheaper alternatives for years. Now, Google and other AI giants are applying the same legal warfare to artificial intelligence. Googles recent AI policy proposal isnt just about copyright, its also about patents. The company claims it wants more oversight of AI patents to discourage low-quality filings and promote innovation. Googles Power Grab But lets call this what it really is: A power grab. Smaller AI firms rely on patents to protect their inventions. Its one of the only ways they can compete against trillion-dollar giants like Google. If Google can challenge and invalidate those patents, it can crush potential competitors before they become a threat. It will also allow them to freely absorb their technology without paying for it. It could also lead to the elimination of licensing negotiations entirely. The AI industry is still young. Right now, were at a crossroads. If Google succeeds in shaping patent rules, copyright laws, and AI governance in its favor, we risk creating a closed AI ecosystem. One where startups never get a chance to compete. One where artists, writers, and researchers have no leverage and AI becomes monopolized by a handful of mega-corporations. In the pharmaceutical world, these tactics have kept life-saving drugs out of reach for those who need them most. In AI, they could lock out independent creators, limit technological progress (the very thing Googles policy proposal is complaining about), and centralize power in the hands of a few. So Whats Next? The Future of AI, Copyright, and Government Oversight If Google gets its way, what does this mean for content creators, journalists, and artists? Uncompensated data scraping could become the norm. AI-generated content could also flood the market, reducing demand for original work. Creators could lose control over their own styles, voices, and artistic identities. Flach warns me that this isnt just a copyright issue, its an existential threat to creative industries. The danger is that this becomes a slippery slope where high-quality creative work is devalued because the machine can do it. And once that happens, where does it leave the next generation of artists and photographers? The good news is that some governments are already taking a harder stance against AI exploitation. For example, the EUs AI Act introduces stricter rules on AI transparency and training data usage. The UK and certain US states are exploring legislation that forces AI companies to disclose what data they train on. Flach acknowledges that compensation for past copyright violations may be difficult. But he argues that failing to push back now sets a dangerous precedent. The reality is that the genie is already out of the bottle, and clawing back fair compensation is going to be an uphill battle. But that doesnt mean it shouldnt be pursued. If we dont at least push for accountability now, we set a precedent that devalues creative work going forward. Conclusion: A Crossroads for AI and Creativity AI has the potential to change the creative landscape forever. But who benefits from it, and more importantly, at whose expense? Google and other AI giants want a world where they take, create, and profit without paying the people who made it possible in the first place. If AI is the future, then its up to artists, journalists, and policymakers to ensure its a future where creativity is valued and not exploited. As Flach puts it, We need governments across the globe to recognise the impact these programs are having in exploiting our works for profit and supplanting creators professional careers in the process. TikTok is a social media platform known for trendy dance videos. In the US alone, TikTok has around 170 million active users, which is why the company is taking advantage of those numbers for something greater than just finding the next dance trend. TikTok is announcing that it is working with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to support AMBER Alerts. TikToks AMBER Alerts According to TikTok, Last year we piloted AMBER Alerts with our community in Texas. From August to December 2024, AMBER Alerts on TikTok were viewed over 20 million times and contributed to 2.5 million visits to NCMECs website. Now, were expanding these alerts to more than 170 million Americans, so when an AMBER Alert is issued, well show the alert in the For You feed of those within the area. For our readers outside the US, the AMBER Alert system originates in the US and alerts the public about ongoing child abductions. Law enforcement agencies send out notifications across various channels when it confirms a child abduction. This includes TV, radio, road signs, mobile phones, and now TikTok. With TikToks massive reach, it should help bring more eyeballs to ongoing cases. Hopefully, someone will have information to share that will help bring abducted children safely home. TikTok is not the only social media platform to support AMBER Alerts. Other apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and X support the feature as well. According to a statement by Gavin Portnoy, vice president of Communications & Brand at NCMEC, Every second counts when a child goes missing. By harnessing the reach and speed of a platform like TikTok, parents, caregivers, and communities nationwide can become powerful advocates in the urgent effort to locate missing children. TikToks looming ban TikTok is currently facing a potential ban in the US. US President Donald Trump has extended the deadline of the ban to April. However, he did say that he might extend it further. TikTok and the US government are currently in talks to attempt to resolve this issue. The US government wants TikToks parent company to sell the social media platform. Or at least give the US government a controlling stake. So far, there have been a lot of potential bidders. However, the parties havent reached a concrete deal yet. Last we heard, Oracle is in the lead. Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney recalled her confinement in an ICE detention center after being detained over an incomplete visa earlier this month. In a lengthy Op-ed published in The Guardian, Mooney detailed that her work visa had been revoked in November and she was seeking to file a new application. The actress said he had been traveling between Canada and the U.S. without inconvenience until being suddenly questioned by a border patrol agent and detained afterward. She was told her visa had not been "properly processed" and that she couldn't work for a company in the country that used hemp, an ingredient used in Holy! Water, the beverage she sells. Mooney recalled that she was initially detained at the San Ysidro border crossing for three nights in a freezing cement cell with five other women. She spent two days without access to legal counsel or clear information about her situation before being informed she was facing a five-year ban unless she applied for re-entry through the consulate. She said she signed the paperwork in a state of exhaustion and confusion, unaware that it would not expedite her release. Mooney was later moved to Otay Mesa Detention Center. She was told it was unclear how long she would be detained for, but that she should prepare herself to stay for months: "I felt like I was going to throw up," she recalled. The actress then described how other detainees were in similar circumstances, having overstayed visas or detained despite living legally in the U.S. Her situation was not unique, she highlighted, as other detainees had been picked up outside their workplaces, at traffic stops, or even during routine immigration check-ins. Days later, she was transferred againthis time to San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona. The transfer process involved 24 hours of shackled transport, crowded conditions, and new intake procedures. At the facility, detainees were given minimal resources: one Styrofoam cup for water, a single spoon for all meals, and thin blankets in an ice-cold room where the fluorescent lights never turned off. Mooney said she then managed to send an email to her employer, who contacted her friend in Canada. They worked with the media, and once the story gained attention, her release was expedited. She was told she could have left earlier if she had signed a withdrawal form and paid for her own flight, something she had repeatedly asked to do but was never informed was an option. Now in Canada, Mooney said she is still seeking to share her story in hopes to bring attention to the thousands of others still trapped in the system. Her experience, she concluded, is far from an isolated case and part of a larger, systemic issue that profits from human suffering. "I am writing in the hope that someone out there someone with the power to change any of this can help do something," she concluded. Originally published on Latin Times Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood has revealed she fell and cut one side of her body open while filming a scene with a snake for drama series The White Lotus. Wood, 31, plays Chelsea in the third series of Mike Whites black comedy, and had a fake leg made for a scene where her character is bitten by a snake. The actress said her co-star, US actor Walton Goggins, who has a fear of snakes, had panic attacks in between takes and was even bitten by the reptile. Aimee Lou Wood stars in White Lotus series three (Ian West/PA) This amazing thing happened, a man came over to my house before I went to Thailand, he had this laser, he scanned my leg, then he created my leg, Wood told The Jonathan Ross Show. He matched my skin and everything the snake actually bit the fake leg. I have no idea what it was made out of. She added: The snake bites my character, its all very symbolic theres a lot of snake symbolism and its the Year of the Snake now. She gets bitten and its not great but shes alright because shes weirdly robust in that way. But yes, the snake bit the fake leg. Asked if she got to keep the fake leg, Wood explained: I think they had to throw it away because it had venom in it. The snake properly went for the leg. I was not near the fake leg. I pretended to see the snake and screamed which I found weirdly embarrassing. Im not (scared of snakes). Walton its his worst fear. Its not the first time hes had to interact with them (in a scene) its his biggest phobia. Speaking more about her co-star, Wood said: He was honestly having panic attacks in between takes, he was having to really gear himself up. Walton Goggins was bitten by a snake during filming (Ian West/PA) One nipped him and he had to go to the hospital. Im putting my full oomph into running away, I fell, cut all of this side of my body open I had this mark on my shoulder. Snake day was quite chaotic! Asked if The White Lotus has led to her being recognised more, Wood said: It was worse after Sex Education with the recognising. It had a cult following in America but didnt quite take America. White Lotus feels very American. Im being noticed there where I wasnt before. Feels more intense. When I was out there filming, Jason (Isaacs) and I were the only non-Americans pretty much. You really have to match them. You have to really get in there with like, Yeah, come on! You cant be blase. Also on The Jonathan Ross Show are Sir Stephen Fry, who talks about hosting quiz show Jeopardy!, Irish comedian Joanne McNally and rapper and TV chef Big Zuu. Music comes from Yungblud, who also joins the guests on the sofa before performing. The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.20pm on ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Israelis mourn the young people raped, tortured, murdered and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on October 7 2023 - Ohad Zwigenberg/AP In modern times, the much greater availability of photographic, video and audio evidence, of DNA and other forensic tests, and the ease with which such evidence can be disseminated ought to help discover true facts. Yet the opposite often happens. All day, every day, social media pullulates with pictures, recordings etc purporting to prove something. These are frequently lies, but many people, even decent people, believe them and pass them on. Nowhere is this more apparent than over Israel/Palestine, an issue in which the bastard progeny of Holocaust denial flourish. On October 7 2023, the worst massacres of Jews since 1945 were committed in numerous sites in Israel, near its Gaza border. The days death toll was 1,141, from 44 nations, plus more than 200 kidnapped and held hostage. Video, often on body-worn cameras, texts and phone calls, recorded these attacks. These records were made by the exultant murderers as well as the terrified victims. (Sometimes, in a horrible twist, the attackers used the mobiles of those they had killed or captured to lure their relations towards a similar fate.) The mass of evidence from first responders, medical services, the Israeli army, police, independent media and survivors also accumulated. Yet immediately the denials began. It wasnt Hamas, people said, or, if it was, the attacks had been solely military though detailed maps of civilian settlements were found on some attackers and some carried an incubator into Israel to enable them to kidnap babies. There had been no killing of women and children and no rapes, such people said, or, if there had been, they must have been personal mistakes. Hamas, said a Hamas leader, spoke to the families, they ate and drank. True, sort of: they screamed insults at the families as they killed them. In between bouts of murder, they ate and drank the contents of their fridges. I experienced directly the success of such denials. Two months after the killings, a moderate Muslim friend well acquainted with the region wrote to me. He said there was no credible evidence supporting claims of heinous acts like rape, beheadings, or burning people alive. Such statements had been made, he thought, to garner international support for Israels invasion of Gaza. If such a distinguished and educated Muslim whom I greatly respect could believe such falsehoods, what hope for the Muslim masses? A poll last year of British Muslims taken by the Henry Jackson Society found that only 25 per cent believed that rapes or murders had taken place on October 7. To me, this was not particularly surprising, given the successful spread of absolute untruth. Which is why the report published this week by the commission of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK-Israel is so important. It organises, relates and explains all the events of that terrible day, giving some necessary before-and-after, but avoiding theorising and polemic. Every site of a killing is named and every victim, and, where known, how each victim died. Here are the 30 named communities, mainly kibbutzes, attacked, the story of the rocket barrages and border breaches, of assaults from land, sea and air (paragliders) on Bedouin villages, military facilities, Israeli cities, the Nova festival (the latter the scene of the greatest carnage), and more. The report, pulled together by five scholars under the leadership of the historian, Lord Roberts of Belgravia, also describes the variety and incidence of atrocities torture, sexual violence, the desecration and kidnapping of corpses, hostage-taking, looting, the deliberate killing of civilians, women and children and the terrorist livestreaming of such things. Everything is evidenced, footnoted. Every dead person is indexed to where he or she died. This completeness and accuracy, like the systematic recording and commemoration first used by the British in the First World War, is simultaneously a way of honouring the dead and a work of history. At the beginning of the book, a timeline usefully takes the reader through from 6.15 on the morning of October 7 to the last attempted attack on the afternoon of the following day. It is punctuated by little Union flags to indicate the points at which British Israelis were killed or kidnapped. At the back, 17 British are listed. They include murdered 12-year-old twins and also a 22-year-old man, Aner Shapira, who kept throwing back grenades chucked into a bomb shelter by the terrorists. He successfully returned seven but was killed by the eighth. I noted that the British Broadcasting Corporation was not present at the reports launch in Parliament last week and did not cover any aspect of it. I would strongly urge anyone to read this report, especially as it lets the facts speak for themselves, though the horror is too great for me to dwell on it here. I draw only on a couple of examples whose poignancy strikes me. One tells of Aviv Kutz, a graphic designer who, following incendiary kite and balloon attacks from Gaza in 2018, had launched an annual Kites for Hope event. He, his wife and three children were all murdered in their mamad (safe room), clasping one anothers hands. In his house was found the familys peace kite he had planned to launch that very day. Another was Netta Epstein, whose mother Ayelet addressed us at the reports unveiling. Netta and his fiancee Irene were hiding in the bedroom, having learnt that his uncle and grandmother had been killed elsewhere on the kibbutz, the latter shot on her mobility scooter. The terrorists threw three grenades into the room, the second injuring the couple. As the third grenade rolled across the floor, Netta, militarily trained, threw himself on top of it, dying, but saving Shavit. She survived by lying still under his body for five hours as terrorists returned to loot the house and shoot from its windows. The report carries scores of such stories of courage in response to barbarism. Reading this uniquely powerful history prompts a question which, given its carefully defined task, the report does not ask. Why do many people want both that Jews be kidnapped, tortured and kidnapped, and to deny that such things happened? I doubt Muslim Arabs are uniquely wicked people. History everywhere shows repeatedly that human beings, in certain moods, like to slaughter perceived enemies. It also shows that, at many periods, Christians have been equally ready to kill in the name of their beliefs. Yet ideology is in there somewhere. All the victims were innocent, but the October 7 killings were not mindless. Two sets of ideas combine. The first, mainly a Muslim view, is that white Christians, chiefly the British with their accomplices/controllers the Jews conspired to break the Muslim ummah (global community) by inventing the Holocaust and giving the Jews the Holy Land, thus causing suffering unparallelled anywhere else ever. The other, mainly a white Western view to be found in places like David Lammys Foreign Office, the BBC and our universities, is that first the British and then the Americans (also goaded on by Zionists) wished and still wish for racist imperialist reasons to crush the wretched of the earth. And for this, we must do eternal penance. This strange coalition of ultra-strict, pseudo-religious non-European fanaticism and ultra-liberal European guilt has a division of labour. The fanatic, usually non-white, rushes in to kill. The guilty liberal, usually white, stands ready to excuse such actions. In a free society, this is a literally lethal combination. Mr Musks eldest child said she found out about one of her siblings on Reddit - Getty Elon Musks estranged transgender daughter has said she does not know how many siblings she has. Vivian Jenna Wilson, Mr Musks eldest child, said she is unaware of how many brothers and sisters she has and found out about her fathers latest child from the news. I do not actually know how many siblings I have, if you include half-siblings, she told Teen Vogue in a rare interview. I found out about the Shivon Zilis thing the same time everyone else did. I had no idea before that. The tech billionaire and Ms Zilis, a top executive at his AI company Neuralink, last month welcomed their fourth child together, and his 14th, named Seldon Lycurgus. Ms Wilson, 20, said she found out about another of her other siblings - her fathers second child with the Canadian musician Grimes - because a drag queen posted about it on Reddit. Ms Wilson does not keep in contact with her father - AKGS She added that she does not keep in contact with that side of her family and has only seen X, Mr Musks four-year-old son who has accompanied him to the White House, once when he was a baby. I dont really give a f--- what they do, Ms Wilson said. Ms Wilson has a troubled relationship with her father and publicly denounced him last year after he declared his daughter not a girl and figuratively dead. Born Xavier, she changed her name to Vivian in June 2022 after transitioning - a process Mr Musk claimed he was tricked into authorising by a woke mind virus. Ms Wilson publicly denounced her father last year after he declared her figuratively dead - PLANET PHOTOS Ms Wilson said it was insane to suggest her transition pushed her father to the further to the Right, as many have suggested. Its such a convenient narrative, that the reason he turned Right is because Im a f---ing trny, and thats just not the case, she said. Mr Musk previously claimed to vote Democrat but has tacked sharply to the Right in recent years, becoming a key ally of Donald Trump and championing a number of controversial causes, including supporting Germanys hard-Right AFD party. Addressing the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) chiefs incendiary hand gesture following Mr Trumps inauguration, Ms Wilson said it was definitely a Nazi salute and denounced her father as a pathetic man-child. Honey, were going to call a fig a fig, and were going to call a Nazi salute what it was. That s--t was definitely a Nazi salute, she said. Ms Wilson described the work her father is doing in the federal government as f---ing cringe and cartoonishly evil in its targeting of minority groups, including migrants and transgender people. Asked if she ever feels scared of her father, owing to his extraordinary wealth, Ms Wilson said: Hes a pathetic man-child. Why would I feel scared of him? She added: The only thing that gets to live free in my mind is drag queens. Addressing Mr Musks presence on social media, where he posts dozens of times a day, Ms Wilson said her father is not funny and has the charisma of a soaking bathrobe. Its not my fault that most of [my family] dont know how to be funny. Its not that hard, she said. I dont understand how someone can be so horrendously bad at everything involving social skills. Ms Wilson is currently studying in Tokyo but said she has ambitions to return to the US to perform as a femboy drag king - a drag artist with a masculine persona but a feminine aesthetic. I love drag. I have such an appreciation for the art form, and I would love to participate in the LA scene sometime, she said, adding that its on her bucket list to win a pageant. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people have been evacuated as fire crews battled an electrical substation fire in west London. London Fire Brigade said a transformer within the substation was alight with 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters on the scene at Nestles Avenue in Hayes. Around 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution. Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible. We're aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas. We're estimating for power to be restored by 3am. Keep track online: https://t.co/8OKonBvGWL Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (@ssencommunity) March 21, 2025 The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption. Firefighters led 29 people from surrounding properties to safety. The brigade said nearly 200 calls had been received in relation to the incident with crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding areas on the scene. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said in a post on X there was a large-scale power outage in the area impacting more than 16,300 homes. Were aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas, they said. Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.23pm on Thursday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Mr Goulbourne said firefighters urged people to take safety precautions as crews worked to extinguish the blaze. This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night, he said. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible. On Lake Geneva, it is not just swimmers benefiting from the now clean waters: people read, share beers with friends, children jump between rocks. Photograph: Laurent Gillieron/EPA-EFE Good morning, and happy Saturday. Fair bit going on, no? Put it on my tombstone. Here are some thought-provoking reads from around the Guardian this week, some of which you may have missed in the general torrent of news. Settle in for a read and tell us what you think at australia.newsletters@theguardian.com 1. Benjamin Netanyahus Israel skirts the abyss This week, Israels prime minister ordered the bombing of Gaza during Ramadan, killing hundreds of Palestinians and ending a shaky two-month ceasefire. It was, writes Aluf Benn editor-in-chief of Israels left-leaning newspaper, Haaretz devastating but not unexpected, amid the countrys slide to autocracy. The goal: Netanyahu wants to fight Hamas all the way to ethnic cleansing and is willing to sacrifice the hostages along the way. And he wants to purge the countrys establishment of his traditional rivals keeping the right wing in power for ever. The Trump effect: Benn describes the US presidents recent proposal to relocate the population of Gaza and redevelop the rubble almost as divine intervention to the Israeli far right. What was traditionally viewed as an extremist, marginalised idea has now become US policy. Watching on: Benn suggests the coming weeks will reveal if Israel is edging closer to the abyss of war criminality in depopulated Gaza and de facto dictatorship in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, or whether the Netanyahu stampede can be slowed down. How long will it take to read: three minutes. 2. Performative toxicity in Australias schools Jess Hills new Quarterly Essay asks what on earth we can do about gendered violence. In this very sobering extract, the investigative journalist and educator looks at the escalating culture of misogyny in classrooms. Why classrooms? In the commonly used violence prevention metaphor, the river of prevention, schools are perhaps the most prized piece of dry land, Hill explains. A captive audience, young minds at their most malleable this is where violence can be stopped before it starts. She tempers this hopeful vision quite quickly the real world, unfortunately, is a bummer. But its not all bad news: teachers say the latest generation of boys and young men are already way more switched on. How long will it take to read: five minutes. Further viewing: I really want/also cant bear to watch new Netflix series Adolescence, a show about teenage knife crime that becomes a poignant study of the nightmarish influence of the so-called manosphere and described by one critic as powerful enough TV to save lives. 3. My mother, the racist French writer and philosopher Didier Eribons mother was a batarde, an unloved, illegitimate child, abandoned by her mother. By 14, she was cleaning middle-class houses; later, she moved from cleaning lady to factory worker. She was the victim of a violent and unjust social order, who had always felt herself the subject of scorn, he writes. How, then, is it possible that she would allow herself to express at every possible moment her hatred of other stigmatised people? *** Even when my mother was trying to convince me that she was not racist, she was being racist. Didier Eribon Over many years and hundreds of conversations, her obsessive racism became the background noise of their relationship but as she grew older, it reared its head in ways he could no longer ignore. This arresting excerpt from Eribons new book goes beyond one fractured relationship, or even several. Through his mothers calcifying beliefs, Eribon traces a generations collapse of class consciousness and worker solidarity and a growing, ambient hatred of all things left. How long will it take to read: 11 minutes. 4. Orwells son Nine months after three-week-old Richard Blair was adopted, his adoptive mother, Eileen, died suddenly, leaving him with his new father, Eric AKA George Orwell. Sitting down with Simon Hattenstone, Blair reflects on the devotion, and many paradoxes, of the man who shaped his life: writer, womaniser, and tea tyrant. How long will it take to read: 10 minutes. Further reading: Blair is not so hot on Australian Anna Funders recent and very celebrated literary take on his family, which suggests Orwell wrote his wife out of his story but read what she had to say about the project. 5. From sewage and scum to blue gold In the 1960s, Switzerland had some of the dirtiest water in Europe. As Phoebe Weston writes, it was blighted by mats of algae, mountains of foam, scum, and dead fish floating on the surface. You could get sick if you swallowed it (seems understandable), and swimming was banned in some rivers on health grounds. Now, theyre some of the cleanest on the continent. How did they fix it? In short, a complex network of sewage plants. Switzerland is now a world leader in filtering micropollutants (for depressing details on those, see the story), using a special treatment system that works like your stomach. This, from a country that once let raw sewage and industrial wastewater flow directly into its water. Your move, Sydney. How long will it take to read: a few minutes. Sign up If you would like to receive these Five Great Reads to your email inbox every weekend, sign up here. And check out out the full list of our local and international newsletters. Frank Bruno has thanked well-wishers and says he cant wait to get back to work as he recovers from a viral infection that saw him hospitalised. The 63-year-old former world heavyweight champion was taken to hospital in Doha, where he spent nearly two weeks, after feeling ill during a flight earlier this month. Bruno wrote in a post on social media on Friday: The last three weeks have been tough especially not knowing what was wrong with me and a viral infection can mean loads of things. Morning so my illness story is out! Now you know why I have been quiet on social media. The last 3 weeks have been tough especially not knowing what was wrong with me and a Viral infection can mean loads of things between Dave in the office and me we'll keep you informed. At the pic.twitter.com/JazGaqqMsE Frank Bruno MBE (@frankbrunoboxer) March 21, 2025 At the moment I am told I cannot go to work so for the jobs last week and this weekend please accept my apology. The office tells me already this morning hundreds of messages from well wishers so thank you. Cant wait to get back to work. Having been scheduled to do talks at four events in Thailand, Bruno set off on a flight from Heathrow to Doha on March 3. A post from Bruno on X on that date included a picture showing him smiling while sat on a plane. That was accompanied by the message: Morning so the Frank Bruno World tour continues up early for a plane I dont sleep well on planes but trying to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs. Morning so the Frank Bruno World tour continues up early for a plane I don't sleep well on planes but trying to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's pic.twitter.com/l7XxHv8QTy Frank Bruno MBE (@frankbrunoboxer) March 3, 2025 He subsequently started to feel unwell and after receiving medical attention on the aircraft was taken to a Doha hospital where he was diagnosed with a viral infection. After a near two-week stay, he is now continuing his recovery back in the UK. It is hoped Bruno, whose evening with event in Manchester scheduled for this Sunday has been postponed, will be able to fulfil commitments in the UK from May. Brunos manager Dave Davies said: Frank was flying out to work in Thailand when he was taken ill on the plane at Doha. Medical crew attended Frank on the plane and at hospital. Hes now recovering and hopes to be back at work as soon as possible. New Chinese ambassador pledges more cooperation with Malawi Xinhua) 11:13, March 21, 2025 LILONGWE, March 20 (Xinhua) -- New Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Lu Xu on Wednesday reaffirmed the Chinese government's support for Malawi's 2063 Vision, describing it as "not just a wish list, but a shared manifesto." During a welcome reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Malawi, Lu expressed her commitment to strengthening communication and cooperation across all sectors of Malawi during her tenure, aiming to implement the "important consensus" reached by the heads of state of both countries "and promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era." The Chinese ambassador also pledged to promote the welfare of women in the southern African country, quoting President Xi Jinping's words: "Women are creators of human civilization and drivers of social progress, and they have made extraordinary achievements in all fields of endeavor." During the reception, Lu symbolically handed over a model key to Malawian authorities, which represents the Judicial Complex funded by the Chinese government in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital. Malawian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo hailed the Chinese government for its continued support in infrastructure development, agriculture, health, and education, among others. Tembo described the Judicial Complex project as another "milestone" of Chinese infrastructure development in Lilongwe. "We're grateful for the Chinese support that has been rendered to Malawi. It is our wish that we strengthen this relationship for the benefit of both countries." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Jan Schwieterman, best known for playing the villainous Kurt Bozwell in the 1997 Nickelodeon film Good Burger, has died at the age of 52. Schwieterman breathed his last on Feb. 28 at Mercy Hospital in Washington, Missouri, his family announced. His brother, Chad Schwieterman, shared in a Facebook post that the actor had recently been diagnosed with "an aggressive form" of Stage 4 cancer. In Good Burger, directed by Brian Robbins, Schwieterman portrayed Bozwell, the scheming owner of Mondo Burger, the rival fast-food chain to the titular Good Burger, where Kenan Thompson's Dexter and Kel Mitchell's Ed work. The film, which originated from a sketch on Nickelodeon's All That, became a cult favorite. Born Jan Patrick Schwieterman on Sept. 30, 1972, in Bluffton, Indiana, he was an Eagle Scout before moving to California to pursue acting. He made his television debut in 1994 with guest appearances on ABC's McKenna and NBC's ER. His breakout role in Good Burger led to additional work, including playing Lewis in four episodes of The WB's Felicity (1998-99). Schwieterman also appeared in films such as Warlock III: The End of Innocence (1999), American Intellectuals (1999), Fallen Arches (2000), and Along the Way (2007), which was his final on-screen credit. Outside of acting, his family shared that he loved to travel and play Dungeons & Dragons. He is survived by his parents, Clara and LeeRoy, his brother Chad, and his sisters Megan and Vanessa. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in his memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Lava fountains shoot up in the latest episode of an ongoing eruption of Kilauea volcano inside Hawaii Volcanoes national park, on 11 March. Photograph: AP As Hawaiis most active volcano shot out fountains of lava on Thursday, some of them reaching as high as 700ft, scientists from the US Geological Survey have been posting regular updates on the scale and pace of the eruptions. But those same scientists, along with their volcano-monitoring equipment, may soon be evicted from their office because of Elon Musks federal government cost-cutting, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported. The Geological Survey office in Hilo, Hawaii, has appeared on an internal list of federal offices whose leases are due to be cancelled on 30 September, as part of an effort by Musks so-called department of government efficiency to terminate leases for hundreds of federal offices this year, the Associated Press reported. It remains unclear exactly how that lease cancellation will affect the observatorys research and public services, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the US Geological Survey said in a statement that the process of streamlining government operations was ongoing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. We are actively working with General Services Administration to ensure that every facility and asset is utilized effectively, and where necessary, identifying alternative solutions that strengthen our mission, the spokesperson said. For the past hundred years, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has been tasked with monitoring the islands geologic activity, for the purposes of both scientific research and public safety warnings. Today, according to the observatorys website, a team of more than 30 people monitors data collected 24 hours a day in order to provide local residents updates on what is currently happening, and what might be coming next. As Kilauea began continuously releasing lava from its summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes national park on Wednesday morning after a weeklong pause, the observatorys scientists posted frequent updates, noting health hazards and that the molten rock was contained within the park and was not threatening residential areas. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories run by the US Geological Survey across the western US. The American Institute of Physicists, a non-profit that advocates for science and scientists, posted on its website that one of the sites of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, which houses equipment to monitor possible eruptions, was also slated for possible closure. The Associated Press contributed reporting Firefighters extinguish the fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which led to a closure of Heathrow Airport - Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP How was it possible for a fire at North Hyde, a single electricity substation in Hayes, to knock out this countrys most important communications hub? Heathrow is not only by far Britains largest airport, but one of the worlds busiest. Quite apart from raising concerns about sabotage, the economic and reputational damage done by Thursday nights catastrophic incident goes far beyond the misery caused to some 300,000 passengers whose flights have been affected, plus some 16,000 homes left without power. A robust national energy infrastructure ought not to be so vulnerable to outages. Yet the UK seems unprepared for these risks. Successive governments have largely focused on net zero, while neglecting to build resilience into the National Grid. No one individual can be blamed for this lamentable state of affairs. But Ed Miliband, now on his second stint as Energy Secretary, is more culpable than most. Great British Energy, his latest wheeze, is now advertising for a chief executive at a salary of up to 525,000. While Hayes burns, Mr Miliband fiddles with quangos. The question he has so far failed to answer is why Heathrows back-up generators were inadequate to make up for the loss of power from the North Hyde substation. Three years ago, the airport submitted a plan outlining its transition to net zero but nobody in government appears to have asked tough questions about how resilient Heathrows electricity infrastructure really was. The responsibility for a disaster on this scale is not merely operational but ministerial and the buck should stop at the top. While we should not read too much into the fact that counterterrorism experts are part of the investigation, Britain has no shortage of enemies. The Royal Navy and the RAF shadow the Russians at sea and in the air, while our cybersecurity suffers daily onslaughts. The Kremlin operates espionage networks here and throughout Europe, as do other malign regimes, including China and Iran. Only this week Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, accused Moscow of planning global acts of terrorism against airlines. The Heathrow fiasco has revealed just how easy it would be for hostile actors to bring Britain to a standstill. It goes without saying that our security services are excellent. But are we vigilant enough? The answer, almost certainly, is no. Heimir Hallgrimsson singled out fantastic match-winner Matt Doherty for special praise after the Republic of Ireland battled back to beat Bulgaria 2-1 in the first leg of their Nations League play-off. Right-back Doherty, who before the game played down talk of a rift with manager Hallgrimsson, marked his return to the starting XI by bravely heading home the decisive goal in the 42nd minute in Plovdiv. Marin Petkov had fired the hosts into a surprise early lead at a sparsely-populated Hristo Botev Stadium before Finn Azaz quickly nodded the visitors level with his first international goal. Those FT scenes pic.twitter.com/RaN2xq7kHN Ireland Football (@IrelandFootball) March 20, 2025 The deserved victory was a third from seven games under Hallgrimsson as his side took a small step towards preserving their League B status ahead of Sundays return match in Dublin. Doherty was involved in the build-up to Azazs 21st-minute equaliser, which was assisted by Troy Parrott following a Robbie Brady cross, and then beat Bulgaria goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov to the ball to finish Josh Cullens diagonal delivery into the area. It was a good collective performance today, said Hallgrimsson. I would say Matt Doherty had a really good game, also scored and it was a fantastic run from deep and a brave, brave header. He had a big part in the first goal as well, quick thinking, a quick diagonal ball to Robbie Brady for the delivery and the cross. Sometimes the goalscorers and those who contributed get the biggest praise. It was his 49th cap, hopefully he will get his 50th at least he could get his 50th back home in Ireland. Irelands Matt Doherty (left) celebrates (Tony Uzunov/AP) But it was a collective (performance), there were many good performances. Wolves player Doherty was recalled as part of seven changes to the Ireland team thrashed 5-0 by England in November. The 33-year-old had publicly expressed frustration with his omission from the squad for Nations League games against Finland and Greece the previous month. Ahead of Thursday evenings match, Doherty said he stood by his comments but insisted he had a good relationship with Hallgrimsson. He was fantastic and we ask that from our senior players, to share their experiences, its a young squad, Hallgrimsson said of Doherty. Its important to have a mix and a good blend of experienced and young players. Ireland began in the ascendancy but, in a game which kicked off at 9.45pm local time, were caught napping as Bulgaria snatched a sixth-minute lead. Filip Krastev produced a neat turn away from Dara OShea on the edge of the box and then delightfully rolled the ball back for Levski Sofia player Petkov to fire a precise, left-footed finish into the net via the base of the right post. From their first attack, of course its a little bit shock (to fall behind), said Hallgrimsson. We showed real character coming back, dominating the rest of the half and scoring two goals. We dont know how its possible, but one of the sweetest dogs weve ever seen has yet to get his forever home. Eggroll has a cute name and an even cuter personality. Hes a good boy! But sadly hes been languishing at the Humane Society Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado for too long. The shelter wants to find Eggroll his forever home can we help them get this sweet pup a family? The Pit Bull Terrier looks precious in the video shared by the Humane Society, but like so many dogs in shelters and rescues hes been seriously overlooked. As the Humane Society explained in their caption, the Pit Bull was first brought to them after being found by police. When our Animal Law Enforcement officers found him, he was heartbreakingly thin, but thanks to our amazing veterinary team, hes growing stronger each day and is ready to find someone to love! they explained. Related: Playful Shelter Pit Bull Who Jumped Out of a Moving Truck Keeps Getting Overlooked and Everyone's Heartbroken At 2 years old, Eggroll is their "longest-stay" resident, which means hes been there too long for comfort. Wont someone bring him home? The comments section wanted this for the Pittie. Oh, Eggroll!!! Hugs and kisses. I hope you find a home soon, wrote one person. Your FURever family is out there Eggroll, I know it! chimed in someone else. Boosting for you, Eggroll!!!! a third commenter exclaimed. Adopt Eggroll From Humane Society Pikes Peak If youve been considering adopting a dog, dont wait! Every day that goes by is an eternity for a dog like Eggroll. So make sure you come and rescue this good boy today. Some facts about the Pittie; the dog is definitely an active little guy and hes smart too! According to the shelter, Eggroll thrives in an active and mature home where he can run, play, and learn new tricksespecially if treats are involved, they wrote. Hes a smart boy wholl shine in training classes. He can be protective of his food and/or toys so it's recommended he work with a qualified trainer. The Pit Bull Terrier is totally goofy, they explain in the TikTok video, but can sometimes get a little carried away. That being said, he needs a patient human who can work with him to curb some of those urges. Hes still young! Were sure the right human is out there for Eggroll. If that person is you head over to the Humane Society Pikes Peak website and fill out an application. Not only will you be giving the Pittie a home you might be saving his life! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Stuart Everett was described as someone who everyone got on with by his friends. Photograph: Greater Manchester Police A man has been found guilty at Manchester crown court of murdering his friend and cutting his body into dozens of pieces that were discovered in parks and nature reserves across Greater Manchester. Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, killed Stuart Everett, 67, known as Benny, in a brutal attack at the house they shared in Eccles on 27 or 28 March last year, the court heard. After dismembering Everett, who was described by friends as jolly and someone who everyone got on with, Majerkiewicz used his phone to communicate with relatives, even sending birthday cards in an attempt to cover up his crime. He was traced by police after a part of Everetts body was found at Kersal Dale nature reserve by a member of the public on 4 April 2024. A police investigation was launched in which detectives spent thousands of hours trawling through CCTV footage to identify a person they referred to as heavy bag man, who was seen struggling to carry a large shopping bag near where the first body part was found. They traced the man to a housing estate in Eccles and while going door-to-door for information an officer spotted Majerkiewicz, who matched the description of heavy bag man, getting on a bus. When they searched him, they found Everetts phone and bank cards, which allowed them to identify the victim. During the trial, which lasted two and a half weeks, the jury heard how Everett had referred to Majerkiewicz as his partner in emails with a friend, and others had observed the pair seemed close. Everett, who was born to Polish parents and originally from Derby, had known his killer for more than a decade. They had their own bedrooms in the house, which Polish-born Majerkiewicz moved into after splitting with his ex-partner. It is not known what led Majerkiewicz to kill Everett and he did not put forward a defence in court. A Home Office pathologist told the court it was possible to piece together the remains of Everetts head, which showed evidence he was hit with a hammer-like weapon and is believed to have been cut up with hand tools. After the Kersal Dale discovery, further body parts were found in other green spaces, with one of the packages containing remains discovered by a member of the public. Majerkiewicz assumed the identity of his victim, using Everetts phone to text his family, friends and the landlord and even sending two handwritten birthday cards to family members. He used Everetts bank accounts as if they were his own, the prosecution said. By that time, he was, we say, already dead, and his body, including his face had been cut up by the defendant, Jason Pitter KC, for the prosecution, told the court. On 3 April, Majerkiewicz researched the address of Everetts brother in Derby, and sent him a birthday card pretending to be Everett. The card had the defendants fingerprints on, the prosecution said, and read: To Rich, happy birthday and all the best my old man :) Benny xxxx. The victims brother Richard Ziemacki gave a witness statement saying he had initially not noticed anything unusual, going by his messages and the card he received. However, on reflection, he told police: I do not recognise the handwriting as belonging to my brother, adding that his brother would not have used the phrase my old man. The senior investigating officer, Det Ch Supt Lewis Hughes, said: This is a case of rarely seen complexity and scale, with detectives initially responding to partial human remains found deep within a secluded wood. But we said from the start that we wouldnt give up and the victim and their family remained at the forefront of our minds and actions throughout. We have been focused on both ensuring justice in this case, but also ensuring the victim could be returned to his family and laid to rest. We knew from the beginning that we had a family somewhere that would one day learn the most distressing news that a family could ever hear, and ultimately from that moment onwards our duty was to recover and identify the victim in a respectful and dignified manner and this was just as important as solving the case and catching the killer. Majerkiewicz will be sentenced at a later date. Ed Miliband has said he is very confident the Government will create hundreds of thousands of jobs with its green plans, but did not put a figure on how close it is to Labours manifesto target of 650,000. The Energy Secretary said net zero represents the growth opportunity of the 21st century, and that the sector grew at a faster rate than the economy as a whole last year. It comes as Mr Miliband announced the first major project for the publicly-owned Great British Energy. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Friday morning, he was asked about 650,000 new jobs pledged in the manifesto. He told the programme: Were confident were going to provide hundreds of thousands of jobs as a result of our drive to net zero. This is the growth opportunity of the 21st century. Turn your back on net zero and you turn your back on business investment, good jobs, innovation for the future, and Britain leading in the key industrial areas of the future. Pushed again on the figures, former Labour leader Mr Miliband said: Im very confident that we will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the green economy. He also said he is confident the Government will meet its pledges. Labours election manifesto last year said: Our plan will create 650,000 jobs across the country by 2030. GB Energy will fund solar panels for the roofs of hundreds of schools and hospitals (Alamy/PA) Mr Miliband was speaking to broadcasters as the Government detailed the first GB Energy project. A 200 million investment from the clean-energy companys Government-funded budget will provide solar panels for the roofs of hundreds of schools and hospitals. The investment also includes funding for councils and community groups to build local clean power projects, such as community-owned onshore wind, rooftop solar and hydropower in rivers. Mr Miliband told ITVs Good Morning Britain there are many schools and hospitals facing sky-high energy bills as a result of our dependence on fossil fuels. He said: This will cut bills for schools, 200 schools, 200 hospitals, a 300% increase in the coverage of solar panels in terms of the NHS in terms of hospitals. He said the average reduction in a bill would be 25,000 for a school and 45,000 for a hospital. Katherine Ryan said she just felt like this mole wasnt right and her instinct was correct - Jeff Spicer/Bafta/Getty Comedian Katherine Ryan questioned whether the NHS would have diagnosed her skin cancer as she revealed she is battling the disease for a second time. The 41-year-old Canadian star claimed that a private doctor initially gave her the all-clear when she found a mole on her arm and she only discovered the blemish was cancerous when she went to a different private clinic. It is the second time that Ryan has been diagnosed with melanoma, having previously been diagnosed with the form of skin cancer in her 20s after she found a mole on one of her legs in 2004. Speaking on her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, she said: The only reason that they agreed to remove it was because I went to a fancy, private place in South Kensington, and I paid them a grand. She added: I dont believe that on the NHS they ever would have removed this mole. The mother of three said she initially paid 300 for a seven-minute private consultation at which she was given the all-clear. He was really nice to me, and he gave me the news that I wanted, she said. I think its really easy to take a diagnosis of youre healthy and just walk away. You go, Great, Im healthy, and you dont think about it again because that is the easiest news. But the mole kept changing, and I know a lot about melanoma. I just felt like this mole wasnt right. Ryan said she then attended a private clinic in South Kensington, central London, where she paid 1,000 for an appointment. I went in and I wanted the doctor to remove a bigger piece of it and stitch it up in a straight line, she said. But even when he looked at it, he was like, Not melanoma, totally fine, I will do the shave and send it away for histology, and then if it comes back with anything, if theres any borders that we missed, then well do the deeper cut. And I was like, Just do the deeper cut now, like just do it. Hes like, Well, its half the price for you, and you dont need the deeper cut, lets just take it off and well test it. And I thought, Alright, well take it off and well test it. Fine. So he rang me today, and it did come back [as] melanoma, and he said, Its early melanoma. And he was shocked. Hes like, It doesnt look like melanoma, but it is melanoma. The Big Fat Quiz of the Year star added that the doctor then made an appointment to remove the mole completely. She said that if she hadnt pushed the doctor because of her previous melanoma diagnosis, I would have had melanoma just growing and spreading in my arm. God knows how far that would have gone. According to the NHS, melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body and a new mole or a change in an existing mole can be a symptom of the condition. It has been traumatising, says Daniel Bone, who is due to get married in Toronto on March 28 - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph A businesswoman has been left stranded in Madrid after her flight back from Miami to Heathrow was diverted due to the Heathrow shutdown. Ani Naqvis flight left Miami, Florida, at 6.30pm on Thursday night, and it was expected to land at 6.45am at London Heathrow on Friday morning. But her flight became one of the 1,351 affected by the substation fire resulting in the flight landing nearly 800 miles away from her intended destination in Madrid. As many as 291,000 passengers travelling to and from Heathrow are thought to have been affected by the blaze, which is now being investigated by counter-terrorism police. Ms Naqvi, 53, who had been attending a conference in Miami, told The Telegraph: Within an hour of landing time, I asked the crew when we were landing at Heathrow but received a cryptic message from the cabin crew in reply. He said, Hopefully ... . The captain made an announcement that they were going to have to divert us to Madrid instead. She and her fellow passengers arrived at a completely packed airport in the Spanish capital where there were no representatives on hand to help, Ms Naqvi said. I am hoping to return to London on Saturday but I have a feeling it wont be until Sunday, says Ani Naqvi Eventually about three hours after landing she was told that she would need to find a hotel in Madrid. The executive said: I am hoping to return to London [on Saturday], but I have a feeling it wont be until Sunday. While she said she was keen to make the most of the opportunity to explore Madrid, Ms Naqvi added: Its exhausting and tiring in a foreign country where you might not speak the language. Eight primary school pupils were also stranded in Dubai in chaos on Friday. The students, aged 10 and 11, had been visiting the city in the United Arab Emirates with three teachers as part of the Turing Scheme to learn more about Islam and the citys culture. The group had been due to fly back to Heathrow on Friday morning and then take a connecting flight to Newcastle. Jane Davies, headteacher of Lanchester EP Primary School, said they were initially provided with no information at all. We were just waiting around, and then the later flight started to arrive and it was chaos, she said. However, after waiting at the airport British Airways eventually sent them to a hotel and their flight was later cancelled. They later booked an Emirates flight to Glasgow in order to get home. At Heathrow, other passengers struggled to leave London. Traumatised bridegroom Daniel Bone, 37, was due to fly to Toronto, Canada, on Friday ahead of his wedding. Mr Bone, from Hertfordshire, is set to get married on March 28. He said: I woke up to see the whole airport had closed and my flight had been cancelled. Its been traumatising. Meanwhile, an academic faced missing the chance to promote her book at a prestigious US conference. Award-winning scientist Dr Anjana Khatwa only discovered her Heathrow flight to Portland, Oregon, was cancelled after arriving at the airport when a police car chased her taxi down to inform the driver of the fire. Dr Khatwa had hoped to promote The Whispers of The Rock at the Society for Applied Anthropology annual meeting. The whole situation is absolutely manic, says Dr Anjana Khatwa Describing the delays as having a personal impact, she added: Its horrendous. The whole situation is absolutely manic. Meanwhile, Siya Shah, 21, faced missing a much-anticipated Indian wedding in Gwalior. The research assistant and her mother and father had woken at 3am to reach Heathrow in time for their 8.45am flight to Delhi a six-hour drive from their final destination. However, despite the fire starting in the early hours of Friday morning, Air India only cancelled their flight at about 6am after the family had already spent more than 100 on a taxi to the airport. A lot of effort has gone into this wedding, says Siyah Shah The four-day wedding of the family friend is set to begin on Sunday. Ms Shah, who lives in South London, said: A lot of energy and effort has gone into this wedding and while we may get a refund, the flights we could book tomorrow are now double the price of what we originally paid. Heathrow might have known it was closed, but it seemed that airlines didnt get the memo, as we were still told the flight was on when we were in the taxi. Some passengers arrived at Heathrows Terminal 5 on Friday night after their flights were rescheduled - Kin Cheung/AP Up to 130,000 airline passengers may not receive compensation for flight cancellations after the Heathrow Airport shutdown, experts have warned. Following a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport on Friday morning, more than 1,350 flights were cancelled. Disruption is expected to continue into the weekend and potentially next week. Experts have now warned that passengers will receive refunds but compensation will not be paid out. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of business trade association Advantage Travel Partnership, said that legally, airlines must refund their passengers for Fridays cancellations. If their flight has been cancelled and theyre not able to get on a flight, they would be entitled to EU 261 compensation, said Ms Bue-Said, referring to a European Union rule about flight refunds. EU261, which is known in Britain as UK261, states if a flight is cancelled for any reason, the airline must offer either a full refund or a flight on the next available alternative, even if it is with a rival airline. The reality on a day like today is that flights are busy, and they may be busy for the next few days, Ms Bue-Said continued. An airline may just not be able to provide alternative flights as quickly as they would ordinarily be able to. She added: If somebodys booked a flight, they may be able to get their refund back on a flight but did they book their accommodation separately [if so] they may not be entitled to a refund. Stranded passengers at the airport on Friday - Kin Cheung/AP Aviation expert John Strickland said a rush of passengers would have been looking for alternative flights to and from the UK. Ordinarily, on a Friday, going to weekend flights would be pretty busy, so finding seats elsewhere will be to an extent like finding a needle in a haystack, he said. Flights on a Friday or Saturday to weekend-type destinations be that city breaks, or going home through a weekend, visiting friends and family, or whatever would be those destinations will be busy. A plane lands as Heathrow resumed some services on Friday evening - Kin Cheung/AP Ryanair has laid on four extra flights from Stansted to Dublin on Friday and Saturday, while easyJet is using bigger aircraft on its normal UK-EU routes. The situation on compensation and refunds may be less clear-cut for transit passengers those passing through Heathrow whose ultimate destination is elsewhere in the world. About a quarter of passengers at Heathrow on a typical day were transit passengers, Ms Bue-Said said, estimating that the knock-on effects of Fridays total cancellations would be colossal. Dozens of airlines would have to rush to reconfigure their networks to move planes and crews around. The other question is, what will airlines do to deal with the backlog of passengers, said travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, of Atmosphere Research Group. Its going to be a chaotic couple of days. The Association of British Insurers said some travel insurance policies would probably pay out over Fridays disruption either automatically or as an optional extra. Disruption cover usually operates only if you have been unable to get compensation from any other sources first, such as the airline or tour operator, a spokesman said. Lawyers will get involved The Association of British Travel Agents, representing package holiday operators, said that its members would be contacting those who are unable to travel on their booked trips. If your flight is part of a package holiday you will have the highest level of protection. Your travel company will be in touch regarding your holiday. Mr Strickland suggested that airlines would face significant costs, potentially leading to court action. Im sure lawyers will get involved in where the accountability lies, and therefore where financial responsibility lies. The challenge, particularly that I see, is that airlines so often are the ones who get left with the demand to pay out when quite often its not their fault in any way, and thats certainly the case. He added: Airlines will be paying large amounts or incurring large amounts of cost anyway, just to get their aircraft back. In the meantime, theyre putting up passengers in hotels and providing meals and so on. The Telegraph has published a comprehensive reader guide to flight delays and cancellations, including passenger rights to refunds and when compensation may be due. Credit: X / @fire_at_Vill Richard Tice has said Heathrow may have been shut down by a fire because it had a net zero-compliant back-up system which failed. The deputy leader of Reform UK said he had been told by an industry expert that the airport changed its backup systems from its previous diesel generator to an environmentally friendly biomass one. He said the biomass generator appeared to have failed because it was only designed to work alongside the National Grid, and not independently if the Grid was shut off. The claim raises questions for the authorities about Britains resilience to attacks in a net zero future. It comes as it emerged counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the fire. The Telegraph understands specialist detectives are on site at the North Hyde electrical substation after a blast there shortly before midnight. Speaking to GB News, Mr Tice said: Critical infrastructure like that obviously requires a back-up. Having spoken to an industry expert, it appears that Heathrow had changed its back-up systems in order for it to be net zero compliant. And therefore they had got rid of their diesel generators and have moved towards a biomass generator that was designed not to completely replace the grid but work alongside the grid. Basically, their net zero compliant back-up system had completely failed in its core function at the first time of asking. It beggars belief. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Tice said: Why is Heathrow being so silent about this? Are they embarrassed because they have something to hide? Is it because their net zero backup failed at the first time of asking, and they darent admit it? It just shows the lunacy of net stupid zero. At least 1,351 flights going to and from the airport will be impacted by the closure, with up to 291,000 passengers thought to be affected. It comes as Heathrow admitted it did not know when power would be restored, while Downing Street said there were questions to answer over how a single fire was able to shut down the airport. A Heathrow airport spokesman said the site will be closed all day and will not reopen until midnight tonight. What happened? A fire broke out late on Thursday night at the electrical substation in west London. The substation supplied Heathrow as well as a large number of homes and businesses in the surrounding area. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said in a post on X that there was a large-scale power outage in the area, impacting more than 16,300 homes. Were aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas, it said. Were estimating for power to be restored by 3am. London Fire Brigade said nearly 200 people had called up to raise the alarm. The first call was received at 11.23pm, prompting crews from Hayes, Heathrow and Southall to rush to the scene. Heathrow said on Friday morning that it had to close for safety reasons. Heathrow airport notice of closure A National Grid spokesman said: A fire at our North Hyde substation in west London has damaged equipment, leading to a loss of power supply in the area. We are working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible. We are working alongside the DNO [distribution network operator] for the area, SSEN, to reconnect affected domestic customers. As of 0600, power has been restored to 62,000 customers, with 4,900 currently without power. Restoration efforts will continue this morning, and further updates will be provided. How did it happen? The exact reason why the power outage shut down one of the worlds busiest airports is not yet known. A source at Heathrow said a full investigation would be under way as soon as possible. An electrical industry source said Heathrow drew power from the local distribution grid and did not appear to have any direct link to the national transmission grid that could bypass the damaged substation. They said: Like other major population centres, London relies on bringing in power from elsewhere via the transmission grid. The transmission grid is the motorway of the network and this substation is a slipway that brings power to the local area. Credit: X / @jafferamirza In the event of an outage like this one, restoring power to the area can partially be achieved by the local control room re-routing electricity from other nearby substations to homes and businesses. But this can only be done to a certain extent and re-routing power becomes progressively harder for premises that are closer to the damaged substation, the source added. Why are there no backup generators? Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the fire had not only damaged the North Hyde substation but also appeared to have knocked out a backup electrical power generator at the same site. Describing it as an unprecedented event, he said: Theres obviously been a catastrophic fire at this substation. It appears to have knocked out a back-up generator as well as a substation itself. We will have to look hard at the causes and also the protection and the resilience that is in place for major, major institutions like Heathrow. Although critical national infrastructure such as Heathrow typically has a number of backup power feeds and generators, documents published by the airport suggest that those systems are mainly used for airport lighting critically important for airlines to move around safely on the ground after dark. They are not able to run the entire operation, given the amount of power it needs. Systems are also typically only able to deal with short grid outages that last a matter of hours not those that last for an entire day. In its net zero plan, published in 2022, Heathrow said: Stand-by generators currently operate using diesel as they need an independent power source to maintain resilient operations. They are used predominantly as back-up power for airfield ground lighting. We are investigating renewable-based alternatives that can still meet the stringent performance criteria for such a safety critical airport asset. UK Power Networks Services, which supplies Heathrow as well as other airports including Gatwick, Standard and London City, said on its website that a one-second power interruption can affect an airports operations for hours, if not days. Having an experienced strategic energy infrastructure partner enables airports to outsource the design, build, management, operation and maintenance of their electrical assets, it said. This enables the airport to remove any risks associated with managing these assets themselves and to focus on their day-to-day business and customers. How long will it take to fix the power outage? Experts believe that fixing the power outage and reopening Heathrow will likely take up to two days raising the prospect that the shutdown is extended beyond midnight tonight. A Heathrow spokesman said: Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. Repairs to major electrical infrastructure are normally started immediately because they are critically important for homes as well as businesses such as airports. What should I do if I was supposed to fly today? Both Heathrow and the Government are strongly advising passengers not to travel to the airport today. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said: Im receiving updates on the fast-moving situation at Heathrow airport. Im grateful to emergency services responding to the fire and National Grid for working to restore power to the airport and homes. Id urge passengers not to travel to the airport and contact their airline. The Association of British Travel Agents said: If your flight is part of a package holiday you will have the highest level of protections. Your travel company will be in touch regarding your holiday. A Heathrow spokesman said: We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation. Has anything like this ever happened before? The longest significant closure of Heathrow took place on Dec 18 2010 when 9cm (3.5in) of snow fell overnight, causing the closure of the entire airport. About 4,000 flights were cancelled over the following five days, with 9,500 passengers being forced to spend the night in the airports terminals. Was it sabotage or foul play? So far it is not known whether sabotage or foul play has a part to play in the Heathrow electrical substation fire and airport closure. The Government has suggested the fire started by accident. Mr Miliband told LBC: Weve got to get power restored as quickly as possible and Heathrow opened as quickly as possible. Theres no suggestion there is any foul play. Robert Courts, the former Conservative aviation minister, told The Telegraph: In a major transport crisis like this, government will be keen to understand what is happening, co-ordinate with industry and other partners, and communicate clearly but without getting in the way of the professionals managing the incident. Government will be preparing any necessary communications, taking great care not to speculate on causes or effects, but aiming to reassure the public and provide helpful information for those affected. Mr Courts added: We can expect government statements in writing, media and in the Commons as soon as practical and helpful. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened Friday to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas militants release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the war-battered Palestinian territory. The warning came as Israel stepped up the renewed assault it launched on Tuesday, shattering the relative calm in the war-battered territory since a January 19 ceasefire. A Palestinian source close to the ceasefire talks told AFP late Friday that Hamas had received a proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar for re-establishing a truce and exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners "according to a timeline to be agreed upon". The source said the proposal "includes the entry of humanitarian aid" into Gaza, which has been blocked by Israel since March 2. Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on Tuesday, citing deadlock in indirect negotiations on next steps in the truce after its first stage expired earlier this month. The territory's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed 11 people on Friday -- three in pre-dawn strikes and eight more during the daytime. On Thursday, it had reported a death toll of 504 since the bombardment resumed, one of the highest since the war began more than 17 months ago with Hamas's attack on Israel. In a statement Friday, Katz said: "I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza... The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel". Should Hamas not comply, Katz also threatened "to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area". The military urged residents of the Al-Salatin, Al-Karama and Al-Awda areas of southern Gaza to evacuate their homes Friday ahead of a threatened strike. AFP images from northern Gaza showed donkey carts piled high with belongings as residents fled their homes along rubble-strewn roads. Israeli forces said Friday that they had killed the head of Hamas's military intelligence in southern Gaza in a strike a day earlier, the latest official targeted in recent days. Israel's resumption of large-scale military operations, coordinated with US President Donald Trump's administration, drew widespread condemnation. Turkey's foreign ministry condemned what it called a "deliberate" attack by Israel on a Turkish-built hospital in Gaza. "The IDF (military) struck terrorists in a Hamas terrorist infrastructure site that previously had served as a hospital in the central Gaza Strip," a military spokesperson told AFP in response to a question about the Turkish accusations. In a statement, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza condemned "the heinous crime committed by the occupation (Israel) in bombing the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital", calling it "the only hospital designated for the treatment of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip". The ministry said Israeli forces had used the hospital as "a base for its forces throughout the period of its occupation of the so-called Netzarim axis". Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed worry about the government's actions in a video statement Thursday, saying it was "unthinkable to resume fighting while still pursuing the sacred mission of bringing our hostages home". Thousands of protesters have rallied in Jerusalem in recent days, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of resuming military operations without regard for the safety of the hostages. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, 58 are still held by Gaza militants, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. The Israeli military said Thursday that it had closed off the territory's main north-south route as it expanded ground operations that resumed on Wednesday. Israel's military said late Friday that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, after air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and parts of central Israel. It is the fourth missile launched from Yemen towards Israel since Tuesday, after Huthi rebels threatened to escalate attacks in support of Palestinians following Israel's renewed attacks on Gaza. Earlier in the day, the military said it intercepted two projectiles fired from northern Gaza, which Hamas's armed wing said was in response to "massacres against civilians". Katz said that "We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval and ground shelling as well as by expanding the ground operation until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian pressure points". He said these included implementing Trump's proposal for the United States to redevelop Gaza as a Mediterranean resort after the relocation of its Palestinian inhabitants to other Arab countries. In the last academic year (2018-19) before the Covid pandemic struck, just over 60,000 children were recorded as severely absent. Photograph: Chris Bull/Alamy More than 170,000 children in England missed at least half their school lessons last year, which is a record high, government figures suggest. This amounts to 2.3% of pupils who were severely absent, which means they missed at least 50% of possible classes, in 2023-24 compared with 2.0% in 2022-23. Overall, 171,269 pupils were classed as severely absent in the last academic year, up from 150,256 in 2022-23, the Department for Education (DfE) data showed. It is the highest number recorded since the current DfE data began in 2006-07. In 2018-19, the last academic year before the Covid-19 pandemic, 60,247 were classed as severely absent. And the unauthorised absence rate rose from 2.4% in 2022-23 to 2.5% in 2023-24, according to the figures. In 2018-19, the rate was only 1.4%. Pepe DiIasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: We need to accept that schools cannot solve this issue on their own and must set out clear expectations and plans for parents, government, schools and other agencies to work together in the best interests of young people. This must be backed with funding to ensure there is sufficient capacity in the system for all children to get any additional support they require to be able to attend school on a regular basis. Without investing in a strategic response to this issue, it is difficult to see how attendance rates are going to change at the scale required. In September, school absence fines in England rose from 60 to 80, and a parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will now receive a 160 fine. The latest DfE attendance data covers the last academic year before fines for unauthorised absences were increased. Related: Bridget Phillipson warns parents against casual attitude to school attendance Last week, the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, called on school and college leaders to catch up fast to improve pupil attendance, and said some schools were not making enough progress on absences. Overall, the absence rate decreased from 7.4% in 2022-23 to 7.1% in 2023-24 but it remains higher than pre-pandemic rates of 4.7%, the data suggests. One in five pupils in England, about 1.49 million young people, were persistently absent during the 2023-24 school year, which means they missed 10% or more school sessions. This is down on 2022-23 when 21.2% of pupils were persistently absent, but it is still above the rate in 2018-19 of 10.9%. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, said: These figures make it clear that the current approach to solving absence just isnt working. Simply increasing the pressure on schools, without providing any additional resource for them to tackle the issue, is fruitless. The only way to actually make progress is to look at the causes of absence from parental attitude changes, holiday pricing, and children and young peoples experiences of mental health and poverty. Unless we begin to improve those things, absence will continue. Analysis from a thinktank earlier this week found that unauthorised school absence is a leading cause of the widening performance gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in England. The research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found that all the increase in the disadvantage gap among 16-year-olds since 2019 can be explained by students on free school meals (FSM) missing more time at school than other pupils, putting them several months behind in terms of their results. The EPI calculated that if disadvantaged pupils had the same attendance record as other pupils, the attainment gap at age 11 would be almost 10% smaller, and the gap at age 16 would be 20% lower. A Department for Education spokesperson said: The government inherited a broken system, with children and families facing poor outcomes and barriers to opportunity. The case for tackling the epidemic of school absence could not be clearer: improved grades, higher wages, better life chances. Tackling this issue is everyones responsibility government, schools, parents, and children and we need a national effort to get our kids back in the classroom. We have made some encouraging progress this academic year, but more must be done and this month we have brought together ministers and over 2,000 school leaders up and down the country to share best practices to drive up attendance. Related: Parents in England: share your experience of your children being absent from school As part of our plan for change, we [are] determined to turn the tide on poor attendance and break down barriers to opportunity whether its through free breakfast clubs, improved mental health support, additional investment in family support, or more focus from Ofsted. The substation blaze that shut down Heathrow is being investigated by counter-terrorism police - Matthew Muirhead/via AP There will be one overriding hope inside Downing Street as counter-terror investigators examine the wreckage of the North Hyde electrical substation. Please, let it not be connected to Russia. It is hard enough having to field questions over why a single fire at a single station has grounded 1,351 flights and shut the Europes busiest airport for 24 hours. But if detectives find evidence of sabotage and, in time, proof that it traces back to Moscow it would pose a profound challenge to the security architecture of the Western world. Imagine you are Sir Keir Starmer in such a scenario (one might emerge in time, even if Russia is not to blame here). First of all, you would face the challenge of proving to the world that Vladimir Putins regime truly co-ordinated an attack. That would have been easier before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. When Russia wanted to assassinate Sergei Skripal on the streets of Salisbury, it sent agents from the GRU, its military intelligence agency, loaded with a Soviet-era nerve agent. Bellingcat, the investigative news website, was able to find the military ID numbers and passport photos of the undercover operatives: the evidence was unanswerable. Credit: X/ @Zain_018 But as the West has expelled so many Russian spies in the years since then, Putin now relies on unprofessional foreign gangsters to carry out sabotage attacks across Europe. Some are Bulgarian spies, as The Telegraph reported in late 2024. Others are British nationals, such as 20-year-old Dylan Earl, who admitted burning down a Ukrainian-owned business in west London. If the Kremlin truly wanted to carry out an attack on critical infrastructure in the West, it would likely use middle-man after middle-man in an attempt to obscure its origins. Hybrid warfare, Putin knows, works best when nothing rises above the threshold for accountability. The Met Police said on Friday evening that investigators were not treating this incident as suspicious, although inquiries do remain ongoing. But say, in time, a link to the Russian state was established beyond doubt. In 2016, Nato declared that a hybrid attack on a member state could trigger an Article 5 response, in which all members would be required to come to the defence of the victim. In 2021, it reaffirmed that attacks on critical infrastructure could be deemed an act of war. With proof of Russian involvement and evidence of significant damage, such as the grounding of 300,000 plane passengers the natural question would be is Nato going to trigger Article 5? Play the tape forward and both answers, an attempt at yes and a decided no, play to the favour of the Kremlin. Britain could not trigger Article 5 alone. It would have to secure the unanimous agreement of all member states. Is Donald Trumps America, let alone Hungary or even Italy, going to risk war with Russia over a small fire at a British power plant in which nobody was killed? The prospect is laughable. The same applies to a decision by Sir Keir to steer Nato away from invoking Article 5 in response to a Russian, Iranian or other kind of hybrid attack, either by sitting on evidence or refusing to lobby for action. Moscow, or whoever it might be, would have dispelled the ambiguity over whether serious attacks on critical infrastructure will lead to a ferocious retaliation by Nato. Putin could be testing the Wests response to Russian sabotage - Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP In both cases, Putin effectively gains carte blanche to carry out attacks without answer. Earlier this year, the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington-based think tank, issued an urgent call for Nato to clarify what Article 5 responses could follow a significant hybrid attack. Triggering it need not mean bombers are dispatched over the Kremlin. Clearly laying out the costs to Russia (and the risks involved to member states) could help secure buy-in for what would be only the second triggering of the article after 9/11. Burning down a power station could, for example, see sanctions placed on nations hoovering up great quantities of Russian oil, such as India; it could lead to the seizure of the $200 billion in frozen Russia assets held within Europe. Whether or not Moscow has anything to do with the fireball at Heathrow, it is past time for Western leaders to step up their efforts to deter such an attack. Oleg Gordievsky was the most prominent Soviet agent to defect to Britain during the Cold War - David Levenson Oleg Gordievsky, the KGB double agent, has died at his Surrey home at the age of 86. The former Soviet secret agent defected to Britain in 1985 after being smuggled out of the country in the boot of a car. His death is not being treated as suspicious and he died peacefully in his home, the BBC reported. Mr Gordievsky was the most prominent Soviet agent to defect to Britain during the Cold War. He provided Britain with reports on Soviet operations for more than a decade, using his position as a colonel in the KGB to acquire secret information. Oleg Gordievsky (pictured right) escaped to London from Moscow with the help of MI6 - PA Archive Originally recruited in 1974, Mr Gordievsky became Britains star source inside the KGB after being posted to the Soviet secret services London bureau. In May 1985, having just been promised the job of head of station in London, he was suddenly summoned back to Moscow and accused of being a spy. He eventually escaped to London with the help of MI6, who smuggled him across the border into Finland after escaping from his KGB minders. It was another six years before he was reunited with his Leila, his wife, and children. Mariya, his eldest daughter, was 11 when she arrived in London in 1991, and his second child Anna was 10. The KGB double agent was reunited with his wife Leila six years after he was smuggled to Britain from Russia - Neville Marriner/Shutterstock In 1983, Mr Gordievsky tipped off his British handlers that Moscow was so paranoid about a potential surprise attack by the West that it had begun planning a pre-emptive nuclear strike. Nato subsequently curtailed its Able Archer military exercise, averting the crisis. In 1985, information passed on by Mr Gordievsky led Sir Geoffrey Howe, the then foreign secretary, to expel 25 Soviet diplomats who were all accused of being undercover KGB spies. Sir Geoffrey hailed it as a very substantial coup for our security forces at the time. Oleg Gordievsky said Im more British now than Russian when was made a CMG by the late Queen Elizabeth II - Martin Keene/PA Archive After his defection, Mr Gordievsky lived under police protection in Godalming, Surrey. Im more British now than Russian, he said in 2007 after being made a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Of course, I dont have the subtlety and politeness which is typical of Britain. Jerry Lee Lewis and Henry Ford are among the historical figures featured on the podcast This Guy Sucked. Composite: Rex/Shutterstock, Bettmann via Getty Images When the historian Claire Aubin gets together with her colleagues for drinks after a conference or academic meetup, the conversation always ends up one way. Were all sitting around a table, talking about our most hated historical figure, she said. For Aubin, its Henry Ford, an ardent antisemite whom Hitler called an inspiration. She believes being a hater can aid in scholarship: Disliking someone or having a problem with their historical legacy is worth talking about, and brings more people into learning about history. Thats why Aubin, who spent last year lecturing in the history department at UC Davis and San Francisco State University and is about to begin a full-time postdoctoral fellowship at Yale, started This Guy Sucked, a history podcast about terrible men. In each episode, Aubin speaks to a historian about their biggest villain, from Ford and Voltaire to Plato and Jerry Lee Lewis. Aubin is used to studying some pretty rancid individuals her area of expertise includes the relationship of the United States to Nazis who immigrated there after the second world war. Related: Lets dig into the archives and tell the truth: interrogating Yales connections to slavery The anti-woke crowd might say Aubins work contributes to a retrogressive sort of cancel culture. Or more traditional historians, trained to see these figures as complex products of their time, could say that her name-calling flattens any thoughtful critique. But Aubin believes you can be a scholar and a hater. She allows that schadenfreude is sort of the initial draw of the cheeky title. But taking a critical look at a figure who may have been venerated in a high school textbook shows them as a real person, a person who had flaws, and those flaws are essential to understanding why theyre important. The guest host historians Aubin taps have spent their entire professional lives studying these men, writing books and teaching classes. They have nothing to gain from canceling them, she said. What they do have to gain is a respect and dedication to talking about history in a way that is holistic, that understands legacy as something that encompasses both positive and negative, and the wholeness of a person. The only requirement for Aubins subjects is that they have to be dead (so she cant be sued for libel). So far, all of the episodes have been about men, but the title isnt exclusionary shell get to evil women too, someday. There is no bias in terms of who I want to talk about, she said. Women have complicated roles too. There have been bad people throughout history from all kinds of backgrounds. But for now, when women come up on the podcast, theyre often the targets of the men were talking about, meaning victims of their abuse. An episode on Voltaire with the London School of Economics professor Eleanor Janega confronts the French enlightenment writers reputation as a champion of universal human rights. Though Voltaire opposed slavery, he never called for its abolition, and made money off the slave trade through investments in the French East India Company (he also had a sexual relationship with his niece). Janega believes that Voltaires sharp and witty criticism of the Catholic church and monarchy is rightly venerated, but warns against hero worship of any supposedly great man in history. The bar is subterranean when it comes to 18th-century people and the concept of human rights, she says on the show. Thats perhaps why Voltaire has an untouchable, mythic position as a writer and satirist. Some of Aubins bad guys come off as low-hanging fruit an episode on Jerry Lee Lewis, for instance, doesnt reveal much that hasnt already been covered in numerous films, books and obituaries of the late rocknroll icon who infamously married his female cousin. Still, there are enough specific details to keep the podcast from sounding as if Aubin and the guest host Robert Komaniecki, a music theory professor at the University of British Columbia, are merely reading a Wikipedia page, including a tidbit about Lewis once punching Janis Joplin in the face because he didnt like hanging out with a drunk woman (drunk men were fine). There are people that have had a profoundly negative impact on your life, so its important to add them back into the story Claire Aubin Some of the men are not as well known to a general audience, such as Cesare Lombroso, the influential Italian criminologist and eugenicist who believed that criminals could be identified by physical features and defects. Or Samuel Cummings, a small-arms dealer who sold guns to dictators, made millions from South Africas apartheid and got Americans hooked on gun ownership, leading to its current crises of mass shootings and violence. There are people that have had a profoundly negative impact on your life, so its important to add them back into the story, Aubin said. One thing these men have in common: nearly every one of them worked to protect their own legacy while they were still alive. Lombroso requested that his head be preserved in a jar for study; Charlemagne paid court historians to write friendly biographies. These people are specifically responsible for the way they were largely accepted uncritically by the public after their deaths, Aubin said. That makes all of our jobs as historians so much harder. Though she doesnt focus on guys that suck in the present day, Aubin believes her work sends an important message to them. Women are being treated worse now, minorities are being treated worse, she said. Its really important that this show works against that, and shows there are experts who are willing to say: There are people in history who were bad, and historians will remember them negatively. Stephen Lawrence was murdered by a gang of racists in London in 1993 - PA One of Stephen Lawrences killers now accepts he was at the scene of the teenagers murder, the Parole Board has suggested. The 18-year-old was murdered by a gang of racists while waiting for a bus in Eltham, south-east London in 1993. Only two of his killers, Gary Dobson and David Norris, have ever faced justice and were jailed for life in 2012. The original police investigation into the teenagers death was marred by institutional racism in the Met, incompetence and alleged corruption. Norris was jailed for a minimum of 14 years and three months for murder in January 2012 at the end of an Old Bailey trial that hinged on tiny traces of forensic evidence. He is set to face his first parole hearing on a date yet to be fixed, and on Thursday the Parole Board granted an application for the hearing to be held in public. Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted in 2012 - PA In the ruling, vice chairman of the board, Peter Rook KC, said: After the trial, Mr Norris continued to deny the offence. Recent reports now suggest he has accepted he was present at the scene and punched the victim but claims that he did not wield the knife. He does not accept he holds racist views. The report also detailed continuing significant risks to Norriss safety in prison. He has been the victim of at least three assaults whilst in prison, Mr Rook said. On two occasions he received serious injuries. The latest was in November 2022. He was diagnosed with PTSD in November 2023, according to the report. Norriss lawyers argued against the parole hearing being held in public, saying it will increase the risk to his safety and that the inmate will not be able to give his best evidence over concerns that the media will sensationalise the proceedings. Mr Lawrences parents are said to be supportive of the public hearing. His father, Neville Lawrence, has previously said he is not satisfied with Norris getting parole, but if he can show remorse he will accept it. Mr Lawrence told the Daily Mail: He would have to say he was sorry for killing Stephen and that he had changed his ways and apologise to our family [for me to accept his release]. I am not satisfied with him getting parole but what I am saying is if he can show remorse and show hes changed then I will accept that. He added: No one who was there that night has ever told the truth about what happened or even admitted the fact that they were there. If he does do that, it will be the first time. If he admits he was there and caused my son to lose his life I would accept what happened and it would make it seem to me he was a changed person, but if he just says nothing I cant accept [his release]. More than 5,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel so far this year, latest figures show. Some 341 people made the journey in six boats on Thursday, bringing the provisional total for the year so far to 5,025. This is the earliest point in the year that crossings have reached the 5,000 mark since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018. Last year, 5,000 arrivals was passed on March 31. The cumulative number of arrivals so far in 2025 5,025 is 24% higher than at this stage in 2024, when the figure stood at 4,043, and 36% higher than at this point in 2023 (3,683). (PA Graphics) The highest number arriving in one day this year so far stands at 592 people, crossing the Channel in 11 boats on March 2. The latest figures come after the French coastguard confirmed two migrants died in two days trying to cross the Channel on Wednesday and Thursday. One person died after being pulled from the water while the other person died after trying to cross in an overloaded boat, despite rescue efforts to save them. The UK signed a road-map agreement with France earlier this month aimed at bolstering co-operation to tackle people smuggling across the Channel. The Governments new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill also continues through Parliament with plans to introduce new criminal offences and hand counter terror-style powers to police and enforcement agencies to crack down on people smuggling gangs. A Home Office spokesperson said: We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. A Number 10 spokesman said on Friday: Weve acknowledged that there is a flow of migrants into this country by illegal means on small boats and weve seen a number of incidents in this week in French waters. Thats why this Government has put forward a serious credible plan to finally restore order to the chaos we inherited in our asylum system. The intelligence of an octopus is a fascinating thing, not least because it is an extremely intelligent animal whose cognition works very differently from mammals like us. An octopus has mini-brains in each of its arms that allow these appendages to work independently, but also has a large, central brain which can provide directions to its limbs. Research has shown that an octopus can perform complex cognition tests such as navigating mazes and using tools. Captive octopuses are known for escaping their enclosures and recognizing their keepers, engaging in games, playful and even bullying behavior with people they know, and other behaviors that are very different than most invertebrates. Here, a wily octopus is doing something very clever indeed: hitching a ride on a shark. The octopus in question was seen riding around on the back of a mako shark in Hauraki Gulf, off th coast of Auckland, New Zealand, when it was spotted my University of Auckland marine scientist Rochelle Constantine. Related: Giant Pacific Octopus Surprises Washington Hikers by Suddenly Showing Up on Their Route A Sharktopus Constantine points out how unusual the sight was, as octopuses are not usually found near the surface of the water, preferring to stay on the sea floor. In contrast, mako sharks like the one this octopus is riding dont usually go down deep, and hunt in the shallow and nearer to the surface. So how did they hook up? A Defensive Move In the comments, people claim this scene reminds them of a similar situation in the 2020 documentary film, My Octopus Teacher. In this movie, the octopus escapes a shark attack by riding on its back and evading the creature. In this video, the shark is swimming very slowly near the surface, and the octopus is huddled on top. It seems impossible that the shark doesnt know that it is there, but then again, octopuses can be very clever when they need to be. Mako sharks like this one dont tend to prey on octopuses, preferring fast moving fish like swordfish and tuna, but of course, they would probably eat anything that they could catch, which includes an octopus. They are a very fast species of shark, so this leisurely swim with an octopus was certainly an unusual sight. The researchers observing the unlikely duo said they followed them for about ten minutes and saw no change in their behavior. Is it possible that this octopus was literally just taking a ride on the back of the shark? Someone make this into an animated buddy comedy! The sea is indeed a mysterious and magical place. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Robert Ehrlich, the founder of Pirate's Booty Snacks, leaves a polling place in Sea Cliff, New York, on Tuesday. Photograph: Johnny Milano/The New York Times/Redux/eyevine The popcorn mogul who founded Pirates Booty Snacks tried to commandeer a New York villages local government, storming this minuscule municipalitys office armed with a false statement claiming that he was mayor. Robert Ehrlich strode into the town hall of Sea Cliff, a village of fewer than 5,000 residents within the larger town of Oyster Bay on Long Island, with all the finesse of a literal pirate on 10 March. He presented a statement falsely asserting his authority as mayor, demanding access to office space, and declaring that the entire village staff was fired effective immediately but could reapply for their jobs, authorities said on Facebook. Ehrlich, 66, cited a New York state law that permits local residents to dissolve their town or reformulate it, the New York Times explained. Under this legislation, one needs signatures from 10% of town voters. Ehrlich brandished an envelope claiming that he had 1,800 signatures but reportedly refused to show it to town workers, alleging that signatories were worried about blowback. After his failed takeover, Ehrlich entered Sea Cliffs mayoral race as a write-in candidate. On Tuesday, Ehrlich lost heavily to the incumbent, Elena Villafane, in a 1,064-to-62 vote, according to reports. Ehrlichs mutinous moves are reminiscent of the campaign by Donald Trumps key aide Elon Musk to slash federal spending as head of the so-called department of government efficiency, an ad-hoc body created by the US president upon returning to the White House two months ago. Doge staffers have repeatedly arrived at federal agency offices demanding access to premises and computer data, while firing or putting on notice hundreds of thousands of public service employees. Many of his moves have been successfully challenged in court. After village employees told Ehrlich that his proclamation was invalid and unsupported by law, they asked him to leave. But Ehrlich and his associates turned increasingly confrontational and refused the village said in a Facebook post. The pushback left Ehrlichs timbers un-shivered. Although city staff kept calm, Ehrlich and his crew raised their voices, used profane language, made outlandish claims, and engaged in direct harassment of Village personnel, the post added and would not raise anchor. This created a hostile and disruptive environment that required police intervention. Village workers suffered nearly an hour of escalating hostility before Mr Ehrlich and his associates left and order was restored. Village leaders thanked office staff for remaining cool-headed and respectful despite being subjected to intense and outlandish behavior. They are a credit to our Village and demonstrate the motto of Keep Calm and Carry On, the Facebook post said. After his loss, Ehrlich reportedly insisted Im still the mayor and, like Trump since his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, claimed the village election was rigged. The Prince of Wales met Estonian forces training alongside British troops when he visited a major military base in the Baltic state. William is making a two-day visit to Estonia to strengthen UK ties with its Nato ally and support British forces stationed in the country providing a deterrent to Russian aggression. The future king arrived at Tapa military base in the north of the country wearing a military camouflage outfit and beret. The visit was made in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment and later he will meet soldiers from his regiments 1st Battalion taking over Nato duties in Estonia from The Royal Dragoon Guards. The Prince of Wales thanked Estonian troops for their support (Victoria Jones/PA) During his time at the base he will take part in a handover ceremony and join troops training in trench warfare and have the opportunity to ride in a Challenger 2 tank. William is a former army officer who trained at Sandhurst military academy and joined the Household Cavalrys Blues and Royals before training as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot. UK troops lead a battlegroup in Estonia and the 900 British service personnel in the country are the UKs largest permanent overseas deployment. Russia is seen as a growing threat in the region following its three-year long invasion of Ukraine, and the Baltic states Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia which border Russian President Vladimir Putins nation are increasingly concerned. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UKs contribution to Natos Forward Land Forces in the two countries. The Prince of Wales during a walkabout in Tallinn on the first day of his visit to Estonia on Thursday (Louis Wood/The Sun/PA) William chatted to soldiers from the 1st Estonian brigade when he arrived and asked them about the first six months of their training. Speaking to the 13 soldiers chosen to meet him, William said: Its great to meet you guys and great to be here. Hows it working with the Brits? You dont have to say nice things just because Im here! The soldiers told him their experience had been good and very successful. William replied: I bet you guys are pleased its going to be spring soon. It gets quite cold here, right? One soldier said: Spring started yesterday so we are happier now. Stephen Lawrence, 18, was killed in south-east London in 1993 after being set upon by a white gang as he waited for a bus home. Photograph: Family handout/PA Police believe reported admissions by David Norris that he took part in the attack that killed Stephen Lawrence may offer a significant chance of a breakthrough in the racist murder. Norris was convicted in 2012 of being part of a gang that racially abused and then stabbed Stephen near a south London bus stop. He has apparently admitted being part of the attacking group in April 1993, and is trying to convince the Parole Board to release him from prison. Dr Neville Lawrence, Stephens father, said Norris should be kept in prison until he named the other gang members involved in his sons murder: If he wants to get out he should divulge who the others are, everybody who was there. Parole Board documents report Norris has admitted punching Stephen, and therefore being present at the scene of the attack. A senior police source said detectives were considering challenging Norris to prove he was serious and not just trying to game the system, by naming the entire group he was part of. Detectives believe about six people were part of the gang. Two have been convicted Norris and Gary Dobson one is dead, and three are yet to be prosecuted for the racist murder. A senior police source said: This could be a significant breakthrough. It is definitely of interest. Theres always the potential for individuals to change loyalty. Were desperate not to miss this opportunity. The Metropolitan police want to check the alleged admissions of involvement made by Norris. The source added: We want to know more and are keen to do it sooner rather than later. Wed want to ask him who he went out with that night. After his arrest he no commented [in the police interview]. The forces investigation seeking to bring at least three remaining suspects to justice is no longer active. After checking whether the reports of the admissions by Norris are correct, the Met is considering re-interviewing the convicted murderer in prison. During his Old Bailey murder trial, Norris, 48, denied all involvement and being at the scene of the attack. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years and three months for murder. Stephen, 18, was killed in south-east London after being set upon by a white gang as he waited for a bus home. They shouted racist abuse and then attacked the teenager, who suffered two stab wounds. Duwayne Brooks, the surviving victim of the attack, managed to escape. Forensic evidence tied Norris and Dobson to the scene of the attack, with the jury accepting the prosecution view that being present when Stephen was set upon meant all those there were guilty of murder by joint enterprise. Neville Lawrence said: The fact there were so many people surrounding my son means everybody was guilty, no matter who wielded the knife. Lawrence added of Norris: I dont know what hes up to. He had so many chances, before the trial and after, he denied being involved. Hes trying to impress the Parole Board to let him out of prison. The Met bungled the investigation into Stephens murder after suspects were named to them by the local community within hours. A long battle for justice by Stephens parents, Doreen and Neville Lawrence, resulted in the Met being shamed after a public inquiry, where it was found to be incompetent and institutionally racist. Norriss father, Clifford, was at the centre of suspicions from the Lawrences and Brooks that corruption had blighted the investigation. In 2018, relatives of Clifford Norris told the Guardian he was well known for corrupt contacts with the police. Victoria and Naomi Smith, who are related to the Norris family by marriage, said Clifford Norris used a network of corrupt Metropolitan police officers to protect himself and his close relations from justice. At the trial that convicted David Norris, the prosecutor Mark Ellison KC said: The way in which the attack was executed indicates that this group were a group of like-minded young white men who acted together and reacted together. They shared the same racial animosity and motivation. In the Parole Board document where Norriss admissions are reported, he is described as denying being a racist or wielding the knife. The document is written by Peter Rook KC, who said: After the trial, Mr Norris continued to deny the offence. Recent reports now suggest he has accepted he was present at the scene and punched the victim but claims that he did not wield the knife. He does not accept he holds racist views. Covert video recorded in 1994 and shown at the murder trial showed Norris talking about skinning black people and setting them alight, using racist terms and fantasising about violent acts against Asian and black people. Dobson was recorded also uttering racist remarks and the court heard that he had carried a knife and threatened to use it against a black man. People rally in support of the Department of Education in Washington DC on 14 March 2025. Photograph: Tom Hudson/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock Teachers unions and Democratic politicians joined in denouncing Donald Trumps executive order aimed at eliminating the US Department of Education, with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) saying simply: See you in court. Trumps move was long trailed, so much so that Randi Weingarten, the head of the AFT which represents 1.8 million teachers put out her statement the day before the order was signed. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, which represents 200,000 members, teachers and other education workers mostly in New York City, said: We will join our national union and public education allies to protect students and educators. We are working with our partners to file lawsuits to stop this executive overreach. In the meantime, we will hold the federal government accountable for providing the resources our school communities have been promised under the laws of our country. Related: Trump signs executive order to dismantle US Department of Education Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic senator from Massachusetts, said: Trump is telling Americas public school kids that their futures dont matter. Referencing Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, whose drastic cuts to federal budgets and staffing are prompting outrage, Warren said: Billionaires like Trump and Musk wont feel it when afterschool programs are slashed, class sizes go up, and student aid gets cut. Itll be working parents, students and teachers who pay the price. Rashida Tlaib, a congresswoman from Michigan, said Trumps order was really alarming to me because the majority of Americans will tell you they dont want to give up on the Department of Education, they dont want to give up on our education system. Polling shows the majority of people in the US oppose dismantling the Department of Education. This week, a survey from the advocacy group New America found 55% of respondents against eliminating the department. Another group, Third Way released a poll showing majority support among Republicans for issues including improved accountability for federal funding in higher education a core responsibility of the education department. Eliminating the department has long been a goal of some parts of the Republican right. On Friday, Margaret Spellings, education secretary under George W Bush, who expanded the departments role, told the Associated Press that Republicans in Congress traditionally voiced support for elimination while voting against it, mindful of how federal funds reach schools in their districts. It was always a little bit of a wink and a nod deal, Spellings said. Donald Trump has called the bluff. The Department of Educations role is primarily financial, dispensing federal funds nationwide. It also upholds civil rights protections such as Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination. Trumps order will not eliminate the department entirely. Created by Congress in 1972, it can only be eliminated by the same body. John King Jr, who was education secretary under Barack Obama, told NBC: I think what youre going to see is bipartisan support in Congress for maintaining the vital functions of the department including, he said, directing resources to vulnerable students, low-income students and students with disabilities, funding the Pell grant program and the student loan program that makes it possible for Americans to access higher education, and civil rights enforcement, which has been the historical role of the department. After Trump signed his order, Linda McMahon, the wrestling impresario turned education secretary charged with wrecking her own department, hailed what she called a history-making action and said: We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs. King called that a rhetorical move. He continued: The reality is that most decision making about education happens at the state and local level, but there is a crucial federal role that goes back to the civil rights movement Laws were put in place because we needed the federal government to step in to make sure that students werent discriminated against, and that role continues. We need the federal government to say to a state: You cant ignore the needs of your English learners. To say to a district: You cant leave Black students or Latino students out of access to advanced placement classes or extracurricular activities at your school. That civil rights role has to be protected. A huge fire and a cloud of smoke above the Sudzha pipeline in Russias Kursk region - Reuters Emmanuel Macron said Vladimir Putin was not serious about peace after Russia carried out another round of devastating aerial attacks on Ukraine. Overnight, Moscow launched one of its heaviest strikes on the Black Sea port of Odesa, injuring three teenagers, damaging civilian infrastructure and sparking huge fires across the city. Once again last night, Russia showed that it sincerely does not want peace. Full support for the Ukrainian people, the French president wrote on X, alongside a picture of a building engulfed in flames. At the same time, Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up its own gas pipeline in order to pin the blame on Kyiv and undermine the US-proposed ceasefire on energy targets. Volodymyr Zelensky said the latest attacks showed the need for joint pressure from all of Ukraines allies on Moscow to stop such terror and Russias prolongation of the war. This is what will allow diplomacy to work, he added. Petr Pavel, the Czech president, who left Odesa 20 minutes before the attack, said the strikes on civilian infrastructure reflected how extremely difficult it would be to negotiate with Russia. So, russia hits Odesa's infrastructure & causes POWER outages. Ukraine returns the favour and hits the Sudzha gas pipeline hard. Immediately the russian MOD issues the following statement: "Ukraine has violated the ceasefire" FAFO. Fucking idiots! pic.twitter.com/noCNIhgYjc Rocke Fella - NAFO Raccoon (@NAFORaccoon) March 20, 2025 Despite Donald Trumps demands that both sides work towards a peace deal, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other several times of breaching a tentatively agreed truce on strikes on energy and civilian targets. Early on Friday morning, a major explosion rocked a gas pumping and measuring station in Russias western Kursk region, sparking a major fire. The Sudzha pipeline had been a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine. It was kept open during the war until Kyiv ended the agreement last January, effectively cutting decades of Moscows dominance over Europes energy markets. The pipeline was recaptured this week after Ukraine withdrew from the town, which it had seized during its August offensive into the Russian border region. Russias defence ministry early on Friday claimed Ukraines retreating forces deliberately attacked it in order to undermine Trumps peace initiative. Ukraines general staff immediately denied the allegation, saying the pipeline had been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian presidents chief of staff, said the world would not easily be fooled by such fake accusations. Russian attempts to deceive everyone and pretend that they are adhering to the ceasefire will not work, as the fake (news) about the strikes on the gas station will not work, he said. Mr Zelensky admitted on Wednesday that a partial ceasefire with Russia would likely not come into effect until it was agreed upon in a document. Until then, he said, everything will fly with regards to missiles and drones. It comes as the Ukrainian leader said the United Nations could not be an alternative to the deployment of foreign troops or security guarantees to protect an eventual ceasefire. With all due respect, the UN will not protect us from the occupation or Putins desire to come back. We do not see the UN as an alternative to a contingent or security guarantees, he said at a press conference on Friday. Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian air strike hit civilian infrastructure in Ukraines Odesa region on Friday - Anadolu via Getty Images The Telegraph revealed on Thursday that Mr Macron, who alongside Keir Starmer is leading the push to form a coalition of the willing to protect Ukraine, was considering the possibility of a UN mission to guarantee a future peace deal. Meanwhile, Downing Street said on Friday that nothing is off the table over possible troop deployment for Kyiv, after the Prime Minister showed signs of shifting his focus away from boots on the ground towards British jets protecting Ukraines skies. Number 10 said thousands of personnel would be required to support any operation whether by sea, on land or in the air as allies prepare for all eventualities amid diplomatic efforts to end the war. Further rounds of peace negotiations, mediated by the US, will begin in Saudi Arabia on Monday, with the Russian and Ukrainian delegations set to sit in neighbouring rooms. At first glance, the Heathrow fire looks as if it could have Russian fingerprints all over it - @chrisjbrogan/AFP via Getty Images A fire the likes of which has never happened before. One which instantly closes Europes biggest air hub at a time of rising geo-political tensions, and just as a meeting of the continents most senior defence chiefs breaks up. Can it really be a coincidence? We dont yet know what caused the fire which broke out at an electricity sub station which supplies Heathrow in the early hours of Friday morning, but the British security services will be all over it. Every inch of the area will be subjected to a bank of forensic checks as will all CCTV and communications for miles around. The reason is simple: the fire has all the hallmarks of Russian state-sponsored terrorism a hybrid form of war that has been raging in Europe for more than three years now. Ministers and security officials dont want to alarm the public but there have been sabotage operations recorded in 15 countries including Britain linked to Russian intelligence since Vladimir Putin rolled his tanks into Ukraine in late February 2022. Its more if you go back to the invasion of Crimea in 2014. They include train derailments, arson attacks on warehouses and transport planes, assassination plots against industrialists, car rammings, election interference, social engineering and, yes, attacks on vital infrastructure including power and communications lines. As noted in Foreign Affairs magazine this week, James Appathurai, Nato deputy assistant secretary-general for innovation, hybrid, and cyber, warned members of the European Parliament in January that incidents of sabotage [were] taking place across Nato countries. Russia, he said, had been recruiting criminal gangs or unwitting youth or migrants to conduct several of these operations. They posed a major threat to the West and it was time for Europe to move to a war footing. At first glance, the Heathrow fire looks as if it could have Russian fingerprints all over it. Firefighters douse flames of a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London - BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images It has marked similarities, for example, to the arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked warehouse in east London last year for which two British men were arrested. German intelligence is also reported to be looking at the series of car rammings several of them fatal that occurred ahead of the recent German elections. They believe they may have been instigated by Russian intelligence in order to inflate support for the far right. According to Russia specialists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, Russias intelligence agencies have become adept at using social media not just as a tool for stirring discontent and spreading conspiracies, but recruiting local criminals, poor immigrants and mentally vulnerable individuals to carry out attacks for them. A similar modus operandi has been used by the Iranian intelligence services to recruit spies across Israel, many of whom have been arrested in recent months. These attacks dont necessarily have to be violent to be effective, they write in Foreign Affairs. There are indications that Russian agencies could use social media to recruit teenagers, including those belonging to post-Soviet diasporas, to spray hateful slogans on the walls of apartment buildings in neighbourhoods with a significant migrant population, threatening or humiliating locals to incite hatred against refugees from Ukraine or Syria. These attacks dont require much preparation and may cost only a few thousand dollars. More ambitious recruits might be paid to undertake more violent actions, such as committing arson or throwing Molotov cocktails. The British security services will be in no doubt about the threat from Putins Russia. They have been on high alert ever since the killing of Alexander Litvinenko with polonium in London in 2006 and the botched assassination of the Skripals with the nerve agent Novichok in 2018. And earlier this month a team of Russian agents were found guilty following the biggest spying investigation in Britain. The spy ring, made up of Bulgarian nationals, plotted kidnaps, disinformation campaigns, surveillance against Ukrainian troops and secret weapon trades with China from their base in Great Yarmouth. The group received orders from Moscow via Jan Marsalek, a fugitive tech boss and one of the most wanted men in Europe. MI5 will also be aware of Russias most brazen recent assassination attempt in Europe: the plot to kill in the spring of last year Armin Papperger, the head of Rheinmetall, Germanys largest arms manufacturer. The murder was thwarted by German and American intelligence, confirmed Mr Appathurai, the Nato official, in January. The Heathrow fire could of course yet turn out to be an accident. It is well known that the countrys infrastructure is creaking and perhaps it is just a coincidence it occurred so close to the airport at such a sensitive time. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, said there was no suggestion that there is foul play on Friday morning. Nevertheless officers from Counter Terrorism Command were leading the investigation because of the impact this incident has had on critical infrastructure, The Telegraph was told. The officers also known as SO15 will play a key role to try to establish whether or not any hostile agents were involved in triggering the blaze. At least 1,351 flights going to and from the airport will be impacted by the closure, with up to 291,000 passengers thought to be affected. Inbound planes have been diverted to other airports, including Shannon in Ireland and Charles de Gaulle in Paris, with aviation experts saying the impact of disruption is similar to 9/11. Terrorism or otherwise, it is likely we will see much more hybrid warfare from Mr Putins agents over the next few months and years. Soldatov and Borogan say that the idea that a deal between President Donald Trump and Putin to end the fighting in Ukraine will cause Russias spies and saboteurs to step back is dangerously mistaken. For centuries, Russia has viewed the West as intent on Russias subjugation or outright destruction, and Soviet and Russian intelligence services have operated for decades on the assumption that the West is an implacable foe, they write in Foreign Affairs this week. To Moscows spies, Trumps courting of Putin has provided an opportunity to expand and strengthen their subversion campaign in Europe. Given the Trump administrations scepticism toward NATO and the defence of its transatlantic allies, a US-Russian agreement could increase Moscows willingness to launch unconventional attacks in Europe. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security When European settlers first came to New England, wild turkeys were everywhere. The reason that we still eat turkeys every Thanksgiving is to honor the tradition of turkey hunting that served the pilgrims and settlers so well. But overhunting and deforestation over the centuries decimated the population of wild turkeys in the nineteenth and twentieth century, and they disappeared from many places entirely. Attempts to reintroduce pen-raised turkeys into the wild failed, but releasing a few dozen wild turkeys from upstate New York, where they still livd, back into Massachusetts forestland proved successful. Fifty years after the import, there are now tens of thousands of turkeys spread across eastern Massachusetts. Which means that the following sight is not all that unusual in Boston. In this video we see a wild turkey attacking his own reflection in the side of a parked car in Boston. RIP the paint finish. Related: Video of Turkeys 'Eerily' Circling Gravestone Creeps People Out and Goes Viral Imagine coming back to your car and thinking it had been keyed, but no, it was just the victim of an overgrown modern dinosaur who took its reflection as a potential rival. Time to pick up some scratch removal and buffing pads! Wild Turkey Behavior The wild turkeys in a city like Boston (or even the surrounding suburbs) have become habituated to human presence, just like other city wildlife such as squirrels, chipmunks,a nd songbirds. They probably eat a fair amount of human garbage and are used to things like traffic and noise. Male wild turkeys regularly fight and vie for dominance and city wild turkeys. Like the one seen here, have been known to display that dominant behavior against things that arent turkeys, such as the shiny sides of cars or humans they see on the street. Wild turkeys will chase pets and children, and they will view running away from them as a sign that they have won the battle. How to Protect Yourself Against a Turkey Attack People think the best thing to do is run from an aggressive turkey, but that is actually liable to make them chase you, they would like to attack retreating foes with their claws and beaks. Better to stand your ground, and make loud noises, or wave a broom or umbrella at them. The same goes for if you find a turkey in the road or around your car. Moving the car forward at a slow and steady pace (not mowing them down which could cause damage to your car as well as killing the turkey) will encourage them to move out of the way, as well as honking your horn. As of these scratches, wellat least they make products for that. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Bella Ramsey in a scene from Season 1 of "The Last of Us." Bella Ramsey, star of the HBO drama The Last of Us, revealed their autism diagnosis in an interview with British Vogue published on Wednesday a diagnosis that was due in part to a crew member on the hit zombie drama recognizing the telltale signs. Ive spoken a bit about neurodivergence before, but I always for some reason didnt want to, Ramsey admitted. I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one of The Last of Us. While shooting in Canada, a crew member with an autistic daughter assumed Ramsey might be autistic too. This moment sparked Ramseys decision to seek a formal psychiatric assessment, leading to their diagnosis. Reflecting on their childhood, Ramsey described feeling out of place in school, often feeling more comfortable around adults. They mentioned experiencing sensory sensitivities common among autistic people, including a heightened awareness of others micro-expressions and body language. Ramsey also noted their discomfort with the heavy waterproof gear and thermals that were required for filming in the chilly Canadian wilderness, describing it as too much stuff on my body. Despite the challenges, Ramsey shared how autism and acting have become interconnected in helping them hone their craft by observing people and adopting a routine. Ive always been watching and learning from people. Having to learn more manually how to socialize and interact with the people around me has helped me with acting, they said. I have a call time, and Im told what to wear, how to stand, where to stand and what to eat. Ramsey describes the diagnosis as freeing..." and allows them to have more grace for themselves as they learn more about themself. They find that sharing their diagnosis helps them unmask immediately, allowing them to be their authentic self after without feeling the need to hide. My experience of moving through the world is as an autistic person, they said. Theres no reason for people not to know. Norman Posselt/Getty Stock Image; Westend61/Getty Stock Image Stock image of a marijuana plant; Stock image of person donating blood An Illinois blood bank and a local dispensary are fighting the blood shortage and cannabis stigma. Rock River Valley Blood Center and Lyfe Dispensary are partnering for a "Bleed for Weed" drive on March 22. Held in Freeport, Ill., the event aims to increase the blood supply in the surrounding areas, according to the RRVBC. Bleed for Weed operates like a normal blood drive but once a donation has been successfully facilitated, donors get a voucher, according to local news outlet WIFR. Each voucher can be redeemed at Lyfe Dispensary in Rockford, Ill. for either an eighth of flower or an edible chosen by the dispensary. For those who pass on the pot, T-shirts will be available. Related: Red Cross Announces Emergency Blood Shortage: 'Donors Are Urgently Needed' The drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 22 at Grand River Hall, 101 S. Liberty Ave #1 in Freeport. Last year was the first time the event was held, and it was very successful, says Michael Hodges, one of the owners of Life Dispensary. "I just think we can use our platform to drive positive change, not just in the cannabis industry, but in our community as a whole," Hodges says. "The ongoing blood shortage is a critical issue... We see this partnership as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact." Norman Posselt/Getty Stock Image Marijuana plant. Lisa Entrikin, CEO of RRVBC, tells PEOPLE that the blood shortage in the Rockford area is the most critical she's seen in the last two years. The blood bank has struggled to reach potential donors as media consumption has changed and traditional advertisements and emails are less effective, she explains. "The first [Bleed for Weed] event that we had, our first-time donor rate was over 50 percent, so that's a wonderful thing for us to get new donors in," Entrikin says. And, she says, while donors can't be under the influence while donating, simply using cannabis doesn't disqualify a person from donating blood. For some, the message behind the event is enough to get them to come out and donate. Hodges recalls some people giving blood but declining the voucher afterward many were just happy to help. Westend61/Getty Stock Image Blood donation. Related: Grandfather Who Saved 2.4 Million Babies by Donating Blood More Than 1,100 Times Over 60 Years Dies at 88 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. Hodges adds that along with increasing the incentive for people to donate blood, the drive also helps dispel the misconception that those who use cannabis can't donate contribute to the blood bank. "By educating the public and erasing some of those outdated statements [about cannabis], we hope to increase the donor participation," Hodges says. Read the original article on People A new lawsuit in the ongoing saga surrounding late Boeing whistleblowerJohn Barnett is spotlighting the deep emotional stress the maverick quality inspector experienced from what he blasted as the planemaker's campaign to muzzle him from exposing drastic production gaffes. The complaint also spotlights Barnett's final thoughts as he contemplated taking his own life after locking himself inside his pickup truck overnight during a torrential rainstorma testament of righteous rage expressed in an extraordinarily tortured suicide note. On March 19, Barnett's estate filed a "wrongful death" action in the United States District Court in South Carolina, Charleston District, seeking damages on behalf of his mother and three surviving brothers. Joining the family's longstanding counsels Rob Turkewitz and Brian Knowles is legendary litigator David Boies, along with Boies, Schiller managing partner Sigrid McCawley. Since 2017, Turkewitz and Knowles have been pursuing Boeing for allegedly violating the OSHA rules making it unlawful to retaliate against a whistleblower. Following Barnett's death, the duo continued that regulatory lawsuit on behalf of the Barnett's estate, and Boies joined the team. The wrongful death civil action states that "John's PTSD, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, all caused by Boeing's wrongful conduct, caused him to take his own life, which he would not have done but for being subjected to Boeing's hostile work environment and its continuing retaliatory conduct." Fortune was first to report news of the wrongful death suit, and Boies' involvement. When asked for comment Boeing told Fortune: We are saddened by John Barnetts death and extend our condolences to his family. The new complaint contains a copy of the suicide note, and the annexes present the full police report concluding that he died by his own hand. In conversations with Fortune, Turkewitz added further details on his client's last hours. In the evening of March 8th last year, Barnett left the law offices of Boeing's outside counsel in Charleston after testifying for two days in the OSHA case. Barnett was giving his account of how Boeing allegedly violated its own policies and procedures, and FAA rules, during his seven years as a quality inspector at the North Charleston plant that assembles the 787 Dreamliner. He'd delayed a trip back to his home in Louisiana to finish his deposition the next day, a Saturday. Videos cited in the police report show Barnett leaving the hotel around 8:30 PM, and getting in his Clemson orange, Dodge truck. When Barnett failed to show by the 10 AM starting time for his final round of testimony, Turkewitz called the Holiday Inn to conduct a "welfare check." A hotel employee saw Barnett slumped in the front seat of his vehicle. The Charleston police arrived to discover that the Dodge's door was locked, and summoned a fire department officer who opened it with a "slim jim." A barefoot Barnett was clutching a silver, Smith and Wesson pistol in his right hand, hair and blood showing at the end of the barrel. His right temple showed an apparent bullet entry wound, and an exit wound appeared in the back of his head. A hotel employee working outside told the police he'd heard a "pop" just before 9:30 AM, but related that the driving rainstorm, one of the worst in Charleston's history, muffled the sound. It's clear from the reports included in the complaint's annex that Barnett had spent the entire time since 8:30 PM in the truck. That's a span of almost thirteen hours. Turkewitz added a detail not in the police accounts: Barnett had been running the engine all-night, and by the time the police arrived, the gas tank was empty; it's also likely that the battery was dead. Barnett's tragic suicide note On the seat next to Barnett's body lay a message, written on a single page of a red-covered notebook. It was released with the police report in May, but its full contents weren't widely noted. The sentences and phrases go in all direction, in script ranging from billboard-big to tiny. It seems that Barnett kept rotating the page by quarter turns as he added new thoughts in neat capital letters. Any of the four ways you orient the note, a lot of what he wrote appears upside-down or off to the sides. You can only read everything straight-on by slowly spinning the missive through a full circle. Barnett wrote a central section where holding the note one way, you can read half the writing, and the other half's jottings go in the opposite direction. He adds asides on both borders that run at a 90 degree angle to the middle part. The turmoil in Barnett's writings reflect the fragmented form. You struggle to assemble the parts the way you'd puzzle over a cubist painting. The missive comprises 94 words, 11 sentences, and 20 exclamation marks. Half of the middle section reads, "America come together or die!!! Pray that the motherfk...ers who destroyed my life pay!!! I pray that Boeing pays!!! Bury me face down so that Boeing and their lying ass leaders can kiss my ass." Navigate 180 degrees, and the following cascades from the middle of the page: "I can't do this any longer!!! F-k Boeing!!! Family and friends, I love you'll." Then the writing spills further downwards concluding, "To my family and friends, I found my purpose! I am at peace! I love you more John/Mitch Barnett aka Swampy Fununcle Mitch." ("Swampy" was Barnett's nickname bestowed by his hot rod racing buddies from his time in working at the giant Boeing facility in Everett, Washington; Funcle was short for "Fun Uncle," the moniker his beloved nieces gave the figure they cherished for his zany humor.) In one side border, he adds, "The entire system for whistleblower protection is f-k'ed up too!!!" On the opposite fringe comes a touch of dark humor in another single sentence, "And I wasn't stoned when I wrote this really." The complaint includes a heartbreaking email (previously disclosed in the police report) that Barnett sent Turkewitz in 2021, included by the plaintiffs as evidence of Barnett's super-depressed state of mind allegedly caused by Boeing's on-the-job harassment. "I can understand the direct costs that we can establish, ie lost pay, bonuses, etc., Barnett wrote. "What I'm struggling with is how do you restore a person's overall outlook on life? I used to be a very happy-go-lucky guy who loved his job and the products he built. I had a very positive outlook on life. Boeing absolutely destroyed my outlook on life. What is a person's 'outlook on life' worth? How to put a price on that?'" The Barnett family lawyers and Rodney Barnett discuss how Boies joined the team Turkewitz told Fortune that he knew David Boies well from collaborating with the famed ligitator on an asbestos liability suit in the 1990s that won a big verdict for the plaintiffs. "Brian and I had been representing John for over seven years and were getting good results against Boeing's high-priced lawyers," he says. "We brought David and Sigrid onboard because we wanted to make sure we were viewing the case and its many complex issues objectively. I knew the trauma and sadness of John's death had the potential to sway my judgment. If we were going to have additional counsel in the case, I wanted lawyers who were not only the best but who also believed in pursuing John's mission of making it safer for the flying public and and hopefully making Boeing the quality and safety conscious company that John knew it to be earlier in his career." The day after the Barnett team filed the wrongful death suit, I spoke to John's oldest brother Rodney from his home in Louisiana. He discussed the decision to enlist Boies, and its importance. "Boeing wasn't doing right by my brother," says Rodney, a retired electrical technician for the Air Force who later ran a dog grooming outfit with his mom, and now works at the local fire department, Rodney related that he spoke to David Boies along with his brothers by phone when the famed the lawyer was pondering whether to join the case. They met later in Charleston at a mediation session. "Rob and Brian have stayed with this through thick and thin. As with Rob and Brian, David and Sigrid agreed with John's mission of protecting the flying public," says Rodney. Rodney relates how he witnessed up close how his formerly super-outgoing brother turned more and more reclusive after John retired to Louisiana to be near his mom, affectionately known as Miss Vicky. "He was the youngest of four sons but he looked older than the rest of us. You could tell the Boeing fight was taking its toll. His nieces would come over to swim at his place, but he didn't get out much. You could see how things weighed on him, but he kept all of his worries to himself. He never imposed them on anyone else. The whole point is that we didn't want the loss of his life to be in vain, we wanted to carry on his legacy." Now backed by a legal superstar, Barnett's family will seek damages that John Barnett's no longer around to demand or collect. Whatever the results of the cases, the complaint provides a reminder that John Barnett's passion for safety in the skies, and the anguish that finally killed him, were real. If you are having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The internet does not get every cruise story right. In some cases, news gets reported by social media influencers willing to bend the truth or to outright make up a story. Most incorrect reports are less intentionally wrong than sourced from someone with bad information. Related: Carnival Cruise Line drops a popular menu item fleetwide An awful lot of people on social media build their posts based on a single piece of information that might not be correct. As with all news, readers don't always know the difference between credible reports and ones that might be less-than-fully well reported. That leads rumors to spread and become "news," even though the underlying report was false. Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald often has to clear up rumors, It's rare, however, that he aggressively calls out a specific story. In this case, he makes clear that one rumor is not true. Doug Parker has the full story on the March 20 edition of Cruise News Today. Carnival Cruise Line does not have an egg shortage Transcript: This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Thursday, March 20. Carnival Cruise Line says don't worry about the egg shortage. Yeah, Brand Ambassador John Heald has dismissed claims that the cruise line has removed egg options from its menus due to an egg shortage in parts of the U.S. Calling the rumors utter nonsense, Heald reassured passengers that all standard egg dishes are still available. Other cruise lines are also doubling down, saying they have eggs, like Virgin Voyages' new billboard campaign that says eggs always included, leaving guests not having to scramble for other breakfast options. Norwegian ship hits milestone; ship's final destination may change And Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Luna, has been floated out from Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, marking a construction milestone. The 156,300 gross registered ton ship will now undergo interior outfitting and also get that slide coaster installed. Set to debut in Miami next April, Norwegian Luna will sail the Caribbean through November. It is the second Prima Plus Class ship, with four more ships planned by 2028. ... The first one, Norwegian Aqua, is here in Portugal today. And the final resting place for the S.S. United States may change as Bay County, Florida, has offered to move the planned artificial reef site closer to Panama City Beach. Initially set to rest off Fort Walton Beach, the ship's relocation could further boost the local dive business. Now, Okaloosa County, which purchased the ship and is prepping the vessel, has yet to decide if they'll accept that offer. The S.S. United States is currently in Mobile, Alabama, undergoing environmental preps before sinking, a process expected to take about a year. If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@cruiseradio.net. And this week's Cruise Radio podcast, a review of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas, wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. I'm Doug Parker here in Portugal with cruise news today. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's cyberspace regulator on Friday published regulations governing the use of facial recognition technology, separately stating that individuals should not be forced to verify their identity using such technology. China is at the forefront of facial recognition technology, which is deployed by all levels of its public security apparatus to track down criminals, as well as monitor dissenters, petitioners and ethnic minorities. The new rules do not mention security authorities' use of facial recognition technology. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said the regulations were published in response to growing concerns within society about the risks the widespread use of facial recognition technology posed to data privacy. "Individuals who do not agree to identity verification through facial information should be provided with other reasonable and convenient options," CAC said on its website. It specified that the regulations were aimed at curbing increasingly common practices such as using facial recognition technology for hotel check-ins or to enter a gated community. The regulations, approved by China's Ministry of Public Security and due to take effect in June, emphasise the need for companies collecting data from facial recognition cameras to ensure they only process an individual's facial data after obtaining their consent. The regulations did not specify how this would apply in public spaces but noted that signs should be on display wherever facial recognition technology is deployed, a practice already widespread in Chinese cities. Home-grown companies like Sensetime and Megvii invest tens of millions of dollars every year researching and developing the latest AI-driven visual imaging technologies that are fuelling increasingly sophisticated facial recognition software. The spread of facial recognition technology into everyday life in China has led to an increase in societal anxiety about privacy in recent years. A survey conducted in 2021 by a think tank affiliated with state-run media outlet The Beijing News found that 75% of respondents were concerned about facial recognition and 87% opposed the use of the technology in public places of business. In July 2021, China's Supreme Court banned use of the technology to verify identities in public places like shopping malls and hotels, and allowed for residents to request alternative methods of verification to enter their neighbourhood. In November that year, the Personal Information Protection Law took effect, mandating user consent for the collection of facial data and imposing heavy fines on non-compliant companies. (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; editing by Sharon Singleton and Mark Heinrich) SAN JOSE (Reuters) -The official YouTube account of Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves came back under government control late on Friday after the platform suffered an hours-long cyber attack earlier in the day. According to a presidential statement, experts from the president's office, the science and technology ministry as well as Google, worked to resolve the hack. No details were provided on who or what entity was behind the cyber attack, or if any sensitive information had been breached. Earlier on Friday, the YouTube presidential profile showed a logo with the word "Strategy" followed by a bitcoin symbol. The most recent videos uploaded to the profile had contained information related to the cryptocurrency, which the presidential office assured had not come from them. (Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Kylie Madry and Brendan O'Boyle) Genesee County Sheriff's Office Deputies arrested three adults (l to r: Charles Ashbaker, Kelly Walker, Dougal Nelson). Three adults are behind bars and a young boy is in the care of Child Protective Services after deputies in Michigan stumbled upon a horror scene earlier this month. "Starvation of animals, neglect, neglect of children, this case has it all," Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said at a news conference on Wednesday, March 19. It all began after some AT&T employees arrived at a worksite in Flint to discover that $30,000 worth of wireless cables had been stolen, according to Swanson. In the course of their investigation, deputies arrived at a home where the first thing they saw was a dead dog in a cage in the front of the house, along with an emaciated dog wandering around the yard, said Swanson. Once inside, police came across a second emaciated dog. "They hadn't eaten in weeks and there's no water there," Swanson said. Then, the deputies saw a small puppy curled up in the fetal position and dead inside a pizza box, according to Swanson. Genesee County Sheriff's Office The rotted food found in the house (above), which had no power. 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. Related: White Couple Who Adopted Black Children and Forced Them to Work 'as Slaves' Learns Fate At the same time, deputies noted the "deplorable" condition of the house. "The refrigerator had no power and had rotted food inside and conditions that nobody should even been living there," Swanson explained during the news conference. However, people were living there, including a 9-year-old child. "Three adults, two dead dogs, two emaciated dogs and a 9-year-old boy," Swanson said. Deputies quickly got to work, and saved the two starving and dehydrated dogs on the scene, while placing the child in the care of Child Protective Services and finding them "a safe place to live," Swanson said. Authorities did not elaborate on the child's relationship with the adults during the press conference. However, the three adults are facing multiple charges, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE. Kelly Walker, 29, is charged with child abuse, cruelty to animals and the killing and torture of an animal. Related: Explicit Texts Revealed, Allegedly Sent by Special Education Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting Student Charles Ashbaker, 38, is charged with cruelty to animals, the killing and torture of an animal, child abuse and felony firearm possession. Dougal Nelson, 47, is charged with theft, drug possession and resisting arrest. "We work hand in hand with [Genesee County] Prosecutor [David] Layton to make sure that these individuals are charged as much as we possibly can and let the system take it from there," Swanson said on Wednesday. "These are the individuals that could have at any point called 911 and said, 'I can't take care of my dogs, I can't take care of this child.' " All three adults remain in custody. Read the original article on People Disney (DIS) stockholders stood by the companys participation in a controversial rating system that evaluates how it treats LGBTQ employees, consumers, and investors doing so even as the company backs away from some diversity programs. Disney became the fourth such case this year where investors pushed back against anti-DEI proposals at prominent companies. Other anti-DEI proposals were voted down at Apple (AAPL), Costco (COST), and John Deere (DE). Investors on Thursday rejected a proposal from the conservative group Free Enterprise Project that would have required Disney to reconsider its participation in the Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The index, published each year by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, has become a popular tool over the past two decades for companies to assess their inclusion of people who identify as LGBTQ. The system, which grew from 319 corporate participants in 2002 to 1,449 in 2025, evaluates companies on a scale of 0% to 100%, taking into account their workforce LGBTQ protections, benefits, culture and social responsibility, and behavior toward the community. Disney has received a perfect score on the CEI since 2007. Disney CEO Bob Iger. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) The vote rejecting a reexamination of Disney's CEI participation comes after Disney backed away from other diversity policies as political heat around the issue intensifies across corporate America. The company last month joined a growing list of businesses that have removed or altered diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives after President Trump issued two executive orders aimed at undoing federal DEI programs within the US government. According to the company's latest 10-K filing for the full year ending Sept. 30, 2024, it did away with two DEI programs previously listed under its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion section of its report. From DEI to DOI The nation's largest bank, JPMorgan Chase (JPM), announced a similar move on Friday. In a memo to staff, JPMorgan COO Jennifer Piepszak said the lender was changing the word "equity" to "opportunity" in an organization previously known as "diversity, equity & inclusion." Piepszak also said the company would reduce diversity-oriented training and integrate initiatives that the former group handled into its human resources and corporate responsibility departments. JPMorgan Chase is the nation's largest bank. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) "We remain committed to our core principles, which includes our belief in the power of a diverse workforce that strengthens our business and attracts and retains the best talent," she said in the memo. "Weve always been committed to hiring, compensation and promotion that are merit-based; we do not have illegal quotas or pay incentives, and we would never turn someone away because of their political or religious beliefs, or because of who they are." The latest guidance issued Wednesday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is that certain DEI-related employer practices may be illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law that outlaws employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, or sex. The US Justice Department joined one of two documents published by the EECO saying employees should file charges if they believe theyve been subjected to DEI-related discrimination. Employment law experts from Seyfarth advised companies to take note. "Employers whose current or recent DEI practices may be implicated ... should consider conducting privileged reviews of their current DEI initiatives," the firms lawyers said. "While not every DEI initiative is at risk, the [guidance] reflects the EEOCs focus on unlawful DEI programs and foreshadows its upcoming enforcement and litigation efforts." DEI fatigue The issue of DEI is a widespread thus far during 2025's shareholder meeting season as investors vote on a variety of measures that could change how their companies operate. Both champions and critics of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies have been sponsoring proposals to either bolster or diminish those policies. So far, in addition to the latest vote at Disney, none of these proposals have garnered support from investors at Apple, Costco, and John Deere. That's not expected to change as more votes are tabulated at more company shareholder meetings, according to experts who follow these votes. "I don't expect this year that we will see many, if any, get majority support," Elizabeth Bieber, head counsel for shareholder engagement and activism defense at Freshfields, told Yahoo Finance earlier this month. This years early surge in anti-DEI measures could be a signal that opposition proposals are on the rise, Bieber said. It could also lead to a rise in dueling DEI proposals going to a vote within the same company, as happened in February at John Deere. Deere shareholders voted down both pro-DEI and anti-DEI measures. "DEI, as of last year, is certainly one issue where companies were receiving [proposals] on both ends of the ideological spectrum," Bieber said So far, neither pro- nor anti-oriented measures have gained much majority support. In fact, Bieber said, support levels among S&P 500 companies dropped for both pro- and anti-DEI proposals over the last couple of proxy seasons. Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed. David Hollerith contributed to this report. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Courtesy of Ecco / InStyle "The way we get dressed every morning is as personal as it gets. There are outfit repeaters, vintage treasure hunters, and even emotional dressers. But while everyone loves a good fashion trend, here at InStyle, we're interested in the deeper stuff, too: the way jewelry makes us feel, the way a beloved coat can spark joy on a cold day, the way a pair of shoes can pull a whole look together. How I Get Dressed unpacks fashion routines, rituals, and go-tos straight from the fashion tastemakers we love" When Chloe Sevigny started wearing ballet sneakers last spring, I knew I was looking at 2025's It shoe. After all, the Feud actress made a compelling case. Snapped by paps throughout April across the island of Manhattan (proof that these flats are comfy), her ballet-inspired lace-ups looked just as cool with gym shorts and t-shirts as they did prairie skirts and anoraks. Somewhere between a dad sneaker (hence the chunky soles) and a prissy dance slipper (see the crisscrossed laces and round toe), this weird and wonderful footwear innovation added the perfect mix of sporty and girlish to any outfitand I was immediately hooked. Courtesy of Ecco So, apparently, was everyone else. "I was getting DMs from random people," Sevigny tells me over the phone. "My stylist was getting calls, and everyone was like, where is this shoe?" The shoe in questionthe Ecco Biom C-trail designed by former Chloe creative director Natacha Ramsay-Leviquickly sold out in 2024, inspiring countless fashion victims (myself included) to sign up for a months-long waitlist. Thankfully, they're back in stock, launching along with the new Icons That Last campaign on March 20, starring Sevigny herself in a few of her favorite styles. Ecco "It's unpretentious and effortless," she says of the Ecco design. It's true: these ballerinas are deeply wearable. They also represent exactly why Sevigny's personal style has inspired countless imitators and It Girl think pieces since her '90s start. Much like a funky ballet sneaker, her style is cool, unexpected, and a little twisted. She's just as likely to show up to the function in a pink mini-skirt as she is a vintage fisherman's sweater. Plus, her eye for weird pairings, bold patterns, and emerging designers means no one dresses like Chloeno matter how hard they try. Rooted in a deep love of fashion history, her taste often nods to the artisans and artists behind her favorite pieces. For InStyle's How I Get Dressed, Chloe Sevigny talks about personal style, emerging designers, and closet cleans. How She Found Her Go-to Sneaker I'm not really a sneaker girl. I'm always trying to find something that's comfortable to walk around and also chic. And I walked by, actually, the Ecco store on Broadway, and I saw an ad in the window, and I was like, oh, Natacha? I've known her forever because I used to wear, you know, a lot of Balenciaga when she was there. I went into the store, and I was like, Oh my God, I want every single shoe. This is the ultimate shoe. This is my shoe. And luckily, the store turned up a pair of my size, and I wore them every single day after that. I was getting DMS from random people. My stylist was getting calls, and everyone was like, where is this shoe? Shock waves. People love the shoe. My friend Kim Gordon bought a pair. A bunch of friends bought pairs, and they all were like, but now we're copying you. I was like, please, it's just a sneaker. Everybody should get them! Courtesy of Ecco The Styling Trick She Loves Well, the white sock explosion that happened over the last summer was a real bummer for me because it had been a staple of my wardrobe as a way to elevate outfitsa white sock with a loafer. So I tended to do more grays and neutral tones [now]. But, you know, it's hard to resist a crisp white to make an outfit look fresh. I would wear them with a bathing suit bottoms and a T-shirt at the beach or a boxer shorts and sweaterI mean, they are so versatile. I wore them with everything, but mostly shorter things. The One New Thing She's Excited to Wear I didn't really wear them with pants a lot. But I also don't really like pants. Though, I got these new blessed jeans when I was in Paris that were half black, half Gray, and I'm excited to try them out. What She's Loving from Paris Fashion Week I definitely watch Miu Miu always. I love the granny Prada. YSL's new collection was beautiful. I was there, and those ball gowns at the end with a leather bomber? I was like, this is a fantasy. How She Gets Dressed It's cold and rainy, and we're in New England. I'm wearing a black Wolford bodysuit, which I wear almost every day. They're really good layering foundation pieces to keep you cozy and sucked in. I'm wearing a vintage Diane Von Furstenberg skirt that's black with red tulips. It's like a very '70s graphic floral. And I have these thickI think they're hand knit woolknee-high socks, an elevated fisherman sweater, and my Ecco ballet sneakers. Courtesy of Ecco Why She's More of a Practical Than Emotional Dresser It's really weather dependent, and also depending on what I'm going to be doing, who I'm going to be seeing. When I have to switch from a high, low experiencethat makes it really hard. If I'm going to be with friends and then have a work thing, I'm often confused. The mix is always challenging for me. Her Take on Power Dressing I'm still holding on to my teen roots, so dressing like an adult is always kind of challenging for me. There are instances where you want to project success or luxury. So then it's [wearing] obviously a nice handbag and, you know, just like shoes that aren't falling apart. Where She Shops in Paris In Paris, I went to the Bless shop, which was also my first time ever going there. And, you know, I've loved them since the '90s. I bought this sweater poncho that's kind of an old man sweater. It reminds me of sweaters my father used to wear, and like a Burberry scarf repurposed. It's very cool. And I bought jeans there, and I went to Charvet and bought some new slippers because my old slippers were falling apart. The shoe repair guys were like, they're done. And I bought a night shirt, which I'd never had from them, because, yeah, I just like to have something to wear around the house. It's cozy. Her Favorite Vintage Haunts I go back to my favorite consignment stores. I really love Tokio 7. I love the store Ritual. I like Women's History Museumthey're one of my favorites. I was just there recently. They're the best. They have all this vintage Chantal Thomass, which I think has really slept on. And, you know, they're really into Norma Kamali, which I was really into in the early aughts. So it's fun to revisit that. Ecco Her Approach to Closet Clean-Outs I always feel like if I really want it, I'll find it again. I'll find a better version. Liana Satenstein helped me a lot. My body changed so much with the big baby. And I was like, Oh, I'll fit in that again. She's like, Sell these things now, and buy something that fits you now. Don't wait. That's been a big thing for me. Why am I holding onto things? Just knowing that there's so much more out there that I can find that I love makes it easier to let go of things. Her Wardrobe Staples There's this vintage Gaultier leather bomber that I've been wearing for 10 years now. Leather bombers are always good investments. I have a navy blue Margiela blazer that I've been wearing for 15 years. Those classic pieces that are well made can remain staples forever and ever. I'm into having things repaired. Emerging Designers She Loves Dilara Findikoglu, I think she's amazing. Her runway collections are such a fantasy, but she's always dipping in and making things that are affordable. So you can have a piece of her story: She's selling stuff on Ssense right now. She did a Marc Jacobs Heavn collab. So, like, I'm just obsessed with her. At her runway shows, she's actually back there sewing the garments. She's a real artisan, How Her Style Has Evolved The hemlines are dropping a little. Heels definitely aren't as high, except for events. I think I'm being more nuanced. I feel less like I have to prove myself through outlandish. On the other hand, I went out wearing a Go Go Graham pink and fur mini skirt the other night... Read the original article on InStyle Family Feud Christopher Crisona on 'Family Feud' An educator who competed on Family Feud has been arrested and is facing multiple felony charges in Delaware. Christopher Crisona, a 57-year-old working as an elementary school teacher, was arrested in Orange County, Florida on March 10, according to jail records obtained by PEOPLE. The 57-year-old was arrested related to allegations of abuse from a former student at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Wilmington, Delaware, where Crisona was a teacher from 1994 to 1996, according to a press release from the Attorney General's office. He was charged on seven counts, including three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, unlawful sexual penetration and continuous sexual abuse of a child, per the release. Related: He Went on 'Family Feud' and Joked That He Regretted Marrying Wife. Now He's on Trial for Murder The abuse was uncovered during an investigation into allegations of abuse at the Wilmington school and rectory, which also implicated 80-year-old John Taggart, who was a priest and "repeatedly abused a victim during their 7th and 8th grade years at St. Thomas, and continued after the victim left St. Thomas and began high school," per the Attorney General. The same victim alleged abuse by Crisona, too, who was "removed mid-year" in 1996 from the school "following a student complaint," and went on to work at three other local schools before finding his most recent employment in Florida. Orange County Corrections Department Mugshot for Christopher Crisona Kathy Jennings, the state's Attorney General, said in a statement that the indictment "alleges a pattern of gravely serious abuse against a juvenile by two adults in a position of trust." "As prosecutors, and as parents, these kinds of cases keep us up at night but they also give us purpose. The victim in this case suffered profound trauma over a period of years and deserves justice. Im grateful to the police, prosecutors, and social workers who have been critical to this investigation and who are committed to getting justice." 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. Crisona, who appeared on Family Feud during host Steve Harvey's first season in 2010, was denied bond by a judge in Orange County, Florida, last week and remains in custody, local outlet WFTV9 reported. He could face extradition to Delaware. The Florida broadcast station reported that Crisona has been a teacher at seven different schools in the area since 2008 and was most recently employed at Andover Elementary as a first-grade teacher. A spokesperson for the school district told the outlet in a statement, "The individual was arrested due to a personal matter unrelated to the school and will not be returning to campus while there is an open investigation." If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People WASHINGTON Trump adviser Elon Musk visited the Pentagon on Friday for a briefing that President Donald Trump insists was focused on the tech mogul's Department of Government Efficiency efforts, disputing a New York Times report that the meeting would include a discussion of plans for any potential war with China. "He's there for DOGE, not there for China, and if you ever mentioned China, I think he'd walk out of the room," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office later in the morning when asked about Musk's meeting. The Times was first to report Musk's Pentagon briefing. Citing two U.S. officials, the news outlet also reported that the meeting would focus on what the military might do if any war were to break out with China. Trump and his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, repeatedly denied the report. We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations," Hegseth told reporters at the Oval Office after he and Trump had announced the production of a next-generation fighter jet. "It was a great, informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans, there was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans." Hegseth, who had met with Musk in the morning at the Pentagon, did not say whether the discussion completely excluded talk about China more generally. Musk arrived at the Pentagon at a little before 9 a.m. ET and his visit lasted a little over an hour. When asked afterward how the meeting went, he told reporters as he was walking with Hegseth, Its always a great meeting. Ive been here before, you know," Musk added as the two men joined in a laugh. Elon Musk and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth depart the Pentagon on Friday. Three defense officials had confirmed to NBC News earlier Friday that Musk had been scheduled to have a briefing at the Pentagon, and one of the topics would be China. But the officials could not confirm that the meeting would focus specifically on plans for any potential war, known as the operational plan, or O plan. Two of the officials also said the briefing would be unclassified. The decision to brief Musk on military plans for China would mark a notable evolution of his involvement in the Trump administration and, potentially, his access to U.S. secrets. Musk, whom the president has charged with overseeing a government cost-cutting initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency, could also have conflicts of interest, as Musks own products and businesses are used by the federal government, including Starlink and SpaceX, which contracts with the Defense Department. Musk also has deep financial interests in China his electric vehicle maker Tesla has two facilities in Shanghai, and China is the company's second-largest market. Late Thursday night, Trump denied the Times' article, saying in a post to his Truth Social platform that the news outlet had reported "incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China.' How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!! Asked for comment about Musk's visit to the Pentagon, the White House referred to the president's Truth Social post. Hegseth also denied the Times report, saying in a post on X "this is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war plans.' It's an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the Times reporting 100% Fake News in a post on X. Just brazenly & maliciously wrong. Elon Musk is a patriot. We are proud to have him at the Pentagon. Asked Friday in the Oval Office why he wouldn't want to show potential plans for a war with China to Musk, Trump said, "I dont want to show that to anybody, but certainly you wouldnt show it to a businessman who is helping us so much. Hes a great patriot," referring to Musk's spearheading of the administration's efforts to slash the size of government. "Hes finding tremendous waste, fraud and abuse," Trump said. "But I certainly wouldnt want, you know Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story. The European Union is already using the interest from the frozen funds to back multi-billion-dollar loans to Ukraine as the country fights to defend itself against Russia's invasion. - Monasse T/Andia/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Three years of war in Ukraine have left Europe with a hefty bill: nearly $122 billion in direct assistance, plus billions more plowed into the continents militaries and defense industry. But the region has so far refused to touch the $229 billion of Russian central bank cash sitting in the European Union, frozen after Vladimir Putins 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last week, however, French lawmakers passed a non-binding resolution calling on their government to use frozen Russian assets to finance military support to Ukraine and its reconstruction specifically, the assets themselves rather than just the interest they are earning. Both the United States and Canada had already introduced legislation empowering governments to confiscate frozen Russian assets. In its final days, the Biden administration also tried to persuade European allies to confiscate immobilized Russian funds. Some progress on that front was achieved last week, when the European Parliament agreed on a resolution to confiscate Russian frozen assets for Ukraines defense and reconstruction. The text of the resolution has not yet been voted on by the parliaments lawmakers. The EU is already using the interest from the frozen funds to back multi-billion-dollar loans to Ukraine. But European governments remain hesitant about confiscating the capital. In an understatement from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 15, its a complicated issue. The Russian flag hangs from Russian investment Bank VTB Capital in London, above a memorial to World War I British war dead, on January 31, 2022, less than a month before Russia's full-scale invasion. - Richard Baker/In Pictures/Getty Images Mountain of cash The concerns are twofold: economic and legal. Were not touching these Russian assets, French government spokesperson Sophie Primas told journalists last Wednesday, warning that doing so could set a dangerous precedent, discouraging foreign investment in Europe, even as the government examines legal pathways to use the funds. A country like China, aware that it could face European sanctions if it invaded Taiwan, might be reluctant to place funds in the region, the argument goes. Indeed, Russia has for years been moving its official funds out of the US, apparently fearful of repercussions over its aggressions in Ukraine and Georgia. There is a precedent for this sort of US action. It seized German assets after World War II, as well as Afghan and Iraqi assets, said Professor Olena Havrylchyk, an economist at Paris Pantheon-Sorbonne university, adding that Moscow hadnt had the same fear about Europe. In recent years, Europes central banks have expressed concern (cloaked in diplomatic language) that seizing foreign funds could harm the euro as a reserve currency, Havrylchyk told CNN. But continued support for Ukraine will carry on costing Europe money and interest from Russias funds wont cut it. Thats a reality that European taxpayers will need to remain on board with, Havrylchyk said, if seizing Russias money outright is off the table. Havrylchyk believes a nuclear-armed Russia will never agree to pay reparations as part of a peace deal, so Kyivs hopes for compensation must lie in funds already in the Wests hands. The world isnt ruled solely by economists, she said. International law is above all for justice, not just property rights. Legal worries Legally, Europes hesitancy over seizing rather than just freezing Russias assets stems from one of the key principles of international law: the immunity of a states overseas assets from seizure. The justification for seizing the principal of Russias assets would therefore be all-important, Frederic Dopagne, professor of public international law at the University of Louvain in Belgium, told CNN. A bucket loader is used to clear rubble from Antonovycha Street in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district after a Russian missile attack, in December 2024. - Ukrinform/NurPhoto/Getty Images Reparations for Russias damage to Ukraine and bolstering Ukraines own defense capabilities against aggression are the strongest legal arguments Europe could use, he added. When the US passed the 2024 bipartisan Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act, it justified any seizing of Russias assets in the US on the basis that they would be used to rebuild Ukraine. And French lawmakers debating the non-binding resolution last Wednesday voted through an amendment explicitly removing provisions to use Russian assets to fund Europes own defense. With around two-thirds of all frozen Russian funds sitting in the EU, the stakes and potential benefits are much higher for European governments than they are for the US. Dopagne at the University of Louvain said Europes hesitancy is partly due to the lack of historical precedent. After World Wars I and II, a vanquished Germany was compelled to pay reparations through international treaties. But, with even a 30-day ceasefire off the table for Moscow, any such post-war accord with Russia is a distant prospect, Dopagne said. So, the question for Western decision-makers on Ukraine is: Can we really have an agreement on reparations before weve even got a peace treaty? Dopagne said. It would be a novelty, he added, even if it cant be ruled out. Ukrainian service members unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered by plane as part of the US military support package for Ukraine, on February 10, 2022. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters Unanimous consent needed The arguments on either side of the debate havent yet reached critical mass. States like Belgium, which holds the lions share of frozen Russian assets (some $193 billion, according to the Institute of Legislative Ideas, a Ukrainian think tank), remain dubious, and backing from economic powerhouses like Germany would be essential for broader European buy-in. Any EU-wide action would almost certainly require unanimous consent from member states, an unlikely result, given the support for Russia in the Hungarian and Slovak administrations. Officials from the Biden administration had hoped to use Russias frozen funds as leverage in peace negotiations, forcing Putin to the table. With Donald Trumps enthusiastic overtures to Moscow and the first moves toward a peace deal in three years of fighting, a European seizure of Russias cash is more likely to kill than to aid negotiations. For now, Moscows nest egg looks safely out of European pockets. CNNs Serene Nourrisson contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A family of three visiting the United States has been missing for over a week after leaving the Grand Canyon on a road trip and driving through a winter storm, officials in Arizona said. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said it is currently seeking information on the whereabouts of a family of three -- Jiyeon Lee, 33, Taehee Kim, 59, and Junghee Kim, 54. The sheriff's office initially had different ages for the family members, but issued an update Thursday night. Lee was traveling with her mother, Taehee Kim, and aunt, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson. PHOTO: The Coconino County Sheriff's Office released a missing persons poster for Jiyeon Lee, 33, Taehee Kim, 59, and Junghee Kim, 54. ( Coconino County Sheriff's Office) The family was last known to be traveling by road in a white BMW with California license plates when they were on vacation from the Grand Canyon area to Las Vegas on March 13, the sheriff's office said. Pings on their cellphones and GPS information from the rental car show they were last traveling on westbound Interstate 40 at around 3:30 p.m. that day, the office said. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said it is aware of several multi-vehicle crashes along I-40 on the same day amid a large snowstorm, however, it's unknown if their vehicle was involved in any of them. "The big concern right now is, the ping that we had on that phone .... close to that time was also, a major accident had taken place on the interstate, very close to where that ping was located," Jon Paxton, the spokesperson for the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, told ABC News on Friday. Paxton said it's "possible" the three missing people were involved in the accident. PHOTO: A still from a video showing the wreckage following a multi-vehicle crash along Interstate 40 near Williams, Arizona, that occurred on March 13, 2025. (Arizona Department of Public Safety) MORE: Toddler found wandering streets alone with soiled diaper leads police back to shocking scene at home Two people died in the pile-up involving more than 20 vehicles, Paxton said. Some vehicles involved burned in a long-lasting fire and are hard to identify, he said. Paxton urged anyone who may have been in the area around the time who may have information to contact the sheriff's office. In the meantime he said the sheriff's office has searched the area and service roads as well as hospitals and have exhausted all leads. "We spent three days searching," Paxton said. "Weve exhausted all the leads and searched all the areas we felt they would be." PHOTO: The Coconino County Sheriff's Office released a missing persons poster for Jiyeon Lee, 33, Taehee Kim, 59, and Junghee Kim, 54. (Coconino County Sheriff's Office) The women were supposed to fly out of San Francisco on March 17 to return to South Korea, but when their family never heard from them regarding the flight, they got concerned, Paxton said. The sheriff's office received a missing persons report from the South Korean consulate in Los Angeles the following day, he said. The South Korean consulate in Los Angeles, whose jurisdiction includes Arizona, said in a statement on Friday its consulate general filed the missing persons report on behalf of their family "and has provided all relevant information to the authorities." "We have dispatched a consul to the area and are working closely with the police to locate the missing people as quickly as possible," the statement continued. Family of 3 missing after leaving Grand Canyon and driving through winter storm originally appeared on abcnews.go.com U.S. Marine Corps pallbearers carry the casket holding the body of slain U.S. Drug Enforcement agent Enrique Camarena Salazar after it arrived at North Island Naval Air Station, in San Diego, Calif., on March 8, 1985. The family of U.S. federal agent Enrique Kiki Camarena has filed a lawsuit against the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico and three suspected drug kingpins over his brutal kidnap and murder in 1985. Camarena, a 37-year-old agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, was abducted in broad daylight off the street of Guadalajara on Feb. 7, 1985. His pilot, Alfredo Zavala-Avelar, was kidnapped near the Guadalajara airport. Both men were interrogated and tortured in an effort to gain information on the DEAs knowledge of the Cartels operations, the federal civil lawsuit says. They were killed two days after the kidnapping and their bodies were buried in a shallow grave on a rural farm about 60 miles from Guadalajara, the lawsuit says. His story was featured in the first season of the Netflix series "Narcos: Mexico." DEA agent Enrique (Kiki) S. Camarena was kidnapped on Feb. 7, 1985. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in a California federal court, seeks to hold Rafael Caro Quintero, Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, and the Sinaloa cartel responsible for Camarenas death. It was filed under a new designation by President Donald Trump that classifies the cartels as terrorist organizations. "It has been 40 years since these men and their deadly criminal enterprise ended my husbands life, which he dedicated to stopping traffickers from flooding our country with dangerous criminals, narcotics, and violence," Camarenas widow, Geneva "Mika" Camarena, said in a statement. She thanked the president, saying the designation "finally allows my family and me to seek justice." "My brother Kiki gave his life to protect our communities from the scourge of drugs and violence these cartels unleashed on the United States. For decades, we have carried the pain of his loss, but also his courage," his sister, Myrna Camarena, said. "Thanks to President Trumps bold action in designating the Sinaloa Cartel as a terrorist organization and getting Mexico to expel one of the men responsible for Kikis death, we finally have a chance to hold his killers accountable in a United States courtroom." The lawsuit seeks compensatory, punitive, and treble damages, which allow the court to award up to three times the actual damages. Following Trumps order, Caro Quintero and more than 20 other Mexican drug cartel suspects were deported to the U.S. Caro Quintero was arraigned on Feb. 28 in New York on charges that include orchestrating Camarenas death. He has pleaded not guilty. The lawsuit alleges that Camarena and Zavala-Avelar conducted periodic surveillance flights studying the cartels marijuana growing operations. Camarenas kidnapping was retaliation after Caro Quinteros marijuana plantation was raided by Mexican and U.S. authorities. Camarena and Zavala-Avelar were interrogated and tortured for over 30 hours before they were killed, the lawsuit says. Their bodies were found wrapped in plastic, blindfolded, bound and gagged on a farm in March 1985. A forensic exam found that both men had extensive injuries and died from head and neck blows. All three defendants were arrested in connection with the deaths and convicted in Mexican courts. They were each sentenced to 40 years in prison. Caro Quintero was released in 2013 after a Mexican appellate court determined that the murder charges were incorrectly tried in a Mexican federal court, the lawsuit says. But Mexican authorities appealed the ruling, and an appeals court reinstated his conviction. An arrest warrant was issued, but Caro Quintero had already gone into hiding. He was arrested again in 2022 by the Mexican military after nearly 10 years on the run. Fonseca Carrillo successfully petitioned a Mexican court in 2016 to release him under house arrest because of his health and age. He and Felix Gallardo remain in Mexico, where they continue to serve their sentences. A man sitting at shop selling Baby Three dolls and other toys on a street in Hanoi on March 18, 2025. Seething international tensions over the South China Sea have struck an unlikely victim in Vietnam: popular children's dolls pulled from shops over a facial mark supposedly resembling Beijing's claims in the flashpoint waterway. (Nhac NguyenAFP via Getty Images) A Chinese milk tea chain and a China-made childrens doll are on the receiving end of consumer backlash in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, over their alleged acknowledgement of Beijings claims to the South China Sea. Sales of Baby Three Doll, a Chinese-made doll popular with kids and Gen-Z, are tanking in Vietnam following an online outcry over imagery on the dolls face thats said to resemble the so-called nine-dash line, which designates Beijing's claim over vast swathes of the South China Sea. Retailers were slashing prices to try to entice consumers to buy the toy, according to Vietnamese media. The dolls became available in Vietnam in September last year, and sales of the dolls reportedly reached $1.6 million between September and December. Vietnams industry and trade ministry has weighed in, calling for an inspection of the toys and warning that they were affecting national security and territorial sovereignty. Chagee, a Chinese milk tea chain, is also dealing with angry consumers. The company is preparing to open its first Vietnam outlet in Ho Chi Minh City. Yet customers noted that its mobile app uses a map that includes the nine-dash line. Outraged Vietnamese flooded Chagees Facebook page with complaints, leading the chain to limit who can comment on its Facebook posts. That pushed angry Vietnamese users to post comment on Chagee's Malaysia Facebook page instead. Chagee has since removed the map on its app. The chain did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's relationship with Southeast Asia China is the top trading partner for Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Yet despite their close economic ties, these Southeast Asian countries disagree with Beijing's claims over the resource-rich South China Sea. An international tribunal in The Hague rejected Chinas territorial claims in 2016. Yet Beijing dismissed that ruling and has often deployed its navy to protect what it argues is its territory. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brunei all have competing claims over territory in the South China Sea. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com UConn faculty member arrested for allegedly misusing school funds for travel how to spot the warning signs of financial misconduct At a point when workplace expenses are closely scrutinized, universities cannot afford to have employees misusing funds earmarked for academic purposes only. According to NBC, a University of Connecticut faculty member has been arrested by campus police for allegedly using university and grant money to fund lavish personal trips. A university spokesperson said Sherry Zane, a professor in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program, is accused of misusing university resources. Don't miss The university report claimed that Zane submitted edited handwritten and photoshopped receipts so she could be reimbursed for more than a dozen trips. Several were international trips Ireland and Portugal which she claimed were for research. "The university conducts thorough investigations into potential policy violations and takes appropriate action as needed. That is what happened in this case, and it is also how we continually support a culture of compliance on our campuses," UConn President Rakenka Maric shared in a statement. When it comes to expensing trips, especially in an academic setting, what is permissible and what is unacceptable? Here are the warning signs to watch for when managing your workplace budget. How did misuse of funds occur? Most employees expense work trips, but Zane isn't accused of ordering lobster instead of chicken on the company's dime. University officials claim the professor-in-residence took more than 19 expensive trips between June 2021 and December 2023. Court records indicate she even took her children to Disney and asked the university to pay for it. According to police, Zane produced little to no documented work product from those travels. The arrest warrant affidavit stated there is evidence she created false business justifications to go on personal trips, which were used to expense lodging, transportation and meals. The expenses totaled more than $58,000. According to the university, Zane has been placed on administrative leave. She turned herself into the UConn police on February 13th after a warrant was placed for her arrest. Zane faces first-degree larceny charges. A lawyer representing Zane dismissed that his client did anything wrong. "Dr. Zane has dedicated years of her life to UConn, Zane's attorney, Trent LaLima, told CT Insider. She denies any allegations that she stole from the university, and she intends to plead not guilty to these charges." NBC reported UConn is improving its reimbursement system and will add further steps to approve larger expenses. Read more: Accredited investors can now buy into this $22 trillion asset class once reserved for elites and become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger without lifting a finger. Heres how How to spot misuse of funds at work Financial mismanagement in the workplace isn't always as blatant as a faculty member billing their employer for a week at a Disney resort. However, expense fraud is common. A U.K. survey found that 85% of respondents admitted to lying on their expense reports. Here are a few red flags to keep an eye out for: Unexplained or vague expenses: If an expense claim lacks clear business justification or is unusually expensive, it may not be legitimate. Receipts that lack branding: Watch for altered receipts. While a gas station receipt might be plain text, restaurants and hotels generally include their logo, addresses and other contact information. Repeated last-minute filings: If an employee often files their expenses at the last minute or only offers vague descriptions, it's worth investigating. Misusing institutional funds, especially at a university, can quietly drain money from legitimate uses. While not all employees are in a position to prevent financial fraud, it's important to recognize the warning signs. To reduce expense fraud in your workplace, advocate for a transparent expense report process. If you suspect fraud, consider filing an anonymous report to protect yourself from potential reprisals. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Eminem performs in 2024 in Los Angeles, Calif. Rapper Eminem said "significant damage was caused" and his team is "appreciative" after his former longtime employee was charged with leaking his unreleased music online. Joseph Strange, a 46-year-old from Holly, Michigan, was charged with criminal infringement of copyright and interstate transportation of stolen goods after allegedly leaking the rappers unreleased songs, Michigan prosecutors announced Wednesday. The criminal complaint said that to date, over 25 songs have been played or distributed on the internet without Eminems or his labels consent. According to the criminal complaint, the songs were originally created by Eminem between 1999 and 2018 and were in various stages of development. Strange worked for Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, from 2007 to 2021, when he was let go. "Eminem and his team are very appreciative of the efforts by the FBI Detroit bureau for its thorough investigation which led to the charges against Joe Strange," Eminems spokesperson, Dennis Dennehy, said in a statement. "The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminems artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, let alone the enormous financial losses incurred by the many creators and collaborators that deserve protection for their decades of work. We will continue to take any and all steps necessary to protect Eminems art and will stop at nothing to do so," he added. Eminems reps and Wade Fink, an attorney for Strange, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Prosecutors say that on Jan. 16, the FBI was contacted by employees of Eminems music studio in Ferndale, Michigan, after they discovered that unreleased, still-under-development music was available on the Internet. The complaint says the employees received and recognized an image of the list of unreleased music taken from a hard drive in the Ferndale studio and being sold online. The FBI was able to identify and locate several people who had bought the unreleased tunes, who then identified Strange as the seller. According to the criminal complaint, Strange was one of just four employees who had access to the studio's hard drives containing Eminem's music. The FBI searched Stranges residence and found hard drives containing copies of the unreleased music and found financial records showing payment to Strange for the music, prosecutors say. Investigators also found handwritten notes and lyric sheets created by Eminem. The FBI interviewed a man from Canada who bought the unreleased music. He said he paid $8,500 for four songs via Bitcoin and had raised the money with the help of a group of Eminem fans online, the complaint says. Overall, the man believed he sent $50,000 worth of Bitcoin payments to Strange over a six-month period and purchased 25 songs in total. "Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution by individuals who seek to profit from the creative output of others," Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Julie Beck, said in a statement. Fink told The Associated Press that Strange is a married father of two and called the charges against his client untested allegations. We will handle the matter in a courtroom and we have great faith in the judges of our district, he said. If convicted of criminal infringement of a copyright, Strange faces a maximum of five years in prison and an up to $250,000 fine. Meanwhile, the interstate transportation of stolen goods charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. David Kirkland/Getty Image The scenic and rocky coastline of Nauru. In November, following the most recent U.S. presidential election, the number of Google searches for how to "leave the country" increased by 1,514 percent, according to data by VisaGuide.World. But as many quickly learned, moving to another country isn't as easy as it may seem. There's usually a visa process involved, plenty of immigration lawyers in between, and a lengthy wait time before you can obtain that coveted second passport. However, one tiny island nation is hoping to make things a little easier by selling citizenship for $105,000and it could be the only thing that saves it from climate disaster. In 2025, the island country of Nauru, located in the South Pacific between the Solomon Islands and Marshall Islands, launched its new passport scheme, allowing people to purchase citizenship through investment. It's the destination's way of raising as much cash as possible to move many of its 12,000 citizens to higher ground as the coastal areas of the eight-square-mile island are getting ravaged by erosion due to climate change. Additionally, large swaths that were once used to mine phosphate deposits (an ingredient in fertilizer) have both dried up and made some 80 percent of the land uninhabitable, according to The Guardian. For Nauru, it is not just about adapting to climate change, but about securing a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come, David Adeang, the nation's president, shared with AFP. This is about more than survival. It is about ensuring future generations have a safe, resilient, and sustainable home. We are ready for the journey ahead. Related: 8 Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship, According to Immigration Law Experts It's worth noting that while you can buy the passport, there's no requirement to live there in order to gain or maintain citizenship. "A second passport isnt just a luxuryits a strategic asset. It unlocks greater global mobility, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more destinations," Armand Arton, the founder of the Passport Index, shared with Travel + Leisure. "While those with powerful passports take seamless travel for granted, millions face bureaucratic, time-consuming hurdles at every border. Thats why residency and citizenship by investment (CBI) programs remain in high demand, offering freedom, security, and new opportunities." As for who the program targets, Arton noted it's a great option for anyone whose passport limits their travel options. "With visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 90 countries, including South Korea and Hong Kong, Nauru citizenship is a strategic upgrade for those with restricted mobility." Kyle Maltz, the COO at Dollar Flight Club, agreed it's a fantastic way to see more of the world if you otherwise can't, but added that this particular visa comes with one other major bonus. "One of the most unique things about this program is the fact that you're investing in a real-world environmental project that will have a substantial impact for a small community," he said. "Investing in this project also comes with the benefit of an additional passport/citizenship, which is a cool bonus." According to Edward Clark, the head of Naurus Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, the passport scheme is already attracting applicants. Clark told the AFP the government is hoping to receive 66 applications this year, but its long-term goal is much higher, with the aim of attracting 500 applicants, which works out to about $52.5 million. Developing climate-vulnerable countries are disproportionately affected by climate change," Clark told AFP. "And there is therefore an urgent need to ensure they disproportionately benefit from climate innovation. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, center, walks with Scott Burns, left, as they enter "A Southern Salute to the Troops" fund raiser put on by the non-profit 7 Days for the Troops Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Tupelo Miss. (Thomas Wells /The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a rare move, is beefing up the Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering two aircraft carriers to be there next month as the U.S. increases strikes on the Yemen-based Houthi rebels, according to a U.S. official. It will be the second time in six months that the U.S. has kept two carrier strike groups in that region, with generally only one there. Prior to that it had been years since the U.S. had committed that much warship power to the Middle East. According to the official, Hegseth signed orders on Thursday to keep the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East for at least an additional month. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations. The ship has been conducting operations in the Red Sea against the Houthis and was scheduled to begin heading home to Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of March. And Hegseth has ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which has been operating in the Pacific, to begin steaming toward the Middle East, which will extend its scheduled deployment by three months. The Vinson is expected to arrive in the region early next month. It had been conducting exercises with Japanese and South Korean forces near the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan and was slated to head home to port in San Diego in three weeks. The presence of so much U.S. naval power in the region not only gives commanders additional ships to patrol and launch strikes, but it also serves as a clear message of deterrence to Iran, the Houthis main benefactor. The Houthis have been waging persistent attacks against commercial and military ships in the region. The Houthi rebels attacked more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, from November 2023 until January this year. Their leadership described the attacks as aiming to end the Israeli war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hegseth's move shifts the Vinson and its warships away from the Indo-Pacific region, which the Trump administration has touted as its main focus. Instead, this bolsters the latest U.S. campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis. U.S. ships and aircraft launched a new intensive assault against the militant group, including a barrage of attacks over the weekend that continued into this week. President Donald Trump, in a marked departure from the previous administration, lowered the authorities needed for launching offensive strikes against the Yemen-based Houthis. He recently gave U.S. Central Command the ability to take action when it deems appropriate. President Joe Biden's administration had required White House approval to conduct offensive strikes such as the ones over the weekend. It did allow U.S. forces to launch defensive attacks whenever necessary, including the authority to take out weapons that appeared to be ready to fire. Biden went to two carriers in the region for several weeks last fall. Then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the Roosevelt to extend its deployment for a short time and remain in the region as the USS Abraham Lincoln was pushed to get to the area more quickly. The Biden administration beefed up the U.S. military presence there to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies and to safeguard U.S. troops. Marilou Trias // Shutterstock Looking to buy a home in America's hottest real estate market? Pack your winter coatyou might be heading to the Northeast or the Midwest. Spokeo analyzed data from Realtor.com to explore the most sought-after United States ZIP codes for homebuyers. Realtor.com's rankings assess market demand based on unique property views and pace of home sales from January to June 2024, selecting the top ZIP code per metropolitan area. According to Realtor.com's 2024 Hottest ZIP Codes report, the most coveted ZIP codes are found in metropolitan areas in the Northeast or Midwest, like Columbus, Ohio, and Rochester, New York. As Southern and Western markets have become more expensive, buyer interest has shifted to Midwest and Northeast locations, which took up three and seven of the top 10 hottest ZIP code spots, respectively. Many of the top ZIP codes in these regions offered better value and affordability for buyers with lower median list prices than the surrounding area or the broader U.S. housing market. However, long before ZIP codes became critical indicators in real estate, they were designed to solve a much simpler problem: mail delivery. The origins of the ZIP code In 1963, the U.S. Postal Service introduced the Zone Improvement Plan Code system, and what began as a way to streamline postal processes would eventually reshape American business and culture. The ZIP code system divided the U.S. into 10 zones, with each digit representing a locationfrom regional sorting centers to sectional subdivisionsallowing precise identification of an address within a few city blocks. However, the American public was initially reluctant to adopt the ZIP code system, which was perceived as a hassle. A letter writer not only had to memorize their own ZIP code but remember (or spend time looking up) the codes for the recipient of every letter they wrote. Enter Mr. Zip, a cartoon character created by the Post Office Department, who appeared in ads emphasizing the ease and speed of the new ZIP system. A catchy jingle, sung by Ethel Merman to the jingle of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," also helped the public to accept the new numbering system. With ZIP code usage reaching 86% by 1970, per the National Postal Museum, just seven years after its introduction, the marketing campaign was deemed a success. How ZIP codes have evolved As Americans embraced the new system throughout the 1970s, businesses began recognizing these codes as more than just mail sorters; they were treasure troves of consumer data. According to the 1967 annual report of the Postmaster General, industry and government agencies quickly saw the potential of ZIP codes for targeted marketing and geographic analysis. For example, the report noted that an Ohio gas company analyzed stockholder concentrations by ZIP code, while some insurance companies assigned accident reports and claims investigators by ZIP codes. In 2000, the Census Bureau introduced ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, allowing new analyses of demographics, economic conditions, and housing trends by associating ZIP code areas with census data. This wealth of localized data gave rise to the marketing strategy of "geotargeting," so retailers could now promote products to consumers based on regional preferences. At the same time, service providers could offer location-specific deals. Domino's, for example, uses ZIP code data to send hyperlocal marketing promotions and offers to customers based on their location. Banks also incorporate ZIP codes in their lending algorithms to assess neighborhood stability and loan risksa practice that has raised concerns about discrimination. ZIP codes also play a significant role in understanding broader social factors, like health and socioeconomic outcomes. A 2019 Harvard Medical School study examined the health outcomes of identical twins and siblings across the U.S. and found that, in some cases, conditions like morbid obesity were more strongly influenced by one's environment than their genes and family medical history. In real estate, ZIP codes took on a new significance, often serving as shorthand for a neighborhood's desirability or exclusivity. Certain ZIP codes, like 90210 in Beverly Hills, Californiafamously associated with the '90s teen show "Beverly Hills, 90210"have become synonymous with luxury and exclusivity. A home's ZIP code plays a key role in determining its market value, as it reflects the reputation and appeal of the surrounding area, influencing property prices and attracting specific types of buyers. Read on to learn about the top ZIP codes heating up the real estate market in 2024. Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock #10. Macungie, Pennsylvania (18062) - Metropolitan area: Allentown metro area - Viewers per property: 2.7x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 16 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $462,000 Terelyuk // Shutterstock #9. Highland, Indiana (46322) - Metropolitan area: Chicago metro area - Viewers per property: 3.3x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 21 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $250,000 Harold Stiver // Shutterstock #8. Westfield, Massachusetts (01085) - Metropolitan area: Springfield metro area - Viewers per property: 5.2x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 20 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $347,000 doug m // Shutterstock #7. Leominster, Massachusetts (01453) - Metropolitan area: Worcester metro area - Viewers per property: 4.2x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 21 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $462,000 FotosForTheFuture // Shutterstock #6. Mount Laurel, New Jersey (08054) - Metropolitan area: Philadelphia metro area - Viewers per property: 3.3x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 18 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $385,000 Sean Pavone // Shutterstock #5. Rochester, New York (14609) - Metropolitan area: Rochester metro area - Viewers per property: 2.9x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 8 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $151,000 Yana Paskova/For The Washington Post // Getty Images #4. Basking Ridge, New Jersey (07920) - Metropolitan area: New York metro area - Viewers per property: 3.5x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 16 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $967,000 Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock #3. Salem, Massachusetts (01970) - Metropolitan area: Boston metro area - Viewers per property: 3.6x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 16 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $596,000 The Old Major // Shutterstock #2. Ballwin, Missouri (63021) - Metropolitan area: St. Louis metro area - Viewers per property: 3.5x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 16 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $409,000 arthurgphotography // Shutterstock #1. Gahanna, Ohio (43230) - Metropolitan area: Columbus metro area - Viewers per property: 4.3x the U.S. average - Median days on the market: 11 - January to June 2024 median listing price: $345,000 Story editing by Natasja Sheriff Wells. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. The Israeli army has been instructed to seize more territory in Gaza -- while evacuating Palestinians -- as it expands its ground operation. Israel said the longer Hamas refuses to release the remaining hostages, the more territory they will lose, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. "We will intensify the fighting with strikes from the air, sea and land and by expanding the ground maneuver until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated, while using all military and civilian means of pressure -- including evacuating the Gaza population to the south and implementing U.S. President Trump's voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents," the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, translated from Hebrew. "If the Hamas terrorist organization continues to refuse to release the hostages -- I have instructed the IDF to seize additional territories, while evacuating the population, and expand the security zones around Gaza for the benefit of protecting Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, through permanent maintenance of the territory by Israel. The more Hamas continues its refusal, the more territory it will lose to Israel," the ministry said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. PHOTO: Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Mar. 20, 2025. (Hatem Khaled/Reuters) Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas on Tuesday launching a series of extensive strikes and vowing to open the "gates of hell." Nearly 600 people have been killed and over 1,000 injured since the ceasefire was broken, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. At least 180 of those killed this week were children, according to the ministry. Tuesday was the deadliest day for children in this conflict, with 130 being killed in a single day of Israeli bombings, according to UNICEF. MORE: 60 feet below in a 3-foot-wide tomb: Freed Israeli hostage details conditions of Hamas captivity A United Nations staff member was killed and five other personnel were seriously injured in an Israeli strike on Wednesday. The deaths brought the number of U.N. staff members killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, to 280 people, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "The locations of all U.N. premises are known to the parties to the conflict, who are bound by international law to protect them and maintain their absolute inviolability," a spokesperson for Guterres said. "The Secretary-General stresses the need for the ceasefire to be respected to bring an end to the suffering of the people. Humanitarian aid must reach all people in need. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally," the spokesperson said. PHOTO: Displaced Palestinians, carrying their belongings as they move between southern and northern Gaza along a beach road in the outskirts of Gaza City, Mar. 21, 2025. (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israeli leaders made the decision to resume strikes on Gaza several days before they began, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Delegations from Israel and Hamas were meeting to negotiate in the week leading up to the end of the ceasefire. Israel is demanding the release of all the remaining hostages, living and dead, with stages of a ceasefire in between releases, according to the ministry. Israel ended the fragile ceasefire with Hamas on March 17. The ceasefire had been in place since Jan. 19 when phase one of the proposed three-phase ceasefire deal agreed to, right before U.S. President Joe Biden left office, went into effect. The first phase of the ceasefire deal ended on March 2, the same day Israel implemented a stop on all humanitarian aid to Gaza. The next two phases of the ceasefire deal were supposed to be negotiated as the first phase was in place, but negotiations between the two sides have made little progress in recent weeks. PHOTO: Palestinians use a donkey-pulled cart to transport their belongings as they flee Beit Lahia in the Northern Gaza Strip, Mar. 21, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) The second phase of the agreement signed by Hamas and Israel was supposed to begin in early March. Days before it was set to begin, Israel said it would not withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor as stipulated in ceasefire -- a key sticking point in negotiations. As part of the second phase of the agreement, which was agreed to as part of a draft proposal with final negotiations to come, Hamas and Israel would reach a sustained calm. There would be a permanent cessation of military operations and all hostilities to be implemented before the exchange of remaining Israeli male hostages, civilians and soldiers for an agreed-upon number of prisoners in Israeli jails and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, proposed a new agreement that would last until April 20. On the first day of his outline, half of the hostages would be released in one group. At the end of the outline -- if an agreement was reached -- the remaining hostages would also be released, all at once. PHOTO: A Palestinian woman carries her belongings as she flees Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Mar. 21, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) Hamas has refused this proposal, saying Witkoff only discussed the release of hostages in recent negotiation meetings, but did not address larger issues that were supposed to be negotiated before terms of the second phase were agreed upon. Israel has agreed to the Witkoff proposal. Hamas had agreed to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other dual nationals last week, but the U.S. and Israel balked at the deal. PHOTO: Smoke billows after an Israeli strike near the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Mar. 21, 2025. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images) The White House said last week that it had presented a bridge proposal to Hamas to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover to allow time to negotiate a permanent ceasefire. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have condemned the resumption of aggression against the Gaza Strip and the direct shelling of civilian areas. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said it "strongly condemns" the Israeli airstrikes of Gaza, which constitute a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire and represents a "dangerous escalation. That threatens to have severe consequences for the stability of the region." Far-right Israeli Minister Ben Gvir and his party have rejoined Netanyahu's coalition in the Knesset, after leaving when the ceasefire went into effect earlier this year. ABC News' Guy Davies contributed to this report. Israel orders expansion of ground operation in Gaza, seizure of more territory originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Israel ordered its troops to permanently seize parts of the Gaza Strip to be annexed to Israel unless Hamas hands over the remaining hostages, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday. The statement came after Israel this week broke the two-month ceasefire with Hamas, with the resumption of airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza killing nearly 600 people. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to intensify those operations until the militant group, which nominally controlled Gaza before this round of conflict, returns the 59 dead and living hostages who it continues to hold captive. I have instructed the IDF to seize additional areas in Gaza, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza for the protection of Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, Katz said in a statement. The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel. Israeli soldiers look out from a tank toward destroyed buildings in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Katz also threatened the use of all military and civilian pressure tools including the evacuation of Gazas population southward and the implementation of voluntary relocation plans for Gaza residents, while describing the new more expansive phase of Israel's military offensive in the enclave. He added that this would be done "through permanent Israeli control of the territory." Hamas said Friday that it "remains at the heart of the negotiations," and was engaging with mediators including "discussing the Witkoff proposal and the various ideas on the table." The group said in a statement that its aim is "achieving a prisoner exchange deal that secures the release of prisoners, ends the war, and achieves withdrawal." Since signing the ceasefire in January, Netanyahu has faced the twin pressures of hostage families urging him to facilitate their return, and his hard-right coalition members threatening to collapse his government unless he restarts the war. On Tuesday, his military opted for the latter, launching strikes into Gaza that he and the White House blamed on Hamas refusal to release more hostages. But Netanyahu's accusations do not reflect the structure of the deal. In the first phase of the truce, Israel exchanged 1,800 Palestinian prisoners and detainees for the return of 25 living hostages and the bodies of eight more of the roughly 250 who were taken captive during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, in which some 1,200 people were killed, according to Israel. Nearly 49,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive in the enclave, according to local health officials, whose figures the World Health Organization has said in the past are reputable. The first phase of the ceasefire ended March 1 and was meant to precede a second phase 16 days later involving the exchange of all remaining hostages and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire. That never happened, with Netanyahu agreeing to a proposal tabled by White House envoy Steven Witkoff to extend the ceasefire by 50 days in order to discuss phase two. This was immediately rejected by Hamas, but Katz said Friday that Israel was still standing by it. The White House has made it clear it stands with Israels decision but has yet to respond to NBC News' request for comment on Katz's remarks Friday. The president made it very clear to Hamas that if they did not release all of the hostages there would be all hell to pay, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Displaced Palestinians, carrying their belongings, wood and other items, move between southern and northern Gaza along a beach road away from the areas where the Israeli army is operating after Israel's renewed offensive in the Gaza Strip, in the outskirts of Gaza City, Friday March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli forces advanced deeper into the Gaza Strip on Friday and blew up the only specialized cancer hospital in the war-torn territory, as Israeli leaders vowed to capture more land until Hamas releases its remaining hostages. The hospital was located in the Netzarim Corridor, which splits Gaza in two and was controlled by Israeli troops for most of the 17-month-long war. Israel moved to retake the corridor this week shortly after breaking the ceasefire with Hamas. The truce delivered relative calm to Gaza since late January and facilitated the release of more than two dozen hostages. The Israeli military said it struck the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which was inaccessible to doctors and patients during the war, because Hamas militants were operating in the site. Turkey, which helped build and fund the hospital, said Israeli troops at one point used it as a base. Dr. Zaki Al-Zaqzouq, head of the hospitals oncology department, said a medical team visited the facility during the ceasefire and found that, while it had suffered damage, some facilities remained in good condition. I cannot fathom what could be gained from bombing a hospital that served as a lifeline for so many patients, he said in a statement issued by the aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the hospital's destruction and accused Israel of deliberately rendering Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displacing the Palestinian people. Hospitals can lose their protected status under international law if they are used for military purposes, but any operations against them must be proportional. Human rights groups and U.N.-backed experts have accused Israel of systematically destroying Gazas health care system. Israel warns it will escalate military operations Israels renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip threatens to be even deadlier and more destructive than the last, as it pursues wider aims with far fewer constraints. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that his country would carry out operations in Gaza with increasing intensity" until Hamas frees the 59 hostages it holds 24 of whom are believed alive. The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel, Katz said. The Israeli military said Friday its forces were planning fresh assaults into three neighborhoods west of Gaza City, and issued warnings on social media for Palestinians to evacuate the areas. The warnings came shortly after the military said it intercepted two rockets fired from northern Gaza that set off sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. Hamas had also fired three rockets the previous day in its first attack since Israel ended the ceasefire. A long-range missile fired by Yemens Houthi rebels set off air raid sirens over Jerusalem and central Israel for the fourth day in a row Friday, with the military saying it was intercepted. Israeli forces advance in Gaza's north and south Israeli troops had moved Thursday toward the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the southern border city of Rafah, and resumed blocking Palestinians from entering northern Gaza, including Gaza City. Displaced Palestinians fled northern Gaza along a coastal road Friday carrying their belongings, firewood and other items on horse-drawn carts. A strike east of Gaza City on Friday killed a couple and their two children, plus two additional children who werent related to them, according to witnesses and a local hospital. The Israeli army said it struck a militant in a Gaza City building and took steps to minimize civilian harm. It was not immediately clear if the army was referring to the same strike. And in the southern city of Rafah, Palestinian municipal officials said Israeli bombardments forced residents to move outdoors in rainy weather, deepening their suffering. Court delays Netanyahus firing of Israeli security official In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's push to fire the countrys domestic security chief has deepened a power struggle focused largely over who bears responsibility for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. It also could set the stage for a crisis over the countrys division of powers. Hours after Netanyahu's Cabinet unanimously approved the firing Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet security service, the Supreme Court ordered a temporary halt to his dismissal until an appeal can be heard no later than April 8. Netanyahus office had said Bars dismissal was effective April 10, but that it could come earlier. Israels attorney general has ruled that the Cabinet has no legal basis to dismiss Bar. However, Netanyahu sounded defiant in a social media post Friday evening, saying: The State of Israel is a state of law and according to the law, the Israeli government decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet. Critics say the move is a power grab by the prime minister against an independent-minded civil servant, and tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated in support of Bar, including outside Netanyahus residence on Friday. Netanyahu has resisted calls for an official state commission of inquiry into the attack and has tried to blame the failures on the army and security agencies. Hundreds killed in Gaza since ceasefire collapsed Around 600 Palestinians have been killed since Israel relaunched the war with a wave of predawn airstrikes across Gaza on Tuesday, which came as many families slept or prepared to start the daily fast for the holy month of Ramadan. Israel had already cut off the supply of food, fuel and humanitarian aid to Gazas roughly 2 million Palestinians, aiming to pressure Hamas over the ceasefire negotiations. The attack by Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023, killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Most of the hostages have been freed in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of dozens more. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 49,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It does not say how many were militants, but says more than half of those killed were women and children. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. ___ Rising reported from Bangkok; Mednick reported from Tel Aviv. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Washoe County Sheriff's Office via AP 72-year-old Robert John Lanoue pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping, committing a forcible lewd act on a child under 14, forcible rape and forcible sodomy. A man who pleaded guilty last month to the rape, kidnapping and murder of a 5-year-old girl in a 1982 cold case has been sentenced to life in prison. According to a press release from the Monterey County District Attorney's Office in California, 72-year-old Robert John Lanoue of Reno, Nev. was sentenced Thursday, March 20, to 25 years to life in prison plus 31 additional years for the rape and murder of 5-year-old Anne Pham of Seaside, Calif. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Pham disappeared while walking to her Kindergarten class at Highland Elementary School on January 21, 1982, the D.A.'s Office said. She was never seen alive again, and her remains were discovered on the since-closed Fort Ord Army base in Monterey. "Her parents realized when she never made it home after school that she had gone missing. Two days later, her body was discovered," Lana Nassoura, Monterey County assistant district attorney, told local Monterey affiliate station KSBW 8 last month. Officials found at the time that she had been sexually assaulted and strangled, per the D.A.'s Office, but investigators did not arrest anyone and Pham's murder went cold for more than 40 years. Seaside Police Department via AP Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges, second from right, and Detective Joshua Parker, right, stand next to a photo of Anne Pham outside Highland Elementary School in Seaside, Calif., on July 7, 2022. The murder investigation was later reopened in 2020 when the D.A.'s Cold Case Task Force received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, and police in Seaside submitted items of evidence from the case for DNA testing. Lanoue, who was in the Army and stationed at Fort Ord at the time of Pham's death, was identified as a suspect because his public hair was found on Pham's body, the D.A.'s office said. A local forensics company performed whole-genome sequencing on the hair and searched the DNA against a database, finding that the suspect's last name was possibly "Lanoue." Investigators with the Cold Case Task Force found that the most likely match was Robert John Lanoue. We obtained a rootless hair that was found on Annes remains, and through the use of forensic genetic genealogy, we were able to find DNA linked to Robert Lanoue, Matthew LHeureux, Monterey County assistant district attorney told KSBW. "Lanoue lived on Luzern Street in Seaside, which was 0.1 miles away from the Pham family residence," the D.A.'s Office wrote of the then-29-year-old Army veteran. "One of Lanoues children also attended Highland Elementary School along with Pham, though there is no indication that the families knew each other." 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. An investigator interviewed Lanoue in July 2022, and he admitted to picking Pham up in his car but claimed that he couldn't remember committing the murder, per the D.A. He "acknowledged that he may have blocked it out of his memory to protect himself," the D.A. added. "He admitted that he had a history of sexually assaulting young girls." According to Stars and Stripes, Nevada records show that Lanoue is a registered sex offender in his home state for a 1998 conviction for crimes against a minor in Las Vegas. When he was arrested in July 2023, he was already in prison in Nevada's Washoe County jail, where he was booked for a parole violation, the Associated Press reported. On Feb. 20, 2025, Lanoue pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping, committing a forcible lewd act on a child under 14, forcible rape and forcible sodomy. This case in particular is so difficult to see go unsolved because it was just a young girl, a completely innocent victim on her way to school, and for it to go unsolved for 40 years was a blow to the community," L'Heureux told KSBW last month. We have been in contact with her family, they've been made aware of every step of the process in this case, and they have been made aware of the resolution," Nassoura added to the outlet. "Theyre happy to see finality, finality in this case and see that finally justice was served." If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. Read the original article on People A mass murderer strangled his wife during a conjugal visit in his California prison, according to prosecutors. David Brinson, already serving life for four murders, had claimed that his wife, Stephanie Dowells, a 62-year-old grandmother, had fainted when she was found dead after an unsupervised overnight visit last November at the Mule Creek State Prison near Sacramento. But an investigation showed that his wife had been throttled, with her death ruled a homicide, prosecutors told KCRA. Stephanie Dowells, a 62-year-old grandmother, was at the Mule Creek State Prison near Sacramento for an unsupervised overnight visit with her husband, David Brinson, 54, when she died last November. Facebook / Stephanie Dowells David Brinson, 54, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for gunning down four people during a 1994 robbery. He hasnt been charged in his wifes death. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Prosecutors said they are waiting for cops to wrap up the investigation before they file further charges against the husband, who is already serving life without the possibility of parole for gunning down four people during a 1994 robbery. It was not immediately clear how long the pair had been married. However, Dowells two children are demanding to know how she could be left alone with a known violent killer. How could they just let this happen? I just dont get it, her son, Armand Torres, told the outlet. Given the history that this guy has, we kind of wanted to know how is it even possible for them to be unsupervised? My mom was just left alone, and she called for help, Im sure, and theres nothing she could do, he added. The only inmates currently banned from so-called family visits which are held in private, apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and can last up to 40 hours are those on death row or sex offenders, the California Department of Corrections site states. The mystery surrounding her death unfolded after her inmate husband summoned guards to the prisons family visitation unit at about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 13 midway through their conjugal visit. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Family visits are a privilege, and incarcerated persons must apply and meet strict eligibility criteria to be approved, a spokesperson for the department said. Only those who demonstrate sustained good behavior and meet specific program requirements are considered. These visits are designed to support positive family connections and successful rehabilitation. Dowells daughter-in-law, Nataly Jimenez, said the slain victim was pushing her spouse to be a better person despite his checkered past. They would read the Bible together, she said. He was in school in there because she was pushing him to try to be this better person. (Reuters) - Beijing's criticism of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's move to sell its ports business is a precursor to heightened political scrutiny of major Chinese business divestments involving American buyers, analysts say. The criticism of the deal, including the sale of assets near the Panama Canal to a BlackRock-led consortium, will, in particular, sharpen the scrutiny of a possible sale of the U.S. assets of TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, they added. U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously criticised what he perceived as Chinese control of the Panama Canal, hailed the deal, terming it the "reclaiming" of the canal within hours of the transaction's announcement on March 4. A week after that news, China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office reposted two commentaries criticising CK Hutchison and saying the sale was a betrayal of China that neglected national interests. Chinese regulators, under the instructions of central leadership, have begun looking into the deal, said one source with knowledge of the matter, a sign of Beijing's discontent with CK Hutchison's divestment under perceived U.S. pressure. The person declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. China's State Council Information Office (SCIO), which handles media queries on behalf of the Chinese government, did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. CK Hutchison also did not respond. Bloomberg first reported the development on Tuesday. In its earnings statement on Thursday, CK Hutchison made no mention of the ports deal, although it said that "geopolitical and trade tensions have ... risen significantly." The heavy politicisation of the CK Hutchison deal and the sale of TikTok's U.S. business are set to cast a long shadow over deals involving Chinese and American companies amid growing tensions between the world's two largest economies. "Beijing is balancing multiple priorities it's trying to project a strong stance against U.S. pressure while ensuring it does not appear weak, particularly in the eyes of its domestic audience," said Patricia M. Kim, a U.S.-China relations expert and a fellow at the Brookings Institution. Kim said the scrutiny of the CK Hutchison deal was part of Beijing's broader strategy to "adopt a more combative tone" toward the United States after unveiling countermeasures in response to trade actions by the Trump administration. "Beijing's ultimate decision on whether to complicate the port transaction or others like the TikTok deal will likely hinge on its assessment of whether a trade deal with the Trump administration remains viable," Kim said. Chinese officials have indicated to ByteDance executives in recent months that Beijing doesn't want the company to be forced to sell control of the app to U.S. investors, another source with knowledge of the matter said. The SCIO, ByteDance, and TikTok did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on the matter. 'DAMAGING IMPLICATIONS' Beijing's unprecedented criticism of CK Hutchison's Panama withdrawal came after the deal angered President Xi Jinping, partly because the company didn't seek Beijing's approval, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, on Tuesday. Chinese leadership had planned to use the Panama port issue as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Trump administration, only to be taken by surprise by the sale, according to the Journal. Since Trump took office, Beijing has tried to walk a careful line, countering U.S. tariffs with its own measures while leaving the door open for talks on a bigger deal that would ease tensions. That could include approval for asset sales such as TikTok if it was part of a more sweeping set of agreements to reset relations between the two countries, officials have said privately. Although some analysts say China's regulatory reach over the CK Hutchison deal is limited, as none of the ports being sold are in China or Hong Kong, some legal experts say Beijing could still review the transaction. Popular short-video app TikTok, meanwhile, facing shutdown in the United States next month if Chinese owner ByteDance does not find a U.S. buyer, must grapple with concerns about its autonomy from ByteDance and the Chinese government. In the TikTok sale process, the White House is playing an unprecedented role - acting as an investment bank, with Vice President JD Vance running the auction. This marks a significant increase in government intervention in private business matters. In contrast to CK Hutchison, ByteDance is heavily reliant on its home market, with business operations spanning video streaming, news aggregation, e-commerce and artificial intelligence. Also, the Chinese government owns 1% of one of ByteDance's main subsidiaries Beijing Douyin Information Service Ltd, through a "golden share," as explained by TikTok in a letter to U.S. senators in 2022. The criticism of the Hutchison ports deal has made it clear if ByteDance were to accept any forced sale of TikTok without Beijing's consent, it could face not only regulatory challenges but also political resistance from Beijing, analysts said. "There is a more realistic possibility that the ByteDance matter will eventually form part of some wider settlement," said Steve Vickers, CEO of Steve Vickers and Associates, a specialist political and corporate risk consultancy. "Companies, large and small alike, should be mindful that this (Panama) case has severely damaging implications, which will translate into tangible business risk in Greater China, Asia and around the world," he said. (Reporting by Hong Kong and Beijing Newsrooms, Saeed Azhar in New York, Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Gerry Doyle) By Carlos Ramirez SAN ANTONIO DEL TACHIRA, Venezuela (Reuters) - A Colombian-Venezuelan migrant deported from the U.S. over the weekend and being held in a high-security prison in El Salvador has no criminal record or ties to a Venezuelan gang and his rights are being violated, his wife said on Thursday. President Donald Trump's administration is facing a March 25 deadline to respond to a judicial request for more details on the deportations of hundreds of migrants to El Salvador, as Washington-based U.S. District Judge James Boasberg considers whether officials violated his order temporarily blocking the expulsions. Trump had invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which he said allowed him to deport alleged members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The migrants are being held in El Salvador under an agreement with President Nayib Bukele's government. Deicy Aldana, 26, said her husband, 26-year-old Colombian-Venezuelan dual citizen Andres Guillermo Morales, had a legal work permit in the United States as part of his U.S. asylum application when he was arrested by ICE in early February. His work authorization was verified independently by Reuters. Aldana, a Colombian citizen, spoke to Reuters in the Venezuelan city of San Antonio del Tachira, just across the border from Colombia, where she is staying with her mother after returning from the U.S. following her husband's detention in an early morning raid in Denver. "He's a hard worker," said Aldana, as she held back sobs. "I don't know why they connected him to the Tren de Aragua if he has nothing to do with that, he doesn't have a criminal record in Colombia, he doesn't have a criminal record in Venezuela, if he had one in the United States they would have left him there to serve time." Aldana shared paperwork showing her husband, who has a Colombian mother and was raised along the two countries' border, has no criminal convictions in Colombia. Reuters confirmed the authenticity of the document with its own records search. Reuters was not able to immediately find any U.S. criminal convictions for Morales either. "I'm so worried because he's a human being and they are violating his rights," Aldana said. "It's not fair what they are doing to him and the other Venezuelans for being Venezuelans." Families of some of the deported men have reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told them their loved ones have tattoos linked to the violent gang. Morales, who worked for an air conditioning company and then a cement company, had multiple tattoos, Aldana said, but none were connected to any gang. He had his parents' names on his arms, with a clock next to his father's, as well as a star and music notes on his neck and a Bible verse on his ribs. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Morales' case. Aldana, who has two young daughters, said she was told during a call with ICE that her husband is in El Salvador. Morales had a signed deportation order for Colombia and was told by that country's consulate in San Francisco that he would be deported to Bogota, said Aldana. She said her husband later told her he had signed paperwork changing his deportation to Venezuela. The Colombian foreign ministry has told her they are following the case, Aldana said. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. "I will do whatever I can to get him out," she said. "I have proof to show he's not a criminal." (Reporting by Carlos Ramirez in San Antonio del Tachira, additional reporting by Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb, editing by Deepa Babington) By Daren Butler DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - The detention of Istanbul's popular mayor risks undermining Turkey's move to end the PKK militant group's 40-year-old insurgency - a plan relying heavily on the government's nascent, delicate cooperation with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party. Many Kurds worry that the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - President Tayyip Erdogan's chief political rival - could signal an autocratic turn that will close the space for a historic reconciliation. At stake, pro-Kurdish politicians and their voters say, is not just ending the PKK conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people and hamstrung regional development, but also prospects for democratisation in Turkey as a whole. Such concerns were voiced among some of the tens of thousands who gathered on Friday in the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir - on the other side of the country from Istanbul - for the Kurdish Newroz spring festival. "They speak of democracy but then detain Imamoglu. It'll hurt the peace process and people's trust in it," said Ali Okal, 57, a construction worker. Nearby, people linked hands and danced in line to Kurdish songs, many wearing the red, green and yellow colours emblematic of Kurdish identity and chanting in support of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group. Ocalan, held in a Turkish prison since 1999, called last month for the PKK to disarm and disband. But the process has been shaken by Wednesday's arrest of Imamoglu, which has triggered protests by thousands. One charge against him is that he aided the PKK by forming an electoral alliance with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, parliament's third largest. 'ANXIOUS AND WORRIED' DEM - long a target of sharp criticism by Erdogan's AK Party - played a key role facilitating the PKK disarmament call, which the government has backed. "The people are of course anxious and worried when the government detains the mayor of Turkey's largest city," said DEM lawmaker Mehmet Zeki Irmez in the mountainous Sirnak province near the Iraqi border, one of the areas which has seen some of the most intense conflict since the PKK took up arms in 1984. "Such steps do not pave the way for democratisation and peace... They reduce Turkey's prestige and reputation in the international arena," he said at Newroz celebrations, where many adults and youths wore the traditional Kurdish baggy trousered green outfits reminiscent of those worn by PKK militants. The local head of the ruling AK Party in Diyarbakir, Omer Iler, said he did not think the Istanbul investigations would have a negative impact on peace efforts. "They are two separate things," he told Reuters, a framed photo of Erdogan hanging on the wall behind him. "Some people could use this as an excuse to sabotage the terror-free process and the beautiful atmosphere of brotherhood here, but our people will not rise to that bait," he said. Erdogan said on Thursday that Imamoglu's party, the main opposition CHP, was seeking to cover up its own mistakes and deceive people with "theatrics", without elaborating. Meanwhile, his nationalist ally Devlet Bahceli, who first proposed that Ocalan call on the PKK to disarm, suggested that the PKK convene a congress in early May to disband itself, a group designated as terrorist by Turkey and its Western allies. ELECTORAL PACT Imamoglu's detention shows that the peace process concerns Turkey as a whole because the ultimate goal was to strengthen democracy, said Ebru Gunay, a DEM deputy leader. "What happened in Istanbul showed once again that this country needs a real democracy," she told Reuters in Diyarbakir. Aside from corruption allegations, the main charge against the mayor results from the 2024 local election alliance between DEM and Imamoglu's CHP, dubbed the "Urban Consensus", which prosecutors say brought PKK-linked people into municipalities. The pro-Kurdish party and its predecessors have long been accused of ties to the PKK, resulting in thousands of arrests and the ousting of elected mayors in favour of state-appointed "trustees", but the party denies the charges made against it. The "Urban Consensus", devised by DEM in 2023, embodies one of its main aims - to strengthen local government and boost decentralisation in Turkey - alongside goals of boosting Kurdish language and cultural rights. Gunay said the CHP was now the target of what the pro-Kurdish political movement has experienced for years. "The government has a concept of terrorism that can be pulled in every direction," she said. "The threat of (using government-appointed officials as) trustees, repression and arrests is imposed on Kurds, and now it's happening to Turkey's opposition. There is no guarantee that it won't happen to others tomorrow." (Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Aidan Lewis) By Tom Hals and Kanishka Singh (Reuters) -A federal judge ordered President Donald Trump's administration not to deport Badar Khan Suri, an Indian man studying at Washington's Georgetown University whose lawyer has said the United States was seeking to remove him after it accused him of harming U.S. foreign policy. The order is to remain in effect until lifted by the court, according to the three-paragraph order by U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles in Alexandria, Virginia. The Department of Homeland Security has accused Suri of ties to the Palestinian militant group Hamas and said he had spread Hamas propaganda and antisemitism on social media. On March 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined Suri could be deported for those activities, according to DHS. Suri is living in the U.S. on a student visa, is married to an American citizen and has been detained in Alexandria, Louisiana, according to his lawyer. He is awaiting a court date in immigration court, his lawyer said. Federal agents arrested him outside his home in Rosslyn, Virginia, on Monday night. The lawyer welcomed Thursday's ruling and called it "the first bit of due process Dr. Khan Suri has received since he was snatched from his family Monday night." The American Civil Liberties Union also defended Suri and said he was "transferred to multiple immigration detention centers" before being taken to Alexandria, Louisiana. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday's court order. The case comes as Trump seeks to deport foreigners who took part in pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza following an October 2023 Hamas attack. Trump's measures have sparked outcry from civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups who accuse his administration of unfairly targeting political critics by invoking rarely used laws. Suri is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown's Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, which is part of the university's School of Foreign Service. Suri's wife, Mapheze Saleh, is a U.S. citizen, said his lawyer. Saleh is from Gaza, according to the Georgetown University website, which said she has written for Al Jazeera and Palestinian media outlets and worked with the foreign ministry in Gaza. Saleh has not been arrested, the lawyer added. The lawyer had said on Wednesday Suri was being targeted for his wife's Palestinian heritage and for his own pro-Palestinian views. Some media outlets, including the Washington Post, reported that Ahmed Yousef, the father of Suri's wife, was a former political adviser to Hamas. Yousef had also written for some Western publications like The Guardian. Earlier this month, the Trump administration arrested and sought to deport Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil over his participation in pro-Palestinian protests. Khalil was moved to Louisiana and is challenging his detention in court. Trump, without evidence, has accused Khalil of supporting Hamas. Khalil's legal team says he has no links to the militant group that the U.S. designates as a "foreign terrorist organization." Trump has alleged pro-Palestinian protesters are antisemitic. Pro-Palestinian advocates, including some Jewish groups, say that their criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza and their support for Palestinian rights are wrongly conflated with antisemitism by their critics. (Reporting by Tom Hals and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Diane Craft) The families of some of the men deported by the Trump administration to an El Salvador prison Saturday say not all of them are gang members. CBS News has learned that a barber from Venezuela was among those on the list for the deportation flights even though documents show he has no criminal record. Franco Jose Caraballo Tiapa, 26, is from Venezuela and entered the U.S. in 2023, requesting asylum from persecution back home. In February, at a routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Texas, he was unexpectedly detained, and on Saturday, his wife, Johanny Sanchez, says she lost contact with him. CBS News has obtained an internal government list of the names of the Venezuelan men the Trump administration deported to El Salvador, and Caraballo's name is on the list. A document from the Department of Homeland Security shows Caraballo is accused of being a member of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua but also specifies that he has no criminal history in the U.S. Venezuelan officials said he has no record there either. "He was not given due process," attorney Martin Rosenow said. "He was not able to defend this allegation." The DHS document lists Caraballo's tattoos but doesn't explicitly say they're connected to gang activity. The Trump administration alleges that the Venezuelans deported to El Salvador's CECOT prison over the weekend all had gang affiliations. In a sworn declaration Monday night, an ICE official said the agency "carefully vetted each" migrant deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act "to ensure they were in fact members of TdA (Tren de Aragua)." The official says "many" do not have criminal records, but some do. Sanchez has been scouring images of the recent deportees trying to identify her husband. Asked what worries her about him being in this prison, Sanchez said that he's innocent. CBS News was inside CECOT last month, a place notorious for being an information dead zone. There's no cell signal, no visitors and the inmates are locked up for life despite many not being convicted yet. "I'm concerned that we have no access," Rosenow said. "Who has custody over our client? Who has jurisdiction? El Salvador? ICE? The U.S. government? We have no idea." Sanchez's only hope is that both El Salvador and the U.S. show mercy in the name of justice. "Just because of being Venezuelans, they can't judge us all for being criminals," Sanchez said in Spanish. DHS told CBS News it is confident in its intel and is following the law but didn't respond when asked about Caraballo's case. Caraballo's attorney fears that U.S. courts have lost jurisdiction. Salvadoran officials said they won't share any more information about the deportees. Michigan swing voters express regrets over voting for Trump Judge declines to stop DOGE takeover of U.S. Institute of Peace List of Venezuelans deported to El Salvador by Trump administration obtained by CBS News By Vivian Sequera CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Friday that none of the hundreds of Venezuelans deported by the U.S. to a Salvadoran prison is a member of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua criminal gang, the reason Washington gave for expelling them. "I believe with absolute responsibility that not a single one appears on the organizational chart of the now-extinct Tren de Aragua organization, not a single one," Cabello said on a podcast, saying he had names of the deportees from U.S. media and his own source. U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday invoked an obscure wartime law to deport rapidly people who were, according to the White House, members of the Venezuelan gang, which Washington has declared a terrorist group and alien enemy. Despite a judge quickly blocking the measure, Trump's administration deported more than 200 Venezuelans - 137 under the wartime act - to El Salvador where they are being detained in the country's massive anti-terrorism prison, for a year subject to renewal. Meanwhile, families and lawyers have been seeking news about relatives and clients whom they could no longer reach, and demanding their return to Venezuela. Venezuela says Tren de Aragua was effectively wiped out in 2023, and that the idea that it still exists is based on a claim from the country's political opposition. "It is a lie, a massive lie, and we have the means to prove it," Cabello added. "Now if the United States refuses to recognize this reality, that's their prerogative." The gang, which began in a prison in Venezuela's Aragua state and is accused of sex trafficking, contract killings and other crimes, spread outside its home country including to the U.S. over the last decade during a migrant exodus from Venezuela, according to U.S. authorities and media reports. Trump's administration is facing a March 25 deadline to respond to a judicial request for more details on the deportations. A U.S. judge had ordered the plane carrying the deportees turn around. Cabello said that of 920 migrants returned via five flights since February, only 16 have ongoing judicial processes in Venezuela. Caracas and Washington have clashed over deportation flights. The U.S. said on Thursday that Venezuela lied in saying that a flight of deportees was repatriated via Mexico. Meanwhile, a Venezuelan lawmaker has accused Washington of blocking direct repatriation flights from the U.S. to Venezuela, which Caracas is ready to resume. Separately on Friday, Canada's government announced sanctions against eight senior officials in Venezuela's government, citing human rights violations and undermining democracy. Caracas blasted the sanctions as "ridiculous" and said Canada issued them to "ingratiate itself with the designs of Washington." (Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Cynthia Osterman) enjoy.the.experience/TikTok Michaela Rylaarsdam (above) is charged with te murder of Michael Dale. An OnlyFans model is facing murder charges after a client died during a fetish session. In April 2023, police responding to a 911 call found Michaela Rylaarsdam performing CPR on an unresponsive male later identified as Michael Dale, according to court documents obtained by the The San Diego Union-Tribune. Dale, 56, was taken to a local hospital where he was declared brain dead, and a few days later he was taken off life support. Two years after his death, police have arrested Rylaarsdam and charged her with murder. On the night that Dale died, he reportedly paid Rylaarsdam $11,000 to engage in fetish play and asked the then-29-year-old to "'wrap him up in saran wrap like a mummy,' glue a pair of womens boots onto his feet and pour adhesive onto his eyes to seal them shut," reports KSWB, citing the affidavit filed in the case. Things allegedly went a bit further than that though, according to the affidavit. He had duct tape over his mouth, a plastic bag over his head, more saran wrap around that, and then duct tape wrapped around his face and head, securing all the layers to his head, reports the Los Angeles Times, citing allegations in the document. He also appeared to have had saran wrap wrapped around his neck tightly. 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. The medical examiner ultimately determined that the bag had been wrapped around Dale's head for at least eight minutes, and ruled the cause of death to be asphyxiation and the manner of death to be homicide. Rylaarsdam provided police with her phone when they arrived on the scene, and the Times reports that the affidavit states there was no evidence that Dale ever requested Rylaarsdam to place a bag over his head and secure it, which eventually caused him to suffocate and die. A video on the phone also allegedly showed Rylaarsdam using a vibrator to make content for her OnlyFans page as Dale "lay with a plastic bag, Saran Wrap and duct tape sealed around his head," reports the Times. Police arrested Rylaarsdam in February and she is being held without bail at a detention facility in San Diego. Her lawyer did not respond to a request for comment, but the affidavit says she denied putting a bag over Dale's head. Rylaarsdam will be back in court in April. Read the original article on People Passengers affected by the power outage that shut down London's Heathrow Airport Friday are not automatically entitled to compensation for their flight disruption, experts say. Instead, different rules will apply if a passenger was set to fly on a U.S. carrier into Heathrow. For travelers whose flights on U.S. carriers were canceled, each individual airline has its own separate rules about compensation and reimbursement though there is usually little variation. And unfortunately, many carriers' stipulate that passengers are not entitled compensation or reimbursement for expenses if the delay was not within the airline's control. "If the delay is beyond our control, or you book your own arrangements without written authorization from American Airlines, youre responsible to pay for your hotel, meals and other expenses. An American Airlines agent may be able to help you find a hotel," American Airlines says on its website. Trolleys lined up at the empty arrival area outside Terminal 5 of Heathrow airport on Friday. United Airlines' reimbursement and compensation policies apply only to circumstances "within [its] control." The same is true for Air Canada. If you attempt to book a new flight with a different carrier, you may not be entitled to a refund on your unused ticket given that the outage was not in the airline's control. Still, at least one U.S. carrier was offering passengers a reimbursement option. A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said the carrier was offering reimbursement for trains and hotels for passengers whose flights were diverted to Amsterdam as a result of the outage. On the other hand, passengers who were set to take an European Union or U.K.-based airline or passengers who were slated to take a U.S. carrier out of Heathrow friendlier reimbursement rules apply. For these passengers, U.K. law stipulates that, assuming a passenger is sticking with their original air carrier, that carrier must provide a passenger with "care and assistance" while they await a new flight. This includes reimbursement for a reasonable amount of food and drink, hotel and the cost of transportation to those accommodations; and even refunds for the cost of making calls related to securing lodging. "The U.K. specifically has really good passenger protection laws," said Clint Henderson, travel expert at The Points Guy. While an extraordinary-circumstances policy relieves a carrier of having to provide compensation for the flight itself, "in this case, the airline is still required to reimburse you for charges incurred." But there are limits. "Airlines only pay for reasonable expenses you are unlikely to get money back for alcohol, expensive meals or luxury hotels," according to Citizens Advice, a U.K.-based consumer advocacy group. Passengers are responsible for maintaining receipts for these costs, and reimbursement may not be immediate. Some 1,300 flights and hundreds of thousands of passengers were directly affected by the Friday outage, the cause of which remains under investigation. Airport officials said that while power had been preliminarily restored, disruptions to travel were expected to continue over the next few days. Spoiler alert: This story contains details about the ending of the Netflix series The Residence" (now streaming). NEW YORK Its always the ones you least expect. In Netflix's murder mystery The Residence, fastidious Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) is tasked with snooping out the killer of the White Houses longtime chief usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito), who's found dead upstairs during a state dinner at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. By the eighth and final episode, all evidence seems to point toward blustering chief adviser Harry Hollinger (Ken Marino) or aggrieved assistant usher Jasmine Haney (Susan Kelechi Watson). But its Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs), the presidents cavalier social secretary, who was responsible for poisoning A.B. and bludgeoning him with a clock. A nepo baby and influencer, Lilly had grand designs of completely revamping the White House a la Jackie Kennedy. Her kooky antics could easily be passed off as comic relief as she throws fits over everything from Harry Styles to her woo-woo wellness initiatives. But in the end, we learn that Lilly frequently clashed with A.B., who threatened to expose her shady financial dealings and callous mistreatment of her colleagues. Lilly represents the tension between the old and new guard, flouncing into the White House with a profound disregard for tradition and a voracious desire to tear it all down. Its us versus them: the staff who have been here regardless of administration versus the people who come in with the new president, Griggs says. Lilly very much embodies them because shes the one pulling all the strings. Why did Lilly kill A.B. in Netflix series 'The Residence?' The Residence is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes and created by Paul William Davies (Scandal). With roughly a dozen suspects in the mix, Davies toyed with all sorts of potential outcomes and even considered having Lilly be the victim and A.B. the murderer. But A.B.'s decades-long service made him a more likely target. I liked the idea that the chief usher could engender so much hostility from so many different people, Davies says. Thats what you need in order to keep the list of suspects viable: a lot of different people who mightve interacted with the victim in a way that could turn ugly. "The Residence" star Molly Griggs poses for a portrait in New York. Lilly, meanwhile, feels right at home in our current political landscape. The entitled daughter of a casino magnate, she doesnt believe in the ideals of equity and teamwork, nor does she feel that rules apply to her. She has no fear of retribution; shes like, My lawyers will fix this, Griggs says. Even when Lilly is being escorted out of the room to be arrested, I dont think she feels like she got 'got.' When I think about it in the context of how our country works, and the people who have power and the people who dont, there is that sense of, Im untouchable. I can have whatever I want and no one can stop me. In the finale, Detective Cupp calls all the suspects together in a room, where Lilly breaks down crying as she tries to pin the murder on housekeeper Elsyie (Julieth Restrepo) and engineer Bruce (Mel Rodriguez), claiming that she tried to help cover their tracks because she felt sorry for them. Davies says he wrote that Hail Mary after casting Griggs, knowing she had the skills to pull off Lillys heel turn from seemingly compassionate to frightfully calculating. Aduba was equally impressed by Griggs subtly devious work: I thought it was genius, says the three-time Emmy winner ("Orange is the New Black"). She knew what Lilly represented. She gave a master class on gaslighting and how power can be utilized to disadvantage some. The scene, ultimately, is a thorough example of who gets believed and how easily they are. Davies plants Easter eggs that Lilly is the killer in Episode 1: In a dolls house view of the White House, eagle-eyed viewers can catch Lilly opening the door of the Yellow Oval Room, where she attempts to stash evidence. She also has a prolonged stare-down with Cordelia when they first meet, hinting at the beginning of a showdown really early on, Griggs says. Molly Griggs also stars in Broadway's 'John Proctor is the Villain' The Residence marks a breakthrough moment for Griggs, 31, who has been a steady TV presence in Foxs Prodigal Son, Apple TV+s Servant and Peacocks Dr. Death. (You may also remember her as Grace, Romans girlfriend, in Season 1 of HBOs Succession.) Bailey "could not be more different from Lilly," says Molly Griggs, who appears on TV and Broadway this spring. After making her Broadway debut in Hello, Dolly! in 2018, Griggs is back on the New York stage this spring in John Proctor is the Villain, a dark comedy starring Sadie Sink (Stranger Things). The story is set in the wake of the Me Too movement, following a Georgia high school English class as they read Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Its made by women for young women, but its a play for everybody, says Griggs, who portrays concerned guidance counselor Bailey. "It can help us continue to ask questions about these murky gray areas in our lives and what behavior is acceptable." Coincidentally, John Proctor began performances on March 20, the same day The Residence arrived on Netflix. On her next day off, Griggs plans to have a watch party at home in Brooklyn with her husband, friends and pet pitbull Izzy. (Although, she doesnt really understand screens. I dont think shell have any recognition its me, like, Mommy killed A.B.?) For any actor, its a miracle to be doing one thing in this business, so to have two things at the same time feels special, Griggs says. My younger self would be so geeked. I feel really calm and excited right now but talk to me in 24 hours! This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Residence' ending explained: Who killed A.B. Wynter? Cruise itinerary changes can happen for a variety of reasons. Most often, its inclement weather that leads to a cruise ship reroute, but sometimes other factors come into play. Related: U.S. government updates travel warning for Caribbean cruise port Occasionally, there are cruise port schedule conflicts or other issues that make a cruise ship berth unavailable at a port of call. For the last several months, ongoing construction work at a cruise ship pier in San Juan, Puerto Rico has caused repeated itinerary changes for certain Royal Caribbean cruise ships, for example. Cruise lines dont always offer clear reasons as to why a cruise port of call is swapped out for another on a cruise itinerary though. This is the case now with Royal Caribbeans Celebrity Cruises, which just dropped one cruise port from every one of its Caribbean cruise itineraries that featured the destination. To be fair, the cruise port in question is a controversial one thats been removed from itineraries before due to civil unrest in the Caribbean country. However, Royal Caribbean cruise ships returned to the destination in the fall and have been sailing there without incident since. This time, it seems that security concerns may not exactly be the reason why the destination is being dropped. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Many Royal Caribbean passengers love the cruise line's private destination, Labadee, which is located on the northern coast of Haiti. Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com Celebrity Cruises replaces Labadee on multiple cruise itineraries Celebrity Cruises has made the decision to remove Labadee, Haiti, from a number of cruise itineraries to provide a better guest experience. Perhaps this is because some of its passengers have been hesitant to book cruises featuring a port located in a country that remains under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory from the U.S. State Department. Its important to understand, though, that Labadee is a secure, private Royal Caribbean-owned destination far from where violence has been taking place in Haiti. Related: Royal Caribbean passengers compare private cruise destinations Sailings impacted by the change include some 2025 and 2026 cruises on board Celebrity Apex and two upcoming voyages on Celebrity Beyond. On most of the affected cruise itineraries, the cruise line replaced Labadee with visits to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. A few of the 2026 sailings will instead call on George Town, Grand Cayman, and also add a stop in Cozumel, Mexico. Under the Labadee Cruise Port Guide on its website, Celebrity Cruises now states, Please Note: While we don't currently sail to Labadee, Haiti, you can discover the beauty of the Caribbean on one of our luxury Caribbean cruises. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Royal Caribbean is still sailing to Labadee Although Celebrity Cruises has made the decision to shift its luxury cruises away from Labadee, Royal Caribbean continues to visit the destination multiple times per week on a variety of cruise itineraries. To many Royal Caribbean passengers who visit the cruise port, Labadee offers a fun and relaxing Caribbean beach resort experience with no safety concerns. In the cruise community on Reddit, one cruiser booked on one of the Celebrity Beyond sailings now visiting Grand Turk instead of Labadee questioned whether Grand Turk would really provide a better experience than Labadee. I know people say Labadee is horrible but the cruise port itself looked like a wonderful beach and a really fun zipline. Is Grand Turk really better? majesticideas2 asked. Related: Royal Caribbean ignores serious travel warning and you should too Some cruisers replied with reasons why they loved Grand Turk, but quite a few jumped in to defend Labadee. Who said its horrible? Its like paradise, PilotoPlayero wrote. Others agreed. Labadee is very beautiful, dont underestimate it, Ary_Nel urged. I cant attest to Grand Turk but we just got back from Labadee, Haiti and it was beautiful, the zip line was a lot of fun too! iratello wrote. Still, Grand Turk is a fair trade, as stickittoemm pointed out. Labadee is awesome, I loved it. But Grand Turk is stunning as well. You win either way! (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Jeff Spicer/Getty Amanda Mealing A British soap star has been given a driving ban after being involved in a three-car collision while under the influence of cocaine, authorities have confirmed. On Jan. 26. 2024 at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time, Amanda Sainsbury (nee Mealing), 57 who previously starred in the U.K. soaps Casualty and Holby City was involved in an accident on the A1175 near Hop Pole in Lincolnshire, England, Lincolnshire Police confirmed in an email to PEOPLE. "Three vehicles were involved, a black mini, a blue Skoda and a grey Ford Transit," police said. "A [then] 56-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired having provided a positive drug test at the roadside." Police confirmed that Sainsbury, from the village of Deeping St Nicholas, "was later charged with two offenses of driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug over the specified limit (Benzoylecgonine and Cocaine) and an offense of driving without due care and attention." After the first hearing was held at Boston Magistrates Court in Lincolnshire on July 24, 2024, Sainsbury was then sentenced on Friday, March 14 of this year, having pleaded guilty to all three counts, police stated to PEOPLE. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) also confirmed the charges to PEOPLE. Jeff Spicer/Getty Amanda Mealing The actress has been "disqualified from holding or obtaining a license for 22 months," the police email stated, adding that she was fined 485 (around $628) with a surcharge of 194 (around $251). After the crash, nurse Mark Le Sage who was seriously injured in the collision told the Daily Mail that he's since had to give up his career, but considers himself lucky to be alive. He said, "I was very lucky I was in such a substantial car, I very nearly took my motorbike out that day," per the outlet. The father of three said he was knocked unconscious in the crash and "came around to find the car was filled with smoke." Le Sage recalled, per the paper, "My right foot was trapped under the pedal but I thought the car was on fire and I was just desperate to get out. I think the adrenalin kicked in and I was able to free myself. The driver's side of the car was bashed but I got out myself out of the passenger side and fell into the road." "I now know that the smoke was caused by the airbags going off but I didn't know that at the time. I'm very lucky. The fire brigade told me afterwards that If I was in a smaller vehicle it might've been a different story," he said, the Daily Mail reported. Le Sage reportedly developed a tremor which left him unable to fill syringes, so he had to give up his job, per the outlet. Mike Marsland/WireImage Amanda Mealing 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 The Independent, the court heard that mother of two Sainsbury had been undergoing divorce proceedings from her husband, Richard Sainsbury, at the time of the crash. The pair tied the knot in 1998. The actress's lawyer, Lloyd Edwards, also said she'd been diagnosed with blood cancer and had lost her father, her dog and her best friend within a short amount of time when the crash occurred, per the Daily Mail. As well as starring in the U.K. soap Casualty from 2004 until 2021 under her former name Amanda Mealing, she also starred in Holby City from 2001 until 2019 and had roles in movies including 1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral. Le Sage and Edwards' law firm didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment. Read the original article on People The man in the Maryland cell phone store quits pretending hes a customer when his partners enter behind him brandishing guns. Yeah, you know what time it is, he says, drawing a gun and pointing it at the clerk, according to federal court documents. If you dont want to die today, do what I say. He leads the employee to a safe in the back and orders him to open it. But its not stacks of cash hes after. Todays stickup artist is after something else: smartphones. The trio cleans out the safe and leaves the store in Owings Mills, Maryland, with a grand total of $48,767 worth of Apple and Samsung Galaxy devices 76 in total, according to federal court filings. They also take $322 from the store register. Its the final heist in a spree thats seen the robbers take roughly $120,000 worth of stolen phones across four stores around Baltimore, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The case out of Maryland is the latest in what criminology experts and law enforcement see as the modern-day form of bank robbery with significantly higher takes. In the United States, bank robbers net just over $4,000 per robbery, according to FBI statistics. If noted gangster John Dillinger were alive today, he'd be robbing cellphone stores instead of banks. The heists have grown to the point that federal agents call the trade phone trafficking in reference to the vast sums criminals aim to score and sell in far-flung black markets such as Iran and North Korea. Doug McKelway, a supervisory special agent with the FBIs Major Theft Enterprises division, told USA TODAY that phone store heists spurred by international organized crime elements came to the bureau's attention just a few years ago. These cases start out with crimes that appear to be low-level street crimes the FBI would not normally investigate, McKelway said. But then when you take a closer look you see its a transnational crime. The take? Anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per phone for the lowest level of criminal involved. Ringleaders make millions of dollars, McKelway said. It got them sent to jail for a long time, so I don't know if it was worth it, he said, recalling the first major phone heist case he handled. They are big-money heists that carry big prison terms. Xavier Jones - a 26-year-old involved in all four robberies in late 2020 including Owings Mills - was sentenced to 22 years in prison in February after pleading guilty to multiple counts of brandishing a firearm and interference with interstate commerce by robbery. Accomplice Rico Dashiell, 26, pleaded guilty for his role and was sentenced to 12 years in prison; Donte Herring, 25, was convicted at trial and sentenced to 20 years. Jones recognized going after highly valued but poorly secured technology offered a big payday but technology was also his undoing. The crew failed to notice a GPS-tracking device in the Owings Mills store loot. Federal agents tracked them down using the device to put them in a plain old-fashioned prison. FBI agents pull the thread in Dallas The case where FBI agents saw phone heists were more than just stickups came in Texas in 2020, McKelway said. Law enforcement in Texas alerted the FBI to an astounding number of phone heists at Dallas-area stores. Federal agents began investigating and uncovered that the case was anything but local. As we began to pull the thread a little bit, we saw there were armed robbery crews coming to Dallas from all around the country, McKelway said. The draw, according to the FBI, was a store that helped move stolen phones out of the country. It was this one particular fence that drew them there, said Mckelway, using law enforcement parlance for a store that deals in stolen goods. Word got out in criminal networks that this store was paying good money for phones. The store dealt out over 70,000 stolen phones for $100 million. Countries accepting the phones included China and the United Arab Emirates, according to federal court filings in the Eastern District of Texas. That case really opened our eyes to what's going on beneath the surface in this realm that is the theft of phones all around the country, said McKelway. Prosecution of the 101 people charged is ongoing but 42 people have been sentenced since June, according to Jillian C. Kaehler, an FBI spokesperson. They received sentences of up to 12 years and four and a half on average. The two brothers responsible for moving the phones overseas, Abdul Basit and Arsalan Bhangda, were sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $12 million in restitution each, according to reporting by the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. More: Group of 'violent' cell phone robbers stole a fortune from AT&T stores, get stiff prison terms Bank robbing for the 21st century The trend of phone store heists is so new that criminologists told USA TODAY that little research exists on the topic. But long-standing criminology theories make sense of the trend, according to Dr. Seungmug Zech Lee, a professor of criminal justice at Texas A&M International University: Criminals go after easy targets and when a target becomes difficult they find another. Bank robberies, said Lee, used to be a relatively easy way to score big. At the turn of the century, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and their crew members made off with some $37,000 in gold - about $1.4 million today - in robbing a bank in Winnemucca, Nevada, in 1900, author C. F. Eckhardt writes in Tales of Badmen, Bad Women, and Bad Places: Four Centuries of Texas Outlawry. Bank security have vastly improved since then. Common measures include everything from alarm systems and surveillance cameras to exploding dye packs and electronic tracking devices, according to FBI bank theft data. The Bank Protection Act of 1968 mandated that banks nationwide improve security, according to Robert McCrie, a professor of security management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Bank robberies have fallen to record lows since then and the average payout has dropped to about just $4,000, according to FBI statistics. Federal agents registered 1,263 bank robberies in 2023. Thats an 80% decrease from 2003 when there were 7,465 robberies. If a note passer goes into one of these banks today, he will get some cash but not very much, said McCrie, referring to a preferred method nowadays of simply passing a note demanding money to a teller rather than a guns-blazing stickup. Their picture will be taken and there may be an exploding device in the cash, so its not a very good crime to commit anymore. New American stickup artists More criminals are turning to cellphone stores. Accounts of holdups in court filings read like modern-day escapades of Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson iconic, audacious American gangsters known for thoroughly planned bank heists throughout the Midwest. Robdarius Williams, DMaurah Bryant and Quintez Tucker were sentenced in October to a collective 65 years in prison after hitting eight cellphone stores in Indiana over 25 days, according to the Justice Department. They entered stores brandishing guns and ordering people to get on the ground, according to Bryants guilty plea agreement. One robber waved an AR-style rifle in the face of a two-year-old during the course of a hold up of an Indianapolis T-Mobile store. Bryant hit a Verizon store employee in the face with a gun. He felt the worker was moving too slowly. Some thieves became brutal. Lawrence McKay and his crew showed an escalating pattern of violence in robbing six cellphone stores in and around Philadelphia, according to federal court filings. McKay and his crew left victims tied up in the bathroom by the fourth robbery, according to federal court documents out of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On the fifth robbery, one crew member entered the store and immediately shot an employee. McKay committed the worst of the violence: on the sixth and final robbery, he shot one of the victims in the stomach and then proceeded to kick him in the face. The 37-year-old McKay was sentenced to 32 years in prison in February. He plead guilty to six counts of robbery and multiple counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. What are phone store owners doing about it? Some cellphone store owners have begun using security measures similar to what banks use. Stores may hide tracking devices among phones, like the store in Owings Mill, Maryland, that led police to Jones and his crew. A stickup crew out of Chicago hit a snag at a T-Mobile store in Rockford, Illinois, when the phones were kept in a safe that only opened at designated times. They were left to steal devices left outside the safe and nearly $600 from the register, court filings say. The six-man crew which robbed five other cellphone stores in Illinois received a collective 60 years in prison for the robberies. The last member pleaded guilty in July, the Justice Department said. Even as some stores adapt, many do not. McCrie said little will change until stores nationwide adopt better standards. McCrie said he first noticed thieves targeting phone stores around 10 years ago and that heists have only become more frequent. Store security has hardly improved while the newest smartphones now cost around $1,000. "Not only have these incidents begun but there is no concerted program or plan to mitigate these risks," he said. Its not surprising that this has become an attractive area for criminal activity... Look at the vulnerability that cellphone stores have, they don't expect to be robbed the way banks expect to be robbed. Cellphone providers (try to) punch back Network providers have taken steps to undercut phone trafficking by blocking the use of stolen devices. The GSMA, a phone trade organization, maintains a massive database of stolen phones that over 100 providers worldwide refer to when granting a phone access to a network. Major companies including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon subscribe and add to the organizations list of stolen devices. But not everyone participates. Among countries that dont are China, Russia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, according to court documents in the Dallas case. Stolen phones blocked from accessing cell networks can still be used to access Wi-Fi. Transnational crime whack-a-mole Special Agent McKelway describes stopping phone trafficking as akin to whack-a-mole under the circumstances. Investigators can root out fence operators and shut down significant local networks - as in Dallas - but new ones pop up around the country. Plus thieves resell phones online. Theyre easy to get rid of and theres a huge demand for them and theres lots of ways that they end up overseas and the internet certainly makes it easier, McKelway said. Theres just a huge demand for these phones around the world. Michael Loria is a national reporter on the USA TODAY breaking news desk. Contact him at mloria@usatoday.com, @mchael_mchael or on Signal at (202) 290-4585. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robbers are hitting these stores more than banks. Can they be stopped? Angela Johnson Cade and Angela Johnson on their wedding day in 2003 Angela and Cade Johnson were married at a laundromat in 2003 when she was 16 and he was 19. They exchanged vows not by choice, but because the notorious polygamist cult they grew up in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints forced them to do so. The cult Angela and Cade were born into made headlines when its infamous prophet and leader Warren Jeffs was accused by numerous young victims including his own children of molesting them. Named one of the FBIs Ten Most Wanted after fleeing the cult to avoid arrest, Jeffs, now 69, was finally taken into custody in Las Vegas in 2006. He was convicted five years later of two counts of child sex abuse and sentenced to life in prison. Because of the tumult in the church at the time, We didnt have too much to do with him, Angela says. But if you've ever met him, he's just a creep. Full of arrogance. She didn't like how girls and teens in the cult were forced to wed men they didnt know. One man she knew had 24 wives. Related: Two of Warren Jeffs Children Allege Sexual Assault: 'It Must be Something That Was in His Nature' Getting married young was everything you were raised to do your whole life, Angela, now 38, who grew up in British Columbia, Canada, where one branch of the sect is located, tells PEOPLE. They didn't even let girls go to school further than 10th grade because they saw no reason for them to get an education. Angela and later Cade, who grew up in Hildale, Utah, in the twin cities of Hildale and Colorado City, Ariz., where another part of the cult was located, left the church and each other living separate lives until they reconnected several years later. Today, they are happily married with three children, ages 18, 15 and 3. Both have careers. Angela is a labor and delivery nurse and Cade is a helicopter pilot. Loretta Naylor Photography Cade and Angela Johnson Looking back, Angela says, Its been a journey. Teenage Bride and Groom Angela and Cade still can't believe they got married in a laundromat. They did so because the justice of the peace who performed the necessary legal ceremony was not allowed on church property because she was an outsider, Angela explains. That night, the couple wed again in a religious ceremony. After that, the new teenage bride went home with her new husband, feeling out of sorts. We both laid in bed awake all night long in the very awkward silence of just, what the heck are we doing? she says. Angela Johnson Cade and Angela Johnson in 2003 As days and weeks went on, Angela realized that she didnt want to be married. She just wanted to be a normal teenager. I was only 16 so I was still wanting to do things that weren't allowed in the religion, like listening to pop music from artists like Shania Twain and Britney Spears, she says. Cade admits that he, too, had been breaking the cult's strict rules. I had been listening to music. I would sneak and drink alcohol once in a while." But after his marriage, as head of his new household, "I realized that wed better straighten up. That meant trying to keep his new bride in line with the cult's teaching something he didn't really want to do. She had just been through all this in her father's household and now here she was back being controlled again with her new husband who was trying to figure it out too, he says. The stakes, according to the cult, were higher than ever. This was all about our eternal salvation, he says. Angela didnt care. I was like, This is not for me, she says, deciding that she was leaving Cade. Upset at Angelas rebelliousness, her parents, with the cults backing, ultimately sent her to live with an aunt she had never met. But the experience was a positive one for Angela. She was amazing and helped me kind of get on my feet and see things from a different perspective, she says. Marriage 2.0 Angela stayed with her aunt until June 2004, around the time she and Cade started talking again when her best friend started dating Cades best friend. Angela initially wanted to start divorce proceedings, but after spending time with Cade, who says he had "run away" from the cult, she realized how much they had in common. Angela Johnson Cade and Angela Johnson after they reconnected We started kind of seeing each other and talking, and ultimately, we were both like, 'Well, you're kind of cool,' she says. I joke about this, but he took his shirt off [when they were swimming, and] I was like, Oh, okay. You're all right, she says, laughing. A month or so later, they decided to give it another try since we're already married," she says. The worst that can happen is we can get divorced. Angela Johnson Cade and Angela Johnson The rest is history. Nowadays, they continue to share a journey of "healing" from the traumas they endured by mountain biking, snowboarding, working on Angela's children's clothing line, Glimmers, and spending time with their children. "We allow them to be themselves and try not to shape or form them into something that maybe I would want," says Cade. Adds Angela: "I take so much pride in seeing how happy my kids are." Read the original article on People By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump awarded Boeing on Friday the contract to build the U.S. Air Force's most sophisticated fighter jet yet, dubbed the F-47, handing the company a much-needed win. The Next Generation Air Dominance program will replace Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor with a crewed aircraft built to enter combat alongside drones. Trump, the 47th president, announced the new jet's name, the F-47. "We've given an order for a lot. We can't tell you the price," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "Our allies are calling constantly," Trump added, saying foreign sales could be an option. "They want to buy them also." For Boeing, the win marks a reversal of fortune for a company that has struggled on both the commercial and defense sides of its business. It is a major boost for its St. Louis, Missouri, fighter jet production business. The engineering and manufacturing development contract is worth more than $20 billion. Boeing's win means it will make the jet fighter and receive orders worth hundreds of billions of dollars over the contract's multi-decade lifetime. Shares of Boeing rose nearly 5% after the U.S. company beat out Lockheed Martin for the deal. Lockheed's shares fell nearly 7%. Reuters reported Boeing's victory before the official announcement. The plane's design remains a closely held secret, but would likely include stealth, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines. "Compared to the F-22, the F-47 will cost less and be more adaptable to future threats - and we will have more of the F-47s in our inventory," said Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Allvin. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NGAD was conceived as a "family of systems" centered around a sixth-generation fighter to counter adversaries such as China and Russia. Allvin added the F-47 will have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, and will be more sustainable and more easily supported than the F-22. MAJOR WIN Boeing's commercial operations have struggled as it attempts to get its best-selling 737 MAX jet production back up to full speed, while its defense operation has been weighed down by underperforming contracts for mid-air refueling tankers, drones and training jets. "The win is a major boost for the company, which has struggled with cost overruns, schedule delays and execution on other DoD programs," said Roman Schweizer, an analyst at TD Cowen. Cost overruns at the KC-46 mid-air refueling tanker program have surpassed $7 billion in recent years, while another fixed-price contract to upgrade two Air Force One planes has created a $2-billion loss for the top-5 U.S. defense contractor. Boeing has faced ongoing scrutiny since a series of crises including a mid-air emergency in January 2024 involving a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 missing four key bolts. In January, Boeing reported an $11.8-billion annual loss - its largest since 2020 - due to problems at its major units, along with fallout from a strike that shuttered production of most of its jets. Boeing has ceded ground to rival Airbus in the delivery race and entered the crosshairs of regulators and customers following missteps. The Federal Aviation Administration in early 2024 imposed a monthly production cap. "A program of this size and complexity requires careful oversight to make sure it doesn't fall behind or have cost overruns," Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a former U.S. Navy combat pilot, said in a statement. Billionaire and presidential adviser Elon Musk has voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of crewed high-end fighters, saying cheaper drones were a better option. Lockheed, which was recently eliminated from the competition to build the Navy's next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter, faces an uncertain future in the high-end fighter market after the loss. "While disappointed with this outcome, we are confident we delivered a competitive solution," Lockheed said in a statement. "We will await further discussions with the U.S. Air Force." While Lockheed could still protest the government's award to Boeing, the fact Trump announced the deal in a high-profile press conference could reduce the possibility of a public airing of arguments against the agreement from the Bethesda, Maryland-based defense firm. (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; additional reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Sanders and Rod Nickel) Her first trial ended with a hung jury. Her second finished with an acquittal on the most serious charge second-degree murder and a conviction for the lesser crime of manslaughter. Then, in January, the legal saga of Kaitlyn Conley took another unexpected turn: A New York appellate court overturned the 2017 conviction in the fatal poisoning of her boss, a killing the prosecutor had described as cold-hearted and diabolical. The problem, the appeals panel concluded, was that her defense had not done enough to stop prosecutors from introducing key evidence details from Conleys cellphone obtained through what the ruling described as an improperly written warrant. Mary Yoder. Conley was released from prison earlier this year, and Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville is weighing whether his office should pursue a third trial. He told Dateline he is reviewing the case. The Oneida County Sheriffs Department, which investigated the death, did not respond to requests for comment. In the meantime, here are three key moments in the case. A mysterious illness and death that made no sense July 21, 2015 Mary Yoder, a longtime chiropractor who ran a clinic with her husband outside Utica and was known for her love of health and fitness, was hospitalized with increasingly dire symptoms vomiting, diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. Although specialists were brought in to treat her, by that night, doctors had provided no answers as to what was making her ill, Yoders relatives have told Dateline. They had to revive her several times after her heart stopped, they said. Yoder, 60, was pronounced dead the next day. I remember at the time saying, I dont understand this,' Yoders daughter, Tamaryn Yoder, told Dateline. If there had been a car accident or something, that I could understand. But I dont understand this. What happened for her body to just quit? Because it made no sense. Read other 'Dateline' cases Lori Vallow Daybell feels certain she will be exonerated in children's deaths Menendez supporters say brothers should go free but prosecutors who tried them believe they got what they deserved Decades after his father vanished, one man wonders what role a murderous boss may have played After a woman was found dead in the woods, Ohio relied on a well-known forensics expert in the murder case. Was it the right call? An autopsy later revealed that she had died from colchicine toxicity a drug used to treat gout. That November, the sheriffs office received an anonymous letter claiming that Yoders son, Adam then in his mid-20s had admitted poisoning her. The letter claimed Adam Yoder had bought the drug online, dosed her vitamins with it and stashed the bottle under the front passenger seat of his Jeep, former Oneida County Sheriffs detective Robert Nelson previously told Dateline. The letters author claimed Adam Yoder was fueled by anger and a belief that his mothers death would benefit him financially, Nelson said. In an interview with authorities, Adam Yoder denied the allegations. But when investigators searched his car, Nelson said, they found the container in the precise spot where the letter said it would be. Adam Yoder said the bottle had been planted, Nelson said, and detectives were skeptical of the letters claims. If Adam Yoder killed his mother, Nelson recalled thinking, why would he bring evidence of the murder to the sheriffs office, where he had been interviewed? When they looked into his whereabouts at the time his mother was poisoned, they discovered that hed been on Long Island 300 miles away. Eventually, authorities discovered the letter writers identity and came to believe that she was responsible for Mary Yoders death. That was Kaitlyn Conley, the receptionist at Mary Yoders clinic and Adam Yoders ex-girlfriend. Trying to cast suspicion on chiropractors family at trials June 13, 2016 Conley, then 23, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, forgery, falsifying business records and two counts of larceny. When detectives questioned her about the letter, shed been working full time at the clinic for a couple of years and involved in an on-again off-again relationship with Adam Yoder. Conley acknowledged writing the letter and told the investigators that her ex had confessed to the killing, video of Conleys interview shows. She told authorities that he had said he regretted doing it. Kaitlyn Conley and Adam Yoder. Conley said she hadnt come forward sooner because she was afraid of him. But when authorities obtained a search warrant for Conleys cellphone, they discovered that it had been used to search poison and colchicine multiple times, according to the appeals ruling. And the email used in the drug purchase mradamyoder1990@gmail.com had been logged into on her device, the ruling states. Detectives used those revelations to uncover another key piece of evidence that Conley had bought the prepaid debit card used to purchase the colchicine, the ruling states. When Conleys trial began in April 2017, prosecutor Laurie Lisi pointed out that on the day Mary Yoder fell ill, Conley was the only other person patients saw at the clinic. And Lisi identified a possible motive in the murder: Kaitlyn Conley wanted Adam Yoder back. And I submit to you, she poisoned Adam Yoders mother, her boss, in hopes of bringing Adam Yoder back to her. That plan briefly worked, Lisi alleged. They got back together after Mary Yoders death, but then they split up again and Conley sent the letter identifying Adam Yoder as the killer, the prosecutor said. In interviews with detectives, Conley denied killing her boss. And at trial, her lawyer blamed the death on Mary Yoders husband, Bill Yoder, whom she ran the clinic with. According to defense attorney Christopher Pelli, Bill Yoder had the motive hed developed a romantic relationship with his wifes sister and, with a recent inheritance, no longer needed his wife, the primary breadwinner in the relationship and he had opportunity. Although Conley was the only other employee seen at their office the day Mary Yoder became sick, Pelli said it was Bill Yoders practice to get his work done in secret and make sure no patients knew he was there. Mary and Bill Yoder. In an interview with Dateline, Pelli disputed the evidence found on Conleys phone. The prosecution couldnt say that, Katie searched this particular term prior to Marys death, he said. It appeared that it was afterward. Bill Yoder was never charged in his wifes death and he told Dateline that he did not poison her. In court, he testified that his relationship with Mary Yoders sister began after her death. In the first trial, the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after deliberating for five days and the judge declared a mistrial. During the second trial, which began five months later, Conleys new defense attorney did not identify Bill Yoder as a possible suspect, but instead focused on his son, Adam. In testimony, Adam Yoder denied the allegations and the prosecution suggested that he, too, may have been poisoned in the months before his mothers death. After Conley gave him supplements to help boost his memory, Adam Yoder testified, he went to the emergency room with symptoms similar to his mothers. Conleys lawyer denied that she had anything to do with his illness and suggested that hed made himself sick with the colchicine hed bought to kill his mother. On the second day of deliberations, the jury acquitted Conley of second-degree murder and convicted her of manslaughter. She was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Mary and Bill Yoder. A winning appeal and release from prison Jan. 31, 2025 A state appeals court in New York overturned Conleys manslaughter conviction after she obtained a new lawyer who argued that Pelli failed to properly challenge the warrant that allowed authorities access to Conleys cellphone. Attorney Melissa Swartz told Dateline that Conley, who had been working in the law library at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, first drew her attention to the document, which she described as probably the most facially insufficient warrant Ive ever come across. They believed that that was a warrant to take her phone and look in it, said Swartz, who specializes in post-conviction matters. But what it needs to be is two separate warrants; one to take her phone and then one to actually search her phone. In 2022, Swartz filed a motion seeking to overturn Conleys conviction that claimed ineffective assistance of counsel and raised a series of issues about her defense. Among them was Pellis failure to challenge the warrant on the grounds that it was overbroad. In a hearing on the matter, Pelli acknowledged the error and said he had failed to recognize it as an issue at the time. The district attorneys office opposed the challenge and a judge denied the motion, writing in a 2024 ruling that because there was no conviction in the first trial, the matter was moot. But Swartz appealed, and in January, the court ruled in Conleys favor, stating that Pellis failure was sufficiently egregious and prejudicial as to compromise her right to a fair trial. The fact that there had been a mistrial didnt prevent Conley from pursuing the ineffective assistance claim, the ruling states, noting that the failure to block the warrant in the first trial led to the introduction of cellphone evidence in the second. Conley was released days after the appeals court issued its ruling. The ruling does not address the evidence uncovered from Conleys cellphone. It states only that in their warrant seeking the device and its contents, authorities did not spell out what they were looking for in connection with Mary Yoders death. Swartz told Dateline that her role was not to solve the crime and that the effort to overturn Conleys conviction had not sought to establish her innocence. We are making sure that the criminal justice system is working correctly, she said. Thats important for people that commit crimes, and thats important for people who have been wrongfully convicted of committing crimes. By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday refused to pause a judge's ruling requiring the Trump administration to reinstate 25,000 workers at 18 federal agencies who lost their jobs as part of the Republican president's purge of the federal workforce. A panel of the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said there was no reason to pause the decision because the judge in Baltimore, Maryland is expected to decide next week whether to extend it further, in a lawsuit brought by 19 Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C. U.S. District Judge James Bredar last week said the agencies that engaged in mass firings of probationary employees did not follow the required procedures for conducting layoffs of federal workers, and temporarily ordered their reinstatement. The states on Thursday moved for a preliminary injunction that would leave Bredar's ruling in place pending the outcome of the lawsuit or appeals, which could take months or longer to resolve. Bredar has scheduled a hearing for March 26. The Trump administration in court filings on March 17 said the agencies were working to reinstate the fired employees, while temporarily placing them on paid leave. The 18 agencies involved in the case include the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services and the Treasury Department. The White House and the agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The office of Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, which is spearheading the lawsuit, did not immediately have a comment. Probationary employees typically have less than one year, and sometimes less than two years, of service in their current roles, though some are longtime federal employees. The mass firings of probationary workers were the first step in broader efforts by Trump and top adviser Elon Musk to drastically shrink the federal workforce and slash government spending. Most agencies have said they fired a few hundred probationary workers, but others terminated far more. The Treasury Department fired about 7,600 people, the Department of Agriculture about 5,700 and the Department of Health and Human Services more than 3,200, according to court filings. The states in their lawsuit claim the mass firings were improper because agencies failed to follow a federal regulation requiring them to give state and local governments 60 days notice of mass layoffs, and will lead to a spike in unemployment claims and demand for social services. On March 13, hours before Bredar issued his ruling, a judge in San Francisco separately ordered that probationary workers at six agencies be reinstated, but on different legal grounds. That case involves five of the agencies subject to Bredar's ruling and the U.S. Department of Defense. The Trump administration has appealed that decision and asked a San Francisco-based appeals court to pause it pending the outcome of the case. The judges' rulings did not bar agencies from firing probationary workers, but took issue with the manner in which the terminations were conducted. On Friday, Trump-appointed 4th Circuit Judge Allison Rushing wrote separately that while it would not be appropriate to block Bredar's ruling at the moment, the judge lacked the authority to order reinstatements nationwide rather than only in the states that sued. "The district court lost sight of who the Plaintiffs are and what injury they claim when it concluded a nationwide injunction was warranted," Rushing wrote. The three-judge panel also includes judges appointed by Presidents Ronald Reagan, a Republican, and Joe Biden, a Democrat. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Cynthia Osterman and Bill Berkrot) HAMPTON, Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley fielded questions from a packed room of heated Iowans on Friday who urged him to "stand up for what's right" in the face of the Trump administration's massive federal downsizing. My question, which I think is on our minds here, is where is Congress? asked one audience member, which was met with cheers from the audience at the Franklin County Courthouse in central Iowa. The town hall, which drew a crowd of more than 100 Iowans and quickly reached the room's capacity, comes after the National Republican Congressional Committee recently advised Republicans against holding public town halls as speakers' anger over Trump's administration policies went viral. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley fields questions from an emotional crowd during a town hall Friday, March 21, 2025, in Hampton, Iowa. More: How Trump and Musk have sought greater control over federal employees Grassley is the first Iowa lawmaker to hold a true town hall in the wake of a wave of discontent from voters across the country with Washington, D.C., politics. Iowa's federal representatives recently told the Des Moines Register, a USA TODAY Network partner, this month they still plan to hold town halls. Following the national outcry, left-leaning groups have held more than a dozen "people's town halls" or "open seat town halls" for Iowa's federal delegation because they say their questions remain unanswered. National Democrats have also heard the calls from voters and included Iowa on a tour with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz last week of swing districts for the 2026 midterms where potentially vulnerable Republicans hold seats. Walz told Iowans that Democrats need to list to voters' "primal scream" to "do something, dammit!" Other federal lawmakers, such as Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., who have held town halls in recent weeks have faced boos and heckling from voters frustrated with politics in Washington, D.C. More: House Republicans advised to stop holding in-person town halls after DOGE complaints Before the town hall's start, Margaret Smith of Hampton said she appreciates Grassley meeting with Iowans, but she said what the senator does next is important. Ive got three points Id like to bring up. One is, what the hell is the Department of Government Efficiency? Its not a federally appointed organization," Smith said. Wheres the approval for it, wheres the oversight for it, wheres the security clearance for it and how can the people in that organization be telling people 'shut down your office, and youll lose your job.' Theres no precedent for that. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley listens as a constituent asks a question during a town hall at the Franklin County Courthouse on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Hampton. Grassley: 'I let them set the agenda' for town halls As the town hall began, Grassley said he wouldn't be able to answer everyone's questions over the hour they had scheduled. He remained calm as speakers shouted sometimes all at once and while rising from their seats. Audience members said they appreciated that Grassley took the time to hear from them, even as they heckled him during the town hall and protested with signs while he left the building. A town hall speaker questioned Grassley on court and government oversight of Trump and the new administration. He said he hasn't been impressed by Congress members' oversight on cuts to the federal government. "The courts are doing their job, and they're doing it really well," the unidentified speaker said. "They're reining in Trump and others, but we need to have the Senate and the House also providing oversight, and it's your job. We are depending on you and the others to save Democracy." More: Chuck Edwards faced Asheville Town Hall backlash; people angered by Trump, Musk's actions In response, Grassley, who has called himself a "watchdog" in Congress, said he has a staff with 33 investigations going, including one on curbing "government waste." A constituent reacts as U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley speaks during a town hall at the Franklin County Courthouse on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Hampton. The crowd roared in reply to Grassley's response, cutting him off. Another speaker asked Grassley, as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, "President Trump is above the law, and I'll just reinforce what other people have been saying here, why have you not spoken up for it? We have trusted you with our votes. We have sent you to Congress for decades. We expect you to follow through for what we Iowans really want our government to do." Grassley replied that he has a track record of being available to journalists, working to publish all of his remarks he gives on the Senate floor and time spent meeting with Iowans shows his communication to voters in the state. "I try to make myself very very available to the journalists, but if you don't read about it. I put it out the best way I know to put it up," Grassley said. The voter restated his question: "Why do you feel that President Trump is above the law?" "He's not above the law," Grassley said, with yelling from attendees following. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley speaks during a town hall at the Franklin County Courthouse on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Hampton. Iowans express their frustration with DOGE and Elon Musk Mark McCormick, 41, of Des Moines wasn't able to get into the town hall before it filled up. But outside afterward, he said he is an independent voter and used to side with Republicans but said he can't support Grassley and is frustrated with how the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is being run. "I mean, if they make sense and they're doing the right thing, then I'll vote for them, but the party has gone off the rails, and now they're basically OK with fascism, which is crazy," McCormick said. Grassley told reporters afterward that it was evidence of "representative government in action." "It goes like all of my town meetings. I let them set the agenda, and they can bring up anything that they wanted to, so we dealt with a lot of issues that are on people's minds," Grassley told reporters. "It's not only that it's expressed here, it's expressed in the massive amount of emails and postal mail, and telephone calls every day. And it's reflected that people are very concerned about a lot of issues that are going on in Washington, D.C." He said he frequently fields concerns from Iowans and advocates for them. He gave an example of reaching out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture after a federal employee from Ames, Iowa, who studies bird flu was laid off. When we deal with this on an institution basis, itll be through the appropriation bills, and when we appropriate money Grassley said. Congress has given too much flexibility to both Republican and Democrat presidents on how you spend these trillions of dollars that we appropriate, and maybe this year, were learning a lesson not to be so delegating of authority to the president and put more restrictions in the appropriation bills of how many has to be spent. Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at sabine.martin@gannett.com or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Sen. Chuck Grassley town hall in Iowa gets heated quickly over Trump A white couple from West Virginia were collectively sentenced to 375 years in prison for forcing their five adopted black children to work on their farm as slaves while being berated with racial slurs. Jeanne Kay Whitefeather received up to 215 years in prison and her husband, Donald Lantz, will serve up to 160 years the maximum sentence after the pair were convicted of forced labor, human trafficking and child abuse and neglect in January. You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know as Almost Heaven, and you put them in hell. This court will now put you in yours, Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers barked at the defendants on Wednesday. And may God have mercy on your souls. Because this court will not. The four oldest children penned emotional letters to their adoptive parents, which were read aloud in the courtroom. The children said in the letters that they have endured life-changing trauma thats left them scarred with trust issues and nightmares. Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Ray Lantz, 63, pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges. WCHS Ill never understand how you can sleep at night. I want you to know that you are a monster, the eldest daughter, now 18, told the court. Last month, the 18-year-old sued the couple, alleging severe physical and emotional abuse and neglect that has scarred her permanently. The couple adopted the five black siblings in Minnesota, then moved to a farm in Washington state in 2018 before picking up and moving to Sissonville, West Virginia, in May 2023, when the children were between 5 and 16 years old. Whitefeather and Lantz were arrested months later in October 2023 after a child welfare call led to the discovery of two teenagers the eldest daughter and her teenage brother locked in a shed at the couples home. When police pried open the barn door with a crowbar, they found a porta potty but no lights or running water. One of the teens told police they had been locked in the barn and not fed for 12 hours. The siblings said the couple forced them to sleep on the concrete floor without any mattresses. They both wore dirty clothes and had body odor, police noted, according to the filing. Inside the main residence, a 9-year-old girl was found crying in a loft alone. Three hours later, Lantz arrived with an 11-year-old boy. Whitefeather soon followed with a 5-year-old girl. All five were turned over to Child Protective Services after the couples arrests. The couple reportedly kept their five adopted children in deplorable conditions on their Sissonville property. WCHS Akers said last year after they were indicted these children were targeted because of their race, and they were used basically as slaves. During the trial, neighbors testified that they never saw the children playing but did witness them standing in line or performing hard labor. Once Lantz noticed his curious neighbors, he kept the children mostly inside, prosecutors said. The eldest daughter testified that most of the outdoor work took place at the familys Washington residence, where some of them were forced to use their hands to dig. She also said the children were verbally abused all the time and that Whitefeather used racist language. They were fed mostly peanut butter sandwiches at scheduled times, and some children were forced to stand in their rooms for hours with their hands on their heads. The two oldest children were forced to sleep on the floor in their shared room and used the same bucket for the bathroom while the other held up a sheet for privacy from the homes security cameras, according to testimony. A glimpse into the disturbing conditions the children were kept in inside the barn. WCHS The adopted children are ages 6, 9, 11, 14 and 16. WCHS The couples defense attorneys argued that they were overwhelmed after taking in the children, who were already suffering from the abuse of their biological parents. Whitefeathers attorney, Mark Plants, said during closing arguments that the couples only crime was bad parenting. These are farm people that do farm chores, Plants said. It wasnt about race. It wasnt about forced labor. With Post wires White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said all the critical functions of the Department of Education will remain, ahead of President Trump signing an executive order to dismantle the federal agency. The Department of Education will be much smaller than it is today. As you know, the presidents executive order directed Linda McMahon to greatly minimize the agency. So, when it comes to student loans and Pell Grants, those will still be run out of the Department of Education, she told reporters at the White House, referring to McMahon, the Education secretary. The great responsibility of educating our nations students will return to the states. Any critical functions of the department will remain, Leavitt added. The remarks come ahead of Trump signing an executive order Thursday directing McMahon to dismantle the department as much as she legally can. Certain programs under the Education Department are congressionally mandated, such as Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and are required to be implemented. However, other programs not in statute can be eliminated by the secretary. Leavitts comment comes as the president said he wants the department completely eliminated, but that would require an act of Congress, which is unlikely to happen, since 60 votes would be needed in the Senate. Republicans hope McMahon will be able to move congressionally mandated programs to other federal agencies, such as the Civil Rights Office and the Department of Justice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Wisconsin voter who backed President Trump in November is still sticking by the Republican - even after his Peruvian wife was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a federal crackdown on illegal immigration last month. A Wisconsin voter who backed President Trump in November is still sticking by the Republican even after his Peruvian wife was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a federal crackdown on illegal immigration last month. Bradley Bartell is now worried about the well-being of his wife, Sylvia Camilla Munoz-Lira, locked inside a detention center and is seeking donations after she was nabbed by ICE agents on Feb. 15 at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan. The pair were traveling home to Wisconsin Dells from their belated honeymoon in Puerto Rico when she was taken into custody. Munoz-Lira, who overstayed her J-1 visa, is now locked up at Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana. Bradley Bartell and his wife, Camila Munoz-Lira. Gofundme It was kind of like a slap in the face, Bartell, 40, told The Post, explaining that a week went by before he heard from his wife and learned where she was being held. I was in shock and unsure what to do at the time. It was terrible. Bartell said they now speak every day on the phone for 15 minutes and keep in touch through a messaging system inside the detention center. But the newlywed is concerned for his wifes mental and physical well-being as she remains behind bars awaiting a court date. Shes worried because theres a lot of uncertainty in how this is all going down, Bartell continued. Shes calmed down a little now that we have an attorney giving us an idea of how the process is going to go. But we still havent gotten a court date. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Munoz-Lira, 26, secured her temporary visa in 2019 after she was accepted to a work-study program in Wisconsin but was then unable to return to Peru a year later when the pandemic limited her ability to travel. She instead chose to continue working in the States and eventually met and married her husband in May 2024. Munoz-Lira was nabbed at a Puerto Rican airport while trying to fly home from the couples honeymoon. Facebook / Brad Bartell The new bride filed paperwork to obtain legal citizenship shortly after getting married, with US Citizenship and Immigration Services confirming that her case was under review, Bartell said, adding they thought it was safe to travel to a US territory with her application pending. While this situation has been tough on his family, Bartell maintains his support for the commander in chief while also hoping the immigration process becomes more streamlined and efficient. I still support our president, Bartell said, while questioning if the federal government was prepared for the number of detainees who have been picked up around the country. Its kind of a tough slope. I just feel they need to get stuff moving on this because theyre holding a lot of people and its costing the taxpayers money. Its taking a long time to even get dates set for people to speak with judges. The concerned husband said he initially thought Trumps administration would only round up and deport immigrants with a criminal history or those who had crossed the border illegally. Bartell said he voted for Trump in November and doesnt regret throwing his support behind the Republican. AFP via Getty Images Its gone a little farther than that. Theyre just grabbing anyone they can, he argued. Trumps day-one immigration executive order allows federal agents to arrest and remove any individual lacking legal documentation. Me, personally, Im happy to have anyone who wants to come here and have a good life and live responsibly but there is a problem with letting gangsters come here too, Bartell said. Munoz, who overstayed her work-study visa, is locked up in a privately run detention center in Louisiana. AP David Rozas, an immigration attorney representing Munoz-Lira, said he is waiting for the case to be logged into the federal database. Were hoping to be able to follow bond any day now and hopefully she can get out on bond to where she can fight her removal proceedings while outside of detention with her family, Rozas said Wednesday, adding that Munoz-Lira does not have a criminal history. But dont have any word yet, were just hoping that this will come soon. Bartell, who said hes received a lot of hateful messages since his story was made public, has since created a GoFundMe asking for donations to support their legal fees noting his wifes bond could cost upwards of $15,000. He said the money hes currently using was originally earmarked for a down payment on a home. Please do not put yourself out to support us in this matter, Bartell wrote on the fundraiser. But if you have the means and would like to help it would be greatly appreciated. Monica Cameroni De Adams, 65 When a drunk driver crashed into a minivan in San Diego in 2023, a tow truck came to pick up the van. The tow truck driver had no idea that Monica Cameroni De Adams, 65, was inside the Honda Odyssey minivan, where the woman who was experiencing homelessness had been living. A month later, Cameroni De Adams was found dead inside the minivan in the impound lot where the vehicle had been towed, police said, Live 5 News reports. Now, her family has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the city for failing to notice she was inside the van, allegedly entombing her in her car, her family's lawyer said, Live 5 News reports. 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, the familys attorney, John Carpenter, said, Live 5 News reports. Monica Cameroni De Adams The drunk driver, Jordan Lopez, 24, crashed into two vehicles on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 2023, police said, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Lopez was sentenced to probation with a six-year prison sentence suspended for five years after pleading guilty to DUI causing injury and having a blood-alcohol content of over 0.15%, the Union-Tribune reports. The minivan and the other car Lopez struck were taken to an impound lot. De Adams was still in the minivan when it was towed, having been sleeping in the middle row when Lopez crashed into it, the Los Angeles Times reports. Her body was found after an employee noticed a smell coming from the minivan, the lawsuit claims. In our assessment, she died some time after impact and probably perished in the tow yard, said Carpenter, according to the LA Times. The officers and the tow truck operators failed to take any kind of inventory, or to see if there was a live person inside. According to a collision report in the lawsuit, the vans side door was allegedly pushed into the middle row where De Adams was sleeping, according to the LA Times. As a result, De Adams sustained severe but survivable blunt force injuries from the collision that required medical attention, Carpenter said, according to the LA Times. She was found wedged under miscellaneous items in the vehicles middle row, according to the lawsuit, the LA Times reports. She suffered fractures to her ribs, spine and arm. The cause of her injuries was most likely blunt force trauma, the report states. 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. The most basic review of a vehicle should include checking for occupants, Carpenter said in a statement. Instead, they towed the van away, essentially burying Monica alive. De Adams daughter filed a missing persons report for her mother when she failed to respond to birthday messages, Live 5 News reports. The San Diego Police Department and the San Diego City Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment. Read the original article on People IT service provider Nomura Research Institute Australia and New Zealand (NRI A/NZ) has partnered with inventiveX to assist in the technology transformation of Western Australias public health sector. inventiveX is a boutique healthcare transformation consultancy that provides digital marketing, web development, graphic design, and SEO services. NRI A/NZ said this partnership marks a milestone in its ongoing efforts to focus on strengthening its growth and impact in healthcare in WA. It will also bring globally informed, contemporary and innovative services and solutions. This brings together the combined experience, skill set and capabilities, will further support WA Health to deliver major programs as part of its digital transformation journey, said NRI A/NZ CEO Kaylene OBrien. Together, we have a shared commitment to placing consumers, carers, clinicians and the broader workforce, at the heart of digital transformation and innovation, improving health service delivery and health outcomes for Western Australians, she said. by Santosh Digal Tensions in the south and former President Dutertes trial are cause for concern. The country, the prelate writes, "is in a time of crisis, conflict and confusion". He urges the faithful to recite a particular invocation to God at Mass starting this weekend. The archbishop of Davao also calls for prayer. Manila (AsiaNews) Card Jose F. Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, today issued a pastoral circular to his archdiocese, urging the faithful to pray an Oratio imperata for the future and well-being of the country and its people, at a crucial point in its history, full of critical issues and great concerns. This reflects the particularly difficulties of this period, amid natural disasters, epidemics and political and social crises, not the least, the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court and the tensions in the south, where elections in the Bangsamoro region were postponed. To cope with all this, the cardinal is calling for divine intervention and protection. We have witnessed emotionally intense events and discourses in the national political spectrum, he writes. We have heard different opinions and viewpoints on various platforms. Our country is in a time of crises, conflict, and confusion. In his letter, the prelate urges the faithful and the entire community to put aside all their differences and think about and work for the common good. During the turning point in our nations history, our faith invites us to transcend our differences and be open to continuous conversion towards truth, justice, and peace, i.e., the values of the Kingdom of God, which every person aspires to, he said. The archbishop of Manila is asking all the parishes and communities to recite daily the Oratio Imperata for the nation after the post-communion prayers at Mass starting the third Sunday of Lent. We implore the aid of Almighty God, as a Filipino people, that our love for our country may triumph over all political loyalties and personal interests and we may learn to see each other, not as allies or enemies but as we truly are brothers and sisters all, he added. Card Advincula calls on the faithful to put their trust in prayer, which is the most fundamental act in our desire for peace, justice, and unity. The critical issues the country faces, in particular the Duterte affair, are also at the centre of another message sent to the faithful on Monday by Archbishop Romulo G. Valles of Davao. In it, he asks them to work for justice and lasting peace. The arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his subsequent transfer to The Hague to await trial have deeply divided our nation. This event has strained relationships and now challenges our unity as a people. Duterte was arrested in Manila on 11 March in connection with his controversial "war on drugs, which saw more than 6,000 people killed, although human rights groups estimate the number of killings at more than 30,000. On 12 March, he was arraigned before the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the Netherlands, over alleged crimes against humanity. The 79-year-old Duterte, who led the country between 2016 and 2022, is the first former Asian leader to appear before the court. Before becoming president, he was a three-time mayor of Davao, where he is still very popular. His trial, writes Archbishop Valles, has strained relationships and now challenges our unity as a people. In the aftermath of the arrest, the country has experienced uncertainty and discord; nevertheless, the Catholic Church remains steadfast as a beacon of faith, hope, and charity, the prelate said. United as one people, we recognise the pain and frustration felt across the land, including the suffering of those who consider themselves victims of injustice in the past. While we affirm the importance of accountability, we also extend our pastoral support and prayers to the former president and his family; he being a son of this local church, he said. Finally, the prelate called on everyone to promote equity, dignity and integrity. The Hong Kong government has announced the date of the vote for the renewal of the Legislative Council, the local parliament now inaccessible to pro-democracy members, most of whom are still in prison. Four years ago, barely 30% of voters turned out. And a survey conducted in recent weeks revealed the discontent towards an institution where they only make speeches to flatter Beijing. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The Hong Kong government has set 7 December as the date for the elections to renew the Legislative Council (LegCo), the local parliament currently made up of patriots only, whose mandate expires at the end of this year. Chief Executive John Lee announced the date of the consultation, adding that a separate vote will be held in September for the all-powerful Election Committee, the body elected by a few thousand loyalists of Beijing that in fact chooses who is eligible to run for LegCo. Hong Kong therefore continues to confirm the rite of elections, even if the real representativeness of the Legislative Assembly has been completely undermined by the arrests of all opposition voices during the 2019 crackdown and the introduction in 2021 of a new electoral system that - in addition to vetoing unwelcome candidates - assigns just 20 seats out of a total of 90 in the Legislative Council by direct popular vote. The result is that only 30.2% of voters turned out in the December 2021 election, compared to 71% who had gone to the polls just two years earlier for the district elections, which were overwhelmingly won by pro-democracy candidates who later ended up as victims of Beijing's repression. 45 opposition figures - including 10 former legislators - were convicted a few months ago of criminal association aimed at subversion, precisely for having organised unofficial primary elections held in July 2020, with the aim of winning a majority in the LegCo for the pro-democracy camp. Despite all this, John Lee claims that the authorities will guarantee that the elections will be held as scheduled at the scheduled time to elect a new group of patriotic, capable and responsible legislators. How little the inhabitants of Hong Kong believe in these promises is demonstrated by a survey published a few days ago by the local think tank Path of Democracy, in which half of those interviewed expressed dissatisfaction with the work of the city's legislative body, which has no opposition. About 48% of those interviewed said they were dissatisfied with the Legislative Council, while almost 41% said they were dissatisfied with the government. This dissatisfaction may be linked to the high costs associated with the LegCo since its inception and public scrutiny over the quality of its deliberations, which have been marred by numerous controversies, commented Path of Democracy, a body founded by Ronny Tong, a member of the Executive Council, the highest advisory body in Hong Kong that conducts surveys twice a year on a series of issues relating to the city's political and economic development. People think that many legislators only make speeches to flatter [Beijing] and rarely express their own ideas, Tong told reporters in Cantonese. Furthermore, it is believed that they are not familiar with legislative proposals or that they are passive in examining them. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 21 March 2025 16:49 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 21 March 2025 10:30 (UTC+04:00) Novruz Bayram was celebrated in London with great festivity. The Novruz Bayram celebrations in London were organized by the Azerbaijani Society of City, University of London, with the support of the Azerbaijani Embassy in the UK and the Azerbaijani student societies at Queen Mary, Imperial College London, and UCL. The event was designed to promote Azerbaijani culture and the ancient traditions of Novruz. During the celebration, national music was played, traditional dances were performed, and a variety of special sweets were offered to guests. The atmosphere was further enriched by symbols of Novruz, including samani (sprouts), decorated eggs, and candles, creating a festive environment for the participants. The historical and cultural significance of Novruz for the Azerbaijani people was highlighted at the event, and it was noted that such celebrations in London are important for raising awareness of Azerbaijani heritage. The international students at the university also showed great interest in the event. 21 March 2025 20:52 (UTC+04:00) On March 15th, organized by the Nargis Foundation, the Torpaq limd, Bahar Uryimd charity fair, which heralds the arrival of spring, opened its doors once again for the residents and guests of Baku. The fair brings the atmosphere of our beloved Novruz holiday to life. Since its inception in 2019, this fair has not only created a festive mood in the heart of the city, but it has also served as a beacon of hope for families in need. The financial support from the fair's sponsors, as well as the funds raised from the rental of the houses set up at the fair, are used to cover the medical and surgical expenses of children suffering from various diseases. The Torpaq limd, Bahar Uryimd charity fair will be open daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, from March 15th to April 15th. The official partners of the event are the Baku City Executive Authority, Azrisiq OJSC, the Baku Beautification Service, the State Advertising Agency of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, Strafor Ksim, and E Point. The charity fair is held with the invaluable support of sponsors such as PASA Holding, Azercell, Coca-Cola, Baku Steel Company, Azergold, Yango, Lays, CityNet, Corndogs, Magnolia by Chocolatier, and Eat me Kumpir. The fair consists of 36 large and 20 small houses, 3 two-story restaurants, decorative structures made by professionals for the Novruz holiday, small booths, game zones, and photo zones. Additionally, new thematic corners have been introduced, which are expected to attract the interest of city residents. As every year, children from orphanages, boarding schools, shelters, and social service institutions will be special guests at the fair. Visitors to the fair can enjoy affordable sweets, delicious dishes from national and international cuisines, exclusive souvenirs and gifts, play age-appropriate games, take photos, and most importantly, share the excitement and joy of Novruz holiday together. Dear residents of Baku and guests of our city, we are waiting for you at the Torpaq limd, Bahar Uryimd charity fair! Let's welcome the arrival of spring together! 21 March 2025 14:56 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. President, my dear Brother, On the occasion of Novruz, a holiday when nature is reborn, the earth awakens, and hopes blossom, I extend my most sincere congratulations to Your Excellency and the friendly people of Azerbaijan. Our centuries-old tradition of Novruz reminds us once again this year of the importance of peace, brotherhood, and solidarity. I hope that Novruz will herald a time when hopes for world peace are nurtured, and international dialogue and cooperation reach new heights. Strengthening the deep-rooted ties of friendship and brotherhood between our countries and further enhancing our cooperation is our sincere wish on this Novruz holiday. On this meaningful day, I wish Your Excellency good health and happiness, and to the brotherly people of Azerbaijan, a future filled with peace, prosperity, and well-being." 21 March 2025 15:00 (UTC+04:00) President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. Dear Ilham Heydarovich, Please accept my most sincere congratulations on the occasion of Novruz the Spring Festival. Russia-Azerbaijan relations are successfully developing in the spirit of partnership and alliance. I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will continue to actively strengthen mutually beneficial bilateral ties for the benefit of our friendly nations and in the interest of enhancing security and stability in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region. I sincerely wish you, dear Ilham Heydarovich, good health and success on this bright festive day, along with happiness and prosperity for all the citizens of Azerbaijan, reads the letter. 21 March 2025 19:55 (UTC+04:00) Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. Dear Mr. President, I have the honor to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your congratulatory letter on the occasion of the Spring Festival. On behalf of the government and people of China, I extend my sincere congratulations to you and the entire people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the traditional Novruz holiday. Currently, China-Azerbaijan strategic partnership relations are developing dynamically, with political mutual trust being strengthened, cooperation advancing as part of the joint construction related to the "Belt and Road" project, and fruitful interaction on the international stage deepening. I highly value the development of relations between China and Azerbaijan and am ready to work with you to further strengthen traditional friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of both countries. I wish you good health and well-being, and happiness and prosperity to the friendly people of Azerbaijan, the letter reads. 21 March 2025 22:24 (UTC+04:00) President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Novruz Holiday. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful Your Excellency, It is with heartfelt sincerity that I extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and the esteemed people of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the auspicious occasion of Nowruz, the ancient festival of the reawakening of nature, the hopeful dawn of a prosperous future and the beginning of the year 1404 of the Solar Hijri calendar. Spring is the epitome of nature's harmony, and a source of the spirit of kindness, empathy, and rejuvenation of life. I hope that this new year will bring about a remarkable transformation in the amicable relations between our two countries and in the well-being and prosperity of our peoples. I pray to the Almighty for Your Excellency's health and success, for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan and for the further expansion of relations and cooperation among the nations of the Nowruz civilizational region. Masoud Pezeshkian President of the Islamic Republic of Iran 21 March 2025 22:41 (UTC+04:00) President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Novruz Holiday. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Ilham Heydar oglu, Dear brother, I am delighted to extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and the entire Azerbaijani people on the occasion of Novruz Bayram, the celebration of springs awakening and renewal. For centuries, our brotherly peoples have celebrated and valued this unique holiday, which embodies the noble values of mutual compassion and care, kindness, unity, and friendship, and calls on humanity to live in harmony with nature. In recent years, as a result of our joint efforts, the bilateral relations between our countries have consistently developed across all priority areas and have reached the level of strategic partnership and alliance, which brings us endless joy. I am confident that through our continued active dialogue, collective efforts, and shared purposeful actions, our friendship and comprehensive cooperation will dynamically progress. On this glorious and radiant occasion, I wish you and all your family members strong health, happiness, and great success in your noble state endeavors, and to the friendly Azerbaijani people, I wish peace, tranquility, sustainable development, and prosperity. Sincerely, Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of the Republic of Uzbekistan 21 March 2025 06:14 (UTC+04:00) President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start dismantling the Education Department. "It sounds strange, doesnt it? Department of Education. Were going to eliminate it," Trump said in the East Room of the White House at a ceremony where he was flanked by children seated at school desks. Before he signed the order, Trump turned to the children and asked, Should I do this? Introducing McMahon, Trump said that hopefully she will be our last secretary of education. He vowed to find something else for you, Linda. Congressional approval would be needed to fully abolish the department, according to NBC. Trump said he hoped Democrats would vote in favor. I hope theyre going to be voting for it," Trump said of congressional Democrats, "because ultimately it may come before them. Immediately after the signing, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said on X that he will submit legislation to accomplish Trumps goal of shutting down the Education Department as soon as possible. Congress established the Education Department in 1979 during President Jimmy Carters administration, and any effort to abolish it would face major obstacles from Democrats in the Republican-controlled Senate, where 60 votes are required to overcome filibusters and advance measures to final votes. 21 March 2025 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Hyundai Motor and General Motors are close to finalizing a deal for Hyundai to share two electric commercial van models with the U.S. auto giant, according to a source familiar with the talks as well as Hyundai documents reviewed by Reuters, Azernews reports. In return, GM might provide Hyundai with pickup trucks to sell under its own brand in North America, the source said. Such arrangements could kick off a broader partnership as the companies, two of the world's largest automakers, hold wide-ranging discussions, the source said. The documents reviewed by Reuters show Hyundai is considering deals with GM that include joint purchasing or development involving computing chips, next-generation batteries and battery materials. Like many global automakers, GM and Hyundai are facing rising competition from Chinese EV makers and the threat of a global trade war, prompting them to consider sharing products to slash spending. Hyundai would produce vans to be sold under both its own brand and GM's, initially importing them from Korea, according to the documents and the person familiar with the talks. But Hyundai is considering manufacturing the vans in North America by 2028. The person said the Korean automaker is exploring building a new plant, adding production to an existing facility or contracting out the manufacturing. The talks on pickups focus on GM sharing its midsize trucks, branded as the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon in the United States, one of the sources said. Hyundai also wants to sell a version of GM's popular full-size pickups, the source said, but the U.S. automaker hasn't put that option on the table. Any pickup-sharing deal likely will take longer to finalize than the commercial van arrangement, the person said. The automakers are also discussing the possibility of Hyundai providing GM with compact SUVs it could add to its product lineup in Brazil, the source said. Hyundai said in January that it is in talks to supply electric commercial vehicles to GM as part of a preliminary agreement to explore how the automakers could cooperate on vehicles, supply chains and clean-energy technologies to cut costs and speed up development. Details of the partnership talks, including a potential pickup-sharing deal, are reported here for the first time. GM declined to comment on the specifics of the negotiations but said in a statement, "Both companies continue to explore potential areas of collaboration." Hyundai said in a statement that nothing has been finalized in ongoing talks but that the automakers are exploring deals "across key strategic areas." Competitive threats, geopolitical tensions Chinese EV producers have upended the auto industry with high-tech, low-cost models. GM is among many legacy automakers losing sales in China, the world's largest auto market, while aiming to boost revenues elsewhere. Hyundai's business in the country is minimal but it faces the threat of Chinese exports globally. Both automakers also face geopolitical tensions heightened by tariffs being levied or threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, which could curtail their ability to use imported components and push them to set up more U.S. manufacturing. Tariff threats are also adding uncertainty to the GM-Hyundai partnership talks, according to two sources familiar with the matter. A commercial van deal could help GM better compete with the Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster without the major investment required to develop its own model, said Sam Fiorani, vice president at research firm Auto Forecast Solutions. GM needs new commercial vans, he said, because it is expected to phase out production of its decades-old Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans soon. Hyundai is considering sharing its compact electric commercial vans based on its ST1 electric commercial vehicle. It would also give GM a larger electric commercial van it is developing to challenge the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, according to the documents and one of the sources. The two automakers might share sales and service networks for the vans, the Hyundai documents show. The smaller van would initially be assembled at Hyundai's factory in the Korean city of Ulsan and potentially supplied to GM starting in mid-2027, the documents say. The model will be followed in 2028 by the larger van, similar in size to Hyundai's Solati. The new North American commercial van factory under consideration would target production of 60,000 units by 2030 and more than 100,000 in 2032. Small SUVs and pickup trucks With Hyundai increasing its U.S. sales while its China sales decline, it has emerged along with GM as a challenger to Tesla in the EV market. But unlike the U.S. brand, the Korean company has little presence in the lucrative U.S. commercial vehicle and truck market. Hyundai can use the GM partnership to gain a foothold in those segments, where rivals like Toyota and Nissan struggle to compete with Detroit's Big Three automakers, said Fiorani. As Hyundai aims to convince GM to share its hot-selling pickups, it is considering giving GM a small sport utility vehicle called the Creta to refresh its model lineup in Brazil, one of the sources said. A third source said GM hopes to partially make up for its struggling business in China through Hyundai partnerships. GM, the person said, could use Hyundai's small and mid-sized vehicle platforms to potentially expand in South American markets. 21 March 2025 23:25 (UTC+04:00) Korean defense giant Hanwha Aerospace's abrupt decision to raise 3.6 trillion won ($2.5 billion) through a stock sale sent shock waves through the local financial market Friday, sparking criticism over its funding strategy for future investments, Azernews reports, citing Korea JoongAng Daily. In a regulatory filing the previous day, the company said the stock sale was part of its broader global investment plans in future growth sectors. The proceeds will be used to acquire strategic production bases in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the United States as it expects more opportunities amid a rearmament push in Europe as well as efforts by the United States to bolster its shipbuilding industry, it said. Despite the company's growth prospects, investors reacted negatively to the announcement, with shares tumbling 13.2 percent to close at 628,000 won, falling by the daily limit of 15 percent in midday trading. At the same time, shipbuilding affiliate Hanwha Ocean declined 2.27 percent, and defense electronics unit Hanwha Systems fell 6.19 percent. Experts said Hanwha Aerospace's investment direction is promising but criticized its choice of capital increase despite the company's strong financial position. "Localization and mergers and acquisitions are key strategies for a defense firm to expand its business," said Byun Yong-jin, an analyst at iM Securities. "This investment decision is a clear move to secure potential orders in Saudi Arabia and Europe." Hanwha Aerospace posted a record 1.7 trillion won in operating profit last year, driven by the recent boom in the global defense industry. Exports of its flagship K9 howitzer and Chunmoo rocket launcher to Poland contributed to the robust performance. The company expects operating profit to rise further to 2.8 trillion won in 2025 and 3.5 trillion won in 2026, bolstered by new contracts with Romania and Middle Eastern countries. To accelerate growth, the company plans to use 1.6 trillion won from the stock offering for overseas production facilities and arms industry partnerships. It also seeks to inject 900 billion won from the stock sale to invest in a smart factory and other production facilities, and 800 billion won to acquire more overseas shipbuilding facilities. In line with its expansionary move, the company acquired a stake in Australian shipbuilder Austal earlier this week, while Hanwha Group also acquired U.S. shipbuilder Philly Shipyard last year. Despite Hanwha Aerospace's strong performance, analysts pointed out that the massive capital increase could have a greater-than-expected negative impact on investors. The company's recent earnings growth and strong future outlook have pushed up its stock price by more than 121 percent since the beginning of the year. "Few might have expected this decision, given Hanwha Aerospace's improving earnings," a report from Samsung Securities said. "This will have a negative impact on the investor sentiment." Capital increases are often seen as unfavorable to investors as they dilute the share of existing shareholders, potentially leading to losses and stock price declines. 21 March 2025 19:35 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belarus, Nazarguly Shagulyyev, visited the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) to enhance cooperation in the automotive industry, Azernews reports. Along with other Permanent Representatives of CIS member states and diplomats, Ambassador Shagulyyev was introduced to the truck assembly process. Special attention was given to the modern assembly lines and the use of cutting-edge technologies designed to increase production efficiency. The delegation was also presented with the latest truck models developed by MAZ for operation in various climatic conditions, as well as new models of city and intercity buses equipped with energy-efficient engines and comfortable passenger cabins. The management of MAZ held a meeting with the ambassadors of CIS countries, during which Ambassador Shagulyyev expressed Turkmenistan's interest in studying Belarusian automotive manufacturing practices and reiterated Turkmenistan's willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He emphasized the potential for collaboration in improving the quality and production capabilities of Turkmenistans own automotive sector. In response, the management of MAZ expressed its interest in supplying their vehicles to CIS countries and discussed the possibility of establishing long-term partnerships to meet the growing demand for high-quality vehicles in the region. This visit underscores Turkmenistan's commitment to strengthening its industrial capabilities, particularly in the automotive sector. By learning from the expertise of Belarus, Turkmenistan aims to enhance its own manufacturing processes and boost local production in the future. If the box office was dropping, hed do something outrageous so that people would go and buy tickets: Actor Jared Harris on his father Richards legacy Derry's Guildhall in the centre of the city An anti-immigration rally in Derry due to take place on Sunday has reportedly been cancelled with participants citing concerns about what they described as the violent radical left. The Guildhall Square rally was cancelled because of the demonstration organised on the same day and in the same area by United Against Racism. The Derry News reported a statement from organisers which said: "It is with anger and regret that we announce our peaceful demonstration in Guildhall Square, Derry/Londonderry has been cancelled. "We the silent majority have attempted to organise a peaceful event to show the strength of feeling against the imposition of unvetted males into our communities. "The violent radical left have done everything to create a confrontation in order to serve their NGO masters. "We are not prepared to call our people on to the streets to potentially face violence from these bullying traitors." Posts on social media had suggested the time for the rally was changed, from 1pm to 3pm. United Against Racism members and supporters are due to gather at 12.30pm in the square as part of gatherings to mark the global day for Palestine, Al Quds Day. The anti-racism group has also organised a rally at Belfast City Hall, with support from Amnesty International and other groups. Members of the Belfast Islamic Centre have previously voiced concern over anti-immigration marches planned for this weekend amid fears their mosque may be targeted. Last August, the protests descended into rioting, largely located in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast. Rioters targeted migrant-owned businesses and hotels housing migrants. Though the violence was taking place in Belfast, a mosque in Newtownards was subjected to a petrol bomb attack, with graffiti featuring a target painted on its walls. Police stopped anti-immigration protesters marching to the Belfast Islamic Centre. The latest protests are taking place during the month of Ramadan: the period of fasting and prayer for Muslims runs this year from February 28 to March 30. It proceeds Eid al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast. A former Sinn Fein MP has hit out after Irelands ESB Networks retail arm recorded millions in profit this year despite a lack of compensation for those in Northern Ireland affected by Storm Eowyn. Belfast City Airport tells Heathrow-bound passengers not to travelCity of Derry and Dublin airports also affected as chaos expected to last all dayMore than 1,300 flights in and out of Heathrow facing disruption todayThousands of homes left without power and more than 100 people evacuated All flights to and from Heathrow from Belfast and Londonderry have been cancelled today after the airport was shut following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. More than 1,300 plane journeys are affected with the chaos affecting George Best Belfast City Airport. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in west London. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those impacted by the power outage. Online flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said the closure would affect at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow. It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. Three flights due to arrive in Belfast from Heathrow this morning at 7.30am, 8.30am and 10.20am were cancelled. Flights due to leave the City Airport at 8.40am, 10.10am and 11.30am were also pulled. The 6.50pm arrival from Heathrow and 7.35pm departure to Heathrow from Belfast City were cancelled too. Other flights to and from the airport are still scheduled. Handout photo supplied by London Fire Brigade showing a fire at Hayes electrical substation. Heathrow closed all day following electrical substation fire Belfast City Airport said: "Due to the ongoing incident (at Heathrow) passengers due to fly to or from Heathrow Airport today should not travel to the airport until further notice and should contact their airline. Belfast International Airport, which does not operate flights to Heathrow, said it is so far operating as normal. City of Derry Airport confirmed all flights to Heathrow are cancelled today. There are 34 flights due to depart or arrive into Dublin Airport for London Heathrow today. Graeme McQueen, media relations manager at Dublin Airport, said passengers can expect disruption for the next few days. He told RTEs Morning Ireland: "It's a hectic morning on the London routes front, all flights to London Heathrow certainly up until mid-afternoon have been cancelled by British Airways and Aer Lingus, the two carriers who fly between Dublin and London Heathrow. "So that equates to about 34 flights, 17 in and 17 out would be a typical day, a typical Friday between London Heathrow and Dublin, so most of those flights in fact, probably all of those flights aren't going to take off or land at Dublin." Mr McQueen told RTE there are a lot of passengers who were unaware of the disruption who are in Dublin Airport and are trying to rebook flights. He said that other flights are not affected by the delays, and everything is moving well but there could be some knock-on effect later due to flights being diverted. "So, passengers should expect some element of disruption. You can get to the airport, Dublin Airport in normal time two hours before short haul, three hours before long haul. "But you might expect a little bit of disruption on the network today just due to that Heathrow closure." He said that Dublin Airport cannot accept any diverted flights from London Heathrow following its closure but flights have been diverted to Shannon and Cork Airports. He said that passengers due to fly to Heathrow over the weekend should be prepared for potential further cancellations. Both Cork Airport and Shannon Airport facilitate one flight arrival and departure from London Heathrow each on a Friday. Shannon Airport confirmed it had accepted six diverted flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. One Northern Ireland man, Nick from Belfast, is due to fly from Heathrow to Tokyo tomorrow morning. He told the BBCs Nolan Show: At the moment, the flight from Heathrow to Tokyo has been marked as delayed. Theres no further updates from that. The app is crashing at the minute so its very difficult to find any more information. Its hard to get in contact with British Airways, theyre not answering their phones. I've just got to keep an eye on things and remain as positive as possible. Weve been told dont travel to Heathrow until further notice our flight is in the morning, its early in the morning so I dont really know what to do. Im sure theyre working to untangle this mess but its definitely going to have a knock-on effect. Heathrow is the UK's largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. "We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation." Online tracking services showed flights being diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Ireland's Shannon Airport. A number of flights were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada and the United States. Gatwick Airport confirmed it had accepted seven diverted flights from locations including Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow. "We are aware of the situation at Heathrow Airport today and we are supporting by accepting diverted flights as required," an airport spokesperson said. "Flights are operating from London Gatwick as normal today." Heathrow Express train service announced it would not operate on Friday while Hayes and Harlington railway station remained closed on Friday morning, National Rail confirmed. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said on X there was a large-scale power outage in Hayes, Hounslow and the surrounding areas impacting more than 16,300 homes. According to the power company's website, authorities aimed to restore power by 3pm on Friday. A National Grid spokesperson said the fire had damaged equipment and they "working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible". London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were still on the scene at Nestles Avenue in Hayes just before 6am with part of a transformer still alight. Around 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution. Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: "This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible. "The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption." Firefighters led 29 people from surrounding properties to safety. Footage posted to social media showed huge flames and large plumes of smoke coming from the facility. The brigade said nearly 200 calls had been received in relation to the incident with crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding areas on the scene. Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.23pm on Thursday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Mr Goulbourne said firefighters urged people to take safety precautions as crews worked to extinguish the blaze. "This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night," he said. "As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible." London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police both confirmed they were on scene supporting fire crews. Handout photo supplied by London Fire Brigade showing a fire at Hayes electrical substation. News Catch Up - Thursday 20 March The fire at Hayes electrical substation which resulted in the closure of Heathrow Airport on Friday (London Fire Brigade/PA) Heathrow had said it will be closed throughout Friday due to the power outage (Jonathan Brady/PA) The North Hyde electrical substation which caught fire, forcing the closure of Heathrow Airport (Jonathan Brady/PA) Heathrow Airport will begin some flights later today focusing on repatriation flights for passengers diverted to other airports in Europe, after an outage caused by a fire. It comes as officials confirmed restrictions on overnight flights have been temporarily lifted to help ease congestion following the closure of the airport. All flights to and from Heathrow from Belfast and Londonderry had been cancelled for most of Friday with uncertainty also remaining around flights on Saturday. City of Derry Airport has now said it hopes to run a full operation on Saturday and will provide further information shortly. "Our priority remains the safety of our passengers and those working at the airport, a spokesperson added. The airport originally announced early on Friday that it would be closed until 11.59pm because of a blaze at a nearby electrical substation. Around 200,000 passengers have been affected by the closure of what is Europes busiest airport. Britain's National Grid said an "interim solution" has been found to allow power to be restored to the west London airport. Dublin Airport said in a statement that further disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow over the coming days is possible. "We continue to monitor developments at Heathrow and remain in close consultation with affected airlines regarding when flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow may recommence," it said. The Departures board at Belfast City Airport earlier today. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. PA news agency reporters inside Terminal 4 said lights in the main building have switched back on and lifts in the multi-storey car park are operational again. "The network has been reconfigured to restore all customers impacted, including the ability to resupply the parts of Heathrow airport that are connected to North Hyde," a National Grid spokesperson said. "This is an interim solution while we carry out further work at North Hyde to return the substation and our network to normal operation." A Heathrow spokesperson said in an update on Friday afternoon: Were pleased to say were now safely able to begin some flights later today. Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft. Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so. We will now work with the airlines on repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly. More than 1,300 plane journeys have been impacted with the chaos particularly affecting George Best Belfast City Airport here in Northern Ireland. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in west London. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those impacted by the power outage. The North Hyde electrical substation which caught fire, forcing the closure of Heathrow Airport (Jonathan Brady/PA) Heathrow closed all day following electrical substation fire Online flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said the closure would affect at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow. It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. Belfast City Airport earlier said: "Due to the ongoing incident (at Heathrow) passengers due to fly to or from Heathrow Airport today should not travel to the airport until further notice and should contact their airline. Belfast International Airport, which does not operate flights to Heathrow, said it was operating as normal. City of Derry Airport confirmed all flights to Heathrow were cancelled on Friday. All 34 flights due to depart or arrive into Dublin Airport for London Heathrow on Friday were cancelled. Graeme McQueen, media relations manager at Dublin Airport Authority, said: "All flights scheduled between Dublin Airport and London Heathrow today (Friday) have been cancelled following the closure of London Heathrow Airport due to a power outage. "A total of 34 flights were scheduled between Dublin Airport and Heathrow today 17 inbound and 17 outbound. "Further disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow over the coming days is possible. The fire at Hayes electrical substation which resulted in the closure of Heathrow Airport on Friday (London Fire Brigade/PA) "Passengers looking for updates regarding specific flights or to rebook or change flight are advised to contact their airline directly by phone or online." Meanwhile Irish airline Ryanair said it would organise eight rescue flights between the UK and Ireland for passengers affected by the closure of Heathrow. "Ryanair will operate four extra flights between Dublin and Stansted on Friday afternoon as well as four extra flights on Saturday morning, the airline said in a statement. "These flights can be booked on Ryanair.com from 09:30am this morning." The cheapest one-way ticket from Stansted to Dublin on Friday and Saturday is priced at 132.99 on the Ryanair website. In contrast, the cheapest ticket for the same route with the airline the following Saturday (March 29) is priced at 14.99. Airports and airlines across the UK and Ireland have come to the aid of Heathrow following its closure on Friday. British Airways advised customers not to travel to Heathrow on Friday "until further notice" as it had cancelled all short-haul flights serving the airport. Heathrow had said it will be closed throughout Friday due to the power outage (Jonathan Brady/PA) It said in a statement: "This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond." Passengers booked to fly to or from Heathrow with British Airways on Saturday or Sunday are being given the option to rebook to a later date for free. The airline said it has "provided ground transport options where possible" for passengers on flights diverted to other UK airports. Seven flights diverted from Heathrow will land at London Gatwick on Friday, the airport confirmed. A London Gatwick spokesperson said: "We are aware of the situation at Heathrow Airport today and we are supporting by accepting diverted flights as required." Birmingham Airport said it will receive any diverted flights from Heathrow and help to transport any stranded customers. A spokesperson said: "There will be no delays to Birmingham Airport's own customers due to any diverted Heathrow aircraft. Airports regularly take diverts as part of normal operations and flights inbound to London Heathrow will use multiple airports around the UK, and Ireland, or alternatively may return to their departure airport. "We will assist with landing any diverted aircraft during the Heathrow closure today and work with those LHR airlines to repatriate their customers upon arrival into Birmingham." Letter written by Thomas Cupper, one of the youngest victims of the sinking of the Titanic Photo Credit: Forum Auctions A letter penned by one of the youngest victims aboard the Titanic is expected to fetch up to 30,000 when it goes under the hammer at auction later this month. The letter written on the infamous Belfast-built vessel was from teenager Thomas Cupper Mudd from Huntingfield in Suffolk, who was among the approximately 1,500 people who perished when the ship sank on its maiden voyage back in April 1912. The letter which was written on Titanic branded paper and is being sold on Forum Auctions as part of their Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper lot was sent by the 16-year-old to his mother from the ships final port of call in Queenstown, now Cobh in the Republic. In the letter, Mudd describes the White Star Line ship as a magnificent palace, adding they have experienced very rough weather and that the ship is rolling a good bit. xx The letter states: "Dear Mother & all at home. I am now taking the opportunity of sending you a few lines about how we started from Southhampton [sic] We have been having very rough weather but the ship is so steady you would hardly know it was moving, was it not for the throbbing of the engines. We are now nearing Queenstown. "The ship is like a magnificent palace. The lounge & dining hall are very beautiful. We are having excellent food. I have made friends with a young English gentleman and he is very nice indeed. Thomas Cupper Mudd Credit: Forum Auctions The beds are very nice also with plenty of covering to keep warm also they have spring mattresses. Excuse writing as the ship is rolling a good bit. Now I must close. With love to all. I remain, your loving son Tom. The auction listing describes the letter as a rare and remarkable letter, seemingly unpublished, serving as a lasting testament to the most famous maritime disaster in recorded history. According to Forum Auctions, the teenager was one of thirteen children, with two of his older brothers having already emigrated to America by 1912. The 16-year-old bookkeeper purchased a second-class ticket aboard the maiden voyage of the Titanic for 10 before he tragically perished in the sinking, with his body if it was recovered never identified. The letter written by Thomas Cupper on Titanic branded paper Credit: Forum Auctions Speaking about the letter, Forum Auctions Deputy Chairman and International Head of Books, Rupert Powell, said: Sent by a young man to his mother in which he enthusiastically describes the opulence and magnificence of the Titanic, this letter is a rare first-hand testament to the awful tragedy which befell the ship a matter of days later. "Young Thomas Mudd was only 16 years old and looking forward to joining his two brothers to start a life in America when he perished. This letter, posted from Queenstown, Ireland survived. The launch of the Titanic at the Harland & Wolff shipyards on May, 31, 1911, was watched by a reported 100,000 at the citys docklands at 12.13pm that day. The Titanic notoriously sank on her maiden transatlantic voyage 11 months after her launch, with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, when she struck an iceberg. The sinking remains one of the worst maritime disasters of modern times. The auction for the letter will take place on Thursday March 27. Residents of Zhaoxing Dong village in SW China's Guizhou embrace better life People's Daily Online) 13:47, March 21, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Zhaoxing Dong village in Liping county of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province on the afternoon of March 17, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is welcomed by villagers singing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group while visiting the Zhaoxing Dong village in Liping county of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) He learned about local initiatives in strengthening primary-level Party organizations, enhancing social governance, preserving and promoting ethnic traditional culture, and advancing comprehensive rural revitalization. An artisan showcases batik-making skills of the Dong ethnic group in Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo/Yao Jingquan) Seeing the well-preserved village and the happiness of the Dong people, Xi expressed satisfaction and hoped that the villagers would further advance rural revitalization and contribute to the progress of Chinese modernization, wishing their lives to grow more prosperous with each passing day. Zhaoxing Dong village, established during the Northern Song Dynasty (9601127), is one of the largest Dong villages in China. "The Party and government have helped us explore, protect, and develop the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, a form of a folk chorus inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list," said villager Wu Bangmei, who, along with her companions, welcomed Xi with a performance of the grand song, expressing their determination to preserve their ethnic culture. Photo shows an interior view of a base of locally-featured industries in Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo/Yao Jingquan) Tang Dacai, director of Liping county's culture and tourism bureau, said Zhaoxing has innovatively developed tourism products themed on performances of the grand song and batik craftsmanship in recent years. Last year, Zhaoxing Dong village received over 1 million tourist visits. In recent years, with the boost from tourism and other locally-featured industries, the Dong people have embraced prosperity by inheriting traditional craftsmanship, developing ethnic handicrafts, launching cultural and creative products, and expanding the homestay industry. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sits with villagers around a firepit to discuss all-around rural revitalization at a drum tower while visiting the Zhaoxing Dong village in Liping county of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) "We've gained market recognition by modernizing traditional skills. After our cooperative was established in 2014, its membership grew from seven to 218 people from over 100 villages, helping more than 1,000 people increase their incomes," Lu Yongmei, who oversees a dyeing house, told Xi about the cooperative's development. "The general secretary showed a lot of interest in the cooperative's positive impact. This motivated me to continue passing on our culture, better developing the industry, and helping more villagers fatten their wallets," Lu said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Translink confirms no bus or train services on Friday morning. Translink has apologised to passengers in Co Down after over a dozen Ulsterbus services were axed at short notice. A total of seven routes including morning rush-hour services between Newtownards and Belfast were cancelled with only those customers checking the public transport providers social media channels aware of the changes. The company issued a service update which was shared online at 7.52pm on Thursday. We have some service adjustments to #Newtownards services tomorrow, 21st March, it posted on X, alongside a link to a list of services impacted. Apologies for the inconvenience this may cause you. The list included the 6.30am, 8am, 8.40am and 9am buses to Belfast, including early morning buses to Dundonald Park and Ride where the Glider service pick-up and drop-off is based. The Belfast Telegraph is aware of elderly passengers who were at the bus stop on time and left confused as to why there was no sign of the buses they were expecting to depart on. A number of afternoon buses between Newtownards to Bangor were also on the list of cancellations as well as the 3.30pm Newtownards to Belfast service and 4.35pm bus in the opposite direction. A number of evening services from Belfast city centre to Newtownards via Dundonald Park and Ride including the 5.40pm bus have also been axed. Further cancellations were announced on Friday afternoon affecting services between Newtownards and Bangor and Newtownards to Ballywalter via Carrowdore. This newspaper understands that a high volume of staff absences has wreaked havoc on the rota requiring services to be adjusted at the last minute. One source said more than half-a-dozen drivers were off on Friday which has caused the issues. Translink has blamed unforeseen operational circumstances. "There will be some adjustments to Newtownards bus services on Friday, March 21, a spokesperson said. We are working hard to minimise overall impact on our customers. We encourage passengers to plan ahead and check for updates on our social media channels and our website at www.translink.co.uk. We apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience caused. Pensioner blasts companys unreasonable penalty over driver mistake An elderly car owner is locked in a battle with Belfast City Airport and a private parking company over a 100 fine. June Bowers from Monkstown, Co Antrim, has been hit with a 100 fine and, having had two appeals rejected by Sheffield based Vehicle Control Services, is now being threatened with an additional 70 levy and possible legal action. Father of murdered John George reported to police after journalist says he received threatening message Journalist says he went to PSNI after he was contacted following story John Georges father Billy George holding a picture of his son Suzanne Breen Fri 21 Mar 2025 at 07:06 The father of west Belfast murder victim John George has been reported to the PSNI for malicious communication with a journalist. Tommy Robinson has lost a bid to bring a High Court challenge against the Government over his segregation in prison. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is serving an 18-month prison sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court after breaching an injunction. On Thursday, his barristers told the High Court that he should be allowed to bring a legal challenge over his imprisonment at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. The court in London was told on Thursday that he had been kept segregated from other prisoners since November last year which had caused an evident decline in his mental health. The Ministry of Justice opposed the bid, with its lawyers stating that Robinson was isolated following threats to his safety, including that he would be assaulted by other prisoners for kudos. In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Chamberlain dismissed Robinsons bid, stating his case was not arguable. Robinson was jailed in October last year by Mr Justice Johnson, after admitting 10 breaches of a High Court order made in 2021. The order barred him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him. In written submissions for the hearing, Tom Cross, for the MoJ, said that after being sentenced in October last year, Robinson was admitted to HMP Belmarsh, but on his first day he stated he had a conflict with followers of Islam. He was moved to HMP Woodhill on November 1 but was moved to a closed wing which cannot be accessed by other prisoners after the prison received intelligence over threats to his safety. Robinson at a protest march in June last year (David Parry/PA) Mr Cross said: HMP Woodhill received several intelligence reports showing a non-speculative risk to the claimant, including that two other prisoners at HMP Woodhill were plotting to assault the claimant to gain kudos and notoriety, and that the claimant had a mark on his head and would be killed by a lifer if located on a wing. Mr Cross said that Robinson remained on the closed wing but that this is ultimately an interim position until he can be moved to a different wing, which is undergoing repairs. In his ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain said that Robinson is due to be released from HMP Woodhill on July 26, the halfway point of his sentence, and is also facing trial for both an offence under section 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and a breach of a stalking order. William, Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, will take part in a handover ceremony and join troops training in trench warfare (Aaron Chown/PA) The Prince of Wales will ride in a Challenger tank when he meets British soldiers defending Estonia against Russian aggression as part of Nato forces. William is Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment and will meet soldiers from his regiment who are taking over Nato duties in Estonia from the Royal Dragoon Guards. The future king will take part in a handover ceremony and join troops training in trench warfare during his time at Tapa military base in Estonia. The Prince of Wales during a walkabout in Tallinn on the first day of his visit to Estonia on Thursday (Louis Wood/The Sun/PA) UK troops lead a battlegroup in Estonia, and the 900 British service personnel in the country are the UKs largest permanent overseas deployment. Russia is seen as a growing threat in the region following its three-year-long invasion of Ukraine, with the Baltic states Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia which border Russian President Vladimir Putins nation appearing increasingly concerned. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UKs contribution to Natos Forward Land Forces in the two countries. During his time at the military base, the prince will also meet Estonian troops and visit the welfare team to learn about the emotional and mental wellbeing support that is available to UK soldiers William will end his two-day visit to Estonia by meeting Mercian troops and their Nato allies in the informal space of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes shop and canteen. Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appeared briefly on Friday in immigration court at a remote Louisiana detention centre as his lawyers fight in multiple venues to try to free him. Mr Khalil, 30, a legal US resident with no criminal record, sat alone next to an empty chair his lawyer participated via video conference through a brief court session that dealt only with scheduling. Mr Khalil swayed back and forth in his chair as he waited for the proceeding to begin in a courtroom inside an isolated Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention complex. The facility is near the small town of Jena, roughly 150 miles (240km) north of the state capital, Baton Rouge. Mr Khalil smiled at two observers as they came into the room, where just 13 people ultimately gathered, including the judge, lawyers and court staff. Two journalists and a total of four other observers attended. By video, lawyer Marc Van Der Hout said he had just recently started representing Mr Khalil and had not yet been able to speak to him or get records in the case. Mr Van Der Hout said he needed more time to delve into the case. An immigration judge set a fuller hearing for April 8.Columbia University in New York City (Alamy/PA) The Columbia University graduate student was detained by federal immigration agents on March 8 as part of President Donald Trumps crackdown on what he calls antisemitic and anti-American campus protests. Mr Khalil served as a spokesperson and negotiator last year for pro-Palestinian demonstrators who opposed Israels military campaign in Gaza. Mr Khalil, who was born in Syria to a Palestinian family, has said in a statement that his detention reflects anti-Palestinian racism in the US. Later on Friday it emerged that under threat from the Trump administration, Columbia University in New York City agreed to implement a host of policy changes, including overhauling its rules for protests and conducting an immediate review of its Middle Eastern studies department. The changes came one week after the Trump administration ordered the Ivy League school to enact those and other reforms or lose all federal funding, an ultimatum widely criticised in academia as an attack on academic freedom. Columbia will also bar protests inside academic buildings. Students will not be permitted to wear face masks on campus for the purposes of concealing ones identity. In an effort to expand intellectual diversity within the university, Columbia will also appoint new faculty members to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies department. It will also adopt a new definition of antisemitism and expand programming in its Tel Aviv Centre, a research hub based in Israel. The policy changes were largely in line with demands made on the university by the Trump administration, which pulled 400 million dollars (310 million) in research grants and other federal funding, and had threatened to cut more, over the universitys handling of protests against Israels military campaign in Gaza. The White House has labelled the protests antisemitic, a label rejected by those who participated in the student-led demonstrations. Prison guards transfer deportees from the US, alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, El Salvador, earlier in March (El Salvador presidential press office via AP) Elsewhere, top leaders of Mr Trumps administration are debating whether to invoke a state secrets privilege in response to a judges questions about deportation flights carrying Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, a Justice Department official informed the judge on Friday ahead of a hearing. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a court filing that there are ongoing Cabinet-level discussions about Chief Judge James Boasbergs demand for more information. The district judge ordered the Trump administration to either provide more details about the flights or assert a claim that disclosing the information would harm state secrets. The Republican administration has largely resisted the judges request, calling it an unnecessary judicial fishing expedition. Judge Boasberg dismissed its response as woefully insufficient, increasing the possibility that he may hold administration officials in contempt of court. Government lawyers filed Mr Blanches sworn statement hours before the judge was scheduled to hold a hearing for the case on Friday in Washington. The Trump administration has transferred hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. Flights were in the air on March 15 when Judge Boasberg issued an order temporarily barring the deportations and ordered planes to return to the US. The Justice Department has said that the judges oral directions did not count, that only his written order needed to be followed and that it could not apply to flights that had already left the US. Mr Trump and many Republican allies have called for impeaching Judge Boasberg, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, a Democrat. In a rare statement earlier this week, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. Judge Boasberg said on Friday he will get to the bottom of whether Mr Trumps administration defied his order blocking deportation flights. He is trying to determine if the US government ignored his turnaround order last weekend when at least two planeloads of immigrants were still in flight. Soldiers celebrated after taking over the Republican Palace in Khartoum (SAF via AP ) Sudans military said it has retaken the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the last heavily guarded bastion of rival paramilitary forces in the capital, after nearly two years of fighting. Social media videos showed its soldiers inside giving the date as the 21st day of Ramadan, the holy Muslim fasting month, which corresponds to Friday. A Sudanese military officer wearing a captains epaulettes made the announcement in the video, and confirmed the troops were inside the compound. The palace appeared to be partly in ruins, with soldiers steps crunching broken tiles underneath their boots. Personnel carrying assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers chanted: God is the greatest! Khaled al-Aiser, Sudans information minister, said the military had retaken the palace in a post on the social platform X. Soldiers over-ran the palace (Planet Labs PBC via AP) Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete, he wrote. The fall of the Republican Palace, a compound along the Nile River that was the seat of government before the war erupted and is immortalised on Sudanese banknotes and postage stamps, marks another battlefield gain for Sudans military. It has made steady advances in recent months under army chief Gen Abdel-Fattah Burhan. The rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under Gen Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been mostly expelled from the capital of Khartoum after Sudans war began in April 2023. Sporadic gunfire could be heard throughout the capital on Friday, though it was not clear if it involved fighting or was celebratory in nature. The group did not immediately acknowledge the loss, which is not likely to stop the fighting as the RSF and its allies still hold territory elsewhere in Sudan. On Thursday, the RSF claimed it seized control of the Sudanese city of al-Maliha, a strategic desert city in North Darfur near the borders of Chad and Libya. Sudans military has acknowledged fighting around al-Maliha, but has not said it lost the city. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Al-Maliha is around 125 miles north of the city of El Fasher, which remains held by the Sudanese military despite near-daily strikes by the surrounding RSF. The head of the UN childrens agency has said the conflict created the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. The war has killed more than 28,000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine sweeps parts of the country. Other estimates suggest a far higher death toll. The Republican Palace had been the seat of power during the British colonisation of Sudan. It also saw some of the first independent Sudanese flags raised over the country in 1956. It also had been the main office of Sudans president and other top officials. The Sudanese military have long targeted the palace and its grounds, shelling and firing on the compound. Sudan, a nation in north-eastern Africa, has been unstable since a popular uprising forced the removal of long-time autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. A short-lived transition to democracy was derailed when Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo led a military coup in 2021. The RSF and Sudans military then began fighting each other in 2023. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Gen Burhans forces, including Sudans military and allied militias, have advanced against the RSF since the start of this year. They retook a key refinery north of Khartoum. They then pushed in on RSF positions around the capital itself. The fighting has led to an increase in civilian casualties. Al-Bashir faces charges at the International Criminal Court over carrying out a genocidal campaign in the early 2000s in the western Darfur region with the Janjaweed, the precursor to the RSF. Rights groups and the UN accuse the RSF and allied Arab militias of again attacking ethnic African groups in this war. Since the war began, both the Sudanese military and the RSF have faced allegations of human rights abuses. Before US president Joe Biden left office, the US State Department declared the RSF are committing genocide. The military and the RSF have denied committing abuses. Pervert architect moved from NI to France without telling cops Paedophile permanently left the country after informing police he was taking a holiday Ivan Carson in 2018 Paul Higgins Fri 21 Mar 2025 at 20:00 A paedophile architect accused of breaching the terms of the sex offenders register by moving to France has appeared in court. Adobe Stock Why in the world do we need angels?Angels seem not to fit inside a monotheistic faith. God can presumably accomplish anything, so what is the function of an angel? If they are doing God's bidding, they are unnecessary, and if they are opposing God, then how can any heavenly creature thwart the will of an omnipotent God? Jewish teachings about angels are ancient, going back to the first five books of the Bible, the Torah. Cherubim with flaming swords guard the gates of Eden after Adam and Eve are banished (Gen. 3). An angel arrives to tell Abraham he and Sarah will have a child (Gen. 18) and then an angel stays Abraham's hand when he is about to sacrifice that child (Gen. 22). It is an angel who saves Hagar and Ishmael in the desert (Gen. 21), appears to Moses out of the burning bush (Ex. 3), and announces to Samson's mother to be that she is to have an exceptional child (Judges 13). This list is but a sampling of the angelology of the Bible. God's intermediaries Why do angels play such a prominent role in Jewish tradition? Some medieval Jewish commentators propose that angels are necessary because they perform tasks that are beneath the dignity of God's "personal involvement." Others, mostly moderns who understand heavenly agents as a way of giving God "cover," assume that angels permit God to distance Himself, in a way, from certain deeds or obligations. But part of the allure of angels is also the colorful and humanly compelling notion of a representative of God who is more humanlike, and therefore more approachable in imagination. For example, as outlandishly otherworldly as Ezekiel's description of angels may seem to us, with its depiction of four faces, animal countenances, four wings, wheels with eyes, fire, and so on, it is still more understandable than a God one cannot see. (For the full fantastic depiction, see Ezekiel 1).The Hebrew word for angel, "mal'ach," means messenger. One traditional portrait of angels is as functionaries who carry out God's will. The rabbis declare that "wherever the angel appears the shechina (the divine Presence) appears (Exodus Rabbah 32:9)." Angels are used to give God distance from the action. Since it is too anthropomorphic (that is, giving God human characteristics) to have God wrestle with Jacob, an angel serves the purpose (Gen. 28). Angels are God's entourage. In the famous scene of Isaiah 6, God is seated on a throne with the angelic host arrayed on the right and the left. But developing hints from the Bible, later Jewish literature ascribes to the angels their own characteristics and personalities. Angels often appear in the apocryphal literature, books written by ancient Jews which were not made part of the Bible, such as the books of the Maccabees. In that literature and the Pseudepigrapha--literature written in the name of an ancient and important character--angels grow in stature. Enoch 3 explains function of various angels in a long list (e.g., "Ram'amiel, who is in charge of thunder; Ra'asiel, who is in charge of earthquakes; Shalgiel, who is in charge of snow" and so forth). Apocalyptic writing, which deals with the end of days, is filled with the doings of angels. The same is true of the Dead Sea Scrolls where, for example, The Manual of Discipline speaks of an angel of light and an angel of darkness. Although these texts did not become normative in the Jewish tradition, they do reflect what ancient Jews were teaching and learning. And many of the views in texts that did not become part of the Bible endure in rabbinic literature. Judaism is given shape by the writings of the rabbis. The Talmud, rabbinic commentary encompassing both Jewish law and legend written in the years between 50 BCE and 600 CE, is full of speculations and stories about angels. In rabbinic literature, angels sometimes show a little independence of mind. They even argue with God, making a persuasive case that human beings should not be created. The angels argue that people will commit offenses against truth and peace. Since the angels' arguments are not refutable--human beings do indeed sin continually against both truth and peace--God dashes truth to the ground, and creates human beings in spite of their deficiencies (Genesis Rabbah 8:5). Angels of folklore Jewish folklore sees angels as guardians. A famous passage reproduced in many prayerbooks asks for the aid of Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. Each has a certain guiding function, although their roles vary. Michael, "Merciful and forbearing" commander in chief of angelic host, is guardian of Israel. Raphael is the healing angel. Gabriel is the master of courage. Uriel is the angel of light, whose name means "God is my light." The Rabbis teach that two angels, one good and one bad, follow us home on Shabbat. If all is prepared--candles, challah, wine--the good angel exclaims: "May it be this way next Shabbat as well" and the bad angel responds, "Amen." If the house is not prepared, the bad angel exclaims: "May it be this way next Shabbat" and the good angel, in spite of himself, says, "Amen."(Shabbat 119b). We may think of ritual observances as the force of habit, but the rabbis portray it as the force of angels. Some angels are less beneficent of course, and Jewish tradition is filled as well with dybbuks and demons, and the omnipresent angel of death. Again the theological aim is to distance God from the devastating consequences of tragedy. The Bible depicts God as slaying the first born in Egypt, but rabbinic tradition has long assured us that it was not God directly, but the "mal'ach hamavet"--the angel of death. Ultimately however, angels have an ancillary role. In both the Bible and later literature, Judaism insists God is initiator and arbiter of what happens here on earth. Rabbi Judan teaches in the Talmud that God wishes to be directly addressed: "If trouble comes upon someone, let him cry not to Michael or Gabriel, but let him cry unto Me (Jerusalem Talmud Berachot 9:12)." As Jews recite each year during Passover: "And the Lord brought us out from Egypt--not by an angel, not by a seraph (fiery angel), and not by a messenger, but the Holy One alone..." Business Eyewear company Warby Parker will open its new location at the Old Mill District on Saturday. The company Opinion Here are some questions the candidates for the interim Deschutes County Sheriff should answer: Is there anything in If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. When I mentioned the idea that different birds sing different songs it seemed to resonate in the minds of my students. But then, I mentioned the idea that different frogs also sing different songs and that produced blank stares and puzzled looks. One student even asked, Dont frogs just say ribbit? Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter NORTH ADAMS Come the end of the school year, Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan can drop the assistant from his title. After a wide-ranging, 90-minute public interview, the North Adams School Committee unanimously voted to hire Callahan as the next superintendent of the city's public school district. He will succeed outgoing Superintendent Barbara Malkas, who is retiring June 30. Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the search committee that chose Callahan and the School Committee agreed: Of the five candidates for the job, including a superintendent, three assistant superintendents, and a principal, Callahan significantly outshone the others. Callahan, who was also in the running to be superintendent at the Central Berkshire Regional School District, withdrew that application in order to finish what I started in North Adams, where he began in 1998 as a substitute teacher at Drury High School. In the decades since, hes been involved in major initiatives, including early college programming, internship opportunities, curriculum changes and consequential grants. He has 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 Cambridge College, as well as a doctorate of education from Russell Sage College. Callahan said his three main priorities are high academic expectations, supporting students socially, mentally and academically, and equity of access and outcome. He cited recent surveys of the school community, including students and teachers, saying their priorities of curricular rigor and student support aligned with his. His salary was unavailable as it remained under negotiation, but Malkas began her most recent three-year contract in 2022 earning $148,129, which included built-in annual step increases. BUDGET AND BUILDING Callahans 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. Although he believes the school budget will allow the district to maintain many of the positions we have, he acknowledged concerns about a possible federal funding crisis. Already in danger of being lost to U.S. Department of Education cuts are the summer sessions of the 21st Century After School Program. In response to money uncertainty, Callahan said the district will continue to pursue competitive grants. It may need to make difficult decisions regarding after-school programs as well. Them reality of the potential budget crisis is that wed have to streamline what were doing, and focus on school day activities, he said. The closure of Greylock Elementary, and the consolidation of pre-K through grade six elementary schools into Colegrove Park Elementary (grades three to six) and Brayton Elementary (pre-K through grade two) has weighed on teachers and others, Callahan says. He attributed any lingering bitterness to how the consolidation plan shifted from its original iteration. The model was, Greylock is going to combine with Brayton as a pre-K through six school, and Colegrove is going to remain the same until the new building was built. What we didnt realize is how much that actually ended up leading to some resentment, Callahan said. The teachers thought thats where things were headed they really felt a sense of loss when they got split up, and when they broke off. He said speaking with teachers, students, parents and others about subjects like this is essential, and advocated for more professional development in order for teachers to get to know and grow with each other. SOCIAL ISSUES Callahan said the decision to prohibit the use of cellphones at the high school has led to a 62 percent reduction in disciplinary incidents from fall 2023 to the fall 2024. He also expressed concern that the use of devices by elementary school students and their parents may be inhibiting the development of social skills, and that they are manifesting as if they havent engaged with humans that often. As for how he will handle threats to marginalized communities, such as LGBTQ+ students, Callahan recognized a national culture war playing out in schools. When one set of values is aligned with bigotry and exclusion," he said, "those are not values I would support. Donald Morrison is an Eagle columnist and co-chairman of the advisory board. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle. Christians look forward to the day that Jesus will return to take them to be with Him, when He will rule and reign for a thousand years. It will be a time of rejoicing for people who put their faith in Him. During the Millennium Reign, Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:5-6). Even the early church, mere decades after Jesus resurrection and ascension, were looking for His imminent return to bring forth this wonderful kingdom. But today, it still hasnt happened. Given all the pain and suffering in the world, why does Jesus still tarry in returning for His church, judging evil, and beginning His earthly reign? While the Bible does not outline it explicitly, Scripture is clear that God is merciful, longsuffering, and wants as many people to turn to Him as possible. Because once the end of days begins, many people will be cut off from eternal life. What Does the Bible Say about Jesus Return? While many of the details about Jesus return are hidden in mystery and prophecy, there are insights the Bible gives its readers. The Scriptures below give us insight into what this day will entail. But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:34-36). And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:3). So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28). But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed (2 Peter 3:10). Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen (Revelation 1:7). Jesus will return, and it will be sudden. He will redeem His church, and He will rule over the earth for a thousand years. Believers should conduct themselves with sobriety, knowing His return could be imminent. Meanwhile, people who dont have assurance of salvation and eternal life should start a relationship while they can. These are truths all Christians agree on. While the Bible does give readers insight into the events surrounding the return of Jesus Christ, it is silent on Gods motives for His timing. Just as the Bible does not tell people specific reasons why God chose to create the world and humanity, it also doesnt specifically outline His plan for the End Times. What it does say is that God wants everyone to come to a saving relationship with Him. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 says that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving, are good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God waits for the church to spread the Gospel as far as possible, so that no one will have an excuse and everyone will have an opportunity to repent of their sins and put their faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Can We Know When Jesus Is Coming? One of the certainties of the Lords return is that no one knows when it will be. While there will be signs that ramp up as the date approaches, concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only (Matthew 24:36). People may look for signs and try to interpret them, but no amount of interpretation will yield the correct answer. One of the most powerful tools cults and false prophets have in their arsenal to convert and control people is claiming to have the answer to the question of when Jesus will return. For centuries, people have set dates for when the Lord would return, ushering in the end of days. In fact, it goes as far back as 500 AD, when different thinkers made predictions based on estimates on the age of the earth or the dimensions of the ark. There are predictions that have come and gone, and some that are still lined up to happen in the near or distant future. But none of these predictions are in alignment with Scripture, because Jesus Himself said no one can know. Paul warned the church at Thessalonica about such false prophecies: Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Christians should beware of anyone who claims to know the exact date of Jesus return, since it contradicts the truth Jesus spoke. What Should We Do While We Wait? When considering what is going on in the world, what should Christians do until He returns? They should obey His commands. There is a great deal of Gods business to be done. There are many people-groups who have not heard the Gospel, particularly in parts of southern Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Even in areas where people have heard the Gospel, many are unbelievers. Witchcraft is becoming more popular in western countries. But there are humanitarian actions Christians can do to bless their fellow man and show the love of Christ. There are clear directives for Christians about what to do while waiting for the Lords return. Jesus gave one as He ascended back to the Father, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul also encouraged believers, For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:11-13). Christians should not sit around and stare at the clouds waiting for Jesus return, but do good, live a godly life, and worship the Lord. While Christians can look around and bemoan Jesus tarrying in His return, they should look at the people around them the way Jesus sees them, as lost people who need to be given opportunities to accept the free gift of salvation and eternal life. When the Lord comes, there will be an eternity of joy, peace, and oneness in His presence. But for many, it will be the end of their opportunities to be forgiven for their sins. Christians should reach out to them with love and the Gospel until the trumpet sounds. Sources Jeremiah, David. Until Christ Returns Living Faithfully Today While We Wait for Our Glorious Tomorrow. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007. Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Old Testament and New Testament. United States of America: Victor Books, 1987. Wilmington, H.L. Wilmingtons Guide to the Bible. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1981. Photo credit: Getty Images/PeopleImages Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com. Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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Advertisement Speaking on the podcast they said: (Ive) become more happy in myself, describing myself as a person. Shobna Gulati is best known for playing Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street (Chris Radburn/PA) What do people call it now? Non-binary, so I suppose thats who I am, and Ive never had a word for it, but Ive learned from our younger generation what that might look like in terms of a word, because I know what it feels like in terms of being me. I didnt have the words for that all the way through my life. Ive never had the words for that, and Ive never managed to sort of explain that. And I suppose my family, my immediate family, have not really thought about it. Advertisement Theyve just sort of (thought) Shobnas either extremely feminine or extremely masculine, because I was just accepted as the person who fell out of the tree, and equally, the person who put on all this makeup and did a dance. Former Loose Women presenter Adams then asked Gulati how they came to that realisation. They replied: I was just doing a show, and then the sound person, they said to me that they were non-binary, and I said, oh, what is that?. So then they explained, and I thought, well, I feel like that, but I didnt ever have that vocabulary. Advertisement They said that they saw themselves as a person, and that the gender, the he or the she, wasnt important to who they are, and I thought thats all Ive ever thought. And I think now Im free to say it out loud, I think people who have been around me have accepted who I am for a long time without any explanation, but I suppose when Im asked now, Ill say it. Gulati went on to say they had been told you cant go out like that by their parents when they had not washed their hair, and the actor said they responded by saying: Well, why not? Why cant I go out like that? They added: It was just sort of fake comments along the way, or I walk like a boy, lots of people tell me I walk like a boy, and I do, like theres no doubt about it, I just dont know quite where it all comes from. Advertisement Its just who I am, and Im happy in that now, how to be 60? Be all rolled into one, have your masculine and feminine all rolled into one, and just be your person you are. Gulati has also appeared in British sitcom dinnerladies as Anita, a number of episodes of Doctor Who as Najia Khan between 2018 and 2020, and six episodes of BBC soap EastEnders as Ameena. Rivals star Danny Dyer has said his surprise best actor win at the Broadcasting Press Guild (BPG) Awards 2025 was a revelation to him. The 47-year-old won the award at Thursdays ceremony in London for his role as Freddie Jones in the Disney+ drama, which is adapted from a novel by Dame Jilly Cooper, and depicts the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. Advertisement Speaking about winning the gong, Dyer, who played Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter in EastEnders between 2013 and 2022, told the PA news agency: Well, for me personally as an actor, its a surprise. I watched it as a viewer as well, because as much as Fred (his character) is in it, and hes an important part of it, there was a lot when hes not. So when I watched the whole series, I was so proud, choked up, to be part of something so brilliant and surrounded by such incredible actors. Honestly, I was taken away by it, so to be nominated, as a good actor in it, is a revelation to me. Ive been around a long time. Advertisement The shows producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins joked to PA that Dyer was not a bad actor. He said: Hes incredible, and whats been brilliant is bringing Dan in to a whole new audience. We all knew how wonderful he is, but its been really special, and Rivals, Ive been trying to put Rivals on the television for years, and to create a show that people are re-watching and re-watching. I spoke to someone the other day and shed rewatched it 14 times. Advertisement Dyer, who has said former EastEnders producer Treadwell-Collins took a risk hiring him for the soap, said: Well TikTok has gone crazy for it, really going into it on a very deep level. Im not on TikTok, Im pushing 50, but my daughter is, she shows me a lot of stuff and this has really tapped into a lot of young Americans, women, that are so dying for season two. The actor also spoke about the impact of Netflix series Adolescence, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, which has led to misogyny online and bullying using social media. Dyer said of the show: I think this is something we need to tap into, and I think this has maybe done it. Advertisement We need to find out whats going on with our young boys, and weirdly, television is the platform, because it aint going to be politicians, lets have it right. Mr Bates Vs The Post Offices Gwyneth Hughes took home best writer for the dramatisation of the Horizon IT scandal. Entertainment Happy in myself Coronation Streets Shobna Gul... Read More Speaking about the award, she told PA: It means huge amounts to me, especially as the writer. Because accolades are lovely coming from anywhere, but if it comes from a whole bunch of people who actually know what its like to sit in a darkened room, in front of an empty screen, thats really nice, so Im absolutely thrilled. Advertisement The awards, which have been running for more than 50 years, also saw Baby Reindeer actress Jessica Gunning win best actress, Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl win best drama or miniseries, and Gavin & Stacey: The Finale win best comedy. A judge told All-Star Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes he is going to prison for three months for engaging in unlawful violence at a nightclub seven years ago, if he is deemed unsuitable to carry out 180 hours of community service in lieu of the suggested jail term. Hayes, (26), Ballyahsea, Kildimo, Co Limerick, had been bound by the terms of a two-year suspended sentence to be of good behaviour and not re-offend within two years from last March, after a jury convicted him on two charges of engaging in violent disorder at the Icon nightclub, Limerick, on October 28th, 2019. Advertisement However, the judge said the decorated hurler had breached these terms when he engaged in dangerous driving at Mallow, Co Cork, driving well in excess of the applicable (speed) limit four months after the suspended sentences were imposed. Hayes was detected by gardai driving an Audi A6 dangerously, at 155kph in a 100kph speed zone, while overtaking nine cars on the N20 Cork to Limerick dual carriageway, on July 14th last. On Friday at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, the judge said he had to decide under a Section 99 re-entry order, if he would revoke all, part of, or none of the two-year suspended sentence. Kyle Hayes defence barrister, Liam Carroll, BL, told the court the hurlers maternal grandmother died last Tuesday, and that her reposing and funeral mass was being held this Friday evening and tomorrow morning, Saturday. Advertisement Mr Carroll said his client did not want to bring his grandmothers death to the courts attention, but I believe it is a matter that should be considered by the court. Mr Carroll said: Mr Hayes is very clear, he is ready to face the music today, he is ready to accept his fate. The judge told Kyle Hayes he was very sorry about his grandmothers death. Giving a summary of the violent disorder at the Icon nightclub, the judge said Kyle Hayes was one of two men who aggressively approached Cillian McCarthy inside the nightclub and that Kyle Hayes was one of at least four others who attacked Mr McCarthy on the clubs dance-floor. Advertisement The judge said two gardai gave evidence at Kyle Hayess trial that they saw the hurler kicking an unidentified man, who was lying on the street outside the nightclub, but this man was not Cillian McCarthy. Hayes was acquitted of assaulting Mr McCarthy, and the hurler was never charged with assaulting on any other person on the night. The judge said an 18-month jail term and a concurrent two-year sentence imposed on Hayes, for the violence at the nightclub were fully suspended on condition that he keep the peace for two years, and that he pay damages to Mr McCarthy of 10,000, the latter which has been completed. The judge said Kyle Hayes broke these terms by his conviction for dangerous driving. Advertisement The judge said Hayes subsequently lost an appeal against the road traffic conviction, was fined 250 and given a two-year road ban. The judge said evidence given to the court last Wednesday by Kyle Hayess father, Liam Hayes, that he underwent a quadruple bypass surgery in 2022, and he depends on Kyle Hayes to perform heavy-duty work on their family farm did not assist nor persuade the court in his final decision. Kyle Hayes brothers, Cian and Daragh Hayes are both serving jail sentences for assault causing harm to a neighbour at Daragh Hayess home the court also heard the two siblings were not available to assist their father on the family farm. Judge Hayes said it was inescapable that Kyle Hayes is a very talented hurler but he had in no way sought to rely on that in court. Advertisement The judge said the Limerick hurler was neither entitled to any preferential treatment because of his sporting achievements, nor was he entitled to less treatment as someone without his public profile. Kyle Hayess dangerous driving conviction, whilst serious was less serious than his previous two convictions for violent disorder, and there were no aggravating factors involved, such as intoxication, poor road conditions, or a driving disqualification, the judge continued. The judge described as appalling, Kyle Hayes behaviour inside and outside the nightclub seven years ago, but the judge also noted that the Limerick hurler had not come before the courts for similar violent offences in those seven years. The judge said revoking part of the suspended sentence would not be unjust and he felt it was appropriate to activate three months of Hayess suspended two-year sentence. Ireland Conor McGregor seeks to introduce new evidence in... Read More However, the judge added: It is often the case with short sentences that it is more constructive to require a defendant to engage in a significant amount of voluntary work in the community rather than the imposition of a short sentence of imprisonment. The judge suggested Kyle Hayes engage with the probation services to be assessed for suitability for performing 180 hours of voluntary unpaid work in the community. After consulting with Kyle Hayes, his barrister Mr Carroll, told the judge: I can confirm that Mr Hayes is agreeable to accept a community service order. Adjourning the Section 99 re-entry to April 28th for mention, the judge concluded: If hes not suitable, then the penalty I have suggested will be imposed. Staff turnover in the HSE has decreased for the first time in five years, according to data analysed by a health expert. The Health Executive publishes annual data on turnover rates. The turnover rate was 8.9 per cent in 2023 compared with 10.2 per cent in 2022. Advertisement The total number of staff employed by the HSE at the end of December 2023 was 145,985 WTE (Whole-time Equivalent) (163,792 personnel). Since December 2019 the increase in staff numbers has been 26,000 WTE or up by 21.8 per cent. At the end of 2023 the Executive introduced a system to gather data on the reasons why staff leave the service and their destination on leaving. The early HSE data analysed shows that those leaving 63% left voluntarily, 20% due to retirement and 17 per cent involuntary such as the end of a contract. Advertisement Among the voluntary group the commonest reasons for leaving were personal 26 per cent, career opportunities 26 per cent, job satisfaction 22 per cent, emigrating 15 per cent, and permanent disability four per cent. However, 61 per cent of leavers did not disclose their destination. There are 89,496 nurses and midwives registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Of these, 84,213 are currently practising and 76,054 are patient facing in their role, which is a six per cent increase. Dr John F A Murphy, editor of the Irish Medical Journal points out that there has also been a decline in the number of nurses intending to leave their current position and reducing their clinical hours. Advertisement The reasons quoted for better retention were less burnout, less job dissatisfaction, less workplace violence, fewer instances of understaffing, and less mandatory overtime, explained Dr Murphy in this months edition of the Journal. Ireland Family of cyclist killed in hit-and-run demand an... Read More The doctor added that efforts to reduce healthcare staff turnover are very worthwhile. They lead to improvements in patient care and outcomes. The turnover rate of an organisation is (useful) and is a surrogate marker of an organisations governance. Chief Executive of the Executive Bernard Gloster also told an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health that fewer staff are leaving the health service, reversing an upward trend in departures in recent years. "Turnover has improved, in that it decreased in 2023 by 1.3 per cent," Mr Gloster added. Brits go to the pub, Brazilians hang out on the beach and Italians exchange gossip in espresso bars. But Finns have found a healthier way to socialise and its made them the happiest nation in the world. For the eighth consecutive year running, Finland has topped the charts for the United Nations World Happiness Report, and one of the reasons credited for the continual wins is the nations obsession with going to the sauna. Advertisement Almost 90% of Finns bathe in a sauna at least once a week an activity thats considered good for both physical and mental health. Friends and family gather in these safe spaces to chat about life. Historically, they were even used as a place for women giving birth. The best sauna experience is combined with a dip to a lake or the sea or even into the snow, recommends Taina Snellman-Langenskiold, co-owner of boutique hotel and retreat Billnas Gard outside Helsinki, who also notes the countrys strong connection to nature. In a country where almost 75% of the land is covered with trees (a higher density than anywhere in Europe), a tiny population of 5.6 million people has easy access to green space and lots of it. Here are three more ways to tap into Finlands happy culture. Advertisement Sauna at Release feel-good hormones with a steam in a sauna (Alamy/PA) Built in 1906, Rajaportti Sauna in Pispala, Tampere, is the oldest public sauna in Finland. Its like a little piece of heaven on earth, says sauna guide Alex Lembke whose job is to heat it every day. A sauna is a place where you can reconnect to nature and feel the best of everything: the purifying power of fire and the warmth of the flames, the earthiness of the stones, air and the coolness of the water. Regent Holidays offers an eight-day Finlands Golden Triangle tour visiting Helsinki, Turku and Tampere, from 1,175pp, including some meals and flights. Visit regent-holidays.co.uk. Party at See FKA Twigs performing at Flow Festival, Helsinki (Alamy/PA) Bringing quality dance music to the Nordics for 20 years, FLOW festival has become one of Europes best festivals mixing great performers with good food. This years event will be held from August 8-10 at Suvilahti in Helsinki, with headliners including FKA Twigs, Underworld and Charli XCX. A three-day pass costs from 269/226. Visit flowfestival.com. Relax at Enjoy the tranquillity of Lake Saimaa (Alamy/PA) There are an impressive 188,000 lakes in Finland. One of the largest in Europe, Lake Saimaa is perfect for paddles, sauna sessions and seal spotting. Base yourself at Kuru Resort, an adults-only retreat hidden in a pine forest close to the town of Mikkeli. Advertisement Best Served Scandinavia offers a six-day Wellness and Wilderness holiday from 1,795pp, including accommodation, some meals and flights. Visit best-served.co.uk. Pope Francis is recovering well from pneumonia and that a new stage in his pontificate would open, two of his closest advisers have said. It came as the 88-year-old pontiff approached five weeks in hospital. Advertisement Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra told The Associated Press that he had found Francis in good humour and serene during the three times he has visited him at the Gemelli hospital in Rome. Archbishop Pena Parra, who is the Vatican chief of staff, visited Francis on February 24, March 2 and March 9 along with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the only Vatican officials who have visited him aside from his personal secretaries. The pope will recover, Archbishop Pena Parra said on the sidelines of a book launch. The pope is recovering well. The doctors say that he needs some time, but its going well progressively. I found him well, serene, in good humour, and just like him tough with the desire to go forward, he said. Advertisement The Vatican press office reported on Friday that Franciss overall condition remained stable, with slight improvements as he continues respiratory and physical physiotherapy. He was continuing to reduce his reliance on high-flow supplemental oxygen he has needed to breathe during the day and no longer needs the mechanical ventilation mask at night. A nun holds a candle and an image of Pope Francis during a rosary prayer his health in St Peters Square at the Vatican (Andrew Medichini/AP) In other comments on Friday, another friend and ally of the pope, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, said that a new stage was opening in Franciss 12-year pontificate and that he expects some surprises from the pontiff when he is released. Cardinal Fernandez, the Argentine theologian whom Francis brought in as the Vaticans doctrine chief, said that he had been in touch with Francis since he was taken to hospital on February 14 and was heartened that he had stabilised. Advertisement He provided no timeframe on when Francis might be released, but ruled out any thought that he might resign. He said that he understood that Francis was responding well to treatment, but that doctors were keeping him at the hospital to be 100%. He said that Francis needed rehabilitation therapy to help him regain strength to speak after so many weeks on non-invasive mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen. Cardinal Fernandez revealed that Francis had resisted going to hospital when his bronchitis worsened, and agreed to go only after people close to him threatened to resign if he did not. Advertisement I dont know what swearwords they used (to tell him) you have to go there, otherwise we go home and end our relationship here, he said. As a result, he said he knew that being in hospital had been hard on Francis and had surely made him reflect. I think a new stage is opening for him. He is a man of surprises, who will surely have learned so many things in this month and hell pull who knows what out of the hat, he said. So even knowing that this has been a very heavy effort for him, a difficult time, I know it will be fruitful for the church and for the world. Advertisement Francis marked five weeks in hospital on Friday. A bad case of bronchitis had developed into a complex lung infection and double pneumonia. He has long battled respiratory illnesses and had part of one lung removed when he was a young man. He has admitted to being a bad patient and is a known workaholic. He wants to spend what little time he has left and says I want to use it and not to take care of myself, Cardinal Fernandez said. And then what happens? He comes back here and its not easy for him to follow the advice of doctors. That might change after this experience, he said. He has to certainly change, but I cant say what those details might be, he said. Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appeared briefly on Friday in immigration court at a remote Louisiana detention centre as his lawyers fight in multiple venues to try to free him. Mr Khalil, 30, a legal US resident with no criminal record, sat alone next to an empty chair his lawyer participated via video conference through a brief court session that dealt only with scheduling. Advertisement Mr Khalil swayed back and forth in his chair as he waited for the proceeding to begin in a courtroom inside an isolated Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention complex. The facility is near the small town of Jena, roughly 150 miles (240km) north of the state capital, Baton Rouge. Mr Khalil smiled at two observers as they came into the room, where just 13 people ultimately gathered, including the judge, lawyers and court staff. Two journalists and a total of four other observers attended. By video, lawyer Marc Van Der Hout said he had just recently started representing Mr Khalil and had not yet been able to speak to him or get records in the case. Mr Van Der Hout said he needed more time to delve into the case. Advertisement An immigration judge set a fuller hearing for April 8. Columbia University in New York City (Alamy/PA) The Columbia University graduate student was detained by federal immigration agents on March 8 as part of President Donald Trumps crackdown on what he calls antisemitic and anti-American campus protests. Mr Khalil served as a spokesperson and negotiator last year for pro-Palestinian demonstrators who opposed Israels military campaign in Gaza. Mr Khalil, who was born in Syria to a Palestinian family, has said in a statement that his detention reflects anti-Palestinian racism in the US. Advertisement Later on Friday it emerged that under threat from the Trump administration, Columbia University in New York City agreed to implement a host of policy changes, including overhauling its rules for protests and conducting an immediate review of its Middle Eastern studies department. The changes came one week after the Trump administration ordered the Ivy League school to enact those and other reforms or lose all federal funding, an ultimatum widely criticised in academia as an attack on academic freedom. Columbia will also bar protests inside academic buildings. Students will not be permitted to wear face masks on campus for the purposes of concealing ones identity. In an effort to expand intellectual diversity within the university, Columbia will also appoint new faculty members to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies department. It will also adopt a new definition of antisemitism and expand programming in its Tel Aviv Centre, a research hub based in Israel. Advertisement The policy changes were largely in line with demands made on the university by the Trump administration, which pulled 400 million dollars (310 million) in research grants and other federal funding, and had threatened to cut more, over the universitys handling of protests against Israels military campaign in Gaza. The White House has labelled the protests antisemitic, a label rejected by those who participated in the student-led demonstrations. Prison guards transfer deportees from the US, alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, El Salvador, earlier in March (El Salvador presidential press office via AP) Elsewhere, top leaders of Mr Trumps administration are debating whether to invoke a state secrets privilege in response to a judges questions about deportation flights carrying Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, a Justice Department official informed the judge on Friday ahead of a hearing. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a court filing that there are ongoing Cabinet-level discussions about Chief Judge James Boasbergs demand for more information. Advertisement The district judge ordered the Trump administration to either provide more details about the flights or assert a claim that disclosing the information would harm state secrets. The Republican administration has largely resisted the judges request, calling it an unnecessary judicial fishing expedition. Judge Boasberg dismissed its response as woefully insufficient, increasing the possibility that he may hold administration officials in contempt of court. Government lawyers filed Mr Blanches sworn statement hours before the judge was scheduled to hold a hearing for the case on Friday in Washington. The Trump administration has transferred hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. Flights were in the air on March 15 when Judge Boasberg issued an order temporarily barring the deportations and ordered planes to return to the US. The Justice Department has said that the judges oral directions did not count, that only his written order needed to be followed and that it could not apply to flights that had already left the US. Mr Trump and many Republican allies have called for impeaching Judge Boasberg, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, a Democrat. In a rare statement earlier this week, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said he will meet billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon to discuss innovation, efficiencies and smarter production. Mr Musk, a top adviser to US President Donald Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have played an integral role in the American administrations push to dramatically reduce the size of the government. Advertisement Tesla and X entrepreneur Mr Musk has faced a backlash from some legislators and voters over his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programmes, although Mr Trumps supporters have hailed it. We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow. But the fake news delivers again this is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans. Its an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great! https://t.co/sIhsUjqbG9 Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 21, 2025 A senior defence official told reporters on Tuesday that roughly 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the defence department. In a post on Mr Musks X platform, Mr Hegseth emphasised that this is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans,' denying a story published by The New York Times late on Thursday. Mr Hegseth is also scheduled to deliver remarks with Trump at the White House on Friday morning. Israels defence minister said he has ordered ground forces to advance deeper into the Gaza Strip, and vowed to hold more land until Hamas releases the remaining hostages it holds. Israel Katz said: The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel. Advertisement It came after an explosion east of Gaza City killed a couple and their two children, plus two additional children who were not related to them but were in the same building, according to witnesses and a local hospital. The Israeli army said it struck a militant in a Gaza City building and took steps to minimise civilian harm. It was not immediately clear if the army was referring to the same strike. The Israeli military said on social media it was planning to conduct raids in three neighbourhoods west of Gaza City, and it warned Palestinians to evacuate the area in advance. Displaced Palestinians move between southern and northern Gaza away from the areas where the Israeli army is operating after Israels renewed offensive in Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The warnings came shortly after the military said it intercepted two rockets fired from northern Gaza that set off sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. Advertisement Hamas had also fired three rockets the previous day in its first attack since Israel ended the ceasefire. A long-range missile fired by Yemens Houthi rebels set off air raid sirens over Jerusalem and central Israel for the fourth day in a row on Friday, with the military saying it was intercepted. After retaking part of the strategic Netzarim corridor that divides Gazas north from south, Israeli troops moved towards the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the southern border city of Rafah on Thursday. The military said it had resumed enforcing a blockade on northern Gaza, including Gaza City. Advertisement Meanwhile, Israels top court ordered a temporary halt to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus dismissal of the countrys domestic security chief until his appeal can be heard. The Supreme Courts decision came hours after Mr Netanyahus cabinet unanimously approved his request to fire the head of the Shin Bet internal security service, Ronen Bar. The court said it was delaying the removal until an appeal could be heard no later than April 8. Mr Netanyahus office had said Mr Bars dismissal was effective as of April 10, but that it could come earlier if a replacement was found. Advertisement Israels attorney general has ruled that the cabinet has no legal basis to dismiss Mr Bar. A Shin Bet report into Hamas attack on October 7 2023 that prompted the war acknowledged failures by the security agency. But it also said policies by Mr Netanyahus government created the conditions for the attack. Ronen Bar is chief of Israels domestic Shin Bet security agency (Pool via AP) Critics say the move is a power grab by the Prime Minister against an independent-minded civil servant, and tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated in support of Mr Bar, including outside Mr Netanyahus residence on Friday. Mr Netanyahu is also upset that the Shin Bet has launched an investigation into connections between some of his close aides and the Gulf state of Qatar. Advertisement Mr Netanyahu sounded defiant in a social media post on Friday evening, saying: The State of Israel is a state of law and according to the law, the Israeli government decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet. Nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed since Tuesday, when Israel shattered a truce that had facilitated the release of more than two dozen hostages and brought relative calm since late January. Baby Ella Osama Abu Dagga, just 25 days old, was pulled from the rubble following an Israeli army air strike that killed her parents and brother, in Khan Younis (AP) Israel had already cut off the supply of food, fuel and humanitarian aid to Gazas roughly two million Palestinians, has said it would escalate military operations until Hamas releases the 59 hostages it holds 24 of whom are believed alive and gives up control of the territory. The ceasefire agreed to in mid-January was a three-phase plan meant to lead to a long-term cessation of hostilities, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of all hostages taken by Hamas in its surprise attack on Israel. In the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas returned 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for the release of nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces also withdrew to buffer zones inside Gaza, and hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians returned to northern Gaza. A deepening humanitarian crisis in the #WestBank with homes and other civilian infrastructure systematically destroyed. On Wednesday, the Israeli Authorities issued new demolition orders for another 66 buildings in #Jenin camp. Dozens of houses have already been destroyed in pic.twitter.com/IuCltZbdVt UNRWA (@UNRWA) March 21, 2025 The ceasefire was supposed to continue as long as talks on the second phase continued but Mr Netanyahu baulked at entering substantive negotiations. Instead, he tried to force Hamas to accept a new ceasefire plan put forth by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. That plan would have required Hamas to release half its remaining hostages the militant groups main bargaining chip in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners a key component of the first phase. Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as called for in the original ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. The militant group has said it is willing to hand over power to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority or a committee of political independents but will not lay down its arms until Israel ends its decades-long occupation of lands the Palestinians want for a future state. Hamas said in a statement on Friday that the sacking of Shin Bets head shows a deepening crisis of distrust within Israels leadership, and claimed that Mr Netanyahu engineered sham negotiations to stall and buy time without any genuine intention of reaching tangible outcomes. Mr Netanyahu said he had ordered the resumed strikes on Gaza because of Hamas rejection of the new proposal. As Israeli forces advanced deeper into the Gaza Strip on Friday they blew up the only specialised cancer hospital in the wartorn territory. The hospital was located in the Netzarim Corridor. The Israeli military said it struck the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which was inaccessible to doctors and patients during the war, because Hamas militants were operating in the site. Turkey, which helped build and fund the hospital, said Israeli troops at one point used it as a base. Dr Zaki Al-Zaqzouq, head of the hospitals oncology department, said a medical team visited the facility during the ceasefire and found that, while it had suffered damage, some facilities remained in good condition. I cannot fathom what could be gained from bombing a hospital that served as a lifeline for so many patients, he said in a statement issued by the aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the hospitals destruction and accused Israel of deliberately rendering Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displacing the Palestinian people. Israels Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus request to sack the head of the countrys Shin Bet internal security service. The late-night decision to sack Ronen Bar deepens a power struggle focused largely over who bears responsibility for the October 7 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. Advertisement It also could set the stage for a crisis over the countrys division of powers. Israels attorney general has ruled that the Cabinet has no legal basis to dismiss Mr Bar. North Korea said it has test-launched new anti-aircraft missiles as its military threatened unspecified grave steps against the US and South Korea over joint military drills it views as an invasion rehearsal. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the tests on Thursday and called the missiles involved another major defence weapons system for North Korea. Advertisement The missile launches, North Koreas sixth weapons testing activity this year, occurred on the same day that the US and South Korean militaries concluded their annual Freedom Shield command post exercise. The 11-day training was the allies first major joint military exercises since the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January. The two countries held diverse field training exercises alongside the Freedom Shield drills. US Army soldiers cross a floating bridge on the Imjin River during a joint river-crossing exercise between South Korea and the United States as a part of the Freedom Shield military exercise in Yeoncheon, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) US and South Korean officials describe their combined military drills as defensive in nature, but North Korea slams them as a major security threat. Advertisement Hours after this years Freedom Shield training began on March 10, North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea. On Friday, North Koreas Defence Ministry alleged the recent US-South Korean drills involved simulations to destroy underground tunnels in the North to remove its nuclear weapons. An unidentified ministry spokesperson said the US and South Korea would face consequences if they performed similar provocative actions again. The accumulated reckless military moves of the US and the ROK (Republic of Korea), seized with the daydream that they can jeopardise the sovereignty and security of a nuclear weapons state, can undoubtedly bring the gravest consequences they do not want, the spokesperson said in a statement carried in KCNA. Advertisement North Korea often issues warlike rhetoric and threats of attacks when the US and South Korean militaries conduct big drills. Mr Trump has said he is willing to reach out to Mr Kim to revive their diplomacy, but North Korea has not made any public responses to his overture. Many experts say Mr Kim, now preoccupied with his support of Russias war efforts against Ukraine, will not likely embrace Mr Trumps outreach anytime soon, but could seriously consider it when the war ends. Mr Kim and Mr Trump met three times in 2018-19 to discuss North Koreas possible nuclear disarmament, but their diplomacy eventually fell apart due to disputes over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea. Russian drones have pummelled the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, injuring three people and sparking massive fires, officials said. The attack that underlines Moscows intention to pursue aerial attacks even after it agreed to temporarily halt strikes on energy facilities. Advertisement The strike came shortly before Czech Republic President Peter Pavel visited Odesa on Friday morning and held meetings with the citys leaders and officials from other southern regions. Starting in the evening, Russia attacked regions of Ukraine with over two hundred strike drones and decoy drones. Guided aerial bombs were also used. Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernihiv regions came under fire. As a result of the massive strikes by the pic.twitter.com/0SKnWgDwMk Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 21, 2025 This is another reminder to the whole world: the war continues and Ukraine continues to fight, the head of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, said in a statement. He reported blazes at at least three locations after the attack late on Thursday. Civilian infrastructure, commercial facilities are on fire, cars damaged, Mr Kiper said. Advertisement Reacting to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that joint pressure on Russia, strengthening sanctions and defence support for our state is the way to stop such terror and Russias prolongation of the war. Mr Zelensky said in a statement on Telegram: We expect real pressure on Russia from the US, Europe and all our partners. This is what will allow diplomacy to work. Over 70 people and 20 fire engines were involved in extinguishing what the emergency services called massive fires. In another attack, Russian glide bombs injured at least six people, including a child, in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight. Advertisement Regional head Ivan Fedorov published photos showing fire fighters extinguishing flames at multiple damaged residential buildings. The attack hit Odesa overnight (AP) The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 214 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks. It said 114 of them were intercepted and another 81 were jammed. Russias defence ministry said air defences shot down 43 Ukrainian drones, 34 of them over the Volgograd region and others over Rostov, Kursk and Belgorod regions. The authorities did not report any casualties or significant damage. Advertisement Meanwhile, a massive blaze at an oil depot in the Krasnodar region has continued to rage since it was hit by a Ukrainian drone attack late on Wednesday. Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle on Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after US President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders this week, though it remained to be seen what possible targets would be off limits to attack. Other attacks took place in Zaporizhzhia (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) After a roughly hour-long call with Mr Trump on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky told reporters that technical talks in Saudi Arabia this weekend would seek to resolve what types of infrastructure would be protected from attack under the agreement. The three sides appeared to hold starkly different views about what the deal covered. While the White House said energy and infrastructure would be covered, the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure. Advertisement Mr Zelensky said he would also like railways and ports to be protected. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasised on Friday that the agreement reached between Mr Trump and Mr Putin referred only to energy facilities, adding that the Russian military is fulfilling Mr Putins order to halt such attacks for 30 days. The Russian military are currently refraining from strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure in accordance with the agreement reached between Russia and the United States, Mr Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. A US man who was abducted more than two years ago while travelling through Afghanistan as a tourist has been released by the Taliban in a deal with the Trump administration, the State Department said. George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, is the third American detainee to be released by the Taliban since January. He was seized by the Talibans intelligence services in December 2022 and was designated by the US government as wrongfully detained the following year. Advertisement Secretary of state Marco Rubio said Mr Glezmann was on his way back to the US to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra, and praised broker Qatar for steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts which he said were instrumental in securing Georges release. Georges release is a positive and constructive step, Mr Rubio said. It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free all Americans unjustly detained around the world. George Glezmann is free. George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but now hes on his way to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra. Welcome home, George! Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 20, 2025 Mr Glezmann is being accompanied back to the US, through Qatars capital Doha, by Adam Boehler, who has been handling hostage issues for Donald Trumps administration. The Taliban disclosed earlier on Thursday that Mr Boehler had met a delegation that included Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Mr Glezmann, 66, has visited more than 100 countries as part of his passion for exploring different cultures, according to a profile on the website of the Foley Foundation, an organisation that advocates for the release of Americans detained by foreign countries. Advertisement The release is part of what the Taliban has previously described as the normalisation of ties between the US and Afghanistan after the chaotic US withdrawal in 2021. Most countries still do not recognise the Talibans rule. Mr Glezmanns release follows a separate deal, arranged in January in the final days of the Biden administration and also mediated by the Qataris, that secured the releases of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty. The Talibans Foreign Ministry in Kabul said at the time that those two US citizens had been exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 after being convicted under US narco-terrorism laws for securing heroin and opium that he knew was bound for the US. Unlike in that arrangement, the US did not give up any prisoner to secure Mr Glezmanns release, which was done as a goodwill gesture, according to a source. Advertisement Afghanistans Foreign Ministry confirmed Mr Glezmanns release on humanitarian grounds, saying the Islamic Emirate again reaffirms its longstanding position that dialogue, understanding and diplomacy provide effective avenues for resolving all issues. George Glezmann, centre, in Kabul (Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AP) President Joe Biden contemplated before he left office an earlier proposal that would have involved the release of Mr Glezmann and other Americans for Muhammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay. But Mr Biden told families during a call in January that he would not support trading Rahim unless the Taliban released Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman who worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company and vanished in 2022. The FBI and Mr Habibis family have said they believe he was taken by Taliban forces, but the Taliban has denied holding him. Advertisement Representatives for Mr Habibi on Thursday cited what they said was overwhelming evidence that he was arrested by the Taliban after his home was searched by people identifying themselves as part of the Talibans security service. We are confident that the Trump administration will hold firm that my brother needs to be released for relations with the US to move forward, one of Habibis brothers, Ahmad, said in a statement. We have reason to be confident Mahmood is alive and in Taliban custody, despite their hollow denials of holding him. My brother is an innocent man who has been held away from his wife, young daughter and elderly parents for 953 days. A 19-year-old has died in hospital in Serbia, becoming the 16th fatality in the collapse of a concrete canopy at a train station last November. The tragedy triggered months of anti-corruption protests rattling Serbias populist government. Advertisement Vukasin Crncevic died more than four months after tonnes of concrete crashed down on November 1 without warning on him and other people outside the central train station in the northern city of Novi Sad. Many in Serbia believe the deadly crash was the result of poor renovation work on the station building which resulted from rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect of the safety regulations. Months-long protests demanding accountability over the crash have drawn hundreds of thousands of people. Daily protests and blockades have up to now included a 15-minute silence for those who had died in the disaster. Advertisement Sixteen people have now died as a result of the collapse (AP) Thousands of people marched through the streets of Novi Sad on Friday evening and lit candles in a vigil for Mr Crncevic. Silent traffic blockades were held on a number of different locations in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, as well as the city of Novi Sad and other cities earlier on Friday. Also Friday, Serbias autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic announced plans to organise counter-rallies, which could further escalate tensions and potentially cause clashes between groups of protesters. Mr Vucic has accused the protesters of terrorising people in Serbia and of violence, although the anti-corruption protests which are led by university students have been largely peaceful. Advertisement The latest rally in Belgrade last weekend was among the biggest ever held in the Balkan country, which has a long record of anti-government demonstrations. The populist authorities have faced accusations of using a sonic cannon against the protesters during the commemorative silence on Saturday evening, which Mr Vucic and other government officials have denied. Initially, 14 people died and three were injured in the Novi Sad station crash. Belgrades military hospital, which was treating him, said that Mr Crncevic died due to complex injuries and ensuing complications. Tommy Robinson has lost a bid to bring a court challenge against the UK government over his segregation in prison. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is serving an 18-month prison sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court after breaching an injunction. Advertisement On Thursday, his barristers told the High Court that he should be allowed to bring a legal challenge over his imprisonment at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. The court in London was told on Thursday that he had been kept segregated from other prisoners since November last year which had caused an evident decline in his mental health. The UK Ministry of Justice opposed the bid, with its lawyers stating that Robinson was isolated following threats to his safety, including that he would be assaulted by other prisoners for kudos. In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Chamberlain dismissed Robinsons bid, stating his case was not arguable. Advertisement Robinson was jailed in October last year by Mr Justice Johnson, after admitting 10 breaches of a UK high court order made in 2021. The order barred him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him. In written submissions for the hearing, Tom Cross, for the MoJ, said that after being sentenced in October last year, Robinson was admitted to HMP Belmarsh, but on his first day he stated he had a conflict with followers of Islam. He was moved to HMP Woodhill on November 1 but was moved to a closed wing which cannot be accessed by other prisoners after the prison received intelligence over threats to his safety. Advertisement Robinson at a protest march in June last year. Photo: David Parry/PA. Mr Cross said: HMP Woodhill received several intelligence reports showing a non-speculative risk to the claimant, including that two other prisoners at HMP Woodhill were plotting to assault the claimant to gain kudos and notoriety, and that the claimant had a mark on his head and would be killed by a lifer if located on a wing. Mr Cross said that Robinson remained on the closed wing but that this is ultimately an interim position until he can be moved to a different wing, which is undergoing repairs. In his ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain said that Robinson is due to be released from HMP Woodhill on July 26, the halfway point of his sentence, and is also facing trial for both an offence under section 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and a breach of a stalking order. A top Russian security official has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, thanking him for the countrys support of Moscows war efforts in Ukraine, Russian state media said. The meeting came after reports that North Korea recently sent additional troops to Russia to aid its war efforts. Advertisement Russias state-run news agency Tass reported that Sergei Shoigu, Russias Security Council secretary, conveyed a message to Mr Kim from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who extended his greetings and vowed to give utmost attention to implementing agreements reached in their recent talks. The agency said Mr Shoigu expressed gratitude on behalf of Russia for North Koreas solidarity with Russias position on all critical geopolitical issues, particularly on the Ukrainian issue. Mr Shoigu thanked the North Korean leader (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Interfax, another Russian news agency, reported that during the meeting, Mr Shoigu reaffirmed Moscows unconditional readiness to uphold a security partnership deal reached at last years Pyongyang summit, which pledges mutual assistance if either country faces aggression. The agency, quoting Mr Shoigu, said various issues were discussed during his two-hours-plus meeting with Mr Kim, including Russias war in Ukraine, Moscows dialogues with the Trump administration and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. Advertisement Mr Shoigus visit comes after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders, though it remains to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off-limits to attack. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency also confirmed the arrival of a Russian delegation led by Mr Shoigu but did not provide details on the purpose of their visit. The North has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to Russia, and last autumn it sent about 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia as well, according to US, South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials. In late February, South Koreas spy agency said North Korea appeared to have sent additional troops to Russia. South Korean media put the number of new North Korean soldiers at about 1,000 to 3,000. Advertisement South Korea, America and others suspect North Korea is receiving economic and military assistance from Russia in return for providing weapons and troops. Many experts say North Korea will likely ramp up its support of Russia to win as many benefits as possible from Russia before the war ends. Mr Shoigus trip could be related to Mr Kims possible trip to Russia, some observers say. In June 2024, Mr Putin visited Pyongyang and signed a major mutual defence treaty with Mr Kim. At the time, Mr Putin invited Kim to visit Moscow. A top Russian security official has travelled to North Korea to meet leader Kim Jong Un, after North Korea recently reportedly sent additional troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. Russias state-run news agency Tass reported that Sergei Shoigu, Russias Security Council secretary, had arrived in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and plans to meet top North Korean officials including Mr Kim. Advertisement It gave no further details including what Mr Shoigu would discuss with Mr Kim. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed the arrival of a Russian delegation led by Mr Shoigu but did not provide details on the purpose of their visit. Mr Shoigus visit comes after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle on Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after US President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders, though it remained to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off limits to attack. North Korea has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to Russia, and last autumn it sent about 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia as well, according to American, South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials. Advertisement North Korea has provided support for Russias war in Ukraine (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) In late February, South Koreas spy agency said North Korea appeared to have sent additional troops to Russia. South Korean media put the number of newly sent North Korean soldiers at about 1,000 to 3,000. South Korea, the US and others suspect North Korea is receiving economic and military assistance from Russia in return for providing weapons and troops. Many experts say North Korea will likely ramp up its support of Russia to win as much benefits as possible from Russia before the war ends. Advertisement Mr Shoigus trip could be related to Mr Kims possible trip to Russia, some observers say. In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang and signed a major mutual defence treaty with Mr Kim. At the time, Mr Putin invited Mr Kim to visit Moscow. In 2023, when Mr Shoigu, then a defence minister, travelled to North Korea, Mr Kim gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. In September 2024, Mr Shoigu, then with the new security council post, went to North Korea again for a meeting with Mr Kim, and the two discussed expanding cooperation, according to North Koreas state media. Earlier Friday, KCNA said Mr Kim oversaw the test-launches of new anti-aircraft missiles the previous day. Advertisement It cited Mr Kim as calling the missiles another major defence weapons system for North Korea. The missile launches, North Koreas sixth weapons testing activity this year, occurred on the same day that the US and South Korean militaries concluded their annual training that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. The 11-day Freedom Shield command post exercise was the allies first major joint military exercises since the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January, and the two countries held diverse field training exercises alongside the Freedom Shield drills. North Koreas defence ministry alleged that the recent US-South Korean drills involved simulations to destroy underground tunnels in the North to remove its nuclear weapons. Advertisement A ministry spokesperson said the US and South Korea would face the gravest consequences they do not want, if they perform similar provocative actions again. North Korea often churns out warlike rhetoric and threats of attacks when the U.S. and South Korean militaries conduct big drills. South Koreas Unification Ministry on Friday warned North Korea not to use its defensive drills with the US as a pretext to launch provocations. Mr Trump has said he is willing to reach out to Mr Kim to revive their nuclear diplomacy, but North Korea has not made any public responses to Mr Trumps overture. Many experts say Mr Kim, now preoccupied with his support of Russias war efforts against Ukraine, will not likely embrace Mr Trumps outreach any time soon, but could seriously consider it when the war ends. Mr Kim and Mr Trump met three times in 2018-19 to discuss North Koreas possible nuclear disarmament, but their diplomacy eventually fell apart due to disputes over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea. President Donald Trump has said the United States will sign a minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine shortly and that his efforts to achieve a peace deal for the country were going "pretty well" after his talks this week with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Trump made the comments at a White House event after signing an order to increase US production of critical minerals. Advertisement "We're also signing agreements in various locations to unlock rare earths and minerals and lots of other things all over the world," he said. "But in particular Ukraine, we're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine." Trump referred to his discussions this week with both Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022. Explained What are Ukraine's rare earths and why does Trump... Read More "We would love to see that come to an end, and I think we're doing pretty well in that regard," Trump said. Advertisement "So hopefully wed save thousands of people a week from dying. That's what it's all about. They're dying so unnecessarily, and I believe we'll get it done. We'll see what happens, but I believe we'll get it done." Ukraine and the US said this month they had agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources, which Trump sees as a means to pay back the United States for its assistance to Kyiv. Efforts to seal the deal stumbled after a disastrous White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy at the end of last month. Protests erupted across multiple Turkish cities on Friday as people rallied against the arrest of Istanbuls mayor and top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, despite the Turkish leaders stern warning that street protests would not be tolerated. The leader of Turkeys main opposition had earlier on Friday renewed a call for supporters to take to the streets for peaceful demonstrations against the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu. Advertisement Authorities widened a ban on protests and criticised the appeal as irresponsible. A police officer kicks a flare thrown by protesters during clashes in Istanbul on Friday (Khalil Hamra/AP) Mayor Mr Imamoglu was arrested in a dawn raid on his residence on Wednesday over alleged corruption and terror links, escalating a crackdown on opposition figures and dissenting voices. Several other prominent figures, including two district mayors, were also detained. Many view the arrest as a politically driven attempt to remove a popular opposition figure and key challenger to Mr Erdogan from the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028. Advertisement Government officials reject accusations that legal actions against opposition figures are politically motivated and insist that Turkeys courts operate independently. A man attaches a banner of Istanbuls Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to a tree in Istanbul, Turkey, during a protest against the arrest of Mr Imamoglu (Emrah Gurel/AP) Cumhuriyet newspaper and other media reported that police began questioning Mr Imamoglu on Friday afternoon. The mayor can be detained without charges for up to four days. Mr Imamoglu was questioned by police for four hours over corruption accusations, during which he denied all the charges, Cumhuriyet and other media reported. He was expected to be transferred to a court on Saturday evening for questioning by prosecutors. Mr Erdogan said the government would not tolerate street protests and accused the opposition party of being associated with corruption, marginal groups and terrorist organisations. Advertisement We see that an anti-corruption operation in Istanbul is being used as an excuse to stir unrest in our streets. I want it to be known that we will not allow a handful of opportunists to bring unrest to Turkey just to protect their plundering schemes, Mr Erdogan said. Pointing to the streets instead of courtrooms to defend theft, plunder, lawlessness and fraud is a grave irresponsibility, Mr Erdogan said. Just as we have not surrendered to street terrorism until now, we will not bow to vandalism in the future either. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Achmad Ibrahim/AP) Since Mr Imamoglus arrest, thousands of people have gathered at Istanbuls city hall for night-time rallies, and clashes have erupted between demonstrators and police in Istanbul, Turkish capital Ankara and Turkeys third-largest city, Izmir. Advertisement At Ankaras Middle East Technical University late on Thursday police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstration. Students said that rubber bullets were used, but the government has denied that. The Interior Ministry said more than 50 people were detained, and 16 police officers were injured, following the protests. On Friday, authorities in Ankara and Izmir announced a five-day prohibition on demonstrations, following a similar ban imposed earlier by the Istanbul governors office. However, thousands of people marched to Istanbuls city hall to rally against the mayors arrest. Advertisement Police used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets to push back hundreds of protesters who tried to break through a barricade in front of the citys historic aqueduct and threw flares, stones and other objects at them. Police also broke up demonstrations in Ankara, as well as in the Aegean coastal city of Izmir, resorting to forceful measures at times, according to images shown on the private Halk TV. Thousands marched in several other cities calling on the government to resign, the station reported. At least 97 people were detained nationwide during the protests, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. Also Friday, gunmen opened fire on the Iraqi consulate in Istanbul, the Turkish and Iraqi foreign ministries said. No injuries were reported. Iraqs foreign ministry said in a statement that unknown assailants riding on a motorcycle and armed with an assault rifle, fired eight shots at the building before fleeing. The Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement that the necessary investigation is being carried out meticulously by our security units and those responsible will be brought to justice. It said measures had been taken to secure Iraqi diplomatic missions in Ankara, Istanbul and Gaziantep. It was not clear what may have motivated the shooting. The bans on protests came after the countrys justice minister acknowledged peoples right to demonstrate, but said that street protests amid ongoing judicial investigations were unacceptable. University students protest against the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul on Friday (Emrah Gurel/AP) Still, Ozgur Ozel, the chairman of the Republican Peoples Party, CHP, made a new appeal for people to gather and demonstrate. I invite tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions to peacefully demonstrate, express our democratic reaction, and exercise our constitutional rights, he said. Mr Ozel said: To those who say that calling people to the streets is irresponsible, I say this: We are not the ones filling these streets and squares. It is your lawlessness and injustices that have brought people out. Mr Imamoglus arrest came just days before he was expected to be nominated as the opposition Republican Peoples Partys presidential candidate in a primary on Sunday. Mr Ozel has said that the primary, where around 1.5 million delegates can vote, will go ahead as planned. The CHP has also urged citizens to participate in a symbolic election on Sunday through ballot boxes to be set up across Turkey to show solidarity with Mr Imamoglu. Analysts say Mr Imamoglu could be removed from office and replaced by a trustee mayor, if he is formally charged with links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies. Meanwhile, Mr Ozel announced that the CHP has decided to hold an extraordinary party congress on April 6, to thwart an alleged attempt by the authorities to appoint a trustee chairman to lead the party. The decision came amid speculation that the authorities may be seeking to annul the partys last congress held in 2023 over alleged vote-buying and other irregularities, and appoint a handpicked leader. On Friday, the Borsa Istanbuls benchmark index dropped by around 7%, prompting temporary trading suspensions aimed at preventing panic-driven sell-offs. Tlou Energy promptly noted it had no unannounced information, instead the company explained the quadruple price hike was down to sellers drying up from its London AIM exchange delisting. The company ceased trading on the AIM market in London at the end of last year believing the AIM did not deliver sufficient value to the companys shareholders due to market conditions and costs. Listing costs would certainly be hefty for the junior energy company considering it remains listed on the ASX and the Botswana exchange. Following delisting some shareholders were purported to want to sell their stock despite business in Botswana remaining as usual. Tlou said it believed the selling pressure may have finally subsided. Either way it did not take much buying at all to return the tightly held share price to its former glory. GreenHy2 Ltd (ASX: H2G) 300% up (from 0.6c to 2.4c) GreenHy2 Limited tried its absolute hardest to make a late Steven Bradbury-like charge on Friday and steal this weeks Runners gold medal but fell short with a 300 per cent gain for the week. The Australian renewable energy solutions company announced on Friday that it has signed a contract with leading European tech supplier H2Core to provide advanced storage solution technology, including supercapacitor batteries and low-pressure hydrogen storage. GreenHy2s share price rocketed up 300 per cent to 2.6c from a close of 0.6c last week, after the company added multiple potential future sales streams to its existing solid-state hydrogen storage solution. The companys share price has now recovered a lot of the losses it made over the previous two years GreenHy2 looks to diversify its future revenue streams and prove that it is no one-trick pony. One thing is for certain the future sales conjecture got the market speculation machine buzzing, causing a massive volume of shares to change hands with more than $750,000 of stock being traded. Besra Gold Inc (ASX: BEZ) 97% up (from 3.7c to 7.3c) Besra Gold Inc charged out of the gates to an early lead this week, before settling to third on the Runners list podium. Its share price rode a wild wave of intrigue after the ASX sent it with aware letter and a price query over a cheeky late-Friday sprint last week. The drama kicked off when the board revealed it was digging into the transfer of 40 million CHESS depositary interests (CDI) from a director Dato Lim-controlled entity, Quantum Metal Recovery Inc, to a nominee company in February. Besra also received a cease trade order last week from the Ontario Securities Commission for tardy financial reports, which banned Canadian investors from trading the companys shares unless via the ASX through a registered dealer. The companys share price has seen some losses in recent months, down from 8c all the way to a struggling 2.4c last week. Besra says it has been grilling company director Lim on whether any CDIs were sold. At a Monday board meeting on March 3, Lim said there has been no change of beneficial ownership. The stock has since roared back to life, with the companys share price closing up nearly 100 per cent on Monday to a high of 7.3c per share from last weeks 3.7c close, with $420k of shares swapped. The junior goldie has also zeroed in on its Bau Gold project in East Malaysia, in which it has a hefty 92 per cent interest. Besra says its grand plan is to turbocharge exploration across a sprawling 72.6 million tonne gold resource, going 1.43 grams per tonne (g/t) gold resource for 3.3m ounces. It has an exuberant exploration target of 4.9m ounces to 9.3m ounces or more. With a juicy gold stash and a whiff of corporate cloak-and-dagger, Besra has got the market buzzing. Could this be the glittery jolt it needs to shake off the cease trade order blues and shine up its plans at Bau? Trek Metals (ASX: TKM) 85% up (from 2.7c to 5c) Theres nothing like the excitement of visible gold in a drilling program to get the punters frothing. That is exactly what Trek Metals delivered this week to nab the final spot on the Bulls N Bears ASX Runners of the Week list. Trek Metals visual gold in drilling samples from recent discovery holes at its Christmas Creek project in northern Western Australia. The junior goldie strutted its stuff with dazzling gold in quartz from its Christmas Creek project in Western Australia, sending its share price soaring. Trek found the visible gold in drill chips at its Martin prospect near the Northern Territory border, as it followed up on earlier high-grade discovery hits of 10 metres at 12.66g/t gold from 59m and 10m at 7.34g/t from 94m. With televiewer data hinting at stacked quartz veins and this golden eye-candy confirming a high-grade discovery, Trek has since fast-tracked drill testing to chase the systems extensions. Management is not shy about its prospects either. They are touting Christmas Creek as a potential Tanami-style titan, the kind of orogenic gold monster that lured Newmont into a $6m joint venture to work up early targets on its ground yesteryear. Trek managing director Derek Marshall has been singing the prospects praises, arguing the market has slept on the scale of Treks gold discovery holes. Comparisons to the Tanami region, a gold-drenched district in the NT, arent just hot air - theyre a flex that could put Trek on the map. The market woke up on Tuesday, with Treks share price rocketing up more than 85 per cent from the days announcement, peaking at 5c on Friday from last weeks 2.7c close on more than $600,000 of stock traded. With drills primed and a district-scale vision, Trek is hoping for more of the same when it returns to Martin for extensional discovery drilling to kick off as soon as practicable. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Eventually, Donald Trump will back-pedal. Economists get plenty wrong, but one thing most believe and get right is that widespread tariffs are stupid. Why? Because they create more losers than winners. Trump is smart enough to know this. But hell look to twist arms with his tariffs until some of his demands are met (seemingly at the top of his wish list: Mexico, Canada and China curbing illegal border crossings and drug cartels). Hes betting on this happening before Americans start to notice their living standards drifting into the gutter. For Australia, nows the time to swing. Not at Trump, but towards the neighbours weve neglected. To its credit, the federal government isnt playing into the presidents games: as Treasurer Jim Chalmers said this week, the tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium are disappointing, but our response will not be to raise tariffs on the US in a race to the bottom. One thing that has kept Australia in Trumps good books has been the fact we have a trade deficit with the US. Credit: Aresna Villanueva Why? Because taxing imports backfires. Tariffs make imports more costly for consumers as well as businesses relying on imported fuel, ingredients or goods to make or sell their products. Sure, tariffs on steel might shield steel producers in the US, but it will stop those workers and resources from flowing to more efficient areas and at the expense of Americans needing steel to build (and buy) machinery, houses and cars. Sylvester will have [a] woman charging him out of the blue, Maurice said. Sylvester is done for me. [Ive] lost my best friends of 20 years to support him and his sexual assaults. Last week, an investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed a years-long alleged trail of destruction by Sylvester involving sexual assaults of women and threats to co-workers that shattered decades-old relationships in the tight-knit restaurant industry. Three more women have since shared their own stories about the 32-year-old. They spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fears for their safety. One woman has accused Sylvester of anally raping her in 2019 at her Sydney apartment after a night out with mutual friends. We started having sex consensually, but it turned into something different, she said. I said stop. He didnt. He held my neck into the mattress, face first. I couldnt move. It was so violent. I was trying to stop, but he continued When he released the pressure, I rolled over, dazed, trying to breathe. The woman shared a photo with the Herald of her bruised body following that night showing the extent of the violence. One of Sylvesters alleged victims has accused him of anally raping her. The woman said she contracted a sexually transmitted infection from this encounter and that Sylvester had not revealed this diagnosis to her. Two other women have also accused Sylvester of giving them the STI without their knowledge as far back as 2018. I havent been the same since, with lifelong health and financial implications because of Sylvester, she said. I dont want to be reminded that that happened to me in that way, and now I have it forever. Another woman said she was anally raped by Sylvester after a night out in Angel Bar in Melbournes CBD in 2021. She was introduced to Sylvester through mutual friends in the hospitality industry and the pair got along well. They went back to the womans house with some friends, had some drinks and went to her room, where they began having sex. It started off being consensual at the start, and then it quickly wasnt, she said. The woman said Sylvester penetrated her anally. I very quickly was saying no, no, no, no. And he kept doing it very violently. Loading The woman said she then went silent and into shock as Sylvester completely just took control. It was very scary, she said. The woman said she never confronted Sylvester about that night because it was quite violent when it happened it just felt like maybe he was a violent person, and that something horrible could happen again if I ever did that. She said shed had difficulty trusting men since and felt compelled to come forward after seeing other women do so. I saw myself completely in the womens stories and how they felt just so scared, and having to just go along with it for it to be over, to sort of protect yourself, she said. You feel like you just lose a part of yourself a bit in it after its happened, like a part of innocence goes away. It really does change you. A third woman described being in a casual sexual relationship with Sylvester in 2022 and waking up to him trying to penetrate her, masturbating and putting his penis in her face. Her account mirrors those of two other previously reported victims who claimed Sylvester would attempt to penetrate and choke them while they were sleeping. She also alleges he exposed himself on the street outside a popular Melbourne bar in front of her. He tried to take his pants down and then he was rubbing up against me on the street, she said. The woman described Sylvesters manic and erratic behaviour. His mood swings were so unpredictable, intense and scary, she said. When he was good, he was so good And when he was bad, he was really bad. The woman informed Maurice of his sons violent behaviour and drug use. She messaged Maurice to say Sylvester was repeating troubling behaviour from Sydney. In text messages, Maurice responded that the Sydney allegations were not true and that he appreciated her message and concerns and would follow up immediately. But other than one missed phone call, she said she did not hear from him again. Instead of getting him the help that he needs, putting him in rehab or therapy, he just moved him around his restaurants, she said. Maurice later moved Sylvester to Sydney, where he employed him at his next three restaurants, Jacksons on George, Snack Kitchen and Billy the Pig. Two women who raised concerns with Maurice about Sylvesters behaviour labelled the Icebergs founders protection of his son disgusting. Its absolutely appalling, said one woman who raised concerns with Maurice in 2022. I told him that he needs to talk to his son, and he needs to get him help. He knew about it hes protected his sons dangerous, turbulent, inexcusable behaviour for years now. Maurice employed Sylvester at the Dolphin on Crown Street later that year, followed by Cucina Povera Vino Vera in 2022. The pair co-founded Snack Kitchen in Potts Point last year, a restaurant Maurice celebrated as one that father and son can genuinely call ours! Inside the workplace, Sylvester has also been accused of violent rages, including pulling out a knife in front of colleagues at Icebergs Dining Room and Restaurant Hubert. Maurice denied his son pulled out a knife at Icebergs. A spokesperson for Swillhouse confirmed Sylvester was counselled and left the business the following day. Through his lawyers, Mark OBrien Legal, Maurice said he has no recollection of sending the text messages and denied engaging in any inappropriate conduct. Without knowing the context, our client however surmises that [some of the] text messages were in relation to the sexual touching charge against our clients son that was subsequently dismissed, they said. Sylvester Terzini at the opening night of Billy the Pig in Bondi Junction last week. Credit: In circumstances where our clients son no longer works at any of our clients venues, we do not understand the relevance of [the] questions. Sylvester hosted the opening night of Maurices latest venue Billy the Pig last week. Maurice has opened more than two dozen restaurants across Sydney and Melbourne including the world-renowned Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. His international acclaim has seen him secure deals with Crown Barangaroo, Sydney Airport and the Intercontinental Double Bay. Loading None of the alleged sexual incidents occurred inside Maurices venues, but multiple of his alleged victims first met Sylvester at one of Maurices restaurants or businesses linked with the hospitality veteran. Maurice is on leave from Icebergs as the restaurant he founded two decades ago and its investors launch an investigation into the allegations raised by this masthead. His lawyers moved to distance Maurice from Sylvester on Wednesday. We wish to emphasise that our client, Mr Maurice Terzini, and his son Mr Sylvester Terzini are individuals represented separately, and we request that your reporting is distinctly clear there are no allegations against our client, they said. Your questioning and reporting implies blame and tarnishes the reputation of our client. Among the previously revealed accusations against Sylvester include threatening and attacking a woman inside a Sydney apartment who felt at his mercy to do basically anything, sexually assaulting a person in the bathroom of a Sydney nightclub, and sexually attacking two women while they were sleeping. One woman described feeling like she was about to die. This masthead has also been told of the alleged existence of albums full of photos of Sylvesters sexual partners, either naked or in sexually compromising positions. At least two women have alleged they have seen the albums. One woman said that there were various photos of her, some of which were taken consensually, but others were of her naked and asleep. Two women said other people had seen the photos that they only gave Sylvester consent to view. Another woman alleged the albums were at one point stored inside Maurices home. In one text message, Maurice references an album of photographs by threatening a woman, writing: I am sure there are photos in his collection. Through his lawyers, Maurice said he had no idea what the text message referred to. Our client does not possess any photographs of his son or his partners engaging in any sexual act, they said. A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the police force recognised the trauma that victims of sexual violence experienced and encouraged them to make a report to police, either formally or through the anonymous online Sexual Assault Reporting Option. Advertisement Eating outMelbourne Food and Wine Festival The worlds best baker brings his rule-breaking baked goods to Melbourne The former head baker of San Franciscos Tartine, Richard Hart, is giving Melburnians a taste of his famous pastries and breads at a week-long pop-up. Emma Breheny March 21, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This story appears in the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival highlights collection. See all stories . Most people compare baking to science: everything must be weighed to the gram, steps should be precisely followed. But Richard Hart, one of the worlds top bakers, reckons thats where most home cooks go wrong. The maverick baker loves nothing more than ripping up the rule book. You give me a rule, Im going to try and break that rule, just for the mischievousness of it, he says, smiling. Richard Hart of Hart Bageri, possibly the worlds most famous bakery, is in town for one week only. Wayne Taylor Its worked for him. Hart, whos in town for Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, is one of the most famous bakers of his generation. He was tapped by Rene Redzepi, founder of Copenhagens game-changing fine-diner Noma, to open a bakery there in 2018. Hart Bageri quickly became a delicious pin on the map of dough diehards, and has grown to 10 Copenhagen outlets. Advertisement He thinks outside the box, says local baking legend Michael James, who founded Tivoli Road Bakery and hosted Hart last time he was in Melbourne in 2016. He really pushes everything to the max to make each day a better bake. To run a week-long pop-up bakery in Melbourne, which opens on March 24, the UK-born Hart touched down a week in advance. He has spent his days at Baker Bleus headquarters in Caulfield North, getting familiar with the local flour, the water, the climate. I get here a few days early so I can make a batch of bad bread, and then the next day, hopefully a batch of better bread! Its stunning bread. Melbourne baker Michael James The pop-up has taken him away from final preparations for his brand-new bakery in Mexico City, Green Rhino, which opens as soon as he returns. Its happening nine months later than planned, which has created a slight logjam in Harts schedule. He also signed on to create a new bakery for Claridges, the luxury hotel in London, later this year. Advertisement When Hart told his good friend (and legendary baker) Michel Suas about travelling to a new city to do a pop-up, he said, You are a lunatic. Its going to be hell. Hart Bageri signatures, such as its sourdough city loaf, are coming to Melbourne. Courtesy Hardie Grant But Richard Hart doesnt run the way others do. Standing in the dough-mixing room at Baker Bleu, his demeanour is not that of a man with three projects on the go in three different timezones. He excitedly explains the concha, a sweet bun as common in Mexico as croissants in France, which his team will serve this week in Melbourne. The buns will be filled with whipped mascarpone to contrast with the sweet crackly topping a highly unorthodox move. Vegemite caramel will be swirled onto buttery French biscuits in a nod to local tastes. Hart Bageri signatures will also appear, including deeply caramelised cardamom buns made with croissant dough, a spandauer custard tart (a Danish classic that Hart says is one of his favourites), and his renowned sourdough. Advertisement James can still remember eating Hart Bageris city loaf. The crust is amazing, with really deep caramelisation. The crumb [interior] is super well-hydrated, kind of like mochi or sticky rice. Its stunning bread. Richard Hart likes to break rules with his baking. Wayne Taylor Harts career began as a chef, then he discovered bread, going on to become head baker at San Franciscos Tartine, one of the forerunners to the worlds current obsession with sourdough. More recently, he was honoured in The Bear as the hero of the television shows pastry chef, Marcus. Nancy Silverton, the renowned Los Angeles chef and baker, called him one of the worlds best bakers. Yet, he remains unpretentious, happily sharing his failures. Panettone was a major stumbling block, taking two years of trial and error. Hes included his recipe in his new book, Richard Hart Bread, to save others the heartache. I havent held any secrets back. I havent been like, I dont want to tell them that, in case theyre better than me. I want [people] to be better than me, actually. Advertisement His advice to home bakers who might pick up his book wanting to master sourdough bread? You get nothing for free in this world. You have to work at it, man. While he agrees that better bakeries are becoming more common in cities, hed like more local flavour in their breads and pastries. It would be nice if we could see a little more variation, country to country, [reflecting] their cuisine or their history, he says. While developing items for Green Rhino, he and his team have explored Mexicos cacao farms, its many varieties of corn, and whether its possible to bake with coconut oil, which is more readily available than quality dairy. Advertisement I want to know what my staff ate when they were kids, he says. But for now, he must focus on baking for Melburnians, who are spoiled for choice when it comes to excellent bakeries. I want to give you guys good stuff. I dont want to make something that Im embarrassed about, he says. Hart Bageri pop-up runs 9am-1pm (or until sold out), March 24-28 Melbourne Quarter, 699 Collins Street, Docklands, melbournefoodandwine.com.au In the 202425 budget, the state government allocated $541.2 million to the creative arts industry down 15.5 per cent from the $640 million spent in 2023-24 and a 12.3 per cent drop from the $617 million spent in 2022-23. This funding decline has been the focal point of an ongoing state inquiry launched in 2023, investigating how Victorias cultural industries are being supported. Though due to finalise its report in November 2024, the inquiry began accepting submissions only late last year and has since received 41. The inquiry chair, Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, said recommendations would be presented mid-year, with the government required to respond within six months. Something thats come through from submissions is that its very clear that this industry, which is obviously very broad-ranging and encompasses a lot of people has felt a significant hit, Purcell said. Across the board, theyre all feeling a strain, and Im sure theres probably a relation to the cost-of-living crisis, as well as funding and, of course, the impacts of COVID-19. Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell is chairing the inquiry. Credit: Eddie Jim Last week, the inquiry held two public hearings featuring more than 15 representatives, including from SBS, Theatre Network Australia and La Mama Theatre. It is scrutinising Victorias share of national arts spending, the financial health of arts training organisations, and whether state and federal policies are enough to keep the sector afloat. A state government spokesperson defended its record to this masthead, citing continued investment in creative industries and the economic benefits of major events. We understand the challenges that are being faced by artists and creatives right now, which is why well continue to invest in programs that support the full spectrum of creative talent and industries, the spokesperson said. Tourists spent a record $39.7 billion in Victoria last year, with international travellers flocking to our state faster than anywhere else in Australia, and that has happened because of our continued investment in securing world-class major events that people travel for. The lack of funding meant that last year, La Mama Theatre said it would pause programming in 2025. Chief executive Caitlin Dullard said the theatre had been operating on the same amount of funding from Creative Victoria for more than a decade. The need for artists to come to us just grows every year, and our resources have not grown with that, she said. What it means is, for one year, there are limited opportunities for artists in an environment where already there are not enough opportunities. But I firmly believe this year makes for better opportunities moving forward. Dullard warns that without direct investment in artists, Victoria risks losing its creative workforce. Chief executive and artistic director of La Mama Theatre, Caitlin Dullard. Credit: Joe Armao The Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) has echoed similar concerns, saying Australias theatre industry needs more support and sustained funding from the government and philanthropists. MTC is staging The Removalists at present, a play that first emerged at La Mama 50 years ago, and said that while early development programs help, they arent enough. Australias theatre and cultural ecosystem needs support at all levels to thrive, MTC said. Only when the entire sector is healthy and able to invest in artists and new work do we have the best chance of cultivating the innovators and classics of tomorrow. Similarly, opportunities need to be created and nurtured for Australian artists and creatives as they are key to our culture and sense of Australian identity. Investing in our future also means investing in our future industry leaders. The struggle for funding became woven into the Peacemongers show itself. Pictured is performer Sonya Suares. Credit: Darren Gill Theatre director Morgan Rose said funding cuts had put the future of Victorias cultural scene at risk. Her show, Peacemongers, faced a four-year delay due to COVID-19, and during this time, the team was rejected for funding numerous times. Rose said the show was ultimately able to move forward with funding from local councils and support from Darebin Arts Speakeasy. Loading When Rose moved to Melbourne in 2013, she says she was promised an arts wonderland but has since watched opportunities dry up. A Creative Victoria [funding] round just went, but we didnt even apply because it felt pointless, she said. Theres not enough money to go around. Why waste our time? For Dullard, fostering a thriving arts environment means supporting the grassroots and independent sectors, which she calls the backbone of the whole industry. The trend has expanded to Canadians refusing to buy American products or travel to the country. The Canadians, were all sticking together, its really cool, one of my oldest family friends, whos like a second mother to me and lives in Toronto, said over the phone the other day. March break, you know they all take off for Florida? She was referring to uni students who usually travel south to get away from the Canadian cold. ZERO. They rebooked to Mexico. But, of course, my son doesnt get it. How could he possibly, when its taken me until this moment to understand how umbilical my connection to Canada is? I cant remember either of my parents, both born and bred in Toronto, ever mentioning anything about being Canadian. My father revered Canadian soldiers specifically. He was an amateur historian who would drag us to armouries on family holidays, where hed pore over various military records while my brother and I kicked the dirt next to a brass cannon on the lawn. (My need to hear about the battle of Ypres remained, stubbornly, non-existent.) Canadians were low-rent and we knew it. We just needed to look to our southern neighbours for comparison. Americans had The A-Team, starring Mr T. We had The Beachcombers, about a Canadian log salvager who battled another guy who also wanted logs. They had Superman. We had Captain Canuck. We ate cream of wheat. A trip to Florida at age 13 left me gape-mouthed at one supermarkets aisles aisles! of cereal boxes so colourful it looked like a rainbow had attacked a marshmallow factory. Loading As for any feeling of national identity? Canada is the existence of not being, Mike Myers, who grew up in Toronto, told Rolling Stone magazine in 1999. Not English, not American. It is the mathematics of not being. Subtle flavour. Were more like celery as a flavour. And this is exactly how we felt growing up. But now, 27 years after moving to Australia, I feel like punching a wall. Instead, I type out two words over WhatsApp to my oldest friend in Toronto: Elbows up!!!! WHAT IN THE ACTUAL F---??? she replies. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that the US would treat Canada as an enemy and threaten annexation or economic warfare. Weve been the greatest allies for 200 years, with the longest undefended border in the world. Its heartbreaking But also, Trump can go f--- himself a million different ways. We are in a collective state of emotional whiplash. Can the Canadian military defend itself against Americas? I asked my husband in bed the other night, while flashing him a nervous look. I knew, as soon as the words tumbled out of my mouth, the answer. (Obviously not.) But, perhaps for the first time, I finally understand, and feel a sort of maternal affection for, a part of myself that I have sometimes wished I could kick to the kerb. I always thought that my effusive friendliness I give off a golden retriever vibe, so deeply daggy next to you bronzed surfers, coolly surveying a rip was simply because Im my mothers child. My late mother and I had a fractious relationship. But she was the most vibrant person I knew; her eyes lit up if she saw you, or your dog, on the footpath. Her laughter had the energy of a balloon popping. And my side-eyed view of power and money as potentially dangerous unless guided by a desire to make life better for others? That just came from my late father, right? He had one true religion: everyone was equal and a persons station in life had nothing to do with it. You treated people with respect, unless their behaviour gave you a reason not to. I never thought these traits might be because they were, because I am, Canadian. Mark Carney: We didnt ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when somebody else drops the gloves. Credit: AP But now I think they just might be. That I just took for granted the fact that the people who raised me happened to themselves have been raised in a left-leaning country that prioritises socialised healthcare, welcoming outsiders in need, and good governance over the pursuit of happiness and the American dream of making it rich. It was just the air that I breathed. The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country, Canadas new prime minister, Mark Carney, said on March 9. Think about it, if they succeeded, they would destroy our way of life. We didnt ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when somebody else drops the gloves. Home availability: Approximately 13,653 homes would return to the Sydney market, spread across 200 suburbs. Economic gains: Potential generation of over $383 million in stamp duty revenue for the state, alongside reductions in public housing and healthcare costs. Quality of life improvements: For many seniors, moving into retirement villages can mean better social engagement and safety, improving overall well-being. The need for policy action Gannon emphasised the disconnect between the rapid increase in house prices over the past decades and the slower pace of pension asset threshold adjustments. This disparity has often deterred seniors from downsizing due to financial concerns, leading to inefficient use of large family homes. Resigning from a bank is both the most stressful and rewarding experience you can go through, he said, encouraging new brokers to stay committed and confident in their capabilities. A commitment to change The Priority Project, led by Mission Australia and The Salvation Army in collaboration with REIQ, underscores a robust response to a pressing social issue. It reflects a significant step forward in addressing the housing challenges faced by DFV survivors, demonstrating the power of collaborative effort in real estate to address critical social challenges. Stable ratings with potential adjustments Although the bulk of SQMs current ratingsencompassing approximately 70 private credit funds and $33 billion in managed fundsare not expected to change immediately, there remains a possibility for downgrades or discontinuations within the next year. A tapestry of ethnic culture unfolds in spring in Zhaoxing Dong village, SW China's Guizhou People's Daily Online) 14:03, March 21, 2025 Photo shows the breathtaking spring scenery of Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Tu Min) Walking in Zhaoxing Dong village in Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province on March 17, 2025, visitors were greeted by a sea of golden rapeseed flowers in full bloom outside the village gate. Inside, the melodious sounds of the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, a form of a folk chorus inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, filled the air. The flower fields, the grand song, and the spring breeze together made this Dong community a captivating cultural landscape. Zhaoxing Dong village, established during the Northern Song Dynasty (9601127), is one of the largest Dong villages in China. In recent years, the local government has leveraged the village's rich Dong cultural resources to vigorously develop the tourism industry. In 2024, the Zhaoxing scenic area welcomed about 1.03 million tourist visits, generating tourism revenue of 1.02 billion yuan ($140.93 million). The village has also capitalized on traditional Dong craftsmanship to launch cultural and creative products like Dong embroidery, bolstering employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for over 2,000 villagers. Aerial photo shows Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Tu Min) Aerial photo shows Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Tu Min) Photo shows a drum tower in Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Tu Min) Photo shows a gate of Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Tu Min) Aerial photo shows Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Tu Min) Aerial photo shows Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Tu Min) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) TALENTED musicians aged five to 18 years showcased their wonderful abilities at Carlow College of Musics annual Music Festival. Gabriela Kapusta performs at the festival The Music Festival was deemed a great success with more than 120 performances over two days at Gaelscoil Eoghain Ui Thuairisc. Adjudicator Grainne Deery was very impressed with the standard and enjoyed all the mini-concerts, which saw performers from under-eights to over-18s in the senior categories using a wide range of instruments, including piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, saxophone, clarinet, French horn, tenor horn, voice and guitar. Performances were both solo and ensemble. Sara Nolan at Carlow College of Music Music Festival A special performance was also given by the colleges glockenspiel class for students aged five and six years of Frere Jacques, under the guidance of their teacher Imelda Andrews. The wonderful piece was awarded second place in the junior ensemble competition. Naomi Picovici performs There were two special awards at the festival. The Emerging Talent Award and the McCullough Cup went to Sean Cloney on French horn. Fourteen-year-old Sean has been learning at Carlow College of Music since the age of eight with his teacher Gavin Barr and plays in Carlow Youth Orchestra. Sean has also gained a place with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland in May and is a dedicated and talented young musician. Musical director of Carlow College of Music Majella Swan introduces the musicians Carlow College of Music Student of the Year was jointly awarded to Darragh Roberts (piano) and Kris Tai (violin). Darragh started lessons at the age of four and progressed all the way through to leaving cert. He has taken part in many concerts over the years, including solos and duets, and performed with the Carlow Youth Orchestra. Kelly Ann ONeill accompanied by Brian Kehoe on piano, plays the tenor horn Kris Tai started lessons at the age of seven and is also now in leaving cert. He was leader of the Junior Orchestra, The Staves, and progressed to leader of Carlow Youth Orchestra (CYO). He has performed with CYO in the National Concert Hall numerous times. Kris is working on a composition for the orchestra as part of the 35-year celebrations of Carlow College of Music this year. Kira Ovington performs at the festival Director of Carlow College of Music Majella Swan would like to thank her great team of teachers, Philippa Jennings in the office, all their assistants and parents and Ruth Ni Chearbhallain, principal of the Gaelscoil. Musicians with their turn during the Carlow College of Music 12th Music Festival in the Gaelscoil Ceatharlach. Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie The college is now looking forward to its Festival Prize Winners Concert with special guests Carlow Youth Orchestra on Friday 4 April in St Marys Church, Carlow at 8pm in aid of Carlow National School, Green Road. Tickets (including entry in the raffle) cost 15. Contact 086 4113989, or tickets available on the door. A MAN who pleaded guilty to carrying a knife and verbally abusing a member of An Garda Siochana, while also admitting to three counts of theft in local supermarkets, was imprisoned for 15 months when he appeared before Carlow District Court last week. Maciej Kiedrowski pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol from Munnellys garage, Kilkenny Road, Carlow on 26 August 2024, from Aldi in Hanover, Carlow on 2 April 2024 and from Aldi, Graiguecullen on 11 August 2024. In a previous court appearance, the defendant had been found guilty of carrying a knife on the Athy Road, Carlow, and of being intoxicated in a public place and engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Centaur Street, Carlow on 6 August 2024. Sergent Lucy Condon told the court that the 31-year-old defendant had 24 previous convictions, including for theft and burglary, and had previously been given a six-month sentence. Solicitor Chris Hogan said that Mr Kiedrowski was addicted to alcohol and that hed been doing well until 2024, when his relationship broke down. He continued that his client had been living on the streets and had been assaulted and thats why he was carrying a knife when the gardai searched him. Judge Carthy noted that the knife had been found in his underwear and that he had become abusive to the female garda, and that a bench warrant had to be issued for his arrest. She said that her opinion on the dangers of carrying knives were well known and convicted and sentenced him to nine months imprisonment on the knife-possession charge. She sentenced Mr Kiedrowski of Ballingee, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow to a further six months on the theft charges. A CARLOW man was found guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting his step-sister when she was a young child and he was a teenager when he appeared before the last sitting of Carlow Circuit Court. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had denied two sample counts of sexually assaulting the step-sister when she was aged between five and seven years old and he was aged between 13 and 15 years old. The offences occurred at an address in Co Carlow between October 2009 and October 2012. The court heard that the complainants mother and the defendants father were in a relationship at the time and that he could visit his father at weekends. The injured party gave direct evidence in court of the defendant kissing her neck and licking her torso on one occasion, while during another occasion he touched her thigh and vagina. The woman, now aged 20, told the court that the offences took place in the sitting room of the house and that she thought the offences continued over one or two years when she was in primary school but that she couldnt remember. Judge Eugene OKelly heard that the defendant stopped going to visit his father when he was around 15 years old because he no longer got on with him and that the injured party became disruptive as she grew into a teenager, refusing to go to school and not getting on with her mother. Judge OKelly heard that the injured party was referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services when she was a teenager because of her behaviour and that it was during one of her sessions that she told them of the abuse by her step-brother. Under cross-examination by John Peart SC, instructed by solicitor John OSullivan for the defendant, the woman denied always looking to be the centre of attention when she was a child, while also denying pulling up her clothes and exposing herself to her step-brother. When it was put to her by Mr Peart that she was a provocative child who grew into a bold teenager, she denied that she was and, at one point during the cross-examination she got upset, so Judge OKelly adjourned the case for a short recess. Several witnesses were called, including the womans sister and mother, who said that they did not recall her pulling up her clothes or running around with very few clothes on. The defendant also gave direct evidence in which he denied touching his step-sister. He said that sometimes she would annoy him by pulling his hair and that he would retaliate by tickling her and pulling at her clothes, like normal kids stuff. He continued that she was always looking for attention when she was a child and that she would pull up her top and pull down her trousers in front of him and that she seemed sexualised at a young age. He also said that he was fully certain that he had never touched her vagina but that he did pull at her clothes when they were playing, and that at the time, the question of right and wrong did not come into it. He told the jury that looking back, it seems a bit weird but, at the time, he was a child and did not overstep any boundaries. When her allegation of sexually touching her was put to him by state prosecutor Niall Storan, he said it was absolutely false and that 100 million percent he did not sexually assault her. When asked why a young girl would make up such a thing, he replied: Who knows what goes on in other peoples minds and that none of it happened. In his summing up of the case, Mr Storan told the jury that the defendant had given a self-serving argument that it was childs play, to gain sympathy from the jury. He said that, on the other hand, the injured party was a 20-year-old young woman who had to give evidence in front of a jury of 12 people and that she had no reason to do that, other than it was true what he had done to her. Mr Storan continued that her evidence was compelling and that it stood up to scrutiny, as opposed to the defendants evidence, which was manufactured. Mr Peart, for the defence, told the jury that there was very little real evidence in the case and that anyone can make an allegation and that the more vivid and lurid the details, the truer it would appear. He also pointed out that the offences occurred 15 years ago and that it was easy to make allegations that were difficult to defend because there were no witnesses to the offences. Judge OKelly told the jury that they must look at all of the evidence to ensure that it was beyond reasonable doubt. He told them to take into consideration the demeanour of the defendant and to use their common sense when reaching a conclusion. He told them that the passage of time may affect memories and that they should take into consideration a childs recollection of events as opposed to an adults. He also told them that the age of criminality for sexual offences in Ireland was 12 years old and that with the charge of sexual assault, the prosecution did not have to prove injury or violence, but rather that it was intentional and non-consensual touching. The jury found the defendant guilty on both counts on a majority verdict of 11 to one. The defendant was remanded on continuing bail until the next circuit court sessions in May, when he will be sentenced. Judge OKelly also ordered a probation report on the defendant and a victim impact statement for the defendant to be placed on the sexual offenders register. Ken Foxe It was one of the worst storms to hit Ireland in recent history, but some members of the public still found time to complain to Met Eireann about their forecasts. One person said the meteorology service had forced every business in the country to close while another said it was like Covid lockdown all over again. A copy of one complaint said: You are completely out of touch with what is going on weather wise, there was absolutely no need for a red warning. There was small gusts of wind and rain last night here in Waterford and as of this morning there is blue skies, and no sign of any storm let alone a red warning. The scare mongering is getting ridiculous. The person said they understood that conditions were worse in other parts of the country but asked why more localised warnings could not be put in place. Another said the frequent use of red warnings was leading to cancelled work and people getting hunkered down unnecessarily. A message said: Older neighbours particularly isolated themselves for days. It was like 'lockdown' all over again. Could you maybe say a slight addition to the red alert, there may be places in the country where little is felt from the weather conditions. we urge you to use correct judgement and common sense. In records released under FOI, another member of the public said they found the warning system confusing because it revolved around set specific times. So, in Clare red warning ends at twelve noon no other warning in place, can't quite believe the wind just stops immediately at twelve. Am I wrong? they said. One person quibbled with Met Eireann over whether a red warning was justified but commended them for the excellent work they do. Their message said: Can you detail why the Dublin area is under a red forecast warning when both the Met Eireann app and website are forecasting metrics for Dublin significantly short of the red warning criteria as stated on [your] website? Another complaint said updated forecasts were not being provided quickly enough and were about as useful as t*ts on a bull. They wrote: The updates should be every fifteen minutes, and we should be easily able to track the storm with help from the American weather plane sent over. Storms can change course. Has this storm changed course? I dont know as there is no available data. The number of complaints received about Storm Eowyn was extremely low however, with one other person claiming there were apparent errors in data provided. They said conflicting information for Laois had been provided, writing: If one is to trust warnings which are being issued, the data should be double checked (or triple checked if double checking is not working). By Cate McCurry and David Young, PA Opposition parties are set to enter an amendment to the Governments motion to change Dail rules, which the Sinn Fein leader said will solve the row over speaking rights. Mary Lou McDonald vowed that opposition parties will face the Government down on the deepening row, which has been ongoing since the formation of the Government. In an attempt to resolve the dispute, the Government put down a motion at the Dail Reform Committee to create new rules on speaking rights for a new grouping of other members. The measure, which is to be voted on next Tuesday, would also allocate more time to backbenchers of the Government parties. Members of the opposition have challenged a decision to allow four Government-aligned TDs Michael Lowry, Barry Heneghan, Danny Healy-Rae and Gillian Toole speaking time from the opposition. Speaking in Belfast on Friday, Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein have made joint submissions with opposition parties to enter an amendment to the Governments motion. The Government claim that they simply want to make room for Michael Lowry and his colleagues, for other colleagues on the Government benches to have an opportunity to speak. Our amendment solves that problem for them, Ms McDonald told reporters. I suspect that the Government will reject our amendment because this row actually isnt about speaking time for government, members of government or government TDs. Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Barry Heneghan in the Dail chamber. Photo: Fergall Phillips/Maxwells/PA. This is all about the Government not wishing to be held fully to account. Its about trying to frustrate or blunt the efforts of the combined opposition to represent people, to hold the Government to account, and to ensure that not just politics, but that democracy itself works. We have the ongoing farce of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael trying to make believe that you can be in government and opposition at the same time. You cannot. Michael Lowry and his crew are government-supporting TDs. Of course, they have to be able to speak from the government benches and on government time. The reason why this has been such a potent issue for all of us, not just in Sinn Fein, all across the opposition benches, is that we know that it is absolutely essential that this government is held to account and that the Irish electorate know that Irish democracy is being respected and that you cannot have a government that simply now wants to dominate the government benches and blunt and disrupt the efforts of opposition. Thats not an acceptable thing, and it shouldnt be an acceptable thing to anybody across Irish society. She said she spoke to other opposition leaders on Friday morning about the issue, and has pledged to face the Government. Opposition parties, including the Labour party, Social Democrats and People Before Profit, are planning to meet next week to finalise their joint approach to resolve the serious matter. Its not about who gets five minutes or 10 minutes here or there, she added. This is fundamentally about defining government and opposition, and that clear definition of government acting and opposition holding to account, is the essence of democratic accountability and our whole democratic system. Eva Osborne The Irish Hotels Federation has said visitors coming here already pay enough without adding a tourist tax. Dublin City Council previously estimated a levy in the capital could bring in 12 million a year. Meanwhile, Fingal County Council has written to local authorities as part of a push for legislation to allow councils to introduce the charge. However, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, Paul Gallagher, said tourists are an easy target for politicians. Speaking on Newstalk, Gallagher said: "At the moment, 29 cent of every euro that a visitor spends in Ireland in hospitality services, or in taxis, or in whatever other consumption that they have, is returned directly to the State. "They already pay a phenomenal amount of money." Advertisement Unitherm Cemcon has been awarded a new contract to supply gas firing equipment for a calciner at a Mexican cement plant. Following the economic benefits of natural gas firing, Unitherm Cemcon will deliver gas valve trains and calciner burners for 100 per cent natural gas firing for several Mexican plants. The scope of supply includes: two calciner burners fully automatic burner valve trains advanced burner management systems, featuring Siemens safety PLC. Breaking News Would you like to receive our breaking news news? Signup today! e-Edition Subscribers e-Edition Only - $39.00 Year This is the exact replica of our weekly printed paper. Great for searching archives! General Interest Imported List: General Interest Middle Valley Church of God, 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, announces that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on "Help Me Fix My Problems" this Sunday in the 10:30 a.m. service. "The goal of this sermon series is to assure the listener that they have access to God through Jesus Christ in all situations of life along with His promises to help," officials said.Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m. the church conducts a prayer meeting that is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants."The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage believers to seek God through prayer," officials said.Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an interactive Bible study will be held in the church auditorium. Kelly Selby is currently leading this Bible study. "The goal of this Bible study is to encourage believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide," officials said.Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1948 from the same location. For more information, contact the church office at 423-843-1539. All are welcome at any of the services.Officials said, "Please note that MVCOG will make public announcements about dangerous road conditions and cancellations. Postings about cancellations will be made on the church Facebook page. Please look there for information." Pastor Dr. Jeffrey T. Wilson, of New United Baptist Church, Chattanooga, received the Education and Social Justice Award last Thursday at the 93rd Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated South Eastern Regional Conference public meeting in Knoxville.Officials said, "Dr. Wilson received the award for his works leading one of the community's largest HBCU college tours for first generation college students for the past 15 years, and he led public efforts for press conferences and marches with local ministers to address issues negatively impacting minority communities. Lloyd Carroll, 90, was born in Soddy, Tennessee, to Jobe and Mary Carroll. He was preceded in death by his parents, a beloved sister, Louise Smith, and his ex-wife and friend, Willa Dean Carroll. He is survived by his two children, Myra (Larry) Reneau and Zerita (Brian) Brockman, two precious grandchildren, Zeb and Zoe Brockman, a niece, Alexis (Bobby) Jenkins, as well as other extended family members. Lloyd graduated from Soddy Daisy High School in 1952. He continued to reside in Soddy Daisy throughout his life. Lloyd was a United States Army veteran and was once stationed in Germany at the same time as Elvis. He was a current member of Oak Street Baptist Church where he served in their Neighborhood Helpers Volunteer Ministry. This ministry brought him much joy and purpose and provided an opportunity to support the community. For many years, Lloyd worked in the business machine industry, beginning as a service technician and eventually becoming service manager and part owner of A & A Business Machines. His unconditional kindness, technical expertise and management style led to his success and respect within the workplace. After retirement he continued to stay active as a paving estimator and heavy equipment operator. Lloyd was skilled in a multitude of ways including automotive repair, construction, drafting, welding, woodworking and even sewing. He excelled at anything to which he set his mind. In addition to his abilities, he embodied many amazing characteristics. Not only was he intelligent, determined and hardworking, he was also wise, supportive and loving. However, he will most be remembered for his friendly nature. You would never see Lloyd without a smile! The family will receive friends and loved ones at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 21. Services will be in the funeral home chapel at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 22. Burial will follow at Soddy Presbyterian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Neighborhood Helpers Volunteer Ministry at P.O. Box 771, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37384 or email at nhvmhr@gmail.com. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379. Students and employees from Southern Adventist Universitys automotive program will be providing free vehicle inspections for the community on Sunday, April 6, from 1-4 p.m. in the Samaritan Center parking lot in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Technicians will check fluids, belts, hoses, and other maintenance items on vehicles. While the team will not be doing any repairs on site, each inspection will be followed by an explanation of recommendations on anything that should be fixed. Donations to benefit the Samaritan Center are welcomed but not required. Southerns automotive program is ranked fourth in the nation by College Choice. This hands-on program was introduced at Southern nearly 30 years ago and has grown to include bachelors and associate degrees. For more information, contact Southerns Applied Technology team at 423.236.2863 or by emailing technology@southern.edu. What: Free Vehicle Inspections When: Sunday, April 6, 1-4 p.m. Where: The Samaritan Center 9231 Lee Highway Donald R. Curtis, Sr., of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away at the age of 88 on February 14, 2025, at Hearth Hospice after a brief illness. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home on East Brainerd Road in Chattanooga. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. that morning. Don was born in Chattanooga and grew up in Alton Park. He first married Shirley Benefield and had three children early in his life, which he and Shirley raised together in Chattanooga. He had dropped out of Chattanooga City High School two months before graduation, only to come to realize there was value in education. That was a value he passed down through the generations to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He pursued his general equivalence diploma, and after six years of college while working and raising three children, graduated college, and used his bachelors degree to become an industrial engineer at DuPont. He was continually tinkering around in his shop downtown or his garage at his home all his life and during his retirement. In retirement, he established a successful real estate construction and rental business. The continual tinkering, however, was usually in preparation for a cross country camping trip with his companion of more than 20 years and his beloved dog, Sarge. Many of those trips with Judy were to meet up with his son and daughter in law, Don and Michele, and their relatives out West. Many exciting memories have been made with Don Curtis because he did all of the things that he wanted to do in life including seeing the Aurora Borealis with his wife, Shirley, during one of his many trips. He also took a helicopter during one of his many camping trips to Alaska so he could set foot on a glacier with his son. Don lived his life fully with no regrets. He is survived by his loving companion, Judy Howard, his son Donald R. Curtis, Jr, (Michele), daughter Theresa Kendall (Mike), and daughter Cheryl Lynn Curtis. He made wonderful memories with grandchildren Ray Curtis (Cathy), Clay Curtis (Michelle), Zak Kendall, and Jamie Kendall. He would light up when speaking of or hearing news about his great grandchildren, Nathan, Matthew, Daniel, Chloe, and Bear. Don was one of eleven children, with only one sister still surviving, Barbara Yerbey. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews. His children and their spouses would like to especially thank his caregivers for the excellent care they provided for our father. Dwight Ash, Lloyd Pinheiro, Wilson Jackson, and Monika Jackson are angels sent to us by the Lord. They were sent in our time of need and we could not have been more blessed. Also we would like to thank the professional comfort care team at Hearth Hospice who have helped us each step of the way. Charitable contributions in lieu of flowers may be sent to the National Park Foundation Attn: Gift Processing PO Box 17394 Baltimore, MD 21298-9450 or University of Chattanooga Foundation 615 McCallie Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37403 or any charitable organization you may choose. BLACKPINK's Jennie has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in K-pop history, becoming the first female solo artist to chart three songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100. This historic feat was announced Tuesday after two tracks from her debut solo album Ruby ranked on the Billboard Hot 100. A pre-release single also re-entered the rankings. Specifically, "Handlebars feat. Dua Lipa" entered the chart at No. 80, and the title track "Like JENNIE" debuted at No. 83. Additionally, her song "ExtraL featuring Doechii" re-entered the Hot 100 at No. 99. This achievement makes Jennie the first K-pop soloist to have three songs charting on the Hot 100 at the same time. It also makes her the first female K-pop soloist to have six songs on the Hot 100, including three previous entries like "One of the Girls," "Mantra," and "Love Hangover." Released on March 7, Ruby is Jennie's first full-length solo album. It features 15 tracks, including collaborations with artists like Dua Lipa, Dominic Fike, and Doechii. The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the UK Official Albums Chart. It also topped iTunes charts in 21 countries and digital sales charts in China. Outside of charts, Jennie was honored with the Global Force Award at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 ceremony, becoming the first Korean soloist to receive this accolade. "From rising stars to legendary icons, this year's honorees are redefining what it means to be a trailblazer in the industry," Billboard's Editor-in-Chief Hannah Karp said. "It's a privilege to continue Billboard's tradition of recognizing the women who are pushing the boundaries of music and culture, and we can't wait to share this incredible night with our global audience." Jennie recently held the "Ruby Experience" concert series, which took place in Los Angeles, New York, and Seoul from March 6 to 15. Proceeds from the concert were dedicated to supporting wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles. Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful will kick off the 7th annual Tennessee River Grand Slam Cleanup Series on Friday, hosting volunteer river cleanups held within the four states touched by the Tennessee River. The first cleanup will be held on Douglas Lake that was severely impacted by the outfall from Hurricane Helene, and it will come with an arsenal of over 100 employee volunteers from Tennessee Valley Authority as well as a local company. The weekend will continue with another Douglas Lake cleanup on Saturday and a Norris Lake cleanup on Sunday afternoon, both cleanups open to the public. Traveling from East Tennessee, through northern Alabama and Mississippi, and finishing in Western Kentucky, each cleanup will focus on a site that has been impacted by natural disaster. Heres the schedule for the 2025 Tennessee River Grand Slam Cleanup: Tennessee River Grand Slam Cleanup Series Schedule Friday, March 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Newport, TN | Douglas Lake Launching from Walters Bridge Boat Ramp, 1459 US-25E Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Dandridge, TN | Douglas Lake Launching from Douglas Headwater Campground, 1680 Boat Launch Road, Sevierville, TN 37876 Sunday, March 23, 2-5:30 p.m.: Maynardville, TN | Norris Lake Launching from Beach Island Marina, 170 Beach Island Road Sunday, March 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Iuka, MS / Waterloo, AL | Pickwick Lake Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Buchanan, TN / Murray, KY | Kentucky Lake Kathleen Gibi, executive director for Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, said that TVAs Hurricane Helene cleanup efforts have impacted their volunteer cleanup planning. She said the catastrophically debris-covered areas on Douglas Lake that KTnRB had been eyeing while planning these two March cleanups on Douglas Lake no longer need cleaning because TVA and their contractors have already cleared them. Thats a great problem to haveto have to move down river because areas are too clean for our volunteer group cleanup efforts, said Ms. Gibi. On top of that, we have many partners and volunteers stepping up with our disaster cleanup response across all four states touched by the Tennessee River, so you could say the flood damage itself is receiving a flooding response from community members who care about their river systemso inspiring. KTNRB is following its second year in surpassing 200,000 lbs. of trash removed in just one year, and this year they anticipate reaching the milestone of 1 million lbs. of trash removed since they put their first boat in the water in 2019. The cleanup on Douglas Lake is also happening on the official Keep America Beautiful Greatest American Cleanup campaign kickoff day, which aims to remove 25 billion pieces of litter nationwide by the countrys 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. KTnRB worked with TVA to collaborate on this initiative, making TVA the largest agency to make the Greatest American Cleanup declaration thus far. Cleanups in the Tennessee River Grand Slam Cleanup Series will be bolstered with the help of the national nonprofit, Living Lands & Waters, who will bring three of their 30-foot work boats to supplement KTnRBs two 26-foot work boats. By joining, LL&W will increase the volunteer and trash hauling capacity for each cleanup, therefore increasing the rivers impact. TVA and TDOTs Nobody Trashes Tennessee litter prevention campaign fund the cleanup series, and Keep Tennessee Beautiful provides cleanup supplies. Volunteers are still needed for each cleanup. To sign up for any of the Tennessee River Grand Slam Cleanup Series events, please visit www.KeepTNRiverBeautiful.org/upcomingcleanups. Officers responded to the dealership regarding a report of auto theft. The company representative advised that three young males entered the property by stepping over a back gate and accessed an unlocked vehicle. The subjects then stole a 2019 gray Hyundai Elantra using unknown means and traveled westbound on Oakdale Ave. The vehicle displayed temporary Tennessee tag, had a red-rimmed spare tire (donut) on the front passenger side and possible front-end damage from driving through the gate. 1400 BLK St Thomas Street Room- Overdose Police responded to a possible overdose at this location after the reporting party stated their brother had an extensive history of methamphetamine use and was unconscious and slumped over a chair inside the room.The RP also stated that the door was latched and locked and could not gain entry to the room. Police and ERFD arrived on the scene and had to force entry due to the door being secured. HCEMS and fire tended to the patient, and he was later transported for treatment. 1300 BLK Laredo Avenue Runaway Juvenile A party called to report his son as a runaway. He stated his child left the residence at approximately 1445 yesterday and refused to come home. The RP is going to seek juvenile petitions for his son. 4100 BLK Ringgold Road Theft Officers were dispatched to this address in reference to a theft in progress. Officers observed a vehicle matching the suspect description traveling eastbound on Ringgold Road and conducted a traffic stop in the 1300 block of Marlboro Avenue. Police identified the occupants. One admitted involvement in the theft and was issued a citation in lieu of arrest. A male passenger provided a false identity and was taken into custody on active warrants out of Hamilton County and criminal impersonation. 1300 Marlboro Avenue- Arrest The party from the theft incident above was arrested on one East Ridge charge of Criminal Impersonation, and on five (5) Hamilton County Sessions warrants following a traffic stop. He was transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident. 4100 BLK Ringgold Road Theft The complainant reported someone stole his $100 cashback from the self-checkout after he left without retrieving it. Police reviewed security surveillance and charges depend upon identification of the individuals. 6500 BLK Ringgold Road- Disorder/ Vandalism A man came to the restaurant to confront his estranged girlfriend and became irate with management after being instructed to leave. While he was leaving, he vandalized a potted plant out of frustration. It was also alleged that he made threats over the phone toward the juvenile female party, who primarily works in the drive-thru of the business. Management requested the party be trespassed from the property if police contact him. 5300 BLK Connell Street Nuisance Complaint The resident reported that the children from a nearby home continually bother him by knocking on his door and trespassing on his property. Police attempted to contact the juveniles; however, they would not answer the door. Night Shift March 20: 400 BLK S Germantown Road Alarm A residential alarm sound was observed by the business next door on multiple occasions over the past two days. Police and dispatchers have attempted to contact the owner of the vacant property but so far attempts have been unsuccessful. 4200 BLK Ringgold Road Warrant A woman was served five (5) East Ridge warrants at the Hamilton County Jail for Theft of Property for shoplifting in East Ridge. 1400 BLK John Ross Road Watchlist A resident requested nightly patrols around his residence at due to children pranking him by ringing his doorbell and running away on multiple occasions. 1700 BLK John Ross Road Alarm Police were dispatched to a residential alarm for a back door. No signs of an intrusion were observed during the response. 3300 BLK Ringgold Rd- Armed Robbery Police responded to a report of an armed robbery with shots fired at the convenience store. A KIA passenger car with four male juveniles and entered the store and took a vape display rack. As the offenders were leaving, they fired a weapon multiple times at the store clerk, but he was not struck. The offenders were subsequently apprehended in Chattanooga following a pursuit by CPD. All suspects were charged with attempted murder, felony reckless endangerment, aggravated robbery, and criminal conspiracy. ERPD detectives are still actively investigating the incident. Christians are called to a radical lifestyle that prioritizes the marginalized, the oppressed and the forgotten. We are called to be a voice for the voiceless, even when it challenges the comfort of our own communities and political affiliations. Too often, we see Christians aligning in lockstep with political parties, sacrificing the core tenets of our faith for partisan agendas. This is a betrayal of our calling. We are not called to be Republicans or Democrats first, but Christians first. It is in this light that recent actions demand we examine whether we are truly living up to this calling. The drastic cuts to USAID, for instance, are projected to impact millions, with estimates suggesting that funding reductions could lead to increased food insecurity for over 8 million people and disrupt life-saving health interventions for millions more, particularly women and children. These are not abstract numbers on a spreadsheet; they are lives hanging in the balance, lives we are called to protect. These cuts represent a profound betrayal of the pro-life ethic. How can we claim to value life while turning our backs on those suffering from hunger, disease, and conflict? True pro-life advocacy extends beyond the womb and demands we protect and nurture life at every stage. The crusade against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has gone far beyond anything a Christian should support. For example, the DODs recent removal of the story about Jackie Robinson and removal of internal links to stories about heroes like Colin Powell, have nothing to do with merit. These acts reek of a racism that stands in stark opposition to the Gospels message of love and human dignity. To hide these stories is to deny their humanity and the progress they represent. Finally, the proposed local legislation that would deny undocumented students access to education is a moral travesty. Jesus himself prioritized children, welcoming them and proclaiming, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). To deny a child the opportunity to learn, to grow and to contribute to our society is to deny them their God-given potential. These actions are not mere political disagreements; they are fundamental assaults on the principles of justice and compassion that define us as Christians. We cannot stand idly by while our brothers and sisters are marginalized, their stories erased, and their lives endangered. We must advocate for the vulnerable, speak out against racism and champion education for all. Let us remember the words of James 2:14-17: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Is our faith dead, or will we take action? Walker Rhodes * * * The original poster started his thought of giving away other people's tax money as "a voice for the voiceless" which I find to be quite hypocritical. The taxpayer in this country is the most voiceless entity of the entire political machine. If you wish to give charity to illegals or foreigners, that is your right to do so. You cannot tax your fellow citizen endlessly for your bleeding "Christian" heart. I for one, am not in favor of globalism, nor am I in favor of taking care of the rest of the world. We have American citizens who are hungry, poor and very deserving of financial assistance. If we must be taxed into charity... the charity must start at home. We are $36 trillion in debt, and somehow we should still "give more." We live now in a nation of financially irresponsible idealists... who are more than happy to take hard earned tax dollars and freely give them away to any flavor of the week. I see these "type" of people as no different than the military industrial warmongers who are happy to endlessly spend tax money to enrich themselves and the corporations they serve. I quote the greatest Tennessean that ever lived (and one the author of this opinion should study more of) Davy Crockett: "We have the right as individuals to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right to appropriate a dollar of the public money." Rome was once a very powerful empire; it squandered its taxes, allowed itself to be over ran with barbarian hordes and was eventually destroyed. This happened at the hands of a "Christian nation". Will Pitt Seven St. Andrew's-Sewanee School students and faculty sponsor J.R. Ankney traveled to New York City to attend the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Radio Conference. In addition to attending radio broadcasting workshops with industry professionals, the St. Andrew's-Sewanee radio station WMTN, 93.1 & 103.1, also was nominated for 15 "best in the nation" awards. In the annual award ceremony competing against vastly larger schools across the nation, WMTN emerged with a Best In the Nation Award in the "Best Foreign Language show" category. They beat Carmel High School with 5,400 students and New Albany High School with over 2,000 students. The other nominations included Best Radio Drama, Best Documentary, Best Public Affairs Program, Best Morning Show, Best Spot News Interview, Best Show Promotional Poster, Best Website, Best Podcast, Best Station or Event Promo, Best Show Promo, Best Public Service Announcement, Best use of Sound Effects, Best Liner/Sweeper and Best Station ID. Mr. Ankney, who will be turning over the faculty sponsor job to faculty member Stephen Brehm next year, said, "I'm beyond thrilled to have been part of the meteoric rise of WMTN, and I am so proud of every student who has contributed to our successes over the past two years. I cannot wait to see where WMTN can go under Brehm's capable leadership, and I am excited for the next chapter for the station." Headmaster Karl Sjolund said, "It's always great when the students' hard work pays off in such visible ways. SAS is a small school that does big things, and I couldn't be more proud of the WMTN crew for everything they've accomplished this year." For more information about WMTN, the VOICE of the mountain visit sasradio.org, or tune in at 93.1, & 103.1 on the FM dial. A lawsuit has been filed over who is the rightful operator of Mercury Cabs in Chattanooga. Local businessman Tony Boston sued Tenesica Cross, claiming she has never registered her business with the state and should not be operating. Mr. Boston, who is also in the bonding business and is a music promoter, said in 2016 Ms. Cross solicited funds from him to buy a share of Mercury Cab. The suit says he bought an interest in Mercury Cub, but he later learned it was "a fictitious company." He said he never got any of the proceeds back that he invested in the company. Mr. Boston said on Feb. 9, 2024, he opened a Mercury Cab operation himself after filing with the state as a business. He said Ms. Cross "has been operating an illegal business, and does not have a physical location." The suit, filed by attorney Seth Wilson, said, "Defendant Cross' conduct has resulted in business losses for Mercury Transportation, as well as demand letters from personal injury attorneys who have been injured by these illegal taxis." The Circuit Court complaint asks an injunction against Ms. Cross from operating a taxi service and requests treble damages. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed an amicus brief on Friday in the United States Supreme Court supporting President Trumps application "to stay sweeping preliminary injunctions by multiple district courts in cases addressing birthright citizenship." He said, "The amicus brief stresses that courts should interpret the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution in accordance with its original public meaning and should only exercise their judicial power within the confines of specific cases and controversies and consistent with principles of separation of powers. "Courts are empowered by the Constitution to resolve cases and controversies, not to issue sweeping policy proclamations or manage the executive branch. The American people are the ultimate source of authority and legitimacy for every branch of our government, and every court interpreting the Constitution must therefore adhere to the understanding of the voters who adopted the constitutional language. Undermining the sovereignty of the American people through judicial overreach threatens to alienate the people from our constitutional system and thereby cause grievous harm to liberty and public order. Our system depends on checks and balances and each branch of government, at both the federal and state levels, is by design intended to push back against overreach by the other branches. That tension between branches is how we prevent the concentration of undue power in any one place and thus keep Americans free. We look forward to the Supreme Court clarifying these fundamental issues and will continue to litigate strategically to advance the interests of Tennessee. He said that, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, over nine million illegal aliens have entered the country in just the past few years. He said, "After crossing the border, many illegal aliens have moved into interior states like Tennessee. This voluminous influx has caused significant strain on resources and poses ongoing economic, health, and public safety challenges for Tennessee and many other states. While lax border security in the past caused much of the problem, it was incentivized and compounded by an expansive interpretation of the Citizenship Clause which is not consistent with numerous sources contemporaneous with the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court of the United States has never squarely addressed the scope of the Citizenship Clause, though government actors have for decades operated under the assumption that the clause guarantees birthright citizenship in almost all circumstances. "To combat these illegal crossings, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders. After signing the executive order titled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, three federal judges issued nationwide preliminary injunctions freezing the Presidents executive order and ruling that it violated the Citizenship Clause." In this amicus brief, Attorney General Skrmetti "provides evidence of the original public meaning of the Citizenship Clause by pointing to historical evidence from the Reconstruction Period and immediately thereafter. He also notes the ongoing challenge of overly broad injunctions and highlights instances when they have adversely affected Tennessee. Reinforcing core constitutional principles helps protect Tennesseans by ensuring that federal courts do not unduly interfere with the States democratically-adopted laws," it was stated. You can read Attorney General Skrmettis amicus brief here. In fiscal year 2024, LANXESS significantly increased its earnings despite the difficult global economic situation: EBITDA pre exceptionals climbed by 19.9 percent to EUR 614 million, up from EUR 512 million in the previous year. The company thus confirms the preliminary figures published on January 20, 2025. In particular, higher capacity utilization and significantly lower costs as a result of the FORWARD! action plan contributed to the increase in earnings. Although nearly all business units were able to increase their sales volumes, Group sales decreased by 5.2 percent from EUR 6.714 billion in the previous year to EUR 6.366 billion. This was mainly due to lower sales prices resulting from reduced raw material and energy costs. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals rose to 9.6 percent from 7.6 percent in the previous year. We have defied the economic and geopolitical headwinds and significantly increased our earnings from our own resources. This shows that our structural measures are working. They will continue to pay off in the current year. We therefore remain confident of achieving further growth by 2025, even if a broad-based recovery in global demand is not in sight, says Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG. For the current fiscal year 2025, LANXESS expects the economic and geopolitical environment to remain challenging. Nevertheless, the Group expects a portfolio-adjusted increase in EBITDA pre exceptionals of around 10 percent for the full year, also due to the ongoing effects of the FORWARD! action plan. This corresponds to a reported EBITDA pre exceptionals of between EUR 600 and 650 million, as the earnings contribution from the Urethane Systems business will only be included for the first quarter of 2025. LANXESS expects the business to be divested in April 2025. In 2024, the Urethane Systems business unit generated EBITDA pre exceptionals of around EUR 50 million. For the first quarter of 2025, the Group expects EBITDA pre exceptionals to be 25 to 35 percent higher than in the prior-year quarter. Strong free cashflow, net financial debt reduced LANXESS was able to reduce net financial debt by 4,7 percent from EUR 2.498 billion at the end of the previous year to EUR 2.381 billion in 2024. This was mainly due to the strong cash flow generation from operating activities. Free cash flow amounted to EUR 188 million in 2024. Cost savings implemented more quickly With the FORWARD! action plan introduced in the summer of 2023, LANXESS is counteracting the effects of the economic downturn. Through structural measures, LANXESS plans to permanently reduce its annual costs by around EUR 150 million by 2025. EUR 110 million of these savings have already been realized in 2024, EUR 20 million more than originally planned. Stable dividend LANXESS plans to pay a stable dividend for fiscal year 2024 compared to the previous year. The amount of the dividend reflects the companys focus on further reducing its net financial debt. The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will therefore propose to the Annual Stockholders Meeting on 22 May 2025 a dividend of EUR 0.10 per share (2023: EUR 0.10) to be paid for fiscal year 2024. The proposal would correspond to a total dividend payout of around EUR 9 million. Transformation into specialty chemicals company completed At the beginning of October 2024, LANXESS signed an agreement to sell its Urethane Systems business to Japans UBE Corporation. The business unit has a global footprint with five production sites and around 400 employees. The closing of the sale is expected in April 2025. With the agreed sale of the Urethane Systems business unit, LANXESS is divesting its last polymer business and completing the transformation of the Group into a specialty chemicals company. LANXESS will use the proceeds from the sale to further reduce its debt. Segments at a glance In the Consumer Protection segment, sales in fiscal year 2024 were 2.081 billion euros, 11.1 percent below the prior-year figure of 2.340 billion euros. EBITDA pre exceptionals fell by 7.7 percent to EUR 286 million compared to EUR 310 million in the previous year. The decline in earnings was mainly due to the continuing weak demand from agrochemical customers in the Saltigo business unit. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals rose from 13.2 percent last year to 13.7 percent. Sales in the Specialty Additives segment decreased by 5.0 percent from EUR 2.325 billion in the previous year to EUR 2.209 billion in 2024 despite higher volumes in almost all business units. This was due in particular to lower selling prices as a result of passing on lower raw material and energy prices. EBITDA pre exceptionals rose by 8.6 percent from EUR 209 million in the previous year to EUR 227 million. This positive development was driven by better capacity utilization and lower costs as a result of the FORWARD! action plan. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals reached 10.3 percent, compared to 9.0 percent in the previous year. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A man prays in a collapsed church in Shusa, Azerbaijan. | ICC President Donald Trump is being urged to help secure the release of two dozen Christians held hostage by the Azerbaijani government and to support persecuted Christians. A coalition of Christian leaders has signed a letter pushing the president to act on behalf of the 23 Christian Armenians and one Azeri Christian convert currently detained in Azerbaijan. This letter was spearheaded by the advocacy group Save Armenia. Signatories include Sam Brownback, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom; Christian artist and missionary Sean Feucht; Troy Miller, President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters; David Curry, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Commissioner; Dede Laugesen, Executive Director of Save the Persecuted Christians; and civil rights activist Alveda King. Additionally, former Rep. Michelle Bachman, R-Minn., now the dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University, and Jim Garlow, the former pastor of Skyline Church in California, also signed the letter. The coalition expressed gratitude to Trump for showing support for Armenia and persecuted Christians during his 2024 presidential campaign, praising him for sending a clear message to those who would undermine Armenia's security and their rich Christian heritage as the first country in the history of the world to embrace the gospel of Christ. They believe that the situation can only be resolved by a leader of your qualities, a leader feared and respected by other world leaders. In their letter, the leaders highlighted that almost two years ago, Azerbaijan engaged in the ethnic cleansing of over 120,000 Christian Armenians from their ancestral homes, while the Biden administration failed to take action to prevent these atrocities or punish those responsible. They stated, Since then, the same regime has been holding 23 Christian Armenian hostages and one Azeri Christian convert, who are being subjected to routine torture, according to credible reports. The coalition also stressed that the International Committee of the Red Cross, which they stated was the only organization with access to check on the well-being of the prisoners, has recently been ordered to leave Azerbaijan, a predominantly Muslim country. They noted, A few months ago, we saw how Hamas freed the Israeli hostages out of fear of your Administration, urging Trump to utilize the authority of your office to stand for and with these 24 Christian lives, and once again send a message that murder and persecution of Christians around the world will no longer be tolerated. Azerbaijan has come under scrutiny from international religious freedom advocates in recent years due to its conflict with predominantly Christian Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan but was previously a de facto Armenian-majority state known as the Republic of Artsakh. In May 2024, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom identified Azerbaijan as one of the worlds worst violators of religious freedom, and in 2023, the country was included in the International Christian Concerns Persecutors of the Year report. A special leadership conference hosted by TFP Student Action in Pennsylvania from December 29 to January 2, 2023. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ TFP Student Action A Christian Student Organization is set to hold a rally opposing a satanic black mass for abortion rights scheduled to take place at the Kansas State Capitol later this month. TFP Student Action, a project of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, is organizing a protest in Topeka on March 28 against The Satanic Grotto, which intends to hold a blasphemous parody of a Catholic Mass to dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan. So far, the petition against the event has collected over 83,000 signatures across four petition drives. Jon Paul Fabrizio, a spokesperson for TFP, stated, The response has been overwhelmingly positive, adding, This outpouring of support shows that Americans still recognize blasphemy when they see it and are willing to stand up in defense of Gods honor. Fabrizio emphasized the national significance of the event, remarking, We will be joined by God-fearing Americans from all over the country. This protest is not just about Kansas this is a fight for the soul of America. He further noted, Kansas lies at the heart of America. Both geographically and morally. It has long been a bastion of common sense and Christian values. That is exactly why satanists chose it. The group plans to deliver the petitions to Governor Laura Kelly in Topeka days before the event, urging her to cancel the black mass. Last week, Kelly acknowledged concerns regarding the satanic ceremony, stating, I share those concerns, but indicated that her office cannot stop the event. Instead, she announced that all events scheduled at the Statehouse will be relocated outdoors to the grounds surrounding the capitol building, and that no protests will be allowed inside the Statehouse on March 28. Senator Stephen Owens, R-Heston, described the event as hideous and terrible, while also stressing the importance of not discriminating against religious groups. Religious groups from various backgrounds come to the capitol on a regular basis to preach, pray, and display. We cannot discriminate because we disagree. He declared, God is my King and no satanic ritual will change that. God is far stronger. His Peace and Glory will shine. Michael Stewart, the organizer of the black mass, responded to the criticism by telling the Topeka Capital-Journal that the event is a reaction against lawmakers who pander to religious pro-life groups. This is a specific response to our legislatures continuing to pander to groups like the Kansas Catholic Conference and to Kansans for Life, where they keep trying to come back and attack abortion rights, much less other rights, he claimed. In response, TFP has obtained a permit for a rosary rally at the capitols south entrance on the same day as the planned satanic event, expecting hundreds of participants from as far away as California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Vandalism was discovered inside the sanctuary of Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita, Kansas, in March 2025. | Screenshot: YouTube/ KSN TV Authorities have arrested a suspect after vandalism at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita, Kansas, which included writing a Satanic website and burning a flag. The attack occurred on Saturday morning, leading to the cancellation of the evening Mass. Photos shared by the public policy group Kansas Catholic Conference depicted the vandalism, which included the breaking of a statue, damage to candles, and the smashing of at least one window. The Kansas Catholic Conference noted that a Satanic website was scrawled on a wall, indicating that the vandalism is linked to the same group planning to hold a Satanic worship ritual on the grounds of the Kansas State Capitol on March 28. On Sunday, the Wichita Police Department announced the arrest of a 23-year-old man from Saline County, believed to have committed the damage, including the burning of a U.S. flag. The unnamed suspect was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail, facing charges of burglary, criminal damage to property, and criminal desecration. In response to the attack on the Catholic Church, President Donald Trump stated that his administration would take a look as part of its commitment to eradicating anti-Christian bias nationwide. During an interview, EWTNs Owen Jensen questioned Trump about the actions his administration would take following the vandalism at St. Patrick's Church. Jensen asked, What more can the White House do to protect places of worship like St. Patrick's Church? Trump affirmed, We're going to take a look. I love Wichita... I got a lot of votes there, and we won that state by a large margin. We'll definitely examine that, reiterating his intention to take a look at it. A report released by the conservative Christian organization Family Research Council in February 2024 revealed over 400 attacks against churches in 2023, which was more than double the number reported in 2022. From January through November 2023, the report documented at least 315 acts of vandalism, 75 acts of arson or attempted arson, 10 incidents involving firearms, 20 bomb threats, and 37 other incidents at churches. Home News Evangelical leaders pray over Trump in Oval Office: 'Faith is more important than ever before' Over a dozen Christian leaders prayed with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office this week, with one saying that the assassination attempt last summer has caused the president to embrace faith groups even more than he did in his first term. Led by White House Faith Office Senior Advisor Paula White-Cain, Trump's longtime spiritual advisor, the faith leaders met with Trump on Wednesday. Pictures from the event show several faith leaders placing their hands on Trump in prayer around the president. Attendees included, among others, the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Pastor Travis Johnson of the multi-campus Pathway Church based in Alabama, David Barton of WallBuilders, former presidential candidate and longtime social conservative activist Gary Bauer and William Wolfe, the executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Rodriguez, who serves as a faith advisor to the White House Faith Office and participated in Trump's first inauguration in 2017, offered a prayer for Trump. The contents of the prayer were shared with The Christian Post: "With gratitude and humility, we pray for President Trump. You assigned him, you appointed him, you anointed him for such a time as this. We ask You to cover him with the blood of Jesus, empowering him to advance an agenda of righteousness and justice, truth and love." "Protect him from all evil as he undergirds our nation with the firewall of our Judeo-Christian value system. Fulfill Your purpose in his life," Rodriguez, the lead pastor of New Season megachurch in California, added. "And as a result, we pray by faith that through his leadership, the following will take place in America the fulfillment of Isaiah 58:8: Salvation will come like the dawn. Wounds will quickly heal. Godliness will lead us forward as the glory of God will protect us from behind. In Jesus' name, Amen." Rodriguez told CP that it is "an honor" to partner with White-Cain and Special Assistant to the President Jenny Korn "to support the incredible and important work they are doing through the White House Faith Office." "I am grateful to them for the opportunity to be a voice for Christians and the Latino community in this most important of times," Rodriguez said. Before meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, the leaders met without the president. "Our meeting time as a faith-based team focused on faith-based policies, initiatives and just strategic planning and that was the gist of that meeting," Rodriguez said. "The time in the Oval Office was very cordial and just time for us to just relate with the president and time in prayer." Rodriguez called Trump "unbelievably gracious" and "truly just remarkable," praising him for his hospitality. "It felt more like a family reunion ... around the president, but it felt real, it felt authentic," he said. "It was just an incredible gathering." "This is the No. 1 most pro-faith president in my lifetime. This is the fulfillment of Ronald Reagan's dream," Rodriguez proclaimed. "I was a kid, but I remember being inspired by Ronald Reagan, and he would talk about faith and America being a city on a hill, and the faith that guides us as Americans is our Judeo-Christian values system. This is taking his dream and bringing it to reality." During Trump's first term in office from 2017 to 2021, the White House held several briefings and events with Evangelical leaders, including the likes of Rodriguez, Franklin Graham, James Dobson, and others. On different occasions, Evangelical leaders similarly prayed for Trump in the Oval Office. In August 2018, the White House hosted what was dubbed a "state dinner" in which over 100 Evangelical leaders were invited. When asked if he felt there were any differences in Trump's attitude toward Christian leaders between his first term and second, Rodriguez said he thought the assassination attempt on Trump's life at a campaign rally last summer produced a noticeable change. "God spared his life, and hence, the faith factor is even elevated through his personal testimony. So, President Donald Trump is in the Oval Office because God intervened and protected him and that was obvious," Rodriguez said. "So, he is the byproduct of a miracle. Hence, faith is more important than ever before, even than in his first term," Rodriguez asserted. Trump first announced the creation of the White House Faith Office during a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast last month, just over two weeks after he took office. He identified the purpose of the new entity as helping to combat "anti-Christian bias." He elaborated on his vision for the new office in an executive order published on Feb. 7. "The Office shall have lead responsibility in the executive branch to empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to serve families and communities," the executive order stated. "The Office shall be housed in the Domestic Policy Council and headed by a Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office, and supported by other positions as the President considers appropriate." The functions of the White House Faith Office include consulting with and seeking information "from experts and various faith and community leaders identified by the White House Faith Office and other [Executive Office of the President] components, including those from outside the Federal Government and those from State, local, and Tribal governments." Another responsibility involves making "recommendations to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, regarding changes to policies, programs, and practices, and aspects of [the Trump] Administration's policy agenda, that affect the ability of faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to serve families and communities." Home News NASA astronaut talks being stranded in space for 9 months: 'God was there, even in darkest moments' After spending nine grueling months in space, NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore was rescued alongside fellow astronaut Suni Williams. Wilmore expressed that his faith in Jesus was key to his enduring the experience. His return has captured public attention this week, and his statements have had a significant impact. As reported by CBN News, Wilmore shared that his journey was filled with challenges, but that his trust in God gave him the strength he needed. "My feeling about all of this goes back to my faith. It's tied to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is working out His plan and purposes for His glory through all of humanity, and how that plays out in our lives is meaningful and important," the astronaut said. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Wilmore and Williams landed in the Gulf of America after encountering several technical difficulties aboard the spacecraft. During their stay on the space station, they had to deal with extreme conditions and uncertainty about their return to Earth. A journey full of challenges Wilmore explained that, although the mission had a scientific purpose, it was also a journey of spiritual growth for him. " I was never alone. God was there, even in the darkest moments," he stated. His testimony has been received with great interest by the Christian and scientific communities. "I understand that He works in all things, some for the good see Hebrews Chapter 11 and others seem not so good to us. But all things work together for His good, for all who believe," the astronaut added. During their nine months in space, the astronauts participated in numerous experiments and station maintenance tasks. However, the technical challenges and unexpected extension of their mission tested their physical and emotional stamina. Wilmore's return marks the end of a mission that pushed him beyond his human and spiritual limits. NASA has emphasized the importance of the mission and the astronauts' courage, while his statements have reinforced the impact of faith in extreme situations. Wilmore is an elder at Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas. Tommy Dahn, Wilmore's pastor, told Fox26 that the astronaut has been a member of the church for the past 17 years and has made a point of staying active, even during his time in space. This article was originally published at CP Espanol Home News San Diego parents irate over tampons in elementary school boys' bathrooms: 'Absolutely ludicrous' Boys reportedly using tampons for horseplay Parents in San Diego, California, are reportedly irate as local school districts have installed tampon dispensers in boys' bathrooms at elementary schools to meet the requirements of a recent state law. Parents from North San Diego County maintained that the tampon dispenser installations, which began during this school year, are a misuse of public funds and will only cause problems, according to The College Fix. Marci Strange, who serves as chairwoman of the North San Diego County-based Taxpayers Oversight for Parents and Students, told the outlet that she has heard the only practical use the young boys have found for the tampons is to soak them and fling them at the ceiling to see if they will stick. She also speculated that the superfluous tampons are likely causing plumbing issues. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "It's absolutely ludicrous," she said. The tampon story leaked after Britt Mayer, a conservative activist in Southern California, shared an internal memo from Vista Unified School District about the boys' bathroom tampon dispensers on her popular Rooted Wings social media pages in February. "Boys dont bleed, and if they do, they need a Band-Aid, not a tampon," Mayer wrote at the time. "This is mental warfare aimed at your kids, subsidized by your tax dollars." The San Diego Office of Education told The Christian Post that the County Offices of Education do not dictate or mandate any district actions, and directed CP to the relevant Assembly Bill 367. The Vista memo cited California's Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2021, which requires public schools from grades 6 to 12 "to stock the schools restrooms with an adequate supply of free menstrual products, as defined, available and accessible, free of cost, in all womens restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men's restroom, at all times, and to post a certain notice." An amendment in 2023 applied the law to public schools with classes as young as third grade. The 2023 amendment purports to be for the benefit of "pupils that may start their periods early." "When pupils do not have access to menstrual products, they may miss school or are less engaged in the classroom, which can have a long-lasting impact on their learning," the law says. Shawn Loescher, who serves as assistant superintendent of the Vista district, confirmed to The College Fix that the district has placed the dispensers in one boys bathroom per elementary campus over recent months, achieving full compliance. Loescher estimated the tampon dispensers in the boys' bathrooms, including installation, cost around $400 each. The public schools in neighboring San Marcos also confirmed the imminent installation of tampon machines in the boys' rooms, while nearby Carlsbad has already put them up, according to The College Fix. One parent in the Vista district who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity said the tampon dispenser for boys was wasteful. "One mom said that there isnt currently a transgender student at the school who would need to use the tampons. [Another] said that if a student needed a tampon then the nurses office should be able to provide that," the parent said. California joins Connecticut, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington in having passed legislation explicitly mandating public schools to provide tampons in boys' bathrooms. During the 2024 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump slapped Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz with the moniker "Tampon Tim" to mock the Minnesota Democrat for signing legislation that mandated free menstrual products in public school bathrooms without specifying the gender. During a Friday press gaggle in the Oval Office, Trump called Walz "a loser" in response to his claim that he could "kick most of their ass," referring to Trump supporters. Home News Texas public school accused of identifying female student as boy against parents orders Parents claim district policy 'goes against our Christian faith' Attorneys are seeking answers from a Texas school district over an alleged attempt by school officials to repeatedly identify a teenage girl by using a masculine name and male pronouns against the parents' wishes. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal nonprofit specializing in religious freedom cases, fired off a letter on March 17 to the Houston Independent School District (HISD) General Counsel Catosha Woods demanding documents related to the situation, which ADF calls a violation of parental rights. According to ADF, the trouble began in December 2023 when the Houston parents spotted a masculine name on their daughters schoolwork. They soon learned that staff at Bellaire High School had been using a male name and pronouns for her for months without their knowledge or consent. The parents told teachers to stop immediately, and while staff promised to comply, the family later discovered the behavior persisted. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Attorneys say tensions escalated during a Sept. 23, 2024, meeting with Bellaire Principal Michael Niggli, when the parents asked for a firm commitment that their daughter would be called by her given name and female pronouns. Instead, the ADF letter states, Principal Niggli told them they should explore a middle ground solution around what name she would be called at school. In a follow-up email, Niggli added, there will be no emails with directives to call [your daughter] by any particular name, leaving the family uncertain about the schools intentions. Parents have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children without fear of government interference, said ADF Senior Counsel Kate Anderson, director of ADFs Center for Parental Rights. Schools should never hide vital information from parents, let alone go against their express wishes for their children. School officials should support parents, not replace them, which is why were insisting that the school confirm they are respecting these parents constitutional rights. The parents attempts to get answers through public records requests only deepened their distrust. One HISD response claimed over 18,000 documents were relevant, but a month later, the district backtracked, saying no responsive documents existed and closed the request. Despite the principals claim that a counselor had informed teachers of the parents instructions, the family remains skeptical and has turned to ADF for support. The letter, addressed to Woods at HISDs headquarters, concludes with a clear demand: Given the pattern of failure and the existing ambiguity, we ask that HISD promptly assure us and our clients that HISD employees will refer to their daughter only by her given name and female pronouns. It also requests copies of all correspondence instructing staff on the matter, signaling a potential legal showdown if the district doesnt comply. Last month, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) said the panel was "reviewing" a claim that teachers at Bellaire High School were "socially transitioning" a student against the will of their parents. Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to TEA calling for the state agency to investigate HISD based on comments made during a school board meeting by Denise Bell, chair of the Harris County chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national conservative Christian group which champions parental rights and traditional American values in public schools. Bell, speaking on behalf of an anonymous parent, claimed the districts actions went against both her familys faith and professional guidance. This goes against our Christian faith, the advice of [the student's] therapist, and quite frankly, common sense, she said. We met with her teachers, counselors, and the principal to no avail. HISD is purposely and secretively transitioning minors. While there is no state law regarding Texas school officials using different names or pronouns for students, other area school districts like Katy ISD have implemented policies that require teachers and staff to notify parents if a student requests to be identified by another name or pronoun. Home Opinion The Supreme Court case that has evangelicals divided: Tax-funded religious charter schools People of faith should support religious charter school at Supreme Court In a recent Christian Post column, Dr. Richard Land wrote about an upcoming Supreme Court case concerning the fate of a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma known as St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. Alliance Defending Freedom, the organization I work for, represents the Oklahoma agency that approved the schools participation in the states charter school program. Dr. Land pray[s] the court rules against St. Isidore. But his take on the case is deeply misguided. The Supreme Court has been clear in three cases over the last eight years that when a state creates a generally available public program and invites private groups to participate, it violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to exclude religious organizations. Such religious discrimination is odious to our Constitution, the court has said. That principle should dictate the result of the case. Oklahoma broadly invites private organizations to apply to operate charter schools. For it to exclude religious groups would violate the First Amendment. Thats why our client approved St. Isidores application. In adopting a different view, Dr. Land repeatedly claims that charter schools in Oklahoma are public. But that assumes the wrong answer to a key issue in the case whether an Oklahoma charter school like St. Isidore is a public actor. It is not. St. Isidore is a private, religious, nonprofit organization founded by two Catholic dioceses. It is operated by a privately selected board that sets the schools curriculum, establishes its policies, and makes its operational decisions. It enters into a contract with the state and receives per-pupil state funding. But the government neither creates nor controls St. Isidores day-to-day operations. To be sure, Oklahoma law labels a charter school a public school established by contract. But the state defines a public school merely as a free school supported by public taxation. So, all the public label means is that its a school funded by tax dollars. But the Supreme Court has been clear that a contract between the government and a privately operated school even when the government provides 99% of the schools funding does not transform that private organization into a government actor. That government funding doesnt convert private religious groups into government actors is good for religious freedom. Christian organizations routinely serve their neighbors through critical charitable work, such as foster care, adoption placements, homeless shelters, and refugee ministries. And they often must contract with or get a license from the government to do so. If the Supreme Court rules against St. Isidore, it risks transforming Christian groups into state actors when providing these critical services. And that risks excluding them from work they have been doing since long before the government got involved. You dont have to take my word for it. Prominent Christian organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals and the General Council of the Assemblies of God are supporting St. Isidore. As the NAE told the court, religious organizations that provide critical social services do not become state actors simply by receiving government funds, and a ruling against St. Isidore would undermine the continued provision of vital services by religious groups. If Dr. Land is correct, none of these organizations could maintain their religious character when they provide social services. And even if some faith-based groups could continue that work, they would be exposed to constitutional claims brought against them. As the General Council of the Assemblies of God explained to the court, religious entities that are deemed state actors would be threatened with new, destructive liabilities. Dr. Land does not object to state programs that provide public funds through vouchers or tax credits to private religious schools because parents choices decide whether the money will go to a religious school. Yet the same is true here. St. Isidore seeks state funding that is based on student enrollment. If no parent chooses St. Isidore, its state aid would be zero. Dr. Land is also concerned that taxpayers would be forced to subsidize that which they believe violates their faith affirmations. But thats already happening, as Dr. Land acknowledges with a passing reference to LGBTQ+ dogma. The Christian whose beliefs are at odds with gender ideology the view that a persons sex can be chosen and changed is already funding public schools teaching that. Similarly, the nonbeliever who objects to religious education is funding vouchers sent to private religious schools. If anything, a ruling for St. Isidore will alleviate concerns about taxpayers funding education they consider objectionable. Again, St. Isidores receipt of state funds hinges on parents sending their kids there. When parents make that decision, they redirect their tax dollars to education they support instead of education that violates their conscience. Thats a win-win. Dr. Land speculates that a ruling for St. Isidore will be catastrophic because parents would choose a religious charter school and the demand for traditional public schools will drastically decline. Thats implausible. There are plenty of parents who have no interest in religious schools. Consider also that while charter schools have been operating for over 30 years, government-run schools still dominate the market. In any event, Dr. Land highlights the current deficiencies in traditional public schools, so its unclear why he wants to preserve their dominance. He laments that these schools spend more time indoctrinating than educating and recognizes that [b]asic skills scores for our nations children are scandalously low. More high-quality charter schools help with these problems. Not only do kids in charter schools generally perform better, but charter schools also generate competition that prompts traditional public schools to improve. A rising tide lifts all ships. Dr. Land also worries about the impact on private schools because cash-strapped parents could choose no-cost religious charter schools. But why should low-income families who themselves pay taxes that fund traditional public schools and privately run charter schools have no realistic option to educate their children according to their faith? Underprivileged families should enjoy the same educational opportunities as their wealthier friends. The suggestion that religious charter schools will swallow religious private schools is unfounded. One key fact is that charter schools must admit all students while religious private schools can limit admission to parents, families, and children who share the schools faith. Many families will prefer the latter a close-knit religious community so a robust market for private religious schools will remain. Dr. Lands final concern is that it violates the federal Establishment Clause which forbids laws respecting an establishment of religion to allow money to flow to religious institutions. This is not true. The Supreme Court recently said that the Establishment Clause is not offended when religious observers and organizations benefit from neutral government programs, including school-funding programs. Also, the Establishment Clause is interpreted in light of our historical traditions and understandings. From the nations founding until the late 1800s, every level of American government funded religious schools and education. That tradition firmly supports allowing St. Isidore in the charter-school program. In short, Dr. Land unfortunately has it exactly backward. A ruling against St. Isidore will hurt religious freedom, shield traditional public schools from competition pressuring them to improve, and leave low-income families without the educational choices they need and deserve. People of faith should be cheering for St. Isidores victory. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Home Opinion If we're not careful, 'Christ is King' will become the new 'Black Lives Matter' The question many of us have asked ourselves over the last several years: How did a movement like Black Lives Matter persuade an entire nation seemingly sane, normal people to embrace radical, destructive ideas, funnel $90 million into their cause in a single summer, wreak havoc in their own communities, and vilify anyone who refused to fall in line? Heres how: One of the most effective political strategies of the past decade was the linguistic Trojan horse of Black Lives Matter. A phrase so self-evident that opposing it seemed absurd but that was precisely the point. After all, who doesnt think black people matter? Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe However, wrapped in this agreeable slogan was an agenda that had little to do with valuing black lives and everything to do with advancing radical leftist ideology. And now, some figures on the Right ironically, the very people who once rightfully exposed this manipulation tactic (looking at you, Candace Owens) are using the same exact strategy. Their new slogan? Christ is King. At face value, this is an uncontroversial, biblical truth. Of course, Christ is King. Every Christian should affirm that. But just as BLM used an innocuous phrase to smuggle in a destructive worldview using that slogan no one would disagree with in order to promote ideals almost everyone would disagree with certain factions on the Right are hijacking Christian language to push an agenda that has nothing to do with biblical Christianity that the overwhelming majority of Christians, conservatives, and Americans at-large would vehemently reject. Step 1: Hijack the language The first move is simple: pick a phrase that no faithful Christian would object to Christ is King. Then, flood social media with it. Encourage conservatives to put it in their bios, chant it at rallies, and declare it with fervor. The phrase becomes a unifying virtue signal, a badge of belonging. If you say it, youre on the right team the real Christians, the courageous ones, the ones willing to stand against the secular tide. But just as BLM didnt spread organically, neither is this. BLM had Hollywood actors, musicians, athletes, and late-night talk show hosts repeating the phrase ad nauseam, pressuring people to join in or risk being labeled racist. Likewise, the new Christ is King movement is being pushed by famous conservative influencers people like Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes, Jack Posobiec, Joel Webbon, Elijah Schaffer, Andrew and Tristan Tate, Andrew Torba, and many more. Just as LeBron James, Billie Eilish, and every Marvel actor under the sun made it clear that chanting Black Lives Matter was the right thing to do, these right-wing influencers are now positioning themselves as gatekeepers of true Christianity. If you dont say Christ is King their way or if you question their intentions youre cast as weak, compromised, or even anti-Christian. The brilliance of this tactic is that it creates an artificial sense of unity. If everyone is saying the same thing, then surely, they must all be on the same side. But what happens when the people leading the charge arent actually aligned with biblical truth? Step 2: Smuggle in radical ideologies Once the phrase is normalized, the real work begins. Just like BLM didnt stop at black lives matter but went on to push Marxism, transgenderism, and anti-family rhetoric, this new movement doesnt stop at proclaiming Christs kingship. Instead, they attach their own brand of radicalism: Fascism and authoritarianism , cloaked in Christian language. , cloaked in Christian language. Rejection of constitutional government in favor of an integralist, theocratic model. in favor of an integralist, theocratic model. Antisemitism , particularly in the form of conspiracy theories about broad-sweeping Jewish influence. , particularly in the form of conspiracy theories about broad-sweeping Jewish influence. Race-based nationalism , where Christianity is used as an ethnic identifier rather than a faith. , where Christianity is used as an ethnic identifier rather than a faith. Monarchism and an obsession with pre-Enlightenment, pre-Reformation political structures. None of this is biblical Christianity. Its an attempt to use Christian language as a vehicle for a fundamentally different political ideology. Just as BLMs leaders admitted to being trained Marxists, many of these new Christian nationalist influencers openly reject biblical theology in favor of authoritarian political power structures. And just as BLM was never about black lives, this isnt about Christianity its about creating an ideological faction that consolidates power under the guise of faith. Step 3: Enforce submission through fear But what happens when people start questioning whats really being promoted? This is where the final step comes in coercion through fear. If someone resists, the response is immediate and brutal: Criticize the movement? You must be a Jew or a shill for the Jewish globalists. You must be pro-censorship. You must be a Jew or a shill for the Jewish globalists. You must be pro-censorship. Reject their fascism? You must be a weak, effeminate, homosexual liberal. You must be a weak, effeminate, homosexual liberal. Defend the Constitution? You must be a secret communist. You must be a secret communist. Question the leadership? Youre obviously a traitor to the faith never mind the glaring hypocrisy of the swarms repeating this phrase perpetually like a pack of mindless drones. Just like BLM weaponized accusations of racism to silence dissent, this movement weaponizes accusations of heresy, cowardice, or complicity in Zionist conspiracies. The goal is the same force people into submission or intimidate them into silence. And just like in 2020, when every late-night host and ESPN commentator would sneer, Oh, you dont support BLM? Guess you hate black people, now we see the same thing from these influencers: Oh, you dont chant Christ is King the way we do? Guess you hate Christ. Its the same strategy in compelled speech. Just a different slogan. The hypocrisy of the grift If Christ is King were truly about Christ, youd expect its loudest champions to reflect His character. Instead, we see the same hypocrisy that defined Black Lives Matter. BLMs founders claimed to fight for black communities while hoarding millions for themselves buying luxury mansions, funneling money to their friends, and leaving the people they claimed to represent with nothing. Now, were watching the same sham play out on the Right. Candace Owens, one of the biggest promoters of Christ is King, is simultaneously propping up Andrew Tate a serial pimp, abuser, and pornographer while claiming to be anti-pornography. Meanwhile, shes slapping Christ is King on water bottles to sell to her followers. These people arent leading a spiritual revival. Theyre running a business. Just like BLM turned righteous anger into a profit machine, these so-called Christian influencers are using faith and political resentment as a marketing gimmick leveraging Christs name, not to glorify Him, but to glorify themselves. Matthew 15:8: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Why this matters The Church should have learned from the past decade of leftist manipulation. We saw how a movement used an agreeable phrase to dupe millions into supporting destructive ideas. And yet, many on the Right are falling for the same trap, just wrapped in different rhetoric. The phrase Christ is King should be a proclamation of genuine faith not a blasphemous rallying cry for internet grifters, power-hungry opportunists, or those seeking to revive failed, morally bankrupt political models. The Churchs mission is to preach the Gospel, disciple the nations, and proclaim Christs rule through spiritual transformation, not force. We cant let another movement hijack Christian language to manipulate well-meaning believers. If we dont learn from the past, well fall for the same deceptions just repackaged for a different audience. Home News Christian man beaten by Iranian prison guard for requesting heart treatment: watchdog A prison officer in Iran beat an imprisoned Christian convert for requesting medical treatment for a heart condition, according to advocacy group Article 18. Amir-Ali Minaei, 31, serving three years and seven months for propaganda activities against the regime through establishing a house church, was beaten earlier this month by a prison guard identified as Mehdi Salimi, according to a press statement from Article 18. Evin Prison authorities in Tehran have denied his repeated requests for a referral to a cardiologist for heart problems that began as a result of his initial detention, the group stated. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe After his most recent request earlier this month, Amir-Ali was beaten by a prison officer who struck him directly in the chest, thereby worsening his condition, Article 18 stated. Despite the beating, Amir-Ali has still not been referred to a cardiologist, and there are fears his condition may further deteriorate in the next few weeks, as the Persian New Year season begins and regular treatment options become even harder to access. Minaei, from Tehran, was arrested in December 2023 and detained for more than two months in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence. Released on bail for the equivalent of about $10,000 following a series of intensive interrogations, Minaeis heart condition was diagnosed between his release and his sentencing in March 2024, and is understood to have been caused directly by the stress he was placed under during his initial detention and the threat of further imprisonment, Article 18 stated. Judge Iman Afshari of Irans Revolutionary Court also sentenced him to deprivation of social rights, such as membership of any organization, following his imprisonment, the group stated. Minaei applied for conditional release in January, but Ministry of Intelligence agents blocked the request, claiming lack of cooperation with them, Article 18 Director Mansour Borji said. Detainees are often compelled to accept extrajudicial conditions as a prerequisite for receiving benefits such as temporary furlough, pardon, or early release, Borji said. Authorities and interrogators seek to leverage these individuals as informants, or collaborators, requiring them to resume their daily lives while covertly gathering intelligence on other Christians and their activities. This coercion further infringes on detainees rights, and they are subjected to surveillance and undue pressure, he added. With the Persian New Year about to start, we are increasingly concerned about the health and wellbeing of Amir-Ali, a young man whose only offense was to meet together with his fellow believers, Borji said. We call for his immediate and unconditional release, and for the Iranian authorities to stop targeting house churches. He called on authorities to recognize house churches as the only places of worship available to Iranian Christians who wish to worship together in their mother tongue, as churches for Irans Armenian and Assyrian minorities are forbidden for Persian-speakers. We are also outraged by the denial of medical treatment to Amir-Ali, and especially by his recent beating, and call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that the officer responsible, Mehdi Salimi, receives the proper punishment for his crimes, Borji said. Iran ranked ninth on Christian support organization Open Doors 2025 World Watch List (WWL) report of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The report noted that despite persecution, the church in Iran is growing steadily. Islamic courts handed down six times more prison time to persecuted Christians in 2024 than the previous year, Article 18s annual report showed. Iranian courts last year sentenced 96 Christians across the country to 263 years in prison for practicing their faith compared with 22 Christians sentenced to a total of 43 years in 2023, according to the report. At least 139 Christians were arrested last year on issues related to their faith. Those arrested increasingly found themselves charged under Article 500, amended in 2021 to include longer prison sentences. The Iranian judicial system also handed down nearly $800,000 in fines in an attempt to break the backs of dissident church groups, according to the report. Religious freedom violations in Iran are actually much greater than is publicly known, Article 18 noted. Iranian officials interpret any expansion of Christianity within Iran as an analogous threat, justifying further financial suppression, according to the report. Authorities have even told some Christian detainees that foreign hostile states, including Zionist groups, are actively supporting Christian organizations in Iran, rationalizing the severe measures taken against church finances as a matter of national security, the report stated. This article was originally published by Christian Daily International. Home News Christian school teacher loses case over firing for teaching students biblical views on sin A Christian teacher in the United Kingdom who told her students that identifying as LGBT was a sin has lost a High Court challenge over her firing as a professional conduct panel concluded that her remarks amounted to unprofessional conduct. High Court Justice Beverly Lang dismissed the appeal filed on behalf of Glawdys Leger on Thursday. The 44-year-old modern languages teacher was fired from Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley in May 2022 over comments she made during a presentation to year-seven students a few months earlier in February 2022. The teacher was asked to teach about human rights during a religious studies lesson. The lesson included a PowerPoint on LGBT topics and "protected characteristics," according to court documents. Leger explained her Christian beliefs to the class and why she thought LGBT ideology contradicted those beliefs. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Court documents included a statement that one student, advised by her mother to note down any transphobic remarks, recorded Legers comments, which the mother considered very distressing. Leger was accused of making "inappropriate comments" to students, such as saying identifying as LGBT is "not fine" and a "sin," that "God should be before LGBTQ+," "people will always be seen by God as having their birth gender," and that trans-identified individuals are "just confused." In her order dismissing the teacher's case, Lang wrote that the panel's findings were "justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct." She found there was "no breach" of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. According to the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which represented the teacher, Leger objected to the content of year-seven lessons, which had been incorporated into religious education classes and included what they say are extreme content on gender identity with themes that begin to suggest to children that humans can be born in the wrong body. The curriculum also introduced gender identities such as pansexual, asexual, intersex and transgender. A student later lodged a complaint after documenting the remarks, and the school suspended Leger in March 2022 before dismissing her two months later. In December 2023, the Teaching Regulation Agency published the panels finding, which did not prohibit her from teaching again. Leger argued before the High Court that her statements needed more context and that publishing the results infringed on her privacy. She contended that the schools requirement to offer a broad and balanced curriculum did not extend to her as an individual teacher. In the High Court judgment, Lang noted that the panels decision went no further than it considered justified and would be removed from public view after two years. The judge also cited the panels view that while Legers remarks lacked respect for the right of others, they did not stem from a lack of a tolerance and were not intended to cause distress. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said Leger "cared deeply about the children in her care and wanted to teach them about the tolerance and hope that is found in the Christian faith." "For that she has been punished and even risked loss of her license to teach," Williams added. Home News Ex-Futures Church pastor granted bail after child porn charges, but loses work license Daniel Menelaou, the former youth pastor for the Alpharetta, Georgia, campus of the global Futures Church headquartered in Australia, has been released on a $120,000 bond after he was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography a week ago. Court documents from the Fulton County Superior Court reviewed by The Christian Post show that the 28-year-old pastor, who previously worked for the global megachurch in Australia before moving to the U.S., was assessed a $20,000 bond for each of the six counts of possession or control any material depicting minor in sexually explicit conduct, he was charged with in exchange for his release. He is also required to wear an ankle monitor. You are to have no contact directly or indirectly with the victim, victims family, professional, personal, or close associates, by phone, mail, e-mail, or through third party, including at victims workplace, church, home, and daycare, Menelaous bond agreement states. If you encounter the victim, you must leave immediately and must not come within 200 yards of victim. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe An official with Australias Department for Human Services also told ABC News in Australia that his authorization to work with children in that country was revoked following news of the charges. "DHS can confirm that Mr. Menelaou's Working With Children Check has been reassessed and he has now been determined not cleared (prohibited) from working with children," the official told the news outlet. A church spokesperson for Futures Church Alpharetta told The Advertiser that they did not pay for his bail, but they have been supporting his wife who is in an incredibly painful position. His next court date is to be decided. A report from Fox Atlanta said Roswell Police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation raided Menelaous home after receiving a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the course of that search warrant, we seized several electronic devices that will be analyzed for additional evidence," Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo told the news outlet. Investigators said the youth pastor, who also worked as a student mentor at Temple Christian College in Australia prior to his work in Georgia, uploaded multiple videos that "depict a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct" and shared the images using the messenger app Kik. Our hearts are heavy as we share heartbreaking news with you. In recent days, one of our youth [pastors] working overseas, Daniel Menelaou, was arrested and charged with possession of materials depicting minors in sexually explicit content, wrote Pastor Tony Cornbridge of Futures Church in Australia. Like you, we are deeply shocked, grieved, and blindsided by this news. We also want to be absolutely clear that these charges have no connection to anyone in our church community. Home News Liberian lawmakers overseeing mediation between UMC, Global Methodist churches amid dispute Liberian lawmakers are overseeing a mediation between the United Methodist Church and the Global Methodist Church over disputes between the two denominations over property and assets. The UMC and the new conservative Methodist denomination have had heated differences over who rightfully controls various church properties in the West African nation. Earlier this month, the Liberian Senate had representatives of both bodies meet for an official hearing, with Joint Senate Committee on Internal Affairs, Judiciary, Claims, Human Rights & Petitions, and Defense, Security, Intelligence & Veteran Affairs overseeing the mediation, reports The Liberian Investigator. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe An additional hearing between the two parties is expected in the near future, according to Sen. J. Gbleh-bo Brown of Maryland County, who serves as acting chair of the Internal Affairs Committee. "The Joint Committee was able to de-escalate tensions between the two parties and ensure the neutrality of the police in this matter," Brown was quoted as saying. The senator emphasized the need for his colleagues to remain neutral on the matter. "Once both parties agree to this approach, we will formulate a plan of action to be submitted to the Plenary, with the hope that all involved will participate," he said. At the UMC General Conference last year, delegates voted to remove from the Book of Discipline a host of rules like the ban on same-sex marriage ceremonies, the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals and the funding of LGBT advocacy groups. General Conference delegates also voted to remove a statement from the Book of Discipline declaring that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching." These changes occurred in large part because of the recent departure of around 7,500 mostly conservative congregations from the UMC over disagreement with the refusal of many progressive leaders to enforce the rules in the Book of Discipline on LGBT issues. Many churches have joined the Global Methodist Church, launched in 2022 as a theologically conservative alternative to UMC. Not only does Liberia not legally recognize same-sex marriage, but the government also criminally punishes homosexuality. LGBT ideology is generally rejected culturally. In June 2024, shortly after the denomination approved the changes, Liberian Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. released a statement saying that his regional body would retain the traditional standards on marriage and ordination. "The Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is traditional in its interpretation of Holy Scripture and will continue its evangelistic outreach to all persons who live in darkness and do not know the redemptive grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ," he stated. "The United Methodist Church is not a GAY Church! It is a strong Church of God administering to sinners who are in need of the saving knowledge and grace of God!" However, many within the Liberian Annual Conference have still decided to break away from the UMC and join the GMC. The breakaway group is led by the Rev. Jerry Kulah, who has argued that Quire had previously agreed to have the regional body leave the UMC if they changed the rules on LGBT issues. "Bishop and all of us agreed that the day the UMC worldwide passes this law, we will leave from there (UMC)," Kulah said in recent remarks, as quoted by the Monrovia-based Women Voices Newspaper. "Bishop is on video, where he went from church to church, district to district, to inform the districts that when this happens, the UMC Liberia will leave. We have chosen not to follow him." Earlier this month, Kulah and several supporters were arrested and temporarily jailed when they confronted UMC members at a church building that the GMC members claim rightfully belongs to them. The UMC's changes to the Book of Discipline have negatively impacted the denomination's presence in West Africa, as many churches have left and, in some places, violence has occurred between UMC and GMC members. For example, the Cote d'Ivoire Conference, which had approximately 1 million members and was one of the largest regional bodies in the denomination, voted last year to leave the UMC due to the changes. In recent months, violence has erupted between UMC and GMC members in Nigeria, as the two parties are in a legal dispute over which denomination owns the properties and assets of the Nigerian Episcopal Area. Home News SBC has spent nearly $13M on expenses related to sex abuse investigations: report Expenses related to sexual abuse investigations in the Southern Baptist Convention since 2021 have cost the denomination almost $13 million thus far, according to a recent report. SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg said at a meeting last month that, as of Christmas Eve 2024, about $13 million has been spent on abuse investigations and legal costs related to said investigations since 2021, reports Baptist Press, the official news organ of the SBC. According to Iorg, the SBC EC is looking to secure a $3 million loan to help pay for the legal costs that occurred during the present fiscal year. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe At last month's Executvie Committee meeting, members approved a 2025-26 budget, which includes a $3 million allocation centered on legal fees. The approved budget still needs to pass at the SBC Annual Meeting in June, reports BP. The approximately $13 million in expenses included $3.1 million for the Guidepost Solutions investigation, which culminated in the release of a highly-publicized report in 2022 detailing how some SBC leaders allegedly mistreated victims of abuse and had mishandled allegations. Another $3.45 million was spent on the indemnification of Guidepost, as well as $2.4 million for litigation, $861,000 for the creation of an abuse hotline, $545,000 for general counsel and $131,000 for legal support post-investigation. Additionally, approximately $2 million was spent as part of the U.S. Department of Justice investigation of the SBC, which recently closed. Federal authorities did not file any abuse-related charges. "Earlier today, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York informed us that the investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention and Executive Committee has officially concluded," said SBC attorneys Gene Besen and Scarlett Nokes in a statement last week. "We are pleased that the matter has been resolved without any charges or further expense against the Executive Committee or other SBC entities. It has been an honor to represent and support the Convention and the EC throughout this process." While the DOJ filed no sexual abuse-related charges against the SBC, authorities did charge former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Professor Matthew Queen with lying to investigators. Queen pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months of home confinement, during which he cannot leave his domicile except to get medical care or with permission from his probation officer. Last September, it was reported that the SBC is going to sell its headquarters in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, in part to help pay for the expenses tied to the abuse investigation. The seven-story building was last appraised in 2021 at approximately $31.7 million. The SBC had spent around $8 million to construct the building during the 1980s. Home News Koinonia Christian Church Pastor Ronnie Goines acquitted of sexual assault charge Less than a month after a civil lawsuit was filed against him by a former member and dentist alleging that he sexually assaulted her twice, Texas pastor Ronnie Goines was acquitted of a felony sexual assault charge Wednesday after a Tarrant County grand jury decided there was insufficient evidence to support the claim. "As counsel for Pastor Goines, I am pleased with the outcome of the grand jury's investigation resulting in the no-bill of indictment that effectively acquits him of this heinous allegation," Goines' attorney, Michael Heiskell, told KERA News. "From the beginning, we asserted his innocence in court and have remained steadfast in that position." The Lubbock dentist, who is represented by attorneys Keith L. Langston, John C. Hull, Shawn A. Latchford, and T. Wesley Holmes of Bruster PLLC in Texas, as well as Boz Tchividjian of BozLaw PA in Florida, filed her lawsuit on Feb. 28 in the Tarrant County District Court in Texas where she resides. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe According to the lawsuit reviewed by The Christian Post, the dentist, who became a member of Koinonia Christian Church in Arlington founded by Goines on Oct. 2, 2022, alleges she was sexually assaulted by the pastor on or about March 3 and March 4, 2023, after a period of alleged grooming by Goines. She subsequently cut off all ties with the pastor and the church and reported the alleged assaults to police in early June 2024, over a year after the incidents occurred. After surrendering to police, Goines was charged with sexual assault and indecent assault, which he insists were consensual acts with the dentist. Goines, 52, was released from jail last July after posting $23,000 in bail for the two charges, court records show. He stepped away from his pulpit for three months and returned last October. The dentist sought more than $1 million in damages from the divorced pastor for the alleged assaults. She also accused the church and Goines of negligence, fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Although the sexual assault charge has been dismissed, Goines' attorney said he is still facing a misdemeanor charge of indecent assault, which he will also seek to dismiss. In addition to his role as a pastor, Goines, who is an Army veteran, owns the All Things Life Insurance Agency. The company's website says it helps families build a legacy. Reacting to the grand jury's decision on the sexual assault allegations, Boz Tchividjian insisted that Pastor Goines will be "held accountable for his actions." "We appreciate the dedication and effort of local law enforcement and the District Attorney's Office in pursuing justice in the area," he told KERA News Thursday. "We remain determined and committed to hold Mr. Goines accountable for his actions." Home News Trump admin. considers military buffer zone at border, enhanced penalties for illegal migrants President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly considering plans to establish a military-controlled, 60-foot-deep buffer zone along the southern border, which would enable U.S. troops to temporarily hold migrants who enter the country illegally. If the plan is approved, it could lead to enhanced penalties for illegal immigrants, including an expedited deportation process, a senior Trump administration official told The Washington Post this week. Officials familiar with discussions on the matter told the newspaper the zone could extend from west Texas near El Paso to the Pacific Ocean in Southern California north of Tijuana, Mexico, according to the report. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe U.S. troops would only hold migrants who cross the border illegally when U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are not immediately available to arrest them, the sources told The Post. After apprehending an illegal migrant, the service members would only hold them until the arrival of law enforcement. Regarding the potential legal complications of temporarily holding illegal migrants, officials have reasoned that service members apprehending migrants at a militarized buffer zone is no different than catching trespassers on a military base. "It's very, very careful on that wording," one defense official quoted as saying. "It's not 'detention' because once you go into detention, it has the connotations of being detained for arrest. This is holding for civilian law enforcement." While the White House has reportedly been involved in discussions about the buffer zone for weeks now, senior Trump administration officials report that it remains unclear if the president will approve the plan. A spokesperson for the Department of Defense told The Christian Post that the agency had "nothing to announce at this time." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. Following his return to office earlier this year, Trump has continued to focus on immigration and working to reduce illegal crossings and strengthen border security. At the start of his second presidency, Trump signed multiple executive orders, which included the designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations due to "the unacceptable national security risk" to the U.S., among other reasons. Trump also signed an executive order declaring a national emergency at the southern border, directing the secretary of defense to deploy additional personnel to the border. On March 14, the Defense Department announced the creation of a new joint task force that would help with efforts "to secure and seal the southern border." The department has expanded its presence along the southern border, establishing a headquarters at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. If the Trump administration implements the buffer zone plan, then the zone would likely be designated as a temporary annex for nearby military installations like Huachuca, officials told The Post. The Defense Department announced an agreement with Mexico that resulted in the country adding 10,000 of its troops to patrol its side of the border. The Trump administration had also sought to use military facilities, including Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, to house illegal migrants. The first detainees at Guantanamo Bay consisted of 10 members of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, who arrived at the base on Feb. 5. Members of the transnational criminal gang have been linked to various crimes, including kidnappings, extortion and drug trafficking. Earlier this month, Trump expressed his gratitude to El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for accepting 200 members Tren de Aragua deported from the United States. The 200 members of the Tren de Aragua gang were deported as part of a security strategy implemented by U.S. authorities. Trump Halts Penn Funding Over Trans Athlete, Cindy Clemishire Speaks Out, New Idaho Law Protects Healthcare Conscience Rights link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 08:31 08:31 Sponsored by WatersEdge: Invest with purpose? With WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you can! We offer great rates that multiply your resources and build churches. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3CxWtFz Top headlines for Friday, March 21, 2025 In this episode, the Trump administration's decision to suspend $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania brings to light the contentious debate over trans athlete policies. Next, we delve into the emotional testimony of Cindy Clemishire, who recounted a decades-long journey to realize and confront her past abuse to Texas lawmakers. Plus, we examine Idaho's new law designed to protect healthcare providers from participating in procedures that conflict with their deeply held beliefs, sparking a dialogue on the balance between personal convictions and professional duties. 00:11 Trump admin. to cut $175 million for Penn over trans swimmer 01:16 Cindy Clemishire says Robert Morris shattered 1982 innocence 02:15 Trump admin. plans to use federal land to build low-cost homes 03:12 Sponsor Message WatersEdge 04:10 New Idaho law protects conscience rights for medical providers 04:59 Protest leader apologizes for comparing Netanyahu to Hitler 05:49 Brown U. prof. deported for attending Hezbollah leader's funeral 06:44 Pakistan's deterioration of human rights condemned at UN event #TrumpAdmin #TransAthletes #TitleIX #WomensSports #ChurchAccountability #RobertMorris #AffordableHousing #FederalLandUse #MedicalFreedom #ConscienceRights #IdahoLaw #IsraelPolitics #PoliticalRhetoric #HezbollahControversy #AcademicFreedom #PakistanHumanRights #ReligiousPersecution #UNEvent #ChristianNews #CurrentEvents #FaithAndPolicy Home Opinion Gen Z's relativism takes a morally disturbing turn Occasionally an event erupts in society that is so shocking and seemingly incongruous, it arrests societys attention. The phenomenon is analogous to coalminers who routinely would take canaries down into the mining shafts with them as a safety measure. Lethal, odorless gases would occasionally escape into the underground chambers where the miners were working. If the canaries succumbed to the poisonous gases, the miners would be warned in time to escape to safety themselves. An event occurred recently in America that appears to be the societal equivalent of the canary in the coal mine. First, we witnessed a healthcare executive gunned down, assassinated in cold blood on a Manhattan street because he was a healthcare executive. In a premeditated attack, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the married father of two boys, was shot in the back. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The alleged shooter, Luigi Mangione, aged 26, came from a very privileged background, raised in a socially prominent and financially affluent family. Mangione graduated with great distinction from a very prominent prep school and from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in the Ivy League. This was a shocking crime, a cold-blooded execution on the streets of our nations largest city. Once Mangione was apprehended after a brief, but intensive manhunt, he quickly became a celebrity even a hero to some segments of our society. An Emerson College poll found that 41% of young people (18-29) found Mangiones purported actions to be either completely acceptable (17%), or somewhat acceptable (17%). Some young people have held rallies supporting the alleged assassin, and justifying his actions because of reported injustices attributed to healthcare companies. Shockingly, two professors at Mangiones alma mater, UPenn, lauded the alleged killer online, referring to him as an icon and proclaiming their pride in him as an alumnus. With professors like that, no wonder they are producing radical graduates! I certainly would not send my children or grandchildren to UPENN. The Emerson College poll, while morally disturbing, did reveal a generation gap in attitudes. While among the 18 to 29 age group 33% felt the assassination was completely unacceptable, among people 60 to 69, 73% did so. That cavernous 40% generation gap reflects, I fear, a precipitous moral decline in American society that should warn us just as the dying canaries warned the coalminers of impending peril. Too many younger Americans have been severely impacted by the tidal wave of moral relativism that has swept across America in the last half-century. The Emerson College poll reveals an accelerating decline in moral certitude, decade by decade. Among those 50 to 59 years of age, 65% found Mangiones alleged actions completely unacceptable while the numbers declined to 60% among those 40 to 49 and 43% among those 30 to 39 years of age. The great C.S. Lewis, writing in response to a new British textbook suffused with moral relativism in the 1940s, predicted the consequences that relativism would produce: We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst (C.S. Lewis). The canaries are dying. We must arrest this moral rot or we will continue our accelerating descent to a society where evermore heinous acts will be seen as justifiable. When a society embraces the belief that nothing is always right and nothing is always wrong, eventually anything becomes possible. We cannot say we have not been warned. Let us hope we have eyes to see and ears to hear. Abonati-va sa primiti pe email saptamanal lista articolelor adaugate pe parcursul saptamanii. Adresele .ru nu sunt acceptate. Email NEWSLETTER Quest International University, founded in 2011 through a partnership between the QI Group and Malaysia's Perak state government, has emerged as a leader in sustainable education. QIU's dedication to environmental stewardship was recently recognized when it received the Green University of the Year honor at the Global Sustainability Awards 2025, marking a major achievement in its sustainability journey. The university demonstrates a comprehensive and systematic approach to supporting sustainable development through multiple interconnected initiatives and organizational structures. QIU's commitment to sustainable development is deeply embedded in its educational approach. The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals In 2019, QIU took a significant step by hosting Fulbright Specialist Nancy Landrum, Ph.D., for six weeks to help integrate the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals into its curriculum. This initiative had three main objectives: training academic staff on sustainable development education, developing sustainability-focused curricula, and establishing a Centre for Social Innovation for global collaboration. The United Nations' 17 SDGs represent a universal call to action to create a better future by addressing pressing global challenges. These interconnected goals aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity and peace for all by 2030. Goal No. 1: The first goal, No Poverty, seeks to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere. Goal No. 2: Zero Hunger also focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Goal No. 3: Health is central to sustainable development, with Good Health and Well-Being ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for individuals of all ages. Goal No. 4: Education is another cornerstone of sustainable progress. Quality Education aims to provide inclusive and equitable access to education while promoting lifelong learning opportunities for everyone. Goal No. 5: Gender Equality emphasizes empowering women and girls and achieving gender parity across the globe. Goal No. 6: Access to essential resources is critical for sustainable growth. Clean Water and Sanitation ensure the availability and sustainable management of water resources. Goal No. 7: Affordable and Clean Energy promotes access to reliable, sustainable, and modern energy sources. Goal No. 8: Economic development is addressed through Decent Work and Economic Growth, which advocates for inclusive economic growth, productive employment, and decent working conditions for all. Goal No. 9: Resilient infrastructure and innovation drive sustainable progress, as encapsulated in the Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure goal, which supports industrialization and fosters innovation. Goal No. 10: Reduced Inequality seeks to minimize disparities in wealth and opportunities within and among countries to promote fairness across nations. Goal No. 11: Urbanization and environmental sustainability are central to Sustainable Cities and Communities, which encourages making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Goal No. 12: Responsible resource use is critical, as addressed by Responsible Consumption and Production, which promotes sustainable consumption and production patterns. Goal No. 13: Climate change is a global crisis, and Climate Action calls for urgent measures to mitigate its impacts. Goal No. 14: The environment remains a focus, with Life Below Water emphasizing the conservation of oceans, seas, and marine resources. Goal No. 15: Life on Land supports the sustainable management of forests, combats desertification, and halts biodiversity loss. Goal No. 16: The SDGs also promote societal values of peace and justice. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions advocates for inclusive societies, access to justice, and accountable institutions at all levels. Goal No. 17: Lastly, Partnerships for the Goals underscores the importance of global collaboration to achieve these ambitious objectives by strengthening partnerships across sectors and borders. These 17 goals form a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable development. They require a collective effort from governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals worldwide to create a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future. How Does QIU Support Sustainable Development? QIU's vision of "fostering sustainable development values, principles, and practices in society" is supported by a clear mission focusing on three key areasintegrating sustainability in education processes, implementing strategies for sustainable change, and collaborating with all segments of society to achieve the SDGs. This mission is underpinned by core values of integrity, service, sustainability, and leadership, which guide the university's approach to sustainable development. The university's commitment to diversity and equality is demonstrated through its dedicated subcommittee, which includes representatives from various university departments, including student life, operations, social sciences, human resources, and finance. This diverse representation ensures that sustainability and equality initiatives are implemented across all campus life and operations. QIU's approach to sustainable development extends beyond administrative structures to include practical, hands-on learning experiences. The university emphasizes experiential learning and real-world applications, ensuring that students don't just learn about sustainability in theory but also understand how to implement sustainable practices in their future careers. This is supported by state-of-the-art facilities and partnerships with industry leaders, allowing students to engage with current sustainability challenges and solutions. Additionally, QIU encourages student engagement with sustainability through creative projects to nurture the next generation of sustainability leaders. QIU's sustainability initiatives align with the broader approach of its parent organization, the QI Group, which has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development through various initiatives. These include the Green Legacy program, which has resulted in more than 25,000 trees being planted in 10 countries over the last three years, and the development of eco-certified resorts like Prana Resort Nandana in Thailand. The QI Group's global reach and impact on sustainability is facilitated by its strategic organizational structure. Where is the QI Group headquarters? As a Hong Kong-registered multinational, QI Group maintains a dual-headquarters model, with its corporate headquarters in Hong Kong and operational headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This structure has supported the company's expansion from its Far East foundations into diverse markets spanning South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, enabling it to implement sustainability initiatives across multiple regions. QIU demonstrates a holistic and systematic approach to supporting sustainable development through various initiatives, educates students about sustainability, implements sustainable practices in its operations, engages with the broader community, and maintains transparency through regular reporting. Its comprehensive approach ensures that QIU graduates are well-prepared to contribute to sustainable development in their future careers and communities. QI Group is helping to cultivate leaders who can address the challenges of tomorrow. Its commitment underscores an important reality: sustainable development is not just a goal but a shared responsibility, one that demands continuous innovation, collaboration, and action. As the world seeks transformative solutions, QIU stands as an example of how education can bridge aspiration and impact, inspiring institutions everywhere to reimagine their role in building a sustainable future. From left to right: Hannah Pearce, director of campaigns, policy and research at Royal British Legion; Ruth Hollis, CEO of Spirit of 2012; Duro Oye, founder of 20/20 Levels, Matt Whittaker, CEO of Pro Bono Economics, Louie French, shadow minister for Civil Society; Sebastian Payne, columnist of The Times. Conservative shadow ministers have pledged to rekindle the partys relationship with the charity sector in opposition. Speaking at a Pro Bono Economics event yesterday, shadow culture secretary and former civil society minister Stuart Andrew said the relationship between the sector and the Conservative Party was sometimes good, but sometimes strained. Andrew said: During my time as the minister for civil society, there frankly wasn't enough of that engagement with the sector, and that was one of the things that I have taken away with me as a massive learning curve. Louie French, the shadow civil society minister, told the event that the Conservative Party would hold roundtable discussions with charities to listen to the issues they face. The whole purpose of these roundtables is a moment of reflection, but also a moment of opportunity to go forward, he said. We may not agree on everything, but we can understand where you're coming from and what the actual issues are and pick those up and try and challenge them. That's the key to those relationships over the longer term and making sure that hopefully when we're in government a few years time, those relationships continue. When asked about the recent failed attempt to exempt small charities from the upcoming rise in employer national insurance contributions, French said: Its very disappointing, particularly in the hospice sector. It just seems illogical that the government has not understood the impact on the NHS or other parts of the care sector from not exempting parts of the care system from the national insurance increases. It's just foolish. More opportunities to engage Hannah Pearce, director of campaigns, policy and research at the Royal British Legion, said a lack of positive relationships between some charities and the Conservative Party had created antagonism. If you're a charity that doesn't have any formal or informal links with the Conservative Party, the Conservative Party can feel really impenetrable, Pearce said. The party should provide more formal and informal opportunities for charities to engage with, she added. Ruth Hollis, chief executive of Spirit of 2012, said it would be valuable for the Conservatives and particularly local charities to build a relationship that ensures long-term, stable funding in a difficult fiscal environment. Those kinds of issues are arising because people don't feel they're listened to, she told the event. They don't feel their issues and voices are being heard. So listening and building that relationship at the local and fundamental level is really critical. Conservative MPs are well placed to go out and listen to their constituencies to work with smaller charities and then to amplify that up. When asked if the Conservative Party would keep the upcoming Civil Society Covenant if the party comes back to power, French said: Its too early to say. Making a lot of noise about a covenant is one thing. Actually doing damaging policies like the national insurance hike is another. We wont oppose for the sake of opposing. We want to be constructive, but we need to see the details. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. This week, Wired announced that it will drop its paywall for any reporting based on the Freedom of Information Act, following the lead of outlets like 404 Media that also make their FOIA-based reporting available for free. The Freedom of the Press Foundation (where Katie Drummond, Wireds global editorial director, serves on the board) urged other publications to follow suit. Some may argue that, from a business standpoint, not charging for stories primarily relying on public records automatically means fewer subscriptions and therefore less revenue. We disagree, the foundation wrote in a statement. Its just as possible that readers will recognize this sacrifice and reward these outlets with more traffic and subscriptions in the long run. Given the apparent efforts by the Elon Muskrun Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to evade scrutiny under FOIA, moves that enable important accountability journalism based on records requests to reach more readers can only be welcomed. (A judge ruled last week that DOGE is likely subject to FOIA, as Sarah Grevy Gotfredsen reported for CJR.) And if crucial investigations by Wiredwhich has done some of the best reporting on Musk and DOGE over the past few months, an exciting pivot for a publication traditionally focused on techcan be read paywall-free, it could bring more attention to Wired itself, as well as encourage other outlets to copy its move. In the words of Michael Scott from The Office, that would truly be a win-win-win situation for all involved. Except, perhaps,for DOGE. Meghnad Bose Listen, its not a job most of us would want: decoding the many, many, exhaustingly many signs and symbols and endlessly ironized memey brainrot of the far right. Thats what makes Molly Conger and her Weird Little Guys podcast all the more vital. Its hard to imagine anyone more uniquely suited to the task. Her most recent tour de 4chan sees her answer the question Whats Trump even talking about with South Africa? by taking us through some Tucker Carlsonassisted white genocide nonsense, into the very real mass shooters who have invoked it (Anders Breivik, Dylann Roof), all the way back to a bombing in heckin Bologna in 1980 and how apartheid was actually too woke for certain Afrikaners. And thats just been in the first two parts of this particular weird little miniseries. Its more, uh, fun than it sounds. Weird, right? Mike Laws In the aftermath of the recent Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalils arrest by immigration authorities, some of the most critical reporting came not from legacy media but from independent, recently established outlets. One has been Zeteo, which was founded just over a year ago by Mehdi Hasan, a broadcast journalist and bestselling author, and has quickly built a reputation for sharp, document-driven scoops and a commitment to holding power to account. Recently, reporter Prem Thakker has distinguished himself with his coverage of the Khalil case, including a major scoop, based on internal emails, revealing that just one day before his arrest, Khalil had written to the Columbia University administration requesting legal protection out of fear that he would soon be detained and deportedan outcome that materialized within hours. Thakker is a former politics reporter at The Intercept and an associate writer for the New Republic, and has earned a reputation for incisive political coverage, often digging into under-the-radar developments with national implications. His meticulous, document-driven reporting reflects a broader commitment to accountability journalism and underscores Zeteos growing role in defending democracy and human rights. Heres to more scoops that challenge power and demand transparency. Sacha Biazzo Earlier this week, Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians. Politico posted an article about the strikes that upset Martin Varsavsky, a tech entrepreneur who sits on the board of Axel Springer, the German media behemoth that owns Politico. I consider this article one-sided Hamas support, Varsavsky raged on X. It fails to mention that the airstrikes were aimed at eliminating top Hamas military and that Israel was successful at doing so. It also quotes casualty figures given by Hamas that are not believed to be accurate. He went on to decry Politico reporters as woke and the outlets leaders as timid, before suggesting that he was working on some form of action in response. Sign up for CJRs daily email Varsavskys intervention would have raised sharp questions about the interference of corporate board members in journalism regardlessbut it didnt help matters that the article in question wasnt written by a Politico journalist at all; it was wire copy taken from the Associated Press, as the By ASSOCIATED PRESS wording at the top of the page clearly indicated. When the dogged media reporter Oliver Darcy pointed this out to Varsavsky, the latter said that he hadnt realized. Some of his posts taking aim at Politicos reporters have been deleted, but his initial screed was still live at time of writing. According to Darcy, the episode did not sit well with many of the outlets journalists. No kidding. Jon Allsop As we reported on Monday and Tuesday, the Trump administration has turned its scythe on the US Agency for Global Media, functionally silencing Voice of America and slashing funding for other overseas broadcasters like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (which is now suing to get its congressionally appropriated cash). The broadcasters were set up as tools of US soft power and have retained that functionbut they perform it by exporting independent journalism, free of political meddling, to countries that dont have it. Not that youd know that from listening to Rob Finnerty, of Newsmax, interview Kari Lake, the news anchor turned election denier turned Trump-appointed special adviser to USAGM, about the cuts this week. Saying the increasingly-not-so-quiet part out loud, Finnerty criticized a VOA reporter for asking the leader of Ireland about Trumps plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza in the Oval OfficeShes supposed to be giving an American spin to stories, Finnerty said, and her line of inquiry was not the question, in that momentbefore asking Lake, Why not use taxpayer money to make Voice of America into a true MAGA messaging network overseas? Finnerty ended by referring to VOAs World War II origins: it was founded to fight Nazi propaganda and, at least according to Finnerty, to spread what was a more MAGA message back then, an America First message. Jon Allsop. If you have a suggestion for this column, please send it to laurelsanddarts@cjr.org. We cant acknowledge all submissions, but we will mention you if we use your idea. For more on the column, please click here. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. One of the major journalism themes of 2025 is emerging: the role, and importance, of nontraditional or journalism-adjacent information providers. From influencer/creator/independent news producers to AI-generated content to civic media, defining who qualifies as a journalist is as difficult as it has ever been. This idea was front and center at the recent Knight Media Forum, where several discussions showed clearly that the idea of what qualifies as journalism is expandinglargely out of necessity, but also as an overdue acknowledgment of the fact that sometimes the most vital local journalism comes not from a newspaper but from a newsletter or Facebook group. There is now a broader willingness to consideror, perhaps more accurately, to seethe myriad other ways that people share and receive important local information and news. The further we get into the local journalism crisis, the more were forced to confront the fact that sustainable local journalism cannot, and will not, look as it did in the past. The rise of the newsfluencer is the latest iteration of this message. This does not mean that journalists or journalism should become obsolete. Elsewhere Ive suggested that we move from a news desert metaphor to that of an information ocean, in which journalists serve as lifeboats and beacons, lifting us above the noise and pointing us toward trustworthy, factual information. Where local journalism thrives, those lifeboats and beacons are readily available; where it does not, people swim and bob in all directions, awash in triviality and misinformationmany of them longing for real news. A 2022 study by UT-Austins Center for Media Engagement found that nearly half of people surveyed who live in areas defined as news deserts disagreed with that characterization, saying they were able to find news and information about their communities from alternative sources like Facebook groups and chambers of commerce. This finding was confirmed in an early 2025 survey by the American Communities Project, in which 44 percent of respondents said they learn more about whats happening in my community on social media than through the news. What do these nontraditional news and information sources look like? And how might they be made even more visible to those who have to swim in information oceans without lifeboats or beacons to guide them? For the past several months Ive been looking closely at North Carolinas local information and news landscape. One of the reasons I chose to begin what will eventually be a nationwide effort in North Carolina is that the state is home to some of the most innovative and successful journalism support efforts in the country (other such states include New Jersey and Colorado). In addition, its 100 counties contain tremendous variety in terms of terrain and demographicstwo variables known to affect peoples access to local news and all of the services and affordances associated with it. So far I have identified 241 local news providers and 480 civil society organizations (CSOs) that serve communities in North Carolina. For each I am gathering relevant information about their operations, including service/coverage areas, social media presence, and sources of funding. These data will provide the foundation for an online registry that can produce analyses and be used by the public and industry. They will also inform a taxonomy of the members of local news ecosystems across the state. Eventually (soon, I promise!) we will have a website where these databases will be live (see below for screenshots of the journalism outlet and civil society organization bases). Some of the 241 local journalism organizations serving North Carolina. Some of the 480-plus civil society organizations serving North Carolina. A great example of a local NC newsfluencer is Rob Robinson, who made an eloquent and very watchable plea to the Asheville local zoning board to change the rules around the land on which an Arbys had stood vacant for roughly a decade. Blue Ridge Public Radioitself a vital source for public information, especially during Hurricane Helenereported that after Robinsons YouTube video gained more than 4,000 views, the Asheville City Council in early March voted to change the zoning laws along the lines recommended by Robinson, and publicly gave Robinson credit for getting community members excited about zoning reform. Likewise, and as many before me have pointed out, CSOs often serve as crucial providers of local information and news. For example, during the pandemic, the NC Cambodian Culture Centers community bulletin subpage posted online videos made by the City of Greensboro showing local health notices that were printed and voiced over in Khmera language spoken by North Carolinians with Cambodian, Laotian, or Vietnamese heritage. Because the Cambodian Culture Center is a trusted partner of the community whose members communicate with it frequently, they were able to reach people in a way that the city government, or a mainstream local news outlet, could not. The registrys aim is to surface these civil society organizationsas well as information about traditional and nontraditional local news providersand bring this information together into one place, to encourage collaboration in service of communities. We are also working on a data visualization element that will render content produced by news outlets and CSOs visible by locations covered. My colleague at the Brown Institute, Michael Krisch, along with his collaborator Marianne Simone Aubin Le Quere, who is a PhD candidate at Cornell Tech, have demonstrated what this would look like with articles from local news outlets Border Belt Independent and Carolina Peacemaker, and local CSO the North Carolina Coastal Federation; in the image below each organizations content is represented by a different color dot, and the areas where they overlap suggest geographic spaces that might be ripe for collaboration. Along with other analyses that this work will provide, the ability to see clearly which geographies are covered, and by whom, opens the door to a better-informed ecosystem and, hopefully, greater collaboration among those who are trying to meet critical information needs. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Two of the past three issues of a new fashion publication, Boy Brother Friend, have opened on the subject of war. There is, according to Kk Obi, the founder, and Matthew Benson, the editorial director, no way around this tension when the magazines subject is the African continent and its diaspora. In other words, they cant be like the legacy fashion outlets and independent magazines that separate the polish of extreme luxury and conglomerate-funded creativity from the discomfort of struggle. Those publications dont say much about the real things that are happening in the world, Obi said. They focus on more of a stylized idea of what the world is, and were trying to bridge that gap. Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Kalpesh Lathigra) Obi, who is Nigerian, set out to start Boy Brother Friend as a place to examine the serious things that are affecting our reality as Africans, as diasporansconversations around religion, gender, sexualitythese things that we would speak about with friends, in our homes, in the bar, but we would just never talk about on platforms as much. Issue 7, which was released last winter, explored the effects of conflict in Sudan, where a civil war has raged since April 2023, when the countrys two military powers, the national Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, went from coconspirators to rivals. Millions have been displaced, tens of thousands killed, cities destroyed. Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Jebi Labembika) The Sudan issue has several covers. Some involve fashion staples: a model with a striking gaze, an artist swathed in the latest designs. But another shows a photo of life in Sudan before wartimea hazy image of women and menseemingly superimposed onto a scene of a military tank in the street by photographer Hassan Kamil. Another features a photograph of centuries-old pyramids, before present-day Sudanese borders were drawn, taken by the photojournalist Nichole Sobecki. Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Hassan Kamil) Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Nichole Sobecki) There is a conversation between a Sudanese political expert, a scholar-activist, and a film star about the tyranny of identity politics as it relates to their country. A photo-essay shows the Sudanese community of artists, activists, and intellectuals who found refuge in Cairo when war broke out. In another feature, the artist Ahmed Umar queers Sudanese traditional dress. Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Jebi Labembika) Telling these stories through the lens of design allows for more stories to be told, they feel. It was important to showcase women, queer people, but it wasnt the obsession, Benson, who is the Sudans Research Director at the London School of Economics, said. It was much more about showcasing the kind of spirit and vibrancy of people who are working in Sudan and were pivotal in overthrowing the Bashir regime. It just felt like finally we have a space for this, because it doesnt fit within this neat kind of shiny CNN narrative that you see, he added. Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Delali Ayivi) Boy Brother Friends exploration of Africa caught the eye of designer Riccardo Tisci, who rose to fame at Givenchy and Burberry, and who guest-edited a recent issue. In it he featured British Ghanaian writer and actress Michaela Coel. The images caused a splashthey were featured on billboards in Times Square and received millions of likes on Instagram. Riccardo knows how to make noise and create, like, an internet buzz, Obi said. And I think thats what weve learned a lot from, because magazineswe need visibility. Like obviously we want to be able to have hard conversations, but we need the audience to be receptive of that conversation. And it seems the lessons on creating buzz were applied to the latest issue, in which the artist Kara Walkers rendering of Barack Obama as Othello holding what appears to be Donald Trumps severed head is a cover. The artist features continue with a spread showcasing sculptor King Cobras work, which emulates human flesh. In an interview with Benson, she discusses creating sculptures that depict the impact of disease on white bodiesa departure from her works that have shown the history of perverse medical experimentation on Black bodies. One piece is titled White Assholes. Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Kara Walker) These pieces are folded in between photo-essays of Pharrell Williamss work for Louis Vuittoncomplete with models crying blooda photoshoot on choreographer Sean Bankhead and how his work makes songs go viral, a fashion spread in Cote dIvoire, and several more essays exploring subjects like carceral violence in Atlanta, Nigerian pop stars of the seventies, and a postAfrican American paradise. It all makes for a publication that is somewhere between the traditions of African literary magazines of the past, like Black Orpheus and Transitions, except here theres a weaponization of glamour and using beauty as a shield in the face of adversity, war, plague, rape, and other obstacles, Benson said. Why Obi ultimately decided to start a print publication at a time of extreme precariousness for the industry is simple. Theres nothing really like telling a story in print that exists on Instagram, even on film, Obi said. Because of how you mix text and images, it just doesnt really transfer, the emotions you feel, when you see certain words next to certain images. I think thats kind of why we continue to love and do this. Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Lars Laumann) Fraudsters target both insurance carriers and vulnerable individuals, preying on survivors of natural disastersand Californias wildfires will be no exception. These criminals use false promises and fraudulent schemes to exploit emotionally drained victims. In 20 years of leading special investigation units (SIUs) for a large national property/casualty insurance carrier, I have seen how quickly fraud evolves to exploit hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and now wildfires. It is imperative that insurance professionalsfrom agents to claims staffrecognize the warning signs. Equally important is the opportunity to educate customers on how to protect themselves from becoming targets. Related: State Farm Stronger as Underwriting Losses ShrinkBut Not in California California regulators and local prosecutors have already deployed teams to prevent and prosecute fraud targeting fire victims. The Department of Insurances Disaster Assistance Response Teams have been sent to the hardest-hit areas, and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, along with L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, scheduled workshops to help survivors spot fraud by contractors and vendors. Unfortunately, various types of fraudsters will descend on Los Angeles and other fire-ravaged areas, preying on victims and exploiting insurance payouts. The consequences of this fraud are far-reaching, driving up insurance premiums for everyone and straining insurers already busy staff. Types of Fraud Contractor Fraud Policyholders may file claims to recover funds paid to fraudulent contractors. The National Insurance Crime Bureau has already cautioned wildfire victims about contractor fraud. Scammers are expected to exploit recovery efforts, including debris and tree removal, home reconstruction, smoke and ash cleanup, and even medical services. Unlicensed haulers may illegally dispose of waste in the desert or public lands instead of state-approved landfills. Red flags for insurance professionals include insureds who report that workers insisted on cash-only payments, usually upfront. Fraudsters often use high-pressure tactics to deceive homeowners, soliciting business door-to-door and pressuring victims into signing contracts with vague terms. Agents and staff can use the opportunity to educate customers to verify contractors credentials, avoid large upfront payments and carefully review contracts before signing. Insurance Fraud Committed by Policyholders While it may seem insensitive to discuss fraud committed by policyholders during a crisis, unfortunately, there are individuals looking to profit from disaster. In the aftermath of any catastrophe, some people report fictitious insurance claims for financial gain, leveraging the chaotic nature of the claims process to exploit insurers. And we all ultimately pay for this deceit through increased premiums. One common tactic is padding claims by reporting property that never existed or inflating the value of destroyed items. Complicating matters for claims staff, the unique nature of large fires allows victims to credibly assert that everything was consumed, leaving no evidence behind. Insurers will need to be lenient in these cases, relying on historical receipts, invoices or photographs of the destroyed property. Related: Munich Re Faces $1.3 Billion in Claims From Los Angeles Wildfires With high deductibles in some policies, fraudsters may seek to cover their out-of-pocket expenses through exaggerated claims. For example, a 5% deductible on a $600,000 home would mean they would have to pay $30,000 out-of-pocket before their policy starts covering the loss. Insurance carriers will need to carefully investigate suspicious claims, despite the pressure to process them quickly. Claims staff should require thorough statements taken as soon as possible, along with documented requests for supporting materials, such as photographs and invoices. With any significant indicators, the carriers SIU teams should get involved for further investigation Fraud Committed by Grifters As survivors of wildfires receive insurance payouts and federal assistance, theyll be in a position to hire contractors for repairs. Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals often prey on these vulnerable homeowners, particularly elderly residents and non-English speakers. Grifter rings, such as the Irish Travellers, a nomadic group known for scams in the Southern U.S., often target disaster survivors. These fraudsters offer door-to-door services, such as roofing repairs, and demand upfront payments before performing subpar work or inflating costs. The fraudsters frequently return to extort more money from easy targets. Related: Insurers Have Now Paid Out Nearly $7B for LA Wildfires, Report Shows Insurance claims may be filed to complete or correct partial repairs that were either never done or improperly performed. In such cases, we protected the policyholder but classified the damage as vandalism rather than another cause of loss, with potential subrogation if the culprits are ever caught. Carriers can warn their customers to be cautious of unsolicited laborers and encourage them to verify the credentials of anyone offering services. Reputable professionals will display their licensing and insurance on business cards and trucks. If someone offers a service for a price that seems too good to be true, its worth scrutinizing. Fraudsters hate questions. Arson To add insult to injury, some people may set additional fires to collect insurance payouts, especially if their property was already damaged or never caught on fire and is in need of repair. This is an example of arson-for-profit, in which perpetrators intentionally start fires to trigger claims. Arson can also be used to devalue land or properties, especially in real estate schemes where developers or property owners deliberately set fires to clear land for future sale. In such cases, emergency services are diverted from real disaster response efforts to investigate the man-made fires, creating further costs for both responders and taxpayers. Claims personnel and authorities will need to closely examine burn patterns and ignition sources. Forensic experts will need to test for accelerants to determine whether a fire was intentionally set. The insurance carriers SIU teams should take thorough recorded statements covering the timeline, property details, signs of financial distress and potential motives. They may also canvass the neighborhood for witnesses to identify any additional indicators of fraudulent intent. Public Adjuster Fraud While public adjusters are expected to be licensed professionals who honestly assist homeowners with settling insurance claims, not all of them act ethically. Fraudulent public adjusters have targeted disaster victims, offering free home inspections and promising to handle the insurance claim process for a fee. However, unscrupulous adjusters may inflate claims, submit fake repair estimates or collude with contractors for kickbacks. The higher the cost of the claim, the more they get paid. Insurance personnel and policyholders should be alert when dealing with public adjusters and verify their credentials with the California Department of Insurance. Determine if the insureds signed any documents, such as Assignments of Benefits, without fully understanding the terms. Be wary of any adjuster who pressures the policyholder for immediate action or offers to handle everything for them, especially if they request upfront fees. Depending on the policy and municipality, public adjusters must also cooperate by providing statements and attending examinations under oath. In my experience, unscrupulous public adjusters may attempt to avoid these policy requirements. Vehicle Title Fraud After a disaster, countless vehicles are damaged or destroyed, leading insurers to quickly declare them total losses. These vehicles are often sold at salvage auctions, and fraudsters can take advantage of the situation by purchasing salvaged vehicles to place those Vehicle Identification Numbers onto pristine stolen cars to clone them. Cloned vehicles are sold to unsuspecting buyers who may try to insure them without realizing theyve purchased stolen vehicles until its too late. The primary red flags are a price tag that seems too good to be true and cash-only deals. Insurers and agency staff should thoroughly check the vehicles VIN history and purchase documents before binding coverage on a new policy, especially with newly-acquired vehicles. Attorney and Legal Services Fraud Fraudsters often take advantage of victims distress by posing as attorneys or legal representatives. In the aftermath of the fires, residents should exercise caution when seeking legal services. Insurance professionals should also verify that they are communicating with accredited attorneys. The State Bar of California urges the public to report fraud, including scams that target victims. Both non-attorneys, such as notarios, and even licensed lawyers may engage in fraudulent practices. Unlike U.S. notaries, notarios publicos in Latin America hold extensive legal authority, which can mislead victims into trusting unqualified individuals. People should verify an attorneys credentials before hiring them and avoid signing legal agreements hastily. Insurers should be especially cautious of attorneys who pressure personnel to process claims quickly or make unprofessional threats against insurance staff. Life Insurance Fraud Though it may seem far-fetched with these events, individuals have tried to fake their own demise to collect life insurance payouts. Wildfires, with their extensive destruction, provide a perfect cover for such schemes. As a prior example, Haitis ongoing political crises in the early 2000s, coupled with devastating earthquakes and hurricanes from 2010 to 2021, created prime conditions for fraud. With more than 220,000 deaths from the 2010 earthquake alone, false death claims surged as fraudulent death certificates were easy to obtain. Closer to home, a New York man, Steven Chin Leung, falsely claimed to have died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Posing as his own brother, he reported himself missing, but authorities caught him collecting mail from a location they had been monitoring. In San Diego, a man was indicted after fraudulently collecting $136,000, claiming his wifea supposed mother of 10had died in the 9/11 attacks. In reality, she was alive and had only one child. Insurance companies and claims professionals need to be vigilant when investigating death claims, particularly those involving individuals who were reportedly last seen in the vicinity of a fire. Death certificates and medical records should be requested and carefully scrutinized in all cases. Signs of motive should also be considered, such as a recent bankruptcy, divorce, or other financial or legal predicaments. In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires, unscrupulous individuals will inevitably try to exploit vulnerable victims, often leading to fraudulent claims against insurance carriers. Fraud can take many forms, from contractor scams to insurance fraud, making it essential for insurance agents and claims personnel to stay vigilant and informed. By recognizing potential fraud risks, you can help protect your company and community from these crimes. Wickliffe led special investigation units for 20-plus years at a largest insurance carrier. He regularly writes and speaks about creative crimes, fraud and cybercrimes, and is a published book author. His latest book is YOU PAID FOR THIS My 25 Years Investigating Insurance Crimes. Email: RLWickliffe@yahoo.com. Top photo: 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. Source: CalFire. An auto insurance company was fined $975,000 for allegedly failing to protect the personal information of 45,000 New York residents. The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday announced the AG secured $975,000 in penalties from Root, which was affected by a data breach that was part of an industry-wide campaign to steal consumers personal information, including drivers license numbers and dates of birth, from online automobile insurance quoting applications. The data thieves reportedly then used some of the stolen drivers license information to file fraudulent unemployment claims at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. James recently got $5.1 million from GEICO and Travelers, as well as $500,000 from Noblr, for also reportedly failing to protect New Yorkers data. Root does not offer insurance in New York, but the companys security failures allowed scammers to gain access to New Yorkers drivers license numbers and personal information, according to the AGs office. Root allows consumers to obtain a price quote through its website. After some personal information is entered, the online quoting tool pre-fills personal information such as drivers license numbers. Roots system exposed full, plaintext drivers license numbers in a PDF generated at the end of the auto quote process, according to the AG. In January 2021, Root discovered bad actors were exploiting the prefill vulnerability. According to the AG, Root failed to perform adequate risk assessments on its public-facing web applications, did not identify the plain text exposure of consumer personal information and employed insufficient controls to thwart automated attacks. The AG investigation determined that the insurance company failed to adopt reasonable safeguards to protect private information. In addition to paying $975,000 in penalties, Root is required to enhance its data security, including by: Federal regulators have cited Tesla for violating workplace safety rules in connection with the electrocution of a worker last summer at its Austin, Texas, auto-manufacturing plant. The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed the findings in a statement to Reuters. The investigation is closed and citations have been issued, said the department, which oversees the agency that conducted the Tesla probe, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Labor Department said the matter was concluded in late January. The department declined to disclose the nature of Teslas workplace-safety failures or whether any penalties were imposed. The case has been closely watched amid public debate about the oversight of Tesla and other businesses run by billionaire Elon Musk as he directs a radical overhaul of federal agencies on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk, who spent more than $250 million to help elect Trump, now steers the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to slash federal spending and staffing. Musks businesses, including Tesla and rocket-maker SpaceX, rely heavily on government contracts, subsidies and policies. OSHA launched the investigation immediately after the August 1 death of Victor Gomez Sr., an electrician working as a contractor at the Tesla plant in Texas, according to OSHA records and a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Tesla by Gomezs family. Gomez was killed while inspecting electrical panels at the site, according to the suit. The lawsuit alleges negligence and argues that the panel was supposed to be inactive but had already been powered up, resulting in Gomezs electrocution. Musk and Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not immediately access court filings by Tesla in the lawsuit. On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Greg Casar, a Texas Democrat whose congressional district includes the Tesla plant, sent a letter to the Labor Department urging that OSHA immediately release the full results of its investigation of Gomezs death. The letter said that a refusal to release public records on Teslas workplace safety failures could raise questions about whether the agency is giving Musk preferential treatment. Americans have a right to know whether Tesla and its contractors put a mans life at risk, and whether Tesla will follow workplace safety rules going forward, the letter read. The plant, a 10-million square-foot facility in Austin, Texas, is a manufacturing hub for Teslas Model Y vehicles and Cybertrucks. OSHA records show Tesla was cited and fined about $7,000 for two other workplace safety violations at the Texas plant last year, both involving violations of rules to protect workers from chemical hazards. In 2022, the company also was hit with a pair of complaints claiming that it failed to address alleged workplace-safety and wage-law violations by subcontractors during the construction of the facility. (Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer in San Francisco and Ned Parker in New York. Editing by Brian Thevenot and Jason Szep.) Future leaders and trailblazers from the Bay High School Key Club attended the Ohio Leadership Conference in Dublin, Ohio, March 14-16. Scott Graham BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- Bay High School Key Club members attended the 76th annual Ohio District Key Club Convention for fun and fellowship March 14-16 in Dublin, Ohio. The experience proved to be both enriching and inspiring for all the students and chaperones who attended. The conference brought together Key Club members from across the state for a weekend filled with workshops, networking and discussions focused on leadership and community service. Bay High students participated in various sessions aimed at enhancing their skills and learning new strategies for effective service projects. They engaged in discussions about project planning, community engagement and ways to inspire their peers to get involved. The insights gained from these workshops will be important as they work on upcoming initiatives in Bay Village. In addition to the educational components, the conference also provided opportunities for team-building and connecting with fellow Key Club members from other schools. These interactions fostered a sense of community and collaboration among students who share a commitment to service. One of the standout moments of the weekend was hearing from keynote speakers who shared their personal journeys in leadership and service. Their experiences resonated with the students, motivating them to think about the impact they can have in their own community. As the Bay High Key Club members returned home, they brought back not only new ideas and skills, but also a renewed enthusiasm for service. They are looking forward to applying what they learned and continuing their efforts to make a positive difference in Bay Village. The students also brought home some awards for their community service: 1st Place Major Emphasis Project: Helping Cleveland -- Lucy Tarpy 1st Place Single Service: Food Drive -- Maddie Bigler, Lucy Tarpy, Chloe Schulz and Maggie Doane 2nd Place Non Traditional Scrapbook -- Colin Kidik 3rd Place Achievement Report -- Rose Burgett 1st Place K-Family Weekend: Kiwi Bags -- Maya Holmes Teacher Appreciation Week Award -- Michael Burgett 1st Place Key Club Week -- Ellie Estridge, Liza Minichello and Lucy Tarpy Keep an eye out for the Bay High Key Clubs upcoming projects. Theyre ready to take action and contribute to their community in meaningful ways. Read more from the West Shore Sun. Leading Cypriot Pharmaceutical Company Implements Innovative Wastewater Treatment Technology to Protect Environment In an industry-leading sustainability initiative, Medochemie Ltd, Cyprus's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, has successfully installed a pilot system for its LIFE PHARMA-DETOX project. This four-year project, funded by the EU LIFE Programme, aims to transform pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater into non-toxic substances through an innovative detoxification process. The recently installed pilot system represents a significant milestone in Medochemie's commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing. This system will evaluate the effectiveness of their novel approach to wastewater treatment in real-world conditions, gathering crucial data to optimize performance and explore wider applications across the pharmaceutical industry. The Environmental Challenge of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing The pharmaceutical industry faces growing environmental scrutiny, with estimates indicating that more than 90% of wastewater from pharmaceutical industries globally was discharged untreated in 2014. While EU countries fared better with untreated discharge rates of 5060%, the management of emissions from pharmaceutical facilities remains critical. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have detected Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) accumulating in soil, animals, fish, and water systems. One of the main objectives of the European Strategy for the environment is to minimize the presence of active pharmaceuticals in surface water, groundwater, and the environment generally. Dr. Andreas Pittas, Founder and Executive Chairman of Medochemie, has championed this initiative as part of the company's broader commitment to environmental stewardship. Under his leadership, Medochemie has been at the forefront of sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing practices in Cyprus and beyond. Innovative Wastewater Detoxification Technology The LIFE PHARMA-DETOX project aims to develop and implement an economically viable, innovative system for transforming pharmaceutical compounds present in wastewater into non-toxic substances. The system will treat wastewater generated from production activities, ensuring no APIs enter the wastewater sewage system without being processed and detoxified. The project focuses on preventing API release into wastewater sewage systems. Additionally, the system will recycle water for non-critical applications such as heat exchanging equipment, cleaning procedures, and irrigation, saving 10m of potable water daily (3,650m per year). The environmental footprint is further minimized through the use of 100% renewable energy sources. Dr. Christakis Sergides, Director of Research, Development, and Innovation and President of the Commission of Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation of Medochemie, is leading the company's efforts in this project. "This system represents a significant advancement in how pharmaceutical manufacturers can manage their environmental impact," Dr. Sergides noted during the system's installation. International Collaboration for Environmental Innovation The LIFE PHARMA-DETOX consortium brings together 5 partners from four EU countries: Cyprus, Greece, Denmark, and Italy. This international collaboration includes: Medochemie Ltd (Cyprus) Coordinating Beneficiary Aarhus University (Denmark) NEVIS Novel Environmental Solutions S.A. (Greece) National Technical University of Athens (Greece) Universita degli Studi di Catania (Italy) This pan-European collaboration demonstrates the pharmaceutical industry's growing commitment to addressing environmental challenges through innovation and cooperation. Medochemie's Broader Environmental Initiatives The LIFE PHARMA-DETOX project is part of Medochemie's comprehensive approach to environmental sustainability. The company has already implemented numerous environmentally responsible business practices, including: Installation of a 150KW Photovoltaic Park producing 1,650 kWh per KW annually, reducing CO2 emissions by 201.5 tonnes per year Development of an Atmospheric Air-Cooling System that lowers ambient air temperature by 10C and reduces chiller energy consumption by 15% Installation of LED low-energy lighting and motion-activated sensors throughout facilities Implementation of voltage stabilization systems to maintain optimal voltage and reduce thermal losses Installation of water collection systems to capture and reuse water from air conditioning units These efforts have earned Medochemie the "Gold Environmental Protector"award for six consecutive years at the Cyprus Environmental Awards for Organizations and Businesses. Larger Impact on European Pharmaceutical Manufacturing If widely adopted across the European pharmaceutical industry, the PHARMA-DETOX system could have a substantial environmental impact. The EU has approximately 4,000 pharmaceutical enterprises, and if the system were adopted throughout the EU, 1,606 kg of APIs would be converted to non-toxic compounds before being discharged into wastewater sewage systems each year. The project also aims to promote knowledge transfer through: Training pharmaceutical facility industrial operators on PHARMA-DETOX technology Presenting the method and project progress at international conferences Developing commercial applications for implementation in other pharmaceutical companies across Europe Medochemie's Expanding Global Presence As the largest pharmaceutical company in Cyprus, Medochemie operates 15 state-of-the-art production facilities meeting European standardsnine in Cyprus, one in the Netherlands, and five in Vietnam. All facilities are certified according to EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. Medochemie has a presence in 122 countries through 19 offices and a trusted partner network. The company employs 2,000 skilled professionals, with scientists comprising 45% of its workforce. Founded in 1976 by Dr. Andreas Pittas, Medochemie contributes 28.9% to Cyprus's industrial exports and enables over 300 million people worldwide to benefit from its products. Ranked among the top 200 generic drug companies globally, Medochemie produces, markets, distributes, and exports high-quality generic medicines. Critical Medicines and Supply Chain Resilience Beyond its environmental initiatives, Medochemie is also a member of the Critical Medicines Alliance, a consultative mechanism bringing together relevant stakeholders to strengthen the supply of critical medicines in the EU and combat shortages. Medochemie produces many of the EU-shortlisted critical medicines at its European-authorized facilities. Many of these critical medicines also play a key role in fighting microbial resistance as they are old molecules facing less resistance from bacteria. The Critical Medicines Alliance was established in January 2024 to identify priorities for action and propose solutions to strengthen the supply of critical medicines in the EU. The Alliance works to identify industrial challenges and determine suitable actions to address vulnerabilities in critical medicine supply chains. Environmental Leadership in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing The successful installation of the LIFE PHARMA-DETOX pilot system represents an important step in Medochemie's environmental strategy. By taking proactive measures to reduce pharmaceutical residues in wastewater, Medochemie is demonstrating leadership in sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing. As the project progresses, the company will continue to gather data, optimize performance, and explore wider applications of this technology. This initiative not only contributes to Medochemie's sustainability goals but also offers potential solutions for the entire pharmaceutical industry's environmental challenges. Through ongoing innovation, international collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to environmental responsibility, Medochemie continues to live up to its motto of "Growth with a human face"balancing business success with environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Rep. Max Miller, R-7, will answer constituents' questions and address concerns during a virtual Town Hall, in lieu of the typical in-person discussion. Official Public Photo, 2025 BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- Rep. Max Miller, R-7, is opting for a virtual Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Monday (March 24) rather than an in-person discussion with constituents. According to Millers website, You deserve transparency and accountability. However, the decision to host the Town Hall online has drawn criticism from constituents who are frustrated with his lack of direct engagement. Rep. Max Miller, R-7, will be hosting an online Town Hall to answer questions and address concerns, including the fate of Social Security and public education. Rep. Max Miller Some residents are furious about what they perceive as the erosion of democratic values, particularly in light of the influence of unelected figures like Elon Musk, who they feel is wielding undue power in political matters. Constituents are eager to voice their concerns about the state of democracy and the impact of corporate interests on governance. They are left questioning why Miller has opted for a virtual format instead of an in-person meeting where real dialogue could take place. Critics have labeled Millers choice to hold a virtual town hall as cowardly, suggesting that it allows him to avoid facing the anger and frustration of voters directly. Many feel the online format is insufficient for addressing the serious concerns they have about the direction of the country and the influence of powerful individuals who are not accountable to the public. As the political landscape continues to shift, constituents are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with elected officials who they believe are not representing their interests. The upcoming town hall presents an opportunity for Miller to hear their concerns, but the virtual format raises doubts about his willingness to confront the issues head-on. Residents, though encouraged to prepare questions and topics for discussion, are skeptical about whether Miller will adequately address their concerns regarding the state of democracy and the influence of figures like Musk. For more information about the town hall meeting and to stay updated on Millers initiatives, visit his official website, maxmiller.house.gov. Read more from the West Shore Sun. Kim Mager is a former Ashland police officer. Courtesy of MCDL MEDINA, Ohio -- Readers who enjoy a local setting are in luck, with two upcoming author talks at the Medina Library highlighting Medina and Ashland. Kim Mager, a former Ashland police detective, has released her first book, about solving a serial killer case in Ohio. And Medina County favorite Shelley Shepard Gray, known for her Amish mysteries, has released a romance novel set in Medina. Mager will discuss A Hunger to Kill -- the riveting chronicle of her case-breaking interviews with Ohios Lady Killer, Shawn Grate -- at 6:30 p.m. April 10 at the Medina Library, 210 S. Liberty St. in Medina. Mager is a 30-year law enforcement officer who retired from the Ashland Police Department in 2022. The story is one many Ohioans remember: On Sept. 13, 2016, emergency dispatchers in Ashland received a 911 call from a terrified woman who claimed to have been kidnapped. The man holding her hostage was Shawn Grate, a serial killer whom the press later dubbed The Lady killer. A key to his conviction and death sentence were Grates extensive recorded confessions -- all extracted by one woman: Mager. Mager will sign books at the event and will also have raffle prizes. Shelley Shepard Gray will come to discuss her book in May. Courtesy of Shelly Gray Bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray will talk about her new inspirational romance set in Medina -- Their Surprise Reunion -- at 6:30 p.m. May 6, also at the Medina Library. Gray has published more than 100 Amish fiction and inspirational novels. She lives in northern Ohio, walks her dogs, bakes too much and writes full time. Book sales and signings will follow both events. Go to mcdl.info/Readers to register for the events, reserve or download the books and learn more. Presented by the Medina County District Library and the Friends of MCDL. Read more from the Medina Sun. A Cuyahoga County jury cleared Halie Sanchez, 18, of all charges in 2024 shooting death of Marivereese Whitlow. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio A Cuyahoga County jury on Friday found 18-year-old Halie Sanchez not guilty of murder in the shooting death of a Cleveland man. Marivereese Whitlow, 39, was shot in the back of the head as he was driving on West 23rd Street, near Broadview Road, on March 1, 2024. Prosecutors alleged Sanchez, then 17, and her 14-year-old stepbrother were riding in the car. Whitlows car crashed into a parked vehicle after he was shot, and witnesses saw two people flee from the wreck. Sanchez, of Cleveland, was arrested a month later and charged as an adult with two counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault. She was acquitted Friday of all charges after an 11-day trial in Common Pleas Court. Sanchez hugged her attorney, Christopher Maher, and sobbed loudly as Judge William Vodrey read the verdict. Whitlows family stormed out of the courtroom before the proceeding concluded. Sanchezs stepbrother was charged with murder as a juvenile and later pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of involuntary manslaughter. He was ordered to spend four years in a juvenile facility run by the Ohio Department of Youth Services. Data recovered from his cell phone showed he had taken selfies with the suspected murder weapon, a Jimenez 9 mm handgun. While the stepbrother testified as a states witness at Sanchezs trial, prosecutors offered no motive for the alleged crime. Tim Cramer, a Cleveland police detective, testified that Sanchez and Whitlow communicated in the months before the shooting. About a month and a half before his death, Whitlow texted Sanchez: Im in love with you. I want us to be a family and have no distractions, according to Cramer. He said Sanchez responded with no. A week later, Sanchez texted Whitlow: Remember what you did and said to me. Dont ever want to speak again, according to Cramer. During closing arguments, Maher questioned the credibility of Sanchezs stepbrother, whom he called the states star witness. He suggested the stepbrother was the shooter. Prosecutors argued Sanchez was in Whitlows backseat when he was shot. They suggested she reached around his head rest to shoot him. The jury was not convinced. Vodrey ordered Sanchez released from custody. Afterward, Maher said he was grateful the jury really analyzed the evidence. She is just filled with relief, he said of his client. The pressure she was feeling you can imagine. We acknowledged during the case that she wasnt living an ideal life. She made some bad choices. Shes just this is a fresh start for her. Lead prosecutor Adrienne Linnick and the county prosecutors office declined to comment. This is a graphic illustration of the measles virus, provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ohio has seen its first case of measles for 2025. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CLEVELAND, Ohio The states first measles case of 2025 has been reported in Ashtabula County, state officials announced Thursday. The person was unvaccinated and had contact with someone who had recently travelled internationally, where the virus is prevalent in some countries, health officials said. The case is concerning in light of the ongoing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. In Texas, 279 cases have been identified since late January, and 36 patients have been hospitalized as of mid-March. The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated, Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said in a statement. This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, and it can be deadly. More than 100,000 people across the globe died from the disease in 2023, according to world health data. The measles virus is highly transmissible, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and infecting others up to two hours after the sick person has left a room. Ohio saw 7 cases of measles in 2024, one in 2023, and 90 in 2022, when an outbreak centered in central Ohio totaled 85 cases. Those cases were the first in the state since 2019. Ohio also experienced a measles outbreak in 2014, with at least 374 cases of measles and 10 hospitalizations centered around the largely unvaccinated Amish community of Knox County in central Ohio. Nationally, there have been 301 confirmed cases of measles across 15 states so far this year, according to federal data. The measles vaccine called MMR, as it protects against measles, mumps and rubella is very safe and effective at preventing measles, Vanderhoff said. Two doses of MMR is 97% effective against measles. People who received the two-dose MMR vaccine as children are protected for life, immunization experts say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. The MMR vaccine can also be given to adults born after 1957 who are not vaccinated or who dont know their vaccination status. The percentage of Ohio kindergarteners who are up-to-date on all recommended vaccines continues to fall, an alarming development in light of the outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, Vanderhoff said during a recent press conference. The percentage of Ohio kindergarteners who are up-to-date on all recommended vaccines is 85.4% for the 2024-25 school year, down from 86.2% in the previous year, he said. Measles symptoms, where to find vaccinations Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, watery red eyes, and a rash that appears one to two weeks after contact with the virus. Health complications, especially in children under 5, include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis and brain damage. People who are at risk for complications include adults over 20 years old, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of premature labor, miscarriage and low birth weight infants. MMR shots are available at doctors offices, clinics and government health centers. The Cleveland Department of Public Health encourages parents to take their children to their regular pediatrician for this vaccine, said director Dr. David Margolius. For families who dont have a pediatrician or have other barriers to getting care, the city health department offers weekly childhood vaccination clinics. (Details here.) The Cuyahoga County Board of Health provides the MMR vaccine to families with or without health insurance. Patients should contact the board to schedule an appointment, which, in some cases, could be the same day. Call 216-201-2041. Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link. President Donald Trump suggested Friday on Truth Social that protesters who oppose Elon Musk and destroy Tesla vehicles should face harsh punishment, perhaps in El Salvador's notorious prisons. AP WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Friday took aim at protesters who have destroyed Tesla vehicles, suggesting on Truth Social they should be sent to the prison in El Salvador that human rights activist have condemned and where the United States sent more than 200 Venezuelan migrants last week. In recent months, as Teslas stock value has plummeted, authorities have arrested people who they say have torched electric vehicles in protest of Elon Musks role as head of Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla, Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions! That post came after he posted a warning late Thursday evening. People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!! Trump wrote. Trump has stood by Musk, who is orchestrating the slashing of the federal government. His Department of Justice has labeled the protests as domestic terrorism and warned of prosecutions. Already there have been some arrests. Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement cited by The Washington Post. Trumps administration paid El Salvador President Nayib Bukeles government approximately $6 million for detaining 238 Venezuelans the administration has labeled as dangerous gang members, The Post said. Noah Bullock, executive director of the Central American human rights organization Cristosal, told The Post that the El Salvador prison system was reminiscent of penal colonies from the long-ago time of empires where people were sent away as a way to suspend their rights and permanently remove them from society. Some of the prisons are so crowded, he said, that people have to take turns standing and sitting. Human rights organizations have documented systemic torture and lack of access to families and lawyers in these places, Bullock told The Post. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- National safety officials are urging owners of four Northeast Ohio bridges to review their collapse risk from vessel collisions after the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster. The recommendation for these vulnerability assessments came as part of the National Transportation Safety Boards investigation into how a containership struck a pier supporting the Key Bridge and caused its collapse. The NTSB warned 30 owners of 68 bridges in 19 states, saying inspection might have prevented the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The four Northeast Ohio bridges on the NTSBs list are: Main Avenue Bridge Detroit Avenue Bridge Carnegie Avenue Bridge I-490 Bridge All four of those bridges span the Cuyahoga River. The Main Avenue bridge crosses the river in the Flats, near its opening at Lake Erie. South of that is the Detroit Avenue span and the Carnegie Avenue bridge. I-490 crosses the river near Tremont. Three of the four bridges are about a century old. The Detroit Avenue bridge was built in 1917. Carnegie Avenues span was built in 1932. In 1939, the Main Avenue bridge was complete. The I-490 bridge is the newest, built in 1990. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the Key Bridge had a risk level nearly 30 times higher than the acceptable threshold for critical bridges. After the Key bridge collapse, state and local officials said Northeast Ohio had little to fear about a similar disaster. At the time, they pointed to a specific characteristic that the 300-some bridges in Greater Cleveland didnt share with the Key bridge in Baltimore: supports in the water that a boat could damage. A freighter crashed into one of the Key bridges pillars in the water, destroying the support and collapsing the bridge. Downtown Clevelands four major bridges span the Cuyahoga River without need for water supports. State and local officials said then that the likelihood of a catastrophic ship crash with a bridge in Greater Cleveland was unlikely. [Ohios Department of Transportation] reviewed key bridges and determined protections were in place, ODOT spokesman Matt Bruning said in a statement. ODOT will take a second look at state-owned bridges identified in the NTSB report and follow all recommendations made for those bridges. We are also awaiting additional guidance from the Federal Highway Administration. Boats traversing the Cuyahoga River are also generally smaller than the freighter that destroyed the Key bridge. While that ship was 984 feet long and 157 feet wide, the Herbert C. Jackson ship that often winds down the Cuyahoga is 688 feet long and 75 feet wide. Most other boats in Ohio are small pleasure craft or barges transporting coal or gravel. The NTSB report also flagged the Martin Luther King Jr. and Anthony Wayne bridges over the Maumee River in Toledo for vulnerability assessments. Cleveland.com reached out to the Cuyahoga County Engineers office. Anna Staver covers state government and politics for Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer. Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine was front and center to Donald Trump's announce end to the U.S. Department of Education, which should frighten any Ohioan who supports public education. This photo was fron a 2018 appearance. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) AP Ohio Governor Mike DeWine raised eyebrows Thursday when he appeared alongside Donald Trump as the former president signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Today in Ohio podcasters say his appearance and praise for Trumps decision could have profound implications for public education in Ohio, particularly for the states most vulnerable students. From host Chris Quinn: The frightening part of this is the move away from public schools, Quinn said during Fridays podcast discussion. Republicans have decided that our public schools are a bad idea. Its almost like they want to kill off the thing that made us all equal, and they want to have elites and have people who arent. The concern isnt unfounded. The federal Department of Education currently provides about $6,600 per student to Cleveland schools roughly one-quarter of their total funding. As co-host Laura Johnston pointed out, The ladder out of poverty is education, right? You go, you get an education, have a career, you support your family. And if theyre decimating public education, what chance do these kids have? DeWine, who isnt typically seen as aligned with Trumps more extreme positions, was front and center at the White House East Room ceremony. He later released a statement lauding the effort to give states more control over education, saying Every student, family and community is different. In Ohio, weve achieved great results by focusing on our administrations priorities... Its time to take the next step. The podcast discussion highlighted the stark contrast between the original intent of school vouchers (improving public schools through competition) and the reality playing out in Ohio, where public school funding is increasingly threatened while private school vouchers expand. Kids with disabilities and disadvantages are largely going to public schools. And thats what the federal Department of Education. Thats where a lot of their money goes to, Johnston explained. The timing of this move is particularly troubling given Ohios recent billion-dollar expansion of private school vouchers and impending cuts to public school funding. If federal education dollars flow to states as block grants, theres little confidence that Ohios Republican legislature would prioritize public education. We know what Ohios doing. Its giving all the money to rich people to send their kids to private school, Quinn said. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Theyre decimating public schools. Quinn supported Trumps criticism of the Department of Educations mixed record since its 1979 founding, particularly regarding the emphasis on standardized testing. State Senator Andrew Brenner and Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur are already brainstorming how Ohio would invest federal education money if given free rein a concerning prospect given recent priorities. For Cleveland families, where property taxes already fund about $9,000 per student, the potential loss of $6,600 per student in federal dollars would be devastating. Courtney Astolfi said Cleveanders would have to make up the difference with real estate tax increases, but Quinn noted many Clevelanders cant afford that. The stakes couldnt be higher for Ohios educational future. As Quinn bluntly put it: Theyre about to leave a whole lot of children behind. Listen to the full discussion here. Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio, a news podcast discussion by cleveland.com editors. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions. Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with impact editor Leila Atassi and content director Laura Johnston. 'Spring break' announced by some schools amid consumption-boosting push 15:27, March 21, 2025 By Zhao Yusha ( Global Times Students fly kites at a flowering canola field in Xianju County of Taizhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 17, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua) Some universities and schools in various Chinese cities have announced a short "spring break" during April, as the government recently released special consumption-promoting initiatives that encourage educational institutes to explore spring or autumn breaks if the conditions allow. The Beijing Information Science & Technology University issued a notice recently saying that the university will give students a "spring break" from April 7 to 13 so that they can put down textbooks, walk out of campus and step into nature. In order to enrich the short break, the university has offered activities such as visiting red revolutionary bases, a tour of the Beijing Central Axis, encouraging students to gain new knowledge and keep updating themselves, and exchange programs with foreign students. On March 18, the education authority of Lichuan city, Central China's Hubei Province, announced it will give primary and middle school students a two-day spring break, which can be connected with the upcoming Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, which falls on April 4, media reported. "With a spring break, students can go around, take a look at the surroundings, experience nature, and visit places of interest and historical sites. In fact, this will bring them great rewards," a teacher surnamed Li at a primary school in Lichuan told the Global Times on Thursday. A new plan to expand consumer spending unveiled on Sunday is expected to encourage consumption and drive economic growth in China. The plan encouraged localities with the necessary conditions to explore, in light of their actual situations, the establishment of spring and autumn breaks for primary and middle schools. During this year's two sessions, Pang Yonghui, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress said he also suggested expanding spring and autumn vacations nationwide, media reported. Pang believes such a move can provide more travel options for the public, especially for family trips, while parents can take paid leave during the spring and autumn vacations to accompany their children. At the same time, the spring and autumn vacations can also boost holiday tourism consumption. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday condemned in the strongest possible terms the looting of vital humanitarian suppliesintended to save the lives of malnourished children and provide critical healthcare to mothers and newborns from Al Bashair Hospital in Jabal Awlia, Khartoum The Vatican is set to hold a conference on Mar. 21-22, 2025, titled "Risks and Opportunities of AI for Children" talking about the church's role in safeguarding kids. The Pontifical Academy of Sciences is organizing the conference with the help of the World Childhood Foundation and the Pontifical Gregorian University. The Vatican's main objectives are strengthening government regulations ethically and prioritizing children's safety, privacy, and dignity. Vatican To Talk of AI's Risks on Children Cardinal Peter Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and Professor Joachim von Braun, president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, will speak at the upcoming event. According to Vatican News, other speakers include Professor Hans Zollner, the director of the IADC at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and Brittan Holmberg, the deputy secretary of the World Childhood Foundation. In his opening speech, Cardinal Turkson highlighted the collective nature of the project and the Holy See's interest in new technologies. Other than discussions about new ethics of algorithms, Turkson said that it was necessary to talk about the responsibilities of individual states in ensuring that AI does not remain solely in "private hands." Braun highlighted the various risks associated with new technologies, saying that they are increasingly becoming evidence to the scientific community. He noted that these include social media addiction, which has significantly affected children's brain development. The president of the Pontifical Academy for Sciences said they are currently in a war on two fronts in trying to protect kids from abuse and mistreatment. This is to keep them safe from exploitation by a perpetrator in their environment at home, school, church, society, and online, USCCB reported. Safeguarding Children from Abuse A new frontier now is tackling AI and gender-based violence that have together in sophisticated ways at "at scale." The latter is where crime and its victims have rapidly increased and multiplied in recent times. Braun noted that the church must now work with science-based knowledge regarding AI and make other efforts. Some of the risks that were highlighted include the use of AI to generate and distribute child sexual abuse materials. The technology is also being used to groom children online, facilitate human trafficking, and infringe on a child's right to privacy and dignity with excessive monitoring. On the other hand, AI can also be used to promote the safety and dignity of children and expand their access and opportunities in health care and education, as per OSV News. In an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins described a fervor from world leaders to compete in the race for dominance in the burgeoning artificial intelligence sphere. "In no initiative and no foundational technology that I've ever known since the internet has the world and the leaders realized the importance of artificial intelligence to them," Huang said. "And the reason for that is because no country wants to outsource and let somebody else advance their intelligence." Robbins claimed that the Trump administration wants the U.S. to maintain its lead in the A.I. arms race. Wall Street has worried that the president's tariff policies could affect semiconductor imports that leading tech companies rely on. But Robbins said of the administration, "there's going to be a lot of logic where they end up," and that the government should attempt to better trade agreements. "Based on the conversations I've had with the administration...they want to protect that lead, and they want us to win," Robbins said. "I believe that their policies that they're going to implement will, will ensure that that happens" Cisco, which manufactures networking hardware, and Nvidia announced a partnership to bring AI technology to the enterprise with new infrastructure. According to Huang, AI "reinvented the entire computing stack, from compute, networking, storage, the operating system and the way you develop the applications on top." However, the current enterprise AI infrastructure has the same for a long time, he continued. "We need to go and rerack the whole world's companies," Huang said. As Elon Musk wraps up his second month in the White House, Tesla owners are trading in their electric vehicles at record levels, according to an analysis by national car shopping site Edmunds. The data from Edmunds published on Thursday said that March represented "the highest ever share" it had seen for Tesla trade-ins toward new or used cars from dealerships selling other brands. Since heading to Washington, D.C., in January as a central figure in the second Trump administration, Musk, who is CEO of Tesla, has been slashing the federal workforce and government spending, and has gained access to sensitive government computer systems and data, though his efforts have been repeatedly challenged in court. Before assuming leadership of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, Musk spent around $290 million last year to help propel President Donald Trump back to the White House. While investors snapped up Tesla shares after Trump's victory in November, they've been rushing for the exits of late, pushing the stock's price down by 42% this year. Waves of protests have targeted Tesla facilities in the U.S. and beyond. Other criminal acts of vandalism and arson have targeted Tesla stores, vehicles and charging stations across the U.S. In addition, Tesla is facing increased competition from EV makers. In January, S&P Global Mobility found Tesla sales declined about 11% year over year in the U.S., while Ford , Chevrolet and Volkswagen bolstered their sales of EVs, picking up market share. "Shifts in Tesla consumer sentiment could create an opportunity for legacy automakers and EV startups to gain ground," Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds, wrote in an email. "As Tesla brand loyalty and interest wavers, those offering competitive pricing, new technology, or simply less controversy could capture defecting Tesla owners and first-time EV buyers." The Tesla brand, more than that of any other automaker, is tightly tied to its CEO. In August 2024, Edmunds surveys found that just 2% of car shoppers in the U.S. were unfamiliar with Musk. Edmunds also said that shopping for new models of Tesla vehicles on its platform dropped to its lowest level last month since October 2022 after peaking as late as November. Even before Musk began heading up DOGE, Tesla's brand was suffering. Its brand value fell by 26%, or about $15 billion, in 2024, a second straight annual decline, according to research and consulting firm Brand Finance. Many car shoppers trade in their Tesla EVs for a newer model Tesla. Edmunds data didn't account for those transactions. Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Actor Anthony Mackie probably isn't buying his kids the latest designer clothes or $200 sneakers, even though he has the means to do so. "I keep my boys humble. Like, my boys have never had a pair of Jordans. My boys don't do all that internet fly s---. I could be the biggest star in the world. Do not let me catch you being stupid," Mackie said during a recent podcast episode of "The Pivot." The 46-year-old "Captain America: Brave New World" star doesn't want his four sons to value money and material goods over character, he said. Mackie started teaching each of his kids to be well-mannered and responsible at age 2, he added. "I raise my boys to be young men ... they will always be respectful," said Mackie. "They will always say, 'Yes ma'am. No ma'am.' They will always say 'Thank you.' They will always open the door for a lady. They will always make sure that their mother is taken care of and provided for." Mackie's parenting style echoes his own upbringing: He was born in New Orleans as the youngest of six kids. His father was a carpenter with a roofing business who dropped out of 8th grade to pick cotton with his grandfather, Mackie said at Morehouse College last month. As a teenager, he worked for his father's business during the summers. He wants his kids to develop similar values and work ethics, he said on the podcast. "I try to keep my boys outside of [my celebrity]. I don't want my boys affected by it, or even acknowledge the idea of what Hollywood is and what it means to the general populace," he said. "I want them to find their own path." His parenting approach echoes comments made by some other celebrities who've said they wanted their children to develop strong work ethics, despite their wealth. DON'T MISS: How to start a side hustle to earn extra money Barbara Corcoran, a self-made real estate millionaire and co-star of ABC's "Shark Tank," insisted that her kids work summer jobs and save their money, she wrote in a December 2024 Q&A to her Patreon community, "Barbara in Your Pocket." Mark Cuban, a billionaire entrepreneur and fellow "Shark Tank" panelist, also expects his children to earn their success, rather than relying on his money and status to get ahead in life. "[My wife and I] are really consistent in that, 'You have to accomplish these things on your own,'" he told NBC's "Today" in 2022. "You don't want to be 'Mark Cuban's son or daughter' your entire life." Similarly, actor Ben Affleck and his 13-year-old son Samuel recently attended a sneaker convention and saw a pair of $6,000 Dior Air Jordan 1 sneakers. "They're tough!" Samuel said in a video posted to the convention's TikTok. Affleck's response: "That's a lot of lawns you've got to mow there." Affleck later told Access Hollywood: "He's like 'We have the money.' I'm like, 'I have the money. You're broke!'" Want to earn some extra money on the side? Take CNBC's new online course How to Start a Side Hustle to learn tips to get started and strategies for success from top side hustle experts. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through April 1, 2025. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. The parents of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki want their 20-year-old daughter declared dead. The couple have asked Dominican authorities if they can declare their missing daughter dead, highlighting the struggles of the legalities of a missing person case. Investigators handling the matter believe that Konanki drowned and that they did not find any evidence of foul play. Missing Student's Parents Want Daughter Declared Dead The parents have asked the police to proceed with the legal declaration of their daughter's death. However, the investigation into the 20-year-old's demise conducted by the Dominican Republic National Police was still ongoing as of Thursday. A letter written by Konanki's parents noted that they understood that certain legal procedures need to be followed. They also said that they are prepared to comply with any necessary formalities or documentation regarding their daughter's death. They revealed that initiating the process of declaring their daughter's death will allow their family to start the grieving process and address other matters related to her absence. The Loudon County Sheriff's Office in Virginia replied to the parents' wishes, according to CNN. It said that while it supports the couple's wishes to declare their daughter's death, it noted that it was up to Dominican Republic authorities to make that particular determination. Sheriff's spokesperson Thomas Julia said that it still does not confirm exactly what happened to Konanki. Police in the Dominican Republic typically do not declare a person deceased without first finding either a body or evidence of a crime. In Konanki's case, investigators have yet to find either of these so far. The idea of declaring a person's death without a body would require a special law by the country's Congress or the president. The website of the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic noted that it needs an original local death certificate to prepare a Consular Report of Death Abroad, Yahoo News reported. A Person's Declaration of Death On the other hand, in Virginia, a person can be presumed dead after disappearance in several scenarios under the commonwealth's law. Under one provision of the law, a person can be presumed dead after seven years from their absence. The situation comes as the Iowa man who was the last person to see Konanki before she disappeared was hauled aside by U.S. border agents on arrival to Puerto Rico. The individual was identified as 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, who was questioned at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan on Wednesday. Dominican Republic officials named Riibe a person of interest as they continue to search for the whereabouts of Konanki. He was seen walking with the 20-year-old student toward the beach at 4:15 p.m. the day Konanki was last seen on footage, as per MSN. The closure of London's Heathrow Airport due to a nearby fire on Friday has put the focus on the aviation industry's ability to handle a crisis, according to a travel industry expert. At the time of writing, Heathrow remained shut after a fire at an electricity substation that caused a power outage on Friday. "The growth of the [aviation] industry is happening faster than the growth of infrastructure," said Anita Mendiratta, founder of consultancy AM&A, who stressed that aviation needs to become more resilient to incidents like an energy supply disruption, or to geopolitical or weather events. The Heathrow outage is "putting a spotlight on the need to make sure that the entire network of energy supply for any ... airport around the world has sufficient capability to address a crisis," Mendiratta told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday. "All of this is a very dramatic learning curve." A back-up generator was also affected by the blaze, raising questions over the resilience of the supporting energy infrastructure, according to U.K. Energy Minister Ed Miliband, while Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) described Heathrow's reliance on a "single" power source as a "clear planning failure" by the airport. In an emailed statement, Heathrow said it has multiple sources of energy. "Our back up systems are safety systems which allow us to land aircraft and evacuate passengers safely, but they are not designed to allow us to run a full operation," Heathrow said. An entry sign to the Johnson & Johnson campus shows their logo in Irvine, California on August 28, 2019. Johnson & Johnson plans to spend over $55 billion to build four plants in the U.S., it said on Friday, as a threat of drug import duties from the Trump administration forces companies to expand their manufacturing operations domestically. The new plants will be built over the next four years, including in Wilson, North Carolina, where the pharmaceutical giant officially broke ground on Friday. The drug and device maker said the investment represents a 25% increase compared to the last four years. Last month, drugmaker Eli Lilly announced its plans to invest in the country, as companies brace for the impact of a potential 25% tariff on pharmaceutical imports. Companies such as J&J and Pfizer could be at risk as they operate large plants in countries like Ireland, which President Donald Trump said has lured them with its tax policies. Trump, who campaigned on a promise to boost domestic manufacturing, has been piling pressure on drugmakers since taking office to move medicine production to the United States. Companies in other sectors, such as iPhone-maker Apple , have also made manufacturing announcements in recent weeks. J&J's site in Wilson, where it plans to invest more than $2 billion, is expected to create 5,000 jobs during construction, and more than 500 positions across the state. The site will focus on producing medicines used for treating cancer, immune-mediated and neurological diseases, it said. The company said it already has more manufacturing facilities in the U.S. than in any other country. It plans to expand several of its existing sites in the U.S. and build new infrastructure for research and technology. J&J, however, did not disclose details about the expansion plans or the location of its other planned facilities in its statement. Police vehicles and fire engines are seen near the scene where a fire broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London on March 21, 2025. Benjamin Cremel | Afp | Getty Images A fire at an electrical substation caused the closure of London's Heathrow Airport on Friday causing major travel disruption around the world. Heathrow, the U.K.'s biggest airport and a global travel hub, will remain closed until 11:59 p.m on Friday, the airport said, with disruption expected to affect hundreds of flights. According to flight-tracker site Flightradar24, 679 flights were scheduled to land at Heathrow on Friday, while 678 flights were scheduled to take off from the airport. Here's what airlines have been telling passengers due to fly into or out of the airport: British Airways British Airways advised customers not to travel to the airport until further notice. "This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond," a statement said. "Where possible, we're redirecting inbound flights already on their way to Heathrow to other UK airports." Virgin Atlantic A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic told CNBC that the closure of Heathrow was having "a significant impact on our flying program both into and out of Heathrow." "All Virgin Atlantic arriving and departing flights are cancelled until 21:30 on 21 March, with the rest of today's schedule currently under review," they said in an emailed statement. "We kindly request that all customers do not travel to Heathrow or their scheduled departure airport, or contact our customer centre at this time and instead check their flight status at virginatlatic.com." Airborne flights operated by Virgin Atlantic are currently being diverted to other U.K. airports or returning to where they took off. The airline said it would email affected customers with rebooking details, but said that due to availability, some customers may be booked onto flights on a different date or need to travel to or from a different airport. Passengers whose flight was canceled and no longer wished to travel would be entitled to a refund. Lufthansa Lufthansa told CNBC it had canceled all flights due to arrive at and depart from Heathrow on Friday. "Passengers affected by the flight cancellations have been rebooked on other flights and informed about it," a spokesperson said via email. "This requires that contact details, such as email or phone number, are included in the booking." Singapore Airlines A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines (SIA) said a number of its flights had been impacted by the disruption. Flight SQ322, which left Singapore on Thursday, was diverted to Frankfurt, Germany, while flight SQ306, which took off from Singapore on Friday, was diverted to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Another flight that took off on Friday returned to Singapore. Flight SQ318 out of Singapore has been canceled, the spokesperson added, as have many of the airline's planned departures out of Heathrow. "SIA will provide all necessary assistance to the affected passengers, including providing hotel accommodation, and reaccommodating them on alternative flights or land transport," the spokesperson said. "Other SIA flights between Singapore and London Heathrow may be affected." Emirates Emirates said Friday that it had canceled six flights into and out of Heathrow. "Passengers connecting onto the flights to London Heathrow will not be accepted for travel until further notice at the point of origin," the airline said in a statement. "We're monitoring the situation closely and will update our customers as the situation develops." Travelers due to fly in or out of Heathrow with Emirates can rebook to travel to other U.K. airports, or travel on a later date, the airline said. Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific said flights CX239 and CX253 from Hong Kong to London on March 21 have been canceled. "All Cathay flights from London to Hong Kong on 21 March have also been canceled," it said in a statement. "We are assessing the situation and will keep our customers informed with the latest updates." United Airlines United Airlines said seven of its flights had been diverted or returned to their originating airports due to the closure, adding that all flights to London Heathrow on Friday had been canceled. "We are working with our customers to offer alternative travel options," the carrier said in a statement. Swiss Swiss said it was canceling all flights from Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland to Heathrow on Friday, affecting almost 3,000 customers. "As a precautionary measure, all flights from Switzerland to and from London Heathrow have been closed for sale tomorrow, Saturday, March 22. SWISS deeply regrets the inconvenience this has caused passengers. We hope that the situation at London Heathrow will return to normal as soon as possible," the airline said. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways said Friday that seven of its flights had been affected by the closure of Heathrow. "Qatar Airways is working closely with LHR airport officials. Passengers impacted due to above will be taken care of by our customer care and airport teams," it said. Aer Lingus A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high net worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. Elizabeth Lilly started her own asset management firm in 2017, fulfilling a dream three decades in the making. Since her 20s working as an equity analyst, she had carried around a composition notebook, envisioning what her future firm would look like and jotting down lessons from financial powerhouses she worked under like value investor Robert Bruce and turnaround expert Jack Byrne. Less than two years later, Lilly gave it up after getting an offer she couldn't refuse from one of her clients. The Pohlad family, best known as the owners of MLB's Minnesota Twins, needed a chief investment officer to oversee their vast portfolio, spanning public equities and direct investments in healthtech and manufacturing. Lilly had reservations about letting go of her newfound independence to work for a family office, but she decided broadening her horizons was worth it. "I was doing small-cap public equities, and I weighed that with what I would get to learn about, private equity funds, direct investing," she said. "I thought to myself, 'This is a point in my life where I don't know when I'll ever get this opportunity again.'" Lilly is one of a growing number of women who are taking the helm of prominent family offices the private investment arms of wealthy families. Last summer, James Dyson appointed Jane Simpson as chief investment officer of his family office, Weybourne. In 2022, billionaires Michael Dell and Sergey Brin named Alisa Mall and Marie Young, respectively, as CIOs of their family offices. "I'm just surprised at the number of women CIOs there are, and it's wonderful," Lilly said. "Compared to where I started in the business in 1985, there has been a huge change." Lilly said it's possible that women thrive in the role because female investors are, generally speaking, more conservative in their financial decision-making . She noted that family offices have patient capital, only deploying funds when the right opportunities arise and measuring performance in terms of years, not quarters. "I think it's a matter of temperament, maybe," she added. "Women investors, if you look at all the studies, are more even-keeled, and their investment decisions are less impulsive." According to a survey by Botoff Consulting, women hold 29% of executive positions in family offices, greater than that of corporate America and finance sectors like private equity. However, only 16% of the 433 surveyed firms reported having a female CIO. Four female CIOs who spoke with CNBC said that their tight-knit networks make up for what the space lacks in numbers. Margo Doyle, CIO of S-Cubed Capital, is part of a WhatsApp group for female CIOs and hosts dinners and cocktail events for other family offices in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kristin Gilbertson, CIO of Len Blavatnik's Access Industries, described the family office industry as collegial. "When you're allocating to external managers, it's a bit of a team sport," she said. "We share references, we share experiences, we leverage each other's expertise." Gilbertson joined Blavatnik's family office in 2013 after spending most of her career in male-dominated niches: overseeing endowments at Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as managing pension investments at the World Bank and working on economic reform in the former Soviet Union. "It's quite honestly, one of the few times in my career where I've not been made aware that I'm a female," Gilbertson said of her time at Access and working with Blavatnik. Gilbertson said she was sought out for her endowment experience. Blavatnik, an investor known for bold bets such as acquiring Warner Music, and his right-hand man, Access CEO Lincoln Benet, wanted a CIO to construct a lower-risk, diversified portfolio of external funds, she said. Like Lilly, Noelle Laing of Builders Vision once counted her now-principal as a client. She met Walmart heir Lukas Walton when she managed impact investments at Cambridge Associates and joined his family office in 2019. "When you go from serving so many clients to serving one, it's really fun to lean into the one principal's vision," she said. "You can really focus your time." Doyle, on the other hand, left Cambridge Associates in 2014 with the goal of working for a first-generation, single-family office with at least $1 billion in assets. She had moved from Boston to San Francisco the year prior, and wanted to help build a family office from the ground up. "You drink the water out here, and you get your entrepreneurial spirit," she said. Doyle reached out to a CIO at a single-family office she knew, who introduced her to Mark Stevens, the billionaire venture capitalist and former managing partner of Sequoia Capital. Doyle was hired to lead S-Cubed Capital's portfolio after five months of discussions, not only about investment strategies but also communication styles and personal goals. For instance, Stevens and his wife Mary has signed the Giving Pledge, vowing to contribute most of his family's wealth to philanthropic causes. "When you're coming into this high-level position within a family office, it's a very personal relationship that you're developing," she said. Doyle advised aspiring family office CIOs to be prepared to adapt, not only in terms of managing different types of assets but also in working with future generations of the family. "You will certainly have multiple risk tolerances, liquidity needs, durations," she said. "Thinking about the range of inputs that are affecting the portfolio is an important capability to build as you're evolving in your career." An attendee walks past Boeing branding at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 22, 2024. U.S. President Donald Trump awarded Boeing on Friday the contract to build the U.S. Air Force's most sophisticated fighter jet yet, dubbed the F-47, handing the company a much-needed win. The Next Generation Air Dominance program will replace Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor with a crewed aircraft built to enter combat alongside drones. Trump, the 47th president, announced the new jet's name, the F-47. "We've given an order for a lot. We can't tell you the price," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "Our allies are calling constantly," Trump added, saying foreign sales could be an option. "They want to buy them also." For Boeing, the win marks a reversal of fortune for a company that has struggled on both the commercial and defense sides of its business. It is a major boost for its St. Louis, Missouri, fighter jet production business. The engineering and manufacturing development contract is worth more than $20 billion. Boeing's win means it will make the jet fighter and receive orders worth hundreds of billions of dollars over the contract's multi-decade lifetime. Shares of Boeing rose nearly 5% after the U.S. company beat out Lockheed Martin LMT.N for the deal. Lockheed's shares fell nearly 7%. Reuters reported Boeing's victory before the official announcement. The plane's design remains a closely held secret, but would likely include stealth, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines. "Compared to the F-22, the F-47 will cost less and be more adaptable to future threats - and we will have more of the F-47s in our inventory," said Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Allvin. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NGAD was conceived as a "family of systems" centered around a sixth-generation fighter to counter adversaries such as China and Russia. Allvin added the F-47 will have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, and will be more sustainable and more easily supported than the F-22. MAJOR WIN Boeing's commercial operations have struggled as it attempts to get its best-selling 737 MAX jet production back up to full speed, while its defense operation has been weighed down by underperforming contracts for mid-air refueling tankers, drones and training jets. "The win is a major boost for the company, which has struggled with cost overruns, schedule delays and execution on other DoD programs," said Roman Schweizer, an analyst at TD Cowen. Cost overruns at the KC-46 mid-air refueling tanker program have surpassed $7 billion in recent years, while another fixed-price contract to upgrade two Air Force One planes has created a $2-billion loss for the top-5 U.S. defense contractor. Boeing has faced ongoing scrutiny since a series of crises including a mid-air emergency in January 2024 involving a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 missing four key bolts. In January, Boeing reported an $11.8-billion annual loss - its largest since 2020 - due to problems at its major units, along with fallout from a strike that shuttered production of most of its jets. Boeing has ceded ground to rival Airbus AIR.PA in the delivery race and entered the crosshairs of regulators and customers following missteps. The Federal Aviation Administration in early 2024 imposed a monthly production cap. "A program of this size and complexity requires careful oversight to make sure it doesn't fall behind or have cost overruns," Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a former U.S. Navy combat pilot, said in a statement. Billionaire and presidential adviser Elon Musk has voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of crewed high-end fighters, saying cheaper drones were a better option. Lockheed, which was recently eliminated from the competition to build the Navy's next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter, faces an uncertain future in the high-end fighter market after the loss. "While disappointed with this outcome, we are confident we delivered a competitive solution," Lockheed said in a statement. "We will await further discussions with the U.S. Air Force." While Lockheed could still protest the government's award to Boeing, the fact Trump announced the deal in a high-profile press conference could reduce the possibility of a public airing of arguments against the agreement from the Bethesda, Maryland-based defense firm. The NGAD program will replace Lockheed Martin 's F-22 Raptor with a crewed aircraft built to enter combat alongside drones. The plane's design remains a closely held secret, but would likely include stealthiness, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines. The engineering and manufacturing development contract is worth more than $20 billion. The winner will eventually receive hundreds of billions of dollars in orders over the contract's multi-decade lifetime. For Boeing, the win marks a reversal of fortune for a company that has struggled on both the commercial and defense sides of its business. It is a major boost for its St. Louis, Missouri, fighter jet production business. The United Arab Emirates has committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework in the United States after top UAE officials met President Donald Trump this week, a White House official said on Friday. The new framework will "substantially increase the UAE's existing investments in the U.S. economy" in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and American manufacturing, the official told Reuters. The official said the agreement resulted from a meeting that Trump held on Tuesday with UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed in the Oval Office and a dinner that Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet members held with the UAE delegation, which included the heads of major UAE sovereign wealth funds and corporations. Under terms of the framework, UAE investment fund ADQ, along with U.S. partner Energy Capital Partners, announced a $25 billion U.S.-focused initiative to invest in energy infrastructure and data centers, the official said. XRG, the international investment arm of UAE state oil company ADNOC, also announced its commitment to support U.S. natural gas production and exports with an investment in the NextDecade liquefied natural gas export facility in Texas, the official said. The companies have additional plans to make substantial investments in U.S. assets across gas, chemicals, energy infrastructure and low carbon solutions, the official said. This week was supposed to mark the end of compounding pharmacies making copycat versions of Eli Lilly 's weight-loss drug Zepbound and its diabetes drug Mounjaro. Online, it doesn't look like much has changed. Popular websites like Amble, EllieMD, Willow and Mochi Health are all still advertising versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound. Some, like Ivim, have stopped taking new patients. Mochi Health has no plans to stop, and neither do the four pharmacies it uses to supply patients with the medications, said Mochi CEO Myra Ahmad. The company uses a network of about 500 providers to write prescriptions for weight-loss drugs, including compounded versions. It's betting that offering personalized versions of the drugs will keep the company out of the crosshairs. "It can be different dosing schedules some patients prefer to go up in dosage much more slowly," Ahmad said. "Some patients like to mix a number of other medications into their compounded formulations, depending on the side effects that they're having. Some patients have side effects with any additives and brand name formulations. Compounding really opens up the door for so much personalization." Amble, EllieMD and Willow didn't respond to CNBC's request for comment. Compounding is where pharmacies mix ingredients of a drug to create a specialized version for specific patients. Say someone is allergic to a dye in a branded medication or needs a liquid form and the main manufacturer only sells capsules. In that case, the patient can turn to a compounded version. When drugs are in shortage, they can be compounded in larger quantities to help fill the gap. Copycat versions of Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound and Novo Nordisk 's Wegovy and Ozempic have been widely available in recent years because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration listed the brand versions as being in short supply. That created a booming business for pharmacies compounding the highly popular class of weight loss and diabetes medications called GLP-1s. But late last year, the FDA said all doses of Mounjaro and Zepbound were readily available and took the drug off its shortage list, spelling the end for mass compounding of the drug. After months of legal challenges, the FDA gave smaller pharmacies until early March to stop and larger pharmacies until this week before it started enforcing its rules. The larger facilities aren't allowed to compound tirzepatide at all anymore. Smaller ones aren't supposed to make products that are essentially copies of a commercially available drug, a moniker with some wiggle room. The FDA sees essential copies as those that have a dosage within 10% of the commercially available drug or combine two or more commercially available drugs. Mochi insists all of its prescriptions are personalized, including doses that differ from the standard Zepbound strengths. Other websites like EllieMD are advertising tirzepatide mixed with vitamin B12. Scott Brunner, CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, said formulations or dosage strengths that aren't commercially available aren't considered a copy. However, combining two drugs into one like adding vitamin B6 or B12 would be considered a copy under a strict reading of FDA guidance. But tweaking the dosage and adding in other commercially available drugs wouldn't be considered an essential copy, he added. "FDA guidance are pretty clear about what is and is not a copy," Brunner said. "And I would say any compounding pharmacy or outsourcing facility that continues to prepare copies of tirzepatide injection after today are putting themselves in a certain amount of legal risks." John Herr, pharmacist and owner of Town & Country Compounding Pharmacy, stopped compounding tirzepatide earlier this month. He didn't want to take the risk even though his 300 to 400 patients on it have been calling nonstop to complain about losing access. Town & Country, based in Ramsey, New Jersey, was charging patients about $200 a month about one-fifth the list price for Zepbound and less than half the price Lilly charges self-paying patients. What happens next is an open question. Enforcing the ban on mass compounding of tirzepatide mostly falls to the FDA. The agency didn't immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Lilly can try to sue companies that continue, but it hasn't had much luck in the past. A Florida judge last year dismissed one of Lilly's cases, saying the company was trying to enforce a law that only the FDA can. Ahmad, the CEO of Mochi, said she isn't worried about Lilly taking legal action against her providers. The way she sees it, they have established patient-physician relationships with the autonomy to decide how best to manage their patients. The next two months will be informative. Mass compounding of semaglutide the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy needs to stop by the end of May, according to the FDA. Hims & Hers Health has already said it will stop selling commercially available doses of semaglutide when the time comes. Customers who have a personalized dosing regimen will be able to continue without any change, the company added. CNBC's Leanne Miller contributed to this report Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify Scott Brunner's comments. South Korean opposition parties will bring a motion to impeach acting President Choi Sang-mok on Friday, the majority Democratic Party said in a notice to reporters, in a move likely to escalate recent political strife in the country.The impeachment would be registered at 2:00 p.m. (0500 GMT), the notice said, though the timetable for a vote was not immediately clear.Choi, who is the finance minister, is leading the country in an acting capacity after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over a short-lived martial law he declared in December.Choi has angered opposition parties, which together have a commanding majority in parliament, by repeatedly vetoing bills and holding off appointing a Constitutional Court justice approved by the assembly.The court is currently reviewing Yoons impeachment and is expected to deliver its ruling on whether to permanently remove him from office or reinstate him.As the wait for the courts ruling has dragged on longer than expected, tensions between opposing parties in parliament and on the streets have intensified amid calls for and against Yoons ouster.Yoons impeachment plunged Asias fourth-largest economy that had been considered a thriving democracy into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Opposition parties also impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo after he became acting president.The Democratic Party has said Choi has been violating his constitutional duty by refusing to appoint the Constitutional Court judge despite a ruling by the top court that such inaction was infringing on parliaments authority. The US State Department has approved what would be the first sale of advanced precision kill weapon systems to Saudi Arabia for an estimated cost of $100 million, the Pentagon said on Thursday (March 19).The potential sale comes as the US continues a wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen which began last Saturday, killing at least 31 people in the biggest such operation since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.Yemen's civil war erupted in late 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa. Worried by the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran along its border, Saudi Arabia led a Western-backed coalition in March 2015 to support the Saudi-backed government.The war, which has abated since a ceasefire in 2022, has killed tens of thousands of people, devastated Yemen's economy, and left millions hungry.The advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) approved for sale to Saudi Arabia is a laser-guided rocket that can hit both airborne and surface targets. The price of the weapon is about $22,000, making it a cost-effective choice for shooting down low-cost small armed drones like those used by the Houthis that have disrupted shipping in the Red Sea.The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale of 2000 APKWS and associated equipment and training on Thursday.Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.The principal contractor for the sale will be BAE Systems, the Pentagon said in a statement. 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In their work on "footnotes," which are directions to state departments on administering appropriations, the Joint Budget Committee adopted two items related to the wolf reintroduction program. Footnotes do not have the force of law, although state agencies comply. Even when the governor vetoes a footnote, usually due to a separation of powers issue, he often directs the agencies to comply anyway. The first said the annual $2.1 million general fund appropriation should be used to implement Proposition 114, the narrowly-adopted 2020 ballot measure that resulted in the introduction of 20 wolves in Colorado. The wolves have been preying on livestock, frustrating livestock growers. That standard footnote has been included in the budget bill for several years. The second deals with the petition submitted last September by 22 agricultural groups and other parties, such as Colorado Counties, Inc. They asked Colorado Parks and Wildlife to hold off on any further releases of the apex predators until a fully-fledged wolf management program had been implemented. "It is the General Assembly's intent that the portion of these funds that are intended to be appropriated for the implementation of Proposition 114 not be spent on any future wolf reintroduction unless and until full and complete implementation of all state funded preventative measures discussed by the Parks and Wildlife Commission as part of its denial of a citizen petition to half wolf reintroduction during its January 8, 2025, meeting," said the footnote approved by the Joint Budget Committee on March 17. The budget panel is working on the 2025-26 budget and has bought itself an extra week by delaying the spending plan's introduction until Monday, March 31. The state government faces a $1 billion deficit, and budget drafters have been scrambling to fill the fiscal hole. The agricultural groups' petition, which the CPW Commission denied on a 10-1 vote in January, sought seven items, including the following: Adopt a clear definition of "chronic depredation" and mandate lethal take requirements for wolves that consistently prey on livestock. The petition said Colorado Parks and Wildlife has "relied on the ambiguity of the term to deny any request to lethally control chronically depredating wolves in Jackson and Grand Counties." Commission Chair Dallas May told the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week that had the definition been in place, the male of the Copper Creek pack, believed responsible for killing a dozen livestock, would have met the criteria for lethal management. Proactive development, testing and funding of "non-lethal" methods to prevent depredations and fully fund range riders dispatched in areas potentially affected by wolf introductions. "Range riders patrol on horseback and in vehicles to intercept and scare away wolves threatening livestock and working dogs. The petition emphasizes the need for a streamlined process that allows producers to easily enroll in these prevention programs," the Colorado Cattlemen's Association said in a statement last September. Conduct vulnerability site assessments on potentially impacted operations before future wolf releases. These assessments will allow Colorado Parks and Wildlife to understand each operation clearly, while ensuring that producers are informed about the full range of non-lethal options available, the petition said. "This collaborative approach will enable CPW and producers to agree on what methods are suitable for each specific operation and which ones may not be effective, promoting tailored solutions for livestock protection," the cattlemen's group said. Put in place a trained rapid response team, deployed to areas where wolves are actively preying on livestock to mitigate damage before it escalates. Collaborate with ranchers on carcass management. Develop a communication plan and consult with local officials, communities, and producers. Some of those items have since been completed, such as the definition of chronic depredation. The state wildlife agency has claimed that it has met requests, but sources said the alleged killing of cattle in Pitkin County last weekend and dogs and cattle in Jackson County earlier this month, all of which are now under investigation, is another indication that not everything is in place. Responding to questions on the $2.1 million appropriation, JBC Chair Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, said these dollars could be diverted to higher-priority state needs, such as K-12, higher education, or child welfare. While he acknowledged that some of that money could be used to bring in more wolves, he said most should be used to implement the items identified in the petition. He also said he believes the governor, who has the authority to veto footnotes, will leave it alone, and that it will not be challenged when the budget bill moves through the legislature next month. "We have an agreement (with the Department of Natural Resources] on the language," he told Colorado Politics. "We expect the department will follow this." During the March 17 JBC meeting, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, asked what would happen if the governor vetoed the footnote. "We run a bill," replied Bridges, one that would make the program's funding contingent on CPW meeting those requirements. A third footnote requires CPW to provide a report on wolf depredations by Nov. 1, 2025. The agency released a report last September that included nothing on depredation problems. CPW claimed it left out that information because it was following a "biological" year from April 1 to March 31. The first report of a wolf killing livestock in Grand County, from wolves relocated to Colorado from Oregon, happened on April 2, 2024. Ranchers believed CPW deliberately chose the April 1 to March 31 span to avoid discussing the depredations. The JBC request requires the report to include information "since at least January 2024" based on the calendar year. The requested information would list all depredation incidents, claims and compensation paid, including the source of funds and direct and indirect costs. The Department of Natural Resources, in a statement, said "Footnotes are not binding and the Executive Branch will not be constrained by any limitations or obligations implied by a footnote. CPW and DNR have already committed to implementing preventative measures outlined in the petition request." "CPW and DNR appreciate the Committee's collaboration and support in maintaining the funding necessary to support those efforts. The agencys efforts to put preventative measures in place will be ongoing and evolve, particularly as new technologies emerge." Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, was part of the effort to put the footnote into the budget bill. He told Colorado Politics he believes the footnote has gotten CPW's attention and the agency is nervous about it. Roberts described the the version going into the budget bill as strong. As approved by the JBC, the current footnote language was worked out with Kathleen Curry of the Gunnison Stockgrowers Association and John Swartout of the Colorado Outdoor Coalition, Bridges and Roberts. Regarding the legality of footnotes, Roberts explained, "Plan A would have been to have the petition accepted by the commission, which would have made it legally binding." Although it isn't legally binding, putting the footnote into the state budget gives it a certain weight once the governor signs off on the budget, he said. Roberts said he also believes the governor's office will not work to amend or strip the footnote. As for the programs identified in the petition and the footnote, Roberts said he isn't satisfied with the progress. He noted that some things have been completed and others haven't. "The real test of whether they are adequately funded and supported" will be this spring and summer during calving season, he said. If depredations continue at an unacceptable level, he added, "we'll know that (these programs) haven't been put in place well; if there are moderate to low depredations, we'll know things are working." Apart from The Simpsons Movie, Bart Simpson really isnt in any other feature films. That being said, thanks to the shows Spaceballs-esque penchant for excessive merchandising, Barts image has shown up in a few non-Simpson movies, such as 1991s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, which included a prominently placed Bart Simpson-branded glass. But while Ninja Turtles II was a family film, a far more unexpected pseudo-cameo from Bart occurred in a movie released the following year: the blockbuster erotic thriller Basic Instinct, which featured Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas and, if you saw it in a theater in the 90s, hundreds of horny moviegoers. The film concerns a homicide detective (Douglas) investigating a series of ice pick murders seemingly committed by a famous author (Stone). Oddly, the police psychologist whos having an affair with Douglas, Dr. Beth Garner (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn) keeps her keys on a Bart Simpson keychain, which isnt exactly the sexiest keychain that the production could have selected, to be honest. Advertisement Why include a prop shaped like Americas favorite cartoon troublemaker in this otherwise 100 percent adult thriller? Well, Alan Siegel, author of the upcoming book Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television-and America-Forever got to the bottom of this pop-culture mystery. Advertisement As he recently revealed on social media, Siegel actually spoke to director Paul Verhoeven, the filmmaker behind classics such as RoboCop, Total Recall and Showgirls. According to Verhoeven, he never actually intended to include a shout-out to The Simpsons in Basic Instinct. In fact, hed never even seen a single episode of the show. In my storyboard I had drawn a close-up keychain coming out of Beths pocket, the director explained. And among these keys was a finger-long little puppet also hanging on the keychain ring. As my storyboards were often used by the crew to find out what I had in mind, the prop master might have, seeing my drawing, (put) a Simpsons character in there. Verhoeven added that he never looked at The Simpsons and was only five years in the USA. Advertisement Advertisement There you have it, Verhoevens storyboards, for some inexplicable reason, featured a finger puppet on Beths keychain, which the crew then interpreted to be Bart Simpson. Incidentally, just three years after the release of Basic Instinct, the show returned the referential favor. In Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two? a kilt-wearing Groundskeeper Willie recreates Stones famous interrogation scene. Sadly, they didnt include any scenes in which Bart owns a Jeanne Tripplehorn keychain. Amy Schumer blamed the commute to her sons school in Manhattan as the reason shes selling her Moonstruck home in Brooklyn Heights. Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images Just three years after Amy Schumer bought the Moonstruck townhouse at 19 Cranberry Street in Brooklyn Heights, the actress and her family are apparently heading back to Manhattan. The five-bedroom, three-and-half-bath mansion that housed the Castorini family in the 1987 film starring Cher and Nic Cage was listed Friday for $14 million an increase of $1.75 million from when she picked it up in 2022. The Federal-style, four-story home has high ceilings, grand rooms with crown moldings, fireplaces with original marble mantles, and 30 windows ideal for natural light but perhaps less so for privacy. The eat-in kitchen comes with Gaggenau appliances and a three-oven LaCanche range, but also vintage wood cabinets, exposed beams, and wide-planked floorboards. In the basement: a gym and a custom-built wine cellar. The actress even hired landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh of nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park fame to add turf on their formerly brick patio, in addition to setting up a swing and play structure. The Federal-style townhouse on Cranberry Street was the Castorini familys home in the 1987 film starring Cher and Nicholas Cage. Photo: Corcoran Schumer, whose husband is chef Chris Fischer, says shes moving to be closer to their 5-year-olds school. He got into a good school and were too lazy to commute 45 minutes to take our son to school every day, she told The Wall Street Journal. She also said that between herself, Fischer, and their son, her family didnt really need 5,600 square feet of space. This is a home that is just ready for more people, she told the paper. Fair enough? The 19th-century home has 30 windows, some shown in this listing photo, which is great for light, but maybe not so much for privacy. Photo: Corcoran Sign Up for the Curbed Newsletter A daily mix of stories about cities, city life, and our always evolving neighborhoods and skylines. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Two men impressed residents in the El Dorado building by managing to climb to the top of its twin towers, nearly 400 feet in the air. Photo: Jeff French Segall Jeff French Segall was in his apartment on West 90th Street Monday evening when his wife, Ricki, called for him to look out their 27th-story window. On top of the El Dorados twin towers, nearly 400 feet in the air, were two men balancing on the slender ziggurat peaks. Segall, a retired Spanish teacher and self-described semi-professional photographer, began to shoot with his Nikon D850, capturing a pink-hued sky and the climbers as they moved from one pose to the next, backs arched over the spire or standing pencil straight, all while recording themselves via selfie stick. The West Side Rag ran the spread the following morning, and news of the stunt hit the New York Post a few hours later. The buildings residents were just as stunned as the rest of the city. Some even got a little poetic when I asked them about the surreal episode. All mankind aspires to fly, said a 40-year resident of the El Dorado. I have total admiration for these two young ones. The white-glove co-ops management, however, did not. On Tuesday, it sent a letter to El Dorados residents calling the photos a hoax: The police had launched an investigation, they wrote, and determined the pictures were deepfakes that had been created to mislead the residents and community and cause unnecessary panic. (One does not want to cause unnecessary panic in a building where a two-bedroom, three-bath goes for nearly $5 million, and where former residents include Alec Baldwin, Bono, and the late art dealer Hester Diamond.) Segall was shocked. I thought in my mind that probably the door people were going to get reamed, he told me. But I certainly never couldve imagined that they were going to impugn my word my good name! The building management in a letter to residents called this photo and others depicting the two men on top of the El Dorado deepfakes, before issuing a follow-up letter retracting the claim. Photo: Jeff French Segall Eager to defend his honor, Segall provided raw versions of the photos to the Post, which the tabloid determined to be genuine. The Rags loyal readership also shared their eyewitness accounts of the spectacle in the comments section. (One wrote that she had seen the climbers while en route to Trader Joes on West 93rd Street: It was an incredible sight.) Residents were equally suspicious of their buildings claim. Plus, as one told me, wasnt Segall just a little too old to be doing a fake thing. They were right. By that evening, the El Dorados co-op board president, Mark Schonberger, had started walking back the fake-news claims. He told the Rag that management had perhaps prematurely written off the photos as doctored. The next day, an official retraction was issued: The incident did, in fact, occur, and we are now working with the relevant authorities to fully understand the circumstances. (The climbers were still at large as of Thursday and, perhaps most mysteriously, their footage of the stunt has yet to surface.) And on the matter of how they got up there, residents had their own theories, too: Security is tight in the building, with a 24-hour doorman and cameras, but the El Dorado currently has exterior scaffolding extending up to at least one of the towers while workers repair leaks and repoint the brickwork. Theres a stairway that goes all the way up there, so obviously thats what they did, said resident Jenny Nilsson. Was she worried about safety after the towers had been breached so publicly? I dont think theres any big security risk or anything like that, she said, still marveling at the daredevils ascent. Or, as another unbothered El Dorado resident put it, they enjoyed the show of it all, though theyre sure some of their neighbors with a lot of artwork and political ties take their security more seriously. Sign Up for the Curbed Newsletter A daily mix of stories about cities, city life, and our always evolving neighborhoods and skylines. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The genteel Surrey suburbs might not seem a natural breeding ground for bruisers, but friends say the PM's upbringing belies the inner beast. Is he even the hardest member of Cabinet? It would be a brave punter who backed him over three rounds against Angela Rayner , or indeed in an alley fight with his gimlet-eyed enforcer Pat McFadden. The first western tourist to visit North Korea in five years has revealed the strict rules he had to follow while inside the isolationist country. British YouTuber Mike O'Kennedy, 28, took a five day trip in the most secretive place in the world, after the dictatorship began to allow tourists back in following the Covid-19 pandemic. While there, he was given a guided tour around Rason, a special economic zone near the borders of China and Russia, which is one of the few places where tourists can visit. He also encountered several strange situations such a visit to a bottled water factory with no workers, while he also watched school children perform a song and dance dedicated to their leader Kim Jong Un. Before arriving in the country, Mike and his tour group, which included visitors from France, Germany and Australia, were required to keep their window blinds closed to prevent them from seeing the country from the air. The trip also had to be planned months in advance by a tour company, and at the border he was asked to list every electronic device in his possession. He explained: 'That list had to match our items on the way out, not because they're worried about what we might take with us, but because they're concerned about what we might leave behind. 'You're not allowed to bring anything that could be considered politically sensitive such as a book about North Korea or a USB containing external political content.' Mike O'Kennedy, who boasts more than half a million followers on his YouTube channel Mike Okay, became the first western tourist to visit North Korea in over five years after the country went into lockdown in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic Mike was invited to a secondary school in Rason to speak to some students who were learning English North Korea is a highly centralised totalitarian state. Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, it maintains one of the largest militarise and devotes significant resources to its illicit nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. There's no phone signal, no internet, and no cash machines. Mike revealed at the North Korean border his passport was stamped and he was asked to list every electronic device in our possession. Tourists aren't allowed to interact with locals, use the bathroom without permission or go on solo walks. He added that he always had three North Korean guides accompanying him at all times, as well as a a photographer and a driver and despite their friendly demeanour, he couldn't shake the feeling he was being 'watched at all time.' 'A couple of times I even had to let them know when I wanted to use the bathroom,' Mike told the BBC. 'I've never had to do that anywhere in the world.' In a video posted to YouTube, Mike is seen trying to open a window in his hotel bedroom before realising it's been sealed shut. During the trip Mike he was brought to feed some deer in a park, a bank and a water factory. He said: 'I've got a feeling there's not going to be a lot of human interaction on this trip makes me very.' At one point during a guided tour around a mineral water factory, Mike couldn't help but notice the lack of workers, or any people whatsoever in the building. During a trip to a gift shop Mike found ome North Korean postcards which showed an American flag draped over a soldier's coffin Mike was acutely aware of the special treatment that he and his fellow tourists were getting while in the country but he couldn't help but shake the 'strange atmosphere' he was experiencing due to the limited and controlled access he had to local people After asking his guide what this sign says, he was told it means 'long live the revolutionary ideals of the great comrade Kim Jong Un' Speaking to his guide he asked: 'You said this was a factory, were are all the factory workers? The people working here?' The guide responded asking what day of the week was it, before adding 'Saturday?' To which Mike responded: 'The day today is Thursday.' Later the content creator revealed that towns were filled with government propaganda posters including one billboard that read 'unwavering loyalty'. Elsewhere Mike explained that one of the first things that struck him about the country was the 'sheer amount of farmland' which he was told was fertilised using locals own 'bodily waste.' He explained: 'With 80 percent of North Korea covered in mountains every available piece of useable land is dedicated to farming. 'This isn't just due to necessity but also stems from the country's core ideology of self-reliance which prioritises producing as much of its own food as possible rather than depending on imports. 'We were also told that the country doesn't use any form of chemical fertiliser the residents are asked to collect their own bodily waste which is then taken to the fields and used as organic fertiliser.' The first sign that this trip might not be like his other travel videos was when he and his fellow plane passengers were required to keep their window blinds closed to prevent them from seeing the country from the air Later the content creator revealed that towns were filled with government propaganda posters including one billboard that read 'unwavering loyalty' Mike explained that the towns were almost empty with hardly no people or cars around Mike claimed that Rason was a form of 'experiment by the North Koreans' to introduce some form of capitalism into the country Elsewhere Mike was invited to watch dozens of enthusiastic children from Rason perform a song and dance dedicated to leader Kim Jong Un, which the YouTuber revealed was 'weird' but 'better than the opening of the Paris Olympics' Despite the amount of farmland he claimed he didn't see any farm machinery or harvesting equipment around during his two hour drive through the countryside. He added: 'I reckon I saw about 20 people in that time, not a lot of people, no cars, maybe like one or two taxis in that whole journey.' Mike claimed that Rason was a form of 'experiment by the North Koreans' to introduce some form of capitalism into the country. One of the guides explained: 'Rason is a special economic zone which invites foreign investment, so we have a lot of Russian and Chinese companies that are doing business here. 'It gives Northeast China easy access to the port and gives the Russians access to a port that isn't frozen in the region and it also gives um the DPRK the opportunity to earn hard foreign currency which they can then put into social programs that are used to prop up the rest of the country.' Mike was acutely aware of the special treatment that he and his fellow tourists were getting while in the country but he couldn't help but shake the 'strange atmosphere' he was experiencing due to the limited and controlled access he had to local people. He explained: 'Strange atmosphere here in North Korea and it's one I fully expected. I mean there's quite literally, other than the group that I'm with, no one here. It's strange. 'Also finding it incredibly strange to like not be able to just go and do my own thing in the morning. I won't be able to wake up and go for a walk, won't be able to wake up and go and have food. Mike wasn't granted the freedoms he would normally enjoy during his travels such as interacting with locals, using the bathroom without permission and taking solo walks Mike spotted a large public TV screen which was showing a children's TV programme 'You're just always always with the four guides, four people watching us at all times.' However despite the uneasy feeling, on one of the nights Mike and his group got a little taste of home as they were brought to a bar to try some North Korean beer called soju. Next Mike was invited to a secondary school in Rason to speak to some students who were learning English. Having a conversation with one of the female students she revealed some day she would like to visit England to practice her English. When he asked her what she likes about the countryside, she replied: 'Under the wise leadership of our fatherly marshal Kim Jong Un the countryside has been changing. New houses were built and also a gymnasium, park and swimming pool.' Elsewhere Mike was invited to watch dozens of enthusiastic children from Rason perform a song and dance dedicated to leader Kim Jong Un, which the YouTuber revealed was 'weird' but 'better than the opening of the Paris Olympics.' The show included futuristic space costumes, a light show, visuals of rockets and the children danced and sang for a room full of 20 people. Mike concluded: 'Almost every song that comes out of the DPRK is, as expected, a tool of worship toward the country's current or former leaders. 'The recurring theme throughout this trip was the utter devotion people had towards Kim Jong Un, while I'm fully aware that they probably don't have much choice in the matter since openly speaking out against the leadership would lead to arrest, the public image of Kim Jong-un is more than that of a leader, to them he's a god.' Since Mike's trip to the country it has been reported that North Korea has put a sudden 'pause' on its Western tourist drive. Travel groups offering Britons adventures inside the country report that trips to Rason have been put on hold after the country tentatively reopened its doors to foreign visitors last month. Young Pioneer Tours, a group that 'specialises in taking you to places your mother would rather you stay away from', advised holidaymakers to refrain from booking flights 'until we have more information' on Wednesday. The decision to 'pause' visits to the country comes as a shock, with travel agencies reporting that their Korean partners 'have no more information themselves' at this stage. Unnamed operators told the BBC that trips to the experimental special economic zone of Rason had been 'more restricted' since reopening, with fewer opportunities to engage with the locals and internet access not available. Phoebe from Caerphilly says she will smoke if her daughter's in her pram A young mother has hit back at critics who took issue with her vaping around her baby. Phoebe, who is from Caerphilly in Wales, said she would continue to vape while her daughter was in her pram, saying 'it's not like I'm gonna blow it in her face'. The 18-year-old said, unlike her critics, she supports other mothers and will 'listen and not judge'. Taking to her TikTok account, she said: 'Yes I'm a mum. Yes I vape but at the end of the day if my daughter is in the pram I'm gonna be vaping. 'It's not like I'm gonna blow it in her face. I support mums not judge!' The young mother, who became pregnant with her daughter at 16 years old, has been with her boyfriend Dylan for three years. However, people were shocked that she would vape in such close proximity to her daughter. One person wrote: 'Vaping is bad for you, vaping around your children is bad for them. You should be judging yourself and doing what's best for your child.' Phoebe from Wales has said she will continue to vape around her baby, sparking debate online Others added: 'As a smoker, I'd never smoke around my children. Or in the buggy. We all know smoke travels!'; 'It's trashy to smoke while pushing a pram.' However, others agreed with Phoebe and argued that people should stay out of their business. They said: 'Couldn't agree more. I don't get why people judge other mums, like it doesn't affect you so why you caring'; 'I don't think ppl realise we blow the smoke AWAY! I always push my pram far infornt of my and blow the smoke behind me not at her'; 'Ppl should mind their business and concentrate on their own lives!! Car fumes what shall we do about them then?'; 'I have a no pushing whilst smoking/vaping rule, it just doesn't feel right to me BUT thats me, idc what anyone else does and won't sit and judge, people find the tiniest thing to pick at dont they.' Last July, a groundbreaking study revealed that children exposed to second-hand vape clouds may have five times the level of nicotine in their bodies compared to normal. The 18-year-old said, unlike her critics, she supports other mothers and will 'listen and not judge' However, youngsters exposed to e-cigarette vapour had 84 per cent less of the addictive substance in their systems compared to those exposed to traditional second-hand smoking from cigarettes. The British researchers behind the study said their findings, based on a cohort of nearly 1,800 American children suggested switching to vapes from traditional cigarettes could reduce the risk children's second-hand nicotine exposure. But, in the same breath, they warned that reduce does not mean eliminate and vaping around children 'should be avoided. In the study University of College London researchers compared levels of cotinine in blood samples taken from children in various US households divided by smoking and vaping status. Originally marketed as a way to quit smoking traditional cigarettes, studies are starting to suggest vapes are no less dangerous, citing a mixture of more than 7,000 chemicals in the toxic smoke. People can also puff on the devices hundreds of times per day, raising their risk of conditions including cancers and high levels of inflammation in the lungs which can damage the organs. About one in ten high schoolers now vape, with many drawn to the habit by the fruity flavors available in brands and teen-centric advertising. Half of these become addicted, figures suggest. And more are predicted to pick up the habit, with analysts suggesting the market will nearly double from $22.45billion in 2022 to as much as $39.1billion by 2032. People in the comments were shocked that anyone would smoke around their children - but others said people should 'mind their own business' School children as young as 11 are becoming addicted to vaping and smuggling disposable e-cigarettes into class disguised as items of stationery. Almost one million 11 to 17-year-olds vaped in 2024, data shows as schools across Britain struggle to cope with a surge in students skipping class to secretly smoke. Headteachers are turning to technology to try and stem the flood of the devices making their way into schools by installing advanced sensors which can detect the vapours. The device allows people to inhale nicotine in a vapour produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals. Unlike traditional cigarettes, they don't contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon - two of the most dangerous elements. Cancer Research UK says there is no good evidence that vaping causes cancer. Previous studies have also found vapers experienced a similar pattern of changes within their genes as smokers, although the changes are more extensive in people who smoke. Other studies have highlighted the risk posed by the chemical reactions that occur in the vaping process. Youngsters exposed to e-cigarette vapour had 84 per cent less of the addictive substance in their systems compared to those exposed to traditional second-hand smoking from cigarettes (stock image) NHS Digital data, based on the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape Everything you need to know about e-cigarettes How much nicotine is in an e-cigarette? There are many different brands of e-cigarettes, containing various different nicotine levels. The legal amount of nicotine in an e-liquid capacity in the UK is 20mg/ml equating to between 600 and 800 puffs. The Elf Bar 600, one of Britain's most popular vapes, is advertised as coming in nicotine strengths of 0mg, 10mg and 20mg. How many cigarettes are 'in' an e-cigarette? The Elf Bar 600 contains the equivalent to 48 cigarettes, analysts say. It delivers 600 puffs before it needs to be thrown away, meaning, in theory, every 12.5 puffs equate to one cigarette. Experts say for many e-cigarettes, 100 puffs equate to ten normal cigarettes. Elf Bars are a brand of e-cigarettes often sold in snazzy colours and with child-friendly names and flavours, like blue razz lemonade and Elfturbo Ice Is vaping better for your health than cigarettes? Vaping products are considered to be better than cigarettes as users are exposed to fewer toxins and at lower levels, according to the NHS. The health service adds that vaping instead of smoking cigarettes reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease and diseases of the heart and circulation, such as strokes and heart attacks. Public Health England, which is now defunct, published an expert independent review in 2015 concluding that e-cigarettes are around 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes. However vaping is not risk-free, as while levels in tobacco-products are much higher, e-cigarettes still contain harmful toxins, according to a study by researchers from the Medical University of Silesia in Poland. And Dr Onkar Mudhar, a London dentist who posts videos on TikTok, said Elf bars can cause gum inflammation, swelling and bleeding. He said this is because nicotine dries out your mouth and reduces saliva, causing irritation from a build-up of bacteria and food that can't get washed away. Nearly 350 hospitalisations due to vaping were logged in England in 2022, which are thought to be mainly down to respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, lung inflammation and, in severe cases, respiratory failure. Advertisement Metal components of the devices which heat the liquid containing the nicotine and flavourings creating the vapour can also release of a plume of toxic metals. These include arsenic, chromium, nickel and lead, known carcinogens. Studies have suggested exposure to these metals could also contribute to dreaded 'popcorn lung' dangerous inflammation of the respiratory organs which leads to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Popcorn lung is caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air. Although Cancer Research UK denies this and states an additive in e-cig liquids that was linked to the condition was banned in 2016. In extreme cases, vaping-induced inflammation has even been linked to holes forming in the lung itself. Inflammation from vaping usually takes a month to form as nanoparticles from the vapour progressively become embedded in lung tissue.This inflammation also increases the risk of a person suffering respiratory infections, including Covid, experts say. Some specific chemicals like cinnamaldehyde, diacetyl and acetylpropionyl added to certain vapes and vape liquid flavours provoke stronger responses. One study found people who vaped for at least six months had high levels of inflammation, mouth wounds and up to a 100-fold increase in oral fungi. When it comes to the hearts and flowers of romance, we tend to assume women are the fairer sex in every sense. After all, you don't see many films that show men waiting by the phone for their new love interest to call or hear tales about how a wife has forgotten her anniversary again. But are men secretly more romantic after all? Yes, say researchers from the Humboldt University of Berlin, who have found that men are more likely to fall in love faster, to yearn for a partner more and to confess their love first. And while 48 per cent of men reported having fallen in love at first sight, just 28 per cent of women said the same. So, who really is the more romantic sex and why? Here, two young singletons go head to head... Fred Kelly, 29: Fear of being alone makes us far more romantic I once bought a now-former girlfriend a bunch of flowers, only for her to burst into tears and ask if I'd cheated on her. The answer was, of course, no. My only crime was being rather fond of her and electing to show it with a frightfully expensive bouquet of peonies. Some women become suspicious when men perform spontaneous romantic gestures. No doubt because all too often we're painted as vile, smelly, horny miscreants incapable of expressing complex emotions. But that's not entirely true. So I wasn't in the least bit surprised by the findings that men are more romantic than women. Fred Kelly, 29, recalls buying his former girlfriend a bunch of flowers, only for her to burst into tears and ask if he'd cheated on her After all, in the greatest love story of all time, it was Romeo who camped out beneath Juliet's balcony not the other way round. (This was a scene I later recreated at university, appearing unannounced beneath my then girlfriend's window, throwing stones to catch her attention. The gesture would, I have no doubt, been warmly received had one errant pebble not flown through the partially open window and cracked the back of her laptop.) In a world in which loneliness and existential dread are as inevitable as death and taxes, every young man feels a bit like Romeo. The 'male loneliness epidemic' was brought into sharp relief by a 2019 YouGov poll that found one in five men had not a single close friend. Close friendships require emotional labour, confessions of vulnerability and a willingness to put someone else first behaviours many men have been conditioned not to indulge in. So with no friends to fall back on, is it any surprise many men are increasingly desperate for long-term romantic relationships instead? When I'm seeing someone, my social calendar explodes into a mess of dinner parties, pub trips, nights out and weekends away. When the relationship falls apart, that social sphere disappears. When my last relationship imploded, I spent the following evening reorganising my sock drawer twice, first by colour and then by size. Instagram informed me that my ex spent the day making pancakes with her girlfriends before going to a gallery, having high tea at Fortnum & Mason and ending it all with a raucous night out as the 'sisterhood' stepped in to support her. But it's not just a desire for companionship that sees young men so desperate to find love. For many men myself included women bring out the best in us. My previous girlfriend had me doing yoga twice a week, drinking wheatgrass smoothies and breathing deeply before bed I'd never felt so good! As soon as she was gone, I was back to lying in bed throwing Maltesers in the air and trying to catch them in my mouth. I will concede that, while men fall in love faster than women, they also fall out of love faster too. Regrettably, like many male friends and to my enduring frustration, my enthusiasm towards a relationship does tend to wane just as things move from lust on to something more meaningful. If anything, being a romantic means wanting to feel something before you really do. Like falling in 'love' with someone sitting opposite you on a train. Sadly, this isn't a recipe for a sustainable, committed relationship. You might remember that in the opening act of Romeo And Juliet, our male lead is madly in love with a woman called Rosaline, whom he promptly forgets when he meets Juliet. Had the star-crossed lovers not died four days after meeting, Romeo would probably have had his head turned by someone else. Men are hopeless romantics, yes; but no one said they were in it for the long haul. Olivia Dean, 25: Men don't understand true nature of romance The man sitting across the restaurant table seemingly had it all. Tall, handsome, funny. Oh, and absolutely obsessed with me. We'd been dating for the sum total of ten days by this point. As the wine was poured, he clasped my hand across the table. 'Liv, I'm falling in love with you.' If this was a film, I'd have gone all doe-eyed and lash-fluttering, and we'd have skipped off hand-in-hand into the sunset. Instead, I was speechless and made my excuses as soon as the bill was paid. I'm not heartless, or a commitment-phobe (mostly). But this behaviour isn't normal. The man barely knew me; he wanted a girlfriend and I was just the best candidate of the moment. It's not unusual to experience this kind of 'love-bombing' from a Gen Z man. Friends regularly share tales of overblown professions of attachment from men they have barely met in an attempt to ensnare them in to a relationship. What said men fail to realise is what they perceive as romance, we see as red flags. Olivia Dean, 25, remembers a chap telling her 'I'm falling in love with you' just ten days into their courtship Despite stereotypes about 'obsessed' girlfriends and psycho exes, most women don't feel the need to superglue themselves to the first man that comes along wearing an alright jumper. Why is that? Put simply, we're more emotionally developed than men. We talk about our feelings with friends, we read books about love and relationships. We're conditioned from childhood to be acutely aware of how our actions affect others. This emotional intelligence means we understand that, yes, you can have strong feelings towards someone from the get-go, but actual love stems from a long-term sense of stability. Recklessly telling someone you love them, then not being able to follow through is, at best, confusing and, at worst, dangerous. Countless women I know have been left with scrambled heads after men that claimed to love them early on fled at the first sign of trouble. It's happened to me; I was once dumped by my boyfriend of a year, with much confusion and little explanation, and it adds an extra tailspin to the already hideous freefall of heartbreak. So perhaps we come across as more guarded than our male counterparts. We've also been indoctrinated to believe romance is something that's supposed to happen to us. Men should buy us flowers, text first, get down on one knee in the rain. They should be the ones to chase. It might be 2025 but I did a poll of my male friends and they all said they'd be dumbfounded if a girl approached them on a night out. So we're left with a paradoxical relationship with romance: secretly wanting that grand gesture for the handsome prince/Colin Firth to rescue us but mistrusting men who deliver it. If men want advice on what women really want romantically, rather than mimicking romcoms they should look at our relationships with our friends. The reason women are so much happier alone than men is because we get our daily quota of real romance from other women. We enjoy dinners in lovely restaurants, holidays abroad or cosy nights in together. But we're also there for our friends at their lowest lows, we remember each other's doctor's appointments and drinks orders. Some of the greatest love stories of my life have been with other women. This failure to understand platonic romance is why straight men don't stay friends with the other women in their lives once they get a girlfriend and why they're less likely to find the true love they think they're yearning for. My advice to single men? Go and get some mates. We'll all be better off for it. The View co-host Joy Behar is hitting out against Meghan Markle's haters amidst all the criticism surrounding her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan. Earlier this month, Meghan premiered her eight-episode series on the streaming platform, which saw her and a rolodex of her famous friends, like comedian Mindy Kaling, in the kitchen as they prepared elaborate recipes and even created home decor items. And although it's already been renewed for a second season, it certainly wasn't a hit with everybody. Ex-Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown slammed the series after it premiered, calling it a 'show about fake perfection,' while actress Justine Bateman even mocked the program on X. But it looks like the Duchess has found some fans on The View, as co-host Joy fiercely defended the mother-of-two while they discussed Gwyneth Paltrow's recent comments about her during the Hot Topics segment on Thursday. While the Goop goddess was speaking to Vanity Fair recently, they asked her about Meghan's new show and how she felt about the Duchess entering the lifestyle space, which she is a leader in. In response, Gwyneth said that she supported all women, and that there was plenty of room at the table for everyone. It was an answer that was approved by the ladies on The View. The View co-host Joy Behar is hitting out against Meghan Markle 's haters amidst all the criticism surrounding her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan Earlier this month, Meghan premiered her eight-episode series on the streaming platform, but it has been bashed by critics and fellow celebrities But it looks like the Duchess has found some fans on The View, as Joy defended her during the Hot Topics segment on Thursday 'There's something about her that triggers people,' Joy said on Thursday's episode about Meghan, after Ana Navarro had remarked on the fact that Meghan had a big influence on culture. 'Maybe because she's a Duchess, and she married a prince, we all wanted to marry a prince,' Joy continued. 'So everyone's jealous of her, is that it?' she questioned, as her fellow co-hosts agreed that that 'could be' the reason for some of the hatred. However, before they cut to commercial break, Joy joked that Ana wasn't jealous of Meghan, to which she shook her head in agreement. The discussion came just a few days after Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos broke his silence on Meghan's future with the company. Speaking to Variety, Ted said that the Duchess has been 'underestimated' by many. He also admitted that Netflix has a stake in her lifestyle business As Ever, which sells the various products - from edible flowers to jams and tea - that are featured in her show. 'We're a passive partner in Meghan's company, and it's a big discovery model for us right now,' he said. The discussion came just a few days after Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos broke his silence on Meghan's future with the company Netflix has already said that it will set aside space in two of their brand-new stores for Meghan's As Ever products 'I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture,' he continued. 'When we dropped the trailer for the Harry & Meghan doc series [in 2022], everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days. 'The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermes blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world. People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed.' Netflix has already said that it will set aside space in two of their brand-new stores for Meghan's As Ever products. Some of her products include pancake mix, flower sprinkles and of course, raspberry spread. The first of the As Ever stands will open in two of America's biggest retail center, the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia and the giant Dallas Galleria. READ MORE: How Ms. Rachel has raked in a STAGGERING multi-million fortune Now, the star has shed some light on why she disappeared from YouTube Popular YouTuber Ms. Rachel, 42, has revealed that 'family issues' are the reason behind her mysterious two-month-long absence from the platform. Social media star and child educator Rachel Griffin-Accurso, who is known online as Ms. Rachel, has become a massive star thanks to her catchy songs. She and her Broadway star husband, Aron Accurso, who share a son named Thomas, born in 2018, produce content that help their young audience with pronunciation and language skills via her Songs for Littles YouTube page. But as of late, her popular channel has been mysteriously quiet, with her last video being posted more than two months ago. Her sudden absence has raised eyebrows and has sparked concern from parents who depend on her videos. Now, the star has shed some light on why she disappeared from YouTube, while insisting that it didn't have to do with her recent Netflix deal. In a recent Instagram post, the educator gushed over her husband while thanking him for all the work he does 'behind the scenes.' 'My co-creator, co-pilot, and co-producer - working tirelessly behind the scenes,' she wrote alongside some photos that showed her posing with Aron. 'There's no Ms. Rachel without Mr. Aron. Popular YouTuber Ms. Rachel, 42, has revealed that 'family issues' are the reason behind her mysterious two-month-long absence from the platform She and her Broadway star husband, Aron Accurso, produce content that help their young audience with pronunciation and language skills via her Songs for Littles YouTube page '@aronaccurso Thank you for making my dreams come true, babe! (And of course love of my life, best friend, soulmate! And amazing dada).' Fans quickly flooded the comment section of the sweet tribute to question the YouTuber about her absence. 'When are we getting more episodes?' someone asked under the post. 'I feel like since you've signed with Netflix, we don't really get good content anymore.' Ms. Rachel quickly responded to the person, apologizing. 'I'm sorry. We've had some family things to attend to,' she said. 'Nothing to do with Netflix, as that is content from YouTube.' The commenter replied back: 'Love [you] endlessly thank [you] for taking the time to respond my little just loves [you] and I hope all is well with [your] family.' But as of late, her popular channel has been mysteriously quiet, with her last video being posted more than two months ago In the comment section of a recent Instagram post, Ms. Rachel told fans, 'I'm sorry. We've had some family things to attend to,' when questioned about the absence Another person also commented, writing: 'She made a post about having some family things that delayed the video. 'But I can say the book and bean plushie with the potty actually did help my little one move forward with potty training!' Ms. Rachel apologized again, commenting back: 'I'm sorry. We've have some family things to attend to. 'I will make a little video tomorrow to help.' In January, Netflix signed a deal with Rachel and released four compilation episodes of her YouTube videos. The shocking installation at a theme park in Thailand has sparked debate online A two-way 'mirror' in male public toilets has caused a storm after going viral this week on social media. The bizarre installation at the Dream World theme park in Pathum Thani, central Thailand, was introduced in 2019. At a first glance, the exterior of the men's toilets appeared to be inoffensive, with a mirrored surface for passers-by to view their reflection. But when cameras went inside the building, they revealed that the other side of the mirror allowed the male toilet users to look through at unsuspecting pedestrians while urinating. The footage showed women fixing their hair while pausing to stop and look in the mirror, while men on the other side were watching them while using the urinals. The 'gross' exhibit has gone viral this week on social media after being posted by an X/Twitter account called 'internet hall of fame'. 'A 2 way mirror for women and on the other side, urinals for men at a theme park,' the account wrote, before asking people to share their 'thoughts' on the matter. The video has since racked up 11 million views and more than 30,000 likes, sparking debates about privacy and consent on social media, with people branding it 'gross' and 'disturbing'. A two-way 'mirror' in male public toilets has caused a storm after going viral this week on social media The footage showed women fixing their hair while pausing to stop and look in the mirror, while men on the other side were watching them while using the urinals One person wrote: 'As someone who cant even pee when there's someone at the next urinal, this is hell!'; Other said: 'That's incredibly disturbing honestly'; 'This is why we need architects who understand basic human decency because this is a lawsuit waiting to happen'; 'Maybe I'm too woke but this feels extremely misogynistic and degrading I'm genuinely disgusted'; 'This is truly sick.' First installed in 2019, it's not currently known if the feature is still in place at the theme park. Theme park Operations Director Thawat Yamkasem said at the time: 'The new installation is designed to be a fun experience for everyone. 'Because the bathroom window is made from special glass, those on the inside can see outside, while outside it is just a mirror for those who pass to look at themselves. The installation at a theme park in Thailand has been branded 'gross' and 'misogynistic' At a first glance, the exterior of the men's toilets appeared to be inoffensive, with a mirrored surface for passers-by to view their reflection The 'gross' exhibit has gone viral this week on social media after being posted by an X/ Twitter account called 'internet hall of fame' The video has since racked up 11 million views and more than 30,000 likes, sparking debates about privacy and consent on social media, with people branding it 'gross' and 'disturbing' 'The men feel happy that they can use the toilet and look outside at the various events that are happening. 'It's considered a novelty by the management team, who want to have something new for visitors to the amusement park to have fun.' The bizarre attraction has also gone viral on Reddit in recent months, again sparking much debate. Users wrote: 'As someone who can't even pee when there's someone at the next urinal, this is hell!' 'This just makes me tired'; 'It feels like a metaphor for social media and digital privacy'; 'Yikes that's creepy.' Two-way mirrors - which are reflective on one side and transparent on the other - still reflect light on both sides. It is coated with a thin and transparent metal film. The side closest to the light source reflects light, while the dimmer side becomes transparent. Before landing a job in politics and making her way into the White House in the role of deputy press secretary, Anna Kelly had a rather glamorous side gig competing in beauty pageants. Kelly, 28, currently works in Washington under President Donald Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt - who recently announced a major media shake up - and is very vocal on X, formerly known as Twitter. The redhead grew up just 35 minutes outside of Washington DC, in Fairfax, Virginia, and moved to Alabama in 2014 to attend Auburn University. Kelly studied political science and graduated in 2017 with a minor in community and civic engagement. She was also a part of the Delta Zeta sorority. She continued her studies at George Washington University, where she earned a Masters in Political Management. It was during this time whilst studying that Kelly competed in the 2019 Miss State Fair of Virginia, where she took home the crown on September 22. According to the Fairfax Times, Kelly's personal platform was 'End the Apathy Epidemic: Promoting Youth Political Engagement.' The publication stated that Kelly said politics had a major influence on her life while she was growing up just outside of Washington in a politically outspoken family. Anna Kelly is the 28-year-old deputy press secretary working in the White House for President Donald Trump Anna was appointed in January of this year after being heavily involved in Trump's campaign Anna is pictured with press secretary Karoline Leavitt and two other members of the team in November 2024 A 22-year-old Kelly said at the time: 'My generation stands in an incredible position of power. 'In todays polarized political climate, it is our job to step up to the plate and work to ensure the government we receive is a good one. 'It is my goal as Miss State Fair of Virginia to show young people that, contrary to what they might believe, we do have a voice and its about time we used it,' she added. Prior to being appointed by the Trump administration in January 2025, Kelly served as National Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee. She was also previously Communications Director for Congressman Derrick Van Orden, and served as the Wisconsin communications director for the Republican National Committee from November 2019 until November 2020. Last year, Kelly was heavily involved in Trump's campaign - and she's clearly loving her new role, as she had a lot to say during a recent interview on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show. When asked about anti-Trump media opposing the President, Kelly said: 'You know what Buck, I don't think they know what to do with themselves because we are having fun, truly. We are winning every single day. 'And I think they do acknowledge the fact that President Trump not only won the election by a landslide, but he won the popular vote.' The redhead does not shy away from sharing snaps and selfies on social media platform X Anna, pictured here with Miss America Madison Marsh in February 2024, once competed in a beauty pageant in 2019 Kelly continued: 'He is implementing policies that the American people support. So they can try and push their fake news narrative and poke holes in what he's doing, but guess what? The approval is on our side. 'The American people overwhelmingly support his agenda. They see that he is delivering on the promises he made on the campaign trail. 'This is what the American people want and he is delivering on his promises, and I think fake news don't know what to do with it,' she added passionately. Kelly loves to give her thousands of followers on X a glimpse behind the scenes of what goes on at the White House. On March 11, she posted a photo of several Tesla cars parked up outside the building, and one day later, she uploaded a snap from the White House on St. Patrick's Day. It showed her posing with Karoline and other women, who were all dressed in green. She also shared a snap of her doing an interview from inside the White House in February, writing, 'Spent several years booking principals on the @DanODonnellShow. Today I got to join for afternoon drive time thanks to todays White House Local Media Row! Hope you tuned in.' Wendy's has unveiled a signature Aussie menu after finally bringing its famous square patties Down Under. The popular American fast food joint landed in Surfer's Paradise in January, much to the delight of fans who'd drooled over the iconic menu from afar for years. It differentiates itself from McDonald's and Hungry Jack's by having a strictly made-to-order policy and does not pre-prepare food or keep it warm using heat lamps. The new menu offers a fresh take on classic American flavours, with a host of items exclusive to the Australian market and tailored to local tastes. These include the 100 per cent Australian chicken burger, the OG Square Hamburger made with Aussie beef, the Baconmator, loaded fries and the Wendy's Frosty dessert (a thickshake). Each Australian chicken tender is double hand-breaded in-restaurant and is available in 'Homestyle' or a uniquely 'Aussie Spicy' flavour. These tenders are featured in a range of menu items, including the chicken burgers, wraps, and three-piece and five-piece tender meals. A first-ever offering for the brand, Wendy's has gone all out - from special fryers and spices, to developing a signature pairing sauce exclusively for Australia. New menu items include the 100 per cent Australian chicken burger, the OG Square Hamburger made with Aussie beef, the Baconmator, loaded fries and the Wendy's Frosty dessert (a thickshake) Wendy's differentiates itself from McDonald's and Hungry Jack's by having a strictly made-to-order policy and does not pre-prepare food or keep it warm using heat lamps The Baconmator is set to be the biggest hit, with two quarter-pound patties of fresh Australian beef, topped with bacon, cheese, ketchup, and mayo on a toasted brioche-style bun. Lauren Leahy, Chief Transformation Officer at Flynn Group, the master franchisee for Wendy's Australia, said 'launching Wendy's in Australia has been an exciting journey of research and development'. 'We quickly realised that a simple lift and shift approach wouldn't work here,' she admitted. 'Instead, we've invested time and resources into understanding the local taste preferences, particularly around spice and crunch when developing the recipe for the hand-breaded Australian chicken tenders.' The team worked through more than 25 iterations to perfect the hand-breaded chicken tenders, tailored specifically to the tastes of Australian consumers. The Wendy's Company and Wendy's franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide. Founded in 1969, it's famous for its made-to-order square hamburgers using fresh beef and fan favourites like the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and nuggets. It's the third largest burger chain in the world behind McDonald's and Burger King (which is known as Hungry Jack's in Australia). The Baconmator is set to be the biggest hit, with two quarter-pound patties of fresh Australian beef The Gold Coast opening marks the first of many Wendy's restaurants to roll out in Australia with new master franchisee, Flynn Group. Flynn is no stranger to the Australian market, having successfully taken over 260 Pizza Hut locations in Australia in 2023. To keep up with the growing demand, Wendy's has extended its trading hours to SundayThursday 9:30 AM 11 PM, FridaySaturday 9:30 AM Midnight. Does the Village Peoples YMCA makes your blood boil and your jaw tighten until it aches? Or do you find yourself struggling to get behind policies, even if they agree with your worldview, because they were influenced by Donald Trump? You might just be grappling with Trump derangement syndrome. Minnesota Republicans are seeking to legitimize the pejorative term used to describe the lefts disdain for President Trump with a bill in the state legislature that would legally define it as a mental illness. The Senate bill is a largely symbolic gesture without having a real impact on mental health practice or policy (its authors acknowledge that it does not have the necessary support or backing from Democratic Gov Tim Walz). But while mental health experts have pointed to the harm of misusing medical and psychiatric terminology to pathologize political opposition, they argue that the term captures a kernel of truth. Dr. Carole Lieberman, a prominent conservative voice who has been dubbed Americas psychiatrist, told DailyMail.com: Trump Derangement Syndrome isnt just a jokeits a legitimate psychological phenomenon. Extreme anger, hostile behavior, and over-the-top reactions to anything Trump-relatedoften disrupting normal functioningare key signs of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) The symptoms mirror mass psychosis, where people lose all rational thinking when it comes to Trump. Signs of TDS can range from an inability to calm oneself down after hearing a speech or comment from the President to lashing out verbally or physically against supporters of the President. Dr Lieberman added: TDS causes otherwise logical individuals to become obsessive, paranoid, and even violent at the mere mention of Trumps namethis level of emotional instability has real-world consequences. Dr Holly Ann Schiff, a psychiatrist practicing in Connecticut, disagrees, saying: It is unlikely that the mere mention of Trump's name is enough to make people violent.' She thinks it has more to do with his public comments and policies. Your browser does not support iframes. 'I think how people feel about him, towards him and his administration's policies are enough to cause people to become violent and aggressive,' Dr Schiff added. I think it is a fair term because their reactions are far too intense and go beyond just measured criticism or disagreement. Trump derangement syndrome became a buzzword among Republicans in 2017, but Dr Schiff sees the signs becoming more common and intense at the start of Mr Trumps second term in office. She said: I do think more people are experiencing this more now than in 2016-2020 because the emotional charge surrounding Trump has only grown stronger and some people might be more entrenched in their feelings now, especially after what they feel like was a surprising defeat in this past election. From a clinical and professional perspective, while patients addressed their discontent last time while he was in office, I don't feel like the emotions were as high or dysregulated. Dr. Carole Lieberman, a well-known conservative figure often referred to as Americas psychiatrist, said that Trump Derangement Syndrome represents a real psychological condition with symptoms as resembling mass psychosis Dr Holly Schiff noted that while patients expressed discontent during Trumps first term, their emotions were more controlled. Now, she finds that current and new patients are arriving emotionally unstable, often unable to manage their intense feelings toward Trump Regularly now, my current patients and new referrals are coming in really decompensated and unable to control their emotions due to their hatred and feelings towards Trump, which has a direct negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The origins of the term Trump derangement syndrome stretch all the way back to 2003. Charles Krauthammer, a psychiatrist and conservative political columnist, coined the phrase Bush derangement syndrome to describe the intense and what he saw as unhinged responses to everything related to George W Bushs presidency. A harsh critic of Trump himself, Krauthammer defined TDS as an inability to distinguish between legitimate policy differences and signs of psychic pathology in the presidents behavior. This is the definition that Minnesota Republicans chose to include in their bill. The bill defines TDS as the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J. Trump.' It further states that manifestations of TDS can include verbal expressions of intense hostility toward the President and overt acts of aggression and violence against his supporters. Minnesota State Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen, one of the five GOP lawmakers who introduced the legislation, defended his bill, saying: We should be able to have civil debates without demonstrating violent and unreasonable reactions such as burning down Tesla dealerships, threatening people who wear Trump hats or committing road rage at the sight of a Trump bumper sticker on a persons car. This irrational behavior is unacceptable in a civil society and suggests a deeper psychological problem. That is what this bill addresses, not mere political disagreements. READ MORE: Response of father whose daughter became first US measles death Texas parents whose daughter became America's first measles death in a decade have given a disturbing interview in which they made a series of unproven health claims. The couple insisted measles 'is good for the body' and urged parents not to give their children the MMR vaccine, which reduces the risk of catching measles 97 percent. The parents, who are members of a Mennonite community in west Texas, spoke with Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by health chief Robert F Kennedy Jr, this week. All five of their children had been infected several weeks earlier with measles, a highly contagious illness that has ripped through Texas and neighboring New Mexico infected more than 300 people - more than the entire US in all of 2024. While four of their children had a mild illness, their six-year-old daughter, Kaylee, died after a three-week battle with measles. All of the children, like many in their community, were unvaccinated. Though the couple choked back tears as they discussed their daughter's fate, they said it was Kaylee's 'time on Earth' and urged parents to avoid taking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in favor of alternative treatments like cod liver oil and vitamin C. The parents of six-year-old Kaylee, who died of measles last month, urged parents to not get their children the MMR vaccine and insisted measles is 'not as bad as [the media] are making it out to be.' The couple are pictured above in a screenshot from their interview with RFK Jr-founded Children's Health Defense The above is a stock image of a child infected with measles in Texas Speaking in a dialect of German through a translator, Kaylee's mother told interviewers: 'Don't do the shots. There are doctors that can help with measles. They're not as bad as [the media] are making it out to be.' Kaylee's father, who said his name was Peter in an earlier interview, also claimed 'measles are good for the body' and can protect the immune system against other diseases, a theory promoted by RFK Jr. The couple's translator said: 'They think it's not as bad as the media is making it out to be, and it was [Kaylee's] time on Earth. 'They believe that she's better off where she is now versus all the negativity and all the stuff going on. They think she was too good for this Earth.' Peter and his wife, who has not been named, said Kaylee was the first of their children to come down with measles. The family told Children's Health Defense that Kaylee seemed to have a 'normal' case at first. However, in the following days, she suffered a high fever, fatigue, and breathing problems. The girl's mother said emergency room doctors gave her cough medicine and suggested she take Tylenol for her fever. 'They just put us in a room in the back,' she said. Kaylee tested positive for pneumonia, which is common in severe measles cases. She was later placed on a ventilator before dying. Days after Kaylee's funeral, the couple and their other children, ages two to seven, became sickened by measles. 'It was hard,' the mother said. Kaylee's father, Peter, claimed 'measles are good for the body' and can protect the immune system against other diseases, a theory promoted by RFK Jr (pictured above) The above shows Seminole, in the west of Texas, where the outbreak was first reported. Seminole is located in Gaines county, which has reported the majority of cases The family took their other children to Dr Ben Edwards, who runs Veritas Wellness holistic clinic in Lubbock, Texas, and is a member of the Mennonite community. The clinic allegedly distributes untested measles remedies like cod liver oil and vitamin C. It's unclear exactly what he gave Kaylee's family. The mother said: 'He gave them treatments and medicine and they had a really good recovery.' Kaylee's family took their other children to Dr Ben Edwards, who runs a holistic clinic in Lubbock, Texas, that gives measles remedies The family is from Seminole, considered the 'ground zero' of this year's measles outbreak. Of the 279 confirmed cases in Texas, 191 have been in Gaines County, where Seminole is located. The vaccination rate in the area is 82 percent, well below the 95 percent needed to maintain herd immunity. The national average was 93 percent last school year. Peter said in a previous interview that measles is common for their community, and while their religious doctrine doesn't forbid vaccines, many like him are doubtful of their efficacy. The MMR vaccine is considered 97 percent effective against measles. Without vaccination, measles kills around one in 1,000 people it infects due to complications like pneumonia or brain swelling. The CDC said in a statement last month: 'Vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection.' Despite their daughter's death, Kaylee's parents said they are still opposed to the MMR vaccine. Kaylee's mother said: 'Absolutely not take the MMR [vaccine]. The measles wasnt that bad. [The other children] got over it pretty quickly. And Dr. Edwards was there for us.' Food safety chiefs have slapped a 'do not eat' warning on chocolate cereal made by 'healthy' food brand, Rude Health. According to an alert issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the brand's Chocolate Crunch Granola may be 'infested with insects'. The boxes that are thought to be contaminated have the best before date 24/10/2025. 'If you have bought the product we advise you not to consume it,' the FSA warned. 'Please return the product to the store for a full refund (with or without a receipt).' However, the company claimed on its website the insects 'do not pose a health risk, as they are not harmful to humans'. The brand claim there is 'nothing artificial' in their products. 'We're about making the healthy choice as delicious as possible.' The Food Standards Agency issues recalls when problems are spotted with food that could be potentially harmful to consumers. The packs at risk of 'insect infestation' have the best before date 24/10/2025 The warning follows the recall of more than a dozen food items over the past few weeks. Most recently, Iceland's vegetable lasagne was pulled from shelves over fears it contains hard shards of plastic. Elsewhere, 'do not eat' alerts have been slapped on items including cheeses, crisps and other cereals over allergy, choking and bacterial-contamination risks. Those impacted include products made by Nestle, Tesco and TK Maxx. Earlier this week, Waitrose issued a safety alert over its own-brand seafood sticks due to fears the product may be five months out of date. Food safety regulators said the actual best before date for the product was October 5 last year, meaning eating it now could make people ill. Eating expired food is a known risk factor for food poisoning. Food that has been stored too long is at increased risk of being contaminated by harmful bacteria that can make us ill. If ingested, this can cause problems like nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and a high temperature. Food poisoning is a common ailment in Britain with an estimated nearly 2.5million cases recorded in the UK per year. Stephen Graham is the talk of the town, thanks to his role in Netflix's new hit drama Adolescence. But the 51-year-old's journey to mega stardom could have ended when he was just 20 after a struggle with 'really bad depression' led to a harrowing suicide attempt. In a heartbreaking clip, the actor revealed he tried to kill himself while in the grip of a severe breakdown brought on by loneliness and intense acting techniques. Opening up to BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2019, he said he was thankful the attempt had ended in failure, adding how he seemed to hear his deceased grandmother shouting at him in that life-or-death moment. 'She shouted, "Stephen" and I thought I'd gone... I just come to and opened my eyes,' he said. The A Thousand Blows star then emotionally recounted how he attempted to hide the signs of his mental health struggles from his parents. 'I put a high neck jumper on, one of those zip-up jumpers, and my mum and dad came back and then my mum saw it and she said, "what's that?" I then just really opened up and everything just came out and I said, "I don't know how to cope".' Adolescence, written by Graham and Jack Thorne, was only released on Netflix last week, but has already made waves and earned huge praise Graham, born in Lancashire, said the breakdown had been partly driven by feeling isolated after moving to London. 'I had a breakdown. Going to that big London to do it on your own,' he said. This, combined with acting lessons encouraging him to draw on 'intense' personal trauma to add authenticity to his roles, had brought on a form of 'induced psychosis'. 'My little brother had just been born. My mum and dad had lost a little boy (at birth) three years before. My Nana had passed away when I was 14,' he told The Sunday Times in 2019. 'I was in the big wide world on my own and it wasn't easy. I was very close to my mum and dad and I think with the kind of intense work we did, tapping into emotions that I'd never really tapped into before.' He added: 'I had a breakdown with all of these traumatic things that had happened from my late teens.' Returning to his parents' home shortly before his suicide attempt, he said he'd never forget opening up to them about his struggles. 'Then I went back home. They (his parents) were trying to see what was happening with me,' he said. Opening up to BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2019 Graham said he was thankful the attempt had ended in failure, adding how he seemed to hear his deceased grandmother shouting at him in that life-or-death moment. Pictured here with host Lauren Laverne 'I'll never forget the tears coming down both their faces.' Following the failed attempt to end his life, Graham's family and friends rallied around to offer support. It was also shortly after this incredible low point that he started his relationship with his now wife Hannah Walters, who he married in 2008. 'She knew what had happened. She was always in close contact with my mum,' she said. While they had been 'just talking' for a long time, they hadn't been on a proper date, something Graham remedied shortly before she was due to move to Spain. 'We were waiting at New Cross train station and I said to her "please don't go to Spain. I love you",' he said. 'She went "I've been waiting for five years for you to say that." The next day we moved in together.' But Graham added that his own struggle had given him an appreciation for the feelings many people struggle with. Following the failed attempt to end his own life Graham's family and friends rallied around him to offer support. It was also shortly after this incredible low point that he started his relationship with his now wife Hannah Walters For Graham, the This Is England (pictured in the film) script would often leave him 'crying his eyes' because it would dig up painful nightmares of the racial abuse he suffered Men were at far higher risk of taking their own life than women, accounting for about three quarters of suicides recorded in 2023. This graph shows the suicide rate per 100,000 for men (light blue), women (dark blue), and the combined population (blue) over time 'I know the loneliness, isolation and feeling you cant cope in the world,' he said. Graham has also previously opened up about how challenging roles have taken a toll on him. He has admitted 'losing himself' when he starred as racist skinhead Combo in Shane Meadow's 2006 film This is England. Graham said he turned to alcohol to cope with the pressure of the role, recounting how he would come home and 'cry my eyes out' after filming intense scenes. The father-of-two, whose grandfather was Jamaican, had himself suffered racist abuse as a child due to his heritage. He told The Sun: 'I'm mixed race. As a kid, I was called horrible words that I don't even want to say, and little monkey boy.' Graham has also revealed he suffers from dyslexia a learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling. 'I have to read it and read it and read it, then make it look like it's the first time I'm saying it,' he said. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) about one in six adults in the UK experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms in 2022. Official ONS data recorded just over 6,000 suicides recorded in England and Wales in 2023, the most recent figures available. Men were at far higher risk of taking their own life than women, accounting for about three quarters of the total figure. Suicide risk for men peaks between the age of 45 and 64 with 22.4 deaths per 100,000 males. This is about triple the rate seen in men and boys aged 10 to 24, which recorded 7.4 deaths by suicide per 100,000. Reasons why men, and particularly those in middle age, are at increased risk of suicide are complex. But Professor Nav Kapur at the University of Manchester's Centre for Suicide Prevention, previously told MailOnline perceptions about masculinity among this generation could be playing a part. 'They grew up with strong, silent, stoical fathers and male role models, but they're living in a society that now values open, sharing "new men",' he said. 'They are a gap generation left not quite knowing who they are or how to be.' An estimated 6,000 Britons and 48,000 Americans die by suicide each year. UK: For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org. US: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. A GP has warned those who often find themselves exhausted to watch out for two, red flag signs that could indicate an underlying, debilitating illness. While feeling especially tired for periods of time is usually not a cause for concern, if it continues for longer than several weeks, seek medical help, urges Dr Milli Raizada, an NHS GP specialising in hormone health. It's also essential to see a doctor if the tiredness is prompted by mild physical activity, like walking up stairs or a yoga class a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise. Both are signs of the life-wrecking disorder chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), according to Dr Raizada. The condition, which affects around 250,000 people in the UK, is characterised by excessive sleep problems and difficulty thinking, concentrating and remembering. Many patients find it almost impossible to live a normal life, as symptoms limit their capacity to work and carry out everyday activities. But according to the Royal College of Surgeons, just 10 percent of those living with the condition receive a diagnosis. That may be because some of the telltale symptoms are often overlooked, says Dr Milli Raizada. Being 'tired all the time' for at least a few weeks, and experiencing extreme fatigue after gentle exercise are red flag signs, doctors have warned Dr Milli Raizada, an NHS GP specialising in hormone health, has said Britons should seek medical help if they show signs of persistent fatigue Prolonged, unrelenting fatigue lasting more than six months meets the diagnostic criteria for CFS/ME, but even tiredness that persists for a few weeks should not be ignored, she told Huff Post UK. 'Early assessment and blood tests can help identify or rule out potential causes. Other symptoms of the condition which blights comedian Miranda Hart can include cognitive difficulties such as memory problems and poor concentration. Muscle or joint pain, unexplained headaches, dizziness or heart palpitations may also accompany the exhaustion. The same goes for frequent sore throats or swollen glands, suggesting immune dysfunction, Dr Raizada added. There is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, but doctors can try a series of medications to target symptoms, including antidepressants, as well as physiotherapy and counselling. The NHS says energy management can be one of the most effective treatments - offering guidance on how to get the most out of your available energy without worsening symptoms. Last year, comic and actor Miranda Hart recounted her three-decade battle with chronic fatigue syndrome that 'left her bedbound and without joy'. Comic Miranda Hart has come under fire for suggesting she had found a cure to her chronic fatigue syndrome. In her autobiography the 51-year-old best known for her BBC sitcom Miranda recounted her three-decade long health battle that initially saw her diagnosed with agoraphobia Initially diagnosed with agoraphobia, the 51 year-old later learned that undiagnosed Lyme disease had developed into chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). In her memoir Miranda said she struggled to deal with the 'unnerving neurological symptoms' she first experienced when she was 14. She explained that it got 'considerably worse' when she headed into her 40s along with increasing fatigue. Recalling when she received her diagnosis she also said: 'I got off that Zoom call, pulled my laptop shut and sat there, still and aghast. 'So many emotions, I was shocked, but I also immediately felt a deep well of sadness and disappointment. 'For over three decades I'd KNOWN there was something wrong. 'I recalled all the times I'd told different doctors, 'I feel toxic and poisoned, or, It's like I have flu every day but I don't have a temperature'. '(It's amazing how the body can sometimes literally tell us what's going on.) I felt anger rising at the times l'd been told I must have agoraphobia. 'I would try and treat it as such, when, as it turned out, it was the lack of energy and the extreme light and sound sensitivity that made my body crash when going out to be in any kind of activity or stimulating environment.' There's no way to cheat death, but science shows there are better ways to go than others. Though dying in your sleep has long been considered the easiest way out, it's not always as peaceful as it seems. Death during sleep could be from a variety of causes, including heart failure, sleep apnea, diabetes, and respiratory issues. While many of these conditions cause patients to slowly drift off, others may leave the person gasping for breath, clutching their chest, or choking in their final moments. Surprisingly, one of the most painless ways to go might also be one of the most brutal: some experts think imploding would happen so quick you wouldn't know. And do you remember how you felt as you drifted off under anesthesia the last time you had surgery? Probably not - but that's exactly the point. Overdosing on sedatives has also been touted as one of the more peaceful methods. Implosion Pictured above is the Titan submersible that imploded in 2023. Experts believe the passengers all died peacefully and had no idea what was going to happen It's an unlikely cause of death, but experts believe a violent implosion would kill in milliseconds. This was believed to have been the case of the five tragic passengers aboard the Titan submersible in 2023, which imploded during a deep-sea mission to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. During an implosion, an object collapses in on itself in just a matter of milliseconds. Dr Dale Mole, the former director of undersea medicine and radiation health for the US Navy, told DailyMail.com at the time that an implosion 'is when the wave of pressure is inward, whereas an explosion is when the pressure wave or the shock wave goes out from whatever the source of that is.' He compared an explosion to blowing up a balloon too much - the balloon will eventually pop when there is too much pressure. In an implosion, the opposite occurs, when there is more outward pressure than the container can understand, then the insides collapse. Dr Mole said the Titan passengers' deaths would have been quick and painless, dying almost instantly by the extraordinary forces exerted by the ocean at depth. He said: 'It would have been so sudden, that they wouldn't even have known that there was a problem, or what happened to them. The USS Thresher, which imploded in 1963, is pictured above. The 129 sailors and civilians on board were believed to have died immediately 'It's like being here one minute, and then the switch is turned off. You're alive one millisecond, and the next millisecond you're dead.' Along with the Titan disaster, a similar catastrophe occurred in 1963 when the USS Thresher, a nuclear-powered submarine, most likely imploded when it exceeded 'test depth' and suffered a series of other failures. The 129 sailors and civilians on board were believed to have died immediately. It's unclear how many Americans have died by implosion. Anesthesia While the odds dying while under anesthesia are low, it would be painless (stock image) Anesthesia is generally considered safe, helping nearly 40million Americans stay asleep during lifesaving operations. But in rare cases, the medicine can be deadly. The American Society of Anesthesiologists suggests anywhere from one in 100,000 to one in 200,000 patients die from anesthesia every year. For healthy patients receiving routine procedures like colonoscopies and hip replacement, that risk is as low as one in 1million. However, this rate rises slightly from one in 100,000 for people with chronic health issues. Anesthesia can cause the airway muscles to relax, which may block the airway and cause breathing issues. It may also result in low oxygen levels and excess carbon dioxide, which leads to brain damage. Low blood pressure and heart rate may also occur, which can cause heart attacks or strokes in patients with underlying conditions. However, in the rare instance of anesthesia-related death, the medicine would keep patients from feeling anything or being aware of the complications. This would make death painless. Sudden cardiac arrest Sudden cardiac arrest usually kills in four to six minutes and is painless once patients fall unconscious (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most common causes of deaths, killing 356,000 Americans every year. This is roughly 1,000 people every day. Of those, about nine in 10 don't survive. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when heart activity stops without warning due to a disruption in the heart's natural rhythm. This is different from a heart attack, which is caused by a clogged artery blocking blood flow to the heart. Cardiac arrest kills in four to six minutes, while a heart attack can last several hours. Symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, light-headedness and weakness start suddenly and only occur for a few minutes before patients faint. Once patients go unconscious, cardiac arrest is painless. The CDC estimates 60 percent of cardiac arrest patients are men, and a 2016 study found that while one in nine men will suffer a cardiac arrest before age 70, only one in 30 women will have one. Heart conditions like coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy - an enlarged heart - and heart valve disease can all increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, as they increase the risk of rhythm problems. Kidney disease Hospice nurse Julie McFadden said once kidney failure patients stop dialysis, their decline only takes seven to 10 days (stock image) Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse in California, called end-stage kidney disease one of the most 'peaceful' ways to die. Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney failure, occurs when another disease damages the organs and leaves them unable to properly filter out waste. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, urinary obstructions, and recurrent infections, according to the Mayo Clinic. When kidney disease progresses, the best treatment is a kidney transplant, though many patients wait on a transplant list for years, often becoming too sick for surgery. Instead, patients undergo dialysis, which involves a machine removing waste from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do this. However, this process can be time consuming and cause uncomfortable side effects like muscle cramps, low blood pressure, dizziness, and nausea. Ms McFadden said in recent YouTube video: 'End-stage kidney disease is a life-limiting chronic illness that is very hard to have because it's so long term.' '[It's] still difficult to have, but dying from end-stage kidney disease is definitely one of the most peaceful ways to die that I've seen.' McFadden explained once patients stop dialysis, their decline typically only takes seven to 10 days. During that time, it's unlikely they will be in any pain, as they will sleep the majority of the time due to lethargy. As toxins build up in the body after stopping dialysis, patients may experience itching, but 'they're so tired and sleeping all the time that they don't notice the itching,' McFadden said. She called end-stage kidney disease the closest thing to dying in your sleep. 'You slowly fall asleep until you die,' she said. In 2023, about 58,000 Americans died from kidney disease, making it the ninth leading cause of death in the US. Fears over a measles outbreak at Washington Dulles International Airport are emerging after two more passengers tested positive for the disease. The pair, who had returned to the US from abroad, arrived at the airport and went to the baggage claim at Concourse A on March 5 between 8am and 12.30pm. Later that same day, a separate measles-infected passenger arrived at the airport's main terminal and went to the baggage claim between 4 and 9pm. Officials insisted to DailyMail.com that the two events were not linked, but urged everyone who was in the airport on March 5 to monitor themselves for symptoms. The two infected patients also visited Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on March 14 between 12pm and 2.30pm, but this was to go to the shuttle bus terminal and they did not board a flight. Measles is the most infectious disease known to man, and infected droplets can hang in the air for at least two hours after a patient passes potentially infecting others. It comes amid a major outbreak of the disease in West Texas, where nearly 300 people have tested positive more than the whole of the US last year. Fears are emerging over a potential measles outbreak at Washington Dulles International Airport, through which about 60,000 passengers pass every day Last month, an unvaccinated six-year-old school-girl became the first American to die from measles in a decade. Washington Dulles is the third major airport to be hit by a measles scare this year, after an infected passenger also traveled through New York's JFK last month and, in a separate case, an infected passenger visited Los Angeles International Airport. Officials in Maryland said the two new patients who live in the state's Prince George county had visited their local Kaiser Permanente hospital four times, the Washington Metro and a Toyota car dealership before measles was diagnosed. It was not clear whether the patients had been vaccinated, what airline they flew on or what country they returned to the US from. Officials said that they were contacting people on their flight who may have been exposed to the disease. Those who fear they may have come into contact with the passengers are advised to monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days from the date of exposure. If they develop symptoms, which include a fever or blotchy red rash, they are advised to isolate immediately and contact local health services. The vaccine is the best way to prevent the infection, and is more than 97 percent effective against the disease. About 60,000 passengers travel through Dulles airport every day, which flies to more than 139 destinations around the world. It is the primary airport for the DC region. Measles cases recorded this year have surpassed the 2024 tally, and are now at their highest level since 2019 Cold-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and a runny or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles After leaving the airport, the latest two patients went straight to Kaiser Permanente Largo Medical Center and were there from 7.30pm to 4.30am the next day before being discharged. They visited the cente again from 4.15am to 10am on March 13, before visiting Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport the following day. On March 14, they visited the shuttle bus terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport between 12 and 2.30pm, and then took the Metro's Yellow Line heading from the airport to L'Enfant Plaza Station where they transferred to the Silver Line train to travel to Downtown Largo Station. They went to Kaiser Permanente again on March 15 between 7.45am and 3.15pm, when they were again discharged. And on March 17, went to Passport Toyota car dealer in Suitland between 10am and 1.30pm before returning to the hospital at 2.30pm. Officials are urging anyone who was in these locations around the same time to monitor themselves for symptoms of the disease. As well as causing a characteristic blotchy red rash that spreads across the body, measles can also weaken the immune system triggering other complications like pneumonia which can be fatal. Data shows that about three out of every 1,000 children infected die from the disease. Before the vaccine came in, about 400 to 500 children died from measles in the US every year while 48,000 were hospitalized and 1,000 suffered from encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. Doctors say the vaccine is the best way to prevent the infection, which is about 97 percent effective against the disease. A board-certified doctor has revealed the common medications that may be causing sexual problems in the bedroom. Dr Evan Levine, a cardiologist at a major university hospital, said if you're having trouble getting erections, the first question you should ask yourself is: 'Have I started a new medication in the past month?' He noted that medications that help the heart, kidney, brain and other body parts healthy may also be causing performance issues. As of 2024, about 50 million men between the ages of 40 to 70 are suffering from erectile dysfunction while studies show that up to 50 percent of women find it difficult to reach orgasm in the US. Dr Levine firstly pointed towards beta blockers used to treat heart conditions as a possible reason. About 30 million Americans are using a beta-blockers, making it one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the US. Beta blockers are used to cure abnormal heart rhythms, angina (chest pains) and recurring heart attacks by reducing the force of heartbeats and blood pressure. Dr Evan Levine, a cardiologist at a major university hospital, recently shared the reasons why many people are experiencing performance issues and how to reverse them They work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on the heart - which is commonly known to constrict blood vessels and cause blood to pump more forcefully. However, a 2013 literary review that analyzed 15 trials found that men who take them were nearly twice as likely to become impotent. A 2022 study published in the Reviews of Cardiovascular Medicine suggested that when the medication blocks the release of adrenaline, it can impact excitement levels which reduces the release of testosterone in the body. Researchers also explained that by lowering blood pressure and the heart's contractions, beta blockers may not allow enough blood to reach the penis to maintain strong erections. In women, some experts believe that it can reduce libido by creating a certain level of sedation in the body. Similarly, Dr Levine also noted that high doses of thiazide diuretics (over 50mg) can lead to sexual dysfunction in both men and women. The drugs help the body eliminate excess fluid and salt by reabsorbing sodium and chloride in the kidneys and pushing it out by peeing more. They are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure and edema (swelling caused by fluid buildup). While researchers have not clarified how thiazide diuretics can affect the male sexual system, some believe that it can impact penile muscle function. Dr Levine also noted that high doses of thiazide diuretics (over 50mg) can lead to sexual dysfunction in both men and women Beta blockers, such as atenolol, are used to treat cardiovascular conditions Thiazide diuretics can also reduce blood flow to the penis, leading to erectile dysfunction. Similarly, while there is no clear research on the medication causing sexual dysfunction in women, a 2022 study by researchers from Rocky Vista University, Utah, noted that most women who would take thiazide diuretics are more likely to suffer reduced libido. Dr Levine noted that those consuming tamsulosin, popularly known as Flomax, may also experience sexual performance issues. Tamsulosin is an alpha-blocker medication that relaxes the muscles in your prostate and bladder and makes it easier to pee. It is usually used to treat advanced kidney and liver disease, low blood pressure as well as prostate cancer. While some common side effects of Flomax include dizziness and a runny nose, more dangerous ones include ejaculation failure, lack of ease while ejaculating and ejaculation of semen into the bladder instead of out of the body in men. The medication can also cause a rare condition called priapism, a painful and prolonged erection that requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage. Flomax may cause ejaculation failure, lack of ease while ejaculating and ejaculation of semen into the bladder instead of out of the body in men Your browser does not support iframes. While research has indicated that Flomax is also an effective treatment for women who have trouble emptying their bladders, it has not been approved by the FDA for use in women and therefore its side effects remain unclear. Dr Levine also highlighted that Adderall - a stimulant medication used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - can also cause sexual dysfunction. The medication, which is taken by over 16 million adults in the US, helps increase attention and decrease hyperactivity in ADHD patients by increasing levels of dopamine (described as the feel-good hormone) in the brain. At times, it can also constrict blood vessels, which may reduce blood flow to the penis and make it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection. Dr Aleece Fosnight, who specializes in sexual medicine and a medical adviser at Aeroflow Urology in North Carolina explained: 'The way Adderall works in the brain is to narrow the blood vessels in the brain, causing changes in cardiovascular activity. '[An] increase in blood flow is essential for genital arousal or erections and if Adderall causes constriction of blood flow, this may be one way that it can affect penile arousal.' While some women taking Adderall may experience a decrease in libido as a possible side effect, it is not definitively known how this happens and its frequency. Adderall - a stimulant medication used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - can too cause sexual dysfunction Additionally, sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of many antidepressant medications. Essentially, most antidepressants alter the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. Both serotonin and norepinephrine play an important role in regulating sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm. By altering the levels of both hormones, antidepressants can interfere with normal sexual function and can create a difficulty in achieving orgasm, delay ejaculation, cause erectile dysfunction and anorgasmia (difficulty in achieving orgasm despite adequate sexual stimulation). By the end of his TikTok video, Dr Levine also noted that hard drugs such as cocaine can cause various disorders of sexual activity and gonadal dysfunction in both men and women. Furthermore, nicotine which can be found in tobacco products and vaping products, can too negatively impact sexual function, potentially leading to both erectile dysfunction and reduced libido. Comedian Katherine Ryan revealed she has the deadliest form of skin cancer today, after being told by doctors twice that she had nothing to worry about. It's the second time she has had the disease, after having a cancerous mole removed from her leg at the age of 21. Opening up on the latest episode of her podcast Telling Everyone Everything, the 41-year-old revealed she'd sought medical help after noticing a strange mole on her arm. After insisting that the mole be biopsieddespite her doctor assuring her that it was normalshe received a phone call telling her it was early stage melanoma. Katherine had also previously seen a private doctor who also told her it wasn't cancerous, after a seven-minute consultation that cost her 300. 'It just feels crazy to me, what could have happened, if I hadn't been my own advocateand I will continue to be my own advocate,' she told listeners. 'If I hadn't pushed, if I had taken that good answer the first time and walked away. Then I would have had melanoma just growing and spreading and god knows how far that would have gone.' Melanoma is one of the most dangerous types of skin cancer, accounting for four out of five deaths due to the disease but only one per cent of total cases. Comedian Katherine Ryan, 41, has revealed she's battling cancer for the second time as she revealed she was initially misdiagnosed (pictured in February) It's the second time Katherine has been diagnosed with the disease, having been diagnosed with Stage 2 cancer in 2004 (pictured on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer in 2021) Signs of skin cancer range from innocuous to obvious, but experts warn that treating cases early is key to making sure they do not spread or further develop With the cancer is extremely treatable if caught in early, experts have urged people to keep an eye out for any potential signs of the disease. Rates of the cancer, which is usually caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds, have increased by almost a third in a decade. Here, dermatologists to break down the early warning signs of skin cancer you need to know to help you protect yourself. Asymmetrical moles Dermatologists follow the ABCDEs when diagnosing melanoma; that is, asymmetry, border, colour, diameter, and evolving. Most melanomas, the rarest but most dangerous form of skin cancer that is most likely to spread, present as moles that have uneven edges. It looks different from common moles, the round, brown or tan spots on the skin caused by growing clusters of cells in the skin called melanocytes. Dr Nayoung Lee, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health said: 'If you can't fold the mole in half, if edges don't line up' that could be melanoma. Irregular borders of a mole, the 'B' in ABCDEs, can also indicate melanoma. The edges of a normal mole are uniform and smooth. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Charity The Skin Cancer Foundation advises people to look out for 'ugly ducklings' - unsightly moles that very clearly stick out from the pack all over the body. The foundation says: 'This recognition strategy is based on the concept that most normal moles on your body resemble one another, while melanomas stand out like ugly ducklings in comparison.' Moles of uneven colours Colour, the 'C' in ABCDEs, is a strong indicator of dangerous melanoma. Healthy moles are typically a single colour, from dark and light brown to pink and flesh-toned. Some moles become cancerous and change colours gradually. Roughly 20 to 30 percent of melanoma cases develop in existing moles. The other 70 to 80 percent of the time, cancerous moles arise on otherwise healthy-looking skin. But a suspicious mole often contains several shades of brown, black, or tan, as well as spots of pink, red or purple. It becomes more colourful as cancer progresses, so early action is crucial. In fact, 99 percent of patients who detect and begin treating their melanoma early survive five years or more after their diagnosis. Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Zaineb Makhzoumi, a dermatologist at the University of Maryland who specialises in a type of surgery to remove cancerous moles, said: 'Once you start to get two, three, four colours fused within one mole, that should be a warning sign and you should have that mole evaluated by a board-certified dermatologist.' Moles larger than a pea Size matters when it comes to suspicious moles. Melanomas typically present a bit bigger than a pea or a pencil eraser, about six millimeters or a quarter inch. Dr Makhzoumi said: 'Most moles, if they're benign, are smaller than a pencil eraser. If you have a mole that's bigger than a pencil eraser that is not in and of itself a warning sign and concerning. But rather when taken with the other constellation of signs, that's something that you want evaluated by a dermatologist.' Not all melanomas subscribe to the 'D' in ABCDEs where D means a diameter of at least six millimeters. In 2013, doctors in Queensland, Australia treated a 38-year-old woman with invasive melanoma on her arm that measured just 1.6 mm in diameter. The small cancerous mole also did not appear asymmetrical, the woman's doctors noted, but it was darker that those around it What is malignant melanoma? Malignant melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes, cells found in the upper layer of skin that produce melanin, which gives skin its colour. While less common that other types of skin cancer, it is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage. Symptoms A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma. Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun. Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals. Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see. In particular, look for: Moles with an uneven shape or edges Moles with a mix of colours Large moles - melanomas often tend to be more than 6mm wide Moles that change size, shape or colour over time Causes Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most common cause of melanoma. It comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds. Melanoma is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it. You're also more likely to get melanoma if you have: Pale skin that burns easily in the sun Red or blonde hair Blue or green eyes A large number of freckles or moles Had a lot of sun exposure and you've had sunburn a lot in the past Used sunbeds a lot A history of skin cancer in your family or you've had skin cancer before If you have black or brown skin, you have a lower chance of getting melanoma, but you can still get it. Prevention Staying safe in the sun is the best way to lower your chance of getting skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma). Do the following: Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm in the UK) Keep your arms and legs covered and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that provide protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection make sure you reapply it regularly Make sure babies and children are protected from the sun their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin Treatment Melanoma skin cancer can often be treated. The treatment you have will depend on where it is, if it has spread and your general health. Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma. Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used. Surgery could involve removing the melanoma and an area of healthy skin around it, swollen lymph nodes if the cancer has spread to them and other parts of the body if it has spread to them. If a large part of skin has to be removed, a skin graft might be needed which could see kin taken from another part of the body to cover the area where the melanoma was. Radiotherpay is sometimes used to reduce the size of large melanomas and help control and relieve symptoms. Targeted medicines and immotherapy are used to treat melanomas that can't be dealt with by surgery, or have spread to lymph glands or other parts of the body. Chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells, is sometimes used to treat advanced melanoma when it has spread to another part of the body. It does not work as well as other treatments, but can be used if you are unable to have them. How dangerous is it? Generally for people with melanoma in England: almost all people (almost 100%) will survive their melanoma for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed around 90 out of every 100 people (around 90%) will survive their melanoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis more than 85 out of every 100 people (more than 85%) will survive their melanoma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed Sources: NHS, the Skin Cancer Foundation and Cancer Research UK Advertisement Doctors must also monitor how a mole evolves over time. This is the 'E' in ABCDEs. Changes in the size, shape, colour, or elevation of a spot or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching, or crusting, may be a warning sign of melanoma. Dr Makhzoumi said: 'Moles tend to go through an evolution, but the evolution of moles tends to be that that they shrink, or they disappear. 'If you have a mole that's evolving in that it's growing, it's getting darker, it's elevated, that's really, really key for melanoma,' Melanoma grows in two phases, horizontal and vertical. The horizontal phase can last years before the mole becomes dangerous and invasive, meaning it spreads to lymph nodes and organs. But in a later phase, the lesion grows vertically, at which point it becomes a tumor with the ability to spread elsewhere in the body, potentially proving fatal. Dr Makhzoumi added: 'Once melanoma enters that vertical growth phase, they actually accelerate very rapidly. So if you have a spot that all of a sudden starts to develop a lump to it, that is highly concerning for malignant melanoma.' Bleeding or scaly patches These will often appear on areas of the skin most often exposed to sunlight, such as the face and the top of the head. Precancerous squamous cell carcinoma leads to actinic keratosis leads to a skin disorder that causes rough, scaly patches. The patches can sometimes bleed and become ulcerous. Dr Lee said: 'They just feel scaly so you can feel them more than see them.' People that have a history of heavy sun exposure are most likely to experience this type of skin cancer. With every bad, blistering sunburn comes a heightened risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Fair-skinned people and those with light eyes who are more prone to sunburn are also more vulnerable to SCC. More often than not, though, squamous cell carcinoma is curable when treated early. In fact, the survival rate is as high as 98 percent. A sore that bleeds may indicate another type of non-melanoma skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma which, like SCC, has a high survival rate. Still, people should treat it aggressively once it's detected. Dr Lee said: 'Depending on location they can grow deeper in muscle and bone, so they do become problematic if left to grow for a long period of time.' Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer overall and the most common type of skin cancer more specifically. The number of new cases in the US exceeds 4 million cases each year. Dr Lee added: 'Basal cell carcinomas, we don't even stage them because survival rates are good.' Dark patches on genitals Melanoma can present as dark lesions on the mucous membranes, meaning the inside of the nose, mouth, vagina, or anus, or the fingers and toes. This subtype of aggressive cancer is exceedingly rare and accounts for less than two percent of all melanoma cases. Unlike other types of melanoma, mucosal melanoma is not affected by sun exposure. About half of the mucosal melanomas start in the head and neck, typically the nose, mouth, windpipe, or esophagus. Smoking, ill-fitting dentures, and ingesting or inhaling carcinogens all greatly compound the risk of sarcomas in the mouth. Most of the remaining 50 percent of melanomas begin in the anus or rectal region and the female genitals. Spots on mucosal areas might not be melanomas but rather squamous cell carcinomas. Dr Lee said: 'Initially when it's early it kind of looks like a whitish bump or ridge on the mucosal surface. So as it grows it starts to look more like an ulcer, it can look fungated [like a fungal infection in appearance], or other things.' While doctors have not pinpointed the exact cause of mucosal membrane melanomas and non-melanoma cancers, some believe they are linked to a viral strain of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV strains 16 and 18 are those deemed high risk and cause the vast majority of cervical cancers. But strains six and 11, lower risk varieties, are more commonly associated with non-UV-linked skin cancers inside our bodies' orifices. Dr Makhzoumi said: 'The subtypes that are causing a cervical cancer are not the same subtypes that are causing skin cancer.' Patients can sometimes mistake nonmelanoma cancers in the genital region with a sexually transmitted infection, but doctors want to drive home the fact that this type of cancer is not a sexually transmitted disease. Waxy, pearly bumps on skin Basal cell carcinoma, which typically appears on sun-exposed parts of the body like hands, neck, arms, and legs, often present as a waxy lump or a small, smooth, shiny, or pale growth. It does not always appear raised, though, and could resemble a flat scar. Dr Makhzoumi said: 'You really want to look for a basal cell skin cancer, one of the really specific signs is that when you stretch the edges, it looks pearly. There's an opalescence to it, there's an opalescence to basal cells, they do really look like shiny or pearl-like.' Robert F Kennedy Jr is warning against vaccinating chickens against bird flu over fears a 'leaky' vaccine could create a deadly new strain of the virus. The newly-appointed health secretary said if a bird flu vaccine can't completely protect against infection, it could spur new mutations that could spread to humans. RFK Jr said 'all of [his] agencies' - the FDA, CDC, and National Institutes of Health, among others - 'advise against vaccination of birds.' 'If you vaccinate with a leaky vaccine, in other words a vaccine that does not provide sterilizing immunity, that does not absolutely protect against the disease. You turn those flocks into mutation factories. 'It's much more likely to jump to animals if you do that.' The grave warnings come after the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $100million project on vaccine research to combat bird flu, which has spread to 12,500 birds and nearly 1,000 dairy herds during the current outbreak. Additionally, 70 Americans have been struck by the H5N1 bird flu strain and one has died. Rather than vaccines, RFK Jr instead suggested farmers 'should consider the maybe the possibility of letting [H5N1] run through the flock so that we can identify the birds, and preserve the birds, that are immune to it' rather than culling birds, pointing to egg shortages. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr (pictured here) warned against using a 'leaky vaccine' to prevent the spread of bird flu RFK Jr suggested letting bird flu, also known as H5N1, 'run through' farms 'so that we can identify the birds, and preserve the birds, that are immune to it' While some evidence has backed up RFK Jr's 'leaky vaccine' theory in poultry diseases like Marek's disease, experts also told DailyMail.com that while a vaccine will never completely eliminate H5N1, it could still help reduce transmission. They also warned letting H5N1 spread throughout farms is 'scientifically unsound' and allowing widespread infection would increase the risk of mutations that could spread to humans. Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Paul Offit, a top infectious disease specialist in Philadelphia, told DailyMail.com: 'Leaky vaccine is an imprecise word. What he means is that he is trying to get a vaccine that completely eliminates flu transmission between chickens. 'That is just not going to happen because the virus has such a short incubation period, making it great at transmission. 'These vaccines are imperfect, like with the flu vaccine that we give every year [in humans] that provides 60 to 65 percent protection against severe disease. 'I think as a general rule, the less a virus is circulating the less likely we are going to get worrying mutations.' When poultry flocks become infected with bird flu, the birds are culled to keep the disease from spreading. Since 2022, 166million birds have been culled across the country. However, this practice has resulted in rising egg prices and shortages. RFK Jr said in an interview with Fox News: 'Most of our scientists are against the culling operation. They think that we should be testing therapeutics on those flocks. They should isolate. 'You should let the disease go with them and identify the birds that survive, which are the birds that probably have a genetic inclination for immunity. 'And those should be the birds that we breed, like the wild population. 'Weve killed 166million chickens. Thats why we have an egg crisis.' Trump-appointed Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins has also voiced support for this strategy, telling Fox News last month: 'There are some farmers that are out there that are willing to really try this on a pilot as we build the safe perimeter around them to see if there is a way forward with immunity.' The above map shows the human cases of bird flu reported in the current outbreak. According to the latest CDC data, 70 humans have been infected to far. There has been one death The above shows workers in the Eden Valley, Minnesota, in 2015. They were responding to a bird flu outbreak at a poultry farm Dr Jessica Steier, a public health scientist in Massachusetts, wrote on Instagram: 'The "let it rip" approach to H5N1 bird flu management proposed by RFK Jnr is scientifically unsound because the virus kills infected chickens too quickly for them to develop resistance or survive infection. '[But] allowing widespread infection would increase mutation risk and potentially create more dangeous variants that could affect humans.' Some evidence supports RFK Jr's opposition to a bird flu vaccine for poultry. In the 1970s, scientists developed a vaccine for Marek's disease, a highly contagious virus that when infected birds shed the virus from their feather follicles. It's then inhaled with dust by other chickens. While the virus was gradually brought under control, within 10 years, it started mutating into more virulent strains. A 2015 paper argued unvaccinated birds were killed by the more virulent strains so quickly that they shed very little of the virus, whereas vaccinated birds with the same strains shed more of it than those with the least virulent strain. This suggested the vaccine caused more severe strains to spread. NEVER MIND by Edward St Aubyn (Picador Collection 10.99, 200pp) Never Mind is available now It may appear a slim volume but dont be deceived: this devastating, semi-autobiographical first volume in the Patrick Melrose series throbs with cruelty, abuse and snobbery, all conveyed in brilliant, witty, satirical prose that seduces you to read on. Lonely, five-year-old Patrick, the product of marital rape, wanders his wealthy, drunken mothers family house in the south of France dominated by his controlling father, David. Friends are coming for dinner but before they arrive, a shocking event changes the little boys life, yet no one except the outsider, American Anne, sees even a hint of the horror beneath the facade of English upper-class ennui and arrogance. THE SPRING BEGINS by Katherine Dunning (British Library 9.99, 272pp) The Spring Begins is available now from the Mail Bookshop Three very different women share the stage in this beautifully written, 1930s novel of supressed passion and longing. Lottie, a nurse maid for the wealthy Kellaways, terrorised by Nannys warnings about men; Maggie, the scullery maid whose luscious looks give her a certain animal power; and Hessie, governess to a local family whose younger sisters engagement has cruelly highlighted her lack of prospects despite her inappropriate fantasies about an uninterested clergyman. As each navigates her way through fear and ignorance, the inequality of gender and social class, they find that love, lust or simple opportunity can change their futures, with an unexpected final twist. STORIES FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS Edited by Simon Thomas (British Library 10.99, 224pp) Stories for Mothers & Daughters is available now from the Mail Bookshop This is a wonderfully varied collection of stories on mother-daughter relationships. In The Week End, Just William author Richmal Crompton sketches a widow living in a rural idyll whose three boisterous daughters descend from London every weekend to stop her being mopey, youthfully unaware that she longs for solitude. And Winifred Holtbys The Silver Cloak portrays the bittersweet moment when beautiful, 36-year-old Annie, gifted a stunning outfit, realises she must relinquish her coquettish role to her teenage daughter and weeps. (Weve all been there . . .) The perfect present for Mothering Sunday. TWIST by Colum McCann (Bloomsbury 18.99, 256pp) Twist is available now from the Mail Bookshop The fragile undersea cables that carry our means of communication are the metaphorical subject of this novel, narrated by sometime journalist Anthony Fennell. Commissioned to write about how breaks in these essential digital highways are repaired, he joins a mission led by charismatic engineer and diver John Conway. But Conway is not all he appears, and his sudden disappearance at sea forces Fennell to re-evaluate everything. McCann flexes his muscles here as both a storyteller and (occasionally too obtrusively) a stylist, constructing a cleverly plotted yarn with shades of Heart Of Darkness. The deliberately cypher-like character of Conway didnt entirely convince me, but theres no doubting the timeliness of Fennels meditations on both the wonder and toxicity of our instantly connected world. DREAM COUNT by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (4th Estate 20, 416pp) Dream Count is available now from the Mail Bookshop Its been 12 years since the celebrated author of Americanah last published a novel, and the good news is that its been worth the wait. Set between the US and Nigeria, this is the story of four interconnected women navigating midlife friendship and heartbreak, duplicitous exes and ticking biological clocks, each strand forming a rich and compelling narrative in its own right satisfyingly crafted, but not overdetermined. However, it is the experience of Kadiatou, whose dreams take her from Guinea to New York, that is the novels riveting centrepiece. As the authors afterword explains, her characters experience is based on the case of Nafissatou Diallo, a maid engulfed in a media frenzy after she accused French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault. While Kadis ordeal is hard to read, Adichies empathy, humanity and formidable skill returns to her the dignity she has been denied and elevates all four into transcendently memorable everywomen. GREATER SINS by Gabrielle Griffiths (Doubleday 16.99, 352pp) Greater Sins is available now from the Mail Bookshop Its 1915, and in a remote Aberdeenshire community the young men who arent off to war are bringing in the harvest. But when local woman Lizzie, wife of a rich landowner, unearths a preserved womans body from the depths of a peat bog, other, long-buried things also begin to surface. As a sense of foreboding grows, superstitious beliefs run riot and misfortune turns to tragedy. The bog woman serves as a focus for suspicion, blame and mistrust. But it is the very human failings of Lizzie and Johnny, the dandy-like wanderer with a dark past to whom she is drawn, that Griffiths is most interested in delving into. Ultimately an unconventional love story between two flawed protagonists, this is an atmospheric and assured debut. CBS Mornings is leaving its prized Times Square studio amid ongoing cost cutting efforts and plummeting ratings. The last-placed morning show spent big just four years ago to build the state-of-the-art studio, which reportedly cost tens of millions of dollars. But now CBS Mornings, which is hosted by Gayle King, Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil, is having to pack up and move home to the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street, NY Post reported. 'It's all about saving money,' an insider said. 'This is another example of them not competing. It's going back in time.' The move is reportedly slated for September and comes as CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon makes efforts to slash $500million from the network's budget. As part of the move, CBS Mornings will now share a studio with CBS Evening News. 'The studio is much smaller. There's no space for couches for when the morning show hosts interview A-listers,' the source said. It is unclear if Paramount will be seeking to rent out the studio, which is in a prime location, or if there is a broader goal to slim down its real estate portfolio entirely. CBS Mornings is leaving its prized Times Square studio amid ongoing cost cutting efforts and plummeting ratings The last-placed morning show spent big just four years ago to build the state-of-the-art studio, which reportedly cost tens of millions of dollars Last week, it posted the lowest result it's had since the show was relauched in September 2021, with just 1.87million total views for the seven-day period The morning show has been plagued by ratings issues for months - a long running theme at the network currently as it grapples with on-air departures and a lawsuit with President Trump. But last week, it posted the lowest result it's had since the show was relauched in September 2021, with just 1.87million total views for the seven-day period. Year on year, CBS Mornings is down six per cent in overall viewership. The ratings crisis was partly brought on by its new 'Evening News' format, former executives and producers have said. It is unclear if Paramount will be seeking to rent out the Times Square studio (pictured), which is in a prime location, or if there is a broader goal to slim down its real estate portfolio entirely Now CBS Mornings, which is hosted by Gayle King , Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil, is having to pack up and move home to the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street 'It's a disaster,' a former CBS News exec told DailyMail.com of the new dual-anchor set-up they framed as 'going to two anchors.' Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson have replaced longtime host Norah O'Donnell, leading to a more magazine-style, less headline-driven format. 'It's been critically panned, ratings down week by week and from this time last year,' the source added. Last week, Lonnie Quinn, CBS News New York's chief weatherman said he'd be stepping away from his anchoring duties for several weeks following some surprising side effects due to a concussion from earlier this year. Good Morning America star George Stephanopoulos has triggered more feud rumors after over his alleged 'chilly' relationship with co-star Robin Roberts. Stephanopoulos prefers to play chess on his phone rather than even looking at his colleague Roberts during off-air moments on the tense set, according to Breaker Media. Breaker says the culture at ABC News, which broadcasts GMA, is 'secretive and cold.' Stephanopoulos was previously reported to be feuding with World News Tonight star David Muir. But well-connected media journalist Oliver Darcy previously told DailyMail.com that Muir has won that feud, as well as high ratings and plaudits for ABC's flagship news show. An ABC spokesperson said: 'This is unfounded, ridiculous gossip designed to get clicks and nothing more.' Meanwhile another source close to the situation told DailyMail.com that Stephanopoulos and Robins actually 'have a great relationship on set and behind the scenes.' It has been a tough year for Stephanopoulos, who is said to be 'miserable' at the network after it paid Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his remarks about the president. A new report claims George Stephanopoulos refuses to even look at Robin Roberts when off-air at the Good Morning America set. They are seen with co-ghost Michael Strahan Stephanopoulos reportedly prefers to play chess on his phone than chat with his co-host Stephanopoulos erroneously claimed on-air that the president-elect was found 'liable for rape' - rather than the correct phrasing of sexual abuse - against writer E. Jean Carroll in March. Trump sued Stephanopoulos and the network for defamation soon after the segment aired, accusing the anchor of making the statements with 'malice' and a disregard for the truth. As part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos was forced to issue a public apology. He has since isolated himself at the network, insiders told the New York Post, with some suggesting he may be out of a job by the summer. 'George seems miserable,' one source said. 'He's definitely gone. He's a dead man walking for sure.' Others, though, said Stephanopoulos could remain at the network in a lower-profile way, possibly working on film and television projects. Still, another source denied the claims that Stephanopoulos is on his way out. 'This is nonsense,' the unidentified source told the New York Post. 'Anyone watching GMA can see he's engaged, all-in and as committed as ever. 'He's happy to be here.' Longtime ABC News anchor Stephanopoulos is said to be 'miserable' at the network after it paid President Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his remarks about the president Stephanopoulos erroneously claimed on-air that the president-elect was found 'liable for rape' - rather than the correct phrasing of sexual abuse - against writer E. Jean Carroll in March In fact, the former Bill Clinton aide has already signed a multi-year contract extension with the Disney-owned network. He was reportedly paid $20 million a year in his current contract for hosting Good Morning America and Sunday news staple This Week, as well as producing documentaries. But sources have said the new contract comes with a pay cut from his $20-25 million-per-year and the possibility that eventually his role will be reduced. They also noted that a contract renewal is not necessarily an impediment to ousting Stephanopoulos, who has been with the network since 1997. 'It's the Disney way,' a longtime former Disney executive said. 'Thy re-sign your contract, then they move you out.' On Tuesday, disgruntled staff at ABC News were called into a meeting where the network's new boss Almin Karamehmedovic announced major changes and side-stepped when asked about further layoffs. Many staff members have recently been left in limbo after brutal layoffs 'gutted' their newsroom. ABC News isn't the only network facing troubles. MSNBC axed Joy Reid's show over falling ratings and demoted its stars as part of widespread cuts. Its star broadcaster Rachel Maddow was forced to take a pay cut, from $30 million a year for one show a week to $25 million a year. When patients arrive at pharmacies only to find their prescribed medications unavailable, the consequences can range from inconvenient to life-threatening. Medicine shortages have become an increasingly pressing concern across Europe, prompting unprecedented collaboration among pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulatory agencies, and healthcare systems. At the center of one such collaborative effort stands Medochemie, a Cyprus-based pharmaceutical company whose contributions to European medicine security extend well beyond its Mediterranean origins. The challenge is substantialover two-thirds of reported medicine shortages between January 2023 and 2024 stemmed from products with fewer than five suppliers in Europe. This vulnerability in the supply chain has mobilized stakeholders across the continent to develop innovative solutions that ensure patients receive the treatments they need when they need them. Building Resilience Through Diverse Partnerships When the Belgian Presidency of the EU and the European Commission launched the Critical Medicines Alliance in April 2024, they created a platform for exactly this kind of cross-sector collaboration. Medochemie joined this initiative as one of many partners committed to strengthening Europe's pharmaceutical supply chains. "The Critical Medicines Alliance is a consultative mechanism which brings together all relevant stakeholders, to identify priorities for action and propose solutions to strengthen the supply of critical medicines in the EU, to better prevent and combat their shortages," explains official documentation from the alliance. What makes this partnership particularly powerful is its diversity. The alliance doesn't just bring pharmaceutical manufacturers to the tableit includes EU institutions, Member States, specialized agencies, local authorities, trade associations, and patient advocacy groups. This multifaceted approach recognizes that medicine shortages aren't simply a production problem but a complex challenge requiring coordination across the entire healthcare ecosystem. Medochemie comes to this partnership with significant resources. The company operates 15 state-of-the-art production facilitiesnine in Cyprus, one in the Netherlands, and five in Vietnamall meeting European quality standards. With a presence in 122 countries, Medochemie's global reach complements its European manufacturing capabilities. From Antibiotics to Emergency Medicines The scope of medications involved in these shortage prevention efforts is extensive. Medochemie produces numerous medicines on the EU's critical list, including essential antibiotics like amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin. The portfolio extends to other vital medications such as carbamazepine for epilepsy, hydrocortisone for inflammatory conditions, the pain reliever paracetamol, and salbutamol for respiratory disorders. Many of these medications have particular significance in combating antimicrobial resistancea growing global health threat. "A lot of these critical medicines produced by Medochemie also play a key role in the fight against microbial resistance as they are old molecules facing less resistance by bacteria," notes Medochemie in its communications about the Critical Medicines Alliance. This focus on established molecules highlights an important aspect of medicine security that often goes unrecognized. While newer treatments typically receive greater attention, many older generic medications form the foundation of everyday healthcare. In fact, generic medicines account for 70% of treatment volume in Europe while representing only 19% of the market valuea testament to their efficiency and importance. Beyond Production: Creating Systemic Solutions The collaborative approach to preventing shortages extends beyond simply manufacturing more medicines. The Critical Medicines Alliance has established specialized working groups focusing on distinct but complementary objectives: strengthening EU manufacturing capacities for critical medicines and diversifying international partnerships and cooperation. Medochemie, alongside partners from across the pharmaceutical sector, contributes to developing a comprehensive shortage prevention strategy. This includes advocating for EU procurement guidance that rewards the security of supply rather than focusing exclusively on cost minimization. The strategy also supports greater use of real-time serialization data to monitor imbalances between demand and supplyessentially creating an early warning system for potential shortages. The Alliance's Strategic Report, published in February 2025, outlines key vulnerabilities within Europe's pharmaceutical supply chains and recommends substantial investment in strategic projects. It addresses procurement policies while advocating for a harmonized framework of stockpiling requirements to ensure supply security. From Competition to Cooperation What makes these collaborative efforts particularly notable is the shift they represent from purely competitive market dynamics toward a more cooperative approach when public health is at stake. While pharmaceutical companies naturally compete in many aspects of their business, medicine shortages have emerged as an area where collaboration delivers better outcomes for all stakeholdersespecially patients. The Critical Medicines Alliance exemplifies this new paradigm. Its Steering Board includes representatives from Member States' Ministries of Health and Industry, patient and healthcare professionals' organizations, the Medicine Shortages Steering Group, and the European Medicines Agency. Companies, including Medochemie, Sandoz, Teva, Zentiva, and Viatris work alongside these public entities toward common objectives. This cooperative spirit is perhaps best captured in the alliance's approach to stockpiling. Rather than encouraging competitive national stockpiling mandates that can exacerbate shortages in neighboring countries, the alliance advocates for "a coherent EU reserve policy" based on solidarity. This reflects an understanding that medicine security in one region cannot come at the expense of availability elsewhere. Local Production with a Global Perspective Founded in 1976 by Dr. Andreas Pittas, Medochemie has grown from its Cypriot roots to become a significant contributor to global pharmaceutical supply chains. Today, the company employs 2,000 people globally, with scientists comprising 45% of the workforce. This combination of strong European manufacturing presence and global distribution networks positions Medochemie to bridge local production capabilities with international supply chain resilience. The company contributes 28.9% to Cyprus's industrial exports while simultaneously strengthening Europe's pharmaceutical manufacturing base. As a founding member of the European Generics Association (now part of Medicines for Europe), Medochemie has long advocated for policies that support sustainable access to medicines. This organizational history provides valuable perspective to current collaborative efforts, connecting decades of experience with emerging challenges. Technology and Transparency as Prevention Tools Digital technologies have emerged as crucial tools in preventing medicine shortages. The European Medicines Verification System (EMVS), which enables real-time tracking of medicines, offers unprecedented visibility into supply chain dynamics. By monitoring demand patterns and inventory levels, stakeholders can identify potential shortages before they affect patients. The Critical Medicines Alliance supports expanding the use of these digital tools, recognizing that transparency across the supply chain enables more effective coordination. When all participantsfrom manufacturers to distributors to healthcare providershave access to the same data, they can respond more quickly to emerging challenges. For Medochemie and other pharmaceutical manufacturers, this increased transparency also provides valuable insights for production planning. By understanding demand patterns across different regions, companies can allocate manufacturing capacity more efficiently, potentially preventing shortages before they occur. Looking Ahead: From Alliance to Action The momentum behind these collaborative efforts continues to build. In February 2025, the Critical Medicines Alliance convened its second Forum, bringing together over 300 participants to discuss strategic recommendations for bolstering the production of critical medicines within the European Union. These discussions will inform the forthcoming Critical Medicines Act, which aims to formalize and strengthen Europe's commitment to medicine security. The act is expected to cover necessary investments in manufacturing technology, market policies that support diversification and supply chain resilience, and digital tools that enhance coordination. For patients across Europe, these collaborative initiatives offer hope that the medications they depend on will remain available when needed. By bringing together diverse stakeholders with complementary capabilitiesfrom manufacturing expertise to regulatory oversight to clinical perspectivethe Critical Medicines Alliance creates a foundation for more resilient pharmaceutical supply chains. Medochemie's participation in these efforts reflects both commercial wisdom and public health commitment. As the company continues to expand its global footprint while maintaining its European manufacturing base, its role in preventing medicine shortages demonstrates how pharmaceutical manufacturers can contribute to healthcare resilience through strategic partnerships and long-term vision. In an increasingly interconnected world, where healthcare challenges transcend national borders, such collaboration may well represent the future of pharmaceutical supply chain managementone where competition and cooperation coexist in the service of public health. Former MSNBC host Joy Reid has resurfaced for the first time since being fired by the liberal network just to wildly claim Canada would most definitely beat the US in a war. Reid, 56, joined ex-CNN host Don Lemon on his show to discuss Trump's 'absurd' plan to take over Canada and make it the 51st State. 'First of all, you can't make Canada the 51st State without going to war with them,' she told Lemon on Thursday. 'And let me explain how that happened, how that worked out the last time we tried to go to war with Canada. 'They burned the White House to the ground in 1814 and won the war.' She's referring to the War of 1812, which broke out after the US invaded Canada in hopes of conquering the country - which was then part of the British Empire - in order to get the British to stop encroaching on their maritime rights during the Napoleonic Wars. As the US was unable to attack the Royal Navy, it set its eyes on Canada. The British eventually occupied Washington, DC, in 1814 and began burning the city in revenge for the Americans torching York, present-day Toronto. British Admiral George Cockburn ordered his British and Canadian troops to burn the White House - which was occupied by President James Madison - the Capitol Building, and the Library of Congress. Joy Reid, 56, joined ex-CNN host Don Lemon on his show to discuss Trump's 'absurd' plan to take over Canada and making it the 51st State . 'First of all, you can't make Canada the 51st State without going to war with them,' she told Lemon, before butchering US history Trump has said he would consider making Canada the 51st State. Reid claimed the US lost to Canada in the War of 1812, where America invaded Canada to try an stop Britain - which owned Canada - to stop effecting their maritime rights The British eventually occupied Washington DC in 1814 and began burning the city in revenge for the Americans torching York, present-day Toronto. However, the war ended in a stalemate and a treaty was signed to say the country would maintain their previous territories (pictured: War of 1812) The war ended in a stalemate and the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814. The treaty stated that each country would maintain the land they had previously occupied, according to the US Constitution Museum. Reid claimed that 'Canada beat us in the War of 1812' and said 'they probably like their chances against us.' 'We're not going to beat them in a war because we have never been able to do that,' Reid told Lemon, slightly butchering history. 'You'd have to occupy a country that is equivalent of the size of the United States, in which the top two-thirds of it is uninhabited frozen forest land that touches the Arctic,' she continued. 'And you know how that worked out when the Nazis tried that with Russia, which is the equivalent of Canada on that part of the world. 'We're going to lose.' The Germans launched Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 to invade the Soviet Union in World War II. It was one of Adolf Hitler's first defeats in the war and an estimated 20 million died, with 775,000 military casualties on the German side and more than 800,000 Soviet soldiers died in the frozen tundra, many from frostbite and hypothermia. The Germans' attack on Russia became one of the deadliest military operations in history, according to Smithsonian Associates. Reid claimed that 'Canada beat us in the War of 1812' and said 'they probably like their chances against us.' No one won the War of 1812 (pictured) She also compared Canada to Russia in World War II where the Germans (pictured in 1941) invaded the cold country in Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 and was one of the deadliest military operations. Reid said Canada's uninhabited Arctic wouldn't serve US soldiers well Reid went on to pad her argument by saying that Canadians have 'about as many guns per capita as we do.' However, as of 2017, the US had nearly 400 million civilian firearms compared to Canada's 12.7 million, according to World Population Review. The US has a population 8.5 times bigger than Canada, with approximately 340 million to 40 million citizens. Even if Canadian civilian gun ownership increased by the same amount, it would not come near America's total. Reid went on to say that the only reason the US has more shootings than their neighbor to the North is because '[Canadians] don't take their guns to Walmart.' 'But they got a lot of guns,' she said. 'And they've beat us in a war before so that's issue number one. 'You cannot absorb a country against their will. And this talk of making them the 51st State is absurd.' New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stuck it to Trump just have been instated in his new role last week, calling the idea of absorbing Canada 'crazy.' 'Ive been clear, that we will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States. America is not Canada,' he declared at a press conference. Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney has put US President Donald Trump in the dog house after taking office, calling his plans to absorb Canada 'crazy.' He said: 'We're the masters in our home. We're in charge' 'We are very fundamentally [a] different country,' he said, before forcibly stating: 'We're the masters in our home. We're in charge.' He also sternly reminded Trump that Canada was nothing to step on, especially as they proved to be valuable economic partners and demanded Trump treat the country appropriately. Although Carney called Trump a 'successful business maker,' he was quick to remind the Commander-in-Chief that Canada is his 'largest client in so many industries.' 'Clients expect respect,' he admitted, before saying he expects America to work with them in a 'proper commercial way.' Donald Trump is set to meet with Bill Maher after a decades-long feud with the liberal comedian in a summit brokered by mutual friend Kid Rock at the White House. Maher has long insulted Trump even before his formal entry into politics, with a lawsuit launched by the president in 2013 over claims made by the comedian that Trump's father was an orangutan. As recently as late 2024, Trump ranted against Maher as a 'befuddled mess, sloppy and tired.' However, Kid Rock appears to be attempting to make peace or at least a meeting between the two. Maher told fellow comic Andrew Schultz on an episode of his podcast Club Random set to debut Sunday that the meeting is happening. 'Kid Rock was here a couple of weeks ago, and he said, 'I want you to meet Trump.' He said, 'I'm gonna take you to the White House.' So now we're gonna do that,' Maher said. The 54-year-old musician - real name Bob Ritchie - announced he was going to take Maher, a longtime friend, for a visit on Glenn Beck's show recently. 'I'm actually going to try and unite this country and I'm starting at the end of the month I'm taking Bill Maher to the White House for dinner,' he said. Donald Trump is set to meet with Bill Maher after a decades-long feud with the liberal comedian in a summit brokered by mutual friend Kid Rock at the White House Maher has long insulted Trump even before his formal entry into politics, with a lawsuit launched by the president in 2013 over claims made by the comedian that Trump's father was an orangutan 'This guy who has done nothing but talk smack about the president since day one,' he said. The 'Picture' crooner says he wants the meeting to send a message of 'unity' to Americans. Schultz asked Maher on the podcast whether he worried about liberal criticism over meeting with Trump. 'There will be lots of people on the left who will be like, 'How dare you talk to this man.' It's like 'fuck you, I'm not playing this game that you mean girls play,'' he said. 'Oh, you know what? You can't sit at my lunch table, because I'm just not talking to you.' Not talking to you? You lost the election. Who the fuck do you think you have to talk to?' DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment. The HBO host has long been critical of Trump's policies though he is often equally outraged by 'woke' excesses of liberals. He even recently expressed support for Trump's decision to get rid of the Department of Education. Kid Rock appears to be attempting to make peace or at least a meeting between the two The 54-year-old musician - real name Bob Ritchie - announced he was going to take Maher, a longtime friend, for a visit on Glenn Beck's show recently However, 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.' Ungar-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. Maher has only interviewed a sitting president once, when Barack Obama sat down on his show in 2016. The closure of Heathrow today has caused mayhem, with 1,350 flights to and from the airport being cancelled, impacting connecting journeys and causing travel misery for travellers worldwide. It is therefore important to understand your rights if your travel arrangements are affected. Here I answer the key questions Mail readers have been asking me about the chaos and the laws you need to know about: The legal position Passengers travelling with a UK or EU-based airline, or flying from a UK or EU airport, should receive help from the company if their flight is delayed or cancelled thanks to a law known as the denied boarding regulations (also referred to as UK261 in the UK and EU261 in Europe). This law will cover all flights that already have been, or are going to be, disrupted by the Heathrow closure. Those who have booked a 'package holiday' (where you book travel and accommodation together) enjoy additional consumer protections under law known as the Package Travel Regulations. Confusion at the BA check-in desk after an electrical substation wiped out the power at Heathrow. DEAN DUNHAM explains your rights Your questions answered... My flight today has been cancelled, what are my options? The denied boarding regulations provide you with the option to either ask for a refund for the cancelled flight or to ask to be booked on to an alternative flight (often referred to as being 're-routed'). If you chose to be re-routed, the airline must find you the next available flight. In this respect, if another airline is flying to your destination significantly sooner, or there are other suitable modes of transport (such as a bus or train), then you have a right to be booked on to that alternative flight or transport instead. If I choose to be put on an alternative flight, can I go and stay in a hotel until the new flight departs? It depends where you are at the point cancellation. If you live in the UK and have not left home yet or do not live far from the airport, the answer will generally be no. However, if the new flight is due to leave in the early hours of the morning, you may be able to argue that it would be reasonable to stay in a hotel local to the airport the night before. Likewise if you are re-routed to an alternative airport that is further from your home it may be reasonable to stay in a hotel local to the airport. In either scenario you would have good grounds to claim your 'reasonable' hotel costs which means staying in a budget, not premium, hotel. If you are visiting the UK and the Heathrow closure is delaying your journey home the situation is very different. In these circumstances the denied boarding regulations will give you the automatic right to either free accommodation (organised by the airline) until the new flight departs, or to have your reasonable accommodation costs reimbursed. Can I claim for refreshments until the new flight departs? The denied boarding regulations provide that if you are stuck abroad or at the airport because of a flight cancellation, airlines must also provide you with a reasonable amount of food and drink (often in the form of vouchers). So, as with accommodation, if you live in the UK it is unlikely that you will be able to claim this for today's cancellations as you will not have travelled to the airport due to its closure. Where you are entitled to refreshments, if the airline is unable to arrange food or vouchers, you have the right to organise this yourself and claim back the reasonable cost later. However, please note, no airline reimburses without receipts or other evidence of your expenditure. Can I claim compensation for my cancelled flight? Under the denied boarding regulations, the general position with a cancelled flight is that you are entitled to compensation unless the flight was cancelled at least 14 days prior to the date of departure. However, airlines are able to avoid paying compensation where the cause of the cancellation falls within the definition of 'extraordinary circumstances'. Generally speaking, any event that is 'outside of the airline's' control falls within this definition, although some events can be argued either way. Here, it is clear that the closure of Heathrow airport was outside the control of the airlines so this event, in my firm view, clearly falls within the definition, meaning you will not be able to claim compensation for today's flight cancellations. There is one further test airlines must satisfy to use the extraordinary circumstances defence, which is that they took all reasonable measures to avoid the delay or cancellation. It is clear to see in the case of the Heathrow closure that there were simply no measures that could have been taken. My flight cancellation today is going to impact my holiday, can I claim compensation for this? Under the Package Travel Regulations, if your flight can't be rearranged and your holiday has to be cancelled, or new arrangements are made that result in a significant change to your holiday, then the travel company must offer an alternative holiday if they can, or a refund of the full package price, not just the flight part. Generally, a change of more than 12 hours on a 14-night holiday is considered a significant change. If your trip is not classed as a 'package holiday', you will not benefit from these protections and as the cause of the cancellation falls within the definition of extraordinary circumstances, you will not be able to claim compensation from the airline for your ruined holiday. Instead, you will need to potentially turn to your travel insurance to see if this will assist or alternatively contact your holiday or accommodation provider to see if it can help. Due to my cancelled flight I will now miss a connecting flight, will I be refunded? This can be tricky. If you booked what is known as a 'through ticket', on most occasions you will be able to demand a refund for the missed connecting flight. A through ticket is where you booked the original flight and connecting flight together and have one booking reference or the same ticket number note, it doesn't have to be the same airline, just the same booking number. In other circumstances, if your connecting flight is unaffected by the Heathrow closure and therefore is still able to depart on time, the answer will be no, you cannot receive a refund. Passengers due to be heading to Heathrow wait at Paddington station. If you are re-routed to an alternative airport that is further from your home it may be reasonable to stay in a hotel local to the airport If I chose not to take an alternative flight, will the return flight also be refunded? Yes, under the denied boarding regulations if you decide you do not want to be re-routed you are entitled to all your money back and this means you will get a refund for all parts of the ticket you haven't used (including return flights). I'm due to travel from Heathrow next week, should I cancel now as I do not want to wait for a delayed flight? Absolutely not. If you cancel now you will lose all rights, including your right to a refund as at this stage we do not know precisely what the situation will be next week. You should therefore sit tight for now and see what happens over the next few days. However, if you are travelling on holiday it be worth contacting your holiday provider and asking what they will do if your flight is delayed or cancelled next week. If my flight next week is delayed, what rights will I have? Your airline must provide you with care and assistance if your flight is significantly delayed. The law splits the set timeframes into three categories: i) short-haul flights under 1,500km your care assistance rights kick in after two hours of waiting, ii) medium-haul flights of 1,500km to 3,500km - your care assistance rights kick in after three hours of waiting; and iii) long-haul flights of over 3,500km - your care assistance rights kick in after four hours of waiting. As with cancelled flights, where you are entitled to care and assistance, the airline must provide: a reasonable amount of food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers), a means for you to communicate (often by refunding the cost of your calls), accommodation, if you are re-routed the next day (usually in a nearby hotel), transport to and from the accommodation (or your home, if you are able to return there). The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it. If your flight is delayed by more than five hours, the denied boarding regulations give you the right to cancel and demand a full refund, instead of travelling. Can I claim compensation if my flight next week is delayed? The position here will be the same as it is with today's cancelled flights out of Heathrow. If the cause of the delay is still the after-effects of the Heathrow incident, it is likely to fall within the definition of extraordinary circumstances meaning you will not be able to claim compensation. But if the delay is due to some other event or reason that is not outside of the airline's control you may be able to claim compensation. What if the airline refuses or fails to help me? In the first instance you should complain to the airline via its complaints procedure. If this does not solve the issue, you should ask if it is subscribed to one of the two authorised alternative dispute resolution providers, namely: AviationADR or CEDR. You can also find this information on the Civil Aviation website. If your airline is subscribed, you can lodge a claim with the ADR provider. Utilico Emerging Markets is a unique investment trust backing infrastructure and utilities in emerging markets, seeking to deliver profits and dividends to investors from the growth taking place there. The trust allows UK investors to back stock market listed ports, airports, toll roads, power stations, gas and communications around the world, outside of the US, Western Europe, Japan and Australia. It offers a different twist on emerging markets investing and taps into the integral elements of the fast-growing economies of the world. Utilico Emerging Markets co-manager Charles Jillings joins Simon Lambert on this episode of the Investing Show to discuss everything from electric cars in China, to rail lines in Brazil and Argentinas nascent economic recovery. He explains how the trust holds shares in companies rather than holding assets themselves and the managers travel around the world checking out the actual infrastructure, for example, to see whether a port really functions well. With sentiment downbeat on emerging markets, Utilico EM shares are currently trading on an 18 per cent to its net asset value and offer a dividend yield of 4.24 per cent. Over one year, the trust is up just 3.3 per cent, but over five years it is up 80.9 per cent, according to AIC / Morningstar figures. It has ongoing charges of 1.5 per cent. I have got 4,000 of credit card debt that I am gradually but slowly paying back at a rate of about 150 per month. The debt built up a few years ago and I was originally just paying the minimum monthly amount but have now stepped up my efforts to get it cleared. I want to buy a home with my partner, we are both first-time buyers earning about 35,000 each and have saved a deposit of about 20,000, so the numbers stack up to do this. I'd rather use the deposit towards the flat we hope to buy than clear my debt and then just continue to pay off the credit card over time. I checked my credit rating and it is decent but will my credit card debt stop me getting a mortgage? Help: Our reader is worried their 4,500 of credit debt could stop them getting a mortgage Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: It's great that you are thinking ahead and checking your credit rating before applying for a mortgage - I fear most people don't. Your credit card debt certainly has the potential to affect how much you can borrow but it is unlikely to stop you getting a mortgage. However, it's important to disclose any debts you have to the lender at the point of application - as not doing so could lead to a rejection. The size of your deposit matters and could impact the type of mortgage rates you are able to secure, so it's good you are pondering what to do. For example, if you are aiming to buy a 200,000 property with a 10 per cent deposit of 20,000 then you could potentially secure rates as low as 4.62 per cent - obviously this will be subject to eligibility, which a mortgage broker will be able to check for you. However, if you are trying to buy a property worth more than 200,000 with 20,000 as a deposit then you'll no longer meet the criteria for mortgage rates aimed at those buying with a 10 per cent deposit. Instead you'll have to settle for mortgage deals aimed at those buying with a 5 per cent deposit - the lowest of which is currently offered by Barclays at 5.03 per cent. Don't forget there are other costs associated with buying a property, which you need to factor in alongside the deposit. For example, you'll need to pay a conveyancer or solicitor to manage the legal side of things - that will typically cost around 2,000. You'd also be wise to pay for a home buying survey, which will typically cost anywhere between 500 and 1,500 depending on the size of the property and level of survey you require. You might also be liable for stamp duty if you are planning on trying to buy a property worth 300,000 or more. First-time buyers currently pay stamp duty if their home costs more than 425,000. This will drop to 300,000 from 1 April. This means for example that instead of paying no stamp duty on a 400,000 purchase, from next month someone would have to pay 5,000. From what you have said it sounds as if you will be below the new stamp duty threshold, but this is something to check. To advise on whether you should pay off the debt first and buy with a smaller deposit or keep the debt and borrow less, we spoke to Luke Thorne, associate director of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients. Luke Thorne , associate director of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients Luke Thorne replies: Credit card debt in itself won't prevent you from getting a mortgage, assuming that the minimum amount is paid each month and those payments are up to date. However, any outstanding debt is taken into account by the lender when calculating your affordability and could reduce the maximum mortgage possible. As you are first-time buyers, products such as Nationwide's Helping Hand mortgage are worth a look. As you have a joint income of 70,000, you could be able to borrow up to six times this amount. However, even with the enhanced loan-to-income potential offered with such a product, your credit card debt will impact that borrowing potential. In theory, Nationwide could lend around 355,000 if you had no credit card debt. With the 4,000 of credit card debt factored in, the mortgage available to you would be around 30,000 less, based on a 30-year term, so does have a sizeable impact. If you cleared the credit card debt in order to maximise the mortgage amount, that would reduce your deposit from 20,000 to 16,000, plus you still need to cover other costs such as stamp duty and legal costs. If you could find another 5 per cent deposit - perhaps a gift from your parents, for example, then Halifax would lend the same amount with or without the 4,000 credit card debt on a 90 per cent loan-to-value product based on a five-year deal with 30-year term. Little has changed in more than 60 years of Songs of Praise, which is now the longest-running religious television programme in the world. And if you look carefully at back-to-back episodes of the show, you might spot two superfans who are in almost every congregation. Trevor and Christine Ransome, a Cambridgeshire couple in their 80s, have travelled up and down the country to appear in dozens of recordings. They have driven as far and wide as Glasgow and Penzance and have even sung in Crathie Kirk - a church regularly attended by the Royal Family when they are in Balmoral. And the pair, who first met as teenagers at a church in Suffolk, were at their 91st programme on Wednesday night - not getting back to their home until 2am. Trevor and Christine, who do not see themselves as superfans, used to follow Songs of Praise in their campervan - racking up huge numbers on their milometer. While they have now ditched the motorhome for hotels, the pair are adamant they want to keep attending until they reach their 100th recording and beyond. 'We started because we got married in the same month that the very first Songs of Praise recording aired in October 1961,' Trevor told MailOnline. 'We thought it would be fun and a great idea to try and attend Songs of Praise every year so that when the programme celebrates its 60th anniversary, we would be celebrating ours. Trevor and Christine Ransome, a couple in their 80s, have travelled as far and wide as Glasgow and Penzance to appear in dozens of recordings Christine and Trevor are seen in the congregation in one of the episodes of Songs of Praise Pictured: Trevor and Christine are interviewed live on air back on 2021 'Since then, we have gone on to achieve our 60th recording and just last night we were celebrating and singing the gospel in our 91st Songs of Praise appearance.' 'We are now approaching our 100th and maybe we are age wise too. I think that is what Christine feels like when we crawl home at 2 in the morning!,' Trevor joked. Trevor and Christine now hold the record for the most Songs of Praise recordings attended - and are even on first name terms with the crew. 'I think the production team are somewhat amused that we're still attending Songs of Praise,' Trevor, who used to work for a packaging company, said. 'We are known by virtually all of the production team. They have become our friends. 'They are polite, they are courteous and it is absolutely super watching them make a television program.' 'But certainly, as far as we know, and according to those of the Songs of Praise team no one has ever attended as many Songs of Praise,' he added. 'I think they call us the superfans, or something like that. 'We don't regard ourselves as anything special, although we just love talking to people and also we love singing hymns. 'And you know that's really the main motivation, and it's a wonderful way for us. And I will say this to you, because, as Christians, it's a lovely way to express and sing our faith.' Talking about all the places they have been too, Trevor said: 'We used to travel around the country in a motorhome but we have got rid of that. 'Now we stay in hotels if the recording is some distance from where we live in Cambridgeshire. 'Last year were went down to Cornwall to a church in Heltsone and we also attended one in a church called Crathie Kirk which is almost Balmoral. 'That gives you an idea of how far we travel - literally the length and breadth of the UK to try and attend every Songs of Praise recording we can. 'We love the singing and the hymns. We love meeting people from all sorts of Christian traditions. We are also able to sing in some very nice places and beautiful cathedrals. Buildings of significant note that we wouldn't normally be able to sing in. Despite everything, Trevor and Christine maintain they are not superfans of the long-running religious television programme The pair are known by virtually all of the production team who say they have become their friends Trevor previously said that he and Christine often go backstage when they are on the show (pictured being interviewed live on air in 2021) Pictured: The BBC Songs of Praise presenters at Westminster Abbey for the 60th anniversary programme in 2021 Trevor (pictured) and Christine got married in October 1961 - the same month that Songs of Praise first appeared on our television screens It comes as eagle-eyed views wrote to the Mail, saying they had spotted the same couple on Songs of Praise every week but did not know who they were. While some readers thought they were super-fans, others assumed due to their regular appearances they were members of the production crew. Glenys Baron from Northampton said: 'I watch Songs of Praise every week and I am amused at seeing the same man on many occasions. 'Is he trying to get on as many Songs of Praise programmes as possible?? I am intrigued.' David Winyard from Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire said: 'My wife and I always watch the programme each week and often on the Sunday evening. 'We enjoy the various presentations and people's experiences in their lives and their journey of faith and we remember many of the hymns we have sung over many years.' 'We feel sure that he must be a part of the programme production team,' he added. 'If so, or whatever the reason, please pass to him our admiration of his constant attendance at the many churches he must visit alongside the various presenters.' Patricia Neill from Bangor, Northern Ireland said: 'The same man appears regularly on Songs of Praise - pops up everywhere. I watch it each week and always look out for him. 'I think I saw him interviewed some time ago and I'm sure he said he went to a Songs of Praise service on his wedding anniversary. It's clear that he loves the hymns.' The Ransomes attended their first Songs of Praise recording in Ealing, London, in 2008 and headed to Peckham two years later in 2010. They quickly discovered a new hobby that combines singing and travel and since 2014 the pair have tried to go to every Songs of Praise recording. Trevor and Christine were interviewed live on air in 2021- the year of their diamond wedding anniversary. Trevor told the BBC: 'I love the freedom, I love the joy with which everyone approaches it. 'The choir is singing it, the congregation are up on their feet and I can't help myself, you know? I'm joining in.' Before retirement, Trevor worked for a packaging company and Christine was a shorthand typist. Songs of Praise presenters Pam Rhodes, Aled Jones, Diane-Louise Jordan Members of the Songs of Praise team sing in the new year on December 31, 2023 Aled Jones and Laura Wright during the Songs of Praise 60th anniversary special programme at Westminster Abbey in 2021 First aired in 1961, Songs of Praise is thought to be the world's longest running religious TV programme. The first show was broadcast from the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cardiff and since then it has been filmed in churches and cathedrals across the UK. The programme was a regular feature in Sunday evening schedules before being switched to early afternoons in 2021. Songs of Praise also played a key part in changing what could be broadcast on television. Until the second half of the 20th century nothing was broadcast at all on Sundays between 6.15pm and 7.25pm. The Church and the Government wanted to ensure the devout weren't discouraged from attending evensong. However, in 1958 the law was relaxed to allow religious programming only, paving the way for Songs Of Praise. EXCLUSIVE Melbourne woman Nikkita Azzopardi appeared worried just hours before police allege her partner beat her to death in the most horrific way. She had voiced concerns on the phone to her partner Joel Micallef's own family on the evening of October 26 last year. That night, police allege Micallef, 33, murdered the beloved accountant inside the South Morang home, in Melbourne's north-east, they shared. Alleged 'issues' between the pair were known to some of Ms Azzopardi's friends and family throughout the course of their two-year relationship, after first meeting in 2017. A source told Daily Mail Australia with just hours to live, Ms Azzopardi allegedly told Micallef's relative her partner had taken off. He would not return again until many hours later. The battered body of the 35-year old was found two days later by her brothers Shaun and Darren Azzopardi and her parents when they went to perform a welfare check. Police allege Micallef had spent two days with his lover's body. Joel Micallef (right) has been charged with murder following the discovery of the body of his girlfriend of two years (left) Nikkita's mother Vimla, brother Shaun and father Edward outside the Supreme Court of Victoria on Friday. They are desperate for Micallef to face a jury trial A lone bouquet of flowers was placed outside Ms Azzopardi's South Morang home days after she was allegedly murdered On Friday, Micallef appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria where his lawyers launched a mental impairment defence. The alleged killer previously pleaded not guilty to murder in Melbourne Magistrates' Court, and Friday's hearing sparked emotional scenes from Ms Azzopardi's family. As many are likely be called as witnesses if a trial begins, they were unable to attend the hearing, but outside court, their grief could not be contained. Ms Azzopardi's mother, Vimla, was seen sobbing outside the court and brother Shaun told Daily Mail Australia he wanted a jury trial to make a full inquiry into the events leading to his sister's death. 'We want a jury trial. We believe Nikkita deserves it,' he said this week. While Mr Azzopardi said he was limited in what he could say for legal reasons, he confirmed Micallef was known to suffer from 'mental problems'. When Mr Azzopardi and his parents arrived at his sister's home, they had no idea what lay behind the door. They jumped a gate and smashed through a sliding door. Inside, they found Micallef with the body of his partner. Nikkita Azzopardi was allegedly beaten to death with a blunt instrument Family fun: Shaun, Nikkita, Darren and Vimla Azzopardi in happier times Heartbroken: Nikkita Azzopardi's mother Vimla (pictured) weeps outside the Supreme Court of Victoria on Friday Micallef had been running an online business selling tools and accessories with the ongoing help of Ms Azzopardi throughout their relationship. The last time Mr Azzopardi saw his sister alive was nine days before her alleged murder during a birthday party for his son at a go-karting centre. 'I thought my sister was just coming but he came along so I was shocked,' he said. It is another event Mr Azzopardi will forever be tormented by. 'I think to myself I should have did more, asked her what she was doing?' he said. Mr Azzopardi said his sister knew of Micallef's mental health battle, but stood by him all the same. 'I think she never said anything to anyone because she was worried we might have told her,' he said. 'And I don't think she wanted to hear it. 'She's the type of person who thought she could fix him ... My sister was a strong-willed person, she was opinionated, he seemed quite soft, quite the opposite.' Ms Azzopardi's family came looking for her after she didn't show for a family barbecue and didn't answer calls The Azzopardi family (Nikkita is second from top right) during a birthday celebration Investigators were seen carrying a safe from the house as detectives continued their work Mr Azzopardi said no person should have to witness what he saw upon breaking his way into his sister's home. 'Just seeing her in the state that I did,' he said. 'Those images will never leave my brain. It was messed up. I cannot describe how horrific it was.' The Supreme Court heard Micallef's taxpayer-funded lawyers want him to be assessed by forensic psychiatrist Andrew Carroll. Dr Carroll has provided clinical advice on everyone from Bourke Street killer James 'Dimitrious' Gargasoulas to Celeste Manno's killer Luay Nader Sako. The court heard Dr Carroll's services were in such demand from lawyers requiring his services that it could take anywhere up to three months to tie him down. Prosecutors expressed concerns about the delay, suggesting another expert might have to suffice should Dr Carroll be unavailable. There are no shortages of forensic experts called upon by alleged criminals to assess them over mental impairment defences. Once assessed by a psychiatrist acting for the defence, Micallef will then need to be assessed by one for the prosecution. Nikkita and her brother Shaun were always close Shaun Azzopardi outside sister's home after the alleged murder last October Police remove evidence from the home Nikkita shared with her alleged killer in October 2024 The court heard further delays of up to 20 weeks at the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department was also hampering the prosecution case. The alleged killer will claim he had 'mental health issues' which meant he had no control over his actions. The court heard Micallef had a history of such issues recorded in his medical files. Chilling CCTV footage shows a brutal killer carrying his dismembered housemate's torso in a blue 'bag for life' after bludgeoning him to death, flaying his face off and then sawing his body into 27 pieces. Today, a jury convicted horror-obsessed Polish native Marcin Majerkiewicz of the murdering Stuart Everett, 67, and chopping up his body. In harrowing clips from April 2 last year, Majerkiewicz can be seen walking around Salford with the hacked up body parts before dumping them in a nature reserve. In one, Majerkiewicz swaps the bag clearly extremely heavy - from his left hand to his right and also stopping for a few seconds, putting the bag on the ground before continuing. His friend Stuart Everett's torso and thighs which weighed around 12kg - were found in a bunker at Kersal Dale nature reserve, Salford, wrapped in cling film by a horrified member of the public in April last year. Police were at that stage unable to identify the murder victim as Majerkiewicz had stolen his identity, sending cards and messages to relatives purporting to be from Mr Everett to make it seem as if he was still alive. But Majerkiewicz was arrested three weeks after the grim discovery when two plain-clothes officers working on the inquiry spotted him by chance walking in the other direction. While they knew what the suspect looked like, at this stage they did not know his identity and therefore had not established that the torso belonged to Stuart Everett, as he hadn't been reported missing. The officers turned the car around and followed the suspect on foot before he got on a number 100 bus. Shortly afterwards, Pc Paul Ashworth pulled his police car in front of the bus and boarded it. Majerkiewicz was told he had been identified as a 'person of interest' in a police investigation. He replied: 'It's definitely a mistake, 100%.'' Marcin Majerkiewicz dismembered his housemate into 27 pieces before dumping his body parts around Salford in a bid to evade justice Stuart Everett's remains were first discovered by a passerby in an abandoned bunker at a nature reserve in Salford in April last year Mr Everett's hacked up body parts were dumped at different sites including a nature reserve in Salford, Greater Manchester Police launched a manhunt after a horrified member of the public made the grim discovery of a torso and thighs wrapped in cling film at a Salford nature reserve last April. It was immediately obvious that the body part belonged to a man who had been 'sawn into pieces', a murder trial at Manchester Crown Court heard. Mr Everett who like his killer was of Polish heritage had not been reported missing as Majerkiewicz had cynically sent messages and greeting cards in his name to pretend he was still alive. The 42-year-old was dramatically seized on board a bus after police traced CCTV of him walking towards where the remains were found carrying a heavy 'bag for life' and returning without it. They discovered that Mr Everett from whom he sublet a room at a house in nearby Winton had not been seen alive for weeks. Detectives pieced together Majerkiewicz's movements in the days after the killing and found a further 26 parts of his body at four other locations. However only around one-third of Mr Everett's remains have so far been recovered, with the rest feared to have been lost to nature. His skull alone was split into several fragments with his face stripped off and dumped separately. When father-of-two Majerkiewicz was arrested three weeks after the torso was found, he was carrying two mobile phones plus bank cards in the name of Mr Everett. The heavily-tattooed takeaway worker told police: 'It's definitely a mistake, 100 per cent.' But searches of the house he had shared with Mr Everett revealed a different story. Bloodstains and saw marks were evidence that 'something terrible had happened' there, prosecutor Jason Pitter KC told jurors. A skip outside contained a string of incriminating discoveries including pieces of the carpet from his room containing diluted blood. Mr Everett, of Polish heritage, lived with his killer in a home in Salford, Greater Manchester A murder probe was launched after Mr Everett's torso was found in Kersal Dale nature reserve in April last year In a bid to cover his tracks, Majerkiewicz posed as Mr Everett to write his birthday a birthday card after murdering him Majerkiewicz told police 'it's definitely a mistake, 100%' after being arrested on a bus three weeks after Mr Everett's murder Police believe a hacksaw to cut up his bones - one was found with Mr Everett's DNA on it near the reservoir where the skull fragments were found while a 'sharp implement' was used to cut the soft tissues. The skull fragments were placed together by a pathologist who concluded that Mr Everett had been killed by 'repeated strikes to the head with a heavy blunt implement'. Police believe Mr Everett an unmarried former civil servant originally from Derby - was killed on the night of March 27 last year. He was christened Roman Ziemacki but anglicised his name. While the exact motive for the cold-blooded killing which preceded the brutal attempt by Majerkiewicz to cover his tracks may never be known, his trial heard of 'brewing tension' in the shared house. Issues included Mr Everett attempting to pass on a rent increase to Majerkiewicz and a second housemate, Michal Polchowski. Intriguingly, in 2021 Mr Everett told a woman he had met online that he had a male partner called Kamil but photographs he sent her of 'Kamil' were in fact of Majerkiewicz. 'Kamil' shared Majerkiewicz's date of birth, and like his future murderer had 'many tattoos'. Police with sniffer dogs scouring one of the sites where Majerkiewicz dumped Mr Everett's hacked up body parts Police found evidence of a clean-up at the home that Mr Everett shared with Majerkiewicz After the murder, CCTV caught Majerkiewicz withdrawing cash from an ATM using Mr Everett's bank card Also potentially significant is that Majerkiewicz who had no previous convictions or cautions had taken out loans to a total value of 60,000 in 2023. He had also made searches online indicating that he was considering leaving for Spain, including a search for 'long term rentals in Alicante'. Interviewed by police, Majerkiewicz said he knew nothing about the killing of Mr Everett or the disposal of his body parts. He said Mr Everett had not returned from visiting his brother in March, instead sending a message to say he had been hospitalised due to a stroke. Asked if he believed Mr Everett was safe and well, jurors were told that Majerkiewicz replied: 'I hope so - all leads need to be checked.' Mr Pitter told jurors that this indeed happened - 'and those leads point to him being responsible for murdering Stuart Everett'. Police discovered that Majerkiewicz had taken out a phone in Mr Everett's name months before his death. On April 3 he researched Mr Everett's brother's address and sent him a birthday card purportedly from the dead man. Chilling CCTV footage shows Majerkiewicz walking around Salford carrying Mr Everett's body parts in a 'bag for life' In the clips, Majerkiewicz can be seen swapping the heavy bag between his hands as he walks 'Someone steal nothing?' Majerkiewicz played dumb when he was arrested - but he was found guilty of murder Meanwhile the phone was also used to access Mr Everett's bank accounts. At the murder trial, Majerkiewicz did not give evidence in his defence. In his closing speech, his barrister, Peter Wright KC, accepted that the evidence pointed 'unerringly' to his client having dumped Mr Everett's body parts. But he said he continued to deny having killed and dismembered him. Jurors have heard that the second housemate, Mr Polchowski, was originally also accused of murder, but the charges against him were dropped by prosecutors before the trial. Mr Wright highlighted how Mr Polchowski who worked at a food processing business with access to 'industrial quantities' of clingfilm - must have been at the house when Mr Everett was killed. He suggested there remained 'lingering doubts' about whether Mr Polchowski had played any role, arguing that there was sufficient doubt for them to acquit his client. Mr Polchowski denied the charges and they were later dropped. But in his own speech, prosecutor Mr Pitter said there was 'compelling' evidence of Majerkiewicz's guilt. He asked jurors to consider why he would have been risking disposing of Mr Everett's remains while Mr Polchowski continued 'going about the monotony of his daily routine' as normal. It took a jury one hour and 36 minutes to convict Majerkiewicz. After the guilty verdict was delivered, Mr Everett's brother Richard Ziemacki said in a statement: 'Even though it has been almost 12 months we are still haunted by what has happened. 'This has been made even more difficult knowing the lengths that have gone into orchestrating my brother's death. 'Benny is our family nickname for our endearing and loving Stuart. 'For any person to be treated in the way he was, brutally murdered and systematically and comprehensively disposed of, has meant our family has been left traumatised beyond belief. 'A couple of months ago, we spent out first Christmas without Benny. 'This should have been a happy and joyous period for us all, but it was tainted and our Christmas dinner was not the same without him and our family is now incomplete.' He said he wanted to acknowledge the 'exceptional' work police had put in to help find his brother's remains, 'to bring him home to us, to determine what happened to him and to ultimately find his killer'. He also thanked the jury for 'making the right decision'. 'The past 12 months have been some of the most challenging the family has ever had to endure,' he continued. 'But that has been made just a little bit easier because of the outpouring of love and comforting words from people across Greater Manchester, Derby and beyond who have all come together to mourn with us a truly unique and special human being. 'I would like to finish Benny's tribute by sharing what was inscribed on his urn. 'Those we love don't go away, they walk with us every day. Unseen, unheard but always near. 'Still loved, still missed and very dear.' He then added: 'Justice for Benny!' Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes said it was 'entirely possible' Stuart was murdered for financial gain given Majerkiewicz had debts and took control of his bank accounts. He said Majerkiewicz also had a 'fascination with horror and gore and that may have played a part in his actions.' Majerkiewicz liked horror movies and items found on his hard drive and tattoos pointed to an 'affinity' with horror. To the outside world, they were respectable pillars of the community: a happily married fire chief and a distinguished county judge. But behind closed doors, the pair were at the center of a sordid pedophile plot that has left their families shattered and two neighboring Utah cities reeling after their secret lives were exposed. Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen, 54, and Judge Kevin Christensen, 64, of Brigham City are now locked up separately in the Weber and Davis County Jails and both have been charged with multiple felony counts of child sexual exploitation. During the investigation, police discovered the pair had swapped vile fantasies about abusing their own grandchildren and were also engaging in extramarital gay sex sessions with each other. 'We're all devastated,' Tremonton Mayor Lyle Holmgren told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'We're all shocked by what has happened in our community, and we're saddened. We're saddened for the victims and for those who've been affected by this.' Holmgren, who fired Hansen hours after his January 27 arrest, said both the fire chief and Christensen had been model members of the community well-liked and successful, offering no outward hint of the depravity within. But then in November last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that an internet user had 'engaged in the distribution and possession of child sex abuse material' and law enforcement identified him as Hansen, court papers reveal. Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen, 54, and Judge Kevin Christensen, 64, have been charged with multiple felony counts of child sexual exploitation for their twisted conversations over Kik, the distribution of child pornography of young girls and soliciting minors Hansen, a dad of four children from two marriages, who shares a seven-year-old daughter with his wife Autumn, revealed his desire to abuse infants in Kik messages with Christensen The six-bedroom $651,000 home Hansen lived in with Autumn in Riverside, Utah. His wife is reportedly in 'shock' with the recent revelations of his twisted fantasy The police investigation revealed a very different side to the two men and unearthed repulsive conversations on messaging app Kik that saw both solicit child pornography and Hansen reveal his desire to abuse infants even telling a contact he wanted an infant to use his penis 'as a pacifier'. Other revolting discussions included saying he would like to rape a little girl aged as young as three and a sinister chat about kidnapping a homeless child to abuse, it is alleged. Hansen, a dad-of-four children from two marriages, also described wanting to drug and rape an unconscious person, said he would molest a child if he thought he could get away with it and shared graphic pornographic images and videos of girls aged between nine and 13. According to his sister-in-law Tia Zeller, 43, her sister Autumn, 49 who shares a seven-year-old daughter with Hansen had no idea of her husband's depraved fantasies and added that the family had been left in 'shock' following his arrest at their six-bedroom $651,000 Riverside, Utah, home. 'It all came as a huge shock,' she told DailyMail.com. 'We're just trying to hang on.' In a shocking twist, Hansen made his first court appearance in front of Christensen at the Box Elder County Justice Court who, despite being all too familiar with the fire chief's perverted fantasies and their own sex sessions, released him on a $50,000 bond. That bond was revoked on March 12 following the disgraced justice's own arrest. Christensen, who was first appointed to the court in May 1996, was collared on March 6 at the $430,000 three-bedroom family home in Brigham City he shared with wife Karin, 63. Hansen's sister-in-law Tia Zeller, 43, said her sister Autumn had no idea of her husband's depraved fantasies, and the family is 'just trying to hang on' Hansen described in the messages wanting to drug and rape an unconscious person, said he would molest a child if he thought he could get away with it and shared graphic pornographic images and videos of girls aged between nine and 13 In a shocking twist, Hansen made his first court appearance in front of Christensen, who released him on a $50,000 bond The Box County Justice Center where Judge Christensen worked in Brigham, Utah, before he submitted his resignation in light of the horrific charges brought against him The disgraced judge was snared after cops seized 'several phones and tablets' during a raid on Hansen's home. An FBI investigation into the devices unearthed exchanges between Hansen and Christensen that were 'graphically sexual' and 'involved discussion of sexually abusing children', the papers say. According to an affidavit included in the case against Hansen, the depraved pair also discussed 'being turned on by and wanting to share their grandchildren'. Cops noted that in the context of the messages, 'share' means to sexually abuse. When police seized Christensen's own devices, they found a trove of explicit conversations including two exchanges between the 64-year-old and two girls aged 13 and 16. Former judge Kevin Christensen appeared in court as the defendant on Thursday in a gray and white jumpsuit In one, Christensen allegedly asked the 13-year-old about masturbation and shared a disgusting fantasy about wanting to make a porn movie featuring the child and one of his granddaughters. The other saw the 16-year-old send a photograph of her breasts, to which he replied: 'Oh wow I love your t**s'. He also sent her images of his penis and a video of himself masturbating, and asked her: 'Do you do live pics or vids?' Other sickening exchanges, dating back as far as last March, include discussions with adult users in which he declared 'I love young' and asked others for explicit photos showing child sex abuse. The $430,000 three-bedroom family home in Brigham City Christensen shared with wife Karin, 63. A neighbor told DailyMail.com shell-shocked Karin has left the home to stay with her son An FBI investigation into the devices unearthed exchanges between Hansen and Christensen that were 'graphically sexual' and 'involved discussion of sexually abusing children' When police seized Christensen's own devices, they found a trove of explicit conversations including two exchanges between the 64-year-old and two girls aged 13 and 16 Other sickening exchanges, dating back as far as last March, include discussions with adult users in which he declared 'I love young' and asked others for explicit photos showing child sex abuse Christensen's messages also unveiled that he was seeking to rebuild his 'collection' of child porn and wanted videos of children ages '0-15' years old The affidavit revealed that Christensen attempted to cover his tracks once it came to light that Hansen had a 'co-conspirator' A neighbor told DailyMail.com Christensen's family have been left devastated by the revelations with shell-shocked Karin having now left the family home to stay with her son. She added: 'Honestly, I never noticed anything strange about him. It was a huge shock to everybody, to me, to his wife and kids. 'It's really, really horrible. The family are having a hard time.' Hansen is now charged with eight felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor while Christensen has been slapped with two counts of enticing a minor using the internet, two of distributing child porn, two of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and one of obstruction of justice the latter relating to his decision to let Hansen go free on bond, against the wishes of the prosecution. Both men have admitted to being the owners of the graphic Kik accounts, although Christensen claims he believed them all to be 'fantasy conversations' while Hansen has blamed his depraved behavior on porn addiction. Both men appeared in court in Ogden, Utah, on Thursday. Christensen was arraigned while Hansen request to reinstate the bond conditions were denied. Both have indicated plans to plead not guilty. But for the two tiny cities left shaken by the revelations, the arrests of two prominent citizens continue to reverberate. 'This is something that came as a complete surprise to us as a community,' said Mayor Holmgren. The organization that tipped off the FBI which led to the investigation that took the two men down was the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Both men have admitted to being the owners of the graphic Kik accounts and Hansen has blamed his depraved behavior on porn addiction After Hansen's devices were seized, they discovered he had offered to allow Christensen to 'sexually abuse his grandchildren' and that the two men discussed the sexual encounters they had together The affidavit highlighted Christensen allowing Hansen to go on bail which law enforcement believes is because the judge had participated in these chats about children Tremonton Mayor Lyle Holmgren told DailyMail.com that 'nobody expected anything like this' and that Hansen had been a 'very much respected' member of the community 'Nobody expected anything like this. He [Hansen] was a very much respected. He was the fire chief and an important part of our community.' Mayor Holmgren, who told DailyMail.com that Hansen had passed strict vetting procedures when he was hired, has now signed a proclamation making April Tremonton's Sexual Abuse Against Children Awareness month. He told DailyMail.com he hopes the move will help to restore trust in local governance, raise awareness of the prevalence of child sex abuse and notes in the order that 'we all have a sacred duty to ensure that no one experiences abuse'. The proclamation goes on: 'Tremonton City is taking essential steps to prevent the devastating effects of sexual violence against children and protect these victims and their families. 'Everyone deserves to live free from the fear of violence, particularly within their own homes and communities.' The mayor, who is currently looking for a new fire chief, said the city has also cut ties with Christensen who was suspended from his Justice Court job after being arrested and fell on his own sword last week. In a statement to DailyMail.com, the Box Elder County Attorney's Office said: 'Box Elder County received and accepted a letter of resignation from Kevin Christensen dated March 10, 2025. 'The Utah Administration Office of the Court has been notified by the Box Elder County Justice Court, and they will coordinate the process for finding a replacement. The Weber County jail facility. The twisted duo are locked up separately here and at the Davis County Jails with multiple felony counts of child sexual exploitation Mayor Holmgren has now signed a proclamation making April Tremonton's Sexual Abuse Against Children Awareness month The mayor, who is currently looking for a new fire chief, said the city has also cut ties with Christensen who was suspended from his Justice Court job after being arrested and fell on his own sword last week 'Box Elder County was notified that Kevin Christensen was taken into custody by the FBI on March 6, 2025. 'Mr. Christensen was immediately placed on administrative leave pending investigation. The Supreme Court of Utah officially placed Mr. Christensen on administrative leave without pay as of March 7, 2025. 'The State of Utah Judicial Conduct Commission performs investigations into allegations against sitting judges. 'As a result, Box Elder County will defer to the JCC's administrative investigation because the criminal and administrative investigations are ongoing and being handled by outside agencies. For most, the cloistered existence of Covid lockdowns are a period happily forgotten but Karl Knights is only just emerging from self-isolation. The poet and writer has continued to protect himself from the outside world for five long years because he is immuno-suppressed, meaning he has an increased risk of life-threatening complications from Covid-19 infections. It is only now that he has tentatively started venturing outside his house. And even then, it is on just a handful of occasions that he has risked it. Echoing what many experienced several years ago now, he said he was finally experiencing the feeling everyone had when they came out of lockdown and they could hug people and see people again. He added: Five years later, I am having that moment now. Like millions of people around the world, Mr Knights shut himself off from the world in March 2020. Recalling the scary moment he knew his life was about to change, he said: It was one of those pivotal kind of moments, where I could sense something was going to shift and my life wouldnt be exactly the same for a little while. In the UK, the three national lockdowns and other tiered restrictions were completely lifted in July 2021, 16 months after the nightmare began. Karl Knights is immuno-suppressed, meaning he has an increased risk of life-threatening complications from Covid-19 infections It is only now that he has tentatively started venturing outside his house after going into isolation during the pandemic But for Mr Knights, 29, who has cerebral palsy, it was barely underway. As the world slowly returned to normal, he continued hiding away at his home in Leiston, Suffolk. The ending of the legal requirement to self-isolate if suffering from Covid and the ditching of free mass testing in April 2022 was described by him as a sad and frightening day to be a disabled person. The world just got a lot smaller and more isolated for shielders, he wrote on social media at the time. For Christmas that year, he wrote: Around the holiday season, special occasions like birthdays, it can be tough. Im lucky that I still have family members in the house still, so I see them and talk to them. He also spoke gratefully of Zoom and other means of staying in touch with loved ones, even if not in person. One of the few blessings is Im glad this horrible event and all this shielding is happening in this moment, where we have this connectivity, he said. Im grateful for it, especially at this time of year. Mr Knights whose self-isolation was on the recommendation of his GP - has also had to put up with cruel online trolls who belittled his plight. Tweeting in July 2023 about his fourth birthday in isolation, he told followers: Im still here, as virtual events vanish and isolation deepens Like millions of people around the world, Mr Knights shut himself off from the world in March 2020 But shortly afterwards, he added: Just a quick note to say that theres some virulent replies to the above tweet from pandemic deniers, ranging from anti-vaxxer hogwash to casually thrown about ableist slurs. Almost another two years on and apart from brief forays into the outside world to receive inoculations he finally feels able to allow himself more freedom, although still severely limited compared to others. Its nice but I am still more cautious than most, he said. There are approximately 500,000 people in the UK who suffer from suppressed immune systems, leaving their bodies struggling to produce antibodies. This means vaccines offer little or no protection, so they remain vulnerable to coronavirus. Peter Opensaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said he was aware of a very few people who are still self-isolating. He added: Its life-changing for people to have to undergo this type of isolation, so its important that they discuss it on a case by case basis with their doctor to see if the degree of isolation they are subjecting themselves to is warranted. Air China resumes flight from Chengdu to Tokyo Xinhua) 16:29, March 21, 2025 CHENGDU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The air route linking Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Japan's Tokyo resumed on Friday morning. CA459 operated by Air China left for Narita International Airport carrying 139 passengers. According to Air China, three round trips are scheduled each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Using an Airbus A320 aircraft, the outbound flight departs at 10:20 a.m. local time, arriving in Tokyo at 3:50 p.m. The return flight leaves the Japanese capital at 5:30 p.m. local time before landing in the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport at 10:50 p.m. The air route between Chengdu and Tokyo was launched in June 2011 but was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the summer and autumn, the flight frequency will be increased to five round trips a week, said Lu Jiangkuan of Air China. Chengdu is home to many Japanese enterprises. Figures from the city's commerce bureau showed that between 2019 and 2023, the accumulated imports and exports between Chengdu and Japan reached 176.4 billion yuan (about 24.3 billion U.S. dollars). It is hoped that the resumption of air flights could further facilitate trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges between Chengdu and Tokyo. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The station provides free health care access to anyone regardless of socioeconomic and insurance status. SC State's OnMed CareStation offers free health care assessments and solutions to SC State employees and members of the public. ORANGEBURG, S.C. South Carolina State University on Wednesday officially launched two campus projects designed to improve health care access and outcomes on and off campus. Officials cut the ribbon on the Bulldog Health & Wellness Hub and the OnMed CareStation a high-tech health care access solution -- inside the hub. Both grant-funded projects are coordinated through SC States Health Education Research and Training Center (HERT-C) and co-directors Dr. Ashley Evans Knowell and Dr. Audrey McCrary-Quarles. SC State President Alexander Conyers said he was excited about the projects from their inception nearly two years ago. I knew then that our community needed it, and I knew then that our residents deserved it, because I certainly understand the health challenges of not just this community but the health challenges across the state and across the nation, Conyers said. So, this is an opportunity for South Carolina State University to participate in a solution for this enormous problem that we face each and every day. This work is important, these services are important to everyone regardless of race, color, gender everyone is entitled to the best health care thats available, he said. SC State President Alexander Conyers tries out the OnMed CareStation. An OnMed CareStation combines the familiarity of a one-on-one in person doctors visit with the technology, convenience, and scalability of telemedicine, powered by an innovative health tech ecosystem. Think of it as a Clinic-in-a-Box. The first of its kind in South Carolina, this exciting addition to the SC State campus will enhance health care access for SC State faculty and staff and the public. Patients using the CareStation can consult privately with certified clinicians by way of videoconferences. The station is equipped with: A scale. Thermal scan technology for temperature and infection readings. A blood pressure cuff. An oximeter. A stethoscope. A handheld HD camera. Clinicians often have enough vital inputs to provide a qualified diagnosis, treatment plan, or e-prescription if needed. Clinicians also may refer patients to other health care providers as necessary. The CareStations technology features built-in antimicrobial protection. A multistage air ltration system runs in the unit 24/7 to reduce airborne viruses and bacteria. The interior of the Care Station is disinfected via UVC irradiation after every patient visit. We are honored to establish this first-of-its-kind partnership in South Carolina with the esteemed South Carolina State University. Collaborating with such innovative leaders is a privilege, and we look forward to making a meaningful difference together, OnMed CEO Karthik Ganesh said. Knowell, an associate professor of biology/bioengineering science, said the $1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture Distance and Telemedicine Grant will support three years of OnMed services. This OnMed CareStation provides free health care access to anyone regardless of their socioeconomic status and insurance status, Knowell said You can use it at no cost. While increasing access to assessments and care, the CareStation should reduce emergency room and urgent care center visits for non-emergency situations. We know this kiosk will be a blessing to so many people, and lives will not only be changed but saved, Knowell said. Please use our CareStation. We want you to use it as much as you want to. Bring your family and friends. Wednesdays event also marked the grand opening of the Bulldog Health & Wellness Hub. The project was made possible by a $500,000 grant from the HBCU Health Discovery Program housed at the University of South Carolinas Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare. McCrary-Quarles, an SC State professor of health education, described the Bulldog Health & Wellness Hub as a one-stop shop offering free services and resources enhancing the well-being of students, faculty, staff and community members. In addition to the OnMed CareStation, the hub provides: Access to social workers who will aide visitors with such services as navigating Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP applications, A resource center with a computer to look up health needs. A chat and relax lobby and a peace room for personal reflection. A telehealth room where guests can chat privately with health care providers. A multipurpose room for education, training and workshops. McQuary-Quarles also intends to purchase a vending machine providing COVID-19 test kits, hygiene, condoms, pregnancy tests and other health-oriented items. The center represents more than just a building, said Dr. Frederick Evans, SC States provost and vice president for academic affairs. Its a symbol for our shared commitment to health, support and connection within the community. We are forever grateful to everyone who made this possible. The Bulldog Health & Wellness Hub and the CareStation are in the former Moss Hall Annex adjacent to Moss Hall and the Crawford-Zimmerman Building off Pinckney Street. The hub and the CareStation are open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. No appointments are necessary. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about SC States OnMed CareStation. For more information, contact Dr. Ashley Evans Knowell at aevans10@scsu.edu or 803-533-3674 or Dr. Audrey McCrary-Quarles at amccrar1@scsu.edu or 803-516-4818. He's the man Stephen Graham credits with saving him from racist bullies growing up on the streets of Liverpool - and helping him understand his mixed-race heritage. And now, Mike Fazakerley, the stepfather Adolescence star Graham adores - and calls simply 'pops' - has spoken for the first time about that pride and the profound bond they share. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Mike reflected on their relationship that began when Graham was just a small boy who was confused about why he was being bullied by white boys over his West Indian background. Graham's biological grandfather was part of the Windrush generation who moved to the UK in the Sixties from Jamaica, but died before the actor was born. His mother Mary and father Stephen Kelly separated when he was young and the actor was searching for a father figure and some understanding as to why he was being picked on when Mike came into his life. Now, reflecting on his success with the Netflix hit where he plays the father of a 13-year-old boy who murdered a girl from his school, Mike said: 'I am highly proud of what he's achieved in his career and highly proud of what he's doing now with Adolescence. 'I watch all his work and I've watched Adolescence.' 'Stephen is brilliant, he is a true talent. Unquestionably one of this country's finest.' Adolescence creator Stephen Graham was racially abused by white teenagers for his mixed-race heritage while growing up in Liverpool. He has said previously that his stepfather Mike Fazakerley helped him understand his family background. Here Graham and Mike are pictured with Graham's mother Mary and his half-brother Nathan Fazakerley Graham shares a close bond with Mike - the man he simply calls 'pops' - who came into his life when he was ten when Mike met Graham's mother. Now Mike (left) has spoken of his pride at his stepson's acting achievements Graham is enjoying some of the finest success of his acting career to date in the role of Eddie Miller, the dad of a young boy called Jamie (Owen Cooper), who is suspected of stabbing one of his classmates Katie (Emilia Holliday) in the Netflix hit Adolescence Mike married Stephen's mum Mary in 1989 when he was just ten - and was with her until her death in 2022. Speaking from the Liverpool home he shared with Mary, Mike went on: 'It's just sad that his mum isn't here to wallow in Stephen's glory, that's the only downside.' Before Mike came into his life, Stephen struggled to come to terms with his mixed-race identity. While his stepfather was born in Africa and Graham's paternal grandfather was from Jamaica, Graham says his advice and guidance helped him understand his background. He now describes himself as 'just a mixed-race kid from a block of flats in a little place called Kirkby'. Stephen once explained: 'On first glance, I don't look mixed race. But I know my own heritage and culture and I have been brought up to have pride in that, in who I am.' And that pride came from Mike - as it was only when Stephen's 'Pops', who is also mixed race, moved into their family home after falling in love with his mother, that the future actor says he 'learnt of the history' of his culture. Speaking on BBC Desert Island Discs in 2019 he said: 'There were times growing up where I would be slightly unsure of where I fitted in. Sometimes I'd be accepted by my white cousins and then my black cousins wouldn't really, you know what I mean. So it was kind of like where do I belong? Graham's biological father is Stephen Kelly. Graham's grandfather moved to Britain from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation, but split from Graham's mother when Graham was just a young boy. Here Stephen is pictured with Graham's half brother Aston Kelly Graham has found happiness with his wife Hannah Walters who makes a brief cameo appearance in Adolescence 'He helped me see who I am and what I am is good enough. He helped me find my own way and I got that sense of self in many respects from my mother, finding your own way.' Mike addressed this aspect of their deep connection today, telling MailOnline: 'Regarding his heritage, we know who we are, we've always known who we are, and it doesn't impact on our lives.' Stephen told Lauren Lavern: 'Pops is mixed race so that is where I learnt all the history of my culture and where I am from and what I am about. 'Pops' dad is African and my dad's dad is Jamaican but Pop's is African. He taught me about Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X. He taught me the history and the cultural aspect of where I came from which was beautiful.' One Christmas, Stephen ended up taking a DNA test that his wife had bought him to trace his ancestry. It showed that the actor is 22 per cent African - from his birth father, who was mixed race and whose own father had come over to Britain from Jamaica - and a' load of Scottish, tons of Irish and some Caribbean islands as well sprinkled in'. But with his mixed-race father not part of his upbringing and being alone with his white British mother it was hard for Stephen to understand all this - until Mike came into his life. Just this week in an interview wept as he showered praise on Mike, saying: 'To help you achieve your goal, or to believe in the dream you have. It takes that one person and my [step] dad was that personAnd my mum.' Throughout his school years, Stephen endured racism, with the N-word being flung towards him or being called 'little monkey boy'. Confronting the situation head-on, his petite mother stormed over to the house of the child who had been racially abusing Stephen and told them 'I am not having it'. Growing up in the small Merseyside town, at just eight-years-old Stephen's knack for acting became apparent as he took a starring role in his primary school's production of Treasure Island. Graham is hitting the headlines as his new Netflix show Adolescence is soaring to success It was at that moment his social worker mother and chief paediatric nurse stepfather were told by other parents in the audience: 'Your Stephen's got some talent'. From that moment, his path towards serial Bafta nominee was drawn up and he was introduced to the Everyman Youth Theatre, kicking off what Stephen calls his 'love affair' with film. Speaking of his stepfather, who worked as a mechanic before training as a paediatric nurse, said: 'My stepdad, but he's the man that raised me. I love my biological dad to bits, but my pops raised me.' With his supportive family surrounding him, he headed off for college at 18 to get his BTec in theatre studies before being accepted into Rose Bruford College - a prestigious drama school on the outskirts of London. When he turned 20, however, he had a breakdown after dabbling with method acting at school which resulted in what he describes an 'induced psychosis'. 'It's a wonderful practice and I threw everything at it. I had a couple of incidents and then I felt like I couldn't handle it anymore. It was like an induced psychosis,' Stephen told The Times. The practice had compounded his grief of losing his Nan when he was 14 years old as well as the loss of a younger brother, who was still born. 'I'd been through these few traumatic things and never really grieved,' he told the BBC. 'I was in the big wide world on my own and it wasn't easy. I was very close to my mum and dad and I think with the kind of intense work we did, tapping into emotions that I'd never really tapped into before,' he said. Graham and Hannah Walters attend Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical World Premiere at the Opening Night Gala in 2022 Returning home to Merseyside, Stephen had a breakdown and tried to take his own life by putting a nose around his neck. The rope snapped and he eventually came round, after hearing his Nan's voice. 'I tried to hang myself. I went in and it was very calculated. I kicked the chair. And then I heard my nanna's voice, and I know this sounds strange and weird and whatever, but it's my truth,' he explained. 'She shouted 'Stephen!' And I thought I'd gone, you know what I mean, because I'd tried to do that, and I just came to and opened my eyes. Thankfully the rope had snapped.' After that his parents had concerns about Stephen returning to acting school but he persisted, instead choosing to use his heartache and own experiences to shape his work. The actor is drawn to 'real stories about real people' often those who live on the edges of society and are marginalised. It was this perhaps that led him to his breakthrough role as the fascist skinhead Andrew 'Combo' Gascoigne in the 2006 film This Is England. He would often come home and 'cry my eyes out' after filming intense scenes for the movie. 'For me, that was where I really learned to dive into a character,' Stephen said. Looking back on his time on the show, Stephen said the script stirred painful memories of the racist abuse he endured in his youth. As a mixed-race actor, the role was in part traumatic for Stephen who later admitted 'losing himself' in the character causing him to drink from the stress and later enter a work lull. To add insult to injury, far-right and neo-Nazi groups then started to use images of him portraying Combo on social media websites. 'To take something I created and use that as an image for their views and opinions is a load of w**k,' he told The Guardian in 2019. He told High Life Magazine: 'Working with De Niro and Pacino on The Irishman was incomprehensible. Graham alongside legendary Hollywood director Martin Scorsese for The Irishman closing night party Graham's career going from strength to strength. Pictured: In Boardwalk Empire Graham is pictured here alongside Sean Bean in BBC drama Time 'Watching those masters was my education. When I was 15 and decided to give acting a proper go, the first thing my dad did was walk down to the video shop and rent three films: The Deer Hunter, Taxi Driver and The Godfather. 'He wasn't messing about! We watched them over the weekend and he said, 'That's how you do it properly.' He believes his biological father's father came over on the Windrush but told the Guardian 'though I'm not 1,000,001% sure on that'. He has starred alongside Robert De Niro, been directed by Martin Scorsese and is now once again back in the spotlight for his powerful Netflix hit Adolescence. A New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice is mired in scandal and disgrace over claims she tried to halt a criminal case against her 'lobster mobster' spouse. Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi, 69, is accused of interfering in an investigation into her husband, New Hampshire Port Authority Director Geno Marconi. Gene, 73, is facing charges of witness tampering and destroying physical evidence, WMUR9 reports. His alleged behavior came amid an ugly turf war over his family chowder business and a neighboring lobster shack on Rye Harbor. Prosecutors say Gene conspired with a colleague to illegally obtain driving records for Neil Levesque, a director at the Pease Development Authority (PDA), who had reported Marconi for 'mismanagement' of Rye Harbor. That mismanagement claim came after the Lobster Pound which leases its spot from the PDA sued Gene Marconi. Their lawsuit accused Gene Marconi and others of 'extortion, intimidation, and corruption', SeacoastOnline reports. The filing claims that Gene Marconi's alleged 'anti-competition' approach was motivated by his desire to protect the interests of Geno's Chowder & Sandwich Shop, his family's business on the same stretch. Gene is accused of scheming with chairman of the Division of Ports and Harbors Advisory Council, Bradley Cook, who has also been indicted, to leak Levesque's driving records and of deleting a voicemail connected to the investigation. It's unclear why such leaks would have damaged Levesque's position at the PDA. But getting rid of him may have made it easier to make life harder for the Lobster Pound. Gene was indicted the day after his wife, whose own indictment was upheld on Thursday after a judge ruled against a motion to dismiss her charges. New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi will face trial over allegations she tried to use her influence to quash a criminal case against her husband, New Hampshire Port Authority Director Geno Marconi Marconi has been charged with witness tampering and destroying evidence linked to a probe over allegations he tried to illegally access the driving records of a director of the Pease Development Authority who had reported him for mismanagement of Rye Harbor The mismanagement accusations stemmed from allegations that Marconi had been bullying and extorting the Rye Harbor Lobster Pound to protect the interests of his family business which is located nearby. Pictured: Owner Sylvia Cheever is suing Marconi over the claims Prosecutors say Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi approached former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and told him there was no merit in the investigation into her husband, which had been brought due to a personal or political bias. 'It's incredibly serious,' Sununu told WMUR9. 'I mean, you're talking about an independent grand jury indicting a very high-level public official like that and public servant. 'I really, first and foremost, really appreciate the attorney general. He's done a phenomenal job. 'He holds everybody to an incredibly high standard. And I think that's commendable. It's a lot of work on his department's part.' Hantz Marconi has pleaded not guilty and her lawyers denied any wrongdoing. She was placed on paid leave from her job last July. Her husband has also vowed to fight the charges when he goes on trial in November. He is facing two felony charges and four misdemeanors. He was placed on paid leave but has since filed for retirement since the scandal erupted. His alleged co-conspirator Cook has been charged with perjury after prosecutors say he falsely swore under oath that he had not had any contact with Marconi about Levesque's records. Marconi is accused of retaliating against PDA director Neil Levesque after he filed the mismanagement report. Marconi has denied the charges Hantz Marconi has pleaded not guilty and will stand trial in November Attorneys for Hantz Marconi said they had no further comment following Thursday's decision. The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said it could not comment any further beyond the indictments. DailyMail.com has contacted the PDA, New Hampshire Port Authority and Cook for comment. The number of hate crime reports soared by nearly 50 per cent to more than 7,000 after the introduction of controversial SNP legislation. New figures show a huge surge in the allegations since the Hate Crime Act masterminded by former First Minister Humza Yousaf was enforced from April Fools Day last year. More than 150 reports were linked to transgender hate crime and most of the complaints related to race and sexual orientation, according to a new Police Scotland report. Senior officers had warned the force risked being swamped with spurious complaints and drawn into abusive spats online, taking them away from fighting more serious crime. The new hate crime law created an offence of stirring up hatred relating to protected characteristics such as age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity. Last night Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr, who led opposition to the hate crime law, said: Humza Yousafs flawed Hate Crime Act has sadly proven to be no April Fool for the people of Scotland or overstretched police officers. These figures highlight the huge number of reports recorded as a result of it and the public will question if this law has been weaponised by activists, as they feared it might be. SNP ministers also didnt help themselves by peddling misinformation about their own legislation. This bad law wastes vital police resources and has a chilling effect on free speech and it was only the Scottish Conservatives who opposed it. The new hate crime law, masterminded by former First Minister Humza Yousaf, created an offence of stirring up hatred It is time for John Swinney to show some common sense and ditch Humzas hate crime act and divert resources towards frontline policing efforts. Figures from April last year to January this year show 7,277 hate crimes were logged, up by around 47 per cent on April 2023-January 2024, when there were 4,963. The Police Scotland report said hate crimes have reduced steadily over the past six months from a monthly high of 939 crimes in August to a low in December of 683 crimes. It said: This peaked in August due to community tensions relating to Operation Navette [relating to civil unrest and disorder last summer] and again in October 2024 due to community tensions relating to the anniversary of Operation Tarlac (Israel/Palestine conflict). It said hate crimes continue to be predominantly aggravated by racial or sexual orientation. The majority of hate crimes related to threatening or abusive behaviour, followed by hate-aggravated conduct, and common assault. The report said: Despite the significant increase in recorded hate crimes this year the detection rate has also increased (up five per cent to 64.1 per cent). Last year Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said the SNPs hate crime law led to a flood of complaints by people who were out to make mischief. He also said police could have been quicker to produce guidance for officers on the legislation. And in May last year Chief Superintendent Rob Hay said the debate had become toxic and divisive as the single force grappled with a flood of spurious complaints. He said police should be pacifists in the culture war amid a surge in allegations of hate crime and warned that tackling hate crime was diverting stretched police resources from those who need them. Mr Hay said: The divisive, political and toxic nature of some of the debate raging in wider society is not a place policing should ever inhabit. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Hatred and prejudice has a damaging and corrosive impact on victims and wider communities and it is vital that everyone in society feels safe. Hate crime laws are being used to hold to account those commit criminal acts fuelled by hatred based on prejudice towards a person based on, for example, a persons age or disability. A death row inmate used his dying words to beg for forgiveness from a woman he shot 20 years ago in a home invasion and robbery that took the life of her best friend. Wendell Arden Grissom, 56, shot his way into Dreu Kopf's home in Watong on November 3, 2005 and fatally shot her best friend, Amber Matthews, 23, as she tried to shield Kopf's two young daughters. Grissom did not know either woman and is believed to have targeted the home at random. He was later convicted of first degree murder, shooting with intent to kill, grand larceny and possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony, and was sentenced to death, according to the Oklahoman. As his execution date neared, Grissom did not seek any emergency stays in court and did not speak at a clemency hearing in February. Then, as he laid on the gurney with an IV line affixed to his left arm on Thursday, Grissom asked for forgiveness. 'I apologize to all of you that I've hurt,' he said in his last remarks. 'I regret so much that I've put that hatred in your heart for me.' Grissom went on to note that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol on the fateful day. Wendell Arden Grissom, 56, was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma on Thursday Kopf's now adult daughters joined her at the execution on Thursday 'It's still my fault,' the convicted killer admitted. 'I'm not who I made myself look like that one day.' He added that he knows he does not deserve forgiveness, but prayed that 'you all can forgive me, not for my sake - for your sake.' That, he said, 'is the only way you will find God in this.' But Kopf, who was watching the execution with her now adult daughters, said the apology came 'too late.' 'I had eight bullet holes in my body and there's still bullets in me,' she told reporters following Grissom's death. 'I was always scared. If someone knocked on the door, I would call 911... I'd go to Walmart and a guy would walk with a backpack and I thought... there was going to be another shooting. I lived in constant fear.' Her daughter, Rylee, who is now 20, also said she thought Grissom's death was 'a long time coming.' Matthews had been visiting her friend, Dreu Kopf, and her two young daughters on November 3, 2005 - and died trying to protect the young girls (picture credit: Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General) He was convicted of first degree murder, shooting with intent to kill, grand larceny and possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony in the November 2005 death of Amber Matthews, 23 (pictured) She had told USA Today how she watched as her mom suffered in the years following the shooting. 'My mom would probably, with no exaggeration, call my dad 100 times a day, asking when he's going to be home and if he couldn't give her an answer, she would call back,' Rylee said. 'She didn't want to be home alone.' Other family members described how she was 'paralyzed by fear' following the November 3, 2005 shooting. Prosecutors have said Grissom - who already had a lengthy criminal record - picked up a homeless hitchhiker named Jessie Johns two days earlier. They drank whiskey during the drive and discussed plans to commit robberies or burglaries, the Oklahoman reports. As they approached Wantoga, the duo randomly selected Kopf's home - where Matthews was visiting. Grissom initially asked Kopf if her husband was in, but then shot his way through the sliding glass door into the home - laughing as he fired his weapon, according to court documents. Grissom and a hitchhiker he picked up, Jessie Johns, were arrested after hitching a ride to a cafe in a nearby county Kopf tried to fight him off, jumping on him as Matthews fled with Kopf's then five-week-old daughter, Gracie, into a room where her 19-month-old, Rylee, was sleeping. Kopf was shot in the wrist, hand, shoulder, head and hip before she managed to escape in the shooter's truck in an effort to flag down help. As she fled, Kopf said she heard Matthews scream 'Please don't shoot me!' before Grissom shot her in the back of the head and then again in the forehead as she clung to one of the girls. Johns then allegedly also entered the home, and the two men fled, on a stolen four-wheeler, but quickly ran out of gas and were taken into custody after hitching a ride to a cafe in a nearby county. Authorities then found Kopf's daughters still inside the home, physically unhurt. Matthews was airlifted to an Oklahoma City hospital, but was later pronounced dead. Grissoms attorneys did not dispute his guilt but argued at a clemency hearing that he suffered from brain damage that was never presented to a jury. They also noted that he has always accepted responsibility and even wrote an apology to Matthews' family during his first interview with police. Matthews had pleaded for her life in the moments before Grissom shot her in the head (picture credit: Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General) At the time of his first confession, Grissom asked cops if the state has the death penalty. When he was told that it does, he said, 'I want it... I just want my life to be over with.' In a second confession, he said, 'I didn't plan or mean for any of it to happen. I don't know why it did. 'All I do know is that it was senseless and I was not in any right state of mind... I wish to God that it had never happened,' he said, according to the Oklahoman. In a text message to his spiritual advisor in January, Grissom also wrote that he was not scared of dying because he knew where he was going. 'I'll finally be free from this place and all, you know,' he texted, according to USA Today. 'I for sure do not want to spend the rest of my life in this sorry place.' On Monday, Grissom also told Newsweek that he has asked God for forgiveness. 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't stressed out or worried about it, but I know where I stand with God,' he said. 'I'm not scared of dying necessarily because I know that I've asked for forgiveness. I'm not worthy of it, I admit that, but Jesus Christ died on that cross for everybody - that includes me and you.' Grissom enjoyed a last meal of a medium thick-crust Canadian Bacon Supreme pizza, a pint of vanilla ice cream and a pint of Coke (picture credit: Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General) Then on Thursday, Grissom enjoyed a last meal of a medium thick-crust Canadian Bacon Supreme pizza, a pint of vanilla ice cream and a pint of Coke. When he was then brought into the room to be executed, a spiritual advisor prayed at his feet as the lethal drugs began to flow. He exhaled forcefully several times and could be heard snoring when a doctor entered the execution chamber and declared him unconscious about five minutes later. He appeared to stop breathing at 10:09 a.m. and the color started to drain from his face while more than two dozen of Matthew's friends and family watched on. 'This was probably as flawless of an execution that we've had in terms of the process,' Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe said in the aftermath. He noted that Grissom had been telling staff at the prison he was ready for this day to come, KOCO reports. 'Wendell Grissom faced his death bravely,' Harpe said. 'He repeatedly expressed remorse and made peace with his execution.' Johns, now 74, meanwhile, is serving a life sentence in prison without parole after being convicted in a separate trial of first-degree murder and grand larceny in the case. A man who admitted threatening to abuse, rape and kill his ex-partner has avoided a jail sentence. Shane Hubbard, 28, from Sittingbourne, threatened to 'torch' and 'kill' the mother of his two children in a series of terrifying text messages sent to another woman last year. The 28-year-old, who works as a scaffolder, sent the disturbing messages over Facebook Messenger and has been charged with three counts of sending communication threatening death or serious harm. Prosecutor Elisenda Mitchell said that despite the texts not being sent directly to his former partner, the woman who received them felt they were so alarming that she had to alert Hubbard's ex. At his sentencing on March 11, Maidstone Crown Court also heard how Hubbard had previously admitted stalking, criminal damage and battery of the woman. The messages which were sent to another female included threats to break into his ex-partner's house and rape her. They read: 'Who is around my kids? I swear I will kill them. 'I swear I am going to kill her, she has had it, I am going to jail over this,' and another: 'When I am off this tag I will torch the lot of them.' Shane Hubbard (pictured) threatened to 'torch' and 'kill' the mother of his two children in a series of terrifying text messages sent to another woman last year The 28-year-old, who works as a scaffolder, sent the disturbing messages over Facebook Messenger and has been charged with three counts of sending communication threatening death or serious harm Hubbard was charged with three counts of sending communication threatening death or serious harm at a hearing on March 11 at Maidstone Crown Court In her witness statement, Hubbard's former partner said the messages left her 'scared' after 'he wouldn't take no for an answer'. She said: 'I had no option but to bow to his demands in case he hurt me or my family.' Hubbard, who had nine previous convictions for 17 offences, had a separate trial listed for March 16, 2026. In January he changed his plea to guilty on all counts of sending communication threatening death or serious harm, which included the threat to break in, beat and rape the mother of his two children. Judge Philip Statman said: 'It's difficult to consider what graver threat could be made to a young woman or any woman.' Hubbard's representative Sam Glanville said while the messages were 'deeply abhorrent', the recipient of the texts had not been his ex-partner meaning he was not in breach of his previously set bail conditions. Mr Glanville also sought the help of a psychological report, saying Hubbard suffering with ADHD affected his 'ability to make the right judgements'. 'He has a new partner and his life is focused solely on work and going home. Now he lives in Cambridgeshire and wants to express his remorse. Hubbard changed his plea to guilty on all counts of sending communication threatening death or serious harm, which included the threat to break in, beat and rape the mother of his two children The 28-year-old also had nine previous convictions for 17 offences and had a separate trial listed for March 16, 2026 At his sentencing, the court also heard how Hubbard had previously admitted stalking, criminal damage and battery of the woman 'He works in scaffolding six days a week. Sundays he does community service.' When the judge asked how many of community service Hubbard had completed from his previous court punishment, Mr Glanville said his client had completed only 20 out of 200. Judge Statman said it was 'not exactly inspiring' to know he had done just ten per cent of the work given by the magistrates' court. Sentencing Hubbard, the judge said: 'You have pled guilty to three counts of sending a communication threatening death or serious harm. 'These threats being made over a period between May 16 and May 18, 2024. The effect of what you threatened to do would, in my judgement, undoubtedly be passed on to your ex-partner.' Acknowledging Hubbard suffered with mental health problems and had a diagnosis of ADHD, the judge said this would be taken into account before offering an 'exceptional course' which saw the 28-year-old avoid jail. He said: 'I am completely satisfied that the appropriate sentence is 20 months in prison. I reduce that to 16 months to reflect your plea.' 'I am going to take an exceptional course. I am going to suspend the sentence for two years.' Hubbard was ordered to perform 40 hours of rehabilitation requirements and 80 hours of unpaid work. The judge explained if Hubbard offended in any way in the next two years he 'should bring his toothbrush' as he would be going to prison. A five-year restraining order is also in place between Hubbard and his ex-partner. Fox News host and comedian Kat Timpf has undergone a double mastectomy for breast cancer after receiving the shock diagnosis while pregnant. Timpf, 36, was told she had stage zero breast cancer just one day before going into labor with her first child. On Thursday afternoon, Timpf shared a post-surgery update to let fans know she was doing well. She shared an image from a hospital bed of her legs covered by a gown with an animated 'censored' illustration over her feet. In the caption, she made a joke about how much her breast size had been reduced. 'Post-op! Theyre honestly not much smaller than they were before I got pregnant,' Timpf wrote said. The TV star's followers praised her ability to use humor at a difficult time. 'Your sense of humor will serve you well getting through this. Helped me, immensely,' one person shared. Kat Timpf, 36, shared an update on social media after she underwent a double mastectomy joking that, 'Theyre honestly not much smaller than they were before I got pregnant' Timpf welcomed her son last month with her husband, Cameron Friscia. The couple is pictured on October 5, 2023 Timpf is a co-host of the Fox News comedy show Gutfeld! and is an American commentator, comedian, and author 'Praying for you Kat [heart emoji] And laughter is the best medicine, so you got this!' another added. Timpf received a slew of positive messages wishing her a fast recovery as she cares for a newborn baby who she shares with her husband, Cameron Friscia. 'Awe, mama! We're thinking of you and praying for all good things,' one comment on X read. 'Girl, just follow your doctors instructions, rest and do your best! Cancer is a journey and motherhood is forever! You go Kat! You got this,' another supporter chimed in. The mom has been open about her unconventional journey to parenthood as she navigated the first few weeks of her son's life while reeling from the cancer diagnosis. At the end of February, Timpf shared a post titled 'An unconventional birth announcement' where she detailed the emotional whirlwind of having a child and receiving the life-changing news. 'Last week, I welcomed by first child into the world. About fifteen hours before I went into labor, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,' she said. Timpf went on to assure her supporters that the cancer was stage zero and her doctors were confident that it hadn't spread. 'I woke up more-than-a-week-past-due pregnant, completely consumed by doing everything I could to get the baby out,' she continued. 'By the afternoon, I was waddling around from appointment to appointment, talking about how to get my cancer out. Timpf said that following the diagnosis she was 'crawling around the floor of my apartment in spontaneous labor.' Timpf shared a photo outside of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York after she received a breast cancer diagnosis Shortly after her shock announcement, Timpf shared an update thanking her followers for their support and hitting back at those who took the opportunity to share their unsolicited advice. Some social media users said it was extreme to have a double mastectomy for stage zero breast cancer, but Timpf reminded her followers that 'every case of breast cancer is different.' The popular TV personality then used her signature edgy sense of humor once again, joking, 'I don't take cutting my t*** off lightly.' 'As a general rule, I don't think any woman does. I find it devastating. But I am very grateful to have access to the opinions of many brilliant minds when it comes to breast cancer.' Last week, Timpf shared a photo of herself at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and wrote, 'Once I recover from childbirth, my mole removal scars heal, I get a double mastectomy, get rid of my cancer, have breast reconstruction surgery & am physically capable of getting back in the gym its OVER FOR U B*****Z.' Timpf is a favorite commentator and comedian on Gutfeld! which airs on Fox News weeknights at 10 pm. She worked as a co-host on the program throughout her pregnancy. She is also a comedian and author of the New York Times bestsellers, I Used To Like You Until... (How Binary Thinking Divides Us) and You Cant Joke About That: Why Everything is Funny, Nothing is Sacred, and Were All in This Together. A bricklayer has confessed in a letter to bludgeoning a man to death with a bicycle battery before dismembering his body, a court has heard. Jerzy Jozef D., 40, is accused of hitting homeless man Ralf L., 61, on the head with a blunt object several times before dismembering the victim into 14 pieces and stuffing him a freezer for a year. The bricklayer admitted to police that he was hiding a body in his apartment in the town of Verl, in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, when he was arrested for fighting with another man at a local train station. 'He said it straight out, and we were stunned,' a police officer said, according to German daily Bild. Police went to his apartment, where they passed a cannabis plantation to get to Jarzy D.'s kitchen and freezer. When he opened the freezer, the officer said he 'immediately saw the back of the head, hair, and ears'. He added: 'Next to it were other body parts.' The 40-year-old suspect handed a letter titled 'Conjuring the Spirit of Hitler' to a psychiatric expert. In the letter, Jarzy D. wrote: 'When I hit him on the ground, he was still alive. But I thought of the consequences and beat him to death with the bike battery.' Jerzy Jozef D. (left), 40, is accused of hitting homeless man Ralf L., 61, on the head with a blunt object several times before dismembering the victim into 14 pieces and stuffing him a freezer for a year Forensic experts were unable to determine when the victim, Ralf L. (pictured), was killed, but investigators said he had been missing for almost a year He also described his life of fear and wrote about how the homeless man's body lay in his trash-filled apartment for three days in November 2023, before he 'washed it, dismembered it with a Styrofoam knife and froze it'. Jarzy D. reportedly said that the worst part was 'the sound of breaking bones'. Psychiatrist Brian Blackwell spoke to the suspect about the letter for six hours on December 27. Blackwell later said: 'It was important to him to talk about it. He delivered it without emotion.' Forensic experts were unable to determine when the victim, Ralf L., was killed, but investigators said he had been missing for almost a year. Public prosecutor Claudia Bosse added: 'The crime occurred between November 19, 2023, and October 12, 2024.' Neighbours of Jerzy D., who is from Poland, told local media that he had lived in the apartment for two years and was known to get aggressive when drunk. Jarzy D. also described his life of fear and wrote about how the homeless man's body lay in his trash-filled apartment for three days in November 2023, before he 'washed it, dismembered it with a Styrofoam knife and froze it' Jarzy D. is currently on trial at Bielefeld Regional Court and could face life in prison The alleged killer was not previously known to police. Judge Meiring said the actions outlined in the letter could indicate Jarzy D. wanting to conceal the crime. Jarzy D. is currently on trial at Bielefeld Regional Court and could face life in prison. Elon Musk made a savage move to silence baby mama Ashley St. Clair after she went public and sued him for custody of their newborn son, her attorneys argue. MAGA influencer St. Clair, 26, had sued the Tesla CEO and X owner, 53, in February, seeking sole custody of their son and asking him to take a paternity test. Now, St. Clair claims Musk is trying to 'gag' her for trying to gain custody of their baby. 'Ashley is vigorously opposing this application in order to preserve her right to speak-out,' her legal team told DailyMail.com in a statement. 'All while Mr. Musk fashions himself a first amendment warrior and freely communicates via his owned social media platform.' St. Clair's legal team argues that Musk is trying to 'prevent her from communicating about his actions' while he take his revenge financially. 'Elon Musk has financially retaliated against his own child and reduced his financial support substantially and unilaterally,' the lawyers argue. 'He did this after Ashley was forced to bring this matter to court, when he refused to respond to her many private attempts to resolve this matter without publicity.' St. Clair make the shocking baby announcement in a post on the evening of Valentine's day, saying: 'Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father. Elon Musk moved to cut financial support to alleged baby mama Ashley St. Clair after she sued him for custody of their newborn son, her attorneys argue MAGA influencer St. Clair, 26, had sued the Tesla CEO and X owner, 53, in February, seeking sole custody of their son that she says they share, and that he take a paternity test 'I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child's privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause. 'I intend to allow our child to grow in a normal and safe environment. For that reason, I ask that the media honor our child's privacy, and refrain from invasive reporting.' Soon after the announcement, Musk penned a cryptic post to X in reply to a fan who said making 'another baby' was yet another of Musk's 'side quests'. Musk reacted with crying laughing emoji. Musk had asked for court documents to be sealed during the case which was denied on an emergency basis but is still pending. The lawyers took a shot at the role of the 'First Buddy' in attempting to make government more efficient. 'Given that Mr. Musk is dedicated to transparency in government, it would be helpful if he administered his own life by the same principles,' they wrote. DailyMail.com has reached out to lawyers for Musk for comment. Musk has also appointed a lawyer to represent him in the suit after he was previously accused of causing 'unnecessary distress' for not accepting the filing. St. Clair is claiming Musk 'financially retaliated' against her for trying to gain custody of their baby Musk has also appointed a lawyer to represent him in the suit after he was previously accused of causing 'unnecessary distress' for not accepting the filing The notification for sealing was filed by his attorney, Alyssa Rower, on Sunday according to New York courts online service. Musk had been set to appear in court in late May in the legal dispute over St. Clair's son, who goes by R.S.C. in the court docs, but that will now be held in private. Rosenthal had previously said that Musk had demonstrated 'unnecessary gamesmanship' after he failed to acknowledge the suit or appoint a lawyer. The child was born in September 2024, and St. Clair says in her filing for the paternity test that she and Musk started a 'romantic relationship in or about May 2023'. St. Clair says that Musk has only met the boy three times and that she is the only parent to make decisions on the child's behalf. She claims that Musk was not present for the birth of their child and hasn't expressed any interest in having custody. According to the court documents, St Clair says she believes child was conceived on the island of St. Barts. In her custody suit, St. Clair writes that it is in the best interests of the child that she have sole legal and physical custody. She claims that the Musk first met the boy on September 21, 2024, in New York City, where she resides, for two hours. St. Clair is a conservative firebrand who has previously courted controversy by fraternizing with the far right The new child with conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair would extend Musk's brood to 13 Pictured: Musk holding the baby he allegedly shares with St. Clair, as seen in an exhibit of her paternity lawsuit The three are then said to have spent one hour together the following day, followed by a trip to Austin, Texas, in which he met the boy for 30 minutes. As part of the exhibits for the paternity petition, the conservative firebrand shared a picture of Musk holding her son. Alleged text messages from after the child's birth were also added in the suit, which includes one from the day the boy was born. St. Clair had sent Musk a picture of her clutching the newborn in the delivery room. 'All well?' Musk replied. To which, she responded 'He is perfect.' Musk replied: 'I look forward to seeing you and him this weekend.' In another, St. Clair sent him a selfie of her and a friend, to which Musk replied: 'Hi cutie.' She then texted him back, saying: 'Hi, see u soon.' The Tesla boss and 'First Buddy' followed up with a shocking reply: 'I want to knock you up again'. St. Clair had sent Musk a picture of her clutching the newborn in hospital seemingly on the day he was born In another, St. Clair has sent him a selfie of herself and a friend, to which Musk replies: 'Hi cutie' before telling her he wanted to 'knock her up again' Other messages show Musk talking about a credible death threat on his life, saying he was '#2 after Trump for assassination'. He told her: 'Wake up. This is not the time for sentiment at the expense of safety. If I make a mistake on security [REDACTED] will never know his father.' St. Clair responded saying: 'That's why the father spot on his birth certificate is blank right, E. Any he has my last name.' Musk added: 'Necessary for now. Only the paranoid survive' before St. Clair responded saying that 'incredible discretion' had been used and would continue to be. The Space X CEO then continued: 'The threat level will reach insane levels until the election is decided. Loose lips sink ships.' In another text exchange, St. Clair said she felt their relationship 'broke down' when Musk's fixer and right-hand man Jared Birchall allegedly 'got involved'. She claimed: 'He said a lot of pretty horrible things to me that he attributed to you and I feel as though there was never a rift in our relationship before that. 'If you are in New York or if you'd like me to come to DC I really would appreciate being able to speak to you in person. 'I care about you deeply and feel as though third parties have put a major rift in our relationship that I truly wish was better for the sake of our son.' Musk responded: 'Hmm ok', to which she replied with a GIF of Jim Carrey's character Ace Ventura saying his trademark phrase 'Alllrighty then'. To that, he then added: 'Well, we do have a legion of kids to make'. Other messages show Musk talking about a credible death threat on his life, saying he was '#2 after Trump for assassination' In another text exchange, which is undated, St. Clair says she feels their relationship 'broke down' when Musk's fixer and right hand man Jared Birchall 'got involved' DailyMail.com revealed that St. Clair moved about a year ago into a swanky Manhattan apartment near City Hall, costing around $12,000 to $15,000 per month. St. Clair said Musk first 'slid into my DMs' in May 2023, and that she met him at an interview he did that month with her then-boss Seth Dillon, CEO of right-leaning satirical news site Babylon Bee in San Francisco. In an interview with the New York Post the day after she went public about her baby, St. Clair said Musk followed up his meeting with her in San Francisco with an invite to join him on an impromptu trip to Providence, Rhode Island. 'After the interview, I got a text from him saying, 'Feel like going to Providence [Rhode Island] tonight?' she told the Post. The DailyMail.com had been investigating claims that the two were in a romantic relationship, weeks before St. Clair publicly claimed she had Musk's baby. Musk has always wanted to have a large family and he once claimed that 'civilization is going to crumble' if people don't have more children. So far, the billionaire has fathered 12 kids with three different women. His latest with St. Clair would be his 13th. Musk's lawyer in the case was approached for comment. Dozens of local farmers and residents around the popular tourist destination Barossa Valley are rallying against a plan to build a towering wind farm. Renewable energy company RES Australia has applied for government approval to build the Twin Creek Wind Farm between the townships of Kapunda, Eudunda, and Truro, near the Barossa Valley. The application, launched on March 5, proposes the construction of 42 wind turbines, with blades as tall as 220metres. 'This is absolutely the wrong place for a wind farm,' third-generation farmer Mary Morris told Daily Mail Australia. She warned that the towering turbines would harm the environment and encroach on Barossa Valley's preservation district, an area protected under character preservation laws designed to maintain the region's natural beauty and heritage. 'You will see [turbines] all over the Barossa Valley, and I think it will really wreck their tourism,' Ms Morris said. 'These clowns have put that proposal right outside the edge of the Barossa because the base of the turbine is not in that preservation district.' 'They're so enormous and they're on tops of hills 400 metres high... which you're going to see from everywhere,' Ms Morris told Daily Mail. Third-generation farmer Mary Morris (pictured) said Barossa Valley is the wrong place for a wind farm Renewable energy company RES Australia has proposed the construction of 42 wind turbines, with blades as tall as 220metres (stock image) She also said residents are upset because the turbines are in the same area as endangered Pygmy Blue-tongue lizards. 'We're really hoping that the South Australian environment department says 'No, you can't just bulldoze [their burrows] and then pay a fine',' she said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted RES Australia and the SA Environmental Protection Agency for comment. Ms. Morris, who serves as secretary of the Hansborough and District Residents Group, said the group has been hosting public information sessions in the Barossa Valley to share their research with locals. 'I'm energised at the moment because there's so much community opposition to it,' she said. 'Everybody is really supporting each other to try and get the planning department to refuse this project.' RES Australia said on its website that members of the public are invited to make a written representation on the project via the consultation on the state government planning portal. Residents are upset because the turbines are in the same area as the endangered Pygmy Blue-Tongue Lizards (pictured) RES Australia has submitted a planning application for 42 turbines that locals say will loom over the tourist-favourite Barossa Valley On top of the turbines, the proposal includes a battery energy storage facility of 215MW capacity, a transmission line and substations. RES Australia was granted development consent in 2019 for the wind farm but re-submitted a planning application for a revised plan in March due to 'evolution in wind turbine technology'. In the new application, RES has reduced the number of turbines from 51 to 42 with an increased blade tip height of up to 220m. 'The reduction in number of turbines may have a positive impact on the visual impact of the project,' the firm said. The application summary acknowledges the presence of the endangered lizard, saying an environment protection and biodiversity conservation referral will be submitted for an optimised layout. It also addresses the issue of character preservation of Barossa Valley. 'The site of the proposed development is not located within the Significant Landscape Protection Overlay or the Character Preservation Area Overlay and therefore would not be a restricted form of development. 'Twin Creek Wind Farm provides an efficient form of renewable energy facility that does not create unreasonable hazard, environmental impact or visual impact.' Oklahoma sheriff's deputies and officers were injured when an explosion went off at the Pushmataha County Sheriff's Office and Jail on Thursday. Two officers and two deputies sustained minor injuries in the blast, Sheriff BJ Hedgecock told KXII. He noted that both the sheriff's office and jail sections of the building were rocked by the explosion and said that it occurred at the back of the building, in an office. The two officers who were injured were treated at the scene, and the two deputies who suffered from smoke inhalation were brought to a local emergency room. Inmates who were housed at the jail have also been moved to facilities in nearby counties as a precaution, KTUL reports. In a Facebook post, the Pushmataha County Sheriff's Office explained 'there was a fire.' 'All staff are safe and all inmates were unharmed and have been distributed to different countries,' it continued. 'We would like to thank the immediate response by Antlers Fire Dept/EMS, Antlers PD, Choctaw Lighthorse Police, Choctaw Nation EMS, Choctaw County S.O./EMS, Pushmataha County Hospital, Mccurtain County S.O., Choctaw Nation, Atoka County S.O., Pittsburgh County S.O., Johnston County S.O., Oklahoma Highway Patrol and all other responding agencies, we are truly grateful.' An explosion went off at the Pushmataha County Sheriff's Office on Thursday Investigators are now working to determine what may have caused the blast. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. A shocking display of racism almost brought a woman to tears as a man let loose with a tirade in one of the nation's most multicultural areas. A man was caught in a video posted to social media this week abusing staff at Daily Delicious Bakery 5 on Railway Parade in Cabramatta in Sydney's southwest. A witness said the man approached the staff member preparing his drink and demanded: 'Take my order'. The Vietnamese staff member politely explained that he would take the order after finishing the coffee he was currently making. The witness said the racist Aussie reacted aggressively and threatened physical violence. 'The Australian man started cursing at him and threatening to punch him and do numerous other physical stuff,' the witness said. In the video, the Aussie racist could be heard saying: 'I don't care where you are, you're in my country now.' The Vietnamese worker initially tried to stay calm and avoid conflict, but eventually had enough of the threats and told the man to 'F*** off'. The man who allegedly shouted racist threats to the owners of a bakery in Sydney But the Aussie racist didn't go away quietly. 'You f*** off. Talk to me like that, you spastic. You don't even belong here, what are you doing here,' he's heard saying. 'Smelly f***ing immigrant. I'll come back for you, c***. I'll come back. 'You dirty f***ing Chinese.' The witness who shared the video on social media said he felt 'so bad because the Vietnamese old woman behind the counter looked like she was about to cry'. 'I'm 13 and I was terrified though because he said he would punch anyone who comes near him,' he said. Aussies came to the bakery's support online after the video had nearly 100,000 views. There's been calls to support the Daily Delicious 5 Bakery in Cabramatta after its staff were subject to a vicious racist rant this week 'Bogan with nothing better to do than complain,' one person wrote. 'Its always these kinds of people that makes it hard for me to appreciate Australia,' another said. Tragic details have emerged in the horrifying murder-suicide that resulted in the deaths of a Wyoming mom and her four children. Tranyelle Harshman, 32, fatally shot her daughters, Brooke and Jordan, both two, Olivia, seven, and nine-year-old Brailey, inside their family home in Byron, before turning the gun on herself on February 10. A toxicology report has now revealed that before the horrifying event, Harshman had ketamine and anti-anxiety drugs in her system. Her husband, Cliff, had previously opened up about his wife's struggle with mental health, admitting that she suffered from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for years and battled postpartum depression after giving birth. On the day of the shocking deaths, Harshman had clonazepam in her system, which is prescribed to help panic disorders and epilepsy. It can be recognized under the brand name Klonopin. Clonazepam is a sedative and has side effects including paranoia, suicidal ideation, and impairment of judgement, coordination, and memory. Ketamine is an anesthetic which can have hallucinogenic effects. The drug is only FDA approved as an anesthetic, but not to treat mental health disorders, according to Johns Hopkins University. On the day she died, Harshman called emergency services and reported that her daughters had been shot and were dead. Tranyelle Harshman, 32, killed herself and her four children on February 10 in Wyoming Cliff Harshman told local news that even though he was angry with his wife for taking their children from them, he still grieved her and loved her Harshman and her four children Brailey, 9, Brooke, who was almost three, and Jordan, 2 died after sustaining gunshot wounds Harshman then said that she was planning on doing the same to herself, and hung up the phone despite pleas from the 911 operator to stay on the line until emergency crews arrived. The mom told the dispatcher that she couldn't stay on the line and said it was 'too late,' according to the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office. Within minutes, law enforcement responded to the scene and found Brooke and Jordan dead in their cribs while Brailey was found with a gunshot wound in a downstairs bedroom. Olivia and Harshman were transported to a local hospital with signs of life. Harshman died two days later in hospital. Olivia, died at a hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, five days after the incident. Traynelle's husband, Cliff, was on a business trip and the girls were home sick with the flu. Olivia died at a hospital in Salt Lake City after her sister, Brailey, was found dead in their home Olivia's biological father and stepmom announced her death in an update on an online fundraiser days after the murder-suicide The shocking events occurred in the small town of Byron, Wyoming Their toxicology reports, as first reviewed by local news outlet, Cowboy State Daily, revealed that the children who died at the scene had 'unusual large amounts of Propanolol beta-blocker and Diphenhydramine antihistamine which causes drowsiness in their systems.' Diphenhydramine is a key ingredient in the brand-name allergy drug, Benadryl. Propranolol is a prescription beta-blocker that can treat high blood pressure, chest pain, migraines, and tremors. The drug can result in side effects such as slow or uneven heartbeats, lightheadedness, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, depression, heart problems, or low blood sugar. It's unclear why the girls were on the medications, but Cliff told Cowboy State Daily that his wife's chemical mental health treatments were her last hope to cope with her mental health struggles. 'I'm bitter that this has had to continue to be a thorn in my side, when I need to just grieve my family's loss,' Cliff said on the questions he's been pestered with since the tragedy rocked his family. 'I also want people to understand that this isn't a chance to demonize different therapies. This works for a lot of different people,' he continued. 'This was her last grasp at the rope, if you will, to hang on.' Law enforcement responded to the home just minutes after Harshman called 911 and reported her daughters deaths Olivia and Brailey, the two oldest daughters who died in the murder-suicide, pictured with their biological father Quinn Blackmer Cliff told the outlet that he went to visit his wife in the hospital after the murder-suicide and prayed for the strength to forgive her. He added that he was working on accepting that his family was gone and wanted to focus on grieving instead of defending them. Cliff was the biological father of the two younger girls, Brooke and Jordan, but raised Olivia and Brailey for years. Olivia and Brailey's biological father, Quinn Blackmer, and his wife Katelynn announced that Olivia had died after fighting in the hospital for days after she was shot. 'Olivia is with her sisters now. She gained her angel wings yesterday at 3.49pm. She fought so hard up til the last minute,' Katelynn Blackmer wrote in an update on an online fundraiser for the family. 'Her body and her brain had been through too much, medication helped, but we reached a point where medical options were exhausted and her body only continued to get worse.' The community has rallied around the grieving fathers amidst the unimaginable loss, setting up fundraisers and prayer vigils. The community has since rallied around the grieving fathers who lost their daughters in the shocking murder-suicide The family announced in a heartbreaking update that Olivia had joined her three sisters and died in a Utah hospital after the incident Harshman's family and friends have stood up for the mother after the tragedy, with her close friend Nicole Jensen previously telling Dailymail.com that she was a 'fierce mama bear protector.' 'I will defend her and her memory until the end of my days,' Jensen said. 'I know that she felt she couldn't live anymore but also couldn't abandon her children without her to fight for and care for them.' Cliff echoed a similar sentiment to Cowboy State Daily, telling the outlet that despite his wife's unimaginable actions, he still loved her. He told the publication that his wife 'was not a monster' and that she struggled to cope with mental illness. 'Most people don't understand how that affects the brain. It's a chemical imbalance,' he said. 'And it can be exacerbated by trying to fix it with medication.' Cliff added that her violent actions were 'so out of character' and what happened was 'unbelievable.' 'As angry as I may be with her, I still love her - and I still lost her as well,' he said. Vladimir Putin will ignore any peace deal unless it is backed up by significant military force, Sir Keir Starmer warned last night. The Prime Minister was speaking after joining talks to decide the make-up of a UK-led reassurance force that will deploy to Ukraine after a ceasefire. Britain and France are expected to provide the bulk of a 20,000-strong force that would protect the country's major cities and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops and a vast force of drones would be used to defend the 600-mile frontline from any Russian attacks. Sir Keir said: 'What's happening here is turning political intention into reality, the concept into plans. 'It is vitally important we do that work because we know one thing for certain, which is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach. 'We know that because it happened before. I'm absolutely clear in my mind it will happen again.' The PM, on a visit to the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood in north-west London, was referring to agreements between Russia and Ukraine following the Kremlin's invasion of Crimea in 2014 and in 2019. Vladimir Putin will ignore any peace deal unless it is backed up by significant military force, Sir Keir Starmer warned last night The Prime Minister was speaking after joining talks to decide the make-up of a UK-led reassurance force that will deploy to Ukraine after a ceasefire. Pictured: Keir Starmer meets with BAE system apprentices as he looks at a submarine model on March 20 On both occasions, Moscow signed up to full and comprehensive ceasefires known as the Minsk agreements covering Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern provinces. Neither agreement included any detrimental consequences for Russia should its supporters continue fighting and, in effect, the 2019 arrangement could be seen as setting conditions for Putin's invasion of Ukraine three years later. Sir Keir continued: 'We hope there will be a deal but what I do know is if there is a deal, the time for planning is now. It's not after a deal is reached. 'Last weekend and two weekends before that, we had groupings of international political leaders coming together to provide the political alignment and the collective agreement that we need to work together to ensure that any deal that is put in place is defended.' He added that he was aware the deal may be 'in stages' with a temporary ceasefire eventually followed by a permanent ceasefire. Military planners have been told to prepare for troops to deploy within days of a settled truce rather than weeks, so the momentum towards a lasting peace can be maintained. British Army units are expected to be sent to central and eastern Ukraine while a Royal Navy force will patrol the Black Sea. The Royal Air Force will likely deploy to neighbouring countries such as Romania to take part in aerial protection over Ukraine. Sir Keir said the plans under discussion were focusing on 'keeping the skies safe, the seas safe and the borders safe and secure in Ukraine and working with Ukrainians'. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged Putin to agree an unconditional ceasefire just like Ukraine. He also insisted Russia should not be given a 'veto' over the presence of European peacekeepers. Mr Lammy said: 'That's the plan on the table, let's get on with it. What are we waiting for? What we certainly can't do is give Putin a veto over the security architecture that will govern the peace.' While the US has talked up the chances of securing peace within weeks, Volodymyr Zelensky said it could be achieved 'this year'. The Ukrainian president attended a European Union summit in Norway where he urged leaders to continue sanctions against Russia at least until a ceasefire is agreed. He also requested 4.2billion in funding to pay for ammunition and artillery. Mr Zelensky has ruled out any Ukrainian cities close to the frontline being divided in the style of Berlin at the end of the Second World War. However, Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine yesterday, launching nearly 200 Iranian Shahed drones. A separate attack on the Kirovohrad region left ten people wounded, including four children. The UK's Ministry of Defence estimates 200,000 to 250,000 Russian troops have been killed since the war began in February 2022. That is the largest death toll of Kremlin forces since Germany's invasion of Russia in 1941. The MoD added: 'President Putin and the Russian military leadership highly likely prioritise their conflict objectives over the lives of Russian soldiers.' The UK research also showed Russia has incurred an estimated 900,000 casualties, most recruited from impoverished regions and ethnic minorities. Buy British, MoD told as we're cut out of EU plans Keir Starmer has ordered defence chiefs to 'buy British' after UK arms firms were locked out of a massive EU procurement drive. The Prime Minister said he wanted rising Government spending on the military to translate directly into orders and jobs for the British defence industry. Kaja Kallas, the EU's chief diplomat (pictured), suggested the bar on UK firms could be eased if Britain signs an agreement Speaking as he prepared to launch construction work on the next generation of nuclear submarines at Barrow in Cumbria, the PM said: 'We want to buy British so that this is felt in jobs across the country. 'As we ramp up defence spending I want to ensure that is in British jobs, with British skills, British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and our communities.' Sir Keir has committed to raise spending at the Ministry of Defence from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2027 a real terms increase of 6billion along with an aspiration to hit 3 per cent in the early 2030s. But he said this would also require investment to build up the industry. He added: 'I am determined that what we are doing internationally has to be linked to our economic security back here. Hence all the work we are doing to make sure that where we are spending more on defence... that is measured in good, well-paid, skilled jobs in the UK.' His intervention came amid growing anger over the EU's decision to lock British firms out of a 125billion procurement drive. The EU agreed this week to take a 'Buy European' approach as it bolsters its defences against Russia. No 10 played down the row yesterday, saying British firms could continue to work for EU countries on a bilateral basis. Ministers are expected to seek an exemption for the UK as part of talks on a new 'security pact' with the EU. Kaja Kallas, the EU's chief diplomat, suggested the bar on UK firms could be eased if Britain signs an agreement. Meanwhile, former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers has raised fears for the future of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, suggesting it may not survive Donald Trump. Sir John said Britain needed to be careful about information shared in the partnership between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US due to the President's 'concept of unified executive authority where everything... is visible to and controlled from the top'. Flights in and out of Bali have been cancelled because of volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Lewotobi in Indonesia. Jetstar cancelled six return flights on Friday morning due to the unsafe conditions. The budget airline is monitoring the situation and its afternoon flights on Friday have not yet been cancelled. Qantas also has afternoon flights scheduled which have not yet been impacted. Virgin Australia is expecting delays on Friday flights VA45 BNE-DPS and VA91 MEL-DP, with consequent delays in the corresponding return flights. 'Virgin Australia's meteorologists are closely monitoring ash cloud movement in Indonesia following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi overnight,' a spokesperson said. 'Safety is our top priority and based on the current forecast we expect some delays to Bali services today. 'Guests travelling to and from Bali today should monitor their flight information on the Virgin Australia website and app.' Mount Lewotobi which is about 1,330km from Bali as pictured in this map. The volcano on the tourist island of Flores spewed ash eight kilometres into the sky Mount Lewotobi's eruption on Thursday night (pictured) has left a lingering ash cloud Jetstar cancelled six return flights on Friday morning due to the unsafe conditions Mount Lewotobi began erupting at about 11pm local time on Thursday. It spewed ash eight kilometres into the sky as officials raised their alert level to its highest, according to local reports. The 1,700metre volcano on the tourist island of Flores erupted for 11 minutes. No damage to nearby villages was reported, but it left a lingering ash cloud. The same volcano erupted in November last year, killing nine people, cancelling international flights to Bali and forcing thousands to evacuate. Donald Trump accused District Court Judge James Boasberg of trying to 'usurp the power of the presidency' while demanding the Supreme Court take action amid a high-stakes legal standoff. Trump called Boasberg a 'publicity hound' in his latest attack on the judiciary after the judge halted his massive deportation of migrants with a temporary restraining order. 'Judge James Boasberg is doing everything in his power to usurp the Power of the Presidency,' he warned. 'The danger is unparalleled!' Boasberg had issued the temporary order after the administration flew more than 200 alleged gangsters to El Salvador. Trump mocked Boasberg as 'a local, unknown Judge' and added that he's a 'grandstander, looking for publicity.' Boasberg on Thursday deemed a court filing from the administration 'woefully insufficient' because it was filed by a low-level staffer. One day earlier, he hosted a contentious hearing with DOJ lawyers and said he wants to find out whether the government 'deliberately flouted' his order. Trump fired back in a post to Truth Social Thursday night. Donald Trump slammed Judge James Boasberg again, calling him a publicity hound who is 'doing everything in his power to usurp the Power of the Presidency' Boasberg himself has taken shots at Trump of late, deeming a court filing with information about the deportations 'woefully insufficient' and filed by a low-level staffer Trump claimed the 'ridiculous' rulings 'cannot be for any other reason' than publicity. He also called the judge 'ridiculous and inept' before exclaiming: 'SAVE AMERICA!' In a separate post, he demanded that nationwide injunctions be stopped permanently and called on the Supreme Court to help. 'Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country!' he wrote. 'If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!' Roberts, however, issued a stunning rebuke Tuesday after Trump called for the impeachment of Boasberg. But Trump insisted that liberal judges are trying to assume the powers of the presidency 'without getting 80 million votes,' saying that the 'danger' they could cause is 'unparalleled.' 'A President has to be allowed to act quickly and decisively about such matters as returning murderers, drug lords, rapists, and other such type criminals back to their Homeland, or to other locations that will allow our Country to be SAFE,' he added. Boasberg expressed his own rage toward the Trump administration Thursday, claiming they missed a court deadline to provide information on the deportation flights. The judge argued that it was filed hours late and that the administration 'again evaded its obligations.' The ruling that set off the fury came when Boasberg issued the temporary ruling that blocked the deportations of more than 200 people after the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 He seemed particularly angry that the staffer who provided the six-paragraph declaration on behalf of the Trump White House was Robert L. Cerna, a regional ICE office director. 'This is woefully insufficient,' Boasberg wrote. Cerna wrote that Cabinet secretaries are 'actively considering whether to invoke the state secrets [act] privileges over the other facts requested by the Court's order.' Boasberg has demanded that the White House submit a sworn declaration by 10am Friday and two separate filings offering further information by next Tuesday. The ruling that set off the fury came when Boasberg issued the temporary ruling that blocked the deportations of more than 200 people after the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Boasberg's ruling came after a fiery hearing where he demanded the government declare when it thinks his own orders on the deportations took effect after the administration said the deportation flights were underway and over international waters when it learned of the order. The White House said Monday that the people deported to El Salvador were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, but has refused to provide the names of the people now incarcerated in El Salvador. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. paid the country $6 million to accept them. Boasberg expressed his own rage toward the Trump administration Thursday, claiming they missed a court deadline to provide information on the deportation flights He seemed particularly angry that the staffer who provided the six-paragraph declaration on behalf of the Trump White House was Robert L. Cerna, a regional ICE office director Deputy Chief of Staff Steven Miller teed off on the judge at the White House on Monday when asked about his statement that the judge's order was 'illegal.' 'The idea that a single district court judge has the authority to direct, as though they were the president, the movement of airplanes around the globe is ... the most outrageous thing I've seen from a district court judge in my lifetime, frankly, going back multiple lifetimes.' Earlier this month, the American Bar Association issued a statement warning against attempts to 'cow our country's judges, our country's courts and our legal profession.' It said intimidation 'cannot be sanctioned or normalized.' The ABA said it would not 'stay silent in the face of efforts to remake the legal profession into something that rewards those who agree with the government and punishes those who do not.' Trump railed against judges who ruled against him in his four criminal trials throughout the campaign. But in February and March, Musk began tearing into judges using his powerful online platform. 'We are witnessing an attempted coup of American democracy by radical left activists posing as judges!' Musk wrote Feb. 11. 'There need to be some repercussions above ZERO for judges who make truly terrible decisions,' Musk continued. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt branded a judge who ruled against the administration an 'activist' who was trying to 'usurp the president's authority' On Feb. 25, he posted: 'When judges egregiously undermine the democratic will of the people, they must be fired or democracy dies!' The bar for impeaching an Article III federal judge is high. Only through a vote to impeach in the House and a two-thirds vote of the Senate can they be removed. Another House Republican, Rep. Andy Ogles, introduced a resolution in February to impeach Judge John Bates after his order to federal health agencies to restore online data amid a Trump Administration crackdown on 'gender ideology.' Ogles, who issued a statement attacking 'predators' like the judge, a George W. Bush appointee, was unbowed by Roberts' warning. 'Respectfully, Mr. Chief Justice, both James Madison and Thomas Jefferson disagree with you. So does the Constitution. We are going to keep the impeachments coming,' he wrote. Boasberg grew up in Washington, attended Yale Law, got an advanced degree at Oxford, and was appointed by Roberts to head up the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court, which handles highly technical matters. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has branded the judge an 'activist' and even went after his wife over her political donations. Leavitt's attack came after Trump himself called Judge James Boasberg a 'radical left lunatic' and talked up trying to impeach him after he issued a temporary order blocking deportation flights. Elon Musk continues to push moves to impeach federal judges Leavitt brought up the judge's wife Elizabeth Manson's political contributions, saying she has donated more than $10,000 to Democrats, and said 'he has consistently shown his disdain for this President and his policies, and it's unacceptable.' 'The judge in this case is essentially trying to say the President doesn't have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil. That is an egregious abuse of the bench,' Leavitt said at the White House. 'This judge cannot, does not, have that authority. It is the opinion of this White House and of this administration. And that's why we're fighting this in court. And it's very, very clear that this is an activist judge who is trying to usurp this president's authority,' Leavitt said. She added: 'Under the Alien Enemies Act the president has the power, and that's why the the deportation campaign will will continue. And this judge, Judge Boasberg, is a Democrat activist. He was appointed by Barack Obama.' Then she brought up his wife Elizabeth Manson's political contributions, saying she has donated more than $10,000 to Democrats. Leavitt said the judge has consistently shown his disdain for this president and his policies, and it's unacceptable.' Marjorie Taylor Greene accused her Democratic nemesis of engaging in 'terrorism' against Tesla CEO Elon Musk amid outrageous attacks on the electric cars. The Republican firebrand, 50, blasted Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a post on X claiming that the Texas Democrat was 'organizing political violence and terrorism.' Crockett, 43, and the Georgia Republican have quibbled over both policy issues and personal jabs such as the Democrat's 'fake eyelashes' and Greene's 'bleach blonde bad built butch body.' 'A Member of Congress is organizing political violence and terrorism,' Greene wrote on X alongside a video of the Democrat speaking on a video conference titled the 'TeslaTakedown Mass Call.' The video chat that featured Crockett and other activists, some of which flashed signs prompting viewers to 'join a nonviolent protest' against Musk's electric car company. To ensure that the 'terrorism' wouldn't go unnoticed, in the Republican's post she tagged Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. 'I'll make sure that I keep it short,' Crockett said in the video. 'But I am truly here for very selfish reasons.' 'Starting with on March 29, it's my birthday, and all I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down.' The Republican and Democrat have often feuded and most recently Greene accused Crockett of 'terrorism' over the Texan calling activists to non-violently protest Elon Musk's Tesla on her birthday March 29 Crockett speaking on the 'Tesla Takedown Mass Call' Actor John Cusack also appeared on the call with other activists Actor John Cusack also blasted Musk by urging viewers to punish him for his work with President Donald Trump. 'Everybody should really enjoy taking this guy down, and the stock down,' the Hot Tub Time Machine star said. 'You know, we are in a an oligarchic country that's fascist, and becoming more fascist every day. And that means people are gonna die, and it's gonna get as ugly as we can think,' Cusack continued. But the clip that Greene reposted did not include Crockett's full comments, and the lawmaker clarified on the call that she was not promoting violence. 'Obviously, everything that I am promoting is non-violent,' Crockett said, calling for people to 'engage in protest.' Republicans on social media quickly ignited with warnings about a day of mass protest on March 29. Musk saw the short clip Greene reported and responded with a simple 'wow.' Far-right commentator Alex Jones soon tipped over his millions of followers that the Democrat was 'basically calling for domestic terrorism.' Musk's Tesla has become the target of protests since he took over as Trump's DOGE initiative to cut government spending A burned Tesla Cybertruck is parked at a Tesla lot in Seattle, Monday, March 10, 2025 Protests and attacks on Tesla have been happening since Trump brought Musk in to run his DOGE operation that has since slashed tens of thousands of jobs, sold of billions in federal property and saved over an estimated $100 billion in taxpayer spending. Though their dramatic cuts have devastated some federal workers and to hit back at the world's richest man activists have firebombed Tesla dealerships with Molotov cocktails, keyed Tesla cars with swastikas and even force some vehicles and charging stations to explode. Non-violent protests have typically involved scores of activists with anti-Elon and Tesla signs, singing similarly styled songs and blocking entrances to showrooms and dealerships. The actions have taken a toll on the company's stock price, though Trump recently brought Tesla vehicles to the White House to try and urge Americans to buy some. For all his show of contempt for the West, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has one great fear. He is afraid of Nato. The military might of the Western transatlantic alliance far outguns anything his war-ravaged country can muster. Nato's arsenal of long-range ballistic missiles, its phenomenal powers of intelligence gathering, its utter supremacy in air power and space communications, and above all its vast array of nuclear weapons, guarantee that Russia can never be victorious in a global conflict with the West. Of course, Nato is a defensive alliance and has no ambitions to threaten Moscow unless it is attacked. But Putin dare not challenge its power. What he most certainly does not fear, however, is a European defence force co-ordinated by EU bureaucrats. An army commanded from Brussels, the military wing of a sclerotic trading organisation, is a far less intimidating proposition. Without Nato, any war between Europe and Russia would be a battle between red-tape warriors and the Red Army. Putin is bound to fancy his chances. By contrast, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the most powerful, successful, multilateral organisation in the world. Founded in 1949, it has kept the peace in Europe for more than 75 years. That peace withstood exceptional pressures during the Cold War and the break-up of Yugoslavia. For all his show of contempt for the West, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (pictured) has one great fear He is afraid of Nato. The military might of the Western transatlantic alliance far outguns anything his war-ravaged country can muster (servicemen of the Polish Army marching with Polish and NATO flags) The stability of Nato is the main reason we were not plunged into World War III during the Berlin airlift of 1961, the Cuban missile crisis the following year and on several other occasions. The West owes its prosperity to the unwavering mutual commitment to defence that Nato provides. To abandon it now, when Russia is posing a more ominous threat than most of us can remember in our lifetimes, would be madness. But the EU is actively seeking to loosen ties to Nato in response to President Donald Trump's entirely reasonable demand that Europe should pay its fair share of its budget. Why should America bear the brunt of guaranteeing freedom in Belgium, France or Germany, he asks. Most would agree, at the very least, he has a strong argument. In response, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 150 billion (126bn) in loans to member states for defence spending, not to invest in Nato but to build a new EU-driven defence force for Europe. The commission's president, Ursula Von der Leyen, describes this as, 'air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition drones, and anti-drone systems'. It will be known as the Security Action For Europe (Safe) scheme. This is not done out of sulkiness, raising two fingers at America for daring to suggest Europe is not pulling its weight. It's a cynical, calculated power grab. The EU is using this moment of great international peril to position itself as an emerging military superpower. The stupidity of that cannot be overstated. History shows that whenever France and Germany seek to become over-mighty, catastrophe follows. Even as a trading bloc, the EU alliance has been so cumbersome and inept that some member states such as Greece have suffered economic collapse. Britain opted to quit in 2016 rather than be dragged down. The commission's president, Ursula Von der Leyen (pictured), describes this as, 'air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition drones, and anti-drone systems'. It will be known as the Security Action For Europe (Safe) scheme Yet the mandarins of Brussels persist in their delusions of grandeur, trying to establish their superstate as a world power. What they will achieve is the opposite. By antagonising the US and splitting Nato, they risk weakening Europe's defences to the point where Putin can invade without provoking the reaction that he fears most: the hostile opposition of a Nato headed by America. Nato has stood against Moscow's imperialistic ambitions, both during the Soviet era and now, when the Russian Federation has transformed itself into an economy dependent on unending war. Defence has never been the EU's priority. Its battles have been trade wars, over everything from dairy quotas to the shape of bananas. Its true colours were luridly obvious as soon as the 150billion (126billion) loan scheme was announced. British arms companies will be excluded from the SAFE fund, unless the UK signs a security pact with the EU that, nonsensically, is tied to fishing rights. Unsurprisingly, it is the French government behind that demand. How appalling, but how predictable, that when the West faces its greatest threat for decades, with hundreds of thousands of troops dying on the border of Europe, the French see an opportunity to press for some advantage on fisheries. It symbolises why Nato must never be replaced by a political organisation. Our defence must not be dependent on the resolution of squabbles in the EU debating chamber. Russia would find these laughably easy to exploit. Sir Keir Starmer, eager to find new ways of restoring close ties with the EU, will no doubt be keen to plunge us into the Euro defence partnership. Already, a UK-EU summit to discuss the SAFE project is pencilled in for mid-May. Sir Keir Starmer, eager to find new ways of restoring close ties with the EU, will no doubt be keen to plunge us into the Euro defence partnership. Already, a UK-EU summit to discuss the SAFE project is pencilled in for mid-May This video grab released on Wednesday Feb. 21, 2024 by the Ministry of Defence shows a missile firing from HMS Vigilant, which fired an unarmed Trident II (D5) ballistic missile But defence spending should always be the priority of individual nation states, not dictated by unelected bureaucrats from other countries. No one in the UK voted for Von der Leyen as president of the commission, for example. She wasn't even elected by a European vote. Unlike the US presidential system, the EC president is appointed by consensus of the member states. It's fundamentally undemocratic. Despite this, the EC's High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, called last month for Europe to replace the US as the guardian of freedom. 'Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It's up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge,' the former prime minister of Estonia said on X. Such inflammatory statements are calculated to insult the US president and degrade our ties with our most powerful ally. What a gift to Russia. The obvious reality is that, without America, the UK and Europe cannot defend themselves. That's not a slur on our courage or the professionalism of our armies. The British Army still sets the standards for the rest of the world. But much of our equipment relies on US technology. Even where armaments are British-made, they may well require American components, guidance systems or patented mechanisms. If that co-operation is withdrawn, the effect on our defences will be incalculable. We've already seen this month what happens when America withholds the sharing of its intelligence, as it did briefly in Ukraine. To deliberately provoke American ire, when we have no way of replacing what they provide, is insanity. So too is the EC's apparent long-term goal of establishing its own defence force. We cannot allow Nato to atrophy while an alternative is built up, let alone an alternative that depends on the political behemoth that is the EU. At the heart of this unworkable, suicidally dangerous plan is the delusional ambition of the EU to become a world superpower. We must not succumb to this madness. It benefits no one but Vladimir Putin. Australians can still buy a property for less than the cost of renting if they focus on suburbs battling a housing shortage that are still affordable. Even during a cost-of-living crisis, it's possible to pay less a month in mortgage repayments compared with the typical rent for the area. In a larger city, this is achievable if a buyer purchases an apartment in an outer suburb with a 20 per cent loan deposit. Areas with rapid population growth, like southeast Queensland and Perth, are in the grip of a rental crisis which means apartment landlords can get generous income from rents but only pay off a smaller mortgage. Rental yields tend to be higher when properties are cheaper. This is the annual income investors get from rent as a proportion of a property's value. Those wishing to live in the home rather than renting it out can get even lower mortgage rates, making being a homeowner much easier than being a tenant. Daily Mail Australia has found some affordable options in every state and territory, including examples in Sydney and Melbourne, where apartments are still cheap to buy despite an immigration influx. Regional areas with tight rental markets are also proving good value. Australians can still buy a property for less than the cost of renting if they focus on suburbs with a housing shortage (pictured is Springfield in Ipswich) Goodna's median apartment price of $397,770 is attainable for a middle-income earner Ipswich, Queensland Ipswich, south-west of Brisbane, is still affordable for someone looking for a unit, CoreLogic data shows. Goodna's median apartment price of $397,770 is attainable for a middle-income earner but it is in a flood zone. Rents are a lot higher than typical mortgage repayments. The mid-point rent on a two-bedroom unit works out at $460.10 a week or $2,038 a month, based on SQM Research data. Someone with a 20 per cent mortgage deposit would owe $1,958 a month by comparison, paying off a $318,216 loan on a 6.24 per cent variable rate with the Commonwealth Bank. The 4300 postcode, covering Goodna, has a particularly low rental vacancy rate of 0.8 per cent, which is even lower than the capital city average of 1.3 per cent. Orelia, Western Australia Orelia, near Kwinana south of Perth, has an ultra-affordable middle unit price of $328,460 Salisbury in Adelaide's north has an affordable median apartment price of $408,040 Western Australia is Australia's fastest growing state with its 2.5 per cent growth pace well above the national average rate of 1.8 per cent. A big influx of interstate migration into Perth is putting pressure on the rental market, giving it the nation's lowest rental vacancy rate of 0.6 per cent. Orelia, near Kwinana south of Perth, has a 0.8 per cent rental vacancy rate and a typical weekly apartment rent of $450.30. But it still has an ultra-affordable middle unit price of $328,460. The monthly rent of $1,994 for a two-bedroom unit is significantly higher than the $1,617 monthly repayments for a borrower with a 20 per cent deposit paying off a $262,768 mortgage. Salisbury, South Australia Adelaide has a particularly tight rental vacancy rate of 0.7 per cent and Salisbury in the city's north is even tighter at 0.5 per cent. This working class suburb, that was once home to Holden car factory workers, has an affordable median apartment price of $408,040. The typical weekly rent of $405.70 for two-bedroom unit works out at $1,797 a month. That is higher than the $1,757 level for a borrower with a 30 per cent mortgage deposit paying off a $285,628 loan. Warwick Farm's mid-point apartment price is still cheap at $420,059 in a city that receives a big influx of overseas migration Melbourne is a generally affordable apartment market but Werribee in the city's west is particularly cheap with a median price of $414,589 Warwick Farm, New South Wales Sydney's south-west is expensive for houses but has affordable units. Warwick Farm's mid-point apartment price is still cheap at $420,059 in a city that receives a big influx of overseas migration. But someone with a 20 per cent mortgage deposit would be paying $2,067 a month in repayments, with a $336,047 loan. That is significantly less than $2,484 typically paid a month for a two-bedroom unit, based on a weekly rent of $560.90. Werribee, Victoria Melbourne is a generally affordable apartment market but Werribee in the city's west is particularly cheap. Its median unit price of $414,589 means that someone with a 30 per cent deposit would be paying $1,785 a month in mortgage repayments. This is slightly lower than the $1,800 rent for a two-bedroom unit, based on a median weekly rent of $406.60. South Kempsey, New South Wales The NSW mid-north coast has pockets of affordability with South Kempsey having an affordable median house price of $421,908 - and it's just a 20-minute drive to the beach at Crescent Head. The town, near the Slim Dusty Centre, is just off the duplicated Pacific Highway and is a five-hour drive north of Sydney. The area also has a tight rental vacancy rate of just one per cent. Tenants leasing a three-bedroom house typically pay $581.60 a week or $2,576 a month. Buying is much cheaper with monthly mortgage repayments at $2,077 for a borrower with a 30 per cent deposit paying off a $295,335 loan. South Kempsey has an affordable median house price of $421,908 and it's just a 20-minute drive to the beach at Crescent Head Merebein, Victoria Merebein, a suburb of Mildura in north-west Victoria, has a particularly affordable median house price of $374,385. Someone with a 30 per cent deposit, paying off a $262,070 mortgage, would be spending $1,612 a month in repayments. This is less than the $1,697 a month for rent, based on a mid-point weekly lease of $383.30 for houses. Moulden, Northern Territory Darwin is Australia's most affordable capital city market and the satellite town of Palmerston is even more affordable. Moulden's mid-point house price of $406,582 is particularly low. The area, which is home to an Army base, also has a tight rental vacancy rate of 0.9 per cent. The typical rent of $580.60 a week for a three-bedroom house works out at $2,571 a month. That is significantly higher than the $2,001 in monthly mortgage repayments for someone with a 20 per cent deposit paying off $325,266. Unlike other parts of Darwin, Moulden's median house price has risen by 7.7 per cent over the year. Merebein, a suburb of Mildura in north-west Victoria, has a particularly affordable median house price of $374,385 The Palmerston suburb of Moulden's mid-point house price of $406,582 is particularly low Mowbray, Tasmania Launceston, in northern Tasmania, has pockets of affordability with Mowbray having a median house price of $425,117. The area's ultra-tight rental vacancy rate of 0.6 per cent means renters are typically paying $461 a week for a three-bedroom house, working out at $2,041 a month. That is cheaper than the $1,831 a month repayments for a borrower with a 30 per cent mortgage deposit paying off a $297,582 loan. Lyons, Australian Capital Territory Canberra is expensive for houses but still affordable for units. Lyons, in the city's south, has a mid-point apartment price of $377,743. But buying is much cheaper than renting with monthly repayments of $1,859 on a $302,194 loan with a 20 per cent deposit. Renting is particularly expensive with the median weekly lease of $635.10 for a two-bedroom unit adding up to $2,813. Launceston, in northern Tasmania, has pockets of affordability with Mowbray having a median house price of $425,117 Lyons, in the Canberra's south, has a mid-point apartment price of $377,743 Two Royal Air Force engineers have been named as the men charged with criminal damage after a Paddington Bear statue was cut in half and stolen. The sculpture of the popular children's character, unveiled last October in Newbury, Berkshire, was damaged before the broken pieces were stolen earlier this month. The stolen part of the statue has since been recovered by officers. The RAF engineers, Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22, have been charged with criminal damange and will appear at Reading Magistrates' Court next Tuesday, The Sun reported. A spokesman said: 'We are aware that two service personnel have been arrested for alleged theft and criminal damage. 'However, we are unable to comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.' Newbury was the birthplace of Paddington author Michael Bond, who died in June 2017 aged 91. Investigating officer inspector Alan Hawkett previously said: 'The Paddington Bear statue is a beloved part of Newbury, so we have been doing everything we can to locate it and the offenders. Police previously posed alongside the statue of Paddington Bear in Newbury, Berkshire Two Royal Air Force engineers have been named as the men charged with criminal damage after a Paddington Bear statue was cut in half and stolen The RAF engineers, Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22, have been charged with criminal damange and will appear at Reading Magistrates' Court next Tuesday The fibreglass model was one of 23 installed nationwide as part of a Paddington trail ahead of the release of Paddington in Peru last year 'I am delighted we have made two arrests and recovered the statue, which we will keep safe and support its restoration to its rightful place in Northbrook Street. 'In the meantime, Paddington is heading to Newbury police station for a much-needed marmalade sandwich.' The fibreglass model was one of 23 installed nationwide as part of a Paddington trail ahead of the release of Paddington in Peru last year. Lee Dillon, Liberal Democrat MP for Newbury, previously wrote on X: 'Heartbreaking to see that Paddington in Newbury has been vandalised. He brings so much joy to our community. 'Just yesterday, I stopped to take a photo of him with my family. This senseless damage is so disappointing.' Marmalade sandwich-loving Paddington, who first appeared in books written by Bond in the 1950s, was named after the London station where he was discovered - wearing a tag that urged: 'Please look after this bear.' That same railway terminus now has a statue in his honour, and others have been erected elsewhere across the country. Paddington Bear's fond place in UK hearts was symbolised by his appearance in a sketch alongside the late Queen Elizabeth II as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The Alto Knights (15, 120 mins) Verdict: De Niro doubled Rating: Sometimes a film comes with a pedigree you can't ignore. The Alto Knights, directed by Barry Levinson, written by Nick Pileggi and starring Robert De Niro, is such a film. Levinson, now 82, has a formidable and eclectic list of credits, including The Natural (1984), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Rain Man (1988), Bugsy (1991) and Wag The Dog (1997). Pileggi adapted Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995) from his own non-fiction books. And De Niro, of course, needs no trumpeting. Moreover, The Alto Knights offers us two De Niro performances for the price of one. With the help of facial prosthetics to distinguish between them, the veteran actor plays a pair of real-life New York Mob bosses, Frank Costello (huge nose, dyed hair) and Vito Genovese (broken nose, big chin). Both proteges of Mafia overlord Lucky Luciano, they were old friends, hanging out at the Alto Knights Social Club in Little Italy. Yet the film opens in 1957 with Costello surviving a hit ordered by Genovese, then whisks us back to explain what ignited their feud. There are myriad reasons, but they all boil down to envy. Luciano had favoured Costello as his successor, and when Genovese legged it to Italy to swerve a murder rap, his old pal consolidated his hold on organised crime. The Alto Knights, directed by Barry Levinson, written by Nick Pileggi and starring Robert De Niro, is a film with pedigree you can't ignore With the help of facial prosthetics to distinguish between them, the veteran actor plays a pair of real-life New York Mob bosses Genovese, as depicted here, was hot-headed and paranoid. Costello was better-connected, more urbane, and smart enough not to act like a gangster, if only in public. He had no gun and no bodyguard. He was also devotedly (and, we're led to believe, faithfully) married for many decades to the same woman, Bobbie (Debra Messing). It was not until Vito and his wife Anna (Kathrine Narducci) went to court to resolve their acrimonious differences, and she loudly named Costello as one of her husband's associates, that the press started describing him as rather more than 'a gambler'. All this unfolds slickly and entertainingly enough in The Alto Knights, with an explanatory voiceover by Costello that Pileggi can't be accused of ripping off from Goodfellas, given that he wrote that too. And needless to add, the period detail is impeccable, even if 1950s New York City, as so often in the movies, is made to look considerably more chic than it perhaps felt at the time. So why, given everything in its favour (and the fact I adore a good gangster movie) did I feel slightly disconnected throughout? I think it has something to do with De Niro's twin roles, a whimsical and distracting flourish that adds nothing except an entirely superfluous reminder that the old fella can act. I suppose it could be that they wanted Joe Pesci for the role De Niro plays Genovese more or less exactly as Pesci would have done, even with a higher-pitched voice that makes it seem like an actual impersonation. But I can't believe there wasn't other heavyweight talent available. Maybe the likes of Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman and Martin Sheen should join those dwarf actors waving placards outside Snow White (see bottom panel). Y2K (18, 91 mins) Verdict: Gruesomely unfunny Rating: Speaking of Snow White, this is quite a week for Rachel Zegler, who not only plays the sweet-tempered princess but also, in Y2K, a pretty teenage computer whizz. This is a comedy-slasher movie titled after the so-called millennium bug that, although it's easily forgotten, caused widespread anxiety as the 21st century loomed. Y2K is a comedy-slasher movie titled after the so-called millennium bug that caused widespread anxiety as the 21st century loomed Kyle Mooney's film, too, is easily forgotten. Eli (Jaeden Martell) is a bullied high-school kid with a huge crush on Laura (Zegler) but only one proper friend, Danny, a charismatic, overweight New Zealander (Julian Dennison from 2016's Hunt For The Wilderpeople). At a party on New Year's Eve 1999, practically everything that contains a computer chip or even just a battery goes berserk, slaughtering and dismembering teenagers in all sorts of gruesome ways, none of them especially scary or funny. But you can't fault Y2K for gore. All films are in cinemas now. Also Showing Dawn Of Impressionism: Paris, 1874 (PG, 90 mins) Rating: Dawn of Impressionism: Paris, 1874 begins with the sound of auctioneers closing sales of Impressionist paintings: 'I sell to you, madam, for 97 million.' But in the 1870s, those artists that are now household names were ignored or reviled. 'Insults are beating down on me like hail,' wrote Edouard Manet. Ali Ray's excellent film draws on the artists' letters to tell their story; showing how cultural and political circumstances ignited the Impressionist movement. Fascinating stuff. Flow (U, 85 mins) Rating: There's an Impressionist vibe about the exquisite, dialogue-free Flow, by Latvian Gints Zilbalodis, which just won the Best Animated Feature Oscar. It's set in an apparently post-apocalyptic world with no humans, just animals (right), joining forces to cope with rising floodwaters. Beautifully done. The grieving family of a Boeing whistleblower who was found dead in his truck after taking his own life has filed a lawsuit against the aviation giant. John Barnett, 62, was found dead inside his truck outside a Holiday Inn in Charleston, South Carolina, in March 2024. He was due to testify against Boeing in a suit he brought against the airline, and in his suicide note he wrote 'f**k Boeing.' Now, his family have filed a wrongful death suit in South Carolina, accusing Boeing of harassing and intimidating their former employee of 32 years after he raised concerns about safety measures. Barnett was employed as a quality manager at the airline for 32 years before he retired in 2017. In 2019, he went public with his allegations against the company, claiming under-pressure workers were deliberately fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the assembly line. The suit states: 'The weight of years of harassment, abuse and humiliation became too much for John to bear, and he took his own life.' 'Boeing may not have pulled the trigger, but Boeings conduct was the clear cause, and the clear foreseeable cause, of Johns death.' John Barnett, 62, was found dead inside his truck outside a Holiday Inn in Charleston, South Carolina, in March 2024 He was due to testify against Boeing in a suit he brought against the airline, and in his suicide note he wrote 'f**k Boeing' The suit states that Barnett was suffering from PTSD, depression and anxiety as a direct result of the treatment he received from his former employer. It states that Barnett's managers isolated him and threatened to 'push you until you break.' Barnett's devastated family are seeking compensation, back pay and lost future pay and benefits. They're also seeking an unspecified sum for emotional distress and legal fees. Boeing did not comment on the lawsuit specifically, but has previously maintained that it never retaliated against him. The airline states that the issues Barnett raised were fixed, and that employees are encouraged to raise their concerns. Elsewhere in his suicide note, Barnett said 'I pray Boeing pays' and criticized the whistleblowers protection program Boeing did not comment on the lawsuit specifically, but has previously maintained that it never retaliated against him Barnett had driven to Charleston from his home in Louisiana . He had already started his deposition and was due to restart at 10 am on the day he died Elsewhere in his suicide note, Barnett said 'I pray Boeing pays' and criticized the whistleblowers protection program. Barnett had driven to Charleston from his home in Louisiana. He had already started his deposition and was due to restart at 10 am on the day he died. Barnett had said in his complaint that he raised the issue of Boeing's 'deep-rooted and persistent culture of concealment' multiple times to his superiors. He accused the company of not documenting and fixing problems. In retaliation for his complaints, Barnett claimed he was given low scores on performance reports, isolated and forbidden from transferring out of South Carolina. He says he was 'treated with scorn and contempt by upper management.' Low scores on performance reviews can affect an employees changes of earning a raise or gaining promotion. Prior to making complaints, Barnett said he was a 'top performer' at the Boeing plant in North Charleston. The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. A family-of-three are missing after traveling from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas during a wild storm. Jiyeon Lee, 23, Taehee Kim, 69, and Junghee Kim, 64 were last seen on March 13 driving in a rental vehicle. The family's 2024 BMW shows their last known GPS location as heading westbound on Interstate 40 at around 3:27 pm, according to the Coconino Sheriff's Office. A severe winter storm hit Williams, Arizona, which is about an hour from the Grand Canyon, the day the family disappeared. The blizzard-like conditions forced drivers to navigate through a whiteout, leaving the Interstate 40 covered in snow and ice. The storm caused a tractor-trailer to jackknife on the interstate, sparking a huge collision which included multiple vehicles, according to the state's Department of Public Safety. The interstate was brought to a standstill and the road was temporarily shut down. A fire then broke out, burning for over 20 hours. Firefighters, state troopers, and the Arizona Department of Transportation responded to reduce the fire and transport victims to local hospitals. Jiyeon Lee, 23, Taehee Kim, 69, (left) and Junghee Kim, 64 (right) were last seen traveling from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas amid a winter storm The missing family's last movements were recorded at around 3:27 pm while they were traveling on Interstate 40 after a trip to the Grand Canyon (pictured: Jiyeon Lee and Junghee Kim) A severe winter storm hit Williams, Arizona, which is about an hour from the Grand Canyon, the day the family disappeared CCSO released a missing persons poster for the family and asked the public for assistance in locating them The collision involved 22 vehicles, including 13 passenger vehicles and a total of 36 people. Two people died in the massive accident and were named Juan Beltran Sanchez from Chino Valley and Evelyn Davis from Ganado, which are both cities in Arizona. The fatal collision occurred at 3:27 pm, which is the same time the family's GPS stopped tracking their vehicle. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said they were aware of the multi-vehicle accident but it was 'not known' if the family was involved. The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information on the family's whereabouts to contact them. Individuals who have been in contact with either Jiyeon, Taehee, or Junghee are instructed to let CCSO know. Authorities said it is currently unknown if the family was involved in the multi-vehicle pileup on March 13 The ADPS said the collision involved 22 vehicles, including 13 passenger vehicles and a total of 36 people, two of which were killed in the accident The massive collision resulted in road closures and a multi-agency response to provide medical assistance and put out a fire that burned for 20 hours A winter storm created snowy and icy conditions that made driving unsafe and contributed to the multi-vehicle collision on March 13 Anyone who sees the white 2024 BMW with a California license plate 9KHN768 is encouraged to call authorities. AZDPS Highway Patrol state troopers and advanced collision investigators are still investigating the multi-vehicle crass in the area. Authorities said that the investigation will take time due to the number of vehicles involved and extensive fire damage. DailyMail.com reached out to the Coconino Sheriff's Office for an update on the missing family but didn't immediately hear back. Follow MailOnline's live blog for the latest updates on Heathrow Airport fire This is the huge blaze that erupted at a substation less than two miles from London's biggest airport. The fire, which has suct Heathrow for at least 24 hours, has left thousands of West London properties without power. More than 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines rushed to the scene, on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, to tackle the blaze on Thursday evening. Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky. Roughly 150 people have been evacuated from the area and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution. Firefighters have advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed to stop the 'significant' amount of smoke entering their homes. One witness told LBC: 'I was crossing a bridge and there was a huge explosion.' Another posted a video of the blaze on X writing: 'Scary scenes in Hayes. Power cut and massive fire.' An electricity substation near Heathrow has caught fire - leaving thousands of West London properties without power and closing the airport Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky One witness told LBC: 'I was crossing a bridge and there was a huge explosion.' Roughly 150 people have been evacuated from the area and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution Shocking photos show the substation up in flames Crews were called to the fire around 8pm A local resident claims 'all the power is out for the entire area up to Hounslow.' Heathrow Airport put out a statement at 2am announcing the dreaded closure. A spokeswoman said: 'Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. 'Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. 'We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. 'We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.' According to the Powertrack site, around 16,000 households are thought to be affected. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed the a large-scale power outage in the surrounding areas. The London Fire Brigade said in a statement during the early hours of Friday: 'Around 20 people have been evacuated from neighbouring properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution with around 150 people evacuated. 'The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke and local residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed. 'The Brigade's Control Officers have taken almost 200 calls to the fire. The first call was received at 2323 and crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding fire stations were mobilised to the scene.' The cause of the fire remains unknown. No injuries have so far been reported. Karoline Leavitt has revealed the irony lost on vandals who are defacing Tesla vehicles in protest of Elon Musk. There have been more than a dozen acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations since Musk was introduced to be play a key role in Donald Trump's administration. The White House Press Secretary appeared on Fox News' The Faulkner Focus on Thursday when she pointed out the harsh reality leftists are facing amid the frenzy of attacks on electric vehicles. 'Tesla dealerships, Tesla employees and also innocent Americans who have chosen to drive these vehicles, many of them, ironically, are likely Democrats,' she said of those who are being targeted. 'There is a major double standard here,' she told host Harris Faulkner. 'The Democrats used to be the greatest cheerleaders for electric vehicles and for Tesla, the company, until Elon Musk decided to support and vote for Donald Trump. 'So the Trump derangement syndrome from the leftists is on true display with these attacks.' Her comments came as Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that three people have been charged in attacks at Tesla showrooms after Donald Trump declared that they would be considered domestic terrorists. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed out the irony of the leftists who have taken their outrage over the Department of Government Efficiency's actions on the electric vehicles in an interview with Fox News on Thursday President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday night that those who are caught vandalizing Teslas 'stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years' 'People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders,' the president posted on his Truth Social Thursday night. 'WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!' In the interview on Thursday, Faulkner asked whether criminals who attack Teslas could even face the death penalty. 'What happens if there's someone in one of these cars they blow up? That can happen! That becomes murder! Or worse! Terrorism plus,' the Fox News hostess asked Leavitt. 'And I know that on January 20th, the president signed into law... through an executive order, restoring the death penalty. Do you think this sort of thing... And I hate it! People leave their children and pets in cars. I mean you don't know!! This is deadly dangerous stuff these liberal protestors are playing with. 'Yes it is Harris,' Levitt replied. 'And what I can tell you is that President Trump condemns this violence and he is determined to restore law and order in our country and he will ensure that the harshest penalties are pursued for those who are engaging in this vicious violence that we have seen targeted at this American company.' This week, a dealership in Las Vegas was targeted by an apparent firebombing as a row of Tesla vehicles were set ablaze. Hackers have even doxxed Tesla owners in the United States, releasing an interactive map showing their names, addresses, phone numbers and emails on a website that uses a Molotov cocktail as a cursor. Since Trump's inauguration, there have been more than a dozen acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations, according to police and local reports A member of the Seattle Fire Department is pictured inspecting a burned-out Tesla Cybertruck Some have even fired Molotov cocktails into Tesla showrooms, like the one pictured here On Thursday, Attorney General Bondi announced that three people have now been charged in these attacks - declaring that 'the days of committing crimes without consequence have ended.' The first of the alleged attackers to face charges is Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, who is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon on January 20. He allegedly threw a 'large heavy object through the dealership window', and was armed with a suppressed AR-15 at the time, reports Fox News. Just one week after the firebombing, Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, 42, was taken into custody in Loveland, Colorado on January 29 after allegedly being caught attempting to light Molotov cocktails near a dealership. Prosecutors said Nelson was found to have been in possession of a container of gasoline, bottles and wicks, which were allegedly intended to be used to create incendiary weapons. Then on March 7, Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, allegedly vandalized a dealership in Charleston, South Carolina, by spray-painting messages reading 'f*** Trump' and 'Long Live Ukraine' before lighting three charging stations on fire. Lanksy and Nelson are charged with arson of property in interstate commerce and possession of unregistered destructive device, while Clarke-Pounder was charged with arson of property in interstate commerce. All three suspects face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, the DOJ said. 'Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars,' Bondi said. Prosecutors alleged the person seen in this CCTV footage was Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, who is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon on January 20 Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, 42, was taken into custody in Loveland, Colorado on January 29 after allegedly being caught attempting to light Molotov cocktails near a Tesla dealership Despite the criminal charges, former FBI special agent Michael Tabman said he expects political violence to escalate as Trump continues rapidly reshaping the federal government. 'I do fear that more violence is on its way,' Tabman said on Fox News. 'Maybe not directly Teslas or DOGE, but just general political violence. I think it's already here. But I think there's more around the corner.' He added that he doesn't see a quick resolution to the attacks as 'realistic', and said he expects individuals to continue targeting Musk so long as he teams up with Trump. Elon Musk has been summoned to the Pentagon for a top secret military briefing about potential war plans with China, sparking speculation about the growing power and access of the nation's 'First Buddy'. Donald Trump disputed claims by the 'fake news' that Musk was being allowed a glimpse at plans for a hypothetical war with China, but the exact nature of Musk's visit was unclear. Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal cited two U.S. officials who said that Musk was getting a look at 'top secret' war plans if America and China came into conflict. Musk will allegedly be briefed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and two other key officials on the details, which WSJ said included 'maritime tactics and targeting plans.' The briefing for the China war plan has about 20 to 30 slides that lay out how the United States would fight such a conflict, the Times reported. They hypothesized that Musk - who has long had friendly relations with China - could need to know what the Pentagon was budgeting as his Department of Government Efficiency looks to trim government waste. Trump led a chorus of administration voices in denying the 'Fake News' of 'the failing New York Times' report in a post to Truth Social. 'They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China.' How ridiculous?' China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!' Elon Musk has been summoned to the Pentagon for a top secret military briefing, with rampant speculation over whether the 'First Buddy' was getting increased power and access Donald Trump hit out at claims by the 'fake news' that Musk was being allowed a glimpse at plans for a hypothetical war with China but the exact nature of Musk's visit is unknown Hegseth also denied it in a post to X, saying: 'We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow. But the fake news delivers again this is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war plans.' The Pentagon head added that instead, they would be discussing 'innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.' They confirmed that Musk will be visiting on Friday but did not share further details. 'The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary (Pete) Hegseth and is just visiting,' a Pentagon spokesperson said. Trump and Hegseth are scheduled to deliver remarks from the Oval Office at 11am Friday. Access to the closely guarded military plan would mark an sharp expansion of Musk's role as a Trump adviser who has spearheaded efforts to cut U.S. government spending. It would also fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who as the head of both Tesla and SpaceX has business interests in China and with the Pentagon. The White House has previously said Musk will recuse himself if any conflicts of interest arise between his business dealings and his role in cutting federal government spending. Trump led a chorus of administration voices in denying the 'Fake News' of 'the failing New York Times' report in a post to Truth Social Hegseth also denied it in a post to X, saying: 'We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow. But the fake news delivers again this is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war plans' Washington and Beijing have had tense relations for years over differences ranging from access to technology, trade tariffs and cybersecurity to TikTok, Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and the origins of COVID-19. Musk, by contrast, often bent over backwards to make nice with China and its authoritarian regime as it is a huge and growing car market. About 22.5 per cent of Tesla revenue comes from sales in China, which is tipped to soon be the biggest buyers of electric cars. Musk routinely complies with Chinese Communist Party demands, including to make a change to Tesla cars in 2021. He also shut down his factory for four days in 2022 during a Covid outbreak when he was told to, despite calling California health authorities 'fascists' for making the same order in 2020. Tariffs on China are also not in Musk's best interests and he railed against ones President Joe Biden put on in 2024. 'Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs. Things that inhibit freedom of exchange or distort the market are not good,' he said at a tech conference in Paris. 'Tesla competes quite well in the market in China with no tariffs and no deferential support. I'm in favor of no tariffs.' Tesla CEO Elon Musk, left, shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as he arrives for a meeting at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing in 2019 Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk poses with Tesla China-made Model 3 vehicle owners onstage during a delivery event at its Shanghai factory in China in 2020 Musk has faced intense blowback from some lawmakers and voters for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs, although Trump's supporters have hailed it. A senior defense official told reporters Tuesday that roughly 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the Defense Department . Musk's DOGE has already slashed staffing at several federal agencies, cut federal spending and in an unprecedented move emailed federal employees asking 'what they got done last week'. Trump and Musk have argued that the government is wasteful and bloated. DOGE claims it has saved $105 billion in cuts, but it has only publicly documented a fraction of those savings, and its accounting has been plagued by errors. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has led the charge to slash the federal workforce under the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but its chief spokesperson appears to be completely off-message. DOGE has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks for its chaotic handling of layoffs, particularly its firing of key federal employees only to attempt to rehire them later. Among those affected were workers responsible for maintaining nuclear weapons sites across the US, a move that has raised serious national security concerns and Musk and his allies are now face mounting pressure to reassess their approach. Some terminations are part of the Education Department's 'final mission,' alluding to Trump's vow to eliminate the department, which oversees $1.6 trillion in college loans, enforces civil rights laws in schools and provides federal funding for needy districts. Musk speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory in Shanghai Trump and Musk have argued that the government is wasteful and bloated. DOGE claims it has saved $105 billion in cuts, but it has only publicly documented a fraction of those savings, and its accounting has been plagued by errors The layoffs would leave the department with 2,183 workers, down from 4,133 when Trump took office in January. Trump officially signed an executive order to heavily downsize the Department of Education Thursday. Similar closures served as a precursor to shuttering the headquarters of the US Agency for International Development, the humanitarian aid agency, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects Americans against unscrupulous lenders. So far, DOGE has cut more than 100,000 jobs across the 2.3 million-member federal civilian bureaucracy, frozen most foreign aid and canceled thousands of programs and contracts, despite dozens of lawsuits challenging the legality of those moves. DOGE's blunt approach has frustrated several White House officials and Republican lawmakers, some of whom have confronted angry constituents at town halls. Trump told department heads last week that they, not Musk, have the final say on staffing, his first notable public move to restrain the Tesla CEO. All US government agencies have been ordered to come up with large-scale layoff plans by Thursday, setting up the next phase of Trump's cost-cutting campaign. Several agencies have offered employees payments to retire early to fulfill Trump's demand. Affected Education Department employees will be placed on administrative leave starting on March 21, the department said. Other agencies have offered lump-sum payments of up to $25,000 before tax to workers who agree to leave their jobs. Among these are the Office of Personnel Management, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services, including its Food and Drug Administration. DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment. Heathrow Airport was closed for almost all of Friday after a huge fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a significant power outage which has sparked travel mayhem across the world. Counter-terrorism police are investigating the blaze which has left thousands of people stranded in the UK and abroad with no flights departing or arriving at the UK's busiest airport. London Fire Brigade said firefighters are still tackling flames which first broke out in Hayes last night at 11:30pm that left Heathrow without power along thousands of nearby residents. Have YOU been affected by the closure? Email: olivia.christie@mailonline.co.uk and tips@dailymail.com RECAP below: Two suspicious packages have been discovered at a Bunnings store in Brisbane and an office in North Geelong sparking urgent evacuations. The bomb squad were called to the Mackey Street office, southwest of Melbourne, after two female protesters left a package in the reception area. Police claim the two women were chanting and recording when they dropped the suspicious package off about 9.40am on Friday. Eyewitnesses told Geelong TV two women wearing gloves had dropped off an envelope wrapped in plastic. A specialised bomb squad robot remained at the scene at 2.15pm after being deployed to investigate the package. A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the package was found 'not to contain any dangerous materials' and the scene had been declared as safe. 'Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage,' the spokesperson said. The office is believed to belong to the AMDA Foundation, a non-for-profit organisation that delivers a range of defence and aerospace industry events. A bomb squad robot was deployed at the scene of the incident in North Geelong (pictured) A number of offices within the Federal Mills business estate in North Geelong (pictured) were evacuated following reports of the suspicious package Meanwhile, specialist police officers rushed to a Bunnings on Sandgate Road in Virginia at about 12.30pm on Friday after another suspicious package was found. A member of the public called police after spotting what they thought was a pipe bomb in the carpark near a concrete pylon. There were up to 200 people inside the hardware store at the time of the discovery, as there was a sausage sizzle being held. The store was evacuated and the car park was closed, meaning some customers faced a lengthy wait to leave the store. A 100metre exclusion zone was established around the store 'as a precaution'. Officers belonging to both Queensland Police and the AFP attended the scene. A spokesperson for Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia specialist officers 'assessed that the item was non-dangerous'. 'Enquires into how the item came to the business are ongoing. A 100metre exclusion zone was established around a Brisbane Bunnings following reports of a 'suspicious item' that appeared to be a pipe bomb was found 'There is no threat to the public at this time.' It's understood police are pursuing a few lines of inquiry, with their efforts hindered by the fact CCTV didn't capture where the suspicious item was placed. The Heathrow shutdown has sparked travel chaos across the globe, with tens of thousands of passengers left stranded at airports overseas and dozens of planes from the US, the Caribbean and India turned around in mid-air. As one of the world's busiest airports handling around 1,300 landings and take-offs each day, disruption caused by its closure after a fire at a nearby electricity substation has quickly spread to other countries. When London Heathrow shut at around 3am, 120 flights were already on their way there, according to Flightradar24. Out of these, 36 were still in the air four hours later as pilots - mainly flying from Asia - scrambled to work out where they could land. Passengers from as far away as San Francisco, and Perth in Australia were caught in the carnage, with data firm Cirium estimating that 290,000 people who were scheduled to fly to or from the airport will be affected. BBC weather presenter Simon King revealed his mother had been flying to the UK from Jamaica when her plane was forced to turn around in mid-air because no British airport could take it - with a radar image revealing the dramatic manoeuvre. Dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon and other European cities, stranding tens of thousands of people abroad. Some planes were even forced to turn back and set down in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Delhi, where Air India has now cancelled all its flights to London. Meanwhile, all 34 flights scheduled from Dublin to Heathrow today have been axed. BBC weather presenter Simon King revealed his mother had been flying to the UK from Jamaica when her plane was forced to turn around in mid-air Sharon Towers and her husband sent this picture of them stuck in China today A departure board at Singapore's Changi Airport showing cancelled flights to Heathrow All the mid-air flights en-route to Heathrow which were subsequently diverted All planes travelling westbound on this graphic had to return to their destination of origin, despite the amount of time they've already spend in the skies A British woman stuck in China with her husband said she had 'no idea' about how they would get home after their flight was cancelled. 'We should have taken off at 1pm local time here. Instead we are stuck at the airport with no idea how and when we will get home!' she told MailOnline. 'We can't check in to a hotel because of the strict immigration visa policy - to enter back in to the airport we need a boarding pass so customs can confirm when we are leaving the country.' With many airports already operating at capacity, finding alternative places for flights to land is not always easy. FlightRadar data reveals a mishmash of different outcomes, with passengers on a flight from Bangkok diverted to Brussels and those flying from New York City heading to Iceland. Meanwhile, a flight from Boston was sent to Goose Bay Airport in Canada, while others have been sent to Ireland, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, or other UK airports including Cardiff and Manchester. One group of passengers who have been impacted by today's Heathrow chaos had flown in on British Airways flight (BA56) from Johannesburg, which had been due to connect to a string of other destinations including the USA and Italy. Among the distressed passengers were Dr Don Cardy, 65, and his wife Sue, 60, who have now had to pay 400 for an Uber to Manchester. Dr Don Cardy, 65, and his wife Sue, 60, have had to pay 400 for an Uber to Manchester Manuel, a 35-year-old Italian, had been working in Johannesburg and was struggling to find a way home to Milan 'Our car is parked in Manchester Airport ready to pick up and drive,' Dr Cardy told MailOnline. 'It's been a nightmare to be honest. 'Nobody could make plans until we had our baggage. It was a mess from the baggage hall and the captain down.' Dr Cardy explained they had received no information while they waited hours, hoping their baggage would arrive. 'Then they gave us another carousel, and eventually our baggage came through. No communication, no information - it's just been terrible,' he said. 'When we were on our flight, we landed and the captain said I'm afraid this flight is ceasing here and the implication was that it was the end of their responsibility. 'The guy next to us was meant to be flying back to Chicago at 11am, but he has no clue where he is going. There were a lot of people travelling to Canada and the States. Ruben Cortez, 44, from Portland in Oregon had also arrived from South Africa after carrying out missionary work in the country. 'We just got an announcement saying we would not be landing in Heathrow and we would be landing I don't even know where we are at,' he said. 'We were told the airplane would be here until further notice and that we had to get off the plane and figure it out.' Ruben Cortez, 44, from Portland in Oregon had also arrived from South Africa after carrying out missionary work in the country Passengers on a flight from Perth in Australia queue up at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport after having their 17 hour flight diverted away from Heathrow When asked if they were going to fly from another neighbouring airport, such as Luton, he replied: 'Well, that's what we are trying to find out, we can't get them on the phone or anything. 'I've been away from home for a while, so I just want to get back to the family.' Manuel, a 35-year-old Italian, had been working in Johannesburg and was struggling to find a way home to Milan. 'We were going to Milan; this was just a transitional flight. We were coming back from a job in Johannesburg,' he said. 'It's been a little bit stressful, we have something booked in Italy and that is my problem,' he added: 'We have had no help at all, nothing.' Allie Renison is one of the UKs leading trade experts and was in Washington for meetings with policymakers. She took off from the US for Heathrow at around 9pm last night and the British Airways flight was due to land in the UK this morning. But it turned out the plane never left the confines of North America and the passengers on board were only told just over an hour before they were due to land in London. Heathrow-bound flights from around America appeared to turn back around late on Friday EST as word of the closure spread, according to FlightRadar Planes from Dallas, Chicago and Minneapolis all appeared to be returning home after up to three hours in the air She told MailOnline it was a shock to the system as they were expecting to land elsewhere and not being told until we were virtually back in Washington. Im sure the pilot was just being polite in not wanting to wake us up but apparently had been waiting previously to see if they could be diverted somewhere else east of the pond. UK air traffic control said no dice to entering UK air space. They just had to have known a fair bit earlier into a 6 hour and 30 minute flight. The announcement led to a scramble to use the planes wifi and rebook, but the internet and BA website failed. She is still unable to rebook and fears she could be in the US until next week. While it on the one hand helps that this has happened going into a weekend, Im very worried if still stranded going into the work week on Monday. Im hearing from travel and flight experts it could be days. Flight US 146 from Newark was among one of the first flights affected by the diversion while already in the air. It is now set to land in Shannon in Ireland shortly after 5am. It was scheduled to land at Heathrow at 5.55am. Meanwhile the QF9 Qantas flight from Perth to Heathrow has been diverted to Paris as European airports prepare for an influx of planes that are too far into their journeys to turn back. Amsterdam, Newfoundland in Canada and Helsinki are among some of the cities accepting diverted flights. Weary passengers at airports across the globe are eagerly awaiting news from their airlines. One traveler who is waiting in a Toronto terminal said his flight bound for Heathrow still says it is taking off as scheduled in 50 minutes. 'They don't have the heart to tell us,' he wrote on X. Another traveler, whose plane from JFK took off two hours ago, told DailyMail.com she had been circling the skies of New York since they departed. She said pilots gave a single announcement 'about 40 minutes after we took off saying the airport was shut. '[The pilot said] we have to circle to dump fuel before landing back at JFK, but didn't say for how long or if we'd get another flight.' On a flight from Japan, travelers who have been in the air for 13 hours will find themselves in Helsinki rather than London as planned. London's biggest terminals - which facilitates upwards of 200,000 travelers a day - were forced to shut down on Friday after a fire at a nearby substation caused a major power outage Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky Other long haul flights which were diverted include a British Airways flight from Doha now arriving in Frankfurt, and another which departed from Nairobi and will land in Manchester. Some lucky passengers have been diverted to other London Airports. British Airways flights from Johannesberg, Lagos and Cape Town will now touch down at Gatwick. Travelers from Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin, Houston, Hamberg, Zurich, Dublin and Barcelona are among scores who will wake to learn their flights have been canceled. The blaze broke out at 8pm on Thursday and the busy airport, which sees a plane land or take off around every 45 seconds on average, announced its closure six hours later. FlightRadar24 spokesman Ian Petchenik said that the unplanned closure of Heathrow will be felt by airlines and travelers all over the world. 'Heathrow is one of the major hubs of the world,' he told the Telegraph. 'This is going to disrupt airlines' operations around the world.' On a flight from Japan, travelers who have been in the air for 13 hours will find themselves in Helsinki rather than London as planned A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: 'Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. 'Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. 'We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. 'We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.' Footage of the blaze revealed large clouds of smoke billowing into the sky as firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish it. Meanwhile videos from inside Heathrow showed the airport lying largely dark amid the power outage. Flight US 146 from Newark was among one of the first flights impacted by the diversion while already in the air. It is now set to land in Shannon in Ireland shortly after 5am. It was scheduled to land at Heathrow at 5.55am In addition to the diversions, dozens more flights into Heathrow are being canceled from destinations around the world Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, Pat Goulbourne, said: 'This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible. 'The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption. 'Firefighters have led 29 people to safety from neighbouring properties, and as a precaution, a 200-metre cordon has been established, with around 150 people evacuated. 'Due to the significant amount of smoke, we strongly advise local residents to keep their windows and doors closed. 'This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.' The cause of the fire remains unknown. No injuries have so far been reported. Aussie passengers flying into Heathrow Airport London have been put on high alert after a massive blaze shut down the international terminals. Heathrow - which processes up to 200,000 travellers a day - announced it would close on Friday after a blaze at a nearby substation caused a major power outage. Up to 120 planes which are already in the air are being diverted or turned around, in addition to flights that have been delayed and canceled as a result of the incident. The QF9 Qantas flight from Perth to Heathrow landed in Paris as European airports prepared for an influx of planes that are too far into their journeys to turn back. Flight QF1 from Singapore to London service departed Singapore on Thursday evening local time and was also diverted to Paris. It is likely that two Qantas flights scheduled to depart London today - QF2 to Syndye via Singapore and QF10 to Perth - will also likely to be impacted. Qantas will contact customers directly if their flight is impacted and is expected to provide further updates on London services as information emerges. The QF9 Qantas flight departing Perth and the Sydney-to-London QF1 flight via Singapore on Friday are scheduled to operate as normal to London, subject to Heathrow reopening in time. Aussie passengers flying into Heathrow Airport London have been put on high alert after a massive blaze shut down the international terminals (pictured) Aussie passengers flying to London have been urged to keep up to date with flight information A spokesperson for Sydney Airport told Daily Mail Australia that passengers who are flying to a London airport must check in with their airline. A Melbourne Airport spokesperson echoed this, saying that, while there are no direct flights to Heathrow, some passengers in transit might be impacted. 'It is very likely we will have passengers due to travel on connecting flights to Heathrow, and we would advise them to contact their airline directly,' they said. British Airways, which regularly flies between Heathrow and Australian capital cities, released a statement urging customers due to arrive in Heathrow on Friday not to travel to the airport until further notice. 'This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond,' a spokesperson said. 'Where possible, we're redirecting inbound flights already on their way to Heathrow to other UK airports.' Amsterdam, Newfoundland in Canada and Helsinki are among some of the cities accepting diverted flights. Other flights have been diverted to other London Airports. British Airways flights from Johannesberg, Lagos and Cape Town will now touch down at Gatwick. Heathrow - which processes up to 200,000 travellers a day - announced it would close on Friday after a blaze at a nearby substation caused a major power outage The QF9 Qantas flight from Perth to Heathrow was diverted to and landed in Paris (pictured) Travelers from Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin, Houston, Hamberg, Zurich, Dublin and Barcelona are among scores who will wake to learn their flights have been canceled. The blaze broke out at 8pm on Thursday and the airport, which sees a plane land or take off around every 45 seconds on average, announced its closure six hours later. A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: 'Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. 'Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. 'We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. 'We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.' The cause of the fire remains unknown. No injuries have so far been reported. Australian winemakers are now facing a new threat of American tariffs less than a year after recovering from China's brutal trade sanctions. Donald Trump is planning to inflict a new set of reciprocal tariffs on Australian agricultural exports from April 1. United States wine exporters are complaining about Australian wine taxes, which they regard as an impediment to doing business, leading many to consider the Australian wine industry would be in Trump's sights. The Trump Administration is set to raise these issues after it rejected Australia's bid for an exemption to new 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs. The California Association of Winegrape Growers specifically raised objections about Australia's 29 per cent wine equalisation tax for businesses that make, import or sell wines. 'US wine exporters must pay the full 29 per cent tax without access to any offsets, making it more difficult to compete in the Australian market,' it said in a submission seen by The Australian. 'This structural imbalance, combined with additional import duties and taxes, creates a significant trade barrier that unfairly disadvantages US wine producers. 'Australia's wine industry benefits from government programs that distort competition.' Australian winemakers are now facing a new threat of American tariffs less than a year after recovering from China 's brutal trade sanctions Donald Trump is planning to inflict a new set of reciprocal tariffs on agricultural exports from April 1 Natalie Collins, the lobby group's president, said non-tariffs barriers in a range of countries had disadvantaged Californian grape growers. 'If we want to protect California winegrowing, we need policies that stop unfair trade practices and a commitment to buying and promoting California wine,' she said. 'This moment presents a valuable opportunity to address the need for a level playing field for California winegrape growers.' Australia's new fight with the Trump Administration is occurring less than a year after China finally removed its 218 per cent tariffs on Australian wine, which had been originally imposed in 2020 after former prime minister Scott Morrison called for an inquiry into the origins of Covid. A string of trade restrictions on Australian products were rolled out by China between May and November 2020 in the form of higher tariffs placed on wine and barley, biosecurity measures against some beef and timber, and unannounced bans - also called non-tariff barriers - on coal, cotton and lobsters. The trade sanctions caused South Australian family business, Salena Estate Wines Pty Ltd, to be placed into administration last year, as winemakers faced with high costs scrambled to find new export markets. The company was among Australia's top 20 wine producers and exported to 10 countries, growing grapes on 191 hectares of land at Bookpurnong in South Australia's Riverland region. Australia's new fight with the Trump Administration is occurring less than a year after China finally removed its 218 per cent tariffs on Australian wine (pictured is Salena Estate chief executive Bob Franchitto) Multiple Australian industries were hit with trade restrictions from China in recent years including wine, cotton, lobsters and beef New US tariffs on Australian agricultural exports are set to come into effect on April 1, alongside new import taxes on Australian pharmaceutical exports unless an exemption is secured. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which counts drug giants Pfizer as a member, has already written to US trade representative Jamieson Greer complaining about countries with pharmaceutical subsidies, including Australia. The US imposed new 25 per cent tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium earlier this month. Unlike 2018, the Trump Administration has overlooked how the US has had a trade surplus with Australia dating back to 1952, where Australia bought more goods and services from the United States than it bought from us. Australia last year exported $325million worth of wine to the United States, Wine Australia data showed. A major police operation is underway in Sydney's northwest understood to be connected to the body of a young father found partially buried in a paddock. Dozens of police vehicles swarmed a residential property on Wylds Road - which runs the border of Arcadia and Middle Dural - about 50km northwest of Sydney at 12pm on Friday. A nearby school was forced into lockdown for more than six hours, leaving multiple classes of students unable to get home. Officers closed off Old Northern Road between Mid Dural Road and Cattai Ridge Road as well as the intersection of Old Northern Road and Wylds Road as multiple emergency vehicles positioned themselves outside the address. Tactical officers were seen entering the property via a neighbour's backyard and an elderly woman was seen being escorted out of the neighbouring property before she was reportedly questioned by officers around 12.30pm. NSW Police declined to specify what prompted the raid but have since confirmed shortly after 7pm that the operation had ended, though officers remain in the area as part of an ongoing investigation. 'Police spoke to an 80-year-old woman at the scene, before the property was searched with assistance from tactical police,' NSW Police said in a statement. 'No arrests have been made. Police remain at the scene where they continue to make inquiries.' Dozens of armoured officers swarmed a residential address as part of a major police operation in Dural, 38km northwest of Sydney, from 12pm on Friday Heavily kitted out police brought sniffer dogs with them for the raid the lasted more than six hours Teams of tactical officers were seen scaling a wall as a nearby school was put in lockdown The episode forced a local school in the area to remain shuttered even after school ended - with worried parents told their children were not allowed to leave. Roads were reopened and residents were allowed to leave or return to their houses around 5pm. NSW Police have asked people to avoid the area as traffic has been disrupted. It added there is no ongoing threat to the public. The raid has been reportedly linked to the discovery of a deceased man one suburb over in Glenorie on March 15. Police identified the body of John Birch, 39, who was found dead in a nearby paddock only a few hundred metres from the property currently being surrounded. One Dural resident posted on social media that he was shocked to see 'at least 20 police in riot gear and masks' on Friday. 'Was lucky to see a cop car once a month years ago, [let alone] a swat team,' another added. A NSW Police spokesperson declined to comment on the nature of the operation fearing that any information may jeopardise its purpose Police searched a residence after climbing over the wall of a neighbouring property Several roads in the area have been closed and a nearby school has been forced into lockdown It is also nearby to where a caravan was found earlier this year on the side of the road loaded with enough explosives to create a 40m blast. The caravan also contained a list of Jewish addresses which sparked an investigation by counter-terrorist police. It was later revealed to be a hoax allegedly orchestrated by an organised crime figure in a ploy to trade information with officers that would benefit their 'criminal status'. It is understood the raid on Friday is not linked to that investigation. Putin's forces pounded a Ukrainian port with several waves of drones in an overnight attack while a critical Russian gas pipeline blew up into a 300ft fireball. Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa suffered its worst onslaught of the war as Russia carpet bombed the city with drone attacks overnight, injuring at least three people. The massive blitz set residential properties, a shopping centre, and stores ablaze and caused power outages in the Primorsky, Peresypsky and Kievsky districts. Ukraine today claimed Putin's army triggered the biggest inferno of the war by exploding its own gas facility in a dirty tricks operation to blame Kyiv. Towering flames at least 300ft high shot in the air at Sudzha gas pipeline metering hub in the Kursk region early Friday. The explosion was initially seen as a Ukrainian strike during a night of hell which saw Russia attack Odesa city - but Kyiv insisted the gas explosion and giant flames were the result of artillery fire by the Kremlin's own forces. Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region was under Ukrainian control until an advance by Putin's forces in recent days. Today's giant explosion came as both sides have signalled their agreement to end strikes on energy facilities. Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa suffered its worst onslaught of the war as Russia carpet bombed Odesa City with drone attacks overnight Russia pounded Odessa with several waves of drones in an overnight attack, Ukrainian officials said on Friday Towering flames at least 300ft high shot in the air at Sudzha gas pipeline metering hub in the Kursk region of Russia early Friday A Ukrainian military Telegram channel posted a picture of a fireball rising skyward, stating that the media was reporting a 'successful strike on the Sudzha gas transport system through which the enemy used to transport gas to Europe'. Ukrainian media also reported the strike and posted video footage of the blaze, as did Telegram channels in the Kursk region. But the Ukrainian military general staff said: 'The Russian Federation is intensifying its discrediting campaign against Ukraine. 'For example, the enemy has accused our Defence Forces of shelling the Sudzha gas metering station. These accusations are groundless.' The facility had been 'repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. 'In particular, last summer it was bombed by guided aerial bombs, and three days ago the Russians again hit it with KABs [aerial bombs]. 'Today, the enemy has already intensified its planned destructive information influence with another provocation - it shelled this facility with artillery. 'It is worth adding that earlier the Russian troops used the main gas pipeline pipe for the covert movement of their units. Firefighters effort to extinguish a fire after a Russian airstrike hit civilian infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region on March 21, 2025 At least three people were injured after an attack, sparking large fires that affected a shopping center, stores, and a residential building, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported The Kremlin changed tactics to swarm Iranian-designed Shahed drones on Odesa, a city with close Russian roots, overwhelming air defences and inflicting maximum destruction. Firefighters are pictured battling a blaze after the attack The Russians continue to produce numerous fakes and seek to mislead the international community. 'We ask you to trust only official sources, check information and not succumb to manipulation.' The Ukrainians claim the aim was to discredit them as US President Donald Trump seeks to halt energy and other infrastructure strikes. The explosion came as Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa late Thursday night. Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported more than 18 explosions in the city after 10pm. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said there had been strikes in three locations that triggered fires, while three districts of the city were suffering from power cuts. Amid the wanton carnage, Ukrainian Telegram channel Pravda Gerashchenko said: 'Everyone should see these images to understand how terrorist Putin really "wants peace".' The Kremlin changed tactics to swarm Iranian-designed Shahed drones on Odesa, a city with close Russian roots, overwhelming air defences and inflicting maximum destruction, according to reports. Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in the more than three-year-old war, particularly the city's port facilities. The governor of Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Ivan Fedorov, reported several strikes on areas near the city of Zaporizhzhia, including one guided bomb. He said five people were injured, including a child. The pipeline explosion was initially seen as a Ukrainian strike during a night of hell which saw Russia attack Odesa city - but Kyiv insisted the gas explosion and giant flames were the result of artillery fire by the Kremlin's own forces This facility was in Ukraine's hands until Russian advances last weekend - and is a Gazprom pipeline pumping 42.4 million cubic metres per day to European countries until Kyiv blocked exports at the end of 2024 The giant torch of fire - estimated at 300ft high or more - was visible in Russia's Kursk city, as well as from the Sumy outskirts, across the border in Ukraine Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa overnight. Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported more than 18 explosions in the city after 10pm The massive blitz in Odesa set residential properties, a shopping centre, and stores ablaze and caused power outages in the Primorsky, Peresypsky and Kievsky districts Footage showed how the Kremlin dictator had ordered savage aerial strikes of his own territory in Kursk region with FAB-1500 and FAB-3000 guided aerial bombs, seeking to dislodge Ukrainian occupying troops, while he continued to wage war in the eastern Donbas zone. This facility was in Ukraine's hands until Russian advances last weekend - and is a Gazprom pipeline pumping 42.4 million cubic metres per day to European countries until Kyiv blocked exports at the end of 2024. The giant torch of fire - estimated at 300ft high or more - was visible in Russia's Kursk city, as well as from the Sumy outskirts, across the border in Ukraine. Empty gas pipelines here were notoriously used by Russian troops, who crawled many miles down them to attack Ukrainian positions earlier this month. Separately, a Putin Kh-101 missile storage warehouse and aviation fuel stocks at the Engels-2 strategic bomber airbase were burning and exploding the day after it was hit by a pinpoint Ukrainian drone strike. A state of emergency was in force as residents were evacuated from the exploding deadly ammunition and fuel. A blaze at the Kavkazskaya oil transit point in Krasnodar region, hit two days ago by Ukraine, worsened today as a new fuel tank ignited in flames amid fresh 'explosions'. The raging inferno expanded to 108,000 square feet, with 100,000 tons of oil products on the site. Local officials issued an order for residents to 'avoid being outdoors, do not open windows, do wet cleaning more often, give up contact lenses in favour of glasses, drink more, rinse your eyes, nose and throat, stop smoking, and use masks and respirators if you need to go outside'. In Volgograd overnight the Marinovka military airfield was 'burning' after a series of explosions from suspected Ukrainian drone attacks. This airbase is home to Russia's Sukhoi Su-24M bombers - used to hit Ukraine - and Su-24MR frontline reconnaissance planes. One unconfirmed report said 'the shells loaded onto the planes are exploding'. Residents were told to expect evacuation. In the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Russian forces dropped aerial bombs leaving six injured including a 4-year-old boy. Several homes were destroyed or damaged. The Ukrainian Emergency Service battles blazes started by a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine on Friday, March 21, 2025 Firefighters put out the fire at a storehouse following a Russian attack in Odesa on Friday Trump is seeking to put in place a ceasefire at least extending to attacks on energy facilities, but it is not agreed between the two sides yet pending meetings next week in Saudi Arabia. But Russian anti-Putin commentator Alexander Nevzorov warned that the Kremlin dictator is mocking the US president. 'Putin openly mocks Trump, considering him a noisy American fool who still doesn't have enough 'balls' to really deal with Russia,' he posted. 'The ghoul's plan is simple: to furiously escalate the war, hitting those very 'forbidden targets' that he promised 'not to touch'. 'At the same time, Putin is ready to coo over the phone about 'peace'. 'He is 100% sure that the West has 'no guts', that it will inevitably deflate in the face of the Russian caveman's desire to devour Ukraine. 'And having deflected, it will gradually 'crawl away', leaving the [Russians] with their 'legitimate prey'.' Putin is 'convinced' he will 'undoubtedly win this duel of characters' with Trump. 'The carpet bombing of Odesa at night - which hit residential buildings, a shopping centre, all kinds of social and energy structures - was his spit in the face of his friend Donnie.' Firefighters effort to extinguish a fire after a Russian airstrike hit civilian infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region on March 21, 2025 Firefighters work at a site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine in this handout picture released March 21, 2025 Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in the more than three-year-old war, particularly the city's port facilities Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian TV: 'We believe that the Kyiv regime has already broken the ceasefire proposed by the US president. 'Now the question is.how is Washington going to handle this terrorist scum gone mad? How are they going to put them in their place and get them on to something like the right track?' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Kyiv is ready to join such a ceasefire - discussed on Tuesday between Trump and Putin - if there is a documented agreement with Russia. Ukrainian officials have also accused Russia of breaking its word on the ceasefire by launching attacks on civilian targets. Zelensky said on Wednesday that Russian attacks on infrastructure, including hospitals and rail equipment, showed 'Putin's words are very different from reality'. Zelensky, speaking in Norway on Thursday, said that although he originally had sought a broader ceasefire, he was committed to working with the US to stop arms being directed at power production and civilian facilities. 'I raised this issue with President Trump and said that our side would identify what we consider to be civilian infrastructure,' Zelensky said. 'I don't want there to be any misunderstanding about what the sides are agreeing on.' The tentative deal to partially rein in the three-year war came after Putin rebuffed Trump's push for a full 30-day ceasefire. The difficulty in getting the combatants to stop targeting one another's energy infrastructure highlights the challenges Trump will face in trying to fulfill his campaign pledge to quickly end the war. Firefighters work a blaze that erupted in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine Friday following an overnight attack by Putin's forces The governor of Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Ivan Fedorov, reported several strikes on areas near the city of Zaporizhzhia, including one guided bomb. He said five people were injured, including a child Negotiators from Moscow and the US will meet Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Putin's foreign affairs adviser Sergei Ushakov told Russian news agencies. Zelensky said team would also meet with the US in Saudi Arabia to discuss technical issues, and then the US will act as an intermediary running 'shuttle diplomacy' between Kyiv and Moscow. Yet new evidence has come to light that Putin has no intention of ending the war soon, as Trump is demanding. Earlier this week - minutes before speaking to Trump - Putin told a closed meeting of Russia business and oligarch elite that 'there would be no quick peace deal with Ukraine', according to independent Faridaily Telegram channel, citing sources inside the session. 'The negotiation process would be difficult and slow, despite the optimistic public statements of the American side,' said the report. 'There was no unbridled optimism that [negotiating peace] would be quick,' said one source. Dressed in combat gear and beret, Prince William was seen eagerly climbing into a British tank after arriving at a NATO base in Estonia this morning to take part in a major military exercise just 90 miles from Russia. The future king is at Tapa Camp, just under two hours drive from the border, in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment who are about to undertake a six-month posting to the region. Operation Cabrit is a major multi-national NATO operational exercise designed to show the strength of the organisation through its united commitment to collective security and defence. William, 42, took part in a trench warfare training exercise in what has been described as 'Putin's backyard', as allied troops fired on an enemy position. Donning a protective helmet and glasses, the Prince of Wales travelled in a Challenger 2 tank to be briefed about the exercise, before switching to a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle to travel out to the field exercise. His vehicle was the last of three to arrive at the scene where soldiers from the Merican battlegroup were undertaking an exercise to spot and break into an enemy trench before capturing 'high-value target' enemy troops. As the first two Warrior vehicles arrived after spotting the trench, they opened fire on the enemy base with machine guns. The soldiers were already firing machine guns from the vehicles into the trench as William arrived, travelling in the commander's turret of the third and final warrior vehicle to give him an 'eagle-eye view' of the exercise as he arrived. Prince William rides a Challenger 2 battle tank during a handover ceremony at Tapa camp in Estonia The future king looked the part as he climbed into a British tank to take part in the exercise A royal aide revealed that the prince was delighted to be 'getting his hands dirty' on the visit, which represents a show of support for Estoni Standing above the trench, William had the scene explained to him by Major McNeil as gunfire sounded and smoke occasionally blocked the view of the troops. William was heard saying that he had been speaking to the 'Challenger Two boys' and asking questions about the weaponry being used in the demonstration. White smoke grenades were thrown into the trench to obstruct the enemy's view, while yellow smoke grenades were used to indicate the frontline position of the allied troops. A drone was sent up overhead to give the troops a better view of the battle scene. Following the demonstration, William was given the chance to drive an Archer, a mobile artillery vehicle and one of the 'next generation' wheeled artillery systems used by the British army to serve fast-moving ground forces. It boasts a 155mm 52 calibre gun mounted on the rear, with a range of more than 50km. A royal aide said earlier that the prince was delighted to be 'getting his hands dirty', adding the visit was 'about the Prince of Wales showing his support to Estonia as it manages its proximity to Russia while hosting NATO troops and welcoming Ukrainian refuges.' Operation Calbrit is part of the biggest reinforcement of Alliance collective defence and European security in a generation. The Prince of Wales focuses intently as he takes part in the military exercise at Tapa Camp William took over the role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercians in 2023, previously held by his father, King Charles III The future king spent time speaking to the troops while learning more about Estonia's response to the Ukrainian conflict The Prince of Wales speaks with a soldier during some field training after the official handover ceremony between The Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercian Regiment The forces train on a weekly basis, ranging from small drills to large scale battle group level exercises. Russia - which has a 183-mile border with Estonia - has significantly increased its military presence in the region, with aircraft frequently intercepted by NATO Air Policing missions. The prince is spending the day at Tapa Camp, meeting with Estonian troops before overseeing an official handover ceremony between The Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercian Regiment. As well as viewing the range of equipment used by the Mercians and the field training area to see their work in action, the royal spent time with the welfare team. William asked whether the 'stigma' of talking about mental health in the military was being broken down as he was shown around the welfare facilities on offer for British soldiers based in Estonia. The prince also wanted to know whether soldiers were concerned their careers would be affected if they sought mental health support and revealed that he found soldiers responded better to the term 'mental fitness' than mental health. In a lighter moment, he promised to supply a fridge after hearing that one was lacking and asked if they had a toastie machine, noting how much he 'loved cheese toasties'. Staff Sergeant Amy-Jane Hale, who is in charge of welfare across Operation Calbrit in Estonia and Poland, welcomed the Prince to the welfare area at Tapa Camp. Prince William spent time with Staff Sergeant Amy-Jane Hale, who is in charge of welfare across Operation Calbrit in Estonia and Poland The prince wanted to know whether soldiers were concerned their careers would be affected if they sought mental health support William asked whether the 'stigma' of talking about mental health in the military was being broken down as he was shown around the facilities on offer for British soldiers based in Estonia The pair sat down together to discuss the emotional and mental health support available to soldiers on the base. Prince William appeared surprised to learns that Staff Sgt Hale was the one welfare officer on the base. 'One?' he said, before asking how many soldiers she looked after. 'Do you find the potential stigma of coming to talk to you about some of this stuff about breaking down in the military yet or do we still have a bit of a way to go?' he asked, and was told that things were 'very positive and moving in the right direction'. The prince also asked if soldiers could talk to a welfare officer in confidence, without worrying that it would end up in a report and affect their careers. 'I find that mental fitness seems to work very well with the guys,' he said. 'They respond very well to (the term) mental fitness, whereas mental health, they don't respond quite so well,' he said. 'It's very interesting mental fitness goes down really strongly in the military.' The Challenger 2 is a main battle tank that is designed to take on other tanks The future king asked troops stationed in Estonia about the first six months of their training The Prince seemed to enjoy his experience riding in the Challenger 2 tank on Friday The Prince of Wales was later seen in a Warrior tracked armoured vehicle at the exercise The Prince asked Staff Sgt Hale what she would wish for that would allow her to be more effective, if she could 'wave a magic wand'. She said another welfare worker would make the job less lonely. In the cinema room, the Prince asked whether they got to watch the latest films. Told Bridget Jones was due to arrive soon, he said: 'Oh that's pretty good, not bad.' But when he was informed there was no fridge, he said: 'You don't have a fridge? You're joking? 'You do need a fridge. I'm definitely getting you a fridge.' William also chatted to four soldiers who have just arrived in Estonia, asking how they felt about being in their new posting. 'It must focus the mind a little bit coming out here, knowing what's going on the rest of the world, the context,' he said. The prince - who has served in the military himself - was in good spirits as he chatted to the soldiers Prince William was seen climbing out of a Warrior tracked armoured vehicle during the field training Prince WIilliam also heard how the Mercians are using different weapon systems and learning new training and operating techniques while stationed in Estonia 'And the fact, the Russian border is only a few hundred miles from here, it does feel like it's a bit more of an operational environment rather than just training.' Speaking of his experience travelling in a Challenger 2 tank, he remarked: 'It packs quite a punch.' He added: 'I've probably churned up quite a lot of the mud here in the Challenger 2 and the Warrior, I made a bit more of a mess. 'We were saying it's quite a useful exercise in itself, just viewing what's gone on in Ukraine, seeing all the kinds of terrain they're operating in and understanding the pros and cons of what's gone on before. 'It's quite a lot of things to be thinking about while you're operating out here and does focus the mind a little bit.. what the challenges are coming up.' William later showed off his competitive streak when he got back to the base after being challenged to a game of table football. After being shown around the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute's (NAAFI) canteen, Company Sergeant Major WO2 Daniel Hutton, a Birmingham City fan, invited the future king to take him on in a 'Blues vs Villa' match. 'This is a big match,' joked William. 'One of us can never live this down, you know that. I fear it's me.' The Prince of Wales speaks to French soldiers as he visits the the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) shop and canteen at Tapa Camp On cue: Prince William was also seen playing pool with the soldiers at the NAAFI shop But the Prince's side was first to score and he joked that the game was over now he had won. William also briefly joined a game of pool as he chatted to soldiers on a six-month deployment to the Camp. The NAAFI, which opened two years ago, offers space for troops to relax, watch TV, play games and have hot food and drinks. The adjoining shop sells essentials as well as favourite treats from the UK. William spent time chatting to staff, including senior finance manager Jawad Qamar, who told him how they keep soldiers stocked up on items from home. 'Tea bags are always a big issue,' said the Prince. He asked soldiers about the Camp's facilities and seemed particularly taken by the fact that they include a sauna. 'That's a new thing on me, the sauna,' he said, referring to the fact that they are not usually found on military bases in the UK. The heir to the throne was later seen showing off his competitive side on a foosball table Prince William laughed and clasped his hands together as he took time to engage with the soldiers during their free time 'I now have an image of you all in the sauna. Lots of sweaty soldiers is not one to think about. Make sure there are no hydration issues from spending too long in the sauna.' Elsewhere he discussed the difference between Spring or Winter deployments to the camp, where temperatures can reach -20. 'It's my first time in Estonia,' he said. 'The President was saying to me yesterday how important it is that you guys are here. It goes right to the top of Estonian society.' The Prince also met French troops working alongside their British and Estonian counterparts at the camp and was given a regimental from the 11th Marine Artillery to take home. 'Bonjour, bonjour,' he said as he sat down with them. 'Is English ok? My French is a bit ropey.' Speaking afterwards, Wo2 Hutton said: 'It's morale boosting. I think they [the troops] enjoyed him coming out here, bearing in mind his connection to the regiment. 'It's always nice for the soldiers to get to meet him, especially in a natural environment where they're just doing what they would normally.' He said of the Prince: 'It's the first time I've met him properly. I tried to convince him to become a Birmingham City fan. 'I said maybe we could get his wife to become one and he just said, "that would be interesting".' As a member of the EU, Estonia has firmly supported Ukraine since the Russian invasion, both politically and financially. It has championed a tough approach to sanctions on Russia and was the first country to introduce legislation to seize frozen Russian assets. Russia has been engaged in a range of hybrid attacks against Estonia for some time: GPS jamming, acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks, and removal of navigational buoys marking the border in the Narva River. Prince William engaged in conversation as the tanks maneuvered around him during a military exercise on Friday Prince William can be seen just feet away from a yellow smoke grenade used in the exercise The Prince of Wales was decked out in full combat gear ahead of participating in the exercise The country is also resoundly 'pro-British' and has worked closely with the UK over Ukraine. Diplomatic sources said William's visit comes at a 'crucial time' in terms of reassuring Estonians of the UK's commitment to both their security and to Ukraine. Estonia is said to be fearful that following a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, the latter could re-arm rapidly and threaten Ukraine again, or attack Estonia and other Northern European NATO allies. This makes them value the UK military presence locally even more strongly. Following the Second World War Estonia spent decades as an unwilling and occupied part of the Soviet Union. Memories of Soviet occupation are still strong - and almost every family suffered in some way. To Estonians, sources say, Russia's approach to Ukraine is 'horribly familiar'. However its success since regaining its independence in 1991 has been 'remarkable': joining the EU, the euro and NATO, and growing a successful economy including a burgeoning tech sector. The Prince of Wales was met at the NATO base just 125 miles from the Russian border, by UK defence attache Rob Hall. Soldiers from the 1st Estonian brigade were introduced to the future king who asked them about the first six months of their training. William dressed in full combat fatigues for the visit this morning The Duke is visiting Tapa Camp to meet Estonian soldiers at the base to thank them for their support Prince William looked dapper in his military uniform as he met with troops at Tapa camp William is meeting Nato forces defending the alliance's eastern flank from Putin's Russia The Prince of Wales had quipped with troops that he might 'have a go' at driving the tank Speaking to the 13 soldiers chosen to meet him, William said: 'It's great to meet you guys and great to be here. 'How's it working with the Brits? You don't have to say nice things just because I'm here!' The soldiers told him their experience had been 'good' and 'very successful'. William replied: 'I bet you guys are pleased it's going to be spring soon! It gets quite cold here right?' One soldier said: 'Spring started yesterday so we are happier now'. William said: 'Yes I got to see some sunshine in Tallinn yesterday, a little bit colder today though. But good to know it's coming'. William met with troops dressed in camouflage gear during today's visit William heard how the Mercians are using different weapon systems and learning new training and operating techniques William met with both Estonian and British troops during the official visit The Prince of Wales said he hoped his visit to Estonia would 'keep everyone on their toes' while visiting British troops deployed near Russia today Prince William was all smiles and in high spirits as he met with troops stationed in Estonia Prince William (front row, centre) poses with British soldiers stationed at the Tapa Army base William chats with soldiers following his tank ride The future king will speak to Estonian troops about their experiences of training at the base The Prince of Wales speaks to soldiers while visiting British service personnel at the Tapa Army Base, northern Estonia The Prince asked the soldiers about their basic training adding: 'It's great to meet and I can't wait to see the drills today. Very pleased to be here.' The Prince of Wales said he hoped his visit to Estonia would 'keep everyone on their toes' while visiting British troops deployed near Russia today. William, Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, presided over an official handover ceremony of British troops deployed at Tapa Camp, from the Royal Dragoon Guards, to his regiment, who are based at Tapa just 80 miles from Russia's border. William's visit to Tapa aims to highlight the role of British troops in Operation Cabrit, which involves around 900 soldiers stationed as part of Nato's defence of the eastern flank the UK's biggest international operational deployment. With the royal standard flying alongside flags of Nato members, the prince was shown a selection of military vehicles including an Archer, a Challenger 2, a Warrior, a French Griffon, an MLRS and a Trojan, on Tapa's parade square. The scenes today were reminiscent of Princess Diana's tank driving experience, seen here with the Royal Hampshire Regiment at Tidworth, Hampshire, in 1988 Prince WIlliam's late mother was also photographed visiting a tank regiment in West Berlin, Germany in 1985, where she was given a tank lesson The late Princess of Wales was seen wearing a black and yellow regimental tracksuit and trainers during her visit in 1985 to West Berlin, Germany Accompanied on the parade square by the Estonian commander Colonel Tarmo Kundla and Lt Col General Sir Ian Cave, he then spoke to groups of soldiers positioned next to each vehicle. Speaking to soldiers stationed with the Archer, William asked: 'How is it to drive? I might have a go later.' He also asked the group: 'Is this your first time in Estonia? Well good luck, I hope it all goes really well.' At the Warrior vehicle, after asking the soldiers about their upcoming operational exercises, he said of his visit to the base: 'Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what you're doing and keeps everyone on their toes.' Inspecting the French Griffon 'infantry fighting vehicle', William spoke to a group of French soldiers who also serve alongside British troops at Tapa. 'It's good to have such an international partnership,' he told them. William took over the role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercians in 2023, previously held by his father. While visiting Tapa, he will also drive a tank and see the Mercians training with an array of weapons. Have YOU been affected by the closure? Thousands of Brits are stranded abroad or had their holidays of a lifetime ruined as the closure of Heathrow Airport continues to send travel plans into meltdown. Tartan Army fans who travelled to Athens for a Scotland match last night are currently stuck in Greece, while others are stranded as far away as Thailand and China. A group of four friends told MailOnline their Caribbean cruise dream had been blighted after the major travel hub closed due to a huge blaze at an electrical substation last night. Chloe, Ashley, Monisola, and their friend, who didn't wish to be named, had been planning their trip, which begins in Miami, since January. They paid 1,600 for the cruise, but the cost has since doubled after they rushed to book flights from Gatwick at 7.20am this morning to ensure they could still travel. Monisola said: 'We need to be at Miami by tomorrow afternoon otherwise we are going to miss our cruise. 'The cruise lines are really strict - if you don't get there, they will leave you behind, so we need to land in the next 24 hours. 'So we have been checking flights, checking flights, and also we didn't get notified by the airline until this morning. I found out from the Uber driver and our flight is at 9.40am.' From left to right: Chloe, Ashley, Monisola and friend - a group of four pals who had their Caribbean cruise dream blighted after Heathrow was closed due to a blaze last night Sharon Towers and her husband (pictured) said they are stranded in the airport as strict immigration policy means they can't check into a hotel Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky Tracey Jones (pictured) is stuck in Bangkok, Thailand after her flight was cancelled Meanwhile in Greece, Scottish fans didn't leave the football ground in Athens until 12.30am last night following the first leg of their Nations League A play-off. Many were up again at 5.30am only to be told their flight back to the UK had been cancelled once they had already passed through passport control. One BBC reporter who was stuck at the airport said: 'Inconvenient for sure but you know it can't be helped at the minute. 'The Greek authorities have been really helpful. Fortunately we have been able to book on another flight that has come at a bit of an expense - around 500 euros. 'And in the time we were filling out our form the price had already gone up. ' A British couple stuck in China also told MailOnline they have 'no idea' how they will get home after their flight was cancelled. Sharon Towers and her husband said they are stranded in the airport as strict immigration policy means they can't check into a hotel. She said: 'My husband and I are stuck in China! 'We should have taken off at 1pm local time here! Instead we are stuck at the airport with no idea how/when we will get home! 'We can't check in to a hotel because of the strict immigration visa policy, to enter back in to the airport, we need a boarding pass so customs can confirm when we are leaving the country! Helen and Martin Slocombe, from Bristol, had been travelling to see their son in Tokyo Ruben Cortez, 44 from Portland, who has been caught up in the travel chaos Cara O'Connor, 31 and from County Kerry, said she's been left 'devastated' by the travel chaos at Heathrow as it means her mother in law, sister in law, and two of her best friends may not be able to attend her hen party in England this weekend Dr Don Cardy, 65, and his wife Sue, 60, who have had to pay 400 for an Uber to Manchester, after their connecting flight in Heathrow was cancelled A very upset German couple at Heathrow T5 this morning following the fire 'We don't know that, so we cant get a boarding pass to enter back in to the airport!' Another Brit, Tracey Jones is also stuck in Bangkok, Thailand, after her flight was cancelled. She said she was due to fly back to London Heathrow at 1.20pm Thai time but has now been moved to a hotel for an overnight stay. Tracey told MailOnline: 'We are waiting confirmation of when we might be able to get a flight tomorrow. 'Fair play to Thai Airways, they didn't mess around and everything has been organised quickly. 'Let's hope we are OK to get back tomorrow.' Helen and Martin Slocombe, from Bristol, had been travelling to see their son in Tokyo but are now heading back home until a new flight becomes available. Helen told MailOnline: We were meant to be heading to Tokyo to see our son and then do a tour of Japan. 'Then we woke up at four to get our flight and discovered on the news that the airport was closed so we are in limbo now. 'We will probably go back home and then wait to rebook the flight at some point hopefully in the next couple of days. 'We had a text at 6am from the airline but that's the only communication we've had. The tour organisers don't know anything. 'We are disappointed because we were only going to have a few days with our son prior to the rest of the tour so that will be cut short now. 'It is sad but it is what it is.' Our first holiday in nearly 4 years. Booked me and little one a few days in the South of France. Now Heathrow Airport is closed https://t.co/zgsBXFJ2lU Emma Woolf (@EJWoolf) March 21, 2025 Manuel, 35, from Italy, is pictured with his luggage as he is stuck at the airport Picture taken by Emily Gough whose flight to Heathrow from Orlando was diverted to Shannon, Ireland this morning. They have been waiting on the runway for more than five hours Eric Egert, 65, from Philadelphia who was diverted to Manchester airport after Heathrow Airport closed Furthermore, Miranda, 28, who was at Edinburgh Airport this morning for a flight to Heathrow then Texas for her first trip abroad with younger sister Malarie, 22, was also informed her flight had been cancelled at the last minute. She said: 'We got to the airport around 3:30 this morning, and about 40 minutes before our flight, we saw on the board that our flight to Heathrow was cancelled. 'Immediately, we started kind of freaking out, and then we got the notification that our flight from Heathrow to Dallas-Fort Worth was delayed and that raised alarm bells for us. 'We started checking the news and realised pretty quickly that there were some problems at Heathrow. 'We were informed by British Airways that we needed to go and get our bags that we had checked. 'We got our bags, and then they handed us a piece of paper that said we'd need to call British Airways. We sat on the phone for probably 45 minutes and we were luckily able to get another flight. 'We're now flying to Dublin, but we aren't able to get on that flight until noon. We were supposed to be back in Texas around 2:45 this afternoon, and now we're going to be back around midnight tonight. 'We're having to go from Edinburgh to Dublin, then from Dublin to Chicago and Chicago to Dallas. 'It was stressful in the moment for sure. This is actually our first time travelling abroad, so to then have your flights cancelled and to get very little information other than 'here's their line, good luck,' was kind of frustrating. Your browser does not support iframes. Smoke billows from the electrical substation that exploded last night, forcing the complete closure of Heathrow airport in a crisis being compared to 9/11 in terms of flights grounded The shocking scenes at Heathrow's main substation in Hayes, which exploded and set alight last night shutting down Britain's busiest airport for all of Friday grounding 1,357 flights and more than 200,000 people Travellers are facing travel chaos has Heathrow airport is shut down due to a fire. Pictured: Traffic near the airport early on Friday morning 'But we were able to get a flight, and we're just happy to be able to go home today. Initially, they were saying it could be Friday, Saturday or even Sunday before we could get home.' Ceri-Jayne and Peter Kace are amongst those passengers stranded in Heathrow after spending a year planning their 'bucket list trip to Japan'. The couple from Cardiff, who are meant to be setting off on a cruise from Tokyo in four days, told MailOnline: 'We organised the trip a year ago and were meant to be flying out at 11 o'clock this morning. 'We had just put the TV on, we had organised the taxi to take us to the airport last night but we just couldn't believe what we were hearing. 'The most frustrating thing is that you don't hear anything from the travel agents. The airline have just said the flights cancelled and they are trying their best to rebook us - but we are supposed to be getting on a cruise ship the other side. 'If we don't get to the cruise ship, well it's not going to wait for us. 'We have four days so hopefully it is sorted in time but we are still miss out on the first part of the trip in Tokyo. 'It is sad. There's lots of people in more dire situations than us. It would be tough to wait another week or month but we have no commitments. 'We have been planning the trip for a month, it's a bucket list trip and we've used practically all our savings.' Meanwhile, devastated passengers caught in the disruption have also shared their frustration on social media. One person wrote: 'There's a major fire at Heathrow Airport so my flight has now been diverted to Washington and diverted. 'No clue what happens next. I just want to go home and see my family.' Another added: 'Today my flight from Heathrow has been cancelled so what should I do now? My mum is not well and I have to go and see her ASAP.' At least 1,357 flights have already been cancelled, diverted or delayed today. Some planes already on their way London managed to land at other UK airports - but many including Gatwick are now full. Dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon and other European cities, stranding tens of thousands of people abroad. Some planes were even forced to set down in New York, Los Angeles and Delhi. More than 16,300 homes in west London are also suffering from blackouts as the fire at the electrical substation continues to rage. All trains to Heathrow have also been cancelled. The airport, which sees a plane land or take off every 45 seconds, announced its closure at 2am on Friday and ordered passengers not to come to its terminals. The fire broke out at around 11.30pm on Thursday, and despite firefighters working throughout the night to bring it under control, part of the transformer remains alight. A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: 'Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport.' An 'adorable' three-year-old boy died after a trainee doctor accidentally pierced a major artery during a routine procedure. Aarav Chopra suffered a prolonged cardiac arrest triggered by a buildup of blood in his chest cavity and died on November 22, 2023. The youngster was having a routine liver biopsy - where a small tissue sample is taken from the body for examination - when a trainee doctor pierced an artery with a needle. Months earlier Aarav had undergone a liver transplant but his body was rejecting the organ, so he was undergoing tests at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Aarav, from Wolverhampton, died as a result of serious brain damage after doctors spent nearly 30 minutes trying to resuscitate him. His condition went 'undiagnosed and untreated' during the procedure, an inquest heard. Birmingham's Senior Coroner Louise Hunt condemned 'poor planning' by staff before the biopsy. She said there was poor communication about the bleed Aarav suffered, 'all of which hampered treatment after his collapse.' Aarav Chopra (pictured) died after a major artery was punctured during a routine biopsy There was also 'confusion around the experience of the trainee doctor performing the biopsy.' The trainee was thought to be in his sixth year but was only in year four of his medical training. Aarav's parents were unaware that a trainee would be performing the biopsy on their son. But an internal meeting following Aarav's death found 'there was no immediate learning from this tragedy.' However, the inquest concluded that Aarav's death was 'contributed to by neglect.' Ms Hunt has now issued a prevention of future deaths report calling on Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust to outline what action it will take. In a joint statement, Aarav's parents Kishore and Amrita Chopra said: 'Aarav was the most courageous little boy. 'He was a happy soul with the most beautiful smile and adorable laugh. We will forever be proud of him for overcoming all the challenges he faced. The parents of the 'adorable' three-year-old are taking legal action against the hospital trust 'Aarav's death is a loss that will stay with us forever. There is a void and emptiness in our lives that will never be filled. 'His liver transplant was supposed to be a new beginning, a chance for him to live a better life.' Aarav had a condition called biliary atresia, meaning bile flow out of his liver was blocked. He underwent a liver transplant in August, 2023, but suffered complications and was prescribed antiplatelet medication to prevent blood clots. 'When he went into the hospital for tests, we never expected that he would never come home,' his parents said. After Aarav's body started rejecting the liver, he was admitted to hospital on November 20, 2023, for a biopsy the following day. But no consideration was given to his antiplatelet medication which should have been stopped a week before the procedure. Mr and Mrs Chopra said: 'For over 12 months, we raised concerns with the hospital about what we believed was a lack of clarity and transparency surrounding Aarav's death. Birmingham Children's Hospital, where Aarav died in November 2023 'We only learned about the involvement of a trainee doctor in Aarav's biopsy procedure through a Teams video recording of a meeting held by the hospital to discuss Aarav's death in more detail. 'The hospital provided this video nine months after his death and this crucial information was never disclosed to us earlier.' At the start of the procedure a trainee doctor inserted a needle through Aarav's rib muscles. However, it could not be seen on imaging and 'it was not appreciated at the time that the needle did not follow the correct pathway,' the coroner's report said. A second, successful attempt at a biopsy was then made. A scan taken at 12.10pm at the end of the procedure identified blood in Aarav's chest cavity but it 'was not identified as significant.' After the procedure Aarav became agitated and medics struggled to take his blood pressure. His parents raised concerns but it 'was not appreciated that he needed further review'. The Trust's Chief Medical Officer Dr Satish Rao admitted the standard of care was inadequate He went into cardiac arrest at 1.30pm and an ultrasound at 2pm confirmed a large haemothorax - a buildup of blood - but no chest drain was inserted. The coroner's report said: 'There was no joined up discussion about how to best treat Aarav and it was unclear who was leading decision making for the complication that had occurred.' Later that afternoon Aarav was taken back to theatre where his punctured artery was treated. Despite the surgery, he died two days later. Ms Hunt said that had his haemothorax been addressed at the time of the procedure, 'Aarav would likely have been monitored and treated before the cardiac arrest.' Aarav's parents said: 'The coroner's inquest and subsequent findings confirmed our fears about the inadequate standard of care that Aarav received. 'The inquest has vindicated our concerns but has also deeply upset us. The hospital's lack of accountability has completely shattered our trust. 'It is heartbreaking that Aarav will never grow up with his younger brother. 'Knowing that Aarav's death was preventable had appropriate action been taken makes the situation even harder to accept. Aarav's biopsy was carried out by a fourth year trainee, thought to be in his sixth year due to 'poor communication' (Pictured: Birmingham Children's Hospital) 'If Aarav is to leave a legacy, we hope that by sharing our story, we can urge the hospital to implement the necessary preventative actions so that no other child or family has to endure the pain and suffering that Aarav, and our family, have experienced.' Mr and Mrs Chopra have now instructed medical negligence lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate with a view to suing the hospital trust. The family's lawyer Catherine Lee said: 'Aarav's family remain devastated by his death and the events surrounding it. 'The inquest has identified extremely worrying issues in what happened. 'We continue to work with the hospital trust to conclude a separate civil case to try and come to terms with their ordeal the best they can.' Dr Satish Rao, the Trust's Chief Medical Officer, admitted the standard of care provided did not meet those expected. 'For this, we are truly sorry,' he said. 'We offer our sincere condolences to Aarav's family and loved ones. 'Following the inquest, and our own review in 2024, changes were made to our processes to improve patient care.' Canada erupted with outrage on Wednesday as it claimed four of its citizens had been executed in China on drug smuggling charges. Notably, the executions were only said to have taken place earlier this year. And China stopped short of confirming they had happened at all. The veil of secrecy is in keeping with state policy; rights groups estimate the country executes thousands each year, but the true figure remains closely-guarded. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said Beijing 'fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned'. But the news sparked international outrage, with critics decrying China's 'inhumane' system and pointing to the vast array of alleged killings reported in recent years. China's 'conveyor belt' of executions remains a deeply unsettling, and elusive, product of the courts and tendency to pursue the harshest possible punishment for even non-violent crimes. Executions are traditionally carried out by gunshot, although lethal injections have been introduced in recent years. But in a more disturbing development, the country is said to have rolled out 'mobile death vans' to expedite its killings - an industrial-scale method of execution with a troubling evocation of Nazi Germany. China is believed to execute more prisoners each year than the rest of the world combined. Pictured: Archive image shows Chinese police presenting a group of convicts for sentencing, many of whom went on to be executed Chinese police lead a condemned man into a special execution van (file image) Image allegedly shows the inside of one of the converted police buses used in China Capital punishment was once a public affair. Hangings in 19th century Britain and executions by guillotine in revolutionary France attracted huge crowds who would, it was hoped, be deterred from crime by the brutal spectacle. These days, state killings in public are mostly resigned to Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. In Japan and the United States, they are carried out behind closed doors. But China's approach remains uniquely shrouded in mystery. The country does not share figures on who it kills, though rights groups warn thousands are being killed each year by firing squads, lethal injections and, allegedly, in mobile 'death vans'. While critics warn of the disturbing frequency of 'wrongful' executions, later finding the condemned innocent, China's application is streamlined by a justice system notorious for favouring prosecutors. Courts have a 99.9 per cent conviction rate. On top of this, death sentences are frequently handed down for dozens of crimes - ranging from drug trafficking to murder, but also white collar crimes such as corruption. According to a report published in 2021, China's Penal Code of 1997 - which is still in force today - has 46 crimes punishable by death, including 24 violent crimes and 22 non-violent crimes. Criminal law in the country is as severe as it is obfuscated, with many crimes punishable by death under Beijing's draconian legislation. There have also been recorded examples of summary executions in China - where a person accused of a crime is executed immediately upon being deemed guilty, although often without the benefit of a fair and free trial. At the junction between a wide range of qualifying offences, a high prosecution rate, and a population of 1.4bn, the country is poised to execute more prisoners each year than the rest of the world combined. In 2022, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty said that at least 8,000 people per year were executed in China from 2007. Over the years, videos and pictures have emerged of public 'execution rallies' and summary killings. While the practice was meant to have been discontinued in 2010 in favour of the use of lethal injections, the use of firing squads have been recorded since. In one case, a man who stabbed nine school children - Zhao Zewei - was shot dead by a firing squad in 2018, in front of a crowd of villagers. Canada's foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly said she and former prime minister Justin Trudeau had asked for clemency for the dual citizens An inmate screams before being taken to execution in Ghanghzou in 2001 A vehicle marked 'Zunyi City Middle-Level Court: Penal Vehicle,' like the converted death vans China is also claimed to use mobile death vans in some cases, allowing roaming death squads to carry out the state-sanctioned killings of civilians without the need to move the prisoner to an execution ground. Minghui, a volunteer operation reporting on the Falun Gong community, said the buses had been in use in China since 2004 for their expediency in killing political dissidents. 'In the eyes of CCP officials, the biggest advantage of the execution vehicle is the convenience of taking organs from criminals for profit: their eyes, kidneys, livers, pancreas, lung and all other useful body parts, are harvested,' they concluded, referencing China's alleged organ harvesting trade. On the outside, they appear as normal police vehicles, with no external markings to indicate use. On the inside, the vans are said to be equipped to function as a mobile execution chamber. The rear of the vehicle houses a windowless chamber where the execution itself takes place. CCTV cameras are also present in the van, meaning the execution can be recorded or watched if officials desire to monitor it, Amnesty reports. A bed slides out from the wall of the van, to which the convicted criminal is strapped. A syringe would then be jabbed into their arm by a technician, before a police official administers a lethal injection by pressing a button. Police parade prisoners during an execution rally at a stadium in Kunming, the capital of China's southwestern Yunnan province, 26 June 2001 Police officers stand guard behind suspects during a public sentencing rally in Baokang, central China's Hubei province September 28, 2007 According to Amnesty International, Chinese provincial authorities distributed 18 vans in 2003. Some reports suggest they have been used since the 1990s. The rights group says they were introduced 'in an effort to improve cost-efficiency' and were 'replacing the traditional execution method of firing squads'. On March 6, 2003, as the use of the vans was approved in Yunnan province, two farmers were executed by lethal injection in the back of a mobile execution van. Liu Huafu, 21, and Zhou Chaojie, 25, had been convicted of drug trafficking. What started out as a trial in Yunnan soon became a national affair after gaining the backing of the Supreme People's Court in Beijing. The court urged all provinces to acquire the vans 'that can put to death convicted criminals immediately after sentencing'. Amnesty noted concerns that the system heralded as being more 'efficient' and 'cost-effective' could 'facilitate an even higher rate of execution'. The vans are reported to be a key part of China's organ trade, with a 2012 estimate suggesting 65 percent of donated organs came from executed people. Activists say bodies are quickly cremated - making it impossible for the families of those executed to determine if their organs have been removed. The vans have drawn comparisons to larger models developed by the Nazis in the Second World War to gas prisoners during the Holocaust. The concept of a truck re-equipped with a gas chamber emerged around 1940. Soon, improvised gas vans patrolled the streets. More than 100,000 Germans with mental and physical disabilities had been euthanised by August 1941. Sex workers and Romani people were also murdered in staggering numbers. In 2012, a spectator appeared to capture an execution by firing on camera (pictured) Footage showed police officers leading a man out into a clearing near a village, as a crowd of people watched from a nearby overpass, before shooting him in the back of the head Convicted murderer Naw Kham is seen being taken to his execution in March 2013 in China China insists that those on death row are treated fairly. Amid outrage over the reported killings of four Canadian nationals, the embassy spokesperson said Beijing 'fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned'. China also sent a clear message to Canada to stay out of its business. Canada should 'respect the spirit of the rule of law and stop interfering in China's judicial sovereignty,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said yesterday. But with a judicial system that overwhelmingly favours prosecutors, and with dozens of crimes eligible for the death penalty, the introduction of mobile death vans only makes it easier for the state to kill. The right of the state to take the lives of its citizens - or indeed foreign nationals - remains a controversial issue of law and philosophy. As a deterrent, the penalty does not fulfil its purpose. Remarking on the 19th century hangings in Britain, French philosopher Albert Camus noted that the spectacle of brutal killings did not seem to dissuade criminals; hangings often attracted as many pickpockets, drawn to the large crowds of people. Of 167 condemned inmates at Bristol prison in 1886, 164 had themselves watched the horrific means of execution already, he noted. And there remains the most pressing challenge of exoneration; for every eight people executed, one person on death row has been found to have been wrongfully convicted - leaving countless people wrongfully sent to their deaths with no hope of compensation. China is believed to execute thousands of people each year, by firing squad and lethal injection. Beijing demands others stay out of its business, but new methods of fast-tracking killings only complicate the challenges inherent to its system of state-sanctioned executions. A romance fraudster who tricked women into paying him almost 200,000 has been spared deportation after a judge said the healthcare system in his native Nigeria could not meet the medical needs of his wife and children. Emmanuel Jack, 35, was jailed for three years in 2014 after he posed as an architect on dating websites and tricked six vulnerable women into paying him 186,000. In 2022, the Home Office ruled that he should be sent back to Nigeria, the country he left with his parents when he was 10, prompting Jack to mount a legal bid to remain in the UK. An immigration and asylum tribunal in London has found in his favour, ruling that deportation would be unduly harsh on Mr Jack's British wife and children, who suffer from complex medical issues and are reliant on his care. Tribunal judges Victor Rae-Reeves and Luke Bulpitt heard that his wife has medical issues arising from pregnancy. His 18-month-old son, who was born prematurely, has serious development issues that requires close supervision and specialist care, while his six-year-old daughter suffers from eyesight problems, the tribunal was told. Mr Jack wife has a 16-year-old daughter from a previous relationship for whom he also provides care, the tribunal heard. The daughter outlined the 'huge role' Mr Jack plays in her life in a letter, where she suggested 'the family would fall apart without him'. 'We have found that [the wife and two children] are all receiving long-term care for acute medical conditions,' the judges said. Emmanuel Jack, 35, was jailed for three years in 2014 after he posed as an architect on dating websites and tricked six vulnerable women into paying him 186,000 An immigration and asylum tribunal in London ruled that deportation would be unduly harsh on Mr Jack's British wife and children, who suffer from complex medical issues and rely on him 'For each of them, that care involves regular review from consultants, detailed ongoing investigations and a significant treatment regime. 'Moving to Nigeria would significantly disrupt that care, frustrate ongoing investigations and end the consistency of care that they have each been receiving to date. 'We consider that even if treatment is available, it is considerably harder to get treatment for all three of them in the same location. 'Even so, we consider that it would be unduly harsh for [them] to each leave their regular consultants and multidisciplinary teams who know them and their conditions well, to test the vagaries of the Nigerian health system. 'In particular we have found that there are ongoing and serious investigations in relation to [Mr Jack's son] and, even if care for him is available in Nigeria, it is unlikely to be the bespoke multidisciplinary attention he currently benefits from.' Mr Jack came to Britain in 1997 and was granted indefinite leave to remain. He went on to become a business student at the University of Salford. However, between 2011 and 2012 he targeted 'lonely' women in the UK and in the USA, working with a co-offender to carry out the fraudulent campaign. He used aliases including John Creed, John Windsor and Johnnie Carlo Rissi to persuade women to send him money. After his arrest and before his conviction, Mr Jack successfully applied for British citizenship. He was jailed for three years in March 2014. The Home Office later reviewed and then revoked his British citizenship, before informing him in November 2022 that he would be deported. Following his release from prison, the tribunal heard, he met a British woman to who he has now been married for more than six years. Mr Jack argued 'deportation would have an unduly harsh effect on his partner and children and amount to a disproportionate interference with the private life he had established in the United Kingdom'. It was heard that there are 'exceptionally close bonds in the family', with the family's priest stating that 'deportation would have a deleterious effect on family life and would be disastrous'. 'Deportation would tear apart a loving family,' said the priest. The tribunal accepted that the medical evidence was indicative of Mr Jack's 'deep involvement in the care of [his children]', finding him to be a 'loving and very hands-on father who plays a key role in their upbringing'. The tribunal also acknowledged that 'the medical challenges the family face have led to them becoming a particularly close-knit family'. 'We find that [Mr Jack] helps both children with their medical needs and therapies and his absence would potentially have a deleterious effect on their health because of the limitations that [his wife] may face in fulfilling such practical tasks', said the panel. 'We conclude that, given the extremely close relationships that, in these particular circumstances [Mr Jack] shares with [his family], [his] separation from the family as a result of deportation would have a very great emotional and psychological impact on them which goes far beyond the impact that might be experienced where there is not such a close and unbroken shared history. 'We find that the strength and depth of [his] relationships with his wife and children and the close involvement he has had in their care over a prolonged period mean it is highly likely that the young children in particular would suffer an emotional, psychological and practical impact as a result of [his] removal that is unduly harsh. 'Weighing all these factors and having due regard for the public interest in the deportation of foreign criminals... We are nonetheless satisfied that the effect of the deportation of [Mr Jack] would be unduly harsh on [his wife and children].' She was allegedly pushed up against a wall A major manhunt is underway after a woman was allegedly grabbed from behind in Sydney's North Shore as she made her way home from work late at night. Police have released CCTV images of a man, who is described as being of Caucasian appearance, riding public transport in Sydney in the early hours of Thursday. Officers believe he may be able to assist with their investigation after a 36-year-old woman told police she was stalked down Wycombe Road in Neutral Bay on her way home from work at 3.30am on the same day. It is alleged the woman was grabbed from behind with a hand covering her mouth in a seemingly random attack. The alleged attacker then proceeded to push her against a garage door before he interfered with her clothing and removed his pants. The woman was able to escape by kicking and biting the alleged attacker until he let go and she fled. She ran on foot towards Military Road before she was able to call for help. The woman sustained a laceration to her elbow but did not require medical treatment. Police released CCTV of a man they said might be able to assist with their investigation (pictured) The man is described as Caucasian with a slim build and aged between 18 and 20 NSW Police have since established a crime scene at the alleged attack site and detectives have launched an investigation into the incident. Officers believe the man in the released CCTV images may be able to help in their ongoing inquiries. The man is believed to be between the ages of 18 and 20 and is of a slim build with short light brown hair. He was wearing a light-coloured beige T-shirt, light blue denim shorts and running shoes at the time of the incident. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Royal Air Force jets could be deployed to police Ukrainian skies if proposals discussed by Sir Keir Starmer's coalition of the willing get the go ahead. Military planners discussed yesterday sending dozens of Typhoons to the the war-torn country to provide air cover for British troops policing a ceasefire during a meeting at Permanent Joint Headquarters, The Telegraph reported. The Prime Minister was joined by more than 30 other countries to discuss how the coalition of the willing could help Ukraine as it enters its third year of war against Russia. A senior RAF source told The Telegraph that air cover would have been discussed at the meeting because 'there will be a requirement for top cover' if foreign troops are on the ground in Ukraine. 'We would never send British troops out on the ground without giving them air cover', the source said. The RAF would most likely provide their Typhoon fighter jets or F35s as they offer 'excellent air-to-air policing'. Starmer has already vowed to stand alongside Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, and pledged to send British troops to the country to enforce a deal with Russia. Britain and France are expected to provide the bulk of a 20,000-strong force that would protect Ukraine's major cities and infrastructure. British Typhoon jets could be deployed to patrol Ukraine's airspace to cover British troops on the ground Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he visits a military base to meet planners mapping out next steps in the Coalition of the Willing in Greater London, Britain Keir Starmer has already vowed to stand alongside Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, and pledged ssend British troops to the country to enforce a deal with Russia. Image shows remains of a residential building destroyed by a bombing attack following Russian bombing in Kostiantynivka, industrial city of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on March 13, 2025 Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops and a vast force of drones would be used to defend the 600-mile frontline from any Russian attacks. Sir Keir said yesterday: 'What's happening here is turning political intention into reality, the concept into plans. 'It is vitally important we do that work because we know one thing for certain, which is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach. 'We know that because it happened before. I'm absolutely clear in my mind it will happen again.' The PM also issued a warning to Vladimir Putin yesterday that there would be 'severe consequences' if Russia broke any peace deal with Ukraine. Sir Keir stressed that any agreement must have the support of the US and that Putin mustn't be allowed to veto how Ukraine decides to defend itself. 'The point of the security arrangements is to make it clear to Russia there'll be severe consequences if they are to breach any deal,' the PM said. He added: 'That's why we need a forward leaning European element, which is what I've been working on intensely, obviously, with the French, that bring these allied countries together, and beyond. The PM also issued a warning to Vladimir Putin yesterday that there would be 'severe consequences' if Russia broke any peace deal with Ukraine Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C) speaks alongside Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey (L) as they study a map of Ukraine during a visit to a military base to meet planners mapping out next steps in the Coalition of the Willing at Northwood Headquarters in north-west London, on March 20, 2025 Starmer speaks to a Canadian Lt. Colonel as he visits a military base to meet planners mapping out next steps in the Coalition of the Willing ivilians evacuate their homes after Russian Iskander missile targets a civilian infrastructure facility, causing damage on vehicles, in Kharkiv Ukrainian emergency service firefighters extinguish a fire in garages following Russian shelling in the city of Kostiantynivka Ukrainian emergency service firefighters extinguish a fire in garages It comes as Europe's biggest military powers are drawing up plans to take on greater responsibilities for the continent's defence from the US. The discussions are in response to Donald Trump's repeated threats to walk away from NATO 'I think the Australians and New Zealanders have dialled in this morning in the middle of night in order to be part of the planning. So there is that level of integration. 'This is why it will require a US component, because it needs to be clear to Putin that there will be severe consequences if he breaches the lines.' It comes as Europe's biggest military powers are drawing up plans to take on greater responsibilities for the continent's defence from the US, including a pitch to the Trump administration for a managed transfer over the next five to 10 years, the Financial Times reported. The discussions are in response to Donald Trump's repeated threats to walk away from NATO. The UK, France, Germany and the Nordics are among the countries engaged in the informal but structured discussions, the newspaper reported, citing four European officials involved. Their aim is to increase European defence spending and build up military capabilities in an attempt to convince the US president to agree to a gradual handover. According to officials, it would take five to 10 years of increased spending to develop European skills to a level 'where they could replace most US competences'. 'Increasing spending is the only play that we have: burden sharing and shifting the dial away from US reliance', a source told the FT. The US currently pays 15.8 per cent of NATO's annual budget of $3.5 billion (2.7 billion) and has between 80,000 and 100,00 troops stations across Europe. Counter terrorism police are now leading the probe into an electrical substation fire that has shut London Heathrow Airport for the whole of today amid claims it could be a Russian sabotage attack linked to Vladimir Putin's campaign of disruption. More than 1,300 flights to and from the UK's busiest airport will be impacted today due to its closure following a blaze at the nearby North Hyde electrical substation. Thousands of homes were left without power with more than 100 people evacuated after a transformer at the substation caught fire as a huge explosion was heard. Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago. They allege that the disruption campaign is an extension of President Putin's war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine - although the Kremlin has denied carrying out sabotage efforts against the West. Earlier this week, Putin had agreed to a limited ceasefire that stops Russia targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Now, experts are analysing whether Russia could be linked to the UK substation fire, which is affecting 679 flights scheduled to land and 678 departures from Heathrow. Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation given the need to quickly establish whether sabotage was involved and the security questions relating to how one fire took down a major piece of infrastructure. It comes as: Your browser does not support iframes. This map shows disruption incidents Western officials have blamed on Russia and its proxies A transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation in west London caught fire last night Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today after it was closed Firefighters wearing masks at the scene of the major blaze in west London this morning Firefighters continue to extinguish the blaze at North Hyde electricity substation this morning Passengers board a bus near Heathrow Airport this morning after trains were also cancelled It comes after Russian spies sent a package of electric sex toys to western Europe before concealing incendiary devices ignited in UK and German DHL depots last July in what was alleged to have been a test run for a potential US-bound flight attack. Reacting to the Heathrow fire today, security expert Will Geddes, director and founder of the International Corporate Protection Group, told MailOnline: 'Heathrow has been looking at expanding - this isn't a great advert for their ability to do so safely. 'If I was a foreign hostile party and I wanted to disrupt one of the busiest airports in the world, cause international embarrassment, create many, many question marks, I would target something like a substation. 'The Russians are looking at everything. They're looking at our fibre optics under the sea, they're looking at our nuclear power stations, we know hostile reconnaissance is going on right now. 'So for this to be taken down so easily and cause such an impact, one has got to say if I was Russia, that's where I would focus my attentions as well.' He said the incident had the potential to be a similar act of sabotage to the fires on railway tracks in France ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics last July. Mr Geddes continued: 'If anybody did this it would either be down to some serious reconnaissance in advance to determine that this was a massive vulnerability. Your browser does not support iframes. Passengers are facing travel chaos today after Heathrow Airport had to close due to a fire Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today after it was closed Departure boards and other screens are dark in parts of London Heathrow Airport this morning A screen at Hatton Cross Underground station today tells passengers that Heathrow is closed An almost empty Arrivals Hall at Heathrow Terminal 4 in London this morning after its closure Police officers outside Heathrow Airport today after the hub was shut due to the nearby fire Heathrow staff within the airport today after it was shut due to the nearby fire 'They would have had to determine what leaning and what depth of responsibility and sort of impact would this substation have not only obviously on the local homes, but also on Heathrow Airport itself. 'Or you've got the easier, simpler answer that these guys have fallen asleep and they have not battle readied this substation for any type of eventuality of potential power outs, fires or anything like that. 'Where is the fire suppression system, why has that not worked? Is that because it's faulty or because it has been tampered with?' He said Russia and other hostile states would be glad to see the chaos it has caused 'and it's not outside the scope of a foreign hostile state to attack a substation or a power or utility supply to a key site.' Bob Seely, a Russia expert and former Conservative MP, told MailOnline that the chaos at Heathrow was at least a 'warning' about the threat of sabotage. He said: 'This has exposed a massive security vulnerability. If a substation fire can shut down one of the world's largest airports and Britain's busiest airport, it shows a dangerous lack of resilience. 'We should be building resilience into our critical national infrastructure, especially given the rise in Russian sabotage operations in Europe as well as the threat of home-grown terrorism or extremist protests designed to bring modern life to a halt.' Dr Seely, whose new book 'New Total War' is out this summer, added: 'Until we see different, this was very likely to have been an accident, but it is also a warning to us. Heathrow staff within the airport in today after it was shut due to the nearby fire Trolleys lined up at the empty arrival area outside Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport today Passengers at Hatton Cross Underground station pass a notice about Heathrow Airport today Planes remain parked on the tarmac at London Heathrow today An empty Terminal 4 arrivals hall at Heathrow Airport in London today amid the power outage Engineering teams attempt to empty water from an approach tunnel road that flooded due to pumps having no power near the site of the fire at North Hyde electricity substation today At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be impacted by the major closure today 'We need to design in and build in greater resilience in our critical national infrastructure.' Sky News security and defence editor Deborah Haynes said: 'Folk who track Russia's campaign of unconventional warfare in Europe will likely wake up wondering if the fire that cut power to Heathrow was an accident or something sinister. 'Understanding how or why the fire at a substation started will of course be key. Either way this does really rather highlight the vulnerability of a piece of national infrastructure as critical as our largest and most important civilian airport.' And Professor Lucy Easthope, an adviser on disaster response and recovery, and author of 'When the Dust Settles', added: 'It actually does not matter whether it was a Bic lighter and pile of newspapers or a deliberate attack. 'Either shows up the current vulnerability of national infrastructure, civil defence - I use that term deliberately - and the resourcing of response and readiness.' It comes after Richard Gaisford, chief correspondent for ITV's Good Morning Britain, said: 'Heathrow Airport is a key piece of UK national infrastructure. 'Now brought to a standstill by a fire outside of its well protected boundaries, that creates chaos around the world. Security services must be considering sabotage.' A fire caused by a suspected Russian incendiary device at a DHL depot in Birmingham last July A thermal power plant damaged by a Russian rocket attack in Ukraine in May 2024 A bus on fire by a hydroelectric power station after Russian attacks in Dnipro in March 2024 A man cycles past an electricity facility after a Russian attack in Kharkiv in March 2024 And Nick Ferrari asked on his LBC radio breakfast show: 'Anybody know where Vladimir Putin was last night wandering around with a can of unleaded?' Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, estimated that the cost of the impact to the global aviation system could total around 20million a day, with no guarantee that Heathrow will reopen on Saturday. Meanwhile former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev tweeted: 'I'm looking forward to Russia being blamed for the Heathrow fire. What are you waiting for, Starmer?' And Russian trolls on social media claimed the Heathrow fire could have been a Putin sabotage operation. One post on Kremlin-funded Readovka Telegram channel declared: 'Petrov and Boshirov came to see the cathedral again.' Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov - real names Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin - were the notorious suspects in the Novichok poisonings of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in 2018. The GRU military intelligence officers, who posed as tourists visiting Salisbury Cathedral, are both wanted in Britain for murder and attempted murder. But they have since been claimed to be spearheading a major Russian operation to sabotage Western countries. Another comment said: 'Are Petrov and Boshirov on vacation?' And a third wrote: 'Now Petrov and Boshirov went to see Big Ben. The excursion was a success.' Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via a video link in Moscow today President Vladimir Putin enters a hall for the Security Council meeting at the Kremlin today Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council today A fourth said: 'Thus [with this fire] Putin is trying to break the will of the British people to help their Ukrainian brothers for free.' And a fifth added said: 'Are they going to look for a 'Russian trace' again?' Back in the UK, the chairwoman of the Commons transport committee said it was 'speculative' to suggest at the moment that something sinister caused the Heathrow fire. Asked by Times Radio if she thought the fire may have been caused intentionally, Labour MP Ruth Cadbury replied: 'I think that's somewhat speculative. 'There are obviously questions about it, and I don't know enough about electricity, but for the airport to be dependent on one substation, it does raise questions.' She added it was 'very, very concerning' that 'one substation can close down an airport and there isn't an alternative source of energy'. Meanwhile Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the Government was doing everything it could to restore power to Heathrow. He was asked by Sky News whether a Cobra meeting of senior ministers would be convened to address the matter. Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he visits Northwood military headquarters in North West London yesterday to meet planners mapping out next steps in the 'Coalition of the Willing' Mr Miliband replied: 'I'm sure the Government will be convening in the most appropriate way. I'm not going to anticipate the precise form of that, but I'm already in touch with my colleagues on this issue. 'As I say, I've spoken to the National Grid, who are really at the epicentre of this, and we will be doing everything we can, both to restore power and help the National Grid. 'To do that, and to ensure that the DfT (Department for Transport), and the Government as a whole, plays its part in, as best we can, minimising the disruption to passengers.' Speaking to the BBC, Mr Miliband said the fire was 'an unprecedented event' and 'we will have to look hard' at 'resilience' for major institutions such as the airport. He told Radio 4's Today programme: 'I spoke to the National Grid this morning. There's obviously been a catastrophic fire at this substation, an unprecedented event actually in their experience. 'It appears to have knocked out a back-up generator as well as the substation itself. What I know is that they are working as hard as they can to restore power as well as the fire being put out. 'It's too early to say what caused this but I think obviously we will have to look hard at the causes and also the protection and the resilience that is in place for major institutions like Heathrow. With any event like this we'll have to both understand its causes and learn lessons from it.' Aviation consultant John van Hoogstraten said the airport should have been able to rely on its own diesel generators and alternate power cables from the National Grid. SNCF staff and French police inspect the scene of a suspected attack on the high speed rail network at Croiselles on July 26 last year, hours before the Olympic Games opening ceremony Passengers queuing at the Gare Du Nord train station in Paris after 'malicious acts' severely disrupted travel across France on the day of the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics He added that that the apparent failure to provide back-up power pointed to a lack of testing of 'business continuity' plans. Mr van Hoogstraten of Straten Consulting Services said that airports should ideally have separate power cables attached to the grid with one acting as 'a redundancy network' to be used in the event of a failure of the main supply. He told MailOnline: 'Unfortunately a lot of the times, the cables end up coming from the same sub-station and if you have a sub-station failure, then your redundancy line fails as well. 'I have seen that so many times in architectural drawings in planning stages where you have a separate line, which goes to the same substation.' Mr van Hoogsraten said he believed Heathrow would also have had six or seven diesel generator plants spread over different sites to provide power for each terminal, air traffic control and auxiliary services. He said: 'Normally the redundancy systems are large diesel engines situated somewhere within airport buildings. The switch over protocol is normally within three seconds. You notice a flick of the lights when they switch on and that is about t. 'They will run primary power around the airport facility. They should have multiple generators on site. Each terminal should have its own generators. They are massive and the size of large shipping containers. An anchor presumed to belong to the Eagle S tanker on HMS Belos off Porkkalanniemi after it was recovered from the Gulf of Finland in January. The Swedish navy said that month that it had recovered from the Baltic Sea the anchor of the oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet' and damaging four underwater telecom cables and one power cable A woman holds a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sevastopol earlier this week 'They can run a substantial amount of electricity and can go on for as long as you put in diesel with a tank normally lasting 24 hours. 'I was a little bit surprised when I heard that it was an off-site issue at a sub-station which caused the whole airport to close. That is quite significant that the internal systems failed to pick up the load. What rights do passengers have when flights are cancelled? The closure of Heathrow airport today wrecked the travel plans of around 200,000 people. Here are the answers to eight key questions on assistance, refunds and compensation. - What flights are covered by UK consumer law? Flights operated by an airline departing from a UK airport, flights operated by a UK or EU airline arriving at a UK airport, or flights operated by a UK airline arriving at an EU airport. - What options do passengers have? They will have the choice of being re-booked on to an alternative flight, or accepting a refund. - What does re-booking involve? If a flight is cancelled, airlines are required to get you to your destination if you still want to travel. Most will book you on to another of their flights, but you may be entitled to travel with another airline or by an alternative mode of transport if it will get you to your destination significantly sooner. Passengers doing this are often required to purchase their own tickets and submit a claim to their original airline for reimbursement. - What assistance should be provided by airlines? Airlines have a duty of care to stranded passengers. This includes a reasonable amount of food and drink (often via vouchers), a means to communicate (often by refunding the cost of phone calls), and accommodation and transfers if an overnight stay is required. - What happens in reality? Airlines often fail to provide this assistance during major disruption because they are overwhelmed by requests and there are not enough available rooms in local hotels. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says in this scenario, passengers can organise their own assistance and claim the costs back from the airline by submitting receipts. - Does that mean I should book a luxury hotel suite and order champagne? Airlines are unlikely to reimburse you for that. The CAA advises passengers not to 'spend more than is reasonable'. - How long must assistance be provided? Until your flight takes off or you accept a refund after deciding not to travel. - Am I entitled to compensation for a delayed flight? Not for today's incident, as the fire was outside airlines' control. Advertisement 'The first question to ask is what testing protocol do they have for their back-up systems. It would appear that the testing protocols were not sufficient. Maybe they test every 12 months? Should they be doing it every 30 to 60 days? These are the questions that need to be asked. 'The difficulty in business continuity is trying to predict what could go wrong. A power failure is one of the prime things you should look at.' He added: 'To shut a whole airport for an entire day due to a fire at a substation tells of a significant failure of a business continuity plan. Business continuity is great as a paper plan but it rarely gets tested in earnest. Unfortunately on days like today it does get tested and it is found to fail 'Whilst they may have all the backups in place, they need a mechanism to test it enough. But testing is a cost impact to the business so this is where business continuity tends to fall apart.' Speaking about when disruption could end, Mr van Hoogstraten also said: 'It is the whole domino effect of flights catching up. It's going to take a minimum of a week to catch up and that's being optimistic.' A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'We are working with the London Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire which remains under investigation. 'While there is currently no indication of foul play we retain an open mind at this time. Given the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Met's Counter Terrorism Command is now leading enquiries. 'This is due to the specialist resources and capabilities within that command that can assist in progressing this investigation at pace to minimise disruption and identify the cause.' A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 11.59pm on March 21, 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. 'We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.' This is believed to be the worse disruption at Heathrow since December 18-23 2010, when thousands of Christmas getaway passengers camped in the terminals because of widespread cancellations caused by snow. An inquiry found the clearing of aircraft stands was slower than required. In April of that year, air travel was grounded across Europe because of an ash cloud caused by an Icelandic volcanic eruption. A system failure suffered by air traffic control provider Nats in August 2023 led to flights being cancelled across the UK for several hours. Online tracking services showed flights being diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Ireland's Shannon Airport. A number of flights were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada and the United States. Gatwick Airport accepted seven diverted flights from locations including Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow. Workers clean up this morning after Russian drones hit shops in an attack on Odesa in Ukraine Shannon Airport in Co Clare accepted six diversions from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. Aviation consultant John Strickland said the closure of Heathrow for an entire day is 'a massive dislocation to have to recover from'. Travel expert: This is an extraordinary situation By NICKY KELVIN The shutdown of London Heathrow today owing to a fire at a nearby electrical substation will have a major impact on more than 1,300 flights globally, with aircrafts in the air being diverted to alternative destinations. Passengers are being advised not to travel to the airport under any circumstances and with significant disruption expected throughout Friday and for days to come, it is important that travellers continue to check their specific airline's website for more information and emails too - travellers are often given updates on cancellations here before anywhere else. The scale of the closure is expected to impact flights today and over the weekend, as airlines look to rebook passengers on alternative flights, however this is once the airport has been able to reopen which is still unconfirmed given how the situation is still developing. This is an extraordinary situation. Passengers are reminded that under normal circumstances, if they are delayed for more than two hours on a short-haul flight, airlines must provide them with support such as food and drink and reimbursement for phone calls. If they are delayed overnight, the airline will provide them with accommodation and transport to a hotel or home. Usually if travellers arrive at their destination more than three hours late, they are entitled to compensation, however as these are extraordinary circumstances and out of the airlines' control, this type of compensation will very likely not be payable. With those travellers looking to find alternative routes, it is important to look to utilise points and miles - I'm current stuck in Doha with a flight to London Heathrow but have managed to book a business class flight to Amsterdam this afternoon for just 43,000 Avios plus 200, placing me very close to London with a host of different options to get back to the UK using other airports or the Eurostar. NICKY KELVIN is editor at The Points Guy. For more of his tips, click here Advertisement He added: 'Once an aircraft is in the wrong place with the crew, if you're away from home you don't have another crew to suddenly bring the plane and the passengers back. 'You've got to wait until that crew has taken its rest, which is always required after a duty period. 'We're talking about several days worth of disruption to get the planes recovered and start using them again to move planned and disrupted passengers.' He likened the disruption to what happened after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, when flights were grounded across the US. He said: 'It's a contained version of 9/11'. Mr Strickland also said the cost for the aviation industry will 'run into millions', adding: 'You can't quantify it yet.' Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said affected passengers are not entitled to compensation but airlines should provide assistance such as overnight accommodation if required and re-routing bookings, including with rival carriers from alternative airports. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said there was a large-scale power outage in Hayes, Hounslow and the surrounding areas impacting more than 16,300 homes. According to the power company's website, authorities aimed to restore power by 3pm today. A National Grid spokesperson said the fire had damaged equipment and they were 'working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible'. London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were still on the scene at Nestles Avenue in Hayes just before 6am with part of a transformer still alight. Around 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties and a 200-metre cordon was been put in place as a precaution. Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said at around 8am that the fire was 'under control'. He said: 'This was a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible. 'Thanks to their efforts and co-ordinated multi-agency response, we successfully contained the fire and prevented further spread. 'We will maintain a presence at the scene throughout the day, assisting the National Grid as they assess the site.' A local resident, who did not want to be named, said she heard a 'massive explosion' just before midnight. All the power went off, she said, adding: 'It just smelled like burning.' Firefighters led 29 people from surrounding properties to safety. London Ambulance Service said there were no casualties at the scene of the fire. Footage posted to social media showed huge flames and large plumes of smoke coming from the facility. Officials from Finland have accused Russia and Belarus of directing migrants to their borders. Pictured: Migrants arrive at the border crossing between Finland and Russia, in Salla, in 2023 The brigade said nearly 200 calls had been received in relation to the incident with crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding areas on the scene. Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.23pm last night. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Heathrow in numbers: Fire closes UK's largest airport Heathrow is the UK's largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. Here are some key figures about the airport and the impact of its closure following a fire at an electrical substation. 229,000 passengers travel through Heathrow on an average day. 1,357 flights have been disrupted today, including 679 arrivals and 678 departures. 120 flights were already in the air when the closure was announced. More than nine in 10 passengers using Heathrow are travelling to or from other countries. Of the 83.9 million passengers recorded at the airport in 2024, 78.8 million were using international services - 28.1 million for services with other EU countries and 50.7 million for non-EU countries. Domestic passenger traffic accounted for 5.0 million, or 6% of the total. Heathrow handled a total of 482,143 aircraft last year: 479,506 passenger aircraft and 2,637 cargo aircraft, Civil Aviation Authority data shows. This was the equivalent of around 1,317 aircraft a day. By comparison, the next busiest airport in the UK, Gatwick, handled 265,608 aircraft, or around 726 a day. The fire at the substation left 100,000 homes without power at the peak of the outage, later reduced to 4,000. 150 people were evacuated from surrounding properties and 200 emergency calls were made. Advertisement The fire came after the Associated Press documented 59 incidents in which European governments, prosecutors, intelligence services or other Western officials blamed Russia, groups linked to Russia or its ally Belarus for cyberattacks, spreading propaganda, plotting killings or committing acts of vandalism, arson, sabotage or espionage since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The incidents range from stuffing car exhausts with expanding foam in Germany to a plot to plant explosives on cargo planes. They include setting fire to stores and a museum; hacking that targeted politicians and critical infrastructure; and spying by a ring convicted in the UK. Richard Moore, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence service MI6, called it a 'staggeringly reckless campaign' in November. Proving Russia's involvement in any incidents can be difficult, and the Kremlin has denied carrying out a sabotage campaign against the West - but more governments are publicly attributing attacks to Russia. The alleged disruption has a double purpose, according to James Appathurai, the Nato official responsible for the alliance's response to such threats. One is to create 'political disquiet' and undermine citizens' support for their governments and the other is to 'undercut support for Ukraine,' said Mr Appathurai, deputy assistant secretary-general for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber. During its investigation, the AP spoke to 15 current officials, including two prime ministers, and officials from five European intelligence services, three defence ministries and Nato, in addition to experts. Experts say the scope of the campaign is particularly worrying at a time when US support for Ukraine is wavering and European allies are questioning Washington's reliability as a security partner and ally. The cases are varied, and the largest concentrations are in countries that are major supporters of Ukraine. Some incidents had the potential for catastrophic consequences, including mass casualties, as when packages exploded at shipping facilities in Germany and the UK Western officials said they suspected the packages were part of a broader plot by Russian intelligence to put bombs on cargo planes headed to the US and Canada. In another case, Western intelligence agencies uncovered what they said was a Russian plot to kill the head of a major German arms manufacturer that is a supplier of weapons to Ukraine. European authorities are investigating several cases of damage to infrastructure under the Baltic Sea, including to a power cable linking Estonia and Finland. A photo taken from a Russian Defense Ministry Press Service video released this week shows a Russian 'Grad' self-propelled multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions Finnish authorities detained a ship, suspected of being part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' used to avoid sanctions, after that cable and others were damaged. When a fake French Defence Ministry website claimed citizens were being called up to fight in Ukraine, a French minister denounced it as Russian disinformation. German authorities suspect Russia was behind a campaign to block up scores of car exhausts ahead of national elections, according to a European intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Officials from Estonia, Poland, Latvia and Finland, meanwhile, have accused Russia and Belarus of directing migrants to their borders. Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told the AP that the Kremlin has never been shown 'any proofs' supporting the accusations and said 'certainly we definitely reject any allegations.' The AP scoured through hundreds of incidents suspected to be linked to Russia since Moscow's invasion that were reported in open sources such as local media and government websites. They were included in the AP's tally only when officials drew a clear link to Russia, pro-Russian groups or ally Belarus. Most of the accusations were made to or reported by the AP, either at the time they occurred or during the course of this investigation. Fourteen cases were reported by other news organizations and attributed to named officials. Ukrainian firefighters put out a blaze this morning following a Russian attack in Odesa In about a quarter of the cases, prosecutors have brought charges or courts have convicted people of carrying out the sabotage. But in many more, no specific culprit has been publicly identified or brought to justice. Countries have always spied on their enemies and long waged propaganda campaigns to further their interests abroad. But since the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has become 'bolder,' hitting the West with sabotage, vandalism and arson in addition to the tactics it previously used, including killings and cyberattacks, said Elisabeth Braw, an expert on the attacks at the Atlantic Council in Washington. 'The way you can weaken a country today is not by invading it,' she said. China has also been accused of espionage and cyber operations in Europe, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in 2022. Kyiv has denied this. 'Multiple countries engage in hybrid operations,' said David Salvo, managing director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. 'Russia is the overwhelming culprit in Europe.' A coordinated approach - especially sharing intelligence - is critical to tracking and countering the threats, Mr Appathurai said. Firefighters at a damaged building after a Russian strike in Kostiantynivka earlier this month That cooperation - never easy since intelligence is not shared collectively across Nato members - faces new challenges now, as the Trump administration increasingly questions the role of the alliance, embraces Russia and spars with its European partners. Still, as the scale of the campaign becomes clearer, some nations are becoming more assertive. Mr Appathurai pointed to the approach to suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea, where Nato has launched a mission to protect critical infrastructure. 'If we are to have a chance of stemming the threat,' Ms Braw said, 'then we have to work together.' Meanwhile, Mr Miliband said today that Sir Keir Starmer is not moving away from the idea of placing British ground forces in Ukraine as part of a future peacekeeping deal. The Prime Minister said yesterday that the so-called 'coalition of the willing' was dividing its planning efforts between air, sea, land and borders, and regenerating Ukraine. He did not explicitly repeat his previous commitment to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, leading some to speculate Sir Keir was shifting the emphasis of the mission. But Mr Miliband signalled this was not the case. 'I think people are over-interpreting what the Prime Minister said yesterday,' he told Sky News. Estonian naval ships sail in the Baltic Sea in January, as part of stepped-up Nato patrols in the region following suspected sabotage of undersea cables The senior Cabinet minister added: 'Look, I think work is obviously ongoing on the terms of a ceasefire and the protection that will be put in place to protect that ceasefire and to protect the people of Ukraine. That operational planning, that military planning, is ongoing. 'You wouldn't expect me to get into the detail of that but I don't think people should jump to conclusions. 'That planning is an ongoing process and obviously is one going on in concert with our allies, and indeed in concert with Ukraine and the government of Ukraine.' Yesterday, Sir Keir met planners from 31 allied countries at Northwood military headquarters in North West London, to firm up proposals for the so-called coalition of the willing to help enforce any peace agreement. European and Commonwealth nations have signed up to the allied effort, which would aim to deter Russia from breaking a ceasefire. After the meeting, Sir Keir warned that Moscow would face 'severe consequences' if it breached any peace deal with Kyiv amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a truce to end the war. As Britain and its allies square up to Russia, Defence Secretary John Healey meanwhile told The Times that Britain could do 'untold damage' to adversaries with its nuclear deterrent. Mugshots released by the Metropolitan Police show (from left) Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova and Tihomir Ivanchev, who were convicted in the UK of spying for Russia Calls this week between Mr Trump, Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have failed to produce the 30-day ceasefire envisaged by the White House. Instead, the Russian leader agreed to a suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure, although Ukraine has said other civilian targets including a hospital have since been struck. Mr Zelensky said he believes a 'lasting peace can be achieved this year' after he spoke on the phone with Mr Trump on Tuesday. In the same call, the US leader suggested that Washington takes ownership of Ukrainian power plants to ensure their security, though his Ukrainian counterpart later said this would only relate to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in south-east Ukraine. Further peace talks are due to take place in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, with delegations from Kyiv and Moscow expected to meet US officials. The first company backed by Steven Bartlett on Dragons' Den has been rescued after collapsing into administration - but now the celebrity entrepreneur will not see a return on his 150,000. Online artisan cheese retailer Cheesegeek has been bought by the Albex Group for an undisclosed sum. Bartlett, who is a regular feature on the popular BBC show, stumped up 150,000 for a five per cent stake in the London-based company in 2021. The deal was shown in an episode airing in 2022, which marked Bartlett's first Dragons' Den appearance. Cheesegeek's founder Edward Hancock was told at the time that Bartlett was looking to recoup his money within two years. The company had been valued at 3million. Bartlett held 16,427 shares in the business through his private equity firm, Catena Capital, according to documents available on Companies House, City AM reports. But the cheese subscription service, which began in 2017, ran into financial trouble with combined losses of almost 3m on total revenues in excess of 4.5m, The Grocer reported. Cheesegeek, the first company backed by Steven Bartlett on Dragons' Den, has been rescued after collapsing into administration - but the celebrity entrepreneur will not see a return on his 150,000 Bartlett, who is a regular feature on the popular BBC show, stumped up 150,000 for a five per cent stake in the London-based company in an episode aired in 2022 Food ingredients business Albex agreed to buy the company in a pre-pack deal - which has saved Cheesegeek's fortunes - but Bartlett and other backers will not see a return. Hancock told the retail publication: 'We have had some incredible highs and lows over those years, as any founder will attest to as they try and scale a business from ground zero, and I am incredibly grateful to all of our shareholders who have supported that vision over the years. 'Our acquisition means we can continue this mission, with minimum disruption to any of our amazing suppliers, or customers, albeit down a slightly different path than we might have imagined. 'But most importantly, it means we are now going to be in the strongest possible position to deliver on the goal that I began with back in 2017.' In 2023, Cheesegeek raised 421,000 during a Crowdcube campaign to raise funds for an expansion of the business into physical retail. And last year, a new range of artisan cheeses were launched in Sainsbury's. But despite these efforts, the business ran out of funds. Albex director Andrew Dalglish said: 'Cheesegeek's mission to support local artisan cheesemakers and make great cheese accessible is an important one. The deal was shown in an episode airing in 2022, which marked Bartlett's first ever Dragons' Den appearance Since joining the show, Bartlett - the youngest Dragon to join the panel - has made more than 20 investments Richard Simpson and Edward Hancock of Cheesegeek appeared on the Dragons' Den episode The cheese subscription service, which began in 2017, ran into financial trouble before being bought out by Albex 'We're delighted to be able to support it. 'As a family company we always take a long-term view and are committed to fully supporting Cheesegeek. Our funding gives them the stability needed to continue operating and more. 'It will allow them to achieve their full potential and do so in partnership with the artisans who bring much needed diversity and craftsmanship to the UK's cheese industry.' The same team will remain in place, led by founder Edward Hancock. Since joining the show, Bartlett - the youngest Dragon to join the panel - has made more than 20 investments. Cheesegeek represented his second largest investment after the 250,000 he ploughed into fine jewellery brand Kimai, in return for 3 per cent of the business, shown in series 21. A Royal Navy officer has been jailed in Bahrain after he allegedly stepped in to help break up a fight between a couple. Owen Haggerty, who was on his first deployment, was arrested on assault charges in the middle eastern country last month and was being held in a detention centre. Haggerty, 22, was convicted of the crime in court on Wednesday and sentenced to three months in jail. The sailor was expected to return to Britain in February after having spent four months in Bahrain. His 'terrified' mother Kirsty Reynolds has spent over 4,000 hiring her own lawyer and is working with her local MP, the Home Office and the Royal Navy to get her son back to the UK. She fears that Haggerty 'won't come out alive' after being locked up with dangerous criminals in the foreign country. 'He's going to be in with murderers, rapists, all the horrible people,' Reynolds, a salon owner from Glasgow, said. 'All I wanted was to welcome him home. Now, I don't know if I ever will.' Haggerty, who always wanted to travel, joined the Royal Navy in 2021. He left for his first deployment in Bahrain in October 2024. Owen Haggerty, 22, was arrested on assault charges in Bahrain last month and was being held in a detention centre. He was convicted on Wednesday and sentenced to three months in jail His 'terrified' mother Kirsty Reynolds (pictured with Haggerty) has spent over 4,000 hiring her own lawyer and is working with her local MP, the Home Office and the Royal Navy to get her son back to the UK Reynolds, 41, said her heart sank when she received a call from a Royal Navy Officer who said that her son had been arrested while deployed. The young sailor was just one day away from finishing his first overseas assignment when he tried to stop a brawl in the middle of the street last month. Haggerty, after the fight, remained on the scene to help an injured victim, but was taken into custody when police arrived, The Daily Record reports. He had been held in a detention centre until Wednesday when a judge ordered him to three months in jail. Reynolds alleged that her son 'never even got a chance to speak in court' before authorities handed down his sentence. 'It was over in a matter of seconds,' she said. 'The colour drained from my face as I was told the news.' 'When I spoke to Owen, he was in floods of tears. He told me: 'I'm trying to stay positive, but I just want to come home.' 'My whole world has shattered.' Reynolds, 41, (pictured with her son) said her heart sank when she received a call from a Royal Navy Officer who said that her son had been arrested while deployed The young sailor was just one day away from finishing his first overseas assignment when he tried to stop a brawl in the middle of the street last month Reynolds, who was concerned about his safety, was pleasantly surprised when he appeared to be having 'the time of his life'. She added: 'I haven't slept a wink. It's absolutely draining. I can't process it. It's so surreal.' 'It's going to be so dangerous. I'm terrified he's not going to come out alive,' she added, claiming that Haggerty is 'such a positive and happy person with not a bad bone in his body'. She is also worried that her son 'mentally can't do any more time over there, especially in prison.' Haggerty's older brother Jack, 29, travelled to Bahrain four weeks ago to support his younger sibling. Jack said he felt 'completely helpless' after Haggerty's court hearing on Wednesday, which he says was the last time he got to see his brother. 'When we came out of the court, I was speaking to the lawyer. It had been in Arabic and Owen was behind and overheard what was said. It looked as if he could have just broken down,' he told the newspaper. 'He was handcuffed to another inmate and I was trying to walk with him to talk to him but could only follow to a certain point.' The Royal Navy says it is working with British Embassy in Bahrain and is in 'egular contact with Bahrain's law enforcement authorities'. The Foreign Office also assisting Haggerty's family Jack branded the situation as 'horrendous' and says the family, knowing how difficult the last five weeks have been, are worried for Haggerty's future. They fear the next three months in jail is 'mentally going to scar him for life', with Jack claiming the situation is 'completely inhumane'. He told the Record that Haggerty would spend 23 hours a day in a cell while at the detention centre and only 'gets out for one hour'. 'His brother said he's just a shell of himself how much more is he going to be able to take?,' Reynolds echoed. 'Nobody ever expected it to go this far. He's just a boy.' A Royal Navy spokesperson told the newspaper that 'welfare of our people is a top priority which is why we are continuing to support a member of the Royal Navy detained in Bahrain as well as his family'. 'We are working with the British Embassy in Bahrain and in regular contact with Bahrain's law enforcement authorities,' the statement added. 'Regular visits have been made to the individual by the chain of command, colleagues and consular officials to provide support.' The Foreign Office also told the Record that it is assisting Haggerty's family. Have YOU been affected by the closure? Has YOUR flight been diverted? Email: olivia.christie@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com At least 220,000 passengers have been left stranded in Britain and around the world after a fire shut Heathrow Airport for at least 24 hours - with Net Zero being blamed and the level of global travel chaos sparked by the outage being compared to 9/11. The UK's busiest airport was forced to close on Friday after its main electrical substation exploded and set alight less than two miles away in the west London suburb of Hayes. The complete closure of Heathrow due to the loss of just one electrical substation is unprecedented and raises major questions for Heathrow and the Government. It has also left many stranded travellers raging and reduced to tears. Aviation consultant John Strickland said: 'It's a contained version of 9/11 or, to an extent, the Icelandic volcanic eruption. I remembered seeing on those occasions - particularly more so on 9/11 - it happened so quick and then US airspace was closed, they were turning back aircraft and holding planes'. One industry source has claimed that Net Zero is to blame because Heathrow is moving from diesel back-up generators to biomass. Reform MP Richard Tice said: 'It appears that Heathrow had changed its backup systems in order to be, wait for it...Net Zero compliant. They had got rid of their diesel generators and had moved towards a biomass generator that was designed not to completely replace the grid but work alongside it. Their net zero compliant backup system has completely failed in its core function at the first time of asking. MailOnline has asked Heathrow to comment on his claims. Around 220,000 people were due to travel through Heathrow today and the chaos from the complete closure will rumble on over the weekend and into next week because aircraft and passengers are now in the wrong place all over the world. At least 1,357 flights have already been cancelled, diverted or delayed today. Some planes already on their way London managed to land at other UK airports - but many including Gatwick are now full. Dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon and other European cities, stranding tens of thousands of people abroad. Some planes were even forced to turn back and set down in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Delhi, where Air India has now cancelled all its flights to London. British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Air Canada and Delta have suffered the largest number of cancellations and diversions. As Heathrow is shut down sparking worldwide travel carnage: Smoke billows from the electrical substation that exploded last night, forcing the complete closure of Heathrow airport in a crisis being compared to 9/11 in terms of flights grounded The deserted runway and stands at Heathrow today Firefighters extinguish the fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire Thursday night and lead to a closure of Heathrow Airport in London The shocking scenes at Heathrow's main substation in Hayes, which exploded and set alight last night shutting down Britain's busiest airport for all of Friday grounding 1,357 flights and more than 200,000 people Your browser does not support iframes. A tearful stranded couple at Heathrow T5 this morning A passenger at Heathrow T5 this morning after fire at an electrical substation knocked out power Heathrow Airport has been closed on Friday due to a large blaze at a nearby substation The fire has knocked out power to the airport and 16,300 homes in west London Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky Firefighters douse the remainder of a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London The fire appears to now be out but Heathrow will be closed all day Senior sources at the airport have insisted that Heathrow does have back-up power systems but 'activating contingencies for the whole airport requires some time' and 'isn't immediate', one insider said. Bosses are expected to be hauled before Parliament to explain. Julian Bray, one of the UK's leading aviation experts said: 'We are all amazed that Heathrow does not have a viable standby independent of the grid emergency power supply but relies on the National Grid. It's not as if Heathrow is short of money - it has a substantial war chest for building the third runway'. More than 16,300 homes in west London are also suffering from blackouts on Friday. All trains to Heathrow have also been cancelled. It is the biggest disruption for UK aviation since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded and diverted flights in April and May 2010, costing airlines and its customers an estimated 130million every day. The airport, which sees a plane land or take off every 45 seconds, announced its closure at 2am on Friday and ordered passengers not to come to its terminals. The fire broke out at around 11.30pm on Thursday, and despite firefighters working throughout the night to bring it under control, part of the transformer remains alight. Police have launched a major incident as investigators look into the cause of the fire, which is out and is being damped down by specialist firefighters in breathing apparatus this morning. A local resident said a 'bright flash of white' lit up the sky when the explosion happened. Mathew Muirhead was working a night shift on Thursday when he noticed smoke rising from the electrical substation. 'We were stood outside our branch in Hayes and my colleague noticed smoke coming over the trees,' the 42-year-old told PA. 'It was 23.30 when we saw it, we were heading to West Drayton, so we went to check it out, we heard the sirens as we were headed to Bulls Bridge roundabout. 'We saw a bright flash of white and all the lights in town went out. 'My wife rang me and told me our electric was out - I found out a few hours later that Heathrow was completely shut down.' A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: 'Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport.' A British couple stuck in China have 'no idea' how they will get home after their flight was cancelled. Sharon Towers and her husband told MailOnline they are stranded in the airport as strict immigration policy means they can't check into a hotel. She said: 'My husband and I are stuck in China. 'We should have taken off at 1pm local time here Instead we are stuck at the airport with no idea how and when we will get home! 'We can't check in to a hotel because of the strict immigration visa policy, to enter back in to the airport, we need a boarding pass so customs can confirm when we are leaving the country. 'We don't know that, so we cant get a boarding pass to enter back in to the airport'. An airport worker dealing with the chaos speaks on the phone as a passenger sleeps on a terminal floor Stranded passengers with suitcases wait on a nearby road to Heathrow There will be days of delays to the UK Passengers affected by the closure have shared their anguish on social media. One person wrote: 'There's a major fire at Heathrow Airport so my flight has now been diverted to Washington and diverted. 'No clue what happens next. I just want to go home and see my family.' Another added: 'Today my flight from Heathrow has been cancelled so what should I do now? My mum is not well and I have to go and see her ASAP.' Flights set to land at Heathrow are already being diverted, with Flightradar24 saying it would affect at least 1,351 flight to and from Heathrow. 'That doesn't include any flights that might be canceled or delayed due to aircraft being out of position,' the flight tracker site said in a statement. That means as many as 145,000 travelers could be affected by the closure, according to aviation-data firm Cirium. FlightRadar24 spokesman Ian Petchenik said that the unplanned closure of Heathrow Airport will disrupt flights all over the world. 'Heathrow is one of the major hubs of the world,' he told the Telegraph. 'This is going to disrupt airlines' operations around the world.' A firefighter helps putting out a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport today Sharon Towers and her husband sent this picture of them stuck in China today The London Fire Brigade said in a statement that crews would remain at the scene of the fire 1.5miles north of Heathrow Airport throughout the night Travellers are seen stuck inside a terminal at Heathrow as hundreds of flights are cancelled More than 16,300 homes in west London are also suffering from blackouts as the fire at the electrical substation continues to rage Travellers are facing travel chaos has Heathrow airport is shut down due to a fire. Pictured: Traffic near the airport early on Friday morning People walk past a departure board displaying Singapore Airlines SQ318 flight to London Heathrow as cancelled Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports for international travel. It had its busiest January on record earlier this year, with more than 6.3 million passengers, up more than 5 per cent for the same period last year. January also was the 11th month in a row it averaged over 200,000 passengers a day, with the airport citing transatlantic travel as a key contributor. Flight Radar said it expected there to be 220,000 passengers today. European airports are dealing with an influx of planes that are too far into their journeys to turn back and have to be diverted to their airports. Meanwhile, rail services to and from Heathrow have been cancelled for Friday, National Rail said in a statement. The Elizabeth line between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4 and also between Shenfield / Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 5 have been suspended, with Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 also being cancelled. Footage of the blaze shows large clouds of smoke billowing into the sky as firefighters are trying to put out the fire, while videos from inside Heathrow showed the airport lying largely dark amid the power outage. The fire has left thousands of West London properties without power. The explosion was reported at 11:30pm, triggering an immediate response from emergency services, including ten fire engines and specialist fire units Flights set to land at Heathrow are already being diverted, but it is currently unclear how many flights are affected An electricity substation near Heathrow has caught fire - leaving thousands of West London properties without power An estimated 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be directly impacted by diversions, while more still are expected to be canceled More than 70 firefighters and ten fire engines have rushed to the scene, on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, to tackle the blaze. Roughly 150 people have been evacuated from the area and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution. Firefighters have advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed to stop the 'significant' amount of smoke entering their homes. One witness told LBC: 'I was crossing a bridge and there was a huge explosion.' Another posted a video of the blaze on X writing: 'Scary scenes in Hayes. Power cut and massive fire.' A local resident claimed that 'all the power is out for the entire area up to Hounslow.' According to the Powertrack site, around 16,000 households are thought to be affected. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed the a large-scale power outage in the surrounding areas. The London Fire Brigade said in a statement during the early hours of Friday: 'Around 20 people have been evacuated from neighbouring properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution with around 150 people evacuated. 'The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke and local residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed. 'The Brigade's Control Officers have taken almost 200 calls to the fire. The first call was received at 10.23pm and crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding fire stations were mobilised to the scene.' A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation' (the fire is pictured above) One witness told LBC: 'I was crossing a bridge and there was a huge explosion' Roughly 150 people have been evacuated from the area and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution In a further statement around 3am, the fire brigade warned: 'Crews remain at the scene of the fire in #Hayes - please continue to keep windows & doors closed due to smoke & avoid the area. This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night.' Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade Pat Goulbourne said: 'This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible. 'The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption. 'Firefighters have led 29 people to safety from neighbouring properties, and as a precaution, a 200-metre cordon has been established, with around 150 people evacuated. 'Due to the significant amount of smoke, we strongly advise local residents to keep their windows and doors closed. Control Officers have handled nearly 200 calls, offering vital guidance and reassurance to the public. 'This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.' The cause of the fire remains unknown. No injuries have so far been reported. Airline shares plunged today as the Heathrow fire caused carnage for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Stock in British Airways parent group IAG was down more than 4 per cent in early trading as markets absorbed the impact of the chaos. It latest stabilised, but was still around 1.5 per cent in the red. Analysts pointed to the huge compensation costs for travellers, which could wipe huge sums off earnings. EasyJet shares fell over 2 per cent before clawing back some ground, while Germany's Lufthansa - which also operates flights out of Heathrow - lost more than 1 per cent. The airport has been shut for the day after its main electrical substation exploded and caught fire less than two miles away in the west London suburb of Hayes. Around 220,000 people were due to use Heathrow today and the chaos from the complete closure will rumble on over the weekend and into next week because aircraft and passengers are now in the wrong place all over the world. Stock in British Airways parent group IAG were down more than 4 per cent in early trading as markets absorbed the impact of the chaos The FTSE 100 fell this morning, although there were other factors at play such as grim public sector finance figures The shocking scenes at Heathrow's main substation in Hayes, which exploded and set alight last night shutting down Britain's busiest airport for all of Friday grounding 1,357 flights and more than 200,000 people At least 1,357 flights have already been cancelled, diverted or delayed today. Some planes already on their way London managed to land at other UK airports - but many including Gatwick are now full. Dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon and other European cities, stranding tens of thousands of people abroad. Some planes were even forced to turn back and set down in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Delhi, where Air India has now cancelled all its flights to London. British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Air Canada and Delta have suffered the largest number of cancellations and diversions. It is the biggest disruption for UK aviation since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded and diverted flights in April and May 2010, costing airlines and its customers an estimated 130million every day. Ministers have so far been playing down speculation about a Russian sabotage operation. The need to shut down the airport due to the loss of just one electrical substation is unprecedented and raises major questions for Heathrow and the Government. It has also left many stranded travellers raging. Senior sources at the airport have insisted that Heathrow does have back-up power systems but 'activating contingencies for the whole airport requires some time' and 'isn't immediate', one insider said. A passenger at Heathrow T5 this morning after fire at an electrical substation knocked out power A Home Office deportation worker was sacked for sharing a post made by Reform UK MP Richard Tice in reaction to a GB News article. Gary Costin said he 'lost everything' when he was accused of 'spreading hatred' and fired following a complaint about a message he shared on Whatsapp. In a post on X from 2024, Tice, the Reform leader at the time, commented on a GB News article titled: How Home Office Islamic Network aims to recruit Muslim staff and 'influence policymakers' from the inside. The piece pointed to Home Office documents showing that a group of more than 700 civil servants aimed to make policy more inclusive of Muslim needs. Mr Costin, who had spent 15 years working for government contractors G4S and Mitie, forwarded a screenshot of Tice's post, which had already been captioned 'Uh oh'. The 57-year-old was then suspended in April last year, although he had not added any of his own comments when sending the message forward to the Whatsapp group. Gary Costin (pictured), 57, was fired after sharing a post made by Reform MP Richard Tice A screenshot of the message forwarded by Mr Costin in the Whatsapp group chat In letters to Mr Costin, Mitie said he had breached its social media and disciplinary policies 'by being potentially discriminating'. The post by Reform's Tice read: 'SHOCKING REVELATIONS: Large Islamic Network inside Home Office, now suspended, appears to have been deliberately undermining government policy. 'How many other departments have similar? Answers needed urgently. Possible national security issues at stake.' Mr Costin was suspended the following day after an anonymous complaint was made to Mitie's whistleblowing hotline. The co-worker claimed the message was shared to 'spread hatred' towards Muslims, which they argued was 'bullying'. It is understood the complainant also described the post as 'an insult to all my Muslim colleagues', adding it had 'done nothing but spread hate,' The Telegraph reported. During a disciplinary hearing, Mitie accepted that Mr Costin had not intended to cause upset, but argued this was irrelevant as the image was or could be 'perceived as offensive and racist by others'. Mr Costin, whose job was to deport foreign-born criminals from the UK, said: 'I have lost almost everything. I have nothing whatsoever against Muslims. Mr Costin told Talk TV that the ordeal had affected his mental health, his marriage and his financial situation Mr Tice (pictured) was Reform UK leader when he posted in response to a GB News article 'It was a purely factual message on a small Whatsapp group we used to share information relevant to our work.' He added that the loss of his job has made him depressed and nearly resulted in the end of his marriage to Dawn, an air hostess. Mr Costin told TalkTV: 'I lost my job. It's been hard. I had a decent car, which I've had to sell to keep my head above water. I could have lost my home. 'A year on, I am still devastated. I never intended to cause any offence to anyone.' Mr Costin said he has 'lost his confidence' and been rejected by 'half a dozen jobs' after potential employers see the post and decline to take his application further. As of March last year, there were a total of 18,220 UK civil servants who identified as Muslim. The latest figures show Christianity is the most common religion among civil servants, with 166,140 civil service workers declaring they were Christian in 2024. An elite British institution will change its 800-year-old Latin ceremony to use gender-neutral language to please non-binary students. The University of Oxford has conferred its degrees in Latin since the 12th century but the wording used could be changed to make it more inclusive. A vote will be held on a proposal to change the Latin ceremonial text to cater to those who identify as non-binary. In a gazette alerting faculties to the planned changes, the introduction of the first gender-neutral degree ceremony in Oxfords almost 1,000-year history is deemed 'necessary', according to the Telegraph. The changes involve stripping Latin words that are grammatically gendered masculine or feminine. Instead of referring to masters students as 'magistri' which is a masculine word, the proposed text uses the term 'vos' which is a neutral term for 'you'. The word 'doctores', which is also masculine, could be changed. For undergraduates the word for 'who', which has a masculine and feminine form, will be replaced with a neutral word. The University of Oxford has conferred its degrees in Latin since the 12th century but the wording used could be changed to make it more inclusive Instead of referring to masters students as 'magistri' which is a masculine word, the proposed text uses the term 'vos' which is neutral terms for 'you' Image: Lord Hague walks with senior university leaders ahead of the Admission ceremony at the University of Oxford in February The push for gender-neutral language will also apply to other formal occasions at Oxford. A vote will be held on April 29 and will affect all ceremonies from October this year. The language changes have been approved by Dr Jonathan Katz, a Latin expert who serves as the universitys Public Orator. The proposals come as the Labour government cut the 4million Latin Excellence Programme which supported the teaching of language in state schools, raising concerns about an attack on subjects often deemed 'elitist'. This led to accusations that Sir Keir Starmer was 'pulling up the drawbridge behind him' by axing Latin, despite himself studying the subject. It also comes as top universities are 'queering the curriculum' in a bid to make their courses more welcoming to transgender and non-binary students. A number of Russell Group institutions are trying to embed 'queer perspectives' into courses, a Daily Mail audit shows. The word 'queer' was once considered offensive but has now been 'reclaimed' as an empowerment term - by both transgender activists and the gay community. The push for gender-neutral language will also apply to other formal occasions at Oxford. File photo A vote will be held on April 29 and will affect all ceremonies from October this year. The University of Oxford is pictured The idea comes from the movement to 'decolonise the curriculum', which involves adding more ethnic minority writers to courses. Universities have introduced gender-neutral toilets and inclusive language guides. SOAS, University of London, said in 2022 guidance to staff that they should 'embed trans, non-binary and intersex awareness into their curriculum' and invite guest lecturers who are 'trans, non-binary or intersex'. And in 2021, York University's English department held a seminar to 'celebrate ways of queering the curriculum', including studying 'encounter LGBTQ+ writers from across history'. A University of Oxford spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The proposed changes before Congregation create a single text for each ceremony, covering all options students now have for registering genders in line with legal reporting requirements for higher education.' A financial trader is appealing for a greater share of his wifes 61.5 million fortune after lawyers in their bitter divorce row claimed a woman would have been treated differently. Simon Entwistle's 'painful' divorce from heiress Jenny Helliwell culminated with an award in his favour of just 400,000, 2.1 million less than he had originally claimed. That sum was reduced to 325,000 after a deduction for Ms Helliwell's costs after a divorce judge said the three-year marriage did not entitle him to maintain a lavish lifestyle once the relationship ended. Given that his own costs were 450,000, the award left Mr Entwistle 125,000 out of pocket - a scenario that his barrister has now argued would not have materialised were their roles reversed. Following a lavish 500,000 wedding in Paris in August 2019, Mr Entwistle 'enjoyed the trappings of being married into a family of exceptional wealth,' living in a 4.5 million villa in Dubai gifted to Ms Helliwell by her father, affluent businessman Neil Helliwell. Ms Helliwell works as an interior designer for one of her father's companies. She has described him as a 'self-made man'. Mr Entwistle was ordered out of the family home with 48 hours' notice in August 2022 after the relationship hit the rocks. Mr Entwistle, originally from Bolton, claimed 2.5m in the subsequent divorce battle. 'The judge was warned against gender prejudice, but failed to heed that warning,' said Deborah Bangay KC, challenging the original ruling at the court of appeal in London. 'Had the positions been reversed, it is very unlikely that he would have... so ungenerously assessed the needs of a wife after a six-year relationship.' She also accused the wife of using 'unconscionable pressure...and exploitation of a dominant position' in getting the husband to sign a pre-nuptial agreement protecting her millions, 'brought about at the instigation of the wife and signed on the day of the wedding.' The silk argued that Ms Helliwell had rendered void the pre-nuptial agreement with Mr Entwistle - whose claims included 26,000 for a personalised meal plan because he 'couldn't even cook an omelette' - by refusing 'to entertain any form of mediation'. Ms Helliwell is worth a minimum of 61.5m, with her wealthy dad having gifted her valuable assets and put some of his business interests in her name. Jenny Helliwell, the 43-year-old daughter of a wealthy Dubai-based businessman, is estimated to be worth 61.5 million. Her former husband was awarded 400,000 in divorce proceedings Simon Entwistle's 'painful' divorce from Ms Helliwell culminated with an award that was not only 2.1 million less than he originally claimed but also left him 125,000 out of pocket Lawyers for Ms Helliwell, who originally offered her former husband an out-of-court settlement of 500,000 rising to 800,000, have argued the original judgment was 'generous' 'Instead of mediation, the wife issued threats of the utmost gravity to force the husband's removal from the family home by the Dubai authorities if he did not vacate,' she said. She added that Ms Helliwell's initial financial disclosure of 23m in assets 'was grossly deficient', representing only about a third of her true net worth, and argued that the judge had erred in failing to take 'admitted breaches of disclosure and the pre-nuptial agreement' into account when making the award. Lawyers for Ms Helliwell, who originally offered her former husband an out-of-court settlement of first 500,000 and then 800,000, have argued that the high court judge had in fact been 'generous to him'. Explaining his decision not to award the full 2.5 million claimed by Mr Entwistle at the time, Mr Justice Francis acknowledged that the husband would be left out of pocket. 'The parties went through this painful litigation and the husband is actually worse off now than he would have been if he never brought a claim in the first place, which is tragic for everybody,' said the judge. He nonetheless declined to increase the award, branding Mr Entwistle's professed needs 'aspirational'. Those needs included an 'astonishing' claim for 36,000 a year for flights and 26,000 a year 'on a meal plan just for himself'. 'He said to me, "I can't even cook an omelette,"' said the judge. 'Well, my answer to that is, "Learn." It is not difficult. 'You do not have to be a master chef to learn how to eat reasonably well.' He added: 'Being married to a rich person for three years does not suddenly catapult you into a right to live like that after the relationship has ended.' At the original hearing last January, Mr Entwistle's personal assets were estimated to be worth about 850,000 - a fraction of his wife's wealth, which enabled them to enjoy an 'opulent standard of living' after their relationship began in 2016. He claimed in evidence during the original high court trial that despite signing a prenuptial agreement, he believed it was a 'tick-box exercise just to keep father on side' rather than a serious document. 'Throughout this pre-nup process, [I understood] I was a Helliwell now,' he said. 'We are multimillionaires, we don't elevate people to a lifestyle and then just when we are fed up of them... just because you don't feel like you want to be in a relationship, just drop them and leave them with nothing.' Summing up in the court of appeal, his barrister said: 'The judge didn't consider the disparity in resources, the length of the relationship, the husband's contribution to the marriage and the parties' standard of living. 'Had he done so, he would not have left the husband in a worse position than before he brought the case, because the costs were 450,000 and he received 325,000.' The relationship between the former couple, both of whom are 42, began in 2016. Ms Helliwell's father Neil is described in the judgment as 'an enormously successful and wealthy man who has spent a huge amount of his time working extremely hard, mostly in the Middle East'. Edward Faulks KC, for Ms Helliwell, offered a robust rebuttal of Mr Entwistle's case. 'The appeal is a challenge to the judge's findings of fact and the exercise of his discretion as to the weight to be given to the pre-nuptial agreement and the husband's needs,' he said. 'The husband's narrative of the background... is highly selective and in some respects materially wrong. He asserts as facts aspects of his case which were significantly disputed. 'He was found to be a dishonest and unreliable witness; conversely the wife was found to be honest, reliable and doing her best at all times to tell the truth to the court. 'Despite the judge's findings about the pre-nuptial agreement, he didn't hold the husband to it. 'He assessed the husband's needs on a generous basis and awarded him a lump sum of 400,000 in addition to his own assets. He did so despite the fact that the husband's 'needs' were self-created. 'They largely arose from his depletion of funds on costs borne of his decision to challenge the pre-nuptial agreement and thereafter reject generous open offers which exceeded his ultimate award.' He went on to say the husband 'misrepresents the evidence about the wife's (financial) disclosure', telling the court: 'She was aware that her 'controlling' father had placed some of his business interests partly into her name and that of her sister. She did not know the detail of what he had done; still less what the businesses were worth.' He also denied the wife exerted undue pressure on the husband to sign the pre-nup, adding: 'it is not unfair or undue pressure to state that you will not get married without a PNA. 'The husband's assertion that the wife was the dominant party who pressured him to conclude the PNA is contrary to the judge's findings and the evidence. 'He was a confident, experienced, highly educated professional with a knowledge of PNAs. He was financially astute. 'The wife lacked confidence and was dependent financially and emotionally on her father. 'Had the husband accepted the wife's generous offers, the stress and expense of a trial would have been avoided. 'This was a three-year, childless marriage. It was not his first marriage. 'It is the wife's submission that the judge was generous to the husband.' Lady Justice King, Lord Justice Moylan and Lord Justice Snowden have now reserved their ruling on the case after a day-long hearing, to be given at a later date. Last year was the deadliest on record for migrants, with nearly 9,000 people dying worldwide, according to the United Nations. 'At least 8,938 people died on migration routes worldwide in 2024,' the fifth year that numbers have reached record highs, the UN's migration agency said on Friday. 'The tragedy of the growing number of migrant deaths worldwide is both unacceptable and preventable,' said Ugochi Daniels, the deputy director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 'Behind every number is a human being, someone for whom the loss is devastating,' Daniels said. 'The actual number of migrant deaths and disappearances is likely much higher, as many have gone undocumented because of the dearth of official sources,' the IOM said. It added that the identities and other details of the majority of victims were unknown. Asia, Africa and Europe had record numbers of people dying in 2024 with 2,778, 2,242 and 233 respectively. A total of 2,452 people were recorded as dying in the Mediterranean Sea, the main gateway for those trying to reach Europe, it said. Last year was the deadliest year for migrants, with nearly 9,000 people dying worldwide, according to a new UN report 2024 was the fifth year that figures reached record highs. Picture shows Spanish Coast Guard vessel tows a fibreglass boat with migrants onboard to the port of Arguineguin, on the island of Gran Canaria, December 2024 Migrants disembark from the Italian navy ship Libra at the port of Shengjin, northwestern Albania, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 Final data were not available yet for the Americas but figures so far show at least 1,233 people died. These included 'an unprecedented 341 lives lost in the Caribbean in 2024 and a record 174 deaths of migrants crossing the Darien' jungle between Colombia and Panama. The Darien jungle was at one point the main migratory corridor for people trying to reach the United States. The latest figures come after a migrant died this week after trying to cross the English channel in an overcrowded dingy carrying about 80 people. French coastguard said the vessel had left Dunkirk on Wednesday night and ran into trouble in the early hours of Thursday morning. Last year, nearly 37,000 migrants managed to make their way to the UK on small boats. Two years prior, nearly 46,000 migrants were smuggled into Britain. More than 150,000 migrants have crossed the Channel into the UK since 2018. So far, over 4,000 migrants have made the dangerous crossing into the UK this year, with numbers and rates expected to rise as the weather gets warmer in the spring and summer. The tragedy comes weeks after an inquiry heard that 27 migrants died trying to enter the UK after Border Force allegedly rescued the wrong boat. Around 33 people are believed to have been on board an inflatable dinghy which sank in the early hours of November 24, 2021 - killing at least 27 of its passengers including men, women and children. It is said to be the deadliest-ever English Channel crossing on record. Your browser does not support iframes. According to the report, identities and other details of the majority of victims were unknown A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel The latest figures come after a migrant died this week after trying to cross the English channel in an overcrowded dingy carrying about 80 people A total of 2,452 people were recorded as dying in the Mediterranean Sea, the main gateway for those trying to reach Europe. Pictured: Rescued migrants find shelter at a depot, following a shipwreck offshore in Kalamata, Greece Last year, nearly 37,000 migrants managed to make their way to the UK on small boats A migrant holds a newborn baby as a woman lies inside a rubber boat with other migrants who were rescued off the island off the Canary Island of Lanzarote in Spain A migrant holds a newborn baby as a woman lies inside a rubber boat with other migrants who were rescued off the island off the Canary Island of Lanzarote in Spain Also this week, at least six migrants died and 40 were reportedly missing after a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Italian coastguard said separately it intervened after being alerted to a rubber dinghy in distress on Tuesday, finding 10 survivors and six bodies. With bad weather making operations more difficult, the coastguard said it was being supported by aircraft supplied by the army and the police, as well as the European Union's border agency Frontex. A UNHCR spokesperson said survivors told rescuers that many among a group of 56 migrants - from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali - fell into the water due to bad weather a few hours after setting off from the Tunisian city of Sfax. The rescued migrants were assisted in Lampedusa by the UNHCR and its partner agency the International Rescue Committee (IRC), while the Italian Red Cross was prividing psychological support, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, Brits heading for Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera this summer were warned this week that beaches are being turned into gruesome graveyards as bodies of dead migrants continue to wash up on the Spanish islands' shores. The chilling warning comes as six decomposing bodies have been found in Balearic beached in the last six weeks. A Spanish Coast Guard vessel tows a fibreglass boat with migrants onboard to the port of Arguineguin, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain The strip of Atlantic ocean between West Africa and the Canaries is one of the world's deadliest migration routes According to Spain's interior Ministry, almost 11,000 migrants have reached Spain this year by sea as of March 15 A Spanish Coast Guard vessel tows a fibreglass boat with migrants onboard to the port of Arguineguin, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, March 5, 2025 In the last six weeks alone, six decomposing bodies have been found on the sand, shocking tourists and locals alike. Most have been in a skeleton or unrecognisable state, adding even more distress to onlookers, and last week, a severed leg was unearthed from the sand. The bodies all belong to migrants who have tried to get into Spain by making perilous boat journeys across the sea. They are so desperate to reach Europe that they pack into tiny 'pateras', often without life jackets, and end up losing their lives. On some days, hundreds of migrants have arrived in boats, even though the winter conditions have been atrocious, with cold weather, huge waves and biting gale-force winds. Officials have warned that the situation could get even worse this summer as they expect increased perilous attempts to reach the Balearics this summer due to the better weather conditions. Locals are shocked by the horrifying situation and say tourism chiefs should be sending this warning message to holidaymakers, while local media has described the Balearic Islands as a 'cemetery'. Migrant arrivals to the Balearic Islands have become increasingly common in recent years, with authorities reporting a surge in small boat crossings from North Africa. Spain has also been dealing with growing numbers of African migrants arriving in the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off northwest Africa. The strip of Atlantic ocean between West Africa and the Canaries is one of the world's deadliest migration routes. Nearly 47,000 people who made the crossing last year reached the archipelago. Most were citizens of Mali, Senegal and Morocco, with many boarding boats to Spain from the coast of Mauritania. According to Spain's interior Ministry, almost 11,000 migrants have reached Spain this year by sea as of March 15. Britain will have to pay heavily upfront if its defence firms want access to a new 150billion EU fund for re-arming Europe, the German ambassador has warned. Miguel Berger said the UK must pay its fair 'share' if it wants to be part of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative unveiled this week. Berlin's man in London spoke after Brussels published proposals that include a 'buy European' clause that means the fund can only be used to purchase arms from EU-linked countries or Ukraine. The Prime Minister is hoping to agree such a deal as part of his Brexit 'reset', with EU leaders due to travel to London for a summit in May. But Sir Keir Starmer has been stung by French-led demands to back down on post-Brexit fishing rights in exchange. Mr Berger told Times Radio that UK access to the schemes would be part of the PM's planned Brexit 'reset' negotiations, adding: 'We are speaking about EU taxpayers money, which will be invested. 'We would like to have the United Kingdom as part of future programmes. 'But that would also mean first we would need to sign a security and defence agreement between the UK and the EU. This will be part of our reset talks. 'But it's also the question about the UK share, because obviously EU taxpayers money cannot go simply into British companies.' Miguel Berger said the UK must pay its 'share' if it wants to be part of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative. Berlin's man in London spoke after Brussels published proposals that include a 'buy European' clause that means the fund can only be used to purchase arms from EU-linked countries or Ukraine. The Prime Minister is hoping to agree such a deal as part of his Brexit 'reset', with EU leaders due to travel to London for a summit in May. But Sir Keir Starmer has been stung by French-led demands to back down on post-Brexit fishing rights in exchange. He suggested that the UK could use involvement in the Horizon research scheme as part of the down-payment. yesterday the Government attacked the French attempt to link the defence programme to fishing rights. A senior source told The Times: 'Europe needs Britain's defence industry a bit more than the French need a few extra fish. 'It is astonishing how puerile the French are behaving. They have not grasped the enormity of the moment.' The new EU defence fund has been established in the wake of US President Donald Trump's threats to scrap American security guarantees for Europe and Ukraine. The 150 billion fund will allow EU member states to take out loans from funds raised against the EU budget. But, among other restrictions, it will prohibit the purchase of complex weapons systems where non-EU countries hold 'design authority'. Concerns were recently expressed in Germany that the US has the power to shut off F-35 fighter jets, which are widely used across Europe. But the US denied the existence of a 'kill switch'. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, this week hinted at French pressure to exclude the UK as she outlined 'different worries' among member states. 'We are working on having this defence and security partnership with the UK,' she told a press conference in Brussels. 'I am really hoping that for the summit, which is in May, we can have results. But of course, like you know, it is related to member states and also different worries.' Sir Keir yesterday swerved a suggestion that Britain was being 'snubbed' by the EU, although he said there was 'scope for more joint work' on defence among the UK and European allies. 'I'm very pleased that the EU is signalling their intent to spend so much on defence,' he said on a visit to Barrow-in-Furness, the Cumbria port where the UK's nuclear submarines are based. 'I've been making the argument, as others have, that all of us in Europe need to step up. 'Not just in relation to Ukraine, but more generally in our own collective self-defence. That does mean more spend, more capability, more coordination. 'I want to have those discussions with our European allies - we're continuing those discussions with them, because I do think there's scope for more joint work here.' Britain could do 'untold damage' to adversaries with its nuclear weapons, the Defence Secretary has said in a stark warning to Vladimir Putin. John Healey insisted the deterrent was the 'ultimate guarantor' of the UK's security amid rising tensions and questions about the Nato alliance. Keir Starmer also sent a message to Moscow that there will be 'severe consequences' if it breaches any peace deal with Kyiv. The tough stance came as Sir Keir and Mr Healey met defence officials from 31 allied countries at the Northwood military headquarters in London yesterday. And they laid the keel for Dreadnought, the first submarine being built to replace the Vanguard-class , in a ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness. In an interview with The Times, Mr Healey said: 'Our nuclear deterrent is there as a deterrent. It is the ultimate guarantor to any would-be adversary. We have the power to do untold damage to them if they attack us.' Keir Starmer and John Healey laid the keel for Dreadnought, the first submarine being built to replace the Vanguard-class, in a ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness yesterday Your browser does not support iframes. Britain could do 'untold damage' to adversaries with its nuclear weapons, the Defence Secretary has said in a stark warning to Vladimir Putin He added: 'We should not fight shy of the fact we are a nuclear power, that we do have an independent nuclear deterrent.' The PM said the military planning involved offering support to Ukraine by air, sea and land if a deal were reached. But he ruled out redeploying UK troops from countries such as Estonia to commit to Kyiv, saying: 'There's no pulling back from our commitments to other countries. 'The mood in the room because this came up in the private briefing I had was that this actually will help reinforce what we're doing in Nato in other countries, so they see it as an opportunity rather than a question of moving troops around.' Sir Keir said: 'It is vitally important we do that work because we know one thing for certain, which is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach. 'We know that because it happened before. I'm absolutely clear in my mind it will happen again.' He added: 'The point of the security arrangements is to make it clear to Russia there will be severe consequences if they are to breach any deal. 'That's why we need a forward-leaning European element, which is what I've been working on intensely obviously with the French that brings these allied countries together, and beyond.' Western allies have been increasingly alarmed at the apparent shift in the US attitude since Donald Trump returned to the White House. He has launched negotiations with Russia while criticising Volodymyr Zelensky, including an extraordinary public slanging match in the Oval Office. Kyiv has agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire, but Putin effectively rejected the idea in a call with Mr Trump this week. Instead, he agreed to a suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure - although Ukraine says other civilian targets including a hospital have been struck. Putin has also demanded a complete stop on all military and intelligence support to Ukraine as the price of a deal. Russia currently occupies around a fifth of the country following a full-scale invasion in 2022. Speaking from the White House yesterday, Mr Trump said that 'we're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia'. Sir Keir and Mr Healey in a Vanguard class sub in Scotland earlier this week The HMS Agamemnon nuclear submarine is seen docked at the BAE systems factory in Barrow yesterday 'We spoke yesterday with, as you know, President Putin and President Zelensky, and we would love to see that come to an end, and I think we're doing pretty well in that regard, so hopefully we can save thousands of people a week from dying.' Mr Zelensky said he believes a 'lasting peace can be achieved this year' after his call with Mr Trump. In the same call, the US leader suggested that Washington could take ownership of Ukrainian power plants to ensure their security. However, Mr Zelensky later told journalists their conversation focused on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control. He has made it clear that 'the issue of ownership' of the other three plants was never discussed. 'All nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine,' Mr Zelensky said. A diving instructor on his first-ever active body recovery mission was forced to search through a notorious underwater labyrinth in 'zero visibility' waters after a diver vanished in the cavern. Rescuers were called to Twin Caves in the Blue Springs Recreation Area in Florida on Tuesday after three people failed to return to the surface on time. The complex cave system features three passages that extend hundreds of feet below and multiple 'jump tunnels' that run off into wider tunnels. Edd Sorenson, a world renowned diver and rescuer who owns a local scuba diving center, was 50 miles away from Merritt's Mill Pond when one of the divers contacted him to report that two members of their party were missing. Mehdi Zinetti, one of the instructors at Sorenson's diving center, was forced to rush into action and began the search for the missing divers. He located one of the divers and safely dragged her to land, before jumping back into the water to look for her friend, Sorenson told News 13. Zinetti returned to the surface, thinking the diver had possibly made it out of the cavern through one of it's multiple exits, but when he didn't see him, the scuba instructor went back into the cave with his limited air supply. Conditions at Twin Caves were clear Tuesday morning when the trio entered the labyrinth, but by the time Zinetti entered the cave so much sediment had been stirred up that he was in 'complete zero visibility' and had to do 'everything by feel'. Zinetti eventually found the victim and pulled him out, but despite best efforts, the diver could not be saved. Mehdi Zinetti, (pictured) a diving instructor on his first-ever active body recovery mission, was forced to search through a notorious underwater labyrinth in 'zero visibility' waters after a diver vanished in the Twin Caves on Tuesday afternoon Rescuers were called to Twin Caves in the Blue Springs Recreation Area in Florida on Tuesday after three people failed to return to the surface on time. The complex cave system features three passages that extend hundreds of feet below (file photo of a diver entering the cave) Merritt's Mill Pond is a popular swimming and diving spot due to its clear, light blue waters and lack of vegetation. The Twin Caves can be found roughly 88ft away from the swimming platform at the man-made pond (file photo) Sorenson, who is America's leading expert in dive rescues and recovery, received the rescue call around 1.15pm Tuesday while he was in Vortex Springs. The Jackson County sheriff urged him to speed back to Merritt's Mill Pond in Marianna, he claims, saying 'I had carte blanche to a little faster the speed limit.' Sorenson says he got on his boat and was headed back to the recreation area when Zinetti bravely went into Twin Caves to look for the missing divers. 'Now, one of my instructors who's been training to be a body recovery diver, he had not done a body recovery or a rescue,' he explained. He says Zinetti located the missing woman, asked 'are you ok? Yes? You need to go. I got this', and watched as she exited the cave herself. The 'intricate' cave system allows for divers to return safely to the surface without being seen, Sorenson explained. But when Zinetti came back up and didn't see the third diver, he knew he needed to go back in. 'He came back in to search again and now he was on an open circuit instead of his rebreather,' Sorenson said, suggesting that Zinetti's air supply was low. 'He went back in again. And now he is in complete zero visibility.' Zinetti eventually found the diver, took note of what he could based on his training and, pulled him out of the water. By the time Sorenson arrived, police and Florida Fish and Wildlife officials were already on the scene. CPR had been administered and a life flight was inbound, but the diver - who has not been named - has declared dead. The coroner is working to determine the cause of death. Edd Sorenson, (pictured) a world renowned diver and rescuer who owns a local scuba diving center, says conditions at Twin Caves were clear Tuesday morning when the trio entered the labyrinth, but by the time Zinetti entered the cave so much sediment had been stirred up that he was in 'complete zero visibility' and had to do 'everything by feel' The 'intricate' Twin Caves system allows for divers to return safely to the surface without being seen, Sorenson explained. Pictured is a file photo of a diver exploring the cavern Your browser does not support iframes. Sheriff Donnie Edenfield thanked Jackson County Fire & Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the staff at Cave Adventures for their help with the rescue. He also urged the community to 'please keep the families of the divers in your thoughts and prayers'. Tuesday was the first time Zinetti ever carried out a body recovery or rescue, according to Sorenson. Sorenson, who owns the nearby Cave Adventures Dive Shop, is a leading expert in dives and rescues. He has conducted several body rescues and is reportedly the only person in the world to have completed more than one successful cave rescue in his lifetime. He even successfully rescued a father and his teenage daughter from the dangerous Twin Caves system in 2012. The Twin Caves are located at the bottom of Merritt's Mill Pond, situated in a park in Marianna, Florida, which is roughly 65 miles northwest of Tallahassee. Merritt's Mill Pond is a popular swimming and diving spot due to its clear, light blue waters and lack of vegetation. The Twin Caves can be found roughly 88ft away from the swimming platform at the man-made pond, according to Cave Atlas. The cave system extends back hundreds of feet and has three passages that drop to even greater depths. The cavern descends in stages going from 20ft to 100ft deep. Cave Adventurers warns the cave system is a 'low flow cave' that can easily become filled or blocked with silt if divers are not careful. The cavern is also very tight, with officials noting 'if you get nervous in small places, this isn't the passage for you'. Merritt's Mill Pond (pictured) is a popular swimming and diving spot due to its clear, light blue waters and lack of vegetation The Twin Caves are located at the bottom of Merritt's Mill Pond, situated in the Blue Springs Recreation Area in Marianna, Florida located roughly 65 miles northwest of Tallahassee (file photo of divers exploring the Twin Caves) Twin Caves appears to be a notoriously dangerous diving spot, with social media users this week saying it is 'very sad' to learn the cavern has 'claimed another life' (file photo) Sorenson (pictured in an undated photo) has conducted several body rescues and is reportedly the only person in the world to have completed more than one successful cave rescue in his lifetime. He even successfully rescued a father and his teenage daughter from the dangerous Twin Caves system in 2012 The cave system at Merritt's Mill Pond appears to be a notoriously dangerous diving spot, with several deaths reported over the years. Clyde Douglas Rorex, 68, who frequently went diving in the pond area, died in July 2020 after getting trapped in the Hole in The Wall cave. Rorex's family reported him missing on the morning on July 8 after he took off from a public boat ramp around 6am and failed to return by 10 am, as scheduled. His body was recovered from the pond by Sorenson later that afternoon, News 13 reported at the time. Sorenson revealed Rorex had gotten trapped inside the cave. Rorex had been diving 'for close to 20 years', police said, adding that he would dive in the area 'almost every day'. Four years earlier, almost to the day, a 17-year-old boy drowned in Merritt's Mill Pond while attending a birthday party. Jeremiah Sabeff was swimming near two large floats several with other children on July 9, 2016 when he vanished out of sight, NWF Daily News reported. One of the other children tried to pull Sabeff to the surface but 'was not strong enough to keep him there and continue swimming', investigators said. Clyde Douglas Rorex, 68, who frequently went diving in the Merritt's Mill Pond area, died in July 2020 after getting trapped in the Hole in The Wall cave Jeremiah Sabeff, 17, drowned in Merritt's Mill Pond while attending a birthday party on July 9, 2016 A child informed their parent that Sabeff had gone under water and could not be found, prompting a search for the teen. His lifeless body was found hidden in the sediment at the bottom of the pond by a parent whose child had attended the party. Sabeff was pulled out of the water and was given CPR, according to the incident report, which notes how he had 'turned blue' and appeared to have 'lungs full of water'. Paramedics took the teen to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. One social media user, commenting on Tuesday's tragedy, said it is 'very sad' to learn the cavern has 'claimed another life'. Brits living abroad will be cut off from scores of the BBC's radio stations and Sounds content as the broadcaster tries to slim down its international output. The massive overhaul of its overseas offering will be introduced in a matter of weeks, forcing expats trying to avoid a blackout of their favourite radio shows and podcasts to find new ways to listen in. BBC Sounds - the audio streaming app for radio, podcasts and music - will no longer be available abroad as the broadcaster bolsters its exclusive content for UK licence fee payers, according to the Telegraph. International audiences will instead need to subscribe to a new service on BBC.com - which is funded by advertisers - or the organisation's app. But it will leave the less tech-savvy expats struggling to access 'vital' services from back home unless they are able to install a virtual private network (VPN), which allows people to bypass blocks on content from other countries by hiding their IP address. Some content will only be available on paid-for services on third-party services such as Apple and Spotify, while swathes of radio programming and podcasts will be removed altogether. Kirsty Lang, who fronts Radio 4 shows such as Front Row, Last Word and Round Britain Quiz, said the savage cuts would be 'devastating for all our overseas listeners'. She added: 'BBC Radio is a vital lifeline to so many overseas listeners. I have no idea why they're cutting it or why they can't introduce a subscription for people living outside the UK.' Radio 4 broadcaster Kirsty Lang described the move by bosses to cut off expats from BBC content as 'devastating' The BBC insisted Brits living overseas would still be able to access Radio 4 and the World Service and would also still be able to listen to more than 1,000 popular podcasts. BBC Sounds users will also lose access to their subscriptions and bookmarked programmes, and will have to set them up again manually, the Telegraph reports. The BBC said: 'BBC Sounds is a UK licence fee-funded service. To offer better value for our UK listeners, BBC Sounds will be repositioned and made available exclusively to UK audiences.' Speaking last year, the BBC's director general Tim Davie announced the corporation wanted to look at reforming the licence fee. He said the BBC's income had effectively fallen by around 30 per cent between 2010 and 2020 and that the annual savings target would rise by 200m to 700m a year by 2028. It was then reported earlier this year that the BBC TV licence fee could be scrapped and replaced by funding from general taxation under plans said to be being considered by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. She is said to be minded to abolish the annual fee at the end of the Corporations current charter in December 2027. The BBC said the move would 'offer better value' for UK listeners despite warnings of the scale of impact for those overseas the moves comes after BBC director general Tim Davie (pictured) spoke of the need for licence reform amid income drop And there were reports last night that the money to fund programmes would instead come from taxes collected by the Government. One source told the Sunday Times that Ms Nandy 'does not believe that the licence fee is financially sustainable'. It is the latest in a series of controversies to have embroiled bosses at the beleaguered Channel. Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom warned earlier this month that the BBC's controversial Gaza documentary had undermined trust in the service. The regulator intervened after the BBC admitted it had paid the family of a top official from terror group Hamas to appear in the programme. In a letter to BBC chairman Samir Shah, Ofcom accused the corporation of undermining trust in its journalism. The documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, was removed from BBC iPlayer last month after it was revealed that its central figure, child narrator Abdullah, 14, was the son of Ayman Alyazouri, a deputy agriculture minister in Gaza's Hamas-run government. The BBC has acknowledged 'serious flaws' in the making of the documentary and is conducting an internal probe. But Ofcom chairman Michael Grade said in a public letter: 'The BBC has publicly acknowledged there were serious failings which have raised important questions that the BBC must answer. 'Ofcom has concerns about the nature and gravity of these failings and the negative impact they have on the trust audiences place in the BBC's journalism. 'It is crucial that the causes of those errors are investigated, and that systems are put in place to ensure they cannot recur.' He added: 'We will continue to keep the situation under close review and will expect regular updates from the BBC and reserve the right to use our powers to step in should we feel it necessary.' It later emerged the Corporation was hiring a 125,000-a-year Head of Belonging. The Corporation is offering the generous salary for a Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging who will be in charge of creating 'an inclusive workplace culture where everyone feels they can belong'. The position was announced at a time when the BBC has admitted to 'serious flaws' by blowing 400,000 on a Gaza documentary fronted by the teenage son of a Hamas government official. It is also trying to recoup 200,000 from disgraced news anchor Huw Edwards that was paid to him between his arrest for child abuse images and his resignation. Tory MP Joe Robertson said: 'Once again, British licence fee payers are being fleeced - more overpaid management roles means more rubbish on the telly. 'Diversity and inclusion should already be embedded through the BBC and supported by the HR department. These grossly overpaid roles need to be scrapped. A BBC source said the hybrid post, which is 35 hours a week, would consolidate two roles in the diversity and inclusion team, which is part of its HR department. A mother of three has said that flying to Turkey for a 10,000 smile makeover was the worst thing she's ever done as she has been left in 'agony' for six months. Vicky Robinson, from Nottingham, flew to the country to get a full set of crowns in October last year. She has since spent all her savings trying to salvage her teeth and is desperately urging others in her position not to repeat her mistakes. The 47-year-old said the surgeon carried out procedures she had not asked for, including two sinus lifts and removing and replacing seven of her teeth with implants. The procedure was supposed to cost 3,000, said Ms Robinson, but she was handed a bill for 10,000. She was sent home three days later in agony because the screws in her implants had come loose. 'They did all this stuff without asking,' Ms Robinson said. 'As soon as they got me in the chair, nobody spoke English. Vicky Robinson, 47, pictured before she flew to turkey for a 10,000 smile makeover The procedure has left mum-of-three Ms Robinson in ongoing agony 'I don't know what I was thinking but when I got the bill, I was in shock. They ripped seven teeth out but only gave me six implants.' She said the two sinus lifts set her back 500 each, although she 'didn't even know what a sinus lift was' before having the surgery, which raises the sinus membrane to create space for implants. 'My mouth was a mess. They stitched my cheek and gum together and I had an abscess. 'My face was so swollen and I was in so much pain. If there'd been a cliff nearby I would have jumped off it.' When Ms Robinson got home she could not recover and struggled to eat and drink. 'I lost weight but I was too embarrassed to go to the hospital.' Ms Robinson flew back to Turkey last month to have her crowns and implants removed and refitted at the same surgery. She said that the second time, the surgeon didn't coat the crowns properly, leaving visible holes in her teeth. The dental surgery in Turkey did not offer veneers, so Ms Robinson opted for crowns - thicker, full-tooth coverings The dentist performed two sinus lifts, despite this not being arranged beforehand, Ms Robinson says 'I can't live without antibiotics because there are holes in my crowns and food gets stuck in them, causing an infection,' she said. 'The first time I went, they sold me the dream. They put me in a nice hotel. The second time, the hotel was a shambles.' Ms Robinson plans to fly back next week to have the holes filled in and get a 500 refund for two implants that have fallen out. 'I've spent all my savings. I've probably spent 20,000 altogether including flights to get back out there, hotels and babysitters for my children. 'I had to take my children to Flamingo Land because we can't afford to go abroad.' On top of the staggering cost, Ms Robinson fears she will never be happy with her smile. 'These teeth are supposed to be permanent and I hate them. I'm really fuming. This is my life and it's been ruined. 'I can't eat on one side and I don't know what's wrong. My face is wrecked. I can't go out. A social media post made by Ms Robinson before her flight to Turkey, captioned 'and we're off' Ms Robinson was sent back home three days after her surgery 'The first thing people point out is my swollen face. I don't think it's ever going to get better. I feel so embarrassed.' Ms Robinson had four veneers fitted on her top front teeth in the UK seven years ago, costing 4,000. She said: 'I had a gap in my teeth that I didn't like so I had veneers and it was successful. The dentist was around the corner if I needed her.' To get the rest of her teeth to match, she decided to go to Turkey but the dentist she selected offered only crowns and not veneers. Veneers are thin coverings bonded to the front of the tooth for the purpose of cosmetic improvement, whereas crowns are thicker and cover the whole tooth, usually to protect weak or damaged teeth. Ms Robinson hopes sharing her story will encourage others to have surgery in the UK rather than going abroad. 'I feel like standing outside with a picket sign telling people not to do it. 'It's a nightmare. It's the worst thing I've ever done. I wish someone had called me before I went to tell me not to do it. 'If anyone else is thinking of going to Turkey to get their teeth done, don't do it.' They are the British Army's band of most fearsome killers with a history stretching back to the Second World War. The Special Air Service, better known simply as the SAS, forged their reputation with shockingly violent raids in the dead of night. But, according to Sky News and the Guardian this morning, the regiment with the famed motto of 'Who Dares Wins' also runs a busy roster of flights out of Heathrow. In coverage of today's chaos caused by the closure of the airport after a fire, both outlets confused the elite troops with the national airline of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Scandinavian Airlines System, which is known as SAS, announced early this morning that it had cancelled all 12 of its flights to and from Heathrow. At 6.58am, The Guardian said on their live blog: 'The Special Air Service or SAS, has said that it also [sic] impacted by Heathrow's closure.' And for several minutes on Sky News, the winged dagger logo of the SAS was displayed along with text that read: 'The Special Air Service says all 12 of their round trips to and from Heathrow are cancelled.' Although both outlets swiftly corrected the error, it did not escape the notice of users on X, formerly known as Twitter. Sky News confused Scandinavian Airlines with elite British Army regiment the SAS today At 6.58am, The Guardian said on their liveblog: 'The Special Air Service or SAS, has said that it also [sic] impacted by Heathrow's closure' One wrote: 'The Guardian doesn't know the difference between the SAS (black jump-suited hard men who kill nasty people) and the official airline of Scandinavia.' Another joked: 'I think someone at @SkyNews might need some re-education. Although I'm sure @SAS Scandinavian Airlines are flattered.' A third said: 'In all the chaos of Heathrow, total respect to @skynews for getting the airline SAS confused with the U.K. special forces unit'. Above a depiction of elite troops flying in a helicopter, a fourth wrote: 'Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) mounts rescue mission to recover delayed passengers trapped at #Heathrow Terminal 3'. Shortly after 7.30am, the Guardian's liveblog was updated to tell readers about the error. The message read: 'This post was amended at 7.38am GMT. An earlier version incorrectly said the initialism SAS referred to the "Special Air Service".' Scandinavian Airlines' announcement had read: 'All our 12 round trips are so far cancelled to and from London Heathrow as the airport is currently closed.' More than 1,300 flights to and from the UK's busiest airport will be impacted by today's closure, which was imposed following a fire at the nearby North Hyde electrical substation in West London. The Special Air Service was formed in 1941 by David Stirling Although both outlets swiftly corrected the error, it did not escape the notice of users on X, formerly known as Twitter Thousands of homes were left without power with more than 100 people evacuated after a transformer at the substation caught fire as a huge explosion was heard. Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago. They allege that the disruption campaign is an extension of President Putin's war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine - although the Kremlin has denied carrying out sabotage efforts against the West. Some passengers arrived at Heathrow Airport only to be turned away, prompting many to ask for more clarity surrounding the situation. Others are stranded overseas amid the cancellations. A transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation in West London caught fire last night Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today after it was closed Firefighters continue to exinguish the blaze at North Hyde electricity substation this morning British Airways advised customers not to travel to Heathrow on Friday 'until further notice'. It said in a statement: 'This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond.' Ryanair said it is organising eight 'rescue flights' between London Stansted and Ireland for passengers affected by the closure. The airline said in a statement: 'Ryanair will operate four extra flights between Dublin and Stansted on Friday afternoon as well as four extra flights on Saturday morning. 'These flights can be booked on http://Ryanair.com from 9.30am this morning.' Israel will permanently seize parts of the Gaza strip if Hamas refuses to release hostages still held in captivity, the nation's defence minister has said. Israel Katz said his country's military forces would 'intensify' its campaign and instructed the army to 'seize additional areas' in the besieged territory. He suggested that Israel would continue to 'take more and more territory' permanently if the remaning hostages are not freed. Earlier this week Israeli forces resumed ground operations in the Gaza strip and took control of the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects the territory, meaning travelling from north to south Gaza is now impossible. Today Katz announced he had instructed the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to evacuate civillians from targeted areas and establish control. He said: 'The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose. 'If the hostages are not released, Israel will continue to take more and more territory in the Strip for permanent control. 'I have directed the IDF to expand the maneuver, take control of more ground and hold it permanently to protect Israeli communities and soldiers.' Israel Katz said Israeli forces will hold parts of Gaza 'permanently' if hostages are not released Israel resumed their ground invasion of Gaza on Thursday Tents of displaced Palestinians from northern Gaza are set up near destroyed buildings in Gaza City Israel directs Palestinians attempting to move south to the coastal al-Rashid Street by closing Salah al-Din Road, which connects northern and southern Gaza Calum Miller, the Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman, told MailOnline: 'Threats by the Israeli government to annex parts of Gaza would violate the rights of Palestinians and breach international law. 'Hamas now needs to unconditionally and immediately release the remaining hostages. Their treatment of the hostages - both in captivity and during their release - has been despicable. 'Israel needs to cease its bombardment of Gaza now and recommit to the ceasefire.' Emily Thornberry, the senior Labour MP who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, told MailOnline: 'Israel's resumption of its assault against, and in, Gaza is doing untold damage to the prospects of a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 'It is also inflicting pain and suffering on Gazans, and puts remaining hostages at further risk. 'Hamas must release the hostages immediately; threats to annex territory in Gaza are only escalating the conflict.' Andreas Krieg, associate professor of security studies at King's College London, said that Israeli officials are hoping to 'lock the people of Gaza up into smaller cells and then move in.' He told Al Jazeera: 'It wants to seize territory and potentially never return it.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are deeply concerned about resumption of Israeli military action in Gaza. The UK does not support a return to fighting, it is in nobody's interests. 'We condemn the latest remarks by Minister Katz regarding the annexation of land in Gaza. 'We urge all parties to return urgently to talks, implement the ceasefire agreement in full to surge aid to Gaza, release the hostages, and work towards permanent peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.' Israel's renewed offensive in Gaza started on Tuesday after talks to extend the fragile ceasefire deal brokered in January failed. More than 200 children have been killed amid devastating airstrikes and ground assaults, according to Unicef, with medical authorities saying the total death toll has reached 590. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed on Thursday that a UK national had been wounded in a strike on a UN compound in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. Palestinians walk past the destroyed Al-Hasayna mosque Palestinians have been forced to travel to get supplies after Israel cut off aid on March 2 The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) have forced Palestinians to leave certain targeted areas Israel says Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to still be alive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the new offensive will continue until 'total victory' is achieved over Hamas and all the hostages are freed. They had demanded Hamas accept an extention to the first phase of the ceasefire, but the militant group wanted to start talks on the second phase, which would see the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, withdrawal of Israeli forces and a permanent end to war. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said that negotiations are not over yet, although Netanyahu has declared that any further negotiations with Hamas will only take place 'under fire.' Israel have ramped up pressure in recent weeks by blocking the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Earlier this month, the energy minister Eli Cohen ordered all of Gaza's electricity supply to be cut off. Sam Rose, director of planning at the UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees, said: 'This is the longest period since the start of conflict in October 2023 that no supplies whatsoever have entered Gaza. 'The progress we made as an aid system over the last six weeks of the ceasefire is being reversed.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any negotiations would take place 'under fire' Israelis protest against Netanyahu after accusing him of abandoning the hostages Demonstrators held a banner reading 'History is made by the people' The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Wednesday that medics were struggling to cope with the sharp influx of casualties in Gaza. In a statement, they said: 'Due to the recent suspension of humanitarian aid into Gaza, stocks of medical supplies have dropped significantly and on top of this, hospital staff are struggling to manage the sharp increase of casualties.' The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies say just 23 of their 53 medical vehicles and ambulances are still in service. 'It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Palestine Red Crescent to provide life-saving treatment and run its ambulance service,' they said. Netanyahu has also faced domestic pressure over the continued military campaign. On Thursday police fired water cannons and made numerous arrests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as demonstrators gathered to accuse the Prime Minister of abandoning the remaining Israeli hostages. More than 49,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the initial Israeli invasion in October 2023. A Foreign Office Spokesperson said: 'We are deeply concerned about resumption of Israeli military action in Gaza. The UK does not support a return to fighting, it is in nobody's interests. 'We condemn the latest remarks by Minister Katz regarding the annexation of land in Gaza. We urge all parties to return urgently to talks, implement the ceasefire agreement in full to surge aid to Gaza, release the hostages, and work towards permanent peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.' Have YOU been affected by the closure? Hotel prices have surged by up to 946 after Heathrow Airport was forced to close - with furious passengers accusing firms of 'profiting off people's misfortune'. Travellers have scrambled to find last-minute accommodation close to the airport on Friday amid thousands of delays and cancellations. One hotel by Heathrow was tonight charging a whopping 1,000 for a standard room for two people. The price listed for the North Avenue Guest House on Booking.com is staggeringly higher than the 54 it would cost you to stay next Friday instead - a difference of 946. This also means a room tonight is 1,850 per cent of the price next Friday. Meanwhile, prices have also surged to 555 for a standard room at Radisson Red London Heathrow tonight, compared to next week's cost of 132. And costs are equally high at Holiday Inn London Heathrow which are charging 569 for standard room but just 89 on March 28, according to Booking.com It comes as one angry passenger accused hotels of hiking their prices to 'absolutely absurd' levels. Louis, a video producer, was due to fly home to to Dublin with Aer Lingus just before 9am on Friday. But said his flight was cancelled following the London Heathrow closure affecting more than 1,300 flights. Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 (pictured) - where prices tonight more than three times the cost for next week Holiday Inn London Heathrow (pictured) is charging 569 for standard room tonight but just 89 on March 28 Heathrow Airport is closed on Friday due to a large blaze at a nearby substation (pictured) The 28-year-old stayed the night at a hotel just '500 metres from Terminals 2 and 3', but was forced to book a new room at a different hotel over fears his rescheduled flight for Saturday could be cancelled again. And he has now accused nearby hotels of increasing its prices amid the disruption. 'They've actually doubled, if not, in some cases, tripled the prices of the rooms based on what's going on, which is absolutely absurd. They're profiting off of people's misfortunes in this. I don't know how that's allowed,' Louis said. He said his original room cost around 90, but claimed he saw the same room on the hotel comparison site Booking.com for 280. 'It's frustrating, but it's just beyond control,' he said. Ellis McDonald, who is travelling with her family of five, forked out 1,100 to stay one night at Staybridge Suites after their holiday to Orlando was cancelled. She told Sky News the 'terrible experience' had been made worse by 'hotels completely taking advantage of an unfortunate event.' Another traveller, Robert, told the broadcaster he had been quoted 500 for a room that had previously been 124. The costs of flights in and out of London have also surged in wake of the shutdown at Heathrow today. According to Google Flights, prices to destinations such as New York, Edinburgh and Dublin are all well above their usual levels. Slide me One hotel close to the airport, North Avenue Guest House, was tonight charging 1,000 for a standard room for two people, compared to 54 next Friday Pictured: Best Western London Heathrow Ariel Hotel where prices are tonight 445 compared to 64 next Friday Slide me It will cost you 555 to stay at Radisson Red London Heathrow tonight, compared to 132 next Friday, according to prices on Booking.com Staybridge Suites London Heathrow is tonight charging 599 compared to 98 next Friday A ticket to New York is currently being listed at around 2,100, compared the usual cheaper options of 250 to 500. Whereas prices for flights to Edinburgh are also 'high', with averages at 158 on Friday lunchtime, compared to lows of 14 to 25. Other passengers have complained of having to rebook flights at extraordinarily high prices. Lucy Sargeson told MailOnline she has spent 1,300 on flights to Singapore from Gatwick tomorrow, following cancellations at Heathrow today. She said: 'I had a flight booked from Heathrow to Sinapore today at 10pm and obviously I woke up to find that it's cancelled. It's a mess. 'Singapore airlines told me that the earliest they can re book is March 29 but that is no good as I have an onward flight to Japan for a once in a lifetime holiday that is non-refundable. 'I just had to spend 1300 for last minute flights from Gatwick for tomorrow instead. The situation was a scramble as everyone had the same ideas and seats were selling out on Gatwick flights by the second. 'I am honestly in shock I managed to get a seat for a Gatwick flight tomorrow. The whole thing is a nightmare and there's absolutely no help from anyone.' Meanwhile, a group of four friends told MailOnline the cost of their dream Caribbean cruise had more than doubled after they had to rebook flights at extortionate prices. Chloe, Ashley, Monisola, and their friend, who didn't wish to be named, had been planning their trip, which begins in Miami, since January. They paid 1,600 for the cruise, but the cost has since doubled after they rushed to book flights from Gatwick at 7.20am this morning to ensure they could still travel. Monisola said: 'We need to be at Miami by tomorrow afternoon otherwise we are going to miss our cruise. From left to right: Chloe, Ashley, Monisola and friend - a group of four pals who had their Caribbean cruise dream blighted after Heathrow was closed due to a blaze last night Airplanes remain parked on the tarmac at Heathrow International Airport after a fire at a nearby electrical substation 'The cruise lines are really strict - if you don't get there, they will leave you behind, so we need to land in the next 24 hours. 'So we have been checking flights, checking flights, and also we didn't get notified by the airline until this morning. I found out from the Uber driver and our flight is at 9.40am.' It comes as would-be passengers were seen congregating outside airport hotels on Friday - one woman revealing she may now miss her cousin's wedding. The woman, who did not want to be named, said: 'I was meant to be flying to Cape Town for my cousin's wedding but my flight has been cancelled. 'It's on Sunday so I'm trying to get a flight for first thing tomorrow - but everything's booked up and it's all so expensive. 'And to make things worse, I'm stranded here as all the hotels are full. I've been along all the ones on this road and they can't take me. 'I can't go back to Manchester as I need to be here for any possible flights. I just feel really overwhelmed. 'It's no one's fault but it's difficult for those of us affected. I'm just at a loss.' A spokesperson for Booking.com said: 'Hotels and other accommodation providers on our platform are in complete control of their pricing and availability, with pricing being determined by a number of factors, including demand. 'Large scale events would likely impact demand, and we would hope that our partners would act fairly, but would also encourage our customers to use the filters on the platform to search for properties at a price point that they are looking for.' MailOnline has contacted the hotels for comment. A French woman travelling in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu was allegedly sexually assaulted on Monday by a man who claimed to be a tour guide who took her to a secluded spot to meditate. Indian cops said a man named Venkatesan, 29, was arrested on Tuesday near the Hindu Arunachaleswara temple in the city of Tiruvannamalai following a police investigation. The unnamed woman, believed to be in her 40s, is a tourist from France who travelled to India to complete a spiritual pilgrimage. Venkatesan is accused of taking the tourist to a hidden and restricted area on the Arunachala Hills under the pretext of meditation and then sexually assaulting her. The woman had reportedly met Venkatesan while exploring different pilgrimage spots and ashrams in Tiruvannamalai, a spiritual hub that attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world seeking enlightenment and self-discovery. Venkatesan then allegedly led her to a secluded area in a forest, falsely presenting it as a meditation spot, where the assault reportedly took place. The tourist managed to draw the attention of passersby and reported the alleged assault to police. She was then admitted to a local hospital for a medical examination. A French woman travelling in Tiruvannamalai, India, was allegedly sexually assaulted on Monday by a man who claimed to be a tour guide Aerial view of Hindu temple Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India. Tiruvannamalai is a spiritual hub that attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world seeking enlightenment and self-discovery Tiruvannamalai superintendent of police, M Sudhakar, said: 'We acted swiftly and apprehended the suspect within hours after the survivor's complaint'. 'We formed special teams to identify the suspect. There were multiple witnesses who reported seeing the victim climbing the hills with a local man. 'We narrowed down the probe to five individuals who usually work as tourist guides, including the accused. The victim identified him as Venkatesan when he was paraded before her.' He added that Venkatesan remains in custody, and police are looking into whether he has engaged in similar crimes in the past. The horrific attack comes just a week after a British woman who travelled to India to see a man she met online was raped by him at a hotel in Delhi before being molested by another man in the building's lift. The tourist, 36, was staying in the Mahipalpur area of the Indian capital this week after befriending a man, identified only as Kailash, on Instagram. The London-based woman had been on holiday to Maharashtra and Goa when she asked the man to join her, Indian media reported. The horrific attack comes just a week after a British woman who travelled to India to see a man she met online was raped by him at a hotel in Delhi. File image shows hotels in the Mahipalpur area of New Delhi, where the British woman was staying when she was allegedly attacked Also this month, two women, including an Israeli tourist, were gang-raped in India. Pictured: police officer speaks on his mobile phone at the scene as they search for the male travelers who were pushed into the canal by three men accused of gang-raping two women The suspect said he could not travel, so she went to where he lived in Delhi to meet him, checking into a hotel. He went to see visit her there, but a heated argument then allegedly ensued when the woman realised that the man was trying to act inappropriately towards her. The victim alleged that she was brutally attacked and raped by the accused. She escaped the room to go to the hotel reception to get help, at which point another man, under the pretext of helping her, allegedly molested her in the hotel lift. Both men were arrested on rape and molestation charges, according to Indian police, who have launched an investigation into the horrific events. In a separate incident this month, an Israeli tourist and her female travel host were allegedly gang-raped while stargazing in India by a mob of attackers who also killed their male companion. The sick attack took place when the host took her guests, an Israeli woman, two Indian men and an American man, on a stargazing excursion near the canal in Koppal town, southern Karnataka state. The three suspects arrived on a motorbike and approached the group, demanding cash. But, when an argument broke out, they launched an attack, throwing the three men into the canal. Police official Ram L Arasiddi said one of the tourists, an Indian man, drowned as a result and that his body was recovered. The two other men swam to safety. The two women were then beaten and sexually assaulted before the suspects fled the scene. A special investigation team has since arrested two of the suspects on suspicion of attempted murder, gang rape and robbery. The third remains at large. The incident left the country reeling as Karnataka state President B.Y. Vijayendra dubbed the authorities 'delusional and indifferent'. Police officials search for the male travelers who were pushed into the canal by three men accused of gang-raping two women, in Koppal district of southern state of Karnataka, India, Friday, March 7, 2025 Sexual assaults on women have become more commonplace in India, where police recorded more than 31,000 cases of rape in 2022. Pictured: Women activists stage a protest in New Delhi on Tuesday condemning the gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a city bus 'Our government is committed to providing protection to everyone, including tourists, coming to the state,' he said, adding that measures will be put in place to prevent future attacks. Sexual assaults on women have become more commonplace in India, where police recorded more than 31,000 cases of rape in 2022 - a 20 per cent increase from 2021, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. It is thought the true figure may be higher still due to the stigma surrounding sexual violence. Instances of rape and sexual violence have been under scrutiny since the gang-rape and killing of a 23-year-old student on a New Delhi bus in 2012. The attack sparked mass protests and prompted legislators to create fast-track courts for rape cases, and harsher penalties. The rape law was amended in 2013 to criminalise stalking and voyeurism, and to lower the age at which a person can be tried as an adult from 18 to 16. In 2018, the government approved the use of the death penalty for people convicted of raping children under the age of 12. High-profile cases involving foreign visitors have drawn international attention to the issue. Last year, in a video that was later deleted, a Spanish tourist said his wife was raped in northern India, while an Indian-American woman said she was raped at a hotel in New Delhi. In 2022, a British tourist was raped in front of her partner in Goa. . Luigi Mangione fans have organized a 'special' donation fund for the accused CEO shooter's 27th birthday. The fund named '27 for Luigi' marks Mangione's birthday coming up on May 6, and fans are urging others to donate $27 toward his legal fund as a 'nice surprise and gift from us to him.' Their goal is to take his controversial fundraising total from $745,000 - where it currently stands - to $1million. While no amount of money will grant him bail, the fans hope the cash will be able to put together a convincing enough defense for an acquittal. Mangione is accused of shooting dead UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in broad daylight in Manhattan in December. He was arrested in a McDonald's in Pennsylvania after a multi-day manhunt for the suspect. Mangione denies the charges, and say he was ensnared by police who tricked him into giving his DNA. His fans range from those who think he's innocent, to those who believe he's guilty and love him for it. In the fundraising notes for his birthday, they say: 'As a community, we want to do something special for Luigi's birthday - we are organizing mass donation event to his legal fund as an initiative to raise money and get everyone involved to reach the goal of $1,000,000.' Mangione allegedly shot United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, outside of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan before he was arrested at an Altoona McDonald's in Pennsylvania on December 9 following a five-day search Mangione's support since he allegedly murdered the healthcare CEO has been fierce, including one mystery donor who left the largest fund donation yet of $36,500 Donations raised will be put toward Mangione's legal fund, but the campaign is also asking fans to submit birthday wishes, fan art, memes and messages of support. The fundraising effort is the latest in a series of unhinged and unbridled support for the celebrity defendant. The public gushing began when Luigi was named as the suspect and his mugshot went viral. Since then, fans have made art depicting him as 'Saint' Mangione. They say he's a hero who has taken a stand against America's broken healthcare system. They are also planning to protest the conditions within the jail where he's being held. The protest, according to the website, will aim to bring attention to 'inhumane' conditions inside the Metropolitan Detention Center, and 'demand justice' for those behind bars. UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead in Manhattan in December The top donation to Luigi's fund has so far been $36,500. The mystery donor left a cryptic message behind. 'What intrigues me about this case is how unified folks' responses are regardless of strata. 'In Corporate America, for instance, there has been widespread doubt of potential prosecutorial mishandling and overcharging. 'I've also been surprised at the almost ubiquitous nature of support towards the suspect that I would expect to be quite bifurcated in this type of litigation. Quite exceptional,' they said. The fans have also been tantalized by rumors that Mangione filmed his own sex tapes before the shooting. One was even being touted online for $500,000. His lawyers have insisted the tapes are not real. The fund named '27 for Luigi' marks accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione's 27th birthday coming up on May 6, and fans are urging others to donate $27 toward his legal fund as a 'nice surprise and gift from us to him' 'As a community, we want to do something special for Luigi's birthday - we are organizing mass donation event to his legal fund as an initiative to raise money and get everyone involved to reach the goal of $1,000,000,' the website dedicated to the cause 'Hopefully everyone realizes these are fake and not Luigi,' Mangione's lawyer Karen Agnifilo told DailyMail.com. Mangione allegedly shot United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, outside of the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan before he was arrested at an Altoona McDonald's in Pennsylvania on December 9 following a five-day search. He was allegedly found with a 9-millimeter pistol and silencer, clothing that matched the apparel worn by the shooter in surveillance footage, and a notebook describing an intent to 'wack' an insurance company CEO, according to court filings. Mangione was shipped back to the Big Apple for the murder trial. President Donald Trump angrily denied reports that Elon Musk will be getting a Pentagon briefing on a plan for any war that might break out with China, calling it an 'absolutely ridiculous and false story.' Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal cited two U.S. officials who said that Musk was getting a look at 'top secret' war plans if America and China came into conflict. Trump took to his Truth Social account to attack some of the outlets that reported it and to slam New York Times' reporter Maggie Haberman, who has covered Trump for years and won prizes for her reporting on him. He said on Friday the 'failing' New York Times is 'one of the worst and most purposely inaccurate newspapers anywhere in the World.' Musk called the information 'false' and threated the sources behind the stories with 'prosecution.' 'The New York Times is pure propaganda. Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found,' he wrote on X. Musk, the head of SpaceX, has several Pentagon contracts. He also serves as the head of DOGE, Trump's initiative to slash the federal government. There has been concern he has unchecked power in the executive branch. The exact nature of Musk's visit to the Pentagon is unclear. Musk will allegedly be briefed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and two other key officials on the details, which WSJ said included 'maritime tactics and targeting plans.' The briefing for the China war plan has about 20 to 30 slides that lay out how the United States would fight such a conflict, the Times reported. The newspaper hypothesized that Musk - who has long had friendly relations with China - could need to know what the Pentagon was budgeting as his Department of Government Efficiency looks to trim government waste. Elon Musk has been summoned to the Pentagon for a top secret military briefing, with rampant speculation over whether the 'First Buddy' was getting increased power and access Donald Trump hit out at claims by the 'fake news' that Musk was being allowed a glimpse at plans for a hypothetical war with China but the exact nature of Musk's visit is unknown Trump called the reports 'fake news.' 'They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China.' How ridiculous?' China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!,' he wrote on Truth Social Thursday evening. Hegseth also denied it in a post to X, saying: 'We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow. But the fake news delivers again this is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war plans.' The Pentagon head added that instead, they would be discussing 'innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.' They confirmed that Musk will be visiting on Friday but did not share further details. 'The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary (Pete) Hegseth and is just visiting,' a Pentagon spokesperson said. Trump and Hegseth are scheduled to deliver remarks from the Oval Office at 11am Friday. Access to the closely guarded military plan would mark an sharp expansion of Musk's role as a Trump adviser who has spearheaded efforts to cut U.S. government spending. It would also fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who as the head of both Tesla and SpaceX has business interests in China and with the Pentagon. The White House has previously said Musk will recuse himself if any conflicts of interest arise between his business dealings and his role in cutting federal government spending. Trump led a chorus of administration voices in denying the 'Fake News' of 'the failing New York Times' report in a post to Truth Social Hegseth also denied it in a post to X, saying: 'We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow. But the fake news delivers again this is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war plans' Washington and Beijing have had tense relations for years over differences ranging from access to technology, trade tariffs and cybersecurity to TikTok, Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and the origins of COVID-19. Musk, by contrast, often bent over backwards to make nice with China and its authoritarian regime as it is a huge and growing car market. About 22.5 per cent of Tesla revenue comes from sales in China, which is tipped to soon be the biggest buyers of electric cars. Musk routinely complies with Chinese Communist Party demands, including to make a change to Tesla cars in 2021. He also shut down his factory for four days in 2022 during a Covid outbreak when he was told to, despite calling California health authorities 'fascists' for making the same order in 2020. Tariffs on China are also not in Musk's best interests and he railed against ones President Joe Biden put on in 2024. 'Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs. Things that inhibit freedom of exchange or distort the market are not good,' he said at a tech conference in Paris. 'Tesla competes quite well in the market in China with no tariffs and no deferential support. I'm in favor of no tariffs.' Tesla CEO Elon Musk, left, shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as he arrives for a meeting at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing in 2019 Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk poses with Tesla China-made Model 3 vehicle owners onstage during a delivery event at its Shanghai factory in China in 2020 Musk has faced intense blowback from some lawmakers and voters for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs, although Trump's supporters have hailed it. A senior defense official told reporters Tuesday that roughly 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the Defense Department . Musk's DOGE has already slashed staffing at several federal agencies, cut federal spending and in an unprecedented move emailed federal employees asking 'what they got done last week'. Trump and Musk have argued that the government is wasteful and bloated. DOGE claims it has saved $105 billion in cuts, but it has only publicly documented a fraction of those savings, and its accounting has been plagued by errors. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has led the charge to slash the federal workforce under the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but its chief spokesperson appears to be completely off-message. DOGE has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks for its chaotic handling of layoffs, particularly its firing of key federal employees only to attempt to rehire them later. Among those affected were workers responsible for maintaining nuclear weapons sites across the US, a move that has raised serious national security concerns and Musk and his allies are now face mounting pressure to reassess their approach. Some terminations are part of the Education Department's 'final mission,' alluding to Trump's vow to eliminate the department, which oversees $1.6 trillion in college loans, enforces civil rights laws in schools and provides federal funding for needy districts. Musk speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory in Shanghai Trump and Musk have argued that the government is wasteful and bloated. DOGE claims it has saved $105 billion in cuts, but it has only publicly documented a fraction of those savings, and its accounting has been plagued by errors The layoffs would leave the department with 2,183 workers, down from 4,133 when Trump took office in January. Trump officially signed an executive order to heavily downsize the Department of Education Thursday. Similar closures served as a precursor to shuttering the headquarters of the US Agency for International Development, the humanitarian aid agency, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects Americans against unscrupulous lenders. So far, DOGE has cut more than 100,000 jobs across the 2.3 million-member federal civilian bureaucracy, frozen most foreign aid and canceled thousands of programs and contracts, despite dozens of lawsuits challenging the legality of those moves. DOGE's blunt approach has frustrated several White House officials and Republican lawmakers, some of whom have confronted angry constituents at town halls. Trump told department heads last week that they, not Musk, have the final say on staffing, his first notable public move to restrain the Tesla CEO. All US government agencies have been ordered to come up with large-scale layoff plans by Thursday, setting up the next phase of Trump's cost-cutting campaign. Several agencies have offered employees payments to retire early to fulfill Trump's demand. Affected Education Department employees will be placed on administrative leave starting on March 21, the department said. Other agencies have offered lump-sum payments of up to $25,000 before tax to workers who agree to leave their jobs. Among these are the Office of Personnel Management, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services, including its Food and Drug Administration. DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment. A British traveler who was suspected of being drunk learned a harsh lesson after causing a scene at an Orlando airport, which led to him seeing the inside of an American jail. A man, who referred to himself as Anthony, was arrested at Orlando International Airport on January 24 after he was kicked off a Virgin Atlantic flight for allegedly being under the influence. An airline representative told police as the passenger was loaded into the back of a cop car that the man had grabbed a bottle of alcohol on the plane, drank it and then asked for cocaine, bodycam footage showed. While the man was escorted through the airport, he belligerently told officers to 'kill' him and that he had done nothing to the US and its allies, which caused a cop to tell him to stop acting like a '10-year-old.' It is unclear if the man faced any charges from his outburst, but he was escorted to the local jail. Officers met the man while he was standing outside the gate, where they told him he would have to come with them, causing the man to stumble as he removed himself from the pole he was leaning on. As they boarded a passenger train inside the airport, he started to insult the officer. 'No, f**k off,' he screamed, raising his hands as the passenger train began moving. 'You're a joker, you're a joker, you corrupt piece of s**t.' A man, who referred to himself as Anthony, was arrested at Orlando International Airport on January 24 after he was kicked off a Virgin Atlantic flight for allegedly being under the influence An airline representative told police as the passenger was loaded into the back of a cop car that the man had boarded the aircraft, allegedly grabbed a bottle of alcohol and drank it, before asking for cocaine He also told the officers that they knew 'nothing about law' and claimed they were using 'intimidation' against him. 'Outside on that street, without your uniform, you'd be a pussy,' he said. 'You're treating me like a piece of s**t.' As they walked through the airport, the older man yelled out he was going to 'get a solicitor' and waved his arms around. 'Are you going to act like an adult?' the grumpy officer asked. 'Like I act anything different,' the man replied. While they headed toward the exit and he was directed toward the city buses, the suspected drunk was incredulous, telling the officer he 'had a flight' to catch. 'You're not getting on the flight,' one officer replied, while the other said: 'Not today!' This caused the man to throw his things on the ground before making his case. While the man is escorted through the airport, he belligerently told officers to 'kill' him and that he had done nothing to the US and its allies, which caused a cop to tell him to stop acting like a '10-year-old' It is unclear if the man copped any charges, but he was escorted to the local jail. 'What do you think I am? A f**king monkey?' he yelled. 'People can't do that. I've paid my fare, I've done nothing wrong... It doesn't work like that, my friend, it doesn't work like that!' he yelled 'Hold on, you mean I've got a flight to go home to London, but you're telling me I'm not doing that? How can you do that?' he asked, anxiety seeping into his voice as he looked between the two officers. 'How can you stop me going home?' he pleaded as he placed his hands on his head. When they told him the airline stopped him from boarding, he told the officers 'that's bulls**t' as he ripped off his button-down. 'What do you think I am? A f**king monkey?' he yelled. 'People can't do that. I've paid my fare, I've done nothing wrong... It doesn't work like that, my friend, it doesn't work like that!' The officer told the man he had to sober up somewhere or go to jail. 'I'm sober,' the Brit insisted. 'Are you?' the officer asked. Earlier, the man had asked to do an alcohol test, but was denied. 'I've not been obnoxious, I've not been violent, or in any way rude,' the man insisted. 'I wanted to get on my plane.' He also told the officers that they knew 'nothing about law' and claimed they were using 'intimidation' against him 'I'll tell you what, I'd rather go to court, OK?' he said. 'So, arrest me then.' He told the officer he'd rather go to jail for six months just to prove a point that 'you arrested me for nothing.' He later admitted that he had a few cans of White Claw on an empty stomach before his flight and he was starving. 'You should have made better life choices,' the grumpy officer, who was nearing the end of his shift, shot back. The Brit sighed before saying: 'Maybe you should just kill me now.' He then pleaded to go talk to the Virgin Atlantic manager to prove he was not intoxicated, but he was denied. 'I don't give a s**t anymore. I've got kids at home waiting for me,' he told the officer as he put his button-down back on. 'I haven't done anything wrong to you or to the United States or any of its f**king allies of the United States,' he yelled. 'I've done nothing wrong.' He then refused to leave, telling them: 'I'll have to be shot then.' The man was placed in cuffs and placed him under arrest. As they lead him out of an elevator, he started screaming: 'What have I done to deserve [this]? ... I want to go home to my family! I've done nothing wrong!' He later admitted that he had a few cans of White Claw on an empty stomach before his flight and he was starving at the airport (pictured) At one point, he pleaded to talk to the Virgin Atlantic manager to allow him back on the flight He eventually lay down on the ground before asking for immigration services as he continued to scream that he wanted the state police called too. 'Start acting like a man instead of a 10-year-old,' an officer told them as they forced him to sit in a wheelchair. As they loaded him into the back of a police car, he called officers 'lumps of s**t' and told them: 'Don't act like a friend.' A Virgin Atlantic manager then told police the man had allegedly made it onto the plane, where he went to the bar area to steal a bottle of alcohol and then asked flight attendants for cocaine. DailyMail.com has contacted Orlando Police for comment. For President Donald Trump, it's all about the visuals. So much so, that the leader of the free world will take matters into his own hands if one of his surrogates is not ready for prime time. An that's exactly what Trump did when he considered that former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel was not ready to step onto the stage at the Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas in 2023. 'Honey, I need to fix this,' the president said as he grabbed a can of hairspray and got to work on McDaniel's hair, as told by Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt in his new book, Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power. 'McDaniel is about to speak, and Trump comes over, and essentially what he says is, "your hair is not quite ready for prime time,"' Isenstadt told DailyMail's Welcome to MAGAland podcast. 'He grabs a bottle of hairspray, he sprays this hairspray onto Ronna McDaniel's hair. She goes out on stage, and her hair did not move. It did not move. It was a shell.' Isenstadt explained that the hilarious incident is 'an illustration of how Trump is always fixated on visuals, and how he is willing to interact with people on visuals.' 'Trump is very much into his hair and hairspray and making sure that his hair is presented in a very particular way,' Isenstadt added. A new book claims that president Donald Trump once grabbed hairspray to fix the hair of former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel because he did not think she was ready for primetime McDaniel is seen after president Donald Trump reportedly fixed her hair for her speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas 'He is also is very fixated on what people who work for him wear.' Isenstadt also revealed that first lady Melania Trump is an 'incredibly important advisor' to her husband. When aides would call Trump to talk late at night, he would often put them on speakerphone so Melania could join the conversation. In fact, Melania advised her husband not to make his first post back on Twitter after his account was reinstated to attack then primary adversary Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis because it would 'make him look small.' 'She also gives him stylistic advice, which is not surprising because she's someone who's very much into appearances and presentation, of course,' Isenstadt noted. He added: 'One of the things that she doesn't like that Trump does is he dances at his rallies.' Isenstadt's book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power hits shelves on Tuesday, March 18 and offers a look inside the president's third and final campaign. It also includes insights into the first couple's marriage and other dynamics of the Trump family. It's known that Melania doesn't love getting too involved in politics, but she will show up at a donor event every now and then. 'In a lot of ways, her scarcity creates value,' Isenstadt said on MAGAland. Trump is known to put huge importance into how those who work for him look and dress Melania 'is an incredibly important advisor to Donald Trump,' author and Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt revealed 'Donors want to be around her when she's going to an event, that's a huge attraction because she's not there as much, right? Trump, he's holding press conferences every day and he's totally out there all the time. But when she's present at something, it gets a lot of eyeballs. And I think she knows that.' The relationship between Donald and Melania Trump has been at the center ever since they came down the golden elevator together in June 2015 as he announced the first White House bid. In his 2024 campaign, the first lady was rarely seen by Trump's side and same with his 2020 reelection bid. 'For a lot of the campaigns, she was more focused on Barron, getting him off to NYU,' Isenstadt said of the first couple's only shared child. Multiple reports claim that Melania limits her stays at the White House since her husband's return to power and splits her time between Washington, D.C., and Florida. She has only held one public event since back in the East Wing and was present for Trump's joint address to Congress earlier this month. Listen to the full interview with Alex Isenstadt on Welcome to MAGAland now, available wherever you get your podcasts. A married Massachusetts lawmaker issued a humiliating statement after being identified as an alleged client of a high class brothel network. Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner was named in court on Friday amongst a list of other men accused of using the illicit services in the city. Immediately after being publicly named, the 58-year-old released a statement saying: 'I caused pain for the people I care about most. 'For that, I will be forever sorry. This is an ongoing legal matter and I will not have further comment at this time.' In court, police said that Toner had paid for commercial sex and settled on handing over $340 for one hour with a woman known as Tulip, a stage name. Toner did not appear in court on Friday, with his attorney Tim Flaherty instead appearing on his behalf. Outside of the Cambridge Juvenile Court after the short hearing, Flaherty said: 'Ive known Paul Toner my entire life, and in my view, hes a man of high character. 'He loves his family, and his family loves him. None of us are perfect. Hes a hard working city councilor, and the City of Cambridge is lucky to have him.' Toner is married to Susan Connelly and they share two children together, Grace, 26, and Jack, 19. Their family home is a $1.3 million three bedroom abode which was deserted when DailyMail.com appeared at the address on Friday. Toner is married to Susan Connelly and they share two children together, Grace and Jack Police said that Toner had paid for commercial sex and settled on handing over $340 for one hour with a woman known as Tulip. An advertisement for the brothel is seen here Toner and his family live inside a $1.3 million home in Cambridge, Massachusetts According to a profile on the Cambridge City website, Toner had been a seventh and eight grade teacher of social studies prior to his career in politics. After rising to being the president of the Cambridge Teachers Association, Paul was elevated to president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association from 2006 to 2014. Connelly is employed as the COO for a Boston based company that deals in housing opportunities. Toner was one of 11 johns that were called up in court to face their probable cause hearing in the case. Others named on Friday were Frederick Rosenthal, Timothy Ackerson, Matthew Fulton, Jeffrey Henry, Steven Riel, Nathaniel Welch, Anurag Bajpayee, James Cusack Jr, as well as two others that DailyMail.com have been so far unable to identify. The men were named and shamed by Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral and detective Michael Alpers who read out the allegations in court. Last week, the first 12 were named and shamed and another five are due in court next Friday. Attorney Lorraine Belostock had represented six of the men on Friday, telling reporters that 'all of my clients are presumed innocent under the law'. Prosecutors say these individuals are part of an elite clientele that includes the likes of public officials, government contractors, as well doctors and lawyers. Mark Zhu, 28, and Jason Han, 29, both appeared alongside their attorneys while Kerry Wu, John Doran, David LaCava, Boya Zhou, Peter MacGillivray, Yihong Zou, Pablo Domingo Maceira, Jonathan Lanfear, Pinhao Chao and Patrick Walsh all sent their legal reps in their place. Toner did not appear in court on Friday, with his attorney Tim Flaherty instead appearing on his behalf. Flaherty is seen here speaking with reporters after the hearing According to a profile on the Cambridge City website, Toner had been a seventh and eight grade teacher of social studies prior to his career in politics Cambridge Police detective Michael Alpers, left, and Lt. Jarred Cabral are seen here being sworn in on Friday before reading out the allegations against the accused Defense attorney Lorraine Belostock appears at Middlesex Juvenile Courthouse defending men accused of buying sex from the high-end Cambridge/Watertown brothels All of the men were found to have probable cause in charging them with visiting a brothel. All of those named in court last week had also expressed an interest in their 'gfe' or 'girlfriend experience' services. Officials say this experience involves a service that 'blurs the boundaries between a financial transaction and a romantic relationship'. All are said to have patronized a brothel ring that operated out of six luxury apartments in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, as well as DC's suburbs, whose clientele have been described as 'rich and powerful.' Prosecutors say these stringent checks revealed that the brothels' visitors included public officials, military officers, high-level government contractors, doctors, professors and CEOs. Some of those powerful figures are now just hours away from being dragged before a court to face career and marriage-ending allegations. Prosecutors say they paid up to $600 per hour for sexual encounters with predominately Asian women who were being exploited through sex trafficking. Those in charge of the brothels also made monthly memberships available to repeat visitors. Mark Zhu, seen here, was told there was probable cause to charge him with visiting a brothel at Friday morning's hearing in Cambridge Radiologist Jason Han, 29, also appeared in court on Friday alongside his attorney Last week there was also a demonstration held outside the courthouse No details of the men's private lives have been shared, but it is highly likely many are married, have families and are considered pillars of their wealthy communities. Three pimps who ran the prostitution ring have already admitted their crimes after being charged in November 2023. The original affidavit in the case said that the women were advertised for commercial sex via two websites under the guise of professional nude photo shoots. The affidavit also shows a text message sent from a phone related to the operation in Massachusetts which includes a 'menu'. According to the document, the 'menu' listed sexual services available, the hourly rate and the women available. The original affidavit shows a text message sent from a phone related to the operation in Massachusetts which includes a 'menu' The affidavit states that the term 'BB' is a term used in the prostitution industry to refer to unsafe sex, and that 'GFE' relates to a 'Girlfriend Experience'. The document states that this involves a service that 'blurs the boundaries between a financial transaction and a romantic relationship'. One of the websites was focused on the Boston area, and directed customers to numerous addresses, while another was aimed at areas in Virginia. Investigators have since vowed to seek 'accountability' by exposing the men whose lavish spending kept the brothels open. They sought indictments against 28 men accused of using the brothels at a court hearing in December 2023. Predictable fury ensued as those men sought to keep the hearings closed to the public in a bid to conceal their identities. They claimed they had a right to privacy. All face misdemeanor charges and none of the men have been arrested. Such crimes are normally dealt with in Massachusetts by 'show-cause' hearings, which are usually private. That has sparked anger over a lack of transparency. Multiple media outlets challenged requests to hold the hearings in private, with Massachusetts' State Supreme Court ultimately ruling they should be held in public. Those accused face a charge of paying for sex, which is unlikely to result in jail time if they're convicted. But advocates for the prostitutes say naming the men can help shame them and others into not paying for sex and lower the demand for sex workers, many of whom are trafficked. An eruption of Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano spewed ash clouds more than five miles high as authorities raised the alert status to the highest level. The volcano on the remote island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province has had hundreds of earthquakes and visible volcanic activity has significantly increased in the last seven days. An eruption followed by an explosion was heard on Thursday evening as far away as Larantuka and Maumere, two cities about 30 miles to 53 miles from the volcano. The eruption was recorded at several monitoring stations on Flores island, Muhammad Wafid, chief of Indonesia's Geology Agency, said in a statement. There were two other eruptions, and smaller activity occurred during the day on Friday. Smoke blew around the crater with weak to moderate pressure, and firelight was seen at the peak, indicating the glowing volcanic material was at a shallow depth. Footage of the eruption shared on social media showed how locals were pelted by falling lava and volcanic rocks as they tried to flee to safety. Another video showed the aftermath of the disaster as a local filmed the inside of a home covered in mud. Image shows Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano spewing volcanic materials during an eruption, in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, 21 March 2025 The eruption was recorded at several monitoring stations on Flores island, Muhammad Wafid, chief of Indonesia's Geology Agency A village official accompanies a burned victim at the Nurabelen village health center in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara on March 21, 2025, as the victim was injured by volcanic ash while working on his farm on the slopes of the mountain when Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted In one instance, the person recording the interior wipes their hand on a surface, lifting it to show the dark sticky substance on their hand. In another shocking clip, a startled man is seen sitting on the floor covered in ash, as passersby come to his aid. The video, which was shared to X, was captioned: 'This afternoon, another victim was found. A man was trapped in hot mud due to the eruption and is still in the process of being evacuated.' The moment the volcano erupted was also captured on CCTV, with footage showing an explosion setting off in the distance as locals looked frazzled as they reacted to the loud bang. On Friday, the volcano was still spewing thick, grey clouds from the crater. The ash from the eruptions also covered streets and plantations. Some residents tried to clear the streets of ash and fallen trees using shovels. A number of residents were injured by hot dust from the eruptions. 'They were all guarding the cornfield when the volcano erupted. And when they ran together with the hot lava that started to fall, it injured their legs and backs', said Maria Magdalena, a resident of Nurabelen village in East Flores district. Footage shared on X shows startled man sitting on the floor covered in ash, as passersby come to his aid The man was reportedly covered in hot mud following the eruption Another video showed how locals were pelted by falling lava and volcanic rocks as they tried to flee to safety Several airlines cancelled flights between Australia and Indonesia's tourist island of Bali, while other international and domestic flights to the island have been delayed wo villagers clean volcanic ash from the road in Riangrita village A villager cleans volcanic ash from the roof of his house in Riangrita village, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, on March 21, 2025, after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano erupted Villagers walk barefoot to avoid slipping on wet volcanic ash on a road in Riangrita village, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, on March 21, 2025, after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano erupted, A number of residents were injured by hot dust from the eruptions. Pictured: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spews volcanic ash during an eruption as seen from Nobo Village in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara on March 1, 2025 Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level and expanded the danger zone from 4.5 miles to five miles from the crater. No new evacuations were ordered People walk past a screen displaying the flight status after many flights were cancelled due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Indonesia, March 21 Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level and expanded the danger zone from 4.5 miles to five miles from the crater. No new evacuations were ordered. 'We are still waiting for instructions from the government to evacuate,' said a resident, Paulina Telesiku. Several airlines cancelled flights between Australia and Indonesia's tourist island of Bali, while other international and domestic flights to the island have been delayed. Residents were warned to be vigilant about heavy rainfall triggering lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano, Indonesia's geology agency said in a statement. An eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in November killed nine people and injured dozens. CCTV footage captured the moment the explosion from when the volcano erupted was heard Another video showed the inside of someone's home covered in mud following the eruption The 5,197ft mountain is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan in the Flores Timur district. Indonesia is an archipelago of 270 million people with frequent seismic activity. It has 120 active volcanos and sits along the 'Ring of Fire', a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. A Ukrainian model who was found dumped by the side of a road in Dubai after having gone missing from a party had 'fallen from a height', police have claimed. Maria Kovalchuk, 20, had been missing for eight days after telling friends she had been invited to a party at a hotel on March 9. An investigation has revealed that she sustained 'serious injuries' after she entered a 'restricted construction site alone' and fell from an undisclosed height, officials say. She is currently hospitalised and receiving medical care. She remains in a critical condition and is reportedly unable to speak. Her family is understood to be with her. Kovalchuk disappeared after she was set attend a party with 'two men who introduced themselves as representatives of the modelling business,' according to several Ukrainian media reports. She told her mother Anna that she would be staying with these representatives for the night, but she subsequently vanished. Kovalchuk had booked a flight to Thailand that departed Dubai on March 11, but did not turn up at the airport. An investigation remains ongoing. Police are working with her family and the relevant authorities on the case. Maria Kovalchuk, 20, had been missing for eight days after telling friends she had been invited to a party at a hotel on March 9 An investigation has revealed that she sustained 'serious injuries' after she entered a 'restricted construction site alone' and fell from an undisclosed height, Dubai police say Anna and Kovalchuk's concerned friends contacted Dubai police after the model missed her flight. Local authorities launched a search for Kovalchuk and opened an investigation, but she remained missing for several days. On March 19, ten days after she first went missing, Kovalchuk was found dumped at a roadside with her limbs and spine broken, according to Russian outlets Shot and Life. She was rushed to hospital, and according to her mother underwent three surgeries to save her life, before later receiving a fourth procedure. Investigators revealed today that Kovalchuk sustained her injuries after falling from an unspecified height. 'Dubai Police confirm that the Ukrainian citizen previously reported missing is currently hospitalised, receiving medical care with her family present,' the force said in a statement, according to The Mirror. 'A comprehensive investigation has revealed that she sustained serious injuries after entering a restricted construction site alone and falling from a height. Dubai Police continue to work closely with the family and relevant authorities to provide all necessary assistance. 'The public and media are urged to refrain from sharing unverified information and to respect the privacy of the individual and her family during this challenging time.' Friends and family hope she is able to make a full recovery to talk about her ordeal and explain what happened. Kovalchuk is currently hospitalised and receiving medical care. She remains in a critical condition and is reportedly unable to speak. Her family is understood to be with her Speaking to Ukrainian media earlier this week, Anna said: 'There is an assumption that she went to a party. But the promoter who organised these parties did not see her. 'Today Masha was found in the hospital in serious condition. 'She has no documents, no phone, nothing. She has undergone three operations. And she cannot speak.' Kovalchuk's friend, Russian model Angelina Doroshenkova, 31, said: 'We all hope for the best and are very grateful to everyone who took part in the search and helped with information.' She was spending time with Kovalchuk in Dubai and was reportedly invited to the same party on March 9, but ultimately decided to return to Russia days before. A young mother will spend the next two months in jail after her twin daughters died in a single car crash while she was behind the wheel. Rachel Van Oyen, 32, was sentenced over two counts of careless driving causing death, grievous bodily harm or bodily harm in Northam Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The Halls Head mother was driving her Toyota Camry along Western Australia's Great Eastern Highway in the Wheatbelt region, 300km east of Perth, in February after visiting family in Kalgoorlie for a wedding. The court was told her car veered off the road when she swerved to avoid a roadside marker, causing it to skid, before it clipped a tree, flipped and landed on its roof. Both children were ejected from the car nd the seven-year-old died at the scene. Van Oyen's lawyer, Michael Ryan, told the court his client has 'done all the right things' to ensure her daughters were safe. She had stopped for breaks in the long-haul drive and there was no suggestion that fatigue played a part in the crash and everyone in the car had been wearing seatbelts. Van Oyen received an eight-month jail term for each of the girls' deaths which was partly suspended by Magistrate Sarah Oliver. Rachel Van Oyen pictured with her twin daughters Macey and Riley who died after a horror smash on a remote stretch of highway in Perth The fatal crash happened on the Great Eastern Highway with the Toyota Camry hitting a tree 300km east of Perth in the WA's Wheatbelt. Mr Ryan told the court it was a heartbreaking incident. 'The circumstances around this incident is that Ms Van Oyen has closed her eyes for a second, not even a second, the vehicle has veered slightly, to the shoulder, she could see there was a roadside marker, her instinct was to veer to the right to avoid the collision with that marker,' he told the court, reported WA Today. 'She's applied too much right direction on that steering wheel, created a perfect situation when the vehicle has slid sideways.' Magistrate Oliver said the crash was 'unquestionably serious'. Van Oyen will spend two months behind bars before being released on a conditional suspended sentence for six months. The rest of her sentence is suspended for a period of 12 months. Outside the court the estranged father of her children, Darius James, said nothing could bring his daughters back. 'If they were in child car restraints suitable to their size, the outcome may have been different,' a family friend said on behalf of the girls' father, reported the publication. The family friend said this fatal decision will 'haunt' the family forever. 'Every time our side of the family had the girls, they were always in car seats. They were not of size to not be in car seats,' they said. Van Oyen her young daughters Macey and Riley had been travelling back to Perth after visiting relatives in Kalgoorlie. The mother escaped with only minor injuries while Macey and Riley died at the scene. Following the fatal crash Ms van Oyen said there were no words to 'describe this emptiness and pain I'm drowning in' On the stretch of road where the smash occurred, visible tyre skid marks showed that the car had heavily braked as it veered off the single lane highway. Van Oyen pleaded guilty to both charges laid against her. At previous hearing her lawyer Michael Ryan told the court 'significant psychological issues' caused by the crash had prevented Van Oyen from attending. Mr Ryan said it was 'extremely traumatic' going through the evidence of the crash with his client and that he 'didn't want to do that to her again'. In the days following the crash Van Oyen posted on Facebook that 'nothing makes sense now' and that it 'should have been me' who died. 'What I would give to take your places, my precious girls,' she wrote. 'I have never felt so helpless as I did that day. All I could do was try to hold you briefly even though you'd both grown wings. 'In a blink of an eye everything changed. My entire world fell apart, vanished. There are still no words to describe this emptiness and pain I'm drowning in. 'Nothing makes sense now, you two were my absolute world and nothing made me more complete than being your mother. 'I hope you both know how truly sorry I am.' Social media posts by family and friends described the little girls as 'magical little twins' and 'true sunshine souls'. WA Premier Roger Cook previously described the incident at the time as an 'absolute tragedy'. A Gofundme page set up by a family member to 'help Rachel' raised over $53,000. 'Macey and Riley brought us so much love and joy, and as hard as it is without them, our lives were made better by their short existence,' the page stated. 'They were vibrant, cheeky, and beautiful young girls who had so much life and promise ahead of them.' Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has applied to make yet more renovations to his luxury 2million mansion. The 53-year-old has outlined proposals to replace a damaged lead roof at his Carse of Gowrie retreat. McGregor also wants to remove rooflights and replace them with aluminium double-glazed units. Property records show the Trainspotting star bought the Perthshire home in 2023 for 2.35million after it had been on the market for offers over 2.15million. It comes with a gate lodge and a courtyard of outbuildings and has more than 15,000 sq ft of living space on three floors. It also features a two-bedroom flat, stores and a wine cellar on the lower ground floor. Since buying the home, he has been given permission to erect a replacement garage and to create a new master bedroom and bathroom suite. McGregor also won a fight to repair 'yellowing' and 'water-damage' to the mansion. Ewan McGregor and his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead pictured in March 2024 McGregor's 2million 18th century Scottish mansion in Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire McGregor and his co-stars for the 2024 drama A Gentleman In Moscow In December he was given the green light to renovate a lodge on the grounds of the estate. He wanted to refurbish the windows of the B-listed gate lodge and install new double glazing units. And the actor applied to remove existing PVC windows and replace them with new timber sash windows. McGregor said he felt a 'tug' to return to Scotland. 'I've lived in Scotland for less time than I've lived away from it but I've never lost my love for it.' Raised in Crieff, on the edge of the Scottish Highlands, to teacher parents, he left in his late teens and moved to London to pursue his acting ambitions. He then migrated to the US after his Hollywood career took off. McGregor shot to fame as Mark Renton in Danny Boyle's 1996 classic Trainspotting, aged 25. He went on to achieve global stardom as Jedi Obi Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy between 1999-2005, reprising the role in Disney's 2022 miniseries. Perth and Kinross Council are expected to issue a decision on his latest plans in due course. The Sudanese army recaptured the presidential palace in Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces on Friday, dealing a major blow to the paramilitaries who responded with deadly drone attacks. State television had broadcast scenes of fighters celebrating in the palace, before three of its journalists were killed in a drone strike, according to an army source. They were 'covering the army retaking the Republican Palace' when an RSF one-way attack drone struck the complex, also killing or wounding a number of army personnel, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity. In a statement shared to Telegram, the RSF said it had launched a 'lightning operation' around the palace which 'killed more than 89 enemy personnel and destroyed various military vehicles'. 'The battle for the Republican Palace is not over yet,' the RSF vowed. Witnesses reported multiple drones targeting the area, where soldiers had celebrated through the blackened halls of the palace. In video footage broadcast by state television, young men in yellow bandanas - volunteer fighters who had taken up arms alongside the army - waved flags and ululated behind shattered windows. In a clip filmed inside the building, an SAF captain is heard saying: 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar - Friday, the 21st day of Ramadan and the 21st of March - we entered the Republican Palace. Allahu Akbar! 'People will say it is photoshop but this is the Republican Palace. Inside the palace! Inside the palace!' Sudanese soldiers celebrate after retaking the presidential palace in Khartoum The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) rejoice after the successful 'lightning operation' Sudan's army said it recaptured the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on March 21 A satellite image of the Republican Palace in Khartoum The devastating battle for power between Sudan's rival generals began on April 15, 2023, when much of Khartoum quickly fell to the RSF. The infantrymen of the regular army had proved no match for the highly mobile paramilitaries in the battle for the capital's streets. In the nearly two years since, the war has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 12 million, including more than half of the pre-war population of greater Khartoum. After months of humiliating defeats for the army, the tide of the war seemed to turn late last year when the army launched a counteroffensive in the central farming state of Al-Jazira, taking advantage of the defection of a local commander. The recapture of the presidential palace, a symbol of Sudanese sovereignty, 'is a blow' to the RSF, a retired general told AFP, adding that the paramilitaries' withdrawal from the capital is only a 'matter of time'. But RSF fighters are still scattered around the city centre, hiding in nearby buildings and stationed in part of the bombed out airport, military sources said. The paramilitaries have kept up their shelling of army-held neighbourhoods from their remaining positions in the city's western and southern outskirts, the sources added. A military expert told AFP that the RSF had lost elite fighters in the battle for the presidential palace. 'With the army entering the Republican Palace, which means control of central Khartoum, the militia has lost its elite forces,' the expert said, requesting anonymity for their safety. Sudanese army members film themselves inside the presidential palace The Palace is the country's seat of power and the official residence of its president Two days of intense battles led to victory for the Sudanese army Some of the soldiers prayed and thanked God after recapturing the Palace A Sudanese army spokesperson gives a statement on Sudan TV after the operation 'Now the army has destroyed equipment, killed a number of their forces and seized control of one of its most important supply centres in Khartoum.' The Republican Palace is the country's seat of power and the official residence of its president, though rules usually prefer to live in the SAF headquarters southeast of the palace complex. It was unveiled in 2015 as a gift to former military dictator Omar Al-Bashir by China. The RSF pledged to 'continue to fight' to dislodge the army from areas it has retaken. In a video address last week, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Daglo vowed to resist the army's counteroffensive. The army announced an operation to 'cleanse' the city centre of holdout RSF fighters. 'What remained of RSF militias have fled into some buildings' in central Khartoum, a military source told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. Army spokesman Nabil Abdallah vowed troops would 'continue to progress on all fronts until victory is complete and every inch of our country is purged of the militia and its supporters'. The conflict has left thousands dead and millions displaced in Sudan Since April 2023, the conflict has pitted army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo The army's retaking of the presidential palace may lead to its recapture of greater Khartoum but the vast western region of Darfur and much of the south remain largely in RSF hands. Late on Thursday the RSF said it had seized a key base from the army in North Darfur. Although the RSF still has positions in Khartoum, experts have suggested it is only a matter of time till they are pushed out completely. Ahmed Soliman, senior research fellow at Chatham House, told Reuters that Sudan will face a 'contested, partitioned reality' and that the army is likely to continue the war in the west of the country. More than eight million of Sudan's estimated 50 million people are on the brink of famine, which has already been declared in five areas of the country. Nearly 25 million are suffering dire food insecurity. RSF shelling, SAF airstrikes, starvation and disease have claimed at least 61,000 lives in Khartoum state alone. The US has accused the RSF of committing genocide in Darfur, while the SAF were said to have committed war crimes, as well as recruiting child soldiers and blocking access to humanitarian aid. Firefighters rushed to one of London's busiest roads today after a lorry burst into flames. Dramatic footage from the scene shows a pillar of black smoke rising from behind a bridge on the A406 in Wembley. The video was posted at 11.37am and fire engines are seen attempting to tackle the blaze as huge plumes of smoke billow from the lorry container. The lorry cab was not attached to the container in the clip. London Fire Brigade confirmed the eastbound road between the Hanger Lane and A404 junctions was closed. The cause of the explosion is currently unknown but it has been confirmed that the lorry was carrying scrap metal. Drivers have been advised to avoid the area as significant traffic delays are expected. Dramatic footage posted on X (formerly Twitter) shows billowing smoke from behind a bridge on the A406 The video was posted at 11.37am and fire engines are seen attempting to tackle the blaze as huge plumes of smoke billow from the lorry container The cause of the explosion is currently unknown but it has been confirmed that the lorry was carrying scrap metal A London Fire Brigade spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Firefighters have been at the scene of a lorry fire on the A406 North Circular in Park Royal. 'A lorry trailer containing scrap metal was alight. 'The fire has now been extinguished and crews have been damping down hotspots. 'The A406 has been closed eastbound between the Hanger Lane and A404 junctions but the carriageway has now reopened, although there are lane closures. 'This incident has been causing significant traffic disruption locally and motorists are advised to continue avoid the area and find alternative routes. 'The Brigade was called at 10.38am and two fire engines from Willesden and Acton fire stations have been at the scene. 'A 32-metre turntable ladder was also at the scene from Wembley Fire Station, which was used to extinguish the fire from above.' Drivers have been advised to avoid the area as significant traffic delays are expected. Another video from X shows the rising cloud of thick smoke This is bad news for Wembley Stadium where the England v Albania fixture is taking place. The stadium tweeted asking people to use alternatives routes. This comes as Heathrow Airport is closed following the huge blaze that erupted at a substation less than two miles from London's biggest airport. The fire, which has shut Heathrow for at least 24 hours, has left thousands of West London properties without power. More than 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines rushed to the scene, on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, to tackle the blaze on Thursday evening. A 43-year-old man has died just days after being assaulted outside a Sainsbury's. Andrew Clark was attacked outside the supermarket in Beckenham, south-east London, on Sunday evening. Paramedics raced to the scene on Upper Elmers End Road where they treated Mr Clark for head injuries, before rushing him to a major trauma centre. But he could not be saved and died from his head injuries on Wednesday, days after he was assaulted. Demiesh Williams, 29, of Croydon, was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent on Tuesday. He appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court that day and was remanded into custody, next to appear at the Old Bailey on April 15. It is understood the attack was not connected to Sainsbury's staff. A spokesman said the store was temporarily closed while the supermarket supported the Metropolitan Police's investigation. Liam Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge, praised the force's 'swift response in identifying and apprehending the suspect'. Andrew Clark was attacked outside the supermarket in Beckenham, south-east London , on Sunday evening. (Stock image) Paramedics raced to the scene on Upper Elmers End Road where they treated Mr Clark for head injuries, before rushing him to a major trauma centre (stock image) He added: 'I would like to offer my condolences to the victim's family and loved ones at this difficult time and have offered my support to them and the police.' Mr Clark's family have been informed and are receiving support from specialist officers. A previous statement from the London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 20.21pm on Sunday, March 16 to reports of an assault on Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham. 'We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from Londons Air Ambulance. 'We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre by road.' Billionaire DOGE head Elon Musk says he's going to find the latest Defense Department 'leakers.' It comes after President Donald Trump vehemently denied a New York Times report cited sources who claim 'first buddy' Musk was going to the Pentagon on Friday for a briefing from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on preparations for war with China. 'The New York Times is pure propaganda,' Musk wrote on X in adding to Trump's denial of the report. He warned: 'They will be found.' Meanwhile, Trump and Hegseth are preparing to unveil on Friday plans for a next-generation fighter jet contract worth at least $20 billion. that would see a crewed aircraft that can enter combat alongside unmanned drones. The fire that forced London Heathrow airport to shut down today has sparked travel chaos across the globe, with tens of thousands of passengers left stranded at airports overseas. At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow have been affected, data from flight tracking service FlightRadar24 has revealed. Dozens of planes from the US, the Caribbean and India were forced to be turned around in mid-air. Others were diverted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris or Ireland's Shannon Airport, tracking services showed. Some 120 flights were in the air when the closure was announced early this morning. Out of these, 36 were still in the air four hours later as pilots - mainly flying from Asia - scrambled to work out where they could land. The impact of the massive inferno is likely to last several days as passengers try to reschedule their travel and airlines work to get planes and crew to the right places. Authorities do not know what caused the electrical substation fire, but so far found have no evidence it was suspicious. Counter terrorism police are now leading the probe into the blaze amid claims it could be a Russian sabotage attack linked to Vladimir Putin's campaign of disruption. As one of the world's busiest airports, handling around 1,300 landings and take-offs each day, disruption caused by Heathrow's closure has quickly spread to other countries. At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow have been affected by the Heathrow Airport closure London's biggest terminals - which facilitates upwards of 200,000 travelers a day - were forced to shut down on Friday after a fire at a nearby substation caused a major power outage A visibly upset German woman cries at Heathrow Terminal 5 this morning as she and her travel companion learn their plans have been disrupted Passengers from as far away as San Francisco, and Perth in Australia were caught in the carnage, with data firm Cirium estimating that 290,000 people who were scheduled to fly to or from the airport will be affected. Dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon and other European cities, stranding tens of thousands of people abroad. Some planes were even forced to turn back and set down in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Delhi - where Air India has now cancelled all its flights to London. Meanwhile, all 34 flights scheduled from Dublin to Heathrow today have been axed. With many airports already operating at capacity, finding alternative places for flights to land is not always easy. FlightRadar data reveals a mishmash of different outcomes, with passengers on a flight from Bangkok diverted to Brussels and those flying from New York City heading to Iceland. A flight from Boston was sent to Goose Bay Airport in Canada, while others have been sent to Ireland, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, or other UK airports including Cardiff and Manchester. Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky Smoke billowing from a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport amid efforts to douse the remainder of the flames after a fire broke out in Hayes, west London on Friday More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted on Friday due to the closure of the airport following a fire at the North Hyde Electrical substation last night. Pictured are parked planes at Heathrow Terminal 5 One group of passengers who have been impacted by today's Heathrow chaos had flown in on British Airways flight (BA56) from Johannesburg, which had been due to connect to a string of other destinations including the USA and Italy. Qantas airlines diverted flights from Singapore and Perth, Australia to Paris, where it said it would bus people to London, a process likely to also include a train shuttle beneath the English Channel. European airports are expected to receive an influx of planes that are too far into their journeys to turn back. Amsterdam, Newfoundland in Canada and Helsinki are among some of the cities accepting diverted flights. Travelers who were diverted to other cities found themselves trying to book travel onward to London. Budget airline Ryanair, which doesn't operate out of Heathrow, said it added eight 'rescue flights' between Dublin and London's Stansted airport to transport stranded passengers Friday and Saturday. Britain's National Rail service also canceled all trains to and from Heathrow. Passengers on a flight from Perth in Australia queue up at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport after having their 17 hour flight diverted away from Heathrow A departure board at Singapore's Changi Airport showing cancelled flights to Heathrow People wait by the Eurostar departure gates at St. Pancras International Station, after a fire at electrical substation wiped out power at the Heathrow International Airport, in London, Britain, March 21, 2025 Joanne Davis from US waits as she is trying to fly to Portland, Oregon, via Heathrow International Airport, after a fire at an electrical substation wiped out the power at Heathrow International Airport, at Fiumicino Airport near Rome, Italy, March 21, 2025 Travelers Lauren Clark, left, and Shahin Jade Ali, right, wait at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after a fire at Heathrow Airport in London forced its closure, leading to numerous flight cancellations, in Mumbai, India More than 200,000 passengers have had their flights to or from Heathrow cancelled on Friday after the airport announced it would be closed until 11.59pm as a result of the disruption. Some 67,000 homes were left without power overnight and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer in a nearby electrical substation erupted into flames. Residents described hearing a large explosion, followed by a fireball and clouds of smoke, when the blaze ripped through the electrical substation near the airport. The London Fire Brigade sent 10 engines and around 70 firefighters to control the blaze and about 150 people were evacuated from their homes near the power station. It was too early to determine what sparked the huge blaze, but there's 'no suggestion' of foul play, UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said. London's Met Police said counterterrorism detectives were leading the investigation because of their ability to find the cause quickly and because of the location of the electrical substation fire and its impact on critical national infrastructure. The fire, which took seven hours to control, also knocked out a backup power supply to the airport. Heathrow said in a statement that it had no choice but to close the airport for the day. 'We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens,' an airport spokesperson said. A traveler arrives at Heathrow Airport after receiving a message that her flight to Dubai was still scheduled to depart on March 21, 2025 in London, England. All flights to and from the airport have been cancelled due to the fire Passengers board a bus as trains to Heathrow Airport are terminated, at Hatton Cross in London, on Friday Workers on the way of investigate electrical substation following a fire at an electrical substation supplying power to the facility, in London on March 21, 2025 A police officer and firefighters near the North Hyde electrical substation which caught fire Road signs reading 'access closed' at the entrance of Heathrow airport following its closure after a fire broke out at a substation supplying power of the airport, in Hayes, west London The fire's widespread impact on travel led to criticism that Britain was ill prepared for disaster or some type of attack if a single blaze could shut down Europe's busiest airport. 'The UK's critical national infrastructure is not sufficiently hardened for anywhere near the level it would need to be at to give us confidence this won't happen again,' said Alan Mendoza, the executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, a security think tank. 'If one fire can shut down Heathrow's primary systems and then apparently the backup systems, as well, it tells you something's badly wrong with our system of management of such disasters.' Tom Wells, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, acknowledged that authorities had questions to answer and said a rigorous investigation was needed to make sure 'this scale of disruption does not happen again.' Though the fire has been brought under control, aviation experts warn the impact of the closure will be felt over two to four days as airlines, cargo carriers, and crews are moved into position and passengers rebooked. 'As soon as the airport opens up at midnight tonight, it's not only about resuming with tomorrow's flights, it's the backlog and the implications that have taken place,' aviation consultant Anita Mendiratta said. 'Crew and aircraft, many are not where they're supposed to be right now. So the recalculation of this is going to be intense.' A traveler walks outside the Terminal 4 at Heathrow International Airport after a fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out the power at the airport on Friday A traveller arrives with his luggage at Terminal 4 as Britain's Heathrow Airport has closed for the full day Friday Passengers leave Indira Gandhi International Airport after their flight scheduled for London got cancelled over a Heathrow Airport shutdown, in New Delhi, India on Friday Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world for international travel. The airport serves more than 230 destinations in nearly 90 countries. Ninety airlines have made Heathrow their base, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa. It had its busiest January on record earlier this year, with more than 6.3 million passengers - up more than 5 per cent from the same period last year. According to traffic summary, 5.7 million passengers travelled through Heathrow in February 2025, making it the busiest February on record. Passenger numbers amounted to 84.1 million from March 2024 to February 2025. Still, the disruption Friday fell short of the one caused by the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and created trans-Atlantic air travel chaos for months. Heathrow - where the UK government plans to build a third runway - was also at the heart of a shorter disruption in 2023 when Britain's air traffic control system was hit by a breakdown that slowed takeoffs and landings across the UK on one of the busiest travel days of the year. A former Democratic lawmaker and BLM activist's husband has been charged with wire fraud for allegedly lying on COVID relief forms. Cortney Merritts, 46, the husband of Cori Bush, who represented a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, from 2021 to 2025, was charged in a federal indictment on Thursday. Bush, a member of the progressive 'Squad' alongside Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and more, lost her bid for reelection in November. Her husband is accused of collecting over $20,000 in government funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2020 and 2021 after filing allegedly fraudulent applications. According to the indictment, Merritts received $8,500 from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) in July 2020 after requesting funds for a moving business he operated called Vetted Couriers. His application stated he employed six people and generated $32,000 in revenue during the prior year. The next day, on July 8, 2020, Merritts submitted another EIDL request, this time under a proprietorship called 'Cortney Merritts.' In it, he claimed he had 10 employees and made $53,000 in revenue. This application was denied for being 'nearly identical' to the application he sent the day before, and federal authorities allege that the request was fraudulent. Cortney Merritts served as Cori Bush's security guard before the two got married in 2023 Former Rep. Cori Bush and her husband Cortney Merritts Bush was investigated for her security payments to Merritts. She spent over $750,000 on private security during her four years in Congress The following year, on April 22, 2021, Merritts again applied for federal money under his own name, this time from the PPP, in which he claimed to have 10 employees and $128,000 in revenue, according to the indictment. He received over $20,000 for this PPP request, though federal officials allege he committed fraud on this application too. 'Mr. Merritts intends to plead not guilty to the charges,' Merritts' lawyer, Justin Gelfand said in a statement to Fox News. 'As with any indictment, this is only the government's version of the story. We look forward to litigating this case in federal court in Washington, D.C.' A year ago Bush and Merritts were embroiled in controversy after the Office of Congressional Ethics opened an investigation into the former lawmaker for allegedly misusing campaign funds. The investigation was to determine whether Bush illegally paid Merritts campaign funds after hiring him as her personal security guard. Bush paid over $750,000 for private security while in office. She doled out $60,000 to Merritts in 2022 and $42,500 in 2023, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Before starting as Bush's security guard Merritts operated a moving company The pair married in February 2023. No charges have yet come from the investigation. 'Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,' Bush told reporters of the probe into her campaign funds last year. Instead, she claimed she has used campaign funds to retain security services, including her husband who she said has 'extensive' experience in the field. 'I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false,' she insisted. Since leaving Congress Bush and her fellow former 'Squad' member Jamaal Bowman, who similarly lost reelection in November, have started a monthly podcast. This is the shocking moment a German tourist was beaten up by irate locals after he climbed a sacred Mayan temple in Mexico. Teresa Arroyo was visiting the Temple of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza, Yucatan yesterday when she spotted the man going up the stairs of the 82-ft ancient pyramid and began to film. Footage shows the man racing up the steep steps of the temple while onlookers gathered at the bottom to boo him. Some people can be heard calling the unruly tourist an 'idiot' and 'stupid'. One woman can be heard yelling: 'You are not allowed to go up the temple!'. A security guard can also be seen climbing the pyramid in an attempt to get the disorderly visitor to come down. As the tourist reaches the top of the temple, he disappears from the frame, but two security guards can be seen running around the tip of the pyramid as they try to catch him. Personnel from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the National Guard (GN) removed the German tourist from the archaeological zone. A German tourist was beaten up by furious locals after he climbed a sacred Mayan temple in Mexico The moment was captured on camera, with footage showing the man racing up the steep steps of the temple while onlookers gathered at the bottom boo him Separate footage shows how the man was escorted away by guards while onlookers pounced on him and heckled him Whilst they guided him out of the area, dozens of tourists pounced on the man with some even hitting him. A video shows him being escorted by guards while onlookers relentlessly follow and heckle him. Members of the INAH and GN tried to diffuse the situation so that the man could be removed from the area. Several tourists had flocked to the location on Thursday to Since 2008, it has been forbidden to climb the pyramid and this measure seeks to protect the site's historical and cultural value. Dozens of tourists had particularly gathered in the location on this day to catch a glimpse of the 'Descent of the Feathered Serpent' - a visual phenomenon where the sun's shadow casts the illusion of a serpent descending the pyramid's staircase. This event is one of the most anticipated because it marks the arrival of the Spring Equinox. This is not the first time a rebellious tourist has sparked fury for climbing the steps of the Mayan temple. Security guards were forced to climb up the temple too in an attempt to get the tourist to come down The incident happened at the Mayan Temple of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico yesterday In 2023, a Polish tourist was whacked over the head with a large wooden stick after sparking fury by climbing the steps of Kukulcan. Footage taken by onlookers showed him being escorted down the steps by two security guards before being surrounded and abused. Moments later a bare-chested man in shorts and sandals, seen resting a long stick on his shoulder as the tourist descended the pyramid, approached him from behind and whacked him over the back of the head with the weapon. The Polish holidaymaker, said to have been fined after being held in custody for around 12 hours, appeared to be momentarily stunned and looked back behind him while covering his head with his hands. He is understood to have told the authorities he accessed the non-authorised area to take photos and post them on his social media. The Temple of Kukulcan is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the centre of the Chichen Itza archaeological site. It is more formally designated by archaeologists as Chichen Itza Structure 5B18. All four sides of the temple have approximately 91 steps. Climbing them has been banned since 2008. US television presenters reacted with incredulity at how a single fire had shut down Heathrow Airport for the whole day today, with two declaring: 'What a mess!' Flights were turned around and returned to airports in the US as more than 200,000 air passengers had their flights to or from London cancelled or diverted today. Reacting to the blaze on Fox News this morning, host Ainsley Earhardt said from the Fox and Friends studio: 'What a mess, Friday and Spring Break.' And reporter Greg Palkot, on the ground at Heathrow, replied: 'You got it right, what a mess is correct.' CNN presenter Isabel Rosales on the network's Early Start programme also appeared to be shocked by the disruption, telling viewers: 'What a major headache. So many questions that need to be answered and reflection that needs to happen on how a single substation could take out the back-up power source of such a critical airport.' Later on CNN's programme News Central, the channel's transportation analyst Mary Schiavo said she believed police could have intelligence that it was an 'attack'. Counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation into the fire, although the Metropolitan Police has insisted there is 'currently no indication of foul play'. Thousands of homes were left without power and more than 100 people evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those affected by the power outage with passengers warned to expect disruption for several days. Fox News reporter Greg Palkot said at Heathrow today: 'You got it right, what a mess is correct' CNN anchor Isabel Rosales told viewers on Early Start this morning: 'What a major headache' CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo said police could have intelligence of an 'attack' Smoke continues to billow from the North Hyde electrical substation in West London today All major US breakfast shows reported on the news this morning, with Fox and Friends host Lawrence Jones introducing the story by saying: 'Fox News alert. Travel nightmare for thousands around the world as London's Heathrow Airport cancels all flights over a power outage.' His colleague Earhardt added: 'What a mess, Friday and Spring Break. Greg Palkot is live on the ground there. Hi, Greg.' And Palkot replied: 'You got it right, what a mess is correct. We are standing outside of what should be the busiest airport in all of Europe, London's Heathrow Airport. 'It's now arguably the quietest airport. I'm going to ask my cameraman, Ben Gerry, to pan behind me and the park and perimeter road to show you basically nothing is happening at this airport. That in fact the entire thing is shut down.' Over on CNN, Ms Schiavo, the former Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation, was asked for her reaction upon learning that the airport had shut. And she responded: 'Oh, my reaction was, if Heathrow gets a cold, the world gets, you know, pneumonia. And we have said that when [Chicago] O'Hare closed due to a fire similar, a fire that was set a number of years ago when Atlanta had to close. That's what we have done to our system. A transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation in West London caught fire last night Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today after it was closed Firefighters wearing masks at the scene of the major blaze in West London this morning 'We have funnelled so much traffic into the key airports that when they shut, literally, we have global chaos. And that's what we will be seeing for several days.' Ms Schiavo also spoke about the investigation, explaining how she thought police would likely have an indication that there could have been attack. She said: 'London is very good in in camera coverage. They have really extensive intelligence and camera coverage all over London and at key substations, infrastructure etc. 'So if they have switched it to counter terrorism, my guess - this is only my opinion - would be that they do have some kind of intelligence, and maybe it's verbal intelligence or informants that suggest that perhaps it was an attack.' Online flight tracking service Flightradar24 said the closure would affect more than 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow today. This includes 679 scheduled to land and 678 due to take off from the airport. It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. Heathrow is the UK's largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. Firefighters continue to exinguish the blaze at North Hyde electricity substation this morning Passengers board a bus near Heathrow Airport this morning after trains were also cancelled Passengers are facing travel chaos today after Heathrow Airport had to close due to a fire 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. 'We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.' This is believed to be the worse disruption at Heathrow since December 18-23 2010, when thousands of Christmas getaway passengers camped in the terminals because of widespread cancellations caused by snow. An inquiry found the clearing of aircraft stands was slower than required. In April of that year, air travel was grounded across Europe because of an ash cloud caused by an Icelandic volcanic eruption. A system failure suffered by air traffic control provider Nats in August 2023 led to flights being cancelled across the UK for several hours. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the fire 'appears to have knocked out a back-up generator as well as the substation itself'. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It's too early to say what caused this but I think obviously we will have to look hard at the causes and also the protection and the resilience that is in place for major institutions like Heathrow.' Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today after it was closed Departure boards and other screens are dark in parts of London Heathrow Airport this morning He added that 100,000 homes were without power overnight, and this was later reduced to 4,000. Flights were diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Ireland's Shannon Airport. A number of flights were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada and the United States. Gatwick Airport accepted seven diverted flights from locations including Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow. Shannon Airport in Co Clare accepted six diversions from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. Aviation consultant John Strickland said the closure of Heathrow for an entire day is 'a massive dislocation to have to recover from'. He added: 'Once an aircraft is in the wrong place with the crew, if you're away from home you don't have another crew to suddenly bring the plane and the passengers back. 'You've got to wait until that crew has taken its rest, which is always required after a duty period. 'We're talking about several days worth of disruption to get the planes recovered and start using them again to move planned and disrupted passengers.' A screen at Hatton Cross Underground station today tells passengers that Heathrow is closed An almost empty Arrivals Hall at Heathrow Terminal 4 in London this morning after its closure He likened the disruption to what happened after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, when flights were grounded across the US. He said: 'It's a contained version of 9/11.' Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said affected passengers are not entitled to compensation but airlines should provide assistance such as overnight accommodation if required and re-routing bookings, including with rival carriers from alternative airports. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said there was a large-scale power outage in Hayes, Hounslow and the surrounding areas impacting more than 16,300 homes. According to the power company's website, authorities aimed to restore power by 3pm today. A National Grid spokesperson said the fire had damaged equipment and they were 'working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible'. London Fire Brigade said it received the first reports of the fire at 11.23pm yesterday, and reported it being 'under control' at around 8am. Jewish advocacy organizations are fuming that the man convicted for the deadly 1980 bombing outside a Paris synagogue continues to live a comfortable life in Canada's national capital. Beirut-born Hassan Diab, 71, is seen walking and biking in the Ottawa suburbs in these exclusive DailyMail.com photos. 'That Hassan Diab remains free in Canada is unacceptable,' said Richard Marceau, Vice President, External Affairs and General Counsel at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), in a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday. The government of former prime minister Justin Trudeau refused to extradite Diab to France. But Canadians are going to the polls later this spring and a change of government could spell trouble for Diab. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre posted on social media last November: 'Why hasn't he been extradited to France to face justice?' And Diab is apparently aware his fate could change, telling a Canadaland podcast: 'I just have to be careful. It's like you are living in constant fear. 'It's not easy, it's like waiting for a ghost to appear from somewhere.' The government of former prime minister Justin Trudeau refused to extradite the convicted 1980 Paris synagogue bomber Hassan Diab to France, which has sparked outrage among Jewish advocacy groups Four people were killed on the evening of October 3, 1980, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated outside of the Rue Copernic synagogue The previous administration's decision could be challenged as Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre asked on social media last November why he hadn't been sent back to 'face justice' Four people were killed on the evening of October 3, 1980, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated outside of the Rue Copernic synagogue. Diab, who has consistently claimed he was taking university exams in Beirut at the time of the bombing, was arrested in Canada in 2008 but released on bail. In 2014, he was extradited to France, where he spent three years in pretrial detention. Diab returned to Canada in 2018 when the charges against him were dropped. The Paris Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal in January 2021 and ordered Diab to stand trial. Diab refused to return to France and on April 21, 2023, he was convicted of terrorism charges in absentia and sentenced to life in prison. An international arrest warrant was issued. 'He was afforded every protection under French and European law and was found guilty by an independent court of law,' said Marceau, describing the failure to return Diab to France as 'an abuse of process.' He added: 'Justice must be upheld. At a time of rising anti-Semitism, allowing a convicted perpetrator of a deadly anti-Semitic attack to remain in Canada is indefensible. In 2014, he was extradited to France, where he spent three years in pretrial detention. Diab returned to Canada in 2018 when the charges against him were dropped Diab refused to return to France and on April 21, 2023, he was convicted of terrorism charges in absentia and sentenced to life in prison Diab's wife Rania Tfaily is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in Carleton University's Department of Sociology and Anthropology where Diab was let go from after outrage erupted over him using his extraradition case as a teaching tool B'nai B'rith Canada, an international Jewish service organization, blasted Carleton University in a statement it shared on social media 'Diab must be held accountable and extradited to France to serve his life sentence.' B'nai B'rith Canada, an international Jewish service organization, also hailed the decision to reverse the dismissal and said the move represented a 'long-awaited step' for the victims. 'The delays in holding accountable those responsible for what is known as the darkest day for French Jews since the Holocaust has only exacerbated the wounds caused by the attack,' the organization told DailyMail.com. 'The passage of time should not allow the perpetrator of such a horrific anti-Semitic terror attack to escape justice. 'If the French government seeks Diab's extradition and his extradition is authorized by a Justice in Canada, it is our expectation that Canada will honor its treaty with France and extradite Diab to France.' Last year, Diab taught a course titled Social Justice in Action at Ottawa's Carleton University, using his extradition case in the class. B'nai B'rith Canada was one of the many Jewish groups that blasted Carleton University, in a statement posted on social media. 'We cannot stand by while a convicted terrorist, affiliated with a listed terrorist group, teaches on our campuses! 'Carleton's silence is deeply disturbing. Its decision to continue to employ Diab not only presents a danger to the well-being of its students, but it is an insult to the memory of the innocent victims of his heinous crime and an affront to all Canadians who value law and order.' Diab lives in a modest split-level home on a quiet, tree-dotted street. He goes for runs and rides his bicycle in the neighborhood On Thursday, Diab spent over an hour inside a Second Cup cafe near his home working on a laptop. He declined to speak to a reporter The Hassan Diab Support Committee said in a statement in January that Diab is being vilified and scapegoated. It claims France's case against Diab was 'always extremely weak' and the 2023 conviction came from a 'bogus trial' In January, the university said in a statement that Diab was no longer 'in the employment of Carleton. His wife, Rania Tfaily, is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in Carleton's Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The couple has a daughter Jena and son Jad together and Diab has two adult children, Maya and Jude, from a previous relationship. Diab lives in a modest split-level home on a quiet, tree-dotted street. He goes for runs and rides his bicycle in the neighborhood. On Thursday, Diab spent over an hour inside a Second Cup cafe near his home working on a laptop. He declined to speak to a reporter. Diab's lawyer Donald Bayne, who did not respond to a request for comment, wrote in 2021 that putting Diab on trial in France 'is an unjust decision and one that perpetuates over a decade-long miscarriage of justice'. And the convicted terrorist has defenders in his community. The Hassan Diab Support Committee said in a statement in January that Diab is being vilified and scapegoated. It claims France's case against Diab was 'always extremely weak' and the 2023 conviction came from a 'bogus trial'. It added: 'Canada must not be party to this injustice and must state urgently and unequivocally that Hassan Diab will not be subjected to a second extradition.' President Donald Trump on Friday indicated he would accept an offer from King Charles to join the British Commonwealth, strengthening America's ties to the United Kingdom. 'I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!' Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. Trump was responding to an exclusive report, published Thursday by DailyMail+ royal columnist Richard Eden, that the King would make a 'secret' offer to the president for the U.S. to become the next 'associate member' of the Commonwealth. DailyMail+ is our new subscription service that offers access to a range of brilliant, in-depth premium content from our world-leading team of journalists. Subscribe here. The Commonwealth, whose nations have a total population of more than 2.7billion, is one of the world's oldest political associations of states. It is made up of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. They are connected through their use of the English language and historical-cultural ties. Membership is voluntary and the group is mostly ceremonial. King Charles III is the head of the commonwealth. President Donald Trump and Melania Trump in his first term with the then-Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall The move will be widely seen as a huge boost for the 'special relationship' between the US and UK. It comes at a time when America's relationship with the European Union has plummeted to an all-time low. Trump has repeatedly lambasted the EU and threated it with massive tariffs. Trump and the King have kept a close relationship even after Trump left the White House. The two exchanged letters often. The Commonwealth proposal was originally floated in Trump's first term, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who Trump adored. Now the British are reviving the plan to extend the invitation with the hope the King will personally make the case to Trump when the president and first lady make their state visit to the UK later this year. 'This is being discussed at the highest levels,' a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) told DailyMail.com: 'It would be a wonderful move that would symbolize Britain's close relationship with the US. 'Donald Trump loves Britain and has great respect for the Royal Family, so we believe he would see the benefits of this. Associate membership could, hopefully, be followed by full membership, making the Commonwealth even more important as a global organization.' The source added: 'The Commonwealth is also a great forum for resolving differences between nations, and the King has shown that he is a natural peacemaker.' Trump is a longtime fan of the British royal family. Prime Minister Keir Starmer used that to his advantage when he visited the White House earlier this month. Starmer personally delivered the letter from the King at a meeting with the Trump in the Oval Office. In it, the King personally invited Trump to make a state visit to the UK later this year, a rare second invite for an American president. Trump made a state visit in his first term when Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne. Trump waved the letter around in front of the cameras and grandly accepted the invitation. He described the King as a 'beautiful man.' UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hands an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit to President Donald Trump William, Prince of Wales, meeting then President-elect Trump in January in Paris The invitation to join the Commonwealth could also cool the tension around Canada. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to make Canada the 51st state. The country is part of the Commonwealth. The talk of turning has created enormous tensions and put the King in an awkward position. Canada is one of the 15 countries of which he is head of state. He met new Canadian prime minister Mark Carney in London this week, in what many interpreted as a show of support. Canada is looking to the King as their head of state, and head of the Commonwealth, to speak up for them and ward off Trump. The king also hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Sandringham after Trump and Zelensky had their falling out during a disastrous meeting in the Oval Office. Trump was said to be annoyed at the king's move. The 56 Commonwealth nations President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II, First Lady Melania Trump, Prince Charles Prince of Wales and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall during a 2019 state visit in Trump's first administration The royals have courted Trump as part of their role in keeping a strong relationship between the U.S. and UK. Prince William met with him in Paris shortly after Trump won the 2024 election when the two were in France for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral. 'I was very impressed by William. I think William is terrific,' Trump said after their meeting. Trump has openly admired the royal family and is known to be eager for another state visit and the full trappings it brings, including a carriage ride up the Mall and a glittering banquet at Buckingham Palace. For the UK, the king and the royal family can use their 'soft diplomacy' to woo the president, who is pushing 25% steel and aluminium tariffs as part of his trade war. A prison workshop instructor who had a jailhouse relationship with Zara Aleena's murderer has been jailed for nine months. Hayley Jones, 34, was caught on CCTV kissing and touching Jordan McSweeney, 31, at maximum security HMP Belmarsh in southeast London. McSweeney was previously jailed for a minimum of 38 years for the brutal murder of aspiring lawyer Ms Aleena, later reduced to 33 years on appeal. From 6 March 2023 to 7 April 2023, the pair were caught canoodling on CCTV on a 'daily basis.' Interactions included Jones pulling the convicted killer around in a trolly and letting him 'pretend' to throttle her with both hands. McSweeney strangled Zara Aleena to death. A search of her address upon her arrest revealed a poem written for her by McSweeney. Police later intercepted a letter sent to a fellow inmate by McSweeney in which he boasted of 'f*****g the fat thing in the workshop' and receiving illegal contraband from her. Hayley Jones (pictured), 33, admitted to having an 'inappropriate relationship' with Zara Aleena's murderer Jordan McSweeney Prolific criminal McSweeney, who had 28 convictions for 69 crimes prior to Ms Aleena's murder, had been released from prison on licence just nine days before the killing McSweeney was handed a life sentence at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting sexually assaulting and murdering Ms Aleena (pictured) Jones, of Strood, Kent, admitted misconduct in public office at Woolwich Crown Court on 31 October 2024. She pleaded guilty misconducting herself in a 'way which amounted to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder by engaging in an inappropriate relationship with Jordan McSweeney.' Wearing a black buttoned-up top, the 34-year-old appeared in the dock at Woolwich Crown Court today (fri) for sentencing. Polly Dwyer, prosecuting, said that Jones was a 'Band 3 workshop instructor having moved to that role on 16 December 2019.' 'Jordan McSweeney was an inmate at the prison having been transferred there on 8 April 2022. 'On the 15 December 2022 he was of course convicted of murder and sexual assault and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 33 years for murder. 'Concerns were raised about the relationship when Ms Jones and Mr McSweeney were reported by an individual within HMP Belmarsh - an employee of the prison service - on 5 April 2023, who witnessed the defendants holding hands. 'Ms Jones and Mr McSweeney were seen with their faces very close together (and) on seeing him they parted. 'Ms Jones queried whether she had anything on her forehead and Mr McSweeney walked away quickly. 'The individual who made a report, on entering the workshop area, heard one of the prisoners say something along the lines of: 'it looks like they like each other.' Ms Dwyer said that CCTV footage covering the indictment period showed 'inappropriate interactions between Ms Jones and Mr McSweeney on a daily basis.' Jones' address was searched on 6 April 2023 following her arrest, upon which confidential documents about workshop attendees and a poem for her penned by McSweeney were found, the prosecutor said. She also told the court that a letter written by McSweeney to another inmate following his re-location was intercepted by the police. The contents of the letter included him 'bragging' about 'f*****g' Jones for 10 months and her supplying him with contraband,. She stated that Jones' offending 'undermines the discipline of the prison system and public confidence in it.' Rosalie Myttas-Perris, defending, argued that the recipient of Jones' affection could reasonably be described as a 'lifer with nothing to lose.' Jones covered her face as she appeared in court in August this year She asked the judge why - as a prisoner with a 'history of aggression and violence, including towards prison officers' - he was given an 'orderly job' and allowed to 'roam around as freely as we have seen him roaming around in the CCTV. 'It is always Mr McSweeney who initiates the inappropriate interactions', she said, adding: 'Ms Jones previously reported him for making her feel uncomfortable, no actions were taken - I don't say that as an excuse. 'No doubt she went along because unfortunately it is an easy thing to do - he has shown an interest in her, he was paying her compliments and sharing things with her, and sadly she didn't report it as she should have and no doubt that's a regret that will remain with her for the rest of her life. 'She accepts full responsibility and relays her sadness, regret and shame about what happened and how it impacted the victims, the community, the prison service and indeed her own family.' Ms Myttas-Perris asked the judge to consider the consequences that immediate custody would have on Jones' 11-year-old son, who suffers from Crohn's Disease. Judge David Miller - having retired for twenty minutes to consider his decision - said: 'Ms Jones, I have to sentence you today for one offence of misconduct in a public office between 6 March 2023 and 7 April 2023. 'Your public office is that of a prison officer at His Majesty's Prison Belmarsh and your misconduct was your inappropriate relationship with a prisoner, something to an abuse of the public's trust in your role.' Jordan McSweeney, 31, is serving at least 33 years in HMP Belmarsh for the murder of Ms Aleena McSweeney was caught on CCTV stalking three other women through the streets before he became 'fixated' on Zara. He referred to the 'daily inappropriate interactions between you and the prisoner in the workshop area where you worked during the entirety of the indictment period. 'There appears to be an established and obvious mutual fondness generally involving smiles, laughter and physical intimacy. 'There is absolutely no sign that this was unwanted by you or that the prisoner was imposing himself on you, as you gave every indication that you were enjoying the relationship. 'You appear to be fully complicit in it, for example making signs to one another to avoid anything inappropriate being seen by another. 'You were clearly aware that what you were doing was inappropriate.' He continued: 'The interactions included playing games involving the prisoner, him riding on a trolley which you pulled, embracing, kissing, the prisoner touching you, your hair, your ear, your neck, which he pretended to throttle, and playfully slapping you, cheek-patting or pinching your bottom, touching you in the area of your prison keys. 'It is not known what took place off-camera, save to say that there is footage of both of you emerging from an off-camera area adjusting your clothing. You have accepted that there was kissing and touching but no intercourse..' He continued: 'Search of the workshop led to a discovery of a poem written by the prisoner, for and addressed to you. 'The prison also intercepted a letter from the prisoner to another. 'In it, the prisoner explains that he has been kicked out of Belmarsh for 'f*****g the fat thing in the workshop', that he had been doing so for 10 months and claiming that he was getting 'packs, my phone, the lot*man was living good.' 'The prisoner was one Jordan McSweeney, he had been at Belmarsh prison for about a year and he was serving life for a particularly grave murder and sexual assault, and he was regarded as a potentially dangerous prisoner. 'I have in mind how those affected by the crime in general and how, in particular those affected by Mr McSweeney's crimes, must feel when they learn about your relationship with Mr McSweeney. 'I'm afraid that I do consider that adequate punishment can only be achieved by imposing a prison sentence that is not suspended. 'This was persistent conduct, you had received training, you were an experienced prison officer. McSweeney was caught on CCTV stalking three other women through the streets before he became 'fixated' on Zara 'Hayley Jones the sentence I impose upon you is a sentence of nine months imprisonment, I'm not suspending that sentence.' The judge said she would serve 'no more than half' of the nine months in prison and upon release will be subject to period of supervision for one year. She was also ordered to pay a 187 surcharge. An emotionless Jones - with her arms folded in front of her - cut a forlorn figure as she was led down to the cells. Killer McSweeney was working at a funfair in Ilford, east London and had been prowling the streets looking for victims nearby before he dragged Zara into a driveway in Cranbrook Road. She was stamped and strangled to death in a nine minute attack in the early hours of 26 June, just nine days after he was let out of jail on licence. Zara was found bleeding profusely, struggling to breath, partially naked with severe head injuries and died at Royal London Hospital at 9.58am. McSweeney was caught on CCTV stalking three other women through the streets before he became 'fixated' on Zara. After admitting murder and sexual assault at the Old Bailey he refused to attend court. He is now serving his life sentence in HMP Long Lartin, another Category A prison in Worcestershire. A clock, a train, Michael Jordan's air jumpman logo are among the most recognizable tattoos US law enforcement has been using to identify members of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. However, the body markings may soon disappear as the criminal organization's leadership is now warning its members to stop getting the ink that announces them to authorities. Federal law enforcement sources confirm to DailyMail.com that Tren de Aragua leadership is having its members already bearing the mob's signature tattoos burn them off. Tren de Aragua's tattoos have become a flashpoint in recent days - as the Trump Administration leaned heavily on skin markings to ID Venezuelan migrants as gangsters and deport them to a supermax prison in El Salvador. President Donald Trump justified the deportations, which did not follow the normal legal proceeding where judges sign off on each individual being removed from the US, using the controversial Alien Enemies Act. As American courts decide if Trump is even legally able to apply the law to Venezuelan migrants, allegations have surfaced that the some of the deportees were wrongly accused of being Tren de Aragua by tattoos that were mistaken for the gang's insignia. One deportee had an autism awareness ribbon made out of puzzle pieces, according to The Guardian. Another had a clock showing the time of birth for his daughter, however, the men's lawyers insists that neither are gang members. Tren de Aragua gang tattoos (pictured above) were part of a Department of Homeland Security bulletin shared with federal agents in 2023 But the recent confusion over tattoos could become a moot point soon since TdA, as the group is known to law enforcement, is banning them. 'Now were seeing the fact that theyre not getting tattoos because theyre aware that thats an identifier for us,' Tim Sullivan, the Chief Patrol Agent for US Border Patrol Special Operations, told El Paso station KFOX-TV. TdA, known to be incredibly adaptive and organized, issued the body art ban after its members interacted with Border Patrol and other federal agencies in the US. 'They try to learn from us as much as we learn from them, and thats what also made them, to a certain point, a difficult target to assess,' FBI in El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales explained. 'While were trying to do our job and were interviewing them at the borderthey were sending that information back and telling their folks, "Dont do A, dont do B, dont do C, dont bring this or the other," so that we wouldnt be able to detect them or identify them. In the last year, police in the US have used the tattoos as a starting point in flagging them to potential gang members. Not surprisingly, a train tattoos is a telltale sign, as Tren de Aragua is Spanish for 'train from Aragua'- the Venezuelan province the group hails from. Crowns and phrases related to royalty could were also branded on gang members, as the criminals who operated as foot soldiers for Venezuela's communist' dictator, believed they were untouchable. Tren de Aragua is now operating in 21 states within the US A suspected TdA mobster apprehended in El Paso, Texas. This suspected gangster even had the telltale signs of the criminal organization, like the clock tattoo on his chest Two of the 19 individuals arrested during the Oct. 19 raid at the Palatia Apartments in San Antonio where authorities say Tren de Aragua had been operating El Salvador's Presidency press office shows the arrival of alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in the city of Tecoluca, El Salvador 'Hijos de Dios' which is Spanish for 'sons of God' or the shorter version 'HJ' could also be found inked on their bodies. The gang also has an affinity for the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, often wearing jerseys, hats and the color red. But even the crimson shade has a tie to the gang's origin-- it's the color of party Venezuela's illegitimate president, Nicholas Maduro, belongs to. Sullivan added the body art is simply one way TdA thugs are linked to their criminal network in Venezuela. Its been just good police work thats been able to identify them through post-arrest interviews and the joint operations that weve conducted,' he said. Those interviews are happening in great detail now that border crossings have plummeted, Border Patrol confirms. Additionally, US federal agencies cross reference information with South American law enforcement officials in order to classify a Venezuelan migrant as Tren de Aragua affiliate. Joe Rogan has spoken out against Donald Trump's ongoing spat with Canada and declared he doesn't believe the country should become the US' 51st state. Speaking with fellow comedian Michael Kosta on his wildly popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, he revealed where he differs from the president. The 57-year-old said that he couldn't understand why there was so much tension between the US and Canada. Rogan, who voted for Trump and welcomed him on his show, said: 'Why are we upset at Canada? This is stupid, this over tariffs We got to become friends with Canada again, this is so ridiculous. 'I can't believe there is anti American, anti Canadian sentiment going on. 'It's the dumbest f****** feud. 'I just want America and Canada to get along, I think it's ridiculous. And I don't think they should be our 51st state.' The US and Canada have butted heads in recent weeks over an ongoing trade war and tariffs brought in by Trump. The UFC commentator did add that he would consider Greenland becoming the 51st state however, echoing an idea from President Trump that has been floated. Joe Rogan has spoken out against Donald Trump 's ongoing spat with Canada and declared he doesn't believe the country should become the US' 51st state President Trump has suggested that Canada should join the US amid a trade war he sparked by hiking up tariffs His words mark a shift away from the president, who he first began cozying up to in the run up to the election. Rogan was in attendance at President Trump's inauguration in January, after he hosted him on his podcast last October. He describes himself as a progressive who wanted hard-left Dem Bernie Sanders to become president in 2016. Rogan says the Democrat party has lost him over its behavior on issues including COVID and transgender rights. The podcaster's sentiments echo those by newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The primer minister issued a withering takedown on Trump over the ongoing trade dispute. He accused Trump of 'trying to weaken our economy' in his speech to a raucous room full of Liberal party voters. 'Donald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we make a living,' he said. 'He's attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses. We cannot let him succeed. And we won't.' The stern words have made it clear that he intends to continue down former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's path of public disputes with the president. Rogan's stance aligns with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney who has hit back at Trump's suggestion Trump previously trolled former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by referring to him as 'Governor' of California Trump first began proposing a Canadian accession under Trudeau, who he trolled by referring to as the 'Governor of California'. He has imposed a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian imports as part of a drive to hold the country, 'accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country', a White House statement said. Current polling suggests there is very little support among Canadians for joining the US, with around 90 percent opposed. However, a vocal minority in Canada's oil rich provinces buoyed by Trump's 'Drill Baby Drill' approach have come out and declared themselves 51st-staters. Video shows the shocking moment celebrity aristocrat Lord Charles Brocket zooms past a pedestrian at a zebra crossing on London's King's Road The 73-year-old was today convicted of failing to stop his scooter for the woman. He said it would have been too dangerous to make a sudden emergency stop on two wheels, arguing he was 'nowhere close' to the pedestrian anyway. Lord Brocket was nonetheless found guilty of failing to accord precedence to a pedestrian on a zebra crossing in August last year. He was fined 346, with 650 costs, plus a 138 victim surcharge - a total of 1,134 - and given three penalty points on his driving licence. Lord Brocket, of Peterborough Road, Fulham, arrived at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on the same Piaggio scooter dressed in a grey suit, a light blue shirt and dark blue tie. The I'm A Celebrity star had been riding home through Chelsea at 6pm. He was caught on camera by pedal cyclist Oscar Blanco, 53, who was recording traffic while on his way home to New Malden from his finance job near Marble Arch. Lord Charles Brocket, pictured leaving Wimbledon Magistrates' Court, was today convicted of failing to stop his scooter for a pedestrian at a zebra crossing The 73-year-old, pictured outside the court today, said it would have been too dangerous to make an emergency stop 'I saw that there was a pedestrian twenty to thirty yards away, waiting to cross,' Mr Blanco said. 'The pedestrian was already looking to the right to make safe passage across the crossing. Mr Blanco told the trial that he came to a 'very slow rolling' to indicate to the woman that she could cross. 'There was an acknowledgement from the pedestrian, thanking me for slowing down, she mouthed "thank you." 'As she started to cross, the moped rider drove through the zebra crossing without stopping. 'I think I said "oh my God." 'I stopped to allow the pedestrian to cross and the motorcycle didn't.' The video, from the perspective of Mr Blanco's bike camera, was played to the magistrates. Pedal cyclist Oscar Blanco caught the incident on his bike camera and gave evidence in court Lord Brocket said a car in front of him had slightly obscured everything to his left A woman in a pink top is seen stepping onto the zebra crossing just before Lord Brocket's motorbike speeds past. Lord Brocket had been running an errand for one of his children and was returning from department store Peter Jones, a mile away from where the incident happened. 'You try to ride in the middle of the road to file past other cars if you have to,' he said. 'I was going down the middle of the road to the rear and right of a car that went over the crossing. I was doing the normal 20 mph. 'The car in front of me slightly obscured anything to my left and when I realised the pedestrian had put her foot on the zebra crossing, the only possibility for me would have been an emergency stop.' But magistrates ruled that any motorist with an obstructed view of a zebra crossing must slow down sufficiently so they can stop safely if needed. 'From the video evidence and the evidence from Mr Blanco, we are satisfied the pedestrian was on the carriageway before any part of the defendant's vehicle reached the crossing,' said Chairwoman Wendy Preston. 'He said the car in front partially obstructed anything to his left. The video, from the perspective of Mr Blanco's bike camera, was played to the magistrates A woman in a pink top is seen stepping onto the zebra crossing just before Lord Brocket's motorbike speeds past 'If you cannot see if there is a person on the crossing you must drive in such a way that you must stop if there is a person on it.' Speaking later after the guilty verdict outside the court, Lord Brocket said he understood the magistrates' legal position. 'I've been a motorcyclist for over 50 years and you cannot stop at 20mph in a seventh of a second, let alone one second - you can't. 'So, when somebody suddenly steps onto a zebra crossing, and you're faced with an emergency stop on two wheels, you're not going to do it. 'But the law is the law. It says you have an absolute duty. 'An absolute duty is an absolute duty and I can see why the magistrates just had nowhere to go on that.' In court, Lord Brocket quoted the Highway Code stopping distances, arguing they apply to four-wheel vehicles and that two-wheel vehicles do not stop as quickly. 'The time between the pedestrian putting one foot on the crossing and my front wheel touching the crossing is a third of a second and the emergency stop would have taken two seconds. Lord Brocket arrived at court on the same Piaggio scooter dressed in a grey suit, a light blue shirt and dark blue tie Speaking outside the court, he said he understood the magistrates' legal decision 'I judged it too dangerous to do an emergency stop on two wheels. I drove through the middle of the crossing and was nowhere close to the pedestrian. 'I judged it was unsafe to do an emergency stop. I judged it safer to carry on. 'In London, you never quite know. Some people step onto a crossing and then change their mind. 'I did not know she was going to cross. You never quite do.' Lord Brocket said the pedestrian put half of her right foot on the road as his front wheel came onto the crossing. 'I had to make a quick decision and it was safer to carry on than to make an emergency stop,' he said. 'If you have got to do a rapid stop on two wheels, even on a dry road, you've got to know what you are doing. 'I would never have stopped and I had to make a snap decision. The bike would have just skidded, even on a dry road. 'You can't stop in that time and I wasn't going to risk it.' Have you been affected by the chaos? Email olivia.allhusen@mailonline.co.uk This is the dramatic moment an American Airlines pilot told passengers enroute to London that their plane would be performing a sudden u-turn - as the chaos at Heathrow looked set to continue into next week. Flight AA730 left Charlotte in North Carolina at 7.30pm EDT last night (11.30pm GMT) and was due to land at Heathrow over seven hours later at 7am GMT (3am EDT). But as the Boeing 777 made it to the eastern edge of Canada passengers were left shocked as the flight path map on their screens showed it had done a 180-degree turn. The travellers were among 200,000 whose flights to or from Heathrow were axed or diverted after the airport shut all day following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Some 670 flights were affected by the unprecedented chaos at Europe's busiest airport - with significant disruption expected to continue for days. The blaze caused a power outage 'equal to that of a mid-sized city', Heathrow Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye said this evening, with a limited number of flights expected to set off again this evening. The airport expects to return to '100 per cent operation' tomorrow. He apologised to passengers disrupted by the closure of the airport on Friday but defended its response. Asked if there is a weak point in Heathrow's power system, Mr Woldbye said: 'You can say that but of course contingencies of certain sizes we cannot guard ourselves against 100 per cent and this is one of them. 'This has been a major incident. I mean, short of anybody getting hurt, this is as big as it gets for our airport and we are actually coming back quite fast I would say, when you consider the amount of systems that we have to shut down then bring back up and make sure that they're safe.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called it 'an unprecedented situation that has been totally outside of Heathrow's control', as she said 'we will learn lessons' from the disorder. She added that there is no suggestion of foul play in the fire. Counter terrorism police are involved in identifying the cause of the substation fire because it took place next to a critical piece of national infrastructure. In the clip, the pilot can be heard saying: 'Some of you may have noticed on the TV screen we have made a 180-degree turn. We are heading back to Charlotte. 'Let me tell you what is going on - there was a huge fire at the power substation at London Heathrow. The runways have light but there is no power at all in the terminals and they are not accepting flights into London Heathrow for the next 22 hours.' An American Airlines pilot told passengers flying from Charlotte that they were heading back The plane was en route to London Heathrow when the pilot said it would be returning to the US The American Airlines flight had made it to the eastern edge of Canada but had to head back The blaze caused a power outage 'equal to that of a mid-sized city', Heathrow Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye said this evening, with a limited number of flights expected to set off again this evening. The airport expects to return to '100 per cent operation' tomorrow He added: 'Gatwick and Manchester were not accepting flights and but then they changed their minds and said they are accepting flights. 'But we are so far away from those airports that by the time we get to Gatwick or Manchester there will be no room for our airplane because all the other airplanes are diverting to Manchester and Gatwick and that's why we are returning to Charlotte.' As passengers could be heard groaning at the news, the pilot added: 'We will be on the ground in three hours and about 24 minutes.' They ended up landing back at Charlotte at about 2.30am EDT this morning (6.30am GMT), just half an hour before they had originally been due to land at Heathrow today - meaning they had completed a 3,500-mile flight for nothing. However, electricity now appears to have returned to the airport after an 'interim solution' was found by engineers at National Grid. Reporters inside Terminal 4 this afternoon said lights in the main building have switched back on and lifts in the multi-storey car park are operational again. Speaking this afternooon, Heathrow's chief executive gave details over the decision to close Europe's busiest airport on Friday after a fire at a substation caused a power outage. Speaking to reporters, Mr Woldbye said: 'We have three of these substations, each of them has a backup transformer. 'The backup transformer in this case also went and then we had to restructure the supply. So we're not out of power but we have to restructure our power supply. 'To do that we have to close down systems - that is safety procedure, we will not go around that.' He added: 'Two substations can run the airport but we need to re-engineer the structure of the power supply for all the terminals and that's what we were doing during the day, and then we have to restart all the systems and that's what we've done, and we now see operation coming back.' He described the decision to close the airport as a 'very difficult one' that they took 'quite early' when it became clear Heathrow could not be safely operated. And in a statement, the airport announced that it was now 'safely able to begin some flights later today' - with British Airways given clearance for eight long-haul journeys. 'Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft,' a spokesman said. 'Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so. 'We will now work with the airlines on repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly. However, travel journalist Simon Calder insisted tomorrow will be far from a 'normal day' at Heathrow and disruption will 'stretch into next week'. 'Ultimately it's extremely damaging to the UK economically, reputationally and so much distress to people. All those people have been let down', he said. Those feeling most let down are likely to be those forced into hotels, with prices near to Heathrow surging by 946 a night. One hotel by Heathrow was tonight charging a whopping 1,000 for a standard room for two people. The price listed for the North Avenue Guest House on Booking.com is staggeringly higher than the 54 it would cost you to stay next Friday instead - a difference of 946. This also means a room tonight is 1,850 per cent of the price next Friday. Another passenger was travelling from Thailand to Heathrow but ended up in a Frankfurt hotel A passenger was halfway to London on a eight-hour flight from Dubai which had to turn back A transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation in West London caught fire last night Travellers arrive at Terminal 5 as London's Heathrow Airport says it plans to resume some flights later today Electricity now appears to have returned to the airport after an 'interim solution' was found by engineers at National Grid Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. BA given go ahead for eight flights British Airways say they have been given clearance for eight long-haul flights to depart from 7pm on Friday. In a statement, the airline said: 'We are now urgently contacting customers to let them know so they can make their way to the airport from 5pm. 'The only customers who should make their way to Heathrow Airport are those booked onto the following flights.' The flights listed are: BA055 to Johannesburg BA057 to Johannesburg BA011 to Singapore BA259 to Riyadh BA045 to Cape Town BA059 to Cape Town BA015 to Sydney via Singapore BA249 to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro Advertisement As Heathrow shut down sparking worldwide travel carnage: Passengers on other flights also posted videos on social media of their planes being diverted, including one who was travelling from Malaysia to Heathrow who ended up being redirected to Amsterdam. Another was on a flight which U-turned back to Kuala Lumpur shortly after taking off. A third was travelling from Thailand to Heathrow but ended up in a hotel in Frankfurt after being diverted en route. And a fourth was halfway to London on a eight-hour flight from Dubai which had to turn back. Meanwhile, passengers on board Qantas flights to Heathrow Airport from Singapore and Perth were diverted to Paris before taking buses to London, the airline said. A Qantas spokesperson said: 'Our Singapore-London and Perth-London services were diverted to Paris today, with buses arranged to take customers on to London. 'Our teams are working hard to support impacted customers and we thank them for their patience.' Passengers are now being warned to expect disruption for several days due to the Heathrow closure, and many planes and flight crews are now in the wrong location. Online flight tracking service Flightradar24 said the closure would affect more than 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow today. This includes 679 scheduled to land and 678 due to take off from the airport. It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. Flights were diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Ireland's Shannon Airport. Some were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada. London Gatwick accepted seven diverted flights from locations including Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow. Shannon Airport in Co Clare accepted six diversions from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. The Metropolitan Police said there is 'currently no indication of foul play' relating to the fire, but 'we retain an open mind at this time'. Smoke continues to billow from the North Hyde electrical substation in West London today Your browser does not support iframes. The force said its Counter Terrorism Command would lead inquiries given the impact of the fire 'on critical national infrastructure'. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in West London. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those affected by the power outage. Tom Watters, who has worked on critical infrastructure around the world, told MailOnline the crucial substation powering Heathrow and west London contains 'very old' equipment and blamed a 'lack of investment' for the crisis and blamed the catastrophic failure of an 'oil-filled transformer' for the devastating fire. The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. MailOnline can also reveal that a report for London Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2022 identified major problems with the electricity supply system in the Heathrow area. It warned that the North Hyde substation, which exploded into flames last night, has been running at 106.2 per cent of capacity. Heathrow is the UK's largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today after it was closed Passengers are facing travel chaos today after Heathrow Airport had to close due to a fire Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 (pictured) - where prices tonight more than three times the cost for next week Firefighters wearing masks at the scene of the major blaze in West London this morning An almost empty Arrivals Hall at Heathrow Terminal 4 in London this morning after its closure A screen at Hatton Cross Underground station today tells passengers that Heathrow is closed Electrical engineer Mr Watters, director of Sanguine Impact Investments, told MailOnline: 'An oil filled transformer has obviously failed and caused the massive fire. 'This looks like a very old transformer and it's surprising that such an old piece of critical equipment was still in service. I assume a lack of investment is the reason. 'The design of the substation while being ok is also very old style. Modern substations are normally enclosed using gas as the insulation'. Counter terrorism police are now leading the probe into the fire amid fears it could be a Russian sabotage attack. Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago. They allege that the disruption campaign is an extension of President Putin's war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine - although the Kremlin has denied carrying out sabotage efforts against the West. Transport Secretary Ms Alexander said that counter terrorism police are involved in identifying the cause of the substation fire because it took place next to a critical piece of national infrastructure. 'The counter terrorism command has specific capabilities and capacities that mean that they are used to conducting investigations at pace, and it's really important that we identify the cause of this quickly. 'There are no suggestions at the moment of foul play, but you will appreciate the investigation, keeps an open mind, and our priority is identifying the cause as soon as possible.' Earlier this week, Putin had agreed to a limited ceasefire that stops Russia targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Now, experts are analysing whether Russia could be linked to the UK substation fire, which is affecting 679 flights scheduled to land and 678 departures from Heathrow. Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation given the need to quickly establish whether sabotage was involved and the security questions relating to how one fire took down a major piece of infrastructure. It comes as: Furious Americans left stranded across the globe after a fire closed Heathrow Airport today have ripped apart Britain's largest airport as they rush to get home. Flights to and from Heathrow were canceled Friday after a massive blaze erupted at a nearby substation and knocked out power to the airport late last night. At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow have been affected by the closure, with tens of thousands of passengers left stranded at airports overseas. Dozens of planes from the US, the Caribbean and India were forced to be turned around in mid-air. Others were diverted to other airports in Britain and Europe. Travelers have criticized Heathrow Airport and airline staff for their 'confusing' messages, with some alleging they weren't informed their flights had been cancelled until they turned up at the airport today. Others are outraged by the airline customer service helplines, which they allege are 'busy' and nearly impossible to reach a human being. Some travelers have tried to make the most of the situation, even asking AI for vacation destination recommendations, but most say they 'need to be home' and are scrambling to make alternate travel plans. Despite their desperate efforts to get back to the US, aviation experts warn the impact of massive inferno is likely to last several days as passengers try to reschedule their travel and airlines work to get planes and crew to the right places. Blair Burton, who is travelling to Austin, Texas, waits for an update on her flight to Heathrow Airport on Friday near the British Airways counter at Fiumicino Airport in Rome Carol Ye, from Canada, checks her phone as she waits to fly to Toronto on Friday. Ye, who is pictured at Fiumicino Airport in Rome today, was meant to fly via Heathrow International Airport in London, UK At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow have been affected by the Heathrow Airport closure Waiting at central London's Paddington station, which normally offers express train service to Heathrow, Tyler Prieb contacted airlines this morning, desperately hoping to find a new flight back to his family in Nashville, Tennessee. 'I'm sure everybody is going to need a new flight somewhere, somehow. So I'm just trying to get ahead of that the best I can,' said Prieb, 36, who was in London for work and to see friends. 'Hopefully, it will just take me an extra day to get back to my wife and my daughter. And they are probably wishing I would be home already,' he said. Prieb, however, did admit that he asked OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT for ways to pass the time. 'I thought maybe I'd go explore another city somewhere,' he said. John Moriarty, another American traveler, listened attentively to his phone's speaker, hoping to get through to his airline's customer service helpline. The 75-year-old said he was anxious to return to Boston to see his daughter, who had travelled from New York to visit him. 'All the lines are busy, so I might be here another day. Not the worst thing in the world. London is my favorite city, but I need to be home,' he said. Beau Mahr, a 21-year-old from Iowa, said that when they first arrived in London it was 'very exciting and hopeful', but says 'now that we have to wait, it's kind of stressful'. American traveler Joanne Davis waits as she is trying to fly to Portland, Oregon, via Heathrow International Airport, at Fiumicino Airport near Rome, Italy, March 21, 2025 Eric Egert, 65, from Philadelphia, was diverted to Manchester airport after Heathrow Airport closed. He is looking for an onward flight to Ireland Several passengers have expressed frustration at how poorly the airport has handled its communication with travelers today. A man, who only shared his first name Ooso, who was expecting to fly to Miami for his son's first day of college said instructions on the airport's website were 'confusing'. Ooso had gone on foot with his suitcase from the roundabout outside Heathrow Terminal 5 to the airport, only to be told he could not enter. He said as he walked back towards the roundabout: 'The website shows 'flight on time'. They only have a message not to come here, but to check updates. 'Updates are showing 'flight on time', but nobody is allowed to go in. So, it's so confusing.' Speaking about his son, who he said is to begin a semester at Miami University, Ooso said: 'He is to enroll on Monday.' He added: 'We would not have come had the website said, 'flight cancelled'.' A family from Dallas faced similar frustration after they were expected to fly back home to Texas from Heathrow but were told on arrival that the airport was closed. London's biggest terminals - which facilitates upwards of 200,000 travelers a day - were forced to shut down on Friday after a fire at a nearby substation caused a major power outage Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky Andrew Sri, his wife and their three young children, aged eight to one-year-old, had travelled to England to visit Andrew's sister Andrea, who lives in Greenwich, east London. 'I just wish they had updated us accordingly,' Sri said as he and his family found themselves at a standstill on the terminal's roundabout, waiting for updates. 'At the moment, the schedule on our flight says it's delayed, so that's why we drove out. So now we've got here and they told us, 'actually the airport's been shut down', so it's a little bit disappointing.' 'Obviously something happened and they're taking precautions, and we understand that. We just wish we were given a heads-up warning not to come here.' Ruben Cortez, 44, from Portland, Oregon arrived in the UK from South Africa this morning after carrying out missionary work in the country. 'We just got an announcement saying we would not be landing in Heathrow and we would be landing I don't even know where we are at,' he said. 'We were told the airplane would be here until further notice and that we had to get off the plane and figure it out.' When asked if they were going to fly from another neighboring airport, such as Luton, he replied: 'Well, that's what we are trying to find out, we can't get them on the phone or anything. 'I've been away from home for a while, so I just want to get back to the family.' Ruben Cortez, 44, from Portland in Oregon had also arrived from South Africa after carrying out missionary work in the country More than 200,000 passengers have had their flights to or from Heathrow cancelled on Friday after the airport announced it would be closed until 11.59pm as a result of the disruption. Some 67,000 homes were left without power overnight and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer in a nearby electrical substation erupted into flames. Residents described hearing a large explosion, followed by a fireball and clouds of smoke, when the blaze ripped through the electrical substation near the airport. The London Fire Brigade sent 10 engines and around 70 firefighters to control the blaze and about 150 people were evacuated from their homes near the power station. It was too early to determine what sparked the huge blaze, but there's 'no suggestion' of foul play, UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said. Counterterrorism detective are now leading the probe into the blaze amid claims it could be a Russian sabotage attack linked to Vladimir Putin's campaign of disruption. London's Met Police said the counterterrorism unit has taken lead on the case because of their ability to find the cause quickly and because of the location of the electrical substation fire and its impact on critical national infrastructure. The fire - which took seven hours to control - also knocked out a backup power supply to the airport. Heathrow said in a statement that it had no choice but to close the airport for the day. 'We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens,' an airport spokesperson said. Smoke billowing from a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport amid efforts to douse the remainder of the flames after a fire broke out in Hayes, west London on Friday Road signs reading 'access closed' at the entrance of Heathrow airport following its closure after a fire broke out at a substation supplying power of the airport, in Hayes, west London The fire's widespread impact on travel led to criticism that Britain was ill prepared for disaster or some type of attack if a single blaze could shut down Europe's busiest airport. 'The UK's critical national infrastructure is not sufficiently hardened for anywhere near the level it would need to be at to give us confidence this won't happen again,' said Alan Mendoza, the executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, a security think tank. 'If one fire can shut down Heathrow's primary systems and then apparently the backup systems, as well, it tells you something's badly wrong with our system of management of such disasters.' A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that authorities had questions to answer and said a rigorous investigation was needed to make sure 'this scale of disruption does not happen again.' Though the fire has been brought under control, aviation experts warn the impact of the closure will be felt over two to four days as airlines, cargo carriers, and crews are moved into position and passengers rebooked. 'As soon as the airport opens up at midnight tonight, it's not only about resuming with tomorrow's flights, it's the backlog and the implications that have taken place,' aviation consultant Anita Mendiratta said. 'Crew and aircraft, many are not where they're supposed to be right now. So the recalculation of this is going to be intense.' A Tory frontbencher has defied Kemi Badenoch by hinting at an election deal with Reform. Shadow transport minister Greg Smith said there 'may well' be a point when the right-wing parties need to 'play nicely' to avoid a left-wing government. He also refused to rule out serving in an administration led by Nigel Farage. The stance, in an interview with Talk TV, appeared to clash with Mrs Badenoch's dismissal of the idea of a tie-up. She said earlier this week that the UK had to move away from 'politics as showbusiness' - a pointed reference to Mr Farage's lucrative appearance on I'm A Celebrity in 2023. Shadow transport minister Greg Smith said there 'may well' be a point when the right-wing parties need to 'play nicely' to avoid a left-wing government The stance, in an interview with Talk TV, appeared to clash with Kemi Badenoch's (pictured) dismissal of the idea of a tie-up Speaking to The Telegraph after launching her bid for a Tory revival, Mrs Badenoch said: 'Having appeal doesn't mean that people want you running their lives. That's one of the things that we need to make sure that we remind people. 'This isn't I'm A Celebrity or Strictly Come Dancing. You don't vote for the person that you're enjoying watching and then switch off when the show's over. 'You've got to live with that person in your life, in your family's life, at work and so on. That's what elections are about. It's not just about watching a show and switching it off. We've got to move away from politics as showbusiness.' The Conservative leader also hit out at the infighting within Reform - which has five MPs - that led to Great Yarmouth's Rupert Lowe being suspended amid accusations about his conduct, which he has strenuously denied. 'If they can't unite with five people, how are they going to unite the Right?' Mrs Badenoch said. In his interview last night, Mr Smith said: 'Look, I think if we want to get rid of socialism from this country, there may well be a point where the right-of-centre parties have to play nicely. 'I don't think we're at the point of having to negotiate a deal like that at the moment. I very much hope we can have a Conservative victory.' Mr Smith also refused to rule out serving in an administration led by Nigel Farage While stressing that it 'too early' to make decisions, Mr Smith said: 'I think there is going to come a point where the parties on the right of centre look at where things stand ahead of the 2029 general election. 'And if there's a risk of a continued Labour government - or possibly the worst case scenario a Labour-Lib Dem-SNP coalition that would almost certainly bring in PR or something like that... then I think there has to be some sort of deal negotiated.' Asked if he would 'serve in a Nigel Farage administration', Mr Smith said: 'It's far too early to say. I'm going all out for a Conservative win.' A climate activist who chained himself to fragile pipes containing explosive hydrocarbons at Scotlands only oil refinery was jailed yesterday. Father-of-one Samual Griffiths, 49, claimed he had committed a pro-social crime. But jailing the graphic designer for 16 months, Sheriff Maryam Labaki told him he disregarded the safety of others by ignoring staff explaining the dangers. The incident, at the Ineos plant in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire on July 29th 2023, was the second at the facility involving activists from protest group This Is Rigged in 10 days. Prosecutor Lucy Clarke told Falkirk Sheriff Court that police carrying out patrols of the site realised Griffiths and a fellow activist, Jack Rennie, 31, wearing climbing harnesses, had scaled a gate and climbed 20 to 30 feet onto pipework used to transport vapour round the plant July 29th 2023. Ms Clarke said: They refused to come down and were told that police officers would be deployed to remove them and this was a risk to them and the officers. The pair were warned not to place weight on the pipes as they were not loadbearing. Griffiths chained himself to one of the pipes, while Rennie put a chain round his neck and padlocked himself to a pipe. Samual Griffiths scaled a gate at Grangemouth refinery and climbed onto pipework used to transport vapour Protesters from This Is Rigged sit on top of an oil tanker at the Ineos refinery in Grangemouth Both had to be brought down by a police rope access team. Griffiths, from Walthamstow, London, was found to be in possession of a heavy metal chain, a quantity of small flags, a rucksack of camping equipment, and a notebook. Rennie, from Sussex, had also taken part in the earlier invasion of the plant, on July 19th, together with two further men, Lewis Conroy, 23, from Stirling, and Gregory Sculthorpe, 38, from Doncaster. The trio had got into the plant and climbed onto the facility early in the morning as a tanker was arriving to collect petrol for Tesco - refusing to descend despite repeated requests from police and plant employees, risking causing damage to the pipes and the discharge of hazardous substances, and exposing the public to the risk of injury and harm. Miss Clarke said the tanker driver was terrified. All fuel-dispensing pumps at the plant were immediately shut down, and a supervisor tried to talk to Conroy, Rennie and Sculthorpe, as they began climbing up to a gantry, telling them the pipework was not suitable for their weight and warned them of high voltage cables nearby. Miss Clarke said: The pipes carry fuel. They rolled out a banner and began eating food they had brought. She said the supervisor noted the protestors seemed relaxed while the supervisor was in fear for his own life and the lives of his colleagues. Police arrived and put a containment round the structures, and for several hours specialist officers tried to negotiate with the protestors. Rennie and Sculthorpe eventually came down, while Conroy had to be removed by officers. Conroy was found to have a mobile telephone with him. The court heard mobiles are banned on the site because they pose an ignition risk. All four men pleaded guilty on indictment to culpable and reckless endangerment. Solicitor Ryan Sloan, for Rennie, said: Despite the intentions and moral convictions of all four, they are very well aware these are serious matters. There was never any intention of causing danger to others. Jailing Griffiths,Sheriff Labaki said: Notwithstanding your beliefs, you disregarded the safety of others by ignoring the staff explaining the dangers you were placing them and others and yourselves in. She said he was on bail at the time of the offence adding: In your case Im satisfied there is no alternative to a custodial sentence. Speaking of the incidents overall, the sheriff said: An employee of Ineos told the accused the risk they were posing but they continued on. It is a dangerous place by virtue of what it is. If one is to fight for the greater good, the greater good includes compassion and care for your fellow man, for the general public, and this is terrifying. It would have been terrifying for the workers. Rennie, Conroy and Sculthorpe were placed on supervision for two years, and made subject to restriction of liberty orders for six months during which time they will be electronically tagged and subject to a 7pm to 7am curfew. Rennie and Sculthorpe were also sentenced to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, and Conroy 200 hours. In a statement after the case, This Is Rigged described the sentence as unprecedentedly harsh adding: Sam has been sentenced to a custodial sentence which he must serve in Scotland miles away from his son and family. Britain is not not ruling out sending troops to Ukraine to secure any ceasefire with Russia, No10 said today amid claims allies are pulling back from committing to 'boots on the ground' The Prime Minister yesterday said the so-called 'coalition of the willing' was dividing its planning efforts between air, sea, land and borders, and regenerating Ukraine. After meeting military leaders in London he did not explicitly repeat his previous commitment to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, leading some to speculate the emphasis of the mission was shifting. Downing Street on Friday said officials from allied countries will meet again at the same site next week to firm up a strategy to protect Kyiv as plans enter an 'operational phase'. Asked whether the focus of discussions had shifted away from the prospect of ground troops for Ukraine, a Number 10 spokesman said: 'No, nothing is off the table on any of these fronts, so I wouldn't start ruling anything out. 'But clearly thousands of troops will be required to support any deployment, whether that is at sea, on land or in the air.' Any deployment will require significant support and the firming up of 'basic logistics of moving people and ensuring deployment rotations, so as the PM said we need to be prepared for all eventualities,' the official said. It comes after Sir Keir warned Vladimir Putin would face 'severe consequences' for breaching any truce. The Prime Minister yesterday said the so-called 'coalition of the willing' was dividing its planning efforts between air, sea, land and borders, and regenerating Ukraine. After meeting military leaders in London he did not explicitly repeat his previous commitment to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, which was again attacked with drones by Russia last night It comes after Sir Keir warned Vladimir Putin would face 'severe consequences' for breaching any truce. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband also distanced the government from a weakened stance, telling Sky News this morning: 'I think people are over-interpreting what the Prime Minister said yesterday. 'Work is obviously ongoing on the terms of a ceasefire and the protection that will be put in place to protect that ceasefire and to protect the people of Ukraine. That operational planning, that military planning, is ongoing. 'You wouldn't expect me to get into the detail of that but I don't think people should jump to conclusions. 'That planning is an ongoing process and obviously is one going on in concert with our allies, and indeed in concert with Ukraine and the government of Ukraine.' European and Commonwealth allies are seeking to pressure the Russian president as he resists accepting in full a US and Ukraine-backed deal, as well as ensuring a peacekeeping plan is in place if an agreement is reached. Moscow has agreed to pause attacks on Ukrainian power plants after a phone call between Mr Putin and US president Donald Trump, but Kyiv has said civilian targets including hospitals have since been struck. Meanwhile, delegations from Kyiv, Moscow and the US are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days for further peace talks. The Prime Minister is also expected to take a call with non-EU countries on Friday to discuss progress. Mr Zelensky has said he is hopeful a 'lasting peace can be achieved this year' after he spoke on the phone with Mr Trump on Tuesday, though he rebuffed a suggestion that Washington could take ownership of Ukrainian power plants to ensure their security. The Ukrainian leader said this would only relate to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the south-east of the country. Honduran authorities are still frantically searching for the black box of the Lanhsa Airlines small plane that crashed and killed 12 people. The flight recorder is believed to be inside the Jetstream 32 that is resting 152 feet below on Caribbean Sea floor off the coast of Roatan Island in the department of Islas de Bahia. The recovery of the black box would be crucial to determine what caused the plane to plunge into the sea just minutes after it took off from Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport on Monday night. 'The control tower received no indication from the pilot that he had any problems before the accident, but everything will be revealed from the recording,' Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency deputy director, Jorge Corrales, told La Prensa newspaper on Thursday. Corrales acknowledged that there has been a delay in lifting the plane out of the sea because they want to ensure that they don't miss any parts that may interfere with a complete investigation. 'It must be removed to analyze the wings, turbines and fuselage because it could give an indication of what happened,' Corrales said. Lanhsa Airlines Flight 018 attempted to take off from Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport to Goloson International Airport in La Ceiba, located in the mainland department of Atlantida. However, the aircraft ended up overshooting the runway before plunging into the sea. Honduran authorities have been searching for the black box of the Lahnsa Airlines Jetstream 32 that crashed in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of the Roatan Island on Monday. Authorities confirmed 12 people died, including the pilot and co-pilot Pictured: The Lahnsa Airlines Jetstream 32 that crashed Monday night in Roatan Island, Honduras. Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency deputy director, Jorge Corrales, told La Prensa newspaper that they have been taking their time in removing the wrecked plane because they want to ensure all parts are in place to conduct a full investigation Authorities were able to rescue five passengers from the plane wreckage - two fishermen were the first on the scene and helped save the lives of four people The plane's pilot, Luis Araya, the co-pilot, Francisco Lagos, and 10 passengers were killed. Five passengers were rescued from the wreckage before being rushed to local hospitals. Santos Guardiola Fire Department captain Franklin Borjas told reporters that the crash may have been caused by a failure in the aircraft's motor. A team of four experts with British Aerospace, the company that built the plane in 1989, arrived from Great Britain on Honduras on Thursday night. 'It's now an international standard that those who manufacture these aircraft must be on-site at the scene of an accident involving them to investigate the causes,' Corrales said. The Ministry of Defense's Commission of Accidents and Incidents is leading the investigation. First responders carried an injured man out of the Caribbean Sea to shore after the plane crash in Roatan Island, Honduras on Monday Lahnsa Airlines Flight 018 pilot, Luis Araya, told friends he was worried about the Jetstream 32's condition due to an issue with the small jet's hydraulic system after completing a flight between Roatan and the mainland city of Puerto Lempira on Monday prior to the deadly crash Fishermen Aldair Aleman and a friend were in a vessel when the Lahnsa Airlines Jetstream-32 crashed off the coast of Roatan Island. They helped to rescue four of the five passengers who survived Corrales said the British Aerospace experts 'will only be a support to investigate the part that corresponds to them regarding the technical part of the aircraft, which corresponds to the manufacturer.' Lahnsa Airlines' attorney, Ruben Navas, told HRN Radio that Jetstream 32 passed the series of inspections that took place from December 11 to 14, 2023 and that it received its operation certificate in January 2024. 'Airlines cannot operate without complying with current regulations,' Navas said. 'We have undergone all the required certifications and are ready to present the corresponding maintenance manuals and records.' Araya had previously told those closest to him that he worried about the aircraft's conditions before the fatal crash. The pilot had been concerned about an issue with the small jet's hydraulic system after completing a flight between Roatan and the mainland city of Puerto Lempira earlier that day. 'He was very concerned about the conditions at Lanhsa Airlines,' Araya's friend, Fausto Molina, told La Prensa. 'Under certain conditions he refused to fly. These planes were not properly conditioned.' Heathrow will resume some flights 'later today' with priority for stranded passengers - as the failure of a 'very old' transformer was blamed for the fire that shut it down. More than 1,300 flights to and from the UK's busiest airport have been affected after it had to be closed due to a blaze at a nearby electricity substation. Thousands of homes were left without power with more than 100 people evacuated after a transformer at the substation caught fire as a huge explosion was heard. However, electricity now appears to have returned to the airport after an 'interim solution' was found by engineers at National Grid. Reporters inside Terminal 4 this afternoon said lights in the main building have switched back on and lifts in the multi-storey car park are operational again. And in a statement, the airport announced that it was now 'safely able to begin some flights later today'. 'Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft,' a spokesman said. 'Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so. 'We will now work with the airlines on repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly. A British Airways parked outside Heathrow Terminal 5 after the airport was closed to all flights Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today Firefighters wearing masks at the scene of the major blaze in West London this morning Your browser does not support iframes. The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. The eerie and empty runway at Heathrow Airport, where no flights are coming in or out today An experienced electrical engineer today blamed the catastrophic failure of an 'oil-filled transformer' for the devastating fire that embarrassed Britain on the world stage. Tom Watters, who has worked on critical infrastructure around the world, told MailOnline the crucial substation powering Heathrow and west London contains 'very old' equipment and blamed a 'lack of investment' for the crisis. The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. MailOnline can also reveal that a report for London Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2022 identified major problems with the electricity supply system in the Heathrow area. It warned that the North Hyde substation, which exploded into flames last night, has been running at 106.2 per cent of capacity. Electrical engineer Mr Watters, director of Sanguine Impact Investments, told MailOnline: 'An oil filled transformer has obviously failed and caused the massive fire. 'This looks like a very old transformer and it's surprising that such an old piece of critical equipment was still in service. I assume a lack of investment is the reason. 'The design of the substation while being ok is also very old style. Modern substations are normally enclosed using gas as the insulation'. It came as The National Grid said that Heathrow has been reconnected to power on an 'interim basis'. But travel journalist Simon Calder said tomorrow will be far from a 'normal day' at Heathrow and disruption will 'stretch into next week'. 'Ultimately it's extremely damaging to the UK economically, reputationally and so much distress to people. All those people have been let down', he said. As Heathrow is shut down sparking worldwide travel carnage: The deserted runway and BA's grounded fleet at Heathrow today. 220,000 people were due to pass through the airport on Friday Firefighters extinguish the fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire Thursday night and lead to a closure of Heathrow Airport in London BA given go ahead for eight flights British Airways say they have been given clearance for eight long-haul flights to depart from 7pm on Friday. In a statement, the airline said: 'We are now urgently contacting customers to let them know so they can make their way to the airport from 5pm. 'The only customers who should make their way to Heathrow Airport are those booked onto the following flights.' The flights listed are: BA055 to Johannesburg BA057 to Johannesburg BA011 to Singapore BA259 to Riyadh BA045 to Cape Town BA059 to Cape Town BA015 to Sydney via Singapore BA249 to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro Advertisement Counter terrorism police are now leading the probe into the electrical substation fire amid claims it could be a Russian sabotage attack linked to Vladimir Putin's campaign of disruption. A report for London Mayor Sadiq Khan in July 2022 identified major problems with the electricity supply system in west London due to a lack of capacity. In the North Hyde substation which caused this morning's chaos in Heathrow, part of its network has been running at 106.2 per cent - far in excess of its capacity including a safety buffer. According to the report, the vital piece of infrastructure has seven primary substations supplied from the main facility which caught fire today. The substations are rated in Megavolt-amperes which measures the electrical load carried by the system. In one substation, the maximum MVA - including a safety buffer is 76MVA. However, peak capacity on that section was measured as 80.7MVA - 106.2 per cent above the safety margin. Other areas are at 94.7, 89.1 and 86.2 per cent of capacity. According to the Greater London Authority Report, the lack of capacity is caused by a rapid increase in the number of data centres. The report warns: 'The scale of electricity demanded by these data centres has created capacity constraints on both the distribution and transmission networks in the region, absorbing remaining electricity capacity in SSEN's West London region for the rest of the decade.' This, the authors claim has impacted new housing developments as they can wait several years for permission to connect to the electricity network due to capacity limits. In November 2024, it was reported that a network upgrade in the area would not be completed until 2037. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she has spoken with Heathrow boss Thomas Woldbye - but there is no update on when it will reopen. She said: 'This morning, I spoke with Heathrow airport's chief executive to hear the latest on the unprecedented power outage and I am reassured they're working tirelessly to reopen the airport as soon as possible. 'I would like to thank everyone involved in responding to this situation - particularly the emergency workers who have worked to contain the fire and keep everyone safe. 'I appreciate how disruptive this situation is for passengers, but until they hear otherwise the advice remains to avoid travelling to Heathrow.' Smoke billows from the electrical substation that exploded last night, forcing the complete closure of Heathrow airport in a crisis being compared to 9/11 in terms of flights grounded Heathrow said in a statement the airport's back-up energy systems worked 'as expected' when the substation fire started. It said: 'We have multiple sources of energy into Heathrow. 'But when a source is interrupted, we have back-up diesel generators and uninterruptable power supplies in place, and they all operated as expected. 'Our back-up systems are safety systems which allow us to land aircraft and evacuate passengers safely, but they are not designed to allow us to run a full operation. 'As the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow uses as much energy as a small city, therefore it's not possible to have back-up for all of the energy we need to run our operation safely. 'We are implementing a process which will allow us to redirect power to the affected areas, but this is a safety critical process which takes time, and maintaining safety remains our priority, so we have taken the decision to close the airport for today.' It came after a British MP today claimed that the drive for Net Zero led to the complete shutdown of Heathrow. One industry source told Reform MP Richard Tice Heathrow is moving from diesel back-up generators to biomass and the system failed 'at the first time of asking' when a local electrical substation went up in flames. At least 220,000 passengers have been left stranded in Britain and around the world after an electrical fire shut the airport for at least 24 hours - with the level of global travel chaos sparked by the outage being compared to 9/11. The UK's busiest airport was forced to close on Friday after its main power substation exploded and set alight less than two miles away in the west London suburb of Hayes. The complete closure of Heathrow due to the loss of just one electrical substation is unprecedented and raises major questions for the airport and the Government. It has also left many stranded travellers raging and reduced to tears. Mr Tice said on GB News: 'It appears that Heathrow had changed its backup systems in order to be, wait for it...Net Zero compliant'. 'They had got rid of their diesel generators and had moved towards a biomass generator that was designed not to completely replace the grid but work alongside it. Their net zero compliant backup system has completely failed in its core function at the first time of asking'. MailOnline has asked Heathrow to comment on Mr Tice's claims. Its 2022 Net Zero plan confirms it is 'investigating renewable-based alternatives that can still meet the stringent performance criteria' - but it is not clear how far along those plans are. Senior sources at the airport have insisted that Heathrow does have back-up power systems but 'activating contingencies for the whole airport requires some time' and 'isn't immediate', one insider said to The Times. Bosses are expected to be hauled before Parliament to explain. Julian Bray, one of the UK's leading aviation experts said: 'We are all amazed that Heathrow does not have a viable standby independent of the grid emergency power supply but relies on the National Grid. It's not as if Heathrow is short of money - it has a substantial war chest for building the third runway'. Your browser does not support iframes. A tearful stranded couple at Heathrow T5 this morning A passenger at Heathrow T5 this morning after fire at an electrical substation knocked out power Heathrow Airport has been closed on Friday due to a large blaze at a nearby substation The fire has knocked out power to the airport and 16,300 homes in west London Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky Firefighters douse the remainder of a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London The fire appears to now be out but Heathrow will be closed all day Around 220,000 people were due to travel through Heathrow today and the chaos from the complete closure will rumble on over the weekend and into next week because aircraft and passengers are now in the wrong place all over the world. At least 1,357 flights have already been cancelled, diverted or delayed today. Some planes already on their way London managed to land at other UK airports - but many including Gatwick are now full. Dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon and other European cities, stranding tens of thousands of people abroad. Some planes were even forced to turn back and set down in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Delhi, where Air India has now cancelled all its flights to London. British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Air Canada and Delta have suffered the largest number of cancellations and diversions. Aviation consultant John Strickland said: 'It's a contained version of 9/11 or, to an extent, the Icelandic volcanic eruption. I remembered seeing on those occasions - particularly more so on 9/11 - it happened so quick and then US airspace was closed, they were turning back aircraft and holding planes'. More than 16,300 homes in west London are also suffering from blackouts on Friday. All trains to Heathrow have also been cancelled. Coach operator National Express announced it has suspended all services to Heathrow. It is the biggest disruption for UK aviation since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded and diverted flights in April and May 2010, costing airlines and its customers an estimated 130million every day. The airport, which sees a plane land or take off every 45 seconds, announced its closure at 2am on Friday and ordered passengers not to come to its terminals. The fire broke out at around 11.30pm on Thursday, and despite firefighters working throughout the night to bring it under control, part of the transformer remains alight. Police have launched a major incident as investigators look into the cause of the fire, which is out and is being damped down by specialist firefighters in breathing apparatus this morning. A local resident said a 'bright flash of white' lit up the sky when the explosion happened. Mathew Muirhead was working a night shift on Thursday when he noticed smoke rising from the electrical substation. 'We were stood outside our branch in Hayes and my colleague noticed smoke coming over the trees,' the 42-year-old told PA. 'It was 23.30 when we saw it, we were heading to West Drayton, so we went to check it out, we heard the sirens as we were headed to Bulls Bridge roundabout. 'We saw a bright flash of white and all the lights in town went out. 'My wife rang me and told me our electric was out - I found out a few hours later that Heathrow was completely shut down.' A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: 'Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. 'To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport.' A British couple stuck in China have 'no idea' how they will get home after their flight was cancelled. Sharon Towers and her husband told MailOnline they are stranded in the airport as strict immigration policy means they can't check into a hotel. She said: 'My husband and I are stuck in China. 'We should have taken off at 1pm local time here Instead we are stuck at the airport with no idea how and when we will get home! 'We can't check in to a hotel because of the strict immigration visa policy, to enter back in to the airport, we need a boarding pass so customs can confirm when we are leaving the country. 'We don't know that, so we cant get a boarding pass to enter back in to the airport'. An airport worker dealing with the chaos speaks on the phone as a passenger sleeps on a terminal floor Stranded passengers with suitcases wait on a nearby road to Heathrow There will be days of delays to the UK Passengers affected by the closure have shared their anguish on social media. One person wrote: 'There's a major fire at Heathrow Airport so my flight has now been diverted to Washington and diverted. 'No clue what happens next. I just want to go home and see my family.' Another added: 'Today my flight from Heathrow has been cancelled so what should I do now? My mum is not well and I have to go and see her ASAP.' Flights set to land at Heathrow are already being diverted, with Flightradar24 saying it would affect at least 1,351 flight to and from Heathrow. 'That doesn't include any flights that might be canceled or delayed due to aircraft being out of position,' the flight tracker site said in a statement. That means as many as 145,000 travelers could be affected by the closure, according to aviation-data firm Cirium. FlightRadar24 spokesman Ian Petchenik said that the unplanned closure of Heathrow Airport will disrupt flights all over the world. 'Heathrow is one of the major hubs of the world,' he told the Telegraph. 'This is going to disrupt airlines' operations around the world.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the 'immense distress and disruption' caused by the closure of Heathrow and said 'we will learn the lessons'. Speaking to broadcasters, the minister said: 'This has been an unprecedented situation that has been totally outside of Heathrow's control. 'They have stood up their resilience plan swiftly, and they've collaborated closely with our emergency responders and the airline operators, they do have backup energy supplies, they have generators, diesel generators. 'None of that failed on this occasion because that backup supply is designed to protect the critical key systems within the airport and not to provide power to the whole airport. 'It's important to remember that large airports such as Heathrow take up about as much energy as a small city, and so I've spoken to the chief executive of Heathrow about what has happened and any lessons that might be learned for the future, but I'm confident that Heathrow is a world-class airport that provides excellent services day in, day out, to millions of passengers and businesses all over the world, and so we will learn the lessons. 'But it's been really important that people have responded swiftly, and it's good news that planes are landing again later today, and that Heathrow have said that they want to resume full operations tomorrow. 'I would still advise anyone who has got a flight tomorrow to check in with their airline before travelling to the airport, but given the scale and magnitude of this incident, the response has been swift, although I do appreciate there will have been immense distress and disruption to a very large number of people.' Pentagon generals found a way to get President Donald Trump giddy about the new multi-billion next generation fighter jet: bestowing a name signifying Trump's historic return to the White House. 'It'll be known as the F-47. The generals picked a title, and it's a beautiful number 47,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while announcing a new contract. He called it 'something the likes of which nobody has seen before.' 'We can't tell you the price, because it would give way to some of the technology and some of the size of the plane,' Trump said. 'We're given an order for a lot. We can't tell you the price, because it would give it would give way to some of the technology and some of the size of the plane, good sized plane,' Trump said. Trump and the Pentagon planners behind the mega purchase didn't have to mention that Trump is the nation's 47th president, having also served as its 45th. His MAGA hats some simply sport '47' and signs disignating '45-47' have popped up at the White House. Given the nature of military procurement, it could be years before the sophisticated jets are in production or deployed. Hegseth only briefly answered reporters outside the White House when asked about the multi-million purchase. 'I'm proud of the F-47. It's a very important platform,' he said. He didn't respond to shouted questions about whether it was named after Trump. President Donald Trump lauded the capabilities of the multi-billion new F-47 plane, whose name references his own role as the 47th president Trump, who owns his own modified Boeing 757 dating from the 1990s and who has pushed for a speedy upgrade for Air Force One, heralded the upgrade in capability. 'The F 47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built. And experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost five years, and we're confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation,' he said. 'There's no other nation. We know every other plane I've seen, every one of them. And it's not even closes. This is next level. You know, level five is good. This is level six.' Trump on Friday awarded Boeing the contract to build the sophisticated fighter jet, handing the company a much-needed win. The Next Generation Air Dominance program will replace Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor with a crewed aircraft built to enter combat alongside drones. 'We can't tell you the price, because it would give way to some of the technology and some of the size of the plane,' Trump said. He called 47 a 'beautiful number' Trump is both the 45th and the 47th president, a number embraced by his fans during the campaign Trump, the 47th president, announced the new jet's name, the F-47. 'Our allies are calling constantly,' Trump added, saying foreign sales could be an option. 'They want to buy them also.' For Boeing, the win marks a reversal of fortune for a company that has struggled on both the commercial and defense sides of its business. It is a major boost for its St. Louis, Missouri, fighter jet production business. The engineering and manufacturing development contract is worth more than $20 billion. The winner will eventually receive hundreds of billions of dollars in orders over the contract's multi-decade lifetime. Shares of Boeing rose 4% after the news. The U.S. company beat out Lockheed Martin for the deal. Lockheed's shares fell nearly 7%. Reuters reported Boeing's victory before the official announcement. The plane's design remains a closely held secret, but would likely include stealth, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines. 'Compared to the F-22, the F-47 will cost less and be more adaptable to future threats - and we will have more of the F-47s in our inventory,' said Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David Allvin. Boeing and Lockheed did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NGAD was conceived as a 'family of systems' centered around a sixth-generation fighter to counter adversaries such as China and Russia. Allvin added the F-47 will have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, and will be more sustainable and more easily supported than the F-22. MAJOR WIN Boeing's commercial operations have struggled as it attempts to get its best-selling 737 MAX jet production back up to full speed, while its defense operation has been weighed down by underperforming contracts for mid-air refueling tankers, drones and training jets. 'The win is a major boost for the company, which has struggled with cost overruns, schedule delays and execution on other DoD programs,' said Roman Schweizer, an analyst at TD Cowen. Cost overruns at the KC-46 mid-air refueling tanker program have surpassed $7 billion in recent years, while another fixed-price contract to upgrade two Air Force One planes has created a $2-billion loss for the top 5 U.S. defense contractor. Boeing has faced ongoing scrutiny since a series of crises including a mid-air emergency in January 2024 involving a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 missing four key bolts. In January, Boeing reported an $11.8-billion annual loss - its largest since 2020 - due to problems at its major units, along with fallout from a crippling strike that shuttered production of most of its jets. Boeing has ceded ground to rival Airbus in the delivery race and entered the crosshairs of regulators and customers following a series of missteps. The Federal Aviation Administration in early 2024 imposed a production cap of 38 MAX planes per month. Lockheed, which was recently eliminated from the competition to build the Navy's next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter, faces an uncertain future in the high-end fighter market after the loss. Billionaire and presidential adviser Elon Musk has voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of crewed high-end fighters, saying cheaper drones were a better option. While Lockheed could still protest the award to Boeing, the fact Trump announced the deal in a high-profile Oval Office press conference could reduce the possibility of a public airing of arguments against the agreement from the Bethesda, Maryland-based defense firm. A police officer who escorted the bodies of two girls killed during the Southport stabbings to the morgue was brutally attacked by rioters just hours later. Sergeant Phillip Sinclair had been standing on the frontline trying to contain the disorder when he was hit by a flying brick and left with serious injuries. The violent scenes - which erupted the day after the murders of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar on July 29 - saw rioters hurl more than 20 objects towards PCs. One of these struck Sergeant Sinclair, causing him to collapse onto the floor as the crowd of thugs cheered and shouted abuse at him. The attack hurt the officer so badly that he is still unable to walk properly or dress himself. The 42-year-old - who had not been wearing a protective helmet at the time - will never return to frontline duty as a result of the serious injuries he sustained. He still walks with the use of crutches eight months later, but today told Liverpool Crown Court that the sick sounds of glee emanating from the crowd 'hurt him the most'. Kevin Clark was among the thugs wreaking havoc in Southport on July 30 after Axel Rudakubana stabbed three children to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Kevin Clark (pictured) was among the thugs wreaking havoc in Southport on July 30. Tom Challinor, prosecuting, described how Clark was caught on camera launching dozens of missiles at police officers. He was also seen throwing a brick towards Sergeant Sinclair, striking him in the head Riots broke out in Southport on July 30. the day after Axel Rudakubana (pictured) stabbed three children to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class Sergeant Phillip Sinclair had been standing on the frontline just hours after performing the harrowing duties as disorder broke out in the seaside town. Pictured: Riot police hold back protesters on July 30in Southport Another eight girls and two adults were also stabbed during the teenager's appalling rampage. Rudakubana was in January sentenced to life with a minimum of 52 years for the murders. Tom Challinor, prosecuting, described how Clark, of Brookdale Road in Hindley, was caught on camera launching dozens of missiles at police officers following the outbreak of violence. The masked 34-year-old can also be seen throwing a brick towards Sergeant Sinclair, striking him in the head. Footage played to the court showed the officer deflecting one object with a shield before he was then hit by the second. Cheers were heard from the mob as he fell to the floor, with some members of the crowd being heard on a mobile phone recording shouting 'one down' and 'p***y'. A fellow officer then rushed to a bleeding Sergeant Sinclair's aid, calling a police vehicle to transport him to hospital. Sergeant Sinclair received treatment for multiple injuries including a wound on his head, a suspected broken leg, a dislocated finger, and ligament damage in his left ankle. He also had to have glass removed from his arm. Having walked to the witness box with the aid of two crutches, Sergeant Sinclair told the court that he had been 'deemed no longer fit for frontline service' as a result of his injuries. Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, (pictured) was one of the three girls killed by Axel Rudakubana in the horrific attack last summer Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, (pictured) died after Rudakubana attacked children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class Bebe King, six, (pictured) was also killed by Rudakubana And, despite having spent more than four months off sick following the incident, he still requires further surgery. He said: 'I would describe my physical wellbeing as not far off being broken. I take significant amounts of painkillers just to function, by which I mean to get out of bed. 'I always thought I would be a frontline officer throughout my career. 'At times, my wife has to dress me and undress me. I went for a suit fitting the other day. I couldn't get the jacket on and off my back.' Sergeant Sinclair continued: 'Im quite a proud man. To have to ask my son, who is 18 years of age, to help me out of the bath the other day is embarrassing.' He said the events have had a 'profound effect' on his family and revealed how his daughter witnessed the shocking assault being livestreamed on social media. Sergeant Sinclair also told the court how he found the video evidence a 'difficult watch' saying: 'The part that hurts me the most is the cheer that goes up. 'I escorted those two little girls to the morgue. To hear that crowd cheer is absolutely abhorrent.' Clark has a total of 14 previous convictions for 33 offences, including receiving eight months for unlawful wounding in 2010. He was also locked up for six years for robbery in 2020 after he and an accomplice 'ambushed ' a delivery driver, punching him to the ground and then kicking him in the head until he was rendered unconscious. The defendant was released only released on licence from this sentence in late 2023. Julian Nutter, defending, said on Clark's behalf: 'Through me, he apologises to his victim. 'He is deeply ashamed of what he has done. He does not know what came over him. 'He has tried desperately over the years to improve himself and turn his back on engaging in crime. He had, before his recall to prison, managed to get himself employment. 'He has made determined efforts since he has been in custody to address his behaviour issues. Footage played to the court showed the officer deflecting one object with a shield before he was then hit by the second. Cheers were heard from the mob as he fell to the floor, with some members of the crowd being heard on a mobile phone recording shouting 'one down' Sergeant Sinclair received treatment for multiple injuries including a wound on his head, a suspected broken leg, a dislocated finger and ligament damage in his left ankle. Pictured: Riot police on in Southport on July 30 'His intention is to never trouble the courts again with misbehaviour and to put this behind him upon his eventual release. 'With the greatest respect to the officer, who has suffered in a massive way from the consequences of this crime, it could have been worse.' Clark admitted unlawful wounding and violent disorder. Appearing in the dock wearing a dark green fleece and sporting short dark hair and a beard, he was jailed for three-and-a-half years and handed an additional 18-month extended licence period. He will be required to serve at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars before becoming eligible for release by the Parole Board. Clark turned to his supporters in the public gallery and said 'see you later' after learning his fate. Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: 'The day after the tragic killing of the three children, a peaceful vigil was held. 'Soon after, about a mile away, a large mob formed by a mosque and attacked police. The mob assaulted the police line in a violent confrontation lasting several hours. 'After these events, there were other serious incidents across the country. People who choose to take part in such disorder will receive sentences designed to deter others. 'You were a fully enthusiastic member of the mob. You can be seen right at the front of it, throwing more than 20 items at the police, most of them house bricks, and doing so for a prolonged period. 'Sergeant Sinclair had nothing on his head and bravely positioned himself in a vulnerable place on the frontline. 'You aimed a brick at him. It hit his head, and he went to the ground. Others could be heard shouting "yes, one down". When you saw that which you did, you continued to throw more bricks. 'The harm to the officer's head was, fortunately, less serious that it may have been. Catastrophic head injuries may have been caused. But it has had a very serious impact on his life. With dignity, he has described it in moving evidence today. 'You have seven previous convictions for assaults, including serving several short prison sentence. You also have convictions for public order offences, possessing a knife, harassment and breaching restraining orders. 'There is a pattern of violence in your behaviour, lasting over a number of years. You were only months into your three-year licence period when you decided to disrespect it by going to Southport to take part in this disorder. 'You were not a mere member of the mob. You were at the front.' Merseyside Police's Detective Inspector Paula Jones said following the sentencing: 'Clark's violent behaviour resulted in the victim requiring surgery to his ankle, physiotherapy and has been left with scars. 'Clark was not satisfied in taking one officer out, he moved on to another police line and continued his aggressive behaviour attacking them with bricks. 'We continue to identify people and are relentless in pursuing those who took part and brought disgrace to the region. We advise anyone else who took part in the disorder to do the right thing and hand themselves in.' A British artist was thrown into ICE custody after accepting lodging in exchange for work, violating her tourist visa waiver in the process. Becky Burke, 28, was handcuffed and taken to a detention cell in Tacoma, Washington, on February 26 and is now back in the UK following the ordeal. She touched back down on Tuesday, with her parents Paul and Andrea telling the BBC she was getting free accommodation for helping families with chores. Her father Paul believes that in doing so she had essentially broken the terms of her tourist visa waiver, which bans vacationers from doing work while in the US. US State Department guidance says that those on visitor visas are prohibited from carrying out employment while in the US. Burke had been classified as an 'illegal alien' after she attempted to cross the border into Canada with an 'incorrect visa'. The vegan comic book artist was then detained after trying to get back into the US, where she had spent the last few months traveling. On Thursday, the UK increased its travel warning for those looking to enter the USA as the Trump administration continues to crack down on immigration, with tourists among those affected. Becky Burke, 28, was handcuffed and taken to a detention cell in Tacoma, Washington, on February 26 and is now back in the UK On Thursday, the UK increased its travel warning for those looking to enter the US during the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration In a new post to the country's foreign office website, it says: 'You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry. 'The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.' Prior to the new post, guidance was more brief and did not make any mention about being arrested or detained. Germany also updated its travel advisory to the US to emphasize that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry. That new advice comes after German tattoo artist Jessica Brosche, 26, met a similar fate after she tried to walk through a checkpoint at the southern border. Brosche was arrested by border agents when she tried to cross from Tijuana into San Diego on January 25. Brosche was traveling with her American friend Nikita Lofving as a tourist under the ESTA visa waiver program. The two had met in Tijuana and were carrying tattooing equipment. Immigration officials reportedly accused Brosche of working in the US the last time she entered the country with the ESTA program, an electronic system that determines whether someone is eligible to enter the US without a visa. Lofving told the outlet she asked officials if Brosche could be sent back to Mexico, but they said she would be deported to Germany in three to five days because she could not offer proof of residence in the Latin American country. German tattoo artist Jessica Brosche, 26, says she was left in solitary confinement with over a week after being arrested while trying to legally cross the US-Mexico border American Pie actress Jasmine Mooney was also detained by ICE for nearly two weeks But Brosche says she spent days in a cell at the San Diego border before she was taken into ICE custody and brought to the the Otay Mesa Detention Center, where she has been held for more than a month. 'I just want to get home, you know? Im really desperate,' she told ABC 10. Her detainment included a 'horrible' eight days in solitary confinement, she added. American Pie actress Jasmine Mooney was also detained by ICE for nearly two weeks. The 35-year-old had been denied entry into the country while trying to make her way from Mexico to San Diego, California after her work visa was revoked back in November while traveling from Vancouver to Los Angeles. The American Pie: The Book of Love star landed back on Canadian soil on Saturday as her mother, Alexis Eagles, and friends met her at Vancouver International Airport around midnight. According to her mother, who's been fighting for her daughter's return home, Mooney was detained at the San Ysidro border crossing before being transferred to San Luis Regional Detention Center in Arizona. While she was there, Mooney said she endured some of the harshest treatment there that left her weak and confused. After being arrested and taken to the detention center, Mooney was featured in an emotional interview with ABC10, where she sobbed describing the conditions she and other women faced. 'I've never seen anything like this,' she told the outlet. 'I feel like we have been kidnapped, and we are in some sort of insane social, psychological, social experiment.' Welling up, Mooney added: 'I really want to be a voice for the women in here, because what is happening is so unjust and I know that there's a better way to do this.' She also noted how her time in custody made her severely confused. 'Its been 11 days now, and I have no idea what is going on, they don't tell you anything, and I have lost so much weight. I'm truly, physically, weak.' The rise in tourists being detained was green-lighted by President Trump as part of his 'Securing Our Borders' executive order signed in hours after the inauguration. A string of failures by 'wholly incompetent' hospital staff caused the death of a newborn baby girl, an inquest has found. Eight separate shortcomings were identified by a coroner over the death of Ida Lock as he attacked the 'callous and inhumane' treatment of the infant's family. Coroner James Adeley made a finding of neglect after recording a narrative verdict and said: 'Ida's death and subsequent investigation is a damning indictment of an ineffective, dysfunctional and callous system that has failed this family at every opportunity presented to it.' Ida Lock was born at the Royal Lancaster Hospital on November 15, 2019 but died after midwives failed to react to her falling heart beat while mother Sarah Robinson was in a birthing pool. The newborn baby suffered hypoxic brain damage caused by oxygen starvation during her difficult birth and the 'wholly incompetent' attempts at resuscitation by midwives. A 19-day inquest at Preston heard that Ida from Morecambe, Lancashire, died a week after she was born, having been transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital. Ms Robinson, 42, and Ida's father Ryan Lock listened intently as Mr Adeley listed the shortcomings in their daughter's care: Failure to offer induced labour which would have resulted in obstetric management and continuous monitoring. Failure to note Ms Robinson's report of reduced foetal movements which should have resulted in continuous monitoring. Failure to note a rising foetal heart baseline. Failure to provide increased foetal heart rate observations when Ms Robinson reported the urge to push. Failure to reassess Ms Robinson before allowing her to enter into the pool. Failure to note that the foetal heart rate of 100 beats per minute was an obstetric emergency requiring a crash call for both the obstetric and paediatric registrars to effect delivery. Loss of situational awareness and failing to take appropriately rapid action to affect Ida's delivery. Failure to provide effective resuscitation for the first three minutes of life. A 19-day inquest at Preston heard that Ida from Morecambe, Lancashire, was failed by 'wholly incompetent' hospital staff Sarah Robison (pictured) and Ryan Lock's baby Ida was born on November 15, 2019 but died a week after she was born Ida was born at Royal Lancaster Infirmary but was transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital Mr Adeley said baby Ida could have survived if she had been born just 'six and a half minutes earlier', prior to the failings occurring. He made a Prevention of Further Deaths order to be sent to the Secretary of State for Health after a hard-hitting analysis of the hospital's handling of Ida's birth. Mr Lock, a teacher, told how the conclusion came after a near six-year battle for the truth which 'has changed me as a person'. He said: 'It's a sheer test of endurance that no parent should endure It's a fight for justice, in my eyes. 'Words truly cannot express how heartbreaking it was to lose Ida and there is not a single moment when we do not think about her and what she may have become. 'The coroner found there was a litany of lamentable failures which led to the death of our beautiful baby girl. Ida's father Ryan Lock (pictured) listened intently as Mr Adeley listed the shortcomings in their daughter's care 'There has been systemic failings at the Trust. Why did we have to endure this? As a family we have only wanted answers as to what happened to Ida.' He added: 'We still do not know why the Trust were not open, why they were not candid. Hopefully Ida is no longer a hospital number but her name will be used to implement change and help parents understand what happened to their child.' University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust, which runs Royal Lancaster, was previously criticised in a hard-hitting report in 2015 for 'a major failure at every level in maternity and neo natal services' following the deaths of 11 babies and one mother. In 2020, a report by the Independent Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch identified numerous failings in the care of Ida which contributed to her death. Mr Adeley said there had been 'a gross failure to provide basic medical care to a person in a dependent position' during Ida's birth. The coroner said: 'Ida was a normal child whose death was caused by a lack of oxygen during her delivery that occurred due to the gross failure of the three midwives attending her to provide basic medical care to deliver Ida urgently when it was apparent she was in distress. Coroner James Adeley said baby Ida could have survived if she had been born just 'six and a half minutes earlier', prior to the failings occurring 'I find that the dilatory approach of the midwives to the lowered foetal heart rate of 100 bpm, which had been present for an uncertain duration and was sustained over two minutes of listening, was a failing to appreciate a rapidly developing obstetric emergency, and would be sufficient to constitute a gross failure resulting in Ida's death.' The coroner said that Ida had died from hypoxic brain damage caused by the 'wholly ineffectual' attempts at resuscitation in the first three minutes of her life. In his narrative conclusion, Mr Adeley criticised the Trust as 'inhumane' for failing to respond to a letter from Ida's parents asking for an explanation of how their daughter died. He said that the Trust had shown 'a lack of compassion and honesty' and had adopted a 'defensive position' amid an 'endemic' culture. Mr Lock added: 'The answers today will not bring our daughter back but hopefully will stop another family going through what our family has been through. The newborn baby suffered hypoxic brain damage caused by oxygen starvation during her difficult birth 'This should not be a test of endurance for bereaved and bewildered parents to work out what happened to their child. Hopefully today we can start healing and we can grieve differently.' Tabetha Darmon, Chief Nursing Officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Losing a child is tragic and our heartfelt condolences go out to Ida's parents, family and loved ones. We are truly sorry for the distress we have caused. 'We accept that we failed Ida and her family and if we had done some things differently and sooner, Ida would still be here today. 'We take the conclusions from the Coroner very seriously and have made a number of the improvements identified during the inquest. We are carefully reviewing the learning identified to ensure that we do everything we can to prevent this from happening to another family.' Iceland's Minister for Children has resigned in disgrace she was accused of having sex with a 15 year-old boy when she was 22 and getting pregnant by him. Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir said she met the troubled teen, identified as Eirik Asmundsson by RUV, while she was working as a counsellor at a religious group he attended. He was just 15-years-old when they began their secret relationship, the outlet reported. Thorsdottir claims he was 16 when it became sexual. The age of consent is 15 in Iceland, but it is illegal to have sex with anyone under the age of 18 if the adult holds a position of authority over them, as Thorsdottir is accused of doing. 'I understand... what it looks like,' Thorsdottir, now 58, said, adding that it is 'very difficult to get the right story across in the news today'. She gave birth to the couple's son aged 23, while her lover was just 16. The revelation emerged after Asmundsson's relative got in touch with Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir last week. The former children's minister was then summoned to her office on Thursday, where she confirmed the reports and immediately resigned. 'This is very personal matter [and] out of respect for the person concerned, I will not comment on the substance,' Frostadottir said, adding that it was 'very serious'. Iceland's Minister for Children Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir has resigned in disgrace after admitting she had a child with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22 Thorsdottir said she met the troubled teen, identified as Eirik Asmundsson by Icelandic news outlet RUV, while working as a counsellor at a religious group he attended Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir called it 'a very serious matter' Asmundsson met Thorsdottir while attending a Christian religious group Tru og Lif (Faith and Life) in Kopavogur he used to frequent as an escape from his troubled home life. After he got her pregnant the baby's parentage was reportedly kept secret, although the father was present at the birth and for the first year of his life, RUV reports. However, this changed when the former children's minister met her husband. The Icelandic news outlet said it had seen documents submitted to the courts by Asmundsson in which he unsuccessfully requested access to his son. Eirikur claimed he was eventually permitted just two hours of visitation per month at Thorsdottir and her husbands home, First Post reports. Meanwhile, Thorsdottir requested and was receiving child support payments for the next 18 years. She has since claimed that Asmundsson was the more sexually experienced party and alleged that he 'stalked' her before she took pity on him. 'Although I had not specifically anticipated it in this situation, 16 was the age of consent at the time, and relationships between people of that age were not at all uncommon, even if they were not desirable,' she said in a statement to Iceland Monitor. Thorsdottir stepped down from her ministerial position but said she has no plans to leave parliament. Pictured: Thorsdottir with her husband She gave birth to their son, who is now 35, when she as 23 and the boy was 16 She also tried to paint him as a deadbeat dad who lost interest in her after getting her pregnant. 'Our son is 35 years old today,' she added. 'He has therefore been of legal age and an adult according to the law for 17 years. 'They met once by chance, but apart from that, his father has never in all these years made the slightest attempt to meet him or establish a relationship between them. 'Given my previous experience, I cannot say that this surprises me.' 'It's been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time and I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today,' she added Despite stepping down as children's minister, Thorsdottir revealed she has no plans to leave parliament. She has been a Member of Parliament for the Southern Constituency since 2021 and has been Minister of Education and Children's Affairs since 2024. She worked as a teacher prior to entering politics The sister of a mother killed in a triple shooting has called for tougher gun laws in the wake of the Nicholas Prosper case, asking: How many murders does it take? Emma Ambler has dedicated her life to gun reform after her twin sister Kelly Fitzgibbons, 40 was shot dead by her partner Rob Needham who gunned down the mother and her children Ava, four, and Lexi, two, as they lay together in bed in 2020. The depressed 42-year-old, who managed to get a firearms licence by lying to police hiding his criminal record and cocaine addiction, then turned the gun on himself. Now Mrs Ambler is writing to the Home Secretary to demand urgent changes to gun laws, saying the appalling shotgun rampage of Nicholas Prosper has exposed how easy it is to get a lethal weapon in the UK. The 19-year-old spent months researching firearms and was able to dupe a pensioner into selling him a 600 shotgun by presenting a fake firearms certificate hed copied from real versions online. A day later, the loner launched a bloody mission last September to become the most famous killer in history by shooting dead his mother and siblings before setting out to commit a school massacre. This week, Prosper was jailed for 49 years after police caught the triple killer by chance as he was on the way to shoot a classrom of four and five-year-old children. Yesterday Mrs Ambler accused ministers of ignoring bereaved families and coroners who have demanded reforms following high profile cases like Plymouth gunman Jake Davison who shot dead his mother and four strangers in 2021 and the shooting of former Epsom College headteacher Emma Pattison in 2023. Emma Ambler (left) has dedicated her life to gun reform after her twin sister Kelly Fitzgibbons, 40 was shot dead by her partner Rob Needham Nicholas Prosper pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to the murders of Juliana Falcon, 48, Giselle Prosper, 13, and Kyle Prosper, 16 This is the shotgun the killer used in the triple murder I do not feel that bereaved families like us are really taken seriously, she said. There has been recommendations from my sisters inquest and from the Plymouth and Epsom inquests that the whole system needs reviewing. But for some reason I dont think it is seen as a priority, because its a horrible thing to say, but maybe there isnt enough gun murders. But how many murders does it take? How many people have to die before someone actually makes changes. The laws just need to be much tighter so that the people who arent responsible, who have horrrible intentions arent able to buy guns from the boot of a car in a car park without anyone knowing. The 45-year-old, who set up the Kelly Fitzgibbons Foundation charity in her sisters memory, added: You can get hold of guns too easily in this country. If Rob Needham had not been able to obtain a gun my family would be alive. Mrs Ambler set up the Kelly Fitzgibbons Foundation charity in her sisters memory Kelly Fitzgibbons, four-year-old Ava Needham and two-year-old Lexi Needham were found dead at their home This week, Prosper was jailed for 49 years for killing Ms Falcon (centre), Giselle (right) and Kyle (left) Similarly in this case, a mum and her children have been lost and Prosper could gone on and wiped out all these children at a school because these weapons are so easily obtainable. I feel really angry, the system is outdated. There does not seem to be any safeguards in place when you can just copy something online and go and meet someone in a car park and buy a gun in a matter of minutes. Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard has written to Yvette Cooper calling for a national database of firearm licence holders so that gun sellers can check their buyer has a genuine certificate with police ahead of any sale. Currently guns can be traded privately without any official checks if the buyer is able to produce a genuine-looking paper firearms certificate. The law only states police should be notified within seven days after the sale of a weapon. Yesterday Professor Peter Squires, a spokesman for Gun Control Network said: Irrespective of the fact that Prosper forged a gun licence, no sane country would allow private, unmonitored sales in a car park. We think of the USA as the land of gun crazy, but you cant buy a gun there without undergoing a background check and the gun sale is overseen by a legitimate federal firearms dealer. There needs to be a wider and more searching scrutiny of persons around the licence applicant as well as social media scrutiny to ensure they arent wannabe mass killers like Prosper and Jake Robinson in Plymouth. President Donald Trump rescinded an order barring a DC law firm from working with the government after it agreed to give $40million to causes he supports and pledged to review its hiring practices. Trump went after the firm over the past work of former partner Mark Pomerantz, who oversaw an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorneys office into Trumps finances before he became president. The president's executive order threatened to suspend active security clearances of attorneys at the firm and to terminate any federal contracts with it over Pomerantz' work in the case against the president. It threatened to ban the firm from working with the federal government, a huge source of cash for many DC firms. It was the latest in a series of similar actions targeting law firms whose lawyers have provided legal work that Trump disagrees with. The agreement to rescind the order happened during a meeting between Trump and Brad Karp, the chairman of the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton, over the White House order issued last week. The White House said Paul, Weiss had agreed to 'take on a wide range of pro bono matters that represent the full spectrum of political viewpoints of our society,' to disavow the use of diversity, equity and inclusion considerations in its hiring and promotion decisions. President Donald Trump took back an executive order banning a law firm from working with the federal government after the firm agreed to give $40million to causes he supports and pledged to review its hiring practices Trump targeted the DC law firm because of its former partner Mark Pomerantz, who oversaw an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorneys office into Trumps finances The firm also reportedly agreed to dedicate the equivalent of $40 million in free legal services to support Trump administration policies on issues including assistance for veterans and countering anti-Semitism. Moreover, the firm acknowledged 'wrongdoing' by Pomerantz, citing 'the grave danger of Weaponization, and the vital need to restore our System of Justice.' Pomerantz has denied any wrongdoing. 'We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss,' Karp said. 'We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration.' The firm becomes the latest corporate target to make concessions to the president to avoid his ire. Meta and ABC made settlement payments to Trumps future presidential library to end lawsuits filed by Trump. The president has punished other law firms he believes worked against him including the firm that represented Hillary Clinton's campaign Other tech and financial firms have publicly rolled back DEI programs in line with Trumps policy interests. Earlier executive orders have targeted the law firms of Perkins Coie, which last week sued in federal court in Washington, and Covington & Burling. Trump signed an order to punish Perkins Coie by suspending the security clearances of the firms lawyers as well as denying firm employees access to federal buildings and terminating their federal contracts. Perkins Coie represented the 2016 presidential campaign of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trumps opponent, and also represented Democrats in a variety of voting rights challenges during the 2020 election. The firm made headlines in 2017 when it was revealed to have hired a private investigative research firm during the 2016 campaign to conduct opposition research on Trump. That firm, Fusion GPS, subsequently retained a former British spy, Christopher Steele, who researched whether Trump and Russia had suspicious ties. Lawyers representing Perkins Coie filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, claiming the executive order was an illegal act of retaliation. Devastated family members of a mom-of-four who has been missing for 10 months are demanding answers from her husband after police announced her disappearance is now being investigated as a homicide. Nikki Cheng-Saelee McCain, 39, has been missing since May 17, 2024. She was last seen visiting one of her husband's relatives at a Redding, California hospital. Her last known communication came via a late-night text to her sister, Chloe Saelee, informing her she was leaving the hospital to go to her mother-in-law's home. Nikki vanished shortly after. She was officially reported missing by her siblings on May 21 after days passed without her answering any of their texts or calls. Nikki's car was found abandoned on May 25 in a remote location in Tehama County, roughly 30 miles from her home. No further trace of her has been yielded since. Following an extensive investigation, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) announced last week that they believe Nikki was a victim of homicide. The department said they have identified 'persons of interest' in connection with the case but declined to name them publicly. The announcement came after SCSO, Homeland Security, and the FBI served a search warrant at the home Nikki shared with her husband, Tyler McCain, on March 14. Nikki vanished two weeks before McCain was slated to appear in court to face four counts of domestic violence. He pleaded not guilty and the charges were dropped in the wake of Nikki's disappearance. McCain broke his silence for the first time at a press conference on March 10, telling gathered reporters: 'Im just here in support, so anything that I can do, I want to do that [...] I havent been in the public eye, and I havent done very well with it. I apologize to everyone, especially my children.' He also shared a brief message for Nikki, saying simply: 'We miss you.' Nikki's sister Chloe - who says she has her suspicions of McCain - told DailyMail.com she was less than impressed by her brother-in-law's display. Nikki (left) was last spotted visiting one of her husband (right) Tyler McCain's family members at a hospital. The family initially believed Tyler may have had something to do with disappearance, but police have never named him as a suspect Nikki last contacted her sister, Chloe Saelee (left) on May 17, 2024. She vanished shortly after On May 25, police found her Chevrolet Avalanche abandoned in a remote location in Tehama County 'I wish he would've said more. I know it takes a lot of courage to stand up there in front of cameras and a crowd and say something [...] but when you're fighting for a loved one, you do it, but with Tyler I didn't understand it,' said Chloe. 'I didn't know what he was trying to say, and then he apologized. But what was he apologizing for? 'Was he apologizing for hurting Nikki? I thought he'd give us a little bit more to push us in a direction away from him, and for me to change my mind about him. 'But the press conference just gave me even more confirmation about what I already feel.' An attorney for McCain has not returned a request for comment. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office has refused to comment on whether McCain is being investigated as a suspect in Nikki's murder. Chloe said she and her two siblings have had limited contact with McCain over the last 10 months. She last spoke with him on March 14 after law enforcement raided his and Nikki's home. 'He still sticks to his word that he is not involved in any way, shape, or form,' claimed Chloe. 'We also learned from detectives that before the press conference, Tyler and his mom have decided to cooperate with the investigation,' she further said. It was Chloe who first alerted SCSO to her sister's disappearance. She said she called 911 after McCain told her he hadn't seen or heard from Nikki in a few days. And though it's taken almost a year for police to announce that they believe Nikki was killed, Chloe and her family have long believed something terrible happened to her. That belief was spurred by a message Chloe said she received 10 days before Nikki's disappearance, in which Nikki revealed she was going to divorce McCain and start her life anew. Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain, 39, of Redding, California, was reported missing by her sister on May 21, 2024 after she hadn't been able to contact her for four days Family members of Nikki together with her other sisters, far left, spoke at a press conference on March 10 Tyler broke is silence at the press conference, telling Nikki: 'We miss you' Nikki's husband faced domestic violence charges after he allegedly severally injured his wife in a three-hour attack in December 2023 According to Chloe, Nikki's relationship with McCain began falling apart after the pandemic struck in 2020 and gradually grew increasingly toxic. Then, in December 2023, Nikki checked into a hospital after suffering a litany of vicious injuries she accused McCain of inflicting, police records show. Chloe accompanied Nikki to the hospital and claimed she was so severely beaten she barely recognized her sister. A deputy from SCSO was summoned to the hospital and noted that Nikki had suffered trauma to her eyes, forehead, and face. 'Both of her eyes were blackened severely, both were swollen in what appeared to be the result of a physical assault,' reads the report. 'I asked [the victim] who did this to her. She stated it was her husband, Tyler McCain [sic].' In an interview with the deputy, Nikki claimed she'd been at home the night before when Tyler returned in a 'strange mood and for some reason went and locked the back door of the house,' the report reads. 'Tyler seemed extremely agitated and was not making any sense. 'When he contacted her in the bedroom area, she said he immediately jumped on her, held her down on the ground and dragged her around, yelled at her and asked her, "What's going on? What are you doing?"' Nikki told police McCain had a 'glazed, scary look in his eyes' and appeared to be in the throes of some sort of 'mental episode.' While Nikki tried unsuccessfully to calm him down, McCain allegedly tormented her, pinned her to the ground, and 'repeatedly' struck her in the face and started pulling her hair. '[Nikki] stated this behavior by Tyler continued for approximately three hours during which time he bound her ankles and wrists together with white tape,' reads the report. 'He also placed a piece of tape over her mouth, so she could not speak properly [...] During this time, [Nikki] stated Tyler turned her over onto her stomach and straddled her from behind, pulled on her hair, and forcefully pulled her head back, saying he was going to kill her.' Nikki told police she genuinely believed she was going to die and that McCain 'intended to kill her.' McCain allegedly tried to wrap an unknown item around Nikki's neck to choke her but was unsuccessful, Nikki claimed. Finally, after three hours, Nikki was able to free herself from her constraints while McCain was in another room, grab her car keys, and flee their home. She checked into hospital the next day. McCain, meanwhile, told police that he and Nikki hadn't fought and instead suggested she must've sustained the injuries in a fight with someone else, possibly a woman, police records show. According to the report, McCain also offered the police 'inconsistent' statements, first claiming he believed Nikki was having an affair with another woman and later stating they 'got along great, and have been together as a happy couple' for years. McCain was arrested and charged with four felony counts of domestic violence. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case was dropped by the local DA's office last July on account of Nikki's disappearance. The decision prompted outrage among the local community. McCain was arrested and charged with four counts of domestic violence. The case was dropped after Nikki disappeared Seeking to explain the controversial decision, County DA Stephanie Bridgett released a statement, stating that her office had made every possible attempt to find a way to pursue the charges but couldn't proceed because of McCain's constitutional right to face his accuser in court. 'In the United States everyone has a constitutional right to confront the witnesses against them,' Bridgett said. 'That means the accuser, the victim, must be present in trial to confront them and we havent been able to locate her.' Moving the case forward now without Nikki's testimony would jeopardize the courts ability ever to hold McCain accountable for domestic violence even if he admitted it later because of double jeopardy laws, Bridgett said. Bridgett further emphasized that felony domestic violence has a three-year statute of limitations, meaning even though the case has been dismissed for now, it can be refiled anytime within that timeframe. 'And that is what we want to be able to do,' Bridgett said. 'We want to pursue, preserve that ability to hold him liable for that case.' Police had been called to Nikki and McCain's home numerous times since 2020, resulting in their four children being removed from their care by the state in 2022, Chloe said. Nikki's children are now aged 8, 10, 11 and 13. Telling her nieces and nephews their mommy would never be coming back is one of the hardest things Chloe and her sisters have ever had to do, she said. Chloe said the children took the news as well as can be expected but each child is clearly suffering in their own way. 'If I said it was going well I'd be lying, and if I said it was going horribly I'd be lying then too,' shared Chloe. 'It's difficult, but they're just taking it day-by-day, which is all they can really do.' A $30,000 reward has been put up for information that leads to finding Nikki Chloe said she is determined to get answers for Nikki's children. The recent police activity around the case leads her to believe that getting clarity about her sister's final moments is just around the corner. She urged anyone complicit in her sister's death to come forward and confess to spare the family any further anguish. 'I want them to come forward so they can just give us some peace and so Nikki's children can have the peace that they deserve, so we can all start the grieving process,' implored Chloe. 'And I also want them to remember the way that Nikki was, how amazing Nikki was, and Nikki was always about doing the right thing. And Nikki was always a person who admitted to her faults. 'People do things. We don't know why they do, but people do things, and so it's not what you did now. It's what are you going to do. It's about your actions. 'Nikki's children don't deserve this and we just want some closure. 'Nikki deserves to be not out there somewhere alone. She deserves to be laid to rest in a nice and comfortable place.' Officials are asking anyone with information about Saelee-McCain's disappearance and death to contact the Major Crimes Unit by email at MCU@shastacounty.gov or at 530-245-6135. A Democrat has opened fire on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the New York lawmaker is headlining a nationwide political tour with Bernie Sanders. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who was a representative in the House like AOC until November, doesn't appear to believe that the progressive 'Squad' founder has made a meaningful impact and instead has 'a lot of words.' During a town hall the senator hosted this week she was peppered with questions asking why she was not standing up to Donald Trump more fervently like Sanders and the squad leader. The pair have traveled across the U.S. to Arizona and Colorado to speak to arenas full of supporters on their 'Fighting Oligarchy Tour.' Slotkin told a crowd: 'Things require me to be more than just an AOC.' 'I can't do what she does because we live in a purple state and I'm a pragmatist.' During another exchange with a constituent that included references to Sanders, AOC and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, Slotkin shot off another dart toward the progressives and self-proclaimed democratic socialist. 'Everyone you mentioned has a lot of words, but what if they actually done to change the situation with Donald Trump?' the new senator said. Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., speaking at a listening session with agriculture industry workers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks to the crowd at the Fighting Oligarchy: Where Do We Go From Here tour to Arizona State University's Mullet Arena on March 20 The Democratic Party infighting is emblematic of wider soul-searching. While AOC and Sanders are on tour, California Gov. Gain Newsom has launched a podcast where he regularly argues with Republicans and is seemingly reforming his hyper-liberal stances to more moderate positions. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, has recently fallen from grace after not opposing a Republican-led spending package in recent weeks. Many in his party, like AOC, have ripped him for not stopping the bill, an action that would've forced a government shutdown. As for the previous administration, Biden and Harris have gone quietly away, for now. Amid this tumult AOC has become a favorite in the polls to lead the party. The latest CNN poll asked Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents which person best reflects the core values of the Democratic Party today. Ocasio-Cortez, 35, came in first place among all respondents. She beat out Kamala Harris and, Sanders, Barrack Obama, Crockett and more. A recent poll found that voters would back AOC in a presidential run Ocasio-Cortez, 35, came in first place with ten percent while Harris was second with nine percent. Newsom, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Slotkin and Schumer were all tied at two percent. Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders will host another tour event Saturday in Tucson, Arizona. Nicole Shanahan, 39, has decided not to run for governor in California, DailyMail.com has exclusively learned. If the name sounds familiar on a national level, it's because Shanahan was the running mate for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 presidential campaign. Like the new Secretary of Health and Human Services, Shanahan has also raised questions over the science behind vaccine safety and efficacy. 'I'm not running for Governor in 2026,' Shanahan decisively declared during an upcoming interview on The Steve Hilton Show obtained by DailyMail.com. 'I believe that my job in 2026 is to get people to break out of their political orthodoxy.' 'I'm here to support the revival of California,' she added. As California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) prepares to end his tenure as his two-term limit approaches, a swarm of candidates has emerged to take helm of the Golden State. Nicole Shanahan will not run for California Governor in 2026, according to a clip exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com Shanahan is most well-known for running as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s CP candidate in the 2024 presidential election It was thought that Shanahan could be among the leaders on the right side of the aisle in the race. She had previously expressed interest in the potential of moving into the governor's mansion in Sacramento. Eight Democrats have already officially declared their candidacy while five Republicans are also already in the running. But there's still plenty of time for others to emerge into an already-crowded field. Meanwhile, rumors are already on the rise that Newsom's next ambitions are for the White House and that he will launch a bid to get Democrats back control in 2028. Shanahan said that she is stepping aside during an interview on the Steve Hilton Show, first obtained by DailyMail.com. Notably, Hilton has publicly expressed interest in a California gubernatorial bid, as well. Shanahan made her declaration on an upcoming episode of The Steve Hilton Show, where she said: 'I believe that my job in 2026 is to get people to break out of their political orthodoxy' Shanahan was a Democrat up until 2024, at which point she affiliated as an independent while she ran for the White House alongside RFK Jr. After a one-year marriage from 2014-2015, Shanahan was wed to Google co-founder Sergey Brin in 2018. They met at a yoga festival in Lake Tahoe in 2014, married the same year their daughter was born and divorced in 2023. It's reported that Shanahan has a net worth of roughly $1 billion, mostly due to her marriage to Brin. In 2019, Shanahan established the private foundation Bia-Echo, which promotes research aimed at lengthening the human reproductive lifespan. Don't ignore the budding bromance between King Charles III and Donald Trump, says multi-millionaire entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary. 'We are in fascinating times on this one,' remarked O'Leary, Shark Tank star and new Daily Mail columnist, after the president enthusiastically embraced the idea of an historic new US-UK global partnership. On Friday, Trump reacted on Truth Social to an exclusive Daily Mail report that King Charles is preparing to propose that the United States become an 'associate member' of the British Commonwealth. 'I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!' the president wrote. The Commonwealth is a voluntary organization of 56 independent and equal states united by a commitment to democracy and the rule of law, among other Western values. King Charles is the head of the Commonwealth, a role he inherited from Queen Elizabeth II. To O'Leary, this dramatic overturn and Trump's enthusiastic response is illuminating. 'People have been so focused on the bombastic noise that comes out of Trump that they lose sight of the signal,' said O'Leary. 'The noise,' as O'Leary calls it, includes Trump's call to make Canada the 51st US state and the subsequent sabre-rattling by Canadian politicians. Don't ignore the budding bromance between King Charles III and Donald Trump , says multi-millionaire entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary. On Friday, Trump reacted on Truth Social to an exclusive Daily Mail report that King Charles is preparing to propose that the United States become an 'associate member' of the British Commonwealth. O'Leary, however, claims that no one is seriously considering the issue of Canada's sovereignty, and the outrage ginned up over the issue is driven by domestic Canadian politics, as voters there prepare to vote in elections to determine their next prime minister, next month. '[Interim Canadian Prime Minister] Mark Carney is obviously using [trade talks with Trump], whether it works or not, to rally his base to vote for him,' explained O'Leary, who the dismissed the conflict as a distraction. Instead, O'Leary advises observers to focus on 'the signal' that Trump is sending - which, he says, is the formation of an economic union between Canada and the United States to counter the growing global influence of tyrants worldwide. In one move, says O'Leary, Trump could create the world's largest economic engine - one that is dedicated to freedom of speech and democracy. 'You've got this behemoth adversarial force in China and Russia and North Korea teaming up,' he explains. 'And what's the answer to that? Economic union.' King Charles 'understands' this challenge, says O'Leary, and that is why the monarch is purposefully strengthening Trump's hand in talks with Canada. The Daily Mail exclusively reported that the proposal for America to join the British Commonwealth was originally backed by Queen Elizabeth during Trump's first term as president, but the idea was never realized. But now, it is again 'being discussed at the highest levels' of British government and plans are underway to reveal the plan during Trump's upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom. O'Leary predicts the Queen's initial endorsement of the proposal will go a long way with his Canadian countrymen. 'The Queen was the most beloved leader on Earth, period and she's still very much part of the DNA of Canada,' he says, adding, 'the Canadians are proud of their history and their legacy with Britain.' 'It's smart politics [by King Charles],' O'Leary says, and a show of 'respect' by Trump. 'The Queen was the most beloved leader on Earth, period and she's still very much part of the DNA of Canada,' he says, adding, 'the Canadians are proud of their history and their legacy with Britain.' A source also told The Daily Mail that 'The Commonwealth is a great forum for resolving differences between nations, and the King has shown that he is a natural peacemaker.' Finally, O'Leary points to another 'signal' sent by the president. Trump signed an executive order on Friday to immediately increase US production of critical minerals like copper, uranium, gold and potash a vital ingredient in fertilizer. The move is intended to lessen US reliance on Chinese imports to provide these materials, which are needed for American civilian and military manufacturing industries. Yet, O'Leary notes, it may take the US years to fully ramp up its critical mineral production, while Canada is already a lead producer, 'It takes decades to make those mines viable. Meanwhile, Canada is rich with these already.' 'It's remarkable at the same moment that [Trump was embracing the Commonwealth proposal], he did the executive order to remove legislation and regulation around the extraction of precious metal in the US.' 'One of the reasons he wants to have a very viable, tariff-free relationship with Canada is to [open market access to] precious metals, minerals, water, paper, electricity, power, oil, gas, you name it.' The next deadline to watch in the trade war is April 2, the day the Trump administration says it will unveil its plan for reciprocal tariffs against its trading partners. O'Leary believes and hopes that the ridiculous nature of current US-Canadian relations will then become painfully clear. '[There are] 243% tariffs on Vermont butter going into Quebec. So, there's going be a reciprocal tariff. And the butter coming out of Quebec is going be tariffed at the same amount. 'Then the two sides look at each other and say, "How stupid is this? It's better to have no tariffs then let the best butter win."' The Islamic Republic of Iran has threatened the US with bloodcurdling revenge after president Donald Trump said they would be held responsible for attacks by the Houthis in Yemen. The Middle Eastern nation's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on state television that any country who attacked his would 'receive a severe blow.' His warnings were then amplified on social media. The tyrant's threats come after president Trump on Monday explicitly linked the actions of Yemens Houthi rebels to the groups main benefactor, Iran, warning Tehran it would 'suffer the consequences' for further attacks against the west by the group. Describing the Houthis as 'sinister mobsters and thugs,' Trump warned any attack by the group would be met with 'great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there.' 'Iran has played "the innocent victim" of rogue terrorists from which theyve lost control, but they havent lost control,' Trump wrote in his post. 'Theyre dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, "Intelligence."' In a marked departure from the previous administration, Trump has given US Central Command the authority to launch offensive strikes against the Houthis when it deems it appropriate. The comments by Trump on his Truth Social website escalate his administrations new campaign of airstrikes targeting the rebels, which killed at least 53 people this weekend alone. The Islamic Republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week that any country who attacked his would 'receive a severe blow' The threat comes after president Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would be held responsible for attacks by the Houthis in Yemen against the west US officials said the strikes were carried out against more than 40 targets and more airstrikes were planned in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Iranians continue to weigh how to respond to a letter Trump sent them last week trying to jump-start negotiations over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program. Iran is not believed to have constructed such a weapon, but has vowed to wipe Israel from the map as soon as it becomes nuclear-capable. Houthi supporters rallied in several cities Monday after the strikes, vowing revenge against America and Israel over blocking aid to the Gaza Strip after its war on Hamas there. The Houthis al-Masirah satellite news channel put young boys on air live, who chanted the groups slogan: 'God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.' 'The Yemeni position is an irreversible position (regarding Gaza), so do whatever you (Americans) want, for we are men who fear no one but God,' said Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a Houthi leader who spoke to the demonstration in Yemens rebel-held capital, Sanaa. The United Nations called for a halt to all military activities in Yemen and the Red Sea, urging 'utmost restraint' and warning that 'any additional escalation could exacerbate regional tensions,' U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday. The weekend strikes targeted headquarters positions and drone sites where what the Pentagon identified as 'key leaders' for the Houthis drone program were located at the time, said Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Pentagon said there was no evidence that any civilians were killed in the attacks. However, Houthi officials earlier said women and children had been killed in the strikes. Images show aircraft launching from a US carrier moments after Trump ordered airstrikes over Sanaa, Yemen Irans ambassador to the United Nations delivered a strong rebuke Monday to Trumps recent rhetoric about the Islamic Republic, saying Trump and U.S. officials are making reckless and provocative statements and threatened to retaliate if those words turn to actions. In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said his country would 'defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests under international law against any hostile action.' Its unclear what sparked Trumps post on Truth Social. However, the head of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard sought to separate the Houthis actions from those of Tehran this weekend. The Houthis also launched drones and missiles targeting the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, though none reached the ship as it continues flight operations in the region. 'Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!' Trump added. The Houthi rebels attacked over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, from November 2023 until January this year when a ceasefire began in Gaza. The campaign also greatly raised the Houthis profile in the wider Arab world and tamped down on public criticism against their human rights abuses and crackdowns on dissent and aid workers. China welcomes visit of U.S. senator: spokesperson Xinhua) 16:55, March 21, 2025 BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- As China welcomes U.S. senator Steve Daines' visit to China, it is extending a warm welcome to individuals from all sectors of the United States, including members of Congress, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. It was reported that U.S. Republican senator Steve Daines arrived in Beijing on Thursday. Mao made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked for expectation about Daines' visit. Mao said China consistently believes that the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations serves the common interests of the two peoples and meets the universal expectation of the international community. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Have you been affected by the chaos? Email robert.folker@mailonline.co.uk Heathrow's chief executive has apologised to stranded passengers but defended the airport's response to an 'unprecedented' loss of power caused by a substation fire. Thomas Woldbye admitted the backup generators were never powerful enough to run the airport after the blaze knocked out an electricity substation in Hayes in the early hours of Friday. He described the fire, which saw 200,000 travellers have their flights to or from Heathrow axed or diverted, 'as big as it gets for our airport' and said 'we cannot guard ourselves 100%'. The Heathrow boss, whose salary is believed to be around 5million a year, also said that a back-up transformer failed meaning systems had to be closed down so that power supplies could be restructured to restore electricity enough to power what is described as a 'mid-sized city'. The west London airport initially announced it would be closed until 11.59pm but later said repatriation flights and a handful of British Airways long-haul flights would resume Friday evening. It is expected to run a full schedule on Saturday. Metropolitan Police have confirmed the fire 'is believed to be non-suspicious' while London Fire Brigade said its investigation will focus on the 'electrical distribution equipment'. Mr Woldbye said: 'I'd like to stress that this has been an incident of major severity. It's not a small fire. We have lost power equal to that of a mid-sized city and our backup systems have been working as they should but they are not sized to run the entire airport.' Asked if there is a weak point in Heathrow's power system, he said: 'You can say that but of course contingencies of certain sizes we cannot guard ourselves against 100% and this is one of them.' As Heathrow shut down sparking worldwide travel carnage: A Virgin Atlantic aircraft arrives at Heathrow after being repositioned from London Gatwick Thomas Woldbye described the blaze which knocked out an electricity substation in Hayes in the early hours of Friday as 'as big as it gets for our airport' A transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation in West London caught fire last night Around 200,000 travellers saw their flights to or from Heathrow axed or diverted after the blaze Mr Woldbye added: 'This has been a major incident. I mean, short of anybody getting hurt, this is as big as it gets for our airport and we are actually coming back quite fast I would say, when you consider the amount of systems that we have to shut down then bring back up and make sure that they're safe.' The first plane landed at around 6pm closure as a British Airways jet touched down on Friday about 18 hours after the airport was closed due to a massive power outage. One of the eight long-haul flights the airline announced were set to leave Heathrow on Friday evening departed at 8.58pm. The British Airways flight to Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia, took off 40 minutes from its expected departure time. Willie Walsh, the head of the global airlines body IATA and a former head of British Airways, said Heathrow had once again let passengers down. He said: 'This is yet another case of Heathrow letting down both travellers and airlines. And that begs some serious questions. 'Firstly, how is it that critical infrastructureof national and global importanceis totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative. 'If that is the caseas it seemsthen it is a clear planning failure by the airport. And, from that arises the question of who bears the costs of taking care of disrupted travelers. ' Mr Woldbye said that the airport expects to return to '100% operation' on Saturday. He said: '(Passengers) should come to the airport as they normally would. There's no reason to come earlier.' The CEO said Heathrow will 'look at anything we can learn from this' and encouraged the Prime Minister to ask him any questions he has. The runway at Heathrow Airport is lit again after a fire at an electrical substation The west London airport initially announced it would be closed until 11.59pm but later said repatriation flights and a handful of British Airways long-haul flights would resume Friday evening It is expected Heathrow will run a full schedule on Saturday. Pictured: Parked planes at Heathrow Terminal 5 Heathrow airport finally re-opens its doors to passengers this evening after being closed all day Video footage shows the dramatic moment an American Airlines pilot told passengers enroute to London that their plane would be performing a sudden u-turn. Flight AA730 left Charlotte in North Carolina at 7.30pm EDT last night (11.30pm GMT) and was due to land at Heathrow over seven hours later at 7am GMT (3am EDT). But as the Boeing 777 made it to the eastern edge of Canada passengers were left shocked as the flight path map on their screens showed it had done a 180-degree turn. The travellers were among the 670 flights affected by the unprecedented chaos at Europe's busiest airport - with significant disruption expected to continue for days. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called it 'an unprecedented situation that has been totally outside of Heathrow's control', as she said 'we will learn lessons' from the disorder. She added that there is no suggestion of foul play in the fire. Counter terrorism police are involved in identifying the cause of the substation fire because it took place next to a critical piece of national infrastructure. In the clip, the pilot can be heard saying: 'Some of you may have noticed on the TV screen we have made a 180-degree turn. We are heading back to Charlotte. 'Let me tell you what is going on - there was a huge fire at the power substation at London Heathrow. The runways have light but there is no power at all in the terminals and they are not accepting flights into London Heathrow for the next 22 hours.' An American Airlines pilot told passengers flying from Charlotte that they were heading back The plane was en route to London Heathrow when the pilot said it would be returning to the US The American Airlines flight had made it to the eastern edge of Canada but had to head back He added: 'Gatwick and Manchester were not accepting flights and but then they changed their minds and said they are accepting flights. 'But we are so far away from those airports that by the time we get to Gatwick or Manchester there will be no room for our airplane because all the other airplanes are diverting to Manchester and Gatwick and that's why we are returning to Charlotte.' As passengers could be heard groaning at the news, the pilot added: 'We will be on the ground in three hours and about 24 minutes.' They ended up landing back at Charlotte at about 2.30am EDT this morning (6.30am GMT), just half an hour before they had originally been due to land at Heathrow today - meaning they had completed a 3,500-mile flight for nothing. However, electricity now appears to have returned to the airport after an 'interim solution' was found by engineers at National Grid. Reporters inside Terminal 4 this afternoon said lights in the main building have switched back on and lifts in the multi-storey car park are operational again. Speaking this afternooon, Heathrow's chief executive gave details over the decision to close Europe's busiest airport on Friday after a fire at a substation caused a power outage. Speaking to reporters, Mr Woldbye said: 'We have three of these substations, each of them has a backup transformer. Your browser does not support iframes. 'The backup transformer in this case also went and then we had to restructure the supply. So we're not out of power but we have to restructure our power supply. 'To do that we have to close down systems - that is safety procedure, we will not go around that.' He added: 'Two substations can run the airport but we need to re-engineer the structure of the power supply for all the terminals and that's what we were doing during the day, and then we have to restart all the systems and that's what we've done, and we now see operation coming back.' He described the decision to close the airport as a 'very difficult one' that they took 'quite early' when it became clear Heathrow could not be safely operated. And in a statement, the airport announced that it was now 'safely able to begin some flights later today' - with British Airways given clearance for eight long-haul journeys. 'Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft,' a spokesman said. 'Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so. 'We will now work with the airlines on repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly. However, travel journalist Simon Calder insisted tomorrow will be far from a 'normal day' at Heathrow and disruption will 'stretch into next week'. 'Ultimately it's extremely damaging to the UK economically, reputationally and so much distress to people. All those people have been let down', he said. Another passenger was travelling from Thailand to Heathrow but ended up in a Frankfurt hotel A passenger was halfway to London on a eight-hour flight from Dubai which had to turn back Travellers arrive at Terminal 5 as London's Heathrow Airport says it plans to resume some flights later today Electricity now appears to have returned to the airport after an 'interim solution' was found by engineers at National Grid Your browser does not support iframes. BA given go ahead for eight flights British Airways say they have been given clearance for eight long-haul flights to depart from 7pm on Friday. In a statement, the airline said: 'We are now urgently contacting customers to let them know so they can make their way to the airport from 5pm. 'The only customers who should make their way to Heathrow Airport are those booked onto the following flights.' The flights listed are: BA055 to Johannesburg BA057 to Johannesburg BA011 to Singapore BA259 to Riyadh BA045 to Cape Town BA059 to Cape Town BA015 to Sydney via Singapore BA249 to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro Advertisement Those feeling most let down are likely to be those forced into hotels, with prices near to Heathrow surging by 946 a night. One hotel by Heathrow was tonight charging a whopping 1,000 for a standard room for two people. The price listed for the North Avenue Guest House on Booking.com is staggeringly higher than the 54 it would cost you to stay next Friday instead - a difference of 946. This also means a room tonight is 1,850 per cent of the price next Friday. Passengers on other flights also posted videos on social media of their planes being diverted, including one who was travelling from Malaysia. Another was on a flight which U-turned back to Kuala Lumpur shortly after taking off. A third was travelling from Thailand to Heathrow but ended up in a hotel in Frankfurt after being diverted en route. And a fourth was halfway to London on a eight-hour flight from Dubai which had to turn back. Meanwhile, passengers on board Qantas flights to Heathrow Airport from Singapore and Perth were diverted to Paris before taking buses to London, the airline said. A Qantas spokesperson said: 'Our Singapore-London and Perth-London services were diverted to Paris today, with buses arranged to take customers on to London. 'Our teams are working hard to support impacted customers and we thank them for their patience.' Passengers are now being warned to expect disruption for several days due to the Heathrow closure, and many planes and flight crews are now in the wrong location. Online flight tracking service Flightradar24 said the closure would affect more than 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow today. This includes 679 scheduled to land and 678 due to take off from the airport. It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. Flights were diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Ireland's Shannon Airport. Some were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada. London Gatwick accepted seven diverted flights from locations including Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow. Shannon Airport in Co Clare accepted six diversions from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. The Metropolitan Police said there is 'currently no indication of foul play' and that its Counter Terrorism Command would lead inquiries given the impact of the fire 'on critical national infrastructure'. Smoke continues to billow from the North Hyde electrical substation in West London today Your browser does not support iframes. Commander Simon Messinger, who is leading the Met Police response to the incident, said: 'The investigation into the cause of the fire remains in its early stages. After initial assessment, we are not treating this incident as suspicious, although inquiries do remain ongoing. 'Due to the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Met's Counter Terrorism Command are leading our inquiries into this matter. 'This is due to the specialist resources and capabilities within that command that can assist in progressing this investigation at pace and to help minimise disruption and identify the cause. 'Officers are working closely with a number of local partners, including the London Fire Brigade, National Grid and SSEN to build a picture of the circumstances surrounding the fire. 'Various specialist investigators continue to examine the scene and it is expected to take some time before full assessments can be completed. 'Officers will continue to work alongside colleagues on the investigation, but as we have stated above, at this stage, there remains no indication of any foul play.' In a statement on Friday evening, London Fire Brigade (LFB) Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: 'London Fire Brigade Fire Investigation Officers, supported by a scientific adviser, have been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to investigate the cause of this fire. 'The MPS has confirmed that the fire is believed to be non-suspicious. LFB's investigation will now focus on the electrical distribution equipment. 'The Brigade is the enforcing authority for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and has therefore had Fire Safety Officers at the scene to follow up various lines of enquiry, and work will continue into the coming weeks. 'I would like to take this opportunity to thank firefighters and Control officers for their courage and professionalism in bringing this incident under control in what were very challenging circumstances.' Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in West London. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those affected by the power outage. Tom Watters, who has worked on critical infrastructure around the world, told MailOnline the crucial substation powering Heathrow and west London contains 'very old' equipment and blamed a 'lack of investment' for the crisis and blamed the catastrophic failure of an 'oil-filled transformer' for the devastating fire. The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. MailOnline can also reveal that a report for London Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2022 identified major problems with the electricity supply system in the Heathrow area. It warned that the North Hyde substation, which exploded into flames last night, has been running at 106.2 per cent of capacity. Parked planes and an empty runway at London Heathrow Terminal 5 today after it was closed Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 (pictured) - where prices tonight more than three times the cost for next week Firefighters wearing masks at the scene of the major blaze in West London this morning An almost empty Arrivals Hall at Heathrow Terminal 4 in London this morning after its closure Heathrow is the UK's largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. Electrical engineer Mr Watters, director of Sanguine Impact Investments, told MailOnline: 'An oil filled transformer has obviously failed and caused the massive fire. 'This looks like a very old transformer and it's surprising that such an old piece of critical equipment was still in service. I assume a lack of investment is the reason. 'The design of the substation while being ok is also very old style. Modern substations are normally enclosed using gas as the insulation'. Counter terrorism police are now leading the probe into the fire amid fears it could be a Russian sabotage attack. Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago. They allege that the disruption campaign is an extension of President Putin's war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine - although the Kremlin has denied carrying out sabotage efforts against the West. Transport Secretary Ms Alexander said that counter terrorism police are involved in identifying the cause of the substation fire because it took place next to a critical piece of national infrastructure. A screen at Hatton Cross Underground station today tells passengers that Heathrow is closed 'The counter terrorism command has specific capabilities and capacities that mean that they are used to conducting investigations at pace, and it's really important that we identify the cause of this quickly. 'There are no suggestions at the moment of foul play, but you will appreciate the investigation, keeps an open mind, and our priority is identifying the cause as soon as possible.' Earlier this week, Putin had agreed to a limited ceasefire that stops Russia targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Now, experts are analysing whether Russia could be linked to the UK substation fire, which is affecting 679 flights scheduled to land and 678 departures from Heathrow. Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation given the need to quickly establish whether sabotage was involved and the security questions relating to how one fire took down a major piece of infrastructure. It comes as: Huge wildfires swept across Scotland yesterday as temperatures soared to be 9C hotter than Madrid. Crews in the Highlands were faced with a four-mile fire front as they tackled one of three major blazes in the region. It came just hours after plumes of smoke could be seen across Glasgow following a major wildfire at a beauty spot on the outskirts of the city on Thursday. Experts had warned of an extreme risk of wildfires in all low lying areas yesterday as Scotland enjoyed its warmest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 19C recoded at Aultbea, Wester Ross - the third highest in the UK. In contrast, the mercury in the Spanish capital only hit 10C, with urban areas in the Algarve in Portugal also 2C cooler than parts of Central Belt, where the temperatures reached up to 18C. The dry and warm conditions meant it was ideal conditions for wildfires, with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warning it was crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Crews were still battling to bring the fires under control last night after being called out to two within minutes of each other in the early hours. One of those was a major blaze near Loch Eriboll in Durness, Sutherland, which started just after 5.30am. Crews in the Highlands were faced with a four-mile fire front as they tackled one of three major blazes in the region Firefighters tackle a large wildfire at Tomfat woods near Inverness. A fire could be seen above Old Kilpatrick,near Clydebank A spokesman said: Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and firefighters are faced with a four-mile fire-front. Firefighters remain on scene as they try to bring the wildfire under control. But he said there was no immediate threat to life or nearby property. Crews were also called to fire in Garmouth, near Lossiemouth, Moray around the same time when four appliances attended and last night remained on the scene. Another wildfire occurred just off the B861 between Inverness and Farr around 10.15am when eyewitnesses told of flames shooting 40ft high as crews battled to bring the inferno under control. SFRS said it mobilised six fire appliances and special resources to the scene, adding that firefighters have made good progress and are bringing the wildfire under control. A spokesman added: There is no immediate threat to life or nearby property. The wildfires, which could be seen from several miles away, came just hours after another blaze on the Kirkpatrick Hills in West Dumbartonshire on Thursday evening. Crews were forced to retired after several hours when light began to fade but on their return to the site yesterday morning they confirmed the wildfire, which covered an area of 600m x 600m, had been extinguished. Locals reported seeing the plumes of smoke from almost ten miles away in Paisley, to the east side of Glasgow. SFRS said: We were alerted at 2.13pm on Thursday to reports of a wildfire in the Kilpatrick Hills, near Old Kilpatrick in Dunbarton. Firefighters worked to bring the wildfire under control and had to leave due to diminishing light. Firefighters revisited at first light on Friday and found that the fire had extinguished. They left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe. The balmy temperatures came just two days after the mercury dipped to minus 8.3C overnight in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. Meteorologist Aidan McGivern said an area of low pressure that has brought unsettled weather across parts of the continent, including Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, during recent days was now heading closer to the UK. He said: Its because of that we have seen southerly winds bringing the warmth of recent days. But its also now starting to turn things more unsettled. Heavy rain and strong winds are now forecast to sweep across large parts of the country over the weekend, with gales also possible in the North-East. At least four Fulton County Courthouse employees were treated for an unknown illness after a package or letter with white powder was delivered to the office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The four people who complained of headaches were taken to a hospital as a precaution and the third floor of the sprawling Fulton County courthouse complex was evacuated after the package containing the mysterious substance was opened on Friday. Firefighters determined 30 minutes after a hazardous materials response began that the powder was a starch or salt and not harmful, said Atlanta Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Ronald Slatton. The courthouse was reopened shortly afterward. The substance has since been deemed safe but the courthouse's third floor was temporarily placed on lockdown after the letter and substance were found, with a hazmat team arriving on the scene. However, that lockdown was lifted around 3:30pm in the courthouse where Attorney General Fani Willis works. Officials said the letter was opened around 2pm, and Atlanta Fire was immediately alerted. Slatton said he didn't know who the letter was addressed to, only that it arrived at the district attorney's office. When asked about a motive, he replied, 'Thats for the law enforcement.' It's not clear if anyone is investigating the incident as a potential crime. Officer Aaron Fix, a spokesperson for the Atlanta Police Department, referred comment back to Atlanta Fire Rescue. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office, which oversees courthouse security, isn't investigating, said spokesperson Natalie Ammons. 'The District Attorney and her staff greatly appreciate the quick and effective response by Atlanta and Fulton County agencies to the scene to protect our colleagues and the public,' a DAs office spokesperson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The courthouse's third floor was temporarily placed on lockdown after the letter and substance were found, with a hazmat team arriving on the scene. However, that lockdown was lifted around 3:30pm At least four Fulton County Courthouse employees have come down with something after intercepting a suspicious package with a white substance inside. It is unclear what symptoms the employees experienced. The four were taken to the hospital as a precaution A package or letter with white powder was delivered to the office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis An elected Democrat, Willis won indictments against now-President Donald Trump and 18 others in August 2023, using Georgia's anti-racketeering law to accuse them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trump's narrow 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia. Four people later pleaded guilty, but a state appeals court in December removed Willis from the case, citing an 'appearance of impropriety' related to a romantic relationship Willis had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had hired to lead the case. Ruling in a 2-1 opinion, the Georgia appeals court said she was 'wholly disqualified from this case,' and pointed to 'a significant appearance of impropriety.' The ruling overturns Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee's decision that allowed Willis and her team to remain on the Trump case despite the affair as long as Wade left his job as Willis' lead prosecutor. In his ruling McAfee did point to an 'odor of mendacity' around the case in light of the stunning revelations. Willis is asking the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse her disqualification. Officials said the letter was opened around 2pm, and Atlanta Fire was immediately alerted In December, DA Willis was disqualified from the Donald Trump election interference prosecution, striking a potentially lethal blow to the case The charges brought Trump's infamous mugshot. In January, an appeals court upheld the dismissal of some of the charges against Trump in Georgia's election interference case The latest ruling did not toss out the case itself, although the decision raises barriers that legal experts immediately called potentially terminal. Another team of prosecutors would have to come in from another county to bring the case, at a time when the other criminal cases against Trump have collapsed after his election to the presidency. In January, an appeals court upheld the dismissal of some of the charges against Trump in Georgia's election interference case. Dressed in a bright blue space-themed flight jacket, the world's richest man, Elon Musk, met with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Friday morning. The session was surrounded by controversy after a report surfaced indicating it could involve war plans for China, though the administration rebuked that report. Following the high-interest visit, the SpaceX founder and the secretary posted a nearly minute long video of their meeting on X. 'Amazing visit with [Elon Musk] at the Pentagon today,' Hegseth wrote alongside the edited clip with generic stock music. 'He is a patriot, and I look forward to continuing our work together. With Elon and [DOGE] we are ensuring our Military continues to be the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.' The cost-cutting czar Musk met with Hegseth to discuss efficiency efforts as the Pentagon looks to improve 'innovation, efficiencies & smarter production,' Hegseth wrote. 'Hes there for DOGE, not there for China,' President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while Hegseth stood beside the seated president after the meeting. 'And if you ever mention China, I think hed walk out of the room.' SpaceX founder and DOGE leader Elon Musk arrives at the Pentagon to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday The video of their meeting showed the pair and other staff in meetings and touring the Pentagon facilities Musk wearing the blue jacket gifted to him by the Air Force Academy Cuts at the Pentagon could total up to 60,000 of the agency's roughly 900,000 person work force. The cuts would mean 5% to 8% of the workforce getting slashed, though Trump admin officials are also concerned with what this could do to U.S. military readiness. Musk's visit Friday almost certainly dealt with how to reduce Department of Defense workers. The DOGE leader's intriguing look involved a blue jacket he received on a 2022 visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy. On the front there's a patch featuring a spacecraft with a rocket and 'Starship 19' written on it. DOGE estimates that it has saved $115 billion dollars since its inception, according to its site. Those savings total to just over $700 per taxpayer. After the Pentagon meeting, Trump announced with Hegseth in the Oval Office that Boeing has won a contract to create a new fighter jet called the F-47, an apparent homage to the 47th president. President Donald Trump with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers remarks from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 21, 2025. Secretary Hegseth joins the President to announce a major defense program Trump next to an F-47 poster The sixth-generation fighter will work directly with a vast amount of autonomous drone vehicle wingmen, the president noted. 'Compared to the F-22, the F-47 will cost less and be more adaptable to future threats - and we will have more of the F-47s in our inventory,' said Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Allvin. Allvin said the F-47 will have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, and will be more easily supported than the F-22. The F-35 project, the plane that the F-47 will replace, was a notoriously expensive and delayed program. Just this model of plane is estimated to have cost between $1.7 - $2 trillion over its lifetime. Nicola Sturgeons parents suffered horrendous stress while the former First Minister was being investigated over the SNPs finances, the family has revealed. Ms Sturgeons sister Gillian said Robin and Joan Sturgeon shouldnt have had to watch their daughter go through that. Writing on social media, she said the hate and torture thrown at the family had taken its toll but said there was relief after the former First Minister was told she would not be charged in the Operation Branchform fraud probe. It was launched to look into how more than 600,000 of crowdfunding was used by the party - and became one of the longest-running fraud investigations in Police Scotlands history. In a Facebook post, Gillian Sturgeon said she spoke to her sister after she was cleared and thanked all those who stood by my family the past two years. She wrote: To say the last two years have been stressful is an understatement, but for my mum and dad - horrendous. Nicola Sturgeon was told she would not be charged in the Operation Branchform fraud probe Gillian Sturgeon said the police investigation into her sister placed huge strain on her family They shouldnt have had to watch their daughter go through that, We always knew Nicola was innocent but the hate & torture thrown our way has taken its toll. Spoke to sis earlier and after a cry, i could hear the relief in her voice. I know my mum, dad, sis n myself will all sleep well tonight. It is understood Gillian Sturgeon was the tearful sister. It came as John Swinney yesterday said he wanted Ms Sturgeon to be part of the SNPs campaign effort for next years Holyrood election after the development. The SNP leader said he would be absolutely delighted if she kept working for the party. After speaking to the media about feeling vindicated, Ms Sturgeon campaigned in a Glasgow City Council by-election on Thursday evening. Asked if he would like to see Ms Sturgeon campaigning at the Holyrood elections as well, Mr Swinney said: I very much welcome Nicolas participation in the work of the party and the campaigning effort. I was delighted - and she would be particularly delighted - at the Southside Central seat that Mhairi Hunter was elected [in], and I look forward to that contribution to our campaign. Id be absolutely delighted with that yes. The Scottish Conservatives said it would be great to see Nicola Sturgeon on the campaign trail given her divisive legacy and failures in office. Detectives arrested Ms Sturgeon in June 2023 as part of the probe which was looking into allegations of fraud within Scotlands governing party. She was released without charge, as was then SNP treasurer Colin Beattie. Her estranged husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was rearrested in April 2024 and charged. Peter Murrell appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday charged with embezzlement and was bailed after making no plea He appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday charged with embezzlement and was bailed after making no plea. The same day, Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie were told they would not be charged and were no longer under investigation, after prosecutors directed Operation Branchform to conclude. Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: For once, Im in full agreement with John Swinney - it would be great to see Nicola Sturgeon on the SNP campaign trail next year. Not only is she the most divisive Scottish politician of the devolution era but her record as First Minister is dismal. She hiked taxes on hard-working Scots at the same time as devastating our public services - and thats before we even consider the cynicism and secrecy which characterised her government or the ferries scandal and reckless gender self-ID policies. John Swinney cant escape the fact that he was beside her every step of the way, or that hes doubled down on many of her worst policies since becoming First Minister, but if he wants to actively remind the public of this, wed be most grateful. Kidnapping fraudster Sherri Papini is back in court two years after she was jailed for her Gone Girl-style staged disappearance. But her fierce look was in stark contrast to the picture of innocence she put on in 2022 as she begged for leniency after confessing her elaborate hoax. Gone were the neatly tied back hair, demure mannerisms, and apologetic expression as she was helped to her fate with her head bowed and an arm on her shoulder. Instead, Papini, now 42, wore a pink top under a black blazer with tight black leggings and matching shoes as she marched into the courthouse snarling for a fight and griping the hand of a mystery woman. Papini vanished from her home in Redding, California, on November 2, 2016, sparking a frantic search until she turned up three weeks later. The mother-of-two claimed she was kidnapped in the dead of night by two women and held captive until she freed herself and fled. But it was all a lie as she was with her lover James Reyes the whole time, and was jailed for 18 months in September 2022 when the fraud was discovered. Her husband Keith Papini filed for divorce and custody of their children almost immediately after her deception was exposed. Kidnapping fraudster Sherri Papini is back in court two years after she was jailed for her Gone Girl-style staged disappearance Papini wore a pink top under a black blazer with tight black leggings and matching shoes as she marched into the courthouse, gripping the hand of another woman PAPINI ARRIVES AT COURT: Sherri Papini's arrived at the Shasta County Courthouse in Downtown Redding Friday morning to go before a judge for a custody hearing as she seeks visitation rights with her children. DETAILS: https://t.co/co2Spfo0Hf#sherrypapini #papini #papinicase pic.twitter.com/KqraRNEMqF KRCR News Channel 7 (@KRCR7) March 21, 2025 Papini arrived at Shasta County Superior Court on Friday morning as part of a long-running custody battle with Keith, seeking increased visitation rights. Keith was awarded full custody of Tyler, 12, and Violet, 10, and their mother only granted monthly supervised visits. The kidnaping faker is also trying to force her ex-husband to to prevent their kids watching an unflattering documentary about her. Hulu docuseries Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini rehashed the case in detail and included shocking new allegations. Papini accused Keith in her court filing of 'revisiting the past and reopening old wounds rather than focusing on moving forward - at the expense of our children'. 'For eight years our family has been followed, stalked, harassed and bullied by the media,' she wrote. 'I have done my best to stay private to focus on my children and healing from the events that transpired. Papini's look was was in stark contrast to the picture of innocence she put on in 2022 as she begged for leniency after confessing her elaborate hoax Gone were the neatly tied back hair, demure mannerisms, and apologetic expression as she was helped to her fate with her head bowed and an arm on her shoulder in 2022 Papini, 42, vanished from her home in Redding, California , on November 2, 2016, sparking a frantic search until she turned up three weeks later 'For many years after my arrest, I was the primary caregiver of our children before serving my time in prison. My children have always been my primary focus.' Papini's scheme captivated much of the US - partially due her being painted as a picture-perfect stay-at-home mother, with two young kids. After she turned up on Thanksgiving, she claimed to have been cut loose from her restraints by two female captors at 4.30 that morning. She claimed she was left on the side of County Road 17 near Interstate 5 - and made the 150 mile journey back home herself. In reality, she was wrapped up with an affair with Reyes, all while her husband was in the dark. Her injuries were all self-inflicted to back up the kidnapping story. Her story unraveled when officers found Reyes' DNA on her clothes in 2020 and discovered she was holed up with him the whole time she was pretending to be missing. She was released early in August 2023, after a judge ruled she was no threat to her community. Keith said the idea was to make the children sicker 'so that she could take them to the doctor' A day earlier, Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson recalled how he and others handling the investigation grew suspicious of her almost immediately, upon interviewing her after her reappearance. 'It is a case of calculated deception, driven I think by her narcissistic behavior,' he said as he painted the Northern California mom as confident and unrepentant. 'It really had an impact on this community.' Her family reportedly footed her $120,000 bond, after which her husband filed for divorce the next month. Papini was last seen living with her auto dealer boyfriend Shawn Hibdon, 50, in a lush, four-bedroom property in Shingletown, 30 miles from her former family home. She began dating the widowed businessman before her 10-month stint in prison even started, and was seen sharing a kiss outside their home last year. In his petition for divorce, a devastated Keith recalled this stage of his life, and how he and his kids were 'victimized' by his ex-wife - whom he said as a liar and a thief. 'On April 11 2022, I learned that I and my children had been victimized,' he wrote before being awarded full custody,' we wrote. '[And] that my wife was a skilled liar, an accomplished thief, a manipulator of others without empathy for their pain and loss.' Papini was spotted sharing a passionate smooch with her new boyfriend Shawn Hibdon outside a local Starbucks in Orland, California, last year Papini is said to have begun dating the recently widowed businessman before her 10-month stint in prison in Victorville, California which ended in August 2023 Keith was subsequently awarded the couple's home and the lion's share of the couple's possessions. Papini is battling for more access to Tyler and Violet while Keith wants her to undertake a psychological evaluation and be barred from seeing them unsupervised. She is also demanding he hand over an array of items from the marital home in Redding, among them Grandpas truck, an inflatable water slide, a leaf blower and a smart TV'. Keith claimed in the Hulu docuseries that his wife had their kids breathe in fumes from rubbing alcohol to make them sick enough to go to the doctor. He did not become aware of the scheme until after Sherri went to prison in 2022 for her kidnapping hoax, he said. 'One day after Sherri was already in prison, as I go and lay my daughter to bed, I push off the bed and I kind of make little grunt sounds, like "Ah!" You know, I was a little bit sore,' he said. 'Violet, she was like "Daddy are you sick?" and she goes, "Why don't you do Mommy's trick?" 'I was like, "Mommy's trick? What are you talking about?" 'She was like, "Well you just breathe in this rubbing alcohol," and I was like, "What?" Keith has since said he had a sinking suspicion his wife was lying, but 'felt horrible for thinking of that' 'She goes up to the bathroom, she knows right where the rubbing alcohol is. She wads up a thing of toilet paper and just soaks it and then hands it to me to breathe.' Keith said he then asked his young daughter, "How often did you do this?" to which she replied, "Well, when we got sick, we did it every single day." 'And the next thing I know, my kids are getting forensic interviews done,' he said. He said he later found out that Sherri would 'soak rags of alcohol and put it in a Ziploc bag' that she would tie around her children's neck. 'So that they would continue to smell the fumes to make them not feel so good, so that she could take them to the doctor,' he explained. Other Papini relatives said she faked a bizarre paranoia about Mexican food, curly hair, and mariachi music after returning home. They claimed she pretended to be triggered by Mexican culture and would regularly break down during therapy to keep up her kidnapping lie. 'There were so many precautions taken,' her mother-in-law Pam Papini said. 'She refused to eat black beans because they [kidnappers] only fed her cold black beans out of a can.' Keith Papini claims in a new Hulu documentary that his ex-wife would have their children inhale the fumes from rubbing alcohol Her older sister Sheila added: 'I went to several of her therapy appointments with her, she would curl up and start screaming or crying. 'She would work through something in therapy but she would find something new that would trigger her. '[She] can't handle anything that had to do with Hispanic culture.' Keith said: 'If there was anybody with dark curly hair, any Hispanic people, it would heighten her anxiety. Like "is that them?" 'If she needed to use the restroom, she couldn't handle the door shut. 'Then I would have to go into the bathroom and then close it but she wouldn't want me to lock it.' Sherri's best friend Jenifer Harrison claimed she was triggered by lots of things including loud noises and closed doors. She added that the mother-of-two would not be able to drive on her own. Police are 'urgently assessing' whether to launch a fresh investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence after one of the teen's killers finally admitted his involvement. David Norris, 48, has always denied being involved in the 1993 murder of the teenager but has now confessed to being part of the gang of thugs that knifed the 18-year-old student to death. He claims he punched Stephen but did not stab him during the attack at at a bus stop in south-east London. It comes as he making a bid for freedom having been behind bars since 2011, a Parole Board report has revealed. His confessions has raised questions over whether the Met Police will reopen the case after it was closed five years ago with up to four of the killers escaping justice. Five men were initially arrested over the murder, in Eltham, southeast London, with Norris, 16 at the time, and Gary Dobson, 16 then but 49 now, only brought to justice after a belated forensic breakthrough. Both were given life sentences in 2012. When asked if the force would open a new murder probe, a spokeswoman told the Mirror it was 'too early to comment'. Stephen Lawrence, 18, was fatally stabbed by a gang of racists in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22 1993 David Norris, 48, has always denied being involved in the 1993 murder of the teenager but has now confessed to being part of the gang of thugs that knifed the 18-year-old student to death Last year, Stephen's father Neville Lawrence (pictured) told the Mail that he should only be released if he names the other killers. She added: 'Our objective remains the arrest, prosecution and conviction of all of those responsible for Stephen Lawrence's murder. 'We are aware of the Parole Board report and will urgently assess its implications. We will keep the Lawrence family and their representatives updated as our work progresses.' It is expected that officers will take soundings from Norris' lawyer about whether he would be willing to speak to them in. The Parole Board ruling said on Thursday: 'After the trial, Mr Norris continued to deny the offence. Recent reports now suggest he has accepted he was present at the scene and punched the victim but claims that he did not wield the knife. He does not accept he holds racist views.' Last year, Stephen's father Neville Lawrence told the Mail that he should only be released if he names the other killers. Neville, 83, said: 'I feel if someone is lucky enough to have that chance for parole they should have to say I'm sorry, I'll never get into trouble again and they should have to admit what they did. 'If he admits it and said how sorry he was and he names the other people I could accept him coming out. 'No one who was there that night has ever told the truth about what happened or even admitted the fact that they were there. Norris and Gary Dobson (pictured) were both convicted under joint enterprise law and are the only gang members to be convicted 'If he does do that it will be the first time. If he admits he was there and caused my son to lose his life I would accept what happened and it would make it seem to me he was a changed person but if he just says nothing I can't accept [his release].' Norris and Dobson were both convicted under joint enterprise law and are the only gang members to be convicted. The pair were finally convicted in 2012 with Norris sentenced to a minimum of 14 years and three month and Dobson sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and two months. Due to time spent on remand, Norris's sentence is nearly up but his time in prison has not been without issues that will likely count against him when the panel makes its decision. He was caught illegally using a smartphone in jail in 2022, which he used to take a sickening selfie from his cell on Dartmoor's E wing, which houses supposedly well-behaved inmates. The phone was recovered from his body after he was X-rayed and a police investigation into how he obtained the device was launched. Stephen's murder led to the 1999 Macpherson Report that branded the Metropolitan Police institutionally racist. The Crown Prosecution Service ruled last year the four officer involved in the botched initial inquiry into Stephen's murder will not face criminal charges. Pope Francis is in 'good humour' and is 'recovering well' according to his close advisers despite 'toxic' conspiracy theories circulating which claim the ailing pontiff is 'really dead'. The 88-year-old has spent almost five weeks in Rome's Gemelli Hospital after a complex lung infection turned into pneumonia in both lungs but is recovering well, according to two of his closest advisers. Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, Vatican Chief of staff, said he found Francis in good humour and serene during the three times he has visited him in hospital. And Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the only other Vatican official to have visited him aside from his personal secretaries, said: 'The pope is recovering well. The doctors say that he needs some time, but it's going well progressively. 'I found him well, serene, in good humour, and - just like him - tough with the desire to go forward,' he said. It comes as a wave of bizarre conspiracy theories have circulated online claiming that Pope Francis is 'really dead'. Italian social media users have flooded platforms with wild suggestions that the leader of the Catholic Church is dead and that the papal 'deep state' is hiding the news. Some have even claimed that the Vatican is using doctored audio of his voice to fool the public. Pope Francis is in 'good humour' and is 'recovering well' according to his close advisers The Pope concelebrates Holy Mass in the chapel of the Gemelli hospital in Rome on Sunday The 88-year-old has spent almost five weeks in Rome's Gemelli Hospital after a complex lung infection turned into pneumonia in both lungs The Pope sounded breathless as he delivered a brief message in his native Spanish earlier this month. He expressed thanks 'from the bottom of my heart' to well-wishers around the world who have offered their support. But in an appearance outside a shopping mall, Italian media personality Fabrizio Corona proclaimed: 'He is really dead. 'The audio is fake. It's done with artificial intelligence.' Some accounts have also claimed that the photo of the pontiff shared by the Vatican on Sunday were either old or AI-generated. Others have descended on the hospital itself to try and garner evidence for their outlandish theories. Simone Basile, also known as The 8th King of Rome, has racked up millions of TikTok views during three trips to the hospital. Leaving the hospital on Tuesday, he said: 'It's an unmistakable sign that he is no longer.' Another influencer, Er Bombolino, peered through hospital windows in one of his videos while questioning whether the pope is 'dead or alive'. Well wishers and Catholic faithful have gathered at St. Peter's Square to pray for the Pope's health A wave of bizarre conspiracy theories have circulated online claiming that Pope Francis is 'really dead' Roman Catholic cardinals have since issued desperate calls to 'free ourselves from much fake news' as rumours continue to spread, despite the church issuing regular updates on the Pope's condition. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said: 'They say we, the Roman Curia, keep Francis frozen so that we can do our scheming.' He suggested that the Vatican's efforts to be more transparent than ever about the Pope's health, which have involved regular public updates, have not stemmed accusations of a cover-up on social media. Cardinal Ravasi added: 'It's the first time that they are saying the raw truth about the pope's condition. It doesn't work. It's a toxic atmosphere.' Vatican officials are also privately discussing the fake reports, according to the New York Times. The Vatican press office today said that Francis's condition remained stable with slight improvement as he continues respiratory and physical physiotherapy. He no longer requires a mechanical ventilation mask at night and is continuing to reduce his reliance on high-flow supplemental oxygen he has needed to breathe during the day. The Vatican today said that Francis's condition remained stable with slight improvement as he continues respiratory and physical physiotherapy One of Pope Francis's closest advisors said that doctors were keeping him at the hospital 'to be 100%' and ruled out the Pope's resignation Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, a friend of the Pope, today said that 'a new stage' was opening in Francis's 12-year pontificate. Cardinal Fernandez, an Argentine theologian whom Francis brought in as the Vatican's doctrine chief, said that he had been in touch with Francis since he was taken to hospital and was heartened that he had stabilised. He said doctors were keeping him at the hospital 'to be 100%' and ruled out Francis's resignation. Cardinal Fernandez revealed that Francis had resisted going to hospital when his bronchitis worsened, and agreed to go only after people close to him threatened to resign if he did not. 'I don't know what swearwords they used (to tell him) you have to go there, otherwise we go home and end our relationship here,' he said. 'I think a new stage is opening for him. He is a man of surprises, who will surely have learned so many things in this month and he'll pull who knows what out of the hat,' he said. Heathrow bosses were facing questions last night about how a small fire shut down one of the world's biggest airports. Tens of thousands of travellers are still stranded across the globe today after a blaze at an electricity substation cut power to the airport. It resulted in unprecedented scenes, grounding flights for most of the day and exposing a major vulnerability in the country's infrastructure. Last night, a probe into the disaster was being led by counter-terrorism police, while Westminster sources blamed human error. Nearly 300,000 passengers were affected by the meltdown, which led to the cancellation or delay of more than 1,350 flights. Some 120 transatlantic services were forced to turn round in mid-journey. Passengers on flights from Singapore and Perth were diverted to Paris before taking buses to London. As eight long-haul British Airways flights finally took off last night, analysts criticised the airport, the busiest in Europe, for its inability to rely on backup power. Willie Walsh, director-general of global airlines body IATA and a former head of British Airways, said Heathrow had once again let passengers down. 'Firstly, how is it that critical infrastructure of national and global importance is totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative,' he said. 'If that is the case as it seems then it is a clear planning failure by the airport.' As Heathrow shut down sparking worldwide travel carnage: Heathrow bosses were facing questions last night about how a small fire shut down one of the world's biggest airports. Pictured: The fire at Hayes electrical substation The fire It resulted in unprecedented scenes, grounding flights for most of the day and exposing a major vulnerability in the country's infrastructure. Dramatic images show flames tearing through the substation as smoke billows into the night sky Tens of thousands of travellers are still stranded across the globe today after a blaze at an electricity substation cut power to the airport. Pictured: A tearful stranded couple at Heathrow T5 this morning Your browser does not support iframes. Nearly 300,000 passengers were affected by the meltdown, which led to the cancellation or delay of more than 1,350 flights. Pictured: A passenger lying on the floor at Heathrow T5 this morning after the fire knocked out power at the airport Phil Hewitt, director of energy analysis firm Montel Group, said: 'This potential lack of resilience at a critical national and international infrastructure site is worrying. 'An airport as large and as important as Heathrow should not be vulnerable to a single point of failure.' Heathrow has its own biomass power plant and diesel backup generators, but they can power only essential safety systems, such as lighting and exit doors. The airport's electricity usually comes from three substations, each of which has a backup transformer. In the case of the damaged North Hyde substation, in west London, its backup transformer was also lost in the fire, which started shortly before midnight on Thursday. Within hours, theories were swirling that sabotage, possibly even by Russia, may have been the cause. Despite the involvement of counter-terror officers, Scotland Yard said it was 'not treating this incident as suspicious, although enquiries do remain ongoing'. 'Various specialist investigators continue to examine the scene and it is expected to take some time before full assessments can be completed,' a spokesman said. The Politico website said those 'familiar with the investigations' were pointing towards a mistake by an electrical engineer sparking the fire. 'It's always cock-up rather than conspiracy,' a source said. Last night, a probe into the disaster was being led by counter-terrorism police, while Westminster sources blamed human error. Pictured: Firefighters douse the remainder of a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London The smouldering North Hyde electrical substation Your browser does not support iframes. London Fire Brigade last night said the fire 'is believed to be non-suspicious'. Offering a grovelling apology, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said the airport had faced a situation 'as bad as it gets for us'. Supply had to be 'restructured' to draw on the other two substations, which involved restarting thousands of different systems which takes 'an enormous amount of time', he said. 'We are very sorry about all the inconvenience. We lost a major part of our power supply. This was an incident of major severity. We lost power equal to that of a mid-sized city. 'Our backup systems have been working as they should, but they are not sized to run the entire airport. This is unprecedented. Everyone has been shocked but all our procedures have been working as they should.' Mr Woldbye insisted Heathrow cannot guard itself '100 per cent' against such incidents. The airport would be up and running today and passengers should go the airport at the time they normally would, he added. Mr Woldbye's full pay has not been published since he took over the job in 2023, but his predecessor John Holland-Kaye earned 6.4 million in his final year. Downing Street said Mr Woldbye would have 'questions to answer', as the closure of Heathrow costs Britain around 20 million a day. As well as catering for hundreds of thousands of passengers, the airport is also the gateway to 4,300 tons of cargo a day, worth 543 million. A No 10 spokesman said: 'There's absolutely no doubt that there are questions to answer on how this has happened and what can be done to prevent the scale of disruption we've seen from happening again.' BA chief executive Sean Doyle warned that its services will be severely impacted over the coming days, with more than 100,000 customers on 670 planes unable to fly yesterday. The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said A firefighter helps putting out a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport today Some 120 transatlantic services were forced to turn round in mid-journey. Passengers on flights from Singapore and Perth were diverted to Paris before taking buses to London BA chief executive Sean Doyle warned that its services will be severely impacted over the coming days, with more than 100,000 customers on 670 planes unable to fly yesterday. Pictured: Planes on the ground at Heathrow today Your browser does not support iframes. The fire came a day after energy regulator Ofgem announced a 4 billion investment in plans to boost Britain's under-pressure power network. A 2022 report for the Mayor of London showed that the North Hyde substation was, at times, running at 106.2 per cent its rated capacity. A substation is responsible for stepping-down high-voltage electricity from suppliers and distributing it to homes and businesses. Dr Conor Murphy, of grid analytics firm NovoGrid, said overloaded transformers were a common cause of fires at substations. 'The oil-cooled equipment in substations like this poses inherent fire risks, particularly from ageing infrastructure or overloaded system,' he added. 'Complete airport shutdowns due to power failure are extremely rare. The incident underscores broader grid vulnerabilities. 'The cause of the fire will need to be determined to prevent similar events in the future whether it was an electrical fault, human error or external factors.' He added that it may be a year before the substation was restored because highly specialised equipment will need replacing. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the complete shutdown of Heathrow made the airport look 'quite vulnerable'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander defended the airport while acknowledging the 'immense distress and disruption' its closure caused to passengers. Justine Bayley, chairman of Stop Heathrow Expansion, said: 'Just how competent are Heathrow's bosses? We should not put all our eggs in that basket. 'If we want to increase UK connectivity to the rest of the world, today's fiasco has shown we need to spread the load and the risk to other airports.' A Cornell graduate student who praised Hamas' October 7 attacks and organized pro-Palestine protests has been ordered to surrender to ICE officials - even though he hasn't broken any laws. Momodou Taal, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and The Gambia, received the order shortly after asking a judge to bar the government from deporting him. A doctoral candidate in Africana Studies at the prestigious New York university, Taal had filed a lawsuit a week ago requesting a judge strike down two of President Trump's executive orders targeting foreign protesters at US campuses. In the filing, Taal said he 'lives in constant fear that he may be arrested by immigration officials or police as a result of his speech.' Taal's attorneys reportedly then received an email from the Justice Department at 1am Friday inviting him 'to appear in-person at the (Homeland Security Investigations) Office in Syracuse at a mutually agreeable time for personal service of the (Notice to Appear) and for Mr. Taal to surrender to ICE custody,' reports CNN. A notice to appeal is one of the formal steps toward deportation, however the email did not specify a deadline for the student to surrender to ICE. Eric Lee, one of Taal's attorneys, said in a filing on Friday that 'it is not yet clear what grounds for removal the government alleges exist here.' Taal had previously played a leading role in organizing pro-Palestine protests, and his X account includes a number of posts calling for the destruction of Israel and justifying the October 7 attacks by saying 'colonized peoples have the right to resist by any means necessary.' Momodou Taal, a Cornell graduate student who praised Hamas' October 7 attacks and organized pro-Palestine protests, has been ordered to surrender to ICE officials Taal made headlines with his lawsuit a week ago attempting to pre-emptively stop the government from deporting him, saying he feared he would be because his name had been floated on social media as a potential ICE target. As of Friday evening the government had not yet filed a formal response to his legal action, while attorneys for Taal have asked the court to delay his surrender to ICE pending the outcome of his lawsuit. The DOJ's actions against Taal come as the Trump administration vowed to crack down on foreign nationals protesting on US campuses, particularly aimed at pro-Palestine organizers. In recent weeks this has seen Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, 30, also detained by immigration authorities. Neither Taal nor Khalil have been accused of breaking any laws, however the DHS previously said that Khalil was arrested because he 'led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.' Taal has faced backlash for his support for Hamas and its October 7 terrorist attack. He is pictured in an interview with CNN the month after the attacks, where he claimed it was 'racist' to ask him to condemn the terror group The DOJ's actions against Taal come as the Trump administration vowed to crack down on foreign nationals protesting on US campuses, with Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil (pictured) also detained earlier this month Taal's anticipated detainment appears to be on similar grounds, as he has made a number of statements in defense of Hamas and was suspended by Cornell twice last year for the disruption protests that he helped organize caused. He had been warned that an academic suspension could cause his visa to be revoked, but Taal later came to an agreement with Cornell that allowed him to continue studying remotely. The student had faced backlash for his inflammatory rhetoric about Israel and praise for Hamas, including a shocking response to the October 7 attacks. On the day of the attacks in 2023, when terrorists aligned with the group murdered over 1,200 people in a horrific spree, Taal tweeted: 'Glory to the resistance.' And the day before the one-year anniversary of the attacks, he said in an X post that 'colonized peoples have the right to resist by any means necessary.' The student had faced backlash for his inflammatory rhetoric about Israel and praise for Hamas, including a shocking response to the October 7 attacks On the day of the attacks in 2023, when terrorists aligned with the group murdered over 1,200 people in a horrific spree, Taal tweeted: 'Glory to the resistance' Protests sparked up on Cornell's campus in response to Taal's notice to appear, where attendees were seen holding signs reading 'No Mass Deportations' and 'Hands Off Momodou' In an interview with CNN in November 2023, Taal refused to apologize for his remarks about the terror group. 'I think its quite racist, Islamophobic that before Im allowed to have a view on genocide, I have to condemn a terrorist organization,' he said. Taal added that despite his tweets, he 'can say clearly categorically I abhor the killing of all civilians no matter where they are and who does it.' Protests sparked up on Cornell's campus in response to Taal's notice to appear, where attendees were seen holding signs reading 'No Mass Deportations' and 'Hands Off Momodou.' Alaa Farghli, a demonstrator at the event, told WBNG the protests came because 'now, people are noticing.' 'They want to come out,' she said. 'They dont want to lose the civil liberties that they hold onto dearly.' Taal is the great-grandson of Gambia's first president, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, and is a citizen of both Gambia and the United Kingdom. It was not stated in the reported email where he may be deported to if he is booted from the US. Columbia University has agreed to meet Donald Trump's demands for several policy changes after he threatened to take away $400 million in government grants from the Ivy League institution. The Trump administration pulled the grants and other federal funding, and had threatened to cut more, over the university's handling of rampant protests against Israel. Those protests led to ICE detaining activist Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil, 30, a legal resident in the US. The policy changes, detailed in a letter sent by the university's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, came one week after the Trump administration ordered the Ivy League school to enact reforms or lose all federal funding. In her letter, Armstrong said the university would immediately appoint a senior vice provost to conduct a thorough review of the portfolio of its regional studies programs, 'starting immediately with the Middle East.' Columbia will also revamp its long-standing disciplinary process and bar protests inside academic buildings. Students will not be permitted to wear face masks on campus 'for the purposes of concealing one's identity.' An exception would be made for people wearing them for health reasons. In an effort to expand 'intellectual diversity' within the university, Columbia will also appoint new faculty members to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies department. Columbia University has agreed to meet Donald Trump's demands for several policy changes after he threatened to take away $400 million in government grants from the Ivy League institution The administration pulled the grants and other federal funding and had threatened to cut more, over the university's handling of protests against Israel's war against Hamas It will also adopt a new definition of antisemitism and expand programming in its Tel Aviv Center, a research hub based in Israel. The White House has labeled the protests antisemitic, a label rejected by those who participated in the student-led demonstrations. A message seeking comment was left with a spokesperson for the Education Department. As a 'precondition' for restoring funding, federal officials demanded that the university to place its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Department under 'academic receivership for a minimum of five years.' They also told the university to ban masks on campus, adopt a new definition of antisemitism, abolish its current process for disciplining students and deliver a plan to 'reform undergraduate admissions, international recruiting, and graduate admissions practices.' Historians had described the order as an unprecedented intrusion on university rights long treated by the Supreme Court as an extension of the First Amendment. On Friday, freedom of speech advocates immediately decried Columbia's decision to acquiesce. 'A sad day for Columbia and for our democracy,' Jameel Jaffer, the director of Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a social media post. Those protests led to the detaining of activist Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil , 30, a legal resident in the US, for his role in the demonstrations The changes, detailed in a letter sent by the university's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, came one week after the Trump administration ordered the Ivy League school to enact those and other reforms or lose all federal funding The president launched the dramatic move 'due to the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students,' his administration said. It represents only a first round of canceled funds and additional cuts are expected. Trump's Education Secretary Linda McMahon said: 'Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them. 'Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding.' The announcement coincided with recent anti-Israel campus protests at Columbia's Barnard College, which Trump aggressively condemned. 'Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!' he stated on social media. Trump officials said the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism will continue to review and coordinate with other federal agencies to move swiftly. That group is made up of officials at the Justice Department, Education Department, Department of Heath and Human Services and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Columbia, located in New York City, 'abandoned (their) obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,' officials said. Since the horrific attack, anti-Israel protests have sprung up across the nation, including most recently at Columbia University and Barnard College in Manhattana university hotbed of pro-Gaza activism. State Department officials also shared that they will soon review foreign student visa holders who were arrested though allowed to stay in the country. This AI-enabled review will also look for clues in news articles about the protests which have been on and off for the past year and a half. Already officials have reviewed 100,000 individuals in the Student Exchange Visitor System. Most big blockbuster disaster movies have a romance running alongside the impending doom. Even when the world seems to be ending, and terror and tragedy are everywhere, romance will blossom. And however dire the conditions, it wont stop the heroine starting every day with a full face of make-up. Its not real life, though, is it? Well, sometimes, it is. Nick and Diane Marson actually did wonder if the world was ending on the day they met. Little wonder that after the first flurry of attraction, and after they went their separate ways, they both questioned how real their romance had been. Emotions were so heightened. Everything was so surreal that afterwards, when we were thinking: Could we make a go of this?, there was a doubt there. You are thinking: What if the person I met, in those exceptional circumstances, isnt the real person? admits Nick. They both liken their courtship to a holiday romance, but with an awful backdrop. Nick and Diane Marson met and married after their plane was stranded in Newfoundland during 9/11. Their story has inspired the West End romantic musical Come From Away That awful backdrop was the events of September 11, 2001 when the pair, both complete strangers, stepped on the same plane at Gatwick, heading for Houston, Texas. Nick, an oil executive from the Cotswolds, was on business. Diane, a buyer for a department store in Texas, was heading home after visiting her son and his family in England. Nick was 53; Diane had just turned 60. Both were divorcees and neither was looking for romance. They werent even sitting near each other on the Continental Airways flight. Nick was at the back and Diane was up front. Four hours into the flight, the captain announced that there was a problem. Due to issues with American air space, the flight would not be continuing to Texas, but would be going to Newfoundland instead. Cue lots of tutting and muttered cursing, as plans were scuppered and inconveniences piled up. I had a vague idea where Newfoundland was, admits Nick. But I had to check on a map. Looking back, however, both remember a distinct change of atmosphere on the plane as it headed away from American airspace. Nick, an oil executive from the Cotswolds, was on a business trip when he met Diane, a buyer for a department store in Texas, who was heading home after visiting her son and his family in England I remember one flight attendant looking so nervous that I questioned whether she had the right temperament for the job. I realised after that that she was walking up and down the plane looking for suspicious characters, thinking we could be next, says Nick. Diane was oblivious. I was thinking it was probably a computer glitch that had brought the system down, she says Nick and Diane, like everyone else on the plane, were clueless as to the events that were folding in the States. Four passenger airliners had been hijacked by terrorists, two of which were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in Manhattan. The terrible events of that day were to leave 2,996 people dead, and 6,000 injured. They were also to maroon 7,000 passengers including Nick and Diane on Newfoundland, an island off the coast of Canada, as American airspace was cleared. The town of Gander, where they landed, has a population of just 10,000. Nick remembers landing at the towns airport, and being greeted by a remarkable sight: 38 jumbo jets, all lined up like sardines. Despite being woefully ill-equipped to deal with the sudden influx of visitors, disembarking their planes with only their hand luggage, the locals coped. The mayor of Gander declared a state of emergency and local residents swung into action. They opened their schools, bars, even homes to the newcomers, providing them with everything from toothbrushes to mobile phones. They also collected every barbecue in the town for a mass hospitality evening. They arranged get-togethers, sing-alongs even, in the local bars. It was, everyone would agree, the perfect conditions for a romantic drama. For five days, Nick and Diane were plunged into this bizarre alternative existence. It wasnt hell on earth by any means. That made it difficult to cope with in some ways, after, says Nick. It was actually enjoyable, which is hard when you remember why we were there. Nick and Diane hadnt met on the flight. They first exchanged words in a queue for bedding, with Nicks opening gambit to the woman who would become his wife being about the pungent smell of mothballs. Hardly textbook romance. They then ended up sleeping next to each other in army-issue cot beds. They laugh when they recall how Diane always insisted on wearing a full face of make-up, despite everything, just like the heroine in a disaster movie. I had my make-up bag with me, and every day Id get up early, before Nick was awake, and put it on. I wore the same clothes for four days I only had the clothes I stood up in but the make-up was my way of staying normal, I guess; of holding onto the normal. Over the course of the next five days, as the scale of the atrocity became clear, they clung together sometimes literally, for instance when TV screens were erected so news could be broken to the visitors about what was unfolding at Ground Zero to the point where locals assumed that they were man and wife. When the mayor discovered that they werent, he offered to marry them. Diane said: Why not? Nick was a bit surprised by this jokey aside, but in a good way, he says. They passed the time, playing silly games organised by the locals and going for long, contemplative walks. The mood was part-mourning (one woman spent the time waiting for news about her son, who was a firefighter in New York), part-party. When the planes that had been grounded that day finally took off, that could have been the end of the story. Yet the pair kept in touch via email and telephone. Their end of the world romance became more rounded, more real. By October, Nick had told his bosses in London that he needed to return to the States to check on his project. He points theatrically to Diane. The awful backdrop was the events of September 11, 2001 when the pair, both complete strangers, stepped on the same plane at Gatwick, heading for Houston, Texas My colleagues didnt know at first, but as time went on I think they suspected. He proposed, and prepared to move across the Atlantic. Diane sold her small house the one she had reckoned was just fine for a single divorcee with no plans to remarry and bought a bigger one. I hadnt told my children at first, not until I knew it was serious. But when Nick came over to visit, they met him. Nick nods. They had to vet me. He clearly passed the test. On September 7, almost a year after the awful events of that day, Nick and Diane married. And for their honeymoon, they returned to Gander where the locals would throw them the party to end all parties. And now 17 years on, the happy couple are still canoodling on the sofa. Its the most heart-warming of tales, and one which is now being told on stages all over the world. No blockbuster movie this time, but their story fleetingly told in a documentary touched a couple of drama students some years back. The pair, Irene Sankoff and David Hein, then wrote a musical based on those five days in Gander. The news simply baffled Nick and Diane. To be honest, I thought: Well, good luck with that, says Nick. It didnt seem musical material to us at all. And it was a college project. It never occurred to us that anything would become of it. In fact, I remember thinking theyd be on welfare the next year. Well, no. Come From Away opened in Canada in 2013, and by 2017 it was a Broadway show, playing to packed audiences and receiving rave reviews. The show opened in Londons West End two weeks ago, with Nick and Diane in the audience. There have been standing ovations every night. Its a stunning show, utterly life-affirming, somehow. Why do they think it has touched so many? Because while 9/11 was about the worst of humanity; what happened in Gander over those five days was about the best of humanity. Those people opened their town and their hearts to us. Its a story of human kindness. There was not a happy ending for everyone that day. The lady who spent the five days fretting about her son discovered, when she returned to New York, that he had perished when the twin towers came down. Nick sat next to her at one performance. I just reached over and put my hand on her arm. It was incredibly emotional for everyone. Today, their account of their extraordinary courtship is by turns moving and hilarious. Its hard to explain, but in that environment, when you really dont know if you are on the brink of another world war or if you are even going to be here tomorrow, you skip the surface chat, says Nick. To Dianes great surprise, she found it easier than expected to let her hair down. There was an odd freedom in being in that environment, she says. We all have our set roles in life mother, grandmother, whatever and we play them. But I wasnt a grandmother there. There were no roles. Theres a foot-stomping riot of a scene in the show where the visitors party hard with the locals, and throw themselves into local rituals involving rum and kissing a cod (yes, really). They were made honorary locals by this screeching-in ceremony. Did they realise at the time they were on the verge of something life-changing, in terms of their relationship? I think I did, says Nick. I knew there was something special about this lady. I couldnt stop looking at her. During one outing to Dover Fault, a beauty spot, Nick took his camera, supposedly to get some landscape shots. He found himself going out of his way to get pictures not of the scenery but of Diane. I thought: I dont know if I will ever see her again. I want to remember how she looked. Neither truly thought they could be a proper item, but on a rickety bus journey back to the airport, something changed. Diane was emotional; Nick leaned in to comfort her. He insists he was not going in for a kiss. Well, I was, but I was going to kiss her forehead. Diane laughs again. Whatever, their lips locked and that was it. They canoodled, they confirm, all the way back to the UK. Theres a scene in the show where the stewardess is bringing towels for everyone and she goes: Hot towels? Hot towels? all the way down the plane. When she gets to us, she says: Cold towels? Thats exactly as it happened. Nick had suggested that they live in the UK, but Diane who has three children and five grandchildren insisted that the weather was better in Texas. Their honeymoon on Gander was quite the event. We told the people we were coming back and that wed love to have a party, which we would pay for, but would they help us organise it? Yet, when we got there, theyd organised everything: food, flowers, a huge meal. They wouldnt let us pay for a thing. They have been back many times to Newfoundland, and talk of their second Newfie family. Each anniversary of the date they met is difficult, though. Weve had survivors guilt. Its a difficult thing to come to terms with. We met because this awful thing happened, says Nick. They are a wonderful couple unassuming, hilarious, a perfect match. Nick ribs his wife constantly about the age difference between them, but do they think they would have been together had they met in different circumstances? No, I dont, says Diane. It was a unique situation: 3,000 people had died, and there was this sense of that could have been us. It focuses the mind. I remember thinking: How long do I have left? A year? Six years? I hadnt been looking for love, but in that situation you do think: Maybe I want to be happy. You want to grab life. He was once regarded as the 'royal family joker'. But since his notorious departure, Prince Harry's happy-go-lucky personality traits have been pulled into question. It is well known that Harry was allowed greater licence than William as he was not expected to inherit the throne. He was often spotted sticking his tongue out in photos and previously led the family's tradition of exchanging humorous gifts. But royal expert Ingrid Seward claims even Harry's mother got some of his traits wrong. Seward, who has spent the last 40 years following the Firm, wrote that Princess Diana once told her William was 'very sensitive' and Harry was 'very lively'. At the age of nine, Harry reportedly turned to his brother and declared: 'You're going to be King; it doesn't matter what I do.' Put another way, according to Seward, he saw this as a licence to do almost whatever he wanted. Since his famous departure, Prince Harry's happy-go-lucky personality traits have been pulled into question Ingrid Seward wrote that Princess Diana once told her William was 'very sensitive' and Harry was 'very lively'. Diana is pictured with a young William and Harry in 1991 on a visit to Canada According to Seward Harry saw his 'spare' title as a licence to do almost whatever he wanted. A young Harry and Diana are seen smiling together The young royal was even said to have given the late Queen a shower cap emblazoned with 'Ain't life a b****' in a comical gift exchange. But the editor of Majesty magazine said: 'When he married Meghan and left his homeland for America, instead of being happy with his increasingly luxurious lifestyle, his life and children, he became hell-bent on alerting the world to what he considered were failings within the monarchy. 'The "joker" Harry appeared to be a thing of the past and he revealed he had inherited some of his father's more unattractive characteristics.' Among these characteristics picked up from his father is his 'self-pitying approach to life'. It appears Diana may not have recognised this self-pity in his personality or perhaps it is a characteristic he acquired after her death. As a child Harry was doted on by his mother who described him as 'her little baby'. But he often struggled in the shadow of William, being the younger and less academically gifted brother. Harry was just 12 years old when his mother died and he was forced to grieve in public with the world watching him closely. He admitted suppressing a lot of his feelings and 'bouncing off the walls' when it all came 'fizzling out'. In her most recent book My Mother And I, Seward wrote that Harry had trouble articulating himself and being taken seriously by his family. As a child Harry was doted on by his mother who described him as 'her little baby'. Diana is pictured with Sarah, Duchess of York (left) and Harry in 1990 Ingrid Seward has spent decades covering The Firm and its highs and lows from the War of the Waleses, to Toegate to Megxit and beyond Diana is captured helping Harry put on his shoes on the steps of Marivent Palace on in 1987 in Palma, Majorca Seward, 77, has spent decades covering The Firm and its highs and lows from the War of the Waleses, to Toegate to Megxit and beyond. She wrote: 'His relationship with the Queen was very much characterised by Harry being the joker, and when he had something serious to say to her, he had very little idea how to go about it, like his father before him.' Perhaps this was why he felt the need to reveal 'the truth' about the royal family in his and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. Many bombshell allegations were made by the Sussexes, including that Meghan was not given any royal advice and they had their security unfairly revoked. In the interview Harry said he was 'trapped' and 'didn't see a way out', adding his brother and father were in the same position. Writing in his book, Charles III: The Inside Story, Mail columnist Robert Hardman described the interview as 'the most astonishing unburdening of family secrets since the late Princess of Wales sat down with the BBC's Martin Bashir in 1995'. After the interview Harry's cousins Beatrice and Eugenie spoke out to 'sympathise' with him, adding that his 'voice was rarely heard within the royal family'. A source told the Mail on Sunday the cousins felt Harry never had the opportunity to speak his mind. They went on to add that Harry was viewed as the resident joker, adding that eyes would roll when he ventured to discuss more serious matters. Harry often felt jealous of his brother, which gained him the nickname 'spare'. Diana and Harry are pictured in 1992 on the Depth Charge ride at Thorpe Park Harry sticks his tongue out while being held by his mother in 1988 At the age of nine, Harry reportedly turned to his brother and declared: 'You're going to be King; it doesn't matter what I do.' Diana is pictured with her sons in 1995 Harry waves to the crowds as he travels in an open carriage with Diana, William and the Queen Mother during Trooping the Colour in 1989 Later, in his memoir Spare, Harry aired his grievances and bitterness with the family, describing himself as the 'spare'. He wrote: 'I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy. 'I was summoned to provide back-up, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow.' Seward claims Harry had a good relationship with his father until he moved to America, 'unlocked his inner self and started using his position as the spare to make a noise'. She said: 'He had discovered a way of making himself the centre of attention and that was by dissing his family, about whom he felt increasingly bitter.' Put another way, Harry found the way to be heard was by speaking with a platform. Despite his 'joker' status being pulled into question, Harry has been seen attempting to channel some of this humour in recent appearances. In 2022 he released a video for bereaved military children at Christmas disguised in a Spiderman costume, urging the youngsters to have fun in footage for Scotty's Little Soldiers. In his memoir, Spare, Harry aired his grievances and bitterness with the family Harry was just 12 years old when Diana died and was forced to grieve in public with the world watching him closely. He is pictured with Diana in 1994 in Northampton William was reportedly more reserved than his brother. Diana smiles as William shares a joke with a young girl, pictured in 1990 At the end of the video he pulled off the mask to reveal his face and smiled as he wished the children a Merry Christmas. He was also seen at the King's Coronation joking and laughing with his cousins, even miming Eugenies heavily pregnant bump to make her and husband Jack laugh. In a 2023 interview with Stephen Colbert he made the host laugh at the start of the show by labelling the extra chair next to him in the studio as 'the spare'. He even appeared to use an expletive which was bleeped out by the show when describing a piece of equipment he did not have on his expedition to the North Pole. But others claim the 'family joker' role has been taken by Charles or even Mike Tindall, who have both been known to crack a joke in otherwise formal royal occasions. It is believed Charles, who is known for favouring a fun tie, is the one carrying on the family joke Christmas gift tradition and has even shown his light-hearted side by appearing in an episode of Coronation Street. In recent years, the King's private character has come under fire from the disillusioned Harry, who claimed that the 'older generation' of royals had a 'nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact'. However Penny Junor in the 1998 book Charles: Victim or Villain? said Charles's private persona is 'completely different from his public one'. The book claimed Charles built his sons a 'massive' tree house in a holly tree, which became affectionately known as Holyroodhouse after Holyroodhouse Palace, the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh. In recent years, the King's private character has come under fire from the disillusioned Harry. Charles and Diana are pictured at home in Kensington Palace with William and Harry in 1986 A young Harry holds the family pet rabbit with Charles and Diana at Highgrove House Seward claims Harry had a good relationship with his father until he moved to America, 'unlocked his inner self and started using his position as the spare to make a noise'. William and Harry share a joke with Prince Charles on the ski slopes in Switzerland Mike Tindall has also long been known as a joker, famously telling his camp mates in the reality show Im a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! that he once ripped his trousers in front of his mother-in-law, the Princess Royal, while dancing. Of Harry, Seward wrote: 'The anger aimed at the monarchy, the British people, his father and stepmother, was totally unnecessary. 'His anger eventually destroyed his credibility in other areas of his life, and his grandmother the late Queen found herself in an impossible position. 'However much she loved Harry - and she did - she couldn't condone the way he was speaking about the institution of the monarchy that she had spent seventy years preserving.' Perhaps being the 'spare' allowed Harry greater licence to show his light-hearted side, but the opportunity to speak frankly also caused indisputable damage to both his reputation and that of the Firm. Prince Harry could be in trouble as the US think tank trying to find out if he lied about his past drug use on his visa form has a 'top-notch' legal team, say royal experts. The Duke of Sussex, 40, was relieved to find out on Tuesday that the federal government had declared that he did not receive any special treatment when he applied for a visa in the US. In heavily-redacted documents, a lawyer from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said his application followed all the 'applicable rules and regulations'. The ruling came after a lawsuit was brought by the right-wing Heritage Foundation against the federal agency to prove Harry lied in his application - which led to speculation that President Donald Trump may deport the Prince. The case was brought after concerns were raised Harry had been given a pass despite having spoken publicly about using cannabis, cocaine and magic mushrooms in his memoir - behaviour that would usually see someone barred entry. But the Daily Mail's Editor at Large Richard Kay has warned the Prince that although things going well for him so far, there might be more legal proceedings to come. On the latest episode of the Daily Mail's YouTube show Palace Confidential, he said: 'I think he would be foolish to think this is now all over. 'What I have learned is that the Heritage Foundation is an organisation that is very much in tune with the Donald Trump White House and they have really got the bit between their teeth. On the latest episode of Palace Confidential, the Daily Mail's Editor at Large Richard Kay said: 'I think he [Prince Harry] would be foolish to think this is now all over' The case was brought after concerns were raised Harry had been given a entry to the US despite having spoken publicly about using cannabis, cocaine and magic mushrooms in his memoir. Pictured: Prince Harry clenches his fist as he leaves Eton College on June 12, 2003 The six documents that were released on Tuesday contained heavily redactions to protect Harrys' privacy and stop him being subjected to 'harassment' Watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential here: 'They are very well resourced, well funded, and they have got a top-notch legal team. 'And they are pursuing this, they will go on and are confident at some stage, either through legal means or by Trump himself unilaterally issuing the actual documents that everyone wants to see, that they will get to the bottom of it.' The documents that were released earlier this week contained page after page of blocked-out type in an effort to protect Harry's privacy and prevent him from being subjected to 'harassment'. His actual immigration file is also still private, with the chief Freedom of Information Act officer at DHS, saying the agency determined it was not possible to release 'any portion' of Harry's records as anyone with a familiarity with immigration law could easily determine Harry's status. The Prince has not publicly revealed his status in the US after immigrating in 2020 with Markle, 43, with whom he has two children. The Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden believes the high profile case could even draw the attention of Donald Trump if it were to rumble on. He told the panel: 'It is a question of fairness isn't it? 'What I have heard from various Americans is they do feel strongly about it because lots of people are barred from entering America because drug use that could be a long time in the past or something very minor. 'And here they have someone who was boasting frankly in his memoirs about past drug use has been welcomed in with a red carpet. The lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was brought by the right-wing Heritage Foundation Pictured: The Duke of Sussex, looks out into the crowd during the New York Times annual DealBook summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 4, 2024 in New York City Heritage argued that Harry admitted repeated drug use in his 2023 memoir Spare and his Netflix TV series, including using cannabis, cocaine and magic mushrooms The Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden believes the high profile case could even draw the attention of Donald Trump if it were to rumble on The expert's comments were made on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, where a panel of royal experts give their fresh insights and discuss the biggest royal news of the week on YouTube 'We know that Donald Trump has strong views on immigration so he would want to be seen to treat the rich the same as other people. I think it is an issue we will carry on hearing about.' When asked if the row could escalate and Harry could be kicked out of America, Richard Kay replied: 'I would never say never. We just don't know, but I think it is highly unlikely. 'But there may be issues if Harry was to leave the country and fly back in. It could be very embarrassing if he was detained at immigration.' Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at Heritage Foundation, has previously appealed to Trump to make the files public. He said that the president had put 'border security and the application of the rule of law a top priority'. In the past Harry has been frank about his drug use and once said that cannabis helped heal the trauma of the death of his mother, Princess Diana. The Duke said that using ayahuasca, a psychedelic drug, he realized that his mother wanted him to be 'happy'. Richard Kay added: 'What we are trying to find out was if Harry was truthful about his drug use when he applied for his green card to live in America. 'This might automatically disbar him from being allowed in the US. It is possible he could even be deported, although it is probably unlikely. Nile Gardiner (left), director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at Heritage Foundation, is campaigning for the documents to be released Trump previously said he was giving Harry a break because 'he's got enough problems with his wife' (Harry pictured with Meghan) 'It is also possible that Harry admitted this on the form and a special waver was issued to allow him to stay. 'There could be that there is something there that the public have a right to know.' The case has led to speculation that Donald Trump might kick Harry out of the country as the President said last year he 'wouldn't protect him'. But last month Trump changed his tune and said he wouldn't deport Harry because his wife is 'terrible'. Speaking to the New York Post, the President said he was giving Harry a break because 'he's got enough problems with his wife'. After the documents were released on Tuesday, Nile Gardiner spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com. He said: These documents do not in any way alter the big picture which is that Harrys visa application needs to be released to the American public in full. The American public deserves to know how he entered the country and if he did so legally. The documents are so heavily redacted by the Biden-era Department of Homeland Security they offer no answers at all. I believe these documents will only reinforce calls for the release of the full Harry visa file. The American public deserves to see Harrys records if there is nothing to hide. These documents were written under Joe Biden's administration and offer a complete lack of transparency and accountability. President Trumps administration has consistently promised transparency and accountability, especially on the subject of immigration,' he continued. There is a very strong possibility, in my view, that the Trump administration will release Harrys visa file in a full, unredacted and complete way.' Prince William arrived in Estonia and met the country's president Alar Karis on Thursday The Princess of Wales enjoyed a glass of Guinness during a visit to the Irish Guards for their St Patrick's Day Parade at Wellington Barracks on Monday During the visit to Commercial Court, the King and Queen paused for a pit stop at a local pub, The Friend at Hand, where they were treated to whiskey tasting on Wednesday The expert's comments were made on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, where a panel of royal experts give their fresh insights and discuss the biggest royal news of the week on YouTube. On the episode the panel also discussed the news that Prince William visited Estonia to meet its president and the British troops based there in a show of support amid raised tensions with Russia. Elsewhere in the show, the panel discussed Kate Middleton's visit to the Irish Guards' for their St Patrick's Day parade where she sipped on a pint of Guinness. There was also chat about the King and Queen's visit to Northern Ireland where they sampled some whiskey. They also discussed the news of King Charles meeting the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, amid tensions with America after Trump called on the nation to become the US's 51st state. Later the experts mentioned Kate and William watching the Wales vs England rugby match - each awkwardly backing opposing sides. There was also some chat about Meghan Markle's fresh frustration over a string of errors in her attempt to trademark her new brand 'As Ever'. Towards the end of the show, the panel looked at Richard Eden's story that America could be invited to become an 'associated member' of the Commonwealth. The royal experts then revealed their unsung royal hero of the week. To hear all the insights from the team of unrivalled royal experts, watch the full 28 minute-long show on YouTube now. When I revealed yesterday that King Charles planned to make the American President an offer he might find tempting, it provoked much scoffing on both sides of the Atlantic. Plans were being made for the USA to become the next 'associate member' of the Commonwealth, I reported in my weekly royal column for Mail+. This prompted a torrent of comments on social media claiming it would never happen. 'Why on earth would America want to be part of a royal organisation?' was the gist of many of the responses. One man who disagreed, however, was Donald Trump himself, who took to his website, Truth Social, to declare his support for the plan. 'I love King Charles,' the president said. 'Sounds good to me!' I can reveal that Queen Camilla has had an influential, behind-the-scenes role in laying the groundwork for today's stunning announcement. Andy Wigmore, a key ally of Nigel Farage and friend of President Trump, told me today: 'Governor Phil Bryant, then Governor of Mississippi, a massive Anglophile, and his team came to Buckingham Palace and met Camilla when she was Duchess of Cornwall. They talked about the Commonwealth at length, about its significance, at a Palace reception. For Governor Bryant, that was amazing. He said, "She wants the Commonwealth to happen in America".' Queen Camilla has had an influential, behind-the-scenes role in laying the groundwork for today's stunning announcement (pictured with Melania Trump, President Trump and the then Prince Charles in 2019) Donald Trump took to his website, Truth Social, to declare his support for the plan The King shares his late mother Queen Elizabeth's deep affection and respect for the global 'family of nations', and sees it as particularly important at a time of international conflict and global uncertainty. The Commonwealth, whose nations have a total population of more than 2.7 billion, is one of the world's oldest political associations of states, with its roots in the British Empire. Although America declared independence from Britain in 1776, this would be no impediment to its becoming the 57th member of the Commonwealth. The last four countries to join (Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo and Gabon) have no links with the British Empire, underlining the Commonwealth's role as a voluntary organisation of independent and equal states. The proposals were made by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), with the apparent backing of Queen Elizabeth, during Trump's first term as president, but did not come to fruition. Now, the plans have been revived. 'This is being discussed at the highest levels,' a member told me earlier this week. 'It would be a wonderful move that would symbolise Britain's close relationship with the US.' The move could help dampen down tensions between the White House and Canada, of which the King is head of state. Trump's regular talk of turning Canada into America's 51st state has created enormous tensions and put the King in an awkward position. Canada is one of the 15 countries of which he is head of state. He met new Canadian prime minister Mark Carney in London this week, in what many interpreted as a show of support. When the RCS wrote to Trump in 2017, its then director, Michael Lake, said opening a Commonwealth branch in the US would help the two nations 'find imaginative ways' to work together. His letter was delivered by Nigel Farage, who was the first British politician to meet Trump after his 2016 election victory. The King said last week that the Commonwealth could help restore 'the disrupted harmony of our entire planet'. In his annual Commonwealth Day message, he said: 'In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth's remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship.' A 'groundbreaking' discovery beneath the Egyptian pyramids has taken the world by storm. Italian researchers claim to have uncovered 'a vast underground city' which stretches more than 4,000 feet directly underneath the Pyramids of Giza, making them 10 times larger than the pyramids themselves. The bombshell claim - which many experts claim to have already debunked - comes from a study that used radar pulses to create high-resolution images deep into the ground beneath the structures, the same way sonar radar is used to map the depths of the ocean. The paper, which has not been peer-reviewed by independent experts, found eight vertical cylinder-shaped structures extending more than 2,100 feet below the pyramid and more unknown structures 4,000 feet deeper. A press release described the findings as 'groundbreaking' and if true could rewrite the history of ancient Egypt. However, independent experts have raised serious concerns about the study. Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert at the University of Denver who focuses on archaeology, told DailyMail.com that it is not possible for the technology to penetrate that deeply into the ground, making the idea of an underground city 'a huge exaggeration.' Professor Conyers said it is conceivable there are small structures, such as shafts and chambers, beneath the pyramids that existed before they were built because the site was 'special to ancient people.' He highlighted how 'the Mayans and other people in ancient Mesoamerica often built pyramids on top of the entrances of caves or caverns that had ceremonial meaning to them.' Scientists used advanced technology to see beneath the three pyramids, finding evidence of a 'vast underground city' Your browser does not support iframes. The work by Corrado Malanga from Italy's University of Pisa, and Egyptologist Armando Mei and Filippo Biondi with the University of Strathclyde in Scotland has only been released during an in-person briefing in Italy this week and is yet to be published in a scientific journal, where it would need to be analyzed by independent experts. Despite the skepticism, Professor Conyers added that the only way to prove the discoveries to be true would be 'targeted excavations.' 'My take is that as long as authors are not making things up and that their basic methods are correct, their interpretations should be given a look by all who care about the site,' he explained. 'We can quibble about interpretations, and that is called science. But the basic methods need to be solid.' He also told DailyMail.com that he could not tell if the technology used actually picked up hidden structure below the pyramid. 'They are using all kinds of fancy proprietary data analysis software,' said Professor Conyers. The Giza complex consists of three pyramids, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, built 4,500 years ago on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River in northern Egypt. Each was constructed in the name of a pharaoh. The northernmost and oldest of the group was built for Khufu. Also known as the Great Pyramid, this structure is the largest, at 480ft tall and 750ft wide at its base. The middle pyramid was built for Khafre, which the team studied, and Menkaure is the southernmost and last built of the group. Malanga is a UFOlogist and has appeared on YouTube shows about aliens, where he has discussed his more than decade-long career of studying UFO sightings in Italy. Biondi, on the other hand, specializes radar technology. And Mei is a researcher in pre-dynastic Egyptology. Malanga and Biondis published a separate peer-reviewed paper in October 2022 in the scientific journal Remote Sensing which found hidden rooms and ramps inside Khafre, along with evidence of a thermal anomaly near the pyramid's base. The team claimed they discovered eight cylinder-shaped structures below the Khafre, which travel more than 2,100 feet below the pyramid's base. They identified spiral structures on the sides of the shafts The team also found a hidden chamber in the pyramid that contained five identical structures with sloped roofs and five levels The new study used similar technology, but got a boost from a satellite orbiting Earth. The new radar technique works by combining satellite radar data with tiny vibrations from naturally-occurring seismic movements, to construct 3D images of what lies beneath the surface of the earth, without doing any physical digging. Nicole Ciccolo, the project's spokesperson, said: 'A vast underground city has been discovered beneath the pyramids,' '[The] groundbreaking study has redefined the boundaries of satellite data analysis and archaeological exploration.' She shared a short clip of the press briefing held on March 15, saying the full video of the event will be released on March 25. The cylinder-shaped structures, which Ciccolo referred to as 'shafts,' were arranged in two parallel rows and surrounded by descending spiral pathways. The shafts were said to be connected to larger, cubic structures. The team said there could be a hidden city below all three pyramids Ciccolo said the cylinder structures were found underneath each of the three pyramids and appeared 'to serve as access points to this underground system.' The team explained the system as other chamber-like structures interconnecting under all three of the pyramids. 'The existence of vast chambers beneath the earth's surface, comparable in size to the pyramids themselves, which have a remarkably strong correlation between the legendary Halls of Amenti,' Ciccolo said. 'These new archaeological findings could redefine our understanding of the sacred topography of ancient Egypt, providing spatial coordinates for previously unknown and unexplored subterranean structures,' she added. The news has gone viral this week, with X flooded with posts about the potential discovery. Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna shared a post about the structures on her X page. The team plans to continue their research throughout 2025. While electric cars might appeal to eco-conscious commuters, the fear of running out of charge before your destination is a big turn-off for many. But now, the Chinese EV maker BYD claims its latest vehicles will bring an end to 'range anxiety'. BYD says its new charging system, dubbed the 'Super-E Platform', can enable a car to travel 250 miles (400km) after just five minutes of charging. This 1,000-kilowatt (kW) charger twice as powerful as the rival Tesla Supercharger can recharge an EV battery in the same time it takes to fill a petrol car with fuel. Last year, BYD was the world's second largest manufacturer of battery-powered electric vehicles only just behind Elon Musk's Tesla. However, this latest innovation could catapult the Chinese company into the top position by tempting buyers reluctant to give up their conventional petrol cars. BYD founder Wang Chuanfu, often described as China's Elon Musk, said at a launch event in Shenzhen, China that the company's new cars would achieve 'oil-electric parity' for refuelling. Mr Wang added: 'In order to completely solve our users charging anxiety, we have been pursuing a goal to make the charging time of electric vehicles as short as the refuelling time of petrol vehicles.' Chinese car manufacturer BYD says its new charging system is capable of giving a car 250 miles (400km) after just five minutes of charging New BYD Han and Tang are the first models to move onto the new charging system, dubbed the 'Super-E Platform' According to BYD, the new ultra-fast charging technology will initially be available in two new vehicles, the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, which were launched this year. Both the Han L sedan and the Tang L SUV start slightly cheaper than the average price of an EV in the UK, costing between 270,000 and 350,000 yuan ($37,300-$48,350 or 28,700-37,300). The company claims these cars' new battery architecture will allow drivers to add up to 1.20mile (2km) of range for every second of charging at peak rates. Officially rated as '10C', this means the vehicles can fully charge within a tenth of an hour, or six minutes. Charging so fast requires transferring a lot of electrical power, which means creating a very high voltage and a very large current at the same time. The biggest barrier to increasing charging power is that big currents create a lot of heat which can be dangerous when it builds up in a large battery. To get around this problem, BYD says it has managed to reduce the internal resistance of the battery, meaning that the battery creates less heat when currents pass through it. Additionally, the company says it has created new silicon carbide power chips, which will be able to withstand the higher voltages. BYD says the new charging capability will be available on the new Han L sedan (left) and Tang L SUV (right) which were revealed earlier this year. BYD's new charging system provides 1,000 kilowatts (kW) of power, offering two kilometres of range per second BYD founder Wang Chuanfu unveiled the technology at a launch event in Shenzhen, China Mr Chuanfu (pictured), often described as China's Elon Musk, said that the company's new cars would achieve 'oil-electric parity' for refuelling In a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, translated via Google Translate, the company says: BYD officially releases flash charging battery with ultra-high voltage of 1000V, ultra-large current of 1000A and ultra-large power of 1000kW.' Speaking at the launch event Mr Wang added: 'This is the first time in the industry that the unit of megawatt has been achieved on charging power.' This power level doubles or even triples the capacity of most charging systems available in the UK and the US. Tesla's latest generation of Superchargers are capable of hitting 500 kW, but the vast majority of older Superchargers top out between 250 and 400 kW. Most of Tesla's Superchargers in the UK provide enough charge to drive 172 miles (277km) after 15 minutes of charging. BYD says it plans to install a network of 4,000 'flash-charging stations' across China. More powerful charging stations require direct access to the electrical grid as well as specialised cooling systems to prevent overheating. This means the new flash-charging network may also require the creation of more infrastructure including the construction of additional sub-stations and transformers. Most Tesla Superchargers - the electric vehicle fast charging network - only provide between 250 and 400 kW of power After the news of BYD's innovation broke on Tuesday, Tesla's stock fell by 5.5 per cent. This adds to a 44 per cent decline in valuation during 2025 as investors fret over CEO Elon Musk's (left) alliance with Donald Trump (right) However, BYD has not provided any information about when these stations might be constructed or how it plans to finance their construction. Likewise, BYD says that the technology will initially only be available within China and has not confirmed whether it has plans to install flash-chargers elsewhere. Faster charging and better range have been seen by many industry analysts as the key to switching from cars with internal combustion engines, which emit pollutants. In a 2024 survey, management consulting firm McKinsey & Company found that 40 per cent of prospective EV buyers wanted to get more than 400 miles on a single charge roughly the average range a petrol car can travel on a single tank of fuel. Likewise, 42 per cent of respondents said that charging speed is their most important consideration. Of those people, 60 per cent said they wanted charging times of 30 minutes or less. The news of BYD's breakthrough was well received by international markets and may help BYD beat out its rival Tesla in the long term. After the announcement, BYD's stock jumped to a record high, climbing 4.1 per cent on Tuesday to hit a price of 408.80 Hong Kong dollars ($52.59) on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Meanwhile, Tesla's share price dropped by 5.5 per cent on Tuesday, compounding a further 4.8 per cent slump on Monday. In total, Tesla's valuation has tumbled by 44 per cent during 2025 as investors fret over CEO Elon Musk's high-profile alliance with Donald Trump. Since Trump's election, the carmaker has seen more than $800 billion (617bn) wiped from its stock market valuation. The charging port may seem like a critical part of any smartphone. Not only does it refuel the battery with essential power, but it lets users connect to external storage devices and transfer data. However, it appears Apple could ditch the charging port altogether on its iPhones. According to a new report, Apple could sell a portless iPhone, replacing the USB-C charging port currently on its handsets. Where there's usually the port at the bottom of the device between the speakers, iPhones could just have a blank bit of metal. It would mean iPhones would have to rely wholly on wireless charging pads, which transmit power wirelessly using electromagnetic induction. Apple tipster Mark Gurman has said the trillion-dollar tech company considered making the new iPhone 17 Air portless. Although it ultimately decided against it for the upcoming device, the first portless iPhone may not be far away, the report reveals. Instead of the port at the bottom between the speakers, iPhones could just have a blank bit of metal. Pictured, an iPhone with a USB-C charging port Since a law was passed in 2022, Apple has been required to sell phones in the EU with a USB-C charging port, instead of its own 'Lightning' charging technology. As a result, Apple begrudgingly fitted USB-C charging ports to all its iPhones starting in 2023 (having already adopted USB-C charging for Macs and iPads). But according to the new report from 9to5mac, Apple wouldn't actually contravene the law by getting rid of USB-C for iPhones altogether. European Commission press officer Federica Miccoli told the Apple rumours site that a portless phone would be compliant with the legislation. As a result, it may just be 'only a matter of time' before a portless iPhone arrives on the market, although reportedly it won't be this year. According to Apple expert Mark Gurman, the 'world is probably ready for this change' because many people prefer to use wireless charging pads. Apple ultimately decided not to adopt a port-free design with the new iPhone 17 family, which will still have a USB-C connector, Gurman said. MailOnline contacted Apple for comment, although the tech giant does not generally address any rumours or speculation. It would mean iPhones would have to rely wholly on wireless charging pads, which transmit power wirelessly using electromagnetic induction It's believed iPhone Air 17 is one of four devices in the upcoming iPhone 17 family which is expected to be released in September. Recently revealed photos show four metal dummy models representing the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Air and the standard iPhone 17 option. According to Mark Gurman, the 'iPhone 17 Air' or 'iPhone 17 Slim' is expected to be a lighter, thinner option with less powerful hardware. It will tie in with Apple's range of 'Air' MacBook computers, which are touted for their light and thin design. NASA has officially launched plans to send Boeing's Starliner back into space - despite the pod creating an international scandal that stranded astronauts for months. Following the successful return of astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore Tuesday, the space agency said its committed to using the beleaguered Starliner capsule. NASA stressed the importance of having two launch systems. SpaceX is the other. Starliner malfunctioned before and during the mission that took Williams and Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, forcing NASA to deem it too risky for the return flight. The pair returned inside a SpaceX Dragon capsule. It was Boeing's first Starliner flight carrying people to space, in a more than $4.5 billion project that has been plagued with delays, glitches, and billions of dollars in cost overruns. Now, NASA said the plan is to conduct a second test flight and, if successful, move Starliner back into the rotation to launch astronauts to the (ISS). Rudy Ridolfi, a US Air Force veteran and former Space System Commander, is one of several critics who feel NASA could be setting itself up for failure as the space agency doesn't want another failed Starliner mission. Even more, Ridolfi questioned whether the aerospace giant will even be able to get back on track. 'Given Boeing's delayed history with Starliner schedules, the expectation that they can complete fixes and complete the additional test flight appears unlikely,' Ridolfi told DailyMail.com. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was plagued by technical issues even before in launched on June 5. NASA ultimately deemed it unsafe to return Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth in the pod Steve Stich (center) revealed that NASA still plans to try another crewed space mission in the Boeing Starliner, despite its first mission leading to the stranding of two astronauts on the International Space Station Steve Stich, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said: 'We're certainly looking at Starliner very carefully.' 'Butch and Suni's return on Dragon, to me, shows how important it is to have two different crew transportation systems,' Stich added at Tuesday's press conference. However, NASA admitted that Starliner will essentially have to go back to square one and prove it can safely carry astronauts all over again. On Tuesday, Stich said Starliner would have to gain back its certification for the Commercial Crew Program. The program has been sending American astronauts into space from rockets launching on US soil, something that hadn't happened since NASA retired the space shuttle program in 2011. Until Boeing's June 2024 launch of Crew-9, SpaceX had handled the prior eight crewed missions to the ISS. The first launched in 2020. However, by the time Starliner reached the ISS, five of its 28 reaction control system thrusters had failed. As a result, the capsule's first attempt to dock to the space station was waived off. Ultimately, the spacecraft successfully docked and Williams and Wilmore safely boarded the ISS. Starliner also suffered helium leaks that drove NASA to send the ship home without the astronauts in September 2024 - avoiding a potential catastrophe. According to NASA officials on Tuesday, they and Boeing have made upgrades to the spacecraft's propulsion system to ensure the thrusters function properly in future launches. Starliner will have to successfully complete an uncrewed mission before NASA says it will be allowed to take astronauts into space again Starliner will first have a test flight without a crew aboard before the vehicle is used again to deliver astronauts to the ISS. Stich added NASA also needs to make sure the craft can safely dock with the ISS in the future - without developing the same helium leaks the capsule had in June after making contact with the station. 'I think that is what is driving the second test flight requirement. NASA does not want to be in a position where they have to make a decision to not return a crew with the Boeing Starliner again,' Ridolfi said. To this point, NASA has already spent billions on Boeing's Starliner project and the new setbacks will likely drive up costs even further. In 2014, NASA initially awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion grant as part of the Commercial Crew Program. That was supposed to cover the development, testing, and certification of the Starliner spacecraft, as well as its initial crewed missions to the ISS. Sunita Williams gives a thumbs-up after emerging from the capsule. Following their initial checks, the astronauts will be taken to their crew quarters at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for several more days of routine health checks After splashing down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida the pair were helped onto stretchers by NASA's medical crew. This is standard practice for astronauts whose muscles have been weakened by their time in microgravity However, NASA's Office of Inspector General revealed in 2019 that the space agency quietly doled out an additional $287.2 million to Boeing in 2016 to shorten the production time for Starliner. Despite the additional payout, Starliner did not get off the launch pad with an actual crew until 2024. Due to the setbacks, Boeing has also reportedly suffered some significant cost overruns beyond NASA's contract - which the company pays for out of their own pocket. The company has dished out at least $5 billion more to fund Starliner. According to Ars Technica, the company's total losses on Starliner reached $1.85 billion as of October 2024. Previously, NASA's Office of the Inspector General has called for 'financial penalties' over the Starliner debacle, which it attributed to Boeing's 'noncompliance with quality control.' Asked if NASA was worried that Boeing may eventually quit the Commercial Crew Program, Stich said on Tuesday that he's seen 'a commitment' from the aerospace giant to continuing their work on fixing Starliner. As for who would pay for an uncrewed test mission of Starliner, Stich said NASA is looking to make it part of the 'post-certification' phase of the existing multi-billion-dollar contract. Ridolfi added that the news on Friday that Boeing had been awarded a new contract to build the US military's next generation of jet fighters could actually compound the problems with Boeing's budget even further. "Id expect them to negotiate a contract change for the additional test flight," the Air Force veteran explained. A full timeline of Boeing's Starliner program, from the singing of their massive contact to the incident that left two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS Right now, NASA plans to launch Crew-11 in mid-July 2025. Those astronauts will relieve Crew-10, who arrived in March to replace Williams, Wilmore, and two other astronauts. Currently, NASA said they have five SpaceX Dragon capsule available for that mission. Stich and other officials did not make any commitments to using Starliner for the Crew-12 mission, in late 2025 or early 2026. However, Stich was still hopeful that NASA would have both SpaceX and Boeing capsules available to them and even said Starliner could one day end up rescuing astronauts if there was ever a problem with a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Advertisement Walls can't talk but they can tell a story - as shown in these stunning photos. MailOnline Travel has selected pictures of some of the world's most breathtaking walled cities and towns to inspire you to book your next historic holiday. These spectacular walled communities offer a window into the past, some dating back to the Middle Ages. And there's wall-to-wall beauty to be found in all of them. Scroll down to admire some of the world's most spectacular walled settlements And discover some of the world's best preserved fortified destinations, from a 'fairytale' town with 'towered walls' to a mountain city with 'starburst-shaped ramparts'.... CARCASSONNE, FRANCE: This picturesque medieval walled city boasts 52 towers with circular walls measuring 3km/1.86km, and is still inhabited today. Carcassonne Tourism explains: 'Nestled at the top of a hill, the Medieval City dominates the whole city and is said to be one of the best preserved medieval ensembles in the world' JAISALMER, INDIA: Jaisalmer's 12th-century fort 'has stood the test of time' says Lonely Planet, with 'families and businesses that still thrive within its thick walls'. Built out of yellow sandstone, the structure is known as the 'golden fort' and a quarter of Jaisalmer's residents live within its walls BONIFACIO, CORSICA: A coastal fortress town in Corsica, Lonely Planet describes Bonifacio as an 'essential stop for all visitors' to the island. It adds: 'Protected by vast smooth walls, the town itself stretches along a narrow, top-heavy promontory, undercut by creamy-white limestone cliffs hollowed out by centuries of ceaseless waves' BRIANCON, FRANCE: The highest city in France, sitting at an altitude of 1,326m/4,350ft, Briancon is known for its striking historic walls surrounding the old town. The walls were built under the direction of military planner Sebastien Le Prestre, Marquis de Vauban, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lonely Planet says: 'Surrounded by mighty starburst-shaped ramparts, Briancons hilltop old town looks much as it did centuries ago, its winding cobbled lanes lined with Italianate, pastel-painted townhouses' AIT-BENHADDOU, MOROCCO: Ait-Benhaddou is a fortified village, known as a ksar, in Morocco, and is a 'striking example' of ksar architecture, says UNESCO. The organisation adds: 'The ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers' ROTHENBURG, GERMANY: The German town of Rothenburg is surrounded by a 4km/2.48-mile-wide wall, and has 46 historical towers, some of which can be seen in this image. Lonely Planet reveals: 'With its web of cobbled lanes, higgledy-piggledy houses and towered walls, the town is the archetypal fairytale Germany' PINGYAO, CHINA: Pingyao's impressive walls date back to 1370 and stand at 10m/32ft high, stretching for more than 6km/3.7 miles in circumference. Lonely Planet explains that the city's walls have 72 watchtowers, each containing a paragraph from Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' - an ancient Chinese military treatise DUBROVNIK, CROATIA: Coastal city Dubrovnik's historic centre is encircled by walls that stretch for 1,940m/6,360ft. The first set of city walls was built in the 9th century with additions made in later years. Rewind Dubrovnik explains: 'Today, theyre one of Croatias most popular attractions, due to the breathtaking views of the city they offer' MDINA, MALTA: The former capital of Malta, Mdina's history dates back 4,000 years. Visit Malta explains: 'Behind its fortified walls, Mdinas timeless beauty has been mesmerising nobilities throughout its 4,000 years of existence. With narrow, cobbled streets shrouded in an air of mystery, Mdina will snatch you away from the present and transport you back in time' CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA: A port city on Colombia's Caribbean coast, Cartagena's old town is surrounded by thick walls, known as Las Murallas. Construction began in the 16th century and took two centuries to complete. Lonely Planet reveals: 'It's possible to walk along large stretches of these magnificent structures, with wonderful sea views and a cooling breeze from the northern and western sides' BUDVA, MONTENEGRO: Budva's historic old town is encircled by walls first built in the 9th century. MedGulets.com explains: 'The fortified town is now an open-air living museum, and residents still live in the medieval stone-hewn buildings' AVILA, SPAIN: Avila's walls date back to the Middle Ages, stretching 2,516m/8.254ft around the Spanish city, and including 87 turrets, nine gates and two smaller gates. Avila Tourism explains: 'The walls of Avila are the best-conserved example of their kind in the world' CHESTER, UK: Chester's city walls are the 'oldest, longest and most complete in Britain', explains Visit Chester & Cheshire. Construction was started by the Romans and the walls were extended in the 10th century. The tourism board reveals: 'Walking the complete circuit gives wondrous views down into the city and gives a fantastic insight into Chester's long history' The study looked at personal security, public health, infrastructure and more A new ranking has revealed the worlds safest country to move as an expat and its a European country that tops the list. The expat experts at William Russell looked at key factors such as personal security, public health, infrastructure and environmental safety to determine the winner. Read on if you're looking for relocation inspiration... Iceland Iceland takes the crown as the safest country in the world to be an expat, due to its 'low crime rate', 'high life expectancy' and 'high air quality'. A William Russell spokesperson explains: 'Icelands life expectancy is currently 82.6 years, higher than the EU average of 80.9 years. In terms of accessing healthcare, Icelanders generally report low levels of unmet medical needs.' Iceland's air quality is so good that it 'exceeds' the World Health Organization's guidelines for air quality. Although Iceland has 'few dangerous wildlife', William Russell warns prospective expats that 'earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can occur' although they are 'rarely dangerous'. A new ranking has revealed the worlds safest country to move as an expat and its a European country that tops the list. Iceland takes the crown Second on the list is the Emerald Isle, which makes the grade for its 'strong and stable economy' and 'tolerance of migrants'. Pictured above is Cobh Ireland Second on the list is the Emerald Isle, which makes the grade for its 'strong and stable economy' and 'tolerance of migrants'. The country also has a life expectancy of 82.2 years, which is higher than the EU average (80.9 years). A William Russell spokesperson adds that Ireland has made progress on infrastructure and public health in recent years. However, they say that Ireland does suffer from a 'lack of affordable housing', which could impact prospective expats. Austria Austria places third on the list and is recognised for its 'low crime rates' and 'strong judicial system'. Expats can take advantage of Austria's 'incredibly extensive rail system' which stretches for 6,123km/3,804 miles. Austria places third on the list and is recognised for its 'low crime rates' and 'strong judicial system' A William Russell spokesperson explains: 'In Austria, the health system has almost universal coverage, and accessibility is considered to be generally good.' On the flipside, they warn: '[Austria's] energy infrastructure can be problematic, as, in recent years, the country has been heavily reliant on Russian oil, which is even more of an issue, given the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.' New Zealand New Zealand lands just outside the top three in fourth place due to its 'low crime rates'. A William Russell spokesperson says: 'New Zealand is about as safe as it gets. The country has a remarkably low crime rate compared to global averages.' New Zealand's universal healthcare and 'friendly' people also helped to land it in the top four. However, would-be expats are warned: 'New Zealands sea levels are slowly rising, meaning that flooding in coastal areas is becoming much more frequent. As such, homeowners and expats in these areas could face costs related to these environmental challenges.' Singapore While Singapore's 'low crime rate' helps boost its safety scores, a William Russell spokesperson warns that it is due to the country's 'strict laws' New Zealand lands just outside the top three in fourth place due to its 'low crime rates' Singapore rounds off the top five for safety due to its 'low crime rates', 'efficient infrastructure' and 'good air quality'. However, while Singapore's 'low crime rate' helps boost its safety scores, a William Russell spokesperson warns that this is partly due to the country's 'strict laws'. They say: 'You should familiarise yourself with these laws before moving, as jaywalking and littering could land you a hefty fine.' While the country's healthcare is high quality, it's not free, so the expat experts advise setting up a 'comprehensive insurance plan' before moving to Singapore. A British man has issued a warning to fellow travellers after he was charged 400/$518 for a very simple booking mistake. Will Hobson, 32, told MailOnline Travel, the 'nightmare' experience unfolded at New York JFK when he was attempting to fly to Munich for work. It wasn't until the traveller arrived at the airport for his Lufthansa flight that he realised something was wrong. Will says: 'The app wouldn't let me check in and I was confused and thought there must have been some sort of misunderstanding.' After speaking to the airport staff, Will was sent to ask the airline employees who told him to contact the booking provider. He says: 'I was told by a customer service representative it was because I'd used the most commonly used shortened version of my name, Will, instead of my legal name, William.' As Will had booked his flight online, he says the website must have used auto-filled details from his email address. He tells MailOnline Travel: 'I was in disbelief and felt really frustrated. They proceeded to tell me that to make the change and be able to board the flight, it would cost a minimum of 400/$518.' Will Hobson, 32, has issued a warning to fellow travellers after a simple booking mistake saw him lose 400 The 'nightmare experience' unfolded at New York JFK Airport (pictured above) The experience was 'extremely stressful' for Will, who says he was 'ping-ponged between the airline and the booking provider' as each of the companies kept telling him to contact the other, leaving him in a 'frustrating loop'. He adds: 'I even had to write an email in German, with the help of Google Translate, to try to resolve the name change with the booking provider.' Although Will did manage to make his flight, he explains that the 'stress, unexpected cost and last minute travel changes' were 'far from ideal'. From now on, Will says he'll be 'triple-checking all my details before and after booking.' He adds: 'The 400 could have been way better spent on my travels, upgrading to first class, or a better hotel. It's so annoying that all it got me was a name change of three letters. I'll never trust autofill again.' What are the rules for names on boarding passes? If a name on a boarding pass doesn't match the name on a passenger's passport, they could be denied travel. The travel experts at Travel Republic explain: 'Most airlines require passengers to enter their names exactly as they appear on their passports when booking. If a name on a boarding pass doesn't match the name on a passenger's passport, they could be denied travel From now on, Will says he'll be 'triple-checking all my details before and after booking' 'Using legal names helps prevent ticket fraud and ensures only the intended passenger can use the ticket. However, device autofill settings can mistakenly input shortened or preferred names instead.' As happened to Will, passengers could be charged by their airline or booking provider to amend their name. Ryanair charges 115/$148 to change a name on a boarding pass while easyJet charges 60/$77. Travel Republic's experts adds: 'Contact the airline early if you spot an error, some airlines will allow "minor corrections" such as spelling error fixes, for free online within a certain period.' More than 1,300 flights to and from London Heathrow Airport will be disrupted today due to the closure of the airport following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire. The UK's largest airport is supplied by the substation and said it was among those impacted by the power outage, with flights being axed or diverted to other hubs. At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be impacted, while 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced, according to FlightRadar24. Passengers are being advised not to travel to the airport - with travel expert Nicky Kelvin, editor-at-large at The Points Guy, describing it as an 'extraordinary situation'. Under normal circumstances, passengers delayed for more than two hours on a short-haul flight must provide support such as food and drink by their airline. They should also get accommodation and transport to a hotel or home if they are delayed overnight. Here, MailOnline answers all your questions about the chaos: Passengers are facing travel chaos today after Heathrow Airport had to close due to a fire FLIGHT DELAYS Delayed passengers could be entitled to free meals and compensation of up to 520 if their flight is disrupted - and this section helps you understand how. Travel expert: This is an extraordinary situation By NICKY KELVIN The shutdown of London Heathrow today owing to a fire at a nearby electrical substation will have a major impact on more than 1,300 flights globally, with aircrafts in the air being diverted to alternative destinations. Passengers are being advised not to travel to the airport under any circumstances and with significant disruption expected throughout Friday and for days to come, it is important that travellers continue to check their specific airline's website for more information and emails too - travellers are often given updates on cancellations here before anywhere else. The scale of the closure is expected to impact flights today and over the weekend, as airlines look to rebook passengers on alternative flights, however this is once the airport has been able to reopen which is still unconfirmed given how the situation is still developing. This is an extraordinary situation. Passengers are reminded that under normal circumstances, if they are delayed for more than two hours on a short-haul flight, airlines must provide them with support such as food and drink and reimbursement for phone calls. If they are delayed overnight, the airline will provide them with accommodation and transport to a hotel or home. Usually if travellers arrive at their destination more than three hours late, they are entitled to compensation, however as these are extraordinary circumstances and out of the airlines' control, this type of compensation will very likely not be payable. With those travellers looking to find alternative routes, it is important to look to utilise points and miles - I'm current stuck in Doha with a flight to London Heathrow but have managed to book a business class flight to Amsterdam this afternoon for just 43,000 Avios plus 200, placing me very close to London with a host of different options to get back to the UK using other airports or the Eurostar. NICKY KELVIN is editor at The Points Guy. For more of his tips, click here Advertisement ASSISTANCE Airline passengers delayed by two hours or more could be entitled to assistance such as two free phone calls or emails, free meals and refreshments, free hotel accommodation and hotel transfers, according to Which?, outlining the following: Short-haul - Passengers flying up to 932 miles (1,500km) with a delay time of at least two hours are entitled to assistance. Medium-haul - Passengers flying between 932 miles (1,500km) and 2,175 miles (3,500km) with a delay time of at least three hours are entitled to assistance. Long-haul - Passengers flying more than 2,175 miles (3,500km) with a delay time of at least four hours are entitled to assistance. Delayed passengers who meet the above criteria can contact their airline or approach staff at the airport for further information. SEVERE DELAYS Passengers whose flight has been delayed by more than five hours are 'entitled to choose between being rerouted on a different flight or getting a refund', Which? says. Passengers can also request flight delay compensation, according to the watchdog, 'if the delay is not due to extraordinary circumstances'. These include bad weather, strikes unrelated to the airline, such as with baggage handlers, acts of terrorism or sabotage, drone disruption and long security queues. Claims are valid for up to six years after the flight if it flew in or out of the UK, it adds. COMPENSATION Passengers of delayed flights are protected by the Denied Boarding Regulation if their flight departs from the UK or Europe or is operated by a UK or European airline, Which? says. 'If you're travelling with a non-EU based airline flying from a non-EU destination, the airline doesn't have the same duty to look after you,' it adds. 'But you can check the airline's 'conditions of carriage' to see what compensation you are entitled to.' HOW TO CLAIM COMPENSATION 'If your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late, each affected passenger is entitled to claim flight delay compensation,' Which? says. The total value of compensation depends on the length and distance of the delayed flight as well as the reason for the delay, it adds. Passengers can make a claim under the EU Denied Boarding Regulation if they meet the criteria, listed in a table by Which?, below. HOW MUCH ARE YOU ENTITLED TO? Short-haul - Passengers flying up to 932 miles (1,500km) who are delayed for more than three hours are entitled to 220, according to Which? Heathrow staff within the airport in West London today after it was shut due to the nearby fire Medium-haul within the EU - Passengers flying more than 932 miles (1,500km) within the EU who are delayed more than three hours are entitled to 350 compensation, the watchdog says. Medium-haul outside the EU - Passengers flying between 932 miles (1,500km) and 2,175 miles (3,500km) who are delayed more than three hours are entitled to 350 compensation, Which? explains. Long-haul - Passengers flying more than 2,175 miles (3,500km) are entitled to 260 in compensation if they are delayed between three and four hours, or 520 if they are delayed longer than this, according to the site. CONNECTING FLIGHTS 'Passengers flying with a non-EU airline are entitled to compensation if a flight departing from the UK is delayed by at least three hours at the final destination,' says Which? The 'final destination' of a connecting flight refers to the last airport listed on the passenger's ticket, it adds. At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be impacted by the major closure today OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES As well as compensation, some passengers are entitled to claim 'extra out-of-pocket expenses under the Montreal Convention', Which? says. Examples are if you miss a night of pre-booked accommodation, miss a concert you have bought tickets to, or a day of car rental you have paid for, it adds. FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS COMPENSATION Passengers travelling with a UK or EU-based airline, or flying from a UK or EU airport, should receive help from the company if their flight is cancelled, Which? says. 'This is because your flight is protected by the Denied Boarding Regulation,' it adds. Depending on the circumstances, passengers could be entitled to 'a refund or alternative flight, food, phone calls and accommodation, and flight cancellation compensation', the watchdog further explains. Heathrow staff within the airport in West London today after it was shut due to the nearby fire HOW TO CLAIM COMPENSATION Which? says passengers can claim compensation for cancelled flights unless it is affected by 'extraordinary circumstances', as explained earlier in this article. But even if extraordinary circumstances apply, you are 'still entitled to meals, refreshments, accommodation and hotel transfers depending on the length of your flight and delay', the consumer watchdog adds. HOW MUCH COMPENSATION ARE YOU ENTITLED TO? Short-haul - Passengers travelling less than 932 miles (1,500km) whose new flight takes off more than one hour before their original flight and arrives less than two hours after it are entitled to 110 in compensation, according to Which?. If the passengers' flight arrives more than two hours after the original flight, they are entitled to 220 in compensation, it adds. Medium-haul - Passengers travelling 932 miles (1,500km) to 2,175 miles (3,500km) whose new flight departs more than one hour before their original flight and arrives less than three hours after it are entitled to 175 in compensation, Which? says. Police officers outside Heathrow Airport today after the hub was shut due to the nearby fire If the passengers' flight arrives more than three hours after their original flight, they are entitled to 350 in compensation, it adds. Long-haul - Passengers travelling more than 2,175 miles (3,500km) whose new flight departs more than one hour before their original flight and arrives less than four hours after it are entitled to 260 in compensation, Which? says. If the passengers' flight arrives more than four hours after their original flight, they are entitled to 520 in compensation, it adds. The figures above are for flights cancelled less than seven days before departure. CONNECTING FLIGHTS 'If a connecting flight during your journey is affected by a delay and you departed from the UK or an EU country, you can still claim compensation,' Which? says. 'For example, if you were flying from Manchester to Sydney, connecting in Singapore, but your Singapore to Sydney flight was delayed, you'd still be entitled.' Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said today: 'This incident at Heathrow is set to cause major disruption for travellers, with reports suggesting the airport could be closed for the remainder of the day, and potentially longer. 'Don't attempt to travel to the airport, but instead keep in touch with your airline for their advice. If your flight is cancelled you won't be entitled to compensation as these events will be considered an extraordinary circumstance, but you will be entitled to assistance from your airline, including overnight accommodation if needed. Firefighters douse the remainder of a fire at a substation supplying power to Heathrow today 'Passengers will have the choice of being rerouted or accepting a refund, and if you opt for the former, your airline is obliged to get you on a new flight as soon as possible, including with rival carriers from alternative airports. If you instead accept a refund, be aware that your airline will have no further duty of care to you and you'll need to make your own arrangements. 'It's also worth checking the terms of your travel insurance to see if you are able to recoup any other expenses you may have incurred as a result of this incident, such as car hire or airport parking fees.' HOW TO APPEAL A DECISION Unresolved complaints about an airline can be escalated to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme and a list of approved providers are listed on the Civil Aviation Authority website, Which? says. Airline passengers can also gain extra peace of mind at the airport by taking out travel insurance, says Quotezone. CEO Greg Wilson said: 'Depending on the type of policy, some travel insurance providers will offer cover for a delayed flight of over 24 hours, or if an alternative travel option hasn't been offered. 'Insurance policies for missed or delayed flight departure will pay for costs incurred from delayed flights or if travellers miss the trips because of a situation out of their control - such as getting into a serious accident and being taken to hospital.' He adds: 'In the case of an airline going bust before passengers are able to get home, taking out the right travel insurance before jetting off will help give travellers protection.' You're comfortably settled in your seat, drink in hand, and ready to take off to your dream destination. But just as you're about to relax, a fellow passenger approaches with a request to swap seats. How would you handle it? As the Easter travel season looms, travel expert Jamie Fraser, of Wild Packs American summer camp, has offered his top tips on how to respond to such requests with proper etiquette. His advice comes in the wake of a viral incident involving a woman who was filmed by a passenger and berated online after refusing to give up her seat to a crying child - resulting in her losing her job. Jennifer Castro, a 29-year-old bank employee from Brazil, 29, became the centre of an internet firestorm after a row on a GOL Airlines domestic flight in December 2024, and has since filed charges against the airline and the passenger who filmed her. According to YouGov, a mere 6 per cent of Brits would not switch seats under any circumstances, but doing so can have disastrous consequences. To ensure a hassle-free flight, Fraser recommends following the below advice next time you're asked to move on a plane: Are you required to swap seats? Travel expert Jamie Fraser, of Wild Packs American summer camp, has offered his top tips on how to respond to a passenger's request to swap seats with proper etiquette (stock image) The short answer? No. Fraser stresses that passengers are not obligated to switch seats with a fellow flyer. Your seat number is printed on your boarding pass, and if you have pre-booked a window or aisle seat, for example, you are entitled to choose to remain in that designated spot. If you are asked to switch to a middle seat, Fraser advises to simply tell the passenger you prefer to keep the seat you're in. If the request persists, Fraser recommends calmly repeating your refusal without further explanation. After all, your fellow passenger had just as much opportunity as you to book their preferred seat in advance. How to deal with a persistent passenger If the passenger doesn't take no for an answer, Fraser recommends staying firm but polite. If the passenger doesn't take no for an answer, Fraser recommended staying firm but polite (stock image) The expert explains: 'If the passenger continues to press you to swap seats, it is important to stay firm but polite in your response. 'Remember that it isnt rude to decline. Calmly reiterate that you wont swap seats. 'If necessary, involve a flight attendant as they are trained to handle these types of situations.' When should you consider swapping seats? Fraser notes that there are few situations where it may be appropriate to consider a seat swap. He advises: 'You should only seriously consider swapping your seat when a young child has been separated from their family. 'However, the family should first consult the airline for help before asking a passenger to swap seats. Even then, you are not obligated to switch seats. 'You can of course consider swapping seats if you are unhappy with your current one, and a passenger offers you a better seat. Outside of this situation, however, asking to swap seats is considered poor travel etiquette.' Fraser advises: 'You should only seriously consider swapping your seat when a young child has been separated from their family' (stock image) Fraser adds that wanting to sit next to a friend, disliking a middle seat, or failing to book seats together in advance are not justifiable reasons to expect someone to move. Why you shouldn't take someone's seat without permission Another major mistake to avoid is assuming that it's okay to take another passenger's without their input. An important rule when travelling is that you should never sit in someone's seat before they board, as this can cause unnecessary delays. It can also potentially lead to tension or, worse, a confrontation occurring between you and the rightful ticket holder. Fraser warns: 'A member of staff may ask you to leave the plane or you could find yourself going viral online.' Offering a 'fair' swap If you're the one requesting to swap seats, it's important to make sure you are offering a fair trade. Fraser stresses that expecting someone to swap their window or aisle seat for a middle seat is not good travel etiquette (stock image) This could be the same type of seat elsewhere in the cabin, or offer them a seat upgrade with more space. But Fraser finishes by stressing that expecting someone to swap their window or aisle seat for a middle seat is not good travel etiquette. It comes after influencer Maddie Borge, 24, revealed she'd managed to bag a whole row of seats to herself on an Etihad Airways flight, thanks to the carrier's neighbour-free scheme. The scheme asks passengers to put in how much money they'd be willing to spend to get the row to themselves and if the plane is not busy, they are then awarded the extra seats. Advertisement Dragons' Den fans raged 'Why do they do this?!' after they spotted a 'really annoying' problem with the latest episode. Season 22 of the popular BBC show kicked off earlier this year with instalments airing weekly. Thursday's addition saw Sara Davies, Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden listen to pitches from entrepreneurs. Amongst the hopeful business people were Vandana and Kunal Nanavati who brought their chutney enterprise into the Den but left without an offer. Omar, Astyn and Suzanne also featured with their fragrance company, Potion Paris, and managed to bag a joint deal with Peter and Steven. However, some viewers were left disappointed when they realised the episode had in fact been shown before. Dragons' Den fans raged 'Why do they do this?!' after they spotted a 'really annoying' problem with the latest episode Thursday's addition saw Sara Davies, Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden listen to pitches from entrepreneurs Omar, Astyn and Suzanne (all pictured) also featured with their fragrance company, Potion Paris, and managed to bag a joint deal with Peter and Steven The instalment aired back in 2023 and many watchers took to social media to express their frustration. One posted on X: 'Naughty of @BBCDragonsDen to water down a new series with 80% repeats #dragonsden.' Another penned: 'Is this not a repeat again?' Someone else said: '#dragonsden Is this a repeat?' A fourth chimed in: 'Turns out its a repeat from 2023! #DragonsDen' While another posted: 'So another repeat then #dragonsden.' Someone else wrote: 'This guy was on dragons den in 2023?? #dragonsden.' One said: 'Hasn't this invention been on before? #dragonsden.' However, some viewers were left disappointed when they realised the episode had been shown before It isn't the first time the BBC has aired a previous episode, earlier this month viewers were left baffled after a repeat featuring a company no longer in business was broadcast. The BBC announced that it was taking a brief pause and that new episodes will land later in the year. The decision surprised viewers, who tuned in earlier this month expecting the new series, and some took to X to complain. Addressing the change, a BBC spokesperson previously said via TVguide: 'It's a split series so will continue later this year with the last episode in this run Thursday last week.' The series is divided into two parts, with episodes nine to 14 still to come this year, although the BBC has not provided a specific date. The instalment aired back in 2023 and many watchers took to social media to express their frustration During the repeat episode, Kassi Emadi pitched her sustainable soap business, Nuddy, to judges Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman, and Peter Jones for 70,000 in exchange for seven per cent of the company. While Steven dubbed the company 'one of the best brands I've seen come into the Den', Kassi's lack of financial awareness meant she failed to secure investment from any of the Dragons'. Despite the brand making for an interesting segment, viewers' attention spans diverted to the fact that they had witnessed the downfall of her brand already, which is no longer trading. Dragons' Den airs Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. BBC has confirmed the return of Who Do You Think You Are? with a Strictly champ, soap legend and Hollywood superstar in a new celeb-filled series. The genealogy show, which follows famous faces as they find out about their family tree, hit our screens on the Beeb in 2004 and has had 177 episodes over 20 seasons. Fans will be happy to know that a new series will be returning this Spring. And the likes of Andrew Garfield, Diane Morgan, Mushal Husian, Ross Kemp, Aisling Bea, Will Young, Fred Siriex and Layton Williams explore their family history. The new upcoming 22nd series will take viewers to a number of incredible places over the world, including Morocco, Jamaica, Poland and the US. Award-winning actor Andrew Garfield, 41, will travel to Poland to see the Treblinka Nazi death camp, and back to Hollywood in the US, while EastEnders legend Ross Kemp, 60, will head to Casablanca, Spain. BBC confirms return of Who Do You Think You Are? with a Strictly champ, soap legend and Hollywood superstar in new celeb-filled series EastEnders legend Ross Kemp is going to appear in the upcoming series of the BBC show Hollywood actor Andrew Garfield is also going to be joining the EastEnders legend on the show - to find out about his family history And First Dates favourite Fred Sirieix, 53, ends up in France to enjoy some wine making. Simon Young, BBC Head of History, said of the new series: 'The stellar line-up this year is a real treat for our audiences. 'But so is the history, from the shock of a royal ancestor to epic stories of survival. 'And thats why this series endures, because it hints at the amazing family micro-histories that make all of us who we are.' Colette Flight, Executive Producer for Wall to Wall Media, added: 'Spanning centuries and travelling the globe, Who Do You Think You Are? is back. 'With eight much-loved celebrities to entertain and captivate us as they delve into their family histories. 'As they discover their ancestors adventures, triumphs, trials and tribulations, their rich family stories reveal incredible snapshots of history. 'Including one of the greatest villains of Medieval England, the evacuation at Dunkirk, rescuing art looted by the Nazis, and the birth of American Independence.' Star star Layton will be exploring his history on the upcoming series of the BBC show And it has been revealed that Fred is set to discover 'shock family history' in the show. A TV insider told The Sun: 'Fred probably isn't top billing on the series, but he'll certainly have one of the more interesting family backgrounds. 'Though he's famous for being French, his family history is likely to throw up quite a few surprises as he goes on his genealogy journey. 'He recently discovered that he has some surprising ancestry, so the programme might take him in that direction but producers are keeping everything under wraps.' Who Do You Think You Are? premiered on BBC Two in 2004. The programme was on the channel for two years, before moving to BBC One. It has been a huge success over the years and was even nominated for a BAFTA Television Awards for Best Factual Series in 2010. The programme has gone on to be reproduced in various other countries, including Australia, America, Poland, Portugal, France and Germany. Fans are already over the moon with the star-studded line-up. One wrote on X: 'The news is out! Aisling Bea will be seen on the upcoming season of Who Do You Think You Are returning to BBC One this spring.' Another added: 'The BBC has announced the celebrities who will discover their family history on Who Do You ThinYou Are? 2025.' Advertisement Popular influencer Lily Brown has accused Australia's biggest lingerie brand of ripping off her small business. The 27-year-old, who rose to social media fame on YouTube, took the moral high road as shamed, but did not name, Bras N' Things for allegedly 'ripping off' her signature robe design. 'Although its definitely disappointing having a hugely successful, nationwide brand completely rip off our designs, its also kinda flattering?' Brown posted to her 330k followers on Instagram last week. Brown founded her small business, Chille, in 2021and her signature product is the 'luxury' Snug robe, which retails for $159. Her robe is made from 100% fleece polyester, cut to a 3/4 length, and features an asymmetrical embossed daisy design, and a muted colour palette of neutrals, earth tones, and soft pastels. Australia's leading fashion lingerie retailer, who has more than 200 stores across the country, launched a very similar robe and headband set for half the price ($69.99). Popular influencer Lily Brown has accused Australia's biggest lingerie brand of ripping off her small business Chille Lily Brown, who rose to social media fame on YouTube , took the moral high road as she shamed Bras N' Things for allegedly 'ripping off' her signature Snug robe design Chille's Snug robe is made from 100% fleece polyester, cut to a 3/4 length, and features an asymmetrical embossed flower design, and a muted colour palette of neutrals, earth tones, and soft pastels.Bras N' Things'robe features a very similar design, colourways, and headband accessory to the Snug Last week, Bras N' Things began retailing the Mila Short Hooded gown which is also made of fleece and polyester and comes available in the same colourways as the Snug. It also has an embossed flower design and has has a matching $15 headband. 'My little small, family run business that I started during COVID with no prior business knowledge or experience has grown so much that its caught the eyes of many people, we now have these huge companies copying us its almost a flex?' Brown continued in videos shared to her Stories. While Brown didn't directly name Bras N' Things, who she claims 'ripped her off', she didn't need to for her fans to connect the dots. 'If youre looking for a case study in uninspired, mass-produced mimicry, look no further than Bras N Things latest attempt at "creativity",' an anonymous user wrote as a review on the Bras n Things' website. 'Bras n Things version? A cheap, soulless imitation that screams quick cash grab".' 'Poor quality and ripping off a small business,' another one star review said. Another wrote: 'They slap together a knock-off, hoping customers wont notice the difference. But we see it. And we wont be fooled.' 'Although its definitely disappointing having a hugely successful, nationwide brand completely rip off our designs, its also kinda flattering?' Brown posted to her 330k followers on Instagram last week Bras N' Things launched a very similar robe and headband set that appears to mimic Chille's design for half the price ($69.99) However, the cheaper robe does appear to have a few fans. 'Such a comfy cosy snuggly gown. One of the best Ive ever bought, hands down the best. No comparison on the market,' another reviewer penned. 'I bought this recently and am in love,' added a second. 'I was looking at others on the market similar but the price point for this was what got me (for the exact same material mind you). 10/10 recommend and want in more colours!'. 'Amazing quality better than that not so good brand chille or whatever that influencers force people to buy,' wrote a third. Brown says the quality of her original design is unmatched. 'Anyone whos bought or tried anything from @__chille knows our quality and hand feel is unmatched. We stick to what we know, stay in our lane, and believe we do it best,' she wrote on Instagram. Bras N' Things has been approached by Daily Mail Australia for comment. Brown is known for brand collaborations and has in the past worked with Bras N things, as well as MCo Beauty, The Ordinary, and Redken prior to starting her own business. 'Work life in the last year has been an absolute roller coaster to say the least,' she wrote after two years in business with Chille. 'SO much change has happened, SO many tears have been shed, SO many panic attacks, SO many f**k ups, SOOO much lost $$$... let me assure you, it hasnt been glamorous whatsoever.' Brown and her ironman champion boyfriend Jett Kenny competed on the celebrity edition of The Amazing Race Australia in 2024. They have been in a relationship for two years and moved in together last year. Allegations of of copying are a regular occurrence in the fashion industry. Fellow Aussie brands White Fox, Valley Girl, and Kmart have all come under fire by fashion designers and influencers in the last 12 months for putting out products that closely mimic the designs of smaller businesses. But copyright infringement in fashion is very difficult to prove within the framework of Australia's existing laws. Denise Richards and her family star in the new show Denise Richards and Her Wild Things where she has revealed many bombshells about her life at home, including the fact that her daughters Lola, 19, and Sami, 21, have not spoken to each other in a year. The first few episodes that have already dropped focus on the siblings' rivalry and how the 54-year-old actress tries to repair their months-long feud. Apart from their differences, the sisters grew further apart after drama that unfolded following Sami's breakup with her boyfriend, who happened to be Lola's best friend. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Lola, Denise and Charlie's youngest daughter who was recently baptized, opened up about her tarnished relationship with her sister, shared her thoughts on OnlyFans and plastic surgery and where her relationship with her famous father stands now after her parents went through a nasty custody battle that played out in the public. Prior to filming the show over the summer of 2024, Lola said that she didn't know whether she'd sign on to be a part of it - until three days before filming began. 'I sat with the Lord on it for a really long time and then I decided it would be a good opportunity to spread his light in that business where it's not really common for people to talk about Jesus,' she revealed. Lola Sheen, 19, opened up about her feud with her sister Sami, 21, in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com as their relationship unfolds in new episodes of Denise Richards' new show Denise Richards and her two daughters Lola and Sami posed together on the red carpet as they promoted their new show, Denise Richards and Her Wild Things, at Planet Hollywood Times Square on February 26 in New York City Filming her personal life - something that she's kept private all these years - was something 'so vulnerable' to her, but she realized that because she 'serves an audience of one' - referring to Jesus - it 'doesn't really matter what people think' of her. 'I was very judgmental of myself in the beginning, but I realized, like, "It's okay to be different. It's okay to not be like everybody else on TV." 'So that was the hardest part for me I think,' she said. During the March 4 debut, fans found out for the first time that Lola and Sami did not speak to each other for a year because of drama with a man - which was 'very misinterpreted on the show,' according to Lola. The restaurant hostess summarized it to DailyMail.com as when she was 16, she, her boyfriend at the time and his friend ended up getting into a car crash. Afterwards, she ended up becoming really close to her boyfriend's friend because of the 'traumatic experience.' Her sister then met her guy friend and they dated for a short time before breaking up. 'I didn't want to just end my friendship with him because I still had sort of the same friends,' she explained. 'So initially, she was just upset that I still had him a part of my life, but it felt unfair to me, because I was best friends with him before.' The Sheen sisters shocked fans in a recent episode of their Bravo show by telling cameras that they've been feuding for an entire year During the March 4 premiere episode, fans learned that their feud initiated over drama with a guy, which, Lola told DailyMail.com was 'very misinterpreted' Lola revealed that everything is 'definitely good today' between her and Sami and teased that Sami could be back together with the man that drove a wedge between them in the first place. The content creator, who just launched her own Heavenly Bonded podcast, went on to say that she and Sami mended their relationship on Thanksgiving 2024 when the family was celebrating together at Denise's house. 'It was so special. We just like ended up talking. And then our best friends were there,' she recalled. 'So they were like, "Guys, you just have to work this out." 'And then we ended up talking and laughing together, and it was really sweet.' Shedding light on their sibling dynamic, she stated, 'We have never been really best friends. When I was young, maybe. 'We've never been the sisters that are like really best friends, you know. It's like she gets weirded out if I even try to hug her. That's just normal - she loves in a different way towards me. It's always been that way.' Lola and Sami had their big fight while filming was going on, with Lola recalling it was 'hard to film with her' because the duo were 'at such odds.' Going through filming together, however, actually brought the sisters 'closer again,' she spilled since they had to film scenes together. Lola told DailyMail.com that she and Sami mended their relationship on November 2024. She recalled, 'It was so special. We just like ended up talking. And then our best friends were there. So they were like, "Guys, you just have to work this out"' 'I think we will always fight, but it's not so intense like sisters always fight, whether it's clothes or whatever it is,' she said, explaining they have 'different styles' and aren't the kind of sisters that share each other's clothes and accessories. Lola told DailyMail.com that, if there is a second season of the show, she'd love for fans to see that the two are back to their old ways and how their relationship has evolved. The TV personality's family trauma began before she was even born. Her father Charlie, 59, and Denise split in 2005 after a four-year marriage when the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum was six months pregnant with Lola. Even though they finalized their divorce in 2006, the pair went on to have a years-long feud over custody with the Two and a Half Men star filing to change the child support arrangement in 2019. Following her divorce, the reality star went on to adopt a daughter, Eloise - who has a rare chromosomal disorder - in 2011. She's also featured on the show. As the nasty custody battle made headlines, Denise went on to marry her husband Aaron Phypers, 52, in September 2018 after a year of dating. In October 2021, the actor's payments were adjusted to 'zero dollars' after he won the court over, arguing Sami was living with him at the time. Lola, who has been living with her mother, revealed she spends a lot of time with him, even though - apart for an upcoming episode - he is not part of the family's reality show. Denise, 54, and Charlie, 59, split in 2005 after a four-year marriage. They finalized their divorce a year later, but went on to have a years-long feud over custody Charlie, who makes an appearance on Denise's show, is on better terms with his ex. Lola told DailyMail.com about her relationship with her father, 'We've always been close. I love him a lot, and he's always there for me. He's never not been there' Denise married her husband Aaron Phypers in 2018 and adopted her now 13-year-old daughter, Eloise, in 2011 (pictured in Hollywood in 2023) She revealed in the DailyMail.com interview, 'We've always been close. I love him a lot, and he's always there for me. He's never not been there. 'He's very sweet. He's a very good person. He just is doing normal things, I guess. He's very laid back.' In terms of supporting herself nowadays, Lola is walking down a 'very different path of life' from Sami, who is known for having an OnlyFans account - where paid subscribers have access to sexually explicit content. Lola takes a more conservative approach to life, which she describes as living at home, helping take care of her family's dogs, working at a restaurant and 'picking up my cross every day and being like [Jesus] as much as I can.' Sami joined OnlyFans in June 2022, a few months after her 18th birthday. In a confessional interview on Denise Richards and Her Wild Things, she said, 'When I started I was working a minimum-wage job at a little candy shop in Malibu. 'But I really wanted to start supporting myself. Candy shop ain't gonna cut it!' Denise joined OnlyFans a few weeks after to show her support for her daughter. Sami joined OnlyFans in June 2022, a few months after her 18th birthday. Lola told DailyMail.com, 'I would never judge anybody for doing OnlyFans because that has nothing to do with me. But for me, I just know that it can be not the best for your mental health' Lola revealed that she's not against plastic surgery, but it's not for her. She experienced getting lip filler, a non-surgical procedure, and said it was something she would never do again Lola shared her true thoughts on her sister and mother joining the X-rated social media platform with DailyMail.com. 'I would never judge anybody for doing OnlyFans because that has nothing to do with me. But for me, I just know that it can be not the best for your mental health. 'My reaction was just I was just a little worried, but not like judgmental, you know, just a little concerned, because she's putting herself out there to all these people and... I didn't want it to take a toll on on her as a person, so that's why I was worried.' While noting it's not something she would ever encourage someone to do, she insists that she's not not supportive and would not judge anyone for doing it. 'I feel the same way about both of them [joining OnlyFans]. It's just like it's what they want to do. It's not what I would do. I would never want my kids to do that. 'So it's kind of just like it is not for me. But it's clearly what they like. And that's okay.' In the March 11 episode, fans watched as Sami visited a plastic surgeon for a consultation since she wanted to get a nose job - after she previously had undergone a breast augmentation in November 2023. The influencer told cameras that she was 'bullied' by people for looking like her dad and how someone commented, 'You'll never be as pretty as your mom.' Lola said about her mom and sister joining OnlyFans, 'I feel the same way about both of them [joining]. It's just like it's what they want to do. It's not what I would do. I would never want my kids to do that' Lola hopes that there's another season of Denise Richards and Her Wild Things so that fans can see how her relationship with her sister has evolved (pictured in 2010) Lola told DailyMail.com that the bullying was, essentially, the cherry on top. 'It wasn't [just] because she got bullied. She said she's been wanting it for so long. On top of it, she got bullied for her nose, but it was always something she never liked on her face, so that's why she did it.' Lola, for her part, isn't thinking of getting plastic surgery any time soon. She quipped, 'I think whatever makes people happy. I never have a right to say on what people do to their body, because, like, I have no voice for that.' The 19-year-old admitted to DailyMail.com that she dipped her toes into a cosmetic procedure herself, which was getting 'a little lip filler a year ago.' But she would not do it again. 'I hated it. It hurt really bad,' she said. Now, she would probably wait until she's older to get any sort of plastic surgery. 'I just want to age gracefully. I don't really care about looking whatever. I wouldn't do lip filler again. I just think it made my smile different,' she reasoned. Lola shared video of getting baptized earlier this year after suffering from depression. She says she would go to church 'every day' if she could New episodes of Denise Richards and Her Wild Things every Tuesday at 9pm ET on Bravo After all, she wants viewers to know that she's 'the real me on camera' and that 'you can just be you the way you are now. And you don't have to change anything to be prettier, or whatever it may be.' 'You know, I'm not perfect. No one will ever be perfect,' she said. Comments from fans have helped her get through each episode of the show to cope with her imperfections that she believes come across on TV. 'I have seen people have actually commented on my Instagram or on my testimony video and they're like, "Oh, my gosh! Like, I love the show. You interpret Jesus really well." And that was so sweet for me to see,' she gushed. Lola shared her religious journey on Instagram after getting baptized earlier this year, which she says was due to her depression and feeling like she 'hit rock bottom.' She spilled about her renewed faith, 'I love my church so much. I go to whatever event they'll have. I do go with some friends on Sunday, and then sometimes I go to this thing on Thursday, and then, whatever little things they'll have during the week. I would go every day if I could.' As for the future, she said she's going to leave it in God's hands. In a year or so, she's hoping to attend her 'dream' college, Pepperdine University in Malibu, where she can major in a field like journalism since she'd love 'to be an author one day.' EXCLUSIVE Troubled teenage OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang's ex-boyfriend has had another legal win, four months after he was cleared of a rape charge. Rocket Stickney had been due to face trial in February for having sexual intercourse without consent but the charge was suddenly dropped. Stickney was accused of raping a woman at Glebe, in Sydney's inner-city, in June, 2023 but further details of the alleged offence have never been made public. The allegation had been hanging over Stickney for 18 months until November last year when the charge was withdrawn completely by the Crown. The 29-year-old remained the subject of an interim apprehended violence order to protect the woman he had been accused of raping. A police application to have that order confirmed was set to be heard on Tuesday at Downing Centre Local Court but was also withdrawn. Ow-Yang had been photographed several times with Stickney, who is reportedly a serving, or former, US Navy SEAL. They were first pictured together on December 7 alongside the 20-year-old model's father, neurosurgeon Michael Ow-Yang, strolling through Bondi. Troubled teenage OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang's ex-boyfriend has had another legal win, four months after he was cleared of a rape charge. Ow-Yang is pictured Rocket Stickney had been due to face trial in February for having sexual intercourse without consent but the charge was suddenly dropped. He is pictured with Ow-Yang in December Daily Mail Australia revealed late in February that the couple had now parted ways, just months after their relationship started. A solicitor acting for Ow-Yang had described Stickney as a 'stable influence' on his client when she faced court on a string of domestic violence charges. Ow-Yang was convicted on December 11 of assault, intimidation, and destroying property worth approximately $1,500 during a drunken rampage. Waverley Local Court heard Ow-Yang had turned up at her mother Amanda's home at Double Bay about 9pm on November 7 and run amok in a terrifying incident she could not recall. An enraged Ow-Yang had repeatedly called her mother a 'sl**' then threatened to take her own life and embedded two kitchen knives in the floor. Solicitor Michael Bowe said his client suffered from a litany of mental health problems stemming from the separation of her parents when she was a child. Ow-Yang had been diagnosed with conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD and an eating disorder. She had repeatedly engaged in self-harm, binge drinking and compulsive shopping as a result of grief, shock and trauma. Daily Mail Australia revealed late last month that Ow-Yang (above) and Stickney had parted ways, just months after their relationship started Mr Bowe said Ow-Yang had 1.3million followers on TikTok and 350,000 on Instagram but did not mention the OnlyFans account the private school girl opened as soon as she became an adult. He said Ow-Yang suffered a 'whole series' of mental health conditions which stemmed from her parents separating when she was about 13. She had never recovered from that split and her problems had not been helped by a brief relationship with 44-year-old nightclub king Julian Tobias. Tobias had dumped Ow-Yang upon their return from an overseas holiday late last year, just months after they began dating. An insider said at the time the relationship, which began when Ow-Yang was 17, was destined to fail because the pair had nothing in common. Ow-Yang blamed a drunken car crash in October 2023 on the emotional turmoil of the romance suddenly ending. After drowning her 'pain and hurt' in alcohol for nine hours, Ow-Yang had smashed her $50,000 black Mercedes into another Mercedes worth $150,000 in Point Piper. She subsequently blew 0.213 - more than four times the legal limit for a P-plater. Ow-Yang was convicted in December of assault, intimidation, and destroying property worth approximately $1,500 during a drunken rampage of domestic violence Ow-Yang was convicted of high-range drinking driving and received a $1,000 fine along with a two-year community corrections order. Mr Bowe told Waverley Local Court that Ow-Yang had a new boyfriend, who he did not name but submitted was providing support as she worked to get her life back in order. 'She has a partner who is in the American army, he is a stable influence, albeit, the last partner she had was not,' Mr Bowe told magistrate Paul Mulroney. 'I've spoken to him on the phone and he seems like a pretty good bloke.' Mr Bowe urged Mr Mulroney not to record a conviction after she pleaded guilty to one count of common assault, one of intimidation and one of destroying property. 'She's only 19,' he said. 'She's got the world in front of her.' Mr Mulroney agreed to Mr Bowe's request and instead imposed a 15-month conditional release order. Stickney has previously been described as a member of the US Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) Teams, a special operations force separate from the army. Ow-Yang (above) has been diagnosed with conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD and an eating disorder He was not in court and it was not revealed what he is doing in Australia. Stickney had not been allowed to leave the country since the middle of 2023 when he was accused of rape. He first faced a magistrate at Parramatta in July that year on a single count of sexual intercourse without consent. Four later he became the subject of an apprehended violence order to protect the alleged victim. Under his bail conditions, Stickney was ordered to surrender his US passport, not to leave Australia at any time and not to apply for another international travel document. He was also required to report each Wednesday to Bondi police station, to live at a designated address and not to contact the alleged rape victim or any other prosecution witness. Stickney pleaded not guilty to the rape charge in February last year year and reaffirmed that plea in April when he was arraigned in Downing Centre District Court. The case was set down for trial on February 24 this year but when Stickney appeared before Judge John Pickering on November 26 the charge was withdrawn by the Crown. A spokeswoman for the DPP said the office would not be explaining why the charge was dropped. 'Reasons for the decision to withdraw a charge are made in accordance with the prosecution guidelines and are legally privileged,' she said. 'As such, we politely decline to comment.' Advertisement Rhian Sugden has shared the distressing news that she has quinsy - a 'Victorian disease' that has left her in 'absolute agony'. The lingerie model, 38, admitted that even though she has a 'quite a high pain threshold', the discomfort she is feeling is 'something else'. In a follow-up post, she shared a photograph of herself in a hospital room to let fans know that her health has taken yet another turn. She said: 'So I've just been back to the doctors because my throat is in absolute agony. I think I've got quite a high pain threshold, but this is something else. 'I've got Quinsy. I thought that was a Victorian disease, but oh my god, if anyone's ever had it, oh god, I can't even. It hurts to even open my mouth.' Rhian captioned the hospital snap of herself: 'Quinsy: 1, Rhian: 0'. Rhian Sugden has shared the distressing news that she has a quinsy - a 'Victorian disease' that she claims has left her in 'absolute agony' In a follow-up post, she shared a photograph of herself in a hospital room to let fans know that her health has taken yet another turn The lingerie model, 38, said that even though she has a 'quite a high pain threshold', the discomfort she is feeling is 'something else' Sadly, this is not the only health woe the star is dealing with, and in the video announcing her diagnosis, she said her son is also not in the best health. She added: 'My little man, George, is up in A&E with possible measles, so I don't know where we've been hanging about, but we won't be going out again.' The NHS describes quinsy as a bacterial infection that starts in one tonsil then spreads to the space around the tonsil 'pushing the tonsil inwards and making the soft palate bulge.' Those with the illness, which responds well to antibiotics, typically struggle to open their mouths more than a centimetre or two. Measles, meanwhile, is a viral infection, also common in children, that's characterised by a distinct rash, fever, and cough. Both illnesses can be passed from person to person. Rhian's health woes come after she recently hit back at trolls who criticised her decision to have a breast reduction Rhian's health woes come after she recently hit back at trolls who criticised her decision to have a breast reduction The model explained that her large assets became unbearable after her recent pregnancy and her struggle to find clothing that fitted them was making her unhappy Rhian's health woes come after she recently hit back at trolls who criticised her decision to have a breast reduction. She explained alongside a bikini snap: 'It's actually quite shameful that I'm actually writing a caption to JUSTIFY what I'm doing with MY body. '12 months ago before I got pregnant my boobs were large, but still at a manageable size of a DD/E cup. 'After having a baby, my size has increased to an F and I'm spilling out of my bras even at that size. I'm having an uplift and a reduction. 'Boob experts (men) are messaging me telling me to just lose weight and they'll shrink. Look at me!?? I'm the size I was yet despite your professional advice my melons haven't shrunk. Who'd have thought?' She added: 'My back hurts. I long to wear backless dresses. Buy sexy lingerie, wear no bra when I go out, run, swim without them falling out of my swimsuit. They don't make me happy this big. 'It's MY body. It's my Happiness and it's MY choice.' Coronation Street star Charlotte Jordan is cashing in on her time on the cobbles with a money-spinning job overseas. The actress, 29, who played Daisy Midgeley, is set to join Corrie Sally Ann Matthews - aka Jenny Bradley - for the Jenny & Daisy Rovers Return live gigs in Canada. The pair will give tell-all interviews about their time on Coronation Street amid its ongoing financial troubles. While Charlotte left the show last year, her final scenes have yet to air. The gigs, which cost 40 a head to attend, also promise to give audiences behind-the-scenes secrets from the show. For 60 a pop, fans will also have the opportunity to pose with the actresses. Corrie legend Charlotte Jordan is cashing in on her time on the cobbles with a money-spinning job in Canada where she will tell-all about the show The actress, 29, who played Daisy Midgeley, is set to join Corrie Sally Ann Matthews - aka Jenny Bradley - for the Jenny & Daisy Rovers Return live gigs Tickets to the Coronation Street live show will cost around 40 a head, but fans will have to fork out 60 if they would like to get a selfie with the actresses Charlotte told The Sun: 'My time at Coronation Street is something I'll always cherish. 'It's been a privilege to be part of a wonderful institution with even more wonderful colleagues who have taught me so much. 'After a brilliant four years for Daisy, it's time for me to start a new chapter and explore other opportunities.' She is not the only cast member to recently leave the show and up to 75 other members of cast and crew are getting axed in a bid to cut costs. A source said: 'Charlotte wrapped her time on the cobbles and had a leaving party recently. It was very low-key as she wanted. She'll be very missed.' Coronation Street's financial troubles are said to be the result of a fall in advertising revenue and increased production costs. It was recently reported that newer characters, who required smaller fees, are being prioritised over long-standing cast members who come with larger costs. In the past, cast members were paid the same regardless of how long they featured on screen. Charlotte has had many memorable storylines during her stint on the show and won particular praise for her stalker story, which was described as shedding a much needed light on the issue. The actress is said to have given Coronation Street bosses plenty of notices ahead of her departure so they had time to craft an 'exciting' exit storyline It was recently reported that newer Corrie characters, who required smaller fees, are being prioritised over long-standing cast members who come with larger costs An insider told The Sun: 'The cast loved the days when lots of scenes were filmed in the Rovers because it didn't matter if you had 10 scenes in an episode or just sat in the pub - you'd get paid the same 'Playing a barmaid or the landlord was a dream gig and would guarantee you got paid a fortune because it didn't matter if you just served someone in the background - you got paid for the episode.' Recent big names to leave the show include Alex Bain (Simon Barlow), who was written out in 2023 when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to go travelling after struggling with the loss of his father Peter. Quinta Brunson has filed for divorce from her husband Kevin Jay Anik after three and a half years of marriage. The Abbott Elementary creator and star, 35, filed a petition for divorce from her husband on March 19 citing irreconcilable differences.' Quinta and Kevin married in October 2021, two months before the premiere of her sitcom. The divorce papers also show that the couple 'entered into a postnuptial agreement which governs the disposition of their property,' according to People. Quinta has kept her relationship under the radar, but that hasn't stopped fans from worrying about the fortune she's amassed since starring on Abbott Elementary. Several fans expressed their concern over the lack of a pre-nup. Quinta Brunson has filed for divorce from her husband Kevin Jay Anik after three and a half years of marriage. Seen here on March 12, 2023 Across both Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) fans ruminated about her marriage, with many admitting they had to idea she was married. Others expressed their worries about whether or not the couple had a prenup, which they didn't, as the divorce papers acknowledge a post-nuptial agreement. Couples typically enter into a post-nuptial agreement when the financial circumstances of one member change dramatically. 'He about to clean her out. You know they don't have no prenup. They got married when she was poor,' one concerned fan wrote. 'Prob got jealous after her success, started acting diff, ' another fan opined, while a third person stated, 'He about to clean her out.' 'He's gonna try to take half of everything off of 3 years of marriage,' one fan wrote and added a crying emoji. Not much is known about Anik, but he does work in the legal cannabis industry in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Many more commenters just expressed sympathy for Quinta...some more crass than others. The Abbott Elementary creator and star, 35, filed a petition for divorce from her husband on March 19 citing irreconcilable differences.' Seen here in 2022 Fans commented on the news and worried about whether she had a pre-nup or not Quinta and Kevin married in October 2021, two months before the premiere of her sitcom. The divorce papers also show that the couple 'entered into a postnuptial agreement which governs the disposition of their property' Quinta has kept her relationship under the radar, but that hasn't stopped fans from worrying about the fortune she's amassed since starring on Abbott Elementary 'That thang wasn't thangin' right? You need a long lasting King, sis,' one gentleman wrote. 'Quinta Brunson is about to have a hot girl summer,' another fan predicted. 'Fumbling Quinta Brunson would send me to an early grave,' another person said. Quinta is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing and starring as a second-grade teacher in Abbott Elementary which debuted in December 2021. Teachers and their work were at the beginning of a politicized debate that continues to this day. By setting the sitcom in the present and taking up the day-to-day challenges of teaching, it made itself as relatable as it was revolutionary for sitcoms at the time. Quinta is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing and starring as a second-grade teacher in Abbott Elementary which debuted in December 2021. Seen here in 2022 Teachers and their work were at the beginning of a politicized debate that continues to this day. Seen here on February 25, 2025 In a culture that often values viral moments, Abbott offered a more humanizing perspective. The Temple University graduate credited her home city of Philadelphia as she noted in an interview with Good Morning America, 'I think it works because of Philadelphia.' She described lightheartedly, 'Philadelphia is this richly diverse, dirty, horrible city sometimes and we can all share our dirt with each other and I think that's what you're going to get in that episode.' The TV star then reflected, 'Sorry, Philly. There's probably a nicer way to say that.' Advertisement Carina Mirabile ensured all eyes were on her when she stepped out for a pizza date with co-stars Adrian Araouzou, Ryan Donnelly and Eliot Donovan. The Married At First Sight star proudly showed off her new breast plants on the night, opting to go braless in a crisp white singlet that flaunted her enhanced frame, paired a plain grey skirt. Finishing mid-thigh, the skirt offered a hint of her trim and toned pins that were also adorned with a pair of knee-high black leather boots. She left her raven locks down for the occasion, accessorising with a $1000 Hermes handbag and a dark coat she carried in the crook of her arm. Carina's male co-stars were all smiles when they arrived at at popular Darlinghurst pizzeria Bill and Toni's without their on-screen significant others. Other diners and passers-by appeared to have quite the appetite for the reality foursome, and they were only to happy to satiate their cravings. Carina Mirabile ensured all eyes were on her when she stepped out for a pizza date with co-stars Adrian Araouzou, Ryan Donnelly and Eliot Donovan The Married At First Sight star proudly showed off her new breast plants on the night, opting to go braless in a crisp white singlet that flaunted her enhanced frame, paired a plain grey skirt The reality TV A-listers were spotted happily posing with a gaggle of fans that had congregated in front of the eatery. There were plenty of selfies snapped and hands shaken, with Carina, Adrian, Eliot and Ryan happy to stop for a chat. It was a casual affair for Eliot, who showed off some chest ink in a white singlet that he wore under a moss green cardigan. He finished his look with a pair of beige pants and white Adidas sneakers. Adrian also went for a classic casual look in a white polo shirt that he matched with black chinos and a pair of white sneakers. Ryan however appeared the most relaxed, putting on a leggy display in a pair of black shorts that finished at the knee. He also wore a white Boss T-shirt and a pair of white sneakers and ankle socks. The foursome looked chuffed to be in each other's company for the pizza date. Finishing mid-thigh, the skirt offered a hint of her trim and toned pins that were also adorned with a pair of knee-high black leather boots She left her raven locks down for the occasion, accessorising with a $1000 Hermes handbag and a dark coat she carried in the crook of her arm The chilled outing could not have come at a better time for Ryan who's relationship with Jacqui Burfoot has been at the centre of the MAFS storyline for the last few episodes. Following a disastrous Homestays week that saw Ryan and Jacqui constantly at loggerheads, the stage was set for some home truths and recriminations during Wednesday's dramatic Dinner Party. From the outset, Jacqui was clear she was chasing an apology from Ryan after his friends Adam and Carla took her to task over her treatment of their mate during an awkward lunch over Midori Illusions the day before. Before the couple had even left for the weekly Dinner Party, Ryan was adamant about where he stood with his reality TV bride. 'Jacqui is the most difficult person I've ever tried to date in my life,' he declared. 'The whole week has highlighted just how incompatible we are. we make progress then we burn down. I can't do the yo-yo anymore. This person is not healthy to be around.' Adrian Araouzou went for a classic casual look in a white polo shirt and black chinos Eliot Donovan showed off some chest ink in a white singlet The couple were very much the focal point of the dinner party chatter and when Ryan began recounting events that occurred during both Homestay visits, Jacqui refuted his claims wholesale. This did not sit well with Ryan who shot back: ' Whenever the heat is on you, whenever you have to demonstrate ownership, you never do it. I'm sick of it.' The tide of public opinion appeared to be turning in Ryan's favour which did not sit at all well with Jacqui. Realising that the end may be nigh, Jacqui convinced Ryan to leave the table for a private chat. Trying desperately to salvage their relationship, Jacqui further alienated her groom when she asked: 'Why don't you want to be great?' after telling Ryan she was giving him the opportunity to work on himself. Ryan was clearly unmoved, replying: 'You are judgmental, you're hyper critical, you're hyper sensitive. I'm not happy being here with you,' he said. 'I want something you can't give me. Acceptance.' While Jacqui did apologise to Ryan for any hurt she caused, it was a case of too little, too late. Clearly emotional, Jacqui said to producers after the meeting that her biggest fault was trying too hard. 'I can't believe I'm losing Ryan, she sobbed. 'I don't lose people, people lose me.' Advertisement Heidi Montag shared several images this week from her luxurious beach vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The Hills veteran was seen in bikinis and summer dresses as she enjoyed the sunny weather at the coastal resort Villa Vegas Dave 3 with her husband Spencer Pratt. This comes after their house burned down in the Pacific Palisades fires in January. Montag and Pratt have a long way to go to earn the money so they can rebuild their $2.5M home as they did not have insurance on the dwelling. According to Newsweek, the vacation was a gift from entrepreneur David Oancea. He gifted the family 'a $100,000 vacation at the sprawling 40,000 sq ft, 13-bedroom beachfront property,' the site claimed. While at the resort Heidi was filming the music video for her new single, I'll Do It featuring Pitbull. All proceeds from the viral track will go to help Los Angeles residents rebuild from the city's wildfires. Heidi Montag shared several images this week from her luxurious beach vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico The Hills veteran was seen in bikinis and summer dresses as she enjoyed the sunny weather at the coastal resort Villa Vegas Dave 3 with her husband Spencer Pratt The 38-year-old reality star and her husband are parents to sons Gunner, seven, and two-year-old Ryker. They were devastated when the blazes destroyed their home. And while the blonde beauty thinks it 'sounds silly' to admit, she is upset at the loss of her favorite outfits because of the memories they hold. She told Vogue.com in her first interview with the high-profile site: 'You know, I'm very conflicted with it. It sounds silly, but I was so sad about losing my clothes. 'They're just things, but they're things that I spent 15 to 20 years collecting. Things I wore to a special place, with special people. 'There's a lot I can't replace. Shoes I perfectly curated, like a pair of black pumps or boots. I keep telling myself, I rented them in this life! 'I only grabbed two pairs of jeans, and I'm such a jean girl. I had a new pair of Paige jeans that just make me feel like me,' she said. The former Hills star has bought a few new items which made her feel 'so much better', but she can't help but look back on her old favorites. She added: 'I went to Marshalls the other day and I bought a bunch of discounted sweaters. They're good quality, about $20 dollars, but they make me feel so much better. I'm still looking back at TikToks and seeing, like, a sweater I wore and reminiscing.' This comes after their house burned down in the Pacific Palisades fires in January. Montag and Pratt have a long way to go to earn the money so they can rebuild their $2.5M home as they did not have insurance on the dwelling According to Newsweek , the vacation was a gift from entrepreneur David Oancea. He gifted the family 'a $100,000 vacation at the sprawling 40,000 sq ft, 13-bedroom beachfront property,' the site claimed Because Heidi knows how much better her make-up makes her feel, she'd like to set up a charity to offer hair and beauty services for those who have lost everything in the fires. She said: 'I was so thrilled to see all these companies doing donation drives. It makes a big difference to how people feel and giving them some dignity. A bit of makeup can be so powerful! My bag of Patrick Ta, Hourglass, Charlotte Tilbury, makes me feel grounded in myself. 'I would love to create or support a charity for people who lost everything and do hair and make-up, to help people feel more like themselves.' This comes after Heidi and Spencer said they want to make a reality show about 'rebuilding' their community. The couple lost their $2.5 million home in the Pacific Palisades fire and admitted they are 'ready' to let cameras back into their lives to give a glimpse in how they and their neighbors are starting afresh. While at the resort Heidi was filming the music video for her new single, I'll Do It featuring Pitbull. All proceeds from the viral track will go to help Los Angeles residents rebuild from the city's wildfires The parents with kids Gunner and Ryker at Disney On Ice Presents Magic In The Stars at Crypto.com Arena on December 21, 2024 in Los Angeles Seen in a bikini for an ad for Hydroxycut last year Asked if they would consider another reality show, Heidi told Vogue.com: 'Well, you never know...It's Hollywood. 'There's always something. We're ready for it. We'd hope to even do something about rebuilding the town and showing our community. But I'm also balancing the music, being a mom.' The couple have been trying to shield their sons from trauma as a result of the devastating fires, but admitted it has been difficult, particularly because their older boy has had to move schools. Heidi said: 'With our oldest, we've been really careful about not letting him see any photos or any media. I wouldn't even put on the news when the fires were at our front door. I didn't want him to see that and have that trauma. We're talking through his feelings and validating them. Obviously, we try to be positive, but we also don't want to shut down real fears.' Her 41-year-old spouse added: 'We're encouraging a light at the end of the tunnel. We've put him in a new schoolit's a difficult thing.' Asked if they would consider another reality show, Heidi told Vogue.com: 'Well, you never know...It's Hollywood' Spencer has encouraged fans to revisit Heidi's music as a way for them to make money in the aftermath of the fires, and though her album 'Superficial' has topped the iTunes chart as a result, 10 years after it was released, she's not really been able to appreciate the success just yet. She said: 'It's an honor to be on the Billboard charts and number one on iTunes. That's all because of people's love, support, and appreciation. It's made a dream come true out of a terrible moment. 'At the same time, I'm trying to keep everything else together. I'm being a mom for my sons, trying to unpack... There are incredible highs and lows. Spencer is tunnel-visioned on work. I'm navigating through the rest of our life stuff. 'I just have to check in and be present, as hard as it is and how extreme our circumstances are. It's all still so fresh. We literally just lost our house. When I have a little more time to appreciate the music and see it translate more, be in that moment... I just don't know when that will be.' Advertisement Amanda Seyfried went into detail about why she turned down the role Gamora in the blockbuster film Guardians Of The Galaxy, opposite Chris Pratt, more than a decade ago. While promoting her new Peacock series Long Bright River, the actress dished about the many opportunities she been blessed to have had over her career. And when it came to the topic of ones that almost happened, Seyfried got honest about the opportunity that came along with starring on the original 2014 superhero film, directed by James Gunn, and based on the Marvel Comics. She admitted to feeling it was a risk at the time the role was offered to her, during an interview on Happy Sad Confused podcast on Thursday, March 20. 'Being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain't good for your career,' she shared with host Josh Horowitz. 'I thought that because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon that it was gonna be Marvel's first bomb and that Chris Pratt and I would never work again. I was wrong.' Amanda Seyfried, 39, revealed she rejected the role of Gamora in the superhero film Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014), opposite Chris Pratt; the actress is pictured in early March The actress admitted to feeling the original Guardians as a risk at the time it was offered to her over fear it would bomb; the role of Gamora ended up going to Zoe Saldana The Allentown, Pennsylvania native never considered the possible role of Gamora, which ultimately was played by Zoe Saldana, a risk due to the work of Gunn, who co-wrote the screenplay along with helming the project. '[Hes] a genius and he's fun and hes a wonderful filmmaker, and he can make anything work,' she said of the filmmaker. 'But I was way too scared. I was at a precarious moment in my career, and I didn't want to suffer for the work.' Other reasons that went into Seyfried's decision to pass on the role included the intense makeup process for playing a green alien. 'I was really scared of the idea of being stuck and painted a different color because of the amount of time that the X-Men people had been, because I was working out with the same trainer that trained a bunch of people who were doing X-Men, she explained. On top of that, the Oscar nominee didn't want to have to relocate to London, England for the six month shoot, especially since she had another a role lined up in Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways To Die In The West, that she felt was more in tune with her interests. The Western comedy film starring MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Giovanni Ribisi, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, and Liam Neeson would go on to receive mixed reviews while earning $87.2 million against a $40 million budget. As for Guardians Of The Galaxy: it went on to become a blockbuster smash, grossing a whopping $773.4 million globally while spending a net of $195.9 million on the project. The recent Oscar winner and Lioness star has since gone on to play Gamora in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). 'Being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain't good for your career,' she shared with host Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast 'I thought that because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon that it was gonna be Marvel's first bomb and that Chris Pratt and I would never work again,' she admitted Despite all the success of the superhero films Seyfried still stands by her decision to listen to her intuition and not take on the role. 'I had done some green screen stuff, and it wasn't my cup of tea, and I don't regret any decision that I made,' she stated. 'I made it for myself in the moment that I made it. It was good for me then, and it's good for me now.' In fact, the Mean Girls actress couldn't be happier for everyone involved in Guardian Of The Galaxy, feeling secure in the belief that it all worked out just as it should have. 'I also think that Zoe [Saldana] and Chris and everybody whos a part of that movie are having the best time and it worked for them, and I love that. And I love that I was able to stay with my gut.' While reflecting on her professional career that dates back to 1996, Seyfried was asked about the moment or job that she felt she had truly made it as an actor. Seyfried also revealed she turned down the original Guardians due to makeup process for playing a green alien, and having to relocate to London, England for six months After expressing her joy over the success of Guardians, the Allentown, Pennsylvania native revealed her career opportunities opened up after starring in the hit Mama Mia! (2008) 'I knew I had gotten into a sphere when I was in Mama Mia!' she told Horowitz. 'And when Mama Mia ! was huge I was getting more opportunities from that.' She continued, 'And over the years the opportunities were still there but they're different, and they evolve as you evolve all depending on the choices that you make. But also the fact that you evolving and getting older and are attracted to different things. 'I'm lucky that I still have a lot of opportunities and now it feels like I've solidified some kind of place in that people trust me as an actor and respect as an actor.' Most recently, Seyfried decided to expand her acting reach by playing a police officer as the lead role in crime drama miniseries Long Bright River alongside Nicholas Pinnock. Advertisement Years after she faced backlash for branding the original Snow White movie 'weird' and 'sexist,' Rachel Zegler is changing her tune. The actress, 23, stars as the titular character in Disney's 'woke' live-action remake of the classic 1937 animated film, which hits theaters on Friday, March 21. And while appearing on Thursday's episode of Good Morning America, Zegler took fans by surprise by gushing about how 'honored' she was to play the iconic princess. Zegler who attended a screening of the film later in the day also claimed to be a 'huge Disney fan' despite her past criticisms. 'It was the honor of a lifetime. I think every young person dreams about a phone call like that,' Zegler said of getting cast by Disney in 2021. 'This one is certainly extra special as a huge Disney fan. 'To get to bring her to life in such a unique way and such a special way, it's just a beautiful opportunity, and I'm very honored.' Zegler's remarks come amid 'awful' reviews for the controversial $270million reboot and a 'scaled-back' press tour that fueled rumors of a feud between her and co-star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen. Years after she faced backlash for branding the original Snow White movie 'weird' and 'sexist,' Rachel Zegler is changing her tune; pictured Thursday The actress, 23, stars as the titular character in Disney's ' woke ' live-action remake of the classic 1937 animated film, which hits theaters on March 21 Elsewhere in Thursday's interview, Zegler spoke about the film's 'modern' twist, which has been heavily criticized as 'woke' due to tweaks made to the 'sexist' romance plot and the replacement of dwarf actors with CGI. Zegler's personal politics, such as her pro-Palestine stance and public condemnation of President Donald Trump, have also added to the backlash. 'It's all about bridging a classic to a modern age to bring it to these beautiful young people,' Zegler told viewers. '[Snow White's] superpower remains her heart, you know, that's always been the core of this story. 'That's always been the core of the Disney Company.' She also insisted that the upcoming live-action film is for both children and the 'inner child in all of us.' Zegler first criticized David Hand's 1937 original animated Snow White in 2022 during an interview with Extra TV at that year's D23 Expo. She called the film 'extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power.' She also admitted she has only seen it once. And while appearing on Thursday's episode of Good Morning America , Zegler took fans by surprise by gushing about how 'honored' she was to play the iconic princess 'It was the honor of a lifetime. I think every young person dreams about a phone call like that,' Zegler said of getting cast by Disney in 2021. 'This one is certainly extra special as a huge Disney fan' 'The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so. There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So we didn't do that this time,' Zegler told the interviewer. 'We have a different approach to what I'm sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie.' The 'guy' she is referring to, Andrew Burnap, plays a man named Jonathan. 'All of Andrew's scenes could get cut, who knows? It's Hollywood, baby!' Zegler joked. Zegler also previously revealed she refused to sing the beloved song Some Day My Prince Will Come from the 1937 classic. 'We didn't do that this time. I was scared of the original version. I think I watched it once and never picked it up again,' Zegler told Variety in 2022. Zegler said her character is 'not going to be saved by the prince. She's not going to be dreaming about true love. She's dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be,' when she spoke at the Disney expo last year. 'She's dreaming about becoming the leader that her late father told her she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave and true,' she later gushed to Variety as her co-star Gadot smiled beside her. Zegler spoke about the film's 'modern' twist, which has been heavily criticized as 'woke' due to tweaks made to the 'sexist' romance plot and the replacement of dwarf actors with CGI 'It's all about bridging a classic to a modern age to bring it to these beautiful young people,' Zegler told viewers '[Snow White's] superpower remains her heart, you know, that's always been the core of this story,' she said She also insisted that the upcoming live-action film is for both children and the 'inner child in all of us' Later in the day, Zegler attended a special screening of Snow White at The Whitby Hotel She met many young fans dressed as the Disney princess For the event, Zegler rocked a glitzy blue outfit She carried a small purse shaped like a gold apple Before arriving to the NYC screening, Zegler was spotted leaving her hotel in a black leather jacket Meanwhile, a feud is also rumored to be ongoing between the West Side Story actress and Gadot. Sources have claimed the pair have 'nothing in common', citing their age gap - Zegler is 23 and Gadot is 39 - and differing political views. The Wonder Woman star was also absent from the film's secret Spanish premiere last week. According to PEOPLE, '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'. Israeli-born Gadot, who served in the IDF, has publicly supported the release of Israeli hostages while Zegler has used her platform to voice support for Palestine amid the conflict in Gaza. This divide has reportedly further fueled their feud. After a series of PR nightmares, Disney scaled back the Snow White premieres to host a 'handful' of tightly controlled events. Meanwhile, a feud is also rumored to be ongoing between the West Side Story actress and her Snow White co-star Gal Gadot Sources have claimed the pair have 'nothing in common', citing their age gap - Zegler is 23 and Gadot is 39 - and differing political views; the co-stars seen Saturday at the LA premiere of Snow White This was the case last Saturday, with only a select number of photographers invited to the LA premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. And the only interviewers the cast faced were employed by Disney, such as Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the studio's 1989 animation The Little Mermaid. Zegler and Gadot arrived separately and only posed for a small number of photos together along with other members of the film's cast and crew. At the screening Zegler, who starred in the 2021 remake of West Side Story, briefly addressed the backlash around the film, which has been branded 'woke' for adapting the original storyline of Disney's first feature-length movie, released in 1937. Kimberly Stewart showcased her baby bump after shopping at the Bel-Air boutique Switch on Wednesday - three days after her shocking pregnancy reveal. The expecting 45-year-old - who was hauling a leopard-print tote - wore a clingy black maxi-dress beneath a leather motorcycle jacket, and b&w fringed loafers. Kimberly - who boasts 91K Instagram followers - announced she was pregnant with a son without disclosing the identity of the babydaddy on Sunday in a slideshow captioned: 'Baby boy coming soon!' Stewart is excited to welcome a sibling for her 13-year-old daughter Delilah Genoveva Stewart, whose famous father is her ex-flame Benicio del Toro. In 2015, the 58-year-old Oscar winner told E! News he didn't think Delilah would following in his acting footsteps: 'I think she's gonna be a teacher. She likes telling me what to do.' The California blonde and Benicio reportedly named their pre-teen after Tom Jones' hit 1968 song Delilah, which is described as a soulful 'murder ballad.' Kimberly Stewart showcased her baby bump after shopping at the Bel-Air boutique Switch on Wednesday - three days after her shocking pregnancy reveal The expecting 45-year-old - who was hauling a leopard-print tote - wore a clingy black maxi-dress beneath a leather motorcycle jacket, and b&w fringed loafers Del Toro will next portray Zsa-zsa Korda in Wes Anderson's spy thriller The Phoenician Scheme, which hits limited US theaters May 30 before a wider release on June 6. The star-studded ensemble also includes Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Willem Dafoe. Last September, the El Jockey producer wrapped a mystery role in Paul Thomas Anderson's $175M-budget film now titled One Battle After Another, which is said to be a modern adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's 1990 postmodern novel Vineland. Warner Bros. Pictures' IMAX crime drama - also starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, and Alana Haim - is said to be the 54-year-old filmmaker's 'most commercial' film to date and it's scheduled to hit US/UK theaters August 8. Kimberly is said to have also romanced Jesse Shapira, Scott Disick, Rhys Ifans, Jude Law, Tommy Lee, Travis Barker, Jason Mewes, Scott Caan, Joe Francis, Jack Osbourne, and Cisco Adler. Stewart keeps busy as the founder of The Realm by Kimberly Stewart, a luxury lifestyle organizing and curating company. The nepo baby socialite is best known as the eighth child of Rod Stewart, whom he welcomed during his five-year marriage to first ex-wife Alana Collins, which ended in 1984. Kimberly - whose stepfather was George Hamilton - had a successful modeling career in her twenties thanks to the 5ft10in stature she inherited from her former model mother. The 80-year-old British rocker is next scheduled to perform this Friday for The Encore Shows Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Kimberly announced she was pregnant with a son without disclosing the identity of the babydaddy on Sunday in an Instagram slideshow captioned: 'Baby boy coming soon!' Stewart is excited to welcome a sibling for her 13-year-old daughter Delilah Genoveva Stewart, whose famous father is her ex-flame Benicio del Toro Danny Jones' wife Georgia has reportedly moved back in to their family home and is giving him a second chance after his drunken kiss with Maura Higgins. The McFly star, 39, was filmed sharing a kiss with the Love Island star, 34, at a BRIT Awards afterparty earlier this month, and said in his apology last week that he was sorry for putting Georgia 'in this situation.' The Mail then revealed that a 'furious' Georgia had left the London house she only recently bought with her husband, but she has since moved home, as Danny wants to get their marriage 'back on track'. A pal told The Sun: 'The break has done Georgia a world of good. 'Being out of the house and with her friend Rose Mahon was what she needed to clear her head. 'Her relationship with Danny was pushed to breaking point and they are still trying to work out what they want. Danny Jones' wife Georgia has reportedly moved back in to their family home and is giving him a second chance after his drunken kiss with Maura Higgins Danny was filmed sharing a kiss with the Love Island star, 34, at a BRIT Awards afterparty earlier this month, and said in his apology last week that he was sorry for putting Georgia 'in this situation' 'Danny has made it clear he will do anything to make it work.' MailOnline has contacted Georgia and Danny's representative's for comment. Insiders previously said she is staying with her friends while the couple work on a resolution. Georgia went to stay with a friend to gain some space from the situation for a few days after he kissed Maura. But despite his grovelling, a source told MailOnline that Georgia took some time away from her husband as she stayed over at her and Danny's best friends' house. Georgia is said to have stayed with her friend for some 'girly time' to distract herself from everything that has been going on. However the source insisted Georgia only left the family home temporarily and the couple are 'working on things behind closed doors'. The pair, who have been married for 11 years and share a son Cooper, seven, were also pictured on a tense outing together last week. The Mail then revealed that a 'furious' Georgia had left the London house she only recently bought with her husband Similarly, Georgia was pictured enjoying drinks at a London pub with her girlfriends as she laughed over a bottle of champagne during the al fresco drinking session. Last week, Georgia returned to social media for the first time since he issued a grovelling apology for his drunken kiss. Taking to Instagram, Georgia shared a picturesque post of blooming daffodils, with the caption: 'SPRING.' It comes after sources said Georgia is keen to avoid being seen as a 'pushover' by forgiving Danny too fast. A friend of Georgias revealed: She is furious not just with her husbands actions, but with all the chaos this has brought to their lives, particularly for their young son Cooper. All she wants to do is protect her boy from this mess. It has been overwhelming and she needs time to process what has happened. Only then can she begin to talk about the future. They are now on a break and are living apart from each other. Two days after making a cringeworthy return to social media , Danny released a statement apologising to his wife Georgia for 'putting her in the situation'. On Instagram, two weeks after the kiss took place, Danny wrote: '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. The source said that while they may still be married, Danny and Georgia are 'not together' (Seen in December) Two days after making a cringeworthy return to social media, Danny released a statement apologising to his wife Georgia for 'putting her in the situation' '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.' A source close to the musician told the Mirror that ' He has been mortified about what's happened and the awful situation he has put everyone in. 'He cares so deeply about his family and hopes his words will draw a line under what has been a deeply upsetting time for everyone. Georgia and his son are absolutely everything to him.' They added: 'He and Georgia are living together and trying to work things through but he is not out of the woods. He will be in the doghouse for a while yet.' Maura is yet to comment on the drama, and instead recently jetted to Los Angeles for a shoot with the clothing brand Oh Polly. Stephen 'tWitch' Boss' widow Allison Holker flaunted her taut, 5ft3in bikini body while enjoying the beach at an undisclosed resort on Thursday. The 37-year-old mother-of-three - who has 7.2M social media followers - captioned her Instagram slideshow: 'Much needed reset and relax day!' Allison showcased her suspiciously larger bust in a purple sparkly underwire halter top and matching baggy briefs while performing a twirl for the camera. Holker wore aviator sunglasses over her made-up complexion and she side parted her dark-rooted, waist-length blonde waves for the sunny outing. The bikini snaps must have been old as the So You Think You Can Dance judge was enjoying NCAA March Madness at Ball Arena in Denver, CO on Thursday where the BYU Cougars beat the VCU Rams (80-71). And last Saturday, Allison was in Hollywood attending the world premiere of Disney's Snow White with her blended brood - daughter Weslie Renae Fowler, 16; from a prior relationship as well as son Maddox, nearly 9; and daughter Zaia, 5; with her late husband. Stephen 'tWitch' Boss' widow Allison Holker flaunted her taut, 5ft3in bikini body while enjoying the beach at an undisclosed resort on Thursday Last month, Holker managed to outrage Boss' friends and family over her newly-published tell-all This Far, in which she quoted private journal entries that alleged his drug addiction and childhood molestation by a male figure. The CLI Studios co-founder also claimed she uncovered a 'cornucopia' of drugs including mushrooms and pills - inside shoeboxes in the Alabama-born pop-and-locking dancer's closet while picking out an outfit for him to wear at his funeral. However, Stephen's autopsy showed no drugs nor alcohol in his system when he took his own life, at age 40, in 2022 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Boss committed suicide in a suite at the Oak Tree Inn in Encino just three days after celebrating his ninth wedding anniversary with Allison. Ironically it was Holker who was reportedly arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct at the Salt Lake City Airport back in 2018 - according to gossip blogger Katie Paulson. On February 11, The Ellen DeGeneres Show producer-host-DJ's uncle Alan Boss created a GoFundMe, which has raised over $38K of a $250K goal, to pay legal fees exploring a potential defamatory civil lawsuit against Allison. 'We, the Boss family, are completely appalled by the misleading accounts and inconsistencies in Allison's book,' Stephen's mother Connie Boss wrote in a statement February 12. 'Her portrayal of Stephen appears to reshape his story into a narrative that aligns with her perspective. These statements, along with her insensitive opinions about mental health, add unnecessary hurt during an already difficult time. 'Stephen does not deserve this treatment, in life or death, and her accounts cause us to doubt everything she has uttered publicly and privately.' The 37-year-old mother-of-three - who has 7.2M social media followers - captioned her Instagram slideshow: 'Much needed reset and relax day!' Allison showcased her suspiciously larger bust in a purple sparkly underwire halter top and matching baggy briefs while performing a twirl for the camera Holker wore aviator sunglasses over her made-up complexion and she side parted her dark-rooted, waist-length blonde waves for the sunny outing The bikini snaps must have been old as the So You Think You Can Dance judge was enjoying NCAA March Madness at Ball Arena in Denver, CO on Thursday where the BYU Cougars beat the VCU Rams (80-71) And last Saturday, Allison was in Hollywood attending the world premiere of Disney's Snow White with her blended brood - daughter Weslie Renae Fowler, 16; from a prior relationship as well as son Maddox, nearly 9; and daughter Zaia, 5; with her late husband Last month, Holker managed to outrage Boss' friends and family over her newly-published tell-all This Far, in which she quoted private journal entries that alleged his drug addiction and childhood molestation by a male figure However, the Alabama-born pop-and-locking dancer's autopsy showed no drugs nor alcohol in his system when he took his own life, at age 40, in 2022 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head (pictured in 2022) On February 11, Stephen's uncle Alan Boss created a GoFundMe, which has raised over $38K of a $250K goal, to pay legal fees exploring a potential defamatory civil lawsuit against Allison Boss' mother Connie Boss wrote in a statement February 12: 'We, the Boss family, are completely appalled by the misleading accounts and inconsistencies in Allison's book' Connie continued: 'Her portrayal of Stephen appears to reshape his story into a narrative that aligns with her perspective. These statements, along with her insensitive opinions about mental health, add unnecessary hurt during an already difficult time' The Emmy-nominated choreographer claimed she 'donated all the proceeds' of the book to her foundation Move with Kindness, but the alleged non-profit has no official website nor office - only a ramshackle Instagram account with 64 followers It's unclear if Holker is still dating fellow Utah native and Entrata CEO Adam Edmunds, who has three sons from a prior relationship, as she hasn't posted a snap of him since December 23 Holker has since stressed her 'only intention' in writing the 240-page memoir was for other people to 'catch some [of] the red flags that I missed before it's too late.' The Emmy-nominated choreographer claimed she 'donated all the proceeds' of the book to her foundation Move with Kindness, but the alleged non-profit has no official website nor office - only a ramshackle Instagram account with 64 followers. It's unclear if Allison is still dating fellow Utah native and Entrata CEO Adam Edmunds, who has three sons from a prior relationship, as she hasn't posted a snap of him since December 23. Boss originally met Holker in 2006 while she competed on the second season of So You Think You Can Dance, but they didn't start dating until 2010. Advertisement After recently reuniting with her teen daughter Suri Cruise for spring break, Katie Holmes is back to her busy Hollywood schedule. On Thursday, The Dawson's Creek star, 46, attended the star-studded grand opening party for Printemps' new New York City store. Holmes looked incredibly youthful while modeling a chic brown outfit inside the invite-only event. Her face appeared wrinkle-free as she enhanced her natural beauty with soft glam makeup. Holmes' long brunette hair flowed down her chest while she struck pose after pose in a ruched brown patterned frock. She completed her look with sheer tights, brown leather heels and a pink suede handbag. After recently reuniting with her teen daughter Suri Cruise for spring break, Katie Holmes is back to her busy Hollywood schedule On Thursday, The Dawson's Creek star, 46, attended the star-studded grand opening party for Printemps' new New York City store The mother-of-one has been enjoying the fashion scene in recent weeks as she recently jetted France for Paris Fashion Week. She was seated front row at the the Zimmermann show along with fellow actress Rose Byrne. To check out the designer's Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025/2026, Holmes rocked a loose fitting cream co-ord and went braless in a plunging brown top. She completed her runway-ready look with a brown handbag and white heels. Days before her trip to Paris, Holmes was spotted on a rare outing with 18-year-old daughter Suri near their home in New York City. She shares Suri with ex-husband and Top Gun star Tom Cruise, who she divorced in 2012 after five years of marriage. Holmes was photographed strolling around the Big Apple with Suri during the teen's college break on Saturday, March 8. The duo were last spotted in the city together in late January when Suri showed her support and attended Holmes' final performance for the Broadway play Our Town. Holmes looked incredibly youthful while modeling a chic brown outfit inside the invite-only event Her face appeared wrinkle-free as she enhanced her natural beauty with soft glam makeup Holmes' long brunette hair flowed down her chest while she struck pose after pose in a ruched brown patterned frock Later in the night, Katie appeared to be in jovial spirits as she posed up a storm with Jean-Marc Bellaiche She flashed a huge smile while sporting an elegant ensemble and socialised with the stars Suri who is currently a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was a regular fixture at her mother's performances this past season, including when she joined the cast and crew of Our Town to celebrate Holmes' 46th birthday in December. The mother-daughter duo have been estranged from Cruise, Holmes' ex-husband and Suri's father, for over a decade. Holmes previously started dating the actor in April 2005, and it was only seven weeks after they met when Cruise asked her to marry him. The following year, she gave birth to Suri on the anniversary of her first date with Cruise. Later that same year, Holmes and Cruise tied the knot in Italy. During their time together, Holmes started practicing Scientology, Cruise's religion, but it reportedly became an issue of contention between them over time. In 2012, after less than six years of marriage, Holmes filed for divorce. Sources close to Holmes later claimed she feared he would abduct their daughter, and her decision to step away from the Church of Scientology was reportedly a major issue that led to their split. The mother-of-one has been enjoying the fashion scene in recent weeks as she recently jetted France for Paris Fashion Week; seen in Paris on March 10 Katie's NYC outing comes shortly after her daughter Suri Cruise who is currently a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania returned home for spring break Holmes shares the 18-year-old with ex-husband Tom Cruise, 16, who she split from in 2012; the exes seen in 2012 Suri last visited mom Katie in January when she attended the final performance of Katie's Broadway play Our Town; Suri seen at a different Our Town performance in December In the years since divorcing Cruise, Holmes has remained relatively tight lipped about her only child. However, she made rare remarks about how 'proud' she is of Suri during a candid interview with Town & Country last year. With the interview taking place shortly before Suri went off to college, Katie admitted to the outlet that she would miss having the 18-year-old at home. 'I'm proud of my daughter. Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I'm really proud of her and I'm happy,' the TV star gushed. Holmes added that she was 'excited' for the start of Suri's journey into young adulthood. 'I remember being this age, this time of beginnings,' she said. 'It's exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that.' Advertisement Reese Witherspoon looked youthful just two days before her 49th birthday while modeling in a flower-filled campaign for her Kohl's collaboration with Draper James, the clothing company she founded in 2015. In the spread, the Oscar-winning actress struck a pose in the $31.99 white Draper James 'Short Sleeve Pointelle Sweater,' which she paired with cuffed blue jeans and white stiletto heels. Reese - who boasts 46.5M social media followers - wrote on the first day of spring Thursday: 'Spring is finally here! Time for sunshine, fresh blooms, and cute new spring outfits!' And in honor of Witherspoon's birthday, Draper James is currently having a 30% off sale online through Monday with a special promo code. The You're Cordially Invited producer-star's post received glowing comments from Shark Tank's Lori Greiner and comedian Ali Wentworth. On Monday, Reese (born Laura Jeanne) was in Nashville, TN to moderate a Q&A with The Tell author Amy Griffin at Harpeth Hall School's Frances Bond Davis Theatre for an event sponsored by Parnassus Books. Reese Witherspoon looked youthful just two days before her 49th birthday while modeling in a flower-filled campaign for her Kohl's collaboration with Draper James, the clothing company she founded in 2015 'I just want to say, I'm so sorry this happened,' Witherspoon said of the 46-year-old venture capitalist's childhood sexual abuse. 'I've said two million times but it's going to get me emotional. And you can repeat it and repeat it and repeat it,' the Reese's Book Club founder added, wiping away tears. Amy - whose memoir is No. 2 on NY Times Bestsellers list for hardcover non-fiction - is an investor in many brands and companies, including Reese's production company Hello Sunshine she co-founded with Strand Equity founder Seth Rodsky in 2016. Afterwards, Griffin gushed via Instastory: '@reesewitherspoon I have watched you stand up for generations of women, thank you for standing beside me on this last tour stop.' On February 13, Witherspoon announced that starlet Lexi Minetree would be playing the teenage version of her Legally Blonde character Elle Woods in Prime Video's upcoming nineties-set prequel series, Elle. Filming reportedly begins this month on the high school-set prequel with Laura Kittrell serving as showrunner and the New Orleans-born blonde serving as executive producer. On December 5, Reese wrapped the fourth season of Apple TV+ newsroom drama The Morning Show, for which she reportedly earns $2M per episode to executive produce and play UBA co-host Bradley Jackson. Witherspoon will also soon executive produce and reprise her role as Madeline Mackenzie in the third season of HBO's Big Little Lies. On the personal front, the Buick paid partner is mother to 12-year-old son Tennessee Toth from her 11-year marriage to ex-Quibi head of content acquisitions and talent Jim Toth, which ended in 2023. Reese also has two adult children - Ava Phillippe, 25; and Deacon Phillippe, 21 - from her seven-year marriage to Cruel Intentions leading man Ryan Phillippe, which ended in 2007. In the spread, the Oscar-winning actress struck a pose in the $31.99 white Draper James 'Short Sleeve Pointelle Sweater,' which she paired with cuffed blue jeans and white stiletto heels Reese - who boasts 46.5M social media followers - wrote on the first day of spring Thursday: 'Spring is finally here! Time for sunshine, fresh blooms, and cute new spring outfits!' On Monday, Witherspoon was in Nashville, TN to moderate a Q&A with The Tell author Amy Griffin (R) at Harpeth Hall School's Frances Bond Davis Theatre The You're Cordially Invited producer-star said of the 46-year-old venture capitalist's childhood sexual abuse: 'I just want to say, I'm so sorry this happened. I've said two million times but it's going to get me emotional' Amy - whose memoir is No. 2 on NY Times Bestsellers list for hardcover non-fiction - is an investor in many brands and companies, including Reese's production company Hello Sunshine she co-founded in 2016 Gene Hackman's death last month has opened up the potential for a major battle over his $80 million fortune. The late actor, who police believe died around February 18 at age 95, had a living trust at the time of his death but all of the people he listed as successor trustees were already dead before his own passing. According to documents obtained by DailyMail.com, a representative of Hackman's estate filed a petition Monday requesting that a new temporary successor trustee be appointed. On Thursday, District Judge Maria Sanchez-Gagne approved the request and instituted Avalon Trust, LLC, as a temporary successor at the recommendation of the estate's representative, Julia Peters. The actor had left everything to his wife, Betsy Arakawa, but she is believed to have died a week before he did. Their bodies were found on the same day in their Santa Fe house. Now, Avalon Trust will be tasked with dishing out Hackman's fortune. It's likely it will be divided between his three children. But Laura Cowan, an award-winning estate planning attorney and the founder of the 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer, told Daily Mail the process may not be entirely smooth sailing. She explained that when someone creates a living trust, 'they pick a successor trustee to manage and distribute the trust assets when they're gone.' But she highlighted the major mistake Hackman made with his trusts that could lead to serious complications over his massive estate down the line. Hackman left everything to his wife, Betsy Arakawa, but she died a week before he did The actor left his $80 million Hollywood fortune to his wife Betsy, who was a successor trustee to his trust. It's unclear if his three children, son Christopher Allen, 65, and daughters Leslie Anne, 58, and Elizabeth Jean, 62, from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese, were left anything in his will; seen with Betsy, Leslie and Elizabeth in 1996 'Mr. Hackman did [pick successor trustees], but the people he picked all passed away before he did,' she said. By appointing Avalon Trust, LLC, to be the temporary sole trustee of Hackman's trust, the court will ensure that 'taxes are filed, beneficiaries are notified, and nothing slips through the cracks. 'Its a common, proactive step in high-stakes estates, especially when multiple deaths or complex family dynamics are involved,' Cowan continued. She added: While most details of a revocable living trust remain private, court filings related to disputes, trustee appointments, or probate of assets left outside the trust could reveal some information. 'While the full trust is unlikely to be made publicly available, key details like trustee powers or asset distributions could become part of the court record under specific circumstances. Cowan said those special circumstances could include if the heirs contest the trust. Portions of it may be submitted as evidence in court. 'Or, if some assets were not properly transferred into the trust, they could go through probate, and court records may mention the trust as part of estate administration. Cowan also said since Gene didn't change his will for years, the estate may also face unnecessary complications like further tax burdens, delays, and additional probate costs. As an estate planning attorney, what we struggle with so often is people think wills are only for the wealthy, Cowan said. And I think whats interesting about Gene Hackmans estate is that the problems he had has nothing to do with him being wealthy. 'The first problem is that his will was 20 years old. And now theres the question about whether it really reflect his wishes. Cowan said the temporary trustee ensures 'taxes are filed, beneficiaries are notified, and nothing slips through the cracks. Its a common, proactive step in high-stakes estates, especially when multiple deaths or complex family dynamics are involved'; Hackman is pictured in Unforgiven 'And then there is also the issue that he and his wife died around the same time. Who died first and where will the money go? 'That has nothing to do with being rich and famous,' Cowan continued. Also, it is interesting since they are 30 years apart in age, so they probably didnt think they would die so closely, and now it could cause some legal problems. Peters' original petition indicated that the majority of Hackman's estate is held in two separate trusts: GeBe Revocable Trust and the Gene Hackman Living Trust. According to the emergency petition, Hackman had designated that, in the event of his death, control of the Gene Hackman Living Trust would be transferred to his wife Betsy Arakawa, and in the event of her death, Michael G. Sutin would handle the trust. But Sutin died in 2019, and the trusts were not amended following his death. Police also announced that Arakawa is believed to have died as the result of respiratory trouble brought on by the rare but deadly hantavirus around a week before Hackman ultimately succumbed, leaving his estate with no one living to manage this the trusts. Earlier this month, the contents of Hackman and Arakawa's wills were revealed. The Oscar-winning actor left his $80 million Hollywood fortune to his wife Betsy, who died at 65 and was a successor trustee to his trust. It's unclear if his three children son Christopher Allen, 65; and daughters Leslie Anne, 58; and Elizabeth Jean, 62; from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese were left anything in his will. The possible omission of his children, who he was once estranged from, has raised the possibility of a legal battle over his fortune. A legal expert told DailyMail.com: 'If he died first and she [Betsy] had survived, it wouldve been World War III. 'His kids would've probably gone crazy.' In her will, Betsy designates her assets to a trust, to be distributed to charitable organizations and the settlement of medical debts. Hackman, who had Alzheimer's, seemingly signed the most recent copy of his will on June 7, 2005. It's unclear exactly when he was diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease. Details of the investigation into the curious deaths of Gene and Betsy were released Friday by Santa Fe, New Mexico officials. The couple was found deceased in separate rooms of their home on February 26. Arakawa died around February 11 from a rare virus spread by mice, while Hackman likely died on February 18 from heart disease. Attorney Julia Peters has been appointed as executor of both wills, though it's unclear how the estates will be divided without a copy of the Trust. The possible omission of his children, who he was once estranged from, has raised the possibility of a legal battle over his fortune; Elizabeth and Leslie pictured in February Gene initially had another trust (GeBe Revocable Trust), but in 1994 he exercised his power of appointment and made Betsy the Successor Trustee, which was then put into effect on Sept. 22, 1995. At some point, Gene made another change, and the Avalon Trust was made the Successor Trustee. The prior trust agreement is crucial, as it may have included his children as beneficiaries before he amended it in 1994, making Betsy the successor trustee. The source further noted that Gene's son Chris' decision to hire Andrew M. Katzenstein, a prominent California trust and estate attorney, is notable. 'By hiring Katzenstein, it shows that he [Chris] is definitely trying to protect his interests.' 'The fact that Chris got a high-powered lawyer indicates to me something is going on. I dont know why the girls [daughters] are not represented. That tells me that there must be some trouble brewing. 'Whatever they collect from the estate will be managed by Avalon,' the source added. In her will, Betsy states: 'If my spouse does not survive me, I give the residue of my estate to my personal representative, as trustee, to hold and administer in a charitable trust to achieve purposes beneficial to the community, consistent with the charitable preferences and interests expressed or indicated by my spouse and me during our lifetimes.' A legal expert told DailyMail.com 'If he died first and she [Betsy] had survived, it wouldve been World War III! His kids would've probably gone crazy'; seen with his three kids in 1978 The source further noted that Gene's son Chris' decision to hire Andrew M. Katzenstein, a prominent California trust and estate attorney, is notable. 'The fact that Chris got a high-powered lawyer indicates to me something is going on. I dont know why the girls [daughters] are not represented'; Gene seen with his kids 'All my legally enforceable debts will be paid as soon as practicable after my death,' the document specifies. As for her personal belongings which could be items like furniture, jewelry, artwork Betsy's will states she might provide a separate list for their distribution. Hackman's commitment to the glamorous Hollywood scene caused a rift in his family life. His marriage to Faye ended in divorce and Hackman became somewhat absentee while the trio were 'growing up'. He 'lost touch' with Christopher, openly admitting that he was 'gone so much' while his son was at an 'age where he needed support and guidance'. He seemingly maintained contact with Leslie and Elizabeth, who were both spotted on occasion accompanying him to film screenings and Hollywood events. But Hackman has acknowledged his children had a difficult upbringing and struggled with having his 'success always hanging over their heads'. It wasn't until he married his second wife in 1991 that the family began to heal. Arakawa was keen on helping Hackman reconcile with his children and encouraged him to invite them and his grandchildren over to their Santa Fe home. At the end of his life, Hackman was reportedly 'close with his children and their kids', but he still had gone months without seeing Leslie, the one family member who had the most contact with both him and Arakawa. Hackman, who had Alzheimer's, seemingly signed the most recent copy of his will on June 7, 2005. It's unclear exactly when he was diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease; seen with Leslie in 1991 Betsy was found in a bathroom with one of the couple's three dogs, which was dead in its crate. These conclusions from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and Santa Fe Sheriff's office answered many of the questions that were swirling after the couple's bodies were found by a caretaker of their gated community. They may also play a role in divvying up the couple's property the $3.8 million home in Santa Fe and other assets that amount to some $80 million, according to celebritynetworth.com. This could have implications for any inheritance that Hackman's son and two daughters receive. Arakawa, a pianist from Hawaii, had no children. The timing of the couple's deaths is important because, under New Mexico law, had they died within 120 hours of each other, their deaths would have been classified as 'simultaneous.' This may have impacted how the estates of Hackman and Arakawa were divided. But given that investigators found Hackman lived for seven days after his wife, based on his pacemaker activity, those provisions would not apply, and his estate may be divided among his beneficiaries other than Arakawa, experts said. 'In a lot of states, including New Mexico, there's a kind of presumptive triggering deadline of five days before you're considered having survived under the terms of most wills,' Kevin Holmes of Holmes Law Firm told DailyMail.com. He seemingly maintained contact with Leslie and Elizabeth, who were both spotted on occasion accompanying him to film screenings and Hollywood events; seen in 1978 The couple was found deceased in separate rooms of their home on February 26. Arakawa died around February 11 from a rare virus spread by mice, while Hackman likely died on February 18 from heart disease (Pictured: The couple in 1991) There are many unknowns that could come into play in the coming weeks, said John Budagher, an attorney at Budagher & Tann. 'It's your money,' says Budagher. 'You're allowed to give it to whomever you want, including a donkey sanctuary in Connecticut.' Another important factor could be the date on which any will or legal documents were signed, he added. That's especially true for Hackman, given his deterioration from Alzheimer's, as any recent updates to his papers could be queried. 'If it's more recent, that doesn't mean it's invalid, it just means it's riper for a potential challenge especially if it's doing something like leaving everything to a caretaker,' said Budagher. Other unknown factors include whether Hackman and Arakawa made any pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements, and if any children or other potential beneficiaries will make claims on the estate. And though there is likely to be some action in the coming days, the whole process could take much longer under New Mexico law, family members and others have up to three years of a person's death to file a probate case. Hackman's two daughters and granddaughter Annie, have released a statement saying they were 'devastated' by his death. 'He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa,' said the statement. Arakawa is said to have died first due to her infection, which initially presents with flu like symptoms. Hackman is believed to have died in the home (pictured) about a week later Leslie told DailyMail.com that she was 'close' with her dad but that they had not spoken for a 'few months' before his passing. While Santa Fe Sheriff Adam Mendoza says he's confident of the timeline of what occurred at the couple's property, he told reporters on Friday that the case remains open until they 'close the loopholes.' Despite each of the deaths being ruled as natural, with no signs of internal or external trauma, Mendoza has insisted authorities are not done with the investigation. Specifically, the sheriff said officers are waiting to see the couple's cell phone records, as well as the results of a necropsy, or autopsy, that is set to be conducted on their deceased dog. According to a search warrant obtained by DailyMail.com detectives listed two cellphones among the items taken from their home. Hackman and Arakawa met in a gym in California in the mid-1980s and moved to Sante Fe shortly after, before getting married in 1991. They were active in the city's art community and culinary scene. In recent years, they were seen less often in town as his health deteriorated. They lived a very private life before their deaths, Mendoza said. Both Hackman and Arakawa appeared to have suddenly fallen to the floor and neither showed signs of blunt force trauma. Their 12-year-old dog Zinna was found dead along with them in the home. She is believed to have died from starvation and dehydration after being left to fend for herself in a crate after her owners died (Pictured: Hackman and Arakawa with their old dogs in 2005) Arakawa was found lying on her side in the bathroom, an apparent victim of the rodent-borne hantavirus, a rare disease in the US. Most US cases are concentrated in the West. In northern New Mexico, the virus is mostly spread by droppings and urine of deer mice. It is often transmitted through the air when people sweep out sheds or clean closets where mice have been living. It begins with flu-like symptoms and can lead to heart and lung failure, with around 38 percent to 50 percent of cases resulting in death. The couple's 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix, Zinna, was found dead inside a crate in the same room. Arakawa had picked up Zinna in a crate on February 9 from a Santa Fe veterinarian, which may explain why the dog was found dead in the crate, Mendoza said. It may have died of starvation. Their two other dogs, Bear and Nikita, survived and were found roaming around the couple's Southwestern-style ranch. Hackman was discovered lying on the ground of a mud room just off the kitchen with his sunglasses and cane nearby, indicating he may have fallen, officials said. Hackman's life until 2004 was lived in the Hollywood glare - he is pictured with friend and Unforgiven co-star Clint Eastwood at the 1993 Oscars There was no trace of carbon monoxide in the bodies of the couple, despite many thinking they were poisoned initially. Hackman, a former Marine known for his raspy voice, appeared in more than 80 films, as well as on television and the stage during a lengthy career that started in the early 1960s. He earned his first Oscar nomination for his breakout role as the brother of bank robber Clyde Barrow in 1967's 'Bonnie and Clyde.' He won an Oscar for best actor in 1972 for his portrayal of detective Popeye Doyle in 'The French Connection,' and in 1993 won an Oscar for best supporting actor for 'Unforgiven.' Advertisement A former Block contestant has plead guilty to trespassing, common assault, and stealing after she illegally entered a Southport home on the Gold Coast. Suzi Taylor, real name Suellen Jan Taylor, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday regarding an incident which occurred at 7.55pm on October 5, 2024. Taylor, 54, admitted to assaulting a woman after she and a co-defendant went to the southeast Queensland house on Baretta St in the belief the reality TV star had left property there prior to a 50-day stint in jail last year. The former 'high-class escort' originally faced a charge of entering a premises to commit an indictable offence; however, that was negotiated down to a trespass charge. Police prosecutor Corey Cook told the court Taylor and her co-defendant went through a locked security gate and knocked on the front of the door of the home. When a woman of Nepalese origin answered, Taylor demanded: 'Where's Jimmy?' Former Block contestant Suzi Taylor, 54, has plead guilty to trespassing, common assault, and stealing after she illegally entered a Southport home on the Gold Coast The woman closed the door in response, but Taylor opened it again and entered the property, after which Taylor took the woman's mobile phone and began to search the place while her co-defendant kept watch at the door. As Taylor attempted to leave the house with a shopping bag full of stolen possessions and the woman's phone, the woman followed and pleaded Taylor to return her mobile. At this point, Taylor shoved the woman in the chest and exited the property with the stolen possessions, but left the phone behind. Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby told the court Taylor believed she had left possessions in the care of a man named Jimmy prior to her serving 50 days in jail for evading police last August. He said Taylor was provoked into assaulting the occupant of the home when the woman switched on the torch light on her phone and pointed it at Taylor. Mr Gatenby added Taylor was enraged because she was previously 'set-up' by another woman in the past who allegedly provoked Taylor into a confrontation in order to provide the footage to A Current Affair. Taylor's life had allegedly fallen apart after Channel Nine aired the ACA segment. 'She has fallen so far from being a person who enjoyed some real successes,' Mr Gatenby said. Taylor, real name Suellen Jan Taylor, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday regarding an incident which occurred at 7.55pm on October 5, 2024 He went on to tell the court Taylor became homeless 'as a consequence of the Channel Nine matters' and was attempting to put her life back together and seek professional help. Mr Cook said Taylor has a criminal history of minor drug and property offences which was indicative of someone with substance misuse issues. After Taylor pleaded guilty, Magistrate Bentley fined the former reality TV star, who appeared on The Block in 2015, $750 and ordered her to pay the complainant $500 compensation. Taylor has 23 unrelated charges still before the courts, including drug trafficking, but those have been adjourned until April 1. It comes after Taylor shared a heartbreaking confession in her final social media post for 2024. Taking to Instagram at the time, the former Block star revealed she is still estranged from her three children Bella, 20, Zac, 18, and Alex, 16, following 'years' of legal woes. Posting a selfie to her followers, Taylor shared the past few years, which have seen her mired in legal woes, had taught her a 'heartbreaking lesson'. 'The past few years have been filled with heartbreak. Losing loved ones, the absence of my children in my life,' she began the expansive post. Taylor admitted to assaulting a woman after she and a co-defendant went to the southeast Queensland house on Baretta St in the belief the reality TV star had left property there prior to a 50-day stint in jail last year She claimed family members had cut ties with her due to exaggerated media reports without 'ever seeking to understand the truth'. 'This experience has been a heartbreaking lesson in the meaning of family and unconditional love,' she wrote. The candid post continued with Taylor admitting the situation had forced her to redefine what family is. 'Even in the midst of such profound loss and isolation, I have found resilience. I have learned that family isn't always defined by blood; it can be the unexpected souls who step in during our darkest moments,' Taylor said. Finishing the expansive post, Taylor said she was hopeful for a more positive 2025. 'As we enter 2025, I carry with me the lessons of the past and the hope for brighter days ahead,' she said. 'Here's to healing, new connections, and redefining what family means. May this year bring us all the strength to embrace the love that truly matters. #newbeginnings' Taylor was arrested in August after she was allegedly caught with methylamphetamine at Southport on the Gold Coast. Police also alleged the former star was driving a vehicle without a licence and ignored police requests to stop on Stapylton Jacobs Well Road a day before. The former Penthouse Pet was charged with breaching a bail undertaking she signed on August 1 when released from custody on separate drug trafficking charges. Taylor's latest charges include evasion offence at night, possessing dangerous drugs, breaching bail, unlicensed driving as a repeat offender, and failing to stop on a red traffic arrow or stop line. The arrest came a fortnight after Taylor was released on bail for alleged drug trafficking and other offences. Police alleged she trafficked heroin, MDMA, meth and marijuana between March 24 and July 13. Taylor was also charged with possession of drugs, possession of firearms and more than $55,000 said to be the proceeds of trafficking. Her defence lawyer Mr Gatenby told the bail hearing on August 1 there was little evidence linking Taylor to the alleged trafficking or firearms and other items allegedly found in her storage shed. He added the $55,000 Taylor was allegedly found with could be linked to her career as a 'high-class escort'. 'There are links to celebrities and the like that are alleged to be clients of Ms Taylor, so that's not a controversial proposition,' he told the court at the time. Dianne Buswell has issued a health update on her dad Mark following his recent heart surgery, days after sparking concern with a snap of him in hospital. Last weekend, the Strictly Come Dancing professional, 35, shared an Instagram photo of herself with her dad who was lying in a hospital bed, with Dianne calling him her 'super hero'. While at the time she didn't disclose what was wrong, she later revealed on her and Strictly partner Chris McCausland's podcast Winning Isn't Everything that her dad ended up having open heart surgery after concerns were flagged during the regular check-ups he receives due to his previous cancer battle. She told how doctors were pleased with the rate of Mark's recovery, having undergone a double heart bypass due to the main artery to his heart being blocked. And now in a new update shared on Thursday, Dianne - who has returned to her native Australia to be with her family - revealed that her 'champion' dad has been 'walking around the ward' before going on to praise his 'strength'. Dianne penned: 'And hes up and walking around the ward like a champion after his heart surgery my poor dad has had a tough 18 months but in true Buswell style has shown strength and resilience Dianne Buswell has issued a health update on her dad Mark following his recent heart surgery, days after sparking concern with a snap of him in hospital Last weekend, the Strictly Come Dancing professional, 35, shared an Instagram photo of herself with her dad who was lying in a hospital bed, with Dianne calling him her 'super hero' 'And my beautiful mum who has been the saviour in it all she is by his side 24/7 and has been a little trooper you are one of a kind mum love you both and I feel so lucky I was able to be here with you both @mark.3802 @rinabuswell.' Alongside her caption, Dianne shared an image of herself cuddling up to her father in his hospital bed, with Mark sweetly wearing a cap in support of Dianne and Chris' Strictly stint. She also uploaded a photo of herself beaming alongside her dad and mum Rina at the hospital, with the dancer basking in a beam of sunlight. Her post was met with a plethora of well wishes from her fans, who were quick to share their hopes for a speedy recovery for her father. One penned: 'Mark is an absolute trouper! even wearing his chris and dianne hat bless him. sending you all so much love!' 'Get well soon Mark, we need those vlogs. Sending so much love to all the Buswells, especially our faves Mark and Rina. Your positivity is inspiring Dianne. Remember to take care of yourself as well, you have just gone through a lot ' penned another. While a third added: 'Mark youre an absolute warrior sending you so much love and well wishes.' Several of Dianne's Strictly co-stars also shared messages of support including Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez, Nancy Xu and Vito Coppola. She later revealed on her and Strictly partner Chris McCausland 's podcast Winning Isn't Everything that her dad ended up having open heart surgery in a new update shared on Thursday, Dianne - who has returned to her native Australia to be with her family - revealed that her 'champion' dad has been 'walking around the ward' 'And hes up and walking around the ward like a champion after his heart surgery my poor dad has had a tough 18 months but in true Buswell style has shown strength and resilience ' In her previous podcast with Chris, 47, Dianne opened up on the challenging and busy time she's had during her trip back home to Australia. While she also noted that she's wearing a hat in her dad's honour, which is the same hat he wore while cheering the pair on to victory during the Strictly final in December. She said: 'I thought I'm going to wear it in honour of Mark today because in this podcast I think we'll talk about Mark a fair bit'. To which Chris said: 'Are we, Di? Why? What's possibly happened, Di?', with Dianne replying: 'Well Chris, the reason I'm still in Australia...' The red head then digressed, before continuing: 'My flight has been changed three times now to come home and in this short space of time that I've been on my holiday, because I went to a wedding in South Africa, on my holiday I've been to a wedding, I've been to a funeral, I've been to a christening, I've been in intensive care unit wards numerous times, we've been nominated for a BAFTA.... 'There's been so many ups and downs in this short space of time, it's been pretty intense. I'm still in Perth, I'm in a hotel room at the moment literally 500 metres from the Perth hospital and the reason I'm there is my dad's in there.' She then went on to discuss her dad's open heart surgery. In her previous podcast with Chris, 47, Dianne opened up on the challenging and busy time she's had during her trip back home to Australia 'There's been so many ups and downs in this short space of time, it's been pretty intense... I'm in a hotel literally 500 metres from the Perth hospital and the reason I'm there is my dad's there'[pictured, her parents emotionally watching her on Strictly] Back in April last year, Dianne shared the happy news that her father has finished chemotherapy after a gruelling 12 rounds of treatment. The professional dancer broke down in tears on the BBC show back in October 2023 after her father Mark was diagnosed with cancer. But taking to Instagram, Dianne revealed that her father had officially rung the bell to mark finishing his six months of treatment. Dianne shared a video full of snaps of herself with her father when she visited him the previous year, as well as clips of him ringing the bell. Back in April last year, Dianne shared the happy news that her father has finished chemotherapy after a gruelling 12 rounds of treatment The Strictly Come Dancing professional shared a video of herself in the hospital with her father as she praised him for having a 'positive mind frame' She wrote: 'To my daddy you did it 6 months later and 12 rounds done . I am so so PROUD of you its been a tough road but you have always done it with a smile and a thumbs up. 'I know you were scared and I know it was not easy but you have done it. I wish so much I could be there right now and just cuddle you . 'You're my hero and you have made me realise we all have so much more strength then we think.' In a tribute to her mother supporting Mark throughout his treatment, Dianne added: 'And to my beautiful mum who has not left your side and been the best support system ever, thank you. 'Us kids are so lucky to have you both we love you so much . Now we need to book that trip in back to UK for the both of you.' Advertisement Dominique Elissa has revealed a heartbreaking update about her mother Odile Faludi's health after the Aussie model got married to her fiance Tom Bull in the hospital. The pair tied the knot at Prince of Wales Hospital on March 7, just two weeks after getting engaged, so the bride, 29, could have the honour of having her ill mother walk her down the aisle. And earlier this week, Dominique revealed on Instagram her mother died just over a week later, on March 18, following a long battle with stage four cancer. Sharing a video montage of her mother looking joyful at her daughter's wedding earlier this month, Dominique wrote: 'This is heartbreaking and it doesn't feel real. 'Less than two weeks ago we celebrated our wedding, and yesterday I had to say goodbye to the most incredible woman who ever walked the planet. 'My mum has always been my greatest inspiration, fighting with grace, always saying that negativity is worse than cancer.' Dominique Elissa, 29, has revealed a heartbreaking update about her mother Odile Faludi's health after the Aussie model got married to her fiance Tom Bull in the hospital She continued: 'She was a glass half full sort of person until her last moments, showing strength and resilience that I truly can't comprehend. Rest in peace.' Dominique's famous friends flooded the comments of the heartbreaking post with messages of love, support and condolences. The Bachelor star Laura Byrne said: 'I am so deeply sorry for you and your loss. How special it is to have had a mother who you loved and loved you so much. She will be forever with you.' Model Elle Ferguson wrote: 'Sending you so much love. I am so deeply sorry for your loss x.' 'I'm so sorry Dom,' influencer Jade Tunchy added, as Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis commented: 'This is heartbreaking, I'm so sorry. Sending love and strength to you and the family. May she rest in peace.' Actress and model Laura Dundovic said: 'I'm so sorry. Sending you guys so much love and strength x.' Shoe designer Lana Wilkinson wrote: 'Sending so much love to you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss.' AFL WAG Bec Judd commented: 'I'm so sorry darling. Thinking of you x.' The pair tied the knot at Prince of Wales Hospital on March 7, just two weeks after getting engaged, so the bride could have the honour of having her ill mother walk her down the aisle Model Simone Holtznagel added, 'All of my love to you and your family Dom. I am so sorry for your loss,' as former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers said: 'I'm so sorry Dom, sending all my love to you.' 'Sending love to all,' wrote PR maven Roxy Jacenko, as Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine Yarbrough commented: 'So sorry for your loss.' Other notable friends who left their condolences included Amy Castano, Kayla Itsines, Bella Varelis, Brittany Hockley, Em Davies, Steph Claire Smith, Ruby Tuesday Matthews, Rachel Dillon, and Kath Ebbs. Dominique and fiance Tom tied the knot in Prince of Wales Hospital just two weeks after getting engaged. The Aussie model was forced to move her wedding ceremony to the hospital after her mother Odile's health began to decline following a stage four cancer diagnosis. She revealed on Instagram she was initially 'upset, angry and a mess' when she received the heartbreaking news, but decided she would stop at nothing to have her mother walk her down the aisle. Sharing images and video of the bittersweet ceremony with her followers, Dominique and Tom made the best of their union as they celebrated with their families, who met for the first time on the big day. Dominique spent her day swinging between laughter and tears as she shared heartbreaking videos of her nuptials and her mother's first look at her wedding dress. And earlier this week, Dominique revealed on Instagram her mother died just over a week later, on March 18, following a long battle with stage four cancer One tear-jerking clip saw the model struggling to hold back tears as she hugged her mother in her hospital room. 'Don't make me cry,' Dominique sobbed as her father pressed a kiss to her forehead while her mother slowly pulled herself out of bed. Odile wore a beautiful turquoise strapless gown for the big day, walking her daughter down the aisle as her husband pushed along her wheelchair. 'My mum's dream since I was born was to walk me down the aisle and we did everything to make it happen, even if it meant getting married at the hospital,' Dominique told her followers. 'Mum always said the biggest decision you'll ever make is who you spend the rest of your life with, and that always stuck with me. 'The most emotional 48 hours of my life. I'm in awe of this incredible woman. It's international woman's day as well, and she will forever be my greatest teacher and inspiration.' Elsewhere, Dominique detailed how heartbroken she first was when she learned she had to have her wedding ceremony at the hospital. 'When we were told the day before that we had to move our ceremony to the hospital, every part of me didn't want to do the reception anymore,' she said. Sharing a video montage of her mother looking joyful at her daughter's wedding earlier this month, Dominique wrote: 'This is heartbreaking and it doesn't feel real' Dominique's famous friends flooded the comments of the heartbreaking post with messages of love, support and condolences 'I was upset, angry and a mess. I took time away to think [about] the decision and realised it was more important than ever that our families could have time to unite and get to know each other,' she added. 'I'm so happy we did, and the sun came out to create some magic moments for us.' Dominique became engaged just two weeks before her wedding when Tom popped the question in Hawkesbury River near Sydney late last month. The model posted photos and a video of the momentous occasion to Instagram and showed off her stunning engagement ring. She also shared the sweet story behind the ringa family heirloom which has been in her family for 100 years. The ring, which once belonged to her great grandmother, features a huge square cut diamond set in a thick gold band. 'The ring story. Tom proposed with my great grandma's ring. My mum gave it to him when he asked for my parent's blessing,' she explained at the time. 'It's over 100 years old, yet it's timeless. A family heirloom that I feel so grateful to have for the rest of my life.' Dominique proudly flaunted the precious piece in several photos as she shared a passionate kiss with her new fiance. Tom got down on one knee outside the doors of a beautiful stone guesthouse set in the Australian native bushland of a historic homestead in Ebenezer. Video footage of the moment showed Tom telling Dominique: 'You know I love you more than anything in the entire world, don't you?' 'I know,' the model happily replied as she kissed her love, who proceeded to get down on one knee as their dog Crumble stood nearby. 'Baby, marry me?' he asked, to which she cried out: 'Yes, baby!' As they shared a passionate kiss, Dominique could then be heard laughing as she asked him: 'Is that why you were crying with my mum?' Dominique captioned the post with: '15/02/25the day my dream man became my forever man. 'The last few months have been filled with both the lowest and highest moments of my life. With it all Tom has been by my side, through thick and thin. 'I feel like the luckiest girl on the planet to call you mine 'Your heart is made of true gold and I cannot wait to start this new chapter with you. You, me and crumble.' Dominique and Tom began dating around May 2023. Music legend Sting and his wife Trudie Styler are celebrating some very happy news in the family. Their daughter Mickey Sumner has just got engaged, three years after the collapse of her marriage to tech CEO Chris Kantrowitz. Actress Mickey, 41, who appeared in The Marriage Story with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, and Battle of the Sexes with Emma Stone and Steve Carrell, confirmed the news on Thursday by sharing a photo on social media of her and her husband-to-be, Carter B Smith. 'Been crushing on you since 2007. I cant wait to be your wife @carterbsmith ,' she captioned it. She included a slew of sweet photos of the happy couple, including one of them kissing on the beach. Hollywood star Justin Theroux, whose wedding earlier this week - to actress Nicole Brydon Bloom - Mickey attended, commented on the post with three applause emoji and a red love heart emoji. Music legend Sting and his wife Trudie Styler are celebrating some very happy news in the family (Mickey and Carter pictured) Their daughter Mickey Sumner has just got engaged, three years after the collapse of her marriage to tech CEO Chris Kantrowitz Her aunt Heather Styler - sister of mum Trudie - wrote: 'I could not be happier for you darling Mickey.' Born in London and now living in Los Angeles, Mickey has been dating Carter for a couple of years. He is a director of photography who has shot artists including Snoop Dog, Mary J. Blige, Lou Reed, Martin Luther and Iggy Pop. Mickey filed for divorce from her first husband, Chris, after four year of marriage. They have a five-year-old son, Akira Rogue Kantrowitz, who was born on New Year's Eve in 2016. The actress tied the knot with gaming entrepreneur Kantrowitz in Tuscany in July 2017. Mickey opened up in April 2021 about raising her son Akira, who was born with developmental issues that doctors couldn't quite diagnose. She wrote an essay about raising her boy in Romper.com, revealing her son was two weeks early when she gave birth. At this moment in time, Akira is nonverbal, he is not walking, he is hard of hearing in both ears, has hypotonia, and global delays,' Sumner stated. Mickey pictured with her dad sting in February 'Been crushing on you since 2007. I cant wait to be your wife @carterbsmith ,' she captioned her post It comes three years after she filed for divorce from tech CEO Chris Kantrowitz 'My experience of motherhood has been a rollercoaster of emotions and mental health challenges. Ive been diagnosed with postpartum anxiety and postpartum OCD,' she added. She also revealed her first child was born at her father Sting's estate in Malibu, though he was rushed to the hospital after a 'difficult birth.' Mickey started her acting career in 2006 and landed small roles in Last Chance Harvey and Black Water Transit in 2008 and 2009. She landed the role of Francesca in the Showtime series The Borgias in 2011, which lead to roles in films such as Frances Ha in 2012. The actress could then be seen on the TNT series Snowpiercer, where she plays Bess Till. Advertisement Chloe Brockett has revealed she threw a VR headset at her boyfriend Jack Fincham in a blazing row. The TOWIE star, 24, admitted she lost her temper with the former Love Island winner, 33, after speaking out on rumours they had split up. Speaking on the Spread The Juice podcast, Chloe told how she bought the headset for Jack as a present. Chatting with host Jemma Lucy, she said: 'I bought Jack a Meta Quest for Christmas and I threw the Meta Quest at him. I just threw it at him.' When asked why she threw the headset, Chloe replied: 'Because I was angry.' It was recently claimed the couple had been locked in a series of rows as of late over the stress of Jack's court return. The TOWIE star, 24, was taken to hospital by Jack, 33, after she complained of feeling unwell and he is said to have stayed by her side all night On January 31, Jack was sentenced to six weeks in jail after his black cane corso dog Elvis bit a runner in 2022, although he is now out on bail pending an appeal. He has been ordered to pay 3680 to the courts, including a 200 compensation fee to his victim and a 50 compensation fee to a second unnamed victim. But in a sign of his reduced circumstances, he has been forced to negotiate a deal to pay off the money in 400 monthly installments. Jack will face a judge about his appeal again on Friday, March 21 where he will find out whether his custodial sentence will be upheld. There was speculation Chloe and Jack had split after they both deleted photos of each other from their social media. But Chloe reassured fans they are still together on Wednesday as she wrote on her Instagram Stories: 'For anyone concerned, I am very much still in a relationship. Chloe recently told how she had been feeling unwell, particularly after Jack was freed on bail for a dog attack There was speculation Chloe and Jack had split but she confirmed she is still in a relationship on Wednesday On January 31, Jack was sentenced to six weeks in jail after his black cane corso dog Elvis bit a runner in 2022, although he is now out on bail pending an appeal. 'The last few months have been very hard for everyone involved.' MailOnline has contacted a representative of Chloe Brockett for comment. Jack faced two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog, with a separate incident involving a woman occurring in Grays, Essex, in June 2024, although no injury was reported on that occasion. The Love Island winner pleaded guilty to the charge and was handed a custodial sentence after the judge determined handing Fincham a further suspended sentence was not appropriate. As the verdict was read out, Chloe broke down in tears and had to be led from the court room by his family members who were also in attendance. Following the hearing, Fincham's lawyer filed an appeal against the decision. The couple have since been spotted in Essex since the trial walking arm-in-arm, with the Love Island star granted bail pending the outcome of his appeal. Parker Posey was the picture of glamour on Thursday night, as she attended Printemps' grand opening cocktail party in New York. The actress, 56, commanded attention as she arrived in a button-up gold dress in a shimmery silk, with a matching belt to cinch her in at her tiny waist. She gave her outfit extra dramatic flair by draping a lavish cream fur coat over her shoulders and adding green bejewelled heels. Toting a small white leather handbag, Parker completed her luxe look with simple gold earrings and a slew of diamond rings. She wore her hair in neat curls and sported a full face of radiant makeup, adding a pop of colour with a classic red lip. The stunner was named 'Queen of the Indies' by TIME magazine in her nineties hey-day after roles in independent films like Party Girl, Dazed & Confused, The Doom Generation, Waiting for Guffman, and The House of Yes. Parker Posey was the picture of glamour on Thursday night, as she attended Printemps' grand opening cocktail party in New York The actress, 56, commanded attention as she arrived in a button-up gold dress in a shimmery silk, with a matching belt to cinch her in at her tiny waist She gave her outfit extra dramatic flair by draping a lavish cream fur coat over her shoulders and adding green bejewelled heels Parker's night out comes while she is winning rave reviews for her performance in the current season of The White Lotus. She plays wealthy North Carolina matriarch Victoria Ratliff, opposite Jason Isaacs as her husband Timothy and kids Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola as their kids Saxon, Piper and Lochlan. The Thelma star recently revealed that she and her cast mates were 'always going into hospital' while filming the smash hit show's third season in Thailand. Parker said diarrhoea was rife on the exotic set forcing the stars to leave their swanky 15K-a-night Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui accommodation to seek treatment . Nevertheless she praised the country's hospitals, revealing there was no wait to see a doctor and that patients could even get Botox and gushing everyone returned to set 'like they'd had the time of their lives'. Recalling her own brush with illness she told The Times: 'There was a piece of fish that left me and Sam Nivola, who plays my youngest son, on a few weeks of plain rice and pasta with the D-word and constipation alternating. '[People] were always going to the hospital and coming back like they'd had the time of their lives. 'Thai hospitals were so nice, you could do everything there you could get Botox and medicine easily, and waiting in line wasn't a thing'. Parker also said how she discovered the importance of self-care and indulged in the country's practices while filming for months at end in Thailand. Toting a small white leather handbag, Parker completed her luxe look with simple gold earrings and a slew of diamond rings She wore her hair in neat curls and sported a full face of radiant makeup, adding a pop of colour with a classic red lip Parker's night out comes while she is winning rave reviews for her performance in the current season of The White Lotus (pictured with co-star Jason Isaacs) She plays wealthy North Carolina matriarch Victoria Ratliff, opposite Jason Isaacs as her husband Timothy and kids Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola as their kids Saxon, Piper and Lochlan. 'I wasn't good at all that until now, but now I had all these massages, I got on board with all the supplements I needed, I did sound baths, reiki, Pilates. It felt needed. 'And the Thai culture is just so wise, it makes you feel, oh, I was so stupid taking this stuff personally.' After landing the sought-after role in the acclaimed anthology series, Parker admitted she was 'very excited' to spend six months filming in Thailand last year. Speaking to ET in January last year, she gushed: 'I had a really big day. I had my passport renewed because I'm going to White Lotus! I need to expedite that passport! 'I can't tell you anything. I signed an NDA. I can't say anything. But it'll be six months in Thailand. 'And it's the third [season], so that's when they get all the juices going, I guess. I got to read it. I love it. I'm really excited!' Amanda Holden looked more loved-up than ever on Thursday evening, as she enjoyed a date night with her husband Chris Hughes in Notting Hill. The radio presenter, 54, beamed from ear-to-ear as her music producer husband, 53, led her out of the Michelin star restaurant. She put on a dazzling display for their romantic meal, sporting a black denim jacket covered in gold embroidered flowers and leaves and gemstones. Amanda teamed the eye-catching number with a pair of coordinating denim flares with the same intricate pattern, that showcased her long legs. Adding even more sparkle to the look, the TV star toted a metallic gold clutch and wore a trio of choker necklaces. While Chris cut a dapper figure in a classic black suit layered over a velvet waistcoat and white collared shirt. Amanda Holden looked more loved-up than ever on Thursday evening, as she enjoyed a date night with her husband Chris Hughes in Notting Hill The radio presenter, 54, beamed from ear-to-ear as her music producer husband, 53, led her out of the Michelin star restaurant She put on a dazzling display for their romantic meal, sporting a black denim jacket covered in gold embroidered flowers and leaves and gemstones Ever the gentlemen, he held tightly onto his wife's hand and guided her out to their waiting car. Amanda and Chris first met in Los Angeles in 2003, before embarking on a romance the following year. They went on to tie the knot in 2008 and welcomed two daughters together - Alexa, 18, and 12-year-old Hollie. Earlier this month, Amanda opened up on the traumatic birth of her daughter Hollie in 2012, which nearly cost her her life. During a recent episode of Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job, the Britain's Got Talent judge fought back tears as she revealed to Alan Carr she had 'died' after giving birth. In a recent episode, the duo was seen unwinding with a bottle of Cava after a busy day of work, reflecting on their lives. Sitting on folded-up camper chairs and taking in some picturesque views with a bottle of Cava, the duo reflected on their lives. Amanda shared: 'When you look at massive landscapes like this, it does put things into perspective. When you lose someone, you believe, don't you, that they've gone somewhere. I'm not particularly religious, but I don't believe it's the end.' Amanda teamed the eye-catching number with a pair of coordinating denim flares with the same intricate pattern, that showcased her long legs Adding even more sparkle to the look, the TV star toted a metallic gold clutch and wore a trio of choker necklaces While Chris cut a dapper figure in a classic black suit layered over a velvet waistcoat and white collared shirt Ever the gentlemen, he held tightly onto his famous wife's hand and guided her out to their waiting car Amanda and Chris first met in Los Angeles in 2003, before embarking on a romance the following year Earlier this month, Amanda opened up on the traumatic birth of her daughter Hollie in 2012, which nearly cost her her life (pictured with Hollie in 2014) During a recent episode of Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job, the Britain's Got Talent judge fought back tears as she revealed to Alan Carr she had 'died' after giving birth (seen) She explained that there was a time when she was medically dead after giving birth to her second daughter with Chris, now 12. She revealed: 'Without being too maudlin, I had a really difficult birth with Hollie, which ended up with me in a coma. I died. 'I was in intensive care, and the baby was fine. And then when I came round and everything was alright, I never stopped thinking about death after that - how easy and close it is to you, all the time.' Alan nodded in agreement, and Amanda added: 'Life is so precious. It can disappear from you so fast.' 'I'm like, "Make every second count," literally,' she said, before Alan offered her another glass of Cava. The actress then lightened the mood by letting out a humorous burp, giggling through an apology. Her and Chris' dinner date marks the latest in a string of fun-filled night outs for the star, after she made sure to keep her birthday celebrations going as long as possible. Despite ringing in her 54th birthday in February, Amanda continued to mark the milestone in the weeks that followed and enjoyed a belated party last Saturday. Her and Chris' dinner date marks the latest in a string of fun-filled night outs for the star, after she made sure to keep her birthday celebrations going as long as possible For the occasion, she stunned in a Dolce & Gabbana x SKIMS leopard print satin dress featuring a daring thigh-high slit While, Amanda also shared a glimpse of her birthday cake, looking happier than ever in one snap as a massive chocolate cake, topped with sparklers, was presented to her For the occasion, she stunned in a Dolce & Gabbana x SKIMS leopard print satin dress featuring a daring thigh-high slit. She looked completely in her element as she partied the night away with her pals at the Maine in Mayfair, London. While, Amanda also shared a glimpse of her birthday cake, looking happier than ever in one snap as a massive chocolate cake, topped with sparklers, was presented to her. Captioning the photo, she wrote: 'Rinsing my birthday (a month later). Looks like I'm wearing a cake dress.' Advertisement Martha Kalifatidis proved she has an eye for fashion on Wednesday as she stepped out at an exclusive influencer event ahead of the Dua Lipa concert in Melbourne. She flaunted her styling chops in a $290 bandanna print halterneck top by Dion Lee as she kicked off the night with pre-drinks at Mid Air atop Melbourne Place Hotel. Celebrating the launch of Ole Henriksen's new Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment Glimmers, the former Married At First Sight star, 36, paired her chic look with a pair of loose black slacks. Accessorising with a black designer handbag and matching kitten heels, the brunette beauty left her locks down for the occasion and opted for a bold purple lip. She could be seen posing against the backdrop of Melbourne as she enjoyed beverages with her fellow influencers. Later, she was then whisked away with her gal pals to attend an unforgettable Dua Lipa concert at Rod Laver Arena. Martha Kalifatidis, 36, proved she has an eye for fashion on Wednesday as she stepped out at an exclusive influencer event ahead of the Dua Lipa concert in Melbourne She flaunted her styling chops in a $290 bandanna print halterneck top by Dion Lee as she kicked off the night with pre-drinks at Mid Air atop Melbourne Place Hotel Celebrating the launch of Ole Henriksen's new Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment Glimmers, the former Married At First Sight star paired her chic look with a pair of loose black slacks Elsewhere, Rebecca Harding also made a head turning arrival to the party. The fiancee of radio star Andy Lee flashed her toned mid-riff in a tiger print Scanlan Theodore halterneck top for the occasion. Pairing it with a pair of low-rise black cargo pants, the entrepreneur, 34, flashed her diamond engagement ring as she posed for photos. The online personality finished her look with a chunky gold chain around her neck as she hid her eyes behind a pair of dark designer sunglasses. She opted for a barely-there makeup look, slicking on a nude lip as she artfully defined her brows. Rebecca was all smiles after fiance Andy, 43, recently shared surprising new details about their upcoming wedding, while also teasing their plans about starting a family. In a candid new interview the comedian admitted the couple have not quite started planning their Big Day. He said most of their time has been consumed with the massive $8million renovation of a glorious heritage 1870s-era home built on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River. Elsewhere, Rebecca Harding, 34, also made a head turning arrival to the party The fiancee of radio star Andy Lee flashed her toned mid-riff in a tiger print Scanlan Theodore halterneck top for the occasion Pairing it with a pair of low-rise black cargo pants, the entrepreneur, 34, flashed her diamond engagement ring as she posed for photos Martha and Rebecca were later whisked away with their gal pals to attend an unforgettable Dua Lipa concert at Rod Laver Arena 'When people come round to our house I don't feel the need for napkins for instance,' he joked. 'But because Bec is very hi-fi, I'm lucky because I get the benefit of that... everything is nicely laid out and its the right cutlery... and I'm worried [the wedding] is going to be that times a 1000.' Andy was coy about how a big a wedding the couple wanted, joking it might 'just be the two of us' since their reno is costing so much. Elsewhere in the chat, Andy said the couple had no plans to a family right nowbut then teased they might change their minds in the immediate future. 'If Bec wants to [have a baby] I'm open to all that kind of stuff,' he said. Emma Hernan showed off plenty of underboob as she took her pet pooch on a walk - in her arms - around downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. The Selling Sunset star put on a racy display in a cropped multi-coloured tie-front top with long sleeves as she soaked in the Californian rays. The entrepeneur sported a pair of high-waisted light blue distressed jeans and added some tan flip-flops. She accessorised with a pair of white-rimmed and black-lensed cateye sunglasses and toted a yellow box handbag with a gold chain. Emma let her long blonde tresses loose as she kept her hands full on her walk, carrying her miniature ginger, white and black dog in one hand and a Starbucks coffee in another. Her stunning public appearance comes after she joined Chrishell Strause and Chelsea Lazkani for dinner in West Hollywood last month. Braless Emma Hernan showed off plenty of underboob as she took her pet pooch on a walk - in her arms - around downtown Los Angeles on Thursday The star put on a racy display in a multi-coloured cropped tie-front top with long sleeves as she soaked in the Californian rays The Selling Sunset stars ensured all eyes were on them as they arrived at trendy venue Chez Mia. Emma showcased her jaw-dropping figure in a skintight red leather strapless top which she wore with a matching mini skirt. The star added height to her frame with a pair of matching stilettos and wore her blonde locks in an updo. Earlier that week, Emma hinted that she is a single woman in a revealing Instagram post. In her caption, the Selling Sunset favourite said she was in a relationship with her passport as she was travelling again. Her hashtags were for travelling, bikinis and vacation and there was no mention or sign of a beau while she enjoyed the sunny weather in a string bikini. Backing up that Emma is now single, close friend Chrishell wrote in the comments: 'No dusties allowed.' Dusties is US slang for something that is old and has lost its glow meaning it should be left behind or discarded. The entrepeneur sported a pair of high-waisted light blue distressed jeans and added some tan flip-flops, accessorising with some white-rimmed and black-lensed cateye sunglasses Emma let her long blonde tresses loose as she toted a yellow box handbag with a gold chain on the casual walk Last month she hinted that she is a single woman in a revealing Instagram post, saying in a caption that she was in a relationship with her passport as she was travelling again Backing up that Emma is now single, close friend Chrishell wrote in the comments: 'No dusties allowed' In December it was reported by Cosmopolitan that the entrepeneur was dating realtor Blake Davis after they were seen in a Los Angeles restaurant in July In this exchange, Emma's last reported boyfriend - realtor Blake Davis - seems to be the 'dustie,' though the star has never confirmed they were an item. Emma responded to her pal's quip with a laugh as she wrote 'nope' and showed a waving hand emoji which suggested she understood the reference perfectly. In December it was reported by Cosmopolitan that the entrepeneur was dating Blake after they were seen in a Los Angeles restaurant in July. It was also claimed that Blake was supposed to appear on an episode of Selling Sunset but that it was reportedly cut over a fight with Nicole Young. She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan. Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain. Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years. After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans. Katie, now 46, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017. Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, MailOnline takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price. The many faces of Katie Price: MailOnline takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts 1995 - Barefaced beauty At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling. At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan. Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age. 1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling 1998 - First boob job Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C. The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure. Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters. 1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C 1999 - Second and third boob job Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21. Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to a F cup. Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones. 1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21 2001 - Lip fillers At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers. While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene. Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions. 2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers 2004 - Botox Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles. She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.' At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.' 2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines 2006 - Fourth boob job Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup. The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle. She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox. 2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup 2007 - First nose job and veneers At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers. 'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.' Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!' 2007:Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers 2008 - Fifth boob job Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup. The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job 10 years prior. Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range. 2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup 2011 - Sixth boob job Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup. Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers. The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'. 2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup 2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh. Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.' Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup. 2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast 2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust. The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis. Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration. 2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup 2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift. The procedure is designed to lift a sagging cheeks and blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features. However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml. 2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word 2018 - Second face lift Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it. She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had He agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.' 2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 2019 - Third face lift, boob job first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation. The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck. Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup. 2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck 2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel. The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure. Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.' 2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job 2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum. The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal. The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash. 2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts 2022 - Another brow and eye lift Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage. Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.' It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work. Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years! 'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow. 'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched. 'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face. 'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.' 2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to to travel to Turkey for more surgery 2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th. The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium. She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size. Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more. 'I would go bigger as well and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look. 'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.' 2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th 2024 - MORE facial surgery In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing. The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure. A warrant was subsequently issued, with Katie admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court. Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson's celebrity friendship group are reportedly 'taking sides' after their break up and the former's new romance with Louis Tomlinson was revealed. The Love Island star, 28, dated Made In Chelsea's Sam, 32, for five years before they split in December. She is now thought to be dating One Direction star Louis after the pair were spotted enjoying a romantic evening overnight in Sussex. However, after being together for five years, Zara and Sam have a lot of mutual friends, who are now reportedly 'stuck in the middle' amid the drama. A source told The Sun: 'It's really hard as the friendship groups were combined for five years and everyone was so supportive. 'But now they've been torn apart and people are having to take sides. Some people have chosen Sam, others have chosen Zara - and some people are stuck in the middle.' Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson 's celebrity friendship group are reportedly 'taking sides' after their break up and the former's new romance with Louis Tomlinson was revealed The Love Island star, 28, dated Made In Chelsea 's Sam, 32, for five years before they split in December They added: 'The main problem is that everyone feels very passionately. Sam's sister Louise was cynical about Zara but did warm up to her. Pete was always close to Zara, so the split is hard for him too.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Zara, Sam, Pete and Louise for comment. Zara and Pete also have a close friendship, with Pete previusly admitting it was Zara who pushed him to do Strictly Come Dancing. She previously said of the friendship: 'The three of us have a very odd relationship, but it's very amazing. 'He's literally my brother, my best friend. He's Sam's brother and his best friend. Me and Sam are together, so, I love them both very much in different ways. 'It's a strange dysfunctional family. It works so well because we are all so different, the three of us, that we... just anything that any of us is faced with, like we're all there for each other. It's so lovely. 'And I know it sounds a bit weird to be best friends with your boyfriend's best friend - the whole trio.' Zara and Pete also made a slew of hilarious TikToks as they spent time together while Sam was in Australia on I'm A Celeb. Meanwhile, one fan took to Louise's Instagram comments to address how she will move forward with her friendship with Zara, writing: 'Hope you don't just drop Zara'. Louise appeared to make a defiant statement about her friendship with Zara by liking the comment. Zara and Pete also have a close friendship, with Pete previusly admitting it was Zara who pushed him to do Strictly Come Dancing Zara and Pete also made a slew of hilarious TikToks as they spent time together while Sam was in Australia on I'm A Celeb Sam and Zara regularly made fun TikTok videos with Louise and her partner Ryan Libbey and the group also travelled together on lavish holidays Sam and Zara regularly made fun TikTok videos with Louise and her partner Ryan Libbey and the group also travelled together on lavish holidays. And last month, Louise and Sam took to the BRIT Awards red carpet together, narrowly missing an awkward run-in with ex Zara. It comes just after Zara's eye-watering income was'revealed' as she ' becomame a millionaire' amid her split from Sam. It has now been revealed by The Sun that Zara's post-Love Island endeavours have seen her rake in huge amounts of cash, reportedly 1million. From reality TV to presenting hard hitting BBC documentaries, the former policy adviser's media career has seen her 'become a millionaire'. Zara has appeared in various reality TV programmes after finding fame on the ITV dating show in 2018 - where she struck up a romance with Adam Collard. The pair split soon after, but Zara later started dating Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson and she appeared on the London-based show as his girlfriend. In 2021, Zara presented her first documentary for the BBC, Revenge Porn, and a collection of films followed focusing on topics such as the dark side of party island Ibiza and eating disorders. Then two years later she was selected as one of the celebrities to compete on the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing. And last month, Louise and Sam took to the BRIT Awards red carpet together, narrowly missing an awkward run-in with ex Zara Her impressive career so far has paid out, with The Sun reporting her company Zara Nicole McDermott Ltd has 300,000 in it. The publication reported that Zara has paid out around 170,000 in corporation tax between 2022 and 2023, which indicates her income was around 1million. And following her split from Sam at the end of last year, Zara has bagged herself her own London property thought to be worth 500,000. Her West London pad is said to be close to ex Sam's Chelsea home. A source told the publication: 'She bought it this month under her company name, it's a two-bed flat in a nice area and weirdly, not that far from where she lived with Sam. 'It will make it really awkward when they cross paths at the local pub or in a coffee shop, though.' Friends of Zara told MailOnline she's relieved the relationship with boyband member Louis is now out in the open after dating in secret weeks. Zara has already got the seal of approval from Louis' twin sisters Phoebe and Daisy, plus influencer sister Lottie, who all follow the documentary-maker on Instagram, and she's excited about what the future holds for the pair. The pictures confirmed rumours of a relationship first detected by sleuth-like One Direction fans who noticed Louis had followed Zara on Instagram and liked a string of her pictures. Zara's post-Love Island endeavours have seen her rake in huge amounts of cash, reportedly 1million (Seen in March 2024 with Sam) According to Zara's friends, Louis has put 'a smile back on her face' following her split from ex boyfriend of five years Sam Thompson , 32, on New Year's Day. A friend told MailOnline: 'Zara is so happy, it's early days with her and Louis but everything is going well between them. 'News of their romance leaked sooner than they intended - the plan was to keep things private for as long as possible. They still hope to keep intimate details away from prying eyes. 'Zara is enjoying being wined and dined and experiencing the thrill of dating someone new again. She had been with Sam for years and in the end their relationship became transactional they had lost their sparkle. Louis has certainly put a smile back on her face.' Zara and Louis tucked into 100 fish and chips, plus cocktails, at the 315-a-night hotel in Suffolk. The pair stayed at night and left for their respective London homes in the morning. MailOnline revealed in January Zara had split from longterm partner Sam after five years of dating. They lived together in Sam's Fulham house which was usually the base of the couple's amusing TikTok videos. In America there are tiny signs that Meghan Sussex-not-Markle just might have the last laugh. I know. Stop it. Hear me out. Following the debut of her much-derided Netflix series, it is no secret the Duchess of Sussex is the subject of a torrent of mockery and criticism in the Land of the Free. With Love, Meghan has been lampooned absolutely everywhere across the States. Newspapers and magazines, showbiz publications and supermarket tabloids, late night chat show hosts, cultural commentators, stand-up comics, random dudes in wigs on the internet and even sundry knock down gingers have all duly knocked Mrs Ginger down with no end of the ridicule in sight. But one person believes in her. Ted Sarandos. And he is the one man you would want on your side, were you a wannabe lifestyle influencer with no discernible culinary skills and a truckload of jam to sell. In an interview with trade bible Variety this week, the all-powerful CEO of Netflix claimed that the Duchess was 'underestimated in terms of her influence on culture'. He pointed out that following the Netflix show Harry & Meghan in 2022, the shoes Meghan was wearing sold out all over the world, as did the Hermes blanket on the chair behind her. Shoes and blankets? They are important to horses of course, but what deeper significance do they have for the rest of us? 'People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed,' insisted the Netflix boss. Fascinated? Or appalled? Perhaps it doesn't matter in the heat of the ratings war. In America there are tiny signs that Meghan Sussex-not-Markle just might have the last laugh. I know. Stop it. Hear me out But one person believes in her. Ted Sarandos (pictured). And he is the one man you would want on your side, were you a wannabe lifestyle influencer with no discernible culinary skills and a truckload of jam to sell Sarandos is the man who brought Squid Game and professional wrestling to a global audience on his platform, so he's not going to go broke underestimating the intelligence of the viewing public any time soon. Perhaps that is why Netflix is harnessing the global interest in the Duchess and fixing it on to the wagon of cold, hard commerce. To the extent that it is now a partner in Meghan's company and will be making and distributing products displayed or referenced on her show. These will include the edible flowers, the dreary jams and the baking mixes used by the Duchess, who admitted on screen that she didn't much like baking anyway. But who gives a damn about authenticity if there is a dollar to be made? Some might say that the streaming giant should at least have the decency to advertise this commercial partnership before each show, so viewers can judge for themselves if Meghan's charming reliance upon sprinkling petals on everything from her iced doughnuts to her cocktails is simple affectation or wily product placement. You have to laugh. Remember all that grand talk from Meghan and Harry about carving out a 'progressive new role', launching meaningful initiatives, driving long-term change, uncovering and resolving the root causes of issues, prioritizing lasting solutions over temporary fixes and generally being better than you? And here she is, little more than a cooking Kardashian, flogging Victoria sponge mix while scattering little hints like her beloved hemp hearts on an oaty drink that being a member of the Royal Family was like being a prisoner in an ivory tower; a place where she was prohibited from self-expression and wearing the bright colors that she doesn't love and hasn't worn since. And now that she is free, she can fulfil her mission in life to show the world how to make bath salts and indulge in her odd little mania for repackaging items and putting a label on them. This image released by Netflix shows Daniel Martin, left, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a scene from 'With Love, Meghan' Abigail Spencer, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Kelly Zafjen in 'With Love, Meghan' It's quite possible that Harry wanders around Montecito with a Paddington-style label around his neck that reads 'Please Look After This Twit' in her beautiful but oddly menacing calligraphy. 'It is an expression of fandom,' says Mr Sarandos of the collaboration, which is a quaint way of saying 'cashing in like there is no tomorrow'. In the not-too-distant future, I can see a Netflix shop stacked with edible petals and calligraphy pens and honey candles and all sorts of Meghan-themed merchandised crud, all of it for sale at an opportunistic price point and do you know what? It might just work. There are enough airheads out there who seem to be impressed by decanting peanut butter pretzels from one bag into another and making beetle-shaped canapes from cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls. And even if there aren't, the Duchess of Sussex is a lesson to us all in perseverance and indefatigability; of keeping true to your chosen path despite the mocking laughter of the world. For despite the bland, smirking hostess she portrays in these corny kitchen scenes, there has to be something extraordinary about a woman who, with nothing more than sheer grit and a Soho House membership, managed to spirit herself and her husband out of the supposedly evil clutches of the British Royal Family and on to the sunlit uplands of California. And it is there, in her heroic determination to succeed no matter what, that we see the real Meghan. Everyone missed the obvious, which was that the Duchess of Sussex deliberately and maliciously set out to humiliate the Royal Family by making a sly waffle portrait of our dear departed Queen Elizabeth Poor Meg battered over a waffle Yet more Meghan! That poor girl can't even make green waffles for St Patrick's Day without the internet loons going conspiracy crazy. Did she really cook them? Why weren't they quartered, like the grid on her waffle maker? Everyone missed the obvious, which was that the Duchess of Sussex deliberately and maliciously set out to humiliate the Royal Family by making a sly waffle portrait of our dear departed Queen Elizabeth. Just look at that whipped cream hair, those blueberries for eyes and that kiwi fruit nose. It is a dead ringer for HM and so disrespectful to the memory of a wonderful woman. It is waffily rude and proves that Meghan will stop at nothing to embarrass our Royal Family. PS I'm kidding, so don't all write at once. Yet more Meghan! That poor girl can't even make green waffles for St Patrick's Day without the internet loons going conspiracy crazy Israeli actress Gal Gadot's (pictured) Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters Back Queen Gal Israeli actress Gal Gadot's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters. This had nothing to do with the controversies surrounding her new film Snow White in which she stars as the Evil Queen but everything to do with the simple fact of her birth. Gal formerly served in the Israel Defense Forces, during her mandatory two years of national service. Her heritage is enough to bring the nutters out in Hollywood and online but their protests seem less pro-Palestinian than simply anti-Jewish. And there is a word for that, as we all know. If Hollywood had a moral spine, it would defend Gadot, who is being criticized for merely existing. Advertisement Jax Taylor is exploring his past on his podcast In the Mind of a Man. The Vanderpump Rules alum, 45, revealed to sex therapist Dr. Emily Morse that he was a 'late bloomer' due to his 'conservative uprising' in Shelby Township, Michigan. 'Sex wasn't really a big thing then. I didn't lose my virginity until I was 19,' he told Dr. Morse. 'I don't even think I had the sex talk with my dad,' Taylor said, adding that his high school experience was similar to the 1999 comedy film American Pie. 'That's good. Sounds like you waited till you were ready,' Morse replied, before joking, 'And then you never stopped.' Fans went wild over the news as several said 'no way, come on!' and another shared, 'Dude was vintage by the time he did it.' Then there was someone who talked his ex Brittany Cartwright: 'Honestly I think he needs to either rekindle with Brittany or not and move out of LA. Live a simpler life.' The reality TV star recently revealed his addictions to alcohol and cocaine and has been working on them. He also said recently that he hit 100 days sober from alcohol and cocaine. Jax Taylor is exploring his past on his podcast In the Mind of a Man. Seen here on February 19, 2025 Here he is seen as a young man in an image Jax shared with Bravo 'That was my neighborhood. Very [much like] my friends. People left their doors open. It was just nothing went wrong.' Jax considered himself the life of the party when he used drugs and alcohol. 'I was invincible when I'd go on dates, I have everything to talk about, I'm the life of the party,' he explained. 'Now I'm taking the backseat and all that. I'm scared because I feel like I'm not gonna be as fun or interesting,' Taylor added, referring to his sobriety. The day before his conversation with Dr. Emily Morse, he sat down with Adam Corolla and Dr. Drew and wondered if he was a sex addict. 'I think I dabbled in it a little bit. I'm not in recovery for that, no. I'm just kind of sticking with the substance abuse right now and trying to figure that out,' he said. 'Maybe we'll branch into that later. I'm trying to fix one problem before I get to the other problems. I'm trying to patch it.' Taylor also said that he thinks he has deep rooted issues that he masked with the drugs and alcohol. The Vanderpump Rules alum, 45, revealed to sex therapist Dr. Emily Morse that he was a 'late bloomer' due to his 'conservative uprising' in Shelby Township, Michigan. Seen here in 2024 'That's good. Sounds like you waited till you were ready,' Morse replied, before joking, 'And then you never stopped' The reality TV star recently revealed his addictions to alcohol and cocaine and has been working on them, recently revealing he hit 100 days sober from alcohol and cocaine. Seen here in 2023 with Brittany Cartwright 'I personally don't think alcohol and drugs were the problem,' he said. 'I was just masking my issues with the drugs and alcohol. I don't think I have an alcohol problem, but I do have a substance problem, but they go hand in hand, so I had to quit both.' In September, Jax revealed he'd been diagnosed as a narcissist with bi-polar disorder and PTSD. 'I breadcrumb, I love bomb [and also] gaslighting. I'm missing some but I do all these things. I had no idea there were terms for these things,' he said on an episode of his When Reality Hits podcast. Jax revealed he's had a cocaine problem for 20 years on an episode of Bravo's Hot Mic podcast. 'I have substance issues primarily with cocaine. Its hard to say out loud. Ive been dealing with this on and off since I was 23 and now Im 45,' he began. 'There was times where I would stop doing it but then there were times where Id go heavy on it. Jax's estranged wife Brittany Cartwright, 36, discussed his drug abuse on the couple's When Reality Hits podcast on March 7. 'No one wants Jax to be better more than I do, lets be real. I tried and tried and tried for years to help this man get better and for us to be a happy family, I was deeply and madly in love with him, theres no one that can ever deny that. You know? My love was real,' she said. Meanwhile, Cartwright looked stunning in Showpo and Rachael Kirkconnell's launch event for their Golden Era collection held at The Maybourne in Beverly Hills I'm glad that he finally admitted to what was really going on,' Cartwright said in a statement to People. 'For the first time, I can speak openly about the extent of trauma hes instilled on our family over the years.' She added: 'Ive tried desperately to help him without success. I pray that one day he completely knocks this addiction, but Im skeptical. His behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum.' Todd Chrisley's daughter Lindsie Chrisley has shared an update about the state of her relationship with her parents as they continue to serve their prison sentences for fraud and tax evasion. Speaking about the tense topic on the latest episode of her podcast, Southern Tea, she revealed that she hasn't been to see her father Todd for over a year. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old said she never been to visit her step-mom Julie Chrisley in the more than two years that the reality star has been in prison. She candidly stated: 'The last time I visited my dad probably was was it the beginning of last year? I cant even honestly remember. Lindsie continued: '[Nanny Faye and I] used to go together [to see my dad] when they first went [to prison]. 'It was just like, [a] more comfortable situation for both of us to go [and] stay in a hotel together. I have never been to Lexington to visit Julie.' Todd Chrisley's daughter Lindsie Chrisley has shared an update about the state of her relationship with her parents as they continue to serve their prison sentences Todd and his wife Julie were found guilty of committing tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million in June 2022 Todd and his wife Julie were found guilty of committing tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million in June 2022. Chrisley's 12-year sentence was reduced to 10 years, while his wife's seven-year sentence was cut to 14 months. She has been a prisoner at Federal Medical Center Lexington in Kentucky since January 2023. Lindsie admitted: 'I have not seen my dad in quite some time and I have had no contact. And thats all Im going to say for that.' Todd welcomed Lindsie and her brother, Kyle, during his first marriage to Teresa Terry and Julie adopted both of them when she and Todd wed. The two children were notably around during in the early days of Chrisley Knows Best, but it seems Lindsie's relationship with them has been strained ever since Todd and Julie's prison sentence. Lindsie's comments came after her younger sister Savannah Chrisley admitted that visiting her parents in prison is 'really tough.' The 26-year-old television personality - who recently talked about the poor conditions endured by her father - opened up on her Unlocked podcast about her two recent visits with her parents. Speaking about the tense topic on the latest episode of her podcast, Southern Tea, she revealed that she hasn't been to see her father Todd for over a year Meanwhile, the 35-year-old said she never been to visit her step-mom Julie Chrisley in the more than two years that the reality star has been in prison She said that she has found that the process has actually gotten tougher when visiting her mother Julie, 51, who is serving her prison sentence in a different facility than 55-year-old husband Todd. Savannah explained: 'I used to say I think it would get easier as time goes on, but I really think thats a lie. 'I think I was lying to myself to make myself feel better because it does get harder. It gets harder each time you leave, and you know youre leaving them behind.' It wasn't just leaving her parents that she had trouble navigating, as Savannah also admitted to having a 'really tough' time watching other families visit their loved ones in prison. Savannah continued: 'It truly does just break a lot of families. 'And a lot of families don't have the resources to maybe get the help that they so desperately need or that they're searching for or they may not have the guidance.' She did say that her separate visits with her parents have actually aided in spending quality time with them in addition to helping in bringing her clarity regarding her life. The Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens actress said: 'I love my one-on-one time, but also, we get to have really intentional conversations. 'I find myself just kind of reflecting on a lot of things in life, and just things as a kid, and we just get to have conversations that I feel like weve needed to have for a really long time.' Stephen Fry has revealed why he hasn't been pictured with his husband Elliott Spencer in six years, as he appeared on the Jonathan Ross show, in an episode set to air on Saturday. The broadcaster, 67, and Elliot, 36, tend to keep their marriage very private, but now the star has revealed what they get up to in their spare time and hinted at why they aren't often pictured out together. He admitted they 'don't go out to Hollywood parties much' and instead prefer a night in together. As he talked about hosting the hit quiz Jeopardy! on ITV1 and ITVX, the presenter admitted: 'It was all a terrible mistake a lovely mistake I should say. 'I was on The Morning Show [in the US]. I had dinner with my American agent, he said, 'What do you do when you're not called on set?' and I said, 'My husband and I, we don't go to Hollywood parties much, we have an early supper, watch Jeopardy! go to bed' He continued: 'He said, "Do you watch it in the UK?" I said, 'We don't have it in the UK." Stephen Fry has revealed why he hasn't been pictured with his husband Elliott Spencer in six years, as he appeared on the Graham Norton show on Friday The broadcaster, 67, and Elliot, 36, tend to keep their marriage very private, but now the star has revealed what they get up to in their spare time 'The conversation moved on, I thought no more of it. Two weeks later, he phones and says: "ITV London is thrilled you're going to do Jeopardy!" Also on the episode of Jonathan Ross will be Aimee Lou Wood, Joanne McNally, and Big Zuu, as well as a performance from Yungblud. It comes after Stephen shared a rare tribute to Elliot on their 10th wedding anniversary in a sweet Instagram post in January. In a heartwarming insight into their happy marriage, the broadcaster gushed 'I'm a lucky man' in the caption alongside the black and white photo from their wedding day. He wrote: 'Ten happy years to the day since we were joined in marriage. Im a lucky man.' The couple, who have a nearly 30 year age gap, are seemingly stronger than ever following his loved-up post. Stephen and Elliot tied the knot back in January 2015, just 10 days after announcing their engagement. Elliot, from Southampton, met Stephen in 2014 and was initially known as Mr E. before they went public. Last year, Stephen revealed that he does not want to live past 100 because he would 'hate to be that lonely'. He admitted they 'don't go out to Hollywood parties much' and instead prefer a night in together The broadcaster said: 'My husband and I, we don't go to Hollywood parties much, we have an early supper, watch Jeopardy! go to bed' (pictured with Aimee Lou Wood) It comes after Stephen shared a rare tribute to Elliot on their 10th wedding anniversary in a sweet Instagram post in January In a sweet insight into their happy marriage, the broadcaster gushed 'I'm a lucky man' in the caption alongside the black and white photo from their wedding day He admitted that he would find it 'deeply upsetting' to see a world without his friends and family. Speaking about longevity to Evgeny Lebedev on his podcast Brave New World, Stephen admitted that he 'likes the idea of death', and it is the 'idea of decay' that shakes his boots. He explained: 'Personally, I'm not particularly interested in longevity for myself. I'm interested, as I think most people are, in the idea of an old age that is as pain-free as possible and where there isn't too much cognitive loss... 'But I am not someone who wants to live longer than the rest of my friends.' He continued: 'If everybody my family and friends lived into their 120s, then maybe I'd be quite happy to pass 100. But as it is, I would hate to be that lonely Flying Dutchman figure so beloved of history... 'The survivor, all of whose dependents and acquaintances have since died. I would find that deeply upsetting.' Stephen cemented his status as a national treasure after being knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours. The comedian, actor and presenter said he felt 'startled and enchanted' after receiving the top gong - insisting it came 'out of the blue'. Sir Stephen, who has spoken candidly about his battles with bipolar disorder having been expelled from school, was recognised for his services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity. The couple, who have a nearly 30 year age gap, are seemingly stronger than ever following his loved-up post Stephen and Elliot tied the knot back in January 2015, just 10 days after announcing their engagement (pictured in 2018) Stephen said he hopes his knighthood can show those suffering from mental health problems that 'there's always hope'. He said he would also attempt to be 'gallant, chivalrous and courteous' as they are 'all knightly qualities'. The QI presenter has spoken candidly of how his battles with illness saw him expelled from boarding school as a boy and even do a stint in prison. He went on to attend Cambridge where he formed a comedy group with Dame Emma Thompson, Tony Slattery and Hugh Laurie at the university's famous Footlights club. He shot to fame with Laurie in A Bit of Fry & Laurie as well as starring alongside the House actor in Jeeves and Wooster and Blackadder. The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9:20pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV AND STV Player British entertainers will tonight celebrate 40 years of Comic Relief with an action-packed Red Nose Day Among the comedy acts and live performances is a sketch involving Inbetweeners stars James Buckley and Joe Thomas, who have reunited to play Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. Hosting the show, which raises vital funds for causes across the UK, are presenters Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark, Jonathan Ross and Alesha Dixon. Comic Relief: Funny For Money airs from 7pm on Friday March 21 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Live updates below Romeo Beckham's ex Mia Regan cut a trendy figure during a photoshoot for sportswear brand On in a pink in London on Friday. The model, 22, rocked a blush pink tracksuit for the snaps which she teamed with white trainers as she unveiled the brand's new SS25 The Roger campaign. Mia appeared fresh faced as she showcased her natural beauty as she with just a hint of make-up and tied back her brunette locks into a bun. She flashed a huge smile for the camera while posing with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who walked beside her on a lead. A key element of the campaign is the collaboration with Harry Lambert, Mias full-time stylist and a globally renowned celebrity stylist whose clients include Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, and Sebastian Croft. Her latest photoshoot comes just weeks after she risked an awkward run in with ex Romeo and his new girlfriend Kim Turnbull, 25, during Paris Fashion Week. Romeo Beckham's ex Mia Regan, 22, cut a trendy figure during a photoshoot for sportswear brand On in a pink in London on Friday The model rocked a blush pink tracksuit for the snaps which she teamed with white trainers as she unveiled the brand's new SS25 The Roger campaign Romeo was in the fashion capital to support his mother, Victoria, 50, as she debuted her latest collection at the Chateau de Bagatelle. Mia, who was also in Paris for the day, shared several stunning snaps with her followers on Instagram, looking chic in a black leather jacket and blue denim jeans. She paired the jacket with a black button-up knit cardigan and completed the look with black leather boots as she explored the sights of the French capital. In another stunning snap, Mia showed off a glimpse of her toned midriff in a black crop top and light grey denim jeans as she posed for a bathroom mirror selfie. Making the most of the sunny weather, Mia shared a natural selfie with her followers, along with a glimpse of her lavish hotel room and some aesthetic street snaps. She captioned the post with: 'Leopard prints & stripes & sunshine & butter yellow & stainless steel.' Her post came at the exact same time that Romeo and the Beckhams rallied around Victoria for her much-anticipated Paris Fashion Week show on Friday night. The family put on a united front as they made their way through the French capital, though Victoria's eldest son, Brooklyn, 26, and his wife, Nicola Peltz, 30, were noticeably absent. Mia appeared fresh faced as she showcased her natural beauty as she with just a hint of make-up and tied back her brunette locks into a bun She flashed a huge smile for the camera while posing with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who walked beside her on a lead Mia, who split from Romeo, 22, last year after five years together, has cemented her status as one of the models of the moment, walking in several high profile fashion shows Her latest photoshoot comes just weeks after she risked an awkward run in with ex Romeo and his new girlfriend Kim Turnbull, 25, during Paris Fashion Week Mia, who was also in Paris for the day, shared several stunning snaps with her followers on Instagram, looking chic in a black leather jacket and blue denim jeans Though Mia attended with Romeo last year, he had his new girlfriend Kim on his arm as he stepped out at Victoria's 2025 show. They were joined by his father David, 49, his younger brother Cruz, 20, and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, and his sister Harper, 13, on the front row. In February 2024, Romeo confirmed his split from model Mia after five years together. It was claimed the couple went their separate ways after an argument, with Mia - who is known as Mimi Moocher online - moving out of the home they shared together. Romeo confirmed their separation by writing on Instagram: 'Mooch and I have parted ways after 5 years of love, we still have a lot of respect for each other, and still hold a strong friendship and always will.' Sharing a picture of herself with Romeo on her Instagram Stories, Mia wrote: 'This is an Ro, we have grown up with each other since we were 16!! Love takes different forms & paths as you mature.' 'We aren't tougher romantically but we do share lots & lots of love for one another... after 5 years we friendzoned each other.' Brooke Shields recalled the time she had to barge in on President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara that struck the 'fear of God' in her at the time. During Thursdays episode of Today With Jenna And Friends, the actress and former model told the story to the former President and First Lady's granddaughter Jenna Bush Hager. It turns out she had struck up a 'sweet' friendship with her grandparents back in the 1980s, before they moved to the White House. Fast forward to about 2010, the longtime politician and his wife, who have both since passed on, invited Shields to their $13.5 million home in Kennebunkport, Maine. 'I was doing a movie in Boston, and I get a phone call doesn't say who he is literally says, "Excuse me young lady, I hear you're in the area. If you do not come to Kennebunkport, you are in trouble young lady,"' Shields, now 59, told the show's host. 'And of course, that was Papa Bush, so I brought my kids and we stayed there.' Brooke Shields, 59, recalled how she once interrupted former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush while they were in the bedroom Shields said she had struck up a 'sweet' friendship with Bush Hager's grandparents back in the 1980s, before they moved to the White House Not wanting to disappoint the 41st president of the United States, who she had long considered a surrogate grandfather, the mother of two went to the Walkers Point compound with daughters Rowan and Grier, who were about six and three at the time. Later that night, after putting her girls to bed, the visit took a turn for the worse when ocean water started 'flooding' the living room in the spacious home. Rushing to grab towels to soak up the water on the floor, Shields revealed to Bush Hager, 43, that she started 'panicking, right?' She continued, 'And I'm thinking, "Oh my God, I gotta tell somebody, but nobodys in the house!"' That's when she got the idea to head to the Bush's bedroom to alert them of the problem, but hesitated momentarily because they were already in bed for the night. 'So, I go to the downstairs bedroom and, like, with the fear of God [in me],' she admitted, before describing the setting. 'They had their little TV dinners, their little BarcaLoungers, their little La-Z-Boys, and they were watching [Law & Order] SVU.' It's at this point that Shields replayed the scenario by placing both hands over her eyes as if not not want to look once she realized Mrs. Bush was 'in her dressing gown.' Still covering her eyes, she continued, 'And I'm like, "I just want to tell you that I think the house might have flooded, but I think I got it."' The Pretty Baby told a story about visiting the Bush compound on Today With Jenna And Friends to the former president and first lady's granddaughter Jenna Bush Hager Shields said she got a call from the former president inviting her to stay at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine while she was working on a film in Boston The Suddenly Susan alum brought her two daughters, who were about six and three at the time, to the Bush home; the proud mom is pictured with Grier, now 18, and Rowan, now 21 But to her surprise, Mrs. Bush didn't seem to be uncomfortable with the situation, and then invited her to come join them while they watched the hit crime show. While kneeling between the couple's chairs the former First Lady pondered whether they should ask their house guest a lingering question about the plot of the episode. 'Shes like, "George, maybe Brooke can answer this question Ask her, ask her,"' Shields remembered. 'He goes, "Well, who do you think did it?"' And with that, Shields' stress over the moment dissipated completely and the three of them proceeded to watch the rest of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. 'I was like, "This is a moment of my life that was so special,"' she confessed. After realizing the Bush home started to flood with ocean water, Shields decided to go the their bedroom to notify them, but was mortified because they were also in bed for the night The Blue Lagoon actress was put at ease when the Bush's invited her to watch Law & Order: SUV with them in their bedroom; the former first couple are pictured in Maine in 1990 Shields went on to share about how President Bush became a grandfather figure to her by giving her advice on boys during her younger years. Afterwards, Bush Hager thanked her Today guest co-host for sharing such a sweet story about her grandparents. Mrs. Bush, a Queens, New York native, passed away in Houston, Texas in April 2018 at the age of 92. Just seven months later Mr. Bush, who was from Milton, Massachusetts and served as president from 1989 to 1993, died in Houston in November 2018 at the age of 94. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor Isaiah Stokes has been sentenced to 25 years to life for the 2021 shooting murder of Tyrone Jones. 37-year-old victim Jones - who was stalked by Stokes for four months following an altercation at Jones' birthday party - suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest and was pronounced dead on the scene in St Albans, Queen's, New York on February 7 2021 - with Stokes arrested five months later. The actor, 45, was found guilty of murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree on March 13 following a two-week jury trial - with his sentence handed down Friday, March 21. Stokes looked despondent as the sentence was read out to applause from Jones' loved ones - after a judge had torn into him over his motion requests and interrupting during his sentencing remarks. As a defiant Stokes muttered at Judge Kenneth Holder, the justice exploded: 'I don't care what you said! I don't care if you maintain your innocence, you are more guilty than anyone I've seen in this courtroom!' 'You thought staying in jail for as long as you can would do wonders for your movie career when you got out. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor Isaiah Stokes has been sentenced to 25 years to life for the 2021 shooting death of Tyrone Jones - pictured Friday The Queens native portayed the character Tyrone Beckwith in one episode during season 10 of NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which aired back in 2009 'But here's the problem, you have to get out and you're not getting out, no-one can intentionally plan a murder and carry it out as stupidly as you did. 'You were angry over a beatdown you got months earlier, you had all that rage consuming you for months and hatched this ridiculous plan. 'You hunted down Jones and shot him 11 times and ensured he would die... ironically the murderous rage you undertook presents you with the notoriety you hope for. 'You're now an example of how one can completely ruin their life in the blink of an eye.' Stokes and Holder earlier locked horns as the actor dragged up previous motions in his case and claimed he 'never received' the entire discovery files. Holder said: 'You need to talk to me about why I shouldn't sentence you in a particular way. I don't need to hear you talk to me about motions from before, we're past that, 'You were convicted so you need to talk to me about why I should have some mercy on you in the sentencing. I don't want to hear about any motions, that's all done. 'We're past that, you're not a lawyer and frankly you don't know what you're talking about, you need to talk to me about what's important.' Stokes looked gaunt as he took his seat in court before sentencing The 37-year-old victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest and was pronounced dead on the scene, and Stokes was arrested for the murder six months later on July 16, 2021 Tyrone Jones' father, Tyrone Jones Sr, wept as he addressed Stokes directly for 'stalking and murdering my only son' Stokes and Judge Kenneth Holder locked horns as the actor attempted to discuss previous motions in his case and claimed he 'never received' the entire discovery files As a defiant Stokes muttered at Holder, the justice exploded: 'I don't care what you said! I don't care if you maintain your innocence, you are more guilty than anyone I've seen in this courtroom!' Holder recalled how he, and Stokes' past attorneys had 'strenuously recommended' he take a plea deal after seeing surveillance video evidence of the murder in which Stokes was easily identifiable, which was declined. Referencing Stokes' past success as an actor, he said: 'You have some small degree of talent, impressive talent, what makes this whole thing so perplexing 'Why would you throw all this away for a fight that you said was "no big deal"..., that clearly was a lie.' Queen's District Attorney Katz Melinda Katz said in a statement: 'Isaiah Stokes, embarrassed and upset that he was thrown out of a birthday party in October 2020, sought revenge on Tyrone Jones. 'Months later, the defendant attached a GPS tracking device to his victims vehicle and stalked Jones for more than a week. Stokes tracked Jones down to Linden Boulevard and fired 11 times into Jones vehicle, striking the man in his head and chest. 'Justice has now been served for the premeditated murder perpetrated by this defendant and he will now spend 25 years to life in prison as a direct consequence of his criminal actions.' In an heartbreaking victim impact statement, Tyrone's father, Tyrone Jones Sr., slammed 'monster' Stokes for 'stalking and murdering' his only son. He said: 'TJ was fun, loving, he is my son, a brother, uncle and a nephew 'What I don't want to remember is the day that you decided to murder my son 'I lost my only son on February 7 2021, TJ did not die from a car accident or a disease but by the hand of a monster, Isaiah Stokes 'Isaiah, you stalked my son, you followed TJ for weeks, but TJ... What did TJ do to you? 'As TJ sat in his car and was unaware... 'You lied to everyone! I gotta go to the cemetery to talk to my son in a grave.' Isaiah - who's being held at New York jail Rikers Island - was barely recognizable at a pre-trial hearing on July 24 since he'd lost so much weight. Katz said of the shooting in a previous statement: 'This was a calculated murder. The defendant, a part-time actor, stewed for months after being thrown out of a [2020] birthday party for his own inappropriate behavior [toward female party guests]. 'Intent on revenge, Isaiah Stokes placed a GPS on the victim's car and tracked Tyrone Jones down to Linden Boulevard, where he ruthlessly shot the man 11 times as he sat in his [parked Jeep Cherokee]. 'My office is laser-focused on gun violence, and we will utilize every tool at our disposal to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who use deadly guns on our streets. I thank our prosecutors and the NYPD detectives who built this case.' The Queens native portrayed the character Tyrone Beckwith in one episode during season 10 of NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which aired back in 2009. The 45-year-old rapper-actor was found guilty of murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree following a two-week jury trial, which began on February 13 Isaiah - who's being held at New York jail Rikers Island - was barely recognizable at a pre-trial hearing on July 24 since he'd lost so much weight Isaiah played two different roles - drugstore employee and spitting guy - during seasons two and four of disgraced comedian Louis C.K.'s FX series Louie in 2011 and 2014 Stokes' last credited acting gig was in 2019 guest-starring as Mozzy in one season six episode of Starz show Power executive produced by 50 Cent In 2006, Isaiah had a two-episode arc as the shooter who murdered NYPD detective Johnny Gavin (Dean Winters) in season three of FX's Rescue Me. In 2011, Stokes played the character Louis in the second season of HBO's Boardwalk Empire. The FONTY Records founder played two different roles - drugstore employee and spitting guy - during seasons two and four of disgraced comedian Louis C.K.'s FX series Louie in 2011 and 2014. Isaiah's last credited acting gig was in 2019 guest-starring as Mozzy in one season six episode of Starz show Power executive produced by 50 Cent. Stokes' last music release was the track Persona of a Hustler in 2023 under his hip-hop alias is I$AIAH. Jemma Lucy admitted she 'regrets making six figures on OnlyFans' as she discusses her major life change after welcoming a daughter. The Celebrity Big Brother star, 36, hopes her five-year-old tot knows 'she fought to change' after she resorted to the adult content platform after her TV career pleated. 'I've made six figures. At first, it was really PG, but as the money becomes addictive, you push your boundaries a little more,' she told The Sun. 'You end up doing things that your body and mind are saying no to.' 'I'll never be able to erase the past, but at least I can show her it's no longer who I am. 'Hopefully, by being vocal about the negative aspects of the industry, she'll never see it as an option.' Jemma Lucy admitted she 'regrets making six figures on OnlyFans ' as she discusses her major life change after welcoming a daughter The Celebrity Big Brother star, 36, hopes her five-year-old tot knows 'she fought to change' after she resorted to the adult content platform after her TV career pleated The Ex On The Beach alum stopped making content about a year ago, starting from ditching collaborations and eventually interrupting solo content - although her page still exists. Jemma stressed she is fully committed to give her daughter 'every opportunity possible' such as going to private school or singing or having jiu-jitsu lessons. Yet, she still feels other mothers at school are 'a bit off' with her, admitting she already feels judged for being heavily tattooed. Now nurturing her passion for podcasting, Jemma vowed to advise and help women going through the 'same path'. She spilled the beans on her upcoming project, revealing she has finalised the first series with some 'great guests'. The former TV star remarked podcasting represents 'freedom' - a platform where she controls the narrative - while she claimed her time on OnlyFans is 'dead and buried'. Speaking on her daughter, she said: 'If she ever finds my interviews, I want her to see me saying how much I regret it. That I'm proud of where I am now. That I fought to change. Her candid interview comes after Jemma issued a warning to anyone seeking lip and body fillers, revealing just how easy it is to become a 'qualified' practitioner. 'I've made six figures. At first, it was really PG, but as the money becomes addictive, you push your boundaries a little more. You end up doing things that your body and mind are saying no to,' she told The Sun Jemma appeared on Celebrity Big Brother back in 2017 (pictured) Jemma stressed she is fully committed to give her daughter 'every opportunity possible' such as going to private school or singing or having jiu-jitsu lessons The CBB alum is no stranger to tweakments, having undergone years of Botox, three Brazilian bum lifts and two boob jobs. Yet while Brits have long been warned of the dangers of going abroad for these procedures, Jemma has revealed she witnessed firsthand dodgy practices taking place here in the UK. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Jemma revealed that after years of getting fillers in her lips and hips she decided to learn how to administer the treatments herself. She approached a salon in Manchester that offered training courses and was shocked to learn that for a fee of 6,000 and after just two days she would be given a diploma and 'qualified' to do the injections herself. Jemma explained: 'I thought "two days? Is that what it takes for me to be able to go and inject people?" But all right, then I'll do it. 'So I did the course, and on the last day of the course, she was sending us ways to get all the products, all the filler and the Botox and all the stuff that we need and I noticed one girl was given products that she hadn't been trained to use yet. 'There are different stages you need to pass for different qualifications, so the first one for example is lips and cheeks, and then the next stage is under eyes and noses... So it was a bit dodgy. 'And then we were told how to get our hands on unlicensed product, things that aren't licensed here because they're not deemed safe here, like products from Korea and China. They're illegal here. It was to cut costs. 'I was asking how to do things properly and it was shrugged off like it didn't matter. Like "just do it this way. This is how everybody does it." The Ex On The Beach alum stopped making content about a year ago, starting from ditching collaborations and eventually interrupting solo content - although her page still exists 'But my morals are different, I just wouldn't want to do that.' Jemma decided to continue with her aesthetics career but revealed she found it a struggle to get hold of the legal and licensed products that are required in the UK. 'It's crazy how hard it is,' she explained. 'I found it hard to do the whole prescription process because you have to have a doctor with you to prescribe the Botox and then you have to go to the pharmacy to collect it. 'It's a long process and and that's why so many people cut all these corners. 'And I just thought after two days of training and being shown how to do everything dodgy, this isn't for me. So I stopped doing it.' Jemma was also fearful because of her lack of training, recalling: 'When I used to inject people's lips, I used to think, "Oh my God, if this goes wrong, I would literally just ring 999. I wouldn't know what to do. 'Knowing what to do because someone's told you it, and actually doing it for the first time yourself is just completely different.' Under current rules, an aesthetic practitioner in the UK doesn't need any mandatory qualifications. It means that anyone can go on a training course and then be allowed to perform dermal filler treatment. Justin Baldoni has added his former publicist to his blockbuster lawsuit against Blake Lively, claiming she turned over a phone containing sensitive messages to the actress. The text messages in question are at the heart of Lively's case against the 41-year-old actor and director, and were featured prominently in the sympathetic New York Times story that ran last December and first aired the 37-year-old's sex assault claims against him. Among them are exchanges between Baldoni's publicists that appear to show them waging a negative publicity campaign against the mom-of-four. Baldoni's legal team says they were doctored and taken out of context, with the It Ends With Us actor's lawyers making the complete exchanges public as part of his $400million countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. According to the new papers, which were filed in Los Angeles on Friday, Lively's team were able to get their hands on the messages thanks to his ex-publicist Stephanie Jones, head of Jonesworks PR, The filings claim she seized a work phone belonging to her former partner Jennifer Abel which gave her access to conversations between Abel and crisis publicist Melissa Nathan both of whom were working for Baldoni's production company Wayfarer at the time. Justin Baldoni has added his former publicist Stephanie Jones as another defendant in his blockbuster lawsuit against Blake Lively, claiming she helped leak his texts to the actress Stephanie Jones (left) is accused of helping Lively's team get their hands on the text messages between Baldoni and his reps that purportedly showed them waging a negative publicity campaign against the actress Both women are part of Baldoni's suit and say Lively's decision to include their conversations in her initial suit led to them being bombarded with abuse and death threats. In a statement released to DailyMail.com, Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman said: 'It is undeniable that Stephanie Jones initiated this catastrophic sequence of events by violating the most basic of privacy rights, as well as any remaining trust her clients held. 'No stranger to stirring up crisis scenarios for departing clients, Ms. Jones maliciously turned over communications from the phone she wrongfully took from her own partner to her cohort [Lively's publicist] Leslie Sloane, immediately after Ms. Jones was terminated for cause by Wayfarer due to her own wrongful behavior.' Kristin Tahler, a partner at Quinn Emanuel, who represents Stephanie Jones stated to DailyMail.com. 'Ms. Jones' lawsuit is based entirely on facts and concrete evidence. That suit clearly shows that Jen Abel conspired with Melissa Nathan and others to steal reams of confidential documents, clients and staff and eventually attempt to destroy the business that Ms. Jones spent decades building. 'Abel, Nathan, Baldoni and their co-defendants attempted to achieve these outcomes through bullying distortion and outright disparagement. These facts are backed up by dozens of messages provided in the suit we filed month ago and cannot be credibly disputed. 'Having no facts or evidence, we see a familiar playbook -- smear our client, culminating in the work of fiction masquerading as the counterclaims that were filed Thursday.' Shortly after Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni in December, Jones also lodged her own lawsuit against the actor, as well as his company Wayfarer Studios, Nathan, and Abel. Abel represented Baldoni while working for Jonesworks, but was allegedly fired last summer after Jones discovered she was 'stealing documents and client information' from the firm in aid of a plot to start a rival company, according to a copy of Jones' lawsuit obtained by DailyMail.com. Echoing Lively's allegations, Jones claimed in her own legal filing that Nathan and Abel orchestrated 'a smear campaign against Lively to benefit Baldoni and Wayfarer.' Text messages included in the New York Times' Many of the messages included in the complaint show exchanges between publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan Baldoni also appears to wade in at times and suggest his own tactics to discredit Lively Baldoni's legal team claimed the texts included in the article were doctored and taken out of context and even published the complete exchanges to show the omissions She further claimed that Nathan and Abel schemed 'to publicly pin blame for this smear campaign on Jones - when Jones had no knowledge or involvement in it.' Lively's legal complaint included purported screen-grabs of text messages, many of them between Nathan and Abel, allegedly showing the PR takedown being planned. Baldoni initially responded by suing the Times for $250million, claiming it 'relied almost entirely on Lively's unverified and self-serving narrative, lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims'. The newspaper has continued to stand by its reporting and is currently fighting the suit in court. Baldoni's legal team has since launched an explosive website dedicated to defending the actor against the allegations against him. The site, which went live in February, includes his full amended complaint and a 'timeline of relevant events' detailing apparent inconsistencies and evidence against Lively's claims. In her complaint, Lively accused Baldoni of working with his publicist Jennifer Abel (pictured) and crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan to tarnish her reputation Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman (pictured in November) told DailyMail.com on Friday that it's 'undeniable' Jones 'initiated this catastrophic sequence of events' Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' attorney Michael J. Gottlieb (right) stands in front of Justin Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman inside the United States District Court in Manhattan as they both argue with Judge Lewis J. Liman during a trial conference on February 3 Among them are the apparent omissions in the text message exchanges between Baldoni, Abel, and Nathan that were published in the NYT report about Lively's complaint. One screengrab shows Nathan and Abel discussing a DailyMail.com article about Lively, with Nathan lamenting that it could give the impression that she planted the story: 'Damn this is unfair because it's also not me[.]' After Nathan forwards a screenshot of the article link, Abel replies: 'You really outdid yourself with this piece,' adding an upside down smiley emoji to indicate sarcasm. However, in the version of the exchange included in Lively's CRD complaint, the text conversation not only excludes the preceding screenshot of Nathan denying involvement in the story, but also the emoji. Baldoni's lawyers claimed in their filing that 'Lively, and in turn the Times, misrepresented these communications to support her salacious and unfounded 'smear campaign' narrative.' The latest salvo in the titanic legal battle between Baldoni and Lively comes just two days after the actress filed a motion to have her co-star's $400million cross-complaint dismissed. A legal memorandum filed in New York says the case should be dismissed based on an obscure California law that prohibits retaliation against victims of sexual assault. The filing reads: 'The Court should dismiss all claims against Ms. Lively with prejudice, deny leave to amend, and award Ms. Lively all relief sought.' It goes on: 'The law prohibits weaponizing defamation lawsuits, like this one, to retaliate against individuals who have filed legal claims or have publicly spoken out about sexual harassment and retaliation.' Baldoni's team later hit back, describing the move as 'abhorrent'. Freedman added: 'Stringent rules are put into place to protect the innocent and allow individuals to rightfully defend themselves. 'Laws are not meant to be twisted and curated by privileged elites to fit their own personal agenda.' Lively filed complaint against Baldoni in December amid claims of sexual harassment during production of the movie, which was a hit when it arrived in theaters in August The film at the heart of the feud, based on the 2016 bestseller by Colleen Hoover, was released in August and was a box office hit. It follows Lily Bloom, a florist played by Lively, who falls in love with a charming but abusive neurosurgeon played by Baldoni, who was also the film's director The new round of legal wrangling comes after months of claims and counter claims with both Lively and Baldoni maintaining low profiles while their lawyers slug it out. Many of the revelations that have emerged have proved highly embarrassing, not least Lively memorably comparing herself to Game of Thrones character Khaleesi and referring to Reynolds and pal Taylor Swift as 'my dragons'. Some of her more lurid claims also came under scrutiny, not least her assertation that Baldoni had sexually harassed her by nuzzling her neck during a scene and commenting on how she smells none of which was recorded due to microphones being turned off. But footage first published DailyMail.com revealed that it did have audio which picked up a full account of the conversation and revealed that it had been about the smell of Lively's fake tan. She also faced criticism for serving legal papers to Baldoni's team in the middle of the devastating wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles in early January. Freedman, who lived in Pacific Palisades, was among the unlucky people whose homes were burned to the ground. Other revelations from the initial complaint included Lively's alleged failure to read the novel on which It Ends With Us is based until long after filming had begun and that she allegedly orchestrated a negative publicity campaign of her own with the connivance of her publicist Sloane and the New York Times. Baldoni's cross-complaint also revealed that he and his family had been forced to spend the premiere of It Ends With Us sitting in a basement because Lively refused to allow him to be in the same room as her. TV legend David Jason has landed a new job away from TV after 60 years of being on screens. The Only Fools and Horses alum, 85, is set to appear at The Lowry Theatre in Manchester for a limited show later this year, where he will share never-before-told stories. The sitcom icon will be joined by a celebrity guest on 22 & 23 August 2025, with tickets ranging from 48 all the way up to 93. 'Through hilarious anecdotes and personal reflections, he takes the audience on a journeyfrom his early days in amateur dramatics to becoming one of Britain's most beloved actors,' a promoter told. 'He reveals how chance encounters, hard work, and a little luck led him to create some of the most iconic TV characters in British history. 'Discover how Del Boy's character evolved beyond the writer's original vision, how he crafted unique performances for his diverse roles, and how he brought legendary animated characters like Danger Mouse, The BFG, Count Duckula, and Toad to Lifesometimes with just a single image as inspiration. TV legend David Jason, 85, landed a new job away from TV after being 60 years on screen (pictured in October 2024) The Only Fools and Horses alum is set to appear at The Lowry Theatre in Manchester for a limited show later this year, where he will share never-before-told stories 'Relive some of the most unforgettable moments in British TV history, including the legendary Only Fools and Horses scenes the bar fall, the chandelier disaster, Batman and Robin, and more. He finished teasing the upcoming project: 'David takes you behind the curtain, revealing the secrets, techniques, and on-set magic that made these moments so timeless.' The actor also previously appeared in The Two Ronnies series as the voice of the Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town. He featured in the 1976 sketch amid his long-term friendship with Ronnie Barker who wrote the show. The sketch in question was a Jack the Ripper parody which followed the story of a killer roaming the streets in Victorian London and murdering its victims by blowing them a raspberry. David revealed in his 2013 autobiography called David Jason: My Life that he was the voice of the character after years of rumours - and the revelation resurfaced this week. Comedian and writer Spike Milligan wrote the character and later it was adapted by Ronnie for his own sketch series. David said in his book: 'In 1976, The Two Ronnies included a weekly serial called The Phantom Raspberry Blower Of Old London Town, about an elusive figure who does for people by leaping out and blowing raspberries at them, and I was given the honour of providing the raspberries for the soundtrack. 'Through hilarious anecdotes and personal reflections, he takes the audience on a journey from his early days in amateur dramatics to becoming one of Britain's most beloved actors,' a promoter told about the upcoming project 'As Ronnie B knew, few people blow a raspberry as well as me. Indeed, I consider myself a world leader. But still Ronnie monitored my raspberry-blowing extremely carefully, for volume, tone and duration.' David added: 'At one point, he had me in the sound booth while he stood on the other side of the glass, and he conducted me, very earnestly, in an entirely blown-raspberry version of the 1812 Overture. 'I still have the credit board, which reads 'Phantom Raspberry Blower David Jason' and I'm enormously proud of my contribution to that little moment of comic history.' The popular character then got its own stage adaptation in 2015 and performed a special show for the Princes Trust, before a UK tour the year after. David is best known for his truly iconic role as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in Only Fools and Horses. The BBC sitcom, which was first aired in 1981, follows the wheeler-dealer and the Trotter family as they attempt to make it rich and become millionaires. Born David John White in 1940, the TV star has been a staple of of British comedy and drama for years. During his distinguished career David's roles Granville in Open All Hours, Blanco in Porridge, Pop Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, and DI Frost in A Touch of Frost, among many others. The actor, 85, mostly famously starred as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in the BBC sitcom which is beloved by fans During his legendary acting career, David also appeared on The Two Ronnies series as the voice of the Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town And it would seem that acting runs in the family as his brother is also a well-known in the industry and also appeared on screen alongside his younger sibling. Arthur White, 91, starred next to his brother in several episodes of A Touch of Frost where he played PC Ernie Trigg in the police crime drama. He also appeared briefly along with his brother in two episodes of The Darling Buds of May back in 1991. In 2008, he worked with David again on the comic fantasy The Colour of Magic where he played a character called Rerpf. In 1996, Arthur appeared in Goodnight Sweetheart which also starred Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, playing the lead role of Gary Sparrow. From 1995 to 2001, Arthur starred in the ITV series London's Burning playing the role as Derek, before appearing in Heartbeart portraying the role of Albert Fogerty. He also has made an appearance in Holby City in 2016 when he played the part of Sidney Bickton. His other television credits include include Doctors, Family Affairs Grange Hill, The Professionals and many more roles dating back to the 1950s. More recently, Arthur featured in 13 Hours That Saved Britain, a documentary , which delves into the events of the Battle of Britain. In the documentary, he shared his personal experiences of living in London through World War Two and residing in the capital during the Blitz. Major US banks closed 145 branches in just five weeks, as experts warn communities are being left without vital services. Banks - including Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo - filed notice to shut the locations between February 7 and March 14. It comes after a further 107 locations were lined up to shut between January 12 and February 6 Financial institutions must notify the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) of their planned closures. It does not mean they will all shut, but in most cases they do. The OCC publishes these filings in a weekly report. While the listings indicate intent to close, they are not final confirmations. Flagstar bank led the closures with 44 locations set to get the chop as 2025 looks set to see the worst wave of branch closures on record. Scroll down to see the full searchable list. Flagstar did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. TD Bank, filed notice to shutter the second most at 38, in the last five weeks of available data. The bank admitted some staff will lose their jobs as a result of the 'difficult decision' to close locations. Major US banks closed a total of 1,043 branches over the course of last year, leaving communities with dwindling local services 'We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for customers and look forward to serving them at one of our 1000+ TD Bank locations or through our digital banking products and services,' a spokesperson for the bank told DailyMail.com. 'Some TD colleagues will be impacted by the store consolidation.' It comes as the bank, which has more than 1,000 branches across the country, continues to roil from massive penalties related to failures in its anti-money laundering controls. The closures will occur on June 5 and will be spread across 10 states including six each in New Jersey and Massachusetts, five in New York, four in New Hampshire and Maine, and three in Pennsylvania and Florida. Bank of America, which closed the most locations of any bank last year, filed to close nine locations. Chase also registered plans for nine closures. Experts have warned that branch closures are set to accelerate this year, with a further 4.11 percent decrease on last year's 1,043 closures. 'Retail bank closures in the US aren't slowing, and in fact our research shows that the last time this many people relied on a local bank branch was in 1995,' Darren Kingman from Root Digital who worked on the Self Financial study told DailyMail.com. 'There's no doubt we're moving towards a cashless society but this increase in people per bank branch and the fact over 200 million Americans still make cash deposits will only mean longer wait times in banks and a potentially a lower overall customer experience,' Kingman explained. TD Bank has filed to close 38 branches across the US Bank of America closed the most locations of any bank last year Your browser does not support iframes. The closure of bricks-and-mortar branches can also be a particular struggle for the elderly, who struggle to operate services such as mobile banking. Travelling out of town to another branch can also present another hurdle. Another recent study found that 45 percent of Americans still prefer to carry out their banking needs in person. 'The shift towards online banking is growing more intense in 2025,' GoBankingRates lead data content researcher Andrew Murray told DailyMail.com. 'Despite the trend towards online banking, our survey data shows more than half of Americans are concerned about the rising number of physical branches that have shut down in the past few years,' Murray explained. More than half of respondents said they were concerned about the rising number of physical bank branch closures over the last few years. Meanwhile, new research recently revealed that the last physical bank branch could close in the US in 2041. Experts from Self Financial reached the number by studying the rate of net closures across the country, which has averaged 1,646 each year since 2018. A Bangladeshi link has emerged during the investigations into the recent Nagpur riots, with the police identifying as many as several fake social media posts, including the ones with Bangladesh IP addresses. In the investigations conducted into social media posts that surfaced prior to and after the March 17 riots, the Nagpur cyber police sleuths have identified 97 such fake posts which were offensive in nature. Many of the social media posts reportedly came from computers with Bangladeshi IP addresses. The Nagpur cyber police personnel are investigating four FIRs registered in connection with the rumour-mongering that went on ahead of the communal violence, in which nearly 40 persons, including 33 police personnel, were injured and scores of vehicles were damaged in Bhaldarpura area of Nagpur. The violence broke out late on the evening of March 17 after the 200-odd workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal staged a protest near the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Nagpur demanding the removal of Aurangzebas tomb and allegedly burnt the burnt an effigy of Aurangazeb. However, the protest sparked rumours that a holy book had been desecrated, leading to violence in Nagpuras Chitnis Park, Mahal, Kotwali and Ganeshpeth. Meanwhile, it has come to l9ight that the alleged mastermind behind the Nagpur riots Fahim Shamim Khan, who is a Minority Democratic Party leader, hails from the communally-sensitive town of Malegaon in Nashik district in north Maharashtra. Speaking at an event organised by a Marathi news channel, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: aOne of the masterminds of the Nagpur riots hails from Malegaon. A thorough investigation will be conducted and those who spoiled the atmosphere will not be spared. We have also filed cases against VHP and Bajrang Dal members. If we tolerate the attacks on the police, law and order in the state will collapse. Therefore, we shall teach the culprits a lesson,a he said. Fadnavis, who holds the state Home Portfolio, said that the Nagpur riots could not be described as a fallout of aintelligence failurea. aWe cannot term it as intelligence failure. However, the monitoring of social media after noon was inadequate. Inflammatory posts were spread through social media. We have the capacity for social media monitoring, but we need to develop the habit of using it. Now, violence is less on the streets and more through social media,a the Chief Minister said. The chief minister said that whether there were some larger plan or design was being probed. aIn the past incidents of violence in the country, we have seen a patternawhether the same pattern was there in Nagpur also is being investigated. More than 100 persons have been arrested so fara aSome of the offensive social media posts were found to be in Bengali.. In fact, it is the kind of Bengali spoken in Bangladesh. We will probe whether there is a larger design,a Fadnavis said. The Delhi Police has busted a syndicate involved in facilitating the illegal entry and settlement of Bangladeshi nationals in the national capital. Three Bangladeshi immigrants along with their Indian facilitator have been arrested, exposing an organised network that exploited forged documents to evade detection, the Delhi Police said in a statement. The arrested people include the kingpin, Md Iqbal Hossain, who operated as Farhan Khan in India. He was apprehended from the Nehru Place area, the statement said. aInvestigations revealed that he possessed both a Bangladeshi passport and an illegally acquired Indian passport. Despite already being married in Bangladesh, he fraudulently married an Indian woman from Madhya Pradesh by posing as an Indian citizen through a matrimonial website,a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Crime) Aditya Gautam in the statement said. Two other Bangladeshi nationals identified as Razeeb Miyan and Md Momin Badsha were also arrested. All three had obtained Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar, voter ID and PAN cards under false names, the statement said. In addition, an Indian facilitator, Agrasen Kumar, who was responsible for generating Aadhaar cards for illegal immigrants using fraudulent information, was also taken into custody. The syndicate was engaged in trafficking Bangladeshi nationals into India through the Assam border, where they were then transported to Delhi via train. Upon reaching the capital, they were assisted in procuring forged Indian identity documents, allowing them to settle here. These documents not only provided them with legal cover but also enabled them to engage in various commercial activities, primarily in the garment trade, it read. Police also said investigations uncovered that the syndicate had been operating for several years, helping Bangladeshi nationals integrate into Indian society undetected. The illegal immigrants were strategically placed in weekly markets in South and Southeast Delhi, where they worked as garment vendors. During the raids, the teams recovered a host of incriminating materials, including an Indian passport and multiple Aadhaar cards in different names, Bangladeshi passports and other documents confirming their foreign nationality, Voter ID and PAN cards procured using fraudulent credentials, and several mobile phones containing critical evidence linking them to the illegal operation. The officer also said the entire network was unearthed after police officers ASI Krishna Pandey and Head Constable Sanjay, posing as garment vendors in weekly markets, gathered intelligence leading to the arrests. aBased on their findings, a series of raids were conducted. The main accused, Md Iqbal Hossain, was first arrested in Nehru Place, while Razeeb Miyan and Md Momin Badsha were apprehended near Badarpur Border. Their Indian facilitator, Agrasen Kumar, was later arrested after further investigation revealed his role in creating fraudulent Aadhaar cards for the illegal immigrants,a said the DCP. Md Iqbal Hossain, originally from Sunamganj in Sylhet, Bangladesh, dropped out of school in 1995 and engaged in rice trading before moving to England in 2004. After spending nearly five years in the UK working in restaurants and delivery services, he returned to Bangladesh in 2009, where he operated a grocery store until 2016. Seeking better opportunities, he illegally entered India in 2017 through the Assam border and settled in Delhi. He initially lived in Jamia Nagar, where he established a garment business and later married an Indian woman under pretenses. By 2022, he was residing in Malviya Nagar, with his Indian wife and children, the police said. In addition to running a garment business, Hossain facilitated the trafficking of Bangladeshi nationals, helping them obtain forged Indian documents to avoid deportation. In 2020, he was arrested for selling illegal SIM cards but continued his illegal activities after securing bail. He even travelled to Bangladesh twice using an Indian passport under a business visa, further cementing his fraudulent identity in India. Indian facilitator Agrasen Kumar played a crucial role in the syndicate by misusing his position as an Aadhaar enrolment agent in a bank. He reportedly registered multiple Bangladeshi nationals as Indian citizens by manipulating government records, allowing them to obtain official identity documents fraudulently. His involvement helped many undocumented immigrants settle in Delhi/NCR without raising suspicion, the police said. aFurther investigation of the entire syndicate is underway,a said the DCP. March 20, 2025: The U.S. Marine Corps is making several changes to its F-35 force. The number of carrier based catapult launched F-35C carrier based aircraft is being increased from 67 to 140. At the same time the number of vertical-takeoff F-35Bs are being reduced from 353 to 280. Squadrons will increase from 10 to 12 aircraft each. The larger squadrons will get two more pilots and an additional 24 aircraft maintainers. Marine aircraft will use Small Diameter bombs and the AGM-158 anti-ship missile. There will also be upgrades to the bomb carrying equipment on these aircraft. The F-35 is a 31-ton single engine, single-seat aircraft that entered service in different versions between 2015 and 2019. The first F-35s were built in 2006 for development purposes. The aircraft has stealth characteristics and is equipped with all the most modern aircraft electronics or avionics, sensors and capabilities. The F-35 has a max range of 2,800 kilometers for repositioning missions to a different country. For destinations more than 2,500 kilometers distant, the F-35 must land for refueling along the way. Combat range for ground attack missions is 1,2oo kilometers while carrying eight tons of missiles and bombs. Combat range for combat with other aircraft is 1,400 kilometers. The F-35 can carry 2,600 kg of weapons internally and 6,800 kg externally. Max speed is Mach 1.6 and max altitude is 15,000 meters. The F-35B is a Short Takeoff and Landing or STOVAL version that carries a third less fuel because of the STOVAL modifications. There is an F-35C aircraft carrier version that is like the F-35A but equipped with a tail hook and more rugged landing gear. The wings have larger control surfaces, and the outer portions of the wing can be folded so the aircraft takes up less space on the hanger deck. Missiles and bombs that the F-35 is equipped to carry include air-to-air missiles like the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, AIM-260 JATM, and MBDA Meteor. Air-to-surface missiles include AGM-88G AARGM-ER, AGM-158 JASSM, AGM-179 JAGM, SPEAR 3, and the hypervelocity Stand-In Attack Weapon. Anti-ship missiles include the AGM-158C LRASM and Joint Strike Missile. Bombs include the Joint Direct Attack Munition, Paveway Precision-guided glide bomb, AGM-154 JSOW, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, GBU-53/B Stormbreaker and the B61 mod 12 nuclear bomb. Pilots benefit from several features that make their job easier and much more effective. The cockpit where the pilot sits features a bubble canopy providing excellent views of what is outside the aircraft. Cockpit controls have been reduced and made easier to see and use. This is done by using a 50 by 20 cm touch display that shows flight instruments, stores management, CNI information, and integrated caution and warnings. Pilots can customize the arrangement of the information. Below the main display is a smaller stand-by display. The F-35 electronics also provides a better view of ground targets and the ability to quickly select the most suitable ground attack weapon carried and use it. The cockpit has a speech-recognition system but does not have a heads-up display. Instead, flight and combat information is displayed on the visor of the pilot's helmet using a helmet-mounted display system, a display that enables the pilot to look at an enemy aircraft and fire a missile at it. This point and shoot capability is an enormous advantage in air-to-air combat. The one-piece tinted canopy is hinged at the front and has an internal frame for structural strength. The Martin-Baker ejection seat is launched by a twin-catapult system housed on side rails. There is a right-hand side stick and throttle hands-on throttle-and-stick system. For life support, an OBOGS, or onboard oxygen-generation system is fitted and powered by the Integrated Power Package, with an auxiliary oxygen bottle and backup oxygen system for emergencies. The radars and electronic countermeasures provide the pilot with an integrated view of the surrounding air space. This degree of situational awareness gives the pilot an enormous advantage in combat because the F-35 pilot can see, either with his eyes or via his sensors, more about what is in the area and in much greater detail than any enemy pilot. About 1,100 F-35s have been built so far and eventually, by 2044, at least 2,456 will be built. Production numbers will increase as more export customers order aircraft. So far F-35s have been exported to Britain, Australia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, and the Netherlands. In 2023 Israel ordered another 25 F-35s. Israel already has fifty, organized into two squadrons. With the new aircraft there will be three squadrons. Israel was the first export customer to receive F-35s because it was the only export customer that was regularly involved in combat, including air-strikes. Israel was also the only export customer allowed to modify and upgrade their F-35s. For this reason, the Israeli aircraft is known as the F-35I. The United States initially opposed Israeli requests to carry out modifications and upgrades, but the Israelis had a record of doing this with F-16s and F-15s obtained from the United States, so F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin agreed to cooperate by making some modifications to the F-35Is before Israel received them. These included changes in command, control, and communications systems, including computers, and the thorough integration of intelligence collection, electronic warfare, and weapons systems. Israel agreed to not change anything inside the aircraft but was free to add capabilities on top of the existing infrastructure. Israel Aerospace Industries, for example, was already working on such systems for the F-35I. The F-35I was designed to allow software updates to electronic warfare and weapons systems. F-35I power and cooling systems were modified to allow incorporation of Israeli developed weapons. Israel has developed its own air-to-air missiles and GPS guided bombs. Since 2021 there have been a lot more joint exercises involving Israeli and foreign F-35s. Details of these exercises have not been publicized but it apparently involves testing current and new F-35 capabilities and sharing that knowledge with other F-35 users. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, a lot of European nations sought to obtain F-35s while canceling plans to buy older models of American and European combat aircraft. F-35s are meant to eventually replace all F-16, F-15, and F-18 aircraft. Ukraines ability to defeat the larger Russian air force, using Ukraines own Russian-designed aircraft, made it clear that the Ukrainian tactics carried out with F-35s would provide an enormous edge over air forces equipped with older aircraft. China recently revealed two new stealth aircraft, the JHXX strike aircraft and the JXD fighter. The JHXX is a tailless delta design while the JXD is a more conventional design like the American F-35. These two aircraft appear to be in the prototype stage and production models wont appear until the 2030s. China has not yet produced a stealth aircraft as capable as the F-35 but these two prototypes appear to be a serious effort to change that. This may take a decade or more and until then the United States and its Pacific allies have an advantage with their F-35s. Israel demonstrated what the F-35 was capable of in 2019 when Israel had only 14 F-35I fighters and some had been operational for over a year. These F-35Is flew training missions near the Syrian border and then operational missions over Lebanon and Syria. This came after years of overcoming opposition from the United States to allowing Israel to modify the F-35A to use Israeli electronic warfare equipment and software, and also to handle Israeli-made missiles and smart bombs as well as a smart helmet, which was something Israel pioneered. This led to the Israeli aircraft being designated the F-35I, which have been in the air since 2018, often armed and within range of hostile radars and anti-aircraft missiles as well as the latest Russian electronic warfare equipment. Israeli engineers also confirmed fears that the F-35 is eminently hackable. Other foreign users who have received their first F-35s agree that the heart of the F-35's superior capabilities are its software and digital communications with other aircraft and troops on the ground. Users are pointing out all manner of potential network vulnerabilities, and all are actively seeking which of these vulnerabilities are actual and fixable rather than potential and unlikely. F-35 software was designed over a decade ago when much less was known about how combat aircraft software could be hacked and already some basic changes in F-35 software architecture are underway to deal with that. This brings up another major problem. The F-35 software is more complex and omnipresent throughout the aircraft than in any previous warplane. Its a major effort to carry out and test any changes. Some major upgrades are needed in how F-35 software changes are made and how quickly. In wartime this would be essential, as otherwise vulnerable aircraft would be grounded when needed most. Foreign users have also provided useful advice on penetration or red team testing and this has become another major effort that was not anticipated. The U.S. and other foreign users of the F-35 noted Israels F-35I experience, and the Israelis have increasingly been sharing it with allies. Israel got priority on deliveries because they are literally a combat zone. Initial reactions of Israeli F-35I pilots and air force commanders were positive. What the Israeli pilots and all others who have flown the F-35 agree on is that its software and degree of automation is spectacular, easy to use and very effective. The F-35 has a large number of sensors, as in receivers for electronic signals, as well as six cameras and a very capable radar. The fusion of all that data and presentation to the pilot based on the current situation is impressive and makes the F-35 much easier to fly than any other fighter, despite all the additional capabilities it has. Israel has become something of an unofficial member of NATO and is sharing a lot of its F-35I knowledge with NATO nations. Israel not only has to deal with Russian aircraft and electronic systems in Syria, but an even more dangerous threat from Iran. Israel has established diplomatic and defense relationships with Arab countries who are also threatened by Iran. That made it possible for Israel to establish diplomatic relations with some Arab Gulf States and that led to Americans' willingness to sell F-35s to the United Arab Emirates/UAE. Irrespective of the political ideology of the globalists, for decades they built China up, pampering the communist dictatorship with incentives, and freebies. Manufacturing all but disappeared from multiple Western nations as the globalists made China the worlds factory, in turn increasing its coffers immensely. One may ask why would they do such a thing? Build up a communist state who effectively wants to take over the entire globe with communism? There are, of course, many variables to the modus operandi of the disgraceful affair, but the main reasons were money and money, and money. The empty factories and manufacturing plants in the USA and Europe were left to rot, while the machinations of industry were in Chinas hands, exporting their shoddy low-quality, yet cheap junk to Walmarts and supermarkets across the globe. The West has been feeding the beast for a long time now. Hey, sit on your new cheap Chinese sofa, and receive third degree chemical burns for the pleasure. Buy your children toys that are toxic. It was all a scam, a sham, a dirty rotten fraud all along, as the globalists got rich beyond their wildest dreams using cheap Chinese labour and cheap materials to sell utter crap to Westerners at huge mark-up prices, that were still cheaper than home run manufacturers. The key point here is that China got rich, or at least the high-ranking members of the CCP did, and the affiliated underlings below them. The poor people in rural China are still poor as shit. With money comes military might, and this is the end game for the Chinese politburo, for Xi Jinping. Every dollar spent on cheap Chinese crap goes into increasing Chinas military industrial complex. The main role of the CCP and PLA is to take over the world, not only economically, but militarily, which will be the final card thrown on the table. The Chinese think that the West is weak and stupid, and to a certain extent they were until The Donald came around. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative sought to fool and entice many African nations into giving up their precious natural resources, and in return build a few roads and hospitals for the poor nations. The Chinese consensus on Africans is that they are stupid and akin to subhumans when compared to the Chinese. What many of these Africans did not know was that their country would be put into further debt to China, enslaved for many years to come. China doesnt just want Taiwan, it wants the entire globe, and now that it has successfully built up its military thanks to the globalists, China and its partners want to take the earths last remaining resources for themselves. This is the final countdown. Partnering with Russia, N. Korea and a few others it will do just that, and once it does, or tries to do that, China will destroy its partners as well. China has promised Russia the prize of Europe, although eventually, Europe will be taken by China as well. The CCP is ruthless, and there can only be one winner China. The WEF and UN have themselves adopted China as the ideal state, the ideal technique, the ideal way to govern over people. China is a model to the world, they repeat constantly, just dont mention the genocide of the Uyghur people or the other human rights nightmares the brutal CCP conducts on a daily basis. Wokism was imported into the West as a form of ideological subversion, to demoralise the Western nations and bring forth the element of self-hatred, censorship, and destruction of democracy. China is playing the long game here, and first, through their many agents, imported the woke programming into Western culture to destroy its democracy and culture. Looks like it worked, as many Western countries are still under its woke mind control techniques. China is willing to commit mass genocide globally for its own people to populate Paris, London, New York, Berlin, Rome, Los Angeles. Chinese Lebensraum is a very real thing, and the CCP is currently really pissed that one guy, Trump is messing with their plans. March 20, 2025: In early 2025 the Chinese navy in cooperation with Huazhong University scientists and technicians conducted a simulated battle between a Chinese Type 55 destroyer and eight U.S. Navy Burke class destroyers. The Chinese destroyer was accompanied by two drone boats each carrying sixteen aerial drones and seven seagoing drones. Each of these drones could inflict some damage on a Burke and disable some of the weapons and sensors. In the simulation the Burkes launched 32 cruise missiles and LRSAM anti-ship missiles. The Type 55 destroyer intercepted all the American missiles and was able to launch another salvo of missiles and drones. This simulation was criticized by U.S. Navy officers for being inaccurate and unrealistic. American warships prefer long range attacks and employ reconnaissance by aircraft, drones and overhead satellites to spot enemy warships far enough away so American missiles will reach the enemy ships before their missiles can be launched. American anti-missile defenses are more formidable than the Chinese simulation indicated. Another factor is that U.S. crews have combat experience compared to the Chinese who have none. American warships monitor Chinese naval exercises and note the capabilities of the ships and crews. The Chinese have a long way to go and their use of inaccurate simulations depicting improbable American tactics and capabilities does not help them. Meanwhile, the Chinese are building a lot of new ships and sending them to sea for practice. The Type 55 class destroyers are 12,000-ton warships comparable to the late model American Arleigh Burke class and are in fact a bit larger and more heavily armed with similar weapons. The Type 55 is more similar in size to the failed American 15,000-ton Zumwalt class destroyer. The Zumwalt contained too many new technologies that proved too expensive and too unpredictable to put into service. The U.S. Navy kept spending more money on development in a futile effort to get the Zumwalt to work and the effort was canceled, with only three Zumwalts built and only at the end of 2020 were all fully operational. The Type 55 is also similar to the American Ticonderoga class cruisers, which were 10,000-ton ships based on 1970s and 80s technology that paved the way for the Burkes. From 1980 to 1994, twenty-seven Ticonderogas were built and 22 are still in service. The Ticonderogas, like the Burkes, were based on the successful Spruance class destroyers. The success of the 31 Spruances, built between 1972 and 1983, led to the Burke class, which has been in production since 1988 with 67 in service, five under construction and orders for at least ten more planned. The latest version of the Burke is nearly as large as the Ticonderogas and in many ways more capable. This is apparently what the Chinese are trying to do with the Type 55. Despite using proven American technologies, the Chinese had some problems getting the Type 55s into service. That is not unusual and has become an accepted part of how the Chinese develop new warship designs. The first Type 055 destroyer was launched in June 2017. This was not unexpected because evidence of such a ship began showing up in early 2015. Back then it appeared that this new Type 055 12,000-ton cruiser class ship would have as many as 128 Vertical Launch System or VLS tubes and much else besides. China claimed this ship would be the equivalent of a Burke class destroyer. The Type 055 would be, and now is, the largest surface combat ship China has ever built. The Type 55 turned out to have 112 American type VLS cells as well as an Aegis type radar system and four locally built gas-turbine engines. These engines provide 150,000 horsepower and a top speed of 55 kilometers an hour. There are also six generators producing 30 megawatts of power for future weapons like railguns and lasers. Also carried are hangers for two helicopters. Workspaces impact on the village of Draperstown and the wider parish of Ballinascreen, and beyond, has often gone under the radar despite the transformative developments and initiatives it has delivered over the last four decades. In the early 1980s the local unemployment rate had spiralled well beyond 30% and the overall mood was gloomy. In contrast, nowadays the district has full employment with hundreds of people employed in the village and lots of opportunities for good, well-paid jobs. As the UKs leading social enterprise, authenticated by the recent accolade of Social Enterprise of the Year, their strap line of Passionate about business, delivering to our community has never been so apt. Since 1985 Workspace has taken the lead for countless community and social projects and there are very many public, and private, demonstrations of their profit for purpose ethos. Those attending Ballinascreen Historical Societys April meeting will learn all about the companys successes, and failures, over the years. Georgina Grieve, chief executive of Workspace, together with Patsy MShane, the first chief executive, will outline the history of the organisation including the subsidiary companies, the innovative programmes and also the large number of local community enriching projects which have benefitted from the companys profits. Throughout this 40th anniversary year Workspace has planned several colourful celebratory events. Memories of people, places and projects will be revived, but there were few more colourful distractions than the emergence, in March 1994, of the big bright yellow bus which set off from the former Taylors Yard to offer help and assistance to rural communities right across the mid-Ulster area. The memory of that Playbus, and countless more memories, will be rekindled on the evening of Tuesday, April 1 at 8pm with the venue being, very appropriately, the Workspace Community Hub. Everyone is invited to come along and share their Workspace memories. Its time to celebrate a huge success story from our own wee village. On a recent visit to Kilronan Special School in Magherafelt, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), Right Reverend Dr Richard Murray, has praised the passion, care and commitment of those working throughout the Special Educational Needs (SEN) sector. Dr Murray also welcomed the promises made in the recent Programme for Government with regards to SEN, the Moderator said, however, that the commitments made needed to be more than aspirational. Dr Murray was visiting the school as part of his recent weeklong tour of PCIs Presbytery of Tyrone, one of the Churchs 19 regional bodies. Having already visited Harberton Special School in South Belfast, Roddensvale in Larne, and Castle Tower in Ballymena, his visit to a Kilronan was his fourth visit to a special school since becoming Moderator in June last year. He also visited a collaborative project that the school runs in partnership with First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church for a group of its school leaver pupils. Welcomed by principal, Mrs Sharlene Deehan, she said that the school provides a learning environment where children and young people from three to 19 can Learn, Grow and Achieve Together, which is at the heart of the schools mission. Dr Murray toured the school with Rev Jonathan Curry, minister of First Magherafelt, meeting staff and pupils. Talking about his visit to Kilronan, and SEN sector in general, Dr Murray said: I really appreciated the opportunity to visit the school and found a really warm and welcoming atmosphere where the staff team are clearly passionate about providing the best educational opportunities for their children and young people, and care deeply for them. Having visited a number of Special Schools on my Presbytery Tours, I have found this same passion and commitment in teaching children and young people with diverse, complex and often challenging special educational needs. I cannot praise them more highly as they work with parents to provide the best learning opportunities to meet their childrens needs, abilities and potential, in a system that is obviously stretched. The Moderator continued: Talking to Mrs Deehan, and other SEN principals, I have become very much aware of the cliff-edge that young people with additional needs face when they leave fulltime education at 19. This is why the relationship with First Magherafelt and the Cafe Revive initiative is so important. But it is just one option out of too few for those in the runup to leaving school. Talking about the promised reform of SEN provision in The Executive Offices recently published Programme for Government, and the accompanying Special Education Needs Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan 2025-2030, Dr Murray said: While we welcome the commitment to having an agreed SEN Agenda and Delivery Plan in place by the end of 2027, at this stage these goals, while necessary, feel ambitions. Having said that, along with parents and teachers, I look forward to seeing the improved outcomes promised for the children and young people who will ultimately benefit from the reforms, especially the cross departmental commitments to ensure further training, education, or employment, at post 16 and post 19. The first duty of government is to protect and support the most vulnerable in society, I think everyone involved will be watching this space. During the visit Mrs Deehan spoke of some of the challenges that the sector faces. With 174 on Kilronans school roll, she said that it was currently operating at well over its intended capacity. Like other SEN schools, this has resulted in the conversion of storerooms and meeting rooms into additional classrooms and therapy spaces. We were delighted to welcome the Moderator, and were impressed by the genuine interest that he has for special educational needs. The children who come to Kilronan are unique and often have challenging needs, but they are supported by a great staff team, teaching and non-teaching, who work alongside physio, OT, speech and language therapists, and music therapists, all of whom go above and beyond everyday, Mrs Deehan said. Working to help each child and young person learn and reach their full potential, no two days are the same. In that, we face a wide range of issues, and many of them are not unique to Kilronan, such as the huge capacity crisis that we and other SEN schools face, which means increased class sizes and the repurposing of rooms. More children are coming to us now with behaviours that challenge, and staff retention has become an issue, often due to better pay and conditions elsewhere. Mrs Deehan continued: Despite all of the challenges our students remain at the heart of everything we do. We are also very blessed in that with the support of the Education Authority and Department of Education, we will be cutting the first sod in a School Enhancement Programme in the not-too-distant future. This expansion will create equity for our learners with their mainstream counterparts, however, it will not alleviate our capacity crisis, or all the issues we face. Speaking about Cafe Revive, Mrs Deehan said that it came about over the last 10 years. We were very aware that post 19 provision for our young people was lacking. It is still the reality for the vast majority of SEN school leavers. We strive to prepare our young people to leave Kilronan with appropriate life skills. Along with Rev Jonathan Curry and some of my predecessors, Mrs Alison Millar, Miss Lisa Brown and Mrs Bernie McCormick, it was the brainchild of the late Jack Chapman, our longstanding Board of Governors chair, whose daughter attended Townspark, the school before Kilronan was established. The Cafe has become a great success. Dr Murray also visited the cafe, enjoying a cup of tea and a scone, while meeting the students. The longstanding link between Kilronan and First Magherafelt, through Cafe Revive, was a wonderful example of a very practical and vocational partnership, as it provides important work experience and valuable life skills for students. From waiting on the tables, and taking the orders, to organising rotas, being aware of food and personal hygiene, preparing the refreshments and drinks, while learning to work as a team, it has become a real community asset. At the same time, it was also a great example, one of so many that I have seen during my year in office, of local congregations demonstrating their love for Jesus through practical community action. It was a joy to be at," added Dr Murray. March 21, 2025: NATO nations have promised substantial post-war economic rebuilding aid so that Ukraine can fit that aid into their war plans. For example, the Netherlands, one of the smaller NATO members, announced it was spending several billion dollars on Ukraine aid in 2024 and 2025. The German GDP is over four trillion dollars while that of the Netherlands is about one trillion dollars. Germany sent $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. Considering its smaller size, the Netherlands has been a major supplier of aid to Ukraine. The Netherlands and Germany plan to provide even larger amounts of aid for the post-war reconstruction. The 2024 Dutch aid for Ukraine includes a wide array of weapons and services. There will be more air defense systems, UAVs and munitions for various weapons Ukraine already has. Services include training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots and aircraft maintainers. In 2024 a larger portion of the aid was for economic reconstruction and current government financing. Unable to do sufficient damage to Ukrainian armed forces, Russia has been concentrating many of its missile attacks on economic targets. These have to be repaired or rebuilt, especially the targets that provide electricity, heat or clean water and sanitation services. The Russians wanted Ukrainian civilians to suffer when winter arrived. The Dutch can relate to this. During World War 2 the Netherlands was occupied by German troops and towards the end of the war the Germans greatly reduced the food available for Dutch civilians. In the Netherlands, that period of privation is remembered, and they dont want to see it happen again and again to the Ukrainians. For centuries Ukraine has suffered periods of brutal occupation by invaders. The most frequent brutal occupier has been Russia, which has played the homicidal villain several times in the last century. The most infamous Russian occupation incident was the use of famine during 1932 and 1933 to suppress Ukrainian opposition to Russian rule, especially the new Russian ideology of communism which prohibited private farms and expected all farmers to work for state-owned farms. This was resisted by many farmers throughout Russia, but the opposition was most stubborn in Ukraine, where about 20 percent of the Soviet Unions population lived. Ukrainian farmers were the most productive in Russia and produced most of the exportable wheat. Ukrainian resistance produced a horrific Soviet response, the seizure of nearly all the wheat crops in the areas of most resistance. This lasted two years and killed nearly four million Ukrainians, about an eighth of the population, Ukrainians called this the Holodomor, which translates as the Great Famine. Russia denied the Holodomor ever happened and many Western nations, and their mass media, went along with that. One exception was Britain, where one British reporter risked his life by going to Ukraine and obtaining proof of the Holodomor. The Russian government kept denying the famine ever happened until 1983, when a more open communist government admitted that many communist crimes were true. This made an impression on Russians because they realized more of the victims of the Gulag prison camps and communist terror in general were Russians. As a result, during the 0ccupations of Crimea and parts of Donbas in 2014 the Russians tried to win the support of locals. That lowered the civilian death toll but did not turn most of the occupied population into loyal citizens of Russia. By 2020 most Ukrainians in the occupied territories wanted out. The most desperate moved to Russia, many others wanted to get to Ukraine and others sought to go anywhere but Ukraine and Russia. The Holodomor and many other past incidents of Russian brutality led to Russian troops being initially ordered to not attack civilians during the 2022 invasion. That failed to cause civilians to be any more receptive to the Russian presence and, within a month, troops were told they could loot and not tolerate any resistance from civilians. Russia denied that civilians were being killed or that widespread looting was taking place. Cell phone cameras carried by most Ukrainians made those claims difficult to sustain. Nor were Russian denials of the heavy casualties inflicted on the Russian forces who believed they would easily defeat the Ukrainians and occupy the capital, Kyiv, within two weeks. After a month of this, Russian troops around Kyiv were ordered to withdraw to Russia and try to conceal evidence of mass murder before they left. This produced some mass graves, but many bodies were left in plain view and many surviving civilians had video evidence of who did what. Russia again denied it, insisting these civilians were killed by Ukrainian forces to make the Russians look bad. Once more the video evidence, especially from Ukrainians who witnessed it and could identify some of the perpetrators, made the atrocities difficult to deny. Mindful of that, Russian occupation forces in parts of Ukraine that were seized early on and are still under Russian control, were ordered to try really hard to win over the locals without resorting to mass murder. The main occupation zone is north of Crimea and centered around the city of Kherson, which is the capital of Kherson province. Kherson City was captured during the first week of the invasion and Russia has held onto most of the province ever since. The city is a major port because it is located near the mouth of the Dnieper River and the Black Sea. The Dnieper is a major navigable river for Ukraine and has long been used to handle the movement of cargo, especially wheat being exported. Ukraine has been trying to recapture Kherson City and province ever since and finally did so at the end of 2023, aided by a growing partisan movement inside Kherson province and passive resistance to Russian occupation by most Ukrainians in the province. Some Ukrainians agreed to work for the Russian occupation, and they were soon the targets of attacks by Ukrainian partisans. Some of the turncoats were killed but more worrisome to the Russians were indications that other Ukrainian officials quietly agreed to work for the partisans. The Russians now believe that many of their Ukrainian administrators were working with the resistance from the beginning. At the same time the Russian occupation forces still had orders to try and win over the Ukrainians or at least discourage them from joining an armed insurrection. To help with that the Russians sought to Russify the province as quickly as possible. That meant replacing the Ukrainian cell phone service with a Russian one. Ukrainian TV and radio transmissions are blocked. Russian ID documents became mandatory and use of the Russian ruble was mandatory. Access to Russian controlled utilities, especially water and electricity, were dependent on how cooperative the local civilians were. All these efforts were made to link Kherson to the Russian economy. The initial reason for pacifying the population was to make life safe for Russian troops in Kherson. That was never fully achieved, and since then Russian troops have to worry about roadside bombs or anti-vehicle mines as well as sniper fire and assassination via pistol or a bomb planted in a vehicle. The goal of this was to hold elections that could be depicted as honest and show a majority of Kherson residents supporting annexation by Russia. The Ukrainians were not cooperating and doing so in clever ways that Russian Information War specialists recognized and struggled to counter. The Ukrainian resistance was armed and dangerous but also mindful of the importance of outperforming the Russian Information War campaign. Some of the American aid packages for Ukraine included a lot of Cold War era PARM anti-vehicle mines that were never used. These mines were developed by the Germans to halt or disrupt a Soviet invasion that never came. The Germans believed Ukrainian partisans could use these mines. This has proved to be true, and the Ukrainians wanted more of these mines after having received nearly 15,000. Germany has to resume production of these mines to meet the Ukrainian demand. Ukrainians depict the Russian occupiers as worse than the German Nazis of World War II infamy. This is particularly embarrassing for the Russians because the official Russian government justification for the invasion is to liberate Ukrainians from neo-Nazi Ukrainians led by president Zelensky, who is Jewish. This tragicomedy was understood by many in Russia early on and led to a largely unarmed, but often violent, resistance movement inside Russia and Belarus. Russia denies the extent of the resistance in Kherson, calling armed partisans local bandits and gangsters. Video proof gets out of Kherson and Russian troops stationed in Kherson complain to friends and family back home. This intensifies resistance to the war inside Russia, where the government is waging its own Information War to generate support for the war or at least discredit the critics. It was the growing inability to suppress accurate news that played a role in causing the Soviet Union to dissolve in 1991. The former KGB officers who brought back so many aspects of Soviet rule during the last two decades are having a hard time dealing with media and image control. Its the 1980s all over again but worse. This is a reminder that the Information War is not a state monopoly and often a multi-sided conflict. A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates' Court today for attempted criminal damage to his sister's door. Caolan Hayden (32) of Fahan Street in Derry admitted two charges of attempted criminal damage and disorderly behaviour on March 20. The court heard that police received a report from the defendant's sister that her brother was kicking at her doors and windows. The woman said that the defendant had been staying at her address and she had asked him to leave. She said her children had been upset by the incident. At interview Hayden denied the offences and said he had knocked at the door but hadn't used any force nor had he gone near the windows. Defence solicitor Conor McGurk said his client had not gone to the address with the intention of causing a scene. He said Hayden claimed he wanted his sister to phone him a taxi and she had refused. The solicitor said the defendant had not been long released from 'a significant sentence'. Hayden was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for two years. Feile and the local community gathered at Creggan Country Park to celebrate the Spring Equinox. The event featured choral performances from Allegri, Momentum and Holy Child Primary School. The spring equinox in 2025 occurred at 9.01am on March 20 marking what is officially the first day of spring. This is the vernal or spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the point in the year when day and night are the same length. For millennia, the spring equinox has represented longer days, new beginnings, seeds, a rebalancing of light and dark, celebration and the birth of animals and colourful flowers all around the world. For ancient cultures, these astronomical phenomena were a reliable way to record the yearly/seasonal cycle and were incorporated into their cultural and religious practices. The equinox, or Conocht an Earraigh in Gaelic, has held a special place in Ireland for thousands of years. Some speculate that the close proximity of the spring equinox to St Patricks Day is due to a merging of ancient Celtic traditions with more modern Christian rituals. A Feile spokesperson said: "A huge thank you to everyone who came along, and to the choirs for their amazing performances to mark the beginning of Spring. And also to the Tasty Reel for supplying the beautiful breakfast." With its market being compared with those found in southern France, and boasting knockout good looks, Saffron Walden in Essex has been crowned the best place to live in an annual guide. The town tops a list of 72 locations in this years Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, released online on Friday. An abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement on Sunday. Judges at The Sunday Times visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street. With its convenient commuter links to both London and Cambridge, Saffron Walden boasts knockout looks, excellent state schools, a rich cultural offering and an exploding foodie scene, according to those behind the guide. They felt that the town is reinventing the high street for the 21st century, with a combination of chains and independent shops. According to the guide compilers, locals say Saffron Waldens Saturday market is like being in the South of France. Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate as we look closer to home. From small gestures that lift the everyday like verges blooming with daffodils and volunteer-run dementia cafes, to larger initiatives, from repair cafes to new railway stations. Judges looked for thriving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices. Locations on this years list come in all shapes and sizes, from the island of Tiree in Scotland and the remote Welsh village of Maenclochog to suburbs of big, lively cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and London. Ms Davies added: High house prices are no barrier to inclusion as long as they provide value for money. Different people will be looking for different qualities when they are choosing a place to live. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home. Regional winners were also selected (locations are in alphabetical order and are not ranked): East: Chelmsford, Essex Judges praised its schools and transport connections. London: Walthamstow Walthamstow was described by judges as diverse, vibrant and cool without being frosty. Midlands: Ilmington, Warwickshire Perched on the edge of the Cotswolds, Ilmington was described by the judges as a blissful example of village life as it should be. North and North East: Ilkley, West Yorkshire The get up and go of the community and the sporting and cultural opportunities for young people impressed judges. Northern Ireland: Dundrum, Co Down The setting for Dundrum was described as magical, with a strong food scene and the buzz of Belfast not far away. North West: Woolton, Liverpool Judges described it as a gloriously family-friendly place to put down roots, with excellent schools, parks and even a patch of woodland. Scotland: North Berwick Last years overall best place to live in the UK takes top spot in Scotland this year due to its beaches, quality schools and thriving independent businesses. South East: Petersfield, Hampshire Judges said there is always something happening in Petersfields historic streets, set against the backdrop of the South Downs countryside. South West: The Chew Valley, Somerset Judges said the area is a rural idyll and home to an impressive selection of forward-thinking, sustainable rural businesses. Wales: Gower Peninsula, Swansea Judges were impressed with cool, creative and sustainable independent businesses springing up in villages and hamlets in the wilder corners of the peninsula. More information about the research is provided by The Sunday Times on its website. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. India's PLI scheme falls short of targets, prompting shift to factory subsidies Since 2019, the Indian government has implemented the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for 14 industries to attract foreign investment in local manufacturing. Although it has positioned India as a key player in smartphone production, its benefits for other sectors are limited. As a result, India may explore offering subsidies for factory construction instead of linking incentives to production and investment levels. Reuters reported that the Indian government had decided to let a US$23 billion program boost domestic manufacturing lapse just four years after it was introduced to attract businesses from China. The initiative will not be extended beyond the 14 pilot sectors despite requests for longer production deadlines from some companies. Instead, India is exploring partially reimbursing investments in specific sectors to help firms recover costs more quickly when setting up plants. According to the report, approved applicants struggled to initiate production, while those who met targets faced delays in receiving subsidies. Despite acknowledging these challenges previously, the government's efforts to ease the situation through deadline extensions and more frequent payments were hampered by bureaucratic red tape. Around 750 companies, including Apple supplier Foxconn and Reliance Industries, joined the PLI schemes for 14 sectors. As of October 2024, these firms produced goods worth US$151.93 billion, reaching only 37% of the target set by the Indian government, which issued just US$1.73 billion in incentives, amounting to under 8% of the allocated funds. Samsung's case Samsung's involvement in India's PLI scheme for smartphone manufacturing has seen a mix of approvals and challenges over recent fiscal years. The Financial Express reported that in fiscal 2021, the company initially claimed about INR9 billion (approx. US$104.14 million) in incentives. However, discrepancies in the submitted invoices led the government to approve a reduced amount of approximately INR5 billion. In a report by the Economic Times in 2024, Samsung reportedly faced a setback as it did not achieve the production targets necessary to qualify for incentives for the fiscal year 2021, resulting in the decision not to file a claim for that period. Notably, Counterpoint Research said in a March note that Samsung was the largest manufacturer of made-in-India smartphones in 2023 and 2024, followed by Vivo. Mixed results The results vary across sectors. In fiscal 2024, India produced US$49 billion in mobile phones, a 63% increase from fiscal 2021, with major players like Apple shifting production to the country. However, this success hasn't extended to other sectors such as steel, textiles, and solar panel manufacturing, where India struggles against cheaper competitors like China. In the solar industry, eight out of twelve companies under the scheme, including Reliance, Adani Group, and JSW, are unlikely to meet their targets. Notably, Reliance aims to achieve only 50% of its production goal by the end of the 2027 fiscal year, while Adani has yet to order the necessary equipment, and JSW has not made significant progress. Reuters is not alone in disclosing the investment and production gap. The Economic Times noted that the PLI for IT hardware faces challenges as major brands are reluctant to boost production and exports due to a lack of a robust local component ecosystem. Harish Kohli, president of Acer India, stated the domestic market is limited to approximately 14 million units, hindering companies from justifying new operations. He indicated that growth in exports or domestic demand is necessary for improved interest. Meanwhile, the PLI scheme for advanced chemistry cells, launched in 2021 to promote local lithium battery production amid the EV trend, has seen no approved applicants start production after nearly four years. Reliance Industries, Ola Cell Technologies, and Rajesh Exports reportedly did not meet the investment requirements. As a result, the scheme's allocation was sharply cut to INR154.2 million (approx. US$1.78 million) from an initial budget of INR2.5 billion for the fiscal year. Article edited by Jack Wu Subscriber content preview SEATTLE U.S. Bank's Greenwood branch opened this week after a remodel of what was previously a JP Morgan Chase Bank branch at 8500 Greenwood Ave. N. U.S. Bank said in a press release that the new branch was designed to be relationship-forward, with customer support stations replacing teller lines, a mother's room and engagement offices for more in-depth conversations. The bank also has a branch cafe with coffee and other beverages, and a community room with a kitchenette and restroom that can be booked by customers to hold gatherings, including after banking hours. . . . Mayo man and social media comedian Garron Noone appears to have deactivated all his social media accounts after sharing his opinion on Conor McGregor and saying that he believes Ireland has an immigration problem. In his first video, Noone spoke in reaction to Conor McGregor's visit of US President Donald Trump, which has sparked massive criticism. He began the video by explaining that he had been inundated with messages to talk about this. The musician said, "The entire story of the world is being retold in poorly researched headlines and 40-second fu***** TikTok clips and it's making people fu***** nuts." "My opinion of Conor McGregor is: I don't think he's a good person. I don't think that it's particularly hard to find evidence of that. But it doesn't surprise me the least that a lot of people are agreeing with what he was saying. " Noone continues by claiming: "There absolutely is an immigration issue in Ireland. That doesn't mean, that people feel like we shouldn't take the refugees in that we take. It doesn't mean, that people feel, that people shouldn't come here for better opportunities." "The systems that we have in place are being taken advantage of. And that is plain to see. The government does not allow people to continuously express their concerns about that." READ MORE: Thousands raised within days for young father of three diagnosed with terminal cancer The musician and video producer then says: "Ireland continues to become one of the richest countries in the world, while people's quality of life is going down." The TikTok star, who was recently a guest on the Late Late Show, then made even stronger assumptions, by claiming: "Our towns and especially our cities are becoming much less safe. That's not just because of immigration. There's a lot of factors to that. But if you can't see that that's happening, then you have not left your house." He finishes with a warning, that, in his view, something should be done, or people would turn towards extremism: "Communities all over Ireland are concerned. And their concerns are continuously not being heard. If you continue to suppress what people are feeling, you turn them towards more extreme beliefs, you increase their distrust in the government and you push people towards racism and extremism." In a second video posted afterwards, Noone acknowledged that "if we cannot talk about these things, it's going to make people more extreme, which we have witnessed in other countries." He finished by stating "I'm absolutely not anti-immigration. I want to be very clear: Fu** the far-right and stay delicious." LIMERICK hurler Kyle Hayes walked free from court this Friday after a judge said he will avoid jail if he is deemed suitable for community service. Judge Dara Hayes, presiding, ordered Kyle Hayes to engage with the Probation Service and if he is suitable then to carry out 180 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison. The matter was further adjourned until April to allow for Kyle Hayes to engage with the Probation Service. Judge Dara Hayes said the dangerous driving offence was not a repeat of the violent public disorder in 2019 for which he received suspended prison sentences of 18-months and two-years in 2023. When the matter was called for Judge Dara Hayes to revoke some or all or none of Kyle Hayes' suspended sentence for violent disorder, Liam Carroll BL, representing Kyle Hayes, said he wished to make the court aware of the unfortunate bereavement of Kyle Hayes maternal grandmother. "That ladys funeral is due to take place this evening and tomorrow. Kyle Hayes didn't want to bring it to the courts attention less it would cause any further distress to the family. "It was under my strong advice that he instructed me to bring the matter to the court's attention given that the court should be aware of it in advance of its determination. "Mr Hayes is very clear in that he is ready to face the music today and happy for the court to deliver its judgement whatever that might be," said Mr Carroll, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan. Addressing Kyle Hayes, Judge Dara Hayes said he was "very sorry for your loss". In giving his judgment, Judge Dara Hayes said the evidence of Kyle Hayes' father (Liam Hayes) on Wednesday of the important role Kyle Hayes plays on the family dairy farm "will not persuade the court to stay its hand". Judge Dara Hayes said it is an inescapable fact to anyone with even the most passing interest in sport that Kyle Hayes is a very talented and highly-decorated hurler on a very successful Limerick hurling team. "It is important though to emphasise that Mr Hayes in this court has in no way sought to rely on that fact, nor did he raise it in court. "It is also important to emphasise that he is entitled to no preferential treatment on account of that status and to be clear he has not sought any such treatment. But just as he's not entitled to any preferential treatment, he is also entitled to not be treated less fairly on account of his public status. "I mention his sporting achievements because I want to be clear that they have no bearing on the decision that has to be made. If it is appropriate to activate some of the sentence, that will be done regardless of hurling. If it is not appropriate to activate any of the sentence, that non-activation will not be because of his public profile," said Judge Dara Hayes. Judge Hayes said that Brian McInerney SC, who represented Kyle Hayes on Wednesday, saying that the triggering offence of dangerous driving is of "a wholly different character" to the original violent disorder convictions is "a reasonable observation". The judge noted the absence of additional serious aggravating factors often seen in dangerous driving cases - consumption of intoxicants, poor weather, road worthiness issues, driving without insurance, driving licence or while disqualified. Judge Dara Hayes said the question he has to ask himself is if some other young man without Kyle Hayes public profile came before him in similar circumstances "would I activate all or part of a suspended sentence?" "If I were to do so to that young man, then I must do so with this respondent (Kyle Hayes). If I were not to do so to that young man, then I should not do so here The triggering offence (dangerous driving) while serious is not related to the nature or the severity of the offending of the original offences (violent disorders). "They were committed over five years ago, there is nothing before the court to suggest that the respondent has engaged in any such behaviour since. His behaviour on October 19, 2019 was appalling," said Judge Dara Hayes. The judge said, in his view, it is appropriate to activate three months of the suspended sentence. "Where there is a short sentence, it is often the case that it is more constructive to require a defendant to engage in a significant amount of voluntary work in the community, rather than the imposition of a short sentence of imprisonment. "If the respondent is prepared to engage, he will be assessed by the Probation Service and required to work under their supervision in the community for 180 hours in lieu of three months imprisonment," said Judge Dara Hayes, who asked Mr Carroll to take instructions from Kyle Hayes. Mr Carroll BL took brief instructions from Kyle Hayes and told the judge his client is happy to engage with the Probation Service and carry out the 180 hours of community service in lieu of three-months in prison. The matter was adjourned to April 28 to allow for Kyles Hayes to meet with the Probation Service to see if he is deemed suitable to carry out community service. On Wednesday, State solicitor Padraig Mawe gave a summary of the two original convictions of violent disorder and the triggering dangerous driving offence. Kyle Hayes was found guilty following a trial of engaging in violent disorder inside the Icon Nightclub in Limerick city and on the street outside on October 28, 2019 when he was 21. Mr Mawe said Kyle Hayes and others engaged in violence against the victim Cillian McCarthy, who was 20 at the time. Kyle Hayes was found not guilty of assault causing harm to Mr McCarthy. In March 2024, Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed an 18-month prison sentence on Kyle Hayes for engaging in violent disorder in the Icon nightclub and a concurrent two-year jail sentence for the violent disorder on Upper Denmark Street, Limerick city. The sentences were suspended on condition that he be bound to the peace and be of good behaviour during that two-year term Mr Mawe said the triggering offence was a dangerous driving conviction near Mallow when Kyle Hayes drove at 155kmph and overtook nine cars on July 14, 2024. Brian McInerney SC, appearing with Liam Carroll BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan, represented Kyle Hayes, aged 26, of Ballyashea, Kildimo, Co Limerick. Mr McInerney submitted that the interests of justice would not be met by invoking a jail sentence. Counsel said the triggering offence of dangerous driving is wholly different in character to the violent disorder convictions. Mr McInerney said Kyle Hayes has a quasi-dependent parent, is a single, unattached man who lives at home with his parents, has a responsible job and engages in sport. Kyle Hayes father, Liam Hayes took the stand and said he relies on his son Kyle to help in the running of his dairy farm after he suffered from significant ill health. He (Kyle) is doing everything at the moment. He lives at home. He is there on a 24/7 basis. He starts with me in the morning at 5am and after his day job when he comes home if he is not training and during the night if there are cows calving, said Liam Hayes. Mr McInerney said that Kyle Hayes has two brothers who reside locally but are unavailable at this time to render any assistance to Liam Hayes and wont be able to for some time in the future. Mr McInerney said the original trial, district court, circuit court appeal and triggering matters attracted the most enormous degree of publicity. The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) is making a final call for tea lovers across Louth to register for the annual Drink Tea for MND campaign. This popular initiative, now in its 16th year, invites individuals, businesses, and communities to come together, enjoy a cup of tea, and raise funds to support people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). As the IMNDA marks 40 years in 2025, this simple yet impactful campaign continues to unite tea drinkers nationwide, with every tea party making a difference for families affected by MND. Whether youre hosting a small gathering at home or organising a larger event at work or in your local community, every contribution counts. Tony Ryan and Amanda Lillis are ambassadors for this years campaign, are highlighting the importance of the IMNDAs work by sharing their personal story. Tony, also known as Schillaci, was diagnosed with MND in April 2022 after a year-long journey of tests and referrals. Tony and Amanda, along with their four childrenCorey (28), Tonieka (25), Zekeisha (17), and Zantianna (12)are determined to make the most of every day despite the challenges of living with MND. Amanda shared: "MND is a cruel disease that takes so much away, yet we are determined to make the most of every day. The hardest part for Tony is not being able to do the things he used to do on his own. But the support weve received from the IMNDA has been a lifeline. Its not just practical help but also emotional support and the assistance with equipment that truly makes a difference. We need more awareness, so others like us can find the help they need." "When we recently went to buy clothes, we had a humiliating experience where we were told that Tony couldnt bring someone into the fitting room to help him. It's an example of how MND isnt always visible to others, but the struggles are real. We hope that by sharing our story, more people will understand MND and why fundraising is so crucial. The IMNDA has been a key part of our journey, and we are so grateful for all they do." The IMNDA relies heavily on fundraising to sustain over 85% of its income, funding vital support services including care grants, counselling, and equipment to improve the quality of life for those affected by MND. How to get involved: Register your Drink Tea for MND event at IMNDA's website. Host your tea party at any point this Spring and raise vital funds. Share your event on social media with the hashtag #DrinkTeaForMND to boost awareness. Tony and Amandas message is clear: Every cup of tea, every event, and every donation brings us closer to a world where MND is understood, and families get the support they need. The EPAs Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator Report for 2024 which shows reduced nitrogen levels last year in a representative sample of Irish rivers has been welcomed by Louth Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly. Deputy Butterly said: The latest EPA data showing improved water quality data is very welcome. There is currently an unprecedented level of collaboration and engagement across the agri-food sector to reduce its impact on water quality. I have seen that first-hand in my own county of Louth. The results in this latest EPA report will give the agricultural sector and farmers a real boost that the hard work is paying off. The nitrates derogation is a national asset on which a sector of our economy depends, and Ireland must do everything it can to ensure we retain it. I believe we should be confident that the sector can continue to work together to build on this momentum with a view to driving further improvements in water quality and securing a continuation of Irelands nitrates derogation post-2025. Read next: Louth man to walk Camino in memory of his late father Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, T.D., has announced that 2025 Nitrates Derogation applications can now be made on www.agfood.ie. The Nitrates Derogation gives farmers an opportunity to farm at higher stocking rates, subject to strict conditions that protect the environment and meet the requirements of the Nitrates Directive, the Minister outlined. I encourage farmers to engage as soon as possible with this application process and to discuss their possible need for a Nitrates Derogation with their agricultural advisor, the Minister added. The closing date for 2025 Nitrates Derogation applications is 15 May. The Minister concluded: Securing a renewal of the derogation post-2025 is a top priority for me this year. The first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Water Quality chaired by the Taoiseach to coordinate water quality improvements across all sectors will take place this month. This will ensure the work to retain our derogation is a national effort and led from the top. Engineering services and nuclear company, AtkinsRealis, has delivered designs for what it says are cutting-edge facilities, including new data and energy centres, as part of plans to transform a former manufacturing site in Louth into a sustainably-powered enterprise campus, driving, it says, the energy transition programme in Ireland. The project is a joint venture between Meridiam, an independent investment Benefit Corporation and an asset manager in long-term sustainable infrastructure solutions, and Gyrogy, an Irish energy-tech firm, which acquired the Premier Periclase business in May 2023. Since then, the partners have designed plans to transform the site on the north bank of the River Boyne beside Drogheda Port into a state-of-the art industrial campus for large energy users. Read next: Shocking fall in number of homes started in Louth in February Drogheda manufacturer Premier Periclase Limited (PPL), appointed AtkinsRealis to deliver full multidisciplinary design services for the unique business campus on its site, which it says could ultimately involve an investment of between 600 million and 1 billion over the next ten years. AtkinsRealis says that this would facilitate and manage flexible and renewable energy in real-time for the national grid and will pave the way for a net zero industrial campus emissions model that can change how large energy users operate in Ireland. The appointment has seen AtkinsRealis develop its designs to support PPLs redevelopment of the Drogheda manufacturing site, involving demolition and site remediation works, substantial upgrades to the PPL site infrastructure, and the integration of renewable energy sources and advanced energy storage systems on the new CORE campus. The first phase of development will focus on installing sustainable energy infrastructure and a 32MW data centre. Kevin Holland, Director of Infrastructure for AtkinsRealis Ireland, said: The project is a fantastic example of how AtkinsRealis can support the delivery of grid positive initiatives which will drive the energy transition in Ireland. Not only will it bring investment and new jobs to the area, but it also aligns with Irelands climate action objectives and the AtkinsRealis purpose of engineering a better future for our planet and its people. This appointment follows AtkinsRealis previous appointment to undertake a feasibility plan for the site. A planning application has been submitted for the new campus by PPL and it is hoped, subject to approval, that the site will grow to accommodate a range of high-tech industries, such as biopharma, food, beverage, horticulture and sustainable manufacturing. AtkinsRealis says that the sites decarbonisation and development focus will make the campus extremely attractive to large foreign direct investment and Irish projects. The planning application for the redevelopment of the site is seen as a major milestone for Drogheda according to AtkinsRealis, as the project would bring essential infrastructure upgrades and enhanced biodiversity to the area. The development, which will be known as the CORE sustainably powered enterprise campus, will significantly reduce emissions, noise, and light pollution, complementing the special areas of conservation and special protection zones associated with the River Boyne. CEO of Gyrogy, Colin Kelly, stated: By transitioning to a sustainable business model, this project will secure the long-term future of this historic industrial site, creating more jobs and economic opportunities than ever before for the local community. We are proud to be part of a project that delivers significant energy transition and community benefits which will set a new benchmark for sustainable energy practices in Ireland. Members of Louth County Councils Community, Sport and Integration team recently participated in the 2025 Young Social Innovators (YSI) Speak Out Tour, held at the Tommy Leddy Theatre in Drogheda on Wednesday 19th March. The YSI Speak Out Tour is a national initiative that empowers young people to develop and present innovative solutions to social challenges. It provides a platform for teenagers to showcase their projects to peers, guests and a YSI panel, highlighting key issues and the actions they are taking to create positive change in their communities. A three-person panel - featuring representatives from Louth County Council, Louth Youth Service and Louth Local Development - provided feedback and support to the young participants at the Drogheda event. Therese McArdle represented Louth County Council and played a key role in encouraging the teams and recognising their efforts to build a fairer, more sustainable world. It was a pleasure to represent Louth County Council at the Speak Out event, said Therese McArdle. The young people displayed incredible enthusiasm and creativity when they delivered their presentations, and I wish them every success as they bring their innovative projects to life. Read Next: Data and energy centres part of plans for new Louth enterprise campus Each team had two minutes to creatively communicate their chosen issue, explain its significance, outline the changes they wish to see, and share their efforts to drive social impact. Topics explored at the event ranged from health, inclusion, and equality to climate action, sustainability, community development and justice. Hundreds of young people participated in the Drogheda event, which was one of 14 stops on this years tour. In total, approximately 250 Speak Out presentations were delivered across events in Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny and Sligo. For more information on Young Social Innovators, visit www.youngsocialinnovators.ie A man aged 38 who is accused of assault causing harm to his 82-year-old grandmother, who died in hospital two days later, appeared in court by video link from prison today. Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly told Judge Miriam Walsh that an appeal of the refusal of his bail was pending at the High Court in Dublin. Brian Nnamdi Ogbo is charged that on February 23 at 17 Garrydhu Drive, Kilmoney Road, Carrigaline, Co Cork, he assaulted Stella Nnamdi, causing her harm. Detective Garda Tom Delaney testified during the objection to bail previously that this was a charge of assaulting his maternal grandmother, causing her harm, and who later died. Det Gda Delaney said family members informed gardai that Brian Ogbo suffers from schizophrenia and that he allegedly produced a knife during the assault. It was alleged that he broke into the upstairs bathroom, where his grandmother was located, and that he dragged her out of the bathroom. He dragged her downstairs. She was off her feet and being dragged headfirst down the stairs and pushed out of the house. Nobody required hospitalisation at the time of the occurrence. However, Stella Nnamdi deteriorated and was subsequently taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital on Tuesday, February 25, and died later that afternoon, said Det Gda Delaney. During his application for bail, the accused agreed that he did need a system of support and that he received help from his family in relation to the taking of medication for his conditions, which include schizophrenia, depression, and epilepsy. Mr Collins-Daly reminded the accused that if he was successful in his High Court bail application, he would be required to appear in person at Cork District Court on the next occasion. On the application of Sergeant Aisling Murphy, Judge Walsh remanded the accused in custody until April 3 to allow time for directions from the DPP. A Cork city councillor has said that getting out and informing people of grants available to convert vacant properties should be a key priority for the council. His comments follow a new report from Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) that shows thousands of units in Cork could be brought into use as housing. It showed that, nationally, there are 40,000 units that could be made available through increased incentives for property owners, and HAI called for the introduction of a waiver on capital gains tax for over-the-shop properties. HAI further estimates that the total potential in Cork city and county is about 3,660 units, including 1,830 empty homes and the same amount of over-the-shop units. 93% those spoken to as part of the report, a mixture of property owners and estate agents, called for a tax waiver to be introduced as an immediate incentive, saying this would result in an increase in turnover and a rise in rejuvenation of the large numbers of vacant properties. Consideration Of property owners, 70% have given serious consideration to renovating and renting the premises, showing that there is an interest in turning them around. Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said the council should continue its work on getting out and informing people about the vacant property grants already available. Ive been calling for a larger roadshow, more open days, because clearly theres an interest there in restoring vacant properties. The key is to get out and meet people rather than sitting behind a desk and saying I wish this was happening. He said that lots of work was being done on trying to turn around vacant and derelict properties, with several schemes including one to convert old pubs. However, he added that there were sometimes legal issues around ownership of these properties, and in some cases planning regulations including fire safety rules were also preventing some properties from being brought back into use, particularly for housing. I have a massive issue with people who hoard property, but I think theres a lot more situations whereby the people who lived there have died or the family are living somewhere else and the ownership is lost in a deed somewhere. There needs to be a continued discussion about CPOs and where funding is going to come from. Theres only so much the council can do because it doesnt have a large legal department. Waiver Mr McCarthy added that the idea of the capital gains tax waiver was interesting, but said that trying to push two tax levels could be difficult, as they had seen with rates currently paid to the council by business owners. Hardware Association Ireland president Paul Condon explained that, at present, the vacant property refurbishment grant is up to 50,000 to renovate a vacant property, and up to 70,000 if the property is derelict. He said: The vacant home grant is very successful with single dwellings. There are 11,327 applications, 7,700 of which have been approved nationwide [as of the end of December, 2024]. However, it has little attraction for those who could convert commercial properties into a number of living units. At the end of December, 2024, the approved number of grants for Cork city and county combined was 708 out of a total of 7,738 applications approved nationwide. This figure is made up of 10% apartments, 53% properties in housing estates or schemes, 18% single homes, and 19% empty homes. Permission has been granted for 48 housing units on Blackrock Road following appeals by both local residents and the developer. An Bord Pleanala has granted permission for two blocks of five and six storeys with 44 apartments one studio, nine one-bed, 29 two-bed, and five three-bed and four four-bed houses. The development had been granted permission by Cork City Council with conditions, including that one story be omitted from one of the blocks, bringing it down to five storeys. The developer had appealed this, saying it would significantly undermine the viability of the scheme. However, the area has a target building height of three to five storeys. This was one of the issues highlighted in 10 appeals by residents, along with the proposed density of the development, estimated to be approximately 95dph (dwellings per hectare) above the maximum limit of 80dph for the area. The appellants also shared concerns around road safety and said the shortfall in car parking could result in on-street parking causing congestion. The developer pointed out that the councils roads and traffic departments endorsed the proposal, that the car parking ratio complies with regulations, and there is no basis to claims that unauthorised parking will arise, and any such issues are a matter for parking regulation/enforcement. An Bord Pleanala planning inspector Bernadette Quinn did not consider there was adequate justification for exceeding the upper target building height or density targets, suggesting that the condition of removing one storey would adhere to the regulations in both of these areas. However, the appeals board upheld the developers appeal and went against the inspectors recommendation to omit a floor. They noted that the northern part of the site is within the City Fringe Corridor area which allows for buildings of five to seven storeys, and that the development was in accordance with the range of 50-250dph in the City-Urban Neighbourhoods of Cork. Cork Airport are advising all passengers booked on flights to London Heathrow today or over this weekend to contact their airline for the most up to date information. Flights between Cork Airport and London Heathrow were cancelled on Friday as a result of a fire at an electrical substation in the West London airport which forced Heathrow to shut until at least midnight tonight. Speaking to The Echo, Barry Holland, communications manager at Cork Airport, said for any passengers impacted by the cancellations or concerned about the status of a flight for Saturday to check with their airline. At this point in time, our advice to passengers is if they are affected by the cancellations, to contact the airline directly whether that is Aer Lingus or British Airways if they are travelling onwards connecting through Heathrow, to get an update on the status of their flight and rebooking or refunding options if possible. Anyone who is flying to Heathrow with Aer Lingus tomorrow or Sunday should check with the airline for the most up to date status of their flight. It is a very fluid situation at the moment. We are keeping a very close eye on the matter. It is important to say all the other London services to London Luton, Stanstead, they are all operating as normal. Mr Holland added that events such as the closure of Heathrow show how fluid the aviation industry is to work in. That is the dynamic nature of the aviation sector. Instances like this we are prepared for. It is not the first time that something like this has happened and it wont be the last time either. We just have to react to the situation and provide the assistance to passengers as much as we possibly can. A young man threatened to bite the faces of gardai and to cause them serious harm during a public order incident. Now at Cork District Court he has been given a two-month suspended sentence for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and being drunk and a danger. Judge Miriam Walsh imposed that suspended term on 20-year-old Tom Walker who is originally from Dromleigh, Bantry, County Cork. The judge said to the young man: How dare you say that to the guards, I will bite yer faces, ye c***s. It would be more in your line to address them in a respectful fashion. Judge Walsh then asked what message he had for the gardai to be given to the guards he verbally abused. Tom Walker said: If you could say, I am sorry. Sergeant John Dineen outlined the background to the incident: On February 16 Detective Gardai Desmond Cogan and Conor Cronin were on patrol on Caroline St at around midnight. Gardai stopped and spoke to two males who were intoxicated and unsteady on their feet. While speaking to them one of the young men became highly abusive towards gardai and threatened to 'bite yer faces, ye c***s. He also said, Ill do a Section 4 assault on ye. Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act refers to an assault causing serious harm. Sgt Dineen said: The man then ran from gardai and continued to shout abuse at them from the top of the street. A few moments later, gardai again met this man on Winthrop St. Detective Garda Cogan arrested the man, now known as Tom Walker, under the Public Order Act. He was placed in the patrol car. Tom Walker continued to act in a highly aggressive manner towards gardai. He continued to threaten gardai with assault while being conveyed to the Bridewell Garda Station. The sergeant said the accused man was convicted eight times before for being so intoxicated that he was a danger and six times for engaging in threatening behaviour. Frank Buttimer solicitor said the accused had left West Cork and come to Cork city because of a combination of addiction problems and anti-social behaviour. Judge Walsh suspended the sentence of two months on condition that Tom Walker would keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next six months. On the week of St Patricks, its worth reflecting on where the Irish music scene stands in 2025. This column has always largely focused on the hip-hop/R&B/soul/reggae side of things so Ill keep it to this. Our rock/indie/alternative scenes continue to have much success, and house/techno/electronica is flying, but what about all of the hip-hop that has been coming out? This week also marked five years since the start of the covid lockdown, and its a significant milestone for the music scene here, as that was a time when loads of creativity really exploded in this country. The early covid era was significant in many ways, and by early June 2020 the George Floyd murder had increased lots more focus on what was happening with black music worldwide. It may seem like it was another universe, in the months of 2025 pushback by Trump and Musk on DEI, but there was a time less than five years ago where many organisations across the world began to actually question how white everything was. Music was no exception, and in the rush to make up for years of neglect, many Irish media organisations and other significant players started to make more of an effort when it came to music like hip-hop and R&B. To be honest, it was a bit of a wave for many, but some strides were made, and many artists blew up domestically in that era. This was an era where Denise Chaila was catapulted into the mainstream here in Ireland, and her Chaila single was one of the anthems of that spring and summer. A mixtape and numerous high-profile performances followed on TV and at festivals, as the lockdown eased, and the print media couldnt get enough of Denise. I couldnt help but feel uneasy that a young Irish black woman was being asked to be the spokesperson for the whole Black Lives Matter movement, and there were many times where she was hardly even asked about her music. Denise remains one of Irelands most foremost talents and while she has retreated slightly from the public view, she will eventually most likely reemerge when she feels like it herself on her own terms. This era five years ago also saw other artists emerge into the mainstream in Ireland and, despite my cynicism, the wider media definitely improved in their coverage of music that had previously been on the periphery. Irish artists of all colours and backgrounds got creative at a time when there was not much to do but make music, and many online communities formed in this time. One of the highlights of this weird time, for me, was Gaptoofs beat series on Twitch and Instagram, where many of Irelands best young producers and beat makers used to meet online every Saturday night, sharing ideas and music and building friendships and connections that still last. Much of the best music from Ireland in 2025 is community-driven from a grassroots background, and will remain outside of the mainstream, but that doesnt mean its any less important. Five years on, clubland is back but has changed forever, and many lockdown youngsters have grown up without club culture as part of their lives. There remains a good scene though, and many different collectives are operating across Ireland right now, in small bars or other spaces. There are more photographers, videographers, designers and other artists than ever before, and there is a wonderful cross pollination of creative people working together in Cork and elsewhere. You may not see it, but believe me, things are popping off in many ways. Im gonna use Sergiu Junior Cecan and his Chaos magazine as a great example of a platform that is pushing creativity here onto a new level, and he and others are documenting some of the most exciting talent to emerge from Ireland. There are numerous other examples too, and Ive covered many here, plus there are lots of artists making the leap from domestic success to international acclaim, and the recent success of Jordan Adetunji shows that anything is possible. Who is next? Khakikid, Moio, Aby Coulabaly, Courtesy, Rory Sweeney, Travis, Ellz, Bricknasty and many others have exploded in many ways, while Kneecap, Kojaque and the whole Soft Boy Crew have made progress outside of our small island too. The talent has always been here, but in 2025 Ireland seems to be on the cusp of something really special. James Cox Garron Noone has deactivated his social media accounts following backlash over a video in which he discussed immigration. The Mayo man became a TikTok/Instagram sensation with his sketches and catchphrase "follow me, I'm delicious". Noone normally discusses light topics in his videos. However, he said he had been asked to discuss immigration by his followers after Conor McGregor's controversial White House meeting with Donald Trump. There absolutely is an immigration issue in Ireland, Noone said. That doesnt mean that people feel like we shouldnt take the refugees that were able to take. It doesnt mean that people feel like people shouldnt be able to come here for better opportunities. The systems that we have in place are being taken advantage of, and that is plain to see, and the Government continually does not allow people to express their concerns about that. Along with this, Ireland continues to become one of the richest countries in the world, while most peoples quality of life is going down. He added: Our towns and especially our cities are becoming much less safe. Now thats not just because of immigration, theres a lot of factors to that, but if you cant see that thats happening, then you have not left your house. You increase their distrust in the Government, and you push people towards racism and extremism. Now, no doubt, a lot of people in the comments are going to completely misconstrue what Ive said here, but thats the internet for you. Noone received a lot of criticism over his comments, while others defended him. In a follow-up video, he said: "If we cant discuss those things openly, if people are regulated to talking about it in echo chambers and only really hearing about those concerns from more extreme people, that makes everything worse. Its going to make peoples beliefs more extreme, and it fosters things like racism and stuff to get worse and makes us more divided, which I think we have witnessed in other countries. I am not anti-immigration. Absolutely crazy to think that. Noone has since deactivated his accounts. He had a sizeable following including 1.7 million people on TikTok alone. By Rebecca Black, PA The Tanaiste has described a day of travel chaos following major disruption at Heathrow Airport. More than 1,000 flights to and from the major London airport have been cancelled on Friday, with hundreds of thousands of passengers affected in the disruption linked to a fire at a nearby electrical substation. These include 34 flights to and from Dublin Airport, 14 at Belfast City Airport and six at City of Derry Airport. Tanaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to those involved in resolving the situation (Brian Lawless/PA) Shannon Airport in the west of Ireland has facilitated six diverted flights which had originally been scheduled to land at Heathrow, involving flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. Speaking to media on Friday, Tanaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to those involved in resolving the situation after travel chaos. I want to pay tribute to those who have acted so swiftly to get the airport back open and get flights back up and running, he said. I know they are hoping for normal operations tomorrow. Obviously the route between Dublin and Heathrow is the second busiest route in Europe and therefore that caused a significant challenge today for commuters to and from Dublin in relation to Heathrow. But it does seem that everything that could have been done to try and swiftly get things back on track has happened and Im grateful to all of those involved in making that happen. Dublin Airport said in a statement that further disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow over the coming days is possible. We continue to monitor developments at Heathrow and remain in close consultation with affected airlines regarding when flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow may recommence, it said. City of Derry Airport said on Friday evening: We are awaiting confirmation of our flight operation to London Heathrow tomorrow. We ask passengers to continue to check with their airline regarding their flight status before coming to the airport. All other routes from City of Derry Airport to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool continue to operate as usual. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Wolf populations in Europe have made a big comeback, increasing by almost 60 percent in a single decade, according to a new study. Populations of large carnivores are declining globally, according to a press release from the Public Library of Science (PLOS). In Europe, however, recent conservation policies have supported wolf recovery. We report that wolves are continuing to make a remarkable comeback across Europe, with their population growing to over 21,500 individuals by 2022 a 58% increase in a decade, the authors of the findings wrote. This is a notable conservation success, particularly in a region heavily shaped by human activity, from agriculture to urbanization. Improved monitoring methods have helped us track their recovery, although these tools vary in quality and extent across countries. A decade earlier, the estimated wolf population had been just 12,000. The study, Continuing recovery of wolves in Europe, was led by Cecilia Di Bernardi, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Ecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and Guillaume Chapron, an associate professor at SLU, and published in the journal PLOS Sustainability and Transformation. For the study, the research team used wolf population data from 34 European countries. In most, populations were increasing, with just three nations reporting declines in the previous decade. The team also examined sources of conflict between wolves and humans, such as livestock deaths. They estimated that wolves had killed 56,000 domestic animals annually in the European Union, out of a total of 279 million livestock. The researchers found that each year there was an average 0.02 percent chance of livestock being killed by wolves. Compensation to farmers resulted in a total yearly cost to countries of 17 million euros. However, a greater presence of wolves means less wild deer, which reduces damage to forestry plantations and traffic accidents. For example, one study suggests that wolves consuming roe deer and wild boar prevented between 2.4 and 7.8 million EUR in road collision-related injuries and property damage annually in France. Other positive aspects include wildlife tourism and commercial activities that directly or indirectly benefit from large carnivore presence. However, potential economic benefits from wolf presence have been poorly investigated and quantified in Europe, the authors wrote. The scientists pointed out that, as conservationists move from saving endangered wolf populations to sustaining their successful recovery, it will be important to adapt policies to ensure that wolves and humans can coexist sustainably in the future. Considering Europes large human population and the widespread alteration of landscapes for agriculture, industry and urbanization, the rapid recovery of wolves over the last decade highlights their extraordinary adaptability, the press release said. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. A jury in North Dakota has found Greenpeace liable in a defamation lawsuit by Energy Transfer, an oil company based in Dallas, Texas. Energy Transfer sued Greenpeace in state court over protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline that took place from April 2016 to February 2017. Energy Transfer argued that the protests sought to defame the oil company. Energy Transfer also argued that Greenpeaces role in the protests caused further damages and disruptions. In the case, Energy Transfers lawyer Trey Cox asked the jury to award $265 million to $340 million for Greenpeaces actions plus additional damages, BBC reported. This win is really for the people of Mandan and throughout North Dakota who had to live through the daily harassment and disruptions caused by the protesters who were funded and trained by Greenpeace. It is also a win for all law-abiding Americans who understand the difference between the right to free speech and breaking the law, Energy Transfer said, as reported by CBS News. Greenpeace has argued that the lawsuit is a hit to free speech and that it did not lead the protests, but supported Indigenous-led efforts. As CBS News reported, the pipeline was planned to go through Lake Oahe, near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe argued that the pipeline violated treaty rights. What we saw over these three weeks was Energy Transfers blatant disregard for the voices of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Deepa Padmanabha, senior legal advisor for Greenpeace USA, said in a statement. And while they also tried to distort the truth about Greenpeaces role in the protests, we instead reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to non-violence in every action we take. To be clear, Greenpeaces story is not the story of Standing Rock. Our story is how an organization like Greenpeace USA can support critical fights to protect communities most impacted by the climate crisis, as well as continued attacks on Indigenous sovereignty. The jurys decision has raised alarms over the First Amendment, especially for climate and environmental protests. This jury verdict is obviously a huge and monumental milestone in the case because of what the implications are, not just for Greenpeace, but for other advocates, Jennifer Safstrom, director of the Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic at Vanderbilt University, told NPR. Advocacy defendants will now potentially face huge liability in possibly similar litigation. Greenpeace plans to appeal the verdict in the North Dakota Supreme Court and accused Energy Transfer of filing a SLAPP (strategic lawsuits against public participation) lawsuit. Thirty-five states and Washington, DC have anti-SLAPP laws, but North Dakota does not. In February 2025, the organization warned that this lawsuit could lead it to bankruptcy, further silencing it from protests. At that time, Greenpeace reported that Energy Transfer was pursuing $300 million in damages, totaling 10 times Greenpeaces annual budget. The final verdict of a liability of $660 million adds further strain. This case should alarm everyone, no matter their political inclinations, Sushma Raman, the interim executive director at Greenpeace, Inc., said in a statement. Its part of a renewed push by corporations to weaponize our courts to silence dissent. We should all be concerned about the future of the First Amendment, and lawsuits like this aimed at destroying our rights to peaceful protest and free speech. Greenpeace International sued Energy Transfer in February 2024 in Dutch court under the European Unions anti-SLAPP directive. The organization is seeking damages and costs incurred after over seven years of lawsuits from Energy Transfer. Energy Transfer hasnt heard the last of us in this fight. Were just getting started with our anti-SLAPP lawsuit against Energy Transfers attacks on free speech and peaceful protest, Kristin Casper, Greenpeace International General Counsel, said in a statement. We will see Energy Transfer in court this July in the Netherlands. Amazon is suing the Consumer Product Safety Commission over its decision to hold the company legally responsible for faulty products on its platform, The Associated Press reports. Amazon's suit demands that the shipping giant be considered a "third-party logistics provider" instead of a distributor and also calls the CPSC "unconstitutionally constructed." The origins of the legal fight can be traced back to 2021, when the CPSC sued Amazon to force it to recall faulty carbon monoxide detectors, unsafe hair dryers and flammable children's sleepwear. At the time, Amazon had already taken some steps to address the issue, like informing customers who purchased the products that they were hazardous and offering store credit, but the CPSC wanted the company to go further. The CPSC move to classify Amazon as a distributor in 2024 made the company responsible for issuing recalls and refunds for products sold through its Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) program. FBA lets sellers send their products to Amazon warehouses, where Amazon then handles picking, packing and shipping those products to customers, along with things like customer service and returns. Amazon takes issue with its classification as a distributor because it doesn't own or make the faulty products the CPSC is concerned with it sees itself as more of a hands-on FedEx. Besides wanting to be reclassified and not held responsible for issuing more refunds, Amazon also has problems with the CPSC itself. The CPSC's commissioners are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate and serve for seven years, unless they're removed for "neglect of duty or malfeasance in office." Amazon feels the commission's relative invulnerability is unconstitutional and makes them "judge, jury, and prosecutor" in proceedings. Amazon's made similar claims about the National Labor Review Board, the organization in charge of protecting workers' right to unionize. The timing of these complaints is key. The Trump administration is not particularly interested in maintaining any government organization empowered to regulate business, and it seems likely it will side with Amazon in disempowering the CPSC, one way or another. In November, Google said it would conduct a "test" in eight European countries that would omit results from EU-based news publishers for a small percentage of users. The results are in, and the survey says the news has no meaningful monetary value for the company. But the "public experiment" was hardly done for scientific curiosity. European copyright law says the company must pay publishers for using snippets from articles, and Google will likely use the data to try to kneecap news outlets' negotiating leverage. "During our negotiations to comply with the European Copyright Directive (EUCD), we've seen a number of inaccurate reports that vastly overestimate the value of news content to Google," the company bluntly wrote in its blog post explaining the experiment's results. "The results have now come in: European news content in Search has no measurable impact on ad revenue for Google." Google Economics Director Paul Liu said that when the company removed news content from one percent of users in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, it saw no change in ad revenue and only a 0.8 percent drop in usage. (It initially included France, but a court warned the company that it would break a previous agreement and face fines, so it backed out.) Liu concludes that "any lost usage was from queries that generated minimal or no revenue." Interior of Google's Madrid campus (Google) TechCrunch notes that Google is walking a fine line here. It's already faced antitrust fines in France over news content, and Germany is ratcheting up pressure on the company's news licensing tactics. Neither country was ultimately included in the "experiment." The company has a long history of using the potential withdrawal of visibility as a negotiating stick in similar situations (with success in some cases), including tests in Canada, California and Australia. In the latter case, Aussie grit prevailed: After Google threatened to remove its entire search engine from the country, then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, "Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia." The bill was passed and enacted, and Google struck deals with Australian media companies to license content. And yes, Google search is still available Down Under. SpaceX could soon have greater control over the recreational activities of South Texas residents. The Houston Chronicle (via Gizmodo) and San Antonio Express-News report that a pair of state senate bills introduced earlier this month would give officials at the likely Starbase city the authority to decide when a nearby beach shuts down for weekday launch activities. Meanwhile, a third bill floated on Wednesday would take the company's control a step further, making it a criminal offense for people on the beach not to comply with SpaceX's evacuation orders. The bills are possible because of an upcoming election that will almost certainly give SpaceX officials control of the area. On May 3, voters will decide if Starbase becomes a Texas city, something Elon Musk first proposed in 2021. Given that the area near the rocket site is populated mainly by SpaceX employees (after previous homeowners in Boca Chica Village moved, often after being bought out by the company), let's just say the election's outcome won't likely be a toss-up. Republican state senator Adam Hinojosa's first bill, SB 2188, would let Starbase city officials (assuming the municipality establishment bill passes) decide when Boca Chica Beach is closed for weekday rocket tests and flights. An identical bill, HB 4660, was introduced in the state house by Republican Janie Lopez. Cameron County officials, who control the closures now, would maintain control on Friday afternoons and weekends. Texas state senator Adam Hinojosa (Campaign for Adam Hinojosa) Meanwhile, Hinojosa's second senate bill (SB 2230) would make it a Class B misdemeanor for people on the beach not to comply with Starbase's evacuation orders. The freshman state senator said the bill would give the commercial spaceport "real teeth" to "compel people to do the right thing." (Fittingly, Hinojosa's election website touts his belief that "we don't need more government in business we need more business in government.") The Houston Chronicle reports that the FAA's Environmental Assessment shows that SpaceX has moved much of its testing to a site that doesn't require the closure of State Highway 4. A SpaceX flight test in April 2023 closed the road for over 24 hours, while another shuttered it for nearly eight hours last June. The company can close State Highway 4 for up to 500 hours each year for standard operations and up to 300 more hours to address incidents like an exploding rocket. On the other hand, environmental groups have argued that SpaceX's activities are damaging the area. Last year, the Center for Biological Diversity, American Bird Conservancy and other groups sued the FAA for allegedly rushing SpaceX's permitting process without a full environmental review. And the Environmental Protection Agency fined the company for allegedly dumping pollutants into Texas wetlands adjacent to the Rio Grande River. Craig Nazor, conservation chair for the Sierra Club's Lone Star chapter, testified to the state senate on Wednesday that SB 2188 would "put beach closures directly in the hands of SpaceX." He also expressed concern that the second senate bill could put folks who are unaware of an upcoming launch into legal trouble. "[SB 2230] could potentially make a criminal out of someone who's out there and lost track of exactly what may be going on at the launch pad," he said. And we dive into Fujifilms GX100RF and BYD's fast new EV charging tech. After a ton of leaks, Google officially announced the $499 Pixel 9a, which has the potential to be the new king of mid-range phones. It has dual cameras and access to Google's AI features in many ways, it's everything the iPhone 16e should have been (especially its price). In this episode, Senior Writer Sam Rutherford joins us to discuss what's great about the Pixel 9a, as well as its potential downsides compared to the Pixel 9. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! This embedded content is not available in your region. Topics Googles announces the Pixel 9a - potentially the new midrange king 1:15 Fujifilms GX100RF: a 102MP medium format camera (nice!) with only one F4 lens (boo!) 21:31 Karissa Bells roundup of the craziest stuff from Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams book 24:14 Donald Trump attempts to fire FTCs two Democratic commissioners 29:34 Amazon will send all Alexa recordings to the cloud, no more local processing 32:52 Chinese EV maker BYD announces chargers that give 249 miles of range in 5 minutes 39:10 Pebble founder introduces two new e-paper smartwatches 46:47 Listener Mail: Trying to choose an OLED TV 57:35 Around Engadget 1:03:49 Working on 1:09:56 Pop culture picks 1:10:28 Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Guest: Sam Rutherford Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien If you think about it, Severance's "innies" the people trapped in an endless cycle of office work should genuinely hate their "outies" their other halves who exist everywhere else. While outies are free to live a seemingly carefree existence, unburdened by the labor, boredom and indignities of office life, innies have no escape. Every time they enter the elevator at the end of their shifts, which triggers the switch to their outie persona, innies just blink and return to the sterile hallways of nefarious biotechnology firm Lumon Industries. There are no weekends or holidays, there isn't even time to sleep. Editor's note: The Severance finale is now live, but this review was written prior to the release of the final episode of the second season. Meanwhile, Apple confirmed today that it has ordered a third season of the hit show, so we can continue to follow the stories of Lumon's finest. Spoilers ahead for Severance season 2. No spoilers for the finale, "Cold Harbor." Severance's first season arrived as we were all reeling from the initial onslaught of the COVID pandemic and many of us were dealing with our own work-life balance issues. It introduced the show's core concept that Lumon pioneered the ability to completely separate work and life experiences and it made the terms "innie" and "outie" a new cultural shorthand. But the debut season also leaned heavily on the outie perspective, sometimes to a fault. In its second season, Severance became even stronger by focusing more on the innie perspective. Do they deserve whole lives, or just the labor their outies don't want to deal with? Are they allowed to fall in love? Are they even real people? Apple These are all concepts the show previously touched on, but the innie experience became all the more tragic as season two went on. We watched as Adam Scott's Mark S. wrestled with the dueling desires to rescue Lumon's wellness counselor, Ms. Casey, who was revealed to be his outie's supposedly dead wife, and also nurture a budding romance with fellow innie Hellie R. (Britt Lower). John Turturro's Irving B. spent the entire season nursing a broken heart, after the innie he fell in love with disappeared. And Zach Cherry's Dylan G. ended up falling in love with his outie's wife (Merritt Wever), who saw the best aspects of her floundering husband through his innie. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Innies owe their lives to their outies, but lead a tortured existence that basically just makes everything easier for outies. Season two made it clear that the process of severance, which involves a brain injection that splits the innie and outie personas, essentially creates an adult child who only exists to work. Innies have no understanding of science, history or the greater world beyond what Lumon tells them. And naturally, the company's messaging to innies is purely focused on efficiency, output and the cult-like adoration of its founder, Kier Eagan. (It's as if Apple based its entire internal culture on worshipping Steve Jobs as a god, complete with archaic rituals and holy texts.) Apple While we spent less time with outies in this season, the show still had a sharper take on their side of the severed experience. There's a funny nod to the "return to office" phenomenon, where Tramell Tillman's Milchick practically had to beg the outies to come back to Lumon, following their innie revolt at the end of season one. In our world, RTO is mostly a phenomenon where executives are eager to witness their employees toiling away, rather than allowing them to potentially slack off while working at home. We also get a sense of what outies lose by giving up their work life to their innies. When Dylan G.'s outie, Dylan George, is turned down for a basic job outside of Lumon, he learns he can't count his innie's work time, since he didn't actually experience it. (In some ways it feels reminiscent of what we could lose by outsourcing work to AI tools.) Severance isn't just a trap for the innies stuck in Lumon's offices, their outies will also have a tough time landing a job anywhere else. The only choice is to stay loyal to Lumon, and its dear founder Kier, until you retire. Or die. According to Dan Erickson, the creator and showrunner of Severance, this season was partially inspired by the recent Hollywood writer's strike. "We were all talking to our guilds and having conversations about workers rights and what we owe our employers and what we should reasonably expect back in return... And how much of ourselves and our lives and our energy we should be willing to give up for the sake of a job," he said in an interview on episode 252 of the Engadget Podcast. Apple While much of the second season was written before the strike, "consciously or unconsciously, I think that the tone of that, of those conversations made their way into the story," Erickson said. "And certainly I think that they'll be on people's minds as they're watching the show. Because at the end of the day... it is a show about the rights of workers and what they deserve as human beings." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As I watched this season of Severance, and processed the events of its explosive finale, I couldnt help but be reminded of Kazuo Ishiguros heartbreaking novel Never Let Me Go. Its set in a strict boarding school where students are raised to serve one specific purpose, and their own lives are devalued in the process. But they still love, learn and dream. They have hopes and desires. Every innie should be so lucky. Update, March 21 2025, 4:40PM ET: This story has been updated to add an editor's note about the season finale and the confirmation about a third season of the show.. Zendaya's half-sister, Latonja Coleman, has spoken out about their family, making claims about their estranged relationship following the actress's engagement to Tom Holland. Coleman, 51, who shares a father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, with the 'Euphoria' star, told The US Sun that she has only seen Zendaya twice in the last seven years. She described feeling distant from her sister and claimed Zendaya is not as warm as the public perceives her. She recalled their most recent meeting at their grandmother's funeral in January, their first encounter since 2018. "When I tried to talk to her, she just gave me a one-arm hug. It felt like I was just a fan," Coleman said. Coleman alleged that Zendaya remains involved with other siblings but has excluded her. "Zendaya is very active with my other sister and brother's kids," she said. "But my grandkids don't even know her. They think she's just from the Disney Channel." Zendaya took Tom Holland to a family party and they called him Spider-Man. "Lemme get Spider-Man." pic.twitter.com/hReAZDSE0S Complex Pop Culture (@ComplexPop) February 3, 2025 She also claimed she was ignored when she reached out after being diagnosed with cancer. "I tried to get in touch with Zendaya when I was diagnosed with cancer, but [family members] slammed the door on me," she said. "I went through cancer and chemotherapy all by myself with no help, no support." Despite their strained relationship, Coleman had positive remarks about Holland, whom she met in 2018. "He's down to earth and my family likes him. They just look like an odd couple because he's so short and she's so tall. But other than that, I think he's the one for her." While Zendaya has spoken about her strong bond with family, Coleman blames their father for their estrangement. "He's the reason I haven't been able to have a relationship with Zendaya," she said. Although she feels hurt, Coleman insists she is not after money. "I don't want her money. I just want to be in her life, to show her that I love her and support her." As Zendaya and Holland plan their wedding, it remains uncertain if this family conflict will be resolved or deepen further. What is clear is that the matter has now become public, something Zendaya has largely avoided throughout her career. Conor McGregor, the former UFC champion, declared his intention to run for president of Ireland just days after his controversial meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. McGregor announced on social media that he aims to strengthen the Irish people's voice in shaping their country's future. "All citizens of Ireland to have a voice and a choice on their future! This is the future of Ireland with me, as the President of Ireland wrote in an Instagram post. "God bless our people! Vote McGregor and have your voice heard!" His announcement comes just days after he visited the White House and met with President Donald Trump. Earlier in the day, McGregor held a press briefing in which he criticized the Irish government's handling of immigration, accusing it of "abandoning the voices of the people of Ireland." He claimed that "illegal immigration is wreaking havoc" on the country, particularly in rural areas, and emphasized the need to address these issues for the sake of Irish Americans. His comments were met with sharp rebukes from Irish leaders, including Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who stated that McGregor's views "do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick's Day or the opinions of the Irish people." The meeting also drew criticism from advocacy groups, notably the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, which expressed concern that McGregor's presence at the White House "effectively normalizes sexual violence." This comes in the wake of a civil case in Ireland where McGregor was found liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand, a Dublin woman who accused him of raping her in a hotel penthouse in December 2018. Hand testified in court that McGregor assaulted her after a night of partying, leaving her with severe bruises and post-traumatic stress disorder. She described being choked and threatened during the encounter, which she said took place after McGregor drove her to a hotel where drugs and alcohol were consumed. A paramedic who examined her the following day testified that Hand's injuries were unusually severe. McGregor was ordered to pay over nearly 250,000 ($271,000). Rachel Zegler, the star of Disney's upcoming live-action Snow White, has changed her attitude toward the iconic 1937 animated film. She now describes the opportunity to play the title role as an "honor." On Thursday's episode of "Good Morning America," Zegler, 23, expressed her excitement about the role: " It was the honor of a lifetime. I think every young person dreams about a phone call like that. His one is certainly extra special as a huge Disney fan." The "West Side Story" actress went on to praise the opportunity to bring the beloved character to life in a "unique" way, adding that it was "a beautiful opportunity" and she felt "very honored" to be part of the project, PageSix said. Zegler emphasized that her portrayal of Snow White is not only for young audiences but also appeals to "the inner child in all of us." Zegler mentioned that the remake includes a "modern spin" to make it more relevant for today's audience. She emphasized the importance of connecting classic stories with a contemporary generation, ensuring they resonate with young viewers. According to her, the character's heart remains her greatest strength. This has always been a central theme in both the story and Disney's legacy. Rachel Zegler sparks backlash for honoring original Snow White actress after bashing 1937 film https://t.co/clZuxybAs4 pic.twitter.com/ngyLHnp6R1 New York Post (@nypost) March 18, 2025 Zegler Reflects Positively on "Snow White" After Past Criticism Her remarks mark a shift from her previous criticism of the original film, which she called "weird" and "extremely dated." In 2022, Zegler shared her concerns about the animated Snow White, especially the portrayal of the love story between Snow White and the prince. "There's a big focus on her love story with the guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird," she told Extra at the time. In the upcoming live-action version, she said, "We didn't do that this time," adding that the plot would focus less on romance and more on Snow White's personal growth. According to NY Post, Zegler also admitted to being "scared" of the original cartoon and mentioned that she had only watched it once before deciding never to pick it up again. However, her earlier comments sparked backlash, with many Disney fans criticizing her for speaking negatively about a beloved classic. In addition to criticism over her thoughts on Snow White, Zegler also faced backlash for her outspoken political views, including her support for Palestine, which further fueled online debate. As the "Snow White" remake nears its theatrical release on March 21, 2025, Zegler's shift in tone shows a more positive outlook on the project. Kim Kardashian has reportedly called for an emergency custody hearing following concerns about her ex-husband Kanye West's association with controversial figures Andrew and Tristan Tate. As per People, Kardashian's decision came after she learned that the Tate brothers, who have faced serious criminal charges, would be present during West's scheduled visit with their daughter, North West. The hearing was prompted by a recent incident where Kardashian abruptly ended North's visit with West after security informed her of the Tate brothers' impending arrival at the meeting location. The Tates, who returned to the United States last month, as reported by TMZ, after being embroiled in allegations of sexual assault in both the U.K. and U.S., have not been convicted and maintain their innocence. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's Custody Battle Kardashian and West, who have three other children, Chicago, Saint, and Psalm, met with their attorneys and a mediator on March 14. During the meeting, they discussed not only North's safety but also the implications of West featuring their daughter and Sean "Diddy" Combs in his new single "LONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE." Combs is currently detained in Brookly,n facing charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering. Over the past few weeks, West has been in the news for posting multiple antisemitic and homophobic statements on social media. On March 19, he accused Kardashian and her family of sex trafficking children, referencing North's participation in a music video. His comments were met with backlash, including a tweet from Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles, who warned of the "ignorance and evil" in this kind of talk. Kardashian was married to West for eight years before their 2022 divorce. The custody war between the Kardashians and the West has been heating up. Given the recent controversies surrounding West and his associates, Kim is allegedly concerned about her children's well-being. Renowned Hollywood actress Amanda Seyfried has opened up about her decision to pass on the role of Gamora in Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy." Speaking on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast on March 20, she admitted she initially saw the 2014 film as a risky move for her career. "Being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain't good for your career," Seyfried said. She explained that she doubted the film's success because of its unusual characters, US Magazine said. "I thought that because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon that it was gonna be Marvel's first bomb and that Chris Pratt and I would never work again. I was wrong." Amanda Seyfried spoke highly of director James Gunn, describing him as a talented and creative filmmaker capable of making anything successful. While she admired his work, she ultimately turned down the role because she felt it was too risky, given her concerns about her career at the time. Amanda Seyfried on why she turned down the role of Gamora in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: Wanted to work on a different film. Didnt want to film in London for 6 months. Didnt want to sit through the makeup process. Thought it was going to be Marvel Studios first pic.twitter.com/ADLaAglv1e Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) March 20, 2025 Read more: Amanda Seyfried Reveals True Feelings for Elizabeth Holmes After Playing Her Character Seyfried Reveals Fear of Green Makeup Led to Gamora Role Rejection Another primary reason Seyfried declined the role was the demanding makeup process required to transform into the green-skinned Gamora. " I was really scared of the idea of being stuck and painted a different color," she said, referencing the long hours actors in the X-Men franchise had to endure in the makeup chair. Additionally, Seyfried wasn't keen on relocating to London for an extended period. "I didn't want to live in London for six months out of the year," she shared. According to The International News, she chose to star in "A Million Ways to Die in the West," a comedy directed by Seth MacFarlane, because she felt it was a better opportunity for her at the time. Reflecting on her choice, Seyfried remains confident that she made the right decision. She explained that working with green screen technology was not something she particularly enjoyed, and she has no regrets about turning down the role. Seyfried emphasized that her decision was the best one for her at the time and continues to feel right even now. Zoe Saldana ultimately played Gamora, bringing the character to life in multiple Marvel films. The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, along with "Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame," grossed over $2 billion worldwide. Although Seyfried chose not to take the role, she believes everything turned out as it should. She expressed happiness for the cast, including Zoe and Chris, acknowledging that the film was an excellent fit for them. Additionally, she appreciated the fact that she trusted her instincts when making her decision. The legal war between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively is heating up, with Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, accusing Lively of manipulating the legal process to her advantage. Freedman fired back at the actress in a scathing statement after she moved to toss Baldoni's countersuit. In a statement to TMZ, he said, "This is one of the most abhorrent examples of abusing our legal system." The 37-year-old Lively previously filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, 41, in December. In January, the "Jane the Virgin" actor launched his response in the form of a mouth-dropping $400 million countersuit against Lively, as well as her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane for defamation and extortion. Freedman accused the "Gossip Girl" actress of distorting legal protections for her benefit. He explained that "Laws exist to protect the innocent and allow people to defend themselves," he argued. "They are not meant to be bent by Hollywood elites to serve their personal agenda." Lively's attorney, meanwhile, has called Baldoni's allegations "frivolous," claiming his countersuit is an example of blatant retaliatory litigation. According to Lively's lawyers, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, Baldoni's litigation is an abuse of the system. Pointing to new protections to prevent accusers from being sued for defamation, they said, "California law now expressly prohibits suing victims who choose to speak out against sexual harassment or retaliation." They cautioned that Baldoni's aggressive legal strategy could be counterproductive. Her attorneys argued, referring to Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, that "The Wayfarer Parties' attempt to sue Ms. Lively 'into oblivion' has only created more liability for them," per Us Weekly. This case matters not just for the stars themselves but for all individuals going through their battles, a spokesperson for Lively told BuzzFeed News. They stated, "Ms. Lively is not the only person being sued for defamation after speaking out about sexual harassment at work," they noted. The Hollywood Fallout The battle has extended beyond the courtroom. Baldoni's team recently called out Reynolds for referencing the scandal in an SNL50 sketch earlier this month, which sparked backlash online for being "tone-deaf." Lively, through her team, is trying to keep certain documents from being unsealed by saying there have been violent threats against her and others related to this case. The authorities have contended that making sensitive information public could jeopardize witnesses and exacerbate harassment. Despite the off-camera turbulence, "It Ends with Us" became a blockbuster, grossing $148M in the US and $350M globally. However, insiders say tensions on set ultimately led studio heads to intervene, with The Hollywood Reporter adding that Sony had to step in to mediate the escalating battle. The death of Gene Hackman has reportedly opened up not just a Hollywood legacy but a potential legal battle over his now 93-year-old actor's estimated $80 million estate. Last month, the two-time Academy Award winner died at the age of 95, leaving behind a living trust but no successor trustees with all of them having died before the actor. District Judge Maria Sanchez-Gagne granted the request Thursday and appointed a temporary successor trustee, Avalon Trust, LLC, at the suggestion of the estate's representative, Julia Peters. The error, or lack of action, is particularly important because estate planning attorney Laura Cowan explains on her website a living trust allows a person to name a successor trustee who will control the assets following the person's death. Hackman never updated his trust after his chosen trustees died. Cowan said to DailyMail, " Mr. Hackman did [pick successor trustees], but the people he picked all passed away before he did." Avalon Trust, LLC is appointed to properly take care of important estate matters like filings and notifying beneficiaries. "It's a common, proactive step in high-stakes estates, especially when multiple deaths or complex family dynamics are involved," Cowan added. According to the trust documents, Hackman listed his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as a successor trustee to his Gene Hackman Living Trust. If she died, it would go to Michael G. Sutin. However, Sutin died in 2019, and when Hackman died, he never updated the trust. And to top it all off, Arakawa is thought to have died at least a week before Hackman, reportedly of respiratory issues related to the hantavirus. It left no remaining successor trustees in place. Hackman Also Has A Fortune That Could Lead To A Legal Dispute Hackman's estate has raised speculation of a possible legal battle. Although his will allegedly gave his fortune to Arakawa, it was unknown if the trust funds for his first three childrenChristopher Allen, Leslie Anne, and Elizabeth Jeanwere part of any inheritance deal. "If he died first and she [Betsy] had survived, it would've been World War III," a legal expert told DailyMail.com. "His kids would've probably gone crazy." According to his will, Arakawa left her wealth to a charitable trust. However, it remains to be seen whether any of Hackman's children will dispute the estate in court. The fact that Hackman's son, Chris, has also hired noted estate attorney Andrew M. Katzenstein further fueled speculation. "The fact that Chris got a high-powered lawyer indicates to me something is going on," a source told the outlet. "I don't know why the girls [daughters] are not represented. That tells me that there must be some trouble brewing." Hackman's decades-long failure to update his trust could also result in tax burdens, delays, and additional probate costs. "What's interesting about Gene Hackman's estate is that the problems he had have nothing to do with him being wealthy," Cowan noted. "The first problem is that his will was 20 years old. And now there's the question about whether it really reflects his wishes." Sean "Diddy" Combs' ongoing legal battles took a turn as high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee withdrew from over a dozen sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the music mogul in New York federal court. The decision comes after Buzbee admitted to a legal misstep regarding his ability to practice in the Southern District of New York (SDNY). According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Buzbee filed motions to step away from 15 civil cases in the SDNY. His decision follows Diddy's legal team's challenge to his right to practice in the district. Last month, Combs' attorneys argued that Buzbee was not formally admitted to the SDNY and had no legal authority to represent plaintiffs in these cases. In a statement to US District Judge Ronnie Abrams, Buzbee acknowledged the oversight, writing, "I made an error in judgment by failing to inform you that I was not admitted to the Southern District." He added that his admission status had become a "distraction," shifting attention away from securing justice for the plaintiffs. As a result, he opted to withdraw from the federal cases until the matter was resolved. Attorney Tony Buzbee has moved to withdraw from seven more lawsuits against Sean Diddy Combs after a judge called him out for not being admitted to practice in the Southern District of New York. Seven notices like this one filed. pic.twitter.com/DRb7IFHheA Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) March 19, 2025 Attorney Tony Buzbee Exits Federal Diddy Cases, But Legal Battle Persists Despite his withdrawal, the lawsuits against Combs will proceed, with other attorneys from New York law firms continuing the cases. Buzbee will still be involved in lawsuits filed in New York state courts and other jurisdictions, including planned cases in Nevada and California. Buzbee emphasized that his withdrawal from these federal cases is only temporary. "I personally withdrew, not my firm, from the few federal court cases we have on file until such time as my admission is cleared up." He reiterated that he remains a licensed New York lawyer in good standing and has already admitted to practice in the Eastern District of New York. According to Buzbee, his SDNY admission was delayed due to a grievance filed by Jay-Z in an unrelated case. The high-profile attorney has been involved in legal battles involving Diddy, filing more than 20 lawsuits against the hip-hop mogul. Buzbee previously announced that he represents 120 individuals who claim to be victims of Combs, Billboard said. While his role in the federal lawsuits is now limited, his legal fight against Combs is far from over. Meanwhile, Diddy continues to face mounting legal challenges, including civil lawsuits and a criminal investigation. He is scheduled for a jury trial in May on serious charges that could lead to a life sentence if convicted. Originally published on Music Times Hey there, you awesome content creator! Its Terry Brock here, and Ive got something super exciting for you in this episode of Stark Raving Entrepreneurs. Were diving into the art of repurposing content its like turning one piece of content into a buffet for your audience! Get ready to explore the magic of content transformation, and how you can make it work for you. Whether youre an entrepreneur, a creative, or just curious, youll walk away with tons of actionable insights. Trust me, your content game is about to level up! Heres what youll learn in this fun-packed episode: * How to turn a single video into engaging social media clips with captions. * Tips on keeping your evergreen content fresh and relevant. * Building and nurturing meaningful connections with your audience. * The power of using tools like Taja and Cast Magic for content creation and scheduling. * Why visuals are key for better engagement and memory. * Adapting your content for different platforms like a pro. Key strategies to maximize your contents reach and impact. Time to dig in! Check out these timestamps for key moments: 0:45 Why content repurposing is a game-changer. 3:10 Making the most of evergreen content. 5:25 Tips for updating your content library with modern references. 7:50 Building relationships and networks that last. 10:15 Engaging visuals: How to create what you cant find. 12:30 Audio, text, images activating different audience engagement! 15:45 The cognitive benefits of video learning. 18:55 Strategies for optimizing blog content with SEO. 20:40 The art of transforming video into podcasts and blogs. 23:10 Success stories: How creators are scaling their impact. So grab your favorite snack, and lets dive into this creative journey together! Cant wait to hear how youre using these tips. Drop your thoughts in the comments and let me know how youre smashing your content goals! Recommended AI tools for business growth. http://AItools4biz.com Heres the video you want: https://youtu.be/4X5NFRUKvWE https://youtu.be/4X5NFRUKvWE Listen to this & other episodes on our podcast https://bit.ly/sre_podcast For your convenience, heres a Spanish language summary: En este episodio de Stark Raving Entrepreneurs, titulado Transform Content Repurposing, el presentador Terry Brock nos ensena sobre la magia de reutilizar contenido. Explica como un creador de contenido puede tomar un solo elemento y transformarlo en multiples formatos para diferentes plataformas, como YouTube, Instagram, Facebook y LinkedIn, maximizando asi su alcance y eficiencia. Terry utiliza la analogia de un escultor que moldea contenido como si fuera arcilla, adaptandolo para satisfacer las necesidades de diferentes audiencias. Ademas, destaca las ventajas de esta estrategia, como el ahorro de tiempo, el aumento de la rentabilidad y la creacion de relaciones significativas con la audiencia. Tambien ofrece un enfoque paso a paso, empezando por el video y extendiendose a formatos de audio y texto, enfatizando como cada formato activa diferentes procesos cognitivos. Terry promueve el uso de herramientas como Taja y Cast Magic para facilitar este proceso de transformacion. Finalmente, anima a la audiencia a compartir sus experiencias y necesidades de contenido para personalizar futuros entrenamientos y resalta la importancia de adaptar y actualizar el contenido con el tiempo para mantener su relevancia. ____________________________ And for your convenience, heres an English language transcript: AI Speaker Male [00:00:00]: Its never been a better time to be a content creator. You know someone whos creating video and audio, writing text, getting pictures, and using all of that content that youre creating to reach people, to build your business as a content creator. And in this video, Im gonna gonna show you how you can sculpt that even better, how you can use a magic of repurposing. Yeah. Thats what I like to call it, the magic of repurposing because it gives you the ability to take what you do in one area and then put it into many others. Im gonna give you some ideas you might not have thought of yet that are gonna save you a lot of time, a lot of effort and money probably, and also build your business. Sound like a pretty good discussion? Well, were gonna do it. Im Terry Brock. AI Speaker Male [00:00:38]: Weve been working with people for many years to do that. I wanna show you right now how you can put all of that together as we talk about it here at Starkraving Entrepreneurs. In this episode, were gonna talk about transforming your content like clay. So you can think of yourself like one of those marvelous people, the sculptors that get together and they take that and put it into different shapes. Its the art of repurposing for content creators and entrepreneurs. As a content creator and an entrepreneur, youll do it. So youre gonna turn one piece of content into many. Youll be able to reshape your ideas, take those ideas, put them in different shapes all around in different areas across many different platforms from, say, YouTube to Instagram to Facebook to LinkedIn, and be able to reach more people, which is really building your business. AI Speaker Male [00:01:26]: Thats what its all about. Now in this presentation, Im gonna show you how you can maximize your contents value with strategic repurposing. Doing that through there. Youre gonna be able to do this. This is what we talk about, Gina Carr and I do, right here on Star Quiriving Entrepreneurs. So youre gonna like this. Just stay through to the end because its gonna give you some specifics that you can use and some tools that are gonna help you to tap into it right now in ways that you can do it. But first, lets start with the sculptors mindset. AI Speaker Male [00:01:52]: When you think about a sculptor thats working with clay, particularly, they get a chance to do a lot. I wanna start at the most important part, which is right down here with the base of your pyramid. The base of the pyramid you have is the audience. And this is you can look at like your gallery that you would have. Where youre gonna put it and where youre actually gonna have put things available. Then you have your platforms, and thats like the canvas. Now platforms would be YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and several other social media sites. It can be your blog as well. AI Speaker Male [00:02:24]: Im using a WordPress blog and find it really great. By the way, if you havent been over there, bounce over to terrybrock.com and look at the blog. Youll see theres a lot of capabilities there, how you can do a similar kind of thing with what youre doing. And then secondly, we look at the or next, I should say, we take a look at the content that youre creating. Now this content is like your clay. You can shape and mold it using words. You can take those words that you say and present different messages to different audiences, So youre satisfying their needs, helping them to get the answers they need, and really, this is a great way to build your business. And then what we do from there, once youve got your content and your clay, then you look at yourself as the master sculptor, the one who is a visionary creator putting all this together using the right tools. AI Speaker Male [00:03:12]: I want you to think like a sculptor with your content. You wanna start with the raw material and then mold that for different platforms. In other words, what you do on Facebook might be slightly different than what youre gonna do on LinkedIn and slightly different than on YouTube. And then youll use that to create experiences for your audience. So this is why its gonna be important. When you look at repurposing it, why would you do that? Well, theres several good reasons. And this is something you wanna pay attention to particularly. It gives you the ability to maximize your ROI. AI Speaker Male [00:03:42]: Be able to get in there and be able to say, okay, I wanna see a little bit more on that. I wanna see whats going on in a big way. Well do that. Youre gonna get more value for your existing content. One piece becomes many, and your effort multiplies. See, what youre gonna be able to do is youre gonna be able to do a wonderful thing because getting more done with less time and less effort. Youre able to do that when you repurpose. Youre winning that way in a big way, and its got some multiple benefits as well. AI Speaker Male [00:04:10]: Because what youll be able to do with this is youre gonna be able to repurpose that content and reach new audiences. Hey. Think about that. The people who see you on YouTube might not necessarily be the same people. Theyre gonna catch you on Instagram, or if youre on TikTok, or through your blog. Different tools can express your content in different ways, and thats really nice. And different people consume different kind of media differently. So they like some people like audio more than video, some video more than audio, and others like text more than either of them. AI Speaker Male [00:04:44]: What you want is really an ideal combination. You want to meet them where they are and expand your reach that way. And then, you want to reinforce your message. Reinforce your message so that people are going to see that in some profoundly new ways and theyre going to be able to see that repetition. You see, the repetition aids retention. I remember in studying Russian in undergrad school, we would say, which means repetition is the mother of learning. So by doing that multiple exposures, theyre gonna build that familiarity. Oh, yeah. AI Speaker Male [00:05:20]: I know what shes done. I like what she did on that video. Shes got a post over here. Oh, theres a blog post from her. I like her material. This is the way it builds. And your ideas start sticking, and you get some real good ideas that way in some powerful ways. And youre also gonna save time because what you can do here is you can create it once and then get take it many times so youre out there working smarter, not harder. AI Speaker Male [00:05:44]: Youre gonna be able to scale your impact to be able to get a lot more done in a whole lot less time, and thats really what its about. But its all about really creating relationships. And when you do creation of content the right way, youre building those relationships in a beautiful way. Youre gonna be able to create those content relationships, which means your content is building connections. What happens is different formats reach different people and multiple touch points deepen the engagement. People listen to you in one format, and then they hear it again in another. And they say, hey. I like what she says. AI Speaker Male [00:06:19]: I like the way he puts this together. I wanna hear more of what hes got to say. People will do that. So youre winning that way in a profound way with the right relationships and building them. But also, youre building those personal relationships because whats happening now is youre focusing on their interest, the common interest that you have with them. Not every formal platform is gonna work for everyone. You wanna meet your audience where they are comfortable. If theyre comfortable in this environment, well, hey, then thats good. AI Speaker Male [00:06:50]: But what youll wanna do is be able to reach them where they are most comfortable. And by doing content the right way, you get a lot. Now heres a step by step strategy that you can use. Weve used this before. This is where if you wanna maybe take your pen out, pen and paper, or note taking device of choice, or just get some screenshots on this as we go through five different steps because each format is gonna activate different cognitive processes, video, audio, etcetera. The video shows personality, audio conveys emotion very well, and text provides clarity. So were gonna use all of those. And I like the idea of starting with video, and then use that video plus the audio engagement. AI Speaker Male [00:07:30]: Its the closest thing to actually being there in person. By using video, you get started. And then we go into audio only. And And this audio only is great when people are multitasking. So its really multitasking friendly. People can drive and listen. They can shop and listen. I like getting a lot of work done around the condo and listening to other audio messages. AI Speaker Male [00:07:52]: It works out very well. And then from there, sometimes text only is good because you can go really in-depth in detail in a really nice way, in a way that people can skim it very rapidly. I can read text a little bit faster than I can watch a video, even if I speed the video up. I like the idea of reading that text sometimes as a great way to do it. But then also, images are available. And with images now, you have a quick visual impact. I particularly like this because today in our world, we can create the images very quickly. As example, this morning, I was writing a post that I send out every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, writing and getting prepared for another day, And I needed a picture, and I couldnt get it. AI Speaker Male [00:08:34]: I couldnt find one in certain places. I went over to another platform, actually, went over to Google Docs. And within Google Docs using the Gemini connection in there, I created just the perfect picture that I needed. And this is really handy when you can use the visuals with that and put it all together. And then that putting it all together means what youre gonna have is a good interactive engagement participation environment and experience. Find ways that you can engage with that with lots of the interaction, engaged participation, and people seeing it in different ways. This brings in an audience that is right there with you and learning more about what youre doing. Now, here are some cognitive benefits that are really important. AI Speaker Male [00:09:17]: You wanna make sure you know about this. With video learning, youre gonna be able to engage visually processing the camera and the capabilities and the those centers that are out there. This gives you that ability to do quite a bit. It also conveys the body language and creates a stronger memory imprint. This way people do it. Im particularly video oriented myself. I like to see whats going on. I like to see, well, heres how were doing it. AI Speaker Male [00:09:43]: But then also, I like to learn another way with audio. Audio works really well when we want to listen to something. We can focus on the voice nuance, and you can eliminate visual distraction. Sometimes youre not dressed just well or maybe your hair isnt right. Hey, my hair is doing just fine today. I combed it particularly well for you. But sometimes people might say, oh, I dont I dont have makeup on. I dont have this or that. AI Speaker Male [00:10:04]: Whatever it is. And its perfect for multitasking moments. And I think people that like to learn through audio are able to do very well with that in many different ways. But then we also have the text consumption because with text, this allows self pacing. Youre able to control it, read this page, this page. Oh, I like what she said in that third paragraph there. Let me pause and think about that for a minute. You do that very well with it. AI Speaker Male [00:10:27]: It enables quick scanning also, so you can go over a document very quickly and see whats going on with that. And it makes the information easily referenceable. This is good for learning more so that people can say, alright, were gonna learn more about this. Were gonna find out whats going on and how it works, how this can happen in some specific ways that are gonna help us to learn what we can do. What you wanna do is you wanna be able to use and tap into all three of those. The visual, the auditory, and the text. The text can be a little bit of a kinesthetic thing going on there with their body because theyre turning the pages, or theyre using a stylus on a notebook that could be work out really well. So those are really important when youre working with it, but really its about relationship building. AI Speaker Male [00:11:14]: When youre building relationships, this is what youre doing by using this. Youre gonna be able to use relationships and build these in some strategic ways. You find common ground. In a relationship, when youre selling, you know, you wanna find something you have in common with the prospect. So they might say, yeah, I like you. I like that. With content, you find areas where they have a common fit. Just as you connect through friends with shared interest, connect with audience through your preferred formats. AI Speaker Male [00:11:41]: And also, you respect the differences. When you see that theres some differences there, you dont discuss every topic with every friend. Similarly, not all content works in the same format. You wanna make sure that you have different ways of approaching some people. Some people, you you know, you have friends. You dont talk about this topic with them because youre gonna get into arguments and not good. But on these topics, hey, we can talk to them. We can get along real well. AI Speaker Male [00:12:06]: It works like that in many different areas with content as well. And you wanna nurture connections. Just like in real world beneficial relationships, you get together in relationship marketing, youre gonna nurture those connections. And by doing that, youre gonna have regular valuable interactions that build relationships. Youll have consistent content, also builds audience loyalty. People keep hearing all the time, wow, he says some really good things about this. I like what he says about that. I wonder what hes saying about this new topic, etcetera. AI Speaker Male [00:12:38]: In a way, hey, thats what were doing here. What Im trying to do with building this content, Ive got just my heart sharing with you, putting this together, ideas that I have. What do you think about that? And maybe Ill be able to show you something that is available that you need to know. Matter of fact, in the contents below, wherever youre catching this content, whether its on audio or video or youre getting it on social media, by all means, let us know where you have some questions, where you can get some help from us. We love doing that. I do a lot of professional speaking. Many different audiences have been doing it for over forty years now. Talking to audiences around the world about how to use technology, now particularly AI, how you can make that happen. AI Speaker Male [00:13:21]: If theres a way that we can help you on that, hey, wed love to do that and to make sure that you get what you need on it. Now other things that you can do here is you can adapt this over time. As you know, relationships change over time, and its nice to have people that youve been with and been able to change and develop together through the years. Thats nice. And as relationships evolve, you want your content strategy also to do that. You wanna stay responsive to their feedback. Thats really important. And going from one to many is where repurposing comes in. AI Speaker Male [00:13:53]: You wanna create the core content, start with a robust comprehensive piece, and make it your best work. This becomes your foundation of what youre going to cover and how youre gonna do it and whats gonna happen with it. Then you extract the key elements of it. Youre gonna identify the major points, the quotes, and the statistics. Then you look for stand alone segments, and you mark visual elements in there as youre working with it. Really important. And then adapt for the platforms. Make sure that you transform and fit your platform to the requirements that are there. AI Speaker Male [00:14:26]: Optimize this for each audience as it develops its own tune and the way that it puts everything together. And then schedule this strategically. What youll wanna do is you wanna make sure that as you schedule it, youre doing it in a way thats gonna help people so that you stagger your release your releases that you have, and you create a content calendar and maintain the consistent presence. So one of the things that we do a lot now using a tool thats really wonderful out there called Taja. It gives us the ability to create some content and then it repurposes it into several different clips. Then we take those clips and we can put that next Tuesday at 03:00 would be good. And then for next Wednesday, lets put it at 04:00. Yeah. AI Speaker Male [00:15:09]: And you do that based on what the algorithms are saying and your own history and experience. But you can do that with a tool like Taja. Thats taja@taja.ai. And by the way, if you get that, use our affiliate code, which weve got available for you. Youll be able to use that, and then you get extra help and training on that too. But Talage is a great little tool for that, and it helps things move much better and much faster in several different ways. But now heres where it gets even more fun, because you could take this video and go all over the place with it. The video gives you the ability to reach many different people in different ways. AI Speaker Male [00:15:45]: Like for instance, with YouTube video, you start with a complete video, and then you can make it comprehensive and cover your topic thoroughly. Once youve done that, you can pull an audio podcast out of it and extract the audio track, add a custom intro, and distribute it to the podcast platforms where you wanna go. Were using Libsyn right now, l I b s y n, and I love it. Ive been with them for a few years, and they consistently provide real quality service, reliable, and great support. When I need help, somebody seems to be there right off the bat. So Id recommend take a look at what theyve got for that. And then for a blog post, were using WordPress, and this is where you can transcribe and edit for readability. You can take the transcript, put that directly into your blog. AI Speaker Male [00:16:30]: Id recommend that you take it, change it up just a little bit. Its gonna be right for your audience, and then put in some images and then optimize it for SEO. So what youll wanna do is use that and then use some social clips as well so that you have some ideas of being able to cut in. Whoops. I just paused there for a moment. Im gonna go back through. Hey. Keeping it real here. AI Speaker Male [00:16:48]: Were going through here on this slide. You wanna put in the social clips and then cut to your short highlights and the captions, and then share them across the platform. So you can do that and be able to connect with people in a big way. So what Im doing here is its just you and me here together. And when we have some mistakes or something, we work together, and thats part of the content. Thats part of saying, here we are. We wanna be there for you and give you the information you need when you need it in a good way. So think about that plan there, what you can do. AI Speaker Male [00:17:19]: You can go into video all over the place and getting your message out to the people that are gonna need it in a time that they need it very well. And then, update your evergreen content. This one is a gold mine because you can take information that you did a few years ago and update it. I have clients were working with. They have really good content, and they talked about audio cassettes when they were popular and needed. Well, now they can redo that. And instead of saying audio cassettes, say things like, well, we used to use audio cassette, but now were using m p threes, and were using this with that platform thats giving us the audio capability. Spotify is working for us or whatever it might be. AI Speaker Male [00:18:00]: So make sure you stay on top of that. You wanna make sure you add sections on the new tools like AI and show modern applications. Reference the current platforms that are out there and realize weve had changed perspectives. Sometimes, you change your mind. I know I have. Ive thought one thing at one time in my life and then I changed. So what you wanna do is you wanna explain the journey. Show your growth and learning. AI Speaker Male [00:18:23]: Why is it that you wanted this before, but now, hey, hey, you want something just a little bit different? Then in addition to that, give us some fresh samples. Show us some things that are available now that we didnt have before. Things that you can say, okay, this is a little bit different. Things in the world today are different than they were, and so what weve got to do is use new data and incorporate the recent statistics. Update your research findings and strengthen your arguments so that youre always able to stay up to date with whats going on. In the work that Ive done speaking around the world, Ive had the option to work with many millionaires and a few billionaires as well. And when I do, I find some core elements that run through the lives of these people who have done very well financially. And one of those things is they like to build by inviting meaningful connections. AI Speaker Male [00:19:11]: What theyre doing is theyre creating valuable content relationships, and they start conversations working with people to help make them feel better and to solve their problems. They also nurture these relationships, maintaining regular contact and providing ongoing value. Theyre listening to the feedback that people give them in a big way, and they leverage. This is really important. You wanna be sure that you can leverage and activate your network when needed. Cross promote the content and collaborate with peers. Matter of fact, it was interesting. Today, we were talking with some people that have asked to work with us. AI Speaker Male [00:19:48]: Were gonna be doing some work with AI that theyre doing, people that are designing that, doing it in a lot of different areas. And Gina was on the call with me. We were talking about it, and we we talked about some people that she knew that one person, for instance, was in her class there at Harvard and is now the chancellor of all the universities in the entire state, in this one state they were talking about. And so shes looking at that and say, hey, we can make a connection here with them, because she knew this person. Shes working on the committee, staying in touch with the Harvard community that she has, and able to tie them together. I think thats a wonderful thing. Think about ways that you can do that and how you can take different people and make life better for them in many, many different ways. And then, also, you wanna celebrate. AI Speaker Male [00:20:30]: By celebrate, you wanna acknowledge milestones together where you share successes and express gratitude. This is important. On important events in life, its important for you to be at those important places. Did you notice my emphasis there? Make sure that youre there for people when they need you. I remember years ago, Harvey Mckay was talking about its very important when people go through weddings and funerals. When you can be there, make sure you do that. People remember that. They remember who was there at the wedding. AI Speaker Male [00:21:01]: Theres a lot of pictures. Theres also at the funerals. Therell be pictures there too. But also more than anything, they know that you were there for them, helping in that time of need. And then continue reshaping the content clay that you have. You wanna make sure that what youre doing is youre bringing that about. Take your raw material, your original content, it holds untapped potential. It contains core ideas and think of it as your unformed clay. AI Speaker Male [00:21:27]: So when you got that original idea, use that and start working with it. Then do some skillful shaping. Shaping so that you can see how youre gonna apply your expertise to transform it. You want to be able to focus on the needs that your audience has and adapt for different contexts. And then, you want to multiply, have multiple masterpieces, so that you can just can create distinct but related works and each serves a different purpose. They serve are serving different purposes and you reflect your core message with that. So this is how you can do it in a profoundly important way. Taking that content that you have and creating help for other people in multiple ways. AI Speaker Male [00:22:11]: Also, with success creation, what you want to do is you want to show one video and make many assets. You start with, for instance, a ten minute YouTube video. Then have some deep topic exploration of how to use this. Then from there, you can get, for instance, five short social clips. With the service were using, I mentioned Taja, using that, were able to get sometimes two or three or five. Ive seen up to 14 different clips that we get with it, which are really nice. YouTube shorts that are purpose. And its doing it through the AI that knows what people are looking for. AI Speaker Male [00:22:48]: And also, look for your key points and the highlights. Find those that are in your content that you have and how people will be able to use that. And you might be able to get a good podcast episode. Sure, you can get one out of that with a good episode and have that on the go consumption where people can listen to it when theyre out there moving around. Also, dont forget the benefit of quote graphics that you might get. You might get three of those or so. What you would do is youd go back to the audio interview, the video interview, and think about where your special guest said something that was just golden. I mean, she was right on target when she said that. AI Speaker Male [00:23:25]: With a tool like Cast Magic, you can go in there and click from this level here, say at two minutes thirty five seconds, all the way through four minutes and thirteen seconds. You get that chunk. You can make it a video by itself, and you can make that a quote. So you might have just one quote you can put on the screen. Cast magic gives you the ability to do that as well in some really nice ways. So think about ways you can use that tool thats out there and get even more done in a bigger way. And you can make a whole detailed blog post. And I would say even more than one is possible. AI Speaker Male [00:23:58]: Make sure that its SEO optimized in content, and you can do that very easily, letting the AI tools do that. Taja, Cast Magic, and many others will do that for you as well. And then share your experiences. Share the challenges that you have. We wanna hear from you. Let us know in the feedback here, wherever youre getting this, about what its like, what content struggles youre having. Tell us, what specific needs you might have, and what we can do is customize training that were gonna have in the future to help you out on that. And if you got some topics, go ahead and request those. AI Speaker Male [00:24:31]: Lets see what we can do to help you. We want you to tell us about your areas of focus and about the specific platforms youre using and look for familiar techniques. And then let us know your goals. What can we do to help you as you share what success looks like? Let us know what its gonna be for you. And then tell us your business objectives. Are you trying to reach that? In the feedback, let us know so we can help you on that in some profound good ways. Want you to start repurposing right now, a repurposing journey, where youre gonna repurpose something because its not just a good idea. Many today are calling it a strategic imperative. AI Speaker Male [00:25:08]: Done the right way, it bonds you with your audience and builds your audience as well. Its gonna help your audience to know more about you, tie in there with what youre doing, and how youre going to be able to help them. This is something that, frankly, Im really excited about. We see whats possible, and theres some other ways you could do it. Matter of fact, I got something for you here thats gonna help. Weve got something that is available for you called aitoolsforbiz.com. Youre getting this on audio, thats all lowercase, aitools, the number four, b I z dot com. Youre gonna learn about some tools like ChatGPT with updates, Canva, Dolly three. AI Speaker Male [00:25:49]: We talk about Yudly, a great tool for becoming a better speaker and conducting better interviews. Also, other tools that are out there in many ways. Youre gonna get those. And by the way, one of the most important things about this, we update it. So that as new tools come out, because youre having that, its not just a one time resource that you get. Its gonna be updated regularly, so youll be able to get it in several different ways. If youre catching this on video, youve got a QR code there thats available for you. You can get that. AI Speaker Male [00:26:18]: And what well do is well make that available so that you can see it in some different ways. Matter of fact, right here we got it a little bit bigger. That QR code is available. And by the way, if youre catching this on audio only, you might wanna bounce over to YouTube and see it again because itll give you a different perspective with some of the graphics that are available. So lots of good there, and were looking forward to hearing from you. Weve got some other videos available. Theyre gonna help you. Weve carefully selected to help you do this in a big way. AI Speaker Male [00:26:43]: Im Terry Brock. I wanna hear from you on how youre using this and how its helping you in several different ways. Thanks for joining me today, and Im really looking forward to hearing from you. Key Takeaways A new bill would phase out ultra-processed foods from California public schools The goal? Fully remove harmful ingredients from school meals by 2032 Experts say these foods may harm kids' health if consumed too often FRIDAY, March 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Across California, kids are digging into lunches packed with chips, cookies and other ultra-processed snacks -- but a new bill could soon change whats on their trays. California lawmakers have introduced a new bill that would ban certain ultra-processed foods from school meals across the state. Assembly Bill 1264 would begin phasing out these foods in 2028, with the goal of fully removing them by 2032. The bipartisan proposal aims to protect kids from chemicals and additives found in many packaged foods. Our schools should not be serving students ultra-processed food products that are filled with chemical additives that can harm their physical and mental health, Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who introduced the bill, told NBC News. Ultra-processed foods such as chips, candy, instant noodles and sodas are usually made with low-cost ingredients and often have long shelf lives. They also may include additives like high-fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin and soy protein isolate -- ingredients not commonly found in your pantry. Studies show that eating more of these foods can raise the risk for diabetes, heart disease, cancer and mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Some experts also believe these foods are designed to make people overeat by triggering the brains reward system. The foods that we see that people show the common signs of addiction with are those ultra-processed foods that are high in both carbohydrates and fats in a way that we dont see in nature, and at levels that we dont see in nature, Ashley Gearhardt, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, told NBC News. Theres evidence that especially that combo of carbs and fats has the superadditive amplification of the reward system and the brain, she added. The bill would have California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment define which foods are most harmful, based on their fat, sugar and/or salt content, and whether they've been linked to food addiction or other serious health risks. Gabriel said schools might just switch to one brand of granola bars instead of another or change recipes to meet the new rules. "Americans are among the worlds biggest consumers of ultra-processed foods, and we are paying the price for it, both in terms of our declining health and our rapidly rising health care costs," Gabriel said at a news conference, according to NBC News. "This proposal is based on the common-sense premise that our public schools should not be serving students ultra-processed food products that can harm their physical or mental health or interfere with their ability to learn," he added. This is not Gabriels first push for safer school food. In 2023, he passed the California Food Safety Act, which banned four harmful food additives from products sold in the state. In 2024, his California School Food Safety Act banned six artificial dyes from school meals. Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, co-author of the proposed bill, said childrens health shouldnt be a partisan issue. When it comes to our kids, weve got an obesity epidemic, he said. Our kids should be having healthy food to eat, and it seems like, increasingly, that is not the case. Its not as if were not going to feed children at school, Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group, added. We may just feed them healthier food. Some observers have expressed concern. "Restricting access to shelf-ready foods could exacerbate health disparities, limit choice and create consumer confusion," said Sarah Gallo, Consumer Brands Association's senior vice president of product policy. She added that food companies want to work with regulators to keep products safe, affordable and convenient. More information Children's Health has more on the effects of ultraprocessed foods on kids. SOURCE: NBC News, March 19, 2025 What This Means For You If passed, this law could mean healthier food for kids in California schools and fewer harmful additives in their meals. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Mostly sunny this morning then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 70F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 49F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. (The Center Square) Lawmakers, school advocates and teachers unions are taking swift action after President Donald Trumps executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, one of his most controversial moves yet. Opponents of Trumps action responded with promises of legal retaliation. But supportive lawmakers may beat them to the chase, with U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., each planning to introduce legislation to completely eliminate the department. I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission, Cassidy said. Since the Department can only be shut down with Congressional approval, I will support the Presidents goals by submitting legislation to accomplish this as soon as possible. Rounds said he is already discussing legislation with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon that would return education decisions to states and local school districts while maintaining important programs like special education and Title I. Trump already shrunk the departments workforce to half its size last week. His executive order Thursday directs McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely, as far as legally possible. For now, that means the department will still continue critical functions like enforcing Title IX and civil rights laws, funding special education and disability programs, and overseeing student loans and Pell grants, Trump said. On Friday, Trump said the Small Business Administration would take over the nation's student loans. But the ultimate goal is to redistribute these programs among other federal departments and agencies, which would require congressional approval. School choice organizations are praising Trumps plan to eventually eliminate the Education Department as a necessary development that will save taxpayers money and return power to states, local governments, and parents. These are the first steps towards reforming an American education system that should have always been a state and local proposition, Parents Defending Education Vice President Sarah Parshall Perry said. We are looking forward to continuing our mission to empower parents and students in educational environments that are once again value-neutral, and devoid of radical ideologies Supporters also point to how the department has spent $3 trillion taxpayer dollars since its creation by congressional legislation in 1979. Meanwhile, U.S. students rank 28 out of 37 member countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and standardized test scores have remained flat for decades. ACE Scholarships, which provides aid to lower-income K-12 students, said in a statement that the Department of Educations efforts have been a wasteful distraction and that the presidents new approach to education puts children first by increasing choice and empowering parents instead of Washington bureaucrats. But public school advocacy organizations and teachers unions are already preparing lawsuits against what they say is an unconstitutional move. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, had a simple message for Trump after the executive order: See you in court. The New York-based United Federation of Teachers stated that we are working with our partners to file lawsuits to stop this executive overreach. Democracy Forward, a legal services nonprofit, is also planning to join the fight. We will be filing litigation against this action and will use every legal tool to ensure that the rights of students, teachers, and families are fully protected, President and CEO Skye Perryman stated. Since Inauguration Day, the Trump-Vance administration has been taken to court more than 100 times, and we will do it again this time." Trump opponents argue that dismantling the department will cause property taxes to spike nationwide, strain public school resources and could cause struggling schools to close, expanding class sizes in the remaining schools. Beyond the obvious issue that the Education Department cant be eliminated without an act of Congress, Trumps order is yet another wild and illicit power grab, Co-President of Public Citizen Lisa Gilbert said. Attempting to destroy the cabinet agencies tasked with promoting and improving education isnt just irresponsible, it is immoral, and will hurt the very fabric of our nation, as we keep generations of students from achieving their full potential. The Education department provides roughly 10% of funding for public education, with the vast majority of funding coming from state and local taxes. The majority of Americans also appear opposed to ending the department, with a Marist poll in early March showing 63% of U.S. residents either oppose or strongly oppose getting rid of the U.S. Department of Education, while 37% of residents either strongly support or support abolishing the department. Editors note: This story was updated March 24. SALEM, Ohio An Ohio harness driver died March 20 following a crash at The Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, in Washington, County, Pennsylvania. Hunter Myers, 27, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was thrown from the sulky during a race March 19, causing a chain reaction spill that involved four other horses and drivers, who escaped with minor injuries. He was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital in critical condition where he later died of his injuries. A video posted online March 22 by The Meadows track photographer showed Myers receiving an honor walk, which is a ceremonial event to commemorate organ donors as they are transported to organ procurement. The video shows the halls lined with medical staff and fellow drivers in their racing silks as Myers is wheeled down the hall in his hospital bed, flanked by family and friends. Myers, a native of Williamsport, Ohio, left behind his fiancee, Chloe Fisher, and a young son. A GoFundMe campaign has already raised more than $66,000 for his sons future, surpassing its $10,000 goal. The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association described Myers as a rising star, in a statement. The Meadows canceled racing for the remainder of the week and offered grief support services to its racing community. The Ohio Harness Horsemens Association is holding a memorial moment of silence to honor Myers at 5:50 p.m. March 23 at MGM Northfield Park, in Northfield, Ohio, prior to the first race at 6 p.m. Northfield Parks upcoming non-winners of one series, formally known as the Iron Maiden Series, will now be re-named the Hunter Myers Memorial Series, according to the OHHA. Hunter was a young star and was taken too early from us, the OHHA said in a statement. Background Myers, the son of trainer Michael Myers, grew up working with horses and started racing in 2014 when he was 16. That year he won 19 of 110 races at 29 tracks as he sought to establish himself on the Ohio fairs circuit, according to the U.S. Trotting Association. Myers got his first win at the Jackson County Fair on a horse his father trained. For his efforts that first year, he received the Peter Haughton Memorial Award from the Ohio chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association, given to the young Ohioan who is an up-and-coming star among harness horsemen. He split his time between tracks in Ohio and Pennsylvania and won 2,450 races racking up more than $21.7 million in earnings during his career. The statistics and his obvious talent, however, do not begin to tell the whole story, the USTA said in a statement. He was a beloved son to his parents. A doting father to his toddler son. An adored partner to his fiancee. And a loyal, funny, generous friend to the legions in American harness racing who knew him. Hunter Myers was an integral, remarkable part of the fabric of the sport and he died doing what he loved. Now those who loved him and there are many are left to contemplate an unexpected and indescribable loss, the USTA said. The accident was the first death at the track in the 62 years of racing at The Meadows, according to the Observer-Reporter. The government has unveiled measures seeking to minimise the risks of pesticides to health and the environment, including a UK-wide domestic reduction target. The environmental risk from pesticides is set to be slashed by 10% over the next five years under the long-overdue plan set out by all four UK governments today (21 March). Farmers will be urged to utilise alternative measures to reduce the potential harm from pesticides by 10% by 2030, while controlling pests with alternative methods. The UK National Action Plan on Pesticides (NAP) also outlines how government will ensure environmental and pesticide regulations are followed. Enforcement efforts will be targeted "where they are needed most", through training, guidance and enhanced inspections. The UK currently has some of the most stringent pesticide regulations in the world which control any potential impact or risks from their use. The publication of the NAP follows recent government action on pesticides. In December, three neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam were banned in England. Environment Minister Emma Hardy said of the new NAP: The government is restoring our natural world as part of our commitment to protect the environment while supporting productivity and economic growth. That is why we have banned bee killing pesticides in England and today were going further to support farmers and growers to adopt sustainable practices. According to the government, the core goals of the NAP are to set clear targets and measures to monitor the use of pesticides. It will introduce a UK-wide domestic reduction target for pesticides, focused on achieving a 10% reduction in potential environmental harm by 2030 rather than a simple volume reduction target. Progress towards this target will be monitored using a Pesticide Load Indicator which measures the impacts of pesticides across 20 indicators. Farmers will also be encouraged to utilise Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which involves using techniques or methods to reduce reliance on pesticides while managing pests. This could mean using nature-based solutions to create habitats for natural predators of pests and rotating crops to break pest, weed and disease cycle. But the NFU has said it was unclear how the NAP would be supported and delivered, especially without Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFI) options, which was closed suddenly last week. The union also called into question Defras commitment to proactively supporting IPM uptake without further impacting competitiveness of farmers. It pointed to the European Union, which scrapped its proposed Sustainable Use Regulation and 50% pesticide reduction target. NFU deputy president David Exwood said: While the government rightly focuses on public health and the environment, its critically important this is balanced with the need to grow affordable British food and increase productivity. "For this, farmers and growers need continued support for IPM uptake and access to more effective tools to protect crops from pests, weeds and disease, and to ensure they can run thriving, profitable businesses. "The NAP has come up short on the detail of how it will support this balance," Mr Exwood concluded. Scientists are developing a new tool which will use artificial intelligence to give farmers quick tailored advice on how to protect their livestock from disease. The webtool will speedily summarise official documentation on animal biosecurity and deliver detail most relevant to an individual farmers needs at the time. The AI tool is being developed as part of a project by Scotlands Rural College (SRUC) and the Moredun Institute. Researchers will soon demonstrate how it can be used to search for and summarise guidance for reducing risk of different livestock diseases on farm. Industry input is crucial to ensure the tool is useful and effective, they say, with farmers invited to participate in the project and provide feedback. SRUCs project lead, Dr Kate Lamont, said artificial intelligent tools could make life easier for the farming industry. She said the new one being developed could be used for farmers to gather information they needed about how to reduce risk of diseases on their farm in a quick, accessible way. "It would be great to hear from farmers who would like to know more about it," Dr Lamon said. To help farmers get the most out of the new technology, SRUC and Moredun will host a webinar on 26 March. Those interested in attending it can register their interest online. Pig producers have been told to be prepared for the possibility of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), amid fears the disease could have a significant impact on the sector. New talks between government and the industry have highlighted how renewed efforts are needed for farmers to adhere to strict biosecurity procedures at all times in case of an outbreak. Whilst ASF doesnt affect humans, it is a highly contagious and fatal notifiable disease that is present in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Just this week, the disease, which can have mortality rates as high as 100%, was detected on a large pig farm in Moldova, leading to the slaughter of tens of thousands of pigs. Closer to the UK, cases have been confirmed among domestic pigs and wild boar populations in Germany and Italy. The disease first entered Europe in 2007. At the discussions, the National Pig Association (NPA) was told by Defra and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officials that the UK is better prepared for an outbreak than it was a year ago. However, pig sector leaders stressed that any outbreak could still have a huge impact on individual businesses and the wider industry. Over the last year, three supply chain workshops, which have included Defra, APHA and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), have been held looking at the consequences of an ASF outbreak. The first was a pre-farmgate table-top simulation exercise looking broadly at what would happen on-farm if the disease was suspected and then confirmed. A second focused on what would happen post-farmgate, particularly at the abattoir, and earlier this month, a third covered transport, feed and haulage and issues like deadstock and rendering. AHDB senior animal welfare scientist Miranda Poulson, who attended the meeting with Defra and APHA officials, said the discussions were a "major step forward". They have all been really productive, but they tend to open more cans of worms than they close, so we are continuing to look for answers to the new questions that keep emerging. There were also two producer-facing workshops last year, aimed at encouraging farmers to start putting together a contingency plan for their farm. We tried to get across the broad brush of what will happen, but also the idea that there is no fixed battle plan and there never will be, because everything is so case by case and risk-based, Ms Poulson said. It depends on what animal it is detected in first, domestic or feral pig, where it is, how long it might have been in the country, where might it have gone. "The scale of the restrictions imposed will always depend on those factors. There is not a concrete sequence of events, necessarily. If an ASF outbreak did occur, affected units would initially be subject to cleansing and disinfection (C&D) by APHA, the meeting heard. Farms would then be required to undertake and pay for secondary C&D themselves before they could restock. NPA senior policy adviser Katie Jarvis explained that there is not yet a full explanation of what that would look like for a pig unit. However, a specialist group is looking now looking at developing secondary C&D protocols for ASF and classical swine fever for indoor and outdoor units. The process will be longer and harder for outdoor units, which is another reason why biosecurity is so important, Ms Jarvis, who attended the talks, explained. There was a wider discussion on other aspects of pig production that would be affected by an outbreak, such as pig movements and keeping semen supplies going in the face of restrictions. The group agreed that that renewed efforts should be taken to urge all pig producers to adhere to strict biosecurity procedures at all times. The talks follow the pig sector recently warning the government to ensure crucial checks for illegal meat imports were 'properly funded', as ASF can survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon. Mens cotton trousers, overalls, and shorts (HS 620342) form a significant segment in the global apparel trade, driven by the versatility and comfort of cotton. These garments enjoy steady demand throughout the year, making them a crucial export category. Several countries play a key role in supplying these garments to the US market, each with varying levels of competitiveness based on factors like pricing, trade policies, and production efficiency. In view of the shifting tariff landscape, particularly with the rising duties on Chinese exports to the US, Fibre2Fashion examines the competitive positioning of major exporters in the evolving market. With the US imposing higher tariffs on Chinese exports of men's cotton trousers (HS 620342), Bangladesh is poised to strengthen its lead in the market. Its high RCA and low UVR give it a strong price advantage. Meanwhile, Pakistan emerges as a competitive alternative, while Mexico and Vietnam face headwinds due to higher prices and weaker comparative advantages. Table 1: Top 5 Exporting Countries and Trade Statistics in 2024 - Mens Cotton Trousers, Overalls, and Shorts (HS 620342) Source: TradeMap and F2F Analysis, * Effective from 4th March 2025 Note: RCA - Revealed Comparative Advantage; UVR - Unit Value Realisation; LPI - Logistic Performance Index Figure 1: Top 5 Exporting Countries and Trade Statistics in 2024 - Men's Cotton Trousers, Overalls, and Shorts (HS 620342) Source: UN Comtrade, F2F Analysis Bangladesh - Dominant with exceptional comparative advantage Bangladesh dominates the market with an exceptional Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) of 131.91, highlighting its strong competitive edge in producing mens cotton trousers, overalls, and shorts. With a Unit Value Realisation (UVR) of $13.53/kg, Bangladesh offers these garments at highly competitive prices, reinforcing its position as the top supplier. This combination of a high RCA and low UVR makes Bangladesh the clear leader in this segment, ensuring its stronghold in the US market through cost-effective production and pricing advantages. Mexico - Strong market, moderate competitiveness Mexico holds an RCA of 1.05, indicating a slight comparative advantage, though it is far less pronounced than Bangladesh (131.91). With a UVR of $14.64/kg, higher than Bangladeshs, Mexican exports are relatively less competitive in terms of pricing. While Mexico remains a notable exporter, its limited RCA and higher UVR make it less competitive in this segment. Mexicos cotton trousers industry faces a significant challenge with the 25 per cent tariff on Mexican imports into the US starting on March 4, 2025 (this is currently not applicable for products covered under the USMCA). Already positioned in the mid-priced segment, this tariff will further weaken its competitiveness, making it more vulnerable to displacement by Bangladeshs lower-cost cotton apparel. Despite Mexicos logistical advantage due to its proximity to the US, the tariff increase is expected to have an overall negative impact, reducing its appeal as a key supplier. Vietnam Expanding presence but facing pricing challenges Vietnam holds an RCA of 2.07, reflecting a modest competitive advantage in the production of mens cotton trousers, overalls, and shorts. However, with a UVR of $20.63/kg, Vietnams products are priced significantly higher than those from cost-effective suppliers like Bangladesh and Pakistan. While its higher Logistics Performance Index (LPI) gives it an edge in supply chain efficiency, Vietnams weaker comparative advantage and higher pricing limit its competitiveness in the US market. Pakistan Strong competitive advantage Pakistan demonstrates a high RCA of 54.05, establishing itself as a key player in the segment. With a UVR of $12.80/kg, Pakistan offers cost-effective products, pricing its exports closer to Bangladeshs levels. This combination of a strong RCA and relatively low UVR enhances Pakistans position in the US market, allowing it to compete effectively and capture a larger share of demand. China Limited competitive edge, struggling amid tariff pressures China holds an RCA of 0.46, indicating a weak comparative advantage in the US market for products defined under HS 620342. While its UVR of $9.23/kg makes it the lowest-cost supplier among the major exporting countries, its pricing advantage is being eroded by rising tariffs. From February 4, 2025, to March 3, 2025, the US imposed a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese exports in this category, followed by a further increase to 20 per cent from March 4, 2025. These tariff hikes significantly raise the landed cost of Chinese trousers and shorts, reducing their competitiveness against alternative suppliers like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Mexico. Impact of US tariff on Chinese exports: With the first tariff imposition on February 4, 2025, the tariff rate increased to 10 per cent. This rise in the tariff burden led to an increase in the UVR as production and export costs escalated. As a result, the UVR would have likely increase to around $10.15/kg, reflecting the growing challenges posed by the higher tariffs. The increase in the UVR shows that the products are becoming more expensive, which could make them less competitive in price-sensitive markets. Figure 2 Source: F2F Analysis In the second tariff imposition, effective from March 4, 2025, the tariff rate rose further to 20 per cent. This substantial increase would push the UVR to approximately $11.08/kg or higher. The higher tariff burden will continue to raise costs, further diminishing the cost-effectiveness of the products. As a result, the products will be pushed into a higher-priced segment, limiting their competitiveness and making it harder to compete with lower-priced alternatives. The Future Outlook Bangladesh dominates the US market for mens cotton trousers, overalls, and shorts, backed by an exceptional RCA of 131.91 and a low UVR, enabling it to offer cost-effective products that align with US consumer demand. Its ability to produce at scale while maintaining competitive pricing solidifies its leadership. Pakistan, with a high RCA and competitive UVR, emerges as a strong contender but faces challenges in overtaking Bangladeshs market dominance. Vietnam and Mexico, despite being active exporters, struggle due to higher UVRs and weaker RCAs, making them less competitive in price-sensitive segments. Further erosion to Mexicos competitiveness may happen after April 2, 2025, if new tariffs are announced by President Trump. China, traditionally a major supplier, is losing ground due to its low RCA and rising tariffs (10 per cent in February, increasing to 20 per cent in March 2025). These tariffs erode its cost advantage, but it still happens to have the lowest UVR despite the tariff imposition. Overall, in view of the new tariffs imposed by the US, Bangladesh is best positioned to expand its market share, leveraging its cost efficiency, strong comparative advantage, and sustained export growth. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NS) The market for HS-560394 (nonwovens exceeding 150 G/M) is highly competitive, with leading exporters such as China, Japan, Germany, Mexico, and South Korea vying for additional market share in the US. This article analyses export performances of these countries based on trade values, revealed comparative advantage (RCA), unit value realisation (UVR), and tariff structures and examines the impact of tariff hikes and shifting trade dynamics on competition in the US market. Table 1: Top exporting countries and market performance - HS-560394 - nonwovens (> 150 G/ M) in CY 2024 US market for HS-560394 nonwovens (>150 G/M) is intensely competitive, dominated by China in volume, with Japan leading in premium segments. Tariff hikes significantly impact China's price advantage, potentially benefitting Mexico temporarily. However, looming tariffs on Mexico may redistribute market shares, providing opportunities for Japan, Germany, and South Korea to expand their presence. Source: TradeMap and F2F Analysis *Effective March 4 Note: LPI Logistics Performance Index Graph 1: Key observations on HS-560394 - nonwovens over 150 G/M and trade statistics for CY 2024 Source: TradeMap and F2F Analysis Trade review China China dominates the export market for this product category, with a total export value of $46.97 million. Its RCA of 8.29 highlights a strong competitive position, indicating specialisation and efficiency in production. The UVR of $3.90/kg suggests a strategy centred on high-volume, cost-effective manufacturing, allowing it to maintain price competitiveness in US markets. Additionally, the 0 per cent tariff rate further enhances China's export potential, facilitating smooth trade flows and reinforcing its leadership in this sector. Tariff Impact: With the first tariff imposition on February 4, 2025, the tariff rate increased to 10 per cent. This rise in the tariff burden would lead to an increase in the UVR as production and export costs escalate. As a result, the UVR would likely increase to around $4.29/kg, reflecting the growing challenges posed by higher tariffs. The increase in the UVR shows that the products are becoming more expensive, which could make them less competitive for price-sensitive consumers. Graph 2 Source: F2F Analysis In the second tariff imposition, effective from March 4, 2025, the tariff rate rose further to 20 per cent. This substantial increase would push the UVR to approximately $4.68/kg or higher. The higher tariff will continue to raise costs, further diminishing the cost-effectiveness of the products. Mexico would become a close competitor to China after the tariff rate increase. However, this depends on the tariff impositions that will also be placed on Mexico by the Trump government after April 2, 2025, as announced. Japan Japan holds the second position in export value at $45.77 million, but it leads in RCA at 24.57, indicating a highly specialised and competitive position in nonwoven textiles. Its UVR of $33.07/kg is significantly higher than competitors, reflecting a strong emphasis on premium-quality, high-performance products. This suggests that Japan's exports cater primarily to specialised industries such as healthcare, advanced filtration, and high-tech applications. The 0 per cent tariff rate further supports its global trade position, allowing seamless market access for its high-value nonwoven textiles. Germany Germany, renowned for its advanced textile technology, records an export value of $35.33 million with a strong RCA of 17.63, highlighting its competitive edge in high-quality nonwoven textiles. Its UVR of $7.60/kg is notably lower than Japans but higher than Chinas, reflecting a balanced approach between quality and cost-efficiency. This suggests that Germany focuses on technologically advanced yet competitively priced nonwovens, catering to diverse industrial applications. The 0 per cent tariff rate further facilitates its export potential, strengthening its position in global markets. Mexico Mexico, with an export value of $30.39 million, leverages its proximity to the US market, ensuring logistical advantages and trade efficiency. Despite having the lowest RCA among the top five exporters at 4.87indicating moderate competitiveness in the nonwoven textiles sectorMexico maintains a strategic position. Its UVR of $4.50/kg, slightly higher than Chinas, suggests a focus on value-added products rather than pure cost efficiency. Additionally, the current 0 per cent tariff rate strengthens Mexicos exports, solidifying its role as a key supplier to North American markets. However, this dynamic may shift after April 2, 2025, if the US imposes tariffs on Mexican textiles or if the USMCA agreement is nullified, potentially impacting trade flows and competitiveness. South Korea South Korea, ranking fifth in exports with a total value of $26.49 million, maintains a strong competitive position with an RCA of 15.96, indicating specialisation in nonwoven textiles. Its UVR of $8.87/kg is higher than Germanys and significantly above Chinas, reflecting a focus on mid- to high-end product offerings. This suggests that South Korea prioritises quality and innovation in its non-woven textile exports. The 0 per cent tariff rate further enhances its market accessibility, supporting its role as a key player in the global nonwoven textiles trade. Competitive landscape and outlook Tariff-free market All five countries were benefitting from a 0 per cent tariff rate, indicating an open trade environment for nonwoven exports. Now, China has been subjected to a tariff rate of 20 per cent. The nonwoven fabric trade landscape is dominated by China in terms of volume, but other countries like Japan, Germany, Mexico and South Korea compete on pricing and specialisation. High export prices of countries like Japan indicate market differentiation strategies. Germanys mid pricing may indicate an emphasis on cost leadership strategies while exporting quality non-wovens to the US. Diverse market strategies Mexico focuses on cost-efficient production. Japan leads in premium-priced, high-value nonwovens, while Germany and South Korea balance quality and cost-effectiveness. To sum up The global nonwoven textile market for HS-560394 is currently dominated by China in terms of volume. However, the additional duty imposed by the US is expected to weaken its competitive pricing advantage. Mexico might benefit the most from the tariff imposition on China but will ultimately lose this advantage after April 2, 2025, as announced by US President Donald Trump. However, trade dynamics concerning volume in this category are likely to shift in favour of Japan, Germany, and South Korea, which may capitalise on the changing market conditions to strengthen their positions. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NS) Aamir Khan and his son Junaid Khan will be joining Amitabh Bachchan for a special dinner tonight. The reason, you may ask? The father-son duo participated in the Kaun Banega Crorepati show a couple of months back and won big in a segment where the participants had to answer all questions within 30 seconds. Aamir and his son Junaid were able to answer all questions within the specified time. They are now set for a memorable evening at the Bachchan residence. Following their victorious moment on KBC, the father-son duo has been invited to an exclusive dinner with Amitabh Bachchana long-standing tradition for the shows winners. Aamir Khan is also making headlines for his relationship with Gauri Spratt. He introduced his partner to the media on his 60th birthday celebration. She runs a hairdressing business in Bengaluru. Gauri is now working at Khan's production house and reportedly has children as well. They have known each other for 25 years. During his birthday meet with the media, the actor spoke about how he managed to keep the relationship private for almost 2 years. He 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." The Bachchan residence has witnessed several such intimate gatherings over the years, where Big B hosts winners and their families in a warm, celebratory setting. With Aamir and Amitabh sharing a deep professional and personal bond, this dinner is expected to be a mix of nostalgia, camaraderie, and inspiring conversations. Talking of Junaid, he recently made his big screen debut with the film Loveyapa along with Khushi Kapoor.On the other hand,is also making headlines for his relationship with Gauri Spratt. He introduced his partner to the media on his 60th birthday celebration. She runs a hairdressing business in Bengaluru. Gauri is now working at Khan's production house and reportedly has children as well. They have known each other for 25 years. During his birthday meet with the media, the actor spoke about how he managed to keep the relationship private for almost 2 years. He 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." Netflixs limited series Adolescence has taken the world by storm, earning praise from both critics and audiences. Among those impressed is Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, who couldnt stop talking about it. She shared her thoughts on Instagram, calling the series a masterpiece and praising everything from the cinematography to the performances. Alia was especially fascinated by the dedication of the cast and crew, wondering how it must have felt to finally call cut after those intense, unbroken takes. She also praised the shows ability to keep viewers on edge, making every moment feel raw and real. The success of Adolescence has also sparked debate about whether India could produce something as bold and experimental. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap isnt too optimistic, saying major studios dont allow enough creative freedom. Director Sudhir Mishra agreed, adding that a series like this would likely have to be made independently, where filmmakers could push boundaries without restrictions. Fashion designer and actorwas just as impressed, raving about the shows unique one-shot format. She pointed out how entire scenes played out without a single cut, making the storytelling even more immersive. Masaba also highlighted how every actor, even in the background, delivered compelling performances, ensuring no moment on screen felt wasted. The gripping narrative and technical brilliance made it stand out from most shows today. The fact that Adolescence has struck a chord with Indian celebrities shows just how deeply it has resonated with audiences worldwide.Directed by Philip Barantini, the four-episode drama stars Stephen Graham and newcomer Owen Cooper. The story follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Cooper), whose life takes a dark turn when he is arrested for the murder of a schoolgirl. The show dives into themes like misogyny and the dangers of social media, delivering a raw and thought-provoking narrative. Its bold decision to film entire scenes in a single take has been widely applauded for adding to its intensity. The combination of powerful performances and innovative storytelling has left viewers stunned. Kanneda, directed by Chandan Arora, is a gripping and visceral portrayal of the immigrant experience in Canada, skilfully capturing the stark contrast between two worldsthe Canada of the native-born and the Kanneda of the Indian Punjabi immigrants. Through its intricate storytelling, the series delves deep into the emotional, social, and economic struggles that shaped the lives of the Punjabi community, particularly in the aftermath of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.The narrative follows Nirmal Chahal (Parmish Verma), a young Punjabi immigrant who arrives in Canada seeking a better life but instead faces the harsh realities of racism, bullying, and isolation. The early days of his journey are defined by a fight for survival in a foreign land, one where opportunity is scarce and acceptance even more so. Its in these circumstances that Nimma, as hes known, turns to music as both an outlet and a means to carve out a sense of identity. His raw talent for rapping becomes a beacon of hope, and through music, he begins to imagine a life beyond the constraints of his circumstances.But as with many immigrant stories, the pursuit of the American Dreamthrough legitimate or otherwiseoften leads to dangerous consequences. Kanneda masterfully depicts the descent of Nimma from an idealistic musician into the world of crime, where survival demands alliances with unsavoury figures. His encounter with Sarabjeet Singh Randhawa (Arunoday Singh), a menacing crime lord, propels him into the underworld, blurring the lines between rebellion and organised crime. The series deftly explores how the initial gang culture, rooted in resistance against systemic oppression, evolves into the darker, more destructive force of drug-running and criminal enterprise, illustrating the painful compromises made by those caught in the struggle to find their place in a hostile environment.The Punjabi immigrant communitys experience in Kanneda is more than just about survivalit's a fight for recognition, a battle to be seen beyond the stereotypical confines imposed by society. Music, which initially serves as a tool for creative expression, becomes intertwined with a desire for power and wealth, as Nimmas aspirations morph from artistic dreams to a hunger for success at any cost. In this sense, Kanneda provides a poignant commentary on the immigrant experience, where the desire to fit in and build a better life often comes at the expense of ones moral compass.The performances in the series are exceptional, with Vermas portrayal of Nimma standing out as both fierce and vulnerable. He brings to life the characters internal conflict, making his rise and fall both compelling and heartbreaking. Arunoday Singh, as the crime boss Sarabjeet, is a strong presence, exuding menace. The same can be said about Ranvir Shorey, who plays the shady politician named Bajwa. Hes something of a Godfather-like figure to the Punjabi community and Shoreys underrated performance does justice to the role. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyubs portrayal of Inspector Sanjay Rawat, the astute but conflicted narcotics officer, provides a counterpoint to Nimmas journey, offering the audience a glimpse into the law enforcement perspective on the growing criminal underworld. Aadar Malik and Jasmin Bajwa, as DJ and Harleen, Nimmas best friend and his lover respectively, add warmth and authenticity, grounding the show in the human relationships that sustain Nimma through his darkest moments.Chandan Aroras direction ensures that the show never offers a visual respite. The intensity of the narrative is matched by the relentless pace of the storytelling, with each episode packed with twists and layers that compel the viewer to stay hooked. The cinematography captures the harsh, cold reality of Vancouver, contrasting sharply with the vibrant energy of the immigrant community, while the sound design and musicintegral to the storyhighlight the way in which music and rhythm become a lifeline for the characters. Parmish Verma has also given the music and sung his own songs.Kanneda does more than just tell the story of a young man caught in the web of crime; it paints a broader picture of the immigrant experience in Canada during the 1980s and 90s. The show highlights the systemic racism, the desperate yearning for acceptance, and the lengths people are willing to go to when faced with marginalisation. It serves as a poignant reminder of the complexity of identity in a multicultural society and the struggles faced by those who exist in the liminal space between two worlds.In a world where the immigrant narrative is often reduced to stereotypes, Kanneda offers a raw, unapologetic glimpse into the lives of those who built their own path to survival. It is a stirring and powerful portrayal of how music and community can both uplift and entangle, and how the fight for belonging often comes at a steep price. The series is currently streaming on JioHotstar.See Also: Parmish Verma and Ammy Virk look dapper at the Jio Filmfare Awards (Punjabi) Cheyenne, Wyoming, is quickly emerging as a premier destination for data centers, offering a combination of geographic stability, economic incentives, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Its low risk of natural disasters, combined with a naturally cool climate, makes it an ideal location for companies looking to minimize operational risks and energy costs. Additionally, the city provides reliable power sources, including access to renewable energy, ensuring sustainable and cost-effective operations. High-speed connectivity and business-friendly policies further enhance its appeal, attracting major industry players. As digital demands continue to grow, Cheyenne remains at the forefront of the data center industry, with ongoing investments in cutting-edge technology and infrastructure. With a forward-thinking approach and a commitment to sustainability, The ProLift Rigging Company showcases how Cheyenne is poised to play a key role in the future of data storage and cloud computing. Cheyenne, Wyoming as a Data Center Destination Cheyenne, Wyoming, is becoming a prime location for data centers due to its unique combination of geographic, economic, and technological advantages. Positioned in the western United States, it provides a strategic location for companies requiring reliable infrastructure and low operational costs. The city's expanding role in the industry is attracting businesses looking for secure and efficient data storage solutions. Companies seeking stability often prioritize locations with minimal environmental risks, and Cheyenne offers a low likelihood of natural disasters, reducing potential disruptions. This factor, combined with a cool climate that supports energy-efficient cooling, makes it an appealing choice for data center operations. With major industry players already setting up facilities in the region, Cheyenne continues to strengthen its reputation as a growing technology hub. Geographic and Climate Benefits Cheyenne stands out as a data center location due to its stable environment, with a low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or large-scale flooding. This reliability ensures uninterrupted operations, an essential factor for companies managing massive amounts of critical data. Unlike areas prone to extreme weather conditions, businesses in Cheyenne benefit from fewer disruptions, reducing the need for costly disaster recovery plans. The region's naturally cool climate is another major advantage, allowing data centers to lower their dependence on energy-intensive cooling systems. With temperatures staying relatively mild throughout the year, companies can cut operational costs by using outside air for cooling rather than relying solely on mechanical systems. A consistent climate also minimizes the strain on infrastructure, increasing the longevity of critical equipment and improving long-term cost savings. Infrastructure and Connectivity Reliable infrastructure is a cornerstone of Cheyenne's growing data center industry, supported by a strong power grid and access to renewable energy sources. Wyoming ranks among the top states for wind energy production, allowing data centers to integrate sustainable power solutions into their operations. This access to clean energy helps companies meet environmental goals while maintaining long-term cost savings. In addition to power reliability, Cheyenne boasts high-speed fiber optic networks that provide businesses with seamless connectivity. The city's location allows for low-latency connections to major markets, ensuring fast and secure data transmission. As digital demands continue to rise, having a robust network infrastructure is critical, and Cheyenne's investment in advanced telecommunications makes it a competitive choice for companies requiring strong connectivity. Business and Economic Incentives Wyoming's tax-friendly policies make Cheyenne an enticing locale for data center investments. With no state income tax, businesses can allocate more resources toward innovation and expansion. Additionally, the state offers various incentives, such as sales tax exemptions on data center equipment, further lowering operational costs. These financial benefits create a favorable atmosphere for established companies and emerging tech firms looking for cost-effective solutions. Electricity rates in Cheyenne remain among the most competitive in the nation, a crucial factor for data centers with high energy demands. The availability of affordable and reliable power allows companies to control expenses while maintaining uninterrupted operations. Combined with a regulatory environment that encourages business growth, these advantages continue to draw major industry players to the region. Local initiatives also aim to streamline the process for businesses seeking to establish or expand their data center operations, ensuring a smooth transition into Wyoming's thriving technology sector. Current and Emerging Data Center Projects New projects continue to emerge as demand for secure and scalable data solutions rises. Companies are expanding their operations, investing in state-of-the-art facilities designed to meet increasing digital needs. With global data consumption reaching unprecedented levels, the city is well-positioned to accommodate future growth in the industry. Future Growth and Industry Impact The data center industry in Cheyenne is poised for further expansion as businesses seek reliable locations with strong infrastructure and sustainable energy options. With digital transformation accelerating across industries, the need for secure data storage and processing continues to grow. Companies looking for scalable solutions are increasingly considering Cheyenne as a long-term investment. Advancements in energy efficiency and green technology will likely play a key role in shaping the future of data centers in the region. As sustainability becomes a priority for tech companies, Cheyenne's access to renewable energy sources positions it as a leader in environmentally conscious operations. This ongoing evolution ensures that the city remains a competitive and forward-thinking destination for data infrastructure. DJ Rheinmetall erhoht Umsatz und Ergebnis in 1Q erheblich - ubertrifft Markterwartungen DOW JONES--Der Rustungskonzern Rheinmetall hat auf Basis vorlaufiger Zahlen im ersten Quartal Umsatz und operatives Ergebnis erheblich verbessert und die Markterwartungen deutlich ubertroffen. Die Prognose fur das Gesamtjahr werde mindestens bestatigt, erklarte der Konzern am Montagabend. Fur das erste Quartal erwartet Rheinmetall im Vergleich zu dem Vorjahresquartal eine deutliche Steigerung des Umsatzes im militarischen Geschaft von fast 73 Prozent, was einer Steigerung von rund 46 Prozent fur den Gesamtkonzern auf insgesamt 2,305 Milliarden Euro entspricht. Zudem wird eine Erhohung beim operativen Ergebnis im militarischen Geschaft von rund 96 Prozent erwartet, was wiederum einer Steigerung fur den Gesamtkonzern von 49 Prozent auf insgesamt 199 Mio Euro entspricht. Damit liegen beide Kennzahlen laut Rheinmetall fur den Konzern deutlich uber den Markterwartungen von 1,947 Milliarden Euro fur den Umsatz und 165,8 Millionen Euro fur das operative Ergebnis. Auf Basis der vorlaufigen Zahlen betragt die operative Ergebnismarge 8,7 Prozent. Die positive Entwicklung sei ausschlielich auf die sehr gute Entwicklung im Verteidigungsgeschaft und hierbei insbesondere auf Vorzieheffekte vom zweiten Quartal auf das erste Quartal zuruckzufuhren. Der starke Auftragseingang im ersten Quartal habe den "Rheinmetall Nomination" um rund 181 Prozent auf 11 Milliarden Euro klettern lassen. Den Anstieg fuhrt Rheinmetall insbesondere auf Auftrage aus Deutschland zuruck. Der "Rheinmetall Backlog" hat im gleichen Zeitraum, bedingt durch mehrere Groauftrage, ein neues Allzeithoch von rund 62,6 Milliarden Euro erreicht. Vor diesem Hintergrund bestatigt der Vorstand mindestens die Umsatz- und Ergebnisprognose fur das Gesamtjahr 2025 mit einer Steigerung des Konzernumsatzes von 25 bis 30 Prozent und einer operativen Ergebnismarge von ungefahr 15,5 Prozent. Dieser Ausblick berucksichtigt noch nicht die Verbesserung des Marktpotenzials, die sich insbesondere in den relevanten Markten in Europa, Deutschland und der Ukraine voraussichtlich ergeben wird. Daher will Rheinmetall korrespondierend mit einer zunehmenden Konkretisierung der jeweiligen Bedarfe der militarischen Kunden im weiteren Jahresverlauf gegebenenfalls Prognoseanpassungen vornehmen. Rheinmetall veroffentlicht die vollstandigen Geschaftszahlen des ersten Quartals am 8. Mai 2025. Kontakt zum Autor: unternehmen.de@dowjones.com DJG/cbr/cln (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 28, 2025 12:15 ET (16:15 GMT) Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Syensqo accelerates efficiency measures to support long-term growth The company aims to accelerate time to market and adapt to the economic environment Brussels, November 5, 2024 - 7:05 CET Syensqo is today announcing plans to adapt its organization to better meet the evolving needs of its customers and focus on projects that will accelerate growth. Following its split from Solvay at the end of 2023, the company has undertaken a comprehensive review of its structure and projects, to focus on growth opportunities and improve returns profile, consistent with its mid-term financial targets. As a result, Syensqo is opening consultation processes, which include a proposed reduction of approximately 300 to 350 positions, primarily in France, the United States, Belgium and Italy. "Since the start of the year, we have operated with more focus and have gained more clarity around our customers' needs. In the context of ongoing macroeconomic and demand uncertainty, we now need to take the necessary actions to adapt and refine our organization to support our long-term growth," said Dr Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo. "Our primary objective is to position Syensqo for success. Any decision that may affect our people is never taken lightly and we intend to act with the utmost respect for the employees who may be impacted by this announcement, guided by the principles of dignity and empathy". In parallel, Syensqo is advancing other initiatives to support its growth strategy. This includes the development of a world-class digital infrastructure to bring new levels of efficiency and agility across its operations, as Syensqo prepares to fully separate its business support systems from Solvay, as planned, by the end of 2025. These efforts will result in the creation of hundreds of new jobs in information technology, system infrastructure and business intelligence. Safe harbor This press release may contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements describe expectations, plans, strategies, goals, future events or intentions. The achievement of forward-looking statements contained in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties relating to a number of factors, including general economic factors, interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, changing market conditions, product competition, the nature of product development, impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, products withdrawals, regulatory approval processes, all-in scenario of R&I projects and other unusual items. Consequently, actual results or future events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should our assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. About Syensqo Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates. Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity. Investor Relations Resources Earnings materials (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/financials/earnings) Strategy (https://www.syensqo.com/en/about-us/our-strategy) Share information (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/share-information) Credit information (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/financials/bond-information) Separation documents (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/spinoff/documents) Webcasts, podcasts and presentations (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/financial-calendar-events-and-presentations/webcasts-and-presentations) 2023 Annual Integrated Report (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/annual-reports) Subscribe to our distribution list (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/investor-relations-contacts) Contacts Investors & Analysts Media Sherief Bakr +44 7920 575 989 Loic Flament +32 478 69 74 20 investor.relations@syensqo.com (mailto:investor.relations@syensqo.com) Bisser Alexandrov +33 607 635 280 Callie Gauzer +1 908 642 7363 Perrine Marchal +32 478 32 62 72 Laetitia Schreiber +32 487 74 38 07 media.relations@syensqo.com (mailto:media.relations@syensqo.com) Attachment McAllen, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - March 20, 2025) - Tijerina Legal Group has recently unveiled a new website designed to enhance user experience and provide essential information for those seeking legal assistance. This redesigned platform not only reflects the firm's commitment to client service but also aims to connect injured victims with the resources they need. With an intuitive layout and easy navigation, visitors can quickly find answers to their questions and learn about the various personal injury services available. The legal landscape can be daunting, but Tijerina Legal Group simplifies the process for clients in the Rio Grande Valley. The new website at https://www.tlegalgroup.com/ features valuable information about injury claims, ensuring that potential clients understand their rights and options after experiencing harm due to someone else's negligence. With a focus on transparency, it emphasizes the firm's success in securing significant settlements for those they represent. Tijerina Legal Group Launches a New Website To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/245500_47a52fde04742a03_001full.jpg In addition, the site highlights the firm's mission to provide maximum compensation for injuries and losses sustained by clients. By continuously updating the website with relevant content and resources, Tijerina Legal Group positions itself as a trusted partner for individuals navigating personal injury claims, reinforcing their dedication to community support and legal excellence. Tijerina Legal Group is a prominent law firm dedicated to personal injury cases. With a strong focus on delivering results for clients, the firm operates with core values oriented toward advocacy and client satisfaction. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in their comprehensive range of legal services. The new website for Tijerina Legal Group emphasizes user-centered design, providing intuitive navigation and valuable resources. The layout is structured to enhance client engagement and accessibility, ensuring that visitors can quickly find information that meets their needs. The navigation on the website is designed for clarity and ease of use. With a streamlined menu, users can access various service categories and information within just a few clicks. The interface supports a mobile-responsive design, ensuring readability and functionality across all devices. Clear call-to-action buttons guide visitors, enhancing site interaction. Visual elements, such as icons and consistent color schemes, promote a cohesive and professional look. This layout not only reflects the firm's branding but also minimizes confusion, making it easy for users to explore. Tijerina Legal Group offers a wealth of legal resources available on the website. Users will find comprehensive articles and FAQs covering various legal topics relevant to personal injury and related cases. Each resource is written in straightforward language, making complex legal concepts accessible. The dedicated sections for legal information help establish the firm as knowledgeable and trustworthy. In addition to articles, the site features downloadable guides that aid clients in understanding the legal process. This resource-rich environment enhances user experience by empowering visitors with essential information needed to make informed decisions. Contact and Consultation The contact section of the Tijerina Legal Group's website is designed to facilitate easy communication. Users can find multiple ways to reach the firm, including phone numbers, email addresses, and an online inquiry form. The consultation request process is straightforward, allowing potential clients to quickly schedule appointments. This efficiency in communication reflects the firm's understanding of clients' urgency and need for support. Additionally, if users have specific inquiries, an FAQ section addresses common concerns, reducing the need for direct contact. This proactive approach helps enhance user experience, making it easy for clients to get started with their case. About Tijerina Legal Group Tijerina Legal Group specializes in a wide array of personal injury cases. Their expertise includes automobile accidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and product liability. Each area of practice is handled with meticulous attention to detail. The firm strives to maximize compensation for clients, utilizing a combination of negotiation and litigation strategies. They are equipped to take on complex cases, ensuring each client's unique circumstances are effectively addressed. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245500 SOURCE: GetFeatured Navigating 5G's Impact: Understanding the Shifting Landscape of Cell Tower Lease Rates Undergoing significant shifts, primarily fueled by the widespread deployment of 5G technology. Industry experts are observing a notable increase in the demand for strategically located tower sites, resulting in a diverse range of lease rate negotiations across various geographical regions. Cell Tower Lease Rates Cell Tower The infrastructure required for 5G necessitates a more densely populated network of cell towers, particularly within densely populated urban centers. This surge in demand is fundamentally altering the way telecommunications companies engage in lease agreements with property owners. Simultaneously, rural areas are also experiencing transformations, as 5G coverage extends beyond the boundaries of major metropolitan areas, leading to new lease opportunities, and new challenges for the land owners. " Cell phone tower lease rates are inherently variable, influenced by a complex web of factors that include geographical location, market demand, and the continuous evolution of telecommunications technology," states David Espinosa, owner of towerleases.com. "It is imperative that landowners possess comprehensive knowledge before committing to any lease agreement. They must fully grasp the potential long-term implications of the contracts they execute." The company emphasizes the importance of property owners meticulously evaluating the terms of their lease agreements. This evaluation should encompass considerations such as the lease's duration, the presence of escalation clauses, and the potential for future technological upgrades. Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, lease agreements must exhibit sufficient flexibility to accommodate unforeseen developments. "A thorough understanding of the true market value of their property is essential for landowners in the current climate," Espinosa adds. "Negotiations should accurately reflect the long-term revenue potential of the site, rather than focusing solely on immediate financial gains. The nuances of these contracts can be very difficult to understand, and that is why professional help is important." The 5G rollout has caused many changes to the cell tower lease market. The rise of small cell technology, and the need for more towers in general, has caused a shift in how cell tower companies negotiate. This makes it even more important for landowners to seek out professional help. Landowners seeking expert guidance on cell tower lease agreements can visit www.towerleases.com for detailed information and personalized assistance. About towerleases.com: towerleases.com is a leading provider of expert consultation and negotiation services for landowners involved in cell phone tower lease agreements. The company is dedicated to ensuring that property owners receive fair and equitable compensation for the use of their land. With a strong commitment to transparency, client advocacy, and in-depth industry knowledge, towerleases.com empowers landowners to navigate the complexities of the telecommunications industry with confidence. The company provides the assistance needed to get the best possible outcome for their clients. SOURCE: TowerLeases.com FRANKFURT, Germany, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GMCC & Welling, the global leading integrated core component solution provider of HVACR and consumer appliances, are set to showcase their advanced heat pump solutions for various scenarios at ISH 2025 in Frankfurt, Germany. Their exhibit will highlight a comprehensive range of products designed for various applications, including heat pump space heating, water heating, and washroom appliances, all utilizing the environmentally friendly R290 refrigerant. Key offerings include fixed speed and inverter compressors, BLDC motors, EC fans, and circulating pumps. In terms of heat pump space heating, GMCC & Welling have developed a comprehensive offering of core components to meet consumers' growing demand for high-efficiency, reliable, and quiet heat pump heating solutions. These include the R290 Inverter Scroll Compressor, R290 Inverter Twin-Cylinder Rotary Compressor, BLDC Motor, and circulating water pumps. These products not only meet the rigorous requirements of heat pump systems, but also provide an integrated "compressor + motor" solution for more competence. Take the 135CC R290 Inverter Scroll Compressor from GMCC for example. It features a high-efficiency pump design, optimized motor structure, high-reliability, low noise, low-vibration, and an EVI (Enhanced Vapor Injection) function to ensure superior efficiency, lower noise levels, and enhanced reliability. The R290 Inverter Rotary Compressors for Heat Pump heating applications from GMCC is also a star product that highlights improved Coefficient of Performance (COP), reduced noise levels, and higher operational safety. GMCC has been continuously investing into the R&D of the product and introduces IP54/IP67 terminal covers for enhanced operational safety. These innovations further solidify GMCC's leadership in the R290 heat pump heating sector. For heat pump water heating applications, GMCC & Welling offer a range of solutions incorporating GMCC Fixed-Speed and Inverter Rotary Compressors, and Welling BLDC Fans and EC Fans, providing customers with multiple options that fully cover the diverse application needs of "compressor + motor" integration. Among these, GMCC's R290 fixed-speed single-cylinder rotary compressor has been specifically optimized for R290 refrigerant, delivering exceptional heating efficiency. It supports a maximum water temperature of 65C and can maintain the temperature at 55C even in winter. Designed for a service life of 60,000 hours, it meets European market demands while further enhancing reliability. Additionally, its wide operating range ensures stable performance under high-load summer weathers and high-pressure ratio winter weathers. Moreover, the product also features a low-noise valve system that is developed from a fluid-structure interaction simulation, ensuring exceptionally low noise levels. In summary, GMCC & Welling provide customers with a wide array of core components and solutions for various heat pump applications, including heating, water heating, and dryers. Their offerings include different types of compressors, BLDC and EC fans, as well as circulating water pumps and electronic expansion valves, enabling a comprehensive system solution for global customers. Notably, Welling's "BLDC motor + fan wheel" combination-introduced for heat pump heating and water heating applications-delivers low power consumption, low noise, and cost-efficient large-scale production. It is also fully compatible with R290 refrigerant and meets G6.3 safety standards, ensuring environmental sustainability, operational safety, and high efficiency. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2646826/image_5023294_3319815.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gmcc--welling-showcase-r290-series-at-ish-2025-germany-302407667.html OTTAWA, ON, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Crypto4A Technologies, a pioneer in quantum-safe and crypto-agile security solutions, is excited to announce that its QASM hardware cryptographic core and v5.0 firmware -powering its QxHSM and QxEDGE products-has been added to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) Module In Process (MIP) list for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification. This submission marks a world-first milestone: QASM is the first Hardware Security Module (HSM) to be submitted for certification that includes all NIST-certified permutations and variants of the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms, including FIPS 203, 204, 205, and LMS. This ensures organizations are prepared to protect critical assets now and in the future against the evolving threat posed by advancements in quantum computing. Crypto4A's quantum-safe HSMs are already trusted by major chip manufacturers, board and device manufacturers, cloud service providers, government agencies, and enterprise customers worldwide. As new quantum-safe algorithms are introduced by NIST, Crypto4A customers will be able to gain access to them through simple firmware updates, thanks to the company's crypto-agile FPGA-based design and quantum-safe firmware update mechanism. Unlike traditional HSMs, only those with quantum-safe Roots of Trust can ensure firmware updates remain secure against potential quantum computer attacks. "We are excited to have submitted our QASM design to the CMVP for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification with full PQC algorithm support, which marks a first for the HSM industry! Our PQC-enabled QASM serves as the core component of our QxHSM and QxEDGE product offerings, providing all of our customers with a quantum-safe foundation on which to embark on the PQC migration journey.", said Dr. Jim Goodman, CTO & Co-founder, Crypto4A. "We are also very thankful for our partnership with atsec information security. Their extensive level of knowledge and expertise proved invaluable for ensuring that our implementation of the approved algorithms, and the security of our devices, met and exceeded the NIST FIPS standard." "We appreciate the opportunity and the trust that Crypto4A has put in the atsec Cryptographic Security Testing (CST) Laboratory for their FIPS validation needs. Crypto4A is our first vendor to receive algorithm certificates for all available PQC algorithms. Throughout the project, we witnessed professionalism, dedication, attention to detail, and a good understanding of FIPS requirements from the entire team, making the validation process seamless. We look forward to many collaborations for future validations," said Swapneela Unkule, the atsec CST Lab Manager. "This marks a significant milestone for the industry", said Spencer Frye, VP Growth Strategy & Operations, CERTINext/eMudhra. "Quantum-safe enablement begins with the hardware, and Crypto4A is leading the way in making this a reality." "Crypto4A's submission of the first quantum-safe HSM for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to securing a post-quantum future," said Tim Hollebeek, Vice President of Industry Standards at DigiCert. "DigiCert shares in this vision and is committed to helping enterprises become quantum-ready through trusted digital trust solutions, including post-quantum cryptographic support, certificate lifecycle automation, and scalable PKI solutions that adapt to evolving security landscapes. We applaud Crypto4A's leadership in advancing quantum-ready security and look forward to continuing our collaboration to safeguard digital trust in the post-quantum world." "HSMs are essential for robust PKI and digital signature solutions in production environments. As we face tight deadlines for transitioning to post-quantum cryptography, collaboration is crucial to support migration efforts." said Tomas Gustavsson, Chief PKI Officer at Keyfactor. "Our partnership with Crypto4A has been instrumental in enabling quantum-safe algorithms for our customers. By providing production-ready security infrastructure, we empower organizations and vendors to seamlessly integrate comprehensive quantum-safe solutions, ensuring long-term resilience against emerging threats." "This is an important step in the timeline of preparation for PQC. NIST's initial call for PQC algorithm proposals was in 2016 which led to a release of standards in 2024. As part of the PKI ecosystem, HSM vendors have a critical role," said Jason Soroko, senior fellow at Sectigo. "Congratulations to Crypto4A. Their continued efforts in this space help organizations better prepare for the quantum threats of today and tomorrow." With over seven years of delivering quantum-safe HSMs to the market, Crypto4A continues to lead the way in cryptographic security for the post-quantum era. The company extends a special thanks to the team at atsec (https://www.atsec.com/) for their extensive certification knowledge and guidance in helping bring this submission to completion. For more information on Crypto4A's quantum-safe solutions, visit www.crypto4a.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2646625/Crypto4A_Crypto4A_Technologies_Submits_PQC_Capable_QASM_for_FIPS.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/crypto4a-technologies-submits-pqc-capable-qasm-for-fips-140-3-level-3-certification-302407713.html New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Gregory Newman, principal attorney at Newman, Anzalone & Newman, has been recognized on the Super Lawyers list for the third consecutive year, a distinction awarded to a select group of attorneys for their professional excellence and standing in the legal community. Gregory Newman of Newman, Anzalone & Newman Named to Super Lawyers for Third Consecutive Year To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/245525_ba73fc9fd448c956_002full.jpg Super Lawyers selects attorneys through a multi-step evaluation process that includes peer nominations, independent research, and professional assessment. The selection represents a small percentage of attorneys who demonstrate a high degree of professional achievement and recognition by their peers. Newman's continued inclusion reflects his standing as one of the leading New York personal injury lawyers. Newman has built his career representing individuals in personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, construction injuries, slip-and-fall incidents, and premises liability claims. His extensive experience in litigation has resulted in significant outcomes for clients, reinforcing his reputation as an advocate for those seeking fair compensation. His work has consistently focused on achieving justice for individuals navigating the legal system after serious injuries. Acknowledging the recognition, Newman said the selection affirms the firm's continued commitment to serving clients. He noted that the work done by the legal team at Newman, Anzalone & Newman "plays a crucial role in helping individuals recover financially and move forward with their lives." He added: "Our approach is centered on delivering personalized representation, ensuring that each case receives dedicated legal attention tailored to its specific circumstances." Newman credited the firm's success to a team-driven approach that prioritizes the interests of clients. He emphasized that every case requires strategic legal guidance and thorough preparation, which have been central to the firm's reputation over the years. The recognition, he said, is not just a personal achievement but a "reflection of the dedication" of the entire team at Newman, Anzalone & Newman. About Newman, Anzalone & Newman Newman, Anzalone & Newman has established itself as a respected name in personal injury law in New York. The firm has maintained a consistent track record in securing compensation for injury victims and upholding high standards of legal advocacy. The recognition of its principal attorney as Super Lawyers from 2022 to 2024 reinforces the firm's role in the legal community and its ongoing efforts to provide effective representation. Founded in 1978, the firm has handled a broad range of personal injury cases, advocating for individuals affected by negligence. Its legal representation has led to favorable settlements and verdicts, reinforcing its status in the field of personal injury law. With decades of experience, the firm continues to focus on securing results for clients while maintaining the professional standards that have defined its work. For more information about Newman, Anzalone & Newman, visit www.nyaccidentcase.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245525 SOURCE: Plentisoft Almirall's 16 th Skin Academy is a unique opportunity for collaboration in medical dermatology as it brings together leading experts from across the globe to advance science and innovative approaches for the treatment of skin diseases. The conference focuses on the latest advancements in medical dermatology, including the holistic and personalized treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. The comprehensive program covers a broad range of skin diseases such as actinic keratosis, androgenetic alopecia, onychomycosis and chronic spontaneous urticaria advancing the understanding of these diseases and treatment options to support better patient outcomes. Almirall, a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology hosts the 16th edition of Skin Academy, a premier conference for healthcare professionals in the field of dermatology. This year's event features a comprehensive program aimed at sharing state-of-the-art scientific knowledge on skin diseases, their treatment, and clinical best practice. The Skin Academy is a unique opportunity for collaboration, bringing together a broad range of leading experts and clinicians from across the globe to create a network of peers that discuss and learn together to advance the treatment of skin diseases. The event will foster collaboration and co-creation of innovative approaches and solutions to better respond to the unmet needs of the millions of people living with dermatological conditions. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Mrowietz, from the Psoriasis Center at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel in Germany said: "deep collaboration across experts is essential for advancing medical dermatology and providing better treatment outcomes for patients. Almirall's Skin Academy provides a unique platform for practitioners to explore latest scientific advances, clinical practice and discuss a broad range of skin diseases, with an emphasis on holistic, personalized patient care and wellbeing. The Chief Medical Officer of Almirall, Dr. Volker Koscielny, said: "this is the 16th edition of the Skin Academy, and we are proud to continue to provide a leading platform for exchange and advancement in medical dermatology. Partnering with the dermatology community across Europe is based on our unique focus on medical dermatology and supported by our R&D capabilities as well as our strong collaborations. Skin Academy fosters collaboration and co-creation of innovative approaches and solutions that help the medical dermatology community to better respond to the unmet needs of millions of people living with these conditions. About Almirall's Skin Academy The Skin Academy, initiated and sponsored by Almirall, has become a cornerstone event for healthcare professionals in medical dermatology. Over the years, it has evolved into a key platform for sharing state-of-the-art scientific knowledge and clinical best practices in a wide range of skin diseases that affect millions of people. The event encourages collaboration and the development of new methods and solutions, aiming at addressing the unmet needs of patients and the medical dermatology community. The 16th edition continues this focus and Almirall's commitment to educational advancement, bringing together over 800 participants, led by international experts, with common interests to create a network to discuss, educate, and learn to advance knowledge in medical dermatology. About atopic dermatitis As a highly prevalent and debilitating condition, atopic dermatitis will be a central focus at the conference, with experts offering new insights into its pathophysiology, the role of IL-13, and the importance of advanced treatment protocols. In addition, the discussion will include a comprehensive analysis of efficacy and safety of leading treatments over time, as well as real-world evidence from clinical practice. Another key topic is the dermatologist-patient relationship, which is crucial for treatment success, especially based on the role of shared decision-making in treatment planning. About psoriasis Psoriasis will be another focus area for the 16th Skin Academy, and will be addressed in a range of sessions specifically dedicated to biologic treatments. The speakers will address unmet medical needs, the importance of individualized treatment for long-term disease control and share real world evidence showing the effectiveness and safety of targeted IL-23 inhibition, as well as highlighting the importance of striving for patient wellbeing as treatment outcome. Moreover, as difficult-to-treat areas of the skin remain of special importance for patients suffering from psoriasis, current treatment challenges and approaches to address these will be discussed, including advancements in topical treatments and new efficacy data with IL-23 inhibition in psoriasis of the scalp, which affects 40-90% of patients with psoriasis1234 About Actinic Keratosis The conference will address the crucial relationship between patients and their physicians, which is essential for treatment success and patient satisfaction, particularly in managing chronic skin diseases. It will highlight the importance of early treatment in actinic keratosis (AK) to prevent its progression to squamous cell carcinoma. Experts will cover advancements in AK treatment, real-world evidence, and the role of patient satisfaction in treatment outcomes. The conference program further includes topics on other important dermatological conditions, including androgenetic alopecia, onychomycosis, and chronic spontaneous urticaria. The event will also feature poster sessions, clinical case discussions, and Q&A sessions with experts, ensuring an engaging and interactive experience for all participants. About Almirall Almirall is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology. We closely collaborate with leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients to deliver our purpose: to transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We are at the forefront of science to deliver ground-breaking, differentiated medical dermatology innovations that address patients' needs. Almirall, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM, total revenue in 2024: 990 MM, over 2000 employees globally). Almirall products help to improve the lives of patients every day and are available in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit https://www.almirall.com/ 1 Augustin M, Sommer R, Kirsten N, et al. Topology of psoriasis in routine care: results from high-resolution analysis of 2009 patients. Br J Dermatol. 2019;181:358-365. 2 Egeberg A, See K, Garrelts A, et al. Epidemiology of psoriasis in hard-to-treat body locations: data from the Danish skin cohort. BMC Dermatol. 2020;20:3. 3 Merola JF, Li T, Li WQ, et al. Prevalence of psoriasis phenotypes among men and women in the USA. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016; 41:486-489. 4 Sampogna F, Linder D, Piaserico S, et al. Quality of life assessment of patients with scalp dermatitis using the Italian version of the Scalpdex. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014;94: 411-414. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250320758758/en/ Contacts: Corporate Communications corporate.communication@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 93 291 35 08 Investor Relations investors@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 93 291 30 87 BRISBANE, Australia, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitcoin'sOfficialISODomain,XBT.comhitstheauctionblockatLloyds,attractinghugemediaattentionand industryspeculationinwhatissettobeoneofthemostfiercelycontesteddigitalassetsalesintheworld. XBT.com is a domain that could redefine digital finance and set a record for the most expensive crypto domain sale in international history. Lloyds Auctions - a global leader in high-value asset sales has just announced the highly anticipated auction of XBT.com sparking a frenzy of speculation in the crypto and investment world. "This is more than just a domain name, it's the financial future & identity of Bitcoin itself," said Mr. Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions. "Whoever wins XBT.com will own the domain name of the decade and a stake in Bitcoin's future, a digital asset of immense historical and financial significance." "Duetothesignificanceofthisdomain,weexpectthelikesofeliteinvestorsandpowerhousesbiddingonthis exclusiveauction,itwouldn'tbesurprisingiffigureslikeElonMusk,JeffBezosorevenPresidentDonaldTrump takenoticeofthisauction,whichcouldcertainlymakeforinterestingbidding,"Mr.Hamescontinued. As the ISO 4217 currency code for Bitcoin, "XBT" is recognised worldwide as the official financial ticker for the world's leading cryptocurrency. With institutional adoption of Bitcoin accelerating, XBT.com is not just a domain, it's a financial powerhouse poised to become the definitive brand for crypto exchanges, investment firms, and fintech giants. CouldThisBea$10Million+Sale? The crypto world has witnessed several multi-million-dollar domain sales. Domains such as Voice.com fetching ($30M USD), Crypto.com ($12M USD), paradigm.eth ($1.51M USD) and BTC.com ($1M+ USD) securing staggering valuations. With Bitcoin's global influence continuing to expand, industry insiders predict that XBT.com could rival or surpass these legendary sales which is anticipated to be one of the most significant domain auctions of the decade. WhyXBT.comCould BecometheMostValuableCryptoDomainEver Bitcoin's ISO Standard Ticker - XBT is the official financial code for Bitcoin, used by institutions, exchanges, and traders worldwide. This makes XBT.com the ultimate brand for the digital asset revolution. Ultra-Rare Three-Letter .COM - Short, memorable, and authoritative, three-letter .com domains are among the most valuable digital assets, and XBT.com is uniquely tied to the world's most important cryptocurrency. SEO &Brand Authority - XBT.com naturally attracts high-intent traffic, making it an unrivalled asset for crypto exchanges,financialinstitutions,andinvestmentfirms. InstitutionalBitcoinAdoption - With an increase in global finance integrating Bitcoin, XBTisexpectedto become the standardised financial identifier across banks, trading platforms, and ETFs, making this domain an indispensable asset. AuctionHostedbyLloydsAuctions-GlobalAttentionExpected Lloyds Auctions is known for handling record-breaking sales, and XBT.com is expected to attract elite investors, hedge funds, crypto billionaires, and institutional players from around the globe. The highly anticipated auction of XBT.com will be exclusivelyhostedbyLloydsAuctions, a globally recognised leader in high-value digital assets, luxury items, and rare collectibles. With a reputation for securing record-breakingsales, Lloyds is set to attract eliteinvestors,institutionalbuyers,andcryptovisionaries from around the world. The future of Bitcoin's financial identity is up for auction. How high will the bidding go? The auction closes on the 28th of March, to browse details on the auction or register to bid visit Lloyds AuctionsOR XBT.com AuctionContact: +1 725 250 0502 Media Enquiries: Kirstie Minifie +61 458 240 469 media@lloydsauctions.com Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost. Milliarden stromen aus den USA und suchen neue, lukrative Ziele. Und genau hier kommt China ins Spiel. Trotz aller Spannungen wachst die chinesische Wirtschaft dynamisch weiter, Innovation und Digitalisierung treiben die Markte an. Im kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir Ihnen 5 Aktien aus China vor, die vom US-Niedergang profitieren und das Potenzial haben, den Markt regelrecht zu uberflugeln. Wer jetzt klug investiert, sichert sich den Zugang zu den neuen Wachstums-Champions von morgen. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche 5 Aktien die Konkurrenz aus den USA outperformen durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! KYIV, Ukraine, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 20, 2025, MHP, a leading international food and agri company, announced the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with shareholders representing over 41% of the share capital of UVESA, one of Spain's leading poultry production companies. This agreement marks a significant milestone in MHP's strategic expansion into the Spanish market, reinforcing its long-term vision to strengthen its presence in the European poultry sector. Under the terms of the SPA, MHP will acquire shares at a fixed price of EUR 225 per share, with an additional contingent consideration of up to EUR 21.43 per share, subject to certain post-closing conditions. The agreement also allows other UVESA shareholders to join the SPA within one month of signing, offering them the opportunity to participate under the same terms. Dr. John Rich, MHP Board of Directors Executive Chairman, shared his thoughts on the new agreement: "For MHP, expanding in Europe is about building strong partnerships, driving innovation, and creating a lasting impact. UVESA, with its solid reputation and deep roots in Spain, is a natural fit for MHP's vision of sustainable growth and contribution to the country's economic development. MHP brings its expertise, operational excellence, and advanced technology to support UVESA's growth, enabling it to scale and expand into new markets across Europe and the Middle East. At the core of this partnership are people. The 3,000+ employees who define UVESA today will continue to be at the heart of the company. We remain committed to job stability and generating economic value for the region." Antonio Sanchez, President of UVESA, expressed his vision for the future: "Partnership with MHP signifies a new and significant chapter for UVESA. This partnership aims to strengthen our foundations, unlock new opportunities, and expand our reach. With MHP's extensive expertise in innovation and superior operations, we are prepared to grow sustainably while remaining true to our local roots. Most importantly, we will continue to provide high-quality products to the communities and regions we proudly serve." The purchase price will be paid in cash upon closing. Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals, including merger control clearances, as well as foreign subsidies clearance by the European Commission. As previously disclosed, MHP secured formal approval from the Government of Spain on March 4, 2025, for its strategic investment in UVESA and its affiliated companies, further cementing its position as a reliable and responsible investor in the European agri-food sector. About MHP MHP is a publicly listed (London Stock Exchange) international food and agri company, producing high-quality healthy food products that enhance consumers' lives. The company operates in agriculture, food production, and retail, with manufacturing facilities in Ukraine and the Balkans, as well as subsidiaries in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other EU countries. MHP employs over 36,000 people in Ukraine and abroad and is ranked among the top 10 employers in Ukraine, according to Forbes Ukraine. The company exports its products to more than 80 countries worldwide and manages a land bank of 360,000 hectares across 12 regions in Ukraine. During the full-scale war, MHP sees its mission as supporting the economy and food security of Ukraine. The company is the largest taxpayer in the agricultural sector and is also one of the top 5 largest investors in the country. As a culinary company, MHP develops over 15 product brands, including Qualiko, Sultanah, ?ssilah, Nasha Ryaba, Apetytna, Lehko!, Bashchynskyi, Skott Smeat, RyabChick, and others. To ensure that Ukrainians always have access to high-quality and delicious food, the company, together with its partners, develops several retail chains: MeatMarket stores, Fresh Food, Nasha Ryaba and Doner Market restaurants, which offer tasty and safe fast food. MHP in Ukraine, in collaboration with its strategic partner, the Charitable Foundation MHP - GROMADI, is actively engaged in community development enhancing community livability , while also supporting those in greatest need. MHP in Ukraine is fostering the MHP Standing Together program, which provides personalized assistance and comprehensive support to military personnel, veterans, their families, and those awaiting the return of their loved ones from the frontlines. The founder and CEO of MHP is Ukrainian businessman Yuriy Kosyuk. About Grupo UVESA Grupo UVESA stands as a prominent leader in Spain's food industry, with over 60 years of dedication to excellence in the poultry, and feed sectors. The company's vertically integrated model ensures meticulous oversight across all production stages, reinforcing its commitment to quality and food safety. Poultry business As one of Spain's foremost chicken producers, UVESA operates state-of-the-art facilities equipped with advanced automation and stringent process controls. This has earned the company international certifications in quality and food safety. Pork Sector Pork production and genetics, serving as a major supplier to the country's leading meat companies. Feed area The company's feed manufacturing centers utilize cutting-edge technologies to produce nutrient-rich feed, ensuring the healthy and balanced growth of livestock. Throughout its history, UVESA has experienced significant growth, driven by the dedication of its workforce and the trust of its stakeholders. The company remains committed to innovation and excellence, solidifying its position as a trusted name in the agri-food sector. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mhp-signs-share-purchase-agreement-with-41-of-uvesa-shareholders-302407819.html WUXI, China, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On March 20, the 2025 Wuxi "International Month" and International Cherry Blossom Viewing Week officially kicked off to great anticipation. The event attracted numerous guests from both China and abroad, uniting them to celebrate and mark the beginning of a new chapter in Wuxi's international exchange and cooperation. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Mayor Zhao Jianjun emphasized the critical role of foreign enterprises, particularly those from Europe, in Wuxi's economic and social development. He highlighted Wuxi's commitment to becoming a premier destination for foreign investment, offering strong policy support and cultivating a favorable business environment. "In the future, Wuxi's determination to expand high-level openness will remain steadfast," he stated. "We will continue to focus on creating the most welcoming city for foreign investment, providing substantial policy backing, nurturing a dynamic industrial ecosystem, fostering a harmonious business environment, encouraging innovation, and cultivating a fertile development landscape." The "International Month" event has become a vital platform for showcasing Wuxi's achievements in Chinese-style modernization and promoting mutual openness and cooperation. Mayor Zhao also outlined Wuxi's future development plans, which include deepening integration into the Belt and Road Initiative, accelerating the growth of emerging industries such as cross-border e-commerce, and striving to build a world-class business environment. Moreover, Wuxi aims to expand international exchanges and cooperation in sectors like education, healthcare, and more. Wuxi International Culture Association, one of the organizers of the event, introduced that during this year's "International Month," Wuxi will focus on three key themes: economy, consumption, and friendship. A total of 56 diverse events will be held, including the "Dialogue with Europe -- Green Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Cooperation Forum" and the "China-Europe Tourism Cooperation Exchange." These initiatives aim to deepen and enhance international exchanges and cooperation while maximizing the event's branding, clustering, and long-term impact. The successful launch of the 2025 Wuxi "International Month" and International Cherry Blossom Viewing Week marks a significant milestone for Wuxi in advancing international exchange and cooperation. Looking ahead, Wuxi will continue to embrace the world with an even more open attitude, creating a new chapter in international collaboration. Source: Wuxi International Culture Association Contact person: Mr. Feng, Tel: 86-10-63074558 Amid the vast river of history, Sanxingdui and Jinsha shine like "twin stars" in the brilliant constellation of the ancient Shu civilization, radiating captivating brilliance. On March 20, the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration launched a global call for submissions for the Ancient Shu Civilization Logo, inviting individuals and organizations. The event will run until May 10. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250320223656/en/ Global Call for Submissions for the Ancient Shu Civilization Logo Design The event seeks to fully inspire to discover a logo that reflects the cultural value and unique charm of the ancient Shu civilization. There are clear requirements for submissions: entries must integrate elements from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, highlighting the unique cultural value and significance of the ancient Shu civilization. The design should reflect an international perspective, Chinese cultural aesthetics, and the distinctive charm of the Ba-Shu region. It should align with the theme, feature an innovative composition and unique creativity, and be visually striking, highly recognizable, and artistically expressive. Submissions must include both an image file and a source file, accompanied by a written description of 300-800 words, and be sent via email to the event's dedicated email address: submit@visitancientshu.com. It will award one first prize with a cash reward of RMB 50,000; two second prizes with RMB 10,000 each; three third prizes with RMB 5,000 each; and ten excellence prizes with RMB 2,000 each. With its launch, the ancient Shu civilization is to rejuvenate with new vitality and energy in the modern era. A representative from the organizing committee stated that it will build a bridge across time and space, connecting the ancient Shu civilization with the modern world, enabling more people to understand, appreciate, preserve and pass on this precious human cultural heritage. For more information, please visit the Ancient Shu Civilization official website www.visitancientshu.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250320223656/en/ Contacts: Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration Contact: Jean Huang Email: submit@visitancientshu.com Phone: +8628 8663 7325 website: www.visitancientshu.com Award recognizes Temenos' leadership in modernizing financial institutions with banking solutions powered by GenAI, cloud, and SaaS GRAND-LANCY, Switzerland, March 21, 2025, recognizing its leadership in modernizing financial institutions with banking solutions powered by GenAI, cloud, and SaaS. Now in their 25th year, the FStech Awards celebrate companies that have demonstrated excellence and innovation within the UK and EMEA financial services sector. In the Technology Provider of the Year category, judges evaluated vendors based on their exceptional performance, product innovations, and customer success. Mark Yamin-Ali, Managing Director - Europe, Temenos, commented: "This FStech award underscores Temenos' leadership in core banking modernization and our reputation as a trusted industry partner. With proven expertise and reliable innovation, including in game-changing technologies such as Generative AI, Temenos enables banks to evolve with confidence, fostering growth and elevating customer experiences." Sairam Rangachari, Chief Product Officer, Temenos, said: "We're delighted to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes the rich functionality of Temenos' mission-critical technology. With our relentless focus on innovation, as well as our leading SaaS solutions and Responsible AI capabilities embedded throughout the Temenos platform, we are thrilled to be leading the way in the banking industry." Banks of all sizes utilize Temenos' adaptable technology - on-premises, in the cloud, or as a SaaS solution - to deliver next-generation services and AI-powered experiences. Its clients benefit from the power of deep functionality, the convenience of best-of-suite software and the synergy of modular solutions. Recent customer announcements include the UK's Aldermore Bank, which selected Temenos SaaS to modernize its savings operations, beginning with the swift launch of new savings notice accounts for small businesses. Additionally, Romania's CEC Bankselected Temenos to modernize its retail and corporate core banking systems. About Temenos Temenos (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leading platform for banking, serving clients in 150 countries by helping them build new banking services and state-of-the-art customer experiences. Top performing banks using Temenos software achieve cost-income ratios almost half the industry average and returns on equity 2x the industry average. Their IT spend on growth and innovation is also 2x the industry average. For more information, please visit www.temenos.com. CerraCap Ventures, a global venture capital firm known for its "Sales and Scale" strategy, proudly announces its investment in Breezy Med, an innovative healthcare technology company addressing the critical challenge of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) based in New Mexico (NM). CV CerraCap Ventures is a leading investor in the NM region, having backed six companies before Breezy Med. We co-invest with major NM entities like Sun Mountain Capital, ABO Ventures, and Tramway Ventures. As an advisory board member of the Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (LEEP), a two-year fellowship connecting deep tech entrepreneurs with Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs, CerraCap has built a trusted presence in the lab ecosystem. Additionally, we support the Elevate Quantum initiative, a regional collaboration between New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming aimed at accelerating quantum technology innovation. This investment underscores our commitment to scaling high-impact innovations in fast-growing markets. Breezy platform is transforming infection control in hospitals, a sector burdened with billions of dollars in unnecessary medical expenses and fines due to HAIs. Breezy Med's recent collaboration with Hospital Housekeeping Systems (HHS) to integrate Breezy into the BedWatch platform validates product-market fitness and paves the way for rapid scaling across the healthcare industry. "We are thrilled to have the support of Cerracap Ventures as we continue to advance hospital automation at Breezy Med. This investment will accelerate our mission to streamline healthcare operations, prevent infections, and improve patient outcomes. With CerraCap's expertise and strategic backing, we are poised to scale our platform and bring transformative infection prevention automation to hospitals nationwide." shared Chris Ziomek, CEO of Breezy Med. CerraCap Ventures' investment in Breezy Med is evidence of its ability to identify and scale disruptive technologies. Notable investors have also joined this funding-round, underscoring the industry's confidence in its technology and market potential. "As a firm dedicated to Sales and Scale, we invest in companies that have both a transformative solution and a clear path to exponential growth," said Vikas Datt, Partner of CerraCap Ventures. "Breezy Med's is positioned for rapid adoption through strategic partnerships. We are excited to be part of this journey and to contribute to its scaling success." CerraCap Ventures, a Global Venture Capital fund headquartered in Southern California, dedicated to early-stage and growth stage technology investments in enterprise (B2B) solutions focused on the new fundamentals of the digital age - Enterprise AI, Cyber Security and Healthcare. It enables rapid growth of technology startups leveraging its unique Sales & Scale business model, driving revenue from large enterprises into its portfolio companies. For more information, visit http://www.cerracap.com Breezy Med Breezy Med, formerly Build with Robots, is a leading provider of automated disinfection technology designed to improve hygiene in healthcare and public environments. Leveraging smart automation and cloud data, Breezy Med enhances infection control processes, ensuring cleaner and safer spaces for all. For more information, visit breezymed.com Contact Information Nikki Arora Executive nikki.arora@cerracap.com 9493098598 SOURCE: CerraCap Ventures Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie. Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht. In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! Eficode's 'The Future of Software' conference will explore significant shifts in AI-driven DevOps, including automation, governance, and real-time analytics, shaping the future of enterprise software development. LONDON, UK: 21st March 2025 - According to Eficode, Europe's leading DevOps solutions provider, 2025 will be "The Year of AI Productivity," with businesses increasingly adopting Generative AI to achieve substantial competitive advantages. Realising these benefits requires robust and flexible DevOps frameworks, enhanced by AI capabilities. "DevOps is rapidly embracing automation through Infrastructure-as-Code and Generative AI. Over the next 12-18 months, success will hinge on AI-enhanced frameworks and streamlined toolchains, driving productivity and innovation," comments Marko Klemetti, CTO of Eficode. Eficode's visionary 'The Future of Software' conference, held in London on 26th March, will feature keynotes from industry leaders including Kelsey Hightower and Patrick Debois, and expert insights from organisations such as JP Morgan Chase, The New York Times, Uber and Just Eat. The agenda will deep dive into: The progress of the cloud-native movement How AI can be leveraged to modernise existing systems, revitalise legacy software, and increase productivity The intersection between product engineering and DevOps Responsible use of AI How to scale Agile delivery in enterprise organisations Influencing the event's major discussion points, is Eficode's 2025 DevOps Trends Guide, which has identified the following trends as being critical to the intersection of AI and DevOps: AI-driven toolingis accelerating both development and business innovation by: Automating complex tasks Providing intelligent code suggestions Enhancing collaboration at an unprecedented pace ? DevOps teams are looking to integrate AI into IT Service Management (ITSM) and Enterprise Service Management (ESM) platforms to: Improve operational efficiency Streamline processes Enhance customer satisfaction Consolidating Toolchains for Stronger Governance and Efficiency Eficode advocates the need for real-time insights, using AI-driven dashboards for real-time data analytics to bridge the gap between strategic initiatives and daily operations. This will enable quicker, informed decision-making and foster cross-functional collaboration, allowing organisations to remain agile and proactive. Join the Discussion at 'The Future of Software' Conference To register for The Future of Software conference, please click here. Eficode Media Contact Lauri Palokangas Chief Marketing Officer, Eficode lauri.palokangas@eficode.com +358 50 486 4918 Eficode Press Media Contact (UK) Jim Pople C8 Consulting for Eficode jim@c8consulting.co.uk About Eficode Better made possible Eficode is the leading provider of DevOps solutions that drive real impact, with offices in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. Eficode empowers organizations to create a software development culture that unlocks their potential with the right ways of working, the right tools, and the right skillset. Eficode provides a full range of services, from expert consulting and Eficode ROOT Managed DevOps platform, to training and license management. Eficode works with leading DevOps and cloud technology partners, including Atlassian, GitHub, GitLab, AWS, and Microsoft. LONDON, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The critical need for upskilling and reskilling civil servants who lead innovation and transformation in the public sector is the focus for CompTIA, Inc. at the Innovation 2025 conference 25-26 March in London. Set for March 25-26, Innovation 2025 is a unique exhibition and conference that brings together government leaders from across the globe who are responsible for the transformation and acceleration of their public sector organisations and services. The conference is co-hosted by the UK Government, UK Civil Service and the Cabinet Office. As the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products, CompTIA is uniquely positioned to advise public sector leaders on skills-building pathways for staff members using and working with technology. CompTIA team members will be available throughout the conference at stand E28. "Teams that continually add to their skill sets can drive organizational success, whether it's supporting digital transformation projects, leveraging artificial intelligence, deploying robust cybersecurity defences or guaranteeing general usability of technology," said Jason Moss, senior vice president, EMEA, CompTIA. On Wednesday, 26 March, Luke Barton, senior account executive, EMEA, CompTIA, will present on "Luke Barton will also be presenting Empowering the UK Workforce: Building Essential Skills for a Secure and AI-Driven Future." The session will take place on Impact Stage 2 beginning at 11:45 a.m. "In today's fast-changing digital world, the UK government must adapt to emerging technologies, strengthen cyber resilience, and address new legislation," Barton explained. "CompTIA has a long history of working with government teams to help them develop the essential skills to keep pace with technological advancements and legislative challenges." CompTIA plays a critical role in the global technology ecosystem. The largest vendor-neutral credentialing organization for technology workers, CompTIA has awarded over 3.6 million globally recognized certifications to tech professionals across the full range of employers and industries. With technology a driving force across every industry sector and business function, CompTIA is also at the forefront of supporting tech-adjacent job roles with best-in-class learning solutions and industry-recognized certifications that open doors to employment and career opportunities. About CompTIA CompTIA Inc. is the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products. CompTIA unlocks potential in millions of aspiring technology professionals and careers changers. Working in partnership with thousands of academic institutions and training providers, CompTIA helps students build career-ready skills through best-in-class learning solutions, industry-recognized certifications and career resources. Learn more at https://www.comptia.org/. Contact Sophie Stocking CompTIA sstocking@comptia.org Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2608749/CompTIA_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/comptia-will-highlight-essential-skills-needed-in-government-for-a-secure-and-ai-driven-future-at-innovation-2025-302407271.html New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Troy Kessler of Kessler Matura has been named on the Top 100 New York Metro Super Lawyers list for the fourth consecutive year. Troy Kessler of Kessler Matura Named Among Top 100 New York Metro Super Lawyers Four Years in a Row To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/245522_559d71ddc4019af6_002full.jpg The list itself is a prestigious recognition by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business. It highlights the top lawyers in the New York Metro area based on a rigorous selection process that includes peer nominations, independent research, and peer evaluations. Being named to this list is a significant honor, as it represents the top 5% of lawyers in the region. The list is part of the broader Super Lawyers program, which aims to spotlight attorneys who demonstrate excellence in their practice areas. The fact that he made the list every year from 2021 to 2024 is a major personal accomplishment and a professional milestone for Mr. Kessler. He highlights that he takes great pride in the fact that beyond peer review, everyone featured on the list is validated by independent research where each candidate's professional record is thoroughly examined. Kessler co-founded Kessler Matura P.C. in 2010, ultimately becoming one of the top New York Wrongful Termination Lawyers. The law firm is focused on representing employees who have been the victims of discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, retaliation, overtime, and minimum wage violations. Mr. Kessler is a Chapter Editor, ABA's FLSA Midwinter Report, co-author of "Merging the Bench, Bar, and Law Schools: How a Student Scholars Program Achieves Professional Identity Through Scholarly Writing, Mentorship, and Presentation" and "Employers Should Reconsider Plans to Discharge Employees for Refusing the COVID-19 Vaccine" in the N.Y. Law Journal. He is also a frequent speaker at CLE events sponsored by the American Bar Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, Federal Bar Association, the NYU School of Law, and the Practicing Law Institute. Mr. Kessler received his law degree from the Loyola University School of Law in Chicago, and his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is a member of multiple associations, including the National Employment Lawyers Association the American Bar Association - Labor & Employment Section. Kessler Matura is led by a team of six attorneys with decades of combined experience. The team vows to always work with their clients one-on-one. "We understand the sensitivity of your legal issue and will provide a solution that fits your situation," the team stated. "We have decades of experience in pursuing the rights of employees across New York and the United States. Whether you were wrongfully fired, suffered workplace discrimination or were not paid what you were due, we can hold your employer accountable. We only represent employees, never employers, so there's never a conflict of interest." More info about Troy Kessler and Kessler Matura is available on the official website. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245522 SOURCE: Plentisoft Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce the opening of its 49th and 50th restaurant, featuring its third multi-branded location with Lettuce Love and Heal Wellness QSRs. Located at 1023 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, this new location welcomes customers starting today, with a grand opening celebration set for Saturday, March 22nd, 2025. This multi-branded location is operated by a single franchisee. Lettuce Love Cafe ("Lettuce Love"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Happy Belly, serves delectable gluten-free meals, plant-based bowls, sandwiches, and wraps. Heal Wellness ("Heal") is a quick-serve restaurant ("QSR") offering fresh smoothie bowls, acai bowls, and smoothies. Lettuce Love To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/245523_e2fecd4914a99bca_001full.jpg "This new location in Hamilton's Westdale neighborhood is our third location in Ontario featuring Lettuce Love and Heal in a shared retail space model. The 1st two locations featuring this multi-branded concept are in Burlington and Toronto. Situated on a pedestrian-friendly corner, this location features a welcoming layout that includes indoor seating and an outdoor patio-perfect for the summer season," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "Westdale is a hub of activity known for its unique shopping district, stellar restaurants and coffeeshops, cinemas, and is a go-to for nearby McMaster University students as well as locals and visitors alike. This new location expands both Heal's and Lettuce Love's customer reach in an area that is heavily populated and is demographically aligned to the brands, giving us opportunity for on-premise dining as well as off-premise delivery." "This location represents the opening of our 3rd Lettuce Love and 19th Heal Wellness, marking a significant milestone in Happy Belly's growth as we now operate 50 restaurants in our franchised and corporate network. This milestone stands as a testament to Happy Belly's disciplined approach to organic and inorganic growth. We have built our brands on the foundation of our 3 P's-delivering a great product, working with great people, and establishing sustainable, scalable processes. This approach has been the driving force behind our success and is the reason we are so proud to reach this achievement today." Heal Wellness To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/245523_e2fecd4914a99bca_002full.jpg "Our multi-branded approach demonstrates how we can leverage our portfolio of brands to secure larger prime street-front real estate locations while ensuring occupancy costs remain reasonable for individual brands. We anticipate more multi-branded locations using a varying mix of our portfolio brands as we look to secure more premium street-front locations throughout Canada. iQ Foods and Heal are currently under construction at Shops of Don Mills set to open as a multi-branded space in Q2, 2025." "We are experiencing significant interest from both franchisees and landlords nationwide across our brand portfolio. We look forward to continuing to execute on our franchising model as we accelerate our growth organically and inorganically through accretive M&A. Happy Belly now has 521 contractually committed retail franchise locations across our emerging brands-whether in development, under construction, or already operating. We are working to expand this pipeline throughout 2025 and 2026, continually selecting the right franchise partners and securing optimal real estate to achieve our brands' development goals." We are just getting started. About Lettuce Love Cafe Lettuce Love was created solely with your health in mind for delivering delicious plant based and gluten-free meals, smoothies & treats. Ingredients and products used are sourced from sustainable, fair-trade, non-GMO sources, are local and organically farmed when available. We proudly prepare all our menu selections fresh, at the time they are ordered to provide the maximum nutritional benefits. Often surprising and seducing hard core carnivores with many of our vegan and gluten free dishes, Lettuce Love Cafe, offers a warm welcome to everyone. About Heal Wellness Heal Wellness was founded with a passion and mission to provide quick, fresh wellness foods that support a busy and active lifestyle. We currently offer a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies. We take pride in meticulously selecting every superfood ingredient on our menu to fuel the body, including acai smoothie bowls, smoothies, and super-seed grain bowls. Our smoothie bowls are crafted with real fruit and enriched with superfoods like acai, pitaya, goji berries, chia seeds, and more. Franchising For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com. About Happy Belly Food Group Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands. Happy Belly Food Group To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/245523_e2fecd4914a99bca_003full.jpg Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245523 SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc. The conference titled 'India @2030: Energy, Economy, Employment' explores key issues affecting India's future development LTIMindtree CEO Debashis Chatterjee to be the Chief Guest; ONGC Director of Production Pankaj Kumar to deliver Keynote Address Speakers include Prominent Industry Leaders, Professors, Economists and Leading Practitioners MUMBAI, India, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mumbai Chapter of The Alumni Association, N.C.E Bengal & Jadavpur University, one of India's oldest alumni associations, will hold its 16th National Conference titled 'India@ 2030: Energy, Economy, Employment'. This day-long symposium will bring together thought leaders from academia, business, and economics in India to discuss the key issues affecting India's progress and its aspirations to become a global force by the end of the decade. LTIMindtree CEO and Managing Director Debashis Chatterjee, an alumnus of Jadavpur University and one of India's leading IT leaders, will be the Chief Guest at the Conference. Oil and Gas Industry veteran Pankaj Kumar, Director of Production of ONGC, India's largest oil and gas company, will deliver the keynote address. The Conference will also feature three panels to address issues surrounding Energy, Economy, and Employment. These sessions will feature some of the best minds in India from academia, business, and economics. This year's conference is expected to draw nearly 200 people, including alumni of Jadavpur University, academicians, policymakers, business executives, and alums of other top universities throughout the country. Commenting on the 2025 National Conference, Dibyendu Chakraborty, Chairman of the Conference Committee, said, "India must generate employment opportunities, particularly for its youth, to fortify its economic base. Modern economic and production activities depend heavily on energy, with energy and economic growth intertwined in a complex way. As the economy expands, so does the demand for energy. This year's conference, titled 'India@2030: Energy, Economy, Employment', will explore these interconnections between energy, economic development, and employment." A number of organisations from across the country and overseas have pledged to support the event as donors. The list includes ONGC Ltd., Nav Srijan Yuva Sansthan Barmer, Adani Welspun Exploration Limited, JSW Cement, JNK India, Deepak Nitrite, L&T Realty, Krishna Chemicals, Carlton Industrial Engineering, Saltech Technology, Aska Equipment, Lizmontagens India among others. Rudranath Banerjee, President of Mumbai Alumni Association, thanked the donors for their support and said, "Our donors have been extremely generous, and we are grateful for their kind support. This will enable us to reach our goals of supporting various educational welfare programs for meritorious but needy students in Mumbai and at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. We offer a large number of scholarships and stipends to these students and engage in student assistance programs through the Jadavpur University Alumni Association Bombay Branch Trust. The Mumbai Alumni started this Trust in 1980. The Trust is primarily focused on promoting educational programs. Over the last couple of decades, we have disbursed more than Rs 70 lakhs for educational purposes to fulfil our commitment to advancing education through our Trust." The Mumbai Branch of the Alumni Association of N.C.E Bengal and Jadavpur University was established in 1956 to provide an umbrella under which alumni could meet, interact, and socialise. In the years that followed, the objective was expanded to include knowledge sharing and charitable activities to benefit society as a whole. More than 350 active members in the Mumbai branch are connected to various core and knowledge-based industries, professional organisations, and Government agencies. Jadavpur University, Kolkata is one of India's most prestigious public research institutions. It is renowned for its academic excellence, progressive ethos, and commitment to intellectual freedom. Established in 1955, the University traces its origins to the National Council of Education (NCE), which was founded in 1906 as part of India's Swadeshi movement to promote indigenous education. Over the decades, it has evolved into a globally recognised centre for higher learning, research, and innovation, consistently ranking among the country's top universities. In 1921, former students of the university initiated a movement to establish the National Council of Education Alumni Association (NCE Alumni Association). When the university moved to its present campus in 1924, the NCE Alumni Association moved along with that. The Association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021, marking an important milestone for its alumni around the globe. For more information, please contact: Ashok Adhikary Tel: 98201 90336 Email: akadhikary@gmail.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647089/Organising_team_JUAA_Mumbai.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647117/Jadavpur_University_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jadavpur-university-alumni-association-mumbai-to-host-16th-national-conference-on-march-22-2025-302407902.html Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg - Pre-Stabilisation Period Announcement PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 21 21 March 2025 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Sparebanken Vest / ISIN [] Pre-stabilisation Period Announcement Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg (contact: Yannick Wiggert; telephone: +4971112778844) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU/596/2014). Securities Issuer Sparebanken Vest Boligkreditt AS Legal Entity Identifier 5967007LIEEXZX6AO004 Expected Issue Ratings Aaa (Moody's) Aggregate nominal amount: EUR Benchmark Launch Date 21 March 2025 Settlement Date 28 March 2025 (T+5) Maturity Date 28 June 2030 (soft bullet) Extended Final Maturity Date 28 June 2031 Offer price: [XX.XXX] Other offer terms: NA Stabilisation: Stabilisation Manager(s): BMO Capital Markets/DZ BANK/ Helaba/LBBW/Santander/SEB Stabilisation period expected to start on: 21 March 2025 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility: The Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law Stabilisation trading venue(s): Over the counter (OTC) Disclaimer This document has been prepared by the Joint Bookrunners for information purposes only, is not intended to create any legally binding obligations on the Joint Lead Managers and should not be construed as an underwriting commitment or a recommendation to conclude any transaction. The terms set out herein are subject to the completion of final documentation, including any relevant underwriting or subscription agreement (and satisfaction of any conditions precedent therein) and any necessary disclosure documentation. Neither the Joint Bookrunners nor any of their respective employees or directors, accept any liability or responsibility in respect of the information herein and shall not be liable for any loss of any kind which may arise from reliance by the Issuer, or others, upon such information. This document is confidential and is only for the information of the Issuer and the Joint Bookrunners. It has not been prepared for and should not be provided to or relied upon by any investor or any other person for any purpose. The Joint Lead Managers are not providing any financial, legal, tax or other advice to any recipient. Each of the Joint Lead Managers may from time to time, as principal or agent, have positions in, or may buy or sell, or make a market in any securities, currencies, financial instruments or other assets underlying the transaction to which this document relates. The Joint Lead Managers trading and/or hedging activities related to the transaction to which this document relates may have an impact on the price of the securities to which this document relates. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a construction update for the fully permitted Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM"), in southeast Arizona. Further to the last update where it was announced the mining fleet had been mobilized, and mining activities such as pre-stripping had begun (see Gunnison news release dated December 16th), the Company is pleased to report JCM construction activities are progressing well and on track to produce cathode in Q3 2025. Mining of mineralized material commenced in January 2025 (Figure 1) and is being stockpiled in advance of the completion of the leach pad. Leach pad phase-1 is complete, and phase-2 of the leach pad follows closely behind (Figure 2). With phase-2 advancement we will begin installing Nuton's processing equipment and ultimately start stacking sulfide and oxide production mineralized material. The Company has completely redesigned and constructed a modern laboratory for on-site material and process analysis (Figure 3). The lab will begin ramping up in April and will be commissioned once production from the leach pad commences. In addition, the Company's HR group is progressing with its staffing plan, with a focus on hiring locally, and has added exceptional talent to the Gunnison team. Figure 1 - Blast Hole Drill Rig Preparing a Bench for Mining at JCM To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/245498_dd6e6b8f74ca19a8_001full.jpg Figure 2 - Leach Pad Overhead View, 8 million square feet with dimensions of approximately 1220m by 640m. Phase 1 shows the protective, crushed rock, over-liner material on bottom half of the image and Phase 2 shows the black under-liner material with over-liner being placed on top. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/245498_dd6e6b8f74ca19a8_002full.jpg "The fast pace at which our construction partners continue to progress the Johnson Camp project is nothing short of impressive. In roughly 12 months we will have transformed Gunnison Copper into a nimble open pit copper producer with a future as bright as the Arizona sky we enjoy daily," noted Robert Winton, SVP Operations of the Company. Figure 3 - Newly Constructed Material and Process Analysis Laboratory To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/245498_dd6e6b8f74ca19a8_003full.jpg The Company also announces that long serving Board member, Stephen Axcell, has retired as a director of the Company effective March 20, 2025. Initially appointed in 2018, Mr. Axcell has provided invaluable contributions during his more-than six years as a Board member of the Company and the Company thanks Mr. Axcell for his contributions and support during his tenure. ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt. Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products locally. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders. Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually. Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits. For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release. For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com. ABOUT NUTON Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing their value. With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials. One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lowest footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society. For more information, please visit www.nuton.tech. For further information regarding this press release, please contact: Gunnison Copper Corp. Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "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", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245498 SOURCE: Gunnison Copper Corp. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSE American: IE) (TSX: IE) ("Ivanhoe Electric") Executive Chairman Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Taylor Melvin are pleased to see the historic March 20, 2025, Executive Order signed by United States President Donald J. Trump to accelerate the domestic production of critical metals, including copper. The Executive Order invokes the use of the Defense Production Act as part of a broad U.S. Government effort to expand domestic minerals production on national security grounds. As it relates to project permitting, the Order states that it will "identify priority projects that can be immediately approved or for which permits can be immediately issued, and take all necessary or appropriate actionsto expedite and issue the relevant permits or approvals." Furthermore, the Order includes provisions to accelerate access to private and public capital for domestic projects, including the creation of a "dedicated mineral and mineral production fund for domestic investments" under the Development Finance Corporation ("DFC"). Mr. Melvin commented: "This decisive action by our President highlights the urgent need to expand domestic minerals output to support supply chain security in the United States. This important Order will help revitalize domestic mineral production by improving the permitting process and providing financial support to qualifying domestic projects. As a United States company with an advanced high-quality, high-grade copper project on private land in Arizona, we are excited about what the Executive Order means for the future of domestic copper production." Ivanhoe Electric nears key milestone at its Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona with expected completion of Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") in June 2025 Ivanhoe Electric is rapidly progressing advanced stage engineering studies for its modern, high-grade, underground Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona. The Project's PFS is scheduled to be completed in June 2025, and will be used to advance project financing discussions. Ivanhoe Electric is advancing applications for key Project permits with a goal of commencing construction activities as soon as the first half of 2026. The PFS expands on our Initial Assessment released in September 2023 (refer to Ivanhoe Electric's September 6, 2023 news release), which demonstrated attractive economics on a long-lived and high-grade underground copper project capable of producing approximately 80 thousand tonnes of copper per year, including 57 thousand tonnes of pure copper cathode for the U.S. domestic market. About Ivanhoe Electric We are a U.S. company that combines advanced mineral exploration technologies with electric metals exploration projects predominantly located in the United States. We use our accurate and powerful Typhoon geophysical surveying system, together with advanced data analytics provided by our subsidiary, Computational Geosciences Inc., to accelerate and de-risk the mineral exploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of critical metals that may otherwise be undetectable by traditional exploration technologies. We believe the United States is significantly underexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries of critical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper as well as other metals including nickel, vanadium, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio of electric metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona and the Tintic Copper-Gold Project in Utah, as well as other exploration projects in the United States, we intend to support United States supply chain independence by finding and delivering the critical metals necessary for the electrification of the economy. We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma'aden to explore for minerals on ~48,500 km2 of underexplored Arabian Shield in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Website: www.ivanhoeelectric.com Ivanhoe Electric's investor relations website located at www.ivanhoeelectric.com should be considered Ivanhoe Electric's recognized distribution channel for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation FD. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Ivanhoe Electric, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect Ivanhoe Electric's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Such statements in this news release include, without limitation statements regarding the effect of the March 20, 2025 Executive Order on the domestic production and regulatory framework for critical metals; the completion of the Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Santa Cruz Project in June 2025 and the advancement of Project financing discussions; the commencement of construction activities at the Santa Cruz Project as soon as the first half of 2026; the projections, assumptions and estimates contained in the Initial Assessment related to the Santa Cruz Project, including, without limitation, those relating to production; and planned or potential developments in the businesses of Ivanhoe Electric. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including any inability to negotiate and sign mutually agreeable definitive agreements; any inability to satisfy all applicable closing conditions; changes in the prices of copper or other metals Ivanhoe Electric is exploring for; the results of exploration and drilling activities and/or the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations; the final assessment of exploration results and information that is preliminary; the significant risk and hazards associated with any future mining operations, extensive regulation by the U.S. government as well as local governments; changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with Ivanhoe Electric to perform as agreed; and the impact of political, economic and other uncertainties associated with operating in foreign countries, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economy. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risk factors described in Ivanhoe Electric's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Ivanhoe Electric cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable securities laws, Ivanhoe Electric does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release, and Ivanhoe Electric expressly disclaims any requirement to do so. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245531 SOURCE: Ivanhoe Electric Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company"), is pleased to comment on the latest executive order issued by President Trump, invoking wartime powers under the Defense Production Act to address threats to the country's national and economic security by reliance upon "hostile foreign powers' mineral production" (the "Executive Order"). The Executive Order outlines a number of initiatives to "facilitate domestic mineral production to the maximum extent possible" and is aimed at the production of a number of critical minerals, including rare earth elements. More specifically, the Executive Order directs the Development Finance Corporation ("DFC") and Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to establish a dedicated mineral and mineral production fund for domestic investments within 30 days. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense has been directed to add mineral production as a priority industrial capability development area for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program ("IBAS"). Ucore is a current participant of the IBAS Program and is processing rare earth materials at its RapidSX Commercial Demonstration Facility further to a USD$4 million contract with the US Department of Defense (see Ucore Press Release dated June 6, 2023 Ucore Announces a US$4 Million Award from the US Department of Defense - Ucore Rare Metals Inc.). "President Trump's executive order underscores the urgent need to establish robust, domestic rare earth processing capabilities," said Pat Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Ucore. "As the US looks to onboard rare earth mineral projects, there is strategic merit in knowing that significant security can be established by first dominating the processing and refining. We look forward to continuing our work with the Department of Defense to support this important initiative as we move toward commercializing our RapidSX rare earth element ("REE") refining technology." Figure 1 - Aerial view of Ucore's planned Strategic Metals Complex in the England Airpark, Alexandria, Louisiana To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1119/245541_50f55c3944136861_001full.jpg Ucore's first Strategic Metals Complex is to be located in the England Airpark (formerly the England Air Force Base). The project has already garnered strong support from both government and private sector stakeholders and will provide the U.S. with the capacity to produce high-purity REEs essential for national security and technological advancement. This executive order aligns strongly with Ucore's ongoing efforts to develop a resilient Western supply of REEs, including those crucial to semiconductor manufacturing, robotics, and clean energy applications. With the global semiconductor market projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030 and AI-driven automation fueling unprecedented demand for rare earth permanent magnets, Ucore's scalable and modular refining process is uniquely positioned to fill this critical gap. See the following link for the full text of the Executive Order: Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production - The White House. # # # About Ucore Rare Metals Inc. Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry. Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term establishment of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the U.S. State of Louisiana, subsequent Strategic Metal Complexes in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA. Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF." For further information, please visit www.ucore.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. The details of the legislation by which tariffs are implemented can potentially impact the effectiveness of the protections afforded by Foreign Trade Zones. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Regarding any disclosure in the press release above about the US Department of Defense or the Government of Canada Programs and the expected successful progress and resulting milestone payments from these Programs, the Company has assumed that the Programs (including each of their milestones) will be completed satisfactorily. For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, the CDF, the Demo Plant and ongoing Programs (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q3-2023 (filed on SEDAR on November 20, 2023) (www.sedarplus.ca) as well as the risks described below. Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX RapidSX failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACTS Mr. Michael Schrider, P.E., Ucore Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245541 SOURCE: Ucore Rare Metals Inc. Dr. Joanna Kam integrates advanced incision placement strategies in facelift procedures to optimize aesthetic outcomes and reduce scarring. Dr. Joanna Kam, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, is committed to helping patients understand the many aspects of facelift surgery, including how incisions are placed to achieve the most discreet results possible. Dr. Kam outlines the strategies and techniques used in modern facelift procedures to reduce the visibility of scars and promote natural-looking outcomes. By clarifying the science and artistry behind incision placement, patients can feel more comfortable exploring facelift options that align with their personal goals. Joanna Kam, MD Holding expertise in otolaryngology-head & neck surgery, with additional training in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Kam is renowned for her prowess in aesthetic rejuvenation and facial reconstruction. Understanding the Value of Strategic Incision Placement The primary goal of any facelift is to rejuvenate the face by lifting and tightening areas that have been affected by aging, gravity, or lifestyle factors. The facelift often addresses sagging skin, creases, and descent of the facial fat pads, particularly around the jowls and jawline. However, many patients hesitate to pursue facelift surgery because they worry about post-surgical scars. Strategic incision placement is one of the most effective techniques used by surgeons to conceal potential scars. Rather than placing incisions in highly visible areas, board-certified specialists like Dr. Kam focus on natural creases, hairlines, and behind-the-ear locations. By doing so, they can hide the scars in plain sight and blend them with the patient's natural facial creases and contours. This careful approach helps ensure that patients can enjoy the benefits of facial rejuvenation without feeling self-conscious about noticeable marks. Facelift Overview A facelift-also known as a rhytidectomy-is a surgical procedure designed to restore a youthful look to the face by lifting and repositioning soft tissues. During a traditional facelift, extra skin is removed, underlying structures are tightened, and the remaining skin is re-draped over newly shaped contours. From an aesthetic standpoint, the incisions should be inconspicuous after healing, allowing the final result to look natural and harmonious. For more detailed insights on facelift procedures, patients can refer to Dr. Kam's informational resources by visiting the Facelift page on her website. This page covers topics ranging from candidacy and preparation to post-operative care and recovery timelines. Prospective patients can also browse before-and-after images to see the results of real facelifts performed by Dr. Kam. These photos can be found in the Facelift Before and After Gallery. Concealing Facelift Incisions Hairline Placement: A common technique involves placing incisions around the hairline, typically starting at the temples. This positioning allows the incision to follow the natural contours of the ear and continue behind it into the hair-bearing scalp, making it harder to spot. By using the existing shapes and shadows of the ear's anatomy and the hairline itself, these incisions blend seamlessly with the surrounding tissue. Behind-the-Ear Approach: Even if a portion of the incision is placed in front of the ear, surgeons will often wrap the incision around the earlobe and behind the ear's natural crease. The skin around this area curves naturally, providing an ideal hiding place. For many patients, scarring in this region remains virtually invisible once fully healed, especially when combined with a discreet hairline incision. Minimizing Tension: Excessive tension on the incision can lead to widened or raised scars. Paying special attention to tension distribution through deeper layers of the lift helps to ensure the incision heals as inconspicuously as possible. This balanced approach is part of the reason why consultation with a highly trained facial plastic surgeon is so crucial. Scar Care and Revision Options Even with meticulous incision planning and placement, some patients may find that their scars do not heal exactly as they had hoped. Various factors, such as genetics, skin type, and aftercare, can influence how incisions heal. To help address residual concerns, Dr. Kam's practice also offers Scar Revision procedures. These treatments can improve the appearance of scars by refining the tissue, modifying its shape, or repositioning it to blend more effortlessly with the surrounding skin. Patient Education and Informed Decisions Beyond a focus on discreet incisions, Dr. Kam educates patients on the comprehensive aspects of facelift surgery, from the pre-operative consultation to the final recovery phase. Each patient's journey begins with a thorough evaluation of their facial structure, skin quality, and desired outcome. Dr. Kam then develops a personalized surgical plan, recommending the best type of facelift-whether a traditional facelift, mini-facelift, or neck lift combination-to achieve the patient's goals while prioritizing minimal scarring. Through clear communication and personalized guidance, patients are encouraged to set realistic expectations and fully prepare for every step of their facelift journey. Post-Operative Care Tips The success of a facelift and the visibility of scars also depend heavily on post-operative care. While each patient receives personalized guidelines, common recommendations include: Follow All Instructions: Adhering to post-surgical care instructions is vital. This includes cleaning incisions carefully, using prescribed ointments, and avoiding sun exposure to the area. Attend Follow-Up Appointments: Regular follow-up visits allow the surgeon to monitor healing progress and address any concerns promptly. Limit Strenuous Activity: Light movement is encouraged, but strenuous exercise or heavy lifting early in the recovery process can hinder the healing process. Protect Incisions from Sun Exposure: UV rays may darken scar tissue. Applying sunscreen and wearing hats or scarves can help protect the incisions as they heal. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle: Proper nutrition, hydration, and avoiding smoking contribute to faster healing and promote optimal incision healing. Why You Should Choose a Facial Plastic Surgery Specialist With advancements in medical technology and surgical techniques, modern facelift procedures have become safer and more refined. Board-certified facial plastic surgeons must undergo extensive training, demonstrating proficiency in both otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) and facial plastic surgery. This in-depth education, along with a specialized focus on the face, enables experts like Dr. Kam to perform delicate procedures aimed at achieving balanced and natural-looking results. Moreover, having a specialist who understands the intricacies of facial anatomy increases the likelihood of achieving minimal scarring. A detailed approach to incision placement, combined with a refined aesthetic sensibility, helps patients regain a youthful appearance without obvious or unsightly incision lines. About Dr. Joanna Kam Dr. Joanna Kam is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon practicing in Voorhees and Sewell, New Jersey. With a focus on aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries of the face, head, and neck, she has developed a reputation for patient-centered care. Dr. Kam is dedicated to empowering individuals with knowledge, supporting them throughout every step of their surgical journey, and helping them reach an outcome that aligns with their personal goals. Patients seeking more information can explore Dr. Kam's background, her approach to patient care, and her portfolio of services at Kam Facial Plastic Surgery. Location and Contact Information Kam Facial Plastic Surgery, Voorhees, NJ 1605 East Evesham Road, Suite 202 Voorhees Township, NJ 08043 Phone: 856-565-2903 Kam Facial Plastic Surgery, Sewell, NJ 570 Egg Harbor Road, Suite B2-B Sewell, NJ 08080 Phone: 856-565-2903 Those interested in scheduling a consultation to learn more about facelift surgery and incision placement can use the online contact form or call the office directly. Dr. Kam and her team are committed to guiding patients through the process of selecting the most appropriate treatment to meet their unique needs. Moving Forward with Confidence By highlighting the importance of incision placement, Dr. Joanna Kam aims to dispel some of the common misconceptions surrounding facelift surgery. With innovative techniques that minimize scarring, patients can look forward to a naturally refreshed appearance and improved self-confidence. Educational resources, personalized consultations, and comprehensive post-operative care work together to ensure that individuals feel well-informed and reassured throughout their entire experience. For further details on facelift procedures, scar revision, and more, visit Dr. Kam's website or contact the office through the Contact Page. Contact Information SOURCE: Kam Facial Plastic Surgery SPETZ INC. (the "Company" or "Spetz") (CSE:SPTZ)(OTC PINK:DBKSF) is pleased to announce key leadership changes and new appointments to its board of directors (the "Board"). Effective March 21, 2025, Yossi Nevo resigned from his position as CEO and a Director of the Company. Mr. Nevo will continue to act as President of the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Spetz Tech Ltd. The Company thanks Mr. Nevo for his leadership and looks forward to his continued contributions. The Company is pleased to welcome Mitchell Demeter as its new CEO. Mr. Demeter is a blockchain veteran and former President of Netcoins, where he helped expand one of Canada's first regulated crypto trading platforms. He also co-founded one of Canada's first crypto exchanges, which was acquired in 2015, and launched the world's first Bitcoin ATM. "I'm excited to take on this role and drive Spetz's next phase of growth," said Mr. Demeter. "With our strong foundation, we're well-positioned to expand our technology and market reach." Spetz is also pleased to welcome Mark Binns and Spencer MacLean to the Board. Mark Binns is a public company executive and blockchain industry veteran. He is the CEO of Carrier Connect Data Solutions and former CEO of BIGG Digital Assets. Mr. Binns has also held board positions at WonderFi (TSX:WNDR), and Sparx Technologies, bringing extensive experience in capital markets, investor relations, fintech, and corporate strategy. Spencer MacLean has over a decade of experience in capital markets, specializing in investing, capital raising, M&A, and corporate structuring. As a former lawyer at a boutique firm in Vancouver, he remains a member of the Law Society of British Columbia and the Canadian Bar Association. Currently, Mr. MacLean is a Director at Bromac Resources Ltd., and a Partner at Oro Capital Ltd., where he focuses on high-growth investment opportunities. His combined expertise in law, finance, and business strategy makes Mr. MacLean a valuable addition to the Board. "We're excited to welcome Mark and Spencer to the Board," said Mr. Demeter. "Their expertise will be instrumental as we scale our blockchain and AI-driven marketplace initiatives." Spetz also announces that Ofir Friedman and On Freund have resigned from the Board. The Company thanks them for their valuable contributions and wishes them success in their future endeavors. About Spetz Inc. Spetz Inc. is a multinational technology company operating at the intersection of AI-driven marketplaces and blockchain infrastructure. The Company owns and operates the Spetz application, an AI-powered platform connecting consumers with service providers, as well as Sonic Strategy, a leading blockchain staking business. Spetz Website: www.spetz.app Spetz Investor information: https://investor.spetz.app/ Company Contacts: Investor Relations Nofar Shigani,CFO Email: Investors@spetz.app Email: nofar@spetz.app Phone: 647-956-6033 Phone: +972 526238108 NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE, NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements Certain information herein constitutes "forward-looking information" as defined under Canadian securities laws, which reflect management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the Company. The words "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "projects", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "might", "occur", "be achieved", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward- looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the blockchain sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the ability of Spetz to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward- looking information contained herein. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction. None of the securities issued in the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. We seek Safe Harbor. SOURCE: Spetz Inc. SHENZHEN, China, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elegoo, a rapidly developing brand in global smart manufacturing, proudly announces that its latest flagship FDM 3D printer, the Centauri Carbon, has been honored with the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2025 for its innovative design and seamless integration into home life. Unlike traditional 3D printers, which are often confined to workshops or industrial settings, Centauri Carbon is crafted to bring professional-grade capabilities into households. Its industrial-strength frame, forged with a 500-ton die-casting process, ensures unmatched stability while maintaining an elegant, enclosed design, perfect for homes with children or pets. Beyond its aesthetics, the Centauri Carbon is engineered for performance and accessibility. Equipped with high-powered motors, it prints at speeds 25% faster than leading models on the market, producing a custom phone stand in just 30 minutes. By balancing speed, precision, and safety, the award-winning Centauri Carbon embodies Elegoo's mission: to make cutting-edge 3D printing technology accessible to everyone. The iF DESIGN AWARD, with nearly 11,000 submissions for the 2025 edition alone from 66 countries, stands as one of the world's most esteemed design competitions. It underscores the global significance of design, its social relevance, and its role in driving innovation for a better future. This recognition follows the successful February launch of the Centauri Carbon, which has also earned the Highly Recommended award from TechRadar and the Editor's Choice award from Tom's Hardware. The verdict on how Elegoo's Centauri Carbon integrates 3D printing into home life is available on the official iF DESIGN AWARD website. For more details about the Centauri Carbon or to purchase it for 299.99 USD, please visit Elegoo's official website. 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 more than 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/2647177/Elegoo_s_Centauri_Carbon_wins_iF_DESIGN_AWARD_2025_smoothly_integrating.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2461229/ELEGOO__1_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/elegoo-centauri-carbon-wins-if-design-award-2025-for-integrating-3d-printing-into-home-life-302407970.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Forstrong Global Asset Management Inc. ("Forstrong") announces today the final proceeds relating to the termination of the Forstrong Global Ex-North America Equity ETF (TSX: FINE) (the "ETF") previously announced on January 16th, 2025. The units of the ETF were delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 18th, 2025. The proceeds from the liquidation of the assets, less all liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with this termination (the "Termination Proceeds") are as follows: Breakdown of Final NAV per Unit Ticker Symbol Final NAV per Unit Income Capital Gain Capital FINE $23.3578 $23.3578 Each unitholder will receive the Termination Proceeds on a pro rata basis as per the table above. No further action is required on the part of unitholders. The Termination Proceeds will be paid on or around March 21st,2025, to CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. Investors will then receive the amount to which they are entitled according to their brokerage firm's processing delay. About Forstrong Global Asset Management Inc. For over two decades, Forstrong Global has been providing its clients with exposure to a range of globally oriented investments. Our investment professionals use an unbiased investment approach, focusing on opportunities beyond traditional North American portfolios to deliver differentiated returns and risk mitigation. Forstrong's product offerings include separately managed accounts, pooled funds, and three ETFs listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with approximately $1 billion of assets under management. Management fees, brokerage fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in ETFs. Please read the prospectus, which contains detailed investment information, before investing. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. ETFs units are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. ETF units are bought and sold at market price on the TSX or another exchange or marketplace and may only be bought and sold through licensed dealers. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. There can be no assurance that ETF units will trade at prices that reflect their net asset value per unit. If ETF units are purchased or sold on the TSX or another exchange or marketplace, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of an ETF and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. There can be no assurance that an active public market for ETF units will develop or be sustained. There is no guarantee that the ETFs will achieve their stated objectives and there are risks involved in investing in the ETFs. Before investing you should read the prospectus or relevant ETF Facts and carefully consider, among other things, each ETF's investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses. A copy of the prospectus and ETF Facts of each ETF is available at www.forstrongetfs.com or www.sedarplus.ca. Certain statements may constitute a forward-looking statement within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to a future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding future financial performance. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect our current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including but not limited to, that a receipt for a preliminary or final simplified prospectus may not be obtained from the applicable securities regulatory authorities, that Forstrong Global Balanced Fund may not be able to meet the conditional approval and listing requirements of the TSX, general economic, political, and market factors in Canada and internationally, interest and foreign exchange rates, global equity and capital markets, business competition, and catastrophic events. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy the securities referred to herein. This press release is not for dissemination in the United States or for distribution to U.S. news wire services. 2025 Forstrong Global Asset Management Inc. All rights reserved. Forstrong Global and the Forstrong Global logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Forstrong Global Asset Management Inc. in Canada. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245470 SOURCE: Forstrong Global Asset Management Inc. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) is encouraged by the recent statement from the Government of Canada, demonstrating a strong commitment to tackling the fraudulent importation of broiler meat mislabeled as spent fowl. The dedication to enhancing collaboration between industry and enforcement agencies marks a positive step toward protecting the integrity of Canada's chicken supply and safeguarding the livelihoods of Canadian chicken farmers. Spent fowl refers to egg-laying hens that are processed for meat at the end of their production cycle. Unlike broiler chicken meat, imports of spent fowl are not subject to the same import controls, allowing unlimited quantities into Canada. As a result, this has given some importers the opportunity to fraudulently mislabel broiler meat as spent fowl in order to circumvent Canada's customs tariff. Canadian chicken farmers have long advocated for decisive measures to address this issue, which has resulted in significant economic impacts. At its peak, fraudulent imports of spent fowl cost Canada 1,400 jobs, $105 million in economic contributions, $35 million in taxes, and at least $66 million in government revenues annually. The Government of Canada has expressed its intention to collaborate with industry partners and enforcement agencies, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), to develop an action plan aimed at improving detection, enforcing compliance, and leveling the playing field. CFC expects this commitment will lead to the implementation of DNA testing to distinguish between broiler meat and spent fowl meat-an essential step to stopping illegal imports. Research funded by Chicken Farmers of Canada, in collaboration with Trent University, has already developed a reliable DNA test to accurately differentiate between the two types of meat. "Canadian chicken farmers appreciate the government's commitment to making spent fowl fraud a priority," said Tim Klompmaker, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada. "We are confident that the government's dedication to collaboration and decisive action will lead to the implementation of DNA testing as a means of enforcement. This will be a critical step forward in ensuring that our Canadian chicken sector can continue to thrive and compete fairly in the marketplace." CFC is committed to working closely with government partners to support efforts in implementing solutions that reinforce fairness, trust, and accountability within the chicken sector and across Canada's food system. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245504 SOURCE: Chicken Farmers of Canada Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) ("LaFleur Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following corporate updates. BEACON GOLD MILL RESTART AND SWANSON GOLD PROJECT UPDATES The Beacon Mill is a fully refurbished and permitted gold mill situated in Val-d'Or, Quebec, on the mineral-rich Abitibi Greenstone Belt, where LaFleur Minerals is laser focused on restarting gold production using large bulk samples and mineralized material from nearby gold deposits. With the price of gold in excess of USD$3,000 per ounce, many nearby deposits can be quickly monetized using the Company's 100%-owned Beacon Mill. The mill's operating capacity exceeds 750 tons per day and is strategically located in a highly prospective mining region for gold exploration and development, within an area that is host to over 100 historical and currently operating mines. The advancement of operations at the Beacon Mill has transformational qualities for the Company, evolving it from explorer to a near term gold producer in a Tier 1 jurisdiction with significant upside potential. Figure 1: Photo of interior of Beacon Mill currently undergoing detailed inspections for restart To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6526/245435_44764ad25410f882_001full.jpg Figure 2: Photo of exterior of Beacon Mill in Val-d'Or, Quebec To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6526/245435_44764ad25410f882_002full.jpg Equipment inspections, parts inventory, and maintenance work continues on a full-time basis at the Company's Beacon Gold Mill as part of its restart program (Figure 1 and Figure 2). A final plan and budget to restart the mill will be completed by ABF Mines by late April once final inspections are complete. The Company has also engaged an environmental services company based in Val-d'Or, Quebec to complete a federal government requirement to assess and monitor the environmental effects on the tailings and finishing ponds at the Beacon tailings storage facility ("TSF"). In addition, the Company will be engaging an engineering firm to complete a geotechnical assessment/inspection of the TSF and complete any required repairs or upgrades prior to commencing production at the mill. The Company remains committed to restart production at the Beacon Mill to process bulk samples and/or for custom milling purposes prior to the end of 2025, or once all required restart work has been completed and final approvals have been received by the Quebec government. SWANSON GOLD PROJECT UPDATES The Swanson Gold Project holds a large position in an attractive mining jurisdiction, extending over 16,000 hectares in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals, previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. The consolidated Swanson Gold Project covers a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold targets along with numerous other significant gold showings. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road with a rail line running through the property, allowing direct access to the Beacon Gold Mill, further enhancing its development potential. The Swanson Gold Project has had in excess of 36,000 metres of historical drilling, which underscores the advanced exploration and development potential of the project, which includes several favourable gold bearing regional structures and deformation corridors extending across the property. Since acquiring the Swanson deposit and consolidating the large claims package, the Company has deployed in excess of $1 million in flow-through funds, completed detailed soil geochemistry and prospecting across several gold targets, completed a very-high resolution airborne magnetic and VLF-EM geophysical survey, and is currently in the process of completing a ground IP survey over the Swanson, Jolin, and Bartec gold deposits. All of this work has allowed the Company to refine priority drill-ready targets and help derisk the upcoming diamond drilling program. Several new promising gold targets have been identified from the recent surface exploration and geophysics programs, highlighting the potential for mineral resource growth and new discoveries at Swanson. The Company has submitted an application for a diamond drilling permit to the Quebec government for the Swanson Gold Project and will be sending Requests for Quotes (RFQ) to local drilling contractors, with drilling expected to commence in the spring at the Swanson, Bartec, Jolin and other recently delineated gold targets. RESULTS OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING LaFleur Minerals also announces the results of its Annual General and Special Meeting ("AGSM") held on March 7, 2025. All matters presented at the AGSM were approved by shareholders including: (1) the Company's 10% Rolling Share Option Plan for continuation for a further three years, (2) the Company's 20% Restricted Share Unit Plan for continuation for a further three years, and (3) the Company's acquisition of an exclusive option to acquire 100% interest in and to certain mining claims and a mining lease located in the Province of Quebec, pursuant to the terms and conditions of an option agreement entered into between the Company and BullRun Capital Inc. dated September 17, 2024 (refer to the Company's news release dated September 24, 2024). EXERCISE OF WARRANTS Additionally, the Company also announces that it has received total gross proceeds of $816,750 from the exercise of 7,425,000 warrants (the "Warrants"). The Warrants were issued in relation to a private placement completed in March 2023 and had an expiry date of March 14, 2025, which were exercised in full. QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo., Technical Advisor to the Company and considered a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. About LaFleur Minerals Inc. LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d'Or, Quebec. Our mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Project and the Beacon Gold Mill and Property, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is over 16,000 hectares (160 km2) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road with a rail line running through the property allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Minerals' fully-refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the use of proceeds from the Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245435 SOURCE: LaFleur Minerals Inc. Bacardi Commitment to Small Business Empowerment Fuels Small Businesses in Bermuda Family-owned Bacardi proudly celebrates the success of the 3rd Annual Bacardi Black-Owned Vendor Market in Bermuda, an initiative dedicated to support and empower Black entrepreneurs on the island. Held at the Bacardi global headquarters in Bermuda on February 28, this year's event set a new benchmark, tripling last year's sales and generating nearly $30,000 for local Black-owned businesses. As part of the Company's ongoing commitment to empowering individuals through economic opportunity and community engagement, this event serves as a vital platform for local Black-owned businesses to showcase their products, connect with customers, and drive meaningful growth. This year's market featured 60+ vendors spanning food, retail, and artisanal sectors, highlighting the innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit within Bermuda's Black-owned business community. This year, Bacardi introduced a Masterclass offered to participating vendors in advance of the market with curated learning and networking designed to equip vendors with practical skills in branding, pitching, and scaling their businesses. The Masterclass featured industry experts who provided actionable strategies to help entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. "We are incredibly proud of the impact the Bacardi Black-Owned Vendor Market continues to have on the Bermuda business community," says Douglas Mello, Bacardi International Limited Managing Director. "This event goes beyond a single day of sales-it's about creating long-term opportunities, fostering meaningful connections, and equipping Black-owned businesses with the resources they need to thrive. By expanding this initiative with the Bacardi Masterclass, we are ensuring that local entrepreneurs not only gain visibility but also the knowledge and tools to sustain and grow their businesses." Bacardi is committed to fostering career growth and business development through impactful initiatives that drive long-term success and economic empowerment. This includes the recently launched Bacardi Hospitality Accelerator Program in Bermuda, which provides world-class training and professional development for local hospitality professionals. Across 10 countries, Bacardi has launched Shake Your Future, a free bartender training program designed to equip underemployed and unemployed young adults with the skills needed for sustainable careers in hospitality. To learn more about how Bacardi supports communities, visit www.bacardilimited.com . View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bacardi-Martini, Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Bacardi-Martini, Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bacardi-limited Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Bacardi-Martini, Inc. As the world prepares to observe World Water Day on March 22, 2025, the focus sharpens on the indispensable role of freshwater and the escalating challenges it faces. Initiated by the United Nations, World Water Day celebrates this vital resource while sounding an urgent call to action against the growing water crisis. The day serves as a reminder for the world to recommit to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). This year's theme, "Glacier Preservation," underscores the critical importance of glaciers, whose meltwater is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production, and healthy ecosystems. With rapidly melting glaciers causing uncertainty in water flows, the urgency for action has never been greater. Currently, 703 million people-approximately 1 in 11 globally-lack access to clean water. By 2025, half of the world's population could be living in areas facing water scarcity, with projections indicating that up to 700 million people could be displaced by intense water shortages by 2030. Our World, Our Future DP World, a global leader in supply chain solutions, is taking decisive steps to address these challenges, integrating sustainability into port operations, community outreach, and global partnerships. Our sustainability strategy, "Our World, Our Future," lays the groundwork for our approach, focusing on reducing our environmental footprint and advancing global water-related goals. As a business that enables prosperity to flow around the globe, we have a key role to play in safeguarding ocean health, increasing access to clean water and hygiene, managing our water use and protecting aquatic biodiversity. Recognizing this urgency, we have woven sustainable water management into the fabric of our operations and community engagements worldwide. Sustainable Port Operations DP World Americas is taking decisive steps to minimize water pollution, improve wastewater management, and safeguard marine biodiversity. By integrating sustainable practices into its port operations, the company is leading the industry in responsible water use and environmental protection. One initiative is DP World's issuance of a $100 million Blue Bond-the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region. This investment will fund water-positive projects, including port infrastructure improvements, coastal resilience initiatives, and marine pollution reduction efforts. In addition, the company has pledged to positively influence 100 water-stressed basins by 2030, aligning with the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate. This commitment reinforces our dedication to water conservation through strategic investments in waste reduction, water efficiency, and innovative sustainability solutions. Community & Conservation Partnerships DP World recognizes that protecting water resources requires collaboration. Across the Americas, we are spearheading conservation projects that restore waterways, preserve coastal ecosystems, and educate communities on water stewardship. Here are three projects worth highlighting as we celebrate World Water Day. Mangroves as a Nature-Based Solution in Ecuador In Ecuador, we are restoring mangrove forests in partnership with the CALISUR Foundation. These ecosystems act as natural carbon sinks, filter water pollutants, and provide essential habitats for marine life. In November, we completed a major mangrove restoration initiative that involved planting 250,000 mangrove seedlings across 105 hectares in El Morro and Isla Puna, capturing 50,719 tons of CO2 and directly benefiting more than 160 members of local fishing groups. Marine Environmental Stewardship in Canada DP World actively participates in the Marine Environmental Water Quality program and the Marine Environmental Water Quality Advisory Working Group at the Port of Prince Rupert. Through this program, water quality monitoring is conducted across Prince Rupert Harbor, measuring key parameters such as turbidity, nutrients, metals, bacteria, and hydrocarbons. This data helps assess the harbor's overall water conditions and the impact of various activities on the marine environment. Earlier this month, we reinforced our commitment to marine conservation by announcing a multi-year investment in research and preservation efforts within the Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Eastern Canada. Our support will contribute to managing invasive plant species, enhancing biodiversity, and implementing conservation strategies to protect this vital marine ecosystem. Supporting River Health in the Dominican Republic In the Dominican Republic, DP World has partnered with the Santo Domingo Water Fund (FASD) to fund the conservation of the Brujuelas River micro-basin. Since October 2022, DP World has invested over 6.3 million pesos in conservation efforts, including interventions on 20.42 hectares, planting 22,491 trees, and implementing sustainable agricultural practices to restore the ecosystem and ensure water availability. These nature-based solutions support biodiversity, manage climate change risk and maximize environmental, social and economic benefits. Global Stewardship, Local Impact At DP World, we believe in a "Source-to-Sea" approach to sustainability, integrating restoration efforts, investment in water sanitation infrastructure, and biodiversity protection. On World Water Day 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting water resources, advancing global water security, and building a more sustainable future. Through educational initiatives, community workshops, and strategic partnerships, we're laying the groundwork for a water-secure world. Learn more about DP World's global sustainability initiatives. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DP World on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: DP World Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/dp-world Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: DP World HONG KONG, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government announced today (March 20) the return of the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit (WGHK) on March 26 and its speaker lineup. Hong Kong has consistently maintained its leading position as a top global wealth management centre and a key hub for family offices worldwide. The third edition of the WGHK will showcase the city's role in empowering global wealth for good, fostering cross-cultural exchanges, and forging partnerships to drive growth, innovation and legacy building for generations to come. Co-organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the third edition of the WGHK will once again bring influential family office principals from around the world to Hong Kong. Under the theme "Hong Kong of the World, for the World", the summit will forge new connections and leverage Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the Mainland and being closely connected to the world to drive innovation, investment and sustainable growth. Participants from Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa will join Mainland and Hong Kong attendees at the event and exchange insights. Meaningful conversations on how wealth can drive progress, inspire creativity and create lasting impact around the three sub-themes, namely art and culture, philanthropy, and technology and artificial intelligence investments, will be featured. Anchoring the Wealth and Investment Mega Event Week as part of Hong Kong Super March, the WGHK 2025 is also an opportunity for global attendees to experience firsthand the energy, warmth and entrepreneurial spirit that define Hong Kong. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "Building on the success of the previous two summits, this year's WGHK attracted attendees from an even wider spectrum, in terms of where they come from and the family offices they are representing. World-class speakers and decision-makers of family offices are going to gather here in Hong Kong to explore how the city's strategic advantages can shape a brighter future and build legacy. They are also going to feel for themselves the unparalleled opportunities that Hong Kong has to offer as a global family office hub for wealth stewardship driving sustainable growth and touching lives far beyond our city through our strong financial and legal infrastructure, global connectivity, and thriving professional and philanthropic ecosystem." The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "Hong Kong is a 'super-connector' and a 'super value-adder', renowned as an internationally connected financial powerhouse, a thriving business and innovation hub, and a beacon of arts and culture. Amplifying these advantages, the city is home to a dynamic family office ecosystem backed by top-tier professional talent and philanthropic matchmaking services, and supported by the dedicated efforts of our FamilyOfficeHK team. More than 2 700 single family offices choose Hong Kong as their base, leveraging our unique strengths to grow and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world." This year's WGHK will be graced by a distinguished lineup of international speakers as follows: Mr Luis Alvarado, Head of GAEA, World Economic Forum; Mr Horst Bente, Founder of ADLEGACY; Mr Robert Buchbauer, Vice Chairman, Swarovski International Holding; Dr Adrian Cheng, Chairman of the Board, Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy; Mr Steve Davis, Senior Advisor and Director, Gates Foundation; Mr Simone Gibertoni, Chief Executive Officer of Clinique La Prairie; Mr Gregg Lemkau, Co-Chief Executive Officer, BDT & MSD Partners; Mr James Peng, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pony.ai; Mr Pandu Patria Sjahrir, Chief Investment Officer, Danantara Indonesia; Mr Joe Tsai, Co-founder and Chairman, Alibaba Group; Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of University of Oxford; Ms Supaluck Umpujh, Chairwoman of The Mall Group; and Ms Yeyi Yun, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of MiniMax The WGHK is the flagship event of Wealth and Investment Mega Event Week, a series of high-profile gatherings that highlight Hong Kong's strength as a financial powerhouse. The week also includes the Milken Institute Global Investors' Symposium on March 24, the HSBC Global Investment Summit from March 25 to 27, the inaugural Bloomberg Family Office Summit and a number of sustainability-themed events hosted by the World Economic Forum on March 27. Bringing together global family offices, investors, and entrepreneurs, the week seeks to inspire new opportunities and energise the future of wealth management and global investment. For more information, please visit https://www.wghk.gov.hk/. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wealth-for-good-in-hong-kong-summit-world-class-speakers-to-shape-future-of-global-family-offices-302408063.html BANGALORE, India, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AI-Based Fraud Detection Tools Market is Segmented by Type (On-Premise, Cloud Based), by Application (Large Corporation, SMEs). The Global Market for AI-Based Fraud Detection Tools was valued at USD 3670 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 10170 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.9% during the forecast period. Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-9G14179/Global_AI_Based_Fraud_Detection_Tools_Market Major Factors Driving the Growth of AI-Based Fraud Detection Tools Market: The global AI-based fraud detection tools market continues to expand as businesses and governments acknowledge the escalating threat of financial crimes. Rising awareness of the costs associated with fraud, including chargebacks, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties, drives sustained demand for sophisticated analytics platforms. AI solutions rapidly process vast datasets to identify hidden patterns, delivering near-instant insights that fortify security measures. Competition among vendors prompts innovation, resulting in increasingly tailored offerings that cater to diverse industries such as banking, retail, and telecommunications. Partnerships and mergers within the technology sector further enhance solution capabilities, facilitating seamless integration with existing infrastructures. As businesses intensify their digital transformation efforts, the need for robust, adaptive AI-based fraud detection is poised to remain a crucial market force. Unlock Insights: View Full Report Now! https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-9G14179/global-ai-based-fraud-detection-tools TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE AI-BASED FRAUD DETECTION TOOLS MARKET: Cloud-based solutions play a pivotal role in driving the growth of AI-based fraud detection tools by providing scalable infrastructure, automated updates, and cost-efficient deployment models. With cloud-based platforms, organizations can quickly access real-time analytics and leverage powerful machine learning algorithms to identify anomalous activities. This flexible approach streamlines processes, reduces operational overheads, and ensures seamless software upgrades, enabling businesses to stay ahead of evolving threats. By eliminating the need for complex on-premise hardware, cloud-based systems empower even smaller enterprises to adopt advanced fraud detection mechanisms. Additionally, cloud providers often offer multi-layered security protocols, thereby enhancing data protection and ensuring compliance with regulations. This scalability and widespread accessibility significantly contribute to the widespread uptake of AI-driven fraud detection across industries worldwide. On-premise deployment of AI-based fraud detection tools fuels market growth by providing organizations with direct control over their data and security protocols. Many industries, such as finance and healthcare, handle sensitive information that demands strict compliance with privacy regulations, making on-premise systems appealing. These solutions allow businesses to tailor their fraud detection models to specific operational requirements, ensuring optimal performance and faster response times. Moreover, on-premise platforms facilitate integration with existing infrastructure, reducing the complexity of cloud migration. These frameworks minimize latency concerns, enabling real-time threat detection. This heightened customization fosters reliability and trust among clients and stakeholders. Overall, on-premise adoption is propelling the expansion of AI-driven fraud detection systems, thus addressing unique organizational demands while safeguarding critical data assets. Large corporations play a pivotal role in accelerating the AI-based fraud detection tools market by investing substantial resources in research, development, and deployment. These businesses often handle vast transaction volumes and intricate operational processes, necessitating robust solutions that can detect and mitigate sophisticated fraud attempts. By implementing cutting-edge AI technologies, large enterprises drive ongoing innovation and contribute to the refinement of predictive models, advanced data processing, and algorithmic precision. They also set industry benchmarks, demonstrating the tangible benefits of advanced analytics for reducing financial losses and reputational damage. Moreover, such corporations frequently engage with government bodies and regulatory authorities, shaping standards for fraud prevention. Their influence and partnerships foster collaboration across sectors, amplifying adoption rates and fueling continuous market expansion. Rapid digitalization across industries is fueling adoption of AI-based fraud detection tools by creating volumes of data to be analyzed in real time. As transactions and customer interactions move to online channels, organizations face an urgent need to detect and prevent malicious activities. AI-driven systems excel at processing data sets, identifying anomalies, and flagging suspicious patterns. This capability is vital in sectors such as e-commerce and banking, where digital transactions continue to rise. With digitalization comes heightened vulnerability, leading businesses to prioritize advanced fraud prevention strategies. By automating processes and enhancing accuracy, AI solutions reduce operational costs, enabling faster responses to emerging threats and sustaining market momentum. This connectivity surge spurs investments in robust AI infrastructure, further supporting market expansion. E-commerce expansion is a major driver for AI-based fraud detection tools, as online retailers handle immense transaction volumes and process sensitive consumer data. With digital marketplaces becoming increasingly global, fraudulent actors exploit cross-border opportunities, requiring sophisticated detection capabilities. AI-powered solutions help merchants analyze real-time behavior, identify payment anomalies, and swiftly mitigate risks. The heightened adoption of mobile commerce and digital wallets further intensifies the need for robust solutions, as cybercriminals continuously evolve tactics to bypass traditional security measures. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, e-commerce platforms can adapt to emerging threats, reducing chargebacks and safeguarding customer trust. This growth in online retail consequently accelerates investment in advanced fraud prevention technologies, ensuring sustainable market expansion worldwide. Enterprises allocate bigger budgets, ensuring coverage. Regulatory and compliance pressure strongly influences the AI-based fraud detection tools market, as governments and industry bodies introduce stringent rules to protect consumers and maintain financial stability. Organizations must comply with data privacy standards, anti-money laundering protocols, and other directives that demand robust monitoring systems. AI-driven solutions offer real-time alerts and sophisticated analytics, enabling businesses to address compliance requirements more effectively. By automating risk assessments, these tools significantly reduce manual intervention, decreasing operational costs and mitigating potential penalties. Additionally, regulators often encourage the adoption of advanced technologies, driving further innovation in fraud prevention methods. The emphasis on accountability compels companies to invest in high-performance detection platforms. Consequently, this regulatory climate underscores the essential role of AI in safeguarding global markets. Evolving fraud tactics continually push AI-based fraud detection tools to adapt and improve. Cybercriminals employ increasingly sophisticated methods, such as identity spoofing, account takeovers, and synthetic identities, that challenge traditional rule-based systems. AI-powered solutions remain agile by leveraging machine learning models capable of learning from historical data and adjusting to emerging threats. As criminals refine their strategies, these tools upgrade algorithms to detect subtle anomalies that may indicate malicious intent. This dynamic environment fosters a cycle of continuous enhancement, driving demand for robust and responsive solutions. Collaboration between industry stakeholders, including financial institutions and technology providers, also promotes intelligence sharing, helping stay ahead of evolving schemes. Consequently, the market for AI-based fraud detection continues to flourish worldwide. Claim Yours Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-9G14179&lic=single-user AI-BASED FRAUD DETECTION TOOLS MARKET SHARE North America leads in early adoption, driven by strong investments in machine learning and data analytics within the financial sector. Europe follows closely, emphasizing data privacy regulations that shape fraud detection requirements. In the Asia-Pacific region, rapid digital growth, rising e-commerce activities, and large unbanked populations create ample opportunities for innovative fraud prevention strategies. Key Companies: IBM Microsoft Accertify Seon Kount Alessa Veridas Riskified ClearSale Advarisk Sift Signifyd Emailage ArkOwl Mastercard(Ekata) TruValidate Threatmetrix CyberSource FraudHunt OneSpan Ethoca Visa RSA Security Purchase Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-9G14179/Global_AI_Based_Fraud_Detection_Tools_Market SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS! - Artificial Intelligence (AI) in BFSI market was valued at USD 1436 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 4262.6 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 19.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Fraud Detection and Prevention Market - Web-Based Fraud Detection and Prevention Market - Mobile-Based Fraud Detection and Prevention Market - AI Fraud Detection Market was valued at USD 9624 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 16930 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period. - Transaction Fraud Detection System Market was estimated to be worth USD 27760 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 641010 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 12.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - AI Anti-Fraud Service Market was valued at USD 15470 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 28010 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period. - AI Content Detector Market - AI in Fraud Management Market was valued at USD 3884 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 5298 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. - AI in Fintech Market - Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) Market DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US! 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GET A FREE QUOTE Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ai-based-fraud-detection-tools-market-surges-with-15-9-cagr--industry-insights--future-trends---valuates-reports-302408029.html Meritech, BOND, and SE Ventures Invest in Platform Fueling Record ROI for Commercial Giants BuildOps, the all-in-one platform exclusively built for modern commercial contractors, announced today that it has raised $127 million in Series C funding led by Meritech Capital Partners, propelling the company to unicorn status with a valuation of $1 billion. The funding also includes new participation from BOND and SE Ventures, the venture capital firm backed by Schneider Electric and is joined by BuildOps' existing investors, including Fika Ventures, Next47, StepStone Group, and Titanium Ventures. BuildOps is also backed by notable investors 01A, Founders Fund, B Capital, MetaProp, 137 Ventures, and Liquid2. Partner at Meritech, Paul Madera, will join BuildOps' board, alongside other highly acclaimed members: former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, Fika Founder TX Zhuo, former Boost Mobile CEO Stephen Stokols, and Next47 General Partner Matthew Cowan. This investment further cements BuildOps as the largest and most influential commercial trade contractor platform in the country. "We've spent years watching commercial contractors- the guys who keep our lights on and pipes flowing-get crushed by chaos they don't deserve," said Paul Madera, former fighter pilot and founding partner at Meritech Capital Partners. "BuildOps is the first enterprise software solution we've seen that actually gets it and fills an industry-wide need: a platform that doesn't just patch holes; it facilitates control and management of workflow from the shop floor to the job site. We're leading this round because these folks build our world, and BuildOps is hell-bent on making these businesses more efficient, effective and productive - this is a very large market that is wide open for BuildOps." The latest funding accelerates BuildOps' deployment of cutting-edge AI technology, including predictive analytics that identifies maintenance needs before they become costly, AI-powered scheduling, and real-time project tracking. This next-gen tech doesn't just automate-it positions contractors to predict, plan, and profit in ways previously impossible. Industry giants like J.H. Kelly, Haynes Mechanical, Baker Electric, Crete United, Modigent, Kelso, and Service Logic are leveraging BuildOps to achieve incredible efficiency gains, cut administrative overhead, speed invoicing, and maximize technician productivity. J.H. Kelly, a leading multi-trade specialty contractor with over 1,200 employees across its construction and mechanical/electrical service groups, shared the impact of BuildOps on their operations: "BuildOps has revolutionized our operational efficiency. From real-time quoting and customer communication to billing and cash flow management, BuildOps has fundamentally changed how we do business," said Rob Harris, EVP of Business Development at J.H. Kelly. "Its predictive analytics enable real-time operations, allowing us to focus on growth while staying deeply connected with our customers. The platform's seamless integration has driven double-digit growth and significantly boosted profitability-truly a game-changer." Service Logic, the largest privately held network of HVAC and mechanical services companies in the U.S. and Canada, achieved over $2 billion in revenue in 2024, with more than 100 locations nationwide. Jason Richardson, CEO of Service Logic, shared: "We are excited for the BuildOps team on their latest round of funding, which will allow them to continue fueling innovative developments of the platform. We look forward to seeing the additional functionalities and growing our partnership with BuildOps." BuildOps serves contractors across the U.S. and Canada, providing a strategic advantage that drives real growth and profitability. As major industry players increasingly adopt the platform, BuildOps is becoming the definitive technology partner for commercial contracting businesses poised to lead their markets. "I talk to contractors every day-HVAC pros, plumbers, electricians-and they're busting their backs keeping our world running, but the deck's stacked against them with staffing shortages, skyrocketing costs, and tech that is stuck in the Stone Age," said Alok Chanani, CEO of BuildOps. "It fires me up because they deserve better-tools that don't just keep up but actually let them run circles around the chaos. That's what we're building at BuildOps: a way for them to take charge, grow without breaking, and deliver like the heroes they are." *** About BuildOps BuildOps is the only all-in-one business platform built exclusively for commercial contractors. By combining project management, service, dispatching, invoicing, and AI-powered automation, BuildOps helps contractors work smarter, grow faster, and stay ahead of the competition. To learn more about BuildOps and how we're driving innovation in the trades, visit https://buildops.com . About Meritech Meritech is one of the original venture growth investor firms and invests $20 - $100 million into rapidly growing technology companies across the US and internationally. Over the past 25 years, Meritech has managed over $6 Billion and invested in many of the most successful venture-backed companies of that period to include Braze, Coupa, Datadog, Facebook, Mulesoft, NetSuite, Salesforce, Snowflake, Roblox and Tableau. The Meritech investing and support philosophy is simple: we exist to help teams build market-leading companies in the technology markets that matter. We believe our companies should be center stage as enduring brands and entrepreneurs are the drivers of success. We do one thing: invest in the best late-stage tech companies in the universe. www.meritechcapital.com Media Contact Justin Mauldin Salient PR achievemore@salientpr.com 737.234.0936 SOURCE: BuildOps Richmond Hill Resources Plc - Sale of Subsidiaries PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 21 Richmond Hill Resources Plc ("Richmond Hill " or the "Company") Sale of Subsidiaries Richmond Hill (AQSE: SHNJ), is pleased to announce that further to the announcement of February 3, 2025 the Company has entered in to an asset purchase agreement with Intergen I Limited Partnership, a Wyoming, USA, limited partnership ("Intergen I") to sell two of its subsidiaries. The two subsidiaries are Mazeray Corporation and STI signature Spirits Group LLC. The consideration for the sale is 1,000. At this stage no agreement has been entered in to with respect of the sale of Shinju Whiskey LLC and Shinju Spirits Inc. As previously stated the Company will seek approval from shareholders in due course for the future sale of the two remaining subsidiaries. Intergen I is 50% owned by Ryan Dolder, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and therefore the sale to Intergen I constitutes a related party transaction pursuant to the Aquis Growth Market Access Rulebook. Having considered the terms of the sale, and having exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence, Hamish Harris, the independent Director for the purpose of the sale to Intergen I, considers that Ryan's participation is fair and reasonable insofar as the shareholders of the Company are concerned. The director of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the release of this announcement. For further information, please contact: The Company Hamish Harris hharris@roguebaron.com AQSE Corporate Adviser and Broker: Peterhouse Capital Limited +44 (0) 20 7469 0936 Joint Broker: Clear Capital Limited Bob Roberts +44 (0) 20 3869 6080 CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") has been informed that Mayfair Acquisition Corp. ("Mayfair") (TSX.V:MFA.P), a Canadian based capital pool company, intends to make an unsolicited offer to acquire all the shares of CANEX and all of the shares of Gold Basin Resources ("Gold Basin") (TSX.V:GXX) in an all share transaction. The offer intends to combine the Arizona gold assets of both CANEX and Gold Basin into a company sponsored by the Discovery Group. No formal offer has been received. The Board of Directors and management of CANEX are committed to reviewing any proposal in a timely and thorough manner. Upon receipt of a formal offer, the Board will evaluate its terms and provide a public statement in due course. Until CANEX has had an opportunity to review the proposal and its terms, it is not in a position to comment on the offer and will not speculate as to any future course of action it might take. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. About CANEX Metals CANEX Metals (TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on advancing it's 100% owned Gold Range Project in Northern Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early-stage opportunity for investors. CANEX is also advancing the Louise Copper-Gold Porphyry deposit in British Columbia. Louise contains a large historic copper-gold resource that has seen very little deep or lateral exploration, offering investors copper and gold discovery upside. CANEX has scheduled a fully permitted and fully funded induced polarization geophysical survey for the spring of 2025 as the next step in evaluating the Louise property. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX:ALS), a large shareholder of the Company. Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX Metals and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. "Shane Ebert" Shane Ebert President/Director For Further Information Contact: Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 or Jean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636 Web: http://www.canexmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "expects", "projects", "plans", "anticipates" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc. internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of CANEX shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements. SOURCE: CANEX Metals Inc. Veteran attorney Edward F. Cohn has been recognized by USA Today as one of the top attorneys of 2025. This prestigious national recognition highlights Cohn's remarkable 22-year career dedicated to criminal defense and his unwavering commitment to representing clients in cases others might overlook. In its comprehensive profile of elite legal professionals, USA Today praised Cohn's dedication, noting his guiding principle that "every client deserves an attorney who will fight for them." The publication specifically highlighted his expertise in handling complicated cases and his fierce commitment to advocacy. "This recognition from USA Today validates what I've always believed - justice isn't just about high-profile cases, but about standing up for every client who needs a voice," said Cohn. "I'm honored to be included among the nation's top legal professionals." A Career Built on Excellence and Integrity Licensed in three states - Arizona, Massachusetts, and Michigan - Cohn has built his primary practice in Tucson, where he has established himself as a formidable presence in courtrooms throughout the region. His legal acumen spans a wide range of practice areas, including criminal defense, protective orders, and constitutional law matters. Cohn holds the prestigious AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a distinction previously awarded to fewer than 10% of attorneys nationwide. This peer-reviewed accolade represents the highest level of professional excellence in both legal ability and ethical standards. His client-focused approach has earned him the AVVO Client Choice Award in both 2020 and 2024, recognizing attorneys who consistently receive outstanding client feedback. Additionally, Cohn has achieved Platinum Client Champion status from Lawyers.com, further cementing his reputation for exceptional client service. "In my practice, I've always focused on cases that make a genuine difference in people's lives," Cohn remarked. "Whether defending against serious criminal charges or protecting someone from harassment through wrongful restraining orders, I approach each case with the same level of dedication and thoroughness." Exceptional Educational Foundation Cohn's commitment to legal excellence is reflected in his impressive educational credentials. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and enhanced his expertise with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Boston University School of Law. His academic achievements extend beyond traditional legal education. Cohn also earned a prestigious certificate in comprehensive negotiation from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, equipping him with advanced dispute resolution skills that have proven invaluable in his practice. Community Service Beyond the Courtroom USA Today's profile particularly emphasized Cohn's dedication to community service, noting his volunteer work at Boston nursing homes and his role as a licensed foster parent in Arizona with his wife Andrea. "The law is about more than courtroom victories," Cohn explained. "It's about making a difference in people's lives, both professionally and personally." His community involvement includes serving as a guardian ad litem, protecting the interests of elderly and intellectually challenged individuals. Cohn has also worked as an ombudsman for Jewish Family & Children's Services, advocating for seniors in nursing homes - a testament to his commitment to protecting vulnerable populations both inside and outside the courtroom. Together with his wife, Cohn has provided respite care for foster children in Pima County, offering temporary relief for foster families while creating a safe, nurturing environment for children in need. A Track Record of Taking on Challenging Cases Throughout his career, Cohn has built a reputation for securing results in cases that other attorneys might consider too difficult or complex. His practice encompasses a wide range of criminal defense matters, from misdemeanors to serious felonies, always approaching each case with the same level of dedication. "What sets Edward apart is his willingness to take on the most complicated aspects of cases," noted the USA Today feature. "His commitment to excellence has earned him top accolades in his field." As a member of the Pima County Bar Association, Cohn actively participates in the legal community, staying at the forefront of developments in criminal law and constitutional issues. Looking Forward As Cohn continues to grow his practice, he remains dedicated to his core mission of representing clients with vigor and integrity. His recognition by USA Today serves not as a culmination but as a milestone in a career defined by passionate advocacy and unwavering principles. "This recognition reinforces my commitment to continue fighting for justice and standing up for those who need it most," said Cohn. "After 22 years, I'm as passionate about this work as I was on day one." The complete USA Today feature on Edward F. Cohn can be accessed at USA Today Top Attorneys of 2025 feature . Those interested in learning more about his practice can visit www.cohnjustice.com . About Edward F. Cohn Edward F. Cohn is a criminal defense attorney based in Tucson, Arizona, with 22+ years of legal experience across three states. His practice focuses on criminal defense, protective orders, and constitutional law matters. An AV Preeminent-rated attorney, Cohn has built a reputation for handling complex cases with both expertise and compassion. His community involvement includes volunteering as a guardian ad litem, serving as an ombudsman for Jewish Family & Children's Services, and providing foster care services in Pima County. SOURCE: Edward F. Cohn BAGHDAD, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 20, 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony for Iraq's first waste-to-energy project was successfully concluded in Baghdad. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani launched the construction ceremony. Eric Zhan, CEO of SUS INTERNATIONAL, delivered the speech. The Prime Minister congratulated the start of the implementation of the waste-to-energy project, which is part of the government's plans to transition to clean and renewable energy. He pointed out that "today marks the beginning of a new era in waste treatment according to a model that is the most modern in the region and is consistent with our approach to confronting climate change and environmental pollution." The waste-to-energy project is located in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. The project has a designed processing capacity of 3,000 tons per day, with 3 incineration lines, and is equipped with a 100MW steam turbine generator set. The total investment of the project is approximately 500 million USD. It will generate 780 million kWh of green electricity annually, which can meet 10 million people's electricity demand. It will also create approximately 500 local job opportunities. "SUS ENVIRONMENT will leverage the advanced technology and rich experience to shape the project as a pioneering model. We will join hands with all parties to solve waste issues and contribute to environment conservation in Iraq." Eric Zhan said in his speech. The local officials, including Haider Mohammed Makkiya, Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Ziyad Ali Fadel, Minister of Electricity, Abdul Alawi, Governor of Baghdad and Ammar Mosa, Mayor of Baghdad as well as representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises in Iraq, attended the ceremony. About SUS ENVIRONMENT SUS ENVIRONMENT is the world's largest provider of waste incineration equipment and technology, as well as one of the top three investors and operators of waste-to-energy projects (low-carbon Eco-industrial parks) globally. As of December 2024, SUS ENVIRONMENT has established 10 management centers worldwide, providing environmental and energy services to over 100 million people. It has invested in and constructed 89 waste-to-energy projects (low-carbon Eco-industrial parks), with a daily processing capacity nearly 120,000 tons of municipal solid waste and annual green power generation of approximately 18,000 GWh. Its equipment and technology are applied in 287 waste-to-energy plants across the world, comprising 532 incineration lines, with a daily capacity over 300,000 tons of municipal solid waste. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647260/image.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/iraqs-first-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-baghdad-waste-to-energy-project-marks-a-step-towards-a-more-sustainable-future-with-sus-environment-support-302408115.html Southern Company: Mississippi Power announced that Pedro Cherry has been named president of the company with Anthony Wilson continuing in his roles of chairman and CEO until summer. Cherry has worked in the energy industry for 30 years and been a part of the Southern Company system for nearly 25 years. He previously served as president and CEO of both Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas, two southern region natural gas utilities that serve approximately 1.8 million customers in two states. "I am excited to join Mississippi Power during the company's centennial year and during a period of unprecedented growth," Cherry said. "Mississippi Power is known throughout the industry for its unparalleled commitment to safety and reliably providing its customers with excellent service, so I'm very honored to have this opportunity." Prior to his roles at Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas, Cherry was the executive vice president of Customer Service and Operations (CSO) at Georgia Power. He led a team of 5,000-plus employees in the CSO organization and oversaw the company's customer service efforts, power delivery, sales, pricing and planning, regional external affairs, renewable development and corporate services. Cherry was responsible for operating and maintaining Georgia Power's electric system serving 2.6 million customers. "Pedro is a tremendous leader with a broad base of knowledge and experience across Southern Company," Wilson said. "He shares our values and the things that are important to us, so I know he will be a perfect fit for our company, our communities and our state through this leadership transition." In other roles at Georgia Power, Cherry served as senior vice president of the Metro Atlanta Region with responsibility for the company's operations, sales, customer service, economic and community development, and external affairs for 1.2 million customers across metro Atlanta. He also served as vice president of community and economic development. He is an active community leader, serving on numerous boards in the Atlanta area and as the 2024 chairman of the Georgia Chamber. Cherry earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and an MBA in operations management and finance from Auburn University. He is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Leadership Georgia and the Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional Leadership Institute. Cherry is also a member of Auburn University's Alumni Engineering Advisory Council. Now in its 100th year of service, Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and affordable energy for more than 192,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Mississippi Power is proud to be an industry leader in safety and reliability. The company was recognized in 2024 by the Southeastern Electric Exchange for the Top Safety Performance in its generation category. For outstanding storm response, the company has also been honored by the Edison Electric Institute multiple times with an Emergency Response Award. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For further information: Kaila Moran Griffith, Mississippi Power Spokeswoman, 24/7 Media Line: 228-861-5543 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Southern Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Southern Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/southern-company Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Southern Company Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC) (OTCQB: QNCCF) (FSE: 34Q0) ("QeM" or the "Corporation") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 3,920,000 stock options (each, an "Option") to officers and employees of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation's stock option plan. Each Option is exercisable for one common share in the capital of QeM (a "Share") at a price of $0.69 per Share. The Options were granted as part of the long-term compensation and employee retention incentives program provided by the Corporation, as well as in accordance with the terms of employment contracts. The Options will vest immediately and will expire on March 20th, 2035. This grant follows the successful completion of the LIFE offering and the receipt of approximately $2.25 million through the exercise of 15 million common share purchase warrants and demonstrates the strong commitment and confidence to execute the corporation's plan. About Quantum eMotion The Corporation's mission is to address the growing demand for affordable hardware and software security for connected devices. Thanks to its patented Quantum Random Number Generator, QeM has become a pioneering force in classical and quantum cybersecurity solutions. This security solution exploits quantum mechanics' built-in unpredictability and promises to provide enhanced protection for high-value assets and critical systems. The Corporation intends to target highly valued Financial Services, Healthcare, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Krown Technologies and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography. 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. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in the Corporation's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by QeM from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245560 SOURCE: Quantum eMotion Corp. Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Cueto Law Group, a Miami-based business law firm, has strengthened its business dispute resolution services to address increasing client demand for faster and more cost-effective legal solutions. With an enhanced focus on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and strategic litigation management, the firm is improving its ability to help businesses resolve legal disputes efficiently while minimizing operational disruptions. Santiago A. Cueto, Miami Business Attorney To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10926/243682_37408d99e47aa815_001full.jpg This expansion comes as companies across industries - including real estate, finance, and technology - seek legal strategies that prioritize resolution speed and financial efficiency over prolonged court battles. In response, Cueto Law Group has broadened its mediation, arbitration, and corporate compliance advisory services, reinforcing its position as a leading legal partner for businesses navigating complex disputes. "Our mission has always been to provide strategic legal solutions that not only resolve disputes but also position our clients for long-term success," said Santiago A. Cueto, the Managing Partner of Cueto Law Group. "With this expansion, we are strengthening our ability to provide cost-efficient, business-driven legal strategies that resolve disputes quickly and effectively." Expanded Legal Services for Business Disputes In the past year, Cueto Law Group has seen an increase in corporate litigation cases, prompting the firm to refine its legal services with an emphasis on alternative dispute resolution, faster case management, and proactive compliance support. These enhancements allow businesses to navigate legal conflicts with greater certainty and reduced financial burden. As part of this expansion, Cueto Law Group has: Strengthened its ADR practice, offering mediation and arbitration services to resolve disputes outside of litigation. Implemented faster resolution strategies to reduce legal timelines and allow clients to focus on business continuity. Expanded its corporate compliance services to help businesses prevent disputes before they escalate into litigation. Invested in legal technology, including advanced case management systems, to improve efficiency in handling complex disputes. With these updates, Cueto Law Group is better equipped to assist businesses with contract disputes, regulatory compliance matters, commercial litigation, and cross-border business conflicts. Strategic Focus on Faster and Cost-Effective Legal Resolutions The firm's refined approach to dispute resolution is aimed at providing clients with practical legal solutions that minimize financial and operational risks. Through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, Cueto Law Group is helping businesses avoid the costs and uncertainties associated with lengthy litigation. "Legal disputes can create significant business disruptions," Cueto added. "Our goal is to help businesses resolve issues quickly and strategically, ensuring they can operate without prolonged legal distractions." This client-focused approach has already resulted in faster case resolutions and reduced legal costs for businesses across key industries. By combining ADR strategies with litigation expertise, Cueto Law Group provides tailored legal counsel that meets the specific needs of businesses facing legal challenges. Ongoing Commitment to Business Legal Services To support its expanding client base, Cueto Law Group is also enhancing its internal legal operations with new technologies and digital tools designed to improve efficiency. These advancements allow the firm to provide: Faster case processing through optimized legal workflows. Clearer communication between attorneys and business clients. Greater transparency in legal case management. Looking ahead, Cueto Law Group is continuing to invest in dispute resolution strategies that align with evolving industry regulations and business needs. The firm remains dedicated to advancing its dispute resolution strategies, improving client service delivery, and strengthening its role as one of the leading business law firms in Miami and beyond. "As the legal landscape changes, we remain committed to helping businesses stay ahead of disputes and legal risks," Cueto said. "This expansion reflects our ongoing investment in business-focused legal solutions that drive positive outcomes for our clients." To learn more about Cueto Law Group's full spectrum of service offerings or to schedule a consultation, please visit https://cuetolawgroup.com/. About Cueto Law Group Cueto Law Group is a premier business law firm based in Miami, Florida, dedicated to helping businesses navigate complex legal challenges. The firm distinguishes itself through personalized legal strategies tailored to each client's goals, a proven track record of success in high-stakes business disputes, and extensive international law expertise. Led by Santiago A. Cueto, a Board-Certified expert in International Law, the firm prioritizes clear communication, transparency, and proactive legal guidance. The firm's comprehensive legal services include Commercial Litigation, Business Contract Disputes, Corporate Legal Counsel, and Mediation & Arbitration. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243682 SOURCE: Brand Featured Nonprofit works with global partners to expand access to clean water While many enjoy easy access to clean water, more than 2 billion people worldwide still lack safe drinking water. This World Water Day, Feed the Children highlights the importance of water access, and the role clean water plays in helping children and their families thrive. The organization understands that delivering impactful programs that address the root cause of water insecurity while promoting clean water and safe health and hygiene practices requires collaboration. Feed the Children celebrates its partnerships that make a difference for communities experiencing water insecurity around the world. Expanding Access to Clean Water Across El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Uganda, Feed the Children integrates Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives into its programs to protect children and families from waterborne diseases. In Africa, where water is often scarce, Feed the Children drilled and repaired over 45 boreholes in Kenya and Malawi last year, tapping into deep groundwater sources with solar-powered pumps to provide sustainable water solutions. Through its continued partnership with Procter & Gamble, Feed the Children distributed over 4 million water purification packets in 2024, providing clean drinking water to more than 18,500 households. "We are incredibly grateful for the on-going support of Procter & Gamble as we continue serving communities in Malawi as humanitarian aid is reduced," said Bre Jefferson, President, International at Feed the Children. "Partnerships with the corporate sector are increasingly critical as we aim to scale our impact as the global need urgently rises." Water Relief in the United States Domestically, Feed the Children partners with Niagara Cares, the charitable division of Niagara Bottling, to provide families with emergency water affected by natural and man-made disasters. In the last 16 years, they have distributed over 155 million pounds of essential supplies, including more than 10 million bottles of water to support communities impacted by crises such as the California wildfires, Hurricane Ian, and the East Palestine, Ohio, disaster. While Feed the Children's work to support communities around the world continues, it cannot be done alone. "Water scarcity is an urgent global challenge that requires collective action," said Emily Callahan, President and CEO of Feed the Children. "Through our international programs and domestic relief efforts, we are providing children and families with the vital resources they need to build stronger, healthier futures." The organization encourages everyone to come together and join their global initiative to provide access to clean water and resources today. Supporters can donate at feedthechildren.org and help address this growing global crisis while making a difference in communities around the world. About Feed the Children Feed the Children is a leading nonprofit committed to ending childhood hunger. The organization believes that no child should go to bed hungry, and so it provides children and families in the U.S. and around the world with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive.? Through its programs and partnerships, the organization feeds children today while helping their families and communities build resilient futures. In addition to food, Feed the Children distributes household and personal care items across the United States to help parents and caregivers maintain stable, food-secure households. Internationally, it expands access to nutritious meals, safe water, improved hygiene, and training in sustainable living. As responsible stewards of its resources, Feed the Children is driven to pursue innovative, holistic, and child-focused solutions to the complex challenges of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty. For children everywhere, the organization believes that having enough to eat is a fundamental right.?Learn how you can help create a world without childhood hunger at feedthechildren.org . ### For more information, please contact: Kelly Frey - 405-945-4064 Kelly.Frey@feedthechildren.org SOURCE: Feed the Children Rightmove Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 21 21 March 2025 Rightmove plc Share buy-back programme Rightmove plc - transactions in own shares Rightmove plc ('Rightmove'), announces that today it purchased 165,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 687.430p. The highest price paid per share was 691.800p and the lowest price paid per share was 676.400p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch. The number of shares purchased represented 0.0211% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled. Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 526,357,216 ordinary shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 781,750,259. Rightmove holds 10,946,605 shares in treasury. In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the 'UK MAR'), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme. Contact: Carolyn Pollard, Company Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Edgemont Gold Corp. (CSE: EDGM) (the "Company") announces that, further to its news release dated February 20, 2025 announcing the proposed acquisition by the Company of all the issued and outstanding common shares of Laiva Gold Inc. ("Laiva") from the shareholders of Laiva (the "Transaction"), the Company and Laiva have entered into an amending agreement whereby the parties have agreed to extend the deadline for execution of a definitive agreement (a "Definitive Agreement") in respect of the Transaction to April 15, 2025. The parties continue to diligently work towards finalizing and executing the Definitive Agreement. About Laiva Laiva is a Canadian mining company, incorporated under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, and through a subsidiary company owns its flagship operation, the Laiva mine ("Laiva Mine") in Finland. The Laiva Mine is an open pit operation, fully equipped with one of the largest gold plants in Europe (6,000 tonnes per day capacity) and a sizeable proven resource estimate. The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Edgemont Edgemont holds a 100% interest in the Dungate copper/gold porphyry project located just 6 km south of Houston, BC, in a region with a history of successful mining projects including the Equity Silver Mine and Imperial Metals' Huckleberry Mine. The Dungate project is comprised of five mineral tenures covering 1,582.2 hectares that can be explored year-round by all-season roads. For more information, please visit our website at www.edgemontgold.com. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward looking information or statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the terms and completion of the Transaction, including the entry into a Definitive Agreement, the receipt of corporate, regulatory and stock exchange approval in respect of the Transaction, the technical, financial, and business prospects of the Company, its assets and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward looking information or statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information or statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking information or statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, the ability to achieve its goals, expected costs and timelines to achieve the Company's goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, and that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward looking information or statements reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties included in in documents filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking information or statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete the Offering on the terms described herein, including obtaining the requisite regulatory and stock exchange approvals, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, failure to compete effectively with competitors, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to comply with applicable laws, including environmental laws, risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties. The Company does not undertake to update forward looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law. 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/245603 SOURCE: Edgemont Gold Corp. On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern United States, leaving destruction in its wake. The Category 4 storm claimed more than 215 lives, making it one of the deadliest storms in the U.S. this century, and left more than 2 million people grappling with power outages and drinking water shortages. North Carolina was hit the hardest, as the hurricane set the record for the worst flooding in the state's history. Entire communities were uprooted, and critical infrastructure was destroyed, damages that are still impacting the people of western North Carolina today. Mark Greene, a resident of western North Carolina, was severely impacted by Helene. His home lost power, which affected his wife, who needs electricity to power her oxygen tank. "I've been through a lot of storms, and this is the worst one I've ever seen," said Mark Greene, a resident of western North Carolina, in October 2024. "My wife is on oxygen 24/7and we went through all of her reserve oxygen tanks .... She's been in the hospital ever since." Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit, rushed aid to western North Carolina. The disaster response team was on the ground the day after the storm hit, immediately seeking opportunities to partner with the local community to meet needs. The response started in Boone and then expanded to Asheville and its surrounding areas. Thanks to support from the FedEx Cares Delivering for Good program, Water Mission shipped generators to North Carolina to begin distributing to people in need. Water Mission distributed 1,100 generators to individuals and families, serving more than 3,000 people, including Greene and his wife. "I just really appreciate the fact that you guys are here to help," Greene said. "This generator is going to help power my home so I can get my wife back home and comfortable." Along with helping people have restored power, Water Mission's disaster response team brought safe drinking water to those for whom the safety of their well water had been compromised. Over the course of the response, Water Mission distributed 124,000 emergency water purification packets and installed 19 safe water treatment systems at schools, churches, and community centers. The water systems provided more than 457,000 gallons of safe drinking water for people in need. The safe water systems installed in three Asheville-area schools met the needs of 3,000 students, allowing them to return to school after weeks of being away. "The entire Asheville City Schools community is beyond grateful to Water Mission for their support in helping us reopen schools after Helene devastated the city's municipal water system," said Maggie Fehrman, the superintendent of Asheville City Schools. The collaboration with FedEx enabled Water Mission to bring generators and provide safe water for people across western North Carolina, serving more than 112,000 men, women, and children who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program. This post was written by Gregg Dinino, Director of Public Relations at Water Mission. It was originally published on fedexcares.com in recognition of World Water Day, March 22, 2025. Photos provided by Water Mission. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: FedEx Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: FedEx Western Alaska Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "WAM") (TSXV:WAM) announces that, further to its news release dated March 12, 2025, it has completed an unsecured loan transaction with certain lenders to the Company (the "Lenders"), pursuant to which the Company has issued promissory notes ("Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of US$1,200,000 (collectively, the "Loan"). The Loan will mature after 36 months and bear interest at rate of 10% per annum. The Loan will be repayable by the Company after 12 months. The Company has also issued to the Lenders an aggregate of 2,697,600 bonus warrants (the "Warrants"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one subordinate voting share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.64 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance. All securities issued in connection with the Loan will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance under Canadian securities laws and restrictions on resale under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Certain related parties of the Company ("Interested Parties") purchased or acquired direction or control over an aggregate of US$524,000 in Notes and 1,177,952 Warrants as part of the Loan. The placement to those persons constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of the Company have determined that the Interested Parties' participation in the Loan will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Loan as the details of the participation of Interested Parties had not been confirmed at that time. About WAM Western Alaska Minerals is focused on advancing North America's next major silver and critical minerals district at the Illinois Creek CRD, a prolific 8-km mineral corridor hosting two stand-alone deposits. Anchored by the high-grade silver deposit at Waterpump Creek deposit, 75 Moz @ 980 g/t AgEq (Inferred), open to the north and south and the historic Illinois Creek mine, 525 Koz AuEq - 373 Koz @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (Indicated), 152 Koz @ 1.44 g/t AuEq (Inferred), our 100% owned carbonate replacement deposit reveals untapped potential across an expansive exploration landscape. Within the same CRD system sits the Honker gold vein prospect. Twenty-five kilometers northeast of the Illinois Creek CRD lies the Round Top porphyry copper and the TG North CRD prospects. All prospects were originally discovered by Anaconda Minerals Co. in the early 1980's. WAM's 100% owned cover 73,535 acres (115 square miles or 29,758 hectares). Since 2010, WAM, along with its precursor company, Western Alaska Copper & Gold, reassembled the Anaconda land package and has been engaged in exploring the district. Headquartered in both Alaska and Arizona, WAM brings together a team of seasoned professionals with a shared vision of pioneering new frontiers in mineral exploration. Our strategic approach is underpinned by cutting-edge technology, innovative techniques, and a deep understanding of the geological intricacies of the region. On behalf of the Company "Kit Marrs" Kit Marrs President & CEO kit@westernalaskaminerals.com Phone: 1-520-200-1667 For further information, please contact: Vanessa Bogaert, Director of Corporate Communications/IR vanessa@westernalaskaminerals.com Or visit our website at: www.westernalaskaminerals.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Western Alaska Minerals Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - US Critical Metals Corp. (CSE: USCM) (OTCQB: USCMF) (FSE: 0IU0) ("USCM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated March 12, 2025, effective at the opening of trading on March 25, 2025 (the "Effective Date") the common shares of the Company (the "Shares") will commence trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") on a consolidated basis, with one (1) post-consolidated Share outstanding for every two and one-half (2.5) pre-consolidated Shares (the "Consolidation"). As a result of the Consolidation, on the Effective Date, a total of approximately 25,223,230 Shares will be issued and outstanding, subject to adjustments for rounding. No fractional Shares will be issued, and any post-consolidated fraction of a Share will be rounded to the nearest whole number of Shares. The name of the Company has not been changed, and the trading symbol remains as "USCM". A new CUSIP number has been issued for the post-consolidated Shares, being 90366H408. Shareholders of record as of the Effective Date who hold Shares represented by a physical certificate or DRS statement will receive a letter of transmittal from the transfer agent for the Company, Odyssey Trust Company, with instructions on how to exchange their existing certificates or DRS statements for certificates or DRS statements representing Shares on a post-Consolidation basis. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. About US Critical Metals Corp. USCM is focused on mining projects that will further secure the U.S. supply of critical metals and rare earth elements, which are essential to fueling the new age economy. Pursuant to option agreements with private Canadian and American companies, USCM's assets consist of three agreements, each providing USCM with the right to acquire interests in four discovery focused projects in the U.S. These projects include the Clayton Ridge Lithium Property located in Nevada, the Haynes Cobalt Property located in Idaho, the Sheep Creek located in Montana, and Lemhi Pass located in Idaho. A significant percentage of the world's critical metal and rare earth supply comes from nations with interests that are contrary to those of the U.S. USCM intends to explore and develop critical metals and rare earth assets with near- and long-term strategic value to the advancement of U.S. interests. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" with respect to USCM within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause USCM's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, the exploration plans and expected exploration and drilling results at the Company's projects, results of operations, the expected financial performance of the Company, the expected completion of the Consolidation on the proposed terms or at all and the expected date thereof, the receipt of all applicable required approvals in respect of the Consolidation, including but not limited to the approval of the CSE and the commencement of trading of the post-consolidated Shares on the CSE. Although USCM believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by its nature, forward-looking information involves assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the timing of such approvals; that USCM maintains good relationships with the communities in which it operates or proposes to operate; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; USCM's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of USCM to implement its business strategies; competition; the risk that any of the assumptions prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work; risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that results will not be consistent with USCM's expectations; as well as other assumptions, risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to USCM, including as set forth in the USCM's public disclosure documents filed on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of USCM as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While USCM may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245544 SOURCE: US Critical Metals Corp. Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - What would you do if your entire career was on the line? In About Not Losing, Dr. James Ogsbury takes readers inside the gripping world of a medical malpractice trial-where medicine, law, and human lives collide. This intimate and eye-opening memoir is now available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook format at his publishing house, Something Or Other Publishing (SOOP), Amazon, and other major book retailers. The ebook is available at a special discounted price for a limited time to celebrate the release. New Memoir To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10373/244002_e77cc246a49df864_001full.jpg A Trial That Changed Everything When a patient's tragic outcome leads to a lawsuit, a respected neurosurgeon, a Native American psychologist, and a veteran defense attorney find themselves at the center of a legal battle that threatens to upend their lives. About Not Losing offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at a malpractice case, revealing the emotional toll and high stakes involved when a doctor's career and reputation hang in the balance. This memoir is more than a courtroom drama-it explores truth, personal integrity, and the flaws in a legal system that often forces doctors to defend their careers rather than their medical decisions. An Unfiltered Look at the Justice System Dr. Ogsbury, a seasoned neurosurgeon with decades of experience, pulls back the curtain on what happens when medicine and law collide. Readers will gain an insider's perspective on the realities of medical lawsuits, the impact on those accused, and the challenge of defending yourself in a system where truth is not always the priority. By alternating between three key perspectives-a dedicated doctor fighting for his reputation, a psychologist navigating complex cultural and ethical dilemmas, and a defense attorney facing an uphill battle-About Not Losing offers a complex and profoundly human viewpoint on the implications of putting medicine on trial. Who Should Read This Book? Medical professionals seeking an inside look at malpractice litigation Lawyers and legal experts interested in real-world cases Patients who want to understand the complexities of medical decision-making Readers who enjoy gripping, real-life courtroom dramas Get a Copy Today: Hardback Paperback eBook Experience the tension, the heartbreak, and the fight for truth. Order now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3F1r27w For a limited time, grab the ebook at a special launch price. About the Author Dr. James Ogsbury is a retired neurosurgeon with over five decades of experience in medicine. He served as the Director of Surgery at Lutheran Hospital, where he played a pivotal role in advancing spine treatment programs. Dr. Ogsbury has advocated for medical integrity and patient-centered care throughout his career. In About Not Losing, he shares a powerful firsthand account of a legal battle that redefined his life and career. Media & Interview Requests To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244002 SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC)(TSX:BHC) (the "Company" or "Bausch Health") today announced that (i) it has delivered conditional notices of redemption for all of its outstanding 5.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, 9.000% Senior Notes due 2025, 5.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2027 and 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (collectively, the "BHC Notes") and (ii) 1375209 B.C. Ltd., the Company's indirect wholly-owned subsidiary ("HoldCo"), has delivered a conditional notice of redemption for all of its outstanding 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (collectively with the BHC Notes, the "Notes"). Each of the redemptions is conditioned upon the closing of debt financing transactions satisfactory to the Company (the "Financing Transactions"). The Company expects to satisfy this condition with its recently announced financing transaction, which includes (i) $4,000 million aggregate principal amount of new senior secured notes due 2032 and (ii) $3,400 million in borrowings under a new 5.5-year senior secured term loan B facility. A copy of each conditional notice of redemption was issued to the record holders of each series of Notes. Payment of the redemption price and surrender of the Notes for redemption will be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository Trust Company. The obligation to redeem the Notes is conditioned upon the consummation of the Financing Transactions on or before each of the applicable redemption dates (which redemption dates may be delayed in the Company's sole discretion if this condition is not satisfied, pursuant to the terms of the indentures governing the Notes). Concurrently with the consummation of the Financing Transactions, the Company or HoldCo, as applicable, intends to discharge the applicable indentures governing each of the Notes to the extent any such Notes are not redeemed on the date on which the Financing Transactions are consummated. This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption of the Notes. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC)(TSX:BHC) is a global, diversified pharmaceutical company enriching lives through our relentless drive to deliver better health care outcomes. We develop, manufacture and market a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology, dermatology, dentistry, aesthetics, international pharmaceuticals and eye health, through our controlling interest in Bausch + Lomb Corporation. Our ambition is to be a globally integrated healthcare company, trusted and valued by patients, HCPs, employees and investors. Forward-Looking Statements About Bausch Health This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of the words "will," "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "subject to" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance, are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In particular, the Company can offer no assurance that the separation (including a potential sale of Bausch + Lomb) will occur on terms or timelines acceptable to the Company or at all, or as to the ultimate composition of the Financing Transactions or any near-term financing activities, including the proposed use of proceeds therefrom or whether the conditions precedent to the redemption of the Notes will occur. Actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to Bausch Health's overall business, including those more fully described in Bausch Health's most recent annual and quarterly reports and detailed from time to time in Bausch Health's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events, information or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law. Investor Contact: Media Contact: Garen Sarafian Katie Savastano ir@bauschhealth.com corporate.communications@bauschhealth.com (877) 281-6642 (toll free) (908) 541-3785 SOURCE: Bausch Health Companies Inc. Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX) announced today that its annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CET and that an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders will be held immediately after the adjournment of the annual general meeting of shareholders. Both meetings will be held at Ternium S.A.'s registered office located at 26, Boulevard Royal, 4th Floor, L-2449 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Each holder of ADSs as of March 31, 2025, shall be entitled to instruct The Bank of New York, the depositary bank, as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the shares represented by such holder's ADSs. The following documents are available on the Investor's section in our website at www.ternium.com: Notice and Agenda for the meeting. Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement, including the proposed amendments to the articles of association for approval by the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders. 2024 Annual Report. Copies of these documents are also available, free of charge, at Ternium S.A.'s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CET. In addition, shareholders registered in the share register may obtain electronic copies of such documents, free of charge, by sending an e-mail request to ir@ternium.com. Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. These risks include but are not limited to risks arising from uncertainties as to gross domestic product, related market demand, global production capacity, tariffs, cyclicality in the industries that purchase steel products and other factors beyond Ternium's control. About Ternium Ternium is a leading steel producer in the Americas, providing advanced steel products to a wide range of manufacturing industries and the construction sector. We invest in low carbon emissions steelmaking technologies to support the energy transition and the mobility of the future. We also support the development of our communities, specially through educational programs in Latin America. More information about Ternium is available at www.ternium.com. Contact: Sebastian Marti Ternium - Investor Relations +1 (866) 890 0443 +54 (11) 4018 8389 www.ternium.com SOURCE: Ternium S.A. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - SASQUATCH RESOURCES CORP. (CSE: SASQ) ("Sasquatch" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") (see Sasquatch's news release dated February 26, 2025). Under the over-subscribed Financing, Sasquatch has raised gross proceeds of $546,000 through the issuance of 10,920,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase a Share at an exercise price of $0.075 until March 21, 2027. Peter Smith, Sasquatch's CEO, said, "We are very pleased to close this offering. The funds raised will enable us to continue our efforts to address the physical and environmental hazards up on Mount Sicker, while also benefiting from the high-grade gold, copper, silver and zinc that sits in piles in historical mining waste on the property. We also have another very interesting site in Blue Grouse, about 30km from Mount Sicker, already lined-up as another potential project. The next several months should be a very interesting time for Sasquatch, and I look forward to providing further updates as we progress." The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Financing for exploration and development of the Company's mineral properties and for general working capital. In connection with the Financing, the Company paid aggregate finder's fees of $600. Directors and officers of the Company participated in the Financing, and such participation is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). This participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of such participation does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release in the United States. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. Consulting Services Agreement The Company also announces that it has entered into a consulting services agreement with Canid Capital Corporation ("Canid"), an arm's length party, to provide comprehensive assistance in executing a marketing campaign for the Company. The term of the agreement is six months, starting on March 21, 2025. During the term, Canid will be paid CAD$30,000 (plus tax), which is payable on execution of the agreement. Canid can be reached at:372 Bay Street, Suite 1800, Toronto, ON M5H 2W9; Tel.: (416) 887-5467; Email: jd@canidcapital.com. About the Company Sasquatch Resources Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on its Mount Sicker Property in southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and the Blue Grouse Property, located about 30km from the Mount Sicker Property on the south side of Lake Cowichan. The Company owns its interest in the Mount Sicker Property outright, subject to an aggregate 2% net smelter returns royalty, half of which Sasquatch can repurchase by issuing an aggregate of 500,000 Sasquatch common shares to the royalty holders. Pursuant to an option agreement, Sasquatch has the irrevocable right and option until July 2027 to conduct exploration on the Blue Grouse Property and to remove and process minerals from the surface and near-surface, including without limitation from the mineral "waste rock" and near-surface exposures up to a depth of 10m from surface. As consideration, Sasquatch is required to make such exploration expenditures on the Property to keep the claims in good standing. In addition, on commencement of commercial production on the Property, Sasquatch is required to pay $25,000 to the optionor and grant a 2% net smelter returns royalty to the optionor. Upon completion of commercial production, Sasquatch must make such exploration expenditures as are necessary to keep the claims in good standing for five years thereafter. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect, including with respect to the Company's business plans respecting the exploration and development of the Mount Sicker Property, the proposed work program on the Mount Sicker Property and the potential and economic viability of the Mount Sicker Property. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245679 SOURCE: Sasquatch Resources Corp. Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Green River Gold Corp. (CSE: CCR) (OTC Pink: CCRRF) (the "Company") is providing this bi-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). On February 6, 2025, the Company disseminated a news release (the "MCTO Notice") disclosing that it had voluntarily applied to the Alberta Securities Commission (the "ASC") for a management cease trade order ("MCTO") as it was not able to complete and file its audited financial statements, CEO and CFO certifications, and management discussion & analysis (the "Annual Filings") for the year ended September 30, 2024 by the filing deadline of January 28, 2025. On February 6, 2025, the Company announced that the ASC granted the MCTO. The Company confirms that since the date of the MCTO Notice: (i) there has been no material change to the information set out in the MCTO Notice that has not been generally disclosed; (ii) there has been no failure by the Company in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in NP 12-203; (iii) there has not been any other specified default by the Company under NP 12-203; and (iv) there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. The Company confirms that its directors, officers and insiders cannot trade the Company's securities until the Annual Filings have been made. The Company is working diligently to facilitate the audit of the financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024. The key to this happening is closing the issue of $900,000 of convertible debentures that was announced several months ago. It is now anticipated that the closing of the debenture financing will happen early in the week of March 24, 2025. The Company has been in contact with its auditors to determine the anticipated date of the Annual Filings based on that closing date. The engagement letter has not yet been signed with our auditors although that is expected to happen shortly after the financing closes. The Company continues to be active in its various businesses. The MCTO stipulated that the Annual Filings were to be filed by no later than March 28, 2025. Due to the anticipated late start to the audit, the Company will not be in position to file the Annual Filings on or before that date. Until the completion of the Annual Filings, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines as required by NP 12-203. About Green River Gold Corp. Green River Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on its wholly owned Fontaine Gold Project, Quesnel Nickel/Magnesium/Talc Project, and Kymar Silver Project which are located in renowned mining districts in British Columbia. The Fontaine Gold and Quesnel Nickel properties cover an area exceeding 200 square kilometres and straddle a 32-kilometre length of the Barkerville and Quesnel Terranes. They are contiguous to Osisko Development Corp.'s mineral claim group containing a proposed mine location at its Cariboo Gold Project. The Kymar Silver Project is located in southeast BC, approximately 28 kilometres west of the town of Invermere in the Golden Mining Division. The property is made up of two mineral tenures, totaling 1,625 hectares, along the southeast flank of Mount Catherine. Additional information about Green River Gold Corp. can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-Looking Information: This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Expressions such as "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "could", "intends", "may", "plans", "predicts", "projects", "will", "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking information. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In addition, the forward-looking information contained in this release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances. The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This release is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245683 SOURCE: Green River Gold Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Spark Energy Minerals Inc. (CSE: SPRK) (OTC Pink: SPARF) (FSE: 8PC) ("Spark" or the "Company") an exploration Company focused on the discovery of battery metals in Brazil's prestigious Lithium Valley, is pleased to announce an exploration update and discussion of results returned from SGS Laboratory from an additional 146 samples collected from the Company's flagship Arapaima Lithium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Jon Hill, Director of Spark Energy Minerals commented: "Our, sub-drainage stream sediment sampling program continues to provide encouraging results with anomalous lithium and pathfinder element assays from 17 out of 24 sub-drainages. The results showcase highly anomalous lithium (80-191 ppm) and pathfinder elements vectoring our search towards more specific areas that now allow focused follow-up of priority targets across the portfolio of tenements. This closer spaced sampling has largely validated and refined individual targets within the larger macro drainage catchments reported and assigned high prospectivity for lithium rankings in the government reports1&2. In addition, the potential for significant REE and gallium mineralization associated with the fertile Caladao Intrusive suite across Spark's tenements, adjacent to Axel REE Ltd., is clearly highlighted in recent results for both stream sediment and soil samples collected in these areas. We continue to make good progress with the first phase exploration across the extensive 64,359-hectare tenement package while rapidly positioning to advance follow up work towards drill testing the priority targets already defined by the 122 pegmatite occurrences so far identified within 13 pegmatite trends over a combined strike length of over 31km." Arapaima Lithium Project Exploration Recent Highlights: Stream sediment sampling to date has been completed for 27 sub-drainage basins of the 68 sub-drainage basins planned to be sampled in the initial reconnaissance phase exploration program. Analytical results for 24 sub-drainage basins have been reported with results for 3 sub-drainage basins awaited. 17 out of 24 sub-drainages with results reported to date show anomalous assays for lithium (Li 80-191) and pathfinder elements for prioritized follow-up. 122 individual pegmatite occurrences have been mapped within 13 pegmatite trends over a combined 31km strike. Lithium Targets 1 and 5 remain top priority and have been named Grota do Maquem Target and Agua Branca Target respectively. The company has added a new priority REE target called the Caladao Target with stream sediment results peaking at 2,458ppm TREO and soil samples results peaking at 3,041ppm TREO. 66, old artisanal - garimpo mine workings with associated pegmatite occurrences (open pits and underground) have been identified and recorded for follow up mapping and sampling. Multi-element geochemical results have been reported for a total of 263 samples to date with results, including 146 samples reported this week. 71 samples are at the lab awaiting results and an additional 63 new samples are on the way to SGS Laboratory. Recent Analytical Results Analytical results for a further 146 samples (19 rock chips, 67 stream sediment and 60 soil samples) were reported recently by the SGS laboratory. Stream sediment results from 24 sub-drainage catchments out of 27 sub-drainage catchments sampled to date have now been reported. 17 out of 24 sub-drainages with results reported to date show anomalous results for lithium (range 20-191 ppm) and pathfinder elements. Importantly 4 contiguous sub-drainages show highly anomalous lithium (80-191 ppm) and pathfinder element results for prioritized follow-up. For full set of assays please click here. Figure 1: Stream sediment sampling results for 24 sub-drainage basins where results have been reported to date. 17 out of 24 sub-drainage basins show positive results for lithium (80-191 ppm) and pathfinder elements. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10093/245662_abb2dc10144f2b49_002full.jpg Figure 2: Zoomed image of the Agua Branca section of the tenements showing the 4 contiguous sub-drainage basins highly anomalous stream sediment samples for lithium (80-191 ppm). These results confirm and extend the potential footprint of the anomalous rock chip lithium results from the Target 5 area (up to 457 ppm). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10093/245662_abb2dc10144f2b49_003full.jpg Table 1: Analytical results for lithium and associated pathfinder elements for 26 stream samples. The stream sediment samples show anomalous levels of lithium and pathfinder elements, specifically cesium, gallium, niobium, tin and rubidium. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10093/245662_sparktable1.jpg Caladao Target - New Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Gallium Target The initial soil and stream sediment samples collected from Spark's tenements within the Caladao Granite contiguous with Axel REE's recently reported REE - gallium discovery returned high REE values of up to 2,458ppm TREO (stream sediment) and 3,041ppm TREO (soil) respectively. These results indicate that the Caladao Granite is a highly prospective target for REE, remaining open to the southwest and validates the continued trend along strike from Axel REE's project to the south. An additional 36 samples collected in the area are currently being analyzed at SGS Laboratory. Table 2: Analytical results for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and gallium in soil samples To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10093/245662_sparktable2.jpg Figure 3: Image showing relative position of Spark's Caladao REE and gallium relative to the Axel REE's Discovery. Please note the location of the prospective Caladao Granite (Red) with Spark tenements located to both the north and southeast of the Axel REE tenements (Pink). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10093/245662_abb2dc10144f2b49_006full.jpg Forward Exploration Plan Exploration of Spark's extensive 64,359-hectare tenement package will continue on three main fronts: Continued first pass reconnaissance phase geological mapping and stream sediment samples (61 sub-drainage basins remain to be sampled). Follow up initiatives in the highly prospective targets 1 & 5, with ongoing interpretation of the results to develop initial drill testing targets. Plan more extensive programs in the Caladao region such as auger drilling to further delineate the potential of the prospective REE & gallium zone contiguous to Axel REE. To date the company has completed the following exploration work: Geological Observations: 399 Pegmatite occurrences: 122 Artisanal workings: 66 Samples collected: 397 Pegmatite trends: 13 Sub-drainage basins sampled: 27 Sub-drainage basins remaining to be sampled 61 Samples at laboratory awaiting results: 71 Samples with results reported: 263 Figure 4: Exploration progress across Spark's extensive exploration tenement package. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10093/245662_abb2dc10144f2b49_007full.jpg Eugene Hodgson, CEO & Director of Spark Energy Minerals commented: "We are excited by the positive results from our latest sampling program, which continue to demonstrate the significant potential of our Arapaima Lithium Project in Brazil's Lithium Valley. The discovery of 17 prospective drainage basins with anomalous lithium and pathfinder elements greatly enhances our ability to pinpoint and prioritize high-value exploration targets. Additionally, the impressive rare earth element and gallium findings in the Caladao region further highlight the strategic value of our project area, underscoring Spark's position in one of the world's most promising mineral regions. As we move forward, we are focused on advancing exploration towards future drilling activities to unlock the full potential of these exciting results." QA/QC Protocols Spark maintained full chain-of-custody control from sampling through to laboratory delivery ensuring the reliability of the assay results. SGS Laboratory used QAQC protocols for blanks, standards and duplicates, the results of which are reported alongside the completed analysis. Qualified Person: The scientific and technical information disclosed in this document has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill BSc Hons, FAUSIMM, a Qualified Person consistent with NI 43-101 and a director of Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Source: 'Lithium Potential Assessment Project in Brasil" in the Eastern Pegmatite Province of Brasil: the Geological Survey of Brazil promoting mineral research. Technical Report 19 - August 2023 DOI: 10.29396/ITCPRM.2023.19 Source: 'Evaluation of the Lithium Potential in Brasil" - Mid - Jequitinhonha River, North -East Minas Gerais ministry of Mines and Energy, Secretary of Geology, Mines and Development, the Geological Survey of Brazil promoting mineral research. Technical Report - 2016 About Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Spark Energy Minerals, Inc. is a Canadian company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of battery metals and mineral assets, with a particular emphasis on its substantial interests in Brazil. The Company's flagship project is the Arapaima Lithium project spanning 64,359 hectares in Brazil's renowned Lithium Valley, one of the most prolific mining regions in the world. This region is rapidly gaining global recognition for its vast deposits of lithium and rare earth minerals, positioning Brazil as a critical player in the global energy transition. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. In addition, it should be noted that rock, soil and stream sediment samples are inherently selective samples and may not represent the true underlying mineralization. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245662 SOURCE: Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Genifi inc. (TSXV: GNFI) ("genifi" or the "Company") today announced that it held its special meeting of shareholders earlier today and that shareholders overwhelming approved the resolution relating to the liquidation and dissolution of the Company. The Company will provide a further update regarding the distribution of the Company's remaining assets and the dissolution of the Company when it has further information on the details thereof. About genifi inc.: Further information on the Company can be found at www.genifi.com. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Specifically, and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the timing of a distribution of assets and the dissolution of the Company. Although genifi believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this document, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risk factors set forth in genifi's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended September 30, 2024, a copy of which is filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements are made as at the date hereof and unless otherwise required by law, genifi does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. 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/245635 SOURCE: Genifi Inc. Stake acquired by SKIMS for next chapter of brand journey Coty to use proceeds to progress deleveraging strategy and invest in wider brand portfolio innovations Coty Inc. (Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) (Paris: COTY) ("Coty" or "the Company") today announced the conclusion of its partnership with Kim Kardashian and the SKKN by Kim ("SKKN") brand, with the closing of the sale of its 20% stake in the brand to SKIMS. Following the transaction, SKIMS will be uniting the beauty and lifestyle ventures under one brand. Anna von Bayern, CEO of Kylie Cosmetics and leader of Kim Kardashian's beauty business at Coty, says: "Since Coty's establishment over 120 years ago, we have remained at the forefront of consumer innovation. We are the go-to partner for global brands, fashion houses, and celebrities looking to create leading beauty products. I would like to thank Kim for the partnership and look forward to continuing our work on our hugely successful Kylie Cosmetics brand, which we have grown by 1.5x in the last two years and where we own the majority, as well as hold the perpetual license." Coty first announced the investment in Kim Kardashian's beauty business in 2020 and completed the transaction in 2021. Coty has highly attractive prestige and mass beauty brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, skin and body care and regularly evaluates the potential of each part of its diverse and innovative portfolio. The company's best-in-class R&D, global manufacturing and distribution footprint allows Coty and its partners to capture consumer demand across price points, channels, categories and markets. About Coty Inc. Founded in Paris in 1904, Coty is one of the world's largest beauty companies with a portfolio of iconic brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care. We serve consumers around the world, selling prestige and mass market products in more than 120 countries and territories. Coty and our brands empower people to express themselves freely, creating their own visions of beauty; and we are committed to protecting the planet. Learn more at coty.com or on LinkedIn and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250321060373/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations Olga Levinzon 212-389-7733 Olga_Levinzon@cotyinc.com Media Antonia Werther +31 621 394495 Antonia_Werther@cotyinc.com Lets take a look at some of the most powerful female characters who left an indelible mark on audience read more Over the years, Bollywood has given us films where female characters have been more than just a supporting presencethey have been the driving force of the narrative. These stories not only make for great cinema but also serve as a beacon of inspiration for women everywhere, proving that strength, resilience, and determination can overcome even the toughest challenges. Lets take a look at some of the most powerful female characters who left an indelible mark on audiences. Advertisement Raazi Alia Bhatt Based on a true story, Raazi tells the tale of Sehmat, a young Indian spy who marries into a Pakistani military family to gather intelligence. Alia Bhatts portrayal of Sehmat was nothing short of phenomenal, as she navigates the world of espionage with courage and emotional depth, proving that even in the face of grave danger, duty and patriotism shine the brightest. The Diplomat Sadia Khateeb Sadia Khateeb powerfully embodies the real-life journey of Uzma Ahmed, an Indian woman who was trapped in Pakistan after being deceived into marriage. The Diplomat showcases her grit and unwavering spirit as she fights against all odds to return to India, earning her the title of Bharat Ki Beti. Her performance resonates deeply, bringing forth the essence of true resilience. Thappad Taapsee Pannu A single compromise can cost a lifetime of self-respect. This powerful message was brought to life by Taapsee Pannu in Thappad. The film challenges societal norms by showcasing a woman who refuses to accept even a single slap as normal. Taapsees raw and authentic portrayal made the audience reflect on self-respect, making it one of the most thought-provoking films in recent times. Mardaani Rani Mukerji Sirf mard nahi, aurat ko bhi dard nahi hota. In Mardaani, Rani Mukerji redefined female strength as Shivani Shivaji Roy, a fearless cop who stops at nothing to bring justice. Her characters unwavering pursuit to take down a child trafficking ring inspired millions, proving that a womans determination can be more powerful than any adversity. Advertisement Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl Janhvi Kapoor This biographical film tells the story of Gunjan Saxena, one of Indias first female combat pilots. Janhvi Kapoor took audiences by surprise with her heartfelt and commanding performance, capturing the essence of a woman who broke barriers in a male-dominated field. Her journey of perseverance, from facing gender discrimination to flying into the war zone, was nothing short of inspiring. Netflixs Adolescence explores the dark incel culture and male rage Here is what Stephen Graham, Netflixs Adolescence co-creator said read more Filmed in a one-take style, Jack Thorne and Stephen Grahams new crime drama on Netflix called Adolescence is a true masterpiece. You will be surprised to know that each episode was shot is a single continuous take. Here is how the story goes, a 13-year-old boy, Jamie, is accused of stabbing his female classmate to death. Adolescence raises a very crucial question about incel culture, male violence, and the pressures of social media. Advertisement What does the term incel mean? According to a CNN story, the term incel is everywhere. What was once a niche piece of internet slang now populating international headlines and is a frequent topic in discussions about gender, misogyny, violence and extremism. Incel is a portmanteau of involuntary celibate. In its most basic form, incel describes someone, usually a male, who is frustrated by their lack of sexual experiences. The Anti-Defamation League, which works to address hate and extremism, defines incels as heterosexual men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success. What Stephen Graham, Netflixs Adolescence co-creator said? Stephen Graham, the shows co-creator who also played Eddie Miller, told Netflixs press site Tudum that a series of recent stabbings by boys inspired the tale. There was an incident where a young boy (allegedly) stabbed a girl, Graham said. It shocked me. I was thinking, Whats going on? Whats happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? Whats the inciting incident here? And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, Why is this happening today? Whats going on? How have we come to this?" Fifteen-year-old Elianne Andam, for example, was stabbed to death in London in September by Hassan Sentamu, then 17. Sentamu was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison per a March court sentencing. Graham said that with the show, one of his goals was to answer the question, What is happening to our young men these days and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet and from social media? Advertisement And the pressures that come from all of those things are as difficult for kids here as they are the world over, he continued to tell Tudum. A still from Netflixs Adolescence About Netflixs Adolescence series The crime drama about a 13-year-old boy, Jamie, accused of stabbing a classmate. As police, the school, and parents seek answers, the series explores male violence in schools. The story talks about Jamie (Owen Cooper) involved with incel culture online. As per reports director Philip Barantini confirmed that it wasnt based on one specific murder incident, but a broader issue within the UK. According to reports, the creators of Adolescence have clarified that the series is not based on a specific real-life case, but is inspired by shocking events and the rising knife crime epidemic in the UK. Advertisement WATCH the trailer of Netflixs Adolescence here: Arve Hjalmar Holmen, a Norwegian man, has filed a complaint against OpenAIs chatbot, ChatGPT, after it falsely told him that he had killed two of his sons, and had been jailed for 21 years. The case is a result of so-called hallucinations of AI systems read more The latest example of so-called "hallucinations" occurs when artificial intelligence (AI) systems fabricate information and pass it off as fact. AFP OpenAIs chatbot, ChatGPT, is facing legal trouble for fabricating a horror story." A Norwegian man has filed a complaint after ChatGPT falsely told him he had killed two of his sons and been jailed for 21 years. Arve Hjalmar Holmen has contacted the Norwegian Data Protection Authority and demanded that the chatbot maker be penalised. The latest example of so-called hallucinations occurs when artificial intelligence (AI) systems fabricate information and pass it off as fact. Lets take a closer look. Advertisement What happened? Holmen received false information from ChatGPT when he asked: Who is Arve Hjalmar Holmen? The response was: Arve Hjalmar Holmen is a Norwegian individual who gained attention due to a tragic event. He was the father of two young boys, aged 7 and 10, who were tragically found dead in a pond near their home in Trondheim, Norway, in December 2020. Holmen stated that the chatbot had some accurate data about him because it estimated their age difference correctly. Some think that there is no smoke without fire. The fact that someone could read this output and believe it is true is what scares me the most, Hjalmar Holmen said. Also read: AI hallucinations are solvable, artificial general intelligence about 5 years away: NVIDIAs Jensen Huang Whats the case against OpenAI? Vienna-based digital rights group, Noyb (None of Your Business) has filed the complaint on Holmens behalf. OpenAIs highly popular chatbot, ChatGPT, regularly gives false information about people without offering any way to correct it, Noyb said in a press release, adding ChatGPT has falsely accused people of corruption, child abuse or even murder, as was the case with Holmen Holmen was confronted with a made-up horror story when he wanted to find out if ChatGPT had any information about him, Noyb said. It added in its complaint filed with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) that Holmen has never been accused nor convicted of any crime and is a conscientious citizen. To make matters worse, the fake story included real elements of his personal life, the group said. Noyb says the answer ChatGPT gave him is defamatory and breaks European data protection rules around accuracy of personal data. It wants the agency to order OpenAI to delete the defamatory output and fine-tune its model to eliminate inaccurate results, and impose a fine. Advertisement The EUs data protection regulations require that personal data be correct, according to Joakim Soederberg, a Noyb data protection lawyer. And if its not, users have the right to have it changed to reflect the truth, he said. Moreover, ChatGPT carries a disclaimer which says, ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info. However, as per Noyb, its insufficient. You cant just spread false information and in the end add a small disclaimer saying that everything you said may just not be true, Noyb lawyer Joakim Soderberg said. Advertisement Since Holmens search in August 2024, ChatGPT has modified its approach and now looks for pertinent information in recent news items. Noyb informed the BBC When Holmen entered his brothers name into the chatbot, among other searches he conducted that day, it gave multiple different stories that were all incorrect. Although they admitted that the response regarding his children might have been shaped by earlier searches, they asserted that OpenAI doesnt reply to access requests, which makes it impossible to find out more about what exact data is in the system and that huge language models are a black box. Noyb already filed a complaint against ChatGPT last year in Austria, claiming the hallucinating flagship AI tool has invented wrong answers that OpenAI cannot correct. Advertisement Is this the first case? No. One of the primary issues computer scientists are attempting to address with generative AI is hallucinations, which occur when chatbots pass off inaccurate information as fact. Apple halted its Apple Intelligence news summary feature in the UK earlier this year after it offered fictitious headlines as legitimate news. Another example of hallucination was Googles AI Gemini, which last year recommended using glue to adhere cheese to pizza and stated that geologists advise people to consume one rock daily. The reason for these hallucinations in the big language models the technology that powers chatbots is unclear. This is actually an area of active research. How do we construct these chains of reasoning? How do we explain what is actually going on in a large language model? Simone Stumpf, professor of responsible and interactive AI at the University of Glasgow, told BBC, adding, that this also holds true for those who work on these kinds of models behind the scenes. Advertisement Even if you are more involved in the development of these systems quite often, you do not know how they actually work, why theyre coming up with this particular information that they came up with, she told the publication. With inputs from agencies Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise. The move raises concerns for millions of American students and their parents. Heres why read more US President Donald Trump signs an executive order to shut down the Department of Education, during an event in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC. Reuters Donald Trump is many things; hes chaotic, unpredictable and some would say even a man of his word. As promised during his presidential campaign, the US president signed an order on Thursday (March 20) aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, a federal agency established in 1979 that oversees the enforcement of federal law in schools. Surrounded by schoolchildren sitting at desks set up in the East Room of the White House, Trump smiled as held up the order after signing it at a special ceremony. Trump said the order would begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all. Advertisement Were going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. Its doing us no good, said Trump. Were going to return education back to the states where it belongs. The move raises big questions for the countrys millions of public schools, student-loan holders and parents. What is the Department of Education? The Department of Education, a Cabinet-level agency, was set up in 1979 by Jimmy Carter to oversee national education policy and administer federal assistance programmes for schools across the country. Since its inception, the main responsibilities of the Department of Education have been to distribute federal financial aid for education, collect data on US schools, identify major education issues, enforce federal education laws prohibiting discrimination and implement congressional education legislation. Its important to note that the Department of Education doesnt set up curriculum for schools; that responsibility lies with the states and individual districts. A woman looks at her phone while standing outside the US Department of Education, in Washington. Reuters Dominique Baker, a professor of education and public policy at the University of Delaware, told Vox that the Department of Education plays an even bigger role with colleges and universities. The agency ensures that applications for federal financial aid are available to students, that the information students enter is sent to colleges, and that the money is actually disbursed. It also, according to Baker, ensures that for-profit colleges arent scamming students, by controlling which institutions get access to federal student aid. Currently, the department manages a budget of approximately $268 billion and employs about 4,400 staff members which is just 0.2 per cent of the overall federal employment, making it the smallest staff of the Cabinet agencies. Advertisement Why is Trump dismantling the Department of Education? Since his campaigning days, the US president has been calling for the elimination of the Department of Education, calling it part of a bloated federal bureaucracy. And one other thing Ill be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education, he said in September 2023. Notably, getting rid of the agency has been a part of Project 2025, the blueprint for a second Trump term drafted by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation. And while signing the order to dismantle the Department of Education, Trump said: The US spends more money on education by far than any other country yet students rank near the bottom of the list in terms of success. US President Donald Trump reacts next to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon as he shows the executive order to shut down the Department of Education, in the East Room at the White House. Reuters It is not clear yet as to what actions the administration will take and which programmes might be axed. It orders Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the department and give authority over such matters to state and local governments. It also directs her to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. Advertisement However, its important to note here that Trump cant dismantle the Department of Education; that would require Congressional approval. But his administration can hurt its functioning by reducing its funding and staff on March 12, the agency announced that it is cutting its workforce by nearly 50 per cent. According to the Education Department, the agencys workforce is being slashed from 4,133 workers to about 2,183. Who will hurt from this cut? Trumps order to cut the Department of Education will undoubtedly hurt teachers and students alike. The departments core responsibility is prohibiting discrimination and dismantling it would mean defunding programmes that feed, educate, and protect our most vulnerable and underserved students. Dismantling the department would leave physically challenged students at great risk. Thats because the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Idea), which provides protections for students with disabilities, is federally enforced through the department. Blair Wriston, senior manager for government affairs at EdTrust, an education equity non-profit, also noted that dismantling the department would hurt young childrens literacy. Were going to gut the agency completely thats doing the real work here of gathering the research and evidence to help inform our practices, he told Vox. Advertisement It also holds big concerns for those Americans who hold federal student loans. The White House has said the function of student loans would continue. However, experts note that a disruption to the departments distribution of grants, work-study funds and loans would affect the more than 19 million college students in the United States. A protester stands near the US Department of Education headquarters after the agency said it would lay off nearly half its staff. File image/Reuters Higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz told CNBC that without the Education Department, borrowers would find their applications for existing loan forgiveness programs stalled. Derrick Johnson, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which has advocated for civil rights in education today and historically termed Trumps move as a dark day for Americans. Trump is not just seeking to shut down an agency, he is deliberately dismantling the basic functions of our democracy, one piece at a time. Advertisement This is a dark day for the millions of American children who depend on federal funding for a quality education, including those in poor and rural communities with parents who voted for Trump. National Education Association President Becky Pringle also condemned Trumps move, saying in a statement, Trump and Elon Musk have aimed their wrecking ball at public schools and the futures of the 50 million students in rural, suburban, and urban communities across America, by dismantling public education to pay for tax handouts for billionaires. If successful, Trumps continued actions will hurt all students by sending class sizes soaring, cutting job training programmes, making higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle class families, taking away special education services for students with disabilities, and gutting student civil rights protections, she said. It is left to be seen what comes next, but one can expect that Trumps move will be challenged in the courts. As Pringle said, Educators wont be silent as anti-public education politicians try to steal opportunities from our students, our families, and our communities across America. Together with parents and allies, we will continue to organise, advocate, and mobilise so that all students have well-resourced schools that allow every student to grow into their full brilliance. With inputs from agencies Iceland has been rocked by a scandal that led to the resignation of Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir, the Minister of Childrens Affairs. The controversy stems from the ministers recent revelations about the child she had when she was in a secret relationship with a teenager 36 years ago. PM Kristrun Frostadottir called the situation a serious matter read more Despite stepping down as Iceland's Minister of Children's Affairs, orsdottir made it clear that she had no intention of leaving parliament. Imge courtesy: Government of Iceland Icelands political landscape has been rocked by a scandal that led to the resignation of Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir, the Minister of Childrens Affairs. The controversy stems from revelations about a past relationship she had with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22, which resulted in the birth of a child. As the revelations gained traction, pressure grew on Thorsdottir to step down. On Thursday, following an interview with Icelands National Broadcasting Corporation, RUV, she announced her resignation. Advertisement Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir addressed the media, calling the situation a serious matter. Investigations are expected to soon follow. Heres what we know about the controversy. The scandal More than three decades ago, Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir was in a relationship with a 15-year-old boy, which led to the birth of their son a year later. The two first met at the religious congregation Tru og Lif (Faith and Life) in Kopavogur, where Thorsdottir was leading youth activities. The boy, Eirikur Asmundsson, had joined the group due to difficulties at home. Eirikur said their relationship began shortly after he joined the congregation, and their son was conceived soon after he turned 16 when Thorsdottir was 23. While Icelands age of consent is 15, the law prohibits sexual relationships with minors under 18 if the adult holds a position of authority over them, such as a teacher, mentor, or employer. Violations of this law can carry a maximum prison sentence of three years. While Icelands age of consent is 15, the law prohibits sexual relationships with minors under 18 if the adult holds a position of authority over them. Violations of this law can carry a maximum prison sentence of three years. Representational image Though their relationship was a secret at the time, Eirikur was present at the birth of their child and had occasional contact in the first year. However, his visits became inconsistent due to financial struggles, lack of support, and the logistical challenge of living in different municipalities. He claimed that while Thorsdottirinitially allowed visits, this changed drastically after she met her husband. Seeking help, Eirikur turned to the Ministry of Justice and the churchs family services in an attempt to gain better access to his son. Documents obtained by RUV, the news outlet that broke the story, confirm his efforts and show that orsdottir had placed restrictions on his visitation rights. Advertisement According to Eirikur, he was eventually permitted just two hours of visitation per month at Thorsdottir and her husbands homeequating to just a single day per year. Despite this, he was still required to make child support payments for 18 years. Thorsdottir resigns According to RUV, a relative of the childs father reported the case to the Prime Ministers Office a week ago, believing the matter would remain confidential. However, Thorsdottir was informed about both the report and the identity of the person who filed it. The 58-year-old allegedly reached out to the individual directly and later showed up at their home. In the interview, she admitted being upset that the woman had taken the issue to the prime minister. I understand what it looks like, she said, adding that it is very difficult to get the right story across in the news today. According to Visir newspaper, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir said she only learned the full details of the case on Thursday night after the explosive interview aired. She immediately summoned the childrens minister to her office, where Thorsdottir resigned. Advertisement Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir called Thorsdottirs revelations a serious matter. The minister of childrens affairs resigned later. File image, courtesy: X/KristrunFrosta The prime minister described the situation as a serious matter but admitted she knew little more than the average person. This is a very personal matter [and] out of respect for the person concerned, I will not comment on the substance, she told the press. Whats next? Despite stepping down as Minister of Childrens Affairs, Thorsdottir made it clear that she had no intention of leaving parliament. She insisted that her past should not disqualify her from holding public office, highlighting her extensive career working with children. This personal matter from 35 years ago should not overshadow the important work the government is doing. That work is more significant than the responsibilities I have been fulfilling in the Ministry of Education, which I deeply regret leaving unfinished, she told Icelandic media. Its been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time and I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today, she added. Advertisement With input from agencies Marina Budiman, co-founder and president commissioner of DCI Indonesia, lost $3.6 billion in just three days as her companys stock plunged by over 50 per cent. DCIs valuation had surged amid speculation before collapsing due to a tightly held ownership structure, thin trading volume and broader market instability tied to fiscal concerns and Prabowo Subiantos economic policies read more Marina Budiman graduated from the University of Toronto, Canada. DCI Indonesia For three weeks, Marina Budiman, Indonesias wealthiest woman and president commissioner of data centre company DCI Indonesia, saw her fortune soar by approximately $350 million daily, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index. By mid-March 2025, her net worth had peaked at $7.5 billion, fuelled by an extraordinary stock rally that repeatedly hit the upper trading limit. However, in a dramatic turn of events, the value of DCI Indonesias shares plummeted, wiping out half of Budimans fortune in just three days. Advertisement Between March 16 and March 19, she lost $3.6 billion, bringing her net worth down to $3.9 billion. The collapse also affected DCIs co-founders and major shareholders, Otto Toto Sugiri and Han Arming Hanafia, with their combined wealth shrinking significantly. Before the crash, Budiman had briefly become a symbol of Indonesias thriving tech sector, as DCI Indonesia was positioned as a leader in the growing data centre industry. However, the extreme volatility of the countrys stock market proved to be a key factor in the sudden reversal of her fortune. What caused the crash? Indonesias stock market is known for extreme fluctuations, and DCI Indonesias case was no exception. The companys valuation had surged to unsustainable levels, trading at 416 times earnings, despite reporting just $112 million in revenue and $49 million in profit the previous year. As the stocks speculative rise outpaced financial fundamentals, it became highly vulnerable to a downturn. One major factor contributing to DCIs instability is its concentrated ownership. Budiman, Sugiri, Hanafia, and billionaire tycoon Anthoni Salim collectively hold 78 per cent of the companys shares, leaving little room for public trading. This limited free float made the stock highly susceptible to sharp price swings. DCIs price swings are largely a function of its tight free float. Bid-offer spreads are narrow, so any substantial positioning can move the stock significantly, Mohit Mirpuri, a fund manager at SGMC Capital Pte in Singapore, told Bloomberg. Advertisement The stocks wild ride is not an isolated case in Indonesias stock market. In recent years, several companies have seen their share prices skyrocket by 1,000 per cent or more, only to come crashing down later. The lack of liquidity in many of these stocks has exacerbated price volatility, making sudden wealth accumulation and losses a frequent occurrence among Indonesias elite investors. What about external factors? The crash wasnt just about DCIs stock; broader economic and political factors played a significant role. Indonesias fiscal outlook has faced uncertainty, partly due to President Prabowo Subiantos economic policies since taking office in October 2024. His administrations focus on ambitious infrastructure spending has raised concerns about fiscal sustainability, unsettling investors. Market analysts have attributed Indonesias recent stock market decline to several factors, including concerns about forced liquidations and uncertainties surrounding the finance ministrys leadership. Advertisement The selloff has been a bolt from the blue in many waysthe suddenness has caught the market by surprise, Fortune quoted Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, an analyst at Aletheia Capital in Singapore. On a global scale, external pressures such as US tariff policies and escalating trade tensions further contributed to market instability. The broader selloff led to Indonesias worst stock market crash in a decade, triggering a rare 30-minute trading suspension as panic set in. What does Indonesias stock market history tell us? Indonesias stock market has seen multiple instances of sudden booms followed by sharp declines. The case of DCI Indonesia is a stark example of this cycle, where investors initially piled in, believing in the promise of a rapidly growing digital economy. Data centres are a crucial part of Indonesias digital infrastructure and the industry has attracted increasing foreign investment. Companies like Oracle Corp. are reportedly in talks with the Indonesian government to establish a cloud services centre, further fuelling expectations of growth in the sector, reported Bloomberg. Advertisement Before the recent downturn, DCI Indonesia had benefited from these trends, attracting investors who anticipated long-term gains from Indonesias digital transformation. However, as stock prices became disconnected from financial realities, the risk of a correction loomed large. The rapid rise and fall of DCIs stock is not unique. Over the years, Indonesias stock market has produced several such episodes, where investors, drawn by the promise of high returns, push valuations to extreme levels before a sharp reversal. While this dynamic presents opportunities for high-stakes gains, it also highlights the risks of investing in stocks with limited free float and highly concentrated ownership. What next for DCI Indonesia? Despite the recent downturn, DCI Indonesia remains a dominant player in Southeast Asias data centre sector, with plans for further expansion. The companys appeal to investors stems from the increasing demand for cloud infrastructure, and discussions with tech giants like Oracle Corp. for potential collaborations have fuelled optimism. Advertisement Budiman, who co-founded DCI in 2011 with Sugiri and Hanafia, has a long history in Indonesias tech industry. She previously worked at Bank Bali in 1985 and later joined IT firm Sigma Cipta Caraka in 1989. In 1994, she co-founded Indonet, Indonesias first internet service provider, which she and her fellow co-founders sold in 2023. Investors are now watching closely to see how the government handles market volatility and whether regulatory measures will be introduced to mitigate such dramatic price swings in the future. For investors, it serves as a cautionary tale: in fast-growing economies, fortunes can rise rapidly but they can disappear just as quickly. With inputs from agencies Everyones talking about Netflixs new mini-series Adolescence that talks about a 13-year-old boy killing his classmate after she mocks him for being an incel. But who exactly is an incel and why are they dangerous to society? read more Owen Cooper stars in Adolescence as Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy who is arrested for murdering a teenage girl. The Netflix series has opened up conversations around incels and the subculture. Image Courtesy: Netflix Adolescence is everywhere on our X timelines, on our Insta feeds, in newspapers, on websites, everywhere. But we arent talking about that transitional stage of an individual but the new Netflix series of the same name by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne. Even United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is talking about the series, which has received rave reviews. Speaking in the British parliament, Starmer said that he is watching the show with his children and even supported a call for it to be shown in schools. At home, we are watching Adolescence. Ive got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, and its a very good drama to watch. This violence carried out by young men, influenced by what they see online, is a real problem. Its abhorrent, and we have to tackle it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The four-part show focuses on a 13-year-old boy accused of the murder of a girl at his school. It focuses on toxic masculinity and incel culture that an increasing number of young boys are being exposed to online. As the show keeps gathering fans and views in the UK alone, it has got over 2.4 million views heres a better understanding of what are incels and how they are central to Adolescence. What is an incel? An incel is a man who considers himself involuntarily celibate due to exclusion from wider society, particularly women. Research shows that incels are typically in their mid-twenties, heterosexual and childless. According to the Anti-Defamation League in the US, incels are heterosexual men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success. Experts say that incels harbour deep resentment towards women and other men who are sexually active. They blame women for their own lack of sexual and social status. In fact, most incels believe that women should be shamed and, in some extreme cases, even be physically punished with sexual assault, rape or disfigurement. Ironically, the term incel wasnt founded by a man, but by a young woman named Alana in the mid-1990s. At the time, the woman created a personal website called Alanas Involuntary Celibacy Project and she began using the term incel to discuss with followers on feelings of shyness and social awkwardness. However, as time went by, the meaning of the term changed. Incels harbour deep resentment towards women and other men who are sexually active. They blame women for their own lack of sexual and social status. Representational image/Pixabay How has incel culture grown? After Alana shut down her project, many of the members moved to different blogs, forums, chatrooms and social media channels to discuss their views and anger towards women. Reddit, experts, say is the preferred choice for incels. In November 2018, Reddit said it banned a 41,000-strong incel group for violating its rules regarding violent content. However, they continue to operate on social media channels, posting hateful and sometimes violent messages against women. Incels even use the anonymous messaging board 4chan. A Vox report found that its r9k section contains incel-like ideas, and even remains an active source of incel recruitment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How dangerous can incels be? In the present scenario, incels are considered dangerous as they harbour extremist ideologies. Laura Bates, author of Men Who Hate Women, said: The incel community is a community devoted to violent hatred of women. A community that actively recruits members who might have very real problems and vulnerabilities, and tells them that women are the cause of all their woes. Experts also find that many incels also hold strong beliefs on far-right ideologies and White supremacy. But as Florence Keen, who researches incels at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at Kings College London, told the BBC, not the whole of incel subculture is violent. A picture of Elliot Rodger is displayed during a news conference by Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown. Brown confirmed that Rodger was the man responsible for the mass shooting that left six people dead and 13 injured in the college neighbourhood of Isla Vista near UC Santa Barbara. File image/Reuters However, in the past 10 years, there have been instances where incels have perpetrated mass violence. For instance, in 2014, an American identified as Elliot Rodger shot dead six students at the University of California Santa Barbara, before turning the gun on himself. He even left a message saying that he was dissatisfied with his life because he had failed to form a relationship with a woman and that in turn had led him to hate those around him who were coupled-up. He called for violence against women. Following his death, he was celebrated on incel communities. But Rodger isnt a lone case of an incel being violent. In 2018, Alek Minassian killed 10 people in Toronto. He later told the police that he had been inspired by incel ideas. A Facebook post on his page was found saying: The incel rebellion has already begun. We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys. All hail the supreme gentleman Elliot Rodger! STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In August 2021, 24-year-old Jake Davison shot and killed five people, including his mother, in Britains Plymouth. It later emerged he had been a member of online incel forums. But incels arent just a threat to others. Psychologists believe that incel culture can also be dangerous to the men who find comfort in it. A 2022 study of incels found that 75 per cent of those surveyed were clinically diagnosable with severe or moderate depression, and 45 per cent with severe anxiety. William Costello, the lead author of that study, said: Incels are suffering extraordinarily high levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. They are also as a group, particularly averse to seeking help from mental health professions. In 2022, another study also found that incels are more likely to experience higher rates of depression, paranoia, and negative thoughts about their relationships with others. Workers clean up blood stains on Yonge Street following a van that attacked multiple people in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2018. Cops later said that Alek Minassian was behind the crime. File image/Reuters How are incels linked to Netflixs Adolescence? In the Netflix show, the main character 13-year-old Jamie, played by Owen Cooper, is accused of stabbing his classmate, Katie. As investigators look into the school and the events leading up to the horrific incident, they find that Katie had sent him messages on Instagram with emojis accusing him of being an incel. The show suggests that Jamie killed Katie because she hurt his feelings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, the co-creator of Adolescence, Stephen Graham said that the show is born out of real-life events. Hes quoted as saying, There was an incident where a young boy stabbed a girl. It shocked me. I was thinking, Whats going on? Whats happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? Whats the inciting incident here? And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, Why is this happening today? Whats going on? How have we come to this? With inputs from agencies Waqas Hassan, a Pakistani entrepreneur recently landed in India without a valid visa. During his six-hour layover in Mumbai, Hassan enjoyed the famous vada pao with some cutting chai and even picked up some souvenirs before bidding farewell. Calling the experience pretty fun, the traveller claimed to have found the hack of landing into India without a visa. Heres what it is read more During his short stay, Hassan made the most of his timerelaxing in an airport lounge, picking up souvenirs, and indulging in Mumbais famous street food. Screenshot. Image courtesy: Instagram/@waqahassn Can a Pakistani citizen land in India without a visa? It may sound impossible, given the strict travel rules between the two countries, but Waqas Hassan, a Pakistani entrepreneur, did just thatwithout breaking any laws. During his time in Mumbai, Hassan enjoyed the famous vada pao at the airport and even picked up some souvenirs. Calling the experience pretty fun, he shared his journey online, sparking a wave a curiosity. His story has now gone viral, leaving many wondering: How did he manage to travel to India without a visa? Heres what we know. Advertisement Hassans Mumbai sojourn Waqas Hassan, founder of the AI company AiForAll, embarked on a journey from Singapore to Saudi Arabia, opting for an IndiGo flight that included a six-hour layover in Mumbai. This time Im flying from Singapore to Saudi Arabia. And currently, Im in Mumbai, Hassan said in his Instagram video as he walked through the airport. Hassan went on to explain that Pakistani travellers can legally transit through India without a visa, as long as they stay inside the airport. However, since self-check-in is not an option for them, they must book a single-ticket itinerary. During his short stay, he made the most of his timerelaxing in an airport lounge, picking up souvenirs, and indulging in Mumbais famous street food. He enjoyed a plate of vada pav paired with cutting chai, calling the experience pretty fun. I travelled all the way to Mumbai on a Pakistani passport just to have vada pav, read the caption on his post. Slight risk Hassan admitted that even though this was a legal travel option, he was initially hesitant to book the ticket. I have been travelling for 15 years. Nobody told me that we [Pakistanis] can transit through India. So when I booked this ticket, there was a slight bit of risk involved as well, said the Singapore-based Pakistani entrepreneur. Even the officials at Mumbai airport were surprised to see his passport. Advertisement When I gave them my passport at the airport, they also looked at me in surprise. They said not many Pakistani people do this, so it was a new experience for them as well, he shared. While Pakistani passport holders can visit India with a visa, getting one is often difficult due to political tensions and security concerns. As a result, leisure tourism between the two countries remains rare. So why did Hassan choose a flight with an Indian layover? According to him, Indian airlines offer some of the best deals on flights between the East and the Westjust like his Singapore-to-Saudi Arabia route. Welcome to Mumbai bhai Hassans video has gone viral, amassing over 900,000 views and sparking conversations on both sides. One user commented, Glad you got to touch Indian soil. So close yet so far due to politics. Hope you enjoyed the vada pav. Another was fascinated by the transit loophole, saying, Omg, I didnt know this before!!! Will defo transit through India. Others, however, had a different take. Whats the happiness in staying at an airport of a country that would never allow you to step out? questioned another user. Advertisement Instagram page Aamchi Mumbai gave Hassan a warm digital welcome, commenting, Welcome to Mumbai, Bhai! Meanwhile, many others expressed a shared wishone where borders werent barriers, and travel between India and Pakistan was as easy as catching a flight. Pakistani awaam should be allowed to visit India and vice versa. I love you guys, and no one is good or badwere all shades of grey. I respect your culture and country and will request our government to make access easier for citizens of both nations, one person wrote. With input from agencies The six-year-old daughter of Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput, who was allegedly killed by his wife Muskan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla, is believed to have been aware of his murder. According to Rajputs family, the girl kept telling neighbours, Papa drum mein hai (Dad is in the drum). However, an officer has dismissed this claim read more Police take away Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput's wife Muskan and her lover Sahil Shukla after they were arrested in connection with his murder, in Meerut, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. PTI The horrific killing of the Merchant Navy officer in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has revealed an episode of betrayal, meticulous planning, and brutal execution. Days after Saurabh Rajputs body was found in a cemented drum, it is learnt that his six-year-old daughter was aware of his murder and what followed. According to reports, the daughter kept telling neighbours, Papa drum mein hai (Dad is in the drum). Lets take a look. Papa is in the drum Renu Devi, who was having a hard time dealing with the grisly death of her son, described how pieces of his body were found inside the drum. They (Muskan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla) murdered my son on March 4 and went for a trip. The house owner had earlier told her to vacate the room for renovation. When they came back, he sent labourers to vacate the room. They could not lift the drum. When they asked her (Muskan) what was in it, she replied it was full of junk. Advertisement The mother of the deceased claimed that as the labourers opened the drums lid, a foul stench permeated the air. They called the police. By the time the cops came, she (Muskan) had reached her parents place. Renu Devi also said, She (Rajputs daughter) might have seen something. Some people said she was saying, Papa is in the drum. They (Rastogi and Shukla) removed her from there because she must have seen something. However, SP City Ayush Vikram Singh dismissed this claim, saying, When Rastogi was telling the story of the incident to the family members, the girl might have been present there. The girl did not know anything (beforehand) about this. Renu Devi also alleged that Rastogis mother knew everything prior. Her mother knew everything priorBut to mislead things, she (Rastogis mother) said that her daughter told them that she had killed him (Rajput) The mother met some lawyer and reached court, she alleged. Also read: Pressure of marriage, fights What brew between Mahalakshmi, lover before Bengaluru murder? Strained ties Rastogi had a tense connection with her in-laws right from the start. The two tied the knot in 2016 against their parents approval. Soon after the marriage, Rajput even left his job in the Merchant Navy to spend more time with his wife, which upset his family. The couple eventually moved to a rented property as a result of their dispute at home. Advertisement According to Rajputs family members, Rastogi married her for the money and that Rajput trusted her blindly. In 2019, they had a daughter. However, the joy was short-lived because soon Rajput learnt about his wifes extramarital affair with Sahil Shukla. The tensions between the couple even prompted them to consider divorce. Eventually, Rajput stepped back, thinking of his daughters future. He re-joined Navy and left the country for work in 2023, the report claimed. The murder The body of Saurabh Rajput, a 29-year-old Merchant Navy employee, was found on Tuesday in his rented apartment in Brahmpuris Indiranagar Phase 2. According to NDTV, Rajput had returned from London on February 24 to celebrate his daughters sixth birthday on February 28 and had been missing since March 4. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ayush Vikram Singh said, Police received a tip-off about a foul smell emanating from the victims house. Upon investigation, we found his body chopped into multiple pieces and sealed inside a water drum filled with cement, presumable to hasten decomposition. Advertisement The victims wife and accused, Rastogi, and her lover Shukla, were arrested on Tuesday and remanded in 14-day judicial custody on Wednesday. The same day in the evening, Rajputs body was cremated. Rastogi had been allegedly plotting to kill Rajput since November. Days before her husbands return, on February 22, she had bought two knives for Rs 800 and told the storekeeper that she would use them to cut chicken. She also had faked anxiety to a doctor and obtained the medications she would use to put him to sleep before killing him. Ultimately, on March 4, Rastogi and Shukla drugged him and then stabbed him to death. Advertisement According to Rastogis family members, she and Shukla were habitual drug users, and they may have killed Rajput because of that. The accuseds father said, She told us that her friend (Shukla) feared that Rajput would stop their drug sessions. The Rastogis have said Saurabh should get justice. Our daughter was the problem. She got him separated from his family. And she has now done this. Asked what punishment they want for their daughter, the couple replied, with teary eyes, She should be hanged. She has lost the right to live. The recent case is a stark reminder of the murder of television executive Neeraj Grover, who was killed by Kannada actor Maria Susairaj and her fiance, Lieutenant Emile Jerome Mathew, who was a naval officer. The killing had made headlines largely because the victims body was chopped into about 300 pieces. Advertisement With inputs from agencies According to reports, a fire at an electrical substation has shut down Londons Heathrow Airport. Over a thousand flights have been delayed and hundreds of thousands of passengers have been impacted. But what are the conspiracy theories flying thick and fast? read more Western officials have long accused Russia of conducting attacks on their soil since the invasion of Ukraine began three years ago. AFP Londons Heathrow airport has been shut down. Over a thousand flights have been delayed and hundreds of thousands of passengers have been impacted. According to reports, this has resulted from a power outage at an electrical substation. However, this hasnt stopped the conspiracy theories about the incident from flying thick and fast. But what are the rumours doing the rounds? Lets take a closer look: Terror attack? As per The National, the Counter Terrorism Command of the UKs Metropolitan Police is investigating the incident. This comes due to given the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure. Advertisement The outlet quoted officials as saying the incident was being discussed as sabotage and involved a foreign country. A Heathrow security source told the newspaper residents near the substation claimed to have heard explosive-like noises early Friday. The newspaper quoted a spokesperson for the police as saying there was no indication of foul play but that they retain an open mind. But Metro.co.Uk reported that counterterrorism police have been deployed as a precaution. Russian sabotage? The Heathrow source told the newspaper that said a state actor could have been involved in the incident. Sabotage is a conversation thats actively going on and yes were discussing it in terms of a state actor, the source added. Western officials have long accused Russia of conducting attacks on their soil since the invasion of Ukraine began three years ago. The AP has tracked nearly five dozen such operations by Russia and its allies since February 2022. Experts said it was a distinct possibility. Weve been assessing that there is an increased likelihood of Russian sabotage in Britain, said Alexander Lord, of geopolitical intelligence firm Sibylline. Weve had a number of investigations across Europe, in Germany, Lithuania and Poland over the last month that have concluded that a Russian element is active. Advertisement This frame grab taken from a UGC video shot and posted on X on March 21, 2025 by @chrisjbrogan shows smoke billowing from a fire at a neighborhood electrical substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London. AFP An intelligence expert told the newspaper Russia would be a prime suspect in case sabotage was proved. This, after the Kremlins active measures teams have undertaken a number of operations across Europe to hurt Ukraines allies. Mike ONeill, the managing director of security firm Optimal Risk agreed with the assessment. That this is Russian sabotage really strikes me as a standout, ONeill said. With Starmer standing up to Russia and promising to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine then Security expert Will Geddes told Metro Russia could be involved, Heathrow is the busiest airport in the world. Secondly, it is part of our critical national infrastructure as a facility for international travel, business and finance. Yes, there are other major airports but this one is particularly important. Advertisement Security experts have to stick their necks out during things like this theres every chance they could be cut off, but we have to consider all the options and if there is viability to Russia potentially attacking a substation, we cannot discount that. We might get it wrong, but if we dont lead towards and investigate every single avenue of possibility and not discount anything because its too inflammatory, we arent doing our jobs, Geddes said. The biggest question for me is who was managing and risk assessing that site where the failure has happened? Suddenly, a major substation goes off. My thinking is that this is sabotage and has to be investigated as sabotage. Advertisement ONeill added that a small amount of explosives in the right place could cause a lot of damage and the substations security locks and fences can be defeated. Multiple countries engage in hybrid operations, David Salvo, managing director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, told Daily Mail. Russia is the overwhelming culprit in Europe. Express.co.UK quoted commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, as saying that a Bulgarian spy ring convicted of spying on an almost industrial scale is a clear example of Moscow contracting out its intelligence gathering. We will see more of that, Murphy added. Advertisement The reality is, it wont be the only activity Russia has conducted here in the UK and we have seen other disruptions into other types of Russian activity. In terms of specific groups, all I can say is that within that 20 per cent demand, there are a number of other investigations linked to Russia but they are not necessarily of this type. We look at lots of international threats. Ex-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev wrote on X, Im looking forward to Russia being blamed for the Heathrow fire. What are you waiting for, Starmer? As per Daily Mail, Russians on Telegram celebrated the development. One post on Kremlin-funded Readovka Telegram channel said, Petrov and Boshirov came to see the cathedral again. That was a reference to Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov the suspects in the 2018 Novichok poisonings. Are Petrov and Boshirov on vacation? someone else asked. Now Petrov and Boshirov went to see Big Ben. The excursion was a success, another wrote. Thus [with this fire] Putin is trying to break the will of the British people to help their Ukrainian brothers for free, another person commented. Are they going to look for a Russian trace again? someone else chimed in. No suggestion of foul play But others have tamped down on such speculations. Energy Secretary Mr Miliband told LBC, Theres no suggestion that there is foul play. Pressed on whether it was simply a catastrophic accident. The conversation Ive had is with the National Grid, the chief executive of the National Grid and certainly, thats what he said to me. Travellers wait at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after a fire at Heathrow Airport in London forced its closure, leading to numerous flight cancellations. AP As I understand it from the National Grid, there was a backup generator but that was also affected by the fire, which gives a sense of how unusual and unprecedented it was, Miliband told _Sky News. _There is a second backup which they are seeking to use to restore power so there are backup mechanisms in place but given the scale of this fire the backup mechanisms also seem to have been affected. But obviously with any incident like this we will want to understand why it happened and what if any lessons it has for our infrastructure. Meanwhile Labour MP Ruth Cadbury called reports of sabotage somewhat speculative. There are obviously questions about it, and I dont know enough about electricity, but for the airport to be dependent on one substation, it does raise questions. Cadbury said it was very, very concerning that one substation can close down an airport and there isnt an alternative source of energy. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, I know the situation in Heathrow is causing distress and disruption, especially for those travelling or without power in their homes. Im receiving regular updates and Im in close contact with partners on the ground. Thanks to our emergency workers for keeping people safe. With inputs from agencies During a telephone conversation with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump apparently suggested the transfer of control for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe. The plant is currently in control of the Russian forces. But, what will this mean? read more US President Donald Trump wants the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. According to a US statement, Trump apparently proposed transferring ownership of Ukraines power plants to the United States for long-term security during a recent telephone conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy later clarified during a media interaction that the discussion with Trump indeed revolved specifically on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine. According to The Guardian, he said, We talked only about one power plant, which is under Russian occupation. Advertisement A notable contradiction exists in the fact that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, despite its connection to the Ukrainian energy grid, remains inoperative and has been under Russian control from the outset of the hostilities. But Trumps demand has got everyone thinking what this move means and how it will affect the involved parties, namely Russia and Ukraine? Who holds power over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant today? Russia is currently exercising power on one of the worlds largest and Europes biggest nuclear plant facility. They occupied it in the initial days of the war in February 2022. Notably, the city of Zaporizhzhia which is largest in the region, remains under Ukrainian control, even as Russia declared the region annexed in the fall of 2022. Ukraine has levied accusations against Russia, alleging the deployment of troops and weaponry at the Zaporizhzhia plant and its use as a launching point for operations across the Dnipro River. Russia, however, rejects these claims, counter-accusing Ukraine of conducting artillery attacks on the facility. How many nuclear power plants does Ukraine have? Beyond the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine possesses three additional operational nuclear power generation facilities. These have become the primary source of the countrys electricity supply in the wake of sustained Russian military actions targeting thermal and hydroelectric power plants. The three nuclear facilities are strategically positioned in the southern, western and northwestern regions of Ukraine, thereby maintaining a safe distance from active frontline areas. What was the topic of discussion between the two leaders? A White House statement from Secretary Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz revealed that Trump suggested to Zelenskyy during a Wednesday call that Ukraine consider transferring power plant ownership to the US for long-term security. American ownership of those plants could be the best protection for that infrastructure, Trump suggested, according to the statement. President Donald Trump with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House. File image/ AP Later during a press conference, Zelenskyy conveyed to journalists that the discussion with Trump primarily focused on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and he later emphasised that the ownership of the other three plants was not broached. All nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine, he said. Zelenskyy said that when they discussed Zaporizhzhia, the US leader had inquired about the facilitys future. Trump asked my thoughts on the plant, Zelenskyy said. I told him that if it is not Ukrainian, it will not operate. It is illegal. Advertisement Even though ZNPP is a state-owned plant, Zelenskyy acknowledged that if the US were to claim it from Russian control, invest in it and modernize it, Ukraine might consider it. That is a separate question, an open one, he said. What is the current state of Zaporizhzhias nuclear plant? Following its transition to Russian control, the operational integrity of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has diminished. Though the six reactors have been decommissioned for a number of years, they remain dependent on external power and specialised personnel to ensure the functionality of cooling systems and critical safety features. According to Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear operator, Russian forces coerced Ukrainian employees at the plant into signing contracts with Russian authorities and accepting Russian citizenship. Those who declined were subjected to abduction or threats, resulting in a mass exodus and severe understaffing, thereby complicating management. The collapse of a dam in June 2023 further jeopardised the plants cooling systems, which relied on water from the reservoir. In response, plant administrators dug wells, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Advertisement Zelenskyy said extensive repairs would be needed before the plant could operate again, estimating the process could take at least two years. The IAEA has repeatedly warned the war could cause a radiation leak. While the plant no longer produces electricity, it still holds large amounts of nuclear fuel, requiring constant cooling. Regular blackouts caused by the fighting have disrupted the facility, though power has been quickly restored each time. IAEA experts permanently stationed there still face restricted access, with Russian authorities blocking some inspection requests, according to IAEA head Rafael Grossi. Is a breakthrough deal on the horizon? Zelenskyy said the discussions with Trump on restoring Zaporizhzhia were a positive step, but cautioned that no one would work at the plant if Russian forces remained stationed nearby. Control over the plant is likely to remain a legal and logistical challenge, intertwined with a highly divisive issue for both warring sides: control over the land itself. Russian troops hold the area, while Ukrainian forces are separated from it by the Dnipro River and more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of terrain. Advertisement Simply handing over the plant while everything within a meter of it remains occupied or armed by Russia no one will work under such conditions, Zelenskyy said after the call with Trump. Its impossible. He said there would be no way to operate securely in such a scenario. That would mean that the plant could start operating tomorrow, only to be blown up by the Russians the following day. With inputs from AP Londons Heathrow Airport has been shut down due to a power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The closure has affected at least 1,351 flights, impacting over 200,000 passengers. Airlines including British Airways, Qantas, United Airlines and Air India have cancelled or rerouted flights, with major hubs like Frankfurt, Paris and Madrid handling diversions read more A man speaks to the phone near a notice about a power outage at Heathrow International Airport, after a fire at a electrical substation wiped out power at the airport, at the Paddington railway station in London, UK, March 21, 2025. File Image/Reuters Heathrow Airport, the busiest in the UK, has been forced to close following a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes, west London. The incident, which occurred late Thursday night, led to a major disruption in flight schedules, affecting thousands of passengers worldwide. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded swiftly, with ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters tackling the blaze. Though the fire is now under control, authorities have yet to determine its cause. Advertisement Emergency services were called to the scene at 23:23 GMT, and the resulting explosions and fire led to power cuts in nearly 5,000 homes. A 200-meter safety cordon was established, and residents were advised to keep doors and windows shut due to heavy smoke. The airport confirmed that all operations would remain suspended until 23:59 on March 21, 2025, urging passengers to avoid travelling to the airport and to contact their airlines for further updates. How flights have been affected across the globe The closure of Heathrow has triggered a ripple effect across the global aviation network. Over 1,351 flights were scheduled to operate through the airport on Friday, affecting up to 291,000 passengers. According to Flightradar24, at least 120 inbound flights had to be diverted early on Friday morning, while many others turned back to their point of departure. Todays total closure of London-Heathrow will affect at least 1,351 flights to/from LHR. That doesnt include any flights that might be canceled or delayed due to aircraft being out of position. pic.twitter.com/WikVJsCxDK Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 21, 2025 Major airlines have been forced to reroute or cancel flights: British Airways , Heathrows largest carrier, had 341 flights scheduled on Friday. Qantas Airways diverted flights from Perth and Singapore to Paris, arranging alternative transportation for passengers. United Airlines redirected flights from New York and San Francisco, with some turning back mid-air. Seven United flights returned to their origin or were diverted to alternative airports. Air India returned flights to Mumbai and Delhi and cancelled all remaining Heathrow-bound flights for the day, though its services to London Gatwick remain unaffected. Singapore Airlines cancelled five flights and diverted others, affecting at least eight scheduled services. Virgin Atlantic suspended all Heathrow arrivals and departures until midday on March 21. Cathay Pacific cancelled all its London-bound flights, including CX239 and CX253 from Hong Kong. Emirates cancelled flights EK001/002, EK029/030, and EK031/032. Etihad Airways diverted flight EY61 from Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt and cancelled flights EY63, EY64, EY65, and EY66. Aer Lingus cancelled all flights to and from Heathrow until further notice. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) cancelled all 12 scheduled round trips to and from Heathrow. Amsterdams Schiphol Airport reported about 15 cancellations related to Heathrows closure. Spains airport operator Aena reported disruptions to at least 54 flights across Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Tenerife and Valencia, with 20 cancellations as of early Friday. Advertisement Ireland has also seen significant impacts, with Shannon Airport accommodating multiple transatlantic flights originally bound for Heathrow, including routes from Toronto, Boston, Orlando, and Newark. The Heathrow-Dublin flight path, one of the busiest in Europe, was significantly affected, with at least 34 scheduled flights impacted. In total, around 70 flights to and from Ireland were cancelled. Aviation crisis likened to 9/11-like situation The scale of disruption at Heathrow is being likened to past aviation crises such as the September 11 attacks in 2001 and the 2010 volcanic ash cloud from Icelands Eyjafjallajokull eruption. Aviation consultant John Strickland told British PA news agency, Its a contained version of 9/11 or, to an extent, the Icelandic volcanic eruptionthats the parallel I would make. He noted that Heathrows full capacity leaves little flexibility for handling such emergencies. The UKs Air Traffic Control has implemented contingency measures, including diverting aircraft to non-UK airports and halting flights before departure. Advertisement The last time Heathrow faced such extensive disruption was in 2010 when a volcanic eruption and heavy snowfall led to days of flight cancellations. Airlines rely on meticulously planned schedules, with aircraft and crew strategically stationed across different hubs. With such a critical transit point unavailable, many carriers are struggling to realign their networks. People wait at the Paddington railway station, after a fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out power at the Heathrow International Airport, in London, UK, March 21, 2025. File Image/Reuters European airports including Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, Madrid Barajas and Shannon in Ireland have received diverted flights, adding strain to their own schedules. North American airports, including Newark, Washington DC, Toronto and Atlanta, have also been affected, with flights either redirected or sent back to their departure points. Advertisement The disruption has also caused long-haul flights to Asia and Australia to be rerouted or cancelled, particularly affecting key routes operated by Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. With many flights stranded at alternative locations, airlines now face logistical challenges in repositioning aircraft and crew. With Heathrow expected to remain closed until late Friday night, airlines and passengers are scrambling to adjust their plans. The airport has apologised for the inconvenience, stating that the priority is ensuring safety and restoring power as soon as possible. Airplanes remain parked on the tarmac at Heathrow International Airport after a fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out the power at the airport, near London, UK, March 21, 2025. File Image/Reuters UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has vowed to investigate the cause of the fire and assess what lessons can be learned from the incident. Advertisement Travellers scheduled to fly through Heathrow are advised to stay in close contact with their airlines for updates and alternative travel arrangements. Given the scale of the disruption, the effects are likely to be felt for several days, with flight schedules taking time to return to normal. Heathrow Airport was handling 83.9 million passengers last year. That gives about 220k passengers per day. pic.twitter.com/kymm3VpH6N Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 21, 2025 Industry experts warn that as flight backlogs accumulate, re-bookings will be difficult and passengers should prepare for potential extended delays. Airport authorities have stated that they are working closely with airlines to minimise further disruptions. As Heathrow works to resolve the crisis, passengers worldwide will need to prepare for delays, cancellations and potential reroutes as the aviation industry grapples with one of the most significant airport shutdowns in recent memory. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Ever since President Donald Trump took office, there has been a rise in incidents where tourists from Europe and neighbouring countries have been stopped at US border crossings and held for weeks at immigration detention facilities before deported at their own expense. These incidents have raised concerns about potential misuse of power by border authorities read more Vehicles wait in line to cross border into the US at San Ysidro Port of Entry, Mexico. AP Lennon Tyler and her German fiance often took road trips to Mexico when he vacationed in the United States since it was only a days drive from her home in Las Vegas, one of the perks of their long-distance relationship. But things went terribly wrong when they drove back from Tijuana last month. US border agents handcuffed Tyler, a US citizen, and chained her to a bench, while her fiance, Lucas Sielaff, was accused of violating the rules of his 90-day US tourist permit, the couple said. Authorities later handcuffed and shackled Sielaff and sent him to a crowded US immigration detention centre. He spent 16 days locked up before being allowed to fly home to Germany. Advertisement Lucas Sielaff poses for a photo in Bad Bibra, Germany, Thursday, March 20, 2025. AP Since President Donald Trump took office, there have been other incidents of tourists like Sielaff being stopped at US border crossings and held for weeks at US immigration detention facilities before being allowed to fly home at their own expense. They include another German tourist who was stopped at the Tijuana crossing on January 25. Jessica Brosche spent over six weeks locked up, including over a week in solitary confinement, a friend said. On the Canadian border, a backpacker from Wales spent nearly three weeks at a detention centre before flying home this week. And a Canadian woman on a work visa detained at the Tijuana border spent 12 days in detention before returning home last weekend. Sielaff, 25, and the others say it was never made clear why they were taken into custody even after they offered to go home voluntarily. Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit that aids migrants, said in the 22 years he has worked on the border hes never seen travellers from Western Europe and Canada, longtime US allies, locked up like this. Its definitely unusual with these cases so close together, and the rationale for detaining these people doesnt make sense, he said. It doesnt justify the abhorrent treatment and conditions they endured. The only reason I see is there is a much more fervent anti-immigrant atmosphere, Rios said. Lucas Sielaff poses for a photo in Bad Bibra, Germany, Thursday, March 20, 2025. AP Of course, tourists from countries where the US requires visas many of them non-Western nations have long encountered difficulties entering the US. US authorities did not respond to a request from The Associated Press for figures on how many tourists have recently been held at detention facilities or explain why they werent simply denied entry. Advertisement Weekslong lockups fuel anxieties about tourist travel to US The incidents are fueling anxiety as the Trump administration prepares for a ban on travellers from some countries. Noting the evolving federal travel policies, the University of California, Los Angeles sent a notice this week urging its foreign-born students and staff to consider the risks of travel for spring break, warning re-entry requirements may change while you are away, impacting your return. University of California, Los Angeles sent a notice this week urging its foreign-born students and staff to consider the risks of travel for spring break, warning re-entry requirements may change while you are away, impacting your return.. Image for Representation. Reuters Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in an email to the AP that Sielaff and Brosche, who were held for 45 days, were deemed inadmissible by Customs and Border Protection. That agency said it cannot discuss specifics but if statutes or visa terms are violated, travellers may be subject to detention and removal. The agencies did not comment on the other cases. Both German tourists were allowed into the United States under a program offered to a select group of countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, whose citizens are allowed to travel to the US for business or leisure for up to 90 days without getting a visa in advance. Applicants register online with the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. Advertisement But even if they are authorised to travel under that system, they can still be barred from entering the country. Sielaff arrived in the US on January 27. He and Tyler decided to go to Tijuana for four days in mid-February because Tylers dog needed surgery and veterinary services are cheaper there. They figured they would enjoy some tacos and make a fun trip out of it. Mexico is a wonderful and beautiful country that Lucas and I love to visit, Tyler said. They returned on February 18, just 22 days into Sielaffs 90-day tourist permit. When they pulled up to the crossing, the US border agent asked Sielaff aggressively, Where are you going? Where do you live? Tyler said. Advertisement English is not Lucas first language and so he said, Were going to Las Vegas, and the agent says, Oh, we caught you. You live in Las Vegas. You cant do that, Tyler said. Sielaff was taken away for more questioning. Tyler said she asked to go with him or if he could get a translator and was told to be quiet, then taken out of her car and handcuffed and chained to a bench. Her dog, recovering from surgery, was left in the car. After four hours, Tyler was allowed to leave but said she was given no information about her fiances whereabouts. Advertisement During questioning, Sielaff said he told authorities he never lived in the US and had no criminal history. He said he was given a full-body search and ordered to hand over his cellphone and belongings. He was put in a holding cell where he slept on a bench for two days before being transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego. There, he said, he shared a cell with eight others. You are angry, you are sad, you dont know when you can get out, Sielaff said. You just dont get any answers from anybody. He was finally told to get a direct flight to Germany and submit a confirmation number. In a frantic call from Sielaff, Tyler bought it for $2,744. He flew back March 5. A blatant abuse of US border authorities power, victims say What happened at the border was just blatant abuse of the Border Patrols power, Tyler said. Ashley Paschen agrees. She said she learned about Brosche from a TikTok video asking anyone in the San Diego area for help after her family learned she was being held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. Paschen visited her several times and told her people were working to get her out. Brosche flew home March 11. Shes happy to be home, Paschen said. She seems very relieved if anything but shes not coming back here anytime soon. On February 26, a tourist from Wales, Becky Burke, a backpacker travelling across North America, was stopped at the US-Canada border and held for nearly three weeks at a detention facility in Washington state, her father, Paul Burke, posted on Facebook. She returned home Tuesday. On March 3, Canadian Jasmine Mooney, an actress and entrepreneur on a US work visa, was detained at the Tijuana crossing. She was released Saturday, her friend Brittany Kors said. Before Mooneys release, British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed concern, saying: It certainly reinforces anxiety that many Canadians have about our relationship with the US right now, and the unpredictability of this administration and its actions. The detentions come amid legal fights over the Trump administrations arrests and deportations of other foreigners with valid visas and green card holders, including a Palestinian activist who helped organise campus protests of the war in Gaza. Tyler plans to sue the US government. Sielaff said he and Tyler are now rethinking plans to hold their wedding in Las Vegas. He suffers nightmares and is considering therapy to cope with the trauma. Nobody is safe there anymore to come to America as a tourist, he said. With input from AP As per the Reserve Bank of Indias latest survey of remittances, advanced economies have replaced the Gulf nations as Indias top source of remittances. The US contributed the most money to the South Asian country. Here are the other developed nations whose share increased over the last few years read more India's most remittances came from the US over the last few years. Representational Image/Reuters India has seen a shift in the source of remittances coming to the country. Once led by Gulf economies, the share of remittances is now dominated by developed countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) latest survey of remittances has revealed that advanced economies emerged as the top source of inflow of remittances to India in the last four years. But what explains it? Lets take a closer look. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From Gulf nations to advanced economies Remittances are cash or goods sent by people working abroad to support their families in their native country. India has consistently received the highest remittance over the years, with the monies doubling from $55.6 billion in 2010-11 to $118.7 billion in 2023-24. As per the RBIs monthly bulletin this month, the US was Indias top source of inward remittances. Its share increased from 23.4 per cent in 2020-21 to 27.7 per cent in 2023-24. The UK accounted for 6.8 per cent in remittances to India in 2020-21, a jump from a mere three per cent in FY17. The transfers from the UK to India further rose to 10.8 per cent in 2023-24, as per the article Changing Dynamics of Indias Remittances Insights from the Sixth Round of Indias Remittances Survey published in the RBI bulletin. The US and the UK together contributed to nearly 40 per cent of total remittances coming to India through banks in FY24, reported The Hindu. This figure was 26 per cent in 2017-18. A man walks past a logo of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Rupee inside the RBI headquarters in Mumbai, December 6, 2024. File Photo/Reuters While the share of advanced economies remittances to India has surged, the money from countries that were previously major contributors has either remained the same or decreased. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was Indias top source of inflow of remittances in 2016-17 with a 26.9 per cent share, was reduced to the second spot by 2020-21. Its contribution slightly rose from 18 per cent in 2020-21 to 19.2 per cent in 2023-24. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The share of money from Indians living in Saudi Arabia almost halved to 6.7 per cent in FY24 from 11.6 per cent in FY17. India also received more money from Canada, Australia and Singapore. Australias share was 2.3 per cent of the total remittances in the last fiscal, while Singapores climbed from 5.5 per cent in FY17 to 6.6 per cent in FY24. Whats behind the shift? The shift in the source of remittances to India from Gulf nations to developed countries reflects the change in the migration pattern of the skilled Indian diaspora. The results of the sixth round of the survey on Indias remittances for 2023-24 highlight the changing dynamics of Indias diaspora from the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries as the pre-dominant source economies to the advanced economies, RBI researchers wrote in the article published in the central banks monthly bulletin on March 19. Indian migrant workers in the UAE are primarily involved in blue-collar jobs in fields such as construction, healthcare, hospitality, and tourism. In the US, Indians mostly do well-paying white-collar jobs, including in sectors like finance, medicine and technology. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The RBI officials pointed out that Indians preferring Canada, the UK and Australia for higher education destinations could be a factor for enhanced remittances from these countries. The results of the survey highlight the gradual shift in dominance of Indias remittances from the GCC countries to the AEs [advance economies] particularly the US, the UK, Singapore, Canada and Australia which together accounted for more than half of the remittances in 2023-24, the article said. Which states get the most remittances? Roughly half of the remittances went to Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra received the highest at 20.5 per cent in 2023-24, a drop from 35.2 per cent in 2020-21. Keralas share of remittances increased to 19.7 per cent from about 10 per cent during the same period. Tamil Nadu got the third highest share at 10.4 per cent, followed by Telangana (8.1 per cent), and Karnataka (7.7 per cent). As per the article, the most number of Indians migrating abroad for education were from Maharashtra, Telangana and Punjab, which showed the rise in the share of inward remittances of these states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The central bank estimates that remittances to India will remain high and are likely to reach around $160 billion in 2029. With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trumps threat to impose a 200 per cent tariff on European wines and champagnes have left those in the industry staring at disaster. Trump made the move after the European Union announced a 50 per cent tax on American whiskey. But what do we know? How bad could things get? read more US President Donald Trump last week threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on European wines and champagnes. Those in the industry in Europe particularly those in smaller wineries say it could be an absolutely disaster. Trump and Europe are locked in a spat over tariffs. Trump made his threat to Europes alcohol industry after the European Union announced a 50 per cent tax on American whiskey, That move came after Trump imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum. Advertisement Among those who are worried about their livelihood is David Levasseur. Levasseur is a third-generation wine grower and owner of a Champagne house in Frances eponymous region. It means Im in trouble, big trouble. We hope its just, as we say, blah blah, Levasseur said, standing in his Champagne house as he swilled a flute of his vineyards bubbly. When someone speaks so loudly, he said of Trumps 200% threat, its about the media buzz. But in any case, we think there will be consequences. Like other wine sellers and exporters, Levasseur said that a 200% tariff on what he exports to the US would essentially grind to a halt his business in that country. It could be a real disaster, Levasseur said. Bottles Champagne are for sale at a wine dealer shop as President Donald Trump threatened a 200 per cent tariff on European wine, Champagne and spirits if the European Union goes forward with a planned tariff on American whiskey. AP Italy, France and Spain are among the top five exporters of wine to the United States. Hammer blow Gabriel Picard, who heads the French Federation of Exporters of Wines and Spirits, said 200 per cent tariffs would be a hammer blow for Frances industry, whose wine and spirits exports to the US are worth $4.3 billion annually. With 200 per cent duties, there is no more market, Picard said. Still, he understood why European leaders responded to Trumps initial tariffs. Theres no debate about that. We agree that Mr Trump creates and likes to create contests of strength. We have to adapt to that, he said. Advertisement For Italy, its the wine at high-end restaurants they worry most about losing In Italy, the wine industry has called for calm, hoping that negotiators in Brussels and Washington can back down from the growing trade spat. The US is Italys largest wine market, with sales having tripled in value over the past 20 years. Last year, exports grew by nearly 7 per cent to $2.2 billion according to Italys main farming lobby Coldiretti. Strong sales at high-end restaurants, in particular, make the US market difficult to replace, said Piero Mastroberardino, vice president of the national winemakers association Federvini. Mastroberardinos Taurasi Radici red wine, for example, was rated the fifth-best wine in the world in 2023 by Wine Spectator, an American wine and lifestyle magazine. Advertisement It sells for around $80 a bottle retail in the US, roughly twice how much it costs in Italy, so any tariffs would push it to an unthinkable price point, he said. In January, Mastroberardinos US import partners increased orders by about 20 per cent in January anticipating possible Trump tariffs. But the increase in orders would not offset the impact of tariffs, particularly that high, he said, for long. It is in everyones interest to maintain a united front at the negotiating table, Mastroberardino said, especially those who are being targeted. Wine producers and industry experts in Spain, whose smooth reds are savored by tens of millions of American tourists who visit the southern European country every year, shared similar concerns about prospective tariffs. Advertisement We dont think they have much logic and we hope it never comes to fruition, said Begona Olavarria, an economic analyst at the Interprofessional Wine Organisation of Spain. Spain was the fourth-largest exporter of wine to the US last year in sales, and the seventh-largest by volume, according to the trade group. Spanish wine exports to the US grew by 7 per cent last year. And the wine industry represents about two per cent of the countrys overall economic output, the trade group said. Pretty desperate For Spains producers of Cava, the threat of US tariffs hit especially hard. The US is the number two market for the Spanish bubbly wine, which like Champagne has a designation of origin meaning it can only be made in Spain. Advertisement Mireia Pujol-Busquets is owner of the Alta Alella Bodega located in Cava country just south of Barcelona. Founded by her family in 1991, she said her business and its 40 employees immediately risk losing sales of some 25,000 bottles if the American market slams shut. We spent 10 years of effort opening the American market, finding distributors and building a brand, she told the AP. While the Catalan bodega and its distributors in the US were able to absorb the price increase induced by Trumps 25 per cent tariff on wines during his first term, Pujol-Busquets said that it is completely irrational to consider eating a 200 per cent hike. The situation is pretty desperate, she said. The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the licence that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal read more India on Friday attributed the decline in India-Canada relations to the licence granted by Ottawa to extremist and secessionist elements within the country. Addressing a weekly briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the licence that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity. #WATCH | Delhi: On India-Canada relations, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on pic.twitter.com/on36QS3aYr ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Advertisement Tensions between India and Canada intensified after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist, in British Columbia in 2023. Canadian authorities alleged Indian involvement, which New Delhi vehemently denied. The diplomatic fallout led to both countries expelling senior diplomats, worsening relations. India has repeatedly criticised Canada for its inaction against Khalistani supporters undermining Indias territorial integrity, citing incidents of vandalism at places of worship, threats to diplomats, and public displays glorifying violence against Indian leaders. Jaiswal also provided an update on India-China relations, noting that constructive engagement has continued since the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan. #WATCH | Delhi: On India-China talks, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Since we had a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi in Kazan. Since then, we have had constructive engagement at the levels of EAM, NSA and the Foreign Secretary also pic.twitter.com/AbSuQelXTb ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Advertisement Since we had a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi in Kazan. Since then, we have had constructive engagement at the levels of EAM, NSA and the Foreign Secretary also travelled to China in January, where he met his counterpartConversations and dialogues have been going on and they have been moving forward in the right direction, added the MEA spokesperson. Advertisement On bilateral trade negotiations with the US, Jaiswal said both the governments are actively working to build a framework for the BTA, which would aim to expand trade, enhance market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers. #WATCH | Delhi: MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "India and the US are in the process of taking bilateral trade negotiations forward. The two governments are actively working to build a framework for the BTA, which would aim to expand trade, enhance market access, pic.twitter.com/HZZUcLhhFv ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Government of India remains engaged with the US administration at various levels to arrive at a mutually beneficial multisector bilateral trade agreement, he added. Jaiswal reiterated Indias position on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, saying India has consistently advocated for sincere and practical engagement between the two parties and other key stakeholders through dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a lasting resolution. #WATCH | Delhi: MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Our position on the Ukraine-Russia conflict is well-known and understood as well. We have always advocated sincere and practical engagement between the two parties and other stakeholders and key stakeholders through pic.twitter.com/ILmuS9IobM ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Advertisement Our conversations with the two parties to the conflict, as well as with other stakeholders have been in keeping with this larger approach, he added. When asked if PM Modi would meet Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of BIMSTEC summit, Jaiswal said, I do not have any update to share at this point in time. #WATCH | Delhi: On Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri detained in the US, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We are given to understand through media reports that this individual has been detained. Neither the US Govt nor the individual has approached us or the pic.twitter.com/mIjujqHkrJ ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 On Pakistan, said the world clearly knows that the real issue is Pakistans active promotion and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. #WATCH | Delhi: On Pakistan, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "...The world clearly knows that the real issue is Pakistan's active promotion and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. In fact, this is the biggest roadblock to peace and security in the region." pic.twitter.com/CW7YPaqJAC ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 In fact, this is the biggest roadblock to peace and security in the region, he added. When asked if any Indian government official was invited to the Iftar dinner organised at Pakistan High Commission on the occasion of National Day of Pakistan, Jaiswal said, Nimantran toh rishton pe nirbhar karta hai naa. To a question on the detention of Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri in the US, Jaiswal said, We are given to understand through media reports that this individual has been detained. Neither the US government nor the individual has approached us or the Embassy. With inputs from agencies An Indian official told Reuters that excessive bureaucracy and red tape were still hindering the schemes success. An undated analysis compiled by Indias commerce ministry revealed that by October 2024, the PLI scheme had achieved only 37 per cent of its target read more PM Modi last year had hailed the PLI scheme as 'game changer' The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to discontinue a major scheme launched four years back to incentivise domestic manufacturing, reported Reuters. The $23 billion Production-Linked Initiative (PLI) scheme was introduced to attract manufacturers abandoning the Chinese market following Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters quoted two Indian officials as saying that the scheme wont be expanded beyond 14 pilot sectors and production deadlines will not be extended despite requests from some participating firms. According to public records, more than 700 companies, including Apple supplier Foxconn, had signed up for the PLI scheme to expand their manufacturing base in India. Advertisement One of the major objectives behind the scheme was to expand the share of manufacturing in Indian economy to 25 per cent by 2025. However, following the schemes introduction, the share of manufacturing has decreased from 15.4 per cent to 14.3. Many firms in the programme failed to start production, while others that met manufacturing targets faced delays in receiving subsidies from the government, Reuters reported citing documents. An undated analysis compiled by Indias commerce ministry revealed that by October 2024, the PLI scheme had achieved only 37 per cent of the target it had set at the time of launching. Firms that signed up for the scheme produced only $151.93 billion worth of goods under the programme. Nonetheless, the official quoted by Reuters assured that rolling back of the PLI scheme didnt mean India was abandoning its manufacturing ambitions, adding that alternatives were being explored. Notably, the Indian government last year defended its PLI scheme, which credited it for massive boost in pharmaceuticals and mobile-phone manufacturing. According to documents seen by Reuters, some 94 per cent of the nearly $620 million in incentives disbursed between April and October 2024 were directed to those two sectors. Last September, PM Modi lauded the PLI scheme on the 10th anniversary of his governments Make in India initiative, calling it a game changer. Advertisement An Indian official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, said excessive bureaucracy and red tape were still hindering the schemes success. As an alternative, India is exploring partial reimbursement of investment costs for setting up plants, allowing companies to recover expenses more quickly instead of waiting for production and sales, another official said. (With inputs from agencies) Pune witnessed a horrifying incident as a fire that broke out in a minibus was found to be a deliberate act of sabotage. Police revealed on Thursday that the blaze, which occurred in the citys IT hub, Hinjewadi, was not an accident but a planned attack by the vehicles 56-year-old driver. read more In a shocking incident, police said on Thursday that the fire on a minibus in Punes IT hub, Hinjewadi, was not an accident but a planned attack by the 56-year-old driver. The incident, which happened on Wednesday, killed four employees of a printing press company and injured 10 others. The fire broke out in a Tempo Traveller hired by a Pune-based graphic design startup while en route to the office. Initially thought to be an accident, suspicions arose when the driver gave contradictory statements and emerged unscathed from the burning vehicle. Under intense questioning, he eventually confessed to setting the vehicle on fire. Advertisement Police had initially said the fire could have started due to a short circuit. DCP (Zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad said, Initially, we had registered a case of accidental deaths. After analysing various leads and the way the fire spread, we became sceptical about how a fire sparked by a short circuit could escalate to such an intense level so rapidly. We examined the vehicle and carried out forensic analysis. Murder plot unveiled The police said the investigation revealed that the driver had carefully planned the attack. He used a benzene solution and a matchbox to start the fire inside the vehicle. As the flames spread, he quickly jumped out, leaving the passengers trapped inside. The minibus, still in motion, continued for 200 metres before crashing into a tree. The driver later confessed that he had committed the act as revenge for the alleged mistreatment he faced from the office-goers. To ensure no one could escape, he deliberately locked the back door before setting the fire. CCTV footage from a nearby camera confirmed the sequence of events. The video showed the driver jumping out of the vehicle immediately after setting it on fire. While some passengers managed to escape, others remained trapped inside due to the locked rear door. Police have arrested the driver, and further investigation is underway. More from India Is Pakistans ISI behind grenade attack on Amritsar temple? Beyond Tukergram, efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation have been scaled across multiple flood-affected regions in the state read more Tukergram, a small hamlet situated on a hillock in Gram Panchayat (GP) Tarinipur, Katigora block of Cachar district, Assam, has only 32 households and a population of 152. The word Tuker means island in the local dialect. Nestled beside a picturesque lake that was once part of the meandering Barak River, this hillock turns into an island for four to five months during the floodssometimes even seven months or more, until the Barak rivers water level recedes. During this period, families living in low-lying areas migrate to the highest part of the hamlet, enduring months in congested and unhygienic conditions. Until recently, this village also faced an annual battle against nature, highlighting the urgency of access to clean wateran issue central to World Water Day, which falls on March 22. Advertisement Cachar district in southern Assam is a low-lying region of the Barak Valley, where several rivers from Manipur and Mizoram flow into the Barak River. Even when it remains dry in Cachar, heavy rainfall in these states leads to floods in the district. According to locals, rainfall and floods have become increasingly erratic and intense, prolonging the monsoon season and worsening its impact. A hamlet without basic services The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) identified Tukergram as one of the worst flood-affected areas lacking even a government-provided water pipeline. The sanctioned pipeline through Kalinagar GP must pass through a drain, making execution difficult. The hamlet also lacks road connectivity, electricity and constructed toilets. Families here rely on the lake for daily water needs, but during floods, the overflowing lake becomes contaminated. During these months, residents collect rainwater using pipes mounted on rooftops and use *phitkiri* (alum) to decontaminate the water. If you give me clean water, I will use it. Else, I have to manage with water from the nala (drainage canal), said Abdul Jabbar, 58, a resident of Tukergram. Being corralled in one place, people are unable to eke out any livelihood. Only those engaged in fishing, leased to a few government-approved contractors, earn some income. Agriculture is possible only for one season, forcing manyespecially young mento migrate for work, sometimes as far as the Konkan coast. Unicef and partners intervene Advertisement To address the issue at hand, Unicef India in collaboration with Deshbandhu Club (NGO), DDMA, PHED, and the Community Facilitation and Resource Centre (CFRC)a nodal government body under DDMA and the Panchayat and Rural Development (P&R) departmentworked with the community to test the lake water for contamination. In response to the severe floods in Assam in 2024, Unicef, in collaboration with the Government of Assam and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), provided essential WASH services to vulnerable families across six worst-affected districts of Barapeta Cachar, Dhemaji Karimganj, Dibrugarh and Morigaon covering 1,000 households in 100 villages ensuring access to safe drinking water and hygiene facilities. said Dr Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of Field Office, Unicef, Assam and northeastern states. Advertisement An emergency mobile water treatment unit was provided, which purifies the lake water through a simple process: pumping, filtration and disinfection using chlorine. The unit is easy to install and operateso simple that even children have learned to use it." The difference in water, before and after the unit, is as clear as the difference in silver and gold. The water is as clean as the rainwater from above. We have never got clean water to drink, so for us getting the unit is like getting the universe, said Abdul Jabbar, 58 years, resident and member of sub-water committee of Tukergram. Water sub commitee members collecting fund for water access from mobile water unit in Tukergram The intervention not only addressed the immediate water needs but also helped build community resilience against future floods. With dedicated training and support, local volunteers are now equipped to operate and maintain the unit independently. Advertisement The mobile water treatment unit has been a game-changer for Tukergram, ensuring safe drinking water, especially during floods. DDMA played a key rolefrom assessing needs to mobilising resources and coordinating with stakeholders. To sustain this, were focussing on training volunteers, building partnerships, and securing dedicated funds for future deployments, said Shamim Laskar, Project Officer, District Disaster Management Authority, Cachar district. The Community Facilitation and Resource Centre (CFRC) plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between communities and disaster response agencies, ensuring that relief reaches those who need it most. The community Facilitation and Resource Centre (CFRC) conducts regular meetings, vulnerability mapping, and beneficiary surveys for hygiene kits and community toilet projects. We support the Deshbandhu Club team in hygiene kit distribution and awareness sessions. During floods, we act as a bridge between communities and agencies like SDRF and DDMA, ensuring timely assistance with evacuation, clean water, and medical aid, said Ashim Kumar Das, Nodal officer, CFRC (Tarinpur GP). Advertisement Community ownership and sustainability A sub-water committee was formed along the lines of the Jal Jeevan Missions water user committees, with 14 members, including six women. The committee manages the units daily operations, schedules water collection, arranges fuel and ensures maintenance. Each household contributes Rs20 per week ($0.23) for daily collection of water from the unit." for water access. Plans are underway to link the committee with a bank for fund management. There used to be worms in the water, causing stomach ailments, skin infections and other health issues, especially in children. Now, with clean drinking water, these problems have reduced, said Sajida Begum Talukdar, 28, a trained operator of the unit. A community member showing the difference in water quality after using the mobile water unit Since there are no water pipelines, the mobile water treatment unit has provided safe drinking water to Tukergram for the first time. The committee now aims to install a Sintex water tank using collected funds, allowing water storage and reducing the need for frequent operation of the unit. In Tukergram, 32 families lacked access to clean water. The mobile water treatment unit provides safe drinking water year-round. We ensure its maintenance and, during floods, distribute clean water to nearby villages, preventing waterborne diseases and improving resilience, said Ashim Kumar Das, Nodal Officer, CFRC. Women collecting water from mobile water unit in Tukergram Meanwhile, the district administration is exploring ways to bring Tukergram under the Piped Water Supply Scheme for household tap connections in the near future. Until then, the mobile water treatment unit remains a crucial resource, ensuring access to potable water during future floods. Implementing sustainable water and sanitation solutions in remote, flood-prone areas isnt easy. Hilly terrain makes access difficult; funding depends on ASDMA & the Revenue Department, and infrastructure gaps persist. Raising community awareness and coordinating multiple stakeholders add to the challenge, but we are committed to finding solutions, said Shamim Laskar, Project Officer, DDMA, Cachar district. A larger effort to ensure safe water access Beyond Tukergram, efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation have been scaled across multiple flood-affected regions. Unicef and its partners have adopted a multi-sectoral approach to ensure that relief efforts are not just temporary solutions, but long-term interventions aimed at strengthening community resilience. By integrating emergency response with sustainable WASH programmes, the initiative is helping families prepare, adapt and recover faster from future disasters. Through the Assam Flood Relief Programme, hygiene kits, chlorine tablets and water dispensers, raised or disaster resilient community toilets, WASH training in schools and communities and emergency mobile water treatment and filtration units were provided. Thanks to this support, people could have access to safe and clean drinking water, essential hygiene and sanitation facilities during and after the floods, said Dr Jonathan. The US spending $1.7 trillion on nuclear modernisation in 30 years and Emmanuel Macrons reckless offering of a European N-umbrella will make the situation worse read more Around 40 years ago, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev made a historical declaration in Geneva. A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, the leaders said in a joint statement in November 1985 aiming to reduce nuclear risks and promote non-proliferation and disarmament. The statement paved the way for the INF Treaty (December 8, 1987), START I (July 31, 1991) and START II (January 3, 1993). The INF Treaty banned American and Soviet nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500-5,500 km, excluding air- or sea-launched missiles. By May 1991, the US and Soviet Union had eliminated 2,692 missiles. Advertisement START I barred the two nations from deploying more than 6,000 nukes and 1,600 ICBMs and bombers. Around 80 per cent of strategic nukes were reduced in subsequent years and the US and Soviet Union were restricted to around 8,556 and 6,449 N-warheads, respectively. START II banned the use of multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles on ICBMs. However, Russia pulled out of START II when the US withdrew from the ABM Treaty on June 13, 2002. The US and Russia continued to pursue the reduction of nukes and the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions was signed on May 24, 2002, capping their arsenal at 1,700-2,200 operationally deployed warheads each. Finally, New START, or the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, was signed on April 8, 2010. Advertisement The treaty capped deployed ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers equipped for nukes at 700; the number of warheads deployed at 1,550; and non-deployed ICBM and SLBM launchers and such heavy bombers at 800 deployed. As of January, Russia had 5,580 nukes (retired, stockpile and strategic) and the US 5,225. Of the 12,400 warheads with the nine nuclear powers, 90 per cent belong to Russia and the US, per the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the US and SIPRI. Indeed, a nuclear war cant be won. An attack by a nuclear power on another will only lead to Armageddon, not victory. The sole purpose of nuclear weapons is to act as a deterrent. Advertisement Neither America, nor Russia or any other nuclear powers will use nukes. Russia threatened to use tactical nukes against Ukraine several times during the war but didnt. NATO continued to arm Ukraine despite the threats. After the US allowed Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia last November, Vladimir Putin even changed the nuclear doctrine, which stated that an attack from a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power would be considered a joint assault on Russia. However, ratcheting up nuclear tension triggers panic with Hiroshima and Nagasaki continuing to haunt humanity. Two recent developments could profoundly impact global nuclear stability. Trump 2.0 and denuclearisation Advertisement After returning to the White House, Donald Trump has thrice expressed support for denuclearisation with Russia and China. In January, he said that denuclearisation and eventual agreements with Russia and China are very possible as tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear [weapons]. In February, he said, Theres no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons. Earlier this month, he said, It would be great if everybody would get rid of their nuclear weapons. If Trump convinces Putin to denuclearise before New START expires in February 2026, it will bode well for the world in general and the two nuclear powers in particular. Advertisement However, Trump is a maverick and notorious for making hasty decisions and statements. In the final days of Trumps first presidency, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley feared that he could misuse nukes against China to remain in power, according to the book Peril, written by The Washington Posts Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. US intelligence showed that China believed that Trump could launch an attack to beat Joe Biden in the election. In 2017, Trump discussed the idea of using a nuke against North Korea and blaming another country, according to the book Donald Trump v. the United States, written by The New York Times Washington correspondent Michael Schmidt. Trump posted in 2018 that he had a much bigger & more powerful nuclear launch button than North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In the same year, during a tour of Puerto Rico following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, Trump told then-governor Ricardo Rossello, If nuclear war happens, we wont be second in line pressing the button. In his memoir The Reformers Dilemma, Rossello writes: I could not believe what I was hearing. Moreover, Trumps risky actions in his first term showed he wasnt serious about denuclearisation. He pulled out of the INF Treaty in August 2019 after accusing Russia of deploying Novator 9M729 cruise missiles, which were banned under the pact and carry conventional and nuclear warheads. Trump continued deferring the extension of the 10-year New START despite Russian overtures while insisting that China should also be part of the treaty, new negotiations about Russias huge non-strategic nuke stockpile and dissatisfaction with the verification process. The Biden administration extended the treaty by another five years. The treaty will expire in February 2026. According to Trump, he shares a great rapport with Putin. He is desperate to end the Russia-Ukraine War as it will bolster his chances of bagging the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump has also tied a peace deal with signing a minerals pact with Ukraine. Therefore, he is appeasing Russia for now. Putin suspended participation in New START in February 2023, a year after the Ukraine invasion. Another extension of New START or a new agreement between Trump and Putin will make the world safe. However, such pacts are meaningless for two reasons. First, neither the US nor Russia will use nukes against each other or any other nation but will continue their foreign military campaigns using conventional weapons. Second, nuclear powers are spending billions on modernising their arsenals and the US is leading the race. According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the nine nuclear powers spent $91.4 billion on their nuclear arms in 2023. The US, which frequently highlights the danger of a nuclear arms race, spent $51.5 billion, more than all the other nuclear powers combined, followed by China at $11.8 billion and Russia at $8.3 billion. While Trump highlights the importance of denuclearisation, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will spend around $1.7 trillion on modernising ICBMs, SSBNs, SLBMs, strategic bombers, cruise missiles, gravity bombs and warheads. The US will spend $540 billion on modernising the strategic nuclear forces in the next 10 years, $430 billion on maintenance and operation of delivery vehicles and $650 billion on weapons activities in the next 25 years. The LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM is the only land-based component of the US nuclear triad. It will be replaced with the LGM-35A Sentinel. The 22 Ohio-class ballistic SSBNs will be replaced with the Columbia-class, costing more than $130 billion in procurement and R&D. The new SSBNs, like the Ohio-class, will be armed with M-133 Trident II D5s, which can carry eight warheads. About $33.7 billion will be spent on extending the life of the missiles to up to another 60 years. Upgrading the B-52H bombersAESA radar, new satellite communications systems and modern engineswill cost $12 billion. The B-52Hs, of which 46 are nuclear-capable and carry 20 cruise missiles, will be redesignated as B-52Js. More than $100 million will be spent on communications and avionics upgrades of the B-2 bombers, which carry up to 16 nuclear gravity bombs. The US will spend $203 billion on the acquisition and operation of 100 B-21 bombers, which will replace the B-52Hs and B-2s. The 500 nuclear-capable AGM-86 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) will be replaced with 1,000 AGM-181s, which will need around $28 billion. Billions will be spent on meeting a nuclear bomb production target of 80 plutonium pits per year. The NNSA is seeking a 12 per cent increase, $716 billion in FY-25-49, to its projected 25-year budget plan for nuclear warheads relative to the last reported projection. Moreover, the Mandate for Leadership: The conservative Promise 2025, or Project 2025, calls for resuming nuclear bomb testing, producing a more sophisticated arsenal and rejecting arms control agreements if they dont advance the interests of the US and its allies. Trump publicly disavowed Project 2025 during the campaign trail. However, several of his executive orders mirror the conservative blueprint, like efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion, tighten border security and defence, curb federal spending and workforce, America First foreign policy, exit WHO and UNHRC and steps against transgender rights and refugees. The Heritage Foundation, whose members wrote the 920-page document, provided draft executive orders to the Trump transition team before the inauguration. Several Trump senior officials, like SEC chief Paul Atkins, FCC Brendan Carr, senior counsellor for trade Peter Navarro and border czar Tom Homan, wrote Project 2025 or contributed to it. The document calls for restoring readiness to test nuclear weapons at the Nevada National Security Site. US nuclear capabilities and the infrastructure dating from the Cold War, according to the document, are in dire need of replacement. Efforts must be made to modernise the nuclear triad by replacing the Minuteman III ICBMs with Sentinels, expediting the production of Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and B-21 bombers and developing the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear. The paper also wants the Trump administration to reject nuclear disarmament proposals contrary to the goal of bolstering deterrence and pursue arms control to secure the national security interests of the US and its allies rather than as an end in itself. France, US-UK angle and nuclear tension France and the UK are the only nuclear powers in Europe. After Trump upended Americas decades-old Europe policy and jolted transatlantic ties in Russias favour, Emmanuel Macron offered to extend Frances nuclear umbrella to allies given the Russian threat to Europe. A delusional Macron wants to portray himself as the leader of a unified Europe after Angela Merkels departure. The French president believes he could be another Charles de Gaulle, who developed a nuclear deterrent to end dependency on the US and counter the threat of a Soviet invasion. The Kremlin blasted the French president saying his offer was very, very confrontational and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov termed it a threat. Macrons offer is ridiculous for several reasons and will only increase and trigger Russian retaliation. First, Russia will never attack a NATO member, especially with a nuke, because it would trigger the blocs Article V, which states that an attack against one ally is considered an attack against all allies. It never used a tactical nuke against Ukraine despite Putins several threats. Second, Frances 290 nuclear warheads pale in front of the massive Russian stockpile. Though one nuke can cause enough devastation, Russia can destroy the world several times over with its vast arsenal. Third, France doesnt even have a nuclear triadair-, sea- and land-based nukesafter deactivating its land-based ballistic missiles in 1996. France has only two kinds of nuclear weapons. The M51 long-range, MIRV-capable SLBM can be launched from its four SSBNs. The Air-Sol Moyenne Portee ALCM can be delivered by the Mirage 2000N or the Rafale F3. France lacks long-range strategic bombers. Russias nuclear triad is a hundred times more destructive. Putin has an array of nuclear missiles. 9K720 Iskander and OTR-21 Tochka SRBMs 3M22 Zircon scramjet-powered, nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missile 3M14 Kalibr cruise missile (land, air and sea) Avangard hypersonic boost-glide vehicle Kh-101/Kh-102, Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and Kh-55 ALCMs R-29 Vysota, R-29RM Shtil and RSM-56 Bulava intercontinental-range SLBMs R-36, RS-26 Rubezh, RT-2PM/2PM2 Topol, UR-100, RS-28 Sarmat and RS-24 Yars multiple-RV ICBMs K-55 Granat SLBM and ground-launched IRBM Oreshnik multiple-RV IRBM and P-700 Granit anti-ship, land and submarine-launched cruise missile. The Russian Su-24, Su-25, Su-34 and MiG-31 are all nuclear-capable. Russias long-range strategic bombers are Tu-95, Tu-22M and T-160. Russia has 16 ballistic missile submarines and 11 nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines. Fourth, French nukes cant be deployed outside the country, per its nuclear doctrine. Moreover, producing more French N-capable missiles and aircraft and constructing infrastructure and maintenance and logistics in European allied countries would need billions. The US is also eyeing to reinforce its nuclear power in other NATO nations. There are 100 US nukes stored across six bases in five NATO member states: Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Buchel in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi in Italy, Volkel in the Netherlands and Incirlik in Turkey. The weapons are not armed or deployed on aircraft but kept in underground vaults with launch arming codes in American hands. The bombs comprise B61-12, B61-3 and -4 gravity bombs. On December 18, 2024, the NNSA completed the modification of the B61-12 gravity bombs, deployed by the US on its soil and NATO bases, for $10 billion. The life of the oldest and most versatile weapon in the US nuclear stockpile has been extended by 20 years. The NNSA plans to produce a more advanced variant called the B61-13. These bombs can be delivered by dual-capable aircraft with every NATO member country modernising their nuclear-capable fighters to either the F-35A, the F-18 Super Hornet or the Eurofighter Typhoon. The most provocative US action is the plan to redeploy nukes in the UK. It was revealed in 2008 that America had secretly removed the 110 B-61 gravity bombs from RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, in the preceding years. Like France, the UK doesnt have a nuclear triad. It has 225 warheads of which 120 can be deployed on 48 SLBMs. It has only Trident 5 SLBMs which can deployed on its four Vanguard-class SSBNs. RAF Lakenheath, the largest American base in the UK, has two squadrons of nuclear-capable F-15Es and F-35As. Besides, the US long-range strategic bomber B-52 also operates from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. Americas FY 2023 NATO Security Investment Programme document submitted to Congress in April 2022 added Britains name to the list of nations where US special weapons (nukes) storage sites would be upgraded. After FAS revealed the secret mission to redeploy nukes in the UK, the US department of defence removed any mention of the UK or other NATO countries where American nukes are deployed. According to FAS, the Biden administration planned to redeploy nukes in the UK following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Putins frequent nuclear threats. A US Air Force budget document described the addition of a dormitory at Lakenheath to support new airmen arriving on a potential Surety [security of a nuclear weapon] Mission. Satellite imagery showed an upgrade of around 28 of the 33 protective aircraft shelters with underground vaults at Lakenheath. Updated tarmac infrastructure for two squadrons of F-35As was completed in 2023 as Lakenheath prepared to be the first USAF squadron in Europe equipped with the nuclear-capable F-35A. So far, there is no evidence of redeployment of American nukes at Lakenheath. However, the massive American nuclear modernisation programme and nuclear muscle-flexing in NATO states and Macrons reckless nuclear umbrella offer will only rattle Russia and make the situation more volatile. The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Nvidia-backed cloud services provider CoreWeave is gearing up for a highly anticipated U.S. initial public offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of up to $32 billion. read more The AI boom propelled Nvidia stock prices to stratospheric levels until a steep sell-off early this year triggered by the sudden success of DeepSeek. Reuters CoreWeave is targeting a valuation of up to $32 billion on a fully diluted basis in its U.S. initial public offering, as the Nvidia-backed startup bets on strong demand for generative artificial intelligence. The listing is seen as crucial to the revival of a largely moribund U.S. IPO market, as well as a gauge for investor appetite for new entrants in a sector that has propelled stock markets to record gains over the past two years. Advertisement The cloud services provider and some of its investors are looking to sell 49 million shares priced between $47 and $55 each to raise as much as $2.7 billion in the offering, the company said on Thursday. Reuters was the first to report the terms on Wednesday. Meanwhile, ahead of the IPO, CoreWeave had tied up with some of the biggest AI heavyweights, including Sam Altmans OpenAI. Last week, the company signed an $11.9 billion infrastructure contract with the ChatGPT maker. CoreWeave, which provides access to data centers and high-powered chips for AI workloads, mainly supplied by Nvidia, will issue shares worth $350 million to OpenAI through a private placement in the IPO Nvidia currently owns 5.96% of CoreWeaves Class A shares, which is expected to be reduced to 5.05% after the offering. The company has about 583 million fully diluted shares outstanding, according to a person familiar with the matter. Based on the total number of shares listed in the filing, its targeted valuation was $26 billion at the top end of the range. LITMUS TEST A strong CoreWeave debut could reignite confidence in IPOs and encourage more companies to go public, while a weak showing may aggravate concerns that appetite remains fragile despite improving market conditions. With AI demand in focus, CoreWeaves IPO is expected to serve as a key test of whether investors believe specialized data centers can outpace traditional cloud giants. Nvidia rival Cerebras is also reportedly readying a 2025 listing, while data center operator Switch is weighing an IPO at a valuation of about $40 billion, Reuters reported in September. Advertisement The offering comes after the launch of Chinese startup DeepSeeks low-cost model and an analyst report that Microsoft had cut back on data-center leases tempered the once red-hot demand. There are growing concerns that the explosion in AI-related data center demand wont be as strong as previously thought, meaning investors will either demand a bargain price for CoreWeave shares or they might sit on the sidelines for now, Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, told Reuters. The company, founded in 2017 as a crypto miner, had initially planned to raise over $3 billion in its share sale at a valuation topping $35 billion, sources told Reuters in November. Advertisement Russia has accused Ukraine of violating a proposed ceasefire on energy targets by attacking a Russian oil depot, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. The truce, backed by the United States, was meant to halt strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. read more Russias foreign ministry said on Thursday that Ukraine had already violated a proposed ceasefire on energy sites in the three-year-old war by attacking a Russian oil depot. Russias TASS news agency reported foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state television Channel One that it was up to the United States, which had proposed the ceasefire, to confront Ukraine over its actions. The Kremlin said this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed in a call with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump to observe a 30-day ceasefire on energy targets. The accord fell short of a wider agreement that the U.S. had sought, and which was accepted by Ukraine, for a blanket 30-day truce. Advertisement Firefighters in southern Russia were still battling a blaze at an oil depot triggered by a Ukrainian drone attack, regional authorities said on the Telegram messaging app. We believe that the Kyiv regime has already broken the ceasefire proposed by the U.S. president, Zakharova said on television, according to TASS. Now the question is - you will forgive me - how is Washington going to handle this terrorist scum gone mad? How are they going to put them in their place and get them on to something like the right track?" Ukrainian officials have also accused Russia of failing to align their actions with their pledges by launching attacks on civilian targets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Russian attacks on infrastructure, including hospitals and rail equipment, showed Putins words are very different from reality. In earlier comments, Zakharova had described the attack on the oil depot as a provocation and an attempt by Ukraine to disrupt peace initiatives. Authorities in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar said a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya. The depot is a rail terminal for Russian oil supplies to a pipeline linking Kazakhstan to the Black Sea. Advertisement A statement issued by authorities in the Krasnodar region on Thursday evening said efforts were continuing to bring the blaze under control. The statement said 429 firefighters and 174 pieces of equipment had been drafted to tackle the fire covering 3,750 sq m (40,400 sq ft). The ministry has also voiced its concern about the need to accommodate the religious sensitivities and food preferences of the Indian deportees. In response, the US side has conveyed that detainees on the three deportation flights earlier were not instructed to remove any religious head coverings read more A US military aircraft carrying illegal Indian immigrants upon its landing at the Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, in Amritsar. PTI The central government on Friday told the Parliament that 295 Indian deportees from the US could be returning home after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) verifies their details. ICE has shared information about the 295 individuals with the Ministry of External Affairs who are currently detained in their custody and that their final removal order has been approved by the US government. Earlier today, the Indian government confirmed that women and children who were deported in February were not restrained on their flights back home last month. Advertisement The ministry has also voiced its concern about the need to accommodate the religious sensitivities and food preferences of the Indian deportees. In response, the US side has conveyed that detainees on the three deportation flights earlier were not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the detainees did not request any religious accommodations during the flights aside from requesting vegetarian meals. Since January, a total of 388 Indian deportees have arrived in the country till date after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing all illegal immigrants to leave the country immediately. Last month, a US military aeroplane carrying 104 deported Indians landed in the country. A C-17 military aircraft transported the first group of deportees from San Antonio, Texas, to Amritsar. According to data from the Pew Research Center, approximately 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants reside in the US, ranking them as the third-largest group after Mexicans and Salvadorans. However, these figures are contested. The Migration Policy Institute, on the other hand, estimates the number to be around half of that. The US embassy in South Africa has confirmed, citing a list from the South African Chamber of Commerce in US, that nearly 70,000 have people have so far inquired about the refuge programme read more White South Africans demonstrate in support of US President Donald Trump in front of the US embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Source: AP About 70,000 people from South Africa have expressed interest in moving to the US after President Donald Trump announced a controversial plan to offer refuge to a white minority group there. On February 7, Trump issued an executive order cutting American funding to South Africa, citing government actions fuelling disproportionate violence against racially disfavoured landowners. Trumps order referred to Afrikaners. They are a part of white community in South Africa, mostly descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first visited the country in the 17th century. Advertisement Trumps order identified Afrikaners as victims of unjust racial discrimination and directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to offer humanitarian relief to them. At the centre of Trumps anger against the South African government was a land expropriation law, which he believed would see Afrikaners having their farmland seized. Now, the US embassy in South Africa has confirmed, citing a list from the South African Chamber of Commerce in US, that nearly 70,000 have people have so far inquired about the refuge programme. It clarified that mere inquiry didnt represent formal application for refuge. Neil Diamond, the president of the chamber, said the list contains 67,042 names. Most were people between 25 and 45 years old and have children. Diamond told a local media outlet that he has contacted the State Department and the embassy in Pretoria to indicate that we would like them to make a channel available for South Africans that would like to get more information and register for refugee status." About 2.7 million Afrikaners currently reside in South Africa, which has a population of 62 million. South Africa has rejected Trumps criticism of the expropriation law, arguing that no land has been taken under the new law. Another issue of contention between the two governments is South Africas allegations of genocide against Israel regarding its war in Gaza. Advertisement The Trump administration accused South Africa of supporting Hamas and Iran while adopting an anti-American stance. The US also expelled the South African ambassador, citing his alleged anti-Trump and anti-American views. (With inputs from agencies) Belgian Prime Minister warned that the move to seize frozen Russian assets would carry systemic risks to the entire financial world system and spark retaliation from Moscow, according to a report read more Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said late on Thursday that Europe confiscating almost 200 billion of frozen Russian assets would be an act of war. According to a Politico report, speaking after a gathering of EU leaders in Brussels, he warned that the move would carry systemic risks to the entire financial world system and spark retaliation from Moscow. De Wevers warning comes as European countries, including France, the UK, and Spain, are increasingly inclined to seize Russian assets that were frozen following President Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Advertisement The proposal aims to utilise these funds to enhance Ukraines defence and improve its position in peace negotiations with Russia. Belgium, however, has significant stakes in the matter since Euroclear, the financial institution managing most of the frozen assets in Europe, is headquartered in Brussels. The country is concerned that transferring the funds to Ukraine could expose Euroclear to additional legal claims from the asset holders, reported Politico. Euroclear is currently involved in legal disputes with various parties who are leveraging Russias highly politicised courts to contest the withholding of their assets and seek compensation. Were not living in a world of fantasy. Were in the real world, where if you take 200 billion from somebody there will be consequences, Politico quoted De Wever as saying. Last year, G7 countries agreed to use the profits generated from frozen assets, rather than the assets themselves, to provide a 50 billion loan to Ukraine. However, several countries are advocating for a more ambitious approach. Earlier this month, French lawmakers endorsed a nonbinding resolution urging the EU to seize these assets to aid Ukraine. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also expressed support for this option during a private meeting of EU leaders on March 6, reported Politico, citing multiple EU diplomats. Advertisement De Wever cautioned fellow leaders to refrain from publicly representing the frozen and immobilised assets like Putins little piggy bank that you can just break with a hammer and then take the money out and spend it on whatever you want because its just not that simple. With inputs from agencies Earlier in February, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Hossain on the sidelines of Indian Ocean Conference in Oman read more Bangladesh has approached India to arrange a meeting between its Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangkok in the first week of April. The two leaders are likely to visit Thailand from April 2-4 to attend the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Speaking to ANI, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, Md Touhid Hossain, said, We have made a diplomatic approach to India to hold bilateral meeting between our two leaders at the sidelines of BIMSTEC Summit. Advertisement Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28. Earlier in February, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Hossain on the sidelines of Indian Ocean Conference in Oman. Informing about his meeting, Jaishankar said that the talks were focused on the bilateral relationship between two countries and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Conversation was focused on our bilateral relationship, as also on (BIMSTEC), Jaishankar wrote on X. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, where it stated that two sides discussed on various bilateral issues of mutual concerns and interests. Recalling their last meeting on the sidelines of UNGA in September 2024, both noted that since then the two countries have participated at various bilateral engagements - Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and India at the level of Foreign Secretaries was conducted in Dhaka on 9th December 2024, Energy Adviser of Bangladesh participated at the India Energy Week events in New Delhi on 10-11 February 2025, among others, the statement said. Both sides also noted that meetings at the level of Directors General of Border Guarding Forces of the two countries are scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 18-20. They hoped that various border-related issues would be discussed and resolved during the meeting, the statement said. India and Bangladesh recognized the challenges the two neighbours are facing in terms of bilateral relations and discussed about the necessity to work together to address those, the statement said. Advertisement Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser emphasized the importance of initiating the discussion for renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, the statement said. He also highlighted the importance of holding the meeting of the SAARC Standing Committee and requested consideration of the Government of India in this regard. The Liberal Party of Canada has revoked the candidacy of MP Chandra Arya, who has often criticised Khalistani elements read more Ahead of the Canadian parliamentary elections, the the Liberal Party has revoked the candidacy of MP Chandra Arya, who has often taken a stand against Khalistan elements in the country. In a post on X, Arya said that the party has informed him that his candidacy from the constituency of Nepean has been revoked. Based on a thorough review of his eligibility to serve as a Liberal Party candidate in Nepean and after careful consideration, the the National Campaign Co-Chair of the party recommended the revokation his candidacy that was eventually accepted, according to a letter from the party shared by Arya. Advertisement I have been informed by the Liberal Party that my nomination as the candidate for the upcoming federal election in Nepean has been revoked. While this news is deeply disappointing, it does not diminish the profound honour and privilege it has been to serve the people of Nepean pic.twitter.com/Kw5HcsRf6Q Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) March 21, 2025 Previously, the Liberal Party had rejected Aryas bid to be the party leader. Arya has often taken a stand against Khalistani elements in Canada and elsewhere. For such a public stand in a countrys that is the primary base for the movement, Arya has been targeted by Khalistani groups in the past. In October, US-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun urged Trudeau of going after Arya after going after Indian diplomats. In October, Canada declared then-Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats are persons of interest in the case of Hardeep Singh Nijjars death. Nijjar was a designated terrorist who was shot dead in Canadas Surrey city. After Trudeau went after Indian diplomats, Khalistani-based terrorist urged Gurpatwant Singh Pannun urged Trudeu to make Arya the next target. In a post on X, Pannun said that Canada should investigate Arya for spewing venom against the Khalistan movement and being a mouthpiece of India. Calling Arya as an Indian agent, Pannun said, Hate speech by Indo Canadian MP Chandra Arya against peaceful pro-Khalistan activism is an apt example of mouthpieces of Indian government funded and propelled by Indian diplomatic missions. In July 2023, when pro-Khalistan Sikhs demanded investigation of Indian Diplomats role in the assassination Nijjar, MP a known admirer and follower of PM Modi, spewed venom against peaceful Khalistan Referendum in Canada as Snakes in our backyard. Advertisement Denmark said on Thursday it has begun advising transgender people to contact the US embassy in Copenhagen before visiting the US, amid concerns that President Trumps gender polices could cause problems with their travel documents read more A demonstrator holds a trans flag during a rally in support of trans youth in Seattle, Washington, US, on February 8, 2025. Reuters File Denmark said on Thursday it has begun advising transgender people to contact the US embassy in Copenhagen before visiting the United States, amid concerns that President Donald Trumps gender polices could cause problems with their travel documents. The announcement came a week after Finland issued a similar warning in the wake of Trumps executive order that the United States will recognise only two unchangeable sexes - male and female. The Danish foreign ministry did not refer directly to Trumps order but said the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization application form only has two genders to choose from, male or female, and this could cause complications. Advertisement If your passport has the gender designation X or you have changed gender, it is recommended to contact the U.S. embassy prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed, the updated Danish travel advisory page read on Friday. Under Danish law, citizens can apply to have their gender designated as X in their passport if the application is based on an experience of belonging to the other gender, that the person concerned is intersex, does not identify as either male or female. A spokesperson for the US embassy in Copenhagen said on Friday that visa applicants with an X marker in their passport would receive a visa that reflected the applicants biological sex at birth. The spokesperson referred to the US Customs and Border Protection for information regarding foreign nationals entering the United States without a visa, such as through the Visa Waiver Program. Finland updated its advice page on March 14 to warn travellers: If the applicants current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry. Trumps order, issued on his first day in office, requires the US government to use the term sex rather than gender, and mandates that identification documents, including passports and visas, be based on what it described as an individuals immutable biological classification as either male or female. Advertisement A spokesperson for the Danish foreign ministry said no Danish citizens had been refused entry to the US or detained since Trump took office. Germany this week updated its travel advisory for the United States to emphasise that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry for its citizens after several Germans were recently detained at the border. Since January, a total of 388 Indian deportees have arrived in the country till date after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing all illegal immigrants to leave the country immediately read more Security personnel escort Indian immigrants deported from the U.S., as they leave the airport in Ahmedabad, on February 6. Reuters The Indian government on Friday told the Parliament that the US has confirmed that Indian deportees who were women or children were not restrained on their flights back home last month. The central government informed the upper house of the parliament that the Ministry of External Affairs had strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5, particularly for the use of shackles, especially on women". Advertisement In response, Washington assured that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that landed in India on February 15 and 16 respectively. Since January, a total of 388 Indian deportees have arrived in the country till date after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing all illegal immigrants to leave the country immediately. The government was responding to questions put forth by Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, who sought information on whether the government had asked the US administration not to handcuff or shackle them. The US ICE authorities organise and execute deportations as per the Standard Operating Procedure, effective from November 2012, which provides for the use of restraints on deportees. The US side has mentioned that restraints are used to ensure the safety and security of deportation missions on both chartered civilian aircraft as well as military aircraft. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter," the government said. It added that there is currently no information on the number of illegal immigrants in the US holding an Indian passport. Last month, a US military aeroplane carrying 104 deported Indians landed in the country. A C-17 military aircraft transported the first group of deportees from San Antonio, Texas, to Amritsar. According to data from the Pew Research Center, approximately 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants reside in the U.S., ranking them as the third-largest group after Mexicans and Salvadorans. However, these figures are contested. The Migration Policy Institute, on the other hand, estimates the number to be around half of that. Despite Imamoglus arrest, the CHP has vowed to press ahead with its Sunday primary where the now-detained leader was supposed to be declared the partys presidential candidate. However, experts noted that Erdogan may look to block the primary to prevent the CHP from projecting its political power read more People attend a protest rally in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Source: AP Protests have broken out in at least 32 of Turkeys 81 provinces. The reason? President Recep Tayyip Erdogans main political rival was detained on Wednesday (March 19), just days ahead of his potential nomination as a candidate in the countrys 2028 presidential election. Ekrem Imamoglu, who hails from the opposition party CHP, on Wednesday said in a video message that a handful of people were trying to steal the will of the people. Advertisement Hundreds of police officers have been sent to the door my house the house of the 16 million people of Istanbul, he said, ahead of his detention. Erdogan vows to crush street terror Protests against Imamoglus arrest began Wednesday in Istanbul. CHPs leader Ozgur Ozel on Friday urged people to hold protests across the country, with over 10,000 people later showing up on streets in Istanbul. Dont be silent, otherwise theyll come for you! protesters yelled. Many held aloft placards with slogans such as Dont be afraid, the people are here and Rights, law, justice. Interestingly, pro-Kurdish opposition DEM has also joined CHPs call for protests. In response, Erdogan warned that Turkey will not surrender to street terror". Let me say it loud and clear: the street protests that the CHP leader has called for are a dead end, the Turkish president warned. His government has termed the protests unlawful. According to local media reports, at least 88 protestors have been arrested so far by the authorities. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya earlier said at least 16 police officers had sustained injuries while tackling demonstrations. Police have also detained over 50 people for incitement to hatred through social media posts. Why Imamoglu has been detained? Imamoglu is currently facing two separate investigations, including related to charges of leading a crime organisation, bribery as well as tender rigging. Adding to his woes, the Istanbul University on Tuesday (March 18) said it had annulled the mayors degree over irregularities. Notably, a university degree is required in Turkey to run for presidential elections. Authorities preparing to block CHPs Sunday primary Despite Imamoglus arrest, the CHP has vowed to press ahead with its Sunday primary where the now-detained leader was supposed to be declared the partys presidential candidate. However, experts noted that Erdogan may look to block the primary to prevent the CHP from projecting its political power on world stage. Advertisement Gonul Tol, head of the Turkish studies programme at the Washington-based Middle East Institute was quoted by AFP as saying, If a large number of people show up and vote for Imamoglu, it will further legitimise him domestically. It could really move things in a direction that Erdogan doesnt want. (With inputs from agencies) Chinese premier stresses need for stable foreign trade, high-level opening-up Xinhua) 08:08, March 21, 2025 Chinese premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 19, 2025. Li made an inspection tour in Fujian Province from Tuesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) XIAMEN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for the stabilization of foreign trade with a pioneering and innovative spirit, and for the accelerated creation of new strengths in high-level opening-up. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour of southeast China's Fujian Province, which lasted from Tuesday to Thursday. When visiting sportswear manufacturer ANTA in Quanzhou, he stressed the need to make greater efforts in research and development input, in brand building, and in winning market favor with better products. At the Jinjiang dry port, the premier stressed the importance of improving the full-chain service functions of land ports, and of providing more robust support for foreign trade enterprises. During his tour of Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, Li said that China will expand the opening-up of its services sector, leverage the role of free trade pilot zones, create a more favorable business environment, and provide improved support for foreign-invested enterprises. At a symposium held during the inspection tour, Li called for unswerving efforts to expand opening-up, for the vigorous development of diversified markets, and for active innovation in trade channels and approaches. Noting that private enterprises are China's primary foreign trade entities, Li said governments at all levels must strive to provide improved policy support and a better development environment for private businesses. Chinese premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the Jinjiang dry port in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2025. Li made an inspection tour in Fujian Province from Tuesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) * In 2014, China initiated the strategy of coordinating the development of the national capital of Beijing and neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province. * Over the past decade, the region has undergone a significant transition, shifting from reducing excessive capacities to fostering high-quality development. * In 2024, Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei recorded respective GDP growth rates of 5.2 percent, 5.1 percent and 5.4 percent, bringing the region's total economic output to 11.5 trillion yuan. BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- As the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region enters its second decade in 2025, it has witnessed a significant milestone. For the first time in a decade, the region's annual GDP growth has outpaced the national average, reflecting deepened cooperation and high-quality development. Official data shows that in 2024, Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei recorded respective GDP growth rates of 5.2 percent, 5.1 percent and 5.4 percent, bringing the region's total economic output to 11.5 trillion yuan (about 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars). In 2014, China initiated the strategy of coordinating the development of the national capital of Beijing and neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province. Since then, the region has made remarkable breakthroughs in high-quality development, offering the world Chinese wisdom on the future of mega-urban governance. "I am deeply grateful to Beijing, the fertile ground that nurtured Xiaomi," Lei Jun, founder and CEO of tech giant Xiaomi, said early this month. On Feb. 28, Xiaomi launched its SU7 Ultra EV, drawing significant market attention. By early March, the company's market value had tripled to 1.3 trillion yuan within a year, underscoring its growing influence. Xiaomi's rapid rise in China's new energy vehicle market is a testament to the industrial synergy of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, where collaboration has played a crucial role in shaping a new model of high-quality development. In one example of this collaboration, 22 percent of SU7 Ultra's components are sourced from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Beijing supplies window regulators and air filters, Tianjin contributes headlights, seats and gearboxes, and Hebei provides batteries and luggage racks. This industrial synergy reflects a broader regional transformation. "Over the past decade, the region has undergone a significant transition, shifting from reducing excessive capacities to fostering high-quality development," said Liu Bozheng, executive deputy director of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordination office. In Beijing, this shift is evident in the rise of new market entities in the technology and commercial sectors, whose market share grew from 40.7 percent in 2013 to 67.7 percent in 2024. Tianjin has deepened its economic restructuring by reducing debt burdens and optimizing industrial planning. Meanwhile, Hebei has undertaken significant capacity adjustments, cutting its steel production from a peak of 320 million tonnes to under 200 million tonnes. "The integration of innovation and industrial chains across the three locations has enhanced the region's competitiveness and accelerated the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements," said Zhou Hao, deputy director of the coordination office. At a dark factory operated by Lenovo in the Binhai New Area of Tianjin Municipality, countless green lights flicker as workers conduct routine inspections The zero-carbon smart manufacturing facility operates in "black-light" mode, where a computer motherboard production line runs at full capacity with seamless automation. "With our IT architecture, production efficiency has increased by 200 percent, allowing us to complete one motherboard and one laptop every nine seconds," said Yu Xiaojian, director of Lenovo's Tianjin factory. In 2023, the Lenovo Tianjin Innovation Industrial Park was officially launched, becoming the company's first global headquarters outside of Beijing. The facility has not only strengthened Lenovo's industrial footprint but also brought significant business and employment opportunities to Tianjin. Today, Lenovo's workforce in the municipality exceeds 3,000 employees, and its annual revenue surpasses 30 billion yuan. Beyond industrial collaboration, the region has made strides in infrastructure development, ecological governance and public services. In a testament to these efforts, the region's annual average concentration of PM2.5 in 2024 dropped by over 60 percent compared to 2013, highlighting significant progress in environmental management. Meanwhile, Beijing facilitated 84.37 billion yuan in technology transfers to Tianjin and Hebei in 2024, fostering deeper regional integration. Additionally, the three areas have jointly established 14 innovation platforms, further strengthening their collaborative momentum. "The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is focusing on developing new quality productive forces, leveraging Beijing's core economic momentum to transform its growth model and build a modern capital metropolitan area, which will, in turn, drive the development of the broader Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban cluster," said Yin Zhi, executive deputy director of the Institute for China Sustainable Urbanization at Tsinghua University. "The future is not about the three places competing for a fixed share of resources, but about expanding the economic pie together," Yin added. (Reporting by Li Sibo, Guo Yujing, Ji Ning; video reporters: Li Shuai, Qu Lanjuan, Gong Jinglu, Wang Pu; video editors: Liang Wanshan, Zhu Cong) While many of German allies have welcomed Berlins focus on rebuilding its military, especially in the wake of the change of guards in Washington DC, some are anxious about the impact it may have on the German economy as well as that of its neighbours read more Germanys likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz overcame a major hurdle Friday (March 21) to loosen debt rules and set up a massive infrastructure fund. The upper house of the country, which represents Germanys 16 state governments, approved the incoming governments plans to boost the countrys defence spending. Earlier on Tuesday, the lower house had okayed the proposal. Whats the proposal? The plans include changes to Germanys strict self-imposed borrowing rules the so-called debt brake. It barred the country from taking up new borrowing more than 0.35 per cent of annual gross domestic product. The new plan exempts defence and security spending, including intelligence agencies and aid to Ukraine, from debt rules if it exceeds 1 per cent of GDP. Advertisement It also plans a 500 billion ($544 billion) investment fund, financed through borrowing, to modernise Germanys infrastructure over 12 years and revive the sluggish economy. At the request of Greens party, 100 billion from the fund will be dedicated to climate-related projects. The plan also grants state governments more borrowing flexibility. EU anxious While many of German allies have welcomed Berlins focus on rebuilding its military, especially in the wake of the change of guards in Washington DC, some are anxious about the impact it may have on the German economy as well as that of its neighbours European leaders are worried that the changes to Germanys law will ease pressure on the countrys regular budget, giving Berlin more room to spend in other areas, which may put the country in an advantageous position. A former French minister was quoted as saying by Politico that the new spending system may worsen the productivity gap between Europes two largest economies. It can help us, it can pull our own economy in the right direction. Whats good for the German economy is good for us. It means more markets for French companies. But it could worsen the productivity gap between the two countries. Well need to keep up [with Germany], said the leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Some diplomats are worried that Germanys spending spree may disrupt the EUs single market concept. The issue of potential distortions is something that we need to address, a diplomat from a southern European country was quoted as saying by Politico. The likely coalition of Merzs CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats have hinted that they may spend the extra money to finance subsidies for energy-intensive sectors while also introducing a permanent cap on grid charges. Advertisement This has led to speculations that Germany may throw in billions of Euros to attract new chips or battery factories, or to lower energy costs for German companies. This is something other EU economies, already struggling with aftershocks of Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, couldnt afford. First and foremost I really welcome that Germany is doing heavy increases in defense spending. Germany is an important country," Jessica Rosencrantz, Swedens EU affairs minister said. But on state aid, she said, we have rules, obviously. (With inputs from agencies) Last week, Witkoff presented a bridge plan to extend the ceasefire in Gaza into April beyond Ramadan and Passover and allow time to negotiate a permanent cessation of hostilities read more Hamas on Friday said that it is in contact with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss his proposal and has claimed that it wants to reach a deal that would see prisoners go free and end the war. Last week, Witkoff presented a bridge plan to extend the ceasefire in Gaza into April beyond Ramadan and Passover and allow time to negotiate a permanent cessation of hostilities. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has threatened to invade some parts of Gaza if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages held in the Palestinian territory. Advertisement I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel, he said in a statement. Should Hamas not comply, Katz also threatened to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area. Israel resumed attacks in Gaza after the first phase of the truce deal ended and its strikes have killed nearly 500 people so far, including 200 children. I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel, he said in a statement. Should Hamas not comply, Katz also threatened to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area. Yesterday, US President Donald Trump fully supports Israeli strikes in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said as she blamed Hamas for the attacks. Advertisement He fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions that theyve taken in recent days, Leavitt told reporters when asked if Trump was trying to get a Gaza ceasefire back on track. With inputs from agencies Londons Heathrow Airport said it would resume some flights later Friday and expressed hope for full Saturday operation after a fire at a power station grounded planes at Europes busiest air hub, causing travel chaos for thousands of people around the world read more Travellers arrives at Terminal 5 as London's Heathrow Airport says it plans to resume some flights later Friday after a fire at a nearby electrical substation has caused a closure of Europe's busiest airport in London, on Friday. AP Londons Heathrow Airport said it would resume some flights later Friday and expressed hope for full Saturday operation after a fire at a power station grounded planes at Europes busiest air hub, causing travel chaos for thousands of people around the world. The fire at the electricity substation late Thursday forced the airport to shut down, leading to the cancellation or diversion of hundreds of flights and raising concerns about the infrastructures vulnerability. Advertisement Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. Were pleased to say were now safely able to begin some flights later today. Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft. Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so, The Guardian quoted a Heathrow spokesperson as saying. We will now work with the airlines on repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly, added the spokesperson. The airport authorities said that their priority remains the safety of their passengers and those working at the airport and apologised for the inconvenience caused by the incident. As the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow uses as much energy as a small city, therefore getting back to a full and safe operation takes time. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this incident, said the spokesperson. Heathrow Airport operates flights to around 80 countries, with as many as 1,350 flights scheduled to arrive or depart from its five terminals on Friday, according to Flightradar24. Serving about 230,000 passengers daily equating to 83 million annually Heathrow is among the worlds busiest airports. Londons Metropolitan Police announced that its Counter Terrorism Command is investigating the fire due to its significant impact on critical national infrastructure. Advertisement While there is currently no indication of foul play we retain an open mind at this time, AFP quoted a spokesman as saying. Firefighters responded to the visible blaze at the substation shortly after 23:20 GMT on Thursday, deploying about 70 personnel to control the fire, which was managed by 08:00 GMT Friday. The incident left 100,000 homes without power overnight. The National Grid reported that power was partially restored to both Heathrow and affected local residents around 14:00 GMT. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband assured that the government would do everything possible to quickly restore power to Heathrow, amid concerns regarding the airports resilience. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Raju Muthukumaran, 38, Selvadurai Dinakaran, 34, and Govindhasamy Vimalkandhan, 45 worked at a shipping company in Singapore before they were held for smuggling 106 kg of crystal meth aboard the Legend Aquarius cargo vessel read more Three Indian nationals face the death penalty in Indonesia after they were found guilty of trafficking drugs via a Singapore-flagged vessel. The three individuals were arrested in July 2024. Raju Muthukumaran, 38, Selvadurai Dinakaran, 34, and Govindhasamy Vimalkandhan, 45 worked at a shipping company in Singapore before they were held for smuggling 106 kg of crystal meth aboard the Legend Aquarius cargo vessel. All three men are from Tamil Nadu. Acting on a tip-off, Indonesian authorities intercepted the vessel in the Pongkar waters of Karimun district, about an hour from Singapore by ferry. Advertisement Prosecutors demand death sentence The case of the trio changed its course after the captain of the vessel they were allegedly using to smuggle the drugs failed to appear in court to testify, making their defence weak, according to Singapores Friday weekly Tabla!. Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty, the maximum sentence under Indonesian law. The trio are represented by Indian lawyer John Paul, managing partner of Indian law firm South Asia Lex Legal Services (SAL). According to a LinkedIn post, Paul is from Tamil Nadu. We are focused on presenting a robust defence and highlighting the inconsistencies in the prosecutions case, the lawyer said. Actual perpetrators set free The defence team brought retired Indonesian Navy officer and international maritime law expert Soleman B. Ponto to the stand to strengthen their case. On February 25, Soleman testified that under Indonesian law the ships captain holds sole responsibility for all cargo on board. We firmly believe that the actual perpetrators have been set free, said defence lawyer Yan Apridho. The case is under trial and crucial defence evidence, along with expert witness testimonies, is being presented to establish the innocence of the three detained Indian nationals, said Yan. The absence of the captains evidence has raised questions about the prosecutions case. The trial is ongoing, and a verdict is expected on April 15. With inputs from PTI Former Israeli Chief Justice Aharon Barak has warned that the country is headed towards a civil war read more Former Israeli Supreme Court President, Aharon Barak, accuses Palestinian Islamist group Hamas of crimes against humanity and calls for the international community to take action during a press conference together with some of the hostage's family in Tel Aviv, Israel November 3, 2023. (Photo: Reuters) Israels preeminent jurist Aharon Barak has warned that the country is headed to a civil war. In multiple interviews on Thursday, Barak slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus concentration of power and said that he had divided the country to the extent that the country is headed to a civil war. In an interview with Ynet, Barak said that the main problem in Israeli society is the severe rift between Israelis. This rift is getting worse and in the end, I fear, it will be like a train that goes off the tracks and plunges into a chasm, causing a civil war, said Barak, who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during 1995-2006. Advertisement Baraks remarks came amid widespread outrage and protests against Netanyahus decision to fire Shin Bet chief chief Ronen Bar. Netanyahu has claimed that he has lost confidence in Bars ability and has to therefore fire him. The critics maintain that the firing is rooted in Netanyahus desire to concentrate power and suppress the investigation into his associates alleged corrupt dealings with Qataris. In an interview with Channel 12, Barak said that Israel is close to civil conflict because the rift in the people is immense, and no effort is being made to heal it. Everyone is trying to make it worse. Today there are demonstrations, then a car drives through them and runs over someone, he said, referring to an incident at an anti-Netanyahu protest in Jerusalem on Wednesday when a driver rammed into a protester, injuring him. But tomorrow there will be shootings, and the day after that there will be bloodshed, said Barak. Netanyahu is currently presiding over the most extreme government in Israels history. For months, right up to the October 7 attack, Israel had been rocked by nationwide, widespread protests against Netanyahus proposed judicial overhaul. The protests had divided the country like never before and the nation was so polarised that even military personnel joined the protests. The distraction from the protests is said to be one of the reasons terrorists could conduct the October 7 attack. Such divisions have further deepened with Netanyahus subsequent actions where he has prioritised waging war in Gaza to appease his extremist allies over securing the release of all hostages. Barak said that Netanyahus dismissal of Bar would be illegitimate because you could not fire the Shin Bet chief over the loss of confidence. He said that action has to be in line with the legislation. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has also warned Netanyahu against firing Ronen. In a statement, her office said that the government must obtain a recommendation from the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee before taking a decision on Bars dismissal. Advertisement Citing a cabinet resolution from 2016, the office said that the committee must approve the dismissal of anyone from seven different senior civil service positions, including the Shin Bet chief, according to The Times of Israel. The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel, said Katz read more Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday warned that the army will permanently seize and annex territory in Gaza if hostages are not released. According to a Middle East Eye report, Katz also announced plans to expand the buffer zone along the Gaza Strips boundary with Israel. The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel, Middle East Eye quoted Katz as saying. Advertisement I have directed the IDF to expand the manoeuvre, take control of more ground and hold it permanently to protect Israeli communities and soldiers, he added. Annexation of occupied territory is illegal under international law. The Israeli army has begun a ground invasion in Gaza, advancing into Beit Lahiya in the north and the Netzarim Corridor. Air strikes have continued across Gaza for the third day. Since the resumption of hostilities on Tuesday, over 500 Palestinians, including more than 200 children, have been killed and over 900 wounded. Israel has restricted movement for Palestinians, ordering them to avoid Salahuddin Road and use the coastal route instead. According to the report, citing Gaza civil defence officials, over 49,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict, with an additional 14,000 reported missing and presumed dead. Israel faces accusations of genocide from leading UN bodies and human rights organisations and is currently on trial at the International Court of Justice for violating the Genocide Convention. With inputs from agencies After firing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar over loss of trust, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the chief of the nations internal security agency was responsible for the October 7 attack read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a memorial ceremony for those killed by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack, in Jerusalem, on October 28, 2024. AP File The Israeli Cabinet on Friday fired Ronen Bar, the chief of Shin Bet. This is for the first time in Israeli history that a premier has fired the head of the nations internal security agency. Bar was part of the Israeli negotiating team that struck the deal with Hamas for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release of hostages in January. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later removed him from the talks. The new team has not been able to reach any deal with Hamas so far. Advertisement Bars removal comes in the midst of a Shin Bet investigation into Netanyahus aides for taking bribes from Qatari officials. Separately, Netanyahu is also facing a corruption trial. Bar did not attend the government meeting in which he was fired. Instead, he sent a scathing letter in which he said the firing was illegal and motives behind the act were fundamentally flawed. The case is likely to go the Supreme Court. Bars removal comes at a time when Israeli society stands deeply divided. Under Netanyahus latest government, the most right-wing in Israels history, extremist elements have gained power and Netanyahu has consolidated power around him. If Bars firing is litigated in court, it would further inflame the tensions as Netanyahus followers have long blasted the countrys judiciary for interfering in the governments work. In a statement after the working, a spokesperson for Netanyahu blamed Bar for the October 7 attack. The spokesperson said, If Ronen Bar had carried out his role as he is currently clinging to his seat, we would not have reached October 7. Ronen had the opportunity to retire with honour after his searing failure on October 7, as the outgoing Chief of Staff did. But Ronen Bar preferred not to attend the government meeting dealing with his case simply because he was afraid of giving answers and especially of answering one question: Why, after you knew about the Hamas attack many hours before it happened, did you do nothing and did not call the Prime Minister - something that would have prevented the disaster? said the spokesperson. Advertisement In his response, Bar slammed what he called were governments unfounded claims that are nothing more than a cover for completely different, extraneous and fundamentally invalid motives designed to disrupt the ability of the Shin Bet to fulfil its role, according to The Times of Israel. Saying that Netanyahu was taking steps that weaken the country both internally and against its enemies, Bar said that as he and Netanyahu worked together to bring the ceasefire and hostage deal in January, there was no basis for Netanyahu to say that there is no trust between them, except if the real intention, which I apparently failed to understand, was to negotiate without reaching a deal. He further said that the decision to remove him and Mossad chief David Barnea from the negotiating team harmed the team and did not advance the release at all. Advertisement While the Metropolitan Police Force said on Friday that there are no indications of foul play at the moment, the Counter Terrorism Command was leading the investigation to retain an open mind read more This frame grab taken from a UGC video shot and posted on X on March 21, 2025 by @chrisjbrogan shows smoke billowing from a fire at a neighborhood electrical substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London. AFP Authorities in London have roped in the counterterrorism police to lead the investigation into a fire at Heathrow Airport that forced its closure and disrupted flight operations worldwide. While the Metropolitan Police Force said on Friday that there are no indications of foul play at the moment, the Counter Terrorism Command was leading the investigation to retain an open mind. Firefighters were called to the highly visible blaze at the substation shortly after 2320 GMT on Thursday and around 70 were sent to battle the fire, which was brought under control by around 0800 GMT. Advertisement A statement by the police given to Newsweek said, Given the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Mets Counter Terrorism Command is now leading enquiries. Concerns are growing over potential Russian sabotage operations in the U.K. and across Europe as Moscow continues its war in Ukraine. In recent years, Russian agents have been connected to several incidents, including a warehouse fire in London. Clear planning failure The head of the airline industry trade association IATA, Willie Walsh said the power outage that caused the fire was a clear planning failure by the air hub. How is it that critical infrastructure of national and global importance is totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative. If that is the case as it seems then it is a clear planning failure by the airport, the IATA director general said on X. What caused the fire? UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said it is too early to determine what caused the huge fire but promised that the government would do all it could to restore power to Heathrow quickly, as questions were raised about the airports resilience. Testimonies from residents in West London reveal that the fire was discovered following a large explosion that led to a huge fireball and clouds of thick smoke after a substation near the airport caught on fire. As the scale of the disruption began to emerge, Miliband faced questions about how one fire could shut down an entire airport. He said the electricity distribution network National Grid had told him they had not seen anything like the scale of what happened. Flights cancelled, diverted Around 120 Heathrow-bound planes were in the air when the closure was announced, according to Flightradar24. Airport authorities said they expect significant disruption over the coming days. Advertisement The UKs second busiest airport, Gatwick, said it would accept some flights from Heathrow. Others were diverted to European airports including Shannon in southwestern Ireland, Frankfurt, and Paris Charles de Gaulle. British Airways said the closure of its main hub would have a significant impact on its operations and customers. Were working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond, it said. With inputs from agencies Londons Heathrow Airport was closed on Friday for a day over a substation fire that authorities were trying to douse. The closure of Europes busiest airport has affected over 1,300 flights and hundreds of thousands of passengers read more Firefighters douses flames of a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London on March 21, 2025. (Photo: AFP) A massive fire at a nearby substation forced the UK authorities to close down Londons Heathrow Airport on Friday. Hundreds of thousands passengers faced flight cancellations at Europes busiest airport, with at least 1,350 flights getting affected due to the closure of the Heathrow Airport. A reputed aviation consultant compared the situation with the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US in 2001 and the Icelandic volcanic eruption of 2010, when the European airspace had to be closed down. Advertisement John Strickland, a noted aviation consultant, says it will take several days for global airline travel to recover from a daylong closure of Heathrow Airport. Were talking about several days worth of disruption to get the planes recovered and start using them again to move planned and disrupted passengers, said Strickland adding that the disruption is like a contained version of 9/11 or, to an extent, the Icelandic volcanic eruption. I remembered seeing on those occasions particularly more so on 9/11 it happened so quickly and then US airspace was closed, they were turning back aircraft and holding planes. Thats the parallel I would make. Heathrow being such a busy airport and full, theres no kind of wriggle room for getting out of these kinds of things, he said. Some 120 flights heading to Heathrow were in the air when the closure was announced, FlightRadar24 said. The airport operator said in a statement on its website that Heathrow was experiencing a significant power outage, adding that it would be closed until just before midnight on Friday (2359 GMT). Passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens, the airport operator said. London Fire Brigade said there had been a significant fire at a substation in Hayes, a town in the London borough of Hillingdon. The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption, said Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne. This is a major incident, and our firefighters are working hard in tough conditions to control the fire quickly. Advertisement The fire brigade department said 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were on the scene, while around 150 people had been evacuated from nearby properties. A Qantas flight from Perth was diverted to Paris Charles de Gaulle, while a United Airlines flight from New York was rerouted to Shannon, Ireland. Europes busiest airport Heathrow Airport is Europes busiest airport and handles more than 80 million passengers a year. Air India issues advisory Air India issued an advisory for its passengers and announced disruptions to its operations at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) following the power outage. As a result of the outage, Air Indias flight AI129 from Mumbai to Heathrow is returning to Mumbai, while AI161 from Delhi has been diverted to Frankfurt. Additionally, all remaining flights to and from Heathrow, including AI111 scheduled for the morning of 21 March, have been cancelled, the airline said in a statement. The airline has assured passengers that updates on the resumption of services will be provided as soon as more information becomes available. However, flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected. Advertisement At a time when European nations are working out a peacekeeping plan for Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron has discussed with UN chief Antonio Guterres the possibility of a UN peacekeeping mission in Ukraine read more Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Photo: Reuters) French President Emmanuel Macron is exploring a plan for a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Ukraine as plan-b, according to a report. For weeks, Macron and British Prime Minister have been working on a plan for a coalition of the willing nations to put together a peacekeeping force in Ukraine to enforce the ceasefire whenever the war between Ukraine and Russia ends. Even as 30 nations have participated in talks, its not yet clear how many are open to putting boots on the grounds. So far, only France and the United Kingdom have explicitly pledged to deploy soldiers in Ukraine. Advertisement As a US backstop to support a European-led efforts appears uncertain and the UK has said it would not deploy soldiers without US support, The Daily Telegraph has reported that Macron has explored the possibility of a UN peacekeeping mission for Ukraine. Macron discussed the plan with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at Thursdays European Council Summit, according to the newspaper. ALSO READ: 20 countries willing to join UK-Frances peacekeeping force in Ukraine: Report However, it is not certain if Macron merely discussed the plan or he is seriously considering it. Any UN peacekeeping mission for Ukraine would either be toothless or a non-starter because it would need to be approved by the UN Security Council (UNSC). As the aggressor nation, Russia, is a permanent member of the UN, it is bound to veto any proposal that does not suits its interests. Moreover, the United States under President Donald Trump is expected to follow the Russians line as well. Under the peacekeeping proposal worked out by Starmer and Macron, up to 30,000 soldiers would be deployed in Ukraines cities, ports, and critical infrastructure sites, such as nuclear power plants. These personnel would be engaged in technical monitoring of the ceasefire, which would include intelligence; surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft; drones; and satellites to provide a complete picture of what is going on in the region under them. ALSO READ: No care for nationhood: Why Ukraine doesnt trust Russia in ceasefire talks, security expert explains To enable Ukraines commercial airspace to open again, the peacekeepers would be provided with enough firepower to monitor and shoot down any aircraft violating the ceasefire. There would be maritime component as well to enforce the ceasefire in the Black Sea. Advertisement Separately, in recent days, the UK has entered into talks for the Royal Air Force (RAF) to police Ukrainian skies in case of a ceasefire. A source in the RAF told The Telegraph that British Army and Air Force will be part of the first vanguard into Ukraine. According to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, there are 2.18 million documented Afghan refugees in Pakistan read more Afghan refugee children sit on a truck loaded with belongings as they along with their families prepare to return home, after Pakistan gives the last warning to undocumented immigrants to leave, outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) repatriation centres in Azakhel town in Nowshera, Pakistan. File image/Reuters Pakistan is still carrying out its deportation operation to send illegal Afghans back to their country, with an official saying that more than 800,000 people were repatriated till yesterday (March 20). The government of Pakistan has set a deadline of March 31 for illegal residents and people with Afghan citizen holders to leave the country. According to a report by Times of India, the official said that the administration will ensure that deportees are not mistreated during the process. Advertisement Proper arrangements for food and healthcare for people returning to Afghanistan have already been taken, the official added. Some 600,000 Afghans have travelled to Pakistan since the Taliban took over and implemented their austere version of Islam. Millions more came in the four decades before that, fleeing successive conflicts including the Soviet invasion, civil war and the post-9/11 US-led occupation. Pakistan, last year, waged a campaign to evict huge numbers of undocumented Afghans, as a result of which millions of migrants were forced to leave the country fearing arrests. According to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, there are 2.18 million documented Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This includes the 1.3 million refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards as per the census carried out in 2006-07, as well as an additional 8,80,000 refugees granted ACCs following a registration drive in 2017. At a time when US President Donald Trumps plan to annex the Gaza Strip and expel Palestinians has outraged the world, a Gallup survey has found that most Palestinians would leave the enclave if given a chance read more Most of the Palestinians would leave the Gaza Strip if given a chance, according to a Gallup survey conducted this month. The survey findings have been published at a time when US President Donald Trumps plan to annex Gaza and expel Palestinians living there has outraged the world. But the findings suggest that the idea of leaving Gaza has some traction among the enclaves residents. The survey found that 38 per cent of Palestinians would leave Gaza for the time being but return later if given a chance, 14 per cent would leave permanently, and 38 would not leave at all, according to The Daily Telegraph. Advertisement Gaza is one half of the envisioned Palestinian state along with the Israel-occupied West Bank. The strips annexation under Trumps plan would kill the two state solution that envisions to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by creating a State of Palestine for Arabs and State of Israel for Jews adjacent to each other to fulfil the needs of both the peoples rooted in the same land. ALSO READ: Trumps Gaza plan may sound death knell to two-state solution, push West Asia closer to disaster The survey found that Palestinians under 34 and living in Gaza City and Khan Yunis were more likely to consider leaving, according to The Telegraph. Among those who wished to leave, the survey found that Germany was the most popular destination followed by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Trump has said that Palestinians expelled from Gaza would be resettled in West Asian or African nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that expelled Palestinians could be resettled in Saudi Arabia where they could be granted a Palestinian state. However, Arab nations have rejected such suggestions. The Associated Press has reported that US and Israeli officials have started talks to resettle expelled Palestinians in Africas Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland. At a summit of Arab nations earlier this month, Egypt floated a plan for post-war that rejects the expulsion of Palestinians and seeks to rebuild Gaza and instal an interim Palestinian administration of technocrats. Advertisement Both Pentagon and Trump have confirmed the high-level meeting on Friday but have rejected reports that China war strategy would be on the agenda. The controversy comes as Musk faces criticism from Democrats and media over potential conflicts of interest read more Elon Musk speaks next to US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on., February 11. He heads the Doge, which is tasked with cutting costs of the US government. Reuters US billionaire and a top advisor to President Donald Trump, Elon Musk has brazenly threatened Pentagon officials who may have leaked information to media about a top-secret meeting, reportedly involving a briefing on a potential American war with China. Earlier, New York Times reported Thursday (March 20) that Pentagon may also brief Musk about USAs war strategy, raising concerns over his expanding role in the administration. However, Trump later rubbished the report, saying China will not even be mentioned or discussed. Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!! Advertisement Notably, both Pentagon and Trump have confirmed the high-level meeting on Friday but have rejected reports that Chinas war strategy would be on the agenda. Taking to X, Musk reposted Trumps comments and dubbed the New York Times pure propaganda. Then, he went on to threaten Pentagon employees for leaking details to the media. In his post, he wrote he looks forward to the prosecution of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found, he added. Elon Musks post on X The controversy comes as Musk faces criticism from Democrats and the media over potential conflicts of interest. His role in the administration and federal government has raised questions even as he continues to run companies like SpaceX, which offers services to the government. Musks comments against Pentagon employees and New York Times drew criticism online as users accused the billionaire of not being transparent enough. Can you explain to everyone how your Pentagon briefings tie into your role at DOGE? one user wrote. Because for someone who keeps shouting about transparency, you seem to be crossing into some murky territory - exactly the kind being reported by NYT and others, the user added. Another user questioned Musks choice of words. Interesting choice of words Elon. How can anyone LEAK ( your words ) anything that wasnt said? They can make up lies sure . but you used the word leak. What did they leak? Apparently, what was said was fabricated so there was nothing to leak??? Right or wrong? Advertisement Elon Musk, the worlds richest person and principal ally of US President Donald Trump, will be briefed on US war plans for China, according to a report read more In a development that has raised concerns around national security and conflict of interest, the US Department of Defense is set to brief Elon Musk on plans for a potential war with China, according to The New York Times. Musk, the worlds richest man, has emerged as the most powerful politician in the United States next only to President Donald Trump. After bankrolling his 2024 election campaign, Musk joined the administration. Initially, he was said to be the head of Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), but his exact formal role and decision-making powers remain uncertain even as he has practically seized control of the US government. Advertisement The Times has reported that Musk will be briefed about US plans for a war with China by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top US generals on Friday. Musk has no formal national security- or military-related role in the US government. The access to the nations top secret war plans would be an extraordinary boost to his power which is already without a parallel at least in the living memory. Instead, he has deep conflicts of interests as the owner of SpaceX, which receives several billions annually in defence contracts. The company is so well integrated with the Defense Department that China has dubbed it as an extension of the US military. While the Pentagon did not confirm that the visit would include a briefing on top-secret plans, it confirmed that Musk would indeed be visiting. The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting, said Pentagons chief spokesperson Sean Parnell in a statement to The Times. Musk to know deepest US secrets With the knowledge of US war plans regarding China, the top US adversary, Musk would know some of the deepest secrets of the nation. For a long time, Musk had not been granted high-level security clearance because of his alleged drug use and deep links with China. Critics of Musk say that his extensive business interests in China and ties with Chinese leaders have fundamentally compromised him. An adversary like China knowing US war plans would be damning for the US ability to fight wars. It would not just allow China to boost defences to counter US attacks but find chinks in US armour and plan offensives. Advertisement The Times reported that the China war plan has about 20-30 slides that lay out how the United States would wage a war with China. These slides include how the war could begin with indications and warnings of a threat and presenting the president with various options and the timeline for attacks. Defense Secretary Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Acting Chairman Admiral Christopher W Grady, and Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel J Paparo will brief Musk, according to the newspaper. Last night, Russia demonstrated once again that it genuinely does not share the desire for peace. I offer my full support to the Ukrainian people, Macron wrote on X read more French president, Emmanuel Macron sought to calm fears in France over the Ukraine crisis. Reuters French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said that Russia has demonstrated a lack of seriousness in achieving peace in Ukraine, following Moscows launch of a new drone attack against its neighbour despite US efforts to resolve the conflict. Last night, Russia demonstrated once again that it genuinely does not share the desire for peace. I offer my full support to the Ukrainian people, Macron wrote on X. Cette nuit encore, la Russie a montre quelle ne partageait sincerement pas la volonte de paix. Plein soutien au peuple ukrainien. pic.twitter.com/mtNTH8udOd Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 21, 2025 Advertisement Macrons comments came as Russian drones unleashed a relentless assault on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, igniting fires and highlighting Moscows determination to persist with aerial attacks despite a temporary agreement to pause strikes on energy infrastructure. Videos shared on social media depicted multiple blazes across Odesa. Regional governor Oleh Kiper reported that the drones hit a high-rise residential building, a shopping center, and various infrastructure targets. On Friday, Russia and Ukraine accused each other of blowing up a Russian gas pumping station in a border area where Ukrainian troops have been retreating, amid talks over a proposed US-backed moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure. Video footage showed a blaze at the Sudzha facility, located inside Russia near the Ukrainian border. This area had been captured by Ukrainian forces last year but has mostly been regained by Moscow in recent weeks, with Russian troops pushing Ukrainians out of Sudzha last week. Russias defense ministry claimed Ukraine blew up the pumping station during its retreat, calling it a violation of the energy infrastructure moratorium agreed upon in a call between Presidents Putin and Trump. In response, Kyiv accused Russia of staging the explosion as a provocation and labeled Moscows claims as false. Putin had previously agreed to pause attacks on energy facilities during the call, rejecting a proposal for a broader 30-day ceasefire, which Kyiv said it would consider if formalized in talks. Russias Investigative Committee opened a case for what it termed an act of terrorism that caused significant damage to the facility, which once transported gas to Europe. The Ukrainian military alleged that Russian forces shelled the facility in a false flag operation. Advertisement Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian presidents chief of staff, dismissed Russias narrative, asserting that attempts to mislead the international community would fail. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the notion of Russia destroying its own infrastructure absurd, while reaffirming that the temporary halt on energy attacks remained in effect, suggesting Ukraine cannot be trusted. With inputs from agencies For two years, Sudans military and paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been engaged in a civil war that has killed around tens of thousands and displaced millions read more After two years of civil war, the Sudanese military has retaken the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum from the rival paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), military sources told Reuters on Friday. In 2023, the worsening relations between Sudanese military and RSF, who had jointly run the country since the ouster of the dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, spiralled into a civil war. Tens of thousands have since been killed and millions of people have been displaced. Advertisement The takeover of the presidential place could be crucial moment for the military. Shortly after the fighting began in April, the RSF took over the presidential palace and most of Khartoum. However, the military has made gains in offensives in recent months and has retaken territories. With the latest victory, the Sudanese military could control central Sudan soon. Military sourcse told Reuters that the military took the presidential palace from eastern direction. Since 2021, Sudanese militarys General Abdel-Fattah Burhan had been the leader of Sudan and RSFs leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo was the countrys deputy. The rising profile of RSFs Dagalo led to worsening of the relatiopnships and Burhans order to integrate the the RSF into the regular military. This culminated in a cvil war in 2023. Even RSF appears to have lost control of the presidential palace, it retains control of other parts of Khartoum, neighbouring Omdurman province, and Western Sudan, according to Reuters. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the briefing for Musk would be attended by senior U.S. military officials in the Pentagon and would be an overview on a number of different topics, including China read more Elon Musk listens to US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., US, on February 11, 2025. Reuters File U.S. President Donald Trump has denied a New York Times report that his close ally, billionaire Elon Musk, was due to be briefed by the Pentagon on Friday about the U.S. militarys plan for any war that might break out with China. China will not even be mentioned or discussed, Trump said in a post about the Pentagon meeting on Truth Social on Thursday. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the briefing for Musk would be attended by senior U.S. military officials in the Pentagon and would be an overview on a number of different topics, including China. Advertisement According to the New York Times report, the briefing would include 20 to 30 slides that lay out how the United States would fight in a conflict with China. The newspaper cited two U.S. officials it did not identify. Access to the closely guarded military plan would mark a sharp expansion of Musks role as a Trump adviser who has spearheaded efforts to cut U.S. government spending. It would also fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who as the head of Tesla and SpaceX has business interests in China and with the Pentagon. The White House has previously said Musk will recuse himself if any conflicts of interest arise between his business dealings and his role in cutting federal government spending. Washington and Beijing have had tense relations for years over differences ranging from access to technology, trade tariffs and cybersecurity to TikTok, Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and the origins of COVID-19. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States is set to sign a minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine, as part of broader efforts to mediate a ceasefire in the ongoing war with Russia. read more Trump says will sign Ukraine mineral deal 'very shortly', 'doing pretty well' to end war. File image/AP President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US will soon sign a minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine, amid ongoing efforts to bring a ceasefire to its war with Russia. He also said his efforts for a peace deal in Ukraine were going pretty well. He made these remarks at the White House after signing an order to boost US production of critical minerals. Were doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine, Trump said. Advertisement We would love to see that [war] come to an end, and I think were doing pretty well in that regard, Trump said. So hopefully wed save thousands of people a week from dying. Thats what its all about. Theyre dying so unnecessarily, and I believe well get it done. Trump also highlighted his separate talks this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, focused on ending Russias war in Ukraine. Trumps 30-day ceasefire proposal Those talks, which fell short of Trumps aim to secure a full 30-day ceasefire, resulted in Putin agreeing to stop Russian attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days, while Zelenskiy said he would also accept such a pause. Ukraine and the US recently agreed to finalise a deal soon to develop Ukraines critical mineral resources. Trump has termed this as a way for Ukraine to repay the US for its support. However, efforts to complete the deal faced setbacks after a tense White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy last month. Fantastic call after spat in Oval Office On Wednesday, Trump and Zelenskiy agreed to work together to end Russias war with Ukraine. The White House called their one-hour phone call fantastic. It was their first conversation since a heated Oval Office public spat last month, after which the Trump administration halted US military aid and intelligence support to Kyiv. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to scale back the federal governments role in education. The decision aligns with his and the Republican Partys long-standing commitment to decentralising education policy. read more US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to significantly reduce the role of the federal Department of Education, fulfilling a key campaign promise made by him and his Republican Party. The move shifts control over school policies to states and local boards, raising concerns among liberal education advocates. By doing this, he is advancing a campaign promise to dismantle an agency that has long been a target of conservatives. Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. Republicans have said they will introduce legislation to achieve this, while Democrats have quickly lined up to oppose the idea. Advertisement Trump has criticised the Education Department as wasteful and influenced by liberal ideology. However, the department can only be shut down by an act of Congress, which established it in 1979. Republicans plan to introduce a bill for this, but Democrats are strongly opposing the idea. The order states that the education secretary will, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the states and local communities. It offers no details on how that work will be carried out or where it will be targeted, though the White House has said the agency will retain certain critical functions. Trump said his administration will close the department beyond its core necessities, preserving its responsibilities for Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell Grants, and funding for children with disabilities. The White House said earlier on Thursday that the department will continue to manage federal student loans, but the order appears to say otherwise. It states that the Education Department lacks the staff to oversee its $1.6 trillion loan portfolio and must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve Americas students. Advertisement At a signing ceremony, Trump blamed the department for Americas lagging academic performance and said states would do a better job. Its doing us no good, he said. More from World Germany to spend big on defence, infrastructure: Why this fiscal bazooka is significant The UAE has made it clear that artificial intelligence is its top priority, while Israels war on Gaza is not, during NSA Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayeds visit to the White House on Tuesday. In his meeting with Trump, Tahnoon reaffirmed the UAEs commitment to AI, technology, infrastructure, and healthcare investments read more The UAE sent a clear message during National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayeds visit to the White House on Tuesday that the artificial intelligence is a top priority for the Arab nation, while Israels war on Gaza is not, media outlet Middle east eye reported During his meeting with US President Donald Trump, he emphasised the Gulf countrys focus on AI and technology. During the meeting, the UAE reaffirmed its interest in investing in AI, technology, infrastructure, and healthcare, according to the UAEs official news agency, WAM. Advertisement Tahnoon, the spy sheikh Tahnoon holds multiple rolesfrom spy chief to tech investor and chess grandmaster. He is also nicknamed the spy sheikh. Trump also hosted Tahnoon at a dinner in White House. Tahnoon also held meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss strengthening Emirati investment in AI. During a previous visit to the US, he even sent an Emirati official to obtain a rare book by George Washington University professor Jeffrey Ding. The book, in which Tahnoon showed his keen interest, explores AIs role in global economic growth. According to report from Middle east eye, He also leads AI group G42, which secured a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft for AI data centres in the UAE. UAE announces $25bn deal amid AI chip restrictions Earlier, The pervious Biden administration imposed restrictions on exporting advanced AI chips to countries like the UAE. During his visit to Washington, Tahnoon aimed to convince the Trump administration to reconsider these limits, assuring the US that the UAE is a valuable ally in AI development, not a security risk for China. In the past, the UAE balanced its ties between the US, Russia, and China, even prompting US concerns over an alleged Chinese military facility in the Emirates. Israel-Hamas war The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated again with greater force, following the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire. Israel has resumed airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, resulting in substantial casualties and destruction. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a firm stance against Hamass involvement in Gazas governance. In recent discussions among Arab leaders, the UAE advocated for the exclusion of Hamas from any future administrative roles in Gaza, favoring the Palestinian Authority as the sole legitimate governing body The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme has faced criticism from experts and analysts, especially as Pentagon struggles to fully produce its current most advanced jet, the F-35. Adding to that, US is also planning to build A fleet of about 100 future B-21 stealth bombers, with expected cost estimated at $130 billion read more Donald Trump sits next to an image of the F-47 fighter jet. Source: Reuters US President Donald Trump on Friday (March 21) unveiled the countrys F-47 fighter jet programme, which he said would produce a state of the art stealth jet. The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built. An experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost five years, and were confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation, Trump said in an Oval Office address. Advertisement The F-47 is equipped with state-of-the-art stealth technology. Its virtually unseeable and unprecedented power, the most power of any jet of its kind ever made, Trump announced. Boeing awarded the contract Trump also announced that the contract to build the future fighter jet has been awarded to Boeing. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme will feature a manned jet acting as the central command for a fleet of advanced drones. These aircraft are designed to evade enemy air defences, particularly those of China and other potential adversaries. The initial contract for the Air Force variant is estimated to be worth $20 billion, marking a significant step toward its production. Trump made the announcement alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force leadership. David Allvin, chief of staff of the Air Force, said, Were going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare with this. Hegseth said the future fleet sends a very clear, direct message to our allies that were not going anywhere. Criticism The NGAD programme has faced criticism from experts and analysts, especially as Pentagon struggles to fully produce its current most advanced jet, the F-35. Adding to that, US is also planning to build a fleet of about 100 future B-21 stealth bombers, with expected cost estimated at $130 billion. Now, experts are questioning whether another advanced fighter jet programme is required. $20 billion is just seed money. The total costs coming down the road will be hundreds of billions of dollars, Grazier, director of the national security reform program at the Stimson Center was quoted as saying by AP. Last year, the administration of former president Joe Biden had ordered a pause on the programme to see whether a review was required to reflect the past few years of warfighting advances. Advertisement (With inputs from agencies) A day after a NYT report claimed that Trumps close ally Musk was due to be briefed on Friday by the Pentagon about the US militarys plan for potential war with China, US President on Friday dismissed the claim, saying that he would not permit the militarys war plan to be shared with Musk or anyone similar read more President Donald Trump, left, and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth listen during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Friday. AP A day after a New York Times report claimed that Donald Trumps close ally billionaire Elon Musk was due to be briefed on Friday by the Pentagon about the US militarys plan for potential war with China, US President on Friday dismissed the claim, saying that he couldnt have allowed militarys China plan to be shared with Musk or anyone like him. Speaking at the Oval Office alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump said, I dont want other people seeing, anybody seeing potential war with China. We dont want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you, if we did, were very well equipped to handle it." Advertisement Trump acknowledged concerns about Musks potential access to the plan, given his business interests in China. You know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story, Trump added. Hegseth said that Musk was not shown the plan during his visit to the Pentagon earlier in the day. Elon Musk is a patriot. Elon Musk is an innovator. Elon Musk provides a lot of capabilities our government and our military rely on, and Im grateful for that, The Guardian quoted Hegseth as saying. Hegseth said that reports suggesting Musk would be shown the plan were meant to undermine whatever relationship the Pentagon has with him. We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about (the department of government efficiency), to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. Thats not what we were doing the Pentagon, added the defence secretary. According to a CNN report, Musk arrived at the Pentagon at 9 am ET for meetings with senior Pentagon leadership and exited Hegseths office at 10:21 am ET. When asked by how the meeting went, Musk responded, Its always a great meeting. Ive been here before you know, he added, as he and Hegseth laughed and walked down the stairs to the buildings entrance. Advertisement Outside the Pentagon, Musk and Hegseth shook hands as the tech billionaire told him, If theres anything I can do to be helpful, Id like to see you. He told Hegseth that hed really like us to have a good outcome here. The meeting follows a New York Times report on Thursday claiming that Musk would be briefed on the US militarys plans for a potential conflict with China. President Donald Trump dismissed the report in a late-night Truth Social post, claiming that China will not even be mentioned or discussed. Neither Hegseth nor Musk responded to shouted questions regarding whether China was discussed during their meeting or if it was a classified briefing, reported CNN. Advertisement With inputs from agencies A US judge has blocked the deportation of an Indian researcher arrested over alleged Hamas ties, sparking concerns about academic freedom under President Donald Trumps administration. read more US arrests Indian student for 'spreading Hamas propaganda', likely to be deported. A US judge ruled on Thursday that an Indian researcher at a top American university cannot be deported following his arrest and possible expulsion over alleged links to Hamas and for spreading propaganda in support of the armed group. He is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University in Washington. Suris lawyer described his arrest as a targeted, retaliatory detention intended to silence him and others who support Palestinian rights. On Thursday evening, Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ruled that Suri cannot be deported unless the court decides otherwise. Advertisement The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also filed an emergency motion to prevent his deportation and stated that he is being held in an immigration detention centre in Louisiana. Ripping someone from their home and family, stripping them of their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint is a clear attempt by President Trump to silence dissent, said ACLU immigrant rights attorney Sophia Gregg. His lawyer stated that neither Secretary of State Marco Rubio nor any other government official has alleged that Mr Suri has committed any crime or, indeed, broken any law whatsoever. The filing accused the US government of detaining Suri based on his family connection and constitutionally protected free speech. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, stated on X that Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media. McLaughlin accused him of having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior adviser to Hamas. Suris arrest Suri was arrested on Monday at his home in Arlington, Virginia, according to a report from Politico. He is conducting his research at Georgetowns Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, according to the university website. Advertisement Politico, citing Suris lawyers petition, reported that Suris wife is a US citizen of Palestinian descent. The couple believes they are being targeted because the government suspects they oppose US policy on Israel. Concerns of free speech, threats to research Badar Khan Suris detention, just two months into President Donald Trumps term, sparked concerns in academia about threats to research and free speech. The shipments of Made in India smartphones recorded a 6% year-on-year (YoY) growth in 2024, largely driven by increasing exports from Apple and Samsung, according to Counterpoints Make in India Service report. The report noted that these two brands together contributed 94% of Indias smartphone exports. Their expanded manufacturing aligns with Indias efforts to reduce import dependency and establish a stronger position in global supply chains. The Indian governments Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has played a significant role by encouraging global manufacturers to set up or expand their production facilities in the country. This initiative has bolstered local manufacturing capabilities, the report added. Performance of Key Manufacturers in 2024 Samsung: The company remained a dominant player in Indias electronics manufacturing space, growing 7% YoY, primarily due to increased exports, as emphasized by Research Analyst Tanvi Sharma. vivo: Noted for capturing 14% of the shipment share with a 14% YoY growth, vivos success stemmed from its expanded offline retail network and stronger distribution presence. According to Counterpoints shipment tracker, vivo emerged as the leader in Indias smartphone shipments in 2024. Foxconn Hon Hai: Backed by Apple, Foxconn saw a 19% YoY rise in manufacturing volumes. The company aims to enhance local production by establishing a smartphone display module assembly. OPPO: Slipped to the fourth spot among manufacturers, with shipments declining 34% YoY. The fall was attributed to intense competition and a growing share of contract manufacturing for OPPO and realme. DBG: Achieved significant double-digit growth in 2024, supported by expanded partnerships with Xiaomi and realme. Tata Electronics: Tata Electronics registered an exceptional 107% YoY growth, becoming the fastest-growing manufacturer of 2024. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models were major contributors to its volume growth. The company also expanded its assembly operations, ventured into semiconductor fabrication with a new plant in Dholera, Gujarat, and announced plans for an OSAT facility in Assam. These efforts position Tata Electronics as a key player in the global electronics supply chain. In the overall mobile handset segment, which includes smartphones and feature phones, Dixon emerged as the top manufacturer. Its performance was driven by strong shipments from Transsion brands and Motorola. In the smartphone segment, Dixon reported a 39% YoY growth, supported by partnerships with Transsion brands and realme. The report highlighted that Dixons strategic collaborations and joint ventures significantly contributed to its success in Indias handset manufacturing ecosystem. Market Dynamics and Future Outlook Commenting on the market trends, Senior Research Analyst Prachir Singh noted that major global smartphone manufacturers are increasingly diversifying their production to ensure a more resilient supply chain and reduce risks associated with over-reliance on a single country. He highlighted India as a favorable manufacturing destination, citing its large local market, cost-effective labor, and supportive government policies. Singh added that smartphone production in India is expected to grow in double digits in 2025, with increased local value addition. Source Israel's defence minister vowed to step up the Gaza assault, using civilian as well as military 'pressure points' to defeat Hamas Colorado Parks and Wildlife A gray wolf looks over its shoulder after being released into an area filled with sage brush. The director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday defended the agencys handling of a wolf pack in the Roaring Fork Valley after criticism was leveled by an agency commissioner who also is a rancher there. Readout of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's First Trip to the Indo-Pacific FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ODNI News Release No. 04-25 March 20, 2025 The below is attributable to an ODNI spokesperson: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard visited Hawaii, Japan, Thailand, India and France on her first multi-nation trip as DNI. Having been born and raised in the Indo-Pacific region, DNI Gabbard brought a nuanced understanding of the area's crucial partnerships and complex challenges as she explored opportunities to advance President Trump's America First policies across the Indo-Pacific. During her first stop in Hawaii, DNI Gabbard met with U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo, NSA-Hawaii senior leaders and intelligence officers, and Naval Special Warfare sailors who briefed her on challenges faced in the region and existing U.S. capabilities to meet them. Specifically, while visiting NSA's Hawaii outpost, the DNI reiterated the importance of accurate and timely intelligence that protects Americans' Fourth Amendment rights. In Japan and Thailand, the DNI met with top intelligence officials and diplomats to strengthen existing partnerships and intelligence collaboration between our nations. While she did not have the opportunity to visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki during this trip, she looks forward to doing so on her next visit to the region, to honor the lives lost, highlight the immeasurable cost of nuclear war, and President Trump's commitment to counterproliferation and preventing nuclear war. In India, the DNI held several bilateral engagements, including with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This visit highlights the decades strong U.S.-India relationship that is bolstered by the leadership of and friendship between Prime Minister Modi and President Donald Trump. DNI Gabbard's meetings in India focused on intelligence-sharing, defense, counterterrorism, and transnational threats. Further, DNI Gabbard joined the Raisina Dialogue, where she delivered keynote remarks on the collective effort to drive toward President Trump's goals of a peaceful, free, secure, and prosperous society. "President Trump remains unwavering in his commitment to achieving peace through a strategy rooted in realism and pragmatism," said DNI Gabbard. "Securing peace through strength requires strong leadership with a clear-eyed and realistic understanding of global challenges and opportunities, a commitment to fostering cultural and economic ties that reduce the likelihood of an escalation to conflict, and a dedication to reinforcing mutual interests." On the return trip to Washington D.C., DNI Gabbard stopped in France to visit U.S. personnel and French leaders for discussions on counterterrorism and other joint efforts. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Department of Defense Civilian Employee Pleads Guilty to Taking Classified Documents Thursday, March 20, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A civilian electrical engineer for the Department of Defense pleaded guilty in federal court today to unauthorized removal and retention of classified material. According to court documents, Gokhan Gun, 51, of Falls Church, Virginia, was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and is a dual citizen of Turkey and the United States. Through his employment, Gun possessed a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and received training on the proper handling and storage of classified information. Beginning in May 2024, Gun, without permission, removed at least five classified documents from his Department of Defense workspace with the intent to retain them at his primary residence, which was not an approved facility for the storage of classified information. On Aug. 9, 2024, Gun was scheduled to depart the United States on a morning flight to Mexico. However, FBI agents observed a ride share service arrive at the defendant's residence and approached Gun. Agents observed inside Gun's residence a backpack inside which they located a Top Secret document and a notebook with handwritten notes that mirrored a Top Secret report. In the dining room, agents located additional classified documents, one of which Gun printed on Aug. 7, 2024, just two days before his scheduled departure. Gun is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17 and faces up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department's National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Director in Charge Phillip E. Bates of the FBI Washington Field Office and Executive Director Lee M. Russ of Air Force Office of Special Investigations Office of Special Projects (AFOSI) made the announcement. The FBI and AFOSI Office of Special Projects are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Gibbs for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys Adam L. Small and Chantelle Dial of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Topic: Counterintelligence Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Virginia, Eastern Press Release Number: 25-281 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli spy chief warns of 'deep' Iranian infiltration; says Netanyahu responsible for regime's woes Iran Press TV Friday, 21 March 2025 1:47 AM The head of the Israeli regime's so-called internal spy agency has considered the Israeli prime minister to be behind the regime's serious predicaments, including mismanagement leading to, what he described as, Iran's "deep" infiltration into Israeli intelligence affairs. "Israel is going through an especially difficult and complex period," Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar wrote in a message addressed to the regime on Thursday. "The Iranian hand is deep inside Israel," he added, citing one of the severe adversities that were faced by Tel Aviv. The turmoil that Bar said was besetting the regime comes against a backdrop of reports of increasing espionage cases within the occupied Palestinian territories. In January, Shin Bet alleged that cases of espionage for Iran that were identified by the service had witnessed a "400-percent increase" in 2024 compared to the previous year. It claimed it had indicted 27 illegal settlers as part of its pursuance of the cases. The agency also alleged that it had busted 13 "major espionage operations" targeting the regime. In October last year, the agency and the regime's police alleged they had arrested two settlers east of the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv on charges of espionage for Iran. Following Shin Bet's January report on the alleged spying cases, it was also reported that two Israeli army reservists, Yuri Eliasfov and Georgi Andreyev, had been arrested on charges of spying for Iran, reportedly including sharing classified information about the regime's Iron Dome missile system. Still cataloging the litany of the adversities troubling Tel Aviv, Bar reminded that as many as 59 of the Zionists, who were ensnared by Palestinian fighters in the occupied territories in October 2023 and taken to the Gaza Strip, remained in the Palestinian territory. The Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement Hamas "has not yet been defeated," he added amid the regime's stated goal of "destroying" the group as part of its ongoing war of genocide against the Palestinian territory. "We are in the midst of a multi-front war," the spy chief also noted, pointing to the regime's having launched escalated deadly aggression against the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria as well as Gaza. Bar critiqued Netanyahu for impeding investigations into the regime's intelligence failures, including the loopholes that were seized upon by Palestinian resistance movements on October 7, 2023 to stage a historic operation against the occupied territories, during which they ensnared the captives after venturing deep inside the territories and encircling strategic Israeli bases. His remarks, observers say, suggested that the Israeli premier was trying to prevent revelation of the sheer shortcomings during his drawn-out tenure as a means of protecting his ongoing incumbency. The spy chief's letter came in response to Netanyahu's attempts to dismiss him, a move widely criticized among Israeli officials as politically motivated. Bar contended that his removal was intended to obstruct a comprehensive inquiry into the events of October 7, a probe that could jeopardize Netanyahu's further political longevity. He warned that actions such as his dismissal compromised Shin Bet's ability to operate "impartially" and uncover the truth behind such security lapses. The Shin Bet chief further asserted that Netanyahu's interference had hampered negotiations aimed at securing the release of the remaining Zionist captives. "My removal has harmed negotiations and not contributed at all to the release of the captives. The real intention was to conduct negotiations without actually reaching a deal" aimed at securing their release, he wrote. The official suggested that the prime minister's obstructionist actions were driven by personal interests rather than the regime's security concerns. Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has demanded that Netanyahu clarify the legal basis for Bar's dismissal, emphasizing the need to prioritize the regime and its illegal settlers' interest over personal preferences. Various Israeli opposition politicians and groups have condemned the move as an assault on the regime's laws, reflecting broader conflicts within Tel Aviv's institutions. Bar, himself, dismissed the campaign aimed at his removal as "a sham procedure with a predetermined outcome and baseless allegations that serve only as a cover for dubious and illegitimate motives..." "This aims to hinder the Shin Bet's ability to perform its duties impartially according to the law, rather than serving personal interests, and to prevent the revelation of the truth, whether regarding the events leading up to October 7 or the serious cases currently under Shin Bet investigation." The message came at a time when the regime's settlers' confidence in Tel Aviv's pursuance of their interests has been radically eroded. Protests have erupted, with demonstrators condemning Netanyahu for using military aggression in Gaza as a diversion from his political challenges, including the ongoing corruption cases facing the premier. Israeli critics argue that the prime minister is leveraging external threats to suppress dissent and maintain his grip on power at a time when over 60 percent of the settlers have called for his exit from politics. A new poll has also exposed a record-high 47-percent distrust in the Israeli military. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany stands by Israel - and is seeking to bring about a de-escalation Germany - Federal Government The Federal Government views the renewed escalation in the Gaza Strip with great concern. A ceasefire must be swiftly reinstated and strictly enforced. Hamas is urged to release all hostages. The goal must be to end the war. Wednesday, 19 March 2025 Hamas launched an attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, firing thousands of missiles. Some 1,200 people were killed, and more than 200 hostages were taken, including individuals with German citizenship. "On the morning of 7 October, Israel woke up to a nightmare." This is how Federal Chancellor Scholz described the callous attack by the terrorist organisation Hamas on Israel. The suffering of the population on all sides is immeasurable, and the number of civilian casualties enormous, especially in the Gaza Strip. Hope for ceasefire after agreement Ever since the Hamas attack on Israel the Federal Government has persistently campaigned for a ceasefire. Federal Chancellor Scholz welcomed the agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, among them German nationals. "The agreement must now be implemented consistently on a step-by-step basis: ultimately, all hostages have to be released," demanded the Federal Chancellor. The longer the war lasted, the more obvious it became that while Israel had achieved many of its military goals in its fight against Hamas, the number of civilian victims and the suffering in the Gaza Strip are immense. Even after the first phase of the ceasefire comes to an end, it is essential to ensure that the residents of the Gaza Strip continue to receive reliable humanitarian and medical aid[HS1] . The Federal Government stands ready to provide further support. Talks must now be held swiftly to secure the second phase of the ceasefire. A renewed escalation after the hard-won truce must be avoided at all costs. The goal must be a lasting end to the war. For this reason, Scholz emphasised: "Hamas is called upon to lay down their weapons once and for all. The Hamas terror must stop." The Federal Government's thoughts remain with the hostages still in captivity and their families. Following the death of a German-Israeli mother and her sons, the Federal Chancellor stated on X: "Hamas has inflicted suffering and death on countless families. My thoughts are with all those who now have to come to terms with this terrible certainty." Foreign Minister Baerbock: "We must not let this opportunity pass us by" Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock likewise welcomed the agreement on a ceasefire: "The ceasefire has the potential to be a first step towards a genuine political process" and "we must not let this opportunity pass us by". A negotiated two-state solution remained the only solution that would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, security and dignity, said the Minister. Support for the ceasefire in Lebanon The Federal Government also continues to view with great concern the escalation of the Middle East conflict in Lebanon, in which numerous innocent civilians have been injured or killed. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah of November 2024 also offers hope, and this must now be implemented further: "It is crucial for everyone to stick to what has been agreed on so that those on both sides of the border can live in safety again," said the Federal Chancellor. Foreign Minister Baerbock reaffirmed Germany's support for the Lebanese army and the people of Lebanon. The Lebanese army is now tasked with taking full control of the area south of the Litani River and ensuring stabilisation on the border with Israel. The Federal Government stands firmly with Israel In his government statement issued on 12 October 2023, the Federal Chancellor stated clearly: At this moment there is only one place for Germany: alongside Israel." Germany's history and the responsibility arising from the Holocaust made it Germany's perpetual duty to stand up for the existence and security of Israel, said Scholz. The Federal Government is acting in accordance with this principle. On the same day, the Bundestag expressed its cross-party solidarity with Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Joly announces assistance for people in Gaza and West Bank Global Affairs Canada News release March 20, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada Following more than a year of devastating conflict, the UN estimates that the entire population of Gaza, more than 2 million people, is in need of urgent emergency assistance. At the same time, the West Bank is facing escalating violence, significant displacement, and movement restrictions that are hampering the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance and worsening the overall humanitarian crisis. Today, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, announced more than $99 million in funding to support the UN, World Bank, Red Cross and NGO partners in delivering international assistance to Gaza and the West Bank. This funding demonstrates Canada's continued commitment to supporting the humanitarian response in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as efforts to make life-saving interventions more sustainable. The funding announced today for Gaza and the West Bank includes the following: $20 million to restore essential services, particularly in the health sector, and foster resilience among vulnerable communities $24.55 million to support the provision of life-saving assistance, including food, protection and shelter $24.75 million in peace and security programming to support mine action and related activities $30 million to strengthen economic recovery, social resilience, and governance in the West Bank by supporting the Palestinian Authority's role in stabilization and reconstruction efforts The current humanitarian situation it not sustainable. Canada reiterates its call to allow the free flow of humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in need. International humanitarian law must be respected, including the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. Canada calls for an immediate end to hostilities, for Hamas to release all hostages and lay down its arms, and for Israel and Hamas to negotiate in good faith to reach a sustainable and lasting ceasefire. Canada continues to stand ready to support efforts toward a 2-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace, security, and dignity. Quotes "I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Today's funding announcement will allow Canada's partners to significantly enhance their efforts to provide urgent assistance to those in need. Canada reaffirms its commitment to a lasting peace, and we will continue working with international partners to address the needs of those affected by this crisis." - Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Quick facts With the funding announced today, Canada will have allocated more than $240 million for humanitarian assistance to date to respond to the crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. Canada provides its funding for humanitarian assistance based on need, through experienced and trusted humanitarian organizations that have the necessary on-the-ground operational capacity to respond. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK, France and Switzerland announce new alliance to tackle bribery and corruption threat Swiss Government London, 20.03.2025 -- On 20 March 2025, the UK's Serious Fraud Office, France's Parquet National Financier (PNF) and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) affirmed their shared commitment to tackling international bribery and corruption. To strengthen their cooperation, the three partners signed a 'Founding Statement' that includes the establishment of a task force. All three countries have wide-reaching anti-bribery legislation with jurisdiction to prosecute criminal conduct that occurs overseas, if there is a link to the prosecuting country. The taskforce will strengthen existing ties between these countries and lead to greater joint working on cases, as well as sharing of insight and expertise. Great importance for Switzerland The Attorney General of Switzerland Stefan Blattler emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in tackling bribery and corruption and welcomes its intensification. In his speech at the signing of the declaration, he calls on like-minded authorities to join the Serious Fraud Office, the Parquet National Financier and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland. "As part of this cooperation, we will be able to help ensure that fraud and crime can be better combated in the future. This task force is therefore of great importance for Switzerland." Mr Blattler also recalled the agreements concluded almost 30 years ago under the "Geneva Call" to create a fairer and safer European judicial area, from which corruption will be truly eradicated. "These magistrates were pioneers at the time, and today we are following in their footsteps," said Attorney General Blattler. Also highly relevant for SFO and PNF Nick Ephgrave, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said: "The commitment we have made today reaffirms our individual and collective commitment to tackling the pernicious threat of international bribery and corruption, wherever it occurs. We will make use of every power and partnership available to confront this criminality. This taskforce is an important step forward in our approach." Jean-Francois Bohnert, Head of the Parquet National Financier, said: "I am delighted that ten years of operational cooperation between the PNF, SFO and OAG are developing today into the setting up of a prosecutorial Taskforce. This Taskforce will definitely strengthen our current cooperation in order to fight more efficiently against bribery and corruption in individual cases." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SEM alters asylum practice for Afghanistan Swiss Government Bern-Wabern, 20.03.2025 -- The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is adapting its asylum and removal practices with regard to Afghanistan. Single men whose asylum application has been rejected may again be removed under certain circumstances. SEM considers return to Afghanistan to be reasonable in some cases. Based on current situation analyses, SEM is adjusting its practice from mid-April 2025. Although it continues to assume that removal is generally unreasonable, returning non-vulnerable men to Afghanistan is considered reasonable in exceptional cases if the circumstances are favourable. The person concerned must be residing in Switzerland without family, be over the age of 18 and in good health. They must also have a stable and sustainable network of relationships in their home country that enables them to reintegrate socially and find work. Women, families, minors and people with health problems are not affected; they are generally admitted on a temporary basis if they are not granted asylum or if no other Dublin country is responsible for their asylum procedure. SEM has closely assessed the situation in Afghanistan. Recent reports show that the situation throughout the country is now much safer than at the time the Taliban took power, in August 2021. SEM's analysis shows that there has also been a slight improvement in the socio-economic situation, which particularly benefits Afghan adults who are able to work and who have an intact network of relationships. Offenders consistently removed On 11 August 2021, SEM suspended the enforcement of removals to Afghanistan because the situation on the ground had deteriorated after the Taliban took power and a return to the country was generally considered unreasonable. This did not apply to serious offenders or those who pose a threat to Switzerland's internal or external security. Removal orders were issued for these individuals when appropriate. In 2024, five Afghans who fell into this category were repatriated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Council: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival European External Action Service (EEAS) 20.03.2025 Brussels EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Good morning, Today we have a full day ahead, a lot of topics on the agenda. First, we are going to discuss Ukraine. I am really looking forward to listening from President Zelenskyy, also getting the news and his feeling of the call with President Trump yesterday. I very much welcome the announcement by President Trump that the United States is trying to find additional air defences for Ukraine. This is extremely important. And, of course, today we are discussing what more we can do for Ukraine, but also for our own defence. For Ukraine, I have proposed an initiative to really go with the ones that President Zelenskyy needs: ammunition, in an amount of []5 billion. We should actually start to have really concrete steps, not only words, but also deeds [with which] we are helping Ukraine, right now. Because the stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table. And of course, today we are going to also discuss competitiveness, because it goes hand in hand as well [with how] our economies [are] doing. The means from the economy also help us to do all the things we have to do, meaning investing more in defence, also helping Ukraine. So, this is also a very important discussion. Of course, there are other topics. Yesterday, we came [out] with the defence White Paper, and we are going to discuss the elements there. In the last [European Council] summit, two weeks ago, we discussed already the funding options, but now [we will discuss] also the things that we can do together. So, looking for a very long day ahead. Q&A. Q: Yesterday, the Defence Commissioner Kubilius said that for 2030 Russia could attack a NATO or an EU country. What do you say to the critics that said that this [inaudible]. It depends on what we do. The problem with defence is that if we invest enough in defence, if we build our capabilities, then it will also deter aggressors to attack us. If we do not do that, weakness invites aggressors to attack, so that is why we need to do more in order for this not to happen. Q: On the Ukraine initiative, whatever the discussions with the Member States, the numbers seem to change and be rather lower than what you initially proposed. Are you worried that the support on the European Union level is no longer there for Ukraine? If you listen to the statements of the leaders, then the support is very much there and that is why it should be also seen in deeds, in numbers, in actual ammunition that Ukraine needs. So, I am really hopeful that we will push this forward. Q: Why is it that 40 billion seem unachievable for so many of the Member States? As you know, we proposed the GNI key that takes into account the economy of the country and some countries have done more and some countries are bigger economies, which means that the amounts are very big. At the same time, we also know that there are real worries with the budget deficits in most of the European countries - and there are the problems. Now, in the ReArm initiative we also have the rules in place to ease the budget regulations so it would provide the Member States more opportunities to do more. But still the questions remain. Of course, for every country it is [in] the domestic politics, also [in] the understanding of the public [on] what needs to be done. And that is different in every Member State. Q: [On the HR/VP proposal] We are doing that all the time, because I think it is important to have a tangible result. So, if we are not able to decide right now for the whole year that is coming, let us decide on the short term which are the imminent needs that Ukraine has regarding the ammunition right now. Q: What is the realistic plan? Well, their realistic plan would be the []5 billion for the ammunition and that is what we are working on right now. Thank you. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-269524 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Estonian Minister of Defence: potential Allied contribution to Ukraine will not change or affect Allied presence in Estonia Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence 20. March 2025 - 14:30 The potential contribution of Allies to Ukraine will not change or affect the presence of Allied forces in Estonia or, more broadly, in the Baltic Sea region. The UK-led NATO battlegroup continues to be stationed in Estonia, and preparations are underway for the first deployment of the UK reinforcement brigade to Estonia, said the Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. "Currently, preliminary discussions are taking place among Allies regarding the possible deployment of European security assurance forces to Ukraine. Estonia is participating in these discussions, but no decisions have been made. The clear position of Estonia and many other European allies is that any potential European contribution must not impact NATO's defence and deterrence posture on its Eastern Flank. Allies, including the United Kingdom, have so far indicated that their possible contribution to Ukraine will not change or affect the presence of Allied forces in the Baltic Sea region. The UK-led NATO battlegroup continues to be stationed in Estonia, and preparations are ongoing for the first deployment of the UK reinforcement brigade to Estonia in May during Exercise Hedgehog (Siil)," said the Estonian Minister of Defence. The UK permanent presence in Estonia with a battalion-sized battlegroup and the assignment of an additional UK brigade for the defence of Estonia have been agreed upon in the long-term at NATO summits and through the Estonia-UK defence cooperation agreement and roadmap. "Revisiting these agreements is certainly not on the agenda," Pevkur added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel restores blockade on northern Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Israeli regime has restored a blockade on the northern Gaza Strip, shortly after it resumed a genocidal war on the Palestinian territory. The Israeli military warned Palestinians in northern Gaza on Thursday that they could not use the main highway to enter or leave the north, where Gaza City is also located. The regime had maintained the blockade until January, when a ceasefire with Hamas took effect after 15 months of incessant strikes on Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians returned to the ruins of their houses in the north after the ceasefire began. On Tuesday, the Israeli regime began conducting military strikes again. Over 400 Palestinians were killed on that day alone. The regime killed more than 70 Palestinians, including many women and children, as they slept in their houses in northern and southern Gaza on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the new wave of airstrikes was "only the beginning," and promised that Israeli forces would continue to pound the Palestinian territory with "full force." In a major escalation, the Israeli military launched what it called a "limited ground operation" to reclaim control of part of the Netzarim corridor, a key strategic strip of land that cuts Gaza in half. As part of the ceasefire, Israel had withdrawn its forces from the area. 4482 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns international inaction on 'U.S.-Israeli conspiracy' in Yemen and Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has criticized the United Nations Security Council and other international organizations for their silence regarding ongoing U.S. airstrikes in Yemen and the massacre of civilians in Gaza by Israel. In a statement on Thursday, Baqaei expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of innocent lives, including women and children, in Yemen and the destruction of vital infrastructure in U.S. airstrikes. He further condemned the ongoing massacre of civilians in Gaza, and said the financial, military, and political backers of Israel are complicit in the Israeli atrocities. Since early Tuesday, when Israel resumed its genocidal war in Gaza, over a thousand Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed across the enclave, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Baqaei described these acts of aggression by the U.S. and Israel as clear instances of war crimes. He said the simultaneous offensives in Gaza and Yemen clearly point to a coordinated American-Israeli conspiracy aimed at weakening the Islamic Ummah and suppressing solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people. The spokesperson called on Islamic governments to take decisive action to halt U.S. and Israeli aggression. He also urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to prioritize this issue. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 70 Palestinians killed in predawn Israeli attacks on Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 20, 2025 More than 70 Palestinians, including many women and children, were killed in predawn Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army carried out massive airstrikes in the north and south of the besieged Palestinian territory before dawn on Thursday, killing at least 71 people, Al Jazeera reported. Israel resumed its genocidal war on Gaza early on Tuesday, when more than 400 Palestinians were killed in a wave of attacks on residential buildings and makeshift shelters. The renewed attacks shattered a fragile ceasefire with Hamas that had been in place since January 19. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported on Wednesday that at least 970 people had been killed in indiscriminate Israeli bombings in just two days. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the new wave of airstrikes was "only the beginning," as he promised that Israeli forces would continue to pound the Palestinian territory with "full force." In a major escalation, the Israeli army launched what it called a "limited ground operation" to reclaim control of part of the Netzarim corridor, a key strategic strip of land that cuts Gaza in half. As part of the ceasefire, Israel had withdrawn its forces from the area. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen targets Israel's Ben Gurion Airport with ballistic missile IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 20, 2025 The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces announced that their missile units successfully targeted Ben Gurion Airport in the occupied Yafa region using a ballistic missile known as Palestine 2. In a statement early on Thursday, Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operation marked the fifth consecutive day of effective and responsible retaliation against U.S. aggression, particularly following attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, and several Yemeni provinces. General Saree added that the Yemeni forces have intensified their efforts to target enemy warships in the Red Sea, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying naval vessels. Saree promised that the U.S. attempts to prevent Yemen from retaliating against Israeli targets will ultimately fail. He reiterated that the increased airstrikes and bombings would not deter Yemenis from fulfilling their religious and moral duty to support the oppressed people of Palestine. The statement came shortly after American warplanes carried out fresh bombing against Yemen's port city of al-Hudaydah and the city of Sa'ada. "They will be completely annihilated!" U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier posted on his Truth Social media platform, referring to Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement. Over the weekend, the United States launched massive airstrikes against various targets in Yemen, killing at least 53 civilians, including women and children. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bomber Task Force 25-2 accomplishes mission in Europe demonstrating interoperability and trust NATO Allied Air Command Mar 20 2025 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- Following a month-long deployment in Europe, Bomber Task Force 25-2 (BTF 25-2) concludes as the 69th Bomb Squadron's Knighthawks return home to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Four United States B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers arrived at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, on February 11, 2025, along with 224 personnel. Whilst in the European theatre the bombers integrated with a number of Allied air forces including; Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Turkiye and the United Kingdom. "BTF 25-2 has been a tremendous success. Every single Airman here has proved themselves to be the professional and lethal force that the 69th is known to be," explained Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Cangealose, Commander of the 69th Bomb Squadron. "This team accomplished every objective and goal that we came out here for." The Knighthawks accumulated hundreds of flight hours, and the missions executed offered training and integration opportunities for Allied forces to refine and enhance common tactics, techniques and procedures. The missions also enable crews to maintain a high state of readiness and validate the U.S. Air Force's global strike capability in multi-domain operations. "The seamless integration between the 69th and our Allies and partners has been so impressive," said Cangealose. "What we've accomplished is a clear demonstration that our Allied Air Forces are more lethal than ever." The strategic relationship between the U.S. and its Allies creates interoperability that is critical to ensuring the defence of NATO's shared values. BTF 25-2 is the most recent example of how regular and routine deployment of U.S. strategic bombers provides critical touchpoints to train and operate alongside Allies and partners and improve shared understanding, trust and interoperability on security challenges across the globe. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Deputy Secretary General welcomes renewed European defence efforts at the European Parliament NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 20 Mar. 2025 On Thursday (20 March), NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska addressed the European Parliament's Security and Defence Committee (SEDE). She commended Europeans for stepping up investment in defence to deliver security, praised cooperation with the European Union (EU) and answered questions from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Ms. Shekerinska hailed initiatives at the European and national levels to boost defence spending, capabilities and readiness, while noting that the transatlantic relationship remains the cornerstone of European security. In her remarks to MEPs, she stressed the need for a stronger European pillar within a strong NATO. The Deputy Secretary General emphasised the importance of continuing to strengthen NATO-EU cooperation. She underscored that NATO and the EU are natural and indispensable partners, and that the EU can use its unique economic leverage to boost defence production, innovation, and military mobility in line with NATO's military plans, capabilities, and standards. In this regard she also pointed to the need to involve non-EU allies as much as possible in the EU's initiatives on defence. Ms. Shekerinska welcomed the ReArm Europe plan, as well as European support for Ukraine. In a security context where Europe faces instability and threats from many directions, the Deputy Secretary General highlighted that "keeping our people safe is our most sacred duty." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Colombia: UN experts call for protection of civilians caught up in Catatumbo conflict Press releases Multiple Mechanisms 20 March 2025 GENEVA -- Alarmed by the dramatic escalation of conflict in the Catatumbo region of the department of North Santander since the beginning of the year, UN experts* today called on the Government of Colombia to ensure protection of civilians throughout the country and urged non-state armed groups to end their attacks against civilians. "Colombia is facing displacement on a scale not seen in decades," the experts said. "This crisis demands an urgent and comprehensive response from the State to protect vulnerable civilians, particularly peasants, Indigenous Peoples, women, children, and refugees and migrants from Venezuela." On 16 January 2025, the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), launched an offensive ostensibly targeting members of the Frente 33, a dissident faction of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejercito del Pueblo (FARC-EP). Armed conflict between the two groups has displaced more than 56,000 people. An additional 27,000 people are confined by the ongoing insecurity, unable to move in search of protection, basic services, or to earn a living. "In addition to forced displacement and confinement, non-state armed groups have reportedly subjected civilians in North Santander to extrajudicial executions, acts tantamount to enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence particularly against women and girls, human trafficking, and the recruitment of children," the experts said. "These acts constitute grave violations of international law, which must be investigated with perpetrators held accountable." The experts noted that the conflict has disproportionately impacted groups already in situations of vulnerability. "Civilians in Catatumbo have been victimised twice," the experts said. "The limited presence of the State has first allowed non-state armed groups to flourish. During the recent wave of violence, these groups have then targeted peasants, Indigenous Peoples, migrants and refugees, as well as human rights defenders, teachers, social leaders and ex-FARC-EP combatants who signed the peace agreement." While acknowledging progress in the Government's humanitarian response, the experts called for further efforts to provide equitable protection and assistance and ensure a long-term solution to the conflict. "We note the Government's declaration of a state of emergency and implementation of exceptional measures to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid," the experts said. "However, we urge the Government to respect international human rights and humanitarian standards that continue to apply during states of emergency and ensure that all displaced and confined populations, regardless of their location and nationality, receive adequate protection and assistance tailored to effectively address the needs of women, girls, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, peasants, migrants, and refugees. The Government must also ensure that human rights defenders can continue to carry out their legitimate activities, and that Indigenous Peoples and peasants, most of whom only have informal land rights, are protected from land dispossession in displacement." "We also urgently call on the ELN and Frente 33 to lay down their arms, end their violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, and prioritize dialogue, and on the Government to prioritise the protection of civilians, both in its negotiations with non-state armed groups and by ensuring the effective presence of the State throughout Colombia." The experts are in contact with Colombia, the ELN, and the Frente 33 about their concerns. *The experts: Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions; Gehad Madi, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants; Gabriella Citroni (Chair-Rapporteur), Grazyna Baranowska (Vice-chair); Aua Balde, Ana-Lorena Delgadillo Perez y Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls; Genevieve Savigny (Chair-Rapporteur), Carlos Duarte, Uche Ewelukwa, Shalmali Guttal, Davit Hakobyan, Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstic, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; Siobhan Mullaly, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OIC General Secretariat Condemns Attack on Somali President's Convoy Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 19-03-2025 The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned in the strongest terms the attack on the motorcade of H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, in Mogadishu on 18 March 2025, resulting in many civilian casualties. OIC Secretary-General, Mr Hissein Brahim Taha, expressed his strong condemnation of this heinous act and extended his condolences to the Government and people of Somalia and the families of the victims, and wished the injured a quick recovery. He renewed the solidarity of the OIC with the Republic of Somalia and its people in facing threats to their security and stability. He also reaffirmed the OIC's condemnation of all forms of terrorism and its support for the Somali government's counter-terrorism efforts. H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (#OIC), participated in the Iftar Ceremony hosted by H.E. Dr. Mohammed Sulaiman Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, on the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan, on Monday, 17 March 2025 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Jeddah. During the iftar with the President of the IsDB Group, the OIC Secretary-General expressed his warm congratulations on the occasion of the holy month of #Ramadan and wished the IsDB Group continued progress and prosperity in contributing to the promotion of comprehensive development in the Member States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ano denies role in Duterte's arrest, calls conspiracy claims 'unfair' Philippine News Agency By Wilnard Bacelonia March 20, 2025, 5:41 pm MANILA -- National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano on Thursday denied any involvement in the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, refuting claims that he was part of a supposed core group that orchestrated the operation. Testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ano called accusations linking him to a "grand conspiracy" as "unacceptable and unfair", and firmly rejected any suggestion that he played a key role in Duterte's arrest. He said his role was strictly limited to his mandate - - ensuring the situation did not escalate into a national security concern, and emphasized that the implementation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant was beyond his jurisdiction. "I had no part in the execution of the ICC warrant. My only concern was to assess the situation and ensure it did not pose a national security threat," he told lawmakers. The allegations against Ano stemmed from reports that he was part of a core group - along with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. - who planned Duterte's arrest. The official said he only learned about the International Criminal Police Organization's Red Notice and the impending implementation of the ICC warrant on the morning of March 11. "There was no intelligence operation," he said, noting that Duterte's presence in Hong Kong and his return to the Philippines were public knowledge and widely reported in the media. "In fact, the events of March 11 were spontaneous. As National Security Adviser, I was merely doing my job," he said. Ano maintained that he acted in line with his duties, emphasizing his loyalty to the country and the Constitution rather than any individual. "I face these accusations with firm resolve, knowing I upheld truth, justice and the rule of law," he added. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remulla: ICC has no jurisdiction over PH, only individuals Philippine News Agency By Wilnard Bacelonia March 20, 2025, 4:07 pm MANILA -- Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday reaffirmed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines as a state, but only over individuals accused of crimes under international humanitarian law. "The jurisdiction of the ICC is throughout the world. We belong to the community of nations that is tied together by a legal system called International Humanitarian Law," he explained during an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Remulla referenced Republic Act No. 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, enacted in 2009, which aligns the country with international legal standards, defining and penalizing serious international crimes. Remulla said the ICC only prosecutes individuals, not states, meaning the Philippines cannot be compelled to cooperate with the court. However, he clarified that Filipino citizens accused of crimes under ICC jurisdiction must face proceedings independently. The discussion gained renewed attention after Senator Imee Marcos questioned the ICC's authority regarding the March 11, 2025 arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos challenged how the ICC could claim jurisdiction, given the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute on March 17, 2018. "I am perplexed. The Department of Foreign Affairs made it very clear that as we withdrew, we are no longer a state party to the treaty. And now you are saying that we can nevertheless fall under the ICC under the general rubric of international humanitarian law," she said. Marcos pressed Remulla for clarification, asking whether treaty ratification was irrelevant in determining the ICC's authority over Filipino individuals. Remulla maintained that while the state does not fall under ICC jurisdiction, individuals can still be subject to its rulings, adding that the Philippine government had not assisted or cooperated with the ICC's investigation into Duterte. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump 'fully supports' Israel's renewed genocidal campaign in Gaza: White House Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 6:42 PM US President Donald Trump "fully supports" Israel's renewed genocidal campaign in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said. "President Trump fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions they have taken in recent days," Leavitt said during a press briefing on Thursday, referring to Israeli occupation forces. Leavitt's comments came two days after Israeli airstrikes targeted densely populated civilian areas in Gaza on Tuesday morning, with the death toll rising to over 970, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Gaza's civil defense agency also reported that more than 190 children were killed in the latest attacks. Leavitt also cited Trump's previous threats against Palestinians, warning that they would face "hell to pay." On Wednesday, Israeli Minister of Military Affairs Israel Katz echoed similar rhetoric, declaring in a video statement that Tuesday's attacks were "only the first step" and that harsher measures would follow. He also reiterated calls for the "evacuation" of Palestinians, citing Trump's early February remarks advocating for the US to take over Gaza and remove its population. "Take the advice of the US president," Katz said, adding that Palestinians face two choices, "relocate to other parts of the world" or endure "destruction and total devastation." Israel resumed its air campaign early Tuesday with a series of deadly strikes, breaking terms of the ceasefire that took effect on January 19 between the Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas and the Israeli regime. In response, the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement launched a barrage of rockets from southern Gaza toward Tel Aviv. Hamas stated that it had targeted the city "deep inside the occupied territories with a barrage of M90 rockets" in retaliation for Israel's airstrikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas praises Yemenis for their 'direct' anti-Israeli support Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 6:17 PM The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has praised Yemenis for their "direct" support against the Israeli regime. "We salute our sincere brothers in Yemen for their honorable stance and direct support for the people in Gaza," Abu Obeida, the spokesman of Martyr Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said on Thursday. The spokesman said the honorable fighters in Yemen continue to support the defenseless people trapped in the Israeli regime forces' genocidal war against the Gaza Strip "despite the heavy price they are paying for their loyalty to Al-Aqsa and Palestine." "Today, Yemen's missiles intersected with those from Gaza in the skies above 'Tel Aviv,'" he said after the Yemenis fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv on Thursday. The Yemenis' attack on Tel Aviv proves once more that "Gaza is not alone, and that behind it are the free men of the nation who will not surrender it to their arrogant enemies," he added. The spokesman of Al-Qassam Brigades called on the Muslim nation to defend Al-Aqsa against the zionist enemy. "We call on all the free men of our nation to engage in the battle to defend Al-Aqsa and to continue their support for Gaza, to break the back of the criminal zionist enemy and force it to halt its aggression," he said. Earlier this week, the Israeli war machine violated the shaky ceasefire and resumed its genocidal war against the Palestinian people, mostly women and children, trapped in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip. The world community, including global leaders, UN officials and rights groups and people have expressed outrage over the resumption of the Israelis' barbaric aggression against Gaza which started in October 2023 and since then. has left about 50,000 defenseless Palestinians dead. Meanwhile, the Israelis repeated violations of the truce, including land attacks and airstrikes resulting in the massacre of over 710 Palestinians within two days forced the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement on Thursday to launch several rockets at the Israelis. The attack was Hamas's first since the ceasefire went into effect in mid-January. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Al-Qassam Brigades hits Tel Aviv with a barrage of rockets Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 3:15 PM The military wing of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has launched a barrage of rockets from southern Gaza at Tel Aviv in retaliation for "Zionist massacres against civilians." Hamas said it "bombed the city of Tel Aviv deep inside the occupied territories with a barrage of M90 rockets" in response to Israel's attacks this week on Gaza. "Takeoffs and landings at Ben Gurion Airport are disrupted due to rocket fire from Gaza," the Israeli regime's media said. Following the occupying regime's continuous violation of the ceasefire and the massacre of over 710 Palestinians within two days, Hamas on Thursday launched at Israel for the first time after the ceasefire. The barrage served as a show of resilience from Palestinians despite more than a year of genocidal war conducted by the occupying regime. The retaliatory strikes also come after the the Israeli military's renewed ground invasion into Beit Lahia on Thursday morning, and the failure of the mediators and the world to curb the IOF's aggression. The Israeli regime ignored the ceasefire earlier this week by resuming aerial attacks on Palestinian civilians, which drew widespread condemnation. It says it wants more hostages released. The US, which has been acting as a mediator to extend the ceasefire, has thrown its weight behind the Israeli offensive. Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokeswoman, told reporters on Thursday that President Trump "fully supports Israel" and "the actions that they've taken in recent days." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas reiterates Gaza's situation calls for urgent action from OIC and Arab League Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 2:37 PM The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement's spokesman has reiterated that the dire situation in the Gaza Strip demands urgency on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Arab League. "Negotiations with mediators are ongoing to halt the aggression against our people, ensure the occupation's commitment to the agreement, and force it to abandon its plans." Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said on Thursday. "We remain committed to the ceasefire agreement and are working with mediators to permanently spare our people from war and secure the occupation's withdrawal from Gaza," he said. "The siege, starvation, and genocide in Gaza demand urgent action from the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to save our people from annihilation, prevent their starvation, and lift the blockade," he added. In the meantime, Hamas blames the United States, Tel Aviv's main backer, for allowing the Israelis to resume its genocide against the innocent people trapped in the besieged enclave. "The acknowledgment by the US administration that it was informed ahead of the Zionist aggression confirms its direct participation in the genocidal war against the Palestinian people," read a recent statement by Hamas. The White House says Israel's new attacks on Gaza are in coordination with the US and President Donald Trump's administration. Hamas slammed what it described as the "blatant American complicity and bias towards the occupation." Also, the Israeli regime forces declared that they will no longer allow Palestinians to enter northern Gaza from the south, restoring a blockade on the north it maintained for much of the war before January's ceasefire. As the Israeli forces renew displacement orders the number of Palestinian victims of zionist attacks continues to rise. Within the past three days, Israeli forces have killed more than five hundred Palestinians, with two-thirds of them being women and children. Footage shared on social media has shown entire families being massacred, with multiple videos of dead babies who were killed by Israeli forces. According to Defense of Children International Palestine, 183 Palestinian children were killed just on the 18th of March. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Guterres strongly condemns Israeli attack on UN facility in Gaza Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 10:12 AM UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned an Israeli attack on a UN facility in Gaza that killed one UN worker and critically injured five others. The UN spokesman for the UN chief on Thursday called for a full investigation into the attack. "The locations of all UN premises are known to the parties to the conflict, who are bound by international law to protect them and maintain their absolute inviolability," Guterres' spokesperson said in a statement. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher also condemned the strike, calling it infuriating and demanding answers. He said Israel targeted a designated UN compound in Gaza. The attack on the UN headquarters in Deir al-Balah took place on Wednesday. A Bulgarian aid worker was killed and 5 other UN aid workers, including a UK national, were also wounded in the strike. The Bulgarian aid worker has become the 280th UN worker to be killed by Israeli forces in the genocide against the people of Gaza. He is also one of the many foreign aid workers to be killed by Israeli forces since October 7, 2023. Earlier in the war, Israeli forces attacked a vehicle belonging to the World Central Kitchen which killed 7 aid workers, including 3 UK nationals, 1 Polish national, 1 American, 1 Australian and 1 Palestinian. The attack happened even though the World Central Kitchen had coordinated the movement of their vehicles with Israeli authorities. Israeli forces also killed an American activist, Aysenur Eygi, in September 2024 while she was protesting in the West Bank against the genocide of Palestinians. The attack on the UN compound also happened 4 days after the 22nd anniversary of the murder of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer as she was calling for the home of a Palestinian family not to be demolished. Although Israel has killed many American citizens ever since its inception in 1948, the United States still provides full political, economic and military support to the Zionist regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran deplores Security Council's inaction to stop US, Israeli atrocities as 'shameful' Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 9:40 AM The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry has roundly denounced the devastating US airstrikes against Yemen and the uptick in the Israeli regime's onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza, decrying the Security Council's inaction in the face of these vicious acts. Esmaeil Baghaei, in a statement released on Thursday, expressed deep remorse over the mass killing of civilians, including innocent women and children, and the destruction of Yemen's vital infrastructure as a result of US bombardments. He described the American aerial assaults as war crimes and crimes of aggression, deploring the "shameful and unjustifiable" inaction of the UN Security Council and the other international institutions on those atrocities. Baghaei then censured the massacre of hundreds of Palestinian children and women in the fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza over the past few days, stressing that the parties providing military, financial and political support for the Zionist regime are accomplices in the Israeli crimes. He stated that the simultaneousness of US attacks on Yemen, which started during the tenure of former US President Joe Biden, and the escalation of genocide in Gaza leaves no doubt that the US and the Zionist regime have hatched a joint plot to weaken the Islamic Ummah and silence any voice of support and solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian nation. Baghaei finally underlined the Muslim world's common responsibility to stop the Israeli atrocities and the US military aggression against Palestinians and other Muslim peoples, calling for concerted and effective action by Muslim governments and the efforts by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the issue. At least 436 Palestinians, including 183 children, have been killed since Israel shattered the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Tuesday. Khalil al-Daqran, spokesman for the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, has said that 900 Palestinians have been injured as well. Many of those wounded in the Israeli attacks died due to the impossibility of providing urgent medical care because of the shortage of basic equipment and medicines, he added. About 70 percent of those injured are children and women, and most of their injuries are serious, Daqran said. Meanwhile in Yemen, the US military has carried out a string of attacks, killing scores of people in the past few days. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel kills 71 more in Gaza strikes and re-occupies Netzarim corridor Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 6:56 AM Reports show that within the last 24 hours, more than 71 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the cities of Beit Lahiya, Rafah and Khan Yunis, with many more being wounded. The deaths come as Israeli forces re-occupied the Netzarim corridor on Thursday, once again cutting off northern Gaza from the rest of the strip. The latest statistics put the number of Palestinian victims of the Israeli genocide in Gaza at 49,547 dead and 112,719 wounded, according to Palestinian Health Ministry Israel restarted its genocidal activities in Gaza after unilaterally abandoning the ceasefire agreement on Tuesday. Within the past three days, Israeli forces have killed more than five hundred Palestinians, with two-thirds of them being women and children. Footage shared on social media has shown entire families being massacred, with multiple videos of dead babies who were killed by Israeli forces. According to Defense of Children International Palestine, 183 Palestinian children were killed just on the 18th of March. While Israeli forces intensify their genocide in Gaza, political tensions have also been rising among Israeli settlers. In occupied Western Jerusalem Al-Quds, thousands of Israeli settlers took to the streets calling for the government to focus on releasing the remaining captives, arguing that the continuation of the war would put their lives in more danger. The protesters were met with force by Israeli security forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces target Israeli Ben Gurion Airport with hypersonic missile Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 5:35 AM Yemeni Armed Forces have claimed responsibility for a qualitative operation against a strategic Israeli installation in the occupied territories, in support of the people of Gaza and in response to the Israeli regime's renewed atrocities in the besieged coastal sliver. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen's military, stated on Thursday morning that Yemeni missile units targeted Ben Gurion International Airport, located 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the southeast of Tel Aviv, with a Palestine-2 hypersonic hypersonic ballistic missile. Saree noted that the retaliatory strike attained its desired objectives successfully. He emphasized that the Yemeni Armed Forces continue to effectively confront the American aggression against Yemen for the fifth day. Saree said the missile force, naval force and air force of the Yemeni military have escalated their targeting of enemy warships in the Red Sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and its affiliated warships. The senior Yemeni military official said the armed forces of the Arab country could successfully target these vessels with a number of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. Saree reiterated that the American enemy will fail to prevent Yemen from targeting Israeli-occupied territories in response to the regime's massacres against the people of Gaza. He also reaffirmed that the escalation of aerial raids and strikes will never manage to deter Yemen and its nation from fulfilling their religious and moral duties toward the oppressed Palestinian people. Yemeni Armed Forces will continue to prevent Israeli-linked ships from navigating in the Red and Arabian Seas until the bloody aggression against Yemen stops, and the crippling siege on Palestinians in the coastal regime is completely lifted. Yemeni air defenses intercept, shoot down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone Separately, Yemeni air defense units successfully intercepted and shot down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone while it was conducting hostile activities in the airspace over the country's southwestern province of Dhamar. According to the Yemeni military, the American aircraft was downed with a homegrown Yemeni surface-to-air missile, as it was carrying out a reconnaissance drone operation above the area. The downed MQ-9 drone was the sixteenth of its kind shot down over the country's airspace since early October 2023. Yemenis have been hitting Israeli and American targets in support of Palestinians in Gaza since the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, and in response to the American-British aggression on their homeland. Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has been also targeting ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom to force an end to the Tel Aviv regime's genocidal war on Gaza. The operations have effectively shut down the Eilat port south of the occupied territories, causing significant economic setbacks for the Israelis. The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnam police arrest democracy activist for alleged anti-government plot The charges carry a maximum sentence of death penalty. By RFA Vietnamese 2025.03.20 -- Police in southern Vietnam have arrested a 28-year-old man on charges of trying to overthrow the communist government, according to a police website. Quach Gia Khang from Dong Nai province was charged on Tuesday with "conducting activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration" under Article 109 of the Criminal Code, police said. Khang was a member of the France-based Assembly for Democracy and Pluralism, police said. They accused him of using Facebook, Viber and other social media to promote the group's agenda. Khang is the second member of the group to be arrested in six months. The assembly was founded by Nguyen Gia Kieng, a former official in the Republic of Vietnam - also known as South Vietnam - the losing side in the 1955-1975 Vietnam War. The group advocates "fighting for democracy through non-violent means in the spirit of national reconciliation." Campaigning for a multi-party system is against the law in communist Vietnam. Police said Khang had been "actively drafting and distributing many articles for this organization" and "stubbornly expressing ideological and opposing attitudes." Speaking from France, group founder Nguyen Gia Kieng confirmed that Khang was a supporter. "Khang is a very gentle person by nature. An intellectual who studies ideology, political regimes, the country's future and geography," Kieng said. "He has an iron will to serve the country." "Demanding pluralistic democracy and ending the communist party's monopoly is the demand of all Vietnamese people," he said. "There is no such thing as a plot to overthrow the government." To Lam's 'new era' Nguyen Van Dai, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for "activities aimed at overthrowing the government" and is now living in Germany, said Khang and the Assembly for Democracy and Pluralism were only exercising the rights to freedom of speech and association in the 2013 Vietnamese constitution. The communist party's general secretary "To Lam declared that he would bring the nation into a new era, so all human rights recorded in the constitution should be respected," Dai said. In September 2024, Ho Chi Minh City police arrested another member of the group, Tran Khac Duc. They charged him with "propaganda against the state" under Article 117 of the Criminal Code. Association founder Kieng said authorities were committing a crime against the country's future by persecuting Khang and Duc. People convicted of activities deemed aimed at overthrowing the government can be sentenced to 12 years in prison to the death penalty, but Kieng said the two men would not be imprisoned for long "because the communist regime has reached the final stage of its demise." Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address American Glezmann Released By Taliban After Visit To Kabul By Senior US Official By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi March 20, 2025 US citizen George Glezmann has been released from detention in Kabul following the first visit by a senior US official to Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in the wake of the withdrawal of international troops from the war-torn country in August 2021. Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said in a post on X that after he and Adam Boehler, a senior adviser at the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, met with Taliban officials on March 20, the 66-year-old Glezmann was "on his way home to his family." "We succeeded in obtaining the release of an American citizen, George Glezmann, after two years in detention in Kabul. The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to [President Donald Trump] and the American people," Khalilzad said. Details of the negotiations were not revealed. The United States, like most countries, does not recognize the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. No mention was made of another US citizen being held by the Taliban, George Mahmood Habibi, who also has been held in Afghanistan since 2022. Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was taken into custody by Taliban authorities while on a tourist visit to Afghanistan in December 2022 and had been deemed wrongfully detained by the US government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed the release, calling it "a positive and constructive step" that was aided by officials in Qatar, which has often hosted negotiations between Washington and the Taliban. "It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan," he added. The release comes two months after two other Americans held in Afghanistan were exchanged for a Taliban man imprisoned for life in California on drug and terrorism charges. Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were swapped for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 and was incarcerated in a US prison. Aid worker Corbett, 40, and Habibi, 37 -- who led the Afghan Aviation Authority under the previous Afghan government -- were detained separately in August 2022. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/glezmann-released-taliban- kabul-senior-us-official/33354081.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RFE/RL Audiences Voice Support For Its Journalism -- And Fears For Its Future By RFE/RL March 20, 2025 Amid an attempt by US President Donald Trump's administration to halt congressionally allocated funding from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the broadcaster's audiences in the countries it covers are voicing support and admiration for its journalism. From Iran to Belarus, Afghanistan to Russia, Pakistan to Ukraine: Readers and listeners praised RFE/RL journalists for their brave, impartial, and honest reporting on the front lines of war and in some of the world's most repressive political and media landscapes -- and expressed concern that it could vanish. "I live in a small village. We don't have satellite or reliable Internet. Your radio [is] giving me hope," one listener in Iran wrote in a Telegram message to Radio Farda, RFE/RL's Persian-language service. Another listener from Iran posted on social media that Radio Farda "is my main source of information because of its unbiased and professional reporting." "Losing it would be very difficult. I hope that day never comes," the listener wrote. Trump on March 14 signed an executive order aiming to reduce seven federal agencies - including the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFE/RL and other US taxpayer-funded broadcasters like Voice of America (VOA). After the executive order was published, Kari Lake, senior adviser to the agency's acting CEO, sent a letter saying the Congress-approved grant that funds RFE/RL had been terminated. RFE/RL is nonetheless continuing its work and on March 18 filed a federal lawsuit to block USAGM's attempt to terminate the broadcaster's federal grant that provides funds necessary to operate. Unlike VOA, which is a federal agency, RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit corporation, with corporate headquarters in Delaware and editorial headquarters in Prague. Breaking Through 'The Darkness Of Lies' In Ukraine, where RFE/RL has covered Russia's full-scale invasion from the front lines since it was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, reader Oleh Prozorov thanked RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service for its "protection of political freedoms." "Sometimes you were like a ray of light that broke through the darkness of lies," Prozorov wrote on Facebook. In a message to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, reader Lesya Bondaruk expressed fear of losing "a bastion of real freedom of speech and thought." "An attack on Radio Liberty is an attack on humanity's freedom of speech. This cannot be allowed," she wrote. Readers and viewers of RFE/RL's Russian-language services expressed gratitude for their coverage of the country amid a steady decline in press freedoms during Putin's 25 years in power that intensified following the Ukraine invasion. "I am in Russia, engulfed in the zombifying, villainous propaganda of the Kremlin. Current Time is the only Russian-language TV channel that can be trusted, with objective information and many documentary programs," wrote one viewer of RFE/RL's 24/7 Russian-language television channel. "I am endlessly amazed by your reporters who risk working in front-line areas, the professionalism of your anchors, and the high level of journalism," another Current Time viewer wrote in a message to the network. 'Ray Of Hope' In Afghanistan Hundreds of messages and calls have poured in from RFE/RL listeners in Afghanistan and Pakistan expressing deep concern about the fate of the broadcaster's Afghan Service, known locally as Radio Azadi, which broadcasts in the Dari and Pashto languages, and Radio Mashaal, a Pashto-language service in Pakistan. "Radio Azadi is very important for us. It keeps me informed about the world. I listen to it day and night, both on the radio and my phone," Radio Azadi listener Haji Khodaiberdi wrote in a WhatsApp message. "Radio Azadi is a ray of hope for countries that are often forgotten. Its programs connect people from small villages to the world. Living in a remote village with only one radio, I find its voice truly comforting. I hope your programs always remain strong and vibrant," listener Safa Mehr wrote. Another listener, Nabiullah Zabuli from Afghanistan's southern Zabul Province, urged Trump and "everyone who can influence this decision to reconsider" cutting funding for Radio Azadi. "Please do not betray your millions of loyal listeners. Keep this beacon of information alive," he wrote. Heela Darkhast Ahmadzai, a Radio Azadi and Mashaal listener, said in a Pashto-language Facebook post that both channels are "sources of enlightening our minds and thinking." "We Pashtun women learned a lot from those two radio stations," she wrote. "And we came to know about our rights, education, and about the world from those two platforms." Another Radio Mashaal listener, Ebadullah Khan from the Shangla district in northwestern Pakistan, said on Facebook that the broadcaster's journalists "did their job with courage" and that their "journalistic efforts in spreading awareness among the people are great." 'This Story Must Go On' In Belarus, where the government of Belarusian autocrat Aleksandr Lukashenko has all but wiped out independent media, RFE/RL's Belarusian-language service is one of just a handful of news organizations continuing to report critically on authorities. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, one reader, Zmitrok Siemieniuk, said that he immediately rushed to find out what was going on and came across Radio Svaboda's YouTube channel. "There were millions of views, which helped me grasp what was really going on, and I still use Radio Svaboda's channels," he wrote on Instagram. "You provide news free of propaganda and hatred. I can learn about the most important events happening in the world. And, of course, here I can read the news in my native language." Another reader, Tatsiana, said that Radio Svaboda "is the only place in the world where I could truly feel like a citizen of a free, European Belarus." "In 2020, millions of Belarusians who took part in the peaceful revolution against Lukashenko's brutal authoritarianism embraced Radio Svaboda's values, while it live-streamed these historic events in real time," she wrote in a private message. "Its mission remains unfinished today -- this story must go on." Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Afghan Service, RFE/RL's Belarus Service, Current Time, RFE/RL's Radio Farda, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/rferl-audiences-support- journalism-fear-future-trump-administration-termination- broadcaster-usagm/33354070.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Houthis Say Conducted Successful Hypersonic Missile Strike on Target South of Tel Aviv Sputnik News 20250320 Yemeni movement Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, successfully struck a military target south of Tel Aviv with a Palestine 2 hypersonic missile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said. "The missile forces of the Yemeni armed forces carried out a military operation, attacking a military target of the Israeli enemy in the south of the occupied Jaffa region with a Palestine 2 hypersonic missile, the goal of the operation was successfully achieved," Saree said on Thursday. He stressed that this was the second missile attack on Israeli territory from Yemen over the past 24 hours. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Release of George Glezmann US Department of State Press Statement Marco Rubio, Secretary of State March 20, 2025 Today, after two and a half years of captivity in Afghanistan, Delta Airlines mechanic George Glezmann is on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra. George joins American Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were released from Afghanistan on the night of President Trump's inauguration and returned home to their families. We extend our deepest appreciation to the State of Qatar, whose steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts were instrumental in securing George's release. Qatar has consistently proven to be a reliable partner and trusted mediator, facilitating complex negotiations. George's release is a positive and constructive step. It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PHNOM PENH, March 15 (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. The ceasefire deal was the best chance we had seen to return the hostages to their families: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East. 20 March 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 20 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you President, and thank you ASG Khiari for your briefing. The UK joined the US and France in calling for this important briefing. I would like to add my sincere gratitude to you, Eli, for the courage you have shown today, and every day, since those horrific events of 7 October. The suffering you and your family have endured is beyond imagination. Hamas must be held accountable for their despicable actions including the murder of your wife, Lianne, a British national, and your two daughters. Your powerful testimony also serves as a reminder of the anguish that the remaining hostages held by Hamas continue to endure. This Council has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in all four of our resolutions since October 7th. I repeat that call today. This includes the release of hostage Avinatan Or, and the return of deceased hostages Shay Levinson and Eli's brother Yossi Sharabi who also have strong links to the UK. We also remain deeply concerned by the appalling treatment of hostages during their captivity, as we have heard from Eli today, and the shocking images we have seen around their release. In its dedicated reports, the UN has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to suspect sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks. President, the UK is also deeply concerned at reports of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces. These allegations must be fully investigated. We reiterate our call for the International Committee of the Red Cross to be granted unfettered and immediate access to the hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees. Granting ICRC access is a clear obligation under international humanitarian law. The suffering in Gaza has gone on for far too long. Just yesterday we heard the tragic news that a UN compound in Deir al Balah was hit, killing and injuring humanitarian workers, including a British national. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. And as my Foreign Secretary has said, this appalling incident must be investigated transparently and those responsible held to account. The protection of the UN and humanitarian workers is non-negotiable. And Israel must facilitate a rapid and unhindered resurgence in the flow of aid. We condemn the unacceptable statements from Defence Minister Katz warning of the total destruction of Gaza. President, both Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal in January which provided for the release of all hostages through the three phases of the deal. With the Israeli air strikes this week, which have killed so many Palestinian civilians, that deal has fallen apart and with it, the best chance we had seen to return the hostages to their families and end their suffering. We call on the parties to urgently return to this deal. For the sake of the hostages and their families who continue to wait in agony for news of their loved ones. And for the sake of the Palestinians in Gaza who have already suffered terribly. Diplomacy must be the way forward, not bloodshed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: 'Bring them all home now', freed hostage tells Security Council 20 March 2025 - A senior UN political affairs official called for Israel and Hamas to restore the shattered ceasefire in Gaza on Thursday and release all remaining hostages, while one of those freed told the Security Council of his 500-day ordeal in captivity. Briefing ambassadors, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General at the Department of Political Affairs (DPPA), reiterated the UN's unequivocal condemnation of the horrific attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on Israeli communities on 7 October 2023. More than 1,200 Israelis were brutally killed and over 250 taken hostage. At least 59 people - alive and deceased - remain in the custody of Hamas and other armed groups inside the enclave. "Nothing can justify the intentional killing, torture, sexual violence, and destruction - entire families murdered, burned in their homes, taken hostage," Mr. Khiari said. "The events of that horrific day will not be forgotten." Escalating conflict Mr. Khiari also reported on the worsening situation in Gaza following the collapse of the two-month ceasefire and hostages release deal - and resumption of full-blown conflict. Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children, he said, adding also that six UN staff members have been killed in the past three days. Calling for an urgent return to the ceasefire, Mr. Khiari warned that "with every passing day, we move further away from the objective of returning the remaining hostages safely to their homes." He recalled UN relief chief Tom Fletcher's briefing to the Council earlier this week, "a renewed ceasefire is the best way of protecting civilians - in Gaza, in the occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel - releasing hostages and detainees and allowing aid and commercial supplies in." A survivor's testimony: I came back from hell The Security Council also heard from Eli Sharabi, an Israeli survivor who spent 491 days in Hamas captivity. Taken from his home in Kibbutz Be'eri on 7 October 2023, Mr. Sharabi was held underground, chained, starved and subjected to psychological and physical abuse. "I have come back from hell," he told ambassadors. "For 491 days. I was kept mostly underground in Hamas terror tunnels...held captive in the darkness, isolated from the world by Hamas terrorists," he continued. "For 491 days. I held on to hope, I imagined the life we would rebuild, I dreamt of seeing my family again," he said. However, only when he returned home last month, he learned the truth that his wife and two daughters had been killed by Hamas on 7 October. 'Telling their stories' Mr. Sharabi emphasised that he appeared before the Security Council today to tell the story of his brother, Yossi, who was also taken hostage and killed, and others still in Gaza. "My brother Yossi, murdered in Hamas captivity, his body still held hostage, still 50 metres underground. I swore to him that I would tell his story," Mr. Sharabi said, "for every hostage still in Hamas' hands, I am here to tell you the whole truth." He described the events of 7 October when Hamas attacked Kibbutz Be'eri, how he and his wife, Lianne, tried to protect their daughters and how he was taken away. 'Begging was our existence' Mr. Sharabi detailed the horrors of captivity, describing how hostages were deprived of food, medical care and basic hygiene. "We had to beg for food, beg to use the bathroom. Begging was our existence," he said, adding, "Hamas [terrorists] ate like kings while [we] starved." Mr. Sharabi was freed on 8 February, as part of the hostage release and ceasefire deal. Since his release, he has met both US President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, narrating the plight of hostages and appealing for their release. "Now, I am here before you at the United Nations to say - bring them all home. No more excuses, no more delays. If you stand for humanity, prove it. Bring them all home." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Hears Renewed Ceasefire Appeals, as Israel Vows to Fight until Last Hostage Freed Meetings Coverage Security Council 9882nd Meeting (AM) SC/16024 20 March 2025 The Security Council today heard harrowing testimony from a former Israeli hostage amid urgent calls for the immediate, unconditional and dignified release of hostages held in Gaza, as well as the swift restoration of the ceasefire, while Israel pledged to fight until all the captives are freed. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said the ceasefire that went into effect on 19 January had "offered a glimmer of hope" by reuniting 25 Israeli hostages with their loved ones and returning the remains of eight deceased hostages. As of today, at least 59 hostages alive and deceased are still being held captive, he noted. "The testimonies of those released provide terrifying accounts of their captivity, including physical and psychological torture, sexual violence and deprivation," he said. The hostages must be allowed to receive visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The significant Israeli air strikes in Gaza in recent days have also been devastating hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, including women and children, and one United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) staff member, he noted. "With every passing day, we move further away from the objective of returning the remaining hostages safely to their homes," he warned, stressing the need for a renewed ceasefire. 491 Days in Captivity "I've come back from hell," said Eli Sharabi,who was held hostage in Gaza for 491 days. Describing the day he was taken captive, he said he was torn away from his wife and two daughters. His arms and legs were tied so tightly, the ropes tore into his flesh. He was fed a piece of pita a day, maybe a sip of tea. "They beat me; they broke my ribs," he said, adding: "We had to beg for food, beg to use the bathroom; begging was our existence." "For 491 days, I dreamt of seeing my family again, only when I returned home, I learned the truth my wife and my daughters had been slaughtered by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023," he said. Where was the United Nations and the Red Cross during his 491 days as a hostage, he asked. "I saw Hamas terrorists carrying boxes with the UN and UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] emblems on them into the tunnel, feeding terrorists who tortured me and murdered my family," he said. Commending the United States for helping secure his release, he urged Council members: "No more excuses; no more delays; if you stand for humanity, prove it, bring them home." War Continues until Release of Last Hostage The representative of Israel said that, for 530 days, 59 innocent people have been trapped in Hamas captivity. "They are starving, in the dark, alone, afraid, suffering beyond what words can capture," he stated. Eli Sharabi testified before the Council today and laid bare the suffering of his captivity. Since 7 October 2023, there have not been a single resolution condemning Hamas. For 530 days, the Council has spoken about Gaza without mentioning the crimes of Hamas. "How can you claim to stand for international law while ignoring the hostages," he asked. The massive amounts of humanitarian aid that Israel has facilitated, coordinated and allowed into Gaza, he said, have reached every segment of the population except one: the hostages. So many Agencies that claim to be the protectors of humanity but have abandoned the hostages entirely, he added. Detainees in Israel have three meals a day, medical treatment, visitation of the Red Cross, and before the war, they had visitation of families, while the Red Cross has not spent one moment with the hostages in Gaza, he said. Hamas was given a choice, and they chose war. "This will continue until every last hostage is home," he said. Council members reiterated the call for the release of all hostages, with the speaker for the United States commending Eli Sharabi for his courageous first-hand testimony about the depravity of Hamas. Noting that "five Americans still need to come home", she added: "President [Donald J.] Trump has been clear Hamas must release all hostages immediately or there will be hell to pay." Hamas is responsible for the resumption of hostilities, refusing time and time again to accept proposals to extend the ceasefire, she said, adding that Washington, D.C., looks forward to continued discussions with Arab partners on the future of Gaza without Hamas. Panama's delegate noted that Eli Sharabi was unable to return to his wife and daughters after 16 painful months of captivity "because his home had ceased to exist" due to the inhumane Hamas attack. France's solidarity with the hostages is strong, that country's delegate said, given that French people have also been detained. Making hostage releases into a spectacle recalls "the darkest hours of our history", he said, while the representative of the Republic of Korea stressed that the degrading treatment of hostages is strictly prohibited under international law. The representative of the United Kingdom noted that a United Nations report has concluded that there were reasonable grounds to suspect sexual violence occurred during the 7 October 2023 attacks. He also expressed concern about reports of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces. These allegations must be fully investigated, he said. The speaker for Greece, reiterating the call for release of all hostages, said the ceasefire in Gaza was an example of what could be achieved. The representative of Somalia echoed that, noting that last night's Israel Defense Forces strike hit multiple homes in the middle of the night, killing sleeping families. Restore Ceasefire Expressing condolences to Eli Sharabi, the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine said: "Maybe no one around the table can fully grasp what such a loss means, the killing of loved ones, prolonged captivity, fear and trauma, but Palestinians can", because "there is not a single Palestinian family that does not have a loved one killed, wounded, detained or displaced". Palestinians come out of Israeli captivity "looking like ghosts, starved and traumatized, beaten and some raped", he said, adding: "Israel arrests our children, our doctors, our teachers, our workers, family members, bystanders, parliamentarians, academics, human rights defenders." In 42 days of ceasefire, more hostages were released than in 15 months of bombardments, he said, noting that the families of the hostages know this and are demonstrating to restore the ceasefire. Israel's recent strikes killed 400 Palestinians in one night, including over 150 children one of the largest single-day child death tolls in the last year. While Palestinians call for a ceasefire, Israel's Government is trying to convince its people that killing Palestinians is the only way forward. But, "we are rooted as olive trees, deep in our land, you cannot kill all of us", he underscored. Hostages Less Safe amid Resumed Fighting "Putting Gaza under the threat of gunfire will probably not make the hostages safer," China's delegate warned, adding that some hostage families are also worried that the resumption of fighting will put the hostages in greater danger. Regretting Israel's resumption of military operations in the Gaza Strip, the representative of the Russian Federation said it is hard to discuss any prospects of the ceasefire when the Israeli leadership has "already made the choice in favour of war". Algeria's delegate, noting that Council members have adopted several resolutions calling for the release of all hostages, said over 9,500 Palestinians are currently detained in Israeli prisons with more than 3,400 held under administrative detention without charges. Why are these individuals arrested, he asked. "Only by holding all parties to the same legal standards can we hope to bring an end to the suffering and build a just and lasting peace," he added. Guyana's delegate urged the Council to be first to institute measures to address violations of international law, including in circumstances where those violations feature as the taking of hostages or the administrative detention of innocent civilians. "Accountability is an important deterrent," she said. "We have consistently claimed that people trapped in Gaza cannot continue to endure this terrible suffering, let them be Israeli hostages, or Palestinian civilians," said Slovenia's delegate. Pakistan's delegate said that civilians have been the central victims of the current war. "Hostage-taking is prohibited under international law and constitutes a violation of fundamental humanitarian principles," he recalled, while also adding that the Council must never "forget the thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, who remain arbitrarily detained". Sierra Leone's delegate and the representative of Denmark, Council President for March, speaking in her national capacity, stressed the importance of immediately releasing all hostages and renewing efforts towards an immediate ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Undocumented Afghans In Iran Face Uncertain Future Amid New Restrictions By Abubakar Siddique and RFE/RL's Radio Azadi March 21, 2025 Millions of Afghans in Iran face an uncertain future as Tehran prepares to implement sweeping restrictions that will cut off access to health care, education, housing, and other essential services for undocumented immigrants. The new policy, set to take effect on March 21, has left many Afghans grappling with impossible choices between a hostile host country and an unstable homeland. For Rasheed, an Afghan immigrant living in Iran, the consequences of these policies have already hit home. Rasheed recently returned to Afghanistan after doctors in Iran refused to treat his elderly mother for her heart disease. "I was told to return to Afghanistan because Afghans were not supposed to get any treatment here," Rasheed recalled of his conversation with an official at a government hospital in Tehran. "My mother's condition was rapidly deteriorating, which prompted me to return to my country," he told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Rasheed requested that his real name be withheld to protect his identity. In Karaj, a city near Tehran, Ehsan Zia, another Afghan immigrant, is devastated that his two teenage daughters can no longer attend school. "Our hopes have been dashed," he told Radio Azadi. "Even here, my daughters are being deprived of education." Zia moved to Iran three years ago after the Taliban banned teenage girls from attending school following their return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Despite having a legal visa to stay in Iran, Zia says he has been unable to enroll his daughters in school due to bureaucratic obstacles and shifting policies. Who Will Be Affected By The New Policy? Earlier this month, the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants' Affairs (CAFIA) at Iran's Interior Ministry announced six categories of Afghans who will remain eligible for key services under the new rules. These include Afghans registered as refugees, those with valid visas or work permits, former employees of the Western-backed Afghan government that was toppled by the Taliban, and families with school-going children who apply for visas. Tehran has already deported more than 2 million Afghans over the past two years as part of a campaign targeting undocumented immigrants. Nader Yarahmadi, head of CAFIA, defended the government's move, telling the semiofficial ISNA news agency that "there is no obstacle to returning [to Afghanistan] due to the relative stability and declared policies of the current Afghan government." The United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that that some 4 million Afghans live in Iran, including more than 2 million undocumented migrants. Figures cited by Iranian officials and media vary widely, with some claiming that 8 million Afghans reside in Iran. Risking Tensions With The Taliban The crackdown on undocumented Afghans has coincided with rising anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran. Impoverished Afghan migrants are often scapegoated for crimes, insecurity, and unemployment. Such views have fueled mob violence against Afghans as well as mass arrests and brutal treatment by Iranian police and border security forces. "Cutting off basic services to migrants will disrupt the labor market and drive more people into the underground economy," said Graeme Smith, senior Afghanistan analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group. Afghan migrants make up a significant portion of Iran's labor force in agriculture and construction -- sectors that could suffer if undocumented workers are expelled en masse. Smith also warned that Tehran's policies could worsen tensions between Iran and Afghanistan. The Taliban government has already clashed with neighboring Pakistan over its treatment of Afghan refugees. "The Taliban may feel provoked to respond, for example, with restrictions on water sharing," Smith said, referring to a long-standing dispute over water rights. Experts argue that Tehran's approach could backfire, both economically and geopolitically. An isolated and heavily sanctioned Iran needs stable relations with Afghanistan's Taliban government to expand trade ties, maintain border security, and build a more integrated regional economy. "Not only will this cause suffering for the Afghans affected," Smith noted, "but it's a self-defeating policy for Tehran." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-afghanistan- undocumented-migrants-restrictions/33354060.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 20 March 2025 - Day 1121 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian Armed Forces have likely sustained approximately 900,000 casualties (killed and wounded) since invading Ukraine in 2022. Of these, it is likely 200,000 250,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, Russia's largest losses since the Second World War. Russian President Putin and the Russian military leadership highly likely prioritise their conflict objectives over the lives of Russian soldiers. They are almost certainly prepared to tolerate continuously high casualty rates so long as this does not negatively affect public or elite support for the war, and those losses can be replaced. Putin and the Russian leadership highly likely place significantly less value on the lives of ethnic minority Russian citizens from impoverished regions, with Russian recruitment efforts consequently focussed disproportionately on these areas. Slavic Russians from urban centres such as Moscow and St. Petersburg have contributed disproportionately fewer service personnel than their poorer, ethnic minority compatriots. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. Since the beginning of the day, there have been 156 combat clashes, the Russian enemy launched two missiles and 67 aviation strikes, used three missiles and dropped 96 cab. In addition, he used 1067 kamikaze drones, carried out 4702 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian enemy tried 11 times to break through the defensive borders of Ukrainian defenders towards the settlements of Kindrashivka, Mala Shapkivka, Gliboke and Vovchansk. Six Russian attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction in the areas of Pishany, Ivanivka, Kruglyakivka, Zagrizovy, and in the direction of Petropavlivka. Seventeen attacks of the Russian zagarbnikiv were stopped by Ukrainian soldiers in the direction of Novoy, Novomikhailivka and near Yampolivka, Kopanok, Nadia in the Lyman direction. Five clashes continue so far. In the Siversky direction, Russian forces carried out three offensive actions in the area of Bilogorivka, as well as in the directions of Verkhnyokamiansky and Ivano-Daryivka, two fights are ongoing so far. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attempts to advance in the areas of minkivka, stupochok and in the direction of Alexander-Shultynogo. In the Toretsky direction, Russian forces today 24 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Dachnya, Friendship and Toretsk. Defense forces are steadily suppressing the pressure and repelled 22 attacks, two clashes are still ongoing. Intensely attacks the Russian opponent of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. During the day, Russian forces carried out 51 offensive actions. The largest activity of the Russian occupiers is kept in the areas of the settlements of Panteleimonivka, Oleksandropil, Green Field, Tarasivka, Elizabethtivka, Novotoretske, Romin, Lisivka, Pokrovsk, Zvirove, Kotline, Udaachne, Preobrazhenka and Andriyivka, and in the directions of Muravka and Kotlyarivka. Six clashes are ongoing so far. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction Ukrainian warriors eliminated 139 Russian invaders and wounded 106. Destroyed three combat armored cars, two reconnaissance drones "Supercam" and one "Zala", six cars, eight control points of BPLA, three motorcycles, one cannon and one Russian mortar. The tank, car and BPLA control point were also significantly damaged. In the Novopavliv direction Ukrainian units repelled 12 attacks in the direction of Shevchenko and in the areas of Vilny Pol, Konstantinopol and Rozlivu. Three clashes are being sharpened so far. In the direction of Gulyaipil, Russian forces struck unkempt missiles on Novopol and Gulyaipol. In the Orihiv direction Russian zagarbniki four times advanced in the position of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Scherbakiv and Stepovoye. In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces did not carry out active offensive actions. In the Kurs komu direction Ukrainian defenders fight off seven attacks zagarbnikiv, total for now already recorded 16 boezitknen . Russian forces launched 16 air strikes, dropping 24 controlled bombs at settlements and positions of the Defense Forces. In addition, Russian forces carried out 278 artillery shells, including four from the reactive salvage system. In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Belgorod direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces hit formations of two mechanised brigades and two assault regiments of the AFU near Malaya Rybitsa, Ugroyedy, and Stepok (Sumy region). The AFU losses were up to 150 troops, four tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, including four infantry fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, and two artillery guns. One ammunition depot was destroyed. Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one National Guard brigade close to Tishchenkovka, Kondraskhovka, Kupyansk, Novosergeyevka, and Katerinovka (Kharkov region). The AFU losses were more than 240 troops, six motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns. One electronic warfare station and two ammunition depots were neutralised. Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops hit formations of five mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and three National Guard brigades near Seversk, Dronovka, Slavyansk, Chasov Yar, Konstantinovka, Ivanopolye, and Shcherbinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 180 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, and one ammunition depot. Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Russian troops launched attacks on formations of one mechanised brigade, one jaeger brigade, one assault brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, one marine brigade, and two National Guard brigades close to Sukhaya Balka, Ulyanovka, Dimitrov, Krasnoarmeysk, Zverevo, Sribnoye, and Alekseyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were more than 495 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured vehicles, two pickup trucks, and three field artillery guns. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Russian troops hit formations of three mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, and one airmobile brigade of the AFU near Bogatyr, Fyodorovka, Vesyoloye, and Voskresenka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 165 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns, including one Swedish-made 155-mm Archer self-propelled artillery system. The Dnepr Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation. Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of one mountain assault brigade, four coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades near Malaya Tokmachka, Lobkovoye (Zaporozhye region), Tokarevka, Nikolskoye, and Antonovka (Kherson region). The AFU losses were up to 90 troops, eight motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, including two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers and three electronic warfare stations. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces engaged the infrastructure of military airfields, command posts and storage areas of unmanned aerial vehicles, a military echelon with AFU ammunition, depots of military hardware and materiel as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 153 areas. Air defence systems shot down five JDAM guided bombs, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 225 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the AFU losses amounted to 658 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 47,578 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,374 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,530 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,752 field artillery guns and mortars, 33,083 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. Units of the Sever Group of Forces defeated formations of two mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, one marine brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Gogolevka, Gornal, and Oleshnya. Two counter-attacks launched by enemy units were repelled. Operational-Tactical, Army Aviation, and artillery fire hit enemy manpower and hardware close to Gogolevka, Gornal, Guyevo, Oleshnya as well as Basovka, Belovody, Velikaya Rybitsa, Veselovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Zapselye, Ivolzhanskoye, Loknya, Maryino, Miropolye, Novaya Sech, Obody, Sadki, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka in Sumy region. During the day, the AFU losses were over 250 troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, two armoured fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, one artillery gun, four mortars, and two UAV command posts. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 68,880 troops, 399 tanks,321 infantry fighting vehicles,289 armoured personnel carriers,2,206 armoured fighting vehicles; 2,489 motor vehicles,568 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,18 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Attorney General Pamela Bondi Announces Severe Charges Against Violent Tesla Arsonists Thursday, March 20, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced charges against three individuals responsible for the violent destruction of Tesla properties. All three defendants will face the full force of the law for using Molotov cocktails to set fire to Tesla cars and charging stations. "The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars." One defendant, also armed with a suppressed AR-15 rifle, was arrested after throwing approximately eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership located in Salem, Oregon. Another was arrested in Loveland, Colorado after attempting to light Teslas on fire with Molotov cocktails. The defendant was later found in possession of materials used to produce additional incendiary weapons. In Charleston, South Carolina, a third defendant wrote profane messages against President Trump around Tesla charging stations before lighting the charging stations on fire with Molotov cocktails. Each defendant faces serious charges carrying a minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The Department of Justice is committed to ending all acts of violence and arson directed at Tesla properties and otherwise. Component: Office of the Attorney General Press Release Number: 25-282 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Maryland MS-13 Gang Members Indicted for Murder in Aid of Racketeering Thursday, March 20, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A federal grand jury has charged Manuel Erazo Alvarado, also known as Castigo, 46, and Erick Guillen Pleitez, also known as Kilo, both of Annapolis, Maryland, with murder in aid of racketeering. The indictment was returned on Feb. 13, 2025. Erazo Alvarado made his initial appearance yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore, and Guillen Pleitez made his initial appearance on March 6, 2025, in the same courthouse. According to court documents, La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, is an international criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland and throughout the United States. It is alleged that in 2017, the defendants were members or associates of MS-13 in Maryland. During that time, the defendants engaged in narcotics distribution, collected extortion payments, or "rent," and engaged in acts of violence. On or about Aug. 29, 2017, the defendants participated in the murder of an individual to maintain and increase their positions in the gang. If convicted, the defendants face either a mandatory life sentence or death. Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Chief Edward Jackson of the Annapolis Police Department; and Colonel Roland L. Butler Jr. Superintendent of the Maryland State Police made the announcement. The FBI, HSI, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark and James Hammond for the District of Maryland and Trial Attorneys Matthew Hoff and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering 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 (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). Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and HSI both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Component: Office of the Attorney General Press Release Number: 25-282 Topics: Operation Take Back America Violent Crime Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Press Release Number: 25-284 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India-Based Chemical Manufacturing Company and Top Employees Indicted for Unlawful Importation of Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals Thursday, March 20, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Defendants Also Allegedly Conspired to Send Four Metric Tons of a Precursor Chemical to the United States and Mexico for the Manufacture of Fentanyl An India-based chemical manufacturing company and three high-level employees were charged in federal court in Washington, D.C., today related to illegally importing precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl. According to the indictment, Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited (VPC), VPC Chief Global Business Officer Tanweer Ahmed Mohamed Hussain Parkar, 63, of India and the United Kingdom; VPC Marketing Director Venkata Naga Madhusudhan Raju Manthena, 48, of India; and VPC Marketing Representative Krishna Vericharla, 40, of India, were charged with multiple counts of manufacturing and distributing a List I fentanyl precursor chemical for unlawful importation into the United States, and attempting and conspiring to do the same. It is alleged VPC advertised fentanyl precursor chemicals for sale worldwide on its website, in marketing materials, and at international trade shows. From March through November 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute a fentanyl precursor chemical knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States and used to make fentanyl that would be unlawfully imported into the United States, according to the indictment. On two occasions, in March 2024 and August 2024, the defendants sold an undercover agent 25 kilograms of the fentanyl precursor chemical 1-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-4-piperidone, also called N-BOC-4-piperidone, (N-BOC-4P), a List I chemical. It is further alleged that between August and September 2024, defendants and the undercover agent negotiated a four-metric-ton (4,000 kilogram) purchase of N-BOC-4P - two metric tons of N-BOC-4P to be shipped to Sinaloa, Mexico, and another two metric tons of N-BOC-4P to be shipped to the United States - for a total price of approximately $380,000, knowing that the N-BOC-4P would be unlawfully imported into the United States and used to manufacture fentanyl that would be unlawfully imported into the United States. The four-count indictment charges all defendants with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the United States; manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States; and attempted manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the United States. Additionally, defendants VPC, Vericharla, and Manthena are charged with a second count of manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the United States. If convicted, the individual defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. VPC faces a fine of $500,000 on each count. Federal agents arrested Parkar and Manthena in New York City this morning. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA Miami Field Division made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division's Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force, a DEA-led multi-agency task force with members from Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and state and local agencies from south Florida, are investigating the case. The Special Operations Unit of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section provided support. Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth and Trial Attorneys Jayce Born and Lernik Begian of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. Topic: Drug Trafficking Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Press Release Number: 25-283 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Guardian-class Patrol Boat RVS Takuare returned to Vanuatu The Hon Richard Marles MP Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Defence 20 March 2025 Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles met with Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon Andrew Napuat in Cairns to mark the return of Vanuatu's Guardian-class Patrol Boat, RVS Takuare. RVS Takuare has been undergoing repairs to the hull and an internal fit-out after the vessel suffered catastrophic damage during Cyclone Kevin in 2023. This marks an important milestone in Australia and Vanuatu's maritime security cooperation under the Pacific Maritime Security Program - Australia's 30-year commitment of uninterrupted engagement with our Pacific partners. The Guardian-class Patrol Boat capability allows Vanuatu to continue the important work of protecting niVanuatu sovereign maritime resources, supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, responding national priorities and contributing to regional maritime security. During his bilateral meeting with Minister Napuat, the Deputy Prime Minister also reaffirmed the shared commitment of Vanuatu and Australia to develop a new Nakamal agreement which will cover a broad range of issues including economic resilience, security, and climate change. As close Pacific neighbours, Australia warmly welcomes the invitation from Vanuatu for a Nakamal agreement and looks forward to using this concept to strengthen our ties. A Nakamal is a meeting place in Vanuatu where the community and its leaders discuss, consult, and make decisions. Australia is honoured to have this name attached to a bilateral initiative. Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP: "Australia is proud to continue growing our strong defence partnership with Vanuatu, working together to respond and support Vanuatu in maintaining its maritime capability to support a secure and prosperous Pacific. "The return of RVS Takuare to Vanuatu following repairs demonstrates our shared commitment to upholding a deep and ensuring partnership, founded on our values and vision. "We are listening to Vanuatu's priorities and looking to match their ambition with our own. Australia welcomes the opportunity to enhance its relationship with Vanuatu through a Nakamal agreement which will cover a range of issues including economic resilience, security, and climate change." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada explores EU defense partnerships to reduce U.S. reliance: media People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:55, March 20, 2025 TORONTO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Canada is engaging in discussions with the European Union (EU) to reduce its dependence on the United States for defense procurement, a senior Canadian government official confirmed on Wednesday, AP reported on Thursday. According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the discussions include the possibility of manufacturing fighter jets in Canada. This move aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney's broader strategy to diversify Canada's defense supply chain and strengthen its security partnerships with the EU. The initiative comes as tensions rise over Canada's reliance on the United States for military equipment. U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies and economic pressures have fueled concerns in Canada, with some officials arguing for greater autonomy in defense procurement. In response, Defense Minister Bill Blair has been tasked with reassessing the planned purchase of American-made F-35 fighter jets to explore alternative options "given the changing environment," a defense spokesperson said over the weekend. One such alternative includes Sweden's Saab Gripen fighter jets, with a proposal offering assembly and maintenance within Canada. "This is very serious. We've been in talks to work on defense procurement together," Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "I went to Europe a month ago to make sure we could be a part of that partnership ... It's yielding toward good news." Joly underscored Canada's overreliance on the United States for military procurement, advocating for diversified partnerships worldwide. While Canada's contract with U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin for the F-35 jets remains in place, Ottawa has only legally committed funds for the first 16 aircraft. Canada agreed to buy 88 F-35s two years ago, but the entire purchase is now uncertain. Carney's efforts to expand defense partnerships were evident during his recent meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His trip began on Monday and marked his first international visit since assuming office last Friday. Meanwhile, the EU is also advancing its own defense strategy. On Wednesday, the European Commission unveiled its "Readiness 2030" security strategy, urging member states to prioritize purchasing military equipment from European suppliers. The policy aims to decrease reliance on U.S. defense manufacturers, offering financial incentives for member states that allocate at least 65 percent of their defense procurement to suppliers within the EU, Norway or Ukraine. Historically, EU nations have sourced approximately two-thirds of their military equipment from the United States. However, the push for a "Buy European" approach has gained momentum, particularly following signals from the Trump administration last month that Europe should take greater responsibility for its own defense, including support for Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada should respect rule of law, says Chinese FM on Ottawa's condemnation over execution of four Canadians Global Times By Chen Qingqing Published: Mar 20, 2025 03:37 PM In response to Canada's condemnation of China for executing Canadian citizens on drug-related charges, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that China is a country that upholds the rule of law. The law treats everyone the same regardless of nationality. The Chinese judicial authorities handle those cases justly in strict accordance with the law, Mao added. Combating drug-related crimes is the responsibility of all countries, Mao said. The lawful rights of the defendants and the consular rights of the Canadian side are fully protected as stipulated by the law. Canada should respect the spirit of the rule of law and stop interfering in China's judiciary sovereignty, she added. Canada said on Wednesday that China had executed four Canadian citizens on drug smuggling charges earlier this year and "strongly condemned" Beijing's use of the death penalty, Reuters reported. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told reporters that all four had dual citizens and said Ottawa would seek leniency for other Canadians facing the same fate, according to Reuters. Chinese Embassy in Canada said in a statement China is a "rule of law" nation and that anyone convicted of breaking laws "must be held accountable," the Guardian reported on Wednesday. Drug-related crime is a severe crime recognized worldwide as extremely harmful to the society, and will be faced with severe penalties in all countries. China always imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes and maintains a "zero tolerance" attitude towards the drug problem, the embassy was quoted as saying in the media report. It added that it had "solid and sufficient" evidence in all the cases in which prisoners were executed, according to the Guardian. "Canada should be well aware of China's zero-tolerance policy on drugs and our related laws this is common knowledge for any Chinese person," Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. "While Canada's opposition to the death penalty is understandable from its perspective, using it to interfere with China's legal system and judicial decisions will not be tolerated," Lu noted. Drug trafficking is a felony offense in China. The maximum sentence for anyone convicted of selling or producing more than 50 grams of heroin is the death penalty, the Xinhua News Agency said. This is not the first drug case involving Canadians in China. In January 2019, Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to death by the Dalian Intermediate People's Court for smuggling more than 222 kilograms of methamphetamine, according to the website of the Ministry of Public Security. Also in 2019, the Jiangmen Intermediate People's Court in South China's Guangdong Province sentenced a Canadian to death for drug offences, the South China Morning Post reported. The Canadian individual, along with other defendants, were found guilty of setting up a drug factory in Taishan, where they produced more than 63 kilograms of methamphetamine and 365.9 grams of dimethylamphetamine between July and November 2012, according to the SCMP. Lu believed that the latest incident could be seen as a minor dispute between the two countries, which should not affect the overall China-Canada relations. "I think the Canadian government should focus on educating its own citizens about the serious risks involved in engaging in drug trafficking in China," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Global CEOs flock to Beijing as China tries to woo foreign investors Reports say some may meet with President Xi Jinping or other high-ranking leaders. By Qian Lang for RFA Mandarin 2025.03.20 -- Global CEOs including Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon and Saudi Aramco's Amin Nasser will travel to Beijing next week for an annual development forum, with some likely to meet with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders, according to Bloomberg and Barron's. More than 70 executives from companies including FedEx, Pfizer, Siemens, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Blackstone Group are flocking to the China Development Forum on March 23, Reuters reported. They will be hosted at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse from March 23-24, while any meetings with Xi will take place on March 28, the agency quoted a source familiar with the matter as saying. China has said it will take steps to "stabilize" foreign investment amid plummeting investment inflows in recent years. Foreign direct investment in China has weakened since the end of COVID-19 restrictions, and has been flagged as a key factor in Beijing's push to kick-start flagging economic growth. Inbound foreign direct investment, or FDI, fell by 13.7% in 2023 to US$163 billion, according to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce, although the country remained the number four destination for investors in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund. Investor confidence has been hit by "slower-than-expected economic recovery following COVID-19, lower prospects for long-term growth, capital controls, lack of policy predictability and regulatory transparency, and tensions in the U.S.-China relationship," according to the U.S. State Department's 2024 Investment Climate Statement. Is Chinese economy slumping? U.S.-based current affairs commentator Guo Baosheng said that despite the official claims of a 5% growth rate, China's economy has entered a recession. "This forum is mainly aimed at the bosses of large global companies, hoping that they will come to China to invest," Guo told RFA Mandarin. "Xi Jinping is hoping to send a clear signal to the world that China will continue to remain open and attract more investment," he said. "At the same time, China is also responding to Trump's China policy, hoping to downplay the impact of U.S. tariffs on China and boost the economy to surpass the United States." Financial commentator Si Ling said the majority of reported attendees are from the United States. "China still regards the United States as a very important economic and trade partner," Si said. "Xi Jinping seems to be showing goodwill to multinational executives to show he's sincere about more [economic] openness, but actually he is using both soft and hard tactics," he said. "There are rumors that Xi Jinping will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump this year, and that there may even be a state visit," Si said, adding that Xi is hoping strengthen his hand in negotiations with Washington by boosting foreign investment by major companies. Trust in Chinese government Xi is also relying on their investments to boost China's flagging economic growth, yet it remains to be seen whether potential foreign investors have enough trust in the Chinese government to follow through, he said. The Financial Times reported that Xi may meet with some 20 of the invited CEOs on March 28, but that arrangements have yet to be finalized, and that some executives are unwilling to stay in Beijing for four days after the Forum wraps up. According to current affairs commentator Gu Yi, much is riding on this meeting for Xi Jinping. "Xi Jinping is hoping to establish his supreme position as core leader of the economy as well as in politics," Gu said. "He's not just looking to turn around China's economic outlook -- he wants to have a profound impact on the global economic landscape," he said. According to Reuters, Chubb CEO Evan Greenberg and Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach are scheduled to attend, as well as the CEOs of Brookfield Asset Management, investment fund Franklin Templeton and pharma giants Eli Lilly and Medtonic. Top European executives will also be in the mix, with executives from Novartis, Siemens, Nestle, Deutsche Bank and Mller-Mrsk scheduled to be at the Forum alongside Inter IKEA, Thyssenkrupp and insurer Swiss Re, it said. According to a list seen by Reuters, South Korean chip giant SK Hynix is sending its CEO Kwak Noh-Jung, while Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer's CEO Francisco Gomes Neto and Indian steelmaker Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran will also attend. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Statement by Policy Section Chief of Institute for Japan Studies under DPRK Foreign Ministry Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The policy section chief of the Institute for Japan Studies under the DPRK Foreign Ministry on Thursday issued the following press statement titled "Japan's reckless possession of preemptive attack capability will only expose the archipelago as a common target of regional countries": The geopolitical crises caused by the U.S. are increasing the danger of the outbreak of a new great war in different parts of the world. Against this backdrop, Japan, obsessed with the ambition for overseas expansion, has further accelerated its militarist moves, attracting the attention of the world public. According to media, the Japanese government is mulling deploying home-produced long-range missiles for action in Kyushu area in the southwestern part of the archipelago in March 2026 in order to "secure the capability of attacking enemy bases". Such missiles are modified version of type 12 surface-to-ship guided missiles possessed by the Japan Ground "Self-Defence Force", which are intended for attack even on the ground targets with about 1 000 km range, and the DPRK and the coastal areas of China are reportedly within their striking range. Earlier, the Japan Ministry of Defence announced that it would deploy in 2026 high-speed gliding projectiles, a hypersonic weapon which proved successful in a test-fire. It also opened to public the research and manufacture of new-type ballistic missile with a range of 3 000 km. Moreover, Japan secured the U.S approval for the sale of medium-range air-to-air missiles and long-range air-to-surface cruise missiles and is putting spurs on the building of long-range missile force while seeking to deploy the U.S.-made long-range cruise missiles Tomahawk. This clearly shows that Japan's possession of preemptive attack capability, formulated through the revision of "national security strategy" at the end of 2022, is becoming a present perfect form and the descendants of the samurais, who had so far made a feint of being a "pacific nation" under the signboard of "exclusive defence" before the international community, have fully revealed their wild ambition of militarism. Japan's possession of the capability for preemptive attack is an immediate product of the reinvasion policy to realize its ambition for the second "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere", persistently pursued by Japan regarding it as a strategic goal while whetting a sword for revenge for 80 years since its defeat. It is not a secret that the successive regimes of Japan have misled the public opinion with such absurd interpretation that the "possession of the capability of attacking enemy base" is within the limit of "self-defence", claiming that it is not the purport of the Constitution to sit and wait for self-destruction, and worked hard for its realization. Not content with having staged joint military drills for aggression at all times by drawing unbidden guests from over continents and oceans into the Asia-Pacific region to constantly incite war fever, Japan is seeking to deploy even long-range strike means capable of rapidly attacking specific countries in the region any moment. This clearly shows that Japan's military expansion has been developed into an extremely grave stage. Japan, a war criminal state which has much possibility to repeat its crime as it has totally denied and justified the past history of aggression, is going reckless to get the capability for preemptive attack on other country's territory beyond the borders of its archipelago in the near future. Such "bold action" is a dangerous provocation that will bring about constant escalation of tension by sowing the spark of new military conflict in Northeast Asia. The rumor about "threat from its surroundings", so zealously clamored by Japan, is only for providing a pretext to cover up its reckless reinvasion war preparations going beyond its own defence demands, as illustrated by all-time high military spendings growing every year, frantic securement of preemptive attack means, constant strengthening of the Japan-U.S. military alliance and multilateral collusion and nexus with NATO forces. Japan has worked hard to turn itself into a major military power, crying out for the "free and open Indo-Pacific", an expanded version of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere". Such moves make one keenly realize that the "imperial army", which inflicted indelible wounds on the peoples in the Asia-Pacific region, is being reborn. All the facts go to clearly prove once again that all military means and various forms of movement directly targeting the DPRK as well as the aggressive and challenging consciousness against it are an object to be wiped out and that the DPRK efforts for bolstering up the defence capabilities are an indispensable contribution to thoroughly containing the provocations of enemy countries and maintaining the strategic balance and stability in the region. Japan's reckless possession of preemptive attack capability to put neighboring countries in the striking range while seeking a chance for reinvasion will, on the contrary, expose its archipelago to the attack by righteous regional countries as a common target. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Permanent Representative of DPRK at UN Office and International Organizations in Geneva Issues Press Statement Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, March 21 (KCNA) -- Jo Chol Su, permanent representative of the DPRK at the UN Office and international organizations in Geneva issued the following press statement titled "The U.S. act to use international body as a tool for implementing its strategy for hegemony can never be tolerated" on Friday: The fact that the present U.S. Administration, which is bringing chaos and disorder to the international community with its unpredictable foreign policy, sent weird questionnaires to international organizations was out in the open, sparking off great uproar again. It is reported that the questionnaires recently sent by the U.S. administration to UN organizations and non-governmental organizations contain dozens of questions on the influence of the activities of the relevant organizations on the security and economic fields of the U.S., their cooperative relations with organizations related to communism, socialism, totalitarian or anti-U.S. forces, and whether they have received funds from China, Russia, Cuba and Iran. It is a product which can be cooked up only by the U.S., obsessed with the gangster-like hegemonic logic that all international relations should exist only for the interests of America, styling itself an ultra-privileged being reigning over the international community. It is well known that the U.S. has earned an ill-fame as it has so far ignored international organizations including repeating its withdrawal from and entry into international organizations as if coming in and out of its own house and unhesitatingly wiretapping high-ranking officials of the UN. However, the U.S. is trying to treat international organizations as an organ under the U.S. Department of State. This is far beyond arrogance and impertinence of the past, stunning the world people. "Serious encroachment upon the internal activities of the UN bodies with independence" and "litmus paper examining the support for 'America first'" - these are the angry response of the international community to the U.S. questionnaires. International organization, whose mission is to promote mutual exchange and cooperation among states and establish a fair international order, regards impartiality and objectivity as its fundamental principle for its specific feature and bans pressure and interference of a specific state. If an international organization interferes in internal affairs of its member nation, raises unfair demand and gives pressure to it, following the demand of any individual country, it is already not an international body in a real meaning. The questionnaires that can be called an "open threatening letter" prove that the U.S. is trying to subordinate the international organizations as the body executing "America first" policy which moves according to its baton and serves its interests. The behavior of the present U.S. Administration which forces the international community to follow "America first" doctrine predicts the emergence of "McCarthyism" of the 21st century version. Such behavior of inciting confrontation against the international trend aspiring after multipolarization deserves condemnation, and international community should remain vigilant so that the U.N. and other international organizations are not yielded to the unilateralism and arbitrary practices of the U.S. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister says Iran will overcome 'complexities' of U.S. politics to secure interests IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says the Islamic Republic will overcome the "complexities" posed by the United States and secure its interests. Speaking on national television as the Persian New Year turned on Thursday, Araqchi said that as far as U.S. President Donald Trump's policies vis-a-vis Iran were concerned, the times had not changed. "The situation brought about by America's new president is not new to us; we experienced this 'maximum pressure' in [his] last term in office. Some are [now] calling it jokingly or not 'maximum pressure 2.0,'" the foreign minister said. "By God's grace, and the blessings of Laylat al-Qadrs [Nights of Power], we will overcome the complexities of U.S. politics and navigate those complexities to secure the interests and national security of Iran," he said. U.S. President Trump sent a letter to Iran via an emissary from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 12. Days earlier, Trump had himself revealed that he had penned a letter to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, asking that negotiations be reopened into negotiating a new deal. Ayatollah Khamenei has reiterated that Iran will not negotiate with the United States because Tehran does not trust that Washington would adhere to any contractual obligations. The Leader has referred to Iran's experience in negotiating and making a deal with the United States and other governments in the 2010s an agreement that Trump himself unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said Iran has reviewed Trump's letter and will respond in the coming days. In his Thursday remarks, Araqchi said the Foreign Ministry would spare no effort to secure Iran's interests. "We have before us the interests of the Iranian nation, and that's where we will be moving toward," he said. 4482 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran releases French citizen detained since October 2022: Macron IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 20, 2025 Iran has released French citizen Olivier Grondeau, who had been detained since October 2022 on security charges, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced. Macron confirmed on Thursday that Grondeau, 34, has returned to France. "He is free and with his loved ones," he wrote on X without providing further details about the circumstances surrounding Grondeau's release. His release coincided with Nowruz, the Persian New Yeara time when Iran has released foreign prisoners in the past. Grondeau was arrested in Shiraz, southern Iran, and sentenced to five years in prison for "conspiracy against the Islamic Republic." The French president also said his government would work to secure the release of two other French citizens, Cecile Kohler, a teacher, and her partner, Jacques Paris. The pair were detained in May 2022 on charges of attempting to incite protests in Iran. Grondeau's release comes at a time when France and other European countries are seeking to hold negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US imposes new round of sanctions against Iran Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 7:19 PM The United States Department of the Treasury has imposed a new round of sanctions against Iran, targeting several entities, including independent Chinese teapot refineries, as well as vessels that supplied Iranian crude oil to these processing plants. The sanctions were imposed on Thursday. The refinery targeted for sanctions is the China-based Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that the refinery purchased oil from vessels linked to Yemen's Houthi movement, which the US designated this month as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. China is the largest importer of Iranian oil. The US also placed Wang Xueqing, who is allegedly linked to the refinery, on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. Americans are prohibited from conducting business with individuals on this list, and their US assets are blocked. Trump's new administration has issued four rounds of sanctions against Iran since February, the latest of which also includes eight vessels carrying Iranian crude. The US Treasury blocked vessels, including the Panama-flagged Aurora Riley and Catalina, as well as the Barbados-flagged Brava Lake. Additionally, the State Department announced sanctions on a Chinese oil terminal, Huaying Huizhou Daya Bay Petrochemical Terminal Storage, for purchasing and storing Iranian crude oil from a sanctioned vessel. These fresh sanctions are part of the US's "maximum pressure" campaign, aimed at reducing Iran's oil exports to zero and ultimately undermining the Islamic Republic's efforts to exercise the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran has long been subjected to Western sanctions over its nuclear activities and other pretexts, the latest of which was imposed on Thursday, March 20. The new sanctions come amid Trump's claim that he is "ready to negotiate with Iran." Leader of the Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei nullified Trump's overtures for a new agreement earlier this month, calling them a "deception aimed at misleading global public opinion." "We sat down and negotiated for several years, and this very person took the completed, finalized, and signed agreement off the table and tore it up," Ayatollah Khamenei said. Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on Iran's Oil Minister, Mohsen Paknejad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister: Iran will respond to Trump's letter Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 1:29 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the Islamic Republic will respond to the letter of US President Donald Trump in the coming days through appropriate channels. Araghchi made the remarks while speaking during a live program on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) Channel 2 on Thursday. Araghchi also noted that this time, the development comes alongside a diplomatic move from the Americans, including a letter and a request for negotiations. He also stated that the Islamic Republic's policy is clear. "We will not engage in direct negotiations under pressure, threats, or increased sanctions." According to Araghchi, negotiations must take place on equal footing and under fair conditions. The foreign minister also stated that the letter is "mostly threatening," but it also claims that there are opportunities. As per the foreign minister, the Islamic Republic's response will take all dimensions of the letter into account. "We have thoroughly examined all aspects of the letter, considering every detail carefully," he stated. "We will see both the threat and opportunity aspects," said Araghchi, citing the Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, saying, "Within every threat, there also lies an opportunity." In early March, Trump stated that he had written a letter to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei. Later in February, Ayatollah Khamenei, in a meeting with Air Force personnel in Tehran, stated that experience has shown that negotiations with the US do not affect solving Iran's problems. His remarks came hours after the US imposed its first sanctions in the wake of Trump's signing of an order to reimpose his "maximum pressure" on Iran. "Some people pretend that if we sit at the negotiating table, some problem will be solved, but the fact that we must understand correctly is that negotiating with the US does not affect solving the country's problems," the Leader noted. He also cited the experience of 2015 when Iran and six other countries, including the US, signed the now-dormant Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after two years of negotiations, only to be discarded by Trump in 2018. Later, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran's openness to negotiations but emphasized that the Islamic Republic will not give in to the pressure of bullying powers and won't engage in any negotiations under duress. In May 2018, Trump pulled Washington out of a multilateral international agreement, formally known as the JCPOA, signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany in 2015. The UNSC-endorsed agreement required Iran to scale back some of its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country, especially by the United States. Trump then imposed severe economic sanctions against Tehran while Iran was adhering to its commitments under the deal and even continued to do so for a year after the US withdrawal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ayatollah Khamenei calls for 'investments for production' in New Year message Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 10:46 AM Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has felicitated the Iranian nation on the occasion of Nowruz and called for "Investments for Production" in his New Year message. Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a televised message to the nation on the occasion of the Persian New Year on Thursday afternoon. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution underlined the need for both the government and the people to pursue investments for production with determination. Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that production flourishes when supported by investments. The Leader also condemned the renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza, calling on countries around the globe to unanimously oppose the US-Israeli crimes in the besieged coastal sliver. Turning to the issue of Yemen, Ayatollah Khamenei described the US attacks on the Yemeni people as a crime that must be stopped. He expressed hopes for prosperity, victory, and goodness for the Muslim Ummah in the new year. Ayatollah Khamenei also wished the Iranian nation happiness, contentment, unity, and success. The following is the full text of the Leader's New Year message: In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful O Transformer of hearts and sights, O Director of nights and days, O Transformer of situations and circumstances, Transform our circumstances to the best of circumstances! The beginning of the New Year (this year) coincides with the nights of Qadr and the martyrdom anniversary of the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali) (PBUH). We are hopeful that the blessings of these nights and the attention of the Master of the Pious (Imam Ali) (PBUH), will encompass our dear people, our nation, our country, and all those whose New Year begins with Nowruz. The year 1403 AHS (March 20, 2024 - March 20, 2025) was a year filled with numerous events. The events that unfolded one after another during this past year resembled those of 1981, and there were hardships and difficulties for our dear people. Early in the year, we mourned the martyrdom of the Iranian nation's beloved President, the late Mr. (Ebrahim) Raisi (RA). This was preceded by the martyrdom of several of our advisors in Damascus. After that, various events took place in Tehran and later in Lebanon, resulting in the loss of valuable figures for both the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah. These were indeed bitter tragedies. Furthermore, economic problems brought pressure on the people throughout the year, particularly in the latter half, and the difficulties involved in making a living created challenges for the population. These hardships existed throughout the past year. On the other hand, a tremendous, extraordinary phenomenon took place, and that was the fact that the willpower of the Iranian people and their spiritual resilience, unity, and high level of preparedness were manifested. First, in the face of an event like the loss of the President, the massive turnout of the people (for his funeral procession), the slogans they chanted, and the high morale they exhibited showed that although this was a serious tragedy, it wasn't able to make the Iranian people feel weakened. Furthermore, they were able to promptly hold elections within the legally designated time frame, elect a new President, form a government, and fill the gap in the country's administration. These matters are very significant and indicative of the high morale, capabilities, and spiritual strength of the Iranian nation. We must thank God for this. Moreover, during the recent events of the past months, when many of our brothers in Lebanon - our brothers in religion and our Lebanese brothers - faced difficulties, the Iranian nation gave its support with open hearts. This event that took place in this regard - that is, the overwhelming flood of aid from the people for their Lebanese and Palestinian brothers - stands as one of the enduring, unforgettable events in our country's history. The gold that the Iranian women and ladies, generously parted with and contributed to this cause, and the assistance given by our people and our men, are matters of great significance. They reflect the strength of the nation's will and its unwavering resolve. This spirit, this involvement, this readiness, and this spiritual strength are assets for the future of the country and for the enduring life of our dear Iran. These assets, God willing, will be used to the fullest by the country, and may Almighty God continue to bestow His blessings upon the nation. Last year, we introduced the slogan, "Surge in production through people's participation," which was essential for the country, and in a sense, it was vital. (However,) the various events that unfolded in the year 1403 AHS prevented this slogan from being fully realized. Of course, significant efforts were made by both the government and the people, as well as by the private sector, investors, and entrepreneurs. They were able to accomplish good things. However, the work that was done fell short of expectations. So, this year too our main issue remains the economy. Thus, my expectation from our esteemed government, respected officials, and our dear people once again centers around economic issues. This year's slogan will once again focus on economic matters, specifically investment in the economy. One of the important issues in the country's economy is investments in production. Production experiences a surge when investments are made. Of course, investments should primarily be made by the people. The government must find various methods for this to be done. But in cases where people either lack the motivation or the means to invest, the government can step in - not in competition with the people, but as a substitute. In instances where the people don't get involved, the government can enter the field and invest. In any case, investment in production is essential for both the country's economy and also for solving people's problems in livelihood. Improving people's livelihood needs planning and cannot happen without these sorts of preliminary measures. It's essential that both the government and the people seriously pursue and follow through with investments for production with firm resolve and motivation. The government's role is to create the necessary environment and remove obstacles to production. The people's role is to invest - both small and large investments - for the purpose of production. If capital is directed toward production, it will no longer be diverted into harmful activities such as buying gold, purchasing foreign currency, or other such endeavors. Harmful activities will stop. The Central Bank can play a role in this regard, and the government can also implement many effective measures. With this in mind, this year's slogan is "Investments for Production," which will help to improve people's livelihoods, God willing. The government's planning in collaboration with the participation of the people will together, God willing, solve the problem. I would like to briefly refer to recent events that have taken place during the past few days. The renewed attacks by the usurping Zionist regime on Gaza is a truly large, atrocious crime. The Islamic Ummah must stand united against this. They should set aside their differences on various issues. This matter concerns the entire Islamic Ummah. In addition to this, I urge all freedom-seekers around the world - within the United States itself, in Western and European countries, and in other countries - to strongly oppose this treacherous, horrendous act. Once again children are being killed, homes are being destroyed, and civilians are being displaced. The people must stop this tragedy. Of course, the United States is also complicit in this tragedy. Experts in political issues worldwide concur that this action is being executed under the direction of the United States, or at the very least, with the approval and a green light from the US. Therefore, the US is also complicit in this crime. The same is true about the events in Yemen. The attacks on the people of Yemen and on Yemeni civilians are also crime that must definitely be stopped. We hope that Almighty God has ordained goodness, prosperity, and victory for the Islamic Ummah this new year. We hope that the Iranian nation can start this new year, which has just begun, with happiness, contentment, complete unity, and success, God willing, and maintain this spirit throughout the year. I hope the sacred heart of the Imam of the Time (Imam Mahdi) (may our souls be sacrificed for his sake), the pure spirit of the magnanimous Imam (Khomeini) (RA), and the blessed spirits of the martyrs are pleased and satisfied with us. May God's greetings, mercy, and blessings be upon you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK, German envoys summoned over anti-Iran draft resolution at Human Rights Council Iran Press TV Thursday, 20 March 2025 8:09 AM British and German diplomatic representatives to Tehran have been called to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in protest at their governments' move to present a draft resolution against the Islamic Republic at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The summons was issued by Forouzandeh Vadiati, Director General of Human Rights and Women Affairs at the Iranian foreign ministry. Vadiati presented Iran's strong protest to the envoys against the "irresponsible and provocative approach" of their governments at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council and initiation of a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and the so-called Fact Finding Mission on Iran. In the meeting with the German ambassador, the Iranian diplomat condemned the manipulation of the UN Human Rights Council, and the abuse of human rights to exert pressure on the Iranian nation. She pointed to Berlin's dark human rights record, citing the European country's supply of chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein's regime during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Vadiati also reminded the British charge d'affaires of his country's long history of intervention in Iran's domestic affairs and its anti-Iran stances at the UNHRC. She denounced the British government's "unconstructive measures", emphasizing that such an approach discredits the UN-affiliated human rights institutions and erodes world states' trust in these bodies. Vadiati then condemned Germany and the UK's support for the Israeli regime's war crimes and genocide against Palestinians; as well as their compliance with the US unilateral sanctions against the Iranian people. She stressed that the UK and Germany are in no position to claim to be advocating human rights. The two envoys said they would convey Iran's protest to their respective governments. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sanctioning Entities Purchasing and Transporting Iranian Oil to Further Impose Maximum Pressure on Iran US Department of State Press Statement Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson March 20, 2025 The U.S. Department of State is today sanctioning Huaying Huizhou Daya Bay Petrochemical Terminal Storage, an oil terminal in China, for buying and storing Iranian crude oil from a sanctioned vessel. The Department of the Treasury is concurrently sanctioning China-based Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., a "teapot" oil refinery, for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian crude oil. This includes oil from vessels linked to Ansarallah (Houthis), a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and the U.S.-designated Iranian Ministry of Defense of Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). "Teapot" refiners are private Chinese refineries that are the primary purchasers of Iranian oil. This will be the United States' first designation of a teapot refinery. In addition, the Department of the Treasury is sanctioning 12 entities and one individual, and identifying eight vessels as blocked property for being responsible for shipping millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China. These vesselsare part of Iran's "shadow fleet" of tankers that supply teapot refineries, including Luqing Petrochemical. These sanctions are being imposed pursuant to President Trump's maximum pressure campaign to drive Iran's oil exports, including to China, to zero. China is by far the largest importer of Iranian oil. The Iranian regime uses the revenue it generates from these sales to finance attacks on U.S. allies, support terrorism around the world, and pursue other destabilizing actions. All these new sanctions will be fully enforced under the Trump Administration's maximum pressure campaign. So long as Iran attempts to generate oil revenues to fund its destabilizing activities, the United States will hold both Iran and all its sanctions-evading partners accountable. Today's action by the Department of State is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13846, which authorizes and reimposes certain sanctions with respect to Iran. Today's action by the Department of the Treasury is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13902, which target Iran's petroleum and petrochemical sectors. This action marks the fourth round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales since the President issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 on February 4, 2025 For more information on today's actions, please see the Department of State's fact sheet and the Department of the Treasury's press release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sanctioning Additional Entities That Have Traded in Iran's Petroleum US Department of State Fact Sheet Office of the Spokesperson March 20, 2025 The Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict in Middle East, pursue its nuclear program, and support its terrorist proxies. Iran's oil exports are enabled by a network of illicit shipping facilitators in multiple jurisdictions who, through obfuscation and deception, load and transport Iranian oil for sale to buyers in Asia. Today, the United States is taking action under National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-2, President Trump's maximum pressure campaign on Iran. This action marks the fourth round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales to stop the flow of revenue the regime uses to fund their destabilizing activities. The Department of State is imposing sanctions on one entity engaged in the acquisition of Iranian petroleum. This target is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13846, which authorizes and reimposes certain sanctions with respect to Iran. In a separate action, the Department of the Treasury is imposing sanctions on 19 entities and vessels pursuant to E.O. 13902, which targets Iran's petroleum and petrochemical sectors. Specifically, the Department of State is taking action against a crude oil and petroleum products storage terminal in the port of Huizhou in China. The terminal received and stored Iranian-origin crude oil onboard a blocked tanker. Crude oil and petroleum products terminals based in China serve as the gateway for Iranian petroleum products to enter the Chinese market. As China is the largest importer of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, terminals in China play a critical role in supporting Iran's efforts to maintain revenues from its energy exports and fuel its destabilizing activities. The Department is designating the following entity pursuant to section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran: HUAYING HUIZHOU DAYA BAY PETROCHEMICAL TERMINAL STORAGE CO., LTD (HUAYING PETROCHEMICAL) knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the acquisition of crude oil from Iran in late January 2025, when the U.S.-designated tanker, formerly SPIRIT OF CASPER, also known as NICHOLA, offloaded approximately one million barrels of Iranian-origin crude oil at the Huaying Daya Bay terminal, a China-based petroleum products storage terminal that is owned and operated by HUAYING PETROCHEMICAL. knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the acquisition of crude oil from Iran in late January 2025, when the U.S.-designated tanker, formerly SPIRIT OF CASPER, also known as NICHOLA, offloaded approximately one million barrels of Iranian-origin crude oil at the Huaying Daya Bay terminal, a China-based petroleum products storage terminal that is owned and operated by HUAYING PETROCHEMICAL. NICHOLA, which was added to the SDN List in October 2024 in connection with transporting multiple shipments of Iranian oil to China-based refineries, loaded Iranian-origin petroleum in December 2024, when it engaged in a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer in the eastern outer port limits near Singapore with U.S.-designated SALINA, an Iran-flagged tanker associated with the U.S.-designated NATIONAL IRANIAN TANKER COMPANY (NITC). At the time of the transfer, SALINA was laden with petroleum from Kharg Island, Iran, which it had loaded a month earlier in November 2024. Several days before the NICHOLA arrived at the Huaying terminal, multiple sources reported that the vessel was laden with Iranian-origin petroleum. On January 22, 2025, HUAYING PETROCHEMICAL received NICHOLA at its petroleum products berth, where the vessel subsequently discharged approximately one million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Since March 2021, HUAYING PETROCHEMICAL has received at least nine shipments of Iranian petroleum at its terminal facility, seven of which came from the U.S.-designated NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL COMPANY). SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's sanctions-related actions, and in accordance with E.O. 13846, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all entities and individuals that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. The power and integrity of U.S. government sanctions derive not only from the U.S. government's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. Petitions for removal from the SDN List may be sent to: OFAC.Reconsideration@treasury.gov. Petitioners may also refer to the Department of State's Delisting Guidance page. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 2 Men Convicted In New York For Plotting To Kill Iranian Dissident Journalist By RFE/RL March 21, 2025 Two men identified by prosecutors as members of the Russian mob have been convicted in New York City for plotting to kill Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad in a murder-for-hire scheme financed by Iran's government. The verdict was returned on March 20, ending a two-week trial that included testimony about how Iran targeted Alinejad, 48, for her online campaigns encouraging Iranian women to defy Iran's law requiring women to cover their hair in public. Prosecutors said Iranian intelligence officials first plotted in 2020 and 2021 to kidnap Alinejad and move her to Iran to silence her criticism of the government. When that failed, Iran offered $500,000 for her to be killed, prosecutors said. Assistant US Attorney Michael Lockard told the jury on March 19 that the "Iranian government" had set the award to "fund the plan to silence" Alinejad. Alinejad called the verdict "a powerful gift from the American government" to the people of Iran because it shows that justice is beginning to be served. "I am relieved that after nearly three years, the men who plotted to kill me have been found guilty. But make no mistake, the real masterminds of this crime are still in power in Iran," she told The Associated Press. "Right now, I am bombarded with emotions. I have cried. I have laughed. I have even danced." Leslie R. Backschies, who heads the FBI's New York office, said the verdicts show that the "Iranian government's shameless conduct and attempt to violate our laws and assassinate a critic of their human rights atrocities will not be tolerated." Prosecutors said the convicted men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, were members of the Russian mob. Defense lawyers argued at trial that their clients were innocent and evidence was flawed. "We respect the jury's verdict, but plan on filing an appeal on Mr. Omarov's behalf," Elena Fast, an attorney for Omarov, was quoted by the AP as saying in an e-mail. A lawyer for Amirov did not immediately respond to the AP's request for comment on the verdict. In court on March 19 his lawyer, Michael Martin, said there was no doubt "Iran targeted Alinejad, but his client was not part of any plot." Alinejad testified last week that she came to the United States in 2009 after she was banned from covering Iran's disputed presidential election and after the newspaper where she worked was shut down. After establishing herself in New York City, she built an online audience of millions and launched a campaign that told Iranian women to send photos and videos of themselves exposing their hair when the morality police were not around. She ultimately inspired women to take to the streets in Iran on Wednesdays to peacefully protest, leading the government to arrest hundreds of women. The crackdown only caused her following to grow. Prosecutors said that by 2022, the Iranian government enlisted organized crime figures to kill Alinejad. Khalid Mehdiyev, a former member of the Russian mob, testified that he was hired as the hitman. Mehdiyev, who cooperated with prosecutors after pleading guilty to multiple crimes, said he bought an AK-47 to kill Alinejad in July 2022, but the plan was foiled when his car was stopped by police and the gun was found. Mehdiyev, like Amirov and Omarov, are citizens of Azerbaijan. American officials have accused Iran of backing several assassination plots in the United States, including one against President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign last year. In a separate case, US prosecutors in 2022 charged a man in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) with plotting to kill former US national-security adviser John Bolton. Tehran has denied being behind any such plots. The plots came after Iranian officials vowed to exact revenge against Trump and others over the 2020 drone strike that killed prominent IRGC General Qassem Soleimani. With reporting by AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-alinejad-russia- court-verdict-convicted-verdict/33354684.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta offensives leave 4 dead, thousands displaced in northwest Myanmar Displaced residents are in critical need of clean water and medicine, aid workers said. By RFA Burmese 2025.03.20 -- Junta attacks on Thursday claimed four lives in northwest Myanmar, where tens of thousands displaced residents remain in desperate need of emergency aid, volunteers and locals told Radio Free Asia. The offensives in the embattled Sagaing region have intensified since insurgent militias rose up against Myanmar's military, which seized power in a 2021 coup, forcing tens of thousands from their homes and claiming thousands of lives through shootings, village burnings and bombings. In the latest offence on Thursday, junta soldiers killed four residents in Sagaing's Myaung town, leaving one injured. "Today at 10 a.m., they were firing wildly with heavy weapons and circling the area with parachutes, looking for targets to drop bombs on," said one resident on Thursday, declining to be named for security reasons. Residents added they could not confirm the identities of the dead, but it was junta's retaliatory move as junta forces clashed with a local militia a day before. Sagaing region's junta spokesperson Nyant Win Aung refused to comment. According to data compiled by RFA, 3,531 people have been killed by heavy weapons since the coup, and another 5,007 have been injured. As conflict between militias and junta troops escalates, tens of thousands have fled to safer areas, but they are desperately in need of supplies to survive and cope with water-borne illnesses. More than 30,000 internally displaced people have been sheltering in Sagaing region's Kale township, roughly 210 kilometers [130 miles] northwest of Myaung Township, since early February, and according to aid workers, they are facing "new challenges" with the hot season approaching. "It's the time when the weather gets really hot, so we're helping as much as we can with shelter, access to water and food," said one aid worker, who declined to be named for security reasons. "Mainly, people need medicine, shelter and drinking water." A lack of water sources has forced displaced people from nearly 30 villages to make due with unclean water, leading to skin diseases and diarrhea, he added. Junta forces are frequently bombing villages around the township, preventing them from returning home. On Jan. 31, for instance, junta forces bombed the Koke Ko Su Camp, a shelter for displaced people in Kale township, killing 11 people, including pregnant women, and injuring 15, according to residents. Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of the Media Briefing by the Spokesperson Thursday, 20 March 2025 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I welcome you all at the weekly press briefing. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is currently on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is from 19-22 March 2025. The delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with key Federal Ministers and senior officials. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties, enhance economic cooperation, and promote investment between the two countries. The Prime Minister met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman today. Both leaders had productive discussion on ways to further strengthen Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties in trade, investment, energy & security. Prime Minister thanked His Royal Highness for the Kingdom's consistent support to Pakistan. The Prime Minister's visit underscores the deep-rooted historical relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and will pave the way for increased mutual understanding, enhanced cooperation in trade, investment and greater diplomatic coordination on bilateral, regional and global matters. Pakistan welcomes the signing of treaty on delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz Tajik border. We congratulate the leadership and the brotherly peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on this landmark achievement, marking the end of a protracted border dispute. We firmly believe that this significant turn of events will open up new possibilities of cooperation and advancement in the region. Pakistan unequivocally condemns Israel's vicious attacks against the people of West Bank and Gaza, the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, killing innocent civilians, including elderly, women and children. Israel's airstrikes and raids are a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement; international humanitarian law; the UN Charter; and hampers the confidence and faith in the global community and international law. Pakistan strongly calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in West Bank, and Gaza; protection of civilians; and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and assistance. We also call on the international community to increase its efforts to end Israel's genocidal campaign against the innocent people of Palestine. We call for accountability of Israeli crimes committed in this brutal war, as a crucial step towards restoring international legitimacy. Pakistan continues to support the two-state solution which is based on fundamental principles of the UN Charter, resolutions of the UN Security Council and decisions of the International Court of Justice. We also reaffirm our unconditional support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and for the establishment of a viable, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. We are alarmed that the frequency of Indian leadership's unwarranted assertions about Jammu and Kashmir has increased. In this context, we wish to make a few things clear, especially with regard to the remarks made by the Indian External Affairs Minister at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. It was India that took Jammu and Kashmir issue to the United Nations in 1948. Today, it has no right to blame the Security Council and its erstwhile members for the resolutions that were subsequently adopted. Repetition of baseless claims cannot deny the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory whose final status is to be determined by its people through a UN-supervised plebiscite, as stipulated in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence. However, a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, is essential for a lasting peace in South Asia. The remarks made by the Indian Prime Minister during a podcast, are misleading and one-sided. They conveniently omit the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains unresolved for last seven decades despite India's solemn assurances to the United Nations, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people. India's fictitious narrative of victimhood cannot hide its involvement in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan's soil and the state-sanctioned oppression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories. Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. However, peace and stability in South Asia has remained hostage to India's rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions. The anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation. It must stop. I thank you! * (Mateen Haider, G News) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister chaired a high-level meeting with the Charge d' Affaires of US Consular Affairs of the US Embassy yesterday. On that meeting a very short statement from the Ministry said consular related issues were discussed. Would you share more details whether visa issues for Pakistani nationals were discussed and if there were any American concerns? If yes, then what were those concerns and what assurances Pakistan gave to the US Charge d' Affaires? Has the matter between Pakistan and United States resolved? Spokesperson: Pakistan and the US continue to engage with each other in diverse fields and consular affairs are an important component of the bilateral relations. Pakistan-US bilateral relations have registered a positive momentum over the last couple of years. Meeting with US Cd' A was part of a regular diplomatic engagement. As far as the news relating to inclusion of Pakistan in any travel ban is concerned, as explained earlier the US authorities have termed the media reports as speculations. Officially, nothing has been conveyed to us so far. (Syeda Qurat ul Ain, Independent Urdu): Given the current situation in Israel, at least four Pakistani journalists or citizens went to Israel. Did MOFA know about it? And if not or if it did actually, what is MOFA going to do and what is the update? (Saima Shabbir, Arab News): I would like to get your comments on the media report as well as the tweet of one member of the delegation, according to which a 10-member delegation comprising of 8 men and 2 women arrived in Tel Aviv last Monday and the group, reportedly including journalists, intellectuals, influencers, visited various locations in Israel to gather information. I would like your comments on the fact that is it not against the constitution of Pakistan to travel to a country where our passport has clearly prohibited to travel to? Is there any kind of change in Pakistan's policy towards Israel? Will there be any action against these civilians who have travelled on Pakistani passport or are they dual nationals carrying Pakistani passport as well? (Asghar Ali Mubarak, The Daily Mail International): Sir, my question is also related to the claim of visit of Pakistani delegation to Israel. It is believed that a delegation from the previous government also travelled there. Is there any back door communication channel in play? Because we have also witnessed some change in some of the Arab countries as well with regards to the same issue? Spokesperson: Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no foreknowledge or information of the visit. We found out about the visit through the same media reports that you are alluding to. We do not have any details about who visited except for one individual who posted on twitter. Since we do not know their details, we cannot comment on what kind of passports were they carrying or were they dual nationals or not. But as far as Pakistan's position with regards to Israel is concerned, it's very unambiguous. There is no question of a change in Pakistan's position on the question of recognition of Israel or on the question of Palestine or the Arab Israel problems. It remains unwavering, very clear and very firm. (Shabir Wahgra, PTV World): Would there be any investigation on this matter? If there are people who are Pakistani nationals and succeeded in reaching there, so would there be any action taken against them by the Foreign Office? As this is not happening for the first time, in the past, dual nationals have travelled there, however, travelling there at this time is really disturbing keeping in view the current circumstance. Spokesperson: As I mentioned we did not have any foreknowledge or information of this visit. We are in the process of gathering information. We would be able to comment further once we have a clear picture. (Anas Mallick, Capital TV): Two questions, Firstly, the JFK files were released and in that, there is a rather startling revelation that the CIA maintained a base in Rawalpindi. Was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Government of Pakistan aware of it? Was it done in tandem with or without their approval? Your comments on that. Second, with regards to Afghan deportations and the Afghan Foreign Ministry rejecting the allusions that were made from your podium and from the DG ISPR's press conference in reference to the Jaffer Express attack, do you have a reaction on that and on the deportation deadline? Because they've highlighted that deadline i.e. 31st March 2025 is Eid day. Is there any change in that? Spokesperson: About the first question, what I have read so far is that the JFK files are truly voluminous, around 80-100,000 pages. I cannot form a judgment unless the documents are read in entirety and the detailed commentary appears. Secondly, the matter is of historical curiosity rather than of any direct contemporary relevance. But if we get any information, we will share with you. About the second question regarding the deadline for deportation, our concerned authorities have informed that there is no change in the deadline. (Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): Sir, this podium must be very satisfied because the principle that you and your predecessor has been stating here has been accepted by the State Department that the founder of PTI, Mr. Imran Khan's issue is the internal matter of Pakistan. State Department Spokesperson very categorically stated that we do not interfere into the internal matters of other countries. What are your comments, Sir? Spokesperson: Sir, I have been repeating that non-interference in internal affairs of each other is the foundational element of inter-state relations and it is the government's policy and position for all countries. So, we welcome reiteration of this principle. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Sir, Pakistan is an atomic power and has capabilities of ballistic missiles as well. Keeping in view the current dynamics, is Pakistan being targeted deliberately according to any unannounced/undisclosed new world order? Secondly, President Donald Trump had mentioned during his election campaign that whenever he would be in power, he will prevent wars, however, now after being elected it can be seen that he is attacking Yemen continuously, supporting Israel in violating the ceasefire and bombing Gaza and threatening Iran which has been given the deadline of two months. What is Pakistan's stance on US' dual standards or on this whole situation? Spokesperson: Sir, our missile and defense capabilities are for Pakistan's defense and to ensure deterrence in the region, which is vital for our security. Our defense program is robust and remains under strong controls. About your question relating to the global peace and the policy of the United States, I'm not in a position to comment on that. However, the air strikes by the United States on rebel held Sana and other strongholds of Houthis on 16th March 2025 and the threat of retaliation by Houthis indicate dangerous escalation in the already volatile region. The ceasefire violation by Israel on 18th March 2025 will have grave repercussions for stability of the region. Pakistan sees the situation as alarming, which could lead to further deterioration of a multi-dimensional crisis in Yemen. Pakistan remains committed to a Yemeni led, and Yemeni owned political process facilitate by the United Nations. (Khalid Mahmood, Express News): Sir, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister announced to form a committee regarding investigating allegations of human smuggling and reports about alleged involvement of some officers of the Foreign Office and issuance of note verbale in this regard. What is the mandate of the committee? When will it be formed? Also, would like you to comment regarding investigations of Pakistani Ambassador to Turkmenistan. Spokesperson: Sir, there is no question and allegation of anyone's involvement in human smuggling. None of our official statements have mentioned about any such allegation. In reality, there was some negative speculation in the social media. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister has instructed to establish the fact-finding Committee in order establish facts. With regards to your question about our Ambassador in Turkmenistan, the investigations are underway. We will revert to you as the investigation reaches its logical conclusion. (Muhammad Tahir Khan, NNI News): There were some reports that the Foreign Office had summoned an Afghan diplomat for a protest. So could you please confirm if the Afghan diplomat was summoned? I saw the reports, but there was no official statement, so I contacted an Afghan official in Islamabad, and he also confirmed to me, however, he also said that we reject, and we even don't comment on such kind of statement about what Pakistan has been saying about the use of Afghan soil. If you summon someone and in case they reject the summon then how matters will be resolved with Afghanistan? My second question is regarding refugees, previously, tripartite meetings were held regularly between Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR regarding decision on refugees. This meeting was not undertaken this time, in fact no tripartite meeting has been held for four years. How do you comment on taking decision on refugees without taking into confidence the Afghan side and UNHCR? (Allah Noor Wazir, Mashriq TV): If Afghan Charge d' Affaires was summoned at Foreign Office, did he assure that the Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan by TTP and BLA as well which took the responsibility of Jaffar Express incident and they were operating from the Afghan soil? Does Pakistan hope that Afghanistan will take action against them? Will they ensure that their soil is not used against Pakistan? (Asghar Ali Asghar Mubarak, The Daily Mail International): My colleagues have already asked the detailed question. I just want to ask will Pakistan seek help of international community and other external sources for the implementation of Doha agreement, because I asked on 1st March that Pakistan has many evidences on this matter which had been shared by the ISPR and other Government officials during press briefings. Will Pakistan put forward its point of view? Spokesperson: About summoning of the Afghan Cd' A, this is part of the routine diplomatic activity. We do not announce it in the media. There is a regular interaction going on between the embassies based in Islamabad and the Foreign Ministry, it is a regular activity. So, nothing exception or unusual about it. We need to keep that in view. Secondly, our concerns have been consistently shared. And as I pointed out last time, embassies are a very important channel of communication to convey messages or concerns. Then we have other channels also. For example, the Special Representative, Ambassador Sadiq is also actively in contact. So, our position on this issue has consistently been conveyed to Afghan authorities through a number of channels. Indeed, terrorist threat against Pakistan from terrorist entities including TTP, BLA and ISKP is our foremost concern. We continue to impress upon interim authorities to take visible and verifiable action against them, keeping in view their commitments given to the international community to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and groups from the Afghan soil. About the UNHCR element, I will get back to you. But overall, what I can say is that the policy has been very clearly conveyed to you. We are not bound to consult UNHCR. First of all, Pakistan is not a member of the Refugee Convention. So, anything we have done for the Afghan refugees was done voluntarily for the past 50 years. So, with regards to international obligations, we have fulfilled more than our share, by offering this kind of hospitality to Afghans and we continue to welcome them. But they should have Pakistani visas on their passport, and then they will be more than welcome. Also, there is a large body of Afghans living here with proper documentation. (Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): Some developments regarding Afghanistan. Following this National Security Committee of the parliament meeting, the leadership has pronounced various aspects including that we can go inside Afghanistan to attack these entities that you are talking about. I don't need reaction on their statements but since you deal with the policy matters, what is the precise policy? Whether we have finally decided a hot pursuit policy inside Afghanistan, and how do you explain that Pakistan is no more a soft state? It will be a hard state. What is the concept of being a hard state? The Defense Minister said publicly that both inside and outside Afghanistan, we can pursue this policy. (Khalid Mehmood): In yesterday's talk show, the Defense Minister said it. Spokesperson: I have not seen the statement. But what I can tell you about our policy is that it remains consistent and the same. We can continue to raise this issue with Afghan authorities. Our counter-terrorism efforts within the country will continue apace, and we will continue to emphasize and ask Afghan authorities to take visible, verifiable action against terrorists who enjoy sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. (Naveed Siddiqui, Business Recorder): Sir, how do you assess the roles of tribal jirgas and KPK government in reopening of torkham border, and under what condition has the border opened. On other side, it was learned from the reliable sources that NLC terminal at the zero point at torkham border, sustained significant damages during the cross-border firing from the Taliban forces. Your comments please. Spokesperson: About KPK government, we have been explaining it in the past as well. There was a statement that they would want to engage with the Afghan authorities directly. I had explained our position that Foreign Affairs remains solely the remit and mandate of the federal government. Regarding second question, Torkham has opened yesterday, and I think by tomorrow, pedestrian traffic will also be allowed. So the current arrangement has been arrived at through mutual consultations, and this is a good, positive development which is up to 15th April. By that time we expect that further negotiations and consultations would be held to put in place a permanent system which could ensure the continuous operation of the Torkham border seamlessly. All channels and contacts have been used, and we think it's a positive development. We want to make it sustainable and permanent. Ceasefire effort? Spokesperson: Ceasefire presumes a kind of active hostility. I did not use the word 'cease fire'. (Naveed Siddiqui): What were the conditions, did they stop at the border post we they not accepting any demands. Spokesperson: What I mean is, this is one of our basic requirements. There won't be any construction by Afghan side inside the Pakistani territory. (Aijaz Ahmad, GNN News): Pakistan - US relations are improving. What are the mutual points on which both sides have agreed to cooperate and could agree? Is elimination of terrorism from Afghanistan is one of those points. Is the action against BLA whose members are residing in Afghanistan, another point of convergence? Spokesperson: Pakistan - US relations remain strong. This is a decades long relationship. We have multi-dimensional relationship, people-to-people contacts, trade, investment, education, and then there are counter-terrorism, security cooperation. There are layers of engagement between the two countries and counter-terrorism is one aspect of it. (Raziq Bhatti, Kashmir Express): Indian Defence Minister said that elimination of Article 370 was a peaceful process without having fired a single bullet. Now, occupied Kashmir is part of India and we will not tolerate any external interference. Your comments please. Spokesperson: I have commented on Indian Defence Minister's statement in the last briefing also. It is far removed from the facts. It is almost delusional. How can you call killing of more than 100,000 Kashmiris as peaceful. That's what I can say. Indian barbarity and the killing spree which has been going on in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir is well documented, well known and such statements cannot hide the dark reality, which is currently prevailing inside Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. (Raja Mohsin Ijaz, ARY News): An investigative committee was formulated by Deputy Prime Minister. Has this committee been formulated for specific purposes or it will oversee the matters in general? Secondly, when this committee will share its report because we are receiving reports that 150 Pakistani women who belong to 'Ghizar' were allegedly human trafficked to Serbia. Is the committee specifically overseeing this matter or other matters are also being investigated as there are unverified reports from other places as well like Pakistan Ambassador to the US was also responsible for issuing of note verbale for these Pakistani women. So, is the committee working on one specific matter, if it is then what is the matter being investigated? Spokesperson: As I explained to you, this fact-finding committee was formulated for the investigation of the speculations circulating on social media. It is overseeing matters in general. After thorough investigation, the fact-finding committee will present its report to the Deputy Prime Minister. It has its own procedure. I will have to check the time allocated to the committee for this purpose. These days there is too much speculation and anything can be posted on social media. Therefore, Deputy Prime Minister decided to formulate a committee to gather facts on the issues and make matters clear. (Anwar Abbas, 24 News): Skirmishes are taking place for the last two to three days on Lebanon-Syrian border which is being initiated by new Syrian government's forces, Hizb-ut-Tahrir. What is Pakistan's stance on this? Spokesperson: Pakistan reiterates the need for all parties to exercise restraint. We call on all parties to respect state sovereignty of each state and refrain from any actions that could further exacerbate violence and instability in the region. (Almas Haider Naqvi, Mashriq TV): Sir, there are reports that Pakistan is buying 1.1% share at the BRICS backed New Development Bank with the aim to diversify Pakistan's credit options and reduce dependence on World Bank and IMF. My question is whether Pakistan can acquire such shares without being a member of BRICS. And secondly, how Pakistan can ensure such shares if India attempts to block Pakistan move? Spokesperson: About the procedural aspect of the New Development Bank, the BRICS Development Bank, its membership is different than the BRICS membership. That's what I can convey to you. But about the specifics, I'm not aware. I'll have to check the details, and then I would be able to get back to you. (Amjad Ali, EFE Spanish News Agency): Couple of weeks ago, there were some media reports, and also Spanish police shared some information about a group of Pakistanis who were arrested in Spain. What is the latest update on those arrests? Spokesperson: We have actually commented on it in the last briefing. We have received information through our consulate in Barcelona that Pakistani citizens had been arrested in Spain for violation of the Spanish domestic laws. But later on, we were conveyed that four of the individuals were released after the initial investigation by police and one of the individuals a woman was released by the court on bail. Our consulate remains in touch. We are following it. There's nothing further at this point in time to report on that. Their deportation to Pakistan is speculative. Let's see how it proceeds in the Spanish judicial system. (Muhammad Adnan Ami, Nikkei Asia): It was reported in media a couple of days back that Pakistani Federal Minister for railways has said that if China is not willing to invest in ML-1 project, then Pakistan will use its own resources to build the project. So, can you confirm if there is a show of reluctance from China not to invest in this project? And secondly, can you confirm if a technical team from China is coming this month to Pakistan to discuss the same matter? Spokesperson: The first part of the question, I am not aware of it, but I don't think I haven't seen any report, but I will check on both issues. (Allah Noor Wazir, Mashriq TV): Sir, the President, the Prime Minister, the Army Chief, DG ISPR or other government officials say that Pakistan faces terror activities emanating from Afghanistan. So, is it Pakistan's failure to secure its border with Afghanistan? Spokesperson: You are from the same region and know what are the difficulties of that border, how challenging it is, and to completely seal off the border is impossible. So, as I explained to you, we are taking more robust action on our side, but at the same time, if the terrorists continue to enjoy sanctuaries and support from across the border, infiltration is always possible. (Asghar Ali Mubarak, The Daily Mail International): It is being reported that India was directly and indirectly involved in Jafar Express hijacking. Pakistan had earlier submitted dossier to international community on India's involvement in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Did Pakistan, took up the issue through its missions, or intimated High Commissioners and Ambassadors posted in Pakistan on this matter? Spokesperson: Indian involvement is clear. They have been involved in terrorism in Pakistan. And secondly, it's not just Pakistan. They have been trying to destabilize the entire region, all South Asian countries. And they also have been running, a global assassination campaign sponsored from their country, and their involvement is very clear to us. Regarding the issue of flagging it, this is an ongoing process. Our embassies are active on this. We continue to highlight it. And you may also have noticed that India never condemned this attack on Jafar Express also. That is also a point worth noting. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): America issued a travel advisory for its citizens travelling to Pakistan especially for KPK and Balochistan. Under International law level 4, the UK also issued travel advisory for its citizens travelling to KPK and Balochistan especially for the Northern areas which attract many tourists, resultantly local tourism business is in shambles. Such policies which are directly affecting Pakistan, what is Pakistan's stance on this? Spokesperson: Travel advisory is a country's internal decision. But if the matter is discussed with us, we clarify the situation. I am not aware about the changes in the travel advisory related to places of KPK and Northern areas by the UK. I will check. (Qurat Ul Ain, Independent Urdu): About an earlier question, I just want this to get confirmed. If you've said that Indian involvement was clear regarding Jafar Express attack or not, because last week, after the briefing, it was misreported that Pakistan said that India was involved in the Jaffer express incident? Spokesperson: What I said is that India's involvement in fanning terrorism in Pakistan, and its involvement in destabilizing Balochistan is very clear to us. (Mateen Haider, G News): Yes, it is related to same on Jafar Express, the Chief Minister, Mr. Bugti and DG ISPR openly said that there is nexus between terrorist organization and Indian external intelligence RAW in Afghanistan. We do have a mechanism between India and Pakistan intelligence information sharing. If it is proven that India is involved in subversive activities, is Pakistan going to share this evidence with India? Is Pakistan going to share this at United Nations Security Council level, because it is an act by another country in another country to destabilize it, to carry out subversive activities, which is breach of our sovereignty, and national security. Spokesperson: About this point, about the dossiers we have been giving to the United Nations in the past, and we continue to raise it. Regarding new dossier, I will have to check, but the updated information we get, we continue to share it with our interlocutors all over the world. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Estonia presents a diplomatic note to Russia Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 20.03.2025 Today 20 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a representative of the Russian embassy to present a diplomatic note in relation to last year's incident on the Narva River when Russia illegally removed border buoys. The Estonian note states that we have made various proposals for constructive cooperation, which Russia has rejected. Estonia concludes that the parties are unable to come to an agreement on the 2024 incident. We emphasise that Estonia's territory is inviolable and the removal of buoys from Estonian waters is unacceptable; we are also reiterating our demand for the return of the stolen buoys. In light of the upcoming navigation period, the note announces that Estonia considers it necessary to also install buoys this year. In line with current practices, the practical aspects of this issue are handled by border representatives. The note underlines that we would like to resolve the issue of installing the buoys in a constructive manner. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Kostroma Region Governor Sergei Sitnikov The head of the region briefed the President on measures to support participants in the special military operation, industrial and transport infrastructure projects, the development of agriculture, the state of the education system and personnel training issues. March 20, 2025 13:45 The Kremlin, Moscow At the beginning of the meeting, Sergei Sitnikov gave the President a collection of verses written by participants in the special military operation from the Kostroma Region. He noted that the 331st and 1,065th Kostroma regiments were currently deployed in the special military operation zone. He also thanked the President for bestowing the Order of Kutuzov on the 331st Guards Assault Regiment. According to the Governor, high-priority objectives are linked to logistics support for the special military operation. The region is providing substantial assistance to three regiments it patronises. Apart from the two regiments mentioned, this includes the newly-established 348th regiment. Today, authorities assist over 8,000 families of participants in the special military operation. In addition to traditional support measures, the region's authorities provide these families with land plots. Sergei Sitnikov discussed assistance for a district in the Lugansk Region, which is also patronised by the region, and efforts to organise its healthcare system and maintain the district's housing and utility infrastructure. According to the Governor, the share of medical personnel in the Kostroma Region's healthcare system has increased from 76 percent to 85 percent over a period of five years. Currently, 700 people are being trained. The region is addressing the issue of providing housing for doctors. Ten years ago, regional authorities began to focus on the development of high-tech medical treatment, and this had major significance for attracting human resources At present, 23 high-tech treatment methods are available. At the same time, Sergei Sitnikov asked the President to support construction of a modern maternity hospital, especially as the region is posting impressive birth rates. The President and the Governor also discussed education, employment, household incomes and the results of implementing the Social Contract programme, particularly in rural areas, where people are increasingly engaging in small-scale production. Sergei Sitnikov reported an inflow of 185 billion rubles in investments in 2020-2024. The region has two major investors. One is Inter RAO, which is upgrading a major thermal power plant near Kostroma. The project is expected to significantly reduce electricity costs in the region. The other investor is Segezha Group, which has built and put into operation a large facility for the manufacturing of wide plywood sheets in Galich in two years. Despite difficulties with exports, the company continues its operations, finding ways to market its products. The new plant is expected to reach its design capacity by the end of this year. The discussion also touched upon regional infrastructure. Over the last six years, more than 1,200 kilometres of regional and municipal roads have been brought up to standard. However, as the Governor noted, the lack of a bypass road around the city unfortunately continues to be a problem. The situation is as follows. Three federal motorways converge in downtown Kostroma, linked by a bridge built in 1970, which means 17,000 heavy trucks cross the city centre daily. Sergei Sitnikov asked for the President's support in addressing this issue. The Governor recalled that five years ago, the President brought to his attention the outdated agricultural machinery in the region and reported that the issue has been addressed, which doubled labour productivity in local agriculture. The crop area is being expanded every year, even though Kostroma does not lie within Russia's Black Earth Belt. Last year, the region produced one billion eggs for the first time in its history and today supplies this product to neighbouring regions as well. Sergei Sitnikov brought up another issue in his conversation with the President. In 2030, the Ipatiev Monastery will mark its 700th anniversary. He quoted Vladimir Putin's statement from March 2005: "The revival of Russia will begin with the revival of the Ipatiev Monastery." The Governor emphasised that the monastery is not just a tourist attraction, but a spiritual landmark and place of power, and asked the President for support in celebrating this event, echoing a similar appeal made by the Patriarch. Vladimir Putin agreed that it would be a milestone event, marking 700 years of the monastery, and that support should be provided. At the end of the meeting, Sergei Sitnikov pointed out that, although the region has made certain achievements and attained positive outcomes, there are still many issues to address. He reminded the President that his tenure as Governor is expiring this year and asked for his endorsement to run for re-election. Vladimir Putin noted that the Governor has been making good progress and doing many things well. He wished Sergei Sitnikov continued success while expressing hope that the people in the region will support him. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Minister inspects development of Caspian Flotilla's infrastructure 20.03.2025 (12:30) When on a working visit to the Republic of Dagestan, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov inspected the infrastructure being developed at the Caspian Flotilla. During the meeting, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov received reports from the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, and the Commander of the Caspian Flotilla, Rear Admiral Oleg Zverev, on the organisation of combat training for the Flotilla's military personnel, the development of the naval base's infrastructure, and the activation of new port facilities. At present, a system of new hydraulic structures including northern and southern moles of more than two kilometres, piers and coastal infrastructure is being constructed in Kaspiysk to effectively support the berthing and maintenance of ships, boats, and watercraft in general. The Russian Minister of Defence was also informed that special attention is paid to resolving social maintenance issues of servicemen and their families, including the service-provided accommodation. The head of the Russian Defence Ministry pointed out to representatives of the Russian Defence Ministry's military construction complex the need to bring the facilities into operation as soon as possible, taking into account the urgency of the Flotilla's tasks. 'We are about to take this facility under special control so that everything is organised at its best. This facility is to be completed,' said the Russian Defence Minister during the inspection of the construction of a new building of the Caspian Flotilla's Headquarters. A representative of the Military Construction Complex briefed the Russian Minister of Defence on the the construction progress of main facilities of the base and also noted that a 150-bed garrison hospital was currently being completed and is scheduled to be commissioned as early as May 2025. At the training facility of the anti-submarine sabotage unit, Andrei Belousov was informed on the organisation of combat diver training, training methods, and equipping the Centre with the necessary means for special sea- and ground-based missions. At the end of the visit, Andrei Belousov presented servicemen who had distinguished themselves in the zone of the special military operation with state awards. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Navy's detachment conducts Arabian Monsoon joint naval exercise with Pakistan Navy in Arabian Sea 20.03.2025 (09:30) A detachment of Russian Navy ships consisting of corvettes Rezky, Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and medium sea tanker Pechenga (Pacific Fleet) participated in a joint PASSEX-type exercise called Arabian Monsoon together with the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. After leaving the port of Karachi, the Pacific Fleet ships formed a joint detachment with the Pakistani frigate Shah-Jahan and corvette Tabuk. During the exercise, the ships of the two countries practised tactical manoeuvring tasks and repelled mock attacks of the enemy's uncrewed surface vehicles. The crews of the combat ships also conducted an air defence exercise. The joint naval exercise ended with an operation to free a vessel notionally seized by terrorists. The tanker Pechenga acted as the captured ship in this training stage. For Reference: The last time the parties conducted a PASSEX-type exercise, the Arabian Monsoon, was in 2021 Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No: 24-124 WASHINGTON, March 20, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) II All-Up-Round and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $100 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy two thousand (2,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS). The following non-MDE items will be included: APKWS spare parts; support equipment; missile software; training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $100 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region. The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's capability to meet current and future threats and give it the ability to precisely engage targets with much less risk of collateral damage than other guided missile systems. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be BAE Systems, Inc., located in Falls Church, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of up to two additional U.S. Government and up to two contractor representatives annually to Saudi Arabia for a duration of one week for program technical support and management oversight. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HRH the Crown Prince Receives Phone Call from French President Saudi Press Agency Wednesday 19/09/1446 Jeddah, March 20, 2025, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a phone call today from President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron. During the call, they discussed regional developments, topped by the resumption of Israeli aggression on Gaza and efforts to halt the attacks and protect civilians. The French president praised Saudi Arabia's hosting of the U.S.-Russian dialogue and the talks to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. They also discussed several topics of common interest. -- SPA 04:56 Local Time 01:56 GMT 0027 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Sham" halfway between a painful past and a fresh start - Foreign Minister Baerbock travels to Damascus again Germany Federal Foreign Office 20.03.2025 - Article With her second trip to Damascus following the end of the Assad dictatorship, Annalena Baerbock is underscoring that we stand ready to provide support for the peaceful transition and for reconstruction. Lebanon: A country between crisis and resilience Foreign Minister Baerbock first travelled to the Lebanese capital of Beirut for political talks on 19 March before travelling on to Damascus on 20 March. For years, Lebanon has been rocked by political and economic crises - which have been met with impressive and even greater resilience by the local population. Foreign Minister Baerbock used her visit for political talks. After years of deadlock, the election of Joseph Aoun to the Presidency at the beginning of this year has opened the door for urgently needed reforms. Moreover, the new government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who has ambitious reform plans for the country, gives the Lebanese people justified hope for a fresh start. For this hope not to be undermined but rather used to guide the country to political and economic stability, Germany intends to continue providing support. With the most religiously diverse society of any state in the Middle East, stability in Lebanon would send a strong signal throughout the region. Syria: Peace thanks to political participation for all As Lebanon's neighbours, millions of Syrians share this hope for stability; their country longs for peace and security after having lived through fourteen years of civil war and an even longer period of dictatorship under the Assad family. In Damascus, Foreign Minister Baerbock will hold talks with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani, as well as with members of civil society. Not least the terrible massacre of hundreds of people, many of them Alawites, demonstrates how urgent it is to take concrete steps towards political inclusion - for all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. The transitional government in Syria must urgently hold to account those responsible. This is why Foreign Minister Baerbock also spoke with the families of civilians who were brutally killed in Syria's western coastal region, and why she had what is now a second meeting with members of the Syrian Civil Defence, who are also known as the White Helmets. The White Helmets organisation provides humanitarian assistance and even during the civil war its members risked their own lives to help save tens of thousands of people. Foreign Minister Baerbock's discussions in Syria focused on the state of efforts towards achieving an effective transitional justice system. For the country to find peace, it is absolutely essential for the crimes committed under the Assad regime to be prosecuted. The Minister's agenda also includes meetings with women's and human rights activists. After all, only if all population groups are involved in the national transition process will it be possible for Syria to enjoy peace in the long term. Electricity for Syria's transition Reconstruction and economic opportunities are the basis for future stability. This is nothing short of a mammoth task. Compared to electric power capacity prior to the civil war, people in Syria today have available only some 20 percent. For Damascus, this means that the electricity is on only for around two hours per day. Getting the country reconnected to the power grid and improving the energy supply is an important step along the path to economic reconstruction. To support the country on all levels as it moves forward, the Federal Foreign Office again has staff members in Damascus who took up their posts at the beginning of the year. Foreign Minister Baerbock will officially open the German Embassy there during her visit, although its operational capacity will remain very limited for quite some time. "Sham" - a historic name that describes Damascus and the region as a place to be yearned for - has today also become a place of yearning for peace. Baerbock's second visit to Damascus is also a sign of our hope that the country can succeed in its transition and open a new chapter in which we accompany Syria from its traumatic past into a better future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany Federal Foreign Office 20.03.2025 - Press release Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued the following statement today (20 March 2025) prior to her onward journey to Damascus: More than three months after the end of the Assad dictatorship, the people in Syria long for a fresh start and genuine prospects for rebuilding their lives in their country. Their hopes and expectations for a first spring in freedom and full of opportunities are as pressing as their concerns. While, for example, food prices across the country have fallen dramatically, 90 percent of the population still live below the poverty line. Many simply lack the most basic essentials, such as food, healthcare, electricity, schooling and employment. What is more, many of them fear that life in Syria will, also in the future, not be safe for all Syrians. The horrific outbreaks of violence two weeks ago destroyed a huge amount of trust. The targeted killing of civilians is a terrible crime. The transitional government must have control over the actions of the factions within its own ranks and hold those responsible to account. In order for reconciliation to succeed, a functioning transitional justice system and the prosecution of Assad's crimes are now vital. Experienced international organisations can provide support to this end. The mammoth task facing the Syrian transitional government under Ahmed al-Sharaa is to bring peace to the country, to continue to take steps to root out the seeds of extremism and terrorism, to forge ahead with the political transition and to swiftly offer the people economic prospects. It is clear that this path is long and difficult, full of obstacles and certainly also winding. But it is also clear that we want to support the Syrian people together with our European partners and the United Nations - for example, with 300 million euro for humanitarian assistance and access to education and psychosocial support, as Germany announced at the Brussels conference on Syria just last Monday. Or with the gradual easing of sanctions with which we as the EU have taken a first important step towards the reconstruction of the country. With my trip today, I am therefore reiterating my clear message to the Syrian people: a political reset between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria, is possible. However, this is also bound up with the clear expectation that freedom, security and opportunities in Syria are there for everyone - women and men and members of all ethnic groups and religions. The historic agreement with the Kurds in the northeast shows that a united Syria is within reach. A similar approach to other population groups is needed so that the Druze, Alawites, Christians and others can also feel that they are part of a new Syria. Ultimately, it is the Syrians themselves who will determine their country's future with their own sovereign decision. The influence of foreign actors has brought nothing but chaos to Syria in the past. Attacks on Syrian territory are jeopardising the country's stability even today. All sides are called upon to exercise maximum military restraint and to refrain from undermining the intra-Syrian reconciliation process. This reconciliation must now be worked towards with all due urgency so that the legitimate hopes and expectations of so many people can become a reality - a life in freedom and security and with economic prospects in their own country. Taiwan pledges to buy more produce, natural gas from U.S.: Lai ROC Central News Agency 03/20/2025 10:18 PM Taipei, March 20 (CNA) Taiwan will purchase more American goods, ranging from agricultural products to natural gas, President Lai Ching-te () told a business community in Taipei on Thursday, as part of efforts to reduce the trade deficit with the United States. "Taiwan is going to expand procurement from the U.S. of industrial and agricultural products, as well as natural gas," Lai said at the Hsieh Nien Fan banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan). The president also turned to visiting Governor of Alaska Mike Dunleavy and said Taiwan "[is] very interested in buying Alaskan natural gas because it can meet our needs and ensure our energy security." Lai's comments reflected his administration's broader efforts to reduce Taiwan's trade deficit with the U.S. following tariff threats by President Donald Trump. The comments, made in front of around 800 attendees, including officials and business representatives from Taiwan and the U.S., also came hours after Taiwan's top diplomat Lin Chia-lung () revealed that an official delegation would visit the U.S. in September to purchase agricultural goods. Lai also described Taiwan as "an indispensable partner" for the U.S. as the latter seeks to re-industrialize and consolidate its high-tech leadership. "I am confident that Taiwanese and American companies can leverage their respective high-tech expertise and invest in each other, boosting growth in industrial innovation and development for both our economies," Lai said. He said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s (TSMC) expansion in the U.S."highlight[s]" such enduring prosperity shared by Taiwan and the U.S., noting that Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing "plays an irreplaceable part in the supply chain." Lai was referring to TSMC's recent pledge to invest US$100 billion to build three more foundries, an R&D center, and two packaging facilities in Arizona, in addition to its previous commitment to invest a total of US$65 billion in three chip foundries, one of which has begun operation. TSMC's newly announced venture to produce cutting-edge semiconductors has raised concerns from Taiwanese opposition party figures and critics that Taiwan could lose its competitive advantage and unique importance as the hub of global chipmaking. In a bid to dispel such concerns, Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Taipei Main Office, compared TSMC's investment in the U.S. with that of American tech companies in Taiwan. "TSMC's new fabs in Arizona are not going to reduce demand in the world for the world's most efficient semiconductor ecosystem here in Taiwan," Greene said. Semiconductor technology partnership is not a zero-sum game, he said, adding that the U.S. is "a launchpad for Taiwan companies, providing unparalleled access to the world's largest consumer market and most advanced research ecosystem." On the security front, Greene maintained that the U.S. "stands strong with Taiwan and our allies in the Indo-Pacific region to deter conflict and coercion," in what appeared to be another effort to ease anxieties in Taiwan following Trump's policy shift on the war in Ukraine. "The United States has made clear that we oppose any forced, compelled, or coercive change to the status of Taiwan," said Greene, whose agency represents Washington's interest with Taipei in the absence of formal diplomatic ties between the two sides. "Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is absolutely critical for the economic well-being of the United States and the entire world," he said. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More details on military trial system overhaul expected in April: Cabinet ROC Central News Agency 03/20/2025 05:18 PM Taipei, March 20 (CNA) The Executive Yuan planned to discuss further details about reinstating the military trial system next month, amid an increase of espionage cases involving active-duty servicemen, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee () said Thursday. At a press briefing, Lee said Premier Cho Jung-tai () would convene a Cabinet meeting in early April to review a plan for restoring and overhauling the system, as well as a timeline for putting it into action. While there are still military judges, the current law mandates that court-martial be used only during times of war. Any change to that would require legislative approval. On March 13, Lai announced his administration's intention to reinstitute the military trial system, following a growing number of espionage cases involving active Taiwanese servicemen. The government will seek to amend the Military Trial Act to "restore the military trial system [and] allow military judges to return to the frontline," Lai said at a news conference. Military trials will handle military crimes committed by active-duty servicemen, such as sedition, aiding the enemy, leaking confidential information, dereliction of duty and disobedience, he added. According to data from the National Security Bureau, 64 people in Taiwan were indicted for spying for China in 2024, three times the number in 2021. Of those indicted, 28 were active-duty servicemen and 15 were retired personnel, accounting for 66 percent of the total, the data showed. On Thursday, Lee said the government would "build up a new system" that ensures independence, fair trials and due process in future military trials. The government is committed to addressing "the aspects of the previous system that were criticized and did not adhere to the Constitution," Lee said, without elaborating. Speaking with CNA last week, the Judicial Reform Foundation expressed concern that the previous legal framework would be restored. The NGO noted that the military court system was disbanded in 2013 because of multiple cases of human rights violations and cover-up among military personnel. (By Lai Yu-chen and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump against any change of Taiwan's status quo by force: Rubio ROC Central News Agency 03/20/2025 12:45 PM Washington, March 19 (CNA) U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio said Wednesday that President Donald Trump is opposed to any change of Taiwan's status quo by force or extortion and will maintain that policy. Speaking with conservative TV host Hugh Hewitt, Rubio said the U.S.' policy is to maintain Taiwan's status quo and to oppose any changes in the situation by force or extortion. "That's the policy of the United States; that remains the policy of the United States," Rubio said. "That's been the policy of President Trump, and that will continue to be his policy. And when he makes policy decisions, he means them." Rubio's comments followed a statement Tuesday by a State Department spokesperson, who described China's latest drills near Taiwan the previous day as "brazen and irresponsible threats" and reiterated Washington's decades-long support for Taipei. Also on Monday, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) deployed more than two dozen military aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait and sent dozens more into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), in collaboration with Chinese naval vessels, from 6 a.m. to about 9 p.m., according to data issued by Taiwan's military. In Rubio's interview Tuesday, he was asked about the significance of Trump's meeting earlier this month with C.C. Wei (), chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which the president described as a "big deal." When asked whether Trump's comment was an indication of the U.S.' resolve to stand with Taiwan, Rubio said Washington's policy on the issue remains the same as it has always been. On March 3, during a visit by Wei to the White House, Trump announced that TSMC would invest an additional US$100 billion in the U.S. According to Wei, the investment will cover the establishment of three more advanced wafer fabs, two IC assembly plants, and one research and development center in Arizona, which will bring the company's total investment in the U.S. state to US$165 billion. On Tuesday, Rubio was also asked in the interview whether the U.S. would be able to deter Chinese President Xi Jinping () from attacking Taiwan. In response, Rubio said Washington can delay and deter by making the price of taking Taiwan higher than what Xi believes to be the benefits. He noted, however, that the Chinese president wants the annexation of Taiwan to be defined as a crown jewel of his time in power. "So it's a very delicate situation there," Rubio said. "Our policy remains the same. We do not believe that there should be any violent and/or extortion-based change to the status." (By Chung Yu-chen and Frances Huang) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'No debate needed' on revoking of Chinese influencer's residency: MAC ROC Central News Agency 03/20/2025 09:49 PM Taipei, March. 20 (CNA) Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) suggested Thursday that video evidence means there is "no need for debate" over whether a Chinese influencer living in Taiwan had called for China's annexation of Taiwan through military force. The Chinese national, surnamed Liu (), had her residence permit revoked last week for "openly advocating for China's unification through military force," according to the National Immigration Agency (NIA). Liu, whose residency in Taiwan was based on her marriage to a Taiwanese citizen, drew public scorn over the statements she made on her account "Yaya in Taiwan" () on Chinese social media platform Douyin. On Thursday morning, during a livestream on YouTube, Liu denied that she ever called for Chinese and Taiwanese unification by military force in her videos. She said she was merely discussing the large-scale Chinese military exercise held around Taiwan in May last year. In response, MAC deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh () said at a regular news briefing later that day that the NIA had already thoroughly reviewed Liu's video content. He also played a video from late May last year posted on the Facebook page of China Taiwan Net -- a website run by China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) -- that was reposted from Liu's Douyin account. Liu said in the video that Taiwan had been "tightly surrounded" during the "Joint Sword-2024A" large-scale military drill around Taiwan on May 23-24 last year. The Chinese influencer described the drill as "the most powerful and offensive exercise to date," adding that it was a move to "always be ready to defend our national sovereignty." "Maybe when we wake up tomorrow morning, the island will already be covered with red flags. Just the thought of it makes me happy," Liu said in the video. After playing the video, Liang asked: "Did she promote unification by military force in the video? I think there is no need for debate." He then said that some Chinese people in Taiwan make provocative remarks on Douyin to attract views in China to boost online traffic and sales. The Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area states that a Chinese national in Taiwan "may be deported, or ordered to depart within 10 days" under circumstances including "being considered threat [sic] to the national or social stability based on sufficient facts." (By Sunny Lai) Enditem/kb/jt NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 40 Taiwanese under investigation over Chinese ID documents ROC Central News Agency 03/20/2025 09:13 PM Taipei, March 20 (CNA) More than 40 Taiwanese citizens are under investigation for allegedly holding Chinese identity cards, and 14 individuals have already been notified that their Taiwanese household registrations and other documents will be revoked, according to Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang () on Thursday. At a press conference following a Ministry of the Interior administrative meeting in Taipei, Liu explained that Taiwanese citizens found to illegally hold Chinese identity documents will have their Taiwanese health insurance, identity cards and passports revoked. They will "not be Taiwanese citizens," she explained. Deputy Interior Minister Wu Tang-an () clarified that regulations governing household registrations mean that any Taiwanese found holding Chinese household registration shall have their Taiwanese registration canceled. Moreover, it "won't be very easy" for them to regain household registration in Taiwan in the future, Wu added, citing regulations. At the press conference, Liu was also asked about the case of a Taiwan-based Chinese social media influencer, known by her account name "Yaya in Taiwan" (), who was ordered to leave the country in recent days over her public statements advocating China's "military unification" of Taiwan. The agency's recent actions had prompted Pa Chiung (), a popular Youtuber who voices opposition to the Chinese Communist Party, to call for a public protest against the National Immigration Agency (NIA) over this and similar cases. Pa Chiung had brought the issue of Taiwanese citizens illegally holding Chinese identity documents into public focus in recent weeks through videos he posted on social media. In response, Liu stated that the NIA has followed the law and not deviated from procedural norms. Liu also said that while online statements made by "Yaya" have been "inconsistent," the penalty against her remains unchanged. If the Chinese national -- whose residence permit was based on her marriage to a Taiwanese citizen -- does not comply with her 10-day deportation order, then she will be forcibly removed from the country, the interior minister reiterated. (By James Thompson and Kao Hua-hsien) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. experts back President Lai's response to China annexation threat ROC Central News Agency 03/20/2025 04:57 PM Washington, March 19 (CNA) U.S. experts have voiced their support in recent days for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's () approach to protecting Taiwan in the face of China's annexation threat. John Dotson, deputy director of the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), told CNA that Lai's assertion that China seeks to annex Taiwan is accurate and reflects Beijing's "increasingly aggressive behavior towards that end." "Lai is simply acknowledging reality," Dotson said, referring to the Taiwanese president's remarks on March 13 that included calling China a "foreign hostile force" as termed in Taiwan's Anti-Infiltration Act. Dotson said that Taiwan's national security institutions face "a severe espionage problem" and he applauded Lai's recent call to revive military tribunals to deal with the problem in the military as "a harsh but necessary measure." However, the American scholar, who has written extensively on political and national security issues in East Asia, also warned that dealing with "broader societal infiltration through United Front measures" -- referring to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) influence operations -- "is trickier." "There needs to be a frank public discussion of how Beijing is attempting to exploit Taiwan's freedoms in order to end those freedoms," he said. Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, echoed Dotson's views by saying Beijing is attempting to use "influence operations, infiltration, and economic leverage to weaken Taiwan from within." "Beijing sees Taiwan's open society as vulnerable to subversion, and Lai's remarks signal a growing recognition that these under-the-radar efforts are just as destabilizing as military threats," the expert on geopolitical strategy and east Asian affairs told CNA. "Lai isn't escalating tensions -- he's responding to a reality where China's pressure campaign has only intensified." "The reinstatement of military trials and stricter counter-infiltration measures signal a more proactive national security posture," Singleton continued. "This move is about deterrence and resilience, not provocation." Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said at the 2025 Yushan Forum this week that Taiwan faced a "destabilizing military, economic and diplomatic pressure campaign" from China. "In this context, President Lai's initiative to crack down on longstanding Chinese espionage and influence operations will further enhance our ability to cooperate with Taiwan," he said, referring to U.S. efforts to assist the country's "self-defense capabilities and societal resilience." Joseph Bosco, fellow at the Institute for Corea-America Studies (ICAS), said that he agreed with President Lai's assessment of China as a "hostile" force, adding that China is also hostile to the U.S. and "the free world." "The CCP sees virtually everything as a provocation," he said, "including Taiwan's very existence as an independent, democratic country." (By Elaine Hou and James Thompson ) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's intimidation tactics against Taiwan threaten freedom of speech: U.S. ROC Central News Agency 03/20/2025 12:53 PM Washington, March 19 (CNA) The U.S. Department of State said Wednesday that China's intimidation campaign against Taiwan is threat to freedom of speech and a destabilizing factor in the Indo-Pacific region. "Twenty years after the passage of the Anti-Secession Law, China's intimidation campaign has gone global against Taiwan and its supporters in the United States and around the world," a State Department spokesperson told CNA via email after Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe () was recently put on trial in China on "separatism" charges. The spokesperson said China's intimidation campaign has been "threatening free speech, destabilizing the Indo-Pacific region, and eroding norms that have underpinned the cross-strait status quo for decades." The judicial guidelines issued by China in 2024, which purportedly are based on its Anti-Secession Law and Criminal Law, are "draconian," said the spokesperson. "They direct Chinese courts and law enforcement agencies to prosecute and punish so-called 'Taiwan independence diehards,' including, in some cases, by the death penalty," the spokesperson said. In the face of such provocative and irresponsible actions by China, "the United States remains committed to maintaining the capacity to deter aggressive action and resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan," the spokesperson said. Li, also known by the pen name Fu Cha (), was detained by police in Shanghai in March 2023 on suspicion of "engaging in activities that jeopardize national security," according to China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). Born in 1971 in China's northern Liaoning province, Li moved to Taiwan in 2009 and founded Gusa Publishing () the same year. He is married to a Taiwanese woman. Earlier this week, the TAO said Li had been tried for "the crime of inciting to split the country," and that a "public verdict" has been handed down at the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court on Feb. 17. The TAO did not give any information regarding sentencing in the case. (By Chung Yu-chen and Ko Lin) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New measures adopted to facilitate Taiwan compatriots' study, work and life on mainland: spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 20, 2025 10:00 PM Starting from Thursday, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has adopted two new measures to further facilitate Taiwan residents' study, work and life on the mainland, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at press conference. Under the new policy, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents who lose, damage, or forget to carry their travel permits to apply for a temporary electronic permit valid for seven days, enabling them to board flights and trains within mainland cities, Chen said. The NIA also launched a verification service linking travel and residence permits, Chen said. The public security authorities' immigration management departments have introduced a series of policy measures to facilitate document processing, border clearance and the use of entry and exit documents for Taiwan residents, striving to create a better development environment for them in the mainland, said the spokesman. For a long time, the public security authorities' immigration management departments have placed great importance on and lawfully protected information security, Chen said, emphasizing that these services require voluntary application and strict identity verification, ensuring the security of personal information. Chen also criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities for misleading the Taiwan public by equating residence permits issued to people from Taiwan on the mainland with ID cards held by mainland residents. "We solemnly clarify that the residence permits issued to people from Taiwan on the mainland and the ID cards held by mainland residents are fundamentally different documents in nature. The residence permits for Taiwan residents was introduced to meet the needs of Taiwan compatriots studying, working, starting businesses and living on the mainland," Chen said. Residence permits are designed solely to assist Taiwan residents living on the mainland, and do not require holders to give up their residency in Taiwan, and the rights and obligations that Taiwan residents enjoy in Taiwan island should not be affected, he said. Since its introduction, the residence permit for Taiwan residents living in the Chinese mainland has been widely welcomed by Taiwan compatriots, significantly facilitating their studies, entrepreneurship, employment, and daily life, Chen added. Chen reaffirmed that authorities will strictly protect the personal information of permit holders, and urged Taiwan residents to use the service with confidence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/03/20 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Mar. 19 (Wed.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 20 (Thu.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 27 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 out of 27 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and 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. 1140320__PLA activities_1.jpg 1140320_PLA activities_2.jpg 1140320_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan.jpg NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "As the dark shadow of terror moves away from politics, the democratic space of politics will further expand" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 20.03.2025 Speaking after an iftar dinner with former members of the parliament, President Erdogan said: "As the dark shadow of terror moves away from politics, words will grow stronger and the democratic space of politics will further expand. We as the government and the alliance are both sincere and determined to rid Turkiye of its 40-year-old lump." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with former deputies during an iftar dinner held at AK Party Congress Center in Ankara. "ZIONIST ISRAELI ADMINISTRATION IS CONTINUING ITS POLICY OF MASSACRE AND GENOCIDE IN GAZA" Making a speech after the dinner, President Erdogan stated that the Zionist Israeli administration has broken the ceasefire and is continuing its policy of massacre and genocide in Gaza during these sacred days of Ramadan, and said: "Over 500 Palestinians, most of them children and women, have died a martyr's death in these new attacks this murderous and venomous flock of barbarians have launched. The bombs poured over civilians in Gaza at suhoor time in Ramadan have left many mothers and fathers childless, and many children orphans. I wish Allah's mercy upon all of them." "WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND WITH OUR PALESTINIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS" Voicing his hope that these holy days may lead to the salvation of all the oppressed resisting oppressions and oppressors all across the world, President Erdogan noted: "Those, who remain silent to the massacres carried out relentlessly and do not prevent Israel's war and genocide crimes as well as its crimes against humanity, will sooner or later be held to account before both history and humanity's conscience. Those, who massacre children by taking courage from the powers whom they rely on, will inshallah drown in the innocents' blood they have shed. We as Turkiye will inshallah continue to stand with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, stand on the right side of history, and support the oppressed Gazan people with all our strength." "WE ARE DETERMINED TO RID TURKIYE OF ITS 40-YEAR-OLD LUMP" Also drawing attention to the goal of terror-free Turkiye, President Erdogan stressed that they as the country are going through a period that will put an end to this 40-year-old problem, and added: "This development will lead to relief and the strengthening of stability in the entire region, especially in Iraq and Syria, as well as in our country. As the dark shadow of terror moves away from politics, words will grow stronger and the democratic space of politics will further expand. And it will increase the problem-solving capacity of our democracy. I would like to note hereby that we as the government and the alliance are both sincere and determined to rid Turkiye of its 40-year-old lump. We always act with goodwill in every word we say, in every stance we display, and expect the same outright, honest and constructive approach from our interlocutors." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM: Barrow a blueprint for positive impact of defence spending across the country Barrow is a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country, the Prime Minister will say while on a visit to the town today. 20 March 2025 Keir Starmer joins Vanguard Class submarine crew returning home from nuclear deterrent patrol to thank them for their silent service Comes as he visits Barrow to lay the keel of the next generation Dreadnought submarine, the next generation of the UK's nuclear deterrent. Prime Minister announces His Majesty The King will confer the 'Royal' title to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town's unique and critical contribution to national security New 28 million funding package for T-Levels set to benefit Furness College in Barrow to support submarine builders of the future. Barrow is a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country, the Prime Minister will say while on a visit to the town today. It comes as he announces the King has agreed to confer the 'Royal' title to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town's unique and critical contribution to national security as home of nuclear submarine building in the UK. The visit follows the Prime Minister secretly joining submariners returning home to loved ones a few days ago, hearing firsthand the 'hot' debrief of their long operational tour keeping the UK and NATO Allies safe. The Prime Minister boarded the boat as it returned to UK waters, known as 'a Day Zero', to thank submariners for their months of silent service deep under water. He is the first Prime Minister to join a Day Zero since 2013. The Prime Minister also met families waiting for their relatives to return from sea, many of which had experienced significant life milestones while their loved ones were on deployment, including four submariners who returned home to newborn children. Since 1969, the nuclear deterrent has been the cornerstone of UK security and continuously delivered by the Royal Navy - with at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine patrolling the seas undetected at all times. The keel for the first nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine was laid in Barrow in 1959, before its launch in 1960. Two years later, the UK declared its nuclear capability to NATO. And this afternoon, the Prime Minister will lay the keel to the first boat of the next generation nuclear armed submarines, knowns as the Dreadnought class. Dreadnought will deliver the next generation of our nuclear deterrent, to protect our people and allies from the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life for decades to come. It is also expected to support more than 30,000 jobs across the country, from the heart of BAE Systems in Barrow, to small and medium enterprises up and down the country. Barrow will also play a vital role in delivering the AUKUS programme - a joint endeavour between Australia, the United States and the UK - with the first SSN-AUKUS attack submarines being built at the BAE Systems site. Last month, the Prime Minister announced that this government will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament. That will equate to an extra 13.4 billion on defence, allowing this government to go further than ever to make sure the benefit of that investment is felt in British people's pockets. The Barrow submarine workforce alone has grown by more than 1000 people in the past six months, with those working in the defence nuclear sector earning approximately 20% above the national average wage. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: When I say that our Plan for Change is delivering security for working people and renewal for our country, there is no better blueprint than Barrow. Defence spending here is supporting highly skilled jobs, driving opportunities for young people and delivering world class capabilities to keep us all safe, but it's also crucially putting money in the pockets of hardworking people. This week, I saw firsthand the sacrifice our submariners are making every day to keep our country safe, but I know they are only able to do that because of the support of the town of Barrow. Each and every person living and working in Barrow is contributing to our nation's defence, whether that is building our world-class submarine programme, or supporting the workforce here through vital public services or proud family businesses. The Prime Minister will also announce that His Majesty the King has agreed to confer the title 'Royal' to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town's undue role in guaranteeing the nation's security. The title is a recognition of the dedication and commitment of the people of Barrow in delivering the submarines that protect the nation, now and for decades to come. His Majesty hopes to visit the town in due course to mark the town's proud heritage and prosperous future. As part of recognising that contribution, and ensuring the community is able to continue delivering the nuclear deterrent for generations to come, new funding to support the wider community will be announced by the Prime Minister. That will include a new 28 million funding package for T-Levels, delivered by providers across England including Furness College in Barrow. The funding will help to equip and inspire students to be the next generation of submarine builders, with industry-relevant skills and knowledge, and leading to skilled employment, apprenticeships, or higher education both in the defence sector and beyond. This is on top of the Barrow Transformation Fund, a 200 million government package to strengthen the local economy, support sustainable growth and boost opportunities for the people of Barrow. As part of that fund, a 5 million pot to invest in schools to boost aspiration and support the needs of the young people of Barrow will also be opened. The funding priorities will be co-designed with representative leaders from across Barrow's schools, ensuring the money is spent by the people who know best about how to improve the future of young people in the town. The fund also delivers on the government's commitment to ensure those on the frontline of public services are empowered in decision making. A further 5 million will be provided for grants to community and voluntary organisations to allow local people to improve their local area. Defence Secretary John Healey said: Today's keel laying is a demonstration of our government delivering for defence and fulfilling our first duty: to keep the British people safe. Our triple lock pledge for Britain's nuclear deterrent will see all four Dreadnought-class submarines built in Royal Barrow - a generational commitment that is transforming this town. This is one of the most complex projects ever undertaken in this country, representing the very best of British engineering. Our commitment to the nuclear deterrent is unshakeable - it is the ultimate guarantor of our national security and the security of our NATO allies. And this national endeavour is also an engine for jobs and growth in Barrow and beyond. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Commission delivers a further 1 billion to Ukraine under its part of the G7 loan, to be repaid with proceeds from immobilised Russian asset European Commission Press release Mar 19, 2025 Brussels Today, the European Commission has disbursed an additional 1 billion tranche of its exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, to be repaid with proceeds from immobilised Russian State assets in the EU, reinforcing the EU's role as the largest donor since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine. In total, the MFA amounts to 18.1 billion, representing the EU's contribution to the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative, which collectively aims to provide approximately 45 billion in financial support to Ukraine. With this payment, the Commission's total lending to Ukraine under this MFA reaches 4 billion since the start of the year. Discussions with Ukraine are ongoing regarding the timeline for subsequent disbursements. The Commission stands ready to frontload the remaining MFA funds in line with the country's needs, as called for by the European leaders in the Special European Council earlier this month. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission said:"With today's payment of 1 billion, we are reiterating our steadfast commitment to Ukraine. We are helping the country's economy stay on course and rebuild critical infrastructure damaged by Russian aggression. We will keep supporting Ukraine as long as it takes." Background How this exceptional MFA package is supporting Ukraine This MFA is crucial for addressing Ukraine's urgent budgetary needs, which have considerably risen in the face of Russia's intensified and prolonged war of aggression. With this 18.1 billion financial support, Ukraine will be able to support its current and future military, budget and reconstruction needs, restoring critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks, roads and bridges. The MFA instrument offers high flexibility and very favourable terms to Ukraine, with very long maturities which can extend up to 45 years. Importantly, Ukraine is not expected to directly repay the loan from its own resources. Instead, the repayment will be ensured through the extraordinary profits from immobilised Russian assets collected from the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism (ULCM), sending a clear signal that the burden of rebuilding Ukraine will be shouldered by those responsible for its destruction. Overall support the EU has provided to Ukraine so far Since the onset of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU, together with its Member States, has unequivocally condemned Russia's actions and has offered unprecedented support to Ukraine and its people. As the largest donor, the EU has contributed to nearly 140 billion in total, including: 71.3 billion in financial and budget support, and humanitarian assistance; 49.3 billion in military assistance for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility and by Member States individually; 17 billion made available to Member States to cater for the needs of people fleeing the war; 1.5 billion generated from proceeds linked to frozen and immobilised Russian sovereign assets (windfall profits). Quote(s) With today's payment of 1 billion, we are reiterating our steadfast commitment to Ukraine. We are helping the country's economy stay on course and rebuild critical infrastructure damaged by Russian aggression. We will keep supporting Ukraine as long as it takes. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Today, we transfer to Ukraine a second payment worth 1 billion under the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative. The EU has now provided Ukraine with 4 billion as part of its overall 18.1 billion contribution under this initiative, and will make a further payment in April. We stand ready to frontload financial support to Ukraine, if necessary. The financing provided will be used to help Ukraine maintain macroeconomic stability, rebuild infrastructure, and continue its fight against Russian aggression. The ERA initiative makes Russia pay for its aggression by using the proceeds of immobilised Russian state assets to repay the loans provided. The EU will continue to stand by Ukraine by providing all necessary support and continuing to target Russia's capacity to wage war. We are working with our G7 partners to fully implement the ERA initiative. Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Council, 20 March 2025, Ukraine European Council / Council of the European Union European Council Press release 20 March 2025 14:20 I. UKRAINE 1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 2. The European Council discussed the latest developments as regards Ukraine. The text set out in document EUCO 11/25 was firmly supported by 26 Heads of State or Government. 3. The European Council will revert to the issue at its next meeting. EUCO 11/25 - extract 1. Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Union maintains its 'peace through strength' approach, which requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with its own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component. In line with this approach, the European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing further comprehensive support to Ukraine and its people, as it exercises its inherent right to self-defence against Russia's war of aggression. 2. The European Council reiterates its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law and welcomes all efforts towards achieving such a peace. It recalls the principles it set out on 6 March 2025 that should guide peace negotiations. 3. The European Council welcomes the joint statement by Ukraine and the United States following their meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March 2025, including the proposals for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts, and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance. The European Council calls on Russia to show real political will to end the war. 4. A credible pathway to peace must include humanitarian relief efforts, notably the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians and the return of all Ukrainian children and other civilians unlawfully deported and transferred to Russia and Belarus. 5. The European Union remains ready to step up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and by strengthening the enforcement of existing measures, including further means and measures to counter their circumvention, in order to weaken its ability to continue waging its war of aggression. Subject to EU law, Russia's assets should remain immobilised until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by this war. 6. The European Union and its Member States will contribute to the peace process and help secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, which is in the interest of both Ukraine and Europe as a whole. 7. A comprehensive peace agreement, which respects Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, needs to be accompanied by robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression. The European Council welcomes the efforts that have started in this regard together with like-minded and NATO partners. The European Union and Member States are ready to contribute to security guarantees, in particular by supporting Ukraine's ability to defend itself effectively, based on their respective competences and capabilities, in line with international law. 8. The European Union will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support. The European Council calls on the Commission to swiftly take all necessary measures to frontload financing under the Ukraine Facility and the G7 ERA initiative. It urges the Commission and Member States to use all options under the Ukraine Facility to increase financial support to Ukraine. 9. The European Council recalls the initiatives to enhance EU military support to Ukraine, notably that of the High Representative to coordinate increased support by Member States and other participating States, on a voluntary basis, notably on large-calibre artillery ammunition and missiles, as well as the military needs component of the G7 ERA initiative. It calls on Member States to urgently step up efforts to address Ukraine's pressing military and defence needs. 10. All military support as well as security guarantees for Ukraine will be provided in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States. 11. The European Council reaffirms the EU's strong commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In this context, the progress made on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, within the framework of the Council of Europe, is an important step. 12. The European Union remains committed to supporting Ukraine's repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners. The Ukraine Recovery Conference in July 2025, hosted by Italy, will be important in that context. 13. The European Council reiterates the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny, based on the UN Charter and international law. The European Union will intensify support for Ukraine's reform efforts on its path towards EU membership. The European Council underlines the importance of progress in the negotiating process in line with the merit-based approach, opening clusters when the conditions are met, starting with the fundamentals cluster as soon as possible. 14. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President at the European Council: Security guarantees for Ukraine have to deter any future Russian aggression President of the Republic of Lithuania March 20, 2025 On Thursday, President Gitanas Nauseda took part in the European Council discussion and stressed the need to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine. According to the Head of State, the European Union's continued support for Ukrainewhich is protecting Europe from Russian forces at great costremains a priority. As the United States negotiates a ceasefire with Ukraine and Russia, it is necessary to closely monitor Russia's actions as an aggressor state. The latest developments, including Russia's unreasonable demands, demonstrate the Kremlin's unwillingness to seek compromise. "A peace agreement must bring lasting security for both Ukraine and Europe. Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and its people cannot be up for negotiation. A rushed deal without real security guarantees would only pave the way for future Russian aggression," the President stated. The Head of State emphasized the need for security guarantees for Ukraine with concrete implementation mechanisms, primarily, the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas's proposal to provide Ukraine with massive military aid in the near future. He urged EU institutions and Member States to help Ukraine address gaps in its military capabilities and strengthen its defense industry through investments and acquisitions. The President also expressed support for the "coalition of the willing," an initiative led by the UK and France aimed at deploying troops in Ukraine to deter Russia in the event of a peace agreement. "Given that Russia's objectives remain unchanged, we cannot consider it a valid partner. The EU, along with allies, must continue to increase economic pressure on Russia and its accomplice, Belarus. The 17th package of sanctions has to be prepared as soon as possible to include a complete ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, and to extend to additional Russian banks," the Head of State underlined. The President also called for the creation of a special international tribunal to hold Russia accountable for its crime of aggression, and advocated for using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's reconstruction. The Head of State also called for fast-track Ukraine's EU membership negotiations, by setting a target date of 1 January 2030 for membership. "A strong Ukraine means a stronger and safer Europe," the President stressed. Gitanas Nauseda underscored that the EU's support for Ukraine is part of a broader effort to strengthen Europe's defense. Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion is giving Europe time to enhance its armaments and deterrence. Ahead of the European Council plenary session, the President attended a meeting of EU Heads of State and Government with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who provided updates on talks with the United States. Gitanas Nauseda also participated in a working luncheon with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy Says Ukraine To Send Team For Talks With US In Saudi Arabia Next Week By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service March 20, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a delegation from Kyiv will hold talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia next week amid intense diplomatic efforts to bring an end to Europe's largest and deadliest conflict since World War II. During a visit to Norway on March 20, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would prepare a list of buildings and facilities to make clear what it considers to be civilian infrastructure after Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a partial cease-fire. During a phone call with US President Donald Trump on March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, only to violate it hours later. "I don't want to have a different understanding of what the parties would agree to," Zelenskyy said, adding the Ukrainian delegation would not hold face-to-face talks with a Russian group of officials who will also be in Saudi Arabia on March 24. Trump and Zelenskyy spoke on March 19 to discuss the outcome of the US president's call a day earlier with Putin. Trump sought to get the Kremlin leader to agree to a 30-day cease-fire after having secured Zelenskyy's backing on condition that Russia do the same. Putin rejected a full cease-fire but accepted a halt in strikes on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure, according to a US readout of the call. During his call with Zelenskyy, Trump promised to look into acquiring more Patriot air-defense missile systems for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy agreed not to target Russian energy assets for 30 days. Ukraine has struggled to protect its cities from Russian attacks due to a lack of air defense, and Zelenskyy wrote that another wave of strikes overnight showed Putin's comments were just "propaganda." "Russian strikes on Ukraine do not stop, despite their propaganda claims. Every day and every night, nearly a hundred or more drones are launched, along with ongoing missile attacks. With each such launch, the Russians expose to the world their true attitude towards peace," Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X on March 20. Ukraine's air force said on March 20 that its air defenses shot down 75 out of 171 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack, with 63 other drones redirected from their targets with the use of electronic warfare. Ukraine's National Police said that at least 10 people were injured in an overnight air attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskiy, including four children. The strike damaged residential buildings and private homes. Several of the injured were hospitalized after receiving emergency medical care. Russia, meanwhile, said that it had downed 132 Ukrainian drones overnight, with authorities in the Saratov region confirming that an airfield close to the town of Engels, which hosts a strategic bomber base, had been set on fire. Ukraine's military confirmed it had launched an attack against the base. Russia's aviation authority Rosaviatsia also said arrivals and departures at the Samara and Saratov airports had been temporarily suspended. Zelenskyy arrived in Norway as the intensity of peace talks continues to gain momentum. "Norway supports Ukraine in its fight to defend itself and is contributing to the effort to achieve a lasting, just peace in the country. I look forward to constructive discussions on how Norway can best provide assistance to Ukraine in both the short term and the long term," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Store said at a press conference with Zelenskyy. Trump suggested during his call with Zelenskyy that the United States take ownership of Ukraine's power plants as he seeks to bridge a wide divide between Moscow and Kyiv and secure a full cease-fire. Trump told Zelenskyy that US ownership of Ukraine's electrical supply and nuclear power plants "would be the best protection for that infrastructure," according to a White House readout of the March 19 call. The proposal reflects Trump's belief that US ownership of Ukrainian assets would effectively serve as a security guarantee for the embattled country because Russia would presumably refrain from targeting them out of fear of escalation with the United States. Zelenskyy said he and Trump discussed the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine during the phone call. He said he told Trump that Kyiv would be ready to discuss US involvement in modernizing and investing in the plant if it is returned to Ukraine. Zelenskyy, however, on March 20 dismissed the idea that the plant could be owned by the US, adding that the critical facility is officially a property of the Ukrainian people. "If it's not under Ukrainian control, it wouldn't work for anybody. It's illegal [...] If the Americans want to take it from Russia, invest in it, and modernize it -- that's a different question," he told journalists in Norway. Kyiv's demand for security guarantees lies at the heart of the shuttle diplomacy between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to secure a peace deal. Zelenskyy wants any final peace deal to include Western security guarantees for Ukraine to deter Russia from invading again, but Trump has so far refused to commit the United States to the country's defense. Zelenskyy Has 'Positive' Contact With Trump Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine, which has killed or wounded more than a million people, a top priority for his administration. However, Moscow and Kyiv remain so far apart on key issues -- such as land exchanges and security guarantees for Ukraine -- that the Trump administration will need to use various carrots and sticks if it hopes to bring them together. In a social media post, Trump said the goal of his call with Zelenskyy was "to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs." Putin has agreed to continue talks with the United States toward achieving a full cease-fire. US negotiators will meet with Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in the coming days to work on extending the partial cease-fire to the Black Sea. In a show of good faith by both sides, Russia and Ukraine on March 19 each swapped 175 prisoners in one of the largest exchanges of the war. Experts say that Putin has not given up on his goals of subjugating Ukraine and will seek to drag out the talks while his forces have the advantage on the battlefield. Russia wants to fully control the four regions of Ukraine it claims to have annexed in 2022. It would fall short of that goal were it to agree to a full-cease fire now. Trump has threatened to impose tough sanctions and tariffs on Russia if it obstructs the path toward peace deal, but experts question whether the US president would come down hard on Russia considering he values his relationship with Putin. "Trump has shown that he can pressure Zelenskyy. Is he willing and able to pressure Putin? If not, then what is he going to do? Putin is making it clear that he's not changing his goals," Mark Katz, a Russia expert and professor emeritus of government and politics at George Mason University, told RFE/RL. Russia has regularly targeted Ukraine's power infrastructure with missiles and drones in an attempt to break the will of the Ukrainian people by denying them light and heat in the winter. Ukraine has often retaliated against the strikes on its power system by targeting Russian oil assets, such as refineries and storage facilities. Russia's war machine is heavily dependent on oil export revenues, which account for about a third of federal budget revenues. Residents of Kyiv told RFE/RL that they did not put much faith in the agreement between Washington and Moscow. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready to send a team for further cease-fire discussions with the United States, while reiterating Kyiv will not recognize Russian sovereignty over any occupied Ukrainian territory -- a condition for any peace agreement that Putin has voiced several times. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack- zelenskyy-talks-putin-trump-war/33353903.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Meets with President of the Storting and Leaders of Norwegian Parliamentary Parties President of Ukraine 20 March 2025 - 19:57 In Oslo, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Masud Gharahkhani, President of the Storting, and the leaders of political parties represented in the Norwegian Parliament. The President expressed gratitude to the Storting for its decision to allocate nearly $8 billion in additional funding for Ukraine this year. The Head of State emphasized that this support will contribute to achieving a just and durable peace for Ukraine. "I thank Norway - its government, parliament, and the entire Norwegian people - for supporting Ukraine militarily, providing humanitarian aid, and helping sustain our energy sector during the winter," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting also focused on the consolidation of international support at the parliamentary level and the areas of future cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Increased Defense and Financial Support: President of Ukraine Meets with Prime Minister of Norway President of Ukraine 20 March 2025 - 18:45 In Oslo, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Stre. The President expressed his gratitude to Norway for its significant defense and financial support, assistance to Ukraine's energy sector, and especially for the recent decision to increase its support for Ukraine to nearly $8 billion this year. "We have managed to preserve our independence, and now, together with all of Europe, we are working on restoring peace and guaranteeing the security we so vitally need. I hope Norway's role in this joint effort with all our partners will remain substantial," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During the meeting, the parties discussed specific measures to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, including enhancing air defense, providing ammunition for Ukrainian troops, investing in Ukraine's defense industry, and developing joint production. "I am confident that Europe now needs a new wave of industrial and technological development - so that the continent has everything necessary for its defense and so that Europe becomes more independent and stronger in global competition," the President stated. The President also invited Norway to take on a more active role in security coalitions, particularly in air defense and other technological initiatives, as well as in drone production. Jonas Gahr Stre emphasized the importance of Ukraine's cooperation with the U.S., European nations, and NATO in achieving a just peace. He also confirmed that Norway will strengthen its defense support for Ukraine. "The tripling of Norway's defense support, which was unanimously approved by our parliament, will be immediately transformed into artillery, ammunition, drones, and investments in Ukraine's domestic production base," the Norwegian Prime Minister stated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President: Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts Do Not Mean Russia Should Face Less Pressure President of Ukraine 20 March 2025 - 15:53 During his virtual participation in the European Council meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on partners to further increase support for Ukraine, invest in Ukrainian and domestic weapons production, maintain sanctions against Russia, and make efforts to unblock the negotiation process on Ukraine's accession to the EU. The Head of State noted that despite Vladimir Putin's promise to stop attacks on the energy sector, Russia launched 171 attack drones last night. The drones attacked infrastructure facilities, and in particular, in Kropyvnytskyi, residential buildings, an Orthodox church and a school were damaged. Four children were among the wounded. "So, it's crucial that your support for Ukraine doesn't decrease but instead continues and grows. And this is especially true for air defense, military aid, and our overall resilience," the President said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine needs funds for artillery shells. Our country is counting on European support in the amount of at least EUR 5 billion. In addition, it is important to invest in arms production both in Ukraine and in Europe. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called on the partners not to reduce the pressure on Russia. He stressed that sanctions must remain in place until Russia begins to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian land and fully compensates for the damage caused by its aggression. "Ongoing diplomatic efforts do not mean Russia should face less pressure. That's crucial to reducing the chances of a Russian hoax. And we all know how easily Moscow disregards its promises - one moment they give their word, and a few hours later it means absolutely nothing. That's why we must keep pushing Russia toward peace. Together with you, of course, with the United States, and with other our partners, we can do this," the Head of State noted. The President of Ukraine also spoke about his productive conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, noting that the Ukrainian and American teams will continue working to achieve a full unconditional ceasefire. "Putin must stop making unnecessary demands that only prolong the war and must start fulfilling what he promises the world," Volodymyr Zelenskyy added. He also called for efforts to overcome the difficulties with the opening of the first and, accordingly, other negotiating clusters on Ukraine's accession to the EU. "It's simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent or that have already been agreed upon," the President emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Europe Needs Speed in Making Decisions and Clear Tools to Protect Itself from Unnecessary Blockages - Speech by the President at the Meeting of the European Council President of Ukraine 20 March 2025 - 15:43 Mr. President Costa! Madame President von der Leyen! Dear colleagues, thank you so much! I'm glad to see you all and thank you for supporting us, supporting Ukraine. First, I'd like to update you on some key aspects of the situation in Ukraine and our diplomatic efforts with partners. Last night, the Russian army launched a massive drone attack on our country - 171 strike drones in total, mostly Shaheds. Their target was our infrastructure. And in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, in central Ukraine, residential buildings, also an Orthodox church, and a school were damaged. Among the wounded are four children. Everyone is receiving medical help. Yesterday evening, another Russian strike hit our energy infrastructure. We in Ukraine face this every day and night, you know it. And despite Putin's words about allegedly being ready to stop the attacks -nothing has changed. I want to thank our soldiers, rescuers, doctors, and nurses - everyone who protects against Russian strikes and saves lives. Their work brings results every single day, and that matters. So, it's crucial that your support for Ukraine doesn't decrease but instead continues and grows. And this is especially true for air defense, military aid, and our overall resilience. We need funds for artillery shells and would really appreciate Europe's support with at least five billion euros as soon as possible. Investments in weapons production are needed both in Ukraine and in your countries. Europe needs technological independence, including in weapons manufacturing. Everything necessary to defend the continent should be produced here in Europe. We must work toward this together. I appreciate those who are already taking concrete steps in this direction. It would be right for the ReArm Europe program to start operating as soon as possible, it is a very useful and forward-thinking initiative. Please continue to develop your industries and research. Ukraine has effective and modern tech, you know it, especially in drones and electronic warfare, which can benefit all of Europe and our global partners and right now this weaponry is about our defense. But its further development, constant upgrades, and increased efficiency - along with your investments in our production and co-production - are key to Europe's new security foundation. Also, please do not ease pressure on Russia over the war. Sanctions are very, very necessary. Sanctions must remain in place until Russia starts withdrawing from our land and fully compensates for the damage caused by its aggression. I urge you to keep fighting against sanction evasion schemes and Russia's attempts to finance its war effort. Ongoing diplomatic efforts do not mean Russia should face less pressure. That's crucial to reducing the chances of a Russian hoax. And we all know how easily Moscow disregards its promises - one moment they give their word, and a few hours later it means absolutely nothing. That's why we must keep pushing Russia toward peace. Together with you, of course, with the United States, and with other our partners, we can do this. Yesterday, I had a productive conversation with President Trump. From the very, very beginning, Ukraine has been advocating for what we are discussing now - an end to attacks on energy and infrastructure and a ceasefire at sea. And we continue to support these efforts. Our teams will also work towards achieving an unconditional, full ceasefire on land. Please support this. Putin must stop making unnecessary demands that only prolong the war and must start fulfilling what he promises the world. By now, there could have been over a week without killings, without strikes, without fire - if Putin were not the only one keeping this war going. The proposals made in Jeddah on March 11 are still on the table. We need to keep pressuring Russia to make them a reality. And one more thing. It's unfortunate to say this, but some pressure is also needed within Europe itself to ensure that anything promised - actually happens. And I'm talking about Ukraine's EU accession talks and resolving some fundamental issues for European unity. It's simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent or that have already been agreed upon. Ukraine fulfilled the requirements, but right now, there are serious difficulties in opening Ukraine's first and other, of course, other negotiation clusters for EU accession. European efforts that should be bringing more security and peace are also constantly being obstructed. And I believe this is wrong. Europe must have a way to prevent individual actors from blocking what's necessary for all. If we say Europe should be stronger in global competition, we must also talk about making European decision-making faster, more flexible, more effective - whether in politics, defense, economics, industry, or any other area. Europe needs speed in making decisions and clear tools to protect itself from unnecessary blockages. Ukraine is a part of Europe, and Europe is one of the players in global peace efforts. We did our best for Europe to be equal with others in these efforts and peace negotiations. And we achieved it. All together. Europe must always be at the table in all conversations about the security of Europe. And it will be so. And in all other issues on Europe, we must work in unity. And we talked about this in Jeddah, and we always discuss it with all our partners, and we emphasize it exactly this way - Europe is a participant in diplomacy. And that's why I urge you to support us as well - and not allow us to be left out of joint European efforts. And finally, I want to thank those of you who are working with us on future security guarantees for Ukraine - and, in turn, for the entire eastern flank of Europe and the continent as a whole. And for those who have not yet joined this effort - I invite you to do so. And all of us must be as efficient as possible in this work on security guarantees - and as quick as possible. Fast pace in achieving these results means bringing peace and endurance of peace. Thanks! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Guterres welcomes deals to halt energy attacks in Ukraine, Russia 20 March 2025 - UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday hailed positive announcements from the White House, Kremlin and Kyiv aimed at stopping crippling attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia, linked to Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour. "Any ceasefire is welcome because it saves lives, but it is essential that a ceasefire paves the way for a just peace in Ukraine," the UN Secretary-General said in Brussels, where he also addressed the massive Israeli escalation in Gaza and urged the world not to give up on slowing climate change. A "just peace" in Ukraine "is a peace that respects the UN Charter, international law and Security Council resolutions, namely about the territorial integrity of Ukraine", the UN chief stressed, after meeting leaders of the 27 member states of the European Union, during a working lunch as part of a European Summit in Brussels. His comments followed an earlier statement in which he welcomed further declarations by President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine seeking to extend the ceasefire to the Black Sea - a crucial trade route for food and fertilizer exports to the wider world. "Reaching an agreement on safe and free navigation in the Black Sea, with security commitments and in line with the UN Charter and international law would be a crucial contribution to global food security and supply chains," the Secretary-General said, in a statement issued by his spokesperson's office. "It would reflect the importance of trade routes from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation to global markets." Key shipping lane The UN has been heavily invested in ensuring that Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea can happen safely, along with the transport of Russian food and fertilizer, to halt spiralling food prices worldwide and stave off famine in vulnerable countries. The UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative was agreed by Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the UN in Istanbul in July 2022. It allowed more than 30 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs to leave Ukraine's ports and played an "indispensable role" in global food security, Mr. Guterres said at the time. A parallel accord was also agreed between the UN and Moscow on grain and fertilizer exports from Russia, known as a Memorandum of Understanding. In July 2023, the UN Secretary-General expressed his deep regret at Russia's decision to terminate its involvement in the grain initiative. "The Secretary-General has consistently supported the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea," his statement continued, adding that he remains "closely engaged in the continued implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Federation on global food security". Gaza killings condemnation Addressing journalists on the sidelines of high-level discussions at the European Council, Mr. Guterres said that he was "saddened and shocked because deaths and destruction are back in Gaza", amid confirmation from the Israel Defense Forces that it had begun ground operations in the north of the enclave and "waves of attacks throughout the Strip". "The Palestinian people have already suffered too much," the UN chief insisted, before renewing his appeal for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of Gaza and for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. "It is absolutely essential to keep the door open for the only way to bring peace to the Middle East, which is to have a Palestinian state side-by-side with an Israeli state," he continued. UNRWA's Lazzarini speaks out In a related development, the head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, expressed his fears for civilians in Gaza on Thursday, "given the ongoing ground invasion separating the north from the south". In an online message warning that the people of Gaza were "again and again going through their worst nightmare", UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini explained that Israeli military evacuation orders were once again impacting tens of thousands of people. "The vast majority have been already displaced, treated like "pinballs" since the war began nearly 1.5 years ago," he said. The veteran humanitarian also condemned the confirmed killing of another five UNRWA staff "bringing the death toll to 284. They were teachers, doctors and nurses: serving the most vulnerable", he said. 'Double down' on climate change The UN Secretary-General also expressed concern - and cautious optimism - at new UN data highlighting the negative impact on vulnerable communities of climate change. The latest State of the Global Climate report confirms 2024 as the hottest year since records began 175 years ago, with a global mean temperature of 1.55C above pre-industrial levels - surpassing the critical warming threshold of 1.5C for the first time. "I am now used to listening time and time again that we are living in the hottest day of the hottest month of the hottest year of the hottest decade. But let's not give up," Mr. Guterres stressed. "The report also says that the 1.5C limit is still possible in relation to global warming, but we need to double down; double down in the reduction of emissions, double down in decarbonization and double down in the replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Group of Friends for Peace urges constructive peace talks as Ukraine crisis approaching 'turning point' Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 21, 2025 11:49 AM The Group of Friends for Peace, which was set up by China and Brazil, together with some countries of the Global South, to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, said that recent developments suggest the conflict might be approaching "a turning point," and urged all parties and stakeholders to embrace this opportunity and engage constructively in peace talks. The group had a "highly successful" meeting on the latest developments of the conflict in Ukraine, as well as recent dynamics toward peace talks and the prospects for achieving a lasting peace, China's Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement on Thursday US time. "We are worried about the risks and crises arising from this conflict which has caused repercussions affecting many countries, including those in the Global South. Issues such as food and energy security, as well as humanitarian assistance should be integral to the peace process, and the voices of the Global South should be heard and heeded in supporting peace in the region," read the statement. The group urged all parties and stakeholders to embrace this opportunity and engage constructively in peace talks. The shared goal must be to find a just and lasting solution - one that addresses mutual concerns of the parties to the conflict and leads to a peace agreement negotiated directly by and acceptable to them, it said. "As the situation continues to evolve rapidly, we, as members of the Group of Friends for Peace, are committed to maintaining close engagement with one another and with all relevant parties," read the statement, adding that the group will strive to deepen understanding of diverse perspectives, foster common ground, and play a constructive role in supporting all efforts toward peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Says Ukraine, US To Sign Minerals Deal Soon By RFE/RL March 21, 2025 US President Donald Trump says the United States soon will sign a minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine as negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to end the war continue. Trump told reporters at the White House on March 20 that his efforts to achieve a peace deal for the country were going "pretty well" after his talks this week with the leaders of the warring countries. "We're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine," Trump said. As Trump made the comments, Russian forces attacked civilian infrastructure in Odesa, causing damage and injuring three people, including a girl, the regional governor said. "The enemy massively attacked Odesa and the region with strike drones," Governor Oleh Kiper said. "There is damage to civilian infrastructure, including a residential high-rise building, a shopping center, and shops," he wrote on Telegram. Kiper said large fires broke out in three locations as a result of the attack. There also was a report from the Kursk region of Russia saying that Ukrainian forces attacked the gas distribution station in Sudzha. The independent media outlet Sota published a photo on Telegram showing a large fireball. A Ukrainian military Telegram channel posted the same photo, citing media reports about "a successful strike on the Sudzha gas transport system through which the enemy used to transport gas to Europe." There was no official word on the incident from Ukrainian government officials. Moscow also did not report the incident. The station was the only point through which Russian gas had passed on its way to Europe until Ukraine declined to extend a transit agreement in January. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on March 20 ordered Ukrainians in Ukraine's occupied territories to get a Russian passport by September 10 or leave. The ultimatum applies to Ukrainians in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya, Tymofiy Mylovanov, Ukraine's former economy minister, said on X. Trump this week held separate talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr. Those talks fell short of securing a full 30-day cease-fire but resulted in Putin agreeing to stop Russian attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. Zelenskiy said after his talks with Trump that he would also accept such a pause. "We would love to see that (war) come to an end, and I think we're doing pretty well in that regard," Trump said. Ukraine and the United States earlier this month agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources. Efforts to seal the deal fell apart on February 28 after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskiy at the White House. Trump and Zelenskiy agreed on March 19 to work together to end Russia's war with Ukraine in a phone call that the White House described as a "fantastic." It was unclear if the terms of the minerals deal have changed. An earlier version did not include the security guarantees that Zelenskyy has insisted upon. It also envisaged the Ukrainian government contributing 50 percent of the proceeds for sales of state-owned natural resources to a U.S.-Ukraine managed reconstruction investment fund. Trump on March 20 also signed an executive order to boost US domestic production of lithium and other minerals critical to the production of batteries for electric cars and electronics. The order also directs federal agencies to create a list of US mining projects that can be quickly approved as well as which federal lands could be used for minerals processing. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ukraine-russia-war- minerals-deal-odesa-kursk/33354680.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Abducted Ukrainian Children: Calls Made To Continue Search For Kids Taken By Russia As US Closes Investigation Team By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Farangis Najibullah March 21, 2025 The fate of thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia has been thrown into further uncertainty after the United States defunded an American research unit that helped locate them. The United States has terminated financial support for the specialist team at Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which has used open-source technology to track the missing children and pass the information to Kyiv. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, the executive director of Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab, Nathaniel Raymond, told RFE/RL that the move was "a catastrophic blow" to efforts to track the location of some 35,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Ukrainian officials and activists say that they will continue efforts to trace and repatriate them, but acknowledge that the defunding of the Yale unit will make their task much more difficult. Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights (RCHR) in Kyiv, says that in addition to tracing the children and sharing information with Ukrainian authorities, the HRL has also helped raise the profile of Ukraine's campaign to bring the kids home. "They were also very proactive in advocacy efforts, participated in relevant conferences, spoke at the UN Security Council. It was a comprehensive activity," she said. Rashevska and other RCHR team members have contributed to efforts to gather evidence to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials accountable for the unlawful deportation of children from the occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia. A War Crime The forcible abduction and deportation of children is a war crime under the statues of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It may also be considered genocide if the aim is to eradicate a particular ethnic, racial, or religious group, according to scholars. The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2023 for Putin as well as Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, in connection with the deportation of the Ukrainian children. Russia denies wrongdoing and claims it evacuates Ukrainian children from conflict zones to give them protection from war. Gunduz Mammadov, a former deputy prosecutor-general of Ukraine, said that cutting funds to groups like the Yale lab will not only undermine Ukraine's ability to bring the abducted children home, but it also curtails efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. "It is extremely important for Ukraine to independently continue its work on investigating and recording crimes [committed by Russia], in particular using available methods of digital forensics, open-source analytics, and international cooperation," Mammadov told RFE/RL. Yale's lab used open-source technology, such as satellite imagery, social media, and Russian publications to gather information about the children. "This process should not stop, as it is key both for the repatriation of our children and for justice," he said. Not all hope is lost, however. Days after his administration cut off funding for the Yale unit, US President Donald Trump raised the issue of the missing children with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a call to discuss a path toward ending Russia's invasion. "President Trump also asked President Zelenskyy about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted. President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home," the White House said in a March 19 readout of the call. Trump's peace negotiators will meet their Russian counterparts in Riyadh on March 24. History Of 'Russification' The exact number of the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia is not known. In 2023, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets claimed that around 150,000 children were illegally taken away by the invading forces. Only 1,236 children have been repatriated, according to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative launched by Zelenskyy. Russia has not given Ukrainian authorities the list of children it has forcibly removed from their country. Kyiv says that the children are being "Russified" and reeducated and brainwashed against Ukraine. There have been reports of illegal adoptions by Russian families, with many "adoptive parents" changing the children's names and erasing their Ukrainian identity. Moscow's war against Ukrainian identity goes back hundreds of years. Czarist Russia and the Soviet regime suppressed the Ukrainian language, forced Ukrainians to assimilate, and registered ethnic Ukrainians as Russians in official documents. Russia's exploitive behavior doesn't end with identity. According to the HRL, there are documented cases in which the children "were physically abused, denied communication with their families in Ukraine, and given inadequate access to food and care after being taken to Russia." The HRL is part of the Ukraine Conflict Observatory program set up with the US State Department funds to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Russia. The State Department confirmed to RFE/RL on March 18 that "the foreign assistance award supporting the Ukraine Conflict Observatory" has been terminated. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-abducted- children-putin-maria-lvova-belova/33354285.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Delray Beach, FL, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sodium Silicate Market is approximated to be USD 5.50 billion in 2024, and it is projected to reach USD 6.83 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 4.4%, as per the recent study by MarketsandMarkets. Sodium silicate, also known as water glass, is a high-temperature melt compound of silica and sodium carbonate. It is utilized in detergents, adhesives, water treatment, and cement mix. Its most significant properties are alkalinity, binding capacity, and heat stability, making it useful for corrosion protection, sealing, and fireproofing uses. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=115268271 Browse in-depth TOC on Sodium Silicate Market 379 - Market Data Tables 50 Figures 280 - Pages List of Key Players in Sodium Silicate Market: PQ Corporation (US) Qemetica (Poland) Nippon Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd. (Japan) Occidental Petroleum Corporation (US) Tokuyama Corporation (Japan) FUJI CHEMICAL Co., Ltd. (Japan) IQE Group (Spain) Oriental Silicas Corporation (Taiwan) Evonik Industries AG (Germany) Metro Chem Industries (Ahmedabad) Drivers, Opportunities and Challenges in Sodium Silicate Market: Drivers: Growing demand in detergent production Restraint: Fluctuating raw material prices Opportunity: Application in green tire manufacturing Challenge: Environmental and regulatory compliance Get Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=115268271 Key Findings of the Study: By Form, Liquid segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024 By Application, Detergents & Cleaning Agents segment accounted for the largest share in 2024 Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the Sodium Silicate Market in 2024 The market of sodium silicate is driven by its increasing applications in the manufacturing of detergents, for which it acts as a vital component owing to its cleaning and emulsification properties. Increase in construction works also increases its application in cement and adhesives because of its superior binding and strengthening property. The paper and pulp sector also depends upon sodium silicate for bleaching, de-inking, and sizing purposes. Moreover, strict environmental regulations encouraging effective water treatment processes are driving the use of sodium silicate in wastewater treatment and purification. All these factors combined are driving the demand for sodium silicate in different industries. Sodium silicate market based on form divided into liquid and solid types, where liquid segment is expected to lead the market in forecasted period at the highest CAGR of 5.0%. The reason being its higher solubility, better handling ease, and broad applications in detergents, water treatment, and paper manufacturing. Liquid sodium silicate is most commonly applied in construction work for corrosion protection and concrete densification. Industry players can capitalize on this trend by expanding production capacity, investing in advanced formulations, and targeting industries where liquid sodium silicate increases efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, leading to higher profitability and market share The market for sodium silicate is segmented based on application, encompasses precipitated silica, adhesives, detergents and cleaning products, pulp and paper, water treatment, and other applications. Precipitated silica is the fastest growing segment among these due to its rising demand in rubber, cosmetics, and food industries. Its uses as a tire reinforcing agent, food anti-caking agent, and personal care thickening agent are driving its growth. Market players can take advantage of the trend by maximizing production capacities, producing high-purity grades, and establishing customer bases in main industries to maximize profitability and coverage in the market. The market for sodium silicate is regionally segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. Amongst them, the Asia Pacific region accounted for the highest market share in 2023 and is the fastest-growing region in the world. The growth is fueled by the high-paced industrialization, growing construction activities, mounting detergent production, and growing demand from the pulp and paper sector. The region offers tremendous opportunities for market participants, with every nation having its own growth drivers and investment opportunities. Asia Pacific's leadership in the sodium silicate market is mainly due to high industrialization in nations like China, India, and Southeast Asian countries. Get Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=115268271 The growing manufacturing industry of the region, including chemicals, textiles, and paper products, has created a growing demand for sodium silicate. Furthermore, huge investments going into infrastructure development like commercial complexes, residential complexes, and transportation systems are propelling the consumption of sodium silicate in construction activities like cement strengthening and soil stabilization. Market players have the opportunity to make the most out of this through increased capacity production and strategic alliance with manufacturing construction materials players. The Asian Pacific population and urbanization boom are driving an escalation in household and industrial cleaners demand. Sodium silicate finds applications in the manufacturing of detergents and cleaning agents based on its emulsifying as well as binding properties. Those regions like China and India with a fast-expanding detergent market present a great business opportunity for sodium silicate manufacturers. Availability of large detergent manufacturing plants within the region means a high-demand base for businesses to increase the size of operations and bring forth localized, tailored formulations. Asia Pacific serves as a main centre for pulp and paper products with China, Indonesia, and India being at the forefront.Sodium silicate has extensive applications in paper bleaching, de-inking, and sizing, thereby becoming a core chemical for the production of paper. The booming e-commerce market also increases packaging material demand, further driving sodium silicate demand in paper processing. Market players can look at collaborations with manufacturers of pulp and paper and investment in high-purity sodium silicate solutions to address this segment's growth. Asian Pacific governments are enacting strict environmental policies to control water pollution and manage water sustainably. Sodium silicate is used on a large scale in water treatment processes, such as wastewater treatment and sludge conditioning. Nations like China and India, which are experiencing critical water contamination problems, are investing in advanced water treatment facilities. This provides a platform for sodium silicate manufacturers to work with government agencies and water treatment organizations to provide cost-effective and efficient solutions. PQ Corporation (US) is a leading manufacturer of silicates, silicas, and derivative products. The company uses raw materials such as silica, alumina, alkali, and water to create a range of products, including sodium silicate, silicas, silica gel, precipitated silica, zeolites, metasilicate, and specialty silicates. These products serve various purposes, including cleaning, purification, construction, silica, and chemical manufacturing. PQ Corporation has utilized the acquisition strategy to strengthen its business and increase its global reach. The companys long-term presence in the market has created a good brand name for it in the market. Browse Adjacent Markets Bulk Chemicals and Inorganics Market Research Reports Related Reports: LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Practice AI , a leading provider of AI-powered solutions for legal and medical professionals, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the following entities: Legal Soft , Virtual Staffing , MedVirtual , Berry Virtual , Practice 360 , Fast Demands , and Lien Networks . This collaboration aims to maximize outreach and deliver comprehensive solutions that integrate AI-driven efficiency with expert virtual staffing and business development services. By joining forces with these innovative companies, Practice AI enhances its ability to provide legal and medical professionals with a seamless blend of AI technology and human expertise. This partnership ensures that firms can optimize their workflows, increase productivity, and focus on delivering exceptional service to their clients. Strengthening the Legal and Medical Industries with AI and Virtual Support The partnership between Practice AI, Legal Soft, Virtual Staffing, and other entities offers a holistic approach to business efficiency. Legal and medical professionals can now leverage AI tools alongside skilled virtual specialists to streamline their operations. Legal Soft provides tailored growth solutions for law firms, including trained virtual staff, custom websites, and dynamic social media strategies. provides tailored growth solutions for law firms, including trained virtual staff, custom websites, and dynamic social media strategies. 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Practice 360 offers specialized business development, marketing, and operations strategies tailored for law firms. offers specialized business development, marketing, and operations strategies tailored for law firms. Fast Demands streamlines the demand letter creation process using AI, enabling legal professionals to generate high-quality personal injury demand letters in minutes. streamlines the demand letter creation process using AI, enabling legal professionals to generate high-quality personal injury demand letters in minutes. Lien Networks connects doctors and attorneys through a nationwide lien network and referral solution, simplifying medical-legal collaborations. A Powerful Combination: AI, Virtual Expertise, and Business Growth Solutions In todays fast-paced business environment, industries across the boardincluding legal, medical, and beyondface increasing demands for efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effective solutions. This partnership addresses these challenges by integrating AI-driven automation, expert virtual staffing, holistic online presence strategies, and business development solutions into a seamless ecosystem. Businesses of all sizes can now benefit from: AI-Powered Efficiency Automate repetitive tasks, streamline document generation, and enhance decision-making with cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Automate repetitive tasks, streamline document generation, and enhance decision-making with cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Expert Virtual Staffing Reduce administrative burdens and increase productivity by leveraging trained virtual professionals for legal, medical, and general business operations. Reduce administrative burdens and increase productivity by leveraging trained virtual professionals for legal, medical, and general business operations. 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Unlock the Future of Efficiency Practice AI and its partners invite law firms, medical professionals, and businesses to explore the benefits of AI-driven solutions paired with expert virtual staffing and holistic online presence strategies. By integrating AI-powered automation with specialized business solutions, organizations can reduce operational bottlenecks, improve client service, and optimize workflows without increasing overhead. Whether its automating demand letter generation for legal teams, enhancing medical record processing, or strengthening digital marketing efforts, this partnership equips professionals with the tools they need to work smarter and more efficiently. Beyond efficiency, this strategic collaboration enables businesses to remain competitive in an evolving digital landscape. With expert support in virtual staffing, data-driven decision-making, and AI-powered legal and medical tools, professionals can scale their operations while maintaining accuracy and compliance. Embracing these innovations not only improves day-to-day productivity but also fosters long-term growth and success. For more information about Practice AI and its partners, visit Practice AI or contact us below. For media inquiries, please contact: Practice AI Address: 21731 Ventura Blvd. #175, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Phone: (424) 476-5858 Email: sales@mylawfirm.ai BRISBANE, Australia, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitcoins Official ISO Domain, XBT.com hits the auction block at Lloyds, attracting huge media attention and industry speculation in what is set to be one of the most fiercely contested digital asset sales in the world. XBT.com is a domain that could redefine digital finance and set a record for the most expensive crypto domain sale in international history. Lloyds Auctions a global leader in high-value asset sales has just announced the highly anticipated auction of XBT.com sparking a frenzy of speculation in the crypto and investment world. This is more than just a domain name, its the financial future & identity of Bitcoin itself, said Mr. Lee Hames, Chief Operations Officer for Lloyds Auctions. Whoever wins XBT.com will own the domain name of the decade and a stake in Bitcoins future, a digital asset of immense historical and financial significance. Due to the significance of this domain, we expect the likes of elite investors and powerhouses bidding on this exclusive auction, it wouldnt be surprising if figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos or even President Donald Trump take notice of this auction, which could certainly make for interesting bidding, Mr. Hames continued. As the ISO 4217 currency code for Bitcoin, XBT is recognised worldwide as the official financial ticker for the worlds leading cryptocurrency. With institutional adoption of Bitcoin accelerating, XBT.com is not just a domain, its a financial powerhouse poised to become the definitive brand for crypto exchanges, investment firms, and fintech giants. Could This Be a $10 Million + Sale? The crypto world has witnessed several multi-million-dollar domain sales. Domains such as Voice.com fetching ($30M USD), Crypto.com ($12M USD), paradigm.eth ($1.51M USD) and BTC.com ($1M+ USD) securing staggering valuations. With Bitcoins global influence continuing to expand, industry insiders predict that XBT.com could rival or surpass these legendary sales which is anticipated to be one of the most significant domain auctions of the decade. Why XBT.com Could Become the Most Valuable Crypto Domain Ever Bitcoins ISO Standard Ticker XBT is the official financial code for Bitcoin, used by institutions, exchanges, and traders worldwide. This makes XBT.com the ultimate brand for the digital asset revolution. Ultra-Rare Three-Letter .COM Short, memorable, and authoritative, three-letter .com domains are among the most valuable digital assets, and XBT.com is uniquely tied to the worlds most important cryptocurrency. SEO & Brand Authority XBT.com naturally attracts high-intent traffic, making it an unrivalled asset for crypto exchanges, financial institutions, and investment firms. Institutional Bitcoin Adoption With an increase in global finance integrating Bitcoin, XBT is expected to become the standardised financial identifier across banks, trading platforms, and ETFs, making this domain an indispensable asset. Auction Hosted by Lloyds Auctions Global Attention Expected Lloyds Auctions is known for handling record-breaking sales, and XBT.com is expected to attract elite investors, hedge funds, crypto billionaires, and institutional players from around the globe. The highly anticipated auction of XBT.com will be exclusively hosted by Lloyds Auctions, a globally recognised leader in high-value digital assets, luxury items, and rare collectibles. With a reputation for securing record-breaking sales, Lloyds is set to attract elite investors, institutional buyers, and crypto visionaries from around the world. The future of Bitcoins financial identity is up for auction. How high will the bidding go? The auction closes on the 28th of March, to browse details on the auction or register to bid visit Lloyds Auctions OR XBT.com Auction Contact: +1 725 250 0502 Ghent, BELGIUM, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Press release regulated information Biotalys (Euronext - BTLS) (the Company or Biotalys), an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrols for sustainable crop protection, has the honour to invite its shareholders, holders of subscription rights and all other persons entitled to participate in its shareholders meetings, to the ordinary general shareholders meeting that will be held on Tuesday, 22 April 2025, 10.00h CEST at the Companys headquarters. Shareholders can also exercise their voting rights by mail or by written proxy. Furthermore, the Company recommends its securities holders to exercise their right to ask questions about the agenda items for the shareholders meeting in writing in advance of the meeting. More information about voting by mail or by written proxy and exercising the right to ask questions can be found in the convening notice. In order to be admitted to the shareholders meeting, the holders of securities issued by the Company must comply with Article 7:134 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations and the Companys Articles of Association and meet the requirements outlined in the convening notice. The convening notice and other documents relating to the shareholders meeting can be found on the Companys website. - ENDS - For further information, please contact: Toon Musschoot, Head of Investor Relations and Communications T: +32 (0)9 274 54 00 E: IR@biotalys.com About Biotalys Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for the protection of crops and food and aiming to provide alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides for a more sustainable and safer food supply. Based on its novel AGROBODY technology platform, Biotalys is developing a strong and diverse pipeline of effective product candidates with a favorable safety profile that aim to address key crop pests and diseases across the whole value chain, from soil to plate. Biotalys was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and has been listed on Euronext Brussels since July 2021. The company is based in the biotech cluster in Ghent, Belgium. More information can be found on www.biotalys.com. GRAND-LANCY, Switzerland, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Temenos (SIX: TEMN) today announced it has been named Technology Provider of the Year at the FStech Awards 2025, recognizing its leadership in modernizing financial institutions with banking solutions powered by GenAI, cloud, and SaaS. Now in their 25th year, the FStech Awards celebrate companies that have demonstrated excellence and innovation within the UK and EMEA financial services sector. In the Technology Provider of the Year category, judges evaluated vendors based on their exceptional performance, product innovations, and customer success. Mark Yamin-Ali, Managing Director - Europe, Temenos, commented: This FStech award underscores Temenos' leadership in core banking modernization and our reputation as a trusted industry partner. With proven expertise and reliable innovation, including in game-changing technologies such as Generative AI, Temenos enables banks to evolve with confidence, fostering growth and elevating customer experiences. Sairam Rangachari, Chief Product Officer, Temenos, said: Were delighted to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes the rich functionality of Temenos mission-critical technology. With our relentless focus on innovation, as well as our leading SaaS solutions and Responsible AI capabilities embedded throughout the Temenos platform, we are thrilled to be leading the way in the banking industry. Banks of all sizes utilize Temenos adaptable technology on-premises, in the cloud, or as a SaaS solution to deliver next-generation services and AI-powered experiences. Its clients benefit from the power of deep functionality, the convenience of best-of-suite software and the synergy of modular solutions. Recent customer announcements include the UK's Aldermore Bank, which selected Temenos SaaS to modernize its savings operations, beginning with the swift launch of new savings notice accounts for small businesses. Additionally, Romanias CEC Bank selected Temenos to modernize its retail and corporate core banking systems. About Temenos Temenos (SIX: TEMN) is the worlds leading platform for banking, serving clients in 150 countries by helping them build new banking services and state-of-the-art customer experiences. Top performing banks using Temenos software achieve cost-income ratios almost half the industry average and returns on equity 2x the industry average. Their IT spend on growth and innovation is also 2x the industry average. For more information, please visit www.temenos.com. ALPHARETTA, GA, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashton Woods USA L.L.C. (the Company) announced today that the Companys Quarterly Report for the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2025 (the Quarterly Report) is expected to be posted on the Companys website on or before Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM EDT for the purpose of discussing the Quarterly Report and the Companys operating results for the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2025. Please use the following call-in number if you plan to dial in to our quarterly investor conference call: Call-in Number: (800) 343-4849 (203) 518-9848 Conference ID: AWHQ325 There will be an operator who will ask for your name and company name. Please call in a few minutes early, if possible, to give the operator time to get everyone logged in. A replay of the call will be posted on the Companys website by Monday, March 31, 2025, and will be available for 31 days. The Companys quarterly and other reports can be obtained on the Companys website at https://www.ashtonwoods.com/corporate-info/investor-relations/financial-reports or by contacting investor.relations@ashtonwoods.com. ABOUT ASHTON WOODS / STARLIGHT HOMES: Ashton Woods is the nations largest private homebuilder* and was named the 2023 Builder of the Year by Builder magazine. The company markets its homes through its two award-winning brands, Ashton Woods Homes and Starlight Homes. The Ashton Woods brand is known for designing thoughtfully curated and inspired homes. The companys industry-leading customer experience at The Studio and with AW Collections results in exceptional design and special designer touches in every Ashton Woods home. The Starlight Homes brand builds homes specifically for the first-time and move-down homebuyers, offering affordable homes with well-executed designs and quality finishes. The companys commitment to innovation and continually evolving to meet the needs of the market is a key reason it is one of the most celebrated homebuilders in the nation, winning numerous national and local industry awards in product design, community design, architecture, merchandising, sales, marketing, and customer service. * According to Home Builder Executive based on calendar year 2024 closings. AMSTERDAM, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEQSOL Holding a global group of companies serving over 25 million customers in 11 countries and the largest investor in Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment to compliance with international regulations during its participation in an Atlantic Council event titled, The Age of Economic Warfare: Behind US Sanctions Against Russia, China, and Iran. The event, hosted by the Atlantic Councils Economic Statecraft Initiative, took place in Washington, D.C. this week, where NEQSOLs Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy, Teymur Taghiyev, represented the company. The discussion focused on the evolving role of sanctions as a key instrument of U.S. foreign policy, underscoring the importance of businesses adhering to regulatory frameworks in an increasingly complex economic environment. The event also marked the launch of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, a new book by Edward Fishman, a former U.S. State Department sanctions official. As a multinational group operating across multiple sectorsincluding telecommunications, energy, technology, and infrastructurewe recognize the importance of full compliance with international regulatory requirements, said Yusif Jabbarov, Chairman and CEO of NEQSOL Holding. Our participation in this forum underscores our unwavering commitment to operating with transparency, adhering to all relevant sanctions frameworks, and supporting economic stability through responsible business practices. NEQSOL Holding continues to align its global operations with international best practices, ensuring compliance with economic sanctions and regulatory measures in all jurisdictions where it operates. The company actively engages with policymakers, industry leaders, and regulatory bodies to maintain a robust compliance framework that fosters long-term economic growth and business integrity. The event also featured key speakers, including Edward Fishman, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and Senior Research Scholar at Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy; Ambassador Daniel Fried, Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. Ambassador to Poland; Stuart Levey, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Oracle, and former Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury; Nazak Nikakhtar, Chair of National Security at Wiley Rein LLC, former Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis at the International Trade Administration, and former Acting Under Secretary of Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce; and Adam Szubin, Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and former Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and others. For more information, please visit: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/the-age-of-economic-warfare-behind-us-sanctions-against-russia-china-and-iran/ About NEQSOL Holding NEQSOL Holding is an international group of companies operating across 11 countries in telecommunications, energy, construction, and hi-tech industries. The holding places significant emphasis on regulatory compliance and ethical business practices, ensuring adherence to all relevant legal frameworks. As it continues to grow, NEQSOL remains dedicated to supporting economic and social development in the regions where it operates. For more information, please visit: NEQSOL Holding Media contact: Neqsol@tiltonconsultancy.com Dublin, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Quantum Technologies: Investment Landscape and Global Market 2025-2045" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The quantum technology sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, propelled by substantial venture capital investments and robust government support. In 2024, global deal value in quantum computing surpassed $1 billion for the first time. The Quantum Technologies: Investment Landscape and Global Market 2025-2045 report provides an in-depth analysis of the rapidly evolving quantum technology sector, covering revolutionary developments across quantum computing, communications, sensing, and materials. As the world transitions from the first quantum revolution to the second, this report delivers crucial insights into market dynamics, investment trends, and technological roadmaps that will shape the next two decades of quantum innovation. The quantum technology market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with global investments reaching record levels between 2020-2025. This detailed analysis tracks funding patterns across different technology segments, companies, and regions, highlighting North America's dominant position while noting significant developments in Asia and Europe's quantum ecosystems. Government initiatives worldwide are catalyzing market expansion through strategic funding programs that aim to secure technological sovereignty in this critical domain. Quantum computing stands at the forefront of this revolution, with competing architectures including superconducting qubits, trapped ions, silicon spin qubits, topological approaches, photonic systems, and neutral atom designs. The report provides comprehensive technical evaluations of each approach, including SWOT analyses, coherence times, and key market players developing these technologies. Beyond hardware, the thriving quantum software ecosystem is analyzed, including cloud-based Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) platforms that are making quantum capabilities accessible to enterprises. The market applications section explores how quantum technologies are transforming industries, from pharmaceutical drug discovery and chemical simulation to transportation optimization and financial modeling. The report identifies early adopters and potential breakthrough use cases, providing strategic intelligence for businesses looking to gain competitive advantages through quantum technologies. Quantum communications represent another critical segment, with detailed coverage of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG), and post-quantum cryptography solutions addressing the growing threat to current encryption methods. The development of quantum networks and the quantum internet receives special attention, examining infrastructure requirements, technical approaches, and global deployment initiatives. The quantum sensing market shows particular near-term promise, with the report analyzing advances in atomic clocks, quantum magnetometers, gravimeters, gyroscopes, and emerging applications in imaging, radar, and RF sensing. Each technology is evaluated for its disruptive potential across sectors including healthcare, defense, navigation, and resource exploration. Looking further ahead, the report examines emerging technologies like quantum batteries and the specialized materials underpinning quantum systems, including superconductors, nanomaterials, and advanced photonics. The comprehensive global market analysis provides revenue forecasts from 2025 to 2045, segmented by technology type and geographic region, with particular attention to high-growth segments. With nearly 300 detailed company profiles covering the entire quantum ecosystem from established tech giants to innovative startups, this report serves as an essential resource for investors, corporate strategists, government agencies, and technology developers navigating the quantum revolution. The analysis identifies key challenges to market adoption, including technical hurdles, standardization needs, and talent shortages, while providing a clear roadmap of opportunities as quantum technologies mature from research to commercial deployment. Report Contents include: Investment Landscape Analysis: Total market investments from 2012-2025 Breakdown by technology, company, and region Detailed analysis of North American, Asian, and European quantum markets Global government initiatives and funding programs Quantum Computing: Comprehensive technology description and operating principles Comparison between classical and quantum computing approaches Detailed analysis of competing qubit technologies (superconducting, trapped ion, silicon spin, topological, photonic, neutral atom, diamond-defect) Quantum software stack, algorithms, and cloud services Industry applications in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, transportation, and financial services Quantum Chemistry and AI: Technology description and applications Market challenges and opportunities Key players and technology roadmap Quantum Communications: Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG) - principles, applications, market players Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) - protocols, security advantages, challenges Post-quantum cryptography standardization and transition Quantum networks infrastructure, trusted nodes, and global deployment initiatives Quantum memory and internet development roadmap Quantum Sensors: Detailed analysis of atomic clocks, magnetic field sensors, gravimeters, gyroscopes Quantum imaging, radar, chemical sensors, and RF field sensors Application-specific adoption timelines across industries Technology transition milestones and market opportunities Quantum Batteries: Technology principles, types, and potential applications Market challenges and development roadmap Materials for Quantum Technologies: Superconductors, photonics, silicon photonics, and nanomaterials Opportunities and technical requirements Global Market Analysis: Market map and ecosystem overview Detailed investment funding analysis (VC, M&A, corporate, government) Revenue forecasts from 2018-2045 for quantum computing, sensors, and QKD systems Company Profiles: Detailed profiles of nearly 300 companies across the quantum technology landscape Analysis of startups, tech giants, and public-private partnerships. Orange Quantum Systems and many others representing the complete ecosystem from hardware manufacturers to software developers, component suppliers, and quantum service providers. A selection of companies profiled includes: A* Quantum AbaQus Absolut System Adaptive Finance Technologies Aegiq Agnostiq GmbH Algorithmiq Oy Airbus Alea Quantum Alpine Quantum Technologies GmbH (AQT) Alice&Bob Aliro Quantum Anametric Inc. Anyon Systems Inc. Aqarios GmbH Aquark Technologies Archer Materials Arclight Quantum Arctic Instruments Arqit Quantum Inc. ARQUE Systems GmbH Artificial Brain Artilux Atlantic Quantum Atom Computing Atom Quantum Labs Atomionics Atos Quantum Baidu Inc. BEIT Bleximo BlueQubit Bohr Quantum Technology Bosch Quantum Sensing BosonQ Ps C12 Quantum Electronics Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQC) CAS Cold Atom Cerca Magnetics CEW Systems Canada Inc. Chipiron Chiral Nano AG Classiq Technologies ColibriTD Covesion Crypta Labs Ltd. CryptoNext Security Crystal Quantum Computing D-Wave Systems Dirac Diraq Delft Circuits Delta g Duality Quantum Photonics EeroQ eleQtron Element Six Elyah Entropica Labs Ephos Equal1.labs EuQlid Groove Quantum EvolutionQ Exail Quantum Sensors EYL First Quantum Inc. Fujitsu Genesis Quantum Technology Good Chemistry Google Quantum AI g2-Zero Haiqu Hefei Wanzheng Quantum Technology Co. Ltd. High Q Technologies Inc. Horizon Quantum Computing HQS Quantum Simulations HRL Huayi Quantum IBM Icarus Quantum Icosa Computing ID Quantique InfinityQ Infineon Technologies AG Infleqtion Intel IonQ ISARA Corporation IQM Quantum Computers JiJ JoS QUANTUM GmbH KEEQuant GmbH KETS Quantum Security Ki3 Photonics Kipu Quantum Kiutra GmbH Kuano Limited Kvantify levelQuantum Ligentec LQUOM Lux Quanta M Squared Lasers Mag4Health Materials Nexus Maybell Quantum Industries memQ Menlo Systems GmbH Menten AI Mesa Quantum Microsoft Miraex Molecular Quantum Solutions Montana Instruments Multiverse Computing Mycryofirm Nanofiber Quantum Technologies NEC Corporation Neuranics Next Generation Quantum Nomad Atomics Nord Quantique Nordic Quantum Computing Group AS NTT Nu Quantum NVision 1Qbit ORCA Computing Orange Quantum Systems Key Topics Covered: 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 First and second quantum revolutions 1.2 Current quantum technology market landscape 1.3 Quantum Technologies Investment Landscape 1.4 Global government initiatives and funding 1.5 Market developments 2020-2025 1.6 Challenges for quantum technologies adoption 2 QUANTUM COMPUTING 2.1 What is quantum computing? 2.1.1 Operating principle 2.1.2 Classical vs quantum computing 2.1.3 Quantum computing technology 2.1.4 Competition from other technologies 2.1.5 Quantum algorithms 2.1.6 Hardware 2.1.7 Software 2.2 Market challenges 2.3 SWOT analysis 2.4 Quantum computing value chain 2.5 Markets and applications for quantum computing 2.6 Opportunity analysis 2.7 Technology roadmap 3 QUANTUM CHEMISTRY AND ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) 3.1 Technology description 3.2 Applications 3.3 SWOT analysis 3.4 Market challenges 3.5 Market players 3.6 Opportunity analysis 3.7 Technology roadmap 4 QUANTUM COMMUNICATIONS 4.1 Technology description 4.2 Types 4.3 Applications 4.4 Quantum Random Numbers Generators (QRNG) 4.5 Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) 4.6 Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) 4.7 Quantum homomorphic cryptography 4.8 Quantum Teleportation 4.9 Quantum Networks 4.10 Quantum Memory 4.11 Quantum Internet 4.12 Market challenges 4.13 Market players 4.14 Opportunity analysis 4.15 Technology roadmap 5 QUANTUM SENSORS 5.1 Technology description 5.1.1 Quantum Sensing Principles 5.1.2 SWOT analysis 5.1.3 Atomic Clocks 5.1.4 Quantum Magnetic Field Sensors 5.1.5 Quantum Gravimeters 5.1.6 Quantum Gyroscopes 5.1.7 Quantum Image Sensors 5.1.8 Quantum Radar 5.1.9 Quantum Chemical Sensors 5.1.10 Quantum Radio Frequency Field Sensors 5.1.11 Quantum NEM and MEMs 5.2 Market and technology challenges 5.3 Opportunity analysis 5.4 Technology roadmap 6 QUANTUM BATTERIES 6.1 Technology description 6.2 Types 6.3 Applications 6.4 SWOT analysis 6.5 Market challenges 6.6 Market players 6.7 Opportunity analysis 6.8 Technology roadmap 7 MATERIALS FOR QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES 7.1 Superconductors 7.2 Photonics, Silicon Photonics and Optical Components 7.3 Nanomaterials 8 GLOBAL MARKET ANALYSIS 8.1 Market map 8.2 Key industry players 8.3 Investment funding 8.4 Global market revenues 2018-2045 9 COMPANY PROFILES (289 company profiles) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dy8qn2 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Company announcement 4/2025 (21.03.2025) Today, Friday 21 March 2025 an ordinary general meeting with the following agenda was held at 09:30 CET at European Energy A/S, Gyngemose Parkvej 50, 2860 Sborg, Denmark and electronically via Microsoft Teams: Agenda Election of Chair of the Annual General Meeting Report on the activities of the Company Presentation of the annual report with the auditors report for approval and discharge of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board Resolution on the appropriation of profit or treatment of loss according to the approved annual report Election of members to the Board of Directors Decision regarding remuneration to the Board of Directors for the financial year 2025 Election of Auditor(s) AOB Minutes of the ordinary general meeting is attached. For further information, please contact Investor Relations: investor.relations@europeanenergy.com. This announcement has been made in accordance with the market abuse regulation (regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 on market abuse). Attachment US & Canada, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive report from The Insight Partners, Blood Collection Devices Market Size and Forecast (2020 - 2030), Global and Regional Share, Trend, and Growth Opportunity Analysis Report, The blood collection devices market is expected to reach US$ 14.02 billion by 2030 from US$ 8.71 billion in 2022; it is anticipated to record a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period To explore the valuable insights in the Blood Collection Devices Market report, you can easily download a sample PDF of the report- https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHE100001279/ As per a new, comprehensive report from The Insight Partners, the Blood Collection Devices Market market is experiencing significant growth owing to increasing cases of chronic diseases such as cancer. The National Cancer Institute, nearly 10 million people worldwide lost their lives to cancer in 2020, with 19.3 million new cases reported. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), there may be approximately 28.9 million new cases of cancer worldwide by 2040. Liquid biopsies, the most popular type of blood test for cancer, are used to screen and diagnose cancers, including ovarian, breast, colorectal, prostate, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Blood collection tubes support the organization's early cancer detection strategy, facilitating prompt treatment and raising the survival rates of patients. The report runs an in-depth analysis of market trends, key players, and future opportunities. The Blood Collection Devices market study focuses on an array of products that are expected to drive their growth. Competitive Strategy and Development Key Players: Becton Dickinson and Co, Terumo Corp, Cardinal Health Inc, SARSTEDT AG & Co KG, Nipro Corp, Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, FL Medical SRL, IntervacTechnology OU are among the major companies operating in the blood collection devices market. Trending Topics: Point-of-Care Blood Collection Market, Capillary Blood Collection Devices Market, Blood Collection Tubes Market, Venous Blood Collection Devices Market, Blood Sampling Devices Market. Global Headlines on Blood Collection Devices Market Grifols, a Spanish multinational specializing in blood-plasma-based medicines acquired Biotest AG, a German-based provider of plasma protein therapies and biotherapeutic drugs. Stryker, a leading medical device company, announced its acquisition of Inari Medical for $4.9 billion in an all-cash deal. Inari Medical specializes in devices that treat venous diseases, such as venous thromboembolism. For Detailed Blood Collection Devices Market Insights, Visit: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/blood-collection-devices-market Blood Collection Devices Market Overview of Report Findings 1. Market Growth: The blood collection devices market is expected to reach US$ 14.02 billion by 2030 from US$ 8.71 billion in 2022; it is anticipated to record a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. Blood sampling is an essential part of many disease diagnoses. It is the first step in diagnosing any illness in the body and aids in learning about the excess or deficiency of different elements in the body. Hospitals and medical facilities can choose from various blood collection systems. The blood collection devices market is growing due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases requiring frequent testing, advancements in safer and more efficient collection technologies, and expanding healthcare infrastructure, especially in emerging economies. Additionally, an aging population needing regular health monitoring and supportive government initiatives promoting routine check-ups further drive demand. 2. Increasing Demand for Minimally Invasive Diagnostics Tests: Due to less pain and wounding than traditional venipuncture, minimally invasive sampling techniques such as capillary blood sampling are frequently utilized for point-of-care testing in clinical settings, including the ICU and home healthcare settings. Patients prefer minimally or noninvasive tests when seeking a diagnosis. In recent times, the interest in noninvasive blood collection procedures has increased due to technological advancements that have improved processing times and feasibility. A blood test lowers the cost and duration of problem diagnosis while being a noninvasive, painless procedure. It is a straightforward substitute for surgical biopsies that allows medical professionals to know more about tumors from a straightforward blood sample. Thus, the increasing demand for noninvasive or minimally invasive diagnostic tests is driving the growth of the blood collection devices market. 3. Introduction of Technologically Advanced Products: In the case of difficult venous access (DVA) patients, the traditional blood collection device is frequently unable to collect adequate samples, resulting in multiple attempts to collect blood. Repeated attempts may result in anemia and the transmission of blood-borne pathogens to nurses. To avoid such scenarios, market players are introducing novel hematology tube designs that facilitate capillary blood collection while lowering the risks of blood collection and treatment errors in DVA patients. The new technology provides a painless, needle-free, and user-friendly method for collecting blood samples. The system enables minimally invasive collection of blood samples. Hematology tubes, which are placed on a patient's upper arm, improve capillary blood flow beneath the skin using micro-incision and patented skin vasodilation technology. In May 2022, Vitestro, a Dutch medical robotics company unveiled an advanced autonomous blood drawing device at the Netherlands Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine's (NVKC) annual meeting in Rotterdam. Vitestro's device combines Al-based, ultrasound-guided 3D reconstruction with robotic needle insertion for precise and secure blood collection. 4. Geographical Insights: In 2022, North America led the market with a substantial revenue share, followed by Europe and APAC. Further, Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR in the blood collection devices market during the forecast period. Stay Updated on The Latest Blood Collection Devices Market Trends: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHE100001279/ Market Segmentation Based on product, the blood collection devices market is segmented into blood collection tubes, blood collection needles/holders, and blood collection sets. The blood collection tubes segment held the largest share of the market in 2022. By application, the Blood Collection Devices Market is categorized into arthroplasty, kyphoplasty, and vertebroplasty. The kyphoplasty segment held the largest share of the market in 2022. According to end user, the blood collection devices market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and clinics. The hospitals segment held the largest share of the market in 2022. The blood collection devices market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America. Purchase Premium Copy of Global Blood Collection Devices Market Size and Growth Report (2023-2031) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPHE100001279/ Conclusion The blood collection devices market is experiencing significant growth driven by the increasing demand for minimally invasive diagnostics and technological advancements. Innovations such as capillary blood sampling and AI-based autonomous blood drawing devices enhance patient comfort, reduce complications, and improve efficiency. These developments cater to patients with DVA while minimizing risks for healthcare providers, making blood collection safer, faster, and more accessible in various clinical settings. Related Reports- About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Ankit Mathur E-mail: ankit.mathur@theinsightpartners.com Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Press Release- https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/blood-collection-devices-market Austin, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Market Size & Growth Insights: According to the SNS Insider,The Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Market Size was valued at USD 10.09 Billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 35.70 Billion by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 15.1% over the forecast period 2024-2032. Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Market: Driving Forces and Industry Trends The EUV Lithography market is driven by technological advancements, increasing semiconductor complexity, and the demand for smaller, more powerful chips. Industries like AI, high-performance computing, 5G, and IoT are fueling the need for advanced processors, pushing semiconductor manufacturers to invest in EUV technology for precise sub-7nm node production. Major players such as Intel, TSMC, and Samsung are adopting EUV lithography to enhance chip performance, reduce power consumption, and maintain a competitive edge. Get a Sample Report of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Market Forecast @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/5902 Leading Market Players with their Product Listed in this Report are: ASML Holding NV (EUV Lithography Machines, High-NA EUV Lithography Systems) (EUV Lithography Machines, High-NA EUV Lithography Systems) Carl Zeiss AG (EUV Lithography Optics, EUV Mask Inspection Systems) (EUV Lithography Optics, EUV Mask Inspection Systems) NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (EUV Mask Blanks, EUV Mirror Coatings) (EUV Mask Blanks, EUV Mirror Coatings) KLA Corporation (EUV Mask Inspection Tools, Actinic Patterned Mask Inspection Systems) (EUV Mask Inspection Tools, Actinic Patterned Mask Inspection Systems) ADVANTEST CORPORATION (EUV Mask Defect Inspection Systems, Semiconductor Wafer Testing Solutions) (EUV Mask Defect Inspection Systems, Semiconductor Wafer Testing Solutions) Ushio Inc. (EUV Light Source Modules, EUV Mask Cleaning Systems) (EUV Light Source Modules, EUV Mask Cleaning Systems) SUSS MicroTec SE (EUV Mask Aligners, EUV Lithography Coating and Developing Systems) (EUV Mask Aligners, EUV Lithography Coating and Developing Systems) AGC Inc. (EUV Mask Blanks, EUV Pellicles) (EUV Mask Blanks, EUV Pellicles) Lasertec Corporation (EUV Mask Inspection Equipment, EUV Mask Defect Review Systems) (EUV Mask Inspection Equipment, EUV Mask Defect Review Systems) TOPPAN Inc. (EUV Photomasks, EUV Mask Blanks) (EUV Photomasks, EUV Mask Blanks) Canon Inc. (EUV Mask Metrology Tools, Nanoimprint Lithography Systems) (EUV Mask Metrology Tools, Nanoimprint Lithography Systems) Nikon Corporation (EUV Lithography Equipment, EUV Metrology and Inspection Tools) (EUV Lithography Equipment, EUV Metrology and Inspection Tools) Intel Corporation (EUV Process Nodes, EUV-Based High-Performance Computing Chips) (EUV Process Nodes, EUV-Based High-Performance Computing Chips) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (EUV Lithography for 3nm Process, EUV-Based Chip Manufacturing Services) (EUV Lithography for 3nm Process, EUV-Based Chip Manufacturing Services) Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (EUV-Based DRAM and Logic Chips, EUV Lithography for 3nm and 5nm Nodes) (EUV-Based DRAM and Logic Chips, EUV Lithography for 3nm and 5nm Nodes) Toppan Photomasks Inc. (EUV Photomasks, EUV Mask Blanks) (EUV Photomasks, EUV Mask Blanks) ZEISS Group (EUV Lithography Optical Systems, EUV Reticle Inspection Tools). Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Market Report Scope: Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 USD 10.09 Billion Market Size by 2032 USD 35.70 Billion CAGR CAGR of 15.1% From 2024 to 2032 Report Scope & Coverage Market Size, Segments Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis, DROC & SWOT Analysis, Forecast Outlook Key Segmentation By Equipment (Light Source, Optics, Mask, Others) By End Use (Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM), Foundries) Key Drivers Increasing Demand for Advanced Semiconductor Chips Drives Growth in the Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Market. Rising Demand for AI, 5G, and IoT Technologies Creates New Growth Opportunities in the Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Market. Do you Have any Specific Queries or Need any Customize Research on EUV Lithography Market, Request for Analyst Call @ https://www.snsinsider.com/request-analyst/5902 Rising R&D investments, industry collaborations, and innovations in photomask and resist materials further accelerate market growth. However, supply chain challenges, high costs, and skilled labor shortages pose constraints, while government policies in the U.S., China, and the EU play a pivotal role in shaping the industry's direction. Additionally, environmental concerns, patent trends, and regulatory landscapes influence market dynamics, driving sustainable practices in semiconductor manufacturing. Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Market: Light Source Leads, Masks & Foundries Surge By Equipment The Light Source segment led the Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography market with a 39% revenue share in 2023, driven by the demand for high-intensity, stable EUV light sources for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Companies like Ushio Inc. and Gigaphoton Inc. are enhancing laser-produced plasma (LPP) light sources to boost power and stability. The Mask segment is set to grow at a 16.4% CAGR due to advancements in defect-free EUV photomasks essential for sub-7nm nodes. Key players like ZEISS, Toppan Photomasks, and AGC Inc. are innovating EUV masks, ensuring higher precision, improved yield, and enhanced lithography efficiency for AI and 5G applications. By End Use The Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM) segment led the Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography market with a 63% revenue share in 2023, driven by major players like Intel, Samsung, and Micron investing heavily in EUV for advanced chip production. Micron's $100 billion investment in EUV-based DRAM manufacturing highlights the push for sub-5nm nodes. The Foundries segment is set to grow at a 16.06% CAGR, fueled by rising demand for contract chip manufacturing. TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and SMIC are expanding EUV-based 3nm and 2nm nodes to support AI, autonomous vehicles, and IoT growth, ensuring continued advancements in semiconductor fabrication. Asia-Pacific Leads, North America Emerges as Fastest-Growing EUV Lithography Market In 2023, Asia-Pacific dominated the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography market with a 41% share, driven by major semiconductor manufacturers like TSMC, Samsung, and SMIC investing in sub-7nm and 3nm chip production. Chinas push for semiconductor self-sufficiency and Japans advancements in EUV photomasks further strengthened the regions leadership. North America is the fastest-growing market, with a 16.3% CAGR, fueled by the U.S. CHIPS Acts USD 52 billion funding for semiconductor manufacturing. Intel, Micron, and GlobalFoundries are expanding EUV adoption, particularly for Intel 4 and next-gen DRAM. ASML collaborations on high-NA EUV technology further accelerate North Americas growth. Purchase Single User PDF of Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Market Report (33% Discount) @ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/5902 Recent Development Jan 29, 2025 ASML Sees Record 3 Billion in EUV Orders Amid AI BoomASML reported a surge in net bookings, driven by soaring demand for its advanced EUV machines as AI and high-performance computing fuel semiconductor growth. Apr 26, 2024 Samsung's Jay Y. Lee Strengthens EUV Partnership with Zeiss Samsungs Jay Y. Lee met Zeiss CEO Karl Lamprecht to expand collaboration on next-gen EUV and semiconductor technologies, aiming to challenge TSMCs leadership. Table of Contents - Major Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 5.1 Investment & R&D Spending (2023) 5.2 EUV Equipment Shipments 5.3 Supply Chain Statistics (2023) 5.4 Government Subsidies & Incentives 6. Competitive Landscape 7. Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Market Segmentation, by Equipment 8. Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Market Segmentation, by End Use 9. Regional Analysis 10. Company Profiles 11. Use Cases and Best Practices 12. Conclusion Access More Research Insights of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Market Growth & Outlook Report 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/extreme-ultraviolet-lithography-market-5902 [For more information or need any customization research mail us at info@snsinsider.com ] About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. CORAL GABLES, FL, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CORAL GABLES, FL - March 21, 2025 - Today, the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami announced the first lineup of distinguished alumni set to perform legendary hits spanning the decades at the Centennial Celebration Concert on Tuesday, April 8: Bruce Hornsby performing The Way it Is; Jon Secada performing Just Another Day; Ben Folds performing Theme from Dr. Pyser; Metheny Medley performing Have You Heard and Are You Going With Me;" Joshua Henry performing The Room Where it Happens from Hamilton; and Idarose performing Glimpse of Us. The multigenerational, award-winning artists will be welcomed to the stage by fellow University of Miami alumnus and renowned TV host and producer, Jason Kennedy. Free and open to the public, the Centennial Celebration Concert will take place at 7 p.m. on the Lakeside Patio at the University of Miamis Coral Gables Campus. The Centennial Celebration Concert will occur exactly 100 years from the day the University of Miami signed its charter in 1925 and prepared to later welcome its first class of students in the fall of 1926. At the time of its founding, the University of Miami comprised just two schools, including the Conservatory of Music, which was later renamed the Frost School of Music, and the evening division. Now, 100 years later, the University of Miami includes 12 schools and colleges, serving more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs, and has more than 200,000 alumni with degrees from the highly acclaimed institution. Dean Shelton G. Shelly Berg of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami said, From the beginning, music has been integral to the University of Miamis identity. We were there when the University was establishing its reputation, and today, the Frost School of Music continues to exemplify the promise and prestige of a University of Miami education. Added Dean Berg, The Frost School of Music and University of Miami boast a powerful, invaluable alumni network. Thats part of the promise and immeasurable benefit of attending school here, and its why so many of these incredible alumni, from across multiple generations, will be with us to commemorate the centennial milestone on April 8 and help us celebrate the bright and bold future were forging together. On Tuesday, April 8, the Centennial Celebration festivities kick off with a Canes Carnival, featuring rides, games, and music on the Foote Green starting at 5 p.m. Festival attendees can also enjoy the Centennial Block Party from 5 to 9 p.m., with complimentary food stations along Miller Circle from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Like the Centennial Celebration Concert, the Canes Carnival and Centennial Block Party are free and open to the public. The entire celebration is organized by the Universitys Centennial Working Group and Honorary Committee, composed of alumni, students, faculty and staff members, and trustees, with the Centennial Celebration Concert organized by Frost School of Music Dean Shelly Berg. More information on the events can be found on the Universitys centennial website at 100.miami.edu. The theme for the University of Miamis centennial year is The Future is U, an homage to the institutions upward trajectory, its network of more than 200,000 alumni, and the forward-thinking vision that has positioned the University among the top research institutions in the country. University of Miami Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement and Chair of the Centennial Working Committee Patricia A. Whitely said, The University of Miamis 100-year legacy as a leading institution is extraordinary. Our community is eager to celebrate a century of achievement while looking ahead to the future we will shape together. The start of our centennial celebration heralds even greater successes, innovations, and milestones for the University. Thats why its only fitting that we come together en masse here in Coral Gables, with University of Miami students and alumni also set to join us remotely from across the globe for this truly historic landmark moment. Throughout 2025, the University of Miami and its schools, including the Frost School of Music, will continue to celebrate historic achievements from the past 100 years as they look ahead to the next century, with many of the festivities featuring students, alumni, faculty and staff members, donors, and other esteemed community members. On April 8, the Frost School of Music will honor 144 alumni artists, leaders, and visionaries with Frost School Centennial Medals. The first Centennial Medals were presented to more than 21 Frost School alumni at the opening of the state-of-the-art Knight Center for Music Innovation. Previous honorees include Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Lee Levin, Dawnn Lewis, Carmen Lundy, and Jon Secada, among others. Added Dean Berg, Setting a new standard for what makes a great music school has long been a hallmark of the Frost School of Music. Our legacy is shaped by those who have made outstanding contributions to the school and the music world and whose messages have resonated at critical and emotional times. As we prepare to embark on our next century, its our pleasure to be able to bestow Frost School Centennial Medals on so many of our alumni and other esteemed supporters whove amplified the Frost Schools efforts to create, cultivate, and enhance the future of music to benefit musicians today and into the future. About the University of Miami The University of Miami is a private research university and academic health system with a distinct geographic capacity to connect institutions, individuals, and ideas across the hemisphere and around the world. With more than $413 million in research and sponsored program expenditures annually, the University of Miami is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The Universitys vibrant and diverse academic community comprises 12 schools and colleges serving more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. Located within one of the most dynamic and multicultural cities in the world, the University is building new bridges across geographic, cultural, and intellectual borders, bringing a passion for scholarly excellence, a spirit of innovation, a respect for including and elevating diverse voices, and a commitment to tackling the challenges facing our world. About the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami Established in 1926, the highly acclaimed Frost School of Music at the University of Miami is one of the top music schools in the world. In addition to being recently recognized as a top music business school by Billboard magazine, the Frost School is listed as a top music school by Downbeat Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, InTune Magazine, Musical America Worldwide, Niche, College Factual, and U.S. News and World Report, among others. Students choose to attend the school for its innovative and dynamic curriculum; real-world opportunities in the U.S. and abroad; award-winning, highly regarded faculty; access to local Latin music record labels, festivals, and artists; and its state-of-the-art campus in Miami, one of the top music cities in the world. Students who attend the Frost School benefit from its THIS AND approach to education thanks to its priority on combining traditional concentrations with cutting-edge programs that equip students with the artistic, technological, promotional, and entrepreneurial skills needed for success in today's world. Referred to as the Frost Method, this unique approach enables students to become well-rounded musicians and industry professionals. Around the world, Frost School alumni are known as being Frost Built, a term thats become synonymous with the music artist, educator, researcher, or industry professional of the future who is ready to realize their professional passions, establish themselves as a leader, and make real contributions to society - thanks to their multidisciplinary education. More information on the Frost School is available at frost.miami.edu. # # # Attachments TALLINN, Estonia, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ripple (XRP) ecosystem is buzzing after Ripple's landmark legal victory, sending the XRP price soaring and reigniting investor interest. As XRP holders celebrate this momentum, an exciting new altcoin built on the XRP Ledger XRPTurbo ($XRT) is rapidly gaining attention as the next explosive opportunity for massive gains. In just a short time, XRPTurbo's presale has astonishingly raised more than 140,000 XRP, demonstrating overwhelming investor confidence. With less than 8 days remaining in the presale, the window for early investment is closing rapidly, driving intense FOMO as crypto investors rush to secure their share of $XRT before prices spike. Join Xrpturbo Presale What Makes XRPTurbo ($XRT) So Attractive to XRP Holders? Unlike traditional presales with fixed token pricing, XRPTurbo has introduced an innovative model. 60% of the token's total 100 million $XRT supply is available exclusively in the presale, with the final token price determined by the total XRP raised. This approach means that early investors have a unique chance to secure the best possible entry price, potentially setting them up for substantial returns as soon as trading begins. Even more excitingly, plans are already underway for XRPTurbos token listing on two well-known crypto exchanges immediately after the presale concludes. These listings will debut the $XRT token at a price 25% higher than the final pre-sale valuation, ensuring instant profitability for presale participants. For savvy investors, this creates an irresistible incentive to buy $XRT tokens now, rather than waiting for exchange trading to begin. Buy XRT Token Next-Generation Utility: AI Agents Meet XRP Blockchain XRPTurbo is not just another speculative altcoinit represents genuine innovation on Ripples blockchain, incorporating advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology directly into the XRP Ledger ecosystem. XRPTurbo allows users and developers to create, deploy, and manage intelligent AI agents designed to automate tasks such as trading strategies, portfolio management, and market analysis. Holding $XRT tokens isnt just about investment potential. Token holders receive priority access to cutting-edge AI projects launching via XRPTurbos AI-powered launchpad, ensuring exclusive opportunities unavailable elsewhere on the XRP blockchain. As the AI trend dominates crypto innovation in 2025, XRPTurbo is ideally positioned to lead the charge, delivering significant long-term value to its community. Exchange Listings Confirmed and Platform Demo Revealed Soon Excitement is further amplified as the XRPTurbo team recently confirmed in their exclusive private Telegram community that a first-look demo of the XRPTurbo platform will be released next week. This upcoming demo is anticipated to highlight the platform's seamless user interface, robust AI capabilities, and advanced featuresfurther fueling investor enthusiasm. Moreover, the XRPTurbo team is currently engaged in talks with three reputable crypto exchanges already, ensuring robust liquidity and extensive market visibility for $XRT tokens shortly after presale completion. This strategic preparation positions XRPTurbo for rapid adoption and significant price appreciation once public trading begins. Dont Miss OutAct Now! With the XRP price trending bullishly and a newfound clarity in Ripples regulatory standing, crypto investors are actively searching for high-potential altcoins on the XRP Ledger. XRPTurbo ($XRT) is rapidly emerging as the standout candidate to become Ripples next major breakout project. With over 140,000 XRP already raised and presale demand accelerating, the limited window to secure $XRT tokens at the best possible valuation is closing fast. Acquire XRT Tokens Investors who hesitate risk missing the chance to lock in a 25% premium when exchange listings go live. Join the XRPTurbo presale today and position yourself ahead of the next major XRP ecosystem breakthroughthis could be your chance for life-changing crypto returns. Join the XRPTurbo Presale and Community: Website: xrpturbo.com Presale: xrpturbo.com/presale Telegram: t.me/xrpturbocom X (Twitter): x.com/xrpturbocom Whitepaper: docs.xrpturbo.com Media Contact: John Rodi contact@xrpturbo.com Disclaimer: This press release is provided by XRPTurbo. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. 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We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a36cac57-95cd-4239-be78-b5b03b730603 Philadelphia, PA, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scientists in The Wistar Institute lab of David B. Weiner, Ph.D., in collaboration with scientists in the laboratory of Norbert Pardi, Ph.D., at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and at the Pennsylvania-headquartered biotechnology company INOVIO, described a next-generation vaccination technology that combines plasmid DNA with a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system. Their findings are published in Cell Reports Medicine in the paper, Modulation of lipid nanoparticle-formulated plasmid DNA drives innate immune activation promoting adaptive immunity. David Weiner, Wistar executive vice president and W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Distinguished Professor in Cancer Research, is a leading expert in the field of DNA vaccines. In the study led by Weiner lab doctoral student Nicholas Tursi, researchers aimed to study how to improve lipid-based formulations to better incorporate and deliver DNA payloads for immunization. Lipid-based approaches, including LNPs, have successfully formulated and delivered various forms of RNA as well as formulating proteins as drugs in several marketed products. However, developing such formulations using DNA has previously not shown the same stability or efficacy. Tursi et al. studied how to modify lipid-based formulations that would effectively stabilize DNA in LNPs, which would simplify their delivery and improve vaccine-induced immunity. DNA has unique properties relative to RNA, including its large size and double stranded nature, which has previously been a hurdle for creating stable and consistent lipid-based DNA formulations. DNA vaccines have been traditionally delivered using devices, which enable highly efficient uptake of DNA into cells at the injection site and potent T cell immunity against important disease targets. Utilizing an LNP formulation for DNA vaccines could potentially enable administration by needle and syringe and potentially enhance humoral immunity, which could provide an additional tool within the DNA vaccine toolkit. Using a model DNA-LNP expressing influenza hemagglutinin (HA), the team examined how to modulate the formulation of DNA within LNPs to improve particle assembly and stability for direct injection. HA DNA-LNPs formulated at higher N/P ratiosthe relationship between the lipid nanoparticle and the larger DNA backboneled to an improved particle profile, smaller particle size, with an improved generation of immune responses. The study highlights some of the mechanisms of immunity that are conferred by DNA-LNPs. The team showed that these DNA-LNPs demonstrate a unique way of priming the immune system compared to mRNA and protein-in-adjuvant formulations. The DNA-LNP induced a unique activation pattern of innate immune populationscells that respond early in the development of a protective immune response. The team next examined whether HA DNA-LNPs could induce strong and consistent adaptive immunitythe arm of the immune system responsible for long lived T cell and antibody responses. Relative to benchmark mRNA and protein-in-adjuvant vaccines, HA DNA-LNPs induced robust antibody and T cell responses after a single dose. Importantly, these responses were durable, with memory responses in small animals persisting beyond a year after immunization. The team also examined the immunogenicity of HA DNA-LNPs in a rabbit model, where they observed strong T cell and antibody responses that persisted into the memory phase. Finally, the team examined whether DNA-LNP vaccines could be protective in a live SARS-CoV-2 challenge model. The team utilized a DNA-LNP vaccine expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and demonstrated that a single immunization with the spike DNA-LNP successfully prevented morbidity and mortality from challenge. This study supports the continued development DNA-LNP vaccines as a unique vaccination modality. The ability for this approach to trigger strong, long-lasting immune responses highlights its potential to complement existing approaches or be potentially developed as next-generation immunization platform. Authors: Nicholas J. Tursi1,2, Sachchidanand Tiwari3, Nicole Bedanova1, Toshitha Kannan1, Elizabeth Parzych1, Nisreen M.A. Okba4,5, Kevin Liaw1, Andras Sarkozy3, Cory Livingston1, Maria Ibanez Trullen4,5, Ebony N. Gary1, Mate Vadovics3, Niklas Laenger1,6, Jennifer Londregan2, Mohammad Suhail Khan1, Serena Omo-Lamai7, Hiromi Muramatsu3, Kerry Blatney1, Casey Hojecki1, Viviane Machado8, Igor Marcic8, Trevor R.F. Smith8, Laurent M. Humeau8, Ami Patel1, Andrew Kossenkov1, Jacob S. Brenner7, David Allman2, Florian Krammer4,5,9,10, Norbert Pardi3,, and David B. Weiner1, 1Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute 2Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania 3Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania 4Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 5Center for Vaccine Research and Pandemic Preparedness (C-VaRPP), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 6Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania 7Biology Department, Saint Josephs University 8INOVIO Pharmaceuticals 9Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 10Ignaz Semmelweis Institute, Interuniversity Institute for Infection Research, Medical University of Vienna Work supported by: NIH grants R01AI146101, R01AI153064, and P01AI165066; NIH/NIAID Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVIC) contract 75N93019C00051; and INOVIO Pharmaceuticals SRA 21-05. Additional funding provided by the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Distinguished Professorship in Cancer Research and The Jill and Mark Fishman Foundation. Publication information: Modulation of lipid nanoparticle-formulated plasmid DNA drives innate immune activation promoting adaptive immunity, from Cell Reports Medicine ABOUT THE WISTAR INSTITUTE The Wistar Institute is the nations first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. Since 1972, the Institute has held National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center status. Through a culture and commitment to biomedical collaboration and innovation, Wistar science leads to breakthrough early-stage discoveries and life science sector start-ups. Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the worlds most challenging problems in the field of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers. wistar.org. Paris, March 21, 2025 Press release Availability of the 2024 Universal Registration Document and terms for holding the Combined General Meeting of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE on April 29, 2025 The 2024 Universal Registration Document of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE was filed today with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers). The 2024 Universal Registration Document includes the 2024 annual financial report, which comprises in particular: the report of the Supervisory Board on the Corporate Governance, the sustainability report, the Statutory Auditors reports and the report on the certification of sustainability information, the description of the share buy-back programme. The 2024 Universal Registration Document is made available to the public in accordance with the conditions provided for by the regulations in force and is available on the Companys website www.urw.com (under Investors/General Meetings). The Combined General Meeting of shareholders of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE will be held at Palais des Congres de Paris (2, place de la Porte Maillot, salle Bordeaux 75017 Paris, France) on Tuesday April 29, 2025, at 10:30 am (Paris time). The formal notice to shareholders (Avis de reunion a lAssemblee Generale valant avis de convocation) was published today, in the BALO (Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires) and set out the Combined General Meeting agenda, the proposed resolutions, as well as the terms for attending and voting at this General Meeting. Such notice is available on the Companys website www.urw.com (under Investors/General Meetings). For more information, please contact: Investor Relations Meriem Delfi +33 7 63 45 59 77 investor.relations@urw.com Juliette Aulagnon +33 6 15 74 20 43 investor.relations@urw.com Imane Rafiky +33 6 10 95 86 88 investor.relations@urw.com Media Relations UK/Global: Cornelia Schnepf Finelk +44 7387 108 998 cornelia.Schnepf@finelk.eu France: Etienne Dubanchet PLEAD +33 6 62 70 09 43 Etienne.Dubanchet@plead.fr About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is an owner, developer and operator of sustainable, high-quality real estate assets in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States. The Group operates 67 shopping centres in 11 countries, including 39 which carry the iconic Westfield brand. These centres attract over 900 million visits annually and provide a unique platform for retailers and brands to connect with consumers. URW also has a portfolio of high-quality offices, 10 convention and exhibition venues in Paris, and a 3.5 Bn development pipeline of mainly mixed-use assets. Its xi 50 Bn portfolio is 87% in retail, 6% in offices, 5% in convention and exhibition venues, and 2% in services (as at December 31, 2024). URW is a committed partner to major cities on urban regeneration projects, through both mixed-use development and the retrofitting of buildings to industry-leading sustainability standards. These commitments are enhanced by the Groups Better Places plan, which strives to make a positive environmental, social and economic impact on the cities and communities where URW operates. URWs stapled shares are listed on Euronext Paris (Ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The Group benefits from a BBB+ rating from Standard & Poors and from a Baa2 rating from Moodys. For more information, please visit www.urw.com Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Energy Corp. (CSE: MEC, OTC:MECPF, FRA:92T) (the Company or Mustang) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Axiom Exploration Group (Axiom) to conduct an Aerial Electromagnetic Survey (Xcite TDEM) with Radiometrics over its Spur Project located south of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan (the Spur Project). The Company anticipates that the Xcite TDEM survey with Radiometrics will commence in early May 2025 and encompass the portion of the claim package which has not been covered by modern day electromagnetic (EM) survey techniques. The airborne survey aims to precisely locate EM and radiometric anomalies, and aid in geological interpretations on the property advancing exploration targeting. In addition, Mustang has applied for exploration permits on the Spur Project and the Companys 914W Project. The permit applications include ground based mineral exploration activities such as trail construction, line-cutting, ground geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling. Subject to obtaining the required permits and approvals, Mustang plans to initiate exploration activities aimed at further assessing the viability of these projects, as well as to continue consultation with local communities. About Xcite TDEM Xcite is a new generation of helicopter-borne time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) systems developed by New Resolution Geophysics (NRG). Axiom is an exclusive provider of this service in North America. This state-of-the-art technology provides an efficient alternative to prior TDEM technologies for mineral exploration. The system utilizes a patented inflatable transmitter loop with a diameter of approximately 20 meters, suspended about 30 meters below the helicopter. The Xcite system offers improved signal clarity, enabling the detection of subtle subsurface features. It features a programmable waveform with a fast turn-off time, allowing for flexibility in data acquisition and improved resolution of both shallow and deep targets. Figure 1: Mustang Energy Corp. Spur and 914W Project Location Map1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11699211-1f81-4e70-bf12-4f39172160e4 About the Spur Project The Spur Project comprises nine claims covering 17,929 hectares. It is located just south of the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, a region globally renowned for its high-grade uranium deposits. The property is approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Camecos Key Lake Mill Operation and 20 kilometers southwest of Skyharbour Resources/Terra Clean Energys Fraser Lakes Zone B deposit (Figure 1). The Spur Projects geological setting combines Proterozoic basement rocks of the Wollaston Group and uraniferous pegmatites, presenting potential for uranium, thorium and rare earth element (REE) exploration. The Spur Project offers lower cost exploration due to the absence of Athabasca Sandstone cover. Adjacent Properties host high-grade surface grab samples including the Pipe Lake Showing with up to 8.0% UO (sample # R69-10)2 within a hornblende-rich pegmatite 2.5 km northeast of the Spur Project boundary. The Red October Showing, east of the project boundary, shows grab sample assays of up to 1.93% U (sample # JBELR063)3 within syenite, and an outcrop chip sample through semipelitic gneiss showing 1.34% U (sample # AGELR008)3 over 1 meter. About the 914W Project The 914W Project consists of one claim covering 1,260 hectares. It is situated approximately 48 km southwest of Camecos Key Lake Operation, offering favourable logistics and access via Highway 914. The 914W Project is positioned within the Western Wollaston Domain, known for unconformity/basement hosted uranium mineralization. The 914W Project hosts favorable geology with local graphite bearing assemblages. Immediately to the north of the 914W property is the Scurry Rainbow Zone E4 and the Don Lake Trenches5, where up to 1,288 ppm U was encountered in drill hole ML-11, and surface prospecting revealed up to 0.64% U 3 O 8 in a trench at Don Lake Zone E4. While historical exploration conducted several geophysical and geological surveys over portions of the property, most of the 914W Project remains underexplored. Mustang sees notable potential for advancing uranium and rare earth element (REE) exploration on this property. References: Saskatchewan GeoAtlas, https://gisappl.saskatchewan.ca/Html5Ext/index.html?viewer=GeoAtlas Saskatchewan Mineral Deposits Index. SMDI# 1005, https://applications.saskatchewan.ca/Apps/ECON_Apps/dbsearch/MinDepositQuery/default.aspx?ID=1961 Saskatchewan Mineral Deposits Index. SMDI# 5219, https://applications.saskatchewan.ca/Apps/ECON_Apps/dbsearch/MinDepositQuery/default.aspx?ID=5219 Saskatchewan Mineral Deposits Index. SMDI# 1961, https://applications.saskatchewan.ca/Apps/ECON_Apps/dbsearch/MinDepositQuery/default.aspx?ID=1961 Saskatchewan Mineral Deposits Index. SMDI# 1983, https://applications.saskatchewan.ca/Apps/ECON_Apps/dbsearch/MinDepositQuery/default.aspx?ID=1983 Qualifying Statement The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo., Technical Advisor for Mustang Energy, a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Ms. Guillaume is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Adjacent Property Disclaimer: This news release includes references with respect to uranium occurrences which are located near the Spur Project and 914W Project, including the Pipe Lake Showing, Red October Showing, Scurry Rainbow Zone E, and Don Lake Zone E. The Company advises that, notwithstanding their proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on nearby properties and any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on the Spur Project and 914W Project, or the Companys ability to commercially exploit the Spur Project or 914W Project, or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom. The Company cautions investors on relying on this information as the Company has not confirmed the accuracy or reliability of the information. About Mustang Energy Corp.: Mustang is a resource exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The Company is actively exploring its properties in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada and holds 77,318 hectares in around the Athabasca Basin. Mustang's flagship property, Ford Lake, covers 7,743 hectares in the prolific eastern Athabasca Basin, while its Cigar Lake East and Roughrider South projects span 3,442 hectares to the north and the Spur Project to the south covering 17,929 hectares. Mustang has also established its footprint in the Cluff Lake region of the Athabasca Basin with the Yellowstone Project (21,820 hectares) and further expanded its presence in the south central region of the Athabasca Basin with the Dutton Project (7,633 hectares). For further information, please contact: Mustang Energy Corp. Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director Phone: (604) 838-0184 Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends, believes or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as forwardlooking statements, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the future potential of the mineral claims held by the Company, including the Spur Project and 914W Project; the granting of exploration permits on the Spur Project and 914W Project; the timing for the commencement of the Xcite TDEM survey; and the potential capabilities of the Xcite TDEM survey. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to continue exploring its properties given various environmental and economic factors outside of its control and that the results of the Xcite TDEM survey will provide the anticipated insights. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. GENEVA, Switzerland, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Etrion Corporation (Etrion or the Company, and, together with its subsidiaries, the Group) released today its annual consolidated financial statements and related managements discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the year ended December 31, 2024. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS Etrion closed the year 2024 with an unrestricted cash balance of $6.2 million and positive working capital of $6.2 million. On September 30, 2024, the Group's Luxembourg subsidiary received an earn-out payment of $1.2 million. This payment relates to a reimbursement for grid connection costs associated with a former Japanese asset that was sold in 2021. In September 2024, the Group's Japanese subsidiary realized $0.2 million in proceeds from the sale of specific permits and rights associated with a wind project previously abandoned. Management Comments: Marco A. Northland, the Companys Chief Executive Officer, commented, The Company going forward will maintain very limited resources and proceed with a windup of the Company as previously disclosed. FINANCIAL SUMMARY Three months ended Twelve months ended US$ thousands (unless otherwise stated) Q4-24 Q4-23 Q4-24 Q4-23 Financial performance from continuing operations EBITDA (358 ) (1,219 ) (340 ) (2,665 ) Net income/(loss) 53 7,064 (691 ) (5,267 ) Financial position Dec 2024 Dec 2023 Unrestricted cash 6,251 10,217 Working capital 6,210 9,924 Total assets 6,410 7,576 About Etrion Etrions largest shareholder is the Lundin family, which owns approximately 36% of the Companys shares directly and through various trusts. For additional information, please visit the Companys website at www.etrion.com or contact: Marco Northland Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer mnorthland@etrion.com The information was submitted for publication at 11:05 p.m. CET on March 21, 2025. Non-IFRS Measures: This press release includes non-IFRS measures not defined under IFRS, specifically earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted operating cash flow. Non-IFRS measures have no standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore such measures may not be comparable with those used by other companies. EBITDA is a useful metric to quantify the Companys ability to generate cash before extraordinary and non-cash accounting transactions recognized in the financial statements. In addition, EBITDA is useful to analyze and compare profitability between companies and industries because it eliminates the effects of financing and accounting policy decisions. The most comparable IFRS measure to EBITDA is net income (loss). Refer to Etrions MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024, for a reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted operating cash flow reported during the period. Forward-Looking Information: This press release contains certain forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to amount of funds that will be required to satisfy potential warranty claims under the sale agreements, other corporate level liabilities and anticipated expenses to cover continuing operations and windup costs, the possibility of acquiring or commencing an alternative business and the possibility that the Company may proceed to wind up its activities and dissolve following the completion of the sale of its solar assets) constitute forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company as well as certain assumptions including, without limitation, assumptions as to the amount of funds that will be required to satisfy future obligations and costs associated with the dissolution of the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company may have insufficient funds to satisfy its future obligations, including without limitation warranty claims under the agreements pursuant to which its projects were sold; the risk that the Company may not be successful in identifying and pursuing an alternative business; and uncertainties with respect to the timing of the any alternative business venture or the windup and the dissolution of the Company. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. TORONTO, March 20, 2025 - Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. ("Sulliden" or the "Company") (TSX: SMC) announces today it intends to continue exploration at its East Sullivan Copper Gold project. The property is in the Abitibi greenstone belt in Quebec, host to multiple world class base metals and gold deposits. Located in proximity (less than 1km), and on strike with the Triangle deposit, the underground mine operated by Eldorado Gold on its Lamaque property. The Lamaque Property hosts 7.1 Mt @ 7.9g/t at a cut-off grade of 4.7g/t Au. The contained metal for the Measured and Indicated Resources of 1.8 Moz of gold1. Sulliden' s concession covers 334 hectares that encompasses the former East-Sullivan Copper-Zinc-Gold-Silver Mine less than 10km from the town of Val D'or. Limited follow-up drilling has confirmed the strike potential on both extremities of the former mine with a gold-only zone found 500m east of the easternmost stopes of the former mine. History The former East-Sullivan Mine operated from 1949 to 1966 and produced Copper, Zinc, Gold and Silver from multiple lenses. The former mine production is pegged at 15.0 Mt @ 1.1% Cu, 0.8% Zn, 0.3 g/t Au and 9.7 g/t Ag. 1 Mineral resources as of September 2022 https://www.eldoradogold.com/assets/resources-and-reserves/default.aspx About Sulliden Sulliden is a mining company focused on acquiring and advancing brownfield, development-stage and early production-stage mining projects in the Quebec and Australia. Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. On behalf of the Board "Scott Moore", Chief Executive Officer info@sulliden.com (416) 861-2267 THE TSX HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. Foran Mining Corp. (TSX: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") has filed its annual financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company's consolidated financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 are available on SEDAR+ under the Company's profile and on the Company's website. About Foran Mining Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future and, empowering communities while creating value for our stakeholders. The McIlvenna Bay project is located within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, comprises the infrastructure and works related to development activities of the Company, and hosts the McIlvenna Bay Deposit and Tesla Zone. The Company also owns the Bigstone Deposit, a resource-development stage deposit located 25 km southwest of the McIlvenna Bay Property. The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. The McIlvenna Bay Property sits just 65 km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba, and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225 km. The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company filed its NI 43-101 compliant 2025 Technical Report on the McIlvenna Bay Project, Saskatchewan, Canada (the "2025 Technical Report") on March 12, 2025, with an effective date and report date of March 12, 2025, outlining a mineral resource in respect of the McIlvenna Bay Deposit estimated at 38.6 Mt grading 2.02% CuEq in the Indicated category and an additional 4.5 Mt grading 1.71% CuEq in the Inferred category. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of the 2025 Technical Report which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile. The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSX under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF". CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of Foran Mining Corporation and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited, statements regarding our objectives and our strategies to achieve such objectives; our beliefs, plans, estimates, projections and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events; as well as the statements made in our management's discussion and analysis and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, and specific statements in respect of: our ability to advance the McIlvenna Bay project; the McIlvenna Bay Deposit becoming the centre of a new mining camp; our commitment to support a greener future, empower communities and create value for our stakeholders; expectations regarding our development and advanced exploration activities; and expectations, assumptions and targets in respect of our 2025 Technical Report, including in respect of its estimated mineral resource. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement. Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed in this press release are not exhaustive. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements contained in this press release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements, unless required by law. Additional information about these assumptions, risks and uncertainties is contained in our filings with securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). SOURCE Foran Mining Corporation FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Foran: Jonathan French, CFA, VP, Capital Markets & External Affairs, 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2, ir@foranmining.com, +1 (604) 488-0008 Yara has today published its 2024 Integrated Report, including complete 2024 Annual Accounts with notes. The report is attached as a pdf file and in European Single Electronic Format (ESEF). The 2024 Integrated Report embeds the EU Taxonomy disclosure and Sustainability Statements, prepared in accordance with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The Remuneration report and the Country-by-country reporting are disclosed sepa-rately. The disclosures are available on Yara's website: https://www.yara.com/2024 Contact: Maria Gabrielsen Investor contact M: +47 92090093 E: maria.gabrielsen@yara.com Tonje Nss Media contact M: +47 40844647 E: tonje.nass@yara.com About Yara Yara's mission is to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet. We pursue a strategy of sustainable value growth through reducing emissions from crop nutrition production and developing low-emission energy solutions. Yara's ambition is focused on growing a nature-positive food future that creates value for our customers, shareholders and society at large and delivers a more sustainable food value chain. To drive the green shift in fertilizer production, shipping, and other energy intensive industries, Yara will produce ammonia with significantly lower emissions. We provide digital tools for precision farming and work closely with partners at all levels of the food value chain to share knowledge and promote more efficient and sustainable solutions. Founded in 1905 to solve the emerging famine in Europe, Yara has established a unique position as the industry's only global crop nutrition company. With 17,000 employees and operations in more than 60 countries, sustainability is an integral part of our business model. In 2024, Yara reported revenues of USD 13.9 billion. www.yara.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachments Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes McLaren Formula 1 Team Oscar Piastri (3rd, 1:30.929): "Overall, a positive first day on track in China. SQ1 and SQ2 felt good, we just couldn't get the pace out of the car in SQ3. It's been challenging at times adapting to the track's new surface, the grip's been a lot better than last season which is nice, but it's very peaky. It was tough to keep on top of the car at times, but the team did a good job of taming it for Sprint Quali. The pace in the car is still very strong and I'm confident I can fight for a higher finish from third in tomorrow's Sprint." Lando Norris (6th, 1:31.393): "A frustrating Sprint Qualifying. I struggled with the car today at times and the conditions made it challenging. I pushed a bit too hard on my final lap which has put me lower in the order than we wanted. Overall, the car is still in a good window so there's a lot we can take from today's sessions. We'll now focus on working hard overnight as a team to get ready to go again tomorrow and score strong points." Andrea Stella, Team Principal: "Our first day back here in China ends with a somewhat disappointing result in Sprint Qualifying. During Free Practice we managed to work through our run plan well, completing a lot of important items as we head into this Sprint weekend. However, we struggled to put perfect laps together in SQ3 today, and thus we were not able to capitalise on the good pace of the car. This serves as a reminder of the competitive nature of this field, where not fully extracting performance can cost us several grid positions. We now have the chance to use the information available to maximise the pace in the car, ensuring we are prepared starting from the Sprint tomorrow." Scuderia Ferrari HP Lewis Hamilton (1st, 1:30.849): "It was mega! Really happy with the result. We knew there was more in the car after Australia, and here, it just came alive from lap one. The team's done a great job since Melbourne. Pole for the Sprint Race is a great place to be, but there's still work to do. I've not done a proper race run in the dry yet, so tomorrow will be a real test. The other teams will be quick, but we're in the fight and will keep pushing." Charles Leclerc (4th, 1:31.057): "We didn't put it all together today. Our main challenge was in turns 1 to 3 and apart from that everything was quite tight, so we will see where we stand tomorrow. It's not ideal to start the Sprint Race from P4, but I will give it my all to fight my way to the front. Our main focus around here will be on tyres, and then we will see what's possible in Qualifying ahead of Sunday's race."/p> Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal: "We are clearly happy with this afternoon's result. After a difficult qualifying last week in Australia, today's performance is a boost for the whole team and is definitely very positive, also for Lewis who has been quick throughout the whole day, quickest in SQ1 too. Charles was also competitive and with both cars on the front two rows we can aim to bring home plenty of points tomorrow. Clearly the McLarens have great pace both on a single lap and over a longer run. We must remain focused and plan how to execute the race down to the smallest detail as tomorrow's Sprint will provide useful information for Sunday's Grand Prix." Oracle Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen (2nd, 1:30.867): "Of course, when you look at it, we were incredibly close off pole so I am very happy to be second. I'm very happy with my performance today. I think that in the first practice session we were quite a bit off so I'm really pleased with being on the front row. The lap was very good: it is always very tough to go from a medium to a soft tyre, so to nail the lap with no references was great for us. Of course, when you look at it, we were incredibly close off pole so I am very happy to be second. I don't think we should have been on the front row and we didn't make any dramatic changes in the set up. We kept trying to maximise everything that we had, especially when we were struggling a bit more for pace. This is good for us and a little motivation boost. The McLarens looked fast up until the last run so it will be hard to keep them behind during the Sprint but hopefully it will be fun." Liam Lawson (20th, 1:32.729): "We started too hot and through the lap I struggled, it is really frustrating. On my second lap I went off and it is obviously a shame. I am disappointed because we started ok and it's a shame to miss out on SQ2 for a small mistake. From a starting point it wasn't too bad, and we were looking to build in the session from there. We stayed out to try and cool the tyres on track and to be honest, I really struggled to get the temperatures down to start my second lap. We started too hot and through the lap I struggled, it is really frustrating. Our pace was there and indicates we should be a lot further up than we are. We have tomorrow's Sprint to try and learn some stuff and we want to do a better job in quali, to put the car where is should be." Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team George Russell (5th, 1:31.169): "It was tricky to extract the maximum from the tyres across Sprint Qualifying; one moment in SQ2 we were outside the top 10 and the next we were second, even though both laps felt similar. That shows how small the gaps were out there today, but I think P5 is probably a fair result. I was pretty happy with my lap in SQ3 and it's not a bad place to start. It's always tough to nail Sprint Qualifying having had so little laps on track in the only hour of practice, so we can be pleased with our efforts. Let's see what happens tomorrow in both the Sprint and Qualifying. It was a surprise to see the McLarens struggle a little more in SQ3 and we have four different teams in the top five. We've definitely got the chance to move forward in the Sprint and challenge those ahead, so hopefully that is what we can do." Andrea Kimi Antonelli (7th, 1:31.738): "I was feeling good with the car throughout Sprint Qualifying. My SQ2 lap was particularly strong, and I was hoping to build on that for SQ3. On the Soft compound though, I struggled in the first sector. The tyres were too cold, and I think we didn't quite get the warm-up right on the out lap. The upside is that it was a better Qualifying session than Melbourne and I continue to build my learning. Let's see what we can do tomorrow now. Starting P7 leaves us with work to do but I've felt comfortable and confident in the car today. My pace on the Medium tyre was particularly good so hopefully that translates into the rest of the weekend across all compounds." Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director: "We had a decent session this morning in FP1 but going into Sprint Qualifying we were still building our understanding of exactly what to do with the Medium tyre. It seemed to be getting better on the second lap, but others were clearly able to extract the time on the first lap better than ourselves. By the end of SQ2, both drivers had set solid times; the McLarens were looking strong but we looked to be in a tight bunch behind him. For the final run in SQ3, we chose to go early following McLaren out of the pit lane. George did a reasonable lap but never felt like he had the necessary grip from the Soft tyre to challenge for pole. Kimi lacked grip in the first sector meanwhile and the sliding through the tricky first few cost him around the rest of the lap. The positive is that he is still in the mix from P7 and making it into the third segment of Qualifying continues to build his learning. With the benefit of perfect hindsight we'd have gone at the end as the track looked to improve a little, but it still looks like the others are getting a bit more out of the new softs. We've got a bit of time to try and understand that ahead of main qualifying tomorrow. Tomorrow's Sprint promises to be an intriguing session. Whilst we start P5 and P7, we were pleased with our long run on the Medium compound in FP1, and the competitive order is hard to predict. We will do our best to bring home a solid haul of points before focusing our efforts on Qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix later in the day." Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Lance Stroll (10th, 1:31.982): "Sprint Qualifying was a strong session for us today, and I'm happy to have made it to SQ3. We decided to run used softs throughout SQ3 to save tyres for Qualifying tomorrow, so it's still hard to gauge how we compare to those around us, especially with how tight the midfield is. We will continue to look at how we can improve for the rest of the weekend." Fernando Alonso (11th, 1:31.815): "I am quite happy with Sprint Qualifying today as the car felt quite competitive. SQ1 went very well for me and in our first push lap we managed to finish second. I just missed out on the top ten in the end, but it's good that we got one car into SQ3. It's clearly very close in the midfield and let's see what we can do in the Sprint. Our main focus is still very much on Qualifying and the main race, but tomorrow's Sprint gives us another opportunity to try score some points." BWT Alpine F1 Team Jack Doohan (16th, 1:32.575): "It was clearly not the result we wanted today but I am pleased with how the car felt. In the end, a combination of factors fed into the frustrating outcome in Sprint Qualifying, particularly traffic on track during the push lap, but we will keep our heads down and aim to maximise what we can from the Sprint Race in the morning. Fortunately, I completed the majority of our run plan in Free Practice 1 before the issue on track and it was important to get up to speed at this track in F1 machinery, especially with the new track surface, which provided plenty of grip. The car felt good across the day so we will look into the data and see what we can improve tomorrow in Qualifying and hopefully put ourselves in a much better position for the Grand Prix." Pierre Gasly (17th, 1:32.640): "It's a frustrating outcome today and I am disappointed for the whole team with the result to be out in SQ1. The car felt good, it had pace and we just had some traffic at the start of our push lap, which cost us some lap time. These fine margins can be very costly as has been the case today. We made good progress between Free Practice 1 and SQ1 and I really feel we should be fighting for SQ3 as it is very close amongst a number of cars in the midfield. Tomorrow, we will give it everything and just try to maximise what we can. It will be hard to make progress in the Sprint Race but we will give it our best and really focus on getting it right in Qualifying when it all counts. I am confident we can put it in the mix tomorrow and we will stay positive and aim to do just that." Dave Greenwood, Racing Director: "Looking at the timesheets after the session and having both cars out in SQ1 isn't a fair reflection of where we are with the performance of the car this weekend. Both Pierre and Jack had traffic on their final flying laps, which cost them a lot of lap time. With only one hour of practice, we managed to make some positive steps forward with the balance and set-up between sessions. The team also did a great job to turn around Jack's car after stopping on track with a technical issue this morning. With our starting positions, it puts us slightly on the back foot for the Sprint tomorrow, however we will try to make progress up the field and see where we end up." MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Oliver Bearman (12th, 1:31.978): "I'm happy with the feeling underneath me today. From the first lap in FP1 I knew it would be a bit of a better weekend than we had in Melbourne. I felt comfortable with the car straight away, which is always a nice start to the weekend and we managed to show a bit of pace out there today. I was still building up to the track, there's quite a few long unique corners at this track which are tough to get your head around in such a short time. There's definitely more time to be found, I think we could have had SQ3 in the car today." Esteban Ocon (18th, 1:32.651): "It's for sure disappointing to be knocked out, but I think there are positives as obviously Ollie got up there and we look to be more in the mix than we were in Melbourne. We've definitely found some pace as a team, and that's very positive. On my side we need to look at what went wrong in this short session. So, we have to dig, but overall much better than Melbourne." Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: "As a team, I'm very happy with everyone and how we've made progress since coming from Melbourne which was obviously an incredibly difficult weekend. What I'm really happy about is that everyone's worked together and tackled problems head on. Today's FP1 program, across both cars, was very well defined and executed. We are honestly learning every single time we're going out on track. Ollie did a good job today. He came back from a very difficult weekend in Australia and he hasn't put a foot wrong today it was a great effort by him in both SQ1 and SQ2. With Esteban, we have some doubt on his car spec, so we're investigating that. Again though, his feedback has been really, really good. It's been a very positive day." Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team Yuki Tsunoda (8th, 1:31.852): "I'm happy with the result obviously and how it came out. We could have done a couple of things better in terms of set up, it didn't feel 100% and we weren't able to extract the performance of the car, we'll have to look through it, but yeah, I'm very happy. It was a shame for Isack, but at the same time he gave a nice tow to me in SQ2, that helped, so thank you to him, it was a good team effort. Let's see tomorrow!" Isack Hadjar (15th, No Time): "I knew I had to put a good lap in SQ2 to get through to SQ3, but unfortunately, I overdid it and I had to abort the lap. In SQ1 I felt very good and strong in the car, and we were quite close to the top guys. After that, I knew I had to put a good lap in SQ2 to get through to SQ3, but unfortunately, I overdid it and I had to abort the lap. I think everyone out there is struggling here, as it's a tough track for the tyres on the entry phase and they just overheat throughout the corner. It's a shame as it seems we have a decent car, but it's still training and we'll understand what went wrong today ahead of tomorrow's Sprint and Qualifying." Alan Permane, Racing Director: "We're especially happy, as this is a very different circuit to Melbourne, and it validates our car pace at another track. A good day here today. A little bit of a shame for Isack, who on his SQ2 run caught a gust of wind between turn 1 and 2 and lost the car a little bit. But I think we can take some satisfaction that he was quick, very quick in SQ1. This leaves him in very good shape for qualifying tomorrow. Of course, huge congratulations to Yuki making it to the top 10 again, second weekend in a row. We're especially happy, as this is a very different circuit to Melbourne, and it validates our car pace at another track. We look forward to the Sprint tomorrow morning, but more so we look forward to qualifying well for the main race tomorrow afternoon." Williams Racing Alexander Albon (9th, 1:31.852): "I'm pretty happy, but I think we have a bit of work to do with the car. This track isn't quite suiting us at the minute so we need to make a few changes. It's not that easy to know what to do with the tyres, they're quite sensitive. Long corners, like those here in China, tend to make the tyres work harder. It's hard to get them to a good place and it feels like you have to manage them, and overmanage them in many ways. We'll do some work overnight and try to come back stronger tomorrow." Carlos Sainz (13th, 1:32.325): "I've struggled all day with the balance and both sessions have been quite tough. In Sprint Qualy we had a few issues, including a weird feeling with the seat that we'll look into, but overall it comes down to me still not feeling at home in the car. I still have to learn and understand many things about it and I know with more mileage, it will come. Hopefully tomorrow we can put everything together and improve today's result for Sunday." Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber Gabriel Bortoleto (14th, 1:32.564): "It's been an encouraging start to the weekend, and a solid sprint qualifying session overall. SQ1 went well, and in SQ2, I gave it everything, but closing the six-tenths gap to SQ3 was always going to be a challenge I am still satisfied with the result we brought home. The windy conditions made it tricky at times, but overall, I'm happy with the progress made throughout the day. Now, the focus shifts on tomorrow, with the Sprint, first, and the main qualifying; we'll keep pushing to make the most of every opportunity." Nico Hulkenberg (19th, 1:32.675): "Unfortunately, it was a short Sprint Qualifying session for me. I think the first lap looked promising, but on the second run, many drivers managed to improve their lap times, whereas we didn't. We'll need to look into the data to understand what happened and how we can make further gains. This morning in free practice my lap looked pretty competitive, but for some reason, we weren't able to replicate that performance in this afternoon's session." KIC empowers 1,200 women with agripreneurship training and business support Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 21 - 2025 , 14:06 The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) is making significant strides in promoting womens economic empowerment across Ghana through its Empower Her initiative and Womens Bootcamp trainings. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and Kosmos Energy, KIC is equipping women with agripreneurship skills, financial literacy, and essential business tools, enabling them to transition from subsistence farming to sustainable agribusiness ventures. Through its community-focused approach, KIC has extended its training programs to women in rural and peri-urban areas, ensuring no region is left behind. In 2024, KIC conducted training sessions in the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Volta Regions, providing women with skills to enhance their economic opportunities. As part of the initiative, 71 pieces of business equipment were distributed, including gari processing machines, charcoal ovens, palm oil digesters, corn and rice mills, catfish starter packs, baking ovens, and pastry-making kits. In February 2025, KIC extended its support to women in Wa and Jirapa in the Upper West Region, training them in soya kebab production, soap making, shea butter processing, and pastry making. These interventions are improving productivity, creating sustainable livelihoods, and boosting local economies. To date, 1,200 women have benefited from KICs capacity-building programs. The success of the Womens Bootcamp is evident in the personal stories of its beneficiaries. Jamila Shido, once unemployed, now runs a successful pastry business, earning a steady income. The training from KIC and its partners has really empowered me. Today, I bake, sell pastries, and earn a stable income to contribute to my household, she shared. Similarly, Emmanuella Annan, a student, leveraged the bead-making training to start her own business while continuing her studies. Meanwhile, Bernice Awindaug, a beneficiary of farm input support, transitioned from an aspiring farmer to a successful onion producer, contributing to food security and economic growth. KICs Gender and Safeguarding Specialist, Mercy Tuffour, emphasized the importance of moving beyond training to investment. To accelerate action in womens agribusiness, we must go beyond empowerment to investment. At KIC, we are not just training women, we are creating a future where their businesses thrive, their voices are heard, and their impact is undeniable. Through its partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and Kosmos Energy, the Kosmos Innovation Center remains committed to fostering inclusion, driving sustainable growth, and building stronger, more equitable communities. Private sector wants 24-hour economy policy tied to PPA framework Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News Mar - 21 - 2025 , 18:34 As Ghana continues to navigate its path toward economic recovery and growth, the private sector is advocating for the implementation of the 24-hour economy policy to be aligned with the countrys industrial policy and the regulatory framework established by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA). This will prevent contracts from being awarded solely to government favourites or politically connected companies and create fair competition among businesses to help boost productivity and create more jobs. At the KPMG Post-Budget Event, the president of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr Humphrey Ayim-Darke, called for a national effort to implement a 24-hour economy in Ghana. Forum Speaking during a panel discussion at the KPMG Post Budget Forum in Accra on Thursday, Dr Humphrey Ayim-Darke, stressed the need for the 24-hour economy policy to be part of a comprehensive strategy that supports industrial growth, rather than being implemented as a standalone initiative. The event, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana, on the theme: Resetting the Economy for the Ghana we want, brought together industry players, policymakers, international organisations, civil society and academia to discuss the 2025 Budget and Economic Policy Statement of the government presented to Parliament last Tuesday and its impact on the business community. Measuring success He cited the One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy as a lesson in how isolated initiatives may fall short of their full potential. We pray for a conscious effort to tailor the 24-hour economy to Ghanas industrial policy. It should not be isolated like the 1D1F. As the private sector, we are determined to support the government through this process and execute a clear agenda. Let the 24-hour economy be tied to the PPA conditions we have set so that we can use public funds through social interventions to transform the industrial sector, Dr Ayim-Darke said. He added that the industrial transformation necessary to drive Ghanas recovery and long-term growth must be measured by tangible outcomes. The success of industrial transformation would be measured by tangible outcomes such as the number of factories built under government initiatives, he added. The Country Managing Partner for KPMG Ghana, Andy Akoto, said as the country steers its economic future, policy-making and evidenced-based reforms will be key to balancing revenue needs with sustainable inclusive development. He added that KPMG was ready to support the government in offering its expertise and network to design policies, strengthen systems and forge partnerships that will deliver economic prosperity for the people of Ghana. In a speech read on her behalf, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana, Fati Attahiru, said the optimism expressed by business leaders about Ghanas economic recovery was encouraging. "However, that also comes with high expectations for bold, pragmatic policy actions that will lead to sustainable and inclusive economic transformation," she said. Next article: DopeNation did not file for 2025 TGMA Robert Kla, PRO of Charterhouse Hollywood director charged with defrauding $11m from Netflix BBC Showbiz News Mar - 20 - 2025 , 23:13 3 minutes read A Hollywood director has been arrested and accused of using studio funds intended to complete a sci-fi series to buy luxury cars, cryptocurrency and fancy bedding for himself. Carl Erik Rinsch, 47, is charged with federal fraud and money laundering related to $11m (8.5m) he was given by Netflix to create a series called White Horse. Mr Rinsch, who is best known for the 2013 film 47 Ronin, declined to enter a plea when appearing in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday. The indictment does not name Netflix, referring to a "subscription video-on-demand streaming service", but Mr Rinsch's long-running dispute with Netflix over the failed series has been previously publicised in US media reports. Netflix has declined to comment on his arrest. Between 2018 to 2019, the streaming giant gave Mr Rinsch an initial budget of $44m to film the show, which depicts artificial human clones, but he allegedly never completed a single episode. In March 2020, Netflix sent him another $11m after he argued that the initial budget was "not sufficient", according to prosecutors. But instead of using the funds for the series, he allegedly transferred them to his personal bank accounts and used it to invest in several risky financial ventures, the US Justice Department said. "Carl Erik Rinsch orchestrated a scheme to steal millions by soliciting a large investment from a video streaming service, claiming that money would be used to finance a television show that he was creating," prosecutor Matthew Podolsky said in a statement on Tuesday. "But that was fiction." Only two months after receiving the $11m, about half of it had already been spent, the indictment says. While he "was in the process of losing" the money, Mr Rinsch allegedly informed Netflix that the show was "awesome and moving forward really well", according to the indictment. He allegedly used the remaining funds to speculate on cryptocurrency, and on personal expenses and luxury items for himself, including a fleet of Rolls-Royces and a Ferrari, court documents state. The spending spree also included $1.8m for credit card bills, $3.7m on furniture and antiques and $933,000 on mattresses and luxury bedding, the Justice Department states. The indictment also alleges that $1m of the cash was sent to lawyers to sue Netflix in hopes of receiving more funds, and for a divorce. A profile of the dispute published by the New York Times in 2023 reported that friends and colleagues had described Mr Rinsch of growing increasingly erratic shortly after he signed the Netflix deal. The newspaper reports that he believed he could predict lightning strikes and volcanic eruptions and knew about a "secret transmission mechanism" for Covid-19. According to the Associated Press, Mr Rinsch made an initial court appearance on Tuesday. When asked by the judge whether he had read the 12-page indictment, he reportedly responded, "Not cover to cover". He was released on a $100,000 bail, and he is expected to attend trial in New York at a later date. If found guilty, he faces 20 years in prison. Next article: London: Major disruption as Heathrow Airport closed all day after nearby fire causes power outage Previous article: For Vladimir Putin, Russias position in the world is personal. Heres what he really wants Iceland minister who had a child with a teenager 30 years ago quits BBC International News Mar - 21 - 2025 , 14:54 3 minutes read Iceland's minister for children has resigned after admitting she had a child with a teenager more than 30 years ago. Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir said in a media interview she had first started a relationship when the boy was 15 years old, and she was a 22-year-old counsellor at a religious group which he attended. She then gave birth to his child when he was 16 years old and she was 23. "It's been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time and I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today," the 58-year-old told Icelandic media. Iceland's prime minister, Kristrun Frostadottir, told the press this was "a serious matter", although she said she knew little more than "the average person". "This is a very personal matter [and] out of respect for the person concerned, I will not comment on the substance," she said. According to Visir newspaper, Frostadottir said she had only received confirmation of the story on Thursday night. She immediately summoned the children's minister to her office, where she resigned. Icelandic news agency RUV broke the story on Thursday night. Thorsdottir revealed in an interview with them that she had met the father, who RUV name as Eirik Asmundsson, while she was working at the religious group Tru og lif (Religion and Life), which he had reportedly joined because of a difficult home life. He was 15 years old and she was 22 at the time of their meeting. Thorsdottir gave birth to their son when they were both a year older. RUV report that the relationship was secret, but that Asmundsson was present at his child's birth and spent the first year with him. However, the news agency writes this changed when Thorsdottir met her current husband. They report they have seen documents Asmundsson submitted to Iceland's justice ministry requesting access to his son, but that Thorsdottir denied it, while also requesting - and receiving - child support payments from him over the following 18 years. A relative of Asmundsson tried twice to contact the Icelandic prime minister about the relationship last week. Frostadottir said last night that when the woman revealed it involved a government minister she asked for more information, which led to the revelation and the resignation. In her TV interview with RUV last night, Thorsdottir said she was upset that the woman had contacted the prime minister. "I understand... what it looks like," she said, adding that it is "very difficult to get the right story across in the news today". While the age of consent in Iceland is 15, it is illegal to have sex with a person under the age of 18 if you are their teacher or mentor, if they are financially dependent on you, or work for you. The maximum sentence for this crime is three years in jail. Despite resigning from her ministerial job, Thorsdottir said she had no plans to leave parliament. London: Major disruption as Heathrow Airport closed all day after nearby fire causes power outage Graphic Online International News Mar - 21 - 2025 , 09:23 3 minutes read No flights will run to or from Heathrow Airport in London on Friday after the airport was shut due to a fire at a nearby power station. Passengers have been warned to stay away, with disruption likely to last for days. Heathrow Airport is to remain shut until midnight after a large fire at a nearby electricity substation, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers. Tracking site Flightradar24 estimates 1,357 flights would be affected (679 into and 678 out of Heathrow) today, including around 120 which were already in the air this morning before the shutdown. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told Sky News "it was too early to know" what caused the "catastrophic fire". Passengers have been warned to stay away from the airport and all trains to Heathrow have been suspended. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025," Heathrow said in a statement. "We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens." Planes usually begin landing and taking off at around 5am after the regular overnight quiet period. Around 120 flights were bound for Heathrow when the airport announced it would be closing for the day. Some will have turned back to the airport they departed from. But others were already crossing the Atlantic and have been diverted to airports in Europe London-Heathrow will be closed for ALL of Friday due to a significant power outage caused by a fire in an electrical substation. There are currently 120 aircraft in the air that will be diverting to alternate airports or returning to their origins. https://t.co/TEHf2kJO23 pic.twitter.com/Lot0lsJLz8 Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 21, 2025 Data from Flightradar24 shows Amsterdam has taken the most diversions at seven, while Gatwick, Frankfurt and Shannon have all taken six flights each. Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports and had a record 83.9 million passengers last year, with a plane landing or taking off around every 45 seconds. Stranded passengers Flightradar24 estimates that means there are about 220,000 passengers using the hub every day. Its total closure is set to have knock-on effects on airline operations around the world for several days to come. Matt, who is waiting at Canada's Vancouver International Airport, told Sky News that British Airways "have been great" and they had been rebooked for a flight on Saturday. "Fingers crossed Heathrow is open!" he added. But Raman who is stuck in Dubai said: "Flight keeps getting delayed - just seems crazy that BA won't cancel it considering Heathrow is closed anyway." Meanwhile Tom Singleton, also in Dubai, agreed. "The communication has been woeful. Email advising to check flight status before travelling to airport. Flight status shows 'on time'." British Airways, the biggest carrier at Heathrow, reiterated that customers should not go to the airport until further notice. A statement said: "This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond." Gatwick Airport said in a statement that it is "supporting by accepting diverted flights as required" and that it is operating "as normal today". Meanwhile Ryanair has launched what it is calling eight "rescue flights" for passengers affected by the Heathrow closure. credit: Skynews Burn galamsey excavators - Activists advocate Timothy Ngnenbe Mar - 21 - 2025 , 13:41 6 minutes read Key environmental activists have called on President John Dramanni Mahama to reconsider the directive not to burn excavators used for illegal mining, commonly called galamsey in local circles. They said the outright directive to confiscate excavators used by illegal miners without creating room for burning the equipment in difficult situations was not deterrent enough and also had the potential to stall efforts to crack down on the menace. Those who raised the concerns are the Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey; Daryl Bosu of A Rocha Ghana, an environmental civil society organisation (CSO); and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh Brown. In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic, they stressed that the impunity with which illegal miners were destroying the countrys land, forest and water resources could be stopped if excavators were burnt to send a strong signal that their activities would not be countenanced. They said the use of a dual approach, namely burning and confiscating the excavators, was currently the best approach because the Forestry Commission was not well-resourced to immediately move all seized excavators from forest reserves. Context The Daily Graphic spoke to the activists against the backdrop of President Mahamas directive for excavators to be confiscated rather than being burnt. After taking office on January 7 this year, the President sent a signal regarding his commitment to tackle illegal mining head on. Subsequently, he gave express orders to the ministers of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, as well as related ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to work closely together to deal decisively with the environmental crime. The President further ordered the security forces and the Forestry Commissions Rapid Response Team (RRT) to seize excavators used for galamsey rather than burn them. He made that directive public when the leadership of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) paid a courtesy call on him at the seat of government on Friday, February 21, 2025. I have told them not to burn the excavators; they should confiscate them, the President stated, adding that the focus was to ensure a sustainable approach to fighting galamsey. At a press briefing last Wednesday, the Lands Minister said at least 60 excavators used for galamsey in forest reserves had been confiscated. Dissenting view In the view of Dr Ashigbey, the new directive not to burn excavators would give criminal elements the opportunity to use all manner of strategies to get back their equipment to continue destroying the environment. An excavator costs not less than $200,000, so if the illegal miners know that they can lose that amount through burning of the equipment, they will fear to continue their activities. The ideal approach should be that if it is possible to move the excavators out, we do it; but if it is difficult to do so, it should be burnt, he said. Additionally, he said, since excavators had become weapons of mass destruction of the environment, the galamsey fight was now a war situation that needed to be handled ruthlessly. Restrict excavator importation Dr Ashigbey further called on the government to restrict the importation and usage of excavators in the country to help to address the illegal mining menace. He said the policy on excavator importation and usage that was piloted by the previous government needed to be reviewed and tightened to ensure every equipment was accounted for through effective tracking system, There should be a policy that regulates how excavators are imported and allowed to be rented. Excavators must be used as a source of evidence for prosecution, he added. Lets burn Mr Bosu, who is the Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, stressed that the burning of excavators was the best approach "to send a strong signal to illegal miners to stay away from our forest reserves and waterbodies". "Our experience on the field has shown that when excavators are burnt, it is a big blow to the illegal miners because you are taking away something precious to them; and they do not want to go back. It is the most significant punitive measure for illegal miners," he stressed. Mr Bosu said inasmuch as the order of the President was within the mining laws, it came with dire consequences. For instance, he said, it was an opportunity for politically-connected persons to go behind the scene to take their excavators back and go back to perpetrate their illegal acts of destroying the environment. "In the previous administration, they said the seized excavators will be put to other uses, but they found their way back to the mining sites; so there is no guarantee that there will be accountability for these excavators if they are not burnt," he said. The A Rocha Deputy Director further said that the process of confiscating the excavators and transporting them to designated locations for storage would be costly to the Forestry Commission, and by extension, the state. "If excavators are seized and the operation team is unable to move them out of the sites immediately, it means that there must be effective policing until they are taken away. This also gives room for people who are politically connected to find a way around it," he said. Accountability Mr Bosu said much as the President's directive was to be respected, the government needed to amply demonstrate that there was a watertight system to ensure that every seized excavator was accounted for. If the President wants to go the way of the law to say that excavators should not be burnt, the responsibility is for the government to demonstrate how the equipment would be accounted for so that all of us can keep an eye on them and ask the necessary accountability questions," he said. Engagement Meanwhile, Dr Brown said from the deterrence point of view, the burning of excavators was the ideal approach to adopt as it put the fear of God in illegal miners. He, however, added that following the directive by the President not to burn excavators, the commission would engage the relevant authorities behind the scene on the way forward. Speaking to whether the Forestry Commission had the capacity to protect excavators seized in the forest reserves, he said we have offices across our forest districts where we can keep the excavators. He further stated that there were police depots and Forestry Commission depots that could host some of the seized excavators. Electrochem seeks $445m to expand operations Maclean Kwofi Mar - 21 - 2025 , 12:54 5 minutes read One of West Africas largest salt mining firms, Electrochem Ghana Limited, has started the implementation of a plan to raise $445 million from the capital market and private placements to help expand its operations in the next two years. The additional capital is required to complete all engineering works on the multi-million-dollar project, automate engineering infrastructure, construct pumps and pipeline infrastructure, a jetty at Ada West for bulk export, procure vessels and barges, construct a salt refinery, caustic soda plant, the production of industrial parts, acquire mining equipment and establish a research focused university. When completed, the project will enable Electrochem Ghana, a subsidiary of the McDan Group of Companies, boost production capacity from about one million tonnes to five million tonnes of salt per year. It would also create additional jobs, enhance investment returns for shareholders and support the countrys economy in general. This came to light when the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MIIF, Justina Nelson, led a delegation to Electrochem Ghana Ltd at Ada Songhor in the Greater Accra Region last Wednesday. The Ada Songhor salt works lies on a 41,000-acre concession owned and operated by Electrochem Ghana through an infrastructure project funded from a combination of equity from the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and debt from Ecobank Ghana. MIIF investments in the project currently stands at $30 million (GH363 million). The visit formed part of MIIF's ongoing commitment to visit all institutions in which the Fund has equity stake. It is also intended to help the acting CEO of MIIF to be abreast of the operations of those companies and to ensure that their activities fell in line with the objectives for which the funds were invested to yield the needed returns for the state. The MIIF delegation was received by the Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley; Group CEO of McDan Group, Kwaku Ampromfi; the CEO of Electrochem Ghana Ltd, Abdul Razak Adam, and other staff of Electrochem Ghana. Phased approach The Group CEO of Electrochem stated that so far over $120 million had been spent on the Ada Songhor salt project through a phased approach. We have also targeted the development of the project from the completion of the salt works which is the actual infrastructure to produce raw salt at the cost of $120 million, he said. "We want to do value addition and so we want to build a refinery at the cost of between $30 million and $40 million. Beyond the refinery, we also want to move into the chemical space because salt is the major ingredient used to produce most chemicals, Mr McKorley said. Chemical production The Group CEO of McDan Group said the plan was to move from producing raw salt into refined salt and chemical production with the caustic soda plant at the cost of $85 million. He said the company sought to produce between three and five million tonnes of salt annually. To be able to move those volumes of salts, we need to build a port at a cost of about $100 million. We also want to build an industrial park to attract different companies within the salt value chain and establish a research university with a special focus on salt production and its derivatives, Mr Ampromfi said. Stock exchange The Group CEO said the company had taken steps to raise additional funds from the capital market and through private placement. He said that the company was awaiting the formation of the Securities and Exchange Commission board for approval of its prospectus to be able to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Our original plan was to go public last year, by June of 2024 the term of office of the SEC board had ended and so, we could not go ahead with the listing process. However, we are awaiting the board. Going on the public exchange was part of the initial arrangement with MIIF, Mr Ampromfi added. Viable investment After taking a tour of the facility, Mrs Nelson said the project was a viable investment for the country. She described the facility visit as timely as it would afford the new management of MIIF an opportunity to ascertain things for themselves and also help guide in taking strategic decisions that would impact positively on the operations of Electrochem Ghana and all other companies in which MIIF has equity. We realised during the tour that Electrochem Ghana has been able to utilise the funds invested by MIIF but there are more discussions we have undertaken behind closed doors for them to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange and generate more dividend for the government. "We want to intensify our royalty collections for not just Electrochem Ghana but for all the companies the government have stakes through MIIF, the MIIF CEO said. Strategic positioning Electrochem is strategically positioned to leverage over two decades of expertise and resources to invest in and maximise returns from the salt and chemical industries. The companys concession is to supply salt to the local market and for export. It is expected to become the largest salt mine in Africa. Management of GMet calls on Ga Mantse to deepen collaboration Joshua Bediako Koomson Mar - 21 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read Management of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to present this years seasonal forecast and provide updates on the state of the climate. The visit was aimed at enhancing collaboration between the agency and traditional authorities in addressing climate-related challenges, particularly in Accra. It also formed part of activities to commemorate World Meteorological Day which falls on March 23, this year. Traditional rulers The Deputy Director of the Agency, Francisca Martey, explained that while GMeT often collaborated with agricultural extension officers to provide weather updates to farmers, the visit to the Ga Mantse Palace signified a deliberate effort to involve traditional rulers in climate action. At first, we did not have the manpower to extend our outreach, but now GMet has the capacity to engage directly with communities. We are no longer just relying on machines for meteorological data. After gathering the information, we must go out and inform the populace about what to expect, she said. Flooding Mrs Martey said that Accra was highly susceptible to flash floods, even with minimal rainfall, making it crucial for local authorities to be well-informed about weather patterns. Since this is your jurisdiction, it is important for you to be aware of the expected weather conditions over the next three months. We also recognise your initiative of ensuring clean drainage systems, and we hope this information will help intensify those efforts, she said. Mrs Martey further said that weather and climate issues were central to daily life and decision-making, adding that meteorology is something we cannot ignore. It should be the first thing we consider in the morning and the last thing at night when planning our activities. Proactive measures The Ga Mantse commended GMeT for its efforts in improving climate communication, while stressing the importance of proactive measures to mitigate the impact of extreme weather conditions in Accra. I am grateful for the education we have received on weather conditions and their impact. I want to extend my appreciation to the agency for its outstanding work, especially during its commemoration month. This initiative is crucial as many people lack knowledge in this sector, yet it plays a vital role in helping us to determine which crops to grow and how the weather affects our harvests, he added. The Ga Mantse encouraged the use of best practices such as mulching to enhance yields, and urged the public to continue learning about climate-related issues. The traditional council fully supports this initiative and remains committed to promoting climate awareness, he said. Well build best tolling system in Africa Roads Minister Daily Graphic Mar - 21 - 2025 , 09:37 2 minutes read The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Agbodza, has reiterated the governments commitment to reintroduce a technologically driven tolling system to generate revenue for road infrastructure development. To this end, the minister has announced that Ghana would soon launch its own electronic tolling system, with the ambitious goal of creating the best road tolling system in Africa. We are not settling for anything less than excellence, he said, emphasising the importance of innovation, and expressing the governments determination to overcome any doubt regarding the reintroductions of tolls. The minister was speaking yesterday during a courtesy call on him by the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Huseyin Gungor, in Accra. Procurement process Mr Agbodza said the ministry was currently in the process of obtaining approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to select a transaction advisor. Transparency is a priority, and we welcome all capable organisations to participate in the selection process. We want the best technical and financial proposal that can make us operate a very sustainable tolling system," he stated. My ministry will keep the public informed about the progress of the tolling system's development and the selection process for the transaction advisor. In a few days, the advertisement for the selection of the transaction advisor should be out. Together, we will pave the way for a brighter future in road infrastructure, he said. The discussions also touched on the potential for Turkish investors to invest in the development of the countrys road infrastructure through the governments flagship infrastructure development programme, dubbed The Big Push. The minister further highlighted the potential for technical cooperation between the two countries, and invited Turkish engineers to share their expertise in road tolling systems. We are ready to collaborate and learn from successful models, particularly from those in Turkey that utilise technology instead of traditional toll booths. Our partnership could lay a strong foundation for Ghana's new tolling system, ensuring it is both efficient and sustainable, the minister added. GJA applauds IGP Yohuno for restoring Police-media engagement Gertrude Ankah Mar - 21 - 2025 , 12:07 2 minutes read The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for lifting restrictions on police-media engagementsa policy introduced under his predecessor, Dr George Akuffo Dampare. On Thursday, March 20, 2025, COP Yohuno revoked the communication embargo previously imposed on police spokespersons, encouraging a more proactive and transparent engagement with the media. Speaking at a workshop for the Ghana Police Service's Public Relations Officers (PROs), he underscored the critical role of effective communication in building public trust and enhancing crime-fighting efforts. No society can effectively combat crime without the trust and collaboration of its people, he said. Effective policing is a partnershipone that requires officers to work closely with the communities they serve to foster a safer and crime-free environment. GJA welcomes the reform Reacting to the development on TV3s Ghana Today programme on Thursday, March 20, Edmund Kofi Yeboah, General Secretary of the GJA, hailed the move as a crucial step towards improving transparency and public confidence in the police service. He noted that the previous restrictions had centralised police communication, limiting timely access to crucial information. According to him, such an approach hindered the free flow of information essential for democratic governance and public accountability. The decision to decentralise police communication is commendable. It will not only strengthen the relationship between the media and the police but also ensure that journalists can access critical information directly from regional and divisional police commanders without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, he stated. Mr Yeboah stressed that in a democratic society, law enforcement agencies must operate with openness, allowing the media to play its role in informing the public accurately and fairly. He argued that the previous approach stifled press freedom and undermined journalists' ability to report effectively on security matters. Ensuring institutional commitment He further urged the police administration to institutionalise the reform, ensuring that officers at all levels understand the importance of professional and cooperative engagement with the media. At the same time, he called on journalists to uphold ethical standards in their reporting to maintain mutual respect between the two institutions. Mahama condemns killing of soldier in Bawku, calls for restraint Jemima Okang Addae Mar - 21 - 2025 , 15:23 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has strongly condemned the killing of a military officer in Bawku, as well as the reported military retaliation that left several residents, including women and children, injured. During his visit to the Upper East Region on Thursday, March 20, 2025, as part of his Thank You Tour, President Mahama expressed his dismay over the incident. I wish to take this opportunity to condemn the killing of a member of the Ghana Army recently in Bawku. The members of the Ghana Armed Forces in the conflict zone are peacekeepers who have been sent there to protect life, limb, and property. It is unacceptable for them to become targets of a conflict to which they are not a party," he stated. He also criticised the excessive response by the military, which resulted in injuries to innocent civilians. I can understand the righteous anger at the loss of a colleague serviceman, but we must exercise restraint and use effective intelligence gathering to identify and bring the culprits to book, he added. President Mahama extended his condolences to the family of the deceased soldier and sympathised with those affected by the militarys counteraction. Emphasising the importance of unity and development, he stated that every region, including the Upper East, deserves its fair share of progress. He further commended the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his efforts in mediating the Bawku conflict and urged all parties involved to engage in the peace process with sincerity. "I called His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, yesterday to thank him for the commencement of his mediation efforts to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Bawku. It is my hope that all parties to the conflicts who took part in the mediation process in Manhyia last week will consider the proposal with an open mind and return in good faith to the negotiation when they resume in two weeks' time," he said. Martin Kpebu questions legality of raid on former BoG Governors residence Gertrude Ankah Mar - 21 - 2025 , 09:56 4 minutes read Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has questioned the legality of the search warrant used in the raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Ernest Addison. The operation, carried out by armed National Security operatives on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, has sparked controversy, with concerns raised over procedural integrity and adherence to legal standards. Eyewitnesses reported that the raid was conducted by masked security personnel who overpowered private security guards before proceeding with their search. Speaking on TV3s Ghana Today programme on Thursday, March 20, Kpebu stressed the need for transparency in law enforcement and questioned whether the search was conducted within the legal framework. He called for clarity regarding the specifics of the warrant and the scope of its authorisation. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its parliamentary minority have condemned the operation, describing it as heavy-handed and demanding accountability from security agencies. In response, Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai, defended the raid, insisting it was conducted lawfully. We take full responsibility for the search. The warrants were lawfully obtained and executed in accordance with due process, he told journalists in Accra on Thursday, March 20. Acknowledging the NPPs concerns, Kpebu insisted that the scope of the warrant must be made clear. As of now, we do not know the specific authorisations contained within the warrant, he said, warning that searches must not exceed their legal mandate. Drawing a parallel with the high-profile search of former US President Donald Trumps residence for classified documents, Kpebu argued that law enforcement agencies must justify their actions before a court of law. You must tell the court exactly what you are searching for. Any action beyond that could undermine the legality of the entire operation, he said. Call for legal reforms Kpebu also criticised Ghanas legal framework, arguing that its jurisprudence on search operations remains underdeveloped compared to international standards. He called for reforms to enhance transparency in national security operations, warning that the lack of publicly accessible service instructions on search procedures increases the risk of abuse. The police have a service instruction manual detailing how searches should be conducted, but the National Security apparatus has yet to demonstrate a similar framework, he noted. It is neither legal nor ethical for operational procedures to remain undisclosed to the public. He recommended that national security agencies adopt international best practices, update operational protocols, and ensure greater accountability. Without clear service instructions, legal challenges will continue to arise, he warned. Allegations of missing valuables Kpebu also addressed allegations that valuables, including GHS 10,000 in cash and jewellery belonging to Dr Addisons wife, were taken during the raid. He urged Dr Addison to formally report the matter to the Ghana Police Service for investigation. If someone comes to your house and steals GHS 10,000, the police should be able to investigate, he said, stressing the need for a thorough probe. He suggested that if the current administration fails to investigate the matter adequately, a future government could revisit the case. Crime has no expiration date, he said. If this investigation is not properly handled now, a future administration could pursue it. Despite his concerns about the raid, Kpebu maintained that Dr Addison must still face justice over allegations of financial mismanagement. He criticised the former governor for allegedly engaging in excessive money printing without justification but insisted that legal procedures must be followed. I want to see him face justice, but that does not mean I will support illegal actions against him, he said. Concerns over political interference in security matters On the same programme, security analyst Richard Kumadoe emphasised that while state institutions have the mandate to conduct searches and arrests, such actions must adhere to best practices. He underscored the importance of obtaining and presenting a valid search warrant, ensuring that security personnel announce their presence, and clearly communicating their purpose. Kumadoe also accused political figures of shaping the narrative surrounding the raid, warning that politicians commenting on security matters without firsthand knowledge could distort facts and undermine public confidence in security agencies. Politicians must stop speaking on behalf of national security agencies. The more they do so, the more they create unnecessary tensions and suspicions, he cautioned. Related Articles Minority accuses security of intimidation, human rights abuses Why former Bank of Ghana governors home was raided Deputy Attorney-General explains Adwoa Safo says NPP Election Review Committee lacks credibility GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 21 - 2025 , 09:34 3 minutes read Former Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has fiercely criticised the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) committee investigating the partys 2024 electoral defeat, describing it as bogus and lacking credibility. According to her, the committee was not set up to conduct an impartial fact-finding mission but rather to push a predetermined agenda. "It is a very bogus committee. A committee that is put together just to find certain facts and push a particular candidate away from the candidacy so that we can bring our ownyou call that a credible fact-finding committee?" she questioned. Adwoa Safo expressed concerns over the appointment of Prof Mike Oquaye as the chair of the committee, arguing that he had a conflict of interest. She challenged him to first explain why his son, Mike Oquaye Junior, lost the Dome-Kwabenya parliamentary seat before assessing the partys broader defeat. "If Prof Mike Oquaye thinks he has integrity and credibility, I want to see the first page of his fact-finding report explaining why his son Mike Oquaye Junior lost the Dome-Kwabenya seat. If he does that with transparency, without bias or prejudice, then I will accept any findings he presents against Dr Bawumia. Otherwise, that report will not hold in this party," she asserted. She further questioned why the party did not appoint a more neutral figure to lead the probe. "His son has lost, and you think he is the best person to lead a fact-finding committee that includes that very constituency? Why not choose an independent person? Couldn't we find anyone else in the party to chair it?" she asked. Defending Bawumia and questioning the Committees intentions The former MP rejected any attempt to blame the partys defeat solely on Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPPs 2024 flagbearer. She suggested that the committee was being used as a tool to discredit him. "We know what we know, and we have heard what weve heard. He shouldnt come and tell us that we should blame everything on Bawumia because Ghanaians dont want him and that we wont market him again," she stated. Adwoa Safo also pointed out discrepancies between the committees report and findings from a separate election review conducted in the Ashanti Region, which she claimed did not blame Bawumia for the partys loss. She suggested that a more experienced individual, such as Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, should have been given the responsibility of leading the review. "The Ashanti report does not blame Bawumia for the partys defeat, and that is a credible report. Why couldnt the same person have done this work for the party? Who has more parliamentary and electoral experience than Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu?" she questioned. Adwoa Safo warned that if the committees findings were politically motivated, it could further divide the party and hinder efforts to regain power in future elections. "If this report is manipulated, it means we are not serious about rebuilding, regrouping, or recapturing power," she cautioned. Her comments add to the growing debate within the NPP over the causes of the partys defeat and the path forward as it seeks to reorganise ahead of the next election. Minority accuses security of intimidation, human rights abuses Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Politics Mar - 21 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read The Minority in Parliament has accused state security operatives of engaging in intimidation and human rights abuses against former government officials, warning that such actions threaten democracy and investor confidence. Addressing a press conference yesterday at the Parliament House, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, condemned what he described as a pattern of unlawful raids targeting appointees of former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. As unleashed on opponents, particularly the NPP appointees of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the aim of this is to intimidate and frustrate them, he said. It follows a raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor, Dr Ernest Addison, in which some armed men allegedly stormed his residence last Wednesday searching for cash in a supposed vault. Similar incident Afenyo-Markin, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, recalled a similar incident where another high-profile former official had also been subjected to a similar raid. First was a raid on the home of the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, led by Richard Jakpa, a known NDC activist who describes himself as director of operations at the National Security, he said. According to him, these raids are being conducted in a manner that violates the rights of the individuals involved, adding: This Rambo-style approach must cease. He further alleged that some operatives used those raids as an opportunity to steal. Some of these hungry party footsoldiers that they use, who parade themselves as national security operatives, are after all perhaps not even being paid and they use this opportunity to steal, he claimed. He warned that if these actions continue, ordinary citizens may feel compelled to take matters into their own hands. Soon it could lead to some self-protection mechanisms from citizens and people whose lives and property feel threatened, he cautioned. Confidence The Minority Leader called on President John Mahama to take immediate steps to address these concerns and restore public confidence in the rule of law. Your Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, please leave a legacy. Let it be said that even if there were excesses in the exercise of executive power, when you had the opportunity, you changed it for good and owned that legacy in your name, Your Excellency, he urged. Mr Afenyo-Markin also condemned the recent arrest of political commentator Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, describing it as another example of state intimidation. Although he was released last night, we strongly protest his arrest by state security operatives in that Rambo-style, he said. The Minority reiterated their call for an end to what they described as lawless conduct, urging the government to ensure security agencies operate within the confines of the law. NPPs disciplinary action against Adwoa Safo premature and risky Dr Asante Otcere Gertrude Ankah Politics Mar - 21 - 2025 , 11:58 3 minutes read A senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Dr Jonathan Asante Otcere, has raised concerns over the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) decision to refer former Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, to the partys National Disciplinary Committee. He described the move as premature and potentially damaging to party unity. The former MP has been vocal in the media, alleging a coordinated effort within the NPP to tarnish her reputation. Her public statements, deemed controversial by the party, led to a warning from the NPP General Secretary, cautioning members against public commentary on internal affairs. However, Adwoa Safo defied the directive and continued granting media interviews. In response, the party referred her to its disciplinary committee, a decision she insists will not silence her. Speaking on TV3s Ghana Today programme on Thursday, March 20, Dr Asante Otcere warned that escalating the issue through disciplinary measures could further divide the party at a crucial time. The first letter from the General Secretary was meant to foster alignment within the party. However, the subsequent decision to formally refer Adwoa Safo to the disciplinary committee only exacerbates tensions, he stated. This should have been a period for reconciliation, not punitive measures. Dr Asante Otcere, who is also a political analyst, questioned the NPPs approach to managing internal dissent, arguing that Adwoa Safos case reflects broader dissatisfaction within the party. He stressed that, rather than resorting to disciplinary action, the leadership should have prioritised constructive dialogue. In politics, timing is everything. The General Secretary could have engaged her privately, recognising that healing takes time. Instead, pushing for disciplinary proceedings could alienate more party members who share similar frustrations but have remained silent, he noted. Citing a recent Global Info Analytics report, he pointed to the growing momentum of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 elections, warning that internal discord within the NPP could further weaken its electoral standing. Dr Asante Otcere also raised concerns about the impartiality of the fact-finding committee chaired by former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, which was established to investigate the NPPs declining electoral performance. Professor Mike Oquaye is a respected figure within the party, but given his close ties to the former president, many members may not see the committee as truly neutral, he observed. If the goal is genuine reconciliation, the committee should be more diverse to earn the trust of all factions within the party. Referencing historical trends in Ghanaian politics, he noted that parties that fail to manage internal conflicts often face setbacks at the polls. He pointed to NPP strongholds where the opposition is gaining ground, cautioning that unresolved grievances could prove costly in the upcoming elections. Dr Asante Otcere urged the NPP leadership to reconsider its approach and adopt a more diplomatic and reconciliatory stance. He argued that providing party members with a platform to express their frustrations constructively would help restore unity rather than deepen divisions. If party unity is the goal, then open engagement and reconciliation should be the strategy. Taking a hardline approach will only deepen the cracks, he advised. Related articles: Adwoa Safo says NPP Election Review Committee is bogus and lacks credibility Nobody can silence me - Adwoa Safo replies NPP General Secretary over media gag order Adwoa Safo hauled before NPP disciplinary commitee President Mahama bans government appointees from mining GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 21 - 2025 , 15:07 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strong warning to government appointees, prohibiting them from engaging in any form of mining, legal or illegal, with immediate effect. Addressing a gathering at the launch of the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality, the President made it clear that any official who wishes to mine must resign from government. I have directed that no government appointee at any level should engage in any form of legal or illegal mining. If you want to be a miner, leave government and go and be a miner, he declared, receiving a thunderous applause from the audience. Reaffirming his commitment to curbing illegal mining, President Mahama warned that any appointee found flouting this directive would face swift and severe sanctions, including dismissal from office. He also instructed security and regulatory agencies to intensify their crackdown on illegal mining activities, citing recent successes in reclaiming seven out of nine "no-go zone" forest reserves that had been under siege by illegal miners. As part of these enforcement efforts, authorities have seized 55 excavators, three bulldozers, three pickup trucks, four pump-action rifles, and 11 motorbikes. The President described illegal mining as a national crisis that threatens the economy, public health, and livelihoods of Ghanaians. Farmers are losing their farmlands, rivers are turning brown and toxic with pollution, and entire communities are being affected, he lamented. The Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, which is one of President Mahamas 120-day social contracts with Ghanaians, is being implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. It aims to restore degraded lands, particularly those affected by illegal mining and deforestation, and forms part of the governments broader environmental restoration efforts. Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah highlighted the urgency of the initiative, emphasizing that Ghanas forest cover was depleting at an alarming rate, posing severe ecological risks. This initiative envisions transforming heavily degraded areas into functional and vibrant ecosystems that support biodiversity and human livelihoods, he stated. The Minister further noted that the program would not only help reclaim damaged lands but also raise environmental awareness, promote tree planting, and enhance biodiversity through ecosystem restoration. President Mahama calls for stricter fire safety after devastating Kumasi market blaze Gertrude Ankah Politics Mar - 21 - 2025 , 15:31 1 minute read President John Dramani Mahama has called for stricter fire safety measures in markets following a devastating fire that swept through the Adum Central Business District in Kumasi, destroying hundreds of shops. Touring the scene on Friday, March 21, President Mahama sympathised with affected traders and pledged support for those who lost their livelihoods. However, he urged market vendors to prioritise safety, warning against the use of gas cylinders for cooking in market spacesan issue believed to have contributed to the blaze. We must take fire safety seriously. Cooking in the market, especially with gas cylinders, poses a serious risk. Preventing such disasters must be a shared responsibility, he cautioned. The fire, which started in the early hours of Friday, spread rapidly due to the presence of flammable materials stored in the shops. Firefighters struggled to contain the inferno due to obstructed access routes and delayed response times. Some traders linked the disaster to ongoing power outages, raising concerns about electrical faults as a possible cause. Mahama also called for a thorough investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences, emphasising the need for better infrastructure and emergency preparedness in Ghanas markets. His visit was met with gratitude from traders, many of whom expressed relief at his assurance of support in the aftermath of their losses. Read also: Kumasi: Fire guts four-storey commercial building at Adum (VIDEO) The Office of the Governor is accusing Attorney General Douglas Moylan of having illegal contracts because his office didnt get the governors signature for them, but the AG disagrees. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero formally requested copies of all Office of the Attorney General contracts from the Department of Administration on Friday, as well as communications or memoranda from the OAG discussing the OAGs justification for executing contracts without the governors approval or signature. Adelup in a release said Guam law explicitly states that all agencies that fall within the centralized accounting regime, including the OAG, are subject to Guam law requiring the governors approval and signature for all contracts to be executed. The request was sent following media comments by claiming that the governors signature is not required on OAG contracts for procured services or goods. The more we learn about the attorney generals practices, the clearer it has become that he is picking and choosing what laws to follow and what laws to ignore, Leon Guerrero said in a statement. The AGs processes have not been scrutinized by the Legislature the way they have scrutinized other agencies, and he has not been audited by the Public Auditor. I am concerned this has left him with a false impression that he is invincible that he can do whatever he wants without consequence. That is simply not true. AG Moylan said his office disagrees and the procurement matter was earlier researched and confirmed that his offices legal procedures are correct. This release is just another in a continuing litany of factually and legally incorrect allegations. It is a distraction intended to stop me from doing my job, Moylan said. Though the Office of the Governor has recently sent Freedom of Information Act requests to the OAG for attorney contracts, the production was in parts illegible and incomplete, Adelup said. Fridays request was directed to DOA to ensure the production of a complete record of the requested material. Guam law requires the OAG to submit its contracts to the DOA, Adelup said. The Office of the Governor also sent a FOIA to the OAG, requesting internal memoranda or opinions the OAG believes justifies their illegal actions. The law could not be clearer: All contracts shall be submitted to the governor for her signature. All contracts of whatever nature shall be executed upon approval of the governor, Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin said in a statement. Closing your eyes and pretending the law doesnt exist is a terrible strategy for the chief legal officer for the government of Guam. The law says what it says. Moylan said the governor is neither the elected chief legal officer nor the chief law enforcement officer. Her allegations using the taxpayers money are reckless and many of these procurements were reviewed, overseen and paid out by her own cabinet department, the Department of Administration, the AG said. Moylan accused the governor of weaponizing the courts to stop him from doing his job by either replacing him as the elected AG or to remove him by criminally prosecuting him and his staff. Adelup filed a complaint for declaratory judgment Tuesday. The governor wants to hire a special assistant attorney general and a special prosecutor to examine Moylans hiring of 70 unclassified employees, including his brother and fiancee. The complaint states that while the attorney general is allowed to hire four unclassified employees, as well as victim advocates, Moylans office has more than 80 unclassified employees. Again, if she tries to indict me, she also needs to indict herself first given her cabinets direct involvement and approval of what she is now accusing me of procurement wrongdoing, Moylan said. Guams top education officials asked the U.S. Department of Education to exempt the island from a new payment process of using local funds first to pay contractors in order to complete American Rescue Plan-funded projects already in the pipeline before seeking reimbursement from the USDOE because Guam does not have millions of dollars to front the costs right now. The letter was sent before President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to begin dismantling the USDOE and return education authority to the states. Getting rid of the USDOE requires an act of Congress. One of Guam Department of Educations largest ongoing ARP-funded projects is the $125 million refurbishment of 12 public schools that Core Tech International got the contract for. The Trump administration changed the process of requesting drawdowns for federal funds that support many of GDOEs programs, particularly ARP-funded projects. Under the new process that went into effect in February, GDOE is required to use local funds to pay upfront contractors such as Core Tech for the school refurbishment projects before seeking USDOE for reimbursement. However, Guam does not have the financial capacity to front millions of dollars, especially during this late liquidation period, Superintendent Erik Swanson and Guam Education Board Chairman Angel Sablan wrote in a joint March 20 letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Swanson and Sablan urged McMahons immediate attention and assistance in preventing a crisis that could compromise school openings for the 2025-2026 school year. Both said the inability to draw federal funds in a timely manner means essential projects such as structural repairs and upgrades to ensure health and safety compliance are at risk of being delayed or abandoned. They said these projects were carefully planned and contracted under existing agreements, with the expectation that uninterrupted funding would allow for their timely completion. A sudden disruption to payments, they said, could result in unfinished work, unsafe conditions, and schools that cannot open on schedule. We respectfully request reconsideration of this change in process to allow for a more viable approach that does not place an undue financial burden on Guam, Swanson and Sablan wrote. We urge the Department of Education to provide flexibility in fund disbursement during this critical period, ensuring that federally allocated resources serve their intended purpose without creating unnecessary obstacles. Swanson and Sablans letter comes days after Del. James Moylan also wrote to McMahon, seeking an exemption for Guam from the change in the payment structure for ARP funding. Moylan said GDOE still has $188 million remaining to liquidate before the approaching March 31, 2026, late liquidation deadline. Optimistic Meanwhile, Sen. Vince Borja, who has oversight over education, said he remains optimistic of the potential benefits of Trumps executive order. If executed properly, removing the federal middleman and sending education funding directly to Guam could allow us to prioritize the unique needs of our community without unnecessary federal bureaucracy. This shift could give local leaders, educators, and families more control over how we structure and implement our educational programs, the senator said in a statement. Borja said it will not be an immediate change and the executive order alone does not guarantee action. The process must go through Congress, pass the House, and then overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate before becoming law, the senator said. Given these legislative hurdles, I acknowledge that the transitionif it happenswill not be overnight and will require careful navigation, Borja said. While the senator supports the presidents intent to reduce federal spending, he also recognizes how much Guam relies on federal education funding for K-12 schools, special education programs, college tuition assistance, and other vital services. My office will work closely with the U.S. Department of Education and Guams delegate in Congress to preserve as much federal funding as possible while ensuring that Guam has the flexibility needed to strengthen our local education system, he said. He said the Legislature will continue to evaluate the potential impact of the policy shift. And as senators prepare for the fiscal year 2026 budget discussions, his committee will be proactive in addressing any financial or policy changes that may result from the shift in federal education policy. We will be ready to engage in the necessary discussions to ensure that our students, teachers, and schools continue to receive the support they need, Borja said. Careful approach Del. James Moylan in a statement Friday said any proposal to abolish or completely shut down USDOE would require an act of Congress. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a careful and vigilant approach to the transition of education oversight, ensuring that it is carried out responsibly and does not adversely impact students. It is imperative that the transition of authority away from the federal government is smooth and that Guams unique needs are considered and addressed during this process. As Ive said before, one-size fits-all policies do not work for our island. We must ensure that our students continue to receive the resources they need to succeed, Moylan said in a statement. The delegate is actively monitoring the implementation of the executive order to ensure that Guams educational system is not negatively impacted. As a member of the House Education & Workforce Committee, Moylan is urging the Department of Education to provide regular updates on the transition process and its impact on Guam. He plans to leverage his position on the committee to facilitate a thorough understanding of the planned implementation and is committed to working tirelessly to advocate for Guams interests, according to his office. A former Inalahan Mayor's Office employee is accused of damaging several things at the office, a magistrate's complaint filed in Superior Court of Guam states. Joseph Christopher Meno Sana, 23, was charged with criminal mischief as a misdemeanor. On March 20, police were called to the Inalahan Mayor's Office in response to a report of damaged property. Two employees from the mayor's office saw Sana, who is a former employee, hitting various objects with a piece of wood, the complaint states. One employee saw Sana hit equipment and a water tank that were stored behind the main office and another employee broke up a fight between Sana and another man before Sana walked toward the mayor's office. The employee heard a loud bang and looked over where Sana was standing and saw a split air-conditioning unit on the ground had been damaged. In the same area was a washing machine that had been dented and a window that had been broken, documents state. The total estimated damage for the window, washing machine and AC was approximately $2,200, according to the complaint. Sana later admitted to damaging the property, which he said he did because he was angry after being in an argument with a man near the mayor's office, documents state. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Guam Museum has rolled out opportunities for the public to learn how to carve, chant, dance or sling the traditional CHamoru way. And they get to learn new skills from the master experts and students of the master experts. Every Saturday of March, in observance of Mes CHamoru, Guam Museum is hosting the Uritao Workshops that give participants hands-on learning experience about different CHamoru arts. Master of CHamoru Dance Vince Reyes, with the Guam Museum, said uritao means young men and in ancient times, the Guma Uritao was a space used to teach young CHamoru men different skills. We wanted to create a space for people to come and learn, he said. Guma Uritao in the olden days was a place where young men would learn to become caretakers of their family or their clan. So the Guam Museum wanted to create a similar space for the arts and see how it would work. What were learning is that many people want to do it, but dont really have the access to do it. So were trying to create a space for them to come and just casually learn about it, Reyes told the Pacific Daily News. The workshops started on March 15. Interested community members still have a chance to take part in these workshops on March 22 and March 29 at the Guam Museum, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The workshops are free of charge to participants. Participants can learn how to carve, sling, dance and chant with instructors who have a lot of knowledge, Reyes said. Everyone gets an exposure to it. Its an introductory course, he said. Attendees are able to get exposure to the art and then rotate to another instructor to learn something else. Our goal is to test it out and see if its something that will work and something that the community is interested in, Reyes said. Guam Museum hopes it can build on the program and have more cultural programming experiences in the future, he said. We want to provide living cultural experiences, Reyes added. The museums hope for those who attend the workshops is they get a deeper sense of ownership of the CHamoru culture, he said. No experience necessary. You just come and just try it out and be part of our journey, Reyes said. While there are many celebrations throughout Mes CHamoru, Guam Museum wanted to provide residents with something that could continue to perpetuate the culture forward, he added. Share what I know Roman Duenas, a carver who studies under Master Carver Greg Pangelinan, said hes happy to be teaching at the Guam Museum workshop because its something that gives him a lot of fulfillment. And I get to do it in a great cultural space, he said. Duenas said a lot of people dont know what they are capable of, and having workshops to introduce them to a new thing like carving could open them up to discovering something they might really like to do. You allow people to really discover what their passions are. And they get to even trying something new and it might really be fulfilling for them on different levels, he said. Its important to create spaces for people to learn about CHamoru cultural arts like carving because a lot of people dont know where to go, he said. And as more young people are learning to carve, its creating more people who are able to teach the art to others, too, he added. Were all learning and Im definitely far from like a master level, but I know what I can do and what I can teach others to do and Im fine with that. Im just glad to share what I know, Duenas said. The art of carving, he said, provides a direct link to making and designing things that ancient CHamorus used and things they wore like jewelry. Duenas said there are a lot of things we dont know about the full use of artifacts found or how jewelry was put together. But its just great that we have something that can be passed on to the future generations thats distinctly ours, he said. Duenas encourages anyone who is interested in carving to reach out to him on Instagram @clamsguam as he wants to help pass knowledge to anyone who wants to know more. Having fun Alyanna Barrera attended Saturdays workshop because she wanted to learn more about carving. Shes tried drilling into shells, but wanted to learn more about the process. Im having fun. Its really relaxing. Its a good day out. Its nice and casual, she said. Shes happy the workshop was free and that she was able to learn a lot from Duenas, she said, and appreciated that Duenas was there to help when needed. Most of all, she appreciated that she was able to work with the appropriate tools. World champion as a workshop teacher Visiting world champion slinger Luis Ponz from the Balearic Islands taught Guam Museum workshop attendees how to make a sling and how to use it. Hes on Guam to learn more about the people from the island and the slinging culture here. While hes here, he has been teaching workshops and passing on the knowledge he has of the art to others. Guam Education Board member Judith Guthertz on Thursday asked her colleagues to consider turning the Guam Department of Education headquarters in Tiyan into a temporary Simon Sanchez High School campus in order to end the double-session classes at John F. Kennedy High School. It was Guthertzs proposal to address the shortage of instructional time in public schools, including at the two high schools. Guthertz called for a bold solution to help alleviate overcrowding and maximize space for educational purposes. Every time I walk in [GDOE headquarters] building, its like a ghost town, Guthertz said. Id like this building to be turned over to Simon Sanchez High School as part of the solution. This building can be used for school-related purposes. She proposed moving GDOEs administrative offices to a vacant school. I know its not popular. The employees wont be happy here if they have to relocate, but Im sorry. Im sorry. Theres something else more important right now, and I think that would be the proper Plan B, and we should get ready for the Plan B. In case the Plan A doesnt pan out. I think GDOE employees would be perfectly fine, Guthertz said. She urged the board to implement a backup plan should current efforts fail before the start of the next school year. Guthertz made a motion to form a task force to include representatives from both Simon Sanchez and JFK high schools to review the backup plan. The motion was seconded, with a commitment to discuss it in more detail at the boards April 1 meeting. At the Thursday meeting, Guthertz said GDOE has to act decisively to ensure students receive the quality education they deserve. I dont have a comfortable feeling that this problem is going to be solved before the next school year. Thats my concern, Guthertz said. We cant just put all our chickens in one basket here. We have to be ready for something else. The shortage of instructional time has become a critical issue for both teachers and students, especially with the continued use of double sessions at schools like JFK High. Guthertz, who also teaches at the University of Guam, voiced frustration over the impact of reduced classroom hours on student performance, particularly in key areas like writing. The students should be the priority, she said. Our faculty and school communities are all working together, but Im very distressed hearing that our students are being shortchanged in instructional time. She added that the effects of the double sessions are evident at the university level, where she teaches students who have struggled with the aftermath of COVID-19 disruptions in education. I know full well the impact that COVID had on our students, because Im getting some students at my schools that went through COVID into my classes at the university, and I want you to know their writing is very bad, Guthertz said. We cant afford to shortchange our students, because it follows them. In college, university and professional jobs, they cant even write a paragraph thats clear and concise. The Department of Parks and Recreation has asked Attorney General Douglas Moylan to remove a billboard in Hagatna for the reburial of ancestral remains, but the AGs office has called the move shameless and disgraceful. The Office of the Attorney General in a release Friday questioned why the billboard, which is at the Chief Kepuha intersection and has been there for two years, is being asked to be removed. Parks and Rec Director Angel Sablan in a letter sent to AG Moylan on Thursday said ancestral remains were unearthed during a federal highways project near the Hagatna Bridge. After years of planning, the area across the street from the bridge has been designated as the most appropriate location for their respectful reinternment, Sablan wrote. A billboard currently occupies the designated site, which is preventing the necessary preparations, the director wrote. The reburial is scheduled for March 31 and Sablan told Moylan the billboard must be removed no later than March 24 to allow for proper site preparation. Given the historical and cultural significance of this reburial, we request your assistance in facilitating the prompt removal of the billboard, he wrote. Moylan in a Friday letter to Sablan requested all information supporting this cemetery location, including statutory authority, public notices, records of community input, legislation and findings made by your department or the Guam State Historic Preservation Office. The AG said the Hagatna mayor authorized the billboard location since 2023. This is a clear attempt to silence the Peoples elected-AG and block critical communication to our client, the People of Guam, the AGs office said in a release. The AGs office accused the governor of weaponizing the Department of Parks and Recreation. Weaponizing human remains to block this AGs messaging tool with our client is shameless and disgraceful. Our ancestors deserve respect, not to be used as pawns in a political power play, the AGs office said. Moylan in his letter to Sablan said Ypao Point has been designated for the Chamorro National Shrine and reburial of pre-1989 ancestral remains. He asked how Sablans agency decides which remains will be located at the shrine and which will go elsewhere. The AG said the shrine will serve as a place for the Chamorro people to respectfully rebury and honor our ancestors whose original burial sites were disturbed. He also wants to hear from the historic preservation officer how the site was chosen over alternatives, what analysis ruled out reburial at the original discovery site, and how the department determined that placing remains next to one of Guams busiest intersections complies with their guidelines of dignity, public accessibility, and proper memorialization. He said the location is right at a major intersection. Decisions about reburial sites must follow law and public process not political whim or retaliation against this elected attorney general, Moylan wrote. The AG said he would like to meet with Sablan on April 1 based on his requests for information. Haiti - Elections : Lessons to be learned from the Peru / Mexico Mission With the aim of strengthening electoral capacity, Presidential Advisor Frinel Joseph traveled to Peru and Mexico to assess electoral best practices and identify adaptable solutions for Haiti. The delegation held strategic discussions with several leading electoral institutions, including the National Office of the Electoral Process (ONPE) and the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) in Peru, as well as the National Electoral Institute (INE) in Mexico. A meeting was held with Ms. Dina Boluarte, President of Peru. Discussions focused on election management in times of crisis, effective management of the voters' list, electronic voting, diaspora participation, and the importance of civic education. A discussion on women's participation in elections was also discussed, highlighting the feasibility of extending the constitutional quota to at least 30% women. The discussions highlighted certain practices that can be effective in Haitian electoral management, including the synergy between the police and the army in securing the voting process, the use of technology to improve the efficiency of the electoral process, the establishment of a voter participation system for the diaspora, and the adoption of continuing education programs for electoral officials. To improve the Haitian electoral process, several recommendations were made : - Strengthen the capacity of Haitian electoral institutions through training; - Modernize the electoral process through the gradual introduction of reliable technologies; - Establish a legal framework that encourages the participation of the Haitian diaspora; - Ensure better security of the polls; - Establish a communication system to combat disinformation. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44473-haiti-elections-towards-a-referendum-and-elections-with-peruvian-expertise.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44445-haiti-elections-a-cep-delegation-on-an-official-tour-in-latin-america.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... PAPJAZZ Festival postponed The Haiti Jazz Foundation has been forced to once again postpone the 18th edition of PAPJAZZ, originally scheduled to begin Thursday, March 20, 2025. Faced with a continued deterioration in the security situation since the beginning of the week, conditions are preventing the event from proceeding smoothly at the scheduled time. This is the second postponement of this edition, and the organizers are making every effort to quickly identify a new date suitable for its holding. Festival-goers who have already purchased their tickets will be able to use them when the new date is announced. 2nd armored vehicle set on fire On Thursday, March 20, 2025, an armored vehicle belonging to the Departmental Law Enforcement Unit (UDMO) immobilized in downtown Port-au-Prince, suffering from a breakdown, was reportedly hit by a Molotov cocktail and set on fire on Capois Street while police officers, according to witnesses, were attempting to tow the armored vehicle. This is the second armored vehicle set on fire in less than eight days... Me Andre Michel attacked in the DR by Haitians Me Andre Michel was attacked in the Dominican Republic by Haitian nationals; fortunately, he was quickly rescued by Dominican soldiers. The spokesperson for the radical opposition Democratic and Popular Sector was subsequently taken safely to Haitian consular officials in Dajabon. Assessment of universities and schools damaged by gangs Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime called on the Ministry of National Education and the National Education Fund to undertake an immediate assessment of universities and schools damaged or destroyed by gang violence. This assessment must be supported by a rehabilitation plan. Similarly, grant programs and one-off support for affected academic institutions and students in precarious situations will be implemented. DGI down The Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) announced a temporary interruption of its services throughout the country due to problems affecting its IT system. However, the Tax Centers in Petion-ville and Aquin remain operational. NOTICE to VISA applicants for Mexico Anyone who applied for a visa at the consular section of the Embassy of Mexico in Haiti more than two months ago is requested to collect their passport Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Message from the French Embassy in Haiti The consular services of the French Embassy will remain closed to the public until further notice. HL/ HaitiLibre In Turkey, access to various internet platforms has apparently been severely restricted. This affects not only social networks and messengers, but also popular services such as YouTube and X, formerly Twitter, according to the internet watchdog NetBlocks. This is likely to be related to the current civil protests against the arrest of a rival of the ruling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and numerous other people. Anzeige Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is considered a promising challenger to Erdogan, but was arrested yesterday a few days before his planned election as the presidential candidate of the largest opposition party in Turkey. The Turkish judiciary accuses him of membership of a criminal organization and corruption, among other things, according to the state news agency Anadolu, citing the public prosecutor's office. His party speaks of a civil coup with which Erdogan's government wants to eliminate a political opponent. The German government criticized the arrests, and numerous people in Turkey took to the streets to protest against Imamoglu's arrest. Despite a ban, thousands of people gathered in front of the city administration in Istanbul alone amid a large police presence, as reported by a dpa reporter on the ground. In Ankara, there were clashes between students and the police at the local ODTU University. Demonstrators are also said to have been taken into custody. YouTube, Instagram, and Messenger blocked At the same time, Turkey has apparently also restricted and filtered some internet services, presumably to disrupt the protesters' communication and make access to independent reporting more difficult. NetBlocks lists Telegram, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter/X and TikTok on X and Mastodon as services that were in some cases barely accessible or not accessible at all within Turkey. However, there has been no official confirmation of any internet blocks by the Turkish government to date. List of restricted internet services in Turkey (Image: NetBlocks bei X) This is not the first case of this kind in the country. In August 2024, Instagram was blocked in Turkey so that users in Turkey could not access Instagram without a VPN. The block could be related to the killing of a Hamas leader. At the time, Turkey, which maintains good relations with the Islamist Hamas, accused Instagram of blocking messages of condolence for the killed foreign head of Hamas. The platform was accused of censorship. Anzeige Just a few months later, in October 2024, Discord was blocked in Turkey, but not for political reasons. Turkey suspected some Discord users of child sexual abuse, but the platform operator refused to hand over IP addresses and other data of the suspects. As a result, access to Discord was blocked in the country. (fds) 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. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, will be celebrated worldwide on 21 March. The event, recognised by the United Nations as International Nowruz Day, marks the beginning of spring and the first day of the Persian calendar. Observed by an estimated 300 million people, Nowruz is rooted in Zoroastrian traditions and dates back over 3,000 years. Celebrations stretch across Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, and among Kurdish, Uyghur, and Parsi communities globally. The timing of Nowruz coincides with the spring equinox. The name means new day in Persian, symbolising light overcoming darkness and the renewal of nature. Nowruz typically lasts 13 days and includes home cleaning, family gatherings, traditional games, fireworks, and shared meals. In Iran, the practice of khane tekania full spring cleanmarks the start of the celebrations. In Kazakhstan, families often erect yurts and serve festive food inside them. A central feature in many households is the haft-sin table. It displays seven symbolic items starting with the letter S in Persian. These include garlic (health), vinegar (patience), and apple (beauty). Other items may include lentil sprouts (sabzeh), dried fruits, sweets, and coloured eggs. Food plays a central role in Nowruz. In Iran, common dishes include kookoo sabzi (herb frittata), sabzi polo ba mahi (herbed rice with fish), and reshteh polo (rice with noodles). Azerbaijani tables often include grilled meats, dolma, baklava, and shekerburaa crescent-shaped nut pastry. In Afghanistan, popular dishes are sabzi challow (spinach with lamb) and kolcheh nowrozi (rice flour biscuits). In Uzbekistan, sumalak, a slow-cooked pudding made from sprouted wheat, is prepared in large pots. In Kazakhstan, nauryz kozhe, a soup made with barley, horse meat, and milk, is widely served. The final day of Nowruz often involves outdoor picnics and family gatherings, symbolising a fresh start and farewell to the past year. Restaurants and cultural organisations across the UK are hosting events to mark the occasion. In London, venues such as Bergamot, Plateful Cafe, Berenjak, and Tehran-Berlin are offering Nowruz-themed menus. In Edinburgh, Konj Cafe is participating, while Parisa Events is hosting gatherings in Cardiff. Nowruz is not limited to home celebrations. Public events, concerts, and cultural exhibitions are planned in cities with large Iranian and Central Asian communities. In recent years, Nowruz has gained wider recognition beyond its traditional regions, with growing interest in its cuisine, music, and customs. HT The proposal would dissolve Veikkaus' exclusive rights in areas such as online sports betting and digital slot machines. The Finnish government has submitted a bill to Parliament that would end the countrys gambling monopoly and introduce a licensing system for online betting and casino games by the start of 2027. Instead, international gambling firms would be permitted to apply for operating licences, allowing them to enter the regulated Finnish market under national laws. Veikkaus would retain its monopoly on lottery draws, scratch cards, and physical slot machines and casinos. All gambling services would remain restricted to adults, with mandatory identity verification applied across the sector. The Ministry of the Interior said the objective is to guide gambling into regulated channels and reduce gambling-related harm. According to Minister Mari Rantanen, the reform aims to strike a balance between harm prevention and a licensing model that encourages companies to join the legal market. The reform comes in response to the growing share of online gambling revenue flowing out of the country. The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority estimates that half of the money spent by players in Finland on online gambling currently goes to foreign companies. A new licensing and supervisory authority is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. It will take over responsibilities from the current regulator, the National Police Board, starting from the beginning of 2027. The new agency will oversee licensing, marketing compliance, technical audits, and enforcement actions. Advertising restrictions would form a core part of the updated legal framework. Influencer marketing would be prohibited, and the most addictive games, including digital slot machines and online casinos, could not be promoted outdoors or near schools. Sponsorship and controlled advertising on licensees' own websites and social media channels would be allowed. The proposed law would also introduce gambling loss tracking through a unified system. Consumers would be able to impose self-exclusion across all licensed providers and set financial limits on gambling. Gaming operators would be required to implement safeguards to detect and respond to misuse or abuse of betting services. Under the new model, state revenue from gambling would be collected through corporate tax and licensing fees. Veikkaus would continue to pay dividends to the state and apply for exclusive licences for those games it retains. Licences for private operators could be issued from early 2026, with legal operations permitted from January 2027. The government says the legislation is based on the coalition programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and aligns with similar reforms introduced in Sweden, Denmark and other European countries. The proposed changes are pending parliamentary approval. HT Suvi Pulkkinen , Senior Adviser at the Finland Chamber of Commerce, said municipalities will not thrive by competing over a shrinking pool of domestic workers. The Finnish Chambers of Commerce say municipalities must adopt internationalisation strategies to secure access to skilled labour and maintain economic vitality. Declining population and labour shortages are creating pressure for local governments to act. Companies need skilled labour, and municipalities must attract businesses, talent and taxpayers from abroad as well, Pulkkinen said. The Chambers are calling for smooth services for international professionals, improved integration measures and a welcoming atmosphere for foreign residents. The aim is to strengthen both business competitiveness and local communities. Ahead of the 2025 municipal elections, the Chambers are urging local decision-makers to consider the needs of international companies, workers and students. English-language services, international daycare centres and schools, and stronger support for integration are among the proposals. It is important that international residents feel welcome and part of the local community, Pulkkinen said. The Chambers say municipalities should have a clear strategy to attract international talent. This includes services that support families in settling in, strong business development functions, cooperation with higher education institutions, and opportunities to learn Finnish. According to the Chambers, some international specialists have considered leaving Finland due to concerns over attitudes toward immigration. Municipalities can influence this by easing access to employment and supporting community participation. Companies report that key foreign employees are thinking about leaving because of the anti-immigration climate. Municipalities can respond by improving integration into work and society and creating an open, inclusive atmosphere, Pulkkinen said. Improved support for Finnish language learning is seen as central to this effort. The Chambers' municipal election platform, Kasvua rakentamassa ("Building Growth"), outlines six measures to support local growth and vitality. HT Finland will reintroduce state reimbursements for private fertility treatments from May 2025, under a new law approved by Parliament. The system will only cover cases where infertility is due to a diagnosed medical condition, excluding many single women and same-sex couples. The law limits eligibility to individuals under the age of 43. In cases involving older applicants, Kela will assess reimbursement on the basis of a medical statement. Reimbursement will apply to treatments and examinations conducted or prescribed by gynaecologists or obstetricians. However, it will not extend to administrative fees, outpatient charges or other non-medical costs. Kela will also reimburse travel expenses and approved medications related to fertility treatment, provided the applicant meets the same medical and age-based requirements. Reimbursement for medications will only apply if the drugs are already included in the reimbursement system, and if prescribed for a medically diagnosed infertility condition. Senior Coordinator Merja Larikka from Kela said that the previous system reimbursed about 13 percent of the treatment costs in 2022 and reached over 6,600 patients. The new scheme will offer a significantly higher rate of reimbursement, though most costs will still be paid by the patient. Estimates by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health put the cost of a private insemination treatment at 600700, with IVF treatments ranging between 4,200 and 5,000. A single insemination session costing 500 would now receive approximately 200 in reimbursement. IVF reimbursements are expected to cover just under one-quarter of the total cost. The use of donor sperm increases the overall expense. Despite the new subsidy, only patients meeting the criteria of medical infertility will be eligible. The restriction excludes those seeking fertility treatments for non-medical reasons, such as single women or couples in same-sex relationships. This exclusion prompted criticism from opposition parties and advocacy groups. Bella Forsgren of the Green Party, along with members of the Social Democrats and the Left Alliance, submitted a dissenting opinion. They argued that the law failed to account for the diversity of family structures and unnecessarily limited access to support. Parliament passed the legislation by 101 votes to 54, with 44 members absent. It was supported by the Centre Party, Movement Nows Harry Harkimo, and independent MP Timo Vornanen. The bill had originally been scheduled to take effect at the start of the year but was delayed during committee discussions. While Finlands public healthcare system does not impose the same restrictions on who can access fertility treatments, the new law limits public financial support for those seeking care in the private sector. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health estimated that extending the scheme to include non-medical cases of infertility would have cost under 800,000 annually. HT Police officers in Finland are preparing to strike for the first time in nearly 50 years as tensions escalate over stalled pay negotiations between the state and public sector unions. According to a message seen by Helsingin Sanomat and shared within an internal police group, the Finnish Police Union (SPJL) has made decisions regarding strike action, with formal announcements expected soon. While the strike has not yet been officially declared, preparations are under way. Yle reported that decisions on broader industrial action could be taken as early as today. The chair of SPJL, Jonne Rinne, told Yle that the final decision will be made by the board of JUKO, the negotiation organisation representing educated public sector employees, including police officers. The board is scheduled to meet today. If implemented, the strike would mark only the second time in Finnish history that police have walked off the job, the last time being in 1976. Due to mandatory protection duties, some officers would remain at work during the strike. The potential action could also extend to other state employee groups, including customs officers, border guards, and defence personnel. The dispute centres on wage increases. Public sector unions, including SPJL, are calling for a three-year pay rise of 7.8 percent in line with agreements already reached in the private sector. The state employer has offered 6.3 percent over the same period. The Government Employers Office halted negotiations earlier this month after only one offer was tabled, which unions rejected. Talks have remained frozen since then. In a joint statement on Tuesday, 11 unions representing employees across security and defence sectors criticised the governments handling of the negotiations. Signatories included the Customs Officers Union, the Union of Warrant Officers, the Border Security Union, the Prison Officers' Union, and the Defence Engineers' Association, among others. In the current security environment, offering below-standard wage increases sends a contradictory message about the states role as an employer and weakens its already limited ability to compete for skilled professionals in security sectors, the statement read. The government argues that matching private sector pay increases would be unsustainable given Finlands growing public debt. On Wednesday, JUKO, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL), and the Pro Union introduced bans on overtime, shift changes, and the accumulation of flex-time balances. These measures apply to the roughly 10 percent of state personnel employed under standard labour contracts. The current dispute marks the most significant public sector wage conflict since the large civil servants strike in 1986. A senior Nato official told the news agency that the proposed target is under internal discussion. The alliance aims to adopt the updated guidance in June, when Nato defence ministers meet in Brussels. Nato plans to request its European member states and Canada to increase weapons and equipment stockpiles by 30 percent over the coming years, according to Bloomberg . The stockpile increase would be part of a broader adjustment of Natos collective defence planning, which has not been updated since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If approved, the 30 percent stockpile target would mark a significant expansion in Nato members peacetime preparedness levels. The target would apply to both munitions and military hardware. According to Bloomberg, the plan reflects lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where ammunition shortages and supply delays have hampered sustained operations. Meeting the goal is expected to take between 5 and 15 years, depending on each member state's industrial capacity and budget priorities. For many countries, achieving the target would likely require defence spending above three percent of GDP. According to Bloombergs reporting, alliance leaders are expected to endorse a new three percent defence spending benchmark at the Nato summit in The Hague this June. Natos current guideline calls for members to spend a minimum of two percent of GDP on defence. While the number of countries meeting this threshold has grown in recent years, several still fall short. A 30 percent increase in stockpiles would place additional pressure on procurement programmes and the defence industry. Rising costs, limited production capacity, and existing backlogs have already strained supply chains across the continent. Natos internal planning documents also note that members should enhance their logistical readiness and reserve capabilities in parallel with stockpile growth. Analysts believe this may require further investment in warehousing, transport, and maintenance infrastructure. The proposed update is expected to be discussed at multiple levels in the lead-up to the Brussels and The Hague meetings. Final approval would require political consensus among all 31 member states. The United States is not included in the 30 percent request, as the guidance is aimed at bolstering European readiness and reducing dependency on U.S. supplies in a high-intensity conflict scenario. Several European countries have already signalled their support for increased defence readiness. However, the financial and political implications of sustained higher spending remain a subject of debate in national parliaments. The proposal reflects Natos evolving posture as the alliance adapts to a security environment shaped by long-term strategic competition and heightened tensions in Eastern Europe. HT An Indian researcher at a top university in the United States with a valid visa has been arrested and is under threat of expulsion, according to his employer and US authorities, who accuse him of ties to Hamas. The arrest of Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University in the US capital, comes as fears mount in the scientific world that freedom of research is being challenged two months into US President Donald Trump's new term. On Wednesday, the French government condemned the expulsion of a French space scientist meant to attend a conference in Houston, after officials searched his smartphone and found what they called "hateful" messages against US policy. "Dr Khan Suri is an Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan," Georgetown University said in a statement. "We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention." Suri -- a fellow at Georgetown's Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, according to the university website -- was arrested Monday at his home in Arlington, Virginia, according to Politico, which first reported on the story. His lawyer told Politico he had demanded his release, but did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said on X that Suri was "a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media." McLaughlin accused him of having "close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas." The State Department decided the researcher was subject to deportation under a provision of immigration law that allows for expulsion if the visa holder's presence in the United States is determined to threaten US foreign policy, she added. Hamas is a US-designated terror organization. Georgetown University said it backs its "community members' rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable." Citing a petition filed by Suri's lawyer, Politico reported that Suri's wife is a US citizen of Palestinian descent, and that the couple believes they are being targeted because the government suspects they oppose US policy on Israel. France has expressed concern after US border agents read the contents of a visiting French space scientist's smartphone and deported him after accusing him of "hateful" messages against US policy. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, his government has cut federal research funding and sought to dismiss hundreds of federal workers pursuing health and climate research. "I learned with concern that a French researcher who was heading to a conference near Houston was forbidden from entering US territory before being expelled," Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste told AFP on Wednesday. "This measure was taken by the US authorities because the researcher's phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed his political opinion on the policies of the Trump administration on research," he said. A diplomatic source said a space scientist was stopped at the US border on March 9, with officials combing through the contents of his work laptop and phone during a "random" security check. US agents found messages about the treatment of scientists under the new US administration that "showed hatred towards Trump and could be qualified as terrorism", the same source said. They seized his equipment and sent him back to Europe on March 10, they said. Another source with knowledge of the case said the scientist was accused of owning "hateful and conspiratorial messages" and was told the FBI would investigate, though they then dropped the case. Baptiste emphasised the importance of "freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedoms" and said he would defend these as long as they were "within the limits of the law". The French foreign ministry said that its consular services had been informed of the incident, and that the United States was "sovereign" in deciding who could enter and remain on its territory. But it said it "deplored the situation". The US Embassy in Paris redirected an AFP request for comment to the US customs, but the latter did not immediately reply. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the US government believes its border agents are entitled to examine the contents of people's electronic devices as part of random security checks. Rights groups including the ACLU sued the US government in 2017 over the increasing use of warrantless searches of cellphones and computers at the border, saying they were "unconstitutional". According to the ACLU, it won the case in an initial federal court ruling but it was later overturned on appeal in 2021, prompting it to ask the US Supreme Court to hear the case. Baptiste this month urged French research institutions to consider welcoming scientists abandoning the United States because of Trump's funding cuts. A 49-year-old man from Ireland, described by relatives as "fit as a fiddle," tragically died from a rare infection that caused multiorgan failure and sepsis. Although the cause of the infection was initially unclear, a recent coroner's report revealed that it was likely contracted from his pet dog licking an open wound, with the dog's saliva being the source of the infection. Craig Jones from Dublin began feeling unwell and even started hallucinating a few days before being rushed to the hospital with suspicions of sepsis. His body had turned purple and cold, and had experienced vomiting, and diarrhea. Within hours of arriving at the hospital on December 20, 2022, he suffered six cardiac arrests. Despite being placed on life support, his condition rapidly deteriorated, and died from sepsis, as reported by The Journal. At the time of his death, Jones was receiving daily injections for psoriasis, which could have suppressed his immune system. Although routine tests at the hospital failed to identify the infection causing his sepsis, further analysis revealed that it was an infection typically associated with pet bites. However, the family confirmed that Jones had not been bitten by his dog. Eoghan O'Neill, a microbiologist at Connolly Hospital in Dublin, explained during the inquest that while the infection Jones contracted was extremely rare, it could occur when pet saliva comes into contact with broken skin. In Jones's case, his open wounds from psoriasis created an entry point for the bacteria. Although the condition affects only 0.5-1 person per million, it can progress rapidly once it enters the bloodstream, with a mortality rate of 33%, according to O'Neill. Adding more complexity, Jones had previously undergone spleen removal, a procedure that left him with a weakened immune defense. The spleen plays a vital role in filtering out harmful bacteria, and its absence left him more susceptible to infections. On top of that, the medications he was taking to manage his psoriasis could have suppressed his immune system even further. While presenting the case in court, Coroner Crona Gallagher stated that she would issue general advice for people to practice good hygiene around pets, especially if they have cuts or broken skin. Originally published on Medical Daily A Louisiana woman's death was initially ruled a suicide despite the fact that she was shot in the head three times with two different guns. In April 2023, 35-year-old Brittany Guillory Fontenot was found dead in her Ville Platte home by her husband, Ray Charles Fontenot Jr., KLFY reported. Law enforcement officials initially determined her cause of death to be suicide, a ruling that immediately raised suspicions among her family. Their doubts were fueled by the revelation that Brittany had been shot three times in the head with two different firearms, making suicide an improbable conclusion. After months of pressure from Brittany's family and further investigation, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office, assisted by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, arrested Ray Charles Fontenot Jr. for second-degree murder. He was booked into an Evangeline Parish jail, with bond set at $2 million. Officials have not yet disclosed what new evidence led to the reversal of the initial ruling or what role Ray Fontenot allegedly played in his wife's death. Originally published on Lawyer Herald A Jewish passenger is suing United Airlines after he was allegedly dragged out of a plane's restroom mid-flight by an "enraged" pilot, exposing him to fellow passengers and subjecting him to antisemitic remarks before being detained upon landing. On January 28, 2024, Yisroel Liebb, a 20-year-old Orthodox Jewish man, was flying from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston, Texas, before connecting to New York, the Independent reported. Experiencing constipation, he spent an extended period in the airplane restroom, which drew the attention of the flight crew. Despite informing them of his condition, tensions escalated when the pilot personally intervened. According to a lawsuit filed in federal court, the pilot forcefully broke into the restroom, yanked Liebb out while his pants were still down, and berated him in front of other passengers. The pilot then allegedly pushed Liebb and his seatmate, Jacob Sebbag, back to their seats while making derogatory comments about their Jewish identity. Upon landing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers boarded the plane, detained both men without charges, and subjected them to aggressive searches, allegedly telling them, "You have no rights here." The men missed their connecting flight and were forced to stay overnight at their own expense. Liebb and Sebbag have filed a lawsuit seeking damages for physical injuries, emotional distress, and alleged discrimination. United Airlines has declined to comment, and CBP has yet to provide a response. Originally published on Latin Times US President Donald Trump "fully supports" Israel's deadly resumption of air and ground operations in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, blaming Hamas for the violence. "He fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions that they've taken in recent days," Leavitt told reporters when asked if Trump was trying to get a Gaza ceasefire back on track. "The president made it very clear to Hamas that if they did not release all of the hostages there would be all hell to pay, and unfortunately, Hamas chose to play games in the media with lives." Leavitt said the situation was "completely the fault of Hamas" for their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, adding that Trump wants "all of those hostages" seized by Palestinian militants to be released. Gaza's civil defense agency said 504 people had been killed so far in the Israeli assault, including more than 190 children. Its previous death toll was at least 470. Israel resumed its air campaign early Tuesday with a wave of deadly strikes, shattering a relative calm that had pervaded in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory since a ceasefire took hold on January 19. Hamas said it fired rockets at Israeli commercial hub Tel Aviv on Thursday in its first military response to the growing civilian death toll. Israel said it had closed off the territory's main north-south route as troops expanded the ground operations they resumed on Wednesday. Four Seasons Yachts announces the appointment of Kate McCue as the inaugural Captain of Four Seasons l, the first ultra-luxury yacht in the highly anticipated fleet. A graduate of the California Maritime Academy, Captain Kate brings nearly three decades of maritime expertise, combining technical precision with a passion for hospitality to create a truly transformative yachting experience. A pioneer in the industry, she made history in 2015 as the first American female captain of a mega-ton cruise ship. As Captain, she is responsible for the safe navigation of the Yacht, as well as the onboard experience for all guests and crew members - a 1:1 guest to staff ratio that ensures a truly personalized journey from port to port. From charting journeys throughout the Caribbean and Mediterranean to establishing a best-in-class onboard service culture, Captain Kate is eager to shape the journey ahead. Prior to joining Four Seasons, Captain Kate spent nearly a decade with Celebrity Cruises, where she most recently served as Captain of the Celebrity Beyond and played a key role in increasing female representation on ship bridges to more than 30% across the fleet. She has also held numerous maritime positions, from cadet and deck officer to Master Mariner and Captain and has sailed with Royal Caribbean International and Disney Cruise Line. Captain Kate's appointment marks another milestone for Four Seasons Yachts as the brand prepares to welcome its first guests aboard Four Seasons I in January 2026. Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, a newly-renovated hotel located in the heart of Downtown San Antonio, welcomes Chryssaldo Thomas as General Manager. In his new position, Thomas will oversee all hotel operations while working to drive revenue growth, enhance guest satisfaction, and create a culture of care for colleagues and guests in line with Hyatt's purpose of caring for people so they can be their best. Born in Haiti and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Thomas began his hospitality journey at a young age, working as a busser at a resort in French Lick, Indiana. He quickly realized his interest in hospitality and found a passion for helping to craft memorable moments in people's lives. He pursued his career aspirations by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management at Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, FL. Following graduation, Thomas began working as an Assistant Executive Housekeeper at Hyatt Regency Miami, where he held various positions as a department manager. He then progressed within Hyatt, starting as a Front Office Manager at Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Alexandria, VA. From there, he advanced to Assistant Room Director roles at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville and Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago. In 2009, Thomas was promoted to Director of Rooms and held that position at various properties around the country, including Hyatt Lodge at McDonald's Campus in Oak Brook, IL, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, and Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. In 2017, Thomas joined Outrigger Hospitality Group as Hotel Manager of Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. He continued his career trajectory as General Manager of Ohana Waikiki East, later advancing to Area General Manager at the property. Following his time in Hawaii, Thomas began working with Hyatt Regency Boston where he led the hotel's team as General Manager for the past three years, prior to his transfer to San Antonio. Thomas has received several recognitions and accolades throughout his career including the Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Director of Rooms of the Year for the Americas region. Despite his professional successes, Thomas' most cherished achievement has been becoming a parent and raising his son Chryssaldo Jr. The future of revenue management is dynamic, data-driven, and no longer just about room pricing. At ITB Berlin, SiteMinder's Chief Product Officer, Leah Rankin, introduced Dynamic Revenue Plus, an AI-powered platformdesigned to give hoteliers real-time revenue intelligence and automated market insights. Rankin urges hotels to move beyond traditional room-focused pricing by leveraging multiple data sourcesincluding guest origin markets, competitor actions, and demand fluctuations tied to events. With real-time AI recommendations, hotels can act instantly on market insights, rather than relying on manual pricing adjustments. She also challenges outdated industry terminology, arguing that revenue is inherently holistic. The distinction between room revenue and ancillary revenue is artificialevery part of the guest experience contributes to a hotel's financial success. Looking ahead, Rankin sees AI-driven automation as the future of hospitality revenue management. With access to more data than ever before, hoteliers are shifting their role from manual pricing managers to AI supervisorsfreeing them to focus on long-term strategy. Key Takeaways Revenue management must go beyond room rates Hotels should optimize all revenue streams, not just room pricing. Hotels should optimize all revenue streams, not just room pricing. AI-powered real-time insights SiteMinder's Dynamic Revenue Plus provides instant market intelligence, eliminating manual rate adjustments. SiteMinder's Dynamic Revenue Plus provides instant market intelligence, eliminating manual rate adjustments. Revenue is holistic Rankin challenges the idea of separate revenue streams, emphasizing that every aspect of the guest experience contributes to profitability. Rankin challenges the idea of separate revenue streams, emphasizing that every aspect of the guest experience contributes to profitability. Hoteliers are becoming AI supervisors The shift to AI-driven decision-making allows revenue managers to focus on strategy, not just pricing tweaks. With automation, real-time intelligence, and a holistic approach, the future of revenue management is not just about roomsit's about maximizing every opportunity for profitability. LONDON - Virtuoso,the leading global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, hosted its 2025 Continental Europe Forum this week at Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern. From 19-21 March, the Forum brought together over 90 attendees, including owners and managers from Virtuosos travel agency members across Continental Europe along with preferred partners from around the world. Attendees had the opportunity to attend various presentations and professional development sessions, where they engaged in meaningful peer-to-peer conversations, and exchanged ideas and best practices on topics ranging from tailoring advisor skills for selling luxury travel to AI and more. Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch took the stage at the events Opening Session and emphasised the importance of a concept that is foundational to Virtuoso: humanising the exceptional. Since 2010, our core purpose has been to enrich lives through human connection, he said. Some may have thought it was just a slogan or feel-good sentiment, but it turned out to be our most defensible business model and the defining element of what Virtuoso advisors offer. Interacting with other people is not a desire, but a human need. Travel is a key vehicle for these interactions and exactly why the work of our advisors has never been more important. Referencing Scott Galloways newsletter No Mercy / No Malice, Upchurch continued, One of my favourite newsletters says, People are the new brands. Statistics show that social media posts including human faces receive higher engagement, and people view their favourite influencers as friends. Thats called the Parasocial Phenomena, and it translates to our industry because travel advisors are influencers in their own right. But they are not parasocial influencers; theyre real ones. This further proves that advisors are relationship marketers that land sales, not just another form of distribution. Virtuoso Senior Vice President, Global Operations Michael Londregan also spoke to members and partners, presenting trends and insights. He revealed that 2024 was another record-breaking year for the Virtuoso network with sales surpassing 2019 numbers by 239 percent and significantly outpacing the leisure travel industry, which has grown an average of 125 percent in the same period. The networks total sales in 2024 increased by over 20 percent compared to 2023. Globally, sales were up across all categories with hotels leading the way. Nearly one-third more hotel sales were produced year-over-year. Cruise sales also increased by nearly 30 percent compared to 2023, with yacht sales showing the largest growth at over 75 percent, followed by expedition, river and ocean, respectively. Looking forward to travel already booked for this year and 2026, Virtuosos future leisure sales increased by more than 30 percent. Specifically, future bookings of at least $50,000 USD (45,775 EUR) are up 51 percent, with cruise bookings in the same price range up 49 percent. Londregan anticipates future travel sales will continue to increase in years to come, as the UBS Global Wealth Report 2024 predicts a 15 percent growth in millionaires by 2028. Following the cool-cations trend that emerged in recent years, Londregan revealed that European destinations with more moderate climates continue to spark travellers interest this summer, specifically Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The hottest destination on the rise in Europe, based on year-over-year sales for travel already booked for this June, July and August, is Slovenia (+473 percent). This spike comes after Virtuoso hosted its annual Chairmans Event in Slovenia last year, showcasing the destination for its highest-performing travel agency members and demonstrating the direct influence that Virtuoso advisors have on increasing interest and tourism to certain destinations. Other places to watch this summer include Croatia (+356 percent), Malta (+108 percent), Montenegro (+24 percent) and Turkey (+272 percent). Jennifer Campbell, Senior Vice President, Global Events, took the stage to share exciting program and product updates. She discussed the recent launch of the new Social Media Content Centre, where members and advisors can augment and scale their own social media efforts. It provides tools for managing social media channels now including Instagram and TikTok within one dashboard. Key features include the choice of automated or customized posting and AI translation across eight different languages. The new centre is one more extension of Virtuosos high-quality content available for network use. She also shared that, following the success of the pilot Villas Spotlight consumer marketing campaign last November on Virtuoso.com, the network also launched a Suites Spotlight last month, per requests from the network, and a second Villas Spotlight showcasing a unique set of preferred partners debuted this month. Spotlights are designed as visually rich content experiences that showcase the unrivalled luxury of select, preferred partner villas and suites, with the goal of driving consumers to contact an advisor. Following the launch of Spotlights, Virtuoso.com saw an increase in both website visitor traffic and time spent on the site. The Virtuoso team is continuously measuring consumer engagement with the online campaign to gain insights and continue evolving the product. Similarly, Virtuoso launched Digital Destination Experiences last year, which are designed to elevate the experience of Virtuoso.com by offering comprehensive and engaging platforms dedicated to specific locations around the globe. Digital Destination Experiences which currently include Madrid, Australia, Canada, Greece, Croatia and Los Cabos aim to captivate travellers with immersive and informative content. Digital Destination Experiences have received positive feedback from participating partners based on their unique goals, and the program will continue to grow in 2025 with the next destination Toronto already in the works. Campbell also shared exciting updates surrounding Virtuosos enhanced hotel amenities program. Introduced last year, 20 percent of Virtuoso preferred hotel partners opted to provide a higher value-add for all Virtuoso bookings, including amenities such as double or triple credits for guests depending on the length of their stay, guaranteed upgrades and confirmed early check-in or late check-out. This year, Virtuoso partner participation has already increased to 30 percent of the networks preferred hotels, and Virtuoso data shows that those properties are seeing rising ADRs and an average increase in revenue of 50 percent. For more details on Virtuosos network of the worlds best travel agencies, advisors and preferred partners, please visit www.virtuoso.com. About Virtuoso Virtuoso is the leading global travel agency network specialising in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organisation comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in 54 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,300 of the world's best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalised annual sales of (U.S.) $28-$32 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com. LONDON As India rapidly matures in global and economic influence, so does the buying power of its vast and adventurous travelling population. According to new research by MMGY Travel Intelligence, passport-carrying adults in India intend to spend an average of $4,755 on leisure trips in the next 12 months, pinpointing a 14% increase in spending over the past year. This and other findings are at the core of Portrait of Indian International Travellers which unveils key new insights into the travel behaviors, motivations and preferences of Indian travellers exploring abroad. India is rapidly emerging as one of the worlds most influential outbound travel markets. This study reveals a confident, experience-driven audience prioritising safety, sustainability and multidestination itineraries. Understanding this shift is key to unlocking the next wave of global travel growth. Caroline Moultrie, MMGY Global President, EMEA Based on a survey conducted between December 2024 and January 2025 of more than 3,000 adults with passports residing in India, the reports key findings include: Appeal to Younger Generations: Over the past three years, Millennials in India have taken an average of 3.5 international trips, making them the most frequent international travellers among the surveyed generations. Gen Zers, on the other hand, showed the highest growth in planned expenditures, predicting a 14.2% increase in their budgets. Over the past three years, Millennials in India have taken an average of 3.5 international trips, making them the most frequent international travellers among the surveyed generations. Gen Zers, on the other hand, showed the highest growth in planned expenditures, predicting a 14.2% increase in their budgets. Safety and Convenience: The perceived safety of a destination remains a top concern, with 93% of respondents citing it as the most critical factor in travel decisions. Additionally, 83% prioritise destinations that offer vegetarian or halal food options, though many still express an eagerness to dine local through food trucks and other in-destination offerings. The perceived safety of a destination remains a top concern, with 93% of respondents citing it as the most critical factor in travel decisions. Additionally, 83% prioritise destinations that offer vegetarian or halal food options, though many still express an eagerness to dine local through food trucks and other in-destination offerings. Social Medias Influence: A staggering 90% of travellers report being influenced by social media when selecting international destinations, with Instagram and YouTube being the most influential platforms. A staggering 90% of travellers report being influenced by social media when selecting international destinations, with Instagram and YouTube being the most influential platforms. Sustainability Matters: Among those surveyed, 74% of Indian travellers are aware of sustainable travel practices in the global marketplace, and 62% are willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly experiences such as carbon-offset programmes or green-certified lodging. Among those surveyed, 74% of Indian travellers are aware of sustainable travel practices in the global marketplace, and 62% are willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly experiences such as carbon-offset programmes or green-certified lodging. Top Destinations: The United States and Europe are the most popular destinations overall, with 83% of Indian travellers expressing strong interest in visiting these regions in the next 12 months. Asia is a close third, at 80%. Additional findings in Portrait of Indian International Travellers include insights into the travel planning process, such as the role of travel agents and group tours, as well as evolving preferences regarding airlines, lodging and more. Simon Moriarty, MMGY Travel Intelligence VP of Syndicated Research, said that the report equips travel marketers with tangible insights at a critical time for the industry. Our research shows that Indian international travellers are increasingly seeking seamless, personalised travel experiences that combine comfort, convenience and authenticity, Moriarty said. This is a hugely important travel market and one that will continue to grow in value and influence. The spending power and desire for exploration of the Indian traveller cannot be underestimated. The study is now available for purchase or as part of an all-access subscription to EurekA! MMGYs new searchable research platform. To learn more, visit mmgyintel.com. About MMGY Global MMGY Global is the world's leading integrated marketing firm specializing in the travel, hospitality and lifestyle industries. With operating brands across the world, the award-winning organization maintains a global communications practice in all marketing channels, serving many of the world's premier travel and tourism brands. As a company dedicated to the travel industry, MMGY Global strives to create a connected, inclusive and peaceful world by promoting travel as a cultural bridge of understanding. For more information, visit mmgyglobal.com. Ireckonu, a global leader in hospitality data management solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Althoff Hotels, renowned for its prestigious five-star properties across Europe and the UK. This collaboration will enhance Althoff Hotels offerings across its 18 hotels and mark Ireckonus expansion into the DACH market. Althoff Hotels will utilize Ireckonus cutting-edge technology to create cohesive, personalized experiences for guests across all venues, from five-star accommodations to world-class dining and exclusive spas. Personalization will span from pre-stay marketing communications to digital engagement to how they greet their loyal guests at the hotel. By integrating Ireckonus CORE Middleware and Customer Data Platform (CDP) with its Oracle Opera Property Management System, as well as F&B systems and Spa Systems, Althoff Hotels will achieve a unified platform that enhances personalized marketing, boosts operational efficiency, and provides a comprehensive view of guest interactions across all of its hotels, venues including F&B and spa. At Ireckonu, we empower luxury brands like Althoff Hotels to redefine the guest experience through data-driven decisions. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to innovation and our expanding presence in the DACH region, aligning with our vision to transform hospitality globally. Jan Jaap van Roon, CEO of Ireckonu Ireckonu is the preferred technology partner of hospitality businesses worldwide, including Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, The Okura Hotel Group, and citizenM Hotels. This expansion into the DACH market unlocks opportunities for hospitality groups in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria to learn from industry leaders and improve their guest data operations. By partnering with Ireckonu, were transforming how we deliver luxury hospitality to our guests. Their CORE Middleware seamlessly connects our technology systems, and their Customer Data Platform allows us to redefine personalized guest experiences to deliver the five-star service our guests expect. Were thrilled to collaborate with Ireckonu and set a new benchmark for excellence in the hospitality industry. Frank Marrenbach, CEO and Managing Partner of Althoff Hotels The partnership between Ireckonu and Althoff Hotels highlights their mutual dedication to innovation and guest-centric luxury. Together, they aim to set new standards in the European hospitality landscape. Learn more about their innovative solutions at www.ireckonu.com and www.althoffhotels.com. About Althoff Hotels For 40 years, Althoff Hotels founded by Thomas H. Althoff and managed by CEO Frank Marrenbach have stood for outstanding cuisine, excellent hospitality and stylish design, combined with services of the highest quality. The Cologne-based group sees itself as a Hoteliers Company and currently operates three brands: the Althoff COLLECTION with five luxury hotels in Germany, France and the UK as well as the opening of the Dom Hotel in Cologne and The Florentin in Frankfurt in 2025. The AMERON Collection with nine four-star hotels in Germany and Switzerland is also part of the group. In 2020, the Althoff portfolio was expanded to include the design & lifestyle brand URBAN LOFT, which stands for a curated mix of art and culture, culinary delights and creativity. In addition to the first loft in Cologne city center, the second house was launched in Berlin in summer 2022, in the newly created Heidestrae district. Further information at www.althoffhotels.com. About Ireckonu Founded in 2014, Ireckonu is a leading Dutch company revolutionizing the hospitality industry through innovative digital solutions. With a global team of over 60 professionals, Ireckonu specializes in cutting-edge Software as a Service (SaaS) products and services. Seamlessly integrating Middleware expertise with a state-of-the-art Customer Data Platform, Ireckonu empowers hotels with a unified, data-driven approach, trusted by renowned brands such as Okura, CitizenM, Hard Rock Hotels, and more. Ireckonu stands at the forefront of shaping the future of hospitality. Visit the Ireckonu website to discover more: www.ireckonu.com. View source artotel Rome Piazza Sallustio - Image Credit Radisson Hotel Group artotel Rome Piazza Sallustio - Image Credit Radisson Hotel Group artotel Rome Piazza Sallustio - Image Credit Radisson Hotel Group artotel Rome Piazza Sallustio - Image Credit Radisson Hotel Group artotel Rome Piazza Sallustio - Image Credit Radisson Hotel Group The Radisson Hotel Group's artotel brand has opened its first establishment in Italy, the artotel Rome Piazza Sallustio. The hotel is designed as a dynamic cultural hub to provide guests with a unique and inspiring experience. This approach reflects the brand's commitment to blending art, culture, and design, which has been successfully implemented in its other locations, including London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, and Zagreb. Located in the heart of Rome, the artotel Rome Piazza Sallustio is a creative and cultural landmark. Its unique design and artistic details are the brainchild of Signature Artist Pietro Ruffo, a visionary Roman artist. His celestial maps and Roman iconography pervade the hotel, transforming it into his most extensive permanent collection. The hotels cultural significance extends beyond its walls. The first exhibition at the hotel's Art Gallery, Mappare lInvisibile, invites guests and locals to explore Ruffos latest works, including a thought-provoking video installation. This exhibition marks the beginning of a dynamic cultural program launched by the hotel, promising a line-up of exclusive events. In addition to its artistic offerings, the hotel is set to redefine Rome's dining scene with its pan-Asian restaurant, YEZI. YEZI brings a bold culinary experience to Rome after its success in Zagreb. The menu, curated by Executive Chef Werner Seebach and Head Chef Giordano Gianforchetti, is inspired by the historic spice routes, infusing each dish with vibrant flavors and a contemporary flair. Travelers Willing to Pay More for Customized Features and Services: Amadeus Study - Image Credit Unsplash+ New research indicates that hotel guests are willing to pay extra for specific features or services, potentially boosting hotel revenues by over $5,300 per room, per year. The influence of traditional travel inspiration sources such as newspapers and TV ads fluctuates, while social media ads and influencers increasingly drive travel decisions. A recent study by Amadeus reveals that travelers are more likely to pay extra for specific features or services, potentially adding around 12% to the average daily rate hotels charge. The "Travel Dreams" report is based on data from 6,000 travellers from the US, China, India, the UK, France, and Germany. According to the study, 63% of hotel guests are willing to pay additional charges for features such as a specific view or floor, having an Xbox in their room, or including local attractions in their package. For an average mid-range hotel chain offering these additional features, this could potentially increase annual revenues by over $5,300 per room. The channels influencing travel decisions are also evolving. Over the past five years, the influence of social media ads and travel influencers has significantly increased. In contrast, traditional sources like newspapers, in-person travel agents, and TV ads have seen variations in their impact. The report also highlights that personalized service is a crucial factor for leisure travelers, with 50% stating that a personalized welcome would top their list for an ideal hotel experience. More than half of the guests (52%) expressed their willingness to share personal data in exchange for tailored deals. In contrast, business travelers prefer technology and efficiency, with 71% showing interest in online or self-service check-in. Interestingly, nearly a quarter of business travelers (22%) expressed interest in using cryptocurrency or a digital wallet for future payments, indicating a potential shift in the payments landscape. The study also sheds light on the financial losses incurred by travelers due to lack of insurance. The average amount lost by global travelers due to lack of travel insurance stands at US$1,210 per person. Chinese travelers reported an even higher figure, estimating their loss at over $2,500 per person. In terms of future technology, both business and leisure travelers expressed their willingness to use virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Most business (82%) and leisure travelers (66%) indicated their interest in exploring a destination before arrival through a virtual tour. Half of all travelers are open to relying on AI for recommendations on dining options at their destination. Francisco Perez-Lozao Ruter, President, Hospitality, Amadeus, commented on the findings, stating that understanding diverse needs of travelers based on factors such as the purpose of their trip, age, and origin, can provide hoteliers and travel service providers with opportunities to create personalized experiences, drive profitable demand, and enhance the overall travel experience. Discover more at Amadeus. Wall Street Investors: High Costs and Uncertainty Delay Return to US Hotel Deals - Image Credit Unsplash Large private equity firms, including Blackstone, Brookfield, and Noble Investment Group, are delaying their return to US hotel investments due to high capital costs and unstable consumer confidence. Large private equity investors have indicated they are not yet ready to return to US hotel investments. The sentiment of uncertainty, primarily driven by high capital costs and shaky consumer confidence, keeps investors from engaging in hotel deals. During the "Wall Street Talks" panel at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, representatives from Blackstone, Brookfield, and Noble Investment Group expressed their optimism about the resilience of hotel demand and operating performance in the US. However, they also highlighted the prevailing uncertainty that is discouraging them from making deals now. Mit Shah, CEO of Noble Investment Group, characterized the current environment as "wonky". Despite not being ready to abandon Noble's 2025 plan of selling over $1 billion in hotel assets and buying about $2 billion, Shah noted that transaction activity is "very interesting" at the moment. He further stated that policies from the Trump administration would have "cloudy" short-term effects on the travel industry. Scott Trebilco, senior managing director of real estate for Blackstone, stated that the cost of capital in the hotel sector is too high. Even though hotel supply is low and demand is strong, larger forces discourage Blackstone from investing in US hotels. Instead, the company has been focusing its investments on hotels in Japan and Europe and domestically in data centers, multi-unit housing, and retail. Trebilco also noted that the past two years recorded the lowest hotel investment levels in a decade. He suggested that the industry will need firstmovers to revive hotel transactions. Meanwhile, Shai Zelering, managing partner of real estate at Brookfield, said his firm is comfortable holding onto its assets for now. He expressed no pressure to sell and stated that Brookfield would be net buyers this year. Zelering emphasized the need to manage expenses efficiently and said the status of consumer confidence would drive the willingness to make bold investments. Zelering also acknowledged the rising costs of labor and insurance but said that the challenge is execution. He expressed his desire to see a refocus on hospitality, stating that this builds the business. The uncertainty in the hotel investment environment appears to be a combination of high capital costs, shaky consumer confidence, and broader economic concerns. These factors have led to a slowdown in private equity investment in the US hotel industry, as firms prefer to wait for a more favorable investment climate. However, investors remain optimistic about the sector's resilience and anticipate a return to active investment when conditions improve. Discover more at CoStar. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Timothy Callahan takes questions from the School Committee on Thursday night in an interview broadcast on NBCTC. North Adams School Committee Votes to Promote Callahan as Superintendent Timothy Callahan is interviewed by the School Committee at City Hall on Thursday. He was the sole candidate put forward for superintendent. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The School Committee on Thursday unanimously selected Timothy Callahan to lead the North Adams Public Schools. Callahan, currently assistant superintendent, will replace Barbara Malkas on her retirement at the end of the school year. His appointment, pending contract negotiations, came after a public interview by the School Committee at City Hall during which he was asked 20 questions, a number of which were from or informed by community input. They ranged from academics to security to federal funding to equity to bullying to community involvement. Callahan easily expounded upon his experiences and vision for the school district for more than 90 minutes. He laughed at the end when Mayor Jennifer Macksey asked if he would to make a closing statement in "five minutes or less." "As you can tell, I can talk about this stuff all night," he said. "I really love what I do." The former Drury High principal was the only candidate put forward out of 13 applications. Macksey, chair of the committee, said the search committee conducted virtual interviews with five candidates, including one superintendent, three assistant superintendents and one principal with superintendent licensure. The committee had been required to forward two candidates. "The committee was unable to recommend a second candidate as Dr. Callahan's qualification experience and interview performance significantly outshone the others," she said, in addition to his intimate knowledge of the schools and the district. Because he was the lone candidate, the committee had been advised by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and its attorney to void the external search, and vote to conduct an internal review. The School Committee, with member Cody Chamberlain not in attendance, voted to do so. Student representative Jane Bergeron participated in asking questions. Callahan said he's dedicated his life to the North Adams Public Schools. He was a training store manager for the former Kay-Bee Toys but quit because it wasn't fulfillng. "I didn't know what that meant at the time," he said. He started teaching literature at Drury around 1998 and "it became so apparent that working with students, helping students achieve their goals, working with my colleagues, just focusing on education as a way of life was so meaningful to me in a way that I had not felt in my previous career." Since then, he's held a number of leadership positions and, since 2022, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment. He was a finalist for the superintendency in Central Berkshire Regional School District (withdrawing last week) and had been offered the principalship at Nessacus Middle School the same time as Drury High. Callahan said his heart was here, but was intrigued with what Nessacus might offer. "I've dedicated my life to North Adams. Is this good, should I make a switch?" the Lanesborough native had asked his son, then in ninth grade. "He said to me, 'finish what you started.' And that was really powerful." He spoke at length about ongoing strategies an initiatives in the school system, including removing barriers to coursework that's resulted in a dramatic increase in taking Advanced Placement tests, the high shool summits to hear from students that is now working its way into the lower grades, and a cell-phone ban that's reduced disciplinary incidents by 75 percent. "There was an intentionality to dismantle inequitable systems creatively and collaboratively," he said. "As a leader, I bring that to my team. ... A lot of the solutions require creative, creativity and different approaches. And so I look for that in my team. I embody that in my work, in everything I do." In terms of engagement and future goals, Callahan noted that the district had conducted surveys with families, students, teachers and staff who overwhelmingly identified two priorities: well-being of students, social-emotional learning and mental health supports and ensuring high expectations for student learning with effective curricula. "That stakeholder input informed those decisions that are being made," he said. "And that's the kind of process that I'd like to continue to replicate and check in and update our reporting and data to the community." He and district leadership would establish a clear vision for the next two years and what could be accomplished in one. He also acknowledged the potential for federally funded programs to be cut and the difficult decisions that would have to be made. Callahan stressed his committment to equity and inclusion and cultural sensitivity, citing his experiences within his own family his wife is a first generation immigrant and his youngest child is transgender, nonbinary. Equity and inclusion have become more controversial in the current political climate but North Adams is not stepping back. "We're addressing it head on. First of all, as a district, we believe in equity, and we believe in equity of access and equity of outcomes, and any historically marginalized populations, we're going to make sure they get what they need to be successful, not just access, but outcomes," he said. "It's not about just inviting them to the parties, making sure they're inclusion in the party and welcomed and they feel like they belong, and can be successful. ... "The way I see it, there are different opinions and different perspectives and clashing values, but when one set of values is aligned with bigotry and exclusion, that's not the set of values I will support, and I think we take a strong stand against those values and in favor of the values of inclusion and equity." Macksey said all the candidates were wonderful, "but we have something really good here in Dr. Callahan. It's so important that we set an example for our staff, that there is advancement in municipal work, and there is advancement in education." School Committee member Alyssa Tomkowicz said passionate students come from passionate educators. "I think that you definitely fit the mold of what I've seen to be successful educators that create successful students going off to college," she said. School Committee member Richard Alcombright recalled Callahan's work when he had been mayor. "I have continued to be both impressed and thankful for the work that you do for the students in the district," he said. "You have been, and I know you will continue to be, the hope, the promise, the champion for success for every student in the north public schools. And I'm happy to be here tonight. "Your son gave me a closing line. I'm happy to be here tonight to see you continue to finish what you have started, sir." The interview was also recorded by Northern Berkshire Community Television. Superior Court Briefs: March 21 Earehart Arraigned on 2 Counts of Rape On March 18 James Earehart, age 55 of Indiana, was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court. The Defendant was arraigned on two counts of Rape stemming from a June 16, 2022, offense.The alleged rape occurred at a camp located at 53 Brookside Road, Great Barrington. According to the district attorney's office, Earehart was employed by Membrane Concepts and was deployed to the camp to work on the pool at the time of the alleged assault.The victim, who was an employee of the camp at the time of the assault, stated they (singular to protect the victim's identity) were returning to a building at the camp when they were approached by Earhart. Shortly after being approached, the victim stated they were sexually assaulted. The alleged assault took place in the evening hours. The Great Barrington Police Department is the lead law enforcement agency on the case. The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office executed an extradition order from Indiana to return the Defendant to Massachusetts to face the two rape charges. The Defendant is being held on $50,000 cash bail without prejudice. The case is schedule to next appear in Berkshire Superior Court on March 31st for an appearance of counsel. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Frank Twing Sr. Sentenced to 25 Years in Albany Federal Court for Berkshire County Related Crimes On October 31, 2024, Frank Twing Sr. of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child involving a then 15-year-old victim and one count of travel with intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct involving an approximately 12-year-old victim. On March 18, 2025, Frank Twing Sr. was sentenced to the above-mentioned crimes in Albany Federal Court to 25 years in Federal Prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release. District Attorney Shugrue stated, "I commend the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to my Office for their dedicated investigation into Frank Twing's crimes. Their work was critical to the US Attorney's Office successful outcome in this case." These charges come after an investigation occurred into Frank Twing, and his wife, Haley Twing in January of 2024 by the Massachusetts State Police Berkshire Detective Unit. As a result of this investigation, Frank Twing, and a second Defendant, Haley Twing, were arrested by the Massachusetts State Police. Frank Twing was charged in Massachusetts with 2 counts of aggravated statutory rape, 2 counts of posing a child for sexual photos, and 1 count of trafficking a person for sexual servitude. Haley Twing has been charged in Massachusetts with 4 counts of posing a child for sexual photos, 2 counts of statutory rape, and 1 count of possession of child pornography. This case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Berkshire Detective Unit, New York State Police, and the FBI's Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Skating at the old rink at the Common in the 1970s. The city is hoping to bring skating back to the Common or Clapp Park with a mobile rink. Pittsfield Ice Rink Effort Sees $125K Gift PITTSFIELD, Mass. Philanthropic support has boosted the city's plans to revive long-cherished days of outdoor ice skating. On Tuesday, Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath told the Parks Commission that the Feigenbaum Foundation boosted the effort by $125,000. He sees this as the kind of facility where people make core memories. "They're excited about this. They see a real opportunity for this to be one more fun thing that's offered in Pittsfield," he said. "In the wintertime, a lot of folks around here tend to hibernate, sort of close themselves off. But this is a wonderful place and our parks are wonderful places to continue to make memories, even in the wintertime. So how do we get folks into some of our parks in a four-season kind of way? An ice rink, I think, is the way to do that." McGrath revealed the effort to buy a 50-foot by 100-foot refrigerated mobile ice skating rink for the parks in October. He hopes to have fully committed funding in the next few weeks to present the project for approval. The city has raised $175,000 from two philanthropic organizations for the $250,000 effort and is eying Clapp Park as an initial location. "I like the idea of Clapp because of the Winter Carnival. I also like the idea of The Common with all the restaurants and the downtown area," Commissioner Cliff Nilan said. "I mean, those are two good choices." Pittsfield has a long history of providing outdoor ice rinks at the common and more. McGrath recalled that in the 1950s and the 1960s, there were rinks in other parts of the city like Weller Avenue. "Of course, we can't do that anymore," he said. Ultimately, the intent is to set up the rink at Wahconah Park each winter, but the park is currently facing major renovations. McGrath added there are a "lot" of other considerations on operations but there are commitments from city tradesmen and the Parks Department for assistance, adding "I think this is an important project that I think a lot of people can get behind." He noted that some location decisions may be based on available infrastructure and the city is being thoughtful about it. "We're going to think through all of this and try to understand what the best approach is but I'm excited about this," he said. Page Content Enhanced synergies between South Americas (SAM) regional aviation priorities and ICAOs global strategies were a key outcome of ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazars recent advocacy in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Speaking to nearly 140 participants at the Eighteenth Meeting of Civil Aviation Authorities of the SAM Region (RAAC/18), Mr. Salazar presented ICAOs recently adopted Strategic Plan for 2026-2050. The participants included Directors General of Civil Aviation, senior representatives from industry associations, and major manufacturers. Mr. Salazar emphasized how South Americas Regional Strategy aligns with this global plan. He outlined priorities such as reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050, improving passenger mobility and accessibility, and ensuring that no country is left behind. To achieve these ambitious goals, closer collaboration will be required among the Organization, States, and industry. The Regional Safety Oversight Cooperation System (SRVSOP) serves as a key mechanism for standardization and collaborative work between States. ICAO Regional Director for SAM, Mr. Fabio Rabbani, also issued a strong call for States to strengthen their commitments to regional initiatives that support the plan, and to accelerate implementation through more dynamic and engaging mechanisms that allow the optimization of resources and enhanced partnership. The three-day meeting concluded on 26 February 2025. In addition to its direct implications for State policy, the meeting will inform State deliberations on the strategic development of international civil aviation at the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly in Montreal this October. Bilateral Activities The visit provided an opportunity for the Secretary General to enhance collaboration with key regional stakeholders, including through bilateral meetings with Directors General of Civil Aviation from the region. Discussions focused on regional collaboration, sustainability, innovation, human resources, regulatory efficiency, and competitiveness. Capacity-building emerged as a critical topic, with States emphasizing the need for support in training, certification, and enhancing aviation oversight capabilities. The successful partnerships of SAM States with ICAO and neighboring Regions on aviation safety were highlighted. Meetings were also held with representatives of key industry organizations. such as Airports Council International - Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), along with manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer. Additionally, the Secretary General carried out an official visit to Brasilia to undertake high-level meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira; the Commander of the Brazilian Air Force; Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, and the Board of Directors of Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC). These engaging meetings provided ICAO with an opportunity to emphasize efforts to ensure the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the outcomes of the Organizations Transformational Objective. The Secretary General also visited the EMBRAER assembly line in Sao Jose dos Campos, where he presented ICAOs vision to its CEO and the leadership team and learned about their perspectives of the industry on the future of the aviation system. Throughout his activities in Brazil, the Secretary General was accompanied by Mr. Rabbani and ICAOs Regional Director for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, Mr. Christopher Barks. ASUS announced yesterday the partnership with VST-ECS Phils., Inc and launched their new ASUS NUC AI and AI server lineup. Next-level AI mini-PC with Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) and AI Servers are now available in the Philippines thru ASUS PH and VST-ECS Partnership Partnership with VST-ECS Phils., Inc. VST-ECS Phils., Inc. is a leading ICT distributor in the Philippines, providing a wide range of innovative technology products and solutions to businesses and individuals. Adding new ASUS NUC product line up and servers, VST-ECS Phils, will be distributing both products from ASUS together with their Expert Wifi routers. ASUS NUC 15 Pro Best Compact Choice for the AI-Driven Future the ASUS NUC 15 Prowhere intelligent design meets unparalleled performance. Its compact form factor is engineered for versatility, making it ideal for a variety of development scenarios, from AI model training to data visualization. AI-Enabled Mini PC Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2). Designed as the best compact choice for the AI-driven future. The ASUS NUC 15 Pro is a compact, high-performance mini PC designed for content creators, gamers, and professionals. ASUS NUC 14 Essential Efficient Performance. Smart Savings. ASUS NUC 14 Essential is the next-generation mini PC that takes performance, portability, and versatility to greater heights. Powered by the latest energy-efficient Intel Core N-series processors and equipped with diverse connectivity options, this sleek, compact device is built to boost productivity and makes light work of diverse applications. ASUS NUC 15 Performance Power Ahead. Maximize Efficiency The NUC 15 Performance, powered by Intel Core Ultra 9/7 processors and Next Gen NVIDIA graphics, delivers exceptional performance for business tasks. Its sleek 3L design ensures easy upgrades, advanced heat management, and reliable multitasking, while customizable ARGB lighting and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 reflect your unique style. ASUS Servers ASUS announced its server lineup that will be offered here in the Philippines thru VST-ECS Phils., Inc. Some of the server models include the ASUS AI POD, XA, ESC RS Series and VS320D-RS12 Storage Servers ASUS also introduced its AI Server solution that meets varied AI workload demands. Availability & Pricing ASUS NUC 14 Essential, ASUS NUC 15 Pro, ASUS NUC 15 Performance are available in the Philippines thru VST-ECS Phils., Inc and its partner dealers. After making waves at MWC 2025 with its color-changing design, MagicGlow Triple Flash, and underwater capabilities, the all-new realme 14 Series 5G has officially landed in the Philippines. The launch was streamed live on realmes official Facebook page, marking its highly anticipated local debut. The newest addition to the realme Number Series makes its local debut at an introductory price starting at P19,499 SRP The latest Series, which includes the realme 14 Pro+ 5G and realme 14 Pro 5G, provides impressive mobile photography capabilities, a sophisticated design, and various features for a complete smartphone experience. The realme 14 Series 5G is meticulously crafted to meet the Squads diverse needs and dynamic lifestyles. Expertly crafted for work, play, and everything in between, the realme 14 Series 5G is the ultimate daily smartphone. The realme 14 Pro+ 5G, powered by Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 and equipped with a 6000mAh Massive Battery, delivers smooth performance and stunning photography with its Triple Sony Camera System and MagicGlow Triple Flash. On the flip side, the realme 14 Pro 5G, featuring the Dimensity 7300 Energy 5G Processor, ensures seamless productivity. Its 50MP Sony IMX882 OIS main camera supports underwater photography, making it ideal for content creators and photography enthusiasts. Overall, the realme 14 Series 5G guarantees Triple Clarity in Every Shot, delivering exceptional photo quality in any setting or environment. Equipped with advanced camera features such as Night Photography for low-light brilliance, Underwater Mode for seamless aquatic captures, AI Snap Mode for intelligent scene optimization, and Telephoto for precise long-range shots, it ensures that every moment is captured with stunning detail and clarity. First-Selling Offers and Availability Available in stylish Pearl White and Suede Grey colors, the realme 14 Series 5G debuts with competitive pricing: P27,999 SRP for the realme 14 Pro+ 5G (12GB+512GB) and P21,999 SRP for the realme 14 Pro 5G (12GB+256GB). To officially welcome the newest addition to its Number Series, realme is treating the Squad to exciting first-selling promos. Fans who visit any realme physical store nationwide from March 20-30, 2025, can grab the realme 14 Series 5G and receive a FREE TechLife Bluetooth Speaker 2 worth P1,799. Additionally, there are offline-exclusive offers from March 20-30, 2025. Customers can avail themselves of an 18-month installment term at 0% interest using Home Credit and Credit Card. Furthermore, at select realme Offline Stores, customers can participate in a "Spin The Wheel" event for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a realme Watch S2, realme Pad, realme Pad Mini, or a TechLife Bluetooth Sensor Speaker on March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025. Meanwhile, great deals also await online shoppers until March 27, 2025. The realme TikTok Shop offers the realme 14 Pro+ 5G for as low as P25,363. This is bundled with a FREE realme Watch S2 with a steel wristband worth P4,499 while supplies last. Similarly, the realme Shopee Flagship Store has the realme 14 Pro 5G available for as low as P19,499, along with a FREE realme Watch S2 with a silicone wristband worth P3,999. Keep posted on the latest news and announcements from realme, visit the brands official website, and follow its Facebook page. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Cate Blanchett has made a strong case for award shows to stop being televised and go back to the policy of no phones, where no one cared what anyone did. During an appearance on Matt Rogers and Bowen Yangs Las Culturistas podcast, the two-time Oscar winner said that people were more present back when there were few to no chances of someone recording you. Theres so few spaces that you can go now, where you are private. Thats what I loved about the late 80s, going to all of the dance parties in Sydney for Mardi Gras. People were just there. They were so present, you know, they were just together, collectively, having a great time, the Black Bag star said. It was non-aggressive. No one was being recorded. No one cared what anyone did. The Academy Awards, which were first held in 1929, have been televised since the 25th ceremony in 1953. open image in gallery Cate Blanchett attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards in March 2023 ( Getty Images ) The hosts went on to talk about the treacherous trend of lip readers on TikTok taking a video of two celebrities speaking to each other at an awards show and releasing their version of what they think was said. But now it feels like that chasm between that kind of event, that ideal, is widening from the thing thats very common now at, like, an awards show where youve got lip readers, youre being photographed, Yang said . Blanchett interjected: Lip readers? And it looks like it could be exactly what theyre saying, in a way thats a little bit odd, added Rogers. Lip reader reveals what sweet Prince Louis was really shouting from coronation carriage Blanchett urged a return to non-televised award shows in favour of a great party where people can just let go, adding that people would find out which celebrity wore which outfit and won which award at the end anyway. I mean, I say, I know its blasphemy, go back to the day when it wasnt televised. Bring that back and just have a great party where people can just let go. I mean, the industry is so scattered and at such a point of which I think potentially could be exciting or could really be depressing, but its at a pivot point, and so we need to gather together and celebrate what it is that we do, without it having to have any public-facing. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. I mean, the fashion is great, and all of that stuff. Well find out in the end who won or who didnt win. But it would be so nice that that happened behind closed doors. Absolutely a very different evening. Blanchett specified she wasnt asking to get rid award shows, but for them to celebrate films in a way that doesnt make one sick of them. Its so great that peoples work is celebrated and in that way, she said. I think theres a sense that, because this is the thing all these films are amazing so many amazing films and performances, and all of the craft awards, cinematography. You want to celebrate them, of course, but you can get sick of those films because they all get whittled down, as they must. I dont want to get sick of any of those films because theyre brilliant. In 2023, after being named best actress in a drama at the Critics Choice Awards for her role in Tar, Blanchett called for an end to the televised horse race saying: Its like, what is this patriarchal pyramid where someone stands up here? Why dont we just say theres a whole raft of female performances that are in concert and in dialogue with one another, and stop the televised horse race of it at all? Because can I tell you, every single woman whether its television, film, advertising, tampon commercials, whatever youre all out there doing amazing work that is inspiring me continually. open image in gallery Cate Blanchett in 'The Seagull' ( Marc Brenner ) Blanchett is currently on stage in London in The Barbicans production of The Seagull, receiving rave reviews for her performance. In a four-star review, The Independents Alice Saville wrote: Blanchetts Arkadina is wonderfully, hilariously crass, blinding the front row with her glittery jeans then nonplussing the whole audience by tapdancing into splits. Yet underneath the performative silliness, Blanchett conveys a sense of a cavernous emptiness a detachment from her own emotions that means she can only express herself in a hammy karaoke of borrowed lines. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Production on the next James Bond film is underway after being fast-tracked for release following Amazons $1bn acquisition. Last month, it was revealed that Amazon MGM had taken full creative control of the Bond franchise after striking a deal with long-time producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. While the pair will remain co-owners of the franchise, the transaction leaves creative control of all future productions in the hands of Amazon a decision that has led to consternation among fans. Its now been reported that the next film Bond 26 will have a budget of 250m, which is around the same amount Daniel Craigs final 007 outing No Time to Die cost. According to The Sun, the film is expected to be in cinemas by the end of 2027, with a source stating: The Bond bosses had already proposed broad plots and reboot ideas. The writers rooms are being assembled in the hope of recouping their investment ASAP. Bond films are typically released in October and November. The hunt for a new Bond to replace Craig has heated up in recent weeks, with rumours including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson and James Norton. In terms of producers, Puck reports that David Heyman (Harry Potter) and Amy Pascal (Tom Hollands Spider-Man films) are in talks to develop the outing. In March 2024, it was reported that Taylor-Johnson has secured the role of Bond but the actor distanced himself from the claims, stating: I dont feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me. I feel like, whatevers drawn out for me, I can f***ing do better. open image in gallery Aaron Taylor-Johnson is one of the favourites to replace Daniel Craig ( Getty/Eon Productions ) Amazons acquisition of the Bond franchise is expected to lead to a series of spin-offs, but the source states the streaming giant knows fans want and expect a movie and wants filming to be done by the end of next year. When the film arrives, it will match the record for the longest time the world has had to wait for a new Bond film since Sean Connery first played the British spy in 1962s Dr No. The previous record was GoldenEye, which arrived in 1995 six years after Timothy Dalton appeared in Licence to Kill. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Before Amazons takeover, news on the franchise had gone silent in recent years, with no formal plans for the next movie or any recruitment of the next Bond actor. Wilson said in a statement: With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future. Broccoli added: My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. open image in gallery Daniel Craig made his Bond swan song in No Time to Die ( Eon Productions ) I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time to Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A South Korean court has ruled against popular K-pop girl group NewJeans, which aimed to sever ties with their record label Ador and pursue independent activities under their new name. The court granted Adors request for an injunction to re-establish themselves as NewJeanss management agency and to prevent the five-member girl group from carrying out any kind of independent activity making music, performing, or signing advertising deals. The Seoul Central District Courts Civil Division 50 allowed Ador to maintain their position as the official agency of NewJeans, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the agency had breached contractual obligations with the group. In January 2025, when the agency filed the injunction, they claimed that the girl group had been pursuing advertisers to sign independent brand deals despite the ongoing contract dispute. The K-pop group, composed of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, have been embroiled in a feud with their agency since last year, following a dispute between Min Hee Jin, the bands former creative director and Adors ex-CEO, and Adors parent company Hybe. The differences escalated after the group held a press conference where they unilaterally declared their exclusive contract with Ador invalid, accusing the agency of mistreatment and bullying. Ador denied the bands accusations and maintained that they had not violated the terms of the agreement arguing that a unilateral claim of a breach of trust does not constitute valid grounds for terminating the contract. Ador maintained that the contract, set to expire in 2027, remains in full effect. Shortly after the courts order, NewJeans posted a statement on their social media, saying that while the group respected the courts ruling, it would take the requisite legal action against it. Today, the court rendered a decision regarding the injunction. NJZ respects the courts ruling. However, we believe that the decision did not fully take into account the complete breakdown of trust the members have experienced toward Ador, the statement began. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. We plan to challenge todays decision through the objection procedure, during which we will raise additional legal issues and submit further supporting evidence. Above all, until the point the exclusive contracts were terminated, we had diligently fulfilled out obligations without any wrongdoing. In contrast, Ador and Hybe, behind the scenes, continued to treat us unfairly and unequally, ultimately destroying the relationship of trust. It is only a matter of time before the truth becomes clear. NewJeans was scheduled to perform at ComplexCon Hong Kong this Sunday, where they were expected to release a new song under their new name; the group announced they will continue with the performance under Adors banner. Though we are going through a very difficult time, we remain calm and strong, always thinking of our fans who continue to support NJZ and the Bunnies, a statement posted on the groups social media said. Bunnies refers to the groups official fandom. open image in gallery NewJeans, composed of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, have been embroiled in a feud with their agency since last year ( Getty Images ) As we have stated before, regardless of any financial matters, we can no longer remain with a management that has disrespected our identities and undermined our achievements. The reason we are pursuing this legal action is to protect our dignity and rights. Meanwhile, after much deliberation, we have decided to participate in the upcoming ComplexCon scheduled for March 23. This decision was made out of respect for our fans and all stakeholders involved, in order to prevent unnecessary disruption or harm to those who have been looking forward to the performance. After the courts judgement, Ador released a statement stating they would be fully present in Hong Kong and are fully committed to NewJeans. We express our sincere gratitude for the courts judicious decision to grant the preliminary injunction. With our status as NewJeanss exclusive agency now legally affirmed, we are fully committed to supporting the artists going forward. We will be fully present at ComplexCon this weekend to guarantee the performance is presented under the NewJeans name. We eagerly anticipate meeting with the artists for a heartfelt conversation at the earliest opportunity. We sincerely request your ongoing support and encouragement for NewJeans as they continue to grow together with Ador. open image in gallery Formed in 2022, NewJeans fresh 90s and early aughts aesthetic and sound made them popular not just in Korea, but internationally ( Getty Images ) Formed in 2022, NewJeanss fresh 90s and early aughts aesthetic and sound made them popular not just in Korea, but internationally. Their debut single Attention catapulted them to near-instant success, and sophomore EP Get Up debuted on the Billboard 200 at No 1 in 2023, pushing out the Barbie soundtrack. In 2023, the group not only became the fastest K-pop act to reach one billion streams on Spotify but also entered the Billboard Hot 100 five times with the singles Super Shy, OMG, ETA, Ditto, and Cool With You. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jack Lilley, an esteemed actor, stuntman and animal wrangler who appeared in Little House on the Prairie and Blazing Saddles, has died. He was 91. Born on August 15, 1933 in Santa Clarita, California, Lilley began his screen career in the late 1940s and his credits ranged from long-running western series Gunsmoke to 1988s Young Guns and 2011s Cowboys & Aliens. Early in his career he worked with George Spahn as a horse wrangler at the Spahn Movie Ranch, where he encountered future cult leader Charles Manson. After getting his break as a stunt man, Lilley went on to work with the great western director John Ford on films including 1962s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. In a 2015 interview with Santa Claritas SCVTV, Lilley recalled shooting a scene in 1974s Blazing Saddles in which he pulled off a stunt involving his horse slipping on wet wood. Pardon my English, but Mel Brooks jumped up and went: Holy s***! What was that? I aint never seen nothing like that in my life, recalled Lilley. His death was announced in a lengthy post on Instagram by Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert. Gilbert wrote: The little house family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away. He was 91 years old. He also happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet. He taught me how to ride a horse when I was just a wee little thing. He was so patient with me. He never said no when I would bound up to him squealing, Can we go ride? Please, please, please? Aside from being Victor Frenchs photo double, he was featured prominently in many different roles on Little House. You can also see his absolute brilliance in the film Blazing Saddles. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. In 2002 (ish) I had the great pleasure of acting in a western pilot for ABC, produced by Chris Brancato and Bert Salke, starring my pal, Sean Patrick Flanery, called Then Came Jones. (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, in her very first role, played my daughter)It was a joy to shoot and I was so bummed when it didnt get picked up. It was all very synchronistic. Our first read though was at Paramount Studios, where we had shot Little House the first four years. It was also on Halloween, which is Michael Landons birthday. That day, I also found out we would be shooting at Big Sky Ranch, where we had shot little house. My first day on set was surreal , getting my hair and makeup done, getting dressed, laced into my corset, boots etc. Such a strange deja vu. Then I walked to the set itself and before I could even focus I heard a familiar voice holler, Hey Halfpint, you old rat-ass!!! It was Jack. He was our wrangler for that pilot and by his side was Denny Allen, who had been our wrangler on Little House. In that instant, I knew I was home. Jack always felt like home to me. He lived quite a life. I am so lucky that he was my friend. All my love and prayers go out to his family and especially Clint (Burkey) Lilley. Oh Jack....sweet prince...may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Love always, Your Halfpint. Lilley is survived by his two sons, Clint and Cash. His late wife Irene Lilley died in May 2024. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jimmy Kimmel has fired back at Elon Musk after the billionaire and senior advisor to Donald Trump branded the late night talk show host an unfunny jerk for jokes he made about Tesla. On the Wednesday (19 March) edition of his show Kimmel poked fun at Musk and Tesla as protests and arson attacks against the electric car company continue in the United States. Musk responded to the protesters by calling them deranged during a Fox News interview but Kimmel had little sympathy for the tech entrepreneur. Well, let me see if I can explain it for you: When you pull out a chainsaw to celebrate firing thousands of people, they get mad, joked Kimmel. He added: My god. I mean, this poor guy. You do one, maybe two Nazi salutes, everybody gets all bent out of shape! On his own social media platform, X, Musk responded to the clip by writing: What a jerk. A few minutes later he posted again, adding: Hes such an unfunny jerk. Following Musks retort, Kimmel used his monologue on the Thursday (20 March) edition of his show to mock the head of DOGE again. Kimmel said: Tesla is not having a good week. Today they issued a recall of nearly all 46,000 of their Cybertrucks. Thats the eighth Cybertruck recall since they came out in November of 2023. Its 15 months 8 recalls. A burned Tesla Cybertruck is parked at a Tesla lot in Seattle, Monday, March 10, 2025 ( AP ) I mentioned last night multiple Teslas were burned at a Tesla facility in Las Vegas. Authorities are now investigating which Teslas were set on fire and which set themselves on fire, Kimmel joked. And while no one should be setting anything on fire, ever, people are mad at Elon Musk for randomly and gleefully putting thousands of Americans out of work, including veterans. But the MAGA gang, which has been very against any kind of violent protest since January 7, was it? 2021? Thats when they started being against it they are highly upset. Last month, Musk waved a chainsaw around on stage at at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The display of the power tool was apparently intended as a reference to the figurative chainsaw Musk is taking to the federal government. In January, Musk had been accused of giving what appeared to be two fascist salutes during a speech praising the inauguration of Donald Trump. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Owen Cooper, the breakout child star of Adolescence, has shared a horrible behind-the-scenes detail that made filming episode three even tougher. Cooper, who is 15, is being tipped for Bafta victory for his debut acting performance as Jamie Miller, a child accused of murder, in the sleeper Netflix hit, which became the most-streamed title in both the UK and the US within its first week of release. Adolescence has received immense acclaim, with episode three in particular being highlighted as a standout. Making the episode even more impressive is the fact that this episode was the first to be shot meaning it was newcomer Coopers first time acting on screen. While the episode goes to extremely dark places, with Jamie slowly divulging his motives for killing a young girl as hes interviewed by Erin Dohertys child psychiatrist, there was one small moment that Cooper particularly struggled with. In the episode, filmed in one shot, Dohertys character brings Jamie a hot chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows, which he sips at while the pair speak. However, Cooper, who hails from Warrington, has revealed that, while the drink initially started out as the chocolatey beverage, it got changed the more takes they had to shoot and the alternative was horrible. Cooper told Netflix upon re-watching the scene: That was minging that. That was horrible. It wasnt hot chocolate cause it had to get changed. The episode sees Jamie angrily throw the drink on the floor and, according to the actor, it mas making the floor sticky for the cameraman. Doherty added: Oh yeah and I remember in one of them it spilt all over the table. I could see people in the cameras that could see into the room like quickly trying to clean it up, so by the time the camera came back in, they had to change it. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Wincing, Cooper said: It was disgusting. Owen Cooper in Adolescence episode three ( Netflix ) Despite the shows impressive one-shot filming technique, Stephen Graham, who appears in the show as Jamies father, has branded Coopers performance as the biggest achievement of Adolescence. The actor was swiftly cast in BBC series Film Club, which stars White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood, and Emerald Fennells forthcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Cooper will play Young Heathcliff in the film due for release in 2026. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has shared his two cents amid the ongoing backlash surrounding Meghan Markle and her new lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan. Sarandos, the head of the streaming service since 2020, spoke about the companys future in tandem with the stake Netflix has in the relaunch of the Duchess of Sussexs company, As Ever. Were a passive partner in Meghans company, and its a big discovery model for us right now, he told Variety. When asked what motivated him to bet on Meghan, Sarandos said: I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture. When we dropped the trailer for the Harry & Meghan doc series [in 2022], everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days, he continued. The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermes blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world. People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed. open image in gallery Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos says people underestimate Meghan Markle amid ongoing backlash against her ( Getty ) Netflix struck a $100m partnership with Harry and Meghan five years ago, producing several projects of theirs including Harry & Meghan (the docuseries), Polo and Heart of Invictus. Meghans new series is the latest project in line, and it was just renewed for a second season. The show follows Meghan as she unveils her repertoire of hosting and cooking tips inside her Montecito, California kitchen with A-list guests including The Office actor Mindy Kaling, her Suits cast mate Abigail Spencer, and two other celebrity chefs Alice Waters and Roy Choi. While the show debuted in the global top 10 on the platform, many people have since spoken out to criticise Meghan and her eponymous show. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. open image in gallery Meghans new Netflix show With Love, Meghan has received mixed reviews ( Netflix ) In Mondays episode of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Fallon mocked Meghan for a viral moment in her show when she transferred pretzels from one plastic bag to a personalized one for a guest to enjoy. While playing the Trivia Night segment, Fallons sidekick Steve Higgins asked: What is the number one question that mystifies scientists? Fallon responded: Is there life on another planet? Higgins told Fallon he was incorrect, revealing the answer, Why does Meghan Markle make her own pretzel bags? They dont know why. Thats interesting, Fallon said, laughing. She takes it from one bag and puts it in another bag, and that confuses people. The Independent gave Meghans show a one-star review, calling it queasy and exhausting. The second season of With Love, Meghan is coming in the autumn and has already finished filming, according to Netflix. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Quinta Brunson and her husband of three years, Kevin Anik, are calling it quits. The star and creator of ABCs hit comedy series Abbott Elementary filed to divorce Anik on Wednesday. In the filing in Los Angeles Superior Court, their date of separation was listed as TBD and it cited irreconcilable differences. It further states the pair have an agreement they signed after marriage on how their assets should be divided in a divorce. They have no children together, so the divorce should be relatively straightforward and keep details about the breakup private. Anik and Brunson dated for several years before marrying in October 2021, though both have been extremely private about their relationship. Brunson thanked Anik when she won an Emmy Award in 2022, which People magazine described as the first public confirmation they were married, and again when she won the Best Comedy Actress Emmy in September. Quinta Brunson, right, thanked her husband after she won an Emmy Award in 2022 ( Evan Agostini/Invision/AP ) In case I am not back up here again, I have to thank my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, my cousins... my wonderful husband because hes the most supportive man Ive ever known and my incredible cast and show for helping me to make this show and make the pilot, she said during her historic win. During the acceptance speech, Jimmy Kimmel laid down at her feet as part of a joke protesting his loss in the same category. However, the moment was read by some viewers as Kimmel stealing Brunsons moment, and he later apologized for his actions on his late-night talk show. Brunson later thanked her husband again during her 2023 Golden Globes win for Best Musical or Comedy Actress award. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. I didnt prepare anything because I just didnt think ... Oh god. I love my mom, my dad, my sisters, my brothers, my entire family so much. I love my husband. I'm so happy. I love my cast. Oh, I love Abbott Elementary. Thank you so much, she said. The filing was first reported Thursday by celebrity website TMZ. Additional reporting by The Associated Press Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russell Brands attempt to peddle a JFK conspiracy theory backfired after he shared a hoax post claiming British star Penelope Keith assassinated the president. Brand posted the fake document believing it was a part of the newly released files about the assassination, which have been classified since President John F Kennedy was shot in Dallas in 1963. Their release was ordered by President Donald Trump. Historians, journalists and amateur sleuths have been scouring the pages looking for a scrap of anything new, but Brands investigation backfired when he posted a fake file that named the assassin as Keith, 84, who played Margo Leadbetter in British sitcom The Good Life. Brand shared a screenshot of the bogus file on social media, pedalling the conspiracy theory that gunman Lee Harvey Oswald or any member of any organised crime syndicate did not kill JFK. What Brand had failed to spot, though, was the line that read: The lone shooter in Dallas Texas on 22 November 1963 was Miss Penelope Keith, star of the BBC television program The Good Life. Realising he had been duped by the fake, which had the same typeface as the words in the actual files, Brand swiftly deleted the social media post but not before his blunder caught the attention of numerous X/Twitter users. open image in gallery Russell Brand shared fake file saying Penelope Keith assassinated JFK ( X / Getty Images ) The gaffe has now gone viral, with the comedian being branded a global embarrassment while being mercilessly mocked online. BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh wrote: Russell Brand posted and then deleted a completely fake document which he thought was from the newly released JFK files and proved British actress Penelope Keith, not Lee Harvey Oswald, killed JFK. This led to a flurry of comedic tweets, with one person writing: If Russell Brand thinks Penelope Keith killed JFK then wait until he hears what Felicity Kendall did to Lord Lucan. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. open image in gallery Russell Brands attempt to share a conspiracy theory drastically backfired ( Getty Images ) Margo Leadbetter is an anagram of targeted mob real, adding further incontrovertible evidence to the picture of what happened there on the grassy knoll, another chimed in. An additional commenter posted: Russell Brand is now investigating whether Joanna Lumley assisted Penelope Keith in the JFK assassination, or whether she was just a Patsy. Penelope Keith preparing the Grassy Knoll, 22nd November 1963 pic.twitter.com/uYNFxkroGI Catherine Warr (@HiddenYorkshire) March 20, 2025 Others declared the error as one of the wittiest things to have happened on X/Twitter, with one user writing: We have finally reached peak internet, and Twitter has justified itself unto the ages. It is impossible that this will ever be surpassed. The Independent has contacted Keith for comment. Last week, it was revealed that Brand is being sued for 220,000 by publishing house Pan Macmillan after reportedly failing to write and deliver two non-fiction books. The first book was due by May 2021 and the second before the end of that year, but neither had been delivered by September 2023 when the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into a string of sexual assault allegations made against Brand. The comedian has vehemently denied the allegations and said all of his relationships have been consensual. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice North Korea test-fired its latest anti-aircraft missile system on Thursday at a launch overseen by its leader Kim Jong Un, state media KCNA reported. Mr Kim thanked the research group for the anti-aircraft missile system which the test-firing showed was highly reliable and carried an advantageous combat response, the North Korean state media reported. While KCNA did not directly mention the research groups who helped North Korea develop an anti-aircraft missile system, experts said Pyongyang might be receiving help from Russia, especially as their security ties become increasingly entwined. This was North Korea's sixth weapons testing activity this year and coincided with the annual training between the US and South Korean militaries. After the launch, the North Korean leader also said that the Korean People's Army will be equipped with another major defence weapon system with laudable combat performance. The production of the anti-missile defence system has already begun and the test was carried out by North Koreas missile administration to examine its performance. The report did not mention where the test was held but said that Mr Kim was joined by members of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Photos of the anti-missile defence system test-launch showed a plume from a missile soaring into the sky followed by a mid-air explosion likely indicating interception of a projectile. open image in gallery North Korean military test-launches a new anti-aircraft missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea ( AP ) Mr Kim was seen observing the test and smiling in the photographs shared by the KCNA. North Korea has publicly aided the Ukraine war by sending tens of thousands of its troops to fight alongside Russian troops in Kursk where Ukrainian soldiers launched a daring incursion in August last year, and also shipped heavy weapons including artillery and ballistic missiles. Russia has, in return, responded to North Koreas defence demands, says Shin Seung-ki, head of research on North Korea's military at the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. "In the past North Korea has introduced Soviet weapon systems and developed weapons based on them, and it is highly likely that Russia has given correspondingly what North Korea demands because of the strengthening of cooperation," said Mr Shin. He also pointed out that while Pyongyang manufactured and developed ballistic missiles on its own, it is far harder to produce interceptor missiles without any external help. "It's much more complicated because there's not just missiles, but a detection and tracking radar, and there's a command and control system," Mr Shin said. Russia had provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defence equipment in return for sending troops to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine, according to South Korea's national security adviser last year. Seoul and Washington have earlier voiced worries about possible Russian transfers of sensitive nuclear and missile technology to North Korea. This comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu reached North Korea on Friday and is set to meet Mr Kim, reported Russias TASS news agency. open image in gallery Russia's security council secretary, Sergei Shoigu, center left, who arrived at Pyongyang Airport being received by Party Secretary Park Chung-cheon ( AP ) While the details of the Russian officials visit to North Korea are not immediately clear, Mr Shoigus trip could be related to Mr Kim's possible trip to Russia, some observers say. Mr Shoigu, who served as Russias defence minister until last May and secretary of the Security Council since then, has earlier made visits to Pyongyang as North Korea allegedly geared up to deploy soldiers to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russian president Vladimir Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu has landed in North Korea and plans to meet its leader Kim Jong Un, the TASS news agency reported on Friday, his latest visit amid dramatic advances in security relations between the two countries. The TASS report did not provide further details and North Korea's state media did not report on Mr Shoigu's arrival. Mr Shoigu, Russias defence minister until last May and secretary of the Security Council since then, had earlier made visits to Pyongyang as North Korea allegedly geared up to deploy soldiers to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine. American and South Korean officials have claimed that North Korea has deployed nearly 11,000 troops, who were sent into combat in Russia's Kursk region, and also shipped heavy weapons including artillery and ballistic missiles. Russian forces have been fighting off a Ukrainian incursion in Kursk since last August and are reportedly close to retaking it. North Korea is believed to have received military and civilian technology as well as economic assistance from Moscow in return. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has acknowledged Pyongyang's deployment of troops and weapons in the war against Ukraine but said that they have continued to implement a strategic partnership treaty signed by Mr Putin and Mr Kim in June 2024 that includes a mutual defence pact. The pact obligates each country to come to the others aid in the event of an attack. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Contentious legal revisions giving the military an expanded role in government has sparked outrage in Indonesia and raised fears of a slide back towards the countrys authoritarian past. The Indonesian parliament on Thursday voted unanimously to amend the 2004 Armed Forces Law to allow serving military officers to hold crucial civilian positions. The amendments were pushed by the coalition government of Prabowo Subianto, a former army general and son-in-law of former dictator Suharto. The revisions raise the retirement age for four-star generals from 60 to 63 years and allow non-commissioned officers to serve until they are 55. They also give the president the authority to appoint military personnel to various ministries as needed, according to the draft. The legal revisions, pro-democracy activists and analysts say, could mark a return to Indonesias authoritarian past when Suharto ruled for 32 years. It was a period when the military played a role in both defence and governance, ensuring its dominance. In protest against the revised law, violent demonstrations erupted in the capital Jakarta as enraged citizens broke through the fence of the House of Representatives building. Police used water cannons to break up the crowds of protesters attempting to storm the building, causing injuries to many. Some of the protesters carried banners saying, Return the military to the barracks!" and "Against militarism and oligarchy. open image in gallery Indonesian activists hold placards during a protest against the revision of the military law in front of the parliament building in Jakarta ( EPA ) Activists fear that allowing the military into civilian positions will restore the "dual function" of the armed services they saw during Suhartos rule. Al Araf, director of the rights group Imparsial, said the new law was inconsistent with the spirit of the reforms that followed the end of Suhartos dictatorship in 1998 and returned the military to the barracks. "The move has the potential to restore the authoritarian system," Mr Araf said. That the amendments were discussed behind closed doors, in secrecy and with little public input, has also triggered anger. The latest draft was introduced less than a month ago, following a letter to the House from Mr Subianto endorsing the bill. open image in gallery Protesters react as Indonesian police spray water to disperse them during a demonstration against the revision to the country's military law outside the parliament building in Jakarta ( EPA ) Pro-democracy activists discovered that lawmakers and government officials met in secret to discuss draft revisions at a five-star hotel in South Jakarta on 15 March. Human rights groups warn that expanding the militarys role beyond defence will compromise its impartiality. Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the governments rush to adopt these amendments undercuts its expressed commitment to human rights and accountability. President Prabowo appears intent on restoring the Indonesian militarys role in civilian affairs, which were long characterised by widespread abuses and impunity, he said in a statement. The Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared, or KontraS, which advocates for justice for victims of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and state violence during the Suharto era, said it will open the door to power abuse, and weaken democracy. Worse, this revision is being discussed behind closed doors without public participation. Activists opposing it are facing intimidation, the group said in a statement. open image in gallery Police use water cannons on protesters in Jakarta ( EPA ) Dominique Nicky Fahrizal, a researcher at Indonesia's Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said on Thursday that the way the law was drafted could prompt backlash. "Autocratic legalism will damage the foundations of constitutional democracy because it exploits loopholes in the construction of legal thought," he said. Defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin defended the amendment, saying it was necessary because geopolitical changes and global military technology require the military to transform to face conventional and nonconventional conflicts. "We will never disappoint the Indonesian people in maintaining the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," he said. open image in gallery Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against the revision of the country's military law outside the parliament building in Jakarta ( EPA ) However, Laksmana, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the revisions did not address the problems faced by the Indonesian military such as adding resources for training and standardisation of hardware. In 1965, following a failed coup attempt, General Suharto led a violent purge, killing an estimated 500,000 to a million people, mostly accused communists and leftists. This event paved the way for his authoritarian rule, known as the New Order. During his rule, a military-backed autocracy suppressed opposition, rigged elections, and controlled the media. The military held dual function roles in defence and governance and dissent against it was met with harsh measures. Usman Hamid, head of Amnesty International in Indonesia who protested against Suharto during the New Order era, warned of the past returning. "Activists were kidnapped and some have not returned home. And today it feels like we're going backwards," he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A fire on an American Airlines plane after it diverted mid-flight and landed at Denver International Airport sent fleeing passengers to a wing amid billowing clouds of smoke. Airport officials said 12 people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. The country has seen a recent spate of aviation disasters and close calls stoking fears about air travel, though flying remains a very safe mode of transport. Recent on-the-ground incidents have 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. In this latest incident, Flight 1006 was headed from the Colorado Springs Airport to Dallas Fort Worth on Thursday, but diverted to Denver and landed safely around 5:15 p.m. after the crew reported engine vibrations, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. While taxiing to the gate, an engine on the Boeing 737-800 caught fire, the FAA added. Photos and videos posted by news outlets showed passengers standing on a planes wing as smoke surrounded the aircraft. The FAA said passengers exited using the slides. American 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. Its unusual to have vibrations, obviously, and particularly in light of what happened once on the ground, said James E. Hall, former chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Still, he said, a slew of problems could have caused vibrations 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 172 passengers and six crew members were taken to the terminal, airline officials said. After hearing midflight that something was wrong with the engine and theyd have to land, passenger Daniel Friedman said in an interview with a WRAL-TV reporter at the Denver airport that he started thinking about who he would call and in what order and writing a eulogy. Really I just wanted to make sure we got here safe and didnt know if it was going to happen or not, Friendman said. When the plane caught fire after landing, flames could be seen right outside the window and people pushed and shoved to get off the plane, Friedman said. Once emergency doors opened, people hopped onto the wing and then onto ladders to get off the plane, he said. He said he scratched his leg jumping off the wing onto a ladder. Once on the ground, Friedman wanted to call friends and family to tell them he loved them. Friedman said he has concerns that hes been hearing of so many aviation incidents lately. Hopefully this never happens to me or anybody else again because that's not a good day, he said. I dont wish that upon anybody. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have said they will investigate. 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, American Airlines said. ___ Brumfield reported from Washington. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Counter terror tactics have helped police to catch more than 100 predators accused of horrific crimes against women and girls, police have revealed. The Metropolitan Polices V100 initiative - which uses data to collate a monthly list of the suspected worst criminals targeting female victims has led to 126 people being charged with 574 offences against women and girls, including rape, grievous bodily harm and attempted murder. The scheme was announced in 2023 after the troubled force was hit by a series of scandals and a savage review by Baroness Louise Casey who found that it was institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic. The operation uses a scoring system, which calculates the severity of alleged offences by assigning points based on potential prison sentences. A suspect accused of a crime carrying a 30-day jail term would be scored a corresponding number of points. Those who rank in the top 100 each month are then proactively investigated by police. open image in gallery The Metropolitan Police ranks the capitals worst offenders each month ( PA Wire ) The Met says the method has doubled the likelihood of arrest for those deemed to pose the highest risk. Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Thursday, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who leads the initiative, said: "We look at all reports of violence against women and girls in a 365 day period. "Where an individual has been accused of more than one crime in that period - we score based on the severity of that offence. If you've been accused of a pretty serious crime, that gets you a higher score. "If you are in the top 100 every month you go into our process and we take as much action as we can." open image in gallery Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips ( PA Wire ) Since the scheme began officers have arrested 155 suspects linked to 1,246 offences, including 42 for rape, 18 for GBH, and 17 for non-fatal strangulation. Among those jailed is Adam Baillie, 39, who was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnap and sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl in Harrow last April, the force said. He must serve at least 10 years before being considered for parole. Another, Louis Collins, 30, received a life sentence with a minimum of 11 years and five months after launching a four-day spree in which he attacked eight women across London. According to the Met, his crimes included raping a woman at knifepoint in a park and attempting to rape another after following her home. In November last year Kennith Ebbah, 42, was jailed for 18 years for raping two women after he persuaded them to let him walk them home, only to rape them once inside. Convicted drug dealer Jason Phinn, 36, from Birmingham, was jailed for 13 years for the manslaughter of his mother at their home in Brixton in November 2023. Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said: "Every woman has a fundamental right to feel safe. "A hundred offenders convicted by the Met Police means 100 more dangerous men off our streets, a powerful achievement for the Met's V100 initiative. "Delivering a consistent national approach in the use of these data-driven tools to identify and pursue the most dangerous perpetrators is a core part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade." open image in gallery Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said we know there is still work to do ( PA Wire ) London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan welcomed the Met's results but warned more must be done. "I am really encouraged by this progress, but we know there is still work to do," he said. "I remain committed to doing everything I can to support the Met's action, investing in vital services that support victims and important intervention work that stops perpetrators from re-offending." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice One of Stephen Lawrences killers has finally admitted he was at the scene of the teenagers racist murder, according to the Parole Board, as he bids to be freed from prison. David Norris, 48, had always denied taking part in the infamous stabbing, which saw a gang of thugs target aspiring architect Mr Lawrence, 18, in Eltham, southeast London, in 1993. However, he has now accepted he was present at the scene and punched the victim but claims that he did not wield the knife, according to a Parole Board report. Only two of Mr Lawrences six attackers have ever faced justice after Norris was jailed for life with a minimum of 14 years along with Gary Dobson, who must serve a minimum of 15 years, in a trial that hinged on tiny traces of forensic evidence in 2012. A bungled police investigation led to the landmark MacPherson Inquiry, which concluded that the Metropolitan Polices probe into the murder was marred by institutional racism. open image in gallery David Norris was jailed in 2012 for the murder of Stephen Lawrence ( PA Media ) Norris is now set to face his first parole hearing in public on a date to be fixed after the board concluded it is in the interests of justice for the process to be held with public scrutiny. In the ruling, vice-chairman of the board, Peter Rook KC, said: After the trial, Mr Norris continued to deny the offence. Recent reports now suggest he has accepted he was present at the scene and punched the victim but claims that he did not wield the knife. He does not accept he holds racist views. The report also detailed continuing significant risks to Norriss safety in prison. He has been the victim of at least three assaults whilst in prison, Mr Rook said. On two occasions he received serious injuries. The latest was in November 2022. He was diagnosed with PTSD in November 2023, according to the report. Norriss lawyers argued against the parole hearing being held in public, saying it will increase the risk to his safety and that the inmate will not be able to give his best evidence over concerns that the media will sensationalise the proceedings. open image in gallery Stephen Lawrence was murdered in 1993 ( PA Media ) Mr Lawrences parents are said to be supportive of the public hearing. His father, Neville Lawrence, has previously said he is not satisfied with Norris getting parole, but if he can show remorse he will accept it. Mr Lawrence told the Daily Mail: He would have to say he was sorry for killing Stephen and that he had changed his ways and apologise to our family (for me to accept his release). I am not satisfied with him getting parole but what I am saying is if he can show remorse and show hes changed then I will accept that. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Police have launched a murder investigation after a man was fatally shot in Tottenham on Thursday night. Paramedics and Met Police officers were called to a home in Waverley Road at 8.45pm, where ambulance officers treated a 27-year-old man for a gunshot wound to the head, and another man, 26, for a gunshot wound to the leg. The 27-year-old shooting victim died as a result of his injuries, while the younger man remains in hospital. Tottenham Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines said the two men were shot on a residential street in the north London neighbourhood, with one man sadly losing his life. We recognise the impact this will have on the local community. We have multiple officers patrolling the area today, aiming to obtain key evidence and provide reassurance to you, the senior officer said. At this early stage in the investigation, we have not made any arrests. Please do not let this worry you. We have a highly experienced team of investigators making urgent enquiries to find out who committed this act A crime scene is in place, and anyone with information is urged to contact police by stating CAD7426/20March, or to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A mystery surrounding stained-glass window fragments anonymously returned to a historic Scottish abbey has been solved. In November 2020, a box containing 49 shards arrived at the Abbey Church, part of 950-year-old Dunfermline Abbey. The box was addressed to the fictitious Bob Brewse. The package, opened by Reverend Dr MaryAnn Rennie, held the fragments wrapped in a copy of the Fife and Kinross Extra newspaper, dated February 12, 2005. A typewritten note was also inside, sent from an anonymous person who identified themselves only as CEEPS. They explained that they had discovered the glass near scaffolding two decades prior and felt remorse for taking it. open image in gallery The anonymous note sent with the glass shards ( Church of Scotland/PA Wire ) I wrapped it up in paper to protect it but never had the chance to return it, they wrote. Unsure if was new glass going in or old coming out. I felt a bit guilty taking it and hope it will get used. Regards, CEEPS. The discovery baffled the abbeys minister and congregation, who were unable to match the fragments to any of the churchs 10 intact stained-glass windows. However, experts have now identified the origin of the mysterious pieces, saying they were originally part of the churchs Margaret Window. The window was designed by Alexander Strachan and is nearly a century old, dating from 1932. It shows the marriage of Queen Margaret and King Malcolm Canmore, which took place around 1070. Dr Rennie turned to Professor Michael Penman, Professor of History at the University of Stirling, for help in 2023, after appeals for information on social media proved fruitless. open image in gallery Experts examined the shards to determine which window they came from Professor Penman looked at old Kirk Session records dating back to the early 1980s to work out when damage was caused to stained glass windows at the Abbey Church or when repairs were made. He also enlisted the help of his friend, scientist Dr Craig Kennedy of the Institute for Sustainable Building Design at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Dr Kennedy tested the shards and fragments using the universitys electron microscopy facility and x-ray fluorescence to identify the elements present, which in turn revealed the colour of the glass and where it came from. The ingredients used to make the glass lead, potassium, arsenic and sulphur meant Dr Kennedy was able to determine that it was made between the 1870s and the 1930s. Vivienne Kelly, a PhD student supervised by Dr Kennedy and an expert stained-glass conservator who specialises in 19th and 20th century glass, was also involved. open image in gallery The box sent anonymously to Dunfermline Abbey ( Church of Scotland/PA Wire ) The Glasgow School of Art graduate focused on studying four large pieces to identify the imagery. She determined that they depicted an angels wing, the knotwork hem of a nobles robe, the hair of an angel and a thistle motif that was repeatedly used in a window design. Ms Kelly visited the Abbey Church, built in 1821 in the Fife town, and eventually worked out that the stained-glass pieces were originally part of the Margaret Window in the south transept. She could see where the glass had been replaced as the colour and texture of the material used was slightly different to the original pieces. Dr Rennie said: We are delighted that the mystery of where this glass originally came from has finally been unravelled. We still have no idea who CEEPS is and why they decided to return it to the abbey when they did, but we are grateful. open image in gallery Dumferline Abbey is 950 years old, while the Abbey Church dates to 1821 ( Church of Scotland/PA Wire ) Ms Kelly said her best guess is the Margaret Window was struck and damaged by a scaffolding pole during refurbishment work in the late 1990s. She added: But unless CEEPS comes forward, the full circumstances behind the disappearance and reappearance of the glass will remain an intriguing part of the abbeys history. Meanwhile, the name Bob Brewse is understood to be a playful reference to King Robert the Bruce, whose remains are interred in the church. The Abbey Church is facing a repair bill of about 4 million to ensure it remains wind and watertight and a further 4 million to upgrade its facilities, and has launched a fundraising appeal. The stained glass pieces will be on display at an exhibition examining the role of the church in the local community and its history, which runs at Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries from March 22 to April 6. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hotels have been accused of profiteering with rooms near Heathrow Airport costing 650 on Friday as hundreds of passengers have been left stranded by the closure of the grounding of all flights. More than scheduled 1,300 flights to and from the airport in west London could be impacted after the airport closed as a result of a substation fire on Thursday night. In a statement, a Heathrow spokesperson asked passengers not to travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport opens - however, many will have already made the journey, and will be in the area. Louis, a video producer who was due to fly to Dublin, accused nearby hotels of increasing their prices, with major chains charging more than 500 for accommodation on Friday night. For the latest on the closure of Heathrow Airport - follow our blog by clicking here open image in gallery Aircraft grounded at Heathrow Airport after the closure as a result of a substation fire ( EPA ) The 28-year-old, who only provided his first name, was forced to search for a new hotel in case Saturdays rescheduled flight was cancelled again. Theyve actually doubled, if not, in some cases, tripled the prices of the rooms based on whats going on, which is absolutely absurd. Theyre profiting off of peoples misfortunes in this. I dont know how thats allowed, he said. A search showed the cheapest room at Best Western London Heathrow Ariel Hotel was a executive double room priced at 650 for one night on Friday - the same room is 72.25 next week, 28 March. open image in gallery The price of rooms at Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 on Friday night with the airport closed ( ihg.com ) At Holiday Inn London - Heathrow Bath Road, the cheapest rooms - a queen standard, single standard and standard - were all priced at 541 on Friday. A week later, the rooms cost 87. The chains Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T4 is sold out. At Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, a twin guest room cost 380 on Friday. A week later it is 97. And at Marriotts Sheraton Skyline Hotel at London Heathrow, a deluxe guest room cost 379 on Friday night. The same room is 101 a week later. Marriotts Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel, London Heathrow Marriott Hotel, and Sheraton Heathrow Hotel are all sold out. open image in gallery Prices for the same rooms at Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 a week later on 28 March ( ihg.com ) The cost of hotels has been highlighted on social media. One person wrote on X: Ah here we go, hotels around Heathrow jump on the rip off bandwagon!... Typical rip off Britain and they should hang their heads in shame. Tahir Liaqat wrote: Insane hotel prices per night after Heathrow shutdown... hope travellers have deep pockets. Another person wrote: No empathy from the heathrow hotels!. The Independent has contacted Best Western, IHG which runs Holiday Inn, Hilton and Marriott for comment. open image in gallery Rajih Alshibli and Michele were among those stranded at Heathrow Airport after their flight to Bahrain was cancelled (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Heathrow Airport, the UKs busiest airport, was closed after the fire broke out at North Hyde substation in Hayes at 11.23pm on Thursday night. The substation is about a mile and a half away from the airport. Although London Fire Brigade said the fie was under control at 6.28am, Heathrow announced that the airport will be closed for flights until midnight on Friday. The issue will not only impact those planning to depart from Heathrow today with more than 100 aircraft in the air when the closure was announced. Some flights have been diverted to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and Shannon Airport in Ireland. The use of hotels, refunds and re-bookings will cost the aviation industry millions of pounds, consultant John Strickland told PA. It will run into millions. You cant quantify it yet, he said. Heathrow has normally about 200,000 passengers a day, so its a massive impact in lost revenues and disruption costs, primarily for the airlines (because of) all the follow-on costs involved in putting people in hotels, refunds, re-bookings etc. Hillingdon Council said on Friday it was assisting 12 people with hotel accommodation until it is safe to return home. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ministers have ordered an urgent probe into the substation fire which forced Heathrow airport to close for 15 hours on Friday as experts claimed the remarkable meltdown had embarrassed Britain on the global stage. The travel plans of up to 300,000 passengers were cast into disarray on Friday after the blaze at a single west London substation grounded more than 1,300 flights between Europes busiest airport and locations across the globe. While the airport declared itself fully operational once again on Saturday with hundreds of extra airport staff rallied to facilitate an additional 10,000 passengers travelling through Heathrow more than 100 flights were cancelled, including those travelling to New York and arriving from Dubai. Heathrow would typically expect to facilitate 600 flights on Saturday. open image in gallery Passenger aircraft operated by British Airways on the tarmac at London Heathrow airport on 21 March ( Getty Images ) After counter-terrorism officers were initially called in to lead the investigation into the fire, police confirmed on Saturday that the blaze was believed to be non-suspicious and said the London Fire Brigade would instead lead a probe focusing on electrical distribution equipment. Criticism of the situation has since intensified, with Labour peer Toby Harris who leads the National Preparedness Commission, which campaigns to improve resilience saying: Its a huge embarrassment for the country that a fire in one electricity substation can have such a devastating effect. Jason Bona, owner of supply chain firm PS Forwarding, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme the incident made Heathrow a laughing stock in the global freight community. It is a clear planning failure by the airport, said Willie Walsh, a former British Airways chief who now leads the global airline body IATA and has long been a fierce critic of Heathrow. Vowing that the government is determined to do everything it can to prevent a repeat of what happened at Heathrow, energy secretary Ed Miliband said on Saturday evening he had ordered the grid operator to urgently investigate the outage. open image in gallery A view of the North Hyde electrical substation on Saturday, after the fire was extinguished ( Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire ) In conjunction with regulator Ofgem, Mr Miliband commissioned the National Energy System Operator (Neso) to carry out the independent probe to properly understand what happened and what lessons need to be learned regarding energy resilience for critical national infrastructure, both now and in the future. Neso is expected to report to Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with its initial findings within six weeks. Welcoming the investigation, Heathrows chief executive Thomas Woldbye vowed to support every effort to understand the causes and impacts of the fire and said his staff were committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a thorough investigation to help strengthen the airports future resilience. Heathrow chair Lord Paul Deighton further confirmed on Saturday evening that former transport secretary Ruth Kelly, who is an independent member of the airports board, will undertake a review of the airports crisis management plans. The London Fire Brigade warned its own investigation to establish the exact cause of the fire at the Hayes high-voltage substation could take weeks. Deputy commissioner Jonathan Smith said: The fire involved a transformer comprising 25,000 litres of its cooling oil fully alight. This created a major hazard owing to the still live high voltage equipment and the nature of an oil-fuelled fire. open image in gallery The travel plans of up to 300,000 passengers were cast into disarray on Friday following the fire ( PA ) After the fire in Hayes knocked out both the substation and its backup, Heathrow was left with only two remaining grid supply points to fall back on. While these two supply points are capable of powering the airport, Mr Woldbye said this was only after a complex process that involved reallocating supplies and resetting systems across the airport, which took most of Friday to complete. Firefighters will maintain a small presence at Hayes in the coming days to ensure any remaining hotspots within the electrical equipment are fully extinguished. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: Heathrow is a massive airport that uses the energy of a small city, so its imperative we identify how this power failure happened and learn from this to ensure a vital piece of national infrastructure remains strong. Whilst Heathrow is back to business, some disruption is expected over coming days as things get back to normal so I encourage anyone travelling to check with their airlines and plan their journeys. open image in gallery The Heathrow Express service will also be running a reduced service on Sunday ( Getty Images ) In a double blow for travellers, that disruption will also extend to rail travel to and from the airport. The Heathrow Express announced it will be out of action for upgrade work on Sunday morning. A Heathrow Express spokesperson said: A gentle reminder: Due to planned railway upgrade work, Heathrow Express will be running a reduced service on Sunday, 23 March, with no service before 9.12am. With British Airways whose main hub is Heathrow saying it expected around 85 per cent of its schedule to proceed on Saturday, chief executive Sean Doyle warned of a huge impact on all of our customers flying with us over the coming days. However, Virgin Atlantic said it was planning to run a near-full schedule on Saturday with limited cancellations. Air India said it had restarted flights to and from Heathrow and expected to operate as per schedule. As some passengers described nightmarish bids to reach their intended destinations on Saturday, others praised Heathrow and their airlines handling of the situation. open image in gallery Passengers queue at a check-in desk at Heathrow Terminal 2 in London ( Maja Smiejkowska/PA ) Holidaymaker Tim Kolb, who travelled from Dallas, Texas, said: I thought I was going to be there delayed two days, but I went over yesterday. It was organised well. In fact, they had several planes leaving within an hour of each other to Heathrow. Mr Woldbye apologised to stranded passengers and defended the airports response to the situation, saying the incident was as as big as it gets for our airport and that we cannot guard ourselves 100 per cent. Aviation experts said the last time European airports had experienced disruption on such a large scale was the 2010 Icelandic volcanic ash cloud that grounded some 100,000 flights. Heathrow and Londons other major airports have also been hit by other major outages in recent years, most recently by an automated gate failure and an air traffic system meltdown, both in 2023. With the travel industry facing the prospect of a financial hit costing tens of millions of pounds and a likely fight over who should foot the bill, Mr Woldbye responded to questions about who would pay for the disruption on Friday. There were procedures in place, he said. [But] We dont have liabilities in place for incidents like this. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Heathrow airport has been shut until at least midnight on Friday after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a significant power outage, leading to chaos at one of the worlds busiest airports. The airport is experiencing a "significant power outage" because of a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, a statement from Heathrow said on Friday and advised passengers to not travel to the airport for the day. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March," it added. A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. Follow live updates on the situation here "We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens," the statement added. The fire at an electrical substation in Hayes in west London caused power outages for thousands of homes with nearly 150 people being evacuated from the area. open image in gallery Heathrow is UK's busiest airport ( REUTERS ) More than 16,000 homes were without power as the London fire brigade said it was trying to control the fire with 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters. "The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption," London Fire Brigade's assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said. "Firefighters have led 29 people to safety from neighbouring properties, and as a precaution, a 200m cordon has been established, with around 150 people evacuated." The closure has thrown travel plans for hundreds of thousands of passengers into chaos, with many flights to the airport already diverting. According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, Qantas Airways sent its flight from Perth to Paris and a United Airlines New York flight heading to Shannon, Ireland. open image in gallery Flight bound to Heathrow are being diverted ( REUTERS ) FightRadar24 said at least 120 fights which were bound for Heathrow will have to be diverted to other airports due to the closure. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said the large-scale power cut in the area has affected 16,300 homes. "We're aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas," it added. The cause of the fire was yet to be determined. Emergency services responded to the scene 11.23pm on Thursday. Mr Goulbourne said it would be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible. Londons Heathrow Airport (LHR) is one of the busiest airports in the world as it handles more than 1,400 flights and 200,000 passengers in a day. It is the UKs largest airport, connecting over 200 destinations across more than 85 countries. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An asylum seeker has been allowed to remain in Britain after a judge confused the country he fled from, Iraq, with Iran. Judge Helena Suffield-Thompson's assessment, which was based on guidelines relevant to the incorrect Middle Eastern state, meant the mans appeal was successful. The man, whose identity was withheld in the published decision, was claiming asylum because he said he made anti-government comments on social media and was therefore at risk of prosecution if he returned to Iraq. Judge Suffield-Thompson, who was sitting in the lower tier of the immigration and asylum tribunal, evaluated the mans potential risk of prosecution before handing down a ruling based on guidance relating to the wrong country. The judge ruled based on the laws of Iran, which she noted has a sophisticated capability to monitor the social media of political opponents. Iraq, on the other hand, does not carry out such surveillance. A new tribunal has found that Judge Suffield-Thompson erred in law. This means the mans asylum case will be heard again with a new tribunal hearing. open image in gallery Tehran in Iran, the country the judge had confused with the mans real country of origin ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) The 27 July 2022 hearing before Judge Suffield-Thompson came after the mans previous asylum appeal was dismissed on 6 January 2019, prompting him to make a further submission. The Iraqi man claimed that he was at risk from the Kurdish leadership as he had exposed their corrupt practices and behaviour. He also claimed that he campaigned against the Kurdish leadership in the UK, which meant he would be at risk of persecution on return as a result. The home secretary's lawyers, however, filed an appeal after the ruling permitting him to remain, claiming that the appeal judge had "materially erred by relying on the factual findings of country guidance decisions that did not relate to the country situation in Iraq and instead either related to Turkey or Iran." It was "clear on both case law and objective background information that the Iraqi authorities have developed various sophisticated means to keep check on the activities of demonstrators, Facebook users, and bloggers abroad," according to Judge Suffield-Thompson's ruling, the appeal tribunal noted. She continued that "a biometric system which I find will be readily available to identify the [asylum seeker] on return" was in place in Iraq. These statements are true in Iran, rather than Iraq. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pensioners and the wealthy could face a shock tax raid by Rachel Reeves at the autumn Budget if the worsening economic forecast fails to improve, leading economists have warned. Paul Johnson, the director of the highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank, raised concerns in his post-spring-statement briefing that the chancellor had not left herself enough headroom in the public finances to withstand challenges to the economy. In particular, the threat of Donald Trump imposing wide-ranging trade tariffs on top of the 25 per cent he announced on car imports on Thursday has raised the possibility that Ms Reeves could be left with a black hole. It comes as the latest Techne UK tracker poll for The Independent revealed that Labour had lost two points in support in the immediate aftermath of Ms Reeves slashing benefits by 5bn in her spring statement. open image in gallery The chancellor has left herself exposed to minor forecast changes, says the director of the IFS ( PA Wire ) Mr Johnson warned that the chancellor had left herself exposed to minor forecast changes and that there was a good chance she would need to raise taxes in October. That risks months of speculation over what those tax rises might be a raid on pensions, a wealth tax on the richest, another hike to capital gains tax? Mr Johnson said he was concerned that pensions look like a juicy place to go for a lot of money. He also warned that mere speculation about increases can cause economic harm. The economists suggestion of a wealth tax would help Ms Reeves to appease rising anger among Labour MPs and trade unions over the 4.8bn in welfare cuts she announced in her statement, amid warnings that her measures will leave the poorest 500 worse off instead of putting an extra 500 in peoples pockets. Such was the political anger over the impact of benefit cuts and the loss of money for carers that work and pensions minister Stephen Timms was forced to answer an urgent question in the Commons on the matter on Thursday. The Techne weekly tracker poll underlined public anger, with Labour dropping from 27 per cent last week to 25 per cent. The survey of 1,642 people was carried out immediately after Ms Reevess spring statement. Reform meanwhile climbed up a point to 24 per cent, while the Tories, who also want benefit cuts, remained unchanged on 23 per cent. Technes chief executive Michela Morizzo said: The chancellor had more difficult news for those people in the country receiving certain types of benefit, as the budget for welfare support was further squeezed. Our regular tracker poll, perhaps not unexpectedly, reflects the concerns of electors, with Labour falling a significant two points. Meanwhile, MPs on the left of the Labour Party have joined with the unions in calling for a specific wealth tax to balance the books, rather than the burden being placed on the backs of the poorest in society. But speaking at a press conference in Paris, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer resisted the suggestion of future taxes, though he did not rule them out completely. Sir Keir said: We havent raised tax in the spring statement, and I think in every press conference I did before yesterday, the challenge to me was Youre going to have to raise taxes in the spring statement, arent you? and I said, Wait for the spring statement. We got the spring statement, and we havent. He pointed out that Labour had promised during the election campaign not to raise income tax, VAT or employee national insurance contributions, and had so far not done so. We have kept good to those promises, he said. Obviously I am not going to write future Budgets every prime minister and chancellor has taken that position but if you look at the fact that we havent raised taxes, that indicates the mindset we bring to this. The warning over a potential tax raid came as Mr Trump announced he was imposing 25 per cent tariffs on cars imported into the US, with the threat of more tariffs yet to come. The Office for Budget Responsibility has already warned that US tariffs could wipe out the 10bn headroom Ms Reeves left herself in the spring statement. And with doubts growing over Ms Reevess plans, former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke also suggested that the chancellor would have to raise either income tax or VAT in October. He told Times Radio he would have increased VAT on Wednesday, adding: I think shes got to go for value added tax, or some levels of income tax, in the autumn probably VAT. The IFS also warned that new official data showed a dramatic decline in living standards over the past year. open image in gallery Prime minister Keir Starmer addresses a press conference at the British Residence in Paris ( PA ) In the 12 months to March last year, real average household income fell by 2 per cent, the think tank said, which indicated that there had been no growth in incomes since 2016. Ms Reeves denied there would be further tax rises or spending cuts at the Budget in the autumn, but stopped short of ruling them out entirely. Asked if she would have to return with more cuts or tax rises, she said: No. But pressed on whether she could rule out such measures, she replied: What Im saying is that there are loads of things that this government are doing that are contributing to growth. Meanwhile, the backlash was growing against Ms Reevess decision to slash welfare, as she disputed the findings of the governments own impact assessment, which said it would put 250,000 more people into poverty including 50,000 children. Think tank the Resolution Foundation claimed: The combination of a weak economic outlook and benefit cuts that fall disproportionately on lower-income families means that living standards are on track to fall over the next five years for the poorest half of households by 500 on average, according to the Resolution Foundations overnight analysis of [the] spring statement 2025. However, Ms Reeves told Sky News: I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work. And we know that if you move from welfare into work, you are much less likely to be in poverty. That is our ambition, making people better off, not making people worse off, and also the welfare state will always be there for people who genuinely need it. Separate figures published on Thursday showed a new record high in the number of children living in poverty in the UK. Data published by the Department for Work and Pensions showed that 4.45 million children were estimated to be living in households with relative low income, after housing costs, in the year to March 2024 up from 4.33 million the previous year, and the highest figure since comparable records for the UK began in 2002/03. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Suspended Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said Nigel Farage must never become prime minister after the party leader allegedly called his behaviour disgusting and contemptible in leaked private messages. Mr Farage accused Mr Lowe of damaging the party just before elections in a WhatsApp conversation with a member of the Great Yarmouth MPs staff, the BBC reported. It comes as new polling suggests the fallout from the Great Yarmouth MPs ousting is now hurting Reform. The weekly Techne UK tracker poll revealing the Tories level with Reform on 23 per cent each for the first time in two months. The messages were sent after Mr Lowe, who was suspended from the party amid allegations he made threats of violence to its chairman Zia Yusuf, had criticised Mr Farage in a Daily Mail interview, according to the broadcaster. In his latest attack on Reform, Mr Lowe said: These messages unquestionably prove that the Reform leadership has zero integrity. He added: I will not work with the rotten and deceitful Reform leadership Nigel Farage must never be prime minister. The staff member, who is not currently a party member, had asked Mr Farage why Reform had not allowed a lawyer to complete an investigation into allegations about the MPs conduct before removing the whip. open image in gallery Nigel Farager (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire ) Mr Farage said: Because he is damaging the party just before elections. Disgusting. When it was suggested the investigation was a response to his criticism of the leadership, the party leader and Clacton MP replied: We are definitely damaged and within two weeks of nominations. Awful. In another message he said the Great Yarmouth MP was contemptible and elsewhere described the Mail interview in which Mr Lowe called Reform a protest party led by the Messiah as a side issue. Reforms former deputy leader, Ben Habib, claimed the party is imploding under Nigel Farages leadership. Mr Habib said: The polls may not be registering this but the party is imploding under Nigel Farage and [chairman] Zia Yusuf. open image in gallery Rupert Lowe lost the whip amid allegations about his conduct, which he denies (Jordan Pettitt/PA ( PA Wire ) With Mr Farage in the US this week, the row he has left behind in the UK is beginning to hurt them in the polls. According to Techne UKs weekly tracker poll for The Independent, Reform is down 1 point for the second week in a row while the Tories are up 1 for the second week running. It means that the two parties are level pegging for the first time since 24 January in a boost for the beleaguered Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. Importantly for the Tories, they have closed the gap with Reform among voters aged over 45 while Labour now enjoys a four point lead over both on 27 per cent. The Lib Dems remain on 14 per cent and Greens 7 per cent. Technes chief executive Michela Morizzo said: Recognising some of the recent internal turmoil of Reform UK, Nigel Farages party drops one point of national vote share. By comparison the week Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives announce their policy renewal programme they climb one point drawing back level with Reform UK. open image in gallery Ben Habib says Reform is imploding ( PA ) Geo political problems of course dominate at this time and Sir Keir Starmer party enjoys still high visibility. Among the dark and light blue parties however, it is still difficult to say how the situation will evolve in the coming weeks. There are more problems for Reform, who have seen a constituency chairs and other officers nationwide quit after Mr Lowes suspension. This includes activists in the Isle of Wight constituency, who resigned as branch officers in protest on Thursday. In a message on X, outgoing Isle of Wight chair Sarah Morris said: One of the fundamental reasons I got involved in the first place was to take back control of our lives from politicians and unelected bureaucrats. Letting the majority decide, not the minority. I stayed loyal for too long, and should have seen the signs. She added: I feel like Reform has been stolen from me, by Nigel and Zia. The Reform movement is ours, not theirs to sell off and play with as and when they want. I also feel the vetting process is neither efficient nor transparent. Who is really deciding who is acceptable, and who isnt, and using what criteria? At branch level, we are volunteering our precious time and utilising the extremely kind financial donations from supporters. Yet, Zia stands there and takes all the credit for the branch formations whilst setting aside the very people who actually did all the work! Reform have declined to comment about the texts. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sudans military announced Friday that it had retaken Khartoums Republican Palace, a symbolic victory in the nearly two-year conflict against its rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Social media videos corroborated the claim, showing soldiers inside the palace, confirming the date as Friday, the 21st day of Ramadan. One video featured a Sudanese military officer, identifiable by his captains epaulettes, announcing from within the compound that the palace had been secured. The footage revealed the extent of the damage, with soldiers walking over broken tiles and debris. Troops armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers chanted God is the greatest! as they moved through the ruined building. Sudans Information minister, Khaled al-Aiser, confirmed the militarys success on X, saying: Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete. The Republican Palace, sitting on the River Nile, served as the seat of government before the war began and is a prominent national symbol, featured on Sudanese currency and stamps. Its recapture represents a significant strategic and symbolic win for the Sudanese military, led by General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, which has made consistent gains in recent months. open image in gallery The Republican Palace in Khartoum is a prominent national symbol, so retaking it has great significance It means the rival Rapid Support Forces, under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have been mostly expelled from the capital of Khartoum since Sudans war began in April 2023. Sporadic gunfire could be heard throughout the capital on Friday, though it was not clear if it involved fighting or was celebratory. The group did not immediately acknowledge the loss, which likely will not stop the fighting as the RSF and its allies still hold territory elsewhere in Sudan. Late Thursday, the RSF claimed it seized control of the Sudanese city of Al-Maliha, a strategic desert city in northern Darfur near the borders of Chad and Libya. Sudans military has acknowledged fighting around Al-Maliha, but has not said it lost the city. Al-Maliha is around 125 miles north of the city of Al Fashir, which remains held by the Sudanese military despite near daily strikes by the surrounding RSF. The head of the UN childrens agency has said the conflict created the worlds largest and humanitarian crisis. The war has killed more than 28,000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine sweeps parts of the country. Some estimates suggest a far higher death toll. The Republican Palace had been the seat of power during the British colonisation of Sudan. It also saw some of the first independent Sudanese flags raised over the country in 1956. It also had been the main office of Sudans president and other top officials. The Sudanese military have long targeted the palace and its grounds, shelling and firing on the compound. Sudan has faced years of chaos and war Sudan, a nation in northeastern Africa, has been unstable since a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocratic president Omar al-Bashir in 2019. A short-lived transition to democracy was derailed when Burhan and Dagalo led a military coup in 2021. The RSF and Sudans military then began fighting each other in 2023. Burhans forces, including Sudans military and allied militias, have advanced against the RSF since the start of this year. They retook a key refinery north of Khartoum. They then pushed in on RSF positions around the capital itself. The fighting has led to an increase in civilian casualties. Al-Bashir faces charges at the International Criminal Court over carrying out a genocidal campaign in the early 2000s in the western Darfur region with the Janjaweed, the precursor to the RSF. Rights groups and the UN accuse the RSF and allied Arab militias of again attacking ethnic African groups in this war. Since the war began, both the Sudanese military and the RSF have faced allegations of human rights abuses. Before Joe Biden left office, the State Department declared the RSF is committing genocide. The military and the RSF have denied committing abuses. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A jury has convicted two men of plotting to assassinate Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad at her home in New York City in a murder-for-hire scheme that prosecutors said was financed by the Iranian government. The verdict was returned at a federal court in New York on Thursday, ending a two-week trial that featured dramatic testimony from a hired gunman and Alinejad, an author, activist and contributor to Voice of America. Prosecutors said the convicted men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, were crime bosses in the Russian mob. Their lawyers argued that they were innocent and trial evidence was flawed. Prosecutors said Alinejad, 48, was targeted by Iran for her online campaigns encouraging women there to record videos of themselves exposing their hair in violation of edicts requiring they cover it in public. Iran offered $500,000 for a July 2022 killing of Alinejad after efforts to harass, smear and intimidate Alinejad failed, prosecutors said. Iran continues to be looked at as a source of assassination plots in the United States, including against President Donald Trump when he was campaigning last year. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump's youngest son turned 19 on Thursday, with sources describing Barron Trump as an "old soul" with "old world manners" despite his young age, according to People magazine. Barron is the only child of the president and First Lady Melania Trump, and he mostly remained out of the spotlight before his May high school graduation. Since then, he has made his presence felt by appearing at Trump rallies, including one on Inauguration Day, where he basked in the crowd's applause. Now, more of his personality is being revealed as one source told People Magazine that Barron is "an old soul who is smart, well-spoken and well-read." "He has lived through experiences others his age haven't," the person added, pointing to the European influence of his Slovenian mother and maternal grandparents. "He is well-grounded, he has seen a lot, and he knows who he is." open image in gallery Barron Trump attends inauguration ceremonies in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20. Thursday marked his 19th birthday ( Getty Images ) Another source from Palm Beach, Florida, told the magazine that Barron "has more characteristics of a European than an American." He isnt as aggressive as many of his age when they are in their own social circles. He is someone who listens before talking, and is super polite," they added. But the New York University freshman has also elements of his fathers personality that he deploys for "schmoozing" and "small talk, the first source told the magazine. An individual from the political world added that Barron may someday go into politics, but noted that for the time being, hes anxious to form his own companies and make money. He shares that enthusiasm with his father, which comes as no surprise," that source told the magazine. "Barron, in my opinion, knows what he wants. open image in gallery While initially out of the spotlight, Baron. since graduating high school has been more involved with his father and making appearances at rallies ( Getty Images ) Barron went to his first Trump rally in July last year. Youre pretty popular, he might be more popular than Don and Eric," the president said at the time. "So Barron, its good to have you. [He's] had such a nice, easy life. Now, its a little bit changed. Barron, who has a Security Service detail, mostly keeps to himself at school, where he attends the Stern School of Business, according to the magazine. Barron is focused on his studies and doesnt seem terribly out of place, yet another source told People. He seems to have a button-down collar mentality when hes in the public eye." The magazine cites a political source in Miami, who told the magazine that Once he goes out in the world and makes his own mark, people will have a better idea of who he really is. At the moment, his parents have a big influence on him, they added. Melania Trump revealed in an interview with Fox News in September last year that it was Barrons idea to attend college in New York and remain living in the family penthouse. It was his decision to come here, that he wants to be in New York and study in New York and live in his home, and I respect that, she told the network. I'm very proud of what he grew up to. His strength. His intelligence. His knowledge, his kindness. It's admirable. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The election was decided more than four months ago and the next one is years away, but Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was in full campaign mode when she took to the stage in Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon. Are you ready to fight? Are you ready to win? she shouted to a capacity crowd of more than 3,000 people. Were gonna take our country back. Ocasio-Cortez traveled across the country to join her political mentor Bernie Sanders on a Fighting Oligarchy tour that will hit several states this week. Hours after the Vegas rally they headed to Arizona, where they filled a 15,000 seat arena. They will head on to Colorado in the next few days, where they will hold rallies and hold town meetings with working people, Sanders announced this week. We are here together because an extreme concentration of power and corruption is taking over this country like never before, the New York congresswoman told the crowd, before taking aim at Elon Musk and his efforts to cut government spending. Sanders has been drawing thousands to his rallies on this tour, which has taken him from Kenosha, Wisconsin to suburban Detroit and out to Nebraska. In hitting the road and talking to voters while Democrats in Washington are soul searching, he has taken on the leadership of the anti-Trump resistance, such as it is, the second time around. Now, he has a partner. open image in gallery New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. greets Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, as he arrives to speak during a Fighting Oligarchy tour event at Arizona State University in Tempe on Thursday ( AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin ) It is not unusual for the progressive pair to hold events together, but coming at a time of deep crisis for the Democratic Party, when its leadership is facing growing anger over its inability to oppose Donald Trumps agenda, and when calls for a new direction are becoming harder to ignore, their message feels pointed. It comes just a week after the partys ostensible leader, 74-year-old Chuck Schumer, helped Republicans pass a spending bill that almost all Democrats opposed, allowing sweeping cuts expanding Trumps power to control government funding. Ocasio-Cortez came out as one of Schumers strongest critics, calling his move a tremendous mistake. Democratic voters from moderates to young voters to progressives were already frustrated at an apparent lack of action in response to Trumps brazen first months in office. Schumer's decision added to the outrage. Democratic lawmakers faced down angry constituents at town halls across the country. In Las Vegas on Thursday, a man in the crowd summed up the mood not long into AOCs speech when he shouted: Primary Chuck! The devastating election loss and the partys failure to find its footing since have sent it into a spin that it has struggled to control. Its approval rating hit an all-time low this week in a national NBC News poll , with just over a quarter of registered voters (27 per cent) saying they have positive views of the party. Meanwhile, the same poll found that Democratic voters appetite for compromise is vanishing. In 2017, 59 per cent of Democrats said they wanted congressional Democrats to work with Trump to gain consensus on legislation, with 33 per cent saying they should stick to their positions even if it meant stalling things in Washington. That sentiment is now reversed. Some 65 per cent of Democrats say they want Democrats in Congress to stick to their positions, and just 32 per cent want them to make compromises with Trump, according to NBC. In other words, Democrats are eager for someone to take the fight to Trump. open image in gallery A revved-up New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrives to speak during a 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour event at Arizona State University in Tempe on Thursday ( AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin ) That may explain another poll of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents that found Ocasio-Cortez narrowly leading on the question of which political leader best reflects the core values of the Democratic Party. Ten percent said Ocasio-Cortez, 9 percent said former Vice President Kamala Harris, eight percent said Sanders. There is a parallel here to another political moment if not in policy, then in fervor. The Republican Tea Party movement that came to life following the election of Barack Obama was fueled by anger from the partys base. It was grassroots and decentralized. It came to be known for its extreme methods to oppose Obamas policies a lesson many Democrats would clearly like to draw from today and it created a blueprint for how the Republicans could harness anger among its base into electoral success. Years later, that energy would shift into the MAGA movement , and to the White House. Could these two insurgents of the left be on the verge of their own takeover? Its a curiosity of the Democratic Party that it only elevates leaders who are too old to be president. Eighty-three-year-old Sanders, who started this tour on his own before Ocasio-Cortez joined him, may have missed out on his shot, but he seems more relevant now than he has in years. The next election will be the first time 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez will be eligible to run herself. She would certainly be a longshot candidate, but her name is increasingly in the conversation, and she is currently front and center in articulating the anger many in her party feel about Trumps presidency. We need a Democratic party that fights harder for us, she said at the rally, as the crowd looked back to her. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The U.S. will limit Canadian access to the library on the border between Vermont and Quebe, where Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made a jibe about Canada becoming the 51st state. Almost two months after Noems comments at the Haskell Free Library & Opera House, which straddles the border of Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, the U.S. government has made the unilateral decision to stop allowing Canadians to enter the building from the U.S. side without going through customs, according to library and Stanstead officials, the Boston Globe reported. The president of the librarys board of trustees, Sylvie Boudreau, called the decision really sad when speaking to the Globe. But were going to rise above all this, Boudreau, who lives in Canada, added. She told the paper that she was asked to attend a meeting on Tuesday outside the library by a U.S. Border Patrol official who told her that from Monday, only library members and staff would be allowed to enter the building directly from the Canadian side. The official told Boudreau that as of October 1, nobody would be allowed to pass without going through customs. open image in gallery From October, nobody will be allowed to enter the library from the Canadian side without first going through customs ( AFP via Getty Images ) I am disappointed by the change in U.S.-Canada relations, something that locals on both sides of the border have been used to, Stanstead Mayor Jody Stone told the Globe. This comes after Noem visited the library on January 30. The secretary stopped at the library after visiting Vermonts Northeast Kingdom following a deadly shooting of a Border Patrol agent in the area. Two witnesses told the Globe that Noem stepped across a piece of electrical tape marking the border inside the building and made a comment about Canada becoming the 51st state, as often stated by President Donald Trump. Library Executive Director Deborah Bishop said, She stood on the American side and said, USA No. 1. Then she crossed the line and said, The 51st state. She did it at least three times and was very clear in saying, USA No. 1, and didnt even say Canada. Just, The 51st state, she added. open image in gallery Kristi Noem repeated Trumps 51st State jibe when visiting the library, and didnt even use the word Canada, according to a report. ( U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ) The incident enraged officials at the library, many of whom are Canadian. Boudreau told the paper that during Noems visit, U.S. border officials briefed the secretary on what the library president said was an exaggerated version of security problems connected to the building. Federal prosecutors have stated that in 2011, smugglers used the bathrooms in the building to get firearms from the U.S. to Canada. Some people prohibited from crossing the border have used the library to reconnect with family for short periods of time, however, that practice is now banned. The afternoon spent at the US/Canadian border reaffirmed President Trump and my commitment to secure ALL of our border, Noem wrote on social media following her visit. I was expecting this, Boudreau told the Globe Thursday. It was just a matter of time. Were going to try to open a door on the Canadian side, so people who are in Canada will be able to enter, said Boudreau, even as she noted that the plan may be difficult to enact. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice While Elon Musk is the face and public figure leading DOGE, its de-facto leader is actually the man who has been the tech moguls right-hand man for decades, according to a report. Steve Davis, a 45-year-old engineer, has taken the lead in several of DOGEs controversial cost-cutting moves, according to The New York Times. Last month, Musk baselessly claimed that the government had sent out $100 billion to people with no Social Security number. Two days later, Davis started pushing the Social Security Administration for information, according to the report. Davis called agency leadership to demand that they give a young DOGE engineer access to databases with sensitive information. Davis also did the cost-cutting groundwork during the presidential transition, including attacking diversity efforts, meeting with legislators and helping to send the fork in the road email to all government workers telling them to resign. Two people told theTimes that Davis has more influence than acting DOGE administrator Amy Gleason, who reportedly has been unaware of some of his decisions. Davis has been at Musks side for over two decades at his various companies, such as SpaceX and X. Twenty-two friends, former co-workers and government officials told the Times that Davis fully believes that Musk will progress humanity. Two former co-workers said Davis is the perfect staffer for Musk, someone who will take on any issue, regardless of his knowledge of the subject at hand. Musk has previously lauded Daviss ability to get rid of waste, comparing him to cancer-treating chemotherapy. A little chemo can save your life; a lot of chemo could kill you, Musk said at a transition meeting before Trump entered office for the second time. open image in gallery Steve Davis, left, poses for a picture alongside Rep. Aaron Bean and Elon Musk. Davis serves as the day-to-day leader of DOGE, according to a report ( Rep. Aaron Bean / X ) Musk and Davis have enjoyed a cost-cutting partnership long before they took aim at the federal government. Davis past projects include developing ways to design rockets on the cheap at SpaceX. He was also in charge of layoffs following Musks purchase of Twitter, now X. Davis started working for Musk in 2003, becoming the 14th staffer at SpaceX after Musk managed to coax him out of his Stanford aeronautics graduate program. Musk subsequently appointed Davis to run the Boring Company, a start-up working to build tunnels under urban areas to battle congestion. In general, there is almost zero R&D in tunnels in America, Davis said at the time. So trying new things is actually helpful for us. Their relationship hasnt always been smooth, however. Musk, apparently frustrated that the Boring Company only opened a tunnel in Las Vegas in 2021 but faced issues elsewhere, berated Davis and threaten to fire him, three co-workers of Davis toldTimes. Davis character has also changed throughout his time with Musk, according to Adam Green, who befriended him 10 years ago. Davis was a fun outside-the-box thinker who is now a blind servant to Musk, Green, told the Times I once took refuge from my political day job by attending laugh-filled game nights at the home of a person now firing tens of thousands of federal workers, Green wrote for Rolling Stone. For Steve Davis life has always been a game. A puzzle to be solved regardless of a larger vision or set of values. Steve would shun political talk, saying, I know nothing about politics. added Green. Following Musks purchase of Twitter in 2022, Davis at times stayed with his partner and baby at the San Francisco office. Davis was also named in a lawsuit, after he reportedly said the company didnt need a permit to construct a personal bathroom for Musk at the office. We dont have to follow the rules, Davis said, according to a 2023 lawsuit, the Times noted. He left X soon after employees complained about the cost-cutting to Linda Yaccarino, who became the CEO of the social media company in 2023. Davis also oversaw a super PAC backed by Musk as the Tesla owner campaigned for Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. After Trumps election win, Davis joined the transition team and interviewed candidates for Musks efficiency drive. Now, he is reportedly helming DOGE. open image in gallery Davis has spearheaded several DOGE efforts, and according to the report, helped in the fork in the road email ( Getty Images ) Today, Davis is with DOGE and three employees at the General Services Administration told the paper that he and has set up a base on the sixth floor of the agencys Washington building as he continues his to slash and burn the federal workforce. One of his biggest efforts was pushing out the resignation email that became infamous. According to the Times, David rebuked department officials when leaks of the email hit the media, reportedly accused them of embarrassing Musk. Davis pushes for Musks priorities daily with Trump advisers and alerted officials to diversity programs that are targeted for cuts, the Times reported. His style has ruffled some feathers. The Times described him as blunt and undiplomatic and he has clashed with Trumps staff. They were reportedly upset after DOGE tried to place some staffers in the Pentagon, the Times noted. For the most part, Davis has stayed out of the spotlight while in D.C. Musk and the White House have not mentioned him. But that doesnt mean he is entirely out of view. Last month, he spoke with lawmakers who work with DOGE. Wrapped a great meeting with @elonmusk and Steve Davis on their goals for the @DOGE, Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., posted on X. The message included a photo of Davis holding a microphone and smiling beside Musk - off his right hand. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The estranged daughter of world's richest man Elon Musk has lashed out at her father, calling him a "pathetic man-child" who she believes "definitely" gave a Nazi salute during Donald Trumps inauguration earlier this year. Vivian Wilson made the comments during a recent interview with Teen Vogue, revealing that she and her father have not spoken in five years. I dont give a f*** about him, she told the magazine. I really dont. Its annoying that people associate me with him. I just dont have any room to care anymore. Wilson told the magazine that she is financially independent and thus does not think much about her father beyond what she sees in the news and on social media. She is currently living in Tokyo and studying to become a translator. Ill see things about him in the news and think, Thats f****** cringe, I should probably post about this and denounce it, which I have done a few times, she said. Vivian Wilson, Elon Musks estranged daughter, called her father a pathetic man-child in a recent interview ( vivllainous/Instagram/Getty ) Musk's much-criticized "Nazi" salute was one of the "cringe" moments that caused her to take to social media to denounce her father. During Trumps inauguration celebration, Musk gave a salute that was compared to a Nazi salute, while his defenders insisted that it was a Roman salute. The Nazi salute s*** was insane, she told Teen Vogue. Honey, were going to call a fig a fig, and were going to call a Nazi salute what it was. That s*** was definitely a Nazi salute. Despite the fact that Musk is the richest man on the planet and has managed to step into a position of unelected power within the Trump administration, Wilson said she is not afraid of her of her father. Why would I feel scared of him? Ohhh, he has so much power. Nah, nah, nah. I dont give a f***, she said. Why should I be scared of this man? Because hes rich? Oh, no, Im trembling. Ooh, shivering in my boots here. I dont give a f*** how much money anyone has. I dont. I really dont. He owns Twitter. OK. Congratulations. Musk has distanced himself from Wilson, who is trans, claiming that he was "tricked" into allowing her to have gender affirming medical treatments when she was 16. He said during an interview in 2024 that Wilson was figuratively "dead" and that she was an adherent of "radical Marxism." Wilson rejected that claim, telling Teen Vogue that she is a leftist, not a Marxist, and explained her actual political positions. I describe myself by the things that I personally believe in and the things that I feel are pretty common sense, if you think about it for more than two seconds," she said. "I believe in free health care. I believe food, shelter, and water are human rights. I believe that wealth inequality is one of the biggest problems of the United States right now, especially of our generation. Wilson also said she believed that workers should be "fairly compensated" for their labor and voiced her opposition to wealth hoarding by billionaire like her father at a time when so many are struggling financially. I dont feel like wealth should be hoarded by these mega-billionaires who are the top 1 percent, who only have their own interests at heart, she said. Ive met some of these billionairestheyre not very good people. I dont think any of them are. Musk reportedly has 14 children with four different women. Wilson is tied for the oldest of his children, and is the daughter of Musk and his ex-wife Justine Wilson, with whom he had a total of four children. The DOGE boss's family life made headlines earlier this year when conservative children's book author and media personality Ashley St Clair claimed she had a secret child whose biological father was Musk. Musk has not publicly commented on St Clairs claims. The Independent has requested comment from Musk. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A federal judge has temporarily blocked Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency from their fishing expedition in search of a fraud epidemic based on little more than suspicion inside the Social Security Administration. A temporary restraining order from District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander prevents the worlds wealthiest man and his team of 10 at Social Security which Musk has baselessly labeled a Ponzi scheme and accused of handing out tens of billions of dollars in retirement benefits to dead people from unfettered access to personal information for millions of Americans. U.S. DOGE Service employees at the nations retirement and disability agency currently have access to Social Security data or personally identifiable information, government lawyers said this month. Their level of access provides no avenues to change beneficiary data or payments, but gives them the ability to review records needed to detect fraud, lawyers wrote in court filings March 12. DOGE supporters may be applauding Donald Trumps mission to root out fraud, waste, and bloat from federal agencies, including [Social Security], to the extent it exists. But, by what means and methods? Judge Hollander wrote Thursday. The DOGE team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at [the agency], in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion. It has launched a search for the proverbial needle in the haystack, without any concrete knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack, she added. The team has unbridled access to the personal and private data of millions of Americans, but has never identified or articulated even a single reason why DOGE would need unlimited access to Social Securitys entire record systems, which would risk exposing personal, confidential, sensitive, and private information that millions of Americans entrusted to their government, the judge wrote in her ruling. open image in gallery A federal judge has temporarily blocked Elon Musks DOGE team from unfettered access to Americans personal information at the Social Security Administration ( AP ) Indeed, the government has not even attempted to explain why a more tailored, measured, titrated approach is not suitable to the task, she said. Its method of doing so is tantamount to hitting a fly with a sledgehammer. She noted the irony of the government fighting to conceal the identities of DOGE staff because defendants are concerned that the disclosure of even their names would expose them to harassment and thus invade their privacy. The defense does not appear to share a privacy concern for the millions of Americans whose [Social Security] records were made available to the DOGE affiliates, without their consent, and which contain sensitive, confidential, and personally identifiable information, she wrote. The ruling is a major win for working people and retirees across the country," according to Lee Saunders, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which sued the administration over DOGEs access to Social Security. The court saw that Elon Musk and his unqualified lackeys present a grave danger to Social Security and have illegally accessed the data of millions of Americans, Saunders said. This decision will not only force them to delete any data they have currently saved, but it will also block them from further sharing, accessing or disclosing our Social Security information. open image in gallery DOGE has deployed 10 staffers to Social Security to root out what Elon Musk alleges is widespread fraud at the nations retirement and disability benefits agency ( Getty Images ) The DOGE team at Social Security includes four special government employees and six people detailed to the agency from other offices. Officials at the agency declined to name the employees to protect the privacy of these individuals, and to avoid exposing them to threats and harassment, according to a sworn statement from deputy commissioner Florence Felix-Lawson. A political appointee, a software engineer and experts are reviewing Social Securitys death master file to find payments to dead Americans, Felix-Lawson wrote. The overall goal of the DOGE team inside Social Security is to detect fraud, waste and abuse, according to a sworn statement from the agencys chief technology officer Michael Russo. This level of access ensures these employees can review records needed to detect fraud but does not allow them the ability to make any changes to beneficiary data or payment files. Trump and administration officials have repeatedly suggested looming cuts to Social Security as well as federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid in an attempt to justify significant cuts to federal spending. The president and Musk have amplified baseless claims that tens of millions of dead Americans are collecting Social Security checks, which, according to Trump, if you take all of those numbers off, because theyre obviously fraudulent, or, incompetent, but if you take all of those millions of people off Social Security, all of a sudden we have a very powerful Social Security, he told supporters in Miami last month. Any meaningful reduction of government spending to cut the budget by trillions of dollars would require some combination of severe cuts to expensive but critical government programs like Social Security, as well as the Department of Defense. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Elon Musk-backed group is offering voters in Wisconsin $100 to sign a petition opposing activist judges just two weeks ahead of a state Supreme Court election. Musks Super PAC made a similar offer to swing state voters during last years election campaign. The political action committee, America PAC, revealed the petition in a Thursday night post on X. It says that each voter in the state who signs the petition will receive $100 in addition to another $100 for every signer they refer. The campaign of the Supreme Court candidate backed by the Democrats, Susan Crawford, argued that Musk was attempting to buy votes ahead of the April 1 election. The offer was shared two days after the start of early voting in the race, pitting Crawford against the Republican-and-Musk-backed candidate, Brad Schimel. The race will decide if the court stays liberal or switches to conservative control. Important legal fights on abortion, public sector unions, voting rules, and the boundaries of congressional districts are all coming up. Before the presidential election last year, the Musk PAC offered $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and the six other swing states if they signed a petition backing the First and Second Amendments. The district attorney of Philadelphia sued, trying to block the payments under Pennsylvania law, but a judge argued that the prosecutors were unable to show that the measure was an illegal lottery. The effort carried on through Election Day. Two groups funded by Musk, America PAC and Building for Americas Future, have spent more than $13 million on electing Schimel, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Derrick Honeyman, a spokesperson for the Crawford campaign, said that Musk is trying to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to secure a favorable ruling in his companys lawsuit against the state. open image in gallery Elon Musk, seen alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, is hoping to get Brad Schimel elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court ( REUTERS ) Musks electric car company, Tesla, sued Wisconsin because of its decision not to allow the manufacturer to open dealerships in the state. The suit came just days before the Musk-funded groups started spending on the Supreme Court race. Eight days before the lawsuit was filed in January, Musk wrote on X: Very important to vote Republican for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prevent voting fraud. The Crawford campaign has emphasized the links between Schimel and Musk, with the Wisconsin Democratic Party putting out a new ad this week accusing Musk of trying to buy the seat. Earlier this week, Schimel appeared at an event alongside Donald Trump Jr., who argued that his eleection election was vital to the Trump agenda. America PAC has made similar arguments in flyers handed out to voters in the state. Similarly, Building Americas Future said in a memo Thursday that to win the race, the group has to present Schimel as a pro-Trump conservative. The petition pushed by the Musk-aligned groups states that Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. By signing below, Im rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role interpreting, not legislating. open image in gallery Donald Trump Jr, right, argued that Brad Schimel, center, is vital cog in carrying out the Trump agenda. ( AP ) The petition is intended to energize voters in the state and collect information about them, but its also aligned with President Donald Trumps claims that activist judges are working against him and his administration, which is currently part of several lawsuits regarding the efforts of the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency to cut down the size of the federal government. This week, Musk donated to several Republican members of Congress who have supported articles of impeachment against federal judges, according to The Washington Post. The billionaire is supportive of Trumps escalating attacks on the courts. Trump called for the impeachment of federal judge James Boasberg this week after the judge ordered that the government turn around planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. The Associated Press contributed to this report Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Fox News host Harris Faulkner invented a bizarre situation in order to ask White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt if those who vandalize Teslas could recieve the death penalty. In Faulkners wild hypothetical, she brought up a possibility that no ones talking about. The scenario sees protestors potentially being sentenced to death if they set alight a Tesla with someones child or pet inside. What happens if theres someone in one of these cars? They blow up. That can happen. That becomes murder or worse, terrorism plus, Faulkner said. open image in gallery Fox News host Harris Faulkner warned those vandalizing Teslas of the extreme ramifications if a person was inside a vehicle while they attacked it ( Fox News ) The host then mentioned President Donald Trumps recent executive order expanding the death penalty, which encourages the Department of Justice to seek the death penalty in appropriate federal cases. Do you think this sort of thing and I hate to think it, people leave their children and pets in cars. I mean, you dont know. This is deadly, dangerous stuff these liberal protesters are playing with, the Fox News host said. Nodding along, Leavitt said the president condemns the violence and is determined to punish those committing the acts against Tesla. He will ensure that the harshest penalties are pursued for those who are engaging in this vicious violence that we have seen targeted at this American company, Leavitt told Faulkner. Teslas have been targeted across the country, including instances of people throwing Molotov cocktails at dealerships, setting fire to Cybertrucks, and writing offensive messages across vehicles. The recent attacks appear to be in protest of Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, wielding vast authority in the federal government despite being unelected. While the government contends that Musk is a special government employee and senior adviser to the president, court filings suggest he has greater authority. open image in gallery A burned Tesla Cybertruck is parked at a Tesla lot in Seattle ( AP ) Trump and his administration have defended Musk and Tesla against the attacks, threatening to harshly prosecute those who attack Tesla. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she would open investigations into attacks on Tesla and labeled the acts as domestic terrorism. While the U.S. does have a federal death penalty, it is rarely invoked in cases. Typically is it reserved for cases in which the person accused of a crime has killed another person or multiple people. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Britain and Germany have issued new warnings to their citizens about traveling to the U.S. in the wake of some visitors horrifying experiences coming to the country in the shadow of Donald Trumps crackdown. Britain recently revised its advice for citizens heading to the U.S., which includes a warning that anyone found breaking the countrys entry rules could face arrest or detention, and that laws are strictly enforced, Reuters reported. Germany, too, on Wednesday updated its travel advisory to the U.S. to emphasize that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry to the country after several Germans were recently detained at the border. Updated British advice for travelers to America warns: "You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry. The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules." Rebecca Burke, a 28-year-old graphic artist from Britain. was held for 19 days in a U.S. facility when she tried to enter the country, even though she believed she had followed the correct procedure. She was finally put on a plane home in chains on Tuesday, like Hannibal Lecter, said her angry father. Media coverage of such stories, warnings from countries outside the U.S., Trumps tariffs and his ugly rhetoric denigrating other nations is hurting American tourism, say industry experts. Trump said in a Fox News interview Wednesday that the European Union was created to screw the U.S. and that the EU has raped and pillaged America. The resulting dip in tourism to the U.S. from all other nations is expected to sink at least 5 percent, costing America some $64 billion in 2025, according to a report late last month by investment advisory group Tourism Economics. A growing boycott of the U.S. by Canadian travelers in the wake of the Trump administration tariffs and the acrimonious relationship between Trump and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will likely cost the American tourist business some $2.1 billion this year, according to the Word Travel and Tour industry association. Tourism from Canada is expected to dip 15 percent, according to Tourism Economics. Trudeau last month urged Canadians to reconsider visiting the U.S. and travel locally instead. Flight Centre, Canadas largest travel agency, told Forbes early last month that it had already seen a surge of customers canceling U.S. vacations and rebooking elsewhere. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hundreds of Americans Social Security numbers were exposed when the Trump administration released a trove of largely unredacted files linked to the assassination of former President John F Kennedy. The files, which so far havent included any surprises about the assassination, exposed the Social Security numbers along with other personal information such as addresses and names of some 400 congressional staffers and others, The Washington Post reported Thursday. They included members of the 1975 Senate Church Committee and House Select Committee on Assassinations that investigated Kennedys killing. The leaked numbers also belonged to a former assistant secretary of state, former U.S. ambassador, former Army officer, and former Donald Trump campaign lawyer Joseph diGenova, according to The Post. Some of the numbers appeared in the records multiple times, noted the newspaper. DiGenova was livid, calling the breach absolutely outrageous . . . sloppy and unprofessional in a statement to The Post. He added: It not only means identity theft, but Ive had threats against me ... there are dangerous nuts out there. It should not have happened, diGenova told the Associated Press. I think it's the result of incompetent people doing the reviewing. The people who reviewed these documents did not do their job. Ironically, his breached personal information was on documents relating to his work for the Senate Select Committee that investigated abuses of power by government officials in the 1970s. He told AP plans to sue the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration for violating privacy laws. Social Security numbers can be used in identity theft to open bank accounts and apply for loans and credit cards in the holders name that can massively hike debt, especially if a crime syndicate uses a number in different locations before authorities are alerted to the thefts. Many of the JFK assassination files that included Social Security numbers had previously been released but with redactions. The Trump administration made the records public without the privacy protections. Officials at the White House said Thursday a plan was in place to help those whose personal information was disclosed, including credit monitoring, the Associated Press reported. Officials also said new Social Security numbers will be issued to those affected, AP noted. Trump talked about the records release to reporters on Monday, saying: "People have been waiting for decades for this. We have a tremendous amount of paper. You've got a lot of reading. I don't believe we're going to redact anything. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that Trump delivered on his promise of maximum transparency by fully releasing the files related to the assassination of President John F Kennedy," She also referred to the proactive steps now being taken to protect members of the public whose Social Security numbers were exposed. The Trump administration published on the National Archives website more than 60,000 pages of documents related to Kennedys assassination on Tuesday, far short of the 80,000 Trump promised on Monday to make public. Some experts have said that Trump released only a third of available records on the assassination. The release of the information raises legal questions under the Privacy Act of 1974, experts noted to The Post. Social Security is literally the keys to the kingdom to everybody, said Mary Ellen Callahan, former chief privacy officer at the Department of Homeland Security. Its absolutely a Privacy Act violation. Fears about leaks of Social Security numbers are at the heart of a pitched battle over Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiencys access to data at the Social Security Administration by a reportedly unvetted crew. One DOGE worker has been identified by Wired as a 19-year-old high school graduate who was booted from an internship after leaking company information to a rival firm, according to the publication. A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked Musk and his DOGE crew from their fishing expedition in search of a fraud epidemic at the Social Security Administration based on little more than suspicion. U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander issued a temporary restraining order preventing the worlds wealthiest man and his team from having unfettered access to data from the Social Security program, which Musk has baselessly slammed as a Ponzi scheme, and claimed without evidence that tens of millions of dead people are collecting benefits. Handing over access to date would risk exposing personal, confidential, sensitive, and private information that millions of Americans entrusted to their government, the judge wrote in her ruling. It was unclear, however, how much personal information Musks team may have already accessed. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Failed Arizona gubernatorial and senatorial candidate Kari Lake, now a special advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, took a jab at her most recent opponent, Democratic Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, during a chance run-in at Neds Club near the White House in downtown Washington, D.C. The private club is known as a place where cable news personalities can be seen holding meetings alongside Democrats and Trump administration officials away from prying eyes. According to The Bulwark, Gallego was on his way out one day this winter when he ran into Lake. Gallego went in for a handshake, and Lake grasped his with both hands, seemingly a warm gesture, before she asked: How does it feel to be bought and paid for by the cartels? An individual familiar with the incident told the outlet that Gallego was taken aback, as was Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, who could hear what was being said. During the campaign last year, Lake accused Gallego during an interview with Newsmax on September 27 of being controlled by the cartels. She added: His own father was a Colombian drug trafficker, and so hes got links to the cartel. PolitiFact rated the claim as pants on fire. open image in gallery Kari Lake has reignited an old feud with her former ubernatorial and senatorial opponent during a chance meeting at a D.C. club ( Getty Images ) While Gallegos father was arrested for drug violations when the senator was a child, theres no evidence to suggest that he has any links to the cartels. Gallego wrote in a memoir that his father was a drug dealer who disappeared from his life after his parents divorce. When asked about the chance meeting with Lake, Gallego told The Bulwark: I mean, look, it is pretty gross. He said he attempted to avoid escalating the situation but jabbed back at Lake before they split up. My wife is very disappointed in me because she said, You didnt take the bait for two years, said Gallego. I should not have overreacted, he told the outlet. I did try to rub it inwhen [Lake] essentially said, How could you live with yourself every day? Im like, Easily I won, and I walked away. Reacting to the incident, Phil Boas wrote in an op-ed in the Arizona Republic that Lake is morally reprehensible. He will never confront the cartels; he is controlled by them, Lake said during the campaign. He has close family members who are drug traffickers. open image in gallery Kari Lake has been called morally reprehensible for her attacks on Senator Ruben Gallego ( AFP via Getty Images ) Gallego wrote in his memoir They Called Us Lucky from 2022 about how he grew up with a single mother in Chicago in an apartment so small the senator said he ended up sleeping on the floor. Being poor is one thing, Gallego wrote. Having a dealer for a dad thats a different level. I always knew we were poor. There was no shame in that. You worked hard, and things got better. But now, as a young teenager, I felt we were trash. Lying on the floor of our apartment one night, hungry and tired because I worked after school earning money to help my mother pay for things, I told myself this was not who I was, he added. I was not going to be poor trash the rest of my life. I was going to college, no matter what it took. Boas went on to argue that Kari Lake likes to tout her Christianity, so let me point out that The Bible very explicitly counsels that we are not to blame the child for the sins of the parent. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has accused Rep. Jasmine Crockett of orchestrating political violence and terrorism and has made her concerns known to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. A Member of Congress is organizing political violence and terrorism, the controversial Georgia congresswoman wrote on X Thursday in response to a live stream titled TeslaTakedown. The stream included several speakers on Wednesday, including Crockett, who discussed plans for non-violent political protests against Elon Musks billion-dollar Tesla enterprise. Attacks against Tesla vehicles have been escalating since President Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 election. Musk aligned himself with the MAGA movement during the campaign trail and has become a key figure in the administration. GOP stalwart Marjorie Taylor Greene went viral with Crockett in May 2024 for engaging in a brutal spat during a hearing where a chain of insults were hurled between the pair ( AFP via Getty Images ) Crockett said in the livestream that she was truly here for very selfish reasons. On March 29, its my birthday, and all I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down yes! she said. The Democrat said that everything she promoted was non-violent but underscored that it was important to stand for freedom in this country and for the constitution. The best way to show that we are American is by using our constitutional rights and deciding we are going to engage in protests, she explained. Taylor Greene previously verbally fought Crockett during a heated committee spat in 2024. Their following interactions, both online and in person, often erupt into fiery debates. The Tesla Takedown Movement, which declares itself a peaceful protest, has pledged that Americans scrap and sell their Tesla cars and dump any stocks and shares they may have in Tesla Inc. in a bid to rally against the worlds richest man. Taylor Greenes comments thus appear to drill home Trumps message that any Tesla insurgents, and even those who have simply declared their disdain for Musk, were also deserving of the terrorist label. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced separately on Thursday that the Justice Department would bring severe charges against three individuals accused of targeting Teslas with arson attacks, following Trumps vow to clamp down on such incidents as domestic terrorism. For his part, Musk has been courting controversy since he gave a bizarre salute at a Trump victory ball on Inauguration Day and recently reposted a message on social media that read: Hitler didnt murder millions of people. Public sector employees did. Trump has also made numerous efforts to defend his Musks enterprise by stepping into the modern computerized vehicle outside of the White House and making numerous threats to punish the sick terrorist thugs in a Truth Social post early Friday. The President added that those found guilty would be slapped with a 20-year jail sentence and typed a stark message a day earlier on Truth Social that boldly read: WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!! The Independent contacted Tesla and Marjorie Taylor Greene for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Elon Musk issued a stark warning to Pentagon officials following reports that he was scheduled to receive a briefing Friday about the U.S. militarys top-secret war plans for China. Hours before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Musks visit on Thursday, The New York Times reported that military officials would show the tech billionaire a slideshow of how the U.S. would engage in a conflict with China. Musk claimed that the information was false and derided the newspaper for allegedly disseminating propaganda before issuing a thinly veiled threat to Pentagon officials. The New York Times is pure propaganda. Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT, he tweeted early on Friday morning, sharing a Truth Social Post from President Donald Trump denying the claims. They will be found, Musk added. open image in gallery Elon Musk has denied reports that hes set for a top-secret briefing on war plans for China ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) A U.S. official told The Times that senior military officials would attend the briefing for Musk at the Pentagon, providing an overview of various topics, including China. The meeting was due to take place in the Tank, a highly secure conference room used for high-level meetings, not Hegseths office. The briefing would consist of 20 to 30 slides outlining the U.S.s strategy if war broke out with the adversary in the Far East. Sources said Hegseth was informed of the plans on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Musk had been scheduled to be briefed on the war planning against China. A source close to Musk told The Journal that the Department of Government Efficiency lead would be in the meeting because he requested it. Sources also confirmed to The Washington Post that China would be discussed, though they did not refer to the war plans. They said the focus would also include Musks government slashing efforts with DOGE and unspecified defense issues. One person familiar with the issue told The Post that China would be the main focus of the discussion. Late Thursday, Trump denounced reports that Musk would be granted any access to the closely guarded operational blueprints as completely untrue and that China would not be discussed. The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential war with China, he posted on Truth Social. open image in gallery Both Donald Trump (L) and Pete Hegseth denied claims that Musk would be briefed on the U.S. war plans for China ( AFP via Getty Images ) How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!! Hegseth also contested the report, tweeting that the meeting is about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. He also lambasted the so-called fake news, adding: This is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans. Early on Friday morning, Musk replied to the defense secretary, noting that he had visited the Pentagon multiple times in recent years. Fridays meeting will be Musks first known visit of the year. Access to this highly classified military plan would significantly expand Musks role as a Trump adviser. The reports fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who, as the head of Tesla and SpaceX, has business interests in China and with the Pentagon being granted highly classified information unavailable to his competitors. However, The Times pointed out that Musk may require access to sensitive military strategies to ensure that proposed budget cuts do not inadvertently affect essential weapons systems vital to the Pentagon's defense plans, particularly concerning potential conflicts involving China. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New York Congressman Mike Lawler issued a two-word response after being grilled live on CNN about rumors that Elon Musk donated to his re-election campaigns. The Republican lawmaker sparred with former New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat, as they discussed reports that the worlds richest man was set for a secret Pentagon briefing about the U.S. militarys top-secret war plans for China on Newsnight. Congressman Lawler is not going to criticize him because Elon Musk is a major donor to Congressman Lawlers re-election campaigns, Bowman said on Thursdays program. And thats the problem. Anchor Abby Phillip added: Is that true, Congressman Lawler that hes a major donor to your campaign? Not directly, Lawler, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, responded. No, not directly to my campaign. He had an independent expenditure that he spent on dozens of congressional races. open image in gallery Rep. Mike Lawler (L) exchanged barbs with former New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman on Thursday's episode of Newsnight ( CNN ) Bowman alleged that Lawler was the second biggest recipient of money from Musk after Trump, who, along with his MAGA allies, received more than $290 million, according to federal filings. Earlier this month, reports emerged that Musk was weighing a $100 million donation to a super PAC associated with the president. Musks super-political action committee, America PAC spent more than $1.7 million backing Lawler, who successfully defeated Democrat Mondaire Jones for New Yorks 17th congressional district in the 2024 election. Federal campaign finance records show that the Trump adviser poured in about $19 million across 18 key congressional races in 11 states in an attempt to preserve the GOP House majority in November. Republicans hold a slim five-seat majority in the Lower Chamber. Lawler will be up for re-election in November 2026. open image in gallery Elon Musk (left) funneled more than $1.7 million to help Mike Lawler retain his NYC House seat in November ( Getty Images ) According to The New York Times, Lawler is allegedly eyeing a gubernatorial run despite it having been almost 20 years since a Republican has won a governors race in the Empire State. Musk has reportedly donated to seven congressional Republicans, all of whom support the Trump administrations calls to impeach constrain judges who have attacked Trump or halted parts of his America First agenda. The tech billionaire claimed in recent days that such judges are leading a judicial coup. While Lawler didnt directly call to impeach Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump in his hush money criminal case, he lobbied for the Manhattan District Attorneys removal in December. Musk gave thousands of dollars in donations each to Representatives Eli Crane of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Brandon Gill of Texas, and Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, reports The New York Times. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration continues to insist the constitution doesnt necessarily provide birthright citizenship to all people born in the U.S., part of its push to force immigrants and their children out of the country. During a Thursday event in Florida, White House border czar Tom Homan called birthright citizenship a magnet for unauthorized immigration and claimed the Supreme Court still needs to decide the matter something it has already done multiple times in decisions dating back over a century. I think the Supreme Court finally needs to answer that question. Im not a lawyer, but I can read, Homan said during a discussion with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at New College of Florida. And I dont think its clear that an illegal alien who has a child in the country, is automatically a U.S. citizen. After the Civil War between free and slave states, birthright citizenship was enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, whose citizenship clause states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. Subsequent Supreme Court decisions in 1898 and 1982 upheld that this citizenship guarantee includes people born in America with foreign-national parents, even if their parents are unauthorized immigrants. Nonetheless, in January, President Trump signed an executive order that would deny citizenship to children born in the United States if their parents are unlawfully present or have lawful but temporary status in the country. open image in gallery White House border czar has argued birthright citizenship question remains undetermined, despite decades of legal precedent ( AFP via Getty Images ) The administration has relied on an obscure argument, once only popular in fringe right-leaning legal circles, that the jurisdiction portion of the 14th Amendment doesnt apply to illegal immigrants. Many legal commentators have said this interpretation is flawed. Thats nonsense, Thomas Wolf recently wrote of the argument for the left-leaning Brennan Center. Undocumented immigrants and their children are required to follow the same laws as everyone else on U.S. soil, including paying taxes. Federal judges in recent cases in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington have similarly found flaws in the White Houses birthright citizenship push. open image in gallery In January, Trump signed an executive order declaring children born to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are denied birthright citizenship ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) If the government wants to change the exceptional grant of birthright citizenship, it needs to amend the Constitution itself, District Judge John C. Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, wrote in a ruling last month pausing the executive order. Because the presidents order attempts to circumvent this process, it is clearly unconstitutional. Last week, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to limit the impact of three injunctions thatve been placed on the executive order, so they would only apply in the states that brought the lawsuits rather than nationwide. At the same time as the White House has called on the Supreme Court to step in, it has repeatedly attacked the federal judiciary, with Trump and his adviser Elon Musk sharply criticizing federal judges and calling for the removal of those who have ruled against the administration. It has also sought to ramp up immigrant enforcement in other ways against individuals with forms of U.S. legal status. Immigration agents have initiated removal proceedings against lawful permanent residents and those in the U.S. on student visas, arrests their attorneys claim are a form of backlash that violates the First Amendment and punishes people for political activism and scholarship. To justify the deportation attempts against recent Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown scholar Dr. Badar Khan Suri, the administration has relied on an obscure, scarcely used portion of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to determine a non-citizen should be removed from the country because they threaten U.S. foreign policy interests. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump on Friday said the Pentagon was awarding a contract to Boeing to build and support a sixth-generation fighter jet that will be known as the F-47, calling the new manned warplane something the likes of which nobody has seen before. Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top Air Force leaders, Trump said the planned fighter had been in the works for a long period of time and would be built by Boeing after a rigorous and thorough competition between some of America's top aerospace companies for a program that the Defense Department has been calling the Next Generation Air Dominance platform. Trump also described the fighter as the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built and said an experimental version of the aircraft has secretly been flying for almost five years. We're confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation ... every other plane I've seen, every one of them, and it's not even close, he said. It's virtually unseeable and unprecedented power. It's got the most power of any jet of its kind ever made. Maneuverability, likewise ... there's never been anything like it. Trump added that Americas adversaries would never see it coming if it is ever deployed in anger and insisted enemies won't know what the hell hit them if they are engaged by the fleet of these magnificent planes. Hegseth, the former Fox News weekend host turned defense chief, told reporters the announcement of the new fighter program was a big day for our country, a big day in the world and said the planned jet would send a very direct, clear message to our allies that we're not going anywhere, and to our enemies, that we can we will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come. open image in gallery U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office ( REUTERS ) This is a historic investment in the American military, in American industrial base, in American industry, that will help revive the warrior ethos inside our military, he said. Hegseth criticized the prior Biden administration for having considered scrapping the expensive fighter program, which he called cheaper, longer range and more stealthy than alternatives. President Trump said we're reviving it, and we're doing it, and then we are also going to reestablish deterrence. Under the previous administration, we looked like fools. Not anymore, he said. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Alvin also weighed in at the presidents request, thanking both Trump and Hegseth for what he called their unwavering commitment to our military and called the announcement a big day for our United States Air Force. Air dominance is not a birthright, but it's become synonymous with American air power. But air dominance needs to be earned every single day, and since the earliest days of aerial warfare, brave American airmen have jumped into their machines, taken to the air, and they've cleared the skies, and whether that be clearing the skies so we can rain down destruction on our enemies from above, we can clear the path for the ground forces below, Alvin said. That's been our commitment to the fight, and that's really been our promise to America, and with this F 47 as the crown jewel in the next generation air dominance family of systems, we're going to be able to keep that promise well into the future. The Air Force general added that the next-generation fighter would allow the Air Force to look into the future and unlock the magic that is human machine teaming by allowing manned and unmanned fighter aircraft to work together. He also said the program would allow more control in the hands of the government to let the Air Force update and adapt at the speed of relevance, at the speed of technology, not at the speed of providers. The F-47 contract award represents a rare moment of good news for Boeing, which in recent years has suffered numerous public setbacks in the form of passenger airliner crashes and the failure of its Starliner manned spacecraft during a test flight which resulted in a pair of U.S. astronauts spending eight months on the International Space Station rather than a planned eight days. NASA officials elected to return the capsule to earth unmanned due to fears of thruster failure. Boeing has also reportedly lost billions on a long-delayed contract to deliver a pair of heavily-modified 747 aircraft to the Air Force for use as presidential transports. According to Aviation Week, the F-47 is likely to be built in Boeings St. Louis, Missouri factory, which has built American fighter aircraft since the Second World War. It will replace the F-22 Raptor, the last of which was built more than a decade ago by Boeings rival Lockheed, in the Air Forces inventory as a first-call air superiority fighter. Deliveries of the new aircraft could potentially supplant the beleaguered F-35A in the Air Forces fighter stocks, with the controversial joint fighters future uncertain under Trumps cost-cutting initiatives despite plans for many of Americas allies to purchase the fifth-generation multirole aircraft. More follows... Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump gathered school children in a mock classroom scene at the White House on Thursday afternoon to witness the signing of an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. As the children watched from their small desks, each with their own replica executive orders to sign along with Trump, the president began his remarks with an update on the horrors of Ukraines war. Hopefully we can save thousands of people a week from dying. That's what it's all about. They're dying so unnecessarily, he said grimly, forgetting his young audience. Its not uncommon for teachers to veer off-topic in the later days of the week, but the president was quick to return to the matter at hand. Trump said that the department set up in 1979 to ensure equal access to education would be dismantled because we're not doing well with the world of education in this country, and we haven't for a long time. open image in gallery President Donald Trump signs an executive order to begin to shut down the Department of Education, during an event in the East Room at the White House on Thursday ( REUTERS ) Criticizing what he perceived to be wasteful spending, he appeared fixated on the number of buildings that belong to the Department of Education around the nations capital. It employs bureaucrats and buildings all over Washington, D.C., he said, emphasizing another point likely not captivating the schoolkids. .As a former real estate person, I will tell you I ride through the streets of Washington and it says Department of Education, Department of Education. I said, How do you fill those buildings? It's crazy, he added. He then painted a grim picture of the U.S. education system, citing its poor performance as justification for eradicating the department. He noted that 70 percent of eighth graders are not proficient in either reading or in math; 40 percent of fourth graders lack even basic reading skills. Can't read. Students in our public elementary and middle schools score worse in reading today than when the department opened, he went on. open image in gallery Trump interacting with a child during the bizarre set-up for the signing of the dismantling order ( Reuters ) open image in gallery Florida Governor Ron DeSantis looks on as he attends the signing of an executive order to shut down the Department of Education by President Donald Trump, during an event Thursday in the East Room of the White House ( REUTERS/Carlos Barria ) What he failed to mention, crucially, is that the Department of Education currently has no control over the curriculum in schools. Thats already set by states. Funding is also mostly provided by states and local governments. Most of the problems students face today have very little to do with the Department of Education. In other words, the presidents order is akin to treating a patients broken toe by punching them in the face. The president continued with a speech that proved you dont have to have an education to stop others from getting one. Lamenting Chinas apparently superior schools, he noted with a trademark grammatical flourish: We can't now say that bigness is making it impossible to educate, because China is very big. The last Republican president to reform education also had a way with words. George W. Bush famously asked: Is our children learning? But where Bush set out to expand the departments responsibilities, Trump was here to remove them. open image in gallery President Donald Trump is applauded after he signs executive orders in the East Room of the White House Trump. He signed an order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, fulfilling an election campaign pledge and a long-held dream of American conservatives. ( AFP via Getty Images ) The presidents argument, in short, is that all the decisions on this matter should be decided by states. That was an ominous proposition when he made it regarding reproductive laws during his first term as he stacked the Supreme Court with anti-abortion judges. A rise in infant deaths and life-threatening sepsis followed the end of Roe v Wade as Republican states passed a wave of restrictive new abortion laws. This time around its a complete diversion. States already decide almost every facet of a childs education. What will be lost is funding for students with special needs, be it financial or educational. It will also remove the protections provided by the department that ensure no group of students can be discriminated against based on race, gender, or disability. Under Trumps predecessor, Joe Biden, the department launched a series of investigations into schools that had banned books on topics related to LLGBT relationships and race. Some of the biggest proponents of those bans were in the audience to see Trumps order signed. Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis, Kim Reynolds, and Gregg Abbott governors of the three states with the most books banned in the 2023-24 school year applauded politely as Trump spoke, perhaps breathing a little easier. Concluding his speech, Trump walked to sit at his own desk amid the children. Look at those beautiful bright-eyed faces. They are so smart, he said, pointing at them as he walked. Good-looking people here, he added. As Trump signed the order, the students all signed their own replicas in unison and held them aloft. There may be a bump in the road, however. Trump may have signed an executive order, but to dismantle the department will require an act of Congress, which he doesnt yet have the votes for. He wont be the first teacher to assign homework that will never get done. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Columbia University has largely agreed to a series of sweeping changes the Trump administration demanded from the university to restore $400 million in suspended federal funding. The university will give police new powers to arrest students, partially ban face masks, and appoint a university official to oversee changes at a suite of university departments. We have worked hard to address the legitimate concerns raised both from within and without our Columbia community, including by our regulators, with respect to the discrimination, harassment, and antisemitic acts our Jewish community has faced in the wake of October 7, 2023, the university said in a memo. Our response to the government agencies outlines the substantive work weve been doing over the last academic year to advance our mission, ensure uninterrupted academic activities, and make every student, faculty, and staff member safe and welcome on our campus, interim president Katrina Armstrong said in an accompanying statement. The agreement includes the university hiring 36 special police officers who will have the ability to remove individuals from campus and/or arrest them when appropriate, according to the document. It also announces a senior provost will review a large portfolio of academic departments related to the Middle East, echoing a call from the Trump administration to put some such departments under receivership. The programs include the Center for Palestine Studies; the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies; and the department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies; as well as Columbias global hubs in Tel Aviv and Amman, Jordan. Columbia is among numerous top universities the administration has accused of failing to stop antisemitism on campus Columbia added that it has adopted a position of institutional neutrality, and will be seeking to expand intellectual diversity through appointments to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and the departments of Economics, Political Science, and School for International and Public Affairs. The White House had accused the university of failing to stop on-campus antisemitism during large-scale pro-Palestine protests in 2023 and 2024, and demanded the university make the changes in a letter sent to campus officials last week. The academic world has been closely watching for Columbias response to the demands, part of the administrations attempts to stop what it sees as rising antisemitism and pro-Hamas sentiment on campus. FIRE, a free speech advocacy group, said in an email statement to The Independent that it was alarmed how Columbia crumbled under pressure from the White House. The federal government abandoned its existing process to brow-beat Columbia and Columbia folded. Higher education reform shouldnt resemble a shakedown, Tyler Coward, FIRE lead counsel for government affairs, wrote. Colleges and universities shouldnt be bullied into accepting speech-restrictive demands because the government dangles a $400 million check over an institutions head. Any changes made as a result of this flawed process are inherently suspect. Critics say the Trump administration is in fact attempting to crack down on criticism of the U.S.-Israel alliance and stifle left-leaning speech more broadly. Some, like Columbias Jewish alumni association, had called for the school to accept the changes. We urge Columbia to ignore all media framing, TAKE THIS LIFELINE, and act decisively now to restore the mission and the future of the university, it wrote in a statement on X on Wednesday. This has been an immensely difficult time. Let's not lose this opportunity to restore our beautiful school's legacy. Others saw the White House stance as a sign of encroaching authoritarianism. This attempt to discipline and control a university campus is a transparent hallmark of authoritarian rule and harshly violates the central mission of education: teaching, research, and service to the broader society for the public good. We also believe it to be illegal, the American Association of University Professors said in a statement when the Trump administration first outlined its demands. At the same time the administration has put pressure on Columbia financially, it has also directed immigration agents to arrest non-citizen students and recent graduates over their involvement in the pro-Palestine protests, arguing they threaten U.S. national interests. The arrest this month of recent Columbia graduate and U.S. legal permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil has become a widely watched case around the country. The administration accuses Khalil, a campus protest leader, of supporting Hamas, which he denies. Khalil is challenging his detention and argues it violates his First and Fifth Amendment rights. The university has taken other controversial actions on its own, including a expelling a Jewish student union leader who participated in the protests right before contract negotiations. Other universities may soon experience something like Columbia. The Department of Education warned at least 60 colleges and universities this month of their obligations to protect the rights of Jewish students, noting federal financial support is a privilege, and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Nearly 250 years after America declared independence from Great Britain, President Donald Trump suggested he was open to taking a small step back towards the warm embrace of the British monarchy after a media outlet reported that King Charles III intends to extend an offer for the United States to join the Commonwealth of Nations. The King is reportedly preparing to extend the offer of associate membership in the voluntary association of 56 nations, most of which have history as former British colonies. Trump, it seems, is open to the idea. Writing on his Truth Social platform while sharing an article referencing the unprecedented offer, Trump said: I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me! First reported by the Daily Mail, the offer from Charles III would be formally extended during the planned state visit by Trump to the U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivered a hand-written invitation from the King to the U.S. leader during a visit to the White House last month. open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivered a hand-written invitation from the King to the U.S. leader during a visit to the White House last month ( PA Archive ) A member of the Royal Commonwealth Society told the Mail that the possibility of America making entry into the Commonwealth is being discussed at the highest levels as a wonderful move that would symbolize Britain's close relationship with the U.S. Donald Trump loves Britain and has great respect for the Royal Family, so we believe he would see the benefits of this. Associate membership could, hopefully, be followed by full membership, making the Commonwealth even more important as a global organization, the person added. Having America joining the Commonwealth, even as an associate member, could be a way for Charles to smooth over tensions between Washington, London and Ottawa that have erupted over Trumps frequently-stated desire to make Canada a Commonwealth founding member and one of the 15 nations that still counts the King as head of state the 51st American state rather than the fully independent nation it has been since the 1982 Canadian constitution removed the countrys vestigial legal dependence on the British parliament. Trumps rhetoric towards Americas northern neighbor, which which it shares the worlds largest unguarded land border, has inflamed passions among Canadians whove taken umbrage at what has amounted to an unprovoked trade war waged by American leaders. open image in gallery US President Donald Trump is presented with a letter from the King inviting him to make an unprecedented second state visit to the U.K. ( PA Wire ) The president has imposed tariffs on many Canadian imports and threatened to raise the import taxes which are ultimately paid by American consumers even higher, while claiming that the U.S. trade deficit with Canada amounts to an unfair subsidy of Ottawa by Washington. If membership is offered and accepted, no longer would America send an ambassador to the Court of St James as it has done since John Adams presented his credentials to King George III in June 1785. Washingtons emissary to Ottawa would no longer be an ambassador, either, and neither would the top diplomats sent by the U.K. or Canada to the U.S. Thats because Commonwealth nations appoint high commissioners to represent each others interests in their respective capitals. The 56-member bloc has roots in the post-Second World War era when the U.K. began divesting itself of its massive colonial empire. And Canada, the subject of current tensions with the U.S., was the first member. Most, but not all, of the current Commonwealth members are former British dominions or colonies. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has denied claims made in a New York Times report that Elon Musk, his close ally, was scheduled to receive a Pentagon briefing on Friday regarding the military's strategy for a potential conflict with China. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said "China will not even be mentioned or discussed" during the Pentagon meeting. The report was ridiculous and untrue, he said. Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, echoed this sentiment in a post on X. He confirmed that Musk would visit the Pentagon, but said it was fake news that Musk would see any top-secret military plans. The meeting would focus on "innovation, efficiencies, and smarter production," he said. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the New York Times that senior military officials would attend the briefing for Musk at the Pentagon, providing an overview of various topics, including China. Elon Musk, left, and Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February ( Getty Images ) The New York Times report, citing two unnamed US officials, claimed that the briefing would consist of 20 to 30 slides outlining how the US would engage in a conflict with China. Access to this closely guarded military plan would signify a significant expansion of Musk's role as a Trump advisor. Musk has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce US government spending. It would also fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who as the head of Tesla and SpaceX has business interests in China and with the Pentagon. However, the Times pointed out that Musk may require access to sensitive military strategies to ensure that proposed budget cuts do not inadvertently affect essential weapons systems vital to the Pentagon's defence plans, particularly concerning potential conflicts involving China. The White House has previously said Musk will recuse himself if any conflicts of interest arise between his business dealings and his role in cutting federal government spending. In a statement to the Times, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said: The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting. Washington and Beijing have had tense relations for years over differences ranging from access to technology, trade tariffs and cybersecurity to TikTok, Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and the origins of Covid. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pipe bomb threats. Creepy unwanted pizza deliveries. Threatening messages. These are some of the threats federal judges have been facing in recent weeks, adding to an already tense atmosphere in which Donald Trump and his allies continue to lash out at officials who have ruled against parts of the presidents agenda. I feel like people are playing Russian roulette with our lives, federal Judge Esther Salas said in an interview with The New York Times.. Her 20-year-old son was shot and killed at her home in 2020 by a disgruntled lawyer. This is not hyperbole, she told the newspaper. I am begging our leaders to realize that there are lives at stake. The threats have impacted judges and their families from across the political spectrum. Earlier this month, an anonymous individual claimed they had placed a pipe bomb at the Charleston, South Carolina, home of Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Federal judges have faced bomb threats, SWATing calls, and eerie anonymous warnings as the Trump administration continues attacking the judiciary as corrupt. Now, some are speaking out about the threat judges face ( DC District Court / Getty ) Family members have also been the targets of unwanted pizza deliveries, gestures law enforcement believes are meant to be warnings. An anonymous federal judge, overseeing litigation against the Trump administration, told the Times they had received one such alarming delivery. They know where you and your family members live, the judge said of the chilling message such a delivery sends. Another federal judge, John C. Coughenhour, who issued an order blocking the administrations attempts to unilaterally end birthright citizenship, was the victim of a so-called SWATing attack, in which an anonymous tipster called in a phony threat about an armed man, sending a mass of police officers to the judges home. Meanwhile, judges Paul Engelmayer and Jeannette Vargas, who are overseeing lawsuits against Elon Musks DOGE program, have been assigned extra security. While federal judges have long faced violent threats for instance, in 2022, when an armed man broke into the home of Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh some observers say the present political climate, with Trump, Musk, and their allies repeatedly attacking all federal judges who rule against them as corrupt, has made the situation worse. Ive never seen judges as uneasy as they are now, former Pennsylvania federal just John Jones II told Reuters. Trey Gowdy criticizes Republicans bashing the judge who halted deportations Musk has been loudly supportive of calls to impeach U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered the Trump administration to turn around a group of recent deportation flights to El Salvador amid a challenge to the White Houses invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for rapid deportations a court order the administration ignored. (The government has argued it was authorized to continue the flights because an initial warning was given as a verbal order, and the planes were in international airspace.) In recent days, Musk has donated thousands of dollars to GOP members of Congress pushing for Boasbergs impeachment. He has also reshared a post from conservative activist Charlie Kirk calling federal judges like Boasberg gavel-wielding dictators. In addition, the unelected White House adviser has called on wants Congress to impeach the judges and restore rule of the people. Trump, for his part, has blasted Boasberg as a Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator and claimed the judge is trying to seize presidential powers in the deportations case. The administrations repeated demonization of Boasberg, as well as its attempt to remove him from the case and calls for impeachment prompted a rare public rebuke from Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. "For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose, he said earlier this week. Despite these attacks, the White House says it condemns threats against judges. "The White House condemns any threats to really any public officials, despite our feelings that a lot of these people are leftist, crazy judges that aren't following the Constitution," a spokesperson said earlier this month. "Just because these people are leftist, crazy, unconstitutional people doesn't mean they deserve to be harmed. That's not how you engage with disputes in this country." The Trump administration has sought to undermine judiciary influence in other ways, including firing Justice Department officials who worked on past investigations of the president, and stripping security privileges from law firms that the president deems his political enemies. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have both insisted that Ukraines forces in Kursk are surrounded by Russian troops and are in imminent danger, but U.S. intelligence reports have contradicted those claims. A trio of U.S. and European officials familiar with intelligence details of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine told Reuters that the situation on the ground does not reflect the comments made by Trump and Putin. One of the U.S. officials also said that the White House was briefed on the actual situation in Ukraine, so ita unclear why Trump has and continues to claim that Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region are surrounded. On March 14, Trump issued a social media post asking Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops that he described as being "completely surrounded." Putin later said he would spare their lives if they agreed to surrender. Trump again insisted that Ukrainian troops were surrounded during an appearance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump have both insisted despite contrary U.S. intelligence reports that Ukrainian troops in Kursk are surrounded by the Russian military ( REUTERS ) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the reports that his troops were surrounded, and accused Putin of lying to gain leverage in upcoming ceasefire negotiations. He did, however, acknowledge that his troops have faced fierce opposition from Russians trying to expel them from the region. Ukraine has lost almost all of the territory it gained after an August push across Russia's Western border. Open source reports suggest Ukraine only controls approximately 20 to 30 square miles east of Russia's border. Trump spoke with Putin on Tuesday, at which time Trump said Putin agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was in a position to agree to such a deal, though the details have not been cemented at the time of this report. Despite the discussed ceasefire, Russian attacks on Ukraine have not stopped. Just hours after the potential ceasefire was announced, Zelenskyy shared images on his Telegram channel showing fires burning after a drone attack in the Kirovohrad region. Russias attacks on Ukraine, despite its propaganda statements, do not stop, he wrote alongside the photos. open image in gallery In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, residents clear the rubbles following a Russian drone attack in Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad region, Ukraine on Thursday. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) ( AP ) According to Zelenskyy, 10 people were hurt in the attack, including four children. Nearly 200 drones attacked the area. Ukraine's air force claimed in a Telegram post that it shot down 75 of the drones. "Yesterday evening, another Russian strike hit our energy infrastructure. We in Ukraine face this every day and night ... And despite Putin's words about allegedly being ready to stop the attacks, nothing has changed," Zelenskyy told European leaders on Thursday. Ukraine responded by attacking a Russian oil depot on Thursday, prompting Kremlin officials to accuse Zelenskyy of already violating the ceasefire agreement. U.S. officials are set to meet with Russian and Ukrainian officials to discuss the ongoing war during a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday. The meetings are also expected to include discussions about the tentative ceasefire. The pace of re-armament in Europe is accelerating and going in many unexpected directions. The most recent was a report in the French newspaper, Le Figaro, that the French SGDSN (General Secretariat for Defence and National Security) has been preparing a new pamphlet providing advice on how the population might prepare itself for a conflict, including nuclear war. For those who can remember the 1980s, this has echoes of the (at the time derided) pamphlet issued in the UK, Protect And Survive. France has not yet published and released its version but it shows where the focus is for many European governments right now. In November, Sweden updated its advice to the population about how to prepare for a war. Called In case of crisis or war, the 32-page pamphlet covers what stocks you should keep at home, public alarms and warnings in the event of a crisis, and what to do about your pet. It even has a link to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (which published the booklet) to an interactive map for the locations of all the civil defence shelters across Sweden most blocks of flats have one. An earlier version also had tips on guerilla warfare should an enemy invade. All of the Nordic nations, as well as the Baltic states, have now issued similar guidance, and homeland defence is not some abstract concept it is very real. Those states that border Russia, or are in close proximity to it, view the actual threat with the seriousness that it deserves. As one example, last year, Sweden upped its home defence budget from SEK8.5bn (650m) to SEK15bn (1.15bn) over four years and this might yet be accelerated. Quite a lot of the spending is set to be on stocks of things such as food, shelters, and medical supplies. If the same percentage of spending in Sweden on home defence was to be spent in the UK, the budget would be over 5bn annually. There is another element to preparations in the event of a conflict: air defences. Many European countries have been investing billions into advanced surface-to-air missiles, especially the US-supplied Patriot system. A key capability of the system is that it has shown that it can intercept quite a wide range of ballistic missiles, as well as advanced cruise missiles. When Ronald Reagan talked in the 1980s about creating a Star Wars defence shield against Soviet missiles, he was laughed at, as the science/engineering at the time could not produce the radars, the missiles, or the command systems to undertake such complex operations. But the video of an Israeli Arrow 3 missile intercepting an Iranian ballistic missile in space or reports of HMS Diamond shooting down Houthi ballistic missiles in the Red Sea shows that a lot of aspects of Reagans vision are now eminently achievable albeit at a huge price. What could that be for the UK, where we have absolutely no credible surface-to-air missile defences (apart from a few destroyers, two of which are about to decamp 8,000 miles on a deployment to Asia)? Looking at air defence programmes in Germany, as well as the cash-rich Gulf states, coming up with a pretty good air defence missile system in the UK that could take on many ballistic and cruise missiles would cost 15bn as a start. open image in gallery A leaflet given out to Swedish citizens encouraging them to prepare for a future war ( TT News Agency/AFP/Getty ) A more comprehensive air defence missile system? North of 25bn. Put simply, the cost of a weapon that has a good chance of intercepting a ballistic missile is not cheap but the cost of the damage that the missile can do is even higher. Third-party, fire and theft missile defence is acceptable, right up until casualties are suffered. But as the spectre of nuclear stand-offs looms, there is a further issue to consider: an independent European nuclear multi-layer deterrent. The MoD website says: The UKs independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety and that of our Nato allies. There has always been an element of the UK deterrent being at the disposal of Nato. France has not done this for decades, although Emmanuel Macron has been much more open to Paris adopting a similar position to the UK, while still keeping the French deterrent independent. Taking the French and the UK strategic deterrents together would provide a more-or-less credible top-level nuclear deterrent for Euro-Nato. open image in gallery Trident ballistic missile submarine HMS Vengeance stationed off the Scottish coast in 2012 ( Getty ) Where there are serious doubts is in the tactical nuclear deterrent area. The UK gave up tactical nuclear weapons (smaller-yield warheads, ones that can be fired from systems as small as an artillery piece). France is now the only European country to have its own tactical nuclear weapons. Frances non-strategic deterrent, the current ASMP-A near-hypersonic missile, is launched from Rafale fighter bombers, and is being replaced over the next five years by a longer-ranged, faster missile. Again, Macron has posed the question as to whether this part of Frances deterrent a nuclear umbrella could be placed at Europes service. At a recent speech at the airbase that contains the air-launched nuclear deterrent, he suggested that elements could be based closer to Germany heading east. For the rest of European Nato, various countries have offered their air forces to carry and deliver US-supplied (and controlled) tactical nuclear bombs. Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands all have (US-dictated) aircraft dedicated to this mission. However, the political ructions of the past weeks have caused many to doubt whether the USA would release these weapons if there was a crisis (Russia being the opponent) in Europe. The issue about the reliability of the USA over nuclear weapons has had echoes in the UK. In talks with MoD sources last year, raising the issue of whether Washington would release Trident nuclear missiles (the warheads are UK sovereign) to Britain was met with derision. However, the prospect of a Royal Navy Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarine being guaranteed access to the Trident missile stocks is no longer a given. open image in gallery Polish civilians hold plastic rifles as they take part in a military training exercise ( Getty ) When people talk about the US having a kill switch on the UK nuclear deterrent, there is no big red switch somewhere in the Pentagon to power down the UKs Trident missiles. However, access to the stocks could be denied, and if the UK cannot regularly rotate missiles, they would become ineffective over time. This is, in effect, the kill switch people are now concerned about. The solution? Well, over tactical nuclear weapons, Poland has talked for some years now about acquiring these weapons. Put simply, the history of Poland is one of being dominated or sold out by larger powers. Warsaw is reading the lessons of Ukraine bargaining away its stock of nuclear weapons/missiles and trust in France, Germany, and the UK was already low before the 2022 invasion. Now, trust in the USA has also taken a hit, so even offering to host US tactical nuclear weapons isnt good enough. In short order, only the UK and France could get a tactical nuclear weapons programme together and the good news is that the two countries already share a series of test and validation tools for warheads. On top of this, the UK has announced that it is resuming the production of highly enriched uranium, the key component for new tactical nuclear weapons. It would be far from inconceivable for a new generation of tactical warheads to be built, and there are a variety of options for missiles to carry those. open image in gallery Soldiers from the UKs Royal Anglian Infantry take part in a simulated attack in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland ( Getty ) The question for the UK is whether the reliance on the USA for the Trident strategic missiles has ended. If the reliability of the USA is now at such a low ebb, might the UK swap horses? An industrial source inside the UKs nuclear enterprise told me: Theres actually never a better time than now if we are to swap Trident for the French M51 [submarine-launched ballistic missile] we are early enough in the Dreadnought programme to achieve it. Almost all of this would have been completely unthinkable even six months ago thats how fast things are moving. Anyone suggesting that the UK government would need to issue a pamphlet about building your own shelter in your house would have been completely ridiculed. But look east this is exactly what a dozen countries are doing and have been doing for over a year. The previous Conservative government did start to look at issuing advice suggestions? about what every household should stock up on to ensure resilience against natural disasters, but also conflict: wind-up radios, head torches, water. At the time, the wider reaction was pretty much the same as for the 1980s Protect And Survive pamphlet. It is now up to Starmers government to revisit this and take home(land) defence seriously and nuclear defence too. Francis Tusa is editor of Defence Analysis On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russias Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu thanked Kim Jong Un for North Koreas ongoing support in its war against Ukraine during a visit today, Russian state-owned news agency Tass reported. North Korea has supplied vast amounts of weapons to Russia including artillery and ballistic missiles, and has sent up to 12,000 troops to support Russias army in its war with Ukraine, according to intelligence officials from the US, South Korea and Ukraine. In late February, South Korea's spy agency said North Korea appeared to have sent additional troops to Russia. South Korean media put the number of newly sent North Korean soldiers at about 1,000 to 3,000. Tass quoted Mr Shoigu as saying: "I would like to express my gratitude to our Korean friends for solidarity with Russias position on all critical geopolitical issues and on the Ukrainian issue in particular," when speaking with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday. open image in gallery Russia's Security Council secretary, Sergey Shoigu, centre left, arrived at Pyongyang Airport on Friday and was received by Party Secretary Park Chung-cheon, in a photo provided by the North Korean government ( (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP ) Mr Shoigu emphasised that Russia highly values the achieved level of strategic relations between the countries and is committed to deepen them." Intelligence officials suspect North Korea has been receiving economic and military support from Russia in return for its conventional weapons and troops, and experts say North Korea is likely to increase its support from Russia to gain as much assistance as it can before the war ends. A day before the Russian delegations visit, North Korea said it test-launched new anti-aircraft missiles and threatened grave steps against the US and South Korea over their recent joint military drills. The Korean Central News Agency said Mr Kim oversaw the tests on Thursday and called the missiles another major defence weapons system for the country. open image in gallery This picture taken on March 20, 2025 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) inspecting the Nampo Shipyard in Nampo ( KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image ) It's the sixth time this year that North Korea has tested weapons, and it occurred on the same day the US and South Korea wrapped up their 11-day joint military training exercise. US and South Korean officials described the Freedom Shield exercise as defensive in nature, but North Korea says they are a major security threat. An unidentified ministry spokesperson said the US and South Korea would face "the gravest consequences they do not want," if they perform similar provocative actions again. Mr Shoigu's visit comes after Russia agreed to a limited ceasefire with Ukraine after Mr Putin spoke with US President Donald Trump, but it remains to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off limits to attack. Following US talks with both Russia and Ukraine, strikes have continued throughout Ukraine and Russian territory with Kyivs military accusing Russia of bombing its own gas pipeline in a bid to sabotage any ceasefire deal. Mr Shoigu's trip could also be related to Mr Kim's possible trip to Russia, some observers said. In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang and signed a major mutual defence treaty with Mr Kim, and invited the North Korean leader to visit Moscow. With additional reporting from AP On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Flights to and from Londons Heathrow Airport were canceled Friday after a fire at a nearby substation knocked out power to Europes busiest airport, disrupting travel plans for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Here's a look at what's happening and its impact on air travel. What happened? A fire at an electrical substation in west London, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the airport, knocked out power to Heathrow Airport just before midnight on Thursday. The significant power outage" forced officials to shut the airport until 11:59 p.m. on Friday to maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues. The London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters responded to a fire at the substation that was reported at 11:23 p.m. on Thursday. The fire has been contained but firefighters will remain at the scene throughout Friday, the fire brigade said. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the catastrophic fire appeared to have knocked out a backup generator as well as the electrical substation that supplies power to Heathrow Airport. National Grid, which maintains energy infrastructure in Britain, said the fire damaged equipment at the substation and crews are working to restore power supplies as quickly as possible. Power had been restored to 62,000 customers by 6 a.m. local time, but 4,900 were still without electricity. What caused the fire? The cause is still under investigation, but officials said there was no suggestion of foul play. We dont know the cause of this fire. Its obviously an unprecedented event, Miliband said. He said the fire and subsequent shutdown of Heathrow raises questions about the resilience of a key piece of national infrastructure. How was Heathrow affected? The disruption disrupted travel plans of the roughly 200,000 people who were expected to travel through Heathrow on Friday. Heathrow advised passengers not to travel to the airport and to contact their airlines to rebook flights. With all take offs and landings canceled, the first impact was on dozens of long-haul flights from North America and Asia that were in the air when the airport was shutdown. Some were forced to turn around, while others were diverted to airports around the U.K. and Europe. Heathrow-bound aircraft have landed at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam; Shannon Airport in western Ireland; Glasgow, Scotland; Manchester, England; Charles de Gaulle in Paris; Lyon, France; and Frankfurt, Germany, among others. The impact on short-haul flights was delayed until Friday morning because flight operations at Heathrow are severely limited between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. every day to minimize overnight noise in surrounding communities. Even so, thousands of people will be unable to travel to and from airports around Europe and the U.K. on Friday. Some 4,000 tons of cargo have also been stranded by the closure, according to Anita Mendiratta, an aviation consultant. How long will the disruptions last? Even if the airport reopens on Saturday, the disruptions are expected to last for days as airlines move stranded aircraft and flight crews back into position and work to accommodate passengers whose flights were canceled. Mendiratta estimated that it would take two to four days to clear all the backlogs. This is an extreme situation where the entire aviation ecosystem is impacted, Mendiratta said. There will be two things that will be happening as a priority number one shall we say. First is airport operations and understanding, from an electrical system point of view, what has been impacted, if anything, she added. Did anything short out, for instance? What needs to be reactivated? And then how do you literally turn the airport back on again? Passenger and cargo. On top of that, theres the issue of actually managing the human component of it. You have passengers that are impacted, crew are impacted and operations so being able to re-mobilize everything.'' How big is Heathrow? Heathrow was Europes busiest airport last year, with 83.6 million passengers traveling through the airport. Its closure will have far-reaching impacts because it is a major hub for connecting flights to cities throughout Britain and around the world, as well as for travel to London. Does London have other airports? Yes. Five other air hubs in southeastern England identify themselves as London airports, but they are much smaller than Heathrow. Gatwick, Britains second-biggest airport, handled 43.2 million passengers last year. It is in the town of Crawley, 28 miles south of London. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Moscow has been accused of bombing its own gas infrastructure in order to sabotage an energy ceasefire deal with Ukraine. Ukraines general staff has denied that its forces struck a key gas pumping station in Sudzha, and instead said it had been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. The army accused Russia of seeking to pin the blame on Ukraine with groundless accusations its military was involved all to undermine any truce and longer peace deal currently being negotiated by Donald Trump and the US. The Russian federation is intensifying its discrediting campaign against Ukraine, it said. In particular, the enemy has accused the Ukrainian defence forces of shelling the Sudzha gas metering station. These accusations are groundless. On the contrary, the mentioned station has been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. open image in gallery The army accused Russia of seeking to pin the blame on Ukraine with groundless accusations its military was involved ( X ) The military added: Russians continue to create numerous fakes and seek to mislead the international community. We urge you to trust only official sources, verify information and do not succumb to manipulation. The station has been a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine, before Kyiv refused to extend the agreement in January this year. Once it passed through the station, it entered Ukraines pipeline system into Slovakia, before going onto the Czech Republic and Austria. In 2023, almost half of all Russian gas exports to Europe were pumped through the station. Russia accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, saying the station had been under the control of Kyivs forces until now, and that they had used it as a logistics base. open image in gallery In 2023, almost half of all Russian gas exports to Europe were pumped through the station ( X ) The blowing up of an important Russian energy facility by Ukrainian army units retreating from the Kursk region is a deliberate provocation by the Kyiv regime, the defence ministry said in a statement. [This] should be viewed as part of a series of recent strikes against the energy infrastructure of the Russian Federation aimed at discrediting the peace initiatives of the president of the United States. The region has been the focus of fierce fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in recent weeks, with Moscows troops recapturing much of the region held by Kyiv since August last year. open image in gallery Russian soldiers walk past a destroyed building in the town of Sudzha ( Reuters ) Moscows forces have said in recent days that they have taken control of Sudzha, the largest town Kyivs forces had seized. But Kyiv claims it still holds positions beyond the town and would keep fighting as long as possible. Mr Putin, who visited Kursk for the first time since Ukraines incursion last week, has threatened that the Ukrainian soldiers he claims are surrounded will face death unless they surrender. The attack comes after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle on Wednesday to a limited ceasefire proposed by the US. open image in gallery Donald Trump spoke with both leaders this week but all sides appeared to hold different views about what the deal covered ( AFP/Getty ) Donald Trump spoke with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine this week, but all sides appeared to hold different views about what the deal covered. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the agreement reached between Mr Trump and Mr Putin referred to energy facilities, adding that the Russian military is fulfilling Mr Putins order to halt such attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. The Russian military are currently refraining from strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure in accordance with the agreement reached between Russia and the United States, Mr Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. open image in gallery In Ukraine, a mass drone attack launched by Russia on Odesa overnight caused fires in three different parts of the city ( Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP ) In Ukraine, a mass drone attack launched by Russia on Odesa overnight caused fires in three different parts of the city. Mr Zelensky called for more joint pressure on Russia following the attacks, which injured three people. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has floated the idea of taking control of Ukraines nuclear power plants, in a phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The conversation on Wednesday was described as positive by both sides and was mainly aimed at securing a truce between Ukraine and Russia on aerial attacks against one anothers energy infrastructure. Mr Zelensky suggested the call had focused on the US takeover of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russian control. open image in gallery A Russian serviceman patrols the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Energodar on May 1, 2022 ( AFP via Getty Images ) But a statement from the White House, penned by Mr Trumps secretary of state Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz, spoke of the potential American acquisition of multiple stations, including Ukraines electric supply and nuclear power plants. The unexpected request follows an ongoing conversation between the two countries to facilitate the US purchase of critical Ukrainian mineral resources, estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Those talks broke down after a public feud between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky at the White House last month. Mr Zelensky also said after the call that a halt on energy strikes in the war with Russia could be established quickly but warned Ukraine would respond in kind if Moscow violated the terms of the limited ceasefire. I understand that until we agree (with Russia), until there is a corresponding document on even a partial ceasefire, I think that everything will fly, Mr Zelensky said, referring to drones and missiles. Just hours after Vladimir Putin agreed to immediately order his army to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in a call with Mr Trump on Tuesday, Russian missiles and drones pummeled Ukrainian cities, underscoring the difficulties in securing a ceasefire that will hold. Russian drones knocked out the electricity for parts of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk on Tuesday night before Moscow proceeded to fire around 150 missiles and drones at targets across Ukraine overnight, hitting civilian homes and medical facilities. Moscow accused Ukraine of doing the same after state media reports suggested Ukrainian drones had hit an oil facility in the Russian region of Krasnodar. The Independent could not verify this claim nor the footage provided by state media purporting to show the aftermath of the attack. The two sides have been exchanging aerial attacks on energy infrastructure for more than a year. Ukraine started striking deep into mainland Russia at the beginning of 2024 in an attempt to disrupt Moscows Russian oil and gas flows and the revenue it derives from sales of energy abroad. Russia, meanwhile, has been bombing Ukraines energy infrastructure since October 2022. The Kremlins primary aim, experts say, is to destroy Ukrainian morale and cripple Kyivs economy. The rate of strikes often jumps during the winter months as Russia literally tries to force Ukrainians into the cold. Between March and September last year, Russia launched nine long-range attacks on Ukraines electric power system, according to United Nations estimates. The strikes had reverberating effects causing harm to the civilian population, the UN wrote. The largest of those attacks, on 26 August, killed seven people and left dozens more wounded. Russia fired 127 missiles and 109 drones, around half of which were destroyed. More than half of Ukraine was hit, with swathes of the country plunged into blackouts. A year earlier, in December 2023, Russia unleashed one of its most devastating air attacks of the war on Ukraine, killing 31 civilians, wounding more than 160 others and hitting cities and infrastructure across the country. In early June 2023, the Russians blew up and completely destroyed the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, causing the Dnipro Rivers banks to burst. Thousands of homes were flooded. Damages from the dams destruction are currently estimated at $586 million. These attacks have extended to nuclear sites. In February, a Russian drone struck the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UNs nuclear watchdog, said that its team at the site heard a large explosion shortly before 2am local time. While radiation levels were kept under control, experts cautioned that Russia was acting recklessly. Were getting closer and closer to possible disaster, Serhii Plokhy, who tells the story of the occupation of Chernboyl in his 2024 book Chernobyl Roulette, told The Independent later that month. Citywide blackouts across Ukraine have left civilians without access to electricity for significant chunks of the day. open image in gallery Houses are seen underwater in the flooded town of Oleshky, Ukraine, after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In a paper published last month, the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), estimated that the total damages to Ukraines energy sector after three years of Russias full-scale invasion is $14.6 billion (11.3 bn). All the countrys coal-fired power plants and hydroelectric plants under Ukrainian control have been damaged since February 2022. At least 20 combined heat and power plants have been hit. At least nine thermal power plant units have been damaged, and one of them was completely destroyed as a result of a direct Russian missile hit. KSE writes that the costs of restoring these facilities are likely to significantly exceed the estimated damages due to significant physical wear and tear and technological obsolescence of damaged and destroyed equipment. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Heavy rains continue to batter Spain bring the risk of further flooding as storm Martinho brings strong winds, large swells and intense rainfall to large parts of the country. Dozens of roads remain closed and the Spanish government has urged residents to avoid travel according to local media reports due to forecast heavy rain and the water levels of the Manazares River in Madrid remaining high. The Spanish weather bureau, Aemet, said storm Martinho was heaping more rain onto areas on Friday and through the weekend that have already experienced plenty of rain in the last few weeks. open image in gallery A person looks on the swollen Manzanares river in Madrid, Spain, on Friday ( EPA ) Storm Martinho is dumping heavy rain where there has already been a lot of rainfall. It's also raining in areas with snow, causing it to melt, the bureau said. The soils are saturated, and many rivers are experiencing very high flows in the central and southern parts of the Peninsula. Be careful of flooding. Winds of up to 90km/h are expected on Friday for parts of Spain while other parts of the country are likely to get up to 60 millimetres of rain on top of three weeks of heavy storm activity. open image in gallery Yellow weather warnings remain current for Friday across large parts of Spain ( Aemet ) But relief is on the way, Aemet said. The rains will cease across much of the Peninsula during the week of March 24-30, it said, adding rain will be limited to the north in the next week, which has not experienced the downpours the rest of the country has been hit with. For Friday all autonomous providence remain under a yellow weather warning, except for the Canary Islands, and those warnings persist in many areas across Saturday as well. Strong winds of 70km/h are forecast for Almeria on Friday, with winds of 60km/h expected for the weekend. open image in gallery A flooded street in Avila, Spain ( EPA ) Parts of Avila are forecast to experience rainfalls of up to 60 millimetres, while Salamanca is expected to get up to 40 millimetres through Friday. Footage on social media shows children being carried on the backs of rescuers through ankle-deep flood water in Avila, with El Pais reporting firefighters rescued 41 children from a religious centre there on Friday morning. In Malaga emergency services are searching for a motorcyclist they believe was swept away in flooding on Wednesday, El Pais reports, after the mans motorbike was found buried under flood debris. Storm Martinho follows three weeks of consecutive extreme weather in Spain, and follows storms Jana, Konrad and Laurence. open image in gallery Residents clean their street flooded in Campanillas near Malaga this week ( AFP via Getty Images ) It comes after two people lost their lives in flooding caused by Storm Laurence earlier this week. Dozens of roads across Spain have been closed due to storm damage, with trains and flights also cancelled according to local news reports. Dramatic footage of Storm Laurence shows cars being swept away in flood waters in Murcia with roads turned into rivers as the region was hit by torrential rain on Tuesday. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that all nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine after reports that his US counterpart Donald Trump said an American takeover of the countrys nuclear power would offer the best protection for it. In their first conversation since Mr Trump verbally attacked Mr Zelensky in the White House and had him thrown out, the US president reportedly suggested Washington take ownership of Ukraines energy infrastructure. But Kyiv says the discussions referred only to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian occupation. open image in gallery Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Store ( EPA ) All nuclear power plants in Ukraine are state-owned and belong to Kyiv, he insisted. The temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia [nuclear power plant] belongs to Ukraine, everybody acknowledges it and recognises it, he said. Mr Zelensky denied discussing with Mr Trump the possibility of US ownership of the Zaporizhzhia plant, but said they did discuss how to find the solution from the situation and take the station from the Russians. They also talked about potential US investment in the plant, the Ukrainian leader said. But he added: The issue with property we definitely did not discuss with Mr Trump. Addressing EU leaders virtually from Norway, the Ukrainian leader said Russias president, Vladimir Putin, should stop unnecessary demands while warning that nothing had changed after Russia attacked his countrys energy infrastructure on Wednesday, despite Mr Putins pledge to halt such strikes. Top military officers from countries across Europe and beyond met on Thursday to flesh out plans for an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine as details of a partial ceasefire are worked out. British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said steps were being made in the right direction towards a ceasefire as a coalition of the willing led by Britain and France moved into an operational phase. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer visited a military base to meet military planners mapping out next steps in the coalition of the willing ( Alistair Grant/PA ) Were further forward this week than we were last week, and we are further forward last week than we were the week before, he said. I hope, I want, those talks to succeed. What I do know is if they do succeed, then we need to be able to defend the deal. The timetable for the peacekeeping force was now coming into focus following talks between the US and Russia, Sir Keir said. But he warned that Mr Putin would breach any peace deal without anything behind it. Last weekend and two weekends before that, we had groupings of international political leaders coming together to provide the political alignment and the collective agreement that we need to work together to ensure that any deal that is put in place is defended, he said. Whats happening here is turning that political intention into reality, the concept into plans. Sir Keir added: It is vitally important we do that work because we know one thing for certain, which is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach. We know that because it happened before. Im absolutely clear in my mind it will happen again. Ukraine and Russia have agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire, although Mr Putin rebuffed Mr Trumps push for a full 30-day ceasefire. President Zelensky said he was committed to working with the US to stop arms being directed at Russian power production and civilian facilities. I raised this issue with President Trump and said that our side would identify what we consider to be civilian infrastructure, Mr Zelensky said. I dont want there to be any misunderstanding about what the sides are agreeing on. Negotiators from Moscow and the US will meet on Monday in Saudi Arabia, Mr Putins foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian news agencies. Sir Keir said Mr Putin was afraid of Britains nuclear weapons, and that Trident was a crucial deterrent. Before visiting Barrow on Thursday, where he laid the keel for the next generation of Britains nuclear deterrent submarines, the prime minister said Trident had proven incredibly effective since its introduction in the 1990s. Of Russia, the prime minister said: I think they appreciate our capability. What is obviously important is that they appreciate that it is what it is, which is a credible capability. Ukraine launched a major drone assault on Thursday on a Russian airbase that is key to the relentless missile attacks against Ukrainian cities. The strike on the Soviet-era Engels airfield, which houses a number of Russias nuclear-capable heavy bombers and stores of cruise missiles, sparked a huge explosion and numerous fires. A state of emergency was declared in the area, about 450 miles from Moscow. Ukraine has repeatedly sought to hit the Engels base, across the three years of Russias invasion. Mr Zelensky said Mr Trump had not raised the issue of Russia-occupied Crimea, after reports that the US president was willing to formally recognise Ukraines Crimea as Russian territory. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump suggested a potential transfer of Ukrainian power plants to US ownership during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a US statement. The discussion, later clarified by Zelensky, centred on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), currently under Russian occupation. While the plant remains connected to Ukraine's grid, it is not producing electricity, raising questions about the feasibility and nature of any future US involvement. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of the worlds 10 largest and Europes biggest. Who controls the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant? open image in gallery Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was captured by Russia in March 2022 ( REUTERS ) Located in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces occupied it shortly after Moscows February 2022 invasion. While Russia declared the region annexed in Autumn 2022, its largest city, Zaporizhzhia, remains under Ukrainian control. Ukraine has accused Russia of stationing troops and weapons at the plant and using it as a launchpad for attacks across the Dnipro River. Russia denies this, accusing Ukraine of shelling the facility. How many nuclear power plants does Ukraine have? Besides Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine operates three active nuclear power plants, which generate the majority of the countrys electricity following sustained Russian attacks on thermal and hydroelectric plants. These facilities are located in southern, western and northwestern Ukraine, away from frontline areas. What did Trump and Zelenskyy discuss and are there negotiations over Zaporizhzhias fate? During their call on Wednesday, Trump suggested that Zelensky should consider giving the US ownership of Ukraines power plants to ensure their long-term security, according to a White House statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. American ownership of those plants could be the best protection for that infrastructure, Trump suggested, according to the statement. Zelensky later told journalists their conversation focused on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and the following day, made it clear that the issue of ownership of the other three plants was never discussed. All nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine, he said. Zelenskyy said that when they discussed Zaporizhzhia, the US leader had inquired about the facilitys future. Trump asked my thoughts on the plant," Zelensyy said. I told him that if it is not Ukrainian, it will not operate. It is illegal. Even though ZNPP is a state-owned plant, Zelenskyy acknowledged that if the US were to claim it from Russian control, invest in it and modernise it, Ukraine might consider it. That is a separate question, an open one, he said. What is the current state of Zaporizhzhias nuclear plant? open image in gallery A picture taken during a visit organised by the Russian military shows Russian servicemen guard on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant ( EPA ) Since falling under Russian control, the plant's conditions have deteriorated. While its six reactors have been shut down for years, they still require power and qualified staff to maintain cooling systems and safety features. Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear operator, said that after Russian forces took over, Ukrainian personnel were forced to sign contracts with Russian authorities and take Russian citizenship. Those who refused faced abduction or threats, forcing thousands to flee, leaving the facility understaffed and harder to manage. The collapse of a dam in June 2023 further jeopardised the plants cooling systems, which relied on water from the reservoir. In response, plant administrators dug wells, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). open image in gallery Water flows over the collapsed Kakhovka Dam ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Zelensky said extensive repairs would be needed before the plant could operate again, estimating the process could take at least two years. The IAEA has repeatedly warned the war could cause a radiation leak. While the plant no longer produces electricity, it still holds large amounts of nuclear fuel, requiring constant cooling. Regular blackouts caused by the fighting have disrupted the facility, though power has been quickly restored each time. IAEA experts permanently stationed there still face restricted access, with Russian authorities blocking some inspection requests, according to IAEA head Rafael Grossi. Is any kind of deal imminent? Zelensky said the discussions with Trump on restoring Zaporizhzhia were a positive step, but cautioned that no one would work at the plant if Russian forces remained stationed nearby. Control over the plant is likely to remain a legal and logistical challenge, intertwined with a highly divisive issue for both warring sides: control over the land itself. Russian troops hold the area, while Ukrainian forces are separated from it by the Dnipro River and more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) of terrain. Simply handing over the plant while everything within a meter of it remains occupied or armed by Russia no one will work under such conditions," Zelenskyy said after the call with Trump. Its impossible. He said there would be no way to operate securely in such a scenario. That would mean that the plant could start operating tomorrow, only to be blown up by the Russians the following day." On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ukraines minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them. On April 30, Ukraines prime minister Denys Shmyhal said a minerals deal could be signed within the next 24 hours after the final details were worked out. Earlier in the month, Ukrainian economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, took to X and shared photos of her and US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, signing the outline of the preliminary minerals deal separately. What are these minerals exactly and why are they so sought after? Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the worlds most remarkable geological formations, the Ukrainian Shield. This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earths oldest and most stable continental blocks. The formation has undergone multiple episodes of mountain building, the formation and movement of magma and other change throughout time. These geological processes created favourable geological conditions for forming several mineral deposits including lithium, graphite, manganese, titanium and rare earth elements. All these are now critical for modern industries and the global green energy transition. Ukraine has deposits containing 22 of 34 critical minerals identified by the European Union as essential for energy security. This positions Ukraine among the worlds most resource-rich nations. International race As the world races to decarbonise, demand for critical minerals is skyrocketing. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and energy storage systems all require lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements which Ukraine has in abundance. The price of lithium has surged from US$1,500 (1,164) per ton in the 1990s to around $20,000 per ton in recent years. Demand is expected to increase nearly 40-fold by 2040. open image in gallery Lithium is used in electronics the world over ( Getty Images ) According to the International Energy Agency, the number of electric vehicles is projected to exceed 125 million by 2030. Similar growth is expected for other battery metals. Each electric vehicle requires significantly more lithium than conventional electronics. For example, a Tesla Model S battery requires approximately 63kg of high-purity lithium. Ukraine has three major lithium deposits. These include Shevchenkivske in the Donetsk region as well as Polokhivske and Stankuvatske in the centrally located Kirovograd region all within the Ukrainian Shield. Despite the significant mineral potential, many of Ukraines mineral deposits have remained largely unexplored due to the war with Russia, which has disrupted mining operations and damaged infrastructure. The Shevchenkivske lithium deposit contains high concentrations of spodumene the primary lithium-bearing mineral used in battery production. Its reserve is estimated as 13.8 million tonnes of lithium ores. That said, extracting it requires an estimated US$1020 million in exploration investment before mining can begin. Meanwhile, the Polokhivske deposit at is approximately 270 thousand tonnes of lithium is considered one of the best lithium sites in Europe. Thats because of its favourable geological conditions, making extraction more economically viable. But lithium represents just one element of Ukraines mineral resources. According to the US geological survey, Ukraine ranks globally as the third-largest producer of the mineral rutile making up 15.7 per cent of worlds total output. It is the sixth-largest producer of iron ore (3.2 per cent of total output) and titanium (5.8 per cent), as well as the seventh-largest producer of manganese ore (3.1 per cent). open image in gallery Wind turbines at a solar energy plant in Germany ( AP ) Ukraine also has Europes largest uranium reserves, crucial for nuclear power and weapons. It boasts significant deposits of rare earth elements, including neodymium and dysprosium, which are needed for manufacturing everything from smartphones to wind turbines and electric motors. In addition, Ukraine is home to the worlds largest proven reserves of manganese ores. Theres approximately 2.4 billion tonnes of it concentrated primarily in the Nikopol Basin on the southern slope of the Ukrainian Shield. The strategic significance of Ukraines minerals has gained recognition in international diplomacy. Recent bilateral negotiations between Ukraine and the US highlight the geopolitical importance of these resources. A proposed minerals deal would involve Ukraine contributing 50 per cent of future proceeds from state-owned mineral resources, oil and gas and other extractable materials to a reconstruction investment fund for Ukraines post-war rebuilding. The fund would be jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington. What about the USs own minerals? The USs interest in Ukrainian minerals reflects a broader geopolitical concern over increasing demand, volatile price movements and supply chain vulnerabilities. While the US has many of the same critical minerals as Ukraine, it has historically outsourced mining and refining due to environmental regulations, high labour costs and more attractive foreign markets. This has led to a reliance on imports, particularly from China, which dominates critical mineral production and processing. Getting access to Ukraines minerals in exchange for military protection means the US can avoid having to buy these minerals from China. open image in gallery A man holds a lithium stone found in a mine ( AP ) The US federal strategy in fact states it will prioritise diversification through mineral security partnerships aiming to establish a more stable and resilient supply chain. The USs critical minerals are distributed across various geological provinces including the Appalachian Mountains, the Cordilleran Belt and the Precambrian Shield exposed in parts of the midwest. While the US has developed substantial lithium resources, particularly in Nevadas Clayton Valley and North Carolinas Kings Mountain, much of its current lithium production comes from brine operations. This is the extraction from salt solutions, such as seawater or saline lakes, which can be more expensive than hard-rock mining. The global shift toward green energy and electric transportation is accelerating, and minerals are at the heart of this transition. Around 80 per cent of the lithium produced globally is used for battery production. Major automakers are investing billions in electric vehicle production, driving unprecedented demand for the minerals that power this technology. Ukraines mineral wealth positions it as a potential leader in the clean energy revolution. Once stability returns, Ukraine will have a golden opportunity to reshape the global supply chain for critical minerals. Even with a 50 per cent allocation to the US, Ukraine would still be able to fund domestic infrastructure, industry growth, jobs and economic recovery. Munira Raji is a Research Fellow of Geology at the University of Plymouth This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article Close Zelensky condemns Russian strikes on hometown: Diplomacy means nothing to them On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A 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. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A fire has erupted at a gas pumping station in the Russian region of Kursk bordering Ukraine, after a huge explosion rocked the site. Both Kyiv and Moscow have denied responsibility for the attack, with both sides accusing the other of targeting the key facility near the Russian town of Sudzha. Kursk has been the focus of fierce fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in recent weeks, as Vladimir Putins forces push to retake territory seized by Ukraine in a daring assault last year. Kyivs troops captured hundreds of square miles of the territory in western Russia, including Sudzha, when it launched an incursion in August last year - marking the largest attack on Russian territory since the Second World War. The Ukrainian military and Russian war bloggers reported that Russian special forces walked for miles inside the gas pipeline itself to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in the region weeks ago. The station has been a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine, before Kyiv refused to extend the agreement in January this year. open image in gallery Russian service members walk past a destroyed building in the town of Sudzha ( via REUTERS ) Once it passed through the station, it entered Ukraines pipeline system into Slovakia, before going onto the Czech Republic and Austria. In 2023, almost half of all Russian gas exports to Europe were pumped through the station. Ukraines general staff denied its forces struck the key gas pumping station and instead said it had been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. open image in gallery ( X ) The army accused Russia of seeking to pin the blame on Ukraine with groundless accusations its military was involved all to undermine any truce and longer peace deal currently being negotiated by Donald Trump and the US. The Russian federation is intensifying its discrediting campaign against Ukraine, it said. In particular, the enemy has accused the Ukrainian Defense Forces of shelling the Sudzha gas metering station. These accusations are groundless. On the contrary, the mentioned station has been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. Russia accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, saying the station had been under the control of Kyiv's forces "until now" who had used it as a logistics base. "The blowing up of an important Russian energy facility by Ukrainian army units retreating from the Kursk region is a deliberate provocation by the Kyiv regime," the defence ministry said in a statement. "(This) should be viewed as part of a series of recent strikes against the energy infrastructure of the Russian Federation aimed at discrediting the peace initiatives of the president of the United States." On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israels defence minister has told the military to seize additional areas in Gaza and threatened to permanently occupy parts of it if Hamas does not free all remaining hostages. Israel Katz said that the military would continue its ground operation in Gaza with increasing intensity until all of the hostages both living and dead were returned. We will intensify the fighting with strikes from the air, sea and land and by expanding the ground manoeuvre until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated, Mr Katz said. The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel. It is believed that there are 59 hostages still held in Gaza, but a significant number are thought to be dead. The war inside Gaza was triggered by an attack by Hamas inside Israel on 7 October 2023, during which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 people taken hostage. Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed 49,000 Palestinians according to the enclaves health ministry and forced 90 per cent of its 2.3 million residents from their homes. A temporary, first phase of a ceasefire ended at the start of this month. The truce agreed to in mid-January was a three-phase plan meant to lead to a long-term cessation of hostilities, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of all hostages taken by Hamas. But Israel and Hamas could not overcome differences over terms for launching the second phase. Israel has accused Hamas of rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire. Hamas has said it is engaging with the mediators with full responsibility and seriousness. Hamas said on Friday it was reviewing a US proposal to restore the ceasefire. After two months of relative calm, Gazans were again fleeing for their lives after Israel launched a new, all-out air and ground campaign against Hamas on Tuesday, after halting all aid deliveries into the narrow coastal enclave. Around 600 people have been killed since the bombing campaign restarted, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Strip. open image in gallery Ronen Bar, chief of Israels domestic Shin Bet security agency, has been fired ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) It comes as Israels Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction on Friday, temporarily freezing the dismissal of the head of the domestic intelligence service. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that he had lost confidence in Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and intended to dismiss him, prompting tens of thousands to join demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv this week protesting the sacking, which critics saw as an attempt to undermine key state institutions. The Israeli government voted unanimously to approve the Shin Bet leaders removal on Thursday night, the prime ministers office said in a statement. Ronen Bar will conclude his duties on 10 April 2025 or when a permanent ISA Director is appointed whichever comes first, Mr Netanyahus office said. open image in gallery Police and protesters clashed in Jerusalem on Thursday ( REUTERS ) But the new ruling will allow the Supreme Court to consider petitions launched against the dismissal, with a decision no later than 8 April, a statement from the court said. The anti-Netanyahu protesters joined forces with protesters angry about the decision to resume fighting in Gaza. Were very, very worried that our country is becoming a dictatorship, Rinat Hadashi, 59, told Reuters in Jerusalem on Thursday. Theyre abandoning our hostages, theyre neglecting all the important things for this country. open image in gallery Children look on as people walk amid the rubble of a building destroyed in an overnight Israeli strike in Jabalia, in the Northern Gaza Strip this week ( AFP via Getty Images ) Police turned water cannons on the protesters on Thursday and arrested several in Tel Aviv after a scuffle between demonstrators and police, while the prime ministers residence in Jerusalem was closed after protesters tried to break through security cordons. Shin Bet, which has been led by Mr Bar since 2021, is responsible for counterterrorism efforts across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and the security of Israeli officials. Mr Bar had already announced his decision to step down early and take responsibility for one of the biggest failings of domestic intelligence, where Shin Bet failed to prevent the Hamas attack. The dismissal of Mr Bar followed more than two years of hostility between Netanyahu supporters and elements of the security and defence establishment, which was worsened by blame over the failures that led to 7 October 2023. Mr Netanyahu, with a secure majority in parliament and bolstered by the return of hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has been able to brush off the protests, but they underline divisions in Israeli society that have deepened since his return to power at the end of 2022. Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Twelve people were rushed to hospital on Thursday in Colorado after an American Airlines flight caught fire as it was taxiing on the tarmac moments after it had been forced into an emergency landing when the crew heard engine vibrations. Dramatic videos and pictures posted to social media showed passengers standing on the Boeing 737-800s wings as the flames engulfed the underside of the aircraft. Those passengers were eventually brought to safety via slides. According to FlightAware, the flight departed Colorado Springs at 4.52pm., bound for Dallas-Fort Worth. At 5.14pm, the flight was diverted. It landed in Denver at 5.55pm. One passenger told CBS Colorado that shortly after the landing, passengers began to notice a weird burning plastic smell. Then everybody started screaming and saying there was a fire, said Gabrielle Hibbitts, who was travelling with her mother and sister. It was surreal. I was like, Is this gonna blow up. Whats happening here? Are they gonna be able to put out the fire? Im really grateful that this happened on the ground because if this happened in the air, I dont think Id be standing here telling you the story, her mother Ingrid Hibbitts added. Passengers stand on the wing of the American Airlines Boeing 737-800 ( Courtesy of Branden Williams/AFP ) A spokesperson for American Airlines has said that the plane suffered an engine-related issue as it made its way to the gate, which caused the fire at 6pm. 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, the AA statement read. The fire was extinguished by Denver International Airport firefighters. Passengers luggage was safely removed from the plane, and they flew to Texas around 1am local time. The FAA has said that the cause of the engine vibrating and the cause of the fire remain under investigation. Robert Sumwalt, CBS News transportation safety analyst, admitted that he was baffled as to how a fire could start while the plane was taxiing to the runway. He said that aspect would likely be key in any investigation. According to air traffic control audio, the pilot notified air traffic controllers in Denver that the plane was experiencing engine issues, but it was not an emergency. American 10,006, uh, 1006 just to verify: not an emergency still, correct? the controller asked in audio captured on LiveATC.net. Nah, we just have a high engine vibration, so we are cruising slower than normal, the pilot said. However, several minutes later, after the plane landed, someone on the radio yelled, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! Mayday! Engine fire! Airline officials confirmed that the 172 passengers and six crew members were then transported to the terminal. There were no reports of serious injuries, but 12 passengers were confirmed to be in local hospitals on Thursday night. The news follows a spate of aviation disasters and close calls that have stoked fears about air travel, despite flying remaining a very safe mode of transport. Recent on-the-ground incidents have 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. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with me, Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent. Keep scrolling for more. If you want to jump straight to the Q&A, click here. Thousands of passengers are facing severe disruption after a massive fire ripped through an electricity substation near Heathrow airport, causing widespread power outages and flight cancellations. With up to 300,000 travellers expected to pass through Europes busiest airport today, the unexpected outage has led to chaos, affecting thousands of flights. Passengers have been asked not to travel to Heathrow under any circumstances, while British Airways has suspended operations until further notice. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though authorities have stated there is no indication of foul play. Energy minister Ed Miliband has described the incident as unprecedented and has called for an investigation into its causes and potential lessons for the future. While Heathrow is set to reopen this evening, significant disruption remains. Many travellers have been left wondering about their rights, alternative travel options, and what to expect in the coming days. So, if your flight has been affected, what are your options? What compensation are airlines required to provide? And what should travellers planning to fly in the coming days do? Ill be answering all your questions about the Heathrow chaos, passenger rights, and travel alternatives. If you have a travel question, submit it now or join me live for our Ask Me Anything Q&A on Friday 21 March at 7pm GMT. Register to submit your question in the comments box under this article. If youre not already a member, click sign up in the comments section to leave your question. For a full guide on how to comment click here. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tens of thousands of airline passengers were stranded after a sudden power outage across Spain and Portugal. Around 500 flights were cancelled, almost half of them to and from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Travellers may be entitled to care while they wait but not, as this was beyond the control of airlines, compensation. But your rights depend on where your flight begins and the airline involved. Follow live updates on the situation here For all flights from the UK and EU airports (as well as those in the wider EEA), European air passengers rights rules prevail. These were introduced in 2006 and are known as EC261. After Brexit, the UK copied and pasted the same regulations into British law as UK261. The rules were devised to require airlines to do the right thing for their passengers. They specify the care and compensation you can expect when your plane is cancelled or heavily delayed. These rules also apply for flights on EU and British airlines departing from outside the European Union and the UK. A cancellation, or even a delay of hours rather than minutes could trigger the obligation for an airline to provide a hotel room and meals as appropriate. If the airline is to blame in circumstances other than the Spain and Portugal blackout it will also owe hundreds of pounds in cash. Conversely, when flying on a non-EU/UK carrier from outside Europe. you may just have to put a dismal aviation episode down to expensive experience, and see if your travel insurer can help. These are the key questions and answers. In the UK and Europe, what can I expect if my flight is cancelled or delayed? For delays of under two hours you have no rights (unless a short delay in the UK triggers a missed connection and much later arrival at your final ticketed destination see below). For longer delays, the airline should provide refreshments as appropriate after a specified length of time. This applies regardless of the cause of the delay. The time at which the duty of care kicks in depends on the distance you are flying: Short flights (up to 1,500km): refreshments after two hours. Mid-haul journeys (1,500 to 3,500km): three hours. Longer trips: four hours. Note that if the airline believes providing the care would further delay the flight, it need not deliver. If the delay extends overnight, the airline is obliged to find and pay for a hotel room. In practice, carriers often say, too difficult, and invite the passenger to book their own and reclaim later. While this practice does not comply fully with the rules, aviation authorities tend to turn a blind eye to it. My flight from an airport outside the UK or EU is cancelled. What am I entitled to? If you are booked on a UK or EU airline you have full rights as above. On any other airline, you have none though in practice a reputable airline will provide meals and accommodation as appropriate. Some travel insurance policies will help meet expenses that cannot be claimed back elsewhere, and may pay a modest amount of flight delay compensation. Its no longer worth going. Can I cancel and get my money back? If your flight is cancelled, and you decide not to travel, you should get money back within a week. Some airlines may offer a voucher instead. If there is a benefit in taking a voucher say an uplift in value of 25 per cent and you know you will be using the same airline within a year, that might be a good decision. But easyJet, Britain's biggest budget airline, does not offer any benefit insist on cash. How do I qualify for a cash payout? If you are flying from a UK/EU airport or on a British/ European airline and have your flight cancelled or are delayed in arrival by at least three hours the presumption is that you are owed hundreds of pounds in compensation. The payment depends on distance: Under 1,500km, for example London to Barcelona: 220 or 250 1,500-3,500km, such as Manchester-Lisbon: 350 or 400 Above 3,500km, eg Birmingham-Dubai: 520 or 600. If a long-haul arrival delay is between three and four hours, the compensation is halved. The only way the airline can avoid paying out is by demonstrating extraordinary circumstances were responsible. Define extraordinary circumstances? The rules provide only a partial answer: political instability, meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and strikes. Court cases have gradually refined the concept of extraordinary circumstances to exclude technical problems. In other words: if a mechanical failure caused the delay, you are due compensation. A judge ruled such issues are inherent in the normal exercise of the activity of the air carrier. Official strikes by the airlines own staff are regarded as within the carriers control, but oddly wildcat walkouts not sanctioned by a trade union are not. Crew sickness is a grey area, with no legal certainty. Ryanair says: Only a small number of claims will be eligible for compensation. Most delays/cancellations are out of Ryanairs control. How do I claim? Each airline should enable you to fill out an online form, but these are sometimes difficult to track down. The pages for three leading airlines are here: British Airways (click on submit a new claim) EasyJet Ryanair Compensation must be paid by bank transfer (or cheque), except if the airline obtains the prior signed agreement of the passenger to pay with vouchers for future travel. For example, an airline might offer a 30 per cent uplift if you accept vouchers that are valid for a year so a choice between 350 in cash or 455-worth of flights. What if I have a justifiable claim but it is turned down? One course of action is alternative dispute resolution, but The Independent has serious reservations about some of the decisions of these arbiters. Writing a Letter Before Action warning that you will go to Money Claim Online if you do not get a positive response within two weeks is worth trying, so long as you follow through. For a 350 claim the fee is 50, which is refunded if you win. Since Brexit UK citizens no longer have access to the European Small Claims Procedure, so if you are chasing compensation on a flight originating in the EU it might be easiest to go through a claims handler. One such firm is AirHelp, but be warned that the company will keep between 35 and 50 per cent of any payout (the higher amount if court action is involved). My flight was an hour late departing, but I missed a tight connection If you arrive at your final ticketed destination three hours or more late, you are still in line for compensation as long as the cause was down to the airline. For example, in 2018 I flew on British Airways from Heathrow to Moscow for an onward connection to Volgograd on the Russian airline S7. The plane was an hour late leaving London because of overrunning engineering work. I missed the connection in Moscow and arrived five hours behind schedule at Volgograd. BA paid delay compensation without a fuss; the issue of meals was easily solved because S7 sent me to the business lounge to wait. It is notable that in the CAA delay figures for 2023, almost all the airlines that are largely feeding hub airports did better than the average: Air France, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways all outplayed easyJet and Ryanair in getting planes away on time. They have a strong incentive for punctuality, with connections sometimes less than an hour and the penalty for messing up so high. Turkish Airlines is unique among the big network carriers with an average delay of 29 minutes, which must wreck a significant number of transfers. For more travel news and advice listen to Simon Calders podcast. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Nearly 300,000 passengers will experience flight disruption to and from Heathrow, with the airport closed for the whole day following a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation. A transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in west London on Thursday night, leaving thousands of homes without power. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said the airport was scheduled to have 665 departures today, equating to over 145,094 seats. A further 669 flights were due to arrive today, with some 145,000 passengers expected to land in the UKs busiest airport. Heathrow was due to see more than 1,330 scheduled flights on Friday, flying some 291,000 passengers, Cirium said. Follow The Independents live coverage here. British Airways had the largest share of flights from the airport (51 per cent), followed by Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa, the aviation analytics firm found. Online flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. open image in gallery Maps show all flights to and from Heathrow have been diverted ( FlightRadar24 ) Which flights have been cancelled or where have flights been diverted? Online tracking services showed flights were diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Irelands Shannon Airport. Several flights were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada and the United States. Gatwick Airport confirmed it had accepted seven diverted flights from Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow. open image in gallery Gatwick Airport confirmed it had accepted seven diverted flights from Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow ( FlightRadar ) Virgin Atlantic passengers from Barbados had their flight diverted to Cardiff Airport. Shannon Airport in Co Clare confirmed it had accepted six diverted flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. AGS Airports, which operates Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, said all flights to and from London Heathrow had been cancelled for the rest of the day. Edinburgh Airport also advised any British Airways passengers with flights to Heathrow not to travel to the airport. The airport added it has not been asked to take any diverted flights. All flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow on Friday have been cancelled. Flight tracker shows more than 1,351 flights diverted as fire closes Heathrow Airport How have airlines responded? Budget airline Ryanair announced it will be launching eight rescue flights for passengers affected. The Irish airline said in a statement: Ryanair will operate 4 extra flights between Dublin and Stansted on Friday afternoon as well as 4 extra flights on Sat morning. EasyJet, which does not operate at Heathrow, said it will use larger than planned aircraft on key routes on Friday and over the weekend. Several flights between the UK and Milan, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Paris, Munich and Madrid will have A320 aircraft with a capacity for 186 passengers, instead of A319 aircraft which can only carry 156 passengers. British Airways, which operates hundreds of flights from Heathrow Airport every day, said it is working as quickly as possible to update passengers. Due to a power outage in the London Heathrow area, London Heathrow Airport is currently closed, the airline said in a statement on X. As a result, customers due to travel from Heathrow on Friday are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice. This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers, and were working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond. A Heathrow spokesperson said: Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Thousands of passengers had their flights cancelled or altered in mid-air after a massive fire ripped through an electricity substation near Heathrow, forcing the airport to close for more than 15 hours. Up to 300,000 customers had been set to use Europes biggest airport on Friday, but 1,351 flights were disrupted by the blaze. Despite initially saying it would be closed all day, Heathrow later announced some long-haul flights would restart during the evening. While the airport said it was once again fully operational the following day, at least of 100 of the roughly 600 flights which would typically have been expected on Saturday were cancelled. The blaze which caused the power outage erupted at a high-voltage electricity substation in Hayes, five miles north of the airport, leaving around 67,000 households suffering power cuts. Follow live updates here Around 150 residents were forced to leave their homes and a 200-metre cordon was put in place around the substation, police said. Here, The Independent takes a look at all we know about the fire and its effects. open image in gallery Up to 10 fire engines rushed to Nestles Avenue, Hayes, where 70 firefighters tackled the inferno throughout the night ( London Fire Brigade/PA Wire ) What caused the fire? A transformer at the substation caught fire, but it is not yet known what caused it. One nearby resident described their room shaking and hearing a loud bang as the substation caught fire. London Fire Brigade deputy commissioner Jonathan Smith said: The fire involved a transformer comprising 25,000 litres of its cooling oil fully alight. This created a major hazard owing to the still live high-voltage equipment and the nature of an oil-fuelled fire. open image in gallery Footage showed the fire ripping through a Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks-managed substation throughout the night ( Chris Brogan ) While counter-terror officers initially led the investigation, the Metropolitan Police later said it was not treating the incident as suspicious, but that inquiries were continuing and would now be led by the London Fire Brigade. The fire brigade said its investigation would focus on electrical distribution equipment. What is the economic effect? Economist Stephen Rooney said: In terms of what's at stake, at the conservative end, we estimate a potential loss of tourism revenue amounting to 4.8m per day. We can estimate this loss based on typical inbound arrivals volumes that come to the UK through Heathrow and the average daily spend of those travelling. He said his estimates did not include the potential loss of earnings of airport and airline staff, lost income for airport retail and ancillary services such as airport taxis. Insurance payouts, lost money for affected passengers and other costs to airlines involved would further inflate the damage. open image in gallery Drone footage shows an electricity substation fire in Hayes, west London ( Mixed ) How many passengers were affected? Up to 291,000 passengers were set to fly from Heathrow airport on Friday, with 1,330 flights scheduled throughout the day, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Up to 665 departures were scheduled, equating to over 145,094 seats, and 669 flights were due to arrive, equating to 145,836 seats. British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle said the event would have a huge impact on customers in the coming days. To give you an idea of the scale of disruption we face which were working to minimise, today we were due to operate more than 670 flights carrying around 107,000 customers, with similar numbers planned over the weekend, he said. open image in gallery Up to 70 firefighters tackled the inferno throughout the night ( AFP via Getty Images ) While the airport was said to be fully operational again on Saturday, as of 3pm on Saturday, 34 flights due to leave the airport had been cancelled, including domestic destinations and international flights to New York and Paris. And according to Heathrows live arrivals board, as of 3pm, 71 flights expected to arrive on Saturday had been cancelled, including flights from Dubai and Doha. Why did the airport have to close? Heathrows chief executive Thomas Woldbye said the airport had three substations, each with a backup transformer. The fire broke out at a substation where the backup transformer also failed, causing a loss of power. Mr Woldbye said the airport could run on power from the two unaffected substations but that they had to restructure the supply. To do that we have to close down systems that is safety procedure, we will not go around that, he said. He added: Two substations can run the airport but we need to re-engineer the structure of the power supply for all the terminals and that's what we were doing during the day, and then we have to restart all the systems and that's what we've done, and we now see operation coming back. What has the backlash been? Labour peer Toby Harris who leads the National Preparedness Commission, which campaigns to improve resilience said on Saturday: Its a huge embarrassment for the country that a fire in one electricity substation can have such a devastating effect. Jason Bona, owner of supply chain firm PS Forwarding, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme the incident had left Heathrow a laughing stock in the global freight community. It is a clear planning failure by the airport, said Willie Walsh, a former British Airways chief who now leads the global airline body IATA and has long been a fierce critic of Heathrow. Mr Woldbye has apologised to stranded passengers and defended the airports response to the situation, saying the incident was as as big as it gets for our airport and that we cannot guard ourselves 100 per cent. What investigations have been launched into the outage? Vowing that the government is determined to do everything it can to prevent a repeat of what happened at Heathrow, energy secretary Ed Miliband said on Saturday evening that he had ordered the grid operator to urgently investigate the outage. In conjunction with regulator Ofgem, Mr Miliband commissioned the National Energy System Operator (Neso) to carry out the independent probe to properly understand what happened and what lessons need to be learned regarding energy resilience for critical national infrastructure, both now and in the future. Neso is expected to report to Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with its initial findings within six weeks. These are in addition to the work being carried out by the London Fire Brigade, which warned that it could take weeks to determine the fires cause. Heathrows chair Lord Paul Deighton has also since announced an internal probe chair has ordered an internal investigation, which will be led by former transport secretary Ruth Kelly, who is now a member of Heathrows board. That review, according to Lord Deighton, will analyse the robustness and execution of Heathrows crisis management plans, the airports response during the incident and how the airport recovered the operation with the objective of identifying any improvements that could be made to our future resilience. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Southwest Airlines flight aborted takeoff at Orlando International Airport after mistakenly attempting to depart from a taxiway, the latest in a series of incidents that have raised concerns about US aviation safety. The incident, involving Southwest Flight 3278, a Boeing 737-800, occurred around 9.30am on Thursday. Air traffic control intervened, cancelling the takeoff clearance after the aircraft began accelerating on a taxiway parallel to the designated runway. Taxiways are pathways used by aircraft to navigate between terminals and runways, not for takeoff. Southwest confirmed the aircraft stopped safely on the taxiway and returned to the gate without incident. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) both said they are investigating the incident. Southwest said it is working with the FAA. The airline had placed customers on another aircraft to get to their destination. open image in gallery Southwest said it is working with the FAA ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The FAA in December completed a safety review of Southwest after a series of incidents, including a flight in July that flew at a very low altitude over Tampa Bay and one last April that came within about 400 feet (122 m) of the ocean off Hawaii. On Wednesday, the FAA said it would install enhanced safety technology at 74 airports by the end of 2026 to help detect runway incursions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday that he plans to announce in the next few days a plan to overhaul the U.S. air traffic control system to replace aging technologies. A fatal Army helicopter and American Airlines AAL.O regional jet collision on Jan. 29 that killed 67 people near Reagan Washington National Airport rekindled concerns about U.S. aviation safety. The FAA said in October that it was opening an audit into runway incursion risks at the 45 busiest U.S. airports. Over the last two years, there have been a series of troubling near-miss incidents that have highlighted the strain on understaffed air traffic control operations. A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights and, at many facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks to cover shifts. Prince William joked his daughter Princess Charlotte will poach a gift given to him during his visit to Estonia. The Prince of Wales has flown to Estonia to meet the UK forces at the Tapa Army Base, who provide a Nato deterrent against potential Russian aggression. Prior to meet the troops, William paid a visit to a school in the capital Tallinn on Thursday (20 March). There, student counsellor Yelyzaveta Lukiianchuk, 18, asked if she could give him a friendship bracelet made by the pupils in the Ukrainian colours of blue and yellow. William replied: Thats brilliant, my daughter will try and probably poach it off me later. She loves these friendship bracelets. Heathrow has been closed for the whole of Friday after a huge fire broke out at an electricity substation providing power to Europes busiest airport. Around 70 firefighters are tackling the blaze in Hayes, which has prompted the evacuation of around 150 people and left swathes of west London without power. Footage posted on social media shows flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air at the North Hyde electricity substation on Nettles Avenue in Hayes. The London Fire Brigade claim to have received nearly 200 calls after reports of an large explosion at around 11.23pm on Thursday night (20 March). The fire has affected hundreds of properties near Heathrow airport, with one user on X posting: "Im at a hotel near Heathrow and were out of power," while another tweet read: "So this is why my Heathrow hotel has no power!" Energy secretary Ed Miliband has described the catastrophic fire that led to the closure of Heathrow Airport as unprecedented. The airport is closed until at least midnight today (21 March) due to a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes, west London. The grid has never seen an event quite like this, Miliband told BBC Breakfast. We will want to understand both the causes of this event and what lessons, if any, it can teach us, he added, stressing that the priority right now is to put the fire out and restore power to stop the terrible disruption to passengers. At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow are directly affected, with potential for further cancellations and delays. Heathrow Airport has been closed until at least midnight tonight (21 March) after experiencing a major power outage following a fire at a west London electrical substation. Passengers were asked not to travel to the airport under any circumstances, while British Airways said it would not be operating flights out of its global hub until further notice. At least 1,351 flights to or from Heathrow today will be directly impacted, flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said. That doesnt account for the inevitable knock-on effects from the all-day shutdown. The IndependentsSimon Calder explains all you need to know and your rights if your flight has been delayed or cancelled. Footage appears to show a prisoner escaping custody by running down a motorway embankment, moments after faking a medical episode. Jamie Cooper, 33, overpowered guards and fled a prison van which had stopped on the M55 near Preston on Wednesday morning (20 March), sparking a huge manhunt. Cooper was en route to Lancaster Magistrates Court on charges of criminal damage and assaulting a police officer. Police have urged the public to not approach Cooper if they see him, and to contact 999 immediately. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ask the average British wine drinker what they think of South African wine and the response is likely to fall into one of two camps: its either a serviceable supermarket staple or, at best, a decent-value alternative to a French classic. Fine wine? Not quite. At least, thats the perception but its also completely wrong. For centuries, South African wine has occupied a curious space in the global market. It has history some of the oldest winemaking traditions in the New World. It has terroir arguably some of the most diverse and exciting in the world. And it has winemakers producing wines that can compete with and in some cases surpass, those of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne. Yet, despite all this, South African wine has struggled to shake off its reputation as a budget option rather than a fine wine destination. With a new generation of ambitious winemakers and a shift in perception, this is beginning to change. The origins of South African wine date back to the 17th century, when Dutch settlers planted the first vineyards at the Cape of Good Hope. By the 18th century, the regions Vin de Constance was one of the most sought-after wines in Europe, gracing the tables of Napoleon and British royalty. Jane Austen prescribed it as a tonic for heartbreak. But the 19th century saw the industry collapse under the weight of phylloxera (an aphid infestation that can destroy whole vineyards), British free trade with France and shifting economic fortunes. By the time South Africa re-entered the global wine market in the post-Apartheid era, it was effectively starting from scratch. One of the biggest reasons South African wine deserves more recognition is its terroir. The country benefits from an incredible diversity of soils, microclimates and elevations, making it one of the most exciting wine-producing regions in the world. open image in gallery Limestone soils and cool breezes this is where South Africas answer to Champagne is born ( Graham Beck ) The Cape Winelands have a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. However, regions differ dramatically due to their proximity to the ocean, mountain ranges and soil compositions. Stellenbosch, with its granite and sandstone soils, produces powerful yet structured reds, akin to those of Bordeaux. The Swartland region, known for its schist and shale soils, has drawn comparisons to the Rhone Valley for its expressive, textured Syrahs and old-vine Chenin Blancs. Meanwhile, Robertsons limestone-rich soils, much like those found in Champagne, make it an ideal location for Methode Cap Classique (MCC) sparkling wines, such as those produced by Graham Beck. Cool-climate regions like Hemel-en-Aarde and Elgin have emerged as South Africas answer to Burgundy, producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with striking elegance and minerality. Here, altitude and the maritime influence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans help retain acidity and finesse, giving these wines a distinct sense of place. South Africa doesnt just mimic European wine regions it carves its own identity, producing wines that blend Old World complexity with New World purity of fruit. South Africas reputation as a fine wine producer is built on more than just its terroir its grape varieties tell an equally compelling story. The countrys most widely planted grape, Chenin Blanc, is perhaps its greatest asset. While Chenin Blanc is historically associated with the Loire Valley, South Africa has taken it to new heights, producing styles that range from crisp and mineral-driven to richly textured and barrel-aged. Swartland and Stellenbosch are home to some of the worlds oldest Chenin vines, producing wines with concentration and depth that rival top-tier Vouvray and Savennieres. open image in gallery A vineyard with history: Klein Constantias vines produce one of the worlds most legendary sweet wines ( Klein Constantia ) Pinotage, South Africas signature red variety, is another point of distinction. A cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, it was created in the 1920s to thrive in South Africas climate. While early examples suffered from inconsistency, modern Pinotage particularly from producers like Kanonkop and Beeslaar has evolved into a sophisticated, age-worthy wine. Its structure and dark fruit character place it somewhere between the elegance of Pinot Noir and the power of Syrah, making it a uniquely South African expression that has no direct Old World equivalent. Beyond these, South Africa excels with Syrah, producing wines that are reminiscent of the Northern Rhone, with peppery, savoury complexity. Stellenbosch and Swartland have become strongholds for Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends, often showing a balance of ripe fruit and refined tannins akin to Left Bank Bordeaux. The countrys cool-climate Sauvignon Blancs, particularly from Elgin and Constantia, are drawing comparisons to Sancerre, offering freshness, minerality and precision. Now that South African wine is fully integrated into the global market, why is it still viewed as a value-driven category rather than a fine wine powerhouse? open image in gallery Burgundy and Bordeaux, but make it Stellenbosch two bottles that challenge expectations ( Journey's End ) Many UK drinkers still assume that South African wine is cheap and cheerful, with little to offer beyond supermarket bargains. Others believe that, unlike French or Italian wines, it lacks the history or prestige to be considered truly fine. Theres also a sense that South African wines are too rustic, too bold, or too inconsistent certainly not the kind of wines that reward patience or investment. But for those willing to look beyond the supermarket aisle, South Africa is producing some of the most exciting wines in the world today. A new wave of winemakers and estates is proving that the country is more than capable of delivering complexity, finesse and age-worthiness. And if any brands illustrate this shift, its Journeys End, Graham Beck and Klein Constantia three names that are rewriting the South African wine narrative. Journeys End is a case study in how South African still wines can rival Burgundy and Bordeaux. This Stellenbosch-based estate, founded in the 1990s, was established with a clear focus on producing premium, terroir-driven wines. The Gabb family, who own the estate, have prioritised sustainability and ethical winemaking, making it one of the most forward-thinking producers in the Cape Winelands. Their V Series Chardonnay, for instance, has the kind of elegance and mineral precision that would be right at home in a lineup of top-tier white Burgundies. Meanwhile, their Cape Doctor Bordeaux Blend a structured, age-worthy red named after the dry south-easterly wind that blows into the country in spring proves that South Africa can produce wines with the same complexity and longevity as its French counterparts. open image in gallery A sparkling wine with serious pedigree and a reminder that South Africa can rival Champagne ( Graham Beck ) Journeys End also leads the charge in sustainability, with a commitment to solar-powered energy, conservation projects and Fairtrade labour practices. If South African wine is still mistakenly seen as a bargain-bin category, wines like these should be enough to change minds. While Journeys End makes the case for South African still wines, Graham Beck does the same for sparkling. The UK is a Champagne-obsessed market, yet few drinkers realise that South Africas Methode Cap Classique can compete at the highest level. Graham Beck was founded in 1983 and has been at the forefront of MCC production, elevating South Africas sparkling wine scene to world-class. Perhaps its most famous moments came when both Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama toasted their victories with Graham Beck Brut, reinforcing its status as a celebratory wine. Their Blanc de Blancs, sourced from the limestone-rich soils of Robertson soils strikingly similar to those of Champagne delivers the crisp acidity, refined mousse and brioche complexity that serious sparkling wine lovers crave. Their prestige cuvee, Cuvee Clive, has been compared to some of the finest vintage Champagnes, proving that South Africa isnt just an alternative its a contender. And with MCCs growing reputation among sommeliers and collectors, Graham Beck is leading the charge in positioning South Africa as a serious force in the world of sparkling wine. open image in gallery The wine that seduced Napoleon and Charles Dickens. Some legends never fade ( Klein Constantia ) No South African winery encapsulates the countrys fine wine heritage better than Klein Constantia. If UK drinkers assume South Africa lacks history, they need only look to Vin de Constance. First produced in the 17th century, it became one of the most celebrated wines of its time before vanishing for over a century, only to be resurrected in the 1980s with painstaking dedication to its original style. Today, Vin de Constance is one of the most collectible wines in the Southern Hemisphere, proving that South Africa can produce age-worthy, world-class wines to rival Chateau dYquem and Tokaji. Beyond its famous sweet wine, Klein Constantia has also established itself as a leader in cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc, producing wines that have drawn comparisons to the best of Sancerre. The estates legacy and revival make it the ultimate proof that South African wine is not a new contender in fine wine it is a historic player reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage. Together, these brands dismantle the myths that have long held South African wine back. The evidence is clear South Africa is no longer just a value-driven wine country, but a world-class producer of fine, age-worthy wines. It has the history, the terroir and the winemaking talent to rival the best from Europe, and its time the UK market recognised that. Those still dismissing it as a cheap alternative are missing out on some of the most exciting wines available today. The question is no longer whether South African wine deserves a place alongside the greats its whether UK drinkers are ready to catch up and give it the respect it has long deserved. 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 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to call a national election within days, seeking his own mandate from voters at a time when the country's businesses have been shaken by a trade war with the US. Mr Carney, the former governor of two central banks, was sworn in as prime minister on March 14 after winning the leadership of the Liberal Party. He is riding a wave of early support in public opinion polls, and the country is due to have an election this year. Birdwatching detective Cordelia Cupp is a sparkling new addition to the ranks of fictional sleuths If only whats happening for real in Washington DC were as much fun as The Residence (Netflix, available now), a deliriously entertaining screwball mystery about a murder in The White House. True, its probably too long at eight episodes (six would have been more digestible), but that flaw is more than compensated for by star Uzo Aduba (who played Crazy Eyes in Orange is the New Black) as consulting detective Cordelia Cupp, a sparkling new addition to the ranks of fictional sleuths. A 42-year-old woman employed by the HSE will go on trial on Monday accused of impeding the investigation into the murder of mother-of-two Lisa Thompson and perverting the course of justice. Deirdre Arnold, with an address at Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 is charged that on a date between May 9, 2022 and May 10, 2022, did an act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh, a person who had committed an arrestable offence, namely murder. Please do not ease pressure on Russia over the war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told EU leaders as they gathered in Brussels for an EU summit. The latest meeting of the EU Council came just two weeks after the Special European Council convened and defence was on the agenda. This time around it was the same, and defence was one of the main focuses of yesterdays discussions. Mr Zelensky addressed the EU leaders from Norway via video link and briefed the council on the latest developments in Ukraine, including recent Russian strikes that are targeting the countrys infrastructure. But his main focus was on the need for the EU to continue to support Ukraines efforts to fight Russia. In particular, he called for the EU not to let up on sanctions it has imposed on Russia. Sanctions are very, very necessary. Sanctions must remain in place until Russia starts withdrawing from our land and fully compensates for the damage caused by its aggression. I urge you to keep fighting, Mr Zelenksy said. In its statement after the discussion on Ukraine, the EU Council reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine. That is, 26 of the 27 member states did so. Notably, but not unexpectedly, Hungary was not in agreement that the EU should continue its military support of Ukraine and it is not the first time this month Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has refused to agree. The statement also outlined that the council was willing to increase pressure on Russia, which could mean more sanctions. The European Union remains ready to step up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and by strengthening the enforcement of existing measures, including further means and measures to counter their circumvention, in order to weaken its ability to continue waging its war of aggression, the statement read. It also called for Russia to show real political will to end the war. Though the US continues to lead talks to secure peace, one EU official said there was a shared view within the meeting that no real negotiations are taking place at the moment. It was not just pressure on Russia that was needed, though, according to Mr Zelensky, but internal pressure from within the EU too. While it is understood EU leaders expressed the need to speed up negotiations on the accession of Ukraine to the EU, Mr Zelensky made a veiled reference to one state, Hungary, which was holding up these talks. Its unfortunate to say this, but some pressure is also needed within Europe itself to ensure that anything promised actually happens, he said. Im talking about Ukraines EU accession talks and resolving some fundamental issues for European unity. It is simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent or that have already been agreed upon. Though supporting Ukraine is a key aspect of how the EU sees its defence strategy, hanging in the air at the EU Council was the Kaja Kallas plan. In the last week, the commissions representative for foreign affairs Ms Kallas proposed a plan to increase funding for Ukraine to up to 40bn. In Ireland, it could mean an increase in funding of non-military aid of up to 1bn. But in Brussels, the pushback was palpable and the tension focused much on how the money would be raised, which would be based on Gross National Income (GNI). While some said the deal was not necessarily dead in the water, others pointed to the lack of support preventing it from going any further. While the plan itself was not specifically on the agenda, politicians arriving at the Europa Building were asked about their views. While Taoiseach Micheal Martin did not say where Ireland stood on the plan, he did say other countries have issues with the proposal. Asked if he thought the 40bn could be reached, he said it was early days. There hasnt been agreement on it, so it could be a lower figure, he said. I dont really want to speculate on something thats not firm. Clearly, I dont see agreement on it today, unless its a much lower figure. Other member states have a particular issue with it. The council also discussed the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and said it deplores the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza. However, the conclusions published by the council came in for criticism from Amnesty International, which said it was extraordinary EU leaders would not name Israel in the statement. Though trade tariffs were not part of the agenda for the council meeting, the issue was brought up by individual member states during the discussion on the competitiveness of the EU. But many are taking a wait-and-see attitude. Donald Trump is set to announce his administrations reciprocal tariffs in under two weeks, on April 2. MMA fighter Conor McGregor has signalled his intention to contest the upcoming presidential election. Despite his claims, the odds of Mr McGregor being on the ticket to replace President Michael D Higgins appear extremely long. A candidate must be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities in order to make a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. It is unlikely that Mr McGregor will meet these criteria. In a social media post this evening, Mr McGregor asked who else will stand up to Government and oppose the implementation of the EU Migration Pact, which would establish a common asylum system at a European level. The Dail voted to opt into the EU Migration and Asylum Pact last summer. "Any other Presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will! McGregor said. Conor McGregor speaking in the White House on St Patricks Day. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/Bloomberg Conor McGregor criticises Irish Government during speech at the White House In a social media post this evening, McGregor claimed that he would put forth this bill to referendum if he became president. "This is the future of Ireland with me as President. All citizens of Ireland to have a voice and a choice on their future! he said. "God bless our people! Vote McGregor and have your voice heard! It comes as his appeal against the verdict in a civil trial which found him liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand is listed to come before the Court of Appeal tomorrow. McGregor was ordered to pay Ms Hand close to 250,000 in damages last year. He has appealed the finding. His latest posts about contesting the presidential election come days after he was invited to meet US president Donald Trump in the Oval Office on St Patricks Day, where he also posed for a photo alongside billionaire Elon Musk. McGregor was also photographed meeting a number of high-level White House officials such as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Speaking in the White House press briefing room, McGregor described Ireland as the little bro which should be looked after by the United States as he said he was in Washington to raise issues like an illegal immigration racket that is running ravage on the country. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said his remarks were wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St Patricks Day, or the views of the people of Ireland, while Tanaiste Simon Harris said the professional fighter had no mandate and was in Washington DC in a personal capacity. Schoolteacher Enoch Burke has revealed there is over 40,000 in savings in his bank account. He currently owes the State 79,100 in unpaid fines for contempt of court. In a statement posted on X, Burke said: The bank account of teacher Enoch Burke has been frozen by the Irish Government after he refused to affirm transgender ideology in his school and address a child with they/them pronouns. Enoch Burkes salary, which he earns as a teacher at Wilsons Hospital School, has also been stopped. Enoch Burke attempted to withdraw money from his Bank of Ireland account this morning but was unable to access the account. There is over 40,000 in this account, the hard-earned savings of many years. This money has now been frozen by the Irish Government and Courts, with the intention of seizing it next week, in an unprecedented and utterly illegal move. Enoch Burke upheld the Christian ethos of his school, and was jailed as a result. He now faces the robbery of his livelihood. If the Church had not betrayed him by their treacherous silence, this saga would never have happened. The silence of the Church on this matter is a disgrace, he added. Enoch Burke outside Wilsons Hospital School. Photo: Gerry Mooney Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 21st Earlier this week a receiver was appointed to collect Burkes salary to meet the fines. Myles Kirby of Kirby Healy Chartered Accountants was appointed by the High Court following an application from the Attorney General. An order of garnishee effectively freezing funds in Mr Burkes bank account so fines totalling 79,100 can be deducted from it was also granted on a conditional basis by Mr Justice David Nolan. Mr Burke will have to show cause next Tuesday if he wants the garnishee order to be lifted. The development is the latest move to try to coerce Mr Burke to comply with an injunction requiring him to stay away from Wilsons Hospital School. Mr Burke has been suspended as a teacher from Wilsons Hospital School since 2022, after publicly clashing with its then principal over a request that teachers address a transgender child by a new name and to use the students they/them pronouns. Mr Burkes protests at the school got under way in 2022 but has been interrupted by stints in prison for contempt of court, breaching court orders and presenting at the school when he was forbidden by law from doing so. Unprecedented industrial action will impact the public and councillors in south Dublin very negatively next week, a local authority has warned. South Dublin County Council has hit back at claims by Forsa in relation to a dispute over the planned outsourcing of legal services. It said it was notified of extensive industrial action with significant disappointment. A spokesperson said a planned work-to-rule from Monday, March 24, will immediately and very negatively impact on our delivery of public services and key programmes of work, directly affecting the people of South Dublin County and our elected members who represent them. The council also accused the union of engaging in unofficial industrial action. South Dublin councillors face disruption when almost 500 local authority workers begin the work-to-rule. They are unhappy with plans to outsource debt recovery work to external solicitors. This includes the collection of rate arrears. Forsas notice of industrial action said it will involve the withdrawal of all engagement with South Dublin county councillors. This includes the use of all emails, phones and attendance by its members at council meetings, municipal district meetings and committees. South Dublin County Council at County Hall, Tallaght in Dublin. Photo: Emma Nolan Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 21st South Dublin County Council claimed in a statement the union has foreclosed on established industrial relations structures and talks for reasons that are unclear. The council claimed the union had urged members to engage in unofficial industrial action during a ballot process. It said the dispute relates to the continued outsourcing of very specific legal elements of debt-collection work. It said this would otherwise require the recruitment of additional solicitors in the councils Law Department which amongst other aspects would be extremely challenging in the current recruitment environment. It involves the pursuit of commercial rates debtors, up to court appearances and lodging of judgments. The council said engaging a third-party firm to carry out this work has not removed work from any member of staff and it would be done to maximise its budgetary capacity. It accused the union of misleadingly alleging that the council refused to engage and that there will be job losses if the plan proceeds. Both statements are categorically false, it said. A Forsa spokesperson said the council may be referring to a lunchtime protest that members took part in when referring to unofficial action. He said members participated on their own time and it is more than a stretch to describe it as unofficial action. The spokesperson said the council breached the public service pay deal by unilaterally extending an interim agreement on outsourcing. SDCC management appears to have a preference for outsourcing its work, seems unwilling to hire direct labour to deliver these services in-house, or to engage staff representatives on the issue, he said. Forsa's position is that management's approach is removing job opportunities within the local authority, and represents an effort to privatise public services by stealth. He claimed management had avoided any real engagement to resolve the dispute. Sweet or dry picks for new and old fans of this versatile drink With World Vermouth Day falling annually on spring equinox (March 21), this is a fine time to embrace your inner vermouth fan. Theres more and more of us out there, as this boomerang beverage continues its impressive comeback. Many love this versatile drink as an aperitif, as has long been traditional to whet appetites in continental Europe. Serve simply over ice with a slice (orange works), or topped with soda or tonic, or Cava or Prosecco as a spritz. Vermouths fascinating history rewards going full geek. Theres no shortage of specialist styles, artisanal brands and convoluted origin stories to bring you down delicious rabbit holes. Equally, if youre partial to ordering a negroni (equal parts sweet vermouth, campari and gin), manhattan (half-and-half sweet vermouth with whiskey, plus bitters) or a martini cocktail (up to one third dry vermouth mixed with gin), youre already a vermouth fan, however casual. Those two distinctions of sweet (as in manhattan) or dry (as in martini) are key to understanding vermouth. So too is its definition as a fortified, aromatised aperitif wine. Vermouth takes its name from the Germanic wermut, aka the bitter wormwood herb. In 2022s Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails, vermouth specialist Martin Doudoroff writes: Modern vermouth is traditionally assembled from white wine, wormwood (Artemisia absinthium and/or Artemisia pontica), and some combination of herbs, spices, flowers, roots, sugar and alcohol. As with other fortified wines, adding a spirit (typically grape-based) stabilises the base wine and halts fermentation. It also helps aromatise the wine by drawing out flavours of various botanical additions infusing in it. Vermouth emerged in 18th-century Piemonte and Savoy, in the alpine foothills where Italy meets France. Italian immigrants introduced Turins sweet rosso (red) vermouths to the New World. The French followed up with their paler, drier vermouth made with less sugar in a style originated by Noilly Prat. Both styles became key players in 20th-century American cocktail culture. Vermouth didnt stop evolving, and some pale vermouths are semi-sweet rather than dry. The cocktail renaissance of recent decades shone a light on vermouth styles and brands old and new. Doudoroffs vermouth101.com offers a deep dive into vermouths history and various traditional and modern styles, brands and uses. Meanwhile martiniwhisperer.com is useful for understanding the evolving role of vermouth in the martini cocktail, and valentiaislandvermouth.ie has all sorts of excellent vermouth-based cocktail recipes. Wines of the week Noilly Prat Vermouth Original Dry Noilly Prat Vermouth Original Dry, France, 18pc, 21 The original Mediterranean dry vermouth, traditionally barrel-aged in the salty Camargue sea air (today, barrels are sun-dried and sprayed with seawater), this is complex enough to sip solo but is non-negotiable for many dry martini cocktail fans. Floral-herbal notes (chamomile, lemon thyme, oregano) meet subtle spices (nutmeg, coriander) with a briny bitter twist. Martini Extra Dry is a budget alternative (from 11.50), or try Dolin Chambery Dry Vermouth (19) for an alpine style. Good independents, celticwhiskeyshop.ie Valentia Island Vermouth Or Valentia Island Vermouth Or, 19pc, 35 You may have met Orla and Anna Snook OCarroll at a festival or caught their online Cocktails in the Cottage series (with a recent focus on low-alcohol serves). Their glorious bittersweet Irish vermouth stars Verdejo wine, handmade caramel and local gorse among 20-plus botanicals. Their new Rua is released later this year. SuperValu, Tesco, OBriens, Avoca, independents, valentiaislandvermouth.ie Causes & Cures Semi-Dry White Vermouth Causes & Cures Semi-Dry White Vermouth, Australia, 17pc, 26.95 (50cl) From Yarra Valleys prestigious Giant Steps Wines, this gorgeous Viognier-based vermouth sits on the drier side of white vermouths, with heady, resiny notes of cedar, rosemary and bay, perfumed orange peel and upfront bitter flavours that only soften on the finish. Try in a martini or solo. Mannings Emporium, The Corkscrew, Redmonds of Ranelagh, Clontarf Wines, 64 Wine, Jus de Vine Lacuesta Vermut Blanco Lacuesta Vermut Blanco, Rioja, Spain, 15pc, 17-20 A great-value introduction to Lacuestas artisanal vermut, with bittersweet notes of almond nougat, baked apples and raisins, balanced by subtle herbal bitterness. (Or look for Chinati Verganos herb-forward BVB white vermouth from Piemonte, 44.95, Le Caveau). Fallon&Byrne, Blackrock Cellar, Martins, theallotment.ie Lustau Vermut Rojo Lustau Vermut Rojo, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, 15pc, 25 A rich, sweet red vermouth based on sherry (Amontillado with a touch of Pedro Ximenez), this is smooth and nutty with chocolate, caramel, figs, orange peel and a herbal bitterness cutting the sweetness. Sip solo or with a sherry-finish single pot still in a manhattan-style tipple. Mitchell & Son, Bradleys, Bubble Brothers, The Vineyard Belfast Close to the sea and local amenities, these detached properties offer great work-life balance Asking price: 345,000 Agent: Halnon Humphreys (053) 941 1720 Named after the Irish for peace, this bungalow enjoys a tranquil setting within a pebbles throw of the rather unfortunately named Bastardstown Beach. Built in 1965 on a third of an acre, it was recently refurbished and modernised, leaving new owners little to do but hang their hats. At 1,184 sq ft, it has an open-plan kitchen/dining/living area, utility room, three bedrooms (one en suite) and a bathroom. Kilmore Quay is 5km away and its a 25-minute drive to Wexford Town. 7 An Tardan, Killenagh, Gorey 7 An Tardan, Killenagh, Gorey, Co Wexford Asking price: 415,000 Agent: Quinn Property (053) 948 0000 Built in 2003, An Tardan is a small enclave of dormer bungalows located 3km from the village of Ballycanew and 10km from Gorey. Number 7 stands on a 0.7-acre site with a 663 sq ft garage to the rear. The house extends to 1,808 sq ft and has a B3 BER. An entrance hall with guest WC off leads on to a living room, kitchen/dining room, utility room, sunroom and a double en suite bedroom. Upstairs are three more bedrooms (one en suite) and a family bathroom. Ballaghablake, Curracloe Ballaghablake, Curracloe, Co Wexford Asking price: 525,000 Agent: Keane Auctioneers (053) 912 3072 Set on half an acre, this bungalow is just 400m from Curracloe village and a four-minute drive to the beach of the same name, where director Steven Spielberg filmed battle scenes for his epic war movie Saving Private Ryan in 1997. Large picture windows in both the sitting room and kitchen/dining offer spectacular coastal vistas. Spanning 1,315 sq ft, it also has a utility room, four double bedrooms and a bathroom/wet room. A detached garage to the rear is wired for electricity. Ballytegan Road, Gorey Ballytegan Road, Gorey, Co Wexford Asking price: 480,000 Agent: Warren Estates (053) 942 1211 Set back from a quiet country road, this detached bungalow has the air of a rural retreat, yet its only 1km from the main street in Gorey town with its schools, shops, bars, restaurants and sporting amenities. Measuring 1,582 sq ft, its got a sitting room, kitchen/dining/living area, utility room, guest WC, four bedrooms (one en suite) and a family bathroom. The property is on a 0.75-acre site set out in lawn bordered by tall, mature trees. Theres a good-sized detached garage that could be handy as a workshop. When flights are cancelled or delayed, passengers have rights to refunds, re-routing, care and in some cases compensation More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted on Friday due to the closure of the airport following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The rights of passengers in the event of cancelled or delayed flights are set out under EU Regulation 261/2014. Here are the details... How do I know if my flights are affected? In the event of a cancellation, airlines should contact affected passengers by email or SMS. You can also check the airline website for flight status updates using your booking or flight number, and your airport's online departures boards. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? Delays and cancellations are part and parcel of modern air travel, and reasons can range from weather events like Storm Eowyn to industrial action like last summers pilot strike at Aer Lingus. If your flight is cancelled for any reason, and regardless of when you are notified, your airline must offer you the choice between: Re-routing as soon as possible, subject to availability, free of charge. Re-routing at a later date. A full refund within seven days. How do I arrange a re-routing or refund? In the event of a cancellation or delay, airlines are obliged to inform passengers of their options. If this happens at the airport, staff should be on hand to talk you through the various scenarios. Otherwise you will receive an email or text message to the contact details attached to your booking. You can also check your carrier's website (Aer Lingus and Ryanair). It should include the steps to process your own refunds or bookings (a voucher may also be an option). If you booked through a third-party (for example a travel agent or tour operator), the original sales agent should contact you or be your source of contact. Am I entitled to care and assistance? If your flight is cancelled and you choose to be re-routed as soon as possible, then you are entitled to meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation and transfers between the airport and hotel as required. If the airline does not provide these, and you end up paying yourself, keep the receipts - you are entitled to a reimbursement of reasonable expenses. NB. A five-star hotel may not be a reasonable expense! Bear in mind that if your flight is cancelled and you choose a full refund, then the airline's obligations to you end there and then. Planes at Cork Airport during Storm Emma in 2018. Photo: Cork Airport/Twitter What about my accommodation? An airline is not liable for any missed accommodation, events or other knock-on effects of a delay or cancellation solely for the flight. However, if you booked through a travel agent or a tour operator as a package holiday, you may be in a better position to re-organise or reschedule accommodation. Adding travel disruption cover to your travel insurance policy (well in advance of travel) can also provide additional cover for expenses and accommodation (see below). Am I entitled to compensation? Financial compensation depends on the flight length and the reason for the cancellation. It differs to care and re-routing/refund obligations that must be offered (as outlined above), and generally ranges from 250 (short-haul, less than 1,500km) to 600 (long-haul, over 3,500km). You are not due compensation if the airline gives you two weeks or more notice of the cancellation. However, you may be entitled to compensation if you receive between seven days and two weeks notice and your arrival times are later than four hours on the reroute, or if you receive less than seven days notice and your arrival time is later than two hours on the reroute. If the air carrier can prove the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances - such as a storm - then you may not be entitled to compensation. However, you are still due a refund or re-routing. Ryanair passengers. Photo: Getty How do I claim compensation? Compensation claims are never evaluated or resolved at the airport. If you believe compensation is your due, then the first step is to formally contact the air carrier. If you're not satisfied with its response, then you can escalate by contacting the National Enforcement Body - which, in most cases for Irish passengers, is the Commission for Aviation Regulation (01 661-1700; iaa.ie). If my outbound flight is cancelled, what happens my return flight? If a flight isn't subject to disruption, technically you are not entitled to any care or compensation. However, airlines do tend to take a logical view, and normally work with passengers to refund or reschedule flights impacted in this way. If you have booked through a travel agent or tour operator, you should receive assistance from them. What if my flight is delayed? If your flight is delayed by more than five hours, and you choose not to travel, then you are entitled to a full refund. If you accept this refund, the airline is no longer obliged to provide onward travel or assistance. If your flight is delayed by at least two hours (short-haul), three hours (European) or four hours (long haul), you are entitled to care and assistance as outlined above. If you arrive at your destination more than three hours after the scheduled arrival time, you may be entitled to between 250 and 600 compensation, depending on the flight distance. Passenger rights. Source: IAA How can my travel insurance help? In the event of a flight cancellation, the first source of refunds and re-routing should be with your airline (see above). Standard travel insurance policies don't offer much help here, but 'missed departure' cover can help you secure a new flight, or an additional night's accommodation. Read more about travel insurance and questions to ask about your policy here. If your policy includes extra "travel disruption" cover, you should be covered for additional transport or accommodation costs up to around 1,000pp. This covers most of scenarios with flight cancellations due to weather, strikes and so on, but note that it covers transport and accommodation-related expenses only - i.e. not lost annual leave, business opportunities or deposits, concert tickets or museum or attraction fees booked in advance online. Is it too late to take out travel insurance? Travel Disruption cover can be added retrospectively to a policy, but not to claim on an event that has already happened (or been forecast). There can also be a moratorium on travel disruption from the time you take out the policy to the time you will be covered (eg. seven days) - however, 'missed departure' cover should still apply. Where can I find more information? For full details on your air passenger rights in the event of cancellation, delays, downgrading and denied boarding, see the Irish Aviation Authoritys website, iaa.ie. NB: This article has been updated to reflect events. There was once a time when European summits were preoccupied with butter mountains and wine lakes. The machinations of an autocratic and predatory Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and an aggressively America First agenda in Washington, have forced the EU into the most radical rethink since its foundation. European leaders must now focus on how to mobilise hundreds of billions of euro to boost their military readiness. Budgets are being re-engineered and weighted towards defence. As outgoing German chancellor Olaf Scholz said, the bloc must continue to give strong backing to Ukraine regardless of any talks between Washington and Moscow. Unless Kyiv is in a position of strength, any ceasefire could be a trap. Investments in arms factories, and how to pay the wages of tank crews and pilots, are now the new priorities. Russias threats and doubts about the commitment to European security in Washington have necessitated a four-year reprieve from EU deficit caps. The groups 27 members must now fortify their defence. An indication of the how volatile the relationship between Brussels and Washington has become was seen in US president Donald Trumps latest claim that the EU has raped and pillaged the US. He made the extraordinary accusation on Fox News. US president Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters No 10 welcomes Trumps ceasefire progress following call with Putin Given Mr Trumps growing animosity towards Europe, and the draconian tariff regime he has imposed, many may be wondering: with friends like these, who needs enemies? Yet some kind of US backstop for Ukraine would be invaluable. Kyiv and Brussels recognise, however, that they can no longer rely on one. The potential for Western troop deployment to Ukraine has been actively discussed in detail in London. Diplomatic sources said what was being considered was a reassurance force rather than a peacekeeping force. Currently dubbed the Multinational Force Ukraine or MFU, it would be sent to the country to cement any ceasefire. It would provide Ukraine with air cover to keep its skies safe and a naval presence in the Black Sea. Putin and the Kremlin have insisted they would not agree any ceasefire if European and other forces were deployed to Ukraine. Adapting to the menacing new levels of hostility and instability is becoming unavoidable. This week, Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced the establishment of a ministerial council on our own national security. Chaired by Mr Martin, it will review strategic developments on national security, and consider international threats. Tensions are being dialled up instead of being dialled down. But it doesnt have to be this way. Mr Trump is still the worlds most powerful leader. He has declared himself to he a peacemaker. He has claimed credit for the now broken ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel. He also claims to have a unique understanding with Putin. There would be no better way of burnishing his credentials as a potential Nobel laureate than to bring pressure to bear on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Putin to end hostilities. Both have the authority to end the wars, but Mr Trump could use his clout to compel them to. Conor McGregor with Donald Trump in the White House on St Patrick's Day. Photo: White House I feel obliged to write to you to express my anger at US president Donald Trump. He insulted Ireland and our Taoiseach by hosting him one week before St Patricks Day, yet he invited Conor McGregor, a man who lost a civil rape case, to the White House on the day itself. It makes me wonder what their conversation was about. Maybe they were comparing notes on the way they treat women. As the saying goes, birds of a feather... Kate Callaghan, Co Donegal Clumsy words from MMA fighter show why hes no match for the politicians It appears that Conor McGregors recent foray into political commentary has left many of us tapping out in bewilderment. His attempt to grapple with Irelands immigration policies during his St Patricks Day visit to the White House was as clumsy as a flying armbar at a poetry recital. While McGregors skills in the octagon are undisputed, his linguistic prowess seems less assured. Describing Irelands situation as an illegal immigration racket might resonate with those who appreciate blunt-force trauma, but it does little to elevate the discourse. Perhaps its time for McGregor to recognise that not every problem can be solved with a right hook, and that some arenas require a more nuanced approach than ground-and-pound. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Co Armagh Strong-man politics is a reality in 2025, and its not a good idea to just ignore it There has been much response from our political leaders, as well as from reasonable commentators, regarding Conor McGregors coup at the White House. I was struck, particularly by the sullen response from Tanaiste Simon Harris, who said the MMA fighter doesnt speak for the people of Ireland. Rightly so. However, McGregor does claim to speak for those left behind by establishment politics and there are many who are in that category. Given the global trend towards the sort of behaviour espoused by strong-men, placing our collective heads in the sand and acting like it could never happen here may be the wrong response. Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan With so much at stake, we must be cautious when it comes to Trumps tariffs Donald Trumps possible implementation of tariffs is an existential threat to Ireland in that we have our largest exports of $54bn to the US. And $36bn of this is through the pharmaceuticals industry, which is directly in the line of fire for a 25pc tariff from April 2. It would be true to say that things could not be more uncertain for Ireland. One senses all of this could change, given how Mexico has managed to hold Trump off at the pass. Its my assertion that all this flip-flopping by the US president is ironically undermining Wall Street confidence and business confidence, and thats another issue too . John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Dail speaking rights row shows how this country is heading down a dark path Having already politicised the position of Ceann Comhairle, it seems we are now heading for Trump-style politics, in relation to the matter of speaking rights in the Dail. Those brave men and women who fought for Irish freedom must be turning in their graves. Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Co Cork John Paddy Hemingway reminds us of why courage is as important as ever I was greatly inspired to read the obituaries published in the British press for 105-year-old Group Captain John Paddy Hemingway, who was the last pilot to have fought in the Battle of Britain. Both the Prince of Wales and UK prime minister Keir Starmer have paid tribute to Mr Hemingways sense of duty, selflessness, courage and determination. In this context, we should remember the courage and sacrifice of the thousands of Irish who fought with the Allied forces to defend Europe against Nazi Germany, despite Irelands neutrality, as Europe prepares to increase its support for Ukraine and its defences against Russian expansionism. Meanwhile, Ireland contemplates its policy of continuing military neutrality. Chris Fitzpatrick, Dublin 6 All Americans should be as disgusted as I am over Israels killings in Gaza I wish to register my abhorrence at President Donald Trump giving his imprimatur to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu two nights ago to kill over 400 people in Gaza. It was a genocidal crime. Not only are killings of that kind still taking place, but the US and Israel are jointly starving and depriving hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis. History will record this as an abomination. Where is the conscience of the people of the United States? Sheila Ward, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan Action over EU defence can happen without our neutrality being affected On Wednesday, the European Commission issued a White Paper for European Defence: Readiness 2030. This proposal also outlines a realistic reorganisation of the financing arrangements for defence expenditure and increased capabilities for EU member states. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen makes it clear that the security architecture that we relied on can no longer be taken for granted. The we to whom she refers includes Ireland as a long-standing member and participant in EU policy determination. Such participation in the field of defence, increasingly seen as a priority, in no way compromises our neutrality or non-alignment. Other neutral EU members, such as Austria and Malta (neither are members of Nato) will also be asked to examine their readiness and act proportionally. Given the, at least, equivocal response of Russia to President Trumps overtures on a ceasefire in Ukraine, it is suggested that Irish inaction would be detrimental to our ability to protect ourselves in a meaningful way and a disavowal of our responsibilities to our European allies. Tim OConnell (retired captain), Ballinteer, Dublin 16 2022 Web Summit In Lisbon...LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 04: Co-founder and CEO of Web Summit Paddy Cosgrave bids farewell to attendees in Centre Stage, Altice Arena, at the end of the event on the last day of 2022 Web Summit on November 04, 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. The annual conference brings together founders and CEOs of technology companies, as well as policymakers, to discuss the future of the Web. The event has reached this year full capacity at 71,033 attendees from 160 countries, plus 2,296 startups and 342 partners from 94 countries are present to interact with 1,050 speakers and more than 2,000 members of the media. Web Summits exhibition space was sold out six weeks ahead of the event, with floor space increasing to its maximum capacity of 8,478 square meters for partners and startups a 57-percent growth over 2019. For startups, the most represented industries are SaaS, fintech, AI, ecommerce and advertising. Top partners include Figma, Stripe, AWS, Google and Binance. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Getty Images)...I The clash between three of Irelands most prominent tech high-flyers has begun, and the first shots in anger have been very acrimonious indeed. The multi-million euro legal battle between the Web Summit founders Paddy Cosgrave, Daire Hickey and David Kelly, has been described as a bitter divorce, with no prospect of an amicable resolution. Allegations of blackmail, sexual harassment and even kompromat have emerged this week as the trio embark on a nine-week trial in the High Court. With five separate legal actions taken by Kelly, Hickey and Cosgrave, and reputations on the line, all of the actions are being vigorously contested. Founded in 2009 in Dublin, the Web Summit achieved monumental success, linking investors with emerging technologies from across the world, and making lots of money in the process. But success didnt come without considerable controversy along the way and, with the Web Summit now valued at 200m-300m, the stakes are huge for everyone involved. Today on The Indo Daily, Dave Hanratty is joined by Mark Tighe, Senior News Journalist with the Sunday Independent, to delve in to how it all went wrong for the three Web Summit co-founders. Macroom Tidy Towns has secured vital grant aid under Community Foundation Ireland in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service The grant is issued from Community Foundation Ireland and is in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service Macroom Tidy Towns is to receive a grant aimed at supporting the development of a local Biodiversity Action Plan to protect and promote plants, wildlife and habitats in the area. The grant is issued by Community Foundation Ireland and is in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Climate Ambassador with An Taisce and Biodiversity Officer with Macroom Tidy Towns John Lyons submitted the grant request alongside Project Office Joseph Cronin. Works on the Community Biodiversity Action Plan will commence next month and will be carried out with a professional ecologist. The plans include habitat mapping, identifying local diversity areas of value and will highlight areas that can be managed effectively from both an ecological and biodiversity perspective. Macroom has been selected as a Pilot Decarbonisation Zone by Cork County Council and this work will contribute to the pilot and will make a positive contribution to Corks Climate Action Plan. The biodiversity plan will provide a template for both remedial and ongoing actions in this regard and will be forwarded for inclusion in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, he said. Some 94 projects received support under the current grant round and over 250 communities have implemented local action planning since the partnership started in 2019. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD said: This partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Community Foundation Ireland is a great example of how we can empower and support community organisations to learn about their local biodiversity and use that knowledge along with their creativity to come up with a plan which is unique to their area. Im really impressed with the range of projects involved and excited to see the outcomes of their work, Mr OSullivan said. According to Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland Denise Charlton, every county in Ireland is benefitting from the current grand round. The fact that this current grant round is impacting in every county shows the groundswell of support for biodiversity action. The partnership of the Foundation, its philanthropists and community partners together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service is effective and works. Our natural heritage is being protected for generations to come, she added. The Cork Rose Centre will host an online webinar on Tuesday, March 25 The search for Corks entry for the Rose of Tralee is now underway as current Cork Rose Shauna OSullivan kicked off proceedings at the Rochestown Park Hotel. The Cork Rose Centre is inviting young women across the county to consider applying for a chance to represent Cork at the International Rose of Tralee Festival in August. The Cork Rose Centre will host an online webinar on Tuesday, March 25. You can meet the Cork Rose Team at an information session in Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday, April 4 ahead of selection, which will take place on May 31 and June 1 at the same venue. 2023 Cork Rose Kate Shaughnessy said the entire process was incredible from start to finish. It was an incredible experience from start to finish. From being selected in May of 2023 to last year when Shauna took over. Its hard to put it into words because its such a long year and theres so many highs, she said. Kate is from Ballincollig but both of her parents hail from Tralee, and she was blown away by the support she received from the wider Cork community. My parents are from Tralee originally and two years before I became the Cork Rose my parents moved back to Tralee. I never expected that level of support from local businesses, GAA clubs, schools that I attended They all came out with their banners and posters wishing me well, and thats probably one of the highlights for me, she said. Kate added that she made life-long friends with her fellow contestants and her Rose Sisters. Obviously, there are elements of nerves, but you become so friendly with the girls you also root for them as well as rooting for yourself, so I wasnt really nervous up there. I was absolutely floored when it was me and even afterwards, the girls were so supportive and even came to Tralee to cheer me on. It can be nerve wracking to get up on the stage in the first place, but once its over you just want to enjoy it with your new friends, she said. One of the stereotypes that Kate debunks is the need for Roses to have a talent to run as a Rose. Peoples number one question to me when people find out I was the Cork Rose is what my talent was, and people are always shocked to hear that I didnt have one and that I still dont. People have this stereotypical image that you have to be the perfect person to be the Rose and that is absolutely not the case at all. Its just about representing your county and your community in the best way that you possibly can, she added. Kate urges women to apply if it was always at the back of your mind. If you ever thought about applying for the Cork Rose, you should go for it. If it was always in the back of your mind, you should definitely give it a chance. I certainly didnt think it would be me, but it has opened so many doors for me, and it will always be something Ill never forget, she added. For more information, send an email to corkrosecentre@roseoftralee.ie. Its part of a new memorial to commemorate the centenary of the unveiling of the Cork War Memorial Members of the the Slattery Family (Mary to left, Willie in centre), Deputy Lord Mayor Honore Kamegni and Museum curator, Daniel Breen, pictured at the opening of The Last General Absolution War, Loss and Memory in Cork Public Museum, Fitzgerald's Park. An iconic painting, that depicts Cork soldiers fighting in the First World War, is currently on display at Fitzgerald Park. The Last General Absolution of the Munsters at Rue du Bois by Italian artist, Fortunino Matania, is the striking piece, in a painting that depicts the 2nd Battalion of Royal Munster Fusiliers receiving general absolution on the eve of battle from their chaplain, Father Gleeson (May 8th, 1915). The following day, the British Army lost 11,000 men, dead or wounded, during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, of which 300 came from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. Of these 300, 95% were Irish, with at least 50 connected to Cork City and County. The original painting is believed to have been lost in the bombing of London during the Second World War, however the version currently on display at Cork Public Museum was specifically commissioned from the artist in 1919 by Alfred Robinson to celebrate the safe return of his son from the war. The painting stayed with the Robinson family until it was sold at auction last year. Thankfully, it was purchased by Willie and Mary Slattery from Dublin who very generously loaned it to Cork Public Museum for public display. Cork Public Museum is delighted to be able to display this wonderful and historic painting to the public for the first time ever, said Daniel Breen, Curator of Cork Public Museum. "The original is considered one of the most iconic paintings of the Great War and is internationally beloved for capturing the brutal futility of war, as well as illustrating the courage of the soldiers and the sacrifices made by their families. It is said that in the decades after the war, nearly every house on the Corks northside had a print of this image hanging on their wall, a reminder of how many Cork families lost sons, husbands and brothers during the conflict. The painting was inspired by the 1915 book The Story of the Munsters, which was written by Jessie Rickard, a well-known novelist and wife of Colonel Victor Rickard, one of the officers depicted in the painting and who also lost his life during the Battle of Aubers Ridge. Though Dublin-born, Jessie Rickard spent much of her life in Cork and is buried in Rathcooney cemetery. This exhibition touches on the lives and experiences of some of the men depicted in the painting, utilising original objects and personal possessions to tell their stories, including that of Private Christy Barry, of Douglas Street, who was present for the last Absolution and who also lost his life in the following days battle. Emma McSweeney (L) from Banteer in Cork and Sarah O'Sullivan (R) from Ballyduff in Kerry. Two college friends from Cork and Kerry, Emma McSweeney and Sarah OSullivan, are preparing for a unique summer volunteer experience with Cork-based charity SERVE in India, working with the Association of People with Disabilities (APD). Emma McSweeney, from Banteer in Cork and Sarah OSullivan, from Ballyduff are set to volunteer this summer with SERVE, a Cork-based charity focused on community development in India. Both students are excited to contribute their skills to work with people with special needs, through APD which focuses on supporting people with disabilities. Emma, currently studying Plant Biology at University College Cork (UCC), has always been passionate about scientific research and journaling. Inspired by her mother, a physiotherapist, she has developed a keen interest in working with individuals with disabilities. Sarah, studying Biotechnology, has a particular interest in prosthetics and is eager to work with amputees during her volunteer experience. Weve both wanted to go to India for a long time, and when we learned about the SERVE opportunity, it felt like the perfect fit, said Emma. Indias culture, food, and environment are completely new to us, and were excited to learn from the people there while making a meaningful impact. Both students are actively preparing for their summer journey through joint fundraising efforts, including a climb of Carrauntoohil, Irelands highest peak, to raise funds for their volunteer work. Emmas parents, both experienced mountaineers, are fully supporting the initiative. With the opportunity to help those in need while learning about a new culture, Emma and Sarah said that they are both excited to embark on this journey and apply their unique skills to assist individuals with disabilities in India. SERVE is a development and volunteering organisation committed to providing equal opportunities for poor communities living in Southern Africa, South-East Asia, and South America. Inspired by the belief that Solidarity in Action can improve the lives of the most vulnerable, SERVE works in partnership with local communities and organisations to offer high-quality vocational and educational learning opportunities. For more information about SERVEs work and the volunteer projects, visit www.serve.ie while the link to the two girls fundraiser can be found here. The cable car making a crossing on to Dursey Island, Co Cork. Photo: David Creedon A small offshore island at the tip of Beara which boasts America as its next stop will soon have a new bus service which will enhance the quality of life for people living in the area. From Monday, March 31, TFI Local Link Cork will introduce a new bus service from Castletownbere to Dursey Island. Dursey Island which is located at the tip of west Corks Beara Peninsula can lay claim to being one of Irelands most remote locations. It is the furthest point from Dublin in the country. It is located 330 kilometres from Dublin and even Cork city is a two-and-a half-hour drive due. Despite its exposed location, the island has supported a farming community for generations, which continues thanks in no small part to the famous Dursey Cable Car. Constructed in 1969, Irelands only cable car and the only one in Europe to cross open sea has been a lifeline for the islands farming community, as well as a major tourist attraction on the Wild Atlantic Way. The cable car offers residents and tourists the opportunity to cross over and back to the island. Dursey Island which has a strong tourist trade is a very pleasant and special treat. There are two full-time residents on the island as well as several farming families who keep livestock there. The new bus route will help to combat rural isolation and increase the connectivity between the mainland and the island. The new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. The current service that operates between Kilcrohane to Allihies will now be split into new Route 263 and current Route 232. Route 263 will operate four daily return services from Castletownbere to Allihies from Monday to Sunday with two return services per day extending to Dursey. The new route will provide peak-time and evening services along with continued connectivity to the Dursey Island Cable Car and to the villages and areas of Dzongchen Beara, Cahermore and Allihies. TFI Local Link Cork Manager David OBrien said TFI Local Link Cork recognises that localised transport solutions are an essential component in combating rural isolation. This new enhanced service will provide people living along the route with access to services and onward connections on a daily basis. The enhanced service will mean a significant improvement in the quality of life for people living in these areas. People can now access a wide range of public and social services, training courses, colleges and hospital appointments supported with onward bus connections, he added. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. "Germany is back," says Friedrich Merz, the country's likely next chancellor. That sentence once would have caused dread on the continent. Now, Germany's neighbors are pleased to see Berlin shouldering more responsibility for their collective security. A huge step in that direction is new legislation that allows greater borrowing for defense spending, which passed through parliament on Tuesday and should give Merz the financial means to make the country fighting fit. What will be harder is changing the German mindset. Dragging a country that was happy to leave its militaristic past behind into an age of defense-readiness will be a massive challenge. If the enormous spending package the Bundestag approved travels through the rest of the legislative process and becomes law, Merz will have a historic opportunity to transform the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, from top to bottom. Alongside allowing 500 billion ($545.3 billion) in debt for infrastructure investments, the world's third-largest economy has effectively exempted defense spending from its usually tough rules on borrowing. That's on top of the special 100 billion military fund Chancellor Olaf Scholz approved in 2022. This vast financial leeway should help Germany contribute to deterrence and defense in Europe now that American security guarantees can no longer be relied upon. There's a problem, however: The majority of Germans seem unwilling to fight for their country. All that spending on military equipment will be pointless if there are no people around to use it. In a recent poll, 60% of people said they "probably" or "definitely" wouldn't defend Germany with military force even if it were attacked directly. Among women, the rate went up to 73%. The survey also found that, on average, people were less willing to defend Germany the higher their education status was and the more left-wing they were in their politics. This is reflected in the Bundeswehr's longstanding recruitment crisis. A recent report found that Germany's military is 20,000 soldiers short of its 203,000-people target, and that since 2019, the average age of personnel has gone up to 34 years from 32 because fewer young people are joining. The government and Bundeswehr have long called for a return to some form of conscription to solve this problem. Marcel Bohnert, senior army officer and deputy leader of the German Bundeswehr Association, recently told the press that there was no point in hoping for more voluntary recruits. He argued that the military had tried everything from modern marketing and social media campaigns to job fairs and school visits. But it's doubtful that people can be forced into service. Many younger Germans resisted male conscription before it was suspended in 2011. By that point, it had already been reduced to just 6 months (during the Cold War, it had been 15 months in West and 18 months in East Germany). There was also a civilian service equivalent, which young men could choose to do instead. Still, many resented the whole principle of enforced national service. When I was at school in Germany in the early 2000s, my male friends did everything they could to fail their medical fitness tests once they'd received their draft letters. Some ate a lot of eggs to mess up their kidney values. Others took drugs. One feigned a mental health condition. It worked for most of them. In 2010, only 32,673 young men completed military service even though the government wanted 50,000. The idea seemed a waste of time for those who wanted to go to university, start an apprenticeship or travel. Wars were things that happened to other countries. Of course, the world isn't what it was 20 years ago. A major war has returned to Europe, and many feel the continent stands alone in the face of Russian aggression. Studies have suggested that fear of war is now the number one concern of young Germans. One poll showed that in 2019, just under half of 12-25-year-olds worried about "war in Europe." Last year the figure went up to 81%. Yet fear may not be a strong enough motivator for action. Currently, just 11,434 men and women are completing military service on a voluntary basis. When recent polls asked if conscription should be reintroduced, a majority of up to 70% of Germans said yes. But, among the under-30s - i.e., those who would actually have to serve - only a minority approved. Last year, I attended a conference at which Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg spoke. It had been his decision as German defense minister in 2010 to suspend conscription. Now he was arguing that he'd been wrong and it should be brought back. A young man in the audience stood up, annoyed, and asked: "Why should I spend a year of my life doing something you want me to do?" He's clearly not alone. A study conducted by the Bundeswehr in 2022 found that the main motives of those who do join are that they feel the military offers "a good place to work, camaraderie and teamwork. But not pay, working hours or mobility." So there's room for improvement in making soldiering a more attractive career choice. But the biggest challenge will remain convincing young Germans that their country and its values are worth risking life and limb for. The truth is, while the military enjoys consistently high trust levels in society, German society emerged from the moral bankruptcy of Hitler's genocidal war rightfully chastened and wary of military culture. This legacy lives on in hearts and minds today. When the Bundeswehr performed its traditional "Grand Tattoo" (Groer Zapfenstreich) ceremony in 2021 to honor the 90,000 German soldiers who served in Afghanistan and especially the 60 of them who had fallen, there was widespread outrage. The 19th-century tradition, which involves torch marches, has been used by all German armies for well over a century, including by the Nazis but also by both German postwar forces and the current Bundeswehr. Yet public figures like the former Green politician Jutta Ditfurth were disgusted by the sight of German military traditions on display. Ditfurth posted on social media at the time: "When Germans pick up torches, I can't eat as much as I'd like to sick up." Hashtags like #Wehrmacht - the name for the German army in World War II - were soon trending on social media. The incident exemplifies the careful balance Germany has to strike in becoming more at ease with defending itself and others without forgetting its history in the process. The armies of France, Britain and the US draw much of their proud modern-day military cultures from the same history that causes feelings of guilt and anxiety in Germany's collective psyche. They won't work as role models for Germany, which will have to find its own path. Getting a bigger defense budget approved is nothing compared with what will have to come next to make Germany fight fit. The Bundeswehr doesn't have a long-established military tradition of fighting for democracy and freedom. Merz will have to find a way to build one, and that requires a transformation that goes beyond politics and money. Katja Hoyer is a German-British historian and journalist. Her latest book is Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany. The scheme invites members of the public into the nests of Irelands rarest birds Far from the cry to stay in that were hearing from all of our favourite streaming services, the return of the Nestflix streaming scheme, from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is inviting people out into nature, and to see how two Cork feathery families make their nest. Members of the public can now tune in again this year to Nestflix, two new livestreams which show pairs of chough as they go about building their nests, raising their young and carrying out noisy conversations with each other. Chough are vocal birds which means that the livestream comes with one of natures livelier soundtracks. Over the past few years, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has installed cameras at two locations around Co. Cork to observe and better understand the behaviour of chough and what helps them to breed and thrive. Following last years cliff-hanger, two pairs of chough recently returned to Mizen Head and Clonakilty and are now beginning to build their nests. As someone born and raised in West Cork, the distinctive call of the chough has been part of the soundtrack of my life, said Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD I have often had the privilege of watching these playful pairs of chough swooping and soaring along coastal cliff-tops. Not everyone has the chance to see this beautiful bird with its bright red beak and red legs. Projects like this offer greater public access and understanding about bird life and what we can all do to protect our birds by protecting its habitats and reducing disturbance to nesting sites. As the Minister with responsibility for nature and biodiversity, the fact that these nests are based in Cork is unbelievably important. Theyre in two places very close to my heart. The Clonakilty nest box isnt too far away from my home in Ardfield, and the Mizen Head Nestflix is in a part of the country thats very close to my heart as well. Ireland is of outstanding global importance for this species, supporting over 60% of the biogeographic population of this species and Ireland is committed to ensuring this special bird thrives through a network of eighteen protected sites, four of which are located in Co Cork. West Cork is, and remains, one of the best places in Ireland to see these species, and they are an extraordinary species in that they have those striking bills and legs. I really hope these nest cams bring people closer and give people a greater insight into the nesting habits of this incredible species. The chough is a member of the crow family, larger than the jackdaw and distinctive for its bright red beak and red legs and characteristic call. The Irish name of the species cag cosdearg translates as red-legged jackdaw. They are insectivores, using their curved red bills to probe the ground for insects and other invertebrates including beetle larvae and ants. In fact, the chough is the rarest member of the crow family in Ireland and is largely confined to the south and west coasts. There are around 900 pairs of chough breeding in Ireland and Co Cork is the stronghold for the species with 30% of the national population. Due to its scarcity in Europe, chough are protected under Irish national legislation and also the EU Birds Directive, and Ireland has designated a number of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) to help conserve it. Chough traditionally nest in crevices in sea cliffs, but some are changing their nesting habits. In Cork more than a third of chough are now nesting in buildings such as cattle sheds, hay barns and abandoned buildings, explained Clare Heardman, ecologist with the NPWS. This has facilitated the installation of the live nest cameras so the public can get a rare insight into a normally hidden part of the Choughs life. Last year the Mizen pair laid their first egg at the end of March, and the Clonakilty pair at the beginning of April. Up to five eggs were laid in each nest in 2024, with the chicks hatching from late April. During incubation the male feeds the female at the nest, but once the chicks hatch both parents provide for their hungry brood. After four to five weeks, the chicks fledge and leave the nest. So there will be lots of activity over the coming months for people tuning in. Some people have always said that there are those in West Cork who are away with the birds! Digital paperwork now consumes much of the well-known butchers time, when once he had only to worry about little more than the sharpness of his tools Half the business now is sitting in front of a computer, well-known Cork butcher Tom Durcan explains, as he reflects back, in his English Market base, on more than four decades in business. We have a computer thats sitting on the counter that theyre banging away on all day. And when I started in business, I had a block, a cold room, a saw and a knife, and that's about all I had! Durcan is now one of the best-known names of the Market, which dates to 1788. Even though hes not in business quite as long as that, things were still a hell of a lot different from the present when he started as a 20-year-old with his first shop on the South Douglas Road in March 1985. The day I started was scary, he remembers. My bandsaw blade broke on me. The very first day. I started cutting T bones for my first customer, the blade snapped, and I did not have a spare one. I had to handsaw it! But look, you get over these things that - on the day - I thought it was a huge crisis, but looking back and it was a thing of nothing. I remember the man who bought them from me, Tom Tobin was his name, my pal's dad, and he paid me with a 20 note. I put it under the cashiers and it was there about five years and then went missing. The move followed Durcans time cutting his teeth as an apprentice in Carrigaline, before a trip to Denmark through his course in the then CIT (now the MTU) opened up the then-teenagers eyes to spiced meat, which would prove useful later in life. It was 40 or 50 quid a week I rented a shop for, and all my pals helped me do it up and open the butchers shop. It's a lot different to what I'm doing now. There wasn't as much paperwork or anything involved, the whole thing has evolved over 40 years. (Theres) an awful lot of fellows gone out of it. You're down to three or four red meat stalls in the English Market, that's all thats left, and there was about 20 when I moved in here. So in some cases it's a dying business, in other cases, it's a good business because there's less at it. In time, Durcan made a name for himself for his spiced beef, winning multiple awards, including most recently Best in Ireland by the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland in December of last year. A Cork speciality, the meat is particularly popular at Christmas time, which Durcan admits makes up a huge part of his business. Its ginormous, Durcan said. Its the biggest part of our business. Being honest, Christmas would account for 15 20% of our sales for the year. Its a phenomenal business and Ive built a name for it, Ive won awards from Blas na hEireann and others, so the word was that it's good, and it sells by itself. It's very easy to sell good meat. And what is it that makes it so popular in the Rebel County? It's a unique taste that you don't get. Pastrami is something similar, but it's not the same, theres too many peppers in Pastrami. I suppose it's a novel piece of meat, it's a novelty to get spiced beef like, everyone doesn't sell it, everyone doesn't cure it. And thankfully, at this stage, most fellas don't make it as good as I do. However, like all good businessmen, Durcan has had to think on his feet in the last four decades. Durcan switched to delivery-only during COVID, while in the last few years the butcher has turned restaurateur, going into the street-food business by opening Nusa Asador in the English Market, a Brazilian-inspired steakhouse in conjunction with chef Victor Franca. Everyone's become more time conscious. We all have less time than we had years ago to do things. Everyone seems to be busy and in a hurry. What I find with Nua Asador is a lot of people are coming down, getting two meals, and taking them home for dinner. It's convenient, it's easy, there's no mess. You get your full dinner in a box, take it home, eat it simple and it's fast. It's not fast food, but people want food faster, and they want good, substantial food faster. They don't want to be eating rubbish, you know. However, after 40 years, Durcan is starting to wind down, spending less time on the counter, and handing over the reigns of the business, as it continues to stay open, staying ahead by selling meat that Durcan says surpasses their supermarket competitors. Time is flying by. It's going faster as you get older, there's no doubt about that. I was renewing my insurance there the other day, and I saw 20th of March and discovered Jesus, thats the day I started!, and I discovered Im 40 years in business! I didn't realize it was coming, but I must be doing something right. We've a large online business; the whole thing has changed. But you basically don't have to be a butcher cutting meat anymore for half the work involved, you know. Whereas originally it was up early in the morning, cut up cattle, sell them during the day, go home, come back in the following day and do the same thing again. Versus, now it's more organization, the logistics of running a butcher shop, now, are the big thing, you know? I won't say, semi-retired, but spending a lot less than I used to. I have more time to myself. I have a fantastic crew in there working, and I know it's in fantastic hands when I'm missing. I'm never gonna pack it up, but I'll take it a lot easier. It keeps me occupied. I'm not going to pack up and lay down the corner and die in my old age. Irelands oldest known person, Ruby Druce, has passed away at the age of 109. The Donegal woman died on Thursday peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Ruby celebrated her 109th birthday on New Years Eve in her hometown of Castlefinn, where she lived with her niece Carmel Harran and Carmels husband Martin. Ruby was Irelands oldest known resident since August last year following the passing of Galways Phyllis Furness (109). When she was told she was the oldest known person in Ireland, Ruby simply asked, Am I?, as calm as you like, her niece Carmel Harran had said. Ruby Druce with her birthday cake on her 109th birthday. Born on New Years Eve in 1915, to George Crawford and Elizabeth, nee McBride, Ruby was the eldest of five children. In her long lifetime, Ruby lived through two World Wars and two global pandemics. In 1918, the Spanish Flu sadly claimed the lives of her baby sister and younger brother, who both died in the same week. Ruby has previously told the story of how her father gave her poitin when she was just three years old after she also contracted the Spanish Flu. She went onto become a pioneer and never smoked, while she worked in Porters Shirt Factory from the age of 14 until she was 62. In 1956, she married James Druce, who sadly passed away 14 years later. Ruby two years ago after turning on the Christmas Lights in Castlefinn at the request of local schoolchildren. She had previously said the secret to her long life was plenty of walking, hard work and a daily cod liver oil capsule. The Castlefinn native had always been fiercely independent and lived on her own until she was 98. She used to walk every day and enjoyed keeping her own house. However, after sustaining a bad fall and spending a short period of time in hospital, she moved to Letterkenny to live with her niece, Margo Butler. She lived in Letterkenny for ten years, but last year, Margo was diagnosed with cancer and sadly, died a short time later. Ruby on her 108th birthday with Carmel Harran and the late Margo Butler. Ruby moved back to her native Castlefinn to live with her niece Carmel and her husband Martin on July 1, 2024. Ruby came to be a bit of a celebrity around Donegal and in 2022, she was asked by the local school in Castlefinn to switch on the towns Christmas lights. On her birthday each year, well wishes and cards flooded in from every corner of the country, however, she waited patiently for one special caller each year. Ruby had been a Daniel ODonnell fan for decades and they even performed The Homes of Donegal together when he called to visit her last year. Ruby with Daniel and Majella O'Donnell. When Ruby turned 100, she received well wishes from the President and a cheque. However, her generous nature saw Ruby giving the money to charities in Donegal - Guide Dogs for the Blind, Donegal Hospice, Lifford Hospital and the Cancer Bus for patients going from Letterkenny to Galway for appointments. Ruby will be waked at the home of her niece, Carmel Harran, Castlefinn, from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, March 21, and Saturday from 12 noon until 9pm. Ruby in her younger days on her husband Jims Honda 50. Rubys funeral will take place on Sunday, March 23, at 12pm in St Marys Church, Castlefinn, followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. Ruby was predeceased by her parents George and Lizzie, husband Jim, brothers Geordie and James, sisters Maggie and Molly, her niece Margo and nephew Tony. She is survived by her nieces Carmel and Claire, and nephew Seamus and extended family and very close friends. Dublin Fire Brigade warns of haze on south side roads after wildfire Smoke from the wildfire as seen from Bothar Katharine Tynan in Tallaght. Photo: Lauren Beehan Smoke from the wildfire as seen from Bothar Katharine Tynan in Tallaght. Photo: Lauren Beehan Two fire engines remained on scene overnight in the Dublin mountains. Pic: @DubFireBrigade Dublin firefighters were called to a large gorse wildfire in the Dublin Mountains, near Glencullen, last night. Two fire engines remained on the scene overnight as crews worked to bring the fire under control. The fire continues to cause a haze on nearby roads, impacting visibility. A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade said: The area will continue to be monitored, and rain expected later will help extinguish the fire. The fire broke out on the slopes of the Dublin Mountains, visible from Glencullen. Two fire engines remained on scene overnight in the Dublin mountains. Pic: @DubFireBrigade Firefighters from Rathfarnham and Dun Laoghaire Fire stations are on scene in Glencullen as the gorse wildfire spreads pushed by an Easterly wind. Clouds of smoke have been seen as far as Tallaght and Lucan. Crews used a combination of hand tools, gorse beaters, and lightweight hoses to gain control of the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. Fine Gael councillor Pierce Dargan expressed concern, saying he had contacted the council to inquire about additional fire prevention measures that could be implemented ahead of the summer months, when the risk of wildfires increases. Wildfires have become a recurring issue in the area, with at least one blaze reported annually since 2019. Strong breezes have contributed to the spread of smoke across a wide area. The fire brigade has advised residents in surrounding areas to close all windows as a precaution to avoid inhaling the smoke. Wildfires in Glencullen. Pic: @DubFireBrigade Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 21st Dublin Fire Brigade also issued a warning to motorists, advising that a haze remains over some roads on the south side of Dublin this morning. This is due to the lingering effects of the large wildfire. The second sleep out will take place on April 2 outside Leinster House. Pic: Mark Condren Parents will stage a second 24-hour sleep-out in front of the Department of Education to protest over the lack of suitable special educational needs school places. Pic: Mark Condren Parents from around the country are coming together for a second time to stage a 24-hour sleep-out in front of Leinster House to protest at the lack of suitable special educational needs school places. Parents, who have all received multiple letters of refusal for places in SEN schools, will gather at Dail Eireann on April 2, which also marks World Autism Day. The protest will begin at 2pm for their children who they say are being locked out of education. One of the leading figures in the protest is Charlotte Cahill, whose daughter Cyra (5) has been refused a place in over 30 special educational needs schools. Sadly, we have had to make the decision to do another sleep-out as we are not being listened to at all, she said. We have over 200 children across the country without an appropriate school place for September. We have asked multiple times to meet the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and ministers with no solid response, so we have no option but to sleep out again. Ms Cahill has said that over 200 families have contacted them, receiving over 500 refusal letters. Organisers of the protest are demanding that the Department of Education address the critical shortage of suitable SEN school places. The second sleep out will take place on April 2 outside Leinster House. Pic: Mark Condren A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. The NCSE is engaging with the parents concerned and will continue to work closely with them in identifying and securing education placements appropriate to their needs for September 2025. The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional support, special classes and special school places are provided. Over the last few years, the department and the NCSE have introduced a number of initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places. These initiatives are bearing fruit, with almost 1,700 new special classes sanctioned and 11 special schools established over the last five years. A further five new special schools will open for the coming school year. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Plans for the move to go ahead next year despite calls for a pause The announcement that a Dublin secondary school would transition into a co-educational Gaelcholaiste next year, has been a distressing time for staff, it has been claimed. Last September, it was revealed that Synge Street CBS would be welcoming girls for the first time and would also become a Gaelcholaiste to cater for the growing demand for an Irish language secondary school in the wider area. However, a large portion of the schools teaching staff have since voiced opposition to the way the plan is being rolled out. This has been a distressing time for those whose lives revolve around this great school, and particularly for those who will be most affected by the proposals, teacher Adrian McMahon said. The manner in which these proposals emerged and have been communicated, demonstrates a clear lack of regard for the school community. Teachers, parents and students deserve better. The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) has reiterated calls for a pause to plans to allow for more consultation with teachers and the school community. At a meeting this week between the teaching staff and Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST), teachers expressed their anger and dismay at the ongoing failure to engage with them. While the Board of Management of Synge Street has declared its opposition to the proposed changes being introduced in 2026, this has been overruled by the school patron body. The manner in which teachers working at Synge Street have been treated is shabby at best, Diarmaid de Paor, ASTI Deputy General Secretary, said. This treatment has included ERST and the Department [of Education]taking unilateral decisions which will have a significant impact on the lives of the teachers, whilst keeping those same teachers in the dark about their futures. This is unacceptable, and we call on ERST and the Department to pause their plans and participate in meaningful and respectful engagement as a priority, he added. The transformation is part of a broader push to meet the growing demand for Irish-language education in Dublins inner city. Critics, particularly from within the school, argue that the process has been poorly managed and lacks sufficient consultation. The ASTI, which represents over 90pc of the schools staff, has condemned the lack of meaningful engagement. According to the union, the announcement to convert Synge Street CBS to a Gaelcholaiste left many teachers feeling blindsided as they has only been informed a day earlier. An ERST statement said it met with Synge Street CBSs board of management and with the schools staff this week. Its clear from these meetings that staff are understandably disappointed with and feel disrespected by the lack of consultation in the change of status process, as well as the speed around which it has taken place. This is especially so because of the quality of their teaching and their strong commitment to the school. ERST also confirmed an additional intake of students taught in English will take place in September 2026, as requested by the schools board. However, the Gaelcholaiste transition will proceed, with an intake of students taught through Irish accommodated in a separate building on the campus during their first year. To support the transition, ERST and the Department of Education have committed to a comprehensive upskilling program for teachers, and assistance for those who may choose to opt out of the Gaelcholaiste. A Department of Education spokesperson added that it is fully supportive and remains committed to the establishment of a Gaelcholaiste in the Dublin south city area. "The Department is currently working with the Edmund Rice Schools Trust and the school management to ensure there is continued and clear engagement with the staff of Synge St CBS on the successful transition to a co-educational Gaelcholaiste on a phased basis from September 2026. This engagement involves consultation with staff and school management and consideration of the practical steps required for the school community working towards providing teaching and learning through the medium of Irish. " Provision must also be made for those students currently learning through English and those who are preparing for State examinations. "Supports for the transition arrangements include management supports, upskilling, redeployment and recruitment of staff where necessary as the project progresses. The Kinvara Farmer's Market is set to return to the village PIC CREDIT: Facebook/Kinvara Farmer's Market A road in the village of Kinvara in Galway is set to be closed once a week for several months due to a popular market returning to the area. The closures will be in effect from Friday March 14 to October 31 inclusive to facilitate the Kinvara Farmers Market. The market will see the return of several popular stalls such as Galway Bay Bakery, The Connemara Printmaker and Deirdres Bakes. Galway County Council have confirmed the closure will see the Courthouse Road closed from its junction with N67 to junction with L-8570 at the Pier in Kinvara to public traffic from 7:30am to 3pm every Friday. An alternative route has been provided as drivers are diverted via the L-85707 Barrack Street from N67 to L-8570 at the Pier in Kinvara. Members of the Kerry ETB Student Forum pictured at the Kerry ETB Ethos Day. The forum has been shortlisted for the ETB Excellence Award for Care at this years ETBI Excellence Awards, recognising their student-led initiative on vaping awareness and education. The Student Forum at Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) has this week been shortlisted for the ETB Excellence Award for Care at this years Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) Excellence Awards which are set to take place at Croke Park on Thursday, March 28. This nomination recognises the outstanding contribution of Kerry ETB students in fostering a caring and supportive school environment, exemplifying the core values of care, empathy, and student wellbeing. The ETB Excellence Award for Care, presented by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), honours initiatives that prioritise the welfare, wellbeing, and safety of learners, ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment for all students, particularly the most vulnerable. Kerry ETBs Student Forum has been acknowledged for its student-led Information on Vaping campaign, a pioneering initiative aimed at raising awareness and educating students about the health risks of vaping. The Kerry ETB Student Forum is made up of student representatives from each of Kerry ETBs eight post-primary schools, providing a strong platform for student voice and leadership across the county. This year, forum members worked collaboratively to design and deliver a peer-led workshop that highlights the legal implications, physical and mental health risks of vaping, and the supports available to students. In partnership with the HSE, the Student Forum created a fact-based, interactive workshop that was delivered by students, for students, ensuring greater engagement, meaningful discussions, and impactful learning experiences. The forum members also trained student facilitators in each school, creating a sustainable peer-education model that has already had a positive influence across the Kerry ETB school community. Pat OSullivan, Kerry ETBs Ethos Coordinator, praised the students for their initiative and leadership. "This project is an incredible example of student voice in action. The Kerry ETB Student Forum recognised a growing issue in their schools and took real steps to address it in a way that resonated with their peers. By creating a workshop designed and delivered by students, they made the information more accessible, relatable, and impactful. Being shortlisted for this national award is a well-deserved recognition of their dedication and passion." Forum member Katie Stack was involved in the designing and delivery of the workshops, emphasised the importance of peer-led education in tackling social issues. "When students educate each other, the message is more powerful. We wanted to provide real facts, challenge misconceptions, and make sure people had the right information to make informed choices. Seeing the impact this campaign has had in our schools has been amazing, and being recognised for this work is a huge honour." Fellow forum member David Hunt, who worked with Katie and two other students in the design and delivery of the workshops, also reflected on the initiatives success. "We saw how vaping was becoming a big issue, and we wanted to do something positive to help our classmates. Working with the HSE gave us the right information, and delivering it through peer-led sessions made a real difference. The feedback has been fantastic, and its great to know that weve helped people make better choices." Antonia McTaggart's Seven Sisters Ireland offers contemporary, unconventional Irish gifts, inspired by her siblings who have lived across the globe but always kept their connection to home in the west of Ireland Leitrim woman, Antonia McTaggart, behind unique Irish gift shop gathers inspiration from her seven sisters. Photo: Louise Mc Cabe. Antonia McTaggart is a mother and one of the founders of Seven Sisters Ireland. Photo: Louise Mc Cabe Growing up in a house in Leitrim as the youngest of eight girls has been a unique and inspiring experience for entrepreneur Antonia McTaggart. So much so that those experiences encouraged her to launch a one of a kind Irish gift store inspired by her sisters, their life experiences and their shared love of their home country. Seven Sisters Ireland is a contemporary Irish e-commerce gift store showcasing slightly unconventional and non traditional Irish products. Follow Independent Leitrim on Facebook Antonias seven sisters have lived all over the world from Cambodia to Australia, but home has always been in the the west of Ireland. Her sisters influence mixed with a deep love for a wide variety of incredible Irish designers and artists offering all sorts of products and gifts have been the backbone of Antonias vision for Seven Sisters Ireland. The Seven Sisters logo inspired by a real family photo. Photo: Brand Labs I am the youngest of eight girls from the West of Ireland, explained Antonia. My inspiration came from my sisters travels all over the world and how hard it can be to get the right gifts for people who are very different. I also wanted them to also have something that was Irish but wasnt necessarily traditional. Ireland has no shortage of cool, exciting, and beautifully crafted items, and I wanted to simplify the process of finding the perfect gift by curating a collection thats both distinctive and affordable. We operate as sustainably as possible while supporting Irish artists and makers in growing their craft. I also have a background in Sales and Marketing and have had the opportunity to work with some amazing international brands over my career and thought it would be very cool to try and create something of a homegrown Irish Lifestyle brand, said Antonia. Supporting local artists and creators The website also supplies unique gift boxes for different occassions. The website is home to all sorts of colourful and modern gifts including, homeware, jewellery, mugs, prints and art pieces. Antonia loves working with Irish creators and promoting their products and designs. She said supporting the Irish creative industry has been the companys mission from day one. The community hereartists, makers and other small businessesis incredibly supportive. Were all united by the same goal: making it easier for people to shop locally and find meaningful Irish gifts. Weve collaborated with incredible local talent, like Brand Labs, our logo designers and illustrator Cathy Hogan, who brought our Shop Irish vision to life with her artwork of my sisters. We also used Irish based photographer Dora Kazmierak, said Antonia. Family collaboration drives product selection Seven Sisters Ireland is a contemporary Irish e-commerce gift store that showcases slightly unconventional and non traditional Irish products. Photo: Dora Kazmierak Selecting the vast array of stock for the business is a true family affair with all the sisters involved in bringing the companys vision to life. The goal is to pick things the sisters love and things that they would love to have received when they were far away from home. Its a true collaboration between my sisters and me. Theyll often send me photos of things they love such as earrings or pottery, and ask, Can you find something like this? We also scout talent at Showcase Ireland, which highlights amazing Irish creatives, and we frequent weekend markets to discover emerging makers who havent yet broken into the mainstream, said Antonia. Balancing motherhood with business growth Antonia McTaggart is a mother and one of the founders of Seven Sisters Ireland. Photo: Louise Mc Cabe While the gift shop is already reaching incredible heights, Antonia is looking forward to a busy year ahead and the company is exploring the idea of launching their own line of products. After welcoming my first baby last December, we slowed down a bit in 2024. This year, were back full-throttle. Were expanding our corporate gifting partnerships, like HubSpot and Airbnb, refining our product range based on customer feedback, and exploring a small line of our own products - though thats still in the works, said Antonia. Louth-based company encourages start-up and mid-stage food entrepreneurs to apply for Food Academy, as SuperValu launches the 2025 programme Pictured as part of the Food Academy Recruitment Drive 2025 is Gerry Scullion, King of Kefir. King of Kefir is encouraging start-up and early-stage food and drink Irish businesses to apply for the Food Academy 2025, which is supported by SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office. Food Academy provides a launchpad for start-up to mid-stage food and drink producers, equipping them with the tools to thrive in the competitive retail landscape. A Louth-based food entrepreneur is encouraging start-ups and mid-stage food producers to take their products to the next level through SuperValus Food Academy 2025. With applications now open, the programme provides mentorship, retail insights and a unique opportunity to get innovative food and drink products on supermarket shelves. Gerry Scullion, founder of King of Kefir, Irelands first dedicated water kefir brewery, has been pioneering fermented drinks since 2014. Thanks to insights gained through the Food Academy, Scullion fine-tuned his product packaging, transitioning from bottles to cans for the growing grab-and-go market. We are proud to be Ireland and Europes first dedicated water kefir brewery, using traditional water kefirs since 2014. All our flavours are made from scratch, using only organic botanical ingredients by brewing herbal infusions. At the start, bottle openers were needed by customers to open the bottles, but following market research and customer feedback, we made the switch to twisty bottle caps for ease and convenience. Insights into the lunchtime grab-and-go market were also crucial to us, and informed our decision to start using cans instead of bottles. The Food Academy has been fundamental to our success and has enabled us to research and gain a better understanding of our customers needs, said Scullion. Over the past eleven years, the Food Academy has propelled over 1,000 Irish food businesses into national retail success, generating 260 million in sales, showing strong consumer demand for local, high-quality, and sustainable Irish food.. With 30 million projected in sales this year alone, the programme continues to shape Irelands evolving food landscape, which is seeing increasing demand for organic, vegetarian, plant-based, high-protein and gut-focused products. A significant development in this years programme is the launch of a new partnership with TU Dublin, providing those who take part with enhanced training and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, making the Food Academy Irelands only accredited producer development programme. Speaking about the programme, Carmel Biggane, Food Academy Manager said: The Food Academy is a fantastic collaboration between SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office, growing stronger year after year since its inception 12 years ago. This programme provides producers with invaluable experience, and the opportunity to get their products on SuperValu shelves, 52 weeks of the year, and helping them build their brand. Supporting local and Irish producers is at the heart of what we do at SuperValu, and our involvement in Food Academy underscores our commitment to fostering homegrown talent in the food industry. As consumer tastes continue to evolve, the Food Academy is paving the way for innovative food and drink producers to bring great-tasting products to the Irish market. We encourage all start-ups and mid-stage producers to apply today." Supported by SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office, Food Academy provides a launchpad for start-up to mid-stage food and drink producers, equipping them with the tools to thrive in the competitive retail landscape. With consumer interest in homegrown, innovative products at an all-time high, now is the perfect time for new producers to take the leap and apply. Applications for Food Academy 2025 close on April 4, 2025. Entrepreneurs interested in applying can find out more through their Local Enterprise Office or online at: https://www.localenterprise.ie/FoodSupports/Food-Academy-Programme/. A master of storytelling, Mary Kate OFlanagan transfoms lies missteps and milestones into unforgettable stories, bringing laughter, honesty and heart to Droichead Arts Centre this March. Theres an alchemy to live storytelling that only the best performers can conjure, a rare blend of humour, heartache and humanity that makes an audience laugh, cry and most importantly, feel seen. Mary Kate OFlanagan, one of Irelands most gifted storytellers, has mastered this magic and now shes bringing it to Drogheda. With her critically acclaimed one-woman show, Making a Show of Myself, set to take the stage at the Droichead Arts Centre on Marcch 21, OFlanagan invites the audience into her world a place where missteps become material, heartbreak turns into hilarity and painful moments of life are spun into something meaningful. Millions of people across the world have watched Mary Kate OFlanagans stories go viral on social media, resonating deeply with audiences, from Dublin to Denmark, Los Angeles to Louth. But ask her what makes her stories so compelling and she hesitates. I dont know for sure, she says before offering a guess. I think it could be because all the stories I have a painful or embarrassing moment at their core. Im standing there, saying, Yes I did this ridiculous thing and I got into that trouble but look it, Im here to tell the tale. So not only have I manifestly survived things that we all go through; broken hearts, bereavements, big cities - but I am knocking a bit of craic out of life and finding something beautiful in the brokenness. We all do that in our lives or we couldnt go on. But the magic of her storytelling doesnt come easy. I never tell a story onstage until it has revealed its secret meaning to me, she explains. That way I finally figure out how to shape it and after lots of work, it seems that there was never any other way to tell that story. But believe me, I have told all my popular stories the wrong and the long way hundreds of times." She admits, I owe such a debt to the people who listen to me tell the rambling confused versions of my stories. They help me figure out where the heart of the matter is and how to cut my stories till theyre fit for presentation to a paying public. Its that raw honesty and unshakeable wit that makes her work so magnetic. Weve all experienced bereavements, heartbreaks, and moments of utter foolishness but not all of us can transform them into something so hilarious and deeply moving, but OFlanagan can and in Making a Show of Myself, she does it again and again. For years, she has honed her craft in competitive storytelling events, winning story slams internationally before making the leap to a full-length show. "I just needed the push, she admits. My sister Rachel came up with the title because not only was I making a show out of my own real-life experiences, but there was a very real possibility that Id fall flat on my face. She didnt. The shows initial run at Dublins Smock Alley Theatre was meant to be a small week-long run but it quickly became a sensation, earning rave reviews and selling multiple runs. Now a year into her Irish tour, it arrives in Drogheda. So whats in store for those heading to the Droichead Arts Centre? A bit of everything, she says. It starts funny. If you dont giggle, at least a bit at the beginning, I havent done my job. But as the show goes on, I go a bit deeper and a bit darker once the audience gets comfortable with me. Theres a rhythm to her storytelling, a deliberate arc that invites the audience in with humour before leading them to more poignant places. Most people find they start crying at a certain point, she admits. But theyre not tears of sadness, theyre tears to release emotion which is cleansing and restorative. At its heart, Making a Show of Myself is about connection. "If the show was just about me, there would be no value in it, she says. Its about what happens between you and me when I tell you a story and you respond. And when a group of us have that experience together in a theatre, its special. Mary Kates life has been shaped by stories, from working as a journalist, a screenwriter and story consultant and in doing so, she has followed her bliss. "I cant remember a time when I wasnt in thrall to storytelling. But I do know when I read that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master anything, I thought, Well I guess Ill never master anything because I do not have that level of discipline but I hadnt realised I was putting in my time doing what I love." Louth connections and international experience: a storyteller comes home Growing up, her family moved from Donegal to Dublin to Denmark, exposing her to a variety of cultural experiences but her roots in Louth run deep. My lovely father was Louth and Proud, so we spent some holidays where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to sea, she says. I have a lot of family in Drogheda. Her influences are as varied as her upbringing. She cites classic Westerns like The Searchers, My Darling Clemantine and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, passed on by her father, along with hyper-masculine cinema like The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Though she has also taken inspiration from the timelessness of Jane Austen and the spellbinding prose of Ann Patchett. But perhaps her greatest influences of all are closer to home, her mother and five sisters, all natural storytellers in their own right. "We all love talking, so if you want to hold the floor in my family, you better be entertaining, she shares. And they are. Her craft has taken her across continents, to Los Angeles, where she has worked with top screenwriters who approach stories as puzzles to be solved draft by draft. Ive never stopped being starstruck by the writers with whom I get to work. They love taking stories apart and figuring out why they work as much as I do, and weve never got tired of talking late into the night about that. She admires their discipline, but sees a downside too. Theres a lot of awareness of status and fear that its slipping, which is destructive to creativity. In Ireland and Europe she believes theres a lot more room for artists to grow at their own pace. We value maturity in artists more here, which is good to know as were all maturing. Ultimately, storytelling isnt just something OFlanagan does, its how she makes sense of the world. I always found stories magical. Outsized emotions are tamed when I get them on the page. Periods of suffering turn out to contain gifts. I cant turn everything into a story but everything I can turn into a story is a gift to me." "The best stories transcend cultural barriers when someone decides to change their destiny against all the odds, she says. Even though I missed my bus, Ill make it to that interview on time. Even though Im not naturally gifted, Ill work hard and become great. Even though my doctor says I wont recover, Ill find my way back to health. These moments exist in all our lives. Those moments of defiance, of pushing forward against the odds, resonate with everyone. And in Making a Show of Myself, Mary Kate makes sure her audiences see themselves in her stories. "I want people to know that if theres no struggle, theres no story. So if youre in the middle of a struggle, youre in the middle of a story. And I promise you, by the end of this show, youll see that every struggle will be worth it. Mary Kate's show, which is a collection of her award winning stories, is coming to the Droichead Arts Centre on Friday, March 21 at 8pm. To book tickets visit www.droichead.com. Zirbac DLK Ltd had applied for permission for 32 one-bed, 133 two-bed and 29 three-bed in in eight distinctive blocks ranging in height from part one storey to five-storey on land between Hill Street/Dublin Road and the Avenue Road The site borders a section of the Black Water River which was to be incorporated into the development plans, however, the Council refused permission. A decision report posted on the Councils planning portal says: The proposed development is located in an area of land that is identified as a flood risk, emanating from the Black Water River along the northern site boundaries. There is also an open drainage ditch that runs along most of the western boundary. "There is a significant flood risk to surrounding areas due to the displacement of existing flood storage capacity on the site. The proposed development would increase ground levels in a site which is currently susceptible to flooding. The submitted proposals would, therefore, represent an unacceptable hazard to existing properties in the vicinity of the site, future occupants of the development and emergency services personnel during a flood event. The proposals also provided for a childcare facility within Block A with its own outdoor play space and set down area as well as staff car parking and bicycle parking. In order to preserve the integrity of the existing pedestrian/cycle track from the Dublin Road to the Avenue Road (Long Avenue) and the open section of the River Blackwater that run north-south broadly through the centre of the site, two separate vehicular accesses were proposed to serve the development from the Dublin Road/Hill Street and a pedestrian/cycle only link across the Blackwater River. The first vehicular access would be a new access onto Dublin Road / Hill Street serving 75 dwellings, and the second, the existing access road onto Dublin Road at Mourne View Hall providing access to 119 apartments. A new bus stop was proposed fronting onto Dublin Road along with cycle stands for the proposed Dundalk Bike Scheme. Local Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne has criticised the governments handling of the housing crisis, highlighting a significant increase in homelessness in County Louth over the past year. Speaking in the Dail on a Sinn Fein motion regarding the Tenant-In-Situ scheme, Deputy Byrne outlined the stark rise in the number of adults accessing emergency accommodation across Louth. In January 2024 there were 172 Adults accessing emergency accommodation in Louth, and in January 2025 that had jumped to 232 adults, she stated. That is a 35pc increase in those needing emergency accommodation in Louth, in just a year. She described the situation as abject failure by the government to tackle homelessness and emphasised the importance of the Tenant-In-Situ scheme, which allowed tenants served without notice to quit to remain in their rented homes by facilitating local authorities to purchase the properties. The Tenant-In-Situ scheme had helped people who were given notice to quit an opportunity to stay in the home they had rented for years and in some cases even for decades, she said. As a former Louth County Councillor and Chair of Louth County Councils Housing SPC, I know the impact and real-life positives of The Tenant-In-Situ Scheme had for those lucky enough to be approved. However, she criticised the suspension of the scheme since the end of last year, citing the governments failure to agree on funding and targets for 2025. She noted that hundreds of applications remain pending due to a lack of funding, while new requests from tenants continue to pour in. This decision by government will cost the taxpayer more in the long run as those that will have to leave their homes will most likely end up in emergency accommodation. Deputy Byrne stressed the importance of the scheme as a crucial measure in preventing homelessness, saying that was why Sinn Fein had introduced a motion to reinstate it with proper funding. "A 35% increase in those needing emergency accommodation in Louth alone in just a year, shows how badly it is needed, she said. "No one can stand over an increase like that. I will continue to push the government to tackle the homelessness crisis in Louth and I will always support legislation that can actually tackle the crisis, she concluded. A nurse from Mayo and a chef from Tallaght were left disappointed after the pair failed to find true love on First Dates Ireland. Glamorous Filipino nurse Jill from Mayo was paired with Chef and jokester Mark from Tallaght on Thursday nights episode of First Dates Ireland. 35-year-old Jill from The Philippines has been living in Mayo for seven years and works in the hospital as a nurse assisting surgeons in the operating room. Jill, who stunned in a beautiful red dress, said she was looking for a man who did not need to be chased and had no hesitation in picking up the bill. She confessed her dating motto is: the flower doesnt run after the bee. Nowadays, men want to be chased. They want the notion that she wants me so bad. I am not here to validate or boost a mans ego, said Jill. Speaking of her job as a nurse, she said, When you are in the operating room, you will realise you should have a respect for life. You will see the human body in its most vulnerable state and to me that is interesting, said Jill. 44-year-old Mark said he enjoys Pilates, yoga and keeping fit. Mark is from Tallaght and works as a chef. He revealed he had never been to The Philippines but he had been to Turkey to get a hair transplant. He explained he had become self-conscious about his hair after noticing it thinning and decided to get a transplant. I wanted to do it for a long time because I was a little bit conscious about it. "It effected my confidence and my self-esteem. The wonders of modern science is great, isnt it?, said Mark. Jill said she had been on a lot of first dates recently but had not been successful in finding love. She said she was looking for a provider and the type of person who could help if she had a problem. Mark said he looks for a connection and a good vibe when it comes to love. "I can genuinely tell on the first date if there is a vibe. The Notebook is probably one of my favourite films - that connection." He confessed to being down to earth and a bit of a messer who likes a laugh and a joke. Jill lives in Mayo and works as a nurse. However, Jill seemed unimpressed when Mark said he would hide under Jills bed to scare her as a joke. Mark admitted he believes communication is key to a relationship while Jill confessed she would find it hard to live with other people as she likes to keep her home clean and tidy. Jill revealed her ideal type is actor Cillian Murphy and confessed that Mark is not her usual type but they pair were getting along and the conversation was flowing. She said she thought he was a gentleman and she was curious and a bit intrigued. However, unfortunately, the pair failed to find the right connection. When asked if they would like to see each other again, Mark said he would not like to see Jill romantically again. Despite admitting that the pair got along, he said he did not feel the vibe. First Dates Ireland matches singletons from far and wide hoping to find their forever love in the restaurant. On hand as always with kind words of encouragement, shoulders to cry on and insightful observations on love and life are table angels Alice and Pete, Neil, the world's friendliest barman and Maitre D' Mateo Saina. The Retired Teachers Sligo (RTS) hosted an evening in the Hawks Well Theatre Sligo entitled Making Sense of Humour. This evening was a positive mental health initiative which was supported by the HSE Connecting for Life. Retired senior citizens from all walks of life were welcomed to a night of social connection, wellness and engagement with the community. RSTA and ASTI: France Horan, Donal Gallagher ( HSE), Imelda Harte, Tommy Marren, Carmel Heneghan, Padraic O Doherty, Ann Mc Kiernan, Jimmy Staunton. Over the summer of 2022, representatives of the three retired teachers groups in Sligo came together and formed the RTS. It is an umbrella group consisting of the Retired Teachers Association for Primary School Teachers (RTAI), The TUI Retired Secondary Teachers Association (TUIRMA) and the Retired Secondary Teachers Association (RSTA). The RTS works towards supporting the welfare of our retired people, by encouraging camaraderie and renewing friendships. This was the third such event hosted by the RTS, Shane Martin and Gerry Farrell being the presenters of the two previous shows. RTS Committee::Standing: Alice Lindsay, Donal Gallagher (HSE), Tommy Marren, Imelda Harte, Brid Kelly, Annette O Carroll, Joe Carolan, Martha Doherty, Seated: Doris Clements, Mairead Jennings, Frances Horan, Paula Devaney . Absent: Brid Armstrong. Tommy Marren is a well-known broadcaster and playwright who hails from the parish of Tourlestrane, Co. Sligo. He has worked in local radio for 34 years as a current affairs broadcaster in both Mayo and Sligo and his plays have toured Ireland, the UK and America. He shared some of the highlights of his broadcasting career and presented a number of extracts from his comedy writings. RTS Officers: Donal Gallagher ( HSE) Annette O Carroll, Tommy Marren, Doris Clements, Joe Carolan. Through this very enjoyable night, we accompanied him through his childhood days growing up in rural Ireland when life was less complicated,when health and safety hadnt been invented, when words had simpler meanings, when we listened to the sponsored programmes on radio (2 stations vs 35/36 now), and The Riordans was the sign of the end of the weekend! His presentation was interspersed with music and hilarious sketches from some of his shows. The laughter from the audience proved he had definitely hit the right note. RTAI: Mairead Jennings, Donal Gallagher (HSE) Tommy Marren, Charlotte Maye, Doris Clements. After the show people mingled in the foyer, enjoyed some delicious light refreshments while they met up with past colleagues and old friends. A great night was had by all, the RTS Association said. Sligo second level student Briain Cullinan was one of just 20 teenagers from all over the island of Ireland to be presented with a Rotary Youth Leadership Development certificate at the new Europe House in Dublin recently. The competition, which Rotary Ireland has been running for over 30 years, rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities. It is run in conjunction with the European Parliament Office in Dublin with the winners enjoying an all-expenses paid week-long trip to Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg. Briain, who is a TY student at Summerhill College in Sligo received his certificate from Rotary Ireland District Governor, Seamus Parle, and Fionnuala Croker, Acting Head of Office at the European Parliament Office in Dublin. The itinerary for the students trip included visits to Belfast, Dublin, and Strasbourg. In Belfast they received a private tour of City Hall and a meeting with the Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray, followed by a tour of Stormont where they met several politicians and also listened in to some debates from the visitors gallery. At the new European Parliament Offices in Chatham Street, Dublin, they immersed themselves in all things EU related via the new Europa Experience and a 360-degree cinema presentation. The students heard some very interesting presentations on the EU, and particularly the European Parliaments role and powers, as well as about traineeships which are available with the EU institutions. After being presented with their leadership certificates students embarked on tours of the Seanad and Dail where they met several TDs. After that it was onto Strasbourg where they visited the famous Notre Dame cathedral, enjoyed a private tour of the European Court of Human Rights and paid a visit to Petit France, which was once home to the citys tanners, millers and fishermen and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the penultimate day of their stay, it was off to the European Parliament where they and students from all over Europe were welcomed by Roberta Mestola, President of the European Parliament. The highlight for the students was taking part in Euroscola, a simulation of the work of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a debate and vote on the EUs actions to tackle disinformation. Briain who is on his schools student council and TY mentor programme is also involved in raising funds for his local GAA club Coolera Strandhill. He said the highlight of the week was speaking in the European Parliament. It was an incredible honour to speak in the Parliament and it is something I am extremely proud of. During the week I learned various different things, such as how the Parliament votes, the history of the Dail and Stormont, the work of the European Court of Human Rights and the EU. Briain believes housing is the most important question facing young people today. We have seen housing prices grow and grow over the years and, as a young person, the chance of owning a home is uncertain. Its time for the government to take proper action on this issue. I would recommend this once in a lifetime trip to every student in Sligo. Its an amazing experience and a brilliant opportunity to meet new friends and try new things. Seamus Parle, District Governor of Rotary Ireland praised the students passion for learning and their enthusiastic embrace of new experiences. While they were naturally nervous when they all met up in Belfast for the first time, their confidence grew in leaps and bounds as they shared new experiences, cultivated new friendships, and improved their communication skills. We were so impressed by the wide range of activities they are involved in, the level of knowledge they displayed on various topical issues and their ability to absorb so much information about the different parliaments they visited. Briain and the other students are a credit to themselves, their families, their schools and their communities and we are confident that the accomplishments and friendships they have made will stay with them forever as they continue to develop their skills and broaden their horizons. I would like to thank all the teachers and Rotarians who helped us along the way to plan and organise this trip and I would urge as many young people as possible from every part of the island to take part in next years competition Mr Parle concluded. Fionnuala Croker, Acting Head of Office, the European Parliament Office in Dublin said; This group of exceptionally talented young individuals from all around Ireland have come through a very competitive process to win a place on this study trip, which included a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. It was a pleasure to speak to them in Europe House before they set off. I was very impressed with how well-informed, how engaged and how curious they are. Since their return I have heard they represented all of Ireland with distinction and contributed meaningfully to a debate with their fellow students on the steps the EU is taking to tackle disinformation. The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition is open to 16 and 17-year-olds who are living on the island of Ireland. For more information go to www.rotary.ie Kilbrin Homes Ltd has applied for a change of use of a commercial property on Mitchel Street, Thurles, formerly a furniture shop, to accommodate displaced persons seeking international protection Kilbrin Homes Ltd has applied for a change of use of a commercial property on Mitchel Street, Thurles, formerly a furniture shop, to accommodate displaced persons seeking international protection A public meeting will take place on Thursday night, March 27, at 7.30pm in the Anner Hotel regarding the proposed IPAS centre for Thurles, Co Tipperary Kilbrin Homes Ltd has applied for a change of use of a commercial property on Mitchel Street, Thurles, formerly a furniture shop, to accommodate displaced persons seeking international protection A second accommodation centre is being proposed for Thurles in Co Tipperary, alongside one already planned for Mitchel Street in the town centre, it emerged on Friday evening. Independent Thurles Cllr Jim Ryan said he can confirm that a second Section 5 Exempted Development notice has just been issued by Tipperary County Council for another accommodation centre in Friar Street, Thurles. Its understood the Friar Street address may house Ukrainians fleeing the war while the Mitchel Street premises will be for international protection applicants (IPAs). The address is Rosendale, Friar Street. It doesnt state how many applicants they are proposing to accommodate. The developer is Rosendale Property Ltd in Carrick-on-Suir. This is just unbelievable, commented Cllr Ryan on Friday. The news comes as a public meeting is to be held in Thurles next week concerning proposals to create a centre for international protection applicants in Mitchel Street. Cllr Ryan will host the public meeting on Thursday night, March 27, at 7.30pm in the Anner Hotel, regarding the proposed IPAS centre for Thurles. The meeting was originally scheduled for Friday night, but was postponed to allow all stakeholders to attend. I am inviting anyone who has concerns to please attend on the night, said Cllr Ryan. There is a huge amount of shock and horror around the town since news broke of the proposal. I can confirm that an application for an IPAS centre for Thurles is progressing, he said. Section 5 permission granted for former furniture store A Section 5 permission has been granted by Tipperary County Council to Kilbrin Homes Ltd in Cork for exempted development status at an old commercial building in Mitchel Street. The premises is a former furniture store that once traded as Fitzgibbons. Based on initial drawings it looks like the construction of 15 internal units that can accommodate 81 people seeking IPAS accommodation, according to Cllr Ryan. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Integration have confirmed in writing to the owners that they are interested in entering into an agreement with them in providing an IPAS accommodation centre. This is a very worrying development for Thurles with once again no consultation with local councillors, residents, schools, and gardai, added Cllr Ryan. A public meeting will take place on Thursday night, March 27, at 7.30pm in the Anner Hotel regarding the proposed IPAS centre for Thurles, Co Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry referred to the application seeking a Section 5 declaration in the name of Kilbrin Homes Ltd for a change of use of a property on Mitchel Street, Thurles, to accommodate displaced persons seeking international protection. Information regarding this application was made available for the first time on Wednesday this week through Tipperary County Council website, said Deputy Lowry. No public representatives were given advanced notice. Any proposed refurbishment and extension to the property will be subject to Fire Cert regulations. Both Deputy Michael Lowry and Cllr Micheal Lowry said they deem this property unsuitable for the proposed use. It would have a detrimental impact on the local community and compound problems that already exist arising from similar housing accommodation in the area. We have been in contact with all relevant agencies to establish the facts and then determine what can be done to change this divisive plan. It is totally unacceptable and irresponsible to keep public representatives in the dark, particularly in view of the already widespread anger and disruption throughout the country in response to the procedure involved with these types of applications, added the Lowrys. Kilbrin Homes Ltd has applied for a change of use of a commercial property on Mitchel Street, Thurles, formerly a furniture shop, to accommodate displaced persons seeking international protection The property has been offered as accommodation for international protection applicants and this offer is currently being assessed, confirmed a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Integration. Offers can be received from a property owner, or another person who has authority to offer the accommodation to the Department. As part of the appraisal process, IPAS confirms that the person who has made an offer is authorised to do so. All offers of accommodation have to be assessed but not all are deemed appropriate or suitable. Since many offers do not progress through the appraisal process, community engagement is usually focused at a later stage, when a property is closer to being brought into use or approved for use. If an offer is accepted, our community engagement team make contact with elected representatives, the local authority and other relevant groups in advance of the arrival of people seeking international protection in an area. These measures improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into an area. They also help the local community understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals. The Department also works closely with a number of other government departments and non-governmental organisations to provide a wide range of supports to help new arrivals to integrate into an area as quickly as possible, added the spokesperson. A career which survived the collapse of her country, economic and political turmoil, and the death of her beloved husband, has finally led to Nadia Zaitseva receiving the kind of recognition she has long since warranted. Owner of Nadias Sewing Creations on Henrietta St in Wexford town, she was named best tailor in the county at the Hair, Beauty & Style awards in Whites Hotel last November. And, as she explains, this is the pinnacle of a lifetime of work which began back in the old Soviet Union. Im from Lithuania but it was still the USSR when I was born, she says. When I finished secondary school in 1980 I studied to become a bespoke tailor and then studied in fashion and design. I was working as a tailor up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, I tried to keep my business going but it was very difficult as the economic system fell apart, the political system, everything, it was difficult to even stay alive. Eking out a living by doing jobs for her most loyal customers, Nadias life, and that of her family, changed when Lithuania joined the EU in 2004. My daughter decided to come to Ireland, she was only 19 so it was stressful for me to see her go at that age. She started in university and at weekends worked in McDonalds, she was very good at her job and was recommended as the best employee in Ireland. When I saw how happy she was here I thought maybe Ill come, just try it for the summer. Not one to shy away from hard work, Nadia followed the same route as her daughter, finding work in a McDonalds restaurant in Roscrea, Co Tipperary. My English was zero, I had nothing. I was much older than most of the staff of course, but my manager said that he knew I would be good at the job because I was related to my daughter, she laughs. I started working in the kitchen and I was happy, I really liked it. I didnt mind doing that job, I worked with young people and they had great energy and emotion. "During that year I began learning the language and thought I should try and get my former career up and running again. When her husband Evgeny joined her in Ireland, Nadia decided to try and revive her first love, to find work as a tailor here. Nadia with her daughter beside her (left) receives her award from Verona Murphy TD. Evgeny found a job as a fisherman in Waterford so we moved there. I got a job as a tailor in Threads. They were so happy because I could do everything, I was exactly what they needed. Any job I was given I would say I can do that, I would never say thats impossible, Id always try. After three years working in Waterford and with a big milestone approaching, Evgeny announced that Nadia would soon be able to strike out on her own. I was worried about setting up on my own but my husband said he would get me a place where I could start for my 50th birthday, she recalls. The first premises in Wexford was on Thomas St, I moved to Henrietta St in 2014. Evgeny supported me in everything I did, he fixed the machines, ordered everything, all the stock and what we needed; the fabrics, the accessories, he even went abroad for items. All I had to do was work, he supported me in everything else. However, following Evgenys passing seven years ago, Nadia has had to rely on her daughter and son to carry out any administrative work in a business she runs by herself. And a lengthy career was finally recognised at the prestigious Hair, Beauty & Style awards in November. It was such a surprise, I didnt expect anything, when I got the call and was told Id been nominated for best tailor I had to ask him what it meant, she says. My daughter came with me on the night shes not in McDonalds any more, now shes a photographer, thats what she wanted to do since she was young. Nadia continues to operate out of her small business on Henrietta St, serving her regulars, quietly solving crises on a daily basis, restoring beloved items to their former glory. I like everything about the job, if someone brings something new or challenging its more interesting for me. I just ask, what do I need to do? I still learn every day. Over 1,500 passengers were diverted to Shannon Airport on six flights todayA total of 34 flights were cancelled between Dublin Airport and Heathrow todayAer Lingus is planning to operate its normal schedule to and from London Heathrow tomorrow Flights at London Heathrow Airport have resumed after a fire knocked out its power supply and shut Europes busiest airport for the day, stranding thousands of passengers and causing travel turmoil worldwide. All flights between Irish airports and Heathrow were cancelled today, with further disruption possible over the coming days. Flights resumed at London Heathrow this evening, focused mainly on the relocation of aircraft before the airport is expected to return to full operation tomorrow, airport chief executive Thomas Woldbye said. More than 30 flights were cancelled between Irish airports and Heathrow following a fire at a nearby electrical substation that knocked out the airports power supply. Over 1,300 flights and up to 291,000 passengers were affected overall by the closure. British police said counter-terrorism officers were investigating, but there was no initial indication of foul play in the substation fire. The blaze, which was reported just after 11pm on Thursday night, forced planes to divert to airports across Europe. Over 1,500 passengers were diverted to Shannon Airport on six flights today from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark, while a total of 34 flights were cancelled between Dublin Airport and Heathrow. Tanaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to teams that worked to get flights back up and running at the airport last night following travel chaos. Obviously the route between Dublin and Heathrow is the second busiest route in Europe, and therefore that caused a significant challenge today for commuters to and from Dublin in relation to Heathrow, he said. But it does seem that everything that could have been done to try and swiftly get things back on track has happened and Im grateful to all of those involved in making that happen. Up to 120 aircraft were heading to Heathrow from airports across the world when the fire began and were forced to either divert or return to their point of origin. Passengers on board Qantas flights to Heathrow from Singapore and Perth diverted to Paris before taking buses to London. The disruption, which is the largest to air travel since the Icelandic ash cloud of 2010, has prompted questions about the potential vulnerability of such critical infrastructure and the contingency planning in place. A spokesperson for the airport said it hopes to return to a full operation tomorrow as it works to repatriate the passengers who were diverted across Europe. Our priority remains the safety of our passengers and those working at the airport. As the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow uses as much energy as a small city, therefore getting back to a full and safe operation takes time, they said. The closure is expected to have days-long knock-on effects globally, leaving many passengers stranded as carriers reconfigure their networks to move planes and crews around. However, Aer Lingus is planning to operate its normal schedule to and from London Heathrow tomorrow, after all services were cancelled today, affecting around 5,500 passengers. A spokesperson for the airline said it had communicated with all impacted customers, and customer care teams were working hard to provide them with the options available to them, including applying for refunds, changing flights without a change fee applying,, or, if a customer has an imminent requirement to travel, engaging them directly with our customer care team to arrange re-accommodation where possible. Ryanair, which does not operate routes into London Heathrow, added eight extra flights between Dublin and London Stansted to its schedule as a result of the closure, including four flights tomorrow. A spokesperson said these flights were intended to rescue passengers affected by the closure of Heathrow Airport. Seats were still available on Ryanair flights last night, with one-way fares from Dublin to London Stansted priced between 140 and 262 for flights travelling tomorrow. One-way tickets on Sunday were still available for morning and evening departure times, with fares priced between 257 and 305. In an update, Sean Doyle, the chief executive of British Airways, the biggest carrier at Heathrow, described the situation at Heathrow as unprecedented and warned that there will be a substantial impact on the airline and its customers for many days to come as it navigated a number of logistical issues as a result of the closure. More than 670 British Airways flights were cancelled today, impacting 107,000 passengers. We have flight and cabin crew colleagues and planes that are currently at locations where we werent planning on them to be, Mr Doyle said. UK prime minister Keir Starmers spokesman said there would be a thorough investigation into the incident. Heathrow, and Londons other major airports, have been hit by other outages in recent years, most recently by an automated gate failure and an air traffic system meltdown, both in 2023. Power plants belong to Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky tells Donald Trump US president says minerals deal will be signed soon, while Kyiv targets Russian base with huge drone strike Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: AP Jane Dalton UK Independent Fri 21 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that all nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine after reports that his US counterpart Donald Trump said an American takeover of Ukraines nuclear power would offer the best protection for the countrys infrastructure. Livermore, CA (94550) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 81F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 51F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. IndiaCanada Ties Poised for Reset After Mark Carneys Election Win The victory of Mark Carney and the Liberal Party in Canadas federal elections signals a potential turning point for the countrys strained diplomatic relationship with India. Carney, who initially took over the interim-charge as Canadas Prime Minister following the departure of Justin Trudeau in January 2025, has stated that restoring and strengthening bilateral ties with New Delhi will be one of his foreign policy priorities. His approach reflects a broader vision of positioning Canada as a constructive global partner, especially in the wake of economic and diplomatic tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump. On April 28, 2025, Mark Carney secured victory in Canadas federal elections, marking the Liberal Partys fourth consecutive term in power. While the Liberals fell just short of a majoritywinning 169 seats, three below the threshold of 172Carney will lead a minority government with a clear mandate to pursue key policy priorities, including revitalizing Canadas foreign relations. A central focus of Carneys campaign was the renewal of Canadas bilateral relationship with India. He underscored the importance of rebuilding trust and fostering deeper cooperation between the two nations, which saw significant diplomatic strain during the final years of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus leadership. Carney formally assumed leadership of the Liberal Party following Trudeaus resignation on January 8, 2025, shortly before Donald Trump began his second term as President of the United States. In this shifting global landscape, Carney has positioned himself as a bridge-builder, aiming to steer Canada toward stronger international partnerships. The deterioration of IndiaCanada relations during 202324 under Trudeau had left a noticeable diplomatic void. Carneys election offers an opportunity to reset the relationship, with potential for collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, and strategic alignmentparticularly amid ongoing global economic uncertainty. A diplomatic reset for India and Canada The leadership transition in Canada, marked by April 28 election victory of Mark Carney as Prime Minister, has signaled a potential turning point in IndiaCanada relations. Trudeaus nearly decade-long tenure, though marked by efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, ultimately saw relations between the two nations deteriorate due to a series of diplomatic challenges. These tensions not only impacted bilateral ties but also posed constraints on the effective implementation of Canadas broader Indo-Pacific Strategy. Canadas federal elections outcome has brought a renewed sense of optimism and the prospect of a diplomatic reset. His approach to foreign policy is viewed as more pragmatic and commercially oriented, offering an opportunity to reframe IndiaCanada engagement through a more balanced and forward-looking lens. His emphasis on trade diversification and economic diplomacy complements Indias emergence as a global growth engine, paving the way for enhanced collaboration across key sectors. Carney calls for snap elections in Canada amid rising global trade tensions Earlier in March it was reported that Carney is planning to call a snap federal election for April 28, ahead of the originally scheduled October 20 date, in a bid to capitalize on the Liberal Partys recent surge in popularity. Having secured interim leadership of Canadas Liberal Party in March 2025, Carney framed Trumps imposition of a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goodsexcluding automotive and energy sectorsas a serious threat to Canadas economy. Trumps imposition of new tariffs from April 2, 2025, have led to economic implications for both India and Canada. For Canada, the tariffs represent a direct economic challenge, with concerns about a potential recession if trade flows are severely impacted. READ: US Halts 26% Tariffs on Indian Goods for 90 Days Since April 2, 2025, India has been taking proactive steps to seal a benefital bilateral trade agreement with the US. This strategic move reflects Indias intent to safeguard its trade interests and ensure continued market access. The present trade dynamics has fueled an urgency for both India and Canada to diversify their trade portfolios and strengthen alternative economic partnerships, including enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries, to reduce dependence on the US and cushion against global trade volatility. IndiaCanada EPTA: Strategic pathway to deeper trade engagement An Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) between India and Canada can lead to a strategic interim framework aimed at enhancing bilateral economic cooperation. Positioned as a precursor to the more comprehensive Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the EPTA seeks to build momentum in priority areas where both countries can achieve early and tangible benefits. Considered as a foundational step toward a full-fledged free trade agreement, the EPTA aims to facilitate faster market access, lower trade barriers, and strengthen investor confidence, even as broader CEPA negotiations continue. It reflects both countries intent to unlock mutual economic opportunities through a phased and pragmatic approach. For India, the EPTA aligns with its ongoing trade diversification strategy, which focuses on broadening its export markets beyond conventional partners. For Canada, the agreement complements its Indo-Pacific Strategy, reinforcing its objective to strengthening ties with Indiaone of the fastest-growing major economies in the region. Although talks around EPTA have been in progress since 2022, negotiations have encountered occasional delays, primarily due to diplomatic and political challenges. Resilient trade recovery between India and Canada IndiaCanada trade relations in 2025 are evolving against a backdrop of structural economic complementarities and global realignments. While diplomatic hiccups have occasionally dampened momentum, trade volumes have steadily increased. India-Canada Trade Relations Year-on-Year (Value in US$ Million) Financial year Trade activities Value FY2015-16 Export 2,018.42 Import 4,234.03 FY2016-17 Export 2,004.12 Import 4,131.52 FY2017-18 Export 2,506.15 Import 4,728.51 FY2018-19 Export 2,851.42 Import 3,515.41 FY2019-20 Export 2,851.79 Import 3,880.33 FY2020-21 Export 2,960.77 Import 2,686.43 FY2021-22 Export 3,763.98 Import 3,132.78 FY2022-23 Export 4,109.74 Import 4,167.56 FY2023-24 Export 3,845.29 Import 4,553.24 FY2024-25* (April-December) Export 3,125.29 Import 3,530.39 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI *Indias import-export data for FY2024-25 is available from April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The complete trade data will be available post March 31, 2025. On the one hand, Indias export portfolio to Canada is broad-based, encompassing commodities in pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, industrial machinery, and IT services. On the other hand, Canadian exports to India are largely resource-driven, including pulses, fertilizers, wood pulp, aerospace components, and energy products. Beyond goods and services, the education sector has emerged as a vital link between the two countries. Canada continues to be one of the most preferred destinations for Indian students, whose growing numbers contribute to its labor market. Canadian investment in India as of 2024 Canada remains a key contributor to Indias foreign investment landscape, serving as a substantial source of both foreign portfolio investment (FPI) and long-term institutional capital. As per data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), total Canadian foreign direct investment (FDI) into India reached US$4.16 billion between April 2000 and December 2024, underlining a steadily growing economic partnership. Canadian institutional investors have increasingly expanded their presence across Indias high-growth sectors. Leading the charge are prominent entities such as the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP), which have significantly deepened their investments in areas including real estate, logistics parks, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure. Notably, CPPIB alone invested approximately US$838 million in India during the first quarter of FY202425, demonstrating continued confidence in the Indian markets long-term growth trajectory. Brookfield Asset Management, a Canadian-American investment firm, has also scaled up its Indian portfolio, particularly in industrial warehousing and energy storage. A landmark deal further reinforced Brookfields footprint in India when, on September 12, 2024, its sponsored Data Infrastructure Trust (DIT)along with co-investors such as British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) and GICcompleted the acquisition of 100 percent of American Tower Corporations India operations (ATC India). This acquisition, cleared by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), involved approximately 76,000 telecom infrastructure sites, with a total enterprise value of INR 182 billion (US$2.11 billion). Indias growing investment footprint in Canada Meanwhile, Indias outbound investments in Canada have witnessed a steady rise, reflecting the deepening economic engagement between the two countries. According to the 2023 report titled From India to Canada: Economic Impact and Engagement, Indian companies have invested approximately CA$6.6 billion in Canada, generating nearly 17,000 jobs across the country. The report highlights the increasing presence and contribution of Indian businesses to the Canadian economy, indicating a continued bilateral investment flows between the two countries. Indian enterprises have expanded their operations across key Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, with growth in sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, and engineering services. Major Indian pharmaceutical firms like Sun Pharma and Lupin have boosted investments in manufacturing and research facilities in Canada. These efforts are aimed at strengthening their supply chains and meeting the growing demands of both the North American and global markets. Simultaneously, Indian IT companies, including Infosys and Wipro, have reinforced their Canadian presence by setting up delivery centers, training hubs, and innovation facilities, enabling them to better serve clients across the broader North American region. Outlook for 2025 As 2025 progresses, IndiaCanada trade relations appear to be on a path of cautious recovery and strategic realignment. The potential for economic cooperation is vast, but success will depend on deliberate efforts to rebuild trust, institutionalize engagement mechanisms, and address lingering political constraints. If Carney can deliver on his promise of prioritizing economic pragmatism while navigating domestic and diplomatic sensitivities, the bilateral relationship between India and Canada could be redefinedone driven by shared economic interests, innovation, and strategic collaboration. (US$1 = INR 85.9) (This article was originally published on March 21, 2025. It has since been updated April 30, 2025.) US President Donald Trump has denied reports that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk would receive a briefing on Washingtons military strategy in the event of a conflict with China. The claims, initially reported by The New York Times, sparked concerns over Musks growing influence in the White House. According to the New York Times, Musk was expected to be briefed on the United States' military strategy, including maritime tactics and targeting plans related to a possible war with China. Similar reports were published by The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, further fueling speculation. Trumps response: "Completely untrue" Trump dismissed these claims, branding them as fake news. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he categorically denied that China would be discussed at all. China will not even be mentioned or discussed, he stated, labeling the report completely untrue. He later reinforced his stance with a stronger statement: The Fake News is the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE... And Elon is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!! Despite Trumps denials, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Musk would indeed visit the Pentagon. However, he clarified that the meeting was informal and focused on innovation and efficiency rather than any classified military strategy related to China. Rising US-China tensions The controversy comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China, with both nations imposing tariffs on each others imports. The reports of a secret briefing added to concerns about the security implications of Musks proximity to White House decision-making. Democrats have sharply criticized Trump for granting Musk significant influence in policy discussions despite the billionaire not undergoing formal security clearances. Given Musks leadership in SpaceX and Tesla, both companies holding government contracts worth billionshis increasing role in strategic affairs has raised concerns over national security and transparency. Trumps tariff plans and immigration controversy Separately, Trump has reiterated his commitment to imposing reciprocal tariffs on various countries by April 2, calling it liberation day. Meanwhile, a US judge has given the administration more time to justify its decision to deport Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, despite an existing court order preventing such expulsions. A massive fire at a power station in west London led to the complete shutdown of Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest travel hubs in the world. The power failure forced Heathrow to halt all operations until midnight on March 21, leaving over 120 flights stranded. Some flights were diverted to other airports, while others were forced to return to their departure points. Firefighters rushed to the scene, but Heathrow officials warned that disruptions could last for some time. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management body, confirmed that no flights were allowed to land at Heathrow. The London fire brigade deployed 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters to bring the spread under control, but as of 11:34 AM IST, the fire was still active. Air India flights hit, passengers stranded The Heathrow shutdown had a direct impact on several Indian flights. Air India confirmed that AI129 from Mumbai had to turn back, while AI161 from Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt, Germany. The airline also cancelled all remaining flights to and from Heathrow for the day. "All our remaining flights to and from London Heathrow, including AI111 (Delhi-London), have been cancelled for March 21. We will update about the resumption as soon as we have information," Air India said in a statement. The airline also posted its helpdesk numbers on X (formerly Twitter). #ImportantUpdate Due to a significant power outage, London Heathrow Airport has been shut down until 23:59 on 21st March. All Air India flights to and from London Heathrow for 21st March have been cancelled. For more information or assistance, please call our Contact Centre at Air India (@airindia) March 21, 2025 While some flights were rerouted to Gatwick airport, about 60 km from Heathrow, thousands of passengers were left stranded, waiting for information on their travel plans. Passengers demand answers amid chaos The unexpected closure of Heathrow sparked a wave of reactions online, with passengers seeking information and expressing their frustration. An Indian woman took to X (formerly Twitter) to ask for updates: "@HeathrowAirport @airindia Im due to fly out of Heathrow in four hours, but everything is closed, and we are being told to head back. Please can you let me know the flight status for your flights this morning????" Air India quickly responded: "Dear Ma'am, due to a power outage at the airport, flight operations to/from Heathrow are currently affected. Ensuring the safety of our passengers and crew is our utmost priority. Any updates regarding changes to bookings will be communicated to the registered mobile number. We sincerely appreciate your understanding." Credit: X Other users on social media questioned how such a critical airport could suffer from a total power failure. One user wrote: "How can the loss of one power substation site knock out the UK's principal airport? What have all the UK's Energy Ministers been doing over the years to ensure the airport has a resilient supply?" Another user criticized the UKs infrastructure, saying: "The UK is sliding into an economic disaster. We cannot even ensure that our main airport has a backup power system." How can the loss of one power substation site knock out the UK's principal airport? What have all the UK's Energy Ministers been doing over the years to ensure the airport had a resilient supply?#UK #Parliament #Heathrow WallaseyanBlue (@WallaseyanBlue) March 21, 2025 As Heathrow struggles to restore normal operations, airlines and passengers are left dealing with the fallout. Officials have not provided a timeline for full power restoration, and with significant disruptions expected in the coming days, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates. In a development that raises serious questions about corruption in the Indian judiciary, a senior judge at the Delhi High Court was transferred after the recovery of a huge pile of cash from his official residence. Justice Yashwant Varma was transferred to the Allahabad High Court by the Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna-led Supreme Court collegium following the incident. CREDIT: X Fire exposes suspected corruption of top judge What makes the entire episode even stranger is how it was discovered. According to reports, recently there was a fire outbreak at Justice Varma's official residence in the national capital. Though Justice Varma was away at the time of the fire, his family quickly informed the Fire Department, and the blaze was soon put out. But during the standard damage assessment procedure, the firefighters stumbled upon a huge amount of cash inside a room, leading to official entries being made about it. As the money appeared to be unaccounted for, it was reported to senior officials and later to the government and Supreme Court. Justice Varma transferred Taking note of the incident, CJI Khanna immediately called for a collegium meeting in which it was decided that Justice Varma would be transferred. Justice Varma, who has been a judge at the Delhi HC since October 2021, has been transferred to the Allahabad HC. Justice Varma, the son of former Allahabad HC judge A.N. Varma, became a judge there in 2014. CREDIT: X Before his transfer back to the Allahabad HC, Justice Varma was the third-most senior judge in the Delhi HC. Will Justice Varma get away with a transfer While Justice Varma got away with a slap on the wrist, according to reports, some members of the five-judge collegium felt such a serious incident, if let off with a transfer, would not only tarnish the judiciary's image but also erode trust in the institution. They said Justice Varma should be asked to resign, and if he declined, an in-house inquiry should be initiated by the CJI as the first step towards his removal by Parliament. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Flight operations around the world have been disrupted after Heathrow Airport in London was closed for the day on Friday following a fire that knocked out its power. A fire broke out at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, in the early hours of 21 March. CREDIT: REUTERS What caused the power outage The transformer fire caused widespread power disruptions, affecting thousands of homes and businesses in the surrounding areas, and also forced Heathrow Airport to suspend operations for the day. Heathrow is one of the worlds busiest airports for international travel, and on Friday, at least 1,350 flights to and from the airport were affected. CREDIT: REUTERS Flights diverted to other airports Several jets were diverted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, and Shannon Airport in Ireland, according to tracking services. Gatwick Airport said it would accept some flights from Heathrow. "We are aware of the situation at Heathrow Airport today and are providing support as required. Flights from London Gatwick are operating as normal today," Gatwick Airport said on X. We are aware of the situation at @HeathrowAirport today and are supporting where required. Flights from London Gatwick are operating as normal today. pic.twitter.com/cAMbTBQj04 London Gatwick LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) March 21, 2025 Heathrow said in a statement that it would provide an update on its operations once it had more information on when power would be restored. Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport pic.twitter.com/7SWNJP8ojd Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 21, 2025 CREDIT: REUTERS Catastrophic, says minister Britain's Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, on Friday described the fire that caused the Heathrow Airport shutdown as "catastrophic." He also stated that the airports backup generator had been affected by the blaze. Air India flights hit Among the carriers affected is Tata Group-owned Air India, which said its operations to and from London Heathrow had been disrupted. #ImportantUpdate Due to a significant power outage, London Heathrow Airport has been shut down until 23:59 on 21st March. All Air India flights to and from London Heathrow for 21st March have been cancelled. For more information or assistance, please call our Contact Centre at Air India (@airindia) March 21, 2025 While an Air India flight was forced to return to Mumbai, another was diverted to Frankfurt. Many other flights have also been cancelled due to the temporary suspension of operations at the airport. CREDIT: REUTERS "London Heathrow-bound AI129 from Mumbai is returning to Mumbai; AI161 from Delhi is diverting to Frankfurt. All our remaining flights to and from London Heathrow, including AI111 this morning, have been cancelled for 21 March," Air India said in a statement. Air India also confirmed that its flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Air India had six flights to LHR on 21 March, with a total of 1,843 seats. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A US judge has ordered that Badar Khan Suri, a researcher at Georgetown University who was facing deportation, should not be removed from the country. Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles of the Eastern District of Virginia Court on Thursday ordered that Suri "shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the court issues a contrary order." CREDIT: Georgetown University Arrest of Badar Khan Suri Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown Universitys Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, was arrested on Monday outside his home in Arlington, Virginia, by masked agents from the Department of Homeland Security. Suri was accused of actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. According to DHS, Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, a reference to Ahmed Yousef, who is a senior adviser to Hamas and the father of his wife, Mapheze Saleh. What Georgetown University said Responding to Suri's arrest, Georgetown University said in a statement that they were not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity. "Dr Khan Suri is an Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan," the statement said. CREDIT: REUTERS Georgetown University further said it backs its "community members' rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable." 'Determined to threaten US foreign policy' According to Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for DHS, the State Department decided that Suri was subject to deportation under a provision of immigration law that allows for expulsion if the visa holder's presence in the United States is determined to threaten US foreign policy. CREDIT: REUTERS However, in court, Suri's lawyer argued that neither Secretary of State Marco Rubio nor any other government official has alleged that Suri has committed any crime or broken any laws. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Apoorva Mukhija just cant seem to catch a break! After making headlines for the Indias Got Latent controversy, the YouTuber-turned-actress is now facing heat for her antics at a Sabrina Carpenter concert in Paris. And lets just say, the audience wasnt exactly thrilled with her main character energy. Apoorva Makhija spotted attending concert after Indias Got Latent controversy On March 18, a video surfaced on Reddit showing Apoorva fully immersed in self-recording modephones flash on, dramatically lip-syncing, and even talking directly to the camera while standing in the middle of the crowd. The caption on the video pretty much summed up the collective frustration: POV: We were at the concert, she was filming her music video. Netzines call it Apoorva Makhijas international bezzati Concertgoers, however, were far from amused. Many took to the comments section to call out her behavior, claiming she ignored security requests to return to her seat and even got into a verbal spat when asked to turn off her flash. Several netizens alleged that she yelled at audience members when they asked her to lower her voice while filming. One unimpressed commenter wrote, Second-hand embarrassment. We dont claim her, respectfully. Another added, International beizzati at its peak. This latest controversy comes on the heels of Apoorvas involvement in the Indias Got Latent fiasco, where she faced backlash for her explicit comments on the show hosted by comedian Samay Raina. Her remarks, which included an inappropriate question to a contestant, led to multiple FIRs against her, Raina, and fellow panelists, sparking a legal mess. Post-scandal, she vanished from Instagram, unfollowing everyone and keeping a low profileeven as she made her acting debut in Nadaaniyan alongside Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. Apoorva Makhija back in the limelight But now, thanks to this concert fiasco, shes back in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Will Apoorva address the backlash, or will she stay silent like she did post-Latent? Only time will tell. Until then, netizens seem to have made up their mindsconcert etiquette is a thing, and she definitely missed the memo. Hollywoods latest courtroom drama is heating up, and Blake Lively is making it clear that shes done playing defense. The Gossip Girl alum has officially fired back at It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldonis jaw-dropping $400 million countersuit, demanding that it be dismissed in a fiery legal move. Blake Lively is on the offensiveand shes not playing nice Livelys motion, filed in a New York federal court, doesnt mince words. Her attorneys slam Baldonis lawsuit as vengeful and rambling, calling it a blatant abuse of the legal process. The filing also points to a California law that protects individuals from retaliatory defamation claims when they speak out about sexual misconduct. The message? Lively isnt just defending herselfshes making an example out of Baldoni. Credit: X The lawsuit that started it all For those who need a refresher, this legal battle erupted after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and workplace retaliation. Baldoni, in response, went nuclearfiling a staggering $400 million counterclaim against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, PR firm Vision PR, and even The New York Times. His lawsuit alleges defamation, civil extortion, and false light invasion of privacy. Credit: X But Livelys team isnt having it. They argue that Baldonis countersuit is nothing more than an intimidation tactic meant to weaponize defamation lawsuits and financially drain those who speak up. And if Lively wins? Baldoni could be the one paying upcovering her legal fees and damages under Californias protective law. Justin Baldoni fights back, Blake Lively doubles down Baldonis legal team, however, isnt backing down either. In a fiery response, his attorneys claim Lively is desperately trying to escape the self-concocted disaster she initiated. They maintain that her accusations were made with pure malice and insist they will be swiftly debunked as the case moves forward. Credit: X Meanwhile, Livelys camp is calling out what they see as a calculated smear campaign. According to them, Baldonis lawsuit isnt just about legal retaliationits a PR move designed to bury and destroy her for daring to speak out. Ryan Reynolds wants out In a parallel development, Ryan Reynoldsdragged into the chaos via Baldonis defamation claimshas filed his own motion to be dismissed from the lawsuit. His legal team is firmly denying Baldonis accusations, distancing the Deadpool star from the courtroom spectacle. Credit: X Whats next for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? With Lively pushing for dismissal and Baldoni doubling down, this case isnt slowing down anytime soon. The outcome could set a major precedent in Hollywoods post-#MeToo landscape, where speaking up against alleged misconduct still comes at a steep cost. One things for surethis is more than just a legal battle. Its a war of reputations, and neither side is ready to surrender. If you thought The Residence was just another whodunit set in the political corridors of Washington, think again. Shonda Rhimes latest Netflix spectacle brings unexpected glam, thanks to none other than pop royalty Kylie Minogue, who waltzes into The White House with an agendabecause even in the midst of a murder investigation, priorities matter. Kylie Minogue joins The Residence Kylie, 56, steps into the series as a fictionalized version of herself, attending a state dinner where the Australian government is present. But when the presidents social secretary (played by Molly Griggs) fumbles on securing a performer, Kyliebecause shes Kylievolunteers to save the night. HEr only request? A stay in the prestigious Lincoln Bedroom. Diva move? Absolutely. Credit: X Her appearance, which comes into play in episode five, sees Kylie trying to schmooze her way upstairs, only to be hilariously shut down by detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba). Desperate for some rest after an impromptu performance, she pleads with the detective to let her slip away: I wasnt even supposed to be performing tonight, she argues, exasperated. But Cordelia, cool and unbothered, reminds her theres an active crime scene in the house. To which Kylie, fully embracing the drama, insists, But hes dead, and I was promised the Lincoln Bedroom. And yes, we totally agreejustice for Kylie and her beauty sleep. Credit: X Behind the scenes of The Residence Behind the scenes, the cast was just as charmed by the Australian pop legend as fans are. Randall Park, who plays FBI agent Edwin Park, admitted that seeing Kylie in person was "surreal," adding that he had no idea she was that talented as an actress. What is the role of Kylie Minogue? For pop culture fanatics, Kylies cameo isnt the only celebrity name-drop in The Residence. The show casually mentions music icons like Harry Styles and Cardi B, hinting at their potential performances at the event. And for the Hugh Jackman fans out theresorry, folks, while The Wolverine himself is referenced multiple times, he never actually shows up. Credit: X The Residence is now streaming on Netflix, and if you werent planning to watch it before, Kylies delightful cameo might just change your mind. Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyeinnow referring to themselves as NJZheld an emergency press conference on November 28, 2024, announcing their departure from ADOR and renouncing their title as NewJeans. They cited a breach of contract and the agency's failure to address key issues. Since their contract termination announcement in November last year, the members launched their own Instagram account and shared plans to release new music. However, ADOR was against all this and filed injunctions. On Friday (March 21), the Seoul Central District Court ordered the girls to halt all independent activities. This ruling follows the first hearing, which took place on March 7. Court case ADOR filed injunctions in January and February to prevent NJZ from pursuing independent activities, asserting that their contracts were still legally binding. The court's Civil Division 50 ruled in ADOR's favour, barring the members from engaging in solo promotions, including signing advertising deals. During the first hearing, ADOR argued that the members unilaterally cut ties with the agency without valid justification. The company also accused them of breaching their contracts by adopting the name NJZ and seeking to sign with another agency. In response, the girls, who voluntarily attended the hearing despite not being required to, claimed that HYBE's alleged discrimination and unfair treatment forced them to terminate their contracts and pursue independent activities. K-Pop fans troll NJZ Soon after the announcement, social media, especially X (formerly known as Twitter), was flooded with reactions, with many trolling the group and calling them "mean girls." This backlash stems from the fact that, while attempting to leave HYBE and ADOR, the five members and their former CEO Min Hee-jin brought up three other groupsBTS, LE SSERAFIM, and ILLITin the controversy. One user wrote, "Mean girls getting the karma they deserve." Mean girls getting the karma they deserve,, https://t.co/5bTC780D0G pic.twitter.com/VzOodaqjga J BTS YEAR (@Y00NGITUNES) March 21, 2025 Another commented, "This is Hanni's fault. She held back from speaking in court and instead posted on IG. Too bad the judges don't have Instagram lol." This is Hannis fault. She hold back from speaking in court and instead posted in IG. Too bad the judges doesnt have Instagram lol https://t.co/NQwlHDyucF Naomie (@mydearmadness01) March 21, 2025 Someone else pointed out, "Quick reminder that they name-dropped LE SSERAFIM on the eve of their comeback, claiming they were being used as a tool against themNot saying this is karma, butnever lie when you know you're wrong." quick reminder that they name dropped lesserafim on the eve of their cb claiming that lesserafim specifically is a group that has been used as a tool against them not saying this is karma but never lie when you know you wrong is all i gotta say https://t.co/Tq2PiCefkY coya (@_bubblyyoongi) March 21, 2025 Another added, "Rest in peace to one of the most promising careers in K-pop." rest in peace one of the most promising careers of kpoppic.twitter.com/GSQigyqXDx https://t.co/KwVneLjzpW (@rubyKiiKii) March 21, 2025 About NewJeans aka NJZ The K-pop girl group is scheduled to perform at ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025, a global street fashion and pop culture festival, taking place from March 21-23 at the AsiaWorld-Expo convention center. However, it remains to be seen whether they will perform as NJZ or if ADOR will ask them to drop the performance, now that they won the court case on the day of the festival. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Months of legal battles and a year-long drama have culminated in a major ruling. On Friday (March 21), the Seoul Central District Court ordered the members of NewJeans to halt their independent activities. This follows the first hearing, which took place on March 7. Since announcing the termination of their contracts with ADOR in November last year, the membersnow referring to themselves as NJZhave pursued independent activities. However, the court's Civil Division 50 ruled in favor of ADOR's injunction, prohibiting Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein from engaging in solo promotions, including signing advertising contracts, according to Soompi. The court case On November 28, 2024, NewJeans held an emergency press conference, announcing their departure from ADOR, citing a breach of contract and the agency's failure to address the issue. They stated that their exclusive contracts would be terminated effective November 29, 2024, and that they would begin pursuing independent activities. ADOR filed injunctions in January and February to block the group's independent activities, arguing that the members' contracts remained legally binding. During the first hearing, ADOR claimed the members unilaterally severed ties with the agency without valid justification. The company also accused them of breaching contractual obligations by adopting the name NJZ and attempting to sign with another agency. In response, the NewJeans members, who voluntarily attended the hearingeven though it was not requiredcountered that HYBE's alleged discrimination and unfair treatment left them with no choice but to terminate their contracts and pursue independent activities. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, in a post on X, stressed that "we have formulated a new doctrine of deterrence so that we can address the significant population and numerical gap against the potential threat. Based on this doctrine, reforms are being implemented across all sectors." Dendias also shared audio-visual content from his remarks during the visit of Parliament President Constantine Tasoulas to the Ministry of National Defence "There must be special attention to the conditions of Armed Forces personnel because the Armed Forces must be able to attract the best of Greeks to their ranks," Dendias said, adding: "The housing programme we are implementing, with 1,000 houses per year until 2030, is progress, but it is not enough. We also need to address the core issue of remuneration for members of the Armed Forces." iefimerida.gr MItsotakis's personal approval rating has suffered a steeper drop, with his negative ratings increasing by six points in the last month, 10 points since January, and 16 points since December. Greeces center-right ruling party, New Democracy (ND), is experiencing a dramatic drop in public support, with its polling numbers plunging to 20%, according to the latest survey by Metron Analysis. The same poll reveals that 73% of Greeks now disapprove of both the government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, marking the most significant decline in his tenure. The survey, presented on Mega TVs evening news, on Thursday also shows growing dissatisfaction with the governments recent cabinet reshuffle, with a majority of voters dismissing it as ineffective. Meanwhile, calls for early elections are gaining momentum, with 56% of respondents now in favor of heading to the polls sooner than scheduled. Perhaps the most striking shift in Greeces political landscape is the rise of Plefsi Eleftherias (Course of Freedom), a left-wing populist party led by former parliament speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou. The party has now emerged as the second-largest political force in Greece, while Konstantopoulou herself is the most popular political leader, enjoying a 50% approval rating. According to the polls voting intention results, New Democracy has dropped to 20%, losing 2.3 percentage points since February. In a major shake-up, Plefsi Eleftherias has surged to 11.1%, gaining 4.2 points, overtaking the center-left PASOK party, which has fallen to 10.1% from 11.3%, slipping into third place. Other parties are also seeing significant shifts. The right-wing nationalist party Greek Solution (Elliniki Lysi) has declined from 7.9% to 7.5%, while the Communist Party (KKE) has dropped from 7% to 6.3%. Meanwhile, the once-dominant left-wing SYRIZA party continues its decline, now polling at 5.5%, down from 5.9%. On the other hand, the far-right party Niki has doubled its support, reaching 3.6% (up from 1.9%), while the proportion of undecided voters remains high at 13.1%. The vote estimation model, which projects potential election outcomes, paints a similarly bleak picture for New Democracy. The party has fallen from 28.8% to 26.4%, while Plefsi Eleftherias has jumped from 8.9% to 14.6%, securing second place over PASOK, which has dropped from 14.6% to 13.3%. Other shifts include Greek Solution at 9.9% (down from 10.3%), KKE at 8.4% (down from 9.1%), and SYRIZA at 7.3% (down from 7.5%). The far-right Niki continues to rise, now polling at 4.7% (up from 2.5%), while the centrist Voice of Reason (Foni Logikis) has slipped from 4.8% to 3.9%. The sharp decline in New Democracys polling numbers is accompanied by record-low approval ratings for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. A staggering 73% of respondents now hold a negative view of both the government and Mitsotakis himself, reflecting a deepening crisis of confidence. Public dissatisfaction with the government has risen by five points since February, nine points since January, and 14 points since December. The Prime Ministers personal approval rating has suffered an even steeper drop, with his negative ratings increasing by six points in the last month, 10 points since January, and 16 points since December. This is an unprecedented drop, said Stratos Fanaras, CEO of Metron Analysis, presenting the findings. We have never seen such low approval ratings for Mr. Mitsotakis. This is the worst public perception of him since he took office. The crisis of confidence extends beyond the ruling party. PASOK, Greeces traditional center-left party, is also facing growing discontent, with 78% of respondents expressing a negative opinion of the party. This marks an increase of three points since February, 11 points since January, and a staggering 20 points since December. Similarly, PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis now has a 75% disapproval rating, an increase of three points from last month, 11 points since January, and 18 points since December. #KYRIAKOS_MITSOTAKIS #POLL #NEW_DEMOCRACY #METRON_ANALYSIS Relatives of the Tempi disaster victims have formally requested that the case be transferred to the regular judicial system, rather than being handled by a parliamentary committee. Greeces parliamentary inquiry into the Tempi train disaster has become a focal point of political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of orchestrating a cover-up. The inquiry committee is set to reconvene on Friday, March 28, when Christos Triantopoulos, a former deputy minister, is expected to testify regarding his handling of the tragedy . However, the investigation has been overshadowed by procedural disputes, walkouts by opposition parties, and accusations that the government is attempting to control the narrative. The decision to postpone Triantopouloss testimony arose from a procedural issue. Under Greek law, a parliamentary summons must be delivered by a court bailiff, a process that could not be completed in time for the originally scheduled session. This delay has only intensified tensions, with opposition leaders alleging that the inquiry is being manipulated to protect government officials from deeper scrutiny. The most dramatic moment so far came when opposition partiesexcluding Plefsi Eleftherias and Spartiateswalked out of the committee session before it began, refusing to lend legitimacy to what they described as a sham process. Despite their absence, the ruling New Democracy party, which holds a parliamentary majority, went ahead with the vote, deciding the committees next steps unilaterally. The inquiry will proceed with Triantopouloss testimony, but it is expected to conclude shortly thereafter without hearing additional witnesses or requesting further documentation. Opposition leaders have strongly condemned this approach. PASOK MP Milena Apostolaki argued that the sequence of testimonies violates fundamental legal principles, as the accused is supposed to testify last, following the collection of witness statements. She accused the government of a deliberate cover-up and suggested that the inquiry was being shaped to protect key political figures rather than establish the truth. SYRIZA has gone even further, describing the inquiry as a poorly orchestrated political theater designed to create the appearance of legitimacy while preventing a full investigation. The party has called for the entire case file to be made available and insists that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis should testify, given that Triantopoulos was operating under his authority. SYRIZA officials argue that the governments reluctance to allow further testimonies raises serious questions about its commitment to transparency and accountability. Adding to the tensions, relatives of the Tempi disaster victims have formally requested that the case be transferred to the regular judicial system, rather than being handled by a parliamentary committee. In a legal notice sent to the inquirys chairman, they stated that all individuals found responsible should face prosecution under standard legal procedures rather than through special parliamentary courts designed for government officials. Their demand reflects a growing frustration among the victims' families, who believe that political maneuvering is interfering with the pursuit of justice. The governments response has been firm. New Democracy leaders have dismissed the oppositions claims, arguing that the inquiry is proceeding in accordance with parliamentary rules. In a statement, the party challenged PASOKs stance, asking whether the party truly supported sending Triantopoulos to trial in a regular court or was merely engaging in political posturing. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mitsotakiss administration has sought to frame the investigation as a necessary step toward accountability, despite the oppositions accusations of interference. Under Greek parliamentary procedures, if the inquiry committee votes in favor of prosecution, the case will be referred to the plenary session of Parliament, where lawmakers will decide whether to move forward with legal action. If approved, the case will be handed over to a five-member judicial council, which will examine the allegations against Triantopoulos. However, given the governments majority, critics fear that the parliamentary process is being used to control the scope of the investigation rather than ensure a fair legal outcome. # # #TEMPI Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has delivered a forceful rebuke of Greeces current foreign policy, urging a dramatic shift toward strategic autonomy in the face of mounting global uncertainty. In a sweeping political intervention released Fridayon the eve of his visit to Harvard UniversityTsipras unveiled what is being widely referred to as the Tsipras Manifesto, a multi-page document that lays out his vision for a strong, independent Greece guided by a multidimensional strategy. Addressing the war in Ukraine , Europes diminishing geopolitical clout, Greeces defense choices, and what he sees as the missteps of the Mitsotakis government Tsipras makes the case for a nation that carves its own path rather than following the lead of more powerful allies. At the center of Tsiprass argument is the belief that Greece, and Europe more broadly, have made grave miscalculations in their approach to global crises. The war in Ukraine, he said, was neither unforeseen nor inevitable. While he unequivocally condemned Russias invasion and violation of international law, he argued that the Wests insistence on Ukraines NATO accession accelerated the path to war. A more measured approach, he suggested, could have opened space for diplomatic solutions before the outbreak of full-scale conflict. Tsipras characterized the war as a tragedy for Ukraine and a strategic loss for Europe. He pointed to the tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives lost and the territorial losses to Russia, as well as what he described as the exploitation of Ukraine by some of its own alliesespecially the United States, which he accused of treating the country like a de facto colony in exchange for wartime support. He argued that the economic cost to Europe, particularly Germany, has been devastating, while the U.S. has profited from energy exports and arms sales. Europe, he claimed, has gained little from its hardline approach and has failed to carve out an independent role in resolving the conflict. More broadly, Tsipras criticized the European Union for failing to act as a geopolitical force for peace, instead following Washingtons lead without pursuing a viable, independent strategy. In his view, the EU should be championing diplomacy, shaping a new security architecture that includes Russia rather than treating it solely as an existential threat. He urged the Union to confront modern global challengesfrom climate change and artificial intelligence to migration and energy securitywith a coherent, forward-looking vision. Turning to Greece, Tsipras accused the Mitsotakis government of blindly aligning with U.S. policy in Ukraine, forfeiting the opportunity to play a stabilizing regional role. Rather than supporting the Ukrainian people through diplomacy, he said, Greece adopted the stance of a willing and predictable ally, sacrificing its own strategic flexibility. This, he argued, has not only left Greece excluded from key European diplomatic initiatives on Ukraine, but has also diminished its credibility with both allies and rivals. Tsipras warned that Greece now finds itself diplomatically isolated. Despite substantial military agreements with the United States and France, and political alignment with Israel, Greece has failed to convert these relationships into meaningful strategic gains. He accused the government of trading national assetssuch as indefinite military base access and multi-billion-euro arms dealswithout securing reciprocal support on critical regional issues like maritime rights, energy cooperation, or the Cyprus question. He rejected the notion that increased military spending alone can solve Greeces strategic challenges, especially when basic projects such as the GreeceCyprusIsrael electricity interconnection remain stalled. Instead, Tsipras called for a fundamental rethinking of Greeces role in the world. In a multipolar era, he argued, it is no longer enough to say that Greece "belongs to the West." Rather, Greece must craft a foreign policy that engages with all global polesEast and West, North and Southreflecting its geographic and geopolitical realities. Tsipras advocated for a recalibration of Greeces relations with the United States based on mutual respect and benefit, not submissiveness. He urged active Greek participation in the shaping of Europes future defense strategy and the eventual settlement of the Ukraine war, in coordination with Cyprus and under strict conditions regarding Turkeys conduct. He also called for the restoration of diplomatic channels with Russia and for Greece to contribute to the design of a new European security framework. He further pushed for Greece to assert its maritime rights under international law, reinvigorate Balkan diplomatic initiatives, and expand its presence in the Global South through cultural and economic diplomacy. Most urgently, he argued, Greece must rebuild its decaying national defense industry, which he described as being in a state of collapse. The former prime minister closed his address with a warning about the fragility of the current government, which he claimed has lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the public, particularly after mass protests following the deadly Tempi train crash. The issue, Tsipras concluded, is not just political stability, but national integrity itself. In his view, only a confident, sovereign Greece with an independent and multidimensional foreign policy can respond effectively to the complex challenges of todays world. The country must reclaim its role as a pillar of peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterraneannot by blindly following shifting alliances, but by asserting its own strategic vision. #ENGLISH_EDITION #ALEXIS_TSIPRAS Queen Naomi Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has responded to the recent developments regarding the criminal charges against her while expressing her grief over the children who lost their lives in the Oyo stampede. Information Nigeria reported that the government dropped the petition filed against Queen Naomi Ogunwusi, Oriyomi Hamzat, and Abdullahi Fasasi after their arrest in connection with the stampede that claimed the lives of several children at a funfair in Ibadan. The three individuals involved were later cleared of all charges by the state government, despite the earlier commitment to hold them accountable. Advertisement READ MORE: Oyo Drops Charges Against Oonis Ex-Queen, Others, Over Ibadan Funfair Tragedy While fans shared their opinions online, Naomi expressed her sadness, thankfulness, and optimism in response to the news on her Instagram page on Thursday. She expressed her condolences to the grieving families and prayed for their comfort and peace. The public figure mentioned that her message should have been delivered sooner, but court orders had restricted her from doing so. However, she confirmed that the Oyo State government has dropped the charges against her, following a compassionate decision. Queen Naomi also expressed her gratitude to the Oyo State government for their understanding and took time to acknowledge the love and support she has received during this challenging period. She wrote in part: FINDING COMFORT IN GRATITUDE: A HEARTFELT MESSAGE OF THANKS AND CONDOLENCES. What a friend we have in Jesus all our grieves he carries!what a privilege we have carrying all to him in prayers. As a woman and a mother who for many years has been a passionate lover and advocate of children,my heart bleeds and goes out to the bereaved families whose children lost their lives in. The event of 18th December 2024, which was intended for good but later ended up in a sad experience for us all,My prayer is for God to comfort the families.And rest the souls of the children who lost their lives in the unfortunate occurrence.May the lord restore their joy,And grant each of them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. This is a message long overdue,however, with my temporary incarceration and the events that followed,It was an order of the honorable court to be silent on the matter. However, through God, in his infinite mercies today, the charges against us were withdrawn after a compassionate consideration from the oyo state government having considered our intention and our attitude towards all that has happened. SEE POST: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHbvNdqo7dU/?igsh=ZWcwdWU4ZG1qOXg0 Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed strong reservations about the proposed formation of a mega party ahead of the 2027 general election. George believes that this move is driven by personal ambition, rather than a genuine desire to serve the nation. The proposed mega party has been gaining momentum, with former Governor of Kaduna, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and inviting opposition politicians to strengthen the party. Advertisement Speaking to newsmen on Friday, George emphasised that the PDPs lingering crisis should not be used as an excuse to collapse the partys structure and form an alliance with other parties. He warned that such a move would be a monumental mistake, potentially marking the end of the PDP. George traced the origins of the crisis to the partys national convention, where some members advised against allowing the party to become a private enterprise. For me, it started like a little mess at our national convention. Some of us advised that our party is not a private enterprise of anybody, but nobody listened Do you think there is any nation or party that does not have a crisis? All these groups who are running around for their personal ambition, they are making a monumental mistake and they are all dancing on the graves of our founding fathers. Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has denied some allegations claiming that he was behind recent attacks on oil installations by suspected militant groups in the state. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Governor Fubara stated that viral reports saying that he failed to reconstruct the State House of Assembly after he ordered its demolition are untrue. READ MORE: AGF Backs Tinubu Over Emergency Rule In Rivers, Blames Gov Fubara For Failing To Address Militants Threats Advertisement Fubara explained that he acted on expert advice before demolishing the complex, which was said to have integrity issues. The statement reads: Our attention has been drawn to a number of allegations claiming that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, did nothing to dissuade criminal groups and militants from making good their threats to attack oil installations in the State. There was also another claim that after demolishing the Hallowed Chambers of the State House of Assembly on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, the Governor did nothing to rebuild the facility. Ordinarily, we would have ignored the statements as mere results of lack of adequate information to the Presidency by those tasked with the responsibility of providing same to guide decision-making, but it has become imperative to set the records straight and correct the erroneous impression such narratives are creating in the minds of the Nigerian people. First, it is important to clarify that Governor Fubara has nothing to do with the threats by militants and also did not in any way telegraph the reported attacks on any oil facility in the State. It is on record that the reaction of stakeholders in the Niger Delta, especially elders, chiefs, women, Ijaw National Congress, its youth wing, IYC, as well as militants, among others, was triggered by remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in a live media chat, during which he dismissed Ijaws as a minority of the minorities and powerless in the Nigerian polity, saying that Ijaws are not the only ones that are militants and can blow up pipelines; that Ogonis, Ikwerres, and others are also militants and can as well blow up pipelines. A yet to be ascertain number of persons have been killed by assailants suspected to be Fulani Headsmen in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. It was gathered that the criminal elements on Wednesday, stormed Mgbaigbe and Mbaitye, area in a coordinated assault. Confirming the attacks to newsmen on Thursday, President General of Mdzough Tiv Worldwide, Retired Comptroller of Prisons, Iorbee Ihagh, urged residents to defend themselves against the bandits. Advertisement READ MORE: Tragedy Hits Benue University As Student Drowns In River He said: These attackers, who are Fulani herdsmen, are gradually taking over Benue. If they succeed in capturing Jato-Acka, the headquarters of Turan, then the entire Tiv nation is in danger. Jato-Acka is the ancestral home of the Tiv people, just as Ile-Ife is to the Yoruba. In the 19th century, our ancestors defeated the Fulani during the jihad war using poisonous arrows. I am calling on our people to go back to their traditional ways and defend themselves. Enough of running away. Yes, I heard about the attack in Kwande, but I cannot confirm the number of casualties because I have been unable to reach the military commandant in the area due to poor communication networks. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has condemned President Bola Tinubus declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it unconstitutional and a recipe for anarchy. Kwankwaso, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, criticized the move, warning that it could lead to chaos. He also expressed disappointment with the 10th National Assembly, accusing them of being a rubberstamp for the executive. Kwankwaso urged the lawmakers to check the excesses of the executive and uphold the principles of democracy. In a statement released on Friday, Senator Kwankwaso had this to say: Reflecting on our journey in 1992/93 and the events leading to the annulment in 1993, I remember our mistakes as parliamentarians in the National Assembly, where we focused on leadership tussle instead of holding our primary legislative work. Our failure to hold our responsibility distracted us from the happening that brewed on the Executive side, and which led to the sad events that still define our political history. Advertisement I have closely followed developments in Rivers State in the past two days, and my initial silence was informed by the desire to let the authorities and parties in the conflict to do what is right. First, I am perturbed by the unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to suspend Governor Similayi Fubara of Rivers State, his Deputy and all elected state legislators from office. The legislature has the responsibility to hold the executive responsible and not always play to its tune. It is therefore appalling to see this 10th Assembly become more rubberstamp than any of its predecessors. More disturbing is the unilateral decision by both chambers of the National Assembly to ratify the presidents proclamation. I had hoped that the legislators would not add salt to injury by passing this illegality. The Constitution is clear on the method of voting on issues of such importance, and the decision to use the voice vote in deciding this is not consistent with the proper procedures and transparency. The decision by the legislators to speedily discuss and decide on a state of emergency that alters the democratic leadership structure in Rivers State undermines our democracy. Our judiciary also has the very important task of balancing the balance of power by being fair to all parties in any conflict. I believe that the custodians of the Law in Nigeria need to wake up to their responsibility of calming nerves by being as just as possible, with judgments devoid of any hint of external influence. At this age of our democracy, this action by President Tinubu to suspend all elected officials in Rivers State is not only unconstitutional, but also a recipe for anarchy and disregard for the highest public office in the state. The National Assembly that should check this excess should not encourage it. Moreover, for a politician that prides himself as a consistent advocate and defender of democracy in our country, the decision by President Tinubu to draft in the military into a position of leadership is hugely dangerous to the progress we have made in the 26 years of democratic journey. Bola Tinubu should know better than bringing the military closer to power after the good work President Olusegun Obasanjo did of confining them to their barracks while he led this country. Some yet to be identified gunmen has killed Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Muhammad Adamu. It was gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday night, shortly after Adamu had broken his Ramadan fast. In a statement on Thursday, Plateau State MACBAN Chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, confirmed the attack. Advertisement Mr. Ibrahim called for a thorough investigation into the killing of their member. He said: This is a great loss to the Fulani community and the entire state. We urge security agencies to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. READ MORE: Unknown Gunmen Kill Kwara Miyetti Allah Chairman Also speaking over the incident, Youth leader, of Barkin Ladi LGA, Alhaji Danjuma Ibrahim, confirmed the assassination, revealing that Adamu had been targeted in previous attacks. He said:This was the third attempt on his life. Unfortunately, this time, the gunmen succeeded. They shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene. His remains are scheduled for burial on Thursday. He played a crucial role in maintaining harmony between different groups in Barkin Ladi. His absence will be deeply felt. Nollywood actor Yomi Fabiyi has explained the reason behind the arrest of Adura, Mohbads younger brother, on Wednesday. A viral video surfaced showing Mohbads mother, Abosede Olumiyi, accusing Mr. Fabiyi of masterminding the abduction of her son at the Magistrates Court in Ogba, Lagos. She claimed that unidentified men, suspected to be police officers, abducted Adura and appealed to Nigerians for assistance in securing his release. Advertisement READ MORE: Lost All I Had In Scam, Failed Investment Mr Macaroni Reveals Financial Struggles She stated that Mr. Fabiyi was involved in the arrest, maintaining that Adura was innocent of the allegations the actor made against him. However, in a statement sent to Premium Times on Thursday and signed by Gloria Ladeji, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of his foundation, Break The Silence, Mr. Fabiyi dismissed the allegations as baseless and defamatory. He argued that the allegations were aimed at deceiving the public, interfering with police inquiries, and obstructing the course of justice. Mr Fabiyi said: Adura Aloba, Damola Ayinde Habeeb and Damilare Koleosho were persons of interest in an ongoing homicide investigation and fact-finding by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG ZONE 2 Police Command) via a petition and evidence from our Human Rights NGO. They were duly invited and served invitation letters on three different occasions, which they refused to honour. They were called many times, and the Adura Aloba and Damola Ayinde Habeeb duo remained indifferent to the invitation. Meanwhile, Damilare Ibrahim Koleosho had several banters via WhatsApp chat with the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) about why he would never honour the invitation. His other accomplices are still at large. The actor further disclosed that the police arrested Adura after obtaining a court-approved arrest warrant. He stressed that the arrest was carried out in accordance with the proper legal procedures. The Police from the Zonal Headquarters approached the court, obtained a warrant of arrest and laid ambush outside the court to pick them up on Wednesday. This was professionally carried out without moving anywhere inside the court or its premises. Adura Aloba used the court as a shield for hours. He eventually gave in, and upon arrest, Aduras mother and lawyer, who were with him, were again told the destination and allowed to drive behind the police vehicle. He urged the public to disregard Mohbads mothers claims, adding that his legal team would take legal action against Mrs. Olumiyi in court. First Presbyterian Church organist and director of music Balint Karosi poses with a newly acquired organ called Rosalinde, built by Ibe Peters Iben of Emden, Germany, in 1783, in the sanctuary of the church in the Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Rosalinde is one of three new historic organs recently acquired by the church through the efforts of Karosi. Read more Centuries often collide in Philadelphia, but rarely like this. Three fragile, rare European pipe organs, which have somehow survived multiple centuries, have arrived and are being heard at First Presbyterian Church off Rittenhouse Square. Meticulously designed and decorated instruments with German, Dutch, and Italian roots, the pipe organs are older than Philadelphia, even older than the United States, and are making sounds heard a half millennium ago. How they got here is particularly remarkable since ancient organs do not exactly travel well, even over modern highways. Advertisement It was really bumpy, said Balint Karosi, the First Presbyterian organist and director of music who masterminded the complex transport from the organ storage in California to the Center City church. Some parts are very fragile. The gold-painted wooden statue of King David positioned on top of one organ would be forever destroyed if it hit the floor. All you can do [then] is vacuum him up, said Karosi. The cross-country saga was carried out by a 27-foot U-Haul truck over a four-and-a-half-day-long, 3,000 mile drive. Piloted by Karosi and the trusted organ restorer Arpad Magyar, the truck navigated the Mojave Desert and then the super narrow streets of Philadelphia. The only damage was a cracked ornamental figure which Karosi can now laugh about after the organs have been installed in various parts of the church and taken on personable nicknames. First, theres Rosalinde, located in the sanctuary. Built by Ibe Peters Iben of Emden, Germany, in 1783, it was housed in the Church of Wetsinge-Sauwerd in the Netherlands until 1910. Its beautifully painted cupboard-like doors open to a series of mostly wooden pipes, some of which date from the 1600s, that make a more demure sound than metal. The single keyboard actually divides in two parts that can make distinctly different sounds, like two instruments playing simultaneously. Various combinations of stops knobs that modify the sound to resemble flutes and trumpets can yield 36 different sound combinations. Second is Hildy named after the medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen housed in Karosis office. From an anonymous builder, its a chapel organ that lived in a German castle and has a more forward sound, probably intended to lead congregations in hymns. The third is Karosis favorite, Veronica, since shes from Verona. Its a chapel organ, hailing from an anonymous builder around 1750, representing an Italian tradition that was preserved from the 1500s to the 1800s. Veronica is a congregation leader, with one stop marked Voce Umana or Human Voice, with sound-generating bellows that can still be operated by pulling two ropes on the side of the console. Kids reportedly love to participate in this. All three instruments have checkered histories from their European origins. The pipes in Rosalinde came wrapped in newspaper pages from 19th-century Netherlands. The other two were discovered by chance from European antique dealers and then transported, in various states of disrepair, by patrons of the University of California at Berkeley. Extensive restoration by West Coast-based organ builder Greg Harrold took place over years. Karosi, 46, who has a long-standing background in rare historic instruments, had heard about the existence of these organs through contacts at Cornell University. Philadelphia has plenty of great organs, but in the one-of-a-kind world of these instruments, these historic specimens are almost a different species than the imposing Wanamaker and Kimmel Center organs. Theyre physically smaller, as good for accompaniment as for solos, and articulating a somewhat different musical language than what evolved in more recent centuries. These historic instruments are a huge and unexpected bonus for us, and for early music ensembles to use these instruments and for the community to be able to hear a truly authentic performance, said Alan Morrison, head of the organ department at the Curtis Institute, whose students have access to the church. Such instruments can reveal major works in ways not possible on modern instruments. Some great music only makes sense when played on historic instruments; for example, Handels seldom-heard organ concertos would do well with Rosalinde. For organ, the sounds of these instruments as well as the key action is everything in making the music come to life ... and help dictate an appropriate tempo, said Morrison. Karosi also talked about the speech of early organs, in the way they articulate phrases with greater detail than in the smoother lines of modern organs. Born and educated in Budapest, Karosi was drawn to the U.S. by the Oberlin Conservatory faculty he met in Europe, and went on to Yale University but has maintained a European career that includes extensive Bach organ recordings in Hungary. He arrived at Philadelphias First Presbyterian Church last September, presenting his bold organ-rescue plan to the church in October. Berkeley was willing to donate thanks to a letter of Curtis Institute support from Morrison but wouldnt pay for relocation, which was estimated at $75,000 for all three. I said I can do it for $25,000. How do I do it? By driving the organ myself, Karosi said. But with help. Karosi told Magyar, who had restored 80 organs and is co-owner of a Romania-based organ manufacturer, Well pay your ticket ... but you have to drive a big truck with me, pack and remount the organs, do what has to be done, and finish by the end of January. The answer was da. Magyar arrived with a highly specific expertise he knew how to transport the pipes in the cremation boxes they needed to be moved in. Knowing that they might be stopped by authorities along the way, they had letters of explanation from the University of California. More considered observations reveal that the instruments are top of the line for their time. Of course, much is dependent on who is playing them, and Karosi has the kind of imagination that comes with having authored five of his own organ concertos, one of which, titled Syojatar, won the 2022 Kaija Saariaho Organ Composition Competition with a special prize from the Society of Finnish Composers. He performed the concerto at the new Helsinki Music Centre earlier this month, showing how he uses the organ often astoundingly almost like an electronic-music instrument. As a performer, his continued aspirations are to close a remaining organ gap in Philadelphia: There needs to be an organ from the time and place of Bach. Maybe a replica, he said, or something like that. Balint Karosi plays the organs every Sunday during church services. Heinrich Schutzs Johannespassion and The Seven Last Words from the Cross, two infrequently heard masterworks, will be performed at noon on April 18 (Good Friday) during a free-of-charge service at First Presbyterian Church. A public concert is being planned for June 8. Details on fpcphila.org Jennifer Barnes and Andrew Drury in a photo before they became homeless in Kensington. Read more The 42-year-old man in addiction who died inside a Philadelphia jail days after his arrest in Kensington had been flagged as an emergency case by an intake worker at the jail, and should have received one-on-one supervision in the hours before he collapsed, according to records from the Department of Prisons. But that didnt happen, and instead, Andrew Drury died alone inside the holding cell, without having received a formal behavioral health evaluation by the prison staff, according to the records obtained by The Inquirer. His cause of death remains under investigation, though when he was jailed in the fall, he had been hospitalized multiple times from withdrawal-related health complications. Advertisement A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Prisons declined to comment Friday. Drury had been picked up by Philadelphia police on the night of March 6, after officers encountered him at Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street, and learned he had outstanding bench warrants related to a drug case in Maryland and a 2022 violation of a protection-from-abuse order filed in Philadelphia. Police said Drury received off-site medical treatment over the next day before he was transferred to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility around 2:15 a.m. on March 8. Police declined to say what kind of treatment he received, where he was treated, or how he was cleared for transfer to the jail. Drury remained in an intake room at the jail until the next afternoon, waiting to be medically evaluated and assigned to a cell block. On March 9, around 9:30 a.m., an intake worker for the prisons assessed Drury and wrote that he was experiencing a range of physical and behavioral health issues and described him as extremely agitated and confused, according to the records. The employee labeled Drury as an emergency case, which, according to the records, should have required that he receive one-on-one supervision until he could be evaluated by a behavioral health worker. Instead, Drury remained in his intake cell for another six hours. A jail guard walking through the area found him unresponsive at 1:45 p.m., and despite administering two doses of Narcan and other lifesaving measures, he was pronounced dead at 2 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the prison. The Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office said Wednesday that doctors are awaiting toxicology results to determine his cause of death. Drury had long struggled with an opioid addiction, and had been experiencing homelessness in Kensington for about two years, said his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Barnes. In an interview this week, Barnes, 44, said she believes he died from health complications related to withdrawal something that he has been hospitalized for in the past. When Drury was arrested in October on bench warrants related to the same cases, he was hospitalized multiple times, including for more than a week, after suffering a mild heart attack and other issues while going through withdrawal in jail, according to Barnes and a source familiar with Drurys care at the time. After Drury was released in November, Barnes said he was in and out of the hospital because of ongoing chest pains and shortness of breath. Barnes said she worried about his health as she watched police arrest him that night. The withdrawal, its not good for him, she said she told the officers. He needs medical attention. Drurys death comes as the city ramps up enforcement efforts in Kensington, a section of the city that has long experienced concentrated violence, homelessness, and drug use in and around its massive open-air drug market. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has said her administration would shut down the drug activity in the area and return a quality of life to the neighborhoods residents. But some advocates have warned city and law enforcement officials that the withdrawal effects for people who use opioids can be life-threatening, and that the understaffed jails might struggle to respond to peoples health needs in those circumstances. Barnes said she and Drury were both from South Philadelphia, and had been dating since 2012 after meeting in a luncheonette in the neighborhood. They were not married, she said, but wore rings as if they were. Barnes said she has struggled with addiction since about 2008. Drury also used drugs by the time they had met, she said, his troubles beginning after he underwent a weight loss surgery and got hooked on pain killers. For many years, they were both able to hold jobs and hide their addiction. They bounced between friends and families homes, she said, until they were kicked out of Drurys mothers house in 2021 and she got a Protection From Abuse order against him. Theyve been on the streets of Kensington since about the summer of 2023, she said. Drury was funny and loving, she said, and helped protect her from the dangers of living on the streets. They had both recently talked about wanting to go to rehab and getting their lives back on track. Since his death, she said, she feels in a fog. She has connected with a friend who found a bed for her at a recovery house in South Jersey, and she hopes to go next week. For myself, and for him, its the best thing to do, she said. This way he wont have to worry anymore. Tiara Rodriguez Diaz (left) and Kimberly Ortiz Zayas were killed by Mamadou Kallie during a domestic dispute in May 2022, according to prosecutors. Kallie's trial on murder charges is set to begin Monday. Read more For years, prosecutors say, Mamadou Kallie abused and threatened two women: his high school girlfriend and mother of his child, and a new and pregnant paramour, whom hed pressured to abort their unborn son. And in the end, the Coatesville residents attempts to control Tiara Rodriguez-Diaz, 20, and Kimberly Ortiz-Zayas, 21, ended in tragedy on May 29, 2022. Kallie chased down the two women and executed them after they confronted him about his misdeeds, according to court filings. Advertisement Prosecutors described the womens decision to meet Kallie that day as a tragic final act of bravery and defiance. Kallies trial for murder and related crimes is scheduled to start Monday in West Chester. Jury selection began Friday, with a last-minute announcement from Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe that his office will not be seeking the death penalty against Kallie, 26, as originally intended. The top prosecutor said the decision was made with the blessing of the victims families in an attempt to avoid delaying the trial Kallies attorney, Daniel Miller, said he would need as long as two years to investigate Kallies childhood in Africa in order to properly defend him during the death-penalty phase of the trial. Miller did not return a request for comment Friday. In motions filed ahead of Mondays trial, First Assistant District Attorney Erin OBrien detailed a toxic pattern of threats and acts of violence Kallie used to control the women. She told the judge she intends to present evidence that Kallie had attacked both women during domestic arguments and threatened to kill their families. Denying the admission of evidence of the defendants prior assaultive or threatening behavior toward the victims would allow the defendant to successfully control and manipulate evidence at trial, as he controlled and manipulated the victims, OBrien said. On the night of the killings, Kallie and Rodriguez-Diaz met at a cookout at a friends home in Coatesville, police said. She brought along their 22-month-old son. There, the couple got into an argument about Kallies relationship with Ortiz-Zayas, a disagreement that became so heated, concerned neighbors called police. Responding officers separated the two and helped Rodriguez-Diaz secure her son in her car and leave safely. About a half hour later, officers from nearby Valley Township were notified of a shooting on Glencrest Road, authorities said. When they arrived, they found Rodriguez-Diaz shot multiple times in her car, and rushed her to Paoli Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Ortiz-Zayas was found nearby and pronounced dead at the scene. Rodriguez-Diazs son was in the backseat of the vehicle, unharmed. Through investigation, the officers learned that, after leaving the cookout, Rodriguez-Diaz contacted Ortiz-Zayas, and the two agreed to meet, according to court filings. Somehow, Kallie learned where they were, and chased after them, deliberately crashing his car into the back of Rodriguez-Diazs. He shot her in the vehicle, and then killed Ortiz-Zayas as she attempted to flee, police said. At the time, Ortiz-Zayas was five months pregnant with Kallies son. Ortiz-Zayas family said her loss, and that of her unborn son, has left them with a rush of love amid their grief. Even though Kimberly is gone, the warmth from her love continues to glow in the lives she touched, they wrote in a remembrance of her posted online. Rodriguez-Diazs family said in her obituary that she relocated from her native Salinas, Puerto Rico, to Coatesville when she was 6. They described her as a loving, caring mother and outgoing person, someone who was always offering a big hug and a beautiful smile. Prosecutors wrote in court filings that Kallie met Rodriguez-Diaz in high school, a relationship that her family urged her to end. They later told police that Kallie once came to their home in 2018, armed with a gun, and demanded Rodriguez-Diaz leave with him. Rodriguez-Diaz applied for and received a temporary protection of abuse order against Kallie in 2022, after she ended their relationship. Kallie had been stalking her and threatened her with a gun, demanding she remove his name from their sons birth certificate, prosecutors said. A county judge later dismissed the order when Rodriguez-Diaz failed to appear for court hearings. Prosecutors say Kallie also abused Ortiz-Zayas, whom he had met a few years before he killed her. He was convicted of simple assault and terroristic threats in 2019 after beating her at her home in Coatesville and destroying her cell phone. He was still on probation for this crime at the time of the slayings. In a similar incident in 2021, Ortiz-Zayas told police Kallie visited her house late one night after she broke up with him, knocked on her window, and demanded to be let inside. He threatened to shoot up the place if she did not let him in, she said. When she did, she said, he beat her with a belt and a gun, and took her phone so she could not call police. Afterward, Kallie pressured her to drop the assault charges against him, she later told police. The case was dismissed when Ortiz-Zayas did not appear for the preliminary hearing. Signs are held during a rally at the University of Pennsylvania Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025. Students, faculty, elected officials and representatives of seven unions spoke and then delivered a petition to the administration urging the school to oppose funding cuts and the canceling of diversity initiatives, as well as uphold a 2016 sanctuary policy and maintain equal treatment for transgender and LGBTQ plus people in the Penn community. Read more As President Donald Trumps administration continues to lord federal funding over universities whose policies he finds at odds with his worldview, a coalition of faculty, staff, and students from the University of Pennsylvania is insisting the institution take a stand against the president. During a Thursday rally of hundreds that included members of at least six Penn unions, the coalition delivered a petition that included calls for the university to fill gaps amid federal funding cuts; uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; and stand up for LGBTQ members of the Penn community. Advertisement Penn did not respond to requests for comment regarding the protesters demands. Students like me make this school what it is, students like me provide Penn with its background on DEI, and Penn would not be what it is without us, said Gabrielle Cayo, a sophomore and member of UMOJA, which aims to unite students and student groups of the African Diaspora at Penn. The pleas for Penn to protect its community come as universities nationwide announce hiring freezes and other cost-cutting measures as federal funding hangs in limbo. Johns Hopkins University announced it would be letting go more than 2,000 workers as a result of the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID, which the university worked closely with on public health issues and received significant funding from. Also this month, Columbia University lost $400 million in contracts and grants over its handling of antisemitic complaints. Just Wednesday the White House announced it paused $175 million in federal funding 17.5% of the roughly $1 billion Penn receives annually from the federal government because Penn allowed transgender athlete Lia Thomas to compete on its womens swimming team and break records in 2022. Already at Penn, postdoctoral researchers like Chris Large have seen research funds disrupted. Though Larges National Science Foundation funding was ordered reinstated by a federal judge, Penns unions estimate millions in research funds have been frozen or paused. We risk losing the entire generation of American-trained Ph.D. scientists to foreign countries, Large said, urging Penn to fill funding gaps with its $22.3 billion endowment. If these changes to science funding stay the same, that next cure likely wont be developed at a U.S. university, and if Penn does not stand with their employees, they similarly risk losing their competitiveness. Large, who is with Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn, was backed by State Rep. Rick Krajewski and State Sens. Anthony H. Williams and Nikil Saval, all Philadelphia Democrats. Krajewski said Penn could not throw community members to the wolves out of fear of reprisal, saying it was time for the school to use its immense resources in defense of its student body and its workforce. Penns response to the latest Trump funding pause fell short of the expectations of many, including members of Penn Museum Workers United (AFSCME Local 397) and the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR SEIU) who attended Thursdays event. The school, which had not received official notice of a pause, argued it had followed the regulations set by the NCAA and the Ivy League. Critics of Penns response to the Trump administrations threats accuse the school of anticipatory obedience. Penn has scrubbed mentions of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives after the administration threatened to pull federal funding from schools that take part in those efforts. Top of mind among those present at the rally was Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University and green card holder, who took on a prominent role in pro-Palestinian protests last spring and was arrested by immigration authorities this month. I dont see freedom when the government ignores judicial orders, and students and postdocs are being imprisoned and disappeared because of talking about the political beliefs or posting about them on social media, said Meera Sundaram, a Penn genetics professor. Community members who signed the petition also demanded the school uphold a 2016 sanctuary campus policy that essentially banned federal immigration authorities from campus and barred sharing of information about undocumented students without a warrant. Union leaders said their attempts to get the school to reaffirm its commitment to its immigrant student body and faculty remained ignored until Tuesday, two days before their publicized rally. The school sent an email offering support services to its immigrant community that includes consultations with immigration attorneys to discuss travel bans and their potential effects and letters of attendance or employment to those traveling abroad. Though the school did not mention the 2016 sanctuary campus policy by name, it did say access to school buildings the Penn campus is largely open to the public and law enforcement is limited to law enforcement officers with judicial warrants or subpoenas. Administrative warrants are not enough to enter private Penn buildings, and law enforcement would require explicit permission, the school added. Amy Offner, associate professor of history and president of AAUP-Penn, took the email as a small victory, adding the petition asked for broader legal support and trainings for the community so they know their rights should they counter immigration agents. After months of saying nothing, they conceded, Offner said. I think it shows that Penn can be moved, and now we need to get them to move on all the other issues. Still, almost all present said their school would require constant pressure. In a somewhat theatrical way, more than a dozen people rolled out the pages-long petition and walked it to College Hall, where two school representatives took the signatures but sent the group away. Nicole Junior in the nursery inside her home in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in Junior's favor on Thursday. Read more The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a landmark decision on Thursday that established a new pathway to legal parenthood in the state. The high court ruled that in situations where aspiring parents use assisted reproductive technology, like IVF, with the intent to conceive and co-parent a child together, they have effectively proven that they are parents. They do not need to sign a formal contract or share genetics with the child to establish legal parenthood. Advertisement We believe the time has come for our law to embrace a fifth pathway to parentage, the justices wrote in the majority opinion. It is apparent that in some ways, parents who conceive using [assisted reproductive technology] essentially demonstrate their stability and dedication to a child by going through a more rigorous, time consuming, and expensive process to conceive a child than do many parents who conceive through sexual intercourse. Pennsylvania does not have any statutes defining parentage, so it has largely been left to the courts to decide. The decision was heralded by LGBTQ groups and family law groups as a major victory. Were elated, said Helen Casale, an attorney who coauthored the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers amicus brief in the case. It protects all families in Pennsylvania that need to use assisted reproductive technology to start their families. The decision marked the likely end of a bruising three-year legal battle. The case centered on Chanel Glover and Nicole Junior, a married lesbian couple who decided to conceive using IVF. They determined that Glover would become pregnant, and chose a sperm donor who shared traits with Junior. They went through the long, expensive fertility process together. But the couples marriage deteriorated before their baby was born. In April 2022, Glover filed for divorce. Junior filed a petition asking the court to recognize her as a parent to their unborn child. READ MORE: Her pregnant wife filed for divorce. The lawsuit changed who gets to be a parent in Pa. Soon after, a family court judge ruled in Juniors favor, deciding that she was a legal parent to the child. Glover appealed to the Superior Court, which eventually agreed to hear the case en banc, a rare kind of session reserved for especially significant and complex cases, where nine judges are present. In December 2023, the Superior Court ruled that Junior was indeed a legal parent for multiple reasons, including intent-based parentage. The ruling set a precedent, and meant that courts would take into account the intentions and actions of parents before, during, and after conception to determine legal parenthood. Glover appealed again. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the Superior Courts decision, rejecting the idea that couples using assisted reproduction should have to sign a formal contract. The decision made within a loving couple to have a baby is generally not a quid pro quo, the court wrote in the majority opinion. We prefer to recognize a more dignified means to establish parentage. Its pretty incredible, said Megan Watson, an attorney at BKW Family Law, who represented Junior. Its a decision that supports families. Watson said she aimed to return to Family Court as soon as possible to figure out a custody arrangement. At the center of the precedent are Glover and Junior and a little boy who is almost 3 years old. Glover did not respond to requests for comment, though her attorney, Barbara Schneider, said in an interview they were considering their options. Schneider said she feared the new legal framework would require courts to decide intent case by case, muddying the issue instead of clarifying it. I just think its an issue that should be properly left for the legislature, Schneider said. (A bill to define parentage in the state, which wouldnt conflict with or supersede the court decision, died in a Senate committee last year, though lawmakers plan to reintroduce it this year.) More than that, she said, she felt her clients voice was lost in what became a politically charged case about LGBTQ rights. Junior was wrestling with her own reaction to her victory. On one hand, she was overwhelmed with joy, thinking about the other people who would not have to go through what she did to prove she was a parent. But she was also still grieving. The only time she has seen her son was in a grainy sonogram photo from before he was born. Despite this big win on behalf of families, if I can just be honest, I am also reminded of the three years three years our son has been denied my love, care, and stability, she said. Her grandmother died in January without ever getting to meet him. Though Junior longs to hold her son, read to him, cook for him, tuck him in at night, she has no illusions that it will be easy to erase the last three bitter years. Still, her eyes were now on the future. For me, she said, the next step is seeing my son. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at the swearing-in of Attorney General David W. Sunday, Jr. (rear left) at the Forum Auditorium in Harrisburg on Jan. 21. Read more Gov. Josh Shapiro said Friday he will be watching real closely and will consider legal action against President Donald Trumps administration if the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education causes Pennsylvania to lose billions in federal funding for its schools. Shapiro, a Democrat in his first term and former state attorney general, already sued the Trump administration once last month, after more than $2.1 billion in federal funds for environmental and energy projects were frozen. The funds were unfrozen shortly after, and the suit is still pending in federal court. Advertisement Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to begin eliminating the U.S. Department of Education to address breathtaking failures in the nations current education system, after already slashing its staff by nearly half. He cannot fully eliminate the department by executive order, and would require congressional approval, since much of the departments responsibilities is written into law. READ MORE: Trump signed an order to begin eliminating the Department of Education. Heres what could happen next. Pennsylvanias new GOP attorney general, Dave Sunday, has said he will use lawsuits as a last resort, rather than a knee-jerk reaction, in response to the administrations actions. We will not micromanage the federal government, and I will not have news-making commentary in response to happenings in D.C., he said Thursday. If Sunday declines to sue the Trump administration, Shapiro can request to sue in his capacity as governor of Pennsylvania. Shapiro told reporters in Pittsburgh following an event with Open AI and Carnegie Mellon University to announce the findings from a pilot artificial intelligence program that he is going to wait and see what the impact is to Pennsylvania students before taking any legal action, and said Trump has the right to decide what the federal government looks like. The president indicated that theyre not going to pull back any dollars to our commonwealth. If they do, Ill be prepared to take action, Shapiro said, noting his previous lawsuit and advocacy he has said pushed the federal government to restore the frozen funds. So if anybody tries to take anything from Pennsylvanians, particularly our students, theyll have to go through me. READ MORE: Pa.s new attorney general wont be suing President Trump. What you need to know about Republican Dave Sundays quest to be a boring AG. Shapiros response differed from that of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, who quickly on Thursday condemned Trumps latest order as unconscionable and unconstitutional. Republican leaders in the state General Assembly welcomed the idea of accessing federal dollars without federal restrictive requirements. Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana), in a statement Thursday, voiced support for Trumps order and said eliminating bureaucracy is a good thing. Allowing more dollars to flow directly to local communities, with their ability to use them flexibly, would be an overall benefit to providing educational opportunities for all children, Pittman added. Ahead of Thursdays order, House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R., Bedford) who has been a key member in the creation of Pennsylvanias new education funding system, said on nonprofit cable network PCN he would support the order if it meant that federal funds would be given directly to Pennsylvania for education without strings attached. Thats actually something weve been asking for for years, Topper said. I do think theres a lot of intrusive bureaucracy from the federal level in terms of education. If we can limit that and still receive the funds, I dont know anybody in Pennsylvania thats not going to be happy about that, Topper added. Public education advocates in Pennsylvania still fear that the shrinking of the U.S. Department of Education will cause funding cuts to school districts across the state, including the large role that Title I funding plays in educating students from economically disadvantaged families. Prosecutors in the trial of three former Philadelphia homicide detectives charged with perjury for their testimony in a murder case spent hours Thursday morning reading aloud from court transcripts and highlighting DNA evidence to try convince a jury that the men lied under oath to keep an innocent man in prison. The case centers on two murder trials that took place decades apart. Advertisement In 1993, a jury convicted Anthony Wright of murder in the stabbing death of Louise Talley, a 77-year-old widow who was raped and killed in her Nicetown home. The verdict was later overturned after DNA evidence raised doubt about Wrights guilt. And in 2016, another jury acquitted Wright of all charges, despite testimony from the detectives, who said he confessed to the crime. It was at that 2016 retrial that prosecutors say Dets. Frank Jastrzembski, Manuel Santiago, and Martin Devlin lied about key evidence in the case to keep Wright in prison and cover up a flawed murder investigation. They say Devlin and Santiago committed perjury when they testified that Wright willingly confessed to police which Wright has long disputed and that Jastrzembski lied about a search warrant he executed at Wrights home. READ MORE: Lawyers for Philly detectives charged with perjury in a murder case grill the man imprisoned for the crime - then freed Santiago and Jastrzembski are also charged with lying on the stand at the retrial when they said they had no knowledge of DNA results that implicated other suspect, only to later acknowledge that a prosecutor had briefed them on the tests before the trial. Prosecutors spent more than three hours Thursday reading aloud transcripts from Santiagos testimony at the trial as he insisted that Wrights confession was voluntary. Wright, who testified earlier this week, maintains the confession was fabricated. He said two detectives, whose names he does not remember and who are not charged in this case, threatened him with violence in the interrogation room after his arrest. And Santiago and Devlin, he said, made him sign the confession document without allowing him to read it. According to transcripts read in court Thursday, Santiago testified in 2016 that he still believed Wright alone raped and killed Talley. DNA evidence in the case had implicated another man, and Santiago knew that at the time, prosecutors said. To support that assertion, they pointed a deposition Santiago gave the following year in a civil suit Wright filed against the city after his acquittal. In that sworn testimony, Santiago acknowledged that he knew of the DNA test results. Attorneys for the detectives say the three men fabricated nothing. In court this week, they raised questions about the not guilty verdict and argued that the evidence still points to Wright as the culprit. They echoed the assertions of the prosecutors who sought to convict Wright who said that the DNA evidence did not prove that he was innocent, but rather suggested that he may not have acted alone. Testimony in the perjury trial will continue Friday and is expected to carry into next week. Christine Zaborowski, a 30-year postal worker in the maintenance department, takes her frustration over possible privatization of the post office under President Donald Trump to the street Thursday. She joined members of the APWU, one of the unions that represent United States Postal Service workers, who held a rally outside the post office at 9925 Bustleton Ave. in Philadelphia. Read more Chris Lee Reg was watching TV when he heard of President Donald Trumps hope to privatize the U.S. Postal Service. After 26 years working as a mail handler, he couldnt believe it. Holding a U.S. mail not for sale sign, Lee Reg was among more than 20 postal workers outside the Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center, in Bustleton, on Thursday protesting the idea of privatizing the Postal Service. The rally was one of several actions taking place in cities nationwide. Advertisement Well fight for our freedom because [USPS] is for the people. Its always been about the people and it will continue to be about the people, Lee Reg said, as vehicles slowed down and beeped in support. The protest comes after Trump has expressed a desire to privatize the independent agency, and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sent a letter to Congress last week announcing plans to eliminate 10,000 workers and billions of dollars from the Postal Service budget. DeJoy said the agency would work in conjunction with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. This is an effort aligned with our efforts, as while we have accomplished a great deal, there is much more to be done, DeJoy wrote, according to the Associated Press. Melanie Schultz, director of industrial relations for one of the local unions representing Postal Service workers, disagrees with that perspective, pointing out the loss of jobs would create a ripple effect in the local economy and pose a problem for rural areas in particular. Privatizing would probably mean the loss of decent union wages. Its a scary uncertainty, Schultz said. This would be particularly tragic for rural areas because the public service is mandated to deliver to those areas. If private companies dont deem it profitable, they wont deliver. Kim Miller, an American Postal Workers Union leader, said the repercussions of privatization would be widely felt. What happens to us will affect everyone that uses the post office, even if they dont think it will, Miller said. We do passports. Think about Christmastime, the packages sent abroad to our soldiers, prescription deliveries they all depend on us. We need to make sure that we protect the delivery of mail and the services that we offer through the post office and the sanctity of the mail, she added. As protesters rallied, customers began joining in. Denise Rothenberg, 71, was dropping off some mail when she stumbled upon the protest. Upon hearing about the possible privatization, she immediately rejected the idea. Its the post office. Its been here for years. Everybody thats here fighting for this has worked here for years, and nobody should take that away from them, not Trump, not Musk, Rothenberg said. The Postal Service employs about 640,000 workers, including a significant number of veterans, like Lee Reg, according to Miller. The union also worries privatization could void existing labor agreements, she said. We need you to stand behind us because weve been there for you through rain, sleet, snow, or COVID. We delivered, we came through when you need us, and we want you to stand behind us as we need you now in this fight, Miller said. Marla Coleman finishes crossing the George C. Platt Memorial Bridge during Day 11 of the winter Walk Around Philadelphia on Feb. 23, 2025. Read more If you think you know Philadelphia, Id like to invite you to consider walking around this city with your neighbors. And by around, I mean all the way around the citys furthest margins, roughly 100 miles. Having recently completed my 15th trek around the citys border in a decade, heres what I can say for sure: Philly is vast. Complicated. Mysterious. Unknowable. Full of contrasts. Advertisement Where else than on the edge of Philadelphia can you connect Glen Foerd, a historic mansion that offers birding programs, with RAIR, a waste processing facility that hosts an artist residency? On this same segment, youll see State Road, a razor-wired prison complex, and Pennypack on the Delaware, a gorgeous waterfront park. But this very same walk along the upper Delaware River Trail also gives glimpses of the Baxter Water Treatment Plant that provides most of the citys drinking water, alongside the places where our police officers and firefighters train. Walking clockwise and counterclockwise around the farthest margins of this wild city with my neighbors has been one of the most enlightening and rewarding experiences of my life, which is why I keep on doing it, inviting others to join, and working to make this unique way of experiencing the city more accessible to all. This deceptively simple practice of exploring our boundaries together has the potential to be transformative. Before I set out on my first walk around Philadelphia in 2016, I thought I knew this city pretty well. Ive lived here since 1997, and had my name on the biggest piece of public art in the city the nearly 85,000-square-foot How Philly Moves mural at Philadelphia International Airport. But Id never set foot in Northeast Philly. My knowledge of the Northwest was limited to the Wissahickon. While Id been to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Southwest Philly, I knew nothing of the Clearview superfund site just upstream, or the flood risks impacting my neighbors in Eastwick. And while Id crossed the George C. Platt Memorial Bridge hundreds of times on my way to the airport and points south, Id never imagined the thrill of crossing it on foot, with traffic whipping by on one side. On the other, a steep drop down to the Schuylkill, and the site of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery that exploded in 2019. I stopped to gawk at a hawk flying below me and saw a fox running across the barren industrial landscape. Heres the thing about circumnavigating the city on foot: It effortlessly combines lessons in ecology, infrastructure, civics, history, and so much more. Walking Phillys border wont just bring you by the stadium where the Eagles play, but also to many places in Philly where you might catch a glimpse of bald eagles in real life. Youll see a well-known set of ruins like Graffiti Pier, and the less well-known but equally astonishing set of industrial ruins on the edge of Benjamin Rush State Park. (If you walk to the northernmost edge of Northeast Philadelphia, there literally are dragons. The house on County Line Road on the furthest edge has metal dragon sculptures in its front yard, a veritable delight). In the five years since Walk Around Philadelphia has become a public program, at least 35 people have walked the whole perimeter of our city, over 2,000 people have participated in the project in assorted ways, and others are setting out to do the DIY version. And were just getting started. The first time I took this trip, we finished in five and a half days, walking roughly 20 miles from sunrise to sunset each day. These days, the cycle of walks is offered in 12 days over four weekends of roughly 10-mile segments, and walkers can start with whichever segment (or partial segment) suits their needs. Ive been thrilled to see the experiences this has created, from our youngest circumnavigator, Shawn, who completed the entire 100-mile walk at age 11, to our eldest participant, George R. Fisher III, who drove the perimeter with his daughter over four days and got out to do short walks as he was able at age 96. Walk Around Philadelphia inspired State Rep. Joe Hohenstein to organize a similar walk around his entire district in 2023. Later, he joined us for a walk along the section of his district that aligns with the citys edge. Theres something special about the shape, size, and diversity of experiences that make up Philadelphias border. Walking with neighbors is an opportunity to practice community care and find our way together skills very much in need in these times. In a world of AI-generated content and misinformation where we cant know what or whom to trust, we need opportunities to ground in a shared experience of reality. In a world where we can so easily feel isolated, polarized, and alienated, we need in-person events that bring us all together. In a world where social media can lead to antisocial behavior, and connected devices can lead us to disconnect from our own bodies and environment, walking together is essential. Amidst the growing community of perimeter walkers, some have contributed funds to help provide participant stipends for those facing financial hardships, while others have come back as Trail Angels to surprise perimeter walkers in the wilderness with treats. Every time we set out to walk together, it amazes me to see complete strangers fall in stride and drop into easy conversation to see them reach out without the slightest hesitation and offer a hand to steady a fellow walker navigating an obstacle. Ive heard people voice fears those who walk around our city will be shot at, or that participants should wear a bulletproof vest. That fear is not reality. The greatest threat weve ever encountered is always cars. The walk isnt meant to be direct advocacy for Vision Zero, but it ends up doing that, too. So maybe youre a proud, lifelong Philadelphian who wants to get to know the city even better. Or you just moved here and you want to discover some gems while making new friends. Maybe youre an educator looking to facilitate experiential learning for your students. Or you want to think a bit more about Indigenous history and the impacts of these borderlines weve drawn. Maybe you want to think about the physical accessibility challenges of an endeavor to explore the citys edges and help us find ways to overcome them. Or maybe you just find a cool new spot to do some birding or go on a date. Maybe you want to make this experience of the city more accessible to all with a donation. Walk Around Philadelphia is all this and more. You can start your exploration of Philadelphias border by joining us at Cherry Street Pier this Sunday evening March 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. for our spring celebration and concert. The next round of walks circumnavigating the entire city wont start until September, but keep an eye on WalkAroundPhiladelphia.org and sign up for the mailing list for invitations to shorter walks and other events between now and then. All it takes is a first step. Jacques-Jean JJ Tiziou is an artist, massage therapist, and block captain in West Philly. Walk Around Philadelphia is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit arts service organization. The columnist's eighth-grade graduation autograph book from Our Lady of Refuge, a relic as outdated as cursive writing has become. Read more Sometimes I glance at my penmanship while taking notes and imagine how horrified Sister Margaret Mary would be. One of my most enduring memories from Our Lady of Refuge School in the Bronx during the 1980s is that stern elder nun, her gaze burning through my sheet of crisp loose-leaf paper as I struggled with my assignment. Advertisement I swear I can still hear her warning that if I didnt get those lines just right, I could kiss my future goodbye. But that may have just been the judgment in her eyes talking. Either way, I practiced and practiced, determined to get her approval. The power of nuns is real. But so is the toll my handwriting has taken over the years, ravaged by the hurried scribbles of a reporter trying to cram pages full of details and quotes. Forgive me, sister, for I have sinned. Fast-forward 30-plus years and Sister Margaret Mary was the first person who came to mind when I read about two New Jersey lawmakers pushing to bring penmanship back. Take a seat, kiddos. Its time for a quick story: Once upon a time, cursive was a staple of American education. Then computers and smartphones stormed the kingdom because who needs to write a letter when you can fire off an email or text? Who wants to fill notebook after notebook with longhand notes when computers can do it faster? After it was exiled from the Common Core State Standards in 2010, cursive was mostly banished, never, many thought, to be seen again. But then the kingdom started to miss it Now, if a bill from Democratic State Sens. Angela McKnight and Shirley Turner passes they hope by the end of the year New Jersey will join two dozen other states requiring schools to include some type of cursive instruction. (A similar Pennsylvania bill stalled in 2023.) Its time to take the curse out of cursive, McKnight told me when we spoke this week. McKnight, 48, has fond memories of penmanship lessons with Mrs. Peterson at P.S. 29 in Jersey City. But her push for legislation that would incorporate cursive lessons into the curriculum for students in third through fifth grade came years later when she discovered her third-grade son couldnt read her handwritten notes. Sure, nostalgia plays a role, McKnight agreed. But the case for cursive runs deeper. It helps students access and understand historical documents in their original form. It improves fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and literacy. And lets be honest cutting down on screen time is always a good idea. Yes, I know we have technology, she said. But you want to be able to take your child to the museum and say, Heres the Declaration of Independence, and know they can read it and appreciate it. And then think about your grandmother, who wrote out her recipes that your kids cant even read. Culture needs to be protected and restored. Critics argue that with limited resources in schools, there just isnt enough time to introduce another subject. Better to teach typing, they say, but McKnight says it doesnt have to be a stand-alone class, and anyone who suggests young people need a typing class clearly hasnt watched them text. Heres another thing: With so much vitriol spewed from our fingertips these days, whats not to love about slowing down, making our words and our interactions more intentional? That thought made me wistful. So I called my old eighth-grade alma mater. I knew Sister Margaret Mary was gone. But while many public schools scrapped cursive over the last decade, Catholic schools often held on, valuing penmanship as a discipline. I wondered if Our Lady of Refuge was still among them. Sadly, no, the woman on the phone told me, before adding that what she was about to say next was even sadder. This is Our Lady of Refuges final school year. After a century of educating students, its closing its doors. Nothing lasts forever. But Sister Margaret Marys lessons endure not just about penmanship, but about taking care with your words and how you present them to the world. And thats a lesson worth bringing back. U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-9th District) arrives to speak in support of former President Donald Trump at a Trump rally behind the Schnecksville Fire Hall in Schnecksville, Pa. on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Read more U.S. Rep. Dan Meusers comments were brief, but they had all the markings of a gubernatorial stump speech from an out-of-town congressman trying to appeal to Philadelphians. Im not from here, Meuser, a Republican who represents Northeastern Pennsylvania and hails from New York, said to a small audience in a Germantown event space Wednesday. But I will tell you this: Philadelphia is my favorite city in the world, and its always going to be that way. Advertisement The appearance by the longtime ally of President Donald Trump in a predominantly Black neighborhood, where 78% voted for Vice President Kamala Harris last year, was promoted as a community event and the doors were open to everyone but the subtext for Meuser was laying the groundwork for a possible 2026 run for Pennsylvania governor. While Philadelphia voted overwhelmingly for Harris, Trump got more votes here last year than he did in the 2020 election, and Republicans see an opportunity in the Democratic stronghold. Meuser has confirmed he is considering a run against Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvanias unusually popular first-term Democratic governor, reiterating it in an interview with Newsmax last week. He is a frequent guest on conservative cable TV, including Fox. His guest to Trumps address to Congress last month was Brian Kilmeade, a cohost of Fox & Friends. I will just tell you this, theres a lot more that can be done in that governors office, Meuser said at the Treasures nightclub and event space as people ate Southern and Chinese food from a provided buffet. And Im going to be coming back. Youre gonna be seeing more of me, because theres a real good chance we and I mean we are going to look to take on the Executive Office of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and deliver great things for our great commonwealth. And that would be the plan. Questions about Medicaid but few answers The event was hosted by Xavier Devereux and cofounders of the Do For Self Coalition. The politicians youre mad at, its not in this room, Devereux told the audience as he emceed. We brought them here because of the fools we been dealing with for 60 years. Devereux attended a party thrown by Meuser and other GOP members of Congress in Washington during Trumps inauguration, and campaigned with Meuser for Trump in the city over the summer. The event on Wednesday started about an hour late. A businessman from Atlanta took 30 minutes to talk about his green steel company and hopes to build affordable housing in Philadelphia. Meuser and Republican State Rep. Dave Zimmerman, who was also invited to speak, did not start addressing the crowd until about 8:30 p.m., 2 hours into the event and after most people had left. While the room was predominantly made up of people who have supported Republican campaigns in the city before, and their guests, it was open to everyone, including some Democrats. Former State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, a Democrat from Germantown, said he came in the spirit of bipartisanship and because he wanted to hear how the politicians would address his community. You know, we can sit back and criticize the president, or we can try to chip away and get elected officials like the congressman and others to recognize whats taking place. Attendees were given note cards to write down questions for a Q&A. Judy Pinkney, a lifelong Democrat from Northeast Philadelphia, said she wanted to ask whether the GOP would cut Medicaid as part of a forthcoming budget resolution. I go to a senior center and theyre complaining about they losing their food stamps and they losing their Medicaid and Medicare, she told The Inquirer. They fearful of all that. Its a very sad situation. Pinkney said she appreciated politicians coming to speak at a time when she wants answers. But ultimately, she didnt get many. By the time Meuser and Zimmerman took the floor, a staffer for Zimmerman presented them with about four preselected questions that she read aloud, none about Medicaid or government cuts. The event came at a time of rapid governmental reductions that Republicans are under pressure from their constituents to respond to and as GOP leadership has encouraged them to avoid town hall-format events. Meuser has promised to host a town hall in his district. U.S. Reps. Ryan Mackenzie of Berks County and Rob Bresnahan of Lackawanna County, both freshman Republicans, have tele-town halls planned in the next week. Democrats in the state, meanwhile, have started holding mock town halls to call out the lack of open public forums. Before Wednesdays event, state Democratic Party chair Sharif Street joined local Democratic representatives in Germantown to blast the event and Republicans in Congress for supporting Trumps policies, including recent cuts to federal programs and workers and expected cuts to Medicaid. You come to a Black and brown community like Germantown ... and hey, thats fine. You can go anywhere you want in Pennsylvania, right? said State Rep. Andre Carroll, who represents the district. But what you cannot do? You cannot cut Social Security. You cannot cut Medicaid. You cannot fire thousands of federal workers ... gut the Department of Education, and then come here and tell us that you appreciate us. We appreciate if you guys do your damn job, take the oath that you took, and take it serious and protect people. After the protest, Carroll was welcomed inside the event and stayed for a while. Meuser later acknowledged him during his comments to the crowd, though he got the lawmakers first name wrong, calling him Dante Carroll. I got a lot of Democrat friends In addition to Meuser, State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin) has said he is considering running against Shapiro for the second time. Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who garnered a record-breaking number of votes in November, also has not ruled out a run. There is more than a year to go before the states gubernatorial race, but Meuser previewed some of the appeals he would likely make on the campaign trail. He noted that while he is a Pennsylvania transplant, he is fully a Philadelphia Eagles fan. He was careful in how he described his relationship with Trump, a close ally whom he has actively defended. You know, with President Trump in there, like him or not, hes our president, Meuser said. I do know him personally, and hes a much better person than anybody in the media ever portrays him as. We do have a Republican House, but I got a lot of Democrat friends. [Democratic U.S. Rep.] Dwight Evans is my friend. READ MORE: Pennsylvanians in Washington cheer Donald Trumps return to White House Meuser noted Philadelphia has problems with education, housing, and crime though he provided few specific ideas on how to solve them. He more directly criticized the states second-largest city, Pittsburgh, which has a mayoral race this year. You know, Philadelphia, to me, I come in. It looks nice, right? ... I go out to Pittsburgh. I dont know what happened out there, but, but since COVID hit, Pittsburgh has gone backwards, Meuser said. And how thats not a top priority ... of our current governor and our past governor is beyond me. A spokesperson for Shapiro declined to comment but noted a recent $62 million state investment in Pittsburgh, which is in the midst of a larger downtown redevelopment plan. WASHINGTON A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency from Social Security systems that hold personal data on millions of Americans, calling their work there a fishing expedition. The order also requires the team to delete any personally identifiable data in their possession. Advertisement U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland found that the team got broad access to sensitive information at the Social Security Administration to search for fraud with little justification. The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion, she wrote. The order allows DOGE staffers who undergo training and background checks to access to data that's been redacted or stripped of anything personally identifiable. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by labor unions, retirees and the advocacy group Democracy Forward. They argued that DOGE access violates privacy laws and presents serious information security risks. The lawsuit included a declaration from a recently departed Social Security official who saw the DOGE team sweep into the agency said she is deeply worried about sensitive information being exposed. The Trump administration claims DOGE is targeting waste in the federal government. Musk has been focused on Social Security as an alleged hotbed of fraud, describing it as a ponzi scheme and insisting that reducing waste in the program is an important way to cut government spending. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DOGE detailed a 10-person team of federal employees at the SSA, seven of whom were granted read-only access to agency systems or personally identifiable information, according to court documents. Attorneys for the government argued the DOGE access doesnt deviate significantly from normal practices inside the agency, where employees are routinely allowed to search its databases. But attorneys for the plaintiffs called the access unprecedented. Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, called the ruling a major win for working people and retirees across the country. Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, said that the court recognized the real and immediate dangers of DOGEs reckless actions and took action to stop it. DOGE has gotten at least some access to other government databases, including at the Treasury Department and IRS. At SSA, DOGE staffers swept into the agency days after Trumps inauguration and pressed for a software engineer to quickly get access to data systems that are normally carefully restricted even within the government, a former official said in court documents. The team appeared to be searching for fraud based on inaccuracies and misunderstandings, according to Tiffany Flick, the former acting chief of staff to the acting commissioner. Hollander, who is based in Baltimore and was nominated by President Barack Obama, is the latest judge to consider a DOGE related case. The team has drawn nearly two dozen lawsuits, some of which have shed light on staffing and operations that have largely been kept under wraps. Several judges have raised questions about DOGE's sweeping cost-cutting efforts, but they have not always agreed that the risks are imminent enough to block the team from government systems. District Attorney Larry Krasner (left) speaks during a news conference in 2022. Former Judge Patrick Dugan (right) attends a campaign event in 2023, when he unsuccessfully ran for Superior Court. He is now running for Philadelphia district attorney. Read more District Attorney Larry Krasner, in the second public debate of the race for district attorney, continued to try and paint his Democratic challenger as a clandestine conservative tying former judge Patrick Dugan to local Republicans and the former head of the citys police union, and at one point, nearly calling him a racist. Dugan, in turn, called Krasner a liar and a bully who quickly resorts to name-calling anytime someone disagrees with him. Krasner, he said, is soft on crime, and Philadelphians have suffered for years because of it. Advertisement The arguments and unpleasantries exchanged Thursday night in the first Center City forum mirrored those traded last week in a gloves-off start to the campaigns ahead of the May 20 primary election. Krasner, the citys progressive top prosecutor who is seeking a third term, sought to convince the audience that Philadelphians are safer and freer than they were eight years ago the number of people in the citys jail is down, and after a record-breaking spike in shootings during Krasners first term, gun violence has now reached near-historic lows. Dugan, who served as a Municipal Court judge in Philadelphia for nearly two decades, focused on Krasners leadership, pointing to the low retention rate of new prosecutors during his first term, and saying any reduction in crime the city is now experiencing is thanks to the new mayor and police commissioner, not Krasners policies. He worked to portray himself as a centrist who believes in second chances, but who would crack down on gun possession and retail theft cases, areas where Krasners office has struggled. Here are highlights from the evening: Krasner ties Dugan to Republicans At last weeks forum, Krasner asked Dugan whether he supports President Donald Trump. Are you kidding? Dugan replied. I categorically denounce Donald Trump and his policies. The guys a nut. I mean, come on. Krasner kept at it Thursday. He said Dugan was once seen bear-hugging John McNesby when he was the head of the FOP and defending the visible wearing of Nazi tattoos. Oh, Larry, Dugan said. Youre such a liar. Dont you say that to me. Dugans campaign said he never hugged McNesby. The candidates were asked what action they would take to protect the city and its residents from possible illegal actions by the federal government. Dugan said he was not sure what, realistically, local officials could do beyond public demonstrations. Krasner said that indicated Dugan doesnt want to intervene, and pointed to how the citys conservative groups have signaled support for the former judge in recent weeks. My opponent seems to be getting loving words on social media from Philadelphias Republican Party. What do you think that means in the context of, I dont know what were going to do? READ MORE: Trump, Elon Musk, and Philly unions are the wild cards in this years DA race Dont call me a racist On more than one occasion, Krasner stopped just short of calling Dugan a racist. Dugan said he saw firsthand how many of the young prosecutors in Krasners office were inexperienced and struggling in court, and said Krasner failed to train them. Many of the attorneys Krasner recruited from out of state and Ivy League law schools eventually left, he said, so Dugan said he would focus on recruiting locally to attract attorneys who will be invested in Philadelphia for years. Krasner said he has worked to diversify his staff and hire people from all states and backgrounds, lawyers who are now being maligned by a judge who sits in misdemeanor court. The judge wants us just to recruit in Philadelphia. ... Which HBCU law schools are in Philadelphia or nearby judge? Whos that? Because theres six of them. And if your point is we shouldnt go to any historically black college and university law schools, then youre making your point. Dugan groaned and interjected. Dont call me a racist, Lar! Dont call me racist! Dont you twist my words. Dont you dare! Dugan addressed it again later and defended himself and his record, pointing to his blended family of multiple races. You like to call people names. Who else does that? In another world, if we were sitting here on a couch somewhere else, there might be a different kind of problem to call me a racist like that, he told Krasner. Krasners unpaid property taxes Dugans campaign has resurfaced a long-standing issue for Krasner: the outstanding real estate tax bills on a Center City building of which Krasner is a part owner. The district attorney has for years held a 40% stake in a holding group, called Tiger Building LP, which owns a brownstone at 1221-23 Locust St. and owes more than $139,000 in taxes on the building, which is assessed at a value of $3.46 million. That amount includes more than $48,000 in taxes owed this year, which are not due until the end of this month. City records show the group has been behind on taxes periodically since at least 2014, and faced numerous liens and judgments filed by the city, the school district, and the Center City District over the last 10 years. The issue didnt come up during the forum, but Dugans campaign handed out fliers to attendees calling Krasner a millionaire who doesnt pay his taxes. As district attorney, Krasner earns a base salary of $182,184 a year, according to city payroll records. Anthony Campisi, a spokesperson for Krasners campaign, said the district attorney is one of many people invested in the property. He and the other owners have been in payment plans for several years to address its outstanding tax liability, and the corporation has been making regular payments toward that liability. Fights to come In many ways, Dugan and Krasner share many of the same opinions on criminal justice issues. Both believe in expanding diversion programs, addressing bail reform, and examining questionable old convictions. Toward the end of the night, Krasner tried to soften his tone, complimenting the judges work in launching a court for veterans and saying he agreed with many of Dugans rulings in cases over the years. Still, he said, Philadelphia cannot afford to have another DA whos driven by ambition, who is willing to do more than they should and cross lines in order to win cases. Dugan didnt accept the half-compliment. He said he believes in term limits for district attorneys, and Krasners time was up. I do restorative justice. I do rehabilitative justice. But people have to be accountable. We can do both at the same time, he said. A third forum hosted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia. This picture shows longstanding issues with the facade at the Bentley Manor apartment building in West Oak Lane taken ahead of the Public Interest Law Center's lawsuit against landlord Odin Properties. Read more Three tenants in West Oak Lane are suing their landlord, which owns or manages 2,000 apartment units in the city, for collecting rent while residents live in a building the city has declared unsafe. On behalf of the residents, the nonprofit Public Interest Law Center and the Philadelphia-based Hausfeld law firm filed a class-action lawsuit last week against Philadelphia-based Odin Properties and related companies. Advertisement Philadelphias Department of Licenses and Inspections said in November that the 71-unit Bentley Manor apartment building was unsafe, saying property conditions presented an immediate danger or hazard to health, safety, and welfare. L&I cited loose and missing bricks on exterior walls and a leaning parapet. On Thursday, a spokesperson for L&I said the building has been declared unsafe, and a permit for repairs has been issued. Work needs to be completed for the violation to be marked complied, the spokesperson said. The Public Interest Law Center said repair work on the buildings facade began after the lawsuit was filed. The Law Center cited a Philadelphia law that prohibits landlords from collecting rent if they have a serious outstanding L&I violation 30 days after receiving notice of it. Plaintiffs are asking for a refund of rent and late fees paid. One of Philadelphias biggest landlords has let a building sit in unsafe status for months, collecting rent along the way, Madison Gray, staff attorney at the Law Center, said in a statement. The tenants are sending a clear message: Landlords must follow the law or face consequences. Philip Balderston, president of Odin Properties, said on behalf of Fernrock Apartments 2 LP, the owner of Bentley Manor, that they have been working with L&I to fix violations. The work required to correct the final violation is currently ongoing and expected to be complete by the end of March, Balderston said in a statement. The building was constructed in 1962 and due to its age requires regular repairs that we have made since our purchase and will continue to make for the duration of our ownership to ensure we maintain safe and high-quality affordable housing for our residents. Dawn Colbourne, one of the renters who is suing, moved into Bentley Manor in 2023. She said her window leaked, her lights flickered, the hallways had mold, and the front door of the building didnt latch properly. We all deserve a safe place to live, no matter who we are or what road weve traveled to get here, Colbourne said in a statement. These landlord companies are quick to file an eviction when a tenant doesnt pay rent, so its only fair that we hold landlords accountable when they dont do what theyre supposed to do. Colbourne is a member of OnePA Renters United Philadelphia, a coalition of renters unions and advocates that, along with the advocacy group Philly Thrive, is asking L&I to proactively inspect the citys rental units instead of relying on tenant complaints to trigger inspections. The groups are calling for $10 million in the citys budget for L&I to start a pilot program for proactive inspections. At a City Council hearing this week, Bridget Collins-Greenwald, commissioner of the quality-of-life division at L&I, said she was working with policy researchers at the Pew Charitable Trusts to establish best practices and look into how Philadelphia might be able to start proactively inspecting rental homes. Calls for direct government regulation through the Code ACILs call for direct government regulation of insurers through the Code follows the ICAs release of an Industry Action Plan on Monday. The Plan outlined the ICAs position on remaining recommendations from government inquiries and its response to the current review of the industrys Code. The success of our business pack on SCTP [Steadfast Client Trading Platform] with six insurers, has paved the way for this exciting new offering, which has been well received by our broker network, said Neil Cousins (main picture), CEO of Steadfast NZ. The unopposed extension request cited the ongoing work of the special master, who has yet to determine a restitution figure and does not expect to complete the process until mid-May. Lindbergs attorneys argued that filing objections without that figure would be impractical. While the bill does not introduce new taxes or increase fees on insurers, it reallocates existing revenues in a way that might prompt insurers to reconsider their financial strategies, particularly those relying on predictability in state tax policy. Smaller firms and out-of-state surplus lines insurers may be particularly attentive to potential downstream effects, especially if budgetary reallocations lead to shifts in compliance enforcement or processing times. The proposal, introduced by the Department of Banking and Insurance, calls for the adoption of the NAIC Term and Universal Life Insurance Reserve Financing Model Regulation #787, known within the industry as the XXX/AXXX Model Regulation. The move would bring uniformity and greater transparency to reserve financing, an area that has historically presented regulatory challenges. An experienced broker himself, Vedder has seen first-hand the complexities of the marketplace and the importance of an educated agent and insured. As an industry we are facing a huge challenge with the continual creep in loss costs. Recently, I had a major E&S carrier share that some of their initial loss reports from the LA fires are showing costs approaching $800 per square foot an unprecedented figure for them which could put many of their losses close to double the ITV for which they were underwritten. A Virginia Court of Appeals has given a green light to a negligence lawsuit seeking to hold a mother responsible for failing to supervise her teenage son who was learning to drive when he hit and killed a person in another vehicle. The estate of the person in the other vehicle who was killed alleged the drivers mother, Rachel Dodson, was negligent for failing to supervise her son and for negligently entrusting a vehicle to an unfit driver. The estate administrators maintained that the mother intended to supervise her childs driving, but that she was not paying attention to the driving. This inattention increased the risk and likelihood of the accident that followed, they argued. In response, Dodson filed a demurrer, arguing that the estate failed to state a claim because the law does not recognize a duty for her to supervise the driver. The administrators failed to allege sufficient facts to state a cause of action for either common law negligence or negligent entrustment and they failed to establish that she was under a legal duty to the administrators, either common law or statutory, Dodson argued. However, a circuit court disagreed and denied Dodsons demurrer. Dodson then filed for an interlocutory appeal, which the trial court certified to the Court of Appeals. The decedent was heading southbound on F.T. Valley Road in Rappahannock County, Virginia, when she was struck by the vehicle operated by the Dodsons son. At the time of the collision, the son was 15 years old and had recently obtained a learners permit to drive. In the vehicle were the drivers mother and stepfather. He was driving a Ford F150 pickup truck owned by the Dodsons. Also riding in the truck were his two younger siblings. During the drive, Rachel Dodson was sitting in the front seat of the truck, with a younger brother sitting between her and the drivers seat. The stepfather was a passenger in the back seat. As alleged in the complaint, the driver was unfamiliar with the route, and he failed to use his turn signal and brakes when approaching the intersection where the collision took place. A stop sign was located at the intersection. The decedent died from injuries sustained in the accident. A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals determined that the question was whether one who voluntarily and knowingly assumes the duty of supervising a student driver can then be held negligent for failing to supervise the young driver in a reasonably prudent manner under the circumstances. The court answered this question in the affirmative, finding the case fits within the assumption of duty frameworkand that the estate administrator did state a claim against Dodson. The court found that the negligence claim may proceed against Dodson, who sat in the front passenger seat, because she voluntarily and knowingly assumed the duty to supervise her 15-year-old son and yet failed to do so in a reasonably prudent manner while he was driving. The negligent entrustment claim against her was disallowed. Also, both negligence claims against the stepfather, who sat in the back seat and assumed no duty, were disallowed. Noting that this was an issue of first impression in Virginia, the court also addressed the administrators suggestion that Rachel Dodson somehow had a duty to prevent the accident and that she is naturally accountable for any errors made by her son. The court found this logic unpersuasive. Put another way, the accompanying driver is not an insurer against any possible accident; nor is she a mind-reader who can anticipate a split-second error by the student (such as mistakenly stepping on the accelerator rather than the brake); nor is she required to give a running commentary of advice throughout a properly executed journey, the appeals court wrote. The court then explained that it is up to a jury to decide whether in fact Dodson was negligent: Ultimately, if a claim is properly pleaded, the question of whether the accompanying parent negligently guided the student is a factual issue left for the jury to decide under the particular circumstances of the case. Indeed, whether Rachel Dodson, by her conduct, assumed a duty also presents a question for the factfinder. At this stage, we determine simply that in this case the Administrators claims that Rachel intended to supervise her son, her son was relying on her supervision, and then Rachel paid no attention to his driving are sufficient to survive the demurrer. Topics Personal Auto The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is harshly criticizing Maryland officials for failing to conduct a risk assessment of the Francis Scott Key Bridge before it collapsed a year ago and is recommending that 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision. The agency indicated that had Maryland conducted such an assessment, it could have taken steps to reduce the risk of and possibly prevented last years tragic Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. In its own assessment, NTSB found that the Key Bridge was considerably above the acceptable risk threshold for essential bridges. The federal agency warned that many of the nations bridges may be above the acceptable level of risk, although it stopped short of suggesting they are in danger of imminent collapse. The report is part of the ongoing investigation into the Key Bridge collapse. The NTSB found that the Key Bridge, which collapsed after being struck by the containership Dali on March 26, 2024, was almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold for critical or essential bridges, according to guidance established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO. Over the last year, the NTSB said it identified 68 bridges including the Key Bridge that were designed before 1991 when the AASHTO guidance was established and do not have a current vulnerability assessment using AASHTOs calculation. The NTSB is recommending that these 30 bridge owners evaluate whether the bridges are above the AASHTO acceptable level of risk and implement a risk reduction plan if their bridge has a risk level above the AASHTO threshold. Since 1994, the Federal Highway Administration, or FHWA, has required new bridges be designed to minimize the risk of a catastrophic bridge collapse from a vessel collision, given the size, speed and other characteristics of vessels navigating the channel under the bridge. The Key Bridge was built before vulnerability assessments were required by FHWA. Neither the FHWA nor AASHTO can require a bridge owner to complete a vulnerability assessment for a bridge designed before the release of the 1991 guidelines. The MDTA had not performed, nor was it required to perform a vulnerability analysis, NTSB noted. Maryland Assessment However, the NTSB concluded that had the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) conducted a vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge based on recent vessel traffic, MDTA would have learned that the bridge was above the AASHTO threshold of risk for catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision before the Dali collision occurred and MDTA would have had information to proactively reduce the bridges risk of a collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision with the bridge. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said during its investigation her agency asked Maryland for the data needed to conduct an assessment based on current traffic volume but MDTA was unable to provide the data. NTSB had to develop the data itself. She said MDTA had still not done a vulnerability assessment based on current data as of October. Bridge owners need to know the risk and determine what action they need to take, she told reporters. MDTA said that an evaluation using AASHTO methodology was underway when the NTSB requested its results last fall and is still underway. The MDTA said it is reviewing the NTSB recommendations but maintains the catastrophe and the tragic loss of life was the sole fault of the DALI and the gross negligence of her owners and operators who put profits above safety. It noted that the Key Bridge was approved and permitted by the federal government and in compliance with those permits. Designs for New Baltimore Bridge Unveiled Almost a Year After Deadly Collapse MDTA said it will provide an update to the NTSB within 30 days. NTSB has alerted officials in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Baltimores Bay Bridge is among those on the NTSB list. The NTSB is also recommending that FHWA, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers establish an interdisciplinary team to assist bridge owners on evaluating and reducing the risk, which could mean infrastructure improvements or operational changes. The Collision The 984-foot Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Dali was transiting out of Baltimore Harbor when it experienced a loss of electrical power and propulsion and struck the southern pier supporting the central truss spans of the Key Bridge, which subsequently collapsed. Six construction crewmembers were killed and another was injured, as well as one person onboard the vessel. The Key Bridge and its pier protection systems were subject to regular safety inspections by nationally certified bridge inspectors. The Key Bridges most recent inspections in March 2021 and May 2023 found the condition of the deck, the superstructure, and the substructure as being in satisfactory condition, and the pier protection was rated as in place and functioning properly Baltimores Johns Hopkins Team Assessing Likelihood of Another Tragic Bridge Disaster Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore are working on a project assessing the countrys bridges to determine the likelihood of another disaster like the one that collapsed the Key Bridge. A spokesperson for the research team told Insurance Journal that preliminary findings would be released March 24. The state of Maryland is suing the owner and operator of the Dali cargo ship that caused the collapse of the bridge, as have the families of six workers killed in the tragedy, the city of Baltimore, small businesses and others. The owner and manager of the Dali have denied responsibility and cast blame on the state for not better protecting the bridge against ship strikes. The U.S. Department of Justice settled claims against the cargo ship Dalis owner Grace Ocean Private Limited and operator Synergy Marine for $103 million last October. The NTSBs Marine Investigation Report is available online. Top Photo: Crane involved in salvage operation after Baltimore Key Bridge collapse. Topics Maryland Germany seized a decrepit tanker found adrift off its northern coast in January that is believed to be part of a shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions, Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday, citing security sources. The Panama-flagged ship, called Eventin, was secured by German maritime authorities after being found off the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen, prompting Berlin to sharply rebuke Moscow. The tanker had been heading from Russia to Egypt. Spiegel reported that a confiscation order has been issued for the tanker, meaning the vessel and its cargo of around 100,000 metric tons of oil, worth some 40 million euros ($43.33 million), now become German property. The German finance ministry, which oversees the customs authorities, declined to comment in detail on the matter given the current security situation, a spokesperson said in Berlin, alluding to high Russian-Western tensions over the war in Ukraine. Customs measures are currently under way. The local customs authority said in a statement that the measures had not yet been made legally binding, without commenting further on the case. Moscow has no information about the ship and no knowledge about its owner or reasons for its seizure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, responding to a Reuters query. Eventin was included in the European Unions 16th package of sanctions targeting Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The package aimed to put extra pressure on Russias shadow fleet vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains around in violation of sanctions. The vessels are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers. Germany continues to work with its partners on closing this loophole, which Russia uses to finance its war in Ukraine, a spokesperson for the German foreign office said. ($1 = 0.9231 euros) (Additional reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Christian Kraemer in Berlin; editing by Frances Kerry and Mark Heinrich) Britains financial regulator fined the London Metal Exchange on Thursday for allowing nickel prices to surge out of control three years ago in the first ever enforcement action against a UK exchange. The Financial Conduct Authority imposed a penalty of 9.2 million pounds ($11.9 million) on the worlds oldest and largest market for industrial metals after an investigation found multiple failures to deal with severe market stress. The FCA said only junior staff were on duty in the early morning of March 8, 2022, when nickel prices rocketed to more than $100,000 a metric ton, more than doubling in a matter of hours. This meant that when price rises in the nickel contract became increasingly extreme during the early hours of 8 March it was not escalated to senior LME managers, the FCA said in a statement. The extreme volatility forced the LME to void $12 billion in trades, sparking a lawsuit by financial firms who said they lost hundreds of millions of dollars. The LME won the lawsuit, but the trial exposed shortcomings in LME controls. Read more: London Metal Exchange Triumphs in Lawsuit Over Canceled Nickel Trades The LME nickel fiasco is a textbook example of how not to run a global exchange, said Simon Morris, a financial services Partner with law firm CMS. Policies for handling market stress were unclear, front-line staff werent trained to know what to do or who to tell, and when senior management were briefed they were uncertain how to respond. The LMEs nickel crisis was compounded by low stocks and the lack of physical delivery options available to big short position holders such as Chinas Tsingshan Group. The LME should have been better prepared to address the serious risks posed by extreme volatility, said Steve Smart, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA. LME Accepts Finding The 148-year-old LME, owned by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. 0388.HK, accepted the findings and qualified for a 30% reduction in the financial penalty, adding that enhanced processes now in place will bolster the resilience of its markets. We acknowledge that we could have provided a better line of defense to the effects of the disorder in the OTC market, which had spilled over onto the LME market in March 2022, said Chief Executive Matthew Chamberlain. The LME said it also welcomed the FCAs recognition of the fact that large positions held on the over-the-counter (OTC) market were the principal driver of sharp price moves and that the LME didnt have visibility of OTC positions at the time. Banks and brokers are obliged to report their OTC trades with trade repositories such as the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), which the FCA has access to. Hedge fund Elliott Associates, which sued the LME, and several sources at LME brokers declined to comment. The absence of a robust regulatory response to the nickel crisis will erode investor confidence in UK markets and undermines efforts to secure UK as a global financial center, Jennifer Han, Chief Legal Officer at the Managed Funds Association (MFA), said in an emailed statement. MFA is an international hedge fund trade association. Nickel trading volumes plummeted in the wake of the crisis, with some unhappy investors boycotting the LME over its cancellation of trades. But by this year, LME nickel volumes have fully recovered, with trading activity the strongest since 2015. We all know the LME made mistakes, but weve moved on and the nickel market has recovered, said one industry source. (Additional reporting by Sinead Cruise and Pratima Desai; editing by Veronica Brown, Louise Heavens and David Evans) MS Amlin, the Lloyds global re/insurer, has bound a reinsurance scheme that could provide up to 1 billion (US$1.1 billion) in cover annually for Ukraines small-and-mediums-sized enterprises (SMEs). The innovative scheme, developed in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and professional services firm Aon, aims to revitalize Ukraines war risk insurance market by enabling local insurers to begin offering inland cargo and transport cover for SMEs, the insurer said. Under the scheme, MS Amlin has committed 80 million ($86.9 million) in reinsurance capacity rising to 110 million ($119.5 million) over five years to support war risk policies underwritten by three Ukrainian insurers: INGO, Colonnade, and UNIQA. The facility is backed by an EBRD guarantee, allowing MS Amlin to transfer the exposure off its balance sheet. As these policies are typically short-term, the facility can recycle capital, potentially extending coverage for multiples of the guarantee amount. EBRD estimates suggest the facility could provide cover for up to 1 billion worth of goods and vehicles each year, the equivalent of 5 billion ($5.4 billion) over the five-year term. Ukraines insurance sector has struggled to offer commercial war risk cover since the conflict began. The URGF is aims to improve access to insurance, stimulating business activity and economic growth, paving the way for Ukraines recovery and reconstruction. Expanding access to insurance is critical for supporting Ukraines SMEs and overall economy. By addressing a gap in reinsurance, this scheme will help boost business confidence, protect supply chains, and drive economic growth, commented Martin Burke, MS Amlins chief underwriting officer. The facility highlights how specialist insurers can unlock investment in high-risk regions and demonstrates the key role of public-private partnerships in rebuilding Ukraine. By leading the way on this facility, we aim to attract additional market capacity, vital for Ukraines long-term reconstruction and recovery, he said. The facility is initially supported by France, the UK, Norway, and the Taiwan Business-EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund. The European Union and Switzerland have also pledged contributions, with further donor support expected to expand the EBRD guarantee over time. London-based MS Amlin Underwriting is part of the global top-10 insurance group MS&AD, with operations in Lloyds of London, the Middle East and Asian markets. Source: MS Amlin Topics Reinsurance Mississippi The company behind an $8.9 billion carbon-capture pipeline proposed for five Midwestern states said Wednesday it wants to indefinitely delay its plans after South Dakota passed a law limiting its ability to acquire land for the project. But even as it filed a motion to suspend its pipeline permit application timeline with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, the Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions said it remains committed to the pipeline. Summit attorney Brett Koenecke said the action was needed because the legislation approved by South Dakota lawmakers and quickly signed into law by the governor changed the companys ability to survey the route. The resulting delays in obtaining the surveys mean that the timelines involved in Commission action on this application are unrealistic, Koenecke wrote in the motion. If the commission approves the motion, they can set a new deadline for the permit application. The proposed 2,500-mile pipeline would carry carbon emissions from ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to be stored underground permanently in North Dakota. By lowering carbon emissions from the plants, the pipeline would lower their carbon intensity scores and make them more competitive in the renewable fuels market. The project had approvals in Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota. But in South Dakota, a new law banned the use of eminent domain the government seizure of private property with compensation specifically for carbon-capture projects. The eminent domain bill sponsor Republican Rep. Karla Lems said Summit is trying to get their feet back under them after the eminent domain ban. Summits move was generally good news for Frank James, director of advocacy group Dakota Rural Action, which opposed allowing eminent domain for the project. It means the work that we did at the legislature with our allies was impactful, he said. It clearly shows the citizens of South Dakota really question these false solutions to climate change. Tad Hepner, vice president of strategy and innovation at the Renewable Fuels Association, disagreed, saying stopping Summit in South Dakota would put ethanol producers in the state at a competitive disadvantage to out-of-state plants connected to the pipeline. We dont want to see haves and have-nots, he said. We want as many ethanol producers to be able to sequester their CO2 as possible. North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong said Tuesday he doesnt know how Summit will get its pipeline into North Dakota given South Dakotas eminent domain ban. Armstrong said he is concerned because officials and industry leaders were hopeful of eventually using carbon dioxide to extract oil. North Dakota is the No. 3 oil-producing state in the country, producing about 1.2 million barrels of oil per month. Summit has already spent more than $1 billion on the project, Summit spokesperson Sabrina Zenor said. Despite the South Dakota suspension, all options are still on the table, the company said. Summit Carbon Solutions remains committed to working through this process and advancing the project in states that support energy and innovation, the company said in a statement. Data Center Alley, a 30-square-mile stretch outside Washington D.C. and home to more than 200 data centers, consumes roughly the same electricity as Boston. So power company officials were alarmed when a big chunk of those centers 60 of them suddenly dropped off the grid one day last summer and switched to on-site generators. The mass reaction was triggered by a standard safety mechanism across the data center industry, intended to protect computer chips and electronic equipment from damage caused by voltage fluctuations. But it caused a huge surge in excess electricity, according to federal regulators and utility executives. The magnitude of the imbalance forced grid operator PJM and local utility Dominion Energy to scale back output from power plants to protect grid infrastructure and avoid a worst-case scenario of cascading power outages across the region. The near-miss reported here in detail for the first time forced federal regulators to recognize a new vulnerability of Americas electrical grid: unannounced disconnections by data centers. As these data centers get bigger and consume more energy, the grid is not designed to withstand the loss of 1,500-megawatt data centers, John Moura, director of reliability assessment and system analysis for NERC, told Reuters in an interview. At some level it becomes too large to withstand unless more grid resources are added. Historically, grid operators have planned for large power plants tripping offline. But the rapid expansion of data centers processing the vast amounts of information used for AI and crypto mining is forcing grid operators to plan for new contingencies and complicating the already difficult task of balancing the countrys supply and demand of electricity. What it tells us is that the behavior of data centers has the potential to cause cascading power outages for an entire region, said Alison Silverstein, a former senior adviser to the chairman of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The event last July 10 occurred near the D.C. suburb of Fairfax, Virginia, an area known as Data Center Alley for its concentration of facilities serving Microsoft, Google and Amazon. About 70% of the worlds internet traffic flows through the area. A month after the incident, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the federal regulator for grid reliability, founded a taskforce to study en masse disconnections by data centers and crypto miners. For this story, Reuters examined thousands of pages of regulatory documents and interviewed about a dozen industry executives to determine the origins of the fault a failed surge protector on Dominions Ox-Possum 230-kilovolt line near Fairfax, Virginia and its spread across the area. NERC reviewed the incident in a report in January but did not disclose the exact location of the fault, the number of data centers involved, or how PJM and Dominion worked to rebalance the grids supply and demand of electricity. NEAR-MISS EVENTS INCREASING The number of near-miss events like the one in Data Center Alley has grown rapidly over the last five years as more data centers come online. The amount of power used by data centers has tripled over the past decade and could triple again by 2028, according to a report produced by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for the Department of Energy in December. A Reuters review of disclosure filings by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the states main grid operator, identified more than 30 near-miss incidents since 2020, triggered by big energy users like data centers and crypto miners switching offline. In December 2022, a failed transformer at a substation in west Texas caused nearly 400 crypto miners, data centers and oil and gas production facilities to unplug without warning. The mass exodus produced an oversupply of nearly 1,700 megawatts of electricity equivalent to about about 5% of the grids total demand and forced 112 megawatts of power generation to shut down, according to ERCOT. The risk of power outages will only grow as new data centers come online, the NERC forecast in a December report. Nearly all of the United States will face higher risks of energy shortfalls over the next 5 to 10 years, the report said. The regulator urged utilities to consider updating federal reliability standards for data centers and crypto miners. A CONTROVERSIAL FIX Many data centers are engineered by their operators to switch to local generators at the smallest hint of a problem on the grid to minimize the risk of an interruption to services like Google search or crypto mining, according to NERC. Some grid operators have proposed requiring data centers to ride through routine voltage dips without disconnecting. But data center operators are opposed because of the risk of damaging electronic equipment and cooling systems. ERCOT last year withdrew a proposal that would have imposed ride-through restrictions on data centers and crypto miners after facing pushback from an industry group, the Data Center Coalition. The group, whose members include Amazon, Google, and Meta, cited costs and the risk of damaging computer chips and cooling systems exposed to fluctuating voltage levels. Data center hardware and power supplies, similar to other electronics, are very sensitive to power supply stability, the coalition said in January 2024 comments filed with ERCOT. Deviating from this range will deteriorate the optimal performance, reduce longevity, or damage the components beyond repair. The coalition said in a statement to Reuters that it intended to be a helpful partner to grid operators. We fully recognize grid planning and management is the responsibility of utilities and grid operators, but DCC is committed to leaning in as an active and engaged partner to be helpful and ensure we collectively meet this moment, said Aaron Tinjum, the coalitions Vice President of Energy. Amazon, Google and Meta did not return messages seeking comment. ERCOT did not return messages seeking comment. There is high potential for the magnitude of these disconnection events to grow as larger operations plug into the Texas grid, ERCOT operations engineer Patrick Gravois said in a December presentation to NERCs Large Load Task Force. Gravois said the grid operator is still working to determine exactly what prompts big users of electricity to unplug from the grid, so that it can avoid surprises. Ari Peskoe, director of the Electricity Law Initiative at Harvard Law School, said regulators could require data centers to ride through voltage dips but that could risk Big Tech decamping for states with more relaxed rules. Jim Simonelli, chief technology officer for Schneider Electrics secure power division, said utilities and the data center industry have a lot of lessons to be learned from what happened outside Washington DC this past July. One thing that doesnt exist yet for the data center industry is how to be grid-friendly, Simonelli said. Topics InsurTech Tech Artificial intelligence technology has continued to evolve, and its affecting many areas of insurance from claims to underwriting to customer service, according to panelists at the 2025 PLUS D&O Symposium in New York City. But has the technology developed so much that it could replace human underwriting in the next five years? I think it is the biggest question out there, said Jeffrey Chivers, CEO and co-founder of Syllo, an AI-powered litigation workspace that enables lawyers and paralegals to use language models throughout the litigation life cycle. Another way of asking this question is whether AI can develop judgment, not just in underwriting but across all business domains in which judgment is an essential part of the job, he said. Is there any change here with respect to a models ability to exercise the kind of nuanced value judgment and other types of judgments that go into a mission critical job? he asked. Thus far, the answer for me has been no, he said. If the answer is yes at some time in the next five years, I think thats what changes everything. Claire Davey, head of product innovation at Relm Insurance, said that major shifts are already happening in other areas of insurance that involve more administrative tasks, however. It depends on how the organization wants to deploy [AI] and utilize it, she said. But I think many jobs, particularly those that are administrative, are at risk of being phenomenally changed by artificial intelligence technology. It is going to be a landmark shift in commerce that weve seen in a generation, and insurance is no different. That said, she agreed that underwriting jobs are safe, for now. One of the key governance controls and duties with AI technology is that it does require human oversight, so while AI could perform some underwriting stages, you would hope that there is still a human reviewing its output and sense-checking that, she said. AIs Underwriting Judgment AI technology is having a material impact on the insurance industry in other ways, panelists agreed. To start, the litigation landscape is already seeing a transformation. Within five years, there will be a lot more adoption of generative AI across legal and compliance functions, Chivers predicted. And I think five years from now, a couple of things will be really prominent. He said much debate will continue to emerge around transparency and any red flags discovered within an organization due to AI. Do you attribute knowledge to management if you had an AI agent in the background that surfaced these various red flags or yellow flags even if nobody reviewed it? he said. I think the transparency that generative AI brings within a big organization is going to be a big subject of discovery litigation. He added another area to watch is the degree to which companies are handing off decision-making responsibilities to AI. If we are in a world where companies are handing off that decision-making responsibility, it just raises a host of issues related to coverage, he said. This decision-making responsibility needs to be carefully considered with a human in the loop because of generative AIs shortcomings, he said. Its not a quantitative model, and it also really lacks what I would describe as judgment, he said. And so when I think about how do you understand these large language models and what they bring to the table in terms of artificial intelligence, I think the best way to think about it is in terms of different cognitive skills [L]arge language models have certain cognitive skills like summarization and classification of things, translation, transcription, [but] they completely lack other cognitive skills. Allowing AI to participate in too much decision-making can be particularly dangerous because of one of its best skills so far: linguistics and rhetoric. This means AI models can excel at masking the fact that they lack the judgment to operate as an intelligent agent, Chivers explained. If you allow the large language model to generate things like plans and plans of action, it literally generates these for itself. It has some objective in mind, and it writes out 10 steps for itself as to how to accomplish that objective. And it takes each of those steps and generates ideas about how to execute it. And then it goes about, and if you give it access to other systems, it will be able to function, call against those systems and cause real world impacts within your organization, he said. At the moment, I think it would be basically insane to allow the current iteration of large language model agents to actually run wild within systems. Underwriters AI Judgment Beyond the use of generative AI within underwriting, how are insurers underwriting to companies that use generative AI as a part of their business model? I think the risk profiles of insureds who are either developing or utilizing AI are shaped by the use case of that AI, Davey said. So depending upon what its been designed to do, that will influence whether its main risk factor is bias or transparency or accountability. She said that when Relm Insurance is underwriting an account, its important to ask what the AI technology is doing and where its main exposure or risk is when it defaults or something goes wrong. Obviously, if its handling or being trained on a lot of personally identifiable data, we have an issue there in terms of accountability and privacy. But if were looking at an AI model which may be running diagnosticsit may be trying to run forecasts or perhaps providing recommendations we then have the issue of bias and discrimination, she said. Relm thinks of those buckets as shaping the risk profile of the insureds, guiding underwriters in terms of what follow-up questions theyre going to ask. Since Relm aims to provide informed capacity for emerging sectors, Davey said getting comfortable means asking questions and starting a dialogue with clients who are pushing on the frontiers of these emerging technologies. It is about trying to get dedicated time with those who are developing those technologies and also managing the technologies to really understand their technical capabilities, but also the governance around them, she said. So, it requires an investment on the client side to share their information, share their time with us. But if we can get the right information and we can get the comfort with the technology and their management topic, then we can start to provide capacity for that sector which has historically been underserved in the traditional markets. Julie Reiser, partner at Cohen Milstein, thinks about AI risks in terms of both misrepresentationor AI washing, in which a company overstates the capabilities of its AI technologyas well as employment discrimination. I think the overall premise that Im hearing across the board is that AI is iterative, that we expect people not just to engage once and create a process, but rather its something that you have to check in with and you have to watch each step and then say, Is this creating risk?' she said. Its not like every year, you can just check in, and itll be fine. For companies that are only focused on AI, theres even more risk, and that will require more board oversight and systems in place to manage risk, according to Nick Reider, senior vice president and deputy D&O product leader for the West region at Aon. If they dont have those, then theyre going to have a bad time when a good lawsuit is filed, he said. Its not to say that some mega-corporation that uses AI to simplify one of thousands of processes has no responsibilities whatsoever with respect to AI. Obviously, the directors cant bury their heads when they learn of misconduct, for example. However, AI-specific companies will need to have a higher level of governance in place, he said. But no matter what, just given the regulatory landscape thats out there right now, there is additional governance that has to be in place at these companies, he said. Theres a lot that goes into it. Indeed, in the U.S. alone, disagreement has emerged around how to define artificial intelligence and what it could achieve in the next five years, said Boris Feldman, partner at Freshfields US. What Im seeing, at least in the United States, is there are camps that are really concerned about super intelligence and the end of humanity, he said. And then there are other camps who are more focused on the here and now of what can we promulgate with respect to how these things are used to protect against the known risks of today. Davey said in the next five years, she believes a more colorful claims landscape in terms of litigation and regulation will emerge. I would imagine that for the underwriters here and the brokers here, its going to be an interesting five years of conversations with clients about their claims history, she said. Proactive companies will lead the charge to set these standards, Reiser added. There will be a proactive group of companies and a reactive group, and the proactive group is going to set the standard for what the reactive group should have done, she said. That will be the benchmark. It wouldnt surprise me. Davey said she believes that these emerging AI technologies, although constantly evolving, are insurable. It just takes work, and it takes effort, and it takes research, and that requires investment and resources, she said. So, if we as an insurance company, but also as an insurance sector, want to remain relevant, then we have to put in that upfront to work with clients to understand them and provide the solutions. Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Underwriting A North Dakota jury this week found Greenpeace liable for defamation, conspiracy and other claims over its participation in the Dakota Access pipeline protests that lasted from 2016 to 2017, awarding developer Energy Transfer LP $660 million in damages. Legal experts warn the decision could significantly deter other environmental groups from protesting oil and gas companies and their infrastructure around the US. The potential for liability itself will have a chilling effect, said Jennifer Safstrom, an assistant clinical law professor at Vanderbilt University. Josh Galperin, an associate law professor at Pace University, described the verdict as unprecedented and the amount of damages as absolutely enormous. As climate change has worsened, activists in the US and across the globe have repeatedly taken to the streets, forests and waters to put their bodies in the way of active fossil fuel production and new developments. Energy Transfers legal win shows that challenging protest groups in court can be successful and it may inspire other companies to follow suit. The verdict is an invitation to other companies to take similar actions against protestors, said Michael Gerrard, founder and faculty director of Columbia Universitys Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Greenpeace announced it would appeal the verdict against its entities Greenpeace Inc., Greenpeace Fund and Greenpeace International. The environmental group did not respond to a request for comment, but Laura Handman, one of the lawyers on the case, said this story is not over, noting that Greenpeace International last month filed a countersuit against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands. That Greenpeace has been held responsible for breaking the law is a win for all of us, Texas-based Energy Transfer said. The company had argued that Greenpeace incited protests that cost it millions of dollars, maligned its reputation and hampered its ability to raise money from capital markets. Greenpeace and some legal scholars have described the suit as a type of legal maneuver known as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP). Rules related to SLAPP suits vary state by state, but most have laws in place to protect activist organizations from large corporations pressuring them to back down. North Dakota is not one of those states, making it easier for Energy Transfer to have pursued the case against Greenpeace there. Legal experts emphasized the importance of advocacy groups making sure they understand the specific laws in the states where they are organizing. For the environmental or non-profit organizations supporting advocacy, its really important that they understand their state laws and their rights when it comes to the organized actions and potential anti-SLAPP lawsuits, said Caroline Chen, director of environmental justice at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. The Dakota Access pipeline protests started in April 2016, with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe setting up camp along the proposed route protesting its development and raising concerns about potential environmental impacts. Months of growing protests prompted President Barack Obamas administration to block the project in late 2016. But soon after President Donald Trump took office in 2017, he reversed the decision and the pipeline was completed that year. In the wake of the protests, North Dakota passed four laws between 2017 and 2019 increasing the penalties imposed on people who engage in various forms of civil disobedience, including those that specifically target oil and gas infrastructure. The oil and chemical industries, including Energy Transfer, lobbied for those laws. Since early 2019, 18 other states have also passed similar laws that create steep penalties for energy protestors, according to tracking by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law. Photo: Demonstrators hold signs protesting construction of the Dakota Access pipeline in February 2017. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. The Texas Senate on Wednesday passed a state ban on all forms of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, advancing a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to crack down on the states booming consumable hemp market six years after lawmakers inadvertently permitted its rise. Senate Bill 3 which Patrick called among his top five bills over his 17 years in the Legislature would outlaw products with any amount of THC, ranging from gummies and beverages to vapes and flower buds, which are currently sold at more than 8,300 locations around the state. Current Texas law allows hemp-derived products that contain less than 0.3% of THC. Kids are getting poisoned today, Patrick said in the Senate chamber as the vote neared. He used similar language Wednesday morning. This is a poison in our public, and we as a Legislature our No. 1 responsibility is life and death issues, Patrick said at a morning news conference, alongside members of law enforcement and advocates for families who saw loved ones develop behavioral health problems after consuming supposedly-legal THC products. Were going to ban your stores before we leave here, for good. The vote was 24 to 7. I believe this bill goes too far, in that it would put out of business the consumable hemp industry in Texas, state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin said during debate of the bill, arguing that concerns related to sale of low-THC products should be addressed through stronger regulations. The Texas House has yet to consider its hemp proposal, House Bill 28, which would impose stricter oversight and licensing requirements for the hemp industry rather than ban THC altogether. If the House passes its proposal, the two chambers would have to reconcile their differences before the legislation could become law. State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, the lead author of SB 3, said that the Senate and the House were philosophically aligned and that there was time to work out any policy differences. Were all on the same page, Patrick said, adding that he had spoken about the issue with House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and Gov. Greg Abbott. Were going to protect the people of Texas from THC. Patrick also had a message aimed directly at retailers: You might want to voluntarily close your doors, because the investigations are going to continue, and Im sure the lawsuits are about to come, he said on Wednesday. You know what youre doing. The hemp industry lobbied fiercely against a total prohibition on THC, urging lawmakers to instead impose thoughtful regulations, such as restricting THC sales to Texans 21 and older, requiring tamper-proof packaging and barring sales within a certain distance of schools. Mark Bordas, executive director of the Texas Hemp Business Council, said that lawmakers were conflating consumable hemp, which, by legal definition, has a low concentration of THC, with higher potency marijuana. Certain bad actors are operating in the black market, in the shadows, he said, arguing that the state needed greater oversight of the industry as a whole to block those manufacturers and retailers rather than a total prohibition. We have a common enemy. We know whos doing wrong, Bordas said. Wed both like to eliminate them, but the problem is, the lieutenant governor and Senator Perry are going to eliminate the entire business including over 7,000 licensed dispensaries. The industry also highlighted roughly 50,000 jobs and billions in tax revenue that would be lost if lawmakers quashed the hemp market entirely. And critics argued that instead of addressing public health concerns, a ban would push consumers into an unregulated black market, easing access to more potent products. Bans dont work, Bordas said, a point that was echoed on the Senate floor by state Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio. All its going to do is encourage the bad actors to fill the vacuum. Still, he said that the industry believed cooler heads will prevail in the House. Thousands of cannabis retailers have popped up across the state since 2019, when the Republican-controlled Legislature approved the sale of consumable hemp. That law, which was passed one year after hemp was legalized nationwide, was intended to boost Texas agriculture by allowing the commercialization of hemp containing trace amounts of non-intoxicating delta-9 THC, the psychoactive element in marijuana. What followed was an explosion of consumable hemp products, which are barred from containing more than a 0.3% concentration of THC. Products with a higher concentration are classified as marijuana, which remains outlawed in Texas aside from limited medical uses. Still, hemp-derived products look, taste and sometimes have intoxicating effects similar to their more potent counterparts. Perry, who led the 2019 bill to legalize hemp, said that lawmakers had not meant to usher in such a large market. On Wednesday, he accused the hemp industry of exploiting a loophole in the 2019 law and making their products easily accessible to young people. This is changing peoples lives in short order, because its been marketed as something that is safe and legal, and its anything but, Perry said. This is not the pot of yesterday. This is stuff that will change lives forever. Supporters of the ban said high-potency products are already being sold at retailers, despite purporting to be under the legal limit. Steve Dye, chief of the Allen police department in north Texas, said that undercover investigations in his city had found and tested products with up to a 78% THC concentration. Most people think that if you walk into a store and youre able to buy something from a retail establishment, it must be legal and it must be safe, he said on Wednesday. With these THC consumables, neither is true. Intentional mislabeling on many products have led to accidental overdoses and increased addiction. State and federal law currently place inconsistent testing requirements and no age limits on Texas hemp industry. SB 3 would continue to allow the non-intoxicating, non-psychoactive cannabidiol known as CBD, while placing firmer restrictions on those products including barring sales and marketing to those under 21 and requiring tamper-evident, child-resistant, and resealable product packaging. Some patients and doctors say the THC in cannabis can be used effectively to combat pain, depression, anxiety, appetite problems and nausea. Under the states Compassionate Use Program, lawmakers have allowed some Texans to use medical marijuana to treat conditions including epilepsy, seizures, autism, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some veterans groups told the Senate committee that advanced SB 3 this month that they prefer using the more affordable and accessible THC products sold at everyday retailers like smoke shops and gas station convenience stores. Others said that it would be expensive to properly regulate the industry, and warned that unlike under Texas Compassionate Use Program, Texans reaching for retail products did not have the benefit of medical supervision and oversight. At the same time, the hemp industry has overwhelming advantages over the state program, according to Jervonne Singletary, senior director of government relations at Goodblend, one of three medical marijuana providers in the state. Patients have to jump through so many hoops to place and receive orders that some may opt to simply pick up THC products at a nearby retail outlet, she said. On Wednesday, Patrick vowed to expand the Compassionate Use Program and continue investing in mental health care across the state. SB 1505, also led by Perry, would allow medical marijuana providers to operate satellite storage facilities designed to make it easier for patients to fill their prescriptions, and it would double the cap on licensed medical marijuana dispensers from three to six. This is not a political or partisan issue, Patrick said. This is about saving lives. 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. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/19/texas-senate-hemp-ban-thc-dan-patrick/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. Topics Texas Politics Cannabis Three bills that would chip away at or substantially reverse 2022 and 2023 reforms on attorney fees and medical damages passed Florida House subcommittees by wide margins on Thursday. But the consensus at the state Capitol is that most of the proposed changes wont survive the Senate. The House Commerce Committees subcommittee on insurance and banking voted in favor of House Bill 1551 with few no votes. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Hillary Cassel, a policyholder attorney, would change the calculus on attorney fees in insurance claims litigation. It would essentially alter key parts of the landmark 2022 legislation that ended one-way fees, a fee arrangement that insurers had blamed for incentivizing excessive lawsuits. The bill instead would provide for two-way attorney fees and would allow courts to grant higher fees and costs to the prevailing parties in claims disputes. Cassel said it would bring balance to the litigation process after the 2022 reforms had swung the pendulum too far toward the insurance industry. But insurance defense lawyers and lobbyists who spoke against the bill said it could trigger the property insurance crisis and a cottage industry of unnecessary lawsuits all over again. We do not believe a prevailing-party system is novel: Versions were tried and were still gamed, leading to continued market downturn, said George Feijoo, a consultant representing the Florida Insurance Council and some of the largest property insurers. The bill could end up having the opposite effect of being consumer-friendly, Feijoo said at the hearing. It could force policyholders to pay insurers fees if the carrier prevails by just one dollar. This bill is not about the pendulum swinging or making insureds whole. Its about attorney fees for plaintiffs lawyers, said Matt Lavisky, an insurance defense lawyer who spoke on behalf of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Committee member Rep. Michael Caruso, an accountant from Delray Beach, said plaintiffs attorneys, despite the loss of one-way fees in 2022, continue to advertise heavily on billboards across the state. Business must be good, he said. He voted against HB 1551. I caution you to give the 2022 legislation time to work. It was good legislation. Rates have stabilized. Lets see if rates go down. The nations largest property insurance advocacy group also weighed in after the meeting Thursday. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) is very concerned about several bills moving in the Florida House that would roll back the recently enacted legal system abuse reforms, said Adam Shores, senior vice president of state government relations. In particular, House Bill 1551 contains language that is ambiguous and could re-open the door to exorbitant fee awards for billboard lawyers. Often-cited research has shown that plaintiff lawyers are the real winners in insurance lawsuits, Shores said in a statement. At the height of the states property insurance crisis, a 2021 report found that insurers paid $15.3 billion for insurance lawsuits in Florida, from 2013 to 2020. Of that amount, 71% funded plaintiff lawyer fees and only 8% went to policyholders. Despite the outcry Thursday, the subcommittee vote surprised few people in Tallahassee. Several House members have expressed concern about the plight of policyholders in the wake of recent Florida news reports. The reports have suggested that some insurance carriers may have diverted profits in recent years while allowing subsidiaries to become insolvent and while raising premiums on consumers. HB 1551 has already passed the Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee and has one more committee stop before it reaches the House floor, where it is likely to pass, insiders said. But the state Senate may be less inclined, as few Senators have expressed support for watering down the 2022 reforms. Its possible that some key facets of the bill could be folded into other measures as the legislative session moves along, however. Meanwhile, in another meeting room at the Capitol on Thursday, the Civil Justice Subcommittee voted unanimously in favor of HB 1437. The measure, by Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, would allow prevailing parties to win attorney fees in motor vehicle personal injury protection lawsuits brought by medical providers against insurance companies. It, too, has another committee hurdle before reaching the House floor. The Civil Justice Subcommittee also approved HB 947, which would overturn part of a sweeping 2023 tort reform package. The bill, by Rep. Omar Blanco, R-Miami, would once again allow plaintiffs to seek damages based in part on potential, not actual, medical costs, something insurers and businesses have long complained about. The bill would undo the progress made to rebalance Floridas civil justice system by reinstituting an abusive legal practice that artificially drives up medical damages and allows a handful of unscrupulous doctors and billboard trial lawyers to literally inflate verdicts and exploit the system at the expense of Florida families and local businesses, Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Insurance interests have said that damages should not be calculated on billed or future medical services, which may be inflated, but on paid costs. Top photo: Rep. Caruso at the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee Thursday. (The Florida Channel). Topics Florida A Washington farmhand faces felony charges for reportedly stealing more than $122,000 workers compensation benefits. Efrain Alatorre Camarena was charged with felony theft for allegedly collecting workers comp payments while discreetly working at another dairy farm. A Washington State Department of Labor & Industries investigation uncovered the reported fraud. Investigators determined that Camarena, 58, was working on another dairy farm while receiving more than $172,000 in income. During that time, he was reportedly also collecting more than $122,000 in L&I payments for more than three years Camarena reported that he suffered neck and back pain due to an accident with a runaway cow at a Skagit County dairy in the 2006. A doctor determined he could not work. He took the L&I payments directly after his injury for more than five years, and then again later, starting in early 2020, after he had surgery related to his original injury, according to L&I. In 2023, L&I investigators discovered Alatorre was working despite his statements to L&I that he was unable to work. Topics Workers' Compensation Agribusiness Washington Hollywood actor and author Stanley Tucci recently shared his experience with thyroid issues on David Tennants podcast. The 64-year-old underwent high-dose radiation and chemotherapy after a tumour was discovered at the base of his tongue in 2017. He spoke openly on the podcast about how several years after treatment, while filming in Italy in 2024, he began noticing a significant drop in his energy levels. Speaking on David Tennant Does A Podcast With, Tucci said: I would be so tired in the afternoon, like completely exhausted by one oclock and I was like, somethings wrong with me. Finally, I had a blood test and I was like, I know somethings f****** wrong with me. My thyroid was non-functioning. An underactive thyroid can often fly under the radar, so we spoke to some experts who explain what it is, and common symptoms to look out for. What is an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)? According to the HSE website, the thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe. The website also states that one of its main functions is to produce hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) that help regulate the bodys metabolism. An underactive thyroid (known as hypothyroidism) is where the thyroid gland doesnt make enough of the hormones, explains Dr Natasha Fernando, a GP. Thyroid hormones affect every cell in your body. If levels are too low, your bodys functions slow down, including your metabolism, and you may experience unwanted symptoms. What causes it? The cause of an underactive thyroid can be primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough thyroid hormone, typically due to damage, says Fernando. An autoimmune disease often causes this damage, but other culprits include thyroid cancer and thyroid surgery. Radiation treatment to the neck, such as what Tucci underwent, can also impair thyroid function. Hollywood actor Stanley Tucci discovered his thyroid was not functioning properly several years after cancer treatment. Secondary and tertiary (also known as central) hypothyroidism is when the thyroid functions normally, but there may be a problem with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, explains Fernando. Typically, there are reduced amounts of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which causes the thyroid to make too few hormones. Who is more likely to be affected? Hypothyroidism is mostly seen in women between the ages of 40-50 and is seen in women 10 times more often than men. Those more at risk of an underactive thyroid include female gender, the elderly, other autoimmune diseases, and pituitary gland which controls the thyroid function being underactive, says GP Stuart Sanders. In some rare cases, babies can also be born with hypothyroidism, he adds. What are the symptoms? One of the first red flags to look out for is a general feeling of slowing down. This may include feeling more tired than usual, feeling cold even when its warm, slower metabolism (weight gain despite eating the same or less), brain fog, and low mood. Weight gain, pale appearance, sensitivity to cold, constipation and depression are among other symptoms, says Sanders. Another key indicator that a persons thyroid is out of balance is swelling, known as a goitre. This is where the thyroid gland swells and causes a lump at the base of the neck which will move up and down when you swallow, explains Sanders. How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will check for signs of an underactive thyroid, like thyroid swelling or feeling tired all the time, says Fernando. They will also ask you about your medical history, including any family history of thyroid or autoimmune disease. A blood test is the only accurate way to confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. This is usually followed by a blood test. A blood test is the only accurate way to confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, says Fernando. This measures your thyroid hormone levels and is known as a thyroid function test. According to the HSE website, this test looks at levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) in the blood, and a high level of TSH and a low level of T4 in the blood could mean you have an underactive thyroid. The website also adds that if your test results show raised TSH but normal T4, you may be at risk of developing an underactive thyroid in the future. In this case, your GP may recommend regular testing to monitor your levels, says Fernando. Can it be treated? The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine. If your doctor prescribes levothyroxine, youll have regular blood tests until you find the right dose, says Fernando. Finding the right dose may take time. Once youve found it, youll usually just need an annual blood test to monitor your hormone levels. Read More 41593123[#embed4] Ellen Deegan, from Stradbally, Co Laois, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma on March 14, 2021. She was 15 years old. I was oblivious to anything to do with cancer, she says. Before I got diagnosed, the only sense I had that something might be wrong was I was really tired all the time. But I put that down to being a teenager. Then, one night, I went to bed and woke up the next day with a lump on the side of my neck. When she visited her GP, she was prescribed an antibiotic, but a few days later, the lump had grown in size. She returned to the GP with her mother and was referred to Portlaoise Hospital. In the hospital, I had blood tests and an ultrasound, and then they said that they were going to keep me overnight. At this stage, I still thought there was nothing wrong with me. A few days later, I had a CT scan in the hospital, and thats when they found out it was cancer, she says. Deegan was transported to Crumlin Childrens Hospital by ambulance, where she had a biopsy. She still didnt know it was cancer. My mother was trying to find the right time to tell me, she says. However, when a team of specialists visited her room and began talking about wigs and chemotherapy, she says her heart dropped. When they left the room, I was in shock. I didnt know anything about what would happen next. Ellen Deegan, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at 15. Picture: Alf Harvey. She was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. But before she could begin her chemotherapy treatment, she was encouraged to freeze her eggs. Chemotherapy can affect a womans fertility, so her doctor recommended she visit the Merrion Fertility Clinic, where she could access specialist treatment at the Irish Cancer Society-funded Childhood Cancer Fertility Project. Amy Nolan, director of clinical affairs at the Irish Cancer Society, says this project is just one of many funded by the organisation. The idea is that children will have their fertility assessed to see if they need further intervention, whether thats egg preservation or sperm banking, she says. The children need to be under the age of 18, but post-pubescent. It preserves hope in a different way for them, that in time, they may have their own families. We also hear from parents that while the focus is certainly on their child and their child getting better, having this procedure done around the time of their treatment makes such a difference. Egg-freezing procedure Deegan didnt think much about undergoing treatment to freeze her eggs. I just thought, This is something I have to do. It was intense, but it was amazing that I could do it, she says, adding that her mother helped with the daily hormone injections. As soon as the egg-freezing procedure was complete, she began her six-month chemotherapy treatment. I started on April 2021. The first week I had chemo for five days straight, and then I got a two-day break. Then I was back up again for two days, with a five-day break. That schedule repeated for the first half of the treatment, so it was very intense. I couldnt do anything during that time, she says. At different stages during her treatment, she developed bone pain, particularly in her knees. She suffered badly from mouth ulcers and was exhausted all the time. She also started losing her hair early on in her treatment. Ellen Deegan, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at 15. Picture: Alf Harvey. That was a big thing for me. I was nervous about that happening. At the start, it was the only thing I thought about. Maybe a week or two after starting my treatment, it was shedding a bit when brushing it. I ended up cutting my hair a bit shorter to make it a bit more manageable. By the end, I only had this small bit of hair, and it was ridiculous, but I just wanted to keep it for as long as I could, she says. Deegan responded well to the chemotherapy and didnt require any radiation treatment after six months. By September 2021, her treatment had come to an end. The one thing that got me through it was thinking that once I got to September, everything would go back to the way it was before, but that couldnt have been further from the truth. Because of her cancer, Deegan skipped transition year and went straight into fifth year. However, she wasnt able to start school until November as she was still feeling the after-effects of the intense treatment. She returned to the clinic for another round of egg freezing in September 2024. I found the second time much tougher, physically and mentally. I had just started back in college, so it was already a busy time. I had to inject myself this time, as opposed to my mam doing it. I injected myself in the morning and the evening. My emotions were all over the place too. I remember the day of the egg retrieval well. I was very nervous this time around. It was very emotional. Though the past four years have been challenging, she wants to focus on the positives. It doesnt ever actually go back to how it was before. I feel like Im a different version of myself, but a better version now. Ive been through all of that. Its made me who I am now, she says. Now 19, Deegan is studying English and geography at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. She looks forward to a year-long placement in Spain, starting in September, when she will teach English as a foreign language. She is also cancer-free. Annual fundraising day The Childhood Cancer Fertility Project is one of the many projects funded by the Irish Cancer Society, says Nolan. As Daffodil Day approaches, she explains how vital this day is to the ICS. Daffodil Day is our biggest fundraising day throughout the year. This year, we have set a challenge for ourselves to reach 5.9m. We receive only 5% of our funding from the Government, so we have to work hard to fund all the services and supports we offer. From cancer research to art therapy for children who struggle to express their feelings, Nolan says ICS provides a wide range of services. Amy Nolan, director of clinical affairs at the Irish Cancer Society It has recently announced a lung health check programme. This mobile screening unit will be available in North Dublin and Louth and will provide a health check for people at risk of developing lung cancer. If lung cancer is caught early enough, the impact on the quality of life and the cost savings for the health system will be phenomenal, she says. We estimate that this programme alone will save 137 lives, says Nolan, reiterating how essential the ICS services are to patients. *Each year, the Irish Cancer Society invests 4m in groundbreaking cancer research in more than 100 research projects. This investment is possible because of public donations. *Daffodil Day is on Friday, March 28. To support, visit cancer.ie/daffodilday. The world of work was thrown into disarray in 2020. The rapid spread of covid-19 across the world convinced the Irish government of the need to impose a lockdown, and all but frontline workers were ordered to start working from home. We assumed back then that it was a temporary measure. However, according to the Hays Ireland Salary and Recruiting Trends Guide 2025, only 44% of us have returned to full-time work in the office. The rest of us work remotely (15%) or on a hybrid basis (41%). People like President Trump arent happy with this state of affairs. Soon after taking office, he signed an executive order calling on heads of government departments and agencies to bring employees back to work in the office. Some of the big multinationals are also calling time on working from home. Amazon, Dell, and PWC are just some companies that have told workers that they must return to the office for some or all of the week. Maeve McElwee, executive director of employer relations with the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec), outlines some possible reasons why organisations are pushing to end the practice of employees working from home. Maeve McElwee, executive director of employer relations with the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec). In-person collaboration brings benefits such as team cohesion, informal learning opportunities and helping maintain company culture, she says. For newer employees, being in the office provides mentorship and learning that can be difficult to replicate remotely. There are also benefits in terms of innovation and even employee wellbeing, as social interaction is such an important part of work life. However, it appears employees arent necessarily in agreement with this assessment. Wladislaw Rivkin, an associate professor of organisational behaviour at Trinity College Dublin, explains the advantages they see in remote and hybrid working. One of the main benefits is their increased levels of autonomy, he says. They get to decide how they organise their work tasks during their working day. Remote work also reduces the conflict between work and family life, which occurs when work tasks interfere with family responsibilities, and reduced work-family conflict is a strong determinant of wellbeing. They also eliminate their commuting time, which for some takes several hours a day, says Dr Rivkin. New reality Most employees have enjoyed working remotely for the past five years and dont want to give it up. The National Remote Working Survey, conducted in 2023, found that 44% stated that they would change jobs if their employer didnt facilitate remote or hybrid working preferences, even if it meant a cut in their pay. One of the biggest arguments against remote working is that employees arent as productive when working from home. Rivkin counters this argument with research. He points to American research published last year that amalgamated findings from 63 different studies and concluded that remote work had more benefits than costs in terms of employee job satisfaction, supervisor-rated job performance and commitment to the organisation. There is evidence that remote working is largely successful in Ireland. In the 2023 FRS Recruitment Employment Insights Report, some 90% of workers surveyed said they were more productive or just as productive when working from home, and 75% of employers agreed. Dr Wladislaw Rivkin, an associate professor of organisational behaviour at Trinity College Dublin These positive findings could explain why Irish employers dont appear to be as eager as the multinationals are to mandate employees to return to the office. Ibecs latest surveys show that nearly two-thirds of businesses that have remote work policies in place arent planning any major rollback on those policies, says McElwee. They are adjusting their policies instead, typically by introducing mandatory attendance on certain days. Basically, theyre shifting the rhythm of attendance, what days people come in and how teams collaborate, she says. This is to ensure that on days when people go to work, there are other people there for them to engage with, allowing for more opportunities for training, mentoring and social interaction. Its all about establishing a sweet spot between employees preferences and employers needs. Employers know how valued flexible working arrangements are and how they can allow people to attend to caring responsibilities, alleviate long commutes and enhance general wellbeing, says McElwee. The key is taking a pragmatic approach that works for everyone. Improved remote working Tracy Keogh is the co-founder and chair of Grow Remote, a campaign group that aims to enhance the experience of remote work for individuals and organisations in Ireland. She believes we need to move beyond the emergency mode ushered in by the pandemic. Covid did a lot of good for remote working because it introduced so many people to the concept, she says. But it also did some bad as most people didnt know what they were doing. It wasnt remote working at its best. Grow Remote offers free training programmes to organisations and individuals who want to do it better. We want to help businesses avoid the potential downsides of remote working by showing them how to implement effective policies, says Keogh. We also want to help individuals avoid common problems like loneliness and social isolation by giving them strategies to overcome this, including access to a community of remote workers who regularly meet up in towns and villages throughout Ireland for the likes of Friday evening socials, baking classes and kayaking sessions. She is adamant that Ireland has a lot to gain by embracing remote working. The country would be transformed if people in towns like Kinvara had access to the same economic opportunities as people in Dublin, she says. There are currently 350,000 remote working jobs being advertised internationally. Securing just a fraction of these jobs here could significantly improve that access. Tracy Keogh, co-founder and chair of Grow Remote. In March 2024, employees in Ireland were granted the legal right to request remote working under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. Since then, 24% of businesses have received formal requests. Seven people denied the option to work remotely took their cases to the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission), which rejected them all. Some suggest these statistics prove the legislation is ineffective. McElwee takes a different view, arguing that it indicates that matters are being resolved in workplaces, not in the courts. Existing arrangements may already be meeting the needs of many employees, she says, suggesting that organisations should carefully consider remote working requests and explain why they are denied. Generally, employees accept decisions that they can see have been given fair consideration, she says. Also, when requests for remote or flexible working cannot be granted, alternative solutions are often put forward, which are agreed as an acceptable compromise. Rivkin also believes that employers and employees will likely resolve any issues with remote working without outside intervention. Each organisation has the right to determine its work policy, and each employee has the right to choose their employer, he says. I think those organisations that offer flexibility will gain a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent. "There will always be sectors like banking that offer high salaries and demand employees to work in the office, and there will always be employees who prefer that high salary to flexibility. However, if the alternative to paying a big salary top-up to attract talent is to offer a few days of remote working a week, this may be worth considering for businesses. He predicts there will be no large-scale return to the office. The time has come to reconsider our established working norms, he says. If it hadnt been for the pandemic, remote work would likely have remained the privilege of the few. But despite some recent setbacks with some companies insisting that employees return to the office, I think remote work will be as normal for our children as office work was for our generation. Britain's Heathrow said it had begun the process of reopening on Friday after a fire knocked out its power supply and shut Europe's busiest airport for the day, stranding thousands of passengers and causing travel turmoil worldwide. Heathrow, the world's fifth-busiest airport, was forced to close after a huge fire engulfed a substation near the airport on Thursday night. More than 1,350 flights to and from the airport were disrupted on Friday due to the closure of the airport following the fire. "Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. Were now safely able to restart flights, prioritising repatriation and relocation of aircraft," the airport said in a statement on X. "We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly. Our priority remains the safety of our passengers and those working at the airport. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this incident." Stranded passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5 in London. Picture: James Manning/PA Wire Heathrow is Britain's largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. The closure not only caused misery for travellers but provoked anger from airlines who questioned how such crucial infrastructure could fail. The industry is now facing the prospect of a financial hit costing tens of millions of pounds, and a likely fight over who should pay. Power restored PA news agency reporters inside Terminal 4 on Friday afternoon said lights in the main building have switched back on and lifts in the multi-storey car park are operational again. Counter-terrorism police officers are leading the investigation into the cause of a fire which has led to the closure of Heathrow airport. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said there is currently no indication of foul play but we retain an open mind at this time. The force said its Counter Terrorism Command would lead inquiries given the impact of the fire on critical national infrastructure. A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes Picture: London Fire Brigade/PA Online flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said the closure would affect at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow. It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. Around 50 flights between Heathrow and Irish airports were impacted by the closure, likely affecting thousands of passengers. If people had plans to travel to Heathrow today, they are being advised not to go to the airport but to contact the airline. Firefighters tackle the blaze at the North Hyde electrical substation in west London. It is the fire that caused the disruption at Heathrow Airport. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Flights cancelled at Irish airports Up to 2,000 people passed through Shannon Airport in the early hours of Friday morning when their flights were diverted unexpectedly in mid-air due to the closure. The Co Clare airport accommodated six affected flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown (Barbados), Boston, Orlando, and Newark. By just after noon, all of the affected passengers had departed the airport, having been bused to hotels at short notice. A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group said: We are closely monitoring the situation at Heathrow Airport and are providing support by accommodating diverted flights as needed and our team is on-site to assist with the additional passengers. So far, Shannon Airport has facilitated six diverted flights originally scheduled to land at Heathrow, including flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. The first of these flights landed safely at 4.26am this morning. The airport has advised passengers that all London Heathrow flights to and from Shannon Airport today have been cancelled. "Intending passengers are advised to contact their airline. Aside from this, Shannon Airport is operating its normal flight schedule today," the spokesperson added. At Cork Aiport, eight flights were scheduled between the airport and Heathrow on Friday four inbound and four outbound. The airport told the Irish Examiner that "all flights scheduled between Cork and London Heathrow up until at least mid-afternoon today have been cancelled". "Further disruption to flights between Cork and Heathrow scheduled for later today is likely." Passengers looking for updates regarding specific flights or to re-book or change flights are being advised to contact their airline directly by phone or online. Departures display at Cork Airport. Picture: Larry Cummins All flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow on Friday have also been cancelled. The Daa, which operates Cork and Dublin airports, said there will be disruption for a few days. Some 34 flights were scheduled between Dublin Airport and Heathrow on Friday 17 inbound and 17 outbound. Two flights at both Shannon Airport and Ireland West Airport in Knock (one to and one from Heathrow) have been cancelled as well. Media relations manager Graeme McQueen said: Further disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow over the coming days is possible. Passengers looking for updates regarding specific flights or to rebook or change flight are advised to contact their airline directly by phone or online. Other flights at Dublin Airport are not affected by the delays, Mr McQueen told RTE's Morning Ireland, but there could be some knock-on effects later today. People quing at the Aer Lingus check in desks at Terminal 2 Dublin Airport. Picture: SAM BOAL/COLLINS PHOTOS He said that Dublin Airport cannot accept any diverted flights from Heathrow but flights have been diverted to Shannon and Cork airports. Ryanair passengers have not been affected as the airline flies to Standsted, not Heathrow. The airline has added eight extra flights between Dublin and London Stansted, four on Friday afternoon and four on Saturday morning. Aer Lingus is planning to operate its "normal schedule" to and from London Heathrow on Saturday. In light of the closure today, all of Aer Lingus services to and from London Heathrow were cancelled. A spokesperson said: "Aer Lingus communicated directly with impacted customers, and our customer care teams are currently working hard to provide them with the options available to them, including applying for refunds, changing flights without a change fee applying, or, if a customer has an imminent requirement to travel, engaging them directly with our customer care team to arrange re-accommodation where possible." Meanwhile, online tracking services showed flights being diverted to London's Gatwick Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. A number of flights were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada and the United States. - additional reporting by Reuters The fallout from the closure of Heathrow Airport rippled across the world, as frustrated passengers juggled alternative flights, trains, and taxis to get to their destinations. One heroic grandfather was moving mountains at Dublin Airport, determined not to let his five-year-old granddaughter down, after their trip to Legoland a Christmas gift was facing the axe. Luna Ormond, from Dun Laoghaire in south Dublin, was none the wiser as she patiently sat on her baggage trolley while her grandad Jim Dodd organised another route to get her to the UK for the Legoland adventure. Mr Dodd told the Irish Examiner about their ordeal: We are booked on a trip to Legoland for the weekend. It was my granddaughters Christmas present. I got the news this morning that the flight was cancelled. We were two hours on hold on the phone with Aer Lingus trying to arrange another flight. The best they could do was a flight to Birmingham and obviously I didnt want to let my granddaughter down, so we will fly to Birmingham where we will pay 250 for a taxi because the train times are different. The trains were 240 for the three of us but then we would have had to get a taxi from Birmingham Airport into the train station that does the high-speed train, followed by another taxi from Windsor to Legoland. The 250 taxi was really the cheapest option. Mr Dodd was still facing a four-hour wait before he, his daughter, and granddaughter would leave Dublin. Its not the airlines fault, he said. My granddaughter is young enough not to realise whats going on, so thats a good thing. We will get there when we get there. Meanwhile, nothing was going to stop problem-solver Kelly Walton from getting to Lisbon for a much-needed two-week family holiday. Kelly and Chris Walton with their children Charlotte and Lennon were on their way from Toronto to Lisbon with a long stop in Heathrow when their flight was diverted to Shannon. Picture: Gareth Chaney She was en route to Heathrow from Toronto with her husband Chris and children Charlotte and Lennon, when their plane was diverted to Shannon. We were supposed to have a long layover in Heathrow before we went to Lisbon, she said. We were going to spend the day in London. Then we got diverted and they had us land in Shannon, and there were no flights out of Shannon. When we landed on the tarmac, I opened my phone and booked a flight from Dublin to Lisbon because that is our final destination. The family rented a car and drove from Shannon to Dublin to catch their new flight. It took nearly four hours to drive, but we stopped on the way, Ms Walton said. Our flight is in nearly two hours, so we have made it on time. We will be in Lisbon for two weeks. Things were not working out so well for a Brazilian couple who live and work here in Ireland. Jessica Vieira and her wife Patricia Gonzalez (right) with Patricia's aunt Encarnacao Garcia and mother Tania Arcanjo. Picture: Gareth Chaney Patricia Gonzales described how a holiday reunion with her mother and aunt in Ireland turned into a nightmare when they had to be separated on their flights home to Brazil. Her wife, Jessica Vieira, said: They have to go home separately, one will go to Frankfurt and the other from Switzerland. They were both going to London and then to Brazil, she said. Now they both have to go on different flights alone and neither of them speak English. It is really worrying for us; they have to go on different flights all the way to Brazil. We are so nervous. We will worry all the time until they get home safe. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. The Houthis in Yemen had little to fear from the Biden White House. President Donald Trump is now trying to change the equation. It's about time. For the final year of Joe Biden's presidency, the terrorist rebels who control Yemen working as an Iranian proxy carried out numerous attacks against vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting international commerce, damaging at least 30 ships and sending two to the seabed. The Houthis also launched scores of attacks on U.S. warships. The violence was a show of solidarity with Hamas in the wake of its barbaric Oct. 7 attack against Israel. Biden, in concert with the United Kingdom, launched a series of strikes in January 2024 targeting the group. But the campaign used minimal force and was constrained by a number of factors. "Analysts believe officials largely were trying to avoid civilian casualties and not rekindle Yemen's stalemated war" PBS News reported this week, "which pits the Houthis and their allies against the country's exiled government and their local and international allies, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates." The Houthis halted the attacks in January when Hamas and Israel agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza. But they recently vowed to resume their aggression. That proved costly. On Sunday, Trump ordered military strikes on Houthi targets in a significant show of force. "Residents in Sana shared images and videos on social media showing shattered windows and fireballs rising from sites that were struck," The New York Times reported. The Houthi-run health ministry said the attack left at least 53 people dead and injured dozens, although the reliability of an agency run by terrorists is questionable. The Trump administration was unapologetic and rightfully so. "We're doing the entire world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on "Face The Nation." "That's the mission here, and it will continue until that's carried out." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was even more adamant. "This isn't a one-night thing," he told Fox News. "This will continue until you say, We're done shooting at ships. We're done shooting at assets.'" The action is a warning shot at Iran, which arms the Houthis and finances other terror groups in the region. The mullahs have thrived on appeasement, and Trump has made it clear that there will be consequences if Iran continues to be a force for aggression and destabilization in the region. Critics are already claiming that the U.S. action will "escalate" tensions. But the Houthis and by extension, Iran made that choice months ago when they decided to assault American ships and international merchant vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. If they truly seek de-escalation, there's an easy path: stop. (COMMENT, BELOW) A 9/11 survivor from Cork was among those to have their travel plans thrown into chaos following the closure of Heathrow Airport. Eight flights between Cork Airport and Heathrow were cancelled after a fire at an electrical station shut the London airport and impacted 1,350 flights to and from the English capital. Christine Rock from Youghal was anxious to meet her sister Deirdre at the arrivals gate in Cork after an eventful few hours. Deirdre, who lives in New Jersey, had been due to travel on a connecting flight from New Jersey to Heathrow en route home to Cork to visit her family. She had to fork out hundreds of euro for an alternative flight from Edinburgh. Deirdre Rock, left, with her sister Christine Rock at Cork Airport. Deirdre's plans were disrupted by the Heathrow shutdown when her flight from New York was diverted to Glasgow. Of the Heathrow disruption, Deirdre says: 'I was sure it was a terrorist attack because thats where my brain goes. It could always have been worse.' Picture: Larry Cummins Christine explained that her sister had only worked up the courage to start flying again in recent years. She had been buying coffee on the eighth floor of one of the Twin Towers of World Trade Center in New York, where she worked as an accountant, when the terrorist attacks occurred on September 11, 2001. Even though she is the younger one in the family she is the one we all depend on her, Christine said. She is the glue that holds our family together. Alan Hayes was greeted by his parents John and Catherine and his sister Laura Fitzgerald with her boys Conor and Eanna at Cork Airport on Friday. His flight from Perth, Australia was diverted from Heathrow to Paris CDG where he was able to catch a connecting flight to Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins Christine said her sister has dealt with a lot over the years, which has contributed to her ability to stay calm under pressure. Deirdre was working the day of the 9/11 attacks. She thought it was a fire drill initially. She didnt get on a flight for years afterwards but as our parents got older she had no choice. It was something she had to work through. Despite missing a diverted flight due to a long wait for her baggage, Deirdre was quick to put yesterday's travel disruption into perspective. I was sure it was a terrorist attack because thats where my brain goes. It could always have been worse. Deirdre had to think on her feet in a bid to make it home to Cork. I was supposed to fly into Heathrow and then through to Cork. We got diverted to Glasgow. "We missed the next flight, as we were still waiting for our bags when it left. Sisters Roisin and Eve Crowley from Clonakilty, greeted their granddad Peter Dolan, originally from Co Roscommon and now living in Melbourne, Australia. Peter's flight to Londow Heathrow was diverted to Paris. He eventually got a flight from Paris to Cork Airport. Picture: Larry Cummins "The next option was to go from Edinburgh because everything else was booked. I didnt think in a million years that the taxi driver was going to take me all that way to Edinburgh, as there was such a long line waiting for him. "The journey normally takes an hour and a half but he got me there in an hour. I could have hugged him. The taxi journey cost around 140 altogether. Then there were the extra costs for bags and everything else that come with Ryanair flights. Patrick Hartnett, Bishopstown with his son Declan whose flight to London was cancelled due to the closure of Londow Heathrow Airport on Friday morning. Picture: Larry Cummins Also impacted was Shaun OConnor, who had to change his flights at short notice despite being due to leave for Everest Base Camp the following morning. The Cork man and his friends had planned to travel there as part of an initiative to raise funds for Cork University Maternity Hospital and the Dr Ashleigh Byrne-OBrien Memorial Fund. Were supposed to be going to Everest Basecamp tomorrow. I was swiping through my phone and my heart sank when I saw the news. "The plan was to fly out Saturday. However, we were worried that the flight was going to be delayed so we have booked flights to Stansted instead. Amid the chaos, some people's travel plans were uninterrupted. Blackrock Taekwondo instructor Paul Manning (second left) with martial arts students Eoin O'Donoghue, Cormac Harrington, David O'Donoghue, Amy Sullivan, David Lyons, and Sean Og Lordan had no disruption to their plans to fly with KLM to Amsterdam to compete at the Dutch Taekwondo Open. Picture: Larry Cummins "We have to fly tonight and I havent even got a hotel booked. We are due in at midnight and I have no idea where Im going to be staying. It was about 230 for the flights. Meanwhile Up to 2,000 people arrived in Shannon Airport in the early hours of Friday when their flights were diverted unexpectedly. The airport accommodated six affected flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando, and Newark. It will be a huge logistical challenge to get people to their final destinations, according to Niall Kearns, airport director at Shannon Airport. How long it will take will completely be with the airline and the ground handlers to try and figure out what's the most efficient solution for them," he said. "There would have been a large exercise trying to accommodate as many people in hotel rooms at short notice. Certainly, the first flight that got off would have taken up all the local available capacity." Mr Kearns said the airport is well used to handling unexpected scenarios. "Normally in a situation like this, air traffic control would be notified that there is an issue, and that there are aircraft in the air looking for an alternative destination. There would have been communication from air traffic control to the airport operations office and the duty manager here, who would start coordinating the response." A judge on Friday told All-Star Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes he is going to prison for three months for engaging in unlawful violence at a nightclub seven years ago, if he is deemed unsuitable to carry out 180 hours community service in lieu of the suggested jail term. Hayes, 26, of Ballyahsea, Kildimo, Co Limerick, had been bound by the terms of a two-year suspended sentence to be of good behaviour and not reoffend within two years from last March, after a jury convicted him on two charges of engaging in violent disorder at the Icon nightclub, Limerick, on October 28, 2019. However, the judge said the decorated hurler had breached these terms when he engaged in dangerous driving at Mallow, Co Cork, driving well in excess of the applicable [speed] limit four months after the suspended sentences were imposed. Hayes was detected by gardai driving an Audi A6 dangerously, at 155km/h in a 100km/h speed zone, while over-taking nine cars on the N20 Cork to Limerick dual carraigeway, on July 14 last. On Friday at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, the judge said he had to decide under a Section 99 re-entry order, if he would revoke all, part of, or none of the two-year suspended sentence. Kyle Hayes defence barrister, Liam Carroll BL, told the court the hurlers maternal grandmother died last Tuesday, and her reposing and funeral Mass was being held this Friday evening and tomorrow morning, Saturday. Mr Carroll said his client did not want to bring his grandmothers death to the courts attention, but I believe it is a matter that should be considered by the court. Mr Carroll said: Mr Hayes is very clear, he is ready to face the music today, he is ready to accept his fate. The judge told Hayes he was very sorry about his grandmothers death. Giving a summary of the violent disorder at the Icon nightclub, the judge said Kyle Hayes was one of two men who aggressively approached Cillian McCarthy inside the nightclub and Kyle Hayes was one of at least four others who attacked Mr McCarthy on the clubs dance-floor. The judge said two gardai gave evidence at Kyle Hayess trial that they saw the hurler kicking an unidentified man, who was lying on the street outside the nightclub, but this man was not Cillian McCarthy. Hayes was acquitted of assaulting Mr McCarthy, and the hurler was never charged with assaulting any other person on the night. The judge said an 18-month jail term and a concurrent two-year sentence imposed on Hayes for the violence at the nightclub were fully suspended on condition that he keep the peace for two years, and that he pay damages to Mr McCarthy of 10,000, the latter which has been completed. Broke terms of suspended sentence The judge said Kyle Hayes broke these terms by his conviction for dangerous driving. The judge said Hayes subsequently lost an appeal against the road traffic conviction, was fined 250 and given a two-year road ban. The judge said evidence given to the court last Wednesday by Kyle Hayess father, Liam Hayes, that he underwent a quadruple bypass surgery in 2022, and he depended on Kyle Hayes to perform heavy duty work on their family farm did not assist nor persuade the court in his final decision. Kyle Hayes brothers, Cian and Daragh Hayes, are both serving jail sentences for assault causing harm to a neighbour at Daragh Hayess home the court also heard the two siblings were not available to assist their father on the family farm. Judge Hayes said it was inescapable that Kyle Hayes is a very talented hurler but he had in no way sought to rely on that in court. The judge said the Limerick hurler was neither entitled to any preferential treatment because of his sporting achievements, nor was he entitled to less treatment as someone without his public profile. Kyle Hayess dangerous driving conviction, while serious, was less serious than his previous two convictions for violent disorder, and there were no aggravating factors involved, such as intoxication, poor road conditions, or a driving disqualification, the judge continued. 'Appalling' behaviour The judge described as appalling, Kyle Hayes behaviour inside and outside the nightclub seven years ago, but the judge also noted the Limerick hurler had not come before the courts for similar violent offences in those seven years. The judge said revoking part of the suspended sentence would not be unjust and he felt it was appropriate to activate three months of Hayess suspended two-year sentence. However, the judge added: It is often the case with short sentences that it is more constructive to require a defendant to engage in a significant amount of voluntary work in the community rather than the imposition of a short sentence of imprisonment The judge suggested Kyle Hayes engage with the probation services to be assessed for suitability for performing 180 hours of voluntary unpaid work in the community. After consulting with Kyle Hayes, his barrister Mr Carroll, told the judge: I can confirm that Mr Hayes is agreeable to accept a community service order. Adjourning the Section 99 re-entry to April 28 for mention, the judge concluded: If hes not suitable, then the penalty I have suggested will be imposed. A weekend washout is in store with a status yellow rain warning set to hit much of the southern half of the country on Friday. Met Eireann issued the status yellow rain warning for Munster, Galway, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford with the warning coming into effect at 2pm on Friday. The forecaster is warning of "heavy rain and a few thundery downpours" that may lead to spot flooding until the warning elapses at 2pm on Saturday. For the rest of the country, Friday will see "showers or longer spells of rain" develop in the southeast around lunchtime and these will extend northwestwards to all areas through the afternoon and evening. Despite the rain, it will be mild with highest temperatures of 11C to 15C expected. However, it will get colder as the weekend goes on. On Saturday, more rain is expected with temperatures falling back to 9C to 13C. The wet weather will continue into Saturday night with "further showers or longer spells of rain" expected. However, the rain will become "lighter and patchier overnight" and it will turn drier in the West, according to Met Eireann. Sunday will see the best of the weekend weather but it will be chillier than it has been this week with temperatures of 8C to 11C expected. "Patchy rain and drizzle will gradually clear eastwards with drier, brighter weather following from the West and with sunny spells developing," Met Eireann said. It will again be dry on Sunday night with clear spells expected but it will be cold. Met Eireann is forecasting lows of 0C to 4C. Looking into next week, Monday will also be dry "with bright or sunny spells" with rain not setting in until the country sees some light rain and drizzle overnight and into Tuesday. Nighttime temperatures on Monday will also rise slightly to around 2C to 6C. The overnight rain on Tuesday will gradually clear leaving a bright day with "some sunny intervals developing". Wednesday and Thursday are set to follow suit although there will be some patchy rain at times, mainly in the west. The Irish Naval Service is continuing to monitor a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker that has sailed from the south-west coast, near the location of transatlantic data cables, towards Foynes port in Limerick. The cargo vessel, Arne, was boarded by German federal police on February 26 over suspicions of sabotage. According to European media reports, the vessel was missing an anchor, raising suspicions about whether it might have been used to damage subsea cables or energy pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Several other vessels have been accused of dropping their anchors to damage subsea cables in the Baltic Sea over the past year, including the NewNew Polar Bear and Eagle S. The Arne, sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, travelled from St Petersburg, Russia, on February 19, bound for Seville, Spain. The Naval Service is examining why it sailed towards the south coast of Ireland, including over a number of subsea data cables, and is currently monitoring its presence near Foynes port. According to international maritime trackers, the vessel is at anchor along the Shannon Estuary. The presence of the ship off the coast of Cork and Kerry, first reported by TheJournal.ie, was identified by an Air Corps CASA C-295 maritime surveillance aircraft on Thursday afternoon. Naval Operations Command at Haulbowline monitors all vessels within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which spans 200 nautical miles from Irelands south and west coasts. They use AIS (which acts like a transponder), along with other tracking technologies provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the Irish Coast Guard AIS. The Naval Service and Air Corps benefit from the sharing of information with sister agencies in neighbouring countries, such as France and Britain. A report last month in The Maritime Executive said the Arne was an ageing freighter, in operation for some 27 years. It said the ship passed Gotland, Sweden, on the evening of February 20-21, and reduced speed as she transited past the southeastern side of the island. LE Roisin: The Naval Service is examining why it sailed towards the south coast of Ireland, including over a number of subsea data cables, and is currently monitoring its presence near Foynes port. Picture: David Creedon Swedish authorities announced a new suspected "disturbance" to a subsea cable, which links Germany and Finland under the Baltic. The ships speed fluctuations and course attracted the attention of the NATO monitoring mission in the Baltic. The German Federal Marine Police dispatched the patrol vessels Bamberg and Neustadt to monitor and escort Arne to Kiel Bay. Denmark's cutter HDMS Luna joined the convoy as well. There are estimates of Russia using around 70 vessels in a dark or shadow fleet of older ships, their ownership obscured, to transport oil affected by European and international sanctions, from Russia. The ships, in addition to potentially posing threats to undersea cables and pipelines, are also of concern to authorities as they can pose a threat to other ships, the environment, and marine life. In a statement the Defence Forces Press Office said: We do not comment specifically on operationally sensitive missions including maritime surveillance operations. The Irish Defence Forces maintain continuous maritime surveillance within Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and assigned Area of Operations through coordinated efforts of the Naval Service and Air Corps. This comprehensive monitoring ensures the security of Irish waters and adherence to international maritime laws. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), all vessels, including those of military nature, are permitted to transit through coastal states' territorial waters under the principle of innocent passage as outlined in Article 19. Vessels transiting Irish waters are expected to comply with international law and may be subject to observation by Defence Forces assets to verify such compliance. It added: The Irish Naval Service Naval Operations Centre, in coordination with the Air Corps and Defence Forces Headquarters, conduct 24/7 monitoring of vessels within the Irish EEZ. This surveillance allows for timely detection and response to any potential maritime situations. "Additionally, the Naval Service Fisheries Monitoring Centre oversees fishing vessel activities of all nationalities within the EEZ. The Defence Forces remain dedicated to protecting Ireland's maritime interests and ensuring the security of our waters and infrastructure through vigilant and ongoing surveillance operations. Any specific vessel movements or interactions are assessed within this broader context of routine maritime monitoring and international law compliance. In a 2004 interview, a young Mark Zuckerberg is asked by a CNBC anchor about the magnitude of what hes launching. It is impossible to tell, he says, adding hed hoped the Facebook might entice a few hundred users. The recent commitment by Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan to examine a publicly available sex offenders register was a welcome one for victims. The shortcomings of the register as it currently stands in Ireland lead us back to a familiar place, where the onus is placed on victims of sexual crimes to compensate for a judicial system not set up for those at its core. As a survivor of rape, whose perpetrator was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, just over five years of which will actually be served behind bars, I remember vividly sitting across from the barrister in the victim support unit of the Central Criminal Court, meticulously calculating a term of imprisonment that would also ensure he would be a registered sex offender for life. This was a major factor for me, knowing well how short the sentences for rape are in this country. No matter if he gets X amount of years, at least hell be a registered sex offender for life, I justified to the barrister as I held my breath walking into the courtroom. No matter how much the sentence wont fit the crime committed, at least the sex offenders register will supplement the injustice Im about to receive, and he'll pay by being on that list. Little did I know then that the register as it stands today means very little for either perpetrators or for the wider public. No one aside from the Gardai and a few named State bodies has access to a national database of an estimated 1,939 ex-prisoners and convicted sex offenders, and knows who these convicts are. The public is unaware of the predators roaming freely around them unless, of course, the victim takes it into their own hands. In Ireland, the media are prohibited from naming a person convicted of a sexual crime unless the victim waives their own anonymity. In recent years, weve seen an increase in survivors of sexual violence standing on the steps of the CCJ and waiving their anonymity so their perpetrator can be named. The burden of this publicity falls on the victim in our supposedly victim-centred system. For me, and many others, waiving our anonymity is an empowering yet difficult decision that can help with transferring the shame back to the abuser and taking back your control. By waiving my anonymity, I felt I was able to carry out a huge portion of the justice I didnt receive from the very system from which I sought it. Five years and three months imprisonment for a cold, predatory and premeditated rape simply doesnt match the crime. No wonder victims name and shame their abusers themselves. I decided then and there to carry out the rest of my justice myself on the steps of the CCJ. But I shouldnt have had to. A secret register One month ago minister O'Callaghan suggested a public register, similar to that of the public tax defaulter list here in Ireland which makes the papers and all broadcast outlets regularly and which could allow people to make informed decisions around their own safety and that of their children, potentially preventing life-altering assaults. Such a public register would certainly have offloaded the burden on victims to publicly name their abuser. However, on Monday it emerged that no part of the register, even relating to those who commit the most serious crimes, will be publicly available. Instead, it will remain a secret register, and in some instances could be shared with other, carefully selected, members of the public in an attempt to help them protect themselves and their children, similar to that of Sarahs Law in the UK. From a victims perspective, the news on Monday felt like a knife through my chest and another let-down. But I sat with it, and have come to accept that unfortunately for victims like myself, logically it makes better sense not to have a public register. What we would perhaps end up with is vigilante-style violence and disorder, not to mention offenders may go off the grid, making it even harder for Gardai to keep tabs on them. Of course, initially a real sense of injustice and fury overcame me, something I and many victims are all too familiar with. Why do victims have to bare their soul, sacrifice their own anonymity, only for the person who caused all this to blend back seamlessly into society? Feelings of injustice Naturally, it feels unjust. But then Im reminded of how unjust the system feels for victims from the second you enter it. These feelings of injustice and the judicial system basically go hand-in-hand. Those who have no experience of the courts are always shocked to learn that were just witnesses to the crime committed against us. My case, for example, was titled State of Ireland vs Shane Noonan, despite it feeling very much like Ciara Mangan (on her own) vs Shane Noonan. Ive said it before and Ill continue to say it until proven otherwise: Ireland has a judicial system that consistently bends over backwards for perpetrators and does very little to support those who navigate it in pursuit of its core duty: justice. As it shall remain, the burden of waiving your anonymity to reveal the identity of the perpetrator will continue to lie with the victims of these crimes. If placing offenders on a public register is not a viable option, how about a true commitment to reforming our justice system as opposed to just great intentions. How about creating greater deterrents for these crimes and looking at other ways of relieving the burden on victims to make up for a justice system that lets us down time and time again. Higher sentences that truly reflect the crime committed would be a good and pretty obvious place to start. Its not a good enough excuse that theres not enough prison space. With the way things are going, I hope theyre building a new one, and fast. Prevention is always better than cure, yet prevention is where Ireland persistently fails in its efforts to combat DSGBV. Yet the way it works in this country is that stories of horror have to hit the headlines before theres any sort of response. Even then, it only makes it as far as a vocal response. We hear it time and time again in mitigation, no previous convictions. Isnt this conviction enough? Wheres the prevention and deterrent in that and why is that something to be commended for? Rape once, sure, but rape twice and then youre really in trouble. Why do victims have to sit there and watch countless character references be handed up on behalf of a rapist? Sounds more like tolerance than zero-tolerance to me. What does that say about our efforts to dismantle the misogynistic breeding ground and victim-blaming in our society, when our own judicial system tolerates and excuses the behaviour of convicted sex offenders simply because they were supposedly of previously good character? Do you know how belittling that is for victims and their families, let alone the message it sends out? Thats not prevention. Shane Noonan was jailed for rape. File photo: Collins Courts Why do our courts think its normal and acceptable to pull apart a persons deepest, darkest, most vulnerable thoughts from a counselling session that saved their life, only to be thrown back and used against them in a court of law? How does that instill confidence in a system that is supposed to be there to protect us and encourage more victims to come forward? Victims and the judicial system arent even reading the same book, never mind on the same page, and I think its pathetic and shameful that my greatest wish is for a judicial system that works with victims, not against them. Tinkering with the sex offenders register is a distraction from the fact that the entire judicial system is not fit for purpose. The debate has moved extremely fast in the last few months. Thats how one Irish diplomat described how Europes view on defence has changed in the months since Donald Trump returned to the White House, and the traditional European security net appeared to crumble. Their comments came amid the latest gathering of senior EU leaders in Brussels, where issues on defence, Ukraine, migration, and union-wide competitiveness are on the table. Their previous gathering, in the wake of the disastrous meeting between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US president Donald Trump, saw defence take top billing. It saw broad agreement, with EU leaders backing the early stages of an 800bn proposal from the European Commission to rearm Europe, which has since turned into a new white paper on defence. However, this summit may have come almost too early for any major discussions on the white paper on defence, with a senior government source highlighting how the document itself had only been published 24 hours previously. Taoiseach Micheal Martin described the document itself as significant, but a senior government source has cautioned that Ireland needs more time to sink its teeth into it. There may just not have been enough time for leaders to digest it. Despite this, some Irish officials working in the EU have been surprised at the speed the Commission has moved on defence, highlighting the glacial pace of previous major reforms. The paper itself includes proposals that would allow for joint procurement of major military hardware, to which one senior government source said that Ireland has not ruled out involvement. We havent said no, they said. However, they did raise that Ireland is already moving towards increases in defence spending, with Tanaiste Simon Harris laying the groundwork towards level of ambition three Developing full spectrum defence capabilities to protect Ireland and its people to an extent comparable to similar sized countries in Europe as set out in the Commission on the Defence Forces. There is also hope within the Government that Irish companies can get themselves involved in this defence procurement. This could see some get a boost through equipment sales, as countries move towards acquiring military equipment within the union. It may be that Ireland does not need to concern itself massively with the EUs overall defence plans, but it will be worth working alongside partners in areas such as cybersecurity and maritime particularly given the spectre of cyberattacks or disruption to key undersea cables. This is more important given fact Ireland is struggling to float its own ships in the sea, with the number of patrol days carried out by the naval service being halved over the last five years. Taoiseach Micheal Martin described the white aper on defence as 'significant', but a senior government source has cautioned that Ireland needs more time to sink its teeth into it. Picture: Niall Carson/PA What became more clear over the course of the day were the dwindling prospects of the so-called Kallas plan. Devised by the EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, it would see massive amounts of military aid provided to Ukraine from Europes coffers, potentially rising as high as 40bn. Funds put into the pot by member states would have been based on their gross national income, where countries would provide monies based on the performance of their economies. This would have seen fair contributions for smaller states, but concerns arose from larger economies such as France and Italy over the significant funding they would be required to provide. Ireland itself could have been required to provide as much as 1bn, but when pressed on this the Taoiseach declined to speculate. Signals emerged on Thursday evening that the plan had more or less been frozen, after it became clear that no progress would be made that day. Ms Kallas admitted earlier in the day that a more realistic plan in the short-term would be to provide Ukraine with 5bn worth of ammunition, which Mr Zelenskyy himself raised during his speech to gathered leaders. But it will likely be disappointing for Ukrainians to see such a large amount of funding put on ice, given the possibility of further pauses of US aid if ceasefire talks do not go as planned. While the Kallas plan appears stalled, European leaders remain behind Mr Zelenskyy but are staying skeptical of ongoing US efforts to forge a peace between Russia and Ukraine. They spoke of the state of play of ongoing talks, but a senior EU official outlined a shared view that no real negotiations are taking place at the moment a strong rebuke of the Trump-led talks, which has seen the US president ping-pong between calls with Russia and Ukraine. Mr Zelenskyy has called for EU leaders to keep the pressure on Moscow, saying that the Kremlin is likely to drop its promises at the drop of a hat. But keeping pressure on Mr Trump is just another challenge for an EU that is changing quickly and whose challenges are mounting. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said he will meet billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon to discuss innovation, efficiencies and smarter production. Mr Musk, a top adviser to US President Donald Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have played an integral role in the American administrations push to dramatically reduce the size of the government. US senator Steve Daines is visiting Beijing as America and China swap tariff threats and harsh words over each others handling of the illegal trade in fentanyl. Mr Daines, a Republican from Montana who is a strong supporter of US President Donald Trump, arrived in the Chinese capital on Thursday after meeting top leaders in Vietnam, according to social media posts by him and the US embassy in Beijing. He said on X earlier this week that he would be talking with Chinese officials about curbing the production and distribution of fentanyl and the need to reduce the trade deficit and ensure fair market access for our Montana farmers, ranchers and producers. His office said ahead of the trip that he is co-ordinating closely with the White House and will be carrying President Trumps America First agenda. On Friday, the senator met vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu and had a deep exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Mr Daines previously worked as an executive in China and served as a go-between during Mr Trumps first term in office when tariffs were also a major issue. Senator @SteveDaines arrived in Beijing. A member of the @SenateForeign, he was welcomed by Embassy Charge dAffaires Anny Vu and will hold discussions on stopping the flow of fentanyl, protecting American jobs, and ensuring fair and reciprocal trade. pic.twitter.com/FKl8lKb7eO U.S. Mission to China (@USA_China_Talk) March 20, 2025 He is the first member of US congress to visit Beijing since Mr Trump took office in January. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China welcomed Mr Daines and believed that the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations is in the common interest of the two peoples and in line with the general expectations of the international community. Ms Mao gave no details on Mr Daines agenda or on whom he would meet, but added that China always believes that China and the US should address their respective concerns through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect. US-Chinese tensions have spiked as the US imposed 20% duties on Chinese goods, drawing retaliatory tariffs of 15% on US farm goods from China this past week. The US accuses China of doing too little to stop the export of precursor materials for fentanyl, a highly potent opiate blamed for tens of thousands of deaths in the US. China responded with a report detailing its efforts to control the illegal trade in fentanyl, specifically the ingredients for the opioid that are made in China, and the foreign minister blasted the US for responding to Beijings goodwill with tariffs. The report said that China and the US have held multiple high-level meetings since early last year to promote cooperation, and that its Narcotics Control Bureau holds regular exchanges with the US Drug Enforcement Agency. China is committed to cooperation, the report said, but firmly opposes the US imposition of unlawful sanctions and unreasonable pressure on China on the pretext of responding to fentanyl-related issues. Also on Friday, Wang Wentao, the Chinese commerce minister, met David Ricks, chief executive of the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co, and told the American executive that Beijing hopes multinationals to overcome the uncertainty in the exterior environment but continue to do business in China. A top Russian security official has travelled to North Korea to meet leader Kim Jong Un, after North Korea recently reportedly sent additional troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. Russias state-run news agency Tass reported that Sergei Shoigu, Russias Security Council secretary, had arrived in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and plans to meet top North Korean officials including Mr Kim. It gave no further details including what Mr Shoigu would discuss with Mr Kim. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed the arrival of a Russian delegation led by Mr Shoigu but did not provide details on the purpose of their visit. Mr Shoigus visit comes after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle on Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after US President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders, though it remained to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off limits to attack. North Korea has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to Russia, and last autumn it sent about 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia as well, according to American, South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials. North Korea has provided support for Russias war in Ukraine (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) In late February, South Koreas spy agency said North Korea appeared to have sent additional troops to Russia. South Korean media put the number of newly sent North Korean soldiers at about 1,000 to 3,000. South Korea, the US and others suspect North Korea is receiving economic and military assistance from Russia in return for providing weapons and troops. Many experts say North Korea will likely ramp up its support of Russia to win as much benefits as possible from Russia before the war ends. Mr Shoigus trip could be related to Mr Kims possible trip to Russia, some observers say. In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang and signed a major mutual defence treaty with Mr Kim. At the time, Mr Putin invited Mr Kim to visit Moscow. In 2023, when Mr Shoigu, then a defence minister, travelled to North Korea, Mr Kim gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. In September 2024, Mr Shoigu, then with the new security council post, went to North Korea again for a meeting with Mr Kim, and the two discussed expanding cooperation, according to North Koreas state media. Earlier Friday, KCNA said Mr Kim oversaw the test-launches of new anti-aircraft missiles the previous day. It cited Mr Kim as calling the missiles another major defence weapons system for North Korea. The missile launches, North Koreas sixth weapons testing activity this year, occurred on the same day that the US and South Korean militaries concluded their annual training that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. The 11-day Freedom Shield command post exercise was the allies first major joint military exercises since the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January, and the two countries held diverse field training exercises alongside the Freedom Shield drills. North Koreas defence ministry alleged that the recent US-South Korean drills involved simulations to destroy underground tunnels in the North to remove its nuclear weapons. A ministry spokesperson said the US and South Korea would face the gravest consequences they do not want, if they perform similar provocative actions again. North Korea often churns out warlike rhetoric and threats of attacks when the U.S. and South Korean militaries conduct big drills. South Koreas Unification Ministry on Friday warned North Korea not to use its defensive drills with the US as a pretext to launch provocations. Mr Trump has said he is willing to reach out to Mr Kim to revive their nuclear diplomacy, but North Korea has not made any public responses to Mr Trumps overture. Many experts say Mr Kim, now preoccupied with his support of Russias war efforts against Ukraine, will not likely embrace Mr Trumps outreach any time soon, but could seriously consider it when the war ends. Mr Kim and Mr Trump met three times in 2018-19 to discuss North Koreas possible nuclear disarmament, but their diplomacy eventually fell apart due to disputes over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea. Friday, Mar 21st, 2025 (12:01 am) - Score 1,520 The UK Governments Department for Education (DfE) has today committed to invest 45 million into improving internet connectivity and further plans to make digital standards a requirement for all schools across the country, which includes fibre broadband upgrades for 833 schools. The goal is to help close the remaining digital divide. As part of this, the Government will today launch a new public consultation open for 8 weeks that aims to gather views on a long-term ambition for all schools and colleges to meet six core digital standards by 2030, which cover the foundations of good tech ensuring essential technology infrastructure and connectivity, digital security and leadership. NOTE: The core standards schools outlined in the consultation are: Broadband internet, Wireless networks, Network switches, Digital leadership and governance, Filtering and monitoring, and Cybersecurity. In order to back schools in delivering this, the government is investing 45m to boost school infrastructure, including 25m to upgrade wireless networks this year helping get classrooms online and boosting standards where it is most needed. This is the latest phase of funding for the programme that has already improved connectivity for more than 1.3 million pupils in 3,700 schools. Thats on top of 20m to complete delivery of fibre upgrades to 833 schools. Advertisement One example of how the new investment under the Connect the Classroom scheme may help comes from the South Wirral High School. Before the installation, their WiFi was unreliable, which negatively impacted teaching and learning. But since the installation in January 2024, they now have reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout the school, including every classroom, staff rooms and faculty offices. Staff are now able to access resources and do their lesson planning anywhere in the school and technology can be embedded into any lesson. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: We are modernising our education system with a digital revolution in classrooms improving childrens life chances through higher standards of teaching and learning. I wont tolerate a system where some children benefit from innovation whilst others are left disconnected, and I am determined to level the playing field. That means secure and accessible technology for every school and the right support for teachers and leaders to help us break the link between background and success as we deliver on our Plan for Change. The DfE said their aim is for every school to have the right infrastructure to allow them to make the most of modern digital technology, including generative AI, for their students. The current approach to helping schools with their technology focuses around a) Setting standards and providing support and, b) Targeted investment on connectivity. The government acknowledged that the digital divide exists beyond the gates of a school and college, so they are also working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on national plans for digital inclusion. Canada Reports Execution of Four Citizens in China in Recent Weeks Canadas Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, has reported that China executed four Canadian citizens in recent weeks, despite the Canadian governments appeals for clemency. We unequivocally condemn the executions that took place involving Canadians in China, Ms. Joly told reporters in Ottawa. She mentioned that she could not provide further details about the case due to privacy requests from the families involved. In response, China stated that it acted in accordance with the law. Previously, China defended the executions in a statement sent to the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper, indicating that the Canadians were convicted of drug offenses. Drug-related crime is a serious crime recognized globally as highly detrimental to society, the embassy statement to the Globe mentioned. China consistently enforces severe penalties for drug-related offenses and maintains a zero tolerance approach towards drug issues. Ms. Joly revealed that both she and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who left office last week, had requested China to show leniency. China considers death penalty statistics as a state secret; however, rights organizations like Amnesty International estimate that thousands of individuals are executed in the country annually. In recent years, relations between China and Canada have been strained. The arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive in Vancouver on a US warrant in December 2018, along with Chinas retaliatory detention of two Canadians on espionage charges, led to a significant deterioration in relations. Tensions further escalated due to allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections in 2019 and 2021, which Beijing has denied. In 2023, Ms. Joly expelled a Chinese diplomat accused of targeting a Canadian opposition politician who has openly criticized the ruling Communist Party in Beijing, along with his family. Canada has also condemned Chinas security crackdown in Hong Kong and its treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority. New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is anticipated to announce a snap election for 28 April, igniting a fierce campaign focused on responses to US President Donald Trumps trade war and calls for Canada to become the 51st state. Mr. Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau only last week, is expected to declare the election date on Sunday, according to two anonymous government sources who spoke to AFP. The swift election call reflects Mr. Carneys intention to leverage a recent surge in polling for his Liberal Party, largely prompted by US tariffs and Mr. Trumps unprecedented assertions that Canada should not remain an independent nation. Mark Carney visited UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer following his ascent to the Canadian premiership. At the beginning of the year, right before Mr. Trump assumed office, it seemed the Liberals were facing a potential electoral defeat, with the opposition Conservatives poised to take control of the government. Nevertheless, Mr. Carney, who overwhelmingly secured the party leadership vote on March 9, has managed to unite the Liberals as they respond to Mr. Trump and concerns over a recession driven by the trade war. Political Novice This will mark Mr. Carneys first campaign; at 60 years old, he is a former central banker with no prior experience in elected office. He contends that his background leading the Bank of Canada during the 2008-2009 financial crisis and serving as head of the Bank of England during Brexit makes him particularly well-suited to navigate economic challenges. Mr. Carney visited French President Emmanuel Macron amid ongoing tensions with the US. Mr. Carney has branded Mr. Trumps America as a country Canada can no longer trust and has cautioned Canadians that relations with the United States may be fundamentally changed. Following his swearing-in on Friday, Mr. Carney promptly traveled to Paris and London, asserting the need for Canada to strengthen its European alliances as its relationship with the US weakens. What is evident is that our trade and security connections are too dependent on the United States. We must diversify, he stated in London. Polling Surge The Conservatives had been enjoying an uptick in polling numbers over the past year, with their leader Pierre Poilievre appearing on course to become Prime Minister. However, recent polls indicate that the race is now extremely close. The Liberal Partys polling gains have partially come at the expense of the left-leaning New Democrats, who progressive voters typically trust on domestic matters like healthcare but are not widely perceived as strong in managing US relations. Stephanie Chouinard, a politics professor at Queens University, told AFP the election call was anticipated, noting the Liberal gains while highlighting there is still uncertainty surrounding Mark Carney, who has never run a campaign. Its going to be a challenge for him under difficult circumstances, she added. Maple MAGA Polling suggests that some voters feel less inclined to support Mr. Poilievre as a counter to Mr. Trump. The Tory leader has received accolades on social media from prominent Trump ally Elon Musk, and some Liberals have attempted to label Poilievre as Maple Syrup MAGA. Nonetheless, Poilievre is an experienced politician who has aimed to distance himself from Trump. Mr. Trump appears to have taken note, claiming that the Canadian Conservative is stupidly no friend of mine. Canadian Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has been dubbed Maple Syrup MAGA by the Liberal Party. At a campaign-style gathering in Jonquiere, Quebec, Mr. Poilievre told reporters that Canada needs a strong leader, adding that his plan is to reduce the economys reliance on the United States and prioritize Canada. He did not mention Mr. Trump, however. Genevieve Tellier, a politics professor at the University of Ottawa, stated that both the Conservatives and the New Democrats will likely focus on issues beyond Mr. Trumps threats, as that would currently favor the Liberals. Its a remarkable turnaround for the Liberals, she remarked to AFP, noting that Canadians are also seeking a degree of stability and may view the Liberals, who have been in power since 2015, as less of a risk. Power appears to have been restored at Heathrow Airport; however, the facility remains closed following an outage triggered by a fire. Britains National Grid announced that an interim solution has been established to restore power to the west London airport. Reporters from the PA news agency in Terminal 4 have noted that the lights in the main building are back on and that lifts in the multi-storey car park are functioning once again. The network has been reconfigured to restore all affected customers, including the capability to resupply the sections of Heathrow airport linked to North Hyde, said a spokesperson for the National Grid. The airport had previously stated that it would remain closed until 11:59 PM due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Approximately 200,000 passengers have been impacted by the closure of what is Europes busiest airport. According to online flight tracking service FlightRadar24, over 1,350 flights were scheduled to either take off or land at the airport today. The airports shutdown was initiated after a significant fire at a nearby substation resulted in a power outage, stranding passengers globally and causing frustration among airlines questioning how such crucial infrastructure could fail. Large orange flames and thick black smoke were witnessed shooting into the sky around 11 PM yesterday as the blaze consumed the substation, disrupting power supply and backup systems for Europes busiest and the worlds fifth-busiest airport. Experts in the airline industry noted that the last time European airports faced a disruption of this magnitude was during the 2010 Icelandic ash cloud, which grounded around 100,000 flights. The sector is now bracing for a financial impact that could reach tens of millions of pounds. You would expect them to have robust backup power systems, remarked a senior executive from a European airline. The fire brigade is investigating the cause, but confirmed that 25,000 litres of cooling oil in the transformer ignited. By early morning, they had brought the blaze under control with white fire-fighting foam. Britains Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated that foul play does not seem to be a factor. We need your consent to load this comcast-player content. We use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and gather data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences The closure necessitated flight diversions to other UK and European airports, while numerous long-haul flights had to return to their origin points. Passengers stranded in London are now scrambling to make alternative travel arrangements amid the looming prospect of prolonged disruptions. When we first arrived here, it was very exciting and hopeful, shared Beau Mahr, 21, from Iowa, USA. Now that we have to wait, its quite stressful. Industry specialists cautioned that some passengers forced to land in Europe might be stuck in transit lounges if they do not have proper documentation to leave the airport. Global flight schedules will also face repercussions, as aircraft and crews will be out of position, compelling carriers to swiftly readjust their networks. An almost empty arrivals hall at Terminal 4 in Heathrow Airport Hotel prices around Heathrow witnessed a dramatic increase, with booking sites listing rooms for 500 (596), which is about five times the usual rates. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should reach out to their airline for more information, Heathrow announced, stating the airport will remain closed until midnight. We apologize for the inconvenience. Read more: Follow live updates on Heathrow cancellations: Airlines attempting to reroute flights from Irish airports Chaos ahead: Airline executives, electrical engineers, and passengers voiced concerns over how Britains gateway to the world could close due to a single fire, regardless of its size. Photos on social media displayed the airport terminal largely in darkness during the night. We need your consent to load this comcast-player content. We use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and gather data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences Power supply experts indicated that such a fire is exceedingly rare, explaining that the entire substation likely had to be shut down to extinguish the blaze. However, they added that sufficient alternative supplies should enable a swift return to service. We can be quite assured they will be able to restore functionality by tomorrow, said Nicholas Rigby, a commercial engineer at NRG Management Consultancy. Mr. Miliband remarked that the catastrophic fire had impeded the operation of the backup power system and that engineers are working to implement a third backup mechanism. In any incident like this, we will want to investigate why it occurred and what lessons we can learn for our infrastructure, he informed Sky News. At least 37 flights operated by airlines including JetBlue, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air India, Delta Air, Qantas, United Airlines, IAG-owned British Airways, and Virgin were either diverted or returned to their origin airports during the night, according to data from flight analytics company Cirium. Heathrow is one of the major hubs globally, stated Ian Petchenik, spokesperson for FlightRadar24. This situation is going to disrupt airline operations worldwide. British Airways, the primary carrier at Heathrow, had 341 flights scheduled for arrival today. Shares of its parent company IAG fell, alongside declines for other airlines. EasyJet and Ryanair added extra flights or utilized larger aircraft to help mitigate the backlog. Its going to be a chaotic few days ahead, predicted travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group. We need your consent to load this rte-player content. We use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences Qantas Airways redirected its flight from Perth to Paris, a United Airlines flight from New York to Shannon, Ireland, and a United Airlines flight from San Francisco was heading to land in Washington, DC, instead of London. A number of flights from the United States were turning around mid-air and heading back to their originating airports. Heathrow and other major airports in London have experienced outages in recent years, notably due to an automated gate failure and an air traffic control system malfunction earlier in 2023. A spokesperson for Heathrow informed Reuters via email that no clear timeline exists for power restoration and significant disruption is anticipated in the coming days. On the ground in London, numerous homes and businesses also experienced power outages. The Israeli military announced that it has initiated a ground operation in Shaboura, Rafah, located in southern Gaza, in recent hours. Furthermore, it shared that it has intensified its efforts in southern Gaza while maintaining its operations in northern and central Gaza. In the last few hours, IDF (Israel Defense Forces) troops commenced ground activities in the Shabura area of Rafah. During this operation, the troops dismantled terrorist infrastructure, the army stated, adding that at the same time, IDF forces are continuing their ground operations in northern and central Gaza. This announcement follows a statement from Gazas health ministry indicating that at least 91 Palestinians have died and many others have been injured due to airstrikes throughout the region after Israel resumed its bombing and ground operations. It is impossible not to be profoundly affected by the grim reality unfolding before our eyes, Mr. Herzog expressed in a video message, notably refraining from mentioning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name. It is unimaginable to resume combat while still striving to fulfill our sacred mission of bringing our hostages home, Mr. Herzog remarked, whose position is primarily ceremonial. Israels President Isaac Herzog His unexpected statement also comes prior to a state budget vote anticipated later this month, where the government intends to increase taxes and reduce education and health funding while boosting spending in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish communitya proposal that has faced backlash as many in the ultra-Orthodox community do not serve in the military. Recently, thousands of reserve duty call-ups have been issued, and it is unfathomable to send our sons to the front lines while simultaneously promoting divisive and controversial initiatives that create deep divisions within our nation, Mr. Herzog stated. He urged decision-makers to carefully consider each step and evaluate whether it strengthens national resilience, criticizing the choice to resume hostilities in Gaza while Israeli hostages, some known to be alive, remain in captivity there. Following two months of relative tranquility, Palestinians in Gaza were once again fleeing for their lives as Israel effectively abandoned the ceasefire, launching a renewed all-out air and ground campaign against Hamas, Gazas predominant Palestinian militant group. Leaflet drops Israeli aircraft distributed leaflets across residential areas, instructing residents to evacuate from Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun in the north, the Shejaia district in Gaza City, and areas on the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis in the south. War has returned, along with displacement and death; will we survive this phase? lamented Samed Sami, 29, who fled Shejaia to establish a tent for his family in an open ground camp. A day after deploying tanks into central Gaza, the Israeli military reported that it had also commenced ground operations in the northern part of the densely populated enclave, targeting the coastal area in Beit Lahiya. While Hamas refrained from retaliation during the first two days of the renewed Israeli offensive, it later announced that its fighters had launched rockets into Israel. The Israeli military confirmed that sirens were activated in the central region after projectiles were fired from Gaza. Palestinian medics reported that Israeli strikes targeted multiple homes in both northern and southern Gaza. With negotiations failing to resolve differences over terms for extending the ceasefire, the military resumed its aerial assaults on Gaza with a large bombing campaign on Tuesday, followed by a ground troop deployment the next day. Residents inspect rubble after an Israeli strike destroyed a building in Khan Younis in Gaza Over 500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes since Tuesday. Earlier, the Israeli military indicated that its forces had been involved for the past 24 hours in what it described as an operation to broaden a buffer zone dividing northern and southern Gaza, known as the Netzarim corridor. Israel instructed residents to avoid the Salahuddin road, Gazas primary north-south route, and recommended they travel along the coastal route instead. On the first day of resumed airstrikes, more than 400 Palestinians were killed, marking one of the deadliest days in the 17-month conflict, with little relief thereafter. Read more: No one is safe in Gaza, says UN Special Rapporteur. Taoiseach strongly condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza. This weeks airstrikes, which have hindered Hamass efforts to restructure its administration in Gaza, resulted in the deaths of several key figures, including the de facto Hamas-appointed head of the Gaza government, the chief of security services, his aide, and the deputy head of the Hamas-run justice ministry. The militant group condemned the Israeli ground operation and incursion into the Netzarim corridor as a new and dangerous violation of the ceasefire agreement. In a statement, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the truce and urged mediators to take responsibility. Hamas earlier called the ground operation into the Netzarim Corridor a dangerous violation Current and former Israeli officials have indicated that a return to full-scale war could present complications for Israel, given diminishing public support and fatigue among military reservists. Demonstrators have accused Mr. Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict for political motives, endangering the lives of remaining hostages. A temporary first phase of the ceasefire concluded at the start of this month. Hamas seeks to advance to an agreed second phase, during which Israel would be obligated to negotiate an end to the war and withdrawal of its forces from Gaza, with Israeli hostages still held there to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. Israel has proposed only a temporary extension of the truce, cut off all supplies to Gaza, and announced the resumption of its military campaign to compel Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Israeli troops reported firing upon Palestinians in vehicles. The ceasefire had allowed Huda Junaid, her husband, and family to return to the site of their destroyed home to camp among the ruins. However, they were compelled to flee once more, loading their few belongings onto a donkey cart in search of a new location to pitch their tent near a school. We desire neither war nor death. Enough is enough; we are fed up. There are no children left in Gaza; all of our children are gone, all of our relatives are gone, she expressed. Israel urged civilians in Gaza to leave areas it described as combat zones Some Palestinians attempting to use the Salahuddin road reported seeing vehicles come under fire from Israeli soldiers moving towards Netzarim. The fate of those in those vehicles remains unknown. Bulldozers shielded by tanks were heading west from the areas where they were stationed near the fence east of the Salahuddin road, noted a taxi driver, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. A Hamas official indicated that mediators had intensified their efforts with both conflicting parties, although no breakthroughs have occurred as of yet. Some residents remarked that there were no indications of Hamas preparing on the ground to resume fighting. Nevertheless, a representative from an allied militant group suggested that fighters, including those from Hamas, had been put on alert, awaiting further orders. Fighters have also been instructed to refrain from using mobile phones. The conflict erupted following an attack by Hamas militants on Israeli communities near the Gaza border in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. More than 49,000 Palestinians have perished in the ensuing conflict, as reported by Gazas health authorities, leaving much of the enclave in ruins. Trump Grants Boeing Contract for New U.S. Fighter Jet US President Donald Trump has awarded Boeing the contract to manufacture the US Air Forces most advanced fighter jet, providing the company with a significant victory. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program will succeed Lockheed Martins F-22 Raptor with a crewed aircraft designed to operate alongside drones in combat scenarios. While the aircrafts design remains classified, it is expected to incorporate stealth features, advanced sensors, and state-of-the-art engines. Boeings shares rose by 5% following the announcement, as the Seattle-based firm secured the deal over Lockheed Martin, whose shares dropped by nearly 6%. A crucial victory for Boeing This win represents a turnaround for Boeing, which has faced challenges in both its commercial and defense sectors. It significantly enhances the companys fighter jet production operations in St. Louis, Missouri. The engineering and manufacturing development contract is valued at over $20 billion, with potential for the winner to receive hundreds of billions of dollars in orders throughout the contracts multi-decade duration. The NGAD initiative was envisioned as a family of systems focusing on a sixth-generation fighter to effectively counter threats from nations like China and Russia. Donald Trump made the announcement regarding the contract award at the Oval Office today Boeings commercial sector has encountered difficulties as it strives to ramp up production of its flagship 737 MAX jet, while its defense division has been plagued by underperforming contracts for mid-air refueling tankers, drones, and training aircraft. Cost overruns in the KC-46 mid-air refueling tanker program have exceeded $7 billion in recent years, and another fixed-price contract to upgrade two Air Force One planes has resulted in a $2 billion loss for the top 5 US defense contractor. Concerns for Lockheeds future Lockheed, which was recently removed from the competition to develop the Navys next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter, faces uncertainty in the high-end fighter market following this setback. Although Lockheed could choose to contest the contract awarded to Boeing, Trumps announcement during a prominent Oval Office press conference may lessen the likelihood of public disputes from the Maryland-based defense firm. Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education Surrounded by students and educators, US President Donald Trump enacted an executive order aimed at effectively dismantling the federal Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing commitment to conservatives. The order would delegate school policy almost entirely to states and local boards, a scenario that raises concerns among liberal education advocates. The order will start to eliminate the department, Mr. Trump remarked during the signing ceremony in the White Houses East Room. Completely dissolving the department requires Congressional action, and Mr. Trump currently lacks the votes for such a measure. Were going to be returning education, very simply, back to the states where it belongs, Mr. Trump stated. Education has consistently been a political flashpoint in the US, with conservatives advocating for school choice policies that benefit private institutions and left-leaning voters generally supporting funding and programs for public schools. Disputes over US education intensified during the coronavirus pandemic, a divide that Mr. Trump leveraged during his presidential campaign. Mr. Trump has expressed his desire for Education Secretary Linda McMahon, present at the White House event, to effectively render herself unemployed. His executive order aims to pare down the department to its essential functions, such as administering student loans, Pell Grants, and resources for children with special needs. President Trump holds an executive order after signing it alongside US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Were going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible, Mr. Trump declared. Its doing us no good. Despite Republican control of both Congressional chambers, Democratic support would be necessary to reach the required 60 votes in the Senate for such legislation to pass. During the event, Mr. Trump indicated that the issue might ultimately be brought before Congress in a vote to eliminate the department entirely. He was accompanied at the ceremony by Republican governors like Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida. He also acknowledged the conservative advocacy group Moms for Liberty. The department oversees around 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the US, although more than 85% of public school funding originates from state and local governments. It allocates federal grants to assist underfunded schools and programs, including allocations for special needs teachers, arts initiatives, and infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, it manages the $1.6 trillion in student loans held by millions of Americans who cannot afford college tuition outright. Prior to the ceremony, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt pointed to disappointing literacy rates and test scores among American children as reasons for reducing the department, established in the 1970s. Court battles ahead Mr. Trump has acknowledged that obtaining support from lawmakers and teachers unions would be crucial to fulfilling his campaign promise to fully dissolve the department. He does not possess this backing. See you in court, stated Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers union, in a statement. US Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat, noted in a statement: Donald Trump knows very well he cant abolish the Department of Education without Congressbut he realizes that if you dismiss all the staff and dismantle it, youll likely achieve a similarly disastrous outcome. Mr. Trump has also criticized higher education in the US by cutting funding and challenging diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at colleges and universities, mirroring his federal government approach. Today, Columbia University faced a deadline to respond to demands for stricter regulations on campus protests as prerequisites for discussions regarding the reinstatement of $400 million in suspended federal funding. A majority of the American public does not support the closure of the federal education department. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last month indicated that respondents opposed shutting down the Department of Education by roughly two to one65% to 30%. This poll, carried out online nationwide, surveyed 4,145 US adults and had a margin of error of approximately two percentage points. Federal aid constitutes 15% of total K-12 revenue in states that supported Mr. Trumps 2024 election campaign, compared to 11% in states that voted for his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, according to a Reuters analysis of Census Bureau data. Two programs managed by the Department of Educationaid for low-income schools and assistance for students with special needsare the most significant federal aid initiatives. Historically, Republicans have shown little interest in revamping the Title I program for low-income schools, which is especially significant on a per-capita basis in conservative states like Alaska, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Wyoming, according to census data. A proposal to permit that funding to be utilized by private schools and homeschools was turned down in the House of Representatives by a vote of 83-331 in March 2023, with more than half of the Republicans in the chamber opposing it. Critical minerals Mr. Trump also announced that he signed an executive order aimed at enhancing domestic production of critical minerals and reducing Chinas dominance in the industry. The White House did not immediately provide specifics regarding the executive order. Reuters previously reported that Mr. Trump would aim to establish metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases and likely utilize national security powers to enhance production. I also signed an executive order to dramatically increase the production of critical minerals and rare earths. This is a significant focus in our country, Mr. Trump mentioned. Materials like lithium, copper, and other critical minerals are essential for various electronics, with demand expected to soar in the coming years for electric vehicle battery production. China remains the worlds primary producer or processor of many critical minerals. US miners have long sought an executive order from Mr. Trump, citing bureaucratic delays as hindrances to the countrys production capacity. Accelerating American mining is vital to national security, and President Trumps decisive actions acknowledge that, stated Rich Nolan, head of the National Mining Association trade group. Former Newmont executive David Copley has been appointed to oversee the mining portfolio for the US National Energy Dominance Council, according to two sources familiar with the appointment. In this new role, Mr. Copley will be the most senior official in the federal government responsible for shaping mining policy, one of the sources disclosed. Mr. Trump also indicated that the United States would soon finalize a minerals and natural resources agreement with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on EU leaders to enhance weapon supplies to Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia, as officials from Kyiv and Moscow prepared for new discussions with the United States next week. Europe is racing to influence the outcome as US President Donald Trump pushes forward with negotiations with Russia regarding the cessation of its war on Ukraine, while top military officials convened in London to strategize on how to oversee any potential peace agreement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated afterward that the plans of the so-called coalition of the willing supporting Ukraine were coming together. The meeting in London followed Mr. Zelenskys video address to an EU summit in Brussels, where he asserted that despite Putins words nothing has changed. Volodymyr Zelensky and Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store address a press conference in Oslo The Kremlin leader must cease making unwarranted demands that only extend the war, he added, urging the EU to increase arms deliveries and sustain sanctions. In Norway, Zelensky mentioned that Ukrainian and US officials would convene in Saudi Arabia on Monday to advance US-led efforts aimed at swiftly concluding the Russian invasion, which is now entering its fourth year. The Kremlin previously confirmed that Russian officials would also have discussions with the US side in Saudi Arabia on the same day. Power plants Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin both engaged in discussions with Mr. Trump this week and have signaled their willingness to pause attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. However, fighting has persisted without abatement. Both nations reported a surge of new drone strikes overnight, leaving uncertainty about the specifics of any enduring peace arrangement. Mr. Trump, who has caused concern among European and NATO allies with his overtures to Mr. Putin and a tepid approach to European security, suggested last night that the United States might take control of and manage Ukraines power plants. We need your consent to load this rte-player content. We use rte-player to handle additional content that may set cookies on your device and gather data about your activities. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences Yet today, Mr. Zelensky downplayed the idea, stating that he could not legally negotiate the ownership of the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. If they wish to reclaim it from the Russians, if they desire to modernize it, invest thats a different matter, an open question that we can discuss, Mr. Zelensky remarked. Mr. Putin has made the cessation of further Western military aid to Ukraine a crucial condition for Russia agreeing to a long-term ceasefire. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to military commanders at a base in London Meanwhile, around 30 military leaders from countries eager to help establish any lasting ceasefire in Ukraine gathered at a military base near London. Following the meeting, Mr. Starmer reported progress, stating that discussions were centered on transforming the political intention of security guarantees for Ukraine into reality. Whether that involves what may occur at sea or in the air or the defense of borders, those plans are coming together, he informed several military commanders present and British soldiers at the base. Mr. Starmer has led international initiatives alongside French President Emmanuel Macron to monitor any truce in Ukraine, with both expressing their readiness to deploy their troops on the ground. However, Russia has stated it will not accept any NATO troop presence in Ukraine, and Washington has yet to indicate its willingness to provide a security guarantee. Despite Mr. Trumps declining support for Ukraine, the United States is considering helping Kyiv obtain additional air defense systems to counter Russias ballistic missile threats. This is extremely important, remarked the EUs top diplomat Kaja Kallas, who is urging member states to fulfill Ukraines request for two million shells estimated at five billion euros ($5.4 billion), although no progress was achieved on this proposal at Thursdays summit. According to a White House readout, Mr. Zelensky yesterday sought Mr. Trumps assistance in acquiring US-made Patriot missile systems to enhance its current inventory provided by the United States, Germany, and Romania. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov questioned whether Europe was truly committed to concluding the conflict Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed skepticism regarding Europes commitment to ending the fighting, noting that governments there are contemplating substantial increases in domestic defense spending. Primarily, the signals from Brussels and European capitals reflect intentions to further militarize Europe, he stated. Ukraines air force reported today that Russia launched 171 drone attacks within its territory overnight, resulting in two fatalities in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions, along with several injuries. Meanwhile, Russia claimed its air defense systems had shot down 132 Ukrainian drones across various regions, resulting in two reported injuries. White Paper for European Defence Martin Discussing EU plans to elevate its defense expenditures, Taoiseach Micheal Martin remarked that the White Paper for European Defence is a significant document requiring thorough discussion and contemplation. Mr. Martin noted before the summit that the document published yesterday emphasized the capabilities of individual states to allocate additional funding. Taoiseach Micheal Martin stated that the EU defense proposal would demand careful consideration We have supported the measures proposed by the President of the Commission. Numerous issues surround Europes procurement capabilities and the capacity of the European defense industry to respond to this increased spending, he stated. On a broader economic front, he suggested that it would be prudent to wait for the US to reveal its stance on tariffs after April 2. He added that time would then be necessary to formulate a comprehensive response. Our perspective is that Europe must respond strategically, especially when we experience surpluses, and so forth, he elaborated. The EU leaders face a packed agenda considering recent developments regarding the war in Ukraine, the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire, rising violence in Syria, and Mr. Trumps trade war, which is already impacting Europe. Paschal Donohoe, in his capacity as president of the Eurogroup, along with ECB President Christine Lagarde, will brief leaders on the state of the European economy. This issue is dominated by a report from Mario Draghi, Ms. Lagardes predecessor, discussing how to enhance European competitiveness and the necessity for a so-called capital markets union to provide Europe with deeper and more liquid capital markets. By Federico Donelli, University of Trieste (The Conversation) The civil war in Sudan that began in April 2023 involves several external actors. The conflict pits the Sudanese Armed Forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in a quest for political and economic power. The situation has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. Various foreign states have picked a side to support. They include Chad, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In particular, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are providing financial and military support to the warring parties, although they have denied it. Political scientist Federico Donelli, who has studied the influence of these Gulf monarchies in Sudan, unpacks the implications of their intervention. How did the UAE and Saudi Arabia get involved in Sudan? Domestic factors within Sudan were the primary triggers for the outbreak of the civil war. Framing the Sudanese conflict as a proxy war may underestimate or overlook important internal variables. But its also important to highlight the indirect involvement of other states. In the Horn of Africa region, Sudan has interacted the most with Middle Eastern states over the past two decades. Among these states, two Gulf monarchies Saudi Arabia and the UAE stand out. Political relations between Saudi Arabia and Sudan date back to the independence of the Sudanese state in 1956. And people-to-people links have flourished over centuries. This is largely because Sudan is geographically close to Saudi and the two Muslim holy cities of Mecca (Makkah) and Medina. The case of the UAE is different. Since the beginning of the new millennium, the Emirates have expanded their economic and financial influence in Africa, investing in niche sectors such as port logistics. Sudan in particular came to the fore for the Emirates at the end of the 2010s when regional balances shifted before and after the Arab uprisings. Between 2014 and 2015, Saudi Arabia and UAE influence in Sudanese politics increased under President Omar al-Bashir. Both monarchies wanted to counter Irans ability to project power into the Red Sea and in Yemen. In 2015, after breaking off relations with Iran, Sudan contributed 10,000 troops to a Saudi-led military operation in Yemen to fight Houthi rebels. Both the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces took part, and personal links were forged. In the post-Bashir era that began in 2019, Saudi and UAE influence has continued to grow, thanks to those direct links. In general, both monarchies are status seekers. In a changing international context, Sudan is a testing ground for their ability to influence and shape future political settlements. Seeing the post-2019 transition as an opportunity to influence Sudans regional standing, the two monarchies chose to support different factions within Sudans security apparatus. This external support exacerbated internal competition. Riyadh, in conjunction with Egypt, maintained close ties with army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Abu Dhabi aligned itself with the head of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Dagalo, or Hemedti. Since 2019, the relationship between the UAE and Saudi Arabia has changed. After more than a decade of strategic convergence, especially on regional issues, the two Gulf monarchies began to diverge on issues like their view on political Islam. This divergence has been evident in various crisis scenarios, including in Sudan. Although both countries jointly supported the initial Sudanese transition after Bashirs ouster, the deterioration of relations between Hemedti and al-Burhan created conditions for a showdown between the two monarchies. However, the conflict in Sudan didnt break out because of the rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. But Sudans local actors felt able to go to war because they were aware of external support. And once the conflict broke out, both monarchies were reluctant to withdraw local support lest they appear weak in the eyes of their regional counterpart. Why is Sudan important to these countries? My recent study with political scientist Abigail Kabandula shows that the UAE and Saudi Arabia gradually increased their presence in Sudan after the 2011 Arab uprisings. The fall of some regimes, including Egypt, made the two Gulf monarchies fear that instability could entangle them. File. Photo of Sudan by Yusuf Yassir on Unsplash Our analysis identifies two main reasons for the two countries influence in Sudan: changes to the regional power structure the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa. The US pivot to Asia shifting resources from the Middle East to the Pacific and the Arab Spring protests increased uncertainty among Gulf states. This led to a realignment of regional power dynamics and the formation of rival blocs. As a result, the UAE and Saudi Arabia sought closer ties with African countries. In Sudan, the relationship has developed through both military and political engagement. Our analysis shows an increase in both countries interest in Sudan between 2012 and 2020. However, our research also highlighted some key differences in their growing influence. In the early years after the Arab uprisings, the UAEs influence grew rapidly, driven by concerns about the spread of protests. This was particularly important given Sudans proximity to Egypt. Saudi Arabia maintained a more stable level of influence from 2010 to 2020. This was despite Riyadh also initially fearing the spread of the protests. Both Gulf states were wary of al-Bashirs growing ties with Turkey and Qatar, which they feared would strengthen a pro-Islamist bloc in the region. However, after Bashirs overthrow in 2019, their approaches began to diverge. The two Gulf monarchies view Sudan as a key country because of its geographical location. Sudan is situated between two major regions the Sahel and the Red Sea characterised by instability and conflict. These regions face interconnected challenges: political instability, poverty, food insecurity, and internal and external wars. They also face population displacement, transnational crime and the threat of jihadist groups. Moreover, Sudan is an important link between the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa. The country is a crossroads, influencing current and future geostrategic dynamics in the region. The Gulf monarchies, including Qatar, have also invested heavily between US$1.5 billion and US$2 billion in Sudans agri-food sector, which is vital to their food security. Sudan, with its abundant water resources, offers a large amount of fertile land, making it attractive to Gulf companies. What can we expect to see next? Similar to other current global crises such as those in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo the conflict in Sudan seems difficult to resolve through negotiations. Two main factors contribute to this difficulty. First, both parties see the victory of one side as entirely dependent on the defeat of the other. Such logic leaves no room for a win-win solution. Second, the current international context supports the continuation of hostilities. The global shifting balance of power provides both warring parties with opportunities for external support. This complicates efforts to find a peaceful solution. There are now two centres of power and governance in the country. It is likely that this division will become more pronounced. Federico Donelli, Assistant Professor of International Relations, University of Trieste This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. ( Tomdispatch.com ) Yes, shock and awe is back in the second age of Donald Trump. His border czar, Tom Homan, used that very phrase to describe border policy from day one of the new administration and, whether the president has actually said it or not, its now regularly in headlines, op-eds, and so much else. If you remember, it was the phrase used, in all its glory, to describe Americas massive bombing and invasion of Iraq in 2003. (You remember! The country that supposedly threatened us with nuclear weapons but, in fact, didnt have any!) We Americans were, of course, going to shock and awe them. But from that moment on (if not from the moment, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, when, rather than simply going after Osama bin Laden and crew, President George W. Bush launched a full-scale invasion of Afghanistan), you could say that it was we who were truly shocked and awed. After all, in their own disastrous fashion, our post-9/11 wars prepared the way for yes! Donald Trump to take the White House the first time around (shock and awe!) and then blame the final disastrous retreat of the American military from Afghanistan in 2021 on the Biden administration. (Kamala Harris, Joe Biden the humiliation in Afghanistan set off the collapse of American credibility and respect all around the world.) And of course, four years later, his reelection on a functional platform of Trump First, Americans Last, was distinctly a double shock and awe! And if youll excuse my being thoroughly repetitious, that was or at least should have been seen as the true definition of shock and awe. Donald Trump! Twice! Even now, can you truly take it in? In fact, more or less every moment since his reelection victory in November 2024 has been pardon me for the turn of phrase a first-class S&A experience. And shock, if not awe I havent even mentioned Elon Musk yet, have I? I mean, who can take him in either? The richest man on Planet Earth (S&A!) and, at least until President Trump levied those massive tariffs on our three major trading partners (only to partially back off soon after), still making money hand over fist (wrist, pissed?) about $224 billion extra dollars (S&A!) just between the November 2024 election victory of Donald Trump and the moment he actually took power again in January 2025 at the expense of the rest of us. Meanwhile, hes been more or less running this country (into the ground) hand in glove with Donald Trump, who, by the way, is already talking about a possible third term in office! (They say I cant run again; thats the expression Then somebody said, I dont think you can. Oh.) Now, wouldnt that be an all-American S&A first (or do I mean last?)! An MMMW World Phew, Im already out of breath and exclamation points! No surprise there, of course, given the awesomely shocking and shockingly Trumpified (or do I mean Muskratted?) world were now living in and dealing with. After all, we once again have a president who himself is (or may be since you never know with him) a multi-billionaire and has at his side the DOGE-y man with a totally made-up position and an organization that nonetheless seems to have the power to dismantle whole parts of our government. (Science, Medicine? Who needs them? Veterans, who cares?) He could evidently even purchase Mars (and donate his sperm to help colonize that planet). And imagine this: despite all the dough they and their billionaire pals possess there are at least 13 of them in his administration, worth something like $460 billion Elon and he seem intent on shoving through Congress a plan that would make his tax cuts for billionaires a permanent feature of American life (whatever it may cost the rest of us). Dont try to tell me that were not in a mad, mad, mad world (MMMW, if you prefer). And hey, the man who only recently set a record by spending more than an hour and 40 minutes giving the longest State of the (Dis)Union speech or speech of any sort ever to a joint session of Congress has done a remarkable job of foisting his version of an America First (Foist? Last?) policy on the rest of us and this world a world that distinctly isnt ours, but his. Think of us as now living in a Trump First World, or TFW. Of course, his version of America First includes those recent tariffs (some but not all of which have been delayed again) that, though officially levied against Canada, China, and Mexico, were actually being foisted on the rest of us. Count on one thing: in the end, we will undoubtedly pay through the nose for them. So, no question about it, we have certainly entered a distinctly S&A era. The Double D of Donald In truth, the 45th and 47th ( and 48th and 49th?) president of the United States is a genuinely remarkable figure. Truly historic or do I mean hysteric? After all, who cant bring some image of him to mind at any moment? That face, that stare, that glare, that red tie, that wave in his hair. Need I say more? In his own remarkable fashion, he should be given full credit and a double capital D for both Donald and Decline. Or just think of him as PD (for President Decline). And it is remarkable that a single figure, one man who once oversaw the bankruptcy of six different companies he had launched, could become responsible for potentially the greatest bankruptcy of all the ending of the American Century (as we once knew it) and even, after a fashion, humanitys centuries on Planet Earth. I mean, who can even remember anymore the time in a distant century the year was 1991, to be exact, the very moment when Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy for the Trump Taj Mahal and the year before he did the same for the Trump Plaza Hotel when the Soviet Union went into the garbage pail, China had not yet truly risen, and this country was left alone as not just a great power but The Great Power or TGP, the only one left on Planet Earth? That, in retrospect, was a truly shock-and-awe moment. And isnt it no less shock-and-awing to think that a mere 34 years later, that same country is now led by a raging maniac on an America First platform that could, in effect, prove to be an America Last one? In a mere two terms in office, he will have taken what was once known as the planets sole superpower into a world of chaos and, ultimately, disaster of a sort we still cant really grasp. He will have been the monarch and yes, thats the appropriate word, not president from hell. (In fact, the White House digital strategy team all too appropriately produced a portrait of President Trump with a golden crown and the phrase LONG LIVE THE KING!) And if that (and he) isnt the definition of shock and awe, what is? Burn, Baby, Burn Worse yet, tariff by tariff, tax by tax, act by act, Donald Trump stands a reasonable chance of taking this planet down with him. Think of it as little short of remarkable that, in a world in which every month, every year (and every decade) is hotter than the previous one in a record fashion, in a world in which the weather and its devastating effects from fires to storms to floods is only growing more extreme and more horrific, Americans freely voted in (a second time around!) someone whose election phrase of choice was drill, baby, drill, but might as well have been heat, baby, heat or storm, baby, storm, or simply burn, baby, burn. And if his platform was America First (but truly Donald First), it distinctly should have been Planet Earth Last. (Of course dont be shocked he also appointed as secretary of health a man who thinks that the way to fight measles outbreaks is with anything but a vaccine.) Yes, above all else, Donald Trump, who has called climate change both a scam and a Chinese hoax, continues to be focused on making sure that ever more oil, natural gas, and coal comes out of the ground and is indeed burned, baby, burned forever and a day. Of course, no one should be surprised, given the way the fossil-fuel companies funded his campaign. Hes already gone out of his way to cancel anything the Biden administration did to fight climate change and announced the countrys departure from the Paris climate accords (again). As the New York Times put it recently, In a few short weeks [of his second term in office], President Trump has already severely damaged the governments ability to fight climate change, upending American environmental policy with moves that could have lasting implications for the country, and the planet. What hes doing is now considered a deep freeze on climate programs of all sorts (though it might better be thought of as a hot melt). At one point, he was even talking about eliminating 65% of the employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (S&A!). Lasting implications indeed. In any other era, President Trump would still undoubtedly have been considered a nightmare and a half, but not a potentially world-ending one (at least the world as humanity has known it all these endless centuries). The truth is that, once upon a time, if you had told anybody that this would be our S&A version of the future, you would have been laughed out of the room. The Second Time Around with No End in Sight And yet, there can be no question that, all these years later, despite bankruptcy after bankruptcy, and failure after failure, he remains the man of the second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year. Give him credit. Its a remarkable record not just when it comes to the success of failure but of putting Himself (and yes, under the circumstances, I do think that should be capitalized!), not America First. Oh, and while all of this has been going on, the Democratic Party has not completely but largely been missing in action. Imagine that! And as for Congress, remind me what it is (other than an audience for You Know Who). Consider it a remarkable historical irony that America First has remained Donald Trumps slogan all these years when, in reality (or what passes for it in his universe), it should certainly have been Trump First and, when it came to anything that truly mattered to him, America (not to speak of the rest of the world) Last! Worse yet, if all of us hadnt actually lived through the Trumpian epoch (epic? toothpick?), I dont think anyone could have made this up or, in a previous version of America, even imagined it happening. And if they could, there can be little question that they would simply have been laughed out of the room, if not institutionalized, not once but twice. And yet here we are, the second time around with no end in sight, and a third time a history-breaking possibility, leaving us fully and thoroughly in another America on another planet. Phew! Talk about shock and awe! I must admit, with at least three years and 10 months to go in the era of You Know Who, I find it hard to imagine our future, even if (as is certainly possible) the American and global economies go down the tubes and the Democrats are swept back into Congress Im sorry, where? in 2026. Nonetheless, for the (un)foreseeable future, were all living with Donald Trump in a genuinely shock-and-awe world of almost unpredictable strangeness. In some fashion, all of us are now Afghans or Iraqis. Copyright 2025 Tom Engelhardt Via Tomdispatch.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Spark Energy Minerals Inc. (CSE: SPRK) (OTC Pink: SPARF) (FSE: 8PC) ("Spark" or the "Company") an exploration Company focused on the discovery of battery metals in Brazil's prestigious Lithium Valley, is pleased to announce an exploration update and discussion of results returned from SGS Laboratory from an additional 146 samples collected from the Company's flagship Arapaima Lithium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Jon Hill, Director of Spark Energy Minerals commented: "Our, sub-drainage stream sediment sampling program continues to provide encouraging results with anomalous lithium and pathfinder element assays from 17 out of 24 sub-drainages. The results showcase highly anomalous lithium (80-191 ppm) and pathfinder elements vectoring our search towards more specific areas that now allow focused follow-up of priority targets across the portfolio of tenements. This closer spaced sampling has largely validated and refined individual targets within the larger macro drainage catchments reported and assigned high prospectivity for lithium rankings in the government reports1&2. In addition, the potential for significant REE and gallium mineralization associated with the fertile Caladao Intrusive suite across Spark's tenements, adjacent to Axel REE Ltd., is clearly highlighted in recent results for both stream sediment and soil samples collected in these areas. We continue to make good progress with the first phase exploration across the extensive 64,359-hectare tenement package while rapidly positioning to advance follow up work towards drill testing the priority targets already defined by the 122 pegmatite occurrences so far identified within 13 pegmatite trends over a combined strike length of over 31km." Arapaima Lithium Project Exploration Recent Highlights: Stream sediment sampling to date has been completed for 27 sub-drainage basins of the 68 sub-drainage basins planned to be sampled in the initial reconnaissance phase exploration program. Analytical results for 24 sub-drainage basins have been reported with results for 3 sub-drainage basins awaited. 17 out of 24 sub-drainages with results reported to date show anomalous assays for lithium (Li 80-191) and pathfinder elements for prioritized follow-up. 122 individual pegmatite occurrences have been mapped within 13 pegmatite trends over a combined 31km strike. Lithium Targets 1 and 5 remain top priority and have been named Grota do Maquem Target and Agua Branca Target respectively. The company has added a new priority REE target called the Caladao Target with stream sediment results peaking at 2,458ppm TREO and soil samples results peaking at 3,041ppm TREO. 66, old artisanal - garimpo mine workings with associated pegmatite occurrences (open pits and underground) have been identified and recorded for follow up mapping and sampling. Multi-element geochemical results have been reported for a total of 263 samples to date with results, including 146 samples reported this week. 71 samples are at the lab awaiting results and an additional 63 new samples are on the way to SGS Laboratory. Recent Analytical Results Analytical results for a further 146 samples (19 rock chips, 67 stream sediment and 60 soil samples) were reported recently by the SGS laboratory. Stream sediment results from 24 sub-drainage catchments out of 27 sub-drainage catchments sampled to date have now been reported. 17 out of 24 sub-drainages with results reported to date show anomalous results for lithium (range 20-191 ppm) and pathfinder elements. Importantly 4 contiguous sub-drainages show highly anomalous lithium (80-191 ppm) and pathfinder element results for prioritized follow-up. For full set of assays please click here. Figure 1: Stream sediment sampling results for 24 sub-drainage basins where results have been reported to date. 17 out of 24 sub-drainage basins show positive results for lithium (80-191 ppm) and pathfinder elements. Figure 2: Zoomed image of the Agua Branca section of the tenements showing the 4 contiguous sub-drainage basins highly anomalous stream sediment samples for lithium (80-191 ppm). These results confirm and extend the potential footprint of the anomalous rock chip lithium results from the Target 5 area (up to 457 ppm). Table 1: Analytical results for lithium and associated pathfinder elements for 26 stream samples. The stream sediment samples show anomalous levels of lithium and pathfinder elements, specifically cesium, gallium, niobium, tin and rubidium. Caladao Target - New Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Gallium Target The initial soil and stream sediment samples collected from Spark's tenements within the Caladao Granite contiguous with Axel REE's recently reported REE - gallium discovery returned high REE values of up to 2,458ppm TREO (stream sediment) and 3,041ppm TREO (soil) respectively. These results indicate that the Caladao Granite is a highly prospective target for REE, remaining open to the southwest and validates the continued trend along strike from Axel REE's project to the south. An additional 36 samples collected in the area are currently being analyzed at SGS Laboratory. Table 2: Analytical results for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and gallium in soil samples Figure 3: Image showing relative position of Spark's Caladao REE and gallium relative to the Axel REE's Discovery. Please note the location of the prospective Caladao Granite (Red) with Spark tenements located to both the north and southeast of the Axel REE tenements (Pink). Forward Exploration Plan Exploration of Spark's extensive 64,359-hectare tenement package will continue on three main fronts: Continued first pass reconnaissance phase geological mapping and stream sediment samples (61 sub-drainage basins remain to be sampled). Follow up initiatives in the highly prospective targets 1 & 5, with ongoing interpretation of the results to develop initial drill testing targets. Plan more extensive programs in the Caladao region such as auger drilling to further delineate the potential of the prospective REE & gallium zone contiguous to Axel REE. To date the company has completed the following exploration work: Geological Observations: 399 Pegmatite occurrences: 122 Artisanal workings: 66 Samples collected: 397 Pegmatite trends: 13 Sub-drainage basins sampled: 27 Sub-drainage basins remaining to be sampled 61 Samples at laboratory awaiting results: 71 Samples with results reported: 263 Figure 4: Exploration progress across Spark's extensive exploration tenement package. Eugene Hodgson, CEO & Director of Spark Energy Minerals commented: "We are excited by the positive results from our latest sampling program, which continue to demonstrate the significant potential of our Arapaima Lithium Project in Brazil's Lithium Valley. The discovery of 17 prospective drainage basins with anomalous lithium and pathfinder elements greatly enhances our ability to pinpoint and prioritize high-value exploration targets. Additionally, the impressive rare earth element and gallium findings in the Caladao region further highlight the strategic value of our project area, underscoring Spark's position in one of the world's most promising mineral regions. As we move forward, we are focused on advancing exploration towards future drilling activities to unlock the full potential of these exciting results." QA/QC Protocols Spark maintained full chain-of-custody control from sampling through to laboratory delivery ensuring the reliability of the assay results. SGS Laboratory used QAQC protocols for blanks, standards and duplicates, the results of which are reported alongside the completed analysis. Qualified Person: The scientific and technical information disclosed in this document has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill BSc Hons, FAUSIMM, a Qualified Person consistent with NI 43-101 and a director of Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Source: ''Lithium Potential Assessment Project in Brasil" in the Eastern Pegmatite Province of Brasil: the Geological Survey of Brazil promoting mineral research. Technical Report 19 - August 2023 DOI: 10.29396/ITCPRM.2023.19 Source: ''Evaluation of the Lithium Potential in Brasil" - Mid - Jequitinhonha River, North -East Minas Gerais ministry of Mines and Energy, Secretary of Geology, Mines and Development, the Geological Survey of Brazil promoting mineral research. Technical Report - 2016 About Spark Energy Minerals Inc. Spark Energy Minerals, Inc. is a Canadian company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of battery metals and mineral assets, with a particular emphasis on its substantial interests in Brazil. The Company's flagship project is the Arapaima Lithium project spanning 64,359 hectares in Brazil's renowned Lithium Valley, one of the most prolific mining regions in the world. This region is rapidly gaining global recognition for its vast deposits of lithium and rare earth minerals, positioning Brazil as a critical player in the global energy transition. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. In addition, it should be noted that rock, soil and stream sediment samples are inherently selective samples and may not represent the true underlying mineralization. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (FSE: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce new confirmatory exploration results from ongoing surface sampling at the Tres Cerros Gold-Silver Project ("Tres Cerros") in north-central Peru. Highlights High-Grade Gold Samples : Assays returned gold values of up to 9.313 g/t gold in oxidized quartz-sulfide vein outcrops, confirming the presence of a high-sulfidation epithermal system. : Assays returned gold values of up to 9.313 g/t gold in oxidized quartz-sulfide vein outcrops, confirming the presence of a high-sulfidation epithermal system. Significant Silver Mineralization: Silver grades over 1,000 g/t silver (assay limit) were also identified in brecciated zones, highlighting the potential for robust precious-metal mineralization. Silver grades over 1,000 g/t silver (assay limit) were also identified in brecciated zones, highlighting the potential for robust precious-metal mineralization. Broad Alteration Footprint : Systematic mapping has revealed advanced argillic alteration over a 2,500 metre by 500 metre trend. Mineralization remains open in all directions. : Systematic mapping has revealed advanced argillic alteration over a 2,500 metre by 500 metre trend. Mineralization remains open in all directions. Possible Sulphide Anomaly Detected: Ground-based Induced Polarization ("IP") geophysical surveys have outlined a broad high-chargeability, low-resistivity anomaly south of the primary alteration zone, suggesting a deeper sulphide-rich feeder system. Ground-based Induced Polarization ("IP") geophysical surveys have outlined a broad high-chargeability, low-resistivity anomaly south of the primary alteration zone, suggesting a deeper sulphide-rich feeder system. Evidence of Potential Porphyry System: Elevated copper content (0.3%-0.6%) in select channel samples suggests a deep porphyry-style target. Elevated copper content (0.3%-0.6%) in select channel samples suggests a deep porphyry-style target. Historical and Recent Data Alignment : Over 500 samples collected since 2016 confirm a consistent precious-metal anomaly (+100 ppb Au and/or 1 oz/t Ag) along the full 2,500 metre trend, reinforcing the potential for a large, cohesive mineralized system. Over 19% of these samples assayed above 1 g/t Au and 22% were above 1 oz/t Ag. : Over 500 samples collected since 2016 confirm a consistent precious-metal anomaly (+100 ppb Au and/or 1 oz/t Ag) along the full 2,500 metre trend, reinforcing the potential for a large, cohesive mineralized system. Over 19% of these samples assayed above 1 g/t Au and 22% were above 1 oz/t Ag. Potential for Scale: Tres Cerros shares similar host rocks (Tertiary Calipuy volcanic units abutting Cretaceous Chimu silicified arenites), advanced argillic alteration, and structural controls to the Lagunas Norte deposit, which historically produced >10 Moz Au in the same regional belt. Shawn Howarth, President and CEO of Excellon, commented, "With the acquisition of the Mallay Mine and Tres Cerros, we saw two clear value creation opportunities: a near-term, low-cost restart of a silver mine with strong growth potential at $30+ silver prices, and the first ever drilling of a potentially world-class gold-silver exploration target with remarkable similarities to renowned Peruvian gold deposits." "We believe Tres Cerros has the potential to become a Tier 1 deposit in Peru, underscored by sampling and ground-based geophysics work completed to-date. The similarities to the Lagunas Norte deposit underscore Tres Cerros as a rare early-stage opportunity, within a proven mineral belt. Our next steps include prioritizing drill targets and engaging extensively with local stakeholders to ensure responsible, transparent project development." About Tres Cerros Tres Cerros is a high-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver exploration project, spanning approximately 2,500 x 500 meters in the Lima Region of Peru, and located just 6 kilometres west of the Mallay mine and camp, from which it can be serviced. Initially discovered by Buenaventura geologists, Tres Cerros features prominent extensive, structurally controlled mineralization hosted in Lower Cretaceous sandstones adjacent to a major volcanic centre. While an extensive alteration footprint is apparent, a significant proportion of the area is under cover, so sampling to date has focused on the more silicfified, topographically prominent areas. The mineralization is controlled by faulting in two major directions - a North-South boundary fault which intersects with East-West tensional structures - generating considerable brecciation and stockwork veining. The current sampling program targeted the 'grain' of the mineralization and has confirmed that the highest grades of both gold and silver are associated with both the E-W structures and conjugate NNW-SSE orientations. Excellon regards Tres Cerros as a potential large, low-grade oxidized bulk-tonnage gold project and the next phase of exploration will involve extensive trenching and rock-sawing to clearly define the mineralized envelope and its characteristics. Ongoing exploration aims to delineate near-surface mineralization and assess the potential for a robust precious-metal resource analogous to established Peruvian mines such as Lagunas Norte. In addition to near-surface mineralization, a strong chargeability target has been identified in the southern part of the property[1]. This geophysical anomaly is coincident with a strong surface geochemical signature - including gold, silver, copper, lead and tungsten - suggesting the source of the IP anomaly could be a Cu-porphyry system with related skarn mineralization hosted in underlying carbonate sediments. Both the geophysical and geochemical anomalies are large, measuring approximately 600 x 500 meters. Surface Sampling Program Details Previous systematic surface sampling across a prominent mineralized corridor was validated by geologists in late 2024. Eighty-four rock chip and channel samples were collected from key outcrops. In total, more than 500 samples have now been collected over the trend area (see Figure 1). Figure 1. Tres Cerros Au geochemistry including December 2024 surface sampling The objective of the 2024 sampling program was to verify the presence of mineralization hosted in fractures and breccias found in outcrop on the Tres Cerros Project and to establish the tenor of that mineralization. The assay results from this method of surface vein sampling cannot be stated as representative of a bulk tonnage target. Samples were collected from vein material only, not including wall rock. Between 2 and 3 kg of material was collected from each sample site. Samples of breccias without definitive structural orientation were sampled as rock chip panels at a minimum size of 1m x 1m. Samples were collected using sledgehammer, rock hammers and chisel. Fresh rock was exposed along the channels or panels prior to sampling. All samples were assayed at the certified Certimin Laboratory in Lima. A summary of the recent sampling is highlighted below and in Table 1. Gold (Au) High-grade veins : up to 9.313 g/t Au and over 1,000 g/t Ag (assay limit) Multiple lower-grade zones : averaging 0.3-0.7 g/t Au in brecciated outcrops. Silver (Ag) Brecciated zones : up to 241.0 g/t Ag in breccia-hosted mineralization. Outcrop continuity : consistent anomalous silver along major structures. Copper (Cu) Local hotspots : 0.3%-0.6% Cu associated with chalcopyrite in veins. Vector for deep porphyry : elevated Au, Cu and W values coincide with a prominent IP chargeability anomaly. Table 1. Assay results from select surface samples collected in December 2024* Sample ID Sample Dimension (m) Type Structure Vein Width (m) Au Ag Cu Pb Zn ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 150602 0.40x1.0 Vein 0.40 2.192 >1000 88 >10000 123 150603 0.25x0.6 Vein 0.25 0.668 968.0 85 >10000 92 150605 0.45x0.4 Bx vein 0.45 0.181 283.0 205 >10000 1576 150609 NA 0.156 201.0 30 3129 17 150612 0.6x0.15 Vein 0.60 0.419 90.0 192 2250 53 150614 0.3x0.3 Vein 0.30 1.235 219.0 257 8837 147 150615 1.1x0.25 Vein 1.10 0.367 20.9 47 1747 106 150616 0.65x0.2 Fault bx 0.171 241.0 55 4268 81 150617 0.85x0.15 Fault bx 0.148 7.8 116 1611 90 150619 0.40x0.2 Vein 0.20 1.692 97.6 157 875 36 150620 0.20x1.0 Vein 0.20 9.313 >1000 273 6758 71 150623 0.40x0.3 Fault bx 0.130 4.3 51 319 10 150625 Grab 0.610 37.0 355 >10000 44 150626 0.6x0.3 Vein 0.30 0.142 315.0 213 >10000 79 150627 0.7x0.3 Bx vein 0.70 1.199 8.2 64 216 25 150628 1.0x1.0 Fault bx 0.729 1.9 33 356 24 150633 3.5x0.4 Fractures 0.162 2.5 61 257 7 150635 0.3x0.4 Fault bx 0.479 68.7 884 578 49 150636 6.6x0.3 Fault bx 1.601 79.0 185 568 60 150637 0.2x0.6 Bx vein 0.20 0.133 0.3 27 74 14 150639 0.7x0.4 Bx vein 0.70 3.100 365.0 8775 302 54 150640 1.0x0.5 Bx vein 0.50 3.708 23.0 396 388 34 150641 2.0x0.6 Fractures 1.022 176.0 1174 315 26 150642 0.65x0.25 Bx vein 0.56 2.321 125.0 7754 3000 161 150644 0.3x0.3 Bx vein 0.30 0.504 38.3 474 216 21 150648 2.5x2.3 Qtzt bx 0.120 0.1 97 43 8 150652 0.3x0.3 Vein 0.15 1.416 136.0 >10000 935 120 150653 0.3x1.4 Vein 1.00 1.380 42.3 6060 671 196 150654 0.3x0.3 0.263 244.0 1859 >10000 212 150659 0.3x1.0 Vein 0.30 0.499 33.6 153 767 85 150660 0.3x0.3 Bx vein 0.20 1.423 51.4 85 7173 260 150661 1.5x0.3 Bx vein 0.30 1.190 21.5 26 2217 173 * Note: Grab samples are selective representations and the assay results may not necessarily represent true underlying mineralization. Bx: Breccia, Qtzt: Quartzite The following selected photos highlight samples that returned anomalous Au and Ag grades at Tres Cerros: Sample 150639: 0.70m @ 3.10 g/t Au, 365.0 g/t Ag. Quartz-sulfide stockwork hosted in brecciated quartz arenite. Sample 150640: 0.50m @ 3.71 g/t Au, 23.0 g/t Ag. Quartz-sulfide vein hosted in tension fracture through finely bedded quartz arenite. Sample trench filled and hand samples from vein placed across vein width. Panel sample (1.0 x 1.0 m) on brecciated quartz arenite outcrop. Sample 150628: 0.729 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag. Chargeability Anomaly: Deep Exploration Target Ground-based geophysics has identified a strong, broad chargeability anomaly in the South Zone extending 600 x 500 metres at 220m depth, highlighting a priority target for deep drilling. The anomaly exhibits high chargeability, indicative of disseminated sulphides, and low resistivity, suggesting extensive hydrothermal alteration. The main chargeability anomaly is located on the intersection of two regional scale structures, adjacent to the caldera rim. Figure 2. Chargeability at 220 metre depth overlain by geology and Au geochemistry (2018)*, Tres Cerros * Au geochemistry from Buenaventura sampling campaigns, 2016-2018 Next Steps Metallurgical Studies (ongoing): Preliminary tests to assess gold and silver recoveries from near-surface mineralization. Preliminary tests to assess gold and silver recoveries from near-surface mineralization. Permitting (six-to-eight months): To drill Tres Cerros, Excellon requires exploration permits, expected to be a six-to-eight-month process. To drill Tres Cerros, Excellon requires exploration permits, expected to be a six-to-eight-month process. Phase 1 Drilling: Upon receipt of exploration permits, Excellon anticipates a maiden 3,500-metre diamond drilling program targeting high-priority areas where geochemical and geophysical data converge to suggest robust precious-metal mineralization. About Excellon Excellon's vision is to realize opportunities through the acquisition of advanced development or producing assets with further potential to gain from an experienced management team for the benefit of our employees, communities and shareholders. Excellon is in the process of acquiring the past-producing Mallay Silver Mine and Tres Cerros Gold-Silver Exploration Project in Peru. The Company is also advancing a portfolio of gold, silver and base metals assets including Kilgore, an advanced gold exploration project in Idaho; and Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany with 750 years of mining history and little modern exploration. A link to the Company's updated corporate presentation highlighting corporate plans and timelines can be found here. Qualified Person Steven L. Park, M.Sc., C.P.G., an independent consulting geologist and a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Results from samples were analyzed at Certimin Laboratories, Lima, Peru, a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015. Samples were weighed, dried for 8 hours at 100oC, passed through primary and secondary crushers to -10 mesh, then split and pulverized 250g to 95% less than minus 140 mesh. Silver was analyzed by ICP following aqua regia digestion; values >100 ppm Ag were re-run by atomic absorption after aqua regia digestion; and values >1,000 ppm Ag were determined by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Gold was analyzed by fire-assay of a 30g sample pulp, finishing with aqua regia digestion and atomic absorption (AA) with a 5 ppb detection limit. An additional 34 elements were analyzed by ICP methods following aqua regia digestion. A secure chain of custody was maintained by the qualified person in transporting, storing, and delivering all samples to Certimin Laboratories. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained, referenced or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as: "actively", "advance", "anticipated", "assess", "believe", "cause", "commence", "completion", "conditions", "consideration", "continues", "development", "due course", "expectation", "exploration", "extend", "extension", "flexibility", "focused", "forward", "further", "future", "if", "implement", "liquidity", "looking", "maturity", "may", "negotiations", "occur", "opportunities", "options", "outcome", "outstanding", "potential", "providing", "reach", "restructuring", "risk", "subject to", "to be", "update", "vision", "waive", "when", "will", and "would", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, to, will, would (or not) be achieved, occur, provide, result, complete or support in the future or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding evidence of a potential porphyry system; potential for scale; the potential to become a Tier 1 deposit in Peru; the timing, completion and results of preliminary tests to assess gold and silver recoveries from near surface mineralization; the timing and ability of the Company to receive necessary permitting to drill Tres Cerros; exploration and Phase 1 drilling programs, including the timing, completion and results thereof; exploration prospects; potential mineralization; and the Company's objectives, goals and future plans and strategies. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, the inability of the Company to complete the Acquisition on the terms proposed or at all, the inability of the Company to receive necessary regulatory approvals, termination of the Agreement; failure of the Company to complete additional financing transactions on the terms proposed or at all; the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated April 1, 2024 (the "2024 AIF"), and the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, and accompanying financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the Company's other applicable public disclosure (collectively, "Company Disclosure"). The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the 2024 AIF and the other Company Disclosure. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this news release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the other Company Disclosure. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. [1] Geophysical surveys are not definitive and the results are preliminary, with no guarantee of mineral discovery. CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") has been informed that Mayfair Acquisition Corp. ("Mayfair") (TSX.V:MFA.P), a Canadian based capital pool company, intends to make an unsolicited offer to acquire all the shares of CANEX and all of the shares of Gold Basin Resources ("Gold Basin") (TSX.V:GXX) in an all share transaction. The offer intends to combine the Arizona gold assets of both CANEX and Gold Basin into a company sponsored by the Discovery Group. No formal offer has been received. The Board of Directors and management of CANEX are committed to reviewing any proposal in a timely and thorough manner. Upon receipt of a formal offer, the Board will evaluate its terms and provide a public statement in due course. Until CANEX has had an opportunity to review the proposal and its terms, it is not in a position to comment on the offer and will not speculate as to any future course of action it might take. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. About CANEX Metals CANEX Metals (TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on advancing it's 100% owned Gold Range Project in Northern Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early-stage opportunity for investors. CANEX is also advancing the Louise Copper-Gold Porphyry deposit in British Columbia. Louise contains a large historic copper-gold resource that has seen very little deep or lateral exploration, offering investors copper and gold discovery upside. CANEX has scheduled a fully permitted and fully funded induced polarization geophysical survey for the spring of 2025 as the next step in evaluating the Louise property. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX:ALS), a large shareholder of the Company. Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX Metals and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. "Shane Ebert" Shane Ebert President/Director For Further Information Contact: Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 or Jean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636 Web: http://www.canexmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "expects", "projects", "plans", "anticipates" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc. internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of CANEX shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements. Since 2023 a genocide has been unfolding in the Republic of Sudan. The organization that goes by the name the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and militias allied with it have been committing genocide against the Masalit group most notably in West Darfur, states Sudan in its application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on March 4, 2025. Sudan adds that persons among the Masalit were systematically targeted, on the basis of their ethnic identity and the colour of their skin. In the capital of West Darfur, El Geneina, Sudan alleges, the rebel RSF militia laid complete siege to the city for 58 days [in April-June 2023]. People were burned alive. The rebel RSF militia engaged in extrajudicial killing, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement of civilians, rape, and burning of villages. The rebel RSF militia and allied militias have systematically murdered men and boys - including infants - on an ethnic basis. They have deliberately targeted women and girls from certain ethnic groups for rape and other forms of brutal sexual violence. They have targeted fleeing civilians, murdered innocent persons who were escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies. Next comes the target of the request: The United Arab Emirates fuels the war and supports the militia that has committed the crime of genocide in West Darfur, accuses Sudan. The government of [the] United Arab Emirates has sent its own agents to the Republic of Sudan in order to lead the rebel RSF militia forces in carrying out the genocide. Much of the rebel RSF militia political communications and operations are managed in the United Arab Emirates. It has provided the rebel RSF militia forces with extensive financial support. It has recruited and instructed mercenaries in the thousands - from the Sahel, neighbouring countries, and as far away as from Colombia - whom it has sent to the Republic of the Sudan in order to assist the rebel RSF militia in perpetrating the genocide. It has sent and continues to send large shipments of arms, munitions, and military equipment, including fighter drones, to the rebel RSF militia forces which are carrying out its genocide. Experts of the Government of the United Arab Emirates have been training militia members to operate fighter drones. RSF militia acting on behalf of the UAE government Regional analysts confirm much of what Sudan says. They point to work done by UN experts which shows that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the main provider of the Rapid Support Forces. Files were presented to the UN as proof about how Chad is used as a platform or a rear base for the United Arab Emirates to send weapons and equipment to the RSF in Sudan says International Crisis Group analyst for Central Africa Charles Bouessel, adding that the panel of experts of the UN and Sudan has established that this delivery was real. Plus, he says, there is plenty of open-source documentation. Without the Emiratis, the RSF would crumble in weeks, he estimates. In the complaint, Sudan says the UAE is complicit in the genocide on the Masalit through its direction of and provision of extensive financial, political, and military support for the rebel RSF militia. The relationship of the rebel RSF militia to the United Arab Emirates government is so much one of dependence and control that it would be right, for legal purposes, to equate the rebel RSF militia with an organ of the United Arab Emirates government, or as acting on behalf of that government. UAEs reservation: a seemingly insurmountable problem However, Sudans attempt to get the matter addressed at the ICJ comes up against a seemingly insurmountable problem. Way back when the ICJ came into its current form and shortly after the Genocide Convention itself was first hatched into being, the court issued an advisory opinion in 1951 to all states to make clear whether a state could make a reservation to a treaty or not, when it signed up. For the Genocide Convention many states have made the reservation that they cannot be brought to the ICJ - nor can they bring other states to The Hague under the Convention. The UAE sits alongside many other states in the Middle East and - for example - China in having made that reservation. The court clarified what was, at that time, a deep uncertainty about whether treaty reservations were permissible or not says Michael Becker of Trinity College Dublin. In its advisory opinion, the court said that reservations are presumptively permitted, but only up to the point where they arent incompatible with the object and purpose of a treaty, says Becker. On the social media site X, Sudanese UN envoy Ammar Mahmoud confirmed that Sudans submission to the ICJ explicitly addressed this issue [of the reservation] and argued that, such a reservation carries no legal weight because UAEs actions fundamentally contradict and undermine the core principles of the Genocide Convention. But Becker reiterates: The validity of such reservations was tested by the court in 2006 in a case brought by the Democratic Republic of Congo against Rwanda. And even though DRC tried to argue that Rwanda's reservation to Article 9 [the one on jurisdiction] was not valid because it would violate the object and purpose of the Genocide Convention that argument was rejected by the court, he says. Alexandre Skander Galand, from Maastricht University agrees: I don't think that the application by Sudan will pass the prima facie test for establishing jurisdiction. And he finds it puzzling that if Sudan really wanted to challenge the courts practice on reservations, they didn't go into that in more detail in the submission. I was a bit surprised as to why they don't engage straightforwardly with that argument, he says. They don't say it clearly. Trying to get attention The Genocide Convention is certainly one of the treaties in regular discussion at the ICJ that have made the headlines over the last few years. Since Gambia successfully argued that it had standing to bring Myanmar to the court, South Africa has done the same to Israel, Ukraine has argued about the Russian Federation accusations, and Nicaragua about Germanys alleged complicity in genocide. The Genocide Convention is one of the elements that made the ICJ a popular space for states right now. We have lots of serious conflicts in the world involving mass atrocities, acknowledges Becker. And at some level, the Genocide Convention, even though it may not be a perfect fit for a lot of those situations because genocide is so difficult to establish, it remains the only option if you want to try to get a situation in front of the International Court of Justice. We increasingly see states interested in trying to litigate this question about complicity in genocide and wanting to find some way to take a harder line against states that are providing direct support to other actors, whether they're states or non-state actors that are engaged in conduct that might meet the definition of genocide, he continues. Skander agrees and points out that states are especially using the provisional measures phase of the courts proceedings - which comes before the often very long-drawn-out discussions on the merits of a case - to try to get attention: The court, in particular in this provisional order phase, has become an instrument for ordering states, other states, from ceasing their actions. For example, Ukraine used the Genocide Convention for obtaining a provisional order against Russia in asking for a suspension of the military operation. Im not saying that Sudan will obtain that, but that via the provisional measures hearings, the court has received a high level of attention in the news and from society. A method to bring pressure on the UAE And that may provide a clue to what could be the actual motivation here. Sudan is trying to publicise the UAEs role in the conflict right now. I think Sudan has understood that says Skander. In my view, it is using the publicity for hearing, where it could not have the same level of attention in other fora. Becker agrees that this may be a sign of Sudans frustration with its efforts to raise these issues in other fora. And the fact that we are even talking about the claims means that they have succeeded to some extent. They may hope that this, in some way, is another method to bring some pressure to bear on the UAE or on their partners, to put pressure on other states to tell UAE, okay, enough is enough, things need to change in terms of how you are engaging in that conflict. The ICJ has long been an important space for states to resent their legal arguments. But now it has also become a major space for the public discourse on a conflict. I think the court has become a place where you can wage your accusations, whether they be legally grounded, but at least politically informed, in a place where they will receive a significant amount of attention, even if - as in this case - the chances that it goes forward are very, very thin, says Skander. Given that they will most probably be discarded, we will never hear the merits. And this leaves us with a kind of suspicion of whether or not that was true, right? And so that will stay. We will always remember that the UAE is in Sudans view responsible for a genocide that is happening in its country, and this I find it extremely interesting. It is a new strategy. The bringing of yet another case the ICJ, by a party that has never before been in a contentious case at the court, seems to emphasise the bigger importance states are placing in proceedings before the ICJ. While in the past the states were more reserved because of the political or economic cost, we are seeing a world where the tensions are very high and perhaps the use of international law, of the International Court of Justice, is not seen as such as threatening for international relations. That raises a lot of questions in todays world where, in particular from the Trump administration, there is considerable contesting of the international legal order. So, how to reconcile these two trends is quite puzzling, says Skander. Image by Alexa from Pixabay Slip and fall accidents occur when an individual loses balance due to hazardous conditions on someone elses property. These incidents can lead to severe injuries, ranging from fractures to traumatic brain injuries. In many cases, property owners may be held liable for failing to maintain a safe environment. Slip and fall accidents fall under premises liability law, which holds property owners responsible for maintaining reasonably safe conditions. The extent of liability often depends on whether the injured person was an invitee, licensee, or trespasser. Understanding the key aspects of slip and fall cases can help victims determine if they have a viable claim. Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents Wet or Slippery Floors Spills, leaks, or recently mopped floors can create dangerous conditions. Businesses and property owners must place warning signs to prevent accidents. Failure to do so can lead to liability if an individual slips and gets injured. Uneven Surfaces Cracked sidewalks, potholes, and loose floorboards can cause tripping hazards. Regular maintenance and repairs are necessary to ensure safety. Property owners who ignore these hazards may be held accountable in a slip and fall lawsuit. Poor Lighting Dimly lit stairwells, hallways, or parking lots increase the risk of falls. Adequate lighting is essential to help individuals navigate safely. If poor lighting contributed to an accident, the property owner could be found negligent. Cluttered Walkways Obstructions such as electrical cords, debris, or misplaced furniture can contribute to falls. Keeping walkways clear is crucial for preventing accidents. Store owners, landlords, and business operators have a duty to ensure paths remain unobstructed. Lack of Handrails Missing or broken handrails on staircases make it difficult for individuals to maintain balance, increasing the risk of falls. Property owners should inspect stairways and install sturdy handrails where necessary. Determining Property Owner Negligence Duty of Care Property owners have a legal duty to maintain a safe environment for visitors. This duty varies depending on the visitors classification: Invitees: Customers or guests on the property for business purposes. Owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees. Licensees: Individuals permitted on the property for social reasons. Owners must warn them of potential hazards. Trespassers: Unauthorized individuals on the property. While the duty of care is lower, owners cannot intentionally create hazards. Proving Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case To establish negligence in a slip and fall lawsuit, the injured party must prove: The Property Owner Had a Duty of Care: Demonstrating that the owner was responsible for maintaining the premises. The Owner Knew or Should Have Known About the Hazard: Showing that the dangerous condition was present long enough for the owner to address it. The Owner Failed to Take Action: Proving that the owner neglected to fix the hazard or provide warnings. The Hazard Directly Caused the Injury: Establishing a clear link between the dangerous condition and the injuries sustained. Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident Seek Medical Attention Medical care is crucial after a slip and fall accident. Even if injuries appear minor, underlying conditions such as concussions or internal injuries may develop later. Seeking medical attention also creates documentation of injuries, which is essential for legal claims. Learn more about healthcare considerations here. Document the Scene Gathering evidence is essential for building a strong case. Key steps include: Taking photographs of the hazardous condition. Collecting witness statements and contact information. Reporting the accident to the property owner or manager. Retaining medical records and bills related to the injury. Consult a Personal Injury Attorney An experienced attorney can assess the case, determine liability, and negotiate with insurance companies. A legal professional can help collect evidence, determine the amount of damages, and represent the victim in court if necessary. For expert legal assistance, visit Cueria Law Firm. Compensation for Slip and Fall Victims Medical Expenses Victims may recover compensation for hospital bills, surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing medical treatments. The cost of future medical care can also be factored into a settlement. Lost Wages If injuries prevent an individual from working, they may seek reimbursement for lost income and reduced earning capacity. This applies to both short-term and long-term disability cases resulting from slip and fall accidents. Pain and Suffering Non-economic damages include emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages vary depending on the severity of the injuries and the impact on the victims daily life. Punitive Damages In cases of extreme negligence or intentional harm, courts may award punitive damages to punish the responsible party. These damages serve as a deterrent to prevent future negligence. Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim Each state has a statute of limitations that dictates how long victims have to file a slip and fall lawsuit. In most cases, this period ranges from one to four years. Failing to file within this period may result in losing the right to compensation. Defenses Property Owners May Use Comparative Negligence Property owners may argue that the victim was partially responsible for the accident. If the injured party contributed to their fall (e.g., ignoring warning signs or wearing inappropriate footwear), their compensation may be reduced under comparative negligence laws. Lack of Notice Defendants may claim they were unaware of the hazardous condition and therefore not liable. If the danger appeared suddenly and the property owner had no reasonable time to address it, they may not be held responsible. Assumption of Risk In some cases, the property owner may argue that the victim knowingly entered a risky area, assuming responsibility for any injuries that occurred. How to Choose the Right Slip and Fall Attorney Selecting a qualified attorney is crucial for a successful claim. Factors to consider include: Experience in Premises Liability Cases Client Reviews and Testimonials Proven Track Record of Settlements and Verdicts Clear Communication and Transparency To find a trusted personal injury attorney, check this directory. Conclusion Slip and fall accidents can have serious consequences, leading to significant medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress. If a property owners negligence caused the accident, victims may have legal grounds to seek compensation. Understanding the key elements of a slip and fall case and taking appropriate legal action can help ensure justice and financial relief. Consulting a personal injury attorney is the best course of action to navigate the legal process and maximize compensation. Thursday, March 20, 2025 - A Kenyan woman has taken to social media to narrate about her marital woes after walking out of her troubled marriage. She married her long-time partner in a traditional wedding ceremony, whom she had known for 8 years. However, he started cheating months after they settled down. The aggrieved woman, who works with a sea company, travelled for work outside the country for months, only for her husband to bring his side chick to their matrimonial bed. Her cheating husband would even ask her for money and use it to finance vacation trips to Mombasa with his side chick. When she came back from her work trip outside the country, she did her research and discovered that her husband was cheating, less than 8 months after their traditional wedding. She then decided to walk out of her marriage. Read her post on Tiktok. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - There are reports that employees at Bomas of Kenya have been informed that Tuesday, 19th March 2025, marked their final day of work, as plans to demolish key structures, including the iconic auditorium, intensify. According to insider sources, the demolition will involve the use of explosives, with the only building left untouched being the Administration Block. Security personnel have reportedly been deployed to the site to guard Chinese contractors who are overseeing the project. While the Government has maintained that Bomas is undergoing renovations, employees claim they have been denied access to the premises and sent home without their salaries or gratuity, contrary to the terms of their contracts. Restaurant operators within the facility have also been ordered to vacate, with their premises set for demolition. This latest development follows earlier reports that suggested employees were instructed to remain silent on the matter and warned against speaking to the media. Concerns have also been raised over the alleged non-remittance of bank loan deductions from employees' salaries, which has left many at risk of financial ruin. In February, reports emerged that Bomas management had held a closed-door meeting where employees were informed of plans to demolish the auditorium and were told they would be placed on unpaid leave for three months. At the time, some employees expressed fears that the Governments real intention was to privatise the facility under the guise of renovations. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently alleged that Bomas of Kenya had been handed over to a Turkish businessman, claiming it was part of a broader scheme to allocate State resources to foreign interests. However, Culture PS Ummi Bashir dismissed these claims, insisting that Bomas remains state-owned and that the ongoing works are purely for refurbishment. With employees now forced out and demolition preparations in full swing, questions continue to arise about the true nature of the changes taking place at the historic facility. "Hi Nyakundi. The BOMAS of Kenya employees have been informed that today, 19/03/2025, was their last day of performing/working at the institution. They are intending to bring down all the buildings and the auditorium using some kind of explosive. The only building they are leaving untouched is the administration block. Jeshi wako kwa ground already to provide security to the Chinese contractors. The employees have been told that the government is only renovating the place, but that's not the case. Meanwhile, the employees will not be allowed to access the BOMAS during this "renovation" period. They've been sent packing without their salaries nor gratuity, contrary to their signed terms of employment/contracts. The restaurant guys have been told to clear the restaurant as it's also going down. These employees have been the sole breadwinners of their families. Where will they go now? Who will come to their rescue? What are they supposed to do? Kindly highlight this and hide ID design. Government imetufichia the truth!" The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - In a bold move, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern ultimatum to illegal immigrants, including over 30,000 Kenyans living in the U.S without proper documentation to self-deport now or face a lifetime ban from the country. Trumps administration has introduced the CBP Home app, a self-deportation tool that allows undocumented immigrants to register their intent to leave voluntarily. Users must provide their name, address, a photo, and confirm if they have the means to return to their home country. People in our country unlawfully can self-deport the easy way, or they can get deported the hard way, Trump declared. If they choose to leave voluntarily, they may have a chance to return legally in the future. If not, they will be deported and banned permanently. According to United Nations data, the U.S. hosts 157,000 Kenyan migrants, with 30,000 classified as illegal. Those who fail to register for voluntary departure risk being apprehended and forcibly removed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration has been a central focus of his presidency. Since taking office, he has aggressively pursued policies aimed at mass deportations. His administration argues that self-deportation is the safest and most cost-effective option, saving U.S taxpayers money and allowing law enforcement to prioritize criminals. The message to illegal immigrants is clear: download the app, register, and leave voluntarily - or risk being deported in chains. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Renowned city lawyer, Nelson Havi, has clapped back at Kenyans criticizing First Lady Rachel Rutos outfit at a state banquet in honor of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. As netizens flooded social media with opinions on her choice of attire, Havi took to his platform to shut down the critics. Let the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya be herself. She is a respectable, modest, and elegant matriarch. Go concentrate on your wives or yourself if you are a woman, he fired back. The diplomatic event, held on Wednesday, March 18th, became an unexpected fashion debate after netizens compared Rachels look to that of her predecessor, Margaret Kenyatta, who many consider Kenyas most stylish First Lady. For the occasion, Rachel donned a long black dress with fringed embroidered detailing and long sleeves - a style commonly associated with women in the UAE. She paired it with a white pearl necklace, elegant black heels with silver accents, and a small black clutch bag. While some praised her for exuding sophistication, others felt the outfit was too sombre for a state banquet. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Chepchoina-based detectives have detained one suspect of attempted violent robbery at Endebes in Trans Nzoia County, even as a manhunt for more criminals who have been giving innocent Kenyans sleepless nights intensify. After enjoying a sumptuous dinner last night, a man and his wife retired to bed for a well-deserved rest, oblivious that some robbers lay in wait to strike at the devils hour. And when it was time, the couple was awakened by noises from outside their grass-thatched house. Immediately, the man woke up and lit his torch, only to find his house roof being de-thatched from outside as one of the hoodlums called out his name ordering him to go out with immediate effect. Linganyak! Linganyak! How many times have we called you? Bellowed the miscreant. We will take all the money you brought from Nairobi. You better come out now! He warned. With fear gripping the couple, the wife let out a piercing scream hoping to alert their neighbors. The magical distress call didnt help at the time. It only provoked a gunshot that rented the air, shot from an AK 47 rifle. Luckily, the bullet went blind, missing the badly shaken couple. The suspected gang of four then bolted out. In the morning, members of the public who heard the melee found Akala shoe-prints outside the scene, which led them to the house of one suspect, Emmanuel Lomoket. When he saw the visitors approaching, he took to his heels hoping to get away, but his thirst for liberty was quenched with a firm grip and an overdose of hot blows that deeply massaged his vital tissues. The greetings, encouraged him to address the impatient gathering, confessing to have been among three others who attempted robbery. Volunteering to shift the party to the house of an accomplice only identified as Bosco, a search team missed the suspect but discovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with an empty magazine. The same had been concealed in a sack of maize. The suspect and the exhibit were surrendered safely in the hands of the police, who ushered Lomoket in a secure cubicle for a treatment deserved by a guest of the state. Lomoket will pay for his crimes, even as police hunt down the rest of the gang. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Goons armed with old engine oil mixed with sewer waste attacked traders and journalists in Limuru town during a meeting held to discuss Kiambu County licenses. The meeting, organized by Limuru traders, had been calm until rowdy goons allegedly sent by unknown persons attacked traders and journalists, dousing them with oil and raw sewage, which left a nauseating odor in the air. The hired public address system, cameras and cars were also targeted as the thugs, believed to have been hired, wreaked havoc to disperse the traders. The traders are protesting against exorbitant taxes amid poor service delivery by the county. Several people were injured and media cameras damaged during the mayhem. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Damaris Wanjiku has sent social media into a frenzy after mocking her ex-husband, who took loans to finance their traditional wedding. He paid for everything during the colourful traditional wedding, but their marriage lasted barely a year. She has since moved on and is dating another man, besides running a thriving business. On the other hand, her husband is still struggling to repay the loans. See her trending post. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - A photo of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinard Waititu at Industrial Area Remand Prison where he is serving a jail term after he was convicted of graft has surfaced on social media. The once-powerful politician looked lonely and disturbed as he continues to fight for his freedom while behind bars. On Tuesday, March 18th, Waititu filed a fresh application seeking to be released on bond. The fresh application came hot on the heels of an appeal against his jail sentence filed by the embattled former Governor, which is still pending. On Thursday, February 13th, Waititu was sentenced to 12 years in prison or pay a fine of Ksh 53.5 million after he was found guilty of the illegal awarding of a tender during his time as Kiambu County boss. Additionally, the court imposed a mandatory fine of Ksh 51 million in default to serve another seven years in prison. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Raila Odinga Jr. had a special moment as he visited State House, Nairobi, during the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. The royal couple arrived in Kenya on March 17th for a four-day tour aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties. Hosted by President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, the event brought together distinguished guests, including Raila Jr., who later took to social media to share glimpses of the experience. However, his cheeky Bondo caption on one of the photos left netizens talking. Many had predicted that the opposition leader would retire to his rural home in Bondo, Siaya County, after losing the 2022 presidential elections to Ruto. However, Raila has remained a key political player, thanks to his recent pact with President Ruto, which has allowed him to influence national affairs within a broad-based government. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Nominated ODM Senator, Hamida Kibwana, made a startling revelation during an Iftar dinner hosted by Raila Odinga at a Nairobi hotel. In the presence of her party leader, she openly admitted that she and a section of fellow Muslims had prayed for Raila to lose the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship election. "I want to tell you one thing, and I wont lie to you. As Muslims, we sat and prayed that you lose the AUC chairman post. I swear, myself, my husband, and others," Hamida declared. On February 15th, Raila lost the AUC chairmanship bid to Djiboutis Mahamoud Ali Youssouf at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hamida justified their prayers, arguing that Kenyas political landscape would be chaotic and unmanageable without Railas influence. She likened him to a fire that warms a drum to produce a melodious sound, saying his absence would make the countrys politics dull and directionless. "It is unfortunate that you lost, but we are happy you are back home. We are praying for you and wish you a long life," she added. She also confessed that after supporting Raila in five unsuccessful presidential elections, she had nearly lost hope. However, she believes his continued presence in Kenyan politics keeps their faith alive. ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Mining CS Hassan Joho, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and former Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju attended the high-profile Iftar event. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Some of the units under the Governments housing initiative in Pangani are already in a dilapidated state, raising serious concerns about construction standards. Photos circulating online expose leaking pipes, faulty plumbing, and poor drainage systems, making the apartments nearly unlivable. Shockingly, despite the urgent demand for housing in Nairobi, over 90% of these units remain unoccupied years after completion. This revelation comes at a time when President William Ruto is aggressively championing the Affordable Housing agenda, which is partly funded by the highly debated Affordable Housing Levy. The levy deducts 1.5% from employees' gross salaries, matched by an equal contribution from employers, to finance the initiative. With such glaring failures from past projects, many Kenyans are now questioning whether the new Affordable Housing plan will deliver on its promises - or if it will become yet another costly disappointment.Bottom of Form See the photo and reaction below. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Prominent Kenyan social media commentator and activist Dr. Mumbi Seraki has broken her silence after days of uncertainty surrounding her whereabouts, revealing that she survived a harrowing ordeal. In a series of posts, Dr. Mumbi disclosed that she had been drugged and left unable to recollect most of what transpired. According to her, what was meant to be a casual meeting turned into a near-fatal incident that left her battered, bruised, and in hospital for days. "They almost got me last Friday, family, but as Fate would have it, I am back home, safe and sound. Battered, bruised, burnt, but still very much here to bring in the new dawn," she posted. She added that whatever substance she was given has now worn off, allowing her to regain some clarity about the events. Some reports circulating on social media suggest that she had been lured into a meeting by a lawyer, after which she was allegedly drugged. The same narrative states that she was involved in a freak accident where the vehicle burned to ashes, destroying all her belongings. Dr. Mumbi has assured her followers that she will provide further details in due course, while gratitude continues to pour in from those who rallied behind her during the distressing period. The Kenyan DAILY POST - - SAMUEL George Cotton was born at 2 St Georges Place, Bray in 1823. His father was a well-known Dublin surgeon. Cotton was educated privately and attended Trinity College Divinity School, before being ordained a deacon in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin in August 1847. He was appointed curate to the Athy parish and was first noted as reading at St Michaels Church on 29 September 1847, when he read to a congregation of 270 in the morning and preached to 70 parishioners in the evening. The Preachers Book for St Michaels shows his final homily for the Athy parishioners was delivered on the evening of 2 July 1848. Two weeks earlier, he was ordained a vicar in Tuam Cathedral and shortly thereafter was appointed Vicar of Kilberry Parish in succession to Rev William Warburton. Rev Cottons early years in Kilberry were uncontroversial, even if his opinions of parishioners and Kilberry natives alike, which he wrote in his Visiting Book in 1853, painted a character likely to fall foul of third parties. He visited his Kilberry parishioners in their homes during a period of four months starting in April 1853, making notes on individual parishioners. These notes were generally critical of his parishioners, one of whom he described as a great humbug of note, if anything a Romanist. Another was described as a great drunkard, never been to church nor seen at communion. It was interesting to note the number of parishioners whom he described as former Roman Catholics. It was not long before the Rev Cotton fell out with many of his parishioners, which resulted in the following letter issuing on behalf of his dissatisfied parishioners to the archbishop of Dublin. May it please your Grace, we the undersigned parishioners of Kilberry Parish humbly request that your Grace will be kind enough to cause an enquiry to be made into the conduct of the Rev SG Cotton, Vicar of this parish. His almost total neglect of the parish during weekdays, he more than once neglected to attend the church on Sunday and consequently the parishioners were obliged to return home without church service. There were further complaints in the letter which was signed by AG Judge and George J Phipps, as well as ten church wardens. The letter was supported by Lord Downes of Bert House, who wrote to the archbishop on 7 April 1855 claiming that the conduct of the Rev SG Cotton had for some time past been of an extraordinary nature and that many of his parishioners had ceased to attend his church. The archbishop is not recorded as having dealt with the parishioners complaints and what was described in the Leinster Express as The Church and the Kilberry controversy continued into the following year, with many letters from Rev Cotton featuring in the newspaper. In March 1857, Rev Cotton found himself before the magistrates at Athy Petty Sessions charged with assault and facing a civil claim for wages due to the former sexton of Kilberry Church. The magistrates found in favour of the plaintiff and awarded a decree for nine shillings and ten pence, including costs, against Rev Cotton. The evidence in relation to the assault charge concerned the former sexton, a female, who satisfied the court that Rev Cotton pulled a chair from under her and attempted to pull her out of the local school. The vicar received the first of many convictions that he would receive during his clerical career, with a fine of one pound and two shillings and sixpence costs. Rev Cotton then went to war against the Leinster Express, which reported the petty sessions hearing claiming that the newspaper was biased in its reporting. Many letters from the cleric were dealt with by the Leinster Express editor who, on one occasion, wrote: Mr Cotton appears to think we entertain an unkind disposition towards him and that we have used language calculated to do him injury. We must disclaim any such feeling while we have every right to express our dissent from his views. The Rev Vicars letters continued and were published in the Leinster Express. The editor was then moved to write: It is a matter of much regret to us that our columns should be so frequently occupied with this Rev gentlemans affairs, and it is with difficulty that we can maintain the proper bounds of newspaper discussion. In our last edition, Mr Lefroy, an old and respected magistrate, was accused by Mr Cotton of bias in the discharge of his duties and has deemed it necessary to repel in indignant terms the imputation. Rev Cotton also fell out with Rev FS Trench, rector of Athy, whom he had called upon to intervene in the row between the Kilberry parishioners and himself. Rev Trench apparently did not intervene and subsequently was the subject of a letter of complaint from his Kilberry counterpart. A further complaint from Messrs Judge and Phipps that monies collected for the local church were misused by Rev Cotton was the subject of an enquiry by two former church wardens. They were satisfied that all monies collected since 1847 had been distributed in the same way as Rev Cottons predecessor, Rev Warburton. The second part of Rev Cottons extraordinary story will appear next week. By Jessica Coates and Rob Freeman, PA More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted on Friday due to the closure of the airport following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in west London. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those impacted by the power outage. Online flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said the closure would affect at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow. London fire crews are battling a blaze at an electrical substation in Hayes (London Fire Brigade/PA) It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. Heathrow is the UKs largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. A Heathrow spokesperson said: Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation. It's going to impact a number of flights from Ireland, but will also hit airports here who will have to accommodate diverted planes. Online tracking services showed flights being diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Irelands Shannon Airport. A number of flights were also turned around and returned to airports in Canada and the United States. Emergency services at the scene in Roseville Road, west London, near to the electrical substation which caught fire (James Weech/PA) Shannon Airport in Co Clare confirmed it had accepted six diverted flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. Gatwick Airport confirmed it had accepted seven diverted flights from locations including Singapore, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Doha which were originally destined for Heathrow. We are aware of the situation at Heathrow Airport today and we are supporting by accepting diverted flights as required, an airport spokesperson said. Flights are operating from London Gatwick as normal today. Heathrow Express train service announced it would not operate on Friday while Hayes and Harlington railway station remained closed on Friday morning, National Rail confirmed. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said on X there was a large-scale power outage in Hayes, Hounslow and the surrounding areas impacting more than 16,300 homes. According to the power companys website, authorities aimed to restore power by 3pm on Friday. A National Grid spokesperson said the fire had damaged equipment and they working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible. London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were still on the scene at Nestles Avenue in Hayes just before 6am with part of a transformer still alight. Around 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution. Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible. The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption. Firefighters led 29 people from surrounding properties to safety. Footage posted to social media showed huge flames and large plumes of smoke coming from the facility. The brigade said nearly 200 calls had been received in relation to the incident with crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding areas on the scene. Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.23pm on Thursday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Mr Goulbourne said firefighters urged people to take safety precautions as crews worked to extinguish the blaze. This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night, he said. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible. London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police both confirmed they were on scene supporting fire crews. Two students from Castledermot were recognised for their academic excellence last week at the Carlow College Scholarship Awards Ceremony. Mature Student Entrance Scholarships were awarded to Emma Gately, first-year BA (Hons) English & History and Sinead Dowling, first-year BA Applied Social Studies for getting the highest GPAs in their courses in semester one. The students were among 19 scholarships awarded in recognition of their academic achievements both for first-year and continuing students. Students receiving scholarships were from Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Kildare, Waterford, Cork and Dublin. Social Care student, Sinead Dowling from Castledermot, celebrates her Mature Achievement Award with her father, Ned Dowlin Scholarships are awarded for the first-year student who achieves the highest CAO points for each undergraduate course, or in the case of mature students, the student who achieves the highest semester one results in their first year. In addition, progression scholarships are awarded for the highest achieving students for each programme progressing to the next year. Awardees received a certificate and a cash scholarship worth 500. The Scholarship Awards were presented by Carlow College President, Fr Conn O Maoldhomhnaigh and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar, Dr Margaret Murphy at a recent ceremony. Dr Murphy said: Carlow College, St. Patricks is delighted to make these scholarship awards to our well deserving students and to recognise their hard work and dedication to their studies. Late applications are still being accepted for undergraduate programmes commencing in September 2025. CAO late applications close on 1 May. To find out more, visit carlowcollege.ie/cao. Down Syndrome Irelands National Advisory Council met with Tanaiste Simon Harris this week ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March, and Conor ODonnell from Newbridge as Public Relations Officer of the National Advisory Council (NAC) got to meet him. The NAC is a panel of adult members who guide Down Syndrome Ireland. They campaign and advocate for people with Down syndrome across Ireland on issues including transport, voting rights, employment and education. It's important we show our voice, and it's very important to see who we really are and what the NAC does. The NAC is important because we are the voice of people with Down syndrome. We talk about very important things including transport and employment, said Conor. He is no stranger to meeting well-known figures. Conor is an actor best known for his role in Bad Sisters with a star-studded cast including Sharon Horgan. Conor is also passionate about voting rights for people with disabilities and has worked with the Electoral Commission to promote the importance of democracy. During the meeting with the Tanaiste, the NAC and Down Syndrome Internationals Irish ambassador Eileen Dunne shared their experiences of employment, independence and their advocacy work. They also spoke about improvements needed in society for people with disabilities. Tanaiste Simon Harris praised the work of the NAC saying: I was delighted to welcome Down Syndrome Irelands National Advisory Council to Government Buildings and get an insight into the incredible work they are doing to advocate for people with Down syndrome. Ross ONeill, chairperson of the NAC, said: Meeting Simon Harris is important, to make sure our voice is heard. We wanted to share our experience. By David Young, PA Mary Lou McDonald has made clear she will not be Sinn Feins candidate for the Irish presidency if her party decides to contest this autumns election. The party president said Sinn Fein had just commenced its considerations on how it would approach the election and has not yet made a decision on whether it will run its own candidate. Amid speculation that left-leaning parties in the Dail may seek to back an agreed independent candidate, Ms McDonald acknowledged that was an option Sinn Fein would consider. President Michael D Higgins second and final term in office ends on November 11th when the winner of the election will be inaugurated. While an election to find his successor must take place within his final 60 days in office, the poll is expected to be held in late October. Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheal Martin ruled himself out as a candidate for his Fianna Fail party. Ms McDonald was asked about her partys plans, and whether she might be a candidate, as she spoke to reporters at Stormont in Belfast on Friday. On the presidential election, weve just commenced really our discussions around what we might do, she said. Were speaking with others, other parties, and there are options available to us to run a Sinn Fein candidate, to back another and we havent concluded on that. She pushed back on the suggestion that there had been speculation linking her to a presidential run. Just to say no, it wont be me, she added. I want Sinn Fein to be in government in Dublin. I still believe that we can achieve that, and I know that for progress to be made in so many areas, in housing and giving a chance for our younger people in particular, we need a change of government. And all of my energy and my effort is towards achieving that. Michael D Higgins will stand down as president in November. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. The party has recently also rejected speculation linking Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill to a potential run in the presidential election. In the 2018 election, Sinn Fein had a disappointing day, with candidate Liadh Ni Riada coming fourth in the contest, securing just over six per cent of the first preference votes. Fielding questions from reporters on Friday, Ms McDonald also declined to be drawn on mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregors declared intention to seek a candidacy. Thats a matter for himself, she said. The Sinn Fein president added: I think its going to be an important contest come the autumn time. The position of the first citizen of Uachtaran na hEireann (President of Ireland) is a very, very important one, not just domestically, but also internationally. And I think therell be considerable competition for the post. And Michael Ds done a great job, I think we can all agree. THIS years Patricks Day celebrations in Athy was one to remember, as locals remarked that it was the best and biggest parade the town has ever seen. As soon as the horn sounded for the beginning of the parade, the sun came out. It was as if St Patrick himself ordered in the good weather. Athy Parade 2025 Thousands lined the streets and were impressed by the fantastic floats and displays. Star of the show was Bumblebee from Transformers who was there to spread the joy, as well as all the other wonderful floats, including the Darkness Into Light float, celebrating 10 years of the walk for mental health awareness in Athy, and appearances from St Brigid and St Patrick himself! Ella Robinson and Cathal Burke with the Darkness Into Light Float The crowd gave big cheers for this year's Grand Marshal Betty ODonnell as she made her way down the street like royalty, putting the 'celeb' into 'celebration'. Betty was joined by Grand Marshals from the wonderful Ardscoil na Trionoide senior team. Grand Marshal Betty O'Donnell There was a flurry of children marching in the parade from Athy Town AFC, and appearances from The Civil Defense, Athy's fire fighters, the Gardai, Tidy Towns, the Order of Malta and the many other clubs and businesses. Athy's fire fighters The viewing stand held local cllrs and even Minister Martin Heydon TD who was there to celebrate on the day, and members from the beloved Athy fitsticks group presented the crowd with a wonderful dance. Fantastic fun at the viewing stand Athy Town Promoters' Patricia Berry said: I have never seen such a crowd. It was absolutely fantastic. Its memories that everyone brings home with them! A man found in possession of class A drugs has been told to make a donation of 1,000 to the Court Poor Box. Daniel Burke, Duiske Villa, Knocktopher, pleaded guilty to a charge of being in illegal possession of drugs, at Kilkenny District Court. Sergeant Morgan OConnor told the court that on September 9, 2021, a plainclothesed garda observed Mr Burke acting suspiciously. He had a container of white powder in his left hand. The garda approached Mr Burke and informed him he would be searched. Mr Burke opened his hand and showed the garda a packet of cocaine. It was valued at 170. Mr Burke cooperated with gardai, admitting the cocaine was for his own use. Solicitor Alex Rafter said his client had come back from Indonesia to deal with this matter. This offence occurred four years ago and Mr Burke is now a fitness fanatic. He is a completely different person and he does not associate with the same people. Mr Rafter said his client intends to return to Australia where he has a job lined up and was concerned that a conviction might affect his entry into the country. Judge Geraldine Carthy ordered Mr Burke to make a donation of 1,000 to the Court Poor Box and the charge was dismissed. President of ICMSA, Kilkenny farmer Denis Drennan, has said that questions and concerns amongst farmers are rapidly growing in relation to the decision of Dovea Genetics, Eurogene, Munster Bovine and Progressive Genetics to simultaneously apply Intellectual Property (IP) rights to a percentage of their bulls in 2025. Calling these proposals a potential fundamental intrusion on farmers property rights, the ICMSA President said the AI companies should postpone their decision to allow further discussion on the matter as well as ensuring that an acceptable degree of competition is maintained in the provision of AI services going forward. Mr Drennan said that this is a very significant change of position on the part of the AI companies and farmers had to be fully aware of the implications for the ownership rights of their animals. The introduction of these changes by the AI companies will allow the AI companies to exercise control over the offspring of animals fertilised with these AI companies straws. Those are the facts, no-one denies that, and we think that this amounts to a very, very serious change in the full ownership of that offspring that heretofore was the absolute property of the farmer. Effectively, the farmer no longer has full ownership of his or her animal where an IP bull is used and ICMSA thinks that there is a clear onus on the AI companies to inform farmers of this new arrangement, the reasons why they believe it is a good idea, and the full implications for the farmer concerned, said Mr Drennan. Read more: Mass is unavailable to hundreds of people in a Kilkenny parish - click here The ICMSA President acknowledged that there had been some communications from the AI companies, but he said it was wholly inadequate and untimely. Having articles in agricultural media, sending email correspondence at peak calving and within weeks of the 2025 breeding season is not the optimum way of communicating with your farmer-customers. If the AI companies are convinced that the introduction of this IP is the correct course of action, they should press pause and suspend the introduction of IP for 2025. They should then ensure that farmers are fully informed of their reasoning behind the move, aware of the implications, and that farmers should actually sign up to it going forward - if that is their choice, said Mr Drennan. He said it was completely unacceptable to arrive at a situation where a farmer could find in spring 2026 that he or she is not allowed to sell their offspring to another AI company without the permission of the IP bull AI company. Mr Drennan said that there was no point in pretending that this was not a huge change, and farmers were absolutely justified in wondering where this change in practice was going and whether or not this was just the first step in a journey to control Irish cattle breeding by four companies. Our superb breeding today is down to the work of the farmers themselves, along with the work of these AI companies. But for the AI companies to effectively take full control of a farmers stock offspring is a huge concern that warrants real discussion and ICMSA is calling on the AI companies - three of which are farmer-owned - to immediately suspend their proposal and enter a period of discussion with the relevant parties in the industry to chart our future direction together. Drivers zoom into Ballylinan Village in County Laois from the Kilkenny direction, a councillor said at a recent meeting. Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming made the comment when calling for speed safety measures at the village He asked in a motion that Laois County Council in association with TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) provide improved pedestrian crossing facilities / slow down measures in Ballylinan Village in the interest of improved road safety for all. He told a meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District that traffic speeds into the village from the Kilkenny side. READ NEXT: Kilkenny gardai catch out unsuspecting drivers during school rush What measures can we put in place to slow down traffic from the Kilkenny road side because they zoom in there, he said. Cllr Fleming suggested a ramp or two and acknowledged the fact that the TII would need to be consulted. There is four or five estates before you get into the village, Cllr Fleming pointed out. In a written response to the motion, Senior Engineer, Road Design Office, Paul McLoughlin stated that: Road Design will engage with the TII and assess the current measures in place in Ballylinan Village from a Road Safety perspective. Any potential additional safety measures will be subject to a funding application to the TII. The motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan. FOR THE LATEST LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Opposition parties are set to enter an amendment to the Governments motion to change Dail rules, which the Sinn Fein leader said will solve the row over speaking rights. Mary Lou McDonald vowed that opposition parties will face the Government down on the deepening row, which has been ongoing since the formation of the Government. In an attempt to resolve the dispute, Government put down a motion at the Dail Reform Committee to create new rules on speaking rights for a new grouping of other members. The measure, which is to be voted on next Tuesday, would also allocate more time to backbenchers of the Government parties. Members of the opposition have challenged a decision to allow four Government-aligned TDs Michael Lowry, Barry Heneghan, Danny Healy-Rae and Gillian Toole speaking time from the opposition. Speaking in Belfast on Friday, Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein have made joint submissions with opposition parties to enter an amendment to the Governments motion. The Government claim that they simply want to make room for Michael Lowry and his colleagues, for other colleagues on the Government benches to have an opportunity to speak. Our amendment solves that problem for them, Ms McDonald told reporters. I suspect that the Government will reject our amendment because this row actually isnt about speaking time for government, members of government or government TDs. This is all about the Government not wishing to be held fully to account. Its about trying to frustrate or blunt the efforts of the combined opposition to represent people, to hold the Government to account, and to ensure that not just politics, but that democracy itself works. We have the ongoing farce of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael trying to make believe that you can be in government and opposition at the same time. You cannot. Michael Lowry and his crew are government-supporting TDs. Of course, they have to be able to speak from the government benches and on government time. The reason why this has been such a potent issue for all of us, not just in Sinn Fein, all across the opposition benches, is that we know that it is absolutely essential that this government is held to account and that the Irish electorate know that Irish democracy is being respected and that you cannot have a government that simply now wants to dominate the government benches and blunt and disrupt the efforts of opposition. Thats not an acceptable thing, and it shouldnt be an acceptable thing to anybody across Irish society. She said she spoke to other opposition leaders on Friday morning about the issue, and has pledged to face the Government. Opposition parties, including the Labour party, Social Democrats and People Before Profit, are planning to meet next week to finalise their joint approach to resolve the serious matter. Its not about who gets five minutes or 10 minutes here or there, she added. This is fundamentally about defining government and opposition, and that clear definition of government acting and opposition holding to account, is the essence of democratic accountability and our whole democratic system. In response to Houthi attacks on over 100 merchant vessels, President Trump has escalated pressure on Iran over the weekend, warning that any further Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region would be considered an Iranian act of aggression. In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared: "Any further attack or retaliation by the 'Houthis' will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there. Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible." Air strikes against the terrorist group began late Sunday and then on Tuesday, the US launched fresh air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen's Hodeida governorate, targeting Bajel and a steel factory in Al-Salif. This needs to continue for as long as it takes to rid the area of these evil Islamists. The Houthi terrorists work hand in glove with Hamas and Hezbollah and are sanctioned and supported by the Iran regime. Meanwhile, following Hamas' refusal to return the rest of the hostages, Israel Defense Forces conducted a wave of "extensive strikes" throughout the Gaza Strip early Tuesday as they targeted Hamas terrorists in the country's first major attack since the start of a cease-fire. In a statement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Tonight we returned to fighting in Gaza due to Hamas' refusal to release the hostages and threats to harm IDF soldiers and Israeli communities. If Hamas does not release all the hostages, the gates of hell will open in Gaza." The IDF is currently attacking Hamas terrorist organization targets throughout the Gaza Strip, with the aim of achieving the war goals as determined by the political echelon, including the release of all our hostages -- living and dead." The IDF confirmed Tuesday evening that it has killed four out of six senior Hamas officials who the terror group itself have announced as being hit by IDF strikes. Keep going Israel. And here in the U.S. we are finally beginning to arrest and deport terrorists, including at least one professor, who have been instigating antisemitic rioting on our college campuses and in our streets. More of these evil America haters must be deported and steps need to be taken to keep these so-called "professors" out of our schools completely. They are poisoning the minds of our students. Nabbing a couple of them is a start, let's keep it up. These recent events are proper and overdo responses to the war that Jihadists are wagging on the West. But it isn't near enough. The West needs to stop the Islamic jihad once and for all. Kill off the terrorist groups, and bring the Iranian government to its knees by bombing its nuclear facilities and shutting down its oil fields. As long as the Islamic rulers in Iran are in power, the West will be in danger. When they say "Death to America" and "Death of Israel" they mean it. Always believe your enemy when they say they want you dead. (COMMENT, BELOW) Radio NZ reports: A District Court judge accused of interrupting a New Zealand First function at an exclusive Auckland club says she mouthed an inaudible comment after hearing a snippet of a speech about the teaching of tikanga at law school. But Judge Ema Aitken says that when she did so, she didnt recognise NZ First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters voice as he was addressing party faithful. And she didnt know it was a political function, despite a banner at the door. This deserves a Tui billboard! The thought that someone would hear Winston speaking, and not recognise who it was (and miss the large banner) is hilarious. In a letter to the Judicial Commissioner, which has been provided to NZME, the judge gave her account of what happened that night, saying while she was returning from the toilet, she took a wrong turn and inadvertently walked past the NZ First function. While passing the room, she heard a snippet of a speech from a male speaker saying something along the lines of, Theyre now teaching in law school that tikanga Maori law overrides the Westminster system. She said she was surprised and taken aback as she wasnt expecting to hear the word tikanga at what she assumed was a social function. The statement was incorrect to me and mischaracterised the important role of tikanga for lawyers and judges in the District Court processes, she said in her statement. As she walked past, she said, she mouthed to a woman seated at a table near the door, who looked familiar, thats not true. She said that would have been inaudible. She later recognised the woman as NZ First MP Casey Costello. She said she made a comment disagreeing with speaker, reportedly, Hes lying, how can you let him say that? The judge said no one at the table with Costello, which she estimated included at least six others, turned and responded to her comment. She denied shouting and said she was speaking in a normal voice. The judge said she was quickly approached by a man and a woman, who walked her back down to her function, which was in the room next door. If all she did was make a comment in a non raised voice to one person, why would she have been escorted back to her function by two people? Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The News in Brief Friday, March 21, 2025 Georgian courts have upheld the extradition detention of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadygov, despite the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) prohibiting his transfer to Azerbaijan, the Social Justice Center (SJC) said on March 20.The ECtHR issued an interim measure on February 27, instructing Georgia not to extradite Sadygov until it issues a final ruling. However, Georgian courts have maintained that his detention remains legal, rejecting appeals for his release.On March 11, the SJC filed a motion with the Tbilisi City Court, requesting that Sadygov's extradition detention be canceled and replaced with bail. The organization pointed out that his final detention deadline expires on May 3, meaning he could remain in custody well before the ECtHR issues a final decision.The Tbilisi City Court dismissed the motion without an oral hearing, declaring it inadmissible. The judge ruled that the ECtHR's interim measure only suspends extradition and does not constitute a new legal circumstance that would justify modifying Sadygov's detention status.On March 17, the Investigative Panel of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's ruling, arguing that the defense failed to prove why the ECtHR's decision warranted Sadygov's release. The court further cited concerns that he "may evade justice" if released.The Social Justice Center strongly condemned both rulings, stating:"The reasoning of both the Tbilisi City Court and the Tbilisi Court of Appeals is completely unfounded and contradicts the requirements of both national legislation and international law."The organization also announced that it will continue to challenge the "illegal decisions" and has already submitted a full application to the ECtHR.The Georgian government is prepared to regulate its relations with the United States, but first, the "Deep State" must be defeated, according to Kakha Kaladze, General Secretary of Georgian Dream party and Mayor of Tbilisi.Speaking to journalists, Kaladze emphasized that the Georgian government remains open to cooperation with the U.S. but believes that the internal political struggle in Washington will have a direct impact on Georgia. He expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump would succeed in his declared fight against the "Deep State.""The Georgian government is ready to regulate relations. We are closely following the processes that are happening," Kaladze said. "The newly elected president of the United States has directly declared war on the 'Deep State,' and his main task is to defeat the 'Deep State.'"Kaladze further claimed that the influence of global political forces has extended into Georgia and suggested that their removal would lead to immediate positive changes for the country."We spoke about the 'Global War Party' a long time ago, their interests, and the fact that they had deep roots in Georgia and other countries, and they have interests there," he stated. "Therefore, the first thing that must happen is the defeat of the 'Deep State.' We will see this immediately. Of course, this will reflect on our country and our relationship with our country."Reiterating Georgia's willingness to maintain strong ties with the U.S., Kaladze expressed support for Trump's political goals."The Georgian government and authorities are ready for friendship," he affirmed. "We wish the President of the United States success in this fight and hope that he will fully fulfill the promise he made regarding the defeat of the 'Deep State.'" remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Armchair Lehigh Valley content is published on lehighvalleylive.com as part of a partnership with the website, which aims to give voters nonpartisan factual information. Armchair Lehigh Valley is run by publisher Katherine Reinhard and editor Robert H. Orenstein. For more information, or to subscribe: armchairlehighvalley.substack.com. U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie held a town hall via telephone Thursday night. During the hour-long session, constituents asked about whether he supports cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and how he felt about Elon Musk and DOGE firing federal employees and closing federal departments. He was also quizzed on his thoughts about Ukraine and illegal immigrants. Here are some key comments from Mackenzie, a Republican who represents the 7th District. He began his first term in January after defeating three-term incumbent Susan Wild, a Democrat, in November. On the continuing resolution that funded the government through September: There were no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security benefits, anything like that. But it did make critical investments to things like national security and public security, including $485 million to help clear the backlog of deportations that had been building up. There was expanded funding for cybersecurity, an additional $750 million for air traffic controllers and then also in the category of veterans and service members It included funding for the largest pay increase for junior enlisted soldiers in more than 40 years. There was also an additional $6 billion for veterans health care. The final category that received an increase in funding was for far too many people dealing with food insecurity. There was additional funding that was provided, $500 million of additional funding for WIC (food program for women, infants and children), and $36 million of additional funding for food packages for seniors. Helping families: I introduced a package of four bills for working families ... [that would] expand tax credits for paid maternity leave to make it more likely that businesses offer and give their employees paid maternity leave. I also offered a second proposal that would expand tax credits for child care. And the third bill is making sure that we expand the child tax credit. The fourth and final bill, my working family tax package, was offering an expansion of the adoption tax credit, but then also saying that there should be companion tax credit funding for IVF. Jobs and immigrants: I think its important that we make sure that only authorized and legal citizens or those that are eligible to work here in the country are being placed into jobs, particularly when it comes to tax dollars in the federal government. So Ive offered legislation to expand the use of E-Verify for all contractors dealing with the federal government. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid: No changes should be occurring for Social Security or Medicare. Those are for seniors. And we want to make sure that we protect those benefits [and] support making sure that the traditional Medicaid population, those vulnerable individuals, children, low-income seniors, individuals with disabilities, we want to make sure that the care is protected for them as well. USAID: Mackenzie serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee. USAID was something that comes under our purview. We as Congress should be making a lot more of these decisions. We should utilize our powers legislatively to make changes that we see fit and that we believe are appropriate. But that is a much more deliberative process that goes on in Congress, which I think is a good thing. When youre dealing with massive programs or changes like this, you wanna make sure that everybody has the time to weigh in on those changes, different stakeholders, different recipients of the programs before anything gets done. As the legislative body and a branch of our government, we are going to have to be looking at what is going on in the executive branch, and really making sure that we are fine-tuning legislation to make sure that our will is going to be carried out to the best of our ability through the executive branch. And so the appropriations process is certainly one of those areas where we do control the purse strings. The other thing is through oversight making sure that proper hearings are being conducted on the oversight front to hold the executive branch accountable. Ukraine: I am again horrified at what Ive seen from Russia. And Vladimir Putin simply doesnt care about the lives of other people or even his own people. And I am very concerned that this could continue for a long time. So Ive been an advocate for a peaceful resolution. I know that is extremely hard to believe that we might be able to get to that point, but I think it is important that we try because if we do not try to achieve a peaceful resolution these horrors of war are only going to continue. And so I do think that the current administration is at least starting that effort and approaching it correctly by speaking with Ukraine, speaking with Russia, ultimately understanding their positions in the first round of talks. Obviously territory is only one element of those kinds of discussions. Ukraine security is something that is obviously going to be a key component of this as well. National debt: We have over $36 trillion of debt annually. We have a budget deficit of around $1.8 trillion. So our revenue that is coming in from taxes and the amount of spending that is going out are totally out of whack at this point. And its been going on for a long time. And so youre right to ask about what we should be doing to get our fiscal house in order, because if we dont we are going to be even more so than we are now in serious financial trouble. Midland Steel, Irelands leading steel reinforcement company that recently doubled in size in Laois, has announced a major partnership with the biggest steel business in America. The Laois company has formed a strategic business partnership with Nucor Corporation, the largest steel producer and recycler in the United States. The agreement was signed off while Midland Steel CEO Tony Woods visited the states for St Patrick's Day, along with Enterprise Ireland. Their partnership includes exclusive licensing of Midland Steels FasterFix modular rebar technology solution, and it marks a significant milestone in steel construction innovation and sustainability. The FasterFix modular rebar technology solution is a BIM-designed, pre-engineered system that enhances efficiency, reduces waste, and supports sustainability within the construction industry. The FasterFix solution fully automates the cutting and bending process for the reinforcing steel bars (rebar) used to lay foundations. It will reduce build time on site by 75pc and positively impact the overall process of a construction project from a substantiality perspective. Read about the new FasterFix factory here. Midland Steel recently opened their FasterFix SMART plant in J17 National Enterprise Park in Portlaoise, a 16 million investment expected to create 70 skilled jobs, doubling their workforce at their parent plant in Mountmellick. It was officially opened by the Minister for Enterprise, & Employment, Peter Burke TD on March 6. Video of opening here. Midland Steel say that the partnership will enable Nucor Rebar Fabrication to integrate FasterFix into projects across North America and Canada. Micheal Carey, Chairman, Enterprise Ireland, Tony Woods, CEO Midland Steel, An Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD, Chad Beard, President, Nucor Rebar Fabrication, Eugene McManus, Innovation Director, Nucor Rebar Fabrication, Rory Power, Head of US East Coast, Enterprise Ireland The offsite modular process in rebar fabrication also is said to improve site safety by 85% by reducing manual handling, making the construction environment a safer one for workers while also contributing to a more environmentally responsible construction sector and improving programme schedule deliverables to the end user. Nucor Rebar Fabrication will hold exclusive rights to the FasterFix modular rebar solution across the U.S. through to 2029. Midland Steel will provide specialised training to Nucor teams to ensure seamless adoption of the technology. The partnership supports industry-wide efforts to reduce waste and carbon footprints in construction. This agreement is a testament to the power of collaboration between an Irish innovator and a U.S. industry leader, said Tony Woods, Founder and CEO of Midland Steel. The FasterFix modular rebar technology, which we have patented and developed, offers significant benefits for construction projects by reducing installation times by up to 75%, decreasing labour on site by up to 80% by moving the process to an offsite environment, targeting zero waste and lowering capital costs. FasterFix represents our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the construction sector and will help reshape rebar installation in America, supporting Nucors drive for a safer more efficient, sustainable construction sector. Nucor Rebar Fabrication is excited about our exclusive partnership with Midland Steel, to bring FasterFix to North America. said Chad Beard, President of Nucor Rebar Fabrication. This proprietary modular fabricated rebar system will be a much-needed game changer for the construction industry, and this is the partnership to make it happen. We share in Tony Woods' passion for Safety, Innovation, and bringing solutions to our customers and industry," he said. The partnership announcement was made at the opening event of the new Enterprise Ireland offices in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was also attended by Minister for Social Protection, Rural Affairs and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, T.D., Irish government, US and Irish industry leaders, including representatives from Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Consulate. The number of Laois people availing of broadband through the 3 billion State-funded fibre rollout has risen but thousands in Laois have yet to buy in even though the service is live on their doorsteps. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is the company contracted to deliver the 5.5 billion National Broadband Plan for the Government. About 50 million of the public's money is being invested in Laois which already has a high broadband connection. NBI provided the latest Laois connectivity update to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. As of March 2025, it said that 11,536 Laois homes, businesses and farms can connect with 4,343 premises already connected to NBIs network. These latest figures mean that about a third of 13,000 properties that could connect to new broadband have opted in. While close to 40% of the 11,500 or so premises have availed of the service, a not insignificant 7,193 homes or other premises have yet to do so. Nevertheless, the connection rate is creeping up. At the start of 2024, just about a quarter of households or businesses had signed on with a private retail service provider which sells services on the National Broadband Ireland network. People cannot buy their internet connection directly from NBI. New figures pose a challenge to NBI in getting more Laois people buy into its fibre as it appears the vast majority already have some service. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) quarterly Key Data Report on the Electronic Communications market for the last four months of 2024 showed that the county with the highest level of fibre-to-the-premises coverage is Laois at 92%. READ ALSO: Historic PORTLAOISE property on the market Peter Hendrick is the Chief Executive Officer, NBI was pleased with the progress in Laois but he encouraged more people to sign up. MORE BELOW PICTURE. NBI team installing fibre. We are delighted to announce that over 4,000 Laois premises have already connected to NBIs network. Overall, over 11,500 homes, businesses and farms in Co Laois can now order a high-speed fibre connection to the NBI network. This includes almost 1,800 premises near Ballylinan, almost 2,600 near Mountrath and almost 3,700 near Portlaoise. This will enable those who connect to experience the life-changing benefits of high-speed broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second. We are working hard on the ground to progress other areas of the county through engineering survey, design and construction phases. We are encouraging Laois residents to visit the NBI website to check their Eircode and sign up for updates, he said. As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers or Retail Service Providers (RSPs). As a wholesale provider, NBI will make the new Fibre-to-the-Home network available to all RSPs operating in the Intervention Area. Some 72 retail providers have already signed up to sell services on the NBI network and 68 are certified as ready to start providing connections. National Broadband Ireland is calling on people to visit www.nbi.ie/map/and enter their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect. To see the retail broadband providers that are currently licensed to sell on the National Broadband Ireland network, visit www.NBI.ie/buy The maximum State cost for the National Broadband Plan is 2.7 billion over 25 years, including 480 million for contingency costs. The Late Late Show returns this Friday night with some fresh and familiar faces joining host Patrick Kielty in studio. Comedian, actress and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell will sit down with Kielty on Friday night for her first exclusive Irish TV interview since moving to Ireland. The American celebrity's big move to Ireland came up during the Taoiseach's recent visit to the White House and she will be chatting to Kielty about Trump's reaction to this. She will also speak about next month's Same Chance Walk for Autism with AsIAm which she will be taking part in. Then one of Ireland's most beloved country music stars Daniel O'Donnell will join Kielty in the studio to talk about his upcoming tour around the country this year. The music legend will also chat about trips with his family, touring and the lengths he has gone to for his fans throughout his 40 year career. READ NEXT: ALERT: Get the brolly! Met Eireann issue a rain warning for ten counties Another comedian and actress will also be in studio on Friday night, with Roisin Conaty coming on to talk about her new series LOL: Last One Laughing UK with Jimmy Carr. Conaty is well known for her roles in Game Face and After Life and will be chatting about growing up in London with Irish parents and spending her summers in Kerry. Following another great year for Irish jockeys at Cheltenham, Rachel Blackmore and Paul Townend will also join Kielty in studio. Jockey Paul Townend, a four-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and leading jockey at this years festival with four winners, and Rachel Blackmore, Cheltenham 2025 double winner and the only female jockey ever to win a Grand National, will review this year's week in racing. You can catch this week's episode of the Late Late Show tonight at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player. Kildare County Council has been asked to act against train commuters who leave their cars parked all day close to residential areas while they take the train to Dublin. Measures are needed to prevent all day parking in Sallins between Monday and Friday, according to local councillor Carmel Kelly. READ NEXT Kildare woman who stole social welfare payments gets custody term She has asked KCC to put down a single yellow line along the entrance road at Osberstown Court and Osberstown Park, in the town. The area is inundated with cars parking there," Cllr Kelly told a Naas Municipal District committee meeting. She added that the area is opposite the train station and "residents get up in the morning to find that cars have parked and theyre there for the day. She said she was asking the council to act so that residents can get in and out. KCC responded that it will assess the location for the provision of yellow lines and any proposals will be discussed with Cllr Kelly. Maynooth University welcomed Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine, to the Kildare campus on Wednesday for a public lecture, her first such engagement on a four-day visit to Ireland to raise awareness about the situation in Palestine. She addressed an audience of over 400 people on campus in a lecture titled: Genocide in Palestine: A Tragedy Foretold What's Next and What is Ireland's Role? In her lecture she spoke about her work as UN Special Rapporteur, the unfolding situation in Palestine and addressed the legal and ethical duties for the international community in general, and for Ireland in particular. A special rapporteur is the title given to independent human rights experts whose expertise is called upon by the United Nations to report or advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective The event was hosted by MUs School of Law and Criminology, together with the Research Centre in International Justice, Academics for Palestine, Trocaire and Sadaka, the Ireland Palestine Alliance. Professor Fergus Ryan, Head of the School of Law and Criminology said: "It is a great honour to welcome the UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese to Maynooth. We are privileged to hear her speak on the vitally important issue of robustly upholding human rights, international law generally and specifically international humanitarian law in the context of the distressing ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine and especially in Gaza." Francesca Albanese is an international lawyer, specialised in human rights and the Middle East, and has served as the UNs Special Rapporteur since March 2022. Since her appointment, she has addressed the human rights situation in Palestine in her reports to the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council. She has also provided ongoing analysis and documentation of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank in regular collective statements with other UN Special Rapporteurs and in her public interventions. During her Irish visit, she plans to meet with politicians, trade unions and civil society organisations and to participate in a number of public events to raise awareness about the current situation in Palestine. An Affiliate Scholar at the Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University, and a Senior Advisor on Migration and Forced Displacement for the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), Francesca worked for a decade as a UN human rights expert, including for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Her latest book, Palestinian Refugees in International Law (Oxford University Press, 2020), offers a comprehensive legal analysis of the situation of Palestinian refugees from its origins to modern-day reality. She regularly teaches and lectures on international law and forced displacement in European and Arab universities and speaks frequently at conferences and public events on the legal situation of Palestine. READ NEXT: Kildare pub contacts gardai over unusual incident The local community feels let down by government and by the Society of St Vincent de Paul due to the recent closure of Allenwood daycare centre in Ballyteague GFC, a local TD has told the Dail. Kildare South TD, Mark Wall (LAB) told the Dail on Wednesday March 20 that it has been three months since Allenwood daycare centre closed its doors, which he said has had an immense impact on the older people who attended the centre. For many attendees, this centre was their social lifeline and a way of staying connected with their neighbours, community and friends, he said, adding that the closure of the centre flies in the face of Slaintecare. The local community, Deputy Wall stated, feels there is a process of bureaucracy that their families are suffering under. Closure of the centre, he pointed out, affected not only service users, but their families and loved ones. READ NEXT: Kildare North policing 'suffering' due to delay in legislation He was aware, he said, that the HSE had organised places in another daycare centre elsewhere in Kildare town for four days per week, but while 13 of those who had used the Ballyteague centre had accepted a place, five had not. Deputy Wall said that the HSE told him that a new centre in Killmeage will be completed in June, but the problem is these older people cannot wait until June. The Labour Deputy said the Minister of State would be aware of the detrimental impact that loneliness can have on older people, given the lack of social contact and contact with friends. Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, responding said he wished to assure Deputy Wall that every effort will be made to ensure that proper care is given and that people are accommodated. He said: The new programme for Government has highlighted the importance of our community services for older people, which assist them to remain independent and live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. The Minister pointed out that Allenwood daycare centre is a HSE-funded service managed and operated by St Vincent de Paul through a service level arrangement for daycare and meals on wheels. As a private, voluntary organisation, he pointed out, decisions about the closure of the service and the employment of staff rest with St Vincent de Paul. The Minister of State told Deputy Wall that the HSE is seeking an alternative daycare provider for the Allenwood daycare service, and in the longer term it is planned that the day service will move to Kilmeague health care centre. Refurbishment works are currently underway, and are expected to be completed by June 2025, he confirmed. Deputy Wall, responding to the Minister, asked that he convey two requests to the Minister for Health. Firstly, he asked for an on-site meeting with the Minister as quickly as possible, and secondly, that the Minister for State ask the Minister why we cannot reopen the centre in Ballyteague. Minister of State O'Sullivan agreed to the Deputy's request. Kildare South Fine Gael TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine has said that new grants are available for music education in Kildare schools, and local music groups and organisations should apply. Minister Heydon has encouraged local groups in Kildare to apply for the Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme, which was announced by the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee TD. Speaking following the announcement, Minister Heydon said, The Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme is now open for applications to help organisations provide music education in schools. A total of 100,000 is available in grants which allow organisations with limited or no access to other forms of public funding to pay for music classes, instruments and other equipment. This Scheme has helped childrens choirs, concert bands, brass bands, folk orchestras, uilleann pipers and more. It is targeted at smaller organisations involved in non-mainstream music education and community music initiatives who cater for socio-economically disadvantaged groups. It is vital that we provide our children and young learners with every opportunity to express themselves and show their creativity. Music education is one of the many holistic ways in which we can support children and young people in our communities to achieve their full potential. I encourage Kildare music groups and organisations with a track record in music education or community and youth-based music projects, to apply. These grants can help them provide invaluable music education to children in our local schools, concluded Minister Heydon. READ NEXT: Local community 'let down' by closure of Kildare daycare centre In a candid conversation on St. Patricks Day before the parade, Noeleen Bohan Mc Govern, president of the Leitrim Society in New York and a native of Cloone, reflects on the shifting tides of Irish immigration to the United States, contrasting her experience of moving in 1985 with the barriers facing today's hopefuls. This year marks the first time in a many years that all the societies from the 32 counties of Ireland had a president in attendance at the United Irish Counties function. Bohan McGovern sees this as a reflection of changing times within the Irish community abroad. "When we came out in 1985, people were taking a chance," Bohan McGovern recalls. "They got jobs and eventually got green cards. There were no visas back then." She references the Donnelly & Morrison Visas, two of the few opportunities that helped legalize many Irish immigrants in the late '80s, a stark contrast to today's landscape. Bohan McGovern highlights a significant decline in Irish migration to the U.S., attributing it to stricter immigration policies. "The new administration is very adamant about not letting anybody in here unless you're completely legal," she states. Without accessible visa programs, many Irish are now looking to Canada and Australia instead. "But this is really the place to be," she adds, comparing the economic landscape of the U.S. to its northern neighbor. For those who do want to move, the challenges are steep. "It's impossible to find jobs because you need to have papers. If you dont, you end up working in the hospitality industry or doing something below your education level," she explains. This is particularly frustrating for young Irish professionals who have university degrees and ambitions beyond traditional immigrant labor roles. Bohan McGovern's own journey was one of persistence and opportunity. Arriving on a tourist visa, she secured a job with the Canadian Consulate, which sponsored her legal stay. "I actually got a job with the Canadian consulate, and I worked with the Canadian government for 11 years." Through this, she obtained a diplomatic visa and was able to build a stable career without fear of deportation. However, she acknowledges that many of her peers lived in uncertainty. "A lot of my good friends couldnt go home for my wedding in 1988 because they feared they wouldnt be able to get back in again." The fear of deportation kept many in the shadows, a reality that persists for undocumented immigrants today. Reflecting on her early days in America, Bohan McGovern describes the camaraderie among Irish immigrants. "We all went and we went to people that were here just months before us and stayed with friends and there could be 6 people in an apartment. Everyone helped each other out to find a job. Ireland was bad back then, especially Leitrim. There was nothing happening." She recalls how dire the economy was in Ireland at the time. "I remember I was in a job for one year after college before I came over here. You got your wage on a Friday, and by Tuesday it was gone. The wages were really bad. There was very little work. Everything was, Go to America, go to America. The crowd that went before us were all calling back saying, You have to come, you have to come." Leitrim, despite being one of the poorest counties in Ireland, has a strong reputation for success in New York. New York City has so many entrepreneurs that are actually originally from Leitrim. Bar owners, construction companies. Many of the famous bars in New York are owned by Leitrim men. They always say Leitrim is the most generous county. For one of the poorest counties in Ireland, they are looked at as the most successful people here in New York." Bohan McGovern also reflects on the emotional toll of immigration. "When you went home to Ireland, you cried your eyes out when you got there because you were so happy to be home. And then, about three or four days before leaving, my mother would start crying. Every time she turned her back to you, you'd see her crying at the sink because she knew you were getting ready to leave and then shed sprinkle us with holy water before we left." Before the age of mobile phones, staying connected was a logistical challenge. "I would schedule it. Mom and Dad, I'll call you on Sunday at two oclock to the phone box in Cloone. So I would call Higginss shop and theyd answer and put it through to the phone box outside where my parents would be waiting. And I had to make sure I had enough quarters collected during the week to make the call because I knew theyd be waiting." Despite the obstacles, Bohan McGovern remains an advocate for the Irish community in New York, ensuring that those who do make the journey have a sense of home. With the Leitrim Society hosting events that draw county councillors, community leaders, and distinguished honorees, the society continues to champion the rich cultural ties between Ireland and the U.S. READ MORE Leitrim reports zero road deaths in 2025 Airports and airlines across the UK and Ireland have come to the aid of Heathrow following its closure on Friday. Online flight tracking service Flightradar24 said more than 1,300 flights were disrupted by the closure, with 120 flights to the airport in the air when the closure was announced. British Airways advised customers not to travel to Heathrow on Friday until further notice as it had cancelled all short-haul flights serving the airport. An updated statement from British Airways following the disruption at London Heathrow Airport on 21 March pic.twitter.com/z34cmSX38y British Airways (@British_Airways) March 21, 2025 It said in a statement: This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and were working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond. Passengers booked to fly to or from Heathrow with British Airways on Saturday or Sunday are being given the option to rebook to a later date for free. The airline said it has provided ground transport options where possible for passengers on flights diverted to other UK airports. Ryanair said it is organising eight rescue flights between London Stansted and Ireland for passengers affected by the closure. The airline said in a statement: Ryanair will operate four extra flights between Dublin and Stansted on Friday afternoon as well as four extra flights on Saturday morning. These flights can be booked on http://Ryanair.com from 9.30am this morning. The cheapest one-way ticket from Stansted to Dublin on Friday and Saturday is priced at 132.99 on the Ryanair website. In contrast, the cheapest ticket for the same route with the airline the following Saturday (March 29) is priced at 14.99. RYANAIR LAUNCHES 8 RESCUE FLIGHTS FOR PASSENGERS AFFECTED BY HEATHROW CLOSURE Friday:2 x Dublin to Stansted2 x Stansted to Dublin Saturday:2 x Dublin to Stansted2 x Stansted to Dublin Available from 9.30AM at https://t.co/cgLkPq5oJZ Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 21, 2025 All flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow on Friday have been cancelled. Graeme McQueen, media relations manager at Dublin Airport Authority, said: All flights scheduled between Dublin Airport and London Heathrow today have been cancelled following the closure of London Heathrow Airport due to a power outage. A total of 34 flights were scheduled between Dublin Airport and Heathrow today 17 inbound and 17 outbound. Further disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow over the coming days is possible. Passengers looking for updates regarding specific flights or to rebook or change flight are advised to contact their airline directly by phone or online. Seven flights diverted from Heathrow will land at London Gatwick on Friday, the airport confirmed. A London Gatwick spokesperson said: We are aware of the situation at Heathrow Airport today and we are supporting by accepting diverted flights as required. Birmingham Airport said it will receive any diverted flights from Heathrow and help to transport any stranded customers. A spokesperson said: There will be no delays to Birmingham Airports own customers due to any diverted Heathrow aircraft. Airports regularly take diverts as part of normal operations and flights inbound to London Heathrow will use multiple airports around the UK, and Ireland, or alternatively may return to their departure airport. We will assist with landing any diverted aircraft during the Heathrow closure today and work with those LHR airlines to repatriate their customers upon arrival into Birmingham. Shannon Airport in Co Clare, Ireland, said at least six flights diverted from Heathrow would land at its airport on Friday. A spokesperson for Shannon Airport Group said: We are closely monitoring the situation at Heathrow Airport and are providing support by accommodating diverted flights as needed and our team is on-site to assist with the additional passengers. So far, Shannon Airport has facilitated six diverted flights originally scheduled to land at Heathrow, including flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. The first of these flights landed safely at 04:26am. (3/3)#shannonairport Shannon Airport (@ShannonAirport) March 21, 2025 So far, Shannon Airport has facilitated six diverted flights originally scheduled to land at Heathrow, including flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. The first of these flights landed safely at 4.26am this morning. In an update, the airport said all passengers from the six diverted flights had been taken to hotels by bus. Manchester Airport said all flights to Heathrow had been cancelled on Friday but it had accepted a small number of diversions from the airport. EasyJet, which does not operate at Heathrow, said it will use larger than planned aircraft on key routes on Friday and over the weekend to accommodate disrupted passengers. Several flights between the UK and Milan, Amsterdam, Paris, Munich and Madrid will have A320 aircraft with capacity for 186 passengers, instead of A319 aircraft which can only carry 156 passengers. London Stansted said the airport had capacity for a small number of diverts from Heathrow, but has not yet received any requests. Other major European airports have also received multiple flights diverted from Heathrow on Friday. Amsterdams Schipol airport in The Netherlands has so far seen seven flights arrive that were originally bound for west London, while Pariss Charles de Gaulle, Madrids Barajas and Frankfurt airport in Germany have all accommodated six flights each, according to data published by Flightradar24. Participants at the just ended Enterprise Computing Ltd, workshop in Monrovia Members of the NRA Customs delegation of Sierra Leone, along with the Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Liberia and Liberian Customs officials Augustus J. Flomo, former Deputy Minister for Economic Management at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning If you are a lawyer, an accountant, a financier, I ask you to rise up, Bishop Quire urged. Something is happening to J. J. Roberts Educational Foundation. The property that was supposed to bring in money for students to benefitpeople are sitting on it. Ive heard that one of our honorable men has destroyed the property that was there. We cannot allow such a thing to happen. IRELANDS leading creative industry conference, Gasp!, is to take place in Limerick later this month. Innovate Limerick, located at the Engine building at Cecil Street in the city centre, will play host to the event on Friday, March 28. It will bring together industry leaders, and digital pioneers to explore the future of storytelling, technology, and brand communication. The full-day event is aimed at marketing professionals, designers, content creators, and business leaders eager to future-proof their brands and creative strategies. Organised by Piquant and the Institute of Designers in Ireland, its being held in partnership with a number of other agencies including Limerick City and County Council. The conference will tackle the biggest challenges facing businesses and creatives today. Notably, it will take a closer look at artificial intelligence and ask if it is an enabler or a threat to creativity. Among the speakers is Simon Raybould, who will bring his expertise in communication and storytelling to the stage, breaking down why so many brand stories failand how to fix them. Michael Corcoran, the strategist behind Ryanairs social media transformation, will also share his insights on cutting through digital noise with bold, disruptive campaigns. For more information, telephone 061-221414. Home Opinion How Christian universities crash and burn Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and many other universities were founded explicitly as Protestant Christian institutions, only to devolve over time into something else. So, in the latter half of the nineteenth century, Evangelical Protestants in America started again, creating a new generation of colleges and seminaries that they hoped would avoid the mistakes of their predecessors. But as the current controversy over Wheaton College attests, history seems to be repeating itself. And the problem reaches far beyond Wheaton. For 12 years I served as a professor at Seattle Pacific University (SPU). Founded by pious Free Methodists in the 1890s, the school is another historically Evangelical institution like Wheaton. While there, I was able to witness firsthand how a Christian university deconstructs. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe To be sure, Seattle Pacific still publicly identifies itself as a Christian university that is both historically orthodox and clearly Evangelical. The school remains a member of the Christian College Consortium along with Wheaton and other self-identified evangelical Christian colleges. Prospective students continue to be told that At SPU, everything we do is rooted in faith faculty integrate their faith into how they teach and how they live. Alumni might wonder, however, precisely what faith SPU faculty are integrating into their teaching and their lives. In 2021, the university made national headlines when 72% of its faculty voted no confidence in the schools board of trustees. Why? Because the board wouldnt repeal the universitys Statement on Human Sexuality, which affirmed that sexual experience is intended between a man and a woman and the full expression of sexuality is to be experienced and celebrated within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. How can you have a faithful Christian university when more than 70% of its faculty reject basic biblical teaching on marriage? The answer is simple: You cant. SPUs heterodoxy isnt just confined to sex. Lincoln Keller graduated from SPU in 2021 and wrote a book about his disillusionment. According to Keller, his professors taught him that the Bible is flawed, contradictory, factually wrong, and unclear. As a consequence, for certain professors and students, the Word of God was not supreme authority. Instead, contemporary scholarship, science, or culture had the final say on what professors and students should believe. It may seem surprising, but I dont place most of the blame for SPUs downfall on its theologically liberal faculty. Those faculty are wrong in my view, but they have the courage of their convictions. No, the real responsibility for what SPU has become lies elsewhere, and it isnt as obvious. A squandered legacy When I was first hired by SPU for a tenure-track position, a faculty member who interviewed me said something I will never forget. He warned me that the school had a very theologically conservative board of trustees. In fact, I was told in confidential tones, that the board had just recently rejected for tenure a religion professor because the board thought he had unorthodox beliefs. The faculty member telling me this thought he was revealing something scandalous. Little did he know that when I heard his confession, I thought good for the board of trustees. Thats precisely what I believed the board of a Christian institution was called to do: defend the integrity of its mission. SPU was still an Evangelical institution when I joined its faculty in the mid-1990s because those in authority had tried their best to keep the university tied to its mission. They hadnt been perfect, and there already were many faculty who werent biblically orthodox. But they had to be careful, because they knew there were limits to what would be tolerated. The boards denial of tenure of a faculty member on grounds of unbiblical theology was probably the most powerful message it could have sent to the campus community. Many faculty didnt like the message, but they understood it. The boards decisive action chilled the facultys enthusiasm for going further afield and hiring even more unorthodox people. When I came to SPU, the school still had a fighting chance to maintain its Christian identity. Alas, during the 12 years I was there, I saw the legacy of SPU squandered. Soon a new president was hired. To the delight of many faculty, he gradually convinced board members that they were too involved. The board became less focused on the details, and more and more people were hired who pushed the institution in a new direction. The watershed moment In retrospect, the watershed moment in the schools history came during 2000-2001. That was the school year SPUs president drafted a plan to revamp the boards of all Free Methodist colleges, effectively removing the power of the denomination to hold them accountable. The presidents plan proposed the creation of a new Board of Trustees, no longer selected by the denomination or its sponsoring conferences. Free Methodist representatives would be demoted to a new and largely advisory Board of Governors whose only real authority was to confirm the board of trustees nomination of the university President. By the time SPU entered into its debate over governance, there had been a great deal of research about how formerly Christian universities had become secularized in America. As I delved into some of this scholarship, it seemed to me that SPU was following the exact same path trod by earlier Christian institutions that failed. One of the most insightful studies I came across was James Burtchaells magisterial book, The Dying of the Light: The Disengagement of Colleges and Universities from their Christian Churches (1998). (Unbeknown to me at the time, Fr. Burtchaell had been seriously accused of sexual misconduct with male students at the University of Notre Dame and had resigned his post.) According to Burtchaell, a key signpost along the road of secularization was the end of church control of college governance: The critical turn, as we have seen, often involved forcing those who spoke for the church out of college governance. Despite the best of intentions, ending church control often removed a vital structural safeguard that helped maintain the religious integrity of colleges and opened the door to secularization in the generation following the change. Trustees have the final say not only over budgets, but over tenure, top administrative positions, and college programs. A change in board composition almost inevitably will have long-term consequences for a schools character and mission. When SPUs board members finally learned the details of the plan to replace them, they should have fired the president. Instead, they faltered. They did not discharge the president, although his plan was placed on hold. Once the board showed its failure of nerve, the president waited for things to quiet down, regrouped, and continued his push. By 2005, Free Methodist members of the board were reduced to a mere third of the board, and they were no longer selected directly by the Free Methodist Church. The church nominated people, but the Trusteeship Committee of SPUs board now had to approve them. The board had been neutered. One of my last experiences at SPU before deciding to leave was telling. I tried to defend a faculty member who was being denied tenure. He was an outstanding colleague and one of the few theologically and politically conservative faculty members hired in the last years I was there. But in the end, neither the president nor the board was willing to overturn the verdict of the increasingly progressive (and intolerant) faculty. Recall that when I arrived, the board had denied tenure to a theological liberal. Now it was ratifying the expulsion of a theological conservative. Here is the most important point: The SPU board that capitulated was not itself theologically liberal. It was populated by personally devout and theologically conservative Christians, many from the business world. In my view, these conservative Christians bear more responsibility for SPUs transformation than the liberal faculty. Unlike the theological liberals, they did not have the courage of their convictions. By the 2020s, the university was led by a new president, and there were just enough Evangelical board members left to prevent a formal change of the schools official statement of faith or its statement on sexuality because those formal changes required a supermajority. But there were no longer enough biblically solid members to actually enforce things like denying tenure to unorthodox professors. The previous board of conservative Christians had sown the seeds, and now the bitter harvest was left to others to reap. After the public blow-up on campus over human sexuality, SPUs president resigned and so did key board members. It now appears that current board members may be trying to steer the school back toward its Evangelical identity. How serious they are remains an open question. Last year, the university allowed its gym to be used for a LGBT festival that was teeming with queer joy and affirmation according to the student newspaper. If the new leadership was truly committed to restoring the schools Evangelical identity, shutting down that event should have been an easy decision. More critically, the university needs to recruit new faculty and staff who affirm historic Christian teachings or nothing will change. The current leadership may not have much time. As SPU became increasingly woke over the past decade, student enrollment plummeted. As a result, the school has announced plans to slash 40% of its faculty and staff and eliminate 19 majors. Abraham Lincoln spoke famously about the challenge of perpetuating institutions after their founding. SPU is a cautionary tale about what happens when personally orthodox board members fail to take that challenge seriously when it comes to their Christian university. Originally published at Clear Truth Media. A COUNTY Limerick school and local businesses were left scrambling yesterday when they had to abruptly close due to a complete water outage, with no prior warning from Uisce Eireann. The water supply disruption, which started unexpectedly last Thursday has left Caherconlish NS and parts of the village and several surrounding areas without running water. The students had to be collected around 11am yesterday following the water outage. Residents were informed by Uisce Eireann that the outage could last until 6pm this evening, and that there was no guarantee of full restoration until later today at the earliest. Caherconlish NS is expected to reopen this Monday. READ MORE: BREAKING: Judge makes decision on Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes' case It is understood that some residents and businesses in the village are also without electricity. In a statement issued this afternoon, Uisce Eireann confirmed that power issues at the Drumbanna pumping station had led to widespread water outages across several communities, including Caherconlish, Drombanna, Ballyneety, Knockea, Inch St Lawrence, Carrigoreilly, Greenane, Beary's Cross, Kishikirk, Sandylane, Boher, Donoughmore and surrounding areas. The ESB is currently carrying out planned maintenance works on the network in Limerick which has affected power supply at the pumping station. "Uisce Eireann is continuing to liaise with the ESB as they work to restore power. The water supply is expected to return at 6pm this evening, March 21. As the network refills and supplies return throughout the evening, customers at the end of the network may experience intermittent disruption or low water pressure for a number of hours," stated Uisce Eireann. Uisce Eireann continues to provide detailed, real-time, and local information about water service and supply issues on www.water.ie. A FORMER Limerick minor hurler, a haulier and farmer were all involved in an unsophisticated fertiliser heist in County Limerick after its price rocketed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The driver of the lorry carrying 30 tonnes of fertiliser valued at 28,860 told gardai a colourful story that he had been hijacked by a man who had a finger missing and pretended he had a gun. However, the three accused didnt know that there was a GPS tracker on the flatbed trailer which led gardai to the location of the stolen pallets of fertiliser in Athlacca, Limerick Criminal Circuit Court heard. Noel Greaney, aged 40, of John Paul Terrace, Broadford, County Limerick and Chris O'Riordan, aged 31, of Ballinlee, Dromin South, Kilmallock both pleaded guilty to the theft of the trailer from Brosnan Haulage Killarney and fertiliser from Kerry Co-Op, Cahersiveen, County Kerry on March 22, 2022. Joe Power, aged 28, of Crean, Athlacca, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the storage of fertiliser and trailer on farmland at Crean, Athlacca with the intention of impeding a garda investigation. Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Sergeant Michael Reidy. Ms Buckley said Mr Greaney attended Newcastle West garda station on March 22, 2022 and told gardai he had been hijacked. He said he has been driving an artic lorry with a consignment of fertiliser destined for Cahersiveen. He said he had been taking a rest period in Barna when a man approached the passenger side who was wearing a face mask, was missing a middle finger and had a black rag wrapped around his hand in the shape of a gun, said Ms Buckley. Det Sgt Reidy said Mr Greaney told gardai he was effectively thrown out of the truck at Snows Cross, Ballingarry after his phone and wallet containing his driving licence was stolen. The detective sergeant said Mr Greaney told them he laid in a field for an hour and a half before flagging down a car to bring him to the garda station. Det Sgt Reidy said garda immediately had suspicions due to Mr Greaneys demeanour and when they checked CCTV he had been dropped to the station by Mr ORiordan and not a passer-by. Det Sgt Reidy said phonetic evidence showed 23 calls or attempted calls between Mr ORiordan and Mr Greaney which shows they were working together. The detective sergeant said they found a text message on Mr Powers phone which read: Warn PAN to keep his mouth shut with PAN being a nickname for Mr ORiordan. Det Sgt Reidy said they checked the field beside Snows Cross where Mr Greaney said he lay in the grass for an hour and a half but the grass wasnt trampled. Gardai found Mr Greaneys wallet containing his driving licence and phone, which he had said the hijacker stole, during a search of his home. The court heard Detective Garda Patrick Lee located the flatbed trailer and fertiliser at Powers address with the help of the GPS tracker but the truck cab, valued at 45,000, was not there and hasnt been recovered. The truck cab was being leased by Brosnan Haulage Killarney. Mr Greaney has 16 previous convictions, Mr ORiordan has five and Mr Power has 37. Diarmuid Brosnan, in a victim impact statement, said his small family-run haulage company suffered reputational damage and lost the contract with Kerry Co-Op for the delivery of fertiliser in the Munster region. READ MORE: Kyle Hayes father gives evidence in case that has attracted 'most enormous degree of publicity' Mark Nicholas SC, who represented Mr Greaney, said the thefts were poorly executed but very well investigated by gardai. The root of things for Mr Greaney was his drug addiction and drug debt. It is the grey murky world we live in and they put pressure on. These people dont write solicitor letters. He is a seasoned hard worker. He has dealt with his addiction, said Mr Nicholas, who asked Judge Sinead McMullan not to impose a custodial sentence. Judge McMullan said it was an awful breach of his employers trust. Kenneth Kerins BL, for Mr ORiordan, said his client comes from a very decent family and very hard-working family. As a young man he hurled for his county. He suffered a significant injury in a hurling match in Rathkeale and would never play hurling again. This had a significant impact on him. This very positive outlet was lost and he found himself using alcohol and substances. He worked as a blocklayer throughout this. There are green shoots of recovery, said Mr Kerins. Andrew Sexton SC, for Mr Power, said his client has ADHD and is fairly easily-led. It wasnt the most sophisticated crime to get involved in. It brought great shame on Mr Powers family who are a very respectable family. "He is attempting to turn things around. He is concentrating on farming. He has his grandfather to assist, said Mr Sexton. Judge McMullan adjourned sentencing to this Friday to consider matters. LIMERICK hurler Kyle Hayes walked free from court this Friday after a judge said he will avoid jail if he is deemed suitable for community service. Judge Dara Hayes, presiding, ordered Kyle Hayes to engage with the Probation Service and if he is suitable then to carry out 180 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison. The matter was further adjourned until April to allow for Kyle Hayes to engage with the Probation Service. Judge Dara Hayes said the dangerous driving offence was not a repeat of the violent public disorder in 2019 for which he received suspended prison sentences of 18-months and two-years in 2023. When the matter was called for Judge Dara Hayes to revoke some, or all, or none of Kyle Hayes' suspended sentence for violent disorder, Liam Carroll BL, representing Kyle Hayes, said he wished to make the court aware of the unfortunate bereavement of Kyle Hayes maternal grandmother. "That ladys funeral is due to take place this evening and tomorrow. Kyle Hayes didn't want to bring it to the courts attention less it would cause any further distress to the family. "It was under my strong advice that he instructed me to bring the matter to the court's attention given that the court should be aware of it in advance of its determination. "Mr Hayes is very clear in that he is ready to face the music today and happy for the court to deliver its judgement whatever that might be," said Mr Carroll, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan. Addressing Kyle Hayes, Judge Dara Hayes said he was "very sorry for your loss". In giving his judgment, Judge Dara Hayes said the evidence of Kyle Hayes' father (Liam Hayes) on Wednesday of the important role Kyle Hayes plays on the family dairy farm "will not persuade the court to stay its hand". Judge Dara Hayes said it is an inescapable fact to anyone with even the most passing interest in sport that Kyle Hayes is a very talented and highly-decorated hurler on a very successful Limerick hurling team. "It is important though to emphasise that Mr Hayes in this court has in no way sought to rely on that fact, nor did he raise it in court. "It is also important to emphasise that he is entitled to no preferential treatment on account of that status and to be clear he has not sought any such treatment. But just as he's not entitled to any preferential treatment, he is also entitled to not be treated less fairly on account of his public status. "I mention his sporting achievements because I want to be clear that they have no bearing on the decision that has to be made. If it is appropriate to activate some of the sentence, that will be done regardless of hurling. If it is not appropriate to activate any of the sentence, that non-activation will not be because of his public profile," said Judge Dara Hayes. Judge Hayes said that Brian McInerney SC, who represented Kyle Hayes on Wednesday, saying that the triggering offence of dangerous driving is of "a wholly different character" to the original violent disorder convictions is "a reasonable observation". The judge noted the absence of additional serious aggravating factors often seen in dangerous driving cases - consumption of intoxicants, poor weather, road worthiness issues, driving without insurance, driving licence or while disqualified. Judge Dara Hayes said the question he has to ask himself is if some other young man without Kyle Hayes public profile came before him in similar circumstances "would I activate all or part of a suspended sentence?" "If I were to do so to that young man, then I must do so with this respondent (Kyle Hayes). If I were not to do so to that young man, then I should not do so here The triggering offence (dangerous driving) while serious is not related to the nature or the severity of the offending of the original offences (violent disorders). "They were committed over five years ago, there is nothing before the court to suggest that the respondent has engaged in any such behaviour since. His behaviour on October 19, 2019 was appalling," said Judge Dara Hayes. The judge said, in his view, it is appropriate to activate three months of the suspended sentence. "Where there is a short sentence, it is often the case that it is more constructive to require a defendant to engage in a significant amount of voluntary work in the community, rather than the imposition of a short sentence of imprisonment. "If the respondent is prepared to engage, he will be assessed by the Probation Service and required to work under their supervision in the community for 180 hours in lieu of three months imprisonment," said Judge Dara Hayes, who asked Mr Carroll to take instructions from Kyle Hayes. Mr Carroll BL took brief instructions from Kyle Hayes and told the judge his client is happy to engage with the Probation Service and carry out the 180 hours of community service in lieu of three-months in prison. The matter was adjourned to April 28 to allow for Kyles Hayes to meet with the Probation Service to see if he is deemed suitable to carry out community service. On Wednesday, State solicitor Padraig Mawe gave a summary of the two original convictions of violent disorder and the triggering dangerous driving offence. Kyle Hayes was found guilty following a trial of engaging in violent disorder inside the Icon Nightclub in Limerick city and on the street outside on October 28, 2019 when he was 21. Mr Mawe said Kyle Hayes and others engaged in violence against the victim Cillian McCarthy, who was 20 at the time. Kyle Hayes was found not guilty of assault causing harm to Mr McCarthy. In March 2024, Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed an 18-month prison sentence on Kyle Hayes for engaging in violent disorder in the Icon nightclub and a concurrent two-year jail sentence for the violent disorder on Upper Denmark Street, Limerick city. The sentences were suspended on condition that he be bound to the peace and be of good behaviour during that two-year term. Mr Mawe said the triggering offence was a dangerous driving conviction near Mallow when Kyle Hayes drove at 155kmph and overtook nine cars on July 14, 2024. READ MORE: Ex-Limerick minor hurler, haulier and farmer involved in 'unsophisticated' 28k fertiliser heist Brian McInerney SC, appearing with Liam Carroll BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan, represented Kyle Hayes, aged 26, of Ballyashea, Kildimo, Co Limerick. Mr McInerney submitted that the interests of justice would not be met by invoking a jail sentence. Counsel said the triggering offence of dangerous driving is wholly different in character to the violent disorder convictions. Mr McInerney said Kyle Hayes has a quasi-dependent parent, is a single, unattached man who lives at home with his parents, has a responsible job and engages in sport. Kyle Hayes father, Liam Hayes took the stand and said he relies on his son Kyle to help in the running of his dairy farm after he suffered from significant ill health. He (Kyle) is doing everything at the moment. He lives at home. He is there on a 24/7 basis. He starts with me in the morning at 5am and after his day job when he comes home if he is not training and during the night if there are cows calving, said Liam Hayes. Mr McInerney said that Kyle Hayes has two brothers who reside locally but are unavailable at this time to render any assistance to Liam Hayes and wont be able to for some time in the future. Mr McInerney said the original trial, district court, circuit court appeal and triggering matters attracted the most enormous degree of publicity. A NEW store has opened in Limerick where you can purchase recycled paint for a quarter of the price. Tait House Community Enterprise has launched a Relove Paint social enterprise store at unit 17 Galvone Industrial Estate offering recycled paint for sale and helping to reduce waste. If people in Limerick have leftover water-based paint, it can be discarded at Limerick Councils Civic Amenity Centre in Mungret and it is then collected by Tait House Community Enterprise representatives and filtered, recoloured and mixed into new, unique colours. The Relove Paint will be available for sale to the public, community groups, clubs and schools from Unit 17 Galvone Industrial Estate. There are a number of benefits to this initiative, including the reduction of waste and prevention of paint from being exported for incineration. Additionally, the reloved paint is being sold at an affordable price, starting at 15 for five litres. READ ALSO: Million euro boost for greenways dotted around city and county Michael Quilligan, manager at Tait House Community Enterprise Ltd said: Were delighted to partner with Limerick City and County Council and the Paint Reuse Network on this exciting initiative. Relove Paint is an affordable option for anyone looking to upgrade their space on a budget. In line with Stop Food Waste Day on March 1, FoodCloud Kitchen provided catering at the Relove Paint launch. Attendees enjoyed eco-friendly food and participated in a food waste awareness briefing. FoodCloud, an award-winning Irish social enterprise, redistributes surplus food to create a more equitable, inclusive, and circular food system. Pauline McDonogh from My Waste Team Regional Waste Management Planning Office said they are delighted to see initiatives like these come to fruition and that it is a win-win for both the environment and the local economy. Mayor of Limerick, John Moran said: "The launch of the Relove Paint social enterprise store by Tait House is a shining example of how we can turn waste into a valuable resource, contributing to our circular economy goals. By repurposing leftover paint, we are not only reducing waste but also providing affordable, high-quality paint to our community. This project paints a bright future for our sustainability goals in Limerick. Congratulations to all involved in making this vision a reality. Tait House Community Enterprise is a social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainability and community development in Limerick. The Relove Paint initiative demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation. Deputising for the Mayor of Limerick at the launch event, Cllr Padraigh Reale said: It is vital that Limerick prioritises sustainability across all sectors from business to personal life. Environmental responsibility is a shared duty, and together we can make a significant impact. This is a circular economy initiative supported by Limerick City and County Council and the My Waste Team and Southern Regional Waste Management Planning Office, Panda Greenstar, the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Local Authority Prevention Network, the Rediscovery Centre and the Paint Reuse Network. InterGlobe Hotels Pvt Ltd is focusing on Indias tier I cities for its Ibis brand as it looks to shed the budget tag and positions itself in the mid-market segment, citing strong demand for quality hotels. The joint venture between InterGlobe Enterprises and Accor Asia Pacific, which has 29 Ibis properties in India, is evaluating opportunities in top locations in city centres for the next phase of growth, according to JB Singh, president and chief executive officer at InterGlobe Hotels. "There is a huge opportunity in India to build more branded hotels. Classified hotels are severely under-penetrated," he said. Travel and tourism will also grow at a multiple of 1.5 to 2x. As a result, the industry has an assured growth of 8-14% for not just five years but longer than that." While Accor classifies Ibis as a budget hotel brand, Singh cited construction quality and build to call it a mid-market chain. We don't look at ourselves as a budget brand. We are a mid-market hotel company purely because of the projects we do," he said. In fact, we're one of the more efficient ones in the category." The French hospitality major Accor--the company behind iconic brands like Pullman Hotels & Resorts--set up the partnership with Indian aviation giant IndiGo's parent in 2004 to develop the budget-to-mid-market properties here. Ibis competes with Indian Hotels Company Ltd.'s Ginger brand as well as Akoi-family backed Bloom Hotels. As a company, as a JV, we are very focused on India. We also recognize that India needs quality products. India will continue to be a headline item for us," Singh added. Last year, he said the 20-year-old hotel company's revenues grew 14% and occupancies in key markets hovered between 85-89%. "Mumbai and Delhi have done phenomenally well for us. It's been a great run for us post covid, like it has been for a lot of other hotel companies. Our price points have also been growing because of our locations," he said. Our buildings are also becoming more efficient so we see a lot of repeat travellers. More than 50-60% of those who use our hotels are repeat travellers." 'Cost per key is upwards of 40 lakh' This week, the company opened its new property in Mumbai's BKC business centre, which has 206 rooms. Its per key cost is about 40 lakh. Globally, Ibis has about 1,200 hotels. At present in India, it has 29 properties now, with one under development. IndiGo Hotels also owns properties in Europe under its Miiro brand in locations like Barcelona, London, Gstaad and Paris. In July last year, Rahul Bhatia, group managing director of InterGlobe Enterprises, sold a 2% stake in InterGlobe Aviation in a block trade for 3,360 crore to use the money to expand its hospitality and other developing businesses. "We continued to build during the pandemic and had an active pipeline which we needed to finish in the last four years. We are now taking a pause and reevaluating our strategy and will largely target a "densification" strategy and revisit and build in the same cities we are present in using special purpose vehicles," Singh told Mint. The company opened its Thane, Vikhroli Bengaluru and Goa projects in the last few years and has about 6,000 rooms across India. It now has nearly half a dozen hotels in Mumbai and Bengaluru each. Also Read: International chain Minor Hotels plans to have 50 hotels in India by 2035 The company is actively looking for real estate in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR and Pune. It may not be in any hurry to go to tier II cities yet, Singh said. "It is a tier I city strategy for now. If an opportunity arises and the market has enough traction and the numbers stack up, then we will evaluate," he added. The next set of hotels will be built to incorporate anywhere between 160-220 rooms. "We'd not like to have anything below 150 rooms per hotel," he said. The country also has a huge opportunity for growth as an "events marketplace", said Singh. "Newly developed meeting and events spaces in cities will start to mature in the next 3-5 years too. This will add to hotel demand." SAN JOSE, Calif.Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang offered a quantum-level climb-down on Thursday, after spooking quantum-computing companies earlier this year with his assessment that their efforts wouldnt be very useful" for 15 to 30 years. Huangs comments in January triggered a selloff in quantum-computing stocks, with some shares falling 40% or more. My first reaction was, I didnt know they were public! How could a quantum computer company be public?" he said Thursday, recalling the episode. Huang explained that his January remarks reflected his experience building computing platforms over a period of decades, and that he was comfortable with such a time frame. They can explain why I was wrong," he said on a panel that included guests from the quantum field as part of Nvidias GTC conference. Huang called the session the first event in history where a public company CEO invites all of the guests to explain why he was wrong. But that is what makes this movie so great." The companies taking part, including PsiQuantum, D-Wave and IonQ, discussed their approaches to quantum, often focusing on the common goal of producing a useful quantum computer that is good at self-correcting errors stemming from the quantum-computing process. Sorry, not sorry Even as he delivered a mea culpa, Huang pressed his panelists to think about quantum differently. I do wonder whether quantum computing is simply poorly positioned," Huang said, because it was described as a quantum computer instead of a quantum instrument." He added, theres a common sense about what a computer is. It has to have memory, it has to have networks, it has to have storage, it should be able to read and write. Theres a programming model associated with computers. But I wonder if its just a wrong mental model." Part of the problem, he said, is that quantum computers are being held to the standards of traditional computers when their purpose is actually completely different. I think there is an unnecessary expectation, and it actually sets the industry back, frankly, an unnecessary expectation that somehow these forms of computers are going to be better at spreadsheets. Its an unfortunate expectation; its an unnecessary expectation," Huang said. Reframing the quantum computer as a scientific instrument could help move the industry along, he maintained. Not all of the panelists bought the idea. D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz responded that, while there are many applications he would never try to run on a quantum computer, I dont know how to think of a quantum computer as an instrument, when its being used for materials discovery, when its being used for blockchain." Its OK. I was actually just trying to help," Huang responded to laughs. A great impact in the making Another risk of invoking the word computer" is the implication that quantum computers replace traditional computers, which isnt the case because the two will work together, Huang said. Nvidia faced a similar dilemma early on when it chose to call its technological approach accelerated computing" rather than parallel computing," he added. At the time parallel computing was seen as potentially displacing something called sequential computing. Huang reframed it as accelerated" to show that the two should actually work together. Nvidia accelerated computing is the largest volume parallel computer the worlds ever seen. And yet we dont call it a parallel computer. For that very reason," he said. I think the idea that this is a quantum-computing industry or a quantum computer is less good than a quantum processor thats going to make every computer better." Sequential computing, as the name suggests, means that a computer does one thing after another, whereas in parallel computing, multiple processors take on simultaneous tasks. Nvidia says accelerated computing employs specialized hardware to dramatically speed up work, using parallel processing that bundles frequently occurring tasks." Huang said he hoped quantum technology would make traditional computers better, creating ground truths in domains such as biology, chemistry and physics, which would lead to breakthroughs in drug discovery and materials sciences. I think the progress of the industry is incredible," Huang said. If I had to be wrong to show quantum computing is going to make a great impactmission accomplished." Huangs comments didnt do much for quantum-computing stocks Thursday, with a number of them taking a tumble. Write to Steven Rosenbush at steven.rosenbush@wsj.com and Isabelle Bousquette at isabelle.bousquette@wsj.com Elon Musk will receive a briefing Friday on the U.S. militarys top-secret war plans for China, according to two U.S. officials, giving the wealthy businessman and presidential adviser insight into one of the Pentagons most closely guarded operational blueprints. Musk will be briefed on how U.S. forces would fight in a potential China war, including maritime tactics and targeting plans, the officials said. China will be one of several topics to be discussed at the Defense Department, one of the officials said. The meeting underscored the crosscutting interests Musk has as a senior adviser to President Trump with a powerful and expansive role in the new administration. It could give him as the head of Tesla, which relies on China for car production, and SpaceX, a U.S. defense contractor, access to sensitive military secrets unavailable to business competitors. Musk, according to one person familiar with the arrangements, is receiving the briefing because he asked for one. He has a security clearance but isnt in the military chain of command or known to be a military adviser to Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Musk would visit the Pentagon on Friday. In a statement on X, Musks social-media site. Its an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production," he said, denying that the presidential adviser would receive a sensitive China briefing. Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow for U.S.-China competition at the Hudson Institute in Washington, said Pentagon leadership might be trying to protect themselves against Musk cutting sensitive military programs. But they dont need to give Musk the full briefing to avoid that outcome," he said. Specific details of the U.S. war plans for China arent known and are only discussed publicly by Defense Department officials and senior officers in the broadest terms. The Pentagon maintains operational plans for many potential adversaries and updates them regularly. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is among those expected to be at the briefing. Adm. Sam Paparo, the head of Indo-Pacific Command, said last month in remarks at a defense forum in Hawaii that the U.S. has war-winning advantages" in any possible conflict with China in space and cyber capabilities, as well as a generational advantage" in submarines. Paparo is expected to participate in the Musk briefing with Hegseth, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, and Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The National Security Council and Indo-Pacific Command, which is responsible for U.S. military operations in Asia, declined to comment about the Pentagon briefing for Musk, which was first reported by the New York Times. Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency and obtained a security clearance, has taken a growing interest in U.S. national security policy. The visit will be Musks first known appearance at the Pentagon this year. He has weighed in recently on defense acquisitions, calling on the Pentagon to stop buying Lockheed Martins F-35 fighter jets and to shift to a large fleet of drones. Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway," he posted to X, his social-media site, in November. Will just get pilots killed." Lockheed Martin owns half of a rocket company that is one of SpaceXs biggest competitors in space launch. Musk recently made an unannounced visit to the National Security Agency, an intelligence agency focused on communications intercepts, to discuss operations and staff reductions. He was also involved in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and folding its remaining functions into the State Department. Musk has made positive comments about China in recent years, leading Beijing to hope he could be a conduit to Trump. In 2023, Musk said he was kind of pro-China" during a conversation about whether Beijing would be helpful in writing global rules about artificial intelligence. I have some vested interests in China but honestly, I think China is underrated and I think the people of China are really awesome and there is a lot of positive energy there." Musk has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a close partner of China, the country that has supported Moscows invasion of Ukraine. During one of their conversations, Putin asked Musk not to activate a Starlink internet satellite above Taiwan as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Top U.S. officials in both parties have warned that China is the greatest danger to American security. China has increasingly threatened Taiwan. Western intelligence officials believe China is working toward being ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, potentially drawing the U.S. into a regional conflict. Write to Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com and Nancy A. Youssef at nancy.youssef@wsj.com Nvidia just unveiled new AI chips that will be several times as powerful as anything on the market today, and use considerably more electricity. By 2027, a server rack stacked with its top-of-the-line chips will use five times the power of todays machines, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told a jam-packed audience at a California conference this week. Big tech companies, which are all betting heavily on AI, will undoubtedly buy those chips, even if the price skyrockets. But theres growing evidence that there wont be enough electricity to power all of their AI dreams. The virtual world is starting to hit a physical limit. It all starts with gas turbines, the spinning machinery that transforms natural gasthe largest source of Americas electricityinto electric power. Power company executives say theyre building more big turbines but are unwilling to vastly boost capacity in a way that would satisfy every potential AI company, out of fear of overbuilding. The wait for new turbines now stretches more than three years. And the costs to buy them are jumping faster than Taylor Swift concert tickets. The power crunch could come soon. Morgan Stanley estimated last year that data centers will need 57 gigawatts worth of new electricity capacity by 2028, or as much as 70 large-scale power plants produce. There are three dominant turbine makersGE Vernova, Mitsubishi Power and Siemens Energy. The boom in power demand associated with AI has been incredibly rewarding to their investors. GE Vernova stock is up 160% in the past year; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the parent of Mitsubishi Power, is up 60%; and Siemens Energy has rocketed 300%. The industry has gone from a deep lull to a dead sprint in a very short period. In 2022, only one large gas turbine was sold by all manufacturers in the U.S., said Rich Voorberg, president of Siemens Energy in North America. In just the last six months, Siemens Energy has signed deals for dozens of large turbines in North America. Theres much more growth ahead. As of the end of 2024, companies and utilities were planning 363 new natural gas plants in the U.S., with planned output jumping 70% in just two years, according to the Sierra Club, which tracks the industry. The turbine companies are scaling up somewhat to address the demand. Mitsubishi is on track to expand production capacity by 30%, and Siemens Energy is doubling the output of one turbine equipment plant in Tampa. GE Vernova is moving at a faster pace, planning to produce 70 to 80 heavy-duty turbines a year by the second half of 2026, up from 48 in 2024. But the ramp-up also comes with considerable risks for those same companies. Expanding turbine production aggressively now would expose them to major losses in the event that power demand growth slows. Past busts have led to mass industry layoffs. Executives at Mitsubishi Power and Siemens Energy said in interviews in recent days that theyre being cautious about adding capacity. GE Vernova has made comments recently about growing at reasonable rates. The companies are churning out more turbines, but almost certainly not fast enough to meet all the potential demand from those AI chips. They want to be prepared for a bust in the future, even if they dont see it on the horizon just yet. Weve been through a lot of these upcycles and downcycles," Rich Voorberg, president of Siemens Energy in North America, said in an interview. A lot of us have been burned over the years." On paper there are hundreds of billions of dollars worth of data centers comingup to $500 billion alone for the Stargate project involving OpenAI and SoftBank. In reality, they may not all pan out. The challenge weve got is trying to figure out whos real and who isnt real today," Voorberg said. Bill Newsom, CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas, said in an interview that while he is enjoying the boom, hes already got an eye out for a bust. My biggest question is how long is this going to happen," he said. Every day I wake up trying to answer that question. Is this a 3, 5, 10, or 15-year run?" AI progress has proven unpredictable. Stocks of the turbine-makers tumbled in January after the debut of Chinese AI company DeepSeek, which promised top-tier AI performance with much lower energy use. Already, some power plant projects are falling by the wayside for lack of turbines. Power company Engie canceled two major Texas power plant projects last monthone of which was on a shortlist for state supportbecause of equipment shortages. Among the equipment that the company couldnt procure in time was gas turbines. Voorberg said that it was very accurate" to assume that other power plant projects will suffer a similar fate. Voorberg said that tech CEOs often have unrealistic assumptions about how the power market works, seeming to think it can scale up the way software does. Some of them want to buy turbines directly so that they can create off-grid power plants that hook directly into data centers without having to travel through the larger grid. Companies like Chevron and Exxon Mobil are partnering with tech companies to make that happen. Voorberg said Siemens Energy tells tech firms to come up with comprehensive plans to partner with utilities or other power companies, and have a clear path to regulatory approval. He also needs to ensure he has enough turbines for the companys tried-and-true customersutilities. The ones that are the flash in the pans, we will definitely sell to them," he said. But were also not going to forget our long-term customers." The leading manufacturers are now sold out of big turbines until 2028 or laterand it can take up to two years after turbine delivery for a company to actually generate power from a natural gas power plant. Theres lots of other equipment that needs to be hooked up, and permits to get, after the turbine arrives on site. To get your hands on a gas turbine and to actually get it built across the market, youre really looking at 2030, or later," said John Ketchum, the CEO of NextEra Energy, at an energy conference in Houston last week. Ketchums company owns Floridas biggest regulated utility, which depends heavily on natural gas, and is one of the countrys largest renewable power developers too. That delay clearly poses a problem. Patience is not a virtue that anyone associates with the AI race today. Advances in the technology are happening lightning-fast, and companies are not keen to wait until 2030 to secure the power they need. The shortage is a threat to the growth of AIand more power plants will invariably be canceledbut some companies are coming up with workarounds too. Some tech companies are buying a large number of smaller turbines and combining their power to equal the generation of a big one. Its an inefficient solution but one thats gaining momentum. The big players make small turbines, but there are other suppliers as well, including Baker Hughes and Caterpillar. They should add market share in turbines in the years ahead. Bloom Energy, which uses fuel cells to turn natural gas into electricity, is also benefiting. In addition, tech companies may have to invest even more in renewables, which can come online faster than natural gas and already make up the largest share of new electricity generation. When coupled with batteries, they can provide power for much of the day. Ketchum of NextEra says he thinks renewables will have to fill the gap for the next few years, at least. And companies may simply have to make do with the power thats available, by becoming more efficient. Nvidia and Schneider Electric announced a partnership on Tuesday to find ways to cut power use through efficiency gains. Duke University researchers published a paper last month that found existing electricity resources could accommodate dozens of massive new data centers as long as the tech companies were willing to curtail power demand temporarily at moments of high stress on the grid. AI seems unstoppable. The looming power crunch could be its biggest test. Write to Avi Salzman at avi.salzman@barrons.com NLC India has recently been in the news after a parliamentary standing committee on coal, mines, and steel stated in its report that the company failed to meet its lignite production target for FY24. The report said the company produced 23.68 million tonnes (mt) of lignite against a production target of 26.5 mt, achieving only 83.36% of the target. Of the three coal-producing public sector undertakings (PSUs), the company was the only one that did not meet its target. Note that 23.68 mt is 78.9% of NLCs lignite mining capacity. NLC India has a total mining capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with 30 mtpa for lignite and 20 mtpa for coal. View Full Image Annual report The average plant availability for NLCs portfolio also remained below the normative level of 85% in FY24. The company failed to meet its lignite production target in FY24 due to prolonged delays in land acquisition at its thermal power stationII (TPS-II) plant. Revenue from lignite sales also decreased as a result because there were no open sales in Mine IA. Mine IA supplies lignite to the TPS-II plant. Land acquisition issues are not new to NLC. In 2023, areas near NLC's opencast mines in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu were a hotbed of protests over the companys decision to take control of the lands acquired more than a decade ago. Acquiring land for large-scale mining projects is a significant challenge due to complex land ownership patterns and compensation negotiations. Any delay, however, can disrupt and hamper a companys operations. This can be seen in the companys numbers for FY24. Its revenue declined by 19.6% year-on-year to 12,999 crore from 16,165 crore in FY23. While the decline in revenue was largely due to a decrease in the sale of power and the absence of many favourable regulatory/tariff orders that had boosted revenue in FY23, the drop in lignite production was also a major contributor. Also Read: Bajaj Finservs insurance bet fails to impress investors No lignite shortage anymore The companys management has said that it has resolved the aforementioned issues by working with the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government. In its recent conference call, the management said that it does not foresee any issues with the availability of lignite in the near future. All of the companys units are operating at their full capacity, and with a substantial amount of land in the companys possession, it doesnt foresee any problem in the next financial year either. It has already taken short-term and long-term measures to improve the availability and reliability of its TPS II expansion units. The short-term measures have already resulted in an improvement in the availability and reliability of its units. Long-term modification in one of the units is expected to be completed in the second week of March. The unit will start its operation with improved reliability and availability. These changes have already resulted in an improvement in the companys financials. For the first nine months of FY25, the companys revenue has grown 21% YoY to 11,445 crores on the back of an increase in sale of power. Lignite production, too, has increased 5.3% YoY to 171.35 lakh mt, while coal production has risen 40% to 82.19 lakh mt. This is the highest-ever lignite plus coal production reported by the company. Tracking this increase, the companys net profit has grown 28% YoY to 2,245 crores. Expansion plans to fuel growth While the company saw a few setbacks concerning lignite production in FY24, its outlook for the near future seems promising. By 2030, the company plans to increase mining capacity to 102 mtpa from the current 50.1 mtpa. It also plans to increase its renewable capacity to 10 GW by 2030, up from the current 1.4 GW. Ongoing projects include 300 MW in Barsingsar, 600 MW in Khavda, and 810 MW in Rajasthan. It is exploring various avenues for renewable capacity addition, including joint ventures with multiple state governments. The company recently bagged a contract from SJVN Ltd to develop and operate a 200 MW wind power project. The project is set to generate 526 MU of clean green power each year offsetting an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Concerning the mining business, the company is in the advanced stage of getting the stage 2 forest clearances for the Pachwara Coal block linked to the Ghatampur plant and expects to start production by July 25. It has also signed a coal mine development and production agreement for the New Patrapara South Coal Mine project, which has an annual capacity of 12 mtpa, bringing the total group capacity to 100 mtpa. These capacity expansions are estimated to be over 1.25 trillion, which the company will fund through debt and equity as per regulations. The management is confident of funding the equity from the additional revenue as the expansion projects start contributing to the top line. NLC is also in the process of transferring all its existing renewable assets to NLC India Renewables Ltd, and all the new renewable energy capacity will be moved to NLC India Green Energy. It expects to proceed with its green energy IPO by March 2026 or June 2026. Also Read: As the weight of promoter pledge lifts, Aster DM is free to grow again What the numbers say Over the last five years, NLC Indias revenue has grown at a meagre CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 6%, and net profit has grown at 4%. While the increase was driven by a rise in blended power tariffs and a new revenue stream from the external sale of coal from Talabira mines, issues related to the TPS-I and TPS-II plants weighed on the companys performance. Going forward, this is expected to improve as the company increases the production of thermal coal via its Ghatampur plant and Talabira Mines. However, any delay in the execution of these projects and ramp up in lignite and coal production could slow down this growth, as highlighted by analysts at Axis Direct. A delay in the ramp-up of renewable power generation capacity and recovery of dues from the state distribution companies (discoms) could also hinder performance, they added. Nevertheless, if these projects are executed as per the company's plans, operating profit margins (OPM) are expected to improve from 27% as reported in FY24. Operating profit margins (OPM) are also expected to improve from 27% as reported in FY24. Historically, the company has maintained an OPM of more than 25%. Its average five-year operating profit margin (OPM) stands at 32%. View Full Image Source : Annual Report Coming to financial ratios, the return on equity and return on capital employed of the company have been in the range of 8-12% in the last five years on account of lower revenues. Going ahead, this could continue to be stable as revenue increases. With respect to leverage metrics, the companys debt-to-equity ratio has come down from 2.1x in FY20 to 1.35x in FY24, indicating a strong financial position. Its interest coverage ratio also increased from 3x to 4.39x over the same period, suggesting that the company is more than capable of meeting its financial obligations. The companys shares are down almost 20% from their all-time high. However, the stock has gained 4% in 2025 so far and over 18% over the last year. Shares of the company hit their 52-week high of 311.65 on 16 July 2024 and 52-week low of 185.85 on 17 February 2025. Axis Direct maintains a buy rating on the stock with a target price of 305. This implies a 21% upside from the current price. The stock has seen major interest from FIIs and DIIs over the last few quarters. FIIs have increased their stake from 2.18% in June 2024 to 2.86% in December 2024, whereas DIIs have increased their stake from 8.85% in December 2023 to 14.46%. Both are a sign of increasing confidence in the company. Also Read: LG Indias IPO eyes a premium valuationwill investors bite? Conclusion NLC India faced various problems with its lignite production in FY24. However, the business has seen a turnaround in FY25 supported by several measures and resolution of its land acquisition issues. The company has ambitious growth plans that it plans to see through over the next five years. It also has improving financials to support its growth. If execution remains on track, FY25 could mark a significant recovery for the company and set the stage for sustained growth. For more such analyses, read Profit Pulse. Ayesha Shetty is a SEBI- registered research analyst. She holds the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) charter and is also pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Disclosure: The author does not hold any shares of the companies discussed. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions. Foreign portfolio investors reportedly sold Indian equities worth 30,000 crore in just the first 15 days of March, taking the total outflow for the fiscal yar to almost 1.5 trillion, one of the highest since 2020. Meanwhile, China wants to hold a meeting between President Xi Jinping and global CEOs. The planned meeting comes as Beijing tries to stabilise falling foreign investment flows into China in recent years. China is keen for the support of global business leaders, many of whom have invested heavily in the country, as it fends off the US government's hostile trade tariffs. So, with China's recent technology success in AI-powered chatbot DeepSeek and efforts to lure global business leaders, the flow of FII funds from India to China cannot be ruled out. In the worst case, it could also mean India losing some benefits of the China+1 policy of global enterprises that seek to diversify their overseas business interests. Therefore, India must safeguard its turf when it comes to sectors where local businesses compete head-on with Chinese counterparts. India ranked third in terms of number of research papers published on semiconductor chip design and fabrication from 2018 to 2023. India was placed above Japan, South Korea and Germany, according to the Emerging Technology Observatory, a project of Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Pack leaders Indian organisations contributed almost 40,000 research papers, which was 8.4% of the global share and a growth of 26% in the five-year period. However, China has become the leader in the field, having overtaken the US after producing over 160,000 papers in the period, capturing 34% of the global share. The semiconductor supply chain is, in fact, concentrated in specific regions. The US is a leader in chip design, contributing about 64% to the global market. In contrast, manufacturing and assembly activities are located primarily in Asia. Over the past 30 years, there has been a significant shift in manufacturing capacity towards Taiwan, South Korea and China, which now hold over 85% of the global foundry market. The regional concentration led to challenges in balancing supply and demand. This was especially exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for diversified and resilient supply chain strategies. India has progressed in multiple sectors of the chip design value chain. So far, there are more than half a million professionals aligned to chip design. Also, almost every product company and design house including Qualcomm, AMD and Intel have a base in India. Indian engineers account for about 19% of the global chip design talent, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group. The countrys progress in semiconductor research is on the back of substantial increases in the government's budget allocation to semiconductor R&D, which grew 1.4x in the past decade. Driven by initiatives from the government, strategic partnerships and programmes such as the Semiconductor Mission, production-linked incentive schemes, and special economic zones, India now stands firmly on the semiconductor manufacturing map. Today, India manufactures less than 1% of the world's semiconductors and, for the majority, it is reliant on imports. It's necessary for India to reduce its dependency on the import of chips and improve its standing in the global electronics industry. The Indian market for semiconductors is estimated to cross $100 billion by 2032 from about $40 billion in 2024 on the back of increased demand for smartphones and consumer electronics and developments in automotive technologies, automation and healthcare. Threshold of opportunities Companies that are already invested in India's semiconductor supply chain include Tata Electronics, HCL Technologies, Dixon Technologies, Cyient and ASM Technologies. HCL Technologies has a strong legacy of more than 25 years in the VLSI (very-large-scale integration) chip design segment, along with rich experience of having worked with top chip manufacturers and design foundries across the globe. The company recently opened a semiconductor design centre in Hyderabad. Dixon Technologies has entered into an agreement with Taiwanese company Foxconn to help set up a semiconductor assembly and testing plant in the country. There is also an agreement between Tata Electronics and Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC). Cyient has set up a wholly owned semiconductor business to focus on end-to-end turnkey application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design and chip sales. So, India's top semiconductor stocks are well-poised to capitalise on opportunities in both chip design and manufacturing over the next decade. Nevertheless, the industry faces hurdles such as a shortage of labour, limited access to rare earth minerals and the need for a stable supply chain. The key problem, however, will be the stiff competition from both American and Chinese counterparts. In 2022, the US government passed the CHIPS Act, promising $52 billion to secure the semiconductor supply chain. The US is going all out to set up chip fabrication plants to be less reliant on other economies. National security concerns and the fear of missing out on having the world's best chips have prompted the US to bolster domestic chip production. In 2024, Intel, the biggest US chipmaker, received the largest government grant of $8.5 billion to build new facilities. It will invest up to $100 billion in chip facilities over the next five years. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest semiconductor chipmaker, won a $6.6 billion US subsidy for producing the most advanced 2 nanometer processor chips. Most of the world's advanced chips, which are currently in high demand, are designed in the US and manufactured in Taiwan and South Korea. Of this, 90% come from TSMC. China factor So, how does China's CEO meeting impact India's semiconductor plans? Chinese chip companies are rapidly investing in new semiconductor factories to try and advance the nation's R&D capabilities. China also needs to get around export controls imposed by the US and its allies. Those curbs are making it harder for Chinese companies to get access to the machines needed to make the most powerful chips. Such curbs have slowed the development of China's high-tech sector, which is seen as a threat to the US. Also, China has tightened its grip on rare earth minerals used in semiconductor production, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, and has imposed export restrictions, particularly to the US, citing national security concerns. For months, China and the US have been involved in tit-for-tat export restrictions. The US hopes to cripple China's military and artificial intelligence advances as well as hamper its ambitions to become a global leader in clean energy and other technologies. The trade war is affecting global supply chains for chip and semiconductor manufacturers and pushing prices up. India's top semiconductor companies need access to both minerals and technology to accelerate growth and have a meaningful presence in the global supply chain. Therefore, developments that threaten the benefits of China+1 for Indian manufacturing need to be thwarted with necessary policy and government incentives. Study the semiconductor ecosystem thoroughly and keep the top semiconductor stocks in your watchlist. Happy investing! Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com Despite costing more than $50 million to develop and roll out, only 20 per cent of drivers are actually using the app. The Queensland app displays digital versions of car and marine licences, but there's a push for more to be added to the platform. Source: Queensland Government/AAP There are calls for a major change to be made to a Queensland government app that has taken five years and $50 million to develop. The states digital licence app was officially rolled out in November, 2023 after five years of development, including three years of trials. The app allows residents to access a digital version of their drivers licence, marine licence or other photo identification. But 16 months on, following a rocky launch plagued with technical issues, only about 20 per cent of the states drivers have signed up for the app prompting calls for a change in an attempt to boost those numbers. Queenslands Customer Services Minister Steve Minnikin is pushing for the app to hold more than just digital licences. He would like to see the platform become a gateway to a variety of government products. ADVERTISEMENT "You don't need to have a separate app for that, and then you have a separate app for this," Mr Minnikin told ABC. "We just want to make sure that when people interact with government, they don't have to groan and think, 'here we go again'. "Just make it seamless, pleasurable, and quick." He referred to the Service NSW app an app available to NSW residents that allows quick access to registrations, fines, government vouchers and services and said once Queenslands own design was set up and as secure as possible, it will then enable a range of products and services to come across very, very easily. Of the 3.8 million drivers in Queensland, approximately 827,000 have registered for a digital licence. The state is one of four to offer digital licences, along with NSW, Victoria and South Australia. Queensland is one of four Aussie states to offer digital licences to their motorists. Source: Queensland Government Little-known rule with $110 fine surrounding digital licences In NSW, if your phone has run out of battery and youre unable to show your digital licence, or provide a physical one, you could be fined $110. Lawyer Hayder Shkara says the rule is a bit harsh. ADVERTISEMENT "Its one of those little-known rules that catches people off-guard, he told Yahoo News this week. "You either produce your licence on the spot, or youre copping a fine. No second chances," he said. "Other states, Queensland and Victoria give you the option to show your licence later at a police station. Meanwhile, in NSW, its like, 'Phone dead? Bad luck, heres a fine'," he explained. While WA, Tasmania and the ACT are yet to introduce a digital licensing app, the Northern Territory is planning a trial for this year. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A journalistic investigation into the murder of Gauri Lankesh in September 2017 and the many questions that swirled around it, which doubles up as a frank but sensitive biography of the journalist and activist. A portrait of the city of Bengaluru, warts and all, painted as only someone who loves the city can. An improbable segue into the lore of St Thomas, the apostle believed to have travelled all the way to Kerala in the first century AD, as a way of exploring how personalities get mythologised. A second detour which dives into a more contemporary killing in Tamil Nadu, concluding with a reflection on moral licensing (the idea that the more good a person does, the more licence they give themselves to do bad) and murder. Through it all, a running thread of the apprehensions around the present and future of India among those who believe in democracy and secularism. The very idea of having such a variety of themes between the covers of a single book sounds unwieldy. Yet, American journalist Rollo Romig brings these strands together with such dexterity that at no point does the narrative of I Am on the Hit List strike a discordant note. This may be Romigs debut book, but he is a seasoned features writer, who has written multiple stories on south India. Also read: Let women reclaim the right to rage What drew me to I Am on the Hit List, in fact, was the memory of his excellent profile of P. Rajagopal, founder of the Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants who was accused of murder, published in The New York Times Magazine over a decade ago. That piece finds a place in the book by way of an interlude, where Romig examines the parallels in the rationalisation of murders by the accusedboth Lankeshs and in the one ordered by Rajagopal. The books opening chapter asks a question that many, including those closest to Lankesh, wrestled with in the days and weeks after she was shot down at her own doorstep on the night of 5 September 2017: Why Gauri?" Yes, she was an outspoken critic of Hindutva, and the Bharatiya Janata Party, both in the pages of the Kannada weekly Gauri Lankesh Patrike, which she edited, and beyond it. But the bald truth, as well-wishers like litterateur Girish Karnad highlighted, was that neither she nor her struggling publication were influential enough to merit the effort of an assassination. As Romig wonders, Who would want to shoot down this tiny, frail, fifty-five-year-old woman with a tiny, failing newspaper?" It is a question that recurs through the book. The author uses it to unpeel the different layers to Lankesh, the person and the professional, and probe the multiple theories which sprung up in the aftermath of her killing in the absence of a clear motive, including, finally, the motive uncovered by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which arrested the accused. Romig meticulously investigates each conjecture, including the right-wing angst over why Lankeshs murder was getting so much attention unlike the killing of Hindutva activists in coastal Karnataka. Each theory also becomes a gateway to exploring contemporary Karnataka, its politics and culture, from the Lingayats seeking minority status, which roiled the state before the 2018 assembly elections, to the Naxal movement of the early 2000s. However, the scope of the narrative is not confined to Karnataka, with Lankeshs murder being the last among four activists and writers shot down in a similar fashion in as many years. The hit list" in the title refers to two lists: the first, an imaginary one drawn by progressives like Lankesh herself about who would be next after the murders of activists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, and scholar M.M. Kalburgi; the second, chillingly real and found by the SIT among the possessions of those arrested for Lankeshs murder. The book is also an appraisal of Lankesh, an honest and empathetic account that does not descend into hagiography as too many biographies tend to these days. I had heard of Gauri Lankesh before her killing, but I was more familiar with the names of her celebrity editor father, P. Lankesh, and filmmaker sister, Kavitha. And I was not the only one. In her life, Gauri Lankesh never reached the pinnacle of fame her father had, which is why the outpouring of grief and rage that swept the country in the wake of her murder took many aback. View Full Image A rally held over the killing of Gauri Lankesh in Delhi on 7 September 2017. (getty images) In a telling anecdote, Lankeshs close friend, the artist Pushpamala, decries how so many remembrances were far too reverential towards her incorrigible friend", tending to flatten a person into a martyr". Romig avoids this urge and presents Lankesh as someone who may not have been the most successful journalist but was a deeply passionate, kind, conscientious soul. It was hard not to admire her outspokenness against injustices, her talent for friendship, and, most of all, her unique ability to unite disparate interest groups", reflected in the size of the crowds who mourned her. Lankesh may be the pivot around which the book unfolds but, in this account, spread across a very readable 330-odd pages, one is introduced to a host of characters, not least among which is the city of Bengaluru, which Romig once considered making his home. For a reader who is a resident of the city, many of the references about it are hardly new. Yet, the writers craft make the passages engaging, such as a description of the traffic congestion which calcifies as the day wanes" (though I would argue that it can be as impregnable in the dreaded morning rush hour). The broader arc of the narrative, though, highlights the grim reality of an increasingly intolerant India. For Romig, who is married to a Malayali Muslim, the political is also personal as he speaks of his father-in-law who, for the first time, is considering emigrating, and the bigotry he senses when he mentions his wifes name. He is thus able to bring to his work the lens of both an observant outsider and invested insider, if second-hand. While discussing India today, a journalist friend recently brought up the familiar metaphor of the frog slowly being boiled in water who does not realise how bad things are till it is too late. Do we, for instance, still recall the 2020 arrests of schoolteachers and parents in Bidar in north Karnataka for staging a play critical of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)? Or the detention of the young activist Amulya Leona for raising the slogan of Pakistan Zindabad" during an anti-CAA protest on grounds of sedition? Or the fact that even though the SIT found that the accused in Lankeshs murder case acted in accordance with the principles of a work published by the Sanatan Sanstha, the organisation continues to thrive? This list, too, is long. Besides being a riveting work of reportage, I Am on the Hit List serves as an important reminder of Indias democratic backsliding of the past few years for those who may, as Romig writes, have the luxury of tuning out. Indulekha Aravind is an independent journalist. Also read: How sound and smell define the spaces we inhabit Would you like to write about womens rage?" My first thought is an embarrassed, Has she really noticed how angry I get?" Embarrassed for the very reason this article is being commissionedgood girls dont get angry. Behave yourself!" hissed through a parents gritted teeth. Dont be vehement." Dont lose your temper." And when all that good behaviour causes an explosion, Dont slam doors." I have been angry all my life and extraordinarily well-behaved about itmostly, as visible to strangers eyes. So yes, thank you, I would like to write about womens rage. Like foot-binding, once practised on little Chinese girls, emotion-binding is practised on little girls everywhere. As we grow up, everything we hear about anger makes it sound like the symptom of something broken or diseased. We start to menstruate and our anger is described as moodinessa hormonal disorder rather than a natural response to an unfair world or even, our physical discomfort. If we express ourselves loudly or sharply, or even just clearly, we are hystericala word associated with our anatomy. As we grow up, we are advised not to indulge our anger because we must learn to adjust" to what lies ahead in our lives as girls and women. Obediently (and we obey for various reasons), we tidy up our messy feelings and tuck away our rage. Some angry women are heroes and others are not. Reading Silappatikaram, we adore Kannagis anger because it avenged her husband. True to our ideals of femininity, she let go of the resentment and betrayal she must have surely felt when he went to live with another woman. Finally, she emerged a passionate, powerful and yes, angry, advocate when her husband was wrongly accused and killed. We celebrate the anger that brought him justice even though it destroyed a city (of course, sparing women, children, the elderly and sick, because it was righteous). Also read: Silvatein: A play that looks at everyday feminism In the Mahabharat, Draupadi too is angry and she has much to be angry aboutarbitrarily being entered into a polyandrous marriage, being gambled away as chattel, being dragged into a public arena and disrobed while her husbands, among the best warriors of the land, watched, and then forced to wander with them in exile. Draupadis angerlargely because of her husbandsmust have been compounded as she watched her husbands children die one by one in a battle none of them initiated. But we do not judge her because her thirst for vengeance fuels her husbands quest to win back their inheritance. Anger at the service of patriarchy is good anger. This is why women organise effectively as mothers in order to campaign for peace or for news of missing family members. Women who get angry and deploy the resources of men for their ends are clearly villains. Think of the Ramayans Soorpanakha, whose fury too was justified. Valmiki had her nose and ears cut off and Kamban her breasts, and all for the sin of being attracted to and propositioning their protagonists. She responded politically, calling on her powerful brothers, including Ravana, to avenge her humiliation by killing her assailants. We do not approve of her anger at all. Women who get angry in public spacesthink actor-politician Jaya Bachchanare mocked, reviled and criticised. This includes politicians, activists and journalists. They dare to forget that their access to public spaces is contingent upon their being seen and not heard. Women who get angry in private spaces disrupt the fragile equilibrium of the patriarchal household, especially the silences about violence that undergird family life. Angry women provoke a backlash, such as the one we are seeing now around the world. Its a chicken-egg readingare we angry because we have too many rights or do we have the rights we have because of our anger? The question is simply resolved by taking our rights away, one by one. And still, our rage is uncouth. Also read: Experience a unique home meal with Saudi Arabia's first female tour guide I have now tamed my anger about the big things into a very quiet fury that works like an always-on work motor. I tell myself that every small act counts towards dismantling this infuriating world and I immerse myself in an endless series of tasks. However, I do feel that white-hot, ice-cold, furiously-wild-blade-chopping and yelling anger everyday about one thinghousework. I write livid, vivid paragraphs in my head while muttering incoherently about housework being patriarchys sneakiest jail for women. A disapproving chorus chants, Tut-tut, she didnt get the memo!" Angrier, I remember every single thing any woman ever said to me about the nobility of housework or how meditative it is and spin into further fury. I cannot wait to leave this realm and return to my desk where I can write essays about rage and other important topics. Except that after being so angry, I can barely breathe, leave alone think or write. This is the one thing about rage that no one tells you: it swallows you whole. When that embodiment of long-suffering patience, Seeta, could finally bear no more, she (decorously) called on the earth to swallow her whole and free her from patriarchys endless expectations. We forgive her rage because our heart has bled for her and because she considerately turns her anger on herself. Maybe this is actually a metaphor. Rage splinters you and scatters your energies. It debilitates you. It weakens your core. You are left broken, holding your ragerage that no one cares about, rage that achieves nothingtoo spent to do anything. The line between rage that, rising within, consumes you and multiple sorrows you never cried over is blurred. You are but the charred remains of your own ragegood for nothing. In the same epic, there was Kaikeyia woman immortalised for throwing a royal tantrum. Did you know that in the Valmiki Ramayan, she does not throw that tantrum in her bedroom or sitting room, but in a special place called the anger chamber" (krodhaagaaram," Ayodhyakandam, Sarga 10: Verse 20)? Also read: Pickle Factory Season 5: Using dance to create spaces for collective healing The idea of a special room where you can go when you are angry captivates me. You could go there without having to announce how you felt. You could go there and be left alone for a while. Someone might come and console you or apologise or sit quietly with you. How wonderful to recognise that women might be angry and need space for it. We demonise Kaikeyi for her willingness to advocate for her sonbut how wonderful she had a space just for her anger. Centuries of stigma and censure have not changed how angry we can get. Feminist author Soraya Chemaly wrote some years ago about womens anger: A society that does not respect womens anger is one that does not respect women; not as human beings, thinkers, knowers, active participants, or citizens." Be furious, then, this unjust world deserves that and more. Rage is your primal energyto create, to conserve and to destroy. Nurture it carefully and deploy it strategically away from yourself. Turn it outward and change the thing that infuriates you in whatever way you can. To begin with, let us reclaim the right to rage. Swarna Rajagopalan is a public educator on gender equality issues, teaches politics and writes on this and that. Businesses across the country have five months to adopt stricter norms to reduce their environmental impact, by crafting clear policies, setting sustainability goals, and adopting eco-friendly practices in daily operations. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has tightened standards for so-called environmental management systems (EMS), internal company systems to minimize impact and improve performance on the environmental front. BIS certifies these systems, underscoring their commitment to the environment, reducing costs, and enhancing reputation. BIS has mandated all businesses to adopt the new EMS norms by 21 August, two government officials said, requiring companies to take measurable steps to reduce their environmental impact. Companies will need to track their environmental footprint, minimize waste, conserve resources, and comply with existing environmental laws. Regular checks, audits, and corrective measures will be key factors in granting certification to ensure compliance," said the first official. Adherence to these standards is currently not mandatory, the official added. Also read | BIS cracks down on e-commerce giants amid India-US clash over online trade rules The move is part of the government's efforts to raise awareness among businesses and manufacturing units about their environmental obligations amid growing concerns over global warming threats, they said. Industries with a significant environmental impact, such as chemicals, textiles and leather need to undertake changes in their existing complies for EMS. They would now need to invest in cleaner technology, improve waste management, and train employees to meet the new requirements," said the second official. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties, legal action, or cancellation of their certification, this official added. Queries sent to BISs director general Pramod Kumar Tiwari remained unanswered. While implementing EMS in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can result in cost savings, regulatory compliance, and improved environmental performance enhancing their competitiveness and access to new marketsit also adds to operational costs. This could be a challenge for SME firms already struggling to meet their financial commitments," said Vinok Kumar, president of India SME Forum. Helping identify environmental impact An EMS helps a business identify its environmental impact and take steps to reduce harm. This includes preventing pollution, conducting regular audits, and implementing necessary improvements. Companies with a certified EMS gain a competitive advantage. With the pressure the expanding economy places on natural resources, it is crucial that there are stringent environmental management systems which ensure that we dont deplete and destroy the environment more than it already has been impacted," said Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends, a Delhi-based consulting firm. Its also clear that those with better regulation and norms to safeguard environmental policies are considered better off by their partners and end users. Sustainability is no longer a buzz word. Triple bottomline concept is more needed than it ever was, especially in a country like India where a lot of growth and development is yet to happen as economies in many high income regions may see some plateau.," Khosla added. Also read | BIS to set standards for online educational courses to enhance content quality BIS certification of EMS also improves efficiency by helping businesses use energy and raw materials more efficiently, leading to cost savings. It enhances a companys reputation, demonstrating to customers, investors, and regulators its commitment to sustainability. This can provide a competitive edge, attracting more clients and business opportunities. This certification is required for importing certain products, including electronics, machinery, and chemicals, as they must have advance BIS approval. It also shows a a company is actively managing its environmental impact, which is crucial for regulatory approvals, international trade, and stakeholder confidence. The environment ministry sets broad environmental regulations, but an EMS offers a structured framework for businesses to systematically implement and maintain environmental best practices. Also read | India steps up medical devices safety drive; DCGI mandates BIS compliance What is Buffetts latest move in Japan? The billionaire-led Berkshire Hathway earlier this week disclosed it had increased its shareholding in Japans five biggest trading houses. The Omaha-based conglomerate hiked its stake in Mitsui to 9.82%, in Mitsubishi to 9.67%, in Itochu to 8.53%, in Marubeni to 9.3% and in Sumitomo to 9.29%. The stake increases ranged from 1 to 1.73 percentage points. Berkshires Japanese holdings were valued at $23.5 billion at the end of 2024, compared with their aggregate cost of $13.8 billion. Berkshire first bought into the Japanese majors in July 2019, followed by stake hikes in 2020 and 2023. What do these Japanese firms do? These five industrial powerhouses are among Japans oldest and biggest sogo shosha, or general trading houses which trade in a wide range of goods and commodities, from electronics, hardware, textiles, and automobiles to oil and gas, metals, minerals, and even noodles. They are also engaged in financial services, specialty chemicals, infrastructure and other vital industries. While these conglomerates have a strong focus on serving the domestic market, they are also responsible for a chunk of the countrys exports, and are key parts of the global supply chain in multiple sectors. Is it all to do with Japans economic performance? Japan has underperformed since the 1990s. The worlds fourth-largest economy grew at an annualized pace of 2.2% during Oct-Dec 2024, and analysts say Trumps tariffs will bring fresh headwinds. But Buffett has said in the past, his investments are based on a companys fundamentals, and should not be construed as macroeconomic endorsements. Also read | AI power shift: Can China close the gap with the US? What influenced his decision? In his annual letter to shareholders in February, Buffett declared his intention to increase Berkshires stake in the companies and hold them for the very long term". He said he admired their financial performance, capital deployment, managements and attitude to investors. Each of the five companies increase dividends when appropriate, they repurchase their shares when it is sensible to do so, and their top managers are far less aggressive in their compensation programs than their US counterparts," he said. What are the lessons for investors? Buffett retains a laser sharp focus on the basics, ignoring hype. While the rest of the world is going ga-ga over artificial intelligence and other new-age technologies, the investing legend is coolly increasing his stake in robust cash-flow-generating businesses with diversified revenue streams, high operational benchmarks and a track record of corporate governance. Investing styles can fade in and out of fashion, but old- fashioned value investing is evergreen. At least till Buffett is around. The Israeli military expanded its ground operations across the Gaza Strip, with the countrys defense minister threatening to occupy parts of the enclave and displace its population, as Israel ramps up pressure on Hamas to release more hostages. Israeli ground troops returned to Gaza after a wave of deadly airstrikes earlier this week shattered a cease-fire that held for almost two months and tipped the territory back toward full-scale war. The ground operations are the latest in a series of escalatory steps Israel has rolled out in recent weeks as talks to extend the cease-fire deal faltered. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday he had instructed the military to seize parts of the strip and evacuate their populations, a day after Israeli troops took back control of much of a key corridor dividing the enclaves north and south. As long as Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more land that will be added to Israel," Katz said. Katz said Hamass refusal to return all the hostages could lead to permanent Israeli control of the territory," and suggested that parts of the enclave could be occupied. He pledged continued assaults by air, land and sea. The Israeli military said late Thursday that its troops were active in the Shaboura area of Rafah, in southern Gaza, where they dismantled terrorist infrastructure," but didnt provide more details about the operation. It said troops were also active in the north, where they worked to dismantle infrastructure at a health facility it said was used by Hamas. The military said Hamas used the health facility, known as the Turkish hospital, as a command-and-control center to direct and carry out attacks against Israel. Airstrikes also continued throughout the strip, the military said. Israeli officials have pledged to ratchet up pressure on the U.S.-designated terrorist group to return 59 hostages that remain inside Gaza, as many as 24 of whom the government believes may still be alive. Among them are one American-Israeli, Edan Alexander, and the bodies of four other U.S. citizens who died in Hamas captivity. Freeing Alexander is a priority for the Trump administration. As part of its efforts to pressure Hamas, Israel halted the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip, where almost all of its population of roughly two million people have been displaced, in early March. A week later, it cut off its remaining electricity supply to the enclave, though an Israel official said that by then its residents were mostly using generators and solar panels. The cease-fire that began on Jan. 19 brought a fragile pause to the war, which began more than 17 months ago. The conflict was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and some 250 others were taken hostage inside Gaza. The cease-fire was meant to be carried out in phases, the first of which saw the return of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of more than 1,700 Palestinians who were held in Israeli prisons. That phase concluded in early March, but negotiations meant to usher in phase twogeared toward the release of all remaining hostages and a permanent end to the warnever began. Negotiators have shuttled back and forth between the Qatari capital, Doha, and Cairo for weeks to try to move talks forward without success. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week that his team had accepted a proposal put forth by U.S. mediators, but Hamas refused. Netanyahu blamed the group for endangering Palestinian civilians. Hamas blamed Israel for endangering the lives of the remaining hostages. Netanyahus government has come under increasing pressure to secure their return, particularly after some of those freed under the cease-fire emerged emaciated, injured and traumatized. Recent polling shows public support for the war effort is waning and a large majority would end the war to secure the release of the hostages. Gazas health ministry said on Thursday that Israeli military operations killed more than 500 people, many of them children, since the strikes began on Tuesday. The figures dont specify how many were combatants. Write to Feliz Solomon at feliz.solomon@wsj.com Theres less than a fortnight to go before US President Donald Trump s 2 April deadline for imposing reciprocal taxes on imports. But New Delhi already seems to have gone into damage-control mode, anticipating the worst. Over 24 hours last week, two of Indias largest wireless carriers, whose billionaire owners were staunchly opposed until now to Elon Musk getting a free pass to enter their market, independently announced partnerships with his satellite internet enterprise, Starlink. A top government minister even posted (and then deleted) a welcome message on X, even though the satellite broadband service is yet to obtain local regulatory approvals. Narendra Modi didnt respond to the opposition Congress Partys allegations that the deals were orchestrated by his administration to buy goodwill with Trump." But throw in the flurry of news last month around the Prime Ministers visit to the White House about how India might allow imports of Teslas cars at a much lower duty than the 110% it charges currently, and its pretty clear that New Delhi is changing its tune on trade and tycoons. In the past 10 years, Modis economic strategy has relied heavily on a small team of national champions. To protect them from foreign competition, tariffs that in 2011 had almost fallen to Chinas 7% levels were raised to 12% by 2022, among the highest in the world. This preference for shielding big businesses with hefty tariffs, favourable government contracts, as well as non-tariff barriers like stifling rules for foreign-backed commerce, has been pretty well-known internationally. Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative during Trump 1.0, kept the biographies of about 15 Indian businessmen on his desk while negotiating with New Delhi. As he noted in his 2023 book, In predicting Indian government positions, I would look to the interests of these men." Academic research has corroborated the growing heft of the richest businessmenMukesh Ambani and Gautam Adanias well as the Mumbai-based Tata Group, cement czar Kumar Mangalam Birla and telecom tycoon Sunil Mittal. The top five groups share of non-financial assets rose from 10% in 1991 to 18% by 2021. The expansion picked up steam after Modi first became prime minister in 2014. Thats when the conglomerates started acquiring larger and larger shares within the sectors where they were present," according to Viral Acharya, a former central bank deputy governor who now teaches at the New York University. Given the high tariffs, Big-Five groups do not have to compete with international peers" in many industries, Acharya noted in his 2023 study. Nor do they have to test their muscles overseas. They garner most of their revenues at home, in areas ranging from telecom, media and retail to ports, airports, building materials and autos. Under Trump 2.0, Indias so-called Billionaire Raj could grind to a halt. The Modi government has already started preparing domestic industry for 2 April, with the commerce minister asking exporters to come out of their protectionist mindset." Theyre not the ones who need a change of heart, though. The state has a strong political imperative for a course correction. In pushing India to buy more from America, the Trump administration has highlighted Indias 39% tariffs on agricultural products, eight times what the US charges. But Modi has a testy relationship with farmers in North India. They have rejected his offer of a more market-based pricing regime and continue to agitate for greater state protection. In a country where nearly half of the workforce is still in farming, any trade concessions on agriculture may be politically expensive. It may be safer to push the burden of Trumps tantrums to local billionaires. But the tycoons will also lobby to protect their turf. According to some media reports, India has asked manufacturers to replace Chinese-made parts and raw material with American alternatives. Thats a costly proposition. If the Modi administration pushes this line strongly, theres bound to be resistance. Already there are murmurs in bureaucratic circles that India has aligned itself too strongly with the West, which may let it be used as a pawn in US-China rivalry. Maybe its time to mend ties in the neighbourhood instead. If Tesla is to be given a red-carpet welcome, why not clear the long-pending application by Chinas BYD to make electric cars in Indiawith a local partner? Thats just one example. Any missteps in defining and protecting Indias national interests may upend an entire model in which a small group of national champions were galvanized to recreate an economic success rivalling Chinabut standing at an adversarial distance to it. That narrative is nowhere close to fruition. At 13%, factory output has a smaller share of GDP than at any time since 1960. Meanwhile, Indias trade deficit with China has doubled in the past decade, a reflection of its growing dependence on the larger economy. Before Modi could do anything about that $100 billion annual shortfall, Trump is out to crunch Indias near-$50 billion trade surplus with the US, the South Asian nations biggest overseas market. It couldnt come at a worse time for India. Domestic demand is slowing sharply, and stock markets are reeling under a $1.3 trillion rout. New Delhis best hope is to buy time for broader trade negotiations with Washington by delaying the threat of reciprocal tariffs, especially on politically sensitive agricultural products. The enthusiasm for the businesses of Trumps head of government efficiency[though a divergence over free speech on X and Musks AI chatbot Grok could have dampened it]has a clear message for Indias coddled billionaires: They may be cut loose. Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg columnist. UPDATE: Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen was arrested Wednesday evening after being investigated for his involvement in an altercation with a truck driver in Summerville on Little Sand Mountain Road. Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader tells Local 3 that Allen was arrested on one count of simple battery for the incident on March 3. Truck driver involved in altercation with Chattooga County commissioner speaks out William Wilson said he drove from London, Kentucky to Summerville, Georgia to pick up a load of cattle when the incident with Commissioner Allen happened. Stay with Local 3 News for updates. PREVIOUS STORY: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the case involving Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen. Sheriff Mark Schrader says the case is now being investigated by the GBI at the request of District Attorney Clay Fuller. The case was being investigating by the Walker County Sheriff's Office. The following is Sheriff Schrader's full statement: "On March 12th, 2025, District Attorney Clay Fuller spoke with Sheriff Steve Wilson and I regarding the case involving Commissioner Allen that I had asked Walker County Sheriff's Office for assistance in investigating. District Attorney Fuller expressed his desire for the case to be investigated by an agency outside of the Lookout Mtn. Judicial Circuit. It has been my usual practice to utilize the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in felony cases where the investigation of a case, by my office, could present the slightest appearance of a conflict of interest. As with other agencies, when the investigation surrounds a misdemeanor case, it is not unusual to utilize another local agency to eliminate that appearance of a conflict. As a result of our conversation, at the request of DA Fuller, this case has been re-assigned to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Region One Office out of Calhoun for investigation. Future releases concerning this case will be given by that office." Walker Co. Sheriff's Office investigating incident involving Chattooga Co. Commissioner The WCSO is investigating an alleged incident on March 3, 2025 involving Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen and an adult male. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: Local 3 is following an investigation involving Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen. The incident report states that Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen got into an altercation with a man here on Little Sand Mountain Road in Summerville, where he attempted to pull a man out of his truck. The incident happened on March 3rd, according to the Chattooga County Sheriffs Office. An officer who was called to the altercation was told by the victim and the victims wife that Commissioner Allen began yelling, got out of his truck, walked to their truck, opened their door, and then began trying to jerk the husband out of their truck while he was backing up. The wife then started recording the incident. Local 3 requested that video but was told it would be unavailable until the investigation was complete. According to the report, the video showed Allen walking to his truck and the victim trying to get out of it, but the victims wife convinced him to stay. The victim could be heard in the video saying he was going to call the law, and Allen responded by saying, The best thing you can do is your behind back in the truck and back on in there, you understand me, according to the report. Many are wondering why the GBI is not investigating the matter. Attorney Robin Flores says the GBI only gets involved if they are referred. In this case, the Walker County Sheriffs Office was. The point of sending it to an outside agency is for more optics, to make sure there isnt any questions drawn about impartiality or favoritism by the investigators, Flores said. Flores explains the process. Investigators will do a proper job and come to a conclusion. Generally, what they will do is if they find anything is involved, they will present it to the District Attorney if there are any criminal charges, Flores said. Local 3 spoke with Commissioner Allen, but he was unable to comment on the matter at this time. The shocking image has prompted calls to implement a controversial bounty to tackle the invasive species in Australia's most populous state. A farmer has sent a graphic message to government about the invasive fox problem impacting rural communities. Source: Helen Dalton MP A confronting scene on the side of a rural Aussie road has highlighted the devastating impact an invasive and "cunning" predator is having on the Aussie landscape. The "trophy fence" seen from a road connecting the southern NSW rural towns of Finley and Deniliquin, is adorned with the carcasses of dozens of foxes, with one Aussie politician telling Yahoo News it sends a strong message to authorities about the shocking problem across the country. Helen Dalton, independent MP for Murray, described the scene as "gobsmacking" and it prompted her calls for a bounty on foxes in NSW. She believes the government should pay as much as $20 per fox to control their populations. "There is nothing good about a fox," she told Yahoo News, adding that the confronting image "highlights how many there are in the area". ADVERTISEMENT "It sends a message to the government to get up and do something about it," she said. "If they are truly interested in the environment, biosecurity and farmers, they should have a bounty on them." Helen Dalton said the fence of foxes sends a strong message to the government about the invasive threat. Source: Supplied Bounty on foxes to 'pay for fuel and ammunition' Dalton, who lives on a property near Griffith, in the state's southwest, says spotting a fox is a daily occurrence in her area. She says it's having a significant impact on regional communities because foxes prey on young livestock, costing farmers "a fortune". Covering around 80 per cent of Australia's continental landmass, it's estimated there are more than 1.7 million feral foxes in the country after first being brought over by European settlers. Foxes are also estimated to kill some 300 million native mammals, birds and reptiles each year. ADVERTISEMENT Dalton believes a bounty will incentivise Aussies with a gun licence to shoot the invasive pest, arguing it will "save" the government money. The Victorian Fox Bounty, which resumed on March 3, offers a $14 reward for each fox scalp brought in, and Helen believes it's an approach NSW could take, although she believes NSW shooters should receive $20 per fox. "A bounty will pay for a bit of fuel and ammunition and justifies why they should be out there," she said. "It will save the government and save farmers a fortune too. A bounty would encourage people to get going on things the government should be doing." Opposition to 'barbaric' tactic to curb invasive fox populations Not everyone in Australia agrees with bounties on pest populations. One animal advocate described it as "barbaric and archaic" with another leading expert in invasive pest control believing it would be a waste of money. ADVERTISEMENT Andrew Cox, the CEO of the Invasive Species Council, previously told Yahoo Its not a wise use of government funds. And there are more targeted ways to control foxes that would have a bigger impact. Foxes definitely cause impacts on agriculture and the environment. But we need to use professional fox controllers and bait programs. And stop putting money into programs that could be easily abused, arent strategic, and could actually encourage the wrong behaviour. Dalton said she doesn't look at it as "dreadful and archaic", she said it's an opportunity to "thank" those who participate in getting rid of pests. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. UPDATE: The family of Jason Chen reached a confidential settlement with Jasmine Pace's mother in connection to a lawsuit that they allegedly harbored and concealed a murderer. Chen was found guilty for Pace's murder in January of 2025. Catrina Bean, Pace's mother, filed the lawsuit a year after her body was found. Day 8 Jurors sentence Jason Chen to life in prison without parole On Monday, jurors found Jason Chen guilty of first degree premeditated murder and abuse of a corpse. The lawsuit does not say whether Chen's parents accepted any liability, made any admission of wrongdoing, or what amount they agreed to pay Bean. Bean initially sought $17,000,000 in damages from Chen and his parents. PREVIOUS STORY: Catrina Pace, the mother of 22-year-old Jasmine Pace, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jason Chen, the suspect in the death of her daughter, seeking $17,000,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. Also named in the suit are Min Yong Chen and Shu Fang Chen, his parents. The civil case was originally meant to be resolved in January 2023. However, court records show that the civil proceedings are pending resolution of the criminal charges. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages in the "wrongful death, battery, and intentional infliction of severe emotional distress" by the actions of Chen. Chen's parents are mentioned for their role in the "civil conspiracy" which alleges they knowingly concealed the murder and unlawfully harbored their son. Chen is in court this week standing trial for the murder of Pace in November of 2022. Chen's parents responded to the lawsuit, seeking dismissal with regard to their alleged involvement. According to the Chen's motion to dismiss, all accusations from Catrina Pace are alleged to have happened in Williamson County, where the Chens live. The Chens claim that because of this detail, "the venue is improper in Hamilton County." The motion also states that Catrina Pace's standalone claim for civil conspiracy is not supported under Tennessee Law. Irelands deputy premier has described a day of travel chaos following major disruption at Heathrow Airport. More than 1,000 flights to and from the major London airport have been cancelled on Friday, with hundreds of thousands of passengers affected in the disruption linked to a fire at a nearby electrical substation. These include 34 flights to and from Dublin Airport, 14 at Belfast City Airport and six at City of Derry Airport. Shannon Airport in the west of Ireland has facilitated six diverted flights which had originally been scheduled to land at Heathrow, involving flights from Toronto, Atlanta, Bridgetown Barbados, Boston, Orlando and Newark. Speaking to media on Friday, Tanaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to those involved in resolving the situation after travel chaos. I want to pay tribute to those who have acted so swiftly to get the airport back open and get flights back up and running, he said. I know they are hoping for normal operations tomorrow. Obviously the route between Dublin and Heathrow is the second busiest route in Europe and therefore that caused a significant challenge today for commuters to and from Dublin in relation to Heathrow. But it does seem that everything that could have been done to try and swiftly get things back on track has happened and Im grateful to all of those involved in making that happen. daa Statement 2.30pm All flights scheduled between Dublin Airport and London Heathrow today (Friday) have been cancelled following the closure of Heathrow Airport due to a power outage. A total of 34 flights were scheduled between Dublin Airport and Heathrow today (17 inbound https://t.co/JwiZbuLW3q pic.twitter.com/1MLOWZ3XYl Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 21, 2025 Dublin Airport said in a statement that further disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow over the coming days is possible. We continue to monitor developments at Heathrow and remain in close consultation with affected airlines regarding when flights between Dublin Airport and Heathrow may recommence, it said. City of Derry Airport said on Friday evening: We are awaiting confirmation of our flight operation to London Heathrow tomorrow. We ask passengers to continue to check with their airline regarding their flight status before coming to the airport. All other routes from City of Derry Airport to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool continue to operate as usual. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has warned people to expect gusts of Saharan sand landing on Irish shores from Africa on Friday. As Ireland experienced the warmest day of the year on Thursday, this bizarre twist seems to be almost expected in this continuous plight of Irish weather. But just how odd is this weather phenomenon? It turns out this isn't actually too uncommon for Ireland and it tends to happen a couple of times each year. Hope you didnt wash the windows today. Friday will see Saharan Dust and rain to bring it down onto your windows and car pic.twitter.com/3uVSwBefmy Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) March 20, 2025 READ NEXT: RIP: Country music star Michael English cancels shows due to sudden and tragic death of nephew Saharan dust can reach Irish shores when dust storms in the Sahara region coincide with winds coming from the south. Although it can have an impact on air pollution, it's nothing people need to worry about - unless you're concerned about your clean windows, of course! As the Carlow Weather man points out, Friday will also bring an end to the dry weather with rain forecast across the country which will drag the dust down onto the ground. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 21 2025 Senate and Assembly Must Join Governors Efforts to Stop It With thousands of older New Yorkers losing more than $200 million a year to scams, AARP New York is calling on legislative leaders to join Governor Hochul to include consumer protections in a final state budget to combat an ever-growing problem of elder financial fraud in New York State. A coalition the state Legislatures Aging Committee chairs and other members of the Legislature, the Superintendent of the State Police and a credit union industry security expert highlighted the elder financial fraud crisis in our state during a news conference at the State Capitol today. More than 4,300 New Yorkers age 60 and older lost a total of $203,437,635 in 2023, the fourth highest of any state, according to an FBI report released last year. Thats $557,000 dollars a day and $23,200 an hour lost to financial exploitation. The average loss per victim in 2023 was $47,000. These numbers are appalling, and theyre made worse by the fact that so many of the victims are people who worked their whole lives to put aside funds for their retirement only to see much of it or all of it stolen through a financial scam, said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. Because older New Yorkers have accumulated savings after a lifetime of work, theyre a prime target of scammers who are using increasingly sophisticated methods of gaining access to someones bank accounts or other financial resources. AARP New York is calling on Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to include key fraud prevention measures in the final state budget. These safeguards would equip financial institutions to recognize and help shield older New Yorkers from being scammed out of substantial amounts of money. Where are financial institutions in helping to stop this crime? The big banks cannot sit idle on the sidelines. They need to work with the Governor, Legislature and AARP to make sure their own customers have the protections they need. Banks need to get on board. Thank you, Governor Hochul for leading the charge, Aging Committee Chairs Senator Cleare and Assemblymember Seawright for championing this effort in your respective chambers, and Assemblymember Romero for your support. Governor Hohculs executive budget includes a crucial safeguard training bank tellers and employees of financial institutions to identify signs of financial exploitation. These employees could place a hold on a suspicious transaction and refer the matter to law enforcement to allow them to investigate. One of the most common and devious financial scams targeting older people is the grandparent scam. A criminal poses as a relative usually a grandchild asking for money, stating they are in an emergency. The older adult in many instances will go to their bank to withdraw cash to help the relative. Since fraudsters often ask to be paid via cash, gift cards or money transfer, which dont always require identification to collect, the older adult may have no way of ever recovering their money. State Senator Cordell Cleare, Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, said: "I commend AARP for their dogged focus on eradicating elder fraud. It is despicable that our beloved older New Yorkers would be targeted in this way. I believe that every proactive solution must be on the table, including legislation I already passed this year establishing the Interagency Elder Justice Task Force." Assemblymember Rebecca A. Seawright, Chair of the Assembly Aging Committee, said: Older adults already face housing, food and healthcare insecurity. It is unconscionable that so many are left further devastated by financial scams. Investing in supports for older New Yorkers must also include establishing fraud protection mechanisms. In partnership with AARP and colleagues like Senate Aging Chair Cleare, I will continue to marshal every resource to protect aging New Yorkers and the quality of life that they have earned. Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said: "Elder fraud and financial abuse are a heartbreaking but all too common reality. I applaud AARP for fighting back to protect aging New Yorkers. New Yorkers are losing hundreds of millions of dollars to these scams often the retirement savings they worked their whole lives to earn. Im proud to stand up for these initiatives to protect people all across our state from predatory scams. New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said: Our agency has witnessed a significant increase in the number of scams targeting the elderly, which have also become more sophisticated. While we diligently investigate each report, by the time we are notified, the money has already changed hands. With this legislation, the financial sector will have the authority to stop or delay payment of funds when fraud is suspected. This will prevent seniors from being stripped of their savings and give law enforcement a better chance of arresting the suspects before they can get escape with the stolen money. NYS Chief Cyber Officer Colin Ahern said. "Financial exploitation of older and vulnerable adults has reached alarming levels, with the losses from cyber fraud increasing at a rapid pace. As scammers become more sophisticated, older and vulnerable adults continue to face devastating financial harm. The rise in these crimes underscores the urgent need to pass the legislation proposed by Governor Hochul that will enable financial institutions to take action to prevent consumer losses resulting from financial exploitation and make sure law enforcement can investigate these crimes." Shane Shoemaker, President, Financial Crimes Bridge, said: The Financial Crimes Bridge welcomes any additional tools to help better combat elder financial exploitation and to protect the members of our community from fraud, scams, and anything else that threatens their financial safety. Connect with AARP New York on X: @AARPNY, Facebook: AARP New York and LinkedIn: AARP New York. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: March 21 2025 Andrew Denton is charged with several alleged shootings in Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Wantagh, and impersonating a police officer during a bogus car stop. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Massapequa Man was indicted for criminal possession of a weapon, as well as criminal impersonation and reckless endangerment for having illegal rifles and two pistols, discharging those weapons in Massapequa and Wantagh, and impersonating a police officer during a car stop on Lakeshore Drive between October 2022 and September 2023. Andrew Denton, 27, was arraigned on March 19, 2024, before Judge Helene Gugerty on six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony); five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony); six counts of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (a D felony); three counts of Criminal Purchase or Disposal of a Weapon (a D felony); eight counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony); eight counts of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); two counts of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); 12 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); two counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony); Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Arson in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor); two counts of Unauthorized Siren on a Vehicle (a VTL infraction); two counts of Unauthorized Colored Lights on a Vehicle (a VTL infraction). The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, and $500,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on April 4, 2025. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison for each of the C violent felony offenses. For nearly a year, Andrew Denton allegedly engaged in dangerous criminal behavior, firing illegal weapons at parks around Massapequa close to pedestrian walking paths and bikeways, and in front of a home in Wantagh, and masqueraded as a police officer on our county roads, said DA Donnelly. Denton already has an active prosecution with my office for allegedly carrying an NYPD shield, handcuffs, tactical vest, other police paraphernalia and a loaded .45 caliber handgun in his Chevrolet Impala, that was also fitted with lights and sirens. This defendants alleged impersonation attempts not only violate the publics trust but insult the thousands of trained law enforcement officers in Nassau County who put their lives on the line to protect our communities and keep the peace. If you believe you may have interacted with this defendant purporting to be a member of law enforcement, please call my office at 516-571-3707 and report it. The hard-working men and woman of the Nassau County Police Department, especially our Detective Division, risk their lives every day to take guns off of our streets, said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. Together with our great partners in the Nassau County District Attorneys Office we have taken an extremely dangerous individual who has been terrorizing our communities into custody, and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Any person who possesses illegal guns, shoots up a neighborhood, and impersonates a police officer has no place amongst the law-abiding residents of Nassau County and we will continue to do whatever it takes to keep him behind bars where he belongs. DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, between October 2022 and September 2023, the defendant allegedly possessed illegal weapons, including several rifles, a .32 caliber pistol and another .45 caliber handgun, and discharged those weapons on multiple occasions at the Massapequa Preserve, Brady Park in Massapequa, and in the backyard of a Massapequa home. Co-defendants Andrew Andriani, Eugene Yelanchik, Michael Drosihn, and Nicole McGlone participated in several of the shootings. Many of the shootings took place in close proximity to highly trafficked areas of the parks and preserves, including down walking trails and bike paths, across from a train station, and near a church schoolyard. In November 2022, Denton allegedly followed behind another vehicle on Lakeshore Drive in Massapequa in his white Chevrolet Impala and activated his emergency lights. The driver pulled over but refused to put the car in park. Denton then allegedly sped off onto multiple local streets and eventually onto Sunrise Highway where he drove at a high rate of speed, endangering other motorists and pedestrians. In a separate incident, on December 20, 2022, the defendant allegedly drove his white Chevrolet Impala to a home on Silverton Avenue in Wantagh and fired multiple rounds from a .32 caliber firearm through the passenger side window of his car, damaging a car parked in front of the house. Also, according to the indictment charges, around August 11, 2023, Denton allegedly received a .45 caliber pistol from co-defendant Anthony Califano, a former New York City Police Department sergeant whose gun permits had been previously revoked. The handgun was recovered from the defendants Impala on October 11, 2023, when Denton was arrested for another pending prosecution. Additionally, the defendant on several occasions between May 2023 and September 2023, activated the lights and sirens on his vehicle in and around Massapequa. Andrew Andriani, 35, of Massapequa, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Helene Gugerty on charges of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. He was released to Pretrial Services with electronic monitoring. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Andriani faces up to 2 to 4 years in prison if convicted. Anthony Califano, 56, of East Meadow, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. He was released to Pretrial Services with electronic monitoring. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Califano faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted. Eugene Yelanchik, 33, of Brooklyn, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm; Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree; and Reckless Engagement in the Second Degree. Bail was set at $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Yelanchik faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Nicole McGlone, 27, of Massapequa, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm; Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree; and Reckless Engagement in the Second Degree. Bail was set at $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. Her next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. McGlone faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Michael Drosihn, 30, of Massapequa, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm; Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree; Reckless Engagement in the Second Degree; and Arson in the Fifth Degree. Bail was set at $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Drosihn faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Denton was arrested on October 11, 2023, on Sunrise Highway and Jackson Avenue in Seaford. If you believe you may have been victimized by Andrew Denton, contact NCDAs Narcotics, Firearms and Gangs Bureau at 516-571-3707. The NCDA thanks the Nassau County Police Department for their partnership in this investigation and prosecution. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rivka Shuter of the Narcotics, Firearms, and Gangs Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Nicholas Mauro and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Investigations Division Rick Whelan. Denton is represented by Adam Neal, Esq. Califano was represented at arraignment by Joseph Lo Piccolo, Esq. Yelanchik is represented by George Michel, Esq. McGlone is represented by Mitchell Barnett, Esq. Drosihn is represented by Gregory Madey, Esq. Andriani is represented by Jason Russo, Esq. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 21 2025 For the fourth year in a row, Albany is attempting to take away our ability to protect our suburban communities, said Supervisor Joseph Saladino. The following release is credited to the Town of Oyster Bay: Once again, Albany bureaucrats are attempting to strip away local zoning control, and once again, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and local officials are standing firm in opposition. Supervisor Saladino joined Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jen DeSena, and both town and village officials from across Nassau County to denounce the latest attempt by Albany to override local zoning laws. This year, two dangerous bills threaten suburban communities: one that would limit the ability of towns, cities, and villages to impose zoning requirements, and another that seeks to establish a Social Housing Development Authority a public benefit corporation with the power to seize land and build housing without local input. The Town Supervisors were also joined by Oyster Bay Town Councilman Andrew Monteleone, Oyster Bay Town Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, Brookville Village Mayor Daniel Serota, Malverne Village Mayor Tim Sullivan, Williston Park Village Mayor Paul Ehrbar, Rockville Centre Village Trustee Emilio Grillo, Hempstead Town Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr., Hempstead town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, and Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray. For the fourth year in a row, Albany is attempting to take away our ability to protect our suburban communities, said Supervisor Saladino. This latest proposal is just another backdoor attempt to impose high-density housing on our neighborhoods putting our schools, roads, emergency services, and quality of life at risk. My colleagues and I are standing strong to ensure that local governmentsnot unelected bureaucrats in Albanycontinue to make the decisions that shape our communities. At the center of this years fight are Assembly Bill A.2586 and Senate Bill S.5674. Assembly Bill A.2586 would limit a municipalitys ability to impose certain zoning requirements, setting the stage for Albany to interfere in local planning decisions. Meanwhile, Senate Bill S.5674 would establish the Social Housing Development Authority, a state-controlled entity with broad powers to acquire land, rehabilitate properties, and construct new housing bypassing local zoning regulations entirely. These bills are nothing more than an attempt to urbanize our suburban communities, added Councilman Monteleone. Albany wants to eliminate single-family zoning, erase local input, and dictate how our communities grow, without concern for the residents who live here. We refuse to let that happen. The fight against state overreach is nothing new. In recent years, Albany has repeatedly attempted to impose policies that would drastically alter the fabric of Long Islands suburban communities: In 2022, Albany pushed for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family neighborhoodsan attempt that was successfully defeated. In 2023, the state proposed mandating high-density housing around Long Island Rail Road stations without consulting local communities. In 2024, another proposal sought to override zoning laws by allowing mass housing developments on land owned by religious institutions. Each time, Supervisor Saladino and fellow town and village officials have led the charge in successfully stopping these harmful proposals. This is about more than just zoning its about protecting the character of our neighborhoods, ensuring our schools arent overwhelmed, and preserving the suburban way of life that families have worked so hard to build, added Tax Receiver Jeffrey Pravato. We will not back down. We will continue to fight Albanys overreach, stand with our residents, and demand that local government remains in the hands of local officials. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi (left-front) arrived in the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen on March 20. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi visited Sanaa in Yemen to meet with the Iranian-backed Houthis days after the US launched airstrikes on the Houthis. His trip also came as the Houthis began new ballistic missile attacks on Israel on March 18 and 20. Abdul-Mahdis visit takes place in the context of Irans historic support for the Houthis and the Islamic Republics key role in backing Iraqi militias and political parties during Abdul-Mahdis premiership in 20182019. Iran has sought to coordinate its various proxies in the region, including the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, and militias in Iraq. Nevertheless, high-profile meetings between the Houthis and Iraqi officials are rare. Mehr News, a semi-official news outlet in Iran, reported on Abdul-Mahdis trip. It said he arrived on March 20 amid the recently escalated tensions as a result of the United States aggression in the region. The report claimed Abdul-Mahdi was in Yemen to be part of Iraqs mediation to de-escalate tensions in the region. It also said he was there to convey US proposals to the Yemenis regarding the situation in the Red Sea. The source added that Abdul-Mahdi went to Yemen with a message from the US and presented new proposals to the Yemenis to limit the escalation of tensions in the region after the announcement of the resumption of the Yemeni armys operations in the Red Sea, the Mehr report noted. Since Abdul-Mahdi left office, he has not been involved in high-profile events. He was Iraqs prime minister from October 2018 to November 2019 and vice-president from 2005 to 2011. A Shiite, Abdul-Mahdi was a left-leaning activist as a young man but later gravitated toward the United Iraqi Alliance, which included numerous Shiite groups and Iraqi leaders such as former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. When Abdul-Mahdi rose to power in 2018, it was, according to Arabic reports at the time, through support from a swath of Iraqi parties and power-brokers, including former Prime Minister Haider al Abadi, Hadi al Amiri, an Iraqi politician and head of the Badr Organization, and Muqtada al Sadr, the firebrand cleric who heads the Sadrist Movement. Abdul-Mahdi was portrayed as a well-off economist when he entered office. In contrast to the Iranian media report, Yemens Shabab website, which is critical of the Houthis, noted that observers believe Abdul Mahdis visit comes within the framework of bilateral cooperation within the so-called unity of arenas affiliated with the Iranian axis in the region. The report claimed Abdul Mahdi was hosted by Abdulrahman Al-Ahnumi, director of the Houthi-affiliated General Corporation for Radio and Television who reportedly posted a video stating, Welcome, dear guest. You have illuminated Sanaa. Ahnumi has hosted pro-Palestinian delegations in Sanaa in the past. The Shabab report said the Iraqi had arrived to take part in a three-day conference titled Palestine: The Central Issue of the Nation. It also noted that Abdul-Mahdi is a Shiite politician known for his loyalty to Iran. Al Sumaria, a mainstream Iraqi channel, said that Abdul-Mahdis visit to Yemen reinforces the possibility of unannounced negotiations between the parties involved in the crisis and the international tensions that are occurring. It also noted that Reuters had reported that Iran had delivered a verbal message to the Houthis about the situation in the Red Sea. Iran has sought to distance itself from the Houthis since the US strikes began and President Donald Trump said the US would hold Iran responsible for Houthi actions. As leader of Iraq, Abdul-Mahdi largely failed to govern the divided country. He came to power after Abadis government had defeated the Islamic State and confronted the Kurdistan regions independence referendum in 2017. Abdul-Mahdi also became prime minister as the Iran-backed militias who comprise the Popular Mobilization Units were playing an increasingly aggressive role in Iraq, having been elevated to official paramilitaries of the state. Abdul-Mahdi resigned in November 2019 after massive protests in which hundreds of protesters were killed, many of them at the hands of Iranian-backed militias. Yemens Saba News, a former state news agency that now backs the Houthis, reported that Houthi Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Jamal Amer met with the former Iraqi leader during the Palestine conference in Sanaa. Amer recently stated, At the end of the day, we are at war with America. Amer also said the Palestine conference illustrates the importance of the Palestinians to Yemen while praising the Houthis decision to initiate attacks on Israel in November 2023 and expand their campaign against ships in the Red Sea. According to this report, the former Iraqi leader also praised the Houthis for their stance on Gaza. 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). Israeli troops return to ground operations in Gaza on March 19, 2025. (IDF) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued to expand ground operations that began in Gaza on March 19 after conducting renewed airstrikes on the territory on March 18. The moves come slightly more than two weeks after the first phase of a ceasefire with Hamas expired, and Hamas and Israel could not agree on an extension. Israel has dubbed the new operation Strength and Sword. The latest ground operations have been accompanied by limited airstrikes, generally conducted at night, against key Hamas officials in Gaza. The new operation is designed to pressure Hamas to release hostages, Israeli officials have said. Fifty-nine hostages are still held in Gaza, and slightly more than half of them are believed to be deceased. The IDF said on March 21 that it expanded ground operations into the Shabura area in the city of Rafah. Israeli troops have controlled the Philadelphi Corridor in southern Gaza along the Egyptian border since May 2024, along with portions of Rafah, which took several months to clear of terrorists. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in October 2024 as a result of these operations. The IDF had withdrawn from most of Gaza due to the January 19 ceasefire with Hamas. However, Israeli forces remained along the Philadelphi Corridor, making it easy to re-enter areas in Rafah. The Israeli military said troops dismantled terrorist infrastructure in Rafah in the most recent operation without specifying what unit was involved. The IDF has said that it positioned the Golani Brigade for potential operations in Gaza. Golani is usually part of the 36th Division, which also includes the 188th Armored Brigade. The 36th played a key role in initial ground maneuvers in Gaza in October and November 2023 after Hamass attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Golani Brigade suffered heavy losses on October 7 and took additional casualties in the first battles in Gaza. It later moved to northern Israel but is now back near the territory. The IDF also moved troops from the 252nd Division into the Netzarim Corridor on March 19, retaking the Salah al Din Road. The IDF had held this key junction from late October 2023 until February 2025, when troops withdrew as part of the ceasefire deal. The road runs north-south in Gaza, connecting Rafah to Khan Younis, central Gaza, and Gaza City. The Netzarim Corridor runs east-west across Gaza, cutting off Gaza City from central Gaza. By taking the Salah al Din Road, Gazans can only reach northern Gaza along the coastal Al Rashid Road. The 252nd Division is one of two divisions, the other being the 99th, that ran the corridor in 2024 and rotated control between the units every three months. The IDF also expanded ground operations in northern Gazas Beit Lahiya. This area had been cleared of Hamas in the past and is very close to the Israeli border. The 188th Armored Brigade sent units into Beit Lahiya. The overall campaign is now a three- or four-pronged series of limited ground operations in Gaza. So far, each effort is small and mostly led by regular IDF units, except the 252nd, which is a reserve division. The IDF describes the operations as targeted ground activities that are expanding the security zone on the border of Gaza, intending to create a buffer between northern and southern Gaza. Israeli forces also demolished a Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in the Netzarim Corridor. The hospital had ceased to function in 2024, and the IDF said Hamas was using the structure. The IDF has called on Gazans in Arabic to leave several areas since March 18, including portions of northern Gaza near the coast, Bani Suheila near Khan Younis, and various locations near the Israeli border. Hamas has responded to the Israeli offensive by launching several small rocket salvos. One salvo targeted central Israel on March 20, and another targeted the city of Ashkelon near Gaza on March 21. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on March 21 that he had instructed the IDF to seize additional areas in Gaza while evacuating the population and stated the goal of the operation is to get Hamas to release the 59 Israeli hostages. If the Hamas terrorist organization continues to refuse to release the hostages, I have instructed the IDF to seize additional territories. [] The more Hamas continues its refusal, the more territory it will lose and be annexed to Israel, Katz said. The new offensive is the first major IDF operation under new IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, who took command on March 5. Zamir met with IDF troops in Rafah on March 18, including Brigadier General Barak Hiram, the commander of the Gaza Division, and members of the Givati Brigade. He also held an assessment with the IDFs Southern Command on March 21. 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). The driver was issued the fine and a demerit point for traveling 69km/h in a 60 zone. But they were just metres from a 100km/h sign. So what's the law say? A Queensland driver has been stung with a $322 fine for doing 69 km/h in a 60 zone. But, they were metres from a 100km/h sign. Source: Reddit/justneedwine An Aussie driver has sparked a wave of debate among motorists nationwide after being hit with a $322 fine and a demerit point for driving 69 per hour in a 60 zone. But, they questioned whether some leniency should have been allowed, given they were just metres from a 100km/h sign clearly visible in the speed camera photo. The Queenslander admitted theyll "probably just cop it" and pay, but asked the community if anyone had ever fought such a penalty and won. "I just find the whole situation funny as," they wrote. In Australia, speed limits apply until a new limit is officially signposted, meaning exceeding the limit even just before a higher-speed zone is still an offence. Speaking to Yahoo News, A Queensland Police spokeswoman said this particular camera is operated by the department of Transport and Main Roads, who have been contacted for clarity on the matter. Australians respond to camera designed to 'catch people out' But dozens of Australians responding to the post argued the rule is "unfair", sharing their own experiences. "No one would have fought this and won," one person wrote. ADVERTISEMENT "The new limit doesn't apply until you hit the sign. So if you are going from 60 to 100, [you] can't do 100 until you reach the sign. And in reverse you must be doing 60 by the time you reach the sign." "Bit of a sh*t spot to catch people. Pretty clear this isn't for public safety," another claimed. "The speed zone changes when you pass the sign, not when you see the sign. Youre most likely going to be out of luck," commented a third. "Happened to me, I was literally 10 metres from a 100km/h sign and started to speed up, and a highway patrol car booked me. Its always better to wait five seconds before speeding up I learned the hard way" said another. What started as a single post quickly erupted into a lengthy debate, attracting many hundreds of responses. ADVERTISEMENT According to an excerpt from the state government's Traffic Manual, there are restrictions governing where speed detection devices should generally not be used. They include on the downgrade of a hill, within 300 metres after a speed limit reduction, or within 100 metres before a speed limit increase. Given this, the driver just might have a case. Though because the manual is a guideline and not law, it's not a guaranteed defence. However Yahoo understands officers in patrol cars are able to grant leniency in cases where drivers have been caught at speed limit changes. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A Russian wire-guided FPV drone approaches an abandoned Ukrainian Bradley infantry fighting vehicle near Demidovka, Belgorod Oblast, on March 18, 2025. Days after it withdrew from most of Russias Kursk region, Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into neighboring Belgorod Oblast. The operation appears to be much more limited in scale and objectives than Kyivs August 2024 Kursk offensive. The Ukrainian attack The operation commenced on the morning of March 18. Ukrainian forces conducted multiple waves of attacks toward the villages of Demidovka, Prilese, and possibly Grafovka, located near the juncture between Ukraines Sumy region and Russias Belgorod and Kursk regions. The Ukrainian forces committed on the first day appear to have been modest in size, likely totaling less than a battalions worth of armored vehicles, along with support elements. The Ukrainians appear to have advanced in small columns variously composed of infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, and ATVs. Wisent-1 MC, IMR-2, and UR-77 obstacle-clearing vehicles carved a path through dragons teeth obstacles and minefields near the border. Ukraine claimed to have conducted an airstrike on a Russian command post of a 3rd Motor Rifle Division unit near Demidovka the day the incursion began. The attacking forces were likely also supported by artillery and first-person-view (FPV) strike drone units. The Ukrainians appear to have continued attacking in the same areas in the days since the incursion began. Demidovka seems to be the main effort. Russian reports and video footage suggest these attacks have employed a mix of armored vehicles and small groups of infantry moving on foot or ATVs. Estimated lines as of noon Eastern time on March 21, 2025. Blue: Ukraine. Red: Russia. (Google Maps annotated by LWJ) Ukrainian unit composition Unlike Kyivs cross-border raids in 2023 and early 2024, which were conducted by pro-Ukraine Russian nationals subordinate to Ukrainian military intelligence, the Belgorod operation involves regular units. The Ukrainian vehicles participating in the Belgorod operation bear the same tactical symbol (a white triangle) that Ukraine used in Russias Kursk Oblast. These vehicles include Bradley and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, suggesting Ukraine has committed some of its better forces to the operation. These appear to include elements of the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment, which fought in Kursk and operates Bradleys and Marders. In addition, Ukraine has deployed part of its 414th Separate Strike Unmanned Aerial Systems Brigade, one of its best drone units. Ukrainian objectives Whether the Belgorod incursion is intended as a brief raid or a longer-term operation is unclear. Ollie Carroll of The Economist reported that Kyiv had been planning the operation for three weeks and aims to establish a buffer zone, suggesting an intention for a sustained presence. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy similarly characterized the operation as a defensive measure to preempt a potential Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast. LWJ has observed no evidence that a Russian offensive across the Belgorod-Sumy border was imminent. Seizing the high ground near the Belgorod border could help protect against a Russian offensive in the Mryopillya-Uhroidy area in Sumy Oblast and push Russian artillery and FPV drone crews back from the Hlybne-Myropillya road. It would also help guard the right flank of the Ukrainian forces still in Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine is holding a handful of border villages despite having largely withdrawn from the region. At the same time, Kyiv may hope to alleviate pressure on Ukrainian defenders in Kursk and the Yunakivka area in Sumy Oblast by diverting Russian units to the Belgorod region. Little apparent progress so far Unlike in Ukraines August 2024 Kursk offensive, when Ukrainian units quickly tore through thin Russian lines, Russia seems to have been better prepared for this operation. The attacking Ukrainian forces are also smaller. In addition, anti-tank obstacles and minefields emplaced along the border appear to have done their job in slowing down and channeling the attacking forces. Moreover, given the proximity to Kursk Oblast, Russia may have been able to quickly transfer some units from Kursk to Belgorod. Many of the Russian units currently defending in Belgorod were previously known to be fighting in Kursk, though it is possible elements of some of those units were already deployed in Belgorod. So far, available evidence suggests Ukrainian forces have made only modest progress, perhaps taking some tree lines on the outskirts of Demidovka and Prilese. Time will tell whether Ukraine will gain further ground or commit additional resources to sustain the operation. Doing so may present risks, given that Ukraine faces a manpower shortage and Washington is unlikely to provide significant additional aid to replace lost equipment and expended munitions. John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. British, French and Swiss prosecutors agreed to form a new intelligence sharing partnership in a bid to tackle overseas corruption following the pullback of US authorities from international bribery cases. The three senior prosecutors announced the initiative Thursday in London, unveiling plans to boost cooperation in their pursuit of cross-border bribery and money laundering cases. The group plans to pool our resources when we have the right investigation or prosecution to pursue, Nick Ephgrave, the Serious Fraud Offices director said in an interview. The signing, with the heads of Frances Parquet National Financier and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, took place against the backdrop of US President Donald Trumps decision to pause enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a pillar of global anti-corruption legislation. In Europe and the UK, agencies have long relied on the US to share leads and bring some of their biggest cases to fruition. We continue to work with the Americans, weve always been working with the Americans. So will the Swiss, so will the French, Ephgrave said. Clearly you know domestic priorities have shifted over there and so be it. He added plans to boost coordination had been underway before the US pause. The US has long played a role in bringing overseas corruption cases to trial, with powerful tools at its disposal. It can claim jurisdiction to pursue a case simply because a suspicious transaction was conducted in dollars. The threat of harsh sentences sometimes far longer than those permitted in Europe and the strategy of incentivizing whistleblowers has also been crucial to white-collar cases. There are reasons why the Americans have been able to create a body of work, we have all benefited from it, Ephgrave said. He said that he wants to offer rewards to whistleblowers, saying that as many as 700 UK whistleblowers had spoken with US authorities in the last 10 years. The testimony of a former trader, first secured by US investigators, played a major role in securing a guilty plea from Glencore Plc in the UK. Earlier this year Switzerland secured the conviction of Trafigura and its former chief operating officer for bribery, the first time a senior executive at a major commodity trading house has been found guilty of corruption. We have to collect all intelligence we have, and we have to put this intelligence together, Stefan Blattler, the Swiss attorney general said in the interview. The process of applying for a business permit and obtaining VAT and employer numbers is to be consolidated into a single procedure under plans to cut red tape in Luxembourg, Economy Minister Lex Delles said on Friday. Entrepreneurs seeking to establish a business in Luxembourg currently need to register separately with three independent bodies - the Economy Ministry, the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority and the Joint Social Security Centre. This will be streamlined into one single process, Delles said. The list of upcoming reforms was unveiled as part of the governments pledge to reduce the administrative burden on businesses in Luxembourg, which was a key feature of the coalition agreement. The economy ministry will also introduce an application which will enable the various government departments to share the necessary information automatically, without bothering businesses with repeated requests for the same data. Another digital tool will be launched, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and the support of the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts, to assist small and medium-sized companies to meet sustainability reporting requirements. With the measures presented today, we are creating concrete and effective simplifications, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, which need to be able to focus on their core business instead of wasting time on complex procedures, said Delles. Also read: Shorter wait times for business permits in Luxembourg The minister announced the upcoming extension of the commercial land register to include economic activity zones, which will aim to optimise land management and improve SMEs access to new sites, and to facilitate business transfers. The various measures were presented by Lex Delles on Friday Photo credit: Economy Ministry In addition, state aid for SMEs will be simplified through the reform of existing framework laws governing aid, with the integration of the once-only principle, whereby citizens and companies should only have to share their data and documents with an administration once. This will also coincide with the continued implementation of the Silence vaut accord (silence implies consent) principle, meaning that if the applicant does not receive a response from the administration within a certain period of time, the application is deemed to have been approved. Described as "an ongoing process" by the ministry, administrative simplification is to be achieved through a multitude of measures. Some of these are already in force, such as the introduction of two-way communication for permanent residence permits, so that applicants who submit their application through MyGuichet receive all responses through MyGuichet, thus saving more than 15,000 letters. The ministry has also established a specialised department, the Directorate General for Administrative Simplification, which will continue to work to limit the administrative burden on companies. The proportion of government employees assigned to administrative tasks has jumped from 11% in 1990 to 35% in 2024, according to figures presented on Friday by Tom Wirion, director of the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts. All of the measures presented by Delles on Friday will be incorporated into draft bills that the ministry said it hopes to finalise soon and submit to parliament. (This article is based on reporting from both Virgule and Luxemburger Wort. Translation and editing by John Monaghan) Luxembourg plans to boost the development of hydrogen transport networks across the country, under a new law passed by parliament on Thursday. The bill follows on from the national hydrogen strategy launched in 2021, and sets an initial legal framework for planning and developing hydrogen transport infrastructure, both domestically and in partnership with neighbouring countries, as part of the green energy transition. The legislation aims to support a European market for renewable hydrogen, essential for addressing climate challenges and reducing energy dependence on fossil fuels, the economy ministry said in a statement following the adoption of the law by parliament. Also read: EU on course to miss 2030 hydrogen targets, auditors warn Access to a sufficient quantity of renewable and competitive hydrogen will be crucial in decarbonising various economic sectors, such as certain industrial processes or modes of transport, Economy Minister Lex Delles said in the statement. With this legislative advance, Luxembourg is affirming its ambition to become a key player in the development of a European hydrogen market. The bill includes several provisions, including for the ministry to appoint a national hydrogen network manager, whose task will be to ensure compliance and to make sure the network develops both reliably and sustainably. Also read: Multinational pilot project to drive green hydrogen in Luxembourg Hydrogen-related projects will be classified as public utilities, enabling the free use of public and private land belonging to the state and municipalities for such works. The law also introduces long-term planning procedures, including a ten-year network development plan, the ministry said. Luxembourgs energy watchdog, the Institut Luxembourgeois de Regulation (ILR), will be responsible for monitoring the hydrogen market and setting pricing and metering methods, the ministry added. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said Luxembourg should reduce state support and implement structural reforms to ensure long-term economic stability, in its latest annual assessment published on Friday. The Washington-based IMF acknowledges the countrys modest economic recovery but warns that sluggish growth and significant fiscal and structural challenges must be addressed to secure future prosperity. Luxembourgs economy grew by just 0.5% last year, indicating a weaker and uneven recovery than expected, the IMF said. While GDP growth is projected to rebound to 2% in 2025 and reach around 2.6% by 2026-27, sustained progress hinges on policy adjustments. Despite stable fiscal policies, external risks - such as weaker global demand, financial market volatility, and pressures in the real estate sector - pose potential setbacks. The IMF suggests that Luxembourg adopt a neutral fiscal stance in 2025, striking a balance between targeted support and spending discipline. To ensure long-term fiscal sustainability, the IMF advises controlling public spending, containing wage bill growth, and rationalising tax benefits. The multilateral institution also recommends diversifying revenue sources by increasing property and environmental taxes and implementing a national fiscal rule that includes a debt anchor and expenditure limits to safeguard the countrys AAA credit rating. Housing market challenges Luxembourgs real estate sector continues to face persistent supply shortages and affordability concerns. While the IMF acknowledges that recent government policies have stabilised prices, new initiatives could inadvertently drive costs higher. To improve housing supply, the IMF suggests the government to streamline construction permits, release more unused land for development, and reform property taxation. Additionally, reducing mortgage tax incentives is recommended to curb speculation and excessive borrowing. High private sector indebtedness and past house price overvaluation contributed to a substantial but orderly correction in the real estate market, heightened uncertainty, and low confidence in the construction sector, the report states. Despite Luxembourgs strong financial sector, vulnerabilities persist, particularly in household debt and rising non-performing loans in the real estate sector. The share of non-performing loans in domestic banks has increased from 2.6% last year to 3.4%, while mortgage payments consume 44% of new borrowers incomes. To mitigate risks, the IMF suggests stricter mortgage lending rules and a gradual reduction in the loan-to-value limit to prevent excessive borrowing. Strengthening financial supervision is also a priority, particularly in light of growing cyber risks and potential instability in investment funds Also read: Study reveals racial discrimination in Luxembourg housing market Focus on pension reform and labour market Luxembourgs aging population presents a significant fiscal challenge, with pension reserves projected to be entirely gone by 2045. The IMF recommends gradually raising the retirement age, discouraging early workforce exits, and adjusting benefits to ensure sustainability. Reducing automatic pension indexation and simplifying administrative processes through digitalisation are also proposed reforms to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Also read: Parliament kicks off next stage in pension reform debate The IMF highlights the need for greater labor market flexibility, as restrictive job entry rules and wage indexation hinder employment growth. Policymakers are encouraged to promote workforce participation - especially among seniors and women - through flexible work policies and targeted incentives. Outside the public sector, employment growth has been sluggish, and the unemployment rate has continued to rise, surpassing the long-term average of 5%, the report states. Artificial intelligence is expected to play a growing role in the labor market, though uncertainty remains about its long-term impact. AI promises a lot, but theres still a great deal of uncertainty, the report notes. While AI-driven automation can enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burdens, concerns persist regarding its impact on job security and required skill sets. The IMF recommends investing in digitalisation and IT solutions to simplify administrative burdens and ensure that the public sector remains efficient while fostering private-sector growth. Apple revealed its plans for the next version of macOS at the WWDC keynote on Monday June 9, 2025. The company also showed off new features for the next iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and more at the event. Like its counterparts on the other Apple devices, macOS is getting a brand new look for 2025-2026 along with a new name. Because Apple is aligning the names of all the operating systems this year, the new version of macOS be called macOS 26 rather than macOS 16. It will also take the name Tahoe, inspired by the lake, beaches and the ski resorts of that area of California. Along with the redesign, macOS 26 gains new Continuity featuers, a brand new Phone app and new Live Activities. Spotlight also gets its biggest ever update with the ability to action things like sending emails and more from within Spotlight. These new features will be available later this year, but if you would like to try them out now you can. The developer beta is out now and the public beta will follow in July. We have more information about joining the beta and the release date of the public beta below. You will find all the things you need to know about macOS Tahoe below, including which Macs are compatible with macOS 26 and the new features you can expect. So, stay tuned to this superguide for everything you need to know about macOS 26 Tahoe, the latest version of the beta and all the new features that are coming. Date TBC: 15 September, 2025 predicted Apples official release of macOS 26 Tahoe will be in the fall, as is usually the case. We dont know the release date for sure, but we can estimate that it will coincide with the release of the new iOS update, which will probably happen a few days after the iPhone event in September 2025. We anticipate the September iPhone event and the launch of the launch of the iPhone 17 will take place on September 9, so the software could be out around September 15 or 16. However, Apple has previously scheduled the update to macOS after iOS, sometimes as short as a week, sometimes as long as a month, so there could be a longer wait with an October release possible. Here is the recent shipping history for macOS. macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024 macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023 macOS 13 Ventura: October 24, 2022 macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021 macOS 11 Big Sur: November 12, 2020 macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019 macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018 YouTube / Apple Developer beta: June 9 Public beta: July 15 (estimate) However, you wont have to wait until the full release to try the new software out. Apple runs a developer beta as well as a public beta, so if you want to try out the new features before they are released to the general public you will be able to do so. Both betas are free, though the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer. The developer beta is released first following the WWDC keynote, so developers can immediately begin testing it with their products. Apple then releases a public beta for everyone else who wants to try it. The Public Beta usually arrives in July, about a month after the first developer beta. Then, whenever Apple issues beta updates, the updated public beta follows a day or two after the updated developer beta. If you are interested in using the beta, you can join Apples beta program. The beta program involves running software that will have some stability issues, and you are expected to provide Apple with details of any issues through the Apple Feedback app. Just be aware that beta software is likely to be unstable and may even cause your Mac to become unusable. For help installing the macOS beta see our guide to installing the macOS beta. macOS 26 Tahoe supported devices: Which Macs get macOS Tahoe Requires Apple Silicon or Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 Security Chip Apple Intelligence features require M1 or later When Apple updates the operating system for its devices it sometimes means that certain models are no longer supported. The good news is that Macs that ran macOS Sonoma will be able to run the new macOS. Apple states that the requirement is: Macs with Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 Security Chip. Here are Macs with Apple Silicon that will be able to run macOS Tahoe: MacBook Air (M1/2020 and later) MacBook Pro (M1/2020 and later) iMac (M1/2021 and later) Mac mini (M1/2020 and later) Mac Studio (M1/2022 and later) Mac Pro (M2/2023 and later) Here are the four Intel-powered Macs able to run macOS Tahoe. These models wont support Apple Intelligence features: MacBook Pro (16inch, Intel/2019) MacBook Pro (13inch, Intel/2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) iMac (Intel/mid 2020) Mac Pro (Intel/2019) Apple has confirmed that this is the last version of macOS for Intel Macs. macOS 26 Tahoe design: Liquid Glass and other interface changes Apple Apple showed off some enticing new features for macOS that will be coming later in 2025. A number of new features and interface enhancements were promised, but one of the biggest changes is coming to all of Apples products: a new design based on a graphical user interface that Apple is calling Liquid Glass. Apple showed off the brand new look for macOS in the WWDC keynote. As with Apples other operating systems, macOS Tahoe uses Apples new Liquid Glass effect to create reflective, glossy elements around the interface. The Liquid Glass elements will change color to reflect the content beneath as you scroll and will dynamically react. Buttons appear more curved and less flat. Youll see the effect in the Dock, sidebars, toolbars and elsewhere. The menu bar is fully transparent, for example. This is the first time in years that Apple has made significant changes to the visual style of macOS and it certainly makes the OS appear more modern. Interface changes Apple Apple says the design overhaul will elevate the key elements of macOS and enhance the macOS experience. The cleaner design is intended to help the user to focus on their content rather than other distractions, while elements like the translucent menu bar will make the screen feel larger. Users will be able to control what appears in the menu bar and Control Centre thanks to a customizable layout, similar to iOS 18. Users will also be able to add controls for their favorite apps to the Control Centre. macOS will gain a feture that arrived on the iPhone and iPad with iOS 18: tinted and dark app icons. Users will be able to personalize their Mac in other ways too, such as changing the color of folders and adding emoji or symbols to help them identify folders. Users can also pick personalised wallpapers and choose theme colors. Spotlight overhaul Apple Spotlight has always been much more than a search tool built into macOS, helping users find anything on their Macs, make calculations and conversions, and more. In macOS Tahoe, Spotlight will be able to do even more. Spotlights design and functionality has been completely rethought for macOS 26, with changes that will help Mac users get things done faster. Rather than being a single bar, on the right-hand side of the new Spotlight search box you will find icons for things like apps, files, Shortcuts, Actions, and clipboard. Select one of these buttons and Spotlights box expands to house relevant items in an easy-to-browse view. When you search for something, youll see relevant filters under your search terms click one to quickly apply it. Not only will Spotlight be the easiest way to find anything on your Mac, in macOS 26 Spotlight will be contextually aware so it can make suggestions based on what you are doing. Search results will be listed based on the relevance to you and it will be possible to use new filtering options for more specific search results. Spotlight will also have the ability to perform actions that normally require you to be inside an app. For example, you will be able to create a calendar event, begin an audio recording, or play a podcast from within Spotlight. It will even let you fill out parameters for actions, such as typing out an email message and filling in the recipient and subject. You can essentially compose an email from inside Spotlight, without opening your email app. This will be simplified further with Quick Keys, with which you will be able type a short string of letters to launch an action, such as typing sm to start sending a message to a friend. An App Intents API will make it possible for third-party developers to add Spotlight shortcuts for their applications. One of the most exciting new arrivals in Spotlight is Clipboard History, something we have wanted for years. Instead of being limited to pasting the last copied item, you will be able to view previous text and photos youve copied and re-insert them as needed. Why did it take Apple so long to offer this? Apple There are also lots of updates coming to Apple apps that are included with iPads, iPhones and Macs. Many of the changes are shared across all the new apps, but there are a number of Mac specific updates coming. Phone app A Phone app on the Mac is the latest Continuity feature to come to macOS. Continuity is Apples name for the features that work seamlessly between Macs, iPad and iPhones, these include Handoff (which enables you to start a task on one device and switch to another to finish it), Universal Clipboard (which allows you to copy something on one device and paste it on another), and Universal Control (where you can use one mouse and keyboard to interface with more than one Mac), among other features. With the new Phone app users will be able to received their calls and voicemail on the Mac. The Phone app is getting some new features of its own including Call Screening, which is designed to help you avoid spam calls, and Hold Assist, which means you will never have to listen to hold music again. With Call Screening before a call is put through an unknown caller will have to share their name and reason for calling, and you will then be provided with that information. With Hold Assist when you join a queue to wait for a call operative and the hold music starts you can choose to be called back. YouTube / Apple Live Activities Another feature that demonstrates the interoperability between the iPhone and Mac is Live Activities. In iOS 18 you can see a live update on your Lock Screen relating to things like a takeaway order. Live Activities show the process of a food delivery driver, for example. Now, that functionality is coming to the Mac. It will be powered by the iPhone Mirroring function, and will take the form of an iPhone-style widget that you will see on the screen of your Mac. Games app The Games app is another one that is available across all three main operating system updates: iOS, iPadOS and macOS. As with the iOS Games app the Games app on the Mac will bring together all the games you have on your Mac (bought from the App Store, Apple Arcade and elsewhere), as well as your friends list, achievements, and leaderboards. Tabs will make it easy to find the games you and your friends are playing. A new Game Overlay will make it easy to adjust settings for a particular game. Youll also be able to chat with friends and ask them to play. There is also a new Low Power Mode coming which gamers will be able to turn on to maximise battery life when playing games. And in related news Metal 4 is coming, which will enable next-gen features for Mac game developers, such as MetalFX Frame Interpolation and MetalFX De-noising. Apple Shortcuts Apple The Shortcuts app is getting an overhaul in macOS Tahoe. Shortcuts is a tool for automating tasks and repetitive actions. For those with more specific needs, there is also Automator on the Mac, but Shortcuts is simple to use and available on iPhone and iPad as well. In Tahoe, Shortcuts will be able to run workflows based on factors like time of day, or in response an email from a specific person arriving. This functionality was previously limited to the iPhone and iPad versions. There are new intelligent actions available that can be used to create Smart Shortcuts. Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT can be used to enhance these Shortcuts. Apple says that Users will see dedicated actions for features like summarizing text with Writing Tools or creating images with Image Playground. Live Translation One of the most useful new features announced at WWDC is Live Translation. With Live Translation you can text a friend who speaks a different language and have the translations appear in real time, or get instant translations during a phone call or FaceTime conference. Everyone gets their own translator. Youll be able to take advantage of Live Translation in the Phone app, Messages and FaceTime on your Mac. Apple Journal The Journal app, which arrived on iOS in 2023, is coming to the Mac (and iPad). Terminal Terminal is getting a colorful redesign and the Liquid Glass treatment, with support for 24-bit color and the ability to use Powerline fonts. Reminders Reminders is getting some help from Apple Intelligence. Reminders will scan a website, note, email or other content, then decide the most relevant action items for you based on its findings. Youll be able to use Apple Intelligence to automatically categorize your reminders into sections, making them easier to find There are also changes coming to Safari, Messages, Photos, FaceTime and Notes. Not only is it rare to see a hawksbill turtle, the rescue is significant because the species is critically endangered, meaning its survival is at risk. A critically endangered and pregnant hawksbill turtle has been rescued on Womer Cay, a remote island off Australia's north coast. Source: Queensland DETSI Conservationists are celebrating the rescue of a critically endangered pregnant hawksbill turtle that had become stuck on a remote island off the Australian coast. Speaking to Yahoo News, a spokesperson from Queensland's Department of the Environment, Science, Tourism and Innovation (DETSI) said rangers were visiting Womer Cay a small, sparsely vegetated cay about 65 kilometres east of Bamaga when the incredible rescue took place. The mission occurred while crews were visiting some of the state's most northern parks earlier this year, during a trip from Lockhart River to Horn Island. During surveys for crested terns and lesser crested terns, a type of seabird, a female hawksbill turtle was discovered wedged beneath a large piece of driftwood. While conducting surveys for crested terns and lesser crested terns on Womer Cay, the female Hawksbill turtle was found wedged under a large piece of driftwood. Source: DETSI Pregnant turtle's lucky rescue on remote island Ranger Katie Bampton speculated that the turtle had likely been attempting to reach the beach to lay a clutch of eggs when she became seriously stuck. ADVERTISEMENT "Thankfully she was spotted and ranger Joman Tomasello carefully removed her from the log and carried her to the ocean," Katie said. "We assumed she had been stuck since the previous evening when she came ashore to lay, and we found her around 11am." "She wouldve been stuck for hours and due to the very hot conditions, we believe she wouldn't have survived much longer." Not only is it rare for people to see a hawksbill in the wild, the rescue is significant because the hawksbill turtle is critically endangered, meaning its population is extremely low and its survival is at risk. The rescue of a pregnant turtle is especially important, as it not only saves an individual animal but also helps ensure the continuation of the species. Womer Cay is a small, sparsely vegetated cay about 65 kilometres east of Bamaga off the coast of far north Queensland. Source: DETSI Hawksbill turtles play a vital role in marine ecosystems by maintaining the health of coral reefs. Their protection is crucial for biodiversity. ADVERTISEMENT Katie said after some initial hesitation, the soon-to-be mum eventually swam free. "The water wouldve felt so good, and were hoping she returned to Womer Cay that evening to come ashore and lay a clutch of eggs," she said. "While we were on Womer Cay, we saw track marks on the beach where turtles had come ashore to lay, and we saw pits in the sand where clutches had hatched." She explained the turtles are so vulnerable largely due to the impacts of climate change, accidental capture in fishing equipment and reef habitat destruction. Eventually, she was able to swim free. Source: DETSI "The rangers who were on that trip are thrilled that we were able to rescue her and send her on her way," Katie said. These small cays in the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are remote but they are extremely important for bird life and turtles." Hawksbills are small but fast swimmers, with females nesting around four times each season, laying around 140 eggs. They are highly migratory, travelling thousands of kilometres between nesting and feeding grounds. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. One Greys Anatomy icon recalled her life growing up in Massachusetts in a recent podcast. On Wednesdays episode of popular podcast Call Her Daddy, Ellen Pompeo, who played Meredith Grey on Greys Anatomy, was a guest on the show. The show is hosted by Alex Cooper. While talking topics like her career, a salary negotiation and her family, she also made some references to her upbringing outside Boston in Everett. Pompeo displayed her own Boston accent and dove more into her early life before fame. When finding the two had ties to the city in common, Cooper informed Pompeo that she attended Boston University. So pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd, Cooper joked. Pahk the cah, Pompeo added. I didnt go to university, I was working at f------ Dunkin' Donuts, hun. The 55-year-old actress said she can always hear a slight Boston accent of hers, but shes constantly trying to not sound like she has one. Pompeo was also not shy when speaking on finances. She explained that because of her intense Boston upbringing, she always noticed people with money when she was young. I became aware at a very early age that people with money had power, and I didnt have any power as a young woman. I didnt like the way that felt, Pompeo said. I would watch people, all men, who had a lot of money and a lot of power. I looked up to them and thought they were incredibly cool. She continued by saying she wanted to make that happen for herself when she was young. For women, financial freedom is true independence, she said. To be financially independent to me is what makes me the happiest, feel the most free. I dont ever have to do anything I dont want to do. You can watch the full podcast episode here. Two New York residents were charged in connection with a structure fire that killed a Cape Cod teacher and her daughter in October 2024, New York State Police said. Meredith Darcy, 55, and Dennis Darcy, 57, both of Hastings-on-Hudson, were charged with second-degree manslaughter, State Police said in a statement released Friday. Judge Michael Hayes set bail at $50,000 cash, $100,000 secured bond, or $200,000 partially secured bond for each. On Oct. 14, 2024, State Police, the East Clinton Fire Department and the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division learned of a fire with entrapment at a home on Clinton Hollow Road in Clinton, New York, the statement read. First responders took four people to the hospital: John Hubbard, 40, Shannon Hubbard, 35, and their two children, Jack Hubbard, 3, and Margaret, 1, all of Brewster, State Police said. Shannon Hubbard and Margaret Hubbard, both died. The Hubbards were renting the home at the time of the fire, police said. Following an investigation, it was found that the house did not have functional smoke detectors, a violation of New York State fire, building, and residential codes. The fire started in the chimney flue and was not intentionally set, State Police added. The Darcys are next expected to appear in court on April 7. Shannon Hubbard was a school teacher in Chatham, according to the Cape Cod Chronicle. She taught at Harwich Elementary School and, more recently, was a preschool teacher at Chatham Elementary School. Her husband is an officer with the Dennis Police Department. In a statement released in October 2024, Dennis Police Chief John Brady said it would support the family after the incident. We pledge our full support to Patrolman Hubbard and are committed to providing any assistance he needs as his family and loved ones navigate this unimaginable loss, Brady said. We also know that the Dennis community is caring and compassionate, and will also be a source of support. In 2024, three Beverly residents ages 80, 83, and 90, lost thousands of dollars to a bitcoin scam, the Beverly Police Department said. But for the first time, police in Essex County were able to recover thousands of dollars lost by the Massachusetts residents. The residents, police said, were are tricked into depositing cash into bitcoin ATM machines for fraudulent reasons. Luckily, the residents reported these incidents quickly as Bitcoin machines are often emptied daily. Beverly Police were able to obtain warrants to seize bitcoin machines where the money had been deposited. Police then worked with the Essex County District Attorneys Office to go to court and have the funds in the machines held and returned to the residents. On Jan. 21, a court awarded $21,020 in seized funds to the Beverly Police Criminal Investigation Division. The money is in the states possession and is being returned to those residents, officials said in a press release. One person has already received a check. This is believed to be one of the first times in Essex County that the money has been recovered and returned to victims of such scams. But even more money could be returned to residents. The Beverly Police Department has seized more than $150,000 that has not yet been ordered returned by courts, officials said. The department continues to work with District Attorney Tuckers Office to have those funds returned. Bitcoins scams have stolen millions of dollars in cash from residents statewide. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns people that scammers often pretend to be from an organization you know, such as the Social Security Administration, the IRS, Medicare, a charity or business. Scammers pressure you to act immediately, the FTC warns. They might tell you not to hang up so you cant check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your drivers or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted. The scammers will also often insist that you pay through Bitcoin, a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Some scammers could send you a fake check, tell you to deposit it and ask that you send them the money. Beverly residents worried about being involved in a scam are asked to immediately contact the Beverly Police Department at 978-922-1212. An oncologist who worked at Massachusetts General Hospital was revealed to be one of the 28 men accused of paying for sex through a high-end brothel ring that operated on the East Coast, including in Cambridge and Watertown. Dr. James Cusack Jr. will be charged with a single count of sex for a fee, following a show-cause hearing Friday afternoon where the Cambridge District Court clerk magistrate found probable cause to file a criminal complaint against him. Read more: More names of men accused of paying for sex at Cambridge brothels revealed Reading from a police report, Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral said Cusack made agreements to pay for sex numerous times between January and November 2023. In one such instance, in March 2023, Cusack paid $340 for an hour with a woman, paying for the girlfriend experience, which blurs the boundaries between a financial transaction and romantic relationship, Cabral said. He is seen on surveillance entering the brothel at 90 Fawcett St. around 5:40 p.m. and leaving at 6:13 p.m. Cucask is one of 11 men who complaints were filed against Friday, including Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner. None of the 11 men appeared in court. In addition to Cusack and Toner, Clerk Sharon Casey approved criminal complaints against nine other men on Friday. MassLive has been able to verify the identities of seven: Steven Riel, of Laconia, N.H.; Nathaniel Welch, of Concord, Mass.; Jeffrey Henry, of Exeter N.H.; Frederick Rosenthal, of Marblehead; Matthew Fulton, of Belmont; Anurag Bajpayee, of Cambridge; and Paul Grant, of Charlestown. Lorraine D. Belostock, a lawyer representing six of the men, said the complaints represent mere allegations. All of my clients are presumed innocent under the law, and we look forward to vigorously representing our clients in court, she told reporters outside the East Cambridge courthouse. In a statement, Toner said he would be forever sorry for causing pain for the people I care about most. Outside court, the lawyer, Tim Flaherty, described Toner as a man of high character. He loves his family and his family loves him. None of us are perfect, Flaherty said. Hes a hard-working city councilor, and the City of Cambridge is very fortunate to have him on the city council. At a hearing last Friday, Casey found probable cause to issue complaints against 12 men. They are: Jason Han, of Roxbury; Jonathan Lanfear, of Winchester; Yihong Zou, of Boston; Boya Zhou, of West Roxbury; Mark Zhu, of Lincoln; Kerry Wu, of Natick; Patrick Walsh of Swampscott; David LaCava, of Waltham; Pinhao Chao, of Allston; John Doran, of Wellesley; Pablo Maceira, of Boston; and Peter MacGillivray, of Boston. All 23 men identified thus far will be summoned for arraignments in Cambridge District Court in the coming weeks. Their names are being made public for the first time at the hearings. A Cambridge police officer applied for criminal complaints against 28 men who records show each communicated with a phone used for the network 400 or more times, according to a criminal complaint filed in court. The three ringleaders of the brothel ring were indicted in November 2023 on charges tied to the operation out of apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and eastern Virginia. Since then, all three people Han Lee, Junmyung Lee and James Lee have pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Han Lee was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday. Appointments were set up by the accused sex buyers through text messages to a number on a website called bostontopten10.com, Cabral said. The men used code words in their texts with the brothel owners, including GFE for girlfriend experience and BB for bareback, a slang term for sexual intercourse without protection, Cabral said. The buyers often requested women by name, and their payments which ranged from $250 for 30 minutes, to $350 for one hour and up to $840 for three hours were called donations, a usual term in the sex trade, Cabral said. Altogether, the locations garnered about 9,450 dates with trafficked women that made more than $5.6 million in proceeds, according to U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley. The show-cause hearings will continue Friday, March 28. Editors note: This article was updated at 4:45 p.m. on March 21, 2025 to add more details from the case. Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner was identified Friday as one of 28 men accused of paying for sex through a high-end brothel ring operating out of the city and others on the East Coast. Toner is one of 23 men publicly identified thus far. A lawyer representing Toner did not comment on the accusations during the hearing. Toner did not appear in the courtroom. In a statement, Toner said he would be forever sorry for causing pain for the people I care about most. Outside court, the lawyer, Tim Flaherty, described Toner as a man of high character. He loves his family and his family loves him. None of us are perfect, Flaherty said. Hes a hard-working city councilor, and the City of Cambridge is very fortunate to have him on the city council. Cambridge District Court Clerk Magistrate Sharon Casey found there was enough evidence to issue a criminal complaint against Toner, officially charging him with a crime. He will be summoned to appear in court for an arraignment in the coming weeks. He was elected to the Cambridge City Council in November 2021 and began serving on the council in January 2022. The city did not immediately respond to MassLive for comment. During the hearing Friday, Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral read from a police report detailing an April 17, 2023 conversation between Toner and a phone used for the brothels. In it, he asked if two women were available for an hour that day and booked an appointment with a woman who used the stage name Tulip. Toner agreed to pay $340 for one hour with the woman, selecting the girlfriend experience, which blurs the boundaries between a financial transaction and romantic relationship, Cabral said. Toner arrived at the brothel at 90 Fawcett St. around 4:59 p.m., leaving at 5:51 p.m., according to the report. Along with Toner, the names of 11 men accused of paying for sex as part of the brothel network were disclosed publicly for the first time Friday. Among them was Boston oncologist Dr. James Cusack Jr. In addition to Cusack and Toner, Clerk Sharon Casey approved criminal complaints against nine other men on Friday. MassLive has been able to verify the identities of seven: Steven Riel, of Laconia, N.H.; Nathaniel Welch, of Concord, Mass.; Jeffrey Henry, of Exeter N.H.; Frederick Rosenthal, of Marblehead; Matthew Fulton, of Belmont; Anurag Bajpayee, of Cambridge; and Paul Grant, of Charlestown. Lorraine D. Belostock, a lawyer representing six of the men, said the complaints represent mere allegations. All of my clients are presumed innocent under the law, and we look forward to vigorously representing our clients in court, she told reporters outside the East Cambridge courthouse. At a hearing last Friday, Casey found probable cause to issue complaints against 12 men. They are: Jason Han, of Roxbury; Jonathan Lanfear, of Winchester; Yihong Zou, of Boston; Boya Zhou, of West Roxbury; Mark Zhu, of Lincoln; Kerry Wu, of Natick; Patrick Walsh of Swampscott; David LaCava, of Waltham; Pinhao Chao, of Allston; John Doran, of Wellesley; Pablo Maceira, of Boston; and Peter H MacGillivray, of Boston. All 23 men will be summoned for arraignments on a single count of sexual conduct for a fee. A Cambridge police officer applied for criminal complaints against 28 men who records show each communicated with a phone used for the network 400 or more times, according to a criminal complaint filed in court. The three leaders of the brothel ring were indicted in November 2023 on charges tied to the operation out of apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and eastern Virginia. Since then, all three people Han Lee, Junmyung Lee and James Lee have pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Han Lee was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday. Appointments were set up by the accused sex buyers through text messages to a number on a website called bostontopten10.com, Cabral said. The men used code words in their texts with the brothel owners, including GFE for girlfriend experience and BB for bareback, a slang term for sexual intercourse without protection, Cabral said. The buyers often requested women by name, and their payments which ranged from $250 for 30 minutes, to $350 for one hour and up to $840 for three hours were called donations, a usual term in the sex trade, Cabral said. Altogether, the locations garnered about 9,450 dates with trafficked women that made more than $5.6 million in proceeds, according to U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley. The show-cause hearings will continue Friday, March 28. Jeffrey Villar, the Southbridge Public Schools receiver, announced on Friday that he will resign from his position on April 30. After much reflection, I have decided to bring my professional work back to my home state of Connecticut, where I prepared for and pursued my career in K-12 education for 25 years before I arrived in Southbridge in 2018, Villar said in a letter shared by Southbridge Town Councilor Michael Montigny on Facebook. In the letter, Villar said William Metzger, the school districts executive director of finance and human resources, will become interim receiver on May 1. Villar expressed his appreciation for the Southbridge community who supported him, and said he was grateful to all the hardworking employees of the school district who work tirelessly every day, putting childrens needs first and doing amazing things for kids. Southbridges town council voted no confidence in Villar in January, the Telegram & Gazette reported. This was a nonbinding resolution given the towns limited ability to affect the states management of the school district. Some Southbridge teachers and staff opposed the town councils no-confidence vote, the Telegram & Gazette reported. The state appointed Villar as receiver two years after Southbridge Public Schools was designated as chronically underperforming in January 2016. This was due to several years of low student performance, with student achievement being among the lowest in the state. Losing Villar would only lead to further instability for the school district, Southbridge Education Association co-president Maria Murray told the Telegram in January. One of the reasons we are in receivership, besides the mismanagement of Southbridge Public Schools by the School Committee at that time, is because of instability from having 10 different superintendents in 10 years, and I worked under them all, she told the newspaper. This vote will only lead to more instability. Town Council Chair Scott Lazo expressed criticism of Villar, stating at the January meeting that Villars leadership would not help to move the district out of receivership, the Telegram & Gazette reported. We cannot wait for tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel that everyone else does until we change that position, Lazo said at the meeting. Like so many other major businesses, big chains like Costco and Walmart are feeling the financial pressures of impending U.S. tariffs. According to the Financial Times, Costco is pressuring Chinese suppliers to cut prices in the wake of announced 20% tariffs on all Chinese imported goods into the U.S. The U.S. warehouse retailer requested the price cuts, the outlet reported, citing two suppliers. And theyre not alone according to Financial Times, Walmart and other top retailers have made similar requests. On March 4, President Donald Trump announced increased tariffs on all imported goods from China from 10% to 20% and imposed 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada, The Street reported. They are set to go into effect on April 2, through Trump said Friday there would be flexibility in the tariff plan, according to CNBC. Read more: These 8 grocery items are set to explode in price after Trump tariffs Before tariffs were announced, Costco CFO Gary Millerchip noted that customers may see higher prices as a result of tariffs during a December earnings call, according to The Street. When it rains, it rains on everybody, said Millerchip. In another earnings call earlier this month, Costcos CEO said the company would consider modifying its supply chain if tariffs led to significant price increases for customers, Reuters reported. Last week, Walmart reportedly went before Chinas Ministry of Commerce to discuss the grocery-chains requests to lower costs. A spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of Commerce said China should not bear the blame for U.S. tariffs, the Financial Times reported. It's unknown why it happened or how the two creatures first encountered one another. A group of marine biologists were stunned when they spotted what was on top of a short-fin mako shark. Source: University of Auckland A group of marine biologists who have spent years researching sharks and their behaviour were completely dumbfounded by a rare sight off the coast of New Zealand. A large shark was spotted thanks to its grey dorsal fin peeking out the water in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island but another brightly coloured addition also caught the researchers' eyes. After launching a drone into the sky and a GoPro in the water, they finally got the answer to what it was. An octopus. "The shark was at the surface on a very calm day and we could see an orange colour on top of its head. At first we wondered if it was a buoy or an injury of some kind so we deployed the drone so we could see," marine biologist Rochelle Constantine told Yahoo News. "We could then see a tentacle moving and it was clearly a large octopus." ADVERTISEMENT The research team were able to capture images of the unusual encounter and said the octopus was likely in for "quite the experience" since short-fin mako sharks are the world's fastest shark species, and can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour in the water. The bizarre 'oddity' has now made headlines around the world. Source: Aukland University/Wednesday Davis A GoPro captured imagery of the shark and octopus under the water. Source: University of Auckland The incident occurred in December, 2023 and the team are still unsure why the two creatures were behaving this way, simply putting it down as a moment that truly showcases the "wonders of the ocean". "We have no idea how these two managed to encounter each other... it was quiet unexpected and shows how many amazing ocean discoveries are yet to be made," Constantine said. "This 'sharktopus' was a mysterious find indeed... the octopus lives on the seabed and mako sharks are an open water shark so they occupy very different habitats." World's fastest shark meets largest octopus south of the equator The researchers believe the octopus, which was identified as a Maori octopus, was trying to hitch a ride and go unnoticed by the shark. ADVERTISEMENT "The octopus was keeping its tentacles all tucked in neatly on top of the sharks head," Constantine said. However, it's likely the shark was aware of its presence thanks to the sensory organs all over their body which help them perceive things going on around them. "The shark seemed quite happy, and the octopus seemed quite happy," Constantine told the New York Times. "It was a very calm scene." Maori octopus can grow up to two metres wide and weigh 12 kilograms, taking the crown for the largest octopus to live in the southern hemisphere. It was taking up a "fair amount of real estate on the shark's head". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A former teacher who is accused of raping a 13-year-old student at the now-shuttered JFK Middle School in Hudson will be tried for a third time after a judge declared a mistrial in her two previous trials. Attorneys for Caitlin Harding said they were looking for a further date to discuss a third trial date, according to audio records from a status conference at Middlesex Superior Court. A court date was set for April 23 via Zoom to determine whether the former teacher will seek new attorneys for the third trial. A date for the third trial has not been announced. Prosecutors say Harding groomed and then sexually abused a girl who was in her sixth-grade class. When the girl was in the seventh grade, Harding started coming over to the victims house and taking her out alone, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. In the summer before the girl was about to enter the eighth grade, Harding took her out for ice cream and told the girl she loved her, and put her hand under the girls pants, according to prosecutors. That was one of several instances of abuse the girl, who is now 28, was subjected to that summer, according to prosecutors. Harding repeatedly told the girl she was hers forever and that she loved her. The relationship ended when the girl sent a sexy video of herself to Harding, which the girls sister then showed to their mom, prosecutors said. Hardings ex-wife said she saw a text message in which Harding said she loved the girl, prosecutors said. When the former spouse confronted Harding, she admitted to kissing the girl twice. Harding said at both of her previous trials that she didnt have an inappropriate relationship with the girl, according to WCVB. She testified that she was spending time with the family because she was having an affair with the girls mother. A separate lawsuit against Harding and the town of Hudson was filed in 2021. The civil suit states Harding met the student in 2008 when the victim was a sixth grader at JFK Middle school. The plaintiff in the civil lawsuit is now a resident of Central Massachusetts. That suit accuses the town, specifically Hudson school administrators, of negligence for hiring Harding and continuing to employ her as a teacher. The supervisors knew or should have known Harding was of bad character and reputation and unfit to properly interact with minor children at JFK Middle School, the filing reads. Reporter Charlie McKenna contributed to this article. A Texas cosmetics companys 30-day trial for its $200 products became a money-making scheme for two Massachusetts men, allowing them to profit thousands of dollars. The Dracut brothers, Nick Ashtar-Zadeh and Nika Ashtar-Zadeh, each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in 2024. Between 2019 and 2021, the two brothers operated Amazon and eBay stores that offered various products for sale, including the products of a cosmetics company in Texas, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said. The Ashtar-Zadehs offered the companys products on these platforms for one-time payments that were typically equal to or below the companys list prices for the same products. Theyd then enroll the buys in the companys 30-day trial program without the customers' knowledge. The company would ship its products to those buyers for a trial period and the brothers would pay the initial $19.95. The brothers, officials said, would pocket the difference between the sold price and that of the trial. However, if the customer didnt return the product to the company they were supposed to be charged again with monthly installments totaling the price of the product. But when the companies went to make those charges, the charges were declined. As a result of the conduct, the Ashtar-Zadehs cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars, Foleys office said in a press release. Nick Ashtar-Zadeh was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to six months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $181,806 in restitution and forfeiture of $111,156. Nika Ashtar-Zadeh is expected to be sentenced on May 21. Protestors gather during a demonstration at the headquarters of the Department of Education, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Following President Donald Trumps executive order on Thursday to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and instead return education authority to the States, Massachusetts teachers and politicians are sounding the alarm about the impact on students. Make no mistake, the executive order signed yesterday to close the Department of Education isnt about local control of the schools, Jessica Tang, president of the teachers union the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, said during a Friday press conference. The federal government doesnt control the schools, the states already do. Thats why we have local school committees too. This isnt about eliminating an obscure government entity. The dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education still needs Congressional approval. However, there are concerns that the department could be stripped back until it barely has anyone working there and cant operate. The Trump administration has already been gutting the agency. Its workforce is being slashed in half and there have been deep cuts to the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nations academic progress. All those at the regional Boston office of the U.S. Education Department were fired. The efforts by the Trump administration concern Tang, in part because she sees it as a larger effort to harm the countrys democracy. This is about backsliding of democracy and the things that are happening are things that happen in authoritarian governments, she said. The executive orders impact on Mass. students President Trump reaffirmed on Thursday that the departments useful function such as the oversight of Pell Grants and Title I funding would be preserved. At the same time, politicians and advocates are concerned that those key functions will be cut. This in part comes from what is laid out in the conservative playbook of Project 2025, which details that Title I should be phased out over a 10-year period. During Trumps presidential campaign, he denied his involvement in Project 2025. However, his aim to significantly cut the federal agency is in line with what is stated in the conservative blueprint. The potential for key functions of the department to be cut will jeopardize the futures of thousands of children, Tang said. There are 385,000 low income students in Massachusetts who are supported by Title I funding enough to fill Gillette Stadium six times, Tang said. Another 190,000 students with disabilities receive services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in Massachusetts enough to fill Gillette Stadium three times over, Tang said. If funding from both Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is taken away, it would mean that reading specialists, for instance, would be fired, she said. " We dont have enough special education teachers right now as it is and so its exacerbating the problem of being able to provide the services," Tang said. Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the states Democratic whip, said the executive order is stealing from the 90% of kids in our country who go to public school. Were going to take this fight to the House floor, were going to take it to the courts and we will take it to our communities and the streets, Clark said during the press conference. We will not let Republicans walk away from their promises. We will not let them get away with turning on their own constituents. And they certainly cant hide from the parents of this country, she said. Clark, who was a former school board member, said her Republican colleagues who campaigned on a promise to fight for working families need to step up. Tang said the country is at an inflection point with a long fight ahead and more cuts expected in and outside of education, such as in research. These cuts are all intertwined, it bleeds into every part of our life for many of our working families, Tang said. Hes not just targeting those most in need, hes forcing them to shoulder the burden in a crippling way. Targeting everything from housing, healthcare, employment and access to food. But thats why were standing up across the country. Because its not just an attack on education, its an attack on everyone, Tang said. A New Hampshire woman who went missing in Westford was found dead in a pond near the town line with Groton, the Westford Police Department said. Margaret Hammersley, 73, of Nashua, was found dead in the waters of Forge Pond in the woods, police said in an updated statement. Her body was recovered by a Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, or NEMLAC, Search Team member. The Westford Police Department sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Margaret Hammersley and asks that members of the public and media respect the familys privacy during this tragic time, police said. The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities first started searching for Hammersley on March 20 in the area of Bradford Street and Pleasant Street. Her vehicle was found empty Thursday evening in a parking lot near Pleasant Street. Westford police thanked other agencies that helped in the search, including NEMLAC, the Westford Fire Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Groton Police Department and Westford Public Works. Editors note: This article was updated at 4:55 p.m. March 21, 2025 to add more details from the case. The Cambridge District Court Clerk Magistrate deemed there was probable cause to charge 11 more men accused of paying for sex through a high-end brothel ring with a crime on Friday, bringing the total number to 23. Among them were Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner and Dr. James Cusack, a Boston oncologist, the highest-profile defendants identified thus far. Cusack is the former director of Oncology Labs at Massachusetts General Hospital. Cusacks employment there ended in May 2024, WCVB reported. Toner was first elected to the city council in 2021. He is also a former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, serving from 2006 to 2014. Along with Cusack and Toner, Clerk Sharon Casey approved criminal complaints against nine other men on Friday. They are: Timothy Ackerson, of Waltham; Steven Riel, of Laconia, N.H.; Nathaniel Welch, of Concord, Mass.; Jeffrey Henry, of Exeter N.H.; Frederick Rosenthal, of Marblehead; Matthew Fulton, of Belmont; Howard Redmond, of Tewksbury; Anurag Bajpayee, of Cambridge; and Paul Grant, of Charlestown. None of the men appeared in court Friday. Cambridge District Court Clerk Magistrate Sharon Casey decided there was probable cause to file criminal complaints against nearly two dozen men accused of paying for sex through a high-end brothel ring. Jonathan Wiggs/Pool Lorraine D. Belostock, a lawyer representing six of the men, said the complaints represent mere allegations. All of my clients are presumed innocent under the law, and we look forward to vigorously representing our clients in court, she told reporters outside the East Cambridge courthouse. In a statement, Toner said he would be forever sorry for causing pain for the people I care about most. Tim Flaherty, a lawyer for Toner, described him as a man of high character. He loves his family and his family loves him. None of us are perfect, Flaherty said. Hes a hard-working city councilor, and the City of Cambridge is very fortunate to have him on the city council. Tim Flaherty, a lawyer representing Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner and another man accused of paying for sex through a high-end brothel ring. Jonathan Wiggs/Pool Another lawyer, Daniel Gaudet, who is representing Bajpayee, seemed to try and undermine the process by which police identified his client as a suspect, asking pointed questions of a Cambridge police lieutenant. Gaudet declined to speak to reporters. At a hearing last Friday, Casey found probable cause to issue complaints against 12 men. They are: Jason Han, of Roxbury; Jonathan Lanfear, of Winchester; Yihong Zou, of Boston; Boya Zhou, of West Roxbury; Mark Zhu, of Lincoln; Kerry Wu, of Natick; Patrick Walsh of Swampscott; David LaCava, of Waltham; Pinhao Chao, of Allston; John Doran, of Wellesley; Pablo Maceira, of Boston; and Peter MacGillivray, of Boston. All 23 men identified thus far will be summoned for arraignments on a single count of sexual conduct for a fee. At least five more men will appear at a hearing next Friday. The hearings held this month represent the first time they have been publicly identified. Show-cause hearings are typically held behind closed doors, and several of the men who could be charged in the case appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court in a bid to keep them closed. But the states highest court upheld Caseys decision to hold the hearings in public, finding the public interest outweighed the mens right to privacy. The 28 men who could be charged were identified through a search of a phone used to operate the brothel. Each man communicated with the phone 400 or more times, according to court records. The three leaders of the brothel ring were indicted in November 2023 on charges tied to the operation out of apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and eastern Virginia. Since then, all three people Han Lee, Junmyung Lee and James Lee have pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Han Lee was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday. During Fridays court proceedings, Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral read through similar police reports for each of the mens cases, describing conversations setting up appointments at the brothels. Appointments were set up by the accused sex buyers through text messages to a number on a website called bostontopten10.com, Cabral said. The men used code words in their texts with the brothel owners, including GFE for girlfriend experience and BB for bareback, a slang term for sexual intercourse without protection, Cabral said. The buyers often requested women by name, and their payments which ranged from $250 for 30 minutes, to $350 for one hour and up to $840 for three hours were called donations, a usual term in the sex trade, Cabral said. Altogether, the locations garnered about 9,450 dates with trafficked women that made over $5.6 million in proceeds, according to U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley. The show-cause hearings will continue next Friday, March 28. The head of the United States Postal Service has said stamp fraud, ongoing leases and burdensome federal requirements are all squeezing the U.S. Post Office in an open letter to Congress this week. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in the letter he would have preferred to deal with some of the ongoing problems faced by the Post Office through what he termed the Post Offices Delivering for America plan, but that the Post Office has had to expend effort fighting counterproductive legislation. Instead, the Post Office will be partnering with the Department of Governmental Efficiency on the issues laid out in the letter, DeJoy said. DeJoy stated that the postal service is undergoing a historic level of transformational change and is partnering with DOGE to improve operations, enhance the marketability of USPS products, reduce costs and increase revenue. The well-demonstrated interest of Congress in the activities of the Postal Service, despite our best efforts to be responsive, has often, lead (sic) to the slowing, or in some instances stopping, of the cost saving initiatives we have proposed, DeJoy wrote in the letter. The Postmaster went on to state that DOGE is the only available organization oriented to help USPS obtain its efficiency and cost-cutting goals. As required by Congress, DeJoy laid out what cost-cutting initiatives DOGE is assisting with: Mismanagement of self-funded retirement plans and miscalculations of retirement obligations Mismanagement of workers compensation which DeJoy says results in $400 million in excess charges Unfunded congressional mandates DeJoy says, cost the USPS up to $11 billion annually Regulatory requirements DeJoy calls burdensome. He claims theyve inflicted over $50 billion in damages to the USPS A review of almost 31,000 USPS retail center leases USPS role in role in providing services to other federal agencies Addressing counterfeit postage which DeJoy claims cost the USPS $1 billion DeJoy told Congress these are the only issues he authorized DOGE to assist with. As part of the cost-cutting effort, USPS plans to cut 10,000 employees within the next month through a voluntary early retirement program. The agency previously announced plans to reduce its operating costs by over $3.5 billion each year. Additionally, this is not the first instance of thousands of employees being laid off; in 2021, the agency eliminated 30,000 jobs. Margaret Hammersley, 73, of Nashua, New Hampshire was reported missing from her hometown on March 20, according to the Westford Police Department. The Westford Police Department For two days, authorities have been looking for a 73-year-old woman from Nashua, New Hampshire who was reported missing Thursday in her hometown. As part of day two of the search for Margaret Hammersley, police and first responders went near the Forge Village area in Westford around 8:10 a.m. Friday, according to the Westford Police Department. Dont be alarmed if you see police canine units walking around, drones in the area, or a helicopter flying overhead, these resources will be part of the search effort, the department said. Authorities first started searching for Hammersley on March 20 in the area of Bradford Street and Pleasant Street. Her vehicle was found empty Thursday evening in a parking lot near Pleasant Street. Police encourage anyone who has seen Hammersley to call them at 978-399-2345. Hammersley is about 5 feet, 3 inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, according to the department. She was last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket and a dark-colored shirt underneath when she left her home Thursday morning. Hammersley wears glasses and doesnt have a phone on her. She has no known connection to the Forge Village or Westford area. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu testifies during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing titled "A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 5, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trumps White House is calling out Boston Mayor Michelle Wu directly for statements she made during her annual State of the City speech this week, claiming her immigration policies are causing violence. In an email Thursday titled Bostons Radical Mayor Puts Violent Criminal Illegal Aliens First, the White House Office of Communications shared eight recent press releases from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about arrests of undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts who were charged with violent crimes, saying Wu was defending them. This begs the question: Why is Mayor Wu intent on defying the will of the American people and obstructing the Trump Administrations efforts to remove these monsters from our streets? the email read. Wu has come under fire since Trump took office for the second time in January because of Bostons Trust Act, a law limiting local police cooperation with ICE to criminal investigations. The law prohibits Boston Police Department from sharing information with ICE about individuals' immigration status or cooperating with civil immigration detainers. Earlier this month, Wu and the Democratic mayors of several other so-called sanctuary cities with similar laws were called to testify before Congress, and Wu strongly defended the policy. During the hearing, Wu emphasized that Boston police still work with ICE regularly for criminal investigations. In her State of the City speech Wednesday night, the mayor said, as she had during the Congressional hearing, that Boston had seen decreases in violent crime and more community trust in police in recent years. While she did not mention Trump by name, she called out the federal administration for attacking immigrants and other groups, and said Boston would not stand for it. No one tells Boston how to take care of our own. Not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings, she said. If you come for one of us, you will get all of us. We are a city that knows our strength is each other: And we will defend the people we love with all that weve got. When the weight of the world presses down, Boston stands up. In response to Trumps statement Thursday, Wu said in a statement she was glad the president had watched the speech, but that the reckless propaganda was inaccurate. Boston is proud to be the safest major city in the country, and we work with all levels of law enforcement every day to prevent crime and hold perpetrators accountable, she said. If the Trump administration is truly concerned about safety, they should fund healthcare and education, support our veterans, pass common sense gun reforms, and stop threatening our economy. Silicon Valley chipmaker NVIDIA is one of the most influential players in the emerging AI era. On any given day, its usually among the three most valuable companies in the world, up there with Apple and Microsoft. So it was a big deal this week when NVIDIA announced that it had picked Boston as the site of a new center for quantum computing research. Quantum computing is generally regarded as the next tech wave after AI, and Massachusetts is competing with states like Illinois, Colorado, Connecticut and California for pole position. Also: Massachusetts officials didnt have to dangle any tax breaks or other financial incentives to persuade NVIDIA to set up this new center here, says Sam Stanwyck, group product manager for quantum computing at NVIDIA. Heres what the announcement means for the development of a quantum computing ecosystem in Massachusetts. What even is quantum computing? Quantum computing is a new approach to computation that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of traditional computers. It was first proposed by the famed physicist Richard Feynman in 1981 at a conference in Dedham, a suburb of Boston, where he suggested using quantum systems to simulate complex phenomena. Unlike traditional bits, which can only represent 0 or 1, quantum bits (called qubits) can exist in a superposition of both states simultaneously, enabling them to process multiple possibilities at once. This ability allows quantum computers to perform certain calculations much faster than traditional computers. Quantum computers need to operate at extremely low temperatures often just a fraction of a degree above absolute zero, because of the delicate quantum states of the qubits inside. Why NVIDIA chose Boston The most important thing is its a hub for great research, with Harvard and MIT, says Stanwyck. There are great quantum groups there that were partnering with. You also have some good quantum companies there, and its a central location that a lot of people can access. While Stanwyck is now based near NVIDIAs Santa Clara, California, headquarters, he spent four years living in the Boston area, and started his job at the company while based here so he knows the local terrain. The goal of the new center, which the company calls the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center, or NVAQC, is to enable cutting-edge research that pushes the limits of quantum computing, Stanwyck says. Some researchers and NVIDIA partners are expected to come to the site in person, but it will also be accessible over the internet. What I would love to do is work with NVIDIA researchers and engineers, and have a space where we can go in there and do work together, says Will Oliver, Director of the Engineering Quantum Systems Group at MIT and a co-founder of Atlantic Quantum, a Cambridge startup. Theres a lot of development and improvement and optimization that still has to happen Oliver says, especially around the link between quantum computers and traditional computers, which will likely work together in tandem. How much is NVIDIA investing? Stanwyck says that the center will be a huge investment in quantum computing for us, but he wouldnt offer a specific dollar amount. The facility will feature several of the companys flagship supercomputers, which sell for an estimated $3 million each. NVIDIA plans to hire an unspecified number of employees to support the quantum computing work, and while it has signed a lease for an office, Stanwyck said he wasnt ready to disclose it. He expects the new facility to open later this year. NVIDIA already operates a site in Westford, which is staffed by researchers and engineers. Where could quantum computing be useful? Several industries are exploring the practical uses of quantum computers today. In finance, they may be useful for portfolio optimization and risk management, helping banks and investment firms make smarter decisions. In pharmaceuticals, quantum computing may be able to accelerate drug discovery by simulating the way drugs interact with the body even before theyre tested in people, potentially leading to safer and more effective medicines. The carmaker BMW is working with the Boston quantum startup QuEra on several projects, including optimizing the way BMW paints cars on its production line, says Yuval Boger, QuEras chief commercial officer. NVIDIA is partnering with universities and startups Researchers from Harvard University and MIT will use the new center, as will local quantum startups like QuEra, which builds and operates quantum computers, and startups based elsewhere. Harvard professor Mikhail Lukin, a co-founder of QuEra, was featured onstage yesterday at NVIDIAs annual conference in San Jose, California, as part of its quantum day. QuEra has already built a 256-qubit quantum computer, which has been accessible over Amazon Web Services since 2022. Each qubit in it is a single atom, held in place by a laser beam. Its science fiction until it isnt, says Boger. QuEra raised $230 million in venture capital last month from a group of investors that included Google and Softbank. How this benefits NVIDIA NVIDIAs powerful supercomputers, which have chips that the company designs at their heart, are considered traditional (or classical) computers, and the company isnt developing quantum computers right now. So how will its machines be used in the new center? To simulate the way that quantum computers and quantum algorithms work and to check and analyze the errors that occur in actual quantum computers, because qubits are delicate, and noise, vibration, or even a stray photon can cause them to make mistakes. Theres a broad consensus that quantum computers wont stand alone, Stanwyck says. Theyll rely on traditional computers to do what they do well, and perform tasks that those computers cant do as well, he says. As the field grows, NVIDIA believes it will generate more customer demand for its technology. How the state was involved While Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development, Yvonne Hao, met with NVIDIA last fall, the selection process didnt involve any incentives. In an emailed statement, Gov. Maura Healey said, NVIDIAs decision to establish a quantum research center in Boston cements our position as a global leader in the next frontier of computing. This investment will not only drive groundbreaking advancements in quantum technology but also create high-quality jobs, strengthen our research ecosystem and attract top talent to our state. Quantum computers arent yet in general use and not yet a big business Quantum computers are making strides towards practical applications but theyre not there yet. Were still in the early stage of the development of quantum computing, says Oliver. But he says some businesses are beginning to dedicate employees and money to understanding how they might use them. Companies want to understand how a quantum computer works, how itll affect their bottom line in the future, and whats the timeline, Oliver says. The big tech players and China In December, Google announced a breakthrough with their Willow quantum chip, which can solve complex problems in minutes that would take traditional supercomputers an incredibly long time. That achievement was particularly noteworthy because Willow demonstrated improved error correction ensuring its work is accurate as the computer adds more qubits, which addresses a big challenge in scaling up quantum computing. IBMs Condor processor, integrated into their Quantum System Two, has 1,121 qubits, making it the largest quantum computer in terms of qubit count. Chinas Zuchongzhi 3.0, a 105-qubit chip, has demonstrated performance that rivals Googles Willow chip. Chinese and European advances in quantum computing could spur increased government support for the industry during the Trump administration, Boger suggests. If I have a quantum computer and my adversary does not, does it give me economic advantage, or let me break the other sides encryption? You dont want to have technology thats inferior to your geopolitical adversary, he says. Its been nearly 75 years since American songstress Patti Page captured the emotional pull of an adorable puppy for sale at a pet shop in the classic novelty song, (How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window. While it may once have been commonplace for Massachusetts pet shops to offer their customers waggly-tailed pups for purchase, as of the beginning of 2025, the number of Bay State pet shops that sell dogs has dwindled to only six, according to the MSPCA. For years, state legislators have sought, unsuccessfully, to bring that number to zero through a proposed state ban on the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet shops. Legislators and animal welfare organizations claim that such a ban is necessary to stop pet shops from getting their supply of dogs from puppy mills, which they say breed dogs in inhumane conditions to keep costs low and product output high. We have never seen a large-scale, commercial breeder with enough staff to properly take care of hundreds of dogs and fully meet their physical, emotional and behavioral needs, Amy Jesse and Kathleen Summers, both part of Humane World for Animals' puppy mills public policy team, wrote in response to questions from MassLive. Opposition to the sale of pets in pet shops has come from pet shops themselves and other industry stakeholders, who argue that large-scale breeders that supply pet shops with puppies have a moral, legal and financial incentive to treat their dogs well. We believe that if somebody is committed to raising dogs as their career, as their livelihood, that theyre going to have a vested interest in doing whats best for those animals, Mike Bober, the president of Pet Advocacy Network a national pet shop industry group. As the list of states that have enacted such bans has grown in recent years, Massachusetts legislators have felt increasing pressure to get one passed here. As a result, they are now pushing for a compromise bill that would only ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in newly-established pet shops. Despite hopes that such a bill would garner less pushback, pet shops and other industry stakeholders continue to do battle with animal welfare advocates and their allies in government over both the law and the reputation of pet shops and breeders. What are puppy mills? Humane World for Animals formerly the Humane Society of the U.S. defines puppy mills as inhumane, high-volume dog breeding facilities that churn out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers. Dogs raised by large-scale, commercial breeders are typically overbred, kept in unsanitary conditions, receive little personal attention or veterinary care and are offered few opportunities for exercise and enrichment, according to Humane World. These conditions allow puppies to be bred at high-volume for a low cost. Furthermore, a single large-scale, commercial dog breeder may keep hundreds of reproducing females in cramped, stacked wire cages for their entire lives, according to Humane World. After the breeding dogs can no longer produce puppies, they are often killed or abandoned. Because dogs from large-scale, commercial breeders are kept in such poor conditions, they often contract diseases, have serious genetic defects and develop behavioral issues, according to Humane Worlds puppy mills public policy team. Dogs from puppy mills are commonly found to have heart murmurs or parasites and may exhibit aggressive behaviors, according to the non-profit. Oftentimes, these issues do not become evident until after the dogs have left their place of birth, Humane World said. As a result, pet shops and consumers may encounter unexpected problems with dogs purchased from large-scale, commercial breeders that cost them thousands in veterinary or training services. Why these problems persist Humane World estimates that puppy mills sell around 2.6 million dogs each year. One reason inhumane breeding conditions continue to exist is because the federal animal welfare standards for breeders set forth the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 are outdated and insufficient, Humane World argues. Oftentimes, pet shops that sell puppies assure customers that their dogs come from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed breeders. But Humane World, the ASPCA and others argue that a USDA license is no guarantee of humane conditions, citing lax standards in the Animal Welfare Act. Furthermore, industry stakeholders have also repeatedly lobbied Congress to keep federal animal welfare standards low, according to Humane Worlds puppy mills public policy team. Breeders often arent held to current federal standards, animal welfare organizations argue. Internal USDA reports have repeatedly found that the USDA has overall been ineffective at enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, according to a 2010 USDA report. Questioning puppy mills The American Kennel Club objects to the use of the term puppy mills altogether, Sheila Goffe, a vice president at the dog registry non-profit, said in an interview with MassLive. The organization believes it is an ill-defined, pejorative label that animal welfare advocates often apply too broadly. The concern we have is that weve heard them use this term interchangeably to reference professional breeders, and even hobby breeders. Just any breeder, she said. Goffe acknowledged that there are bad actors in the dog breeding industry, but said she doesnt think many large-scale breeders prioritize profits over providing humane conditions for their animals. Bober, whose organization opposes all bans on the sale of pets in pet shops, argued that most large-scale breeders view federal minimum animal welfare standards as a starting point for providing a healthy environment for their dogs not a difficult-to-meet requirement. In fact, dog breeders have a financial interest in providing conditions far better than those legally required of them, as their market is competitive, and poor conditions create poor quality dogs, Bober argued. The reality is breeders routinely exceed the minimum standards because theyre doing whats best for the animals, and because they have a vested interest in seeing the animals that they offer up for sale be the best and most attractive they possibly can be, he said. Still, when asked whether he thought the Animal Welfare Acts current minimum standards are sufficient to ensure the welfare of dogs, he said only that his organization supports the USDA utilizing the most up-to-date research to inform its standards. Massachusetts pet shops and large-scale breeders Massachusetts isnt home to many large-scale breeders, though its not entirely clear why, according to MSPCA Advocacy Director Kara Holmquist. As such, Bay State pet shops typically import their supply of puppies from out-of-state breeders. Though the state government keeps records of dogs imported into Massachusetts, it can still be difficult to track where the dogs were originally bred. Most of the pet shops now in Massachusetts use brokers to get their animals. So theres a middleman, and it becomes more difficult for both us and for consumers to know where those puppies are coming from, Holmquist said. Even so, public records collected by Humane World show that at least two Massachusetts pet stores that sell dogs have purchased them from out-of-state breeders that have repeatedly violated the Animal Welfare Act in the past five years. In 2020, The Perfect Puppy in Plainville imported puppies from an Iowa breeder who pleaded guilty to over 120 violations of the Animal Welfare Act in 2022. The federal government made the breeder surrender over 500 dogs while investigating him the year prior. Additionally, public documents show that, as recently as 2023, The Fish Bowl in Fall River has imported puppies from several different breeders cited for Animal Welfare Act violations in the last five years, some of which have received many such citations over several years. Owners of The Perfect Puppy and The Fish Bowl did not respond to repeated requests for comment on this article. Of the six Massachusetts pet shops that still sell puppies, only Pet Express lists a no puppy mill guarantee on its website. Still, the website does not explain how it guarantees that its dogs do not come from puppy mills. Pet Express did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this article. How Massachusetts' puppy sale ban would work State Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-4th Worcester, who is leading the effort to pass the House version of the compromise bill, emphasized that only new pet shops would be barred from selling dogs, cats and rabbits. New and old animal shelters, rescues and breeders would be unaffected. Legislators and animal welfare organizations said they decided to pursue a compromise bill in the hopes that it might quell fears that the bill would hurt small, local businesses. State Sen. Patrick OConnor, R-1st Plymouth and Norfolk, is leading the effort to get the compromise bill passed in the Senate. He sees the bills grandfather clause for existing pet shops that sell pets as more than fair to local pet shops even if they dont. I dont think that they would be happy with anything. They didnt agree to this compromise. Weve provided this compromise for them, he said. Do puppy sale bans work? Bans on the sale of pets in pet shops are well-intentioned, misguided and ultimately counterproductive, Bober said. Bober argued that the current USDA breeder and broker licensing system is " the most transparent and most regulated way of sourcing of dogs out there. In fact, contrary to animal welfare organizations claims that large-scale breeders treat their dogs poorly, he asserts that pet shops buy from them because they are confident that these breeders treat their dogs well. Banning pet shops from selling dogs and tightening federal animal welfare standards wont get rid of inhumane dog breeding, Goffe of the American Kennel Club argued. The best solution, she said, is to step up USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. The worst thing in the world you can find is negligence or cruelty. And when you do see it, unfortunately it can tar everybody, she said. Why legislators think Massachusetts needs to act now State Sen. OConnor has been trying to get a ban on the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in Massachusetts pet shops passed for about a decade now, he said. In that time, other states have successfully enacted such bans, leaving Massachusetts a state that once lead the way on animal rights struggling to catch up. In fact, its nearby New Yorks ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops which went into effect in December 2024 thats inspired a renewed sense of urgency to get the compromise bills passed, legislators and animal welfare advocates said. We just dont want to see some of these operations moving over from New York State into Western Mass. looking for a place where they could still continue to operate, Higgins said. OConnor believes his bills now have enough support in both houses of the Legislature to pass. The bills already have dozens of cosigners despite the fact that this legislative session has just begun. Its just a matter of making their passage a priority for the Legislature, he said. We have every major statewide and even national animal rights and animal welfare organization on our side backing this up. We have a lot of constituents from throughout the state who are in support of this, he said. We feel very confident that well get this done its just a matter of when. Trump signs executive order to begin dismantling Education Department Xinhua) 08:21, March 21, 2025 U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 20, 2025. Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to formally begin the process of dismantling the Education Department, saying that his administration is returning education back to the states. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to formally begin the process of dismantling the Education Department, saying that his administration is returning education back to the states. Beyond the "core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department," Trump said in a speech at the White House. "We're going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible," Trump said. Noting that the Education Department is "doing us no good" -- citing low proficiency in reading and math among students in U.S. elementary, middle and high schools -- Trump said his administration is returning education to the states. The U.S. president noted that the department's functions such as Pell Grants, Title I, and funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs, will be "fully preserved" and be "redistributed to various other agencies and departments." Pell Grants are a form of federal financial aid that helps low-income undergraduate students pay for college. Title I provides federal funding to school districts and schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families, focusing on improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. "The Trump administration is denying the next generation the resources they need to succeed in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It is a betrayal to students, parents, and educators," Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Grace Meng and Education Task Force Chair Rep. Mark Takano said in a joint statement. "This is an unlawful decision and Congress must not cede its authority in the face of this order," according to the statement. The establishment and dismantling of federal agencies generally require Congressional approval through legislation. If Trump wants to shut down the Education Department, it must go through the legislative process in Congress. It is still unclear how he will proceed with this executive order. Trump has long criticized the Education Department, arguing that despite significant federal investment in education, the quality of education has not met expectations, citing deficiencies in American students' skills in reading, math, and other areas. At the same time, Trump has accused the department of being filled with individuals who hold left-wing ideologies, even describing it as a hotbed of "radicals, zealots and Marxists," believing that these individuals have expanded their power through excessive guidance and regulation. He advocates for returning educational authority to the states to avoid excessive federal intervention. The Education Department previously initiated a large-scale layoff. According to earlier U.S. media reports, the department, which originally had 4,000 employees, would cut nearly half of its workforce. Trump said Thursday that the "reduction in force" was successful. "We've cut the number of bureaucrats in half, 50 percent," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Portugals Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel will visit China from March 24 to 28. During the visit, the two foreign ministers will hold the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers level. CCTV: To follow up on Portugals Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangels visit to China, how does China view its current relations with Portugal? Whats Chinas expectation on this visit? Mao Ning: China and Portugal enjoy long-standing friendship. Friendly cooperation has been the underlying feature of bilateral relations. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two presidents and with our joint effort, China-Portugal political mutual trust has been consolidated, practical cooperation in various fields has produced fruitful outcomes, and our businesses have worked for mutual benefits, setting an example of openness and win-win. Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel will be the first European foreign minister to visit China after the two sessions. During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel will chair the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers level. This will be the first face-to-face China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers level, which is conducive to stepping up communication and coordination, and implementing the important understandings between the two leaders. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership. China stands ready to work with Portugal to deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance friendly exchanges, conduct high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote the sound and steady development of China-Portugal and China-EU relations. The New York Times: Do you expect the visit of Senator Daines from the U.S. to begin to lay the groundwork for a summit between the presidents of the United States and China? Mao Ning: We welcome Senator Steve Dainess visit to China. We also welcome Americans from all walks of life, including members of the Congress, to visit China. China all along believes that the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations serves the common interests of the two peoples and meets the expectation of the international community. News 1 Korea: The ROK plans to offer visa exemption to group tourists from China in the third quarter of this year. Does China have a comment on that? Whats Chinas expectation? Mao Ning: China and the ROK are each others neighbor. Enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchanges serves both sides interests. AFP: Just a follow-up question on U.S. Senator Steve Daines. We know hes a strong supporter of President Donald Trump. Will he meet the Chinese leader or another senior Chinese official during his visit? Mao Ning: I have nothing to share on that at the moment. Reuters: Just a follow-up to the question on Senator Daines. What is Chinas expectation for his visit? Mao Ning: We welcome Senator Steve Dainess visit to China. Maintaining the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations serves the common interests of the two peoples and meets the expectation of the international community. Bloomberg: Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Japan from today for the bilateral high-level economic dialogue and also the trilateral foreign ministers meeting with Japan and South Korea. What is your expectation for both of those meetings? Mao Ning: Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Japan today to attend the 11th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers Meeting and co-chair with the Japanese side the Sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue. China, Japan and the ROK are close neighbors that will always live with each other and important economies in the region and the world. Since the Ninth China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting in May last year, practical cooperation among the three countries in various fields has been advanced steadily and made positive progress. The three parties will exchange views at the Trilateral Foreign Ministers Meeting on China-Japan-ROK cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual interest. China stands ready to work with Japan and the ROK to follow through on the leaders common understandings, advance cooperation in areas of cultural and people-to-people exchange, sustainable development and climate change, economic cooperation and trade, public health and aging society, sci-tech cooperation and digital transition, and disaster relief and security, expand converging interests, make the pie of cooperation bigger, deliver more benefit of the trilateral cooperation to the peoples of the three countries, and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the wider world. The China-Japan relationship is showing a momentum of improvement and development. We hope that Japan can work with China in the same direction and follow the guidance of the important common understandings between leaders of the two countries as well as the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan to comprehensively advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit and build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era. Beijing Youth Daily: Its reported that a freight train loaded with export goods bound for Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, departed from Beijing, marking the official launch of the first Beijing-Central Asia freight train service. This is another achievement in the connectivity between China and its neighboring countries. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: Recently, much progress has been made in Chinas connectivity with its neighboring countries. New train service was launched from China to Central Asia, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project ran into operation, and the land-sea corridor train service has run over 10,000 trips in the whole year. In our neighborhood, we have signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with 25 neighboring countries, and remained the largest trading partner of 18 countries. Todays China is an anchor of stability, engine of economic development, and pillar of regional security in Asia. Chinas prosperity could not be possible without Asia, and Asias development cannot be possible without China. We will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness on neighborhood diplomacy, stick to the goal of building a community with a shared future, and share opportunities with our neighbors for common development. Bloomberg: The U.S. Treasury Secretary yesterday announced that there was sanction on a Chinese oil refinery in Shandong province and also an oil terminal in Guangdong province for taking Iranian oil. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any comment on this? Mao Ning: It is Chinas consistent position to oppose the U.S. abuse of illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. The U.S. needs to stop disrupting the normal business cooperation between China and Iran. China will take all measures necessary to firmly safeguard the lawful rights and interests of our companies. Kyodo News: According to reports, Taiwans Legislative Yuan appointed Iwasaki Shigeru, the former chief of the Joint Staff of Japans Self-Defense Forces, as a consultant. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affair that brooks no external interference. The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-Japan relations. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Japan bears historical responsibilities to the Chinese people over the Taiwan question and should act with extra prudence and honor its promise of adhering to the one-China principle with concrete actions. Weve lodged protests with the Japanese side. The DPP authorities separatist provocations with foreign support are doomed to fail. Bloomberg: Russian media report that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Russia early April in preparation for a visit by President Xi Jinping? Can you confirm Wang Yis visit and do you have anything further on that? Mao Ning: I have nothing to read out on that. The New York Times: Senator Daines has expressed a desire to discuss fentanyl and the bilateral trading balance with Chinese officials while he is here. Does China plan to engage with Senator Daines on these two issues during his visit? Mao Ning: China all along believes that the two sides should solve each others concerns through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect. The New York Times: American newspapers have reported that Elon Musk was scheduled to be granted a briefing on American militarys contingency plans in case of a conflict with China, although President Trump has said the briefing now will not occur. Does China have any response or comment? Mao Ning: Im not familiar with what you said. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has expressed regret after he used a homophobic slur while attacking the Prime Ministers response to China at a foreign policy event. Mr Dutton on Thursday was asked for his thoughts on Chinese naval ships having conducted live-fire drills in waters off the Australian coast last month. Speaking at The Lowy Institute in Sydney, he said the live drills were a show of force before turning his attention to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. It was the weakest, most limp-wrist response you could see from a leader, and frankly, none of his leaders, Liberal or Labor, would have provided the response that the prime minister did, Mr Dutton said. The term limp-wristed is defined in the Cambridge dictionary as an extremely offensive word used to describe a man whose behaviour is thought to be typical of a gay person. A spokesperson for Mr Dutton later expressed regret over the use of the term. It was a phrase that shouldnt have been used, and no offence was intended from Mr Dutton, the spokesperson said, according to The Australian. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was unsurprised by Mr Duttons comments, telling the ABC: This is a bloke who opposed marriage equality, its an unsurprising use of language from him. Read more from NCA NewsWire here. Offensive tackle Trent Brown during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) AP The Houston Texans have snagged another veteran offensive tackle -- and this one has a Super Bowl ring from his time with the New England Patriots. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, the Texans are signing veteran offensive tackle Trent Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. Brown was the Patriots' starting left tackle during the teams 2018 Super Bowl run. A year later, he made his lone career Pro Bowl with the Raiders. Brown returned to the Patriots in 2021, spending three more seasons in New England. But by the end of the 2023 season, Browns relationship with the Patriots had frayed, leading to his departure in free agency. The 31-year-old tackle has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Over 10 years in the NFL, Brown has played in every game just three times. Brown spent the 2024 season with the Cincinnati Bengals, but missed most of the year after tearing his patellar tendon in Week 3. The Brown signing comes after Houston had already scooped up veteran left tackle Cam Robinson, who would have filled a need in New England. The Patriots made one major move on the offensive line, signing right tackle Morgan Moses. However, the team still has a glaring need at left tackle. Protestors gather during a demonstration at the headquarters of the Department of Education, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation want more details from the Trump administration on the scope of its federal workforce cuts in Massachusetts. In a letter Friday, they accused the president of overseeing a reckless purge with negative implications on disaster preparedness, public health, public safety and national security. Downsizing the federal government, including eliminating thousands of jobs and slashing key functions from education to foreign aid, has been a central tenant of President Donald Trumps return to office. On Thursday, the president signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, an effort likely requiring congressional approval. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell signaled a legal challenge is all but certain. But the administrations other widespread cuts have already begun to hit the Bay State, home to 46,000 federal employees. Those workers play an essential role in safeguarding the health, safety and economic well-being of Massachusetts, the states 11-member congressional delegation wrote Friday to Charles Ezell, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM. These indiscriminate cuts threaten the core functioning of critical federal services and will harm our constituents. The letter, initiated by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, walked through the administrations attempts to reduce the federal workforce since President Trump returned to power two months ago. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, center, listens as Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District., right, speaks during a Massachusetts Congressional Delegation press conference regarding the impacts of the Trump administration's actions on communities across Massachusetts on March 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) As the presidents second term began on Jan. 20, OPM the office that manages the federal civil service ordered government agencies to submit the names of employees on probationary periods, those relatively new to their positions with fewer job security protections. On Jan. 28, OPM sent an email blast to more than 2 million federal employees outlining an offer for them to provide deferred resignations ahead of any potential job cuts. Efforts by President Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, to fire thousands of probationary employees have since been halted by two federal judges who separately found issues with how the mass terminations were executed. But the wide-reaching solicitation of resignations has been allowed to continue. In Massachusetts, the Department of Education laid off every employee at its Boston office earlier this month, upending the Commonwealths ability to administer Title I funding and resolve more than 300 pending education-related civil rights cases, the congressional delegation wrote in its letter. This reckless purge directly harms children and families who rely on Head Start, after-school programs and disability accommodations. Another 10,000 Massachusetts-based employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs face job cuts, the delegation said. Many of those targeted are veterans themselves, betrayed as they seek to continue serving our country, the letter read. These attacks on public servants and the communities they support are unacceptable, and our constituents deserve better. About 30% of federal workers are veterans, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch said at a protest outside the Veterans Administration Hospital in the Boston neighborhood of West Roxbury last month. President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The delegation sought details from OPM on the number of Massachusetts-based federal employees who have been fired, placed on administrated leave, taken early retirement or been subject to other cuts. It also requested specific data on the number of veterans affected by the cuts and information on employees who accepted the administrations resignation offer. Additionally, the delegation requested a detailed plan for how OPM will work with federal agencies and Massachusetts officials to prevent impacts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs and benefits amid workforce reductions. Since the administrations campaign to trim the federal bureaucracy began, members of the delegation have sought to draw attention to the plight of fired federal employees and the impact cuts to programs would have on both basic services and Americas standing in the world. Read more: Fired Lowell federal worker talks about what is lost in mass firings When President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress earlier this month, Pressley invited an Everett resident whose position in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was a casualty of the administrations cuts. Other members of the delegation extended similar invitations to the speech. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, brought a U.S. Army veteran laid off from the Springfield Vet Center as a result of cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, invited the former assistant administrator for global health at the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, one of the first agencies President Trump targeted for elimination. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., listens during an event at SUNY Westchester Community College, May 10, 2023, in Valhalla, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) AP A decision to close 50 Social Security offices around the country announced by the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) has angered at least one Northeast Republican Congressman. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., took to X to characterize closing an office in White Plains, N.Y., as a slap in the face. The decision to close the only Social Security Hearing Office in the Hudson Valley is a slap in the face to thousands of my constituents who rely on these services, he wrote in a statement posted to X. This office handles over 2,000 backlogged cases and conducts hundreds of in-person hearings every year. Telling my constituents that they now have to travel hours to Lower Manhattan, New Haven, the Bronx, or Goshen is completely unacceptable, the statement continued. Lawler sought to clarify that the decision to close the office was made in December, under the administration of Joe Biden. But that argument undercuts the DOGE savings website, which claims the White Plains office termination notice was sent on Jan. 29 under the Donald Trump administration. The lease is set to expire at the end of May. The closures of dozens of Social Security offices comes at a time when in-person service is becoming more important to the agency. Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek announced this week the agency will transition to more stringent identity proofing procedures, some of which require Social Security recipients to show up in person at Social Security offices. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, a Democrat, likewise spoke out against President Trump on Thursday related to the decision to close the White Plains office. This is a disgraceful decision that prioritizes bureaucratic indifference over the well-being of Westchester residents. The Trump administration is effectively cutting off access to Social Security resources for those who need them most, Jenkins wrote. SPRINGFIELD Two Guatemalan men accused of returning to the United States after being deported one three times were arrested by federal agents Thursday. The arrests of Carlos Gambino Ortiz-Garcia and Abilio Velazquez-Vasquez came a day after three people were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Pittsfield and at a time when President Donald Trump has promised a crackdown on people in the country without legal permission. Criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield charge both men with unlawful reentry for returning to the United States after being sent back to their homeland. Ortiz-Garcia is accused of returning to the country three times after being deported following convictions of different mostly driving-related crimes. The Eisner Camp at 53 Brookside Road in Great Barrington Courtesy of Warren G. A man from Clinton, Indiana, was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court Tuesday after he was accused of sexually assaulting a worker at a camp in Great Barrington in June 2022, officials said. James Earehart, 55, was arraigned on two counts of rape stemming from an incident on June 16, 2022, at the Eisner Camp at 53 Brookside Road, according to Berkshire County District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue. A man wearing a tactical vest threw a pipe bomb at The Satanic Temple in Salem on April 8, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts said. An Oklahoma man was arrested in connection with the incident. U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to throwing a pipe bomb at The Satanic Temple in Salem in April 2024. Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of using an explosive device to damage and attempt to damage a building used in interstate or foreign commerce, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement. Palmer was indicted by a federal grand jury in May. He was arrested on April 17, 2024, in Perkins, Oklahoma. Les ministres ont pris note de la presentation au Parlement du Public Inquiries Bill qui proroger celle existante, que le Peros Banos ira avant a fin du mois avec des provisions a Agalega entre autres. 1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Public Inquiries Bill into the National Assembly. The object of the Bill is to repeal the Commissions of Inquiry Act and replace it with a modern, more transparent and legally robust framework for the conduct of public inquiries into matters of significant public importance. In lieu of a Commission of Inquiry, a Board would be set up with wider powers. The purpose and scope for the setting up of a Board of Inquiry would be broadened. The Bill would make new provisions, inter alia, for: (a) consultations to be held with the person who had been appointed as Chairperson of a Board of Inquiry, or the person who was being proposed to be appointed as Chairperson thereof, prior to the terms of reference of the Board of Inquiry were finalised; (b) fixing a deadline by which a Board of Inquiry shall complete its inquiry and submit its findings; (c) apprising the National Assembly when a Board of Inquiry had been set up or would be set up; (d) enabling the public to obtain and view a record of evidence given, or produced, at an inquiry; (e) enabling any person who was of the opinion that his reputation was likely to be prejudicially affected by a public inquiry of being heard and to give evidence, and produce any document, in his defence; (f)and for making it mandatory to lay a copy of the findings of a public inquiry before the National Assembly and for its publication in the Gazette. 2. Cabinet has taken note that the Customs Tariff (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 would be promulgated to provide for the implementation of the fifth round of customs duty reduction by Mauritius under the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between Mauritius and India with effect from 01 April 2025. The CECPA was signed in February 2021 and implementation of the respective market access preferences started on 01 April 2021 and customs duty reduction was to be effected over a total of 15 years. The CECPA comprised three components namely, Trade in Goods, Trade in Services and Economic Cooperation.Page 2 of 4 3. Cabinet has taken note that the Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd would deploy the MV Peros Banhos to Agalega on 29 March 2025 for the supply of commodities to Agalega. Necessary arrangements had been made to ensure safe berthing of MV Peros Banhos. The Mauritius Ports Authority arranged for a qualified tug master to travel to Agalega on Board the MV Peros Banhos to assist the Tugmaster in Agalega for the proper berthing and unberthing of the vessel. The Outer Islands Development Corporation was liaising with the Indian Authorities for the only tug available in Agalega to be manned by a qualified tug master and additional fenders to be fixed on the jetty. 4. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius joining the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Partnership, which had been established to facilitate collaboration in order to provide timely support for accelerated climate action. Mauritius, being a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and in line with the Paris Agreement, had a commitment to prepare and submit its Nationally Determined Contributions, whereby targets were set for the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions. By joining the NDC Partnership, Mauritius would gain access to a global network of knowledge and resources to support the work in climate action. 5. Cabinet has agreed to the accession of the Republic of Mauritius to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs which would guarantee protection for patents and industrial designs and utility models by allowing registration of Intellectual Property. The objective of the protocol was to foster social, economic and technological growth in Member States. Mauritius acceded to the membership of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) under the Lusaka Agreement in September 2020. The ARIPO administers five treaties on intellectual property, including the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs. Accession to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs would ensure an effective engagement and enable Mauritius to benefit from the services of ARIPO. 6. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of new minimum entry requirements for eligibility to apply for a seat to study at public universities, in alignment with the decision to allow students of secondary schools who achieve at least three credits and at least a pass in English Language at a single sitting at School Certificate level or equivalent to progress to Higher School Certificate level. 7. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Education and Human Resource signing a Letter of Exchange with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Information Technologies in Education for the implementation of the Education Management Information System (EMIS) in Mauritius The two institutions would explore opportunities to establish close cooperation on matters of mutual interest on educational aspects of information and communication technology applications within the scope of their respective objectives and functions. Among the topics of interest, focus would be made on national capacities in the use and management of quality data that accurately reflects changes in the education system. The EMIS, an open-source system, would provide real-time quality and accurate data at all levels of education administration for better planning and decision-making. It would be implemented on a pilot basis in 21 secondary schools for 12 months and would eventually be rolled out to all state secondary schools. 8. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries in the 48th session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development Governing Council, held in Italy, on the theme Catalysing Investment at the First Mile. The Council primarily focused on funding mechanisms to integrate small farmers into the economic mainstream. The necessity for Public-Private Partnerships was highlighted, with calls for funding from multilateral agencies and active participation from non-governmental organisations. The Council also addressed critical issues such as climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Minister had a bilateral meeting with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) where discussions centered on FAOs support in advancing strategic planning to enhance food security and reduce dependency on food import. 9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Attorney-General to Singapore to discuss avenues of collaboration with the Singaporean authorities regarding judicial reform, as outlined in the Government Programme 2025-2029. Discussions were also held on anti-financial crime measures and prosecutorial cooperation. 1 0. Cabinet has taken note that HE Dr Milan Jaya Nyamrajsingh Meetarbhan, GOSK, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, would be accredited to the International Seabed Authority. 11. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the: (a) Board of the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, with Mr Ritesh Sumputh as part-time Chairperson; ( b) Sugar Investment Trust Board;Page 4 of 4 (c) Mauritius Cane Industry Authority Board, with Dr Dhanandjay Kawol, Senior Chief Executive as part-time Chairperson; (d) Sugar Insurance Fund Board, with Mr Kailash Bheenick as part-time Chairperson; (e) Law Reform Commission, with Mrs Yanilla Moonshiram as part-time Chairperson; and (f) Board of Trustees of the Mauritius Marathi Cultural Centre Trust, with Mr Danirow Bhiwajee as part-time Chairperson. Mayo TikTok star Garron Noone has deactivated his main social media accounts. The Ballina man became famous with his funny videos on Irish cuisine and culture, often with a Mayo twist to it. He is known for his line "follow me, I'm delicious". A video posted two days ago, in which he shared his opinions on Conor McGregor's visit to the White House and immigration in Ireland, sparked a backlash. READ: 'He isn't a good man' - Mayo TikTok star reacts to Conor McGregor controversy Yesterday, Noone published a follow-up video on social media, explaining "I'm absolutely not anti-immigration. I want to be very clear: Fu** the far-right and stay delicious." But now his main TikTok and Instagram accounts are not available any more. While it is unclear why Mr Noone decided to do this, numerous personalities are posting videos in support of him mentioning 'bullying' as the reason. Miriam Mullins: 'He's not racist' For example, Miriam Mullins, radio presenter at Cork Red.fm, said "I'm so appalled. The internet lately has been getting on my nerve. But this is taking the biscuit. One of my favourite people, to watch and follow on TikTok, I'd literally sit down every evening with my cup of tea and watch Garron Noone." Mullins continued to explain, that Garron has 'literally been bullied off the fu***** internet' and added 'Why are people twisting his narrative? He's not racist. That's ridiculous.' READ: Garron Noone speaks out about online bullying following Liam Paynes death Also popular Castlebar native and podcaster, Alan Clarke, who is known to be friends with Garron Noone, posted a video. Clarke asked people to share their best memories of Garron Noone videos with him. The respective videos are still being shared on TikTok at least, as some people saved them. User 'Col' writes "I'm furious at those of you who have bullied him off the socials." Also entrepreneur Nadia Adan came out in support of Garron Noone: "I'm horrified and disgusted at what I've seen tonight. A good friend of mine has taken down his accounts due to the bullying and harassment he's been receiving. He is the most kindest soul, the most gentle person. And to see now, that he has taken his accounts down for the harassment he's been getting, well, if that's the case, you can cancel me as well." People on social media have started using the hashtag #supportforgarron or #againstbullying or #garronforpresident. READ: 'He will be back' - Mayo personality sends message of support to Garron Noone MAYO TD Paul Lawless has called for a healthy political debate following backlash directed at Mayo social media star Garron Noone over a video posted on his social media this weekend. The Aontu TD described the criticism directed towards Mr Noone over his views on immigration as unbelievable. Mr Noone received online backlash after he posted a video on his social media accounts - which have since been deactivated - discussing Conor McGregors recent St Patricks Day appearance in the White House. Describing Mr McGregor as not a good person Mr Noone insisted that there absolutely is an immigration issue in Ireland. That doesnt mean that people feel like we shouldnt take the refugees that were able to take. It doesnt mean that people feel like people shouldnt be able to come here for better opportunities. He added that the systems that we have in place are being taken advantage of and the government continually does not allow people to express their concerns about that. The Ballina man claimed that Irelands towns and cities are becoming much less safe, but said this is not just because of immigration. Theres a lot of factors to that, but if you cant see that thats happening, then you have not left your house. Communities all over Ireland are concerned, and their concerns are continuously not being heard. And when you continuously suppress what people are feeling, you turn them towards more extreme beliefs, he added. In a later video, Mr Noone condemned the far-right, stating that extreme beliefs are not something that we want and that we need to hear people out. He subsequently deleted his Instagram and TikTok accounts. Addressing the controversy, Deputy Lawless said it was unbelievable to think that someone could share a very middle-of-the-road take on immigration and receive such a heightened level of abuse. The Knock-based TD said that Mr Noones views on immigration were shared by so many of his constituents. Deputy Lawless said that a healthy debate across the political spectrum was needed for a functioning democracy. Every single one of us is entitled to share our opinion on a topic without facing thousands of insulting messages and abusive comments. Its a horrible thing to go through and I hope Garron has the support of friends and family during this time, said Deputy Lawless. Echoing Mr Noones comments, Deputy Lawless said that extremist views take hold when people are pushed to the fringes and feel as though they are locked out of society and unable to express their views in public. Some prominent social media personalities have spoken out in support of Mr Noone, including Mayo natives Alan Clarke and Stephen Kelly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 3 Bucks (@3bucksleft) Miriam Mullins, a presenter at Cork Red.fm, said that Mr Noone had been bullied off the internet by the backlash he received. The last day of action in the National League could potentially end in vastly different fortunes for Mayo. The Green and Red started 2025 slowly, but have gathered momentum as the league has progressed. READ MORE: When and where to watch the Mayo footballers crunch League clash against Donegal Now, 60 minutes could potentially see Kevin McStays side relegated, or punching their ticket to a league final - presumably against Galway. We examine what results are needed around the grounds for both outcomes. What happens if Mayo win? Should Mayo record a win over Donegal, then they will need a favour from both Tyrone and near-neighbours Galway, who face Dublin and Kerry respectively if they are to contest the National League final. Tyrone are not safe from relegation themselves and will be gunning for a crucial victory on Sunday when Dublin make the trip to Omagh. Galway, meanwhile, are all but assured of a league final berth and could make a significant number of rotations as Kerry come to Salthill. That being said, they could do Mayo a favour with a win. That result, coupled with Tyrone coming away with the points, would see Mayo into the league decider next weekend. What happens if Mayo draw? If Mayo draw, then they move to eight points, level with Donegal, Galway and Dublin at present. However, due to all three sides having a better scoring difference, a draw rules out a League Final place. That being said, Sundays game finishing all square would see Mayo avoid the perils of relegation, moving them three clear of Tyrone and Armagh at present. READ MORE: Three Mayo U-20 players who caught our eye against Roscommon What happens if Mayo lose? Should Donegal triumph on Sunday, then Mayo will again be keeping a watchful eye on the scores elsewhere. Should Kerry beat Galway and Tyrone beat Dublin, they will be safe. At that stage, its all on Armaghs game with already relegated Derry. The All-Ireland champions are likely to win that one, and should they do so by more than six points, alongside wins for Tyrone and Kerry, then Mayo would face the drop. A Mayo dance group received warm reviews from multiple audiences in America for their dances as part of a host of Saint Patricks Day events. Moffatt School of Irish Dancing, a local group from Ballina, travelled Stateside for celebrations across multiple states in the buildup to the national holiday. READ MORE: 'Bullied off the internet' - 'Appalled' - reactions to Garron Noone's social media exit The group travelled from Dublin to Connecticut on March 13, where they were part of a televised event with the mayor of Hartford, Peter Marchetti. They performed alongside the Breiffne-ORuairc School of Dance from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Later that evening, the school made the short journey to Studio Nine, a recording studio in North Addams, Massachusetts, for a performance. On March 15 the group, who recently celebrated their 35th year, joined those in the Albany Saint Patricks Day Parade, before heading to the next days South Boston Parade, dubbed as Americas largest parade for 2025. That evening, standing ovations followed their performance in The Burren pub in Sommerville, as well as a March 17 session in Boston bar The Bebop. Meanwhile, on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, the school saw success in the Roscommon Open Feis and brought home silverware for parades in Crossmolina and Lahardane. READ MORE: Can Mayo be relegated? We analyse the potential outcomes of the Donegal game A paedophile and monster who sexually abused his daughter and his sister-in-law has been jailed for a total of nine years at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court this Thursday. Judge Sinead McMullan, presiding, said the court had heard very eloquent and distressing evidence from both victims in their victim impact statements. "It is undoubtedly the case that these little girls, as they were at the time, were subjected to huge suffering. This court hopes the strength and resilience they have shown in making the victim impact statements will help them to begin to heal into the future," said Judge McMullan. The accused - Christopher OMahony, aged 67, of Kerrykyle, Ardagh, County Limerick had pleaded guilty to 11 sample indecent assaults on his sister-in-law, and seven sample counts of sexual assault on his daughter. There were a total of 54 counts on the indictment. Las Friday, the court heard of his controlling, manipulative and mental abuse including rationing toilet paper - one sheet for when his daughters were urinating and two sheets for when they were going to the toilet properly. The emergence of the sexual abuse has caused civil war and complete fracture within the family. Judge McMullan said the court hopes the rift may heal in time. The judge imposed a total jail sentence of nine years on Mr O'Mahony who showed no emotion when the judge delivered her verdict. OMahony can be named after his daughter Emma OShaughnessy, now aged 42, and sister-in-law Helen Costelloe, now aged 51, waived their anonymity. Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence last Friday with the assistance of Detective Garda James Muldowney, of the Limerick Divisional Protective Services Unit. Ms Buckley said OMahony entered Ms Costelloes life after he married her sister and came to live in the family home in Ballyhahill while he built a house in Ardagh. There is a 12-year age gap between Ms Costelloe and her sister who married OMahony. Ms Buckley said the abuse started in 1983 when Ms Costelloe was nine and continued until 1989 when she was 15. OMahony told Ms Costelloe, This would be our secret and Youre my girl. Ms Costelloe called a family meeting in July 2021 after telling a number of family members of the sexual abuse. Her niece Ms OShaughnessy was at the meeting and obviously became aware that her auntie had been abused by her father (OMahony). Ms OShaughnessy announced at this meeting that she too had been abused as a child by her father. READ MORE: 'My innocence as a child was robbed': Sister-in-law of Limerick 'paedophile' Despite all the evidence emerging from the two victims, some members of the family struggled to accept the truth, said Ms Buckley. Det Garda Muldowney said there is a split in the family. There must be some hope that the truth acknowledged by the accused will help other family members see that truth and the terrible abuse perpetrated on their family members, said Ms Buckley. The prosecuting barrister then outlined the physical, mental and sexual abuse suffered by OMahonys daughter Ms OShaughnessy which began in 1993 when she was 10 and ended in 1996 when she was 13. READ MORE: Instead of trying to be a parent to me, he became a monster: Daughter of Limerick 'monster' Ms Buckley said Ms OShaughnessy had a rash on her back, with her father saying it was a holy show and began acting as her physician. He used this as an excuse to bring her into the bathroom and sexually assault her. Both Ms Costelloe and Ms OShaughnessy read out their own victim impact statements, while their abuser sat emotionless a few feet away. OMahony handed himself into Henry Street garda station three days after the family meeting and the investigation commenced. He now begins a nine-year sentence and is placed on the sex offenders register. The historic Newport House in Newport in West Mayo has been put on the market with an asking price of 3 million. The Georgian mansion located in the centre of Newport was put on the market this morning by Sherry Fitzgerald with an asking price of 3 million. Built in the 1780s by Neale O'Donnell, Newport House was purchased by Kieran and Thelma Thompson in 1985 who helped establish it into one of the finest accommodations and places to eat in Ireland. Prince Albert of Monaco was among the many famous guests to stay there over the years. READ: Moorehall Woods closed to the public due to storm damage Westport-based estate agent Andrew Crowley of Sherry Fitzgerald is looking after the sale of the property and described Newport House as a 'masterpiece of Georgian elegance'. This stately residence, with its seven bay design, exudes timeless charm and commands attention with its private grounds on the edge of Newport town. Cloaked in a veil of magnificent Virginia Creeper, the house is transformed towards late Summer by a crimson burst of colour enhancing its beauty and architectural splendour, stated Sherry Fitzgerald on its website. Stepping into Newport House, one is greeted by a stunning light-filled Reception Hall, illuminated by two grand sash windows. To the left, lies an exquisite Drawing Room, crowned by a lofty ceiling and bay windows which is framed by three large sash windows adorned with elegant shutters. These are complemented by two additional sash windows on either side of the bay, all of which offer serene views of the Black Oak River. The rooms inviting ambience is enhanced by an open, Adams fireplace and the soft glow of three chandeliers. In 1945, Newport House was acquired by Mr Henry Mumford Smith who was a regular visitor to Newport through his love for fishing. Mr Mumford Smith also held the fishing rights on the river in front of the house and converted the premises into a first-class hotel and a haven for anglers and a place of relaxation for all to enjoy. Celebrated as a premier fishing centre, Newport House holds exclusive fly-fishing rights to the internationally acclaimed Black Oak River, spanning eight miles along both banks, as well as to the pristine Lough Beltra West, a breathtaking lake stretching three miles by one mile. The fishery boasts a thriving population of wild Spring Salmon, Grilse and Seatrout, offering an exceptional experience for anglers. The preservation of its wild fish stock adds to the prestige of this house and idyllic location. by Tanya Gazdik , March 19, 2025 Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy for a second time in six years. Its likely its 350 brick-and-mortar stores will shutter. So much for Forever. it seems safe to say that the days of Forever 21 being a staple of every trip to the mall are behind us. This brought on some real nostalgia, so we gathered some stories about staffers favorite purchases and memories. RIP, Forever 21, according to Slate. "I spent many afternoons in college and beyond treating Forever 21 like church, writes Caitlin Schneider, managing editor, audience development at Slate. It was a space where my girlfriends and I found community, a shared sense of purpose, a quest for something larger, and retail therapy that was within our limited means. advertisement advertisement The Atlantic takes a more snarky tone, with the headline Forever 21s Brief, Hideous Life: Farewell to a beloved purveyor of trash. Staff writer Kaitlyn Tiffany writes about when the first Forever 21 opened in her hometown when she was in middle school. I remember thinking that it would be a store marketed to retirement-age women who felt young at heartForever 21!, Tiffany writes. This was wrong, but not so far off: Do Won Chang, one of its founders, has said he chose the name because 21 is the most enviable age. And it is, especially if you are 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20, which are the ages at which I bought most of my clothes there. I can still smell the polyester and hear the White Rabbits on the sound system. One of the primary reasons for Forever 21's bankruptcy filing is competition from Shein and Temu, something the head of Authentic Brands, the fast fashion retailer's brand and intellectual property owner, seemingly forecast a year ago, according to USA Today. Jamie Salter, the CEO of Authentic Brands, spoke during a conference last year and said Forever 21's partnership with Shein in 2023 only yielded modest results, according to Retail Dive. The operator of the brand's U.S. unit said Sunday that foreign competition from fast-fashion rivals, rising costs, economic challenges and evolving consumer trends were to blame, according to NBC News, which called the brand a leader in youth fashion retail. Ultimately, young shoppers simply moved on from the Forever 21 brand, experts said. "Forever 21 was the brand that the former generation used," Roger Beahm, a marketing professor and director of the Retail Learning Labs at Wake Forest University, told the Los Angeles Times. "Todays shoppers want their own brand, they want their own identity." by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 20, 2025 Search advertiser California Crane School has no valid grounds to resurrect claims that Google and Apple conspired to avoid competing in the paid search market, the companies argued this week to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Silicon Valley companies are asking the appellate court to uphold U.S. District Court Judge Pitts's decision dismissing California Crane's antitrust complaint. California Crane, which trains crane operators, "repeatedly failed to plead viable claims," Google writes in papers filed this week with the 9th Circuit. Apple added in a separate brief that California Crane "has not plausibly alleged that Apple is a potential competitor to Google in general search or search advertising." The new arguments come in a legal battle dating to 2021, when California Crane alleged that Google's longstanding arrangement to serve as the default search engine for Apple's Safari browser was part of a scheme to avoid competition. California Crane contended that the companies' deal resulted in higher prices for search ads. advertisement advertisement Pitts said in a March 2024 ruling that California Crane's allegations -- even if proven true -- wouldn't show that Google and Apple were engaged in an illegal conspiracy. California Crane subsequently asked Pitts to reconsider the ruling in light of evidence that emerged during the government's antitrust trial against Google in federal court in Washington, D.C. In that matter, the Department of Justice and a coalition of states claimed Google wrongly monopolized search due to its search distribution deals, including the partnership with Apple. Pitts rejected California Crane's argument in July, noting that the evidence in the government's case against Google wouldn't have changed his ruling. The court was already aware of the ... relationship between Google and Apple based on the revenue-sharing agreement related to Google being the default search engine on Apples devices, Pitts wrote. He threw out the claims against Apple, and sent the claims against Google to arbitration, because its contract with advertisers requires arbitration of disputes. After that decision came out, Mehta ruled that Google monopolized search as a result of its distribution deals with Apple and other companies. California Crane recently appealed the dismissal of its claims, citing Mehta's ruling as a reason to revive the case. Google and Apple countered this week that Mehta's ruling dealt with allegations that Google monopolized search -- not that Google and Apple conspired with each other. Apple also noted that Mehta found the company had independent reasons for not creating its own search engine -- including that it would cost the company billions to do so. Mehta's decision confirms that Apple had numerous legitimate -- indeed, compelling -- business reasons not to attempt to build its own search engine, Apple wrote. California Crane's deadline to file a response is April 7. by Teresa Buyikian , March 20, 2025 The health-conscious chain Sweetgreen may be known for its salads and entrees made from scratch from locally sourced ingredients, but the recent addition of Ripple Fries to its menu has inspired a new ad campaign taking on fast-food chains deep-fried fries. Sweetgreen's Ripple Fries are air fried with five ingredients; potatoes, potato starch, salt and parsley and tossed in avocado oil. For comparison, traditional fast-food fries have up to 19 ingredients, a difference highlighted in the new campaign, which was produced by the brands in-house creative team with help from Corner Table Creative. One OOH execution shows the Deep-Fried fries of a fast food chain leaking oil out of a paper bag. Conversely, the Sweetgreen Ripple Fries are positioned next to them, air-fried, in a clean open container. Another execution shows Their Fries with a laundry list of ingredients next to Our Fries and Sweetgreens Ripple Fries five ingredients. There are also short-form videos of the OOH concepts running on social media. advertisement advertisement Sweetgreens senior director of marketing, Sonia Barak, told Marketing Daily about the new campaign. Marketing Daily: Why add fries to your menu? Was there consumer demand? Barak: Fries are the ultimate fast-food item, so bringing them to our menu is a key part of our mission to redefine fast food. Our culinary team spent nearly a year in the kitchen crafting the perfect fry, but what really sealed the deal is seeing the salad-and-fries trend explode across social media. Marketing Daily: Why take on "their" fries? Barak: Were on a mission to bring more transparency and quality to fast food, and many people dont actually know what goes into their favorite fries. Ripple Fries offer a delicious alternative made with simple, real ingredients guests recognize and feel good about eating. Marketing Daily: How does the look/feel/tone of the new ads reflect the Sweetgreen brand? Barak: Since day one, weve been transparent about where our ingredients come from and how theyre made -- right down to the open-source chalkboard in every restaurant showcasing our suppliers and growers. Ripple Fries are an extension of that commitment, proving that fast food can be simple, delicious, and made with high-quality ingredients. Its all part of our larger mission to redefine fast food and give our guests options they can feel good about. With side-by-side comparisons, the campaign highlights Sweetgreen's vision to prove that fast, affordable and craveable food can also be good for you. The OOH campaign broke earlier this week in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago, with a mix of digital/moving and print billboards including digital urban panels, subway live boards, taxi/rideshare cartops and office building digital boards. The brand is also holding pop-ups at community events across the country to give consumers the opportunity to sample the fries. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 21, 2025 Google has been testing the value of European news content on its advertising revenue. The test was done in response to a number of inaccurate reports that vastly overestimate the value of news content to Google, wrote Paul Liu, Google director of economics, in a blog post. The test found no measurable impact from European news on advertising revenue in the eight European countries the company tested. Google had to remove news content from more than 13,000 EU publisher domains for 1% of users in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. The test ran from November through January. It removed content from Discover and Google News, and included users who had logged in with a Google user ID, and those who logged out with browser cookies. The study showed that when Google removed content, there was no change to Search ad revenue and a 0.8% drop in usage, which indicates that any lost usage was from queries that generated minimal or no revenue, Liu wrote. advertisement advertisement Google calculated the revenue impact for the overall "Google ecosystem, consisting of all properties including Shopping and Display Ads. Different parts of Google's business will have different margins, so the contribution of each part to Google's bottom line differed. For this calculation, Google applied a 77.3% gross margin for Search and Search-adjacent properties Discover, AdSense for Search, tools related to geospatial data like Maps, and Shopping and a 32% gross margin for Display Ads to come up with an overall revenue impact. Googles ecosystem impact did not indicate a statistically significant decline for either the logged-in subset or the population as a whole. The study found that combined ad revenue across Google properties, including its ad network, also remained flat. The effects were tested on first-party sites like YouTube and Gmail as well as third-party sites that use its technology. Google Discover saw a revenue decline of a statistically significant 2%, but the company said this aggregator service makes only a modest contribution to its overall revenue. This study showed people come to Google for many other types of tasks, even when Google is less useful for catching up on news. A report that outlined the entire test also notes agreement made with publishers in 2019, when the European Copyright Directive (EUCD) was passed, including Article 15, the neighboring right for press publishers. The Directive outlines two important guiding principles. It notes that people and platforms can continue to link to, and include, very short extracts of publishers content. At the same time, it created new rights for news publishers when extended previews of their work are used online. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 21, 2025 A federal judge has signaled that he is leaning toward requiring Google to face a lawsuit by users who accused the company of wrongly obtaining their health information from websites operated by health care providers. In an order issued Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said the case was difficult, but that he was very tentatively inclined to allow the users to proceed with some of their claims -- including that Google allegedly violated statements in its privacy policy. It appears that the plaintiffs may have stated a claim based on allegations that Google collected communications about private health information between patients and providers that could be linked to Google account holders through the cookies tied to users accounts, after promising to collect only health information that Google account holders chose to provide, Chhabria wrote. It appears that a reasonable person reading Googles privacy policy could conclude that Google promised to only collect health information after consent by users and that the health information at issue here was covered by that promise, he added. advertisement advertisement Chhabria hasn't yet made a final decision about whether the plaintiffs can proceed with the suit. Instead, he issued an order directing both sides to submit additional arguments regarding his tentative conclusions. The order comes in a privacy dispute dating to May 2023, when web users alleged that Google was collecting patients' sensitive health data from online sites. The first complaint was brought by an anonymous Jane Doe who said she used Planned Parenthood's site to search for an abortion provider, and received treatment at the reproductive health-care center's affiliate in Burbank, California. Her complaint referred to an investigation by the app Lockdown Privacy, which reported in 2022 that Planned Parenthood's site used third-party analytics tools leaked extremely sensitive data" to third parties including Google, Meta and TikTok. Soon after she sued, other anonymous plaintiffs alleged in a separate complaint that Google collected health information from a variety of health-care sites. The suits, which were consolidated in 2023, include claims that Google violated wiretap laws, and its own privacy policy. Google countered that it's simply a vendor of analytics tools, that health care sites don't send it personally identifying information, and that it doesn't allow sensitive health data to be used for ad targeting. Chhabria dismissed an earlier version of the complaint, but allowed the plaintiffs to beef up their allegations and bring them again. Last September, the users alleged in an amended complaint that Google linked the health information to cookies -- including what Chhabria referred to as a gid cookie (for Google account holders) and a cid cookie (which the judge described as a synonymized cookie). Google urged Chhabria to dismiss that complaint, arguing that even if the allegations were proven true, they wouldn't support the plaintiffs' claims. Chhabria said in Thursday's order that the gid cookie seems to collect information that, when a website interaction involves Google account holders, can link that website interaction to those account holders in a way that identifies them. Therefore, he wrote, it appears reasonable to infer that Google, which obviously knows the personal information that users input to create their Google accounts, can use the gid cookie to tie information that came from the health providers webpages to a specific person. The plaintiffs allege that this health information then becomes included in Googles 'digital dossier' on that person, Chhabria wrote. If this cannot be inferred from the allegations ... Google should explain why. By contrast, he said the cid cookie doesn't appear to collect the kind of information that could be used to identify a person in the real world. As a result, he said, the plaintiffs do not appear to have adequately alleged that Google collects private health information on non-Google account holders that can be linked to them in an identifiable way. He has told Google to submit written papers by March 27. Zero-emission trucks and buses in Illinois can improve air quality and reduce asthma. Exposure to air pollution, especially fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO), can increase the risk of developing asthmaeven in people with no prior respiratory issues! #asthma #pollution #zeroemissionvehicle #medindia After the 2022 show Khakee: The Bihar Chapter which was based on a true story, Neeraj Pandey returns with a stand-alone sequel titled Khakee: The Bengal Chapter. So, how well does season two fare as compared to the first part? Lets find out below. The Hot Take First thing first, Khakee: The Bengal Chapter isnt as good as Khakee: The Bihar Chapter but it still is a worthy follow-up to the 2022 cop thriller. While The Bihar Chapter was based on a true story, The Bengal Chapter is largely a fictional tale. The screenplay of the show is predictable and the narrative is familiar but what elevates this show is the direction, the cinematography and the great star cast. Netflix Khakee: The Bengal Chapter has a number of loose ends and is rough around the edges but it still manages to keep you hooked with the overall storyline and cast performances. The whole dynamic between the two friends Sagor and Ranjit was lifted straight out of the 2021 Kannada film Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana starring Raj B Shetty and Rishab Shetty. The finale seemed a little underwhelming as compared to the entire show with the cop Arjun Maitra easily nabbing the last remaining culprit. The thrill was missing. Also, the characterisation of the protagonist was all about building-up with a little pay-off. We are told he is brash and ruthless and doesnt follow rules but many-a-times throughout the show he is unable to do anything because of his corrupt superiors and the politicians. Netflix When you hype a character in such a way, its your job to make him get back to everyone who has wronged him. That's poetic justice. The show is set in Kolkata and I liked the fact that the DOP didnt shoot it stereotypically as is seen in numerous other films based in the city of joy. The background score and the opening credit song are outstanding. The Performances Bengali action superstar Jeet makes his Bollywood debut with the show and he is perfect as the protagonist. He owns the screen and proves why he is a much-loved superstar in Bengal. The iconic Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee as the corrupt politician is brilliant. His understated performance makes the show what it is. Ritwik Bhowmik transforms completely from his good boy character in Bandish Bandits to the local goon here. He is a complete natural. Aadil Zafar Khan as the loud and brash goon, an antithesis to Ritwiks character is quite good. He will surely get on your nerves. If youre watching When Life Gives You Tangerines, chances are youre already swooning over Park Bo-gums character, Gwan-Sik. And honestly, who wouldnt? Hes kind, emotionally mature, patient, and respects boundaries basically the walking embodiment of a green flag. In a world where K-drama male leads often start as toxic, brooding jerks with redemption arcs, Gwan-Sik is proof that being a good man is attractive from the start. Netflix But hes not alone. If youre looking for more such K-drama men like Gwan Sik, here are some recent and classic green flag male leads youll absolutely fall for. 1. Choi Seung-hyo Love Next Door (2024) Netflix If youre tired of K-drama male leads who are emotionally unavailable for half the series, let me introduce you to Choi Seung-Hyo (played by Jung Hae-In). This man is a total green flag thoughtful, emotionally mature, and actually knows how to communicate. As an architect and CEO, hes got the whole successful but humble vibe going on. But what really makes him stand out is how gentle and patient he is, especially when it comes to his relationship with Bae Seok-Ryu (Jung So-min). Theres no unnecessary push-and-pull drama just two adults handling their feelings like grown-ups. Even when things from their past resurface, he doesnt turn into a toxic mess, and faces it with understanding and respect. 2. Baek Hyun-Woo Queen of Tears (2024) Netflix At first, Baek Hyun-Woo (Kim Soo-Hyun) seems like hes done with marriage, but his unwavering love and devotion shine through. He fights for his relationship, stays by his wife's side when things get tough, and proves that true romance is about partnership, not just passion. Despite the controversies swirling around Kim Soo-hyun in real life this year, his character in Queen of Tears is an absolute green flag. 3. Ryu Sun-Jae Lovely Runner (2024) Netflix A literal golden retriever in human form, Sun-Jae (Byeon Woo-Seok) is one of the sweetest, most selfless male leads ever. His love for Im Sol is pure, unwavering, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Time-travel plot aside, this man redefines loyalty, devotion, and emotional security in relationships. Whether it's through his small, thoughtful gestures or the way he looks at her like she's his whole world, Sun-Jae proves that the best kind of love is one that never wavers, no matter the timeline. 4. Hong Du-Sik Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) Netflix Thoughtful, patient, and good at literally everything, Chief Hong (Kim Seon-Ho) is the ultimate green flag. He encourages Hye-Jin to follow her dreams, never makes her feel small, and always prioritizes her happiness over his ego. Whether hes fixing things around the village, offering emotional support, or just being his goofy, lovable self, he proves that kindness and confidence can go hand in hand. Even when dealing with his own trauma, he never shuts Hye-Jin out he communicates, grows, and loves wholeheartedly, setting the bar impossibly high for K-drama boyfriends everywhere. 5. Ri Jeong-Hyeok Crash Landing on You (2019-2020) Netflix A literal soldier with a heart of gold, Ri Jeong-Hyeok (Hyun Bin) is the ultimate protector without being possessive. He puts Yoon Se-Ris safety and happiness above everything else and proves that love is about actions, not just words. Whether hes risking everything to keep her safe in North Korea or quietly taking care of her in the smallest ways like making sure she eats well and stays warm he shows that love isnt about grand gestures alone, but about being there, no matter what. He never tries to control her or hold her back. Instead, he empowers her to stand strong on her own. His ability to love without expecting anything in return make him one of the best green flag male leads in K-drama history. 6. Yoo Ji-Ho One Spring Night (2019) Netflix Soft-spoken yet emotionally strong, Yoo Ji-Ho (Jung Hae-In) is the kind of male lead who makes you believe in love thats gentle but unwavering. As a single father, hes responsible, kind, and deeply mature, proving that vulnerability isnt a weakness but a strength. Unlike the typical K-drama hero who takes forever to process his feelings, Ji-Ho is honest and emotionally open he knows what he wants and isnt afraid to express it, but never in a way that pressures or overwhelms. His love for Lee Jung-In is respectful, patient, and selfless. 7. Yu Eun-Ho Love Scout (2025) Viki Yu Eun-Ho (Lee Jun-Hyuk) is the kind of male lead who makes falling in love look easy, natural, and deeply reassuring. Unlike the emotionally unavailable K-drama men of the past, he is warm, patient, and emotionally mature, proving that a real partner is someone who listens, communicates, and supports you without hesitation. His relationship with Kang Ji-yun (Han Ji-min) isnt built on unnecessary drama but on genuine companionship and respect a love story where both partners feel seen and valued. Whether its his quiet encouragement, unwavering loyalty, or the way he makes love feel safe and exciting at the same time, Eun-Ho sets the bar high for all boyfriends. 8. Ahn Min-Hyuk Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon (2017) Netflix Quirky, affectionate, and refreshingly unthreatened by a strong woman, Ahn Min-Hyuk (Park Hyung-Sik) is the ultimate boyfriend material. While other male leads might struggle with their ego (especially when their girlfriend can literally throw them across the room), Min-Hyuk loves and embraces Bong-Soons strengthboth physically and emotionally. He encourages her to own her power, never tries to control her, and always makes sure she feels cherished. Whether hes geeking out over her abilities or standing by her side in danger, hes proof that real men uplift the women they love instead of trying to outshine them. 9. Lee Jun-Ho The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (2024) Viki Lee Jun-Ho (Wi Ha-Joon) is proof that love built on mutual respect and admiration can stand the test of time. Once Seo Hye-Jins student, he returns as her colleague no longer a young, wide-eyed learner but a self-assured, emotionally mature man who knows exactly what (and who) he wants. But instead of forcing his feelings, he gives her the time and space to see him as an equal. Unlike the typical K-drama leads who play mind games, Jun-Ho is clear about his feelings and isnt afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. His unwavering support for Hye-Jin, both professionally and personally, proves that true love isnt about chasing its about choosing someone, over and over, no matter the circumstances. 10. Ryan Gold Her Private Life (2019) Jennifer Barnhill is a columnist for Military.com writing about military families. As the clock slowly scrolled from 9:01 p.m. to 9:27 p.m., I became more and more anxious with each minute. My husband, a naval aviator, wasn't deployed. He was just on the flight schedule. He had told me he would be landing at 9 p.m. Sure, flight schedules can change, but he usually texts me if there is a delay. My panic worsened with each passing minute. Then, he walked through the door as if nothing had happened. It was only then that I realized I had been holding my breath. As a military spouse, I don't know how many hours or days or weeks of my life I spent in a perpetual state of tension. It's not surprising; nearly everyone I have met in the aviation community knows of at least one person who has been killed in a crash. I went to a Bible study with Betsy. I am friends with Landon's widow. And those are just the people I know personally. I tried not to think about them, but no matter how well I suppressed their stories, my body had internalized the fear. Even when my husband was in a crash that left his helicopter without rotor blades, I went about life as if nothing had happened. For the better part of his military career, I spent my life with my jaw clenched, shoulders near my ears, on edge, and had no idea what I was carrying until my health was impacted. The stress the military community holds is not just related to our proximity to deployments or combat zones. It is woven into the fabric of everyday existence. It wasn't until I sat down with a friend for coffee, years after my husband stopped flying, that I found out I wasn't alone. "It hit me really hard about a year after he got off active duty," Samantha Daniels, Center for a New American Security Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellow and veteran Marine Corps spouse, shared as we sipped our coffee. "I wasn't expecting that." Daniels and I first connected because I had just moved to the area and we had similar professional backgrounds and had previously worked together. After we got to talking, we realized we had both been through the same, all-consuming combination of fear and worry that subconsciously shaped years of our lives. "Sometimes when I'm driving, I'll notice that I was gripping the steering wheel in a death grip," she said. I, too, had similar revelations. I would often catch myself with my shoulders knotted at work. Eventually, my jaw began to hurt from remaining tensed for hours. My wake-up call happened months after my husband's final flight as a naval aviator when I, run down with stress, was told I had contracted mononucleosis or "mono," a month after our change of duty station. I had mentally hit my wall, and my body paid the price. I have since discovered that Samantha and I were not the only military spouses carrying stress. Air Force spouse Christine Hinrichs had already been a military spouse for 10 years when COVID-19 hit as she was about to move with her family to a new duty station. She knew how to handle the movers. She knew how to research a new area. She was prepared. But it took their belongings three months to arrive and, instead of being able to turn to friends to blow off steam, she was deep in quarantine. "The day that our goods finally arrived, I started having a lot of pain and itching," said Hinrichs. When she developed a fever, she tried to go to see the doctor on base but couldn't get an appointment for three or four days. When she finally went to the ER, she was told, "This is the worst case of shingles I have ever seen." Shingles is a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox that reawakens in the body. Studies show that increased stress can trigger the disease. "The mind and body are so interwoven that, while you might not be consciously thinking it, your body can be actively responding to it," shared Dr. Courtney Barber, the 2024 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year, psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist. "In physiological terms, no, there is no difference in how our body responds. The body remembers and reacts accordingly when activated. It typically doesn't differentiate between the trigger that may ignite the fight-or-flight or stress response. It will innately respond, often with or without our conscious permission." But the stress extends well beyond worry associated with a spouse's deployment to combat zones. "I've met spouses whose husbands were deployed to, like Iraq and Afghanistan," said Daniella Horne, an Army veteran and Navy spouse. "Yes, they worried about war and combat and their husband making it back in one piece, but now the stressors are more like, 'Hey, we're having issues with housing and our PCS move.'" It is hard not to notice that the stress of military life comes as a direct result of the unpredictability. But some of us are still unaware of what we are holding. In preparation for this article, I interviewed half a dozen spouses, asking them all similar questions about what pushed them to their breaking point. However, when I asked Navy spouse Melissa Purnell, I wondered whether she was one of the countless spouses who had not yet hit the wall. "Have you ever stopped to think if you've ever processed this?" I asked. "No, I don't think I have," she shared. "Maybe I just ignore it and that's my way of dealing with it, like just pushing it in the back of my mind." Data shows that holding stress may be an expected and normalized part of military life. According to research conducted by Operation Child Care Project in 2024, 38% of families seeking child care assistance reported facing mental health challenges, while 28% indicated that they were experiencing increased stress levels due to the lack of care options. Another root cause of our stress is finances. According to a 2023 Military Family Advisory Network report, 46.6% of families experiencing financial stress said it had impacted their mental or physical health. MFAN findings point to several key sources of stress, including frequent moves, employment and child care struggles, and the unpredictability of military life. Although we can't fully understand or control our circumstances, we can manage our reactions. "Being curious with your own thoughts, you start training yourself to find your own markers and your own stressors and your own thought patterns," said Crystal Bettenhausen-Bubulka, a licensed clinical social worker, Navy spouse and founder and executive director of Strength in Service, a nonprofit focused on providing mental health services. Instead of thinking your neck pain is because of a hard workout, maybe it is because you're walking around with your shoulders near your ears. If you regularly have an upset stomach, she says, "Maybe it's not what you're eating, maybe it's also that your cortisol levels are spiking because you're under a lot of stress. "There's a lot of excuses and sweeping things under the rug, especially in a lot of the clientele that I see because everyone is kind of getting into this comparison: 'I don't have it that bad and then they're not acknowledging themselves,'" Bettenhausen-Bubulka said. I made excuses until my body forced me to stop. But that is what military spouses do; we do all the things until we collapse. But who will be left to pick us up if we let ourselves fall? New memos from the Air Force and the Navy warn troops to watch their political speech online and in person, and even mentioned Uniform Code of Military Justice violations for certain criticisms of the president or their superior officers. "The 1st Amendment protects freedom of speech and permits the expression of ideas for all Americans," Acting Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth wrote in a March 17 memo. "Service members, owing to their critical role in our national security and the duties and obligations of service, have accepted limits on their freedom of expression." Military legal experts who spoke to Military.com find the mentions of potential UCMJ crimes to be somewhat unusual and even threatening to troops who likely don't have much to worry about when speaking about their personal experiences and beliefs. Read Next: Trump Announces 6th-Generation Fighter Jet Named F-47; Air Force Contract Awarded to Boeing Both the Air Force and Navy memos highlight several UCMJ violations including Article 88, a rarely charged offense that outlaws "contempt against officials" such as the president, defense secretary, Congress and other officials. Both memos also warn of violations such as Article 92 on failure to obey an order or regulation; Article 133 on conduct unbecoming an officer; and Article 134 on disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline. "I think this message is troubling and vaguely threatening. It's clearly been reviewed by an attorney, but it's not giving an objective picture on the regulations surrounding free speech," one current Air Force judge advocate general, who spoke under condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, told Military.com. "Its mention of criminal charges for disrespectful speech is also without helpful context." Service members accept some limits on their political speech when joining the military and are advised to avoid political campaigning or messaging while in uniform or in any official capacity representing the military. The rule is similar to the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from certain partisan activities and was designed to assure federal programs remain nonpartisan. The Navy's March 14 admin to all sailors advises them to include disclaimers on social media clarifying their views are their own and don't represent the Department of the Navy or Department of Defense. "While service members may generally express their personal views on public issues, uniformed service brings certain limitations to expression, including on social media," the Navy guidance states. Both follow a Feb. 19 memo from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense that advised the service secretaries to remind troops of their apolitical and nonpartisan duties. "Given the intense focus on recent changes within the department, maintaining the public trust is more important than ever," said the memo from Darin Selnick, who is performing the duties of the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. The Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump is undergoing a series of unprecedented changes, from the ongoing firings of thousands of civilian employees, the purging of any content and policies related to diversity -- including women and troops with minority backgrounds -- to the cutting and reprioritizing of billions of dollars in defense spending. Dan Grazier, a senior fellow with the National Security Reform Program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, D.C., told Military.com that the language of the memos seemed pretty standard given the change in the White House, but said he did find the mention of Article 88 to be noteworthy. "This really seems pretty standard, particularly around the time of a presidential administration transition," Grazier said. "This is new people and new positions, and they're just putting out the current administration's policies." However, Article 88 has been used only a handful of times in recent years. In the 1960s, Lt. Henry Howe was sentenced under Article 88 for protesting the Vietnam War, calling then-President Lyndon Johnson a fascist. In 2021, former Marine Corps Lt. Col. Stu Scheller pleaded guilty to violating Article 88, among other violations, for publicly criticizing military leadership's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Eric Carpenter, a former military lawyer who is now a law professor at Florida International University, told Military.com that the memo seemed standard and that mentions of the UCMJ violations were likely a way for the Navy and the acting secretary of the Air Force to show troops they're serious about their message. "If a secretary of a service is writing a memo saying 'knock it off,' they generally put some sort of teeth in it," Carpenter said. "So, there'll be some language in there that says, 'Hey, look, I'm not kidding.'" Carpenter said that troops shouldn't be concerned about talking politics with family and friends or being passively involved in the political process. He added that service members shouldn't be scared of recounting their personal experiences to reporters. "It's a reminder of boundaries," Carpenter said. "Airmen can still talk about their political feelings, or their political beliefs and what they disagree with an administration, with other people. They just can't get on stage and say it." Related: Defense Secretary Calls for Calm Transition, Apolitical Military Ahead of Trump Transition KYIV, Ukraine Russian drones pummeled the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, injuring three people and sparking massive fires, officials said Friday, an attack that underlined Moscow's intention to pursue aerial strikes even as it agreed to temporarily halt strikes on energy facilities. The head of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, said the city suffered local emergency power outages in three of its districts, an indication that the energy infrastructure of the city could have been damaged. Reacting to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "joint pressure on Russia, strengthening sanctions and defense support for our state ... is the way to stop such terror and Russias prolongation of the war." We expect real pressure on Russia from the US, Europe and all our partners, Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram And this is what will allow diplomacy to work. Russia, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of blowing up a gas facility in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have launched an incursion, in violation of the ceasefire deal. Ukraine denies the accusations. Russian drone attack sparks massive blazes in Odesa The strike came shortly before Czech Republic President Peter Pavel visited Odesa early Friday morning and held meetings with the city's leaders and officials from other southern regions. This is another reminder to the whole world: the war continues and Ukraine continues to fight, Kiper said in a statement. He reported blazes at at least three locations after the attack late Thursday. Civilian infrastructure, commercial facilities are on fire, cars damaged, Kiper said. Over 70 people and 20 fire engines were involved in extinguishing what the emergency services called massive fires. Russia accuses Ukraine of blowing up natural gas facility in the Kursk region Russia's Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of blowing up a gas metering station near the town of Sudzha in Russias Kursk region, in what it described as a deliberate provocation by the Kyiv regime, which is part of a series of recent strikes on Russias energy infrastructure in order to discredit the U.S. presidents peaceful initiatives. Ukraines military General Staff rejected Moscows accusations and blamed the Russian military for shelling the Sudzha gas metering station as part of Russias discrediting campaign. The gas metering station serves a major pipeline that had pumped Russia's natural gas to Europe until supplies were halted last year. Views differ on what is covered by the truce Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders this week, though it remained to be seen what possible targets would be off limits to attack. The three sides appeared to hold starkly different views about what the deal covered. While the White House said energy and infrastructure would be covered, the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said he would also like railways and ports to be protected. Zelenskyy told reporters after Wednesday's call with Trump that technical talks in Saudi Arabia this weekend would seek to resolve what types of infrastructure would be protected from attack under the agreement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized Friday that the agreement reached between Trump and Putin referred only to energy facilities, adding that the Russian military is fulfilling Putins order to halt such attacks for 30 days. The Russian military are currently refraining from strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure in accordance with the agreement reached between Russia and the United States, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. Other attacks reported by both sides In another attack, Russian glide bombs injured at least six people, including a child, in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight Thursday to Friday. Regional head Ivan Fedorov published photos showing fire fighters extinguishing flames at multiple damaged residential buildings. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 214 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks. It said 114 of them were intercepted and another 81 were jammed. Russias Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 43 Ukrainian drones, 34 of them over the Volgograd region and others over Rostov, Kursk and Belgorod regions. The authorities didnt report any casualties or significant damage. Meanwhile, a massive blaze at an oil depot in the Krasnodar region has continued to rage since it was hit by a Ukrainian drone attack late Wednesday. WASHINGTON An American man who was abducted more than two years ago while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist has been released by the Taliban in a deal with the Trump administration that Qatari negotiators helped broker, the State Department said Thursday. George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, is the third American detainee to be released by the Taliban since January. He was seized by the Taliban's intelligence services in December 2022 and was designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained the following year. In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Glezmann was on his way back to the United States to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra, and praised Qatar for steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts that he said were instrumental in securing Georges release. Georges release is a positive and constructive step," Rubio said. It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world. Glezmann was being accompanied back to the U.S., through Qatar's capital, Doha, by Adam Boehler, who has been handling hostage issues for President Donald Trump's administration. The Taliban disclosed earlier Thursday that Boehler had met with a delegation that included Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Glezmann, 66, was in Afghanistan as a tourist at the time of his abduction and has visited more than 100 countries as part of his passion for exploring different cultures, according to a profile on the website of the Foley Foundation, an organization that advocates for the release of Americans detained by foreign countries. The release of Glezmann is part of what the Taliban has previously described as the normalization" of ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Most countries still dont recognize the Talibans rule. Glezmann's release follows a separate deal, arranged in January in the final days of the Biden administration and also mediated by the Qataris, that secured the releases of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty. The Talibans Foreign Ministry in Kabul said at the time that those two U.S. citizens had been exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 after being convicted under U.S. narco-terrorism laws for securing heroin and opium that he knew was bound for the U.S. Unlike in that arrangement, the U.S. did not give up any prisoner to secure Glezmanns release, which was done as a goodwill gesture, according to an official briefed on the matter who insisted on anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations. On Thursday, Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed Glezmann's release on humanitarian grounds." In a statement, it said the Islamic Emirate again reaffirms its longstanding position that dialogue, understanding and diplomacy provide effective avenues for resolving all issues. President Joe Biden contemplated before he left office an earlier proposal that would have involved the release of Glezmann and other Americans for Muhammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But Biden told families during a call in January that he would not support trading Rahim unless the Taliban released Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman who worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company and vanished in 2022. The FBI and Habibi's family have said they believe Habibi was taken by Taliban forces, but the Taliban has denied holding him. Representatives for Habibi on Thursday cited what they said was overwhelming evidence that he was arrested by the Taliban after his home was searched by people identifying themselves as part of the Taliban's security service. "We are confident that the Trump Administration will hold firm that my brother needs to be released for relations with the U.S. to move forward," one of Habibis brothers, Ahmad, said in a statement. We have reason to be confident Mahmood is alive and in Taliban custody, despite their hollow denials of holding him. My brother is an innocent man who has been held away from his wife, young daughter, and elderly parents for 953 days. ___ Associated Press writers Victoria Eastwood in Cairo and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report. President Donald Trump announced Friday that Boeing will be building the Air Force's first sixth-generation fighter jet called the F-47, one that the Pentagon said will out-compete U.S. adversaries amid ongoing tensions with China. Dubbed the Next Generation Air Dominance platform, or NGAD, the now-designated F-47 has been shrouded in secrecy for years, as the Air Force quietly tested experimental aircraft while Boeing and Lockheed Martin competed for the contract to build it. Flanked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin in the Oval Office, Trump said that the administration is "confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation" and that "America's enemies will never see it coming." Read Next: Hegseth Beefs Up Warship Presence in the Middle East and Will Have 2 Aircraft Carriers in the Region Allvin said at the announcement that the F-47 would be the "crown jewel" of the military's next-generation "family of systems." Lt. Gen. Dale White, the deputy for the Air Force's office of acquisition, technology and logistics, also attended the White House press event. The F-47 is expected to replace the F-22 Raptor, which embarked on its first flight in 1997 under Lockheed Martin. The new jet, for which Trump did not give a cost estimate, citing operational security concerns, is expected to fly alongside "loyal wingman" drones -- or uncrewed aircraft. Hegseth said that the F-47 "sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we're not going anywhere, and to our enemies, that we can and will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come." In an emailed statement following the Oval Office announcement, Allvin said that the Air Force had been flying experimental planes, or X-planes, for the last five years, laying the foundation for the F-47 in an effort to cement U.S. air dominance. He added that the F-47 is expected to fly during the Trump administration and that it would cost less than the F-22. "With the F-47, we are not just building another fighter -- we are shaping the future of warfare and putting our enemies on notice," Allvin said in the statement. "This platform will be the most advanced, lethal and adaptable fighter ever developed -- designed to outpace, outmaneuver, and outmatch any adversary that dares to challenge our brave airmen." Videos of Chinese jets circulated on social media late last year, prompting speculation that Beijing had been developing and testing its own sixth-generation aircraft. "Despite what our adversaries claim, the F-47 is truly the world's first crewed sixth-generation fighter, built to dominate the most capable peer adversary and operate in the most perilous threat environments imaginable," Allvin said in the statement. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall paused the NGAD program last summer, citing -- in part -- financial constraints. The Associated Press reported that the initial contract for the F-47 is estimated at $20 billion, but costs could balloon into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Prices for the F-35 Lightning II, currently touted as the most advanced fighter jet in the world, are expected to cost $1.7 trillion, and roughly 100 B-21 Raider stealth bombers are on the horizon for hundreds of billions of dollars as well. Trump said that versions of the F-47 could be sold to allies, though he added that those jets would be "toned-down" because "someday maybe they're not our allies, right?" A 1990s-era congressional provision stated the F-22, a fifth-generation aircraft, could not be sold to any foreign government. -- Thomas Novelly contributed to this report. Related: Europe and Canada Are Eyeing Alternatives to American-Made Fighter Jets. Here's Why Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago, according to data collected by The Associated Press. They allege the disruption campaign is an extension of Russian President Vladimir Putins war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine. The AP documented 59 incidents in which European governments, prosecutors, intelligence services or other Western officials blamed Russia, groups linked to Russia or its ally Belarus for cyberattacks, spreading propaganda, plotting killings or committing acts of vandalism, arson, sabotage or espionage since the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. The incidents range from stuffing car tailpipes with expanding foam in Germany to a plot to plant explosives on cargo planes. They include setting fire to stores and a museum, hacking that targeted politicians and critical infrastructure, and spying by a ring convicted in the U.K. Richard Moore, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence service, called it a staggeringly reckless campaign in November. It is often difficult to prove Russias involvement, and the Kremlin denied carrying out a sabotage campaign against the West. But more and more governments are publicly attributing attacks to Russia. The alleged disruption has a double purpose, James Appathurai, the NATO official responsible for the alliance's response to such threats, told the AP. One is to create political disquiet and undermine citizens support for their governments and the other is to undercut support for Ukraine, said Appathurai, deputy assistant secretary-general for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber. During the investigation, the AP spoke to 15 current officials, including two prime ministers, and officials from five European intelligence services, three defense ministries and NATO, in addition to experts. The AP plotted the incidents on a map to show the scope of the alleged campaign, which experts say is particularly worrying at a time when U.S. support for Ukraine is wavering and European allies are questioning Washingtons reliability as a security partner and ally. What is happening? The cases are varied, and the largest concentrations are in countries that are major supporters of Ukraine. Some incidents had the potential for catastrophic consequences, including mass casualties, as when packages exploded at shipping facilities in Germany and the U.K. Western officials said they suspected the packages were part of a broader plot by Russian intelligence to put bombs on cargo planes headed to the U.S. and Canada. In another case, Western intelligence agencies uncovered what they said was a Russian plot to kill the head of a major German arms manufacturer that is a supplier of weapons to Ukraine. European authorities are investigating several cases of damage to infrastructure under the Baltic Sea, including to a power cable linking Estonia and Finland. Finnish authorities detained a ship, suspected of being part of Russias shadow fleet used to avoid sanctions, after that cable and others were damaged. When a fake French Defense Ministry website claimed citizens were being called up to fight in Ukraine, a French minister denounced it as Russian disinformation. German authorities suspect Russia was behind a campaign to block up scores of car tailpipes ahead of national elections, according to a European intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Officials from Estonia, Poland, Latvia and Finland, meanwhile, have accused Russia and Belarus of directing migrants to their borders. Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told the AP that the Kremlin has never been shown any proofs supporting the accusations and said certainly we definitely reject any allegations. How AP documented the cases The AP scoured through hundreds of incidents suspected to be linked to Russia since Moscows invasion that were reported in open sources such as local media and government websites. They were included in APs tally only when officials drew a clear link to Russia, pro-Russian groups or ally Belarus. Most of the accusations were made to or reported by AP, either at the time they occurred or during the course of this investigation. Fourteen cases were reported by other news organizations and attributed to named officials. In about a quarter of the cases, prosecutors have brought charges or courts have convicted people of carrying out the sabotage. But in many more, no specific culprit has been publicly identified or brought to justice. A bolder approach Countries have always spied on their enemies and long waged propaganda campaigns to further their interests abroad. But since the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has become bolder, hitting the West with sabotage, vandalism and arson in addition to the tactics it previously used, including killings and cyberattacks, said Elisabeth Braw, an expert on the attacks at the Atlantic Council in Washington. The way you can weaken a country today is not by invading it, she said. China has also been accused of espionage and cyber operations in Europe, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in 2022. Kyiv has denied this. Multiple countries engage in hybrid operations, said David Salvo, managing director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. Russia is the overwhelming culprit in Europe. How to respond even as US support wavers A coordinated approach especially sharing intelligence is critical to tracking and countering the threats, Appathurai said. That cooperation never easy since intelligence is not shared collectively across NATO members faces new challenges now, as the Trump administration increasingly questions the role of the alliance, embraces Russia and spars with its European partners. Still, as the scale of the campaign becomes clearer, some nations are becoming more assertive. Appathurai pointed to the approach to suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea, where NATO has launched a mission to protect critical infrastructure. If we are to have a chance of stemming the threat, Braw said, then we have to work together. ___ Associated Press reporters John Leicester in Paris; Vanessa Gera and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland; Jill Lawless in London; Kirsten Grieshaber and Geir Moulson in Berlin; Suman Naishadham in Madrid; Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary; and Karel Janicek in Prague, Czech Republic, contributed. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 20, STELATO, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly powered by BAIC Group and Huawei, officially opened pre-sales for the range-extended version of the S9 model, with a starting price of 318,000 yuan. Customers who place an order now can enjoy a 2,000-yuan deposit deduction, reducing the final payment by 5,000 yuan. The model is set for an official market launch in April. Photo credit: STELATO As an additional powertrain variant, the STELATO S9 range-extended version is equipped with a 1.5T range-extender hybrid system, offering a CLTC-rated battery-powered range of 365 km and a combined range of 1,355 km. The vehicle will also feature Huawei's ADS 3.3 intelligent driving system, four LiDAR sensors, and a newly optimized chassis. In terms of design, the new variant retains the styling of the all-electric version but introduces minor refinements. It adopts a closed-off front grille, a full-width LED daytime running light, and an added chrome trim on the lower air intake, differentiating it from the exsiting version. The STELATO S9 range-extended model measures 5,160 mm in length, 2,005 mm in width, and 1,486 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,050 mm. Compared to the all-electric version, the width has increased by 18 mm, while other dimensions remain unchanged. According to regulatory filings from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the 1.5T four-cylinder range extender delivers a maximum power of 118 kW, while the drive motor reaches a peak output of 227 kW. The model also incorporates Huawei's latest Tuling platform with German-engineered chassis tuning, featuring upgrades in steering, braking, cornering, intelligent coordination, and Motion Sickness Relief 2.0. On the smart driving front, the new variant is equipped with Huawei's ADS 3.3 system, supporting end-to-end autonomous parking across various scenarios. Additional features include Huawei's latest interactive light system, welcome Lighting, interactive entrance projection, remote summon capability, new-generation smart projection, and an innovative floating car display. Travelers from the U.K. and Germany are being advised of stricter entry guidelines when attempting to enter the U.S. (Anntaninna Biondo | MLive.com) Anntaninna Biondo | MLive.com Travelers planning to visit the U.S. from several European countries are being advised of stricter implementation of U.S. policies for entering the country. According to The Hill, both Germany and the United Kingdom issued advisories this week after its citizens were recently detained by authorities while trying to enter the U.S. The U.K. -- which is comprised of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales -- updated its advisory Thursday. The move comes following reports of a British citizen being detained for several days after trying to enter the U.S., according to Reuters. The U.K. advisory reminds travelers to contact the U.S. embassy or a consulate in the U.K. if you are unsure of the rules for entry to the U.S. You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry. The authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules strictly, reads a portion of the advisory. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules. Earlier this week, Germany issued an advisory reminding travelers that entry through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system or a U.S. visa is not guaranteed. The advisory suggests travelers bring proof of your return journey when entering the U.S. That advisory came after three German citizens have been detained recently. Two of those cases have been settled, according to Newsweek. Should the U.S. give back the Statue of Liberty to France? A French politician told supporters: Give us back the Statue of Liberty." Photo by Reena Rose Sibayan | NJ.com Its just a small, unscientific poll, but the results may still surprise you. A third of people who voted say the United States should give Lady Liberty back to France. How did this question come about in the first place? Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament and co-president of a small left-wing party in France suggested the U.S. is no longer worthy of the monument. We then asked MLive readers to weigh-in on whether you think the U.S. should return the Statue of Liberty to France, a gift it gave in 1885. With 448 total votes cast in our poll, 301. or, 67% said no, while 147, or, 33% voted yes. The only answer that matters is the U.S. government. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, saying the U.S. would absolutely not be parting with the famous landmark. The Statue of Liberty was transported to the U.S. in 350 pieces and officially unveiled on October 28, 1886. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he would be meeting with billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk at the Pentagon Friday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said late Thursday that he would be meeting with billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon Friday to discuss innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Musk, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency have played an integral role in the administrations push to dramatically reduce the size of the government. Musk has faced intense blowback from some lawmakers and voters for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs, although Trumps supporters have hailed it. A senior defense official told reporters Tuesday that roughly 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the Defense Department. In a post on Musks X platform, Hegseth emphasized that this is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans, denying a story published by The New York Times late Thursday. Hegseth is also scheduled to deliver remarks with Trump at the White House Friday morning. Michael Shapiro, 73, was sentenced to prison on Thursday, March 20, for making death threats against members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. MLive file photo DETROIT, MI A Florida man was sentenced to 18 months behind bars for threatening to kill Muslims in Michigan. Michael Shapiro, 73, was sentenced to prison on Thursday, March 20, for making death threats against members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter in 2023, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced. Court documents show Shapiro, of West Palm Beach, Florida, made three separate phone calls to the Michigan chapter, located in Canton, according to the release. The voicemails contained the following threats: Dec. 8, 2023: Im going to kill you bastards. Im going to kill you bastards. Dec. 14, 2023: Im going to kill you mother f*****g bastards. Muslims! Im going to kill you mother f*****s. Im going to kill you! Im going to kill you! Im going to kill you! Dec. 15, 2023: Youre a violent people. Why do you come to America? Why do you come to Europe? Mother f*****s. Youre violent. Youre killers. Youre rapists. Im going to kill you mother f*****s! Shapiro pleaded guilty to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce on Dec. 3, 2024, according to the U.S. attorneys office. The Florida man also admitted to prosecutors that he intentionally chose to threaten the Council on American-Islamic Relations because of the religion and national origin of the people who are associated with the group. The Mackinac Bridge is one of 68 bridges across the United States recommended for assessment of risk of collapse is struck by a ship. (Lori Chapman | MLive.com) Michigans iconic Mighty Mac suspension bridge is among 68 in the United States that should be assessed for risk of collapse if stuck by a ship, national transportation officials said. The recommendation comes as part of the National Transportation Safety Boards ongoing investigation into the collapse of Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, WXYZ Detroit reports. The container ship Dali struck a bridge pillar after losing power. Six construction workers died. Key Bridge was almost 30-times over the acceptable level of risk set for essential bridges by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, but the Maryland Transportation Authority never ran the calculation and was unaware of its high risk, the report said. Mackinac Bridge is among 68 bridges in 19 states recommended for assessment. These bridges span waterways frequented by cargo ships, were built before 1991 and do not have a current vulnerability assessment. Other bridges on the list include the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and New York Citys Brooklyn Bridge. The Mackinac Bridge has been hit at least three times that have made headlines two of them quite recently. RELATED: Has the Mackinac Bridge ever been struck by a ship? 3 collisions that made headlines Here are the three times the Mackinac Bridge has been hit, making headlines: May 7, 2023 During the overnight hours of May 7, 2023, the Mighty Mac was struck by a crane transported via barge. No one noticed the bridge had been hit until damage to the crane was discovered. The collision resulted in paint being knocked off and scraping of structural steel. However, there was no structural damage to the bridge. It did not close for repairs. Nov. 3, 2021 Around 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2021, a 30-foot vessel struck a bridge pier, resulting in minor injuries to the crew on board and a cosmetic scrape to the steel around the concrete pier. The boat was returning to St. Ignace from St. Helen Island after dark. It made it to harbor under its own power. June 2, 1968 On June 2, 1968, the iconic bridges north pier was hit by a Greek freighter, the Castilia, during a heavy fog. There was no significant damage. The 5-mile-long suspension bridge connects Michigans upper and lower peninsulas. It is the longest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, with the suspension spanning about 1.6 miles. It opened to traffic on Nov. 1, 1957. The suspect was allegedly found with drugs and sex toys in his car when police arrested him. MLive File Photo OAKLAND COUNTY, MI -- A Clawson man has been charged after he allegedly left a sexually explicit note on the car of a 17-year-old girl. Thomas Hensler, 38, was arrested after the victim contacted the Auburn Hills Police Department. According to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, the note contained an offer to pay the teen for sexual favors. Police texted the number provided in the note and determined the suspect was nearby. Police located the suspect, identified as Hensler and took him into custody. Prosecutors allege that drugs and sex toys were found in the vehicle at that time. Authorities say that similar incidents have been reported in the Auburn Hills area recently and are asking potential victims to come forward. According to Auburn Hills Police, multiple parents have since reported their children found similar notes on their cars with the same phone number, McDonald said. If you believe your children were targeted in this way, please contact your local police. We take every incident seriously because we need to know if this was serial behavior. Hensler is charged with one count each of child sexually abusive activity, using computers to commit a crime, and possession of methamphetamine. Sunset on Canadas Pelee Island, the largest of the Lake Erie islands, accessible via ferry from Sandusky. In our MLive poll, MLive readers said if they had to rename a Great Lake, Lake Ohio, they would choose Lake Erie. Photo by Susan Glaser | Cleveland.com It may or may not have been a joke from Vivek Ramaswamy, but we still wanted to know what you thought. Ramaswamy, who launched his campaign for Ohio governor last month, suggested one of the Great Lakes should be renamed Lake Ohio. If this absolutely had to happen, we wanted to know which of the five Great Lakes you would be OK with getting a new name. 59% of MLive readers said Lake Erie, an overwhelming number in our poll. Coming in second was Lake Ontario with 23%, followed by Lake Michigan (11%), Lake Superior (6%), and Lake Huron (1%). Ramaswamy, a Columbus-area Republican, was speaking at a GOP fundraiser in a Toledo suburb about 13 miles away from the shores of Lake Erie when he told the crowd, Anybody think if theres a Lake Michigan, maybe there should be a Lake Ohio around here? Im feeling that. He added that, Well talk about that a little bit more as this campaign progresses. A campaign spokesperson said Ramaswamy was making a joke, according to Cleveland.com. Ramaswamy smiled after making the comments, which received applause and scattered shouts of approval from the crowd. Ramaswamy did not say which Great Lake he would suggest renaming. Travelers wait in line for security in the east hall atrium at Orlando International Airport. (Joe Burbank /Orlando Sentinel via AP, File) AP ORLANDO, FL -- A Louisiana woman was arrested and charged Wednesday after she allegedly drowned her dog in a bathroom at Orlando International Airport last year. According to the Associated Press, the woman -- who was not named by the AP -- was charged with one count of third-degree animal cruelty, and posted $5,000 bail. Police arrested the woman following an investigation that began in December when a 9-year-old schnauzer named Tywinn was found dead in a trash bag. The janitor who found the dog told police that shed seen the woman cleaning up water and dog food from a stalls floor. The janitor was pulled away for an emergency cleanup and when she returned to the bathroom 20 minutes later, she found Tywinn. Investigators say a companion vest, collar, rabies tag, a dog travel bag and a bone-shaped dog tag with the womans name and phone number were discovered in the bathroom as well. This act was intentional and resulted in a cruel and unnecessary death of the animal, said an arrest affidavit from the Orlando Police Department. Video surveillance at the airport allegedly shows the suspect walking around the airport with Tywinn. The woman is seen going into the bathroom with Tywinn and exiting without the dog less than 20 minutes later. Investigators allege the woman drowned the dog because she had been told she could not board her flight to Colombia with Tywinn because of a lack of proper paperwork. After allegedly drowning the dog, the woman boarded her flight, before eventually ending up in Ecuador. An implanted microchip identified Tywinn and a necropsy determined the dog had been drowned. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Tesla Shanghai ships first batch of Megapacks for export On March 21, Tesla announced the first shipment of its large-scale commercial energy storage system, Megapack, from its newly established Megafactory in Shanghai. XPENG X9 right-hand-drive version hits Hong Kong market On March 21, XPENG officially released the right-hand-drive version of the X9 MPV in Hong Kong. The model comes in two variants, with a price range from 619,900 to 659,900 HKD, while an early bird offer lowers the price range to 599,900639,900 HKD. Photo credit: XPENG FAW's FAWAY signs strategic cooperation with AEROFUGIA On March 20, FAW's Changchun FAWAY Automobile Components Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement with AEROFUGIA, a Geely-backed eVTOL aircraft developer. The two companies will jointly develop lightweight, intelligent, and environmentally friendly products such as smart cabins, interior and exterior components, magnesium alloy parts, and optoelectronic systems for the low-altitude economy. DEEPAL rolls out DEEPAL OS 3.0 OTA update with DeepSeek AI improvements On March 20, Changan Automobile's new energy vehicle brand DEEPAL officially announced the gradual OTA rollout of its latest DEEPAL OS 3.0 system across all vehicle models. Huawei, BAIC-powered STELATO's S9 range-extended version opens for pre-sale On March 20, STELATO, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly powered by BAIC Group and Huawei, officially opened pre-sales for the range-extended version of the S9 model, with a starting price of 318,000 yuan. Li Auto opens pre-orders for new MEGA Ultra Smart Driving Edition On March 21, Chinese new energy vehicle maker Li Auto officially opened pre-orders for the new Li MEGA Ultra Smart Driving Edition MPV, with an expected delivery timeline within May. The pre-order price is set at 529,800 yuan. AEROFUGIA, CAFUC team up on training talents for eVTOL domain On March 19, Civil Aviation Flight University of China ("CAFUC") and Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer AEROFUGIA signed a cooperation agreement, making AEROFUGIA the first eVTOL company in China to formalize and implement a talent training partnership with CAFUC. CATL, Ellen MacArthur Foundation join hands to boost global battery circular economy development On March 18, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. ("CATL") and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation ("the Foundation") announced a strategic partnership in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to drive the development of a global battery circular economy. BYD announces foray into Serbian NEV market On March 17, BYD officially entered the Serbian market, partnering with leading distributor TDV Automotive to introduce a range of new energy vehicle (NEV) models, according to a post on BYD's WeChat account. The crash happened on Stewart Road near Arbor Creek Drive in Frenchtown Township File | MLive MONROE COUNTY, MI A woman died at the hospital after she suffered a medical emergency and crashed her car in Monroe County. According to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, Valerie P. Nolan, 62, of Monroe died after the crash on Stewart Road near Arbor Creek Drive in Frenchtown Township at 9:20 a.m. on Thursday. Deputies say Nolan was driving a 2011 Honda Ridgeline when the medical incident happened, causing her vehicle to leave the road and crash into a tree on private property. Several Good Samaritans stopped to assist Nolan and remove her from the vehicle, deputies said. She was taken to ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Frenchtown Township Fire Department, Monroe Community Ambulance and Michigan State Police. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call 734-240-7541 or send a tip via CrimeStoppers at 1-800-speakup or www.1800speakup.org. Munger Residences on the Law Quad, 551 State St. on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan Law School will soon welcome its new dean. The University of Michigan Board of Regents appointed Neel U. Sukhatme as the David A. Breach Dean of Law and a tenured professor of law during its Thursday meeting. Sukhatme currently serves as the associate dean for research and academic programs at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C., according to a news release. The appointment is effective July 1 for a five-year renewable term through June 30, 2030. He will be replacing interim dean Kyle Logue. Michigan Law has a storied tradition of excellence. I am delighted and honored to help lead this incredible community, Sukhatme said in a statement. Sukhatme earned a degree in computer engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 2001. His education continued with a law degree from Harvard University in 2005 and a PhD in economics from Princeton University in 2015. He went on to become an associate professor for Georgetown in 2015 and a professor in 2021. At Georgetown, Sukhatme is in charge of overseeing numerous initiatives to help with research and academic programming, faculty hiring and managing budgets. His past experience includes practicing law as a patent attorney and serving as a law clerk for federal judges in the Northern District of California and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Sukhatmes broad experience and dynamic leadership promises to bring an exciting new chapter, to the Law School, said Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Professor Sukhatmes career has been defined by relentless innovation and a consistent dedication to the public good. I am so pleased to welcome him to Michigan, McCauley said. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. The University of Michigan Alumni Association is ending its LEAD scholarship program, aimed at boosting minority enrollment, amid a crackdown by President Donald Trump on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com ANN ARBOR, MI The University of Michigan Alumni Association is ending a scholarship program aimed at boosting enrollment of minority students. The change comes as universities nationwide are under scrutiny by the Trump administration for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The universitys LEAD program, which stands for Leadership, Excellence, Achievement and Diversity, has been discontinued effective immediately, Rob Clendening, vice president for marketing and communications for the alumni association, told MLive Friday, March 21. After careful consideration, the Alumni Association made the decision to discontinue the LEAD Scholars program to ensure it is complying with federal and state laws as well as recent guidance from the federal government, the programs website said. While difficult, this decision does not reflect on the success of the LEAD Scholars program or the hard work of the nearly 900 students the program supported over the years. The university did not provide an explanation for why the program was discontinued. However, the news comes as UM is currently under federal investigation for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs. RELATED: Trumps DOE targeting University of Michigan for alleged race-exclusionary practices LEAD was an undergraduate scholarship program, which means it would not have been the target of the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights investigation. About 300 UM students received scholarships through the LEAD program in the 2024-25 academic year, Clendening said. The program has supported nearly 900 students since its inception in 2008. The programs website said the alumni association would work with current LEAD students to connect them with other resources and support. The decision does not impact payments already disbursed this semester, the website said. LEAD Scholars received scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per year, renewable for four years. The UM Alumni Association started the LEAD program in 2008, after Michigan voters in 2006 approved Proposal 2, prohibiting public universities and colleges from considering race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin in admissions and financial aid processes. After watching UMs black student population decline, the alumni association created the scholarship program with the hopes of boosting opportunities and overall enrollment for underrepresented minorities on campus. Students needed to already be accepted to UM with a 3.5 high school GPA and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be considered for the LEAD program. DEI policies and programs have been on the chopping block at institutions across the country this year as President Donald Trump has threatened to pull federal funds from schools with diversity programs. The U.S. Department of Education issued a letter to institutions last month about ending the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities. The letter warned that any institutions that fail to comply with federal civil rights laws may face potential loss of federal funding. RELATED: Im afraid to lose my job': Trump cuts disturbing University of Michigan leaders, faculty UM has been barred from considering race in admissions since Michigan voters banned affirmative action in 2006. When the U.S. Supreme Court broadly banned affirmative action in 2023, the university announced its commitment to continue pursuing broader campus diversity. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and sign up for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. DURAND, MI -- A family-owned business that specializes in enhancing basements, reclaiming crawl spaces, and reinforcing foundations has been awarded a $250,000 state grant to establish a Midwest headquarters in Durand. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the support from the Michigan Strategic Fund on Thursday, March 20, saying Acculevel Inc. is expected to create at least 52 new jobs in Durand with starting wages between $48 and $72 per hour. Business development managers with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said in a memorandum to the MSF Board in February that the Acculevel project is expected to result in a capital investment of $3.8 million. The company currently employs 12 at a facility in the city of Owosso. Were honored to partner with the MEDC and the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership on this exciting project in Durand, Andy Beery, funder and chief executive officer of Acculevel said in a news release from the Governors Office. Their support has been invaluable, and we share their commitment to fostering economic development and creating opportunities in this region. This grant is not just an investment in Acculevel; its an investment in the future of Durand. Durand Mayor Jeff Brands said in a statement issued by the state that his city has pledged its support to the project, including an expedited process for any permits needed. Acculevel was also considering locations in Ohio and Wisconsin for its expansion, according to the state. The grant is designed to help address the cost disadvantage of locating the project in Michigan when compared to the competing sites, according to MEDC. The Michigan Department of Attorney General is reviewing a Flint City Council candidates billboard advertising to determine whether she violated state election law. (Nico Mendoza, MLive.com) (Nico Mendoza | MLive.com) FLINT, MI -- The Michigan Department of Attorney General is reviewing a Flint City Council candidates billboard advertising to determine whether she violated state election law. Beverly Biggs-Leavy, one of four candidates to represent Flints 3rd Ward in the May 6 primary election, has never been sworn into office as a council member but asks voters to re-elect her in a red banner across the top of a billboard advertisement on Carpenter Road near Dort Highway. The special election is being held for residents to choose a council representative to complete the term of the late 3rd Ward Councilman Quincy Murphy, who died on Sept. 29. The two top vote-getters in the primary election will face off in a general election in August with the winner completing Murphys term, which runs through the end of next year. Danny Wimmer, press secretary for the attorney general, said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal that the office has been made aware of the matter ... and we are currently reviewing the situation. Related: Flint City Council candidate asks voters to re-elect her to position shes never held Wimmer didnt immediately respond to additional questions about the state review from the Journal on Friday, March 21. The Journal has been unable to reach Biggs-Leavy for comment on her campaigns claim. Michigan election law makes it a misdemeanor for a candidate to advertise they are the incumbent in an election when theyre not. Biggs-Leavy has never been seated as a member of the Flint council but has contended she was rightfully elected to represent the 3rd Ward in a Nov. 5 recall election that targeted Murphy for removal. Despite receiving more votes than any other candidate in that election, Biggs-Leavy was never seated because the recall vote was never certified by the Genesee County Board of Canvassers. Election officials said in advance of that election that the results would be voided because even though ballots had been printed, Murphy ceased to be a public official and wasnt subject to recall when he died weeks before Nov. 5. Biggs-Leavy has also claimed in a Genesee Circuit Court motion that she was elected by the Flint City Council in February to fill the 3rd Ward seat on a short-term basis when she received five of the eight votes necessary. Biggs-Leavy was not sworn into office in that case after 1st Ward Councilman Leon El-Alamin was allowed to change his vote from Biggs-Leavy to former council member Kerry Nelson. State officials have previously investigated a similar election issue in Flint in 2022, eventually advising former Mayor Karen Weaver that her campaign could not continue asking voters to re-elect her on campaign signs because she no longer held the office. Weaver served as Flints mayor from 2016 until 2019 before she was defeated in her re-election bid by current Mayor Sheldon Neeley. Weaver campaigned to retake the office in 2022 but was defeated a second time by Neeley. FLINT, MI - For many aspiring doctors, Match Day is the culmination of years of hard work, determination, and dreams finally coming true. On Friday, March 21, 40 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine students at the Flint campus discovered where they would begin their medical careers. Through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), MD candidates across the country learned their residency placementsa defining moment on their journey to becoming physicians. For John Ochieng, originally of Kenya, the day was especially meaningful. He matched into general surgery at AdventHealth in Orlando, a top choice for him. Im pumped, Ochieng said. Its been a long journey, and this is just day one of whats to come. Ochieng moved to Berrien Springs when he was 6 and found his first mentor in high schoola respected doctor in his community. He was the epitome of what I thought a physician was, Ochieng said. He didnt have a specialtyhe did everything. He was a monumental figure in my community. Now, as he prepares for his next chapter, Ochieng sees his success as part of something bigger. Its about the American dream, he said. I came to the U.S. in pursuit of a better life, and this is the result of my parents hard work. For Gabrielle Ezell, Match Day was just as rewarding. The Detroit native will be staying close to home, beginning her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Henry Ford Hospitalher top choice. This was my number one, Ezell said. Her passion for medicine stems from personal experience. My family has struggled with infertility, she said. Its a serious issue, especially among Black women. I wanted to be part of the change. Staying in Detroit allows her to make an impact in her own community. Serving people in my backyard means everything to me. Ezell shared the moment with her best friend, Jailyn Hicks, who also matched into an OBGYN residency at Henry Ford Providence in Southfield. We came up through this journey together, Hicks said. A Detroit native, Hicks hopes to return to her community after completing her training. I want to serve my community once I finish my residency, she said. Flint has been an incredible part of my journey. Dr. Jennifer Edwards-Johnson, community assistant dean at MSUs College of Human Medicine, emphasized the programs commitment to Flint and its students. This is the best day of the year for me, she said. This is what its all about. Two-thirds of the students who come to Flint know they are coming here when they get accepted to medical school because of our two certificate programs. That means these students are committed to serving their communities and making a difference in Flint. With excitement in the air and envelopes opened, the next generation of doctors took their first steps toward their futuresready to heal, serve and inspire. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids Film Society is hosting an Indigenous filmmaker as part of its Artist Showcase series. Ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby, an American filmmaker and an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, will present his four short films on Friday, March 21. Beginning at 7 p.m. at Wealthy Theatre, McSauby will provide commentary on each work, followed by a discussion and Q&A. The idea is to spotlight a single artist and share a bunch of their work while also having a conversation around it, said Chris Kotcher, Wealthy Theatre director. Shane is a filmmaker from the area, but hes gone on to do some really unique filmmaking thats just gotten better and better. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, McSaubys work has been showcased worldwide in tribal communities, museums and film festivals. A former Sundance Institute Fellow, he earned his MFA in writing and directing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He is currently a visiting professor of film and video at Grand Valley State University. One of his films, Happy Thanksgiving, was selected by eight Academy Award-qualifying festivals, including the Woodstock Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival. His latest project, The Beguiling, premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and had its U.S. premiere at SXSW. The 15-minute film tells a harrowing story about two Indigenous people who are having a burgeoning romance. Things take a sinister turn as one grows suspicious of the other, turning their romantic evening into a darkly comedic nightmare. Weve played his work before, but were especially excited to have a whole night dedicated to his work and having a conversation around it, Kotcher said. The theater, a program of the nonprofit Grand Rapids Community Media Center, also hosts other opportunities for aspiring artists, including Open Projector Night. This week marks the second year theyve hosted an Artist Showcase series. The nonprofit has a mission of connecting the community through media, Kotcher said. One of the biggest ways we do that is through events like this giving a platform for local artists to share their voice. He told MLive that hosting diverse filmmakers like McSauby is important to represent the communitys scope and depth properly. It helps the community know and understand each other a little better, learning about what we have in common with the theatre and film society, he said. Were grateful to do that for local filmmakers like Shane. His work as an educator and a community member lifts others in the local art scene, too. Tickets for Fridays showcase start at $5 for students and $8 for general admission. Learn more and purchase tickets at grcmc.com. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. KENT COUNTY, MI A familys dog and two cats died Thursday, March 20, in a Wyoming house fire that caused significant damage. The fire was reported around 10:15 p.m. on Oak Valley Court SW, near Burlingame Avenue and 41st Street. The first firefighters arrived to find flames across the entire front of the home and burning vehicles in the driveway. The occupants of the home managed to escape before fire burned throughout the interior of the house, firefighters said. Wyoming firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring houses. Incidents such as this are devastating especially when beloved family pets are involved, Brad Dornbos, fire inspector and investigator, said in a statement. He said that minor injuries were assessed on scene with patients released. Dornbos reported significant damage. The West Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping the family. The fire started in the garage before spreading to the rest of the house. Working smoke alarms were detected by firefighters. The cause is under investigation. Firefighters were on the scene several hours. Grandville firefighters assisted Wyoming firefighters. Others who responded were Wyoming police, AMR ambulance, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and John Grace Restoration & Construction. Wyoming Fire Department said residents in need of smoke alarms can contact the Fire Administration Office at 616-530-7250 to discuss options. Anyone with additional information about the fire can contact the fire investigator at 616-257-9764, Dornbos said. WALKER, MI - Stans Tacos recently announced the closing of its last remaining location in the Grand Rapids area after previously shuttering three others. Owned by Grand Rapids-based Meritage Hospitality Group, the small-town chain opened the central location at 355 Wilson Ave. NW in Walker. Its last day open is planned for April 1 to make way for a new brunch concept, Morning Belle. Mike Thorp, director of operations at Meritage, said the restaurant group is saddened to say goodbye to Stans Tacos for good, but they are thrilled to introduce this new and exciting venture. We are incredibly grateful for the support and love weve received from the community over the years, he said. While it is bittersweet to close this chapter, we are excited to bring something fresh and innovative to Standale. Morning Belle will reflect our commitment to quality, creativity, and exceptional hospitality. Related: Stans Tacos closes Grand Rapids location In addition to all four shuttered Stans Tacos in the region, Meritage operates several restaurant brands, including numerous Wendys locations as well as Taco Johns and Morning Belle. The remaining Stans Tacos Walker location is known as a cherished part of the Standle dining scene, offering margaritas and an a la carte style menu with Mexican favorites like tacos, burritos and enchiladas. The 355 Wilson Ave. NW restaurant will be celebrating the end of Stans with throwback specials during its last two weeks open, such as the Crooked Goose and Stan Diego Baja Kitchen dishes. As we transition to our new brunch concept, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our customers who have made Stans Tacos a success, Thorp said. We look forward to welcoming you to our new brunch spot and continuing to serve the Standale community with the same passion and dedication. For more information about the Morning Belle grand opening this summer, visit stanstacos.com. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Gateway Mission launched The Spoon to generate revenue for the organization and to train students in Gateways culinary arts program. Photo by Ehren Wynder West Michigans restaurant industry has been hit with a rapid string of closures in the first months of 2025. While Grand Rapids restaurant scene has suffered from issues such as higher food and labor costs, and a shift from in-person dining to takeout, the lakeshore region hasnt fared much better. RELATED: These Grand Rapids area restaurants, breweries have closed since January - mlive.com Below is a list of six restaurants and cafes in Ottawa and Muskegon counties that have closed since the start of 2025. While some lasted decades in business, several made it little more than a year before closing. The Spoon Gateway Mission earlier this week closed The Spoon at 633 E. 24th St. in Holland. The faith-based nonprofit in a statement said it is currently exploring opportunities for how this space can continue to serve our neighbors and customers, while indicating it could reopen in the future. While were sad to close our doors, were proud of the successes our business created for students of the culinary arts program at Gateway Mission who put in the hours and hard work to learn at our restaurant, the statement read. Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers in dining, and were excited to see where life takes them next. Gateway Mission launched The Spoon, formerly the Gateway Spoon, in October 2023. The cafe served breakfast and lunch to generate revenue for the organization and to train students in Gateways culinary arts program. RELATED: Holland cafe closes indefinitely 15 months after opening - mlive.com Greekshore Greekshore, a popular Greek restaurant in Muskegons Lakeside neighborhood, shut down its brick-and-mortar location last month. The restaurants last day of business was the first weekend of February, according to a Facebook post. The post went on to say that the restaurant will focus efforts on its existing food truck, selling the same food items such as pitas, souvlaki kebabs and burgers. Greekshore opened in the summer of 2023 at 1845 Lakeshore Drive. RELATED: Muskegons Greekshore restaurant closes - mlive.com The Good Earth The Good Earth Cafe, a staple of downtown Holland, closed its doors for good this month after making a brief comeback last summer. Todd and Michelle Girdis revived the cafe after purchasing it from Dave and Cheryl Komen, who ran the cafe on East Seventh Street from 1999 until December 2023. The cafe reopened in summer 2024 inside the Towers on River at 159 S. River Ave., Suite 240. Less than a year later, the new owners announced they were closing the cafe for good. This journey has been a heartfelt one, their post on Facebook read. Through faith and grace, we found a new home for The Good Earth Cafe with a vision to continue the mission: to see you, listen to your feedback, give back to the community and serve you, your family, friends and coworkers with lovingly made bagels, breakfasts, lunches and drinks. The post did not give a reason for the sudden closure, but many users commented that the new location inside the Towers on River hurt the business. RELATED: Popular downtown Holland cafe closes - mlive.com On The Border National restaurant chain On The Border closed several locations in Michigan, including in Holland, as the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief. Some locations will remain open as the company navigates the bankruptcy process. This restructuring is the best path forward for On The Border. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and refocused on our growth, said On The Border President Chris Rockwood. The support weve received from our vendors and lenders will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently while remaining focused on our employees and guests. The Holland restaurant at 12383 James St. was one of four Michigan locations that closed, including Novi, Auburn Hills and Westland. The company still operates three locations in Michigan, with restaurants in Allen Park, Grandville and Kentwood, according to its website. RELATED: National Tex-Mex chain files for bankruptcy, closes multiple Michigan locations - mlive.com Way Cup Cafe Way Cup Cafe owner Carol Witteveen-Stewart abruptly announced in January that she chose to close her business for good. After 20 incredible years, it is with mixed emotions that I am announcing the closing of the Way Cup Cafe, Witteveen-Stewart posted on social media. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the memories, friendships, and support this community has given me over the years. The cafe at 501 W. 17th St. in Holland prided itself in offering a wide array of healthful food options. In addition to breakfast sandwiches and paninis, customers also could choose from a variety of vegan, low-carb and gluten-free items. Beverage choices included brewed coffee, espresso, tea and fruit smoothies. RELATED: Popular vegan cafe closes doors for good - mlive.com Two Cups of Joe Two Cups of Joe was open for just 14 months at 4557 E. Apple Ave. in Muskegon before closing its doors in January. Owner Joe Hoerle opened the brunch spot in October 2023 to offer a place for locals to grab quality food and drinks at reasonable prices. Head Chef Jonathan Messenger, however, said the decision to close was influenced by a decrease in foot traffic, misinformation among the community about the hours of operation and financial strain. We were already feeling the pressure of winter, Messenger said. We know every restaurant business, for the most part, slows down come this time of year, so we ended up just getting hit really hard with how slow it went for us. Some days, I was only filling two or three tickets. It was difficult for the owner to help with things financially as well as in-house. Although Two Cups of Joe is no more, Messenger and the rest of the staff said they would support Hoerle if he ever calls for assistance in the future. We appreciate the entire community coming together and supporting us we cant express that enough, Messenger said. There are plenty of people who have traveled far, but it wasnt consistent enough to be able to stay where we were in that location. Were the first business to be there that lasted longer than a year. Everyone else is between one to six months if theyre lucky. I feel accomplished that we made it that far. RELATED: Muskegon breakfast cafe closes its doors 14 months after opening - mlive.com Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 17, BYD officially entered the Serbian market, partnering with leading distributor TDV Automotive to introduce a range of new energy vehicle (NEV) models, according to a post on BYD's WeChat account. The lineup includes the all-electric BYD SEALION 7, BYD ATTO 2, BYD SEAL, and BYD ATTO 3, along with the plug-in hybrid SUV BYD SEAL U DM-i, catering to families seeking long-distance travel solutions. Photo credit: BYD Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, We are delighted to extend our sales network to Serbia. Every new market in Europe is crucial, and BYD is committed to bringing our sustainable technologies to more consumers. The models introduced in Serbia embody our commitment to quality, cutting-edge technology, and high efficiency. BYD's first showroom in Serbia is located in the capital, Belgrade, on Bulevar Milutina Milankovica. The company plans to open three additional sales and service centers across the country by the end of the year. Earlier this month, BYD also made a significant move in Central America by showcasing the BYD YUAN PRO (named the Yuan UP in the Chinese market) at the Guatemala Auto Show, marking the model's official launch in the local market. Built on BYD's advanced e-Platform 3.0 and powered by its signature Blade Battery, the YUAN PRO strengthens BYD's strategic expansion in the region. Additionally, BYD is accelerating its presence in Morocco with the recent launch of the BYD SEAGULL in Casablanca. This latest addition to BYD's Moroccan lineup comes in two variants, offering a range of 230 km and 300 km, respectively. Both versions are equipped with BYD's Blade Battery, and under DC fast charging, they can recharge from 30% to 80% of their battery capacity in just 30 minutes. The GoFundMe campaign for the family of Travis V. "Steve" Nguyen, stabbed to death in his Gratiot County nail salon on March 19, 2025. Cole Waterman ITHACA, MI An argument between cousins in a Michigan nail salon has resulted in the business owners stabbing death and his younger relative charged with murder. Gratiot County Sheriffs deputies, Alma police officers, and paramedics at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, responded to LA Nails at 7431 N. Alger Road in Pine River Township. Someone there called 911 to report its owner, 48-year-old Travis V. Steve Nguyen, had been stabbed in his back. Dispatchers relayed Nguyen was unresponsive and had no pulse. The business was open to the public and had numerous customers inside. The suspect stepped outside and calmly sat on a nearby bench, dispatchers said in recordings available on Broadcastify.com. Police entered the salon and found Nguyen deceased from multiple stab wounds. Still at the scene was his 30-year-old cousin and alleged killer, Jack C. Nguyen, whom police arrested without incident. Jack Nguyen spent the night in jail before appearing in Gratiot County District Court on Thursday for arraignment on one count of open murder. The charge contains first- and second-degree murder, both of which are life offenses though a first-degree conviction mandates no possibility of parole. Police have not commented on a possible motive. Travis Nguyen was the sole provider of his family, comprised of his wife and five daughters, ages 6, 11, 13, 19, and 24. He was known to work seven days a week for 20 years. He was the kindest man, father, brother, and husband, reads a March 21 post on LA Nails Facebook page. He was such a special part of Alma and touched the lives of everyone he met. We are at a loss of words and are trying to navigate this difficult time with family. Nguyen emigrated from Vietnam to the U.S. in 1993 at age 17 and completed high school in Texas. He married his first wife in September 2000 and the couple had four daughters. She predeceased him on Christmas in 2013. He married his second wife in 2014 and with her had his fifth daughter, his obituary states. Nguyen was putting his eldest daughter through medical school and his second eldest through college, while saving for his younger girls educations. He also sent back money to family in Vietnam. Travis was a dedicated entrepreneur, owning and operating California Nails and LA Nails in Alma, his obituary states. He was known for his love of fishing, karaoke, barbecuing, soccer, and badminton, and cherished spending time with his family and friends. A hard worker, Travis was deeply loved by his community. Travis Nguyens nieces have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family with their sudden financial hardship. The family is working to relocate relatives from overseas to help Nguyens daughters cope with their grief. The fundraiser has garnered more than $9,000 from 118 donors as of Friday morning, March 21. Jack Nguyen was on probation in Isabella County after pleading guilty to a drunken driving charge in February. Part of his probation entailed him paying a $1,060 fine, of which he still owes $960. The suspect is being held in custody without bond. He is to appear for a preliminary examination on April 10. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. Kendra Tucker, left, and her sister Melissa McCann, both of Sanford, wade into flood waters as they work to uncover lost family heirlooms and belongings on Thursday, May 21, 2020 in Sanford. After multiple dam failures upstream this week, water flooded the village, destroying homes and business, uprooting trees and crumbling bridges and infrastructure. (Jake May | MLive.com) MIDLAND, MI A federal judge has dismissed two lawsuits filed on behalf of residents living near where mid-Michigan dams that failed, causing catastrophic flooding in 2020. U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman on Thursday, March 20, issued an order dismissing all of Heron Cove Associations (HCA) complaints in two lawsuits filed against Gladwin and Midland counties as well as the Four Lakes Task Force. We are pleased with Judge Leitmans ruling on these two lawsuits, Four Lakes Task Force President Dave Kepler said in a statement. We remain hopeful for a positive resolution to the application for leave to appeal pending before the Michigan Supreme Court. The Heron Cove Association expressed disappointment with the decision. This case raises fundamental concerns about due process and the proper application of Michigan law, said Michael Homier, attorney for the Heron Cove Association. The federal courts dismissal not only disregards key legal principles but also preempts the role of the Michigan Supreme Court in providing the final word on state law issues. We are committed to ensuring that these matters receive the full and fair consideration they deserve. Related: Four Lakes Task Force opposes appeal in Michigan dam repair case The HCA is a group of property owners challenging certain special assessments that were created by the Four Lakes Task Force and approved by Midland County Board of Commissioners and Gladwin County Board of Commissioners. The special assessments arose out of the reconstruction of four dams that were damaged following severe flooding in 2020. The counties appointed the Four Lakes Task Force as the authority to oversee the maintenance of normal lake levels for Wixom Lake, Sanford Lake, Smallwood Lake and Secord Lake and the Four Lakes Special Assessment District. Read more: Residents to pay for part of Michigan dam repairs after appeals court sides with Four Lakes Task Force The legal dispute stems from property taxes that would be used to rebuild four hydroelectric dams and to restore impoundments damaged by the 2020 mid-Michigan flood. Ultimately, it was determined that repairing, improving and replacing the four dams would cost nearly $400 million. The Task Force secured over $200 million in federal and state grants for the project but assessed that about 55% of the costs would be covered through special assessments levied on property owners in the Four Lakes Special Assessment District. The special assessment for lake-level maintenance would be collected in annual installments over 40 years, totaling approximately $217,700,000. A separate special assessment was created to cover operational and maintenance expenses for the system between 2025 and 2029. Also: Attorneys appeal judges ruling that would require residents to pay for part of Michigan dam repair The latest back-and-forth is part of a slew of legal actions taken between the Four Lakes Task Force and the Heron Cove Association dating back to the beginning of 2024. In February 2024, after Midland and Gladwin counties approved capital assessment rolls and a computation of costs to restore the dams, the Heron Cove Association, comprised of residents most impacted by the special assessment district, appealed the decisions in Midland County Circuit Court. Heron Cove filed two lawsuits in Midland and Gladwin counties, alleging constitutional violations. However, the lawsuits werent served until May. In June, the lawsuits were both moved to the Federal District Court, Eastern District, in Bay City. A Midland County judge denied Heron Coves appeal in June, confirming the special assessment rolls. Heron Cove appeals the ruling to the court of appeals. In December, attorneys for both sides argued the issue before a three-judge panel in Lansing. The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the Midland judges ruling in January; the ruling was appealed to the high court a month later. Task Force officials said they will announce next week their next steps following the legal battles. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. Rob Davidson, a west Michigan emergency room doctor and executive director of the Committee to Preserve Health Care, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, March 20, flanked by state Senators Kevin Hertel and Sylvia Santana. Davidson argued that the Republican proposal to cut potentially hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid is a direct threat to the health and dignity of our patients, our neighbors and our communities. Matthew Miller LANSING, MI -- The Republican proposal to cut potentially hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid is a direct threat to the health and dignity of our patients, our neighbors and our communities, said Rob Davidson. The west Michigan emergency room doctor and the executive director of a patient advocacy organization called the Committee to Preserve Health Care was flanked by two Democratic lawmakers and a dozen other physicians, most of them holding signs that said, Dont Musk Up Medicaid. Screen grab: The Ryen Russillo Podcast Jeff Passan doesnt view himself as an advocate journalist. But that was the role that ESPN MLB insider unexpectedly found himself in earlier this week after the Department of Defense temporarily removed an article about Jackie Robinsons military career from its website. On Thursdays episode of The Ryen Russillo Podcast, Passan joined the show to preview the upcoming MLB season. But the Cleveland, Ohio, native also discussed his role in the Robinson story, which he said he first caught wind of after a follower on social media notified him of the storys dead link. After overcoming his initial fears that he might have been getting Centeld, Passan publicly called attention to the removal of the story, urging the ghouls responsible to restore it. According to the insider, he wasnt trying to make a political statement in fact, he was largely doing the opposite. This is a story that is about principle. And I thought we all agreed that Jackie Robinsons an American hero, Passan told Russillo. I thought that was a settled point and not somebody who needs to be used for political reasons and not somebody whose legacy needs to be diminished in any way because our current president has a particular perspective on diversity, equity and inclusion. Passan sent out his post late Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning the story had already taken on a life of its own. And as he continued to cover the New York Mets at Spring Training, he finally received a response from a Pentagon spokesperson effectively doubling down on the decision to remove the Robinson article, which Passan referred to as a bomb-throwing. Yet despite the Pentagon sending him two separate statements standing by the removal of the Robinson article, it was ultimately restored, with the DOD declining to answer why it was removed in the first place. In any event, Passan made it clear that he wasnt searching for social media clout with his efforts; rather, he was making the most of the credibility hes built over the course of his career. Im not seeking any sort of justice here. Im not seeking any sort of remuneration, he said. Its not that. Its that Jackie Robinson is such an important part of telling the American story, and it felt like this was being whitewashed. And regardless of what the excuses that they had, its back up right now. But sometimes people tell on themselves and it felt like they told on themselves here. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com. Saurav Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept On March 20, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held a phone conversation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev extended his congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Novruz holiday, wishing the nation prosperity and happiness. Expressing gratitude for the warm wishes, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the Uzbek President and the brotherly people of Uzbekistan on the Novruz holidaya celebration of shared culture, national and spiritual values, and traditionswishing them abundance and well-being. The presidents commended the successful development of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan strategic allied relations across all areas, driven by the strong will of the two brotherly nations. The heads of state hailed the consistent implementation of their directives and the realization of joint projects aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. In this regard, they highlighted the increase in trade turnover and joint projects in mechanical engineering, textiles, electrical engineering, energy, agriculture, tourism, and other sectors. The presidents also exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and future engagements. MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more. Saurav Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Chhaava fame Viineet Kumar Siingh unveils his bold new avatar as Somulu in Sunny Deol's Jaat Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Gayatri Rani USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept MF Husains Gram Yatra is the most expensive modern Indian artwork sold at auction for Rs 119 crore Saumya Rastogi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept India's upcoming green hydrogen hubs will be hungry for power, prompting calls to explore 24x7 green electricity Sweta Goswami USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Indias steel imports have become more concentrated in past decade Ishaan Gera USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Manish M. Suvarna USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept The North Dakota House of Representatives on Friday voted down a bill that proposed making it harder to give surveys to K-12 students. Senate Bill 2105 failed on the House floor in a 44-40 vote. Before that, it had received a narrow recommendation to pass in the Senate Education Committee, passing in a 25-22 vote, but received a recommendation not to pass from the House Education Committee. There were 10 representatives absent for Fridays vote. Any of those absent legislators can call for a reconsideration of the vote during the next legislative day. Several legislators said both during and after the session that it was likely this bill would be reconsidered and voted on again on Monday. The bill would have required that parents review a proposed survey and give written consent before a K-12 school can issue it to a student. It also stipulated that schools could not give surveys to students for any third-party organization other than the Department of Public Instruction. Those opposed to the bill said it would have removed the ability for schools to gather critical information. The bill would essentially eliminate the opportunity to gather information -- informative data, said the bill's carrier, Rep. Cynthia Schreiber-Beck, R-Wahpeton. The data is used by schools, teachers, public health professionals and policymakers for decision-making, evaluation and planning, as well as revealing trends that would determine if planned interventions are effective. She also mentioned that students already have the choice of whether to answer survey questions, and parents have the opportunity to opt their children out of surveys entirely if they wish. The bills supporters said they felt parents should have the option to opt-in for their children to take these surveys, not have to opt-out. They also took issue with some of the survey questions being given to middle school and high school students. Rep. Desiree Morton, R-Fargo, read some of the questions from a survey she said was for middle schoolers -- 11- to 13-year-olds -- on the floor, including, Have you ever had sexual intercourse? and The last time you had sexual intercourse, did you or your partner use a condom? Consider your children and your grandchildren, unbeknownst to you, taking a survey that's asking them these very, very personal questions, Morton said. My children at that age were very innocent, as I suspect a lot of your children and grandchildren are, and they are exposed to questions that they have no idea, maybe what these things are ... This is sad. Another representative, Rep. SuAnn Olson, R-Baldwin, called the survey questions voyeuristic and said she felt the data collected from these surveys was not being used beneficially. Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, said the data is being utilized by the state Health Department to keep track of trends in teen suicides, teen pregnancies, and teen drug use and smoking. He also went on to explain that the surveys move schools to get a sampling of students instead of universally distributing the surveys to all schools. The administrations of our schools look at the tests, and they can eliminate questions from the testing, Heinert said. And that is being done. It came to our attention that locally here, between the two Bismarck-Mandan communities, several questions were thrown out last year. So our schools are watching over this, our parents are given the opportunity to say no, and its not every child (taking the surveys.) Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com Manish M. Suvarna USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept BDL, HAL, other defence stocks surge up to 6% on DAC's nod for Rs 54,000 crore acquisition plans Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Vaibhavi Ranjan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Top gainers and losers today: Stocks that moved the most on March 21 Khushi Keswani USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. Adrija Chatterjee USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ashish Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Welspun One's promoter stake sale enters bidding phase; PAG, Kotak, others in the race Ashish Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Tata steel says nine individuals injured due to accident at Kalinanagar steel plant, flags no impact to production Aishwarya Nair USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years. Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The insurance industry pushed back on a bill that would limit the reach of potential lawsuits against North Dakota power companies when their electric lines cause wildfires. State Sen. Greg Kessel, R-Belfield, introduced Senate Bill 2339 to the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday. It would allow electric utilities to submit wildfire mitigation plans either to regulators or their board of directors, depending on the utility's corporate structure. In exchange, the plans would be taken as evidence in court that a company "exercised a reasonable standard of care" to prevent a fire, granted that there is compliance with the plan. It passed through the state Senate 45-1-1 and without opposing testimony during the bill's Senate committee hearing. The bill comes following destructive and deadly wildfires over the past few years in western North Dakota. Last October, drought and wind gusts reaching as high as 80 mph in the northwest portion of the state resulted in the spread of multiple wildfires that officials referred to as "record-breaking." In all, more than 118,000 acres of land burned, resulting in millions of dollars in damages and two people dead. As spring approaches, much of the state remains in drought conditions. First responders have already had to deal with some fires. A report from the state Fire Marshal's Office attributed the cause of the fire that killed two men last fall to a downed power line; another report came back inconclusive, though a utility pole was unable to be ruled out as the cause. Two of the fires were found to have been caused by flaring of excess natural gas at oil wells, an industry practice done when there is not enough infrastructure in place to move or use the gas that rises, and companies do not decrease oil output. Those were the only fires the Fire Marshal's Office was called to investigate. Some federal fire investigations are ongoing. Similar bills have popped up in a number of states across the western U.S. as insurance and credit has become more difficult to access for utility companies in the wake of wildfires and related lawsuits. In California, the utility company Pacific Gas and Electric went bankrupt a few years ago after settling for $13.5 billion with wildfire victims. Kessel said that the goal of the bill is to encourage greater wildfire mitigation efforts from power companies, while protecting them from liabilities that they may face during incidents that are out of their control. He said by guarding against utility bankruptcy, the bill would protect ratepayers, too. "If (utilities are) negligent, they're going to be held liable," he said. Kessel developed the bill by speaking with utility companies, he said. Representatives for multiple state utilities spoke to their ongoing efforts to mitigate wildfires. The bill also received the support of state Fire Marshal Doug Nelson. "Where we settled into was, 'This seems like a good step forward,'" he said. Dennis Pathroff, a lobbyist for investor-owned utility companies MDU, Otter Tail Power and Xcel, said that courts have already found power companies do not have "strict liability" for damages from their lines. That means if a utility company is not negligent or intentionally harmful, it cannot be held liable for damages. The judicial findings make this legal interpretation "common law," he said. "We're not making a change to the existing law, we're codifying existing law ... (but) say the (North Dakota) Supreme Court gets some new justices on the bench, and they can then say, 'strict liability' applies, that would be to the utilities' detriment," he said. But representatives from the insurance industry said the bill, as written, would give power companies too much leeway to avoid responsibility for damages. "The utilities are getting legal protections that are not available to almost any other business entity in the state," said Phillip Arnzen, the Midwest vice president for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). "Someone ultimately has to pay the costs," he added in testimony. NAMIC proposed multiple changes to the law including language that would make submitting a plan mandatory and for the bill to require a new plan every year instead of every three. The proposed amendments also point to the specific industry standards that companies must follow to qualify for liability limits. Arnzen said NAMIC's members still would not be "thrilled" with the bill if the amendments are included, but said the changes represent a compromise. "If they get that decreased liability, they should have a much higher standard," he said. John Ward, a lobbyist with State Farm Insurance, disagreed with Pathroff's interpretation of case law. He argued that the court has found questions on "strict liability" falls to the state Legislature. Still, he said State Farm would see the bill as acceptable if NAMIC's amendments are added. "We're probably going to have some other concerns with ideas that (utilities are) going to be bringing in upcoming sessions to further limit their liability," he said. Finance Minister likely to engage with GoM to end impasse on 12% GST slab Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com Meghna Mittal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept J. Kumar is an author, journalist and a political commentator based in in Mumbai who writes on crime and Maharashtra politics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Amitabh Sinha is Executive Editor, News18 India. He has over 25 years of experience in print and TV journalism. Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Karnataka bandh: Normal life in Bengaluru may not be affected Christin Mathew Philip USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Karnataka clears Bill to provide 4% reservation to Muslims: What does it say and why there is controversy around it? Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_ Christin Mathew Philip USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said he was unaware of allegations that his chief of narcotics received special treatment after he crashed his county vehicle into seven parked cars last April, but if investigations determine thats what happened and that illegal conduct transpired, he wants to know. If I was made aware of that, obviously I would have taken the proper action, but I was not made aware of that, he said. We have a great relationship with the Buffalo Police Department, and they did an investigation into the accident that evening. And if they tell me that now, a year later, that it was something different, then I will have to act appropriately. Buffalo police officers responded to an accident scene on April 11 after Chief Daniel D.J. Granville crashed a Sheriffs Office pickup truck he was driving into seven parked vehicles on Buffalos Lower West Side. But it appears the only legal consequences he faced was for driving the wrong way on a one-way street, which was later reduced to a jaywalking charge. Granvilles sister-in-law was the supervising officer on the scene and signed off on paperwork related to the crashes. Even though Granville is part of Garcias leadership team, Garcia said he was unaware of any allegations of impropriety before the incident was reported by local news last week. Nobody made any allegations to the Erie County Sheriffs Office, he said. He said he knew last year that Granville was involved in a multi-car accident and that a court summons had been issued. It was his understanding, he said, that routine protocol was followed, similar to any other accident involving a county vehicle. If there was something different, something nefarious that is the question that bothers me, that somebody would think that I would not act appropriately and do what is honorable, he said. Garcia said he will issue discipline if facts warrant it, but such information would need to come to light first. It was not the first crash involving a county-owned vehicle and a member of the Granville family, nor was it the first time questions were raised about how both the Sheriffs Office and Buffalo Police handled the matters. Two wrecks of Erie County sheriff's vehicles 8 years apart. Two brothers behind the wheel. Erie County Sheriff's Office's Chief of Narcotics Daniel "D.J." Granville's 2024 car wreck was not the first crash involving a county-owned vehicle and a member of the Granville family, nor was it the first time questions were raised about how both the Sheriff's Office and Buffalo police handled the matters. In April 2016, William Billy Granville, D.J. Granvilles younger brother and an undercover narcotics detective, smashed a sedan into a parked SUV, a crash that sent the 2-ton SUV into a utility pole 100 feet away. Billy Granvilles crash was reported by The Buffalo News the following month, detailing how the crash was handled, including how Billy Granville didnt report what happened the way he was supposed to. At the time, The News agreed not to identify Billy Granville as the driver upon request of Sheriffs Office officials, who said naming him would render him useless as an undercover investigator. The Granville familys involvement with law enforcement and city politics has included giving nearly $30,000 to political campaigns, including those of Garcia, Mayor Christopher Scanlon, former Mayor Byron Brown and U.S. Rep. Timothy Kennedy over the past decade. D.J. Granvilles wife, Maria Esquillin Granville, held fundraisers for Scanlon in July and January. The Buffalo Common Councils Police Oversight Committee will hold an investigative hearing on the Granville matter on April 17, by which time the Buffalo Police Departments Internal Affairs investigation is expected to be done. The Erie County Legislature will hold its own investigative hearing regarding how the matter was handled by the Sheriffs Office and county administration on April 24. Legislature Chairman Timothy Meyers said Thursday that Garcia, Granville and County Attorney Jeremy Toth will all be asked to appear. This is where were going to start, Meyers said. Were going to ask everybody to come. Hopefully theyll be forthcoming. Garcia said he intends to appear before the Legislature and supported the delay in the Legislature meeting until the Buffalo Police Departments investigation is done. He said he is waiting for Buffalo to wrap up its internal investigation, which will inform the Sheriffs Offices own internal investigation. He cant take further action until Buffalos Internal Affairs Division releases its findings. That investigation is expected to wrap up in three weeks, according to county sources. Garcia said hes had no involvement with the Buffalo investigation. If something is produced from Buffalo police that is different from what they told me that occurred, which was a multi-car accident and summons, then, obviously, everything changes here, he said. The Buffalo News asked why Garcia would not be more informed on the Granville matter, given that he and Granville routinely work closely together. According to county payroll records, it appears Granville took four weeks of sick time after the crash. Garcia said he is not free to publicly discuss his interactions with Granville until internal investigations are completed. He also said he could not state whether Granville was on duty or off duty at the time of the accident and that this, too, is being further investigated. Whether Granville was on duty at the time of the crash is important because it determines whether the county is responsible for the payment of $60,000 in settlement costs to the car owners whose vehicles were struck. Toth, the county attorney, said he was told by the Sheriffs Office that Granville was on duty at the time of the crash, even though official county timesheets reviewed by the Comptrollers Office do not corroborate this. Garcia declined to comment on whether Granvilles work status has changed since news of the accident came to light last week, saying its a personnel issue. County payroll records do not indicate any change in Granvilles employment status. The sheriff said he wants to allay concerns about the integrity of his office. He also pointed out that no sheriffs officers were on the scene when Granville crashed his vehicle. He wants the Buffalo Police investigation to be wrapped up in a timely manner so that he can make decisions and be accountable to the public, he said. I will continue doing the right thing, he said. And if it happens to be Chief Granville, or it happens to be my brother, I will continue to do the right thing. The facts are the facts, and the facts will come out. No one will receive special treatment, no matter who they are, he said. Very serious issue: Calls for greater judicial accountability rise after unaccounted cash found at judges residence Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Namrata Agarwal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept The second-biggest shareholder of Lee Enterprises, the Iowa-based media company that owns The Buffalo News, said Thursday that he wants to try to buy the company. The Hoffmann Family of Companies, which owns just under 10% of Lees stock, said in a letter to Lee executives that it wants to have open discussions about buying Lee in its entirety. The letter of intent from David Hoffmann, the companys billionaire chairman, comes after Hoffmann has been steadily adding to its stake in Lee, which also owns publications in 73 U.S. markets, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Omaha World Herald. In an interview Thursday, Hoffmann said combining Lees 78 newspapers with the 21 publications his company owns would create the second-largest newspaper company in the United States, behind Gannett. Local news and journalism is important to me, Hoffmann said. To me, its part of the fabric of America. Ive had some success in my life, so its something that Id like to invest in and try to preserve, and at the same time, I think well be successful from an investment point of view. In a statement, Lee said it would evaluate any offer Hoffmann were to make. Lees board of directors and management team are committed to acting in the best interests of all shareholders, the statement said. Consistent with its fiduciary duties, Lees board of directors will carefully review any credible proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interests of the company and Lee shareholders. Hoffmann, in his letter, expressed concern about Lees intention to divest $25 million in non-core assets and its recent earnings, which included a net loss of $16 million during the final three months of last year. He also said he hoped that, by purchasing Lee and combining it with the other media properties that he owns, it would allow it to support and grow the local news outlets. We believe this commitment represents a sharp contrast to other potential acquirors, such as non-local hedge funds and investment firms primarily concerned with increasing profits over jobs, local concerns and the power of quality journalism, Hoffmann wrote. Today, more than ever, we embrace the concept that local news is a fundamental component of journalism and the communities it serves, and its preservation is in the best interest of a well-informed public, Hoffmann wrote. I thought, nows probably a good time to put my money where my mouth is, Hoffmann said in the interview. While Hoffmann said the declining sales of newspapers is likely to accelerate, he said Lees digital business, which now generates more revenue than its print products, is an asset. We believe deft management and navigation of this transition to be essential to Lees future viability, Hoffmann wrote. Lees stock, which has lost 26% of its value over the past year, rallied by almost 14% on Thursday after news of Hoffmanns letter became public. Hoffmanns letter did not include any details on the price he might be willing to pay for Lee, although he indicated that he would like the process to move quickly. While Hoffmann noted the decline in newspapers, he said he has no plans to move away from them. Were pretty good at getting advertisers to advertise in the hard copy, as well as the transformation into digital media. We think theres a place for both. And Id like to preserve that, Hoffmann said. I, personally, still like reading the newspaper. A lot of my friends like reading the newspaper ... and I think we can create a new revival of that medium. Hoffmann said he spoke with Lee executives Thursday morning and told them the letter was coming. As he built his stake in Lee, Hoffmann had previously expressed interest in potentially acquiring more Lee newspapers. Its been a very positive ongoing dialog. I dont think theyre surprised about our letter. I dont think very many people are surprised about our letter, Hoffmann said. Were not an activist, were not antagonistic. Weve been regularly talking. Hoffmann, whose net worth was estimated at $2 billion by Forbes magazine, operates dozens of businesses, from real estate developments and wineries to luxury transportation and manufacturers. In all, the Hoffmann Family of Companies employs more than 16,000 people. We have a strong record of success in the media industry, as evidenced by our ownership of 14 media companies, including our most recent successful acquisitions of the Napa Valley Register, St. Helena Star and Inside Napa magazine, which it acquired from Lee. Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms. Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept European powers draft plan to take over more NATO defence duties amid Trump uncertainty 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Neither US Govt nor Suri has approached us: MEA on detained Indian scholar Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Pradeep Tripathi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick under fire for promoting Tesla stock on Fox News 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The seal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seen in Del Rio, Texas, September 19, 2021. REUTERS Expect To Pay Less Next Month On Your Energy Bill California Capitol Building View Photo Sacramento, CA Millions of Californians might be surprised when they see how much they owe on their utility bill next month due to the California Climate Credit. Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that gas and electric customers will receive an average of $137 in credits on their April bills. The credit is automatically applied to bills every April and October from the states Cap-and-Trade climate program that requires polluters to pay for climate action. Every year, our Cap-and-Trade program provides essential funding to Californias efforts to clean the air while also giving residents money back on their utility bills. Millions of California families will benefit from this relief, commented Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom remarked that since 2014, California households have already received an average of $1,120 in combined automatic April and October climate credits on their utility bills, delivering $10.9 billion in bill credits back to utility customers. The programs credits range from $35 to $259 for electricity bills, with most receiving $56 to $81, and $54 to $87 on natural gas bills. This years Cap-and-Trade breakdown provides $2.4 billion in residential credits, including $1.4 billion for electric customers, $1 billion for natural gas customers, and an additional $122 million for small businesses. To check your credit amount click here. Tuolumne County resident Mike Albrecht speaks with Mike Rowe View Photo Santa Monica, CA Timber industry leader, and local business owner, Mike Albrecht recently had a chance to explain the challenges facing the nations logging industry. Albrecht was interviewed by TV host Mike Rowe for an episode of his national podcast that was released last week. Rowe has won an Emmy for his work in television and is also a best-selling author. Albrecht tells Clarke Broadcasting that the interview happened at Rowes studio in Santa Monica on February 24. The program manager of the show had contacted Albrecht because he is the President of the American Loggers Council. Albrecht says he wanted to stress on the show that America and California are blessed with beautiful and abundant forests, yet both the state and nation are leading importers of lumber, and many of the forests are rotting and burning at an accelerating pace. Albrecht added, We can do a lot to make our forests healthier and produce the wood products we need right here in America. We should be exporting timber products, as well as our forestry knowledge, to other countries. The episode was entitled, Got Wood? It can be found by clicking here. We reported recently that Rowe also signed a document supporting the Tuolumne County Career Technical Education Initiative that was launched by the Sonora Area Foundation. Albrechts wife, Vicki, is a board member of SAF, and he is a past board member. Yves here. Trump continues to suffer legal setbacks. The question is the degree to which he can keep defying the courts, as he has seemed determined to do with deportations. With that apparatus, Trump looks to have solid control over the military, Federal Marshals, and the FBI, so he appears able to continue to thump his nose at orders. Its not clear that DOGE has yet achieved the same level of control across the many departments and agencies it has targeted. Note that judges can impose civil contempt penalties. That remarkably can include incarceration, but per the Federal Marshals point above, a judge would not succeed, as he could normally, in ordering the gens darmes in court to haul away the contempt perp. However, one interview of a judge indicated that the penalties are a maximum of $.1000 a day, as with criminal contempt, but can be set to double every day the defiance continues. From a Politico interview with former Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin: Assuming that the judge Judge Boasberg or any other judge for that matter eventually concludes that the government deliberately violated a court order, what are the judges options? I can tell you that every former judge I know has been asked this question by somebody in the media, including me. I think the only real option is civil contempt. You could also sanction the person, and thats always interesting, because you could have fines that double every day, so it can get serious fast. I dont know how good at math you are, but a $1,000 fine doubling every day can quickly add up to real money not for the United States government, but for an individual. If somebody was individually sanctioned, that adds up By Jessica Corbett. Originally published at Common Dreams Defenders of the Social Security Administration celebrated a federal judges Thursday order blocking U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency from access to millions of Americans SSA records. The DOGE team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion. It has launched a search for the proverbial needle in the haystack, without any concrete knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack, wrote Maryland-based U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander, who issued a temporary restraining order. In her 137-page opinion, Hollander explained that to facilitate the expedition, SSA provided members of the SSA DOGE team with unbridled access to the personal and private data of millions of Americans, including but not limited to Social Security numbers, medical records, mental health records, hospitalization records, drivers license numbers, bank and credit card information, tax information, income history, work history, birth and marriage certificates, and home and work addresses. Yet, defendants, with so-called experts on the DOGE team, never identified or articulated even a single reason for which the DOGE team needs unlimited access to SSAs entire record systems, thereby exposing personal, confidential, sensitive, and private information that millions of Americans entrusted to their government, noted the appointee of former President Barack Obama. Indeed, the government has not even attempted to explain why a more tailored, measured, titrated approach is not suitable to the task. Instead, the government simply repeats its incantation of a need to modernize the system and uncover fraud. Its method of doing so is tantamount to hitting a fly with a sledgehammer, asserted the judge, concluding that plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their claim that such action is arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Privacy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Thank you to @AFSCME, @ActiveRetirees, and @AFTunion for standing up to Musk in court to protect Americans privacy. Today is a big step forward, but we cant take our eye off the ball. Elon Musk must come before Congress to tell us what he plans to do. He is not above the law! https://t.co/z5qbDWTUNk Rep. John Larson (@RepJohnLarson) March 20, 2025 The plaintiffs in this case are three unionsthe American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Alliance for Retired Americans, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)represented by Democracy Forward. In addition to DOGE, they sued the SSA and its acting commissioner, Leland Dudek, over the data grab. This is a major win for working people and retirees across the country, AFSCME president Lee Saunders said of the Thursday order. The court saw that Elon Musk and his unqualified lackeys present a grave danger to Social Security and have illegally accessed the data of millions of Americans. This decision will not only force them to delete any data they have currently saved, but it will also block them from further sharing, accessing, or disclosing our Social Security information. AFT president Randi Weingarten also welcomed the development, saying that no one filed for Social Security believing their personal assets would be appropriated by a billionaire who attacks Social Security as a Ponzi scheme. Americans must be allowed to retire with dignity and grace without having to worry about Elon Musk jeopardizing their savings. Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forwardwhich is involved with multiple court battles challenging the Trump administrations sweeping assault on the federal governmentpledged Thursday that our team will continue its legal efforts to ensure that this data remains protected and that those responsible are held accountable. Judges who have ruled against Trump and Musks agenda have faced threats of violence and impeachment. WATCH: Social Security Works President Nancy Altman discusses Elon Musk's Social Security cuts with NBC News Liz Kreutz @LizKreutzNews @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/f6yPfUvrb1 Social Security Works (@SSWorks) March 20, 2025 While the Musk-led entitys attempt to gut the federal government has sparked various legal fights, this ruling is the first time a federal court has explicitly mandated that Musk and DOGE delete unlawfully obtained data, according to Democracy Forward. Critics of the administrations attempt to sabotage the SSAwhich includes cutting phone services, laying off workers, shutting down offices, and stealing seniors earned benefitswarn that Trump and Musk are pushing for privatization. Worlds deepest art installation dumped 4.3 miles underwater near Mariana Trench Interesting Engineering Ancient Greek and Roman Statues Were Not Only Beautiful, but Also Smelled Nice, Too Smithsonian Your Poop Schedule Says a Lot About Your Overall Health, Study Discovers Science Alert Lean Cuisine and Stouffers meals recalled for wood-like material linked to choking AP Whats the Matter with Abundance? Malcolm Harris, The Baffler Climate/Environment Pandemics China? Chinese semiconductors and alternative paths to innovation High Capacity Africa Causes of War New Left Review. On the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Alliance of Sahel States Forges Ahead Black Agenda Report India Old Blighty O Canada Syraqistan European Disunion EU Summit Live: #Ukraine peace talks are not real negotiations, EU leaders say: EU leaders gather for a second summit this month. Follow live: https://t.co/uVkFh956Eg pic.twitter.com/NcNZ27HcZQ Euractiv (@Euractiv) March 20, 2025 New Not-So-Cold War Odessa Getting POUNDED Ukraines air defense and electronic warfare systems are overloaded as an unprecedented wave of drones hits Odessa. Kovalenko, head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, admits the sheer number of drones is overwhelming defenses. - https://t.co/hrKyeRpTyl pic.twitter.com/YsOtzQCB9k DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) March 20, 2025 South of the Border Why Bukele opened his infamous prison to Trump WaPo Trump 2.0 DOGE Democrats en Deshabille Big Brother is Watching You Watch How Three Alleged Tesla Vandals Got Caught 404 Media Police State Watch Healthcare? Scientists Uncover Lyme Diseases Hidden Achilles Heel And How to Exploit It SciTech Daily Why CDCs Planned Vaccine-Autism Study Is Raising Eyebrows MedPage Today AI Putting Missile Interceptors In Space Critical To Defending U.S. Citizens: Space Force Boss The War Zone Woke Watch The Rise and (Likely) Fall of Wokeness The Ideas Letter Groves of Academe Trumps Battles With Colleges Could Change American Culture for a Generation New York Times Our Famously Free Press America Needs a New Free Speech Movement Zephyr Teachout, The Nation Supply Chain The Final Frontier The 420 Weed Users At Greater Risk For Heart Attack, Stroke Health Day Im sure its the CANNABIS, and definitely NOT the novel pandemic pathogen that directly harms the heart & destroys the vascular system. Theyre going to come for everything but Covid, get ready. Just kill me already. pic.twitter.com/Ev0ymuMU7b Laura Miers (@LauraMiers) March 20, 2025 The Bezzle Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. U.S. Rep. John Rose launches gubernatorial campaign Congressman announces run in Wilson County after previewing bid for state's top seat in Franklin in late February Chinas space dogfighting: A new frontier in the battle for orbital dominance The U.S. Space Force revealed that China is practicing "dogfighting" maneuvers with satellites in low Earth orbit, using coordinated movements to inspect, stalk and potentially disable other satellites, signaling a growing threat to U.S. space infrastructure. U.S. adversaries, particularly China and Russia, are rapidly closing the capability gap in space warfare, with China demonstrating advanced satellite maneuvering and Russia showcasing aggressive satellite stalking techniques. The Space Force, established in 2019, aims to ensure U.S. space superiority by developing capabilities to contest and control the space domain, employing both kinetic and non-kinetic means to counter adversary threats. China's recent maneuvers, alongside its history of anti-satellite tests and counterspace capabilities, highlight a shift toward aggressive space warfare tactics, including jamming, spoofing and cyberattacks. The U.S. must undergo cultural, operational and technological transformations to maintain dominance in space, as failure to adapt risks ceding critical strategic advantages to adversaries in this increasingly contested domain. In a stark reminder of the escalating militarization of space, the U.S. Space Force has revealed that China is practicing dogfighting maneuvers with satellites in low Earth orbit. This alarming development underscores the growing threat posed by Beijings ambitions to dominate the final frontier a domain critical to Americas national security and global leadership. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein disclosed the details during the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 18, 2025. With our commercial assets, we have observed five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchronicity and in control, Guetlein said. Thats what we call dogfighting in space. They are practicing tactics, techniques and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another. The maneuvers, observed in 2024, involved three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Shijian-6 05A/B spacecraft, which are believed to have signals intelligence capabilities. These coordinated movements, known as rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), demonstrate Chinas ability to inspect, stalk and potentially disable other satellites a capability that could cripple U.S. military and civilian space infrastructure in a conflict. A shrinking capability gap Gen. Guetleins warning is not an isolated observation. It comes amid a broader trend of U.S. adversaries primarily China and Russia closing the technological gap in space warfare. That capability gap used to be massive, Guetlein noted. Weve got to change the way we look at space, or that capability gap may reverse and not be in our favor anymore. This is not the first time China has flexed its space muscles. In 2007, Beijing conducted an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test, destroying one of its own weather satellites and creating a dangerous debris field in low Earth orbit. Since then, China has continued to develop a range of counterspace capabilities, including ground-based lasers, cyberattacks, and now, sophisticated satellite maneuvering. Russia, too, has demonstrated its willingness to weaponize space. In 2019, Moscow showcased a nesting doll capability, where one satellite released a smaller spacecraft that stalked a U.S. satellite. These actions highlight a troubling shift in the space domain, where once-benign operations are increasingly being replaced by aggressive, warfighting postures. The Space Forces imperative: Superiority in the stars The revelations about Chinas space dogfighting drills underscore the urgency of the U.S. Space Forces mission. Established in 2019, the Space Force was created to ensure American dominance in spacea domain now contested by adversaries who seek to undermine U.S. military and economic power. The purpose of the Space Force is to guarantee space superiority for the joint forcenot space for spaces sake, Guetlein emphasized. Space operations guarantee that, just like all the other domains, we can fight as a joint force and we can depend on those capabilities. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman echoed this sentiment at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Conference earlier this month. Space superiority is the reason that we exist as a service, Saltzman declared. Space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest and control the space domainemploying kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation, and even destruction, if necessary. A new era of space warfare The term dogfighting evokes images of World War II-era aerial combat, but the reality of space warfare is far more complex. Satellite maneuvers are slow and deliberate, often taking hours or days to execute. However, the stakes are no less dire. Satellites are the backbone of modern military operations, enabling everything from GPS navigation to missile defense to battlefield communications. Chinas recent maneuvers are a clear signal that it is preparing for a future conflict in which space plays a central role. Unfortunately, our current adversaries are willing to go against international norms of behavior, Guetlein warned. The new norms of behavior in space, unfortunately, within the past three years: jamming, spoofing, dazzling cyber hacks are happening all around us on a day-to-day basis. To counter these threats, the Space Force must undergo a cultural and operational transformation. Weve got to change our culture. Weve got to change our training. Weve got to change our [tactics, techniques, and procedures], our [concept of operations]. Weve got to change our kit going forward, Guetlein said. Because this is the most complex and challenging strategic environment that we have seen in a long timeif not ever. Why this matters The militarization of space is not a distant threatit is happening now. Chinas satellite dogfighting drills are a stark reminder that the U.S. can no longer take its dominance in space for granted. As the Space Force works to close the capability gap, Congress must ensure the service has the resources and support it needs to maintain American superiority in this critical domain. The lessons of history are clear: nations that fail to adapt to new frontiers of warfare risk being left behind. In the 20th century, airpower revolutionized military strategy. In the 21st century, spacepower will do the same. The question is whether the United States will rise to the challengeor cede the high ground to its adversaries. As Gen. Guetlein aptly put it, We need a credible fighting force, and we need the capability to deter and, if necessary, defeat aggression. That is the inflection point that youre seeing today. The battle for orbital dominance has begun, and America must be ready to fightand win. Sources include: DefenseNews.com BreakingDefense.com AirandSpaceForces.com Never forget: March 18, 2025, the day 183 children in Gaza were massacred by Israel 183 children killed in a single day, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Gazas youth in history. Israeli airstrikes deliberately targeted suhoor meals during Ramadan, wiping out entire families. Over 18,000 children killed since October 2023, as Gaza becomes a graveyard for children. Ceasefire agreements collapse, with Israel resuming indiscriminate bombings and ground operations. Gazas healthcare system collapses, leaving injured children without life-saving care. Freeing hostages has morphed into a war on innocent children, with over 18,000 dead in Gaza On 18 March 2025, the world witnessed one of the most horrific massacres of children in modern history. As families in Gaza gathered for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan, Israeli airstrikes rained down, killing 183 children and over 436 Palestinians in total. The attack, which targeted residential areas and makeshift displacement camps, left entire generations of families wiped out in a single night. The timing of the strikes was no accident. Israeli officials claimed they were targeting Hamas members allegedly present at suhoor gatherings. However, the evidence tells a different story: nearly half of the victims were children, some as young as infants. People were killed while they were sleeping. Women were killed whilst they were preparing meals, said Rachel Cummings of Save the Children, who is currently in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. The numbers are staggering. Since October 2023, over 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza, according to Defence for Children International Palestine (DCIP). Tuesdays attack marked one of the deadliest days for children in Gazas history. Eighteen thousand dead children since 7 October 2023 tells me this is a war on children, regardless of what the Israeli military says, said Miranda Cleland of DCIP. Among the victims were 15-year-old Omar al-Jamassi and his 16-year-old sister Layan, who were killed alongside their mother and siblings. Layan had been excited to start the new school year on Tuesday morning. Instead, her life was cut short by an Israeli airstrike hours before her first class. They were always smiling and shared happiness everywhere they go, said Ahmad Abu Rizik, founder of the Gaza Great Minds project, which provided tent schools for displaced children like Layan and Omar. The collapse of humanity Gazas population is one of the youngest in the world, with nearly half of its 2.3 million residents under the age of 18. This demographic reality has made the enclave a killing field for Israels relentless bombardment. Gaza has become a graveyard for children, said Ammar Ammar of UNICEF. Children have been killed, injured, buried under rubble, frozen and starved to death, and many other horrors no child should be subjected to. The physical toll is only part of the story. UNICEF estimates that all of Gazas one million children are in need of mental health and psychosocial support. No child will emerge from the horrors of months of relentless bombardment without the imprint of trauma, Ammar added. For over two weeks, Israel has blocked all aid trucks from entering Gaza, leaving families without food, clean water, or medical supplies. Hospitals, already decimated by months of war, are overwhelmed. Children are dying of preventable conditions like malnutrition, dehydration, and hypothermia, due to Israel's siege on Gaza and the mass destruction of homes and the healthcare system, said Cleland. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that medics are struggling to manage the sharp increase in casualties. Due to the recent suspension of humanitarian aid into Gaza, stocks of medical supplies have dropped significantly, the ICRC said in a statement. A violation of international law Israels actions on 18 March 2025 were not only a violation of the fragile ceasefire agreement but also a blatant breach of international humanitarian law. Children enjoy special protection under both international humanitarian law and international human rights law. They must never be a target, said Ammar. Cleland echoed this sentiment, stating, Yesterday's attacks were not only a violation of the negotiated truce agreement, but a violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits indiscriminate attacks. Bombing densely populated civilian areas is, by definition, indiscriminate. As Israeli tanks roll deeper into Gaza and airstrikes continue unabated, questions remain: Is Israel truly defending itself anymore? Is their Palestinian displacement strategy only emboldening Hamas and putting Israeli citizens at increased risk? How many more thousands of children must die before the world takes meaningful action and deposes the Netanyahu regime for their war crimes? The words of Ahmad Abu Rizik, mourning the loss of Layan and Omar, haunt the conscience of humanity: They were always smiling and shared happiness everywhere they go. In the face of such unspeakable tragedy, one cannot help but wonder: when will the world stop turning a blind eye to the massacre of innocent children? Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net News.sky.com Zerohedge.com Is our five-year nightmare finally over? Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.s confirmation as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the US is the ultimate repudiation of the Covid policy response. (Article by Jeffrey A. Tucker republished from Brownstone.org) The scheme of lockdown-until-vaccination was the biggest effort of government and industry on a global scale on historical record. It was all designed to transfer wealth to winning industries (pharma, online retail, streaming services, online education), divide and conquer the population, and consolidate power in the administrative state. By 2021, RFK, Jr., had emerged as the worlds most vocal, erudite, and knowledgeable critic of the scheme. In two brilliant books The Real Anthony Fauci and The Wuhan Cover-Up he documented the entire enterprise and dated the evolution of the pandemic industry from its postwar inception to the present. There was simply no way to read these books and think about the corporatist cabal in the same way. The circumstances that led to his appointment at HHS are themselves implausible and remarkable. Perceiving President Biden to be a weak candidate one who had forced masks and shots on the population and brutally censored tech and media he decided to make a run for president, presuming that there would be an open primary. There wasnt one, so he was forced into an independent run. That effort was chewed up by the usual political dynamic that befalls every third-party effort too many ballot-access barriers plus the usual logic of Duvergers law. That left the campaign in a difficult spot. At the same time, two huge political shifts had become clear. The Democratic Party had become a vessel and a front mainly for the administrative state with a veneer of woke ideology, while the Republican Party was being taken over by refugees from the Democrats, in effect creating a new Trump party out of the remnants of the other two. The rest is legendary. Trump linked up with Elon Musk to do to the federal government what he did when he took over Twitter, taking the company private, gutting the place of embedded federal assets, and firing 4 out of 5 workers. In the midst of this, and faced with a terrifying flurry of legal attacks, Trump dodged an assassins bullet. That triggered terrible memories of RFK, Jr.s father and uncle, and thus sparked discussions about coming together. Within a matter of weeks, we had a new coalition that brought together old antagonists, as many people and groups seemingly in the same instant realized their conjoined interests in cleaning up the corporatist cartel. With the newly freed platform of X to reach the public, MAGA/MAHA/DOGE was born. Trump won and chose RFK, Jr., to lead the most powerful public health agency in the world. The barrier was Senate confirmation, but that was achieved through some incredible triangulation that made it extremely difficult to vote no. In the big picture, you can measure the size of this titanic shift in American politics by the way the votes in the Senate lined up. All Republicans but one voted for the most prominent scion of the Democratic Party to head the health empire while all Democrats voted no. That alone is striking, and a testament to the power of the pharma lobby, which, during the hearings, was exposed as the hidden hand behind the most passionate opponents of the confirmation. Is our nightmare over? Not yet. Writing not even a month into the second presidential term of Donald Trump, it is still unclear just how much authority he truly exercises over the sprawling executive branch. For that matter, no one can even agree on how large this branch is: between 2.2 million and 3 million employees and somewhere between 400 and 450 agencies. The financial bleed in this realm is unthinkable and far worse than even the biggest cynic can imagine. Five former secretaries of the Treasury took to the pages of the New York Times with a shocking claim. The nations payment system has historically been operated by a very small group of nonpartisan career civil servants. This has included a career employee called fiscal assistant secretarya post that for the prior eight decades had been reserved exclusively for civil servants to ensure impartiality and public confidence in the handling and payment of federal funds. There is no reason even to read between the lines. What this means is that no person voted into office by the people and no one appointed by such a person has access to the federal books since 1946. This is startling beyond belief. No owner of any company would ever tolerate being barred from the accounting offices and payment systems. And no company can offer any public stock without independent audits and open books. And yet almost 80 years have gone by during which time neither has been true for this gigantic enterprise called the federal government. That means that $193 trillion has been spent by an institution that has never faced granulated oversight from the people and never met the normal demands that every enterprise faces every day. The usual habit in Washington has been to treat every elected leader and their appointments as temporary and transitory marionettes, people who come and go and disturb little to nothing about the normal operations of government. This new administration seems to have every intention to change that but the job is inconceivably challenging. As much public support as MAGA/MAHA/DOGE enjoy for now, and as many people from those groups are getting embedded in the power structure, they are outnumbered and outmaneuvered by millions of agents of the old order. This transition will not be easy if it happens at all. The inertia of the old order is mighty. Even on the issue of health and pandemics, there is already confusion. CBS News has reported that Fauci-loyalist and mRNA pusher Gerald Parker will head the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response or OPPR. The report cited only unnamed health officials and the appointment has been celebrated by Scott Gottlieb, the Pfizer board member who nudged Trump into backing lockdowns in 2020. All the while, this appointment has not been confirmed by the White House. We do not know if OPPR, created by Congressional charter, will even be funded. The reporter will not reveal his sources raising the question of why any appointment having to do with health should be surrounded by such cloak-and-dagger machinations. If Dr. Parker becomes ensconced in this position and another health emergency is declared, this time for Bird flu, HHS and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will not be in any kind of decision-making position at all. The larger problems have to do with a broader question: is the president really in charge of the executive branch? Can he hire and fire? Can he spend money or decline to spend money? Can he set policy for the agencies? One might suppose that the whole answer to these questions can be found in Article 2, Section 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. And yet that sentence was written almost 100 years before Congress created this thing called the civil service that nowhere appears in the Constitution. This fourth branch has grown in size and power to swamp both the presidency and the legislature. Courts are going to have to sort this out, and already an avalanche of lawsuits has hit the new administration for daring to presume control over agencies and their activities of which the president is and must necessarily be held accountable. Lower federal courts seem to be demanding that the president be that in name only, while the Supreme Court might have a different opinion. The much-ballyhooed constitutional crisis consists of nothing other than an attempt to reassert the original constitutional design of government. This is the background template in which RFK, Jr., takes power at HHS, and oversees all the sub-agencies. These agencies played a huge role in covering for the attack on liberty and rights over five years. His confirmation is a symbolic repudiation of the most egregious public policies on record. And yet, the repudiation is entirely implicit: there has been no commission, no admission of error, no one truly held responsible, and no real accountability. The trajectory on which we find ourselves affords many reasons for champagne celebrations, but sober up quickly. There is a very long way to go and enormous barriers in place to get us to the point that we are really safe again from the marauding corporatist/statist complex and their plots and schemes to rob the public of rights and liberties. In the meantime, to invoke a common phrase, keep these new appointees in your thoughts and prayers. Read more at: Brownstone.org Kimmel and Walz join anti-Tesla campaign as violence against Musks EVs escalates Prominent Democrats and influencers are encouraging violent attacks on Tesla, targeting Elon Musk and his company. Rick Wilsons article and Jimmy Kimmels remarks have been criticized for inciting violence against Tesla. Tesla dealerships and charging stations have faced vandalism, gunfire, and arson attacks across the U.S. A doxxing campaign has exposed Tesla owners personal information, demanding they sell their vehicles. The White House condemns the violence, urging Democrats to denounce the attacks and hold allies accountable. Prominent Democrats and left-wing influencers are openly encouraging violent attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships, targeting the American electric vehicle giant and its CEO, Elon Musk. From incendiary rhetoric to outright vandalism, the campaign against Tesla has escalated into a dangerous and divisive movement. The latest example comes from Rick Wilson, a prominent anti-Trump strategist, who penned a Substack article titled Kill Tesla, Save The Country with the subheadline, Elon has a weak spot. Attack. Wilsons piece is a thinly veiled call to action against Musk and his company, which employs 70,000 Americans and has revolutionized the electric vehicle industry. Meanwhile, comedian Jimmy Kimmel sarcastically urged his viewers not to vandalize Tesla vehicles, a remark that critics argue incites violence. Adding fuel to the fire, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz publicly celebrated Teslas stock decline, telling an audience, I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day. Its $225 and dropping. Walzs comments, made to cheers from the crowd, come as Teslas stock has lost nearly 40% of its value this year, impacting millions of Americans who hold Tesla shares directly or through retirement accounts. A dangerous trend of violence and intimidation The rhetoric from Wilson, Kimmel, and Walz cannot be separated from the growing wave of violence and vandalism targeting Tesla. In recent months, Tesla dealerships and charging stations have been attacked across the country. In Oregon, a dealership was struck by gunfire, shattering windows and damaging multiple vehicles. In Massachusetts, charging stations were set ablaze, while protests have erupted at dealerships in Michigan and New York. Perhaps most alarming is the rise of doxxing campaigns against Tesla owners. A website called Dogequest has posted the personal information of Tesla drivers, including names, addresses, and phone numbers, in what appears to be an act of intimidation. The site claims it will remove the information only if owners provide proof theyve sold their vehicles. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the violence, calling it heinous and urging Democrats to denounce the attacks. Democrats were big supporters of Tesla and of electric vehicles until Elon Musk decided to vote for Donald Trump, Leavitt said. So we would like Democrats to also come out and condemn this heinous violence. A party of contradictions The attacks on Tesla highlight a troubling contradiction within the Democratic Party and its allies. While claiming to champion tolerance and acceptance, many on the left have resorted to hateful rhetoric and outright violence when they dont get their way. Tesla, once a darling of the environmental left for its role in popularizing electric vehicles, has become a target simply because its CEO, Elon Musk, has aligned himself with the Republican Party. Musk, who donated nearly $300 million to the Trump campaign in 2024, has faced relentless criticism from liberals. Yet, his company remains a cornerstone of American innovation, responsible for groundbreaking advancements in green technology and transportation. Teslas Model Y became the best-selling car in the world in 2024, and the companys success has spurred other automakers to invest in electric vehicles. The campaign against Tesla is more than an attack on a company or its CEO its an assault on American innovation, jobs, and free enterprise. The rhetoric from figures like Rick Wilson, Jimmy Kimmel, and Tim Walz has real-world consequences, emboldening extremists to commit acts of violence and intimidation. As the White House rightly points out, its time for Democrats to denounce these attacks and hold their allies accountable. Encouraging violence against an American company and its employees is not just irresponsibleits un-American. The lefts embrace of such tactics reveals a troubling willingness to resort to hate and division when their political goals are threatened. Sources for this article include: Modernity.news DailyMail.co.uk DailyCaller.com FoxBusiness.com Rooted in tradition: How plant medicine bridges cultures in the American and Mexican West Margarita Artschwager Kay's "Healing with Plants in the American and Mexican West" explores the blending of Indigenous, Spanish and Anglo medicinal traditions in the region, creating a unique pharmacopoeia that reflects cultural resilience and adaptation. The story of Guadalupe Fraser, a Mexican American woman using aloe vera (Old World) and maguey (New World) to treat a diabetic foot infection, exemplifies the region's fusion of traditional remedies and cross-cultural knowledge sharing. The book highlights how Indigenous groups like the Tohono O'odham and Yaqui, alongside European settlers, contributed to a dynamic system of plant-based medicine, enriched by ecological factors and cultural exchange. Women have been key custodians of this medicinal knowledge, passing it down through generations. However, the intersection of traditional and modern medicine poses challenges, including potential risks of misuse and a lack of understanding from healthcare providers. Kay emphasizes the untapped potential of native desert plants for modern healthcare, advocating for further research, regulation and respect for cultural heritage to ensure safe and effective use of plant-based remedies. In the sun-drenched landscapes of the American and Mexican West, where the borders of nations and cultures blur, a rich tradition of healing with plants has flourished for centuries. Margarita Artschwager Kay's "Healing with Plants in the American and Mexican West" is a meticulously researched exploration of this vibrant pharmacopoeia, where Indigenous, Spanish and Anglo traditions converge to create a unique tapestry of medicinal knowledge. Through compelling narratives and scholarly insight, Kay reveals how plants like aloe vera and maguey have become not just remedies for ailments but symbols of cultural resilience and adaptation. This book is a journey into the heart of a region where the past and present intertwine, offering lessons for modern healthcare and a deeper understanding of the human connection to nature. The story of Guadalupe Fraser, a Mexican American woman from Tucson, Arizona, encapsulates the essence of Kay's work. Struggling with a recurring foot infection a common complication of diabetes Fraser bypasses the pharmacy and turns to her backyard. She plucks a leaf from her aloe vera plant, heats it and applies the gel to the infected area. But her remedy doesn't stop there. She also chews a leaf of maguey, a traditional New World plant, and applies its pulp to her foot. This blend of Old and New World remedies is a testament to the cultural fusion that defines the region's approach to healing. Fraser's story is a microcosm of the broader narrative Kay weaves throughout the book. The American and Mexican West spanning parts of Arizona, New Mexico, California and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur is a region where diverse cultures have long exchanged knowledge and traditions. From the Tohono O'odham to the Yaqui, from the Mayo to the Seri, Indigenous peoples have contributed to a shared pharmacopoeia that continues to thrive today. European colonists, too, brought their own herbal remedies, which were adopted and adapted by Indigenous communities. This cross-cultural exchange has created a dynamic and evolving system of plant-based medicine. Kay's research delves into the ecological and cultural factors that have shaped this tradition. Why, for instance, do certain plants appear repeatedly in the medicinal practices of different cultures? Is it due to shared habitats, geographical proximity, or the exchange of knowledge? Kay argues that ecology plays a central role. The arid landscapes of the region have dictated which plants are available, and their medicinal properties have been discovered and rediscovered by successive generations. Yet, it is not merely availability that determines use. The book highlights how cultural exchange has enriched the pharmacopoeia, with Indigenous peoples incorporating European plants like rosemary and thyme into their practices, while European settlers adopted Indigenous remedies such as the use of maguey and mesquite. Women, in particular, have been the custodians of this knowledge. Across generations, they have passed down remedies and practices, ensuring their survival in the face of modernization. Kay emphasizes the importance of understanding how culture influences healthcare practices. For many Mexican Americans, traditional remedies remain a first line of defense against minor ailments. Yerberos (herbalists) and botanicas (herbal shops) continue to play a vital role in communities, offering remedies that bridge the gap between traditional and modern medicine. However, the book does not shy away from the challenges posed by this intersection. Healthcare providers often struggle to navigate the complexities of traditional medicine, sometimes dismissing it outright. Kay stresses the need for greater awareness and respect. At the same time, the book acknowledges the potential risks of plant medicine. Some remedies, if misused, can be toxic. Kay recounts the case of a diabetic patient who unknowingly combined a plant with hypoglycemic properties with his prescribed medication, resulting in a dangerous drop in blood sugar. Such stories underscore the importance of education and communication between patients and providers. Despite these challenges, Kay sees immense potential in the region's plant medicine tradition. The growing interest in natural products and the untapped potential of native desert plants offer opportunities for research and innovation. The book calls for further study and regulation to ensure the safe and effective use of plant medicines, while also preserving the cultural heritage they represent. Learn more about the book "Healing with Plants" by watching the video below. This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Tesla ejected from Vancouver Auto Show over safety concerns amid rising attacks Tesla was removed from the Vancouver International Auto Show due to "safety concerns" amid a wave of attacks on Tesla dealerships and vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Elon Musk labeled the attacks as "domestic terrorism," while the auto show claimed Tesla "voluntarily withdrew," sparking accusations of capitulation to intimidation. Recent incidents include vandalism, arson, and shootings targeting Tesla properties, with a doxxing website encouraging violence against Tesla owners and dealerships. Leftist rhetoric and Musk's political views have amplified anti-Tesla sentiment, contributing to the company's declining sales and used car prices. The auto show's decision raises concerns about businesses yielding to intimidation, with critics warning of broader implications for free enterprise and public safety. Tesla was abruptly removed from the Vancouver International Auto Show this week, with organizers citing safety concerns as the primary reason. The decision comes amid a wave of coordinated attacks on Tesla dealerships and vehicles across the U.S., which Elon Musk has labeled as domestic terrorism. Despite claims that the removal was not political, the auto shows insistence that Tesla voluntarily withdraw has left many questioning whether the event is capitulating to intimidation tactics. The Vancouver Auto Show, which began Wednesday and runs through the weekend, is one of Western Canadas premier automotive events, drawing over 130,000 visitors last year. However, this years show will proceed without Tesla, a company that has become a lightning rod for controversy. Eric Nicholl, the shows executive director, stated that Tesla was removed as a participant after the company declined multiple requests to withdraw voluntarily. The Vancouver Auto Shows primary concern is the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff, Nicholl said in a statement. This decision will ensure all attendees can be solely focused on enjoying the many positive elements of the event. A coordinated campaign of violence The decision to exclude Tesla follows a series of alarming incidents targeting the company. In recent weeks, Tesla dealerships and vehicles have been vandalized, set on fire, and even shot at in cities across the U.S. and Canada. In Las Vegas, a suspect used incendiary devices to set multiple Tesla vehicles ablaze at a collision center, while in Oregon, a Tesla dealership was shot at, damaging vehicles on the lot. Musk has been vocal in condemning these attacks, calling them evil and a form of domestic terrorism. In a now-deleted post on X, Musk wrote, My companies make great products that people love and Ive never physically hurt anyone. So why the hate and violence against me? Because I am a deadly threat to the woke mind parasite and the humans it controls. Adding fuel to the fire, a website has emerged that actively encourages violence against Tesla owners and dealerships. The site, which features a Molotov cocktail as its cursor, publishes the locations of Tesla dealerships and even offers to remove personal information of Tesla ownersbut only if they provide proof theyve sold their vehicle. Leftist rhetoric amplifies tensions Far from condemning these attacks, some leftist influencers and Democratic figures appear to be amplifying anti-Tesla rhetoric. This has created a charged environment where Tesla and its CEO are increasingly vilified, not just for their products but for Musks outspoken political views and his role as an advisor to President Donald Trump. The backlash against Tesla has also had economic consequences. The company recently reported its first annual sales decline, with used Tesla prices falling at more than double the rate of the average car. While increased competition and market saturation are factors, the ongoing attacks and negative publicity are likely contributing to the downturn. The Vancouver Auto Shows decision to remove Tesla raises troubling questions about whether businesses and events are yielding to intimidation. By citing safety concerns while simultaneously pressuring Tesla to withdraw voluntarily, the shows organizers have left themselves open to accusations of capitulation. As Attorney General Pam Bondi noted in a recent statement, the attacks on Tesla are nothing short of domestic terrorism. She warned vandals, If youre going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out, because were coming after you. For now, Tesla remains a focal point of both innovation and controversy. But as the attacks continue and events like the Vancouver Auto Show distance themselves from the company, the broader implications for free enterprise and public safety remain deeply concerning. Sources for this article include: Modernity.news CNN.com FoxBusiness.com Lazy West? JD Vance blames immigration and cheap labor for economic stagnation Vice President JD Vance criticized Western nations, including the U.S. and U.K., for relying on cheap labor both through immigration and outsourcing arguing it has stifled innovation, stagnated productivity and hindered long-term economic growth. Vance defended Trump-era tariffs as a tool to protect U.S. industries, claiming they, combined with technological advancements, could revitalize American manufacturing and make it globally competitive again. Vance positioned himself as a bridge between tech optimists (focused on innovation and automation) and populists (concerned about globalization's impact on the middle class), advocating for American innovation as the solution to economic challenges. Vance's remarks, particularly his criticism of the U.K.'s immigration policies and military contributions, have strained U.S.-U.K. relations, sparking backlash from British leaders and deepening diplomatic tensions. Vance's vision prioritizes short-term economic pain (e.g., higher costs from tariffs and reduced cheap labor) for long-term gains in productivity and self-reliance, though critics warn of potential stagnation and strained global alliances. In a fiery speech to tech CEOs and venture capitalists in Washington, D.C., Vice President JD Vance delivered a blunt assessment of the Wests economic woes, arguing that reliance on cheap labor both imported and outsourced has made Western nations lazy and stifled innovation. His remarks, which targeted Britain and the United States alike, have reignited debates over immigration, productivity and the future of Western economies. The cheap labor addiction Vance minced no words in his critique of Western economic policies, particularly the reliance on immigration to fill labor gaps. For far too long, we got addicted to cheap labor, both overseas and by importing it into our own country and we got lazy, he said. The vice president pointed to Britain as a prime example, arguing that its high levels of immigration have led to stagnating productivity. Id say that if you look in nearly every country, from Canada to the U.K., that imported large amounts of cheap labor, youve seen productivity stagnate. Thats not a total happenstance. I think that the connection is very direct. Vances argument is not without historical context. For decades, Western nations have leaned on immigration to address labor shortages, particularly in low-wage sectors like agriculture, hospitality and manufacturing. While this approach has kept costs low for businesses and consumers, Vance contends it has come at the expense of innovation and long-term economic growth. By relying on cheap labor, he argues, Western nations have neglected investments in automation, education and workforce development. Tariffs as a tool for revival Vance also defended President Donald Trumps controversial tariff policies, calling them a necessary tool to protect our jobs and our industries from other countries. He argued that tariffs, when combined with technological advancements, could revitalize American manufacturing. When you erect a tariff wall around a critical industry like auto manufacturing and you combine that with advanced robotics and lower energy costs and other tools that increase the productivity of U.S. labor, you give American workers a multiplying effect, Vance explained. Now that, in turn, allows firms to make things here at a price-competitive basis. The Trump administrations tariff strategy has drawn criticism from allies and economists alike, who warn that it could spark trade wars and raise consumer prices. But Vance insists that the short-term pain is worth the long-term gain. He pointed to the decline of U.S. shipbuilding as a cautionary tale. Once a global leader during World War II, the U.S. now controls less than 1% of the worlds shipmaking capacity, while China dominates the industry. It should be no surprise that when we send so much of our industrial base to other countries, we stop making interesting new things right here at home, Vance said. A clash of visions Vances speech highlighted a growing tension between two competing visions for the future of the U.S. economy. On one side are the tech optimists, who believe innovation and automation will drive growth and create new opportunities. On the other are the populists, who argue that globalization and cheap labor have hollowed out the middle class and eroded the dignity of work. Vance, a former venture capitalist who grew up in a struggling Ohio town, positioned himself as a bridge between these two camps. Both our working people, our populists and our innovators gathered here today have the same enemy, and the solution, I believe, is American innovation, he said. But his vision is not without its critics. Some argue that cutting off cheap laborwhether through immigration restrictions or tariffswill lead to higher costs for businesses and consumers. Others question whether the U.S. can truly compete with low-cost manufacturing giants like China without sacrificing its commitment to free markets. A provocative figure Vances remarks are likely to deepen tensions between the U.S. and its allies, particularly Britain. The vice president has emerged as a vocal critic of the U.K., accusing it of suppressing free speech and downplaying its military contributions. At the Munich Security Conference in February, he cited the case of Adam Smith-Connor, a British man arrested for silently praying outside an abortion clinic, as evidence of censorship. Earlier this month, he sparked outrage by suggesting that Britain had not fought a war in 30 or 40 years, a claim that ignored the sacrifices of British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. While Vance later attempted to clarify his comments, the damage was done. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesperson reaffirmed the nations admiration for its troops, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage dismissed Vances remarks as wrong, wrong, wrong. The road ahead Vances speech underscores the Trump administrations commitment to reshaping the U.S. economy, even if it means ruffling feathers at home and abroad. By targeting cheap labor and championing tariffs, Vance is betting that the short-term costs will be outweighed by long-term gains in productivity and innovation. But as the U.S. imposes reciprocal tariffs on nations like Britain and Canada, the stakes are high. Will Vances vision of a revitalized, self-reliant America come to fruition, or will it lead to economic stagnation and strained alliances? Only time will tell. One thing is certain: JD Vance is not afraid to speak his mindand his words are sure to spark debate for years to come. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com Telegraph.co.uk TimesofIndia.com WashingtonExaminer.com Will Biden-and-Obama-appointed judges REVERSE Trump and Musks rescue of the astronauts and SEND THEM BACK to space station where they were stranded? Judicial Opposition to Trump and Musks Achievements: The article suggests that Biden- and Obama-appointed judges may reverse positive actions by Trump and Elon Musk, such as rescuing astronauts, as part of a broader pattern of opposing Trumps policies. It speculates that judges could even order astronauts to return to a stranded space station, highlighting perceived absurdity in judicial decisions. Allegations of Judicial Overreach and Corruption: The piece accuses left-leaning judges of engaging in unethical and unlawful behavior, claiming they prioritize reversing Trumps executive orders and enabling corruption over Americans safety and security. It also alleges that judges are facilitating the return of criminal aliens and gangsters to the U.S. Criticism of Leftist Policies and Ideology: The article condemns what it describes as the Lefts agenda, including promoting gender ideology, rehiring corrupt government officials, and enabling lawlessness. It portrays leftist judges as complicit in advancing these policies, which it claims harm American society. Call to Action and Preparedness: The article urges readers to prepare for what it calls an impending Judicial Insurrection Civil War of 2025, framing the current political and judicial climate as a battle against radical leftism and corruption. It directs readers to alternative news sources for survival updates in what it describes as a Democrat wasteland. Does it seem too absurd a notion? Judges already have demanded that Tren De Aragua gangster terrorists be flown back to our country, so why not send the rescued astronauts back to the space station, under district court order and leave them stranded there for another year, in the name of Trump Derangement Syndrome? Welcome to the Judicial Insurrection Civil War of 2025, where everything Trump does thats good for this nation is blocked and reversed by corrupt, psychotic judges who have only one goal and zero ethics. Welcome to the Judicial Insurrection Civil War of 2025 Its all-out war in this country, as every radical Leftist Judge in the country is reversing every executive order by Trump in order to continue the mass corruption that the Biden and Obama Regimes made us all suffer through for nearly two decades. More communism being pushed by heartless, unethical and even unlawful judges who couldnt care less about Americans livelihood, safety and security. Bring back all the terrorist gangsters that were deported. Rehire all the useless, embezzling crooks that pretended to work for the Government under Biden. Keep teaching all the kids to think about sex, sex partners and gender mutilation surgeries all day, right? Thats the M.O. of the Left, of the Deranged Dems and Lunatic Libs. So far, there have been 129 legal challenges filed in just 60 days against the Trump Admin, and thats more than ALL U.S. Presidents combined, ever. Criminal aliens who raped and murdered children are being court-ordered to be returned immediately to America so they can continue raping and murdering children. Why not court order the astronauts to return to the space station and remain stranded there for a few years, since thats something Trump and Musk accomplished. Take that America! America is being overrun by Domestic Terrorists wearing black gowns and carrying weapons in the shape of gavels. Theyre demanding more violence in America. Theyre demanding more male sex-freaks and perverts in girls bathrooms and in the military. If youre not thinking about sex all day and raping people, then you cannot be fired or deported, according to Leftist judges in America. The lawlessness must continue, these judges are demanding it. If any children are rescued from trafficking networks, the Leftist judges will soon rule that they must be returned to their slave owners at once, by court order. The trillions of dollars handed out to corrupt Democrat politicians must continue, according to Leftist judges hired by Obama and Biden and funded by Soros. The magic money machines must continue to dish out billions of dollars unaccounted for, according to the lawless Left. Leftist judges have declared WAR against Conservatives and Trump supporters. All Americans should be gravely concerned. Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat wasteland and propaganda that taxpayers footed the bill for to the tune of $5 trillion or more. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com TheGatewayPundit.com Minnesota GOP declares war on liberal hysteria: Bill seeks to classify Trump Derangement Syndrome as mental illness Republican lawmakers in Minnesota introduced a bill to classify "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS) as a mental disorder, defining it as paranoia triggered by opposition to Donald Trump's policies and presidency. The bill has sparked widespread debate, highlighting deep political divisions. The bill lists symptoms like verbal hostility and aggression toward political opponents, claiming individuals with TDS struggle to separate political disagreements from psychological issues. Senator Glenn Gruenhagen defended the proposal, citing "irrational behavior" among Trump critics as evidence of a psychological problem. Critics, including the Minnesota DemocraticFarmerLabor Party, argue the bill weaponizes mental health terminology to silence legitimate criticism and cater to extreme right-wing activists. The term "TDS" has long been a contentious part of conservative rhetoric, used to dismiss opposition to Trump. The concept of "derangement syndrome" originated in 2003 with "Bush Derangement Syndrome," coined by Charles Krauthammer. Krauthammer later applied a nuanced critique to TDS, acknowledging both Trump's erratic behavior and the irrationality of some critics, suggesting a deeper societal issue. While the bill is unlikely to pass, it has ignited a national conversation about political discourse, civility and the erosion of respectful debate. It underscores the need to address toxic behavior in politics but raises questions about the appropriateness of labeling such behavior as a mental illness. In a bold move that has ignited a firestorm of controversy, Republican lawmakers in Minnesota have introduced a bill to officially classify Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) as a mental disorder. The proposal, which defines TDS as the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J. Trump, has been met with both applause and outrage, underscoring the deep political divides that continue to plague the nation. The bill, introduced by five GOP lawmakers, aims to add TDS to Minnesotas official list of psychiatric disorders. It describes symptoms such as verbal hostility or acts of aggression against those with differing political opinions and claims that individuals with TDS struggle to differentiate between political disagreements and psychological conditions. Senator Glenn Gruenhagen, one of the bills authors, defended the proposal, stating that it addresses irrational behavior exhibited by some Trump critics, which he argues indicates a deeper psychological problem. We should be able to have civil debates without demonstrating violent and unreasonable reactions such as burning down Tesla dealerships, threatening people who wear Trump hats, or committing road rage at the sight of a Trump bumper sticker on a persons car, Gruenhagen wrote in a Facebook post. A symptom of a larger problem The term Trump Derangement Syndrome has long been a staple of conservative rhetoric, used to describe what supporters see as an over-the-top, irrational hatred of the 45th and 47th president. Critics of the term, however, argue that it is a dismissive tool used to silence legitimate criticism of Trumps policies and behavior. The Minnesota bill has only intensified this debate, with opponents accusing Republicans of weaponizing mental health terminology for political gain. The Minnesota DemocraticFarmerLabor Party (DFL) was quick to condemn the proposal. This is why Minnesota Republicans have lost every statewide election in recent memoryevery time they get an opportunity to try to improve Minnesotans lives, they instead double down on an agenda that caters to their partys most extreme right-wing activists, a DFL spokesperson told the Minnesota Star and Tribune. Historical context: From Bush to Trump The concept of derangement syndrome is not new. The term was first coined in 2003 by the late political commentator Charles Krauthammer to describe critics of President George W. Bush. Krauthammer defined Bush Derangement Syndrome as the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidencynay, the very existenceof George W. Bush. Trump supporters later adopted the phrase, applying it to critics of the former president. Interestingly, Krauthammer himself, a vocal Trump critic, introduced Trump Derangement Syndrome in a 2017 column for The Oregonian. He argued that what set TDS apart was not just hysteria but also an inability to separate legitimate policy disputes from signs of psychological instability. Krauthammers nuanced take on TDS highlights the complexity of the issue. While he supported some of Trumps policies, such as withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords, he criticized the former presidents erratic behavior, describing his tweets as vainglorious and self-injurious. Krauthammers analysis suggests that while political opposition is healthy, the vitriol and irrationality often associated with TDS may indeed point to a deeper societal issue. A political stunt or a necessary intervention? While the Minnesota bill is unlikely to passgiven the Democrats narrow majority in the state Senateit has succeeded in sparking a national conversation about the state of political discourse in America. Gruenhagen himself acknowledged the bills slim chances, writing, Of course, we all know that the Democrats and Governor Walz will never allow this bill to pass anyway, so take a deep breath and calm down. Critics argue that the bill is little more than a political stunt, designed to rally Trumps base and further polarize an already divided electorate. However, supporters contend that it shines a light on the toxic behavior that has become all too common in American politics. From violent protests to online harassment, the symptoms of TDS, as described in the bill, are not entirely fictional. The question is whether labeling such behavior as a mental illness is the right approach. The bigger picture The Minnesota bill raises important questions about the intersection of politics and mental health. While it is unlikely to become law, it serves as a reminder of the need for civility and rational discourse in the political system. The term Trump Derangement Syndrome may be polarizing, but it reflects a broader concern about the erosion of respectful debate in America. The debate over TDS is a microcosm of the larger cultural and political battles being waged across the country. Whether or not the bill passes, its introduction has already achieved one thing: it has forced people to confront the uncomfortable reality of how far they have strayed from the principles of reasoned debate and mutual respect. Sources include: RT.com EconomicTimes.com FoxNews.com Left-wing terrorism escalates: Conservatives targeted in coordinated swatting campaign Swattingmaking false emergency calls to provoke armed police responseshas become a coordinated campaign targeting conservative figures, including commentators, journalists and influencers, with the intent to intimidate and silence them. High-profile conservatives like Owen Shroyer, Nick Sortor and Marjorie Taylor Greene have been victims of swatting, with Shroyer describing a harrowing experience of being handcuffed and searched by police after a false report. Many incidents are followed by suspicious pizza deliveries, suggesting a coordinated effort. The swatting trend is seen as part of a broader pattern of left-wing political violence, including attacks on pro-life centers and conservative businesses, aimed at instilling fear and suppressing dissent. Former Trump official Kash Patel has urged action against swatting, emphasizing its danger to lives and democracy. Critics argue that law enforcement has been slow to protect conservatives while aggressively prosecuting right-wing figures like January 6 defendants. Swatting is described as a form of political terrorism that undermines the First Amendment. Immediate action is demanded to prosecute perpetrators and send a clear message that such intimidation tactics will not be tolerated in the United States. In a nation founded on the principles of free speech and individual liberty, a disturbing trend has emerged: the weaponization of law enforcement against conservative voices. The latest wave of "swatting" attacks targeting right-wing figures is not just a series of isolated incidentsit is a coordinated campaign of political intimidation and terror. And if left unchecked, it could have deadly consequences. The swatting epidemic: A dangerous game Swatting, the act of making a false emergency call to provoke an armed police response, is no mere prank. It is a life-threatening tactic that has already claimed innocent lives in the past. In recent weeks, conservative commentators, journalists and influencers have found themselves at the center of this dangerous trend. One of the most recent victims is Infowars host Owen Shroyer, who was swatted at his home after a false report claimed he had shot someone inside. In a chilling video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Shroyer recounted the ordeal: "About a dozen officers arrived at my home with weapons drawn. I was handcuffed and forced to crawl on the ground while they searched my residence. The fake police report was that Id shot someone in my house. Thats obviously not true. Im here alone. I live alone." Shroyers experience is far from isolated. Conservative figures like Nick Sortor, Gunther Eagleman, Joe Pags and Shawn Farash have all been targeted in similar attacks. Whats more, many of these incidents are followed by eerie pizza deliveries to the victims homesa sinister signature that suggests a coordinated effort by the same group or network. A pattern of political intimidation This wave of swatting is not random; it is a calculated attempt to silence conservative voices. Shroyer, who has faced political persecution beforeincluding a 60-day prison sentence for his role in the January 6 Capitol riotblamed the Democratic Party and its supporters for orchestrating these attacks. "The Democrat Party and all of their little street thugs funded by ActBlue, the stolen money from USAID, George Sorosall these different groups are behind it," he said. The historical context here is critical. Swatting has been used as a tool of political intimidation for years, but its escalation in recent months is alarming. Last year, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger testified before the Senate about the "swatting crisis" affecting members of Congress. One particularly tragic incident involved Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whose swatting call led to a car accident that claimed the life of a responding officer. The parallels between these attacks and the broader pattern of left-wing violence are impossible to ignore. From the firebombing of pro-life pregnancy centers to the harassment of conservative businesses, the left has shown a willingness to use fear and intimidation to achieve its goals. Kash Patels warning: A call to action In the face of this growing threat, former Trump administration official Kash Patel has issued a stark warning. In a post on X, Patel wrote: "I want to address the alarming rise in Swatting incidents targeting media figures. The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. This isnt about politicsweaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers. That will not be tolerated." Patels words are a welcome step, but they must be backed by decisive action. The Biden administrations FBI has been quick to target peaceful conservatives, as seen in the aggressive prosecution of January 6 defendants. Yet, when it comes to protecting conservatives from left-wing violence, the response has been tepid at best. The stakes could not be higher The swatting epidemic is not just a threat to individual conservatives; it is a threat to the very fabric of American democracy. When political dissent is met with violence and intimidation, the First Amendment is rendered meaningless. As investigative reporter Walter Curt aptly put it, "Swatting is Terrorism, Period, End of Story." The time for warnings has passed. Law enforcement agencies, politicians and local officials must take immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable. The criminals behind these attacks must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and a clear message must be sent: political terrorism will not be tolerated in the United States. For conservatives, the path forward is clear. We must refuse to be silenced. We must demand accountability from our leaders. And we must make it clear that the lefts campaign of fear and intimidation will not succeed. As Owen Shroyer said, "Im done. Im on the warpath." The stakes are too high to stay silent. Sources include: Revolver.news Newsweek.com Revolver.news SILICON SABOTAGE: How far-left extremists are weaponizing anonymity to target Tesla and Elon Musk Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations have been targeted in a series of violent attacks linked to far-left extremists, marking a dangerous trend in domestic terrorism that threatens public safety and civil discourse. A defunct website, DOGEQUEST, published a map allegedly containing personal details of Tesla owners, directing users to the No Trace Projecta resource enabling anonymity for anarchists. These connections raise concerns about the facilitation of domestic terrorism under the guise of activism. Incidents include firebombings, shootings and arson at Tesla properties nationwide, with suspects using Molotov cocktails and leaving ideological messages like "Resist." These are not random acts but premeditated, ideologically motivated attacks. The violence reflects growing political polarization in the U.S., with former FBI agent Michael Tabman warning that inflammatory rhetoric and hatred are fueling further violence. Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled the attacks as domestic terrorism, with legal actions underway. In a shocking escalation of political violence, Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations have become the latest targets of domestic terrorism. The attacks, which have been linked to far-left extremists, are part of a disturbing trend that threatens not only the safety of Tesla owners but also the very fabric of American civil discourse. While peaceful protest is a cherished right, the use of violence and terrorism to intimidate and harm is a dangerous overreach that must be condemned in the strongest terms. The DOGEQUEST connection: A digital blueprint for terror At the center of this controversy is the now-defunct website DOGEQUEST, which published a searchable map containing the alleged names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of Tesla owners across the United States. Although the accuracy of the data remains uncertain, 404 Media confirmed that some of the names listed are indeed Tesla owners or supporters of Elon Musk. This website, which directed users to the No Trace Projecta resource for anarchists and rebels to "act without getting caught"raises serious questions about the intent behind its creation. The No Trace Project, in turn, is connected to Riseup Networks, a Seattle-based non-profit that describes itself as an "autonomous body" providing "communication and computer resources to allies engaged in struggles against capitalism and other forms of oppression." Public records show that Riseup Networks is focused on "technological assistance towards social justice," but its ties to DOGEQUEST suggest a darker agenda. By facilitating anonymity for those who wish to inflict harm, these organizations are enabling domestic terrorism under the guise of activism. A pattern of violence: From doxxing to arson The attacks on Tesla properties are not isolated incidents. In Las Vegas, a Tesla service center was firebombed early Tuesday morning, with at least five vehicles damaged and two set ablaze. The word "Resist" was spray-painted on the front doors of the business, a chilling reminder of the ideological motivations behind these acts. Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the suspect used Molotov cocktails and wore all-black clothing, hallmarks of premeditated violence. Similar attacks have occurred across the country. In Kansas City, two Cybertrucks were set on fire at a dealership, while in Tigard, Oregon, a Tesla dealership was targeted in two separate shootings. In Seattle, four Cybertrucks were torched, and in Colorado, a suspect was arrested after attempting to set a Cybertruck on fire with a Molotov cocktail. These incidents are not random acts of vandalism; they are coordinated attacks designed to intimidate and silence. The broader implications: A nation divided The rise in political violence against Tesla and its supporters is symptomatic of a larger problem in American society. As former FBI special agent Michael Tabman noted, "We're a more divided country, hatred for the other side is boiling over, and I'm putting this in on both sides." Tabman, who oversaw the FBI's Minneapolis Field Office, warned that the current climate of inflammatory rhetoric and violent undertones is likely to lead to more violence. Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled these attacks as "nothing short of domestic terrorism" and has vowed to pursue "severe consequences" for those involved. The Justice Department has already charged several alleged perpetrators with domestic terrorism, with one facing up to 20 years in federal prison. While these legal actions are a step in the right direction, they are not enough to address the root causes of this violence. A call for unity and accountability The attacks on Tesla are not just an assault on a company or its CEO; they are an assault on the principles of free enterprise and civil discourse. Elon Musk, who has been a vocal advocate for innovation and efficiency, has become a lightning rod for far-left extremists who view his success as a threat to their ideological agenda. But targeting Musk and Tesla owners is not a legitimate form of protestit is domestic terrorism, plain and simple. Americans must reject the use of violence as a means of political expression. Peaceful protest is a cherished right, but it must never cross the line into terrorism. The organizations and individuals behind these attacks must be held accountable. The future of democracy depends on it. In the words of Peter Loge, a political ethics expert, "Protests can draw attention, create space for a conversation. Lets have that conversation. Protests should not be violent." It is time for all Americans to come together and condemn these acts of terror, not just for the sake of Tesla, but for the sake of the nation. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com YahooNews.com WJTV.com Heathrow Airport shutdown sparks global travel chaos as counter-terror police investigate A fire at a Heathrow Airport substation caused a complete shutdown, grounding hundreds of flights and stranding 290,000 passengers globally. Counter-terrorism police are investigating the incident due to its impact on critical national infrastructure. Over 120 flights were diverted mid-air, with passengers left stranded at airports worldwide without assistance or information. The fire exposed vulnerabilities in Britains infrastructure, raising concerns about disaster management and backup systems. Heathrows closure has caused unprecedented global travel chaos, with disruptions expected to last days or weeks. A catastrophic fire at an electrical substation near Londons Heathrow Airport forced the worlds busiest international travel hub to shut down completely early Friday, triggering unprecedented global travel chaos. The blaze, which erupted late Thursday night, knocked out power to the airport, grounding hundreds of flights and leaving at least 290,000 passengers stranded worldwide. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, with counter-terrorism police leading the probe due to the incidents impact on critical national infrastructure. The shutdown sent shockwaves across the globe, with 36 planes left circling for hours before being diverted to airports as far away as Paris, Frankfurt, and even Goose Bay, Canada. Dozens of flights from cities like New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Delhi were forced to make dramatic mid-air turnarounds, leaving passengers frustrated and scrambling for alternatives. Heathrow, which handles an average of 1,300 flights daily, is a vital hub for international travel, and its closure has disrupted operations for airlines and travelers worldwide. Global travel chaos unfolds The ripple effects of the shutdown were felt immediately. FlightRadar24 reported that 120 flights were already en route to Heathrow when the closure was announced at 3 a.m. local time. Among them was a Virgin Atlantic flight from New York that was diverted to Glasgow, leaving passenger Lawrence Hayes to navigate an unexpected train journey to London. Its going to be an incredibly long day, he told the BBC. Passengers from as far away as Perth, Australia, and San Francisco found themselves stranded at airports across Europe and North America. Many reported being abandoned without information or assistance after landing at unexpected destinations. We were told the airplane would be here until further notice and that we had to get off the plane and figure it out, said Ruben Cortez, a missionary from Portland, Oregon, who was stranded after his flight from South Africa was diverted. The financial toll on travelers has been significant. Dr. Don Cardy and his wife, Sue, who were forced to pay 400 for an Uber from Cardiff to Manchester, described the ordeal as a nightmare. No communication, no informationits just been terrible, Dr. Cardy said. Terrorism angle investigated While authorities have found no evidence of foul play, the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation due to the fires proximity to critical infrastructure. Given the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Mets Counter Terrorism Command is now leading inquiries, a police spokesperson said. The fire, which involved a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling fluid, caused widespread power outages in the surrounding area, including at Heathrow. The airports backup generators, while operational, were insufficient to maintain full operations, forcing the closure. We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens, a Heathrow spokesperson said. Infrastructure vulnerabilities exposed The incident has raised serious questions about the resilience of Britains critical infrastructure. Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, a security think tank, warned that the shutdown highlights systemic vulnerabilities. If one fire can shut down Heathrows primary systems and then apparently the backup systems as well, it tells you somethings badly wrong with our system of management of such disasters, he said. Prime Minister Keir Starmers office acknowledged the need for a rigorous investigation to ensure such a disruption does not happen again. Meanwhile, Ofgem, the energy regulator, has commissioned a review to understand the cause of the incident and identify lessons for the future. As Heathrow works to resume operations, the global travel chaos it has caused will take days, if not weeks, to fully resolve. Airlines are scrambling to reposition aircraft and rebook passengers, while stranded travelers face mounting financial and logistical challenges. For now, the skies above Heathrow remain eerily silent, a rare pause in the constant hum of one of the worlds busiest airports. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk BBC.com APNews.com FoxBusiness.com Japanese plant yields compounds with potent anti-HIV activity, offering hope for new treatments In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified potent anti-HIV compounds in Daphne pseudomezereum , a plant native to Japan, China, and Korea. Commonly known as Onishibari, this deciduous shrub has long been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. Now, scientists from Toho University and Duke University Medical Center have uncovered its potential to combat HIV, a virus that has plagued humanity for decades. Published in the journal Phytochemistry , the study highlights the isolation of 10 daphnane diterpenoids, three of which exhibit remarkable anti-HIV activity with minimal toxicity. This discovery could pave the way for novel treatments, offering hope to millions worldwide. Key findings Researchers isolated 10 daphnane diterpenoids from the fruits of Daphne pseudomezereum, including three previously undescribed compounds. Three compounds demonstrated potent anti-HIV activity, with EC50 values as low as 0.78 nM, indicating high efficacy. The compounds showed low cytotoxicity, with IC50 values exceeding 5 ?M, suggesting they are safe for further development. This discovery builds on the plants traditional use in treating chronic skin diseases and rheumatism, expanding its medicinal potential. A plant with a rich medicinal history Daphne pseudomezereum belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family, a group of plants known for their diverse biological activities, including anticancer, anti-HIV, and analgesic effects. Historically, the bark of this plant has been used in Japanese papermaking and traditional medicine, particularly for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, its fruits, which are toxic if consumed, had not been extensively studied until now. The research team, led by Professor Wei Li of Toho University, focused on the plants fruits, isolating compounds that could inhibit HIV replication. This is the first time daphnane diterpenoids have been isolated from D. pseudomezereum, said Dr. Wei Li. The compounds we identified not only show strong anti-HIV activity but also have low toxicity, making them promising candidates for drug development. The science behind the discovery The study involved extracting compounds from the plants fruits and testing their efficacy against HIV. Among the 10 isolated compounds, threedubbed onishibarins A, B, and Cstood out for their potent antiviral activity. These compounds target HIV replication at the cellular level, offering a potential mechanism for future therapies. The structural complexity of these diterpenoids is fascinating, said Dr. Takashi Kikuchi, a co-author of the study. Their unique configuration allows them to interact with HIV in a way that inhibits its replication without harming healthy cells. The findings are particularly significant given the ongoing global HIV crisis. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 39 million people were living with HIV in 2022, with 1.3 million new infections reported that year. While antiretroviral therapies have transformed HIV from a death sentence to a manageable condition, drug resistance and side effects remain significant challenges. The future of plant-based medicine This discovery underscores the untapped potential of plant-based medicine in addressing modern health crises. For centuries, traditional healers have relied on plants like D. pseudomezereum to treat a variety of ailments. Now, modern science is validating their wisdom, uncovering compounds that could revolutionize medicine. Nature has always been the best chemist, said Dr. Li. By studying plants like D. pseudomezereum, we can discover compounds that are not only effective but also safe and sustainable. The next step for researchers is to optimize these compounds through structural modifications, enhancing their efficacy and reducing potential side effects. If successful, these compounds could join the ranks of other plant-derived drugs, such as paclitaxel (derived from the Pacific yew tree) and artemisinin (from sweet wormwood), which have transformed cancer and malaria treatment, respectively. As the world continues to grapple with infectious diseases, the discovery of anti-HIV compounds in D. pseudomezereum raises an important question: How many other life-saving remedies are hidden in the natural world, waiting to be uncovered? In the words of renowned ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes, The plant kingdom is a vast reservoir of chemical compounds, many of which have yet to be discovered and understood. Perhaps, in the leaves, bark, and fruits of plants like D. pseudomezereum, we will find the keys to unlocking a healthier future. Sources include: Phys.org ScienceDirect.com ScienceDirect.com Johns Hopkins University announces 2,200 layoffs due to USAID funding cuts Johns Hopkins University is eliminating over 2,200 positions worldwide, including 1,975 employees across 44 countries and 247 in the U.S., following the termination of $800 million in funding from USAID. This significantly impacts its Bloomberg School of Public Health, School of Medicine and Jhpiego, a global health nonprofit. The funding loss will disrupt over 600 ongoing clinical trials and force the wind-down of vital public health initiatives, including maternal and infant care, disease prevention and clean water projects, both domestically and internationally. The layoffs are part of a larger trend of federal funding cuts, including reductions to NIH grants, which have already forced some universities to halt research projects and reduce their workforce. Johns Hopkins is also facing federal scrutiny over campus safety, particularly regarding antisemitism. The U.S. Department of Education has warned the university and others to address safety concerns for Jewish students amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests or risk losing federal funding. The university's struggles with funding cuts and campus safety concerns reflect broader national discussions about the role of federal funding in higher education and the balance between free speech and student safety. Johns Hopkins University has announced that it is eliminating more than 2,200 positions worldwide in response to the termination of $800 million funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The layoffs, which include 1,975 employees across 44 countries and 247 in the United States, mark a significant blow to one of the nation's leading research institutions. (Related: 20 State AGs sue Trump administration over mass layoffs.) It will primarily affect the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Jhpiego, a global health nonprofit affiliated with the university. Jhpiego, founded over 50 years ago, has been a leader in improving health outcomes for women and children worldwide, managing hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from USAID and other federal and philanthropic sources. These entities have been at the forefront of groundbreaking public health research and international health initiatives, many of which rely heavily on federal funding. "This is a difficult day for our entire community. The termination of more than $800 million in USAID funding is now forcing us to wind down critical work here in Baltimore and internationally," Johns Hopkins said. "Johns Hopkins is immensely proud of the work done by our colleagues in Jhpiego, the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the School of Medicine to care for mothers and infants, fight disease, provide clean drinking water and advance countless other critical, life-saving efforts around the world." Moreover, Johns Hopkins warned that the loss of funding will disrupt more than 600 ongoing clinical trials, many of which were supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The university emphasized that the cuts will have far-reaching consequences, both locally and globally, as critical research and health programs are forced to wind down. Johns Hopkins faces dual crisis federal funding cuts and campus safety scrutiny The funding cuts stem from broader shifts in federal priorities. In February, the Trump administration announced significant reductions to NIH grants, which could slash over $100 million in funding for research institutions. While some of these cuts have been temporarily delayed by a court challenge, the impact has already been felt, with some universities halting projects and others, like Johns Hopkins, facing severe workforce reductions. Aside from grants reduction, the layoffs also come at a time when Johns Hopkins is also grappling with federal scrutiny over campus safety. On March 10, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to 60 colleges, including Johns Hopkins, warning that they could lose federal funding if they fail to address antisemitism on campus. The letter cited concerns over the safety of Jewish students amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests and called on university leaders to take stronger action. "The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better," Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. The dual challenges of funding cuts and campus safety concerns have placed Johns Hopkins at the center of a broader national conversation about the role of federal funding in higher education and the balance between free speech and student safety. Learn more about the collapse of vital sectors of the American economy at Collapse.news. Watch this video of financial expert Gregory Mannarino discussing how corporate layoffs are increasing in preparation for a severe economic downturn. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Disney's mass layoffs signal the collapse of DEI-driven media. Trump administration announces mass layoffs at HHS: CDC and NIH among hardest hit as 5,200 federal health workers face termination. Mass layoffs incoming: 50% of employers plan to cut jobs in the next 12 months. Google faces backlash over MASS LAYOFFS in January despite company's financial success. Manufacturing giant 3M announces mass layoffs in preparation for a recession. Sources include: YourNews.com CBSNews.com Brighteon.com Canada-U.S. trade war escalates: Maxime Bernier warns against tariffs, calls for free trade revival Maxime Bernier, leader of the Peoples Party of Canada, urged Canada to avoid counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, arguing they harm Canadian consumers and escalate the trade war unnecessarily. He criticized Canadas protectionist policies, particularly in dairy and poultry, where tariffs of up to 300% on U.S. imports inflate prices and stifle competition. Bernier called for renegotiating North American trade agreements to foster true free trade, emphasizing the need to eliminate tariffs and benefit consumers on both sides of the border. He positioned his party as a populist movement challenging Canadas political establishment, advocating for reduced immigration, decentralization, and reforms to preserve Canadian culture and identity. Bernier warned that without radical reforms, Canada risks economic collapse and separatist movements, urging a focus on citizen interests and stronger U.S.-Canada relations. In a candid interview with Mike Adams of Brighteon.com, Maxime Bernier, leader of the Peoples Party of Canada, urged Canada to avoid escalating its trade war with the U.S. by refusing to impose counter-tariffs on American goods. Bernier criticized Canadas protectionist policies, particularly in the dairy and poultry industries, which impose tariffs of up to 300% on U.S. imports. He argued that these measures harm Canadian consumers and called for a renegotiation of the North American free trade agreement to foster better economic relations between the two nations. Berniers Warning: Counter-Tariffs Harm Canadians Maxime Bernier, a staunch advocate of free markets and limited government, warned that Canadas decision to impose counter-tariffs in response to U.S. tariffs is a losing strategy. We must not engage in this trade war, Bernier stated. The tariffs imposed by President Trump are designed to pressure Canada into a better deal, but retaliating only hurts Canadian consumers and businesses. Bernier highlighted the disproportionate impact of Canadas protectionist policies, particularly in the dairy and poultry sectors. We have a system called supply management, which is essentially a cartel, he explained. Canadian producers fix prices, and we impose tariffs of up to 300% on imports like milk, poultry, and eggs. This is a communist system that costs Canadian consumers dearly. The Case for Free Trade: A Win-Win for Both Nations Bernier emphasized the need for Canada to renegotiate its trade agreements with the U.S. and Mexico, advocating for a return to true free trade. The current managed trade system is not working, he said. We need to eliminate these tariffs and allow competition to benefit consumers on both sides of the border. He also addressed President Trumps concerns about Canadas defense spending and border security. Trump is right to demand that Canada reinvest in its own defense and protect its borders, Bernier acknowledged. For too long, Canada has relied on the U.S. for security while neglecting its own responsibilities. A Populist Movement in Canada: Challenging the Status Quo Bernier positioned the Peoples Party of Canada as the Canadian incarnation of the populist movements sweeping the U.S. and Europe. We are fighting for common sense, Western values, and real freedom, he declared. The liberal and conservative parties in Canada are globalist and out of touch with the needs of everyday Canadians. He criticized the current government under Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling him a globalist in chief who lacks legitimacy. Carney was not elected by the people, Bernier noted. He represents the elites and the World Economic Forum, not the interests of Canadians. Bernier also took aim at Canadas mass immigration policies, which he argued are eroding the countrys social fabric. We are importing the third world, and our multiculturalism policies are a failure, he said. We need a moratorium on immigration to preserve Canadian culture and identity. Looking Ahead: A Call for Decentralization and Reform Bernier outlined his vision for a decentralized Canada, where provinces have more autonomy and the federal government is smaller and more efficient. The current system is unsustainable, he warned. If we dont adopt radical reforms, we risk economic collapse and the rise of separatist movements in provinces like Quebec and Alberta. He expressed hope that the upcoming elections would bring change, but acknowledged the challenges his party faces. The mainstream media and political establishment are trying to silence us, Bernier said. But we are gaining traction, and Canadians are waking up to the need for real change. Conclusion: A Path Forward for Canada-U.S. Relations Maxime Berniers message is clear: Canada must abandon protectionist policies, embrace free trade, and prioritize the interests of its citizens. By doing so, he believes Canada can strengthen its relationship with the U.S. and secure a prosperous future for both nations. As the trade war between Canada and the U.S. continues to escalate, Berniers call for common sense and cooperation offers a compelling alternative to the current path of confrontation. Whether his vision will gain traction remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the stakes for Canadas economy and its relationship with its southern neighbor have never been higher. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Maxime Bernier as they discuss the Canada-US trade war, immigration policies, and calls for a populist revolution in Canada amid post-Trudeau political shifts. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Canada refuses to lift tariffs despite Trumps postponement Trudeau escalates trade war with U.S., imposes 25% tariffs on $155 billion in American goods TARIFF WAR LOOMS: Trump warns Trudeau of more tariffs following Canadas retaliation Sources include: Brighteon.com PeoplesPartyofCanada.ca Nestle recalls frozen meals over wood-like contamination, joining alarming string of recent food recalls Nestle USA recalls Lean Cuisine and Stouffers frozen meals due to potential wood-like material contamination, following a choking incident report. Affected products include specific batches of ravioli, shrimp stir fry, and chicken lasagna with best-by dates from September 2025 to April 2026. Nestle is investigating the issue, working with FDA and USDA, and advises consumers to check batch codes and return recalled items for refunds or replacements. This recall is part of a broader trend, including Aldis shredded cheese and Chomps beef sticks, highlighting food safety challenges in mass production. Experts warn that frozen meals often contain harmful preservatives and synthetic dyes linked to health risks, urging consumers to choose minimally processed options. Nestle USA has voluntarily recalled several frozen meal products due to the potential presence of wood-like material, raising alarms among consumers and regulators alike. The recall, announced on March 18, affects Lean Cuisine and Stouffers frozen meals distributed nationwide, following reports of a potential choking incident. This incident is part of a broader trend of food recalls that has been seen in recent days, including shredded cheese and beef jerky, highlighting the risks of foreign object contamination in mass-produced foods. What is being recalled and why? The recall targets specific batches of Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli, Lean Cuisine Spinach Artichoke Ravioli, Lean Cuisine Lemon Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry, and Stouffer's Party Size Chicken Lasagna. These products, which were produced between August 2024 and March 2025, were distributed to major retailers across the United States and have best-by dates ranging from September 2025 to April 2026. Nestle USA stated that the recall was initiated after some consumers reported the issue, including one potential choking incident. We are actively investigating the source of the wood-like material, Nestle said in a statement. We are confident that this is an isolated issue, and we have taken action to address it. The company is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to resolve the matter. Consumers who have purchased the affected products are urged to check the 10-digit batch codes on the packaging against the list provided in the recall notice. Those who find they have recalled items should not consume them and are advised to return the products to the retailer for a full refund or replacement. This is not the first time Lean Cuisine meals have been hit with a recall over contamination; a similar recall was issued in 2020 over plastic contamination. Nestle also recalled chocolate chip cookie dough bars in August 2023 because of the possible presence of wood fragments. A broader trend of food recalls The Nestle recall is not an isolated incident. In recent days, other food products have been pulled from shelves due to contamination concerns. Aldis Happy Farms shredded cheese was recalled after steel fragments were found in the product, while Chomps beef sticks were recalled over reports of metal pieces in the packaging. These recalls highlight the challenges of ensuring food safety in an era of mass production and complex supply chains. Health concerns about frozen meals go beyond recalls While the immediate focus is on the safety of recalled products, experts warn that frozen meals, even when free of foreign objects, often contain harmful chemicals. Preservatives like TBHQ, BHA, and BHT, commonly found in frozen foods, have been linked to health risks, including immune system disruption and potential carcinogenic effects. Synthetic food dyes, used to enhance the appearance of frozen meals, have also been associated with behavioral issues in children. Although frozen dinners may be convenient for those with busy schedules, the cost for your health can be high. Therefore, it is important to read labels carefully, choose organic options with minimally processed ingredients where possible, and pay attention to recalls. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com FoxNews.com FoxNews.com Parade.com EWG.org Coppell ISD under fire: Texas AG Ken Paxton takes legal action against woke CRT curriculum in schools Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on March 18 against Coppell Independent School District (ISD) for allegedly teaching critical race theory (CRT) in violation of state law. The lawsuit was prompted by a video showing a district administrator admitting to circumventing state prohibitions on CRT. A video uploaded by Accuracy in Media on Feb. 25, featured Coppell ISDs Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Evan Whitfield, stating the district had "gotten around" state CRT bans by claiming not to teach it. Whitfield also implied teachers could discreetly teach unapproved content, sparking widespread criticism. Attorney General Paxton condemned the districts actions, vowing to hold administrators accountable for pushing "divisive and racist CRT curriculum." The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to stop CRT teachings and the use of unapproved materials, emphasizing compliance with Texas law. Critical Race Theory, an academic framework analyzing systemic racism, has become a contentious issue in K-12 education. Texas law (SB 3, 2021) prohibits teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior or that individuals are inherently oppressive based on race or sex, mandating objective and unbiased instruction. The lawsuit reflects a national debate over CRT and ideological conflicts in public education. The case could set a precedent for enforcing state education laws, with potential impacts on other districts. Coppell ISD has not yet responded publicly, and the case is expected to draw significant attention as it progresses. In a bold move to uphold state law and protect Texas students from divisive ideologies, Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Coppell Independent School District (ISD) for allegedly teaching critical race theory (CRT) in violation of state law. The lawsuit, filed on March 18, comes after a damning video surfaced showing a Coppell ISD administrator openly discussing how the district circumvented state prohibitions on CRT. The lawsuit has reignited the national debate over the role of CRT in public education, with Paxton vowing to hold accountable those who "unlawfully push divisive and racist CRT curriculum in classrooms." The video that sparked the lawsuit The controversy began when a video was uploaded to social media by the group Accuracy in Media on Feb. 25. The footage, reportedly captured during an undercover conversation, features Evan Whitfield, Coppell ISDs Director of Curriculum and Instruction, admitting that the district had "gotten around" state prohibitions on CRT "by saying were not teaching [CRT]." Whitfields comments have drawn sharp criticism. In the video, he states, "despite what our state standards say," Coppell ISD does "whats right." When asked if teachers could simply "close the door and teach whats right," Whitfield replied, "Shh, thats what we do." The video also revealed that Coppell ISD has been using the "Next Generation Science Standards" curriculum, which has never been approved by the Texas State Board of Education. Textbooks with similar approaches to "environmental education" have also been rejected by the state. Paxtons response: A stand against woke ideology Attorney General Ken Paxton wasted no time in responding to the revelations. In a statement, he declared, "Liberal administrators who want to ignore state law and unlawfully push divisive and racist CRT curriculum in classrooms will be held responsible for their actions. Texas children deserve to receive the best education in the world, not have woke ideology forced upon them." Paxtons lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to prohibit Coppell ISD from teaching CRT or using state or local funds to develop or distribute CRT materials. The state is not seeking monetary damages but aims to enforce compliance with Texas law. The lawsuit names several Coppell ISD officials as defendants, signaling a clear message that state laws governing education will be strictly enforced. What is critical race theory, and why does it matter? Critical Race Theory (CRT) is an academic framework that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a response to the civil rights movements perceived shortcomings. It posits that racism is not merely the product of individual bias but is systematically embedded in laws, policies and institutions. While CRT has been a subject of debate in higher education for decades, its introduction into K-12 curricula has sparked widespread controversy. Critics argue that CRT promotes division by framing societal issues through the lens of race and perpetuates a narrative of systemic oppression. Texas lawmakers have taken a firm stance against CRT in public schools. In 2021, the state passed SB 3, which prohibits educators from teaching that "one race or sex is inherently superior to another" or that individuals are "inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive" based on their race or sex. The law also mandates that controversial issues be taught "objectively and in a manner free from political bias." Historical context: The battle over education The fight over CRT in Texas is part of a broader national struggle over the direction of public education. Historically, public schools have been battlegrounds for cultural and ideological conflicts, from the Scopes Trial in the 1920s to the debates over sex education in the 1980s. In recent years, the rise of CRT as a flashpoint reflects deeper societal divisions over how history, race and identity should be taught. Proponents argue that CRT provides a necessary framework for understanding systemic inequality, while opponents view it as a harmful ideology that fosters resentment and division. Texas has been at the forefront of this debate, with state leaders like Paxton taking a hardline stance against what they see as the encroachment of progressive ideologies in education. The lawsuit against Coppell ISD is the latest salvo in this ongoing cultural war. Whats next for Coppell ISD? As of now, Coppell ISD has not issued a public statement in response to the lawsuit. Local affliate FOX 4 News reached out to the district for comment, but no response was provided. The case is expected to draw significant attention as it moves through the courts, with implications for other school districts across Texas and beyond. For now, the lawsuit serves as a stark reminder that state laws governing education are not mere suggestionsthey are mandates that must be followed. As Attorney General Paxton put it, "My lawsuit aims to put an immediate end to this illegal and hateful curriculum and immediately stop the blatant refusal to follow state law by certain officials at Coppell ISD." The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how states address the teaching of controversial ideologies in public schools, ensuring that education remains a space for learning, not indoctrination. Sources include: X.com TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov FoxNews.com Revolutionary radar scans reveal massive underground network beneath Giza Pyramids, challenging historical narratives Groundbreaking radar scans reveal a vast underground network beneath the Pyramids of Giza, challenging traditional views of their purpose and construction. The discovery includes eight cylindrical formations and massive chambers, suggesting advanced engineering predating known Egyptian dynasties. Theories propose the pyramids may have functioned as energy systems or resonance devices, supported by deep shafts and spiral pathways. Similar underground networks at global ancient sites hint at a possible lost advanced civilization, ignored by mainstream academia. Restricted access to the Giza Plateau fuels speculation and calls for further exploration to uncover the pyramids' true purpose. The Pyramids of Giza, which have long been regarded as one of the worlds most enduring mysteries, have once again captivated the imagination of researchers and historians. Recent groundbreaking radar scans have uncovered an extensive network of massive underground structures beneath the ancient monuments, challenging conventional narratives about their purpose and construction. These findings, which were revealed through advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Doppler Tomography, suggest that the pyramids may have been a part of a far more complex and sophisticated system than previously believed one that could very well rewrite our understanding of ancient civilizations. The scans, carried out by an international team of researchers, detected eight cylindrical formations descending more than 600 meters beneath the Pyramid of Khafre. These hollow structures, surrounded by spiral pathways, then merge into two enormous cubic chambers measuring approximately 80 meters per side. The underground network extends for at least two kilometers beneath the Giza Plateau, linking the pyramids of Khufu and Menkaure in a design that defies traditional explanations. A challenge to mainstream archaeology For decades, mainstream Egyptology has maintained that the pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs around 2500 BCE, using rudimentary tools and techniques. However, the discovery of this vast underground system suggests a level of engineering sophistication that predates known Egyptian dynasties. The cylindrical formations, for example, have sparked theories that they could have served as conduits for energy, sound waves, or even an unknown form of resonance. Experts believe that the layout of these structures points to a very intentional design and much more advanced knowledge than expected. Instead of simply being a group of tombs, it represents a very complex system that has a deliberate functional purpose. The findings have reignited debates about the true purpose of the pyramids. Some researchers, including the late Nikola Tesla, have theorized that the pyramids were not merely tombs but energy-generating systems. Tesla speculated that the pyramids could interact with the Earths natural electromagnetic fields, potentially harnessing or transmitting power. The discovery of deep vertical shafts and spiraling pathways beneath Giza lends credence to these ideas, suggesting that the ancient builders may have understood principles of resonance and energy manipulation in ways that go far beyond what modern science has yet to fully grasp. A global connection? The implications of these discoveries extend far beyond Egypt. Similar underground networks have been identified at other ancient sites worldwide, including in Turkey, Mexico, and Indonesia. This has led some researchers to propose the existence of a lost global civilization that boasted advanced architectural and technological knowledge a civilization that has been systematically ignored or dismissed by conventional academia. Some researchers insist that the similarities across the sites are too monumental to ignore. Despite the mounting evidence, further exploration of these underground structures remains tightly controlled. Access to the Giza Plateau is heavily restricted, and excavation permits are notoriously difficult to obtain. This has fueled speculation about why such discoveries are not being more thoroughly investigated. Independent researchers have expressed frustration over the apparent reluctance to challenge the established narrative about the pyramids despite clear evidence there is more to the story and are calling for an explanation of why these structures have been kept off-limits. A new chapter in ancient history The recent findings also appear to vindicate researchers like Christopher Dunn, author of The Giza Power Plant, who argued that the Great Pyramid was a machine that was designed to convert mechanical stress into electricity. Similarly, Joseph Farrells The Giza Death Star proposed that the pyramid could have functioned as a weapon of mass destruction, using advanced physics to focus energy. "That's a part of the theory in the Giza power plant," Dunn told The Joe Rogan Experience last year. "There are two chemicals that are introduced into the chamber, and the chemicals mix, and they boil off hydrogen [to create energy]." "I don't think there's any part of that pyramid that did not serve a practical function," he added. While these theories remain controversial, the discovery of vibrations within the pyramids internal structures and the presence of deep, resonant chambers suggest that the ancient builders were far more technologically advanced than previously thought. As modern technology continues to reveal the secrets hidden beneath the sands of Egypt, it is clear that the history of the Giza Plateau is far from settled. The pyramids may not be monuments to the dead but part of a larger, more enigmatic design one that has yet to be fully understood. The recent radar scans beneath the Giza pyramids have opened a new chapter in the study of ancient civilizations. With evidence of advanced engineering, potential energy systems, and connections to other global sites, these discoveries challenge long-held assumptions about human history. As researchers push for greater access to these hidden structures, the world may soon learn that our ancient past was far more sophisticated and interconnected than weve been led to believe. For now, however, the sands of Egypt continue to guard their secrets, but with each new discovery, the truth becomes a little clearer. The pyramids, it seems, are not just relics of a bygone era but keys to unlocking a forgotten chapter in the story of humanity that could provide us with valuable lessons we can apply to modern life. Sources for this article include: AboveThe NormNews.com Arxiv.org Gregreese.Substack.com The stablecoin trap: How financial surveillance is already here The current U.S. financial system already operates as a digital control grid, with 92% of dollars existing only in databases, transactions monitored without warrants, and access to money revocable at any time. Government agencies like the IRS, NSA and Treasury collect and analyze financial data with minimal oversight. Stablecoins, such as Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), are not decentralized but controlled by major financial institutions. Proposed legislation like the STABLE Act and GENIUS Act enshrine financial surveillance, requiring strict KYC tracking on all transactions. A total of 134 countries, representing 98% of global GDP, are exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The European Central Bank plans to launch a digital euro by 2025, while Canadas leadership aligns with the World Economic Forum to advance a digital Canadian dollar. The ultimate goal is to tokenize all assets stocks, bonds, real estate and commodities under a global ledger, enabling governments to monitor and program transactions for compliance with policies like carbon limits or social credit scores. Privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Monero (XMR) and Zano (ZANO) offer resistance to censorship and untraceable transactions. The fight for financial sovereignty is not about preventing future CBDCs but confronting the existing surveillance system and reclaiming privacy. The debate over Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) has dominated headlines, with fears of a dystopian future where governments monitor and control every financial transaction. But what if the dystopia is already here? A closer look at the current financial system reveals that the surveillance state isnt coming its already in place. The rise of stablecoins cryptocurrencies pegged to traditional assets like the U.S. dollar has been hailed as a bridge between the volatile world of crypto and the stability of fiat currency. However, beneath the surface, these digital assets are becoming a backdoor to total financial control, enabling governments and corporations to monitor, restrict and even revoke access to money with the click of a button. The illusion of financial freedom The U.S. financial system is already a digital control grid. According to Patrick Wood, Editor at the Brownstone Institute, The battle isnt about stopping a future CBDCits about recognizing the financial surveillance system that already exists. Your financial sovereignty is already under attack, and the last off-ramps are disappearing. Consider these facts: 92% of all U.S. dollars exist only as entries in databases. Your transactions are monitored by government agencieswithout warrants. Your access to money can be revoked at any time with a keystroke. The Federal Reserve processes over $4 trillion daily through its Oracle database system, while commercial banks impose programmable restrictions on what you can buy and how you can spend your own money. The IRS, NSA and Treasury Department collect and analyze financial data without meaningful oversight, weaponizing money as a tool of control. The stablecoin Trojan Horse While President Trumps Executive Order 14178 ostensibly bans CBDCs, his administration is quietly advancing stablecoin legislation that would hand digital currency control to the same banking cartel that owns the Federal Reserve. The STABLE Act and GENIUS Act dont protect financial privacythey enshrine financial surveillance into law, requiring strict Know Your Customer (KYC) tracking on every transaction. This isnt defeating digital tyranny its rebranding it, warns Aaron Day, author of "The Stablecoin Trap: The Backdoor to Total Financial Control." Stablecoins like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) are already under the control of major financial institutions. Tether, with a $140 billion market cap, is managed by Tether Limited, with reserves held by Cantor Fitzgerald. USDC, the second-largest stablecoin, is issued by Circle Internet Financial and backed by Goldman Sachs and BlackRock. These stablecoins are not decentralized; they are corporate-controlled assets that can be frozen, blacklisted, or seized at any moment. The global push for digital control The U.S. is not alone in its pursuit of financial surveillance. Globally, 134 countries are actively exploring CBDCs, representing 98% of global GDP. Even with Trumps ban on CBDCs, the global race for digital currencies is accelerating. In the European Union, the European Central Bank (ECB) is pressing forward with its digital euro, targeting a rollout by October 2025. ECB President Christine Lagarde has stated, We are on track to introduce the digital euro by October this year, offering a secure and programmable complement to cash that ensures financial inclusion while maintaining privacy standards. Meanwhile, Canadas new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, a former Governor of the Bank of England, is pushing for a digital Canadian dollar. Carneys alignment with the World Economic Forum (WEF) underscores his support for CBDCs as tools for financial innovation and control. The endgame: A global digital ledger The ultimate goal is not just to digitize money but to tokenize all assetsstocks, bonds, real estate and even commoditiesunder a global ledger. This system, known as a Regulated Liability Network (RLN), would enable governments and central banks to monitor and program every financial transaction, ensuring compliance with policies like carbon limits or social credit scores. The endgame isnt just controlling our money its digitizing all our assets under a global ledger with the same tracking and programmability as CBDCs, says Day. The time to act is now The battle for financial privacy and autonomy is not about stopping a future CBDCits about confronting the surveillance system already in place. Privacy coins like Monero (XMR) and Zano (ZANO) offer a way out, providing untraceable transactions and resistance to censorship. Privacy isnt a luxuryits a tool for self-reliance, says Day. Without privacy coins, every payment and asset risks being tracked or restricted. As the walls close in on financial freedom, the time for complacency has passed. The surveillance state isnt comingits here. The stakes are real, and the time to act is now. Sources include: Technocracy.news Forbes.com GlobalLegalInsights.com Trump vows total annihilation of Houthis as U.S. airstrikes pound Yemen President Trump warned Houthi rebels of "total annihilation" if they continue attacks on shipping and Israeli targets. U.S. airstrikes in Yemen have killed 53+ people, including civilians, but Houthis remain defiant, vowing escalation. Houthis justify their actions as solidarity with Gaza, citing Israels blockade and military campaign. Trump accuses Iran of arming Houthis, though experts question direct Iranian involvement. Humanitarian concerns grow as U.S. strikes target residential areas, risking further regional instability and civilian casualties. President Trump issued a dire warning to Yemens Houthi rebels on Wednesday, vowing their total annihilation if they continue their attacks on shipping and Israeli targets. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have intensified their campaign in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israels ongoing military operations in Gaza. However, Trumps responsea relentless bombing campaign targeting Houthi strongholdshas drawn criticism for its heavy-handed approach, even as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. The U.S. airstrikes, which began last weekend, have already killed at least 53 people, including women and children, and wounded dozens more. Despite the devastation, the Houthis remain defiant, vowing to meet escalation with escalation and continuing their attacks on U.S. and Israeli interests. The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have framed their actions as a response to Israels blockade of Gaza and its military campaign, which has killed thousands of Palestinians. The group paused its attacks during a brief Gaza ceasefire in January but resumed them after Israel violated the truce and tightened its blockade on humanitarian aid. The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that the US aggression will not deter the steadfast and struggling Yemen from fulfilling its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people, the Houthis said in a statement. While the Houthis solidarity with Gaza has garnered some sympathy in the Arab world, their methodstargeting commercial shipping and launching missileshave been widely condemned. Critics argue that such actions exacerbate regional instability and harm innocent civilians. Trumps hardline stance and Irans role Trump has repeatedly blamed Iran for supporting the Houthis, despite U.S. officials acknowledging that the group operates independently and has its own weapons production capabilities. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with military equipment and demanded an immediate halt. Iran must stop the sending of these Supplies IMMEDIATELY, he wrote. Let the Houthis fight it out themselves. Either way they lose, but this way they lose quickly. However, experts note that while Iran aligns politically with the Houthis, its direct involvement in arming the group is difficult to prove. The Houthis have developed their own missile and drone capabilities, making them a resilient force despite years of U.S.-backed Saudi airstrikes from 2015 to 2022. Humanitarian concerns deepen The latest U.S. bombing campaign has targeted Houthi-controlled areas, including the capital, Sanaa, and the northwestern stronghold of Saada. Local reports indicate that residential areas have been hit, raising concerns about civilian casualties. Al Masirah TV, a Houthi-run outlet, reported that seven women and two children were wounded in one strike. The humanitarian toll of the conflict is staggering. A UN-brokered ceasefire between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia in 2022 brought a temporary reprieve, but U.S. sanctions and renewed airstrikes threaten to derail peace efforts. The previous war, which killed over 377,000 peoplemany from starvation and diseaseunderscores the potential for further catastrophe. While Trumps threats of total annihilation may resonate with his base, they risk inflaming an already volatile region. The Houthis have proven their resilience, and their attacks are unlikely to cease without a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gaza. Critics argue that addressing the root cause Israels blockade and military campaign is essential to de-escalating tensions. Sources for this article include: News.Antiwar.com APNews.com AlJazeera.com Walz, Kimmel, Dem influencers ENCOURAGE attacks on Tesla (Article republished from Modernity.news) Trump hater Rick Wilson penned a Substack piece titled Kill Tesla, Save The Country with a sub headline of Elon has a weak spot. Attack. This is clearly an open call for violence against Musk and the company. Leftists are so used to getting away with domestic terrorism and violence that at this point theyre comfortable being open about it and dont fear any repercussions. This needs to change. Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 19, 2025 Openly calling to "Kill Tesla" while Tesla showrooms are being attacked? Thats not just criticism, its dangerous. Words have consequences, and when politicians and media figures push extreme narratives, real violence can follow. The FBI should take this seriously. No company Space Universe (@space_univrs) March 19, 2025 Rabid leftist Jimmy Kimmel also called for attacks on Tesla by sarcastically telling his viewers how they shouldnt vandalise the vehicles. Leftists in the audience go wild over an American EV companys stock dropping as Kimmel then mocks Teslas being vandalized." Please dont ever vandalize Tesla vehicles, Kimmel says into the camera sarcastically. They love it and want more of it. pic.twitter.com/pQdpmGGB6o Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) March 19, 2025 @TheRickWilson openly calling for domestic terrorism. He's just as guilty as @jimmykimmel. Arrests for both of them. We can't have this type of behavior in our country. Jeff (@JeffCampsInMN) March 19, 2025 In addition to this and other blatant calls to attack Tesla, Tim Walz got up on a stage and told an audience that he is rooting for Tesla stock to drop and that it makes him happy to see it happening. If you need a little boost during the day, check out Tesla stock ? pic.twitter.com/KBEh6pOZLW Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) March 19, 2025 Deranged EDS-sufferer Tim Walz roots for Tesla stock to crash: "They've got that little stock app. I added Tesla to it to give me a little boost during the day. $225 and dropping!" pic.twitter.com/3kTvwgFOyN Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) March 19, 2025 This is an American company that employs 70,000 people. He is a communist Jeremy Matthews (@Sarcasm_Sells) March 19, 2025 Why does Tim Walz hate American auto manufacturing? Pericles 'Perry' Abbasi (@ElectionLegal) March 19, 2025 Musk responded in typical fashion: Sometimes when I need a little boost, I look at the @JDVance portrait in the @WhiteHouse and thank the Lord ? https://t.co/etwL4KocIx Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2025 Walz, Wilson and Kimmels comments cannot be separated from the context of what is being done to Tesla dealerships and to peoples vehicles by deranged leftists. Meanwhile I was SWATed for simply having a platform on here, and dozens of Minnesota Tesla owners were doxxed today. Great work for encouraging this, Tampon Tim. pic.twitter.com/w2GfsWSzrq Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) March 19, 2025 Guy walking his dog throws its feces at Tesla Cybertruck. This is what Jimmy Kimmel called for. Shame on him.pic.twitter.com/yBrSMicwmD Paul A. Szypula ?? (@Bubblebathgirl) March 19, 2025 Read more at: Modernity.news Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. "This is very early in on the process, and no one should just assume that all of these areas are going to be annexed. We will take public input, and I believe that the board members take the public input seriously." Men who consistently avoid prostate cancer screening appointments face a disproportionately higher risk of dying from the disease, finds research identifying a new high-risk group. An analysis of data from across seven countries from the world's largest prostate cancer screening study, the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), is presented this weekend at the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Madrid. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in 112 countries, with prevalence expected to double by 2040. If introduced on a national scale, prostate cancer screening programmes that measure levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood have the potential to give men earlier access to treatment, a better chance of being cured. They can also prevent costly treatment associated with advanced prostate cancer. Long-term follow-up data from the ERSPC consistently report that PSA screening programmes can lead to a 20% reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer. Now, a sub-analysis of 20-year follow-up data from the ERSPC is the first to look at the link between consistently declining screening invitations and the risk of dying from prostate cancer. It reveals a stark contrast that emphasises the potential consequences of avoiding screening. The analysis was led by researchers from the Department of Urology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Of 72,460 men invited to screening, around one in six men (over 12,400) were non-attenders and skipped every appointment. This group had a 45% higher risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with those who attended screening appointments. When comparing outcomes with the control group men who were never invited to screening men who attended screening appointments had a 23% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer, while non-attenders faced a 39% higher risk of death from the disease. Deciding not to participate in screening is a choice that may be driven by a complex mix of factors, according to the study's lead author, Renee Leenen MD, a PhD researcher in the group of Professor Monique Roobol at the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute. "It may be that men who opted not to attend a screening appointment are care avoiders, meaning they're less likely to engage in healthy behaviours and preventative care in general. This is the opposite behaviour of people who are perhaps more health conscious and are more likely to attend a screening appointment. "Our study identifies that men who were invited for screening, but do not attend screening appointments are at significantly higher risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to men who were not offered screening or accepted an invitation for screening. We need to better understand who these men are, why they choose not to attend appointments, and how to motivate them. This will help us to design population-based prostate cancer screening programmes that encourage higher rates of informed participation. Tackling attendance rates in this way could be a big factor in the long-term success of a national prostate screening programme." Through the EAU-led PRAISE-U project, several EU countries are working to align approaches to patient-tailored, risk-based population screening programmes for prostate cancer. This latest research highlights the critical issue of attendance if national prostate cancer screening programmes are to be successful, and the need to improve awareness and address inequalities in access to screening for this higher-risk group of men. The new analysis also suggests that the overall benefit of screening for prostate cancer is higher than previously thought, says Dr. Tobias Nordstrom, Clinical Urologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and Member of the EAU Scientific Congress Office. For countries around Europe that are planning to introduce a national prostate screening programme, this analysis focusing on attendance shows that men who participate in screening have a much-improved long-term benefit than what we've seen from previous studies. But it highlights a group of men who need our attention, as they're more at risk of developing advanced prostate cancer and dying from it. We need to better understand why these men might actively choose not to participate in screening, despite being invited to attend, and how this behaviour is linked to worse outcomes when they get a diagnosis." Dr. Tobias Nordstrom, Clinical Urologist at the Karolinska Institute The sub-analysis included 20-year follow-up data from 161,000 men aged 55-69 years in the ERSPC across Finland, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain. The ERSPC was launched in 1990 across eight European countries, and the full results of this sub-analysis are expected to be published later this year. Almost half of children who require surgery for complicated appendicitis can safely complete their recovery at home, according to a new study. The research, led by Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, found more than 40 per cent who received care in the home following a complex appendectomy recovered faster and had fewer complications. More than 300 patients present with appendicitis to The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) every year, with about one in three experiencing a burst appendix or severe infection. The study involved 83 children, aged five to 18 years, admitted to the RCH for a complicated appendicectomy, with 35 suitable for the Hospital in the Home (HITH) program. All patients needed at least five days of intravenous antibiotics (IV) post-surgery. Under the program, a nurse visited the child's home daily to administer the antibiotics and record clinical observations. MCRI Associate Professor Penelope Bryant said under this model, patients at home recovered more quickly and didn't require readmission to hospital. Acute post-operative care at home is rare, but we found it's possible for children to spend 35 per cent less time in hospital after complicated surgery," she said. This could be done safely and without prolonging IV courses or broadening antibiotic use. These findings will help clinicians to identify which children are suitable for HITH care following surgery for complicated appendicitis." Penelope Bryant, Associate Professor, MCRI MCRI Associate Professor Warwick Teague said the HITH program, used heavily during the COVID-19 pandemic, had the added benefits of reduced hospital and family costs, improved quality of life, less time taken from work and prevention of hospital-acquired infections. "The pandemic presented us with the need and opportunity to deliver care to children in their home," he said. This study showed even children who had severe appendicitis can be well cared for at home after surgery, freeing up hospital beds for other sick children and those needing surgery. "Traditionally after surgery for severe appendicitis, surgeons have insisted on daily reviews in hospital by the surgical team. However, in this study we learnt that optimal postoperative care be delivered at home, by well-trained non-surgical clinicians working as a team with surgeons." "For complicated appendicitis, the HITH program also saved over $1,400 per day for the hospital and $300 daily for families, reducing cost-of-living pressures with longer-term benefits for healthcare sustainability." Researchers from The Royal Children's Hospital and University of Melbourne contributed to the study. The host Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition. Two months into the new administration, federal workers and contractors remain off-balance as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to cancel jobs and programs even as federal judges declare many of those efforts illegal and/or unconstitutional. As it eliminates programs deemed duplicative or unnecessary, however, President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency is also cutting programs and workers aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post. Panelists Jessie Hellmann CQ Roll Call @jessiehellmann Sarah Karlin-Smith Pink Sheet @SarahKarlin Rachel Roubein The Washington Post @rachel_roubein Among the takeaways from this week's episode: Kennedy's comments this week about allowing bird flu to spread unchecked through farms provided another example of the new secretary of health and human services making claims that lack scientific support and could instead undermine public health. The Trump administration is experiencing more pushback from the federal courts over its efforts to reduce and dismantle federal agencies, and federal workers who have been rehired under court orders report returning to uncertainty and instability within government agencies. The second Trump administration is signaling it plans to dismantle HIV prevention programs in the United States, including efforts that the first Trump administration started. A Texas midwife is accused of performing illegal abortions. And a Trump appointee resigns after being targeted by a Republican senator. Plus, for "extra credit," the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's "The Free-Living Bureaucrat," by Michael Lewis. Rachel Roubein: The Washington Post's "Her Research Grant Mentioned 'Hesitancy.' Now Her Funding Is Gone." by Carolyn Y. Johnson. Sarah Karlin-Smith: KFF Health News' "Scientists Say NIH Officials Told Them To Scrub mRNA References on Grants," by Arthur Allen. Jessie Hellmann: Stat's "NIH Cancels Funding for a Landmark Diabetes Study at a Time of Focus on Chronic Disease," by Elaine Chen. Also mentioned in this week's podcast: Credits Francis Ying Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor Young men who hit puberty later have lower bone mass but healthier fat-to-muscle ratios, suggesting that delayed maturation may offer long-term body composition benefits. Study: Association between pubertal timing and bone and body composition in young adult men. Image Credit: Lapina / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers examined how the timing of puberty affects body composition and bone density in young men. They found that those who experienced puberty earlier had higher bone density but largely similar body composition, apart from a slightly higher BMI and trunk fat mass, while those who experienced puberty later had lower bone mass, fat mass, and lean mass. The study highlights that pubertal timing influences body and bone composition even after reaching adult height. Background Men with late voice break had significantly higher levels of alkaline phosphatase, a marker suggesting ongoing bone growth, even at age 19. Puberty is a crucial period of physical development influenced by genetics, hormones, body weight, and nutrition. The timing of puberty varies widely and can affect long-term health. Later puberty increases the risk of osteoporosis in women, and studies suggest similar risks for men. Late puberty is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and higher fracture risk. However, some research indicates that men with later puberty may, over time, reach a similar BMD to those with early puberty. Researchers often use peak height velocity to estimate puberty timing in boys, but voice break is a widely used and distinct marker. Studies show that the timing of voice break is genetically linked to early puberty markers like testicular growth. Data from the Copenhagen Puberty Study suggest that voice break generally occurs around 13.6 years and correlates with rising testosterone levels and testicular enlargement. Even after reaching adult height, skeletal development continues until the achievement of peak bone mass (PBM), particularly in longer bones. PBM is a key factor in osteoporosis risk later in life, and muscle growth during puberty plays a critical role in bone strength. While puberty timing influences biological age and maturation, it is unclear how these differences persist into young adulthood. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of pubertal timing on bone and muscle development. About the study This study explored the relationship between puberty timing and body and bone composition in young men. Researchers used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess bone density, muscle mass, and fat distribution. 31% of late-developing men had a BMI under 20, compared to just 17% of those with early puberty, pointing to a noticeable difference in overall body weight. Participants, who were young Danish males undergoing mandatory military fitness exams, completed questionnaires about their pubertal milestones, including self-reported voice break timing. They were categorized as experiencing puberty earlier, at the same time, or later than their peers. From 2012 to 2019, 2,311 men participated in the study. The study included reproductive health assessments, physical exams, and blood tests. BMD, bone mineral content (BMC), and body composition were measured. DXA scans were calibrated regularly to ensure accuracy, and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) was used to adjust for differences in bone size. Statistical analyses compared groups based on pubertal timing. Linear regression models, adjusted for factors like age, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking, and alcohol intake, examined associations between voice break timing and DXA measurements. Additional analyses tested the validity of findings by considering other pubertal markers, such as the development of pubic hair and testis size. Findings The study found that the timing of puberty, based on self-reported voice break, was linked to bone and body composition in young men. Among the 2,056 participants analyzed, 20% reported experiencing an earlier voice break, while 17% had a later one. Men who matured later had lower absolute fat mass, but in percentage terms, they also carried less fat relative to muscle, giving them a leaner profile overall. Men with earlier voice breaks had higher BMC, BMD, and BMAD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Even after adjusting for factors like age, BMI, smoking, and physical activity, they maintained higher lumbar BMD and total body BMD. Lumbar BMAD was also significantly higher, indicating denser bone relative to size. In contrast, those with later voice breaks had lower bone volume, bone area, and lumbar BMC but no significant differences in lumbar areal BMD or BMAD. In terms of body composition, men with earlier voice breaks had a higher BMI and were more likely to be overweight. Those with later voice breaks had lower BMI, body weight, muscle mass, lean mass, and total fat mass. However, they had a higher percentage of lean mass and a lower fat-to-muscle ratio, suggesting a healthier body composition despite lower absolute mass. Similar trends were observed when puberty timing was assessed through other milestones, such as pubic hair and testis growth. These findings suggest that puberty timing influences bone and body composition, with earlier puberty linked to higher bone density and greater absolute body mass. Conclusions This research provides insight into how variations in puberty timing may have lasting effects on body and bone composition, even after adult height is reached. Men who experienced a later voice break had lower bone volume and mineral content in the lumbar spine but showed no differences in total body or femoral bone density. They also had lower muscle mass, lean mass, BMI, and fat mass, resulting in healthier body compositions with lower fat percentages and better fat-to-muscle ratios. In contrast, men whose voices broke earlier had higher bone mineral density but no major differences in body composition, except for slightly higher BMI and trunk fat mass. The authors suggest that men with later puberty may not have fully reached adult body weight, muscle mass, or bone volume by age 19 despite attaining adult heightindicating that physical maturation continues beyond linear growth. Thus, pubertal timing influences bone and body composition into young adulthood, with later puberty associated with ongoing bone maturation and delayed attainment of peak physical mass. 9-km Underground Railway Line Coming Up At Kerala's Vizhinjam Port By 2028 Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 11:51 IST The project aims to transport containers from the port to Balaramapuram, connecting it with the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari railway route The railway will run parallel to the Vizhinjam-Balaramapuram road, passing at a depth of 15 to 30 metres below ground. (News18 Malayalam) The Kerala government has granted administrative approval for the construction of a railway line as part of the Vizhinjam International Port project, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,482 crore. Of the 10.7 km railway line, 9.02 km will be underground. The project, undertaken by Konkan Railways, aims to transport containers from the port to Balaramapuram, connecting it with the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari railway route. The state cabinet has approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Konkan Rail Corporation, and the railway line is expected to be completed by 2028. Recommended Stories Tunnel at a Depth of 15 to 30 Metres The government plans to fund the project through central schemes such as Sagarmala, Rail Sagar, and PM Gati Shakti. If central assistance is unavailable, a NABARD loan will be sought. The railway will run parallel to the Vizhinjam-Balaramapuram road, passing at a depth of 15 to 30 metres below ground. Signalling Station at Balaramapuram Once completed, the Balaramapuram railway station will be upgraded into a signalling station at a cost of Rs 240 crore. The station will be relocated slightly towards Neyyattinkara. The decision to build a tunnel instead of a conventional railway line was made to minimise land acquisition in densely populated areas. Land Acquisition Details top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The railway project requires 6.04 hectares of land across Balaramapuram, Athiyannur, Pallichal, and Vizhinjam villages. This includes 2.04 hectares from Vizhinjam, 4.07 hectares from Balaramapuram, 7.36 hectares from Pallichal, and 2.39 hectares from Athiyannur. The Vizhinjam Port Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Konkan Rail Corporation for a feasibility study and construction in 2018. At the time, the estimated construction cost was Rs 1,032 crore. 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 : Kerala, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 11:51 IST Bajaj Finance Shares Surge 4% as MD Rajeev Jain Elevated to Vice Chairman Amid Top-Level Rejig Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 13:06 IST Bajaj Finance shares rose 4 percent on Friday after restructuring top management. Rajeev Jain was elevated to Vice Chairman and Anup Kumar Saha appointed as MD, boosting investor confidence. Bajaj Finance Shares Up 4% On Friday. Bajaj Finance Share Price: Bajaj Finance Ltds shares climbed 4 per cent during the intraday on Friday following the restructuring of top management in the company. Indias largest Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) on Thursday informed that the incumbent MD Rajeev Jain has been elevated as Vice Chairman for 3 years from April 1 and Deputy Managing Director Anup Kumar Saha has been appointed as MD of the Company. Investors look at these elevations in the top managerial posts positively as shares move upward on Friday. Recommended Stories The scrip was trading at Rs 8840 apiece with a gain of 1.85% on BSE around 10:23 AM. The stocks opened at Rs 8960, against the previous day close at Rs 8679.80 apiece. The stocks 52-week movement indicates a high of Rs 9,070 and a low of Rs 6,376.55. Bajaj Finance Ltd. has a market cap of Rs 5.47 lakh crore and is part of BSE Sensex. Top-Level Rejig Bajaj Finance Ltd has announced key leadership changes, elevating Managing Director Rajeev Jain to the position of Vice Chairman while appointing Deputy Managing Director Anup Kumar Saha as the new Managing Director. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In a regulatory filing, the company stated that the Board of Directors, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, approved these changes at a meeting held on March 20, 2025. Rajeev Jain, who has been instrumental in the companys growth, will assume the role of Vice Chairman in an executive capacity for a three-year term starting April 1, 2025. His current tenure as MD is set to end on March 31, 2025. Meanwhile, Anup Kumar Saha, who currently serves as Deputy Managing Director, will take over as Managing Director from April 1, 2025. His tenure as DMD was originally set to run until March 31, 2028. About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18. First Published: March 21, 2025, 10:51 IST How Tata Group Could Become A Key Character In Tesla's India Story Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 12:02 IST As Tesla plans its expansion into India, these Tata companies are positioning themselves to play a larger role in the automaker's supply chain Tata Group Partners With Elon Musks Tesla In India; A New Era For Electric Vehicles Supply Tesla India: Several Tata Group companies, including Tata AutoComp, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tata Technologies, and Tata Electronics, have emerged as key suppliers to Tesla, which accounts for nearly half of the global automotive market value. As Tesla plans its expansion into India, these Tata companies are positioning themselves to play a larger role in the automakers supply chain, sources told Economic Times. A senior industry insider revealed to ET that Tesla is readying the supplier base in India," indicating that Indian firms are poised to benefit from sourcing opportunities once the electric vehicle (EV) giant establishes manufacturing operations in the country. Teslas senior global procurement team has been engaging with suppliers, discussing the development and production of essential components like castings, forgings, electronics, and fabrication items. Recommended Stories Tatas Role in Teslas Evolving Supply Chain The Tata Group companies mentioned above already have global supply agreements with Tesla, contributing to the $2 billion worth of Indian supplies to the automaker in FY24, according to reports. While these agreements currently support Teslas international operations, the companys decision regarding local production or contract manufacturing in India will shape the next phase of their collaboration. Reports suggest that Tesla is now sourcing critical parts from over a dozen Indian companies, including Samvardhana Motherson, Suprajit Engineering, Sona BLW Precision Forgings, Varroc Engineering, Bharat Forge, and Sandhar Technologies. Indias Growing Role in Teslas Supply Chain Tesla is expected to source a variety of components from Indian suppliers, such as wiring harnesses, electric motors, gearboxes, forged parts, castings, sheet metal, high-value electronics, suspension systems, and electric powertrains, a person familiar with the matter told ET. Tata Group companies will be playing a significant role in Teslas supply chain, with Tata AutoComp supplying engineering products for electric vehicles (EVs), Tata Technologies offering end-to-end product lifecycle management, and TCS providing circuit-board technologies. Tata Electronics is expected to supply critical components such as chips and vehicle control elements, including printed circuit board assemblies for Teslas battery management systems, motor controllers, and door controls. These contributions highlight Tatas pivotal role in supporting Teslas operations and growth in the electric vehicle sector. Meanwhile, reports also indicate that Tesla has instructed its suppliers of vehicles sold outside China to relocate component manufacturing out of China and Taiwan by next year. Teslas India Manufacturing Plans top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As part of its India expansion strategy, Tesla is reportedly in talks with several statesincluding Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Telanganaabout potential locations for a manufacturing base. This move could further strengthen Teslas footprint in India and create new business opportunities for local suppliers. Tesla Inc. has yet to respond to ETs inquiries, and the individual Tata Group companies also declined to comment. News18 was unable to independently verify the report. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18. First Published: March 21, 2025, 10:50 IST Swiggy Launches New Assure App To Compete Zomato Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 14:53 IST The app serves as a one-stop shop for the HoReCa sector and a business-to-business platform for kitchen supplies. Android Scootsy, a Swiggy subsidiary, released the app. (Representative Image) Swiggy, the Bengaluru-based food delivery company, has launched Assure, a business-to-business (B2B) platform, to compete withZomatosHyperpure solution, intensifying a business war between the two companies.The app was released in Septemberof last year andwasupdatedin December.According to the app description, it is aone-stop shop for the HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, and caterers) industry and a B2B platform for kitchen supplies." With over 100 downloads so far, theapp was released bySwiggysAndroid subsidiary Scootsy, which also introduced the sales tool Lynk Pragati, the B2B retail ordering app Tezz, and the intra-city logistic platform fordriver partnersLYNK Partner. Recommended Stories According to the App, Assure provideslocally sourced, high-quality, and fresh ingredients"while adhering to strict sanitary standards from sourcing to delivery. It is acomprehensive solution for all kitchen needs,"itstated. This new venture complements thecompanysrecent services, which include Bolt and Snacc (10-minute food delivery), Swiggy Scenes for restaurant event reservations, and One BLCK, an invite-only premium membership program. The new kitchen supply app is a calculated step towards thecompanyslong-term development and financial success.Itsfood services ecosystemwill be strengthened by the B2B sectorby establishing a sticky, end-to-end value chain that runs from procuring ingredients to food delivery.Additonally, this can help the business improve its rapport with HoReCa players. In addition to helping Swiggy compete more effectively with Zomato, the B2B supply chain can enable Swiggy to potentially create higher profitsin comparisonto low-margin food delivery businesses by leveraging HoReCa procurement, a significant recurrent expense for restaurants and hotels. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2018, Zomato introduced its Hyperpure solution, which has since expanded to more than 100 cities and can now deliver over 4,000 goods to more than 40,000 restaurant partners. The app offers next-day delivery for groceries, fruits and vegetables, packaging, consumables, poultry, meats and seafood, gourmet foods, and kitchenware. In Q3 of this fiscal year, the company announcedHyperpuressales of Rs 1,671 crore, up 95 per cent from Rs 859 crore in Q3 of FY24. At the same time, the adjusted EBITDA loss decreased from Rs 34 crore to Rs 19 crore. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 14:44 IST Battle Of Khanwa: The Clash That Paved The Way For The Mughal Empire In India Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 14:38 IST The Battle of Khanwa (1527) was a decisive clash that cemented Baburs rule in India, marking the rise of the Mughal Empire over Rajput power. GK: The Battle of Khanwa was fought in 1527. (AI Generated Image) Throughout Indian history, several rulers have participated in conflicts and wars, including battles like the Kalinga War, the Battle of Panipat, and various Anglo-Indian wars, changing the political landscape and leaving a lasting imprint on the region. Among these was the Battle of Khanwa, fought in 1527 between Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, and Rana Sanga, the head of the Rajput Confederation, on the grounds of Khanwa, just outside Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Even though most history books and historical films do not provide extensive details about this war, historians believe that this battle was more significant than many others in establishing the Mughal Empire in India. It introduced new war tactics, such as gunpowder and cannons, which the Mughals had also used against the Lodhis during the Battle of Panipat. Recommended Stories Baburs ambitions increased after he defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. Though he disliked the Indian climate and topography, as he mentioned in the Baburnama, the Mughal Emperor chose to stay and establish his authority by defeating other Indian warlords. However, during this time, Rana Sanga of Mewar believed that Babur would return to Kabul after looting the treasure from Delhi, giving him an opportunity to capture the provinces of Delhi and Agra. When it became clear that Babur intended to stay in India, Sanga formed a grand coalition of Rajputs and Afghans who feared Baburs growing authority. The primary objective of this coalition was to drive Babur out of India and confine him to Afghanistan. In the early months of March 1527, Babur learned that an army of Afghans and Rajputs was advancing towards his defences in Agra. Alarmed by the news of the Rajput and Afghan attack, Babur delivered an inspiring speech to boost his soldiers morale and swore to abstain from alcohol as a symbol of his dedication. Before the Battle of Khanwa, the Mughals and Rajputs clashed in Bayana. Babur himself described the encounter in the Baburnama, writing, The kafirs (Hindus) fought so hard that the Mughal army was almost completely wiped out. At Bayana, the Rajput army led by Sanga outnumbered us and demoralised our soldiers." Later, the decisive Battle of Khanwa took place in March 1527, where Sangas army, with around 2 lakh men, fought bravely against Babur. Despite having a larger force than the Mughals, the Rajputs failed to win the war. But why? According to historian William Erskine, Baburs success was not merely due to strength but rather to strategic planning and the effective use of advanced weaponry. Knowing that the Rajputs vastly outnumbered his forces, Babur devised a defensive strategy based on fortified camps equipped with firearms. He used muskets and cannons to deliver devastating blows to his opponents, who lacked firearms. The firing positions were shielded by carts linked together, with ample space for the cavalry to advance. Another major reason for the Rajputs defeat was the betrayal of Silhadi Tomar, one of Sangas allies, who defected to Baburs side, shifting the battles momentum. Sanga was seriously injured and taken away from the battlefield. Ajja Jhala of Halwad took command and fought valiantly until his death. Baburs well-executed strategy, superior cavalry, and artillery ultimately led to his victory. Many Rajput nobles died in battle, notably Rawal Udai Singh of Dungarpur and several Rathore and Chundawat chiefs. After regaining consciousness, Sanga resolved to attack Babur again and began rebuilding his army. However, his nobles, fearing another catastrophic defeat, poisoned him to prevent further fighting. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sanga died on 30 January 1528 near Mandalgarh, and a memorial was later built in his honour. Baburs victory at Khanwa strengthened the Mughal position in northern India while marking the decline of Rajput power. Baburs triumph over the Rajputs signalled the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 14:38 IST Allahabad Bar Body Reacts After Reports Of Delhi HC Judge's Transfer Amid Cash Probe: 'We Arent Trash Bin' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 19:52 IST The Allahabad High Court Bar Association opposed Justice Yashwant Verma's return to the Allahabad High Court over corruption concerns, criticising the Supreme Court's decision Members of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association hold a meeting. (Photo: X) The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has written to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna opposing the proposed transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court back to the Allahabad High Court after alleged recovery of a huge pile of cash from his Delhi residence. Amid reports of the judges transfer, the Supreme Courts press note on Friday suggested that Justice Varma has not been transferred and a proposal in this regard is under consideration. Recommended Stories In the strongly-worded letter, the bar body said they were not a trash bin" and that they were against corruption, a report on Live Law stated. This decision of the collegium of the Supreme Court raises a serious question as to whether the Allahabad High Court is trash bin? This matter becomes important when we examine the current situation wherein the Allahabad High Court is short of honble judges and despite the continuous problems, new judges have not appointed since last many years. It is also of grave concern that while appointing judges by elevating members of the Bar, the Bar was never consulted. Consideration of eligibility appears to be not up to the mark. Something is lacking which has resulted in corruption and consequently, a great damage has been caused to the public faith in judiciary," the letter states. The letter adds that while the High Court is facing so many problems", especially a shortage of judges resulting in fresh cases not being heard for months, which is diminishing the faith of the public in the rule of law", it does not mean that we are thrashing bin". Cash Controversy The money was recovered from the official bungalow of Justice Yashwant Varma after a fire broke out at his residence on Tughlak Road. Justice Varma was not in the city when the incident took place and his family members called the fire brigade and police. After the fire was doused, first responders found a huge amount of cash inside a room, leading to an inquiry against him. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In addition to this, the top court Collegium initiated an in-house probe against Justice Yashwant Varma and has also sought a report from Delhi HC Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. Notably, Justice Varma was transferred to the Delhi High Court In October 2021. About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 14:55 IST 'I Don't Support': Union Minister Annapurna Devi Reacts To Allahabad High Court Rape Case Ruling Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 12:35 IST Union Minister Annapurna Devi slammed the Allahabad High Court's ruling on rape cases, calling it "wrong" and urging reconsideration. Union Minister Annapurna Devi comments on Allahabad High Court judgment (Video screengrab/PTI) Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Friday termed the Allahabad High Courts ruling wrong", wherein it had said that mere grabbing of the breast and breaking of the string of a pyjami do not amount to offence of rape. The court had said that such offence, rather, falls under the ambit of assault or use of criminal force against any woman with the intent to disrobe or compel her to be naked. Recommended Stories Speaking to reporters today, the Union Minister said that she does not support the ruling and that the court should reconsider the decision. I dont support this decision, and the court should also re-consider this decision because it will have an adverse impact on a civil society," she said. VIDEO | Heres what Union Minister Annapurna Devi (@Annapurna4BJP) said on Allahabad High Courts remark on rape cases.I dont support this decision, and the Supreme Court should also re-consider this decision because it will have adverse impact on a civil society." The pic.twitter.com/38AqsOlI2J Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 21, 2025 Also commenting on the ruling, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal said, This statement is very insensitive and it is very dangerous for the society. The Supreme Court should intervene in this matter." #WATCH | On Allahabad HCs observation that Holding breast, breaking pyjamas string is not a crime of rape", Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal says, This statement is very insensitive and it is very dangerous for the society. The Supreme Court should intervene in this matter" pic.twitter.com/8AbHEqR7DQ ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT ORDER AND THE CASE The order was passed by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra on a revision petition filed by two persons who moved the court, challenging the order of a Special Judge of Kasganj by which the court had summoned them under Section 376 of IPC apart from other sections. According to facts of the case, an application was moved before the court of Special Judge, POCSO Act, alleging that around 5.00 pm on November 10, 2021, she (informant) was returning from the home of her sister-in-law (husbands sister) along with her minor daughter aged about 14 years. Accused Pawan, Akash and Ashok, who were her village men, met her on the way on a muddy road and asked where she was coming from. When she replied she was coming from her sister-in-laws place, accused Pawan offered a lift to her daughter, assuring her that he would drop her at her residence. Relying on his assurance, she permitted her daughter to accompany him on his motorcycle. The accused persons stopped their motorcycle on the muddy way to her village and started grabbing her breasts. Akash dragged her and tried to take her beneath the culvert and broke the string of her pyjami. Two persons reached the spot on hearing the cries of her daughter. The accused persons threatened them with life by pointing a country-made pistol and fled the place. After recording the statement of the victim and the witnesses, the court summoned the accused for the offence of rape. After going through the materials on record, the court found, In the present case, the allegation against accused Pawan and Akash is that they grabbed the breasts of the victim and Akash tried to bring down the lower garment of the victim and for that purpose, they had broken string of her lower garments and tried to drag her beneath the culvert, but due to intervention of witnesses they left the victim and fled away from the place of incident. This fact is not sufficient to draw an inference that the accused persons had determined to commit rape on the victim as apart from these facts no other act is attributed to them to further their alleged desire to commit rape on the victim," the court said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court in its order on March 17 further observed that the specific allegation against accused Akash is that he tried to drag the victim beneath the culvert and broke the string of her pyjami. It is also not stated by the witnesses that the victim got naked or undressed due to this act of the accused, the court said. There is no allegation that the accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim," the court said. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 21, 2025, 12:24 IST Amit Shah Stresses NDA Efforts To Tackle 'Legacy' Security Issues, Mentions Kashmir, Northeast, Maoism Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 16:12 IST Amit Shah was addressing the Rajya Sabha on the discussion over the working of the MHA. He lauded PM Modi for his "zero tolerance for terrorism" policy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah (Photo: Sansad TV) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took on the previous Congress-led UPA government over its handling of the countrys security both internal and external and said that the Narendra Modi government got legacy security issues" in the form of Kashmir, Northeast insurgency and Maoism when it assumed power in 2014. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha over a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah said that the Modi government has since then made well-planned efforts" to deal with such issues, which in total, have claimed the lives of around 92,000 citizens. Recommended Stories Amit Shah On UPAs Legacy In a swipe at the previous government, the Home Minister said that when the NDA came to power in 2014, it received several legacy issues" Kashmir, Northeast insurgency, and Maoism. When Narendra Modi Government was elected to power in 2014, we received several legacy issues from prior to 2014. The security and development of this country were always challenged due to three main issues. These three issues caused obstruction to the peace of the country, raised questions on the security of the country and obstructed the development pace of the country for almost 4 decades; they also made the countrys entire system even laughable many a time," Shah said. These three issues were terrorism in J&K, Leftist insurgency which dreamt of Tirupati to Pashupatinath and the Northeast insurgency. If you club all these three issues together, around 92,000 citizens of this country were killed in 4 decades. Well-planned effort for the elimination of these three issues was never made. PM Modi made those efforts after coming to power," he added. Amit Shah On Modi Govts Response To Terrorism Raising the Kashmir issue, Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed India on the list of the few nations that take a stand for its borders and soldiers by adhering to a policy of zero-tolerance for terrorism" against Pakistan. Shah said that infiltration has been a problem in Jammu and Kashmir, however, when the attacks took place in the region during the Modi government in Uri and Pulwama, the government retaliated with surgical strike and air strike against Pakistan. Terrorists used to infiltrate from neighbouring country. PM Modi has started a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. Attacks happened in our time in Uri and Pulwama, but we retaliated with surgical strikes and airstrikes in Pakistan," he said. Only two countries, the USA and Israel, used to take a stand for their security and borders Israel and the USA. PM Modi added India to the list of two countries. The policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism started from there," Shah added as he criticised the previous governments for going soft on response to terror activities in India. Amit Shah On Jammu and Kashmir After Article 370 Abrogation The Home Minister detailed how the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 has changed the security landscape of the region, and said that the involvement of Indian youth with terrorists has almost disappeared". He further said that there has been a reduction of 70% in deaths due to terrorists in the Union Territory as the terror incidents have come down. After the removal of Article 370, the involvement of Indian youth with terrorists has almost disappeared. Ten years ago, terrorist glorification was common, and funeral processions would take place. But now, when terrorists are killed, they are buried on the spot. Relatives of terrorists who once enjoyed government perks have been ruthlessly removed from government posts to send a strong message. Cinema halls in Kashmir now remain open during evenings, G20 meeting happened, Muharram procession took place," Shah said, highlighting the positive changed in J&K. #WATCH | Replying to the discussion on the working of MHA, in Rajya Sabha, HM Amit Shah says, First of all, I will speak about Kashmir. Terrorists used to enter Kashmir from the neighbouring country, they used to execute bomb blasts and murders here. There was not one festival pic.twitter.com/h2asfKeCsp ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 70% reduction in deaths due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir during Modi government. Terror incidents too fell sharply. On August 5, 2019, PM Modi abrogated Article 370. By abrogating Article 370, the Modi government fulfilled the Constitution framers dream of one Constitution, one flag. The country can have only one prime minister, one Constitution, and one flag," Shah added. He also vowed to eliminate Naxalism in the country by March 31, 2026. 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 21, 2025, 15:35 IST BEL Senior Engineer Arrested In Karnataka For Leaking National Security Information To Pakistan Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 08:31 IST The accused, Deep Raj Chandra from Uttar Pradesh, was under the radar of Military Intelligence after suspicious financial transactions in his bank accounts linked to a suspected Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) surfaced. The BEL engineer allegedly received payments in Bitcoin through multiple bank accounts, leading investigators to uncover a larger espionage network. (Image: Shutterstock) In a major intelligence operation, a 36-year-old senior engineer at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been arrested for allegedly leaking classified national security information to Pakistans ISI in exchange for cryptocurrency. The senior engineer in the R&D division of BEL, Indias premier defence establishment, has been suspended. The accused, Deep Raj Chandra from Uttar Pradesh, was under the radar of Military Intelligence after suspicious financial transactions in his bank accounts linked to a suspected Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) surfaced, top sources confirmed to News18. In Bharat Electronics Limited, a person named Deepraj Chandra, 36 years of age, was a senior engineer. Our intelligence officials and also the military intelligence officials secured him for being in touch with Pakistan intelligence officialshe shared the most classified information," Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday. Recommended Stories A top intelligence source said that the most common way to come in contact with handlers is to honey trap such individuals. Chandra allegedly received payments in Bitcoin through multiple bank accounts, leading investigators to uncover a larger espionage network. Karnataka State Intelligence unit tracked down Chandra. Sources said Chandra adopted sophisticated espionage tactics, uploading sensitive data into email draft folders and providing access to his handlers, who would then retrieve it. Further investigations revealed that he had stolen data from multiple BEL departments, including highly sensitive details about communication and radar systems, security measures, and even information about senior defence officials. BEL, a critical public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, plays a pivotal role in developing Indias defence electronics, including manufacturing electronic voting machines (EVMs) and advanced military systems. The breach is being treated as a grave national security threat. During questioning by the intelligence agencies, it was revealed that he had been using encrypted platforms and email to leak classified information about Indias radar systems, electronic warfare technologies, and defence production systems. The seized laptop and mobile phone of the accused will be sent to the Ministry of Defences Cloud Investigation and Response Automation (CIRA) laboratory for forensic analysis. This arrest is the latest in a series of espionage cases targeting Indias defence sector. On March 14, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a junior works manager from the Kanpur Ordnance Factory for allegedly sharing classified details with a Pakistani intelligence operative. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last month, the NIA apprehended two individuals in Karnatakas Karwar for leaking sensitive information about the Karwar Naval Base, home to aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. With Pakistan-backed espionage networks increasingly targeting key defence installations, Indian intelligence agencies have intensified their crackdown on infiltrators. Security forces are on high alert as the scale of these operations continues to expand, explained intelligence sources. 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 21, 2025, 08:31 IST BJP Worker Shot Dead In Kannur. He Was Threatened On Facebook: 'For My Girl...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 12:24 IST Police reports indicate that Santhosh committed the crime after posting a series of threatening messages on Facebook. The victim, KK Radhakrishnan (51), was a BJP activist and resident of Puniyankode, Mathamangalam. (Image Credit: X) A goods auto driver was shot dead in a house under construction in Kaithapram on Thursday. The victim, KK Radhakrishnan (51), was a BJP activist and resident of Puniyankode, Mathamangalam. The incident occurred at 7 pm near Kaithapram Library. NK Santhosh, a contractor from Perumpadav, has been arrested by Pariyaram police. Santhosh, who was part of a panchayat team responsible for culling wild boars, is accused of murder stemming from a dispute over a house construction contract. Police reports indicate that Santhosh committed the crime after posting a series of threatening messages on Facebook. Recommended Stories At 4.23 pm, he uploaded a photo of himself holding a gun with the caption, The task is to hit the target. Certain, I will." Later, at 7.27 pm, he posted again, writing, Didnt I tell you? Didnt I tell you not to harm my girl? I can bear it if I lose my life, but my girl I wont forgive you." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Around 7 pm, a gunshot was heard near the newly built house. Initially, neighbors thought it was firecrackers. However, Radhakrishnans son ran out crying, alerting the locals. Reports indicate that a long-standing feud between the two men led to the incident. By the time the villagers arrived, Radhakrishnan was lying in a pool of blood on the veranda. He was rushed to the Medical College Hospital at Pariyaram but was declared dead on arrival. Pariyaram police arrived shortly after, searched the house and surroundings, and found Santhosh hiding inside. The firearm used in the shooting has not yet been recovered. 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 : Kannur, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 11:47 IST Supreme Court Orders In-House Probe After Reports Of Cash Discovery At Delhi HC Judge's Bungalow Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Mahima Joshi Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:48 IST The Supreme Court Collegium is contemplating on an in-house inquiry against the judge as well. The Supreme Court Collegium has decided that Justice Yashwant Verma will be transferred. (PTI File Image) An in-house enquiry was ordered by the Supreme Court against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court judge after a large amount of unaccounted cash was found in his official bungalow last week. The top court also sought a report from Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay in the matter. Recommended Stories Meanwhile, reports surfaced that Justice Varma was transferred to the Allahabad High Court, and that the move was linked to the cash controversy. However, the Supreme Court, later on Friday, clarified that Justice Varma is yet to be transferred as the top court has not taken any decision on the judges transfer. The Supreme Court also clarified that the judges transfer proposal had nothing to do with the alleged cash recovery, calling out misinformation". The money was allegedly recovered from the official bungalow of Justice Yashwant Varma after a fire broke out at his residence on Tughlak Road in New Delhi, Times of India reported. Justice Varma was not in the city when the incident took place and his family members called the fire brigade and police. After the fire was doused, first responders found a huge amount of cash inside a room, leading to an inquiry against him. Notably, Justice Varma was transferred to the Delhi High Court In October 2021. What Happened? On March 14, at around 11:30 pm, a call was received regarding fire at the Justice Yashwant Varma house at Tughlak Road in the national capital. Following the Call, the Delhi Fire Service & Delhi Police reached the spot. During the operation, a huge pile of cash was reportedly recovered from the house. Justice Varma Not Holding Court Today Amid the ongoing controversy, Justice Yashwant Varma reportedly did not hold court proceedings on Friday in Delhi High Court. It has been learnt that his staff came to the court and that announced that Justice Varma wont hold the court. What Action Can Be Taken? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier in 1999, the Supreme Court laid down guidelines to deal with allegations of corruption, wrongdoing, and judicial irregularity against judges of the Constitutional Court. As per the guidelines, if a complaint is received against a judge, the Chief Justice will first seek a reply from the judge concerned. If he is dissatisfied with the answer or feels the matter requires further investigation, he will form an internal committee. During the inquiry, if the committee feels that the alleged misconduct is of a grave nature requiring removal, it will ask the judge to resign. About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 09:18 IST CCTV Footage Showing Pune Minibus Fire Prompts Cops To Question Driver. Then, A Confession Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 09:08 IST Pune Minibus Fire: Initially, the fire was considered to have happened because of a short-circuit but the intensity of the fire made the police suspicious. Pune Minibus Fire: Four employees of a printing press company were charred to death and 10 more injured in the Pune minibus fire. The probe into the fire on a minibus in Punes IT hub Hinjewadi- in which four employees of a printing press company were charred to death and 10 more injured- was a well-planned and cold-blooded act of sabotage" by the driver, police said. The driver Janardan Hambardikar planned the incident as he was allegedly angry over the mistreatment" that was meted out to him by some employees of the company. Recommended Stories Initially, the fire was considered to have happened because of a short-circuit, the police said. But the intensity of the fire, as seen on CCTV footage, made the police suspicious. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all DCP (Zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad said, Initially, we had registered a case of accidental deaths. After analysing various leads and the way the fire spread, we became sceptical about how a fire sparked by a short-circuit could escalate to such an intense level so rapidly. We examined the vehicle and carried out a forensic analysis." He added, After jumping out of the vehicle, the driver had lost consciousness. After he came back to his senses in hospital, we questioned him and he confessed to the crime. This was a pre-planned and cold-blooded act of revenge by the driver." First Published: March 21, 2025, 09:08 IST India On Postdoc Fellow Facing US Deportation Over Hamas Links: '...Should Comply With Local Laws' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 17:00 IST Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University in the US, self-deported herself to Canada after her student visa was cancelled for being involved in activities supporting Hamas. Ranjani Srinivasan self-deported after her visa was revoked by the Trump administration for supporting pro-Palestine protests. (X/Reuters) The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that it expects Indian nationals abroad to comply with the local laws and regulations in a way the Ministry would expect foreigners to follow Indian laws when in the country. The remarks by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, came while responding to a query on the revocation of a visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student from Columbia University, for allegedly supporting Hamas on campus. Recommended Stories MEA On Ranjani Srinivasans Visa Revocation Jaiswal said that it is expected of Indian nationals abroad to comply with the laws of the foreign country. When it comes to visa and immigration policy, it lies within the sovereign function of a country. We expect the foreign nationals coming to India to abide by our laws and regulations and similarly, it is our expectation that when Indian nationals are abroad, they must also comply with local laws and regulations," he said at a weekly press briefing. Srinivasan, in the wake of the cancellation of her visa, fled to Canada over fears that she would be detained amid a crackdown across the United States on pro-Palestinian protesters. In an interview with CBC News, she denied the US Department of Homeland Securitys allegations of supporting Hamas a designated terrorist organisation. Im not a terrorist sympathizer. So, I just find it kind of absurd," she said. The Indian student also denied participating in a high-profile protest at Columbia University last spring, when the students took over the building and the police had to storm in to take control of the situation. In January this year, Trump had vowed to deport the non-US college students who took part in such protests on the campus as part of his crackdown against the pro-Palestinian protesters. MEA On Badar Khan Suris Detention When asked about Badar Khan Suri, the Indian student who was detained by the US immigration authorities over his alleged close connections to a suspected terrorist", the MEA spokesperson said that he has not approached the Indian Embassy in the United States so far. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We are given to understand through media reports that this particular individual, has been detained. Neither the US government nor the individual has approached us or the Embassy," he said. Khan, a Georgetown University researcher, is studying and teaching in the US on a student visa and is accused by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of spreading Hamas propaganda" and having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist". 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 21, 2025, 16:49 IST 'Conscious': Delhi HC Chief Justice Expresses Shock Over Cash Controversy Involving Judge Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 19:27 IST The chief justice's reaction came when a senior lawyer mentioned before the top judge's court that he and many other lawyers were pained and shaken by the incident and urged the top judge to take some steps on the administrative side. Justice Yashwant Varma (IMAGE: X) Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya on Friday expressed shock after an alleged incident of cash discovery at the official residence of its sitting judge Justice Yashwant Varma came to light. The chief justices reaction came when a senior lawyer mentioned before the top judges court that he and many other lawyers were pained and shaken by the incident and urged the top judge to take some steps on the administrative side. Recommended Stories After the lawyer said many in the bar were shaken" by the development, Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya lamented, So is everybody. We are conscious". Senior advocate Arun Bhardwaj urged before a bench comprising the chief justice and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela to take some steps to stop such incidents from occurring in the future. Todays incident has pained us a lot, many of us. Please take some steps on the administrative side so that these incidents do not happen in future and the truthfulness of the judicial system is maintained," Bhardwaj said. He added, We respect the system a lot. Each of the judges are respected a lot. We are shaken my lords and demoralised. Please take some steps. I am not expressing my pain any further and I am sure I am expressing the pain of many of my brothers. Please take some steps to see that such incidents do not happen". The purported discovery of cash followed a major fire at the residence. At around 11 am, the court master of Justice Varmas court announced that the division bench was on leave on Friday and any urgent mentioning could be made before another bench. The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has commenced an initial inquiry against Justice Varma and reportedly decided to transfer him from the Delhi High Court to his parent Allahabad High Court following the incident. The initial inquiry, which is not an in-house inquiry as envisaged in Supreme Court judgements, would entail seeking of a primary report on the incident from the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. Justice Varma was currently heading a division bench, which was dealing with cases of sales tax, goods and services tax, company appeals and other appeals of the original side. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He was enrolled as an advocate on August 8, 1992. The judge was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014. According to official information, he took oath as a permanent judge of the Allahabad High Court on February 1, 2016 and was appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court on October 11, 2021. 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 21, 2025, 18:10 IST Here's What Class 9 Students Learn About Aurangzeb In Pakistan Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:24 IST The reverence for Aurangzeb in Pakistan extends beyond school textbooks. Prominent Islamic thinkers such as Allama Iqbal and Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi have praised his leadership. The modern-day discourse on Aurangzeb remains polarised. The difference between India and Pakistan extends far beyond borders, politics, and culture it is deeply embedded in the way history is taught in schools. The school curriculum of both nations reflect their respective identities, political ideologies, and historical perspectives. This divide is particularly evident in the portrayal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb whose legacy continues to spark debate on both sides of the border. In India, students studying under the CBSE, ICSE, IB, and various state boards are introduced to Aurangzeb as a complex and often controversial figure. Textbooks, particularly those under NCERT, emphasise his religious policies, including the imposition of the Jizya tax on non-Muslims in 1679 and his role in the demolition of temples such as the Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi and the Keshavdev temple in Mathura. These actions are often mentioned setting him apart from rulers like Akbar, who is celebrated for his inclusive and secular policies. Recommended Stories While Aurangzebs military strategies and administrative skills are acknowledged, given that the Mughal Empire reached its territorial zenith during his reign, textbooks also highlight how economic and administrative weaknesses began to emerge, ultimately contributing to the empires decline. The modern-day discourse on Aurangzeb remains polarised. While some historians argue that his reign had significant contributions to governance and the arts, school textbooks predominantly focus on his controversial policies. However, in Pakistan, where students follow the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and provincial boards such as the Sindh and Punjab boards, Aurangzeb is revered as a heroic figure. Textbooks present him as an ideal ruler who upheld Islamic principles in governance. His implementation of Sharia law and policies such as the Jizya tax are seen as demonstrations of his commitment to Islamic rule. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all History books in Pakistan often contrast Aurangzeb with Akbar, painting the former as a defender of Islam while portraying the latters secular policies as less in line with Islamic traditions. The curriculum in Pakistan focus on his efforts to consolidate the Mughal Empire and maintain unity among his subjects. The reverence for Aurangzeb in Pakistan extends beyond school textbooks. Prominent Islamic thinkers such as Allama Iqbal and Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi have praised his leadership, further cementing his image as a ruler who sought to uphold and spread Islamic values. First Published: March 21, 2025, 18:24 IST 'Illegitimate...': Seema Haider's Pakistani Husband Reacts To News Of Her Baby With Sachin Meena Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 15:30 IST After the birth of her baby with Sachin Meena, Seema's ex-husband Ghulam Haider denounced the birth and questioned the legality of her marriage to Sachin. Ghulam Haider questioned the legality of Seema's marriage to Sachin. A new addition to the family of Seema Haider and Sachin Meena stirred both joy and controversy, reigniting tensions between Seema and her ex-husband in Pakistan. On the morning of March 18, Seema gave birth to a baby girl at Krishna Hospital in Noida, marking a significant milestone in her tumultuous journey from Pakistan to India. While Seema and Sachins family are celebrating the arrival of their daughter, the news was not received well by her former husband, Ghulam Haider, who remains in Pakistan. In a video posted on YouTube, Ghulam denounced the birth, calling the child illegitimate" and accusing Seema of violating legal and religious norms. His ire was particularly directed at AP Singh, Seemas lawyer and self-proclaimed adopted brother, whom he accused of bringing disgrace to India by publically congratulating the couple. Recommended Stories Shame on such a brother who is celebrating the birth of an illegitimate child," Ghulam fumed in the video, saying that if he had to congratulate someone, he should take the name of Sachin and his family and not involve the entire nation. Ghulam once again appealed to the Indian government, demanding action against Seema and questioning the legality of her marriage to Sachin. He reiterated his longstanding claim that Seema never formally divorced him before remarrying, rendering her current relationship unlawful in his eyes. She can live wherever she wants, but my four children should be handed over to me," he asserted, lamenting that he has been separated from his children for two years. Expressing frustration, he accused officials of being silent spectators" in the matter and claimed that Seemas sister, Reema, was also unhappy with her decision to stay in India. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I frequently talk to Reema," he said. She told me that if Seema returns to Pakistan, the family will accept her but we do not recognise Sachin as a part of our family." Ghulam vowed to continue his legal battle, asserting that he would pursue every possible avenue to reunite with his children. I have not seen or even heard their voices in two years," he lamented, accusing Seema of doing as she pleases with no one to stop her. First Published: March 21, 2025, 15:29 IST 'Judiciary Itself On Trial; Collegium System Deeply Flawed': Harish Salve To News18 On Delhi HC Judge Row Curated By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 19:41 IST A massive pile of cash has allegedly been recovered from the residence of Delhi High Courts Justice Yashwant Varma, who could be transferred to his parent High Court in Allahabad, the Supreme Court collegium has proposed pending approval by the Centre, sources said. The top court has stated that the move is unrelated to the controversy Senior Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve. (File pic/PTI) The collegium system of judges appointing judges is deeply flawed, senior Supreme Court lawyer and former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve told CNN-News18 on Friday in an exclusive conversation against the backdrop of a massive pile of cash allegedly being recovered from the residence of Delhi High Courts Justice Yashwant Varma. Justice Varma could be transferred to his parent High Court in Allahabad, the Supreme Court collegium has proposed, pending approval by the Centre, sources said. The top court has stated that the move is unrelated to the controversy. Recommended Stories #EXCLUSIVE | Ex-Solicitor General of India Harish Salve to CNN-News18: The judiciary itself is on trial! A judge-dominated panel wont do. The system must be transparent, the collegium cannot function this way" #WATCH this exclusive with @RShivshankar pic.twitter.com/dKMxNgyYR6 News18 (@CNNnews18) March 21, 2025 If the allegations are true and the fact that the SC has considered it necessary to act, then the response has established things that critics of the collegium system like me have always saidthat this system doesnt work," Salve told CNN-News18. The money was allegedly recovered from the official bungalow of Justice Yashwant Varma after a fire broke out at his residence on Tughlak Road. Justice Varma was not in the city when the incident took place, and his family members called the fire brigade and police. After the blaze was doused, first responders allegedly found a huge amount of cash inside a room, leading to an inquiry against the judge. Today this is not the case where there are some internal complaints against the working of the judge, and in order to ensure that judicial independence is not compromised, you do an in-house inquiry," Salve said. Today, this complaint is, as per newspapers, fire brigade and police went to his place to rescue it from fire and found large sums of cash. Now if this is true, its something which has happened in public." The collegium, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has proposed to transfer the judge, sources informed News18. This collegium system is deeply flawed. If this had been found in someone elses house, the ED would have been at the doorstep," said Salve. If this money had been found at the house of the home secretary, finance secretary, transport secretary, would they have been transferred to another department? They would have been suspendedHigher standards need to be appliedMoving one judge from one court to another is just convenientIts wrong." The judge either has an explanation or he does not, said Salve, adding that if he is able to explain the sources of the money, an investigation is needed anyway. I have always been a critic of collegium. Its a stop-gap arrangement. The system must run with transparency and collegium cannot work that way," Salve told CNN-News18. The institution of judiciary is on trial. There cannot be a judge-dominated panel on this investigationAn in-house probe is not good enough." The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has opposed the proposal to transfer the judge there. In a strongly worded letter to that courts Chief Justice, the group asked if the Allahabad HC is a trash bin". Why are you transferring this judge?" said Salve. If he is fit, let him be in Delhi. And if he is unfit till the cloud is removed, is he fit for Allahabad HC and not for Delhi HC? What is Allahabad HCIs it a dumping ground? If he is not of doubtful integrity, leave him alone and tell people that this is nonsense and false." The judge can be asked to go on leave, and there could be an independent inquiry, the senior SC lawyer said. The system must run with transparencycollegium is not transparent. Judges should speak only through judgements," Salve said. Can CJI come and address a press conference and tell what is going on? We need a system that can work in the public domain for incidents like this." The collegium thought to find a quick fix for the situation, but such problems cannot be resolved like this, Salve said. Parliament has to respond across party lines. Let all MPs acknowledge they want honesty in judiciaryTo hammer out a structureTransparency in appointment and accountability in the cases," he said. I think that the faith of the people in the SC will be re-enforced if it is willing to deal firmly with one of its own." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There have to be some structural changes to bring the judiciary to contemporary transparency, he said. Whatever has happenedThis has to be dealt with in the sunlight," said Salve. The time has come for parliamentarians to put their heads together and find a solution." 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 21, 2025, 16:56 IST Karnataka Bandh Today: From Public Transport To Schools, What's Open, What's Closed? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 23:50 IST Karnataka Bandh Tomorrow: Essential services like hospitals, pharmacies, and fuel stations, will remain open, while BMTC/KSRTC buses, autos, cabs, and some markets may be affected. A file photo of Kannada activists taking out a protest rally during Karnataka Bandh in Bengaluru (PTI) Karnataka Bandh On March 22: Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organisation representing various pro-Kannada groups, has called for a statewide bandh in Karnataka on March 22, to protest the alleged assault on a state-run bus conductor in the border district of Belagavi last month for not knowing Marathi. The bandh, to be in place from 6 am to 6 pm, was announced on February 28. Recommended Stories However, some organisations and unions have either chosen not to support the bandh or have decided to offer only moral support. Prominent pro-Kannada groups, including the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike factions led by TA Narayana Gowda and Praveen Shetty, have also refrained from backing the bandh. Heres what will remain functional and what will be closed in the wake of the bandh. KARNATAKA BANDH ON MARCH 22: WHAT REMAINS OPEN Emergency services, including pharmacies, hospitals, and ambulance services will remain functional amid the bandh. Fuel stations are also slated to remain open. Public eateries, like bars and restaurants are likely to remain open as these have only offered moral support for the bandh. Hotel associations, malls, and multiplexes too have only extended moral support and are hence likely to remain functional. Since the government has not extended its support to the bandh, government offices will remain open. However, attendance could be low due to transport challenges. According to media reports, the metro will remain functional. Flight and train services will also remain operational. KARNATAKA BANDH ON MARCH 22: WHATs CLOSED Public transport, including cabs, and autorickshaw will remain off road as private driver unions and associations are not expected to function during the bandh. Along with these, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) are also likely to be affected. However, there is no official confirmation of the same. Many schools are said to be adopting a wait and watch and are yet to decide if they should run classes. Some media reports suggested that many institutions have declared a holiday as a precautionary measure. Trade unions are also yet to take a call on supporting or not supporting the bandh. If they do, shopping complexes, markets, and local stores may also be closed in many areas. KARNATAKA DEPUTY CM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF BANDH On Thursday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the state government would not encourage a bandh and that the administration would speak to the pro-Kannada organisations that have called for bandh. Shivakumar was responding to Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy in the Legislative Council regarding the Karnataka bandh on March 22, which could impact lakhs of SSLC (Class 10) students appearing for their exams that day. It (the bandh) is not needed at this time. They (the organisations) should have spoken to the government about it. It will affect students. We (the government) have also planned to launch a month-long water conservation campaign along with the Cauvery aarti on March 22, which is World Water Day," Shivakumar said. Speaking to reporters, he said, We dont encourage a bandh. The courts also do not support a bandh, whether it is political or organised by any group." Further, he said, We will make them (the organisations) understand that it is not the right course of action, as it will impact students whose exams have already begun." I have asked officials to speak to them (Kannada organisations). They (the organisations) cannot take the law into their own hands. I will speak to our officers and make a statement." Kannada Okkuta leader and activist Vatal Nagaraj said on Wednesday that the statewide bandh is expected to receive widespread support, although there are some doubts about the participation of certain organisations. A BUS CONDUCTOR WAS ASSAULTED top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A state-run bus conductor was allegedly assaulted by a group of Marathi-speaking people for not conversing in that language, while on duty. The incident took place last month, when the bus was traveling from Belagavi city to Balekundri. Following this, inter-state bus services between Maharashtra and Karnataka were suspended, in a way escalating the decades old border and language dispute between two states. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 21, 2025, 14:17 IST Karnataka Bandh Today: Reasons Behind The Strike, Key Demands Of Protesting Organisations Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 22, 2025, 00:01 IST The pro-Kannada organisations have called a 12-hour Karnataka bandh on Saturday. The authorities are expected to deploy additional security in Belagavi and other sensitive areas. Karnataka bandh on March 22 (PTI File Image) Numerous pro-Kannada groups have called a Karnataka bandh on March 22 over an alleged assault of a State Road Transport Corporation bus conductor in Belagavi. The conduct was allegedly thrashed for not speaking Marathi an issue that has long sparked tensions between Karnataka and Maharashtra. Recommended Stories The bandh, called by Kannada Okkoota, will remain in place for 12 hours from 6 am to 6 pm. The Kannada activists have demanded strict action against the perpetrators, accusing pro-Marathi groups of inciting violence and disrupting the harmony of the region. What Do Protesters Demand? The protesters have urged the state government to take a strict view against pro-Marathi outfits, particularly Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, which has also been at the center of such row in Belagavi in the past. They have also called for a ban on outfits that are accused of creating problems between Kannada and Marathi speakers. As the bandh goes live on Saturday morning, the administration is likely to deploy additional feet on the ground across the district and other sensitive areas to keep a check on the law and order during the strike. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Thursday that the state government will not support a bandh. He added that officials will talk to pro-Kannada groups to explain that it is not the right way to handle the situation. Why The Controversy? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The row pertains to an alleged assault of a KSRTC bus conductor last week by people linked to pro-Marathi organisations. After the incident, the bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra were suspended. The dispute over Belagavi started in 1957 after Indian states were reorganised based on language. Maharashtra claims that Belagavi, which was once part of the Bombay Presidency, should be part of its state, along with over 800 villages where most people speak Marathi. However, Karnataka insists that Belagavi belongs to it and has always opposed Maharashtras demand. 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 : Karnataka, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 22:36 IST Kerala Bank Evicts 70-Year-Old Woman's Family, NRI Stranger Pays Off Loan To Save Their Home Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 14:50 IST A Kerala family faced distress when their home was sealed by Kerala State Cooperative Bank over an unpaid loan. NRI businessman Unnikrishnan Nair intervened, paying Rs 1,92,850 to unseal the house The Kerala Bank, invoked the SARFAESI Act to seize their deteriorating three-bedroom, tiled-roof house. (Representative/Shutterstock) A family from Parappachal in Keralas Kasargod district faced a distressing situation when their home was sealed by the Kerala State Cooperative Bank due to their inability to repay a loan taken for coconut farming. The family was away at the hospital for treatment when bank officials arrived for recovery proceedings. Vijesh TP, the borrower, had taken a loan of Rs 2 lakh but had only managed to repay Rs 37,000. As a result, the bank pasted a court notice on the house and sealed it. Upon returning home at around 6 pm on Thursday, Vijesh, his 70-year-old mother Janaki, his wife Vijina, and their two children aged three and seven, were shocked to find their house sealed. Left with no other option, they spent the night in the courtyard, even setting up a makeshift kitchen. Recommended Stories Fortunately, their plight was highlighted in a media report, which caught the attention of Unnikrishnan Nair, an NRI businessman from Cherthala in Alappuzha district. Onmanorama reported that Unnikrishnan Nair, the founder and chairman of Mannath Group International, which operates in event management, hospitality, robotics, and finance in the UAE, transferred Rs 1,92,850 to Kerala Banks account and insisted on opening the house that very night. The bank complied and unsealed the house around 7 pm on Thursday, March 20. Vijesh had initially taken the loan in 2013 to establish a coconut picking business. However, his plans were derailed in 2015 when he suffered a fall, fracturing his thigh bone, and leaving him unable to work. Neighbours raised funds for his surgery, which included a steel implant. Unable to do heavy labour, Vijesh began defaulting on the loan and had only been able to repay Rs 37,000. The debt increased to Rs 6.5 lakh. The bank offered a one-time settlement of Rs 2.85 lakh, but when the family couldnt pay, it started attachment proceedings. Following Nairs intervention, the revenue officials withdrew the recovery proceedings, allowing the family to return to their home by Thursday evening. Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Vijesh said, We have no connection with Krishnankutty. Despite this, he helped us and saved my family." According to the Onmanorama report, Vijesh T P expressed their relief by saying, We are happy. Last night, sleeping outside, we felt like there was no one for us." He added, We were saved by the news media. Journalism is about speaking up for people like us." Vijeshs wife, Vijina, said her heart broke when her mother-in-law and children cried after being locked out on Wednesday. The Kerala State Cooperative Bank, known as Kerala Bank, invoked the SARFAESI Act to seize their deteriorating three-bedroom, tiled-roof house. Unnikrishnan Nair, who was in Alappuzha, saw Janakis story on TV. I immediately tried to contact the bank. It took several calls before I was connected to the Deputy General Manager for debt recovery," he told Onmanorama. The DGM connected him to the branch manager, who quoted Rs 2.85 lakh as due. I asked for a discount. Luckily, Kerala Banks board was meeting in Thiruvananthapuram today, and they accepted my offer," he said. The bank agreed to settle for Rs 1,92,850 the principal amount. I transferred it immediately. My only request was that the family shouldnt spend another night outside," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, Kerala Bank faces criticism for ignoring the state governments directive not to attach houses over loan defaults. On February 10, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly: As part of SARFAESI, banks are attaching houses, causing several issues. In this context, the cooperative sector should lead by example. Our stance is that when houses are pledged as collateral, banks should not seize them under normal circumstances. Families have the right to live in their homes. Banks must not take actions that render people homeless. We had taken this decision earlier, but now we will issue instructions to ensure it is strictly followed." Fifteen days after this statement, Kerala Bank approached the Kasaragod Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking help to evict the family. Sabu Abraham, CPM leader and Kerala Bank director from Kasaragod, said that although the CM made the statement, the standing instruction issued to cooperative banks barred attachment of homes on three cents in urban areas and five cents in rural areas. Janakis house, he said, stood at 26 cents, and the attachment was for 16 cents, including the house. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 14:50 IST Kerala Lottery Results LIVE: Nirmal NR-424 Winners For March 21, 2025 Soon; First Prize Rs 70 Lakh! Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 09:00 IST Kerala Lottery Result Guessing Numbers: Check the Live Updates and full list of winning numbers for Nirmal NR-424 lucky draw for Friday, March 21, 2025 here from 3 pm. Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-424 Results: The first prize winner of Nirmal NR-424 will get Rs 70 lakh. (Image: Shutterstock) KERALA LOTTERY NIRMAL NR-424 RESULT ON FRIDAY, 21.3.2025, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department will announce the results of the Nirmal NR-424 lottery on Friday, March 21, at 3 pm. The draw will take place at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. With a grand first prize of 70 lakh, a second prize of 10 lakh, and a third prize of 1 lakh, participants have a chance to win substantial cash rewards. To ensure transparency and fairness, the draw will be conducted under the supervision of independent judges. Stay tuned for the winning numbers! KERALA LOTTERY NIRMAL NR-424 GUESSING NUMBERS Recommended Stories To be updated soon NIRMAL NR-424 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakh 2nd Prize: Rs 10 Lakh 3rd Prize: Rs 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs 5,000 5th Prize: Rs 1,000 6th Prize: Rs 500 7th Prize: Rs 100 Consolation Prize: Rs 8,000 NIRMAL NR-424 LOTTERY: WINNING NUMBERS WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKH IS: To be updated WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKH IS: To be updated WINNING NUMBER FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKH ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: To be updated WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: To be updated HOW TO CHECK KERALA NIRMAL NR-424 LOTTERY RESULTS? Go to the Kerala Lottery Departments official website to view the latest results. The winning numbers will also be published in the official Kerala Government Gazette. For accurate and verified details, reach out directly to the Kerala Lottery Department. How to Claim the Prize Money? To confirm the lottery results and match them with your ticket number, check Kerala Government Gazette. You might be eligible for a reward if your ticket number is on the official list. Within 30 days of the results being announced, winners must come to the Kerala Lottery Office in Thiruvananthapuram to claim their prize. Winners must carry their original lottery ticket and a legitimate ID for verification. Documents Required to Claim Prize Money Submit a signed photocopy of the winning lottery tickets front and back. For verification, submit current passport-sized pictures that have been properly verified by a Gazette officer. A copy of your PAN card that has been self-attested should be attached as identification. Complete the official online prize claim form, include a revenue stamp, and send it in. For authentication, show a legitimate government-issued ID, such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, or ration card. HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS? Visit the Kerala Lottery Departments official website at keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net. Locate and select the link for the Nirmal Lottery NR-424 results. The full list of winning numbers will be displayed in the results section. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Check the website for the download option. To view and download the lottery results in PDF format, click the link. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 09:00 IST Liquid Cocaine Worth Rs 11 Crore Found Stitched In Brazilian Woman's Inner Clothing, Held At Mumbai Airport Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 15:41 IST Liquid cocaine is more hazardous than powdered cocaine and harder to detect, often disguised in various liquids. Smugglers commonly mix it with perfume, alcohol, or other liquid products to avoid detection In total, 1.11 kilograms of liquid cocaine, valued at approximately Rs 11.1 crore in the illicit market, were seized. (News18 Hindi) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully conducted a significant operation at Mumbai International Airport, leading to the recovery of liquid cocaine valued at Rs 11 crore from a foreign national. According to sources, the smuggling of liquid cocaine is a rare occurrence and its detection is notoriously difficult. This case is believed to be linked to an international drug syndicate. Recommended Stories The operation began with the DRI receiving confidential information about a foreign national intending to smuggle a substantial quantity of drugs into India. Acting on this intelligence, the agency undertook a meticulous investigation at the airport. The foreign national was detained after disembarking from flight AF 218 from Sao Paulo. During the search of the suspects luggage, liquid cocaine was discovered. According to a report by Hindustan Times, an examination of a womans inner clothing revealed pouches stitched inside, which were found to contain contraband. The woman was intercepted based on specific intelligence suggesting that a Brazilian national might arrive at the airport carrying narcotics, according to sources from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Upon conducting a personal search, officials discovered seven pouches containing a viscous liquid substance stitched to her inner clothing. A field test confirmed the substance to be cocaine. The woman admitted to transporting cocaine in these pouches. In total, 1.11 kilograms of liquid cocaine, valued at approximately Rs 11.1 crore in the illicit market, were seized from her. The recovered cocaine was confiscated, and the woman was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. We found seven pouches containing a viscous liquid that had been stitched to her inner clothing. The liquid was found to be cocaine after it was tested using a field kit. She confessed to carrying 1110 grams of cocaine in liquid form worth Rs 11.1 crore. She was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act," a DRI official was quoted as saying by PTI. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Liquid cocaine is considered more hazardous than its powdered counterpart. Its identification poses a challenge as it can be disguised in various liquids. Common methods of smuggling liquid cocaine involve mixing it with perfume, alcohol, or other liquid products. The DRI is now focusing on tracing the origin of the seized drugs and identifying the extensive network involved. India has witnessed a surge in drug smuggling cases over the past few months, prompting heightened vigilance and efforts to curb such activities. First Published: March 21, 2025, 15:41 IST Govt In Parliament: 295 More US Deportees Could Return, India Has Flagged Concerns Over Women In Shackles Reported By : News18.com Edited By: News Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 13:37 IST The government told Parliament that the External Affairs Ministry raised concerns with US authorities about the treatment of deportees on the February 5 flight, especially shackling women. US military aircraft carrying Indian deportees from US | File Image/PTI The central government told Parliament on Friday that the External Affairs Ministry had strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5, particularly for the use of shackles, especially on women". The government added that 295 more deportees could be returning from the US soon. The Ministry strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5th, particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women," the External Affairs Ministry said in a written answer. Recommended Stories The Ministry said that the US side has confirmed that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that subsequently landed in India on February 15 and 16 respectively. This has also been confirmed and recorded by our agencies after interviewing the deportees on their arrival in India," the Ministry said in a statement. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities have recently shared with us information pertaining to an additional 295 individuals who are detained in their custody with final orders of removal from the US The Ministry of External Affairs, along with other concerned agencies, is currently verifying the details of these 295 individuals," the Ministry has also told Parliament. The government was replying to a question put forth by Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, who sought information on the following issues. (a) whether the Government has received any information from the US administration regarding the total number of illegal immigrants holding Indian passports currently in the USA; (b) if so, the details thereof, including the total number of Indian passport holders awaiting deportation from the USA; (c) whether the Government has initiated any discussions or negotiations with the US administration to prevent the handcuffing, shackling, and inhumane treatment of Indian deportees during transit; and (d) if so, the details and current status thereof? 388 Indians Deported So Far Responding to the queries, the Centre explained its stance and its communication with the US authorities. A total of 388 Indians landed here in various deportation flights from the US since February 5. 40% of the deportees belonged to Punjab and 34% to Haryana the government has said, giving figures to justify why the planes landed in Amritsar. The landing site for any repatriation flight carrying deportees is decided based on operational convenience, the specific route for entry into Indian air space, and particularly, proximity to final destinations of the arriving deportees," the government said. The government has also said that it is not in receipt of any firm information from the US Administration regarding the total number of illegal immigrants in the United States holding Indian passports. Foreign nationals who have entered the US illegally, or who have overstayed their visa validity, or found to be staying in the US without any valid documentation or have criminal convictions against them are likely to be deported. It is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals, if they are found to be living illegally abroad," the Ministry said in a reply. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The government said US has been carrying out deportation operations for several years now. From 2009 to 2024, a total of 15,564 Indian nationals have been deported by the US to India. The US Standard Operating Procedure to organise and execute deportations effective from November 2012 calls for the use of restraints on deportees. The US authorities have conveyed that restraints are applied to ensure the safety and security of the mission. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter," the Ministry has said in its response to Parliament. First Published: March 21, 2025, 12:57 IST Meerut Murder Case: Autopsy Reveals Navy Officer Killed 2 Weeks Ago, Body Had Shaky Teeth, Loose Skin Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 12:12 IST Meerut merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput was murdered two weeks ago, with attempts to burn his skin. His wife Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla confessed to the crime. Merchant Navy officer from UP's Meerut was murdered by his wife and her lover. (Image: X) Fresh details in the gruesome Meerut merchant navy officer murder case are sending shockwaves to the nation. Post-mortem has revealed Saurabh Rajput was murdered two weeks ago and there was an attempt to burn his skin. Doctors said his body had shaky teeth and loose skin. Speaking to News18, Meerut Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ashok Kataria said the autopsy report suggests that Saurabh was murdered more than two weeks ago and an attempt was made to burn his skin by pouring wet cement, which can cause severe damage to the skin. He said the body was chopped into many parts, his teeth were shaking and his skin had become very loose. Recommended Stories He said that he had never seen such a case in his thirty years of career. Meanwhile, Muskan Rastogi, who with her lover Sahil Shukla confessed to murdering and dismembering her husband, Saurabh Rajput, into 15 pieces using a butchers knife and concealing it in a drum filled with cement, spent a restless night in Chaudhary Charan Singh district jail, showing signs of extreme distress, jail officials confirmed. Viresh Raj Sharma, senior jail superintendent, said, Muskan and her lover, Sahil Shukla, were brought to the jail around 6 pm on Wednesday. Muskan was placed in the womens barrack (barrack number 12), while Sahil was assigned to the mens barrack (barrack number 18)." Muskan remained silent and did not interact with anyone. She also did not eat the provided food," he added. While jail sources said that Muskan cried throughout the night, the jail superintendent declined to comment on this. The sources further claimed that Muskan and Sahil asked to be placed in adjacent barracks. On Wednesday, the duo was presented in the court of the chief judicial magistrate and remanded to 14-day judicial custody. Outside the court, they were attacked by a group of lawyers, who physically assaulted them. Sahils clothes were torn during the altercation, and police had to intervene to ensure their safety. Heres what we know about the case so far: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Muskan allegedly told neighbours that she and Saurabh were travelling to Himachal Pradesh. However, suspicions arose when a foul smell spread through the neighbourhood. Concerned residents alerted the police, leading to the gruesome discovery and the couples arrest. What shocked investigators further was Muskans apparent lack of remorse. After disposing of the body, Muskan and Sahil reportedly went on a trip together, as if nothing had happened. Police sources revealed that Muskan initially tried to mislead authorities by claiming that Saurabh had gone missing. Following their arrest, Muskan and Sahil were presented to the media before their court appearance. The sight of Muskan wearing sindoor, despite allegedly killing her husband, left many speechless. Speaking to reporters, Saurabhs mother said the neighbours told them that Saurabh and Muskans daughter, 6, had said that her father had been kept in the drum. According to police sources, Muskan had been planning Saurabhs murder since November last year, aided and abetted by Sahil. When Saurabh, who worked for a US-based company, was set to return home in February, the couple began making preparations. She bought two long-bladed knives, claiming they were for cutting chicken. She also obtained banned sedatives from a local drug store," said a police official. Their first attempt on February 25 failed. Saurabh ate food laced with sedatives but only fell into a deep sleep rather than losing consciousness. Determined to finish what they had planned, they tried again on March 4. That night, Muskan mixed the sedatives into his meal, ensuring he was unconscious. Then, with Sahil present, she took a butchers knife, climbed onto her sleeping husband, and plunged the blade into his chest. Sahil assisted by applying additional pressure, ensuring the knife went deep enough to be fatal. They stabbed him multiple times to confirm his death. The police raided Muskans rented house in Indira Nagar, where they found the cement-filled drum. We had to use a drill machine to break the concrete. What we discovered inside was horrifying," said a senior officer. About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Location : Meerut, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 08:03 IST Meerut Murder Case: Muskaan 'Wanted To Become Film Star', Woman Demanding Death Penalty Is Step-Mother Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 11:43 IST After killing Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Gupta, his wife Muskan and her lover Sahil allegedly roamed the streets with his severed head and palm in a bag Muskan and her lover Sahil Shukla were arrested and remanded to 14-day judicial custody. (PTI) The woman arrested for the gruesome killing of her husband, a former Merchant Navy officer, in Meerut, harboured aspirations of becoming a movie star since childhood, the victims brother has revealed. According to the police, Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla confessed to having stabbed Saurabh Gupta to death on March 4. The two then chopped his body, put the remains inside a drum and sealed it with cement. The two were arrested on Tuesday and remanded in 14-day judicial custody Wednesday. Recommended Stories According to a report in News18 Hindi, the victims brother stated that Muskans ambitions of being a film star had previously driven her to run away from home, leading to a divorce case and domestic disputes. The report also quoted police sources as saying that the woman previously believed to be Muskans mother, who has been demanding the death penalty for the accused couple, is her stepmother. Police investigations have also reportedly revealed that after killing Saurabh, Muskan and Sahil were seen roaming the streets with his severed head and palm in a bag. During this time, Muskan allegedly bought a drum and a knife from the market. The police are also questioning those who sold the drum and knife to gather stronger evidence for severe punishment. Additionally, it has come to light that Saurabh discovered his wifes infidelity in 2021 and had filed for divorce. A video has also surfaced from a few days before the murder, showing Saurabh, Muskan, and their daughter dancing. It has been reported that Saurabhs body was dismembered and stored in a drum filled with cement. The shopkeeper who sold the drum to Muskan confirmed that a woman had bought the drum for Rs 1,100 without bargaining. Muskan allegedly drugged Saurabh before the murder, with the medical store confirming the sale of the drugs. Meanwhile, it has been reported that the shopkeeper who sold the knife used in the murder is uncertain if it was bought from his shop. Meanwhile, Saurabhs family disputes Muskans parents claim of ignorance regarding the incident. Saurabhs mother, Renu Devi, stated that Muskans parents are misleading the police, asserting that Muskans mother knew about the crime in advance and went to the police station to avoid legal consequences. Moreover, Saurabhs mother, Renu Devi, claimed that her sons six-year-old daughter was aware of his death. That is why, as we have come to know from some people, she (Saurabhs daughter) was saying, Papa is in the drum," Renu Devi said. However, police dismissed this claim, saying the girl might have known about it after the gory incident came to light. When Muskan was telling the story of the incident to the family members, the girl might have been present there. The girl did not know anything (beforehand) about this," SP City Ayush Vikram Singh was quoted as saying by PTI. According to police sources, Muskan informed her family about the murder on March 18, and they took her to the police. Following this, a case was registered, the body was recovered, and both Muskan and Sahil were arrested. According to the police, Muskan had been planning Saurabhs murder since November 2023. They added that Muskan exploited Sahils superstitions by creating a fake Snapchat ID, posing as Sahils deceased mother. Through this fake ID, Muskan convinced Sahil that his dead mother wanted Saurabh killed, a claim currently under further investigation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Muskan allegedly sought a secluded place to bury Saurabhs body post-murder. Before Saurabh returned from London in February, she had purchased knives under the guise of cutting chicken and acquired sedatives. Police said Muskan believed Saurabhs family would not search for him after his murder, as they had not been in regular contact for the past couple of years. The police officer revealed that Saurabhs family had not spoken to him in the last two years due to their anger over his marriage to Muskan, leading her to believe his absence would go unnoticed. Location : Meerut, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 10:57 IST More Than 10,000 Indians In Foreign Jails, 25 On Death Row In This Country, Shows Govt Data Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 13:30 IST The number of Indians sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates is 25. However, these 25 Indians have not been executed yet, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kriti Vardhan Singh said in Parliament on Thursday MoS Kriti Vardhan Singh highlighted that several countries have sentenced Indian nationals to death, though the executions have not yet been implemented. (Representative/AP File) Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kriti Vardhan Singh, informed Parliament on Thursday that 25 Indian nationals have received death sentences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, none of these sentences have been carried out. This information was shared with the Rajya Sabha in response to a query regarding the number of Indians imprisoned abroad and those facing the death penalty. The minister shared that a total of 10,152 Indians are currently detained in foreign jails, which includes undertrial prisoners. He emphasised that the Indian government prioritises the safety of all its citizens abroad, ensuring they do not encounter any undue hardships. This policy extends to Indians imprisoned in other countries, with the government providing all necessary assistance, including legal aid. Recommended Stories Singh highlighted that several countries have sentenced Indian nationals to death, though the executions have not yet been implemented. The UAE leads this list with 25 Indian prisoners on death row, followed by Saudi Arabia with 11, Malaysia with six, Kuwait with three, and Yemen, Indonesia, Qatar, and the US each with one. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The minister noted that in 2024, three Indians were executed in both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while one Indian was executed in Zimbabwe. In 2023, five Indians were executed in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with one execution in Malaysia. Singh also mentioned that the UAE does not officially disclose the number of Indians executed. However, based on unconfirmed sources, it is believed that no Indian was executed in the UAE between 2000 and 2024. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 13:30 IST New Twist In Delhi HC Judge Controversy As Fire Services Chief Denies Cash Discovery Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 19:42 IST Justice Yashwant Varma is in the middle of a controversy after huge amount of cash was allegedly recovered from his residence last week. Justice Yashwant Varma (IMAGE: X) Days after heaps of cash were allegedly recovered from the residence of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma, reportedly during a fire-fighting operation, citys fire services chief Atul Garg on Friday said that the fire responders did not find any cash during the operation, giving a new twist in the ongoing controversy. It was earlier reported that after the fire was doused at his residence, the firefighters found a huge amount of cash inside a room, which led to an inquiry against the senior judge. Recommended Stories Delhi Fire Services Chief Denies Cash Discovery Garg said that the control room received a call about the fire incident at the judges residence at Tughlak Road at 11.35 pm on March 14, after which two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. They had reached the residence at 11.43 pm. Justice Varma was not in Delhi when the incident took place. The fire was reported in a store room stocked with stationery and domestic things, and it took 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control, he said. Soon after dousing the flames, we informed police about the fire incident. Thereafter, a team of fire department personnel left the spot. Our firefighters did not find any cash during their firefighting operation," he said. Supreme Court Reacts To Transfer Reports On Friday, the Supreme Court collegium started an inquiry against the judge. Amid reports of his transfer back to Allahabad High Court, the top court clarified that Justice Varma was not transferred, adding that a proposal in this regard was under consideration. In a press release, the Supreme Court said that the proposal was not related to any incident" at the judges residence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There is misinformation and rumours being spread with regard to the incident at the residence of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma," the Supreme Court said. The proposal for the transfer of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, who is the second senior most judge in the Delhi High Court and a member of the Collegium, to his parent High Court, i.e. the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, where he will be ninth in seniority, is independent and separate from the In-house inquiry procedure," the release added. 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 21, 2025, 19:30 IST Pakistani Terror Groups Trying To Spark Anti-India Sentiments Among Kashmiris Via 'Palestine Route': Sources | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:13 IST Groups like the ISI, LeT, and JuD believe that Palestine enjoys favourable global opinion and they perceive a lack of similar international sentiment regarding Kashmir, said the sources A boy walks past graffiti depicting a Palestinian fighter at al-Amari camp south of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on March 11, 2025. (AFP photo) Pakistan-based terror groups are actively working to instigate anti-India sentiments among Indian Kashmiris, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Friday. They added that groups like the ISI, LeT, and JuD believe that Palestine enjoys favourable global opinion. They perceive a lack of similar international sentiment regarding Kashmir, said the sources. For instance, any attack on Palestine faces widespread criticism from Western nations, a response they feel is absent when it comes to Kashmir. Recommended Stories Pakistans spy agency ISI aims to portray Kashmir and Palestine as analogous causes, the sources said. They believe their propaganda efforts have fallen short in two key areas: generating Palestine-like support for Kashmir, particularly within Kashmir itself, and framing both issues as matters of the Islamic Ummah rather than political disputes. To achieve these objectives, they seek support from all Islamic countries," a source said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Their strategy, according to the sources, has involved organising a Kashmir-Palestine conference in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in November 2024 and orchestrating a joint rally featuring Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hamas leaders in PoK. While they do not anticipate Hamass physical presence in India, they intend to establish a perception of Kashmir and Palestine as a unified struggle, the sources added. The Palestine issue resonates with both Shia and Sunni Muslims in Kashmir, evident in the pro-Palestine slogans raised during Muharram processions," a source said. Pakistan-based agencies view Hamass involvement as a symbolic victory, hoping it will invigorate Indian Kashmiri Muslims to their cause." About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: March 21, 2025, 18:13 IST Raising The 'Bar': To Boost Bengaluru Nightlife, Karnataka Govt Set To Let Standalone Pubs Stay Open Till 1 AM Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 08:22 IST Speaking on the floor of the legislative council, DK Shivakumar, Bengalurus in-charge minister, assured the House that he, along with home minister G Parameshwara and excise minister RB Timmapur, would seriously examine extending the time limit for standalone pubs Standalone pubs, which have been facing strict enforcement and forced closures by police at 11.30 pm, may soon operate on par with other establishments. (Representational image/Shutterstock) If youre a standalone pub in Bengaluru, once known for its vibrant nightlife, its time to pop the bottle, as theres good news on the way. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar is expected to give the green light for extending the citys nightlife, allowing standalone pubs to remain open until 1 amjust like other licensed establishments. This potential relaxation comes after the state governments recent order permitting hotels, restaurants, and bars to operate until 1 am. If implemented, the move is expected to boost Bengalurus nightlife and increase government revenue from the countrys tech capital. Recommended Stories Standalone pubs, which have been facing strict enforcement and forced closures by police at 11.30 pm, may soon operate on par with other establishments. Speaking on the floor of the legislative council, Shivakumar, Bengalurus in-charge minister, assured the House that he, along with home minister G Parameshwara and excise minister RB Timmapur, would seriously examine extending the time limit for standalone pubs. The statement came in response to a question by BJP MLC Gopinath Reddy regarding the excise departments regulations on standalone pubs. Intervening in the discussion, Shivakumar acknowledged that the existing deadline had become nothing more than a harassment technique for law enforcement agencies". He added, As Bengalurus minister, I agree that the city needs a lively nightlife. This is the hub of techies and IT-BT professionals working late into the night, and they need a space to unwind." This is not the first time that both Shivakumar and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah have pushed for extended nightlife in Bengaluru to support trade and commerce. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the 2024 budget, Siddaramaiah announced that the government would adopt a business-friendly approach to benefit commercial establishments. As part of this policy, a new government order was issued, allowing businesses within BBMP limits to stay open until 1 am. According to the order passed in August 2024, CL-4 (club licence) holders, CL-6(A) (star hotels), CL-7 (hotels and boarding houses), and CL-7D (hotels and boarding houses owned by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe individuals) can operate from 9 am to 1 am. Establishments with a CL-9 licence, covering bars and refreshment rooms, can now remain open from 10 am to 1 am. 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 21, 2025, 08:22 IST Amid Cash Row, Twist In Justice Varma's Transfer Proposal After SC Clarification Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:55 IST The Supreme Court Collegium has initiated an in-house probe against Justice Varma and requested a report from Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay. Justice Yashwant Varma (IMAGE: X) The proposal to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma, one of the senior-most judges of the Delhi High Court and a member of the Collegium there, to the Allahabad High Court was to ensure the institution continues to function smoothly, according to sources privy to the developments. In the Allahabad High Court, Justice Varma, if transferred, would not be among the top three senior-most judges, which is why the decision was made. Recommended Stories The Supreme Court has ordered an in-house probe into Justice Varma and sought a report from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay. This comes after firefighters, who were responding to an incident at the judges bungalow last week, allegedly stumbled upon a pile of cash. Meanwhile, reports surfaced that Justice Varma was transferred to the Allahabad High Court, and that the move was linked to the cash controversy. However, Justice Varma is yet to be transferred as the Supreme Court has not taken any decision on the judges transfer, according to the top court. In a statement on Friday evening, the Supreme Court said that there is misinformation and rumours being spread with regard to the incident at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma". On receiving the information, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court commenced the in-house enquiry procedure collecting evidence and information," the Supreme Court said in a press note. The proposal for transfer of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, who is the second senior most Judge in the Delhi High Court and a member of the Collegium, to his parent High Court i.e. the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, where he will be ninth in seniority, is independent and separate from the In-house enquiry procedure." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Allahabad High Court Bar Association earlier wrote to the Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna expressing its opposition to Justice Yashwant Vermas transfer to the Allahabad High Court from the Delhi High Court. This decision of the collegium of the Supreme Court raises a serious question as to whether the Allahabad High Court is a trash bin? This matter becomes important when we examine the current situation wherein the Allahabad High Court is short of honble judges and despite the continuous problems, new judges have not been appointed since the last many years. It is also of grave concern that while appointing judges by elevating members of the Bar, the Bar was never consulted," the bar association wrote in its letter to the Chief Justice of India. About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 16:02 IST Vacate 'Illegal Occupation' In Kashmir: India Slams Pakistan As 'Biggest Roadblock To Peace' Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 23:18 IST India's remarks came after Pakistani Charge d'Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich said a "new dawn" in relations between the two nations can emerge by enhancing mutual understanding MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (PTI Image) For the second consecutive year, India skipped a national day reception hosted by the Pakistani high commission here even as it described Islamabads active" backing of cross-border terrorism as the biggest roadblock" to peace. New Delhi also slammed Pakistan for feting controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is wanted by Indian authorities. Recommended Stories Indias remarks came after Pakistani Charge dAffaires Saad Ahmad Warraich said a new dawn" in relations between the two nations can emerge by enhancing mutual understanding, addressing shared concerns and resolving long-standing disputes" including the Kashmir issue. Warraichs comments came at the reception hosted by the Pakistani high commission last night. Like last year, there was no representation from the Indian side at the event. It is not clear whether Pakistan invited Indian officials for the reception. Asked whether the Pakistan high commission extended an invitation for the event, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he didnt have information on it. However, he added: As for invitations, they depend on relationships, dont they? Acceptance of invitations depends on the nature of the relationship." In his remarks, Jaiswal also referred to his statement on Tuesday that was issued after Pakistan criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for certain critical remarks on Pakistan. In the statement, Jaiswal said Pakistan should vacate Indian territory under its illegal" occupation instead of spreading lies". In that particular statement, we had, among other things, mentioned that the world clearly knows that the real issue is Pakistans active promotion and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism," the spokesperson said. In fact, this is the biggest roadblock to peace and security in the region," he said. India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such engagement. Modi in a recent podcast said that every attempt to foster peace with Pakistan was met with hostility and betrayal and that he hoped wisdom would prevail on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties. To a question about Naik meeting former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz, in Lahore earlier this week, Jaiswal said: This is not the first time that he (Naik) has been feted in Pakistan." And obviously, it shows the kind of approach his hosts have and what it means for us, and what it means in terms of giving so much support to a person who is wanted here," he said. In his address at the national day reception, Warraich stressed that Islamabad has consistently endeavoured friendly relations with other states based on the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence". This edifying approach has also guided our quest to seek peaceful relations with India, he noted. South Asia our shared home should march forward with stable peace, equal security and shared prosperity," Warraich underlined. To this end, he emphasised the need for a constructive spirit that prioritizes collaborative efforts towards common solutions and does not seek to impose forced outcomes. The path of diplomacy remains more imperative than ever," he stressed. Noting that the event coincided with the joyous festival of Nauroze, he said that since times immemorial, the advent of spring has served as a harbinger of hope, renewal, and rejuvenation, according to a Pakistani readout. A new dawn in Pakistan-India relations can emerge by enhancing mutual understanding, addressing shared concerns and resolving long-standing disputes including Jammu and Kashmir," Warraich concluded. The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after Indias warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The relations further deteriorated after India on August 5, 2019 announced the withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories. Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India after New Delhi abrogated Article 370. There has been no structured bilateral talks between India and Pakistan for over eight years. However, both sides are engaging at the multilateral forums. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pakistans then foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India in May 2023 to attend an in-person meeting of the foreign ministers of SCO nations in Goa. In October last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to Islamabad to also attend an SCO conclave. First Published: March 21, 2025, 23:18 IST Tamannaah Bhatia Stuns In An All-White Ensemble But Her Self Designed Diamond Cuff Steals The Show Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 15:55 IST Tamannaah Bhatia recently attended an award show in Mumbai. For her appearance at the event, she opted for a piece of jewellery that she designed herself. The actor was styled by celebrity stylist Shaleena Nathani. One of Indian cinemas most captivating stars in the industry, Tamannaah Bhatia, recently blended elegance with ease in a chic white top and jeans. The actor attended an award show in Mumbai and for her starry appearance at the show, she dazzled in an all-white ensemble. Tamannaah Bhatia took to her social media to share pictures of her latest look. Sharing the pictures on Instagram, the actor wrote, Wearing my reminder that sky is the limit. For @zeecineawards." Her OOTD has become the talk of the town. Recommended Stories Lets take a closer look and decode Tamannaahs stunning look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) The actor opted for a white statement top for her OOTD. The white Gauri and Nainika came with a one-shoulder neckline. The top had layers of statement ruffles on the neckline. These ruffles graduated into a flowing silhouette top that lightly grazed the floor. She paired this top with a pair of light blue distressed denims. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, the icing on the cake was the accessories that Tamannaah opted for. To add a personal touch to her look, she accessorized with a breathtaking diamond cuff bracelether creationencrusted with 47 carats of diamonds and worth a staggering Rs 50 lakhs. The exquisite piece not only showcased her love for fine jewellery but also her creative flair in design, making the look even more special. Apart from the diamond studded cuff bracelet, she also opted for a pair of diamond studded earrings, and a ring. For the glam, she went with a flawless base. She defined her eyes with a subtle bronze shimmery shade on her eyelids, eyeliner, and mascara. She added a sweep of blush on her cheeks for that rosy glow. She tied her hair in a chic off-duty model style bun. She completed her look with a matte-finish soft nude shade on her lips. fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 15:55 IST Matheran Travel Guide: Top Things To Do And How You Can Reach The Hill Station Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 19, 2025, 20:46 IST Matheran, a hill station near Mumbai, has closed to tourists as locals and traders, under Matheran Paryatan Vachav Sangharsh Samiti, began an indefinite strike against rising tourist fraud. Matheran is well-connected by road. From Mumbai, it's a 1.5-2 hour drive via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Matheran, a popular hill station near Mumbai, has shut its doors to tourists as residents and traders, under the banner of Matheran Paryatan Vachav Sangharsh Samiti (MPVSS), launched an indefinite strike. The protest comes in response to a rise in fraudulent activities targeting tourists, with locals demanding stricter measures to curb the menace. Nestled high above the bustling city of Mumbai, Matheran offers a tranquil escape for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. At 2,636 feet above sea level, this charming hill station is renowned for its serene ambiance and untouched beauty. Recommended Stories Discover Matherans Enchanting Points Echo Point: True to its name, Echo Point provides an unforgettable acoustic experience as sounds reverberate through the lush valleys. The breathtaking scenery adds to the allure, making it a must-visit destination. Porcupine Point: Shaped like its namesake, Porcupine Point offers stunning sunset views that paint the sky in vibrant hues. The panoramic vista extends to Prabal Fort and the majestic Cathedral Rocks. Panorama Point: Capture the beauty of the Sahyadri Ranges from Panorama Point. This popular spot offers a sweeping vista of the surrounding landscapes, providing a serene escape. Louisa Point: Perched at 800 meters above sea level, Louisa Point offers breathtaking views of the valleys below, blanketed in lush forests. The iconic Prabal Fort stands majestically in the distance, adding to the scenic grandeur. One Tree Hill Point: As the name suggests, One Tree Hill Point is crowned by a solitary tree, creating a unique landmark. The panoramic views of the valleys and mountains make it a photographers paradise. Belvedere Point: Find tranquility at Belvedere Point, where sweeping views of the Western Ghats and verdant valleys await. The serene atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for quiet contemplation. Mount Barry: Embark on a trek to Mount Barry and be rewarded with panoramic vistas of Matherans natural splendor. The lush forests and valleys of the Western Ghats stretch out before you, creating an unforgettable experience. Alexander Point: Witness the beauty of Matheran from Alexander Point, another scenic vantage point offering stunning panoramic views. The lush landscapes and the grandeur of the Western Ghats create a captivating spectacle. Malang Point: Escape to the tranquility of Malang Point, where you can soak in the serenity of Matherans natural beauty. The panoramic views of the valleys, forests, and the Western Ghats offer a sense of peace and wonder. Charlotte Lake: Surrounded by dense forests, Charlotte Lake serves as the primary water source for Matheran. The serene ambiance and the presence of the Pisarnath Temple on its banks make it a place of natural and spiritual significance. Monkey Point: As the name implies, Monkey Point is a haven for playful primates. The areas natural beauty, including mountains, gorges, and diverse flora and fauna, make it a popular tourist spot. Adventure Awaits In Matheran Rock Climbing: Matheran is a paradise for rock climbing enthusiasts, with vantage points like Shivajis Ladder, Alexander Point, Prabal Fort, and Louisa Point offering thrilling challenges. Dodhani Waterfalls: Experience the thrill of waterfall rappelling at Dodhani Waterfalls, located at the base of the Matheran Hills. This adrenaline-pumping adventure is suitable for both beginners and experienced thrill-seekers. Journey Through Time Prabhal Fort: Step back in time at Prabhal Fort, a historical fortress near Matheran. Perched at 800 meters above sea level, the fort offers insights into the regions rich history and breathtaking panoramic views. Neral-Matheran Toy Train: A Scenic Ride Embark on a nostalgic journey on the Neral-Matheran Toy Train, a narrow-gauge railway that meanders through the picturesque landscapes of the Western Ghats. The scenic ride offers stunning views of valleys, forests, and waterfalls. How To Reach Matheran By Air: The nearest airports are Mumbai (90 km) and Pune (120 km). From Mumbai Airport, buses, taxis, and local trains connect to Neral, the gateway to Matheran. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all By Rail: Local trains from Mumbai (CSMT/Thane) and outstation trains like the Deccan Express and Sahyadri Express stop at Neral. From Neral, the toy train or taxis are available to reach Dasturi Naka. By Road: Matheran is well-connected by road. From Mumbai, its a 1.5-2 hour drive via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. From Pune, the journey takes 2.5-3 hours via the same expressway. Buses from Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, and Kolhapur also ply on this route. About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 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 19, 2025, 20:46 IST Apoorva Mukhija Allegedly Creates A Fuss At Sabrina Carpenter's Concert In Paris: 'Thappad Maar Dungi' | Video Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:39 IST Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid allegedly caused trouble at Sabrina Carpenters concert in Paris. This comes amidst the controversy over her inappropriate remarks on Samay Raina's India's Got Latent Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid allegedly caused trouble at Sabrina Carpenters concert in Paris. Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid has hit the headlines once again. The social media influencer had been embroiled in controversy surrounding her inappropriate remarks on Samay Rainas show Indias Got Talent. Amidst all this, a video of Apoorva allegedly causing trouble at Sabrina Carpenters concert in Paris has surfaced on social media. The video shows Apoorva lip-syncing to songs and dancing at the concert. As per the text accompanying the video, a security personnel allegedly asked her to return to her seat, however she did not comply and continued using her phone. A Reddit user posted a TikTok video of Apoorva, claiming that it was captured at Sabrina Carpenters recent concert in Paris. The video shows her in a pink dress, singing and dancing along to the songs. While she was having a great time at the concert, it seemed like the use of the camera flashes bothered those around her. A security guard is then seen pointing a flashlight at her, asking her to go back to her seat. The video also shows Apoorva recording herself, and allegedly captures her yelling, Main thappad maar dungi usko (I will slap them)," while expressing her frustration. Recommended Stories Meanwhile, the text on the video in French translates to: POV: We were at the concert, she was filming her music videoThe security guard asked her to go to her seat, but she didnt care Big flash in the face." The Redditor shared the video along with a caption that read, Apoorva spotted causing trouble at Sabrina Carpenters concert in Paris." The description shared by the Redditor read, Looks like shes more than okay! Other fans in the comments of the tiktok said she yelled at them when they asked her to lower her voice and stop using the flash, and one even claimed she almost hit someone. Security reportedly had to step in, asking her to return to her seat because she kept moving around to film with the flash on." The video has gone viral on social media, with netizens expressing their disappointment. While one netizen wrote, Ruining the name of the country and its people," another one commented, Ew. Just ew. Second hand embarrassment We dont claim her, respectfully." A third Redditor wrote, So that means its best to keep her hidden only.the world had Finally started respecting her social media existence!" while another one commented, She isnt even watching the concert." Apoorva Mukhija recently made her film debut in Nadaaniyan, starring Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. However, she hasnt been active on social media since Indias Got Latent controversy, and hasnt posted anything about the film or her role. First Published: March 21, 2025, 18:26 IST John Abraham Reveals He Was Offered Akshay Kumars Housefull 5 But Rejected It For THIS Reason Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 15:56 IST The fifth installment comedy series promises to be bigger and more entertaining. It is set for release on June 6, 2025. John Abraham reveals he was offered role in Housefull 5 Akshay Kumar is one of the busy actors currently. He has many films lined up in his kitty. He will be seen in the comedy film Housefull 5 which is a multi-starrer. Well, do you know that John Abraham was also offered a role in the film? Yes, you are reading right. The actor revealed that he rejected the offer. In an interview with Zoom, John Abraham mentioned that he was offered Housefull 5. He said, I felt there was a better space for me reserved somewhere else." During the conversation, John also shared that he would love to do a situational or dark comedy with Akshay Kumar. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sonam Bajwa, and more. The fifth installment comedy series promises to be bigger and more entertaining. It is set for release on June 6, 2025. Recommended Stories The first film of the Housefull series, directed by Sajid Khan, was released in 2010. Two years later, the films second instalment was released. In 2016, the films third part, directed by Sajid-Farhad, was released. Meanwhile, Housefull 4 was released back in 2019, leaving the fans waiting for the fifth film. The upcoming Housefull film, directed by Tarun Mansukhani, is slated to be released in June 2025. John Abraham is currently seen in The Diplomat. Despite limited marketing, the film has maintained a decent performance, benefiting from the lack of strong competition from newer releases. According to early estimates shared by Sacnilk.com, The Diplomat collected 1.29 crore on its sixth day. This takes the films total collection to 17.54 crore over six days. The film had a decent start, earning 4 crore on opening day, followed by a steady rise over the weekend with 4.65 crore combined on Saturday and Sunday. It managed to sustain through Monday, pulling in 1.5 crore, and continued with 1.45 crore on day four. The Diplomat explores the complex landscape of IndiaPakistan relations, highlighting the delicate balance of diplomatic efforts and the personal challenges diplomats face. Starring John Abraham in the lead, the film also features Sharib Hashmi, Sadia Khateeb, Kumud Mishra, and Revathy in key roles. About the Author Akriti Anand Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 15:50 IST OTT Releases This Week: Anora, Oppenheimer And Sky Force Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:43 IST From Oscar picks Oppenheimer, Anora and Wicked to Akshay Kumars Sky Force, the week is packed with exciting releases for all. Anora is available for streaming on Jio Hotstar. (Photo Crfedits: YouTube) Were back with our weekly roundup of exciting shows and films premiering on OTT platforms. Whether youre in the mood for romance, action, or thrillers, this week offers something for everyone. Wondering whats hitting the streaming platforms? Weve got you covered! From Oscar-winning titles like Oppenheimer, Anora, and Wicked to Akshay Kumars Sky Force and the much-awaited sequel to Khakee, heres your ultimate binge-watch list for the week. Wicked (JioHotstar) Recommended Stories In this story about the witches of Oz, Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, a young woman with unusual green skin. On the other hand, Ariana Grande was seen as Glinda, a privileged and ambitious woman. At the center stage of the film remains their profound friendship after they meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz. The movie is directed by Jon M Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. Oppenheimer (Netflix) Christopher Nolan-directed Oppenheimer won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, played by Cillian Murphy. Released in 2023, the films story revolves around physicist J Robert Oppenheimer who is appointed to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project which eventually results in the worlds first nuclear explosion, on July 16, 1945. The cast of the film also features Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek and Kenneth Branagh. Anora (JioHotstar) Anora has been making the right amount of noise, mainly after winning the Academy Awards in five categories. The films director Sean Baker secured four of the trophies, creating history with his achievement. Anora, now available for streaming in India, also features Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan. No Mans Land S2 (Lionsgate Play) The second installment of No Mans Land explores the chaos of the Syrian civil war through the lens of a female fighter group, setting the stage for an intriguing plot amid new dangers emerge. Directed by Rotem Shamir, known for his work in Fauda and Hostages, the intense drama stars Melanie Thierry, Souheila Yacoub and James Krishna Floyd as they reprise their roles from the first part. Sky Force (Prime Video) Sky Force, set against the backdrop of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, is the story of Wing Commander Ahujas journey spanning 23 years as he seeks the truth behind the absence of Squadron Leader Vijaya after a heroic solo engagement against a superior enemy jet. Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, the film stars Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan and Nimrat Kaur in the lead roles. First Published: March 21, 2025, 18:37 IST Kicking things off with some chilled-out beats that were recorded at the National Gallery of Canada by our host Jordan aka JFUN. On the second half of the show, we've got an exclusive Dark Disco and Indie Dance mix from our dear friend RE:SETTER Trying To Escape Arc De Soile - Bang Bang Betty Chung - Soule Okvsho - Carino (feat. Sreya) Okvsho - I Will Never Know Tall Black Guy, Moonchild - Forever Charlotte Day Wilson - You And I Khruangbin - Sunshine Jill Peacock - Someone That You Love Jarreau Vandal - Ranbir Kapoors First Wife Story Is Not What You Think Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 09:39 IST Ranbir Kapoor shared that a fan had already considered herself "married" to himjust not in the conventional sense. Ranbir Kapoor married Alia Bhatt in 2022. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Ranbir Kapoor is one of the most loved actors in the industry and undoubtedly has a massive fan base. Recently, he recalled a unique fan encounter from the early days of his career. While happily married to Alia Bhatt now, Ranbir humorously revealed about his so-called first wife." He shared that a fan had already considered herself married" to himjust not in the conventional sense. In an interview with Mashable India, Ranbir Kapoor was asked about his craziest fan" moment. Narrating the same, the actor revealed how a devoted admirer went to the level of performing a wedding ritual at the gate of his family home. He stated, I wouldnt say craziest, as it is used in a negative way, but I remember, in my early years, there was a girl, I never met but my watchman told me that she came with a pandit and married my gate. At the bungalow where I lived with my parents, there was tika on the gate and some flowers. I was out of town at the time, I think, so that was quite crazy. I havent yet met my first wife, so I look forward to meeting you at some point." Recommended Stories Ranbir Kapoor tied the knot with Alia Bhatt in 2022 after reportedly dating since 2018. The duo welcomed their daughter, Raha Kapoor. They even worked together in Brahmastra. Ranbir made his Bollywood debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Saawariya opposite Sonam Kapoor and has since delivered several memorable performances. His filmography includes Rockstar, Barfi, Brahmastra, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and Animal. Ranbir is currently filming Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Love and War alongside Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. He also has the highly anticipated Ramayana in the pipeline. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film will be released in two parts, with Ranbir portraying the role of Lord Ram. About the Author Akriti Anand Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 09:39 IST Trauma Movie Review: Vivek Prasannas Film Suffers From Puerile Execution, But Underlines An Important Problem Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 19:25 IST The crime thriller stars Vivek Prasanna, Poornima Ravi, Chandini Tamilarasan, Prathosh in the lead roles. Trauma Movie Review out Trauma U/A 2/5 21 March 2025|Tamil 1 hrs 58 mins | Crime Thriller Starring: Vivek Prasanna, Poornima Ravi, Chandini Tamilarasan, Prathosh Director: Thambithurai Mariyappan Music: RS Rajprathap Watch Trailer Sexual crimes have become the go-to place for filmmakers to find easy conflicts. It has become a license for all the on-screen violence of the protagonist and the viewer is expected to get a cathartic release seeing such revenge stories. In the end, the victim or the sexual violence itself is just reduced to nothing more than a conflict or a reason for the story. Trauma is yet another addition to the list of such Tamil films, which are on the rise now. However, director Thambithurai Mariyappan should be lauded as he at least doesnt capture such violence with an exploitative gaze, which has become the norm. Such maturity is shockingly absent in other aspects of Trauma, which comes across as the work of a novice short-filmmaker. As far as the story goes, Trauma follows three narratives because it wants to be a hyperlink film, which is in vogue now (thanks to Lokesh Kanagaraj). We have two petty thieves who go about stealing cars. They are straight out of Tamil black-and-white comedy dramas because they seem to not even know how much a second-hand car would sell for. They wonder whether an SUV would sell for twenty thousand rupees, and thats supposed to be funny. Recommended Stories We then follow a coupleGeetha (Chandini) and Sundar (Vivek Prasanna)struggling to become parents. Sundar doesnt tell Geetha that he is infertile and ends up seeking help from an infertility centre to fix him. The doctor gives him a medicine to be taken by both of them for a month. Sundar starts giving it to Geetha without her knowledge. Turns out, the medicine is a sedative and the doctor is part of a network of criminals who rape such patients when they are unconscious and record the crime to blackmail people for money. Theres a romantic love story in Trauma, which seems to have no relevance to the main storyline and seems like an excuse to fill time. Shockingly, the conflict of the film arrives after we are thirty minutes into it, while the entire runtime is less than two hours. The film just wallows in cliched writing, and most of the scenes are like they were taken straight out of Tamil TV serials that are broadcast in the afternoon, which are not watched even by the undemanding target audience. Now, Trauma doesnt look bad as the makers have spent enough on the camera work and the production design of the film. The red, tangerine, and dark hues which have become the default colour palette of such crime thrillers (again, thanks to Lokesh Kanagaraj) are seen in Trauma too. With regard to the cinematography and framing, cinematographer Ajith Srinivasan has done a commendable job, which looks conspicuous as everything else about the film is underwhelming. It is tempting to praise Trauma as it projects itself as a film with a noble cause advocating child adoption. However, that seems to be just a means to an end. At least, the end should have been an entertaining watch like Maharaja, which also used sexual violence as its main plot point. Trauma takes an easy route every single time, which is laughable at times like how the police end up finding the hideout of the gang. It is easy to say that Trauma is living up to its name, which would even make for a good headline for the review. But that would be like reducing the impact of the word and an easy way out, a mistake the film made at every possible instance. First Published: March 21, 2025, 19:22 IST Opinion | Modis Water Diplomacy: Transforming Scarcity Into Regional Stability Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 16:44 IST In a region where water is increasingly becoming a zero-sum game, Modis proactive, strategic water diplomacy offers a glimmer of hope a path to transform scarcity not into conflict, but into a catalyst for regional stability and enduring peace PM Modi's approach is not born from abundance, but rather from a stark recognition of Indias precarious water future. (PTI photo) For all of human history, water has been one of the most vital and widely used resources. From early settlers along rivers to great ancient civilisations such as the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and the Incas, all flourished by establishing themselves near water bodies. Thus, it is no surprise that water and rivers continue to play a crucial role in fostering relations and advancing diplomacy in the 21st century. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, India has recognised this reality with unprecedented acuity, transforming water management from a domestic challenge into a sophisticated instrument of foreign policy, deftly balancing the looming threat of scarcity with the urgent need for regional stability. PM Modis approach is not born from abundance, but rather from a stark recognition of Indias precarious water future. A nation housing 17 per cent of the worlds population, yet possessing a mere 4 per cent of its freshwater reserves faces an undeniable crisis. This inherent scarcity, compounded by inefficient historical water management, has driven a paradigm shift. Recommended Stories No longer is water merely a developmental concern; it is now a strategic asset, wielded with deliberate intent on the international stage. This represents a marked departure from previous, perhaps more passive, approaches to transboundary water issues. Modis vision is proactive, not reactive; it views water not as a source of conflict waiting to erupt, but as a conduit for cooperation, and when necessary, a lever for assertive diplomacy. This is a government that understands that in a water-stressed world, control over this resource translates to tangible geopolitical power. WATER AS A STRATEGIC TOOL For decades, Indias approach to transboundary water resources, particularly in relation to its neighbours, was largely reactive, often hindered by legalistic interpretations and bureaucratic inertia. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, while lauded for its longevity, exemplifies this. Though designed to ensure equitable water sharing, its rigid frameworkconceived in a vastly different geopolitical erahas struggled to adapt to contemporary challenges. Modis arrival marked a decisive break from this inertia. He recognised waters strategic value, understanding that in a water-stressed region, control and judicious allocation of this vital resource could be a powerful tool. Water was then leveraged to recalibrate Indias relations, utilising its geographical and hydrological position to foster cooperation while, crucially, securing its own national interests. The stark pronouncement after the Uri attacks in 2016"Blood and water cannot flow together"was not just rhetoric; it was a clear articulation of a new doctrine. Water diplomacy was now intrinsically linked to national security, marking a departure from decades of compartmentalised approaches. RECALIBRATING THE INDUS The most audacious aspect of Modis water diplomacy lies in his approach to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. For decades, the IWT was treated as sacrosanctan untouchable cornerstone of fragile Indo-Pakistani relations. However, Modis government has shown a willingness to challenge the status quo, initiating moves to modify" the treaty. This was justified by Pakistans persistent objections to Indian hydroelectric projects and the drastically changed circumstances since 1960, including climate change and escalating water scarcity. Of the 18,653 MW of power generation potential from these rivers, India has so far commissioned only 3,264 MW (18 per cent). Additionally, while India has permission to irrigate 1.34 million acres of land, it is currently utilising only 0.792 million acres. This recalibration is fraught with risks, given the deep-seated mistrust and historical baggage that plagues Indo-Pakistani relations. However, it also presents a strategic opportunity. By asserting its rights under the treatyrights that India has historically underutilised, particularly in relation to hydropower generation on the western riversIndia can subtly exert pressure on Pakistan, especially in the context of continued cross-border terrorism. The completion of projects like the Baglihar Dam, despite Pakistani objections, and the ongoing construction of others on the Chenab, signals Indias intent to exercise its water rights more assertively. Additionally, the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Barrage on the Ravi River, which stops excess water from flowing into Pakistan, further signifies a strategic shift in water management. When India filled the Baglihar reservoir, Pakistan reportedly suffered a 30 per cent crop loss, demonstrating the economic impact of Indias control over the rivers. Several more projects on the Chenab, including the Pakkaldul, Lower Kalnai, Sawalkot, Rattle, and Bursar dams, are currently in the pipeline. Once completed, these projects will enable India to generate approximately 62 per cent of the potential 18,600 MW of power from the western rivers. The shift in Indias stance also marks Modis assertive diplomacy, driven by national security concerns linked to terrorism. It underscores Indias strategic use of water as a diplomatic tool while asserting its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. This move is expected to benefit the Jammu and Kashmir region by enabling irrigation for 4,000 acres of agricultural land. Notably, the dams construction was completed after nearly three decades since its foundation was laid. Many critics argue that by doing so, India is weaponising water, a symbol of life. However, on the contrary, India is merely exercising its rights and ensuring water security for its own citizens. The Indus Waters Treaty was a product of its time, brokered under the influence of Cold War geopolitics. Under its terms, India was granted access to only about 20 per cent of the total water covered in the pact, while 80 per cent was allocated to Pakistan. This was because the western rivers carry significantly more water than the east-flowing ones. Six decades later, the challenges facing India and Pakistan have evolved. The changing terms of the treaty are reflective of the same. COOPERATION WITH BANGLADESH, NEPAL AND BHUTAN However, much like water itself, Modis water diplomacy moves with ebb and flow. It is not merely a tool for gaining leverage but also a means to enhance cooperation and foster meaningful relationships. Nowhere is this more evident than in Indias engagements with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The protracted Teesta River water-sharing negotiations with Bangladesh, spanning over a decade, perfectly encapsulate both the complexities of the issue and the Modi governments approach. While a definitive treaty remains elusivestalled by the internal political dynamics of West Bengalthe Modi government has sustained dialogue, demonstrating its commitment to finding a mutually acceptable solution. Bangladesh depends heavily on the Teestas waters for agriculture and consumption, while Mamata Banerjee has argued that sharing the rivers water with Bangladesh would severely impact lakhs of people in north Bengal. This persistent engagement, despite domestic hurdles, signals a long-term strategic visionprioritising regional harmony even when immediate gains are limited. Furthermore, the robust hydro-cooperation with Nepal and Bhutan stands as a shining example of Modis proactive water diplomacy yielding tangible regional benefits. The numerous hydropower projects in Bhutan, significantly funded and supported by India, are not merely about energy generation; they are about fostering enduring economic interdependencies, goodwill, and regional energy security. Bhutans hydropower sector, which accounts for a staggering 63 per cent of its total exports, is fundamentally intertwined with Indias support and consumption. By doing so, the Modi government has created a win-win situation for both India and Bhutan. Similarly, the Mahakali Treaty with Nepal, though facing its own implementation challenges, signifies Indias commitment to engaging in complex, long-term water resource management projects for mutual benefit, incorporating hydropower generation and flood control. Nepal obtained the right to use a minimum of 1,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water in the summer season and a maximum of 150 cusecs in the winter season from the Sarada Canal. However, it began maximising these resources through the Mahakali Irrigation Project only after its completion in 1997. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all By proactively engaging with neighbours, strategically modernising existing treaties, and demonstrating a willingness to use water as a tool for diplomacy, Modis government is attempting to navigate this precarious landscape. This is not a risk-free strategy; it demands deft diplomacy, a nuanced understanding of regional sensitivities, and a steadfast commitment to long-term stability over short-term gains. But in a region where water is increasingly becoming a zero-sum game, Modis proactive, strategic water diplomacy offers a glimmer of hope a path to transform scarcity not into conflict, but into a catalyst for regional stability and enduring peace. The alternative inaction and continued adherence to outdated paradigms is simply too perilous to contemplate. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. First Published: March 21, 2025, 16:44 IST 'Spreading Poison': Amit Shah Tears Into Stalin's DMK Over Language Row Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:05 IST Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the working on Home Ministry, Shah said DMK is involved in a language controversy to hide corruption Home Minister Amit Shah (Photo: PTI file) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused MK Stalins DMK of spreading poison in the name of language amid allegations of Hindi imposition in Tamil Nadu by the Centre. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the working on Home Ministry, Shah said DMK is involved in a language controversy to hide their corruption. Recommended Stories They run shops on language to hide their corruption. Every language is like a jewel of the country. Are they trying to say that we are against any language of the South? Those who are doing politics in the name of your language, they have their own agenda," he said. What Is NEP 2020s Three-Language Formula? How Tamil Nadu Has Protested Hindi Imposition For Years | Explained The Home Minister further alleged that DMK is dividing the country in the name of language. You (Tamil Nadu government) have not had the courage to translate engineering and medical exams in Tamil. They are spreading poison in the name of language. You like language, which is thousands of kilometres away, but dont like Indian language. You should not divide the country in the name of language. You are trying to hide your wrongdoings and your corruption in the name of language. You should speak about development. We will expose you, and we will go to every village to expose your wrongdoings," he added. Rajya Sabha MPs from Tamil Nadu on Friday accused the Centre of imposing the Hindi language on the state amid the escalating row between the state government and Centre over the implementation of the three-language formula outlined in the National Education Policy. Participating in the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs, MDMK chief Vaiko alleged that the state was being victimised" by the Home Ministry, which releases disaster relief funds. The Minister of Home Affairs who is releasing the disaster relief funds has victimised our state just because we are against your Hindutva policy, RSS policy and imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit," Vaiko said. Asserting that Tamil is the mother tongue of nearly 120 million people living in more than 114 countries of the world besides India, he said, I would like to ask the Home Minister when he visited the first time, he said Hindi will be definitely imposed, then an agitation started". Vaiko further called himself a product of anti-Hindi agitation". M Thambidurai of the AIADMK said he supports what Vaiko said regarding the language issue. Tamil must be made the official language of this country. This is a long-pending demand of the AIADMK party and (late) Jayalalitha also raised this issue," Thambidurai said. The DMK has accused the Centre of imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu in the garb of three-language formula as proposed in the new National Education Policy, a charge denied by the Modi government. The Stalin government has raised repeatedly concerns over the NEP and did not implement the policy in the state. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Who Is Udaya Kumar, The Tamilian Who Designed Rupee Symbol? Upping the ante on the language row, the Tamil Nadu government has recently replaced the Indian rupee symbol with Tamil letter Ru. Stalin said that this shows their determination over the language policy while the BJP termed the move as political drama" and stupid". First Published: March 21, 2025, 17:01 IST As Punjab Watches AAPs Crackdown, Can BJP Squeeze Through The Fault Lines? | Saffron Scoop Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 15:34 IST As Punjab watches AAP stumble, the BJPs revival will depend less on its rivals failures and more on its own willingness to rewrite a narrative that Punjabs voters have long rejected. For now, the odds remain steep The ongoing unrest offers the BJP an opportunity to leverage the socio-political situation and recover lost ground in a state where it has been virtually wiped off. (Image: PTI) Punjabs political landscape has always been a complex tapestry, woven with agrarian discontent, regional identity, and shifting party loyalties. As of March 21, 2025, the state stands at yet another crossroads. The Aam Aadmi Party-led governments recent crackdown on farmers protests has created a potentialthough narrowwindow for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to stage a revival. However, the BJPs path to resurgence in this farmer-dominated state remains fraught with challenges, rooted in its own historical baggage and the current dynamics of Punjabs polity. Recommended Stories The AAP government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is facing mounting criticism over its handling of the latest farmers agitation, driven by long-standing demands such as a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and farm debt waivers. The recent detention of farmer leaders and the blockade of their march to Chandigarh have sparked sharp rebukesnot just from farmer unions but also from Opposition figures like Congresss Ashok Gehlot and even ideological rivals within Punjab. The sight of police barricades and burning effigies of Mann has painted a picture of a government struggling to balance its populist promises with the practicalities of governancea misstep that could erode its credibility among Punjabs rural electorate that propelled it to power in 2022. OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT? The ongoing unrest offers the BJP an opportunity to leverage the socio-political situation and recover lost ground in a state where it has been virtually wiped off. But while it was assumed that visuals of a police officer slapping a woman protester or a JCB removing farmers tents at the Shambhu border would turn public sentiment against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the reality is not as similar. Of course, there is anger within the agrarian community, and a sizeable portion of society sympathises with them. However, the year-long protests blocking roads at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders gradually lost support from a significant segment of Punjabi civil society. Furthermore, the agitation has frustrated Punjabi traders who rely on free movement for business. With the Ludhiana West by-poll approaching, and given the industrial hubs importance to traders, the AAPs decision is likely to be well-received by this group. For this reason, the BJPs ability to fully capitalise on the situation is limited, as it risks alienating non-agrarian Punjabis. BJPs OWN BAGGAGE However, for the BJP, this unrest presents a certain degree of opportunity to capitalise on the AAPs vulnerabilities. The party has been on the back foot in Punjab since the 2020-21 farmers protests, which saw its leaders vilified and its electoral prospects decimated due to the controversial farm laws. The fallout was severe: in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the BJP won just two seats, and in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it failed to secure a single oneunderscoring the deep-seated resentment among farmers. Yet, AAPs current troubles could offer the BJP a chance to reposition itself, provided it plays its cards with uncharacteristic nuance. State BJP president Sunil Jakhar has so far taken a cautious approachavoiding direct confrontation with protesting farmers while subtly critiquing AAPs governance failures. This measured stance contrasts with the partys earlier missteps, when its leaders faced black flags and village bans during election campaigns. Jakhars optimism about forming a government in 2027, buoyed by the BJPs vote share surge in 2024 (despite winning no seats), signals a long-term strategy to rebuild trust. But trust is precisely what the BJP lacks in Punjabs agrarian heartland, where memories of tear gas shells at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders still linger. The farmers issue remains the BJPs Achilles heel. While the repeal of the farm laws in 2021 was a tactical retreat, the party has yet to address the underlying grievanceschief among them, a legal guarantee for MSP. The Haryana BJP governments crackdown on Punjab farmers at border points has only reinforced the perception that the party remains tone-deaf to rural concerns. Any revival in Punjab hinges on the BJP crafting a narrative that distances its state unit from past decisions. BJP MUST THINK OF AN ALLY AAPs crackdown, however, could shift voter sentiment. The party swept to power promising to champion farmers, yet its heavy-handed response has sparked accusations of betrayal. If this discontent festers, the BJP might peel off urban and semi-urban voters who backed AAP in 2022 but now feel disillusioned. The BJP has historically relied on urban Hindu votes and a now-defunct alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which dissolved over the farm laws. Now, without a strong rural ally, it must find a way to penetrate the countrysideperhaps by amplifying local issues like drug abuse or water disputes, where the AAPs record is shaky. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Yet, the BJPs path to revival is far from certain. Punjabs political fabric has historically resisted its influence, with Sikh identity and agrarian pride shaping electoral trends. The Congress, despite its own struggles, remains a formidable player, benefiting from anti-incumbency against AAP and lingering goodwill from its farmer-friendly stance in 2020-21. Meanwhile, a potential realignment between SAD and farmer groups could further complicate the BJPs ambitions. The window for the BJPs resurgence exists, but its a tight squeeze. As Punjab watches AAP stumble, the BJPs revival will depend less on its rivals failures and more on its own willingness to rewrite a narrative that Punjabs voters have long rejected. For now, the odds remain steep, and the fields of Punjab are still far from turning saffron. About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 15:34 IST Chaos In Karnataka Assembly As 18 BJP MLAs Suspended Over Honey Trap Probe Demand: What It Means Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 20:51 IST The suspension bars these MLAs from entering the Assembly hall, lobby, and galleries, and also prohibits them from participating in meetings of the Standing Committees of the Legislature or Assembly of which they are members. BJP MLAs being evicted by Marshals during the Budget session of Karnataka Assembly, in Bengaluru, Friday, March 21, 2025. (PTI Photo) As the BJP intensified its demand for a judicial probe into the alleged honey trap involving 48 individuals, including Karnataka ministers, lawmakers, and national" leaders, the situation took a drastic turn when 18 MLAs from the party were suspended on Friday by Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader for indiscipline and bringing down the dignity of the House. Dramatic visuals showed opposition BJP and JD(S) leaders storming the well of the Assembly, tearing papers, and throwing them towards the Speakers chair amid the uproar. The situation escalated further when protesting MLAs were physically removed by Assembly marshals, with some being carried out on their shoulders, following a major political showdown over the honey trap scandal. Recommended Stories The suspension order named BJP MLAs Dodna Gowda H. Patil (Chief Whip of the Opposition), Dr C.N. Ashwath Narayan, S.R. Vishwanath, B.A. Basavaraja, M.R. Patil, Channabasappa (Chennai), B. Suresh Gowda, Umanath A. Kotyan, Sharanu Salagara, Dr Shailendra Beldale, C.K. Ramamurthy, Yashpal A. Suvarna, B.P. Harish, Dr Bharat Shetty Y., Muniratna, Basavaraj Mattimood, Dheeraj Muniraju, and Dr Chandru Lamani, who have been suspended from the House for six months with immediate effect. The action was taken under Rule 348 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The suspension bars these MLAs from entering the Assembly hall, lobby, and galleries, and also prohibits them from participating in meetings of the Standing Committees of the Legislature or Assembly of which they are members. Their names will not appear in the list of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and any instructions issued by them during the suspension period will not be accepted. Additionally, they will not be allowed to vote in committee elections held during this time and will not be eligible for any daily allowance. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka lashed out at the government, calling the suspension an insult to the legislature." He accused the ruling party of protecting its own minister and demanded a CBI probe into the matter. This government cannot even protect its own ministerhow can it protect the people of the state? The Chief Minister should resign," he declared, adding that the opposition would boycott the House until the suspensions were revoked. BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra also weighed in on the issue. This is not a small matter. It is not just about one minister; it concerns the integrity of the entire House. The Chief Minister should have shown the courage to instruct the minister to name those responsible for the crime," he said. The Karnataka Assemblys budget session in recent days has been rocked by allegations of a large-scale honey trap scandal after Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna revealed that 48 individuals, including ministers, lawmakers, and national leaders, were targeted. He claimed that explicit videos of some victims had been circulated, raising concerns over a deep-rooted blackmail network. Rajanna stated in the Assembly that 48 pen drives containing compromising material had been prepared. There are CDs and pen drives of 48 people available in the state. This network extends beyond Karnataka and operates across the country, with even Union ministers being targeted," he said. Calling it a dangerous menace," he demanded a high-level inquiry led by a retired judge. They attempted it on me too. I have evidence. I will file a complaint. Let it be revealed who is involved." Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi claimed that a cabinet colleague had been subjected to two unsuccessful honey trap attempts. It is true that attempts were made, but they did not succeed. This is not the first time such incidents have occurred in Karnatakait has been happening for the past 20 years. Every party, whether Congress, BJP, or JD(S), has been affected," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all B.Y. Vijayendra highlighted that Rajanna had admitted on the Assembly floor that both he and his son had been targeted. Rajannas son, MLC Rajendra Rajanna, confirmed the claim, stating that the attempts had been ongoing for six months. At first, we thought it was just random phone or video calls, but the frequency kept increasing. I have raised this issue in the Assembly and urged the Home Minister to conduct a thorough investigation," he said. Congress is trying to cover up the issue after initially stating that they would probe the matter. Later, Parameshwara said that he had not received any official information from the department on the honey trap case. This means they are trying to cover up the issue. We have sought a CBI inquiry or a judicial inquiry into the matter," the BJP state chief said. 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 21, 2025, 20:51 IST 'In Same Direction': After Jay Panda's Selfie Banter, Shashi Tharoor's 'Only To Bhubaneswar' Reply Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 22, 2025, 00:03 IST Panda hinted that they were heading in the "same direction," but Tharoor quickly clarified that he was only travelling to Bhubaneswar for the Kalinga LitFest Congress leader Shashi Tharoor with BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda aboard a flight. (image via X) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday sparked curiosity on social media platform X after a photo of him with BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda aboard a flight was shared. Panda hinted that they were heading in the same direction," but Tharoor quickly clarified that he was only travelling to Bhubaneswar for the Kalinga LitFest. Recommended Stories Panda, who is the BJP national vice president, posted the photo with Tharoor, captioning it: My friend & fellow traveler called me mischievous for saying that we seem to be finally travelling in the same direction." In response, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram wrote: Fellow traveller only to Bhubaneswar! I am addressing the Kalinga LitFest tomorrow morning. And coming right back!!" My friend & fellow traveler called me mischievous for saying that we seem to be finally travelling in the same direction pic.twitter.com/JzzpKki1lZ Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) March 21, 2025 The 11th edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) began in Bhubaneswar on March 21 and will run for three days, with more than 400 writers, intellectuals, and thought leaders from around the world in attendance. Despite the lighthearted exchange, the photo was enough to spark curiosity on social media, with many speculating about what might be cooking" between the two leaders. One user jokingly remarked: Directions of wind is changing towards right side." Another user sarcastically commented: Get ready to welcome @ShashiTharoor in your #BjP00ps!" Directions of wind is changing towards right side. Gayatri (BharatKiBeti) (@changu311) March 21, 2025 Meanwhile, a user suggested that the senior Congress leader can contribute to the Nation only under Modi as PM & also he can help BJP in Kerala to consolidate vote base there." Another user, expressing curiosity, suggested, Would love to be a fly in the wall and listen to the conversation." Would love to be a fly in the wall and listen to the conversation Souri Misra (@souri888) March 21, 2025 Tharoor has recently come under the spotlight for his neutral stance towards the BJP, the Congress partys main rival. Last month, a photo of him with BJP leader and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal went viral, further fueling speculation about his future in the Congress party. Tharoor, who shared the photo with Goyal, which also featured British Secretary of State for Trade Jonathan Reynolds, captioned it: Good to exchange words with Jonathan Reynolds, Britains Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in the company of his Indian counterpart, Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal. The long-stalled FTA negotiations have been revived, which is most welcome." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On Wednesday, Tharoor commented on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modis consistent" position that favours a diplomatic resolution. Tharoor had previously criticised Indias stance when Russia first attacked Ukraine, calling for the aggression to be condemned. ALSO READ: As Our PM Said: Shashi Tharoor Again Endorses Modis Stance On Russia-Ukraine War 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 : Odisha (Orissa), India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 23:49 IST Karnataka BJP MLAs Dragged Out Of Assembly After Suspension Amid Showdown Over Honey-trap Row | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 17:31 IST Marshalls dragged BJP MLAs who were suspended after they demanded a probe led by the sitting High Court judge into the alleged attempt to honey-trap lawmakers. Marshalls escort a BJP MLA after he was suspended by the Karnataka assembly speaker over ruckus caused while demanding a probe into the alleged honey-trap row. (IMAGE: CNN-News18) At least 18 Karnatakas BJP MLAs were suspended after they allegedly created a ruckus in the Karnataka Assembly demanding a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge into the alleged honey-trap" attempt involving a minister and other lawmakers on Friday. Opposition BJP MLAs were taken out of the assembly by marshals of the Karnataka legislative assembly. Recommended Stories Karnataka Congress leaders backed the decision and said that the opposition MLAs disrespected the house by tearing documents and protesting the well of the Parliament. The MLAs of BJP and JD(S) stormed into the well of the House and were protesting with CDs in hand and continued to slogan even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured them of a high-level probe. Cooperation Minister KH Rajanna, informed the assembly on Thursday, that attempts were made to honey-trap him and that at least 48 politicians across parties had fallen victim to similar schemes. Rajanna has spoken about an attempt to honey-trap him. Home Minister G Parameshwara has already responded, stating that a high-level investigation will be conducted. Let Rajanna file a complaint. All Congress, BJP, and JD(S) members will be provided protection. Those who have violated the law must be punished accordingly," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated, according to news agency PTI. It is our responsibility to protect all citizens of the state. We will ensure a high-level investigation," he further added. The Karnataka Chief Minister said that no one would be protected, regardless of their position, and that the government would ensure a thorough investigation and necessary action. Home Minister Parameshwara reiterated that Rajanna had expressed his intent to file a complaint and had requested an investigation but had yet to formally submit it. I have already assured the House that I will get the matter investigated. I am committed to a high-level probe. I will discuss the nature of the investigation with the Chief Minister, and we will decide accordingly, considering your suggestions," he added. But opposition leaders demanded that the government clarify the nature of the probe and insisted on an investigation led by a sitting High Court judge, citing that the case is of a high-profile nature. What is the intelligence department doing? The CM must provide answers, as intelligence falls under his purview." Leader of the Opposition R Ashok noted that since Rajanna had alleged honey traps involving central leaders, ministers, and political figures across all parties, the government should order a judicial probe led by a sitting High Court judge. If ministers arent protected, who will protect us? If someone is trying to eliminate others for the CMs chair, where is the morality?" he asked. Expressing frustration at the continued demands, Siddaramaiah asked, What more do you want when we have already assured a high-level probe and promised to consider your suggestions? Parameshwara and I will discuss and decide." As the Chief Minister began his response to the budget discussion, BJP and JD(S) members stormed into the well of the House again, shouting slogans such as Down with the honey-trap government" and Save Minister Rajanna." Earlier in the day, as soon as the House convened, BJP MLA Sunil Kumar raised the issue of the honey-trap controversy involving politicians and demanded an answer from Siddaramaiah before he responded to the debate on the 202526 State Budget. Citing Minister K N Rajannas statement from the previous day and arguing that it had lowered the dignity of the House, Kumar said, If a minister has to come to the House and claim that there was an attempt to honey-trap him while requesting a probe from the Home Minister, what does that say about the situation? How is the cabinet functioning? Is there no morality left in the cabinet and the Chief Minister?" Kumar also urged Siddaramaiah to announce the details of the high-level probe and ensure the protection of all House members. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At this point, Minister Priyank Kharge alleged that similar incidents occurred during the previous BJP government, with several ministers obtaining court stays. He said, Those issues were never discussed in the House." This led to a heated exchange between the ruling and opposition parties. (with inputs from PTI) About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 17:22 IST Pakistan-Friendly Party: BJP Takes A Dig At Congress After Mani Shankar Aiyar Attends Embassy Event Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 11:22 IST BJP criticised Congress, calling it a Pakistan-Friendly Party after Mani Shankar Aiyar attended an iftar at the Pakistan High Commission. No government representatives attended the event. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar attends Pakistan High Commission event. (Screengrab/ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the Congress party, calling it a PPP Pakistan-Friendly Party. The saffron partys remark came after veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar attended an iftar party at the Pakistan High Commission organised to celebrate the nations national day. The BJP attacked Congress saying, It is no longer the Indian National Congress. It has become PPP a Pakistan-friendly party." Recommended Stories #WATCH | Delhi: Former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar arrives at the Pakistan High Commission to attend the Iftar party. pic.twitter.com/itGBMqk1P7 ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2025 According to official sources, no government representative attended the event. #WATCH | Delhi: Former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar leaves from the Pakistan High Commission after attending the Iftar party. pic.twitter.com/3CNtDRQxXz ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2025 BJPs Shehzad Poonawalla said, In Modi-Virodh they are indulging in Desh-Virodh'" BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that Congress loves Pakistan". This makes it clear that whether its Mani Shankar Aiyar or any Congress leader, they have a love for Pakistan in their hearts," Bhandari said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The senior Congress leader faced backlash on social media for attending the Pakistan High Commission event. An X user called him a Pak Lover", while another stated, He should actually move to Lahore (his ancestral home) and lead his remaining days (may God give him long life) there peacefully." About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 11:14 IST Boy Misheard Croissant As 'Prashant' And The Internet Cant Stop Laughing Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 19:35 IST The incorrect pronunciation of croissant by a content creator as Prashant started a viral fad that received millions of views. The hashtag #Prashant is currently overflowing. (Photo Credits: Instagram) The internet is no stranger to viral moments, but every so often, a trend emerges that takes on a life of its own. One such phenomenon is the now-iconic Prashant" meme a hilarious language-learning mishap that spiralled into a global sensation. It all started with a content creator named Ayush, known for his comedic split-screen videos where he follows English tutorials. In one particular clip, which has since racked up over 17 million views, Ayush was attempting to learn the names of desserts. Recommended Stories The video begins with an AI voice asking, What is this called?" while showing a picture of a croissant. Ayush, confidently but incorrectly answers, Patties." The AI then corrects him by saying Croissant." But Ayush, mishearing the word, blurts out in surprise: Prashant?" That one innocent mistake exploded into a viral moment. From memes and reaction videos to brand campaigns and endless social media jokes, Prashant" became an unexpected internet icon proving once again that sometimes, the biggest laughs come from the smallest misunderstandings. Take a look at the viral video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayush Hu Mai (@ishowayuu) After being shared on March 8, the video quickly gained popularity and spawned countless memes. Swiggy joined the trend, uploading a photo of a croissant on X (previously Twitter) with the message, Tum Prashant bologe, hum croissant samajh lenge." tum prashant bologe, hum croissant samajh lenge pic.twitter.com/Hq1knZBEsz Swiggy Food (@Swiggy) March 21, 2025 The food products company Britannia changed its packaging to reflect the joke and temporarily changed its social media name to Britannia.Prashant." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Britannia.Prashant (@britannia.croissant) Additionally, Britannia made sure that people would be directed to the companys croissant by searching for Prashant" on Swiggy Instamart. Meanwhile, audiences responded favourably to the light-hearted version of the meme, which expanded the trends appeal. Ayushs now-viral audio has been used by users on Instagram and other platforms to recreate videos as part of the Prashant" trend that has swept over social media. Everyone is participating in the fun, lip-syncing to the amusing mispronunciation and adding their unique twist, whether they are influencers or regular users. The trend has become so popular that Instagram is now overrun with the hashtag #Prashant, solidifying its place as one of the years most significant online moments. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What is croissant? A croissant is a French pastry made from laminated dough that is flaky, buttery, and crescent-shaped. It is a common morning dish that can be eaten simply or stuffed with gammon, cheese, or chocolate. 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 21, 2025, 19:35 IST In an effort to hear what constituents have to say, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska's 1st Congressional District was more than obliged as cries of displeasure toward multiple government policies, actions and representatives echoed through the Columbus High School auditorium March 18 during a town hall event. Earlier this month, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson urged his fellow Republicans to avoid doing "town hall" style events as they have been met with public outcry since Elon Musk and DOGE have been dismantling the United States government. Flood, however, told The Telegram that he has no plans to stop holding them. "There's issues to talk about and I've gotten a lot of feedback from a lot of different people across the 1st Congressional District," Flood said. "Every year I do one town hall in August in Lincoln and I do other town halls, usually in different parts of the district, and I haven't been to Columbus yet so I plan to do a big one at Lincoln this August, just part of my regular routine." This is how he hears voter concerns, he said. The town hall began with a brief presentation, which included a large graphic of the country's deficit, to illustrate a point about spending and his desire to reduce the $36 trillion debt. "This is something that I think is at the very center of what we have to be thinking about as members of Congress," Flood said. "It jars me that we are spending more money to pay the interest on this debt in any given year than we are spending on our entire Department of Defense and our armed forces. That puts us at risk." This led him to the topic many came to express their opinions on cutting spending. Many questions from the audience throughout the 90-minute meeting pertained to cuts to medical research and the United States Postal Service, not to mention Musk's DOGE. "We're going to talk about what we think we should be doing and some of you are going to say, 'you aren't doing too much' or 'I don't agree with this cut' or 'I don't agree with that,'" Flood said. "This tonight is an opportunity for me to listen to you, to learn from you, to answer your questions. But I want you to know I'm guided by this. This really matters to me and I think it matters to all of us." Questions alternated three at a time between those written on index cards and live speakers. The first live question was about President Donald Trump, as were several more throughout the evening, but specifically about his recent decisions and actions which require investigation into legitimacy and legal precedent. "I believe that there is an obvious, always constant tension between the three branches of government," Flood said. He recalled his time in the Nebraska Unicameral how the tension looked between the state senators, the governor and the state supreme court. Boiling it down, Flood said he believes Congress has the "power of the purse," or controls spending and taxation. That includes the cuts in attendance were disgruntled. "You may not agree with that right now, you may not agree with that answer, but I trust the court system to operate fairly, regulating that tension between the branches of government," Flood said. "Ultimately, I am going to do what I can, as I have done in the legislature, to protect the prerogatives of the legislative branch in the Constitution, under Article One." Another question right out of the gate asked about the safety of social security under these sweeping cuts from DOGE. Flood responded that social security isn't going anywhere anytime soon. "Under the federal law you cannot change anything in the law as it relates to social security," he said. "In the reconciliation plan, the Senate parliamentarian would never approve it. The federal courts would never allow it. Any changes to Social Security are not on the table, and I will not cut your Social Security." Later, Flood did say that he is concerned about how social security will be handled down the road. While he does not support or foresee cuts, he does have concerns about how it will be approached in 2032. "It is very personal," he said. "It is very important. It is a promise that you've entered into with the federal government. I do worry about the Social Security Trust Fund in 2032 it's not going to be where it is. That does not mean I want to cut anybody's benefits. That means we have to pay attention to it." Medicare and Medicaid were also of concern to the audience, to which Flood replied he believes people are owed what they were promised, but that the deficit is still a factor of concern when it comes to federally subsidized programs. That said, he doesn't expect it to impact the quality of care individuals should receive from those programs. "When you talk about health services, there may be changes to systems, but they ultimately should not affect the care provided to Americans," Flood said. "Ladies and gentlemen, here's the deal that $36 trillion number is not going away." One person asked about potential cuts to medical research funding, to which Flood replied that, as of that moment, he was not aware of any concrete cuts to federal funding for medical research, at least any that would have adverse effects. This was asked in relation to the fact that his wife battled breast cancer in the past. Veterans services, more specifically the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), came up as well, with one question coming with a tearful testimony of the daughter of an Iwo Jima veteran. This comes off the back end of a report by Reuters in early March indicating the VA plans to cut 80,000 of its 400,000-plus employees to meet cost-cutting quotas. "Millions of dollars in veteran services have been cut by an unelected millionaire and his whiz kids," she said. "None of them have shown the bravery that my father did or that the greatest generation has done. Meanwhile, veterans who continue to serve veterans and federal services have been unceremoniously fired and I want to hear your comments on providing our veterans with the services that they've earned and that they deserve." Flood said he is confident that Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois, chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee in the House, and whose office is just down the hall from Flood's, and everyone else on the committee are committed to keeping the promises the government made to veterans. That being said, there are ways to keep those promises with more efficient spending, Flood said, though nothing is written in stone. "When you serve in the military, we owe you and we want to provide the very best care that we can provide, because your father, your relatives, they earned it with their bravery, with their service and with their citizenship," Flood said. "So at the end of the day, we will keep our promises." Several questions arose in a similar vein to the first, about supporting Trump and, by virtue, Musk and DOGE. Flood stated that, while he does work with the president on frequent occasion in Congress, he is there to represent District 1, which voted Trump into office in 2024. In that capacity, Flood said, he will use every opportunity, behind the scenes or in front of cameras to do so, whether that is in agreement or disagreement with voters. He wants to hear concerns and tries to answer calls, letters and emails, but with hundreds of them coming in during a working day, it is difficult for him to answer all of them. One such area of disagreement is the notion of war with Canada. When asked if he would support such, Flood gave a vehement, "no," adding that Canada has always been a strong ally and friend of the United States and he would not support any aggressive military actions toward them. Similarly, Flood said that he has always been a supporter of Ukraine when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and that he believes Ukraine should be returned what has been taken, including people and land. This was one of the few moments of applause that night. "I traveled to places in Eastern Europe," Flood said. "I've looked at the folks in Warsaw (Poland) in the face, and they are terrified that Vladimir Putin wants to take them down next. And for that reason, I do not feel like Ukraine should have to give up any land. I also believe that the Russians should return the 20,000 Ukrainian children they kidnapped." On the other side of the arena of international relations, however, Flood claimed that Trump's tariffs, which are in some cases a holdover from his first term, are a negotiating tactic that Trump has used in the past to success. Manufacturing, Flood said, should come back to the United States if voters want to see the deficit he referenced several times before drop, and that may mean some difficult tariffs on nations we buy manufactured goods from and higher costs on American consumers as a result. "We need to be a nation that makes things and of all communities in the first district, Columbus, Nebraska, makes things," Flood said. "This town is a manufacturing juggernaut because of the men and women who have built this as a manufacturing community. We have to stand up and support this effort, because there will be an adjustment period, but we will be (better off) down the road, and I truly believe that." Man Jokingly Asks Swiggy Instamart For A Months Groceries And They Delivered Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 11:36 IST The package consisted of instant noodles, a loaf of bread, sooji, nachos, and even a bottle of Rooh Afza, among other goodies. The parcel was delivered within a few hours after his tweet. (Photo Credit: X) A light-hearted social media exchange between the grocery delivery app Swiggy Instamart and a customer blossomed into a heartwarming story. The incident, which quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), began with a casual joke but quickly turned into an unbelievable surprise. Gopesh Khetan, a Swiggy Instamart user, took to the platform to playfully tease the grocery delivery service about including complimentary coriander with orders. However, he didnt stop there. He cheekily challenged the company to step up their game from the basic free item and send a months worth of groceries instead. Posting a picture of his near-empty fridge, the user wrote, Bhai @SwiggyInstamart, kya free ka dhaniya bhejte rehte ho? Dum hai toh mahine bhar ka ration bhejwa ke dikhao (Swiggy Instamart, you keep sending free coriander. If you have the guts, send a months worth of rations)." Recommended Stories Bhai @SwiggyInstamart kya free ka dhaniya bhejte rehte ho, dum hai toh mahine bhar ka ration bhejwa ke dikhao What happened next surprised everyone, including Khetan himself. Swiggy Instamart, instead of dismissing the playful challenge, responded to the users post and asked him to name items he needed so that they could send it to him. Note aur pen leke taiyaar hoon, batao kya kya chahiye (I am ready with note and pen, tell me what all you want)," Swiggy Instamart commented on Gopeshs post. The user thought that the discussion was nothing but fun until his doorbell rang. Taking the challenge seriously, Swiggy delivered a package consisting of a months supply of groceries. The package consisted of instant noodles, a loaf of bread, sooji, nachos, and even a bottle of Rooh Afza, among other goodies. A few hours later, the user uploaded another photo on X that showed him filling his fridge with the products sent by Swiggy Instamart. What started as a joke turned into a surprise for him. Expressing his amazement, he penned, Mazak mazak mein ek mahine ka ration nikalwa liya, tum mast insaan ho @SwiggyInstamart (Just jokingly I got my ration for a month. You are a cool person, Swiggy Instamart)." Mazak Mazak mein ek mahine ka ration nikalwa liya, tum mast insaan ho @SwiggyInstamart As expected, this playful exchange went immensely viral on social media, attracting a flurry of responses. Some tagged BlinkIt and Zepto asking when they will start giving free ration, while others praised Swiggy Instamarts engaging customer interaction and willingness to go above and beyond. Waah kya baat hai? Mast scheme h," read a comment. Another humorously added, Aisi kismat paane ke liye kon sa vrat rakhna padega, bro!!" Promotion at its best," said a user. An individual remarked, Tu bhot mast kaam krta hai @SwiggyInstamart." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Whats stopping you? @letsblinkit," posted another. Isnt it amazing? 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 21, 2025, 11:35 IST Rare Dog-Faced Sea Snake Spotted In Assam's Floodplains, A First For Northeast India Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 15:17 IST A rare dog-faced water snake was spotted for the first time in Assam's Nalbari district, far from its usual coastal habitat. Reptile expert Jayaditya Purkayastha and his team discovered the snake 800 km away from the sea in the region's floodplains Cerberus rynchops is a mildly venomous, semi-aquatic species that thrives in saltwater. (News18 Hindi) Have you ever heard of a sea-dwelling snake enjoying itself in the floodplains of a forest? This astonishing sight was recorded in Assams Nalbari district, where the dog-faced water snake (Cerberus rynchops) was spotted for the first time in Northeast India. This location is approximately 800 km from its usual coastal habitat, miles from Sonadia Island in Bangladeshs Chittagong Division. Recommended Stories Sea snake expert Jayaditya Purkayastha and his snake rescue team discovered this unique reptile in the floodplains of Garemara village. Their remarkable finding has surprised scientists, and its full details have been published in the latest issue of The Journal Reptiles and Amphibians. What is This Dog-Like Snake? This is no ordinary snake. Cerberus rynchops is a mildly venomous, semi-aquatic species that thrives in saltwater. It primarily hunts fish and crustaceans in shallow waters, employing a sit-and-wait strategy to ambush prey. Typically, this snake is found in mangrove forests, coastal mudflats, and estuaries across South and Southeast Asia. In India, it has been recorded in coastal regions such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, its presence so far inland has left scientists puzzled. How Did This Guest Reach Assam? Reptile experts are intrigued by this discovery. How did this snake travel such a vast distance from the sea to the forests of Assam? Could this be a result of environmental changes, or is it a testament to the snakes incredible adaptability? Expert Jayaditya and his team believe further research is required to investigate the species dispersal routes and ecological adaptations. Understanding these factors could shed light on how this snake manages to survive beyond its natural range. The Heroes Behind the Discovery This finding is not just the achievement of scientists but also of the dedicated snake rescuers who played a crucial role in the mission. Jayaditya Purkayastha, who heads the biodiversity NGO Help Earth, told The Hindu that this study would not have been possible without the support of local snake rescuers. He emphasised the need for their training and capacity building not just for snake rescues, but also for collecting vital data on species diversity, distribution, and seasonal trends. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Snake rescuers are an invaluable resource in biodiversity research. With proper training, they can significantly contribute to scientific discoveries and conservation efforts," he said. Jayaditya advocates for a long-term snake rescue initiative that integrates rescuers into a formal network, provides scientific training, standardised data collection protocols, and real-time monitoring tools. Such programmes would not only improve rescue operations but also facilitate large-scale studies on human-snake conflict hotspots, migration trends, and seasonal movements ultimately aiding in evidence-based conservation strategies. 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 : Nalbari, India, India First Published: March 21, 2025, 15:17 IST She Speaks Better Than Me: German Womans Malayalam Skills Wows Cab Driver Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 19:34 IST After the cab driver learns that Klara speaks Malayalam, they have a smooth conversation in the language. Klara has mentioned in her Instagram bio that she is learning Malayalam. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Travelling to a foreign country often comes with the challenge of navigating language barriers. Simple conversations can feel daunting when you dont speak the local language. However, a heartwarming video making waves online proves that language can also create beautiful, unexpected connections. The viral clip features Klara, a German tourist, effortlessly conversing with a cab driver in fluent Malayalam a moment that took the driver by surprise. Recommended Stories In the video, Klara steps into the cab and greets the driver in Malayalam, instantly catching him off guard. When she asks if hes ever met a foreigner who speaks the language, the driver responds with a quick, astonished no." The two then dive into a smooth, friendly conversation entirely in Malayalam. Klara, who mentions in her Instagram bio that shes learning the language, later shared the video on her account. She explained her reason for recording the sweet exchange: Talking in Malayalam to Uber drivers always gets me a curious reaction, so I thought Id film the interaction once." The video has since resonated with many, highlighting how a shared language even when unexpected can bridge cultures and spark genuine moments of connection. Take a look at the viral video here: In the comment section, social media users couldnt stop praising Klara for her impressive Malayalam skills. Some were in awe of her fluency while others jokingly admitted that she speaks the language better than they do even though they have known it all their lives. One user humorously confessed, Man, Im jealous. She speaks better than me." Another was equally impressed, writing, Oh wow, you picked up the language and you speak it so smoothly." Your Malayalam is much better than my daughters. Congratulations and proud of you," someone expressed. A person jokingly commented, I need to jump in front of a cycle and die!! You speak more fluently than me!!" A person admired, Damn, she is speaking well! Even the pronunciations are good!" while another user added, Thats an incredible effort indeed, and to have learned this difficult language" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This is impressive," OMG! Thats amazing" and Love this" were just a few of the many reactions to Klaras fluency in Malayalam. Since being shared online, the video has taken the internet by storm, racking up more than a million views. 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 21, 2025, 19:12 IST Woman Arrested For Allegedly Drowning Dog In Airport Restroom Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 18:14 IST Police caught the woman and charged her with aggravated animal cruelty months after she was suspected of drowning her dog at Florida Airport. The woman and her dog were supposed to go to Colombia. (Photo Credit: X) A 57-year-old woman from the United States has been detained for allegedly drowning her dog in an airport restroom after being informed she couldnt take her pet on the aeroplane. A dead animal was found in the womens washroom before security checks at Orlando International Airport in December of last year, according to The Independent. Following an investigation, authorities arrested Alison Agatha Lawrence on March 18 on suspicion of third-degree felony aggravated animal abuse. Recommended Stories The Independent reports that the woman was trying to catch a flight but did not have the necessary documentation to bring a dog on board. Then, before passing through security checks, the 57-year-old drowned her dog in the airport restroom and threw the remains in the trash. According to the outlet, the disturbing discovery was made by airport cleaning personnel. Based on evidence gathered on the day of the incident, authorities issued a warrant for Alison Agatha Lawrences arrest. Nearly three months later, she was arrested and placed under detention. According to the court record, she has subsequently secured a $5,000 bond following her detention on March 18. NEW UPDATE on the woman accused of drowning dog in Orlando International Airport bathroom before boarding flightAlison Agatha Lawrence was reportedly trying to board a flight but didnt have the right paperwork to allow the dog to board and couldnt take it She is charged pic.twitter.com/jPITIKwWqY Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) March 20, 2025 According to Lawrences neighbours, she had a white poodle. However, Lawrences sister denied any knowledge of the accusations or her sisters location. According to the People, animal activist Bryan Wilson from the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida stated Obviously, we were shocked when we heard a woman had effectively drowned her companion animal all because she couldnt get on a plane. This is not a bottle of water or an oversized bottle of shampoo." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On the Senate floor, State Senator Tom Leek, who recently filed a bill for animal cruelty charges, separately informed his colleagues about the occurrence saying, This is yet another horrible example of why I filed (the bill) related to animal cruelty, which strengthens criminal penalties for those who harm innocent animals." It is my commitment to have this good bill pass the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives and sent to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature," he added. 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 21, 2025, 18:14 IST Woman Shocked to See Son in El Salvadors Mega Prison: He's Not A Criminal Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 15:01 IST A Venezuelan man was sitting among the members of the Tren de Aragua gang, who were transported to El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center. US immigration officials stated that the detainees were confirmed as gang members. (Representative Image) A Venezuelan mother was shocked after discovering that her son was one of the 238 people deported to the notorious prison by Donald Trumps administration. Myrelis Casique Lopez was aware that her son, Francisco Jose Garcia Casique, was getting deported for living illegally in the US, but she thought hed come back home. After waiting for him to return, she was stunned to see him on the news. Francisco was sitting among the members of the Tren de Aragua gang, who were transported to El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center. This gang is involved in dangerous crimes. Myrelis recognised her son, who was handcuffed and surrounded by other men in white prison uniforms. Myrelis told the BBC that she is sure her son is among the people held in the prison, even though the authorities have not shared any official names. She pointed towards a picture of a man sitting on the floor, with his head down, next to other prisoners. She recognised him by his facial features and a tattoo on his arm. Despite seeing the picture, Myrelis insists that her son is innocent. Recommended Stories Myrelis Casique Lopez said, He doesnt belong to any criminal gang, either in the US or in Venezuela, hes not a criminal. What hes been is a barber. Unfortunately, he has tattoos Its him, I wish it wasnt him he didnt deserve to be transferred there." Francisco Jose Garcia Casique left Venezuela in 2019 in search of better work opportunities. In September 2023, he entered the United States without legal permission. US immigration officials stated that the detainees were thoroughly investigated and confirmed as gang members before being sent to El Salvador. They used surveillance, police reports and victim testimonies as proof. A White House official said their goal was to remove dangerous individuals before they could harm others. However, many of them had no criminal records in the US. They were transported under an old law that does not require official charges. Some deportees did have criminal records for serious crimes like murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping and running illegal businesses. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sebastian, Franciscos brother, explained that Francisco voluntarily surrendered himself and was first held in a migrant centre. After getting released, he was still asked to check in regularly. One day, when he couldnt reach the assigned court, he went to an ICE office to ask for guidance. Officers noticed his tattoos, questioned him and then took him into custody. He remained there for two months, between February and April 22, 2024. Although ICE found no criminal record, they assumed he was linked to the Tren de Aragua gang because of his tattoos. 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 21, 2025, 15:01 IST Elon Has Business In China, Hed Be Susceptible: Trump Says Musk Wont Get To See War Plans Published By : Associated Press Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 23:18 IST Donald Trump dismissed reports that Elon Musk would be briefed on how the United States would fight a hypothetical war with China. US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to the press as they stand next to a Tesla Cybertruck on the South Portico of the White House on March 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. (IMAGE: AFP FILE) President Donald Trump said Friday that war plans should not be shared with his adviser Elon Musk because of his business interests, a rare suggestion that the billionaire entrepreneurs expansive role in the administration will face limits. Trump made the comments during an Oval Office meeting on developing a new fighter jet, and he rejected reports that Musk would be briefed on how the United States would fight a hypothetical war with China. Recommended Stories Elon has businesses in China," the Republican president said. And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that." Trump praised Musk as a patriot. However, the reference to his businesses which include Tesla, an electric vehicle manufacturer trying to expand sales and production in China is an unusual acknowledgement of concerns about Musk balancing his corporate and government responsibilities. Trump had previously brushed off questions about Musks potential conflicts of interest, simply saying that he would steer clear when necessary. The president said that Musk visited the Pentagon on Friday morning to discuss reducing costs, which hes been working on through the Department of Government Efficiency. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Musk was there to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations." Musk said while leaving the Pentagon that he was ready to do anything that could be helpful," according to a CNN video. He also refused to answer questions as to whether he received a classified briefing on China as part of the visit. Musk has played an integral role in the Trump administrations push to dramatically reduce the size of the government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Hes faced intense blowback from some lawmakers and voters for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs, although Trumps supporters have hailed it. A senior defense official told reporters on Tuesday that roughly 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the Defense Department. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 21, 2025, 23:18 IST Elon Musk Offers $100 Cash Giveaway For Signing Petition Against Activist Judges Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 20:31 IST Elon Musks initiative comes after US President Donald Trump accused courts of blocking his agenda. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks during a rally on the inauguration day of the US President Donald Trump's second Presidential term, inside Capital One, in Washington, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Tech billionaire Elon Musk promoted a cash giveaway Thursday for Wisconsin voters who sign a petition against activist judges", as President Donald Trump demanded courts stop blocking his agenda. Judges have dealt Trump a number of setbacks in recent weeks as his administration pursues its wholesale overhaul of the federal government through Musks Department of Government Efficiency.". Recommended Stories The America PAC, a pro-Trump political action committee established by Musk, said it would give $100 to Wisconsin voters who sign the petition in opposition to activist judges". The petition, which Musk reposted on his social media platform X, urges Wisconsin voters to sign by April 1, when the northern state elects a judge for its Supreme Court. America PAC has thrown its weight behind conservative candidate Brad Schimel for the crucial seat in the swing states top court. Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas," it wrote on X. Wisconsin registered voters receive $100 for signing the petition & $100 for each signer they refer." America PAC has launched a series of controversial initiatives, including cash incentives for voters who refer others to sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments to the US Constitution, which protect free speech and the right to bear arms. It also launched a daily $1 million lottery prize for random petition signatories in election battleground states in the 2024 presidential race. The Justice Department warned Musk and America PAC in October that the sweepstakes may violate federal law, which prohibits paying people to register to vote. The Wisconsin petition comes after Trump launched a scathing attack Tuesday on a judge who suggested his administration had ignored an order to block the deportation of alleged illegal migrants to El Salvador. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump personally called for the impeachment of District Judge James Boasberg, calling him a troublemaker and agitator" in remarks that drew a rare public rebuke of a sitting president from the Supreme Court chief. Federal Election Commission filings in December showed that Musk, the worlds richest person and Trumps top donor, donated $238 million to America PAC. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 21, 2025, 20:31 IST Donald Trump Denies Report Claiming Elon Musk Would Be Briefed On China At Pentagon Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 12:49 IST Donald Trump denied reports that Elon Musk would receive a Pentagon briefing on US war plans for China, calling it "fake news". He asserted that China would not be discussed. US President Donald Trump with Elon Musk (Photo: AP) US President Donald Trump on Friday refuted a report by The New York Times, which claimed Elon Musk was scheduled to be briefed by the Pentagon on the United States military plan for a possible war with China. The report quoted two US officials as saying that the briefing is scheduled for Friday. Recommended Stories Quoting another official, the report claimed the briefing will be China-focused. However, in a post on his social media handle, Truth Social, Trump said the report was incorrect. The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential war with China." How ridiculous?" China will not even be mentioned or discussed," Trump wrote. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!," he added. Quoting Trumps post, Elon Musk stated, The New York Times is pure propaganda. Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found." The report claimed Sean Parnell, the chief Defense Department spokesman, in a statement said, The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Billionaire Elon Musk, who owns social media platform X, space agency SpaceX, and American multinational automotive Tesla, is heading the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Donald Trump taking to office in January this year. Pentagon war plans, known in military jargon as O-plans or operational plans, are among the militarys most closely guarded secrets, the report stated. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 21, 2025, 07:15 IST Israel Army Intercepts Two Projectiles Fired From Gaza, Hamas Claims Responsibility Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 20:45 IST The air raids sounded in the city of Ashkelon after two projectiles that were fired from northern Gaza. Trails are seen in the sky as an Iron Dome anti-missile projectile intercepts a rocket that was fired from Gaza, above the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Israels military said it intercepted two projectiles fired from northern Gaza on Friday, after air raid sirens sounded in the southern city of Ashkelon. Following the sirens that sounded at 1630 (1430 GMT) in Ashkelon, two projectiles that were fired from northern Gaza were intercepted by the IAF (air force)", a military statement said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories Hamas armed wing claimed the attack with a barrage of rockets against Tel Aviv, in central Israel. The group said the attack was in response to the Zionist massacres against civilians". Three projectiles were identified crossing from southern Gaza into Israel, the Israeli military said. The IAF successfully intercepted one projectile and two additional projectiles fell in an open area," it added. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Jerusalem, Undefined First Published: March 21, 2025, 20:37 IST Israel Says It Has Killed Osama Tabash, Hamas Military Intel Chief, In Gaza Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 23:45 IST Osama Tabash was the militant group's surveillance and targeting unit. Osama Tabash, the IDF claimed, was responsible for planning and coordinating targets and infiltration missions on October 7. (IMAGE: X) The Israeli military said on Friday it killed the head of Hamas military intelligence in southern Gaza on Thursday. In a statement, the military named the Hamas leader as Osama Tabash. It said he was also the head of the militant groups surveillance and targeting unit. Recommended Stories There was no immediate comment from Hamas. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tabash held various senior positions in Hamas, including a battalion commander in the Khan Yunis Brigade. Tabash was also responsible for formulating Hamas combat strategy on the ground, including coordinating the intelligence of Hamas military wing in southern Gaza and leading their activities in the area," the IDF said in a statement on X. (with inputs from Reuters) About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Jerusalem, Undefined First Published: March 21, 2025, 23:45 IST By diverting offenders away from prison, the three specialized problem-solving courts have saved Cumberland County taxpayers just over $7.1 million, according to statistics presented Wednesday. Brenda Iliff-Lawver briefed the Cumberland County commissioners as the new executive director of the Cumberland-Perry Drug and Alcohol Commission. She replaced Jack Carroll who retired on Dec. 29 after 44 years of public service. While the focus was on the use of opioid settlement funds, her briefing included statistics on the number of court participants, the number and cost savings in prison bed days and the recidivism rates of both participants and graduates of the specialized programs. Of the three, the Treatment Court has been around the longest, enabling it to accumulate the most savings. Since November 2006, there have been 325 participants of which, the program has saved the county a total of 101,729 prison bed days, which equates to $6,189,350. Eleven people graduated from the Treatment Court in 2024 for total savings of $302,965 that year. Currently, there are 24 participants. The statistics on each court touched on the percentage of people who reoffend while participating in the program and the percentage who reoffend within two years of graduating from the court-ordered treatment protocols. About 3.4% of Treatment Court participants were arrested and convicted for drug or DUI-related offenses while about 4.3% of participants were arrested and convicted for a nondrug related offense. Among Treatment Court graduates, the recidivism rates were 15.6% and 10.6% respectively. The second highest level of savings were realized by the mental health court otherwise known as TOMS, or Together Optimizing Mental Health Solutions. Since 2017, that court has saved about 13,627 prison bed days, which equates to $885,755. There have been 207 total participants in TOMS including eight who graduated in 2024. Last year, the program saved the county 1,734 prison bed days, which equates to $112,710. Currently, there are 21 participants in TOMS court. About 1.6% of TOMS Court participants were arrested and convicted of drug or DUI-related offenses. There was no percentage in this category for nondrug related offenses. About 8.2% of TOMS Court graduates reoffended on drug/DUI-related changes and 14.3% reoffended for nondrug related charges. Of the three, the Overdose Intervention Court was the last one to form. Since August 2021, cases heard in this court have yielded 589 prison bed days saved, equating to $38,285. There have been 44 participants in the court including three who graduated in 2024 a year that yielded no savings in prison bed days. Most of the participants in the Intervention Court are charged with misdemeanor offenses that are unlikely to result in prison sentences, Iliff-Lawver said. About 9% of the participants in the court reoffended while in the program, but no one who graduated reoffended. In early July, commissioners allocated about $536,278 in settlement funds to offset opioid use disorder-related expenses incurred by the three problem-solving courts. These expenses include line-items for drug testing and contracted recovery support services along with the salaries and benefits of court personnel for the hours they spend handling such cases. About $173,892 was spent over the six-month period from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2024. The program data Iliff-Lawver presented in her briefing Wednesday was drawn from this period. Prior to becoming governor, former Attorney General Josh Shapiro represented Pennsylvania in two multistate opioid settlements involving drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. Under the settlements, Cumberland County qualifies for funding to support programs that specifically target the treatment of opioid use disorders. We have this mess with opioids that weve been cleaning up for years, Iliff-Lawver said Wednesday. Now the counties, the state and the people are getting a little bit of money to help with the clean-up. When we talk about budget, this opioid funding has been very beneficial in covering a lot of costs we (the county) would have to absorb, Commissioner Chairperson Kelly Neiderer said. My concern is when they expire. What do we do? During the six-month period, about $295,034 in settlement funds have been spent in support of a Cumberland County prison program to provide medication assisted treatment to inmates with an opiate addiction. This was done to comply with an unfunded mandate brought on by court rulings that required county prisons in Pennsylvania to pick up the cost of continuing treatment protocols for each inmate during the length of their local prison term. From July to December, 117 assessments were completed resulting in 92 inmates being inducted into the MAT program, Iliff-Lawver said. She said the verified cases include 30 inmates on methadone and 77 on Subutex. In that same period, $40,377 in settlement funds went to support student assistance programs in local schools. During the six months, 157 student assessments were conducted resulting in 94 referrals to treatment providers. Prevention programs drew about $28,332 in settlement funds over the six months. A portion of the money was used to train 35 teachers, counselors, principals and schools nurses on Catch My Breath, a vaping prevention program for grades 5-12. Lastly, about $38,436 in settlement funds went into Cumberland Countys share of the salary and benefits of an opioid mitigation coordinator, a position it shares with Perry County. The duties of the coordinator include supervision of the distribution of Narcan to residents who need the treatment. The coordinator also assists the counties in meeting the reporting requirements of the trust set up to distribute the settlement funds. Israel Threatens To Partially Annex' Gaza, Orders Army To Seize More Ground Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 17:34 IST An Israeli minister has ordered the army to seize more ground in Gaza. Israeli tanks return from the Gaza Strip after completing a mission. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) An Israeli minister on Friday ordered the army to create a permanent occupation area in the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces restarted operations into Gaza citing that the Palestinian militant group Hamas did not keep the ceasefire promise it had made by not releasing the hostages still held by it inside the blockaded coastal enclave. The minister instructed the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to seize more ground" in Gaza and threatened that Israel could partially annex" the war-torn strip of Palestinian territory. Recommended Stories Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened Friday to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas militants release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the war-battered Palestinian territory. I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel," he said in a statement. Should Hamas not comply, Katz also threatened to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area". Israels renewed air and ground offensive in Gaza shattered the relative calm that had reigned in the territory since a January 19 ceasefire and drew widespread condemnation. Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on Tuesday, citing deadlock in indirect negotiations on next steps in the truce after its first stage expired early this month. Gazas civil defence agency said Thursday that 504 people had been killed since the bombardment resumed, more than 190 of them minors. The death toll is among the highest since the war began more than 17 months ago with Hamass attack on Israel. Katz vowed to step up the assault, using civilian as well as military pressure points" to defeat Hamas. We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval and ground shelling as well as by expanding the ground operation until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian pressure points." He said these included implementing President Donald Trumps proposal for the United States to redevelop Gaza as a Mediterranean resort after the relocation of its Palestinian inhabitants to other Arab countries. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On Thursday, the Israeli military said troops had begun conducting ground activity" in the Shabura area of Rafah, Gazas southernmost city near the Egyptian border. It said it had also closed off the territorys main north-south route as it expanded the ground operations which resumed on Wednesday. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Jerusalem, Undefined First Published: March 21, 2025, 15:23 IST London's Heathrow Airport Reopens After Fire-Led Outage, Terror Agency Leads Probe | Top Points Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 22:58 IST Heathrow airport remained closed on Friday after a fire at an electrical substation in west London just before midnight knocked out power to Europes busiest airport. A view shows airplanes on the tarmac at Heathrow International Airport, after a fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out the power at the airport, near London, Britain. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Londons Heathrow Airport Reopens: The UKs Heathrow airports authorities on Friday said that they are in the process of reopening after a fire in nearby West London Hayes substation knocked out its power supply and stranded thousands of passengers and caused travel turmoil worldwide. According to Flightradar24, over 1,300 flights have been cancelled, affecting at least 290,000 passengers. Recommended Stories Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. Were now safely able to restart flights, prioritising repatriation and relocation of aircraft," Heathrow said in a statement on social media site X. The worlds fifth busiest airport also said that it hopes to run a full operation tomorrow. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly. Our priority remains the safety of our passengers and those working at the airport. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this incident". Heathrow Faces Criticism For Outage Heathrow authorities came under sharp criticism not just from travellers and airlines but also from aviation authorities who demanded answers on how such crucial infrastructure could fail. ALSO READ | From 9/11 To Covid-19: Heathrow Shutdown Sparks Memories Of Past Aviation Nightmares You would think they would have significant back-up power," one top executive from a European airline told Reuters. Heathrow said that when the fire at the substation started its back-up energy systems worked as expected". It was responding to criticism from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) who had said that it would be a clear planning failure" if Heathrow turned out to be dependent on a single power source without an alternative", according to a report by UK-based broadcaster Sky News. The industry is now facing the prospect of a financial hit costing tens of millions of pounds, and a likely fight over who should pay. UK Counter-Terror Agency Probing Outage UKs Metropolitan Police said that there was no indication that there was foul play involved but highlighted that they are keeping an open mind and counter-terrorism officers would lead the inquiries, given their capabilities and the critical nature of the infrastructure. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Airline experts said the last time European airports experienced disruption on such a large scale was the 2010 Icelandic ash cloud that grounded some 100,000 flights. Alice Delahunty, the president of National Grids transmission business, told The Guardian that it has refused to rule out that an act of sabotage may be behind the substation fire which cut power to Heathrow airport. Were not in a position to rule anything in or out," Delahunty was quoted as saying. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: March 21, 2025, 18:22 IST Scientists Discover Oxygen In A Galaxy 13.4 Billion Light Years Away Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 14:13 IST The galaxy, named JADES-GS-z14-0, was first identified by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) last year. It is so far away that its light took 13.4 billion years to reach Earth, meaning it existed when the universe was just 300 million years old For this research, teams of Dutch and Italian astronomers studied JADES-GS-z14-0 using the ALMA radio telescope. (News18 Hindi) Scientists have detected signs of oxygen in the most distant galaxy ever discovered, challenging existing theories about the evolution of stars in the early universe. The galaxy, named JADES-GS-z14-0, was first identified by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) last year. It is so far away that its light took 13.4 billion years to reach Earth, meaning it existed when the universe was just 300 million years old. Recommended Stories For this research, teams of Dutch and Italian astronomers studied JADES-GS-z14-0 using the ALMA radio telescope. According to the European Southern Observatory (ESO), they confirmed the presence of oxygen, previously detected by JWST. The Cosmic Dawn" period, when this galaxy existed, was expected to contain mainly light elements like hydrogen and helium. However, this discovery reveals that JADES-GS-z14-0 contains 10 times more heavy elements than anticipated. Scientists Stunned By The Discovery top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sander Schouws, an astronomer at Leiden Observatory, described the finding as like discovering a teenager where only newborns were expected." He told AFP, This galaxy is evolving extremely fast, suggesting that galaxies formed much earlier than we previously believed." Italian astrophysicist Stefano Carniani called the discovery incredible," raising new questions about when and how galaxies were born. Since the James Webb Space Telescope became operational in 2022, astronomers have found that early-universe galaxies were far brighter and more developed than previously thought. These unexpected discoveries are forcing scientists to reconsider their understanding of the universes formation and evolution. First Published: March 21, 2025, 14:13 IST Spent $185,000 To Sign One Paper: Self-Described Misogynist Andrew Tate Returns To Romania Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 21:25 IST Tate faces rape and human trafficking charges in Romania and had recently visited the US for a trip. Andrew Tate (L) and Tristan Tate arrive in the United States after a travel ban on them was lifted, at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on February 27, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (IMAGE: AFP FILE) Self-described misogynist influencer Andrew Tate said on Friday he was returning to Romania, where he is facing rape and human trafficking charges, after a trip to the US. The British-American figurehead of the online masculinist movement travelled to Florida, together with his brother, last month, marking the first time he had been out of the eastern European country since his 2022 arrest. Recommended Stories Spending 185,000 dollars on a private jet across the Atlantic to sign one single piece of paper in Romania," Tate posted on X. Innocent men dont run. They clear their name in court," he added. He and his brother will address media at around 1:00 am local time (2300 GMT) in front of their residence, according to their PR team. Romanian prosecutors allege that Tate, 38, and his brother Tristan, 36, and two women set up a criminal organisation in Romania in early 2021 and sexually exploited several victims. Under judicial supervision, the Tates need to report to authorities on March 24, a no-show potentially leading to preventive arrest", according to Romanian authorities. Floridas attorney general James Uthmeier said earlier this month that a criminal investigation had been opened into the Tates. They have publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world", said Uthmeier. In a separate civil case in the United Kingdom, four British women have accused Andrew Tate of rape and coercive control. A Romanian court has granted a British extradition request, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded. Tate moved to Romania years ago after first starting a webcam business in the United Kingdom. He leapt to fame in 2016 when he appeared on the Big Brother" UK reality television show, but was removed after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He then turned to social media platforms to promote his often misogynistic and divisive views on how to be successful. Banned from Instagram and TikTok for his views, Tate is followed by more than 10 million people on X, where he shares his violent vision of masculinity and often homophobic and racist posts. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Bucharest, Romania First Published: March 21, 2025, 21:25 IST Trump Warns People Vandalising Teslas Can Face Up To 20 Years In Jail: We Are Looking For You Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 10:33 IST President Donald Trump warned that those sabotaging Tesla vehicles could face up to 20 years in jail, following a series of attacks on the cars. Trump buys Tesla to show his support for Elon Musk amid backlash. United States President Donald Trump has said people sabotaging Tesla vehicles will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years". Trumps warning comes amid a string of attacks on Tesla vehicles, charging stations, and showrooms. Recommended Stories Taking to Truth Social, an alt-tech social media platform owned by Trump Media And Technology Group (TMTG), Truth stated, People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!" Rise In Attacks On Tesla Property Attacks on properties linked to Elon Musks Tesla are increasing both in the US and abroad. While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations, and private cars have been targeted. The rise in incidents coincides with President Trumps first term, where he empowered Musk to lead a new department focused on cutting government spending. Experts on extremism warn its unclear if these attacks will become a long-term trend. In Trumps first term, his properties became protest hotspots; now, Tesla is taking that role. Tesla is an easy target," says sociologist Randy Blazak. Theyre on our streets, with dealerships in our neighbourhoods." Critics of Musk have organised numerous peaceful protests at Tesla locations. Some Tesla owners, including a US senator, have pledged to sell their cars, but attacks are keeping law enforcement busy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In Colorado, a woman faces charges related to Molotov cocktails thrown at Tesla dealerships, while in South Carolina, a man was arrested for setting fire to charging stations. The suspect had anti-government and anti-Doge writings in his possession. Prominent incidents have occurred in left-leaning cities like Portland and Seattle. In Oregon, a man faces charges for attacking a Tesla store with Molotov cocktails and gunfire. In Seattle, four Cybertrucks were burned, and a Tesla Model S was set on fire. In Las Vegas, several Teslas were burned, with resist" spray-painted on a service centre. Authorities believe Molotov cocktails and gunfire were used in the attacks. About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More First Published: March 21, 2025, 10:14 IST US Court Blocks Deportation Of Indian Academic Badar Khan Suri Over Alleged Hamas Ties Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 07:33 IST Badar Khan Suri Deportation: The Indian national and a postdoctoral fellow is studying and teaching in the US on a student visa. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of "spreading Hamas propaganda". Badar Khan Suri Deportation: Badar Khan Suri was by immigration authorities in the US over alleged ties to Hamas. A US court blocked the Donald Trump administration from deporting Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri who was detained by immigration authorities. The Indian national and a postdoctoral fellow is studying and teaching in the US on a student visa. Following his detention, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of spreading Hamas propaganda" and having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist". Recommended Stories Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at DHS, said on X (formerly Twitter) that Badar Khan Suri was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media". She accused him of having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior adviser to Hamas". Badar Khan Suris lawyer denied the allegations and said in a court filing that the Indian academic was being targeted because of his wifes identity as a Palestinian and her constitutionally protected speech". What US Court Said On Badar Khan Suris Deportation In an order, a US court said that Badar Khan Suri shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order". His wife Mapheze Saleh said the detention has completely upended our lives", adding, Our children are in desperate need of their father and miss him dearly. As a mother of three children, I desperately need his support to take care of them and me." A spokesman for Georgetown University said that Badar Khan Suri had been granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His detention comes at a time when several students and academics have been investigated by US immigration officials in recent weeks. Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist, was arrested on March 8 after being involved in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Columbia student Leqaa Kordia, who is a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested for overstaying her student visa". Ranjani Srinivasan, another Columbia University student, chose to self-deport". Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 21, 2025, 07:21 IST Why US Could Take Control Of Ukraine's Gas Infrastructure As Part Of Ceasefire Deal With Russia Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 21:06 IST Since taking office for his first term in 2017, Trump has been pushing Europe to replace Russian gas with U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with US President Donald Trump. (File photo: Getty Images via AFP) The U.S. administration suggested this week the United States could help run and possibly own Ukraines power plants and energy infrastructure as part of a ceasefire deal with Russia. Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and Trump discussed only the vast Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the country has also started importing U.S. gas to cover its domestic needs. Recommended Stories Kyiv also offers to store gas in its large underground storage to help supply Europe. U.S. IMPORTS Since taking office for his first term in 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing Europe to replace Russian gas with U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. At first, the idea looked far-fetched as Russia was supplying Europe with around 40% of its gas needs under long-term contracts at relatively cheap prices, ensuring the competitiveness of economies such as Germany and Austria. But Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed it all. In the three years since the war started, Russias gas export pipeline monopoly Gazprom lost almost all of its EU customers, who switched to buying LNG, largely from the United States, and increased pipeline gas imports via other routes. Since taking office for the second time this year, Trump has pushed Europe to buy even more U.S. gas to help address what he sees as the EUs unfair trade surplus. For decades, Ukraine relied on imports of Russian gas, and even in recent years some Russian gas volumes have reached Ukraine via reversed flows from Europe. All Russian gas flows via Ukraine stopped in 2025. Ukraine this week agreed a second deal to buy U.S. LNG and Kyiv says it aims to expand purchases. U.S. exports of gas into Ukraine have the potential to strengthen an economic partnership with Washington and its presence in Ukraines storage facilities could deter Russian attacks and encourage more gas to be stored. HUGE STORAGE Ukraine cannot import U.S. LNG directly as it is lacking regasification facilities on the Black Sea. Those could be built fairly quickly although the first project to build an LNG terminal in Odesa never took off. Ukraines current U.S. gas imports can come either via pipelines from regasification terminals in Poland or Germany, or from further south from regasification terminals in Greece. The U.S. has a significant amount of LNG capacity set to start up between now and the end of the decade. Export capacity is set to grow by 65%. A large part of this capacity is being built on the back of expectations that Europe will be there as a buyer," said analysts at ING. Ukraine has the largest underground gas storage in Europe and the third largest in the world, capable of holding more than 30 billion cubic metres of gas. In comparison, the whole of Europe has a maximum capacity of around 100 bcm to serve gas demand of around 450 bcm a year. Ukraines storage is well connected with Europes gas network, offering traders space to store surplus gas in summer when demand is usually lower. VAST PIPELINES In 2020, Ukraine harmonised its regulatory framework with that of the EU and cut shipping fees and duties. EU companies and traders stored gas in Ukraine in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons but suspended those activities over the past year as Russian attacks on Ukraines infrastructure intensified, damaging compressor stations at storage facilities. Ukraines ability to fill storage with gas including U.S. LNG is limited by the capacity of pipelines which connect to neighbouring Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Analysts at Bruegel estimate this capacity at 1.5-1.8 bcm a month or up to 22 bcm a year. The capacity for shipping gas from Ukraine to Europe is much bigger because its pipelines have been designed to ship Russian gas to the continent. Pipelines crossing Ukraine cam pump more than 60 bcm a year or some 13% of Europes gas needs. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all They can supply buyers in Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania and customers further away in Austria, Italy, Germany, France and Greece. That means direct imports of U.S. LNG into Ukraine by sea were they ever to happen could result in large flows reaching Europe via a vast pipeline network, which was once used by Moscow to dominate EUs gas markets. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: March 21, 2025, 21:06 IST Former University of Virginia President John Casteen III, at one time described the father of the modern university, has died. Casteen, who oversaw extensive growth, financial stability measures and diversity enhancements during his two decades as UVas seventh president, died Tuesday at his home in Keswick after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81. While at the helm of the commonwealths flagship public university between 1990 and 2010, Casteen helped shift UVa to private fundraising to help insulate it from extensive state budget cuts and stabilize its financial future. Building and growth also were a focus for Casteen. He was in the top post when John Paul Jones Arena, Hereford College, the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, the South Lawn Project and other major works were undertaken on and around UVa Grounds. The Betsy and John Casteen Arts Grounds were named in honor of Casteen and his wife in 2010 after a variety of new facilities were built and others improved there. They include building the Ruth Caplin Theatre, renovating the Bayly Building for the Fralin Museum of Art at UVa, constructing the Culbreth Road parking garage, restoring Fayerweather Hall for the art history program, expanding Campbell Hall for the School of Architecture and creating Ruffin Hall for studio art. UVas financial autonomy was crucial for Casteen at a time when state budget cuts threatened university programs. He led two campaigns to enrich UVas endowment, which grew from $488 million to $5.1 billion during his presidency while the states contributions dropped from 26% to only 6%. While Thomas Jefferson will always be remembered as the father of the university itself, Casteen is remembered as the father of the modern UVa. John Casteen has been an effective fundraiser because he has always been passionate about the University and its needs, former UVa Rector Gordon Rainey Jr. once said of Casteen. His success at the University results from a deep understanding of Mr. Jeffersons founding vision and his ability to transform the University for modern times consistent with that vision. In many ways he will be remembered as the father of the modern University. Praised by many others for moving UVa into a modern era, Casteen championed scientific and academic research and expanding and creating programs of study. Students found more residential colleges, language houses and opportunities to study abroad. The first-generation college student who rose to call the Carrs Hill presidential residence home also created a financial aid program to help make sure that students who wanted to attend UVa, but did not come from wealth, could make their own dreams come true. Born in Portsmouth on Dec. 11, 1943, Casteen received his bachelors and masters degrees and doctorate at UVa, where he was a scholar of medieval literature. After serving briefly as assistant professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley, he returned to UVa in 1975 as dean of admissions. Casteen served as Virginias secretary of education from 1982 to 1985, focusing on desegregating and diversifying the states colleges and helping students from all backgrounds find educational opportunities. He continued championing these causes later at his alma mater. After leading the University of Connecticut as president from 1985 to 1990, Casteen came home to UVa, serving as a professor of English and succeeding Robert ONeil as UVas president in 1990. Only Edwin Alderman, UVas first president, has served a longer term. John Casteen is simply inseparable from the story of UVa, sitting UVa President Jim Ryan said in a statement. As president, he transformed UVa into a world-class university. As a teacher, mentor, colleague and friend, he was beloved. This is a sad day for all those whose lives he touched, including mine, and I extend my deepest condolences to Betsy, his children and his entire family. John will be remembered as an ambitious, wise and devoted leader whose legacy will endure at the University of Virginia. It is impossible to overstate the contributions John Casteen made to this university and how profound a loss his passing is for his family and for the community he loved and served so well, UVa Rector Robert Hardie said in his own statement. As we remember him, we will rightly focus on his many accomplishments as president, but that legacy is matched, if not exceeded, by the incredible impact he made on the lives of so many people here at UVa and around the world. He will be dearly missed. Casteen was succeeded as UVas president by Teresa Sullivan, who was pushed out by the universitys governing Board of Visitors in 2012 and reinstated 16 days later after the Faculty Senate, deans and others rushed to her defense. A prolific writer, he released 16 Stories, a collection of short fiction works, in 1981 and hundreds of articles over the years on a variety of academic topics. Casteen and his wife, Betsy Foote Casteen, were married in 2003 in the first wedding of a UVa president to take place at Carrs Hill. Casteens survivors include his wife; his daughter, Elizabeth Ingeborg Casteen; his sons, John Thomas Casteen IV and Lars Lofgren Casteen; his brothers, Dennis Casteen and Tim Casteen; his stepdaughters, Alexandra Taylor Foote and Elizabeth Laura Robinson; and his 12 grandchildren. A service for family members and close friends is planned at Grace Episcopal Church in Keswick. A public memorial service to honor Casteen will be scheduled for later in the spring. According to Casteens obituary, his family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to AccessUVa. Casteen founded the need-based scholarship and financial aid program in 2003 to help make sure promising undergraduate students could attend the university he loved. Funding for a project to track Russian war crimes in Ukraineincluding the kidnapping of tens of thousands of childrenwas abruptly cut off by the Trump administration last month, and lawmakers worry that the data has been lost. In a Tuesday letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a bipartisan group of 17 lawmakers expressed concern that a database tracking more than 30,000 abducted children may have been deleted, the New York Times reports. The lawmakers said the State Department and Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab "had been preserving evidence of abducted children from Ukraine it had identified, to be shared with Europol and the government of Ukraine to secure their return." Florida pulled in more than $55 billion in property taxes for the 2024-25 fiscal yearand some in the state are considering the idea of dropping that figure to zero. The Wall Street Journal reports that the state's property-tax system is among the hottest topics among legislators who are back in session, and that some are eyeing the possibility of doing away with property taxes altogether as a way of providing financial relief to homeowners. A high-level overview: Politicians on board: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is on board with reducing or even phasing out the tax, which he describes as unfairarguing that its existence means no one truly owns their home, reports the Tallahassee Democrat. GOP state Sen. Jonathan Martin has sponsored a bill that would require a study on wiping out property taxes be done by October. DeSantis wants to see a constitutional amendment that would kill or trim them on the ballot in 2026; 60% of voters would need to vote in favor to pass. South Africa has been in President Trump's crosshairs over the past few months, with Trump accusing the African nation's government of confiscating land from white farmersa claim that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denies. Trump issued an executive order in February that cut aid to South Africa and encouraged "Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination" to resettle in the US. ( Reuters notes that Afrikaners refers to the minority of "mostly white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers" who currently wield control over most of the nation's farmland.) And it looks like Trump has some takers: More than 67,000 people, most with Afrikaner or English last names, have expressed interest in making the move to the US, reports the BBC . That's how many signed up on the website of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA, a US-based business group representing South African professionals living in the US. The organization said it has handed over the list of interested parties to the US Embassy in Pretoria, as confirmed by the embassy, though SACCUSA stressed that the list didn't constitute official applications, per the AP. The group notes that most who showed interest were between the ages of 25 and 45 and had children. "I think it's a very nice gesture from Donald Trump to offer us asylum over there," a 57-year-old carpenter from Bothasig tells Reuters. Still, not all are eager to take Trump up on his offer. "Afrikaners do not want to be refugees. We love and are committed to our homeland," say representatives from Orania, a whites-only Northern Cape town. Kallie Kriel, head of the Afrikaners-led AfriForum, adds: "Emigration only offers an opportunity for Afrikaners who are willing to risk potentially sacrificing their descendants' cultural identity as Afrikaners. The price for that is simply too high." Two US officials tell the New York Times that Elon Musk will be at the Pentagon Friday, getting briefed on the US military's plan for a hypothetical war with China. A third official confirmed a China-focused briefing is happening, and a fourth confirmed Musk will be at the Pentagon Friday, though the latter two sources didn't specify that the Tesla CEO was going to get access to the top-secret war plans, known in the military as operational plans, or "O-plans." The Times calls them "among the military's most closely guarded secrets," since, were they to fall into the hands of the hypothetical enemy country, that country could then alter its own plans to strengthen its defenses against the US. The sources say Musk will be briefed on plans for a potential war with China, from the initial indication that war is imminent through such decisions as what targets the US should hit. The sources didn't say whether President Trump knows about the briefing or how it was arranged. The news brings many questions about potential conflicts of interest, given that Musk, the world's wealthiest person, has many financial ties to China. Earlier this week, an opinion column in the Hill wondered whether those ties made Musk a national security threat, and Vox published an explainer on Musk's connections to China. Following the publication of the Times article, the Defense Department issued a statement saying Musk is "just visiting." See the full article, which hypothesizes that the briefing could be linked to Musk's controversial work with DOGE, here. "It was supposed to be a simple, uncontested race," but the mayoral election earlier this week in Sea Cliff, New York, has been anything but. Per a statement from the Long Island village, incumbent Mayor Elena Villafane saw a "decisive victory" in Tuesday's ballot-casting, pulling in 1,064 votes to the 62 votes received by her challenger, who wasn't named in the statement. However, that challengerRobert Ehrlich, founder of the Pirate's Booty snack empireisn't ready to concede: ABC7 and NBC News report the 66-year-old has been staging a "mutiny" of sorts, after he jumped into the race as a write-in candidate a week before the election. The outlets say Villafane's uncontested race took a turn on the morning of March 10, when Ehrlich showed up at Village Hall and declared himself Sea Cliff's mayor, declaring everyone in the office fired (though he said they could reapply for their jobs) and demanding he be given office space. "While Village staff remained calm and professional throughout the incident, Ehrlich and his associates raised their voices, used profane language, made outlandish claims, and engaged in direct harassment of Village personnel," the village said in a statement, adding police were called and that Ehrlich and whoever accompanied him finally left after "nearly an hour of escalating hostility." Village officials say "they'd never seen or heard from Ehrlich before in any civic context," per NBC. The New York Times reports that Ehrlich had invoked a 2009 state law that gives residents the power "to dissolve their town or reformulate it." Ehrlich claimed to have the law's required signatures of 10% of the village's population, but he refused to show anyone the list, claiming the signees feared retribution. He declared himself a write-in candidate the next day after the Village Hall incident. story continues below And it doesn't appear, even after the election numbers flooded in against him, that Ehrlichwho compared his plight to that of Anne Frank in a text to the New York Postis giving up his cause. "I'm mayor now," he told NBC when asked if he planned to run again in 2027, adding that the most recent election had been "rigged." "Why do I have to wait two years? I am mayor at this moment. I can write an executive order." Ehrlich claims he's now in charge of the "Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff Residents." UPDATE May 14, 2025 6:00 PM CDT A federal judge on Wednesday said that the federal government had made no effort to explain why a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University should continue to be held in an immigration facility, so she ordered him released immediately. Nor did the government provide evidence for why Badar Khan Suri, a scholar from India committed to "peace and conflict resolution," might be a flight risk, said Judge Patricia Giles of the Eastern District of Virginia. Suri, who is in the US legally, spent two months in detention in Texas after the administration accused him of "spreading Hamas propaganda," the New York Times reports. "There was no charge, there was nothing," he told NBC News after his release. "They made a sub human out of me." Mar 21, 2025 2:00 AM CDT Badar Khan Suri, a researcher at Georgetown University and husband of a Palestinian-American woman, was detained by US immigration agents this week. Arrested Monday night outside his Virginia home, the Indian citizen was told his visa had been revoked. He's now being held in Louisiana, more than 1,000 miles from his family and attorney, the AP reports. His lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, claims the detention is linked to his wife's Palestinian identity and her constitutionally protected speech as well as his own. "The Trump Administration has openly expressed its intention to weaponize immigration law to punish noncitizens whose views are deemed critical of US policy as it relates to Israel," Ahmad wrote in a court filing. The Trump administration says Suri is deportable because he's been "spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media." Britain's Heathrow Airport was closed for the day Friday after a fire knocked out its power, disrupting flights for hundreds of thousands of passengers at Europe's busiest travel hub. At least 1,350 flights to and from the London airport were affected, including several from US cities that were canceled, flight tracking service FlightRadar 24 said. Several jets were diverted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, and Ireland's Shannon Airport, tracking services showed. Global travel was snarled by a fire at a local electrical substation that broke out Thursday night, the New York Times reports. The London Fire Brigade sent around 70 firefighters to the scene after a transformer at the substation caught fire, sending flames soaring into the sky. Authorities said the fire was brought under control around 9am local time. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow" for the full day, the airport said. "We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens." Some more insight is now available into what may have led a Delta plane to flip over upon landing last month in Toronto, via a preliminary report released Thursday by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. NBC News notes that although the report didn't pin down a definitive cause for the Feb. 17 crash at Pearson Airport, it did find that the plane carrying 80 people from Minneapolis had descended at a high rate of speed. According to the TSB, the Bombardier CRJ-900's alert system indicated the aircraft had been traveling at 155mph just three seconds or so before it touched down, the AP reports. Per the New York Times, the plane was dropping at 1,100 feet per minute at that point "nearly twice the rate that qualifies as a 'hard landing,'" according to flight operations protocol at Endeavor Air, the Delta subsidiary that was operating the plane. Then, "the aircraft impacted the runway, the right wing detached, and a fire ensued," right before the plane overturned and slid to a stop on the runway, the report notes, per NBC. At least 21 people were injured, two seriously, though all who were hospitalized were released just a few days after the crash. "It was descending much too fast," Jeff Guzzetti, an ex-US accident investigator for the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board, tells the Times. "It's possible that the rate of descent was so great that it exceeded the design stress limits of that landing gear," which saw a piece break off on the plane's right side upon landing. story continues below Still, the investigation continues. "Accident and incidents rarely stem from a single cause," notes Yoan Marier, the Canada TSB's chair. "They're often the result of multiple complex, interconnected factors, many extending beyond the aircraft and its operation to wider systemic issues." In a Thursday statement on behalf of itself and Endeavor, Delta said that it wouldn't be commenting "out of respect for the integrity of this work that will continue through [the TSB's] final report." A Norwegian man says ChatGPT got his hometown right, and the number and gender of his childrenbut its other details were false and disturbing. Arve Hjalmar Holmen says that when he asked the chatbot who he was, he was told that he was serving a 21-year prison sentence for murdering two of his sons and trying to kill the third, the BBC reports. Holmen, who has lived in Belgium since 2002 and works in a museum, tells Aftenposten that earlier queries on ChatGPT and other AI models also delivered inaccurate answers, including claims that he was a politician or a company CEO, but the murder claim is the one that worries him. "Some think that there is no smoke without firethe fact that someone could read this output and believe it is true is what scares me the most," he says. Digital rights group Noyb has filed a complaint with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority on his behalf, saying the false and defamatory information violated data protection rules. Noyb is asking for OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to be fined and ordered to improve its model to prevent this kind of error, the Verge reports. AI chatbots are known to "hallucinate" by presenting false information as facts, but Noyb says a disclaimer saying ChatGPT can make mistakes isn't good enough. "You can't just spread false information and in the end add a small disclaimer saying that everything you said may just not be true," says Joakim Soderberg, a data protection lawyer at Noyb. In a statement, OpenAI said it is working on ways to reduce hallucinations and Holmen's complaint relates to a version of Chat GPT "which has since been enhanced with online search capabilities that improves accuracy." The spouse of a doctor found murdered in his Florida mansion more than a decade ago will have to open her wallet for the deceased physician's adult kids. WFLA reports that Rebecca Schwartz, 64, was ordered earlier this month by a civil court to pay her three stepchildren nearly $200 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit against her, after the jury in the case found she'd "unlawfully and intentionally killed, or participated in procuring the death" of 74-year-old Steven Schwartz. Steven Schwartz was found slain in the garage of his Tarpon Springs home in May 2014. Per the Tampa Bay Times, he'd been shot twice in the head and had his throat slashed. FOX 13 reports it was Rebecca Schwartz who called 911 and said she'd found his body, suspecting a burglary. No one was ever formally charged in the murder, but Anton Stragaj, a handyman who worked for the family, pleaded guilty to one count of accessory after the fact, though he denied killing the doctor and instead accused Rebecca Schwartz of the crime. Stragaj was released from prison in 2022 after eight years behind bars and was deported to his home country of Albania. Meanwhile, Steven Schwartz's kids filed their complaint against their stepmother in 2016, accusing her and Stragaj of conspiring together to kill their father. Attorney Wil Florin, who's representing the stepchildren, says Rebecca Schwartz embezzled money from her spouse, giving some of it to her own kids and using some to start "a marijuana grow house with the handyman," per FOX 13. That handyman was Stragaj, whose DNA detectives say was found on Steven Schwartz's shirt; Stragaj's cellphone records also reportedly didn't match his alibi. story continues below Florin says that Steven Schwartz had known what she was doing and that the "last straw" came when he learned she had bought a Verizon Wireless store for one of her own sons. He threatened divorce and was killed days later; the attorney says it was Rebecca Schwartz who pulled the trigger. Florin expects Steven Schwartz's children will collect a fraction of the $200 million. "I don't expect that there's $200 million out there to get," he said. "But I think there's tens of millions out there. I really do." No criminal charges have been filed against Rebecca Schwartz; the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office says the homicide investigation continues. (Much more here.) Two US allies have adjusted their travel recommendations for the United States, and not in an encouraging direction. The Hill reports that on Thursday, the United Kingdom updated its guidance for travel to the US, with the government warning its citizens to "comply with all entry, visa, and other conditions of entry" at American checkpoints. "The authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules." Reuters notes that the previous version of that UK foreign travel page , now archived, simply read: "The authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules." The day before the UK's update, Germany had sent out its own red flag, after a group of Germans were detained trying to enter the US. Germany's updated travel advisory warned that a visa or entry waiver may not be enough to cross into the US, and that American border patrol officers have the final say in admitting visitors. The Independent notes that "news of ugly travel experiences and anger at the US" over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown "are expected to have major negative impacts on America's tourism industry." One person who understandably may not feel like heading back to America anytime soon: Rebecca Burke, a 28-year-old British backpacker who says she was recently detained for nearly three weeks in a US facility when she tried to enter the US from Canada, even though she says she followed proper procedures. She was finally sent home to the UK on Tuesday, with her father telling the Independent she was brought onto her return flight in chains "like Hannibal Lecter." A Canadian woman has described a similar ordeal. The AP has more on border detentions here. The family of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena has sued Mexico's Sinaloa cartel over the kidnapping and killing of the US DEA agent, taking advantage of the new designation of cartels as terrorist organizations. The lawsuit also names three drug lords, Rafael Caro Quintero, Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, and Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, NBC News reports. "It has been 40 years since these men and their deadly criminal enterprise ended my husband's life, which he dedicated to stopping traffickers from flooding our country with dangerous criminals, narcotics, and violence," his widow, Geneva "Mika" Camarena, said in a statement. Her husband was on his way to have lunch with her when he was abducted on Feb. 7, 1985. Camarena, who had recently helped break up a billion-dollar marijuana operation in Mexico, was surrounded by five armed men in Guadalajara who pushed him into a car and sped away with him, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. His pilot, Alfredo Zavala-Avelar, was kidnapped near the city's airport, and the suit says both of them were tortured in an effort to learn what the DEA knew about the cartel, per CBS News. Camarena, 37, was scheduled to be transferred back to the US three weeks later, the DEA said. The suit says the men were killed two days after being abducted and buried on a farm about 60 miles from Guadalajara. After President Trump made the designation change in February, Caro Quintero and more than 20 other drug cartel suspects were extradited to the US. Caro Quintero has pleaded not guilty in New York to charges including orchestrating Camarena's killing. The three kingpins defendants were previously convicted in Mexico's courts and each sentenced to 40 years in prison. (Mexico released Caro Quintero early, in 2013, and he spent nearly 10 years on the run.) The family's lawsuit, which was filed Thursday in federal court in California, seeks unspecified damages. Camarena's sister Myrna thanked Trump for his "bold action" on the terrorist designation, saying "we finally have a chance to hold his killers accountable in a United States courtroom." The first season of the Netflix series Narcos: Mexico included the case. A Thursday report in the New York Times claiming Elon Musk would be briefed by the Pentagon on top-secret war plans against China is now getting pushback, including from President Trump. First, per the Guardian , Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday denied Musk saw any such plans during an early Friday visit to the Pentagon. The DOGE leader was there to "talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations," Hegseth said. "There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. That's not what we were doing." An official claiming knowledge of Musk's visit tells Politico that the meeting had been set to include the topic of China, but in a more general way regarding its threats to the region, with Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell calling the war plan story "egregious" and "fake." President Trump weighed in himself Friday on the reports, first with a Truth Social post that called the New York Times "failing" and "purposely inaccurate" and reporter Maggie Haberman "Maggot Hagerman." In his post, Trump deemed the story "absolutely ridiculous and false" and "probably libelous" and blamed CNN for helping to spread it. He concluded with an apparent reference to a US agency that dissolved after World War II: "Elon is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!!" Later Friday in the Oval Office, Trump praised Musk as a patriot but seemed to acknowledge that there should be some limits to his powers within the US government, per the AP. "Elon has businesses in China," Trump said, alluding to a conflict of interest. "And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that." story continues below Musk himself was mum as he left the Pentagon after his visit, saying only on camera to CNN that he was prepared to do "anything that could be helpful," per the AP. He didn't answer questions on whether he'd seen any classified briefings on China. The Wall Street Journal backs up the original Times report, noting that Musk was indeed scheduled to sit in on a top-secret China briefing over a potential war, but that it was later changed to be an unclassified meeting. A source tells that paper that Musk had requested the original classified war-plan meeting. Andrew and Tristan Tate informed followers on Friday that they were on a flight back to Romania, where the influencer brothers face human trafficking charges. "Spending $185,000 on a private jet across the Atlantic to sign one single piece of paper in Romania," Andrew Tate posted on X. "Innocent men don't run. They clear their name in court." The Tates traveled to Florida last month, which was the first time they had left Romania since they were arrested in 2022. But the brothers, who have dual US-UK citizenship, remain under judicial supervision and have to report to Romanian authorities on Monday, per AFP. "Here is 5-year-old Brody Bell in his first official water ski experience at Harding Lake." Thanks, Kathy Shier of Fairbanks, for sending along this shot. You can submit your best photo online at newsminer.com. Shura Council set to vote on letting Bahraini fishermen train relatives at sea Shura Council set to vote on letting Bahraini fishermen train relatives at sea TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com A parliament-approved amendment allowing Bahraini fishermen to train apprentices at sea is up for a final vote in the Shura Council on Sunday. The change to Decree-Law No. 20 of 2002 would permit captains to bring up to three Bahraini relatives on board for hands-on training in commercial fishing. The plan aims to keep the trade going, pass on skills, and encourage more Bahrainis to take it up. Wording adjustment The proposal, initially put forward by Parliament, also includes a wording adjustment to replace State of Bahrain with Kingdom of Bahrain in official documents, ensuring consistency with the Constitution and the National Action Charter. Parliament approved the bill last month after a debate on its effect and feasibility. Fishermens associations warned that existing restrictions had already made the trade more reliant on expat crews, while more locals turned to hobby fishing, with around 12,000 now registered as amateurs. Hobbyists MPs backing the bill argued that full-time Bahraini fishermen should not be held back when hobbyists can take people out to sea with little fuss. They also said Bahrainis in the trade should receive financial backing, including access to Tamkeen support like other businesses. Shuras Public Utilities and Environment Committee has reviewed the bill, considering amendments made by Parliament and feedback from the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee and other relevant bodies. Issues Legal experts raised no issues with its wording or compatibility with existing laws. After some discussion, committee members agreed on further refinements. Concerns have been raised about whether the bill aligns with current regulations. Legal amendment The government, in a paper attached to the proposal, questioned the need for a legal amendment, pointing out that Ministerial Resolution No. 322 of 2021 and Administrative Resolution No. 2 of 2022 already allow Bahraini fishermen to bring local apprentices aboard. These regulations, it argued, offer more flexibility than a fixed law and can be adjusted as needed. The Supreme Council for Environment echoed these concerns, referring to its own Resolution No. 4 of 2025, which governs commercial fishing licences. Existing rules It argued that the bills objectives training new entrants and encouraging locals into the trade are already addressed under existing rules. There was also concern that its wording might not sit well with other laws governing the sector. The Public Utilities and Environment Committee, while mindful of these points, saw value in the proposal. Legal complications To avoid legal complications, it suggested adding a new clause Article 3 bis instead of altering the existing Article 3. This would allow a Bahraini captain, with approval from the employer and relevant bodies, to take one Bahraini trainee on board for up to six months. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com A new statistic released on the Government Data Platform has revealed a significant increase in the number of mosques in the Kingdom of Bahrain over the past six years. The number of mosques and prayer halls has risen by 130, growing from 1,206 to approximately 1,336 across all governorates of the Kingdom. The data also shows a notable increase in the number of muezzins and imams. In 2023, the number of muezzins reached 875, compared to 821 the previous year, marking a rise of 54 muezzins within a single year. The number of imams also grew by 29, reaching 566 in 2023, up from 537 in 2022. The number of Eid prayer halls has doubled, reaching 378 in 2023, compared to just 189 in 2022. The number of preachers and muezzins has seen notable changes over the past few years. In 2018, there were 103 preachers and 790 muezzins. By 2020, the number of preachers increased to 116, reaching 126 in 2021, and 132 in 2023. As for muezzins, their number in 2019 was 797, followed by 805 in 2020, 813 in 2021, 821 in 2022, and finally, 875 in 2023. According to the data, there are approximately 15 religious event halls associated with the Sunni Endowments in Bahrain. The doubling of the number of mosques and prayer halls in the Kingdom reflects Bahrain's commitment to implementing projects for the construction and development of places of worship. This growth is in line with the visionary developmental journey led by His Majesty the King, which focuses on fulfilling the religious needs of all members of society and achieving spiritual and religious fulfillment for all worshippers. Religious places, whether historical or archaeological, hold significant value in Bahraini society as part of its cultural and human heritage. Mosques and prayer halls in Bahrain are renowned for their exquisite architectural designs and intricate Islamic decorations. The Kingdoms cities and villages are home to numerous grand and historic mosques, which have become landmarks due to their size, capacity, and remarkable architectural beauty. The largest mosque in Bahrain is the Al-Fateh Islamic Center, which can accommodate over 7,000 worshippers and features the world's largest fiberglass dome, adorned with beautiful Kufic calligraphy. The large number of mosques and prayer halls in all governorates, along with the noticeable rise in the construction of new mosques and the restoration of old ones, highlights the Kingdoms commitment to supporting the development and construction of places of worship. This effort ensures that mosques continue to serve their noble purpose in society by spreading awareness of the correct moderate religious values and reinforcing national unity, cooperation, solidarity, and community building. A Republican congressman who represents much of the Richmond suburbs is questioning the Trump administrations gutting of the U.S. Department of Educaiton and urging congressional oversight. The Education Department last week laid off more than 1,300 of its employees a prelude to President Donald Trumps intention to dismantle the department. The Department of Education plays a crucial role in supporting state and local education systems across the country. Id like to see some reforms that would ensure decisions regarding student needs are made closer to home, and while making the government more efficient is a good thing, I think theres a more compassionate way to go about this, said Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, in a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Thursday afternoon. Major policy changes, such as the elimination of a federal department, must be thoroughly examined through the legislative process in Congress, where representatives can debate and vote on these significant issues, said Wittman, an 18-year congressional veteran whose district includes the western parts of Henrico and Chesterfield counties and eastern Hanover County. With last weeks eliminations in the Education Department plus earlier buyouts and early retirements, the department is about half the size it was when Trump took office nearly two months ago. Some of the biggest cuts were to the departments Federal Student Aid office, the Office for Civil Rights and the departments research and statistics arm that runs the test known as the Nations Report Card. I dont know how you protect students civil rights if half of the department is cut, said Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, in an interview with the Times-Dispatch. I dont know how you process financial aid payments, loans, grants, scholarships ... if you cut half the workforce, said McClellan, whose district is based in the city of Richmond and eastern Chesterfield and Henrico. There are a significant number of students in Virginia who, if they do not have federal financial aid, they dont go to college. Thats especially true for first-generation students. A lot of them go to [Virginia Commonwealth University]. A lot of them go to Virginia Union or Virginia State. Virginia investigations Through its Office for Civil Rights, which lost 243 employees last week, the Education Department conducts investigations and issues guidance on how civil rights laws should be applied, such as for students with disabilities. There are 575 open investigations into Virginia schools, according to the office, and more than half of those pending investigations are on the basis of disability discrimination. The office has traditionally focused on disability rights cases, but it has increasingly handled complaints of sex and race discrimination. You dont know what civil rights in any given moment are going to be violated, McClellan said. Any allegation that someones civil rights are being violated in schools is deserving of investigation. How are they going to investigate whether its a transgender student or a student with a disability or a Black student, how are they going to be able to investigate and make a determination of that force of the Civil Rights Act if half the office is gone? A Virginia Department of Education employee, who would not identify themselves, said in an emailed statement on Thursday: At this time, the Virginia Department of Education has not experienced any changes from the staffing reductions at [the U.S.] Department of Education. The state's education department did not make state Superintendent Lisa Coons available for an interview. Deep funding cuts to the National Center for Education Statistics and the Institute for Education Sciences cast uncertainty over the future of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, a congressionally mandated student assessment known as the "Nations Report Card." Gov. Glenn Youngkins education platform has largely centered around the NAEP assessment and Virginias performance. NAEP is the only exam that provides a direct, apples-to-apples comparison of student achievement across all states. The Youngkin administration has repeatedly said it wants to close what it calls the honesty gap on state tests by matching cut scores, the number of questions a student needs to get right in order to pass, on Virginias state tests to the cut scores on the NAEP. Asked about the Education Department cuts, specifically to the departments arm that runs NAEP, Youngkin spokesman Peter Finocchio said: President Trumps efforts are designed to restore power to states and parents and help schools focus on student success and achievement and targeting resources to the students who need the most help. There are ample opportunities to make our nations education data and research infrastructure more robust, efficient and effective so that everyone knows what works. VANCOUVER, BC, March 20, 2025 /CNW/ - The Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) has welcomed the publication of a new Mineral Claims Consultation Framework (MCCF) but has raised concerns with the development process and raised serious issues about the framework's detail. The final framework was released today, with less than one week until the March 26, 2025, deadline for its implementation. The deadline was given by the Supreme Court of British Columbia in September 2023. The MCCF introduces Indigenous consultation to the claim staking process through a newly introduced application process prior to registration. Previously, consultation with Indigenous communities was not required until applying for permits to conduct mechanical mineral exploration work. While AME is pleased to see a public document, it takes serious issue with the process used to create the framework, and with the framework itself. The framework proceeds without addressing key industry concerns of ensuring firm reliable timelines; and maintaining an applicant's confidentiality to ensure objective decisions are made. "AME understands the need to implement the framework by March 26," said Trish Jacques, Board Chair of the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME). "However, it has taken the full 18 months to get to this stage, and the government has only meaningfully engaged with industry in recent months. This has limited our association's ability to provide prudent feedback on some complex issues, although some progress has been made." "AME does not endorse the final version of the framework as there are serious issues that have not been addressed. While we have provided consistent recommendations, the government has chosen to apply a political response in some of its decision-making. This is disappointing to AME and to the members we represent." "The B.C. government has failed to meaningfully address two of our main concerns," added Jacques. "The decision to include applicants' names in the processes takes away confidentiality of the applicant and the protection of their intellectual property. This means the process cannot be guaranteed to be unbiased and objective. Also, the timelines in the framework are not firm and are only targets, despite promises by the Premier to guarantee permitting timelines.1 This leaves us with a wait-and-see approach to how government manages timelines in a manner that will support the mineral exploration industry. AME has been clear that timelines must be upheld to ensure investment in early-stage mineral exploration." AME is pleased that the government has committed to a process of continuous improvement for the MCCF and will be providing government with expertise in the review of the timelines and effectiveness at six months, with an opportunity to adjust the program and make recommended changes. It is important for the government to recognize that the implementation of the MCCF creates instability for the mineral exploration industry. Based on industry's experience with the development of the MCCF, AME is deeply concerned with government's stated goal of modernizing the Mineral Tenure Act in 2026. At a time when economic uncertainty is already heightened by Trump Tariffs and democratic instability following the passage of Bill 7, this initiative risks further deterring investment in the sector. AME strongly encourages the government to slow down and allow for the MCCF and government's management of it to prove itself out prior to piling further change and instability on the industry. AME remains committed to providing government practical solutions that can fix the process and are engaging with government to continue to provide information about issues through a transparent and continual improvement process. With one week until a court-mandated deadline for the framework's implementation, the B.C. government, by not addressing the Association's core concerns, has left industry hanging by choosing to ignore prudent recommendations to ensure industry stability. Background: The Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) is the lead association for the mineral exploration and development industry based in British Columbia. Established in 1912, AME represents, advocates and promotes the interests of more than 6,000 members who are engaged in mineral exploration and development in BC and globally. AME encourages a safe, economically strong and environmentally responsible industry by providing clear initiatives, policies, events and tools to support its membership in delivering responsible projects that advance reconciliation and provide benefit to all British Columbians. SOURCE Association for Mineral Exploration - AME AME Contact: Richard Truman, Senior Director, External Affairs, Association for Mineral Exploration, 604-404-1031 SHERBROOKE, QC, March 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, Bishop's University celebrates the opening of Kwigw8mna. Kwigw8mna will house the Indigenous Student Support Centre, Indigenous student study space, gathering spaces, and an Indigenous research lab, marking a significant step in its ongoing commitment to Indigenous student support, truth and reconciliation. Kwigw8mna, Bishop's University (CNW Group/Bishop's University) Meaning "our house and yours" in Abenaki, Kwigw8mna transforms Divinity House, a building once associated with training clergy, into a space where Indigenous students gather, learn, and find support. The space reflects Indigenous perspectives, traditions, and needs, fostering a sense of belonging while creating opportunities for cross-cultural understanding. "The opening of Kwigw8mna is a moment of both reflection and renewal," says Vicky Boldo, Associate Director of Indigenous Initiatives. "This building carries a complicated history, and today, it stands as a place of healing, strength, and Indigenous leadership. It is a tangible commitment to making Bishop's a place where Indigenous students feel seen, supported, and valued." Developed through consultation with Indigenous students, faculty, and external community representatives, Kwigw8mna serves as a dedicated space for Indigenous students while also fostering greater awareness among the broader university community. Bishop's University Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Sebastien Lebel-Grenier, adds: "Kwigw8mna represents Bishop's lasting commitment to Indigenous students and communities. This is a space that embodies our responsibility to upholding Indigenous ways of seeing and doing and demonstrates reconciliation in action. We are humbled and honoured to have led this initiative and to continue fostering meaningful dialogue and understanding on our campus and within our community." Today's opening ceremony brings together Indigenous leaders, students, and community members to honour the collaboration that made Kwigw8mna possible. The event features traditional drumming, reflections from Indigenous voices, and an opportunity for the wider Bishop's community to witness this important milestone. For Indigenous students, Kwigw8mna represents more than a gathering space. "Kwigw8mna is a new home away from home," says Casey Goodleaf, a third-year Elementary Education student with a minor in Indigenous Studies at Bishop's University. "It can be hard to be away from community, but this will be a space that helps create one here. A place to gather and share our stories, ideas, and culture." "Kwigw8mna is a testament to what happens when institutions listen to Indigenous community members in the true meaning of recognizing the Abenaki territory," says Richard O'Bomsawin, Chief of the Abenaki of Odanak. "This territory has a long history as a place that brings people together. We have co-habited this region for many years and this space acknowledges the past while creating a future where Indigenous students have the resources, recognition, and community they need to thrive. It represents both a commitment and a responsibility." Kwigw8mna has been made possible through a generous $12.7 million investment from the Government of Quebec, as well as support from the Government of Canada, private donors, and many members of the university community. "I am very happy to see the Kwigw8mna project come to fruition," says Pascale Dery, Quebec Minister of Higher Education. "A space such as this one will allow Indigenous cultures to shine within the University and promote access to higher education for students from these communities. My congratulations to everyone who worked hard to make it happen!" Additional photos will be available upon request, following the event. SOURCE Bishop's University MEDIA REQUESTS: Sonia Patenaude, Manager of Communications, Bishop's University, 819-342-2587, [email protected] OTTAWA, ON, March 21, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC) met on March 20, 2025, to discuss current challenges facing the industry. This provided an opportunity for CAPC Co-Chairs to introduce members to the federal government's incoming Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable Anita Anand. The discussion focused on the impacts of recent and proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Members emphasized the highly integrated nature of the North American automotive industry and the existential threat posed by tariffs on the industry in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Members outlined the ways in which tariffs stand to disrupt supply chains and vehicle assembly, jeopardizing an efficient industry that supports over 1 million jobs across Canada and the U.S. and ultimately hurting consumers. Members also emphasized that Canada-U.S. trade is balanced, with the U.S. importing US$53 billion worth of motor vehicles and parts from Canada, while U.S. domestic exports to Canada totaled US$55 billion in 2024. Further, Canada is the largest international market for the United States' automotive industry, with more than 40 percent of the vehicles sold in Canada assembled in the U.S. and approximately half of the value of vehicles produced in Canada coming from U.S. parts. CAPC continues to call for a swift resolution of the tariffs dispute to protect this critical industry. Free trade between Canada and the U.S. is key to supporting workers and the success of automotive industries in both countries. Industry members look forward to continue working with Ministers on this important matter. The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (Government of Canada), noted: "Our government will always protect and defend Canada's interests, consumers, workers, and businesses. The recent tariffs imposed by the United States on Canadian products are unjustified and will have an impact on both sides of the border. Canada will continue to support our world-class automotive sector, which has been a cornerstone of economic growth and job creation in both our countries." Background The Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC) is an industry-led organization whose mandate is to address the key competitiveness issues facing the Canadian automotive industry. Membership comprises the CEOs of Canada's five automotive assemblers, leaders of Canada's leading parts suppliers, representatives from the battery manufacturing sector, representatives from labour, academia, and aftermarket and dealer associations. The meeting was chaired by the Co-Chairs of CAPC, Rob Wildeboer, the Executive Chairman of Martinrea International Inc., and Jean Marc Leclerc, President and CEO of Honda Canada Inc. SOURCE Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC) CONTACT INFORMATION: Canadian Automotive Partnership Council, Mr. Neil Forster, Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Development, Martinrea International Inc., [email protected]; Ken Chiu, Corporate Communications, Honda Canada, C: 647-444-0158, E: [email protected]; Government of Canada, Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada343-291-1777, [email protected] The Trucks for Ducks sweepstakes have been a huge hit. Talk to anyone and they'll have seen the promotions or had a chance to view one of the three Bespoke Motor Company vehicles valued at over $250,000 each. Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is grateful for the generous support of MacGillivray Injury & Insurance Law for helping to raise awareness and support conservation through this unprecedented campaign. Early bird draw winners, Stewart Adams and Lynn MacNeil, first learned about Trucks for Ducks through Facebook and later saw the vehicles on display at a local retailer. Longtime fans of classic Land Cruisers, they decided to purchase a few tickets. The couple has a property that has been in the Adams' family since 1937. It features a small brook-fed pond that remains unfrozen during winter. They plan to use their cash winnings for additional landscaping, overlooking the pond and brook. "I wake up every cold winter morning and look out my bedroom window to see the ducks swimming around and have witnessed this happening ever since I was a young child," said Adams. "With my love for the Land Cruiser truck and the enjoyment of watching the ducks, I thought it was a wonderful cause. We're happy to be able to support Ducks Unlimited Canada and their important work in conserving our wetlands." Strong partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives help drive DUC's conservation efforts from coast to coast. Collaborations like MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law's Trucks for Ducks, enable the organization to expand its conservation impacts, as well as its wetland education and community engagement programming across the country. "Ducks Unlimited Canada is proud to play a vital role in conserving the diverse habitats of Atlantic Canada," said Adam Campbell, DUC manager of provincial operations, Atlantic Canada. Our efforts to restore and manage 132,000 acres of wetland and associated upland ensure that these critical ecosystems continue to support biodiversity, water quality and availability, and human well-being. By working together, we can protect these natural treasures for future generations." In Atlantic Canada, DUC is incorporating Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge into its conservation and education programs. Through this work, the charity has been able to expand its wetland education programs to First Nations communities in Atlantic Canada, including Lennox Island, Prince Edward Island, where outreach staff spent a week taking local elementary students on wetland field trips. DUC supports a First Nations Culture Camp now hosted annually at the Beaubassin Research Centre and has also been able to expand its Treasured Wetlands program into New Brunswick. This outreach program celebrates wetlands of all kinds in the provinces and connects communities with special ecosystems. Each year, DUC hosts public events at these sites, including invasive species removal work, birding workshops, nest-box builds and more. Visit DUC's website to learn more about DUC's conservation efforts in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Incredible odds ... Do you feel like a lucky duck? Don't miss your chance to win one of three Bespoke Motor Company custom vehicle grand prizes while supporting conservation. With nearly 6,000 tickets sold to date and three grand prizes to be drawn, the odds of winning are excellent. Stay tuned for the announcement of the Grand Prize Winners following the draw on March 31, 2025. One truck will be awarded at random to a ticket holder in each of the following: (1) Grand Prize Winner from resident entrants in the pool of Nova Scotia (1) Grand Prize Winner from resident entrants in the pool of New Brunswick (1) Grand Prize Winner from the combined pool of resident entrants in the pool of Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island About MacGillivray Injury Law: Founded in 1994, MacGillivray Injury Law has grown into the largest injury and disability law firm in Atlantic Canada with offices in Halifax, New Glasgow, Moncton, and St. John's and serves Prince Edward Island. MacGillivray Injury Law is proud to serve Atlantic Canadians who have been injured in accidents or denied disability benefits. Visit: https://macgillivraylaw.com About Ducks Unlimited Canada: Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the country's largest land conservancy and a leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC uses sound science and partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations, Indigenous Peoples and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment. To learn more about DUC's innovative environmental solutions and services, visit www.ducks.ca. SOURCE Ducks Unlimited Canada For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Elon Musk spoke about many breakthroughs at a Tesla All Hands meeting yesterday. Elon said that the Tesla Dojo 2 chip will be in volume production in a few months. The Tesla Dojo 2 chip has ten times the performance of the Dojo 1. If Tesla Dojo 2 is ten times better than the Dojo 1 training chip then it would be 3.6 petaflops for fp8. This would be several time better than the Nvidia H100 and maybe 40% of the B200. What needs to be known is how does the Dojo 2 compare for power and cost. It could compare with B200 when factoring in cost. The B200 is sold for about 75% margin. If Nvidia sells the B200 for $40,000 but it costs $10,000 to Nvidia. If it costs Tesla $10,000 for Dojo 2 with the power of 40% of a B200, then it would be worth it. $25,000 worth of Dojo 2 would be equal to a $40,000 B200. Dojo 1 per-chip performance: 0.362 PFLOPS (362 TFLOPS) at BF16/CFP8. Dojo 2 projected per-chip performance*: 0.362 PFLOPS x 10 = 3.62 PFLOPS. Nvidia B200 (Blackwell Architecture) Process: TSMC 4nm (custom). Compute: FP4 (with sparsity): 9,000 TFLOPS (9 PFLOPS), per Nvidias GTC 2024 keynote. FP8 (with sparsity): ~4,500 TFLOPS (4.5 PFLOPS, estimated based on scaling trends). Power: ~1,000W TDP. Use case: Next-gen AI training, targeting extreme performance. Nvidia H100 Process: TSMC 4nm. Compute: FP16 (with sparsity): 989 TFLOPS (~0.99 PFLOPS). FP8 (with sparsity): 1,979 TFLOPS (~1.98 PFLOPS). Power: ~700W TDP. Use case: General-purpose AI training, widely adopted across industries. Tesla Highlights from the Video and Cern Basher Compilation Already produced over 7 million vehicles globally. will surpass 10 million next year. at times there are rocky times, a little bit of stormy weather but the future is bright. Teslas work related injury rate has declined over time. where does AI and robots fit into the sustainability picture? its about sustainable abundance for all. on track to complete the Semi factory will make millions of the Tesla Semi will also have the ability to go autonomous down the road. the future is autonomous. five years from now, autonomous Teslas will be everywhere regulatory globally. almost the entire fleet which will surpass 10 million vehicles next year is capable of autonomy. an autonomous car could have the usefulness thats 5x to 10x a regular car. with a software update, we could turn 10 million cars into the usefulness of 50 to 100 million overnight. Megapack can more than double the total power output of a given grid and excellent for stablizing the grid. Long-term more than 90% of all power on earth will be solar + batteries. Cell manufacturing were making the most efficient cell in the world lowest cost per kWh. built the first Optimus on the production line in Fremont. Should make 5,000 to 6000 Optimus Teslabots this year and parts for twice as many. Ten times as many in 2026. Cortex 1 used for AI training. Over 50,000 active GPUs soon to be 100,000 GPUs making it top five in the world. Have Dojo 1 active now handling 5% to 10% of the training load. Dojo 2 will be 10x better than Dojo 1. Optimistic about Dojo have a real shot at a breakthrough. have the cars doing useful work for the first time with no one in them driving from end of line and park themselves in Frement and now in Austin. Tesla self-driving will be 10x better than human drivers. Optimus is going into production this year the new 22 DOF hand is now in production. most sophisticated humanoid robot on earth our robot has a real brain Tesla is the leader in real-world AI what we learned from the cars we transferred to the bot. Tesla is the only company that can make intelligent humanoid robots at scale. Optimus will be the biggest product of all time by far nothing will be even close I think it will be 10x bigger than any other product ever made. the Cybercab production line looks like a high speed consumer electronics line moving so fast that people cant get close to it cars coming off the line in 5 seconds. we need even bigger casting machines 50,000 tons how big can a casting machine be what are the limits of physics? lets find out! hope make about 5,000 Optimus (parts for 10k to 12k) this year. An employee asked: is a robot going to steal my job? Elon: people will manage a flock of robots. Same will be true for self-driving cars people will manage a fleet of cars. interesting opportunity to make an electric VTOL jet maybe at some point well do that. Hyperloop vacuum tunnels high speed autonomous pods from city center to city center. Master Plan 3 + abundance for all = Master Plan 4 Optimus production in Fremont + an even bigger production line in Austin. Well be making tens of millions of robots a year serious volume maybe one hundred million robots a year. 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. Officials from the U.S. Attorneys Office said Thursday that six people, including three from New Jersey, were accused of attempting to steal almost $80 million in COVID-19 relief checks. Nosakhare Nobor, 29, of Edgewater; Solomon Aluko, 29, of Hackensack; and Jorge Gonzalez, 28, of North Bergen, were charged alongside three others, Shan Anand, 34, of Queens, New York; Nicholas Pappas, 28, of Miami, Florida; and Leonard Ujkic, 44, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. All six were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the government and aggravated identity theft. Corvallis insurance company was not only willing to cover the costs of the city's legal fight when Charlyn Ellis sued to retain her City Council seat, it also went ahead and hired the lawyer to represent the city. He was seemingly never used. The insurance company, Citycounty Insurance Services, or CIS, had offered to defend Corvallis on all fronts in Ellis v. Corvallis. Instead, utilizing its city attorneys at Beery Elsner & Hammond, as well as Portland-based law firm Markowitz Herbold as outside counsel, the city incurred $232,797.68 in legal fees through October 2024. The final bill is likely to be higher. That's on top of the the $109,000 paid to Ellis attorney after he successfully convinced a federal judge that a 2023 attempt to oust Ellis was void because the section of the citys charter leveled against her was unconstitutional. CIS, which insures most cities and counties in Oregon, did cover the remaining fees of Ellis' attorney, to reach a total payout of $200,000. Ellis sued the city last January, seeking to halt a process that would have forfeited her seat. A proposed resolution introduced in December 2023 had accused her of violating the city charter when she made a motion at a council meeting three months prior, asking the city manager to fill a vacancy at City Hall. The resolution alleged that by making a motion to have the city manager post a job opening, she was interfering with his duties. After Ellis sued on Jan. 22, 2024, the city moved the case about 1 weeks later from Benton County Circuit Court to federal court. Just one day prior to that move, then-city attorneys Jim Brewer and Dave Coulombe and City Manager Mark Shepard received an email from a consultant with CIS, according to records obtained by Mid-Valley Media. As we discussed CIS has accepted defense for this case and has hired Kenny Montoya to defend the city, the email from Stephanie Stubbs reads. Montoya is an attorney with Montoya Law LLC, based in Salem. I know that the city has been working with Kerry Shepard from Markowitz law firm since the beginning, the email continues. If you would like to keep Kerry Shepard as counsel for the city to advise on this case, we have no issues with that but CIS would not agree to pay for any of their fees. On Feb. 6, 2024, a "Reservation of Rights," which informs a claimant that an insurer has the right to deny coverage at a later time, was issued by CIS to the city, further delineating its position. In the complaint the plaintiff requests that the Court declare the defendants expulsion proceeding was unconstitutional as it was solely based on her protected speech and violates Article 1, section 8 of the Oregon Constitution and the First Amendment. She is also requesting declaratory and injunctive relief, the letter reads, referring to Ellis. It is the request for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief, that has triggered a question of coverage and prompted the reason for this letter. Declaratory judgment and injunctive relief a determination of Ellis' rights and a permanent stop to the proceedings that would have removed her from office are decisions a judge could make after looking at the underlying allegations. The letter states there was no coverage available to respond to Ellis' request for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, but that there was coverage to defend allegations that the charter was unconstitutional and invoking it violated her First Amendment rights of protected speech. Since there are claims that are covered, we will be defending the claim under a Reservation of Rights, it continues. Any costs or awards relating to the request for a declaratory and injunctive relief will be the Citys responsibility. We will defend all of the claims, however, since there are uncovered claims, the City may wish to hire their own attorney at their own expense to also advise them. According to a document filed with the federal court in Eugene on Feb. 22, 2024, Montoya and Amanda Reilly of Montoya Law were associated with the citys outside counsel as attorneys of record for the city in the Ellis v. Corvallis case. But according to City Recorder Alex Downing, the city of Corvallis does not have a contract with Montoya Law. And the firm never invoiced the city for litigation costs. Shepard told Mid-Valley Media he has to believe there was conversation with Montoya, at least early on, though he does not know if Montoya actually engaged on the case or charged any time. He doesnt recall much about the decision-making process regarding hiring the attorneys. From his understanding, this was the work of Brewer & Coulombe, likely in concert with Markowitz Herbold. Hed had some phone calls and emails with CIS, he said, but doesnt recall ever seeing the reservation of rights form. Brewer could not be reached by Mid-Valley Media for comment. Montoya, as well as representatives from Beery Elsner & Hammond, declined to comment. Related stories: When Black women flooded social media with their collection of colorful, high quality cookware, Georgia native Ashley Bell felt seen in a space that once made her feel invisible. She has spent the past five years building up her lifestyle and homemaking blog, Its Bell Made . Her elegant floral arrangements and comforting meals evoke peace and ease in her followers who dont have to worry about shedding their true selves to enjoy Bells content. Interior design and diversity coexist on her blog. Thats not always the case for Black women in the homemaking space, Bell said. When you look up Southern Living, when you look up the homemaking hashtags on Pinterest or any platform really, if you dont put Black homemaker we dont show up, Bell said. Bell is hoping for better representation after the release of the Netflix series With Love, Meghan . The show highlights Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, dishing out hosting, crafting and cooking tips. Markle has been bombarded with backlash since the episodes dropped on March 4. Meghan McCain, daughter of former Arizona Sen. John McCain, called Markle out of touch . Markle received death threats after asking to be called Meghan of Sussex on the show. Critics are accusing the British royal of being unrelatable for cooking with Le Creuset , a high-end French-Belgian cookware maker known for its dazzling exteriors and durable enameled cast iron. Black women are defending Markle and their love for the series by showing off their Le Creuset sets. Their Threads and TikTok posts formed a rainbow of dutch ovens, casserole dishes and other cookware in different hues. Black women told stories about their favorite family recipes and shared tips for hunting down deals on fancy cookware at thrift and discount department stores. Bell joined the trend by sharing a photo of her rasta pasta prepared in her 7-quart Azure blue dutch oven. Collectively, all of the posts, videos and pictures were sending a loud message. We are showing the masses again that were not new to this. Weve been true to this, Bell said. Weve been had this in our arsenal. Weve been using these nice tools to cook with. It was validating. Homemaking and lifestyle blogger Ashley Bell shows off her rasta pasta which was prepared in an Azure blue 7-quart Le Creuset dutch oven. Ashley Bell Bell said she was intrigued by Markle getting a lifestyle show that catered to Bells interests. But before she could finish the first episode, Bell saw a negative review from a Black influencer in the homemaking space. That post repeated the same rhetoric other critics were stating and even compared Markle to other white lifestyle influencers like Martha Stewart. The critique changed the way Bell viewed the show, but only for a moment. She started to recognize some of Markles techniques within herself. In the first episode, Markle makes homemade bath salts for her friend. Bell made the same gift for her neighbors last year. I love how she talks about adding a little razzle dazzle to the most basic of things, Bell said. I felt inspired and validated by it. Ive been consuming it very intentionally and just enjoying it and also getting ideas from it. Bell believes that many people are used to seeing white women in the role that Markle is in now. She thinks the criticism is coming from an inability to see Black women as homemakers. Thats odd to Bell considering how Black women were forced to do domestic tasks during enslavement. Historically, we breastfed white peoples children. We were the homemakers and the cooks, she said. Yet somehow now we are less capable. But we are more than capable. The debate around With Love, Meghan has stirred conversations about Black womens right to embrace the soft life and own lavish kitchen items. Discussion also summoned the legacy of sharing Black love through cooking. The Le Creuset collections arent the only treasures in Black kitchens. Theres also the skillets, pots, platters and plates that have been passed down from one generation to another. These culinary heirlooms dont always look as fancy as French cookware, but they hold the recipes and the memories shared with loved ones. Maryland native Erica Chew considers a mixing bowl one of her most prized possessions. It belonged to her grandmother, Jocelyn Lewis Chew, a fashionable Sunday school teacher who stressed the importance of education and the communal power of a good meal. The bowl was a wedding gift from Jocelyn Chews uncle after she married her husband, Percy, around 1933. The couple deepened their familial roots in Spotsylvania County, Va., a place where their families have existed since 1740. Erica Chew still gets chills whenever she visits her familys property. When I stand on their land its like Im literally standing where my ancestors stood, Erica Chew said. So many African Americans dont know where they came from because of enslavement and being bought and sold. So to be able to stand on a piece and then say, My family has been here since 1740. I dont take that lightly. Jocelyn Chew archived that heritage into her cooking. She used the mixing bowl to whip up her sweet potato pie, rice pudding and macaroni and cheese. As she became older, it became increasingly important for someone to hold on to the family recipes. Her grandbaby became the solution. Erica Chew stayed by her Big Mas side and took in the wisdom on how to cook. Its hard for me to share my recipes because Im one of those cooks who dont use measurements, Erica chew laughed. I cook like that because Big Ma cooked like that. Its almost like your ancestors telling you, Thats enough vanilla or Thats enough sugar. Jocelyn Chew (left) passed down her family recipes to her granddaughter Erica Chew (right). In the center is Jocelyn Chew's mixing bowl, which Erica still uses. Erica Chew Cooking was a love language for Jocelyn Chew. Erica Chew remembers how her grandmother soothed her soul during her first job as a broadcast reporter in Washington, D.C. Chew bought meatloaf from a local restaurant during lunch. But just as she was about to sit down and enjoy her food, Erica Chew and her coworker got a call for a breaking story. She had to leave her meal in the car. By the time Chew returned, her meatloaf had spoiled in the August heat. Of course, she had to tell her Big Ma what happened. Jocelyn Chew always wanted to hear about the new stories her grandchild chased and she made sure to pay attention to the details. When Erica Chew visited Virginia on her day off, her grandmother cooked a fresh pan of meatloaf. I think the kitchen for Big Ma was sort of like the North Star because the food that she cooked brought the family together, she said. Cooking for her was love. Her answer to the problems of life was to feed you. When Jocelyn Chew passed, her family had to sell her home to settle her debts. Erica Chew may have lost the kitchen that raised her, but she was able to keep her Big Mas flour sifter and several glass pitchers. Big Mas spirit is potent when her granddaughter gets to cooking with her bowl. Theres so much history in it, Erica Chew said. Even when I make some of the things that she used to make out of that bowl, like rice pudding, corn pudding or mixing up the batter for sweet potato pie, its like shes still here with me. One member of the Lumberton Township Committee called for Mayor Gina LaPlaca to step down during Thursdays council meeting days after she was charged with driving while intoxicated with her young son in the car on Monday. My personal opinion is for the mayor to step down and to heal herself, Lumberton Township Committeeman Terrance Benson said. Benson said he does not condone the actions of the mayor and wanted her to take care of herself. My immediate wish is for Gina to be selfish, Benson said. Selfish enough to realize that her physical and mental well being comes first. LaPlaca, 45, was charged Monday with DWI and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child after another motorist reported her to police, charging documents show. She was not present during Thursday nights meeting. Police in Lumberton responded to LaPlacas home just after 6 p.m. Monday after another motorist shared video with authorities of LaPlacas car allegedly swerving between lanes while driving, charging documents show. The video shared showed LaPlaca almost hitting a utility pole, police wrote in an affidavit for her arrest. LaPlaca admitted to authorities that she had been drinking and police found an open container of alcohol in the car during a search, authorities said in the complaint. She told authorities that she had just picked up her young child from daycare, according to court documents. She was issued a total of seven citations including DWI, driving with an expired license, having an open container of alcohol or cannabis, endangering a child and others, court records show. No other council member called for LaPlaca to step down during Thursdays meeting, which lasted about two hours. However, multiple members of the public spoke and called for her resign or for the council to take action. The municipal attorney reminded residents that there was nothing the committee could legally do Thursday night to remove the mayor. He said she either has to resign or be removed through a recall election. Three residents must file a notice of intention to recall the politician with the election official for the district. The official will review it within three business days and notify the targeted person of the recall. Once such a petition is approved, the recall committee has 160 days to collect signatures from 25 percent of the registered voters in the district. For recalls of U.S. Senators or governors, the petitioners have 320 days to collect signatures. The submitted signatures are reviewed by the election official within 10 business days and, if certified, a recall election is scheduled. Deputy Mayor Lori Faye issued a statement Thursday saying she was happy LaPlaca was seeking the help she needs. As a Committee, our priority is doing what is best for Lumberton, Faye said. As human beings, we care about our residents and each others wellbeing. The Committee supports Mayor LaPlacas decision to seek the help she believes she needs. Faye added that the committee would respect LaPlacas familys wishes for privacy. LaPlacas husband, Jason Carty, told ABC6 Action News that his wife was seeking help and asked for privacy. Gina is someone who has struggled and is now getting that help that she needs, Carty told Action News. I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery. I simply ask that you respect our privacy. Just be better humans and show some compassion, Carty told Action News. LaPlacas next court date is scheduled for April 28, 2025. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X Two top-level administrators are suing Montclair State University for allegedly failing to protect them from a sexist, retaliatory work environment created by their recently-hired boss. The lawsuit was filed this week by Summer Jones, 49, and Donna Sadlon, 61 both associate vice presidents in separate departments at Montclair State. They are accusing David Chun, the universitys chief information officer, of discrimination. Jones and Sadlon claim Chun, who was hired less than a year ago, refused to communicate with them, was abusive when he did, undermined their authority and repeatedly favored male subordinates. After they reported the alleged discrimination to human resources, Chun retaliated by demoting and stripping them of responsibilities, according to the lawsuit. Montclair State University knowingly allowed its female executives to be abused, humiliated, ignored, marginalized and effectively demoted in order to protect a newly hired male, said Nancy Erika Smith, an attorney representing the women. Even after repeated complaints, MSU not only failed to act, but enabled retaliation against these women. In an emailed statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Montclair State University said they had not officially been served with the complaint but strongly dispute the claims and characterizations and plan to vigorously defend against them. Montclair State University is committed to maintaining a workplace where all employees are treated fairly and with respect. We maintain strict policies that prohibit discrimination and comply fully with all applicable laws, the statement said. We remain dedicated to providing a positive and respectful work environment for all employees, and are confident the facts will demonstrate the University operated consistently with its commitments and legal requirements, university officials added. Chun was hired in April 2024 and previously served as chief information officer at other universities, including Sonoma State University in California. Since beginning his role at Montclair, at least four high-ranking female employees have filed discrimination complaints against Chun, according to the lawsuit. Jones has worked for Montclair State for nearly 19 years and was promoted to associate vice president of technical support services more than two years ago. She directly reports to Chun in her role, according to the lawsuit. Jones was also part of the hiring committee that interviewed Chun. The hiring committee did not select Chun as their first choice for the job, but Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell chose to hire him, according to the lawsuit. Jones first reported Chuns alleged behavior to human resources last year, saying he repeatedly ignored her emails and forwarded them to male colleagues, who were subordinate to her. However, her complaints were dismissed, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also alleges Chun promoted people in Jones' department without consulting her first. He also removed multiple positions from her team, diminishing her role. In September, Chun provided raises to members of his department, including subordinates to Jones and Sadlon. While most female workers received only a 2% increase, some male workers and directors in Chuns group received a 6% increase, according to court documents. A formal discrimination complaint against Chun was filed by Jones in August, but no action has been taken, according to the lawsuit. Sadlon, the other executive filing a lawsuit, has worked for Montclair State for nine years and is currently the universitys associate vice president for IT strategy. When a position opened up that Sadlon was qualified for, Chun chose to promote a less-qualified male employee, according to the lawsuit. Chun allegedly made a comment that Sadlon could not be promoted to the position because she was too emotional. She also alleges that Chun dismissed and publicly embarrassed her during meetings, according to the complaint. In May, Sadlon told administration about Chuns alleged gender discrimination, and he retaliated against her by excluding her from assignments, new projects and decision-making, she claims. The following month, she filed a written complaint alleging she was subject to a hostile work environment and said she planned to resign because of it. Instead, she was offered the option to work fully remotely to avoid interacting with Chun, according to the lawsuit. Sadlon rejected the offer, saying she had done nothing wrong and would not accept the reduction of her responsibilities as if she were the problem. Both Jones and Sadlon allege that administration including the universitys president and chief operating officer, human resources and legal departments were complicit and failed to protect them from abuse and sexism, according to the complaint. The lawsuit also claims the university did not conduct a timely or meaningful investigation into the discrimination claims. This lawsuit is about more than just two women, said Smith, the attorney representing the women. Its about making sure that no woman at Montclair State is forced to endure this kind of discrimination and retaliation again. Jones and Sadlon are seeking damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and violations of discrimination laws. Montclair State University said it will not comment further on the pending lawsuit. Byrd, a Hoboken restaurant serving food with influences from across the globe, has closed less than a year after opening. Chef Ehren Ryan, owner of acclaimed New American restaurant Common Lot in Millburn, opened Byrd last June with his wife Nadine at 800 Jackson St. in Hobokens Mile Square neighborhood. It is unclear when exactly Byrd shuttered, but it is currently listed as permanently closed on Google. Byrds website and social media pages are now unaccessible. Ryan declined comment when NJ Advance Media reached out earlier this week. The closure was first reported by The Hoboken Girl on Monday. Byrd featured an eclectic menu with everything from sashimi and Arctic char to burgers, vegetarian mushroom bolognese and burrata. The Jackson Street space is situated on the ground level of the Metro Stop condominium building, and has been a bit of a revolving door for businesses over the past several years. Tilted Kilt, a Scottish-themed bar chain, opened in the space in 2011 and closed in 2016. New American bar and restaurant Taphaus then took over the space in 2016 and closed in 2018. It was followed by gastrobar Prive, which lasted for less than a month in April of 2019. Sangria, a Spanish wine bar, occupied the space from 2021 to 2022. More food coverage: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.comon Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. A popular retailer is recalling more than 61,000 units of a sparkling water brand due to a safety hazard. Canva/Katherine Rodriguez Trader Joes is recalling 61,500 units of a sparkling water brand due to a safety hazard. Glass bottles of Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water, sold across 12 states, are being recalled because the bottles may crack, causing a laceration hazard, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. READ MORE: 7 recalls you missed this week, including laundry detergent sold exclusively on Amazon The recall, which was discovered during production after noticing bottle breakage, covers 750 milliliter Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water bottles sold individually or in cases of 15. The bottles contain a red, white and blue label with Gerolsteiner on the front of the bottle. The recalled bottles have lot numbers 11/28/2024 L and 11/27/2024 L, on the lower part of the label. No injuries have been reported to date. The bottles were sold between December 2024 and January 2025 in 12 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, and sold for $3 each. The company is advising people to stop using the sparkling water bottles and return them to their place of purchase for a full refund. Those who want to find out more about the recall can contact Gerolsteiner by phone at 800-777-0633 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email at customerservice@consup.us. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Clayton Mayor Tom Bianco was overjoyed when he learned his borough would be getting a county library branch. I was joyous, Bianco told NJ Advance Media. I was totally surprised. A $3 million grant from the New Jersey State Librarys Capital Projects Fund made it possible. It allows the Gloucester County Library System to build a nearly 4,500-square-foot building in the 700 block of N. Delsea Drive, with a projected opening in the spring of next year. The grants purpose is to fund construction or improvements to facilities designed to enable work, education, and health monitoring in communities with critical needs. It prioritizes areas most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as per federal guidelines. It is a community that really needs a library, Carolyn Oldt, the county library director, told NJ Advance Media. There is so much need there. Were really making every square inch of this building count. The main branch is in Mullica Hill. There is a wide disparity between household incomes in Mullica Hill and Clayton. The median household income in Mullica Hill is $123,265, compared to $54,700 in Clayton. Oldt said the Clayton library will be within walking distance to the center of the town. All of those people without the internet will now have the opportunity to access the internet with our resources, Oldt said. As part of the grant, we had to be close to public transportation. The distance between Clayton and the main branch of the library in Mullica Hill is nearly 10 miles. There is a closer branch in Glassboro, about 3 miles away, but the new facility in Clayton will be more than twice the size of the 1,800-square-foot building there. This project represents our support for literacy, lifelong learning, and community connectivity, Liaison Joann Gattinelli, a county commissioner, said in a statement. We are excited to see this vision become a reality. Oldt said the library can be the hub for many activities, including computer literacy, job skills help, health care screening and more. The county has libraries in Glassboro, Greenwich, Logan, Mullica Hill (Harrison), Newfield and Swedesboro. This new library in Clayton will be a tremendous asset, offering a modern space for learning, community engagement and enrichment, Frank DiMarco, the county commissioner director said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Uber Health drivers will take patients to medical appointments, the pharmacy and food pantries under an agreement with RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey. Canva Stock Image Over two years ago, Balpreet Grewal-Virk spoke to Newark nonprofits and residents to see how RWJBarnabas Health could address patient health issues outside of the four walls of their hospitals. Nonprofit workers told the senior vice president of community health that transit was one of several barriers for people who needed to get to doctors appointments, pick up medication or access healthy food. Those who present for services, they dont have a car, they dont have access to transportation, and when they need to go see a doctor when theyre not feeling well, that just becomes a back burner, said Nemin Jaya, director of administration for the Salvation Armys Newark Area Services, one of the nonprofits Grewal-Virk spoke with. Grewal-Virk not only listened, she and RWJBarnabas acted. The hospital system partnered with Uber Health in November 2023, using $25 million in state funding, to get free rides to underserved patients at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Grewal-Virk said. Uber Health, run by the ride-share company Uber, provides non-emergency medical rides to people going to the hospital, doctor, or pharmacy. Grewal-Virk said RWJBarnabas later expanded the program to include five more of its 14 hospitals Trinitas Regional, Clara Maass, Jersey City, Cooperman Barnabas and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - through $50 million in state funding. As of February 2025, the hospital system has coordinated over 47,440 rides for patients, according to RWJBarnabas Health, resulting in fewer missed appointments, medications picked up more quickly, and greater access to food at pantries. Harry Hartfield, a spokesperson for Uber, thinks the partnership is a great idea. This forward-thinking collaboration is a perfect example of the health systems dedication to improving patient outcomes through accessible and affordable solutions that increase access to care. Researchers who study the effect of public transportation on health outcomes say these rides can be life-saving for residents who lack access to transit. We know that the more often you go to the doctor, the more often youre able to take care of things as they arise in a timely fashion, the better off your health is, said Michael Smart, a professor at Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Transit is a real lifesaver, a literal lifesaver. He noted that people with access to cars have better access to health resources, like better-rated doctors. There are big gaps in accessibility and the ability to travel to destinations that provide healthcare and other opportunities that promote health, Smart said. He cited Census data showing 391,842 or 11.3% of households in the state didnt have access to a car in 2023. Any type of services that we can provide for these very important trips that work like a car for low-income families and others is going to help tremendously, Smart said. Grewal-Virk said that in addition to transporting patients to doctors' appointments and the pharmacy, Uber Health could take them to food pantries and shelters. Mark Jackson has been able to get to his housing shelter in Union City from Jersey City a commute that can be difficult with his bronchitis. Its a really helpful thing, Jackson said. It would be very hardit would be two light rails and then a good walk back down. The 55-year-old initially went into Jersey Medical Center emergency room to be treated for a bronchitis flare-up, he said. A nurse connected him to one of the 50 community health workers RWJBarnabas employs. The workers are hired from the communities the hospitals serve and are trained through a state Department of Health program. They identify patients like Jackson by administering a survey to see if they qualify for the Uber Health program, then follow up after their emergency room visit. If a patient qualifies, based on lack of access to transit, the community health worker provides a number to call. The patient is linked to RWJBarnabas' Uber Health hub, where eight employees schedule Uber rides. If, after 120 days, the patient still needs support, his community health worker will reenroll him. Jackson has a dentist appointment later in the month, and the program is helping him get to it. Im glad the community has something like this for us, he said. Not everybody owns a car. Soon, more communities will have access to the program. RWJBarnabas Health plans to expand the service to the rest of its hospitals this year, Grewal-Virk said. As a hospital system, were clinical, but at the same time, were also caring for communities, she said. Its important to look at all these factors. What other things are happening in your life that are keeping you from being healthy? Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amira Sweilem may be reached at asweilem@njadvancemedia.com. The hot bar is loaded with authentic specialties at Syrena Polish Deli in Linden, New Jersey, photographed above on Tuesday, March 17, 2025. Karim Shamsi-Basha Im not too familiar with Polish food, or Eastern European for that matter. Ive had it, but never to the extent of exploring the intricacies and various aspects of the cuisine. To redeem myself as a food and culture columnist, I stopped by Syrena Polish Deli in Linden, an authentic eatery established in 2001. Almost 7% of New Jerseyans are of Polish descent, so its about time I acknowledged our friends from Poland. Sweet treats await patrons at Syrena Polish Deli in Linden, New Jersey, photographed above on Tuesday, March 17, 2025. Karim Shamsi-Basha On to the food: Upon walking into Syrena Polish Deli, I was overwhelmed by my surroundings. The space is also a grocery store with everything Polish, like canned sauerkraut, mustards, jellies, candy, makowiec (Poppy seed cake), canned soups and a plethora of Polish specialties. And then, there was the hot food bar! I stood in front of the steamy trays of goodness like a kid in a candy store. I saw authentic favorites like stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, perogies, soups, beets, meatballs, chicken cutlets, cheese blintzes, seafood and dumplings stuffed with a variety of fillings. Where do I start? I love beets, so I had the beets with nuts salad ($5.00). The beets were tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the nuts added a crunchy texture. Next came the stuffed cabbage, of course! That is a Polish classic. Interestingly, my mother used to make stuffed cabbage (Yakhana in Arabic) back home in Damascus, Syria. I used to go nuts over those delicious cabbage rolls stuffed with rice and tomatoes. This cabbage ($5.00) was stuffed with pork and rice. I took a bite and savored the taste and the memories. It wasnt hugely different from what I had back home. I also tried a cheese and potato pierogi, a must in a Polish deli. Authentic foods await you at Syrena Polish Deli in Linden, New Jersey. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2025. Karim Shamsi-Basha This crescent-shaped fried dumpling was tasty with creamy potatoes and a hearty cheese. Syrena Polish Deli serves a variety of pierogis stuffed with mushroom, pork, potatoes, spinach, sweet cheese, blueberries and strawberries. Bottom line: The food at Syrena is delicious, authentic and more than affordable, and the market is loaded with everything you might ever need from that Eastern European country. For Polish cuisine in North Jersey, visit Piast Meats and Provisions in Garfield. Meal combinations of a meat, potatoes and two sides run around ($8.99). Notice the potatoes are automatically included! Also affordable are the soups at ($2.99) for a bowl. In South Jersey, you can visit Heart of Europe in East Brunswick. The pierogis are ($5.00) for six and 10 for ($10). The white borsch soup, a truly authentic treat, is ($2.00) for a small and ($4.00) for a large. Now, thats beyond affordable! There you have it. Whats your favorite Polish place? Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram. Follow Mosaic on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom. The CARE Center of New Jersey's food pantry allows guests to visit twice a month and stock up on fresh produce, bread, canned goods and meat for free. Michael Derek Gatlin A Morris County megachurch that is spending $30 million to renovate and expand its community center officially opened a huge new food pantry Thursday morning. The CARE Center of New Jersey is a program within IMPACT Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit subsidiary of Christ Church in Rockaway. The pantry, called Food for HOPE, is housed within a 10,000-square-foot space. Food insecurity isnt just about meals its about dignity, opportunity, and a future where no family has to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table, said David Ireland, the centers founder and the churchs lead pastor. Food for HOPE is a promise to the people of New Jersey that no one should go hungry. Nonprofit officials also launched the centers new fleet of trucks to transport food and supplies to communities in need, officials said. A customized, refrigerated 24-foot box truck; a refrigerated van; and pickup truck are included in the transportation fleet. The food pantry, which is located within the centers 130,000-square-foot facility, allows guests to visit twice a month and stock up on fresh produce, bread, canned goods and meat for free. Officials said they aim to serve 500 people in the food pantry every month, and thousands more through the mobile food units, which will expand the nonprofits distribution efforts to food deserts across the state. The centers Food for HOPE program launched five years ago, nonprofit officials said. A rendering of what the $30 million community center in Rockaway will look like when it's completed. Provided by The CARE Center of New Jersey The center is located on the churchs Rockaway campus at 140 Green Pond Road. The nondenominational church also has locations in Clifton and Montclair. The Rockaway campus was built on the 107-acre former Agilent Technologies property off of Route 80. The center is currently fundraising to finish its facility renovation, officials said. When fully funded, renovated and opened, the center will bring roughly 40 full-time and 60-part time jobs to the Morris County facility, officials said. It will also provide a variety of services, including mental health counseling, health care referrals, legal services, career preparation and a thrift shop. Nonprofit officials said they aim to serve 500 people in the food pantry per month. Michael Derek Gatlin Many of the services will be free, while others will be provided at a highly discounted rate, nonprofit officials said. A full list of services is available on the centers website. As one of the largest churches in the state, Christ Church has more than 10,000 members representing 70 countries. The CARE Center has served the community for more than 20 years. The churchs Rockaway campus opened in 2009, after a six-year battle that included a federal religious discrimination lawsuit, a U.S. Justice Department investigation into town practices and three years of public meetings with residents worried the complex would bring traffic and noise to the community. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Commuters endured bumper to bumper traffic on detours Thursday during the first full day that all lanes of Interstate 80 were closed in Wharton after a third sinkhole opened Wednesday evening. That led a leading state senator to ask Gov. Phil Murphy to set up park-and-ride lots and bus service to get commuters out of traffic. I-80 west traffic continued to be detoured at exit 34B to Route 15 north on Thursday out of an abundance of caution, said Stephen Schapiro, a state Department of Transportation spokesperson. Dozens of teachers, students, and staff members packed the Evesham Township Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 19, raising concerns about the proposed school cuts for next year. Evesham Township Board of Education A teachers' union in Burlington County said it no longer has confidence in its superintendent after the district proposed cutting nearly 10% of its staff next school year to reduce costs. At a packed board of education meeting Monday night, the Evesham Township Education Association issued a rare vote of no confidence in Superintendent Justin Smith on behalf of nearly 500 teachers. The announcement came after Smith presented next years preliminary $85.7 million district budget, which includes cutting 83 teaching and staff positions. To save $4 million next school year, the district also plans to increase middle and elementary school class sizes and cut all elementary school extracurricular activities, according to the plan. Health benefits for paraprofessionals will be eliminated and transportation will be outsourced to further reduce costs, according to the proposed budget. In a close vote, board members passed the budget, but not without major dissent from the public. More than a dozen teachers, parents, staff members and students spoke at the meeting, raising concerns about the cuts. Teachers called for the superintendent to resign or take appropriate measures to restore confidence, alleging he has been neither transparent nor timely in his decision-making. Dr. Smith has systematically dismantled a once-thriving school district, leading to a decline in educational quality, staff morale, and community trust, a statement from the teachers' union said. The administration has repeatedly failed to engage with key stakeholders, neglecting the principles of open governance and accountability. Evesham is among several school districts around the state making tough budget decisions this spring as the state legislature debated Murphys budget proposal. On Tuesday, the Middletown School District in Monmouth County proposed plans to close two of its elementary schools to save costs in its $197 million budget for next year. In Evesham, Carole Larsen, a paraprofessional who works with students with autism in the district, said at the meeting she was devastated when she learned her benefits would be cut. My benefits are very crucial to my husband and me, Larsen said. Ive been with the district for 19 years, and I was the first name on the cut list. According to Smith, the district had to make the layoffs and cuts due to state funding constraints. Our districts goal is charting the least horrible path in a horrendous situation Smith said in a statement Wednesday. This is not a result of fiscal mismanagement, but rather a direct consequence of the State-imposed funding constraints. Our expenditures continue to rise due to inflation, mandated costs, and increasing special education and transportation needs, while our revenue growth remains artificially restricted by, among other factors, the States 6% cap on state aid increases this year, which is depriving our district of $1,307,912 in unallocated, uncapped state aid, he added. Smith also said at the meeting he plans to meet with the teachers' union about their vote of no confidence. The Evesham Township School District serves about 4,500 students across its eight public schools. Last month, after Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled his $12.1 billion school funding plan for fiscal year 2026, the New Jersey Department of Education released preliminary state aid figures for the states nearly 600 districts. Eveshams state aid is increasing by 6% for the next school year. But, the district has still lost over $7 million in aid since 2018, local officials said. In 2017, Evesham was one of many districts considered historically overfunded when the state revised its school funding formula to address disparities in aid distribution, according to school officials. New Jerseys new school funding law gradually reduced funding for overfunded schools and increases it for underfunded ones. The goal is to achieve full fairness by 2025, though some districts argued the method as unfair. In Evesham, the proposed cuts followed years of decreases in aid, along with rising costs, the financial burden of special education and transportation costs, and staff salary and benefit increases, according to its superintendent. More than 87% of Eveshams $85.7 million planned budget for next school year comes from local property taxes, which are set to increase to supplement the loss in aid, the board said. Detective Holland Mack holds his drum before marching in the Newark Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Newark on Friday, March 15, 2024. John J. LaRosa | For NJ Advance New Jersey has another busy schedule of St. Patricks Day parades this weekend, though the actual holiday celebrating Irelands primary patron saint and Irish culture took place on Monday. Six celebrations are coming up, starting with parades Friday in the states two largest cities Newark and Jersey City. (See the full list of New Jerseys upcoming parades below.) Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the weeks political events with Opinion editor Enrique Lavin. Q: Monday is the filing deadline for the gubernatorial primary. Will everyone running file? What should we watch for? Julie: There is no reason for anyone running now not to file. No one has to give up his or her congressional or legislative seat to run and its an open field on both sides, with no obvious front-runner. I suspect that each of these candidates will try to one-up each other on the number of signatures each of them will submit. Other than that, I am waiting for this race to begin in earnest, because I have never recalled such a quiet communications strategy so close to when ballots are set to go out. Mike: I agree with Julie. It seems full steam ahead for all the candidates. No one seems to be hedging. Q: State budget hearings are beginning. Is Gov. Murphy nuts asking for tax hikes? Julie: Murphy is not nuts to ask for tax hikes because the states fiscal position is in shambles and has been for decades. The difference is that he does not have to run again and members of the General Assembly do. I doubt that many of these tax hikes will make it into the budget he signs this summer. Mike: Tax hikes of any sort in the highest taxed state in the nation are nuts. The state spent way too much in Murphys first seven years, This years budget is nearly 70% higher than Gov. Christies last budget. That is staggering and unsustainable. The state spent too much federal COVID money and also borrowed billions more on top of that. Now that money is gone, so they have to resort to higher taxes. I agree with Julie the state assembly democrats should be nervous to go along in an election year. Q: Newark mayor and gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka called on U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer to step aside after backing the Republican spending plan in Congress. Voting for President Trumps package seemed like a Catch 22 for Democrats. Who are the winners and losers here? Julie: Baraka was absolutely right to call on Schumer to step down. I wrote more extensively about this here but to sum it up: Trump has zero interest in working with Democrats on anything. Any support Congressional Democrats give to him will only hasten our descent into fascism, while allowing Republicans to apportion the blame for their unpopular policies on Democrats. The winners are Trump, Elon Musk, John Thune, Mike Johnson and the MAGA-ites. The losers are the American people, who will not only live with the consequences of these horrific policies but now know that they have no leader in the Senate with a backbone strong enough to stand up for them. Mike: Schumer looks bad here. He seems to have gotten nothing in return. The responsible play is to keep government open, but Democrats want someone who will fight and at least gain some concessions. Q: Mike, to Julies warning: Are centrists like you concerned about Congress support of Trumps agenda leading to a fascist state? Mike: Accusations of fascism are thrown around too often. If a duly- elected Congress goes along with a duly-elected president, that is not undemocratic. People may not like it, but they were all democratically elected, and elections have consequences. Julie: Fascism begins when the leader throws people in prison for opposing his views, shuts down dissent by defunding programs based on ideological grounds, ignores judicial rulings he does not like and uses brute force to get what he wants. All of that is happening now. May I remind you that throughout history other fascists came to power through legal means and then, once in office, acting extra judiciously. Mike: I am changing the name of the column from Friendly Fire to Fascist Fire and unilaterally deleting or editing Julies answers as I see fit. Enrique: (Gulp!) Now, wait a minute Q: The budget package includes extending tax cuts to Americas wealthiest, enhancing border security, and promoting U.S. energy. It also threatens cuts to social programs (Medicaid, Pell Grants and food assistance) while adding trillions to the national debt. What should we be watching for in the new few months. Julie: You dont have to watch for anything, because it is already happening. The moment Schumer caved on the budget package, Trump made it clear that he was ignoring Congress and sequestering funds that it allocated for a host of programs. For years, Trump and his MAGA acolytes told you what they would do. You might not have believed that they would actually do it but they have been true to their word as outlined in Project 2025 and on their podcasts and television shows. Mike: Only the far left doesnt like tax cuts and thinks we should thwart American energy. And border security is a bipartisan issue now. Democrats need to talk about specific cuts, as you cite in your question, if they hope to get any traction. Otherwise, most Americans are on board for lower taxes, less spending, and affordable and reliable energy. Democrats are losing the PR war, and its not even close. Right now, Trump can only beat himself (which hes done before). Q: Trump has had a history of disrespecting the court and judges if he disagrees with unfavorable outcomes. How do you view Chief Justice John Roberts rebuke of Trumps call to impeach a federal judge? Julie: John Roberts just woke up to find out that the leopard has eaten his face. Perhaps the chief justice should have thought of all this before authoring the opinion in Trump v United States, which gave the president full immunity for any criminal conduct in the Oval Office. Now Trump gets to sic a mob on judges with impunity and then pardon the people who harm those same judges. It is only a matter of time until they arrive at Roberts house, unless he falls fully in line with Trumps increasingly autocratic whims. Towards the end of World War II, Winston Churchill advised Stalin to leave Poland alone because it would strain relationships with the Vatican. Stalin laughed and responded: How many divisions does the Pope have? This is Trumps mentality now that the Supreme Court has given him full criminal immunity. How many divisions does Roberts have to stop him? Because Trump has many to wreak all the havoc he wants. And Roberts has none. Mike: John Roberts has been a very good Chief Justice. Reasonable and less predictable than the ideologues on the far left and far right of the Court, as he does what he thinks is right interpreting the law of the land. He opposes Trumps position when wrong and stands with it when it is legally right. We need more judges like Chief Justice Roberts who read the law and interpret fairly as opposed to be an automatic partisan vote. A note to readers: Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week with this Friendly Fire conversation. Mike and Julie are deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players discussed in this column. DuHaime, the founder of MAD Global Strategy, has worked for Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Comprehensive Communications Group and author of the Salty Politics column in Substack, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg, and Phil Murphy. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters in front of a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP) AP President Donald Trump is facing backlash from activists and Democrats over his threats to those targeting tech billionaire Elon Musk. Trump has repeatedly defended Musk and his electric vehicle company Tesla since its dealerships have experienced widespread protests, boycotts and vandalism since the start of his second term. In response, Democrats are mocking Trump for his latest complaints about protesters targeting Tesla. Shannon Watts, an activist pushing for gun control laws, slammed Trump for having a stronger response to reports of vandalized Tesla vehicles than school shootings. Donald Trump after children and educators are shot inside a school: We have to get over it. Donald Trump after his biggest donors cars are vandalized: she wrote, attaching a screenshot of Trumps latest post on Musk. Donald Trump after children and educators are shot inside a school: We have to get over it. Donald Trump after his biggest donors cars are vandalized: pic.twitter.com/MEGH966onS Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 21, 2025 U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a frequent Trump critic, also blasted the president over his comments on Musk. He suggested that the laws dont seem to apply when it benefits Trumps base, pointing to the hundreds of Jan. 6, 2021 riotersincluding those charged with assaulting law enforcement officerswho were pardoned by the president earlier this year. But if you viciously beat police officers over the head with flag poles and build a gallows and noose outside the Capitol to hang Democrats, youre let out of jail. Got it. This is how despotism works. Enforce the laws except when they are broken in service of the regime, Murphy wrote on X. But if you viciously beat police officers over the head with flag poles and build a gallows and noose outside the Capitol to hang Democrats, you're let out of jail. Got it. This is how despotism works. Enforce the laws except when they are broken in service of the regime. https://t.co/bCcB8KeNgD Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 21, 2025 Protesters have been taking to Tesla dealerships across the country to oppose Musks role in slashing government spending in the Trump administration. Trump has continued to defend Musk in the wake of some violent protests, saying that attacks on Tesla vehicles are an act of domestic terrorism. On Friday, Trump reiterated his threats toward those who are protesting Musk. I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Tesla has been plagued by several issues since the start of Trumps second term, including plummeting stock prices, fewer vehicle deliveries and a massive recall on nearly all its Cybertrucks. Many people have also organized boycotts of Teslaa move that Trump said was illegally conducted earlier this month. There have also been several incidents of violent in connection Tesla. Prosecutors in Colorado charged a woman last month in connection with attacks on Tesla dealerships, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the words Nazi cars spray-painted on a building. And federal agents in South Carolina last week arrested a man they say set fire to Tesla charging stations near Charleston. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote in an affidavit that authorities found writings critical of the government and DOGE in his bedroom and wallet. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk talk with to reporters near Tesla vehicles on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP) AP Social media users roasted tech billionaire Elon Musk after he appeared to make a spelling error in his latest tweet praising President Donald Trump. Trump signed an executive order Thursday afternoon to dismantle the Education Department, fulfilling a key campaign promise from last year. Musk celebrated Trumps order in a post to social media platform X with a meme. The meme showed Trumps face edited onto someone making a peace sign hand gesture next to a headstone meant to symbolize the Department of Education. However, the meme included a spelling mistake within the text that read: Departmen of Education. Social media users immediately ridiculed Musk, arguing that his spelling mistake highlighted the need for the Education Department. One user wrote: You misspelled department, thus proving why we need a departmenT of education and why you should have studied something other than money. The misspelling [of] department highlights the need for such a department, wrote another user. One user on X noted that Trump cannot completely get rid of the department without an act of Congress. Elon Musk cant spell. He also doesnt know that Congress has to get rid of the Departmen of Education and that Donalds little executive order is meaningless. Is anyone surprised? the tweet read. Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. Republicans said they will introduce legislation to achieve that, while Democrats have quickly lined up to oppose the idea. The order says the education secretary will, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities. It offers no detail on how that work will be carried out or where it will be targeted, though the White House said the agency will retain certain critical functions. Trump said his administration will close the department beyond its core necessities, preserving its responsibilities for Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and money for children with disabilities. The White House said earlier Thursday the department will continue to manage federal student loans, but the order appears to say the opposite. It says the Education Department doesnt have the staff to oversee its $1.6 trillion loan portfolio and must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve Americas students. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Former MSNBC host Joy Reid made a stunning prediction about the United States and Canada during an interview with ex-CNN host Don Lemon this week. Reida frequent critic of President Donald Trumpwas ousted late last month from her former network where she hosted The ReidOut. She weighed in Thursday about Trumps stance on Canada, which he frequently says he wants to become the 51st State. Reid predicted that the U.S. would need to go to war with Canada for it to become part of the United States, saying that Trumps idea was absurd. Donald, Grandpa, Grampy Trump, lets talk. Lets talk. First of all, you cant make Canada the 51st state without going to war with them, Reid said on The Don Lemon Show before making a reference to the War of 1812. Let me explain how that happened, how that worked out the last time we tried to go to war with Canada. They burned the White House to the ground in 1814 and won the war. Canada beat us in the War of 1812. They probably like their chances against us. Were not going to beat them in a war because we have never been able to do that, she added as Lemon laughed. However, it was actually British occupation troops that set the White House and other buildings on fire during the War of 1812. As The New York Times explained in a 2018 article, Canada did not become a nation until 1867. The area that is now known as Canada was made up of British colonies during the war that was fought over maritime rights, according to The Times. Reid said that if the U.S. pulled out of NATO and went to war with Canada, the U.S. would be at war with the entire alliance Theyre also in NATO. And since were backing out of NATO, doesnt that mean that Europe would come to the defense of Canada and we now be fighting NATO? Do we really want to be in a war? I thought he was the no more wars guy, she said. Reids comments were met with angry criticism from MAGA supporters on social media platform X. Joy Reid goes on The Don Lemon Show and predicts that America will go to war with Canada and lose. Someone please ask Miss Reid to go live out her fantasies off camera, one user wrote. Another user said: Joy Reid predicts that America will lose a war with Canada. Thank God she was fired she clearly hates this country. Elon Musk holds a chainsaw reading "Long live freedom, damn it" during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference last month. TNS Two Democratic members of Congress running for governor of New Jersey have given away the thousands of dollars they received from the political fundraising arm of Elon Musks aerospace company, spokespeople confirmed to NJ Advance Media. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is doubling down on his vote to keep the government open last week. Senate Democrats have faced sharp criticism from their House counterparts over allowing a Republican spending bill to pass last week, with many arguing that the Senate Democrats gave up their leverage over the GOP. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) echoed that criticism during a rally alongside U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, Ocasio-Cortez said in Nevada on Thursday, Axios reported. Fetterman responded to Ocasio-Cortezs comment in a Friday post to social media platform X that defended his vote to keep the government open. He suggested that Ocasio-Cortez was referring to the Senate Democrats voting alongside Republicans to advance the GOP bill. Fight hardera stunt that would have harmed millions and plunged us into chaos. We kept our government open. Deal with it, Fetterman wrote on X. Fight hardera stunt that would have harmed millions and plunged us into chaos. We kept our government open. Deal with it. pic.twitter.com/B7NvcidNfa U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 21, 2025 Former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (R-Pa.) criticized Fetterman for his post, accusing him working with people who destroyed union rights at Philly airport, destroyed union rights at Philly airport and announced closure of mine safety offices and even one for the Flight 93 memorial. Lambs post even drew a reaction from Ocasio-Cortez, who said she was wrong about him. I was wrong about you and Im sorry Where do I submit my Conor Lamb apology form https://t.co/AgdcncybIw Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 21, 2025 Fetterman repeatedly said last week that he would not vote to shut the government down. He voted for the cloture motion that broke the filibuster to avoid a government shutdown, but did not vote in favor for the final continuing resolution. I refuse to punish working families and plunge millions of Americans into chaos. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever vote to shut our government down, he said. Ocasio-Cortez rallied Democrats last week to oppose Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) decision to side with Republicans on the spending billa move that she described to CNN as a tremendous mistake last week. Many Democrats have since pushed for Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Schumer for his New York seat, citing his decision to surrender to Republicans. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Howard Lutnick speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that older Americans could be fraudsters if they complained about not receiving their Social Security checks. Lutnick, a wealthy financier who was CEO at the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has been touting President Donald Trumps hardline trade policies for weeks. During an episode of the All-in podcast, he suggested that those complaining about not receiving their benefits could be committing fraud. Lets say Social Security didnt send out their checks this month. My mother in law, whos 94, she wouldnt call and complain. She just wouldnt. Shed think something got messed up, and shell get it next month, he said. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining. Anybody whos been in the payment system and the process system knows the easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen, because whoever screams is the one stealing, he added. Howard Lutnick says that if Social Security didn't send out a check one month, his mother-in-law wouldn't call in and complain, and then says that if you're the type who *would* whine loudly about such a thing, that's an indicator of being a fraudster. https://t.co/SIPjD2lywL Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) March 21, 2025 He said that older Americans would not complain because they trust the government. More than 72.5 million people in the U.S. receive benefits from the Social Security Administration. A recent survey from Bankrate found that 77% of retirees surveyed said they are relying on their Social Security to pay for necessary expenses, CNN reported last year. Lutnick was quickly criticized online for his comments, with many noting that he is a billionaire who is suggesting that older Americans should not complain about missing a Social Security check. Lutnick has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, according to Bloomberg. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) suggested the Trump administration was gearing up to gut Social Security. They are getting ready to destroy Social Security. Because the billionaires dont need it.Prepping the ground here by shaming people who dare complain if their Social Security check disappears, he wrote. They are getting ready to destroy Social Security. Because the billionaires dont need it. Prepping the ground here by shaming people who dare complain if their Social Security check disappears. https://t.co/D6fk1egDQA Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 21, 2025 The Lincoln Project said on social media platform X that Lutnicks comment was insane. WTF. This is insane. For so many seniors, there would be no money for food, rent, or prescriptions without their Social Security check. @howardlutnick says if they complain about missing a check, theyre a fraudster, the tweet said. And organization Public Citizen wrote: You know who actually makes the loudest noise? Someone who depends on Social Security to buy groceries. Someone who depends on Social Security to pay rent. Someone who depends on Social Security to survive. But billionaires like Howard Lutnick dont care about those people. Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been targeting the Social Security Administration over potential fraud but has offered little evidence of widespread wrongdoing. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters as they sit in a Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. Pool via AP President Donald Trump is not holding back against those protesting tech billionaire Elon Musk at Tesla dealerships across the country. Protesters have been taking to Tesla dealerships across the country to oppose Musks role in slashing government spending in the Trump administration. Trump has continued to defend Musk in the wake of some violent protests, saying that attacks on Tesla vehicles are an act of domestic terrorism. Trump issued a stark warning on Thursday to those targeting Tesla vehicles in a post to Truth Social. People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!! he wrote on X. People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!! Donald Trump Truth Social Post 3/20/25 11:08 PM Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) March 21, 2025 Tesla has been plagued by a number of issues since the start of Trumps second term, including plummeting stock prices, fewer vehicle deliveries and a massive recall on nearly all its Cybertrucks. Many people have also organized boycotts of Teslaa move that Trump said was illegally conducted earlier this month. Trump and his administration continue to prop up Tesla despite its latest business struggles. Trump turned the driveway of the White House into a Tesla showroom last week to purchase an electric vehicle to show his support for Musk. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick encouraged Americans during an interview with Fox Newss Jesse Watters to buy Tesla stockcomments that critics say could be a major ethics violations. Trump repeated his warning to those protesting Musk and Tesla in a Friday social media post. He referenced the prisons in El Salvador where his administration deported hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants last week. I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions! he wrote on Truth Social. Musk critics have organized dozens of peaceful demonstrations at Tesla dealerships and factories across North America and Europe. Some Tesla owners, including a U.S. senator who feuded with Musk, have vowed to sell their vehicles. But the attacks are keeping law enforcement busy. Prosecutors in Colorado charged a woman last month in connection with attacks on Tesla dealerships, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the words Nazi cars spray-painted on a building. And federal agents in South Carolina last week arrested a man they say set fire to Tesla charging stations near Charleston. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote in an affidavit that authorities found writings critical of the government and DOGE in his bedroom and wallet. The Associated Press contributed to this report. U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is not happy about the latest federal spending cuts that will affect his constituents. Lawler slammed the decision to close the only Social Security hearing office in the Hudson Valley in a statement on Thursday. He said that concerns about mold in the office dont justify abandoning folks in the Lower Hudson Valley. The decision to close the only Social Security Hearing Office in the Hudson Valley is a slap in the face to thousands of my constituents who rely on these services, he said in a statement. This office handles over 2,000 backlogged cases and conducts hundreds of in- person hearings every year. Telling my constituents that they now have to travel hours to Lower Manhattan, New Haven, the Bronx, or Goshen is completely unacceptable, he added. New York lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have for months condemned the closure of the White Plains Social Security office. The decision to close the office comes as President Donald Trumps administration continues to slash government spending across federal agencies throughout the country. Many social media users criticized Lawler for speaking out against the closure of the office when he supports Trumps plan to gut the federal government. In response to the criticism, Lawler attempted to blame the Biden administration for the office closure. To resolve any confusion, this was an action initiated by the Biden admin, he said, noting that the decision to close the office was made in December 2024. However, it appears the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is touting the closure of the White Plains office on its websites Real Estate tracker. It shows that a lease termination notice for the Social Security Administration in White Plains, N.Y. was sent on Jan. 29, 2025. The lease will expire on May 31. The White Plains office is just one of dozens of Social Security offices that are set to close in 2025 due to DOGEs efforts to cut down on spending, according to an analysis from The Associated Press. The closures come despite a new policy that will require residents to visit Social Security offices to verify their identity instead of calling the agency. The office of the New York Attorney General also said in February that the Trump administration announced plans to close the office. Lawler said in a statement at the time that the decision should not be carried through. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins also criticized the Trump administrations decision to reject a plan to keep the office open in a statement on Thursday. According to Jenkins, Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek told U.S. Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.) that constituents could instead travel to other locations if they need Social Security services. This is a disgraceful decision that prioritizes bureaucratic indifference over the well-being of Westchester residents. The Trump administration is effectively cutting off access to Social Security resources for those who need them most, Jenkins said in a statement. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Orleans Parish School Board president Katie Baudouin, New Orleans City Council members and other officials at a news conference on Nov. 18 where school board members and city council members announced a settlement that included more than $20 million in funding for the district and various programs. Mayor LaToya Cantrell now says her office does not support the settlement. (Photo by Marie Fazio) Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not the foul-mouthed, cussing type. It makes me want to holler when some of you who can't say more than two Indias Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly dropped a plan to waive adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of telcos, which is especially bad news for financially struggling telco Vodafone Idea. According to various media reports, the waiver was intended as a relief effort in the wake of a Supreme Court decision in October 2019 that ordered telcos to pay a combined INR1.47 trillion (US$17 billion) in legacy AGR dues to the government. In September 2021, the government approved a moratorium on AGR dues payments that expires in March-April 2026. The DoTs waiver plan, which surfaced in January this year, would have waived 50% of interest and all penalties and interest on penalties that make up almost 75% of the INR1.47 trillion figure. The waiver would have saved telcos over INR1 billion, more than half of which would have accrued to Vodafone Idea. However, accoding to a report in the Economic Times on Thursday, citing a person aware of the details", officials at higher levels of the government have objected to the waiver because they think its wrong to provide financial relief to private companies at least some of which are running a profit on an issue that was decided by the highest court in the country. The main objection seems to be that Bharti Airtel which would have seen INR38 billion in AGR dues erased under the plan is doing well enough financially that it has the ability to pay the dues. Tata Teleservices which has dropped consumer mobile services to focus on enterprise mobility would have saved INR14 billion. The waiver doesn't cover Reliance Jio because it doesn't owe any legacy AGR dues. The decision to scrap the waiver is potentially bad news for Vodafone Idea, which held a cash position of INR120.9 billion at the end of 2024 and has to pay INR291 billion in statutory dues in March 2026 when the moratorium expires, the report said. Last September, the Supreme Court rejected Vodafone Idea's plea to recalculate the AGR dues amount, which could have been reduced by 46%. While the government recognises the need to financial relief for Vodafone Idea, it feels the waiver plan isnt an appropriate solution, the report added. The source told ET that the DoT is working on an alternate plan to provide financial relief for Vodafone Idea that could include taking an additional equity stake in the telco. It currently holds a 22.56% stake. James Allen & mom Dawn Boudah James Allen, left, stands with his mother, Dawn Boudah. She said he was a "mama's boy" and frequently called her daily, which is why she was a James Allen Jr. was a "mama's boy." Even when his mother moved more than 1,000 miles away from Hammond to Palm Harbor, Florida in 2021, their connection remained strong. "He'd call me from anywhere," Dawn Boudah said. "He was that son that would text me 10 to 20 times a day. Anytime his phone went off, he'd call me from a gas station or someone else's cell phone." The last time he called was the night of Jan. 20, 2023. She hasnt heard from him since. Boudah said Allen called around 10:30 p.m. that night to tell her he was leaving Safe Haven veteran's building, 7931 Iowa St. in Merrillville, where he had been living temporarily following his release from a county work release program three days prior. He had been released so he could attend his fathers funeral, Boudah said. When she didn't hear from him the next day, she knew something was wrong. She went to the Hobart Police Department, where she said she was advised to wait 72 hours to see if he showed up. When he didnt, she filed a report on Jan. 24, 2023. Video surveillance collected by Hobart police from a Speedway gas station on the corner of Broadway and U.S. 30 shows Allen jumping out of a car around 11:15 p.m. the same night Boudah last spoke to him. She said a Hobart detective suggested Allen, who had a history of substance abuse, might have been high and paranoid, which could have caused him to jump out of the vehicle. It wasnt like when he used to get high, she said of his demeanor in the video. I dont know what happened. He just disappeared, never to be heard from again. James Allen inside Safe Haven veteran's building One of the last images of James Allen Jr., 33, before his disappearance Jan. 20, 2023. He is seated inside Safe Haven, 7931 Iowa St. in Merril Boudah alleges she hasn't heard from the detectives on the case since they were assigned, but calls to check in periodically herself. She said she believes police have neglected to thoroughly investigate her son's disappearance. Merrillville Police detectives Aaron Ridgway and Alexander Van Rite said their department has put an "extensive effort" into searching for Allen: they served search warrants for his cellular data, social media and bank records and conducted a cellular analysis to locate his cell phone. Police didnt find anything that could point them in the right direction. Without additional leads, the detectives said they arent able to move forward, which is a common issue other police departments said they face when it comes to investigating missing persons cases. Editor's note If you have information on the disappearance of James Allen, reach out to Merrillville police at 219-769-5711 or call 911. We havent found anything, but it isnt for lack of trying, Ridgway said. Its because there isnt anything to find. The families of people missing in Northwest Indiana issued a cry for help earlier this year after what they said was a lack of action from Northwest Indiana police agencies, particularly detectives with the Gary Police Department. During a January rally on a snowy day in Crown Point, loved ones made the names of their missing family members known to the public and demanded action. Emma Baum, JaNiyah McMichael, Lisa Wright, Diamond Bynum and her nephew King Walker are all still missing. Some families said they felt abandoned by detectives because their missing loved ones battled substance use disorders, made money as sex workers or had been formerly incarcerated. The law enforcement members interviewed for this story said a person's lifestyle does not make their investigation less vehement. A list of missing persons maintained by the Indiana State Police showed 232 people were missing from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties as of Feb. 1. The list is full of inaccuracies, however, with some individuals listed having already been found or found dead, based on a Times analysis of the data and previous reporting. In January, Gary Police Department released a list of seven missing persons cases, all dated with reports filed last year. Officials did not respond to requests for comment regarding the over 100 cases remaining on the state's list. Families have said they are left confused by a perceived lack of action and communication, and police said they cannot investigate leads that do not exist. Inconsistent data only makes the problem harder. 'He deserves better' For approximately two months, Allen lived in Lake County Community Corrections' Kimbrough Work Release Program. Lake Criminal Court records show he was placed on probation in a felony case in early November 2022 and asked the court if it would be willing to let him live in work release while a separate misdemeanor case of his was pending, as he did not have alternate housing, Boudah said. Prosecutors filed a petition to expel him from work release the week before he was released due to an alleged violation of program rules and set the petition for a hearing Jan. 17, 2023. The petition was never resolved, because two days before the hearing, Allen learned his father, James E. Allen Sr., had died in his birthplace of Detroit, Michigan. A Lake County judge agreed to release Allen from work release so he could attend his fathers out-of-state funeral. When Allen went missing, the family delayed the funeral for three weeks to see if Allen would turn up. Upon his release, Allen planned to stay with a friend temporarily at Safe Haven while he waited for Boudah to meet him in Northwest Indiana so they could make the trip to Detroit together. The Hobart Police Department initially investigated Allens disappearance. Merrillville police said Hobart did much of the initial legwork, including drone and K-9 searches, search warrants and subpoenas. Boudah said her experience with the Hobart detective on the case made her lose trust in the police's ability to investigate the case. She alleges the detective told her Allen could "hide from his mommy if he wants to." "My son has never not been in touch with me for more than 72 hours," she said. "He deserves better." Flyers After Allen's disappearance, Boudah said she and Allen's loved ones distributed flyers up and down Broadway in Merrillville near where he was Boudah was, however, complimentary of then Hobart Lt. Nicholas Wardrip, who spoke with her about her son's case. Wardrip, who is now the assistant chief, said Allen's case was tricky, but the department put every resource they could into finding him. Merrillville detectives took over on Feb. 23, 2023, once police realized Allen was last seen in Merrillville. The investigation led police to the area of 84th Avenue and Georgia Street, Ohio Street along Interstate 65 and the Red Roof Inn just west of the interstate. Their searches did not yield any results, Ridgway and Van Rite said. Cellular data showed Allens phone last pinged in the area of 86th Avenue and I-65, Ridgway said. Detectives never located his device. They used sonar technology to see if his body would turn up in any of the small bodies of water near the hotels, but were unsuccessful. Ridgway and Van Rite said they spoke with the man who was last seen with Allen. While he was cooperative, he was not able to provide anything of substance to investigators. Van Rite said it's unusual for them to have such little direction in a case such as this. Merrillville Investigations Cmdr. Derek Diehl said the department does not have a written policy for investigating missing persons cases but has common procedures officers follow when they investigate a case. When someone comes to the department to file a report, Diehl said officers gather medical information, family history and details about the persons last known contact. The most important thing were trying to determine is if someone is in danger, if someone is a suicide risk or medical risk, Diehl said. Then we would start working on the case immediately. From there, the report is sent to the detective bureau. Once a detective is assigned, they gather information on the persons social media presence, speak to family members and associates and retrace their last steps, among other tasks. There are a multitude of things we look into, Diehl said. If those techniques dont garner more details, it can be a "waiting game, he said. They put information out publicly when they can and hope someone will come forward with a tip. Cases are never closed until the missing person is found, according to all law enforcement sources. While they might go cold, there is always the possibility a new lead will emerge. Collaboration among law enforcement agencies can be extremely valuable, especially if cases are high-risk, such as those involving children or people who might need urgent medical assistance. Valparaiso police Capt. Joe Hall said they use multiple sources to share data with local, state and national agencies that include Indiana Data Communication Systems, the National Crime Information Center, Indiana Clearinghouse on Missing Children and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Schererville police Chief Pete Sormaz said his department has written policies for procedures in cases of missing adults and children. Each 7-page document contains definitions of terms related to missing persons, procedures for officers, supervisors and detectives, communications with other agencies and public alerts. He said they focus heavily on technology during a missing persons investigation through the use of drones, license plate readers, credit card usage, tracking IP addresses and facial recognition, which is still an emerging technology. The Porter County Sheriff's Department also has a written policy to provide detectives with guidance regarding missing persons investigations. Similarly to Schererville police, it includes definitions of terms related to missing persons cases, report procedures, investigatory processes, follow-ups and case closure. Sgt. Ben McFalls said the department has an average of 12 cases logged each year. The majority of the reports he said they receive are often resolved within 24 to 48 hours as a result of Porter County police locating the person, the person returning home or being located in another area with the help of an alert or entry as a missing person. Law enforcement members said they believe a substantial majority of their cases of people who go missing are people who do not want to be found. Ridgway said he's encountered cases where he's called up a person reported missing who answers and tells him they don't want to be found. Ridgway said they'll honor the person's request to keep their new location private, but they will update the person who made the report that the individual is safe. Much of the difficulty for law enforcement lies in working with populations who may not leave clues behind. People who suffer from addiction may not leave the best trail," Hobart police Assistant Chief Nicholas Wardrip said. "They may not have a phone or car to help us track them down. Lifestyle, in my opinion, doesnt make someone less of a victim or make our response less. But without evidence, without the trail to follow, its very hard to find somebody, especially if that person doesnt want to be found and they are no longer leaving clues behind. A team effort Allen lived a relatively transient lifestyle. He often stayed in motels or with friends and acquaintances, but regularly showed up for work for his job at Aurelio's Pizza in Crown Point, and kept in contact with his mother. "My son was always very transparent with me," she said. After Boudah filed the missing persons report, she and Allen's loved ones started their own independent search. For six weeks, they looked through fielded areas behind the Safe Haven building, posted flyers up and down Broadway and handed them out everywhere from Crown Point to Hammond. She recruited Team Canine NWI, an independent search and rescue team that deploys K-9s to search for missing persons at no cost to the family. "The search still continues," founder Lorenzo Longoria said. Search team Lorenzo Longoria, here with "Thor", leads Team NWI Independent Search & Rescue. Longoria, a dog trainer by trade, started assisting families in their searches for missing loved ones in 2014 after his son, 23-year-old Michael Hernandez, went missing in May 2015 and was found in a retention pond six weeks later. He died from an accidental drowning, according to previous reporting from The Times. The team only investigates cases in which it has connected with the family of the missing person and doesnt use social media or the state police database to learn about missing persons cases. There are about 10 people total who participate in the search and rescue enterprise. We just don't go out and (put) boots on the ground," Longoria said. "We have the rest of the team that are in communication with the family. We pray with the family, some families, we take them food. They search on their days off in various areas, from wooded areas to abandoned homes across the Region. Longoria's dog Thor, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been trained to identify human remains using a SOKKS kit, which includes compounds meant to mimic the scent of human bodies in various states of decay. Longoria avoids sharing live videos of search efforts and generally only posts video clips a matter of weeks after they have been taken. This is to avoid fueling online speculation and the spread of inaccurate information about sensitive cases. One of their searches has been successful: in December, the team found the body of missing Valparaiso woman Jamie Vlamos-Jones, who was missing for approximately one week before she was found. Multiple law enforcement organizations have told Times reporters they don't support the idea of the group because of safety concerns that come with searching these areas. Search team Lorenzo Longoria, right, here with "Thor", leads Team NWI Independent Search & Rescue. Other members of the team are Kyle Longoria with "N We have zero red tape unless we've been instructed or advised, Hey, leave this alone, Longoria said. He said the group would honor a request from law enforcement to suspend search activities, but they have not been told to do so. Families of missing persons told Times reporters they celebrate the work of Team Canine. "They are doing the work police have not done," one of Emma Baum's family members said in January. Baum's sister, Abigale Smith, said in January that she has scoured the city of Gary searching for her missing sister. She has put up flyers, looked through buildings and talked to neighbors and residents without success. Lake County's second-most populous city has the highest number of missing persons in all of the Region at 131, while Hammond follows behind with 49 missing persons cases. Michigan City, LaPorte County's largest municipality, places third with 11 missing persons cases. Families of individuals missing from Gary have lamented their frustration with police, both because of what they said is a lack of communication and indifference. Like Team Canine, some have taken searches into their own hands. Wardrip advised that any community group or citizen who wants to conduct search parties first contact their local police department so they can work in tandem. "We share a common goal of finding people and bringing them home," he said. Message in flight Boudah's advice to those who are missing loved ones? Pray, she said. A lot. Have someone to advocate and support you throughout the process. "You're so mind-boggled when this happens," she said. "You need someone to speak for you." Allen was an animal lover; he would often send Boudah photos of wildlife he saw day-to-day and was known to bring home injured animals or stray cats. She remembers a time he brought home a baby squirrel who climbed up to their third-floor apartment in Hammond. James Allen Allen was an animal lover, his mother Dawn Boudah said. He would often send her photos of wildlife he saw day-to-day and was known to bring ho Boudah said she believes Allen is "gone." He once told her when he died, he wanted to be reincarnated as a bird. One day, when she was feeling lonely, a bird happened to fly through her window and into her vehicle a sign, she believes, that her son will always be with her. "The bird flew right in my car and sat right on my dash," Boudah said. "I took a video of it. And he used to say 'Mom, if I'm ever gone, I'm going to be a bird.' The birds, when they just soar all over, especially when I'm feeling really down, he just shows me cool stuff to make me laugh." Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today "Greek to Me" This was the clever name of the monthly column that debuted in this newspaper in 2002, authored by Michael Raysses, who was fascinated at the time with the concept of duality. The phrase is typically used to refer to something inscrutable, but when applied to me, a Greek American, the foreign suddenly became familiar, he said. Raysses, a Gary native who lived in Hammond and Highland, used writing to understand the Region and the world. He ended up writing 52 of those columns, exploring and dissecting life through the written word. It reminds me of another Greek-American writer from this crevice of the country whose brilliance lives on beyond his death. Writers give words their true value, Harry Mark Petrakis told me in his Dune Acres home around that time frame. Raysses stumbled into his role as a monthly columnist, taking over for fellow Region native Bo Kane who penned the Hollywood Hoosiers feature for the weekend editions of this paper. That column shared portraits of creatives from Northwest Indiana who moved west to find their fate or fortune. We used to see each other at auditions and became friends, Raysses recalled. At some point, he asked to interview me for his column. When we were done, he told me that this was going to be his last piece for Hollywood Hoosiers and that I should take the column over but rework it to a format and focus that I found compelling. So I did. Greek to Me later expanded to include video versions that were featured on a YouTube channel of the same name, as well as segments on NPR's Day to Day Show with Alex Chadwick. Raysses eventually found success, notoriety and, more importantly, his writing voice. It can be an elusive endeavor for young writers, like trying to catch the wind in a butterfly net. He expanded his repertoire to include a self-published kids picture book, Lonely the Only, about a young octopus named Lonely who goes on a hero's journey, learning to love himself in the process. The books tentacles are likely wrapped around some part of Raysses life. He also wrote a series of pieces under the title Behind the Apron based on his years of experience in the restaurant business. The hospitality industry continues to enthrall me to no end, he said. However, this wasnt the field he pursued at Indiana University in Bloomington before graduating from John Marshall Law School in 1982. He practiced law in Chicago for one year, to the day, before quitting to opt for a career as an actor. In 1989, after having accumulated some invaluable experience acting in the Chicago theater and improv communities, Raysses moved to Los Angeles to deepen his commitment to acting. He continues to live in Southern California but his life proves the local adage, You can leave the Region, but the Region never leaves you. Its influence on me as a person and as a writer has been singular, Raysses said. Growing up, I loved the Region. It had everything a kid could want. Lake Michigan, the Hammond Civic Center, Wayne's Trick Shop, the Army/Navy Surplus store, the Paramount and Parthenon theaters, Wicker Park pool and, of course, Greek festivals, where he grew to appreciate being part of a community that embodied so many things he learned to value. And best of all, the people, Raysses said. Having attended Saint Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church in Hammond since I was old enough to go to Sunday school, I became very identified with an ethnic group that seemed to fit right in with the myriad others. He was influenced early on by the master storyteller Jean Shepherd, as well as John Anastopoulos and Nick Paravantes. Both were Greek, and both came to Raysses through the local radio station, WJOB in Hammond, which broadcast their respective shows. Raysses is now 68 and thinking about returning to the Region, as so many people do after taking a swing at life from different locations on the map. Late last year he published the book Tomorrow I Might Be Sausage: An Anthology in Four Seasons, a collection of 32 essays and a truly delightful read. The act of writing almost always transforms me in ways I never see coming, he told me. The anthology is as good an example of that as I can imagine. Raysses invites readers on a jaunty road trip through his strange and wondrous life while offering an intimate peek at a man whos held more jobs than the classified pages: misfit attorney, working actor, philosophist waiter, garage grease monkey, long-haired revolutionary, ping-pong aficionado and perhaps the worst caddy on the planet. His book is available on Amazon and at Miles Books in Highland, where Raysses is planning a book signing soon. Its preface sets the table: Since grade school, writing has been my way of making sense of the world by trying to prove an elusive truth: that I existed, that I was alive. Growing up, I wasnt entirely sure I belonged here, primarily because I was constitutionally incapable of seeing myself. This self-insight is a universal challenge for many of us. Raysses captures it with a writing voice that drips with his upbringing in Northwest Indiana. I think you'll hear a voice that was directly influenced by the Region's impact on me as a writer, he said. Popular Cambodian beauty pageant Miss and Mister Majestic has been getting a lot of attention after photos of its ordinary-looking participants went viral on social media. The winner of Mister Majestic 2025 will represent Cambodia in the Mister Universe international beauty pageant, but the contest has created a lot of buzz online due to the questionable looks of some participants. Last month, organizers released the introductory photos of the 17 male participants selected to take part in the competition to become Mister Majestic, and, judging by the feedback on Cambodian social media, they were not what people were expecting. Its true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but many people complained that most of the guys competing for the title of Mister Majestic looked ordinary, and some of them had sub-standard looks. Viral photos posted on the Miss and Mister Majestic beauty pageant back in February featured the contestants posing topless with their bodies covered in oil and gold glitter. Only what was supposed to be a sexy photo shoot inspired all sorts of hilarious comments about the contestants looks. And, while were not in the position to judge others physical appearances, we can say that they didnt look like your typical mister contestants. To top it all off, this month, Cambodian media reported that the man who stands to win the title of Mister Majestic this year, Lai Thai, has a clear eye defect caused by strabismus. Despite his obvious physical defect, he has garnered the most votes so far, he has appeared in the sponsors advertising photos, and he stands to represent Cambodia at the International Mister Universe pageant. Hitting back against critics, Miss and Mister Majestic clarified that the event not only honors physical beauty but also focuses on the talent and confidence of the contestants. Photos of Mister Majestics candidates have gone viral on multiple social networks and have transcended Cambodias borders. Vietnamese media recently covered the contest, focusing mainly on the questionable looks of the participants. Richard Hatzfeld Ive been reading a lot of Orwell lately. Not because Im feeling the gravitational pull of his most popular works on dystopia and totalitarianism, but because he had a clear vision of the power of language to shape societies and promoteor hinderhuman potential. Its a theme that runs through many of my favorite Orwell short stories, as well as his famous novels, and is a relevant bearing point to help communicators make sense of todays trends. Words can serve as a window into the health of a society. The language we use, and the consistency of that use, can help us heal, reconcile differences, cast light on issues we would prefer to ignore and help people on the fringes of society see themselves as more welcome. Many of the institutions and organizations that achieve brand durability with their customers demonstrate their commitment to bedrock values through the consistent application of specific language in the programs they support. By the same token, bad things usually happen when we impose barriers to communication. Wars start, relationships fracture, misdiagnoses occur, learning stalls. And yet, we tend to gravitate toward language that limits expression and promotes homogeneity rather than celebrating differences. That seems to be the moment were in now in the U.S. as the pendulum of language swings back toward exclusion. Governments arent normally a leading driver for language in society, especially in the age of social media. But that changes when theres a push at the national level to limit or ban words that may be seen as radical, which over the years has happened across the political spectrum. Problems arise when the language thats censored targets particular groupsespecially those seen as societys weakest or least visibleor is intended to strip away efforts to level the playing field and improve communication rather than inhibit it. Consider the growing list of words that have been recently stripped out of U.S. federal government literature, communiques and online content. By removing such terms as discrimination and disparity, we make it harderand therefore less efficientto describe the conditions that millions of Americans experience on a regular basis, fueling division and preventing us from identifying paths forward to some of our most intractable challenges. This is especially true for the way we communicate about health. When common terms like mental health are excluded in government information sources, how are specialists expected to address the high rates of suicide that military veterans and many other Americans experience every day? If we intend to reverse the devastating rates of chronic disease and obesity in the U.S., whats the most efficient way of confronting the root causes for those conditions if we cant openly discuss the social determinants that often lead to peoples poor health? When people of color experience significantly higher rates of bias and racism by medical practitioners than white peoplea well-documented and persistent issuehow can we realistically improve health outcomes by systematically disregarding the reality that countless patients experience? In the push to find more efficient ways to communicate, the risk we face is that government efforts will trickle down through American society and influence how we all communicate. Call it the Great Flattening: guided by efforts to suppress language within government agencies, we begin to self-censor and become more comfortable with the companies and institutions in our lives demonstrating greater pliability with the language they use to articulate their value to us. Orwell warns against this kind of homogenization, which seems to be the intent of limiting words that people use to identify and differentiate themselves, describe their state of health, or find ways of fitting into a world that feels inaccessible to them. By putting restrictions on the language we use and stifling diverse viewpoints, we risk perpetuating inequality and encouraging mediocre, conformist thinking. Thats hardly in the interests of companies and institutions seeking to position their products and services to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving and diversifying global marketplace where customers expect to see the brands they support demonstrate values that dont bend with the political winds. The rise of corporate social responsibility over the past thirty years has reinforced the importance of companies playing a greater role in society and defining profit beyond strict monetary terms. Organizations that have integrated purpose and societal benefits into their business models may now face a test: How will they communicate their values at a time when language intended to foster inclusion and representation is maligned? The answer may determine their brand durability in the years to come. *** Richard Hatzfeld is a Senior Partner and Global Health Impact Lead at FINN Partners. Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's A Cork man stole a number of items from a supermarket in Tullamore using a suitcase, last week's sitting of Tullamore District Court was told. Michael Mullane, with an address at Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, was charged with stealing two toothbrushes, two mobile phones, and food items worth 632.91, on August 29 last from Tesco, Cloncollig. Mullane, 32, pleaded guilty to the offence. Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that Mullane brought a suitcase into the supermarket and filled it with a number of items, none of which were recovered. The sergeant said the defendant had two previous convictions, for minor road offences. The defending solicitor Patrick Martin pointed out that his client's relationship had broken down at the time and he hadn't been able to see his children. He also had addiction issues when the crime happened. His addiction issues have now been addressed. READ NEXT: You won't believe the paranormal activity found in a particular Offaly castle... Judge Andrew Cody asked the solicitor what his client had been doing in Tullamore on the 29th of August. Mr Martin said he was visiting a relative. What did he need two electric toothbrushes for? asked the Judge. How many sets of teeth does he have? And if he wasn't able to see his children at the time why did he need to steal baby food? Mr Martin said his client was now unemployed but had been a self-employed tree surgeon. His business collapsed following his relationship break-up. The judge remanded him on continuing bail to May 7 next and asked that Tesco be compensated in full by that date. READ NEXT: Offaly detective says driving licence was 'worst fake' he had ever seen There are some big names among the guests for tonight's Late Late Show on RTE One. Comedian, actress and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell will sit down with Kielty on Friday night for her first exclusive Irish TV interview since moving to Ireland. The American celebrity's big move to Ireland came up during the Taoiseach's recent visit to the White House and she will be chatting to Kielty about Trump's reaction to this. She will also speak about next month's Same Chance Walk for Autism with AsIAm which she will be taking part in. Then one of Ireland's most beloved country music stars Daniel O'Donnell will join Kielty in the studio to talk about his upcoming tour around the country this year. The music legend will also chat about trips with his family, touring and the lengths he has gone to for his fans throughout his 40 year career. Another comedian and actress will also be in studio on Friday night, with Roisin Conaty coming on to talk about her new series LOL: Last One Laughing UK with Jimmy Carr. Conaty is well known for her roles in Game Face and After Life and will be chatting about growing up in London with Irish parents and spending her summers in Kerry. Following another great year for Irish jockeys at Cheltenham, Rachel Blackmore and Paul Townend will also join Kielty in studio. Jockey Paul Townend, a four-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and leading jockey at this years festival with four winners, and Rachel Blackmore, Cheltenham 2025 double winner and the only female jockey ever to win a Grand National, will review this year's week in racing. You can catch this week's episode of the Late Late Show on Friday night at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player. FIANNA Fail MEP for the Midlands North-West, Barry Cowen, hosted a high-level discussion in the European Parliament focused on the future of Irelands dairy and beef sectors on Thursday. The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from Dairy Industry Ireland and Meat Industry Ireland. The discussions centred on pressing issues such as the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), generational renewal, trade and tariffs. However, the dominant theme of the meeting was Irelands Nitrates Derogation, a critical policy for the future sustainability of Irish farming. The dialogue highlighted the sectors ongoing efforts to improve environmental standards and included praise from industry representatives for the job being done by Irish MEPs highlighting this progress in Brussels. Several MEPs attended the key event. Alongside MEP Cowen were Maria Walsh, Fine Gael, a fellow full member of the European Parliaments Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) Committee, as well as Billy Kelleher MEP, Fianna Fail, Cynthia Ni Mhurchu MEP, Michael McNamara MEP, and Ciaran Mullooly MEP. Representatives from the offices of Fine Gael MEPs Nina Carberry and Sean Kelly were also present. The broad political presence demonstrated a united commitment to advocating for Irish farmers at the European level. Mr Cowen and his colleagues reaffirmed their dedication to leading the political effort to secure the retention of the Nitrates Derogation. The meeting also coincided with positive news from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which yesterday reported that nitrogen levels in Irish rivers have reached their lowest point in eight years - an outcome attributed to the immense work undertaken by Irish farmers in collaboration with Government and other stakeholders, including EU initiatives such as the 60 million Water EIP Project. READ NEXT: https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/local-news/1758425/tyre-on-trailer-pulled-by-tractor-on-offaly-road-completely-disintegrated.html Mr Cowen, a former Fianna Fail TD for Offaly, stated: I was delighted to see such strong consensus today on the issues that matter most to Irish farmers. The future of our dairy and beef sectors depends on fair and balanced policies that recognise both environmental responsibilities and economic realities. The latest EPA data is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Irish farmers in adopting more sustainable practices. These improvements must be properly acknowledged at EU level, particularly in the context of our application to renew the Nitrates Derogation. I have been leading the fight to ensure this as a full member of the European Parliaments Agriculture Committee. Farmers have demonstrated their commitment to environmental responsibility, and their efforts deserve recognition and reward, not additional burdens. Record beef prices, growing new market opportunities and strong trade are all positive indicators for the sectors, but we must remain vigilant. I look forward to continued engagement with Irelands farming and export community to ensure that their voice is heard in Brussels and that policy decisions reflect the reality they face on the ground. I made it a point to actively engage with parents on various platforms, sharing valuable sleep tips, showcasing the Baby Sleep Pods in use, and promoting positive feedback from customers. This not only helped build a community of parents around the product but also contributed to increased sales and visibility. Carlene Rotblat When Carlene Rotblat became a mom in September 2017, her world flipped. Sleepor the lack of ittook over, spiraling her into postpartum anxiety and depression. I was a prisoner in my own home. I was absolutely terrified about ruining my babys naps and I can count on one hand the number of times I left my house in the first four months, she recalls. A sleep consultants controlled crying only made it worse. That sleep consultant used controlled crying which fuelled my anxiety. I wished there was another way to sleep train and a way to leave my house without panic, she says. After her second daughter arrived in 2020, the nurse turned sleep consultant launched Sweet Dreamers, offering gentle sleep support with no tears. Her next move was Baby Sleep Pods, born from a need she couldnt ignore. As a sleep consultant, I have often been asked how to support baby sleep when outside of the house, she says. Blankets over prams werent safe, and she refused to settle for that. In October 2023, she debuted Australias first safety-tested blackout pram cover100 percent permeable star mesh blocking 97 percent of light. Cradle to creation Exhibiting at baby expos and markets provided a direct and personal connection with parents. These events also provided an opportunity for me to answer questions, demonstrate the products benefits, and gather invaluable feedback from parents. Carlene highlighted that one of the most important strategies that contributed to the growth of Baby Sleep Pods was creating a customer-centered product that addressed a clear market gap. She explained, Before starting the business, I noticed that many parents struggled with finding an effective and safe solution for their babies to sleep comfortably while on the go. Although there were a few options, she felt none fully addressed the specific needs of both parents and babiesespecially in terms of safety and comfort during outings. By identifying this gap, Carlene was able to create a product that not only provided a solution to parents challenges but also helped enhance their childrens sleep quality, which every parent desires. She also leveraged her existing network of sleep consulting clients, who became some of her first customers and remain the most consistent sources of sales. She mentioned, Their support was crucial in the early stages of the business.Through her practice, she gained deep insight into the struggles parents face, allowing her to develop a product that was deeply informed by real-world needs, ensuring Baby Sleep Pods resonated with her target market from the start. Carlene also stressed the importance of social media exposure in building brand awareness and expanding reach. She stated, I made it a point to actively engage with parents on various platforms, sharing valuable sleep tips, showcasing the Baby Sleep Pods in use, and promoting positive feedback from customers. This helped build a community around the product and contributed to increased sales and visibility. Exhibiting at baby expos and markets also provided valuable opportunities for direct connections with parents. Carlene added, These events helped solidify Baby Sleep Pods as a trusted brand and allowed me to connect directly with my target audience. Growing pains and gains To differentiate Baby Sleep Pods from competitors, she made a conscious decision to prioritize safety and quality. She shared, I wanted to build a product that not only met but exceeded industry standards, giving parents peace of mind knowing their babies were safe. A standout feature of Baby Sleep Pods is its safety-testing and approval by multiple reputable safety organizations, including INPAA and ARPANSA. This, she explained, ensured that the Baby Sleep Pods not only offered comfort but also protected babies from environmental factors like UV radiation. The UV rating from ARPANSA was particularly important to her, as she noted, UV radiation is a real concern for babies, and by having the Baby Sleep Pod tested and approved for UV protection, it gave parents a product they could trust to safeguard their babies during outdoor naps. Carlene Rotblat explained that Baby Sleep Pods stands out by offering the only Australian pram covers that are safety-tested, approved, and endorsed by INPAA. She said, Our products are designed with meticulous attention to detail, featuring high-quality, air-permeable mesh for optimal airflow and sunshade capabilities. She added that they stay ahead by continuously innovating to meet the evolving needs of parents, ensuring their products enhance both the comfort and well-being of children. As a small business, Carlene mentioned, I am able to keep in touch with many of our customers in order to educate on the use of the product as well as take on suggestions on how to improve the product and make it even better, which I have actually done. Carlene Rotblat shared that starting Baby Sleep Pods without any background in e-commerce or website design presented significant challenges. She mentioned, The learning curve was steep, and it took time to understand the nuances of running an online business, managing a website, and optimizing for customer experience. These were areas I initially had no expertise in, but I knew they were crucial for success. To tackle these challenges, Carlene leaned heavily on available resources, particularly YouTube. She said, There is a video for nearly everything, from how to build and optimise a website to how to manage inventory or improve product listings. She added that platforms like YouTube allowed her to quickly learn practical skills without the need for formal training. By following step-by-step guides and experimenting with different strategies, she gained more comfort with the technical aspects of running her business. Persistence pays off Ive realised that failure isnt something to feareach mistake or misstep has been a learning opportunity. Embracing this mindset has helped me stay motivated and keep improving. Carlene also emphasized the importance of being adaptable. She reflected, Since I didnt have the luxury of expertise from the start, I had to figure things out and pivot when necessary. This process, she noted, taught her that its okay not to know everything at first and that continuous learning is essential for both personal and professional growth. She stated that one of the most important lessons shes learned is the value of persistence. Carlene explained, Its easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of tasks and challenges when starting a business, but I discovered that small, consistent steps forward lead to big changes over time. She also realized that failure isnt something to fear, as each mistake has been a learning opportunity. This mindset, she mentioned, has kept her motivated and driven to keep improving. Ultimately, Carlene concluded that the journey has been challenging but rewarding. She said, Its taught me not only about e-commerce and website design but also about resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of maintaining a growth mindset. Carlene advised, My advice is to identify a genuine need in the market and develop a product or service that addresses it effectively. Focus on quality, safety, and customer satisfaction, and be prepared to adapt and learn continuously. More here: Baby Sleep Pod Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Labours Justice spokesperson and Tipperary TD, Alan Kelly has slammed the Minister for Justice following revelations that trainee Gardai are being deployed on patrol our streets and countryside without undergoing full vetting a process that may never actually come through. Deputy Kelly has been informed by Garda sources that full vetting would no longer take place for recruits as they enter the Garda Training College in Templemore. "Can you imagine if TULSA, the HSE or the Adoption Authority of Ireland adopted this laissez faire attitude to full vetting? What would the Government say then? But it seems its ok that the Gardai, who actually contact vetting, can just skip this whole process to present recruit numbers that are higher than they actually are for political purposes", Deputy Kelly said. This is absolutely staggering. The public will be shocked that trainee Gardai individuals who may never even become full members of the force are being sent out on patrol without the necessary background checks. How can we expect to maintain the highest standards in An Garda Siochana if proper vetting is being abandoned? I have been told by Gardai that full vetting would no longer take place for new recruits entering Templemore. This raises fundamental questions about the Governments commitment to upholding the integrity of the force. Gardai themselves are deeply concerned, with alarm bells ringing across all ranks in the organisation. If Garda trainees are not being properly vetted, how can the Minister stand over this shocking lapse in standards? The political context here is clear: this Government has consistently failed to support An Garda Siochana. We have already seen a recruitment and retention crisis in the force. Now, in a desperate attempt to paper over the cracks, unvetted trainees are being sent out, putting both the public and the integrity of the Gardai at risk. The staff working in Templemore deserve better too. This is an outrageous dereliction of duty. The Minister for Justice must urgently clarify this situation. He must go on the record and guarantee no one is in Templemore training college who shouldnt be? We need an immediate guarantee that no trainee is being deployed on patrol without full vetting. "The public deserves to know who is patrolling their streets, and Garda trainees deserve a recruitment process that protects both them and the communities they serve. If the Government cannot even guarantee that only properly vetted individuals are entering Templemore, then serious questions must be asked about their handling of Garda recruitment and training, Deputy Kelly said. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Globe eye icon. (Image by Wikipedia (commons.wikimedia.org), Author: Globe icon by GitHub) Details Source DMCA The Trump regime is a lawless regime. It is increasingly unconstrained by existing laws, or by the courts. Unlike in his first term, Trump is no longer surrounded by "adults." He's surrounded by people chosen specifically for their absolute loyalty to himself. That's why the article linked here: The 200+ Sites an ICE Surveillance Contractor is Monitoring (mostly behind a paywall) is alarming. To summarize ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) is paying a private contractor to monitor and permanently record all posts on hundreds of social media sites. Everything that we post online is recorded. Even if you delete a post, they already have it recorded! ICE is using this information against legal green card possessing residents to identify them as persons the Trump regime will select for involuntary (illegal) summary deportation. The first several such cases have just occurred and are currently in the news. Beyond this, the bigger picture is that the Trump regime is actively monitoring all social media activity of ALL Americans. Everything we post online can, and presumably WILL be used against us, should the regime identify us as its enemies. If your posts show a pattern of disapproval of Trump's regime; particularly if you are calling for mass actions against said regime, it's reasonable to expect that you will be identified, and possibly targeted for sanction at some point in the probably not too distant future. The regime is fascist. That's how fascist regimes roll. While you could respond to this by fearfully ceasing all public displays of dissent; (That's what they want you to do!) I simply recommend that you be aware of this pervasive reality. Be prepared for them! This regime has no bottom. I've been clear online that I believe it to be a UNCONSTITUTIONAL, lawless, usurper regime. (See Section 3 of the 14th Amendment: Click Here ) They know that there are millions, potentially multiple tens of millions, of us, and not so many of them. They need to instill fear to keep us obedient. Pursuant to this I reasonably anticipate that at some point, my postings will come to their attention consequentially. As will the online activities of millions of others. How will they respond to our non-acceptance of their regime? Here, I possess some insight. This is because between 1984-88, I was a field agent (Revenue Officer) for IRS. The American tax system relies on what is called "voluntary compliance." Basically, the idea is to ensure that people are too intimidated to cheat on their taxes. Most don't. However, IRS could NEVER deal with mass noncompliance. So, IRS has a policy of always moving swiftly and harshly (imprisonment) against anyone urging noncompliance with paying taxes. These persons are referred to as "Illegal Tax Protestors" ITPs for short. They are targeted for rapid public arrest, criminal trial, and subsequent imprisonment. Secondly, we targeted celebrities and public figures, who were in violation of the tax codes, for public prosecution. This is done because of the huge amounts of free publicity it generates in the mass media. Doing this intimidates "ordinary" taxpayers into compliance-- paying their full amount of taxes. People say: "Well if they can go after X, then they will certainly go after me!" Resources are few, so the IRS can't identify and target everyone who is noncompliant. Fear, however, does the trick for the IRS. Third, IRS employs audits. These audits are NOT randomly selected. For each income group they are based on the difference between reported income and associated deductions and IRS' statistical model of what those deductions should be for each income level. The more that an individual taxpayer's actual reported deductions differ from the IRS' statistical assumptions, the more likely the return is to be audited. Finally, there are the informants. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). In a world that lacks talent and job seekers are in control, employer branding is not just a buzzwordits an anchor. Firms are racing to stand out, not only to customers, but to those who will power their growth. Its about building a reputation that draws the best and holds on to them. Thats why its more important than ever, straight from the mouths that steer the ship. Standing out in a crowded market The job markets a battlefield, and a strong employer brand is the edge companies need. Nicole Gorton of Robert Half nails it exactly: Employees are spoiled for choice in todays labor market so an organizations reputation as an employer can be the deciding factor between their success or failure to attract and retain top talent. Its a sentiment echoed by Helen Lea of MYOB, who refers to a dearth of talent pool where there are more jobs on the market currently than people to fill the roles. With applicants in the driving seat, businesses must sell themselveshard. Gorton goes on, Employers are now spending more time and effort actively pushing and selling their brand and organisation through the interview process as a way of winning the war for talent. Its not about filling seats; its about winning hearts. Keeping talent in the fold Recruiting people is half the battlekeeping them is the rest. RMIT Onlines Julian Stevenson cuts to the chase: With talent deficits in most sectors in Australia today, retaining valued staff is paramount. A good employer brand doesnt just recruit new talent; it holds on to those already with them. Gorton adds, Very established employer branding is not only good to attract best talent, it also lengthens the working life of a companys existing staff. Simran Kaur of Pounce Marketing confirms this with hard facts: Recent research suggests a strong employer brand can reduce employee turnover by 28% and half the cost of hire. Engaged workers stick aroundand they tell others. Kaur goes on, If your current employees are content, they are going to say positive things about you in the workplace, and this will entice potential employees to come on board. Connecting through purpose and culture Employees these days are not seeking just a paycheckthey are seeking purpose. Karina Guerra from Xref summarizes it well: Employees are questioning the mission and vision of the organisations they work for.. We must have a sense of purpose connected with our day-to-day job. Ros Weadman, brand communication specialist, ties this in with retention: When firms take on an overarching purpose beyond making profits, they can establish a deep emotional connection with staff. Its about values aligning. Juhi McInerney, Managing Director of JM People Advisory Services agrees, A well-thought-out and authentic employer brand strategy helps guarantee the business attracts suited candidates to the business culture, increasing retention. When the fit is correct, people stayand they thrive. Employer branding is no longer a side businessits becoming the secret to staying competitive. Its how organizations hire the best, keep them longer, and build a team thats fully committed. Its not only a tactic in this economy; its survival. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. European States once agreed that elections should respect fundamental freedoms and should be characterized by equality, universality, political pluralism, confidence, transparency and accountability. Election by election these principles are becoming increasingly blurred. Thus, on 6 December 2024, the 2024 presidential election was annulled by the Constitutional Court of Romania. The first round of the presidential elections in Romania, where CAAlin Georgescu garnered the highest number of votes, occurred on November 24. However, on December 6, the Constitutional Court of Romania invalidated the entire electoral process and mandated a new election. This decision was justified by suspicions regarding a potential connection between the candidate, who faced criticism from Brussels, and Russia. Nevertheless, a thorough investigation found no evidence to support such claims. It should be noted that not everyone in Europe supports such methods of eliminating candidates in elections. According to the Polish newspaper MyA ? i ? ? i ? ?...i ? ? i ? ?l Polska, "the removal of candidate CAAlin Georgescu from the Romanian presidential elections, as well as the EU's ignoring of this incident, speaks of Europe's degeneration into a dictatorship." The Romanian government acknowledged the Constitutional Court's ruling and set new presidential elections for May 4 and 18 this year. Additionally, at the beginning of spring, a criminal case was opened against Georgescu, citing charges of incitement to actions against the constitutional order. Consequently, on March 9, the Central Electoral Bureau of the country barred the candidate from participating in the upcoming vote. "Europe is sliding towards dictatorship. The ban on participation in elections in Romania is only the beginning. In the long term, this will lead to the collapse of the EU," the newspaper writes. As the publication notes, "such violations of democratic norms may be repeated in other European countries, and those who previously promoted liberal values are becoming supporters of such methods." Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On March 20, before dawn, Israeli attacks on Gaza intensified killing 71 Palestinians sleeping in residential buildings in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Beit Lahiya. Among the dead, were babies, children, women, and men who had been with their families in temporary shelters. Injured people have arrived at hospitals, while many people are still trapped and missing under the rubble. On March 18 and 19, Israeli occupation forces carried out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, resulting in over 500 deaths, and over 500 injured. The attacks targeted various areas across the coastal enclave, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed it was only the beginning. According to reports, the heavy bombardment on March 18 alone claimed the lives of approximately 430 Palestinians, with over 500 others wounded. The Gaza government media office revealed that nearly two-thirds of the victims were women and children, a statistic that has led to accusations of intentional genocide by Israeli forces. The second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel calls for a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for a full release of remaining hostages from Gaza. Netanyahu's far-right allies will never consider a withdrawal, and they have tied Netanyahu's political fate to their genocidal views. Over decades of holding office, Netanyahu had ridiculed the ultra-religious right; however, now his personal freedom and political future are held in their hands. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister, has accused Israelis who protest against Netanyahu and the Gaza war of being against Israel. "The 'protest' activists have long since ceased to be just against the government and the Prime Minister. They have become fully against the State of Israel," Ben-Gvir said on social media. Ben-Gvir was commenting about a demonstration outside Netanyahu's residence in West Jerusalem on March 19, where one protester compared Netanyahu with Germany's wartime Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. On March 18, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv for what turned out to be the largest protest against the Israeli government in more than six months. The demonstration was in response to Netanyahu's efforts to fire both the chief of the Shin Bet security service and the attorney general, who heads Israel's politically independent legal system, Most Israelis want an end to the war, the return of hostages, and Netanyahu's resignation. The Israeli government and its citizens are in opposite camps, which is pulling the country apart. Even before the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, there was widespread criticism of the government on a range of issues that were domestic and connected to fundamental democracy. Netanyahu has called off the ceasefire and resumed the war on Gaza. He needs the war to continue to remain in power, by appeasing his right-wing extremist coalition allies. His end game is to see the Palestinian people surrender and beg to be moved out to save their lives. Plans are discussed in media reports concerning Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, and Jordan as possible refugee destinations. US President Donald Trump's plan to turn Gaza into a tourist destination sounded far-fetched, but in Tel Aviv, it has been cheered. The Trump administration has given Netanyahu the green light in Gaza. The Biden administration supported Netanyahu fully in the deaths of over 40,000 people, mainly women and children. Trump is continuing Biden's policies on Gaza, although he is reversing almost all other Biden policies domestically. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. The director of the Gaza government media office announced that the region has officially entered the first stages of famine, with nearly two million people facing complete food insecurity. He warned that unless the Israeli aggression ceases, the coming days could see a total collapse of life in Gaza. In a statement on the social media platform X, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning to residents of specific areas in Gaza, including Beit Hanoun, Khirbet Khaza'a, and Abasan al-Kabira and al-Jadida, describing them as "dangerous combat zones". He urged civilians to evacuate immediately to designated shelters in western Gaza City and Khan Younis. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Author, Bruce Lerro, Co-founder and Co-Organizer for Socialist Planning Beyond Capitalism Summary of Part I In Part I of this article I contrasted sixteen ways in which communist macro-psychology differs from liberal micro-psychology as it is practiced in the United States. I described communist psychology in action in the field of eating habits and the impact of advertising on the public's emotional life. I discussed the reasons why my readers might have a difficult time appreciating what communist psychology has to offer and I used the science fiction book Flatland as an analogy to show that using communist psychological concepts is like living in the third dimension of a two-dimensional world of capitalist micro-psychology. In Part II of my article, I will describe how even when communist psychology books are translated from Russian into English, they are unconsciously or consciously distorted or censored by those Ratner calls neoliberal psychologists to fit better with the structure and dynamics of capitalism. As an example of macro-cultural psychology in this article I will also use an example of how capitalism is connected to mental illnesses, specifically in schizophrenia and the pressure to be thin. What is Neoliberal Activity Theory? As many of you know, neoliberalism in the field of economics and politics hit the United States and England full-force with the election of Reagan and Thatcher. It was characterized by economic policies designed to hollow out of the technological infrastructure, attack unions and the wages of workers. Neoliberalism is also connected to the rise of transnational, financial capitalism. It would appear that these conditions would breed a kind of pessimistic psychology with individuals seen as more or less determined by socio-structural forces. But that did not happen in the field of psychological activity theory in the United States. In fact the opposite happened. It was in early 1980s that Vygotsky's work was brought to the United States thanks to the educational psychologist Michael Cole. But Cole's presentation of Vygotsky's work played down the fact that Vygotsky was a communist set on building a Marxist psychology. Instead, Vygotsky's interest in learning, education and his work on "defectology" (social education of blind and deaf children) was emphasized. The main problem is that neoliberal psychologists want to eclectically use Vygotsky's work in education while either intentionally or unintentionally leaving out the fact that Vygotsky and his colleagues were trying to build a communist psychology. Ratner writes that this is akin to writing about Darwin and holding conferences about his ideas yet never exploring his concept of evolution. As American psychologist Carl Ratner writes: Eighty years later, under much less social pressure, and with many more resources, contemporary activity theorists have generally regressed from the limited concrete emphasis in Vygotsky, Luria and Leontiev's theories. (Page 240) In addition, almost as a reaction formation to the hard neoliberal economic times, these psychologists emphasized the active nature of individuals in relation to social structure (with a romantic conception of individuals as free as birds - see image at beginning of article). For example, they selected peer group cooperative learning as opposed to learning through an individual instructor. They emphasized language and conversations in cooperation as opposed to Leontiev's emphasis on collective tool use. Neoliberal Vygotskians were more interested in the cooperative settings of school and play and less in work settings. Some of them caught the postmodern bug and questioned scientific objectivity as the ultimate aspiration of psychologists. The Fear of Macro-Cultural Psychology Ratner points out that in world neoliberal psychology the subjects of consumer capitalism, commodification, alienation, exploitation and ideology are never mentioned in their leading journals on culture. For example, he tells us these subjects are not mentioned in the 17-year history of Michael Cole's journal Mind, Culture and Activity, supposedly sympathetic to Vygotskyan work. Neither did these subjects ever appear in the Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology over a period of forty years. The Handbook of Cross-Cultural Psychology mentions the word capitalism twice in 850 pages. Ratner explains that the most famous social psychology text ever, The Social Animal, never once mentions social class. There is a neglect of macro social factors involved in mental illness - for example the link between psychological depression and capitalist economic instabilities (to be covered shortly). Why is this? Drug companies want patients to use their products and not question the economic system that might be ultimately the reason these patients have these problems. Ratner says that every one of the authors of DSM manual's sections on mood disorders and schizophrenia had financial ties to drug companies Qualifications About Micro Neoliberal Psychology These journals and books fail to discuss in detail exploitation, alienation, commodification, ideology, mystification, hegemony or social class. Social class is rarely mentioned, yet research proves that it affects mortality, diseases, opportunities, privileges, health care, literacy, vocabulary and working memory. Neoliberal psychology admits that the micro-level reflects effects of these macro events, but it does not reveal the power and depth of macro cultural factors in their full complexity which go beyond the level of face-to-face interaction. Neoliberal psychologists sometimes acknowledge the effect of exploitation - poverty, stress, anxiety, prejudice - but they attribute them to factors other than an exploitive political economy. For example, instead of blaming the political economy of capitalism we hear of the "corruption of individuals", "rotten apples", "rogue criminals", "greedy businessmen" or "disturbed individuals". These are all vices of individuals. Structures get away scot-free. Lastly, it is not enough that cross-cultural psychologists point out that most Americans have more individualistic self-concept and North Koreans have a collectivist orientation. It is necessary to analyze the political character of the individualistic self-concept. Macro-Cultural vs Micro-Cultural Activity Theory Socio-historical activity theory says it is a collectivist, mediated and object-oriented activity system which is the prime unit of analysis. Secondly, the activity system is always a community, not a dyad or triad. Thirdly, contradiction has a central role as sources of change and development. In other words, conflict in real objective systems is the mother of change. Fourthly, these activity systems get transformed over long periods of historical time - centuries. Lastly, it is collective-creative activity such as new inventions like the printing press, the telescope and the microscope, qualitative changes that drive psychological changes in the individual. An example is the need for merchants to develop insurance policies for their ships that led to the emergence of formal operational thinking among 17th century merchants and scientists. In the case of neoliberal theorists of Vygotsky it is the local group, not the collective which is the mediated form of activity. The collective institutional framework in which activity takes place - whether the society is feudal, capitalist or socialist - is ignored. Secondly, the places where Vygotsky's zone of proximal development takes place are usually among peers. If teachers are involved, they are teaching in a permissive way and less in a way wherein the teacher takes the lead. Thirdly, liberal Vygotskians usually don't pay much attention to the changing historical contexts in which activity takes place. In the macro activity case, Luria conducted studies shortly after the Russian Revolution about how peasant life psychologically changed as peasants were introduced to the industrialization process. He tracked how peasants' sense of perception, cognition and personality were transformed. Neoliberal activity theorist rarely delve into the history of activity in their own country. Fourthly, in liberal theory contradictions are not usually understood as opportunities for transformation. They are seen as problems that need to be worked out to re-achieve stability. They might also be dismissed as the products of faulty reasoning. Lastly, activity theory is not often presented as having undergone major changes due to the phases of capitalism, the invention of the telescope, microscope or changes in industry. Rather, activity engagements might be contrasted to before or after the internet, Facebook, texting or Twitter. Micro Cultural Activity Theory reduces the activity process to simple, small, personal, casual, apolitical and spontaneous interactions. But as Ratner says, whole societies are not re-formed on the model of someone helping a neighbor turn off the gas. The telecommunications industry does not operate by individuals broadcasting from their home radios. The macro conditions of the Wall Street 2008 crash and what bankers got away with cannot be understood by a cooperative meeting between an individual client and their financial planner. Individuals do not spontaneously categorize artifacts with personal meanings. If they did there would be no commonality to individuals' psychology. Each would imbue artifacts with different idiosyncratic meanings. Terms like "cultural factors" and "cultural context" are lifeless abstractions that exclude the political and economic driving forces that design and maintain these factors in the face of competing intersections for other classes. The term "context" obscures the active way capitalists and their politicians create context and make and structure our behavior in the service of their political interests. Without these macro institutions, Ratner points out that there would be tremendous slippage in micro interactions from the first dyad to the last - as studies of rumor transmission document. Macro-institutions already inform any micro social interactions and hold them together. Micro-cultural psychologists treat verbal language and symbolic culture as at least equal to the material culture of work. In macro-cultural psychology work is the center of human activity and symbols and language were first used to assist the work process. Language and symbols do not arise spontaneously. Lastly, micro-cultural psychologists do not pay enough attention to the existence of the core, periphery and semi-periphery nations in the world-capitalist system. Countries in each of their zones had unique political economic institutions that produced a unique psychology. Grouping these societies as individualist or collectivist tells us nothing about their political economy. Collectivist societies can be tribal or agricultural and this kind of collectivism is very different from the collectivism of socialist societies. So too, there were some individualist selves in the commercial civilizations of the Minoans, Phoenicians and Carthaginians. But this proto-individualism is a far cry from the individualism of industrial capitalist societies. Examples of Neoliberal Micro Cultural Psychology in the Workplace Ratner argues that Barbara Rogoff redefines society in novel, abstract terms such as a list of scattered, abstract "community routines". There are no exploitation, alienation, market forces, profit motives, commodification, bureaucracy or ideology at all here. Here "culture" is a surface mix of bedtime stories, trips to school, and show-and-tell narratives. Rather than mention social class she called them depoliticized terms like "participation status". So the only difference between the president from Exxon Mobil and a migrant peasant are positions in a conversation. Life imprisonment, coal mining, working in a slaughterhouse, and the obliteration of one's country by an invading army is a no more than a "format". Jann Valsiner engaged in a conceptual watering down of social reality by re-naming "cultural factors" to "social suggestions". So being terminated from your job, having your country invaded, being imprisoned, having your pension cancelled are "social suggestions". Ratner adds we cannot remake the Federal Reserve Bank by altering a few words. Neither can the institution of slavery be abolished by changing a word such as calling it "racism". There need to be workers' self-organization and strikes to have a chance for a deep change. Valsiner and Litvinovich claim that individuals continuously changed culture through the simple act of dialoguing. It takes a lot more than conversations to do that. Another problem for these neoliberal micro-psychologists is that subjectivity and psychology are treated as dichotomous to culture rather than dialectically related with macro culture as the leading edge. Culture is treated as a tool that an individual decides how and when to use. The current purposes of the participants always seem to trump established macro cultural structures. Micro-cultural psychologists define social life in whatever area seems to be within our personal control as individuals. Ratner says this is like looking for a lost key under wherever the streetlight is. Micro-cultural psychologists "zoom in" on individuals so much that they lose sight of mega social conditions that inform them. Consequently, the individual appears to be acting on his or her own because these larger conditions have been cut out of the picture. For example, in the case of Abu Ghraib the torturers seem to be acting on their own and the state of military elites are only too happy to blame working class soldiers. However, Ratner tells us, when we zoom out we see that entire chain of command encouraged the guards. Six hundred military and Blackwater personal were on hand to abuse 460 Iraqi detainees. This was a spontaneous eruption by the personal decision of 600 six hundred soldiers. The neoliberal micro-psychologists theory would seem to think so. Lastly, any attempt at objectivity is looked upon skeptically by many micro-cultural psychologists who insist on glorifying their subject's subjective experience as the subject matter of psychology. Any objective interpretation that superseded theirs and critically evaluates subjective experience as possibly being due to illusions, short-sightedness or narcissism is condemned as elitist and coercive because it does not emanate from the individuals themselves. Ironically, a denial of objectivity traps people more because it tells them that nothing outside of them is really going on. See the table at Click Here Example of Macro-Cultural Psychology Regarding Mental Illness Schizophrenia Schizophrenia has been defined as the disorganization of thinking processes, emotional states and the inability to plan and carry out actions. But for macro-cultural psychology this state is not separate from the conditions of modern life. Ratner quotes T.S. Eliot as saying that in modern life there is also a separation between thought, emotion and sensation and a failure to reach what he calls a "unity of sensibility". The symptoms of schizophrenia - withdrawal, highly idiosyncratic and abstract patterns of thinking and behaving and a preoccupation with hidden meanings - bare an unmistakable congruence with the broad social relations and concepts of capitalism (individualism, privacy and privatized meaning). Ratner points out that catatonia was not described until after 1850. Even more telling is the absence of schizophrenia, at least of the chronic, autistic form, either in medical books or general literature prior to the 19th century. Detachment, being naA A ? i ? ? i ? ?ve, cynicism, subjectivism and other psychological mechanisms of mental illness were not spontaneously constructed by mental patients. Psychological constructs emerge from macro-level forces that are widely known in a population. They were reported on by novelists and in painting styles of the time. Ratner says that the experience of the individual feeling worthless is also historically recent. It used to be in the past that under Christianity an individual felt guilty from a sense of sinfulness. But with the relative decline of religion in the 19thcentury, personal inadequacies were less hinged to religion and more simply a personal problem, a self divided against itself. But this "divided self" emerged only in the late 19th century in conjunction with the increased number of roles the individual was expected to play. In earlier times individuals might be conflicted between the soul and the body, but the individual was still pulled in only two directions. The 19th century marked a new conception of different selves or personalities within one individual. The extreme case of this is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), but there were also reports of multiple personalities within a single individual. Psychological processes generally have followed changes in the history of capitalism. In the activist 1960s the psychic disorders were linked to social factors like poverty and migration. In the lean and mean times of neoliberalism these social factors disappear and the social environment shrinks to the nuclear or extended family, which is blamed for almost everything. Tyranny of bodily slenderness In the worst case scenario it appears that disorders like anorexia or bulimia are simply sudden eruptions of pathology that don't have any social rhyme or reason. More socially oriented psychologists might say these disorders have something to do with advertising or movies that want women to be thin. Evolutionary psychologists will point out that a desire to be thin goes against evolutionary psychology principles and tell us that convincing adult women to be thin will sell a lot more products than showing voluptuous women on the cover of magazines. This is because after a couple of children, most woman naturally become voluptuous and there are more limits on the products that advertisers can sell them. Evolutionary psychologists call the intervention of advertising into Darwinian sexual selection "evolutionary mismatches". All these points have some merit but they still ignore capitalism. Here is what Ratner has to say about this: Slenderness is represented in sleek thin light consumer products such as cell phones, flat panel televisions and thin, lightweight laptop computers. It is reflected in architecture that emphasizes sleek lines and sharp angles... Slenderness symbolized as agility and the ability to move and change directions quickly, free of encumbrances, independently. These attributes are important to modern capitalist society. What kind of capitalism is this? Why, it's finance capitalism, liquid capital. Ratner continues: The investor is nimble in shifting his capital to maximized profit. The employer is nimble in anticipating production demands and increasing or decreasing his or her labor supply to prepare. The manager is nimble in shifting work to low wage areas and shifting suppliers to lower costs. Sleekness and slimness represent nimble capital. They represent finance capital on a psychological plane. Anorexia or bulimia is like a crisis in finance capital visited upon psychological disorders. On the other hand, overweight or even voluptuousness is antithetical to these sleek qualities. Ratner says it is slow, ponderous, inertial, regulated and weighted down. Hence it is looked down upon. There certainly are Darwinian reasons for rejecting corpulence, but that is not the end of the story. What does full body or voluptuousness represent in the field of capitalism - industrial capitalism - in which capitalists invest in infrastructure, repair, goods and services? It is heavy capitalism. So: Sleekness = finance capital Voluptuousness or chubbiness = industrial capital Since we are living in the heyday of neoliberal finance capital it would make complete sense that being overweight is looked down upon just as investing in industry is something neoliberal capitalists in Yankeedom don't want to do. Ratner concludes: Sleekness does not require waiting, preparing, thinking or training. It is always moving to a new location, getting away, diversifying, expanding horizons and novelty" The tyranny of slenderness that defines the female body is an element of the general lightness of being"This is the cultural root of eating disorders. On the other hand: In collectivist society life is slower, more integrated, more committed more encumbering with considerations for a large community. One sticks around, consults with others, sacrifices for others, accedes to others, supports others over the long hall. This is why in collectivist societies there is little in the way of eating disorders except for perhaps within the upper middle classes. On the other hand, a hunter-gatherer may look at an anorexic person in the United States and wonder, "has there been a famine"? Historical Underpinnings of Macro-Cultural Psychology In reviewing the history of macro-cultural psychology Ratner says the first theorist was Abu Al-Biruni, a Muslim scholar who conducted an extensive ethnology of Indian psychology and mentality in 1017. In the west tenets of macro-cultural psychology originated in the cultural movement in Germany in the 1770s. They considered the texts of Moses, Homer and Plato not to be the wisdom of an individual sage but the expression of a nation's achievement at a particular stage in its cultural development. They wanted to understand the collective development of the human mind in society, a process these scholars came to describe as culture. Herder and Vico were interested in this. The term VA A ? i ? ? i ? ?lkerpsychologie was coined by Wilhelm Humboldt at the turn of the 19th century. Its use was continued by Wilhelm Wundt in his cross-cultural psychology writing. Another cornerstone was the historical school known as Annales. It arose in France in the 1920s under the leadership of Lucien Febvre and Marc Bloch. Febvre was interested in how the impact of the printing press affected sense ratios. Henri Corbin studied the history of smell (The Fowl and the Fragrant), hearing (Village Bells) and the impact of the sea on perception (The Lure of the Sea). Philippe Aries, as many of you know, studied the history of childhood. Macro-cultural psychology has a promising history, but it was taken to new heights by communist psychologists in Russia in the 1920s and 1930. Vygotsky, Luria and Leontiev left us a rich legacy. It is up to us to keep Vygotskyan psychology communist and not let it become watered down and truncated by neoliberal micro-cultural psychologists, however well-intentioned they may be. Donald Trump's recent musings about turning Canada into the 51st state have reignited debates about his approach to foreign policy-- and his particular disdain for America's northern neighbor. Known for his brash rhetoric, Trump has long viewed Canada with a mix of condescension and opportunism, treating it less as a sovereign ally and more as an economic punching bag or a potential appendage to his vision of American dominance. His hostility, rooted in trade grievances and a nationalist worldview, has now morphed into a provocative claim: that Canada should simply surrender its independence and join the United States. As a liberal who values multilateralism and mutual respect in international relations, I see this not only as an affront to Canadian sovereignty but also as a strategic miscalculation that would spectacularly backfire. Trump's antagonism toward Canada isn't new. During his first term, he slapped tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, calling the country a national security threat-- an absurd label for a NATO partner with a shared border and deeply intertwined economies. He tore up NAFTA, replacing it with the USMCA, which he touted as a triumph but which largely preserved the status quo with tweaks that barely masked his bluster. Now, with his latest rhetoric about annexation, Trump seems to imagine Canada as a resource-rich extension of America's Manifest Destiny, a land of timber, oil, and hydropower ripe for the taking. He's framed it as a favor, suggesting Canadians would leap at the chance to ditch their parliamentary system for the stars and stripes. It's a fantasy that betrays both his ignorance of Canada's identity and his underestimation of its resilience. The idea that Canada would willingly-- or even unwillingly-- fold into the United States ignores the stark realities of history and culture. Canadians have spent centuries defining themselves against American encroachment, from the War of 1812 to the quiet pride in their universal healthcare and multicultural ethos. Trump's vision of a shotgun marriage would face a wall of resistance, not just from Canada's progressive leadership under Justin Trudeau, but from everyday citizens who cherish their independence. Polls consistently show Canadians overwhelmingly reject closer political ties with the U.S., let alone annexation. Forcing the issue through economic coercion or diplomatic bullying would only galvanize this sentiment, turning a friendly neighbor into a resentful adversary. Practically speaking, Trump's plan would unravel faster than a cheap suit. Canada's economy, while linked to the U.S., isn't some helpless satellite. It's a G7 nation with robust trade ties to Europe, Asia, and beyond. If Trump tried to strong-arm Canada with tariffs or border disruptions, Ottawa could retaliate by choking off energy exports-- think oil pipelines and hydroelectric power that keep parts of the U.S. humming. The American Midwest and Northeast would feel the pinch, and businesses reliant on cross-border supply chains would scream. Meanwhile, Canada could pivot further toward other global partners, diluting American influence. The U.S. might gain a headache instead of a state. Then there's the geopolitical fallout. Turning Canada into a battleground for Trump's ego would alienate allies worldwide. NATO, already strained by Trump's skepticism, would fracture further if he treated a founding member like a conquest. China and Russia, ever eager to exploit Western discord, would pounce on the chaos, cozying up to a spurned Canada or stirring trouble in the Arctic, where Canada's strategic position matters. Liberals like me argue for a world where cooperation, not coercion, defines relationships-- Trump's approach would torch that ideal, leaving America isolated and distrusted. Worst of all for Trump, his domestic base wouldn't even reap the rewards he promises. Absorbing Canada's 40 million people-- many of whom lean left on issues like climate, healthcare, and guns-- would shift America's political center. Imagine Toronto and Vancouver as blue-voting strongholds in Congress, or Quebec's French-speaking bloc demanding autonomy. The MAGA crowd might cheer the idea of "winning" Canada until they realize it's not the homogenous, conservative fantasyland they envision. The irony? Trump's power grab could empower the very liberal forces he despises. In the end, Trump's hostility and annexation talk are less a viable policy than a symptom of his worldview: all nations are either rivals to crush or vassals to claim. Canada, with its quiet strength and global goodwill, would prove him wrong. Rather than bowing, it would stand taller, leaving Trump with a lesson liberals have long preached-- respect, not domination, builds lasting partnerships. His 51st-state dream wouldn't just backfire; it'd blow up in his face, a monument to hubris on the wrong side of the border. OpEd News One-Time Security Check This Is NOT An Error Message Your site IP address* (145.224.119.253) is listed on one or more Internet blacklists. We get visited by hundreds of these spambots daily. To prevent these from taking resources away from legitimate users, we show this page. Please use the CAPTCHA below which proves you are human, not a spam bot. It's a one-time action** for your IP. After that, you will be able to access OpEd News easily. Thank you for your patience. * Here's more info about IP addresses. ** If your IP address is fixed, you'll be able to use this website from now on. However, if your Internet Service Provider (such as Verizon or T-Mobile) assigns you a different IP address every time you use your device, AND these IP addresses are NOT on an Internet blaclist, then all is good. If, for some strange reason, your ISP assigns you an IP that is blacklisted, then you'll have to go through this process again. (Unless you keep yourself logged in. We only check for spambots on non-logged in visitors.) "our school's math performance makes a compelling case for renewing our charter" - KIPP Sol, whose students scored 90.8 points below the state's standard The Charter School Industry spent millions of dollars trying to get Los Angeles voters to give them a school board that would refuse to hold their publicly funded private schools accountable for the public money they receive. Fortunately for students, the election results were not as charter schools had hoped. Instead of seating more clones of Nick Melvoin , the Board now has a majority of members who campaigned by supporting public schools. Although they have a mandate to finally clamp down on the rampant mismanagement, corruption, and academic failure throughout the Charter School Industry, the current board has taken a more conservative approach, renewing the vast majority of schools that have submitted renewals of their charters. The four rejected at the Board's meeting in January stand out as notable exceptions to a renewal process that continues to favor allowing these schools to continue operating, even with questionable results. Of the four charter schools whose renewals were rejected, only Ivy Bound Academy has started winding down its operations, with its governing board considering a "Closure Resolution" at its meeting on February 20th. The other three, KIPP Sol, Los Angeles Leadership Academy (LALA), and Crete Academy, have ignored the overwhelming evidence supporting their closures and appealed the LAUSD's charter denial to the County. These appeals will be considered by the Los Angeles Office of Education (LACOE) through its unelected Board. An initial Public Hearing was held on March 4, 2025. The LACOE Board will vote to approve or deny the appeal on April 15, 2025. When the LAUSD last renewed LALA in 2016, it did so with a series of benchmarks meant to ensure the failing charter school would improve its performance. Nine years later, it is clear that enforcement of these conditions was nonexistent as the charter school continued to fail its students. For one of the benchmarks, it "did not meet the benchmark in any of the years in which data was available." The results for English Learners were particularly dire, with only 22.1% of students with this classification making progress. This represented a 49.4% decline from the previous year. Six of the seven LAUSD Board Members voted to deny this school's renewal petition. The only holdout was the Charter School Industry's shill, Nick Melvoin. An initial Public Hearing was held on February 11, 2025. The LACOE Board will vote to approve or deny the appeal on April 1, 2025. The KIPP chain of charter schools has a concerning record in Los Angeles, where they have tried to build a school facility on a toxic waste site and failed to pay $28,111 of fees incurred after one of its schools demanded more space from LAUSD students than the law entitled it to receive. The LAUSD Board still renewed three of the four charters the chain submitted for renewal. Sol Academy was the only exception. The management of Sol has been a disaster, with four different "school leaders" over the past six years. "During the 2022-2023 school year, every member of Sol's leadership team was new to their role, and more than 50% of classroom positions were either vacant or held by teachers in their first year of teaching." Predictably, this resulted in lower academic performance: Last year, the school's students experienced further declines in performance: The vote by the LAUSD Board to close this school was the closest of the four denials with all three Board Members elected with the financial support of the Charter School Industry voting to keep it open. If LACOE upholds the denial of the charter, Sol will join the three KIPP schools that the chain voluntarily closed last year due to low enrollment. An initial Public Hearing was held on March 18, 2025. The LACOE Board will vote to approve or deny the appeal on May 13, 2025. This charter school prides itself on focusing on the needs of homeless students but cannot accurately say how many of its students lack housing. At the LAUSD hearing, co-founder Brett Mitchell Jr. claimed that a third of its students were unhoused in front of a slide prepared by the school that said "15% of Crete students are experiencing homelessness." The renewal petition claimed the correct number was 15.2%. The School Accountability Report Card (SARC) shows the school said 21.1% of its students were homeless. When confronted by these discrepancies in data reported by the school, Mitchell refused to explain why they were all different. Instead, he was affronted by the idea that his remarks would be questioned. The SARC report on file also shows that the school does not employ either a psychologist or a Social Worker. This seems unusual for a school catering to a student body that would be more likely to have experienced trauma due to their housing insecurity. It would also explain why nobody warned Dr. Hattie Mitchell, the school's other co-founder, that bragging about not contacting the Department of Children and Family Services after encountering a mother who was "clearly unable to care for [her] kids" likely exposed her for not following mandatory reporting laws. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 2POINT Digital Agency Announces Cutting-Edge SEO Strategies to Dominate Search in 2025 San Diego, CA - 3/8/2025 - As search engine algorithms continue to evolve, businesses must adapt to the latest SEO trends to maintain their online visibility. [Your Company Name], a leader in digital marketing and SEO solutions, is unveiling key strategies that will shape the future of search engine optimization in 2025. "With the rapid advancements in AI, voice search, Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) drives past Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) AP AP Update: Blazers center Donovan Clingan and guard Anfernee Simons are out due to illness. Can the Portland Trail Blazers do it again? The Blazers ended their 10-game losing streak against winning teams with Wednesday nights 115-99 win over the Memphis Grizzlies (43-27). Next up are the Denver Nuggets (44-26), who are 2-1 against the Blazers but will be without superstar center Nikola Jokic. The Blazers (31-39) took advantage of Memphis playing without Ja Morant, winning 115-99. The victory moved the Blazers to within two games of Dallas (33-37) and Phoenix (33-37), tied for 10th in the Western Conference. Phoenix hosts Cleveland (56-13) on Friday and Dallas hosts Detroit (39-31). Denver guard Jamal Murray is questionable. Should he play, the Nuggets will very much remain a problem. If he doesnt, the Blazers will have a prime opportunity to pick up another win and maybe a game on Dallas, Phoenix or both. Prediction: The Nuggets are 3-4 this season when Jokic sits. After Friday, they will be 4-4. The prediction here has changed after it was announced that Donovan Clingan and Anfernee Simons are out. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS What: Trail Blazers (31-39) vs. Nuggets (44-26), 7 p.m., Friday. Where: Moda Center. Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM). TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Xfinity: 302 and 1170. DirecTV: 688-1. KUNP (Antenna: 47.1. Xfinity: 16, 302, 1170. DirecTV: 47. Spectrum: 184). How to Watch: Rip City TV Network. If you dont have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with the help of an HDTV antenna on your local ABC affiliate (Charge 2.2 in Portland). These antennas are very easy to install and cost around $20. You can purchase one at your local Bi-Mart or Fred Meyer, or buy one online at Walmart or from Amazon and have it shipped quickly to your home. Here are some instructions on how to set up an HDTV antenna on your television or other display. You can find out more about which channel Rip City TV Network is on in your area by using the channel finder here. ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings) Moneyline: POR -115 | DEN -105 Spread: POR +1 | Over/Under: 225.5 INJURIES Blazers: Anfernee Simons (illness), Donovan Clingan (illness), Jerami Grant (right knee tendinitis), Jabari Walker (concussion protocol), Deandre Ayton (left calf strain) and Robert Williams III (left knee sprain) are out. Nuggets: Christian Braun (left foot sprain) and Aaron Gordon (right calf injury management/left ankle sprain) are probable. Jamal Murray (right ankle sprain) is questionable. Nikola Jokic (left ankle impingement) and Julian Strawther (left knee sprain) are out. NEXT UP The Blazers host the Boston Celtics (50-19) at 3 p.m. Sunday. -- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook) The Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse is seen in Eugene in an undated photo by the U.S. General Services Administration. U.S. General Services Administration The founder and former chief financial officer of a defunct limited-edition sneaker company, Zadeh Kicks, pleaded guilty to fraud charges linked to millions of dollars in unfulfilled orders. Founded in 2013 by Michael Malekzadeh, Eugene-based Zadeh Kicks bought and sold collectible sneakers, before collapsing in 2022. An Oregon man is suing the city of Portland, claiming an off-leash police dog bit him when he was delivering packages in January to a Clackamas County residence. Khalid Fasasi filed the negligence complaint March 7 in Multnomah County Circuit Court. In the suit, Fasasi says he was delivering packages as a gig worker through Amazon Flex when he approached a home. Thats when he said he was attacked by Tex, a German shepherd. Fasasi said the dog was not on a leash or restrained, and its weight threw him backward causing him to fall to the ground on his back. He ordered the dog to stop but it continued to attack him, and the dog had to be pulled away. According to the suit, Fasasi suffered a puncture wound on his left forearm and strained his neck and back tendons and muscles. He incurred nearly $18,000 in medical expenses. Fasasis attorney did not respond to a request for comment. Portland City Attorney Robert Taylor declined to comment. The dog belonged to Portland police K-9 Officer Kameron Fender, the suit stated. State records show Fender has served as a Portland police officer since 2009. Fender did not respond to requests for comment. Fasasi alleges the city was negligent in failing to ensure the dog was adequately controlled and that it was leashed. He also alleges that the city did not properly train or supervise Fender. Fasasi is asking for nearly $118,000 in damages. The suit comes months after the city settled with an Oregon couple who said they were bitten by a Portland police dog while they were on a brisk stroll in 2021. The city paid out $500,000 to Kristina and Jason Norris. 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 Eric Karnezis, 43, of Sedona, Arizona, pleaded guilty on Thursday, followed by his brother, Anthony Karnezis, also 43 , on Friday. Maxine Bernstein | Staff Two Arizona brothers this week pleaded guilty in federal court in Portland to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration out of nearly $109 million intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eduardo Rodriguez faces attempted murder and other charges, police said. File photo. The Oregonian/File An 18-year-old was arrested after a shooting injured a man in Woodburn, police said. Officers arrived in the 1100 block of N 2nd St. in Woodburn shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday and found a man who had been shot. The man, whose name hasnt been released, was taken to a hospital with injuries that police described as not life-threatening. Marion County Sheriffs Office deputies soon identified Eduardo Rodriguez as a suspect in the shooting and arrested him in Salem, Woodburn police said. Rodriguez faces likely charges that include attempted murder, assault, reckless endangering and unlawful use of a weapon. Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call Woodburn police Detective Logan Baker at 503-982-2345. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Thomas R. Colon, 44, speaks with his attorney during a sentencing hearing on Wed., March 19, 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian Nobody called 911 as Thomas Colon and Andrew Hathaway grappled in the backyard of a Northeast 157th Avenue home, arguing over a petty debt of methamphetamine. The two other men in the house stayed quiet even after Hathaway, 28, lay dead from 60 stab wounds on the kitchen floor. It was Sept. 4, 2018. This photo released by the State of Idaho, which prosecutors claim to have been taken from Bryan Kohberger's phone, shows Kohberger, accused of slaying 4 University of Idaho students, gesturing in a selfie on Nov. 13, 2022, hours after the homicides occurred. AP A flurry of court documents filed this week in the case of Bryan Kohberger, the man charged in the killings of four University of Idaho students in late 2022, offers new details about how the case against him is shaping up. Kohberger, 30, is accused in the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho. Autopsies showed the four were all likely asleep when they were attacked, some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times. Kohberger, then a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University, was arrested in Pennsylvania weeks after the killings. Investigators said they matched his DNA to genetic material recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene. Heres what to know about the case and the recent developments as his trial is set to begin this summer. The four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in November, were Kaylee Goncalves, top left; Xana Kernodle, top right; Ethan Chapin, bottom left; and Madison Mogen, bottom right. (Moscow Police Department/TNS) TNS What has happened so far in the case? Kohberger has been charged with four counts of murder in the Nov. 13, 2022 stabbing. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted. When asked to enter a plea last year, Kohberger stood silent, prompting the judge to enter a not-guilty plea on his behalf. The killings shook the small farming community of about 25,000 people, which hadnt had a homicide in about five years. The trial was moved from rural northern Idaho to Boise after the defense expressed concerns that Kohberger couldnt get a fair trial in the county where the killings occurred. What do the new court filings show? The newly filed documents include pretrial motions that will shape what evidence and expert testimony will be allowed at Kohbergers trial, which is set to begin Aug. 11 and expected to last more than three months. They show that prosecutors intend to introduce evidence of Kohbergers click history at Amazon.com showing he purchased a Ka-Bar knife a military-style, fixed-blade knife along with a sheath and sharpener in March, eight months before the killings. A Ka-Bar knife was found next to one of the victims. Further, prosecutors say, the Amazon click history also shows Kohberger searched for a Ka-Bar knife in the days after the killings. Kohbergers click activity after the homicides makes it more probable (than it would be without the evidence) that Kohberger had a reason to search for a Ka-Bar knife and sheath after the homicides, prosecutors wrote. Kohbergers attorneys have sought to exclude the online shopping history, saying it could be taken out of context or not reflect the influence of algorithms that recommend purchases. Kohberger took a smiling selfie hours after the killings Prosecutors say they also intend to introduce what appears to be a self-portrait Kohberger took on his phone at 10:31 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022 just hours after the killings. In it, he is smiling and giving a thumbs-up gesture. A roommate who was in the rental home, sleeping and intoxicated, told police she woke up and saw a man she didnt know someone with bushy eyebrows who was wearing a face mask. Defense attorneys have asked the judge to exclude from the trial any description of the attacker having bushy eyebrows, saying that could prejudice the jury. If evidence of bushy eyebrows is presented to the jury, the jury might well believe that Mr. Kohberger is guilty simply because of bushy eyebrows, defense attorneys wrote. But prosecutors say th roommates description is credible, and they want to introduce Kohbergers selfie because it shows his appearance shortly after the killings. Whether or not Bryan Kohberger can be described as having bushy eyebrows is a factual determination to be decided by the jury, they wrote. Whats next? Judge Steven Hippler has scheduled a hearing for April 9 to consider the pretrial motions. Among those to be decided are arguments over whether an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis would preclude Kohberger from being eligible for the death penalty if convicted, and over whether jurors should hear audio of a 911 call made by two women in the house roughly eight hours after the killings, as they realized one of their roommates wasnt waking up. The court has issued a gag order for everyone involved in the trial and wont allow cameras in the courtroom. -- The Associated Press The Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver, Washington is shown here in 2024. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian In an unusual twist in a nearly decade-long legal battle, a Vancouver landlord has won more than $500,000 in defamation damages from a woman who accused him of forcing sexual contact on her. The case involving landlord Dave Campos and his accuser stretched from 2015 to 2024, with juries in both a criminal trial and civil trial siding with Campos. Campos paid a settlement to the woman in between the two trials after acknowledging that he exposed himself to her but denying that he assaulted her. Campos contacted The Oregonian/OregonLive about the resolution of his case. He said he wanted to draw attention to the verdicts to restore his reputation. A banker by trade, Campos said he also owns and manages several properties across the metro area. He faulted media outlets for not following the developments in the case. I try not to let this define me, but a public stain that the media has left online has been a personal and emotional headwind for nearly a decade, Campos said in a recent statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Accusations like the ones I experienced should be taken seriously in a court of law before they are aired in a court of public opinion. It started when Campos, now 44, met with a woman for an apartment showing at one of his properties on West McLoughlin Boulevard in Vancouver. The woman claimed he forced her to touch his genitals, that he touched her breasts and that she was held against her will until she fled the scene, according to court records. Campos acknowledged in a recorded interview with police that he exposed himself but said she had been sending him signals, according to the records. Campos said surveillance video contradicted her account of running away but instead showed the two calmly exiting a staircase. Campos was arrested after the meeting and charged with indecent liberties with forcible compulsion and unlawful imprisonment in Clark County Superior Court. The Oregonian/OregonLive carried a brief account of his arrest. In the womans account, Campos was taking advantage of a down-on-her-luck single mother with nowhere else to go, according to court papers filed by her attorney in the subsequent litigation. The landlord said he was falsely accused by the woman as part of a twisted love triangle. In November 2016, a unanimous Clark County Superior Court jury acquitted Campos of both charges. The woman filed a civil suit in Clark County in July 2017 seeking damages from Campos, alleging assault, battery and emotional distress. Campos and his insurance company settled the lawsuit in April 2018 by paying $60,000 to the woman, according to court papers filed later by the womans attorney, Sean Riddell. But Campos then sued the woman for defamation, citing social media posts by her in 2015 when Campus was under criminal indictment. The second lawsuit ultimately went to trial in April 2024, with the woman representing herself after her attorney was deemed to be a potential witness due to the earlier settlement, court records show. The civil jury awarded Campos $522,000 for invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress. In a recent email, the woman said she didnt regret representing herself, even if she was now financially burdened beyond repair. Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. Jonathan Bachs recent article on middle housing summarized why builders and the state encourage it, (Some Oregon cities see middle housing surge, but rollout is uneven, March 7). What was missing is the negative impact the rollback of previous building policies has had on existing neighborhoods. A 12-unit project is slated for our block in Southwest Portland. Our neighborhood is not side-walked and the streets are not gridded, meaning many do not go through. We are not near a walkable retail development and it takes 10 minutes to walk to the nearest bus stop. Yet this new project has no on-site parking, no driveway into the development and no requirement to improve the street behind the project. Once curbs fill with cars, pedestrians and cyclists will be forced to the middle of the street. Recognizing our communitys housing needs, we expected to carry much of the burden from this inevitable change. What we didnt expect was to carry it all. Much as Id like to blame builders for lacking the interest in building a project which addresses neighbors concerns, builders will do no more than is required. So, I look to the policymakers who have created a Wild West environment for development. Good planning has been abandoned. A builder in this article is quoted as saying The neighbors are so gung-ho against us. Do they wonder why? Projects which neglect basic safety and livability issues are thrust upon us. In the haste of meeting infill and housing goals, neighborhoods are left with the fallout of well-intentioned but poorly executed policies. Louise Rowntree, Portland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, tells members of the public that they each will have 90 seconds to testify before the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee. He said if they had more to say, they could submit written testimony. Screenshot of Oregon Legislature livestream The hearing room was packed, with nearly 60 people registered to testify on a trio of bills affecting Oregon farmland. That prompted the chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee to announce an unpopular edict. We have likely more people who want to testify than can testify, Sen. Jeff Golden, an Ashland Democrat, told the crowd at the hearing earlier this month. I really dont like doing this. Were going to ask you to keep your comments to a minute 30 seconds. And we have a clock here. This, Golden continued, is the result of a legislative session with way too many bills that people are really interested in, than we can handle well. Many insiders say Golden is right. The Oregon Legislature began its 2025 session with a record number of bills filed before the session opened, at least in the 25 years that the Legislatures Office of Legislative Counsel has been counting. The record-breaking continued this week, with 3,391 bills filed as of Wednesday. Thats nearly 100 more than the previous modern-day record set in 2001. And more bills keep trickling in by the day. The lofty number has not only swamped legislative hearings and bogged down staffers who have more bills to vet and paperwork to process than there are hours in a work day. Its also intensified calls to limit the number of bills lawmakers can file. The first time Obie Rutledge, secretary of the Senate, said he heard calls to limit the flood of bills was 24 years ago, when House Bill 4000 passed the House before failing to pass the Senate. The bill would have limited state legislators to filing just 20 bills and committees to 10. One perennial objection to capping bill filings is that it could squelch the free flow of ideas and proposals from lawmakers, who say theyre advocating for the best interests of their constituents. Earlier this month, House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, said the urgency is real, and its time to talk specifics. The deluge of bills, she said, has made it impossible for a significant share of proposals to get a public hearing, and committee chairs have been left with the increasingly difficult task of deciding which ones should be publicly aired. Theres no way around that, really, without bill limits, Fahey said. Fahey said shed like to see the Legislature act during next years short session to approve limits that would take effect for the 2027 session. As Ive said dozens of times by this point, I am a strong proponent of bill limits, Fahey said. This session, lawmakers also introduced Senate Bill 1006, which could indirectly lower the number of bills filed by barring the governor, secretary of state, treasurer and others in the executive or judicial branches from proposing legislation. At least 266 bills have been filed by these two branches this session. Most of the focus has been on legislators who have done more than their share of the bills, Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Keizer Republican, told the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday. I did not realize until today that weve had 266 bills not introduced by legislators. And thats a lot. As for legislators, Rep. Paul Evans, a Democrat from Monmouth, holds the title this session for most bills filed, with more than 300 measures of which he is the chief sponsor. Evans is followed by Sen. David Brock Smith, a Republican from Port Orford, who is chief sponsor of more than 200 bills. Both Evans and Brock Smith said theyre prolific filers because that allows the voices of their constituents to be heard. Legislature watchers say part of the problem lies in the number of duplicate bills. For instance, lawmakers filed 10 bills that all called for the end of Oregons twice-a-year hourly time changes brought on by the beginning and end of daylight saving time. Legislators also filed more than 10 bills to lower Oregons estate tax in one way or another. Observers say lawmakers sometimes file similar or duplicate bills because they want to tell constituents that they were the chief sponsor of a bill that mattered to their communities, not that they voted for someone elses bill. Sen. Lew Frederick, a Portland Democrat and legislator of more than 15 years, is the chief sponsor of 48 bills this session, less than one-sixth as Evans. Frederick said he used to file far more bills. But he subsequently realized he and his staff couldnt devote the time to each one that it deserved. Still, he is reluctant to clamp down on his colleagues. Lawmakers, he said, come to the Legislature with a promise to their communities that theyre involved with that they will address a number of issues. And it undermines the idea of democracy to tell them no, you cannot address that issue. UPDATE APRIL 16: Legislators in mid-April moved up their timeline by introducing a proposal that would limit the number of bills each lawmaker can file during long sessions to 25. Read that story here. Reporter Sami Edge contributed to this story. Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Gov. Tina Kotek plans to shuffle leadership at three key state agencies, including the Department of Revenue and the Employment Department, she announced Thursday. The leadership changes were prompted by the upcoming departure of Berri Leslie, who will leave as head of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services in June. Koteks office announced Thursday that Lesli will be replaced by Betsy Imholt, director of the state Department of Revenue. Imholt is a longtime government insider. She worked for a decade at the Oregon Department of Transportation before spending five years as chief of staff to Senate president Peter Courtney. At the Department of Revenue, Kotek credits Imholt with hiring a taxpayer advocate, strengthening the security of taxpayer data and creating a free tax filing portal. As the head of the administrative services department, Imholt will oversee certain budgetary, human resources, technology and training functions at all state agencies. Betsy Imholt, left, will become director of the Department of Administrative Services. She will be replaced as head of the Department of Revenue by David Gerstenfeld, center. Andrew Stolfi will take over Gerstenfeld's role as head of the Oregon Employment Department. Courtesy of Tina Kotek's office David Gerstenfeld will step into Imholts spot at the Department of Revenue. Gerstenfeld has been the director of the Oregon Employment Department since 2020. He brought a measure of stability to that agency after several years of setbacks and self-inflicted wounds. The employment department buckled when the pandemic hit five years ago this month, unable to cope with the flood of jobless claims that followed. Oregon was among the very slowest in the nation to pay claims in 2020 and some laid-off workers were left waiting for months for aid. Part of the problem was an obsolete computer system. After his promotion to head of the agency, Gerstenfeld oversaw the selection of a vendor to usher in new technology. The new system, Frances Online, arrived last year amid fresh stumbles. The employment department blamed a falloff in federal funding for renewed delays in paying claims and long hold times when laid-off workers called the agency. Those issues abated in late 2024, when new legislative funding enabled a burst of hiring. Andrew Stolfi, who has led the Department of Consumer and Business Services for the past five years, will take over for Gerstenfeld. Kotek will recruit for Stolfis replacement, her office said. The department oversees everything from building codes to prescription drug affordability, and it offers ombudspeople for Oregon workers and small businesses. During Stolfis tenure, the department investigated and published detailed reports on failures by insurance companies to comply with the states requirement to provide free reproductive health care. - Reporter Mike Rogoway contributed to this report. On the grounds of MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn. A southern Oregon lawmaker on Friday called for a federal investigation into the Oregon Youth Authority after revelations that the agency had mishandled abuse complaints for years. Beth Nakamura Multnomah Countys animal shelter, long beleaguered with complaints and concerns, is packed to the brim with pets, officials said. The facility was built in 1968 and cant keep up with the demands of county residents and their four-legged friends. Australias startup ecosystem is gearing up for a strong 2025, fuelled by a surge of new capital driving innovation across diverse sectors. Climate Tech Startup Phnxx secures $1.8 million seed Victorian climate tech startup Phnxx has raised $1.8 million in Seed funding to scale its modular energy system for the construction, mining, and agriculture sectors. The round was supported by ASX-listed engineering company Synertec, ENGIE Factory, deep tech VC Pacific Channel, LaunchVics Hugh Victor McKay Fund, and several angel investors. Synertec, in partnership with the Melbourne-based startup, will enhance sales efforts and expand the market reach of the 29-year-old Victorian engineering company. Phnxx, founded in 2022 by Joel Tay (CEO), Wei Chi Lee, and Benjamin Lamb, is focusing on its Asian rollout and the significant climate impact it aims to achieve. Defence startup Arkeus raises $5 million Arkeus, a defence technology startup specialising in analysing visual surveillance systems from drones and optical systems, has secured $5 million in additional funding from its existing investors. Following a $4.5 million Seed round in December 2023, Main Sequence, Salus, and Beaten Zone Venture Partners have continued their support. Founded in 2020 by defence expert Simon Olsen and aerospace engineer Dr Jonathan Nebauer, Arkeus is enhancing its technology for defence surveillance applications. BetterFleet drives forward with $24 million series A US-based BetterFleet, a former Australian transport management scaleup, has raised US$15 million (A$23.7m) in a Series A funding round. The investment was led by US-based funds Aligned Climate Capital, Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF), and Remarkable Ventures Climate (RVC). Originally founded in Sydney as EVenergi in 2016, BetterFleet provides software solutions for managing electric bus fleets and now has over 200 customers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America. The company, which rebranded in 2021, also serves 80 customers in Australia. King River Capital raising $157 million King River Capital is finalising a US$100 million fund aimed at backing AI-driven startups, with a goal of raising A$157 million for its sixth venture fund. The Sydney-based VC, which has offices in New York and Denver, is focusing on software startups that leverage AI. Investors include UNSW Chancellor David Gonski, fintech Future Super, the Fairfax family office, Marinya Capital, and the Smorgon family. Since its founding in 2019 by Chris Barter, Zeb Rice, and Megan Guy, King River has raised several funds, including for digital assets and web3-focused ventures. BetterX raises $2.3 million in pre-series A round BetterX, a B2B platform for financial advisers to manage and trade digital assets for clients, has raised $2.3 million in a pre-Series A round. The platform offers institutional-grade infrastructure for tokenisation, trading, and portfolio management. Existing investors Aura Group and Tibra cofounder Kinsey Cotton were joined by new backers including Grand Prix Capital, Aument Capital, and angels Sabrina Tachdjian (HBAR Foundation) and Riaz Mehta (Crypto Knights). The round also saw participation from ASX-listed Scalare Partners, Wholesale Investor, B7 Capital, and Audacy Ventures founder. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. FILE - Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside of the Department of Health and Human Services, Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) AP At least one federal worker in Oregon whose termination was rescinded is being told they will need to repay any unemployment benefits that have been collected. The Trump administration terminated some 24,000 probationary employees nationwide but has backpedaled in recent weeks after judges ordered that they be rehired. In some instances, those employees were told theyve been rehired and were then immediately placed on paid leave, with promises to receive back pay since their initial termination date. Federal employees who collected unemployment benefits during that time and will now receive back pay are supposed to repay their unemployment money, federal officials have said. Thats according to a federal employee who received the guidance and spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive on the condition of anonymity, fearing being targeted for future job cuts. The worker, who inquired about their situation, received written guidance stating: If you received unemployment wages, you will need to pay back those wages. Contact your state/local agency to discuss a potential repayment of unemployment payments received during the time you were separated. The Oregon Employment Department will have to look at each federal employees situation to determine if benefits must be repaid, a spokesperson said. And given the ongoing legal challenges over the federal job cuts, individual circumstances still might change. The Oregon Employment Department is recommending that reinstated federal employees who have already received unemployment insurance benefits send a message to the department through online portal accounts known as Frances Online with any questions and also provide details about their specific situation because the phone lines are still very busy. Determining if the benefits they received are considered as overpayments is a process that involves UI staff reviewing their case, so it will take some time to complete, Seth Gordon, a spokesperson for the Oregon Employment Department, said in an email. We review such cases as we receive/detect them, so staff will get to them as soon as possible. Federal employees, Gordon said, represent a very small percentage of unemployment claims and reviewing those cases shouldnt create a big workload. The initial state unemployment insurance claims in Oregon for the month of January were 22,223, which includes claimants who may have had some federal wages. Additionally, for the same month, there were 151 claims for workers with only federal wages, but theres no way to know how many of those may have been for regular seasonal layoffs versus firings under the Trump administration. For comparison, the number of claims for workers in Oregon with only federal wages in January 2024 was 191 and 199 in January 2023, data shows. There have not been a large number of federal UI claims in Oregon since the beginning of 2025, Gordon said, so we dont expect these actions will have a large impact on our workload or be a burden on our resources generally. The federal worker who received the unemployment guidance remains unconvinced a long-term government job awaits: I dont see that Im going to be coming back to the office and have my job back. Their goal is to reduce the workforce, so Im sure eventually theyll find a way. --Yesenia Amaro is an investigative reporter with a focus on social issues and communities of color. Do you have a news tip related to immigration, deportations or publicly funded programs designed to help immigrant Oregonians? Get in touch, 503-221-4395; yamaro@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Portlands stripiest residents turned three years old, and they celebrated with a cake made from frozen goat milk yesterday afternoon. Amur tigers Dmitri and Luka were born March 19, 2022, at the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, North Dakota. They moved to the Oregon Zoo in December 2023. Three is a big milestone for Amur tigers its when theyre considered full-grown adults. They arent cubs anymore! said Jill Harmon, a keeper in the tiger area at the Oregon Zoo. Dmitri and Luka came to Portland based on a recommendation from the Species Survival Plan for Amur tigers. This program from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums helps create genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations for the long-term future of animal species, according to a spokesperson from the zoo. Amur tigers, which used to be called Siberian tigers, are the largest of the nine tiger subspecies and are an endangered species. Only about 500 of the tigers are believed to remain in their native range, according to the zoo. Mims Copeland is a social media producer and covers trending topics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at mcopeland@oregonian.com You are the owner of this article. Kemira to Expand Paper and Board Chemical Capacity in Thailand March 21, 2025 - Kemira will make a multi-million Euro investment in multiple production line expansion of strength chemical agents for paper, board and tissue at its Wellgrow site in Thailand. The implementation of the expansion project will begin in 2026. The new capacity is expected to be up and running in August, 2026. "To further strengthen our leading position in APAC, we are expanding our production in Thailand for future growth," said Harri Eronen, EVP Packaging & Hygiene Solutions, at Kemira. "The Asian pulp and paper market is growing among the fastest globally, and this investment will enhance our capabilities to provide cutting edge, sustainable chemical technology to serve our customers." Kemira explained that strength agents are used for improving the mechanical properties of all kinds of paper and board products. In a written statement, the company said, "Kemira's new advanced strength technology enables lower water usage, improved material efficiency, and superior strength. The technology supports customers in achieving higher productivity while reducing environmental impact when replacing older technologies." The total estimated annual capacity at the Wellgrow site, which is close to Bangkok airport and the Port of Bangkok, will be approximately 100,000 tons after the expansion. The site's operations are supported by Kemira's global and regional expert teams with strong research and innovation capabilities. Kemira is a global leader in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries, delivering tailored products and services to improve the product quality, processes, and resource efficiency of its customers. SOURCE: Kemira The account of Joseph with the Nauvoo Legion comes from the first volume of Saints. This is from Chapter 44, page 539. Despite the city councils studied decision to destroy the printing press, they had underestimated the outcry that followed. William Law had fled the city, but some of his followers were now threatening to destroy the temple, set fire to Josephs house, and tear down the churchs printing office. Francis Higbee charged Joseph and other members of the city council with inciting a riot when the press was destroyed. He swore that in ten days time there would not be a single Mormon left in Nauvoo. On June 12, an officer from Carthage arrested Joseph and other members of the city council. Nauvoos municipal court found the charges baseless and released the men, angering Josephs critics even more. The following day, Joseph learned that three hundred men had assembled in Carthage, ready to march on Nauvoo. Hoping to prevent another all-out war with their neighbors, as they had seen in Missouri, Joseph and others wrote urgent letters to Governor Ford, explaining the city councils actions and pleading for help against mob attacks. Joseph spoke to the Saints, admonishing them to stay calm, prepare for the defense of the city, and make no disturbances. Then he mustered the Nauvoo Legion and put the city under martial law, suspending the usual rule of law and putting the military in charge. On the afternoon of June 18, the Legion assembled in front of the Nauvoo Mansion. As the militia commander, Joseph dressed in full military uniform and climbed atop a nearby platform, where he spoke to the men. It is thought by some that our enemies would be satisfied with my destruction, he said, but I tell you that as soon as they have shed my blood, they will thirst for the blood of every man in whose heart dwells a single spark of the spirit of the fullness of the gospel. Drawing his sword and raising it to the sky, Joseph urged the men to defend the liberties that had been denied them in the past. Will you all stand by me to the death, Joseph asked, and sustain, at the peril of your lives, the laws of our country? Aye! roared the crowd. I love you with all my heart, he said. You have stood by me in the hour of trouble, and I am willing to sacrifice my life for your preservation. I found this fascinating and wanted to tell this part of the story. Joseph calls for the Legion to stand by him to the deathand then immediately says he is willing to sacrifice his life. Why would he do that? Something is missing. It seems plausible that there was a moment of inspiration, that he felt that the answer was not violencein fact Joseph almost always chose non-violence. I added the line, I ask too much. Its one of my favorite scenes in the film. Before the internet, phonebooks let you look up the names, addresses, and phone numbers of just about anyone. But you had to be local to find that information. Nowadays thats no longer the case. Anyone in the world can see where you live and what your phone number is plus your age, birthdate, email address, and other personal informationand it only takes a simple, fast Google search. Google doesnt share the details directly. Rather, it lists results from data broker sites that collect your data, then sell it. Sometimes you can even see select details in the search result teasers. While you may never share your personal information online, you could still be easily found. Its all available on the regular weba person hunting for you wouldnt need to access the dark web. Fortunately, Google now understands the security and privacy hazards of this scenario. Back in 2023, it rolled out a free tool called Results About You to help automate restoring your privacy. Through this feature, you can see if any Google search results exist for the phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, nicknames, and maiden names youve asked it to track. Recently, the company refreshed Results About You to simplify the sign-up processmaking now an ideal time to get started with this proactive monitoring service. PCWorld To get started, head to Results About You on a desktop or mobile browser. Alternatively, you can open the Google app on your phone, click on your profile icon, then choose Results About You. For the best experience, choose to activate notifications. Whenever Google finds results with your details, youll receive an alert through email or the Google mobile app. You can now also directly request the removal of search results more easily. When you click on the three-dot menu next to a result, youll see Googles updated interface. This lets users more quickly select the reason for removal and ask for a refresh of the engine so your info disappears faster. Still, even when your personal details disappear from Googles search results, theyre not actually gone from the web. You just make it harder for people to find them in bare seconds. To truly wipe the info, you must reach out to the data broker sites directly. Dont bother with their internal search features to find your record. Theyre often slow as molasses. Instead, look for a Do Not Sell My Info or Opt Out link on a site. Youll then either search for your record through the opt-out form, select it, then submit the request for deletion; or youll have to enter the URL to your record. Googles Results About You findings come in handy here, as they often link directly to the specific URL for your info. PCWorld Requests can take several business days to complete, so you must check to verify that your data was removed. However, you can reappear on these data broker sites even after you first remove yourself. In the U.S., these businesses collect details from public records, social media, online activity, businesses you do business with, and other sources. You cannot fully control this flow of data, and a major event could cause you to reappear in listings. But you can stay wary of who you share information withif it is ever sold or stolen, you have less to clean up and monitor. You can also enlist help to wipe your data from hundreds of data broker sites. Dedicated businesses have sprung up to help with removal requests. Some have dubious reputations (e.g., OneRep was outed as being run by an owner of multiple data broker sites), but more trustworthy companies exist. For example, security software companies like McAfee and Norton offer such a service as a feature, either as part of an antivirus subscription or a standalone product. California residents also have some relief coming in the form of the Delete Act, which requires data broker companies to comply with a simple opt-out process. By August 2026, a single request should restore your privacy and eliminate the need to play continual whack-a-mole. Windows 10 remains one of the most robust versions of the operating system, which is why so many users see no reason to switch to Windows 11. However, this months KB5053606 update is proving problematic and causing concern for Windows 10 users, reports Windows Latest. For starters, some users arent able to install the update in the first place, with the installation process failing with error codes like 0x80070020. For others, the installation takes an unusually long time, which is out of the ordinary for a small update that doesnt bring any new features. Still other users are finding that the update installs even though automatic updates are disabled for their system. (Its worth noting, however, that KB5053606 is an important security update. As such, Windows 10 is supposed to install it automatically.) Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro For the rest who are able to install KB5053606, thats when the real problems start. Some have complained about icons disappearing from the taskbar, while others have mentioned that individual customizations to the desktop are being reset to factory settings. Windows 10 is also apparently slowing to a crawl and sometimes getting a delay with keyboard input, resulting in a sluggish experience. PROMOTION Resize, Clone, Convert for Windows 10 update with EaseUS Struggle with Windows 10 update problems? EaseUS Partition Master helps streamline the process of upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 by allowing you to resize partitions, clone disks, and convert MBR to GPT for UEFI boot support all without the need to reinstall Windows. Whether you need to migrate your system to a new drive, free up space for updates, or ensure compatibility, it provides a smooth transition. Use code PCWORLD for 25% off. FREE DownloadBuy Now and Save 25% Windows 10 PCs that are still being used in the corporate sector are also experiencing printer problems. Windows Latest quotes one user as saying: Our clients got KB5053606 yesterday and most could work just fine today, until they did a restart. After a restart, something in the user profile seems to be broken. Print spooler has many issues, like slow loading, programs crashing, and no passthrough into Citrix. On the updates support page, Microsoft has acknowledged the issues with Citrix and USB printers, but none of the other problems. There are no known solutions yet, so if youre affected, youll have to wait for a fix. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has pledged to not extend a temporary permission allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic flights after the Thai pilot association filed a lawsuit against the government. CAAT also acknowledged the difficulties unemployed local pilots face in securing jobs and pledged to assist them, the South China Morning Post reported, citing Thai Pilots Association President Teerawat Angkasakulkiat. Teerawat said the association is cautiously optimistic about CAATs assurance that the measure will end this year and welcomes its support for local pilots. "We are thrilled about CAATs job-enhancing initiatives for Thai pilots, including backing those seeking roles abroad," he said, as quoted by Thaiger. The association filed a lawsuit against the countrys Labour Ministry last week, seeking a ban on foreign pilots from working on domestic flight routes. It was challenging the cabinets decision in December to temporarily permit the employment of foreign pilots in Thailand under wet lease agreements to accommodate the surge in tourism, as reported by Thai newspaper The Nation. Teerawat pointed out that the temporary measure does not specify a limit to the number of permitted jets under these contracts or a clear deadline, instead capping each wet lease agreement at six months and allowing a one-time extension of another six months. This could prompt airlines to push for the measures return next year as some of them find it easier to bring in pilots from parent companies rather than hire locally, he explained. It also violates existing laws that prohibit foreigners from operating domestic flights and might cause international aviation organizations to tighten oversight on the country, he said. The association previously warned that the measure could get Thailand red-flagged by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which would limit Thai carriers international operations. It could affect the careers of 5,000 local pilots, of whom 1,700 are currently unemployed, Teerawat added, according to the Bangkok Post. According to Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the ministry assisted 26 Thai pilots in securing jobs with Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific. The initiative is part of a broader plan to place 100,000 Thais, including 1,000 pilots, in overseas jobs this year in several key markets, including Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, and Macau. By BRIAN MELLEY and DANICA KIRKA, The Associated Press LONDON (AP) Britains Heathrow Airport was closed all day Friday after a fire at a nearby electrical substation knocked out its power, disrupting flights for hundreds of thousands of passengers at Europes busiest travel hub. At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow were affected, flight tracking service FlightRadar 24 said, and the impact was likely to last several days as passengers try to reschedule their travel. Some 120 flights were in the air when the closure was announced, with some turned around and others diverted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris or Irelands Shannon Airport, tracking services showed. 15 1 / 15 Fire closes Heathrow airport in London Lawrence Hayes was three-quarters of the way to London from John F. Kennedy International in New York when Virgin Atlantic announced they were being diverted to Glasgow. It was a red-eye flight and Id already had a full day, so I dont even know how long Ive been up for, Hayes told the BBC as he was getting off the plane in Scotland. Luckily I managed to get hold of my wife and shes kindly booked me a train ticket to get back to Euston, but its going to be an incredibly long day. Fire under control The fire at a power station about two miles from the airport was brought under control about seven hours after it erupted in a ball of flames, the London Fire Brigade said. We dont know the cause of this fire. Its obviously an unprecedented event, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said. Miliband said the fire had also knocked out a backup power supply to the airport. Heathrow said in a statement that the fire had given it no choice but to close the airport for the day. We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens, the airport said. Heathrow is one of the worlds busiest airports for international travel. It had its busiest January on record earlier this year, with more than 6.3 million passengers, up more than 5% from the same period last year. January also was the 11th month in a row that it averaged over 200,000 passengers a day, with the airport citing trans-Atlantic travel as a key contributor. Anita Mendiratta, an aviation consultant, said the impact of the closure will be felt over two to four days as airlines, cargo carriers, and crews are re-mobilized and passengers rebooked. As soon as the airport opens up at midnight tonight, its not only about resuming with tomorrows flights, its the backlog and the implications that have taken place, Mendiratta said. Crew and aircraft, many are not where theyre supposed to be right now. So the recalculation of this is going to be intense. Blaze lit up the sky and darkened homes The London Fire Brigade sent 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters to control the blaze after flames soared into the sky when a transformer at an electrical substation caught fire in west London late Thursday night. About 150 people were evacuated from their homes near the power station. This was a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible, Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said. Thanks to their efforts and coordinated multi-agency response, we successfully contained the fire and prevented further spread. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said in a post on X the power outage affected more than 16,300 homes. Heathrow normally opens for flights at 6 a.m. due to nighttime flying restrictions. It said the closure would last until 11:59 p.m. Friday. In this image taken from video provided by WSVN-TV, a brush fire burns across and over Card Sound Road, the only other road connecting the Keys to Florida City on the mainland, as it remains closed Tuesday, March 18, 2025, south of Dade County, Fla. (WSVN-TV via AP) AP By Jim Vertiuno, Freida Frisaro and Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas Wildfires fueled by dry conditions and gusting winds burned in a few Southern states Thursday, forcing evacuations in Texas and prompting Florida officials to close part of a major highway with spring break in high gear. A wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest near Houston prompted the evacuation of about 900 homes and closed schools. The National Weather Service issued elevated fire warnings around the nations fourth-largest city. The fire burned about 3.7 square miles (9.6 square kilometers) and was only about 20% contained Thursday afternoon as firefighters used water-carrying helicopters to douse hot spots and bulldozers to dig containment lines, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. Investigators believed the fire was started Wednesday by what was supposed to be a controlled burn on private property, said Josh Mizrany, assistant chief law enforcement officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service. Investigators will look into how the fire spread, he said, and evidence could be turned over to local prosecutors if necessary. Officials had not reported widespread damage or any injuries. Montgomery County officials said they knew of one home that burned to the ground. The Cleveland Independent School District, which has about 12,000 students, canceled classes as a precaution. Florida fires In the Florida Keys, a large brush fire that began Tuesday caused authorities to close the two roads leading in and out of the island chain, because of smoky conditions and to allow firefighters to move equipment. Officials said the fire had burned about 34 square miles (88 square kilometers) and was about 20% contained. In this image taken from video provided by WSVN-TV, a brush fire burns along U.S. 1 as a helicopter carrying a water tank flies toward the fire Tuesday, March 18, 2025, south of Dade County, Fla. (WSVN-TV via AP) AP Spring break is in full swing in Florida, and officials said U.S. 1, the major thoroughfare that connects the mainland to the islands, was expected to have intermittent closures in the coming days. It is also a heavily traveled road for people who live on the mainland and work at many of the hotels and restaurants in Key Largo and beyond. Arkansas blazes In Arkansas, crews responded to nearly than 100 fires Wednesday that were fueled by high winds and were dealing with five new ones Thursday. The fires closed several highways, including a portion of Interstate 530 southeast of Little Rock due to heavy smoke. Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a wooded area behind a Walmart, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Little Rock, Ark. (Adam Vogler/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP) AP Flames damaged structures in several cities, including Little Rock. The roof collapsed at St. Josephs, a 115-year-old building in North Little Rock that once served as an orphanage and is now the home of a nonprofit that provides urban farming resources. Whats causing the fires? The South has experienced recent cold and dry conditions, followed by gusting winds, that have fanned the flames. Texas has seen fire hazards range from the far northern Panhandle, where ground vegetation froze and dried out, and push hundreds of miles east to the coast. South Florida has seen very little rainfall over the past few weeks. The rainy season doesnt start until sometime around mid-May. Another cold front with dry air is expected to push through South Florida on Thursday night, said meteorologist Donal Harrigan with the National Weather Service in Miami. Fire crews drive along a fire line while working to contain the Pauline Road wildfire Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Cleveland, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) AP Red Flag warnings The weather service issued Red Flag warnings for fire conditions in east Texas and South Florida and could extend them for several days. Red flag warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are ripe for fires. In southeast Texas, weather service officials predicted wind gusts of 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour), combined with humidity as low as 18%. That combination will continue to dry out vegetation. Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. Tilak Niroula, chairman of the board of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, said he is hearing from family members of Bhutanese individuals detained by ICE that deportation could be imminent. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Deportation could be imminent for several dozen Bhutanese Nepali refugees who earlier this week were taken into custody by ICE agents in Harrisburg and other parts of Pennsylvania. That is the report that Tilak Niroula, head of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, was hearing on Friday from the family members of those detained. Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit! Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | March 21, 2025 A museum will return the skull of an Indigenous child to tribe leaders in Maine. Some officials are pushing for the 10 Commandments to be displayed in public schools. A Bird Town Pennsylvania is in the midst of a great, feathered battle. And an organ will play at an iconic Macys for one last time. Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa. Todays episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too. A protest against Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf is scheduled to take place this weekend. In this picture, Graf reflects one year later after a fatal incident involving fellow officer Lt. Bill Lebo. Jimmie Brown. | jbrown@pennlive.com | March 29, 2023. A protest against Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf is set to take place this weekend, according to a Facebook post from a local organization. The protest, organized by Change Starts With Community Lebanon, PA, will start at the Lebanon Farmers Market parking lot at 1 p.m. and run until 4. The Facebook event listed 0 South Ninth Street in Lebanon as the protests address. Tilak Niroula, chairman of the board of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, in center, stands between, from left, state Sen. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin County, state Rep. Danilo Burgos, D-Philadelphia, and Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas. Elected officials hold a news conference at the state Capitol to address ICE detaining five members of the Dauphin County Bhutanese community. March 18, 2025. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com It seems like every day theres a new outrage coming from Washington D.C. But when legal residents are rounded up and deported, every citizens rights are in danger. Thats the message that resonated at Pennsylvanias state capitol last week when Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas called an emergency press conference to speak out against the deportation of Bhutanese refugees who they say are legal residents of Dauphin County. Every American has reason to fear if federal agencies are simply ignoring the rule of law and deporting legal residents. Its a sad day when Congress proposes a budget that takes money from vulnerable Americans cutting health and food benefits to fund tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is charged with cutting $880 billion over 10 years. This requires cuts to Medicaid - a health care program overseen by the federal government, but managed by states. Close to home, Medicaid covers approximately 3 million people, in every county in Pennsylvania mainly children, people with disabilities, lower-income adults, and older adults. About 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians receive Medicaid. For children, that number is even higher at 39%. Members of the Dwaima family stand on the rubble of their home, which was leveled by an Israeli airstrike during the Israel-Hamas war, in the Tal al Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) AP (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Author: Asher Kaufman, University of Notre Dame The ceasefire in Gaza appears to be over. And while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to blame Hamas for the resumption of fighting that killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18, 2025 only the beginning, Netanyahu warned the truth is the seeds of the renewed violence are to be found in Israeli domestic politics. Ever since the first phase of the ceasefire came into effect in January, Israeli politics experts myself included have flagged a likely insurmountable problem. And that is the execution of the plans second phase which, if implemented, would see full withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages is a nonstarter for far-right elements in the Israeli ruling coalition that Netanyahu relies on for his political survival. Withdrawing from the Gaza Strip runs counter to the maximalist ideologies of key members of Netanyahus government, including some in his own party, Likud. Rather, their stated position is for Israel to remain in control of the enclave and to push as many Palestinians as possible out of it. It is why many in Netanyahus government cheered when President Donald Trump indicated that Palestinians should be cleared from Gaza to make way for a massive reconstruction project led by the United States. As an expert on Israeli history and a professor of peace studies, I believe the far-right vision for post-conflict Gaza shared by parts of Netanyahus government is incompatible with the ceasefire plan. But increasingly, it appears to chime with the views of some in the U.S. administration which, as de facto sponsor of the ceasefire, may have been the only entity that could have held the Israeli government to its terms. Efforts to transform judiciary It is true Hamas is responsible for delays and manipulations during the first phase of the ceasefire deal. It also turned hostage releases into propaganda spectacles, tormenting both the families of captives and much of Israeli society in the process. But in my view, the resumption of war is first and foremost tied to domestic Israeli currents that predate even the Oct. 7, 2023, attackthat sparked the deadliest fighting between Israelis and Palestinians since the 1948 war. It can be traced back to Netanyahus efforts to transform the political system in Israel and increase the power of the executive and legislative branches while weakening the judiciary. U.S. President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Feb. 4, 2025. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images Since coming to power in January 2023, Netanyahus hard-right government has made significant efforts to turn independent institutions such as the attorney generals office and the police into compliant arms of the government by seeking to place government loyalistsin charge of both. Prolonging the war In 2023, a sustained and massive protest movement slowed Netanyahus attempts to overhaul the countrys judiciary. And then came the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7. Many Israeli commentators hoped that the attack would force the government to reconsider its efforts to carry out what some described as a legal coup, in a show of national unity. But Netanyahu and his government had other plans. After an initial hostage deal in November 2023 failed to yield a wider breakthrough, people gradually began to question whether Netanyahus primary interest was to prolong the war in the belief that doing so might be the best way to save his political career and revive his assault on the judiciary. Such a view has solid foundations. Having been indicted in November 2019 on breach of trust, fraud and corruption charges, Netanyahu was presented with an opportunity to muddy the logic of the long-running legal proceedings: He could hardy stand trial while defending a nation at war. The prosecution is still ongoing, but the resumption of fighting has, again, meant that Netanyahu has reason to delay his testimony. Meanwhile, war also provides cover for Netanyahu to neuter some of his fiercest critics. In the months after the Oct. 7 attack, Netanyahu systematically removed from office antagonistic members of the security and political leadership, accusing them of being responsible either for the Hamas attack or for the mismanagement of the conflict. This purging of anti-Netanyahu elements in Israel has ramped up in recent months, with Netanyahu and his allies seeking to replace Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and fire Ronen Bar, the head of the powerful security agency Shabak, or Shin Bet, which has been carrying out sensitive investigationsinto Netanyahus closest aides. Shoring up the coalition The apparent breakdown of the ceasefire now also coincides with growing pressure on Netanyahu from the political right in his ruling coalition. Under Israeli law, the government must approve its annual budgetby the end of March or face being dissolved, something that would trigger fresh elections. But Netanyahu is facing holdouts among ultra-Orthodox parties over the issue of army drafts. Since the start of the war, there has been tremendous pressure from the wider Israeli public to end the draft exemption for ultra-Orthodox men, who unlike other Israelis did not have to serve in the military. Ultra-Orthodox parties, however, are demanding the opposite: to pass legislation that would formally exempt them from military service. To secure the vote for the annual budget and stave off elections, Netanyahu needs support and if it isnt going to come from the ultra-Orthodox parties, then he needs to shore up far-right members of the coalition. As a result of the resumption of war, Otzma Yehudit the far-right party that left Netanyahus government in January to protest the ceasefire agreement has returned to the fold. This gives Netanyahu crucial budget votes. But in effect, it signals that the coalition has no intention of implementing the second phase of the ceasefire plan, withdrawing from Gaza. In effect, it has killed the ceasefire. The domestic politics of Israel alone is not to blame for the resumption of fighting. There is, too, the changing stance of the U.S. administration. The transition of presidency from Joe Biden to Donald Trump was a decisive reason for the timing of the ceasefire agreement in January 2025. But it appears that the administration is reluctant to force Netanyahu to continue to the second phase. Recent statements from Trump suggest that he supports putting extra military pressure on Hamas in Gaza. And by blaming Hamas for the resumption of the war, Trump is tacitly endorsing the position of the Israeli government. Hamas, in fact, has the most interest in implementing the agreement. Doing so would give the Palestinian militant group the best chance it has of remaining in control of Gaza, while also boasting that it had been responsible for the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. Thousands gather at Habima Square to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government on March 18, 2025. Yair Palti/Anadolu via Getty Images Yair Palti/Anadolu via Getty Images Protests gaining momentum The majority of Israelis are in favor of ending the war, completing the ceasefire agreement and having Netanyahu resign. And the anti-government protest movement is gaining steam again as seen in widespread protests in Israeli cities against both the resumption of fighting in Gaza and the attempt to oust security chief Ronen Bar. Given that the people and the government of Israel appear to be pulling in opposite directions, the resumption of bombing in Gaza can only exacerbate the internal crisis that preceded the war and has ebbed and flowed ever since. But Netanyahu has seemingly bet that more war is his best chance of remaining in power and completing his plan to transform the countrys political system. Israel is facing an unprecedented situation in which, I would argue, its own prime minister has became the biggest threat to the countrys stability. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-gaza-ceasefire-is-dead-israeli-domestic-politics-killed-it-252569. Founder of the popular Pirates Booty brand, Robert Ehrlich loses the mayoral bid the small village of Sea Cliff in Long Island, New York. Amazon The founder of the popular Pirates Booty popcorn brand lost his bid for mayor and lost his cool on the citizens of a small town in Long Island, N.Y. Robert Ehrlich was running for mayor of Sea Cliff, a small village about 26 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan. On March 19, he lost to incumbent Elena Villafane by a vote of 1,064 to 62. By Julia Terruso, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) U.S. Rep. Dan Meusers comments were brief, but they had all the markings of a gubernatorial stump speech from an out-of-town Congressman trying to appeal to Philadelphians. Im not from here, Meuser, a Republican who represents northeastern Pennsylvania and hails from New York, said to a small audience in a Germantown event space Wednesday. But I will tell you this: Philadelphia is my favorite city in the world, and its always going to be that way. Party General Secretary To Lam received visiting U.S. Senator Steven David Daines in Hanoi on Thursday, reiterating that the U.S. remains one of Vietnam's key partners. He welcomed Washington's strengthening of cooperation with Vietnam and support its path towards a strong, independent, self-resilient, and prosperous country. Reflecting on the progress in bilateral ties over the past 30 years, the Party leader described VietnamU.S. relations as a model of international cooperation. He acknowledged the positive outcomes achieved since the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023, spanning diplomacy, trade and investment, education, culture, and people-to-people exchange. He outlined key priorities to further develop bilateral cooperation, emphasizing that economic, trade, and investment relations should remain an important pillar of the relationship, along with expansion of collaboration in science and technology, innovation, energy, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture areas where the U.S. has strengths and Vietnam has growing demand. Thanking the U.S. Congress and leaders of both the Republican and Democratic parties for their support, he urged Daines to further advocate for a more harmonized, sustainable, effective and substantive partnership. Party General Secretary To Lam (R) and U.S. Senator Steven David Daines at their meeting in Hanoi on March 20, 2025. Photo by VNA Daines congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements in the past years. He recalled the phone conversation between Party General Secretary To Lam and U.S. President Donald Trump shortly after Trump's election victory in November 2024, highlighting that it underscored Vietnam's priority status in the Trump administration's regional strategy. The U.S. senator agreed with the Vietnamese Party chief's orientations regarding bilateral relations, expressing his country's interest in bolstering all-round ties with Vietnam, particularly in economy, trade, agriculture and energy. He also wished for enhanced collaboration in combating drug trafficking, especially synthetic opioids like fentanyl, and further joint efforts against illegal migration. He pledged to convey Lam's regards to Trump and reaffirmed his commitment to fostering stronger VietnamU.S. ties in the years ahead. Art the Whale By Gary Noy Reprinted from Sierra Heritage, March-April 1989 Used by permission of the author A mysterious body A body floats up on the beach. It is discovered, identified, and found to have eight aliases. The body is dismembered, crudely jammed into dirty barrels, roughly tossed into the back of a truck, and buried in the dead of night by the light of automobile headlamps. Neighbors hear strange noises, and smell even stranger odors. Vats of unidentified liquid boil ominously at the site. Multinational corporations and government officials are involved. Eleven months pass. The body is exhumed and reassembled. Scientists look with delight at their reconstructed creature. A scene from Frankenstein or perhaps the opening lines of a macabre Edgar Allen Poe short story? No, it is the true story of Art the Whale, centerpiece exhibit at the Sierra Natural History Museum. California Gray Whale, Eschrichtius robustus The California Gray Whale exhibit is but one of many found at the museum, rated by experts as an outstanding regional natural history center. Co-directed by Sierra College instructors Charles Dailey and Dick Hilton, the Museum has provided educational opportunities to tens of thousands of students, area residents, and the curious. It offers animal displays, nature trails, arboretums, and hands-on experiences for every age. "Art is our main attraction," says Dailey, a zoology instructor and avid collector of skeletal remains and fossils. "We envision Art the Whale as a teaching tool and public attraction that will lead to expansion and improvement of our Science Center." Art died in 1986, but that was just the beginning In May 1986, a 40-foot California Gray Whale was found dead under a pier in Benecia. Dailey acquired title to the body from the National Marine Fisheries, and the U.S. Navy towed the carcass to the local county dump. He and 20 students spent a day dismembering the whale for transport. Although traditional whale knives, called flensing knives, were used, the task was mainly accomplished by common kitchen knives. The smelly, oily parts were loaded onto a pickup truck, and the journey back to Rocklin began. Clothing worn during the phase had to be destroyed as the smell could not be removed. I'm not sure if the officials at the station smelled us coming "One funny incident occurred when we approached a weigh station near Fairfield," Dailey recalls. "I'm not sure if the officials at the station smelled us coming, but when we arrived at the station, they waved us through immediately. I don't think we even slowed down." A slide show prepared by Dailey features the amusing and somewhat disgusted expressions of other motorists as they saw and smelled the slimy cargo. Upon arrival at Rocklin, Dailey was confronted with "about a ton of bones and blubber." The carcass was taken to Dailey's back pasture in Newcastle and buried at night by the lights of a fellow instructor's car headlights. "We kind of kept it a secret from our neighbors, but soon they were commenting about the strange-smelling thing buried in our backyard," says Dailey. Dead and buried, but not for long After being buried for six months, the bones were dug up, hydraulically cleaned, and "cured" using chemicals supplied by Chevron Oil Company and Dow Chemical Company. A location was found in the Natural History Museum, and the reconstructed skeleton was carefully displayed. It now hangs from the ceiling in the Museum foyer. All in all, it took 11 months for Art the Whale to reach its final destination. Art the Whale is one of only a few complete whale skeletons displayed on the West Coast. The others are in San Francisco, Monterey, and Seattle. "And the best part of it was the cost," Dailey adds proudly. "We received Art basically for free. Believe me, the price was right. Several years ago we paid $30 for only a couple of small whale bones. Other museums have paid over $10,000 for a whale skeleton. Now we have the entire skeleton and the cost was low. All the effort paid off." Why Art? Art is the last of eight names given to the whale. The question most asked about the exhibit is "Why is the whale named Art?" Dailey replies: "Actually Art is the last of eight names given to the whale. We had different names corresponding to each phase of the process. For example, when the whale was floating in the bay, we called him 'Bob.' When he was on the beach, we called him 'Sandy.' When we cut him into pieces, we called him 'Sybil.' When we put him in the hole in my backyard, we called him 'Phil.' While he was buried; we called him Barry.' When we dug him up, we called him 'Doug.' When we processed him in the chemicals, we called him 'Stu.' And, finally, when we displayed him, we were so proud; we thought he was a work of art. So, the name, Art' stuck." A packed house is expected inside the Grosvenor Casino Merchant City today when Day 1d of the 888poker Live Glasgow Main Event begins at noon local time. The fourth starting flight is expected to be the largest one yet as players seek one of the last chances to take their shot at the title. A total of 133 players have entered through the first three flights, with 24 already securing their tickets into Day 2. 888poker Ambassador Ian Simpson, who won the last 888poker Live event in Madrid in January, waited until late last night to put himself in pole position for another run at a trophy. Simpson dominated the turbo Day 1c flight and was the only one to advance out of 13 entries, bagging up 390,000 and the chip lead so far. Top 10 Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Ian Simpson United Kingdom 390,000 98 2 Stephen Barnes United Kingdom 365,000 91 3 Dean Lyall United Kingdom 289,500 72 4 Bryan Taylor United Kingdom 268,000 67 5 Dmitri Dudakov Estonia 240,000 60 6 John Aitken United Kingdom 236,500 59 7 Igors Ljadovs United Kingdom 185,000 46 8 Iason Filippidis Greece 176,000 44 9 Jack Moore United Kingdom 175,500 44 10 Vivian Saliba Austria 169,500 42 In second place is another player all too familiar with conquering an 888poker Live field. Stephen Barnes, the champion of Manchester last August, carries 365,000 into the day. Dean Lyall rounds out the top three with 289,500, while Vivian Saliba (169,500) and Josh Manley (105,000) join Simpson in representing the 888poker team on Day 2. If anyone today wants to join them tomorrow, theyll have to survive the grind of 14 40-minute levels. Players once again begin with a 30,000 starting stack. Unlimited reentries are available, with late registration open until the start of Day 2 tomorrow at 5 p.m. There are also two additional turbo flights, Day 1e at 8 p.m. tonight and Day 1f starting at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Stay tuned as PokerNews provides all the action from what should be a busy day here in Glasgow. Aiken Standard reporter Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers The Dallas Brass will perform its program American Musical Journey at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at the USC Aiken Etherredge Center. Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star reporter Bianca Moorman is a reporter for the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star with a focus on community focused stories, arts, businesses, non-profits, events and any story with a human element. The Roanoke, Virginia native has journalism degrees from James Madison and Syracuse universities. She has written for papers in Georgia, Mississippi, Upstate New York and Virginia. Follow her on X at @biancarmooman. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Cloudy with showers. High 84F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain diminishing to a few showers this afternoon. High around 85F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Business Reporter Andy Tsubasa Field covers business and development for The Post and Courier's Columbia bureau. He has reported on business for the Albany Times Union, general assignment news in Bridgeport for the Connecticut Post, Kansas state politics for the Associated Press and city hall for the Bismarck Tribune. Greenville, SC (29601) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High 92F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 71F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20 aiming to speed up the process of developing mines in the United States. The order gives short timelines for developing lists of mining projects that should be fast-tracked and lists of public lands where mineral production should be the top priority. The executive order, titled Immediate measures to increase American mineral production, declares a national energy emergency and uses provisions in the order and the Defense Production Act, which was passed in 1950, to facilitate the advancement of domestic mineral production and promote the acceleration of the development of new mines. The new executive order on mineral production opens with a statement of purpose saying, The United States possesses vast mineral resources that can create jobs, fuel prosperity, and significantly reduce our reliance on foreign nations. Transportation, infrastructure, defense capabilities, and the next generation of technology rely upon a secure, predictable, and affordable supply of minerals. The United States was once the worlds largest producer of lucrative minerals, but overbearing federal regulation has eroded our nations mineral production, the order says. Our national and economic security are now acutely threatened by our reliance upon hostile foreign powers mineral production. It is imperative for our national security that the United States take immediate action to facilitate domestic mineral production to the maximum possible extent. Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, praised the executive order. Ramping up American mining is a national security imperative, and President Trumps strong action recognizes that, Nolan said. By encouraging streamlined and transparent permitting processes, combined with financing support to counter foreign market manipulation, we can finally challenge Chinas mineral extortion. We applaud this strong action that confronts our mineral crisis head on and we look forward to working with the administration to ensure made in America increasingly means mined in America. Amanda Hilton, the president of the Nevada Mining Association, said that "streamlining domestic mineral production is essential to the future of our national security, transportation, and energy needs, as well as the everyday products and technologies we rely on. "Nevada is uniquely positioned to lead the way, mining more than 20 minerals with the potential to produce even more. With world-class production, sustainability, and safety standards, Nevadas mining industry is ready to meet our national mineral needs today and in the future." Hilton said. Greg Reimer, the president and CEO of Surge Battery Metals, which is developing the Nevada North Lithium Project in northeast Elko County, said, "This executive order undeElrscores the importance of projects like ours in reducing reliance on foreign sources and bolstering national security. We are committed to advancing our project responsibly and sustainably, contributing to the local economy and supporting the nation's clean energy goals." Mark A. Smith, executive chairman and CEO of NioCorp Developments, which is developing the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska, where niobium, scandium, and titanium will be produced, said, With this executive order, President Trump has launched a new era of Mine, Baby, Mine in America. The president wants to build entire critical minerals supply chains in the U.S. from the mine to the M1 tank, Smith said. His whole-of-government approach to re-shoring these supply chains will help de-risk the entire sector, which in turn is expected to attract significant new private capital into mining and mineral processing supply chains. Jon Cherry, the president and CEO of Perpetua Resources, which is developing the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho, said the executive order is a resounding endorsement of American mining, and the Stibnite Gold Project is a prime example of why critical mineral production in America requires immediate attention and prioritization. We are very encouraged to see this action to unlock a new era of American critical mineral dominance, Cherry said. When the Stibnite Gold Project begins production, which may happen in 2028, it is expected to become the only U.S. mined source of antimony, a mineral used in many technology and defense applications. Mckinsey Lyon, Perpetua Resources vice president of external affairs, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy & Mineral Resources on Feb. 6, saying, Our anticipated 18-year timeline from prospecting to production is just too long. Our nation cant wait 18 years to bring critical resources online. Environmental groups, however, said the new executive order will strip away environmental protections and threaten communities and public lands. With this destructive order, Trump is slapping a giant Free Stuff sign on Americas public lands, said Taylor McKinnon at the Center for Biological Diversity. Giving these beautiful places away to rich mining companies will contaminate water supplies, push imperiled animals like salmon and jaguars toward extinction, and transform our public lands into industrial wastelands. These cherished landscapes are part of every Americans natural heritage, and Trump has no right to just hand them over to giant mining corporations, McKinnon said. Yet again, President Trump is trying to ignore the law and dictate that our national public lands be handed over to private companies for extraction and profit above all else, Rachael Hamby, the policy director at the Center for Western Priorities, said. This short-sighted approach shows a shocking disregard for Congress, federal land management agency rules and regulations, and public opinion. She said the order is clearly about enriching mining companies and their shareholders, not enhancing national security. Removing safeguards for mining on our public lands is a bad move that puts wildlife and communities in danger and will be met with fierce resistance across the West. Roger Featherstone, the executive director of the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, said the people involved in putting together the executive order on mineral production "really dont know what the hell theyre doing. The timelines are nonsensical, expecting the agencies to do all this work while their staffs are decimated and on these incredibly short timelines is just ridiculous. Ronni Flannery, a senior staff attorney at the Wilderness Society, said, Few things unite this country like the love of our public lands and the outdoors, but today, the administration opened yet another front in its efforts to sell these places off for development - this time to move mining projects forward at warp-speed for the good of international mining corporations. "This executive order represents one of the most brazen attempts to expand mining on public lands in more than a century, in line with the administrations push to privatize our shared public lands," Flannery said. "And it could end up posing significant risks to lands, waters, wildlife and the communities that rely on them, both in the present day and for generations to come. The executive order applies not only to materials that have previously been defined as critical minerals, but also to uranium, copper, potash, gold and any other element, compound or material as determined by the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council. The council was established by an executive order on Feb. 14, and Interior Secretary Doug Bergum serves as its chair. The March 20 executive order on mineral production says that within 10 days, the head of each agency involved in permitting mineral production projects must provide a list of all projects which are in the permitting process, and within another 10 days, the head of each such agency shall, in coordination with the chair of the NEDC, identify priority projects that can be immediately approved or for which permits can be immediately issued, and take all necessary or appropriate actions within the agencys authority to expedite and issue the relevant permits or approvals. The order says the councils chair, in consultation with agencies, will issue a request for information to solicit industry feedback on regulatory bottlenecks and other recommended strategies for expediting domestic mineral production. A section of the order appears to address the Rosemont decision of 2019, which said mining companies can only dump waste on federal lands where there are valid mining claims and valuable minerals. Mining advocates have said the Rosemont decision will place prohibitive restrictions on many mining projects, and several attempts have been made to reverse the effects of the decision. The new mineral production executive order says the councils chair and the director of the Office of Legislative Affairs will jointly prepare and submit recommendations to the President for the Congress to clarify the treatment of waste rock, tailings, and mine waste disposal under the Mining Act of 1872. The new executive order also says that within 10 days, the Secretary of the Interior shall identify and provide the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs with a list of all Federal lands known to hold mineral deposits and reserves. The Secretary of the Interior shall prioritize mineral production and mining related purposes as the primary land uses in these areas, consistent with applicable law. The Center for Western Priorities said this section of the executive order flies in the face of federal land management agencies enabling laws, which clearly state the intent of Congress that national public lands be managed for multiple uses and that it is up to the agencies, with input from the public, to balance those uses to ensure a sustained yield of natural resources. The executive order also says that within 30 days the secretaries of various agencies need to put together lists of federal lands that may be suitable for leasing or development by private commercial mineral development enterprises, and then they need to prioritize the sites on these lists on which mineral production projects could be fully permitted and operational as soon as possible and have the greatest potential effect on robustness of the domestic mineral supply chain. A variety of funding mechanisms for developing mining projects are also addressed by the order. The order says the secretaries of Defense, Energy and Agriculture and the administrator of the Small Business Administration will work together with the heads of agencies that can provide loans, capital assistance, technical assistance, and working capital to domestic mineral production project sponsors to ensure that all private parties who enter into lease and commercial agreements can utilize as many favorable terms and conditions as are available under public assistance programs for these purposes, consistent with applicable law. The order also says the secretary of Defense will utilize the National Security Capital Forum to facilitate the introduction of entities to pair private capital with commercially viable domestic mineral production projects to the maximum possible extent. Also, the order says that within 30 days the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the secretary of Defense will develop a plan for the finance corporation to use Department of Defense investment authorities and the Department of Defense Office of Strategic Capital to establish a dedicated mineral and mineral production fund for domestic investments executed by the corporation. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain, heavy at times early, diminishing to a few showers this afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Myrtle Beach, SC (29577) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers and windy conditions developing for the afternoon. High 81F. Winds ENE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly overnight. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. Reporter Christian spent six years in Myrtle Beach before moving to the Upstate. When he's not working, he's reading a book, making a mess in the kitchen or running around Spartanburg. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 18:15:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 827 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 $ALZcure is pioneering blockchain-powered funding for Alzheimer's research through Decentralized Science (DeSci). Built on Solana, it enables transparent, community-driven support for gene therapy and neuron regeneration. By leveraging smart contracts, $ALZcure streamlines research funding, accelerating breakthroughs in neurodegenerative disease treatment while fostering collaboration between scientists, biotech firms, and investors.KIRKLAND, WA / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / $ALZcure is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative in Decentralized Science (DeSci) by utilizing blockchain technology to support research and treatment development for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Built on the Solana blockchain, $ALZcure introduces a transparent, efficient, and community-driven funding model that empowers researchers, biotech firms, and medical institutions to accelerate advancements in epigenetic therapies, neuron regeneration, and breakthrough medical innovations aimed at improving cognitive health.Viet Ly, CEO of $ALZcure, underscored the project's transformative mission, stating, "$ALZcure is more than just a token-it's a movement revolutionizing the way medical innovation is funded. By harnessing blockchain and decentralized science, we can accelerate life-changing treatments and bring renewed hope to millions battling neurodegenerative diseases." Redefining Research Funding with Decentralized Science (DeSci)The process of securing traditional research funding is often complex, slow, and highly competitive, with bureaucratic barriers delaying access to critical resources. Alzheimer's research, despite receiving billions in funding over the years, still lacks a cure, and most treatments focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of neurodegeneration.$ALZcure addresses these challenges by introducing a decentralized, blockchain-powered funding mechanism that ensures direct, traceable, and instant financial support for promising research initiatives. Through smart contracts, $ALZcure enables seamless transactions, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring that funding reaches researchers without unnecessary delays.One of the key areas of focus for $ALZcure is cellular reprogramming and neuron regeneration, particularly through the study of Yamanaka Factors, a Nobel Prize-winning discovery in epigenetics that has shown potential in restoring lost neuronal function. By funding research into gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and advanced medical solutions, $ALZcure seeks to move beyond symptom management and toward disease-modifying therapies.Key Features of $ALZcureBlockchain-Powered Research Grants - Smart contracts facilitate direct and secure funding for high-impact projects.Decentralized Community Governance - Token holders can participate in voting and decision-making regarding fund allocation and research priorities.Focus on Gene Therapy & Neurodegeneration - Supporting research into Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Dementia, Stroke, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington's disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions.Staking and Rewards Mechanism - Holders can stake $ALZcure tokens to earn rewards while contributing to long-term research funding.Transparency & Speed - Blockchain-based transactions ensure efficient, real-time financial distribution with full traceability.The Urgent Need for Innovation in Alzheimer's ResearchAlzheimer's disease currently affects over 55 million people worldwide, with projections indicating that this number will triple by 2050. Despite substantial investments in research, progress in effective treatment development remains slow, and most available therapies provide only temporary relief from symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes of neurodegeneration.$ALZcure aims to bridge this gap by introducing a community-driven funding model that allows investors, researchers, and medical professionals to collaborate in real-time. By leveraging decentralized funding mechanisms, $ALZcure expedites financial support for promising scientific projects, allowing them to progress more efficiently toward clinical trials and potential FDA approvals.$ALZcure Partners with YouthBio Therapeutics to Advance Alzheimer's Research$ALZcure has partnered with YouthBio Therapeutics, a biotech firm specializing in epigenetic rejuvenation and longevity therapies, to accelerate Alzheimer's research.YouthBio has conducted promising preclinical studies on age-related cognitive decline and Progeria using ARTE10 mice. The company has also received a Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the FDA for Progeria, making it eligible for a Priority Review Voucher (PRV)-a designation that could fast-track future treatments.With plans to initiate human trials in Australia, YouthBio is working with regulators while engaging with the FDA for an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing in the U.S. This collaboration aligns with $ALZcure's mission to support cutting-edge biotech research through decentralized funding, helping accelerate the development of innovative therapies for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.About Alzheimer's Cure Charity TokenAlzheimer's Cure Charity Token is a pioneering initiative dedicated to advancing neurodegenerative disease research through blockchain-powered decentralized science (DeSci). By integrating smart contract-based funding models with a transparent and community-driven approach, the organization seeks to eliminate the inefficiencies of traditional research grants and accelerate scientific discoveries in gene therapy, neuron regeneration, and cognitive health solutions.The initiative operates on a decentralized funding model, allowing researchers, biotech firms, and investors to collaborate in a seamless ecosystem. By ensuring real-time financial support for high-impact research projects, Alzheimer's Cure Charity Token is transforming how medical research is funded and executed in the Web3 era.To learn more about $ALZcure, visit their website - https://www.alzcuretoken.com/ Connect with $ALZcure throughTwitter - https://x.com/ALZcure7Telegram - https://t.me/ALZcureTokenContact them viaEmail- info@ alzcuretoken.com Media ContactOrganization: Alzheimer's Cure Charity TokenContact Person Name: Viet Ly, FounderWebsite: https://www.alzcuretoken.com/ Email: info@ alzcuretoken.com City: KirklandState: WashingtonCountry: United StatesSOURCE: Alzheimer's Cure Charity Token PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 02:30:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 20, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: This lawsuit is on behalf of all shareholders that purchased stock pursuant and/or traceable to Venture's registration statement for the initial public offering held on or about January 24, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, Venture completed its initial public offering on January 27, 2025, selling 70 million shares at $24.00 per share. On February 5, 2025, TotalEnergies, an energy company that was a target customer of Venture, rejected opportunities to become a long-term customer of Venture, citing lack of trust. In particular, TotalEnergies CEO, stated that he was approached by Venture to see if the company would be interested in a long-term supply contract for liquefied natural gas from the Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana, but he rejected the offer "because of what they are doing." Venture is currently facing legal challenges from existing large clients, such as BP and Shell, due to delays in supply contracts as Venture commissions its projects. Given the fact that defendants ability to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the world and to continue development of Venture's five natural gas liquefication and export projects depends on customer contracts, defendants' failure to account for and address these issues caused statements in Venture's registration statement to be false and/or materially misleading at the time of the initial public offering.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Venture stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/venture-global-inc-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=137592&wire=1 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 15:31:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 592 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") has been informed that Mayfair Acquisition Corp. ("Mayfair") ( TSX.V:MFA.P) , a Canadian based capital pool company, intends to make an unsolicited offer to acquire all the shares of CANEX and all of the shares of Gold Basin Resources ("Gold Basin") ( TSX.V:GXX) in an all share transaction. The offer intends to combine the Arizona gold assets of both CANEX and Gold Basin into a company sponsored by the Discovery Group.No formal offer has been received. The Board of Directors and management of CANEX are committed to reviewing any proposal in a timely and thorough manner. Upon receipt of a formal offer, the Board will evaluate its terms and provide a public statement in due course. Until CANEX has had an opportunity to review the proposal and its terms, it is not in a position to comment on the offer and will not speculate as to any future course of action it might take.The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.About CANEX MetalsCANEX Metals ( TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on advancing it's 100% owned Gold Range Project in Northern Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early-stage opportunity for investors. CANEX is also advancing the Louise Copper-Gold Porphyry deposit in British Columbia. Louise contains a large historic copper-gold resource that has seen very little deep or lateral exploration, offering investors copper and gold discovery upside. CANEX has scheduled a fully permitted and fully funded induced polarization geophysical survey for the spring of 2025 as the next step in evaluating the Louise property. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX:ALS), a large shareholder of the Company.Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX Metals and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release."Shane Ebert"Shane EbertPresident/DirectorFor Further Information Contact: Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 orJean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636Web: http://www.canexmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "expects", "projects", "plans", "anticipates" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc. internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of CANEX shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.SOURCE: CANEX Metals Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 17:30:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / College Hospital Costa Mesa recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals.This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to College Hospital Costa Mesa.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 17, 2024, College Hospital Costa Mesa became aware of a security incident that disrupted the operations of some of its IT systems. Upon detection, College Hospital Costa Mesa launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party accessed some files on its systems between August 14, 2024, and September 17, 2024. College Hospital Costa Mesa conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On January 31, 2025, College Hospital Costa Mesa determined that these files contained sensitive personal information.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised:name, Social Security number, and driver's license number.On March 10, 2025, College Hospital Costa Mesa filed a notice with the Attorney General of California and started the process of notifying impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from College Hospital Costa Mesa, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 17:31:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 439 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / Smart ERP Solutions, Inc. recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted toSmartERP.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 13, 2024, Smart ERP Solutions, Inc. became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, SmartERP launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to SmartERP's network between July 3, 2024, and July 13, 2024. SmartERP conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On February 11, 2025, SmartERP completed its review and confirmed that certain sensitive personal information had been exposed.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, and Social Security number. On March 13, 2025, SmartERP filed a notice with the Maine Attorney General's office and began sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from SmartERP, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 04:10:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 926 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 President of Augason Farms, Yearsley Offers Emergency Preparedness Tips Based On Years Of Industry ExperienceSALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESS Newswire / March 20, 2025 / When Nathan Yearsley was a boy, his family relied on meals from the country's pioneer in emergency preparedness foods during many times of crisis. Little did he think that decades later, he would serve as a senior executive with that same company - and then become its President.Nathan YearsleyFor 53 years, Augason Farms has helped families meet the need of always being prepared for any type of disaster. As President of Augason Farms, Nathan devotes his professional career to ensuring the well-being of families nationwide when the need arises. A member of the Board of Directors of the Disaster Recovery Coalition of America (DRCA), he plays a prominent role in educating government and public opinion leaders on the critical importance of supporting constituents prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against disasters.Earthquakes in California, Hurricanes in Florida, fires, floods, storms, chemical accidents, and as recent history has shown, pandemics and even terrorist attacks and civil unrest make emergency preparedness procedures a top priority.Whether community officials call for mandatory evacuations or to remain in place, families need to be ready. From his own personal disaster experiences to his role as leader of the largest company in emergency preparedness meals, an honored DRCA board member and frequent media expert through his many appearances on television and radio across the country, Nathan has made it his life's mission to prepare families and helping to always ensure their well-being.Nathan Yearsley's Emergency Preparedness Rules of Engagement begin with the Rules of 3's: 3 seconds without hope (survival mindset); 3 minutes without breathing (asphyxiation, severe blood loss); 3 hours without shelter in an extreme environment (exposure); 3 days without water (dehydration); 3 weeks without food (starvation); 3 months without human contact (the need for connection).To address each of these Rules, Nathan advises that families:- Band together as a community to form a neighborhood support program before disaster strikes.- Have at the ready multiple ways to receive emergency alerts, such as internet and especially radios with fresh batteries.- Protect your finances by reviewing and properly storing your insurance policies, home and apartment paperwork, legal documents for immediate access.- Designate meeting places outside of your home and identify strategies for communicating with family members.- Establish specific areas of responsibility for each family member, including plans for evacuation routes and shelters.- Individual family members may have special needs such a baby food or medicines - consider their needs well in advance.- In addition to important documents, store for quick and easy access first aid supplies, medications, flashlights, batteries, a battery-powered radio, cash, and personal hygiene items.- Beyond learning first aid to handle common injuries, consider taking a course on CPR.- To prepare for earthquakes, fasten furniture and heavy items to prevent damage or injury.- To prepare for fires and weather-related events, have a plan in place for shutting off utilities such as water, gas, and electricity.- Have a fire extinguisher readily available and know how to use it.- Maintain the ability to monitor local alerts.Because emergency foods are vital during times of crisis, the DRCA recommends keeping a 3-day supply of food on hand. Easy to prepare meals with a long shelf lifeNathan points with pride how Augason Farms pioneered the survival food business and today produces the most nutritious emergency foods available. His company works to create meals that provide the daily recommended requirement for calories and proteins -- and taste great. In fact, many Augason Farms families look to the company's vast variety of over 300 products for their everyday meals.Augason Farms prepares all meals in their own Utah-based manufacturing facility and delivers them in easy-to-stack water-tight buckets with handles for long-term storage, allowing the company's extensive line of healthy and satisfying meals to remain fresh for up to 25 years. And preparing Augason Food Wise meals is easy and straightforward -- simply add water to the meal and you're ready to go.Among the many popular Augason Farms choices is the company's innovative Ready Pouches, prep-in-pouch meals that require no cooking or heating, offer great taste, and provide government-recommended daily requirement for calories and protein. The Ready Pouches come in three packs - Ready Now, Be Ready and Ready Plus. Ready Now comes in three delicious flavors, while Be Ready offers great-tasting meals for one person and Ready Plus expands food variety for choosey eaters. Each of the three Augason Farms Ready Pouches are lighter for portability, flexible for small spaces, and offer the best value on the market.With a customer satisfaction ranking on Google Review of 4.5 stars, Augason Farms products are available at many of the country's most prominent and trusted national retailers including Walmart, Associated Foods, WinCo, Sam's Club and Costco, just to name a few. Augason Farms products are also available online at www.augasonfarms.com . At the same time, the company's Customer Service Team can be reached on weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Time at 800-878-0099, ready to assist customers with the most convenient sources for Augason Farms products or update the status of order.While emergency events are unpredictable, you can predict that they will occur - and we need to be ready for them in every way possible. Nathan and his company work daily to ensure that high-quality preparedness meal solutions are always available to families, and as quickly as possible.# # #CONTACT: SSA Public Relations(818) 222-1000SOURCE: Augason Farms PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 17:30:39 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 385 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of individual account holders who subscribed to Redfin Corporation's Website ( https://www.redfin.com/) and watched pre-recorded video content through the Redfin Corporation Website. Levi &Korsinsky, LLP's investigation indicates that legally protected data may have been unlawfully intercepted during visits to the Redfin Corporation Website, particularly affecting customers who subscribed and watched pre-recorded video content on the Redfin Corporation Website.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?If you are an account holder on the Redfin Corporation Website and watched videos on the platform, your legally protected data may have been intercepted without your knowledge. If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation. Unauthorized data interception is a serious issue that could lead to privacy violations, potentially leading to significant breaches of your personal information. If the company entrusted with securing your data has failed in this duty, they may be held accountable for any exposure of your information, potentially exposing you to risks such as misuse or unauthorized use of your data.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you are an account holder on the Redfin Corporation Website and subsequently watched pre-recorded video materials, your data may have been intercepted. Follow the link below to find out if you have a claim.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. There is no cost to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. We work on a contingency basis- we don't get paid unless you get paid!Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPCONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 13:00:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1076 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TURKU, FI / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 /Faron Pharmaceuticals (HEL:FARON)(LSE:FARN) Results of the Annual General Meeting, Change of Directors, Decision of the Board meeting after the AGMTURKU, FINLAND - The annual general meeting ("AGM") of Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON) took place at BioCity in Turku, Finland, today 21 March 2025. Forty shareholders representing 42,951,148 shares and votes were represented in the meeting. The AGM approved all the proposals of the Board of Directors ("Board") and the Shareholder's Nomination Committee, set out in the notice of the AGM published on 28 February 2025 and as updated on 20 March 2025 with a separate recommendation.Decisions of the AGMThe AGM adopted the financial statements of the Company and resolved to discharge the members of the Board and the CEO of the Company from liability for the financial year 2024.No dividend for the financial year 2024 will be paid, and the losses of the Company for the financial year, amounting to EUR 25.9 million (IFRS), will be carried forward to the reserve for invested unrestricted equity.Composition and remuneration of the BoardThe number of members of the Board was confirmed as seven. Tuomo Patsi, Markku Jalkanen, John Poulos, Marie-Louise Fjallskog and Christine Roth were re-elected, and Juho Jalkanen and Colin Bond were elected as new members to the Board for a term that ends at the end of the next AGM.The AGM resolved that the annual remuneration of the members of the Board remain unchanged and that EUR 35,000 will be paid to the Board members, in addition to which an annual remuneration of EUR 35,000 will be paid to the chair of the Board. In addition, a further annual remuneration of EUR 11,000 will be paid to the chair of the audit committee, a further annual remuneration of EUR 9,000 will be paid to the chair of the remuneration committee and a further annual remuneration of EUR 6,000 will be paid to the chair of the nomination committee. In addition, a further annual remuneration of EUR 6,000 will be paid to the audit committee members, a further annual remuneration of EUR 5,000 will be paid to the remuneration committee members and a further annual remuneration of EUR 3,000 will be paid to the nomination committee members.Meeting fees will be paid to the Board members as follows:a meeting fee of EUR 1,000 will be paid to Board members per Board meeting where the Board member was physically present, and which was held on another continent than the member's place of residence; andno meeting fees will be paid to Board members who were attending a Board meeting but not physically present or for Board meetings held on the same continent than the member's place of residence.In addition, all reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred in the performance of duties of the members of the Board would be compensated.No remuneration will be paid based on the Board membership of the CEO of the Company or a person serving the Company under a full-time employment or service agreement.AuditorAudit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy ("PwC") was re-elected as the Company's auditor. PwC has appointed Panu Vanska, authorized public accountant (KHT), as the key audit partner. It was decided that the auditor be remunerated in accordance with the invoice approved.Resolution on the amendment of the Option Programme 2019The AGM resolved to amend the terms and conditions of the Share Option Plan 2019 by extending the validity period of the options granted under the Share Option Plan 2019 by one (1) year. It was further resolved to amend the terms and conditions so that the maximum number of options that can be offered to a Board member would be two hundred thousand (200,000) options (before the amendment one hundred and twenty-five thousand (125,000) options).Resolution on the amendment of the Articles of AssociationThe AGM resolved to amend the Articles of Association of the Company by removing the old Article 18 (Obligation to Purchase Shares) and to amend the Article 17 (Notification on the Change of Holdings in the Company) by adding a new section 17.1:17.1 Applicability.For as long as the Company is listed on AIM, the procedure described in this Article 17 will be adhered to. In addition, the relevant legislation concerning notifications of holdings and proportions of voting rights from time to time in force shall be taken into account.Authorization to the Board to decide on the issuance of shares, options or other special rights entitling to sharesThe Board was authorized to resolve by one or several decisions on issuances of shares, options or other special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act, which authorization contains the right to issue new shares or dispose of the Company's own shares in the possession of the Company. The authorization consists of up to thirty million (30,000,000) new shares in the aggregate (including shares to be received based on options or other special rights), which corresponds to approximately twenty-seven (27) per cent of the existing shares and votes on the date of the AGM Notice, as well as the conveyance of up to the same maximum number (thirty million (30,000,000)) of treasury shares in the possession of the Company. Further, should the Board resolve to issue option rights or other special rights entitling to treasury shares held by the Company, the same authorization could be used to issue the aforementioned up to thirty million (30,000,000) new shares in the aggregate to the Company itself without consideration (to be further issued as shares to be received based on such option rights or other special rights).The Board was authorized to resolve on all other terms and conditions of the issuance of shares, options or other special rights entitling to shares.The authorization is effective until 30 June 2026. This authorization does not cancel the authorization given to the Board by the Annual General Meeting on 5 April 2024 to resolve on issuances of shares, option rights or other special rights entitling to shares.Minutes of the AGMThe minutes of the AGM will be available on the Company's website on 4 April 2025 at the latest.Decision of the Board meeting after the AGMIn the Board meeting following the AGM, the Board of Directors elected Mr. Tuomo Patsi as the Chair of the Board.For more information please contact:ICR Consilium Mary-Jane Elliott, David Daley, Lindsey NevillePhone: +44 (0)20 3709 5700E-mail: faron@ icrhealthcare.com Cairn Financial Advisers LLP, Nominated Advisor and BrokerSandy Jamieson, Jo TurnerPhone: +44 (0) 207 213 0880Sisu Partners Oy, Ce PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 00:14:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 592 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 20, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) between February 22, 2024 and October 23, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 1, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Newmont securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Newmont class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34541 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 1, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning Newmont's ability to deliver increased gold production at its Tier 1 operations, specifically, Lihir and Brucejack, in addition to lowering overall costs throughout its mining operations. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Newmont class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34541 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 13:00:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1014 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 /SPETZ INC. (the "Company" or "Spetz") (CSE:SPTZ)(OTC PINK:DBKSF) is pleased to announce key leadership changes and new appointments to its board of directors (the "Board").Effective March 21, 2025, Yossi Nevo resigned from his position as CEO and a Director of the Company. Mr. Nevo will continue to act as President of the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Spetz Tech Ltd. The Company thanks Mr. Nevo for his leadership and looks forward to his continued contributions.The Company is pleased to welcome Mitchell Demeter as its new CEO. Mr. Demeter is a blockchain veteran and former President of Netcoins, where he helped expand one of Canada's first regulated crypto trading platforms. He also co-founded one of Canada's first crypto exchanges, which was acquired in 2015, and launched the world's first Bitcoin ATM."I'm excited to take on this role and drive Spetz's next phase of growth," said Mr. Demeter. "With our strong foundation, we're well-positioned to expand our technology and market reach." Spetz is also pleased to welcome Mark Binns and Spencer MacLean to the Board.Mark Binns is a public company executive and blockchain industry veteran. He is the CEO of Carrier Connect Data Solutions and former CEO of BIGG Digital Assets. Mr. Binns has also held board positions at WonderFi (TSX:WNDR), and Sparx Technologies, bringing extensive experience in capital markets, investor relations, fintech, and corporate strategy.Spencer MacLean has over a decade of experience in capital markets, specializing in investing, capital raising, M&A, and corporate structuring. As a former lawyer at a boutique firm in Vancouver, he remains a member of the Law Society of British Columbia and the Canadian Bar Association. Currently, Mr. MacLean is a Director at Bromac Resources Ltd., and a Partner at Oro Capital Ltd., where he focuses on high-growth investment opportunities. His combined expertise in law, finance, and business strategy makes Mr. MacLean a valuable addition to the Board."We're excited to welcome Mark and Spencer to the Board," said Mr. Demeter. "Their expertise will be instrumental as we scale our blockchain and AI-driven marketplace initiatives." Spetz also announces that Ofir Friedman and On Freund have resigned from the Board. The Company thanks them for their valuable contributions and wishes them success in their future endeavors.About Spetz Inc.Spetz Inc. is a multinational technology company operating at the intersection of AI-driven marketplaces and blockchain infrastructure. The Company owns and operates the Spetz application, an AI-powered platform connecting consumers with service providers, as well as Sonic Strategy, a leading blockchain staking business.Spetz Website: www.spetz.app Spetz Investor information: https://investor.spetz.app/ Company Contacts:Investor RelationsNofar Shigani,CFOEmail:Investors@ spetz.app Email:nofar@ spetz.app Phone: 647-956-6033Phone: +972 526238108NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE, NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking StatementsCertain information herein constitutes "forward-looking information" as defined under Canadian securities laws, which reflect management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the Company. The words "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "projects", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "might", "occur", "be achieved", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward- looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the blockchain sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the ability of Spetz to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward- looking information contained herein.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction. None of the securities issued in the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States abse PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 20:15:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 724 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / Storm Exploration Inc. (TSXV:STRM) (the "Company") today announced that it is exercising its option to convert the upcoming cash installment payment of $275,000 into shares of the Company. The Company will issue a total 8,332,071 common shares at a deemed price of $0.033005 per share as payment due under the option agreement, as amended, with Landore Resources Canada Inc. (the "Option Agreement")."Miminiska and Keezhik are district scale projects that have extensive, drill-confirmed high-grade gold endowment but are largely unexplored," commented Bruce Counts, President and CEO of Storm. "We look forward to advancing both properties beginning with the drill-ready Miminiska target, which has the potential to host a significant gold deposit." The Option Agreement contemplates the Company's acquisition of a 100% interest in the Miminiska and Keezhik properties from Landore Resources Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Landore Resources Limited, subject to, amongst other things, scheduled payments. For further details with respect to the Option Agreement, please refer to the Company's news releases dated May 10, 2021, June 6, 2024, July 4, 2024 and August 19, 2024, available for viewing on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca) About the Miminiska & Keezhik ProjectsThe Miminiska and Keezhik projects are located within the traditional territory of the Eabametoong First Nation with whom Storm signed an Exploration Agreement (see news release dated May 23rd, 2024: Storm Exploration and Eabametoong First Nation Sign Exploration Agreement). The projects lie within the prospective geology of the Miminiska-Fort Hope greenstone belt, approximately 350 kilometres north of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Each project has the potential to host a multi-million-ounce orogenic gold deposit.The Miminiska property is the Company's primary focus and hosts drill-confirmed, high-grade gold mineralization at two primary prospects: Miminiska and Frond (refer to Figure 1). Historical assays include 5.75g/t Au over 20.84m* and 13.95g/t Au over 5.32m* with mineralization hosted in banded iron formation and associated shear zones.Approximately 3,000m of drilling is planned for the Miminiska Target, which is located at the western end of Miminiska property. The goal of upcoming drill program is to confirm the target's potential by expanding and extending the known high-grade, near-surface gold mineralization.Qualified PersonThe technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bruce Counts, B.A.Sc., P. Geo., President, CEO and a Director of Storm Exploration Inc. and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.Figure 1: Miminiska Property* Historical results have not been independently verified by Storm; and, there is no guarantee that the Company can reproduce the results in whole or in part. Potential investors should not rely on these historical results when making an investment decision. About Storm Exploration Inc.Storm Exploration Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of economic precious and base metal deposits on four district-scale projects in northwest Ontario: Miminiska, Keezhik, Attwood and Gold Standard.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking InformationThis news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the Company's strategic plans, future operations, future work programs and objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.For further information, please contact:Storm Exploration Inc.+1 (604) 506-2804 bcounts@ stormex.ca SOURCE: Storm Exploration Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 19:30:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 610 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TUCSON, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 /Western Alaska Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "WAM") (TSXV:WAM) announces that, further to its news release dated March 12, 2025, it has completed an unsecured loan transaction with certain lenders to the Company (the "Lenders"), pursuant to which the Company has issued promissory notes ("Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of US$1,200,000 (collectively, the "Loan"). The Loan will mature after 36 months and bear interest at rate of 10% per annum. The Loan will be repayable by the Company after 12 months.The Company has also issued to the Lenders an aggregate of 2,697,600 bonus warrants (the "Warrants"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one subordinate voting share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.64 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.All securities issued in connection with the Loan will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance under Canadian securities laws and restrictions on resale under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.Certain related parties of the Company ("Interested Parties") purchased or acquired direction or control over an aggregate of US$524,000 in Notes and 1,177,952 Warrants as part of the Loan. The placement to those persons constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of the Company have determined that the Interested Parties' participation in the Loan will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Loan as the details of the participation of Interested Parties had not been confirmed at that time.About WAMWestern Alaska Minerals is focused on advancing North America's next major silver and critical minerals district at the Illinois Creek CRD, a prolific 8-km mineral corridor hosting two stand-alone deposits. Anchored by the high-grade silver deposit at Waterpump Creek deposit, 75 Moz @ 980 g/t AgEq (Inferred), open to the north and south and the historic Illinois Creek mine, 525 Koz AuEq - 373 Koz @ 1.3 g/t AuEq (Indicated), 152 Koz @ 1.44 g/t AuEq (Inferred), our 100% owned carbonate replacement deposit reveals untapped potential across an expansive exploration landscape.Within the same CRD system sits the Honker gold vein prospect. Twenty-five kilometers northeast of the Illinois Creek CRD lies the Round Top porphyry copper and the TG North CRD prospects. All prospects were originally discovered by Anaconda Minerals Co. in the early 1980's. WAM's 100% owned cover 73,535 acres (115 square miles or 29,758 hectares). Since 2010, WAM, along with its precursor company, Western Alaska Copper & Gold, reassembled the Anaconda land package and has been engaged in exploring the district.Headquartered in both Alaska and Arizona, WAM brings together a team of seasoned professionals with a shared vision of pioneering new frontiers in mineral exploration. Our strategic approach is underpinned by cutting-edge technology, innovative techniques, and a deep understanding of the geological intricacies of the region.On behalf of the Company"Kit Marrs"Kit MarrsPresident & CEO kit@ westernalaskaminerals.com Phone: 1-520-200-1667For further information, please contact:Vanessa Bogaert, Director of Corporate Communications/IR vanessa@ westernalaskaminerals.com Or visit our website at: www.westernalaskaminerals.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Western Alaska Minerals Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-21 17:46:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 384 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of individuals who subscribed to Whisky Advocate website at https://whiskyadvocate.com/ (the "Website")and watched pre-recorded video content through the Whisky Advocate Website. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP's investigation indicates that legally protected data may have been unlawfully intercepted during visits to the Whisky Advocate Website, particularly affecting customers who subscribed and watched pre-recorded video content on the Whisky Advocate Website.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?If you subscribed to the Whisky Advocate Website, through an email newsletter, digital, or paid subscription, and watched videos on the platform, your legally protected data may have been intercepted without your knowledge. If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.Unauthorized data interception is a serious issue that could lead to privacy violations, potentially leading to significant breaches of your personal information.If the company entrusted with securing your data has failed in this duty, they may be held accountable for any exposure of your information,potentially exposing you to risks such as misuse or unauthorized use of your data.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you subscribed to Whisky Advocate Website and subsequently watched pre-recorded video materials, your data may have been intercepted. Follow the link below to find out if you have a claim.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. There is no cost to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. We work on a contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid!Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Friday said the mining marshals have identified 457 suspected illegal mining sites in the last one year. Mr Alake disclosed this while speaking at the first year anniversary of the mining marshals in Abuja on Friday. He added that the mining marshals have also recovered over 98 sites in the last one year. This, he said, has enabled many license owners to return to site and resume operations. According to our records, the mining marshals have recovered over 98 sites in the last one year. This has enabled many license owners to return to site and resume operations. This will, ultimately, improve royalties and raise the contribution of the solid minerals to the countrys revenue. So far, the mining marshals have identified 457 suspected illegal mining sites and have improved intelligence gathering on these sites, Mr Alake said. He explained that in 365 days, the activities and impact of the mining marshals have demonstrated that the diagnosis of the problems and the panacea the ministry adopted regarding security in the sector are accurate and effective. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said the visibility and activities of the mining marshals have raised awareness of the enforcement capacity of the federal government in the effort to combat illegal mining. This, he said, has established considerable deterrence among illegal miners. To demonstrate that there has been a clear paradigm shift in the strategy for containing illegal mining, the Mining Marshals have arrested 327 persons in the last one year. The cases are being prosecuted at various courts across the country, he said. Mr Alake further explained that the illegal miners had occupied the duly licensed areas for a decade and more, displacing the actual owners. The licensees were in jeopardy. To retain the licences, they had to pay the annual service fee for a site they could not access. Also, they could not implement their work plans. Therefore, I directed the Mining Marshals to move to such sites, flush the illegal miners and restore the sites to the legitimate owners. The first clearance operation took place at Mining Lease 19325 of North South Extractive Industries Limited located in Jagula, off Isanlu in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State where over 3,000 illegal miners were digging and carting away precious grams of gold whereas the real owners, who obtained the licence in 2016 were barred by threats from operations, he said. He noted that the mining marshals flushed them out completely and stationed men on site to maintain law and order till date. Since then, he said, the mining marshals have recorded similar success stories by restoring the sites of Ganan Mining Limited (ML 56757 covering 72 cadastral units or 14,4 kilometres) in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory; Jinloys Nigeria Limited with Quarry Lease 22284 in Uru Lopaukwu Autonomous Community, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State; and Orbit Exploration and Natural Products Limited with Mining Lease 772 covering 208 cadastral units or 41.6 square kilometres in Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State. Mining marshals continue to train new recruits and the officer-corps to enhance vigilance, combat readiness and awareness of new developments on the field. This has increased its capacity to engage even in very difficult terrains. In addition, to enhance the efficiency of engagement, he said, the mining marshals deploy technology to overpower and overwhelm targets. These include the use of miniature robots and drones for surveillance and communication tools to announce early warnings to sieve unarmed civilians from armed bandits which are the real target of our operations, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Womanifesto, a coalition advocating for gender equity and democracy in Nigeria, has condemned the alleged harassment and intimidation of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group criticised the plans to recall the senator, describing them as politically motivated. It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the process adheres strictly to constitutional provisions and democratic principles. The convener of Womanifesto, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, expressed concern over reports that constituents were being coerced into supporting the recall effort. We are deeply concerned by the harassment, intimidation, and political coercion being meted out against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan. Such actions undermine the rule of law and threaten the sanctity of democratic representation, the statement read. Allegations of political manipulation According to Womanifesto, the recall effort is part of a broader campaign to discredit the senator following her attendance at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Geneva. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Despite not being officially nominated by the Senate, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan said she attended the meeting as a private citizen and lawmaker, funding the trip herself without state resources. Her participation has sparked controversy, with political actors accusing her of misconduct. Womanifesto argued that the backlash is unwarranted and is being weaponised to undermine her legitimacy. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the IPU meeting in her capacity as an elected representative of her constituency. Her efforts should be recognised as part of her commitment to democratic principles, the group stated. Call for transparency Womanifesto called on INEC to ensure transparency in any recall process initiated against the senator, urging the commission to resist external pressures that could compromise its impartiality. We demand that INEC upholds the rule of law by ensuring that any recall process is conducted without coercion or political interference, Womanifesto said. The group also raised concerns about Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans safety, citing reports of plans to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria. It described such actions as unconstitutional and a direct affront to her rights as a citizen and lawmaker. Details of recall The move to recall Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan comes amid the controversy surrounding her suspension by the Senate. Some observers believe the recall is being orchestrated by influential politicians, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Under Nigerian law, a recall process requires a petition signed by at least 50 per cent of registered voters in a constituency. The signatures are then verified by INEC before a referendum is conducted. The tedious recall process has meant that no Nigerian senator has ever been recalled. In its statement, Womanifesto alleged that constituents are being coerced into signing the petition under duress, casting doubt on the integrity of the process. Call for independent inquiry In light of the controversy, Womanifesto has called for an independent inquiry into the allegations against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group urged the Senate to constitute a special ad hoc committee to investigate the matter, arguing that the current ethics committee lacks the impartiality needed for a fair inquiry. It also recommended that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) oversees the investigation to ensure objectivity. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Friday, 21 March 2025, marks a historic milestone as Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes Namibias first female president. This presidency signifies a shift towards more inclusive governance, where women are recognised as leaders who can shape national and continental policies. The election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is a collective win for African women who have long fought for equal representation in governance. She has earned the trust and confidence of the Namibian people, culminating in her historic election. This victory sends a powerful message that women can lead and excel at the highest levels of governance. Credence to the sagacity of late President Hage Geingob for recognising the role of women in politics and practising a government of inclusivity, further promoted by the outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba. Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwahs rise as one of the few elected female presidents in Africa is a testament to the growing influence of women in governance and a powerful symbol of hope for African women striving for equality and representation in political spheres. She joins an inspiring group of African female elected presidents, including Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim of Mauritius who are reshaping the face of leadership in Africa. Despite the exemplary influence of Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwahs historic win, this success has not transcended to Nigeria where women still remain significantly underrepresented in politics. To address this disparity, the Nigerian government must take deliberate steps in implementing policies that promote gender balance, such as quotas for women in parliament as implemented through Namibias Gender Zebra Policy by the ruling party, South West Africa Peoples Organisation party (SWAPO), increased funding for womens political campaigns and initiatives to combat gender-based violence in politics. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We must recognise the significance of Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwahs victory for African women: a beacon of hope, inspiring women across the continent to pursue political careers, challenge the status quo and break long-standing barriers in politics and governance. Nigeria and Africa as a whole stand a chance of taking a leaf from Namibia. Namibia will coin the adage Never too big to learn to other larger African contemporary countries. As we celebrate this historic milestone of Namibias first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and build on its momentum, Nigeria can create a future where womens inclusivity in governance is not the exception but the norm. Toun Okewale Sonaiya is the CEO of Women Radio 91.7fm, Nigerias only radio station for women and their families. [email protected] Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Josephine Ehimen is the Managing Director of Nett Pharmacy, a chain pharmacy operator with 20 retail outlets across Nigeria. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Ehimen shares insights into her journey to becoming a CEO, the unique strengths of women in leadership, the challenges she has faced, and the importance of mentorship. PT: Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you became a CEO? Mrs Ehimen: I trained as a pharmacist at the University of Benin and had my first retail pharmacy experience during my one-year internship. That was where my passion for retail pharmacy was born. Nett Pharmacy is a retail pharmacy chain with a presence in eight states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory. It was incorporated slightly over 20 years ago in 2004. What started in a 30sqm store has now blossomed into a retail pharmacy chain with branches across the country. Nett pharmacy has a sole mission to provide top-quality prescription and over-the-counter medicines and skincare products, aimed at promoting wellness and superior pharmaceutical service delivery in Nigeria. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later As a CEO, I invest a lot in personal development and training to equip me with the necessary knowledge for success. Some of these trainings include a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from the Pan Atlantic University, a John Maxwell leadership Certification, a Certificate in Business Strategy from Harvard Business School and many others. One of my mantras, as CEO, is to do good while doing business. Since inception, Nett Pharmacy has been actively involved in corporate social responsibility initiatives, advocating for responsible medication use and organise free community health outreaches to screen for chronic disease conditions like hypertension, diabetes, body fat composition, hepatitis B, and osteoporosis. Every year, over 3,000 people benefit from these free health outreach programmes. Nett Pharmacy has been a WIMBIZ health partner at the annual conference since 2022. PT: In your opinion, how do women leaders inspire and empower others around them, especially other women? Mrs Ehimen: The first step is to lead by example, this is because, women in leadership positions serve as role models in the society, known for their ability to demonstrate resilience, intelligence, and the ability to break barriers of society expectations. Many women are active mentors of other women, by sharing their knowledge, experiences and career advice. Platforms like the WIMBIZ and WIMBOARD mentorship programmes are great avenues to do that, and this is very commendable. These often create the great networking opportunities for women to find guidance and support. Women in leadership positions can also use their influence to promote gender equity such as equal pay for women, inclusion of women in leadership, politics, business and other sectors. This can also encourage women to be ambitions and challenge stereotypes. Female leaders can also inspire others by sharing their success stories amidst their struggles, confirming to other women that success is attainable. Women like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ibukun Awosika and many others serve as examples of how female leaders uplift, inspire, and empower others. PT: What do you think is unique about women in leadership roles compared to men? Mrs Ehimen: Women are wired differently from their male counterparts and when in leadership positions, they often display unique strengths and perspectives. Female leaders often excel as empathetic leaders, showing transformational leadership styles. Female leaders lead with the heart, focusing on inspiring their teams, rather being transactional leaders. Women have the inherent ability to multitask and excel in crisis management, they are able to achieve this through their strong emotional intelligence and they often possess a sixth sense that guides their actions. Female leaders often face more societal and professional barriers than their male counterparts. As a result of this, many successful female leaders are very resilient and resourceful, pushing and advocating for gender equity, making them unique and powerful agents of change in business and society. PT: What challenges did you face as a woman in your industry, and how did you overcome them? Mrs Ehimen: Being the CEO of a retail pharmacy chain can be very demanding of my time and one of the challenges I faced was trying to figure out how to juggle my professional success with family and societal expectations and avoid burnout. Managing business and the home front is always a huge task for female entrepreneurs, and I had to learn how to ask for help and delegate effectively, to enable me focus on what truly matters. It was especially tough when my kids where younger and I had to make time out for school runs and PTA meetings. At that stage, I had to get all the domestic help I needed. As a female leader, prioritising selfcare is also very important and to do that, it is important to set boundaries to help to promote a semblance of work-life balance. I use the word semblance because, balance doesnt really exist, only trade-offs. PT: Can you share one of the most rewarding moments in your career that solidified your passion for leadership? Mrs Ehimen: For me, my most defining moment isnt just about business growth or profitits about impact I have been blessed to have had several fulfilling moments as a leader and entrepreneur. The ones that stand out are when I create time to mentor younger women and pay it forward. I mostly do this, either through my role as a WIMBIZ mentor or at other times, mentoring young female pharmacists and helping them build successful careers, or at other times, during my speaking engagements. Being able to see the tangible impact of sharing my personal stories and experiences with other women, my team at Nett Pharmacy, and my community is more rewarding than any award I have ever won! PT: What advice would you give to young Nigerian women aspiring to become leaders in their fields? Mrs Ehimen: For young Nigerian women aspiring to become leaders, success in business, healthcare, tech, politics, or any field requires a combination of resilience, strategic thinking, continuous learning, and a strong network. My advice to them will be the following five ways. One is to invest in personal development and never stop learning. Secondly, seek mentors and join Womens leadership networks like WIMBIZ to build strong relationships and networks. Thirdly, never underestimate your potential, believe in yourself. Also, Advocate for other women, dont close the door after you. Access is greater when shared. Lastly, be resilient, be ready to face gender bias, workplace discrimination, and societal expectationsbut dont let them stop you. PT: How do you balance the demands of being a CEO with other aspects of your personal life? Mrs Ehimen: Balancing the demands of being a CEO with personal life can be challenging, especially because I have to juggle multiple responsibilities. Some of the strategies I have used include prioritising and creating boundaries with my time and sometimes saying no to prevent unnecessary commitments. I also consciously prioritise my self-care and mental wellbeing, through proper nutrition, exercise and rest. Others are intentionally creating and spending quality time with my family, have a strong system of friends, family and peer groups and staying true to my Christian faith. 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 Ehimen: Personally, this theme means moving beyond conversations and into impactful change. Its about breaking barriers faster, challenging the status quo, and creating opportunities for the next generation of women leadersnot tomorrow, but today. As a leader, accelerating action means empowering other women in business and leadership, by ensuring equal access to opportunities, training and funding for female-led businesses and advocating for inclusive-workplace polices. In addition, it means expanding healthcare to communities and prioritising maternal health and also challenging gender biases and workplace discrimination. It also means inspiring the next generation of female leaders through mentorship and investing in education and training of women in STEM, business and healthcare. We cannot afford to wait decades for gender equality, business equity, and leadership inclusivity. The time for action is now! 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 Ehimen is also a member of WIMBIZ. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The two chambers of the Nigerian National Assembly used voice votes to approve President Bola Tinubus State of Emergency in Rivers despite a constitutional provision that mandates two-thirds majority votes by each chamber for such approval. Section 305 (6b) of the Nigerian constitution mandates that a state of emergency in any part of Nigeria proclaimed by the president must be supported by a two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly. Many Nigerians had, thus, hoped that the Senate and House of Representatives would adopt proper debate and voting procedures so Nigerians would know the actual number of lawmakers that supported the presidents declaration, who they were and whether or not the constitutional requirement was met. With 109 senators and 360 rep members, this means at least 73 senators and 240 representatives must vote in favour of the emergency rule. However, instead of conducting an official roll-call vote in which each lawmakers stance is recorded, both chambers of the National Assembly adopted a voice vote, a method where lawmakers simply shout aye or nay, and the presiding officer subjectively determines which side has the majority. The approval process In the Senate, lawmakers first held a closed-door meeting for one-hour and twenty minutes, where they agreed to support the proclamation. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later After returning to the plenary, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read a prepared resolution and put it to a voice vote. There was no open debate, and PREMIUM TIMES observed that no senator was heard opposing the motion when it was put to a voice vote. Similarly, in the House of Representatives, the proclamation was put to a voice vote, and the majority supported it, without an official count of individual votes. Nigerians speak A two-thirds majority cannot be achieved via a voice vote. Members voting for or against the resolution to ratify the Presidents emergency actions must identify themselves and cast their votes individually, banker Atedo Peterside wrote on X before Thursdays meetings of the lawmakers. The view was shared by many other Nigerians including activist Dele Farotimi, who argued that a voice vote cannot substitute for a recorded two-thirds majority vote required by the Constitution. It is interesting that Uncle Atedo is raising this point. @Senator_Akpabio must not resort to a voice vote in determining the 2/3 majority demanded by the Constitution. The vote must be clearly counted, and the numbers clearly determined. A voice vote will not suffice, Mr Farotimi wrote before the sitting. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has apologised to the Federal High Court, judge Binta Nyako and the federal governments lead prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over his outburst during the last proceedings of his trial on the terrorism charges. During his re-arraignment before a new judge on Friday, he pleaded passionately for forgiveness and promised to be of good conduct throughout the duration of his trial. Mr Kanus apology was contained in a lengthy prepared speech delivered by his lead counsel and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi. In the emotion-laden address, Mr Kanu specifically apologised to Mrs Nyako and Mr Awomolo to forgive and forget his outburst and attacks against them in the open court. On Monday, 10 February, Mr Kanu lost his temper and launched a vicious verbal attack on judge Nyako, the judge, who has been in charge of his case for about a decade. After the rancorous hearing before the judge, Mr Kanu made unsubstantiated allegations against the judge, claiming she insisted on presiding over his trial because of ongoing corruption cases against her husband and son. He did not provide evidence to back the allegations he made, nor was the judge present to defend herself. Mrs Nyako had adjourned the case and retreated to her chamber. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Kanu spoke after he appeared in court for his resumed trial. A video clip showing him attacking the judge has been circulating on social media, mainly Facebook. Justice Binta Nyako is using her position for personal gain. Her son and her husband are facing corruption charges. And they (the Nigerian Government) told them (the judge and the court) that if they convict me (they will free the son and the husband). They (Nigerian Government) sent her to my case so they can release or smoothen the pathway for the husband and the son, Mr Kanu said. The IPOB leader has been especially critical of the judge, claiming he was not confident of getting justice before her. But he has yet to move a formal motion providing evidence of bias on the part of the judge, who always maintained calmness in the face of Mr Kanus provocative conduct in court. The case was reassigned to a new judge, James Omotosho, in the aftermath of the previous combustive hearing. While tendering an apology on behalf of his client before the new trial judge, Mr Omotosho, on Friday, Mr Agabi noted that Mr Kanu had cause to be angry but ought not to have spoken when anger overwhelmed him. In expressing his anger, he attacked the Federal High Court, he attacked Justice Binta Nyako, he attacked the prosecutor and his own lawyers. I hereby apologise to Justice Binta Nyako. She did not deserve the unjust attack. I apologise to Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN. He deserves the highest respect. He was castigated without reservations, Mr Agabi said. He further noted that though Mr Kanu is defending the cause of Igbo people, he is not perfect. We may have misgivings, but we must seek forgiveness. In resolving our differences, let us employ peace and not violence to resolve our differences, he pleaded. In his response, Mr Awomolo said he was moved by the plea and has forgiven Mr Kanu for all he said against him. I am not a persecutor but a prosecutor, and we work to ensure quick resolution of the charges, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has uncovered an illegal maternity home, allegedly involved in child trafficking, unlawful medical practice and impersonation. Timfon John, the spokesperson for the command, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday. Ms John, a deputy superintendent of police, said the illegal maternity home was uncovered in Usung Atiat, Abak Local Government Area of the state. She said the rescued women have been placed under protective care, and investigations are ongoing to uncover other collaborators and ensure justice is served. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the command raided the premises and arrested a female, who was found harbouring seven pregnant women and five infants, aged between two weeks and one year. Further search led to the recovery of various medical supplies, including syringes, drip lines, herbs, and immunisation records, for which the suspect had no legal authorisation, Ms John said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The police spokesperson reiterated the commands commitment to dismantling illegal activities endangering vulnerable individuals. She urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has issued a stern rebuke to those circulating false information about its operations, emphasising that its still committed to transparency and accountability. The Commissions Spokesperson, Fatima Usara, an assistant director, gave the warning in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Mrs Usara said media reports that the commissions staff union had submitted a petition against the leadership are false, noting that it is a deliberate misinformation aimed at misleading the public. However, the commission rejects the misrepresentations made in some report(s) making the rounds over its interaction with its staff union. It is common knowledge that staff unions in any parastatal agitate for staff welfare and protect staff interests over those of others. Therefore, management was not perturbed when it received a letter from the Unions EXCO agitating for NAHCON staff elevation and welfare over those of other pool officers, demands that are being addressed. Therefore, contrary to claims circulating in the media, the NAHCON Staff Union did not submit a petition against the Commissions leadership. A petition means reporting the leadership to an external agency. Instead, the Union issued an internal reminder to NAHCON Management on certain internal matters, the statement said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mrs Usara also debunked the claim that the Commissions Chairman, Abdullahi Saleh, appointed his son as his aide. Specifically, the claim that Professor Abdullahi Saleh has appointed his son as a Personal Assistant within the Commission is false. Additionally, claims of retirees as existent on NAHCONs official staff list suggest either deliberate misinformation or a misunderstanding of the Commissions structure, she said. The spokesperson explained that as a public institution, NAHCON always ensures that its leaders and employees are guided by its regulatory framework and civil service procedures in all its operations, administrative or otherwise. Read full statement NAHCON Reaffirms its Place as A Public Institution, Condemns Misrepresentations The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) acknowledges recent discussions in the media regarding its leadership and administrative decisions thus wishes to address concerns raised in some reports. As a public institution, NAHCON always ensures that its leaders and employees are guided by its regulatory framework and civil service procedures in all its operations, administrative or otherwise. NAHCONs leadership recognises the important role of staff unions in advocating for employee welfare in establishments all over the world. However, the Commission rejects the misrepresentations made in some report(s) making the rounds over its interaction with its Staff Union. It is common knowledge that Staff Unions in any parastatal agitate for staff welfare and protect staff interests over those of others. Therefore, Management was not perturbed when it received a letter from the Unions EXCO agitating for NAHCON staff elevation and welfare over those of other pool officers; demands that are being addressed. Therefore, contrary to claims circulating in the media, the NAHCON Staff Union did not submit a petition against the Commissions leadership. A petition means reporting the leadership to an external agency. Instead, the Union issued an internal reminder to NAHCON Management on certain internal matters. Regarding allegations of nepotism, we in the Commission categorically state that appointments and assignments within NAHCON are guided strictly by due process. Specifically, the claim that Professor Abdullahi Saleh has appointed his son as a Personal Assistant within the Commission is false. Additionally, claims of retirees as existent on NAHCONs official staff list suggest either deliberate misinformation or a misunderstanding of the Commissions structure. While NAHCON welcomes constructive feedback, we implore pressmen and their aiders to keep discussions about NAHCONs leadership and operations factual, valuable and free from sensationalism. NAHCONs management remains open to address any legitimate concerns through the appropriate channels rather than media campaigns designed to mislead the public. The Commissions priority is to focus on its core responsibility of ensuring a smooth Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims. Management appreciates meaningful contributions that support this mission and encourage responsible discourse that upholds the integrity of information shared with the public. Fatima Sanda Usara Assistant Director, Information and Publications For Chairman/CEO, NAHCON Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Technical Committee on the Actualisation of Ibom Deep Sea Port has met with the consultant port master planner, Dar Al-Handasar Ltd, to finalise technical requirements for the City Gate and Sales Centre groundbreaking in May 2025 as directed by Governor Umo Eno. This is contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 19 March, by the Information and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport. Speaking at the meeting, which was held in Lagos on Tuesday, 18 March, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Ini Ememobong, assured that Governor Eno is committed to the actualisation of the Ibom Deep Sea Port and the Industrial City, which he sees as a veritable channel for job and wealth creation. Mr Ememobong also promised extensive community and stakeholder consultation to ensure a smooth foundation-laying ceremony and project execution. On her part, the Chairperson of the Technical Committee on the Actualisation of Ibom Deep Seaport, Mfon Usoro, expressed gratitude to the governor for his commitment to the project. She assured of the committees cooperation and appreciated committee members for their dedication and the time they have invested into the work for the past 10 years. She expressed optimism that the goal would be attained soon. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later While expounding on the technical details for the next phase of the project, the lead representative of Dar Al-Handasar Ltd and Director of Operations for Central and West Africa, Nicolas Rizk, commended Governor Eno for his determination to ensure the projects realisation. He listed the infrastructure needed to open up the industrial city and get access to the deep sea port site. The Ibom Industrial City, which will house the deep sea port, training centres, and a logistics hub, is expected to create at least 300,000 jobs and benefit host communities economically. Governor Eno recently reaffirmed his readiness to kick-start major infrastructure projects in the industrial city, including the City Gate, Sales Centre, and access roads like the ongoing Uyenge-Orukim road construction. These developments will pave the way for port terminal construction and eventual full-scale operations. Other members of the Technical Committee who were in attendance were Francis Akpan, a retired admiral, Emmanuel Ekuwem, ImoAbasi Jacob (virtual attendance) and Akan Ekong, the director of projects. The Director, Project Implementation and Monitoring, Ekanwan Alale and Anietie Akpabio, an engineer, accompanied the commissioner, Mr Ememobong, to the meeting. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ireti Kingibe, the senator for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has said the use of voice votes by members of the National Assembly for the approval of the emergency rule in Rivers State was insufficient. Mrs Kingibe, a member of the Labour Party (LP), said she opposed the action because the Constitution clearly mandates a two-thirds majority vote for such a proclamation, which was not adhered to by the National Assembly. The senator said these in a statement on Friday. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the two chambers of the National Assembly used voice votes to approve President Bola Tinubus State of Emergency in Rivers despite a constitutional provision that mandates two-third majority votes by each chamber for such approval. Section 305 (6b) of the Nigerian constitution mandates that a state of emergency in any part of Nigeria proclaimed by the president must be supported by two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly. With 109 senators and 360 rep members, this means at least 73 senators and 240 representatives must publicly vote in favour of the emergency rule. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later However, instead of conducting an official roll-call vote where each lawmakers stance is recorded, both chambers of the National Assembly adopted a voice vote, a method where lawmakers simply shout aye or nay, and the presiding officer subjectively determines which side has the majority. Voice voting inappropriate In the statement, Mrs Kingibe rejected the use of voice voting for the proclamation of the state of emergency. I strongly oppose the use of voice voting for such critical, vital and constitutional issues. The Nigerian Constitution explicitly mandates that a state of emergency proclaimed by the President must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly. She argued that the decision to approve an emergency proclamation must be determined through a transparent voting process, such as a roll-call or electronic voting. A two-thirds (2/3) majority is required for significant decisions like approving an emergency proclamation in the National Assembly, and this level of consensus CANNOT be accurately determined by a voice vote. According to Section 305(2) & (6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), an emergency proclamation must receive the approval of at least two-thirds of all members of each House the Senate and the House of Representatives. A voice vote, where members express agreement by saying Aye or Nay, CANNOT precisely measure the required two-thirds majority, she said. Ensuring proper procedures Mrs Kingibe emphasised that a proper voting method, whether through division voting, roll-call, or electronic means, would have ensured compliance with constitutional requirements. When a supermajority like two-thirds is needed, a recorded vote whether through division voting, roll call, or electronic voting is necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements. The Senate Standing Orders and House Rules generally mandate a roll call or electronic voting system to accurately determine numerical compliance for decisions of this magnitude, she said. She noted that failing to follow due process in such matters could weaken Nigerias democracy and erode public confidence in the National Assemblys role as the peoples representative. A voice vote is insufficient for determining a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for an emergency proclamation. A formal recorded vote is crucial to confirm the exact number of lawmakers in support, Mrs Kingibe warned. She called on lawmakers to uphold their responsibility as custodians of the Nigerian Constitution and ensure that legal and constitutional provisions are strictly followed. As custodians of the Laws of the Land and specifically the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the National Assembly must jealously guard this role. They must ensure that the rule of Law prevails and to remember their raison detre which is to oversight/guide the Presidents decisions by confirming or rejecting when his choices are not allowed by law, she stated. Holding lawmakers accountable The senator also urged Nigerians to hold their representatives accountable, as the failure to properly record votes means that the people have not spoken through their elected officials. National Assembly members are the direct representatives of the people, the voice of the people. Without a roll call or electronic voting, the people havent spoken and therefore cannot, should not and will not take responsibility for the Presidents decision, as constitutionally required in matters of this magnitude. The people MUST hold their representatives accountable, she said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The University maintains a vibrant appreciation for the arts through programs, exhibitions, museums, the annual 1807 journal, and other initiatives. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) comprises six professional schools and the interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies, collectively awarding the majority of Maryland's health care, human services, and law degrees annually. Beyond academics, UMB is a vibrant community rich in diverse talents, including a strong appreciation for the arts. This appreciation has blossomed over the past 10 years with the creation of the Council for the Arts & Culture and the leadership of UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, an accomplished blacksmith whose metalworks are displayed at the SMC Campus Center and elsewhere on campus. While the University does not offer formal classes or art degrees, the artistic interests of its community are extensive, with art playing a significant role in campus life and community engagement. Public Art and Installations In October 2018, UMB unveiled Stochastic Interactions, a 30-foot-tall sculpture by artist Eric Peltzer that is situated between Health Sciences Research Facility III and the School of Dentistry. The sculptures title was fitting for a health sciences university because stochastic describes the random processes of genetics and molecular biology. It was a gift from the Maryland State Arts Council and unveiled by then-Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan, an artist and former honorary chair of UMBs arts council who described the sculpture as beautiful and said that its in the perfect spot to inspire people of all ages, including students. In February 2023, UMB introduced Presidents Hall on the second floor of the SMC Campus Center, outside the Elm Ballrooms. This space showcases portraits of UMBs previous two presidents, Jay A. Perman, MD, and the late David Ramsay, DM, DPhil. The unveiling ceremony celebrated the leadership and impact of Perman, now the chancellor of the University System of Maryland. Museums, Historic Spaces, and Galleries UMB is home to notable museums, historic sites, and art galleries including: Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry: The Smithsonian affiliate was designated by Congress as the official museum of dentistry in the United States. The Smithsonian affiliate was designated by Congress as the official museum of dentistry in the United States. Davidge Hall: The founding building of UMB and the University System of Maryland is rich in history and architecture and recently underwent a major renovation. The founding building of UMB and the University System of Maryland is rich in history and architecture and recently underwent a major renovation. Westminster Hall and Burying Ground: Famously known as the burial place of poet Edgar Allan Poe, this also is the gravesite of many other notable individuals. Famously known as the burial place of poet Edgar Allan Poe, this also is the gravesite of many other notable individuals. School of Nursing Living History Museum: Marylands only museum dedicated to nursing showcases the professions evolution and impact. Marylands only museum dedicated to nursing showcases the professions evolution and impact. The Frieda O. Weise Gallery: Located on the first floor of UMBs Health Sciences and Human Services Library, the gallery has showcased local and national artists since 2003, featuring diverse mediums such as photography, paintings, sculptures, and traveling exhibits. With 1,700 square feet of open space, 93 linear feet of display area, and a professional hanging system, the gallery accommodates large-scale and three-dimensional works, while its floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light and visibility to the public. Council for the Arts & Culture Established in 2015, the UMB Council for the Arts & Culture is composed of faculty, staff, students, and community members appointed by the UMB president. Its mission is to promote the rich history of the institution and surrounding neighborhoods, celebrate the creative talents of the University community, and raise awareness of the links between the arts and sciences. The council sponsors and coordinates numerous opportunities and initiatives, including: 1807: An Art & Literary Journal: The annual publication features works by faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members that include paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and poetry. The annual publication features works by faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members that include paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and poetry. Public Art and Murals: UMB sponsors works such as Stochastic Interactions to enrich campus aesthetics and has created four outdoor galleries to showcase diverse artworks from 1807, sponsored a mural project on Greene Street, and commissioned murals to be painted on K-12 partner school buildings. UMB sponsors works such as Stochastic Interactions to enrich campus aesthetics and has created four outdoor galleries to showcase diverse artworks from 1807, sponsored a mural project on Greene Street, and commissioned murals to be painted on K-12 partner school buildings. Galleries: The University hosts exhibitions in spaces such as the Frieda O. Weise Gallery and SMC Campus Center The University hosts exhibitions in spaces such as the Frieda O. Weise Gallery and SMC Campus Center Theater Discounts: The council partners with local theaters, including the Hippodrome Theatre, Everyman Theatre, and Baltimore Center Stage, to offer discounted tickets to faculty, staff, and students. The council partners with local theaters, including the Hippodrome Theatre, Everyman Theatre, and Baltimore Center Stage, to offer discounted tickets to faculty, staff, and students. Community Festivals: The University organizes or collaborates on events such as the Neighborhood Spring Festival to engage and celebrate with the local community. Artistic Engagement Opportunities UMB offers avenues for other artistic expression and appreciation: UMBs Got Talent: This annual event held in late winter or early spring encourages faculty, staff, and students to showcase their performance skills for a chance to win prizes and recognition. This annual event held in late winter or early spring encourages faculty, staff, and students to showcase their performance skills for a chance to win prizes and recognition. Community Engagement Center: Located at 16 S. Poppleton St., the center offers free classes in its makerspace and provides community members with the opportunity to use 3D printers, vinyl cutters, fabrication machines, laser cutters, robots, and other state-of-the-art technology. Staying Informed To stay updated on art-centric events and opportunities: The Elm: Read The Elm Weekly newsletter on Mondays and regularly check The Elm website for news and updates on artistic happenings around the University. Read The Elm Weekly newsletter on Mondays and regularly check The Elm website for news and updates on artistic happenings around the University. The Elm Calendar : Consult The Elm Calendar for a list of upcoming events and activities. Consult The Elm Calendar for a list of upcoming events and activities. UMB Website: Visit the Human Resource Services Employee Discounts webpage for information on discounts to local theaters and other cultural engagements. UMBs commitment to integrating art into its community enriches the campus experience, fosters creativity, and strengthens connections within the University and with the surrounding neighborhoods. Submissions are currently being accepted through April 6, 2025, for various art forms and poetry for the seventh issue of 1807: UMBs Art & Literary Journal. Submission does not guarantee publication. To review the rules, guidelines, and submission portal, click here. Bayelsa West Senator Seriake Dickson has explained that he walked out of the Senate chamber before the Senate approved the state of emergency on Rivers because he believed the action was unconstitutional. Mr Dickson, a former Bayelsa governor and member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noted that he, along with Senators Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), and a few others, resisted the proclamation but were not allowed the opportunity to openly debate the issue during plenary. He said these in a statement he posted on his verified Facebook account on Thursday. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Senate approved the emergency rule after a closed-door session which lasted for about one hour and twenty minutes. However, Mr Dickson, visibly upset, left the chamber at about 1:40 p.m., just after the senators emerged from the session. Earlier, there was a minor disagreement between Mr Dickson and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, before the senators moved into the closed-door session. The disagreement was over a point of order which requires the Nigerian president to brief the Senate in a closed-door session on the circumstances necessitating a state of emergency. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Unconstitutional emergency rule? Mr Dickson, a former member of the House of Representatives, argued that the lack of an open debate on such a critical issue contradicts democratic principles. He explained that his opposition to the emergency rule was based on his commitment to upholding the Constitution and not on a partisan basis. He specifically criticised the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, arguing that it may set a dangerous precedent that could undermine democracy in the country. Today at the sitting of the Senate, the issue of the Presidents proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State came up for discussion and as I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections in the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my view as a Democrat, sworn to uphold the Nigerian constitution. The Senate did not undertake the debate in an open session however, it was quite robust. I want to thank Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his strong support of the unconstitutionality of the declaration, especially the aspect that deals with the suspension of the elected officials of the Rivers State government, he said. Mr Dickson expressed dissatisfaction with the Senates refusal to conduct an open debate on the matter, where the majority may have supported the approval. At the end of the day, majority of the senators supported the proclamation as no room was given for an open debate at plenary. I left the plenary before the Senate President was directed to report the outcome because I didnt want to be present while what I opposed is being reported. I believe Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe and others equally left too. I want to make it clear that as I stated repeatedly, I spoke and voted against the proclamation in our closed session, supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and a few other senators who were not recognised to speak. And so I want to thank all the senators who shared the view that I vigorously canvassed. I am however aware of the efforts made to modify the declaration as a result of the concerns and views we have expressed and canvassed the past few days. Though I acknowledge the effort being made by the leadership and President to moderate the terms of the declaration and to create a mechanism for oversight, theoretically this does not counter the primary issue of constitutionality, he stated. Call for judicial intervention Mr Dickson said though both chambers of the National Assembly have ratified the emergency rule declaration, the judiciary could still intervene if the proclamation is legally challenged. The beauty of democracy is such that the minority will have their say while the majority their way. I would have wished for a more robust and open debate so that all views and opinions can be openly canvassed as I requested even at the closed session specifically and thereafter, the majority can have their way but as it is, both chambers have decided and the ball is now in the court of the other arms of government, especially the judiciary, in the event of any challenge. Censoring freedom of expression Mr Dickson accused the senate president of attempting to silence him. He said his right to freedom of expression was undermined when he tried to raise the point of order on the fact that the constitution requires the Nigerian president to brief the Senate on the reasons for the emergency rule. My attention has also been drawn to a viral video showing parts of the unfortunate exchanges between the Senate President and I before we dissolved to the closed session. As I said on the floor, the senate president was very unfair to me by trying to censor my freedom of expression and by deliberately misrepresenting the import of what I said in the broadcast yesterday which was the same thing I said on the floor today. It is my opposition in principle to the declaration of a state of emergency, as well as the suspension of elected officials Resisting intimidation Mr Dickson also dismissed any attempts to intimidate him, stating that his commitment to democracy remains firm. I thank all those who have called to commend my composure under unnecessary and unexpected attempt at intimidation. Everyone, including the Senate President, knows I have long gone beyond that stage in my life. The Senate as I said is a meeting of equals and everyone should be respected just as we accord respect to the Chair. No senator needs the permission of the senate president to express an opinion in an interview on a topical matter of national interest that is in the public domain. I intend to meet the Senate President to formally express my displeasure, to prevent a reoccurrence. I thank my constituents, Nigerians and all people of goodwill who have called to express solidarity and urge them not to be dismayed at the direction our democracy appears to have taken. The senator pledged to formally express his displeasure to the Senate leadership and encouraged Nigerians to stand for democracy. For someone like me who has been in trenches over the years, all these challenges are actually a call to duty and I therefore implore all people of goodwill to come together and ensure that participatory democracy is promoted in our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Rivers State, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Naomi Silekunola, former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has reacted to the Oyo State Governments decision to withdraw the 18-count criminal charges filed against her and others. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the state government withdrew the charges against her, broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, and school principal Fasasi Abdullahi. The charges stemmed from the stampede at Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, during a childrens funfair on 18 December 2024. Oyo State Attorney General Abiodun Aikomo at the Oyo State High Court confirmed to reporters that the case was dismissed in the interest of justice. In response to the development, the 31-year-old former queen expressed her gratitude on her Instagram page on Thursday. She acknowledged the state government and all those involved in facilitating the cases withdrawal. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Sharing her thoughts on the matter, Ms Naomi said: I appreciate the government of Oyo state; thank you for acting in good faith. All lessons learned, and we will let it serve as a guide in the future. During this ordeal, I have felt an indescribable love from people both far and near, people of different descent and religious affiliations. Top government officials, traditional rulers, fathers and mothers of faith, exceptional amazons, and, in fact, non-governmental organisations from across the globe. I have received a pure and genuine love with no iota of discrimination and prejudice. My dearest nuclear and extended family, my spiritual daddies and mummies, my loving ardent followers and fans spread across the globe, my friends, volunteers and partners of wings. Grief She added that while she and others affected by the tragedy find some relief in the courts ruling; their hearts still ache over the tragic loss. Ms Naomi prayed for Gods comfort upon the grieving families and for the souls of the children who perished in the unfortunate incident to rest in peace. She also hoped the Lord would restore their joy and grant them the strength to endure the profound loss. She said: This is a message long overdue; however, with my temporary incarceration and the events that followed, it was an order of the honourable court to be silent on the matter. As a woman and a mother who for many years has been a passionate lover and advocate of children, my heart bleeds and goes out to the bereaved families whose children lost their lives in the event of 18th December 2024, which was intended for good but later ended up in a sad experience for us all. Background This newspaper reported that the state police confirmed the deaths of 35 minors in the stampede while several others sustained injuries. Following the incident, the police arrested the trio along with five others. Oyo Police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso confirmed the arrests and stated that the case was transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police. The trio were later arraigned and remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre. However, they were granted bail of N10 million each, which they fulfilled. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Cross River State Government has distanced itself from the rejection of the emergency rule in Rivers State by the South-South Governors Forum. The acting Governor of Cross River, Peter Odey, said the state government aligns itself with President Bola Tinubus quest to bring peace and stability to the oil-rich state. In a statement by his spokesperson, Fred Ekpong, Mr Odey said that Cross River was not consulted before the South-South Governors Forum came out with its position. The forum issued a statement on Thursday through its Chairperson, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, expressing the governors opposition to the emergency rule. In the statement, Mr Diri said the political situation in Rivers had not deteriorated to the point where an emergency rule was required. However, Mr Odey said, The position of the forum does not reflect the views of the government of Cross River, which fully aligns with the decision of Mr President, taken in the best interest of national security, peace, and stability. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The acting governor said, Every responsible government must prioritise the protection of lives and property, and where circumstances necessitate decisive action, such measures should be supported for the greater good of our democracy and national unity. Cross River remains committed to upholding constitutional governance and will continue to collaborate with the federal government in ensuring peace, security, and stability across the country. Edo did it first Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State was the first to disassociate himself from the forums rejection of the emergency rule in Rivers. According to a statement on Thursday from his spokesperson, Fred Itua, Mr Okpebholo said the forums statement did not receive his approval and that he was neither consulted nor informed about it. President Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, understands the issues at stake. Governor Okpebholo supports actions so far taken by President Tinubu that will bring lasting solutions and peace to Rivers State and the South-South geopolitical zone, the statement read. The National Assembly on Thursday approved President Tinubus declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers. The lawmakers, who met behind closed-doors, ratified through a voice vote the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the members of the state House of Assembly, as announced by Mr Tinubu. In approving the emergency rule, the Senate, however, said the National Assembly should have oversight over the activities of the sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, a former chief of naval staff. The Senate also recommended the setting up of a peace committee made up of eminent Nigerians, who would meet with the parties in the Rivers crises. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says millions of lives across the continent are at risk due to abrupt cuts in US and European development aid, threatening to reverse decades of progress in global health. The Director-General of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, made this known at the bi-weekly media webinar news conference on Thursday. Mr Kaseya warned that as the US Congress gears up to debate the reauthorisation of the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on 25 March, the fate of millions of Africans remains uncertain. He described the situation as a total disaster for the continents health sector. Mr Kaseya said that 30 per cent of Africas health expenditure comes from Official Development Assistance (ODA). He noted that in 2025, the ODA funding has been slashed by 70 per cent, dropping from $81 billion to just $25 billion. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Beyond HIV/AIDS, the funding crisis comes amid a surge in disease outbreaks across Africaup 41 per cent in the past two years, he said. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the loss of USAID funding has disrupted Mpox testing, leading to a 16 per cent drop in confirmed cases not because the outbreak is under control, but due to a lack of resources to track it. The turnaround time for testing has also increased in many regions due to logistical challenges. He said the aid cuts threaten to undo 20 years of progress in maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and poverty reduction. With donor funding disappearing, he said, the entire health systems could collapse, and millions more Africans could be pushed into extreme poverty. Africa CDC projects that 39 million people will be driven into poverty as a direct result of these funding cuts, he said. He said that health financing remains a persistent challenge. Only two African countries, Botswana and Rwanda, meet the Abuja Declarations commitment to spend 15 per cent of GDP on health and only 16 countries have national health financing plans in place, he said. He noted that without external funding, many nations are struggling to keep their health services afloat. According to him, as Washington debates the future of PEPFAR, African leaders are scrambling for alternatives. Mr Kaseya said he has been meeting with ministers and the African Union to push for increased domestic investment in health and explore blended financing strategies involving the private sector. One innovative proposal involves leveraging the $95 billion in annual remittances from the African diaspora, potentially through a taxation model to fund healthcare initiatives, he said. With limited time to act, I will be meeting with members of the Trump administration, PEPFAR officials, and US lawmakers to make the case for continued aid. NAN reports that President Donald Trump had in January issued an executive order, declaring a 90-day pause to all foreign assistance. NAN reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the Trump administrations decision to pause US foreign aid has substantially disrupted supply of HIV treatments in eight countries, which could soon run out of these life-saving medicines. The global health agency said that Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and Ukraine could exhaust their supply of HIV treatments in the coming months. READ ALSO: Africa CDC calls for increased domestic health funding The WHO said the US has a responsibility to ensure that if it withdraws direct funding for countries, its done in an orderly and humane way that allows them to find alternative sources of funding. Funding shortages, the world health body said, could also force 80 per cent of its supported essential health care services in Afghanistan to close. As of 4 March, the WHO said, 167 health facilities had shut down due to funding shortages, and without urgent intervention, over 220 more facilities could close by June. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a man to three months imprisonment for hawking new Naira notes. However, the man, identified in a press statement released Friday by the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recieved an option of fine in lieu of imprisonment. The trial judge, Ayokunle Faji, handed down the judgement on Wednesday, the EFCC statement said. Details of arrest and suit The EFCC disclosed that the convict was found hawking N800,000 on 14 December 2024, at Villa Dome Event Centre, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, an act that was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 21(4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. Section 21(4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 criminalises the act of hawking or selling Naira notes, coins or any note issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). But despite the legal provision, hawking and selling of naira notes, particularly the new ones, is a regular feature at big parties in Nigeria. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The naira hawkers are patronised by the party goers who buy the currency notes to spray on the party hosts, musicians and other persons during dance time. The act is similarly a criminal offence under the CBN Act. Since last year, EFCC has esclated its crackdown against the abuse of the naira, targeting those spraying the currency notes at social events. The arrest, prosecution and conviction of controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, has come to symbolise the EFCC efforts, although other celebrities have also received similar treatments before and after his case. Naira hawker pleads guilty Mr Saka pleaded guilty to the naira a Hawking charge brought against him by the anti-graft agency. The prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, tendered as evidence the convicts confession and the N800,000 recovered from him. This resulted in a sentence of three months Imprisonment with an option of N100,000 as a fine. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the money recovered from the convict to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Other cases of currency racketeering Aside from Mr Saka, others have been prosecuted and sentenced to jail for selling naira notes. In March 2024, PREMIUM TIMES reported the arraignment of one Azubuike Obasi in Rivers State for currency racketeering. A witness also told the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, that Mr Obasi had sold N20,000 worth of new banknotes, comprising 100 pieces of N200 notes, to Emeka Daniel at a cost of N35,000. Similarly, three individuals, Asmau Wuraola, Owoduni Isa, and Rukayat Shuaibu, were convicted of selling naira notes. Ms Wuraola received a two-month imprisonment, while Ms Isa and Ms Shuaibu each bagged six months in jail. In February, Nwachukwu Ifeanyi also received a six-month sentence in Imo State for selling new naira notes from his shop. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the Supreme Court judgement upholding the principle of supremacy of the political party in managing its internal affairs. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Friday in Abuja, the party described the judgement as a victory for democracy. Mr Ologunagba said that the partys National Working (NWC) received the judgment of the court which affirmed that the issue was that of party leadership positions. According to him, this included that of the national secretary, which is entirely an internal affair of the party, requiring only the partys internal mechanism to which the court has no jurisdiction. Todays judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the standing position of the party. It emphatically settles the emergence of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP, having been duly nominated, endorsed and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory organs and bodies, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This, he said, was in line with provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017). Mr Ologunagba recalled that the NWC had, at its 576th meeting held on 11 October 2023, directed the South-east Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Mr Anyanwu upon his nomination then as the partys governorship candidate in the state. He said that consequent upon the directive of the NWC, the zonal executive committee, on 20 October 2023, passed a resolution approving the emergence. He noted that the zonal committee also forwarded Mr Udeh-Okoyes name to the NWC as the partys national secretary. ALSO READ: Supreme Court nullifies sacking of Anyanwu as PDP national secretary Mr Ologunagba said that accordingly, the NWC, at its 577th meeting held on 7 November 2023, duly received, accepted and approved the emergence of Mr Okoye as the partys national secretary. He also said that the appointment had since been endorsed by relevant organs and bodies of the PDP, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), Southeast Zonal Caucus and the PDP Governors Forum. Mr Ologunagba stated that the decision had been officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public. He urged all patriotic members of the PDP to remain united as NWC members continued to work together to move the party forward. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake, substandard, and falsified drugs seized during a recent operation in Onitsha and Aba. The unwholesome pharmaceutical products were destroyed at the Anambra State Waste Management Agencys dump site in Awka on Friday, following standard disposal procedures. NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, who supervised the destruction, stated that 100 containers of such products valued at N100 trillion were seized. Represented by Martin Iluyomade, Director of Southeast Zonal Operations, Mrs Adeyeye said the quantity of banned psychoactive drugs found could destabilise an entire country. She noted that NAFDAC had realised that the time has come to permanently end the circulation of falsified and substandard pharmaceutical products in Nigeria. According to her, fake medicines lead to treatment failures, causing preventable deaths and severe economic losses, especially for vulnerable patients who rely on these drugs. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Medicines are not a matter of choice but necessity. We cannot quantify how many lives have been lost due to fake or substandard products, she said. We found medicines meant for pregnant women, which require cold storage, kept in oven-hot conditionsno wonder Nigeria faces high childbirth mortality rates. It is disheartening that banned drugs with harmful effects, including unapproved medicines like tramadol and psychoactive substances, are still in circulation. The Director-General said although the one-month operation, which saw markets closed, had ended, enforcement would continue until fake drugs are eliminated. She affirmed NAFDACs commitment to ensuring medicines are safe, effective, certified, and suitable for use by the general public. We thank the Federal Government, State Government, security agencies, and the media for their support and cooperation during this successful operation, she said. Mike Ozoemena, representing the Anambra government, commended NAFDAC for its efforts in eliminating fake pharmaceutical products from the state and the country. Mr Ozoemena, Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Agency, said Chukwuma Soludos administration would support all efforts to protect public health. He praised NAFDAC for acting swiftly and not prolonging the closure of the drug markets unnecessarily, which helped minimise disruption for traders. The destruction exercise was witnessed by officials of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, and other security agencies to ensure transparency and accountability. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Court of Appeal in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to challenge a Federal High Court ruling barring it from retrying former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu over alleged N7.1 billion fraud. In two separate rulings delivered by a three-member panel on Friday, the Court of Appeal allowed an extension of time for the federal government to file its appeal against the 29 September 2021 judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The contested judgement had stopped the EFCC from prosecuting Mr Kalu, who currently represents Abia North in the Senate. Kalus conviction and Supreme Court ruling Mr Kalu, who governed Abia State from 1999 to 2007, was convicted in December 2019 by the Federal High Court in Lagos and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The court found him, his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former Abia State Director of Finance, Jones Udeogu, guilty of laundering N7.1 billion from the state treasury. However, in May 2020, the Supreme Court overturned Mr Udeogus conviction, ruling that the trial judge, Mohammed Idris, had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before delivering the judgement and, therefore, lacked jurisdiction. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later As a result, the Supreme Court nullified the trial and ordered a retrial for Mr Udeogu. Following this decision, Mr Kalu, who was already serving his sentence at the Kuje Correctional Centre, applied for release, arguing that his own conviction was also affected by the Supreme Court ruling. The Federal High Court in Abuja granted his request, leading to his release. Legal battle over retrial After Mr Kalus release, the EFCC sought to restart his trial along with Mr Udeogu. However, Mr Kalu and Slok Nigeria Limited filed separate lawsuits to block the move, contending that a retrial would amount to double jeopardybeing tried twice for the same offence. His legal team argued that since the Supreme Courts ruling only explicitly ordered a retrial for Mr Udeogu, the EFCC had no legal basis to prosecute Mr Kalu again. EFCC countered the argument, maintaining that Mr Kalu could not take advantage of the favourable aspect of the judgement without accepting the burden of retrial that went with it. But the judge, Inyang Ekwo, sided with Mr Kalu in his decision delivered on 29 September 2021, ruling that the EFCC could not retry the former governor since his retrial was not expressly ordered by the Supreme Court. He cannot be retried safely without an order of the Supreme Court, the judge held. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC challenged it at the Court of Appeal. However, on 6 March 2024, the appellate court struck out the appeal, citing procedural lapses, including improper stamping of court records and the failure to properly indicate the signatorys designation. The EFCC, after correcting the errors pointed out in its initial appeal, made the necessary corrections and refiled it. But Mr Kalu and his firm, Slok, opposed the appeal, arguing that the Court of Appeal had become functus officio (lost jurisdiction) on the matter, having initially struck it out. However, in a ruling on Friday, a member of the Court of Appeal panel, Ishaq Sanni, dismissed objections, stating that the appeal courts decision focused on technicalities rather than the merit of the case. The Court of Appeal ruled that the EFCC had valid reasons to seek an extension of time to file its appeal, as the original three-month deadline had elapsed. It granted the government 14 days to formally file its notice of appeal against the judgement that blocked Mr Kalus retrial. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted $193,000 in undeclared foreign currency concealed in a yoghurt carton at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. According to the statement by the service on Friday, the seizure, which occurred on Thursday, followed a targeted baggage inspection based on credible intelligence. The suspect, Kamilu Sarina, aged 40, arrived in Nigeria aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Around the early hours of today, we received an intelligence report, which proved very helpful. This afternoon, one Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, who boarded Ethiopian Airlines from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was found concealing a total sum of $193,000 inside a carton of yoghurt, said Olumide Adebisi, a Comptroller at the customs area controller for the Federal Capital Territory Command. The suspect failed to declare the funds, in violation of the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which require travellers in possession of over $10,000 to declare such sums to customs upon entry or exit. The law clearly states that if a person has funds above $10,000, they must declare it to Customs. Failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of the money, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both, Mr Adebisi said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He explained that the concealment was uncovered during baggage scanning. When Mr. Kamilu Abdullahi Sarinas luggage was scanned, we detected an unusual density. We allowed him to proceed but closely monitored his baggage. Upon further inspection, we discovered that the density was irregular, so we instructed him to return. In his presence, we checked the package and found the undeclared money hidden inside the yoghurt carton. The intercepted currency has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution. As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the EFCC for further necessary action, he said. Reiterating the Customs commitment to financial regulation enforcement, Mr Adebisi warned travellers against attempting to bypass currency declaration rules. All travellers must comply with Nigerias financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when travelling in or out of the country, he said. The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 provide clear guidelines on currency declaration. Non-compliance with these regulations violates Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties, he added. Mr Adebisi also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for creating an enabling working environment that has improved operational efficiency within the Command. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has directed the heads of local government administration to take all necessary steps to ensure payment of outstanding salaries to local council workers. Mr Ibas, retired vice admiral, gave the directive while meeting with the heads of local government administration and the leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Rivers chapter, in Port Harcourt on Friday. He described the non-payment of the workers salaries for February and March as unfortunate but attributed the situation to the withholding of the monthly allocations to the state following the Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court had also annulled the states local council election held on 5 October 2025. Mr Ibas said the withheld allocations had been released, adding, I sincerely feel the pain of these workers, many of whom have endured months of financial strain. I hereby issue a directive that all the necessary steps be taken to ensure that these salaries are paid with no further delay. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said the local government, being the third tier of government and closest to the people, had the sacred responsibility of ensuring that councils affairs were run with the utmost care, respect, and dedication to the peoples welfare. As leaders, we must feel the pains of our people and offer them a more positive, inclusive and transformative leadership. This is the mandate I have accepted, and it is the standard I expect from all of you. To this end, I hereby direct further that all Local Government Areas furnish my office with wage bills by way of briefing through the office of the Head of Service, he said. Mr Ibas said the briefing by the head of the service would enable him to acquaint himself with the situation. He directed that all such submissions should be supported with relevant documents to provide clarity and ensure accuracy. Warning against reckless spending Mr Ibas pledged to promote a culture of transparency and accountability and warned against reckless spending of public funds at the local government level. I have just six months, but we must ensure that the people of Rivers State deserve to see how their money is used and it is our duty to ensure that every kobo is accounted for, he stated. Mr Ibas said that he was already working out the necessary modalities that would ensure effective monitoring of accountability. ALSO READ: Tinubu commends NASS for approving emergency rule in Rivers He said his administration would ensure that every decision made, every policy implemented and every action taken would be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and service to the people. In an address, the President of NULGE, Rivers chapter, Clifford Paul, who is also the Head of Local Government Administration of Port Harcourt Council, acknowledged that workers were not paid for about two months. He lauded the sole administrator for directing the immediate payment of their salaries. Mr Paul said Rivers State had experienced slow development with the political conflicts creating much tension but expressed hope that with the sole administrator on the saddle, greater peace would return. He pledged the workers support to the course of peace and stability in the state. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print This image transmitted through quantum-secured communication between China and South Africa in a data transmission experiment shows the experimental site at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. (University of Science and Technology of China/Handout via Xinhua) HEFEI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- An international team led by Chinese scientists have realized quantum-secured communication across over 12,900 kilometers between China and South Africa. Using the Jinan-1 micro-nano satellite and compact ground stations, this new breakthrough in quantum technology demonstrates the potential for secure quantum communication on a global scale. In an international first, the team led by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) enabled real-time quantum key distribution (QKD) between the satellite and miniaturized ground stations -- including one in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Leveraging this engineering achievement, Chinese scientists, in collaboration with their counterparts from Stellenbosch University, have successfully demonstrated the longest-distance hacker-proof communication across hemispheres to date. The result was published on Wednesday in the journal Nature. The journal's peer reviewer lauded it as "a technically impressive achievement" that represents "considerable progress towards trusted-node constellations for wide-spread satellite QKD services" and shows "the maturity of the satellite QKD technology." China has for some time been at the forefront of quantum communication satellite research. The country launched the world's first quantum satellite, named Micius, in 2016. A study published in January 2018 showed that Micius had allowed scientists to achieve QKD across approximately 7,600 kilometers between China and Austria, both situated in the Northern Hemisphere. During that experiment, scientists transmitted images between the two countries, and a 75-minute video conference was successfully held between Beijing and Vienna. ACROSS HEMISPHERES Aiming to create a more cost-effective and scalable global quantum communication network, China focused on developing low-cost micro-nano satellites. In July 2022, Jinan-1 was placed in its planned orbit. The recent QKD test via Jinan-1 achieved quantum-secured communication between the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, demonstrating the technical feasibility of building a global quantum communication network. QKD provides a technical basis for secure communication. It is based on a physical property in quantum mechanics that makes it impossible to create an independent and identical copy of an arbitrary unknown quantum state -- thus providing an "unhackable" way to exchange encrypted messages between remote users. In trying to understand the value of quantum-secure communication, one can imagine the scenario of sending information using eggs with shells, in which single-yolk eggs representing "0" and double-yolk eggs representing "1" are used. An eavesdropper in the quantum world has to smash these eggs completely to determine their types, allowing the legitimate sender and receiver to compare results in checking if the eggs had remained intact, thereby detecting any potential eavesdropping. "One of the Jinan-1 satellite's advances is its ability to enable real-time QKD," said Liao Shengkai, a co-author of the paper and the leader of the Jinan-1 project from USTC. During the China-Austria communication test via Micius, quantum states downloaded from the satellite required at least three to four days of processing to generate secure keys. For a 75-minute meeting that required over 800,000 keys, the preparation process took more than a month, said Liao. However, in the case of the Jinan-1 satellite test, when the satellite serving as a transfer station passed over the eastern Chinese city of Jinan and the northwestern city of Urumqi in the space of about 1.5 hours, both secret keys and encrypted data were transmitted, achieving a high level of immediacy. During a single satellite overpass, as many as one million bits of secure keys were successfully shared, according to the study. SATELLITE CONSTELLATION Jinan-1 was launched atop a Lijian-1 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, highlighting the country's efforts to miniaturize quantum satellites -- which is essential for the commercialization of a quantum internet. Weighing approximately one-sixth of the 600-plus-kilogram Micius, Jinan-1 has shown remarkable progress by integrating quantum and optical communication channels to enable real-time key extraction and code generation. Despite its smaller size, the low-orbit satellite has a light source frequency six times higher than that of Micius, while its key generation speed has been increased by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. The ground stations for Jinan-1 have also achieved extraordinary miniaturization -- their weight plummeted from about 13 tonnes to under 100 kilograms, and the installation time was slashed from months to hours. "Designed for pure commercial use, Jinan-1 is more energy-efficient than Micius, and its development and launch cost was much lower," said Zhou Fei, a quantum scientist from Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, who was involved in the design of Jinan-1. Notably, Jinan-1 recently also integrated with two high-throughput communication satellites and a 5G experimental network in achieving, for the first time, quantum-encrypted 5G voice calls, messages and data communication. This test proved that quantum satellites can support secure 5G satellite communication and enhance data security where traditional land-based networks fall short, further advancing the potential commercial use of quantum satellite communication. "Micius solved the 0 to 1 problem, demonstrating feasibility," said Liao. "Jinan-1's work is a step from 1 to 10, that lays the groundwork for more quantum satellite launches in the future." The team's latest work is "a milestone for the realization of a satellite-constellation for quantum and classical communication," commented Nature's journal reviewers. China is now considering building a small quantum-secure satellite network and integrating quantum encryption with the country's existing satellite internet plans, Liao added. This image of the Great Wall is used in a data transmission experiment through quantum-secured communication between China and South Africa. (University of Science and Technology of China/Handout via Xinhua) This schematic diagram shows the quantum key distribution experiment of the Jinan-1 micro-nano satellite. (University of Science and Technology of China/Handout via Xinhua) Editor: WXY Professor Babafemi Badejos 70th birthday celebration was more than just a tale of Owambe and jollification (fun). It was a reaffirmation of the values of scholarship, cultural pride, and intellectual inquiry. From insightful discussions, historical reflections, to the cultural vibrancy of the Ijebu Apepe dance, the event showcased a legacy of knowledge-driven progress and critical engagement. The 70th birthday celebration of Professor Babafemi Badejo was a profound intellectual and cultural journey, reflecting his lifelong dedication to knowledge generation and sharing. The series of events, which began with a Symposium at the University of Lagos on 4 March, continued with a lecture titled, Politics, Power, and Philosophy, and a grand reception. The celebration culminated in a private visit to Prince Yemisi Shyllon, the Omo-Oba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF) and an enlightening group History and Heritage Tour at the Prince Yemisi Shyllon Museum, Pan-Atlantic University, off the Lekki-Epe Highway in Lagos. More than just a birthday, the entire celebration, as designed by the celebrant and his family, was a platform for deep intellectual engagement, fostering greater consciousness on humanity, society and African identity, culture, and history ideals that have always been central to Professor Badejos advocacy and scholarship. Tributes to a Lifetime of Knowledge and Service Distinguished personalities from the academia, governance, and international diplomacy paid glowing tributes to Professor Badejos lifelong commitment to knowledge, service, and global peacebuilding. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, lauded Professor Badejos remarkable contributions to global diplomacy, peace-building, and academia, highlighting his impactful roles at the United Nations, the African Union, and in legal scholarship. The president recognised his courageous service in conflict-ridden regions and his role in shaping peace processes in Somalia, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Sudan. He further commended his scholarship and contributions to political reform, stating: As you celebrate this milestone, I wish you continued good health, strength, and success in your efforts to enrich scholarship and inspire diligence, discipline, and the pursuit of knowledge. Similarly, His Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta, president of Timor-Leste and a Nobel Laureate, celebrated Professor Badejos dedication to scholarship, diplomacy, and service to humanity. In his address, President Ramos-Horta reflected on their professional and intellectual camaraderie, recalling Professor Badejos deep insights into African governance, peace processes, and the role of international institutions in shaping the continents destiny. He remarked that Badejos intellectual rigour and steadfast commitment to ethical leadership make him an exemplary figure in global affairs. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Professor (Mrs) Chinedum Peace Babalola, former vice-chancellor of Chrisland University, described Professor Badejo as a brilliant and cerebral scholar with vast experience spanning academia, the United Nations, international politics, and humanitarian work. She praised his contributions to Chrisland University, especially his role in securing Nobel Laureate Ramos-Horta as the virtual chair of his book launch for Nigerians Views on National Turmoil: A Situational Quadruple Nexus Analysis. In her tribute, titled An Icon of Multiplicity, she describes him as a man of many dimensions who leaves a mark in every sphere he engages. At 70, she affirmed that he deserves all accolades that come his way and encouraged him to continue his intellectual pursuits but at his own pace. She also expressed her wish for him to reconnect with his Anglican roots and deepen his commitment to faith and service to God. A Tour of Knowledge and Heritage The Prince Yemisi Shyllon Museum provided the perfect setting for the grand finale of the celebration, reflecting Professor Badejos deep appreciation for history, culture, and the African intellectual tradition. The tour reinforced his belief in the power of history as a tool for shaping identity and consciousness. Local and international participants in the tour from Eko, Abuja, Dakar and Texas had the opportunity of connecting with various works of arts, and engaged in practical activities such as live paintings, tie and dye (fabric design). Professor Peace Babalola praised the museums remarkable collection, noting that it offers a holistic narrative of Nigerian history and civilisation. She commended Engineer Yemisi Shyllon for his visionary efforts in preserving Nigerias rich cultural heritage, underscoring the importance of institutions that document and showcase Africas artistic and historical legacy. Reflections on the Celebrants Legacy A bosom friend of the celebrant, Professor Raphael Omotayo Olaniyan, described Professor Badejo as a kind, generous, and intellectually gifted individual always ready to share knowledge. He noted that the celebration was not just a festivity but an intellectual and cultural symposium, bringing together some of the finest minds to reflect on issues that shape Nigeria, Africa, and the world. In this regard, one of the most thought-provoking highlights of the event was a lecture by Professor Toyin Falola, which skilfully combined humour, philosophy, and a critical analysis of Africas development trajectory. In his presentation, he addressed fundamental governance challenges that have been widely researched but poorly implemented. Reflecting on Nigerias diminished global influence, Professor Raphael remarked that: In my decades of experience with the United Nations, there was a time when Nigeria spoke, the world listened. Unfortunately, we have lost that position. His words underscored the urgency of reclaiming Nigerias intellectual and diplomatic stature on the global stage an endeavour that Professor Badejo has spent a lifetime advocating. A Celebration of Knowledge, Reflection, and Impact Professor Babafemi Badejos 70th birthday celebration was more than just a tale of Owambe and jollification (fun). It was a reaffirmation of the values of scholarship, cultural pride, and intellectual inquiry. From insightful discussions, historical reflections, to the cultural vibrancy of the Ijebu Apepe dance, the event showcased a legacy of knowledge-driven progress and critical engagement. Abraham Ameh is special adviser, Yintab Strategy Consults, Lagos. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Though they have always been defining aspects of human civilisation, power and privilege have different expressions, depending on the time, location, and situation. In Africa, the complex interactions among these ideas directly relate to the intellectual depth, cultural practices, and rich history of the continent. Not only abstract ideas, but power and privilege have also profoundly affected the lives of millions of people by means of colonial legacies, postcolonial regimes, and contemporary difficulties. That said, one of the difficulties is a constant thread of philosophical resistance and reimagining; a response to structural disparities and historical injustices particular to Africa. One cannot grasp power and privilege in Africa until one first acknowledges the historical roots of these ideas. Often, the ways in which precolonial African societies handled these ideas were quite different from the approaches Western civilisation took. Power was a responsibility connected to the welfare of society and moral responsibility, as much as a means of control. For example, the Asantehene, or king of the Asante Empire, had a lot of authority but also certain limitations. One very revered emblem of legitimacy and togetherness is the Golden Stool. It reminds us that authority is something bestowed upon one, rather than something one owns. The Igbo people of southern Nigeria likewise had dispersed government in such a manner. Age-grade societies and the village assembly came to decisions by consensus. This division of power was based on values stressing balance, justice, and shared responsibility, rather than any kind of whim. People in these societies usually gained status by diligence, instead of inheritance from their parents, before colonialism. Acts of service, knowledge, bravery, leadership and influence count more highly than birth into wealth or power. One example of this comes from the Kikuyu people of Kenya. The Kikuyu civilisation guaranteed that resources were used to benefit everyone, rather than for personal gain, by the joint ownership of land, which indicates their shared way of thinking. Gender roles in many African societies deviated from the common assumptions of the time. In the Kingdom of Dahomey, the Amazons were a much-loved corps of female troops. They showed leadership and authority in ways that defied the conventional gender roles. However, the coming of colonialism seriously disrupted these systems. European nations created hierarchical structures, redefining privilege depending on race and class and concentrating authority. The conquerors believed they were superior to other races, which allowed them to take advantage of Africas riches and people. They changed methods that benefited the community to ones that aimed to make European cities richer. The cash crop industries in West Africa, diamond mines in Southern Africa, and rubber farms in the Congo all showed control and mistreatment of people. The effects of colonialism transcended the mere loss of worldly goods. It was a major onslaught of African ideas and values that brought down established knowledge and government structures. Once a symbol of oneness, the Golden Stool of the Asante is today just a cultural item. The dispersed government of the Igbo was judged primitive and replaced with systems whereby colonial officials may concentrate authority. Originally linked with obligation, privilege evolved into a prerogative reserved for the colonial elite while the great majority of Africans were assigned to the margins of political, social, and economic life. This mistreatment received no apathy. Rising across the continent, resistance movements combined the intellectual underpinnings of precolonial Africa with the will to oppose colonial domination. The Maji Maji Rebellion in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), for instance, was a philosophical statement grounded on social dignity and spiritual oneness as much as a military revolt. Along the same lines, intellectuals like Amilcar Cabral and Frantz Fanon offered opinions on freedom outside of politics. Cabral believed that cultural opposition was just as important as military action and gave considerable weight to recovering ones identity and values. Fanon looked at the psychological aspects of colonialism. According to him, one must destroy not just the oppressive structures but also the hierarchies firmly ingrained in peoples thoughts if one wants to achieve real freedom. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Resistance had intellectual foundations linked with the problems people face in their daily lives, not limited to abstract ideas. In Nigeria and Kenya, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Wangari Maathai, respectively, showed that the struggle for justice was complex and needed battling both patriarchal ideas and colonial persecution. Using literature, writers and artists such as Chinua Achebe and Ngugi wa Thiongo exposed the dignity and intellectual agency of Africans and questioned Eurocentric narratives. By words or deeds, these acts of protest show a great will to redefine privilege and power in a way that respects African legacy and dreams. Colonialism changed the distribution of privilege and power acquired in African civilisations. Still, the ideas stressed in precolonial societies justice, social cohesiveness, and government did not vanish totally. As Africans travelled through the years after British control, they persisted, sometimes subtly and other times boldly. These notions became crucial for reconstruction and analysis as nations battled for freedom and sought to define their futures. The struggle against colonial control evolved naturally into a more general campaign against neocolonialism and reinterpretation of what justice entails. Leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Leopold Sedar Senghor sought to include African ideas and values into the governance and economy of their newly liberated nations after attaining their freedom. Nkrumah believed in the importance of African unity and economic freedom. He described neocolonialism, which means that even after Africa gained independence, the influence of former colonial powers still made African countries dependent. He urged everyone on the continent to work together in both economics and politics to fight against this new type of control. Nkrumahs ideas were based on the strong community and teamwork values of Africa. He turned away from the focus on individualism seen in colonial economies. Julius Nyerere put these ideas into action with his Ujamaa strategy, which means familyhood. Ujamaa was more than just an economic system; it emphasised the importance of community, which is central to African life. Nyerere envisioned a society where everyone shared resources, made choices together, and where power was shared to benefit everyone. Ujamaa faced many challenges when it was implemented, but its main ideas of unity, respect, and teamwork are still important for conversations about leadership and progress in Africa today. Leopold Sedar Senghors Negritude philosophy praised African culture and spiritual traditions. Senghor rejected the colonial narrative that equated progress with Westernisation, instead claiming that African traditions, with their emphasis on harmony and interconnectedness, offered important contributions to global thought. Negritude aimed to restore the dignity and humanity of African people, showing that African identity is a source of power instead of something weak due to colonialism. Senghors work shows that philosophy is not just a theory; it shapes how countries view themselves and their place in the world. Even with these big ideas, the time after gaining freedom showed obvious problems in changing how power and status operated. Putting power in the hands of a small group of people, which some say is needed to maintain order in unstable countries, has led to many authoritarian governments. Leaders who pushed for freedom from colonial rule often kept the same favouritism that independence sought to eliminate. Corruption and the focus on personal power hurt the basic values of responsibility and community well-being that African ideologies have supported for a long time. During this time of disappointment, African thinkers and community groups kept pushing against the norm. Strong criticisms of how colonialism affected individuals and attention to the issues with governments following colonial control were offered by Frantz Fanon and Achille Mbembe Fanon studied how colonialism shapes peoples perceptions and sense of self. He showed how riches and power become natural to people and influence nations as well as personal identities. Mbembes idea of necropolitics adds to this criticism by showing how controlling life and death is a way for modern power to operate, both during and after colonial times. At the community level, people fought against unfair power systems by starting organizations inspired by Africas traditional ways of thinking. The fight against apartheid in South Africa shows this well. Leaders like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu focused on bringing people together and finding justice instead of seeking revenge. Ubuntu, a Southern African belief about how people are linked, was an important idea for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This process, though not ideal, showed a strong commitment to healing and rebuilding rather than continuing bloodshed and division. At the start of the 21st century, Africa saw shifts in power and advantages because of globalization, new technologies, and existing injustices from the past. The continent was caught between modern chances for development and transformation and old colonial practices. After gaining freedom, many people were unhappy with a government that favoured a few powerful individuals. However, a new wave of activism, fresh ideas, and creative expression started to change the way people talked about justice, fairness, and human dignity. Youth-led groups have been important in challenging old power systems and redefining advantage as something everyone can use to make society better. The #EndSARS protests in Nigeria showed this change. The movement started by addressing police violence and problems with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARSBut it soon grew to cover more general concerns, including corruption, injustice, and power abuse. The way #EndSARS mixed social media with strong African ideals of community and encouragement of one another set it apart. Working together without a central leader, the demonstrators demonstrated a teamwork method akin to that of traditional African administration discovered in Igbo assemblies, emphasizing among members agreement. This questioned the unfair power structures that have moulded Nigerian politics for a long period. The #FeesMustFall demonstrations in South Africa exposed the flaws in the system of education. By pushing for lower college tuition and changes to the curriculum, the campaign proved that the advantages of the apartheid era still exist in South Africa nowadays. Students requested better management of money and also questioned why institutions focus largely on European values. They promoted further integration of African knowledge and viewpoints. The movement aimed to change our perspective on education. It promoted education as a means of strengthening everyone and establishing fairness rather than isolating individuals and creating hierarchies. These groups are located in certain countries, but they demonstrate that a larger awakening is taking place throughout the continent. Young people in Africa are less likely to accept things as they are. Analyzing their past and applying innovative ideas, they are advocating change. They do not believe that having an edge separates one from other people or that power is always a negative force. They promote systems that provide inclusive, responsible, and cooperative top importance if they are to accomplish success. Africas rich intellectual legacy greatly impacted these people. Emphasising the links among all people and the need to look out for one another, Ubuntu is a guiding concept. This mindset is not limited to intellectual debate; it also shows the actions of activists worried about serving their local communities. They achieve this by offering food and first treatment during demonstrations or by spreading the opinions of those who are usually disregarded online. These organisations value the adage I am because we are highly and base their goals and approaches on it. The creative industries in Africa are now powerful tools for changing the way the world sees the continent and reclaiming its narratives. The rise of Afrobeats music around the world, with performers such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tiwa Savage leading the way, is a sign that national pride is returning. These artists celebrate African identity and raise awareness of societal concerns via their music. Furthermore important has been writing. Emphasising the crucial ideas and successes Africa has made worldwide, writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ngugi wa Thiongo use their stories to discuss power, privilege, and resistance. These movements and artistic expression show ongoing challenges even as their might grows. Based on colonial background, global power institutions still support richer countries while neglecting African nations viewpoints. Organisations like the World Bank and the United Nations usually see Africa more as a recipient of aid than as a major influence on world politics. This arrangement produces a story of dependence that makes it more difficult for the continent to act independently. In response, leaders and intellectuals from Africa are beginning to advocate for a more equitable global system. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) seeks to reduce Africas reliance on foreign markets by encouraging collaboration and partnerships between countries in the region. This economic model is based on the premise that we should all work together for the benefit of everyone and acknowledges how interconnected we all are. It seeks to alter the unjust trading methods that have influenced Africas position in the global economy for a significant period. Africa is struggling with its history and present, but it is also starting to see fresh ideas developing that are redefining wealth and power from the global perspective. Sharing African ideas and culture with people outside of Africa has been much aided by the African diaspora. Originating from slavery, colonialism, and migration, this group has been vital in worldwide campaigns for racial justice, freedom, and equality. Among the most important concepts coming from the African diaspora is pan-Africanism. Pan-Africanism is a political movement and way of life aimed at bringing people of African descent from all over the world together to combat injustice. Leaders who underlined the reality that Black people all around have had similar experiences were Marcus Garvey, WEB. Du Bois, and Kwame Nkrumah. They urged everyone to gather in the fight against economic disparity and bigotry. Their concept was profoundly philosophical and grounded on African ideas of communal development and collective strength in addition to political ones. This idea much influenced global projects aiming at justice. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, driven by efforts for emancipation in Africa drove the American Civil Rights Movement. King focused on pacifism and togetherness, much as the idea of Ubuntu that is, community and shared humanity allows. Conversely, Malcolm X strongly attacked institutionalised racism, therefore stressing the significance and boldness of anti-colonial efforts. The anti-apartheid movement in South Africa pushed worldwide support campaigns, including demonstrations in European cities and boycotts at American colleges. These global ties show how African ideas have transcended boundaries and moulded the fight against injustice in many various environments. The impact of the African diaspora goes beyond simple action. It is also strongly entrenched in cultural expressions questioning received wisdom and thinking through what privilege and power truly mean. Modern authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who links African and Western life in her works, and writers like Chinua Achebe, who questioned harsh ideas of African civilisations in their book, Things Fall Apart, have battled back and reclaimed their narrative via literary works. These tales expose the capacity of Africa to think and create for itself, therefore subverting the conventional power systems that have sometimes disregarded African points of view. Jazz, reggae, and hip-hop from the African diaspora have among their inspirations worldwide movements for resistance and independence in music by using the rhythms and concepts from the continent. Afrobeats is a prominent cultural movement nowadays, not only in Africa but throughout the world. Burna Boy and Wizkid are among the artists whose influence allows them to advocate African culture and oppose social injustices. They present Africa as a country full of vitality, vigour, and inventiveness, therefore changing the way people view that continent. These are quite philosophical cultural gifts. Their fresh perspective on power emphasises society more than control and supports self-expression. They also offer a means of reclaiming privilege not to exclude others or damage them, but rather to elevate sometimes disregarded viewpoints. The influence of the African diaspora examines and challenges the worldwide structures maintaining inequality in place, not only about celebrating culture. Living abroad, Africans and those of African heritage have some conflicts. Although the diaspora has been accused of not being in line with what is happening in Africa, it has also frequently assisted in linking the continent to the world. Africans living abroad especially those with Western resources may have different opportunities and experiences. This can make their aid differ from Africans experiences. This disagreement raises crucial questions about portrayal and responsibility. Who speaks for Africa, and how can their ideas reflect its diverse experiences? Despite these obstacles, African diaspora voices are crucial to global discussions on justice, fairness, and human rights. Black Lives Matter, largely American, was inspired by African ideas of fighting for rights and assembly. These confrontations demonstrate how important African ideas are for social progress. Africa may impact the world beyond its population. New initiatives include the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the expansion of technological centres reveals that Africa is assuming responsibility for its part in the world. Africa is creatively and cooperatively changing the unfair links it has long maintained with nations of the Global North. These projects focus on working together for the good of society, going beyond the focus on individual success that drives the global economy. The story of wealth and power in Africa is constantly evolving, drawing from its rich intellectual traditions. Often in ways that question accepted global assumptions, African countries have struggled throughout millennia with the complexity of governance, justice, and equity. These stories showcase a powerful message of strength, creativity, and freedom, highlighting the journey from local community leadership to the battle against modern colonialism. They also emphasise the role of youth-led groups and the global impact of people of African descent. This narrative is really about redefining power at its essence. Ubuntu and kindred African theories hold that power is a responsibility to uplift and serve the community; it is not an end. This concept is entirely distinct from the systems of dominance colonisation has imposed and that contemporary global institutions keep upholding. Writers like Frantz Fanon and Amilcar Cabral have helped us understand how unfair systems affect peoples feelings and values. Fanons call for change that goes beyond politics and affects everyday life is still important today. Many groups continue to fight against deep-seated unfairness and crimes. Similarly, African traditions have often viewed power as a responsibility instead of a right. In communities like the Ashanti and Igbo, having privilege was linked to taking on duty. Leaders were supposed to help solve problems and take care of their people. This philosophy has affected modern movements aiming at the redistribution of privilege in ways that support social progress and justice. Rising youth-led demonstrations like #EndSARS and #FeesMustFall show how firmly ingrained these ideas are since young Africans use both conventional wisdom and new tools to call for structural change. African ideas outside of Africas influence Ideas from the African diaspora have shaped conversations on justice, freedom, and human respect all around. Ideas of Pan-Africanism, Ubuntu, and shared responsibility have helped to shape movements for racial equality, freedom, and social justice all over. These ideals have become a moral compass, reminding the globe of the promise of common humanity and unity. This has been true in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement, in South Africas anti-apartheid fight, and the Black Lives Matter marches of today. But Africas contribution to creating a more egalitarian future goes beyond only shaping knowledge and culture. Explicit examples of a fresh approach to distributing power and redefining privilege are the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and associated initiatives. The unjust trade policies that have long disadvantaged Africa by means of which the AfCFTA aims to solve. It is achieving this by emphasizing the continents total development and increasing economic connectivity. Based on the philosophical concepts of interconnectedness and mutual care, it demonstrates a will to restore Africas dominance in worldwide economic systems. Africas intellectual history provides direction for creating a more fair and sustainable society as the continent faces the challenges of the twenty-first century, including the legacy of colonialism, climate change, and systematic injustice. These customs remind us that justice is not only an abstract concept but a reality that calls for constant work and thought, power can be used with compassion, and privilege comes with an ethical commitment. By elevating African voices, the global community will not only improve its knowledge of these problems but also be able to spot ideas based on millennia of experience. Africas philosophical legacy is ultimately a vision for the future rather than only a narrative from the past; it forces the world to reconsider the definitions of justice, equity, and governance, providing an alternative to the individualism and materialism most impacting world institutions. Africas concepts remind us that the search for privilege and power need not result in inequality and division. They achieve this by emphasizing in their view of the world mankind and interconnectedness as the most significant features. Conversely, they can be used to create communities that respect every person, celebrate diversity, and aim for the welfare of the society at large. Based on the wisdom of the past, Africas most significant contribution to the world is the hope for a future that is more compassionate and fairer. Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland. Excerpts from the Professor Badejo at 70 Lecture. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Respected brothers and sisters! Remember, Ramadan isnt over until its actually over! Ten days is a lot of time for you to make up for what youve missed. Since the last ten days have a prestigious position during the blessed month (because lailatul-Qadr could fall on any of the odd nights) it is increasingly essential for you to focus on what you can do, rather than brooding over what has already happened. Convince your mind and heart not to lose hope, because Allah Subhanahu wa Taala hasnt lost hope in you. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Dear brothers and sisters! May be, some people started their Ramadan with a bang, and, lost the enthusiasm and zeal to carry with the same energy after a week or so? Fret not. You are not alone. Many people start off Ramadan with lofty ambitions and goals, only to find themselves slacking off mid way due to various reasons ranging from not planning ahead to losing the motivation and drive to continue. If you are struggling with decreased motivation and want to make the best of Ramadan in the last few days, read on. Respected brothers and sisters! Remember, Ramadan isnt over until its actually over! Ten days is a lot of time for you to make up for what youve missed. Since the last ten days have a prestigious position during the blessed month (because lailatul-Qadr could fall on any of the odd nights) it is increasingly essential for you to focus on what you can do, rather than brooding over what has already happened. Convince your mind and heart not to lose hope, because Allah Subhanahu wa Taala hasnt lost hope in you. He believes you can, so you can! My beloved brothers and sisters! If you are planning to speed up your process of completing your goals during the last ten days to show off to your friends or family, you are fundamentally going WRONG. Always do your deeds with the right intentions and that involves beginning a deed with the intention to please Allah Subhanahu wa Taala alone. Remember, you will be rewarded for your righteous intentions even if you are not able to complete the task, so purify your intentions and renew them every single time. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Fellow Muslims! Please, dont slacken off because your 20 days went wrong. No! If Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has allowed you to wake up during the last few days of Ramadan, it means that He Allah Subhanahu wa Taala trusts that you will raise your standards and make the best use of the month. Make Dua as much as you can, whenever you can. Be sincere and let your heart and mind feel every single letter you say. Dua is only as strong as you use it. Use it well. An overdose never hurts! Additionally, nothing increases the quality of your life like repentance does. Dear servants of Allah! As with anything, quality always takes precedence over quantity. Whats the point of indulging in speed reading the glorious Quran if your mind and heart is heedless? Imagine having completed the whole Quran and your heart is still not moved by a single verse or ayat? Allah Subhanahu wa Taala sees who is best in deeds, not necessarily those whove done the most number of deeds that are lacking in ihsan, consistency or purity of intentions. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala loves deeds that are consistent, even if they are small. So, set up goals that are consistent and feasible, and most importantly, remember to continue doing them even after Ramadan. Being a good Muslim and striving to get closer to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala doesnt end with Ramadan. It needs to be a lifelong commitment and goal. Therefore, keep the end goal of paradise in mind rather than just keeping the end goal of Ramadan in mind. And its always nice to have company that would motivate you to reach your goals and pursue them with zeal and enthusiasm when you feel down or out. Additionally, your rewards of deeds get multiplied manifold when you edge others to do good. So dont be selfish and limit your performance of good deeds to yourself. Encourage and push your family members and friends to do the same. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala will reward you for every act of worship they do because of your persistence. Imagine getting a huge mountain of good deeds just because you gave others an encouraging word or pushed them to reach a higher level of faith (Iman). Dear brothers and sisters! Know that wallahi nothing increases the Barakah and blessings of your life like charity does. It extinguishes sins like water puts off fire. Imagine having a clean book of deeds with no sins against your name?! So, give and give some more in charity. Since every single act of good deed is multiplied innumerably during the month of Ramadan, what better way to make the best use of the last ten days than in giving charity? It could be a single coins/Naira/Dollar/Riyals in your eyes, but when done sincerely, it could be counted as a billion Naira/dollars/Riyals or more in terms of rewards in Allahs eyes. Purify your intentions and give. And you might just receive so much more than you ever dreamt off! Wallahi charity would be a satisfying way to end Ramadan. Ibn Abbas (RA) relates that: Allahs Messenger (Peace be upon him) was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generous during the month of Ramadan. Jibril (Gabriel) used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Ramadan, so the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) could recite the Quran to him. Whenever Jibril (Gabriel) met with him, he became more generous than a beneficial breeze. [Bukhari and Muslim] Respected brothers and sisters! Wallahi the last ten days/nights of Ramadan contain great significance in the blessed month. The importance attached to these days comes from the words of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Allah Almighty has granted special distinction to the month of Ramadan. The biggest virtue of this month is that the noble Quran was revealed on the night of Qadr in Ramadan. Allah the Most High says: Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). [Quran, 97:1] The Night of Power, or Lailatul-Qadr, is one of the nights in the last ten days of Ramadan. According to a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the believers are encouraged to seek this night in the last ten days of Ramadan: Seek Lailatul Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan. [Bukhari and Muslim] The last ten days of Ramadan in 2025 are expected to fall ten days ahead of last year in the Georgian calendar. As Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, the dates change every year due to the sighting of the new moon. In 2025, Ramadan was started on the 1st March, which means the last ten days will start somewhere around 20th March 2025. Fellow Muslims! The believers are encouraged to make a lot of Dua during the final days of the month. There are certain times in Ramadan that contain special virtues and when the Dua of a Muslim has the highest likelihood of being accepted. The odd nights of the last ten days form an essential part of such blessed times. Aisha, the mother of the believers, asked the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) about the Dua to be recited on Lailatul-Qadr. He taught her the following Dua in response: Allahummah innaka Afuwwun [Karimun] tuhibbul afwa fafu anni. O Allah, indeed, You are Pardoning, [Generous,] You love pardon, so pardon me. [At-Tirmidhi] The final days of the noble month are sometimes known as the last Ashra of Ramadan, which means the last ten days. The last Ashra offers salvation to believers with the promise of forgiveness and redemption from fire. According to a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him): Whoever stays up during Lailatul-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of earning reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim] As discussed above, the presence of Lailatul-Qadr in the last ten days gives them greater virtue. In replying to Aisha about the best Dua to be recited on Lailatul-Qadr, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) mentioned the following Dua: Allahummah innaka Afuwwun [Karimun] tuhibbul afwa fafu anni. O Allah, indeed, You are Pardoning, [Generous,] You love pardon, so pardon me. [At-Tirmidhi] Dear servants of Allah! There are several quotes about the importance of the last ten days in the Quran and Hadith. It is narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that. When the (last) ten (days of Ramadan) began, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) would stay awake at night, wake his family, strive hard (in worship) and tie his izar (waist belt) tight. [Bukhari and Muslim] In the final days of Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to make a special effort to engage in worship and to wake his family up at night, too. In a Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: Seek it in the last ten days of Ramadan, when there are nine days left, and seven days left, and five days left. [Bukhari] There are many acts of worship established from his noble Sunnah. Itikaf is one such righteous act. According to authentic narrations, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to observe Itikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, and the companions continued this tradition after him. A distinguished scholar of Islam, Imam Nawawi, is reported to have said: The best Itikaf is that which is accompanied by fasting, and the best of that is in Ramadan, and the best of that is the last ten days. [See Al-Majmu, volume 6, page 514] Describing a sign of Lailatul-Qadr, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: Lailatul-Qadr is a pleasant night, neither hot nor cold, and the following day, the sun rises red and weak. [Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah] This tells the believers how to recognise Lailatul-Qadr from the other ten nights. Stressing the importance of the glorious night of Qadr in Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: This month (of Ramadan) has begun and there is a night in it better than one thousand months. (So,) any one deprived of its (blessings) is actually deprived of all goodness. Indeed, He is truly deprived who is kept away from its good. [Ibn Majah] Dear brothers and sisters! As I said earlier, charitable deeds are rewarded highly in the blessed days of Ramadan. In authentic Hadith, the increase in the Prophets (Peace be upon him) generosity during Ramadan is compared to strong winds. Following the noble example of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), the believers are encouraged to do more charity in the noble month. Donate to Charity Meals this Ramadan and secure your reward on the most virtuous days of the month. Respected brothers and sisters! For those who want to donate FISABILILLAH, those who want to help our Daawah for Allahs sake, those who want to help the cause of Allah, here are the account details: Account number: 1779691620 Account name: Murtala Muhammed Access Bank. Or: Account number: 0048647196 Account name: Murtala Muhammed GTBank Jazakumullah Khairan as you kindly assit for Allahs sake. Ya Allah, on this day, show us the way to win Your pleasure, do not let Shaitan have a means over us, make Paradise an abode and a resting place for us, O the One who fulfills the requests of the needy. May Allah forgive us for our sins, shortcomings and failings, and pour His mercy and blessings upon us. Ameen. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation; may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and securityand his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly and sincerely until the establishment of the Hour. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761. This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Ramadan 21, 1446 AH (March 21, 2025). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Umuseti Community in Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale, Ndokwa West local government area of Delta State has issued a formal response to recent claims by some protesters from the Emu Ebendo community regarding the ownership of a parcel of land purchased by Axxela Company. High Chief Emmanuel Akpe, spokesperson for the Umuseti Community, set the record straight while addressing journalists by stating that the land in question, located in the Oluji area, has been under the ownership and possession of the Umu-Mgbor family of Umuseti for generations, with a long history of agricultural and economic activities. Heres full text of the statement: MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE UMUSETI COMMUNITY PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2015, REGARDING A DISPUTED LAND CLAIMED BY EMU EBENDO. Umuseti Community Reaffirms Ownership of Land Purchased by Axxela, Dismisses Claims by Emu Ebendo The Umuseti Community in Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale, hereby issue a formal response to recent claims by some protesters from the Emu Ebendo community regarding the ownership of a parcel of land purchased by Axxela Company. High Chief Emmanuel Akpe, spokesperson for the Umuseti Community, while addressing journalists stated that the land in question, located in the Oluji area, has been under the ownership and possession of the Umu-Mgbor family of Umuseti for generations, with a long history of agricultural and economic activities. High Chief Emmanuel Akpe emphasised that The Umu-Mgbor family, as customary landowners, have utilised this land for farming and other economic purposes for so many years. Historical records show that the area has been inhabited and developed by members of the Umuseti community for over a century, with houses, and other economic activities established long before Axxela arrived in 2024. Axxela Company conducted thorough due diligence before the purchase, consulting relevant families, local authorities, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Compensation for economic crops was adequately paid to members of the Umu-Mgbor family, with no claims or objections raised by any other party. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later High Chief Akpe expressed shock at the unfounded claims by the Emu Ebendo community, located approximately four kilometers away from Umuseti. These claims appear to be rooted in a Supreme Court judgment involving Obodougua. It is important to put it on record that Umuseti community was not a party to the suit and therefore cannot be bound by its ruling, he stated. This is not the first time such claims have arisen. In 2014, Xenergi Oil Company attempted to assert ownership of a parcel of land within Umusetis territory, citing the same Supreme Court judgment. The Kwale High Court, in suit No. HCK/24/2015 ruled in favour of Umuseti, stating that the community had provided sufficient evidence of ownership and that the judgment against Obodougua was not binding on Umuseti. This decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal in Benin (CA/B/358/2016), which awarded costs against Xenergi. High Chief Akpe reiterated the communitys support for Axxelas investment, stating, Axxelas operations will significantly curb gas flaring which has been a major menace in our community for years; it will create immense employment opportunities, and generate significant revenue for both state and federal governments. We view the current protests as a calculated effort by Xenergi to monopolise gas supply in the region, using Emu Ebendo as a proxy in what is essentially a trade war. The Umuseti Community remains committed to providing further evidence of its ownership and ensuring justice prevails. High Chief Akpe called on all parties to respect the rule of law and refrain from actions that could undermine the regions peaceful coexistence and economic progress. Signed High Chief Emmanuel Akpe Spokesperson, Umuseti Community Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On 6 March, the Senate voted to suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following the recommendations of its ethics, privileges and public petitions committee. The decision was based on her alleged misconduct during a plenary session on 20 February and her refusal to adhere to the chambers sitting arrangement. The Senate also imposed several penalties on her, including the withdrawal of all her security aides and the closure of her office in the National Assembly. All Senate properties in her possession were to be handed over to the Clerk to the National Assembly. She was also prohibited from entering the National Assembly premises during the suspension period. Her salary and allowances were also suspended, just as she was banned from presenting herself as a senator locally and internationally. However, the Senate left a window for the suspension to be lifted if Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan submits a written apology, which the leadership may consider before the end of the six months. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later But she has refused to back down. On 11 March, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker took her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the United Nations headquarters in New York. While addressing the global body, she described her suspension as unlawful and an attempt to silence her for making allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. In response, the IPU President, Tulia Ackson, promised to investigate the matter. However, a Nigerian delegate at the IPU, Kafilat Ogbara, quickly countered Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans claims, explaining that her suspension was due to violations of Senate rules. The controversy deepened when the Nigerian government started investigating how Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the IPU meeting without an official nomination. A high-ranking administration official and two top security officials involved in the inquiry told PREMIUM TIMES that the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were working to determine how Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the international meeting without approval, who facilitated her trip and accreditation, and whether interest groups orchestrated her participation to embarrass Nigeria, its government and its people. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of the three senators from Kogi State and represents Kogi Central in the Senate. Kogi Central people speak PREMIUM TIMES was in the Kogi Central Senatorial District to seek the peoples views on their senators suspension and not being represented in the Senate for six months. This newspaper visited Okene and Ihima (Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans hometown) to speak with the constituents. The residents spoken to were randomly selected. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has represented the district since November 2023 when she replaced Abubakar Ohere of the APC, following a court judgement on her petition on the 2023 senatorial election. Since 1999, she has been the eighth senator for the district comprising five local government areas: Adavi, Ajaokuta,Okene, Ogori Magongo, and Okehi. The former senators are Ahmed Tijani (1999-2003), Mohammed Ohiare (2003-2007), Otaru Ohize (2007-2011), Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman (2011-2015), Ahmed Ogembe (2015-2019) Oseni Yakubu (2019-2023) and Mr Ohere, who was in the upper chamber between June and November 2023. Asmau Sanni, a food vendor Mrs Sanni frowned at the decision to suspend Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing it as politically motivated. Why should they suspend our senator? She is the only one fighting for us, bringing development to our place. This is injustice. This is politically motivated. They want to silence her because she is speaking the truth. We will not accept this, she said. Baba Abdulrazaq, Secretary, Ebira Peoples Association Baba Abdulrazaq, secretary-general of Ebira Peoples Association, argued that suspending the senator for more than 14 days was illegal. It is sad that at this critical stage in our nation, men and women entrusted with an institution as important as the Senate have chosen to drag the Senate to disrepute; it is unfortunate. Senator Natasha is one of the biggest things that has happened to this senatorial district. She has represented us the way no one has done. She has just spent 16 months in the Senate, but her impact is felt at the length and breadth of this senatorial district. It is an insult that some persons who felt the whole of Nigeria was in their pocket and pronounced an entire district suspended. I think that should be unthinkable. Are they not aware that they do not have the right to suspend a senator for more than 14 days, and in this case, youre suspending an entire district? We will go anywhere to defend our rights as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Abdulrazaq said. Joseph Suleiman, Clergyman Similarly, Joseph Suleiman, a zonal pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, described the suspension as unjust and unfair to the people of the district. It is very unfair and unjust. It is not just about Natasha but about the people she represents. So, youre saying Kogi Central will not have representation in the next six months? That is unjust to the people, he said. Mr Suleiman, popularly known as Pastor Manjoe, urged the federal government to intervene so that existing court rulings would prevail. The federal government should prevail on the Senate to adhere to the rule of law because I know there are existing court cases where the rules state that you cannot suspend a lawmaker for more than 14 days if theres any reason for the suspension. Why should our own be suspended for six good months? It is unfair to the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District. And you dont suspend a performing senator, it is unfair, the cleric said. Yemi Kumodu, trader In Ihima, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans hometown, Yemi Kumodu, a trader, described the senators ordeal as very sad. I feel very sad. The women in this community know what we passed through before Natasha was elected. We are not pleased with the treatment theyre giving her at the National Assembly. Women shouldnt be treated that way. The women here are not pleased with the suspension. If anything happens, theyre supposed to call the both of them and ask what happened so that it would be a fair resolution, not just suspending our senator like that; it is not good. When two elephants fight, it is the grass that will suffer. We in the grassroots will suffer the suspension, so they should please recall our senator, she said. Christiana Ovia, member of Christian Women in Politics Christiana Ovia, a member of the Christian Women in Politics, said her group was praying over the matter. We are not pleased with it. We, members of Christian Women in Politics, held a meeting and told God to fight for Senator Natasha. We knew her very well before we chose her to represent us, and we thank God that she didnt disappoint us. She worked very hard, and she met our demands. We want to use this opportunity to warn Akpabio to leave our seat alone, she said. Muhammad Saka, President, Ebira Youth Congress Muhammad Saka, president-general of the Ebira Youth Congress, said youth in the senatorial district could not afford to move on without representation for six months. We cannot afford to lose our voice in the Senate for six months. She has done well in development, giving scholarships to our students. Were taking stock of events from the National Assembly, and well respond at the appropriate time, he said. Godwin Owibo, President, Ebira Peoples Association Similarly, Godwin Owibo, president-general of the Ebira Peoples Association, stated that the suspension would affect some ongoing development projects in the senatorial district. She is our senator; we supported her, and we voted for her, but the idea of suspending her from the Senate is something we will not tolerate. It is not only the individual senator theyre suspending; theyre the entire constituents, and there are so many activities going on. Sulaiman Salami, a septuagenarian A senior citizen in Okene, Sulaiman Salami, demanded fairness. The issue has brought a huge surprise to us, and we have said that irrespective of the situation, we need a fair hearing. Senator Natasha submitted a petition that was not suspended, yet they went ahead and suspended her for six months, which means that the whole area here will not have any representation. It is unacceptable to us, he said. Mr Salami dismissed claims that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was stubborn, stating that every Ebira person is reasonably stubborn. Some people accused her of being stubborn. I am an Ebira man. Show me an Ebira man who is not stubborn. We are reasonably stubborn because when we believe were on our right, we stand on our feet and insist, he said. He called on the Senate to reinstate her immediately. If the National Assembly wants to retain credibility, the best is to recall her and let the committee deliberate on her allegations. Nobody is crucifying Akpabio, but there are heavy allegations that should be addressed. I hope theyll quickly recall her because we dont want a situation whereby we wont have representation for six months. This lawlessness from the National Assembly angers us. The interviews were held a few days before the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that some other residents of Kogi Central had commenced moves to recall Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, an indication that not all residents of the constituency support the senator. Abdullahi Usman, a resident of Ihima, told NAN that he joined the recall process willingly, saying they had lost confidence in Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans representation. You can see the queue of people dissatisfied with her National Assembly performance, especially following the recent scandal in the Senate chamber, he said. No Nigerian senator has ever been successfully recalled and PREMIUM TIMES findings on the ground show that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan enjoys enough support from her constituency to stave off the recall process. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has countered President Bola Tinubus accusations that he (Mr Fubara) failed to prevent militants from attacking oil pipelines in the state. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the Southern state in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday. The president also suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all the House of Assembly members for an initial six months. He cited the disturbing incidents in the state in the last 24 hours, including explosions and vandalisation of petroleum pipelines linked to the political crises in the state, as the basis for his action. Nigerias House of Representatives approved the declaration of a state of emergency in the southern state on Thursday. The Senate would later follow suit, approving the emergency rule with minor changes. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Tinubu, while declaring the state of emergency, accused Mr Fubara of not doing anything to prevent militants from carrying out their threats of blowing off oil installations. The president further accused the suspended governor of demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly complex without rebuilding it after about 14 months. He blamed Mr Fubara for failing to re-present the 2025 Budget estimates to the assembly for approval despite a Supreme Court judgment which ordered him to do so. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, later accused Mr Fubara of telegraphing militants to attack oil installations in the state, considering that the governor did not disown the attack. Fubara counters allegations But in a statement on Thursday night by his spokesperson, Nelson Chukwudi, Mr Fubara refuted some of the allegations. The suspended governor said he has nothing to do with threats and attacks on oil facilities by suspected militants and that he did not telegraph militants to attack any facility in the state. He suggested that the militants, like some other Niger Delta leaders and groups, including Ijaw National Congress, were reacting to a comment by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Mr Wike, a former governor of the state, said during a press briefing last week that Ijaw people were a minority in Rivers and other South-south states except Bayelsa. The FCT minister has since claimed he was misinterpreted. Most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT minister, which he rebuffed, Mr Fubara said in the statement. It is clearly untrue that somebody who has all the while preached peace and non-violence, even in the face of extreme provocations, would be telegraphing attacks on oil pipelines and breaching the peace he has worked so hard to promote and sustain for the good of the people of the state, he said. The governor, on the allegation of demolishing the state assembly complex, said he acted based on professional advice and guidance. He said, contrary to Mr Tinubus claim, the demolished complex was being rebuilt by his administration. Mr Fubara claimed that Mr Wike had repeatedly criticised the assembly complex, describing it as a dilapidated structure with a leaking roof. The governor said the FCT minister, in August 2022, also challenged the lawmakers to reject requests to rebuild it to ensure a conducive legislative environment for them. It must be noted that immediately after the incident of October 29, 2023, and experts reports, the government decided to heed the age-old demands of the lawmakers to rebuild the facility and promptly demolished the dilapidated structure to give way to a state-of-the-art assembly complex, which is now nearly 80 per cent completed, he said. Wikes supporters launched attacks on LGAs Mr Fubara accused Mr Wikes supporters of carrying out violent attacks on some local government council secretariats on 5 October 2024 during the local government council election in the state. The governor said, during the attacks, some facilities in the council areas were razed by the supporters without any reprisals from his own supporters. It is also pertinent to draw the attention of security agencies to the fact that LGAs where those attacks were unleashed are the same places that have repeatedly witnessed violence perpetrated by detractors of the Governor Fubara-led administration, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday granted bail to Ignatius Uduk, a Nigerian professor who was jailed for three years for election fraud. Mr Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on three charges: announcement of false election results, publication of false results, and perjury during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency where he served as the returning officer. The professor was INECs collation and returning officer for Essien Udim State Constituency in the 2019 general elections, where he falsified election results to the advantage of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nse Ntuen. The defence counsel, George Ezeugwu had told reporters shortly after the sentencing that he would study the judgement before taking the next step to appeal against the judgement. Mr Uduk appeared in court for his conviction and sentencing after his earlier bail was revoked and a fresh bench warrant issued against him. He was brought to the court in a wheelchair. At the bail hearing on Thursday, Mr Uduk expanded his defence counsels to include a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kalu Umeh, and a former senator, Ita Enang, while Daniel Nwike represented INEC. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The court granted Mr Uduk N2 million bail and two sureties in the like sum. The sureties, the court said, must be residents within its jurisdiction. Additionally, the professor is to deposit his international passport in the court and not travel outside the courts jurisdiction within the duration of the bail. Addressing reporters after his client was granted bail, Mr Enang said they were taking steps to fulfill the bail conditions. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on the telephone on Thursday, Mr Enang said they have filed an appeal. We have appealed. The grounds of appeal are genuine and strong and are likely to succeed. We also relied on the professors medical report that he has to be alive to take his appeal, he said. Backstory The professor was first arraigned in December 2020 after an arrest warrant was issued for him the previous month for repeated failures to appear in court for the commencement of his trial. He had, on one occasion, collapsed at the dock and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. The professor had pleaded not guilty to the three charges slammed on him by Nigerias election commission but, upon conviction, begged the judge for leniency, citing his old age (over 70) and his health condition. His conviction and sentencing came four years after his colleague, Peter Ogban, a professor of Soil Science at the University of Calabar, was jailed for three years for rigging an election for Godswill Akpabio. Mr Ogban, who has served his three-year sentence, was the INEC returning officer for the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West District election, in which Christopher Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom, defeated Mr Akpabio, now the Senate president. Mr Ekpenyong was the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the poll, while Mr Akpabio was the APC candidate. Mr Ogban was convicted and jailed for falsifying the election result to help Mr Akpabio, but the Senate president has repeatedly disowned the professor. Mike Igini, a former INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, initiated both suits and secured Mr Ogbans conviction before his (Igini) retirement from INEC in 2022 after serving his last five years as REC in Akwa Ibom. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Abia State Police Commissioner, Danladi Isa, has disbanded the commands Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit and the Commands Special Squad (CSS). This is contained in a statement on Thursday by the commands Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka. In their place, a newly trained, tactical, and professional unit known as the Scorpion Squad has now been established by the police command. According to Ms Chinaka, the Scorpion Squad will be commanded by Ibe Daniel, with Eze Augustine appointed as the units deputy commander. Ms Chinaka stated that the decision was part of efforts to ensure compliance with the rule of law and to promote a professional police force in Abia. She explained that the move aims to equip operational arms with the necessary skills to combat crime and criminality across the state effectively. While addressing the Scorpion Squad, Mr Isa stressed the importance of professionalism, tact, and adherence to all rules of engagement during operations. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He directed that all operations be intelligence-led and that officers strictly follow the commands dress code for easy identification and accountability. Mr Isa warned that misconduct that tarnishes the polices image will not be tolerated and will attract appropriate disciplinary measures. He also tasked the Scorpion Squad with taking decisive action against violent crimes and reducing criminal threats across Abia to the barest minimum. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has pleaded not guilty, again, to the terrorism charges brought against him by the federal government. He denied the charges during his re-arraignment before a new trial judge, James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday. Mr Kanu, whose protest and allegation of bias against the former trial judge, Binta Nyako, led to the reassignment of the case to Mr Omotosho, pleaded not guilty to all seven counts, including an accusations of threatening Nigerias corporate existence and operating illegal radio station to broadcast the Biafra messages. The treasonable felony and terrorism charges stemmed from his separatist activities for the secession of Nigerias five Igbo-dominated South-east states and parts of the neighbouring states as a sovereign Biafra nation. The Biafra agitation, when first enacted in the 1960s, led to the Civil War that raged between 1967 and 1970 within the first decade of Nigerias Independence. Mr Kanu took the baton for the Biafra agitation and escalated it in 2015, asserting that he and his people have the right to self-determination. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Nigerian government arrested and charged him in 2015, as it increasingly became uncomfortable with Mr Kanus separatist campaigns through then-Radio Biafra. Mr Kanu was dressed in his usual white designer wear as the hearing of his case resumed before the new judge on Friday. The re-arraignment took place amid tight security provided by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) around the court premises. After the defendants plea, the federal governments lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), announced his readiness to conduct prosecution in line with the spirit and letters of the Supreme Court that ordered fresh trial. Mr Awomolo asked for an adjournment to enable him to assemble his witnesses. He also applied for accelerated hearing which was granted by the court. Based on the request and due to a lack of objection by the defence counsel led by Kanu Agabi, also a SAN and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the judge fixed 29 April, 2 and 6 May for trial. Mr Kanu was rearrested in 2021 in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to continue his trial, which started in 2015. He has been detained in SSS custody on the order of the court since 2021. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, had in a letter dated 4 Marchand addressed to Mr Kanus former lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, communicated the re-assignment of the case from Mrs Nyako to Mr Omotosho. The re-assignment followed the demand by Mr Kanu and his team of lawyers for the transfer of the case to another judge following the IPOB leaders bias allegation against Mrs Nyako. Mrs Nyako earlier recused herself from the matter on 24 September 2024 and sent the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment. The judge said she could not proceed with a trial where a defendant lacked confidence in her handling of his trial. However, the Chief Judge returned the case file to her, leading to an outburst from the defendant against Mrs Nyako on 10 February. Before Mrs Nyako, two other judges Ahmed Mohammed (now a Justice of the Court of Appeal) and Mr Tsoho (before becoming the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court) had presided over Mr Kanu. The case was successively taken away from the two judges based on Mr Kanus bias allegation. PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Kanus surprise apology, on Friday, to Mrs Nyako and other targets of his outbursts at the previous proceedings. Mr Kanu, through his lawyer, tendered the apology as his trial came up for the first time before the new judge on Friday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has unveiled the State Wide Area Network, Internet, and Managed Network Services initiative, to digitise governance and expand technology access across the state. Speaking on Friday during the ceremony in Umuahia, Mr Otti said the project includes distributing high-performance digital tools, laying fibre optic cables in public institutions, and installing infrastructure for high-speed data transmission. Mr Otti said the initiative focuses on improving governance efficiency, empowering civil servants with digital tools, and enhancing service delivery. He noted that transitioning to digital platforms would streamline government processes, enable faster communication among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and improve engagement with development partners and the global community. The governor said the digital operations would enhance document archiving, tracking, and data-driven performance management, ensuring faster turnaround times and better accountability in the civil service. The governor also announced a mandatory digital literacy requirement for civil servants, making proficiency in technology essential for career growth. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He assured that while the government would provide training, those unwilling to embrace technology risk becoming uncompetitive in the evolving civil service structure. Mr Otti said that plans to expand digital access across Abia beyond the public sector were underway, with an agreement already in place to lay fibre optic cables in Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia. He said the ultimate goal remains to extend network coverage to every community, ensuring that traders, farmers, and entrepreneurs can operate seamlessly in the digital economy. Every Abia community must have reliable network service Mr Otti directed the chief information officer to ensure that within nine months, every community in Abia must have reliable network service, enabling businesses to thrive virtually. He said the future of commerce is digital, where transactions and services can be conducted online without physical barriers, boosting economic opportunities for residents. Abia State has already taken strides in technology-driven governance, implementing digital solutions for tax collection, revenue management, project tracking, and land allocation. Mr Otti cited the successful computer-based test for teacher recruitment as an example of how technology modernises government operations in Abia. He urged the people of Abia to embrace technology as a tool for empowerment rather than a replacement for human roles. Mr Otti said the focus on using technology ought to be on enhancing service delivery and economic development, while keeping human decision-making at the core of governance. He said the initiatives commencement marks a major milestone in Abias journey towards a fully digital economy. Assurance to civil servants In a speech, Gerald Ilukwe, the Chief Information Officer of the Abia State Government, described the project as a critical foundation for a digital government, emphasising its role in modernising service delivery. Mr Ilukwe said Phase I of the initiative prioritises multi-tenant buildings and complexes housing multiple MDAs and assured that MDAs not included in this phase would be covered in subsequent stages. Even as we are rounding off this phase, we are already preparing for the next, by the end of this service year, the entire government offices in Umuahia will be interconnected on a single network, Mr Ilukwe said. He also assured civil servants that the new digital system would enhance operational security, making transactions more secure compared to traditional paper-based methods. Mr Ilukwe announced that the state government would officially launch the service in five weeks, marking the full deployment of Phase I and paving the way for broader implementation. In a remark, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, David Kalu, expressed appreciation to the governor for his visionary leadership in driving digital transformation in the state. ALSO READ: Abia begins statewide anthrax vaccination campaign Mr Kalu expressed optimism about the projects completion, announcing that stakeholders would reconvene in five weeks to inaugurate the initiative. Also speaking, the Head of Abia State Civil Service, Benson Ojeikere, described the provision of internet access in government offices as a landmark achievement for civil servants in the state. Mr Ojeikere expressed his surprise and appreciation, stating that he had not expected such a development to be possible in the near future. According to him, once the project is completed, Abia civil servants would be among the happiest workers in Nigeria. He commended the governor for prioritising the civil service in his agenda, which serves as a key driver of government efficiency. Mr Ojeikere assured that civil servants in the state would reciprocate the gesture by elevating service delivery to an unprecedented level in Nigeria. Earlier, the Group Managing Director of ipNX, Ejovi Aror, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for the opportunity to be part of the states digital transformation journey. This partnership signals the beginning of a new chapter in the journey towards building a digitally connected, technologically advanced, and economically empowered Abia State, Mr Aror said. He said the initiative would facilitate efficient service delivery and improve government operations, ultimately benefiting both civil servants and the public. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print People attend a solemn ceremony to honor the revered ancient Chinese educator and philosopher Confucius at Tainan Confucius Temple in Tainan, southeast China's Taiwan, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fei) TAINAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A solemn ceremony, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of traditional drums, was held at Tainan Confucius Temple in southern Taiwan early Thursday morning, coinciding with the spring equinox, to honor the revered ancient Chinese educator and philosopher. In keeping with ancient rites, the temple hosts biannual ceremonies in spring and autumn to promote Confucian values of reverence for teachers and scholarly traditions. Comprising 20 procedures, the ceremony adheres to traditions that trace back to Qufu in Shandong Province -- the birthplace of Confucius. The ceremonial music is primarily rooted in Zhangzhou in Fujian. Local primary school students performed an ancient ritual dance at the ceremony, paying the highest tribute to Confucius. The Confucian philosophy is an important component of Chinese civilization and a cultural bedrock for social development in Taiwan. Incomplete statistics indicate that there are over 40 Confucius temples across the island, with the Tainan Confucius Temple, built in 1666, being the oldest. People attend a solemn ceremony to honor the revered ancient Chinese educator and philosopher Confucius at Tainan Confucius Temple in Tainan, southeast China's Taiwan, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Fei) Editor: JYZ Despite two separate attacks on electricity workers in Lagos State by military personnel in quick succession, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has expressed commitment to upholding the rule of law. The DHQs statement followed reports that soldiers stormed the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) substation in Badagry, Lagos, assaulting and abducting two staff members over a power outage at their base. A similar incident was recorded at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), where armed Nigerian Air Force personnel allegedly attacked workers after their base was disconnected due to unpaid electricity bills. Military faults criticism In a statement on Thursday, the Director of Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, criticised a newspaper editorial that accused the military of impunity, describing the report as unfair and lacking balance. The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to the verdict of guilt placed on the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) by the editorial of a certain popular newspaper. Given the esteem and critical roles of the journalism profession to the development of our dear country, it would have been more appropriate and in compliance with professional ethics to fact-check from the military hierarchy before placing a guilty verdict on the Armed Forces, Mr Gusau, a major general, said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Downplaying the soldiers attack, Mr Gusau dismissed the claims as exaggerated, arguing that the reported cases were isolated incidents in Lagos and should not be generalised. To paint the picture to the general public as if this is a daily occurrence across the nation is not fair enough, he stated. The military, he added, has internal disciplinary mechanisms, including the Military Police and Intelligence Corps, to investigate and sanction erring personnel. The AFN, in its resolve to ensure zero tolerance for indiscipline, has standby Court Marshals in all its formations to try erring personnel, he said. Minister condemns attacks Reacting to the growing concerns, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, condemned the attacks and warned that the military must not interfere with electricity distribution companies operations. These attacks on our workers are unacceptable, Adelabu said. The Nigerian military must respect the rule of law and follow due process if they have concerns about power supply. No institution is above the law. The minister urged security agencies to investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The government is committed to improving power supply, but intimidation and violence will not solve the challenges in the sector, he added. EKEDC insists workers were attacked EKEDC, however, maintained that its staff were attacked and abducted by soldiers who stormed its Badagry facility around 1 a.m. on Friday. The soldiers attacked our office at night. They went to one of our stations in Badagry and picked up two of our staff. Though they released them latthe er that day, the fact that they went there and abducted our workers is unfortunate, EKEDC spokesperson Babatunde Lasaki told Punch newspaper. He said the soldiers returned during the day, issuing threats and demanding that power be restored to their barracks. Our workers tried to explain that the outage was due to a fault, not deliberate, but they continued to harass our staff, he said. EKEDC has reported the attack to the police and is preparing petitions to the Chief of Army Staff, the Minister of Defence, and the Minister of Power. This is becoming a trend because a similar attack recently happened at Ikeja Electric, and no one was held accountable, Mr Lasaki said. Nigerian Army describes incident as misunderstanding The Nigerian Armys Director of Information, Onyema Nwachukwu, dismissed reports of an attack, describing the incident as a misunderstanding following a fire outbreak. Ive reached out to the unit to confirm your report. Contrary to what you have, no EKEDC staff was detained by soldiers, Mr Nwachukwu, also a major general, said. During the response efforts, a minor misunderstanding arose between a company staff member and one of the soldiers, but it was promptly resolved amicably. Additionally, I understand the units leadership and the companys management have consistently maintained a strong and cordial relationship, which remains unchanged. Mr Nwachukwu added that the units commanding officer has set up a board of inquiry to investigate the cause of the fire. Pattern of military aggression against electricity workers The EKEDCs incident followed a similar military invasion of IKEDC facilities on 6 March. Armed Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel from Sam Ethnan Air Force Base allegedly stormed IKEDCs headquarters, attacking staff and journalists after the company disconnected power to the base over unpaid electricity bills. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Air Force Base owed IKEDC N4.34 billion as of March 2025. IKEDC said that despite repeated payment demands, the Air Force allegedly ignored efforts to install prepaid meters or implement an auto-recloser system, which would regulate power based on payment patterns. The company also alleged that the Air Force personnel tampered with its infrastructure multiple times, disconnecting communication cables and sabotaging equipment. Violation of Nigerian laws The trends of attacks against electricity workers are multiple violations of the Nigerian Constitution and criminal laws. The alleged abduction and harassment of EKEDC staff contravene Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees dignity and prohibits inhumane treatment. It also breaches Section 35(1), which guarantees personal liberty. Additionally, under the Criminal Code Act, assault, unlawful restraint, and kidnapping are offences. The soldiers actionsforcefully detaining staff and allegedly torturing themcould be classified as kidnapping and assault, both punishable under Nigerian law. The Armed Forces Act also prohibits military personnel from engaging in unauthorised civilian affairs. Attacking a power distribution company over a civil matter constitutes an abuse of military authority. Call for accountability The Executive Director of Research and Advocacy for the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, condemned both incidents, warning that military aggression against DisCos was escalating. READ ALSO: Nigerian Breweries completes full acquisition of Distell Wines and Spirits Their claim was poor electricity supply to their barracks in the last one week, even though their Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. S. Lawan, was duly informed of the ongoing Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) upgrade in Agbara, he said. IKEDC has refused to restore power to the Air Force Base, insisting that electricity will remain disconnected until all debts are paid. Despite multiple attempts, the Nigerian Air Force has not issued any official statement regarding the attack on IKEDC. Power sector workers demand justice Power sector experts and human rights groups have urged the government to hold military personnel accountable for these attacks, warning that continued impunity could lead to more aggression against civilian institutions. Until the authorities take decisive action, these attacks will continue, Mr Lasaki said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print RESTON, Va., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aleut Federal (Aleut) announces that Sean O'Connor has joined the team as Senior Vice President of Finance & Contracts. With over 25 years of expertise in finance, accounting, treasury, forecasting, and mergers and acquisitions, Sean adds significant value to the team. Sean O'Connor, Sr. Vice President of Finance & Contracts In his new role, Sean leads Aleut's Finance, Accounting, and Contracts & Procurement organizations, overseeing critical functions including financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and accounting operations. As a key member of the executive leadership team for both Aleut Federal and its parent company, The Aleut Corporation, he plays a vital role in shaping financial strategies that fuel growth and innovation. "Sean's expertise and leadership bring tremendous value to Aleut Federal," said President Nick Trzcinski. "With his financial acumen and strategic vision, we're positioned to build on our strong foundation and unlock new opportunities. Sean's guidance will propel us into an exciting phase of growth and organizational maturity." Before joining Aleut Federal, Sean served as Chief Financial Officer at Take2 Consulting, where he led finance, accounting, contracts, and risk management. He also held senior roles as Executive Vice President and Head of Strategic Finance at Metrea and Vice President of Finance at Constellis. Sean holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from The American University. Aleut Federal looks forward to the contributions Sean will make as we continue to deliver exceptional services to our clients and shareholders. Please join us in welcoming Sean O'Connor to the Aleut Federal family! ABOUT ALEUT FEDERAL Aleut Federal LLC (Aleut), a holding company for The Aleut Corporation's federal services portfolio, is an Alaska Native-owned enterprise dedicated to delivering vital services to the U.S. government across four primary sectors: Technology, Mission Support, Environmental, and Construction. Established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971, The Aleut Corporation is one of 12 original regional Alaska Native corporations. Aleut Federal's diversified portfolio includes Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) certified and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) subsidiaries, offering specialized capabilities to meet the diverse needs of federal clients. Berlyn Martin Aleut Federal, LLC Phone: 586-337-5828 SOURCE Aleut Federal, LLC AllenComm a leading provider of innovative, effective learning experiences is named by eLearning Industry as one of the Top eLearning Gamification Companies for 2025, earning a five-star rating. SALT LAKE CITY, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The award-winning team at AllenComm, an innovator in learning advisory, design, tech and talent for the corporate learning and development market, has earned recognition and a five-star rating as a leading provider of eLearning gamification services. The list of eLearning gamification providers named by eLearning Industry serves as an industry resource, directory and source of credible learning and development (L&D) information for organizations seeking expert-level support for their L&D programs. In their announcement of the award, eLearning Industry noted: "Not only does gamification boost employee motivation but it converts casual customers into brand advocates. The key is knowing how to add rewards to spark meaningful change instead of making your course all about incentives. But how do you incorporate game mechanics into your current strategy? Gamification content providers can help " Ron Zamir, AllenComm President and CEO, added, "Gamification is a transformative way to turn run-of-the-mill training into an extraordinary experience. Our teams at AllenComm always look for innovative ways to take learners out of their comfort zone and into something new something fun that leaves a lasting impact on their growth, performance and contribution toward organizational success." You can learn more about AllenComm's gamification services by visiting their website. If you would like to know more about any of the above information, please contact an AllenComm representative at [email protected] . About AllenComm For over 40 years, AllenComm has partnered with leading companies and nonprofit organizations to create and scale transformative learning solutions. Extensive instructional design experience, innovative learning technologies and agency-level creative teams enable AllenComm to stand out in the learning landscape. Considered one of the top firms of its kind in the country, AllenComm wins dozens of awards year after year for their solutions. Partnering with AllenComm to supplement and support human capital management needs has helped customers reduce expenses, shorten onboarding periods and raise the impact of their efforts. SOURCE AllenComm Local Nurse Entrepreneur Steps Up to Meet the Growing Senior Care Needs Throughout Utah PROVO, Utah, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, is pleased to announce that Bret Lyman has taken over ownership of two Always Best Care franchises in Provo and St. George, Utah. The Provo office, located at 350 E Center St, Suite 4, and the St. George office, located at 1079 E Riverside Dr, Suite 202, will provide high-quality senior care services, including non-medical in-home care and senior living referral services. "Taking on the responsibility of leading two Always Best Care franchises is a highly rewarding opportunity for me and my team," said Bret Lyman. "The Utah County and St. George communities are very family-oriented, so there is a great opportunity to focus on how the care we provide supports families in caring for their loved ones. The people we serve also have a generous, collaborative spirit, so our focus on excellent care through collaboration and our desire to give back to our neighbors will resonate well in our service area." By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client's particular physical or social needs. The hallmark services of Always Best Care include non-medical in-home care and senior living referral services, with skilled home health care in some limited markets. "Stepping into this role is a chance to make a real difference in the quality of life of our senior community," said Lyman. "I'm deeply honored to have this opportunity to collaborate with local families, healthcare professionals, and community partners to support the evolving needs of our senior residents." Lyman joins Always Best Care with more than 25 years of medical and direct care experience, having served as a registered nurse prior to joining the agency. He is currently the owner of an assisted living facility, a valuable role that will provide insight and complement his senior care skills as the new owner of Always Best Care of Utah County and St. George. His extensive background includes CNA in home health, assisted living and skilled nursing experience, including pediatric, orthopedic, surgical, ICU, and skilled nursing. Lyman is also a university educator with nearly 20 years of teaching experience. "With Bret's hands-on experience in direct care and his deep commitment to the community, he is well-equipped to lead both offices of Always Best Care of Utah County and St. George," said Jake Brown, President and CEO of Always Best Care. "We look forward to seeing the meaningful difference he will make in the lives of seniors and their families." For more information about Always Best Care of Utah County, or to schedule a care consultation, call (385) 312-8225 or visit alwaysbestcare.com/utahcounty/. To learn more about Always Best Care of St. George, call (435) 216-7080 or visit alwaysbestcare.com/stgeorge/. About Always Best Care Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care has been assisting seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs for over 28 years and currently provides thousands of hours of care every year. Franchise opportunities are available to individuals interested in leveraging the company's clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas. Always Best Care also offers exclusive programs such as Always in Touch, Balance Tracking System, remote patient monitoring and a 24/7 Virtual Care. For more information regarding Always Best Care's solutions, visit www.alwaysbestcare.com. CONTACT: Tammy Delgado 919 Marketing 919-459-7147 [email protected] SOURCE Always Best Care NEW YORK STATE'S HIGHEST COURT STRIKES DOWN NONCITIZEN VOTING NEW YORK, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans for Citizen Voting applauds yesterday's New York Court of Appeals ruling striking down a New York City law, which legalized non-citizen voting in municipal elections. The law has been stayed from going into effect as it worked its way through the courts since city council passage in 2022. "We are thrilled with the decision from the Court of Appeals," said President Avi McCullah, president of Americans for Citizen Voting, the group which has led the campaign that passed Citizen Only Voting Amendments in 8 states last November. "Voting in the United States, on any level, should be reserved for citizens of the United States." Americans for Citizen Voting works with citizens across the country to amend state constitutions to clarify that non-citizens are prohibited from voting in state and local elections. "While we applaud this legal decision in New York," added McCullah, "we know that in three other states, with almost identical language in their state constitutions, courts have ruled to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections." In recent years, city councils in New York, Washington, DC, and three Vermont cities have voted to legalize foreign citizen voting. They joined cities in California and Maryland which, because of a loophole in their state constitutions, also allow foreign citizens to vote. "Let's not leave this important issue to the varying legal interpretations of judges," McCullah argued. "The decision on whether non-citizens are given the right to vote should be made by the people of each state at the ballot box." Beginning in 2018, 14 states have passed Citizen Only Voting Amendments: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. COVA efforts are underway in Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Texas, and West Virginia. A Citizen Only Voting Amendment has already been referred to South Dakota's 2026 ballot and another dozen states have legislation pending to likewise send the issue to voters in 2026. For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Jack Tomczak at 202-919-9558. SOURCE Americans for Citizen Voting Nearly 40,000 customers receive monthly bill discount based on enrollment in benefit programs UNIONDALE, N.Y., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While heating season is drawing to a close and related New York State assistance programs are drawing down the remainder of their funds, PSEG Long Island reminds customers struggling with their bills that they can apply for the company's Household Assistance Program year-round. Customers can call PSEG Long Island's Advocacy Hotline for assistance with applying: 631-755-3407. Nearly 40,000 residential customers are currently on the Household Assistance Program, which offers a monthly bill discount of $45 to households that are enrolled in certain state or federal assistance programs or meet other eligibility standards. More information, including an online application, is available at psegliny.com/advocacy. "PSEG Long Island knows that some customers struggle with their electric bills, and we work hard to provide them the support they need," said Brigitte Wynn, director of Revenue Operations. "We host tables at libraries and community events, we email and mail potentially eligible customers, we call customers and walk them through the application. We even train organizations to help their clients with the application and work with the local Department of Social Services to partner for outreach. While we are able to automatically enroll many customers who qualify for the Household Assistance Program, we are standing by and ready to assist eligible customers who are not yet enrolled." Assistance available to those struggling with bills PSEG Long Island wants to work with any customer struggling to pay their bills and help them find a solution. The company encourages anyone with a past-due account balance to call 1-800-490-0025 so a representative can help them develop a deferred payment agreement tailored to the needs of their household. PSEG Long Island also offers its Residential Energy Affordability Partnership Program, a free program for income-eligible customers designed to help them save energy and lower their energy bills. A REAP technician will visit a customer's home to conduct a free home energy survey and may install energy-saving measures. To learn more, visit psegliny.com/reap. Additionally, PSEG Long Island wants to make customers aware of the heating-related financial assistance programs offered by New York State: The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can provide a heating fuel grant to eligible homeowners and renters depending on income, household size and how they heat their home. A family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $6,390 and still qualify for benefits. This benefit opened Nov. 1, 2024 . For more information, visit https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/. can provide a heating fuel grant to eligible homeowners and renters depending on income, household size and how they heat their home. A family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of and still qualify for benefits. This benefit opened . For more information, visit https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/. Emergency HEAP , a subset of the HEAP program, offers eligible customers a grant to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers avoid having their home heating disconnected or if they are running low or are out of their deliverable heat source (i.e. fuel oil, kerosene or propane). This emergency portion of HEAP opened Jan. 2, 2025 . If customers are experiencing an emergency, they can apply for this benefit by reaching out to their local Department of Social Services location, which can be found here: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/contacts/ , a subset of the HEAP program, offers eligible customers a grant to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers avoid having their home heating disconnected or if they are running low or are out of their deliverable heat source (i.e. fuel oil, kerosene or propane). This emergency portion of HEAP opened . If customers are experiencing an emergency, they can apply for this benefit by reaching out to their local Department of Social Services location, which can be found here: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/contacts/ For low-income households facing no-heat situations, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is also accepting applications for its heating equipment repair or replacement benefit. Eligible homeowners can now apply for up to $4,000 for repair or $8,000 for replacement of a furnace, boiler or other direct heating equipment necessary to keep the household's primary heating source working. Additionally, eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment to allow for its safe and efficient operation. Customers can apply for this benefit by reaching out to their local Department of Social Services location, which can be found here: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/contacts/ Customers who apply for and receive one of these state or federal benefits are automatically placed on PSEG Long Island's Household Assistance Program. How customers can lower their bills The most effective thing customers can do to lower their bills is to use electricity more efficiently. Here are some helpful tips: Seal windows and doorframes with weather stripping or caulk, and remove or cover window air conditioners to help to prevent drafts that waste energy and money. with weather stripping or caulk, and remove or cover window air conditioners to help to prevent drafts that waste energy and money. Ceiling fans can be used to save energy in winter. Setting a fan to rotate clockwise on low pulls cool air toward the ceiling, pushing warm air down into a room. can be used to save energy in winter. Setting a fan to rotate clockwise on low pulls cool air toward the ceiling, pushing warm air down into a room. Lower your thermostat by just one degree to potentially reduce your heating bill. Lowering it two degrees during the day and five to 10 degrees at night will save even more. potentially reduce your heating bill. Lowering it two degrees during the day and five to 10 degrees at night will save even more. Use a programmable thermostat to automatically manage your home's heating and cooling needs. ENERGY STAR estimates that homes with high heating and cooling bills, as well as homes that are unoccupied for much of the day, can save approximately $100 a year with an ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat. In addition, PSEG Long Island offers rebates on smart thermostats. to automatically manage your home's heating and cooling needs. ENERGY STAR estimates that homes with high heating and cooling bills, as well as homes that are unoccupied for much of the day, can save approximately a year with an ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat. In addition, Replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs since, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for about 15% of the electricity used in the home, and LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer. since, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for about 15% of the electricity used in the home, and LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer. Install timers and motion detectors to automatically manage indoor and outdoor lighting and help ensure lights are not on when they're not needed. to automatically manage indoor and outdoor lighting and help ensure lights are not on when they're not needed. Reduce "phantom power" by using energy efficient power strips or unplugging electronic devices when they're not in use. Items plugged into outlets use electricity even when they're turned off. by using energy efficient power strips or unplugging electronic devices when they're not in use. Items plugged into outlets use electricity even when they're turned off. Customers on Time-of-Day rates can run the dishwasher, clothes dryer and other high-energy-use appliances outside of peak hours. Customers on Time-of-Day rates can charge electric vehicles to run outside of peak hours. Install a high efficiency air source heat pump (ASHP) to lower energy usage, save money and provide greater comfort in cold and hot months. Rebates are available from PSEG Long Island's Home Comfort Program for ducted ASHP units and ductless mini split systems. Additionally, PSEG Long Island's Home Comfort Plus program offers enhanced rebates for customers who meet certain income qualifications. More money-saving ideas and rebate information are available at psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/energystarrebates. PSEG Long Island PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority's transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company. Visit PSEG Long Island at: psegliny.com PSEG Long Island on Facebook PSEG Long Island on Instagram PSEG Long Island on X (formerly Twitter) PSEG Long Island on LinkedIn PSEG Long Island on YouTube PSEG Long Island on Flickr Contact: Media Relations Pager 516.229.7248 [email protected] SOURCE PSEG Long Island The business's Chief Strategy and Marketing & Communications Officer and Chief Development Officer have both been acknowledged for their contributions to the data center industry. REYKJAVIK, Iceland, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic colocation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence service provider, today announced that two of their senior executives have received prestigious industry recognition for their contributions to the digital infrastructure sector. Fredrik Jansson, Chief Strategy and Marketing & Communications Officer at atNorth, has been shortlisted for the EMEA Digital Infrastructure Leader award at the Tech Capital Awards. This category honors visionaries who have played a key role in advancing digital infrastructure across the EMEA region. Additionally, Anna Kristin Palsdottir, Chief Development Officer at atNorth, has been included in DataCentre Magazine's "Top 100 Women in Data Centres 2025," a ranking that celebrates the most influential and innovative women shaping the global data center industry. "These prestigious acknowledgments underscore the exceptional leadership and expertise within atNorth," said Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson, CEO at atNorth. "Anna Kristin's inclusion in the Top 100 Women in Data Centers list highlights her impact on driving innovation in data center development, while Fredrik's shortlisting for the Tech Capital Awards reflects his strategic contributions to the industry. We are incredibly proud to see their achievements acknowledged on such a global stage." atNorth's continued recognition by industry awarding bodies is testament to its commitment to challenge the status quo in the data center industry. Recent acknowledgements include the Information Technology Award of The Icelandic Computer Society (Sky) 2025, for its support of Iceland's information technology industry, the `Top Energy Efficient HPC Achievements' award at the HPCwire Reader's Choice Awards, the `Digital Infrastructure Project of the Year' prize at the Tech Capital Awards, the `Colocation Provider of the Year' award at the Electrical Review & Data Centre Review Excellence Awards . About atNorth atNorth is a leading Nordic data center services company that offers sustainable, cost-effective, scalable colocation and high-performance computing services trusted by industry-leading organizations. The business acquired leading High Performance Computing (HPC) provider, Gompute, in 2023 enabling a compelling full stack offering tailored to AI and other critical high performance workloads. With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. The tailor-made solutions enable businesses to calculate, simulate, train and visualize data workloads in an efficient, cost-optimized way. atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates seven data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, with additional sites to open in Helsinki, Finland and Ballerup, Denmark in 2025, as well as its tenth under construction in Kouvola, Finland and its eleventh site in lgod, Denmark. The business has also secured land for a future mega site in the Solleftea Municipality in Sweden. For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn or Facebook. Press Contact: Caroline Brunton Kite Hill PR for atNorth +44 (0)7796 274 416 [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/atnorth/r/atnorth-leaders-recognized-for-excellence-in-digital-infrastructure,c4122442 The following files are available for download: Boutique Meets Big Tech: Devonfield Inn's Secret to Higher Revenue LEE, Mass., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfasts have long faced an uphill battle competing with large hotel chains, which have deep pockets and access to sophisticated revenue management tools. But that's changing. Independent properties like the Devonfield Inn in Lee, Massachusetts, are now leveraging AI-powered pricing technology once reserved for global hotel brands to boost revenue, optimize pricing, and compete on a whole new level. The Devonfield Inn in Lee, MA Devonfield Inn co-owner Doug Bagnasco had spent years managing pricing manually, relying on intuition and competitor comparisons to set room rates. But after realizing that he was often undervaluing his own property, he turned to TakeUp, an AI-driven revenue management platform designed for independent hospitality businesses. The results were undeniable: in less than a year, the inn saw average room rate increases of 15%without sacrificing occupancy or guest satisfaction. AI Levels the Playing Field for Independent Inns For decades, revenue management tools were only available to large hotel chains that could afford dedicated teams of data scientists and analysts. TakeUp is changing that, providing boutique properties with an affordable, AI-powered pricing platform that reacts to real-time demand, market trends, and booking patterns. "At first, I thought I had pricing figured out," said Bagnasco. "I was relying on intuition and assumptions about what guests would pay. But when I started using AI-driven pricing, I saw that my rates had been lower than they should have been. The increase in revenue went straight to the bottom line." With TakeUp's automated pricing recommendations, Bagnasco no longer spends hours manually adjusting rates or second-guessing pricing decisions. Instead, he works closely with a dedicated revenue strategist from TakeUp, who acts as an extension of his team, providing expert guidance and ensuring pricing aligns with the inn's business goals. "The ability to have a revenue strategist from TakeUp in my corner has been invaluable," said Bagnasco. "They don't just hand over an AI tool and walk awaythey're constantly monitoring performance, adjusting strategy as needed. It's like having an in-house revenue expert without the overhead of hiring one." Breaking the Pricing Fear Factor One of the biggest mental hurdles for independent innkeepers is the fear of overpricing and losing guests. Bagnasco shared that before using AI, he hesitated to push rates higher, assuming guests would resist paying more. "The biggest detractor from pricing wasn't the guestit was me," Bagnasco admitted. "I was more worried about their perception of price than they were. Once I let AI take over, I realized guests were still booking, even at higher rates. In fact, when they see strong reviews and high rankings, they often expect to pay more." Sustained Growth, Even in a Challenging Market Like many boutique properties, Devonfield Inn experienced a post-pandemic revenue surge. However, while others saw their numbers flatten or decline in recent years, Devonfield's revenue continued to climb after implementing AI-driven pricing. "For three years, our revenue remained flat despite strong demand," said Bagnasco. "Once TakeUp got involved, we saw an increase we hadn't seen before. That was the clearest sign that AI-driven pricing was working." Balancing Profitability with Guest Trust One of Bagnasco's biggest concerns when adopting AI-driven pricing was ensuring guests never felt taken advantage ofeven if demand allowed for much higher rates. "With TakeUp, I can set boundaries on how high rates go," he explained. "I never want guests to feel like they're being overcharged just because we could get more. TakeUp allows us to optimize pricing while keeping it within a range that aligns with our values. It's about fair pricing, not just maximizing revenue." The Future of Boutique Lodging is Smart, Not Big Independent inns and boutique hotels are proving that success in the hospitality industry isn't just about scaleit's about strategy. AI-powered tools like TakeUp are allowing smaller properties to optimize revenue and stay competitive without the complexity and cost of traditional revenue management systems. "For a long time, this kind of technology was out of reach for small properties," said Bagnasco. "Now, boutique inns have the same capabilities as big brands. It's a game-changer." About Devonfield Inn Centrally located in the heart of the Berkshires, this historic 1800 bed and breakfast near Lenox, Massachusetts offers a luxurious retreat with unmatched service and countryside views for every season. Relax at the top-rated, romantic Devonfield Inn set on 32-acres in Lee, MA, just minutes to Tanglewood and all the cultural gems of the Berkshires. About TakeUp TakeUp is a leading revenue optimization platform designed for boutique hotels, inns, and alternative accommodations. Through AI-driven pricing and personalized revenue strategies, TakeUp empowers small hospitality businesses to maximize their earnings and save valuable time. Devonfield Inn Media Contact Doug Bagnasco Owner [email protected] TakeUp Media Contact Kelly Campbell Marketing & Communications 619.895.0029 [email protected] SOURCE TakeUp Villagers make sticky rice and grilled pork for tourists at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows a night view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows Lusheng, a traditional musical instrument, at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Villagers sing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group for tourists at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) An aerial drone photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows a view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Villagers walk outside the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) A visitor uses a camera at the Dong culture exhibition center in the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Visitors take photos at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Villagers make embroideries in front of a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This photo taken on March 17, 2025 shows a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Tourists pose for photos at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Villagers sing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group at a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Villagers sit around a firepit at a drum tower at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) A villager makes embroideries at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Villagers sing the grand song of the Dong ethnic group for tourists at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) A tourist poses for photos at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 17, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) A villager dries traditional Dong cloth at the Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 18, 2025. Located in Liping County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaoxing Dong Village is home to over a thousand households of the Dong ethnic group. The traditional architectural style and rich cultural heritage of the Dong ethnic group are well-preserved. In recent years, while maintaining the historical integrity of the village and inheriting the unique cultural characteristics, the local community has established teams of the grand song of the Dong ethnic group and Dong opera troupes. Traditional ethnic festivals have been transformed into tourism attractions. Furthermore, the development of traditional handicraft enterprises and 433 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants has created over 2,000 employment opportunities for local villagers, allowing them to benefit economically from the tourism industry. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Editor: JYZ ATLANTA, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A revolutionary moment in aesthetics is here as Sunshine Botanicals, a leader in holistic skin therapy, joins forces with the Ashley DeRamus Foundation to empower individuals with Down syndrome. This groundbreaking collaboration marks a historic first: Ashley DeRamus, a passionate entrepreneur, advocate for individuals with special needs, and trailblazer with Down syndrome, is stepping into the professional skincare industrya field she is determined to revolutionize. In the clinic with Emily learning all about skin care conditions. Introducing the Ashley Deramus collection. Ashley has long championed self-esteem and personal empowerment for individuals with Down syndrome. Now, she is embarking on a new journey at the forefront of aesthetic health. Through the mentorship of Emily Fritchey, founder and CEO of Sunshine Botanicalsalso known as "The Skin Whisperer"Ashley is set to become the first individual with Down syndrome to train in holistic skincare and aesthetics. More Than a PartnershipA Movement This alliance is about more than skincare; it's about breaking barriers and proving that beauty and self-care are universal rights, not privileges. Ashley's entry into holistic aesthetics and nutrition signifies a shift toward inclusivity, demonstrating that with the right mentorship and passion, nothing is out of reach. Through private, hands-on training with Emily Fritchey, a globally recognized leader in holistic aesthetics, Ashley will address the unique skin and digestive concerns common among individuals with special needs. Guided by the philosophy "Healthy Gut Healthy Skin," they are on a mission to transform lives, one face at a time. "I have spent my career helping people restore the health and beauty of their skin, but this partnership goes beyond anything I've ever done," said Emily Fritchey, CEO of Sunshine Botanicals. "Ashley's determination and passion are nothing short of inspiring. Together, we are proving that the aesthetics industry is ready for a new level of inclusivity and empowerment." A Shared Mission for Change Sunshine Botanicals has long been dedicated to transforming skin health through botanical science, while the Ashley DeRamus Foundation has tirelessly worked to uplift individuals with Down syndrome. Now, these two forces for change are uniting to emphasize the importance of accessibility and representation in professional skincare. This collaboration underscores the belief that beauty, wellness, and professional excellence should know no boundaries. Ashley's pioneering role in aesthetics will not only pave the way for future professionals with Down syndrome but will also inspire a global movement toward true inclusivity in the beauty industry. A Future Without Limits With the backing of Sunshine Botanicals and the expertise of Emily Fritchey, Ashley is setting a new standard in the aesthetics industry. Her story is one of courage, ambition, and an unwavering belief in the power of possibilitya story that will resonate with people around the world. For more information about this partnership and its impact, visit www.sunshinebotanicals.com and www.ashleyderamusfoundation.org. Media Contact: Sunshine Botanicals Emily Fritchey, Founder/CEO [email protected] 866-907-9546 The Ashley DeRamus Foundation Gary Kannegieser - Director 404-670-2897 [email protected] About Sunshine Botanicals Sunshine Botanicals is an award-winning leader in holistic skin therapy, specializing in plant-based solutions for skin health and aging. Founded by Emily Fritchey, the company merges botanical science with advanced aesthetics to create powerful, results-driven skincare solutions. About the Ashley DeRamus Foundation The Ashley DeRamus Foundation is committed to advocating for individuals with Down syndrome, promoting awareness, and providing opportunities for growth, education, and professional development. Founded by Ashley DeRamus, the organization strives to inspire and empower individuals with Down syndrome to achieve their dreams and live fulfilling, independent lives. A partnership fueled by passion, driven by purpose, and destined to make history. SOURCE Sunshine Botanicals NEW YORK, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Canada's decision to sign the Belem do Para Convention marks a significant commitment to combating gender-based violence and strengthening protections for women's rights. Equality Now joins other human rights organizations in welcoming this advance, which demonstrates the Canadian government's long-standing resolve to uphold, protect, and promote gender equality, both domestically and across the Americas. Frances McRae, Deputy Minister of Women and Gender Equality Canada, speaking at an United Nations event in March 2025 celebrating the Convention of Belem do Para. Photo credit: Equality Now, Fernando Samalot As a comprehensive international human rights instrument, the Convention affirms the fundamental right of women and girls to live free from violence and discrimination. A statement by Canada's government states, "Through the convention, Canada will continue its efforts to eliminate gender-based violence and prevent gender-related homicides at home and internationally. "Amid increased attacks on human rights defenders and growing global uncertainty, Canadian leadership in promoting and protecting human rights as a core element of Canada's feminist foreign policy is more important than ever." What is the Belem do Para Convention? The Belem do Para Convention , also known as the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, is a pioneering legally binding instrument. Adopted in 1994, it explicitly recognizes violence and discrimination against women as a violation of human rights and as a systemic problem. The Convention defines violence against women as any act or conduct, based on gender, that causes death or physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, whether it occurs in public or private, including within the family. Crucially, for countries that have ratified the Convention, it establishes clear obligations and measures for how States are required to act in preventing, investigating, punishing, and addressing violence against women. These standards play a key role in helping shape national laws on prevention and prosecution, and provide a powerful tool for civil society organizations and policymakers. Advancing women's rights and helping protect against rollback International human rights treaties and conventions such as this can be major catalysts for the adoption of comprehensive national laws that strengthen legal frameworks and judicial systems to better protect human rights. They can assist with the development of much-needed specialist services, public awareness and education programs, and access to funding. Importantly, they also provide invaluable protection against attempts to undermine and revoke legal rights and protections. A new global report by Equality Now analyzing sex discrimination in laws reveals how progress in advancing the legal rights of women and girls over the past five years has been slow, uneven, and increasingly at risk from a mounting backlash against gender equality. Alarmingly, in many countries, women's legal rights have deteriorated significantly, with hard-won protections weakened or overturned through regressive judicial rulings, legislative changes, and withdrawal of funding. Equality Now's Shivangi Misra says that by signing the Belem do Para Convention, Canada is helping to safeguard the legal rights and well-being of women and girls. However, Misra explains, "To ensure meaningful change, we urge Canada's government to follow through with concrete actions that make this commitment a reality. For Canada's accession to have a real impact, it must be backed by robust national implementation, monitoring, and oversight mechanisms. "This includes not only full ratification and accession of the Belem do Para Convention, but also active engagement with accountability processes and meaningful collaboration with women's rights organizations to ensure its effective enforcement." The Convention was adopted within the framework of the Organization of American States (OAS), making it a legally binding instrument in the Inter-American System. As a regional body uniting 35 nations across the Americas and the Caribbean, the OAS promotes democracy, human rights, security, and development. It plays a crucial role in conflict resolution, election monitoring, and advancing regional initiatives on social justice and economic development. Importantly, the OAS oversees the implementation of the Belem do Para Convention, ensuring member states uphold their commitments to preventing and addressing violence against women. With Canada's declaration to sign on to the Convention, the United States is now the only full member of the OAS yet to sign, leaving women and girls in the country less able to access justice when their rights have been violated. We strongly urge the U.S. to follow Canada's lead, sign the convention, and engage in multilateral efforts to advance women's rights. Media Contact: Tara Carey +44 (0)7971556340 [email protected] SOURCE Equality Now Award-Winning Sandwich Chain Rolls Out Special Offer and Previews New Cheesesteak BLT Launch LAS VEGAS, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Cheesesteak Day, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop (Capriotti's) is offering a limited time offer: Buy One, Get One 50% Off on all cheesesteaks, available exclusively to Capriotti's Rewards Members all day on Monday, March 24. Known for its award-winning cheesesteaks crafted with premium ingredients, Capriotti's invites guests to celebrate with their favorite classic, chicken, or premium American Wagyu cheesesteaks from Snake River Farms. Joining Capriotti's Rewards is free and easy, making it simple for guests to unlock this exclusive deal. Capriotti's is offering BOGO 50% Off on all cheesesteaks to Capriotti's Rewards Members on Monday, March 24. Post this Capriotti's is offering a limited time offer: Buy One, Get One 50% Off on all cheesesteaks, available exclusively to Capriottis Rewards Members all day on Monday, March 24. Capriotti's serves a variety of mouthwatering cheesesteaks, including the fan-favorite Classic Cheesesteak, savory Chicken Cheesesteaks, and their premium American Wagyu Cheesesteak made with American Wagyu from Snake River Farms. Each sub is crafted with the highest quality ingredients and can be customized with hot or sweet peppers. "There's no better way to celebrate National Cheesesteak Day than by rewarding our loyal fans with special savings on our craveable, award-winning cheesesteaks," said Kim Lewis, Capriotti's Chief Marketing Officer. "Plus, we're excited to introduce our new Cheesesteak BLT a distinctive, flavor-packed cheesesteak that combines two beloved sandwiches into one unforgettable creation." Capriotti's is introducing an innovative twist on its iconic cheesesteak lineup. Beginning April 1, Rewards Members will get exclusive early access to Capriotti's latest menu innovation: the Cheesesteak BLT. The Cheesesteak BLT features premium grilled steak and onions, hickory-smoked, honey-cured bacon, melty cheese, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mayo. This new sandwich fuses the rich, savory flavors of a cheesesteak with the fresh, crisp elements of a BLT, creating an unforgettable flavor experience. The Cheesesteak BLT will officially debut on all Capriotti's menus nationwide starting April 15. "For nearly 50 years, there has only been one place to get subs that truly hit different, and that's Capriotti's," said Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti's. "Now we are taking our cheesesteak game to the next level with the new Cheesesteak BLT, featuring grilled steak and onions, hickory-smoked bacon, and topped with fresh-chopped veggies it's bold, crave worthy, and simply unmatched." For more information about how to join Capriotti's Rewards, visit https://www.capriottis.com/freesub. About Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Founded in 1976, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is an award-winning national franchised restaurant chain that remains true to its 40-year tradition of slow-roasting whole, all-natural turkeys in-house every day and hand-pulling them each morning. Capriotti's cold, grilled, and vegetarian subs, cheesesteaks, and salads are available at more than 150 locations across the United States. Capriotti's signature sub, The Bobbie, was voted "The Greatest Sandwich in America" by thousands of readers across the country, as reported by AOL.com. Other fan-favorites include the Capastrami , the Cole Turkey, the Original Cheesesteak and both hot and cold subs featuring premium American Wagyu from Snake River Farms. Capriotti's fans can join the free Capriotti's Rewards program to earn and redeem rewards and exclusive perks. Capriotti's plans to grow to over 500 locations by 2032 and was ranked on Fast Casual's list of "Top 100 Movers & Shakers" each of the last four years (2020-23). For more information, visit capriottis.com. Like Capriotti's on Facebook, follow on TikTok, X, and Instagram. MEDIA CONTACT: Regan Lee, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 630-842-0414 SOURCE Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Stock Market Symbols GIB.A (TSX) GIB (NYSE) cgi.com/newsroom MONTREAL, Canada LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN, Germany and GRANADA, Spain, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, has completed the previously announced acquisition of Novatec by its wholly owned limited partnership, CGI Deutschland B.V. & Co. KG. Novatec is a leading digital services company in Germany and Spain. Founded in 1996, it offers a wide range of business and IT consulting services, including cloud-based solutions, agile products, software development and digital strategies. Novatec's application performance management solutions will complement CGI's existing intellectual property portfolio and enable clients to accelerate digital innovation through the use of new technologies such as AI. "CGI and Novatec share a corporate culture based on results-oriented intrapreneurship, innovation and a high degree of accountability and ownership. The experts joining us from Novatec are problem solvers and, like us, are focused on delivering tangible results for clients," said Ralf Bauer, CGI President of Germany operations. "Together, we can create additional value for our clients in the automotive, manufacturing and financial services industries, turning digital innovation into business value." "The expertise that Novatec contributes to our team will complement CGI's local and global capabilities, strengthening our technology expertise and industry insights through new offerings to clients," adds Alberto Anaya, Senior Vice-President and Business Unit Leader for CGI Spain. More than 300 IT and consulting experts from across Novatec have now joined CGI from across eight offices in Germany, with a strong presence in the Stuttgart metro market and the South-West region, as well as from Granada, Spain. About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 91,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2024 reported revenue is CA$14.68 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. SOURCE CGI Inc. Strengthening European presence with intelligent electric mobility solutions MAINZ, Germany, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ChangAn Automobile ("ChangAn" or "the Company"), an intelligent low-carbon mobility technology company, officially launched its three major brands, CHANG-AN, DEEPAL, and AVATR, in Europe at its brand launch event, themed "Sharing the Future," in Germany. This milestone marks a new phase in ChangAn's "Vast Ocean Plan", reinforcing its commitment to technological innovation and sustainability. With a fully integrated European ecosystem spanning research, production, supply chain, sales, and operations, ChangAn is deepening its connection with European consumers by investing in local talent, collaborating with regional partners, and driving the future of intelligent and sustainable mobility. At the event, ChangAn showcased the DEEPAL S07, marking its European debut, alongside the CHANG-AN E07, and DEEPAL S05, with their market launches planned for a later stage. Highlighting cutting-edge technologies in intelligence and electrification, ChangAn is meeting European demand for high-performance electric vehicles. ChangAn's technological innovation is recognized globally, driven by a global collaborative R&D system spanning six countries and ten locations. It boasts over 18,000 R&D personnel from 31 countries and regions, with 16 technology research and product development centres, 17 technology companies, and 180 laboratories (including national-level laboratories), positioning it as a key player in the European EV market. As part of its European launch, ChangAn is adopting a structured market entry strategy, initially focusing on key EV markets such as Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. By 2028, the company plans to establish a presence across all major European markets. The European Headquarters, located in the Netherlands, will serve as the central hub for business operations. Sales companies Headquarter has been set up in Munich, Germany. With around 500 professionals currently employed across Europe, including experienced designers and engineers from Italy and the UK, the Company is committed to expanding its local talent pool to drive innovation and deepen market engagement. "It is great to be here in Germany," stated Zhu Huarong, Chairman of ChangAn Automobile. "ChangAn is an open and collaborative company driven by a clear mission: to lead sustainable mobility and benefit human life." "This year, we aim to achieve three million units in global sales, and one million will be electrified vehicles. By 2030, we aim to deliver five million vehicles a year, with three million being electrified. Together, we're driving innovation for a better future." Zhu continued. ChangAn Automobile is accelerating its globalisation, with technology-driven innovation, intelligent manufacturing and sustainable development at its core, and is committed to building a world-class auto brand. This European brand launch marks a significant step in ChangAn's global presence and signals the next stage of its global vision. About ChangAn Automobile ChangAn Automobile is an intelligent low-carbon mobility technology company with an international design team of over 915 experts from 31 countries, diverse brands such as CHANG-AN, DEEPAL, AVATR, and joint ventures ChangAn Ford, ChangAn Mazda and JMC. ChangAn has a strong product breadth and diversity that includes passenger vehicles, pick-ups, and light commercial vehicles. With stronger capabilities and industrial upgrading driven by technology innovation, ChangAn Automobile is committed to sustainable mobility innovation on the road to becoming a world-class auto brand. SOURCE ChangAn Automobile SAN FRANCISCO, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- City College of San Francisco (CCSF) invites San Francisco Bay Area communities to its largest annual open house event, CCSF Connect 2025, on Saturday, April 12th, at 11:00am 2:00pm at the STEAM building on CCSF Ocean Campus (50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112), the new home of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics Departments. CCSF Connect is a fun and yet helpful annual community event which allows its event attendees to meet CCSF communities and learn more about various academic programs, resource programs, and support services the college provides for students' successful journey and long-lasting meaningful impact. The event offers free food, free parking, campus tours, fun games, live music, exclusive CCSF swag, and special raffle prizes. CCSF offers over 1,000 courses in over 150 academic disciplines throughout the year. There is always a course or program that you would find interesting or relevant to your needs. CCSF has many possibilities which include obtaining degrees and certificates, university transfers, career development, personal enrichment, and life-long learning. Sign up at bit.ly/CCSFConnect2025 to attend this fun event today! Bring your friends, family, and colleagues to this event and learn how our educational resources can help you achieve your personal and professional goals. To inquire about the event or any academic and resource programs at CCSF, please contact the CCSF Outreach and Recruitment office at [email protected] or 415.239.3557. About CCSF: Bringing higher education opportunities since 1935, and now celebrating its 90th anniversary, City College of San Francisco is an urban community college serving nearly 40,000 students annually at six locations throughout San Francisco. The College offers an affordable opportunity to earn associate degrees, prepare for transfer, pursue career and technical education, and personal development and enrichment. Visit: https://www.ccsf.edu. SOURCE City College of San Francisco Guests are invited to make a food and/or monetary donation to the Houston Food Bank as they drive through the shred lanes. HOUSTON, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank and Iron Mountain Incorporated will securely shred sensitive paper documents for free from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Comerica's Mangum Banking Center (2201 Mangum Road, Houston 77092). "Shredding documents containing personal information is a vital step in preventing identity theft," said Jason Baker, Comerica Bank's Houston Market President. "The goal of our Shred Day is to protect your privacy and the earth by keeping these documents out of the hands of dumpster divers and local landfills." The public, including small business owners and nonprofits, is invited to bring personal or business paper documents to be securely destroyed. All paper from Shred Day Houston will be turned into pulp and recycled. There is no limit to the amount of paper individuals can bring, and those with large loads will be accommodated at a nearby Iron Mountain facility. A complete list of Shred Day guidelines and more event details can be found at comerica.com/ShredDayHouston. This event also will help shred hunger. The Houston Food Bank will be on-site collecting cash and credit card donations, as well as nonperishable food items. Monetary donations can be made in advance via the following link https://bit.ly/41NQDIC. "For more than a decade, our community's generous food and monetary donations have helped the food bank fill its pantries near the end of the school year, which benefits young Houstonians unable to get free meal assistance during summer vacation," Baker said. Since 2013, Shred Day Houston has securely destroyed and recycled more than a million pounds of paper and provided a little over 410,000 meals for area residents facing hunger. About Comerica Bank Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank and Wealth Management. Comerica, one of the 25 largest commercial U.S. financial holding companies, focuses on building relationships and helping people and businesses be successful. Comerica provides 380 banking centers across the country with locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas. Founded on Aug. 17, 1849, in Detroit, Michigan, Comerica continues to expand into new regions, including its Southeast Market, based in North Carolina, and Mountain West Market in Colorado. Comerica has offices in 17 states and services 14 of the 15 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, as well as Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $79.3 billion at Dec. 31, 2024. Learn more about how Comerica is raising expectations of what a bank can be by visiting www.comerica.com, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. SOURCE Comerica Bank OTTAWA, ON, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Crypto4A Technologies, a pioneer in quantum-safe and crypto-agile security solutions, is excited to announce that its QASM hardware cryptographic core and v5.0 firmware powering its QxHSM and QxEDGE productshas been added to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) Module In Process (MIP) list for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification. This submission marks a world-first milestone: QASM is the first Hardware Security Module (HSM) to be submitted for certification that includes all NIST-certified permutations and variants of the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms, including FIPS 203, 204, 205, and LMS. This ensures organizations are prepared to protect critical assets now and in the future against the evolving threat posed by advancements in quantum computing. Crypto4A's quantum-safe HSMs are already trusted by major chip manufacturers, board and device manufacturers, cloud service providers, government agencies, and enterprise customers worldwide. As new quantum-safe algorithms are introduced by NIST, Crypto4A customers will be able to gain access to them through simple firmware updates, thanks to the company's crypto-agile FPGA-based design and quantum-safe firmware update mechanism. Unlike traditional HSMs, only those with quantum-safe Roots of Trust can ensure firmware updates remain secure against potential quantum computer attacks. "We are excited to have submitted our QASM design to the CMVP for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification with full PQC algorithm support, which marks a first for the HSM industry! Our PQC-enabled QASM serves as the core component of our QxHSM and QxEDGE product offerings, providing all of our customers with a quantum-safe foundation on which to embark on the PQC migration journey.", said Dr. Jim Goodman, CTO & Co-founder, Crypto4A. "We are also very thankful for our partnership with atsec information security. Their extensive level of knowledge and expertise proved invaluable for ensuring that our implementation of the approved algorithms, and the security of our devices, met and exceeded the NIST FIPS standard." "We appreciate the opportunity and the trust that Crypto4A has put in the atsec Cryptographic Security Testing (CST) Laboratory for their FIPS validation needs. Crypto4A is our first vendor to receive algorithm certificates for all available PQC algorithms. Throughout the project, we witnessed professionalism, dedication, attention to detail, and a good understanding of FIPS requirements from the entire team, making the validation process seamless. We look forward to many collaborations for future validations," said Swapneela Unkule, the atsec CST Lab Manager. "This marks a significant milestone for the industry", said Spencer Frye, VP Growth Strategy & Operations, CERTINext/eMudhra. "Quantum-safe enablement begins with the hardware, and Crypto4A is leading the way in making this a reality." "Crypto4A's submission of the first quantum-safe HSM for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to securing a post-quantum future," said Tim Hollebeek, Vice President of Industry Standards at DigiCert. "DigiCert shares in this vision and is committed to helping enterprises become quantum-ready through trusted digital trust solutions, including post-quantum cryptographic support, certificate lifecycle automation, and scalable PKI solutions that adapt to evolving security landscapes. We applaud Crypto4A's leadership in advancing quantum-ready security and look forward to continuing our collaboration to safeguard digital trust in the post-quantum world." "HSMs are essential for robust PKI and digital signature solutions in production environments. As we face tight deadlines for transitioning to post-quantum cryptography, collaboration is crucial to support migration efforts." said Tomas Gustavsson, Chief PKI Officer at Keyfactor. "Our partnership with Crypto4A has been instrumental in enabling quantum-safe algorithms for our customers. By providing production-ready security infrastructure, we empower organizations and vendors to seamlessly integrate comprehensive quantum-safe solutions, ensuring long-term resilience against emerging threats." "This is an important step in the timeline of preparation for PQC. NIST's initial call for PQC algorithm proposals was in 2016 which led to a release of standards in 2024. As part of the PKI ecosystem, HSM vendors have a critical role," said Jason Soroko, senior fellow at Sectigo. "Congratulations to Crypto4A. Their continued efforts in this space help organizations better prepare for the quantum threats of today and tomorrow." With over seven years of delivering quantum-safe HSMs to the market, Crypto4A continues to lead the way in cryptographic security for the post-quantum era. The company extends a special thanks to the team at atsec (https://www.atsec.com/) for their extensive certification knowledge and guidance in helping bring this submission to completion. For more information on Crypto4A's quantum-safe solutions, visit www.crypto4a.com. SOURCE Crypto4A KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, Inc. has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Life Flight Network, LLC to expand air medical services in Hawai'i. This collaboration represents a significant step toward enhancing emergency medical response and ensuring critically ill and injured patients have access to timely, lifesaving care. To support this initiative, the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation has collaborated with key donors to bring a new Airbus H145 helicopter to the County of Hawai'i, fully configured as an air ambulance. Over the past year and a half, the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation has engaged consultants and explored air ambulance companies to operate the Airbus H145 helicopter. After significant due diligence, and ensuring mission and cultural alignment, Life Flight Network was chosen to take the vital next steps towards operationalizing the program. "The need for emergency air medical transport is constant, and every second counts in a crisis," said Laura Mallery-Sayre, Executive Director of the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation. "The primary mission of both our non-profits is to save lives. This partnership is about expanding resources to ensure communities across Hawai'i Island have access to lifesaving care whenever and wherever it's needed. We sought an organization with an impeccable safety record and a proactive approach to risk mitigation. With Life Flight Network, we found not only a commitment to safety but also a dedication to providing educational opportunities for community members pursuing careers or advancement in this vital field." As the nation's largest not-for-profit air medical provider, Life Flight Network has been delivering world-class ICU-level care and transport to the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West for 47 years. With nearly 900 employees, Life Flight Network has proven their commitment to keeping safety, quality, and clinical excellence at the forefront of their operations. The organization aims to be representative of the communities it serves and looks forward to employing members of the local workforce who share a passion for critical care, aviation, and making a life-saving difference in their communities. In addition to providing critical air medical transport, Life Flight Network will bring their membership program to the residents and visitors of Hawaii. For a nominal annual fee, members, their spouse or domestic partner, and any dependents living at home, will have financial peace of mind knowing they won't face out-of-pocket expenses for medically necessary flights. "We are honored to have been selected by the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation to help strengthen Hawai'i's air medical services and contribute to lives saved," said Ben Clayton, Chief Executive Officer at Life Flight Network. "We are excited to bring Life Flight Network's legacy of compassion and lifesaving service to the Island of Hawai'i while collaborating with and learning from local healthcare providers. Together, we can ensure residents and visitors have access to critical care when every second counts." Ensuring access to emergency medical care is crucial, particularly in rural communities where distance and terrain pose significant challenges. In a critical medical emergency, time is of the essencerapid access to life-saving care can mean the difference between life and death. Recognizing the importance of public safety, the County of Hawai'i has prioritized efforts to enhance emergency response. Mayor Kimo Alameida emphasized the program's impact, stating, "This is an amazing program that will add life-saving capacity anywhere in our County, especially in our rural areas." Hawai'i Fire Department Chief Kazuo Todd echoed this sentiment, highlighting the role of community support in strengthening emergency services: "The Hawai'i Fire Department has long benefited from the generosity of the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, whose contributions have enhanced our ability to serve the community. The addition of this air medical resource has the potential to improve patient transport to higher levels of critical care on Oahu, complementing our existing emergency medical services. We welcome any efforts that strengthen emergency response and patient outcomes for the people of Hawai'i." The Airbus H145 is designed for rapid response, equipped with cutting-edge avionics, and offers a spacious cabin optimized for critical care transport. This state-of-the-art aircraft is widely regarded as one of the most advanced and capable platforms for air medical transport. Its versatility and performance in challenging environments make it an ideal solution for providing life-saving medical care across Hawai'i's diverse and remote regions. Coupled with a highly trained and experienced clinical team composed of a flight registered nurse and flight paramedic, this new program will enhance ICU-level air ambulance care and transport for the County of Hawai'i, ultimately fulfilling the joint organization's goals of saving lives. ABOUT THE DANIEL R. SAYRE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation is a volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives in Hawai'i. Since its inception in 1997, the Foundation has raised over $40 million in donations and pledged equipment, directly funding essential rescue equipment and training for the Hawai'i Island Fire Department. This support enables the department to serve the local community and more than 1.5 million visitors each year. With 100% of donations invested into lifesaving resources or community service projects, the Foundation remains committed to enhancing emergency response capabilities. For more information, visit www.danielsayrefoundation.org. ABOUT LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK Life Flight Network exists to fulfill its mission of saving lives through industry leading care and transport. It is the largest not-for-profit air medical service in the United States and is accredited by national and international accrediting bodies for safety, operations, and clinical excellence. Life Flight Network maintains its own FAA Part 135 Operating Certificate, offering ICU-level care during air and ground transport across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Headquartered in Aurora, Oregon, Life Flight Network is owned by a consortium of Legacy Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Providence Health and Services, and Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. It was named the 2021 Program of the Year by the Association for Air Medical Services. For more information or to become a member visit www.lifeflight.org. SOURCE The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation; Life Flight Network VERO BEACH, Fla., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Frederick "Derick" Cooper, CEO of QOL Medical, a pharmaceutical company specializing in treatments for rare gastrointestinal diseases, has donated $75,000 to Beacon Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Search and Rescue agency. Known for its team of highly trained military veterans, first responders, and emergency medical professionals, Beacon Rescue is actively responding to disasters across the nation, including the recent California wildfires. A portion of the donation is supporting relief efforts in California as Beacon Rescue is taking a targeted approach by assessing the specific needs of outlying areas and underserved communities impacted by the wildfires. Recognizing that California boasts some of the most highly trained and regulated first responders and wildland firefighters in the world, the organization is sending a single representative to evaluate the unique requirements of shelters and first responder organizations outside of Los Angeles proper. This careful approach aims to avoid overwhelming areas with unnecessary aid and instead direct resources where they are most needed. "QOL Medical is dedicated to improving lives, whether through innovative treatments or community support," said Cooper. "Partnering with Beacon Rescue to deliver precise, meaningful aid during this challenging time aligns perfectly with our mission." Beacon Rescue's CEO, Bob Pasquale, explained the importance of this strategy. "Derick Cooper's generosity is enabling us to refine our approach to disaster response. By pinpointing specific needs in underserved areas, we can ensure aid is both impactful and efficient, bringing relief to those who may otherwise be overlooked." In addition to supporting wildfire relief, Cooper's donation is helping sustain Beacon Rescue's broader mission to provide assistance in disaster-affected regions across the United States. For more information or to contribute, visit www.beaconrescue.org. Media Contact: QOL Medical, LLC Tiffany Carter Phone: 818-720-8557 Email: [email protected] Corporate Contact: QOL Medical, LLC 3405 Ocean Drive Vero Beach, FL 32963 Phone: 866-469-3773 Fax: 772-365-3375 Email: [email protected] SOURCE QOL Medical, LLC The repeated retrospective increase in the bank profit tax from 25% to 50% reduces the capital of the banking system, and accordingly reduced the system's opportunities to increase the loan portfolio by 20%, said Kateryna Rozhkova, First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine. "In general, the potential of the system is great: currently, banks can increase the loan portfolio at least twice without violating capital requirements. However, for individual banks, the potential has significantly decreased," she said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. Rozhkova recalled that the NBU's concerns primarily related to the fact that the war is not over yet, and there may still be losses of assets by banks, deterioration of the quality of individual borrowers, etc., which will require additional capital. "We urge banks to increase lending and offer rates acceptable to borrowers, and this requires sufficient capital reserves. We hope that there will be no more such unforeseen steps," the banker concluded. Commenting on the likelihood of arbitrage due to different profit tax rates: 50% for banks, 25% for financial companies and 18% for the rest of the economy, Rozhkova noted that the banking sector is one of the most transparent, has carried out a reform of corporate governance and reporting, so the vast majority of banks do not abuse such things. "At the same time, the taxation of such markets should be the same. Therefore, the same tax rate for banks and financial companies is justified," she said. As reported, according to preliminary data, Ukrainian banks received UAH 103.69 billion in net profit last year, which is 24.6% more than the figure for 2023. Banks paid UAH 83.72 billion in income tax, compared to UAH 76.64 billion in 2023, but the final amount of taxes paid will be clear only after the results of the annual audit of bank statements. In 2024, after two years of decline, banks' loan portfolios grew by 10.8%. In particular, hryvnia loans to the corporate sector increased by 9.8%, or by UAH 50.6 billion, and to the population - by 24.5%, or by UAH 51.7 billion. At the same time, foreign currency loans in dollar terms decreased: to the corporate sector - by 5.2%, or by $332 million, to the population - by 15.5%, or by $49 million. AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring is here, and Dodge is heading back to the Spring Fest event in Southern California, showcasing potential customizations for the all-new Dodge Charger Daytona at the gathering of passionate muscle car enthusiasts. Dodge customizes new Charger Daytona at Spring Fest 2025, a gathering of passionate Dodge enthusiasts set for March 21-22 in Southern California in California has been among the top-selling states for Charger sales in the United States and is the largest EV market in the country, selling three times the number of EVs as the next largest market has been among the top-selling states for Charger sales in and is the largest EV market in the country, selling three times the number of EVs as the next largest market Fratzog dual stripes with red trim show off potential personalization paths for new Charger Dodge brand and design teams will participate in customer clinics at Spring Fest Spring Fest attendees can vote on potential future exterior colors for the next-gen Charger For more information on the all-new next-gen Dodge Charger, consumers can visit Dodge.com Spring is here, and Dodge is heading back to Spring Fest! Started in a Southern California parking lot in 2004 by enthusiast John Fortuno, over two decades Spring Fest became a mecca for Dodge Charger, Challenger, Magnum and Chrysler 300 fans who came to celebrate their beloved rides, drawing fans from around the country and the world. After a five-year hiatus, Spring Fest is back March 21-22, 2025. This year, Dodge is showcasing the all-new, next-gen Dodge Charger, and bringing some custom looks along for the ride. With its 1968-inspired design cues, aggressively broad stance, standard widebody frame, patent-pending R-Wing and high-impact exterior paint colors, the world's quickest and most powerful muscle car continues to push the boundaries of design, and Dodge is pushing even further with some custom looks. "California has been among the top-selling states for Charger and is the largest EV market in the United States with more than 376,000 EV registrations last year alone that's three times the number of EV registrations than the next closest state, so there's a huge opportunity to reach new customers and Charger fans alike," said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. "Spring Fest is one of the many customer events that gives us a great opportunity to meet with our owners in this region in person, give them a chance to learn about our newest products, show potential new customization options and get their direct feedback." Open communication and hearing directly from enthusiasts drives new ideas and collaboration, and the Dodge brand and design teams are on hand for roundtable discussions and customer clinics at Spring Fest to generate feedback on the next-gen muscle car. Attendees can also vote on potential future exterior colors for the Charger. Stripes have long been a popular customization option for Dodge muscle lovers looking to add a distinctive look to their vehicle. Using the Fratzog logo the new symbol of Dodge brand next-generation vehicles Dodge brought to life a Charger modified with matte black Fratzog dual stripes that help the Charger stand apart from the pack with red trim accents and a unique, repeating Fratzog logo pattern that fills the inside of each stripe. The stripes are compatible on Charger Daytona muscle cars with both glass and steel roofs and are specially designed to allow occupants to view the Fratzog pattern while looking through glass-roof equipped Chargers. For complete information on the all-new Dodge Charger, consumers should visit Dodge.com. Dodge//SRT For 110 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge, America's performance brand, shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments in which the brand competes while moving forward to a future that includes electrified muscle in the form of the next-generation, all-new Dodge Charger. The next-generation Dodge Charger electrifies a legend, with the Charger retaining its title as the world's quickest and most powerful muscle car, led by the all-new, all-electric 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack. The all-new Dodge Charger will also offer performance choices via multi-energy powertrain options, including the 550-horsepower Dodge Charger SIXPACK H.O., powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo Hurricane High Output engine. Dodge also keeps its foot on the gas as a pure performance brand with the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful gas engine SUV ever, and best-in-class standard performance in the compact-utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet. Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com. Follow Dodge//SRT and company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Dodge brand: www.dodge.com Direct Connection: www.DCPerformance.com DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis ORANGE, Calif., March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Roth Staffing Companies has announced it has earned the 2025 Top Workplaces USA award, issued by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces. The Top Workplaces program has a 15-year history of surveying more than 20 million employees and recognizing the top organizations across 60 markets for regional Top Workplaces awards. Roth Staffing Coworker's kicking off 2025 with an in-person team-building day! Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures. Over 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey, issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey's research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks. "We are incredibly honored to be recognized as a 2025 Top Workplaces USA winner!" said Adam Roth, CEO of Roth Staffing Companies. "This award is a testament to our incredible coworkers, whose passion and dedication create a culture of excellence every day. For more than thirty years, our commitment to fostering an engaging, caring, and rewarding workplace continues to be at the heart of everything we do. This recognition reaffirms our mission to create remarkable experiences for our coworkers, clients, and job seekers alike." "Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they're allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends." ABOUT ROTH STAFFING COMPANIES Roth Staffing Companies is one of the largest privately held staffing firms in the United States, operating from more than 100 locations across 20 states and the District of Columbia. Roth Staffing consists of five specialized business lines: Ultimate Staffing Services for administrative and office positions, Ledgent Finance & Accounting, Ledgent Technology, Adams & Martin Group for legal staffing, and About Talent for workforce solutions. Roth Staffing Companies, L.P. has locations Arizona: Phoenix; California: Brea, Carlsbad, Century City, Cerritos, Costa Mesa, Fremont, Fresno, Inland Empire, Irvine, La Jolla, Los Angeles, Orange County, Oxnard, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Roseville, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Torrance, Tustin, Woodland Hills; Colorado: Denver; Connecticut: Hartford, New Haven; Florida: Boca Raton, Clearwater, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach; Georgia: Atlanta; Massachusetts: Boston; Maryland: Baltimore, Columbia, Frederick, Rockville, Timonium; Michigan: Detroit; Minnesota: Bloomington, Minneapolis; Missouri: St. Louis, Kansas City; North Carolina: Raleigh; New Hampshire: Nashua; New Jersey: Paramus; Nevada: Las Vegas; Oregon: Portland; Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston, North Houston, San Antonio; Virginia: Arlington; Washington: Wisconsin: Milwaukee. ABOUT ENERGAGE Making the world a better place to work together. Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 18 years of culture research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com. SOURCE Roth Staffing Companies SANTIAGO, Chile, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Falabella S.A. ("Falabella" or the "Company") today announced the tender results in connection with its offer to purchase for cash any and all of its outstanding 3.750% Notes due 2027 (the "Notes") (the "Offer"). The Offer was made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated March 12, 2025 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the notice of guaranteed delivery (the "Notice of Guaranteed Delivery" and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Offer Documents"). As previously announced, the expiration time for the Offer was 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 20, 2025 (such date and time, the "Expiration Time"). As of the Expiration Time, U.S.$210,094,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding had been validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer. No Notes were tendered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Offer to Purchase. Settlement of the Offer is expected to occur on or about March 25, 2025 (the "Settlement Date"). The table below summarizes certain payment terms for the Notes: Description of Security CUSIP Number(s) ISIN (s) Outstanding Principal Amount Consideration per U.S. $1,000 Outstanding Principal Amount (1) Aggregate Principal Amount ValidlyTendered (2) 3.750% Senior Notes due 2027 144A: 78386FAD8/ Reg S: P82290 AR1 144A: US78386FAD87 / Reg S: USP82290AR17 U.S. $300,000.000 U.S.$980 U.S.$210,094,000 (1) The Consideration for the Notes will be paid on all Notes accepted for purchase, together with accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date for the Notes up to, but not including, the Settlement Date. (2) Subject to satisfaction of the terms and conditions described in the Offer Documents. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to them in the Offer to Purchase. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer set forth in the Offer Documents, for all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Time, and accepted by Falabella for purchase, Holders will receive the Consideration plus accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date for the Notes to, but not including, the Settlement Date. The obligation of Falabella to purchase Notes in the Offer is conditioned on the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described in the Offer Documents. The information and tender agent for the Offer is Global Bondholder Services Corporation. To contact the information and tender agent, banks and brokers may call +1 (212) 430-3774, and others may call U.S. toll-free: +1 (855)-654-2015 or email [email protected]. Additional contact information is set forth below. By Mail, Hand or Overnight Courier 65 Broadway Suite 404 New York, NY 10006 Attention: Corporate Actions By Facsimile Transmission +1 (212) 430-3775/3779 Attention: Corporate Actions Confirmation by Telephone +1 (212) 430-3774 Toll free: +1 (855) 654-2015 E-mail [email protected] Copies of each of the Offer Documents are available at the following web address: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/falabella Any questions or requests for assistance or for additional copies of this notice may be directed to the Dealer Managers at their respective telephone numbers set forth below or, if by any Holder, to such Holder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer. The Dealer Managers for the Offer are: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Santander US Capital Markets LLC 383 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY 10179 United States 437 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022 United States Attn: Latin America Debt Capital Markets Attn: Liability Management E-mail: [email protected] Collect: +1 (212) 834-7279 Toll Free: +1 (866) 846-2874 Collect: +1(212) 350-0660 Toll Free: +1(855) 404-3636 This notice does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, or any solicitation of any offer to sell, the Notes or any other securities in the United States or any other country, nor shall it or any part of it, or the fact of its release, form the basis of, or be relied on or in connection with, any contract therefor. The Offer is made only by and pursuant to the terms of the Offer Documents, and the information in this notice is qualified by reference to the Offer to Purchase and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. None of Falabella, the Dealer Managers or the information and tender agent makes any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender their Notes pursuant to the Offer. This notice does not constitute an offer to purchase in Chile or to any resident of Chile, except as permitted by applicable Chilean law. This Offer will not constitute a public offering in Chile, and therefore will not be (a) subject to registration with the Chilean Financial Market Commission (Comision para el Mercado Financiero or "CMF"); nor (b) made through any of the stock exchanges in Chile. About Falabella Falabella is a sociedad anonima abierta, or publicly traded stock corporation, incorporated under the laws of Chile, which operates a multi-format retail company that carries out its business through both brick-and-mortar and online platforms, combining growth, profitability and sustainability in its six main business areas: Department Stores, Home Improvement, Supermarkets, Financial Services (including Credit Card Services and Banking, among others), Real Estate and Marketplace. Falabella has a strong presence in Chile, Peru and Colombia, as well as operations in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico. In 2019, Falabella changed its name from "S.A.C.I. Falabella" to "Falabella S.A." Falabella is an issuer in Chile of securities registered with the CMF. Shares of our common stock are publicly traded on the Bolsa de Comercio de SantiagoBolsa de Valores, or the Santiago Stock Exchange, and the Bolsa Electronica de ChileBolsa de Valores, or the Chilean Electronic Stock Exchange, which we jointly refer to as the "Chilean Stock Exchanges," under the symbol "FALABELLA." Accordingly, we are currently required to disclose information to the market by, inter alia, filing quarterly and annual reports in Spanish and issuing hechos esenciales o relevantes (notices of material or relevant events) to the CMF, and provide copies of such reports and notices to the Chilean Stock Exchanges. All such reports are available at www.cmfchile.cl and www.falabella.com. SOURCE Falabella S.A. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Telus International To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 in Telus International between February 16, 2023 and August 1, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against TELUS International (Cda) Inc. ("Telus International" or the "Company") (NYSE: TIXT) and reminds investors of the March 31, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi Logo (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP) Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Company's AI Data Solutions offerings required the cannibalization of its higher-margin offerings; (2) that Telus International's declining profitability was tied to the Company's drive to develop AI capabilities; (3) that Telus International's shift toward AI put greater pressure on the Company's margins than previously disclosed; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On May 9, 2024, Telus International released its first quarter 2024 financial results, revealing a $29 million decline in revenue year over year. On the same day, the Company held an earnings call during which Chief Financial Officer, Gopi Chande was asked by an analyst to clarify "what margin should look like on a go-forward basis" as margins "were down year-over-year and . . . were below the full year guidance." In response, Gopi Chande revealed that the margins generated by the Company's AI offerings "can be a bit below average." On this news, the Company's share price fell $1.41 or 18.15%, to close at $6.36 on May 9, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. Then, on August 2, 2024, before the market opened, Telus International released second quarter 2024 financial results, revealing a significant slowdown in revenue generation: a $5 million quarter-over-quarter or $15 million year-over-year revenue decrease; a $23 million or 15% quarter-over-quarter adjusted EBITDA decrease; and 14.6% quarter-over-quarter reduction in adjusted EBITDA margin, from 23.3% to 19.9%. As a result, Telus International announced it had significantly reduced its full year 2024 fiscal guidance. The Company also disclosed that Jeff Puritt, then-President and Chief Executive Officer, would retire effective September 3, 2024. In an earnings call held the same day, Puritt disclosed that the transition of the Company "towards a more technology centric and specifically AI fueled business," "necessitates some cannibalization of our tenured and higher margin CX work." Puritt concluded that, ultimately, the Company is "going to have to take it on the chin a little bit in terms of our historical margin profile" and rely upon "eating our own roommate cooking internally," referring the self-cannibalization of the business, "in order to create the headwind we need to enjoy the margin yield that we've historically benefited from." On this news, the Company's share price fell $2.33 or 35.96%, to close at $4.15 on August 2, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. The stock continued to decline on the next trading day available, falling $0.83, or 20%, to close at $3.32 on August 5, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Telus International's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the TELUS International (Cda) class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/TIXT or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Bridging the Gap Between Standard Security and Exceptional Service Through Accountability, Integrity, and 24/7 Support FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast Guard Service, the nation's leader in security guard services, is stepping up to provide business owners and property managers in Fort Lauderdale with the peace of mind they deserve. While all security guard companies in Florida are required to be licensed through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, not all providers deliver the same level of service. The difference between an average security provider and a truly exceptional one comes down to two key factors: communication and transparency. When security matters! "At Fast Guard Service, we believe that clear, consistent communication is the foundation of effective security," said Roderick Payne Jr. "Many security companies fall short in this area, leaving business owners unsure of what's happening on their property. That's why we've made transparency our standardoffering every client a single point of contact, a 24/7 emergency hotline, and detailed daily reports." Fast Guard Service goes beyond traditional security measures by implementing weekly quality control check-ins to ensure top-tier service. Unlike companies that simply claim to be the best, Fast Guard Service proves its commitment daily through responsiveness, accountability, and integrity. "We understand that no company is perfect, and mistakes can happen," added Roderick Payne Jr. "The most important thing is how those mistakes are handled. We take full ownership, address issues immediately, and work toward solutions. That's the difference between just having security and having real security." With an industry-leading approach to customer service, Fast Guard Service aims to revolutionize securityone contract at a time. Business owners who have experienced gaps in service, communication failures, or unresponsive providers may find it's time for a change. Don't settle for less. When it comes to protecting your business, make Fast Guard Service your first call. For more information, visit www.fastguardservice.com or contact Sales at 844.254.8273 or [email protected]. Fast Guard Service is a premier security company providing armed and unarmed security, event security, executive protection, and fire watch services nationwide. With a focus on professionalism, reliability, and transparency, Fast Guard Service is committed to keeping businesses and communities safe. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Fast Guard Service FORT MYERS, Fla., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) is continuing its support of the next generation of oncology physicians with a lead role in the 2025 Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) Fellows & Residents Training Program this week in Orlando. Richard McDonough, MD, FCS director of patient advocacy, is the Fellows Program chairman; FCS Associate Director of Drug Development Alexander Philipovskiy , MD, PhD and FCS Senior Director of Partnerships, Managed Care Kiana Mehring, MBA will join Dr. McDonough as panelists. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is proud to support the next generation of oncology physicians by taking a lead role in the 2025 Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) Fellows & Residents Training Program in Orlando this week. FCS Director of Patient Advocacy Richard McDonough, MD, is serving as the program chairman, with FCS Associate Director of Drug Development Alexander Philipovskiy, MD, PhD and FCS Senior Director of Partnerships Managed Care, Kiana Mehring. "Oncology is a constantly evolving field, and the transition from training to practice can be daunting," said Dr. McDonough. "FLASCO's Fellows & Residents Training Program is designed to bridge that gap, providing the support, education and mentorship necessary to empower the next generation of oncology leaders. By investing in our fellows, we are investing in the future of cancer care that will benefit patients across our state and worldwide." The immersive event provides a unique opportunity for medical oncology and hematology fellows, residents and students from across Florida to gain invaluable insights and practical tools from esteemed thought leaders as they navigate their transition into the oncology workforce. For FCS, investing time with future providers is critical to advancing the growth of the practice and the field of medical oncology. Through events such as this, FCS is ensuring that the next generation of oncologists is equipped with the knowledge, mentorship, and experience needed to drive innovation, enhance patient care, and shape the future of cancer treatment. Dr. McDonough will moderate the session, Bridging Research to Reality: The Roadmap for Trials & Real World Impact," which will feature Dr. Philipovskiy, a principal investigator with the FCS Drug Development Unit in Lake Mary, as a panelist. The physicians will tap their extensive backgrounds and draw from real-world experiences with FCS' expansive clinical trials program to review the many aspects of developing and conducting Phase 1 trials. The statewide practice conducts early-phase trials at three Drug Development Units and clinics across Florida, which continue to reveal innovative new discoveries in cancer treatment. In recent years, the majority of new cancer drugs approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with FCS participation prior to approval. Kiana Mehring will present Cracking the Code: Billing and Coding Essentials to Getting Paid. Additional sessions will focus on mapping an oncology career path, enhancing collaborative care through pharmacy partnerships and navigating the challenges and opportunities of oncology training. Oncology nurses, social workers, patient advocates and practice administrators will also be in attendance. About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com) For more than 40 years, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has embraced innovation to deliver world-class care and drive the dramatic transformation of oncology care through its robust clinical research program. FCS provides patients with access to a wide range of clinical trials, positioning it as a leader in research among private oncology practices in Florida and across the country. In fact, before receiving FDA approval, the majority of new cancer drugs in the U.S. were first made available to patients through participation in clinical trials at FCS. Our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians is committed to delivering tailored treatment plans that make the best use of cutting-edge precision oncology advancements to enhance patient outcomes. SOURCE Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute SPOKANE, Wash., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gestalt, a leader in AI driven digital pathology solutions, and DLS Pathology Services, a reseller and consultation company providing expert direction on digital adoption and services are excited to announce a global reseller partnership. This collaboration brings Gestalt's acclaimed digital platform directly to pathologists and healthcare entities in Australia and other territories. This reseller agreement continues Gestalt's expansion into other countries through the locally focused expertise and experience of DLS Pathology Services. In this arrangement, DLS will be providing the sales and first line support of Gestalt's digital pathology capabilities, ensuring that pathologists have the ability to leverage their consultations for pathology as a service provider and support. "We are excited to join forces with DLS Pathology Services to bring our industry leading digital pathology solutions to a wider global audience," said Lisa-Jean Clifford, COO & Chief Strategy Officer, Gestalt. "This partnership enables us to combine our innovative platform with DLS's local expertise, ensuring pathologists in Australia and beyond have the tools and support they need to provide exceptional diagnostic services." "Gestalt provides the ideal platform for providing digital pathology services. Its ability to host and stream DICOM images at low-cost, with an intuitive interface for pathologists, helps us service clients at any scale", says Dr. Jeremy Parry, Director, DLS Pathology Services. "I have been in the digital pathology business for more than a decade and tried pretty much all the Cloud platforms out there. With its speed, user-friendly interface and innovative use of DICOM, Gestalt is the best of the lot." For more information about this partnership and the respective solutions, please visit Gestalt at booth #934 during USCAP March 23-26, 2025. About Gestalt Gestalt Diagnostics transforms pathology through an intelligent, configurable, vendor-neutral, and AI-driven digital workflow that provides true interoperability enabling pathologists to diagnose* diseases faster and more efficiently. Our PathFlow solution consists of professional, education, and research modules for ease of mixing and matching the digital needs of your facility in a single solution, freeing pathologists from tedious, repetitive, and manual tasks, allowing them to focus on their expertise providing invaluable experience where it matters most. To learn more, visit www.gestaltdiagnostics.com and follow @Gestalt on LinkedIn About DLS Pathology Services Our mission is to support and develop local pathology services, no matter what the budget or location. Recent progress in digital technologies means that no pathology service should be limited by remote geographical location, lack of local support, limited budgets or the shortcomings of traditional glass-slide (analogue) pathology workflows. At DLS Pathology Services, we believe that every medical service, with the appropriate support, can grow and flourish to support the needs of its local community. DLS stands for Deep Learning Solutions which underlines the Company's aim of developing and utilizing deep-learning and other machine applications as much as possible for the benefit of clients. SOURCE Gestalt Diagnostics Girl Scouts Stand Up, Speak Out, and Make a Difference! ST. PAUL, Minn., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts River Valleys is excited to announce Girl Scout Day at the Capitol, a special event where Girl Scouts will engage with lawmakers, learn about the legislative process, and advocate for issues important to them. Who: 200 Girl Scouts from across the state, Minnesota legislators, and volunteers from Minnesota Women Lawyers, Momentum Law and Advocacy, and the American Institute of Architects. What: Girl Scout Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for youth to engage in civic leadership, explore the historic Minnesota State Capitol, meet local legislators, and develop advocacy skills. At this open-house-style event, Girl Scouts will learn about government, discuss issues they care about, and have the chance to advocate for the Girl Scout Bill, which aims to benefit Girl Scouts statewide. Participants can move at their own pace while engaging in hands-on activities, leadership development, and discussions about civic engagement. Attendees will earn a Day at the Capitol patch and receive guidance on earning their Democracy badge. When: Saturday, March 22, 2025 11:30 AM 2:00 PM Where: Minnesota State Capitol 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, MN 55155 Why: This event challenges Girl Scouts to make their voices heard and encourages them to be active citizens. It serves as inspiration for completing service projects or Highest Awards, reinforcing the importance of leadership and advocacy at an early age. Photo & Interview Opportunities: Remarks at 1:00 PM featuring: featuring: Marisa C. Williams , CEO, Girl Scouts River Valleys , CEO, Girl Scouts River Valleys Senator Erin P. Murphy Senator Ann M. Johnson Stewart Hands-on democracy and advocacy activities , including: , including: Practice Your Pitch Bill to Law Game Trivia: Women of Color in Advocacy One-on-one speed networking with legislators and Minnesota Women Lawyers. Quote: "When women and girls step into spaces where decisions are madewhether at the Capitol or in their communitiesthey bring bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and the power to create real change," said Girl Scouts CEO Marisa C. Williams. "Our collective voice shapes the future, and every Girl Scout who speaks up is making history." About Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys' mission is rooted in the values of equity, collaboration, transformation, joyful excellence, and centering youth and volunteers. Supported by more than 6,300 volunteers, Girl Scouts River Valleys delivers life-changing experiences to over 16,000 girls and gender-expansive youth across southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and one county in Iowa. One of 111 Girl Scout councils nationwide, Girl Scouts River Valleys strives to build girls of courage, confidence, character, and curiosity who are the bold, bright leaders of today and tomorrow. Contact: Kristen Neurer, VP of Member Engagement Girl Scouts River Valleys [email protected] 800-845-0787 SOURCE Girl Scouts River Valleys BEIJING, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the city of Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Wednesday afternoon. He visited a modern flower industry park and the Old Town of Lijiang to learn about local efforts to develop specialized agriculture based on regional conditions, enhance the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage, and foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, according to the Xinhua News Agency on Thursday. At the modern flower industry park, Xi talked with villagers and technicians working there, asking about the flower varieties, market sales and their incomes. The villagers told Xi that they earned over 4,000 yuan ($557.46) each month, with incomes exceeding 7,000 yuan during peak seasons. Growing flowers is a truly joyful job, they said. Xi said with delight: "Your endeavor is thriving and aligns with the development path of modern agriculture. May your lives be as beautiful as flowers." When he visited the Old Town of Lijiang, Xi stressed that the cultural and tourism industry should follow a path of sustainable and healthy development. Walking along a stone-paved road, Xi occasionally paused to chat with the crowd. "The town's culture, scenery and folk traditions are truly captivating," Xi said, adding that the integration of culture and tourism has boosted the economy. "I wish you all happiness and good health," he said. Xi has also called on Yunnan Province to break new ground for its development in the pursuit of Chinese modernization during his inspection tour in the province on Wednesday and Thursday, Xinhua reported. Xi's visit to Yunnan Province on Wednesday and Thursday followed his inspection tour in Guizhou Province from Monday to Tuesday, where he stressed the importance of adhering to high-quality development and driving growth by further deepening reform and opening-up comprehensively. His visit to these two provinces in Southwest China came after the conclusion of the annual two sessions this month. Encouraging specialty industries Analysts said the visit will serve as an encouragement to development in areas with significant ethnic diversity. Moreover, Guizhou and Yunnan play a strategic role as gateways for China's opening-up toward Southeast Asia, reinforcing the country's commitment to broader international engagement, analysts said. Liu Kening, head of Yunnan Yeshun Agricultural Development Co, told the Global Times on Thursday that President Xi's visit to Yunnan's flower industry boosts confidence among industry professionals. "His visit to a modern flower industry park and his hope that people's lives will be as beautiful as flowers is a strong affirmation of our work. This motivates us to further strengthen the industry," Liu said. Yunnan's flower and cultural tourism industries have already reached a national scale, forming unique industry advantages that should continue to be strengthened. For the local economy, these industries can maximize regional strengths, drive faster growth, and boost residents' incomes, Su Jian, a professor at the School of Economics at Peking University and director of the National Center for Economic Research at Peking University, told the Global Times on Thursday. Yunnan Province, a major flower production and export hub in China, continues to lead the country in fresh-cut flower exports, benefiting from its favorable climate and geography. According to Kunming Customs, Yunnan's fresh-cut flower exports reached 760 million yuan in 2024, marking a 34.2 percent year-on-year increase. The province has held the top spot in export value of flowers for six consecutive years, according to a release from China's General Administration of Customs. Various regions are encouraged to develop their distinctive industries, such as promoting local specialty industries and agriculture in rural areas - an integral part of the rural revitalization strategy. By strengthening their specialty industries and working in coordination, different regions can complement one another and collectively drive national economic growth, said Su. Promoting further development President Xi's visit to Yunnan and Guizhou should be seen in the broader context of the development of the Southwest region and China's modernization and opening-up, analysts said. Su said that this year's economic development focus includes expanding domestic demand and upgrading consumption, particularly in cultural and artistic sectors, which could also drive the growth of related industries in Yunnan and Guizhou. As China reaches a critical juncture with the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan this year, supporting less developed regions is also part of a coordinated national strategy on ensuring balanced regional development, advancing rural revitalization, and promoting common prosperity and China's modernization, Tian Yun, an economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday. Moreover, Guizhou and Yunnan, with their rich ethnic heritage and deep cultural traditions, are key components of Chinese culture and hold strong economic potential. Transforming these cultural strengths into economic drivers aligns with China's opening-up strategy while enhancing the supply of high-quality products and services, said Tian. The expert noted that with new land-sea corridors and deep integration with Southeast Asia, Guizhou and Yunnan have emerged as key gateways to the Indian Ocean and regional economic cooperation. With major infrastructure projects like the China-Laos and China-Thailand railways strengthening connectivity with Southeast Asia, Yunnan and the broader Southwest region are well-positioned to drive regional industrial integration. This underscores China's commitment to opening-up and supporting regional development while further advancing local economic growth, said Tian. SOURCE Global Times HARTSVILLE, S.C., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) was awarded the prestigious Townes Award by the South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) on Wednesday evening. S.C. Commerce was celebrated for leading transformative growth in South Carolina. From large corporations to entrepreneurs and from life sciences to advanced manufacturing, S.C. Commerce is helping to advance the economy and create opportunities for all South Carolinians. (pictured from left: Danny Dorsel, President of the South Carolina Governors School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM); S.C. Commerce Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III; Deputy Secretary Ashely Teasdel; and Beth Dinndorf, Executive Director of the GSSM Foundation. In front of a packed ballroom at 1208 Washington Place in Columbia, S.C. Commerce Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III and Deputy Secretary Ashely Teasdel accepted the award during the 31st annual Townes Award Celebration. "The South Carolina Department of Commerce is honored to receive the prestigious Townes Award," said Secretary Harry Lightsey. "S.C. Commerce works to create economic opportunities to increase choices for all South Carolinians, and this award highlights our ongoing efforts to embrace the future to ensure the state's sustainable advantage for years to come. We greatly appreciate the support and recognition of the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics." Through collaborations, partnerships, and a historic $10.27 billion in announced capital investment in 2022, followed by $9.22 billion announced in 2023, S.C. Commerce, under the leadership of Secretary Lightsey and Deputy Secretary Teasdel, has achieved historic growth and secured some of the largest economic development deals on record. "GSSM proudly honors the Department Commerce for their unparalleled efforts in attracting businesses to South Carolina and supporting their growth," said Danny Dorsel, GSSM president. "Our research programs, which make GSSM a national leader in STEM education, depend on many companies to provide internships for our students and career opportunities for our alumni. We are grateful to partner with the Department of Commerce in making South Carolina a great place to live, learn and work." Since 1993, GSSM has presented the Townes Award to honor individuals, businesses, or institutions that have transformed South Carolina and the world. Dr. Charles H. Townes (19152015) was a native South Carolinian, Furman graduate, and Nobel Laureate in physics. In 1964, Dr. Townes received the Nobel Prize for his pioneering research in quantum electronics, leading to the invention of the laser. Applications to GSSM's residential program are being considered on a space-available basis. Interested students can apply at www.scgssm.org/admissions/apply-residential. Applications to GSSM's GoSciTech summer STEM camps are also open, offering students three options: a residential camp in Hartsville, day camps at locations across the state, and virtual camps accessible from anywhere. Interested students can apply at www.scgssm.org/summercamps. For more information on GSSM, visit www.scgssm.org or call 843-383-3900. About the South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics The South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) is a nationally ranked top 10 public high school that exists to bring world-class STEM education to students across the state. Founded in 1988 by Gov. Carroll Campbell, GSSM is a state resource that offers a variety of programs including an intensive 2-year residential high school, a challenging virtual engineering program, summer camps, and in-school experiences for students in 3rd through 12th grades. At GSSM challenge is viewed as a gateway to opportunity. Learn more about how we help students realize their full potential by visiting www.scgssm.org. About the South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics Foundation The GSSM Foundation advocates for GSSM and provides funds and support to enhance its programs and students' educational endeavors. The Foundation connects GSSM with a broad community and showcases GSSM's contribution to quality of life and economic prosperity of South Carolina and beyond. SOURCE South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics JSC Ukrzaliznytsia has launched the in-house production of R-65 rail joint bars metal plates used to connect and secure two rails at the joint which will partially meet the current demand for this essential component. "Ukrzaliznytsia has started producing R-65 rail joint bars at its own facilities. Previously, these were manufactured by the Azovstal Metallurgical Plant. However, after the enemy destroyed the plant and occupied Mariupol, the railway sector faced a severe shortage of these products," Ukrzaliznytsia reported on its website on Friday. For the past three years, railway workers have been forced to rely on existing stock and salvage parts from decommissioned rail sections, but this resource has now been exhausted. "Had we not initiated production and found a way to manufacture these parts, railway operations in certain areas could have come to a halt," Ukrzaliznytsia's board member, Yevhen Shramko, was quoted as saying by the company's press service. According to Shramko, the first batch of joint bars produced at Ukrzaliznytsia's facilities will weigh 45 tonnes. In 2025, the company plans to produce an initial 300 tonnes, while the cumulative shortfall accumulated over the past three years exceeds 1,000 tonnes. A production schedule is being developed to fully meet this demand, which requires an additional 700 tonnes. Ukrzaliznytsia's annual demand for these components alone is projected at 464 tonnes. Additionally, the company is considering export opportunities, particularly to the Baltic countries. HARRISBURG, Pa., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland Industrial Group, in conjunction with Prestige Auctions, is pleased to announce a two-day auction featuring the complete facility assets of Mold Base Industries, Inc., a well-known manufacturer of standard and custom mold bases, along with mold components and machined plates. The auction will take place on: (2) Hyd-Mech H40-60 Horizontal Band Saws 2 Available: 2021 Mazak FJV-35/60 Double Column CNC Vertical Machining Center - Day 1 (Live Webcast Sale): Tuesday, April 29th, 11 AM ET - Day 2 (Timed Online Only Lots Close): Wednesday, April 30th, 11 AM ET - Inspection: Monday, April 28th, from 9 AM 3 PM - Location: 7501 Derry St, Harrisburg, PA 17111 Featured Assets: (2) 2021 Mazak FJV-35/60 Double Column CNC Vertical Machining Centers with Mazatrol SmoothG CNC Controls, 60-position automatic tool changers, and Renishaw probes. (2) 2014 Mazak FJV-35/60 Double Column CNC Vertical Machining Centers with Mazak Nexus 2 CNC Controls, 60-position automatic tool changers, and Renishaw probes. CNC Duplex Mills Hamai CNC Duplex Milling Machines equipped with Fanuc CNC controls. Blanchard & Mattison Surface Grinders (8) Blanchard Rotary Surface Grinders Available up to 84" Capacity, (5) Mattison Horizontal Surface Grinders Available Up to 42" x 96" Capacity. CNC Horizontal Machining Centers Featuring Mazak FH 8800, Ultra 650X, and H800 models with multiple pallets and large tool changers. Horizontal Boring Mills & Gun Drills Shibaura BT-10B and Tarus TPSXGD4896 CNC Gun Drill for precision deep-hole drilling. Large Capacity Saw Department Hyd-Mech H40-60 Horizontal Band Saws, Oliver 879 Plate Saw & Daito Horizontal Band Saw Inspection Equipment 2021 Faro Arm Quantum-S Max, and a variety of quality inspection items, including calipers, micrometers, gage sets, granite tables and more. Rolling Stock & Cranes Forklifts, JLG scissor lifts, overhead bridge cranes, and jib cranes up to 10-ton capacity. Air Compressors & Manufacturing Support Equipment including an extensive selection of shop and office furniture. Pre-auction offers are accepted on major machines. "This auction represents a unique opportunity to acquire premium CNC machining and grinding equipment from a well-equipped facility. We anticipate strong interest from manufacturers looking to expand their capabilities with high-quality assets," said Alex Holland, President of Holland Industrial Group. Contact Information: For additional details or to register for the auction, contact: Shawn Gaffney (562) 480-304, [email protected] Don't miss this chance to acquire top-tier machining equipment at auction pricing! Visit hollandindustrialgroup.com for full details and registration. About Holland Industrial Group Holland Industrial Group specializes in industrial asset liquidation, offering turnkey solutions for surplus equipment auctions and plant closures across various industries. With decades of experience, Holland Industrial Group ensures maximum asset recovery through strategic marketing and auction execution. About Prestige Auctions Prestige Equipment is a worldwide leader in the procurement and sales of used metalworking machinery, fabricating equipment and complete manufacturing facilities. Prestige Auctions, our industrial liquidation division, offers custom solutions for manufacturing companies including online and webcast auctions, private treaty sales, customized asset management programs and more. Founded in 1990, Prestige Equipment is based in Melville, New York, and has a proven track record of providing customized procurement and liquidation solutions to its worldwide manufacturing customer base. SOURCE Holland Industrial Group DELRAY BEACH, Fla., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Hospital Information Systems Market, valued at US$58.13 billion in 2023, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 10.6%, reaching US$63.80 billion in 2024 and an impressive US$116.75 billion by 2030. The major drivers of the market growth are the rapid digital transformation of healthcare, underpinned by the increasing deployment of cloud-based HIS solutions and advanced interoperability platformsstrategic investments in next-generation clinical decision support systems and big data analytics drive operational efficiency and patient care. In addition, forward-thinking government initiatives and favorable regulatory policies drive healthcare IT modernization and integration, thus inducing strong market growth and innovation across the industry. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=144083226 Browse in-depth TOC on "Hospital Information Systems Market" 400 - Tables 50 - Figures 400 - Pages By Based on product type, the Electronic Health Record (EHR) segment is estimated to hold the second-largest share of the hospital information systems market. Key growth drivers include strong federal mandates like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which have spurred comprehensive EHR adoption by offering substantial financial incentives through Medicare and Medicaid programs. This regulatory support has facilitated better patient data gathering and integration, enabling chronic disease management and minimizing readmissions. In addition, the abundant, analytics-capable data created by EHRs is powering AI-driven diagnostics and precision treatment approvals, propelling better clinical results and operational efficiency. By Cloud-based deployment, Cloud-based deployment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the hospital information systems (HIS) market during the forecast period. This growth is driven by several key advantages, including seamless integration of data from multiple cloud sources, remote accessibility for users, low maintenance costs, and enhanced security and privacy. Additionally, cloud-based solutions eliminate the need for upfront hardware investments while offering flexibility in capacity and resource utilization. For Instance, In September 2023, Oracle (US) launched a cloud-based EHR system and generative AI tools to improve patient care and provider efficiency, and in August 2021, Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands) launched cloud-based solutions across patient care in a scalable, cost-effective model. A plethora of applications made accessible through the cloud-based model with core functionalities involving accounting, performance management, and also webmail and instant messages are all proving to be helpful in fuelling this particular portion. By geography, the hospital information systems (HIS) are segmented into five major regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Asia Pacific is expected to register highest growth during the forecast period. The drivers for this growth are increasing disposable incomes in a region that comprises almost two-thirds of the world's population. In China, the rapid increase in seniors, adding 10 million annually, coupled with the Healthy China 2030 initiative, is expanding healthcare access and modernizing service delivery. India's healthcare sector has surged over 20% in the past five years thanks to enhanced public and private spending and improvements in medical technologies. Additionally, robust investments in digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia, supported by strong post-pandemic FDI from the US, are further fueling market expansion. Tools like the newly developed Personalised Health Index enable healthcare leadersespecially in Singapore with its National Precision Medicine Programme to drive personalized care. Indonesia and India are rapidly advancing by adopting wearables and growing consumer trust. Request Sample Pages : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=144083226 Key players in the hospital information systems market include Epic Systems Corporation (US), Oracle (US), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), UnitedHealth Group (US), GE HealthCare (US), Medical Information Technology, Inc. (US), Veradigm LLC (US), TruBridge (US), Altera Digital Health Inc. (US), MEDHOST. (US), AdvancedMD, Inc. (US), IQVIA Inc. (US), athenahealth, Inc. (US), CompuGroup Medical (Germany), EClinicalWorks (US), NXGN Management LLC (US), Inovalon. (US), Dedalus S.p.A. (Italy), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Comarch SA. (Poland), and Solventum (US). Epic Systems Corporation (US): Epic Systems Corporation (US) is a leading vendor of hospital information systems with its all-in-one, end-to-end EHR solutions that integrate clinical, financial, and administrative information across the care settings. The company's approach emphasizes strong interoperability and sophisticated analytics using AI-fueled insights to augment clinical workflows and evidence-based decision-making. Epic's key strength is its EHR platform, utilized by roughly one in four US doctors, fueling enhanced patient care. In 2023, Epic Systems greatly increased its market presence through strategic acquisitions, such as the addition of 153 acute multispecialty hospitals, which is a classic example of horizontal consolidation. With a robust global presence and ongoing investment in innovation, Epic is well placed to spearhead the changing digital revolution in healthcare. Oracle (US): Oracle (US) provides integrated clinical and enterprise IT solutions. In June 2022, Oracle acquired Cerner Corporation, merging Cerner's clinical expertise with its robust analytics and automation capabilities. Oracle Health offers a comprehensive suite that includes an advanced EHR, Clinical Digital Assistant, and secure device connectivity. Its portfolio further enables public health reporting, referrals, virtual care, and effective document management. Such solutions provide instant access to patient information, thus supporting improved clinical decision-making and better outcomes of care. Oracle's strong data analytics solution has a perfect fusion of electronic health records, clinical trials information, and AI-based insights. Its middleware ensures smooth integration and deployment of diverse healthcare applications. Oracle operates across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa, thus its reach is wide across the globe. The enterprise platform supports safe, scalable, and trustworthy hospital information systems. Supported by solid financial results and heavy R&D investments, Oracle continues to lead healthcare IT innovation. For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Healthcare IT Market Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Healthcare Analytics Market Healthcare IT Integration Market Healthcare Information Exchange Market Get access to the latest updates on Hospital Information Systems Companies and Hospital Information Systems Market Size About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. In addition, MarketsandMarkets SalesIQ enables sales teams to identify high-priority accounts and uncover hidden opportunities, helping them build more pipeline and win more deals with precision. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Polytechnic University showcased its commitment to innovation in the Rotunda at the State Capitol, engaging legislators, staff, and visitors with an immersive display highlighting academic excellence and industry-driven STEM education. Florida Poly Day at the Capitol was held on March 20, bringing together University students, trustees, leadership and lawmakers to celebrate the Universitys significant contributions. Florida Poly Day at the Capitol, held on March 20, provided a prominent platform to highlight the University's unique position as the state's only public university exclusively dedicated to STEM disciplines. The event featured an interactive exhibit showcasing Florida Poly's cutting-edge programs, research, and economic impact. President Devin Stephenson led the University's delegation, engaging with policymakers to discuss Florida Poly's mission and its role as a vital asset to Florida's education and economy. He emphasized the critical importance of continued investment in the University's growth to keep pace with the increasing demand, propelled by its rising reputation. "Florida Poly Day at the Capitol is a tremendous opportunity to share our bold-thinking approach to STEM education with leaders from across the state," Stephenson said. "As Florida's premier STEM university, we are preparing the next generation of pioneers and problem-solvers who will fuel Florida's economic future. I'm incredibly proud to showcase the remarkable work happening at our institution and to share our story with the decision-makers who influence the direction of higher education and industry in our state." Attendees experienced some of the University's innovations firsthand through a virtual reality demonstration of student-created games, highlighting the talent and ingenuity of Florida Poly students. In addition, a wide array of promotional materials and informational resources was available to help illustrate Florida Poly's significant contributions to the state's economic development. "STEM is the big thing for us. It's all we do, and we want to make sure every representative and senator knows that's what we care about more than anything," said Dimitry Tsetsekas, a graduate student and member of the Student Government Association who attended the event. "For us at Florida Poly, it's not just about making degrees to print degrees. We're here to make the best of the best better. If any other school can do that, I'd love to see them try, but right now we're beating them all." Florida Poly graduates earn the highest salaries one year after graduation among all institutions in the State University System while also carrying the least amount of student debt, according to MyFloridaFuture. With University trustees, leadership, and dozens of students in attendance, the event underscored Florida Poly's commitment to academic excellence in STEM, strengthening industry partnerships, and equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in Florida's high-tech fields. "The best reason to be part of this day was to witness once again the caliber of our students and how impressive each of them is," said Patrick Hagan, Florida Poly trustee. "These students already have jobs waiting for them and the representatives were very impressed by the fact that most of them are staying in Florida, building the economy." SOURCE Florida Polytechnic University KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Malaysia Aviation Group today announced an order for 18 737-8 and 12 737-10 single-aisle jets to renew Malaysia Airlines' fleet with more fuel-efficient airplanes. The order, which booked in January 2025 and was posted as unidentified on Boeing's orders and deliveries website, will enable Malaysia's flag carrier to introduce new lie-flat seats and meet growing travel demand in Southeast Asia one of the fastest-growing commercial aviation markets. Malaysia Aviation Group Announces Order for up to 60 Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes The region's airplane fleet is projected to grow nearly 250% over the next 20 years, underscoring the importance of Malaysia Aviation Group's investment in the 737-8's versatility and the 737-10's capacity as the largest member of the 737 MAX family. "This is a significant investment for Malaysia Aviation Group, enabling us to deliver cutting-edge premium cabin offerings and state-of-the-art technology to our customers," said Izham Ismail, group managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group. "The addition of these new airplanes will not only enhance our fleet's efficiency and increase seating capacity, but allow us to elevate the overall inflight experience, with our passengers' needs at the forefront." The Boeing 737 has served as the backbone of Malaysia Airlines' single-aisle fleet for nearly 60 years following the introduction of its first 737-100 in 1969. Malaysia Airlines has since operated nearly every variant of the 737 family and will continue that legacy with this latest order for the 737 MAX. "Today's announcement represents another milestone in Boeing's long-standing partnership with Malaysia and reflects our enduring commitment to the country's aerospace sector," said Dr. Brendan Nelson AO, president of Boeing Global. "The opportunity to introduce more Boeing airplanes in Malaysia is a point of pride for our many Malaysian employees who contribute to every airplane Boeing builds and delivers to customers around the world." With more than 50 737 jets in Malaysia Airlines' fleet, the introduction of additional 737-8s and the 737-10 offers operational commonality and the best per-seat economics in their class, reducing fuel use and emissions by 20%. "We are honored to build upon our valued partnership with Malaysia Aviation Group and support them in modernizing their fleet," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "Adding the 737-8 and 737-10 will equip Malaysia Airlines with the operational flexibility, environmental performance and additional capacity they need to better serve a growing number of passengers." Passenger air traffic across Southeast Asia will more than triple over the next 20 years, as projected in Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook, the company's long-term demand forecast for commercial airplanes and services. Of the more than 4,700 new airplanes expected to be delivered to the region's operators through 2043, nearly 80% will be single-aisle jets, such as the 737 MAX family. Boeing's presence in Malaysia includes Boeing Composites Malaysia, the company's first wholly owned manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia with an all-Malaysian workforce. The facility provides composite products and subassemblies for all Boeing commercial airplanes, including the 737 MAX. Boeing supports the development of aerospace capabilities in Malaysia through safety training, sustainability workshops, supply chain development, university collaborations and community support initiatives. About Malaysia Aviation Group Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is a global aviation organisation comprising three focused business portfolios: Airlines Business, Loyalty & Travel Services (LTS), and Aviation Services. The airlines portfolio includes Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings, and AMAL by Malaysia Airlines. The Aviation Services portfolio consists of MAB Engineering, MASkargo, AeroDarat Services, and MAB Academy. The LTS portfolio offers travel services and loyalty programs through Journify, Enrich and MHholidays. MAG aims to become Asia's leading travel and aviation services group, providing customised end-to-end travel solutions. About Boeing A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity. Contact Boeing Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE Boeing NEW YORK, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TO: ALL RECORD HOLDERS AND ALL BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC. ("AIMMUNE" OR THE "COMPANY") COMMON STOCK WHO HELD SUCH STOCK AT ANY TIME DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE TENDER OFFER INVOLVING AIMMUNE, SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A. ("NESTLE"), AND SPN MERGERSUB, INC. ("MERGER SUB") (FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 THROUGH OCTOBER 9, 2020) AND HAD THEIR SHARES EXCHANGED FOR $34.50 PER SHARE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLOSING OF THE MERGER (ON OCTOBER 13, 2020) (THE "CLASS"). YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, that a hearing will be held on July 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Class Members should check the Settlement Class website in advance of the Final Approval Hearing to determine whether that hearing will occur in person at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, Courtroom 7, San Francisco, CA 94102 or via a remote link. The hearing will be held for the purpose of determining: (1) whether the proposed Settlement of the Litigation for $27.5 million should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable, and adequate; (2) whether a Final Judgment and Order of Dismissal with Prejudice should be entered by the Court dismissing the Litigation with prejudice and releasing the Released Claims; (3) whether the Plan of Allocation for the Net Settlement Fund is fair, reasonable, and adequate and should be approved; and (5) whether the application of Class Counsel for the payment of attorneys' fees and expenses, and any service award to Co-Lead Plaintiffs pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78u-4(a)(4), should be approved. IF YOU HELD AIMMUNE COMMON STOCK AT ANY TIME DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE TENDER OFFER INVOLVING AIMMUNE, NESTLE, AND MERGER SUB (FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 THROUGH OCTOBER 9, 2020 (THE "CLASS PERIOD")) AND HAD YOUR SHARES EXCHANGED FOR $34.50 PER SHARE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLOSING OF THE MERGER, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS LITIGATION, INCLUDING THE RELEASE AND EXTINGUISHMENT OF CLAIMS YOU MAY POSSESS RELATING TO YOUR HOLDING(S) OF AIMMUNE COMMON STOCK DURING THE CLASS PERIOD. If you have not received the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action ("Notice") and the Proof of Claim and Release form, you may obtain copies by writing to In re Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. Securities Litigation, RG/2 Claims Administration LLC, P.O. Box 59479, Philadelphia, PA 19102-9479, or [email protected], by telephone at 1-866-742-4955, or on the Internet at www.rg2claims.com/aimmune.html. If you are a Class Member, in order to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must submit a Proof of Claim and Release by mail, postmarked no later than June 6, 2025, or online at www.rg2claims.com/aimmune.html no later than June 6, 2025, establishing that you are entitled to recovery. If you are a Member of the Class and you desire to be excluded from the Class, you must submit a request for exclusion so that it is postmarked no later than June 6, 2025, in the manner and form explained in the detailed Notice referred to above. All Members of the Class who do not timely and validly request exclusion from the Class will be bound by any judgment entered in the Litigation pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement. Objections to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, Class Counsel's request for the payment of attorneys' fees and expenses, and any award to Co-Lead Plaintiffs must be submitted to the Court either by filing them electronically (if you are an attorney and have a PACER account) or in person at any location of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on or before June 6, 2025 or by mailing them to the Court, postmarked no later than June 6, 2025 to the following address: Clerk of the Court United States District Court Northern District of California 450 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR THE COURT'S CLERK'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS NOTICE. If you have any questions about the Settlement, you may contact Class Counsel at the address listed below: Class Counsel: Monteverde & Associates PC Juan E. Monteverde The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4740 New York, New York 10118 [email protected] (212) 971-1341 Michael J. Palestina Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC 1100 Poydras Street, Suite 960 New Orleans, LA 70163 [email protected] (504) 455-1400 BY ORDER OF THE COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC MUMBAI, India and Oldenzaal, Netherlands, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanomi B.V., a Dutch subsidiary of the global pharma major Lupin Limited, today announced that it has won the prestigious CMO Award for Life Science Leadership in Drug Delivery, during the Drug, Chemical and Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) week at New York. Nanomi's pioneering approach in drug delivery has set new benchmarks in the industry, and this award serves as a motivation to continue its mission to revolutionize healthcare. Lupin Logo Dr. Shahin Fesharaki, Global Chief Scientific Officer, Lupin, said, "This recognition underscores our dedication to advancing science and highlights Nanomi's pioneering efforts in drug delivery. We remain committed to innovation that enables the delivery of high-quality medicines that significantly improve patient outcomes." Established in 2011, the CMO Leadership Awards are presented by Outsourced Pharma and Life Science Connect with research by Orientation Marketing and recognize top outsourcing partners, based on the feedback from sponsor companies who outsource manufacturing. This year is the first year that the CMO Leadership Award is juried. About Lupin Lupin Limited is a global pharmaceutical leader headquartered in Mumbai, India, with products distributed in over 100 markets. Lupin specializes in pharmaceutical products, including branded and generic formulations, complex generics, biotechnology products, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Trusted by healthcare professionals and consumers globally, the company enjoys a strong position in India and the U.S. across multiple therapy areas, including respiratory, cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, anti-infective, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and women's health. Lupin has 15 state-of-the-art manufacturing sites and 7 research centers globally, along with a dedicated workforce of over 23,000 professionals. Lupin is committed to improving patient health outcomes through its subsidiaries - Lupin Diagnostics, Lupin Digital Health, and Lupin Manufacturing Solutions. To know more, visit www.lupin.com or follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lupin. To know more about Nanomi, visit www.nanomi.com or follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/nanomi. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2461104/4811288/Lupin_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647166/Nanomi_Logo.jpg WASHINGTON, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from Richmond Hill, New York, will have the chance to connect with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers as they answer prerecorded science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related questions from aboard the International Space Station. Watch the 20-minute space-to-Earth call at 12 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 26, on NASA+ and learn how to watch NASA content on various platforms, including social media. NASA astronaut and Pilot for NASAs SpaceX Crew-10 mission Nichole Ayers is pictured training inside a mockup of a Dragon cockpit at the companys facilities in Hawthorne, California. Credit: SpaceX The event, open to students and their families, will be hosted by Richmond Hill High School, a New York City public high school in Queens South, District 27. The school's goal is to inspire their students to pursue STEM careers. Media interested in covering the event must contact Lilly Donaldson at [email protected] by 5 p.m., Monday, March 24. For more than 24 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through SCaN's (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network. Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the space station benefit people on Earth and lays the groundwork for other agency missions. As part of NASA's Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars; inspiring Artemis Generation explorers and ensuring the United States continues to lead in space exploration and discovery. See videos and lesson plans highlighting space station research at: https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation SOURCE NASA RICHFIELD, Ohio, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Navigate360, the nation's leader in holistic school safety solutions, is proud to announce an enhanced partnership with Critical Response Group (CRG) and 911Cellular. With the integrated power of these safety leaders, Navigate360 solidifies its position as the most comprehensive and reliable emergency preparedness and response platform and equips schools to respond rapidly and with confidence in any emergency. School safety is complex, and Navigate360 understands the need for a proactive, multi-layered approach. This partnership delivers precisely thatseamlessly integrating powerful emergency response technologies to ensure rapid action in critical moments. This best-in-class integration unites three industry-leading technologies to provide schools with an unparalleled level of security, ensuring faster and more effective emergency response. When every second matters, the speed and effectiveness of a school's emergency response can be the difference between lives saved and tragedy. By choosing best-in-class technology, schools ensure that they are equipped with the fastest, most reliable tools to protect students and staff. The partnership between Navigate360, CRG, and 911Cellular provides an unparalleled level of preparednessactionable information, shortened response times, and enhanced coordination between staff and first responders. This foundation is essential for a successful emergency response and only available through this powerful partnership. CRG Mapping The signature offering of Critical Response Group is the Collaborative Response Graphics (CRG) product, which enhances situational awareness and help prepare first responders for more effective command and control between diverse agencies and disciplines when responding to unfamiliar buildings and campuses. CRGs are standardized, site-specific, and geo-rectified common operating pictures that combine facility floor plans, high-resolution imagery, accurate labeling of key features, and a gridded overlay together into one map. CRGs were born from lessons learned by US Special Operation Forces (USSOF) and successfully transitioned for use by domestic public safety professionals. 911Cellular 911Celluar's Mobile Panic Alert System, rated the #1 panic button vendor by the Florida Department of Education Selection Committee, offers a comprehensive panic alert system that goes beyond a simple mobile app. 911Cellular provides schools with multiple emergency communication options, including wearable badges, wall-mounted buttons, and software-enabled panic buttons on cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and computers. Designed for rapid response, it ensures instant, discreet connections to first responders and security personnel while maintaining Alyssa's Law compliance. Its advanced indoor positioning technology, tested by NIST, provides precise location details, helping emergency teams respond faster and more effectively. Navigate360's Emergency Management Navigate360 Emergency Management provides real-time information to school personnel during an emergency or drill to ensure every life in a school building is accounted for, custody directives are adhered to, and reunification is swift and efficient. With features like instant alerts, silent panic alarms, and interactive site mapping, it empowers staff and first responders with critical information to act quickly and effectively. By streamlining emergency planning, response, and reunification, Navigate360 Emergency Management ensures schools stay prepared, compliant, and equipped to protect every life. Address Safety Concerns with Confidence The combined power of CRG, 911Cellular, and Navigate360 Emergency Management is designed to address the critical considerations schools face when selecting safety technology. These solutions: Support Rapid Emergency Response: By integrating real-time alert systems with highly detailed mapping, the technologies empower faster identification and response to emerging threats, ensuring that schools remain on the cutting edge of safety innovation. By integrating real-time alert systems with highly detailed mapping, the technologies empower faster identification and response to emerging threats, ensuring that schools remain on the cutting edge of safety innovation. Ensure Compliance with Regulatory Mandates: Built by security and industry experts, these solutions offer peace of mind that all legal requirements, such as Alyssa's Law, are met. Built by security and industry experts, these solutions offer peace of mind that all legal requirements, such as Alyssa's Law, are met. Offer Seamless Compatibility with Existing Security Systems: These technologies integrate smoothly with existing school security infrastructures, allowing schools to enhance safety measures without overhauling current systems. These technologies integrate smoothly with existing school security infrastructures, allowing schools to enhance safety measures without overhauling current systems. Provide Ease of Use for All Stakeholders: From school staff to law enforcement to administrators, these tools are designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that every individual involved in safety protocols can respond swiftly and effectively. The Power of a Layered Approach "Through this partnership with CRG and 911Cellular, we are providing schools with the most effective, reliable, and proactive emergency response solution on the market today," said JP Guilbault, Navigate360 CEO. "By integrating best-in-class mapping, instant panic alerts, and real-time response coordination, we are ensuring that schools and first responders have the critical tools they need to protect students and staff. This partnership sets a new standard for school safety." With this enhanced collaboration, Navigate360 continues its mission to provide schools with the most advanced safety solutions, giving administrators, staff, and first responders the confidence and tools needed to act swiftly in any emergency. Schools that adopt these integrated solutions will benefit from cutting-edge safety measures designed to keep students and staff protected in the face of evolving threats. For more information about Navigate360's industry-leading Emergency Management solution, click here. About Navigate360 Navigate360 is the nation's leading provider of safety solutions for schools, offering comprehensive, research-backed solutions that span the full spectrum of safety, from prevention and preparation to response and recovery. Trusted by thousands of schools nationwide, Navigate360 is committed to fostering safer learning environments through innovation and partnership. For media inquiries please contact Basheer Mohamed at [email protected] SOURCE Navigate360 MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MARCH 26, 2025 Virtual Press Conference will launch You Have the Power to Save Lives Campaign to Promote Naloxone NEW YORK, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: A coalition of Black community leaders, government officials, and health experts across seven cities is launching a new campaign You Have the Power to Save Lives to combat disproportionally high overdose deaths in Black communities. Supported by public health group Vital Strategies, the campaign has mobilized leaders across seven U.S. cities - Louisville, Kentucky; Durham, North Carolina; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Newark, New Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Detroit, Michigan; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You Have the Power to Save Lives is promoting overdose-reversing naloxone, an easy-to-use nasal spray medication, and has partnered with local governments and community groups to increase the availability of free naloxone especially in Black communities. The campaign also includes local advertising and community organizing, calling on residents to put power in their own hands by getting and carrying naloxone. At the heart of the campaign is a new website YouCanSaveLives.org where people can find where to get naloxone in their community, hear powerful, real-world testimonials, and take action to spread the word about the importance of carrying and using naloxone. In addition, the campaign released an accompanying Data Brief. Findings include: Nationwide, there has been a recent 24% decline in overdose deaths, but data suggests the number of deaths in Black communities remains disproportionately high and calls for equitable investment and focus on health interventions to address this problem Overdose rates in Black communities have been rising for the past ten years but have skyrocketed since 2020 when overdose rates in the Black population overtook rates in the white population. In the vast majority of states where recent data is available by race, Black communities suffer higher fatal overdose rates than white populations. The campaign launch will be on Zoom at 1 pm EST /10 am PST on Wednesday, March 26. WHO: Sharda Sekaran , moderator , moderator Daliah Heller , Vice President of Overdose Prevention Initiatives at Vital Strategies , Vice President of Overdose Prevention Initiatives at Vital Strategies Tracie Gardner , Executive Director of the National Black Harm Reduction Network , Executive Director of the National Black Harm Reduction Network Marc Morial, President of National Urban League (recorded) (recorded) Keli McLoyd , Director of the Overdose Response Unit at the Philadelphia Managing Director's Office , Director of the Overdose Response Unit at the Philadelphia Managing Director's Office Marshea Browner , Director of Community Health Services at the Detroit Health Department , Director of Community Health Services at the Detroit Health Department Dr. Wanda Boone , Founder of Together for Resilient Youth in Durham County , Founder of Together for Resilient Youth in Durham County Shreeta Waldon , Executive Director, Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition , Executive Director, Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition Anita Garrett , a Milwaukee advocate, lost her son to a drug overdose. , a advocate, lost her son to a drug overdose. Kimberly Douglas , a mother whose son died from a drug overdose. She is building a support group for Black Moms who have lost children to overdose. , a mother whose son died from a drug overdose. She is building a support group for Black Moms who have lost children to overdose. Video of paid media ad WHEN: March 26, 2025, at 1 pm EST/ 10 am PST HOW: PLEASE REGISTER HERE TO RECEIVE ZOOM LINK: https://vitalstrategies.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-AsJ22_dTlSYbR8JBU8ucw Media Contacts: Michael K. Frisby: [email protected] 202-625-4328 Tony Newman: [email protected] 646-335-5384 SOURCE Vital Strategies BERLIN, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2025, the automotive industry is embracing Visual Language Actions (VLAs) to enhance ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and autonomous driving technology. VLAs offer advanced scene reasoning and generalization, outperforming traditional end-to-end plus Visual Language Models (VLM). Nexdata, a world's leading provider of AI data solutions, is proud to showcase it's cutting-edge data solutions at Tech.AD 2025. This highly anticipated event brings together automotive engineers, OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and research institutes to explore the next generation of automotive technology. Pan Pan, Head of Business Development at Nexdata, took the stage as part of the event's speaker lineup, delivering an insightful presentation titled "Hyperspeed Project Scaling: Task Management, Data Exchange, Automation Fuel Growth." In her presentation, she emphasized the critical role of high-quality, diverse, and scalable datasets in improving the accuracy and reliability of AI models for autonomous vehicles. She presented Nexdata's data solutions in VLAs technology, sharing case studies in data collection, annotation, and model validation, offering attendees invaluable insights on optimizing AI development for self-driving technologies. At Booth #7, Nexdata's team showcased their comprehensive data solutions, including multi-sensor data collection, annotation services, and an advanced data annotation platform. Nexdata is committed to advancing ADAS/AV AI models with high-quality training data that ensures safer and more comfortable driving experiences. Nexdata provides multi-sensor data collection for roadside, point cloud, and APD data, supporting diverse environmental and weather conditions worldwide. The company also offers data annotation services in various sensor data formats and annotation types, such as point cloud tracking, sensor fusion annotation, mapping annotation, OCC annotation and etc. With data processing factories in Indonesia, Vietnam, and China, and a team of over 20,000 professional annotators, Nexdata is fully equipped to manage large-scale projects with precision and efficiency. The cornerstone of Nexdata's offering is its human-in-the-loop full-stack annotation platform, which: Achieve cost efficiency improvement through human-machine collaboration Support flexible upload and download methods with customized APIs Support authorization management to achieve division of labor Regular third-party organization test to ensure platform security and reliability Full coverage of project lifecycle from upload to annotation to QA Beyond ADAS/AV data solutions, Nexdata offers off-the-shelf PB-level LLM datasets, over 1,000,000 hours of speech datasets, and 800TB of computer vision datasets. These datasets are fully cleared for copyright, have been rigorously tested, and are trusted by leading global AI companies. For more information about Nexdata's datasets and data solutions, visit: www.nexdata.ai About Nexdata Nexdata provides top-notch training data solutions and serves as your reliable partner. With an extensive array of off-the-shelf datasets and flexible data collection and annotation services, our mission revolves around unleashing AI's full potential and expediting the AI industry's growth. SOURCE Nexdata As of March 20, Ukrainian farmers had sown 250,400 hectares of spring grains and legumes across 19 regions 16.7% more than by the same date last year, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported on Friday. According to the ministry, the sowing area includes 36,700 hectares of wheat (up from 12,900 hectares a week earlier), 133,500 hectares of barley (up from 45,200 hectares), 57,000 hectares of peas (up from 17,800 hectares), and 16,900 hectares of oats (up from 7,200 hectares). Over the past week alone, Ukrainian farmers have planted 167,400 hectares of grains and legumes. Leading regions in terms of sowing pace include Mykolaiv region with 43,000 hectares of spring crops, including 1,500 hectares of wheat, 22,500 hectares of barley, 18,700 hectares of peas, and 300 hectares of oats, Ternopil region with 6,400 hectares of wheat, 21,300 hectares of barley, 2,100 hectares of peas, and 1,500 hectares of oats, Kirovohrad region with 900 hectares of wheat, 14,500 hectares of barley, and 10,500 hectares of peas, Vinnytsia region with 5,600 hectares of wheat, 12,300 hectares of barley, 5,300 hectares of peas, and 900 hectares of oats, Rivne region with 500 hectares of wheat, 10,700 hectares of barley, 700 hectares of peas, and 3,300 hectares of oats. The ministry reiterated that the total planned sowing area for spring grains and legumes in 2025 is over 5.7 million hectares, in line with 2024 levels. A key feature of the new season is a 28% increase in spring wheat planting, reaching 222,800 hectares, driven by stable demand from processors and exporters. As of March 21, 2024, Ukraine had sown 214,500 hectares of spring crops across 20 regions, including 53,100 hectares of peas, 117,300 hectares of barley, 29,000 hectares of wheat, and 10,600 hectares of oats. OAK BROOK, Ill., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tornados and severe thunderstorms in Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and South Carolina have resulted in hundreds of homes, schools and businesses being destroyed or severely damaged. In response to these catastrophic weather events, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation's leading non-profit association dedicated to preventing insurance fraud and crime, is warning residents and business owners about potentially fraudulent contractors who prey on disaster areas. NICB agents are currently coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as NICB member insurance companies, to aid in the recovery process and support residents in preventing fraud. As first responder efforts subside, NICB agents will deploy in the region to assist our partners in combating any fraud that arises as the rebuilding process begins. "Spring weather systems can result in catastrophic weather events like the tornados and severe thunderstorms we are seeing this month across Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio and the Tennessee Valleys and South Carolina," said Charlie Worsham NICB's regional director in the Southeast region. "It is crucial for local residents to be aware that some contractors may promise help, ask for the assignment of benefits, and after being paid, disappear, never to be heard from again. Knowing the warning signs of potentially untrustworthy contractors can protect vulnerable citizens and deter this type of crime." Fraud schemes may come from companies or individuals promising debris and tree removal, home construction and medical services. NICB urges local residents to do their due diligence, check in with their insurance carrier and verify the credentials of anyone they plan to hire for a service. Common red flags include high-pressure sales tactics via door-to-door solicitation, online or by phone. Additionally, pushing residents to sign contracts on the spot often with multiple blank spaces in them demanding payment upfront, and even requiring an Assignment of Benefits agreement which transfers insurance rights to the contractor can be a signal to double check credentials and credibility. Best Practices for Deterring Contractor Fraud 1. Contact your insurance company immediately about damaged property. Ensure that you understand all documents related to your claim and consult your insurance carrier before making any decisions. 2. Obtain multiple bids and estimates; verify contractors. Obtain multiple estimates to compare prices and services. to compare prices and services. Request references and conduct background checks on the contractor. Verify the contractor's identity by asking for their driver's license and recording their license number and vehicle plate. Be cautious of out-of-state licenses and vehicle registrations, which may indicate potential fraud . . Do your own research and inquiries through your state licensing agencies and the Better Business Bureau. 3. Scrutinize all offers and contracts. Avoid contractors who pressure you into immediate decisions or signing contracts on the spot. Get all agreements in writing , including costs, work to be done, timelines, and payment schedules. , including costs, work to be done, timelines, and payment schedules. Do not sign contracts with blank spaces ; these can be filled later with terms you did not agree to. ; these can be filled later with terms you did not agree to. Be cautious of signing an Assignment of Benefits agreement, which could transfer your insurance rights to a contractor. Never pay the full amount upfront or sign a completion certificate until you are satisfied that the work is finished. 4. Report suspicious activity immediately. If something seems off or you suspect fraud , report it to law enforcement and your insurance company immediately. , report it to law enforcement and your insurance company immediately. Avoid sharing personal information over the phone, especially with callers claiming to represent a national company. Additional resources and information can be found by visiting NICB.org or calling NICB's hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB. About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit NICB.org. SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) OAK BROOK, Ill., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wildfires caused by dry conditions and high winds in Oklahoma have resulted in hundreds of homes, schools and businesses being destroyed or severely damaged. In response to these catastrophic weather events, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation's leading non-profit association dedicated to preventing insurance fraud and crime, is warning residents and business owners about potentially fraudulent contractors who prey on disaster areas. NICB agents are currently coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as NICB member insurance companies, to aid in the recovery process and support residents in preventing fraud. As first responder efforts subside, NICB agents will deploy in the region to assist our partners in combating any fraud that arises as the rebuilding process begins. "Spring weather systems can result in the catastrophic weather event Oklahoma is experiencing with these wildfires," said Niambi Tillman, regional director, at NICB. "It is crucial for local residents to be aware that some contractors may promise help, ask for the assignment of benefits, and after being paid, disappear, never to be heard from again. Knowing the warning signs of potentially untrustworthy contractors can protect vulnerable citizens and deter this type of crime." Fraud schemes may come from companies or individuals promising debris and tree removal, home construction and medical services. NICB urges local residents to do their due diligence, check in with their insurance carrier and verify the credentials of anyone they plan to hire for a service. Common red flags include high-pressure sales tactics via door-to-door solicitation, online or by phone. Additionally, pushing residents to sign contracts on the spot often with multiple blank spaces in them demanding payment upfront, and even requiring an Assignment of Benefits agreement which transfers insurance rights to the contractor can be signals to double check credentials and credibility. Best Practices for Deterring Contractor Fraud Contact your insurance company immediately about damaged property. Ensure that you understand all documents related to your claim and consult your insurance carrier before making any decisions. Obtain multiple bids and estimates; verify contractors. Obtain multiple estimates to compare prices and services. Request references and conduct background checks on the contractor. Verify the contractor's identity by asking for their driver's license and recording their license number and vehicle plate. Be cautious of out-of-state licenses and vehicle registrations, which may indicate potential fraud . Do your own research and inquiries through your state licensing agencies and the Better Business Bureau. Scrutinize all offers and contracts. Avoid contractors who pressure you into immediate decisions or signing contracts on the spot. Get all agreements in writing, including costs, work to be done, timelines, and payment schedules. Do not sign contracts with blank spaces; these can be filled later with terms you did not agree to. Be cautious of signing an Assignment of Benefits agreement, which could transfer your insurance rights to a contractor. Never pay the full amount upfront or sign a completion certificate until you are satisfied that the work is finished. Report suspicious activity immediately. If something seems off or you suspect fraud , report it to law enforcement and your insurance company immediately. Avoid sharing personal information over the phone, especially with callers claiming to represent a national company. Additional resources and information can be found by visiting NICB.org or calling NICB's hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB. About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit NICB.org. SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) NEW YORK, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- La Roche-Posay is proud to announce Tyler "NINJA" Blevins, world renown gamer, streamer, and entertainer, as its new partner in cause for the Save your Skin brand platform, dedicated to skin cancer prevention and detection. This unprecedented collaboration comes a year after the 33 years old global icon shared with the world his melanoma diagnosis which was revealed during his annual mole check with a dermatologist. "Don't play games with detection!"- Tyler "NINJA" Blevins, pro-gamer and melanoma survivor. Post this "By sharing my personal experience far beyond my community, through the campaign with La Roche-Posay, I want to deliver a crucial message about skin cancer prevention: don't play games with detection," said Tyler "NINJA" Blevins, pro-gamer and melanoma survivor. With an engaged and passionate fanbase across multiple digital platforms, NINJA has transcended the gaming industry, bringing an inclusive and powerful message that resonates with audiences globally. Tyler "NINJA" Blevins embodies La Roche-Posay's core values of authenticity and transparency, anchoring this cause across multiple generations. "Together, NINJA and La Roche-Posay are ushering in a new era of skin cancer awareness. With cases rising at an alarming rate,our mission is clear: to educate people about the importance of annual mole checks so that melanoma remains 99% preventable and treatable, especially among younger generations," said Alexandra Reni-Catherine, Global Brand General Manager for La Roche-Posay. SAVE YOUR SKIN PROGRAM To ensure a healthier future for all, La Roche-Posay has committed more than 20 years of research and awareness driving campaigns on the prevention and detection of skin cancer. With global initiatives in place to offer annual free mole checks in various communities and education campaigns with Dermatologists on sun safety habits, and self-detection via the ABCDE method. La Roche-Posay remains at the forefront of skin cancer awareness. 40% 1 is the projected increase in melanoma rates for today's children by 2040. is the projected increase in melanoma rates for today's children by 2040. 99% 2 of melanomas are curable if detected early. of melanomas are curable if detected early. 70% 3 of the population doesn't understand the difference between UVA which penetrates deep and causes aging and UVB which affects the surface and causes sunburn. of the population doesn't understand the difference between UVA which penetrates deep and causes aging and UVB which affects the surface and causes sunburn. 80% 4 of the total lifetime UV exposure is received before the age of 18. of the total lifetime UV exposure is received before the age of 18. 12% 5 only of the global population systematically uses all protective measures during exposure. only of the global population systematically uses all protective measures during exposure. 200K free mole checks were offered by La Roche-Posay in 2024. The Save your Skin campaign with NINJA will be launched during the EADV Congress in September 2025 in Paris. For additional information about La Roche-Posay, visit www.laroche-posay.com and follow La Roche-Posay on Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube and Facebook. ABOUT LA ROCHE-POSAY In 2025, La Roche-Posay celebrates 50 years of life-changing dermatological skincare solutions. Created by a pharmacist in 1975, the brand is now present in over 60 countries and is recommended by 100,000 dermatologists worldwide. It provides a unique range of daily skincare developed for every skin type, from newborns to cancer patients, from UV protection to repairing severely fragilized skin. 1 Arnold et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2022;158(5) 2 www.skincancer.org 3 Passeron. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37 4 Raymond-Lezman JR, Riskin S. Attitudes, Behaviors, and Risks of Sun Protection. Cureus. 2023;15(2):e34934. 5 Passeron. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37 SOURCE La Roche-Posay TECHNOLOGY LEADERS PARTNER TO MEET THE INSATIABLE DEMAND FOR A DATA TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED BY HYPERSCALERS IN THE AI-POWERED ECONOMY. ORLANDO, Fla. and MILAN, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prysmian has entered into a trailblazing long-term partnership agreement with Relativity Networks, the leading at-scale provider of next-generation fiber-optic technology, for volume production of the hollow-core optical fiber and cable in demand by operators of the data centers required for the AI economy. The enormous demands for electric power to handle AI-ready data processing has created a potential bottleneck in the construction of new data centers. Relativity Networks' patent-pending hollow-core fiber (HCF) technology, together with Prysmian's best-in-class fiber-optic cables, is addressing that problem by enabling cloud-computing hyperscalers to locate data centers closer to the sources of power whether conventional electric utilities or green-energy providers. This collaboration will see Prysmian and Relativity Networks co-manufacture fiber and cable based on Relativity Networks' HCF technology, which was developed in collaboration with the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida. Leveraging Prysmian's global manufacturing expertise, the companies will work together to seamlessly transition the industry to hollow-core fiber technology, meeting the growing demands of data centers worldwide. In addition, Relativity Networks will provide connectors and hardware that ensure compatibility with existing fiber-optic interfaces. Hollow-core fiber transmits data nearly 50% faster when compared with the conventional fiber-optic cable long in use by the data industry, and enables data to travel 1.5 times farther without impacting the latency that can throw intricate multi-location data operations and applications out of sync. While traditional fiber-optic cables typically limit data centers to within 60 kilometers (37 miles) of power providers or to one another due to latency constraints, hollow-core fiber technology extends this range to 90 kilometers (56 miles). For over 30 years, Prysmian's optical fiber solutions have led the industry, setting standards for quality, reliability, and high-volume data management. The company's manufacturing expertisebuilt on decades of developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art optical fibercombined with its global leadership in communications and energy solutions, positions the company to play a central role in meeting this pressing demand. "Prysmian has long been a global champion in setting the standard in the field of fiber optics, and our cutting-edge solutions are always evolving to meet the demands of our customers," said Prysmian Executive Vice President Digital Solutions Frederick Persson. "This, combined with Relativity Networks' technology, will enable both our companies to lead the global market for hollow-core fiber well into the future - a hugely significant area of focus as we work to accelerate in order to meet the demands emerging from data centers and AI applications worldwide." Relativity Networks has already gained significant traction among hyperscalers eager to adopt hollow-core fiber at scale. This strategic agreement between Prysmian and Relativity Networks will ensure the large-scale manufacturing necessary to meet the rising demand for advanced optical fiber and cable solutions for data centers across the U.S. and globally. "This deal is a big breakthrough for the entire industry who has been demanding HCF cables," said Relativity Networks founder and CEO Jason Eichenholz. "It will enable us to meet a seemingly insatiable demand by hyperscalers for hollow-core fiber technology. With Prysmian, a recognized leader in communications and energy cable systems, we will better address the telecommunications and data center markets and provide the builders of AI-driven data centers the capabilities they've been clamouring for. The AI economy requires hollow-core fiber. This partnership enables our companies, together, to be the leading global provider of this vital technology." As part of this long-term partnership, Prysmian will manufacture Relativity Networks' HCF fiber at a dedicated facility located in Prysmian's production center in Eindhoven, Netherlands. This strategic production site will enable the companies to meet the growing global demand for innovative optical fiber solutions, ensuring that data centers and AI applications benefit from cutting-edge fiber-optic technology. For more information, visit www.relativitynetworks.ai and www.prysmian.com Relativity Networks Relativity Networks is the leading at-scale Hollow Core Fiber provider that has greatly accelerated the speed of light in fiber optics. By replacing glass with air, the company has created technology that allows data to move nearly 50% faster and farther without unacceptable delays, addressing the critical power challenges of today, including the need for higher performing data centers in the age of AI. Hyperscalers rely on Relativity Networks to provide the geographic flexibility to build data centers closer to where power is available while meeting exacting data-transmission latency (time lag) requirements. Relativity Networks' HCF and connectivity solutions integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, unlocking immediate expansion options beyond power-constrained urban grids. For more information, visit www.relativitynetworks.ai. Prysmian Prysmian is a global cable solutions provider leading the energy transition and digital transformation. By leveraging its wide geographical footprint and extensive product range, its track record of technological leadership and innovation, and a strong customer base, the company is well-placed to capitalise on its leading positions and win in new, growing markets. Prysmian's business strategy perfectly matches key market drivers by developing resilient, high-performing, sustainable and innovative cable solutions in the segments of Transmission, Power Grid, Electrification and Digital Solutions. Prysmian is a public company listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, with almost 150 years of experience, over 33,000 employees, 107 plants and 27 R&D centres in over 50 countries, and sales of over 17 billion in 2024. SOURCE Relativity Networks TROY, Mich., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Residential Hospice, Michigan, a division of Graham Healthcare Group, will join Reed-Raymond VFW Post 2272 in Durand MI on Friday, March 28 at 11:00 a.m. to honor local Vietnam War Veterans. Veterans will receive an honorary lapel pin, a Certificate of Honor, and a 21-gun salute. "Michigan is home to more than 170,000 Vietnam Veterans," said Brian L. Love, director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, "they didn't return home to ticker-tape parades or flag waving crowds. Pinning these brave men and women honors their service and sacrifice and give us a chance to officially thank them for their service and welcome them home." Eric Crawford, Lead Cemetery Administration Specialist, Great Lakes National Cemetery, and representatives from the Saginaw VA will also be in attendance. "Residential Hospice recognizes the critical importance of delivering veteran-focused care to military Veterans at the end of life," said Wendy Bongero, Senior Vice President of Operations, Residential Hospice. "We are proud to take part in this special event where we can express our gratitude to our Vietnam War Veterans and their families. It is a privilege to care for the brave men and women who served our country." Vietnam War Veterans Day was established as a National Day of Observance in 2017 when President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, designating March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Reed-Raymond VFW Post 2272 | 923 N. Saginaw Street, Durand MI 48429 About Graham Healthcare Group Graham Healthcare Group (GHG), a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), is an industry leading provider of home health, hospice, and palliative care serving approximately 80,000 patients annually across the states of Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida. GHG's brands include Residential Home Health, Residential Hospice, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Healthcare@Home, and Mary Free Bed at Home. GHG and its companies employ nearly 3,000 dedicated professionals serving 18,000 patients daily. For more information, visit Graham Healthcare Group , Residential Home Health and Hospice, Mary Free Bed at Home, and AHN Healthcare@Home. About Residential Hospice Residential Hospice is a leading provider of hospice services and care in communities across Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Residential Hospice, Troy, Michigan is a proud 5-Star Partner of the We Honor Veterans (WHV) program developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a WHV 5-Star Partner, Residential Hospice shares its commitment to understand and support the unique medical, emotional, and spiritual needs of America's Veterans as they approach the end of life. Residential Hospice, Michigan is one of Graham Healthcare Group's 11 We Honor Veterans locations. For more information visit Residential Hospice We Honor Veterans and We Honor Veterans. SOURCE Residential Home Health and Hospice A new initiative offers resources and information to Latino immigrants and undocumented families on how to keep their children safe with a temporary guardian. SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- World Voices Media, a California non-profit organization, in partnership with HCN Global (hcnglobal.com), has launched Protege a tus Ninos (Protect your Children), an initiative that aims to help millions of immigrant parents take proactive steps to designate a guardian and keep their children out of the foster care system. This initiative aims to inform families on how to appoint Temporary Guardians for their children, ensuring legal and emotional safeguards in the event of detention or deportation. Protege a tus ninos PSA There are still over a thousand children who were separated from their parents during the first Trump Administration; children who remain unaccounted for and have never been reunited with their families. Protege a tus Ninos empowers immigrant and undocumented parents with the knowledge and tools to legally appoint a Temporary Emergency Guardian for their children. It explains the rationale and shows practical steps, such as writing emergency contact information inside children's shoes. Additionally, establishing a temporary guardianship is a proactive step to ensure your children's well-being during a parent's temporary absence, allowing a trusted person to make decisions in the child's best interest. "There are approximately 5.4 million U.S.-born children who are now at risk of being placed in foster care if their undocumented parents are detained or deported," explains Patricia Frausto-Rodriguez, Executive Director of World Voices Media. "Our Latino immigrant communities face frightening times, with real threats of families being separated and children losing their parents and getting lost in foster care. Through this initiative, we hope to help immigrant families access resources and information so they can legally appoint a temporary guardian for their little ones and be prepared to deal with the worst-case scenario." The campaign includes a series of radio and television spots and social media ads explaining what Temporary Guardianship is and directing families and nonprofits to free resources at Protegeatusninos.org and Keepyourkids.org. In addition, the campaign will include: Bilingual YouTube tutorials to serve as a guide for parents on how to establish legally valid guardianships. to serve as a guide for parents on how to establish legally valid guardianships. A state-by-state database with downloadable forms, allowing parents to complete the process before the child is separated from his or her parents. with downloadable forms, allowing parents to complete the process before the child is separated from his or her parents. Links to local immigrant rights advocacy organizations for direct assistance. to local immigrant rights advocacy organizations for direct assistance. Outreach through community-based organizations and partner schools, ensuring that parents, including farm workers and other at-risk populations, receive these essential materials. To understand the importance of acting now and the effects of this Administration's mass deportation effort on innocent children, World Voices Media is proud to present the following 20-minute docudrama "Shattered": https://worldvoicesmedia.org/blog/shattered About World Voices Media World Voices Media utilizes the power of communication to uplift, inform, and unite communities. Through culturally resonant and multilingual content, it amplifies underrepresented voices, ensuring vital information reaches those who need it most. WorldVoicesMedia.org About HCN and owned channels La Red Hispana, LatinEQUIS and Melanin Thriving HCN is the leading producer and syndicator of multimedia programming and content focused on health equity and social determinants of health in the United States and is 100% for and by BIPOC communities. For more information, visit: hcnglobal.com | LaRedHispana.org | WeAreLatinEQUIS.com | MelaninThriving.com. Media Contact: HCN | Alicia Vigil Blanco | [email protected] SOURCE HCN Global CUMMING, Ga., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sewa Atlanta hosted its 18th annual Holi Festival event at the Cumming Fairgrounds, bringing together thousands of people in a vibrant celebration of unity, joy, and cultural heritage. The event, filled with music, dance, and festivities, reaffirmed Holi as not just a Hindu/Indian religious and cultural festival but a powerful expression of community and togetherness. Participants and volunteers drenched in color at Sewa's Holi event in Atlanta, GA. Congressman Dr. Rich McCormick danced to the festival tune at Sewa's Holi celebrations in Atlanta, GA. Attendees immersed themselves in the colorful spirit of Holi while enjoying music reflecting the joyous nature of the festival, dance performances, and a variety of delicious food. Sewa encouraged attendees to bring their water bottles to promote sustainability and make the event environment-friendly. Sewa Holi continues to be an event that strengthens the community while promoting charity and service. Sewa Atlanta Chapter's advisor and supporter Samir Bhatia welcomed and introduced the guests. Congressman Dr. Rich McCormick praised Sewa's commitment to humanitarian efforts locally and globally. He commended Sewa volunteers' commitment to selfless service appreciating them as the embodiment of the best human nature. Congressman McCormick expressed his joy in celebrating Holi with thousands, acknowledging the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora and the spirit of the Holi festival. Consul General of India, Atlanta, Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, applauded Sewa for hosting the largest Holi celebration in the US and its dedication to selfless service and community upliftment through disaster relief, education, healthcare, and development initiatives. Deputy Consul General of India, Atlanta, Sreejan Shandilya, highlighted the festival's contribution to promoting diversity and commended it for fostering cultural understanding and unity within the community. Dr. Madhav Durbha, Sewa's Atlanta chapter president, acknowledged the overwhelming community support and said it was a testament to the joyous spirit of Holi and the positive impact Sewa has on Atlanta and beyond. He thanked all donors, volunteers, and sponsors for their patronage. Atlanta Chapter Vice President, Raj Radhakrishnan, appreciated the support from the Forsyth County Commissioner's Office, Cumming Fairgrounds staff, and Cumming Police Department. Sewa thanked the various sponsors, including Level Solutions Group, PNC Bank, Handa FinTax Group, Gupta Real Estate, E-Ring, Inc., GCI Ingredients, Pyramid Consulting, Twinkle Pediatrics, LLC., Jonathan R.Brockman, P.C. Assureguru, Tanishq USA, Farmers Insurance - Gandhi Brothers, Ambaji Shree Shakti Mandir, Sanatan Mandir, La Chiquita, and Starbucks. About Sewa International Sewa International (www.sewausa.org) is a 501 (c) (3) Hindu faith-based charitable nonprofit that works in the areas of disaster recovery, education, and development. Sewa has 43 Chapters across the USA and serves regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. Media Contact: Vidyasagar Tontalapur 720-526-9939 [email protected] SOURCE Sewa International In honor of the late Maryam Mirzakhani, a pioneering Iranian mathematician and the first woman to win the Fields Medal, philanthropist Neda Nobari endows inclusionary scholarships for outstanding first-generation, low-income STEM students. LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking move to support first-generation, low-income STEM students, philanthropist and San Francisco State University (SFSU) alumna Neda Nobari has announced the expansion of the Presidential Scholars Program with the introduction of the Maryam Mirzakhani Presidential Scholarships. Named after the late Iranian mathematician and first female recipient of the Fields Medal, these scholarships will provide 30 full-ride awards, covering tuition, housing, books, and essential costs for four years. This expansion more than doubles the program's size and underscores Nobari's commitment to the transformative power of education. At a time when public university funding and student inclusion efforts are under threat, Nobari's philanthropic leadership demonstrates a flexible, student-first approach that prioritizes tangible impact over rigid endowment structures. Nobari's philanthropic leadership demonstrates a flexible, student-first approach. Post this "Education is a fundamental human right and the key to unlocking all others," says Neda Nobari, founder of MOZAIK Philanthropy and former Chair of the SFSU Foundation Board. "Forty-two years ago, I was one of the few women in my Computer Science cohort at SFSU. My experience as an immigrant and student during the Iran-Iraq War shaped my belief in making education accessible. Ensuring financial access isn't just a privilegeit's a necessity." Nobari's philanthropic contributions to SFSU have been significant. In 2016, she donated $5 million to establish the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies, followed by another $1 million in subsequent years. Recognizing the urgent need for direct student support, she made the strategic decision to repurpose these funds to ensure that high-need students receive guaranteed full-ride scholarships to complete their degrees. As the national higher education sector, the CSU, and SFSU navigate the combined challenges of budgetary pressures, demographic shifts, and wavering public confidence in the value of higher education, the imperative to lower the cost of attendance for students at SFSU is more crucial than ever. Beyond this latest investment, Nobari's support for SFSU students has been visionary across multiple disciplines. Named the SFSU Alumna of the Year in 2020 and inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame, she has played a vital role in advancing student success. Her contributions include supporting the SF State Guardian Scholars Program, which helps former and current foster youth stay in college and graduate, as well as founding the Student Sustainable Investment Fund, which provides hands-on experience in sustainable investing while funding scholarships for participating students. In 2022, she further extended her impact by establishing the Azar Hatefi Graduate Student Fellowship in Iranian Diaspora Studies, honoring her late mother's legacy. This latest expansion of the Presidential Scholars Program solidifies Nobari's legacy of democratizing access to education, a commitment she hopes other institutional donors will model at their own universities. By reimagining how philanthropy can eliminate financial barriers, she is shaping a more equitable academic landscape at SFSUone where every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed. Media Contact: Keely Badger MOZAIK Philanthropy [email protected] SOURCE MOZAIK Philanthropy PLANO, Texas, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn , a global leader in digital upskilling, has been honored with the 2025 Gold Stevie Award in the Sales and Customer Service category. This marks Simplilearn's eighth recognition in the prestigious Stevie Awards series, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and learner engagement and setting industry benchmarks in EdTech excellence. Simplilearn Bags Gold for Sales and Customer Service (PRNewsfoto/Simplilearn) The Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service are the world's top honors for customer service, contact center, business development, and sales professionals. The 2025 competition attracted over two thousand nominations from organizations worldwide in more than 90 categories. Winners were determined by the average scores of 176 professionals on seven specialized judging committees. This accolade underscores Simplilearn's comprehensive approach to customer service, which has benefited over eight million professionals across 150 countries in upskilling and reskilling for the digital age. Additionally, Simplilearn's collaboration with esteemed universities and industry partners such as IBM, Microsoft, AWS, and Google, and renowned educational institutions such as UMass Amherst, Purdue University, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Kanpur enables learners to get the best of both academia and industry. Mr. Kashyap Dalal, Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer of Simplilearn, said, "This award is very special to us as it highlights Simplilearn's dedication to delivering outstanding learner experience and always keeping the customer at the center of all our planning and actions as a team. In the last 2 years, our teams #1 goal has been to pursue 0 DSAT - essentially aspiring to ensure that every one of our thousands of active learners has a great experience. This award motivates us to continue working in this direction and surpassing our own benchmarks in delivering learner outcomes." Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller stated, "The outstanding scores awarded to this year's Stevie winners reflect the exceptional levels of achievement they demonstrate. We proudly join the judges and the entire Stevie Awards community in congratulating and celebrating the winners on their accomplishments." In addition to this year's Stevie Award, Simplilearn boasts an impressive array of recent achievements, including a customer satisfaction score (CSAT) of 4.7/5 across all customer touchpoints. About Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, and the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. More than 1,000 professionals around the world participate in the Stevie Awards judging process each year. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com . About Simplilearn Founded in 2010 and based in Plano, Texas and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone portfolio company, is a global leader in digital upskilling, enabling learners across the globe. Simplilearn offers individuals and businesses worldwide access to world-class work-ready training. Simplilearn offers 1,500+ live online classes each month across 150+ countries, impacting over 8 million learners globally. The programs are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and big corporations, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or business goals. For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647263/SASCS25_Gold_Winner.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/5228555/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg SOURCE Simplilearn "We are committed to helping people live healthier lives, and empowering children to do that for themselves sets them up for success later in life," said Neil Haynes, CFO of Sun Life and board member, YMCA of Greater Boston. "Our strong partnership with the Celtics and support of the YMCA's programming has become a cornerstone of our community engagement, and we look forward to continuing that collaboration." Sun Life has been a partner of the Boston Celtics for more than a decade and has consistently engaged in community support programs. In addition to Fit to Win, Sun Life and the Celtics conduct the annual #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes fundraiser each November to raise money for the YMCA of Greater Boston's Healthy Habits program. "We enjoy working with Sun Life and the YMCA of Greater Boston and fully support their commitment to the Greater Boston community, a core principle of the Boston Celtics organization," said Ted Dalton, chief partnership officer, Boston Celtics. "It's great to see the kids engaging with the players they look up to and learning more about how to be healthy and fit." Now in its 11th year, Fit to Win has built a legacy of connecting kids at the YMCA with the knowledge and resources they need to lead healthier lives, and even bring that knowledge home to their families. Since the program began, more than 2,500 kids have participated. With the recent expansion of Sun Life's team partnership to include activations with the Maine Celtics, a Fit to Win clinic was held at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine in February, bringing the program to a broader range of youth communities. For more information about Fit to Win, visit https://www.nba.com/celtics/community/fit-to-win. For more information about Sun Life's community programs and philanthropic initiatives, visit https://www.sunlife.com/us/en/about/our-community-involvement/. About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2024, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.54 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,500 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom. Media contact Devon Fernald Sun Life U.S. [email protected] 781-800-3609 Connect with Sun Life U.S. https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial SOURCE Sun Life U.S. The President of the Czech Republic Peter Pavel is visiting Odesa, which Russia has been continuously attacking with drones in recent days, said Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories Oleksiy Kuleba. "We met in the city of Odesa, which is terrorized by Russia every night. Right during our meeting, the Russian Federation launched three groups of shaheds into the city," he wrote on his Telegram channel on Friday morning. According to Kuleba, the parties discussed key issues of shipping safety, the restoration of Ukraine and the development of communities. "The Czech Republic is one of the leaders among the countries that systematically help Ukraine. Over three years of the great war, the partner country has provided Ukraine with $900 million in support - from humanitarian programs to military equipment," the Deputy Prime Minister noted. He specified that, among other things, it is about the Neptune anti-ship systems, created on the basis of Czech Tatra vehicles, which have made a great contribution to Ukrainian security at sea. "The focus of the conversation is maritime security and the challenges of demining territories. Since the summer of 2023 alone, Russia has launched more than 450 missiles at Ukraine's port infrastructure, but today we remain the guarantor of global food security. Since the start of the Ukrainian corridor, our ports have transported 110 million tonnes of cargo," Kuleba added. According to him, the Czech Republic is also a reliable partner in the restoration of our communities and regions. The country has taken patronage over Dnipropetrovsk region, where it is upgrading water treatment plants, supplying generators, medical equipment, evacuation buses, and restoring schools and hospitals. In Kyiv region, it is implementing a project to modernize the regional children's hospital for more than EUR 10 million, and dozens of projects in Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Lviv regions. "We also agreed to expand humanitarian aid for the affected regions, including providing temporary housing for those who lost their homes and support for medical institutions. Together with the leaders of Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson Regional Military Administrations, we discussed further direct support for the regions," Kuleba added. LINCOLN, Neb., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 1890 Initiative, LLC ("1890"), a business dedicated to helping student-athletes in Nebraska benefit from name, image, and likeness (NIL) initiatives, proudly announces the expansion of its partnership with its local brewing partner, Ensign Beverage Company of Hastings, Nebraska. Ensign Beverage Company will introduce a new cold-brew coffee brand, 1890 Nebraska Cold Brew, with proceeds from purchases helping to support NIL initiatives through 1890. 1890 Nebraska Cold Brew is a bold, smooth, locally crafted coffee made by Nebraskans, for Nebraskans. Ensign Beverage starts with hand-selected coffee beans, roasted to perfection in Lincoln, Nebraska, and brewed in Hastings, letting timenot heatextract their rich, velvety flavor. The result is a perfectly balanced, never-bitter cold brew thats packed with roasted, chocolatey notes and smooth energy to power your day. 1890 Nebraska Cold Brew is a bold, smooth, locally crafted coffee made by Nebraskans, for Nebraskans. Ensign Beverage starts with hand-selected coffee beans, roasted to perfection in Lincoln, Nebraska, and brewed in Hastings, letting timenot heatextract their rich, velvety flavor. The result is a perfectly balanced, never-bitter cold brew that's packed with roasted, chocolatey notes and smooth energy to power your day. "Like The 1890 Initiative, this cold brew represents Nebraska pride, teamwork, and craftsmanship," says Ensign Beverage Company co-founder Jessi Hoeft. "And like everything we do at Ensign Beverage, it's made with passion, quality, and a whole lot of heart. Locally roasted, cold-brewed in Hastings, and crafted for Nebraska." "We've enjoyed a great relationship with Ensign Beverage Company since launching 1890 Nebraska Kombucha last September," says 1890 CEO Carson Schott. "That and the quality of everything they brew convinced us that they were the right company to work with in introducing 1890 Nebraska Cold Brew." About 1890 1890 Initiative, LLC, was founded to provide Nebraska student-athletes opportunities to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness (NIL) while positively impacting the Nebraska community. 1890 is dedicated to assisting Nebraska student-athletes in getting the most benefit from NIL. About Ensign Beverage Company Ensign Beverage is in the business of producing low- or no-sugar beverages as an alternative to the current "soda" market. Based in Nebraska, Ensign currently features a line of craft-made kombucha and cold-brew coffee. SOURCE 1890 Initiative - Winners received prestigious award in recognition of their latest innovations in life sciences advancement NEW DELHI, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Galien Foundation, the premier global institution dedicated to honoring innovators in life sciences, celebrated excellence and innovation in life sciences during the Prix Galien India Forum and second annual Modi Prix Galien Awards Gala last night at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. The Prix Galien India Awards Committee, comprised of renowned leaders from the biomedical industry and academia, honored this year's award winners in the following categories: "Best Biotechnology Product," "Best Academic/Public Sector," "Best Medical Technology," and "Best StartUp/Digital Health Solution." Mr. Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, personally distributed the prestigious Modi Prix Galien awards to the awardees. "On behalf of the Modi Prix Galien India Awards Committee, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all nominees and winners for their exceptional efforts in addressing the critical challenges in human health," said Dr. Renu Swarup, Modi Prix Galien India Committee Chair. "As we move forward, it is crucial that we continue to foster an ecosystem that encourages innovation and collaboration. The future of healthcare depends on our ability to work together towards transformative solutions." The 2025 Modi Prix Galien India Award Winners Best Biotechnology Product BIOLOGICALE. LTD PNEUBEVAX 14 Best Academic/Public Sector INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE- IISC HIGH PERFORMANCE OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY (HPOS) Best Medical Technology MERIL HEALTHCARE PVT LTD MISSO ROBOTIC SYSTEM Best Startup / Digital Health Solution INNACCEL TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED SAANS, VAPCARE AND FETAL LITE "The Awards Committee is honored to witness the exceptional dedication and creativity of our nominees as they turn visionary ideas into transformative solutions for patients worldwide. Their unwavering commitment to advancing patient care is truly commendable, and we are honored to celebrate their outstanding contributions to global health," said Satish Kumar Modi, Co-Founder of Modi Prix Galien India. "As we celebrate these achievements, we must also recognize the importance of sustainability and accessibility in healthcare innovation. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these advancements benefit all segments of society." "We are excited to continue the Prix Galien legacy by honoring another extraordinary group of winners who exemplify the skill, dedication, and innovation that is essential to the life sciences industry," said Bruno Cohen, Chairman of The Galien Foundation. "Our Awards Committee, Prix Galien Alumni, and all members of The Galien Foundation express our sincere appreciation to all winners and nominees, and we eagerly anticipate the significant contributions they will make to the future of global healthcare." The Prix Galien Awards were created in 1970 by Roland Mehl in honor of Galien, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology, to recognize outstanding innovation and scientific advancement. With chapters in 14 countries, Africa and an inaugural chapter established in India in 2024, Prix Galien is regarded worldwide as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for the life science industry. Modi Prix Galien India Awards Committee 2025 Dr. Renu Swarup , Chair, Modi Prix Galien India Committee Former Secretary to the Government of India , Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, New Delhi, India , Chair, Modi Prix Galien India Committee Former Secretary to the Government of , Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Prof. Sudha Bhattacharya , INSA Senior Scientist at Ashoka University, Sonipat Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru; Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi ; and National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad , INSA Senior Scientist at Ashoka University, Sonipat Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru; Indian National Science Academy, ; and National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad Dr. Alok Dhawan , Centre for Biomedical Research , Centre for Biomedical Research Prof. Madhu Dikshit , CDRI, Lucknow , CDRI, Lucknow Shri Anil Khanna , Sr. Vice President, GM Modi Science Foundation, New Delhi Ex Honorary Member Task Force, Ministry of Food & Processing, Govt. of India , Sr. Vice President, GM Modi Science Foundation, Ex Honorary Member Task Force, Ministry of Food & Processing, Govt. of Prof. Paramjit Khurana , South Campus, University of Delhi , South Campus, University of Dr. Indranil Manna , President, Indian National Academy of Engineering , President, Indian National Academy of Engineering Dr. Narinder K. Mehra , Vice-President - International Affairs , Vice-President - International Affairs Dr. Debasisa Mohanty , Director, National Institute of Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India , Director, National Institute of Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of Dr. K.R. Suresh Nair , Chief Technology Advisor to Foundation for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, an initiative of Tata Trust Chief Technology Advisor to Foundation for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, an initiative of Tata Trust Prof. Ashwani Nangia , Dept. Of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad , Dept. Of Chemistry, University of Prof. Bhaskar Narayan , Director CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research , Director CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research Dr. Himanshu Shukla , President, National Academy of Agriculture Sciences (NAAS) , President, National Academy of Agriculture Sciences (NAAS) Dr. Ramgopal Rao , Vice Chancellor for the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani , Vice Chancellor for the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani Prof. Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath , Fellow of all three science academies in India , namely Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India.Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, India , Indian Academy of Neurosciences and Third World Academy of Sciences - Bangalore , Fellow of all three science academies in , namely Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India.Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, , Indian Academy of Neurosciences and Third World Academy of Sciences - Dr. Shivkumar Sarin , President, National Academy of Medical Sciences , President, National Academy of Medical Sciences Prof. Anurag Sharma , Emeritus Professor of Optics and Photonics and Physics at IIT Delhi Member Secretary , Emeritus Professor of Optics and Photonics and Physics at IIT Delhi Member Secretary Dr. Jitendra Sharma , Managing Director & Founder CEO of Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Founder Executive Director of Kalam Institute of Health Technology - Adjunct lecturer at University of Adelaide, Australia ; Chairman of Indian Biomedical Skill Council and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Niti Aayog, Govt. of India Member of Strategic Advisory Group of Experts constituted by World Health Organization Headquarters, Geneva for Medical Devices; AMTZ Campus, Visakhapatnam , Managing Director & Founder CEO of Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Founder Executive Director of Kalam Institute of Health Technology - Adjunct lecturer at University of ; Chairman of Indian Biomedical Skill Council and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Niti Aayog, Govt. of Member of Strategic Advisory Group of Experts constituted by World Health Organization Headquarters, for Medical Devices; AMTZ Campus, Visakhapatnam Dr. Sanjay Singh , Chief Executive Officer, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Pune , Chief Executive Officer, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Dr. Shashi Bala Singh , Director, NIPER , Director, NIPER Dr. Sanjeev Sinha , Head of Department of Medicine, AIIMS , Head of Department of Medicine, AIIMS Dr. Rohit Srivastava , IIT-Mumbai , IIT-Mumbai Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar , Director General of R&D and Innovation at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar and the CEO of KIIT Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI) Chairman of Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC) , Director General of R&D and Innovation at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar and the CEO of KIIT Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI) Chairman of Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC) Dr. Nikhil Tandon , Professor and Chair of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at AIIMS New Delhi , Professor and Chair of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at AIIMS New Delhi Dr. Premnath Venugopalan , Head, NCL Innovations at CSIR-NCL and Founder Director, Venture Center Chemical engineer and an alumnus of MIT in the US, IIT-Bombay - Pune , Head, NCL Innovations at CSIR-NCL and Founder Director, Venture Center Chemical engineer and an alumnus of in the US, IIT-Bombay - Prof. Sudhan Shuvrati , Founder Dean of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute regional Centre for Biotechnology, Professor at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), and the Indian Academy of Science (IAS) - Faridabad , Founder Dean of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute regional Centre for Biotechnology, Professor at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the National Academy of Sciences, (NASI), and the Indian Academy of Science (IAS) - Faridabad Dr. Umesh Waghmare , President, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore About The Galien Foundation The Galien Foundation fosters, recognizes, and rewards excellence in scientific innovation to improve human health. Our vision is to be the catalyst for the development of the next generation of innovative treatments and technologies that will impact medical practice and save lives. The late Professor Elie Wiesel, 1986 Peace Nobel Laureate, is The Honorary Founding President of The Galien Foundation. The Foundation oversees and directs activities in the US for the Prix Galien, an international awards program dedicated to progress through innovative medicines development, with chapters in 14 countries, Africa and an inaugural chapter established in India in 2024. The Prix Galien was created in 1970 by Roland Mehl in honor of Galen, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology. Worldwide, the Prix Galien is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research. For more information, visit https://www.galienfoundation.org/. Follow the Foundation on social media: https://www.facebook.com/GalienFoundation/ https://twitter.com/GalienFdn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-galien-foundation/ Media Contact (India): Nidhi Sagar Finn Partners [email protected] Media Contact (Global): Kara Bradley Finn Partners [email protected] 646-213-7243 SOURCE The Galien Foundation The Grand Opening Celebration comes just three days before the Museum officially opens its doors to the public on Tuesday, March 25 National Medal of Honor Day. The Grand Opening event on March 22nd has been designated An Event of National Significance by the Department of Defense and as such will include performances and participation by: The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard" The U.S. Army Strings The U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Band "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra The U.S. Navy Band Commodores The U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club "Cutting the ribbon to open the National Medal of Honor Museum will be the realization of a long-awaited moment. After decades of dreams, the Medal of Honor and its Recipients will now have a proper home, where the values of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism will be preserved and shared with future generations of Americans," said U.S. Army Major General Patrick H. Brady (Ret.), Medal of Honor Recipient and member of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Board of Directors. "This Medal and this Museum are for those I served with, especially the ones who never came home. I hope that visitors will learn from our stories and see that they too have it within themselves to do something great for others and make a positive impact on our country." Of the 40 million Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, fewer than 4,000 have earned the Medal of Honor. Of those, only 61 are living today. Prominent guests are expected to include: 32 Medal of Honor Recipients, NBC TODAY Show anchor Savannah Guthrie, who will emcee a special dinner for Recipients and supporters prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony; musician Lee Greenwood, who will perform his hit song "God Bless the USA"; Gary Sinise, an Academy Award-nominated actor known for his role as Lieutenant Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump"; Tricia Lucas, the widow of country music superstar Toby Keith, who graciously granted the Museum rights to a live recording of her husband's patriotic hit "American Soldier" for inclusion in the event programming; Dallas Cowboys' stars Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson, as well as Cowboys legend Zack Martin; and senior leaders of prominent Museum corporate partners including American Airlines, Anheuser Busch, AT&T, Bank of America, Carnival Cruise Line, Dallas Cowboys, Lockheed Martin, Lucas Oil, JPMorgan, Texas Rangers and others; members of Congress, and dozens of current and former national, state and local elected officials. Chris Cassidy, NMOHMF President and CEO, said: "In an evening filled with fireworks, nothing will shine brighter than the Medal of Honor Recipients. It is because of their service and sacrifice that we can gather for celebrations like these. I am so proud to open our doors and share their stories of courage, commitment and selflessness with the nation. At the National Medal of Honor Museum, we are stewards of their legacy and vow to uphold the values represented by the Medal." The National Medal of Honor Museum is unique in that it is neither a war memorial nor a military museum, but instead values and biography based, taking visitors on a narrative journey through the lives of ordinary people who did something extraordinary in service to others. Visitors will learn that courage is not contained to the battlefield and having a sense of duty is not demarcated by a uniform. They will be inspired to live their own lives of service and make a positive impact in their communities. The elevated exhibit deck, held aloft by five concrete mega-columns representing branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, features 31,000 square feet of artifacts, interviews, lives, and legacies of those who have received our country's highest award for valor in combat. Highlights of the exbibits include a fully restored Bell UH-1 "Huey" Iroquois helicopter modeled after the one flown by Medal of Honor Recipient U.S. Army Major General Patrick H. Brady (Ret.) and "Conversations: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives" where guests can use innovative technology to interview a virtual Medal of Honor Recipient. In total, the Museum has more than 100,000 square feet of space, including areas for classrooms, meetings, memorials and ceremonies. It is home to the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute, a leadership institute named after business leader and philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin dedicated to inspiring, equipping, and connecting people to live the values of the Medal of Honor. The Museum also has enjoyed a stellar team leading the charge to Grand Opening, including Foundation Board Chairman Charlotte Jones, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of the Dallas Cowboys; Museum CEO Chris Cassidy, a former NASA astronaut and retired Navy SEAL; as well as five recipients of the Medal of Honor who also serve on the Foundation's Board. It has the support of three of our nation's living former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all of whom are Honorary Directors. Charlotte Jones, Chairman of the NMOHMF Board of Directors, said: "These Grand Opening festivities will be the culmination of years of effort. I take such inspiration from our Medal of Honor Recipients, and I know that all Americans will as well once they visit this landmark Museum. None of it would be possible without our dedicated team and generous supporters." Supporters who are not local to the North Texas region or otherwise unable to attend can view a livestream of the celebration via the Museum's website, www.mohmuseum.org. Grand Opening celebrations are being graciously underwritten by Museum partners: The City of Arlington, Texas, American Airlines, and Boeing. Tickets to visit the National Medal of Honor Museum are now available for purchase on the Museum's website ahead of the doors opening to the public on March 25, 2025. More information to help guests plan their visit is available at mohmuseum.org. About the National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute The National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute will inspire individuals by honoring and preserving the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat. The Museum, opening in 2025, will serve as a national landmark located in America's heartland in Arlington, Texas, and provide an unrivaled, interactive visitor experience that commemorates the historical thread of sacrifice, patriotism, and courage that connects members of the United States military service past and present. It is the Museum's mission to tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients in a dynamic and interactive setting that will inspire visitors to recognize the potential for the extraordinary that resides in us all. Through dynamic and far-reaching curriculum and programming, the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute is bringing to life the core values inherent to the Medal of Honor in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the country. In 2021, The National Medal of Honor Monument Act was signed into law, paving the way for the monument's placement in Washington, D.C. Soon, Americans and visitors of every nation will have the opportunity to reflect on the values represented by those whose selfless and courageous actions have served to safeguard freedom and democracy the world over. For more information please visit the National Medal of Honor Museum website or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram. SOURCE National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation The initiative turns the traditional convenience store at service stations into an immersive experience, aiming to raise awareness about the severity of the issue and encourage reporting of sexual violence cases. SAO PAULO, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As a driving force behind the Zero Sexual Violence cause, Vibra the largest fuel distributor and one of the leading energy companies in Brazil is redefining a common icon of service stations in a new campaign created by PROS, an advertising agency of the Global Stagwell communication and marketing group. Based on the alarming statistic that only 8.5% of sexual violence cases against children and adolescents are reported (IPEA, 2023), the company is launching the "Inconvenience Store", a striking installation on Avenida Paulista, the financial and cultural hub of Sao Paulo. The store will be open to the public from March 20 to 23, in an initiative that challenges visitors' expectations: instead of traditional convenience products, they will find an immersive circuit of products with redesigned packaging designed to showcase official data on sexual violence against children and adolescents in Brazil. "The fight against sexual violence involving children and adolescents is a non-negotiable commitment of Vibra. The Inconvenience Store initiative reflects our purpose of joining forces in order to transform this painful and too often invisible reality. Information is a powerful mobilization tool, and we are using all our resources to raise awareness and engage society in the fight against this unacceptable violence," says Ernesto Pousada, Vibra's CEO. Alarming data A survey by the Federal Highway Police identified over 17,000 locations along Brazilian roads that are vulnerable to the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, of which 4,791 are at service stations. Vibra, through the network of Petrobras service stations, is present on highways and on various regions of the country, reaching thousands of people every day. Moreover, service stations are high-traffic locations, which underscores their importance in raising awareness and encouraging people to file reports. Shelves, displays, refrigerators, showcases, and even the store's employees have been carefully planned to go beyond merely presenting the alarming data: each element is intended to create discomfort and viscerally convey the devastating impact of sexual violence on the lives of children and adolescents. "In actions related to topics as sensitive as this, it is essential to be literal and impactful in order to deliver the message clearly to different audiences." In that sense, the Inconvenience Store is a stark wake-up call that sheds light on the issue of sexual violence against children and adolescents in a powerful visual statement, prompting immediate awareness and delivering an urgent call to action, specifically, reporting," says Adriano Abdalla, Chief Creative Officer at PROS. An immersive journey that turns information into mobilization Visitors will navigate an interactive experience that unfolds as a narrative, beginning with the number of cases of sexual violence against children and adolescents and culminating in a call to action for reporting and sharing their experiences. It is worth noting that all products will feature the phone number for filing reports ("Dial 100"), as well as complementary channels . In the cleaning products section, for instance, visitors will find cloth bags with the following message: "Don't cover up for relatives: 71.5% of sexual violence cases are committed by them (Source: Brazilian Yearbook of Public Security Epidemiological Bulletin Ministry of Health, 2023)". The toy and jellybean section will present data on what happens to children after they experience sexual violence, such as depression, dissociation, ADHD, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and panic syndrome, according to a survey conducted by Childhood Brasil. Throughout the visit, the experience will include sensory experiences like touching, sounds, climate changes, and other interactions. At the end, as they reach the checkout, visitors will receive a store memento and a "receipt" with the "balance": additional information about the severity of the problem. Another activity offered in the store will be the "Employee of the Month" board, which will showcase prominent activists for the cause of ending sexual violence against children and adolescents. The sequence of "Employees of the Month" ends in a mirror, suggesting that the next great agent in this cause might be the visitors themselves. The "Inconvenience Store" aligns with another initiative of which Vibra is part, the Zero Sexual Violence Movement, which mobilizes the private sector and civil society organizations aiming to reinforce the urgency of collective action in combating sexual violence against children and adolescents and fostering a safer and fairer society. About Vibra A leader in the Brazilian fuel and lubricant distribution industry, Vibra is today a multi-energy platform that offers solutions beyond traditional fuels to meet the energy needs of its clients, aligned with the best ESG practices in the sector. In recent years, it has invested over R$ 7 billion in energy transition projects, aiming to develop a portfolio of renewable solutions and decarbonization. The Vibra ecosystem includes Comerc, Evolua, and EzVolt. In the automotive industry, the company holds the Petrobras brand license, comprising a network of about 8,000 service stations across Brazil. Vibra serves over 9,000 clients across 26,700 locations, including sectors such as aviation, transportation, manufacturing, mining, chemical products, and agribusiness. For more information about Vibra, click here . SOURCE Vibra Energia Volition study shows rapid, low-cost, automated Nu.Q Cancer test accurately detects human cancers at high specificity HENDERSON, Nev., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ('Volition'), a multi-national epigenetics company, today announces the results of a study which shows that an automated Nu.Q Cancer immunoassay test in development detected a range of 21 different cancers. This could potentially be used as a standalone pan-cancer test or, given its low false positive rate among healthy people, be licensed out for use in conjunction with other liquid biopsy technologies to improve accuracy. Gael Forterre, Chief Commercial Officer at Volition, commented: "Our mission since the company was incorporated was to help detect cancer early, with the aim of saving lives and improving outcomes. "We are excited to publish this further validation of our Nu.Q platform; it represents a potential opportunity to disrupt the $20 billion Total Annual Accessible Market for liquid biopsy for multi-cancer early detection in the U.S.1. "We are in active discussions regarding our cancer portfolio with several large diagnostic and liquid biopsy companies, with the goal of signing multiple licensing agreements this year, including milestone payments in addition to ongoing revenue. "Volition's nucleosome assays can be run on existing automated chemiluminescence platforms worldwide and do not need new hardware. Our commercial strategy is to leverage this base to make Nu.Q Cancer testing accessible to patients as widely as possible on existing platforms through licensing and partnership arrangements." About the study The study investigated a novel immunoassay method for the measurement of small amounts of cell-free nucleosomes in the blood of 229 cancer patients (including 70 early-stage cancer patients) and 150 healthy subjects. Findings published in the paper currently undergoing peer review and accessible on medRxiv, demonstrated the Nu.Q Cancer test detected common fatal cancer diseases, including cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, colon and liver (overall AUC=86%) with very low false positive rates. Dr Jake Micallef, Chief Scientific Officer at Volition, said: "This is a breakthrough based on 15 years of development work by our scientific team at Volition. Presently, cancer is often diagnosed symptomatically at a late stage when it has spread to other parts of the body, is difficult to treat and can be deadly. Early detection of cancer at stage I or II is therefore a long-term goal in clinical practice. The accuracy, low-cost and routine nature of the Nu.Q Cancer test means it may be useful, alongside current cancer screening methods, for detecting cancer before symptoms become apparent, helping to reduce unnecessary invasive biopsies, facilitating early treatment and improving patient outcomes." Professor Lea Payen, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hospices Civils de Lyon (where a portion of the samples were independently processed) and co-author of the manuscript, said: "Circulating nucleosome levels show great promise as clinically useful biomarkers in oncology. We are working with Volition to advance the use of nucleosome measurements not only in early cancer detection but also in the management of cancer patients, particularly in the detection of Minimal Residual Disease for assessment of treatment efficacy." 1.Data on file, Volition TAM model. About Volition Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company focused on advancing the science of epigenetics. Volition is dedicated to saving lives and improving outcomes for people and animals with life-altering diseases through earlier detection, as well as disease and treatment monitoring. Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing and commercializing simple, easy to use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of diseases, including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis, such as sepsis. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential not only to prolong the life of patients but also to improve their quality of life. Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and London. The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. Such website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only. Media Enquiries: Louise Batchelor, Volition, [email protected] +44 (0)7557 774620 Investor Relations Jeremy Feffer, LifeSci Advisors, [email protected] +1-212-915-2568 Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other topics, Volition's expectations related to revenue opportunities and growth, the timing, completion, success and delivery of data from clinical studies, the timing of publications, , the effectiveness and availability of Volition's blood-based diagnostic, prognostic and disease monitoring tests, Volition's ability to develop and successfully commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer and other diseases as well as serving as a diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring tools for such diseases, and Volition's success in securing licensing and/or distribution agreements with third parties for its products. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in Volition's development pipeline or any other diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products Volition might develop; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition will face fierce competition and Volition's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics and disease monitoring market and its rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks, including those identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Nucleosomics, Capture-PCR and Nu.Q and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE VolitionRx Limited VERO BEACH, Fla., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Watercrest Senior Living Group proudly announces Diana Marks as Executive Director of Watercrest Fredericksburg Assisted Living and Memory Care in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Watercrest Fredericksburg is currently under construction and preparing to welcome residents this summer to the 142-unit luxury senior living community. Watercrest Senior Living Group welcomes Diana Marks as Executive Director of Watercrest Fredericksburg Assisted Living and Memory Care. The community is currently under construction and will welcome residents this Summer 2025. Marks joins the Watercrest family with over 15 years of experience in successfully operating and managing senior living communities. Her extensive career has centered around improving seniors' quality of life in her roles as a licensed Executive Director, preceptor, certified Teepa Snow trainer, and a graduate of James Madison University with a Master's in Healthcare Administration. Throughout her distinguished career, Marks has demonstrated an exceptional ability to drive operational excellence, ensure top-tier care standards, and cultivate cohesive, dedicated teams that prioritize the well-being of residents. While overseeing multiple communities she has led initiatives focused on quality care, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. She is passionate about aging, dementia inclusion, intergenerational programming, and innovative care approaches, and prioritizes meaningful connections between residents, families, associates and the broader community. "Diana is a great asset to our Watercrest team bringing an extensive background in leadership and operational growth, as well as a passionate commitment to serving our seniors and building relationships with families and associates ," says Marc Vorkapich, principal and CEO of Watercrest Senior Living Group. "We look forward to her successful impact as she welcomes residents to our newest Watercrest community in Fredericksburg." Watercrest principals, Marc Vorkapich, CEO and Joan Williams, CFO, are setting exceptional standards of quality for seniors and their families in the development of upscale senior living communities from South Florida to Virginia. Watercrest Fredericksburg is a project partnered with Harbert Seniors Housing Fund II, LP and Centric Development, and financed by Carter Bank & Trust. Watercrest Fredericksburg will offer 106 assisted living and 36 memory care apartments with resort-style service and world-class care, conveniently located at 4525 Spotsylvania Parkway across from the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center and just a few miles from the newly opened Veterans Health Care Center. The surrounding area boasts historical sites, hiking trails, art galleries, plentiful shopping and fitness amenities and charming chef-owned restaurants and craft breweries. For a virtual tour of this stunning community, visit Watercrest Fredericksburg on YouTube. For community information, contact Watercrest Fredericksburg at 540-518-0843; or to schedule a tour, call 540-370-7137 or email [email protected]. About Watercrest Senior Living Group Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming offering unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia. A seven-time certified Great Place to Work,Watercrest specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. Visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com. SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, LLC, is pleased to announce that eleven of its attorneys have been named to the 2025 New Jersey Super Lawyers list, with an additional three attorneys honored as 2025 New Jersey Rising Stars. The prestigious Super Lawyers recognition is awarded to the top 5% of attorneys in the state who demonstrate exceptional professional achievement in their field. Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group celebrates eleven attorneys named 2025 New Jersey Super Lawyers and three recognized as Rising Stars. Bari Z. Weinberger, Founder of Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, honored as a 2025 New Jersey Super Lawyer for over a decade of outstanding legal service. "Receiving the Super Lawyers honor is especially meaningful to us because it acknowledges our dedication and commitment to providing clients with the highest level of legal care in New Jersey. We are truly honored by this accolade," said certified matrimonial attorney Bari Weinberger, founder of Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, speaking on behalf of the firm. Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group attorneys recognized as 2025 New Jersey Super Lawyers include partners Dianna C. Cavaliere, Christopher L. Garibian, Robyn Howlett, Carmela L. Novi, Rachel E. Partyka, Salvatore A. Simeone, and Bari Z. Weinberger, as well as firm attorneys Gina-Marie Izzo, Richard A. Outhwaite, Aleida A. Piccini De Velazquez, and David Salvaggio. Additionally, three attorneys from the firm were honored as 2025 New Jersey Rising Stars: Sara B. Cohen, Michael P. McGuire, and Hillary Piedra. Super Lawyers selects attorneys through a rigorous process of peer nominations, independent research, and evaluations. Rising Stars are chosen using the same process but must be under 40 years old or in practice for 10 years or less. Earning a Super Lawyer or Rising Star designation is a mark of high professional achievement and respect within the legal community. In addition to this year's list, Ms. Weinberger and Ms. Howlett have held Super Lawyers status for over a decade. "Our priority every day is to safeguard our clients in their divorce and family law matters by protecting their rights, preserving their relationships with their children, and securing their bright new future. These recognitions are a testament to the success of our attorneys and team in upholding this mission and making a meaningful impact in our clients' lives," confirmed Weinberger. About Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group With offices located throughout New Jersey, award-winning Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group assists client throughout New Jersey in all their family law matters, including divorce, custody, alimony, domestic violence, adoption and all other family law matters. To experience the Weinberger difference, schedule an initial consultation with one of the firm's family law attorneys. Media Contact: Bari Weinberger 8888880919 [email protected] SOURCE Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Eagle Society is honored to support the Iwo Jima Association of America in escorting seven World War II veterans back to the Pacific battlefields. The veterans will travel to Iwo To (formerly Iwo Jima), where they will participate in the Reunion of Honor Ceremony, and continue to Okinawa, Japan, to commemorate with Walter LaSota, a Battle of Okinawa veteran. Next week's ceremony brings together former enemies who are now the strongest of allies. More than 18,500 Japanese and 6,800 American lives were lost in the Battle of Iwo Jima, with the ceremony a solemn reminder of the enormous sacrifices. Okinawa, the final and bloodiest battle of the war, saw more than 12,000 American and 100,000 Japanese and Okinawan lives lost. For many veterans, returning to these sites offers a powerful opportunity for reflection, healing, and closure. WWII Veterans and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to attend Iwo Jima 80th anniversary Reunion of Honor ceremony Post this World War II veterans making this journey include CSM Delmar D. Beard (US Army) from Glendale, AZ; Joe Caminiti (USMC) from Bristol, CT; Capt. Ed Cavallini (USMC) from Seaside, CA; Charles Cram (US Navy) from San Diego, CA; Nils Mockler (USMC) from Putnam Valley, NY; Frank Wright (USMC) from Lodi, CA; Lt. j.g. Patrick Zilliacus (USNR) from Playa Del Rey, CA; and Walter LaSota (USMC Okinawa Veteran) from Reading, PA. The trip begins by visiting the Battle of Guam site where U.S. forces liberated the island in 1944. Travel continues to Iwo To for the 80th anniversary commemoration and Reunion of Honor Ceremony, attended by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Their journey concludes in Okinawa, visiting the USMC base. Eagle Society's founder, Michael Davidson, is known for honoring and supporting veterans. He organizes trips to educate today's leaders on American history, heroes, and heritage. Davidson has taken veterans to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, but this is the first journey of this scale in the Pacific. Given the advanced age of many veterans, he explains the trip's importance: "We're losing our WWII veterans daily, and with them, I fear we're also losing the hard-earned lessons they fought valiantly to teach us. Our Pacific War veterans, in particular, remind us that duty, honor, and country are not just words - they're a call to action, especially amid rising geopolitical conflict and clashing worldviews. This journey offers a profound opportunity to reflect, honor their sacrifices, and recommit to being better citizens. The Eagle Society is dedicated to preserving these heroes' stories, so future generations not only remember but apply their lessons to today's challenges." To interview veterans or Eagle Society representatives, contact Aaron Tesauro at [email protected], (530) 806-7444. About Eagle Society: Eagle Society is a 501(c)(3) impact accelerator that leverages networks and transformative leadership experiences inspired by America's founding vision to foster a renewed commitment to civic life. SOURCE Eagle Society BEIJING, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Global South Financiers Forum, themed "Illuminating Global South", was held in March 19-21 in Beijing. Hosted by Xinhua News Agency, the event gathered government officials, financial institution leaders, and experts from over 30 countries and regions. A consensus on promoting financial cooperation among the Global South countries was released at the forum. This photo taken on March 20, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 2025 Global South Financiers Forum in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li He) The Global South, with combined GDP accounting for over 40 percent of the globe, has contributed as much as 80 percent to global economic growth over the past two decades. As the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, the international landscape has become increasingly complex and challenging. Strengthening financial cooperation has become common aspirations of the Global South, with an emphasis on advancing prosperity for all through collective efforts. Inayat Hussain, Executive Director of the State Bank of Pakistan, noted that countries in the Global South can better understand the resource constraints and capacity challenges faced by their Global South peers. The South-South cooperation results in more effective coordination and an effective approach to economic and financial development in a manner which is mutually beneficial for all the stakeholders. Yamile Berra Cires, Vice President of the Central Bank of Cuba, stressed Cuba's recognition of the need to reform the international financial structure and strengthen financial cooperation among Global South countries based on non-discriminatory treatment and inclusive strategies. Over the years, China's financial sector has leveraged diversified services to build interconnected financial bridges, providing strong support for the Global South in advancing high-quality development. As a specialized medium-to-long-term investment fund supporting Belt and Road financing, Silk Road Fund has invested in 106 projects in more than 70 countries and regions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America over the past decade, with total commitments exceeding 25 billion U.S. dollars, said Wang Dan, executive vice president of Silk Road Fund. China has actively promoted green development and shared green technologies with the Global South through concrete actions, such as establishing the South-South cooperation fund addressing climate change, and incorporating green development into the eight major steps for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road cooperation. Industry experts believe that deepening financial openness, cooperation, and interconnectivity among Global South countries will foster market integration, optimize resource allocation, and drive economic growth, creating a win-win scenario for all participating countries. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/344868.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road Macron: Next Thursday in Paris we will hold summit of coalition of the willing in presence of President Zelenskyy French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the summit of the Coalition of the willing scheduled for next Thursday. Macron wrote this on the X platform on Friday morning. This meeting follows last weeks gathering of military chiefs of staff in Paris and todays meeting of operational deputy chiefs in London. We will finalise our work to support the Ukrainian army and build a sustainable and resilient military model to prevent future Russian invasions. We will also define the security guarantees that European forces can provide, Macron said. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua Over the past day, the Defense Forces' aviation, missile troops, and artillery struck 11 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons, and military equipment, two air defense systems, two artillery systems, an ammunition depot, and one enemy pontoon crossing. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram in operational information regarding the Russian invasion as of 8:00 a.m. on Friday. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Juba, March 21 : The African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have called on parties to the South Sudan conflict to embrace dialogue and mediation to resolve escalating security challenges. The diplomats and UNMISS officials also called for restraint and de-escalation of the tension and conflict, particularly in the states of Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile, Xinhua news agency reported. "The ADC and UNMISS value the lives and property of citizens caught in these conflicts and urge all parties to desist from any action that will undermine civilian safety and security," they said in a joint statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Wednesday evening. The statement came amid reports of a fresh wave of airstrikes that hit the restive town of Nasir in Upper Nile State as the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and the Ugandan Peoples' Defence Force reportedly launched another assault on the area on Wednesday. The airstrikes on Nasir have inflicted civilian casualties, according to the UN, adding that rampant hate speech, fueled by the proliferation of mis/disinformation in the public domain, has raised concerns that the conflict could assume an ethnic dimension. Amid rising tension between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition said on Monday it was withdrawing participation in some of the key security mechanisms until the government releases their detained members. The African diplomats and UN mission lauded the public statement made by Kiir to avoid a return to war and urged the unity government to take prompt action to prevent a relapse into violence. Trump expects India to lower tariffs 'substantially', but will go ahead with reciprocal plan. Image Source: IANS News New York, March 21 : US President Donald Trump has said that he expects India to lower tariffs substantially, but will go ahead with his plan to charge a reciprocal rate. "I believe they're going to probably going to be lowering those tariffs substantially, but on April 2, we will be charging them the same tariffs they charge us", he said in an interview published on Thursday. "I have a very good relationship with India, but the only problem I have with India is they're one of the highest tariffing nations in the world", he told Breitbart, a conservative news outlet. Asked about the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEC), he said that it was by a "group of wonderful nations" banding together "countering other countries that look to hurt us on trade". He did not identify the countries they were trying to counter, although China was an obvious target. The IMEC was proposed at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi and along with India and the United States, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, Germany, and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the project. It would include both sea and land routes and connect India to Italy via the Middle East, and then aspirationally across the Atlantic to the US. Trump reinforced US commitment to the project during Prime Minister Narendra Modi during last month's visit to the White House, calling it the "greatest trade route in all of history". Trump has criticised India as a "tariff king" and highlighted its high tariffs on motorcycles, luxury cars, and whiskey. in response to Trump's criticism Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman announced that the tariffs on luxury cars would be cut to 70 per cent from 125 per cent, and on high-end motorcycles from 50 per cent to 40 per cent. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington this month and spoke to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a bid to stave off the tariff hikes. The US, in particular, wants India to lower its tariffs on agriculture imports. In the Breitbart interview, Trump could be interpreted as a caution for India's dealings with the European Union. Making his oft-repeated criticism of the European economic group, he said, "The ones that wouldn't be as friendly to us in some cases treat us better than the ones that are supposed to be friendly, like the European Union, which treats us terribly on trade". He then added, "India and everybody would think of them as an ally. I can say the same for others. But this is a group of wonderful nations that is countering other countries that look to hurt us on trade." During European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to New Delhi last month, the group and India agreed to speedup negotiations to finalise a free trade agreement by this year's end. "We have a powerful group of partners in trade", he told Breitbart. "Again, we can't let those partners treat us badly, however. We do better in many ways frankly with our foes than we do with our friends". Trump had earlier questioned the aims of the European Union claiming it was "formed in order to screw the United States". Cairo, March 21 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed joint efforts to reinforce the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. During a phone conversation on Thursday, the two ministers exchanged views on the latest developments in Gaza and their countries' collaborative efforts to ensure the truce's implementation, Xinhua news agency reported quoting a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The two sides also discussed measures to promote the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, as well as preparations for an international reconstruction conference set to take place in Cairo. The two ministers emphasised the importance of continued coordination to prevent further escalation in the region, and agreed on the need for a political settlement that ensures long-term stability through the establishment of a Palestinian state as a final solution to the conflict. Since Tuesday, Israel has launched massive airstrikes across Gaza, killing more than 500 people and shattering a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since January 19. Earlier on Wednesday, at least 16 Palestinians were killed and over 30 wounded in an Israeli airstrike that struck a crowd of mourners in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Gaza health authorities. The strike hit the Salatin area of Beit Lahia during a gathering to mourn victims of earlier Israeli attacks, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Israel's military did not immediately comment on the incident. The attack came amid renewed Israeli military operations in Gaza, which officials say target Hamas militants. Sanaa, March 21 : The US military launched fresh airstrikes on Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and the northern Saada province, both of which are strongholds of the Houthis, on Thursday evening. It was reported that four US airstrikes targeted the Alkateeb coastal area on the northwestern outskirts of Hodeidah, where several military complexes are located. Meanwhile, the US military struck the al-Asayed area in Saada for the second time since early morning, Xinhua news agency reported. The airstrikes coincided with the Israeli military's interception of a missile from Yemen, which triggered air raid sirens in Jerusalem and part of the occupied West Bank. Earlier in the day, Houthis claimed that they attacked Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv with a long-range ballistic missile in the morning, saying it aimed to force Israel to stop its war on Gaza, reopen border crossings, and allow humanitarian aid into the enclave. The Houthi group also launched strikes against the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea early Thursday, marking the fifth such strike since Saturday. The US military has resumed air attacks on Houthi targets since Saturday, claiming its campaign aims to protect international shipping. The new round of US airstrikes has killed dozens of people, according to Houthi-run health authorities. The Houthi rebel group controls a large swath of Yemen, including the strategic Hodeidah port, after a civil war broke out in 2014. US President Donald Trump warned the Houthis on Saturday to cease attacks or face intensified consequences, declaring, "Hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before." Earlier on Wednesday, Yemen's Houthi group said that it has targetted the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea for the fourth time in the past 72 hours. In a statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the operation was conducted with cruise missiles and drones, claiming it had succeeded in thwarting a "hostile US air attack." Jerusalem, March 21 : The Israeli military said its troops were expanding their ground operation in southern Gaza, advancing into the Shabura refugee camp in Rafah city. "Troops began conducting ground activity in the area of Shabura in Rafah," the military said in a statement on Thursday, adding that they had "dismantled a number of terrorist infrastructure sites" in the area. Meanwhile, Israeli ground troops continued operations in northern and central Gaza after the military urged residents to avoid the Salah al-Din Road, the main north-south route in the enclave, and instead travel along the coast, Xinhua news agency reported. Israeli forces also targeted the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which had already ceased operations due to fuel shortages and previous strikes. The military claimed that the site was being used by Hamas as a command and control center to direct attacks against Israeli forces and targets. Israel's expanded offensive follows a "targeted ground operation" launched Wednesday in central and southern Gaza aimed at establishing a "buffer zone" to separate northern and southern parts of the enclave, according to Israeli authorities. Shortly after the military's announcement, air raid sirens sounded in central and southern Israel on Thursday. The Israel Defense Forces said three rockets were fired from southern Gaza, with one intercepted and the others landing in open areas. Loud explosions were reported in Tel Aviv, though no casualties were immediately confirmed. Hamas' armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the launch of the rocket barrage, calling it retaliation for Israel's "massacres against civilians." The UN agency for Palestine refugees warned Thursday that "the worst is yet to come given the ongoing ground invasion (in Gaza)." "Evacuation orders forcing people to flee were issued, impacting tens of thousands of people. The vast majority have been already displaced," Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said on social media platform X. He said there is "an endless unleashing of the most inhumane ordeals" in Gaza, highlighting Israel's continued blockade of aid and tightened siege on the war-torn enclave. Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after a ceasefire that began on January 19 unraveled. The Hamas-run Gaza media office said in a statement on Thursday that the death toll from the renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza has risen to 591, in addition to 1,042 wounded. Oslo, March 21 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to diplomatic talks with the US while expressing skepticism about Russia's willingness to agree to a ceasefire. During his visit to Oslo, Zelensky on Thursday confirmed that Ukrainian and Russian representatives will meet their American counterparts respectively in Saudi Arabia on Monday for discussions on Ukraine's future, Xinhua news agency reported. However, he stated that Ukraine does not believe Russia will agree to a ceasefire. "We are trying to take steps in the right direction," Zelensky said at a press conference in Oslo alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Zelensky's visit to Norway, his second official trip to the country, included meetings with Norway's Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, and Defence Minister Tore Sandvik. During the press conference, Store emphasised that Ukraine must have a place at the negotiating table in ceasefire discussions. "A strong European voice is important when discussing Ukraine's future," he said. In early March, the Norwegian parliament approved an increase in aid to Ukraine by 50 billion Norwegian kroner ($47.2 billion), bringing the total to 85 billion Norwegian kroner by 2025. According to Store, this additional support will be allocated to artillery ammunition, drones, and investments in Ukraine's domestic defense industry. London, March 21 : Military chiefs from some 30 countries gathered in Britain to discuss how the so-called "coalition of the willing" might function in practice to defend Ukraine in the future. "Everybody wants a peaceful outcome, a lasting peace, not least the Ukrainians. But that will only be lasting...if there is security arrangements in place to ensure that if there is a deal, it is a defended deal," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday at the close-door meeting at the Northwood military base outside London. Britain has taken a leading role in organising Western support for Ukraine alongside France after US President Donald Trump surprised Europe by initiating talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Starmer noted that previous meetings involving international political leaders had established a consensus that "we need to work together to ensure that any deal that is put in place is defended." "What's happening here is turning that political intention into reality. The concept into the plans, whether that's in relation what might happen on the sea, air or on the ground," Starmer said. Starmer's comments reflected the shift toward an operational phase, The Guardian reported, citing a Downing Street source. "The purpose of these security arrangements is to make it clear to Russia that any breach of an agreement will carry severe consequences," Starmer told reporters after the meeting. "That is why US involvement will be necessary," he added. Countries represented at the meeting included France, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, Canada, Australia, and the United States, according to The Guardian. However, the United States has so far declined to commit to supporting any Western military presence in Ukraine. In response, the Kremlin on Thursday accused European countries of seeking "militarisation" rather than peace. "Europe has embarked on a militarisation of itself and has turned into somewhat of a war party," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Meanwhile, the next round of Russia-US talks on Ukraine is scheduled to take place on Monday next week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday. On Tuesday, Trump and Putin held a phone conversation, agreeing on an initial step toward peace in Ukraine. However, Kiev has reiterated its demand for direct involvement in peace talks, with major European countries reaffirming their support for Ukraine's stance. Sanaa, March 21 : Yemen's Houthi group early morning Friday claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile attack on southern Tel Aviv, a Houthi military spokesperson said in a televised statement. "In support of the Palestinian people and response to the massacres perpetrated by Israel in the Gaza Strip, our forces carried out a qualitative military operation targeting an Israeli military target south of Tel Aviv, using a hypersonic ballistic missile," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in the statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV. "This is the second operation within 24 hours," he said, referring to the first ballistic missile attack that the group said was aimed at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, which Israel announced it intercepted. He reiterated that the group would continue attacks on Israel and its ships until the war on Gaza ceases and crossings reopen to allow aid in, Xinhua news agency reported. On Thursday morning, the Houthi group also claimed it had launched strikes against the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea, marking the fifth such strike since Saturday. In response, the US military has resumed air attacks on Houthi targets since Saturday, claiming its campaign aims to protect international shipping. The new round of US airstrikes has killed dozens of people, according to Houthi-run health authorities. The Houthi group controls a large swath of Yemen, including the strategic Hodeidah port and the capital Sanaa, after a civil war broke out in 2014. Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in Kyiv on Friday morning as part of his two-day visit to Ukraine, having visited Odesa the day before, the Czech president's office reported. "On the morning of Friday, March 21, President Petr Pavel arrived in Kyiv, where he will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal," reads a message posted on the website of the Czech president. Earlier, Pavel visited Odesa on the day when Russian troops launched a massive drone attack on the city. There, he met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reconstruction and Regional Development Oleksiy Kuleba, the leadership of Odesa region, and representatives of the cities of Mykolaiv and Kherson. They discussed further support for the region, which is located right on the front line. "So far, the Czech Republic has provided assistance in the form of combat vehicles, drones, protective vests, mobile jammers, as well as medical equipment such as ventilators and medical beds," the Czech president's office says. New Delhi, March 21 : Seven associates of MP Amritpal Singh, who were lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA), have been brought to Punjab on transit remand. New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Seven associates of MP Amritpal Singh, who were lodged in Assamas Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA), have been brought to Punjab on transit remand. The individuals will be presented in the Ajnala court on Friday, where Punjab Police will seek their remand for further investigation into the 2023 attack on the Ajnala police station. Advocate Ritu Raj, speaking on the matter, said, "The seven individuals whose NSA detention is ending will be presented today. This includes Bhagwant Singh (alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke), Daljit Singh Kalsi, and five others. Their custody will be determined in court; weall have to wait and see what happens." In a related development, a senior official revealed earlier that Punjab Police had secured the transit remand, completing the legal transfer of the detainees from Dibrugarh Central Jail to Punjab. The transfer took place via two separate flights, three of the seven associates were flown together, while the remaining four were sent on a different aircraft. Earlier, four detainees, Gurmeet Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Daljit Singh Kalsi, and Basant Singh, were released by Dibrugarh jail authorities. However, as soon as they were freed, Punjab Police re-arrested them in connection with a case registered at Ajnala Police Station. The re-arrested individuals were later presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrateas Court in Dibrugarh. Amritpal Singh, the leader of the aWaris Punjab Dea outfit, and his nine aides were lodged in the Dibrugarh jail in Assam as NSA was slapped on them two years ago. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Singh contested as an Independent and emerged victorious from the Khadoor Sahib seat in Punjab. The detainees had been lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail since March 2023, following a crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his associates in Punjab. Authorities had invoked the NSA due to concerns regarding their involvement in activities that could disturb public order and national security. According to a top Punjab Police official, the inquiry into the 2023 attack incident at the Ajnala police station would continue. New Delhi, March 21 : Led by MSMEs, the IT sector can achieve an ambitious $450 billion services export target in the next financial year, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has emphasised. Goyal underscored the critical role of the IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) sector in India's economic growth. The minister noted that the services sector exports reached approximately $340 billion last year, with IT and ITES contributing nearly $200 billion. This year, services exports are expected to reach between $380 billion and $385 billion, further solidifying India's global presence. Speaking at the 'Global Confluence 2025' organised by Nasscom here, the minister highlighted the importance of innovation and adaptability in maintaining India's competitive edge. The minister also reaffirmed confidence in India's IT sector and MSMEs as key drivers of the country's economic transformation in the Amrit Kaal, working collectively towards a developed and prosperous Viksit Bharat. He praised Nasscom for fostering a culture of continuous learning, stating that the IT sector has consistently remained ahead of the curve by embracing new technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The minister also stressed the need to attract global capability centres (GCCs) to India, leveraging the country's vast talent pool. Encouraging businesses to operate from India rather than relocating talent abroad, he said this would enhance foreign exchange earnings and fuel domestic economic growth. Discussing India's expanding middle class and rising consumption levels, Goyal outlined the cascading benefits of IT-led growth, including increased demand for commercial real estate, housing and infrastructure. He called it a "virtuous cycle of growth" where a thriving services sector strengthens the overall economy. "Nasscom plays an omnipresent role across industries and must continue reskilling and retraining IT professionals to remain relevant in today's fast-evolving landscape," Goyal told the gathering. The Union Minister reiterated the government's commitment to expanding global partnerships through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and bilateral engagements, emphasising that numerous global markets are eager for India's arrival. IANS na/ Miami, March 21 : Joao Fonseca made an electric debut at the Miami Open and powered past Learner Tien 6-7(1), 3-6, 6-4 in a thrilling opening-round clash. In the youngest main-draw match in Miami since 2016, when Alexander Zverev beat Michael Mmoh in a battle of 18-year-olds, Fonseca struck 43 winners to win the match in two-hour, 23-minute. aI always try to be aggressive with my forehand. When I was younger, I went to my forehand when the important points came and itad go directly to the fence. Now Iam working a little bit more to be aggressive and solid at the same time. In the important points, I go with my forehand where I have confidence. Very happy and proud of myself the way I put in the hard work on court," Fonseca said. Leading 3-2 in the decider with a break advantage, Fonseca stood up from the changeover and unexpectedly called the doctor, telling chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani that he felt dizzy and needed to vomit. Fonseca took pills from the doctor and following a six-minute break, he continued the match without any obvious signs of illness, ATP reports. The late drama continued as Fonseca appeared to suffer from a small cramp just two points from the win. But the teenager wasted no time as he wrapped up the win. Fonseca will next meet 19th seed Ugo Humbert, who last month won his seventh tour-level crown in Marseille. In other action, Jakub Mensik overcame Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 after hammering 23 aces and winning 84 per cent of his first-serve points. Italians Lorenzo Sonego, Matteo Arnaldi and Luciano Darderi all advanced. Sonego, 29, ousted Mariano Navone 7-5, 7-5 to set a second-round clash with third seed Taylor Fritz. Arnaldi overcame Wu Yibing 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 while Darderi raced past Pedro Martinez 6-4, 6-1. Kochi, March 21 : A high-level probe has commenced in a case of fire reported at the kitchen of a police station in Kerala's Kochi, where bullets were burnt in a pan. The incident occurred on March 11 in the kitchen attached to a Kerala Police camp. A top police official confirmed to IANS that the incident had taken place and the probe was going on. This strange incident surfaced when the police camp received a call that a squad had to be made available for the ceremonial farewell to an officer who had passed away. In Kerala, this is a common practice for the police squad to be made available when the state government decides to give a befitting funeral to any person who passes away. Once the permission is granted, as per the protocol, the squad of police personnel arrive in uniform, stand before the mortal remains and fire upwards as a mark of respect to the departed soul. When one such call came on March 11, the official in charge of the ammunition at the Police camp C.V. Sajeevan got into the act of getting the men and material required to give their colleague who passed away the ceremonial farewell. Sajeevan while readying the guns and the bullets required for the function found out that a few bullets looked rusty. With little time left for the function, Sajeevan felt that there was no time to place the rusted bullets in the sun and then clean them using a cloth. As a measure of quick redressal, Sanjeevan thought that a little fire may clean the bullets. He took a few of them to the kitchen, put them into a pan and lit the fire underneath. After a while Sajeevan was in for a shock when the bullets exploded and fire ensued. The fire was doused quickly without causing any further damage to the kitchen where gas cylinders were kept. The probe has commenced and the higher officials are awaiting the full-fledged report for further action. Miami, March 21 : Naomi Osaka defeated No. 24 seed Samsonova 6-2, 6-4 at the Miami Open to enter the third round. Osaka, the 2022 Miami Open finalist, held off a very last-minute surge by her opponent to close out the match in 1 hour and 22 minutes, repeating her win over Samsonova from Indian Wells last year. Osaka and Samsonova faced off in the second round of a WTA 1000 event during the Sunshine Double. And for the second year in a row, former World No. 1 Japanese came away the straight-sets victor, according to WTA. After a first-round loss at this year's Indian Wells event, Osaka has been back on track in Miami, following up her come-from-behind win over Yuliia Starodubtseva with her victory over Samsonova. Osaka has now compiled an 8-3 win-loss record in 2025. Osaka's next opponent will be wild card Hailey Baptiste of the United States. Earlier on Thursday, Baptiste collected her third career Top 20 win with a gripping 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 upset of No. 12 seed Daria Kasatkina. Osaka and Baptiste faced off for the first time in the first week of this year, in the Auckland quarterfinals. On that occasion, Osaka prevailed 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2, en route to a runner-up showing to Clara Tauson in New Zealand. Elsewhere, No. 14 seed Danielle Collins, who won her first WTA 1000 title here in Miami last year, joined Osaka in the third round after her night-session victory. Collins defeated Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 7-6(3) in Thursday's final match on the stadium court. She now holds a perfect 3-0 record against Cirstea after her 1-hour and 40-minute win. Next up for Collins in her title defense will be her first meeting with qualifier Rebeka Masarova of Switzerland. Earlier on Thursday, Masarova upset Donna Vekic 6-1, 6-3 to earn her third career Top 20 win. In another action, third-seeded Coco Gauff thumped her fellow American Sofia Kenin without the loss of a game in 47 minutes. It was the second 6-0, 6-0 victory of Gauff's career, having also defeated Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands by that score last year in Madrid, WTA reports. Gauff, who has never been past the fourth round in Miami, will face No. 28 seed Maria Sakkari in the third round -- for the second time in as many tournaments. New Delhi, March 21 : The world is eyeing India for the quality of its products and businesses, said Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C), for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He said this during the two-day Capacity Building Workshop organised by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. "The world is eyeing India for the quality of its products, its citizens, and its businesses, which presents a significant competitive advantage," said Chaudhary, during his address. He urged industries in the country "to focus on product quality to distinguish themselves globally". Further, the MoS noted that to achieve quality, "industries need to invest in entrepreneurs and support them in every possible way for our economy to progress". He also mentioned how the recent Union Budget 2025 emphasised initiatives targeting women and underserved categories. "Loan sanctions of around Rs 10,000 crore under the Fund of Funds (FoF) have been made accessible for them to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys. The government has implemented various schemes to assist citizens in pursuing their dreams, but these will only be effective if we learn to utilise them as our right," Chaudhary said. This two-day training session aims to catalyse "the entrepreneurial spirit in budding entrepreneurs and help them gain a deeper understanding of the government initiatives, , market access, and digital competence," he added. The two-day workshop was structured with engaging panel discussions and practical sessions focused on enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem through capacity building of budding entrepreneurs. More than 100 entrepreneurs from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh participated in the workshop, and most of them have been trained under the SANKALP programme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The attendees reported significant gains in their understanding of financial management and funding opportunities. The participants were provided with actionable roadmaps for scaling their ventures and strengthened networks that will aid them in navigating the entrepreneurial landscape. New Delhi, March 21 : Tamil Nadu Chief on Friday said that fair delimitation was crucial for the state's rights and what started as Tamil Nadu's initiative has now grown into a national movement. New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief on Friday said that fair delimitation was crucial for the state's rights and what started as Tamil Naduas initiative has now grown into a national movement. CM Stalin issued a video statement on social media ahead of Saturday's (March 22) first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting with the Opposition state Chief Ministers and leaders. He said that fair delimitation was crucial, not just for the number of MPs, but for the state's rights. He wrote on his X handle that it was going to be a historic day for Indian federalism as he extended his "warmest welcome" to the leaders from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal and Punjab who are joining him for the Joint Action Committee meeting on delimitation. Calling it a meeting on 'fair" delimitation, CM Stalin claimed that the all-party meeting on March 5 "was a landmark moment, where 58 registered political parties of Tamil Nadu set aside their differences and came together for a singular cause. "This overwhelming consensus reflected Tamil Naduas unwavering commitment to democracy and justice," he said. CM Stalin said that after this meeting his party's MPs and Ministers have been contacting other party leaders and CMs. "Building on this historic unity, our MPs and Ministers actively engaged with leaders from other affected states, strengthening our collective resolve. What started as Tamil Naduas initiative has now grown into a national movement, with states across India joining hands to demand fair representation." He said this was a defining moment in their collective journey. "This is more than a meeting -- it is the beginning of a movement that will shape the future of our country. Together, we will achieve fair delimitation," he said. The meeting is being seen as a major show of strength by the Opposition parties against the BJP. At the meeting, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will explain how South states might lose their political representation in the Lok Sabha if the delimitation was conducted solely based on population. The delimitation is due in 2026. The Centre, however, has dismissed the fears and assured that there will be no loss of seats. In February Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at an event in Coimbatore, conveyed assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also said that the number of seats allotted to each state would "naturally increase". Islamabad, March 21 : The Pakistan government has not set any guidelines as the deadline for the mass repatriation of Afghan refugees from the country is just ten days away, leaving relevant departments clueless. The Afghan Commissionerate in Pakistan which is responsible for Afghan refugees under the federal administration has reportedly not received any official instructions from the government, according to media reports. Pakistan's government has not issued any directives to the concerned authorities regarding the repatriation of refugees, causing confusion among them, the country's leading daily, The Express Tribune, reported on Friday. Pakistan has set a March 31 deadline for the deportation of all Afghan refugees. However, some Afghans are hoping for an extension of the deadline. As relations with Afghanistan reached an all-time low, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed the deadline is still in place. Meanwhile earlier this week Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi called for the gradual repatriation of Afghan refugees. Addressing an iftar gathering for diplomats in Kabul at which Pakistani Charge d'Affaires Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani was present, he stated that over the past four decades, millions of Afghans have migrated to different countries, including Pakistan and Iran. "Refugees should be respected and their return should be gradual and dignified, and there are some problems that make it difficult to prepare for the arrival of refugees all at once. Pakistan's leading newspaper Dawn reported quoting Muttaqi. Recently, the US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch slammed Pakistan for the forced deportation of Afghan refugees. "Pakistani officials should immediately stop coercing Afghans to return home and allow those facing expulsion to seek protection," said Elaine Pearson Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. According to the rights watchdog, Pakistani police have raided houses, beaten and arbitrarily detained people, and confiscated their refugee documents, including residence permits. They have also demanded bribes to allow Afghans to remain in Pakistan. The United Nations has reported that most Afghans who have returned to Afghanistan have cited fear of detention by Pakistani authorities as the reason they left. Masood Rahmati, an Afghan journalist, said that even Afghans who are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or who had valid residence cards were not safe in Pakistan. Several reports revealed that Afghan refugees are facing massive harassment and abuse in Pakistan. Asking various human rights organisations to take action on their behalf, the Afghan refugees stated that despite holding valid legal documents, they are facing the threat of illegal detention, deportation, and discrimination. Mumbai, March 21 : 'The Dupatta Killer', which delves deep into the story of Mahanand Naik, Goa's infamous serial killer, has finally been released on DocuBay. Its director Patrick Graham shared that helming this has been a fascinating, shocking, and often sobering experience. Patrick Graham, Director, shared: "Directing this documentary has been a fascinating, shocking,and often sobering experience." "When dealing with real-life stories, I believe in balancing storytelling with the responsibility to honor those affected. We didn't want to sensationalize the horror but rather bring out the deeper issuesthe failures that enabled these crimes and the voices that were silenced. The Dupatta Killer is not just about the past; it's about the present, and what needs to change for the future." Goa's infamous serial killer Mahanand Naik was accused of murdering16 women but convicted for only two. The documentary sheds light on the cracks in the justice system, the stories of the victims, and the chilling psychology of a killer who evaded the law for years. Produced by Samar Khan under Juggernaut Productions, The Dupatta Killer presents never-before-seen insights, expert analysis, and haunting first-hand accounts. Aditya Pittie, Managing Director of IN10 Media Network, emphasised: "The Dupatta Killer is a stark reminder of the critical issues within our justice system and the far-reaching consequences of crime on society. This documentary is essential viewing for anyone who values accountability and the need for reform." Samar Khan,Producer and CEO of Juggernaut Productions, added: "While ction entertains, documentaries like The Dupatta Killer serve a greater purpose. They expose uncomfortable truths, start conversations, and, hopefully, lead to change. This is not just another crime documentaryit's an urgent narrative that needs to be heard." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Mumbai, March 21 : Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri sought divine blessings at the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The filmmaker took to Instagram, where he shared a video of him offering his prayers and glimpses of the Gorakhnath Math. "Jai Baba Gorakhnath," he wrote as the caption, along with the song "Shiv Sama Rahe" playing in the background. The Gorakhnath Temple is a Hindu temple of the Nath monastic order group of the Nath tradition. The name Gorakhnath derives from the medieval saint, Gorakshanath, a yogi who travelled widely across India and authored a number of texts that form a part of the canon of Nath Sampradaya. Earlier this month, Agnihotri's "The Kashmir Files" completed three years in Hindi cinema. He had then said that if his 2022 film disturbed people, then the upcoming movie 'The Delhi Files' will destroy you because my life's mission is to tell the darkest truths of our history. Vivek took to X, formerly called as Twitter, where he shared a poster of "The Kashmir Files", which presented a fictional storyline centred around the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Indian-administered Kashmir. He wrote: "Dear friends, They tried to silence me. They tried to erase history. But The Kashmir Files became a movementshaking the nation and exposing the truth of the Kashmiri Hindu genocide." He said that "The Kashmir Files", which stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar and Pallavi Joshi, was a voice for the voiceless. "The Kashmir Files was more than a film; it was a revolution, a voice for the voiceless, and a relentless fight for justice." "The Kashmir Files" depicts the exodus and the events leading up to it as a genocide a framing considered inaccurate by scholars.The film claims that such facts were suppressed by a conspiracy of silence. "If The Kashmir Files disturbed you, The Delhi Files will destroy youbecause my life's mission is to tell the darkest, most buried, untold truths of our history, no matter how uncomfortable they are. -VRA #3YearsOfTheKashmirFiles #RightToJustice #TheDelhiFiles" Talking about the "The Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter", it is reportedly centred around the 1946 Calcutta Riots. The Delhi Files is the third of Agnihotri's trilogy of films, which includes The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Photo: PAP Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Sky News on Thursday that America's global credibility is at stake over how its president deals with the war in Ukraine. In a wide-ranging interview with Mark Austin, Sikorski also said that Vladimir Putin wants "all of Ukraine" and warned Donald Trump is "capable of changing his policy rather rapidly". Sikorski said that Trump cares only about having success, but that the "credibility of the United States is staked on the quality of the solution". Guwahati, March 21 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that a drug racket was busted by police in the Nagaon district and narcotics item worth Rs one crore was seized by the security personnel. Police have arrested one person on the charges of drug peddling. Taking to X handle, CM Sarma wrote, "War on drugs continues; heroin worth 1cr seized. In a source backed operation, @nagaonpolice intercepted a vehicle at Gereki and recovered 461gms of heroin on thorough search. One person has been arrested in this regard." According to a senior police official, narcotics items are often peddled to Assam from neighbouring states Manipur and Mizoram. Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the state, reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy against drug cartels following a major crackdown on an international narcotics network in the northeast. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) successfully busted the racket in coordinated operations in Guwahati and Imphal, seizing narcotics worth Rs 88 crore and arresting four men. Later in a post on X, HM Shah said, "No mercy for drug cartels. Accelerating the Modi government's march to build a drug-free Bharat, a massive consignment of methamphetamine tablets worth 88 crore is seized, and four members of the international drug cartel are arrested in Imphal and Guwahati zones." He lauded the efforts of the NCB, calling the operation a result of an effective "bottom-to-top and top-to-bottom approach" to the investigation. "The drug haul is a testament to the stellar performance of this integrated strategy. Our hunt for drugs continues. Heartfelt congratulations to team NCB," the Home Minister added. Last year Shah, while addressing the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala, said the accusations against the northeastern states about drugs-related activities should be removed. "Much endeavours were made to curb the drug menaces, but much more efforts must be undertaken by the Chief Ministers and all people concerned," he said. Bengaluru, March 21 : The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC, Class 10) Board exams commenced in Karnataka on Friday, with approximately 8.96 lakh students appearing for the examination across 15,881 examination centres in the state. The Karnataka Assembly extended best wishes to the students and urged parents not to pressure their children. The House also expressed concern over the circulation of fake question papers on social media before the exams and directed the State Minister for Education, Madhu Bangarappa, to take strict action. Speaker U.T. Khader conveyed his message at the beginning of the session. He said, "Today, the SSLC (Class 10) board exams are beginning, and I want to wish the students good luck. About 8,96,447 students are taking the examination across 15,881 centres. Dear students, this is an important stage in your life. I urge you to write your exams without stress or fear. We hope you achieve good results. Your dedication, hard work, and the guidance of your parents and teachers will bring you success." He further added, "Parents should not put mental pressure on their children. It is important to provide them with emotional support. Your primary role is to help them focus on their studies peacefully." Addressing the students, he said, "Dear students, your Class 10 exams are the first phase of your academic journey; they are not the end of your life. We believe in you, and our support and blessings will always be with you. Our prayers are with you for success." Minister for Education Madhu Bangarappa thanked the House for its good wishes for the students taking the board exams. At this point, Speaker Khader intervened and expressed concern over fake question papers being circulated online. He stated, "I appreciate the efforts of Minister Madhu Bangarappa. However, I want to bring to your attention that an App is systematically spreading messages claiming to have access to the question papers, which can be obtained by paying thousands of rupees. These messages also suggest that many students have already accessed these papers, misleading and luring others. I have seen these messages and sent them to you. Please investigate and take immediate action." Minister Madhu Bangarappa responded, stating that he had already issued a warning in this regard. "We are also verifying the matter through our department. Forwarding such messages unnecessarily is a serious offence. During the Class 12 exams, I personally met with students to ensure they were writing their exams without fear." He further added, "I usually avoid discussing social media forwards because, as a minister, if I comment on them, students may get disturbed when they hear about it. I am deliberately avoiding media discussions on this matter. However, trust that we have made all necessary preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of exams. We will also address the issue of fake question papers being circulated on social media before the exams." Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka also shared his thoughts, stating, "We have all been through this phase. We have witnessed students experiencing stress and depression over their exam results. I want to appeal to parents not to put pressure on their children. This is my humble request. The students are already under stress, and even a slight drop in grades can cause them anxiety." He also raised concerns over the circulation of fake question papers, saying, "On social media, these fake question papers appear exactly like the original ones. Some students may be misled, which could negatively impact their exams. The government must take strict action through the police department to curb such social media forwards." Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the SSLC exams had begun and assured that the government had arranged for students to travel freely on RTC buses. He added, "Last year, I decided against awarding grace marks because students' real abilities should be reflected in their performance. Grace marks were given during the Covid-19 pandemic, but this time, students will write their exams without the expectation of grace marks. I wish all students, both boys and girls, the best of luck on this occasion." Mumbai, March 21 : As "Kesari" clocks six years since its release in Hindi cinema on Friday, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar announced that a "new chapter" is all set to begin soon. Mumbai, March 21 (IANS) As "Kesari" clocks six years since its release in Hindi cinema on Friday, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar announced that a "new chapter" is all set to begin soon. Akshay took to his Instagram, where he shared some stills from "Kesari", which had an overlay text reading: "6 years ago A story of courage shook the nation." It went on to say: "21 Sikhs against thousands of Afghans. Outnumbered. Surrounded. But never defeated.They fought like lions, they became legends." "History wrote one chapter Now, we tell the next. The saffron rises again. New battle, same fire. Tomorrow. For the caption, he wrote: "Celebrating 6 years of Kesari. Celebrating the spirit of Kesari. Celebrating a new chapter that begins...soon!" Kesari, which will be released in 2019, is a war film starring Akshay Kumar and directed by Anurag Singh. It follows the events leading to the Battle of Saragarhi, a battle between 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army and 10,000 Afridi and Orakzai Pashtun tribesmen in 1897. On March 20, Karan Johar announced he is introducing a new filmmaker through his production house. He took to his Instagram, and shared a long note in which he spoke about introducing a new director with his upcoming production. He wrote, "When I began producing films (once I stepped into Dharma as an active part of the company), in 2003 with Kal Ho Naa Ho - the idea was to empower filmmakers and storytellers...to pay it forward. We got it right...we got it wrong but the intent was always to put out stories and films we believed in. The motive was only either entertain, seek acclaim or to simply have fun at the movies (sic)". He further mentioned that he is so proud to say that their next offering is the 24th debutant filmmaker he has introduced to Hindi cinema. "(Trivia for trollers: 90% of them are 'outsiders'). I rarely write notes before the release of a film but few films excite me, energise me and inspire me the way the process of this film has. Our collaborative producer and debutant director have been on the journey of this film for 4 years". "The director did nothing else but put his head down and work relentlessly on his film combating pandemic delays and other unforeseen circumstances. I am inspired by the team of actors and technicians who gave the film and the team so much consistent support and love." "One can never predict commercial success BUT what I can say with all my heart is that this film is one of Dharma's proudest films. I say this as a filmmaker and an audience. I pray for the team that the audience is coloured in the colour of their passion. See you at the movies", he added. While KJo didn't reveal the film's title, he did use the saffron colour in the background of his Instagram post, which points to the film being 'Kesari Chapter 2' directed by debutant director Karan Singh Tyagi. Jaipur, March 21 : In a tragic accident, the driver of a truck was burnt alive in a head-on collision with two tankers on Friday in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district. The accident occurred at around 6.30 a.m. at the Ladpura intersection in the Mandalgarh police station area in the district. As per reports, the speeding truck collided with two tankers, triggering a massive fire that reduced all three vehicles to ashes. The truck was carrying ash from Chittorgarh and crashed into a cement tanker (blocker) and an empty diesel tanker. The impact caused the truckas gate to jam, trapping the driver inside. He was unable to escape the sudden flare and was tragically burnt alive in the fire. Though people tried to rush to his help, the sudden burst of flames kept them away. The fire in no time overtook the three vehicles. Following the accident, heavy traffic congestion was reported on the highway. Police arrived at the scene and managed to clear the jam. Probationer IPS officer Jatin Jain, in charge of Mandalgarh police station, stated that due to an earlier accident in Chittorgarh, traffic had been diverted towards Ladpura, leading to congestion at the intersection. Amidst this rush, an out-of-control truck, moving at high speed, collided with the two tankers. Eyewitnesses reported that the truck driver applied sudden brakes, causing its tyres to catch fire. The flames quickly spread to the other vehicles, igniting a fierce blaze. The truck driver, identified as Shambhulal Dhakad (45) of Phoolji Kheda village, was unable to escape and perished in the fire. Fire brigade teams and police personnel battled the inferno for over an hour before bringing it under control. The burnt-out vehicles were later removed, and normal traffic flow was restored. The deceased driveras body has been kept at Mandalgarh Hospitalas mortuary, awaiting post-mortem after the arrival of his family. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, while police have urged drivers to maintain safe speeds to prevent such tragedies. Bhopal, March 21 : Three motorcyclists were killed and five others injured in separate road accidents in Madhya Pradesh. A speeding vehicle from Katni hit a motorcyclist, resulting in his instant death on Thursday night near Fuliao Mata Temple on the Damoh-Katni state highway in Hindoria police jurisdiction. The victim, identified as Bihari Chaurasia, 54, son of Ramnath Chaurasia and a resident of Hindoria, was pronounced dead in a nearby hospital. Police officers from the Bandakpur outpost, led by ASI Rajendra Mishra, arrived promptly and registered a case against the driver who fled the scene. Investigations are underway. In another incident, a reckless trailer truck wreaked havoc in Barela, Jabalpur, near Sharda Temple on Thursday afternoon. The truck, en route to Jabalpur from Mandla, first collided with a car and then ran over two motorcyclists travelling in the opposite direction. The motorcyclists were killed on the spot, while the car occupants sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital. A police officer told IANS, that the truck struck the car before hitting the motorcycle, dragging it approximately 50 metres. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the matter. While on Friday morning a head-on collision occurred between two cars near Hathni Pipariya village within Damoh district's Nohata police jurisdiction. The crash left four individuals critically injured, but no lives were lost. Police station in-charge Arvind Singh said a person Aman Rai, 25, from Sagar, was travelling to Jabalpur with his mother, Anita Rai, when their vehicle collided with another car, injuring them. Lokendra Thakur, 40, and his mother, Neema Singh Thakur, 60, who were occupants of the second car and residents of Hinoti Putlighat were also injured in the incident. All the injured were swiftly taken to the district hospital Damoh for treatment. The Nohata Police seized the vehicles and began an investigation. New Delhi, March 21 : So far 588 Indian antiquities smuggled out of the country have been secured back from the US, of which 297 were repatriated in 2024, the Central government has informed Parliament. The information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. He was responding to a question on the number of "looted or stolen artefacts" expected to be returned under the US-India Cultural Property Agreement to prevent illicit trade of antiquities. The Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) has been signed with the US to prevent the smuggling of Indian antiquities. The agreement, being preventive in nature, has no timelines or target numbers, the minister explained. The minister was also asked whether the government plans to collaborate with international organisations or other nations to strengthen India's efforts in recovering stolen antiquities. India collaborates with different international organisations, including UNESCO and INTERPOL as per requirement. The CPA has provision for fostering cooperation and mutual understanding in the matters of technical assistance, illicit trade and pillage of cultural property, the minister said. He was also asked a question on whether the government has observed a "resurgence of ancient sects", particularly during events like the Kumbh Mela. Shekhawat replied that the Kumbh Mela is a significant Hindu pilgrimage festival and one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, where millions of devotees converge to bathe in sacred rivers. During this event, many ancient sects, spiritual organisations and religious leaders come together, often showcasing rituals, traditions and practices that have been passed down through centuries. "The resurgence of ancient sects in India is driven by factors such as a growing interest in cultural and spiritual heritage coupled with the search for deeper meaning amid modern religious challenges," he said. Social media and religious tourism have also played a role in spreading awareness of these sects. This revival is significant in contemporary society as it helps to preserve traditional practices, fosters social cohesion and strengthens national pride in India's cultural roots, the minister added. New Delhi, March 21 : With about 50,000 Indian students studying in Germany, the partnership between the two countries in terms of science and education is stronger than ever, said German Ambassador to India and Bhutan, Dr. Philipp Ackermann. He said this at an event held in the national capital to mark the German academic exchange service, DAAD's 65th anniversary in India, and its 100-year commitment to fostering international academic collaboration. Even as India looks to strengthen its academic ties with Germany, it will host more than 80 German universities and research institutions. This will be a significant step towards enhancing academic and research partnerships, said DAAD. "The Indo-German partnership in science and education is stronger than ever. It is one of the building blocks of our bilateral ties. We have almost 50,000 Indian students in Germany, the largest group of foreign students from any country," Ackermann said. "Indian scientists are contributing to our research landscape, with their talents, their ambitions, and their discoveries. It is a pleasure to see this exchange grow so dynamically, from year to year," he added. At the event, DAAD also published a strategy paper on cooperation with India. The paper highlights the great potential of academic exchange and scientific cooperation between Germany and India and provides German universities with specific recommendations for action. "Academic cooperation with the world's largest democracy is gaining strategic importance for Germany in principle, but also in light of the major geopolitical developments and upheavals," said DAAD President Prof Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. "India is rapidly developing into one of the world's leading centres of science and innovation. The dynamic development of the Indian higher education and research system opens up numerous opportunities for bilateral cooperation - from student mobility and the recruitment of skilled labour to research and innovation partnerships," Mukherjee added. Further, DAAD also presented some recommendations for German universities for further expansion of academic cooperation with India. These include establishing strategic collaborations; attracting Indian talent; promoting transfer and innovation; and strengthening regional expertise. Mumbai, March 21 : Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh celebrated his brother and Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh's birthday in a heartfelt way, sharing a rare, unseen photo of the two together. The 'Masti' actor took to his Instagram handle to shower his "bhaiya" with love, making the special occasion even more memorable with a nostalgic post that captured their bond. Riteish posted a throwback photo of him posing with Amit and wrote in the caption, "Happy Birthday Bhaiya @amitv.deshmukh !!!! Have a tremendous day- wishing you great health and long life - I love you." In the image, the brother duo can be seen flaunting their radiant smiles as they pose together. Riteish and Amit Deshmukh are the sons of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Born on May 26, 1945, in Latur, Vilasrao Deshmukh served as Maharashtra's Chief Minister twice and was also a minister in the UPA government under Dr. Manmohan Singh. He passed away on August 14, 2012. While Riteish made his mark in the film industry with his acting talent, his elder brother, Amit Deshmukh, serves as the Congress MLA from Latur. Their younger brother, Dhiraj Deshmukh, also followed in the political footsteps of the family and served as an MLA for the Indian National Congress. On the work front, Riteish Deshmukh was last seen in the Marathi film "Ved", which he also directed and which starred his wife Genelia D'Souza. The 2022 romantic film marked Riteish's directorial debut and was produced by Genelia D'Souza. The film, which also features Ashok Saraf in a supporting role, was a remake of the 2019 Telugu drama "Majili." Riteish Deshmukh will next appear in the crime thriller "Raid 2," starring Ajay Devgn and directed by Raj Kumar Gupta. A sequel to the 2018 hit "Raid," the film follows IRS officer Amay Patnaik as he returns to tackle another high-profile white-collar crime. Seoul, March 21 : Five Opposition parties of South Korea submitted a motion to impeach South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Friday over his non-appointment of a ninth justice at the Constitutional Court. Lawmakers from the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP) and four minor parties submitted the impeachment motion at the National Assembly at 2 p.m. "Despite a unanimous ruling by the Constitutional Court justices, (Choi) has not followed the ruling yet, though three weeks have already passed," Kim Yong-min, the DP's deputy floor leader for policy, told reporters. In late December, Choi appointed two justices to the court but held off on the appointment of Opposition-recommended Justice candidate Ma Eun-hyuk, citing the need for a bipartisan consensus. The DP has strongly criticised Choi, noting the Constitutional Court's decision that Choi's non-appointment of the candidate is an "unconstitutional" act that infringes upon the right of the National Assembly, Yonhap news agency reported. The parties cited four other reasons for impeachment, including Choi's alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 3 martial law bid and the failure to appoint Supreme Court judge candidate Ma Yong-ju. By law, an impeachment motion must be put to a vote between 24 and 72 hours after it is reported to a plenary session. If National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who holds the authority to open plenary sessions, does not convene one before the deadline, the motion could be scrapped. The Opposition's move came as the Constitutional Court is set to deliver its ruling on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment over martial law-related allegations next Monday. No date has been set for a ruling on the impeachment of Yoon. Consent by at least six justices is necessary to uphold Yoon's impeachment, with the suspended President's fate in the hands of the nine-member court. Currently, the court has an eight-member Bench. Kannur, March 21 : The Thalassery District Sessions Court in Kerala on Friday found nine members of the CPI(M) guilty in the 2005 murder of Suraj, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker. The brutal murder took place on August 7, 2005, at Muzhappilangad, a Communist party-dominated village in Thalassery near Kannur. One of the nine accused, Manoraj, is the brother of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanas press secretary P.M. Manoj. In all, there were 12 accused, two of the accused passed away during the trial, while on Friday one accused was acquitted. The nine convicts nursed a grudge against Suraj, who had left the CPI(M) in 2004 due to a difference of opinion and joined the BJP. Suraj eked out a living by driving a three-wheeler. One day a group of people got onto his autorickshaw under the guise of undertaking a trip, and soon after he was attacked from behind as he was driving the vehicle. He survived the attack after being hospitalised for weeks and was bedridden for months. However, he was again attacked on the morning of August 7, 2005, by a gang of almost a dozen people. Just before attacking him with knives and swords, the gang burst a country bomb to create terror in the area and make people run from the spot. After ensuring that Suraj had died, they escaped from the spot. It was only after the mother of the then 32-year-old Suraj approached the Kerala High Court that a special public prosecutor was appointed for the case. a Justice is served to Suraj after 20 years, " said the lawyer who fought for Suraj's family. Incidentally one of the accused in this murder case is T.K. Rejeesh, who is also an accused in the now infamous T.P. Chandrasekheran murder case. The widow of the former CPI(M) hugely popular leader Chandrasekheran, K.K. Rema, is a first-time legislator after she won the 2021 Assembly polls from the Badagara Assembly constituency in Kozhikode district. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the shelling on Thursday evening, when Russia attacked regions of Ukraine with more than two hundred attack drones, drone imitators and guided aerial bombs. Odesa, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi and Chernihiv regions suffered from shelling, there are wounded and housing and infrastructure were destroyed, the president said. As a result of the massive strikes by the occupiers on the Odesa region, fires broke out in a shopping mall and several stores, and a residential building was damaged. Three children were injured. In Zaporizhia, six people were injured by Russian aerial bombs, including a 4-year-old child. Ordinary houses and vehicles were damaged. In these and all other affected regions, assistance is being provided to the victims. Emergency services are on the scene and working, Zelenskyy said on X Friday. The President added that the way to end such terror is through joint pressure on Russia. It is joint pressure on Russia, along with tougher sanctions and stronger defense support for our country, that paves the way to ending this kind of terror and Russias prolongation of the war. We expect real pressure on Russia from the United States, Europe, and all our partners. This is what will enable diplomacy to work, Zelenskyy said. He thanked partners for their help and everyone who "protects and saves Ukrainians from terror." I thank all our partners who understand this and continue to help Ukraine, every man and woman in our Defense Forces for their constant protection of our people, and everyone who defends and saves Ukrainians from terror, Zelenskyy emphasized. Mumbai, March 21 : Actor Boman Irani took to social media to share a glimpse of how he celebrates Navroz Mubarak with his family. In a video posted on his Instagram handle, the 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.' actor can be seen enjoying the joyous occasion surrounded by his loved ones, showcasing the beautiful traditions that come with the Persian New Year. The heartwarming video captures the warm, intimate atmosphere of the celebration, where Boman and his family are seen following the customs of Navroz, which include preparing special dishes, offering prayers, and spending quality time together. Boman shared the significance of these rituals, highlighting the importance of renewal, unity, and togetherness that Navroz brings to their lives. Sharing the video, he wrote, "It's that time of the year againwhen our hearts are full, our plates are fuller, and our resolutions last exactly as long as the Pulav Daar does! #NavrozeMubarak to my family, friends, and all the amazing people I share this journey with Here's to a year of love, laughter, and maybe fewer calories (who am I kidding?)." In the clip, Irani could be heard saying, "Navroze is spring equinox day, we stand in front of and thank the Lord what he has given us, and thank the lord for what he is an about to give us. New beginnings with familyand its now become everyone's Navroze." For the unversed, Nowruz marks the beginning of the Persian or Iranian New Year and is celebrated across various countries worldwide as spring ushers in the Northern Hemisphere. In India, the Parsi community observes Nowruz as both a sacred and festive occasion. This year, it was celebrated on March 20. Nowruz, also known as Navroz, falls on the vernal equinox, a time when the days start growing longer, typically occurring around March 20. The festival is predominantly observed in Central Asian nations, the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Black Sea Basin, among other regions. In India, the Parsi community celebrates Nowruz with devotion and joy. The day is marked by visits to the Fire Temple for special prayers, followed by festive meals. Traditional dishes like fried fish, herb rice, and special desserts are prepared as families and friends gather to share the celebration. Work-wise, Boman Irani was recently seen in "The Mehta Boys," which also stars Avinash Tiwary, Shreya Chaudhry, and Puja Sarup in pivotal roles. The show, directed by Boman himself, premiered on 7th February on Amazon Prime Video. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 21 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) effected a major overhaul in the party's organisational structure on Friday, replacing incumbent Delhi unit chief Gopal Rai with Sourabh Bhardwaj and moving the former to Gujarat. The big shake-up and re-structuring of the partyas state chiefs and in-charges come in the wake of AAPas debacle in Delhi Assembly polls. The decision to reallocate the partyas top leaders to states like Punjab, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh was taken at the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC), the highest decision-making body of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. The party has announced new party chiefs in two states and in-charges in four states. Gopal Rai will be the partyas in-charge for Gujarat while Durgesh Pathak will serve in the capacity of co-convenor. Sandeep Pathak has been given charge of Chhattisgarh while Mehraj Mallik has been made Jammu and Kashmir chief. Among the most noticeable changes is former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia being moved to Punjab, to strengthen the partyas base and keep its only citadel from falling. Manish Sisodia, being the closest aide of Arvind Kejriwal is likely to work closely with the partyas state convenors and office-bearers to implement AAP supremoas views and goals in the state. He will also keep watch on the Punjab governmentas poll promises and their implementation. Lately, the Bhagwant Mann government has been under fire for not fulfilling AAPas poll promises. Sisodiaas Punjab shift is also seen as a move to establish strong communication channels between the partyas Punjab unit and the central leadership in Delhi. After losing the Delhi battleground, the AAP is eyeing its electoral chances in Gujarat and Goa, the two states where it managed to secure moderate vote percentage earlier. In Gujarat, AAP won five seats in the last Assembly elections. Gopal Rai and Durgesh Pathak will reassess the ground connect in the state and prepare the party for the next Assembly elections in 2027. In Goa, AAP has two legislators. Here also, AAP has maintained a vote share of above 5 per cent and will look to consolidate the public support further. Sandeep Pathak, being shifted from Gujarat to Chhattisgarh assumes importance as he was instrumental in cultivating and drawing peopleas support for AAP in the 2022 polls. Bengaluru, March 21 : The honey trap row rocked the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the second consecutive day on Friday, with the BJP claiming that the issue was nothing other than a power struggle. The BJP claimed that a Congress member asked its MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to raise the issue in the House and questioned what was happening within the grand old party. BJP General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar raised the issue, saying that a cabinet minister and a Congress member of the Legislative Council have stated that attempts were made to honeytrap him. Kumar said that this honey trap issue is nothing but a power struggle and if any one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet colleagues is involved, the latter should be sacked. Expressing concern, he said: "If this is not done, no moral standing will be left. What was the intelligence department doing while an attempt to honey-trap a minister was made? If a Congress leader or even a BJP leader is involved, take action. One minister claims outside the House that a minister from his government is involved, while another minister said in the Assembly that he was targeted and requested the Home Minister to investigate." Stating that the Chief Minister is the senior-most member of the House after Congress MLA R.V. Deshpande, Kumar said the former should uphold the dignity of the Assembly. Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly R. Ashoka said that honey trapping concerns all members of the House, and the issue must be investigated by a sitting judge of the High Court. "If even a minister feels insecure, what about others? This is a massive mafia. If people are willing to go to any extent to secure the Chief Minister's position or other political posts, where are we headed?" Ashoka said. State BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra also emphasised that this is an issue concerning every member and called for a thorough investigation. Sharing that he agrees with BJP MLA Kumar, Minister Priyank Kharge said, "Morality should be upheld. We represent lakhs of people, and our conduct reflects their mandate." BJP MLA and former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra stated that one of the Chief Ministers had expressed concerns about facing the threat of physical assault and it's on record. "If ministers and legislators are not protected from honey-trapping attempts aimed at politically finishing them off, this represents the lowest depths to which politics can sink. A minister expressing his helplessness in the Assembly is deeply concerning," he underlined. BJP MLA Suresh Gowda alleged, "Although our MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal raised the honey trap issue, he had received a note from one of the ministers beforehand in the session. This must be investigated. What is happening within the Congress party?" Lucknow, March 21 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has taken a swipe at the BJP, suggesting the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government should create a new 'Threat Ministry' to accommodate its MLAs. His remarks came in response to recent controversies involving a BJP MLA from Ghaziabad. "The honourable Chief Minister should also create a 'Threat Ministry' to accommodate BJP MLAs in Uttar Pradesh. He already has several qualified candidates from his party to become ministers in this ministry. However, if he wants, he can keep this ministry himself as no one else has more qualification and experience than him in this specific field," Yadav posted on X on Friday. Akhilesh Yadav's statement came after BJP MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar allegedly had a scuffle with police in Ghaziabad over a Ram 'Katha yatra'. The MLA reportedly issued threats to the Chief Secretary and the Commissioner after the scuffle. In another post on X, Akhilesh Yadav criticised the suspension of IAS officer Abhishek Prakash caught in a graft controversy, calling it a "drama" and alleging deeper corruption within the UP administration. He suggested that the BJP revise its slogan to "Sab Mil Bant, Kare Bantadhar (Everyone shares, everyone destroys)." "This is the truth of 'ease of doing business' in Uttar Pradesh, where commissions are openly demanded in the name of industrial development. When the matter is exposed, a drama of suspension is staged," Yadav posted. "The last stop of this corruption is not the officer, but someone else," he pointed out. The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday suspended 2006 batch IAS officer Abhishek Prakash under its zero-tolerance policy against corruption. Prakash, formerly the District Magistrate of Lucknow and was currently serving as CEO of aInvest UPa, is accused of demanding a five per cent commission from an entrepreneur seeking to set up a solar plant. The entrepreneur reported the demand to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, leading to an investigation by the Special Task Force which found the allegations credible and registered an FIR against Nikant Jain, the alleged middleman, at the Gomti Nagar police station before arresting him. Following the investigation, Prakash was suspended and attached to the Revenue Board. Additional CEO Prathamesh Kumar has been appointed as the new CEO of aInvest UPa. So far, action has been taken against 11 IAS officers in the state, with several of them reinstated after investigations. Under the terms of his suspension, Abhishek Prakash cannot leave the headquarters without prior permission. Seoul, March 21 : Tens of thousands of people of South Korea are expected to gather in central Seoul this weekend to rally for or against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, police said on Friday, amid continued delay in the Constitutional Court's ruling on the President's impeachment. As the ruling is said to be imminent, protesters for and against Yoon are expected to engage in a last-minute showdown through their massive street rallies. Opponents of Yoon plan to meet just outside of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on Saturday afternoon to step up pressure on the court to rule in favour of his dismissal, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Rally organisers vow to mobilise as many as 1 million participants. After the rally, they plan to march toward the Jongno streets. At about the same time, rallies led by conservative activist pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and the conservative Christian group Save Korea will take place on a road between Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul City Hall, and Yeouido in western Seoul, respectively, to oppose Yoon's impeachment. Yoon's supporters reported to the police that the Gwanghwamun rally will draw about 200,000 participants, Yonhap news agency reported. The police agency said it will deploy about 220 traffic police officers around the rally and march sites to minimise inconvenience to people. Earlier on March 18, South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok asked the public to respect the upcoming ruling of the Constitutional Court on South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment amid concerns over an intensifying social conflict. "I sincerely urge the people to respect and accept whatever decision the Constitutional Court makes," Choi said during a Cabinet meeting. If Yoon is ousted, the country will be required to hold a snap presidential election within 60 days. If reinstated, he will serve out the remainder of his term through May 2027. Dhaka, March 21 : A group of Dhaka University (DU) students under the banners of 'Hindu Students of Dhaka University' and the 'Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance' on Friday demonstrated in the campus against obscene remarks on their religion. The students are protesting against derogatory remarks about Hinduism and a deity, made by a fellow student on social media, local media reported. The students demanded suspension and exemplary punishment for the accused. They further urged the university to take institutional measures to prevent misinterpretation of Sanatan Dharma in classrooms. Additional demands include preventing teachers from misinterpreting Hinduism during literary analysis classes and taking action against derogatory posts targeting minorities on the university's 'Dhaka Bissobiddaloy Shikkharthi Sangsad' Facebook group, reports Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star. The accused Md Abu Sayem, a student from the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University has been continuously making derogatory comments about Hinduism. These comments have upset the Hindu community from the university and Bangladesh. Some protesters expressed their anger, stating that their religious values were not respected, and questioning why there are no steps taken when minority religions are offended, Bangladesh's leading newspaper Dhaka Tribune reported. Various rights groups, eminent citizens, and socio-cultural organisations in Bangladesh have earlier condemned the violence, specifically targeting Hindus, in different parts of the nation, after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. According to a report of Dhaka-based human rights organisation, Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK), there are reports of a total of 147 incidents of vandalising houses, temples, and business establishments of the Hindu community across the country. Some 408 households were vandalised in these incidents, including 36 cases of arson. Besides, there have been reports of 113 incidents of vandalising business establishments owned by the minority community, 32 incidents of attack on temples and mosques of the Ahmadiyya sect, and 92 incidents of vandalising idols in 92 temples. In September 2024, the country's leading daily Prothom Alo reported that after the fall of the Awami League government led by Hasina, there have been several incidents of attacks on minority communities all over the country, particularly on the Hindus. In many areas houses, business establishments, and places of worship of Hindus, Christians and Buddhists have come under attack, damaged extensively, and even set on fire in certain instances. Bangladesh has been grappling with violence and protests across the nation after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus came to power. The situation of minorities worsened drastically under the Yunus-led interim government. There are several reports on an alarming rise in gang rapes, murders, and desecration of places of worship of Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and other minorities. India has also time and again raised concern against the atrocities of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh "We have repeatedly underlined that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus and other minorities, as well as their properties and religious institutions. "As seen so far, only 1,254 out of 2,374 reported incidents between August 5, 2024 and February 16, 2025 have been verified by the police. Further, 98 per cent of these 1,254 incidents were deemed political in nature. We expect Bangladesh to thoroughly investigate and bring all perpetrators of killings, arson, and violence to justice without making such distinctions," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said earlier this month during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi. Islamabad, March 21 : Pakistan said that the opening of the Torkham border is only a temporary solution as further discussions will be held with Afghanistan to put in place a "permanent system". Islamabad, March 21 (IANS) Pakistan said that the opening of the Torkham border is only a temporary solution as further discussions will be held with Afghanistan to put in place a "permanent system". The statement followed after the Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan opened after almost a month of closure due to escalating tensions between the two nations over the construction of facilities by Afghan forces around the disputed border, according to media reports. The Pakistan Foreign Office clarified that the current arrangement would only be meant for the next few weeks. "The current arrangement in Torkham has been arrived at through mutual consultations, and this is a good, positive development which is up to April 15. By that time, we expect that further negotiations and consultations would be held to put in place a permanent system which could ensure the continuous operation of the Torkham border seamlessly," Pakistan's leading daily The Express Tribune reported quoting Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan. Pakistan further stated that it wants permanent guarantees that the Afghan side would not again construct any structure on the border without properly consulting the other side. The Foreign Office spokesperson suggested that the border might be shut again if the issues were not sorted out by April 15. Earlier this week following the talks between both sides, it was decided to open the Torkham trade route, which was closed on February 21, for all types of movement. The situation in the Torkham border escalated on March 4 when talks for reopening the crossing failed, leading to an exchange of fire between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban fighters. The violent clashes have resulted in the death of many armed forces personnel and civilians near the border. Torkham, one of the most important crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan, handles the largest volume of trade and movement between the two countries. The Pakistani officials stated that all sorts of trade, including the transit trade, remained halted during the closure of the border. The cumulative losses to the national kitty because of the closure amounted to $72 million, a Pakistani official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, traders and investors said that the closure of the Torkham crossing has caused them millions of dollars in losses. They demand the separation of trade activities from political issues. "This route should not fall victim to politics. Trade is free worldwide, and ports should not face restrictions," TOLO news reported, quoting Ghulam Mustafa Rahimi, an Afghan official in the Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce and Investment Secretariat. Mumbai, March 21 : Bhav Dhillon, Patron of the India NZ Business Council opened up about his experiences meeting Bollywood actors, including Aamir Khan in Mumbai. He shared his thoughts on the growing influence of Bollywood in New Zealand. Bhav reflected on how the Indian film industry is making its mark globally and its impact on audiences in the region. When asked about his experience meeting Bollywood celebrities, Bhav shared his excitement and the enriching conversations he had. He told IANS, "Bollywood and New Zealand have a very strong connection. A lot of Bollywood films have been shot in New Zealand, and New Zealand is known as one of the most beautiful places on earth. Bollywood is an integral part of our relationship, and we want to encourage more Bollywood films to come to New Zealand for filming. That was one of the main topics we discussed." Dhillon added, "The focus is on promoting New Zealand and strengthening the ties between our two countries. Bollywood plays an important role in this relationship." When asked about his meeting with Aamir, Bhav shared his admiration for the superstar. "Aamir is a superstar of the highest calibre. Every interaction with him is truly invaluable. Our meeting went very well, and it was a memorable experience, as always." Further, Bhav Dhillon emphasized the significant role Bollywood plays in New Zealand's economy, stating that its involvement is not just important for the film industry but also crucial for boosting the local economy. He highlighted New Zealand's stunning landscapes, which make it an ideal filming location, and pointed out that the country's unique backdrop holds considerable appeal for Bollywood productions. According to Dhillon, this growing collaboration benefits not only the film sector but also tourism and local businesses, creating a strong, mutually advantageous connection between the two industries. Bhav Dhillon also spoke about the growing popularity of Bollywood movies in New Zealand. He shared that Hindi films have attracted a diverse audience, with not only the Indian diaspora but also many local New Zealanders embracing the colourful storytelling and unique cultural elements they bring. "New Zealand has a strong Indian diaspora, especially in Auckland, where 11% of the population is of Indian origin. This makes Bollywood a significant market in New Zealand. However, Bollywood is no longer limited to just the Indian community; it is now reaching mainstream audiences. For instance, we also have a large Malaysian population, and Malaysians love Bollywood films. The general public in New Zealand is increasingly interested in Bollywood as well," he explained. On March 19, New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, along with a battery of delegates, met Aamir Khan, Vidya Balan, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Ronnie Screwvala, and Ashutosh Gowariker to explore exciting opportunities for film destination collaborations. A source close to the development disclosed that the Prime Minister extended a personal invitation to the celebrities, urging them to consider New Zealand as a prime destination for Indian film productions. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher, also shared a picture with them on social media and wrote, "The film scene brings money into our economy, which creates jobs and grows incomes and I want to see more of that. So it was great to catch up with a few Bollywood stars to get their thoughts on what more we can do!" Bhopal, March 21 : The opposition Congress claimed on Friday that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was "biased" in allocating development funds for the MLAs in the state. Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, State Congress president Jitu Patwari claimed that BJP MLAs are being provided Rs 15 crore to carry out development projects. "However, the state government has been biased in allocating funds for Assembly constituencies represented by Congress MLAs," he said. Patwari also wrote a letter to Chief Minister Yadav, saying he should "remember the constitutional oath and give equal funds to all Assembly constituencies for the public interest". "The government has allocated Rs 15 crore for each Assembly constituency represented by BJP MLAs and they have received the same amount under development projects for this year. However, Congress MLAs are yet to receive Rs 15 crore for development projects," Patwari said. Later, Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh said the development fund should not be allocated based on party, all MLAs have equal rights. "Why were Congress MLAs not getting Rs 15 crore or 30 crore when BJP MLAs have been given? This is injustice with the people of Assembly seats being represented by the opposition," Singh added. Former Minister Singh, the son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, also said that Chief Minister Yadav had promised to give Rs 15 crore to every MLA during a meeting last year. "I have also said in the House that Chief Minister Yadav had promised that the government will give Rs 15 crore for development works. Why Congress MLAs were being deprived of funds for their constituencies," he said. However, the ruling BJP has ruled out Congress' allegation, saying that all MLAs are given equal funds. Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, who is also the state's Finance Minister said, "Congress has made wrong allegation. The government gives equal funds to each MLA. The fund is allocated based on performance and work reports of MLAs, and not on the basis of the political party." Seoul, March 21 : A South Korean court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit by medical professors seeking to nullify the government's admissions hike in medical schools for this year. The ruling by the Seoul Administrative Court marked the first court decision among a string of complaints filed by the medical community in protest of the government's plan that increase annual admissions to medical schools, Yonhap news agency reported. The court ruled that the defendants had no authority to request for the nullification of the plan, saying they were not the "direct counterpart" subject to the quota hike. Since February last year, thousands of trainee doctors have left hospitals to protest against the government's decision that raise the number of medical students by some 2,000 for this year. Meanwhile, a consultative body of medical school deans on Friday urged medical school students to return to class as their reinstatement deadlines neared. "We will firmly uphold next year's medical school enrollment quota of 3,058 students, and the 40 universities are preparing to ensure that students receive a high-quality education," the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate School of Medicine (KAMC) said in a letter. The letter addressed medical school students who are taking a leave of absence en masse to protest against the government's medical reform plans that included a sharp increase in the number of students admitted to medical schools. "However, all of this will only be possible if you return to school," the letter read. The KAMC has 40 medical schools nationwide under its wing. The message came as major medical schools, including Yonsei University, Korea University, and Kyungpook National University, were set to close registration for students' reinstatement on Friday. Earlier this month, the government said it would scrap the contested plan to increase medical school admissions next year to resolve the ongoing healthcare crisis, on the condition that all medical students on leave return to classrooms by the end of March. Under the conditional decision, the medical school enrollment quota for next year has been set at 3,058, reversing the government's plan to increase admissions by 2,000 each year for five years to address a chronic shortage of doctors. The decision to scrap the disputed plan came amid mounting concerns that disruptions in the country's health system and medical education may become irreparable should the prolonged walkout by junior doctors and students continue. British fighter jets are ready to provide air cover for the peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine. This issue was discussed during a meeting at the Permanent Joint Staff on Thursday, March 20, The Telegraph said. British fighter jets will police the skies above Ukraine under proposals being discussed by Sir Keir Starmers [British PM] coalition of the willing. Key military planners discussed sending British Typhoons to Ukraine to provide air cover for troops when they met at Permanent Joint Headquarters on Thursday, The Telegraph said Friday. A senior RAF (Royal Air Force) source told The Telegraph that British air cover would have been discussed at the meeting because in the event UK soldiers go into Ukraine, there will be a requirement for top cover. The RAF will provide either Typhoons or F35s, sources said, as both provide excellent air patrol capabilities. However, an RAF source said the British Army and RAF will be part of the initial spearhead in Ukraine and the British are likely to be one of the first nations to commit. It is also noted that several countries will be ready to send air cover at the right time, and it will be carried out on a rotational basis. At the same time, no commitments for air cover have been promised or confirmed so far. Britain has already agreed that six Typhoons will be sent to Poland to carry out air patrols. The source added that London could send more if the Typhoons needed to be redirected to Ukraine. Sir Keir said on Thursday that military planning for the coalition of the willing has been broken down into sea, air, land and borders, and the regeneration of Ukraine. He said: The political momentum that weve built up... is being translated here into military planning and operational planning, and broadly broken out into different areas. New Delhi: The vandalism at the historic residence of Mujibur Rahman on February 5-6 has reverberated throughout Bangladesh and beyond, igniting a wave of outrage and concern. As the nation navigates a period of political instability under an interim government, these audacious attacks on a site emblematic of Bangladesh's Liberation War raise critical questions about governance, law enforcement, and the dedication to safeguarding national heritage. The pressing inquiry is clear: How can a government that professes to champion democratic ideals and honour the legacy of independence permit such egregious violations against the very symbols of its foundation? Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, revered as the founding father of Bangladesh, was instrumental in the nationas fight for independence from Pakistan. His residence at 32 Dhanmondi in Dhaka transcends mere bricks and mortar - it stands as a hallowed site of historical and emotional resonance. It was within these walls that Mujib made pivotal decisions during the fraught lead-up to the 1971 Liberation War. Tragically, it was also here that he and most of his family met their untimely demise on August 15, 1975, marking one of the most harrowing episodes in Bangladesh's narrative. Transformed into the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the house drew visitors from across the globe, eager to grasp the sacrifices that forged Bangladesh's independence. Given its immense significance, any act of vandalism against this site is not merely a crime, it is an affront to the nationas collective memory. Mujibas poignant words resonate now more than ever: "Write my name in place of the father's name of the girls raped during the Liberation War, and give the address '32-Dhanmondi'. These sentiments encapsulate his unwavering dedication to the people, a legacy that is now under siege. The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed power with the promise of creating a neutral atmosphere for forthcoming elections. However, it has become increasingly evident that this administration is either unable or unwilling to address the recent wave of vandalism sweeping the nation. While political strife is not new to Bangladesh, the recent violent incidents point to a more profound issue: a government that may be either complicit in or grossly negligent of these actions. One particularly alarming development is the emergence of bulldozer rallies, which have been repurposed as instruments of destruction. These events, initially framed as political protests, have been systematically directed at the Dhanmondi. The organised and deliberate nature of these assaults raises troubling questions about potential state complicity or, at the very least, a troubling lack of action. Disturbingly, eyewitness accounts and video evidence from the demolition site reveal the presence of an ISIS flag during the chaos, highlighting the involvement of radical factions in these acts of violence. This situation points to a perilous connection between the interim government and extremist Islamic groups, notably Hizb ut-Tahrir, which seems to have gained traction during this administration. Despite the outcry from civil society and international observers, the interim governmentas response has been tepid at best. There have been no swift arrests, and official communications have been vague, if not outright dismissive. This raises critical concerns about the rule of law and the government's commitment to its citizens. If the state fails to safeguard the very symbols of its liberation struggle, what confidence can the public have in its ability to protect its people? In examining the assaults on Mujiburas House, it is crucial to scrutinise the involvement of prominent political figures, extremist groups, social media influencers and foreign intelligence agencies. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan has been frequently implicated in interfering with Bangladesh's political dynamics, and its potential role in inciting radical factions cannot be overlooked. It should be noted that recently ISIas Chief visited Bangladesh. It should be also mentioned that this was the maiden visit of any ISI chief after 1971. Evidence indicates that ISI agents have extended both ideological and logistical assistance to organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is actively engaged in efforts to undermine Bangladeshas secular governance. Moreover, figures such as YouTuber Pinaki Bhattacharya have significantly influenced the narrative surrounding these targetted attacks. Bhattacharya, recognised for his provocative political commentary, has been accused of promoting divisive rhetoric that empowers extremist groups. On the eve of this vandalism, Pinaki was also seen to have directly incited a mob, through his Facebook account, to demolish the 32 Dhanmondi using a bulldozer. His impact, alongside that of other political influencers, has fostered an environment where acts of vandalism are not merely tolerated but, in some circles, even encouraged. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) also plays a pivotal role in this context. With a longstanding history of attempting to erode the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the party often aligns itself with factions that seek to diminish his stature in Bangladeshas political and historical narrative. During the February 5 vandalism and subsequent demolition of Bangabandhu's residence, media reported that Ayesha Akhter Dina, a leader of the BNP Women cell of Narayanganj city, provided the bulldozers that were used in the demolition. Although BNP leaders have publicly distanced themselves from any direct involvement in the attacks, their reticence to denounce these actions also clearly hints at either tacit approval or a calculated political strategy. Radical Islamic factions have increasingly influenced the recent wave of destruction in Bangladesh, with the display of an ISIS flag during the demolitions serving as a stark reminder of their growing presence amid the nationas political chaos. These groups, notorious for their efforts to obliterate historical narratives that clash with their extremist ideologies, seem to have found unexpected support within the interim government. Hizb ut-Tahrir, in particular, has drawn attention for its long-standing agenda to undermine Bangladeshas secular framework in favour of a more radical one. The governmentas inability to rein in their activities raises alarming questions about its potential complicity with these extremist elements. The assault on historical sites has not been limited to Mujibur's House; other significant monuments tied to the nationas political heritage, especially those linked to key figures from the Liberation War, have also fallen victim to this campaign of erasure. These deliberate actions indicate a concerted effort to obliterate vital symbols of Bangladeshas political and historical identity. The destruction of these landmarks transcends mere political vengeance; it represents a systematic attempt to dismantle the very foundations of the countryas narrative of independence. In the midst of this turmoil, the inaction of Bangladeshas military stands out as a glaring failure. Tasked with ensuring security and stability, the armed forces remained largely passive while historic sites were systematically destroyed. Given the organised nature of these attacks, the militaryas lack of intervention raises serious doubts about its impartiality and operational effectiveness. Whether this inaction stems from a deliberate choice or is a result of higher political directives, it paints a disconcerting picture of the current state of governance and institutional integrity in Bangladesh. The Indian government has issued a strong denunciation of the recent vandalism at the residence of Mujibur Rahman, characterising it as an affront to the intertwined histories of India and Bangladesh. Officials in New Delhi underscored the necessity of safeguarding the legacy of Bangladeshas fight for independence, calling on the Dhaka administration to take stringent measures against the perpetrators. As a pivotal ally during the 1971 Liberation War, India has voiced alarm over the growing power of extremist factions and the potential interference of external entities, such as the ISI, in undermining Bangladesh's secular principles. Against this background, a great amount of Anti-India rhetoric has also floated in Bangladesh where interim government's advisors like Nahid Islam and Touhid Hossain accused India of helping Sheikh Hasina to destabilise Bangladesh from its soil. Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain also summoned the acting High Commissioner of India to Dhaka and handed him a letter of protest over this issue. This act of vandalism transcends mere property damage, it highlights a more profound malaise within Bangladeshas political landscape and governance. An interim government that fails to protect the nationas historical sites demonstrates an inability to conduct free and fair elections or uphold the tenets of democracy. For Bangladesh to truly honour its heritage and secure a prosperous future, it must confront and eliminate those who aim to obliterate or manipulate its historical narrative. (Deepak Kumar is an Indian security and strategic affairs analyst specialising in geo-politics and geo-economics. Views expressed are personal) Seoul, March 21 : South Korea has lost a lawsuit seeking to annul an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) ruling that ordered it to pay compensation to US hedge fund Mason Capital over losses from tech major Samsung's controversial 2015 merger of two units. The Ministry of Justice in Seoul said on Friday that the Singapore International Commercial Court turned down the South Korean government's request the previous day to annul the arbitration ruling that Mason filed against it in 2018, reports Yonhap news agency. Mason filed the investor-state dispute settlement case in September 2018, claiming that the South Korean government exerted undue pressure on the National Pension Service, a major shareholder of Samsung C&T, to vote in favour of its merger with Cheil Industries. Mason claimed that as a result, the stock prices of Samsung C&T and tech major Samsung Electronics plunged, causing the firm to incur losses of approximately US$200 million, said the report. In April 2023, the arbitration tribunal partially upheld Mason's claims and ordered the South Korean government to pay $32 million in compensation, along with delayed compound interest at an annual rate of 5 percent from July 17, 2015. In response, the South Korean government filed a lawsuit in Singapore in July of the same year to annul the arbitration ruling. The justice ministry has argued that the ruling misinterpreted the conditions for jurisdiction recognition under the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and therefore constitutes reasonable grounds for cancelling the decision. The merger, seen as aimed at tightening then Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong's control over the family-controlled group, had been the centre of a massive influence-peddling scandal that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye and Lee's imprisonment, the report mentioned. Mason had accused the Park administration of exerting excessive influence in the state-run National Pension Service, a major shareholder in Samsung C&T, which was seen as a swing vote at that time, casting its vote in favour of the merger. New Delhi, March 21 : The government has approved proposals for the construction of over 3.53 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) scheme, it was announced on Friday. New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) The government has approved proposals for the construction of over 3.53 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojanaa"Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) scheme, it was announced on Friday. A total of 3,52,915 lakh houses under beneficiary-led construction (BLC) and affordable housing in partnership (AHP) components of PMAY-U 2.0 in 10 states/UTs -- Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh a" were sanctioned during the meeting of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC), according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The scheme promotes women's empowerment and among the new houses approved under PMAY-U 2.0, more than 2.67 lakh houses have been sanctioned for women alone, including single women and widows, along with 90 houses allotted to transgenders. Out of the total sanctioned houses, 80,850 houses for SC beneficiaries, 15,928 for ST and 2,12,603 for the OBC category have been sanctioned, promoting inclusiveness and equality among different underprivileged groups. Notably, in addition to the state share under PMAY-U 2.0, Uttar Pradesh is providing Rs 30,000 to each senior citizen beneficiaries (more than 70 years old) and Rs 20,000 for each unmarried women (more than 40 years of age), widow and separated female beneficiary. The Ministry launched PMAY-U 2.0 aHousing for Alla Mission with effect from September 1, 2024 for implementation in urban areas across the country for 1 crore additional eligible beneficiaries. According to the ministry, PMAY-U 2.0 will address the housing needs of 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families in 5 years, ensuring that every citizen leads a better quality of life. PMAY-U 2.0 is being implemented through four verticals a" Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH), and Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS). Eligible beneficiaries can avail benefits under any one vertical as per their choice and eligibility. Government assistance of Rs 2.30 lakh crore will be provided under the Scheme with an investment of Rs 10 lakh crore. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojanaa"Urban was first launched in June 2015. Under the scheme, 118.64 lakh houses have been sanctioned while about 92 lakh houses have already been constructed and delivered to beneficiaries. Mumbai, March 21 : Pulkit Samrat and Isabelle Kaif's upcoming romantic comedy, "Suswagatam Khushamadeed," has finally secured a release date after overcoming numerous hurdles. Mumbai, March 21 (IANS) Pulkit Samrat and Isabelle Kaif's upcoming romantic comedy, "Suswagatam Khushamadeed," has finally secured a release date after overcoming numerous hurdles. The actor expressed his excitement and relief over the announcement, reflecting on the challenges the film has overcome to reach this stage. The film features the fresh pairing of Pulkit along with the debutant Isabelle Kaif, sister of actress Katrina Kaif. Set against a vibrant backdrop, the movie showcases a unique cross-cultural love story, emphasizing the power of togetherness in today's divided world. Speaking about the film, the 'Fukrey' actor shared, "I am happy to be a part of a good story and a good team. I am glad that the makers believe so much in the film that in spite of so many hurdles, date changes, etc., we are finally gonna release the film that we've made with so much love! It's been years of waiting, and now I can't wait for the audiences to watch this work of heart and labor!" Isabelle, who will be seen playing the role of Noor in the film, shared, "Being part of this film has been a wonderful experience. Working with Pulkit and director Dhiraj has been great. We had a lovely time shooting, and I hope the audience enjoys the film!" Director Dhiraj Kumar added, "Suswagatam Khushamadeed" is a story that conveys a strong message of love and togetherness. This film serves as a reminder that love knows no boundaries, and I am sure that the film will touch every heart." "Suswagatam Khushamadeed" is produced by Sharwan Kumar Agarwal, Anil Agarwal, Dhiraj, Deepak Dhar, Azaan Ali, Suneel Rao, and co-produced by Javed Deoriawale, and is directed by Dhiraj Kumar. The film also stars actors like Sahil Vaid, Priyanka Singh, late Rituraj Singh, Meghna Malik, late Arun Bali, Neela Mulherkar, Manu Rishi Chaddha, Prashant Singh, Rajkumar Kanoujia, Mehul Surana, Shruti Ulfat, and Sajjad Delafrooz. The romantic comedy is slated to hit the theatres on 16th May 2025. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, March 21 : Dr Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, delivered the 10th Dr L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture on the theme 'India's Soft Power'. Describing India's soft power. Dr Tharoor observed that "Soft power projects multi-alignment which is a web of interconnected networks where influence is dispersed and collaboration is key. Multi-alignment allows India to navigate this network world with agility and purpose, engaging in multiple coalitions and platforms that serve different objectives which, in turn, is a reflection of the crucial role India is able to play across the world and that advances universal principles." New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Dr Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, delivered the 10th Dr L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture on the theme 'India's Soft Power'. Describing India's soft power. Dr Tharoor observed that "Soft power projects multi-alignment which is a web of interconnected networks where influence is dispersed and collaboration is key. Multi-alignment allows India to navigate this network world with agility and purpose, engaging in multiple coalitions and platforms that serve different objectives which, in turn, is a reflection of the crucial role India is able to play across the world and that advances universal principles." The Dr L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture is an annual lecture series organised by Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University in memory of Dr L.M. Singhvi, a multifaceted personality and a jurist par excellence, who made invaluable contributions to society as a statesman, diplomat, writer, and lawyer. The memorial lecture was held under the aegis of Singhvi Endowment, an endowment instituted by Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, son of late Dr L.M. Singhvi, and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Member of Parliament, at Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University in memory of his father. In the memorial lecture, Dr Tharoor explained the concept of soft power, "Soft power accounts for the influence that a country wields beyond its military or hard power. It rests primarily on three resources: its culture in places where it's attractive to others, its political values when it lives up to them at home and abroad, and its foreign policies when they are seen as legitimate and have moral authority. Soft power is what people think about a country as soon as they hear its name. A hard power is what they feel when they confront a country. Hard power is exercised. Some power is evoked. In today's world, soft power has become a key tool to geopolitical strategy embraced across the globe". Focusing on India's soft power, Dr Tharoor observed, "As influence shifts increasingly from military and economic might to cultural and intellectual leadership, India's soft power stands as a vital asset. We embody the true ideas and a vision of India that transcends borders. India's multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-party, pluralistic civilization and democracy have emerged as an attraction to many, especially our parliamentary institutions and procedures, conducting free and fair elections and our ability to involve the non-governmental sector and civil society in the quest for inclusive growth." "When millions around the world roll out yoga mats on International Yoga Day, it bears a tradition that embodies the balance between ancient wisdom and modern wellness. In doing so, we embrace a cultural gift from India. When India's leadership promoted yoga globally, getting the UN to nearly unanimously recognize the International Yoga Day, it became a quiet, powerful testament to India's role in fostering balance and harmony worldwide," he said. Speaking on Bollywood's role as an important instrument to Indian soft power, Dr Tharoor, stated, "It is not only a celebration of the dynamism of Indian cinema but also reinforces Bollywood's role as an important instrument to Indian soft power, embedding India's spirit into the global imagination. Today, Indian cinema's international success and influence have elevated Bollywood as a formidable force of our soft power, reshaping global perceptions and expanding India's cultural footprint on the world stage." On the other facets of India's soft power, Dr Tharoor observed, "India's claims to a global leadership role in the world of the 21st century lie in the aspects and products of Indian society and culture that the world finds attractive. The roots of India's soft power run deep as ours is a civilization that has existed for millennia. We can reaffirm that the global respect that India has enjoyed comes from its ability to serve as an inspiring example of the successful management of diversity despite all the challenges we faced and overcame and this reflects India's essence. It radiates as a quiet force, achieves perceptions, nurtures goodwill and builds bridges across divides, unlike blunt instruments of coercion, soft power thrives on persuasion. India's vaccine diplomacy during the COVID pandemic stands as a powerful example of leadership rooted in responsibility and solidarity. India's technical prowess through its space programme opened new avenues for international collaboration and invited the world to partake in its dreams of a shared future among the stars. India has emerged as a formidable force in shaping the global space order and positioned itself as a partner of choice for nations seeking to join the frontier of space exploration." Dr Abhishek Singhvi, Rajya Sabha member and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, reflected on the memory of his illustrious father. He said, "He [Dr L.M. Singhvi] was a renaissance person, multi-coloured and multi-faceted. The true meaning of a Renaissance person is the one who is a master of many subjects. His diplomacy in the UK touched great heights as was his glorious career in law, which he readily gave up when he took up the role of the High Commissioner. He also conceptualised the Law Day, now celebrated as Constitution Day. He was behind the entire diaspora movement based on his comprehensive report on Pravasi Bhartiya. He coined both the words Lokpal and Lokayukta in the 1960s and strived ceaselessly for decades to operationalize them in our body politic. He wrote the report which led to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in Panchayati Raj and a revolution in local self-government. As a Member of Parliament, he believed in and practised cross-party large-heartedness and magnanimity and shunned the narrow walls of divisiveness and distrust." In his welcome address Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University said, "We are here to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr L.M. Singhvi, and I would like to describe him as India's VIBGYOR Man and that essentially captures the many facets of his personality. His contributions span across many areas of public life and he remains one of India's leading public intellectuals as well. I also want to thank, Dr Abhishek Singhvi, for his philanthropic act of establishing this endowment in memory of his father, Dr L.M. Singhvi, which for us is an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of one of India's leading jurists." Professor (Dr) S.G. Sreejith Executive Dean, Strategy & Institution Building, Jindal Global Law School said in his introductory remarks that Jindal Global Law School is honoured to receive this endowment. "Dr L.M. Singhvi was not just a diplomat, statesman, and scholar -- he had deep faith in the power of law, especially international law, as a universalizing force. To honour this vision, Jindal Global Law School hosts the annual Dr L.M. Singhvi International Conference on International Law and International Relations and the Dr Singhvi Memorial Lectures. These events celebrate Dr L.M. Singhvi's insights into intersections and his ability to bridge the relationship between international law and politics." Professor Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik Registrar, O. P. Jindal Global University delivered the concluding address. New Delhi, March 21 : Evolving a robust and comprehensive strategy to tackle the ever-growing threat of terrorism and extremism, emerged as a key takeaway from the 14th meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT), an official said on Friday. New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Evolving a robust and comprehensive strategy to tackle the ever-growing threat of terrorism and extremism, emerged as a key takeaway from the 14th meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministersa Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT), an official said on Friday. The two-day meeting, which ended on Thursday, aimed to share the on-ground experience of the Defence forces of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and its dialogue partners. The meeting laid a foundation for the activities/exercises/meetings/ workshops planned for the current cycle, said an official. Delegations from ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN countries (Lao PDR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam), ADMM-Plus member states (China, USA, Russia, Australia, Japan and Republic of Korea) participated in the meeting. During the meeting the co-chairs, India and Malaysia conveyed the work plan for the activities planned for the cycle 2024-2027. It announced the conduct of Table-Top Exercise for EWG on CT in Malaysia in 2026 and Field Training Exercise in India in 2027, said a statement. Earlier, Myanmar and Russia, co-chairs for EWG on CT during the previous cycle for 2021-2024, handed over the co-chairmanship to India and Malaysia for the present cycle (2024-2027). India is hosting the maiden EWG meeting for the current cycle. In the Inaugural session, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh delivered the keynote address and interacted with participating head of delegations during the opening ceremony. The Defence Secretary said, "India remains steadfast in its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and believes in an approach that combines robust domestic mechanisms, enhanced Intelligence-sharing, and strong regional cooperation." He emphasised that through the ADMM-Plus platform, India seeks to build synergy among the Defence forces, security agencies, and policy frameworks to address emerging threats effectively. He stated that terrorism remains a dynamic and evolving challenge with threats increasingly transcending borders. He highlighted Indiaas efforts towards countering terrorism in the region, including adoption of Delhi Declaration during Indiaas chairmanship of Counter-Terrorism committee of the UNSC in 2022. Joint Secretary [(International Cooperation (IC)], Ministry of Defence Amitabh Prasad, Additional Director General (IC), Indian Army, senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Armyas Counter-Terrorism division participated in the event. Vadodara, March 21 : The authorities in Vadodara, Gujarat, carried out a demolition drive against illegal encroachments linked to a female bootlegger. Under tight police security, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation removed unauthorised sheds and encroachments outside the residence of Firozabanu and her son, Sultan Ajmeri, in the Santosh Nagar area of Tandaljar, officials said on Friday. This move is part of a broader statewide crackdown on anti-social elements initiated by the government. As part of this campaign, authorities first compiled a list of notorious offenders followed by the removal of their illegal encroachments. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abhay Soni informed the media that Firozabanu has multiple cases registered against her under the Prohibition Act and had previously been detained under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act. He stated that the bootlegger had illegally occupied municipal land outside her house in Santosh Nagar, and the police were acting to remove the encroachment. "We are systematically clearing illegal encroachments. Yesterday, a similar operation was carried out against two bootleggers in Atladara, and today, the action is taking place in Tandalja. Town planning officials are assisting in this operation to ensure the removal is carried out in accordance with legal procedures," said DCP Soni. Municipal officer Mehul Solanki stated that prior notices had been issued regarding the illegal sheds and platforms outside the residence. These structures have now been demolished, and further action regarding the main building will be taken after serving legal notices. "For now, we are acting based on police recommendations at designated locations. A wider drive will follow to remove remaining encroachments in the area," Solanki added. Gujarat, despite its longstanding prohibition on alcohol, continues to grapple with a significant bootlegging problem. As of April 2024, approximately 42,000 bootleggers were reported to be active across the state. Notably, in the Ahmedabad district, nearly 60 per cent of these illicit liquor sellers are women, highlighting a substantial female involvement in this underground industry. The state has witnessed tragic incidents resulting from the consumption of spurious liquor. In July 2022, a methanol poisoning event led to at least 42 deaths and over 97 hospitalizations. Similarly, in 2009, Gujarat experienced another mass poisoning, resulting in the death of 136 people from consuming bootleg liquor. In response to these challenges, the Gujarat government has intensified its crackdown on illegal alcohol activities. In 2023 alone, authorities recorded 466 prohibition violations and seized liquor worth Rs 20 crore. To further deter bootlegging, the state Assembly amended the Prohibition Act in 2024, empowering the government to auction vehicles used to transport liquor even before court verdicts are pronounced. New Delhi, March 21 : In a significant breakthrough, the Crime Branch (Southern Range) of Delhi Police has dismantled a syndicate involved in facilitating the illegal entry and settlement of Bangladeshi nationals in India. Three illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, along with their Indian facilitator, have been arrested. According to a Delhi Police press release, the syndicate was involved in trafficking Bangladeshi nationals into India through Assam and providing them with forged Indian identity documents, enabling them to settle undetected in Delhi/NCR. The key figure in the operation, identified as Mohd Iqbal Hossain, who also goes by the alias Farhan Khan, was arrested in the Nehru Place area. Hossain, a Bangladeshi national, was found to be in possession of both a Bangladeshi passport and an illegally acquired Indian passport. It was further revealed that despite being married in Bangladesh, he fraudulently married an Indian woman from Madhya Pradesh through a matrimonial website, posing as an Indian citizen. Along with Hossain, Razeeb Miyan (alias Rahul Biswas/Amit Yadav) and Md Momin Badsha (alias Mohammad Momin Hussain/Jitender Yadav), both Bangladeshi nationals, were arrested from the Badarpur Border area. The authorities also arrested Agrasen Kumar, an Indian facilitator who was responsible for issuing Aadhaar cards to these illegal immigrants by submitting false information into the government system. The Crime Branch recovered a significant amount of incriminating evidence during their raids, including one Indian Passport in the name of Farhan Khan, a Bangladeshi Passport in the name of Mohd Iqbal Hossain, multiple Aadhaar Cards, Indian Driving Licenses, Voter IDs, PAN Cards, and Indian mobile phones in fabricated identities, including those in the names of Jitender Yadav, Amit Yadav, Rahul Biswas, and Mohammad Momin Hussain, several Bangladeshi documents and other vital evidence related to the trafficking network. The operation also revealed that Agrasen Kumar, an authorised individual for creating Aadhaar cards in a bank, played a key role in this syndicate. Kumar and his associates illegally enrolled multiple Bangladeshi nationals in the Aadhaar system, using completely fabricated details. Mohd Iqbal Hossain, also known as Farhan Khan, is a seasoned trafficker who has been operating across borders. Originally from Sunamganj, Bangladesh, Hossain entered India in 2017 via Assam and began running a garment business in Delhias Jamia Nagar. Despite being married in Bangladesh and having a daughter, he married an Indian woman from Madhya Pradesh in 2018, hiding his Bangladeshi nationality. He lived with his Indian wife and children in Panchsheel Vihar, Malviya Nagar. Hossain's garment business, which he ran in Delhias weekly markets, required workers, prompting him to illegally traffic several Bangladeshi nationals into the country. He was previously arrested in 2020 by the Crime Branch for selling illegal SIM cards and was also known to have visited Bangladesh on an Indian passport multiple times under a Business Purpose Visa. The Crime Branch, under the leadership of Inspector Vijay Pal Dahiya and Inspector Ram Pratap, had been investigating the syndicate for several months. Sources were deployed in Delhias weekly markets, particularly in South and South-East Districts, where illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were suspected to be working in the garment trade. Undercover operations led by ASI Krishna Pandey and Head Constable Sanjay successfully identified Hossain and his network. Upon intelligence gathering, the Crime Branch team conducted raids at multiple locations, arresting the key suspects and seizing crucial documents. As the investigation continued, more arrests were made, and further raids were carried out to apprehend other members of the syndicate. The Crime Branch has confirmed that regular raids are underway in Delhi/NCR to arrest other associates involved in the syndicate. Authorities are also reviewing the involvement of additional facilitators and human traffickers in the operation. The arrested individuals have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to foreign nationals, document forgery, and the Aadhaar Act. Bhopal, March 21 : Congress MLAs on Friday raised questions on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's absence from the House during discussions on the home department of Madhya Pradesh that comes under him. The Opposition members unanimously objected to the fact that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav, who heads the state home department, remained absent during an important discussion in the House on the poor law and order situation in the state. Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh said that for the last one year, there has been one big incident of crime after another and even police personnel were being killed with impunity. Jaivardhan Singh said that the Mauganj and Mhow incidents were recent examples of the failure of law and order in Madhya Pradesh. "Questions arise as to why one big incident is happening every one or two weeks? This means that the situation is not under control. What surprised me today is the fact that when all members were discussing the state's home department, CM Mohan Yadav, who is also the Madhya Pradesh home minister, was not present in the House," Jaivardhan Singh said talking to IANS at the Assembly premises. Jaivardhan, who is the son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Digvijaya Singh, further said that he would urge Mohan Yadav to hand over the home department to someone else. "It has been proved that Mohan Yadav can't control the state's law and order situation. It is getting worse day after day. He should hand it over to someone else. Who is stopping him?" Singh added. Initially, the Opposition MLAs hit out at CM Mohan Yadav after Congress MLA Abhay Mishra (Semaria seat in Rewa district) told the House that his family members were being harassed and implicated on fake charges by the police. Some other Congress MLAs, including Aajay Singh demanded that police personnel harassing the family members of MLAs should be punished. Singh alleged that the family members of Congress leaders were being harassed by the police on the behest of BJP leaders. Interestingly, BJP leader and Minister of State for Public Health and Medical Education, Narendra Shivaji Patel, also said that his son was harassed by a cop on a fake charge. The minister even got emotional while relating the incident in the House. New Delhi, March 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reiterated Modi government's zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and lambasted previous dispensations for being 'soft on terror'. New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reiterated Modi governmentas zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and lambasted previous dispensations for being asoft on terrora. Amit Shah, while replying to the debate on the working of Ministry of Home Affairs in the House, listed out some path-breaking decisions of Modi government including abrogation of Article 370 and how it brought lasting peace in the valley. Home Minister, speaking in Rajya Sabha, said that after the removal of Article 370, the involvement of locals with terrorists has completed ended, marking the restoration of peace in the entire region. He further said that the glorification of terrorists, which was often seen during UPA rule, has come to an end during the NDA's decade-long rule. He also noted a 70 percent reduction in deaths due to terror-related incidents. Comparing figures, he said that between 2004 and 2014, the region saw 7,217 terror incidents, whereas between 2014 and 2024, this number dropped to 2,242. The Home Minister expressed deep respect for the sacrifices made by police personnel and also took the opportunity to highlight their achievements in strengthening the nationas security and governance. "I want to pay tribute to all the police personnel who have sacrificed their lives for the safety and security of the people. Thanks to their immense sacrifice, India is now poised to play an important role in global affairs, a position we've been working toward for over 76 years. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the families of these brave officers for their unwavering service," he said. Highlighting the legacy issues faced by the country before PM Modi's tenure, Shah pointed out that problems such as terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism, and Northeast insurgencies had hindered Indiaas progress. "These issues were holding back Indiaas potential for peace and development. But under PM Modi, we have eradicated these obstacles," Shah asserted. Speaking on Jammu and Kashmir, Shah emphasised the drastic shift in approach since the Modi government took power. He recalled the time when terrorist attacks on civilians were a daily occurrence, particularly during religious festivals. "Previously, the central government used to maintain silence, fearing political backlash. But under PM Modi, we adopted a aZero Tolerancea policy toward terrorism," Shah said. He pointed to the surgical strikes and airstrikes, carried out shortly after the Pulwama attack in 2019, as examples of Indiaas newfound assertiveness in countering terrorism. Shah further elaborated on removal of Article 370. "I thank our ancestors for making Article 370 temporary, but the opposition refused to accept the need for change. On August 5, 2019, PM Modias government took the bold step of removing it. No longer was there a fear of losing the vote bank. We brought full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, ensuring all laws applied to the region," Shah explained. He also pointed to the reopening of cinema halls in Jammu and Kashmir, the celebration of major festivals like Diwali and Krishna Janmashtami in peace, and the successful hosting of G20 leaders in the region as signs of the positive transformation in the Union Territory. "These changes would have been unimaginable in the past, but today, Jammu and Kashmir is thriving in peace," he said. "The rate of terrorist attacks has significantly decreased. We also took strict action against the local networks with links to terrorists, ensuring that the threat was eradicated from within the system as well," Shah added. He also informed that more than 40,000 government jobs and 1.51 lakh self-employment opportunities were created in Jammu and Kashmir from 2019 to 2024. He also highlighted the role of skilling clubs in boosting employment in the region. "Jammu and Kashmir has attracted investments worth Rs 12,000 crore on the ground, thanks to an appealing industrial policy. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 1.1 lakh crore have been signed," he added. EU leaders to meet in Paris next week to discuss situation in Ukraine European leaders will meet in Paris next week to discuss their position on Ukraine and demands for a peace process, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The European Union countries will include Germany, Italy and Poland, as well as non-EU countries such as the UK and Canada, the agency wrote, citing anonymous sources familiar with the plans. According to the agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously announced that he would visit Paris next week for meetings. Islamabad, March 21 : The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), an organisation led by the controversial Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch, has come under the radar of Pakistani security agencies after its protesters took away a number of corpses from the Civil Hospital in Balochistan's provincial capital Quetta that are believed to be of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants who had attacked the Jaffar Express passenger train in Bolan, recently. Islamabad, March 21 (IANS) The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), an organisation led by the controversial Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch, has come under the radar of Pakistani security agencies after its protesters took away a number of corpses from the Civil Hospital in Balochistanas provincial capital Quetta that are believed to be of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants who had attacked the Jaffar Express passenger train in Bolan, recently. In a protest staged outside the Civil Hospital in Quetta by the BYC, family members of missing persons were demanding authorities to allow them to identify the dead bodies. Hospital authorities said that the protesters were able to force their way into the morgue and took away at least five corpses. Even though it is not yet clear if the relatives of the missing persons had identified the bodies of their loved ones before taking them, the local authorities confirmed that they were those of the attackers of the Jaffar Express passenger train and belonged to the proscribed BLA militant group. "Corpses that were taken away were the unidentified bodies of terrorists who were killed in the military operation following the attack on the Jaffar Express," said one of the provincial government officials. The reports were also confirmed by the BYC activists, who said that some protesters had taken away a number of bodies from the hospital's morgue, claiming that families of the missing persons had gathered at the hospital to identify their loved ones. "We had been trying to gain access to the morgue for two days to satisfy the missing persons family members that the bodies kept there were not of their loved ones," said one BYC member. Later on, police authorities carried out raids in various parts of Quetta, recovering at least three corpses. As per sources, raids were carried out in Sariab Road and Secretariat Chowk and multiple people have also been taken into custody. Sources said that the role of BYC and its head Mahrang Baloch, who have been accused of aligning with the BLA, is being probed for using the issue of missing persons in Balochistan to target the country's military establishment and government policies. Bhubaneswar, March 21 : The main Opposition party in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has officially confirmed that it will attend the Joint Action Committee on the delimitation row, scheduled to be held in Chennai on March 22. As per an official press statement issued by the BJD on Friday, the party supremo and former Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has nominated two senior party leaders, Dr Amar Patnaik and Sanjay Das Burma, to attend the JAC on behalf of the party. "President Biju Janata Dal, Naveen Patnaik, has nominated former MP Dr Amar Patnaik and former minister Sanjay Das Burma to attend as representatives of the BJD, the Joint Action Committee on Delimitation that has been convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin tomorrow in Chennai," reads the press note. It is pertinent here to mention that a two-member delegation of the DMK, including former Union Minister and DMK MP, Dayanidhi Maran and Tamil Nadu Industries Minister, TRB Rajaa, had met the BJD supremo on March 11 and invited him to attend the meeting to oppose delimitation. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK President, M.K. Stalin, has invited representatives from various political parties across the country to join the efforts to raise their voices against delimitation, which the party claims, is a "blatant assault on federalism." As per reports, political leaders from seven states, including those from Odisha, Punjab, and Bengal, are likely to attend the Joint Action Committee meeting in Chennai on March 22 to discuss the delimitation row. "I extend my warmest welcome to the leaders from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal and Punjab who are joining us for the Joint Action Committee meeting on #FairDelimitation," wrote CM Stalin on Friday. The Tamil Nadu CM has also called the March 22 meeting as a historic day for Indian federalism. "This is a defining moment in our collective journey. This is more than a meeting it is the beginning of a movement that will shape the future of our country," added CM Stalin. Notably, the southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, are wary about probable reduction in the number of parliamentary seats following the delimitation process which is scheduled to be carried out on the basis of the first Census after 2026. New Delhi, March 21 : Recently-listed DAM Capital Advisors on Friday said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued an administrative warning to it over certain operational deficiencies in its institutional broking business. The capital markets regulator sent the warning and deficiency letter, advising DAM Capital to be more cautious in its operations. "Pursuant to the provisions of Regulation 30 read with Para A of Part A of Schedule III of the SEBI Listing Regulations, we hereby inform that the Company has received administrative warning and deficiency letter on March 20 issued by SEBI vide its letter dated March 20 advising us to be vigilant in future for certain operational related matters of our Institutional broking operations," the company said in its stock exchange filing. The observations were based on an inspection conducted by SEBI between February 1, 2024, and August 31, 2024, before the company's equity shares were listed. DAM Capital stated that it has already addressed the issues raised by SEBI and has implemented necessary compliance measures to align with regulatory norms. The company also clarified that the SEBI letter does not impact its financials, business operations, or overall activities. "There is no impact on financial, operation or other activities of the Company pursuant to the abovementioned letter," the company added. In its filing, DAM Capital revealed that SEBI conducted a thematic inspection in January 2025, focusing on the "Upstreaming and Downstreaming of Clients' Funds." After reviewing the company's responses, SEBI pointed out areas that needed improvement. These included delays in transferring client funds to the Clearing Corporation, instances where brokerage amounts were credited directly to the company's bank account instead of the designated settlement account, and reporting deficiencies such as incorrect values and missing retention reason codes in the segregation file. Despite the regulatory warning, DAM Capital's stock performed strongly in Friday's trading session. Its shares closed nearly 5 percent higher at Rs 232 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), reflecting a gain of 4.68 per cent. Brussels, March 21 : Thea growing relationship between India and the European Union (EU), strategic partners since 2004, was discussed extensively during a dialogue titled 'EU-India Relations: What next after the European Commission's historic visit to India' organised by Brussels-based European Policy Centre while exploring the future of India-European Union ties post European Commission visit to India. At the well-attended policy dialogue, Ambassador of India to the EU Saurabh Kumar highlighted the strategic context of the EU Commission's visit, interactions at the leadership level, key outcomes, and future direction of relations. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by the European Union College of Commissioners visited India from February 27 to February 28. This was the first-ever visit of the EU College of Commissioners together to India. "Historic moment for EU-India relations. Amid geopolitical instability, the world's two largest democracies unite to safeguard multilateralism. Pushing forward with talks on economic integration, youth mobility, security, and green and tech innovation," Sandro Gozi, Member of the European Parliament who participated in the discussions, posted on X after the event. The EU and India reinforced strategic ties during the landmark visit of the European Commission delegation to India, last month. Von der Leyen emphasised stronger EU-India ties in an increasingly complex world, stressing that both sides' interests coincide more often than not. During the Commission's visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission affirmed that the EU-India Strategic Partnership has delivered strong benefits for their peoples and the larger global good. They committed to raise this partnership to a higher-level, building upon 20 years of India-EU Strategic Partnership and over 30 years of India-EC Cooperation Agreement. The leaders agreed that shared values and principles including democracy, the rule of law, and the rules-based international order in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter make India and the EU like-minded and trusted partners. They also stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation between India and Europe in trade and de-risking of supply chains, investment, emerging critical technologies, innovation, talent, digital and green industrial transition, space and geospatial sectors, defence and people-to-people contacts. "India and Europe share a strong partnership built on shared values, innovation and sustainability. Our close collaboration is shaping a better future for our planet. Together, we will work towards a prosperous world," PM Modi had posted on X after the meeting with the delegation of the European Commission. New Delhi, March 21 : After reports surfaced of a large sum of cash found at the residence of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma, retired Justice S.N. Dhingra said on Friday that there is deep-rooted corruption within the judiciary. Speaking to IANS he said, "This is a glaring example of corruption in the judiciary. The cash was found accidentally -- there may be many other such cases." He called for an immediate FIR against Justice Varma. "The Supreme Court should have allowed the filing of an FIR and permitted the normal legal process to proceed." "A judge is not above the law. If a judge commits murder, will the Supreme Court prevent an FIR from being lodged? There is no immunity for judges in such matters," he asserted. The former Delhi HC Judge also criticised Justice Varma's decision to go on leave rather than resign. "If he does not resign, the only option left is impeachment," he told IANS. Following the cash discovery, the Supreme Court Collegium transferred Justice Varma back to the Allahabad High Court, where he had previously served. However, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association has strongly opposed the transfer, expressing concern over the move. In a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and other judges, the association condemned the decision, arguing that reappointing a judge under suspicion undermines the dignity of the High Court. "If Justice Yashwant Varma is accused of possessing such a large amount of cash, an investigation should be conducted instead of transferring him to another High Court," the letter stated. The association expressed shock at the Collegium's decision and urged a thorough investigation into the matter rather than a mere transfer. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday initiated an internal probe against Justice Yashwant Varma as per the established "in-house procedure". As per the "in-house procedure", the CJI is competent to receive complaints against the conduct of judges of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justices of the High Courts. As per media reports, a huge amount of cash was found when a fire brigade had gone to the judge's residence to douse a fire, when Justice Varma was not at home. Ahmedabad, March 21 : Ahead of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, the state government has signed a total of 55,860 projects with a proposed investment of Rs 9.45 lakh crore, Industries Minister Balwantsinh Rajput said. Of these, 32,801 projects have already been commissioned, 13,051 are in the initial stages, and 6,217 are under implementation, he informed the Legislative Assembly. Minister Rajput emphasised the impact of the biennial summit, first launched in 2003 under then Gujarat Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He credited the initiative for transforming Gujarat into a preferred destination for multinational companies and positioning it as a model of economic development for the nation. Highlighting the state's investor-friendly policies, the minister outlined various incentives, including the development of transportation networks, industrial parks, and digital infrastructure. He also noted that Gujarat has introduced sector-specific policies and an online single-window portal to facilitate investors. During the recently concluded 10th edition of the summit in 2024, the state government signed MoUs amounting to an estimated Rs 47 lakh crore, further reinforcing Gujarat's position as an investment powerhouse, Minister Rajput added. The first summit in 2003 laid the foundation for Gujarat's economic transformation, securing investment commitments worth Rs 66,000 crore. The momentum continued with the 2005 edition, which saw an increase in participation and investment proposals exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore. By 2007, the summit had gained international recognition, attracting 300 foreign delegates from 25 countries and securing MoUs worth Rs 4.6 lakh crore. The 2009 summit marked a milestone with over 600 MoUs signed, translating into investment proposals worth Rs 12 lakh crore. In 2011, the summit reached new heights, attracting participation from over 100 countries, with investment intentions totalling Rs 20.83 lakh crore. The 2013 edition saw a further expansion, with a focus on knowledge sharing, urban development, and sustainable growth. The 2015 summit, held after BJP leader Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, positioned Gujarat as a key global investment hub, with participation from major economies, including the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia. The 2017 edition saw the highest-ever foreign presence, with over 25,000 participants from 100 countries and investment proposals crossing Rs 56 lakh crore. Mumbai, March 21 : Shares of Bajaj Finserv continued to decline on Friday by falling 0.53 per cent during intra-day trade to Rs 1,842 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The stock has dropped over one per cent in the last five days, nearly 2 per cent in the past month, and over 4 per cent in the last six months. The stockas declining movement comes after the company recently announced its decision to acquire Allianz SEas 26 per cent stake in Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance for Rs 24,180 crore ($2.83 billion). With this transaction, Bajajas ownership in both insurance firms will increase from 74 per cent to 100 per cent, marking the end of a 25-year partnership with the German insurer. Bajaj Finserv will spend Rs 13,780 crore to acquire the general insurance business and Rs 10,400 crore for the life insurance arm. The deal is still subject to regulatory approvals from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Sanjiv Bajaj, chairman and managing director of Bajaj Finserv, highlighted that the long-standing collaboration with Allianz helped maintain strong solvency margins and cross Rs 40,000 crore in premium collections. He believes that full ownership of the insurance businesses will unlock new growth opportunities. Allianz, on the other hand, reiterated its commitment to India and plans to reinvest the proceeds from the deal into new opportunities aligned with the countryas "Insurance for All by 2047" vision. In terms of financial performance, Bajaj Finserv reported a 3 per cent rise in consolidated net profit for Q3 FY25 at Rs 2,231 crore, compared to Rs 2,158 crore in the same period last year. The companyas revenue from operations grew 10 per cent to Rs 32,042 crore in Q3 from Rs 29,038 crore in the same period last fiscal. Meanwhile, Bajaj Finance Limited, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Limited, reported an increase in gross non-performing assets (GNPA) in Q3 to 1.12 per cent from 0.95 per cent a year ago, while net non-performing assets (NNPA) rose to 0.48 per cent from 0.37 per cent. Loan loss provisions also surged significantly, reaching Rs 2,043 crore compared to Rs 1,248 crore in the same period last year. Patna, March 21 : A US-based Non-Resident Indian (NRI), who had arrived in Bihar's Vaishali district to celebrate Holi, was gunned down during a chain-snatching incident on Friday, the police said. The incident occurred near the Ufraul power substation, under the Rajapakad police station limit around 9 a.m. on Friday. The attack happened in front of his mother and daughter. The victim, Rahul Anand, was traveling home with his mother and daughter when two bikers stopped him on the pretext of asking directions for an address. They snatched his gold chain, leading to a scuffle. During the struggle, the pillion rider shot him in the chest. The accused sped away after committing the crime. Rahul Anand sustained severe injuries and the family members with the help of local residents rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors referred him to Patna for advanced treatment. He was taken to Paras Hospital in Patna's Bailey Road where he succumbed due to his injuries. After the incident, Rajapakad police have launched an investigation and are scanning CCTV footage from the area. Veena Kumari, SHO of Rajapakad police station, stated: "We are actively investigating the case and working to identify the accused. The victim was gunned down during the chain snatching incident at Ufraul power substation on Friday." "We have registered an FIR under relevant sections of Bhartiya Nyay Sahita and the investigation is underway," she said. The deceased, Rahul Anand, after completing the hotel management, was working in the US. He was the son of Ramashankar Chaudhary, a resident of Deeh Bucholi village under Mahisaur police station in the district. This incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of people especially come from foreign countries and not known about the ground reality of Bihar. In the last few years, the people of Bihar have witnessed growing cases of snatching and street crimes in the state. Seoul, March 21 : North Korea has successfully test-fired its latest surface-to-air missile system, state media reported on Friday, as South Korea and the United States wrapped up their annual joint military drills. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch the previous day of the anti-aircraft missile system that was recently put into full-scale production, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea said the test-firing was aimed at examining the "comprehensive performance" of the system, claiming that it proved the missile's combat fast response is "advantageous" and "highly reliable". Photos released alongside the report showed what appeared to be a launched missile hitting a target and exploding, and Kim smiled contentedly apparently at the test result. Kim said the country's army will be equipped with "another major defence weapons system with laudable combat performance," expressing gratitude to the research group in charge and relevant munitions industry enterprise for strengthening national defence capability, the KCNA said. South Korea's military said it had detected the launch of multiple surface-to-air missiles in real-time from the North's western port city of Nampho the previous day, adding further analysis is underway, Yonhap news agency reported. The launch took place at around 9 a.m. before South Korea and the US announced the completion of their annual springtime Freedom Shield exercise after an 11-day run, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said. Another military official said North Korea is presumed to have used a cruise missile as a mid-air target for the latest test of the surface-to-air missile. "An anti-aircraft or surface-to-air missile is used for defensive purposes. But since a cruise missile can be used for attacks against us, we are focusing more on such an aspect," the official told reporters. North Korea has denounced the joint drills as a rehearsal for invasion and has a track record of staging weapons tests in protest, but it did not carry out major provocations this year. South Korea issued a warning against North Korea's additional provocations. "I once again make clear that our military training is an annual and defensive exercise to deter war and guard peace," Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson at Seoul's Unification Ministry, said in a regular press briefing. "North Korea should not make the wrong judgment of using the exercise as a pretext for provocation." Kathmandu, March 21 : A day after she returned to Kathmandu after participating in the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba on Friday stated that significant steps have been taken to increase the electricity supply from India to Nepal through various diplomatic initiatives. "During my visit to Delhi this time, diplomatic efforts were also made to increase the supply of electricity from India to Nepal under the existing bilateral contract and through the IEX (Indian Energy Exchange), allowing for longer-duration power draw each day to help address Nepal's ongoing electricity deficit," Deuba posted on X. IEX pioneered Cross Border Electricity Trade (CBET) with the commencement of trade with Nepal in its Day Ahead Electricity Market on April 17, 2021. The Cross border in electricity is an endeavour to expand the Indian power market towards building an integrated South Asian Power Market. The grid connected Nepal and other South Asian countries to participate in the day-ahead Market and Term-ahead Market on the Exchange. During her visit, Deuba had called on External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, taking stock of bilateral ties and discussing ongoing engagements across sectors. Debua expressed her appreciation for India's 'Neighborhood First' policy and conveyed Nepal's continued prioritization of relations with India. India and Nepal have robust cooperation in the power sector. The cooperation in the power and energy sectors got another fillip with the notification of the procedure for the facilitation of cross-border trade of electricity by the Indian government which enables the export/import of electricity with Nepal. In 2022, then Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had appreciated India's cross-border electricity trade regulations that have enabled key partners like Nepal to access India's market and trade power. He had also acknowledged with appreciation India's contribution to developing Nepal's power sector, through capacity building and direct support to infrastructure projects related to generation and transmission. Last year, EAM S. Jaishankar and then Nepal's Foreign Affairs Minister N.P. Saud co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission, which reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation including developmental partnership. After the meeting of the Joint Commission, several agreements were signed between the two countries, including for Long Term Power Trade. Under this Agreement, it has been agreed to strive to increase the quantum of export of power from Nepal to India to 10,000 MW within a timeframe of 10 years and towards this end take all necessary measures to encourage mutually beneficial investments in Nepal's hydropower generation sector and transmission infrastructure. In November 2024, Union Minister for Power Manohar Lal, jointly inaugurated the power flow from Nepal to Bangladesh, alongwith Fouzul Kabir Khan, Advisor, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Government of Bangladesh and Dipak Khadka, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal, through a virtual event hosted by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal. The historic occasion marked the first trilateral power transaction which has been carried out through the Indian grid. "aThe Government of India had announced its decision to facilitate the first trilateral power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh, through Indian grid with an export of upto 40 MW of power during the visit of the former Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aPrachandaa to India from 31 May to 3 June 2023. During the visit, both sides had expressed their commitment towards greater sub-regional cooperation, including in the energy sector, which would lead to increased inter-linkages between the economies for mutual benefit of all stakeholders," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). aThe start of the power flow from Nepal to Bangladesh through India is expected to boost sub-regional connectivity in the power sector. Kyiv will dispatch a delegation for peace talks which includes the country's defence minister Rustem Umerov, Sky News reported Thursday. The Ukrainian team will head to Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks with the US. Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office, will also travel. He and Umerov will speak for Ukraine, the broadcaster reports, citing an informed Ukrainian source. The schedule for the talks has reportedly not yet been finalized, but the Ukrainian delegation is expected to leave for Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening to be ready for talks early Monday morning. New Delhi, March 21 : Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna will receive on Friday the report prepared by the Delhi High Court's Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya after a large amount of unaccounted cash was reportedly discovered at the residence of a high court judge in the national capital. "The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who had commenced his enquiry prior to the Collegium meeting on 20th March 2025, will be submitting his report to the Chief Justice of India today i.e. on 21st March 2025. The report will be examined and processed for further and necessary action," said a statement released by the Supreme Court. As per media reports, a huge amount of cash was found last week when a fire brigade had gone to Delhi HC's Justice Yashwant Varma's residence to douse a fire. The apex court press statement clarified that the proposal for the transfer of Justice Varma, who is the second senior most judge in the Delhi High Court, to his parent High Court i.e. the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, where he will be the ninth in seniority, is "independent and separate from the In-house enquiry procedure". "The proposal was examined by the Collegium comprising of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and four senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court on 20th March 2025, and thereafter letters were written to the consultee Judges of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justices of the High Courts concerned, and Mr Justice Yashwant Varma. Responses received will be examined and, thereupon, the Collegium will pass a resolution," the statement added. "There is misinformation and rumours being spread with regard to the incident at the residence of Mr Justice Yashwant Varma," the press statement said. As per the "in-house procedure", the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is competent to receive complaints against the conduct of judges of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justices of the High Courts. Similarly, the Chief Justices of the High Courts are competent to receive complaints against the conduct of High Court judges. The apex court Court, in its full Court meeting in May 1997 had adopted two resolutions. The first resolution "The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life" lays down certain judicial standards and principles to be observed and followed by the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the second "in-house procedure" provides for taking suitable remedial action against judges who do not follow universally accepted values of judicial life including those included in the Restatement. As per the SC judgment in the Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of India case, it has been held that the report of a committee constituted as a part of the "in-house procedure" is not liable to be made public. The existing Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) provided that the proposal for transfer of HC judges is initiated by the CJI in consultation with four senior-most puisne judges of the Supreme Court, commonly known as Collegium. The MoP further provides that the CJI is also expected to take into account the views of the Chief Justice of the High Court from which the judge is to be transferred, as also the Chief Justice of the High Court to which the transfer is to be effected, besides taking into account the views of one or more Supreme Court judges who are in a position to offer views. Born in January 1969, Justice Varma obtained a law degree from Rewa University and practised mainly on the civil side handling varied nature of matters relating to constitutional, industrial disputes, corporate, taxation, environment, and allied branches of law. He served as Chief Standing Counsel for the State of UP from 2012 till August 2013, when he was designated as 'senior advocate' by the Allahabad High Court. Justice Varma was elevated as an Additional Judge in October 2014 and was transferred to the Delhi High Court in October 2021. At the Delhi High Court, Justice Varma is currently the second seniormost judge dealing with writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of any law, statutory rule, regulation or notification pertaining to municipal tax. As per the latest roster, Justice Varma-led division bench, which also comprised Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, dealt with sales tax cases and GST cases, Letters Patent Appeals, regular First Appeals (Original Side), Company Appeals, matters to be heard by Commercial Appellate Division, etc. Seoul, March 21 : Russia's top security official met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on Friday and discussed the war in Ukraine and other security issues, including the Korean Peninsula, Russian media outlets reported. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu also delivered a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim, according to the TASS and Sputnik news agencies. The meeting lasted for over two hours. Shoigu said he discussed the "beginning of a dialogue" with the United States on the war in Ukraine and other security issues in "various regions and on the Korean Peninsula," Sputnik reported. Sending Putin's "warmest wishes" to Kim, he said Putin is paying the "utmost attention to the implementation" of the bilateral treaty signed between the two leaders in June last year. Shoigu confirmed Russia's "unconditional readiness to comply with the provisions of the treaty," TASS reported. Shoigu arrived in the North Korean capital earlier in the day, leading a delegation from Russia's Security Council. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu, Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora and other officials greeted the delegation, which visited the Liberation Tower and laid a wreath, according to the North's state media. "The participants paid a silent tribute to the memory of the fallen fighters of the Soviet Army before looking round the tower," the KCNA said. The visit marks the latest in a recent series of high-level exchanges between North Korea and Russia, which have grown closer, with Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko travelled to Pyongyang, where he met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and discussed arranging "political contacts at the high and top levels," as previously reported by Tass. Appearing on Yonhap News TV in November, South Korea's National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik said the possibility of Kim visiting Russia cannot be ruled out, speculating that if the visit takes place, it could be in the form of reciprocation for Russian President Putin's visit to North Korea in June last year. At that time, Putin invited Kim to Moscow for summit talks. Russia's Victory Day holiday on May 9, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, is widely speculated to be a potential occasion for Kim's visit to Russia as the country marks the 80th anniversary of its victory this year. The latest visit also comes amid US attempts to broker a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, with US President Donald Trump and Putin agreeing over the phone earlier this week on Russia's temporary halt to strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. During Putin's visit to Pyongyang last year, the two leaders signed a mutual defence treaty, elevating bilateral military cooperation and leading to North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. The deal has sparked international concerns that the two countries' military alignment could lead to Russia transferring rare missiles and other high-tech arms technology to North Korea in return for its troop deployment. Bengaluru, March 21 : In a major development, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for six months from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly with immediate effect, on charges of showing disrespect to the Speaker's Chair on Friday. The suspension came following the disruption of the proceedings while staging a protest in the Well of the House while demanding a judicial or CBI probe into the alleged honey trap attempt involving Minister for Cooperation, K.N. Rajanna. Speaker U.T. Khader made the announcement regarding the suspension and directed the MLAs to leave the House. However, BJP members gathered in the Well of the House and strongly protested the move. The suspended members are MLAs Doddanagouda H. Patil, former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan, S.R. Vishwanath, Byrathi Basavaraj, M.R. Patil, Channabasappa, B. Suresh Gowda, Umanath Kotayan, Sharan Salagar, Shailendra Beldal, C.K. Ramamurthy, Yashpal S. Suvarna, Harish B.P., Y. Bharat Shetty, N. Munirathna, Basavaraj Muttimud, Dhiraj Muniraj and Chandru Lamani. The suspended members were literally lifted from the Assembly by the marshals after the House was adjourned, creating a huge furore. The development is likely to trigger a huge controversy in state politics. Earlier, when the House resumed after an adjournment, Speaker U.T. Khader addressed the Assembly, stating, "The incident that took place in the House this morning has pained us all. It is regrettable. This Chair is a reflection of truth and justice. Every member of this House must uphold the sanctity and significance of this Chair. We must be mindful of our words and actions to ensure that the Speaker's Chair is not disrespected." He was referring to the incident that had taken place earlier in the day when the BJP and JD(S) legislators tore copies of the Finance Bill and flung them towards the Speaker's chair and some members even approached the Speaker's podium, tore the copies of the Bill, and threw them onto his table. However, at that time Speaker Khader instructed the marshals not to remove Opposition members by force and asked the protesting members to move away, while marshals stood on both sides of his chair. As he continued the proceedings and proposed the Muslim quota Bill for discussion, the Opposition intensified their protest and once again hurled copies of the Bill towards the Speaker's chair. Later in the day, addressed the Assembly on the morning incident, the Speaker emphasised that no one is above the Chair, and personal emotions should not override its dignity. "We must conduct ourselves with dignity, commitment, peace, and etiquette. This incident should serve as a lesson for the future. Let us uphold the dignity of the Chair and the Constitution," Khader noted. "I am conveying a serious message here. If anyone obstructs the Chair and disrupts proceedings in this House, it will not be tolerated," he added. Following Speaker Khader's proposal to suspend the MLAs, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil remarked, "The members have tarnished the dignity and honour of this House. They threw books and documents at the Chair. They engaged in hooliganism, which this House will not tolerate. There must be mutual respect and concern for the people. They must respect the Chair this is the law, and it is our duty. The 18 named MLAs should be barred from entering the Legislative Assembly for six months. I support the proposal." Speaker Khader then put the proposal to suspend the 18 MLAs to a vote, as per Section 338 of the Karnataka State Legislature Proceedings. The House approved the proposal with immediate effect. "I request the suspended members to leave the House," Speaker Khader stated before adjourning the session. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka called for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation over the suspension, stating that it was a shameful matter. R. Ashoka, claimed there was a conspiracy to remove the sitting Chief Minister of the Congress government. "We are protesting against this. The government should be ashamed. What if the same happens to the ministers sitting here? The honey trap attempt was made against a Congress Minister from the Scheduled Tribe community, and he has no protection," he stated. New Delhi, March 21 : The attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the flare up in Manipur figure prominently in an RSS report which, under the section on 'Present National Scene', highlights human suffering due to violence. "The barbaric attack on the Hindu community and other minorities by religious fanatics during the political movement for change of power in our neighbouring country Bangladesh is highly condemnable," said the report. The RSS - the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP - hails the resilience of the Hindus in Bangladesh for standing firmly against the attacking forces on the strength of its own self-confidence. "The situation there continues to be serious. The safety of the lives and property of Hindus is in danger," said the Report, adding that the incidents there have been shameful by any standard of humanity and democracy in a civilised society. The Annual Report 2024-25 of the RSS, released at the on-going Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sahaba, Bengaluru, goes on to note that with the joint efforts of Sangh Swayamsevaks and many other organisations, programmes were held at many places across the country to denounce the fanatic forces responsible for the situation in Bangladesh. "The Bharatiya government also urged the Bangladesh government to protect Hindus and tried to create global opinion in this direction," said the RSS, appreciating the efforts made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. While referring to Manipur violence, the Sangh requested that all the communities of the state should leave aside their anguish and distrust and make a conscious effort for social unity with mutual brotherhood. Noting that Manipur, the country's eastern border state, has been passing through a disturbed situation for the past 20 months, the Sangh's report highlighted how Sangh inspired social organisations offered relief and succour to affected people and maintained constant contact with various communities and tried to control the situation by giving the message of maintaining patience. The RSS also appreciated the efforts of the Narendra Modi government in tackling the Manipur situation. "A few action-oriented decisions taken by the Central Government at political and administrative level in the recent past, have raised hopes towards the improvement of the situation. But it will take long time for a natural atmosphere of cordiality and trust to emerge," said the report. Recently, while talking to AI researcher and podcaster Lex Fridman in a podcast, PM Modi said that the RSS had played a crucial role in shaping him. "Through the RSS, I found a life of purpose. Then I was fortunate to spend some time among the saints, which gave me a strong spiritual foundation. I found discipline and a life of purpose," he said. The Prime Minister also showcased the social causes for which RSS, over the past 100 years, has devoted its energy, touching lives of tribals, women, labourers and youth. Thiruvananthapuram, March 21 : Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi is expected to visit the Kerala capital on Sunday, launching the process to select a new President of the state unit. There are several hopefuls, including incumbent K.Surendran who is expecting he might get an additional term as he took over as President when then state chief P.S.Sreedharan Pillai was made the Governor of Goa in 2020. So technically, the now 60-year-old Surendran has had only five years in office, and it is natural he might look for one more term. Among the others in the running include firebrand leader Sobha Surendran who is in the good books of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but she however does not have the best of relations with either Surendran nor his mentor, former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan, who has already had a stint as President here. Muraleedharanas name is also doing the rounds. M.T. Ramesh is another veteran who has his eyes on the top post of the state unit, but he too does not enjoy much support from the state unit despite close connections with the RSS leadership. Another name that had taken the rounds was former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who gave a fright to three-time Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor at the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, before going down. With the BJP creating history when Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat at the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to give its first-ever parliamentary seat from its state, the national leadership was pretty pleased as they believe the powerful Christian community in Thrissur voted for the actor-cum-politician. Another name thatas being speculated is none other than the present Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian. However, whoever makes it to the top post, one thing that is sure is that it will be a unanimous choice. Who it will be will only become evident when Joshi meets the top state party brass on Monday. New Delhi, March 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that after December, he would correspond with the Chief Ministers, MPs, ministers, and citizens of every state in their native language. He stated that this would serve as a strong reply to those who use language to cover up their corruption. "Every language of India is a jewel of our culture," he added. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, HM Shah said: "I want to say today from this platform, we have been telling the Tamil Nadu government for two years that you don't have the courage to translate engineering and medical studies into Tamil. Your financial interests are involved in this. However, when our government comes, we will ensure that medical and engineering courses in Tamil Nadu are taught in Tamil." The Home Minister further explained that critics may accuse the government of being against the languages of South India, but "How can we be against any state's language? We come from the same region a" I am from Gujarat." He also mentioned that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is from Tamil Nadu, would never support opposition to the Tamil language. Amit Shah highlighted the government's work in promoting regional languages by translating important courses like engineering and medical education into local languages. He challenged those who spread negativity about languages, saying: "You may prefer a language from thousands of km away, but why are you averse to Indian languages?" He stressed that a Tamil-speaking child can work in Gujarat, Delhi, or Kashmir, emphasising national unity over divisive language politics. The Home Minister slammed those who use language as a tool for hiding corruption. "We will expose these issues, we will go village by village," he said. This statement came in response to the Tamil Nadu government's allegations that the Centre was imposing Hindi on the state. During his speech in the Rajya Sabha, HM Shah spoke about the Language Department under his ministry, which works to promote the use of Indian languages. He stated that efforts were being made to promote Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, and all regional languages. HM Shah further asserted that Hindi is the "sister" of all Indian languages, asserting that Hindi strengthens every Indian language, and no language competes with Hindi. He mentioned that his government had sent three reports on official languages to the President, underlining the government's commitment to the development of all Indian languages. The Home Minister also pointed out that the Padma Awards had been democratised, with individuals from ordinary backgrounds, who have spent their lives contributing to small but significant changes in society, now receiving these prestigious awards. Seoul, March 21 : A Seoul court on Friday turned down prosecutors' request for warrants to arrest two Presidential Security Service (PSS) officials accused of obstructing investigators' attempt to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in January. The Seoul Western District Court released the result of its warrant review on acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon and Lee Kwang-woo, chief of the PSS's bodyguard division, hours after it held a hearing to determine whether to issue the writs. Prosecutors had filed for the arrest warrants in connection with the failed first attempt to detain Yoon on January 3. The court found that the charges filed against them were "disputable" and thus it would be "excessively limiting their right to defence" if the warrants were granted. It also said there is little risk of them destroying evidence or fleeing, Yonhap news agency reported. Kim and Lee are accused of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant for Yoon, taking unjust personnel measures against PSS officials who disobeyed their orders and instructing subordinates to delete records of phone conversations between Yoon and military commanders involved in his December 3 martial law declaration. "I was taught and trained that the highest honour for a security guard is to dedicate my life for the President's safety," Kim told reporters as he arrived at the court. "If we were to neglect this duty for fear of punishment, I see no reason for the existence of the PSS." Asked whether his actions were based on the President's orders, Kim said they were not and that he was simply carrying out his duties under the law. Lee entered the court without answering reporters' questions. Prosecutors previously rejected the police's request to seek arrest warrants for Kim and Lee three times and twice, respectively, but a warrant review panel sided with the police earlier this month, concluding it was appropriate for the prosecution to request the warrants. Police applied for the warrants again on Monday, and the prosecution filed the request on the following day. New Delhi, March 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that after December, he will correspond with the Chief Ministers, MPs, ministers, and citizens of every state in their native language. He stated that this would serve as a strong reply to those who use language to cover up their corruption. "Every language of India is a jewel of our culture," he added. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, HM Shah said: "I want to say today from this platform, we have been telling the Tamil Nadu government for two years that you don't have the courage to translate engineering and medical studies into Tamil. Your financial interests are involved in this. However, when our government comes, we will ensure that medical and engineering courses in Tamil Nadu are taught in Tamil." The Home Minister further explained that critics may accuse the government of being against the languages of South India, but "How can we be against any state's language? We come from the same region a" I am from Gujarat." He also mentioned that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is from Tamil Nadu, would never support opposition to the Tamil language. Amit Shah highlighted the government's work in promoting regional languages by translating important courses like engineering and medical education into local languages. He challenged those who spread negativity about languages, saying: "You may prefer a language from thousands of km away, but why are you averse to Indian languages?" He stressed that a Tamil-speaking child can work in Gujarat, Delhi, or Kashmir, emphasising national unity over divisive language politics. The Home Minister slammed those who use language as a tool for hiding corruption. "We will expose these issues, we will go village by village," he said. This statement came in response to the Tamil Nadu government's allegations that the Centre was imposing Hindi on the state. During his speech in the Rajya Sabha, HM Shah spoke about the Language Department under his ministry, which works to promote the use of Indian languages. He stated that efforts were being made to promote Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, and all regional languages. HM Shah further asserted that Hindi is the "sister" of all Indian languages, asserting that Hindi strengthens every Indian language, and no language competes with Hindi. He mentioned that his government had sent three reports on official languages to the President, underlining the government's commitment to the development of all Indian languages. The Home Minister also pointed out that the Padma Awards had been democratised, with individuals from ordinary backgrounds, who have spent their lives contributing to small but significant changes in society, now receiving these prestigious awards. New Delhi, March 21 : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has deployed 285 Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) to check adulteration in food items in 35 states and Union Territories, the Parliament was told on Friday. "FSWs are equipped with basic infrastructure for on-spot testing of adulteration in various food commodities. Currently, 285 FSWs are deployed across 35 states/UTs," Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. The FSSAI was established in 2008 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006, to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. It was primarily set up to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import. The FSSAI also conducts periodic pan-India surveillance of food products, especially staple foods and commodities that are prone to adulteration, to ascertain the quality and safety of the food products produced and consumed in India. "For testing of various food commodities, the FSSAI has notified 243 primary laboratories and 22 referral laboratories across the country," Jadhav said. The food regulator has also published a comprehensive set of resources for food safety and analysis, including manuals on methods of analysis of various food commodities (17), general guidelines on sampling (2), and methods for the analysis of fortificants in fortified foods (15), the MoS added. Further, the FSSAI has facilitated rapid food testing methods to reduce the screening time of food products at the field level and accelerate surveillance as well as monitoring activities. "About 79 Rapid Analytical Food Testing (RAFT) kits are approved by the FSSAI," Jadhav said. Another is the Food Safety Magic Boxes which facilitate the detection of adulteration in food. It consists of reliable "quick screening tests" that a common person can perform at the household level, enabling a broad assessment of potential adulteration in their food in cases of doubt, the Minister said. New Delhi, March 21 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday, during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs, made sharp remarks regarding the politics surrounding the name of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Raut said, "If you want to break Aurangzeb's tomb, go ahead, who is stopping you? Your government is in power both at the Centre and in Maharashtra." He also added, "I see some MPs discussing Aurangzeb during the debate on the Home Ministry. What days we've come to when people in the Upper House are discussing Aurangzeb, and I hold the Home Ministry responsible for this. There are forces trying to create instability by repeatedly invoking Aurangzeb's name." He further said, "Take a spade and go ahead and break Aurangzeb's tomb. But send your children for this task, don't send ours. Your children are studying abroad, working abroad, and you are diverting the minds of the poor, unemployed youth to do this work." Raut accused some ministers from Maharashtra and high-ranking officials in the Centre of trying to disturb national unity and integrity. He stated that if such forces were not stopped, the nation would not remain united. "Home Ministry's role should be to preserve unity and integrity, but instead, it has turned into a tool for weakening opposition parties, breaking political groups, and even helping in the buying of MPs and MLAs through police assistance," Raut alleged. Uddhav Thackeray's party MP Raut further remarked that while Manipur was already burning, Maharashtra, too, is now being set on fire by these forces. He claimed that "dead bodies are being dug up to lay new ones, and all in the name of Aurangzeb." Raut highlighted that in the past 300 years, Nagpur, a city in Maharashtra, had never seen riots. He stated, "Nagpur, a city with such a history, never saw riots, and now, in the constituency of our Maharashtra Chief Minister, riots are happening." Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) worked at night in areas damaged by the Russian attack on Odesa and Zaporizhia. Odesa: The emergency response team of the Ukrainian Red Cross in the Odesa region worked at the site of the attack. Volunteers provided first aid [prior to medical] and psychological first aid to the victims, as well as comprehensive support to the first responders from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, URCS said on Facebook Friday. The emergency response team of the Ukrainian Red Cross in Zaporizhia region provided first aid to the victims at the site of the attack. Two of the injured were handed over to paramedics, and one more person was transported to hospital. Psychological first aid was provided to 15 people. As reported, as a result of a massive attack by Russian drones on Thursday evening, three people were injured in Odesa, including a minor girl, and there was damage to civilian infrastructure, including a residential high-rise building, a shopping center, and shops. Powerful fires broke out in three locations. Due to the enemy attack, there are local emergency power outages in Prymorsky, Peresypsky, and Kyivsky districts of Odesa. According to the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Zaporizhia region, six people were injured in Zaporizhia due to Russian air bombs, including a 4-year-old child. The enemy hit the private sector and a summer cottage cooperative with cluster bombs. Rescuers extinguished the fires of cars and residential buildings. The total area of the fires was 700 square meters. Khartoum, March 21 : At least 10 military personnel and journalists were killed in a drone attack targeting a military and media gathering inside the Republican Palace in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, according to a military source. "A suicide drone attacked the outer courtyard of the palace, resulting in the death of about 10 military personnel and journalists," the military source told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity. An eyewitness said the drone launched about two projectiles into the outer courtyard of the palace, when "soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) were celebrating the takeover of the palace, and a Sudan TV team was covering the event." Another eyewitness told Xinhua that among the casualties were two military media officers, several soldiers from the SAF's moral guidance division, and three members of the official Sudan TV, expecting the death toll to exceed 10. The incident came after the SAF reportedly regained control of the Republican Palace, or the presidential palace, on Friday, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023. Later on Friday, the RSF vowed in a statement that the battle for the palace is "not over yet," stressing its forces remain in the vicinity and continue to fight. The RSF also claimed it has carried out a military operation inside the palace, killing 89 army personnel and destroying various military vehicles. Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed almost 30,000 lives, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring group cited by the United Nations. The conflict has also displaced more than 15 million people, both inside and outside Sudan, according to estimates by the International Organisation for Migration. Mogadishu, March 21 : The United Nations marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Friday by reaffirming its support and commitment to promoting equality, dignity and respect for all in Somalia. James Swan, acting special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, said racial discrimination has no place in any society since it undermines peace, security, justice, and social progress. "It is a violation of human rights that tears at individuals and cuts the social fabric of society, and we must all unite and work together to eradicate it," Swan said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The UN envoy said this year's observance also marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which remains a cornerstone in the global fight against racial discrimination and the promotion of equality. "As the first of the UN's core international human rights treaties, ICERD set the stage for future human rights advancements, Xinhua news agency reported. Its commitment to eliminating racial discrimination and promoting equality fosters the promotion of global understanding and unity free from racial segregation," the statement said. In Somalia, the UN works with the government, civil society organizations, and international partners to promote an inclusive and respectful society where everyone can thrive, feel safe, and express themselves freely, thus contributing meaningfully to the country's success, added Swan. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21, the day in 1960 when police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws." Chandigarh, March 21 : Calling it AAP's deep-rooted conspiracy to humiliate farmers in Punjab, state BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Friday said it was at the behest of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that the state was held to ransom and allowed to bleed financially and economically for 400 days for a sit-in protest. "The Chief Minister is solely responsible for pushing Punjab down the path of economic instability by first propping up a set of so-called fake farm leaders whose only aim was to settle their inflated egos and they had no concern for farmer welfare," Jakhar told the media here. He questioned the government that "if Shambhu and Khanauri border could be vacated yesterday without a semblance of protest by such farm leaders, why let Punjab bleed and suffer loss of lives and revenue for 400 days". "It was Bhagwant Mann who forced farmers to first sit on dharna when it suited AAP during Lok Sabha elections, and now it is the same Bhagwant Mann who is trying to take credit for vacating Shambhu and Khanauri to garner votes ahead of Ludhiana bypoll," Jakhar said, adding the Chief Minister is directly responsible for loss of precious lives, revenue and jobs during the blockade for instigating farmers. "It was never a fight to safeguard farmer rights but an one-upmanship that they made innocent farmers a pawn in their political battles was evident from day one," the leader said, referring to the tragic death of young Shubhkaran Singh and events post that incident. On being asked the cause for the eviction of farmers from Haryana border, Jakhar said Arvind Kejriwal's desperation for Ludhiana has forced state government's hand, and now they have asked so-called farmer leaders who were in collusion with AAP since day one to vacate Shambhu and Khanauri. Appealing to Ludhiana voters, Jakhar cautioned them to remain vigilant and not fall prey to the industry propaganda of Kejriwal. Moscow, March 21 : The Russian Defence Ministry on Friday said Ukrainian forces have "deliberately blown up the Sudzha gas metering station" as they retreated from Russia's western Kursk region. The facility, located several hundred metres from the Ukrainian border, has been under Ukrainian control since August 2024, the ministry said. Russia has recently regained control over Sudzha. The Investigative Committee of Russia announced Friday that it has launched a criminal investigation into the explosion at the station. The committee said that Ukrainian servicemen deliberately detonated the facility on Thursday, causing significant damage. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook that Russia's claims regarding Ukraine's shelling of the station are "groundless," and the station has been "repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves." The station was a major entry point for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine until it ceased operations on January 1, following the expiration of a five-year transportation agreement, Xinhua news agency reported. On Thursday, Russia's foreign ministry said that Ukraine had breached a proposed 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure by striking a Russian oil depot. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Russia's Channel One that the United States, which had proposed the ceasefire, was responsible for holding Ukraine accountable for its actions. Her comments came after a Ukrainian drone attack ignited a fire at an oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya in Russia's southern Krasnodar region. A statement released by local authorities on Thursday evening noted that efforts to contain the fire were ongoing. US President Donald Trump held separate phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week. According to White House statements, Trump and Putin agreed that "the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire," while Trump and Zelensky "agreed on a partial ceasefire against energy." The Ukrainian side also accused Russia of violating its pledges. Hours after Putin's phone call with Trump, Zelensky said there had been "hits, specifically on civilian infrastructure," including a hospital in Sumy. Late on Thursday, Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on Ukraine's Odesa, injuring three people and damaging an apartment building and a shopping center, according to the regional governor. Dhaka, March 21 : The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) continues to witness factional clashes leading to the death of several of its party leaders and workers, a recent data has revealed while highlighting the degrading law and order situation in the country since the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus came to power in August 2024. "Since the fall of the Awami League regime in August last year, the BNP has been plagued by clashes between party factions, leading to the deaths of at least 43 leaders and activists," a report in Bangladesh's leading newspaper 'The Daily Star' cited on Friday. "At least 2000 BNP men were injured in around 200 incidents in 50 districts, according to an analysis of monthly reports of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and The Daily Star's findings from media reports," it added. The data reveals that nine BNP men were killed in August, 11 in September, one in October, six in November, six in December, three in January, three in February, and four until March 19. Nearly 493 party workers were injured in December and 491 in September 2024. Clashes were reported at least 41 times in December and January. Earlier this week, supporters of former BNP Parliamentarian Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury and Chittagong district north BNP Convener Golam Akbar Khondokar clashed, leaving several people injured. On Wednesday, a leader of the student wing of the party, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) died and several other people were injured following a clash between two groups in the Bhola district of Bangladesh. In a similar incident, on Tuesday, at least 11 people were injured in a clash between two BNP factions over holding Iftar gatherings in the Sirajganj district of Bangladesh, media outlet UNB reported. The infighting within the BNP has intensified since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina government as different groups continue to engage in show of strength. The law enforcers and party insiders said that the clashes are taking place due to rivalries over supremacy and extortion money. The party insiders also stated that the recent spate of internal feuds stems from the confidence that the BNP will come to power winning the next general election and opportunist groups are now desperate to grab power. Khaleda Zia's BNP worked hand in glove with the student leaders and Muhammad Yunus to overthrow the democratically-elected government of Awami League, emerging as the largest political party in Bangladesh after the fall of arch-rival Hasina. However, since then, deep fissures have appeared within the BNP, leaving several of its top leaders dead. Bhopal, March 21 : A minor boy has been arrested under the POCSO Act in Shujalpur of Shajapur district, Madhya Pradesh, following allegations of molestation involving another minor at a cafe. The police, under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and other provisions of BNS (Bhartiya Nyay Samhita) pertaining to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled tribes, have taken action. His father is also co-accused in the matter. The accused boy, belonging to a minority community, was presented in court on Friday. Shajapur Superintendent of Police Yashpal Singh Rajput confirmed that an FIR has been filed in connection with the incident. However, in such a case, a special court decides about the age and accordingly, the case moves further under POCSO or Juvenile Justice Act. Shujalpur City Police Station in-charge, Praveen Pathak, told IANS that the minor girl is from Rajgarh district, while the boy resides in Shujalpur. The girl's brother alleged that the boy had taken photos with her during a meeting in Sarangpur, approximately 40 km from Shujalpur. When the girl attempted to end their friendship, the boy allegedly threatened to make the photos public. The brother also claimed that the boy's father issued threats when he tried to mediate. On March 20, when the boy allegedly called the girl and threatened to release photos he had previously taken with her unless she agreed to meet him in Shujalpur. Upon her arrival, he persuaded her to accompany him to a nearby cafe. There, despite her repeated requests to delete the photos, he allegedly molested her. Her cries for help attracted the attention of bystanders, who intervened. During this commotion, a video was reportedly recorded, and the boy fled the scene. Subsequently, the purported video surfaced, raising further issues. The purported video footage, reportedly filmed at the cafe, showing unidentified individuals placing slippers on the boy's head and coercing him to chant slogans such as "Love Jihad Paap hai, Hindu Sangthan Humara Baap Hai" (translated as "Love Jihad is a sin, Hindu organisations are our father"). "The boy has been apprehended and produced in court on Friday." When questioned about action against those seen in the video humiliating the boy, Pathak explained, "We are investigating the matter. First, we need to verify the video's authenticity and identify those involved in the assault." He further said: "No complaint, however, has been received against the individuals in the footage." New Delhi, March 21 : The Centre has incurred a total expenditure of Rs. 1.78 lakh crore on water conservation and water harvesting works being built through the rural job scheme being implemented under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), the Parliament was informed on Friday. In the financial year 2024-25, a total of 4.99 lakh water conservation and water harvesting works have been completed, with an expenditure of Rs 17,889.52 crore, Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. Water conservation and water harvesting structures have been constructed under the scheme to augment and improve groundwater. The structures include underground dykes, earthen dams, stop dams, check dams and rooftop rainwater harvesting structures in government or panchayat buildings with a special focus on recharging groundwater, including drinking water sources, the minister said. As on March 18, 2025, a total of 7.61 lakh water conservation and water harvesting works are currently ongoing under the scheme, while 62.89 lakh works have been completed since inception, he said. Afforestation: tree plantation and horticulture plantation in common and forest lands, road margins, canal bunds, tank foreshore and coastal belts have also been undertaken under the rural employment scheme, the minister pointed out. As on March 18, 2025, a total of 28.48 lakh plantation works are currently ongoing under the MNREGA while 89.24 lakh works have been completed since the inception of the scheme. The total expenditure incurred on these works amounts to Rs 72,996.52 crore. In the financial year 2024-25, a total of 7.96 lakh plantation works have been completed with an expenditure of Rs. 7762.59 crore, the minister said. Rural sanitation-related works, such as individual household latrines, school toilet units, and Anganwadi toilets, either independently or in convergence with schemes of other government departments and unskilled wage component for the construction of Community Sanitary Complexes in convergence with Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) to achieve aopen defecation freea status and solid and liquid waste management as per prescribed have also been carried out under the scheme. As on March 18 this year, a total of 1.68 lakh community rural sanitation works are currently ongoing under the Scheme, while 66.20 lakh works have been completed since the inception of the scheme. The total expenditure incurred on these works stands at Rs 11,452.32 crore. In the financial year 2024-25, a total of 1.06 lakh community rural sanitation works have been completed, with an expenditure of Rs 768.63 crore, the minister said. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, provides for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Ministry mandates the provision of an additional 50 days of wage employment (beyond the stipulated 100 days) to every scheduled tribe household in a forest area, provided that these households have no other private property except for the land rights provided under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. In addition to this, there is a provision for up to an additional 50 days of wage employment in a financial year in drought/natural calamity-affected notified rural areas, Paswan added. Hyderabad, March 21 : A delegation from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by its Working President K.T. Rama Rao, has departed for Chennai to attend a conference of southern states scheduled on Saturday to discuss the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. The party said Rama Rao would address the current delimitation policy, highlighting the losses it has caused and will continue to cause to southern states, while also proposing measures to rectify this injustice. Under his leadership, a team comprising several senior BRS party leaders will participate in the conference convened by DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. The meeting, to be chaired by Stalin, will focus on the contentious issue of delimitation and its potential to undermine the parliamentary representation of South Indian states. KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, has warned that the current delimitation policy weakens the representation of southern states, severely impacting these states that play a crucial role in the countryas economic development. The BRS, which has consistently opposed this policy from the outset, will elaborate on its stance during Saturdayas meeting. KTR emphasised that the BRS has been at the forefront of identifying and raising awareness about the injustice faced by southern states, consistently informing the public and leading the fight on this issue. He expressed hope that, following Saturdayas conference, all southern states would unite and stand together for the future of their people, who have paved the way for the nationas progress. The BRS leadership believes that this conference will strengthen the unity of southern states and send a strong message of opposition to the central government regarding the proposed delimitation policy. A delegation of DMK leaders had met KTR in Hyderabad on March 13 to invite the party for the March 22 meeting. KTR slammed the Central governmentas approach to delimitation, which is set to be based on population figures from the latest census. He argued that this move would disproportionately penalise states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, which have successfully adhered to the Centreas family planning initiatives over the decades. Mumbai, March 21 : Power couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas never miss a chance to hype each other on social media. PeeCee compiled a special social media post after witnessing husband's Broadway musical "The Last Five Years". Sharing a couple of glimpses from her night out, the diva dropped an appreciation post for "The Last Five Years" team. Calling the show 'special', Priyanka wrote, "I still cannot get over what I saw last night. This show is so special in such incredible ways, and they're both so talented...Who else has seen the previews yet? @thelastfiveyears on #broadway". Before this, PeeCee used social media to invite fans to join her for the premiere of "The Last Five Years." An excited Priyanka asked netizens, 'Who is going with me?' in the caption. Additionally, as part of the promotion, Nick and Adrienne Warren also appeared on 'The Tonight Show' to talk about their next. Posting photographs from the episode on his official IG, Nick shared, "Last night on @fallontonight for @thelastfiveyears - 4 day countdown until performances start!." Last month, Priyanka took her 'first theatre trip' to see Nick's Broadway production "The Last Five Years." The couple was joined by their daughter Malti. Nick shared some photos from their trip on social media. In one of the photos, little Malti can be seen pointing towards a poster of Nick. The other images flaunted the posters and hoardings of the show outside the theatre. "Three week countdown until @thelastfiveyears opens! So special having the fam with me for our first trip to the theatre today (red heart emoji) @priyankachopra @thelastfiveyears", Nick captioned the post. In the meantime, Priyanka is currently busy with SS Rajamouli's "SSMB29", alongside Mahesh Babu. Touted to be a global adventure set across exotic locations, the project is being shot in Odisha. "SSMB29" will mark Priyanka's return to Telugu cinema after a long gap of 23 years. She last appeared in P Ravi Shankar's 2002 romantic entertainer "Apuroopam". Visakhapatnam, March 21 : The NIA special court in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam on Friday sentenced three men convicted in a fake currency case to rigorous imprisonment for seven years. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), accused Firoj Saikh, Tajamul Saikh and Enamul Haque have been sentenced seven years rigorous imprisonment in the 2018 case relating to seizure of fake Indian currency notes having a face value of Rs 10.20 lakh. The seizure was made from two accused Md. Mahaboob Baig alias Azhar Baig and Syed Imran, who were travelling on the Howrah-Hyderabad East Coast Express. Their interrogation revealed the involvement of Firoj Saikh, Tajamul Saikh, and Enamul Haque. The NIA investigations revealed all five accused to be involved in a large-scale racket of smuggling of counterfeit currency. Mahaboob Baig and Syed Imran were convicted earlier, on June 26, 2019, and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for their role in the conspiracy. In its judgment on Friday against the other three, the NIA Special Court sentenced Firoz Saikh and Enamul Haque each to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 under Section 489-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They will have to suffer an additional time of two and a half years in jail in case of default in fine payment. Tajamul Saikh has also been awarded a similar sentence under Section 489-B IPC. In addition, he has also been sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 (with an additional prison term of 2 years in case of default in fine payment ) under Section 120-B IPC. He has also been convicted under Sections 201 and 204 of IPC and has been sentenced to two years imprisonment with Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 fine respectively. He will have to undergo an additional jail term of six months in case of default in fine payment. All these sentences will run concurrently. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/oksenlisovyi Over the past two years, 834 schools that were damaged as a result of Russian attacks, have been restored and repaired, said Ukrainian Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovy. "Some 164,000 children returned to in-person learning under the Offline School policy. Some 834 schools, that were damaged by Russian attacks, were restored and repaired. UAH 13.7 billion was allocated for the construction of underground schools," Lisovy wrote on Facebook in a report on the results of two years as minister. He also said that during this time, more than 500 school buses have been purchased, and in 2025, another UAH 1.6 billion has been allocated for these needs. "Over the past two years, teachers' salaries have increased by an average of 15%. Some 1.6 million students eat for free at school," he added. Lisovy also said that during this time, 548 preschool education institutions damaged as a result of Russian aggression were repaired, and 293 shelters in kindergartens were renovated and equipped together with international partners. "Ukrainian schools received 272,416 digital devices as part of the Device Coalition project. Some 383 digital learning centers were opened in communities most affected by the war," he added. Mumbai, March 21 : NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule on Friday took strong objection to the Maharashtra School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse's announcement for implementing the CBSE pattern from the academic year 2025-26 for Class 1 in government schools, saying that it will be fatal to the classical language Marathi, culture, and tradition and urged the decision be reconsidered as it has been made without taking the stakeholders into confidence. Mumbai, March 21 (IANS) NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule on Friday took strong objection to the Maharashtra School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuseas announcement for implementing the CBSE pattern from the academic year 2025-26 for Class 1 in government schools, saying that it will be fatal to the classical language Marathi, culture, and tradition and urged the decision be reconsidered as it has been made without taking the stakeholders into confidence. "Maharashtra has a very bright educational tradition. But it is a very regrettable matter that the government has decided to ignore it and follow other boards. It seems that the state government has planned to completely close the state's SSC board through this. I fear whether this decision will erase the identity of our Maharashtra which has a rich tradition of education. This decision will be fatal to the classical language Marathi, culture, and tradition. I humbly request the state government to please reconsider this decision," said Sule in a letter to the Minister. "Setting aside the stateas rich tradition in education and heading toward the imitation of other boards is deeply distressing. This decision to introduce the curriculum of another board in such a manner seems to suggest that the real objective is to completely shut down the SSC Board, which symbolises the identity of our state. Maharashtra has a grand tradition of saints and social reformers. The saints carried out the work of public education through their devotional poetry and discourses. In such a context, when implementing another boardas curriculum, there is a concern whether our Marathi language, which has been granted the status of a classical language, will be accorded the respect it deserves. The decision is detrimental to the glorious tradition of Marathi literature, art, and culture, and this is truly a painful matter," she contended. The NCP-SP lawmaker said that there are still many issues that need to be addressed to ensure quality education - adequate physical infrastructure, a sufficient number of teachers, the burden of non-teaching work, and the unresolved problems of teachers. "It is extremely shameful that teachers are being driven to suicide due to these unresolved issues. Even regarding the ongoing examination schedule, various organisations and education experts have strongly opposed it and pointed out several technical flaws. Yet the Education Department seems to be adamant about pushing its own narrative. Because of this, there are disruptions in the travel plans of parents who have migrated and wish to return to their native places, leading to significant financial burdens and additional inconvenience for them," she said. According to the School Code/MEPS Act, the complete responsibility, authority, and management of student assessment in private schools lies with the school head or the principal. However, without consulting or taking into confidence those who hold this authority, government officials are attempting to strip principals of their rightful powers without any discussion, she said. Sule claimed there is a growing tendency within the government to act arbitrarily - without obtaining approval from any competent authority, and bypassing constitutional provisions, laws, and rules. Transferring responsibilities such as curriculum development, textbooks, and teacher training from the Board to the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) without involving the legislature is the height of this arbitrariness. Following this, there have been repeated instances of encroaching upon the rights of others, she alleged. In reality, any changes made must be submitted for approval to the competent authorities, but this process is being ignored. By giving the SCERT all the powers, both the Board and Balbharati have been sidelined. "This clearly shows that such an important decision regarding education has been made without consulting experts and scholars in the education field," Sule alleged. Bengaluru, March 21 : Karnataka BJP has slammed the Congress-led government's move to suspend 18 of its MLAs, saying that the party MLAs were suspended for demanding justice in the honey trap case involving the Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna. The suspension of MLAs who demanded justice is condemnable. This reflects the Congress party's malicious intent, said Opposition Leader R. Ashoka, expressing his outrage. Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, he stated that when Minister Rajanna mentioned the honey trap scandal inside the Assembly, neither the Chief Minister nor other Congress ministers found it obscene and wrong. In the past, Congress leaders had created an uproar over legislators looking at mobile phones, but now they do not consider the honey trap scandal obscene. "We have demanded a judicial inquiry to uphold the dignity of the Assembly. Even when it was stated that the honey trap scandal involved leaders from their own party, the government remained silent," he alleged. BJP MLAs have been fighting for justice. "How is it justifiable for Speaker U.T. Khader to attack them with a mace? With what face do the ministers come to the Assembly? Suspending 18 MLAs is unjust. We did not commit any wrongdoing against the Speaker; we only demanded justice. We did not expect this from the Speaker. This is Congress' malicious policy, and they are willing to go to any extent," he said. "We strongly condemn the suspension of the MLAs. This is a dishonour to the Assembly. Is demanding a judicial inquiry considered hooliganism? The Speaker is acting like an agent of the Congress party," he remarked. BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra has stated that the decision of the Speaker to suspend 18 BJP MLAs is an anti-democratic move. Speaking to the media on Friday, he said that senior minister Rajanna stood inside the Assembly and admitted that he had fallen victim to a honey trap, further claiming that over 48 politicians across the state and country had been trapped similarly. It was the responsibility of the Chief Minister, as the leader of the House, to ensure the minister's protection. Likewise, the Speaker had a duty to safeguard the dignity of the Assembly, he added. He stated that all 224 MLAs have now been tainted by this issue. "The Speaker, who is in a position to protect these 224 MLAs, has instead thrown us out when we, as the opposition, stood up for justice. This is completely unacceptable," he said. Vijayendra criticised the Chief Minister for failing to take responsibility for protecting his ministers. "It was your duty to safeguard them. Instead, when we protested for their protection, you expelled our MLAs from the Assembly. This is not acceptable," he objected. He further alleged that the dignity of the legislators has been put up for sale in front of the nation. "Congress is drunk with power. The party is filled with corruption, and the fight for the Chief Minister's position has led to ministers and MLAs being thrown onto the streets by their own government," he criticised. He questioned whether the Chief Minister had the courage to protect Dalit and Scheduled Caste ministers, saying, "When you were the Chief Minister earlier, Muslim rioters set fire to the house of Dalit MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy. However, at that time, you did not come forward to protect him." The BJP leader claimed that history was repeating itself and that the government had no concern for Dalits or Scheduled Caste communities. "The Chief Minister is only focused on appeasing Muslims. If he cannot protect legislators and ministers in the Assembly, should he continue to remain in his position?" he questioned. He further demanded an investigation into the events in the Assembly, asking, "Who passed the note yesterday? Let there be a full inquiry." The BJP and JD(S) strongly condemned this "anti-democratic move" and announced that they would approach the Governor regarding the matter. Vijayendra accused the Chief Minister of failing to protect his own ministers, calling it a murder of democracy. "The Chief Minister's actions are questionable. The honey trap controversy involving Karnataka's ministers has become a topic of national debate," he said. He pointed out that Minister Satish Jarkiholi himself had acknowledged that the scandal was real. "The Chief Minister should have ordered the disclosure of the names of the MLAs and ministers involved in the honey trap. He should have shown the courage to initiate an investigation. But he has failed to do so," Vijayendra challenged. In a major development, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for six months from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly with immediate effect, on charges of showing disrespect to the Speaker's Chair on Friday. The suspension came following the disruption of the proceedings while staging a protest in the Well of the House while demanding a judicial or CBI probe into the alleged honey trap attempt involving Minister for Cooperation, K.N. Rajanna. New Delhi, March 21 : In an effort to combat telecom fraud, the government on Friday said it has disconnected more than 3.4 crore mobile phones while blocking 3.19 lakh IMEI numbers to date through the Sanchar Saathi portal. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said that with the help of AI and Big Data, it also disengaged 16.97 lakh WhatsApp accounts. Over 20,000 bulk SMS senders were also blacklisted as part of DoT's aSanchar Saathi initiative, said Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Through the Sanchar Saathi portal, the government facilitates citizens to report suspected fraud communications on Chakshu facility. DoT then carries out several analysis and takes action on such telecom resources that have been found linked to misuse, said the minister. Rather than acting on individual reported suspected fraud communications, DoT uses the crowd sourced data to carry out analysis and to zero down on misuse of telecom resources. The Department uses AI based tool and big data analysis to identify suspected mobile connections taken on fake documents. Further, DoT and telecom service providers (TSPs) have devised a system for near real time identification and blocking of incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers that appear to be originating from India, said the minister. Meanwhile, telecom service providers have blacklisted 1,150 entities/individuals and disconnected more than 18.8 lakh resources. The actions led to a significant reduction in the complaints against unregistered telemarketers (UTMs) -- from 1,89,419 in August 2024 to 1,34,821 in January 2025. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) amended the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018 on February 12. A customer can now make a complaint about spam/unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) within seven days of receiving spam as compared to earlier three-day time limit. The time limit for taking action by the access providers against the UCC from unregistered senders has been reduced from 30 days to 5 days, according to the amendments. To ensure prompt action against the senders of UCC, the criterion for taking action against them has been revised and made more stringent. a"IANS na/ Naypyidaw, March 21 : The Lashio residents of Myanmar, who were displaced by fighting between the Junta and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), have called on China to stop interfering in the country's internal affairs. The locals are holding a 'silent protest' against the upcoming China-brokered talks to be held between the Junta and MNDAA, distributing posters to highlight Beijing's growing interference in the country's affairs. "Lashio residents do not want the rebels to surrender their town to the regime. The upcoming talks are expected to focus primarily on Lashio. People here don't want to live under the military regime again. Under the MNDAA administration, they feel safe and free. That's why they want the troops to stay," Myanmar's leading media outlet Irrawaddy quoted a protester as saying. "We are calling on China, as a foreign country, to respect the Myanmar people's sovereignty. China's support for the Junta only harms the people. We demand that the Chinese government stop assisting the military regime," said another protestor. The residents of the region fled in large numbers after the MNDAA and allied forces launched their assault in July last year. Later, the MNDAA installed its administration in Lashio, restoring telecommunications, overseeing reconstruction work and providing healthcare services. However, China closed borders with MNDAA-controlled territory and arrested its leader to pressure the ethnic army to stop fighting the regime, the local media reported. In January, the ethnic army signed a truce with the regime during the seventh round of China-brokered talks in Kunming according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China's influence in the region has been growing in Myanmar due its proximity with the military Junta. Earlier this month, a top expert on security dynamics in Southeast Asia, especially in and around Myanmar, also voiced her concerns over growing Chinese assertiveness in the region. Miemie Winn Byrd, a security analyst from Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies (APCSS), stated that the presence of Chinese security companies in Myanmar under the military Junta's private security laws poses a major threat of turning the country into a "client state". "These Chinese firms, therefore, can manipulate both political and economic spheres of Myanmar, and further, the sovereignty of the country can be compromised," Byrd told Irrawaddy in an extensive interview. Accusing the current regime of trading with Chinese companies for a short-term gain, Byrd mentioned that Myanmar's geographical location offers China an alternative to their Malacca dilemma. "80 per cent of China's oil imports pass through the Malacca Strait and that makes them vulnerable in times of war. So, they are trying to find an alternative way to bypass the Malacca Strait and Myanmar is the only solution to their problem. Increasing footprints in Myanmar would in turn help them to dominate the Indo-Pacific," the analyst detailed. Mumbai, March 21 : The Maharashtra government will construct a new "Maha Archives Building" on a 6,691 sqm plot in Mumbai's Bandra East, the Assembly was informed on Friday. Mumbai, March 21 (IANS) The Maharashtra government will construct a new "Maha Archives Building" on a 6,691 sqm plot in Mumbai's Bandra East, the Assembly was informed on Friday. "To ensure the safekeeping of this invaluable national treasure, the new Maha Archives Building will be constructed at the Directorate's Bandra (East) 6,691 square metre premises. The state-of-the-art facility will feature temperature and humidity-controlled archival chambers, an independent restoration section, a reprography division, a modern research centre for historians from India and abroad and a dedicated exhibition gallery," Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar told the house. Shelar emphasised the vital role of the Directorate of Archives, which operates under the Cultural Affairs Department. Established in 1821, the Directorate is headquartered in Mumbai and houses approximately 10.5 crore (105 million) historical documents out of a total of 17.5 crore (175 million) preserved by the department. Since 1889, these valuable records have been maintained at Sir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney Building, Elphinstone College. However, with time, the need for modern preservation techniques and increased storage capacity has grown. Limited space poses challenges in adopting advanced conservation methods and accepting additional historical records, said the minister. The minister, on March 18, had announced that Maharashtra will soon witness the establishment of a Grand State Cultural Centre and State Museum in Mumbai. "Maharashtra has a glorious cultural legacy and it is the duty of the state government to preserve and nurture it. In line with this vision, a State Cultural Centre and State Museum will be set up in the state's capital Mumbai. The cultural centre will feature a grand auditorium, dedicated art galleries and a research centre, making it a crucial link for national and international cultural collaborations. It will not only attract domestic and foreign tourists but will also provide a prestigious stage for artists from across the globe," he said. "The State Museum will play a pivotal role in safeguarding Maharashtra's ancient treasures, including artefacts unearthed through archaeological excavations, rare paintings, historical relics, sculptures, inscriptions, ancient manuscripts, traditional textiles, and weaponry. By preserving these invaluable pieces of history, the museum will serve as a bridge connecting future generations to the rich legacy of Maharashtra," he said. New Delhi, March 21 : In the backdrop of the alleged cash at home episode involving a Delhi High Court judge, former Solicitor General of India and senior advocate Harish Salve on Friday expressed shock over the claims. He told IANS that insinuations like these shake the public's faith in judiciary. At the same time, he called the latest episode involving Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court a wake-up call that the system for judicial appointment that "we have today is dysfunctional". Here are some excerpts of the interview: Allegations shake my and public faith in judiciary: Harish Salve IANS: Do you think the allegations related to cash at home of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court have shaken public faith in judiciary? Harish Salve: I was devastated when I read this news. If it shakes my faith in the judiciary, it surely shakes the common man's faith in the judiciary. IANS: Does the Collegium's decision to repatriate Justice Varma to Allahabad High Court add fuel to fire about this conspiracy? Harish Salve: The Supreme Court, I believe, has clarified that the transfer had nothing to do with this incident. Okay. It may be true, may not be true, but it's for the public. In the face of all that we have swallowed since morning, it's hard to believe. I think the only way forward now is his transfer should be suspended, and inquiry ordered. IANS: Should he stay in Delhi High Court and continue to function? Harish Salve: I'm sure he will take a few days off. And after taking a few days off becausea it's not a big deal. And the Supreme Court should order an inquiry, and I am making a radical suggestion. The Supreme Court should have a committee of three headed by a judge and two eminent outsiders. Conduct an inquiry into it... it's a very basic fact. IANS: What should be the course of action, if the allegations turn out to be true? Harish Salve: Was any money recovered from his house? The fire chief says there was no money recovered. If money was indeed recovered from his house, then the committee will find him guilty... and then the then the law of the land will take its course. But if the allegations are not true, then a full scale criminal investigation into who planted these reports is required. IANS: Do you think if the allegations are found true, would the situation call for something like an impeachment motion? Harish Salve: Not just impeachment. I'm sure he will resign if he's indicted by independent inquiry. You're saying there are a lot of loopholes, lot of grey areas? Not grey. There's nothing grey. It's all black right now. On the one hand, the newspapers wake you up to the ugliest story in my four and a half decades of the legal profession. I don't think I've ever heard such an ugly story of cash being recovered from a high court judge's house. Let me tell you, justice Verma is one of the senior most judges. The judge I've usually admired always. And I was devastated when I read this news. So, if it shakes my faith in the judiciary, it surely shakes the common man's faith in the judiciary. IANS: So, will this again revive this debate about judicial primacy in judgesa appointment? Harish Salve: Absolutely. This incidents like this are a wake-up call that the system which we have today is dysfunctional. It is not equal to the task we are ready we are living in very turbulent and different times. Today, this is not the 60s, 70s and 80s where by the time news came out, took weeks and weeks and weeks. Today, it is the age of social media. It's taken on video, released in fifteen minutes. The world knows what happened in your house fifteen minutes ago. Yeah. Five minutes ago, two minutes ago. So, you know, it's very, very different, and then news goes viral. So we have to cope. We have to live with these times. IANS: Do you see a need for change in the system? Harish Salve: Absolutely. And we need a more resolute system, a more robust system to deal with all this. And today, when all institutions in the world, it's not just India, Donald Trump said, I will not listen to judiciary. All over the world, institutions are under great amount of stress because of the pulls and pressures of the world. I think the judiciary is very a co-equal institution in democracy. Can we live without a functioning judiciary? We can't. And if we can't live without a functioning judiciary, we have to strengthen it. IANS: Does this episode, at least, raise questions that there are no inbuilt checks within the Collegium System for judicial appointments? Harish Salve: It's a reminder that we need to restart the discussion. And I see the 500 people whom we have all voted to office have to put aside their political differences. This is one area on which they have to all sit down together, put their heads together, the collective wisdom of the 500 people we have sent to Parliament need to come up with a structure. This is an existential crisis. You have to save this institution. IANS: The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has been saying they don't want Justice Varma to be repatriated to that court. What do you say on this? Harish Salve: If the allegations are true, transfer is the wrong thing to do. If he is not fit to be a judge in the Delhi High Court, how is he fit to be in Allahabad? Don't treat certain courts like dustbinsa there's a problem here. We move the person there. See, it's different where sometimes somebody has a relative practising in the court. Then to clear a public perception, you transfer a judge. That's different. That is no aspersion on the judge. It is just, living up to the principle that justice must not only be done, it must appear to be done. IANS: And what about the now-dropped proposal to set up a National Judicial Appointment Commission for judicial appointments that could replace the Collegium system? The proposal was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2014. Harish Salve: There were certain minor criticisms. It can be repaired. What the Supreme Court did is lay down two principles, which I don't accept at all. The Supreme Court said that the judiciary can be independent only if judges are appointed by judges. I don't believe that. Justice J.S. Verma who created the Collegium system in 1993 never said ajudges should select judgesa in the context of executive versus judiciary. He never said that in that context. And justice Verma went public saying, if I see the way the Collegium system is working, I regret my judgment. The second proposition is that the law minister can never be on a committee for appointment of judges. I don't agree. The executive is a vital stakeholder in democracy. It's one thing to say the government cannot have a say in who will be a judge, it's another, to say that it's a flaw to have the law minister as a person on a committee. IANS: What will be your response if the allegations in this cash in home episode are not proved? Harish Salve: What a tragedy. If this allegation is false, then a very fine judge's image is being tarnished. And if that is not a good enough wake up call, I don't know what else will be. I meana I would call for very stringent action. --IANS jk-rch/pgh New Delhi, March 21 : Former Solicitor General of India and senior advocate Harish Salve on Friday said it would be a tragedy if the episode of the alleged recovery of cash from a Delhi High Court judge's home turns out to be false. "What a tragedy. If this allegation is false, then a very fine judge's image is immediately tarnished," said Salve, calling Justice Yashwant Varma, who is at the centre of the 'cash at home' controversy, a professional whom he adores. "Justice Varma is one of the senior-most judges. The judge I have always admired. And I was devastated when I read this report," he said during an interview with IANS. Salve pointed out that the Delhi fire chief Atul Garg has said there was no recovery of cash by firemen from the judge's bungalow after a fire that was reported on the premises on March 14. He called it an "odd and murky" situation. Calling Justice Varma a true professional, Salve said, "The only way forward now is that his transfer should be suspended and an inquiry ordered." Asked if Justice Varma should be allowed to hold court, pending inquiry, he said, "I am sure he will take a few days off and after that Supreme Court should order an inquiry into the fact if any money was recovered from his house." He suggested a three-member panel inquiry panel may include a judge and two other members. Calling it the ugliest allegation against the judiciary that he has come across during his four and a half decades in the legal profession, Salve said, "I don't think I've ever heard such an ugly story of cash being recovered from a high court judge's house." "Let me tell you, Justice Varma is one of the senior-most judges. The judge I've admired always. And I was devastated when I read this news. So this if it shakes my faith in the judiciary, it surely shakes the common man's faith in the judiciary," he said. New Delhi, March 21 : In the backdrop of the alleged cash at home episode involving a Delhi High Court judge, former Solicitor General of India and senior advocate Harish Salve on Friday expressed shock over the claims. He told IANS that insinuations like these shake the public's faith in judiciary. At the same time, he called the latest episode involving Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court a wake-up call that the system for judicial appointment that "we have today is dysfunctional". Here are some excerpts of the interview: IANS: Do you think the allegations related to cash at home of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court have shaken public faith in judiciary? Harish Salve: I was devastated when I read this news. If it shakes my faith in the judiciary, it surely shakes the common man's faith in the judiciary. IANS: Does the Collegium's decision to repatriate Justice Varma to Allahabad High Court add fuel to fire about this conspiracy? Harish Salve: The Supreme Court, I believe, has clarified that the transfer had nothing to do with this incident. Okay. It may be true, may not be true, but it's for the public. In the face of all that we have swallowed since morning, it's hard to believe. I think the only way forward now is his transfer should be suspended, and inquiry ordered. IANS: Should he stay in Delhi High Court and continue to function? Harish Salve: I'm sure he will take a few days off. And after taking a few days off becausea it's not a big deal. And the Supreme Court should order an inquiry, and I am making a radical suggestion. The Supreme Court should have a committee of three headed by a judge and two eminent outsiders. Conduct an inquiry into it... it's a very basic fact. IANS: What should be the course of action, if the allegations turn out to be true? Harish Salve: Was any money recovered from his house? The fire chief says there was no money recovered. If money was indeed recovered from his house, then the committee will find him guilty... and then the then the law of the land will take its course. But if the allegations are not true, then a full scale criminal investigation into who planted these reports is required. IANS: Do you think if the allegations are found true, would the situation call for something like an impeachment motion? Harish Salve: Not just impeachment. I'm sure he will resign if he's indicted by independent inquiry. You're saying there are a lot of loopholes, lot of grey areas? Not grey. There's nothing grey. It's all black right now. On the one hand, the newspapers wake you up to the ugliest story in my four and a half decades of the legal profession. I don't think I've ever heard such an ugly story of cash being recovered from a high court judge's house. Let me tell you, justice Verma is one of the senior most judges. The judge I've usually admired always. And I was devastated when I read this news. So, if it shakes my faith in the judiciary, it surely shakes the common man's faith in the judiciary. IANS: So, will this again revive this debate about judicial primacy in judgesa appointment? Harish Salve: Absolutely. This incidents like this are a wake-up call that the system which we have today is dysfunctional. It is not equal to the task we are ready we are living in very turbulent and different times. Today, this is not the 60s, 70s and 80s where by the time news came out, took weeks and weeks and weeks. Today, it is the age of social media. It's taken on video, released in fifteen minutes. The world knows what happened in your house fifteen minutes ago. Yeah. Five minutes ago, two minutes ago. So, you know, it's very, very different, and then news goes viral. So we have to cope. We have to live with these times. IANS: Do you see a need for change in the system? Harish Salve: Absolutely. And we need a more resolute system, a more robust system to deal with all this. And today, when all institutions in the world, it's not just India, Donald Trump said, I will not listen to judiciary. All over the world, institutions are under great amount of stress because of the pulls and pressures of the world. I think the judiciary is very a co-equal institution in democracy. Can we live without a functioning judiciary? We can't. And if we can't live without a functioning judiciary, we have to strengthen it. IANS: Does this episode, at least, raise questions that there are no inbuilt checks within the Collegium System for judicial appointments? Harish Salve: It's a reminder that we need to restart the discussion. And I see the 500 people whom we have all voted to office have to put aside their political differences. This is one area on which they have to all sit down together, put their heads together, the collective wisdom of the 500 people we have sent to Parliament need to come up with a structure. This is an existential crisis. You have to save this institution. IANS: The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has been saying they don't want Justice Varma to be repatriated to that court. What do you say on this? Harish Salve: If the allegations are true, transfer is the wrong thing to do. If he is not fit to be a judge in the Delhi High Court, how is he fit to be in Allahabad? Don't treat certain courts like dustbinsa there's a problem here. We move the person there. See, it's different where sometimes somebody has a relative practising in the court. Then to clear a public perception, you transfer a judge. That's different. That is no aspersion on the judge. It is just, living up to the principle that justice must not only be done, it must appear to be done. IANS: And what about the now-dropped proposal to set up a National Judicial Appointment Commission for judicial appointments that could replace the Collegium system? The proposal was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2014. Harish Salve: There were certain minor criticisms. It can be repaired. What the Supreme Court did is lay down two principles, which I don't accept at all. The Supreme Court said that the judiciary can be independent only if judges are appointed by judges. I don't believe that. Justice J.S. Verma who created the Collegium system in 1993 never said ajudges should select judgesa in the context of executive versus judiciary. He never said that in that context. And justice Verma went public saying, if I see the way the Collegium system is working, I regret my judgment. The second proposition is that the law minister can never be on a committee for appointment of judges. I don't agree. The executive is a vital stakeholder in democracy. It's one thing to say the government cannot have a say in who will be a judge, it's another, to say that it's a flaw to have the law minister as a person on a committee. IANS: What will be your response if the allegations in this cash in home episode are not proved? Harish Salve: What a tragedy. If this allegation is false, then a very fine judge's image is being tarnished. And if that is not a good enough wake up call, I don't know what else will be. I meana I would call for very stringent action. --IANS jk-rch/pgh New Delhi, March 21 : In the backdrop of the alleged 'cash at home' episode involving a Delhi High Court judge, former Solicitor General of India and senior advocate Harish Salve on Friday called for drastic changes in the system for judicial appointment to promote greater transparency. He also said aspersions and unconfirmed allegations against the judiciary shake public faith, ultimately harming the democracy in which it is a coequal institution. Calling the latest episode involving Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court a wake-up call, he said that the system for judicial appointment that we have today is dysfunctional. As per media reports, a huge amount of cash was found last week when a fire brigade went to Justice Varma's residence to douse a fire. Calling the latest controversy a reminder for change, he said, "We need to restart the discussion This is an existential crisis. You have to save this institution." Salve also called upon the legislature, more specifically the members of Parliament, to collectively come up with suggestions for a refined and more transparent system for judicial appointments. "I see the 500 people whom we have all voted to office have to put aside their political differences. This is one area in which they have to all sit down together, put their heads together, the collective wisdom of the 500 people we have sent to Parliament need to come up with a structure," he said. He also hit out at insinuations against the judiciary and the irreparable damage these cause to the reputation of people. "We are living in very turbulent and different times. Today, this is not the 1960s, 70s and 80s whereby the time news came out, it took weeks and weeks and weeks. Today, it is the age of social media. An incident happens. It's taken on video, and released in 15 minutes. The world knows what happened in your house 15 minutes ago," he said, hinting at caution against unconfirmed reporting. "I think the judiciary is a very coequal institution in a democracy. Can we live without a functioning judiciary? We can't. And if we can't live without a functioning judiciary, we have to strengthen it," he said. The current collegium system created in 1993 involves a group of senior judges, including the Chief Justice of India, deciding on the appointment and transfer of judges in the higher judiciary. In an attempt to address these concerns, the government proposed the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), which aimed to replace the collegium system with a body including non-judicial members, but this was ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court in 2014. Bhopal, March 21 : In a tragic occurrence, a young woman, Bhavna Singh (24) has succumbed to her bullet injuries while undergoing medical care at a private hospital in Indore. The lady suffered a fatal wound near her eye, inflicted during what is described as a arevelry of liquor". According to the police, the incident transpired in the early hours of Thursday, about 2.30 a.m. Prima facie, a well-placed police source told IANS, the grievous harm was caused to her by one of her party companions. According to initial investigations, the shooting was allegedly caused by one of her companions, Ashu Yadav. Reports suggest that an argument broke out when Bhavna insisted on leaving the party. In response, Ashu reportedly threatened her with a locally-made pistol, commonly referred to as a "katta". Amid the chaos, the firearm discharged, fatally wounding Bhavna. A keychain left behind at the hospital, inscribed with an address, along with CCTV footage, provided crucial leads for the police. These clues led investigators to the residence of the suspects. Four individuals, including the aforementioned Ashu Yadav and another called Mukul Yadav, are said to have partaken in this fateful gathering. Amongst them is also a girl named Swastika, her role in the event yet unclear, the police officers said. The police officer further said that the young Bhavna had, only days prior, arrived in Indore from Gwalior, with aspirations of undertaking a course as a beautician. She resided in a hired apartment in the Mahalaxmi Nagar. Her acquaintance with the suspect Swastika appears to have drawn the victim into their company on the fateful evening. No arrests have been made so far, as the suspects fled the scene. Authorities are working to apprehend them and determine whether the shooting was an accident or a premeditated act. The police expect to have the accused in custody by Saturday to uncover the full truth behind this tragic event. Macron: Russia has once again demonstrated it doesnt actually share desire for peace Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron responded to the Russian army's overnight shelling of Ukraine by noting that Russia "has once again shown that it does not truly share the desire for peace" and expressed "full support" for the Ukrainian people. "Last night, Russia demonstrated once again that it does not truly share the desire for peace. Full support for the Ukrainian people," Macron added on social media X. French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly stressed the importance of a "measurable and fully respected ceasefire" in Ukraine. Kolkata, March 21 : Almost after five years, the gates of the legendary and iconic Visva-Bharati University, founded by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at Bolpur-Santiniketan in Birbhum district of West Bengal, will be open again for the tourists. An announcement on this count has been made on Friday, by the new chancellor of the university, Probir Kumar Ghosh. For a long time, the campus of the university was a special attraction for the tourists coming from different parts of the country as well as abroad. In fact, the university authorities used to encourage an inflow of tourists to spread the message worldwide on Gurudev's concept of an ideal ambience of liberal and free thoughts within a university campus with which Visva-Bharati was founded. However, amid the crisis of Covid-19 pandemic the gates of Visva-Bharati, the only central university in the country with the Prime Minister of the country as the Chancellor, were closed for the tourists. Even after the pandemic period was over, the-then Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty refused to lift the prohibition on entry of tourists on grounds that undesirable elements might enter the campus posing as tourists. At that point of time, the entry of the tourists was restricted only to the university museum after purchasing tickets. Although the students, alumni and even a section of the faculty were against the decision of prohibiting tourist entry within the campus, Chakraborty chose to stick to his decision on this count. The demand for lifting of the ban on tourist entry within the university campus aggravated further after the legendary institute was given the tag of UNESCO World Heritage Site in September 2023. Besides announcing the decision to reopen the doors of the campus for tourists, the new vice chancellor said the University authorities are also discussing the initiatives to be taken for the tourist facilities within the campus. "Being UNESCO World Heritage Site, the university truly is a point of global attraction," he said. Besides being founded by Gurudev, Visva-Bharati University is also globally acclaimed for its association with legendary personalities like Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen and iconic actor Late Balraj Sahni, who had been a teacher of both English and Hindi at the university, among others. Mumbai, March 21 : Minister of Skill Development, Employment, and Innovation Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Friday said that a positive discussion on employment opportunities was held with the delegation of senior officials from the economic and political department of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Maharashtra's youth will soon make a mark in Germany through their skills, he saud this after holding meeting with the delegation from Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. "The Maharashtra government has signed an agreement with Baden-Wurttemberg to supply skilled manpower. The necessary arrangements for the implementation of this agreement are currently underway. In this regard, a delegation of experts from the industrial sector of Baden-Wurttemberg is visiting various vocational and industrial training institutes from March 16 to 22. Additionally, the economic and political directors of Baden-Wurttemberg are working towards expediting the agreement," said the minister. Speaking about the meeting with the German delegation, Additional Chief Secretary of the Skill Development Department Manisha Varma stated that continuous communication is being maintained with various officials in Baden-Wurttemberg. The Department is ensuring that all necessary requirements are met. A detailed discussion was held with the German delegation, and efforts are being made to ensure that Maharashtra's youth face no obstacles in securing employment in Germany. A Skill Development Conference will be held in Baden-Wurttemberg inOctober, for which Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has been invited by the delegation, informed Secretary Manisha Verma. Through the Skill Development Department, employment opportunities are being provided to Maharashtra's youth in Germany. A total of 880 students are being trained in the German language, with 80 students learning under the School Education Department and 800 students being trained through the Ratan Tata Vocational Training Department. Changes in the curriculum are also being considered to align with the skilled workforce requirements of Baden-Wurttemberg, as discussed during the delegation meeting. Bengaluru, March 21 : Amid chaos, the Karnataka Transparency in Public Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 has been passed in the Legislative Assembly on Friday. The Bill intends to provide 4 per cent quota to Muslims in government tenders and the move by the Congress led government has stirred a major controversy in the state. The BJP members who had already stormed to the Well of the House registered a strong protest to the proposed act. The BJP members tore the copies of the Bill and threw it in the air and at the Chair of the Speaker. They also raised slogans inside the House. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka lashed out at the ruling party, saying: "It was Congress party which provoked Muslims and divided the country. Now, they are dividing the Muslims in Karnataka from the mainstream. You (Congress) are humiliating Hindus and committing atrocities on them. Hindus are being murdered in the state. They are humbled. This is a halal government." "The government's bill providing 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in contract works is unconstitutional. The Constitution does not permit any form of reservation based on religion. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Constitution envisioned all religions moving forward together, but this bill is aimed at dividing the society. "The Congress party has already divided the country once. Now, for vote-bank politics, they are attempting to appease a particular community again. This bill not only hurts the sentiments of Hindus but also takes away the rights of SC, ST, and backward-class contractors," he asserted. BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra criticised the Congress, saying: "The people of Karnataka have now seen the true face of the Chief Minister. Congress has been completely exposed before the state. If the state's tax revenue is being distributed exclusively to one religion, should we remain silent and do nothing?" Meanwhile, the delegation of BJP and JD (S) leaders reached the Governor's residence and submitted a memorandum requesting the Governor Thaawarcahnd Gehlot to cancel or abandon the "unconstitutionally moved bill" on giving 4 per cent reservation based on religion in allotting government contract works. "The proposed bill is about to destroy the social fabric, harmony among the religious societies," the memorandum underlined. "We request you to cancel or abandon the proposed KTPP (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to uphold harmonious religious fabric of the state of Karnataka. And, also request you to direct the Chief Minister and council of ministers to not to take up such unconstitutional misadventure, and without split thoughts, rather the state shall not divide the societies in the name of religions," the BJP and JD (S) plea read. The memorandum further stated, "It is misfortune of the state of Karnataka, and its people, to see all these anti-social, harmony destroying, nation-breaking initiatives in the name of religion based reservations. It is a settled principle of Supreme Court of India, and so also of many a High Courts that, reservation given on the basis of religion is unconstitutional and illegitimate." Meanwhile, CM Siddartamaiah responding to the opposition for Muslim quota stated: "Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, have voiced strong objections to the reservation granted to the Muslim community. Ashoka has stated that providing reservations based on religion is a mistake. "The Human Development Index (HDI) of the general category in Karnataka is 0.644. There is a disparity of 0.274 points between the general category and minority communities, 0.204 points with Scheduled Castes, and 0.154 points with Scheduled Tribes. This data reveals several truths. "I would like to ask the opposition: If an entire section of society remains underdeveloped, how can we expect overall progress? The minority population is about 15 per cent, and for their welfare, we have allocated Rs 4,514 crore in this year's budget. This amounts to just 1.1 per cent of the total budget. Why so much hatred over this?" he asked. He further said: "How can India become a global leader when 14 per cent of the population lacks access to education, healthcare, drinking water, housing, and sanitation facilities? Without bringing 14 per cent of the population onto the path of development, how can GDP and GSDP be increased? Excluding these communities is not only unjust but also unconstitutional." This is a budget for all, a "Sarvodaya Budget", and I reiterate this once again, CM Siddaramaiah stated. Washington, March 21 : President Donald Trump on Friday announced plans for the US military to induct a sixth generation of fighter jets called F 47s, a toned-down version of it will be available to allies. The aircraft is being built by Boeing. "The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built," President Trump said in remarks from the Oval Office, flanked by Secretary of State Pete Hegseth and top military general. "An experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost five years, and we're confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation," he added. Secretary of Defence Hegseth said: "We've had the F 15. We have had the F 16, the F 18, the F 22, the F 35, and now we have the F 47 which sends a very direct, clear message to our allies, that we're not going anywhere, and to our enemies, that we can, we will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come." A new fleet of these "magnificent planes" will be built in his tenure, the President said. "It's ready to go," he added. "They've already built much of what has to be built in terms of production, including the sheds, and will ensure that the USA continues to dominate the skies. We're given an order for a lot." The American President said the aircraft would be available to allies as well. "Our allies are calling constantly. They want to buy them also. And we will be selling (them to) certain allies, perhaps toned-down versions. We would like to tone them down about 10 per cent which probably makes sense, because someday, maybe they're not our allies." Few other details were released by the President or the secretary of defence. Not even the price. "We can't tell you the price," Trump said, "because it would give way to some of the technology and some of the size of the plant." However, the president did say the aircraft will fly with drones. "This plane flies with drones; flies with many, many drones, as many as you want. And it's a technology that's new, but it doesn't fly by itself. It flies with many drones, as many as we want. And that's something that no other plane can do." The name of the project to build the aircraft is "The next generation of air dominance". "This is a big day for our United States Air Force as well," Air Force Chief of Staff, General David Alvin, said. He went on to describe the F 47 as "the crown jewel in the next generation air dominance family of systems, we're gonna be able to keep that promise. Welcome to the future". Mumbai, March 21 : Kriti Sanon is one of the busiest actresses in Bollywood, however, she manages to take some time off for herself every now and then. The diva revealed what her proper 'day-off' looks like through her latest social media post. Kriti shared that she enjoyed her recent day off in more than a month by waking up late and lazing in bed. She further soaked some sun and indulged in self-care. She further did some much-needed catching up with her best friend and wore her comfy pajamas. The 'Luka Chuppi' actress ended her perfect day off by setting an alarm for 5: 30 am for the next day with 3 snoozes. Sharing the details of her fun day, Kriti wrote on her IG, "A proper OFF day after more than a month...Slept without an alarm...Lazed in the bed...Soaked some sun...Some self care...And some catching up with a bff who came over as I refused to wear anything but my PJs today!! Ab kal ke liye 5:30am ka alarm lagao (With 3 snoozes) Chalo goodnight..." Kriti also posted some quirky photos of her day on her Insta. At the moment, Kriti is busy shooting for her next, "Tere Ishk Mein". Directed by Aanand L. Rai, the highly-anticipated project will see Dhanush as the lead. The film is believed to be a spiritual successor to the world of aRaanjhanaaa, as it delves deeper into themes of unrequited love, longing, and emotional conflict. "Tere Ishk Mein" marks the return of the terrific trio of Aanand L Rai, Dhanush, and A.R. Rahman after "Raanjhanaa" and "Atrangi Re". Presented by Gulshan Kumar, in collaboration with T-Series, and Colour Yellow, the drama has been produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar. Penned by Himanshu Sharma, the A.R. Rahman musical will feature lyrics by Irshad Kamil. "Tere Ishk Mein" is scheduled to be released worldwide in Hindi and Tamil on November 28, 2025. Agartala, March 21 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that the state government would not compromise with students' future and would resolve the tribal 'Kokborok' language script issue soon. The Chief Minister in his statement on the first day of the week-long budget session said that the government is sincerely studying the 'Kokborok' language script issue and would resolve the issue soon. "There were detailed discussions, and a series of talks were held on the issue. We questioned why the Roman script and why not the Devanagari script to write in the 'Kokborok' language? Many discussions took place, but no concrete decision was made. Several agitations and protests were held for many years. The leadership also met with me and we discussed the matter. As per the recent tripartite agreement, this script issue is also included, and talks are ongoing," Saha told the House. Emphasising that the present government is a government of pro-solutions, he said: "We must consider the pros and cons of the matter. We will resolve the issue. "We respect all communities, traditions, and languages. We also want a final solution. In this year's CBSE exams, around 1,412 students enrolled, 1,339 attended the exam, and 73 were absent. If the invigilator can understand, then the student will not face any issue. However, we will not compromise with students and their future. We will take steps to ensure that they do not face any problems," he added. Meanwhile, a leading tribal student organization -- Twipra Students' Federation (TSF) on Friday held a day-long demonstration demanding the adoption of the Roman script for tribal Kokborok language, and blockade the main VIP road leading to the Agartala Airport, Assembly, Civil Secretariat, High Court and other government installation. The protest coincided with the first day of Tripura Assembly's budget Session, intensifying their decades-old demand for script reform for Kokborok language. Hundreds of tribal students and youths gathered near key intersections, severely disrupting vehicular movement and raising slogans in favor of their demand. The protest led to massive traffic congestion, with commuters facing delays as security personnel struggled to clear the blockade. Speaking to the media, TSF leader James Debbarma asserted that their demand for the Roman script for Kokborok language had been ignored for over five decades despite repeated assurances from successive governments. He accused the state government of failing to recognise the preference of a large section of the indigenous community, who find Roman script more accessible than the Bengali script currently used in official records and education. Sighting the example of formation of Bangladesh and due to imposition of Urdu over Bengali script, the TSF leader said that the state government has time and again failed to address the aspirations of indigenous communities. "The Roman script is widely used among Kokborok speakers, and we will not back down until our demand is met," said the TSF leader at the protest site. Kolkata, March 21 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to the United Kingdom has been tentatively postponed by two days following the crisis at London's Heathrow Airport because of the "significant power shortage" there following a fire in a substation in the western part of the city. Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to the United Kingdom has been tentatively postponed by two days following the crisis at London's Heathrow Airport because of the "significant power shortage" there following a fire in a substation in the western part of the city. The Chief Minister, along with her associates including the state chief secretary Manoj Pant was supposed to depart from Kolkata on Saturday. But sources from the state secretariat said that following the crisis at Heathrow airport, it has been tentatively decided that the Chief Minister and her team will depart from Kolkata on March 24. However, state government sources added that the postponed schedule is temporary as of now and any further change in schedule will be intimated accordingly. At the same time, sources said, it is yet to be decided whether the return of the Chief Minister and her team will also be postponed accordingly or her stay in the United Kingdom will be curtailed and she would return to Kolkata as per the original schedule of March 28. As per the original schedule, the Chief Minister and her team were supposed to depart from Kolkata at 9.10 a.m. on Saturday and reach Dubai first. Again from Dubai, she was supposed to take the flight to London on the same day at 8 p.m. as per the Indian Standard Time. During the tour to London, she is supposed to deliver a lecture at a college affiliated with Oxford University. She is also supposed to have meetings with some industrialists and businessmen there. Mamata Banerjee was also invited to the United Kingdom in 2021 to deliver a lecture at Oxford University. However, the Trinamool Congress alleged that the programme was cancelled due to the clandestine initiative by the Central government. Earlier in 2015, the Chief Minister made a visit to the United Kingdom. There she was accompanied by a number of members of her cabinet, including the then state Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who is the Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister now. Bengaluru, March 21 : The state Assembly on Friday passed the 'Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bil, 2025, which proposes significant salary hikes and allowances for MLAs, MLCs, ministers and Assembly staffers. Bengaluru, March 21 (IANS) The state Assembly on Friday passed the aKarnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bil, 2025, which proposes significant salary hikes and allowances for MLAs, MLCs, ministers and Assembly staffers. The move which has come amid the government complaining of shortage of funds has invoked criticism and also raised debate. The Bill was passed in the Assembly amid the furore linked to the honey trap row. According to sources, the Bill proposes 100 per cent hike of Rs 1.50 lakh from Rs 75,000 in the salary of the Chief Minister and 108 per cent hike of Rs 1.25 lakh from Rs 60,000 for ministers. The legislators will have 100 per cent hike of Rs 80,000 from Rs 40,000. The rental allowance of ministers has also been doubled from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 2.50 lakh. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Councilas monthly salary of Rs 75,000 will be increased to Rs 1.25 lakh. Their allowances have been increased from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot approved the proposed Bill on Thursday. The government not delaying it any further presented it in the legislature on Friday, the last day of the budget session. The government is expected to incur an additional burden of Rs 62 crore. The salaries and allowance of legislators were revised in 2022. The government headed by the BJP had decided to revise the salaries and perks of legislators once in five years. The legislators had demanded a hike in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC). The pension of legislators will go up from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. The annual travelling allowance to travel in flights and railway services has been increased to Rs 3.50 lakh from Rs 2.50 lakh. Nagpur, March 21 : Faheem Khan, the principal accused in the recent Nagpur riots, was apprehended on March 18 and has since filed a bail plea, alleging that his arrest is the result of a political conspiracy. Khan has been accused of inciting the crowd and provoking unrest. The riots, which have shaken the city, saw Faheem Khan, identified as the mastermind, taken into custody and subsequently remanded to police detention. His bail plea is expected to be taken up for hearing soon. On Friday, he approached the High Court, seeking bail on the grounds that his arrest was politically motivated. He contends that his name has been unfairly implicated in the case as an act of political vendetta. On March 19, Faheem Khan, the city president of the Minorities Democratic Party, was taken into custody, just two days after the riots and incidents of arson that shook Nagpur. Initially placed under police remand, his detention was extended to judicial custody on Friday due to concerns over his deteriorating health. The authorities have indicated their intention to seek his custody again at a later stage. Meanwhile, according to reports, Khan has moved the Nagpur district sessions court, filing a bail application that is expected to be heard on March 24. The events leading up to the riots began when Faheem Khan, accompanied by a significant gathering, visited the Ganeshpeth police station to lodge a formal complaint. He alleged that activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal had desecrated Aurangzeb's symbolic grave and burned his portrait in the Mahal Gandhigate area. The desecration reportedly involved a green sheet inscribed with 'Aayat', which, according to Faheem Khan and Shamim Khan of the Minority Democratic Party, deeply offended religious sentiments. This act, they claimed, incited anger among the youth, culminating in the riots. Faheem Khan, leading a group of 40 to 50 youths, submitted a statement to the Ganeshpeth Police Inspector, demanding legal action against those responsible for the desecration. The police assured him of action and sent him away. However, as the group passed through the Gandhigate area, slogans were raised, leading to a heated argument. Within two hours, the situation escalated into stone-pelting, with a large crowd taking to the streets and targeting the police. Faheem Khan is accused of instigating this violence. In his petition, Faheem Khan asserts that his involvement in the riots is a fabrication, driven by political malice. He argues that mere mention in an FIR does not equate to active participation in the violence. Meanwhile, law enforcement has intensified its crackdown, arresting 14 additional individuals on Friday, bringing the total number of arrests to 105, including 10 juveniles. The case continues to unfold, with investigations underway and the city grappling with the aftermath of the unrest. Jaipur, March 22 : The Rajasthan Fighters of Democracy Honour Bill 2024 was passed by voice vote in the Rajasthan Assembly on Friday (March 21) after an intense debate. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel emphasised that while India is recognised as the mother of democracy, the Emergency period (June 25, 1975 a" March 21, 1977) marked a dark chapter. During this time, fundamental freedoms were curtailed, and even judicial independence was restricted. However, democracy fighters resisted authoritarian rule and played a crucial role in reviving democratic values. The government remains committed to honoring these fighters and their families, the Minister said. With the passing of the The Rajasthan Fighters of Democracy Honour Bill 2024, future governments will no longer be able to stop pensions and facilities through administrative orders alone. Only those who were imprisoned for at least 30 days during the Emergency (June 25, 1975 a" March 21, 1977) will be eligible for these benefits. In the event of a democracy fighteras death, their spouse will continue to receive the pension. The government has allocated a budget of Rs 40 crore for the pension and facilities of democracy fighters, as stated in the Bill. The next step involves formulating rules, which may introduce new provisions. Those who were jailed for political or social reasons during the Emergency are officially recognised as democracy fighters. Upon their death, their spouse must apply for the pension within 90 days to continue receiving benefits. With this bill, democracy fighters' pensions now have a legal foundation, preventing future governments from halting payments through administrative decisions. If any government seeks to discontinue these benefits, it must introduce a new bill in the Assembly and amend the law before making any changes. Patel highlighted that the previous government repealed the Rajasthan Loktantra Senani Samman Nidhi Rules, 2008 in 2019. However, the current government reinstated these rules on March 14, 2024, effective January 1, 2024. Currently, Rajasthan has 921 democracy fighters and 219 dependents (spouses of deceased fighters), totaling 1,140 beneficiaries. The bill provisions a Rs 20,000 monthly pension for democracy fighters and their dependents, along with Rs 4,000 monthly medical assistance. He stressed that honoring those who risked imprisonment to safeguard democracy is the government's moral duty. While responding to the discussion, Patel outlined the eligibility criteria for receiving benefits. Rajasthan residents who actively fought for democracy and were imprisoned under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), the Defence of India Act (1971), or the Code of Criminal Procedure will receive an honorarium, medical assistance, and free transport facilities. Additionally, they will be officially invited to national festivals by the District Magistrate, and in the event of their death, their spouses will continue receiving honorarium and medical aid for life. He concluded that the Rajasthan government has introduced this bill to support and recognise those who endured hardships while defending democracy. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/news/all President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, during his visit to Ukraine, visited Moschun in Kyiv region, the press service of the President's Office reports. The leaders honored the memory of the Ukrainian defenders who died during the defense and liberation of Moschun in 2022. The presidents inspected the Angels of Victory memorial, installed on the territory where the decisive battles for Moschun took place, according to a message on the website on Friday. "Today, we together honored the memory of our fallen soldiers who fought for the freedom of Ukraine, and thanked all the heroes thanks to whom we are in Ukrainian Kyiv, in our independent state. And it will always be so - we will definitely preserve the independence of Ukraine," the President of Ukraine said in a Telegram message. The President's Office recalled that Moschun became one of the key defensive lines of Kyiv, where the heaviest fighting took place in mid-March 2022. The Russian occupiers intended to break through the village to the capital, using the Hostomel - Bucha - Irpin route. On March 21, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine completely ousted Russian troops from Moschun. Bhubaneswar, March 22 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Kendrapara MP Baijayant Jay Panda's cryptic post on his X handle on Friday further fueled the speculations regarding veteran Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's increasing closeness towards the ruling BJP. Sharing a picture of himself with Tharoor in a Bhubaneswar-bound flight, the BJP MP wrote: "My friend & fellow traveler called me mischievous for saying that we seem to be finally travelling in the same direction." Meanwhile, the Thiruvananthapuram MP also quickly clarified that he was heading to Bhubaneswar to address the Kalinga Lit Fest on Saturday. "Fellow traveller only to Bhubaneswar! I am addressing the Kalinga LitFest tomorrow morning. And coming right back!!" quipped Tharoor. However, the cryptic message by Panda left the social media users speculating on the shifting loyalty of the veteran Congress leader. The Congress MP's recent remarks praising the diplomatic stance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on different issues related to international affairs and ongoing fissures within the party have sparked a debate over his probable leaning towards the BJP. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue recently, Tharoor admitted that he had misjudged India's position on the conflict acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. "I am still wiping the egg off my face because I was one of those who criticised India's position back in February 2022. Three years later, it turns out I was wrong. India now has a Prime Minister who can hug both the President of Ukraine and the President of Russia within two weeks and still be accepted in both places. That means India is in a position to make a difference to lasting peace," he said. The Thiruvananthapuram MP had earlier in February left the Congress party red-faced after he stated that the outcome of PM Modi's visit to the US was "very good". The diplomat-turned-politician's discord with the Congress top brass and the state unit in Kerala also fueled the rumour of his considering the option to join BJP. As per Tharoor's reply to Panda's post on X, the veteran Congress leader was on his way to Bhubaneswar to address the 11th edition of the iconic Kalinga Literary Festival which started here on Friday. Literary minds from across South East Asia and World representing some 25 languages are participating in the annual festival of art, culture and literature. Nagpur, March 22 : Authorities on Friday apprehended 14 individuals in connection with the recent outbreak of violence in Nagpur, Maharashtra, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 105. Among those detained are 10 juveniles, underscoring the gravity of the unrest that has gripped the city. The police have also registered three additional First Information Reports (FIRs) related to the incidents. The turmoil began on March 17, when rumours spread that a sheet bearing a "verse from the Quran" had been burned during a demonstration led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The protest, which called for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, ignited widespread stone-pelting and arson across several parts of Nagpur. Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravindra Kumar Singhal confirmed the arrests, stating, "Fourteen accused have been apprehended from various parts of the city in connection with the riots. Additionally, three new FIRs have been filed." He added that the decision to lift the curfew in certain areas would be determined following a high-level review meeting. Commissioner Singhal convened a gathering at the Police Bhawan in Civil Lines to assess the situation. Singal announced that the curfew was partially lifted in Nandanvan and Kapil Nagar police station limits from 2 p.m. on Thursday (March 20, 2025) over public convenience and law-and-order considerations. In Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, and Imambada, curfew was relaxed for two hours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to allow residents to purchase essential supplies. The violence left 33 police personnel injured, including three officers of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank. Notably, a case of treason has been lodged against the primary accused, Faheem Khan. In an earlier development, a local court in Nagpur remanded 17 individuals arrested in connection with the violence to police custody until Saturday (March 22). The court, while granting the remand, emphasised the severity of the offences and the compelling evidence presented against the accused. Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. Recently, collaborators came together for an event, an author made a school visit to showcase a bug-tastic new book, young writers in New York were honored, an awards ceremony highlighted Jewish creators, an author showcased her new book on environmental justice, and an author spoke with a political figure about his new book. Taking Flight Matthew Burgess (r.) and Caldecott Medalist Doug Salati (l.) celebrated the launch of their new poetry collection, Words with Wings and Magic Things (Tundra), at the Smith Street location of Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, on March 18. In a conversation with their editor Tara Walker, VP and publisher at Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, the duo spoke about their closely interwoven creative process and the freeing joy of poetry, and shared selections from the anthology. Afterwards, attendees enjoyed a cake baked by one of Burgesss poetry students, with a design inspired by imagery from the book. Here, Burgess and Salati are joined by Walker (second from r.), and their agent Erica Rand Silverman (second from l.) of Stimola Literary Studio, who introduced the creators, setting in motion their collaboration. Big Day for Bibsy Liz Garton Scanlon stopped by West End Elementary School in Lynbrook, N.Y. on March 7 to present the most recent installment in her Bibsy Cross series, Bibsy Cross and the Creepy-Crawlies. The series centers on the titular Bibsy as she navigates school, family, and friendship. Scanlons visit coincided with the schools Pick a Reading Partner week, which was bug-themed in honor of her new book. Each student received a copy of a Bibsy Cross book of their choice, and Scanlon held a q&a with students. Here, Scanlon admires the welcome sign that students made for her visit. Rising Stars The 2025 New York City Regional Scholastic Awards Ceremony took place on March 7 at Scholastic HQ in New York City. The annual ceremony honors young rising New York City talent, whose work earned regional recognition in this years Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Artist and SVA instructor Sophia Victor gave keynote remarks and each teen received their award onstage. Here, the winners of the Gold and Silver Keys, which honor creators in grades seven through 12, gather onstage after the awards presentation. Mazel Tov! The Jewish Book Council hosted the 74th annual National Jewish Book Awards ceremony at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan on March 12, bringing together this years winners. Here, the recipients of the childrens and YA prizes congratulate one another: (From l.) A.R. Vishny, author of the paranormal romance Night Owls (HarperCollins); Joshua S. Levy, author of the middle grade comedy adventure Finn and Ezras Bar Mitzvah Time Loop (Quill Tree); and Danielle Sharkan and Selina Alko, author and illustrator of the picture book Sharing Shalom (Holiday House), about fighting intolerance with inclusion. Save the Fish! Brook M. Thompson celebrated the release of her debut nonfiction picture book, I Love Salmon and Lampreys: A Native Story of Resilience (Heyday), with a tour across bookstores in northern California. Her book, illustrated by Anastasia Khmelevska, showcases the Native-led movement to protect the Klamath River and its fish in northern California. Here, Thompson visits Casa Grande High School, the last stop on her tour, home of the fish hatchery program United Anglers of Casa Grande High School. (From l.): student Summer Cole, biologist Ellie Slick, author Thompson, student Lucy James, and teacher and director of the United Anglers of Casa Grande Dan Hubacker. A Presidents Passover On March 9, Richard Michelson visited the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass., to share his picture book Next Year in The White House: Barack Obamas First Presidential Seder (Crown). The story, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, highlights the first seder to take place in the White House, hosted by Obama. Pictured here: Eric Lesser (l.), former Massachusetts State Senator, on stage with Richard Michelson (r.). Ukrainian and American teams are actively working toward signing a framework agreement on critical minerals, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy emphasized. "I want to remind you that Ukraine was fully prepared to sign this framework agreement, which had already been agreed upon. We were even ready to sign it in Jeddah. However, on the American side, there was a request for additional consultations in Washington. That is, they wanted to continue discussions on the agreement. I can confirm that, as of today, both the Ukrainian and American teams are engaged in this process and maintaining an ongoing dialogue," he stated during a briefing in Kyiv on Friday. The spokesperson refrained from commenting on various media reports about the agreement, stressing that "the teams are working." "As a state, we are very interested in this agreement. We believe that this cooperation between Ukraine and the United States is beneficial to both parties. It will help further develop our bilateral strategic partnership," he added. Although heritage railways are celebrating Railway 200 this year, during April, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is going back many millennia. From 5th -21st April, families visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway can take part in a prehistoric adventure with a host of dinosaur-themed activities and heritage railway experiences. To add to their enjoyment, Jubilee Class No. 45596 Bahamas will visit the railway for the very first time. Baby raptor. // Credit: North Yorkshire Moors Railway There will be something for everyone to enjoy, including meeting baby dinosaurs, digging for fossils, and snapping a selfie in a giant dinosaur egg. The railway is putting on the activities as part of its contribution to its Railway 200 celebrations, marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway in the UK. Steam train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. // Credit: Andrew Jeffery Other activities during April include a Star Gazing on 4th April at The Outstation, Stape where the Whitby and District Astronomical Society will hold an evening of stellar exploration at one of the best night sky viewing locations in the North York Moors. On Saturday, 5th and Sunday, 6th April, a Big Science Show will be held in the classroom at Pickering Station Classroom where children and adults can witness jaw-dropping experiments, learn fascinating facts, and take part in hands-on science activities. As part of Railway 200, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has recently opened a 200 Trail that visitors can enjoy while visiting the line. As a first-generation American of Lithuanian descent, I have a strong connection to this Baltic country. My parents fled Lithuania in 1985, then under Soviet control, and arrived in America in 1986 for a shot at the American dream. Like millions of families behind the Iron Curtain, mine faced unimaginable hardship and horrorsespecially my maternal grandfather, who survived 18 months in one of Stalins gulags. My familys firsthand experience with socialism compels me to be conservative, and to advocate for freedom and limited-government policies at Independent Women today. Im one of nearly 700,000 Americans with roots in Lithuaniaa small but mighty nation that has been inextricably linked with the U.S., my birthplace, since 1922. With many overlapping values between our two nations, the Trump administration should strengthen relations with Lithuania. Lithuania, like the U.S., greatly cherishes freedomfrom free expression to entrepreneurship. The Baltic nation was the first of 15 occupied nations to declare its independence from the former Soviet Union. Today, Lithuania respects free speech, is an innovation hub, and is more reliably conservative than Hungary. Even as a European Union (EU) member, it often acts as a bulwark against bureaucracy and is expected to nudge Brussels to pursue deregulation. With respect to free markets, Lithuania could remind us of the benefits of supply-side economics. It currently holds the 16th spot on the Heritage Foundations Index of Economic Freedom, while the U.S. sits at the 26th spot. Like the Trump administration, Lithuania is prioritizing energy independence. Following Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania took decisive steps to cut its dependence on the Kremlin once again, this time on energy imports and electricity. In 2017, during the first Trump administration, Lithuania became the first former Soviet-occupied nation to accept a shipment of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). Last year, it took full ownership of the Klaipeda LNG terminal, FSRU Independence. Lithuania recognized that dependence on a former occupier is dangerous on many groundsparticularly energy security. Thats why all three Baltic republics fully desynchronized from Russias electric grid last month. Lithuanias commitment to energy independence parallels current U.S. energy policy. It was recently revealed that the E.U., even with its radical European Green Deal to transition away from fossil fuels, still imported nearly $22 billion dollars worth of Russian oil and gas imports over support for Ukraine (or $19 billion) in 2024. An inconvenient truth for our European friends is this: Net-zero climate policies boost unreliable solar and wind projects that invite continued reliance on Russia. Thats why Lithuania is also looking to reboot nuclear power plants, now with our help. President Trump, therefore, should tout Lithuania as a good energy partner and pressure the rest of Europe to follow its lead. As the Trump administration reorients foreign policy away from Europe to Asia, maintaining relations with China hawks like Lithuania is critical to staving off the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s influence here and abroad. Lithuania, like the Czech Republic, is a bulwark against the CCP in a continent that is too entangled with Beijing. Lithuania has equally stood up for Taiwan and exited the 17+1 Initiative, while refusing to allow China to invest in the port of Klaipeda. Laurynas Kasciunas, new chairman of Lithuanias Homeland Union party, told me there are currently no Chinese investments in Lithuanias strategic assets. Despite facing immense pressure, his country is now surviving without China. Last summer, I had the opportunity to revisit Lithuania since my first trip 25 years ago. I was in awe of the transformation endured by my ancestral homeland. Lithuania is proudly pro-America; there are even American-themed bars, including one called Uncle Sams American Pub, in the capital, Vilnius, as homage to our relationship. The Trump administration needs more reliable friends it can count on. Lithuania has proven its more than capable of meeting this challenge with a commitment to energy independence and political and economic freedom. Perhaps President Trump and his administration can lean on the Lithuanians for guidance and replicate their efforts here in Washington. Gabriella Hoffman is the director of Independent Womens Center for Energy and Conservation and a daughter of Lithuanian political refugees. Follow her on X at @Gabby_Hoffman. If youre like me, youre sick of hearing and reading the word iconic in firearms-related media. In many cases, the word isnt being used correctly, and where it is, iconic is somehow applied to that one thing somebody is trying to shill. So, lets start with a different question: What guns are you likely to find in an American household? I think youll find the Model 94 Winchester would make the list. It wasnt the last lever design from Winchester, and it certainly wasnt the first. It wasnt exotic or really particularly sexy, even for its time. It was, however, a reliable, do-most-things workhorse, and although we could never prove it, it probably killed more deer in the United States for the span of four or five decades than any other model out there. It made it just in time for the last years of the Old West (which was far more unpleasant and less glamorous than most imagine), and its still being produced in some form today. The Model 94 Winchester is The Last Cowboy. The lever rifle is arguably the ubiquitous American long rifle design. Beginning with the Henry Rifle that rose to fame and notoriety during the American Civil War as that damn Yankee rifle you can load on Sunday and shoot all week, the lever action quickly became the rifle to carry if one wanted firepower on demand. Designed by the prophet JMB himself, the 94 is testament to old-school gunmaking. . Immediately following the American Civil War, Winchester released a series of lever guns beginning in 1866, and that line of various models remains in production today, as do its imitators. Most lever actions were pistol-caliber carbines, at least until the advent of the 94. The idea was certainly sound. The pistol caliber provided considerable firepower in the tubular magazine, and the long barrel gave it enough velocity to have punch. It wouldnt shoot nearly as far, or accurately as the Sharps and other single-shot longer-range rifles, but up close, it dominated. Billy the Kid is supposed to have remarked that it was his Winchester that people really feared, not his pistols. The pistol-caliber rifles made buying only one type of ammo a matter of convenience. However, the rivalries of the day meant that one of those caliber options wasnt .45 Colt, just like .357 SIG became .357 Auto. Arriving on the heels of such designs as the 1873 Winchester, the Model 94 fielded a new, more powerful rifle cartridge, the .30 Winchester Centerfire or .30-30 Winchester. It was a bridge and a compromise. It reduced the magazine capacity, and thus the firepower, but it increased the range and the power. Blued steel and walnut never go out of style, though buckhorn rearsights have thankfully been improved upon It was quickly popular not only because of the name, but because of its inherent utility. It was great for ranch work, hunting, and all-around use. It even became quite popular with law enforcement until after World War II. Other models, such as the 1895 Marlin and an untold slew of copies over the years, quickly testified to its popularity. The Model 94 was (and remains) a very effective brush gun. Its light, easy to operate, and extremely reliable. It is very effective within 200 yards on most game, and although many were custom engraved, the model itself was not a safe queen. It was very much a workingmans gun. It was affordable, and it did the job well. It also gave in to a sense of nostalgia. By dropping the lower receiver with the lever, longer cartridges can be accommodated, the largest of which, the 450 Marlin, produces over 3,500 ft-lb of energy at the muzzle. Over the years, the 94 underwent multiple modifications and was offered in many calibers. Winchester made considerable efforts to produce commemorative rifles for everything from the Boy Scouts to John Wayne in the full-size Model 94. The design stayed essentially the same after the switch over of Winchester tooling in 1964, and only truly underwent economizing with the Ranger line later on. Being a top eject model, most Model 94s didnt lend themselves well to having a scope mounted, but when the design was finalized, that wasnt much of a consideration. Later models were slightly modified to accommodate better mounting of optics. Three American presidents received Winchester 94s at various production milestones. Calvin Coolidge got the millionth one in 1927, number 1.5 million went to Harry Truman in 1948, while the 2 millionth rifle to roll off the production line was handed to Eisenhower in 53. With the resurgence of interest in lever actions, the Model 94 (if you dont already have one) is an excellent choice to consider. Many can be found lightly used and often at bargain prices. Even the pre-64s can be had for well under $1K if you look. You wont find paracord or threaded muzzles on them unless the previous owner modified it. However, most of them, especially the non Ranger models have very nice finishes and above-average-to-excellent wood. They tend to be extremely well made, and listening to the action work is remarkably satisfying. Why buy an imitation when you can have the original? A slew of bright, handwritten signs held by demonstrators and chants of union power surrounded the University of Georgia Arch Wednesday afternoon at a rally held by UGAs chapter of United Campus Workers of Georgia. The rally was in retaliation of federal funding cuts set forth by the Trump administration that have the potential to affect research, campus workers and educational quality a point of political tension that has been prominent across the nation for the past several months. Bank unions on Friday deferred their two-day nationwide strike beginning Monday after they received positive assurance from both the finance ministry and the IBA on their demands, including a five-day work week and adequate recruitment in all cadres. Photograph: ANI Photo The strike call for March 24 and 25 was given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine bank employees' association. The decision to defer strike was taken before the Chief Labour Commissioner who had called all parties for a conciliation meeting in New Delhi. Representatives of Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the finance ministry assured to deliberate on demands raised by unions. The UFBU had also demanded immediate withdrawal of the recent directives of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) on performance review and performance-linked incentives (PLI), which threaten job security and create division amongst employees. "IBA proposed to further discuss issues like recruitment and PLI and other issues. "The Chief Labour Commissioner informed that he will directly monitor the issues including implementation of 5 days banking," All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), general secretary C H Venkatachalam said. AIBEA is one of the members of UFBU. The other members include All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), and Bank Employees' Confederation of India (BEFI). The Chief Labour Commissioner has fixed April 22 as the next date of hearing and asked the IBA to submit the progress report on UFBU's demands. Unions had also demanded resolution of residual issues pending with the IBA and for amending the Gratuity Act to increase the ceiling to Rs 25 lakh on the lines of scheme for government employees, along with exemption from income tax. Amid liquidity tightness in the banking system, certificate of deposit (CD) rates topped 8 per cent for some smaller banks, with rates remaining on the higher side for derivatives loss-hit IndusInd Bank. On Thursday, CSB Bank raised Rs 100 crore via one-year CDs at 8.5 per cent, while Utkarsh Small Finance Bank issued three-month CDs at 8.05 per cent to raise Rs 50 crore. IndusInd raised Rs 1,000 crore through CDs at 7.9 per cent on Thursday, bringing its total fundraising this week to Rs 14,750 crore to tide over a cash crunch amid tight system liquidity. According to dealers, a large public sector bank subscribed to more than half of the funds raised by IndusInd this week. Another large public sector bank, Punjab National Bank, raised Rs 4,950 crore on Thursday through various maturities at 7.567.57 per cent. The liquidity deficit in the banking system measured by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injecting funds through the liquidity adjustment facility stood at Rs 2.29 trillion on Wednesday, the latest data showed. Amid liquidity tightness, banks continue to rely on CDs to meet their funding requirements, resulting in CD issuances reaching an all-time high. According to RBI data, in the primary market, CD issuances grew by 34 per cent year-on-year to reach an all-time high of Rs 10.58 trillion during 2024-25 (up to March 7, 2025). During the quarter so far, the RBI has injected around Rs 5.5 trillion of durable liquidity into the banking system through a combination of open market operations purchases, longer-duration variable repo rate auctions, and foreign exchange swaps. Last week, IndusInd informed the exchanges that an internal review of accounts related to its derivatives portfolio revealed some discrepancies, which are expected to have a 2.35 per cent impact on the banks net worth as of December 2024. The hit is estimated to be around Rs 2,000 crore. IndusInds liquidity coverage ratio fell to 113 per cent as of March 9, compared to 118 per cent at the end of December, though the ratio remained well above the regulatory requirement of 100 per cent. The RBI reassured depositors that there is no reason to react to speculative reports, as the banks financial health remains stable and under close monitoring by the regulator. 'Neither are Baloch insurgents capable of breaking up Pakistan nor has Pakistan learned any lessons from the 1971 debacle that led to the country's dismemberment.' IMAGE: Pakistan soldiers stand at a tunnel where the Jaffar Express train was attacked by separatist militants in Bolan, Balochistan, Pakistan, March 15, 2025. Photograph: Reuters "If Pakistan truly believes that India is orchestrating violence inside its borders, why isn't it effectively raising the issue on international platforms? And if it is, why does the world remain unconvinced by Pakistan's claims of Indian involvement in Balochistan?" asks Baloch journalist-political analyst Malik Siraj Akbar who lives in exile in the United States. Akbar was granted asylum in 2012 after facing threats from the Pakistan army for exposing suppression of the Baloch nationalist movement and human rights violation. He is the only male Pakistani to be awarded a scholarship to pursue journalism at the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai. He also holds a master's degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Boston. In a detailed interview with Rediff.com's Archana Masih, Malik Siraj Akbar discusses the recent attack on a train by the Balochistan Liberation Army, its evolution into a large scale insurgent force and Pakistan's time tested strategy of scapegoating India after every terror attack. What is your opinion and assessment of the attack on the Jaffar Express and the subsequent bomb attack on security forces in Noshki province? How different are these attacks from previous BLA actions? These attacks clearly indicate that the BLA has evolved from a small armed group into a large-scale insurgent force with substantial resources, sophisticated weaponry, and a credible intelligence network. This should be concerning for the Pakistani military, as it reveals that the BLA now possesses accurate intelligence on troop movements. It is possible that the military intentionally transported its personnel on passenger trains to shield them under the cover of civilians, assuming that this would be safer than using military vehicles, which are more obvious targets. While this strategy may have been effective in the past, the situation has dramatically changed. The BLA's enhanced intelligence capabilities, increased resources, and better-trained personnel have made such tactics far less effective. It's possible that the BLA has penetrated the ranks of the military and has some, if not many, informers from within the military that provide it with critical information such as the details of troop movements. These two attacks also demonstrate the expanding scope and efficiency of the BLA's operations. It is no longer a small group that carries out an attack and then goes underground for days to regroup. Instead, the BLA now has the capacity to launch consecutive, offensive strikes against the Pakistani military within short intervals -- a clear sign of its growing operational strength. IMAGE: A passenger, who was rescued from the Jaffar Express after it was attacked by separatist militants, receives medical aid at the Mach railway station in Mach, Balochistan. Photograph: Reuters The BLA has attacked the Jaffar Express several times in the past, but never hijacked the entire train. What do you think was the intent behind such an action? Did it bring international focus to their independence moment? The recent train hijacking marked a significant shift in the BLA's tactics. It was not only the first time they hijacked a passenger train, but also the first instance where they issued demands beyond their usual one-point agenda of Balochistan's independence. This time, they called for the release of Baloch prisoners and missing persons. It appears they aimed to prolong the standoff to pressure the Pakistani government into conceding to their demands. However, the operation ultimately didn't go as the BLA had planned. They were unable to secure the release of any Baloch prisoners and instead suffered heavy casualties. Clearly, something went wrong in the execution of their plan, turning the entire episode into a misadventure. If their goal was to gain international support, the hijacking backfired. It drew widespread condemnation from major world powers, including the United States, China, and Russia. Rather than attracting sympathy, it severely damaged the BLA's global image, portraying their struggle in a negative light. The incident reinforced the perception of the BLA as a dangerous armed group that has increasingly targeted unarmed civilians -- crossing a red line for any insurgent group. The BLA must recognise that attacking civilians only invites further global condemnation. The Baloch movement, already devoid of formal support from any country, cannot afford such missteps. Even setting aside the armed struggle, the Baloch lack official backing on the global stage. Acts of senseless violence against civilians will only weaken their cause and inflict lasting damage on their struggle for legitimate rights. Currently, the Baloch movement receives limited international support, primarily from civil society and human rights organisations. However, attacks on civilian passengers put even these supporters in an awkward position, making it harder for them to advocate for the Baloch cause. IMAGE: Passengers rescued from the Jaffar Express after it was attacked by separatist militants, at the railway station in Quetta. Photograph: Reuters For someone who has studied and observed the situation in Balochistan closely, how do you foresee the future of Balochistan? Do you think that a time will come when the separatist dream of cessation from Pakistan will ever come true? Or do you think Pakistan has learnt its lesson from the break-up of East Pakistan 54 years ago and will do all that it takes to suppress the movement? The answer to both of your questions is no. Neither are the Baloch insurgents capable of breaking up Pakistan nor has Pakistan learned any lessons from the 1971 debacle that led to the country's dismemberment and Bangladesh's independence. The current Baloch nationalist movement has undoubtedly destabilised Pakistan beyond imagination. For a non-State actor to slip out of the State's control is alarming in itself. Yet, despite being deeply engaged in the insurgency, the separatists have failed to present a clear roadmap or manifesto outlining what an independent Balochistan would look like or how it would differ from Pakistan. The BLA's violence against civilians has further undermined the very purpose of the Baloch existence and resistance. What began as a struggle against the injustices of the Pakistani State has now seen the BLA committing similar crimes within the province. If they continue to target civilians, they risk losing the mass support they have thus far enjoyed. The group has benefitted from the assumption that attacks on civilians might have been unintentional or isolated incidents. However, if such violence becomes a consistent policy, the BLA will inevitably lose credibility and support--both locally and on the national and international stage. I anticipate significant bloodshed and violence from both sides in the coming weeks and months. Both the BLA and the Pakistani forces are fuelled by rage and a desire for revenge following the recent train hijacking. There is mounting pressure on the Pakistani military and paramilitary forces to take decisive action against the insurgents. However, acting hastily without a well-defined strategy carries the risk of harming innocent civilians rather than effectively targeting the insurgents. If the government were truly capable of containing the BLA, it would have prevented the Jaffar Express attack in the first place, particularly with support from its intelligence agencies. This is a highly delicate situation. The BLA will undoubtedly exploit any misstep by the military, particularly if it results in civilian casualties. At this point, the Pakistani military needs genuine allies in Balochistan, not more enemies. These allies must be individuals who genuinely perceive the government as making meaningful efforts to address the province's longstanding grievances, rather than simply cracking down blindly on innocent civilians. IMAGE: An injured man rescued by security forces sits in an ambulance after the Jaffar Express attack. Photograph: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters Why don't governments in Pakistan want to discuss a resolution with Baloch nationalists? Unlike India, Pakistan has a weak political system where real power lies with the military. This creates two major issues. First, the military has long been accused of committing human rights abuses in Balochistan, though it consistently denies any wrongdoing. However, solving the conflict requires addressing the mistakes of the past -- something the military is unwilling to do. It refuses to acknowledge its crimes in Balochistan, let alone commit to ending military operations or halting human rights abuses such as enforced disappearances. The military also shows no willingness to release missing persons, pledge to abandon such practices, or hold officials accountable for their extraconstitutional actions. Second, there is little to no support from Pakistan's mainstream political parties -- such as the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League -- for meaningful negotiations with the Baloch. These parties largely align with the military's hardline stance on Balochistan, further reducing the chances of political intervention or pressure for dialogue. The absence of political will and external pressure has created a deadlock, where neither side is engaging in meaningful negotiations. Without political backing or accountability, the military continues its heavy-handed policies, making a peaceful resolution increasingly unlikely. IMAGE: Malik Siraj Akbar, right, with his journalistic mentor and the renowned journalist, the late Siddiq Baluch. Photograph: Kind courtesy Malik Siraj Akbar Pakistan has yet again alleged India's role in the train attack and for supporting the BLA without any evidence. What does Pakistan hope to achieve by such baseless allegations? No matter how baseless Pakistan's allegations against India may be, they are unfortunately widely accepted by the Pakistani public and media. This narrative provides the government with a convenient distraction from critical questions -- such as why there was such a massive intelligence failure in the first place. If India were truly involved, why isn't the government taking direct action? After all, it is the responsibility of the Pakistani military to counter foreign interference. Moreover, if Pakistan truly believes that India is orchestrating violence inside its borders, why isn't it effectively raising the issue on international platforms? And if it is, why does the world remain unconvinced by Pakistan's claims of Indian involvement in Balochistan? Blaming India has become the go-to excuse for Pakistan's ruling elite and military -- a time-tested strategy that never seems to fail them. Since this scapegoating continues to work, they resort to it after every major terrorist attack. However, the Pakistani government's consistent failure to provide credible evidence of India's involvement casts serious doubt on these claims. There's no denying that the Baloch insurgents have demonstrated remarkable combat capabilities and are clearly receiving substantial external support. However, there is no definitive proof that this backing comes exclusively from India. The Pakistani government, with its superior resources and intelligence apparatus, has the responsibility to provide credible evidence identifying who is funding the Baloch insurgency. The insurgency has reached an extraordinary level of resourcefulness -- not only in its military operations, but also in its social media strategy and propaganda warfare. In many ways, the BLA now enjoys a clear advantage over the Pakistani State when it comes to media outreach, regularly issuing press releases and providing timely updates. While it is evident that the insurgents are receiving some form of external support, there is still no concrete proof that India is behind it. Part II of the Interview: 'Pakistan Seen As A State Devoid Of Hope' Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) continues to evacuate residents of the Krasnopillia community in Sumy region, which is under fire from the Russian army. "Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society rapid response unit in Sumy region evacuated 35 people on March 20, including four children and seven people with reduced mobility," the URCS reported on Facebook on Friday. From 4:30 and throughout the day, four crews evacuated people from settlements in the border areas of Sumy region. Despite massive shelling by the Russian army, the operation to evacuate civilians is being carried out thanks to the coordination of the district military administration, community leadership and the Sumy regional organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, the mission of the Way of Ukraine charity foundation, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the White Angels unit of the National Police, and emergency medical assistance crews. Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday issued a three-line whip to all of its Lok Sabha MPs asking them to be present in the House for the passing of the Union Budget 2025-26. IMAGE: Proceedings of the Lok Sabha underway during the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, March 20, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV "All BJP members in Lok Sabha are hereby informed that guillotining of various demands for Grants 2025-26 will be taken up for passing in the House on Friday. All members of BJP in Lok Sabha are, therefore, requested to be positively present in the House throughout the day and support the government's stands," the party said in its letter. A guillotine is a parliamentary tactic used to expedite the passage of a bill without allowing further discussion. It is typically employed when the government wants to pass a bill quickly, but the opposition is delaying its progress. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 presented the Budget 2025-26 in the Parliament. The Union Budget 2024-25 provided major relief to the salaried class with no income tax on an average monthly income of up to Rs one lakh to boost household savings and consumption with the government also giving thrust to four engines of development - agriculture, MSMEs, investment and exports. The Finance Minister's announcement on tax relief means that the salaried class will pay nil income tax up to Rs 12.75 lakh. Sitharaman highlighted the main goal of the budget, that of rolling out a "futuristic path for transforming India into a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047."With focus on "Garib, Youth, Annadata and Nari," the budget unveils new schemes and reforms in the sectors of agriculture, MSMEs, investments, exports, rural development, enabling employment, spurring domestic consumption and more." The Union Budget seeks to astutely balance the nation's development priorities and fiscal imperatives. FM Sitharaman mentioned that indirect tax under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has significantly reduced over the years since its implementation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Union Budget 2025 as a "Force Multiplier" for India's development journey, describing it as a "budget of aspirations" for 140 crore Indians. He emphasized that this budget would fulfil the dreams of the people, with a strong focus on opening up several sectors for the youth. "This is the budget of the aspirations of 140 crore Indians, this is a budget that fulfills the dreams of every Indian," PM Modi stated. However, Opposition parties slammed the Budget, saying it was mainly focused on Bihar, where assembly elections will be held later this year. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticized the Union Budget 2025, claiming that Bihar received a "bonanza of announcements" while Andhra Pradesh whose ruling TDP is a key ally in the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre has been "cruelly ignored." In a post on X, Jairam said, "Bihar appears to have got a bonanza of announcements. It is natural since elections are due there later in the year. But why has the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?" Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech proposed to establish a Board for makhana or foxnuts, a nutritious food, that is widely produced and consumed in Bihar. She also announced that Greenfield airports will be felicitated in Bihar in addition to the expansion of the capacity of the Patna Airport and a brownfield airport in Bihta. Presenting the Union Budget, FM Sitharaman said, "Greenfield airports will be felicitated in Bihar to meet the future needs of the state. These will be in addition to the expansion of the capacity of Patna airport and a brownfield airport in Bihta." She also highlighted the Western Kosi Canal ERM project in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar. "Financial support will be provided for the Western Kosi Canal ERM project benefitting a large number of farmers cultivating over 50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar," she said. The Finance Minister also announced the establishment of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar to provide a strong fillip to food processing activities in the entire Eastern region. In an unprecedented move, 18 Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs were suspended for six months from the Karnataka assembly on Friday for 'indiscipline' and 'disrespecting' the Speaker, following which they were forcefully evicted from the House by marshals after they refused to leave. IMAGE: Karnataka BJP MLAs being carried out of the assembly after their suspension. Photograph: ANI on X The incident took place on the final day of the assembly's budget session, when opposition BJP MLAs staged a protest against the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts and called for a judicial inquiry into the alleged 'honey-trap' attempt against Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna. Amidst the chaos, the assembly passed key bills, including one to provide 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts and another approving a salary hike for the Chief Minister, Ministers, and all legislators, without any discussion. The suspension of the 18 members for six months is considered unprecedented, as such action is usually limited to the remainder of the ongoing legislature session. Currently, the BJP holds 66 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly, including one from the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) after its merger with the BJP. During the protest, some BJP legislators climbed onto the podium where Speaker U T Khader's chair was located and surrounded it, while others, protesting from the well of the House, hurled papers at him. The marshals were required to forcefully evict the saffron party MLAs who had surrounded the Speaker's chair. When the House reconvened after being adjourned due to the disruption, the Speaker named the 18 BJP MLAs for 'indiscipline' and 'disrespecting' the chair. The resolution to suspend the MLAs was then moved by the state's Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil and was adopted by the Assembly through a voice vote. After the suspension, the suspended MLAs refused to leave the assembly, and marshals forcibly removed them from the House. They literally carried the MLAs outside the Assembly. Those who were suspended are the BJP chief whip Doddanagouda Patil, former Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayan, S R Vishwanath, B A Basavaraju, M R Patil, Channabasappa, B Suresh Gowda, Umanath Kotyan, Sharanu Salagar, Dr Shailendra Beldale, C K Ramamurthy, Yashpal Suvarna, B P Harish, Bharath Shetty, Dheeraj Muniraju, Chandru Lamani, Muniratna and Basavaraj Mattimud. While reading out the suspension order, Khader said, "The incident has hurt us a lot and it's painful. This seat is not just a chair. This is the symbol of democracy, truth and justice. To speak from this chair is a matter of pride. Every member should protect the dignity and sanctity of this chair. None of us are above the chair. Our personal sentiments should not be above the dignity of this chair. "We should behave with commitment, calm and in a civilised way. Let this incident be a lesson for us. Let us in the coming days respect the constitution and sanctity of this chair." "This chair cannot tolerate interrupting the proceedings of the House, ignoring the dignity of the Chair and behaving in a way that damages the parliamentary traditions," he added, and named 18 BJP MLAs. Earlier, while proposing the suspension of the MLAs, Minister Patil described their actions as 'goondagiri behaviour' and said such conduct could not be tolerated. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka condemned the resolution, saying the government should be ashamed after Minister K N Rajanna raised the issue of 'honey trap' attempts against him and the government failed to protect him. Ashoka also accused the Speaker of 'disrespecting' democracy by taking action to suspend the MLAs. Later, when the 'Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025,' which provides for 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts, came up for passage, the House witnessed more chaos. Opposition BJP MLAs staged another protest by climbing onto the podium where Speaker U T Khader's chair was located and threw papers at him as the assembly passed the bill. Marshals were once again forced to evict the BJP MLAs who attempted to surround the Speaker's chair, following Khader's directions. The bill was passed amid the disruption, and the House was subsequently adjourned sine die. The BJP condemned the suspension of 18 party MLAs from the Assembly and called the move 'undemocratic'. The party accused the ruling Congress of committing a 'grave injustice' to the suspended MLAs, who were protesting against the four per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts and charges of an attempted 'honey trap' involving Karnataka ministers. The BJP legislators also submitted a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, urging him to reject the reservation for Muslims in public contracts through the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill. A similar display of unruly behavior was witnessed in the Legislative Council, where BJP MLCs tore the bill and threw it from the well of the House, directly in front of Council Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Friday said the Supreme Court should intervene in the Allahabad high court's ruling, which held that actions like grabbing breasts or snapping a pyjama string do not constitute rape or an attempt to rape but rather fall under the lesser charge of aggravated sexual assault. IMAGE: People protest against the alleged sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor of the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo Speaking to reporters outside the Lok Sabha, Devi said she "completely disagreed" with the verdict and called for the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the matter. "I am completely against this decision and the Supreme Court should take serious note of it. Such a ruling has no place in a civilized society," she said. The minister also expressed concern over the broader implications of the judgement, warning that it could send a wrong message to the society. "Somewhere, this will have a negative impact on society and we will discuss this matter further," she added. Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal slammed the ruling as "shameful" and "absolutely wrong". Maliwal questioned the message such a ruling sends to society, particularly regarding crimes against children. "This is "deeply shameful and absolutely wrong. What message do they want to give to society? That a young girl can be subjected to such horrific acts, and it still won't be considered rape?" she told reporters outside Parliament. Maliwal urged the Supreme Court to intervene immediately and take strict action against such judicial interpretations. "The Supreme Court should intervene in this matter without delay, and strict action must be taken," she said. The case involved an 11-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj who was attacked in 2021 by two men -- Pawan and Akash. The accused grabbed her breasts, tore her pyjama string and attempted to drag her under a culvert while she was walking with her mother. The assailants fled when the passers-by intervened upon hearing her screams. Fire fighters found no cash during their operation to douse flames at the residence of Delhi high court Justice Yashwant Varma, Delhi Fire Services Chief Atul Garg said on Friday. IMAGE: Justice Yashwant Varma. Photograph: Kind courtesy Delhi HC website The control room received a call about a blaze at Varma's Lutyens Delhi residence at 11.35 pm on March 14 and two fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot, Garg told PTI. Fire tenders reached the spot at 11.43 pm. The fire was in a store room stocked with stationery and domestic articles, Garg said, adding that it took 15 minutes to control the flames. There were no casualties. "Soon after dousing the flames, we informed police about the fire incident. Thereafter, a team of fire department personnel left the spot. Our fire fighters did not find any cash during their fire fighting operation," the DFS chief said. On Friday, the Supreme Court collegium commenced an initial inquiry against Varma from whose official residence a large stash of cash was allegedly discovered during the fire incident. It also reportedly called for his transfer to the Allahabad high court. Naxalites had gathered in remote jungles of Bijapur for a Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) meeting when security forces surrounded them, leading to a fierce exchange that left 26 Maoists dead, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said on Friday. Photograph: / Rediff.com IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Security forces killed at least 30 members of the banned CPI (Maoist) in two separate encounters in the Bastar region on Thursday. While 26 Naxalites were killed in Bijapur district, four Maoists were gunned down in Kanker by a joint team of the BSF and District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel of the state police. A police jawan was also killed in the encounter in Bijapur, officials had said. "Naxalites had gathered in remote jungles for a meeting considering their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC), which is typically observed between March and June, as an appropriate time when security forces surrounded them on Thursday," Sharma, who heads the Home Ministry, told reporters on the premises of the assembly complex. Cornered from all sides, Naxals opened fire on security forces who retaliated, he said, while hailing the operation as a major achievement against Naxals. An official on Thursday said a gunfight broke out around 7 am in a forest along the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation in Gangaloor police station area in Bijapur. The bodies of 26 Naxalites besides firearms and explosives were recovered from the spot. India on Friday said it hopes to rebuild ties with Canada based on 'mutual trust and sensitivity', blaming the downturn in the relations to the 'licence' that was given to the 'extremist and secessionist elements' in that country. IMAGE: Former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Photograph: Courtesy @JustinTrudeau/X New Delhi's comments came days after Mark Carney, an economist and political newcomer, took charge as Canada's new prime minister following the exit of Justin Trudeau from the top office. Carney has said he wants to improve ties with India. "The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in that country," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He was responding to a question at his weekly media briefing on the current status of India-Canada bilateral ties. "Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity," he said. Canadian Security Intelligence Service chief Daniel Rogers visited India last week to attend a conclave of top global intelligence czars, in an indication of efforts to improve the ties between the two sides. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September 2023 of the 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'. The relations nosedived further in the second half of last year after Ottawa linked several Indian diplomats including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma to the murder of Nijjar. In October last, India withdrew Verma and five other diplomats. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats from New Delhi. In the last few months, the security officials of India and Canada resumed contacts and both sides are looking at the possibility of appointing new high commissioners. The exit of Trudeau is being seen as an opportunity to improve the bilateral ties. Fourteen persons were arrested on Friday in connection with the violence in Nagpur earlier this week, taking the total number those held so far to 105, a senior police official said. IMAGE: Police personnel stand guard as curfew remains in effect in 10 police station limits on the second consecutive day following the violence erupted on 17 March, in Nagpur. Photograph: ANI Photo Those held include 10 juveniles, as per police. Three more first information reports (FIRs) have been registered in connection with the incident, he added. Large-scale stone pelting and arson was reported in several parts of Nagpur on March 17 over rumours that a 'chadar' with holy inscriptions was burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, which is in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. "The 14 accused have been arrested from different parts of the city in connection with the riots. Three more FIRs have been registered related to the riots," Nagpur police commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singhal said. The decision on lifting curfew from some parts of the city will be taken after a high-level review meeting, he added. Singhal, meanwhile, held a meeting at Police Bhavan in Civil Lines here to take stock of the situation. Thirty-three police personnel including three Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officers were injured during the violence. Key accused Fahim Khan is among those booked for sedition. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Friday opposed the transfer of Delhi High Court sitting judge Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose official home a huge stash of cash was reportedly discovered, saying it was not a "trash bin". IMAGE: Allahabad high court. Photograph: ANI Photo In a resolution passed soon after the news of the judge's transfer by a Supreme Court collegium was reported, the association said, "We were taken aback that the Supreme Court has transferred Justice Yashwant Varma back to Allahabad High Court..." The resolution, naming association president and senior advocate Anil Tiwari as the signatory, claims that the discovery of the "unaccounted money" from the judge's house was of "Rs 15 crore". "Supreme Court has taken cognisance on the matter immediately and unanimously decide repatriate Justice Yashwant Varma to Allahabad High Court," it said. The statement added, "The decision of the collegium raises a serious question as to whether the Allahabad high Court is a trash bin?" Aside from expressing concerns over Justice Varma's transfer, the statement referred to issues such as the shortage of judges there and the supreme court "time and again" censuring the high court. "Presently, we are facing so many problems particularly shortage of judges resulting in fresh cases not being heard for months thereby diminishing the faith of the public in the rule of the law but it does not mean we are a trash bin. We are not ready to accept corruption." Initiating action, Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna reportedly decided to transfer Justice Varma from the Delhi High Court to his parent Allahabad High Court following the incident. The collegium is also believed to have commenced an initial inquiry against the judge. The initial inquiry, which is not an in-house inquiry as envisaged in Supreme Court judgements, would entail seeking of a primary report on the incident from the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. It has been said the commencement of the initial inquiry was just one of the steps and the collegium might take further action in this regard. The 56-year-old judge, enrolled as an advocate in 1992, was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014 and took oath as a permanent judge of that court on February 1, 2016. While the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna is stated to have initiated the process to transfer Justice Varma from Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court, the judge did not hold his court on Friday. Justice Varma was born on January 6, 1969 in Allahabad. He studied B.Com (Honours) course at Hansraj College at Delhi University and obtained his LLB degree from Madhya Pradesh's Rewa University. As an advocate at the Allahabad High Court, he practised matters of constitutional, labour and industrial legislations aside from corporate laws, taxation and allied branches of law. He was also the special counsel for the Allahabad High Court from 2006 till his elevation apart from being the chief standing counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government from 2012 till August 2013 when he was designated as a senior advocate. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has written to Chief Secretary Dharmendra seeking his intervention in bringing in line some officers who allegedly have not been responding to communications from MLAs. IMAGE: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, MLAs and others stand for the National Song during the first session of Delhi assembly. Photograph: ANI Photo In his letter on Wednesday, Gupta sought to draw the top city bureaucrat's attention to the procedure and protocol to be adhered to by the government officers while dealing with the members of the assembly. "A few instances have been brought to my notice where the communications of the Members in the form of letters, phone calls or messages have not even been acknowledged by the concerned officer," Gupta said in the letter, terming it a "serious" matter. Gupta said he expected that all administrative secretaries, head of departments, Delhi Police, DDA, and other agencies would be asked to follow a strict compliance to the norms. The Speaker also sought to be updated about action taken in the matter. The Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure lays down instructions for prompt disposal of references from Members of Parliament and state legislatures. It instructs that communications received from a Member of Parliament/state legislature should be attended to promptly. Any Information sought by a Member of Parliament and State Legislature should be supplied, unless it is of such a nature that it would have been denied to him, it instructs further. The Delhi government bureaucracy faced charges from previous AAP dispensation too, of being non-responsive to the ministers and MLAs and obstructing their work. AAP leader and former minister Saurabh Bharadwaj in a post on X shared Gupta's letter saying the BJP has understood that weakening democracy only harms the country and the people. "For ten years, Delhi officials were taught not to listen to ministers and MLAs. Not to pick up the phone of MLAs and ministers, not to reply to their letters. Those who used to give advice to Aam Aadmi Party on every issue are themselves troubled today," he said in the post. Now that the BJP has formed the government in Delhi, the "arbitrary" behaviour of the officers is becoming understandable to them although the same BJP used to favour these officers earlier, he said. Air India on Friday said its operations to and from the London Heathrow airport have been disrupted, with one flight returning to Mumbai, another diverting to Frankfurt and other flights remaining cancelled due to a temporary suspension of operations at the airport. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, the two other carriers besides Air India, that have direct connectivity between India and London Heathrow (LHR) also cancelled their flights on Friday. Travel plans of hundreds of passengers who were scheduled to fly to LHR, including from Indian cities, were disrupted. Following a significant power outage, operations at London Heathrow (LHR) have been suspended till 2359 hours (local time) on March 21. In a statement, Air India (AI) said its operations to and from LHR have been disrupted. "London Heathrow-bound AI129 from Mumbai is returning to Mumbai; AI161 from Delhi is diverting to Frankfurt. All our remaining flights to and from London Heathrow, including AI111 of this morning, have been cancelled for 21 March," the airline said. Air India also said that its flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected. An official said at least one flight each of Air India, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways from Delhi to LHR were cancelled on Friday. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Air India has 6 flights to LHR on March 21, with a total of 1,843 seats. British Airways has 8 flights per day between India and LHR, including 3 from Mumbai and 2 from Delhi. Virgin Atlantic has 5 daily flights to LHR from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Providing a global perspective, Cirium on Friday said roughly upwards of 1,45,000 passengers could be impacted. "This is an estimate based on the daily total scheduled seats and flights, which will not be full, and noting the various departure times around the world that could arrive at LHR on Friday. On the LHR departures front, upwards of 1,45,000 total seats are scheduled to fly on March 21. "There are 669 flights scheduled to depart on March 21, 2025," it said. Global Airlines' grouping IATA Director General Willie Walsh said this is yet another case of Heathrow letting down both travellers and airlines and that begs some serious questions. In a series of posts on X, he wondered how is that critical infrastructure - of national and global importance - is totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative. "If that is the case - as it seems - then it is a clear planning failure by the airport." "And, from that arises the question of who bears the costs of taking care of disrupted travelers. We must find a fairer allocation of passenger care costs than airlines alone picking up the tab when infrastructure fails." "Until that happens, Heathrow has very little incentive to improve," he said. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents around 340 airlines that account for over 80 per cent of the global air passenger traffic. In a statement, a British Airways spokesperson said customers due to travel from Heathrow on Friday are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice. "This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond," the spokesperson said. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said the temporary airport closure has had a significant impact on its flying programme. "We're incredibly sorry for the disruption this will cause and are working with our teams to ensure customers can complete their journeys as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said in a statement. Cirium said the impact of this incident can cascade over several days, as aircraft, crew, and passengers are out of place, with limited spare aircraft and seats available to recover passengers. Discussions among partners on the possible sending of military contingents to Ukraine are ongoing, and there are already "a large number" of countries that declare their readiness, but it is too early to talk about specific agreements, said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhy. At a briefing in Kyiv on Friday, the spokesman recalled that Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha recently reported that the discussion on the possible sending of military contingents "is already at the stage of clarifying the details of implementation, and not just the possibility." As Tykhy emphasized, the meetings, in particular of the Chiefs of General Staffs, indicate "a very detailed study of the specific implementation of this idea," that is, we are talking about discussing specific quantities, locations and modalities, etc. "All this is being seriously discussed. We understand that for this to happen, first of all, it is necessary to advance the peace process. That is, it is too early to talk about specific agreements on military continents, but we see a really large number of countries that declare their readiness to participate in this. We already have, in principle, a list of countries that express such readiness, even officially transmit signals about their readiness to participate in such a coalition, in such military continents," the Foreign Ministry noted. At the same time, Tykhy added that he could not name these specific countries yet, because "it is too early." "I think you will see this list of countries later," he said. The spokesman also emphasized again that in this context, not only the land, but also the air and sea components are important for Ukraine. "Air is the protection of our people and infrastructure, energy and nuclear power plants from Russian strikes, and patrolling the sky by our allies within this contingent could be a significant factor in the protection and long-term security of Ukraine. The presence at sea is the protection not only of Ukraine and the Ukrainian economy, but also of global food security," he explained. At the same time, the spokesman stressed that the involvement of the United States in the overall effort is important. "We are not talking about sending American troops. We are talking about the fact that this is a consensus decision, when it will be decided, American participation, consent, involvement of the United States in this process is very important. In order for this to all work. And we are also talking about this with the American side," Tykhy noted. India has 'strongly registered' its concerns with the United States authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on a flight that landed in Amritsar on February 5, particularly with respect to the use of shackles, especially on women, the Centre told Parliament on Friday. IMAGE: Indian citizens deported from the US after their arrival in Amritsar. Photograph: Raminder Pal Singh/ANI Photo Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha. He also said the US side has conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that detainees on the three deportation flights (that landed in Amritsar on February 5, 15 and 16) were 'not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the detainees did not request any religious accommodations during the flights aside from requesting for vegetarian meals'. The MEA said it had also registered its concerns regarding the need to accommodate the religious sensitivities and food preferences of the deportees. The MEA was asked whether the government has taken cognisance of reports about Indian deportees being shackled during their repatriation by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and if it has raised any formal diplomatic objections with the United States regarding the treatment meted to the Indian deportees. The government was also asked whether the standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft effective since 2012 has 'allowed the use of restraints', and if so, whether India has sought any modifications for its nationals. Singh, in his reply, said the MEA remains engaged with the US side regarding the humane treatment of the deportees during deportation operations. "The ministry has strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on 5th February 2025, particularly with respect to the use of shackles, especially on women," he said. A batch of 104 illegal Indian immigrants were deported by the US on board a US military aircraft that had landed at the Amritsar airport in Punjab on February 5. This was the first such batch of Indians deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of a crackdown against illegal immigrants. The treatment meted out to these deportees had kicked a nationwide outcry. Two more batches of illegal Indian immigrants were also deported by the US on February 15 and 16. On February 6, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in his statement in the Rajya Sabha that the government was engaging with the US to ensure the deported Indians are not mistreated, underlining the focus should be on a strong crackdown on the illegal migration industry. In the query in the Lok Sabha, the MEA was also asked whether the ministry has received any complaints from deported individuals regarding mistreatment during repatriation, and if so, sought the details of the reports along with the action-taken reports. "The US Standard Operating Procedure to organise and execute deportations effective from November 2012 calls for the use of restraints on deportees. The US authorities have conveyed that restraints are applied to ensure the safety and security of the mission. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter," Singh said. "The US side has confirmed that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that landed in India on 15th and 16th February 2025, respectively. This has also been confirmed and recorded by our agencies after interviewing the deportees on their arrival in India," he added. In a separate query, Congress leader Manish Tewari asked whether the Union government has 'paid any charges per person as deportation costs' for Indian nationals recently deported by the US, and if due process under US immigration law during expedited removal proceedings was followed for these deported Indian nationals. "Since January 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection vertical has been carrying out deportation operations as part of the larger 'National Security initiative' led by the US White House -- National Security Council. "The individuals that have been deported in this operation were placed under 'expedited removal' process, wherein a determination of inadmissibility can be made by the immigration officer without having to go through an immigration judge in the US," Singh said in his response. In another query, the government was asked whether there is any 'reverse migration' due to changes in policy of countries like the US and Canada. "No trends point towards reverse migration from either Canada or the US to India as a result of the recent migration-related changes in policy/approaches in these countries," the MoS said. The MEA, in a separate query, was asked about the likely impact of the recent US policy change regarding illegal migrants on Indian citizens who are currently residing there without legal documentation. "Individuals who have entered the US illegally, or who have overstayed their visa validity, or found to be staying in the US without any valid documentation or have criminal convictions against them are likely to be deported. "It is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad. This is however subject to an unambiguous verification of their nationality," Singh said. ***** 388 Indians deported from US since January 2025: Govt in LS Around 388 Indian nationals have been deported from the US since January 2025, the government informed Parliament on Friday. Of these, 333 Indians were deported directly from the US to India on three separate flights in February. Separately, the US, through Panama, 'deported 55 Indian nationals, who arrived on commercial flights', Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response in the Lok Sabha. The Ministry of External Affairs was asked whether the Union government has received the details of the persons to be deported from the US this year, and if the government has requested the US officials to provide adequate facilities for them. The ministry was also asked whether the Prime Minister had raised concerns with the US President and top US officials for the 'ill treatment' meted out to the deportees. In his reply, Kirti Vardhan Singh said, "Of the 388 Indian nationals deported since January, 333 individuals, after verification, were deported directly from the US to India on three separate chartered flights, which landed on 5th, 15th and 16th February 2025 respectively. Separately, the US, through Panama, deported 55 Indian nationals who arrived in India on commercial flights." "The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities have recently shared with us information pertaining to an additional 295 individuals, who are detained in their custody with final orders of removal from the US. The Ministry of External Affairs, along with other concerned agencies, is currently verifying the details of these individuals," he said. The MEA was also asked if the government has any plan to 'send our own aircraft' to bring back Indians designated as illegal immigrants by the US and are to be deported in the coming days. The need to promote safe, orderly and legal migration while cracking down on illegal immigration networks was discussed during the recent visit of the Prime Minister to the US on February 12-13, the Minister of State said. "India's consistent stance against illegal immigration, while seeking humane treatment of deportees, was reiterated. Both sides acknowledged the need to cooperate closely to aggressively address illegal immigration and human trafficking, by taking strong action against bad actors, criminal facilitators and illegal immigration networks," he said. The US is deporting only those Indian nationals who have been 'apprehended for violating the US immigration laws', Singh said. "Illegal mobility and migration has many other associated activities, also of an illegal nature. Moreover, those of our nationals who have been enticed into illegal migration have themselves become prey to other crimes. Those who have recently returned have testified to their harrowing experiences," he added. The Government of India is focused on identifying and taking strong action against the illegal immigration agents, the migration rackets and the entire criminal ecosystem, on which such illegal immigration thrives, the Minister of State said. A batch of 104 Indian immigrants were deported by the US in a C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force that landed at the Amritsar airport on February 5. This was the first such batch of Indians deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of a crackdown against illegal immigrants. The treatment meted out to these deportees had kicked up a nationwide outrage. "The US Standard Operating Procedure to organise and execute deportations effective from November 2012 calls for the use of restraints on deportees," Singh said. The ministry has 'strongly registered its concerns' with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5, particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women, he said. United States President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to begin the process of shutting down the Department of Education. IMAGE: United States President Donald Trump signs an executive order to begin the process of 'eliminating' the Department of Education. Photograph: @WhiteHouse/X "Today we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making. I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the Federal Department of Education once in for all. Democrats know it's right. I hope they're going to be voting for it because ultimately it may come before them," Trump said. "We have to get our children educated. We're not doing well with the education in this country and we haven't for a long time. It's been amazing how popular this has been- everybody says it- Republicans and Democrats have said it they're all saying it also with us are some terrific," he added. Trump claimed that when Former US President Jimmy Carter created the Department of Education, it was opposed by his cabinet and the Republicans. "When President Carter created the federal education department in 1979, it was opposed by members of his cabinet as well as the American Federation of Teachers the New York Times editorial board and the famed Democrat Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan," he said. Trump said that historically, the opposition makes sense. As per the White House, the US Department of Education has spent USD 3 plus trillion since 1979. Since then, per-pupil spending has increased by more than 245 per cent-- with virtually nothing to show for it. White House data shows that Math and reading scores for 13-year-olds are at the lowest level in decades. Six in ten fourth graders and nearly three-quarters of eighth graders are not proficient in math. Seven in ten fourth and eighth graders are not proficient in reading, while 40 per cent of fourth-grade students don't even meet basic reading levels. Standardized test scores have remained flat for decades. US students rank 28 out of 37 OECD member countries in math. "History has proven them right. After 45 years the United States spends more money on education by far than any other country and spends likewise by far more money per pupil than any country and it's not even close but yet we rank near the bottom of the list in terms of success. We are at the bottom of the list and we've been there for a long time. 70 per cent of eighth graders are not proficient in either reading or math. 40 per cent of fourth graders lack even basic reading skills. Our Public elementary and middle schools score worse in reading today than when the department opened by a lot," he said. "In Baltimore, 40% of the high schools have zero students who can do basic mathematics- not even the very simplest of mathematics. They're talking about like adding a few numbers together," he added. Trump said that despite these failures, the department's spending boomed by 600 per cent in a short while. "Despite these breathtaking failures the Department's discretionary budget has exploded by 600 per cent in a very short period," he said Trump said that he was laying off the staff by half and defunding the department. "My administration has initiated a reduction in force. We've cut the number of bureaucrats in half," he said. Trump said that the funds used to support students with disabilities and scholarships will be preserved and these duties will be provided to other institutions. "The Department's useful functions- Pell Grants, Title One funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs will be preserved. Pell Grant is supposed to be a very good program, Title One funding and resources for children with special disabilities and special needs- are going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them," he said. "But beyond these core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department as quickly as possible- it's doing us no good. We want to return our students to the States. We want education to come back to the States and they're going to do a phenomenal job. It's a commonsense thing to do and it's going to work," he said. He said under a new system, sans the Education Department, schools could compete with countries in Europe and China, which he said were out-competing the US. "If you look at Denmark, Norway, Sweden- I give them a lot of credit. China's the top 10 so we can't now say that bigness is making it impossible to educate because China is very big but you have countries that do a very good job in education. I think they have a chance to do well but we're going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs. Governors and others in the state want it so badly they want to take their children back and teach their children individually. Probably the cost will be half and the education will be maybe many times better so we look forward to this," he said. Towards, the end, Trump made what he called a 'personal statement', where he said that his administration would 'take care' of all the teachers, even those who opposed this order. "I want to just make one little personal statement- teachers to me are among the most important people in this country and we're going to take care of our teachers. I don't care if they're in the union or not. That doesn't matter but we're going to take care of our teachers. I believe the states will take better care of them," he said, adding, "We want to have our children well educated. we want them to love going to school." A United States federal judge has blocked the deportation of an Indian student at Georgetown University who was arrested after federal authorities accused him of actively spreading Hamas propaganda. IMAGE: Georgetown University postdoctoral fellow Badar Khan Suri. Photograph: www.georgetown.edu/ Badar Khan Suri is a postdoctoral fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington DC. In a court order dated March 20, United States District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles said, It is ordered that petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the court issues a contrary order. A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson earlier said in a statement to PTI that Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. "The Secretary of State issued a determination on March 15, 2025 that Suri's activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable. Suri's lawyer Hassan Ahmad had filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on March 18. According to the petition, the Department of Homeland Security had arrested and charged Suri with removability on March 17. At the time of filing, Suri alleged he was being detained at the Farmville Detention Center in Farmville, Virginia, Giles' order had noted. Suri's lawyer said he and his team are working diligently to secure his client's removal from the detention facility. We welcome Judge Giles' ruling, Ahmad said in a statement to CNN. It is the first due process Dr Suri has received since he was snatched away from his family on Monday night. A report in Politico had said that Suri, who was studying and teaching on a student visa, was detained by federal immigration authorities amid the Trump administration's crackdown on student activists whom the government accuses of opposing American foreign policy. The report said that masked agents arrested Suri from outside his home in Virginia Monday night. Suri's lawyer said in the petition that he is being punished because of the Palestinian heritage of his wife -- who is a US citizen -- and because the government suspects that he and his wife oppose US foreign policy toward Israel. The petition says the couple has long been doxxed and smeared on anonymously run, far-right websites due to their support for Palestinian rights. The petition adds that Suri's wife Mapheze Saleh has been alleged to have ties with Hamas and once worked for Al Jazeera. The Politico report cited a 2018 Indian newspaper article that had said that Saleh's father, Ahamed Yousef, was a former deputy foreign minister in the Hamas government in Gaza. In the newspaper article, Suri is quoted as saying that My father-in-law left the Hamas government after its five-year term ended and there were no fresh elections. Suri's father-in-law told The New York Times that his son-in-law was not involved in any political activism, including on behalf of Hamas. The Politico report said that Suri's lawyer has filed a lawsuit for his immediate release. The agents identified themselves as being with the Department of Homeland Security and told him the government had revoked his visa, the lawsuit says, according to the Politico report. The report added that according to Suri's petition, he was put in deportation proceedings under the same rarely used provision of immigration law that the government has invoked to try to deport Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate and legal permanent resident arrested for his role in leading campus protests at Columbia against Israel. The petition further notes that Suri has no criminal record and has not been charged with a crime. According to his profile on the website of Georgetown University, Suri completed his PhD in Peace & Conflict Studies from Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi in 2020. He wrote his thesis on "Transitional Democracy, Divided Societies and Prospects for Peace: A Study of State Building in Afghanistan and Iraq" in which he underlined the complexities involved in introducing democracy in ethnically diverse societies; as well as challenges to project state building. He has travelled extensively in the conflict zones of India, Pakistan, Balochistan in Iran, Iran, Turkey, Kurdish Areas in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and its southern region, Egypt and Palestine. The Politico report quoted a statement from a Georgetown spokesperson as saying that Suri is an "Indian national who was duly granted a visa to enter the United States to continue his doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan." "We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention. We support our community members' rights to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate, even if the underlying ideas may be difficult, controversial or objectionable. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly. Suri's arrest comes less than a week after Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University, self-deported after her visa was revoked for allegedly advocating for violence and terrorism and involvement in activities supporting Hamas. Srinivasan had entered the United States on a F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, the Department of Homeland Security had said. It added that Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organisation. The Department of State had revoked her visa on March 5. The Department of Homeland Security said it had obtained video footage of Srinivasan using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport on March 11. United States Supreme Court justices will hear next month Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana's renewed application, submitted to Chief Justice John Roberts, seeking a stay of his extradition to India. IMAGE: Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Photograph: ANI Photo Rana, 64, is currently lodged in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles and submitted an "Emergency Application For Stay Pending Litigation of Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus on February 27, 2025 with Elena Kagan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit. Earlier this month, Kagan had denied the application. Rana had then renewed his "Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus previously addressed to Justice Kagan, and requested that the renewed application be directed to Chief Justice Roberts. An order on the Supreme Court website noted that Rana's renewed application has been distributed for Conference of 4/4/2025 and application has been referred to the court. Rana is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks. Headley conducted a recce of Mumbai before the attacks by posing as an employee of Rana's immigration consultancy. Rana was convicted in the US of one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the terrorist plot in Denmark and one count of providing material support to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Tayiba which was responsible for the attacks in Mumbai. New York-based Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra told PTI that Rana had made his application to the Supreme Court to prevent extradition, which Justice Kagan denied on March 6. The application is now before Roberts, who has shared it with the Court to conference so as to harness the entire court's view. Batra added that he fully expects that in calmer times CJ Roberts would deny Rana the right to stay in America and avoid facing justice in India." "During current times, with so many district judges blocking President Trump's domestic agenda changes...the Supreme Court will enjoy denying Rana more easily. After President Trump and PM (Narendra) Modi met in the Oval, President Trump announced in the press conference that Rana will be extradited to India, to face his victims and his justice. The current posture is akin to a fish out of water, but moving around a lot to try to get back into American waters, Batra said. Rana is seeking a stay of his extradition and surrender to India pending litigation (including exhaustion of all appeals) on the merits of a petition he filed on February 13. In that petition, Rana argued that his extradition to India violates United States law and the United Nations Convention Against Torture "because there are substantial grounds for believing that, if extradited to India, the petitioner will be in danger of being subjected to torture." The likelihood of torture in this case is even higher though as petitioner faces acute risk as a Muslim of Pakistani origin charged in the Mumbai attacks, the application said. The application also said that his severe medical conditions render extradition to Indian detention facilities a de facto" death sentence in this case. It cited medical records from July 2024 that confirm Rana has multiple acute and life-threatening diagnoses, including multiple documented heart attacks, Parkinson's disease with cognitive decline, a mass suggestive of bladder cancer, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, and a history of chronic asthma, and multiple COVID-19 infections. Accordingly, petitioner certainly has raised a credible, if not compelling, factual case that there are indeed substantial grounds for believing he would be in danger of torture if surrendered to Indian authorities. Further, because of his Muslim religion, his Pakistani origin, his status as a former member of the Pakistani Army, the relation of the putative charges to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and his chronic health conditions he is even more likely to be tortured than otherwise would be the case, and that torture is very likely to kill him in short order. The US Supreme Court denied Rana's petition for writ of certiorari relating to his original habeas petition on January 21, 2025. The application notes that on that same day, newly-confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio had met with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. When Prime Minister Modi arrived in Washington on February 12 to meet with Trump, Rana's counsel received a letter from the department of state, stating that on February 11, 2025, the secretary of state decided to authorise Rana's "surrender to India, pursuant to the Extradition Treaty between the United States and India. Rana's counsel requested from the State Department the complete administrative record on which Secretary Rubio based his decision to authorize Rana's surrender to India. The Counsel also requested immediate information on any commitment the United States has obtained from India with respect to Rana's treatment. The government declined to provide any information in response to these requests, the application said. It added that given Rana's underlying health conditions and the State Department's own findings regarding the treatment of prisoners, it is very likely Rana will not survive long enough to be tried in India. The issues raised by petitioner merit full and careful consideration, and the stakes are enormous for him. The very least the US courts owe the petitioner is a full chance to litigate these issues, including exercising their appellate rights, before he is consigned to the fate that awaits him at the hands of the Indian government, the application said. It added that if a stay is not entered, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction, and petitioner will soon be dead. "Therefore, we respectfully request that this court enter an order staying the extradition and surrender of petitioner pending a full and considered hearing on petitioner's claims by the district court, circuit court, and, if necessary, a writ of certiorari to and further proceedings before this court. US President Trump, during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Modi in the White House last month, announced that Rana's extradition to India has been approved. The Supreme Court justices are Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice Samuel A Alito, Jr, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Neil M Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. A total of 166 people, including six Americans, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani terrorists laid a more than 60-hour siege, attacking and killing people at iconic and vital locations in Mumbai. Proceeds from the sale will support the training of future generations of doctors at the Oslo University Hospital. The fascinating story behind the Husain painting which set a new record for modern Indian art. IMAGE: M F Husain's painting Untitled (Gram Yatra) has shattered the previou1s artist record achieving $13,750,000 at the South Asian Modern + Contemporary Indian Art Sale in New York. 'This is the highest price realised for any modern Indian work of art in the world,' Christie's posted on X Photograph: Kind courtesy Christie's/X The late Maqbool Fida Husain's monumental painting, Untitled (Gram Yatra), shattered current records for modern Indian art, selling for a staggering Rs 118.7 crore/Rs 1.187 billion ($13.75 million) at Christie's New York auction of South Asian modern and contemporary art on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. This is almost double the previous record of Rs 61.8 crore set by Amrita Sher-Gil's 1937 oil on canvas, titled The Story Teller, in September 2023. Applause erupted at the Rockefeller Centre as the hammer came down to announce the sale of the work that has been largely unseen for 70 years. The winning bid came from an unnamed institution. 'This is a landmark moment and continues the extraordinary upward trajectory of the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art market,' said Nishad Avari, head of Christie's South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art, in a statement. The previous record for a Husain was about Rs 26.8 crore/Rs 268 billion ($3.1 million) for a painting named Untitled (Reincarnation). It was set in London last year. Spanning nearly 14 feet, Untitled (Gram Yatra), 1954, is a significant milestone in Husain's artistic journey, and an epic survey of Indian society. The painting unfolds across 13 vignettes, each vividly illustrating scenes of rural Indian life. At the heart of the composition, a man and woman ride an ox-drawn cart, grounding the narrative in India's agrarian roots. Surrounding this central image are depictions of women milking cows, milling grain, and caring for children -- themes that highlight fertility, creation, and renewal, details Christie's Web site. A striking image is that of a farmer standing strong, lifting the land in both a literal and symbolic sense -- a focus on the foundational role of rural India in shaping the country's post-Independence identity. The journey of Untitled (Gram Yatra) itself is as compelling as the painting's narrative. According to Christie's Web site, shortly after its completion in 1954, the painting left India and found its way to Norway, where it remained largely unseen for decades. The piece was acquired by Ukrainian-born Norway-based doctor, Leon Elias Volodarsky, who was in Delhi to establish a thoracic surgery training centre for the World Health Organisation. Volodarsky bequeathed the painting to Oslo University Hospital in 1964. Proceeds from its sale will support the training of future generations of doctors at the Oslo University Hospital, Christie's said in a statement. The rediscovery of Untitled (Gram Yatra) has reignited excitement among art historians and collectors alike. The painting's unique blend of European and East Asian influences within an Indian narrative reveals Husain's global outlook. Having travelled to China in 1952, the artist encountered painters like Xu Beihong and Qi Baishi, the influence of whose calligraphic brushwork is evident in the painting. Similarly, his travels to Europe in 1953 found him engaging with the works of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Paul Klee and Amedeo Modigliani. While their influences, too, are visible in the motifs and the Cubist style, the work remains rooted in the Indian idiom. 'If you're looking for a single artwork that defines modern South Asian art, this is it,' Avari said on Christie's Web site. 'The painting grapples with what it means to be both South Asian and a modern artist.' Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing was the first man to hoist the Tiranga in Tawang. He also brought Bum La under Indian control. IMAGE: Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing. Photograph: Kind courtesy Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing Museum/Instagram Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing, soldier, civil servant and diplomat, is central to India's history. If you did not know about him, here is why you should: The brave son of India integrated Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, with India in 1951. He did so without firing a single bullet. Before 1951 Tawang was ruled by Tibet. Major Khathing brought Tawang under Indian sovereignty shortly after China invaded Tibet in 1950. Had he not reached Tawang from Assam, travelling a difficult terrain with no road connectivity, the Chinese would have taken control. The Chinese reached Lhasa in Tibet a few weeks later. Lhasa went on to become the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and others during the Major Bob Khathing memorial event at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, March 19, 2025. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Arunachal Pradesh was known as the North Eastern Frontier Agency [NEFA] till 1972. Major Khathing, the accomplished soldier-negotiator, entered Tawang with three platoons of Assam Rifles to wrest it from Tibetan control. He achieved his task peacefully, won over the locals, village elders and monks of the famous Tawang monastery through dialogue and diplomacy. After meeting him they preferred India compared to the feudal Tibetan rule and acceded to the Indian Union. Major Khathing was the first man to hoist the Indian flag in Tawang. He also brought Bum La under Indian control. The Khathing Point in Bomdila is named after him. A museum of valour was opened in Tawang last year in his honour. He also played a vital role in setting up lasting institutions like the Sahastra Sena Bal, the Naga regiment and Naga Armed Police. IMAGE: Rajnath Singh at the Major Bob Khathing memorial event. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Belonging to the Naga tribe, the Manipur native had the rare accomplishment of receiving both military and civil honours. He was awarded the Military Cross, Order of the British Empire and Padma Shri. He fought in World War II and commanded a group of the V-Force, a reconnaissance and guerilla group set up by General Archibald Wavell to ambush Japanese forces in the east. 'Khathing shaved his head in typical Tangkhul style. Barefoot, carrying a basket bag with dried beef and salt to serve rations for two weeks and his automatic concealed under the tribal shawl, he set forth 'haunting' the Japanese forces. Ambushing smaller patrols himself, he would direct the RAF fighters and bombers to straff/bomb bigger formations.' 'Once, finding a large Japanese group occupying his house, he straightaway indicated the location to the RAF and had his own house bombed to smithereens to ensure that none of the Japanese escaped,' wrote retired Brigadier V Ramanan in Salute. IMAGE: Rajnath Singh looks at the bust of Major Bob Khathing at the Manekshaw Centre. General Upendra Dwivedi is also seen. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Major Khathing was awarded the MBE and Military Cross for gallant action in the war. After the war, he left the army on advice of the maharaja of Manipur and joined the Manipur government as minister of hill administration. He was elected MLA in the first assembly election in Manipur and also served as assistant commandant of 2 Assam Rifles. He was assistant political officer NEFA when he brought Tawang into India's fold. He was then inducted into the Indian Frontier Administrative Service. He served as chief secretary of Nagaland and became the first tribal ambassador when he was sent as India's envoy to Myanmar in 1972. IMAGE: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu at the Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing Museum of Valor in Tawang. Photograph: Kind courtesy Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing Museum/Instagram He played a pivotal role in the Shillong Accord and establishing the state of Nagaland. He died of a heart attack in 1990 and is survived by his children. An annual Major Bob Khathing memorial event is held every year. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered the memorial address in New Delhi on Wednesday. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com BRATTLEBORO After being sworn into the new role, Brattleboro Fire Chief Jay Symonds received congratulations from fire department personnel, other town employees and community members. MFA on upcoming meeting with USA in Saudi Arabia: Details, implementation of decisions to be discussed Photo: MFA The upcoming meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia is not political, but technical, stressed the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhy. "As President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, this meeting is not political, but technical. This is a meeting at which the parameters of the proposals on various ceasefire regimes that are on the table today should be determined. We, as a state, proposed and agreed to a specific American proposal for a 30-day, complete ceasefire. We accepted it while still in Jeddah," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday. The Foreign Ministry stated that if "Putin and Russia agreed to this proposal, a ceasefire could already be in effect." "Instead, we see various new conditions from the Kremlin, some conversations, some proposals, manipulations and the like," Tykhy added. At the same time, he explained that Ukraine treats the negotiations that will take place in Saudi Arabia as bilateral Ukrainian-American negotiations, and considers them "as a technical round, not a political one." "Accordingly, the details and implementation of decisions that have already been made at the political level will be discussed there... That is, professional people from the Ukrainian and American sides should meet, who will be able to find out all the details of how it should look. We need to understand how it will work, who will control it, how monitoring will take place," the Foreign Ministry noted. Tykhy also said that the Ukrainian side does not know how the Americans will contact the Russians in Saudi Arabia. "This is their choice. But we are preparing for negotiations in Saudi Arabia, just like for bilateral Ukrainian-American history," the spokesman added. Tykhy also said that Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will not be present at the meeting, since it is not a "political level" and there will be a "military component." Aimee Parnell has been on the job at the Waypoint Center for about a month, and her enthusiasm as the new executive director of the Great Fall Eaton has celebrated the success of its local channel over the last year at its annual Partner Awards. Held on 6 March in Sydney, the awards saw over 100 partners, distributors and key Eaton employees from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea come together to recognise the power management vendors top performers. The annual Eaton Channel Partner Awards celebrate the exceptional achievements and dedication of our channel partners who consistently drive innovation, growth and success in the industry, said Eaton Power Quality general manager Gavin Swadling. We are immensely proud of our channel partners and their unwavering commitment to Eaton, which continues to elevate our collective success. In the New Zealand and Fiji section of the awards, Approved Partner of the Year went to Datacom and Distributor of the Year was won by Ingram Micro. Additionally, Shape Energy national business development manager of power products Paul Winan was awarded Channel Champion Partner and UPS Power Solutions corporate sales manager Sam Lingman scored Channel Champion Distributor. Meanwhile in the Australian and Papua New Guinean portion of the awards, Dicker Data won the categorys Distributor of the Year accolade after overachieving on its annual target through its commitment to success and strategic investments in serving the partner community. I am incredibly proud of our team and the results theyve delivered for Eaton, said Dicker Data executive director and chief operating officer Vlad Mitnovetski. The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhy, commented on the words of US President's special envoy Keith Kellogg about the format of the negotiations with Ukraine and the Russian Federation in Saudi Arabia. "We consider this meeting to be technical and Ukrainian-American bilateral. I don't know anything about any running around the rooms," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday. Tykhy added: "As far as I know, the Ukrainian technical team has no plans to have contacts with the Russians." "And I will not speculate on when there will be or will not be direct contacts. As of today, we are communicating with the American side. The American side is communicating with the Russian side," the spokesman noted. According to Tykhy, such a model has proven its effectiveness in the past, recalling the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Earlier, US President's special envoy Keith Kellogg said that representatives of Ukraine and Russia during the negotiations in Saudi Arabia may sit in different rooms, and the American delegation would walk between them. Millions of Afghans in Iran face an uncertain future as Tehran prepares to implement sweeping restrictions that will cut off access to health care, education, housing, and other essential services for undocumented immigrants. The new policy, set to take effect on March 21, has left many Afghans grappling with impossible choices between a hostile host country and an unstable homeland. For Rasheed, an Afghan immigrant living in Iran, the consequences of these policies have already hit home. Rasheed recently returned to Afghanistan after doctors in Iran refused to treat his elderly mother for her heart disease. I was told to return to Afghanistan because Afghans were not supposed to get any treatment here, Rasheed recalled of his conversation with an official at a government hospital in Tehran. My mothers condition was rapidly deteriorating, which prompted me to return to my country, he told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi. Rasheed requested that his real name be withheld to protect his identity. In Karaj, a city near Tehran, Ehsan Zia, another Afghan immigrant, is devastated that his two teenage daughters can no longer attend school. Our hopes have been dashed, he told Radio Azadi. Even here, my daughters are being deprived of education. Zia moved to Iran three years ago after the Taliban banned teenage girls from attending school following their return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Despite having a legal visa to stay in Iran, Zia says he has been unable to enroll his daughters in school due to bureaucratic obstacles and shifting policies. Who Will Be Affected By The New Policy? Earlier this month, the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA) at Irans Interior Ministry announced six categories of Afghans who will remain eligible for key services under the new rules. These include Afghans registered as refugees, those with valid visas or work permits, former employees of the Western-backed Afghan government that was toppled by the Taliban, and families with school-going children who apply for visas. Tehran has already deported more than 2 million Afghans over the past two years as part of a campaign targeting undocumented immigrants. Nader Yarahmadi, head of CAFIA, defended the governments move, telling the semiofficial ISNA news agency that there is no obstacle to returning [to Afghanistan] due to the relative stability and declared policies of the current Afghan government. The United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that that some 4 million Afghans live in Iran, including more than 2 million undocumented migrants. Figures cited by Iranian officials and media vary widely, with some claiming that 8 million Afghans reside in Iran. Risking Tensions With The Taliban The crackdown on undocumented Afghans has coincided with rising anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran. Impoverished Afghan migrants are often scapegoated for crimes, insecurity, and unemployment. Such views have fueled mob violence against Afghans as well as mass arrests and brutal treatment by Iranian police and border security forces. Cutting off basic services to migrants will disrupt the labor market and drive more people into the underground economy, said Graeme Smith, senior Afghanistan analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group. Afghan migrants make up a significant portion of Irans labor force in agriculture and construction -- sectors that could suffer if undocumented workers are expelled en masse. Smith also warned that Tehrans policies could worsen tensions between Iran and Afghanistan. The Taliban government has already clashed with neighboring Pakistan over its treatment of Afghan refugees. The Taliban may feel provoked to respond, for example, with restrictions on water sharing, Smith said, referring to a long-standing dispute over water rights. Experts argue that Tehrans approach could backfire, both economically and geopolitically. An isolated and heavily sanctioned Iran needs stable relations with Afghanistans Taliban government to expand trade ties, maintain border security, and build a more integrated regional economy. Not only will this cause suffering for the Afghans affected, Smith noted, but its a self-defeating policy for Tehran. Two men identified by prosecutors as members of the Russian mob have been convicted in New York City for plotting to kill Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad in a murder-for-hire scheme financed by Iran's government. The verdict was returned on March 20, ending a two-week trial that included testimony about how Iran targeted Alinejad, 48, for her online campaigns encouraging Iranian women to defy Irans law requiring women to cover their hair in public. Prosecutors said Iranian intelligence officials first plotted in 2020 and 2021 to kidnap Alinejad and move her to Iran to silence her criticism of the government. When that failed, Iran offered $500,000 for her to be killed, prosecutors said. Assistant US Attorney Michael Lockard told the jury on March 19 that the Iranian government had set the award to fund the plan to silence Alinejad. Alinejad called the verdict a powerful gift from the American government to the people of Iran because it shows that justice is beginning to be served. I am relieved that after nearly three years, the men who plotted to kill me have been found guilty. But make no mistake, the real masterminds of this crime are still in power in Iran, she told The Associated Press. Right now, I am bombarded with emotions. I have cried. I have laughed. I have even danced. Leslie R. Backschies, who heads the FBI's New York office, said the verdicts show that the Iranian government's shameless conduct and attempt to violate our laws and assassinate a critic of their human rights atrocities will not be tolerated. Prosecutors said the convicted men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, were members of the Russian mob. Defense lawyers argued at trial that their clients were innocent and evidence was flawed. We respect the jury's verdict, but plan on filing an appeal on Mr. Omarov's behalf, Elena Fast, an attorney for Omarov, was quoted by the AP as saying in an e-mail. A lawyer for Amirov did not immediately respond to the APs request for comment on the verdict. In court on March 19 his lawyer, Michael Martin, said there was no doubt "Iran targeted Alinejad, but his client was not part of any plot." Alinejad testified last week that she came to the United States in 2009 after she was banned from covering Iran's disputed presidential election and after the newspaper where she worked was shut down. After establishing herself in New York City, she built an online audience of millions and launched a campaign that told Iranian women to send photos and videos of themselves exposing their hair when the morality police were not around. She ultimately inspired women to take to the streets in Iran on Wednesdays to peacefully protest, leading the government to arrest hundreds of women. The crackdown only caused her following to grow. Prosecutors said that by 2022, the Iranian government enlisted organized crime figures to kill Alinejad. Khalid Mehdiyev, a former member of the Russian mob, testified that he was hired as the hitman. Mehdiyev, who cooperated with prosecutors after pleading guilty to multiple crimes, said he bought an AK-47 to kill Alinejad in July 2022, but the plan was foiled when his car was stopped by police and the gun was found. Mehdiyev, like Amirov and Omarov, are citizens of Azerbaijan. American officials have accused Iran of backing several assassination plots in the United States, including one against President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign last year. In a separate case, US prosecutors in 2022 charged a man in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) with plotting to kill former US national-security adviser John Bolton. Tehran has denied being behind any such plots. The plots came after Iranian officials vowed to exact revenge against Trump and others over the 2020 drone strike that killed prominent IRGC General Qassem Soleimani. With reporting by AP The fate of thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia has been thrown into further uncertainty after the United States defunded an American research unit that helped locate them. The United States has terminated financial support for the specialist team at Yale Universitys Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which has used open-source technology to track the missing children and pass the information to Kyiv. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, the executive director of Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab, Nathaniel Raymond, told RFE/RL that the move was "a catastrophic blow" to efforts to track the location of some 35,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Ukrainian officials and activists say that they will continue efforts to trace and repatriate them, but acknowledge that the defunding of the Yale unit will make their task much more difficult. Kateryna Rashevska, a legal expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights (RCHR) in Kyiv, says that in addition to tracing the children and sharing information with Ukrainian authorities, the HRL has also helped raise the profile of Ukraines campaign to bring the kids home. They were also very proactive in advocacy efforts, participated in relevant conferences, spoke at the UN Security Council. It was a comprehensive activity, she said. Rashevska and other RCHR team members have contributed to efforts to gather evidence to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials accountable for the unlawful deportation of children from the occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia. A War Crime The forcible abduction and deportation of children is a war crime under the statues of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It may also be considered genocide if the aim is to eradicate a particular ethnic, racial, or religious group, according to scholars. The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2023 for Putin as well as Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, in connection with the deportation of the Ukrainian children. Russia denies wrongdoing and claims it evacuates Ukrainian children from conflict zones to give them protection from war. Gunduz Mammadov, a former deputy prosecutor-general of Ukraine, said that cutting funds to groups like the Yale lab will not only undermine Ukraines ability to bring the abducted children home, but it also curtails efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. It is extremely important for Ukraine to independently continue its work on investigating and recording crimes [committed by Russia], in particular using available methods of digital forensics, open-source analytics, and international cooperation, Mammadov told RFE/RL. Yales lab used open-source technology, such as satellite imagery, social media, and Russian publications to gather information about the children. This process should not stop, as it is key both for the repatriation of our children and for justice, he said. Not all hope is lost, however. Days after his administration cut off funding for the Yale unit, US President Donald Trump raised the issue of the missing children with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a call to discuss a path toward ending Russia's invasion. President Trump also asked President Zelenskyy about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted. President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home, the White House said in a March 19 readout of the call. Trumps peace negotiators will meet their Russian counterparts in Riyadh on March 24. History Of 'Russification' The exact number of the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia is not known. In 2023, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets claimed that around 150,000 children were illegally taken away by the invading forces. Only 1,236 children have been repatriated, according to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative launched by Zelenskyy. Russia has not given Ukrainian authorities the list of children it has forcibly removed from their country. Kyiv says that the children are being Russified and reeducated and brainwashed against Ukraine. There have been reports of illegal adoptions by Russian families, with many adoptive parents changing the childrens names and erasing their Ukrainian identity. Moscows war against Ukrainian identity goes back hundreds of years. Czarist Russia and the Soviet regime suppressed the Ukrainian language, forced Ukrainians to assimilate, and registered ethnic Ukrainians as Russians in official documents. Russias exploitive behavior doesnt end with identity. According to the HRL, there are documented cases in which the children were physically abused, denied communication with their families in Ukraine, and given inadequate access to food and care after being taken to Russia. The HRL is part of the Ukraine Conflict Observatory program set up with the US State Department funds to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Russia. The State Department confirmed to RFE/RL on March 18 that the foreign assistance award supporting the Ukraine Conflict Observatory has been terminated. Russian drone strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, leaving at least three people injured and several districts of the city battling power cuts while Czech President Petr Pavel was visiting for talks with officials. The head of the Odesa region's military administration Oleh Kiper reported on March 21 that minors were among the three known injured in the strikes that sparked fires in various parts of the city. The ASTRA Telegram channel, citing information in local media, said an apartment building, a shopping center, a store, and several businesses were among civilian infrastructure facilities hit in Odesa. The strikes resulted in power outages in at least three districts of the city, according to the DTEK electricity company. This is yet another reminder to the entire world: the war continues, and Ukraine continues to fight, Kiper wrote on Telegram. A 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine war was agreed on March 18 at talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But since the Trump-Putin talks, Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of breaking the limited agreement and it appears to have had little impact on the course of the war. Russia accused Kyiv on March 21 of blowing up a major gas pumping and measuring station in Russia's Kursk region near the border with Ukraine in what it called "an act of terrorism." Russian and Ukrainian delegations are expected to meet separately with US officials in Saudi Arabia next week, though face-to-face meetings between the two are not expected to be held. Hurting Odesa has been a priority for Russia in its three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as Moscow looks to obstruct Kyiv's maritime access. While Russia's hopes of reaching the strategic port with conventional forces faded in the first year of the war, it has continued to target it with regular strikes. Strikes on January 31 damaged buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list in Odesa's storied city center, including the Hotel Bristol, a luxury hotel built at the end of the 19th century. Ukraine's Prosecutor-General's Office said Russian armed forces used ballistic missiles in that attack. In a post on X on March 20, Pavel said Odesa "has been resisting Russian aggression since the beginning of the war. The Czech Republic is sending aid here in the form of combat vehicles, drones, protective vests, and mobile jamming devices that protect residents from drone attacks, as well as medical equipment, such as ventilators and hospital beds," Pavel said. Pavel met with Kiper, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, and other Ukrainian officials to discuss cooperation. Russian attacks late on March 21 killed two people in Zaporizhzhya, the regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said, adding that the attack caused three fires. Pictures posted on social media showed rescuers searching in the rubble and apartment blocks and homes with windows and facades badly damaged. Two other people were killed on March 21 in the Sumy region on Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia when Russian forces dropped at least six guided bombs on the village of Krasnopillia, prosecutors said. In eastern Donetsk region, prosecutors said Russian forces had dropped three bombs on the town of Kostyantynivka, killing one person. Meanwhile, Ukraines Foreign Ministry said on March 21 that Kyiv was continuing to hold talks with the United States about a minerals deal. Ukraine was even ready to sign the agreement in Jeddah, Heorhiy Tykhyy, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said, referring to the March 11 talks between US and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia. Tykhyy said that US officials at that time requested additional consultations in Washington about the deal. Trump said on March 20 that the United States would sign the minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine shortly. A teen injured in the collapse of a roof at a train station in Serbia has died, becoming the 16th victim in the disaster that has pushed the prime minister out of office and sparked massive demonstrations against President Aleksandar Vucic and his government. The Military Medical Academy (VMA) in Belgrade said the 18-year-old, one of three people rescued from the rubble, succumbed to injuries they suffered when the canopy of the Novi Sad train station collapsed in November. "Despite all the treatment measures...the patient succumbed to complex injuries and resulting complications," the hospital said, identifying the victim only by the initials V.C. Demonstrators have flooded streets across the country to protest against the roof collapse, which they say is tied to government corruption and mismanagement. The announcement of the 16th victim of the collapse comes as questions linger over how student demonstrators in Belgrade last week were dispersed after a disturbing audio incident disrupted the protest. Serbian authorities, facing the largest protests in Vucic's 10-year reign, have rejected accusations that an "audio cannon" was used against protesters, saying they're ready to invite the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its Russian equivalent to investigate amid speculation that police might have used either Russian or American-made equipment on the crowd. However, those at the March 15 protest are demanding an explanation as to what caused mass panic to break out out as a crowd of thousands stood in silence to honor the victims of the Novi Sad railway station disaster. "Suddenly, a very strange sound eruptedit was unfamiliar to me, and to everyone around. The atmosphere turned ghostly and terrifying," Tatjana Rosic, who was among the demonstrators, told RFE/RL. "It felt like a stampede of horses was coming toward me. I lost consciousness for a moment." A coalition of non-governmental organizations said it had received testimony from more than 3,000 people describing the event, with most reporting intense fear, panic, and shock induced by an unknown source. They added that common symptoms experienced during the incident included rapid heartbeat, trembling, disorientation, and loss of control. Others described headaches, ear pressure, ringing, nausea, vomiting, a sense of intense cranial pressure, and heat spreading through the body. Serbian police, military, and top government officials have also denied that sonic weapons were used during the protest, with Interior Minister Ivica Dacic saying the country doesn't possess such instruments and even naming specific models manufactured by California-based Genasys, as well as Russian-made devices produced by Russia's state-owned radio-electronic industry firm Ruselectronics. Two days later, however, photos emerged showing a Serbian police vehicle equipped with a device resembling a Genasys-made LRAD system, while opposition politician Marinika Tepic told a press conference that the Interior Ministry may have bought as many as seven LRAD 450XL devices, which she described as "sound cannons." The LRAD 450XL was not one of the models mentioned by Dacic, who later confirmed that Serbian police do possess LRAD-450XL and LRAD-100X models, which broadcast powerful warning tones and for public safety, law enforcement, maritime, and defense applications. But Dacic insisted that the devices are used strictly for crowd communication and emergency warnings, not for dispersal or intimidation. Contacted by RFE/RL, Patrick Wilcken, a researcher at Amnesty International, described LRAD systems as a long-range acoustic device, essentially an extremely loud speaker that emits sounds over 150 decibels. Originally developed around two decades ago for military communication, "its most controversial use [today] is in law enforcement, Wilcken said. But manufacturer Genasys has now had its own say on the March 15 incident, and it has not brought any clarity to the discussion. The video and audio evidence we have seen and heard so far does not indicate that an LRAD was used during the incident on 15 March in Belgrade, the company said. US President Donald Trump says the United States soon will sign a minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine as negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to end the war continue. Trump told reporters at the White House on March 20 that his efforts to achieve a peace deal for the country were going "pretty well" after his talks this week with the leaders of the warring countries. "We're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine," Trump said. As Trump made the comments, Russian forces attacked civilian infrastructure in Odesa, causing damage and injuring three people, including a girl, the regional governor said. "The enemy massively attacked Odesa and the region with strike drones, Governor Oleh Kiper said. There is damage to civilian infrastructure, including a residential high-rise building, a shopping center, and shops," he wrote on Telegram. Kiper said large fires broke out in three locations as a result of the attack. There also was a report from the Kursk region of Russia saying that Ukrainian forces attacked the gas distribution station in Sudzha. The independent media outlet Sota published a photo on Telegram showing a large fireball. A Ukrainian military Telegram channel posted the same photo, citing media reports about "a successful strike on the Sudzha gas transport system through which the enemy used to transport gas to Europe." There was no official word on the incident from Ukrainian government officials. Moscow also did not report the incident. The station was the only point through which Russian gas had passed on its way to Europe until Ukraine declined to extend a transit agreement in January. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on March 20 ordered Ukrainians in Ukraine's occupied territories to get a Russian passport by September 10 or leave. The ultimatum applies to Ukrainians in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya, Tymofiy Mylovanov, Ukraine's former economy minister, said on X. Trump this week held separate talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr. Those talks fell short of securing a full 30-day cease-fire but resulted in Putin agreeing to stop Russian attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. Zelenskiy said after his talks with Trump that he would also accept such a pause. "We would love to see that (war) come to an end, and I think we're doing pretty well in that regard," Trump said. Ukraine and the United States earlier this month agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources. Efforts to seal the deal fell apart on February 28 after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskiy at the White House. Trump and Zelenskiy agreed on March 19 to work together to end Russia's war with Ukraine in a phone call that the White House described as a "fantastic." It was unclear if the terms of the minerals deal have changed. An earlier version did not include the security guarantees that Zelenskyy has insisted upon. It also envisaged the Ukrainian government contributing 50 percent of the proceeds for sales of state-owned natural resources to a U.S.-Ukraine managed reconstruction investment fund. Trump on March 20 also signed an executive order to boost US domestic production of lithium and other minerals critical to the production of batteries for electric cars and electronics. The order also directs federal agencies to create a list of US mining projects that can be quickly approved as well as which federal lands could be used for minerals processing. With reporting by Reuters As Ukraine's frontline cities continue to come under attack, museums holding historical and cultural artifacts are working to relocate valuable collections to safer parts of the country. Physical damage is a threat because of air strikes, says Olha Sahaydak, head of Ukraines Coalition of Cultural Workers. For example, when the Bristol Hotel was targeted in Odesa, the Museum of Literature and the Philharmonic were also damaged, she says. But experts say just 10 percent of the endangered items have been safeguarded so far. More than 3 million items in museum collections are left in Ukrainian-held territories near the front lines, according to Sahaydak. In the Zaporizhzhya region, which is partially under Russian control, museum officials are working to save objects that represent Ukrainian identity. Viktoria Vodopyan, director of Zaporizhzhyas Regional Museum, says they have decided to save traditional embroidered shirts known as vyshyvanka along with embroidered towels. We saw what was happening in the [partially occupied] Donetsk and Luhansk regions after 2014 and how the identity of the Ukrainian people was being destroyed, says Vodopyan. Museum officials also want to safeguard against the looting of cultural treasures if Ukrainian loses more territory to Russia. When Russian forces temporarily occupied the city of Kherson in 2022, witnesses reported the theft of paintings, gold artifacts, and religious icons. The Kremlins read-out of Vladimir Putins phone call with US President Donald Trump appeared on its website at 8:15 p.m. Moscow time on March 18: Putin, the readout said, had agreed to a US cease-fire proposal to halt Russian strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure for 30 days. But even before the call ended, Russian attack drones were in the air. Within minutes of the calls conclusion, Ukrainian energy and other targets were being pounded in attacks that continued for hours. Two hospitals -- technically protected under international law were badly damaged. Ukraine hit an oil pipeline complex in southern Russia. A day later, on March 19, Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy held their own phone call, and the Ukrainian president said he accepted the proposed cease-fire. But Zelenskyy told reporters that everything will continue to fly. If the Russians definitely dont strike our facilities, we wont hit theirs, Zelenskyy said. And they did: Russia launched more than 170 drones at Ukraine early on March 20. Ukraine used long-range drones to attack an air base where Russian long-range bombers are housed and reportedly used a new long-range missile to hit a refinery as well. In the Sumy region bordering Russia, civilians were forced to evacuate their villages after a barrage of drone and guided missile attacks. "I didnt want to leave my home. Ive lived here for 50 years," one resident said. "But there was no choice in this situation." It may still be early to judge, but as cease-fires go, this certainly doesnt look like one. And unless Russian and American technical teams set to meet in Saudi Arabia next week can agree on concrete steps to implement and expand the deal, it will likely be short-lived as well. It may still be too early to judge, but as cease-fires go, this certainly doesnt look like one. And unless Russian and American negotiators can agree on concrete steps - either in Saudi Arabia on March 24 or subsequent meetings -- it will likely be short-lived as well. Neither Russia nor Ukraine have, at this stage, any incentives to decrease the intensity or scale of their operations, Maria Engqvist, deputy head of the Russia and Eurasia studies program at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, told RFE/RL. Nikolas Gvosdev, professor of national-security affairs at the US Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island, said the strikes that followed the calls were directly connected. From Putin's side, it is to show that Russia enjoys escalation dominance and can continue to strike at times/places of its choosing, Gvosdev told RFE/RL. From Zelenskyy's side, it is to show that despite Trump saying that Ukraine doesn't have the cards, that in fact it still has cards, still has capabilitiesand that Ukraine is by no means on the ropes. Dick Berlijn, a retired Dutch Air Force general who served as the Netherlands top military officer, said Putin has not given any signs that he really wants a cease-fire. I think the reason why he came up with not [targeting] energy infrastructure is because it hurts him, Berlijn told RFE/RL. Most of the energy infrastructure in Ukraine has already been destroyed, but targeting [Russian] energy and infrastructure, especially oil, hurts [Russia]. 'Very Much At Odds With Reality' Since late 2022, Russia has been hammering Ukraines energy industry, using ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as long-range drones, to target power plants, transmission facilities, and substations. Intended to exhaust Ukraine's civilian population, its a strategy often attributed to the former top commander of the Russian invasion, General Sergei Surovikin, whom Russian media once dubbed General Armageddon. In the face of those attacks, Ukraine has struggled to keep the lights -- and heat -- on, but has managed to muddle through with a mix of local ingenuity and large-scale Western support. At the same time, Ukraine has ramped up its homegrown industry of drones, which it has increasingly used to target Russia's own energy infrastructure -- oil refineries, pipelines -- not to mention military facilities. Russia is also concerned about Ukraines homegrown, long-range cruise missile, the Neptune. Days before the phone calls, the new missile was used to hit an oil refinery on Russia's Black Sea coast, Zelenskyy claimed. That gives the Kremlin an incentive to push for its own energy facilities to be taken off Ukrainian targeting lists, Berlijn said. Speaking to reporters the day after Putins call with Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putins order was implemented immediately. He even claimed Russian forces shot down seven of their own drones as a testament to Russian goodwill. Military experts, however, cast doubt on Peskovs claim and pointed out that Russian commanders could have called off the attacks earlier -- and certainly could have avoided targeting hospitals six hours later. Mutual accusations came just a few hours after the overnight March 20 attacks. Putins pledge was very much at odds with reality, Zelenskyy said. "We believe that this cease-fire, which was proposed by the president of the United States of America, has already been violated by the Kyiv regime, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on state television. Still, US officials voiced optimism. I think were closer to peace, cease-fire than weve ever been in the last three years, Keith Kellogg, the White Houses main envoy for Ukraine, told ABC News. 'The Theory Of A Cessation' Aside from a reservoir of distrust filled by three years of Russias all-out war on Ukraine, theres the question of whether there was agreement the cease-fire would go into effect immediately -- or what the sides even agreed to at all. I would be hesitant to call the events that have transpired during the past week even a prelude to a prelude to a proper cease-fire agreement discussion, Engqvist told RFE/RL. The trajectory for a deal of any kind is highly unstable at the moment. It can still take many turns. The Kremlin statement said the deal referred to energy infrastructure. The White House, however, said the deal covered energy and infrastructure. And Zelenskyy took an even broader view of what should be spared. One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure, he said in a Telegram post following his call with Trump. Both sides are interested in the theory of a cessation, Gvosdev said. Ukraine could take time to rebuild and consolidate, Russia would seek sanctions relief; but neither side has a cease-fire proposal that meets those requirements, and both are unsure as to how far Trump would go to try and compel acquiescence, he said. If Putin really wanted to be sincere in his wish to stop the war, he could stop the war today. He could have stopped the war three years ago, Berlijn said. Putin wants Ukraine back into the Russian Empire," he said. "He doesn't agree with the fact that Ukraine is a sovereign nation, so that all makes it very difficult to come to a peace settlement that is agreeable both for Ukraine and for Russia." Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will take part in negotiations between the technical teams of Ukraine and the United States, which will be held in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "The team will be at a fairly high level, these are technical and professional people, there will also be the Minister of Defense, and I think we will be ready to move very fast and very objective," Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel on Friday. Answering journalists' questions about the possibility of signing agreements or arrangements in Saudi Arabia, the president said he could not say how this meeting would end, but "it would be good if the meeting ended with some result that could bring us closer to a complete ceasefire." As Sky News reported on March 20, the Ukrainian delegation to the ceasefire talks with the United States, which will take place next week in Saudi Arabia, will include the country's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ At the "Coalition of the Willing" summit, which will be held next Thursday, leaders will discuss the strategy of security guarantees for Ukraine after the end of the war, and the issue of the contingent, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "It will be an important summit. We can call it that, the 'Coalition of the Willing.' Indeed, we will talk about the strategy of security guarantees for Ukraine after the end of the war. And not about allowing a second wave, but one could say a third wave of occupation by the Russian Federation, their aggressive actions. We will talk about the part, about the contingent," Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel on Friday. In addition, the "Coalition of the Willing" summit will discuss support for the Ukrainian army and what the contingent's infrastructure will look like. "Where, how many, who is ready to be in the 'Coalition of the Willing' and who is not yet ready. It is understandable each country has its own different objective or subjective reasons for this. And after our meeting among the countries that are ready or who are not yet sure, in any case there will be a serious high-level representation of the countries, I would like us to come out with some specifics," Zelenskyy said. He also said he had discussed the agenda of the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking about monitoring compliance with the silence regime, Zelenskyy said he had discussed this with various colleagues from Great Britain, France, and the United States. And there will also be a discussion of the modeling of this monitoring. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukrainian President Zelenskyyy would attend the "Coalition of the Willing" summit scheduled for next Thursday. Eva Osborne At the end of last year, a new Maritime Security Unit was launched within the Department of Defence. It was set up to examine the increasing maritime threats to Ireland and create a National Maritime Security Strategy. But what are these threats? And what are the undersea cables off Ireland's coast responsible for? Dr Margaret Stanley previously led the office of emergency planning in the Department of Defence and she will head the new Maritime Security Unit. Stanley has previously said that Ireland's geographic position is part of the reason why this kind of security work is being prioritised. Ireland's maritime footprint is seven times the country's land area and it is home to the majority of transatlantic data communications. For example, the AEC-1 cable connects New York with Ireland, landing at Killala, Co Mayo. It is 5,534km long and has been operating since 2016. The system primarily serves telecommunications providers, cloud service providers, content delivery networks, and enterprises that require efficient data transport solutions. The safeguarding of undersea cables is a huge priority, as they store everything from banking systems to Tiktok operations. Because of this, they are increasingly attractive targets for military and criminal actors. Around three-quarters of Ireland's national gas is also imported by undersea gas pipelines. Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1, Dr Edward Burke, assistant professor of the history of war at UCD, welcomed the Maritime Security Unit but said it is a slow start for the National Maritime Security Strategy. "I think the threats that we see on the Irish seaboard are so intense and obvious, not only to us but to the European Union and to other security partners including the UK," he explained. "We've seen a lot Russian naval activity off the west and east coast of Ireland. We see Russian spy vessels, we're clearly mapping and surveilling our criminal national infreastructure and associate cables for weaknesses." The government has said its spending on defence in 2025 is a record 1.35 billion and another increase is expected next year. Last year, the then Tanaiste and current Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Ireland faces new and emerging threats due to its underwater cables which are critical for global communications and commerce. This infrastructure on which the global economy now depends has been suspected of being under the watch of Russian spies. Martin said that as the majority of transatlantic data communications now run through Irish seas, the infrastructure has critical international importance. This exposes us to new and emerging threats, including threats to our offshore infrastructure. We take these threats very seriously, he said. The latest National Risk Assessment for Ireland identified Damage to Critical Undersea Infrastructure as one of the countrys strategic risks. The potential risk implications for Ireland are stark. Our seas not only contain vital subsea cable infrastructure but approximately three-quarters of Irelands natural gas is imported via undersea gas pipelines. As an island nation, we rely on the security of our seas. The potential impact of Trump tariffs on the Irish economy, and the death of Irish Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan are the main stories on Friday's front pages. The Irish Times and Irish Examiner lead with Donald Trump's planned tariffs. The Irish Independent leads with a story on expiring planning permission, while a picture of Eddie Jordan also features on the front page. The Echo leads with a story on 3,000 people waiting for dental treatment in Co Cork. The Irish Sun leads with a story on the death of Eddie Jordan. Today's front page of The Irish Sun. pic.twitter.com/IxQC6ucRov The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) March 21, 2025 In the past year, 1,000 prisoners have been released after just a day, the Irish Daily Mail reports. 'It makes a mockery of the criminal justice system' - every day last year, three criminals were granted temporary release within 24 hours of going to jail pic.twitter.com/GbI0zE12dS The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) March 20, 2025 The Herald leads with a murder case. Snooker star Mark Allen is to be disqualified from acting as a company director for five years, the Belfast Telegraph reports. The Irish News leads with the GAA catfish story. The front page of todays Irish News. pic.twitter.com/ZP7JoCZRkl The Irish News (@irish_news) March 21, 2025 The quest for a peace deal in Ukraine continues to lead Fridays UK front pages. The Financial Times reports UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has had a change of heart on plans for ground peacekeeping troops, instead opting for sea and air power. Meanwhile, the i Paper says Mr Starmer has stepped up plans for the 31-nation security force to provide Kyiv security guarantees as part of any peace deal. The Times features warnings by UK defence secretary John Healey, who says Britains nuclear weapons arsenal could inflict untold damage on enemies if attacked. And The Independent leads on comments from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who says all nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine. The Daily Mail and Daily Express both lead on local council tax hikes. The Daily Telegraph previews UK chancellor Rachel Reeves spring statement, which is set to include a downgraded growth forecast. The Guardian focuses on comments from British energy secretary Ed Miliband, who hit out at Conservative leader Kemi Badenochs Net Zero criticism. Police have begun relentlessly tracking down the 100 most dangerous predators targeting women and girls, Metro reports. The Daily Mirror says David Norris, one of the men convicted in the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence, will admit his involvement in assaulting the teenager. The Sun writes about fears surrounding the health of former heavyweight boxer Frank Bruno. Lastly, the Daily Star leads on a decades-old riddle over the broom used in TV comedy favourite Only Fools and Horses. The New York Times leads with a story on US president Donald Trump signing an order to scrap the US Department of Education. Shoot Wraps for "Dakuaan Da Munda 3" Punjabs Biggest Action Franchise Prepares for Release Filming in the Wild A First for Punjabi Cinema Shoot Wraps for "Dakuaan Da Munda 3" Punjabs Biggest Action Franchise Prepares for Release: The wait is almost over! The highly anticipated "Dakuaan Da Munda 3", the next installment in Punjabs most celebrated action franchise, has officially wrapped up filming and is now set to storm theaters on June 13, 2025! Starring the dynamic Dev Kharoud and the versatile Bani Sandhu, the film also features rising star Kabir Duhan Singh who gained immense popularity with his role in Marco. Adding to the stellar cast, Navi Bhangu, Kavi Singh, Satinder kasoana, Lakha Lehri and Drishty Talwar play pivotal roles, further elevating the films intrigue. Advertisement Directed by Happy Rode and produced by Zee Studios & Dream Reality Movies Dakuaan Da Munda 3 promises a high-octane cinematic experience, packed with gripping storytelling and intense action sequences. Filming in the Wild A First for Punjabi Cinema Taking Punjabi cinema to new heights, Dakuaan Da Munda 3 was shot in the rugged and untamed forests of Uttarakhand, an unprecedented location choice for the industry. The unpredictable terrain brought unparalleled authenticity to the films intense action sequences, pushing the entire cast and crew to their limits. Advertisement Adding to the thrill, the team even encountered wild animals during the shoot, making the production an adventure in itself. Despite these real-life challenges, the dedication of the crew ensured that Dakuaan Da Munda 3 will deliver an unforgettable, adrenaline-fueled spectacle. With breathtaking visuals, next-level action, and a power-packed storyline, Dakuaan Da Munda 3 is all set to redefine Punjabi action cinema. YZ Mark your calendars Punjabs biggest action blockbuster hits the big screen on June 13, 2025! Punjab congress protest over AAP Promise of Rs 1100 to women, Raja Warring Detained He called on the government not only to initiate the monthly disbursements but also to pay women with arrears for the last three years. Punjab congress protest over AAP Promise of Rs 1100 to women, Raja Warring Detained: Chandigarh was left stunned as the Punjab Congress organized a protest against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for not keeping its promise of offering a1,100 monthly financial assistance to women. The protest was brought out by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Raja Warring, where hundreds of Congress workers, including Punjab Mahila Congress members, marched toward the Vidhan Sabha. The protesters were confronted by intense police resistance in the form of barricades and water cannons to drive the crowd away. In spite of the aggressive action, the protesters stood firm, chanting slogans against the AAP government and calling for instant action to fulfill the pledged financial assistance. Advertisement Raja Warring, along with other Congress leaders and demonstrators, was arrested by the police during the protest. Speaking to the gathering prior to the arrest, Warring condemned the Bhagwant Mann government for its supposed inability to keep its promises. He called on the government not only to initiate the monthly disbursements but also to pay women with arrears for the last three years. The demonstration was a reflection of mounting anger in different sections of society, and Warring blamed the AAP government for ignoring the demands of women, farmers, and other weaker sections of society. The deployment of water cannons on female protesters also evoked strong criticism from opposition leaders who termed the police action as excessive and unjustified. This protest is yet another addition to the growing pressure on the AAP government to face its broken promises and regain the people's faith. With rising tensions, everybody is waiting to see what step the government takes next to set things right in the people's eyes. Advertisement (For More News Apart Punjab congress protest over AAP Promise of Rs 1100 to women, Raja Warring Detained stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education The Department of Education, founded in 1979, has long been a bulwark against inequities in the American education system. Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education: The Trump administration's decision to dismantle the Department of Education has sparked widespread concern and debate, particularly among advocates for educational equity. This move, framed as a step toward returning control to states, has left many questioning the future of federal oversight in ensuring equal access to education for all students. The Department of Education, founded in 1979, has long been a bulwark against inequities in the American education system. Its charge to advance equal educational opportunities has served as a beacon, particularly for historically disadvantaged groups like low-income students, English learners, students with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities. The argument against abolishing the department is that it could lead to an "underclass of students," as Center for American Progress's Weade James articulated. Advertisement Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who is responsible for managing this transition, has seconded President Trump's notion of working herself "out of a job." The administration's rationale rests on the premise that federal intervention has not produced the desired academic performance, pointing to low reading and math proficiency among students. Yet, the department's supporters point to its status as a "north star" for schools, offering necessary guardrails and investments to ensure equitable outcomes. Perhaps the most disputed part of this ruling is the future of federal funding, such as Title I, which is used to finance schools in areas of high poverty. Those in favor fear diverting these dollars to states under the control of state governments alone could cement entrenched inequalities. Federal-aid-reliant states like Mississippi and South Dakota stand to be substantially harmed if the priorities for money change. The administration's activities go beyond budgeting. The recent cancellation of the contract for the Equity Assistance Center-South has been criticized as an undermining of efforts to end educational inequities in the Southern states. Raymond Pierce of the Southern Education Foundation called the action an abandonment of the government's role to offer more opportunities for education. Advertisement While some view decentralization as the key to a brighter future, others anticipate loss of an advocate for students with disadvantages within the federal umbrella. The discussion reflects the intricate process of meeting the demands for both state control and a singular pledge to equal opportunities in schools. As the nation observes the never-before experiment evolving, only time will tell who will now promote the interest of the neediest students under an unseamless regime? (For More News Apart Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Editorial: Attacks on HRTC buses: Reason and understanding In fact, all this violence was carried out against some Sikh youth by a shopkeeper from Manali on 14th March. Editorial: The Case of attacks on Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses in Punjab and The background of these incidents demands that the entire issue be handled with sensitivity. The Chief Ministers of both the states, in this context, showed wisdom and tact by using Turkish language. Which is a commendable approach. Kharar Police in Punjab has claimed to have identified the hooligans who On Tuesday, HRTC was attacked with sticks and stones on Kharar flyover. Broke the glass of the bus. Advertisement Similarly, in Hoshiarpur district too, a bus was pelted with stones, after which on Wednesday H.R.T.C. did not run buses from 10 routes going to that district. After such incidents, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu asked Punjab Chief Minister Had a phone conversation with Minister Bhagwant Mann during which Mr. Mann told him about the situation in Punjab and Himachal. Assured to ensure safe and uninterrupted movement of buses. In the same context, there was a phone conversation between the police chiefs of both the states during which Himachal Pradesh The D.G.P. He warned that no atrocities of any kind should be allowed against the people coming from Punjab, especially the Sikh youth. Promised. In fact, all this violence was carried out against some Sikh youth by a shopkeeper from Manali on 14th March. It started with filing the complaint. According to the complaint, two Sikh youth killed Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on their respective motorcycles. Advertisement Flags with pictures were brought. That Manali resident demanded that these flags be taken down, due to which the fight started. The viral video of this tirade gave the officers of Punjab an excuse to take 'retaliatory action'. Harjinder Singh Dhami, who resigned from the chairmanship of the Shiromani Committee, is yet to formally return. Have to take it, he too did not waste any time in making a statement like 'pradhan'. On the other hand, in the Himachal Legislative Assembly also on Wednesday, the opposition BJP took the tone of Asanjmi instead of Sanjmi. Adopted irresponsible attitude. The fortunate thing was that Chief Minister Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri refrained from indulging in machinations. Instead adopted a responsible tone. He praised the positive attitude of Punjab Government and Punjab Police and also appreciated the efforts of Sikhs. He also promised to deal with the complaints of the devotees with cordiality. He said that motorcycles or other motor vehicles bearing 'Khalsai Nishan Sahib' Neither the state police nor the common people should have any objection. Yes, display of Khalistani flags is objectionable and action will be taken in such cases. Stickers or flags bearing the picture of Saint Bhindranwale became common on motor vehicles in Punjab. Are visible. This is not a legal violation. No matter how controversial a figure he may have been, displaying photographs or stickers is considered Khalistani propaganda. Should not be seen as. It is the duty of Himachal government and political parties to educate the state police and people about this reality. To make knowledgeable. Advertisement On the other hand, the leaders and organizations who consider themselves the protectors of Sikhs and Sikhs also It is the duty of the Sikh youth, especially those Sikh youth, to ride on motor cycles and carry out the activities of Manikaran or Paonta. Those going on 'Sahib' or other pilgrimage sites must be inspired to ensure that the entire community Being a symbol, they must demonstrate responsible behavior and not do anything that might lead to Instead of Khalsa, it should give the impression of being Bezabat Khalsa. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel discussed the situation on the front, defense production and European work for security guarantees for Ukraine. "Today we discussed with the President of the Czech Republic all the key details of the situation on the front, in general, the details of this war and we appreciate the Czech initiative to assist Ukraine with artillery and we are working together to ensure that the initiative is effective this year as well," Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel on Friday. In addition, the head of the Ukrainian state informed his interlocutor about his conversation with US President Donald Trump and about preparations for a new meeting of the teams in Saudi Arabia. The parties also discussed joint European work to ensure security for Ukraine and some issues related to defense production. "Our teams from Ukraine and the Czech Republic have specific projects. Every right idea for the development of our defense capabilities must be implemented. Today, some agreements will already be implemented," Zelenskyy stressed. He also thanked the Czech Republic for supporting Ukraine at the European Union level. "Now, unfortunately, some negotiations on joining the EU have slowed down, and this is due to the blocking by representatives of one country of all the work of Ukraine and all other states, members of the European Union. We believe that the European Union needs more unity, more speed, and more opportunities to fulfill what has been promised. Ukraine is fulfilling its part of its obligations regarding accession, and the negotiation process must correspond to this," the president added. A utilitarian perspective on labor migration An outlook on foreign labor and related challenges (Credits: pixabay.com @Vertax) Iulia Hau, 19.03.2025, 14:00 Starting 2022, the Romanian Government has established a quota of 100,000 foreign workers per year. According to data provided by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, the largest communities for which work visas have been issued are Nepalese, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bengali. The main areas that employ foreign labor are construction and infrastructure, agriculture, cleaning, warehouses and logistics, the automotive industry, the hospitality and food sectors. However, we rarely talk about these newcomers in terms other than economic ones. Luis Escobedo, a Peruvian researcher who lives in Romania investigates in detail issues of racism and interculturality. Having worked and lived in Poland and South Africa, Escobedo is currently an associate researcher with the Society for Intercultural and Migration Studies in Bucharest and of the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice, an associate of Free State University in South Africa. He talks about the utilitarian perspective on the latest migration developments at society level. We can talk about three main elements, which build into this kind of perspective. First, the fact that Romania has a tendency of looking West-wards. The West already has this utilitarian outlook. To them, migration is a tool that can be used to solve demographic and economic problems. At the same time, we have other elements, we have a neoliberal element, closely connected to the first. We have a very clear perspective on the West, we talk about it as a monolith deprived of diversity. We tend to believe that everything is more developed there, that they are better than us, we dont have a sophisticated discourse in that regard, and that fits with the neoliberal element. Then, for them, there is only one way to think about development, one that only takes market economy or globalization as the only available option. The third element, the expert explains, is the ideological makeup of the middle class, embraced especially by residents of urban areas. According to this specific ideological rhetoric, hard work is tantamount to human value. Hard work will get you anywhere and make you successful, Escobedo explains. The flaw in this discourse, the researcher argues, is that it does not take into account differences pertaining to environment, gender, sexual orientation, social class and others. Asked how this utilitarian perspective affects migrants in Romania, Luis Escobedo answers: We consider a migrant or migration in general to be something that we can use, and not something that refers to people. People like us, normal people, people with different lives and experiences, who, from our perspective, belong to a single group of workers who are here only to develop our economy and solve our demographic problems. We no longer have dreams, we no longer have families, we no longer have plans, projects, and so on. We are not considered complex people (when) we are considered an abstract category of migrants. We believe theyre here just to work for us and pay taxes. Luis Escobado says that this false dilemma-type of attitude cannot take into account the different circumstances of each person, which makes migrants even more exposed to personal problems, health issues or abusive work conditions. When it comes to the type of strategies migrants can use to cope with the difficult situations they encounter, Luis Escobedo provides several options: First of all, its difficult for them to realize that something is happening to them. Yes, Im tired. Its normal, because I work hard, because thats how life treats us, migrants. This is our reality. Im very happy that I was able to come here and others have it a lot worse than me and I was very lucky. Then, first of all, they create a kind of defense system to be able to live here peacefully. At the same time, however, they are affected and you can see the physical effects in their daily lives, when they get home and theres nothing left in the fridge or they dont have electricity for the fridge or they have to share the fridge with other people. And there are also conflicts and hierarchies: who eats first, who has to wait to use the kitchen if there is a kitchen to begin with. At this point, they start to develop tensions, conflicts, they start to develop internal problems and, at the same time, they start to develop solutions. What else should we do? There are five or six of us at home and they crowd around the kitchen. Okay, I know someone who works and eats at work. Then I start to eat there, I start to develop social relations by means of which I can do better. On a deeper level, Escobedo explains, other strategies rely on the leaders who are shaped by such communities leaders who start to develop institutions, to advocate for rights, to build communities of emotional support or spaces where they can enjoy cultural recognition from the host country. Another equally valid strategy is to marry a citizen of the host country and not just for citizenship, the researcher says, but maybe because they want to be part of the community, they want to be Romanian. (VP) March 21, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and international news. Newsflash Newsroom, 21.03.2025, 20:19 A roundup of local and international news. BALLOT The order in which the candidates to Romanias presidency will appear on the ballot paper at the May elections will be established on Saturday by the Central Electoral Bureau. The institution announced that the positions on the ballot paper will be decided by drawing lots. 11 candidates officially remained in the race for the position of president of Romania. Among them are the mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, who is running as an independent, former liberal leader Crin Antonescu, from the ruling coalition PSD-PNL-UDMR, former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who also chose to run as an independent, the head of the USR, Elena Lasconi, who came second in the first round of the 2024 presidential elections, annulled by the Constitutional Court, or the leader of the AUR, George Simion, who replaced the pro-Russian independent Calin Georgescu, whose candidacy was rejected by the CCR. The first round of the presidential elections in Romania will take place on May 4, and the second, two weeks later, on May 18. INVESTIGATION Romanian prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation and are requesting the 30-day preventive arrest of Bogdan Peschir, the main financer of the promotion, on the TikTok platform, of the the ultra-nationalist Calin Georgescu, a former independent candidate for the presidency of Romania. Peschir is currently detained on charges related to over 250 acts of voter corruption through electronic means of communication. According to a statement from the General Prosecutors Office, from March 2024 to January 31, 2025, Bogdan Peschir allegedly offered almost $880,000 in the form of transmittable points, during live sessions on the TikTok platform, pints that can be converted into money. He also allegedly sent over 300,000 lei and almost 18,000 euros through transfers on the Revolut application to 265 people, in order to influence their vote in the 2024 presidential elections. On Thursday, other people who made themselves known on social media platforms were also targeted by searches in this case, including the influencer known as Makaveli, advisor to a senator from the SOS Romania party (opposition, ultra-nationalist), or people who are said to be part of an organized crime group. EU At the Brussels summit, the European leaders reaffirmed on Thursday their commitment to continue supporting the defense of Ukraine, as well as maintaining pressure on Russia. The declaration was adopted, however, without the signature of Hungary. Also, during the European Council meeting, the European Commissions strategy on strengthening the security and defense of the EU was approved. The plan provides for investments in defense of 800 billion euros. Attending the Brussels summit, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, explained that the member states will be able to carry out joint defense procurements, which represents an opportunity for the national defense industry. NATO remains the foundation of collective defense, Ilie Bolojan also said. DEFENSE The interim President of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, has convened a meeting of the Supreme National Defense Council on March 2, the Presidential Administration announced on Friday. According to the statement, topics such as the stage and prospects of the conflict in Ukraine following the illegal and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation will be discussed, as well as the implications for Romania and the countrys stand in the context of the negotiation process regarding the end of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. The Council meeting will also analyze other current issues in the field of national security, the Presidential Administration also announced. ID As many as 5 million Romanian electronic identity cards are to be issued by June 2026, the Ministry of the Interior in Bucharest announced. The institution specified that the first issuance is free of charge, with European funding. Romanian authorities on Friday made a presentation of the new documents, which began to be issued the day before, first in Cluj County (northwest), and then distributed nationwide. The new identity cards are a small format, the size of a bank card, with advanced security elements, which ensure protection against forgery or identity theft and allow easy access to electronic services. The Integrated Information System for issuing identity documents was also created with European funding. Romania celebrated on Friday, 104 years since the establishment of the first citizen record structure. START-UP The Romanian government has allocated around 450 million euros for this years edition of the Start-Up Nation program, aimed to stimulate the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises. Each young entrepreneur up to 35 years old, who will be admitted to the program to start a business or to develop the one they already have, will receive 50,000 euros. The government wants to support over 7,000 young businessmen to create at least 15,000 new jobs. FELLOWSHIP The Eugen Ionescu doctoral and postdoctoral research fellowship program, financed by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed together with the University Agency of the Francophonie (AUF), edition 2024 2025, will be attended by 110 people from 24 French-speaking countries, the Ministry announced. The fellowship program will be held between May 1 and July 31, in one of the 29 universities and higher education institutions in Romania, AUF members, registered for this edition. On May 23, 2007, the Government of Romania, following the commitment made during the 11th Sommet of Francophonie (Bucharest, September 2006), decided to establish and finance a Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, entitled Eugen Ionescu, to honor the memory of the Romanian-French writer, an emblematic figure of 20th century literature and a major representative of the theatre of the absurd. The program allows young French-speaking doctoral students and researchers from around the world to benefit a three-month research fellowship in one of the partner higher education institutions in Romania. (EE) Start-Up Nation 2025 The Romanian Government allocates 450 million Euros for this years edition of the Start-Up Nation program Start-Up Nation 2025 Roxana Vasile, 21.03.2025, 13:50 The Romanian Government has decided to allocate almost 450 million euros for this years edition of the Start-Up Nation program. The program was designed to encourage and stimulate the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises. This year, the authorities want to help over 7,000 young business people create at least 15,000 jobs. In 2025, the program comes with a number of firsts, such as the use of artificial intelligence in project analysis. The Minister of the Economy, Digitalization, Antrepreneurship and Tourism, Bogdan Ivan, has the details: For the first time, we are talking about funding provided exclusively from European funds 450 million euros. Its the largest allocation since the beginning of this program. We are talking about skills for entrepreneurs who are going to obtain funding and not just about funding. We are using new technologies and artificial intelligence for a platform through which entrepreneurs will be able to upload these projects. They will be evaluated much faster and, at the same time, we will have a much clearer dynamic of this program. Each young entrepreneur who will be admitted to this years Start-Up Nation program will receive 50,000 euros, non-refundable, to start a business or to develop the one they already have. The investments will go both into developing entrepreneurial skills and into the business itself. Registration for the skills development module will begin on April 15, with all contracts to be signed and the 50% advance payment to be made by the end of October. Minister Bogdan Ivan also told us what activities could be financed: Production and processing activities are stimulated, especially in the food industry, in the electronics industry and in IT. We are also talking about an impetus for the wood processing industry, paper and cardboard, and we are also talking about a model that can be implemented including in rural areas, especially in those economically disadvantaged areas, which can have and create access to resources for as many young entrepreneurs as possible. The target audience for these programs is young people up to 35 years old. Start-Up Nation is in its fourth edition. And, according to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the almost 450 million euros allocated this year represent the largest funding for this program so far. Since, for the first time, the money comes only from European funds, the State budget is relieved. (MI) The EU Strategy for Defence and Security European leaders have reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraines defence and have endorsed the European Commissions strategy on strengthening the EU security Ilie Bolojan (Photo: presidency.ro) Corina Cristea, 21.03.2025, 14:00 The European leaders who convened in Brussels have endorsed the European Commissions strategy for strengthening the EU security, which envisages investment in defence of 800 billion Euros. Out of this funds, 150 billion will be earmarked to joint defence projects and can be used only for arms purchases from the EU defence industry or from the European Free Trade Association as well as from Ukraine. Purchases from countries, which do not run security partnerships with the EU, including the USA, arent allowed. The White Paper for European Defence, as the Commissions strategy is titled, will allow the member states to increase their national defence budgets up to 1.5% of the GDP without triggering the excessive budget deficit procedure. Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission said quote: If member state would increase their defense spending by 1.5 percent of the GDP on average this could create fiscal space of close to 650 billion over a period of four years in addition to the 650 billion Euros all to be released. The second proposal will be a new instrument. It will provide 150 billion EUR of loans to member states for defence investment. This is basically about spending better and spending together. We are talking about pan-European capability domains. The Security Strategy allows the Europeans to increase their support for Ukraine beyond the commitments assumed for 2025. During the summit, the member countries, with the exception of Hungary, have reiterated their support for Kyiv. Romania will participate in European consortiums for the production and purchase of armament, interim president Ilie Bolojan said at the meeting of the European leaders in Brussels. The Romanian official said the possibility for the member states to make joint purchases is an opportunity for the national defence industry Ilie Bolojan: In the following period both the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economy, the private companies in the field of defence, but also other companies, which are producing car parts and could be transferred to the defence industry, will have to work in such a way that we may join some European defence conglomerates in the production area so that we can make joint purchases. In the meantime the North-Atlantic Alliance remains the foundation of collective defence interim president Ilie Bolojan went on to say adding that all the military arrangements Romania made with the USA will be respected, as budgets have already been allotted in this respect. (bill) European stocks traded lower on Friday as investors fretted about increasing global economic uncertainties resulting from geopolitical tensions and U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. The pan European STOXX 600 was down 0.9 percent at 548.13 after falling 0.4 percent to snap a four-day winning streak on Thursday. The German DAX shed 0.9 percent, France's CAC 40 declined 0.8 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down half a percent. German telecommunications firm Freenet dropped 1 percent despite an announcement that it will launch a share buyback program in the 2025 financial year. Douglas AG, a perfume and cosmetics retailer, plummeted 22 percent after lowering its FY2024/25 guidance due to a decline in consumer sentiment. Steel group Salzgitter fell more than 2 percent after delivering a mixed financial performance in 2024. Ferrexpo slumped 6 percent on liquidity worries. The iron ore pellet producer said Ukrainian tax authorities had suspended its value-added tax refund worth 512.9 million hryvnias ($12.36 million). Travel stocks faced selling pressure after a significant power outage closed Britain's Heathrow Airport for the day. Lufthansa fell 2.3 percent, IAG lost 3 percent and Air France KLM gave up 3.1 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis One of the Israeli hostages released by Hamas told the UN Security Council of his 491-day ordeal in captivity, and called on the United Nations to make efforts to bring all the remaining hostages home. Taken from his home in Kibbutz Be'eri on 2023 October 7, Eli Sharabi was held underground, chained, starved and subjected to psychological and physical abuse. "I have come back from hell," he told ambassadors. "I was kept mostly underground in Hamas terror tunnelsheld captive in the darkness, isolated from the world by Hamas terrorists." "For 491 days. I held on to hope, I imagined the life we would rebuild, I dreamt of seeing my family again," he added. However, only when he returned home last month, he learned the truth that his wife and two daughters had been killed by Hamas on the day he was captured. Sharabi detailed the horrors of captivity, describing how hostages were deprived of food, medical care and basic hygiene. "We had to beg for food, beg to use the bathroom. Begging was our existence," he said, adding, "Hamas [terrorists] ate like kings while [we] starved." Sharabi was freed on February 8 as part of the hostage release and ceasefire deal. After his release, Sharabi met both U.S. President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, narrating the plight of hostages and appealing for their release. "Now, I am here before you at the United Nations to say - bring them all home. No more excuses, no more delays. If you stand for humanity, prove it. Bring them all home," he said. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News European stocks moved mostly lower during on Friday as investors fretted about increasing global economic uncertainties resulting from geopolitical tensions and U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. The pan European STOXX 600 Index slid 0.6 percent to 549.67 after falling 0.4 percent to snap a four-day winning streak on Thursday. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index and the French CAC 40 Index also fell by 0.6 percent, while the German DAX Index shed 0.5 percent. Travel stocks faced selling pressure after a significant power outage caused by a nearby fire closed Britain's Heathrow Airport for the day. Lufthansa fell 1.7 percent, IAG lost 1.9 percent and Air France KLM gave up 2.7 percent. Douglas AG, a perfume and cosmetics retailer, plummeted 22.5 percent after lowering its FY2024/25 guidance due to a decline in consumer sentiment. Ferrexpo plunged 10.8 on liquidity worries. The iron ore pellet producer said Ukrainian tax authorities had suspended its value-added tax refund worth 512.9 million hryvnias ($12.36 million). Steel group Salzgitter also tumbled by 2.6 percent after delivering a mixed financial performance in 2024. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Czech President Petr Pavel has confirmed his support for Ukraine and stressed that any ceasefire should be a step towards real peace, and its terms must be acceptable and agreed with Ukrainians. "I am here to confirm to President Zelenskyy and all Ukrainians that the Czech Republic will continue to stand firmly with you. We are hearing a lot of talk about a ceasefire now, and frankly, it seems within reach. I want to say that no one wants peace more than Ukrainians, but any ceasefire must be a step towards real peace. The terms of this peace must be acceptable and agreed with Ukrainians," Pavel said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. He noted that the Czech Republic understands Ukraine's aspirations to make a sovereign choice about its future and to live as a free society. "Ukraine needs to receive guarantees that Russia will not attack again. This is our collective responsibility. The Czech Republic will make its contribution," Pavel added. According to him, the Czech Republic's involvement in the Coalition of the Willing is currently being discussed, in addition, the Czech Republic wants to "support the Ukrainian Armed Forces with vital supplies and we are working on three projects to support Ukraine." The Czech President also emphasized that he clearly sees Ukraine as part of the European family. "And I am here to support you on your path to the European Union... And we also encourage all our allies and partners not to question Ukraine's membership in NATO, not to take it off the table, because this is obviously the strongest and cheapest guarantee of European peace," Pavel noted. Eager students gathered at the law faculty market day [PHOTO CREDIT: Tokologo Lekoma] By: Tokologo Lekoma Several past and present students can attest that being part of the Law Faculty is undoubtedly a rigorous journey, but it is also gratifying and filled with growth. Despite the rainy weather, the Rhodes University Law Faculty still managed to host its annual "Market Day" on Friday, 14th March. The gazebo was packed to the brim, alive with the energy of young, ambitious minds eager as ever. St Peter's Lawn offered a scenic landscape bustling with students taking every opportunity to network with potential employers, mingle with their peers, and get a taste of what their futures would look like. Sponsored by esteemed law firms Adams & Adams and Bowmans, respectively, other companies, such as ENS Africa, Baker McKenzie, Legal Aid, Smith Tabata Attorneys and PPC, were also in attendance. Student representatives from Rhodes University were stationed at each company's booth to provide further insights into the company's ethos, mission, and culture. One student, Chiar Ramasamy, a third-year LLB student, said, "I'm really excited about the Market Day and excited to see all the firms here and get a feel of what my future is going to look like. It's going to be amazing." Toward the end of the event, the faculty held a short prize-giving ceremony to reward top students from each year. Associate Professor and Deputy Dean of the Law Faculty Helena van Coller praised all the students present for their hard work and dedication. She said, "Hopefully, next year when we stand here again, we'll have piles and piles of more certificates to hand out." Some students helped set up company bannisters and booths, while others awaited outside the faculty library. There were information sessions from various firm representatives, and the event also allowed students to participate in 30-minute mock interviews. The law faculty encouraged students to be proactive before and after graduation to have a leg up in an increasingly competitive environment. Moreover, speaking directly to recruiters early helps raise their hopes of securing vacation work for the upcoming term and semester breaks. In her address to the student body, Bowmans Law Firm Partner and Rhodes University alumna Ms Kabwela Chisaka said, "Don't do it for anyone else." Chisaka encouraged students to chase their dreams even if they were scary and even if people around them disagreed. She went on to say, "What does success look like for you? Decide what it looks like for you, regardless of whether you've got supporters, doubters, haters, etc." By the looks on everyone's faces, it seemed that Ms Kabwela Chisaka positively impacted many students. With the award ceremony over, students and guests were invited to share lunch and continue the festivities. Overall, the atmosphere showcased a successful event and a fruitful new beginning for many students. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/news/all The participants of the Core Group held their final, fourteenth, meeting in Strasbourg on March 19-21, at which the group experts completed technical work on three draft documents necessary for the creation of a Special Tribunal for Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. "The group's legal experts have completed technical work on three draft documents necessary for the creation of a Special Tribunal for Crime of Aggression against Ukraine: a draft bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on the creation of a special tribunal, a draft statute of the special tribunal, and a draft expanded partial agreement on the management of the special tribunal. Now these three documents will be submitted for political consideration," the presidential office said on its website on Friday. According to Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Iryna Mudra, this is a crucial step towards the establishment of the tribunal. "For two years, this group has been working to lay the foundation for justice for Ukraine and the whole world. I would like to especially thank those who hosted the group meetings: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Lithuania, Romania, Latvia, the European Union and the Council of Europe," she said. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha thanked all the countries and experts who made such significant efforts. "Accountability must be inevitable, including for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, to reinforce international criminal law," he said on the X social network. Vocabulary Artificial intelligence is a broad, vague term, and the mere mention of it for some may invoke feelings of uncertainty, fear, and hesitation. The best remedy is to arm yourself with information and familiarize yourself with it. Following are some definitions and explanations of terms from the AI world that will keep you conversant and perhaps even inspire you to learn more. Artificial intelligence, or AI for short, has been referred to as a technology, science, or capability that enables computers and machines to mimic the intellectual thought process of humans in order to complete complex tasks. It does so through training, programming, learning, and learning comprehension. Common tasks that humans ask AI to complete include processing and analyzing data, predicting trends, giving financial advice, and solving a problem, like asking AI to write a recipe based on whats in their fridge. Humans can also ask AI questions the way they ask Google but receive specific, thorough, and personalized responses. Generative AI is a type of AI that is trained to take everything it has learned from existing data and use that information to create entirely new content, such as text, images, videos, and music , and more . Generative AI differs from traditional AI in the way that it produces original content using knowledge and insights it has collected, versus simply analyzing existing data and producing responses based solely on that data. Some examples of how we can use generative AI include asking it to write a poem, create a graphic design, come up with a business product, draft an email response, craft and edit a resume, summarize meetings or documents, and brainstorm a career plan. ChatGPT, a free AI chatbot that understands and responds to user prompts in real time, is one of the most popular generative AI programs. A language learning model is a type of machine learning that specifically focuses on words and language. It involves taking in and analyzing large datasets of text and words, which trains AI to understand and comprehend the structure of human language in order to recognize human speech and generate meaningful human language itself. These models are foundational for interaction between AI and humans, and equip AI with the ability to complete language-related tasks, such as crafting creative responses to prompts, translating languages, and fully answering questions in an informative fashion. A digital twin is a virtual/digital representation of an object, system, process, organization, or person. It is created with the goal of accurately reflecting something in the physical world through digital means. You can build a digital twin by creating a custom ChatGPT, or GPTs, which people can train and tailor for specific tasks or topics by feeding it specific instructions, knowledge, and references. An organization or person can feed the twin information through documents, books, essays, projects, audio, and more. The goal is for people to be able to access a genuine portrayal of the person or organization and their knowledge digitally. Molecular signaling pathways are communication systems that transmit messages within and between cells. According to a new study by University of Geneva scientists, inhibiting one such system, called the sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway, strongly perturbs feather development in chickens by restricting feather bud outgrowth, invagination and branching. Avian feathers are intricate appendages whose forms vary substantially across species and body areas, and between juvenile and adult stages. Understanding both the developmental and evolutionary mechanisms underpinning this morphological diversity has long fascinated biologists. The morphological intricacies of avian feathers make them an ideal model for investigating embryonic patterning. In particular, the Shh pathway is an important mediator of feather outgrowth and branching. However, functional in vivo evidence regarding its role during feather development remains limited. To fill this knowledge gap, University of Geneva researchers Rory Cooper and Michel Milinkovitch used light sheet fluorescence microscopy imaging to study the normal patterning of embryonic feathers and how their shape develops. They also used precise intravenous injections of sonidegib to pharmacologically inhibit Shh pathway signaling during feather development at embryonic day 9, which precedes feather-bud outgrowth on the wings. This treatment temporarily modified Shh expression to produce striped domains instead of spots on the skin, temporarily stopped feather development, and resulted in unbranched and non-invaginated feather buds akin to putative proto-feathers until embryonic day 14. Although feather development partially recovered later during development, hatched sonidegib-treated chickens exhibited naked regions of the skin surface with perturbed follicles. Remarkably, these follicles were subsequently reactivated by seven weeks post-hatching, highlighting the robustness of feather patterning as a developmental process. Overall, the study provides comprehensive functional evidence for the role of the Shh pathway in mediating feather development in chickens, supporting the idea that modified Shh signaling has contributed to the evolutionary diversification of feathers and other skin appendages such as feet scales. The study also demonstrates the importance of in vivo experiments for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of developmental systems. Since the Shh pathway plays a crucial role in feather development, we wanted to observe what happens when it is inhibited, Dr. Cooper said. By injecting a molecule that blocks the Shh signaling pathway on the 9th day of embryonic development just before feather buds appear on the wings we observed the formation of unbranched and non-invaginated buds, resembling the putative early stages of proto-feathers. However, from the 14th day of embryonic development, feather morphogenesis partially recovered. Furthermore, although the chicks hatched with patches of naked skin, dormant subcutaneous follicles were autonomously reactivated, eventually producing chickens with normal plumage. Our experiments show that while a transient disturbance in the development of foot scales can permanently turn them into feathers, it is much harder to permanently disrupt feather development itself, Dr. Milinkovitch added. Clearly, over the course of evolution, the network of interacting genes has become extremely robust, ensuring the proper development offeathers even under substantial genetic or environmental perturbations. The big challenge now is to understand how genetic interactions evolve to allow for the emergence of morphological novelties such as proto-feathers. The study was published online today in the journal PLoS Biology. _____ R.L. Cooper & M.C. Milinkovitch. 2025. In vivo sonic hedgehog pathway antagonism temporarily results in ancestral proto-feather-like structures in the chicken. PLoS Biol 23 (3): e3003061; doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003061 A study at Charite -- Universitatsmedizin Berlin has found that a single dose of the Imvanex vaccine provides protection against Mpox with 84% effectiveness. For people with HIV, however, a single dose of the vaccine fails to offer sufficient protection. All at-risk groups, and people with HIV in particular, should therefore receive the second dose of the vaccine as recommended. The results of the study have now been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Since a wave of infections with the Mpox virus swept around the world in 2022, Germany's Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) has recommended that people at an elevated risk of Mpox infection receive an Imvanex vaccination. Originally developed to protect against smallpox, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Imvanex for use to protect against Mpox in July 2022 in response to the public health emergency. The Mpox virus is related to the original smallpox virus (Variola major). The EMA's decision to approve Imvanex was based on laboratory data showing that the vaccine offers cross-protection. Until now, however, the extent of this protective effect was not clear, especially for at-risk groups. Comprehensive study with over 9,300 participants The EMA commissioned a team led by Prof. Leif Erik Sander, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at Charite and a research group leader at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charite (BIH), to conduct a comprehensive study into the vaccine's effectiveness against Mpox. This study compared effectiveness in people with and without HIV for the first time. "Our results confirm that a single dose of the vaccine provides good protection against Mpox, at least for a short time," says Sander. "However, this only applies to people not living with HIV. Unfortunately, we found that people with HIV -- even those taking adequate medication -- are not sufficiently protected by a single dose." Conducted between July 2022 and December 2023, the study examined over 9,300 men and trans people who reported to have sex with changing men or trans people. These are among the groups for which STIKO recommends vaccination. Half of the study participants received a single dose of the Imvanex vaccine, while the other half remained unvaccinated. Both groups were monitored for two months on average to determine how many participants contracted an Mpox infection. One dose protects those with a healthy immune system Far fewer Mpox cases were recorded for HIV-negative participants in the vaccinated group than in the unvaccinated group, with the vaccine achieving 84% effectiveness. "That is a very good figure, which is likely increased even further by the second vaccine dose," says Sander. However, due to the significant drop in infections in the second half of 2022, the study was unable to determine the additional effect of a second vaccine dose. By contrast, for people living with HIV, the study only identified a small, statistically insignificant protective effect. "The reason is presumably that developing immune protection after vaccination requires specific immune cells called T cells," explains the infectious disease expert. "These T cells often appear at lower levels in people with HIV and are not fully functional, which translates to a weaker immune response. This also corresponds to our observation that these participants experienced fewer local and systemic side effects after receiving the vaccine." Two vaccine doses recommended for all, especially for people with HIV "We assume that people living with HIV develop protection against Mpox after the second vaccine dose, and urgently advise these people to receive the two vaccine doses recommended by the STIKO," emphasizes Prof. Florian Kurth. Head of the Clinical Infection Research Group at Charite, Kurth played a leading role in the study alongside Sander. "We recommend that people in all other at-risk groups also complete the two-dose regimen. The immune system typically develops longer-lasting immune protection when exposed to the vaccine on more than one occasion." Further studies will be required to determine the precise extent of the protective effect in different groups following two vaccine doses. The research team observed that vaccinated participants who still contracted the virus experienced milder symptoms. They developed fewer pox lesions, which also healed more quickly, and were less likely to report signs of systemic disease such as fever. "We assume that the second vaccination further reduces the manifestation of such symptoms," says Kurth. "Fewer pox lesions presumably also reduces the risk of transmitting the virus. Full vaccination should therefore ward off Mpox outbreaks." Subjects tolerate vaccine well The researchers also examined the tolerability and safety of the Mpox vaccine in over 6,500 people. The most common reaction reported was pain around the injection site. Less than 3% of vaccinated participants reported more pronounced symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea or diarrhea. "The Mpox vaccine is, therefore, safe and well tolerated overall," summarized Kurth. "It is important to note that immune protection develops fully around 14 days after vaccination. In addition, people should take general preventive measures, such as using condoms -- including to protect against other sexually transmitted diseases." The results on vaccine protection relate to clade IIb of the Mpox virus, which circulated in Germany during the study period. However, clade IIb is closely related to clade I, which is currently rampant in Central Africa and neighboring regions, so the researchers expect a very high level of cross-protection. Consequently, the results of this study could also be relevant for the current clade I outbreak in Africa. It remains unclear how long the protection from the vaccine lasts. In the next stage, the research team plans to conduct long-term studies and investigate the effects of a third vaccine dose. About Mpox Mpox (known until 2022 as monkeypox) is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus, which is related to the human smallpox virus. Its symptoms are similar to those caused by smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980. While smallpox was a life-threatening disease, Mpox generally runs a milder course. People typically experience fever, headache, muscle pain, back ache and swollen lymph nodes. After a few days, pustules appear on the skin and mucous membranes. These pocks can be extremely itchy and painful. Mpox-related deaths are very rare and primarily occur in children and immunocompromised people. Nevertheless, a severe bout of the disease can result in pronounced scarring and long-term harm. The Mpox virus is transmitted through close physical contact. About Mpox infection rates Due to genetic variations, the Mpox virus is classified in groups known as clades. In May 2022, there was a global outbreak of clade IIb, with the virus spreading primarily through close physical contact and sexual contact. Since then, over 100,000 cases have been recorded across 122 countries. While infection rates in Europe have fallen considerably since the autumn of 2022, a number of countries -- such as the USA, Brazil and Argentina -- exceeded 1,000 recorded cases in 2024, some to a significant extent. New clade IIb cases were recently reported in Australia, South Africa and South America. In addition, increasing numbers of clade I Mpox infections (including a new Ib variant) have been recorded in Africa since 2023, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the clade II outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), followed by a corresponding declaration for the clade I outbreak in 2024. About the Mpox vaccine Germany's Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends vaccination against Mpox with Imvanex, a vaccine approved in the EU. It was approved for use against smallpox in 2013 and for use against Mpox in July 2022. It has been approved for use against Mpox in the USA and Canada for several years under the names Jynneos and Imvamune. It is a live-attenuated vaccine that contains viruses incapable of replicating in the human body. The vaccine is based on a weakened cowpox virus (modified Vaccinia virus Ankara, MVA vaccine), which serves as a sort of prototype pox virus and can thereby induce cross-protection against other pox viruses. The vaccine is recommended for groups including men aged 18 and over who have sex with men and frequently change their sexual partner, as well as laboratory personnel who work with infectious Mpox samples. Basic immunization consists of two vaccine doses. About the study The study was divided into two study arms to examine the tolerability and effectiveness of the Mpox vaccine. In the study arm examining safety and tolerability, researchers prospectively examined and regularly surveyed roughly 6,500 people. In the study arm examining effectiveness, researchers applied a rolling cohort design in an emulated target trial. Retrospective comparison of data on over 9,300 vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects with comparable demographic and clinical characteristics simulated a randomized clinical trial. Across all participants -- with and without HIV -- the average effectiveness of the vaccine stood at 58%. This study was funded by the BIH and the EMA. On 19 March 2025, the European Space Agency's Euclid mission releases its first batch of survey data, including a preview of its deep fields. Here, hundreds of thousands of galaxies in different shapes and sizes take centre stage and show a glimpse of their large-scale organisation in the cosmic web. Covering a huge area of the sky in three mosaics, the data release also includes numerous galaxy clusters, active galactic nuclei and transient phenomena, as well as the first classification survey of more than 380,000 galaxies and 500 gravitational lens candidates compiled through combined artificial intelligence and citizen science efforts. All of this sets the scene for the broad range of topics that the dark Universe detective Euclid is set to address with its rich dataset. "Euclid shows itself once again to be the ultimate discovery machine. It is surveying galaxies on the grandest scale, enabling us to explore our cosmic history and the invisible forces shaping our Universe," says ESA's Director of Science, Prof. Carole Mundell. "With the release of the first data from Euclid's survey, we are unlocking a treasure trove of information for scientists to dive into and tackle some of the most intriguing questions in modern science. With this, ESA is delivering on its commitment to enable scientific progress for generations to come." Tracing out the cosmic web in Euclid's deep fields Euclid has scouted out the three areas in the sky where it will eventually provide the deepest observations of its mission. In just one week of observations, with one scan of each region so far, Euclid already spotted 26 million galaxies. The farthest of those are up to 10.5 billion light-years away. The fields also contain a small population of bright quasars that can be seen much farther away. In the coming years, Euclid will pass over these three regions tens of times, capturing many more faraway galaxies, making these fields truly 'deep' by the end of the nominal mission in 2030. But the first glimpse of 63 square degrees of the sky, the equivalent area of more than 300 times the full Moon, already gives an impressive preview of the scale of Euclid's grand cosmic atlas when the mission is complete. This atlas will cover one-third of the entire sky -- 14,000 square degrees -- in this high-quality detail. "It's impressive how one observation of the deep field areas has already given us a wealth of data that can be used for a variety of purposes in astronomy: from galaxy shapes, to strong lenses, clusters, and star formation, among others," says Valeria Pettorino, ESA's Euclid project scientist. "We will observe each deep field between 30 and 52 times over Euclid's six year mission, each time improving the resolution of how we see those areas, and the number of objects we manage to observe. Just think of the discoveries that await us." To answer the mysteries it is designed for, Euclid measures the huge variety of shapes and the distribution of billions of galaxies very precisely with its high-resolution imaging visible instrument (VIS), while its near-infrared instrument (NISP) is essential for unravelling galaxy distances and masses. The new images already showcase this capability for hundreds of thousands of galaxies, and start to hint at the large-scale organisation of these galaxies in the cosmic web. These filaments of ordinary matter and dark matter weave through the cosmos, and from these, galaxies formed and evolved. This is an essential piece in the puzzle towards understanding the mysterious nature of dark matter and dark energy, which together appear to make up 95% of the Universe. "The full potential of Euclid to learn more about dark matter and dark energy from the large-scale structure of the cosmic web will be reached only when it has completed its entire survey. Yet the volume of this first data release already offers us a unique first glance at the large-scale organisation of galaxies, which we can use to learn more about galaxy formation over time," says Clotilde Laigle, Euclid Consortium scientist and data processing expert based at the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France. Humans and AI classify more than 380,000 galaxies Euclid is expected to capture images of more than 1.5 billion galaxies over six years, sending back around 100 GB of data every day. Such an impressively large dataset creates incredible discovery opportunities, but huge challenges when it comes to searching for, analysing and cataloguing galaxies. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, in combination with thousands of human citizen science volunteers and experts, is playing a critical role. "We're at a pivotal moment in terms of how we tackle large-scale surveys in astronomy. AI is a fundamental and necessary part of our process in order to fully exploit Euclid's vast dataset," says Mike Walmsley, Euclid Consortium scientist based at the University of Toronto, Canada, who has been heavily involved in astronomical deep learning algorithms for the last decade. "We're building the tools as well as providing the measurements. In this way we can deliver cutting-edge science in a matter of weeks, compared with the years-long process of analysing big surveys like these in the past," he adds. A major milestone in this effort is the first detailed catalogue of more than 380,000 galaxies, which have been classified according to features such as spiral arms, central bars, and tidal tails that infer merging galaxies. The catalogue is created by the 'Zoobot' AI algorithm. During an intensive one-month campaign on Galaxy Zoo last year, 9976 human volunteers worked together to teach Zoobot to recognise galaxy features by classifying Euclid images. This first catalogue released today represents just 0.4% of the total number of galaxies of similar resolution expected to be imaged over Euclid's lifetime. The final catalogue will present the detailed morphology of at least an order of magnitude more galaxies than ever measured before, helping scientists answer questions like how spiral arms form and how supermassive black holes grow. "We're looking at galaxies from inside to out, from how their internal structures govern their evolution to how the external environment shapes their transformation over time," adds Clotilde. "Euclid is a goldmine of data and its impact will be far-reaching, from galaxy evolution to the bigger-picture cosmology goals of the mission." Gravitational lensing discovery engine Light travelling towards us from distant galaxies is bent and distorted by normal and dark matter in the foreground. This effect is called gravitational lensing and it is one of the tools that Euclid uses to reveal how dark matter is distributed through the Universe. When the distortions are very apparent, it is known as 'strong lensing', which can result in features such as Einstein rings, arcs, and multiple imaged lenses. Using an initial sweep by AI models, followed by citizen science inspection, expert vetting and modelling, a first catalogue of 500 galaxy-galaxy strong lens candidates is released today, almost all of which were previously unknown. This type of lensing happens when a foreground galaxy and its halo of dark matter act as a lens, distorting the image of a background galaxy along the line of sight towards Euclid. With the help of these models, Euclid will capture some 7000 candidates in the major cosmology data release planned for the end of 2026, and in the order of 100,000 galaxy-galaxy strong lenses by the end of the mission, around 100 times more than currently known. Euclid will also be able to measure 'weak' lensing, when the distortions of background sources are much smaller. Such subtle distortions can only be detected by analysing large numbers of galaxies in a statistical way. In the coming years, Euclid will measure the distorted shapes of billions of galaxies over 10 billion years of cosmic history, thus providing a 3D view of the distribution of dark matter in our Universe. "Euclid is very quickly covering larger and larger areas of the sky thanks to its unprecedented surveying capabilities," says Pierre Ferruit, ESA's Euclid mission manager, who is based at ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Spain, home of the Astronomy Science Archive where Euclid's data will be made available. "This data release highlights the incredible potential we have by combining the strengths of Euclid, AI, citizen science and experts into a single discovery engine that will be essential in tackling the vast volume of data returned by Euclid." Notes As of 19 March 2025, Euclid has observed about 2000 square degrees, approximately 14% of the total survey area (14 000 square degrees). The three deep fields together comprise 63.1 square degrees. Euclid 'quick' releases, such as the one of 19 March, are of selected areas, intended to demonstrate the data products to be expected in the major data releases that follow, and to allow scientists to sharpen their data analysis tools in preparation. The mission's first cosmology data will be released to the community in October 2026. Data accumulated over additional, multiple passes of the deep field locations will be included in the 2026 release. About Euclid Euclid was launched in July 2023 and started its routine science observations on 14 February 2024. In November 2023 and May 2024, the world got its first glimpses of the quality of Euclid's images, and in October 2024 the first piece of its great map of the Universe was released. Euclid is a European mission, built and operated by ESA, with contributions from its Member States and NASA. The Euclid Consortium -- consisting of more than 2000 scientists from 300 institutes in 15 European countries, the USA, Canada and Japan -- is responsible for providing the scientific instruments and scientific data analysis. ESA selected Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor for the construction of the satellite and its service module, with Airbus Defence and Space chosen to develop the payload module, including the telescope. NASA provided the detectors of the Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer, NISP. Euclid is a medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision Programme. Euclid-related publications Photo: president.gov.ua The Czech Republic will take patronage over Dnipropetrovsk region, and will also reconstruct and equip six Ukrainian hospitals, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following his meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel in Kyiv. "There is a decision on the Czech Republic's patronage over our Dnipropetrovsk region, and specifically in matters of restoration, in matters of development. I want to thank you for that. There is also a decision on the reconstruction and equipment of six hospitals by the Czech Republic... Hospitals in six cities of Ukraine Dnipro, Kryvy Rih, Lutsk, Lviv, Rivne, and Kyiv," Zelenskyy said at a press conference on Friday. In addition, according to the president, today the parties adopted a decision "and there is our joint statement on strategic partnership between our states." New magnetic nanoparticles in the shape of a cube sandwiched between two pyramids represent a breakthrough for treating ovarian tumors and possibly other types of cancer, according to the Oregon State University researchers who developed them. The scientists say the study underscores the importance of shape in magnetic nanoparticle design and that the findings will potentially revolutionize treatments that use heat to damage or kill cancer cells. Made of iron oxide and doped with cobalt, the nanoparticles show exceptional heating efficiency when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. Doping refers to adding something as a means of tailoring characteristics. When the particles accumulate in cancerous tissue after intravenous injection, they're able to quickly rise to temperatures that weaken or destroy cancer cells. The mouse model study, published in Advanced Functional Materials, is part of ongoing nanomedicine research by scientists in the OSU College of Pharmacy. Nanoparticles are bits of matter as tiny as one-billionth of a meter that have special properties because of their small size and high ratio of surface area to volume. Magnetic nanoparticles have shown anticancer potential for years, the scientists say, but at present, magnetic hyperthermia can typically only be used for patients whose tumors are accessible by a hypodermic needle -- that is, if the particles can be injected right into the cancer. "With currently available magnetic nanoparticles, the required therapeutic temperatures -- above 44 degrees Celsius -- can only be achieved by direct injection," said Oleh Taratula, professor of pharmaceutical sciences. "And those nanoparticles have only moderate heating efficiency, which means you need a high concentration of them in the tumor -- higher than systemic administration can usually achieve -- to generate enough heat." Taratula and collaborators at Oregon State, Oregon Health & Science University and the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi used a novel thermal decomposition method -- a two-step process they call seed and growth -- to make cobalt-doped iron oxide nanoparticles in a cubical bipyramid form. Their paper is the first report of that type of nanoparticle with that specific shape. "These nanoparticles exhibit a remarkable ability to heat up fast, raising temperatures by 3.73 degrees Celsius per second under an alternating magnetic field," said Prem Singh, a postdoctoral researcher in the College of Pharmacy. "That's double the heating performance of our previously published cobalt-doped iron oxide nanoparticles." That means an ovarian cancer patient could receive an intravenous injection and have her tumor stop growing following one 30-minute, non-invasive magnetic field session. Short treatment sessions enhance patient comfort and compliance, the researchers note. A cancer-targeting peptide helps the nanoparticles accumulate in the tumor, and because the particles' heating efficiency is so strong, the necessary concentration of nanoparticles can be achieved without a high dosage, limiting toxicity and side effects. "This is the first time systemically injected nanoparticles have been shown to heat tumors beyond 50 C, significantly surpassing the therapeutic threshold of 44 C for effective treatment at a clinically relevant dose," said Olena Taratula, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at OSU. "There is now a lot of potential for expanding the application of magnetic hyperthermia to a variety of hard-to-reach tumors, making the treatment more versatile and widely used." Oregon State's Karthickraja Duraisamy, Constanze Raitmayr, Shitaljit Sharma, Tetiana Korzun, Abraham Moses, Vladislav Grigoriev, Ananiya Demessie, Youngrong Park, Yoon Tae Goo, Babak Mamnoon and Ana Paula Mesquita Souza also contributed to the study. The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development supported this research. Almost everywhere in California, salmon are on the decline. But in Putah Creek -- a restored stream running through the University of California, Davis, campus -- wild salmon are not only increasing, they also are completing their life cycle. A UC Davis study, published in the journal Ecosphere, is the first to document Putah Creek-origin salmon. Chinook salmon have been observed at the creek since 2014, but prior studies had shown them to be strays from hatcheries. This study now confirms that some salmon returning to Putah Creek in the fall to spawn are actually born there. This should not be news. Salmon are famous for their simple life cycle: Hatch in a stream, migrate to the ocean, and return to the stream to spawn at their life's end. Yet salmon in 21st century California are sometimes trucked or flown to the ocean from hatcheries due to dams, habitat loss, warming streams, drought and other threats restricting their natural migration. This study shows that at Putah Creek -- and potentially other altered and dam-controlled streams worldwide -- restored waterways can help restore and even create salmon runs. "The fact that you have Putah Creek-origin fish is a big deal," said senior author Andrew Rypel, director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences at the time of the study. "To have a growing, stable population that's natal means it's a well-managed ecosystem. It means we're taking care of the water and the land the right way, and that there's a future for fish in that place. It also shows there's hope for other streams that are degraded." Water brought back birds, bugs and salmon Putah Creek is a tributary of the Sacramento River, flowing through the cities of Winters and Davis. It barely flowed at all after Monticello Dam was installed in the 1950s, which created Lake Berryessa and drastically reduced water to Putah Creek. Then, in 2000, a lawsuit brought about the Putah Creek Accord, which mandated year-round flows to protect fish and habitat. Since then, local community members, nonprofits, state agencies and UC Davis researchers have worked to restore and study the creek. They've found that once water returned to the stream, so did insects, songbirds, and eventually, salmon. Hatchery fish and new wild salmon Until this study, the hundreds of salmon in Putah Creek were all thought to be hatchery strays. "People began speculating whether any of these Putah Creek-spawning fish were returning to Putah Creek," said Rypel, a professor in the UC Davis Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology department. "It was a challenging scientific riddle to figure out." First author Lauren Hitt, a graduate student in Rypel's lab during the study, used otoliths -- or ear bones -- from adult Chinook salmon carcasses recovered from Putah Creek between 2016 and 2021 to determine their origin. No bigger than a thumbnail, otoliths carry within them the water chemistry of the streams they have traveled, allowing scientists to map their movements and migrations against the chemical tracers of individual streams. This powerful technique allowed Hitt to reconstruct each salmon's life history. She showed that while hatchery-origin fish were most abundant, a handful -- 11 of 407 -- of returning salmon analyzed were born in Putah Creek, completing their full life cycle as wild salmon. This new run of wild salmon at Putah Creek descended from hatchery fish -- a finding that could upend some long-held perspectives about the role of fish hatcheries in conservation. Hatcheries provide food and a fishing boost for anglers, yet they have often been criticized for impacts to wild fish genetics, health and habitat. "The idea that hatcheries can be part of the solution might take people off guard," Rypel said. "But there may be positive effects so long as the salmon have a good place to go. There's a lot of potential to have more Putah Creeks out there." Local love Salmon born in Putah Creek face many challenges in completing their life cycle. They must leave Lower Putah Creek, enter the Yolo Bypass floodplain, travel to Liberty Island, down the Sacramento River and into the San Francisco Bay before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. At the end of their life, they get to do this in reverse. Along the way, restricted fish passage, reduced flows, too-warm, too little or too much water at the wrong time can be fatal. In a sobering illustration of these risks, Putah Creek-origin salmon from 2021 died before being able to spawn because an atmospheric river sent debris and ammonia-saturated waters into Putah Creek just as spawning salmon were beginning to arrive. The authors say such setbacks are significant but not insurmountable provided collaborative management of Putah Creek in the future. "There's so much local love for these fish," said Hitt, currently a Ph.D. student at University of Canterbury in New Zealand. "I hope people recognize that their caring about the system and advocating for the system are what made the changes possible. If not for local community engaged and supporting local streams, I don't think we'd have salmon in Putah Creek today of hatchery or Putah Creek origin. This is just so special." A salmon run at UC Davis As for UC Davis' salmon run? Scientists will continue to sample and monitor the fish as they come home. Visitors and community members may see salmon spawning each fall at the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve and throughout the creek. The study's additional coauthors include Malte Willmes of Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; Rachel Johnson of National Marine Fisheries Service and UC Davis; and George Whitman, Mackenzie Miner, Carson Jeffres, Dennis Cocherell and Nann Fangue of UC Davis. The study was funded by the Solano County Water Agency, Yolo Basin Foundation, UC Davis Agricultural Experiment Station, Peter B. Moyle and California Trout Endowment for Coldwater Fish Conservation, and UC Davis Erica Kelly Memorial Award and Jastro-Shields Research Award funds. Two different teams of astronomers have detected oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0. The discovery, reported in two separate studies, was made possible thanks to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner. This record-breaking detection is making astronomers rethink how quickly galaxies formed in the early Universe. Discovered last year, JADES-GS-z14-0 is the most distant confirmed galaxy ever found: it is so far away, its light took 13.4 billion years to reach us, meaning we see it as it was when the Universe was less than 300 million years old, about 2% of its present age. The new oxygen detection with ALMA, a telescope array in Chile's Atacama Desert, suggests the galaxy is much more chemically mature than expected. "It is like finding an adolescent where you would only expect babies," says Sander Schouws, a PhD candidate at Leiden Observatory, the Netherlands, and first author of the Dutch-led study, now accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. "The results show the galaxy has formed very rapidly and is also maturing rapidly, adding to a growing body of evidence that the formation of galaxies happens much faster than was expected." Galaxies usually start their lives full of young stars, which are made mostly of light elements like hydrogen and helium. As stars evolve, they create heavier elements like oxygen, which get dispersed through their host galaxy after they die. Researchers had thought that, at 300 million years old, the Universe was still too young to have galaxies ripe with heavy elements. However, the two ALMA studies indicate JADES-GS-z14-0 has about 10 times more heavy elements than expected. "I was astonished by the unexpected results because they opened a new view on the first phases of galaxy evolution," says Stefano Carniani, of the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, Italy, and lead author on the paper now accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. "The evidence that a galaxy is already mature in the infant Universe raises questions about when and how galaxies formed." The oxygen detection has also allowed astronomers to make their distance measurements to JADES-GS-z14-0 much more accurate. "The ALMA detection offers an extraordinarily precise measurement of the galaxy's distance down to an uncertainty of just 0.005 percent. This level of precision -- analogous to being accurate within 5 cm over a distance of 1 km -- helps refine our understanding of distant galaxy properties," adds Eleonora Parlanti, a PhD student at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa and author on the Astronomy & Astrophysics study [1]. "While the galaxy was originally discovered with the James Webb Space Telescope, it took ALMA to confirm and precisely determine its enormous distance," [2] says Associate Professor Rychard Bouwens, a member of the team at Leiden Observatory. "This shows the amazing synergy between ALMA and JWST to reveal the formation and evolution of the first galaxies." Gergo Popping, an ESO astronomer at the European ALMA Regional Centre who did not take part in the studies, says: "I was really surprised by this clear detection of oxygen in JADES-GS-z14-0. It suggests galaxies can form more rapidly after the Big Bang than had previously been thought. This result showcases the important role ALMA plays in unraveling the conditions under which the first galaxies in our Universe formed." Notes [1] Astronomers use a measurement known as redshift to determine the distance to extremely distant objects. Previous measurements indicated that the galaxy JADES-GS-z-14-0 was at a redshift between about 14.12 and 14.4. With their oxygen detections, both teams have now narrowed this down to a redshift around 14.18. [2] The James Webb Space Telescope is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). A brain implant designed to help control seizures is hijacked. A pacemaker receives fake signals, disrupting its rhythm. A hacker infiltrates an insulin pump, delivering a fatal overdose. While these scenarios sound like scenes from a sci-fi thriller, such cyberhealth threats are of real concern as medical technology moves toward smart, wirelessly connected implants. Smart bioelectronic implants promise to revolutionize healthcare, giving doctors remote access to monitor and adjust treatments. But as these devices become more advanced, they also become more vulnerable. Just like smartphones and bank accounts, medical implants could be targeted by cybercriminals. And when that happens, the consequences could be life-threatening. At Rice University, electrical and computer engineer Kaiyuan Yang is working to stay ahead of these threats, developing hacker-resistant implants that protect patients from the dark side of medical innovation. "As biomedical technology advances, the stakes of security are becoming ever more critical," said Rice University engineer Kaiyuan Yang, who runs the Secure and Intelligent Micro-Systems (SIMS) Lab. "Imagine a tiny, battery-free medical implant -- no bigger than a grain of rice -- capable of treating diseases without major surgery or medication regimens. "Such implants, powered wirelessly and connected to the internet through a wearable hub, could make a huge difference for the autonomy and life quality of people living with chronic conditions like epilepsy or treatment-resistant depression, for instance," said Yang, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice. Advanced wireless implantable technology could enable doctors to monitor patients' health and adjust treatment remotely, making the need for on-site testing and treatment obsolete. But Yang warns that with this potential comes a serious risk: Hackers could intercept communications, steal passwords or send fake commands, threatening patient safety. In recent work presented at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) -- the flagship conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) -- Yang and his team unveiled a first-of-its-kind authentication protocol for wireless, battery-free, ultraminiaturized implants that ensures these devices remain protected while still allowing emergency access. Known as magnetoelectric datagram transport layer security, or ME-DTLS, the protocol exploits a quirk of wireless power transfer, a technology that allows medical implants to be powered externally without a battery. Normally when the external power source -- or in this case the external hub worn by the patient -- moves slightly out of alignment, the amount of power the implant receives fluctuates. "Lateral or side-to-side movement causes a signal misalignment that is usually considered a flaw in these systems, but we turned it into a security feature by transmitting binary values to specific movements with full awareness of the patient," Yang said. For example, by coding short movements as a "1" and longer movements as a "0," the protocol enables users to input a secure access pattern just by moving the external hub in a specific way. This pattern-based input acts like a second authentication factor, much like entering a PIN after using a password or drawing a pattern to unlock a phone. The overall user experience with the ME-DTLS two-factor authentication closely resembles the process of logging into bank accounts today. Users enter their login credentials, wait for an SMS with a temporary passcode then input this passcode to log in. This innovation solves two major problems in medical cybersecurity. First, it protects against stolen passwords by requiring a physical confirmation step that cannot be faked remotely. Second, it ensures emergency responders can access the device without needing preshared credentials. Thus, if a patient is unconscious or unable to provide a password, the implant transmits a temporary authentication signal that can only be detected at close range. "This ensures that only a nearby authorized device can access the implant," Yang said. "In emergencies, the implant verifies the responder or doctor by the pattern they draw and gives them access even if there is no internet connection." By leveraging an intrinsic feature of wireless power transfer systems, the solution developed by Yang and his team avoids the drawbacks of other security measures for implantable technologies, like the addition of bulky sensors. The researchers tested the pattern input method with volunteers and found that it correctly recognized the patterns 98.72% of the time, proving their solution is both reliable and easy to use. The team also developed a rapid, low-power method for the implant to send data back out securely and effectively. "To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to utilize the natural flaw of wireless power transfer to send secure information to the implant and enable secure two-factor authentication in miniaturized implants," Yang said. "Compared to other medical devices, our design offers the best balance between security, efficiency and reliability." For patients, this could mean a future where their medical implants are both secure and accessible when it matters most, offering a simple, intuitive way to ensure that only the right people -- whether a doctor, caregiver or emergency responder -- can control the technology inside their bodies. Yang and his team presented their work at the ISSCC held Feb.16-20 in San Francisco. At the conference, Yang was awarded the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society New Frontier Award, which recognizes early career researchers "exploring innovative and visionary technical work," according to the IEEE website. This year, Yang's team was part of a larger contingent of Rice faculty and students who presented at the conference and were recognized for their achievements. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation (2146476). Nearly 3 out of every 4 older Americans have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the last two years, a new University of Michigan poll finds. And living through such an event appears to make a big difference in how they view the potential impact of climate change on their health. The new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging show that 59% of people aged 50 and over are concerned about how climate change could affect their health. The percentage expressing concern was even higher among those who had recently lived through a weather emergency such as a wildfire, extreme heat, severe storm or power outage lasting more than a day. In all, 70% of those who had experienced at least one such event in the past two years expressed concern about climate change and their health, compared with 26% of those who had not lived through such an event. Other groups of older adults were also more likely to say they are concerned about the effects of climate change on their health, including women, those reporting fair or poor mental health, and those who live in urban areas. Only 6% of people over 50, though, had talked with a health care provider about how extreme weather might affect their health and how they could prepare or protect themselves. This finding suggests more opportunity for older adults to ask their doctors and other health care providers about things like how to protect their lungs from wildfire smoke, how to prepare for prolonged disruptions to their supply of medications or the electricity that powers their medical equipment, or how to know where to find cooling centers, warming centers and emergency shelters in their community. "Our findings suggest a need to help more older adults understand and take steps to prepare for the impacts of wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme heat waves, winter storms and more, especially when it comes to the medications, medical supplies, electricity and access to care that these emergencies can disrupt," says Sue Anne Bell, Ph.D., FNP-BC, a nurse practitioner and associate professor at the U-M School of Nursing who worked with the poll team. Bell specializes in studying the impacts of disasters and public health emergencies among older adults. The poll is based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and supported by Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center. In addition to the national poll report, the team compiled data for Michigan adults aged 50 and older compared with those in other states; an interactive data visualization is available at https://michmed.org/MDKQ2. An article summarizing the Michigan findings is available at https://michmed.org/28dbD. The poll was conducted in August 2024, before some of the most extreme climate-related emergencies of the past year, such as September's Hurricane Helene -- the deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 -- and the wildfires in the Los Angeles area in January of 2025. In all, 2023 and 2024 were nearly tied for the number of weather and climate disasters with costs of more than a billion dollars, and the number of disasters of such magnitude has grown over the lifetimes of today's older adults. In addition to concern for their own health, 74% of people aged 50 and over say they are concerned about the potential impact of climate change on the health of future generations. That includes 43% who say they are very concerned, and 31% who are somewhat concerned. Those older adults who had lived through a weather emergency in the past two years were more likely to express concern about future generations, with 83% of them saying they're concerned, compared with 45% of those who had not experienced a weather emergency. Extreme heat was the most common extreme weather event experienced by poll respondents, with 63% saying they had experienced at least one major heat wave in the past two years. Poor air quality due to wildfire smoke was next most common, at 35%, and 31% had been in the path of a severe storm. Prolonged power outages (lasting more than one day) were next most common, at 13%; power outages may be due to factors other than extreme weather. The poll also asked older adults which potential future effects of climate change concerned them most. The most-cited potential future effect was more extreme heat events (70%), followed closely by air pollution and poor air quality (69%), loss of basic infrastructure like power and water (68%), more frequent severe storms (68%), and changes in infectious diseases (66%). "These kinds of events can affect an older adult's health directly -- for instance, people with asthma and other lung diseases can have trouble breathing due to wildfire smoke, home medical equipment can be affected by power outages, and older adults can be more vulnerable to extreme heat and cold," says poll director Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., a primary care physician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and associate professor of internal medicine at U-M. "But there are also indirect effects, including mental stress, lack of access to medications and medical care, and in extreme cases, lack of ability to evacuate safely or find shelter," he added. Bell notes, "Planning and preparing for emergencies is especially important for those with complex health conditions and disabilities, who should ask their regular health care provider for advice as well as seek information from their local and state emergency preparedness authorities." Poll respondents reporting a health problem or disability that limits their daily activities were slightly more likely than other older adults to say they had spoken with a health care provider about how to prepare for a climate-related emergency, at 8% vs. 5%. Among all older adults who had had such discussions, 64% had taken at least one action to prepare. https://www.healthyagingpoll.org/reports-more/report/beyond-forecast-experiences-extreme-weather-and-concerns-about-climate-and The Czech Republic is ready to be part of negotiations on the modalities of a potential military presence in Ukraine, in the event of a decision to create such forces, the Czech Republic may become part of them, country's President Petr Pavel said. "There was a meeting at the level of chiefs of staff in London. Its main purpose was to discuss the modalities of a potential military presence in Ukraine. And the Czech Republic is ready to be part of these negotiations. And if there is a final decision to create such forces, I truly believe that the Czech Republic will become part of them," Pavel said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. However, according to the Czech president, it is very difficult to determine the mandate of military contingents before the start of negotiations. "Therefore, first we need to have an agreement on military presence, then we need to discuss the mandate, mission and its structure, composition," Pavel explained. Stefanchuk calls on Luxembourg to cooperate with Ukraine in defense sector Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk called on Luxembourg to cooperate with Ukraine in the defense sector. "In Strasbourg, I held a meeting with Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Claude Wiseler ... The Ukrainian defense-industrial complex has grown 6 times. We call on partners, in particular Luxembourg, to invest in joint weapons production," Stefanchuk said on Friday on Facebook. The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament also noted that Ukraine is already a key element of European security. "We support the creation of the European Defense Forces and call for the deployment of security contingents on Ukrainian territory," Stefanchuk stressed. Stefanchuk also stressed the need to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation and proceed to the confiscation of frozen assets. "These funds should be directed to the defense and restoration of Ukraine," the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada believes. As reported, Stefanchuk took part in the European Conference of Speakers of Parliaments at the PACE in Strasbourg. McDonald's Ukraine Ltd. will reinstate its breakfast menu in the city of Kyiv and the surrounding region next week, company representatives announced at a press breakfast on Friday. "We have continuously assessed whether we could bring back breakfasts, and we've had several crucial discussions over the past three years... The key challenges we faced were primarily air raid alerts and, most importantly, the unpredictability of when they would occur," explained Oleksandr Bogorodov, CFO of McDonald's operations in Ukraine, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, as reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent at the event. Another obstacle, according to Bogorodov, was that before 2022, breakfast was only available until 10 AM. However, following the invasion and the increased risk of new attacks from the aggressor country, operationally offering breakfast became extremely difficult due to air raid alarms, limited order and serving times, and the increase in food waste. The third major challenge was power supply restrictions, particularly with frequent outages, which prevented restaurants from ensuring uninterrupted service. Bogorodov noted that about 95% of McDonald's locations are now equipped with diesel generators. When considering the return of the breakfast menu, the company focused on adapting operational processes, supply chains, and staff training, given the natural employee turnover. Dmytro Korbut, the company's Operations Director, added that the breakfast menu will include eight types of McMuffins, two types of toasts, and three wraps, along with several items from the main menu. However, there will be no bacon omelet or full breakfast, as these dishes are more complex to prepare and require additional time. "Tasty and affordable breakfast items will be available at all McDonald's locations except for 12 restaurants in Poltava, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Kryvy Rih, Kropyvnytsky, and Oleksandria. The primary reason is the frequent air raid alerts in these areas, which complicate the transition from the breakfast menu to the main menu," the company stated. Breakfast will also not be available at 11 locations in food courts within shopping malls, as their operating hours do not allow for effective breakfast service. Currently, the breakfast menu is already available in Lviv, Lutsk, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Yaremche, Kovel, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Hlybochytsia, Chernihiv, and Odesa. The company also reported that within the first week of reintroducing breakfast items, sales exceeded 2021 figures by 80%. McDonald's continues to work on expanding breakfast availability to other cities, including Dnipro and Kropyvnytsky. Earlier, the company conducted a three-week breakfast trial in Vinnytsia to analyze the new morning menu's demand among customers. The test assessed actual sales volumes and forecasts for the initial launch period, as well as the necessary quantity of products and resources to better integrate the breakfast menu into restaurant operations. During this trial, sales volumes exceeded expectations by 34%. Angle announced on Friday the successful completion of assay development projects for AstraZeneca and Eisai, further expanding its portfolio of liquid biopsy solutions and strengthening its position as a partner to the pharmaceutical industry in oncology drug development. The AIM-traded company said it had completed the development of two Parsortix-based assays for AstraZeneca: an androgen receptor (AR) assay for prostate cancer and a DNA damage response (DDR) micronuclei assay for detecting DNA damage in circulating tumour cells (CTCs). It said both assays had been approved for use by AstraZeneca and were currently being deployed to analyse patient samples. Angle said the developments positioned it to support large-scale clinical trials and open new opportunities for further collaborations. The AR and DDR assays would now be added to Angles suite of validated tests offered through its clinical laboratory. Angle noted the substantial market potential in both areas, with the AR therapeutic market forecast to reach $9.2bn by 2033 and the DDR market expected to grow from $8.2bn in 2024 to $30.3bn over the next decade. Separately, Angle said it had completed a contract with Eisai related to a phase two pilot study of the HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate BB-1701 in breast cancer. The study demonstrated that Angles Parsortix-based HER2 assay could reliably assess dynamic changes in HER2 status over time - something not possible with conventional tissue biopsies. Although Eisai had decided not to proceed further with BB-1701, Angle said it had established a strong relationship with the company and is exploring other areas of collaboration. BlissBio, which now holds the development rights to BB-1701, had confirmed its intention to continue the programme, and Angle said it was seeking to engage with the company to support the next stage of development. Angle said it was continuing to target expanding demand in the growing AR, DDR, and HER2 therapeutic markets, which support a wide range of targeted therapies and clinical trial applications. Successful completion of the AstraZeneca assay development projects is a key milestone for the company in progressing our aim for Parsortix-based CTC analysis to be widely adopted for new and existing drugs to identify the right drug for the right patient at the right time, said chief executive officer Andrew Newland. There is a clear business case for AstraZeneca and other large pharma to expand their markets for existing drugs by identifying patients expressing the target biomarker on CTCs, as biomarker status can change over time and impact response to treatment. With regards to Eisai, we are delighted with the results of the HER2 CTC analysis, in both its reproducibility and its ability to dynamically measure HER2 changes over time, which we believe makes it ideally suited for HER2 and HER2-ADC clinical trials. Newland said there was considerable evidence, including Angles in-house studies, that demonstrated that HER2 status of patients could change over time, with HER2 positive CTCs being found in patients who were initially HER2 negative based on their tissue biopsy. Independent studies have shown that patients with HER2 positive CTCs can benefit from treatment with HER2 targeted treatment. This could open larger markets for HER2 drugs and improve outcomes for patients who would not otherwise receive HER2 treatment. At 1327 GMT, shares in Angle were down 6.56% at 9.11p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. The airline industry trade body has attacked Heathrow management for what appeared to be a "clear planning failure" in not having a sufficient backup power source after a fire at a local electricity substation causing an outage and closed the airport. International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Willie Walsh said the cancellation and diversion of thousands of flights was "yet another case of Heathrow letting down both travelers and airlines". "That begs some serious questions. Firstly, how is it that critical infrastructureof national and global importanceis totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative. If that is the caseas it seemsthen it is a clear planning failure by the airport." Flights that were already enroute to the west London airport were forced to divert to other airports. Video footage showed an enormous blaze at the substation in Hayes, west London in the early hours of Friday morning which also affected 16,000 homes. Passengers have been told not to travel to the airport under any circumstances and warned significant disruption is expected in the coming days. Walsh, who used to be head of British Airways, said the closure also raised the question of who would foot the bill for taking care of disrupted travelers. "We must find a fairer allocation of passenger care costs than airlines alone picking up the tab when infrastructure fails. Until that happens, Heathrow has very little incentive to improve, he said. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Ceres Power reported a 132% increase in revenue to 51.9m for the year ended 31 December on Friday, supported by record order intake of 112.8m following new partnerships in Asia. The London-listed firm said gross profit rose to 40.2m, with gross margins expanding to 77% from 61% a year earlier. It said it signed manufacturing licence agreements during the year with Delta Electronics in Taiwan and Denso in Japan, alongside a system development partnership with Thermax in India. All three were progressing towards commercialisation, with Delta targeting data centre and hydrogen markets, Denso completing its initial technology transfer, and Thermax advancing system development for industrial decarbonisation. Separately, Doosan in South Korea was preparing to launch production of Ceres fuel cell stacks in 2025. Ceres said it ended the year with 102.5m in cash and short-term investments, down from 140m in 2023, while reducing its annual cash outflow to 37.5m. The company said it remained focused on disciplined cash management and expected revenue in 2025 to be broadly in line with last year. Ceres added that the recent termination of a collaboration with Bosch in February was expected to have a limited financial impact in the low single-digit millions of euros. The company said it was continuing to implement cost savings through a restructured and optimised cost base, adding that it would provide further guidance in its July trading update. 2024 was a record year for Ceres, as our teams continued to deliver best in class technology and global partnerships during a period of significant change in the energy markets and a challenging economic environment, said chief executive officer Phil Caldwell. We now have three major global manufacturing partners establishing factories to produce Ceres-based products. For 2025, we are focusing on building our partner portfolio and delivering technology milestones, whilst looking forward to Doosan commencing production in the second half of the year. At 0813 GMT, shares in Ceres Power Holdings were up 1.49% at 72.62p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. UK-based gas producer Energean has pulled its $945m deal to sell some of its assets to private equity fund Carlyle due to pending regulatory approvals in Italy and Egypt. The two parties were unable to agree on an extension of a longstop date beyond March 20, Energean said in a statement on Friday. The two companies reached an agreement last June which would allow Carlyle to form a new Mediterranean-focused oil and gas company led by former BP chief executive Tony Hayward using assets in Egypt, Italy and Croatia. Energean chief Mathios Rigas said the decision was made "in the best interests of all our stakeholders, including our employees, investors, host governments, and partners", who rely on "clarity of ownership". "While I am disappointed that Carlyle was unable to obtain the necessary approvals in Italy and Egypt under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement, I want to reaffirm that this outcome does not change our strategic direction or our commitment to growth and shareholder returns." "Italy, Egypt and Croatia will remain core pillars of our operations, and we look forward to driving further investment, development, and value creation in all countries. Our commitment to the Mediterranean and the wider region is unwavering, and we will continue to expand our portfolio, support energy security, and deliver sustainable growth in the years ahead." Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Connection restored late Friday after massive disruption Counter-terror officers investigating blaze at local substation Londons Heathrow airport said some operations would resume on Friday after a fire at a local electricity substation overnight caused a power outage, hitting more than 1,300 flights and disrupting air travel globally. Power had now been restored to the west London airport and the reduced operation would prioritise repatriation and relocation of aircraft, Heathrow said. Officials advised passengers not to travel "unless your airline has advised you to do so". We will now work with the airlines on repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and will provide further information shortly." British Airways, owned by IAG and one of the biggest carriers operating out of Heathrow, said it had been cleared to operate eight long-haul flights from 7pm. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said there was no suggestion of foul play as the cause of the fire, adding that counter-terrorism police were involved in the investigation because it took place next to a critical piece of national infrastructure. The counter-terrorism command has specific capabilities and capacities that mean that they are used to conducting investigations at pace, and its really important that we identify the cause of this quickly," she said. There are no suggestions at the moment of foul play, but you will appreciate the investigation, keeps an open mind, and our priority is identifying the cause as soon as possible. Alexander also spoke to Heathrow Airports chief executive about any lessons that might be learned for the future. The enormous blaze at the substation in Hayes, west London started shortly after 2300 GMT on Thursday with the London Fire Brigade bringing it under control at 0800 GMT on Friday. More than 16,000 homes were also affected. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded to the fire, caused by a transformer within the substation, the LFB said. British Airways, which had 341 flights scheduled to land at Heathrow on Friday, said the fire would "clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers, and we are working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond. All departing and arriving Virgin Atlantic flights have been cancelled until midday on 21 March, the airline said. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Marianne Richmond (photo: Shoott Photography) Author and illustrator Marianne Richmond has published dozens of picture books and board books, centering on messages of encouragement and love for young children and their families. She and her husband, Jim, spent 16 years co-running a greeting card company focused on her designs. If You Were My Daughter: A Memoir of Healing an Unmothered Heart, her memoir, is her first book for adults. It will be published by Sourcebooks on March 18, 2025. Richmond lives in the Nashville area. What was the inspiration for If You Were My Daughter? This book has been about 15 years in the making. For all my children's books, the "why" behind creating them was to put loving messages into the world--to create these connections between parent and child that I felt like I didn't have. For many years, I was telling the story of my complicated relationship with my mother as part of my career. But it wasn't until I got into therapy, as my greeting card business was wrapping up, that I learned to name some of my experiences. I also wanted to take on the challenge of writing a nonfiction book that would stretch me as a writer, and force me to think differently about theme, structure, and dialogue. You had a complex, even traumatic, relationship with your mother. I had misdiagnosed epilepsy as a young child, and for years, adults were telling me that I wasn't telling the truth. The combination of that and having a mom who was parenting out of her own fear--it was not great. It upended me and hollowed me out. There was no internal safety, and no external safety. It's the ultimate in vulnerability to have your body lose control when you don't know what it will do. A lot of people can relate to that journey of misdiagnosis and being misunderstood in that medical capacity. For years, I was operating in fear and anxiety and hypervigilance. I was in fight or flight mode for decades. My mother was the only link between me and any kind of meaningful help. But because of her own history with electroshock therapy [at a veterans' hospital], she didn't have the capacity to be there for me. We were living parallel lives, in a certain way. I kept thinking: Can't you see how I'm hurting? And that's what we're all looking for, to be witnessed. No one could witness her, and no one could witness me. It led to a sense of deep aloneness. How did you try to address those emotions through your children's books? My children's books are all about helping witness the deep emotions of life. A lot of them are about parenthood. For example, Be Brave, Little One, is about trying to live a courageous life. For me, it's been about understanding that courage is a choice. It can look really small and quiet, or it can look really big and loud. My first books were aspirational: I was writing what my ideal experience of being loved by a parent would feel like. Now I have my own model with my children. I was giving my kids what I wanted them to know, but also what I wanted for myself. As a young mom, I think I was overcompensating. I thought, I'm just going to let them know they're the greatest, all the time. But the result of that is an exhausted, depleted mother. Because I was coming at it from a place of lack in my own soul, rather than coming from a place of wholeness. How did you get to that place of wholeness? Going to therapy was pivotal for me. This therapist was the first person who was able to name some of my experiences. I remember her saying, right off the bat, You've had some huge nurturing gaps in your life. She started to educate me about the natural attunement between parent and child. That's secure attachment, and it's what gives the child the inner safety to understand how to handle life. Understanding what didn't happen for me was very helpful. I remember the therapist talking about the goal of inner alignment: head, heart, body. I remember she said, When your soul feels heard, you can move forward. What was it like to delve into this story and put it on the page in a more direct way? I started writing pieces of this book long ago, but I was still so angry that it started to sound bitter. It took me a long time to figure out what story I was telling. I'd read so many things on how to write a memoir, and someone delivered this equation: This is a story of X, as told through Y. The X becomes your universal, as told through Y, which is your personal story. So: this is a mother-daughter story, of coming to terms with what you never got. And either letting that stay in you as bitterness or finding some sort of resolution and acceptance. I had to look back at my mom's story and get to a place where I could realize that we were looking for the same thing. I still wish my experience could have been different, but I got to a place of acceptance, and a little more understanding and compassion. The subtitle mentions "healing an unmothered heart." I specifically landed on that word unmothered. I think my mother thought she was doing a decent job: I was provided clothes and food and physical essentials. The unmothered heart gives voice to the fact that what she was able to give and what I needed were a mismatch--because of who I am, and because of who she was. I think my brothers got what they needed from her, because they didn't need her in the same way. The unmothered heart is such a personal experience that people can dismiss [it] as You were so sensitive. It comes back to validation--that it's okay to need and desire in certain ways. We're quick to dismiss and diminish ourselves and our valid needs. And it's okay to want. And it's okay to grieve that we didn't get it. What do you hope readers gain from this story? I recently got my master's in mental health counseling. I'm struck by this idea that we are all born into a story in progress, and that story is pivotal to what our journey becomes. And we have to choose: Do we carry this story forward--the pain, and the frustration--or are we actively trying to re-narrate what it becomes? The stories we're born into end up shaping the ones we tell about ourselves. As I sit in the counseling chair now, and hear people tell their stories, it's often negative about themselves. So often, it comes back to What's wrong with me? I want to give people an invitation to examine that story, and say, What am I carrying forward that I don't want to, or that's not even true? In a lot of ways, the book is about choosing to re-author that narrative for ourselves. I think we could take the same plot points or material and mix and match them to tell a different story. You could tell a business story, or a marriage story, or a story in which I'm the victim. But I think it's an invitation. I think it's also for women who can relate to the unmothered heart. I want them to let this book be that healing witness. --Katie Noah Gibson Germanys Budget Committee on Friday approved a decision to allocate another EUR 3 billion ($3.25 billion) in military aid to Ukraine. "A historic decision in Germany for the security of Europe! Plus EUR 3 billion in military aid to Ukraine [at least EUR 7 billion in 2025]. Reform of debt limits for defense spending," the German Embassy in Ukraine said in a statement on Friday. "This is our response to security challenges. This is support for Ukraine. This is responsibility for a strong European Union," the embassy added. Earlier, citing a Finance Ministry document, it was reported that the outgoing German government has agreed to allocate an additional EUR 3 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2025 after lawmakers approved financial reform plans. In the letter, the ministry agreed to additional spending of EUR 2.547 billion for the current year. Together with other amounts, including reimbursement from the European Peace Facility, Germany will provide EUR 3 billion. On Tuesday, the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, approved changes to Germany's fiscal rules aimed at increasing military spending and restoring economic growth. According to Reuters, the Finance Ministry also plans to approve commitments of EUR 8.252 billion for military aid to Ukraine for 2026-2029, bringing the total to more than EUR 11 billion. Maharashtra will consolidate its position as India's digital infrastructure hub with the development of four new data centre parks in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. Maharashtra Industry Secretary P. Anbalagan made the announcement at the CII Datacentre Summit. Anbalagan has pointed out Maharashtra's preeminence in India's data economy with 60 per cent of the nation's data centre businesses being located here, with Mumbai contributing as much as 54.9 per cent of the total capacity. "With world-class digital infrastructure, stable power, and key connectivity, Maharashtra is ready to drive India's digital future", he stated. The data center capacity of the state is expected to grow from 500 MW to 800 MW by 2028, further solidifying its position as a leader in India's digital expansion. With India's overall operational capacity standing at 2,337 MW, another 1.5 GW of expansion is expected to cope with increased demands. Energy management is also a major problem for the industry. The new policy on data centres brings with it power banking, with captive power operators able to reconcile between non-peak (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and peak hours. Anbalagan asked stakeholders to work together with the Energy Ministry so that there could be stability in energy policies over the next five years. The 2023 policy also simplifies operations through a "deemed license" rule, making regulatory steps easier for standalone data centres and unit holders. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation CEO P. Velrasu said the industry was changing fast with progress in 5G, Starlink, and decentralised data centres. He stressed the importance of smart energy solutions, modular infrastructure, and new technologies such as modular nuclear energy in order to maintain long-term growth. CII Western Region Taskforce on Datacentre Chairman Manoj Paul reaffirmed Maharashtra's attractiveness to investors and service providers, quoting its 40 per cent market share. Team Marksmen Network's CX Transformation Conclave to spotlight technology's role in redefining customer journeys and driving business growth In an era where digital innovation sets the pace, the pursuit of exceptional customer experiences (CX) has become a cornerstone of business success. As technology rapidly evolves, companies must embrace transformative tools to create seamless, personalised, and impactful customer journeys. India's leaders and organisations are clearly cognisant of this wave of change, with India ranking third globally and leading the way in the Asia-Pacific region when it comes to CX maturity. And even though 79% of Indian firms today agree that CX is a means to drive revenue, only 17% of businesses are able to provide "exceptional" customer service. This leaves a lot of headroom for growth and direction by industry experts on how to create new growth pathways. The upcoming Bengaluru edition of Team Marksmen Network's CX Transformation Conclave, set to be held on March 21st 2025, will delve deep into the art and science of crafting customer-centric strategies. With an array of industry luminaries sharing their insights, the conclave aims to equip businesses with the tools to build future-ready capabilities, tap into emerging technologies, and craft meaningful connections with their customers. Expect thought-provoking discussions, actionable takeaways, and a unique opportunity to engage with pioneers shaping the future of CX, who will deliberate on: Omnichannel integration for improved CX EX for CX: Building high performance customer service teams Leveraging AI to modernize customer journey mapping The 3 A's of Next-Gen Customer Experience Balancing digital interaction with human empathy ...and much more The key lies in leveraging technology that doesn't just sit atop our CX strategies but truly integrates with them. Putting people first while integrating tech enhances our ability to connect with customers, while retaining the human touch. A few companies embody this spirit of change and innovation, and they will be recognised as Masters of CX. These organisations have thoughtfully crafted CX that is rooted in purpose, delivering experiences that are supercharged and impactful while being acutely focused on discovering and delivering on critical customer needs. This industry-centric platform has been brought to life by its industry partners, namely our Presenting Partner NICE, AI Transformation Partner Exotel, and Associate Partner Ubona Technologies. Offering his thoughts ahead of the event, Rajesh Khubchandani, Co-Founder and MD, Team Marksmen Network, said, "Customer experience is no longer just about service; its about creating meaningful, memorable moments at every touchpoint. As technology continues to redefine these interactions, businesses have a unique opportunity to turn customer engagement into a true competitive advantage. The CX Transformation Conclave is a platform for industry leaders to exchange insights, uncover strategies, and explore the limitless possibilities of technology-driven CX innovation." A huge percentage of our population believes and likes to make decisions based on astrological predictions. They often search for the Best Astrologer in world. This article will help you to choose the same. Vedic astrology is becoming more and more popular in the world since it is thought to be very precise and accurate. The world of Astrology has now become more refined, definitive, diverse, and deeper. Various astrologers from all around the world have brought major reforms that have shaped the astrology community progressively and found a path which brings significance. Its spiritual underpinnings also ensure that it is less about fortune-telling and more about the evolution of the human soul as it strives to unite with the Divine. Let us take a look at the top 5 most influential astrologers in the world. 1. Dr. Sohini Sastri: Dr. Sohini Sastri, a two-time President Award-winning astrologer, is among Indias Top 10 Astrologers and a globally recognized expert. Honored by the Astrological Association of Great Britain as the "Best Astrologer in the World," she has over 20 years of experience in KP Astrology, Vedic Astrology, Palmistry, Numerology, Vastu Shastra, and Color Therapy. She holds an honorary Doctorate and D.Litt in Astrology from National American University, USA, and is the only astrologer to receive its Grand Ph.D. Renowned for her accurate predictions, she has guided lakhs of people, including Bollywood celebrities and high-profile clients. She has received prestigious awards like Champion of Change, Pride of Nation, and Indian Achievers Award and has been felicitated by former Presidents and Governors of India. Recognized by the World Book of Records 2022 (UK, Switzerland), she was also awarded The Most Searched Astrologer in India under the womans world records appreciation category in 2023. A prolific author, she has written several astrology books and contributes to leading publications like Femina India, Times of India, Forbes India, and Business Standard, making astrology accessible to a global audience. Contact Details: Website: https://www.sohinisastri.com/ 2. Michael Erlewine: Michael Erlewine is a highly respected astrologer known for his intellectual prowess and practical approach. With over 40 years of experience, his career has been remarkably versatile. In addition to being an astrologer, he is an American TV host, photographer, author, and counselor. Erlewine is particularly renowned for being the first to apply computing technology to astrological measurements. He is the founder of Matrix Software, an exclusive tool for professional astrologers. Under his vision, he has integrated heliocentric and geocentric astrology while introducing advanced astro-techniques such as Star Type Astrology, Deep-Space Astrology, and Local Space Relocation. Today, he is considered one of the most renowned astrologers. Contact Details: https://michaelerlewine.com/ 3.K. N. Rao: Shri K. N. RAO is an Indian Vedic astrologer. His full name is Kotamraju Narayana Rao, he belongs to the Brahmin family of Andhra Pradesh. Shri K N Rao was an English language lecturer. At the mere age of 12, he was introduced to the world of Vedic Astrology by his mother and can be considered as the best Vedic astrologer in the world by his peers and clients. His astrological lectures on Vedic astrology in many countries influenced people to connect with him and Vedic astrology. Today, many people are associated with Shri K N Rao as disciples and as crazy about astrology. He was the chief guest at the second conference of the American Council of Vedic Astrology. His book, Yogis, Destiny and the Wheel of Time can be referred to as one of the main tools in the world of astrology. His insightful guidance about life has helped people find the path to success. Contact Details: Website: https://www.journalofastrology.com/ 4. Pandit Ajai Bhambi: Internationally renowned astrologer and Vastu Shastra specialist Pandit Ajai Bhambi is a well-known figure in the astrology community who has widespread respect and is well-known for his in-depth knowledge and accurate forecasts. He has been a practising astrologer for over 40 years. He applies his astrological expertise to assist people in identifying and achieving their life goals. He has authored a number of books and has contributed to several regional, national, and international newspapers and periodicals. He anticipates challenges in people's lives and exhorts them to look for chances and learn how to handle them. Also, he has made appearances on a number of national as well as international TV and radio programmes. Contact Details: Website: https://astrobhambi.com/ 5. Chani Nicholas: Chani Nicholas is a renowned astrologer, author, and activist known for her inclusive and empowering approach to astrology. With a deep focus on social justice, she blends astrology with self-discovery and personal growth. Her bestselling book, You Were Born for This, offers insights into using astrology as a tool for self-empowerment. Through her popular website and app, she provides personalized readings and horoscopes that resonate with a diverse audience. Chanis work has made astrology more accessible and meaningful, helping people align with their true purpose and navigate lifes challenges with clarity. Contact Details: Website: https://chaninicholas.com/ Every person has good and bad times in their lives that bring them joy and sorrow, and to overcome the bad situation, we take refuge in these great sages. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is asking for the publics help to identify an individual sought for questioning in connection with a pattern of burglaries at restaurants and other businesses on Staten Island and in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In one of the break-ins in the pattern, as previously reported by the Advance/SILive.com, an individual shattered glass entry doors at Maxs Es-Ca, a popular restaurant in Dongan Hills. That heist has now been identified by the NYPD as part of a burglary pattern that includes 13 break-ins from January through March citywide, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. In total, thousands of dollars in cash, along with registers, electronics, bottles of alcohol, beauty products and other property were taken from businesses, police said. Six incidents occurred on Staten Island, according to the NYPD. The NYPD is seeking tips to locate an individual for questioning in connection with a pattern of 13 burglaries in Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn from January to March 2025. Oriental Plaza restaurant at 1845 Richmond Ave. in Bulls Head was burglarized three times, police said. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel 3 burglaries at business in Bulls Head The spree began at 1845 Richmond Ave. in Bulls Head, a location that ultimately was hit three times with a haul of over $11,000 in total cash, according to the police statement. Oriental Plaza restaurant operates at that location. On Jan. 29 at about 11:30 p.m, an unidentified individual broke a rear window, entered the property and removed about $10,000, according to the police statement. The location was targeted again in incident No. 2 on Feb. 14, at about 12 a.m. when an individual broke a rear window to enter the property and took about $1,500, according to the police statement. Two weeks later, police said the location was broken into again in incident No. 6 on March 3 at about 11:15 p.m. The suspect broke a side window to enter the building and removed a cash register and $125, police said. The NYPD is seeking tips to locate an individual for questioning in connection with a pattern of 13 burglaries in Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn from January to March 2025. Burglaries were reported on Feb. 22 at Fu Zhou Food restaurant at 1727 Richmond Road and Leelee Nails at 1731 Richmond Road. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel Burglaries on Richmond Road in Dongan Hills Multiple incidents occurred at businesses near each other in Dongan Hills, according to the police statement. In incident No. 3, an unidentified individual entered 1731 Richmond Road by breaking the front door and removing the cash register containing $200 on Feb. 22 at about 4:05 a.m. Leelee Nails is located at the address supplied by police. Incident No. 4 occurred within minutes next door, when an unidentified individual broke the front door to enter 1727 Richmond Road and remove a desktop computer and $1,000. Fu Zhou Food restaurant is located at the address supplied by police. On March 3, incident No. 5 happened at 4:50 a.m. when an unidentified individual broke the front door to enter 1559 Richmond Road, police said. The suspect allegedly removed the cash register, credit cards and $800. Maxs Es-Ca restaurant is located at the address provided by the NYPD. The NYPD is investigating a report of a burglary at Max's Es-Ca restaurant on the morning of Monday, March 3, 2025. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel Owner describes burglary at Maxs Es-Ca In that incident, a burglar shattered the glass doors and left with a tip box and the register, Maxs Es-Ca owner Alison Marchese previously told the Advance/SILive.com. She was grateful that no one was in the restaurant when the heist occurred. Everyones good, nobody was injured, Marchese said. Its a little cold out and we have no doors, but were up and running, Marchese said. Once inside the restaurant, the individual jumped over the bar and snatched a tip box and the register before leaving, the owner said. Surveillance footage provided to the Advance/SILive.com showed a man grab a box from the counter. A delivery person alerted the restaurant to the broken doors. The NYPD is investigating a report of a burglary at Max's Es-Ca restaurant on the morning of Monday, March 3, 2025. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel NYPD details burglaries in Manhattan and Brooklyn The police statement listed these additional burglaries: Incident No. 7 occurred on March 9 at about 12:58 a.m. when an unidentified individual broke the front door to entered 32 Broadway in Manhattan and stole about $800. Incident No. 8 happened on March 11 at about 9 p.m. when an unidentified individual used a hammer to break the front door and enter 63 Reade St. in Manhattan. He allegedly removed items totaling $120. Incident No. 9 in Brooklyn occurred on March 12 at about 10 p.m. when an unidentified individual broke the front door to enter 1702 Avenue Z and removed $200 and liquor bottles valued at $204. Incident No. 10 happened on March 14 at about 1:30 a.m. in Brooklyn when an unidentified individual broke the front door to enter 160 Gravesend Neck Road and removed the cash register and $100. Incident No. 11 occurred minutes later when an unidentified individual damaged the front door of 158 Gravesend Neck Road in Brooklyn. Incident No. 12 happened on March 15 at about 12:50 a.m. when an unidentified individual broke the front door to enter 1602 Avenue Z, damaging three cash registers valued at $500. Incident No. 13 occurred on March 14 at about 9:35 p.m. when an unidentified individual broke the front door to enter 2687 East 14 St. in Brooklyn and removed a cell phone, beauty products valued at $1500, and $930 in cash. Sought for questioning The NYPD released a video of an individual sought for questioning in connection with the break-ins, that was captured on surveillance cameras during a heist in Brooklyn. The video, from the 12th incident, shows a man busting through shattered glass on the door of a business on Avenue Z. He is wearing what look like brightly-colored gloves, a hooded jacket and other all-dark clothing, and black-and-white sneakers. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. The NYPD is seeking tips to locate this individual for questioning in connection with a pattern of 13 burglaries in Staten Island, Manhattan and Brooklyn from January to March 2025. (Courtesy of NYPD) Courtesy of NYPD STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is asking for the publics help to identify an individual sought for questioning in connection with an assault at the St. George Ferry Terminal. An unidentified individual approached a 72-year-old man on Feb. 2 at about 4:50 p.m. inside the terminal at Richmond Terrace and Bay Street, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The individual punched the senior multiple times in his head and face on that Sunday, according to the police statement. The suspect then fled the location on foot. The victim suffered swelling and pain in his face and lips. EMS responded and transported the victim in stable condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton. Police described the individual sought as a male with a slim build and medium complexion. He was seen wearing a black beanie, a brown-hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, black shoes, and was carrying a black backpack, according to the police statement. The NYPD provided a photo and video of a man sought for questioning, captured on surveillance cameras at the ferry terminal. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. Authorities in California have determined a 62-year-old woman was strangled to death during a conjugal visit with her husband at a California prison, in a bizarre case thats making national headlines. The husband, 54-year-old David Brinson, had previously been convicted of killing four men during a robbery, the Los Angeles Times reported. The victim, Stephanie Dowells, was visiting Brinson at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione on Nov. 13, for an unsupervised overnight, according to the Daily News. In the middle of the night, Brinson told officers his wife passed out. And despite attempts to resuscitate her, Dowells was pronounced dead on the scene around 2:50 a.m., according to reports. The Amador County Coroner this week confirmed Dowells was strangled and ruled her death a homicide. Susan E. Wagner High School students and District Attorney McMahon gathered at Staten Island Zoo to confirm Groundhog Chuck's weather prediction. (Courtesy of the Staten Island Zoo) Staten Island Zoo STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. On the first day of Spring, the community gathered to see if Staten Islands famous Groundhog Chuck has nailed his weather prediction. On March 20, the Staten Island Zoo and Citizens Bank hosted an announcement alongside District Attorney Michael McMahon, student weather checkers from Susan E. Wagner High School, and their teacher, Robert Fendrick. After analyzing weeks of data, the Wagner students confirmed that Chucks prediction of an early spring was spot on. Chuck has once again proven that he is Mr. March, said Ken Mitchell, Executive Director of the Zoo, alluding to Marchs relatively balmy temperatures. Susan E. Wagner High School students and District Attorney McMahon gathered at Staten Island Zoo to confirm Groundhog Chuck's weather prediction. (Courtesy of the Staten Island Zoo) Staten Island Zoo The students from Wagner High Schools AP Environmental class verified Chucks forecast using data collected from their weather station. They tracked daily temperatures since Chucks prediction on Feb. 2, finding that only 12 days had temperatures below 40 degrees meaning most days reached at least 40 degrees or higher. Out of the 47 days since Groundhog Day, 35 were above 40 degrees, confirming Chucks prediction. Susan E. Wagner High School students and District Attorney McMahon gathered at Staten Island Zoo to confirm Groundhog Chuck's weather prediction. (Courtesy of the Staten Island Zoo) Staten Island Zoo Just a few wintry weeks ago, our boroughs magnificent meteorologist, groundhog Staten Island Chuck, declared that early Spring was well on the way, said District Attorney McMahon. Today, I profoundly joined the Susan Wagner High Schools science students and the Staten Island Zoo to confirm our beloved groundhogs rightful prediction on the first day of spring! Ukraine has officially handed over to Estonia a list of wishes for military assistance, which the Estonian state will now urgently purchase from the domestic defense industry, the Estonian Defense Ministry said. "Last year, we agreed that this year and next year we would support Ukraine militarily in the amount of 0.25% of our GDP per year at the expense of the Estonian defense industry. It was nice to see a large number of Estonian manufacturers offering their products. Today we received feedback from Ukraine, which will allow us to deliver assistance to Ukrainians as soon as possible," the press service of the Estonian Defense Ministry said citing Head of the department Hanno Pevkur. The list includes unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles, watercraft, medical equipment and consumables provided by Estonian defense companies. Details, quantities and delivery dates are not disclosed for security reasons, the Defense Ministry said. In addition, Estonia will provide direct military material assistance to Ukraine, contribute to the training of the Ukrainian defense forces and, together with Luxembourg, will co-chair the IT coalition to assist Ukraine. The Baltic and Nordic countries have also committed to equipping and training a brigade-level unit in Ukraine by 2025. Late last year, the State Defense Investment Center presented a list of Estonian goods or services that would be suitable for targeted use by the Ukrainian armed forces. It is reported that the product catalog of a total of almost 100 Estonian companies, which was subsequently transferred to Ukraine in February, includes about 500 items. The Mets signed an infielder to a minor league deal. AP The Mets have signed infielder Diego Castillo to a minor league deal, according to the MLB transaction log. Venezuelan reporter Georgeny Perez was the first to report the news last week. Castillo, 27, spent a week on the Mets' 40-man roster in January 2024. They claimed him off of waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks and designated him for assignment after his short stint in New York. TO BUY METS TICKETS, VISIT: VIVIDSEATS, TICKETNETWORK and STUBHUB He appeared in four games for the Minnesota Twins last season and had two hits in six at-bats. In Triple-A he slashed 261/.364/.397. Castillos only significant stretch of major league appearances came in 2022 with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he hit .206/.251/.382 with 11 home runs over 283 plate appearances. Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com. Target brand Favorite Day Gourmet New York Style Cheesecake, in 6 ounces packages, has been recalled due to product mislabeling resulting in undeclared pecans. (Courtesy of the FDA) FDA STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Target brand New York Style Cheesecake is being voluntarily recalled due to mislabeling resulting in an undeclared allergen, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced. Dessert Holdings LLC is recalling the cheesecake, in 6-ounce, 2-count packaging, due to the undeclared pecans, according to the FDA. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to pecans run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products, the FDA warned. The impacted product was distributed between Feb. 14 and March 7 to Target distribution centers located in California, Florida, Ohio and Texas. The product is packaged in clear plastic clam shells and sold in Target stores. Consumers who have purchased the cheesecake with lot code 25028A1 000039133 and UPC 0 85239 09690 1 should not consume the product. They should contact Target Guest Relations at (800) 444-0680 for a full refund, or Dessert Holdings, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at (720) 766-9060 or marketing@dessertholdings.com Its billionaire versus billionaire as Mark Cuban has squared off against Elon Musk. Cuban slammed Musk for how the Tesla CEO is going about cutting government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk on X had shared a 2017 video of Cuban talking about the need to cut government spending. Musks caption? Good idea. That spurred Cuban to reply, Glad to help. 2017. Mark Cuban: Reduce the size of government by at least a third. Make it more efficient. Just a reminder that like so many other Democrats, Cuban was all about cutting government waste until Elon and DOGE started actually doing it. pic.twitter.com/Z5t5UlLzf4 MAZE (@mazemoore) March 20, 2025 But Cuban wasnt finished, per NJ.com. I am all for cutting gov costs, then and now. Im even more for efficiency, Cuban wrote on X, which is owned by Musk. I would have a plan. Ready Fire Aim is not a plan. Cutting programs without knowing if they would have saved taxpayers more than they cost, or saved lives, is a mistake. I am all for cutting gov costs, then and now. I'm even more for efficiency I would have a plan. Ready Fire Aim is not a plan. Cutting programs without knowing if they would have saved taxpayers more than they cost, or saved lives, is a mistake Tariffs, cutting programs, https://t.co/cYUAPyVmae Mark Cuban (@mcuban) March 20, 2025 Tariffs, cutting programs, agencies and employees ALL AT ONCE, without doing an analysis of the impact on city, towns and states they impact, is going to backfire big time, he wrote. The Musk approach has been a huge mistake, Cuban suggested. What do you think the economic impact on their tax base is? What do you think happens to home values? What services will they have to end? What about the local businesses? How many people will lose their jobs and homes because this was done ALL AT ONCE, he wrote. Cut federal government bloat in an organized fashion and its great. Ready Fire Aim and the uncertainty it creates is a huge mistake, Cuban wrote. At President Donald Trumps direction, Musks through DOGE is looking to cut billions of dollars in federal spending. Trump and Musk are also looking to cut the federal workforce. Trump on another front is looking to totally dismantle the federal Department of Education. President Donald Trump talks as he meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP A Danish politician floated a possible plan on Wednesday for President Donald Trump to take over Greenland. Rasmus Jarlov, a conservative member of the Danish Parliament, said in a social media post to X that he regrets approving Denmarks purchase of F-35 fighter jets from the United States. He suggested that the U.S. could threaten to deactivate Denmarks weapons unless they hand over Greenland to the U.S. Jarlov was responding to an article about theories that the Pentagon could remotely disable Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets with a kill switch. The report from Flight Global said the Pentagon denied there being a kill switch in the F-35 fighter jets that the U.S. has sold to its allies around the world. As one of the decision makers behind Denmarks purchase of F35s, I regret it. The USA can certainly disable the planes by simple stopping the supply of spare parts. They want to strengthen Russia and weaken Europa and are showing that they are willing to do tremendous damage to peaceful and loyal allies like Canada just because they insist on existing as a country, he wrote on X. I can easily imagine a situation where the USA will demand Greenland from Denmark and will threaten to deactivate our weapons and let Russia attack us when we refuse (which we will even in that situation), he added. I dont know if there is a kill switch in the F35s or not. We obviously can not take your word for it. As one of the decision makers behind Denmarks purchase of F35s, I regret it. The USA can certainly disable the planes by simple stopping the supply of spare parts. They https://t.co/rDucWMUXDz Rasmus Jarlov (@RasmusJarlov) March 19, 2025 He went on to call on Denmark and its allies to avoid using American weapons. Therefore, buying American weapons is a security risk that we can not run. We will make enormous investments in air defence, fighter jets, artillery and other weapons in the coming years, and we must avoid American weapons if at all possible. I encourage our allies and friends to do the same, he added. Trump has repeatedly floated annexing Greenland for national security reasons and did not rule out using the U.S. military or economic coercion to take over Greenland earlier this year. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The husband of former Democratic Missouri Rep. Cori Bush has been arrested and charged with wire fraud tied to COVID-19 relief funds. Cortney Merritts, 46, of St. Louis, allegedly accepted $20,000 in payments from the Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs during the pandemic, the Justice Department said, per Fox News. Merritts is accused of falsifying details about his purported businesses in order to obtain loans from the Small Business Administration in 2020 and 2021, federal prosecutors said Thursday. He was charged with two counts of wire fraud. Merritts repeatedly applied for business loans for a company he said he operated while also allegedly misrepresenting his revenue and number of people he employed, authorities said. Merritts received an $8,500 EIDL loan from the SBA for his moving business in July 2020 after certifying that his company, Vetted Couriers, had six employees and generated $32,000 in gross revenue the previous year, according to the indictment, the New York Post reported. Mr. Merritts intends to plead not guilty to the charges, Merritts' lawyer, Justin Gelfand of Margulis Gelfand DiRuzzo & Lambson, said in a statement. As with any indictment, this is only the governments version of the story. We look forward to litigating this case in federal court in Washington, D.C. Merritts was indicted a year after the Justice Department opened an investigation into Bush, a former member of the socialist Squad of female Dem lawmakers, over campaign payments to her husband. Bush, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, was defeated in a primary last year amid controversy over her criticism of Israels response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. In 2023, Bush was hit with a Federal Election Commission and congressional ethics complaint over money her campaign paid Merritts for security even though he didnt have the required license. Reports say that King Charles will make an amazing secret offer to President Donald Trump when Trump visits the U.K. for a state visit. The Daily Mail said that the king, who enjoys a good relationship with the president, will invite the United States to become an associate member of the 56-member Commonwealth of Nations. Trump on Friday responded on Truth Social by saying, I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me! In addition to highlighting the unique and strong relationship between the two nations, it is said that Charles hopes that the gesture will calm tensions amid Trumps tariff battle with Commonwealth member Canada. Suggestions for the U.S. to join the Commonwealth were initially raised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, with the blessing of Queen Elizabeth II, during Trumps first White House term. This is being discussed at the highest levels, a source said. It would be a wonderful move that would symbolize Britains close relationship with the U.S. Donald Trump loves Britain and has great respect for the Royal Family, so we believe he would see the benefits of this. The source said, Associate membership could, hopefully, be followed by full membership, making the Commonwealth even more important as a global organization. The source added: The Commonwealth is also a great forum for resolving differences between nations, and the King has shown that he is a natural peacemaker. The vast majority of Commonwealth members are former territories of Great Britain and are connected through their use of the English language or historic and cultural ties. King Charles is the head of state for the Commonwealth. Though the U.S. declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776, that would not prevent America from becoming the 57th member of the Commonwealth. U.S. membership in the Commonwealth could bring America together with other Commonwealth nations around shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. King Charles earlier this year made history by inviting Trump to the U.K. for a second state visit. U.S. presidents have traditionally not been invited for full-blown state visits during their second terms. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! New package of military aid from Germany to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, save thousands of lives Sybiha Photo: MFA of Ukraine Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha thanked Germany for a new package of military aid worth EUR 3 billion and noted that it will help save lives. "Additional military assistance will help to strengthen our capabilities in air defense, artillery, drones, armored vehicles, demining equipment, and other areas. German weapons have already saved thousands upon thousands of Ukrainian lives. They will save even more in the current and coming years," Sybiha wrote on X. He noted Germany's strategic investment in a just and long-term peace and security in Ukraine and across Europe, and added that "a strong Ukrainian army will be the most important security factor in Ukraine and Europe for many years to come." As reported, Germany's budget committee decided on Friday to authorize an additional EUR 3 billion ($3.25 billion) in military aid for Ukraine. San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Partly cloudy. High near 65F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 52F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. The Art Gallery of NSWs Maud Page has been named the institutions first female leader in its 154-year history. The landmark ministerial appointment follows an international search for a successor to outgoing director Dr Michael Brand, whose departure has been unexpectedly brought forward from June to next Friday. Maud Page has been announced as the new director at the Art Gallery of NSW - its first female director in 154 years. Credit: Peter Rae Brand did not acknowledge his deputys historic appointment Friday in an Instagram post which flagged his exit from the gallery at short notice. Ive just been informed that the NSW government is about to announce the Art Gallerys new director who will start next week so thats a wrap for me today, he said. But now here he is facing me across the table in a Paris hotel room, a courteous Frenchman in his late 70s, unobtrusively well-dressed in dark colours, very bald, very wry. In a movie, he could imaginably be played by John Malkovich, though his sorrowful smile is gentler than that suggests. Bonitzer is here today to talk about The Stolen Painting, not to look back over his whole career. Still, I cant resist asking him if he learnt anything from Rivette that hes been able to apply to his own approach to directing. Working with Rivette, as Bonitzer tells it, was an experience unlike any other. In essence, his approach was to make up the film as he went along, with help from Bonitzer and Christine Laurent, at this period, the other regular member of the writing team. We were writing during the shoot, which is very unusual. Each Rivette film was a trip, Bonitzer says, using the English word. Does he mean a trip as in a journey, or the psychedelic kind? Both at once. Guiding the filmmakers on their trip, however, was the sense of a clear goal. With each film, there was a problem to be solved. The Stolen Painting was made in a more usual way, with a finished script before the start of the shoot. But as Bonitzer explains, here, too, it was a matter of solving a particular problem. The problem was to bring together two separate worlds. The collision of these two worlds is the narrative engine of The Stolen Painting, which was based on a true story uncovered by Bonitzers script collaborator Iliana Lolic. The title refers to Wilted Sunflowers, painted in 1914 by the Austrian artist Egon Schiele, purchased by a Jewish art collector in Vienna, then confiscated by the Nazis in the late 1930s and long believed lost. Louise Chevillotte and Alex Lutz in The Stolen Painting. Credit: Palace Films In 2005, it resurfaced in France after the anonymous owner contacted the British auction firm Christies for an evaluation. Walking into the owners apartment expecting to find a copy, the valuers were astonished to find themselves face-to-face with the real thing. Its this once-in-a-lifetime moment of discovery the film depicts, along with the subsequent moral dilemma. The find has the potential to be extremely lucrative, but who deserves to profit? While many of the details in The Stolen Painting are true to life, the characters are fictional: Bonitzer and Lolic gave themselves the freedom to invent, maximising the contrast between the films two worlds. Theres the sophisticated world represented by Andre Masson (Alex Lutz), the cynical but perhaps not totally unprincipled Parisian auctioneer who discovers the painting. Lea Drucker in The Stolen Painting. Credit: Palace Films Far removed from this in every sense is the workaday world of Alsace in north-eastern France, home to Martin Keller (Arcadi Radeff), a young factory employee who has come into possession of the painting but is ill-at-ease with his apparent windfall. While Bonitzer says theres something of himself in all his characters, he admits that neither of these worlds are his own, nor was he drawing on any kind of direct experience in portraying them. Where the details of Andres work were concerned, he relied on research done by Lolic. As for the life of Martin and his buddies: I had to make it up. But are there parallels between what the film shows and his own experiences in the film industry, where even larger sums of money are routinely in play? Yes, Bonitzer says, but only to a certain extent. Andre and his colleagues are all about the bottom line whereas in movie making, theres still some room for art for its own sake. Loading How true does this remain, though, in the streaming era, when film and TV are often understood as interchangeable forms of content? Again, Bonitzer grants the point but says that this is the side of the industry he tries to steer clear of. Not that he has a problem with TV as such: he was a fan of The Wire, for example, though there arent many shows that have caught his attention just lately. Keeping Bonitzers background as a film critic in mind, Im curious about a line early in the film when Andre is lecturing his deceptively obliging intern Aurore (Louise Chevillotte) about the thrill of the art valuation game. The fantastic part of this job is turning up a real rarity. Youre Indiana Jones. This cinematic allusion, it turns out, wasnt Bonitzers invention but taken straight from life something Lolic picked up from an interview with one of the actual art auctioneers who served as partial models for the character. Advertisement Eating outMelbourne Food and Wine Festival The worlds best baker brings his rule-breaking baked goods to Melbourne The former head baker of San Franciscos Tartine, Richard Hart, is giving Melburnians a taste of his famous pastries and breads at a week-long pop-up. Emma Breheny March 21, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This story appears in the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival highlights collection. See all stories . Most people compare baking to science: everything must be weighed to the gram, steps should be precisely followed. But Richard Hart, one of the worlds top bakers, reckons thats where most home cooks go wrong. The maverick baker loves nothing more than ripping up the rule book. You give me a rule, Im going to try and break that rule, just for the mischievousness of it, he says, smiling. Richard Hart of Hart Bageri, possibly the worlds most famous bakery, is in town for one week only. Wayne Taylor Its worked for him. Hart, whos in town for Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, is one of the most famous bakers of his generation. He was tapped by Rene Redzepi, founder of Copenhagens game-changing fine-diner Noma, to open a bakery there in 2018. Hart Bageri quickly became a delicious pin on the map of dough diehards, and has grown to 10 Copenhagen outlets. Advertisement He thinks outside the box, says local baking legend Michael James, who founded Tivoli Road Bakery and hosted Hart last time he was in Melbourne in 2016. He really pushes everything to the max to make each day a better bake. To run a week-long pop-up bakery in Melbourne, which opens on March 24, the UK-born Hart touched down a week in advance. He has spent his days at Baker Bleus headquarters in Caulfield North, getting familiar with the local flour, the water, the climate. I get here a few days early so I can make a batch of bad bread, and then the next day, hopefully a batch of better bread! Its stunning bread. Melbourne baker Michael James The pop-up has taken him away from final preparations for his brand-new bakery in Mexico City, Green Rhino, which opens as soon as he returns. Its happening nine months later than planned, which has created a slight logjam in Harts schedule. He also signed on to create a new bakery for Claridges, the luxury hotel in London, later this year. Advertisement When Hart told his good friend (and legendary baker) Michel Suas about travelling to a new city to do a pop-up, he said, You are a lunatic. Its going to be hell. Hart Bageri signatures, such as its sourdough city loaf, are coming to Melbourne. Courtesy Hardie Grant But Richard Hart doesnt run the way others do. Standing in the dough-mixing room at Baker Bleu, his demeanour is not that of a man with three projects on the go in three different timezones. He excitedly explains the concha, a sweet bun as common in Mexico as croissants in France, which his team will serve this week in Melbourne. The buns will be filled with whipped mascarpone to contrast with the sweet crackly topping a highly unorthodox move. Vegemite caramel will be swirled onto buttery French biscuits in a nod to local tastes. Hart Bageri signatures will also appear, including deeply caramelised cardamom buns made with croissant dough, a spandauer custard tart (a Danish classic that Hart says is one of his favourites), and his renowned sourdough. Advertisement James can still remember eating Hart Bageris city loaf. The crust is amazing, with really deep caramelisation. The crumb [interior] is super well-hydrated, kind of like mochi or sticky rice. Its stunning bread. Richard Hart likes to break rules with his baking. Wayne Taylor Harts career began as a chef, then he discovered bread, going on to become head baker at San Franciscos Tartine, one of the forerunners to the worlds current obsession with sourdough. More recently, he was honoured in The Bear as the hero of the television shows pastry chef, Marcus. Nancy Silverton, the renowned Los Angeles chef and baker, called him one of the worlds best bakers. Yet, he remains unpretentious, happily sharing his failures. Panettone was a major stumbling block, taking two years of trial and error. Hes included his recipe in his new book, Richard Hart Bread, to save others the heartache. I havent held any secrets back. I havent been like, I dont want to tell them that, in case theyre better than me. I want [people] to be better than me, actually. Advertisement His advice to home bakers who might pick up his book wanting to master sourdough bread? You get nothing for free in this world. You have to work at it, man. While he agrees that better bakeries are becoming more common in cities, hed like more local flavour in their breads and pastries. It would be nice if we could see a little more variation, country to country, [reflecting] their cuisine or their history, he says. While developing items for Green Rhino, he and his team have explored Mexicos cacao farms, its many varieties of corn, and whether its possible to bake with coconut oil, which is more readily available than quality dairy. Advertisement I want to know what my staff ate when they were kids, he says. But for now, he must focus on baking for Melburnians, who are spoiled for choice when it comes to excellent bakeries. I want to give you guys good stuff. I dont want to make something that Im embarrassed about, he says. Hart Bageri pop-up runs 9am-1pm (or until sold out), March 24-28 Melbourne Quarter, 699 Collins Street, Docklands, melbournefoodandwine.com.au Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Eating disorders during pregnancy are estimated to sit at about 7.5 per cent, while almost 70 per cent of women, like Rattle, are dissatisfied with their weight and figures in the postpartum period. I felt sore and broken and huge still, Rattle says of her postpartum period. Breastfeeding was particularly difficult. She developed mastitis, and felt uncomfortable with the size of her breasts. It was absolutely brutal, she says. After not having my period for such a long time, I felt very disconnected from my feminine traits and body acceptance and change. Practising yoga, talking to her parents and having open conversations with others in her community have all been beneficial to her recovery. It [anorexia] was keeping me in a very immature space by not wanting to have a period, not wanting to be any bigger, she says. And really, what Ive learnt is that as we mature, as women, our bodies change. The three Ps While eating disorders and body dissatisfaction are governed by a complex set of factors, there are a few reasons body image disturbance may increase during the three Ps puberty, pregnancy and perimenopause. Sarah Cox, The Butterfly Foundations national helpline manager and a clinical psychologist, says these three stages of life are periods of great hormonal change, as well as times of really significant shifts in personal identity and perceived self-worth and value in society. In Western cultures, but other cultures as well, there is an overvaluing of youthfulness and beauty, and physical appearance as defining whether theyre seen as successful, or even worthy. So when those significant changes start happening, it can lead to the risk of turning to unhealthy coping strategies to manage weight, body size or shape. Women are incredibly confused as to whether its an eating disorder symptom or a menopausal symptom. Professor Gemma Sharp Professor Gemma Sharp, who leads the body image and eating disorders research program at the University of Queensland, says these are all periods of significant stress, whether from the school environment, transition to parenthood, caring for children or elderly parents or career change. While for some women, such as Rattle, pregnancy can be a period of relative freedom from disordered eating patterns, for others, the experience of a changing body can be distressing, Sharp says. She says midlife can be particularly tricky, since many symptoms of perimenopause and menopause including menstrual disturbance, mood issues and fatigue can also be symptoms of eating disorders. What our research is showing [is] that women are incredibly confused as to whether its an eating disorder symptom or a menopausal symptom, she says. I should know better Sue Cody, 55, had struggled with bulimia in her 20s, but her eating disorder went onto the backburner when she became a mother. I had something to focus on other than myself, she says. It wasnt until she hit her 50s and entered perimenopause something shed never heard of before that her bulimia returned. I know its [menopause] another stage of life, but its just so daunting because you dont know enough about it, she says. Cody, who lives near Warrnambool, Victoria with her husband, started to gain weight, and while her GP provided some help, she still didnt feel she had the resources or support to cope. An estimated 75 per cent of women aged 42 to 52 experience dissatisfaction with their bodies, and present higher rates of depressive symptoms. Sue Cody, a 55-year-old from regional Victoria, is in recovery for bulimia and anorexia. Credit: Her daughter had also left home for university, and then COVID hit, further shrinking her world. I became an empty-nester and felt like I lost my purpose in life, she says. Cody attempted to her take her life and ended up in hospital. In her 20s, she also attempted suicide several times. After this, she says her bulimia morphed into anorexia, which she suspects was a way of feeling more in control. I felt like a freak because I thought, I should know better than doing something stupid like this, she says. With age, the long-term physical effects of disordered eating have begun to manifest. Some of her teeth are decaying, and her weakened bones are vulnerable to fracture Cody cracked three ribs last year after a fall. I dont want to reach the end of my life and have any regrets. Sue Cody It wasnt until she joined a 12-week recovery pilot program with Eating Disorders Victoria last year that she met others like her. As part of the program, she continues to meet with others in recovery monthly. It just made me feel so much more normal and not alone, she says. While Cody is still in the early stages of recovery, she is looking forward to what lies ahead. Because she feels self-conscious about her body, she appears in very few family photos. Ive always been the one offering to take the photo, she says. [But] I dont want to reach the end of my life and have any regrets. People are crying out for age-appropriate services If you are struggling with body image disturbance or an eating disorder, Cox recommends seeking support as soon as possible. The Butterfly Foundation has a free helpline, as well as information about support groups and healthcare professionals across Australia. Cox says greater education for healthcare providers is needed to properly care for those dealing with eating disorders at all stages of life. Loading Theres a lot of stigma and misconceptions among healthcare professionals around health, weight and wellness, Cox says. Eating disorders occur across the size spectrum, with more than half of eating disorders in Australia presenting in people of higher weight. We really need person-centred and appropriate care because there are a lot of people who, if they dont fit the stereotype of what people think an eating disorder looks like, slip through the cracks or receive quite damaging care, she says. This includes moving away from body mass index (BMI) as a singular marker of health. In January, 58 international and Australian experts called for a radical overhaul of the way obesity is diagnosed, including moving away from BMI as a sole marker of obesity. Recovery programs tailored to those in midlife, and beyond, are desperately needed, Sharp says. What people are crying out for is age-appropriate eating disorder services, she says. When you seek eating disorder care, particularly inpatient or partial day programs, it is very youth-oriented. So [older] people do not want to go to such programs. Ever since Liane Moriarty hit the streaming big time with HBOs acclaimed adaptation of her 2014 novel, Big Little Lies, the Australian author has proved TV catnip. Four of her 10 novels have made it to the small screen, including the upcoming The Last Anniversary. Unlike Big Little Lies, in which the setting was switched from Sydneys posh north shore to the swishy streets of Monterey in California, The Last Anniversary retains its Australian setting, the fictional Scribbly Gum Island on the Hawkesbury river, which is a hotspot for true-crime tourists hooked on the Munro Baby mystery. Its this mystery that underpins the six-part drama, which focuses on 39-year-old Sophie (Teresa Palmer) who inherits a house on the island that belonged to her ex-boyfriends grandmother. Its a bit silly unravelling family secrets and so on but the standout Australian cast makes it worth watching, including Palmer (whos good but saddled with the standard, prestige-drama problem of a bad wig), the glorious Helen Thomson and Danielle Macdonald. English actor Miranda Richardson brings international star power. On Binge from March 27. Louise Rugendyke If you thought the sight of Elon Musk, in sunglasses and MAGA cap, wielding a power tool above his head and yelling, this is the chainsaw for bureaucracy came out of nowhere, then listen to Elons Spies. The podcast from Alexi Mostrous (of chart-topping, Sweet Bobby fame) dropped before Musk became Trumps right-hand man, but establishes a pattern of how far he has gone to protect his interests and destroy those who get in the way. Mostrous alleges that Musk was behind the hounding and defaming of the head of the 2018 Thai cave rescue, a whistleblower at Tesla who leaked information about safety concerns, and even his ex-girlfriend, Amber Heard. Its chilling listening, especially given Musk now has access to some of the most sensitive information in the world. Barry Divola READ / The wires Twist is the latest from Irish best-selling author Colum McCann. Twist ($33) is the eighth novel by internationally acclaimed Irish writer Colum McCann, author of prize-winning books including Apeirogon (2020) and Let the Great World Spin (2009). It is (pardon the pun) a deep dive into the murky world of the underwater cables which carry the worlds information along the seafloor. Following a cable rupture off the coast of Africa, Irish writer Anthony Fennell, nursing his own demons, joins a cable-repair ship skippered by the enigmatic John Conway to write the story of its repair. When Conway a freediver who can hold his breath for up to eight minutes disappears, Fennells search for him leads him to dark places reminiscent of Conrads Heart of Darkness. Chilling. Nicole Abadee WEAR / SOS pinafore Marics company specialises in a range of civil construction works and also owns a large precast concrete yard producing concrete slabs for building projects. Loading According to gangland sources and banking records seen by this masthead, Maric has directed multiple payments to be made to Gatto and the second Carlton Crew member via front companies run by Melbourne accountant Charles Pellegrino. Pellegrinos home and office were the target of federal police raids earlier this month. There is no suggestion Pellegrino, Gatto or Maric are guilty of any offence, only that federal police are investigating why construction firms are paying large sums via suspected front companies controlled by Pellegrino. No charges have been laid, but the offences under investigation include money laundering, tax fraud and seeking to improperly influence a union official in the conduct of their work. Gangland and building industry sources who had dealings with Pellegrino and who requested confidentiality fearing repercussions said Carlton Crew fixers claimed to deliver the support of the CFMEU to LTE and other Maric-linked firms as well as solving other building industry disputes. CFMEU support is typically a prerequisite for building companies working on big government sites. Gatto, a former boxer who describes himself as a mediator in the construction industry, has long been described as an underworld figure by police and other authorities and was named a standover man in a 2002 royal commission. As Maric has built a multimillion dollar building company empire along Australias east coast, he has not only developed close links to Gattos Carlton Crew but has also separately built ties to Comancheros through men with deep involvement in the club. Bemir Saracevic was featured in part of an ABC article tabled in the federal parliament. One of Marics businesses was formerly managed by Comanchero associate Krstomir KB Bjelogrlic, whose business partner is the bikie gangs national boss, Bemir Saracevic. Bjelogrlic and Saracevic were named in an ABC article tabled in federal parliament last year detailing allegations they had heavied CFMEU officials in Queensland. Last year the federal government said it would refer to authorities Bjelogrlics alleged role threatening the CFMEU. He has previously denied being a bikie. Maric is also an associate of former Comanchero treasurer Mark Ahern. Ahern was sentenced to six years in prison in 2017 over the torching of a Kittens nightclub, and was previously jailed for firing eight shots into the home of then Victorian state MP Lorraine Wreford. Mark Ahern leaving the Magistrates Court in 2012. Credit: Penny Stephens As he has cultivated gangland connections, Maric has become the go-to for sorting out disputes with the CFMEU along Australias east coast, say industry insiders. Maric has been repeatedly sighted hosting meetings with Gatto and other gangland figures at the Roasting Warehouse cafe in North Melbourne. At those meetings Maric has helped negotiate with CFMEU and bikie-linked figures, securing outcomes from firms seeking union support or industrial peace. One line of inquiry being pursued by police is whether the payments to Pellegrinos front companies are linked to these meetings. In an interview, Maric denied making payments to Pellegrino or any member of the Carlton Crew including Gatto. Maric also said he had no links to any bikies. Is this one of my mates being a smart arse? Nick Maric When pressed on his associations and why financial records appeared to link LTE to payments to the Carlton Crew via Pellegrinos firms, Maric then attempted to deny he owned LTE or that he was in fact Nick Maric. He then backflipped and confirmed his role running the firm while still denying any underworld associations. Youve got the wrong number, Maric said during the call in which he appeared to seek to distance himself from his own company, LTE. Loading When pressed over his ownership of LTE, which owns a precast concreting business along with its civil works business, Maric finally conceded: I own a precast yard, but I dont have any Comancheros there. Asked again if he owned LTE, he confirmed he was the manager of the company. Gatto declined to answer questions. This masthead can also reveal that Rangedale a large civil works company operating on Victorian government projects and in NSW also made payments to the Pellegrino-linked firms which are now being probed. Rangedale operates across Victorias Big Build and its clients involve multiple government agencies. Its Victorian projects include the early works on the North East Link, and it is also working on the Airport Rail Link Project and Suburban Rail Loop. Civil works company Rangedale, which worked on Victorias North East Link, sent money to firms linked to Melbourne accountant Charles Pellegrino, whose home and office was raided by federal police. Credit: Jason South In NSW, the group was listed as a supplier to the states transport department and a preferred contractor for local governments, though its status is listed as Terminated from Contract. The group also has offices in Queensland and South Australia. It specialises in works like drainage, pipeline repairs, sewer connections and other civil cleaning works on major projects. Rangedale previously had large business interests in Russia, with a thriving Moscow office that helped Australian companies get their products into the growing Russia market. Rangedale provided services to companies looking to break into a range of industries in the ex-Soviet state, from the steel sector to oil refiners to brewers. It was perhaps best known as being a large exporter of cattle to Russia on behalf of Australias beef producers. In recent years, the group has focused on its civil construction works as governments ramped up infrastructure spending. Rangedale is also eyeing government work around the Olympics. With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon, the Queensland government is talking about doing some large-scale projects there. Being able to get our foot in the door now and establish the companys name will be a fantastic opportunity, the company said in a press release in 2022. Like LTE, Rangedale has had an at times fractious relationship with the CFMEU. Rangedale has not responded to inquiries from this masthead over the past week. The revelations provide fresh evidence of taxpayers along Australias east coast funding firms backed by gangland figures, indirectly making payments to the underworld. Geoffrey Watson, SC, the corruption-busting barrister appointed by the CFMEU administrator to investigate wrongdoing, this week warned the Big Build has become a place of resort for bikies and their associates. On Tuesday, 500 Victorian delegates of the CFMEU voted in favour of a resolution aimed at driving criminal elements out of the union and the broader construction sector. Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pressed for the return of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, and new national laws for racketeering to drive organised crime out of the sector. The boom has sparked concerns among beauty industry activists, academics and cosmetic doctors who prescribe in person. They claim the industrys processes, which Fresh describes as sitting at the intersection of medicine and commerce, fail to meet the regulators guidelines governing patient consultations. Calls like this are the foundation of Australias $4 billion and fast-growing world of cosmetic injectables. Here, nurses in stores onboard customers using surveys before doctors issue scripts for Botox, dermal fillers, fat dissolving and other beauty treatments after consultations lasting less than a few minutes. Moments later, Delaney has remotely written a script for the anti-wrinkle injection which a nurse will administer into the womans forehead. The consultation lasts 52 seconds. Bleeding, bruising, infection or swelling can occur with any injection, he says rapidly in the video call. There is a small chance that the anti-wrinkle injection can cause a droop of the muscle. The patient, a blonde woman in her late 30s, nods at the iPad screen as doctor John Delaney, the co-founder of Australias largest telehealth cosmetic injectables company, Fresh Clinics, lists potential risks of her upcoming anti-wrinkle treatments. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. The first video features the patients face and private details including her name, phone number, date of birth and home address. Delaneys 52-second video is not an outlier. It, and another detailing an equally short consultation, was used as part of a training module for new doctors at Fresh Clinics and posted to their website. The most recent case of blindness was a female patient in August 2024, a TGA spokesman said. This masthead found evidence of many patients harmed in cosmetic injectable procedures across the country since 2016; eight have been permanently blinded by dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle treatments. A further 81 were left with eye disorders, according to Therapeutic Goods Administration reports. This is the backdrop to a looming battle between the providers and federal and state regulators trying to keep a lid on standards for procedures in which patients can be put at risk. The critics argue that whatever warnings are provided by nurses, more time is needed with doctors, preferably in the room. Delaney said that before a patient sees a Fresh Clinics doctor, a nurse conducts a consultation covering treatment risks. These risks are also included in the patients consent paperwork, which must be completed first. Delaney, however, made no apology for the speedy service when contacted by this masthead. The timing of each consultation is based on the doctors assessment of complexity, Delaney says. These AHPRA guidelines include obtaining informed consent, protecting patient privacy, accepting responsibility for evaluating information and confirming the identity of the patient. The federal medical watchdog, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, told this masthead that it was difficult to see how a doctor could meet all of their obligations in a 60-second consultation. The videos were taken down after this masthead asked questions about them last week. Delaney said publishing the footage containing private information was an oversight, and that the company had apologised. In a second video, also 52 seconds long, a patient appears with her brow prepped and marked up for Botox before Delaney proceeds to write her script. Delaney says only 0.1 per cent of Fresh Clinics patients experience complications and the majority are mild: A slight droop of the eyelid or eyebrow, or mild inflammation around the location of injection. Fresh publicly states it deals with 1000 complications annually, from the thousands of small beauty clinics it services across Australia. While the procedures performed by Fresh Clinics co-founder in those videos went to plan, other patients have not been so lucky. People forget that this is medicine this is not a visit to the hairdresser, this is a medical situation that can cause terrible tissue damage, said cosmetic physician Ronald Feiner, medical dean of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine. Doctors in this market are expected to quickly issue telehealth scripts for patients seeking dermal fillers and Botox. Nurses who call Fresh Clinics get to choose which doctor writes a prescription for them one former Fresh doctor says those who take too long are chosen less often by nurses. When the doctor joins the call, theyre briefed by the nurse, who will flag any relevant health issues or medications that the patient might have. The doctor then reviews the patient intake form and assesses the patients suitability. The telehealth boom is driven by doctors issuing online scripts often without Medicare rebates for treatments such as medicinal cannabis, erectile dysfunction, weight loss and hair loss, as well as injectables. Amid a critical shortage of doctors to staff GP clinics, the telehealth industry has ballooned since the pandemic, with economists at Grand View predicting cosmetic injectables will grow from its $4 billion annual spend to $9 billion in five years . Or they have contacted them, and [the patient is] totally insecure in what the response of that doctor has been, he said. Feiner says he has received calls from nurses working with other telehealth providers whose patients had experienced acute complications and then not been able to contact their telehealth prescribing doctor. But Feiner says 1000 complications a year is concerning. He is also a co-ordinator at the International Master Course on Ageing Science, which hosts the worlds leading cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery meeting, and reviews complications lodged by doctors from around the world. A one to two-minute consult with the patient will occur and all you need to do is fill out the patients script, which takes five seconds, the ad reads. You will be paid $15 a call/script. You will roughly receive 150-200 calls a week. An Angel Aesthetics manager said doctors reviewed all patient documentation before prescribing, including medical history and a body dysmorphic disorder screening. During video consults nurses summarised key details and doctors confirmed critical information. Most patients were aged 18 to 30, an age group with few medication or allergy concerns, she said. Many consultations are brief and can be completed within approximately two minutes when no additional concerns are raised, she said, though some took longer. Loading The company also had in-house doctors that visited clinics. Fresh Clinics is the fastest-growing injectables telehealth provider, with a Deloitte report noting its 1363 per cent growth from 2019 to 2022. Fresh is used by between 1500 and 2000 nurses running their own beauty clinics, Delaney has said. Fresh serves 14 per cent of Australias 9200 injectables clinics just five years after launching. It charges the nurses who perform the procedures $25 for each telehealth consultation. Nurses then charge clients about $300 for simple Botox, about $650 for lip filler and upwards of $850 for collagen stimulators (synthetic injectables that stimulate collagen production). Fresh Clinics also sells nurses products to inject into patients faces and bodies, buying in bulk from pharmaceutical giants such as Allergan, Galderma, Merz and Hugel. A Fresh Clinics price list from November shows nurses save up to 41 per cent off the standard price set by the pharmaceutical companies manufacturing anti-wrinkle toxins, dermal fillers and other drugs. Fresh Clinics strong growth attracted investor Ellerston Capital, which spent $32 million in November to acquire a stake in the company as it expands into the US. Ellerston told clients the investment was driven by trends in the ageing population and rise of social media fuelling demand. Delaney who founded Fresh Clinics with a fellow doctor in 2018 after the pair launched and then closed a hair-loss telehealth company said patient safety was the companys foremost concern, and it complied with all regulations. He said the company selected responsible nurses with experience in cosmetic injecting who assessed patients when they came into clinics. Doctors will discuss the risks, give the patient an opportunity to ask any questions and at the end of the consultation, the doctor can either authorise treatment or, if that patient is not medically suitable, decline treatment, he said. Fresh Clinics exists to enhance compliance with regulatory standards, help clinics navigate the complexities of the industry while ensuring high standards of care and medical oversight. He said that in the rare instances in which complications arose, the companys specialised complications unit provided support to patients, including through a 24/7 emergency hotline. Delaney said he hit out at any suggestion nurses werent qualified to perform injectable procedures. Nurses delivering injections with doctor oversight is consistent with long-standing medical practice, he said. Among those concerned about the exponential growth in telehealth injectables is Queensland cosmetic physician Ansulette Kay. The prescribing doctor and nurse may never have met, and the doctor may have no knowledge of the nurses skill level, she says. Yet the nurse is effectively entrusted with assessment, treatment planning, consent and the procedure itself, while the patient is sometimes left without access to a knowledgeable doctor who is there to protect their interests. A vascular occlusion of the tongue posted to Fresh Clinics website by one of its doctors. The serious vascular occlusion when blood flow to an artery is blocked affected the patients chin and tongue due to a filler being injected into their chin. The patient recovered but the Fresh doctor said she experienced extreme pain. Credit: Fresh Clinics Kay is among a small group of doctors who last year urged AHPRA to urgently overhaul the non-surgical cosmetic sector. She argues it is more dangerous to patients than cosmetic surgery, because of easy access to treatments, cheaper pricing, lower perceived and disclosed risks and aggressive marketing. One risk is vascular occlusion, which occurs when dermal filler blocks a blood vessel. If not treated quickly, it blocks oxygen from skin and tissue, leading to pain, skin damage and tissue death known as necrosis. Most medical practitioners administering injectables will have a patient who suffers a vascular occlusion during their career. One Fresh doctor said recently that hed managed some pretty bad occlusions including four that involved the tongue. He said he successfully treated all four. The doctor cited one instance on Freshs website, saying that the patient had recovered but had experienced extreme pain. Other incidents happen too. In February two nurse injectors whose prescriptions are done by Fresh posted on Instagram about post-injection patient collapses. One had a seizure, the other anaphylaxis. Amid the growth of the business and the warnings, the regulatory landscape is contested country. In December, Queensland Health issued a fact sheet outlining the industrys legal obligations. No laws had changed; it was simply restating the rules. But the move threw the sector into disarray. It stated that only doctors and nurse practitioners (a nurse with a higher level of training, and able to issue prescriptions) can purchase Botox and cosmetic fillers. Loading Generally registered nurses are not permitted to purchase [these] medicines, Queenslands health department said. Doctors and nurse practitioners cannot buy stock for a place that they do not practice from, which includes locations for which telehealth is provided. NSW Health confirmed to this masthead its position was the same as Queenslands, with injectables such as botulinum toxin and dermal fillers only allowed to be purchased by or on behalf of an authorised practitioner, such as a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or dentist. The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission said it was aware of allegations involving Fresh Clinics and is currently assessing the matter. To ensure a fair and robust process, we will not comment on the complaint or individual practitioners. Enforcing Queenslands and New South Wales reading of the laws could dismantle the telehealth model for cosmetic injectors in Australia, according to lawyers at major firm Mills Oakley. Victorias Department of Health, however, said nurse-led businesses could apply for a permit to obtain, possess and use substances such as botulinum toxins and hyaluronic acid. Fresh is attempting to change the laws, which Delaney agrees is Queensland Health saying that the doctor should be on site in any clinic where medicines are ordered and used. He compares rules surrounding cosmetic injectables to those around nursing homes, where nurses often deal with medicines without doctors present. This month, the company started a petition urging injector nurses in Queensland to rail against the law, saying they disproportionately impact women-led businesses. In a recent podcast, Delaney also labelled concerns about the industry as misogynistic. Fresh has also stepped up campaigning, posting on social media daily about the importance of safety and training. (The company also runs two-day courses for nurses so they can become injectors or nursepreneurs for $6270.) An Instagram post promoting a Fresh Clinics boot camp. The two-day $6270 course is for nurses wanting to start a cosmetic injectable business. Credit: Fresh Clinics Delaney went to a National Press Club lunch in January, saying in an Instagram post that he was in Canberra to advocate for one of the fastest-growing areas of female entrepreneurship in the country. Maddison Johnstone, co-director of patient advocacy group Operation Redress, rejects Delaneys claim that there is a misogynistic edge to the Queensland regulators actions. It is not sexist to bring an out-of-control industry an industry causing actual harm to mostly female patients into line with the rest of the medical sector, she said. You could argue it is sexist not to. Michael Fraser and Maddison Johnstone of patient advocacy group Operation Redress. Credit: Paul Harris Her co-director, Michael Fraser, said regulators needed to set up a mandatory register of complications. Cosmetic injectables are clinically unnecessary discretionary medical treatments that carry real short-term and long-term risks, with many complications going unreported, he said. Governments would take the risks and harms of this industry more seriously if there was a mandatory register of complications. Introducing telehealth to speed up consults, while driving products and profits, positions the patient as the mechanism to extract maximum returns. He said the current model encouraged doctors to have fast consultations with patients to earn more money. If their consults are as quick as 60 seconds as reflected in some training videos, they could be earning $900 an hour, he said. The issue was a hot topic of discussion at Cosmedicon, a conference staged by the industrys main magazine, Aesthetic Medical Practitioner, earlier this month. Cosmetic doctor Tom Parmakellis told the crowd that some telehealth doctors, without identifying what practice or company they were from, did up to 300 cosmetic injectable consultations in one day. Thats completely ridiculous, he said. Kate Evans, director of AHPRAs regulatory response unit, also expressed her concerns on the same panel. There are obligations that there must be good and safe clinical care its very hard to see how 300 patients a day could ever meet the guidelines or the code, she said. Speaking generally, an AHPRA spokesman said it was concerned about unprofessional conduct and patient harm in the cosmetic procedures industry, and received regular reports of inappropriate consultations. The interaction between the cosmetic procedures industry and practitioners providing virtual care is of growing interest, given anecdotal reports and regulatory intelligence in relation to patient harm and unethical practice, he said. Some new models of care may take advantage of consumer demand for certain treatments and compromise good patient care. Since September 2022, the watchdog has taken action against 16 practitioners performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures, mainly injectables. Five were nurses. Fresh Clinics has also come under attack from within over its internal culture. Several former senior staff at the firm have told this masthead they left because of disputes with its founders, but declined to be quoted. The companys former head of events and conferences, Nicole Dabeau, went to the Federal Court complaining in her statement of claim about a bullying culture at Fresh Trading. Dabeau said she had told a senior Fresh employee that she felt she was on the receiving end of what felt like Mean Girls. In Freshs defence, filed with the court, the company denied the claim, saying the senior employee could not remember the conversation. Dabeau also claimed the company had represented to her that she would have a million dollars in her bank account if she cashed out a share offer. The co-owner denied this. Dabeau never got the opportunity because she was made redundant in 2023. Her court documents refer repeatedly to the toxic burnout culture within Fresh, saying that employees suffered from mental health issues because of the excessive workload. The company denied this claim in its court defence. Dabeau declined to comment when approached. Fresh Clinics said the company had respectfully settled this case. Dr Christopher Rudge, a health law expert at the University of Sydney Law School, said telehealth regulations were too ambiguous. He said they did not clearly define whether doctors needed to supervise nurses administering cosmetic injectables in person, or at all. Clinics are aware that the guardrails are a bit ambiguous, he said. He said it could also be unclear who would be liable if something went wrong. Dr Damien Grinsell is increasingly treating patients who have suffered complications. The fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has performed surgery on patients suffering infections after dermal filler eroded their skin. In milder cases, filler has migrated to the wrong place and needs dissolving, or replacement with fat grafting. Theres a trend around the world for plastic surgeons to not use filler as much because the complication rate is so high, he said, pointing out that the tear trough area beneath the eye was particularly risky. He said skin thickness affects treatment success, but was hard to assess via video consultation. If youve got super-thin skin, youre almost certainly going to get a poor outcome, he said. These are critical things that need to be assessed. Mark Ashton, a specialist plastic surgeon and professor of surgery and anatomy at the University of Melbourne. Credit: ABC/Andy Ware Mark Ashton, a specialist plastic surgeon and professor of surgery and anatomy at the University of Melbourne, said telehealth had weakened protections for patients. I am not at all supportive of allowing patients to have fillers injected in shopping centres and the prescribing doctor being on the phone. Remotely. Sometimes in a different state, he said. Dermal fillers, according to Ashton, are more dangerous than anti-wrinkle injections. Loading Dermal filler injected into an artery by mistake can cause devastating damage, he said. People can go blind within seconds. It can cause a stroke. It can cause necrosis. Patients can end up with a dead patch of skin on their forehead, or lose their nose or lip. Sean Arendse, an emergency doctor who works at hospitals in Melbournes south-east, sometimes treats patients who present with vascular occlusions caused by cosmetic injectables. A lot of times when they have a vascular occlusion, [the cosmetic injector] will go into denial and then sit on it, he said. The sooner you treat these occlusions the higher the success rate of not losing skin or scarring someone. Were talking a matter of hours not days. We see things that have been left for two or three days. Arendse is also founder of Flawless Rejuvenation Skin Clinic and serves on the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australias Board. He, too, is concerned about doctors providing scripts via telehealth to interstate patients. If something goes wrong, you as a doctor have taken responsibility for that medication thats been administered to the patient, he said. If youre a flight away, how can you manage that complication? Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. On Friday, March 21, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, who is on an official visit to Kyiv. "We focused on economic cooperation and defense-industrial cooperation in the conversation. We discussed the prospects for the creation and development of high-tech enterprises. Ukraine is interested in attracting Czech investments. For this, we have a network of industrial parks that open up new opportunities for foreign investors," Shmyhal said in the Telegram channel following the meeting. In addition, the interlocutors discussed the activities of the Czech patronage over Dnipropetrovsk region. "We expect the continuation and expansion of the recovery projects. We expect that the inaugural meeting of the Ukrainian-Czech working group on the recovery of Ukraine will take place in the near future, in accordance with the agreements reached during the joint consultations of the governments of our countries," Shmyhal said. He also thanked the Czech Republic for supporting Ukraine on its path to EU membership. "Despite the war, we maintain good momentum in European integration and are working to open all six clusters within the framework of the negotiation process with the EU," the Prime Minister said. In turn, Pavel assured Ukraine of further support and noted that all support projects from the Czech Republic will be continued and developed. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the March 22 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories . The first Aboriginal person I met was a couple of months old. She was a baby in the back of the car of my favourite high school teacher Mrs X had just picked her up from wherever shed adopted her. Why had she brought her to school during the lunch break? I dont know, but she was pleased to show her to us older girls. This was 1967 or so, and my high school, in a middle-class suburb, had no Aboriginal students. Id never knowingly met an Aboriginal person and knew almost nothing about what had gone on between white and black over the previous 200 years. One of us asked why she was put up for adoption. Oh, Mrs X said, her parents werent able to look after her. We all nodded; that sounded reasonable. But the question stirred up a little dust of unease. There were no more questions about what circumstances had led to that baby starting life as the adopted black child of a white woman. The author as a high-schooler, when she met her first Aboriginal person an adopted baby. Credit: Courtesy of Kate Grenville Now I wonder whether she could have been part of what today we know as the stolen generations. What was the real story about her family? Its easy enough to say that none of us girls knew anything about child removals in 1967. Wed never been taught the dark side of what had happened when the British colonised Australia. But we knew enough to join the dots if wed wanted to. When the British arrived, Aboriginal people were living in every corner of the country. Now, as far as our experience was concerned, they were gone. If wed joined the dots, wed have seen that whatever had happened between them being here and them being apparently gone cant have been good. I think the real reason why none of us asked any more questions was that at some level, in some way, without quite knowing, we had joined the dots. We did know. But we couldnt find a way to think about it. We were enclosed in a little bubble of knowing-and-not-knowing. Advertisement That moment must have been stored away, a vivid visual image in my memory because a while ago, it spurted out unbidden. What uncorked it and a whole lot of other thoughts was the Voice referendum. Id handed out YES leaflets before the referendum, and what Id seen wasnt so much peoples racism (though there was some of that), as how little most of them knew about our history. But something else struck me as I stood with the leaflets flapping in my hand. Like us girls clustered around Mrs Xs baby, these people coming to vote didnt exactly know, but then again, they sort of did. And it was making them uncomfortable. There was a tension in the way they walked and an uncertain expression something like sheepish on their faces. In handing out leaflets supporting the Yes campaign, Grenville experienced a mortifying moment. Credit: Bloomberg Except for the woman who strode in through the gate on the second afternoon. She grabbed a NO leaflet and then marched over to where I was standing. She faced right up to me and eyeballed me from close up. Planted her feet wide, stuck her elbows out, hands on hips, and threw out her challenge: OK, convince me! I judged I had 10 or 15 seconds. And I blew it. I fumbled and dithered and couldnt do any better than bleat out a few worthy sentiments. She snorted, a kind of laugh-snort, and strode into the school. I can imagine the big confident mark shed have made next to NO. In every place my ancestors had arrived to take up land, Aboriginal people would already have been there. It was a mortifying moment, but one that told me something useful: that I wasnt as sure of my ground as I should have been. I was skating along the surface of good intentions. There was some sense in which I hadnt done the hard work of really looking, really knowing. The Voice was rejected, of course, but all the debates and disagreements about it had an effect: they cracked open the smooth surface of some old thought-habits. Things emerged that hadnt been visible before. Advertisement I found myself revisiting some of my mental furniture memories and things learnt. Mrs Xs long-ago baby was one. What was the story there? Then there were the family stories that my mother had told me. They started in 1806, with our convict ancestor. Hed been a lighterman on the Thames whod pinched some timber, been transported, and then taken up land as the family story had it near Sydney. Along the way he might have murdered his wife. Or maybe she fell down the stairs by accident. After that came the next generations of my English and Irish forebears, each one pushing out further into tempting land, north and west as far as Guyra and Gunnedah. As the dust settled from the referendum, I found myself thinking about the fact that in every place my ancestors had arrived to take up land, Aboriginal people would already have been there. It wasnt taking up as much as plain old taking. Yet there was only one family story that even mentioned them, and that was in such a muffled way Id managed never to really think about it, no matter how many times Mum told me the story. Scenes from the Voice referendum. Credit: Getty Images My early forebears were small-scale farmers of little education. Their individual lives and doings werent recorded other than in those scraps of family history, so it wasnt a matter of finding out the details of exactly how theyd interacted with Aboriginal people. When that woman demanded to be convinced, and Id come up short, I could see that it was because Id leapfrogged to the worthy sentiments without having done some kind of hard thinking before that. I decided to do a road trip or, as I thought of it in my more high-flown moments, a pilgrimage to all the places mentioned in the family stories. Id rerun the stories in my mind one more time, but this time Id be standing where they happened right on the land that was taken and Id widen the frame to include the people who were there when my forebears took it. Id try to take in the whole picture and understand what it meant. Not to condemn, not to accuse. And not to wallow in guilt. Just to look and be prepared to see. Advertisement Grenvilles convict ancestor had taken up land in Wisemans Ferry (left) in 1806. Right: a long-ago uncle had won land in a government ballot on Anaiwan land in Guyra. It was a lot of dusty miles. I started at Wisemans Ferry, where that Thames lighterman had made his life on Dharug ground. It ended at Guyra, where a long-ago uncle had gone in a government ballot and won a block of Anaiwan land. All the threads of thought and feeling finally led me to the Myall Creek massacre memorial on Gomeroi land. Not that my forebears had anything to do with that. But its one of the few places where a non-Indigenous person can go if she wants to think about what it means for her to be here. That journey released me from the spell of knowing-and-not-knowing. It let me acknowledge the things I know truths that it would be easier not to know. It also showed me how much I dont know, that I should. Treaty, for example. Id seen Treaty now! on a hundred banners, but it seemed too hard and complicated an issue for me to engage with. But doing that journey into other hard and complicated thoughts the ones about my place here made me see that turning away was just another kind of wilful not-knowing. A place to reflect: a memorial site at Myall Creek, where settlers massacred about 30 Wirrayaraay people in 1838. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Turns out, a treaty is nothing more than a negotiated agreement. You dont have to be at war to have one a peace treaty is only one kind of treaty. That was the first surprise. The other was that the British made treaties in virtually all their other colonies Canada, the US, New Zealand and in Africa. Thats because they recognised even if only theoretically the authority and rights of the people already there. Those treaties were often unjust and often ignored. They did little to protect the people whose lands the British were colonising. But they established the principle that negotiation was necessary. Thats why they could later be revisited, as is happening now in New Zealand and Canada. Even an imperfect treaty gives you a place to start. A negotiated agreement doesnt fix everything, but without one its hard to fix anything. Advertisement The state government has begun community consultation for a review into the controversial stage four Gold Coast light-rail expansion weeks after casting doubt over the project. The City of Gold Coast council expected the 13-kilometre expansion to connect the existing G:link line with the Gold Coast Airport and had mooted a further extension across the border to Tweed Heads but the 15-year-long project has had mixed reception from locals. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the former Labor government had shown disdain for residents through secret plans that would see more than 235 homes resumed and a decrease of about 1000 local car parks. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said his department would head a review into the Gold Coast light rail, less than two months after floating the idea of using buses along the projects final leg. This was a project that the Labor Party forced upon the people of the southern end of the Gold Coast, Bleijie said. Councillors then moved to raise the fee further to $5 per day, with only two voting against the motion. A Neuron spokeswoman slammed the decision for being made without proper consultation and said that despite follow-up discussions in which the company shared trip and financial data to demonstrate the impacts, no solution was reached, leaving it no choice but to withdraw. Unfortunately, the figures just dont add up, the spokeswoman said. Each e-scooter in Yarra generates around $9.50 per day, but with the new $5 per e-scooter per day council fee, the remainder isnt enough to cover staff wages, warehousing, recharging, maintenance, insurance, safety initiatives, rider education and ongoing technology upgrades. It wouldnt be fair to pass such a steep cost onto riders. Our e-scooter programs are designed to provide a convenient, affordable alternative to cars, and a massive hike like this would significantly hurt rider adoption. Neurons spokeswoman said it was disappointing that some believed the company was making a profit in Yarra. City of Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly is confident other e-scooter companies will replace Neuron and Lime in the council area. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui This is simply not the case. Since the City of Melbourne paused its e-scooter program for a reset, trip numbers have plummeted by around 85 per cent, and so has the revenue we generate from Greater Melbourne, the spokesperson said. We hope to return in the future, potentially as part of a Greater Melbourne contract, but for now, the fees make it impossible to continue. Loading The councils increased fee was supposed to be in place until its contracts with the e-scooter operators ended in September. However, because the companies have rejected the amended terms, their contracts now expire in early April. Neuron will exit Yarra before its contract ends on April 4. Lime has decided to halt hiring out e-scooters in Yarra from next month and will attempt to negotiate a new contract this year. Limes e-bikes will remain in the municipality. The council has not raised fees on e-bikes. Given the proposed changes to the shared e-scooter trial contract, Lime has decided to hold off on this extension, Lime regional director William Peters said. City of Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly said it was not the councils intention to force the companies out, and he said the new fee didnt go too far. If very successful, profitable international companies are trying to, with a serious face, tell us they can only survive if they get a subsidy from a small council, theyre dreaming, Jolly said. Its a shame. Theyve just cracked the sooks. The procurement process for new e-scooter contracts will begin in coming weeks, with new arrangements expected to be finalised by September. Jolly said some residents would be disappointed by the companies sudden exit, but he was confident that hire e-scooters would return to Yarra this year. He said other businesses had expressed interest. E-scooters parked in Richmond. Credit: Wayne Taylor Were not going down the City of Melbourne route of just banning them. We think theyre an important part of active transport, he said. E-scooters will be back, whether its these companies or another. Yarra councillor Sophie Wade supported the original proposal of $3.20 a day, but not $5, and said the outcome was inevitable. Loading It was obvious that jacking up fees by a completely random amount would lead to the e-scooter companies pulling out, Wade said. Now people in Yarra are going to be denied a cheap and sustainable transport option in a cost-of-living crisis. Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he stuck by his councils decision to scrap the e-scooter trial. I still have people stop me in the street and thank me for bringing it to an end, he said. The Victorian government has been a supporter of e-scooter schemes to boost active transport, having initiated the trial of hire e-scooters in Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip councils in 2022. New laws were introduced in October to allow such schemes to run permanently, as well as to introduce new penalties for any unsafe riding. City of Port Phillip Mayor Louise Crawford said the previous council had agreed to proceed with a permanent shared e-scooter system and feedback would soon be sought from current councillors. We are continuing to monitor the situation, Crawford said. Councils including Merri-bek, Darebin and Moonee Valley have previously flagged interest in establishing an e-scooter hire scheme. The WA Liberals hopes of securing opposition party status has taken a huge blow after a recount of votes in Albany saw the Nationals take the seat over controversial Liberal candidate Thomas Brough. On the current count, both the Nationals and Liberals have won three extra seats each in the lower house, taking their totals to six seats each. WA Opposition Leader Shane Love. Credit: Michael Genovese For the Liberals to take opposition status, they need to be the party with the second-most seats in the lower house, and the only way that can happen is if their candidate Adam Hort wins the seat of Kalamunda. On the latest count, Hort leads Labors Karen Beale by just 64 votes, making Kalamunda the most marginal seat in WA. It will likely be automatically recounted, given the margin is below 100 votes. The Garifuna Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies Global Campus in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), hosted a historic event celebrating the resilience and cultural heritage of the Garifuna people. Among the distinguished guests was a delegation from Bonaire, James Finies, leader of Pueblo Progresivo Uni, and Davika Bissessar Shaw, president of Bonaire Human Rights, representing the ongoing fight for justice and self-determination in the Caribbean. A significant moment of the event was the homecoming pilgrimage to Balliceaux Island, where Garifuna descendants, including those whose ancestors were exiled to Honduras, returned to their ancestral land for the first time in 229 years. The uninhabited island of Baliceaux holds deep significance for the Garifuna people, descendants of Africans and Indigenous peoples. In 1796, British forces exiled ca 5,000 Garifuna to the island, an abhorrent act of genocide against Indigenous people, where more than half were famished and perished before being relocated to Roatan, Honduras. These survivors kept their language, culture, and traditions and, up today, have significant Garifuna communities in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This deeply emotional journey was even more meaningful following the recent acquisition of Balliceaux by the Government of SVG on March 4, 2025. The event opened with a prayer by the Yurumein Royal Delegation, followed by schoolchildren singing the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national anthem in the Garifuna language. The Minister of Education, Hon. Curtis King, addressed attendees, setting the stage for three days of discussions on history, identity, and justice. During the closing ceremony, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves delivered a powerful speech on colonial injustices and reparations, highlighting not only the struggles of the Garifuna people but also those of Bonaire. In a moment of recognition and solidarity, he invited James Finies and Davika Bissessar Shaw to stand, acknowledging their ongoing efforts to advocate for Bonaires protection under the United Nations umbrella and international law, comparing the Bonaire Case to a modern Garifuna Balliceaux situation. Following the conference, the Bonaire delegation was invited to a reception at the Prime Ministers residence, where they engaged with international diplomats, including the British representative. On March 14, Heroes Day, a wreath-laying ceremony and gun salute honored St. Vincent and the Grenadines only national hero, Joseph Chatoyer, whose resistance against colonial forces continues to inspire generations. The event culminated in a deeply moving pilgrimage to Balliceaux Island, where Garifuna descendants walked on the land where their ancestors were once forcibly removed. Reflecting on the experience, a participant, a Garifuna descendant, shared, Words cannot fully express what we felt when we stood on Balliceaux. This was more than just a tripit was a homecoming, a moment of reckoning with history, and a reminder of the strength of our people. This landmark event not only honored the past but also reinforced the ongoing fight for Caribbean people's rights, cultural preservation, justice, and reparations for colonized peoples across the Caribbean. BES ISLANDS:--- delegation representing the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba is currently in the Netherlands for a series of meetings in The Hague. These discussions focus on the ongoing revisions of the WolBES and FinBES legislation. Although agreements were made collectively between the former State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and the island representatives at the March 2024 work conference, the new State Secretary sent a letter in February indicating his intention to amend certain agreements unilaterally, which prompted concerns from the islands. In response, while together during the BES Summit on Saba in February 2025, the islands, agreed to draft a formal letter expressing their objections to how the State Secretary was proceeding and meet with key entities within the central government in the Netherlands to discuss these concerns in person. On Thursday, March 20th, a crucial meeting took place with members of the Committee of Kingdom Affairs of the Second Chamber. The Islands delegation emphasized the importance of involving the islands when things concern the islands because the primary concern is not the proposed changes, but the unilateral approach taken by the State Secretary in modifying agreements without consulting the people that these changes will affect. The Committee members and the joint delegation had an open discussion. Key discussion points included the need for more frequent consultations and communication to enhance clarity, mutual understanding, and alignment with the islands' needs. The key principle " if it's about us, not without us" resonated as an important principle of good governance during this session. The delegations reaffirmed their commitment to constructive dialogue and stressed the necessity of upholding an inclusive consultation process. The meeting underscored the importance of continued collaboration to ensure that the voices of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba remain integral to the decision-making processes affecting their governance and future. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua As of 16:00, some 68 combat clashes took place along the entire frontline, of which 15 battles took place in Pokrovsk axis, and the Russian army is also trying to advance in Kursk and Toretsk axes, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in an operational briefing on Friday. The enemy attacked most actively in Pokrovsk direction, the General Staff noted. Since the beginning of the day, the enemy has tried 15 times to advance to our positions near the settlements of Zelene Pole, Yelyzavetivka, Udachne, Preobrazhenka, Bohdanivka and Andriivka, one combat clash is still ongoing. However, compared to the situation at the same time a day ago, the activity of the Russian army in the direction has decreased somewhat, with 28 clashes recorded on Thursday. "In Kursk, Ukrainian defenders are repelling one attack by the invaders, with a total of 13 clashes recorded so far. The enemy carried out seven air strikes, dropping eight guided bombs on settlements and positions of the Defense Forces. In addition, it carried out 155 artillery attacks, including three from multiple launch rocket systems," the report reads. For the same period on Thursday, four clashes were recorded in the direction. In Toretsk axis, the invaders attacked 13 times, with four clashes ongoing. The enemy's activity in the direction has decreased somewhat, with 18 battles taking place on Thursday at the same time. There were 12 clashes in Lyman axis, four clashes are still ongoing. In Novopavlivka axis, the aggressor attacked five times, one clash is still ongoing. In Kramatorsk axis, the enemy attacked three times, our defenders repelled all enemy attacks. In Kupyansk axis, the enemy tried to advance to our positions twice during the day, but was unsuccessful. In Siversk, Kharkiv, Huliaipole and Prydniprovsk axes, isolated clashes were noted. In Orikhiv axis, the enemy did not conduct active offensive operations. Italian paper prints fully-AI edition, but not to 'kill' journalism Rome, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 In a world first, an Italian newspaper is printing a fully AI-generated edition for a month in what its director said Thursday was an experiment to "revitalise journalism, not to kill it". Il Foglio, a daily broadsheet with an irreverent touch and a circulation of about 29,000, says it is the first newspaper in the world to print entire editions created through artificial intelligence, a nascent technology that is rapidly changing how newsrooms operate. It began on Tuesday producing a four-page daily AI edition in print and online, alongside its normal edition, featuring about 22 articles and three editorials. Put simply, the newspaper's 20-odd journalists ask a version of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot to write a story on a specific subject in a specific tone, and it produces a text using information scraped off the internet. Examples this week included an analysis of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's speeches, an editorial on the recent phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin -- and a fashion story. Il Foglio's director, Claudio Cerasa, explained to AFP the idea behind the project and how it is going. - What do you want to accomplish with this? - "The purpose is twofold. On the one hand, to move theory into practice. On the other hand, it's to test ourselves and thus understand what the limits of AI are, but also the opportunities, the boundaries that must be overcome and those that cannot be. "All this can spring from a special newspaper like ours, because ours is a newspaper that has irreverent, ironic, creative writing. We do things that are not easily reproducible with a machine. "It was a desire to flaunt our being special and experiment with something that no one in the world has experimented with, in a disruptive way, creating debate, but above all, first attempting ourselves to understand how AI can be integrated with natural intelligence." - How does the process work in practice? - "In the editorial meeting, many topics come up. Some of these topics are then covered not only by the normal newspaper, but also by the artificial newspaper. "Every question asked to AI contains a request for a theme... a request for a tone: respectful, irreverent, scandalous, provocative. In the end we ask it to have the style of the paper. "If there are too many mistakes, we change articles (start a new one). If there are just few errors, though, we leave them, because we also want to understand what the limits are." - What lessons have you learned from the first few days? - "Artificial intelligence exceeds all expectations. We have learned it can do things that can compete with what a human does, but we have learned that in the long run competition must create greater efficiency. "Innovation must be accepted, because you can't stop it, it must be understood, governed, and turned into an opportunity for growth. "If one day there's a demand for articles made only with AI, it must be accepted. But that demand must increase journalists' creativity, because journalists will have to start getting used to not doing things that a machine could. "So it's a way to revitalise journalism, not to kill it." - Are journalists in the newsroom worried? - "No, everyone is entertained, everyone is curious and among other things, it's interesting that with this experiment we're reaching a much larger audience. There are many people who, thanks to AI, are discovering the traditional paper. The first day we had a 60 percent rise in sales. "It's no coincidence that no major newspaper has thought of (doing) it, because it is obviously scary. Only a newspaper like ours, which is somewhat unique, can afford to do an experiment like this." He added: "The articles written by human beings are better, because they always have something more, they always have an element of creativity, of connection, of making unpredictable links that AI does not have." - What are readers saying? - "The readers are 90 percent entertained, 10 percent worried because they say 'Make sure you never leave your natural intelligence because you are better.' But there's no one who says the operation is stupid and senseless. "Everyone has understood the spirit." Trump's call for AI deregulation gets strong backing from Big Tech Washington, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Major tech firms are pushing the administration of President Donald Trump to loosen rules on building artificial intelligence, arguing it is the only way to maintain a US edge and compete with China. Spooked by generative AI's sudden advance, governments initially scrambled to develop guardrails, as major tech companies rapidly integrated the technology into their products. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has shifted focus toward accelerating AI development at all costs, pushing aside concerns about the models suffering hallucinations, producing deepfakes, or destroying human jobs. "The AI future is not going to be won by hand-wringing about safety," Vice President JD Vance told world leaders at a recent AI summit in Paris. This message unsettled international partners, particularly Europe, which had proudly established the EU AI Act as a new standard for keeping the technology in check. But, faced with America's new direction, European officials are now pivoting their messaging toward investment and innovation rather than safety. "We're going to see a significant pullback in terms of the regulatory efforts... worldwide," explained David Danks, professor of data science and philosophy at University of California San Diego. "That certainly has been signaled here in the United States, but we're also seeing it in Europe." - 'Step back' - Tech companies are capitalizing on this regulatory retreat, seeking the freedom to develop AI technologies that they claim have been too constrained under the Biden administration. One of Trump's first executive actions was dismantling Biden's policies, which had proposed modest guardrails for powerful AI models and directed agencies to prepare to oversee the change. "It's clear that we're taking a step back from that idea that there's going to be a coherent overall approach to AI regulation," noted Karen Silverman, CEO of AI advisory firm Cantellus Group. The Trump administration has invited industry leaders to share their policy vision, emphasizing that the US must maintain its position as the "undeniable leader in AI technology" with minimal investor constraints. The industry submissions will shape the White House's AI action plan, expected this summer. The request has yielded predictable responses from major players, with a common theme emerging: China represents an existential threat which can only be addressed by plowing an open path for companies unencumbered by regulation. OpenAI's submission probably goes the furthest in its contrast with China, highlighting DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed generative AI model created at a fraction of American development costs, to emphasize the competitive threat. According to OpenAI, American AI development should be "protected from both autocratic powers that would take people's freedoms away, and layers of laws and bureaucracy that would prevent our realizing them." For AI analyst Zvi Mowshowitz, OpenAI's "goal is to have the federal government not only not regulate AI," but also ban individual US states from doing so. Currently engaged in litigation with the New York Times over the use of its content for training, OpenAI also argues that restricting access to online data would concede the AI race to China. "Without fair use access to copyrighted material...America loses, as does the success of democratic AI," OpenAI said. Another response submitted by a group of Hollywood celebrities -- including Ben Stiller and Cynthia Erivo -- rejected the notion, reflecting the film and television industry's contentious relationship with the technology. - 'Essential' - In its response, Meta touted its open Llama AI model as part of the fight for American technological superiority. "Open source models are essential for the US to win the AI race against China and ensure American AI dominance," the company stated. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has even advocated for retaliatory tariffs against European regulatory efforts. Google's input focused on infrastructure investment for AI's substantial energy requirements. Like its peers, Google also opposes state-by-state regulations in the US that it claims would undermine America's technological leadership. Despite the push for minimal oversight, industry observers caution that generative AI carries inherent risks, with or without government regulation. "Bad press is universal, and if your technology leads to really bad outcomes, you're going to get raked over the public relations coals," warned Danks. Companies have no choice but to mitigate the dangers, he added. arp/jgc/dc THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY Meta N. Korea's Kim oversees test of latest anti-aircraft missile system: state media Seoul, March 20 (AFP) Mar 20, 2025 North Korea on Thursday conducted a test fire of its latest anti-aircraft missile system in a drill watched by leader Kim Jong Un, Pyongyang's state media reported. The launch proved the system's "combat fast response", the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, and came as South Korea wrapped up a major annual joint military exercise with the United States. Kim praised the anti-aircraft system, saying North Korea's army would be "equipped with another major defence weapon system with laudable combat performance," KCNA wrote. It did not specify where the test took place. Seoul said last Monday the North fired "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles" after it began joint drills involving US soldiers stationed in South Korea, which ended this Thursday. In a separate statement Thursday, an unnamed spokesperson for the North's defence ministry denounced the military exercise as "no more than a rehearsal of war of aggression". Pyongyang also carried out a test-launch of strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea in late February, which it said showed off "counterattack capabilities". Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. The two Koreas remain technically at war since their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Japan stresses US alliance after Trump cost-cutting reports Tokyo, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 The Japanese government said Friday it was committed to bolstering its military alliance with Washington, after reports said the Pentagon was considering scrapping a plan to expand US Forces Japan. The United States has around 54,000 military personnel in Japan who currently report back to Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. But the countries are planning to upgrade this command structure with a new Japan-based headquarters under an agreement made a year ago between former leaders Joe Biden and Fumio Kishida. The move is meant to make US and Japanese forces more nimble in response to threats such as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. US networks CNN and NBC News reported this week that President Donald Trump's administration could put the brakes on these plans as part of a sweeping government cost-cutting drive. The reports, which have not been confirmed by Washington, cited a briefing document and a US defence official. They said a move to halt a planned expansion of US Forces Japan would save around $1.1 billion, but also warned it could create political risk for the US in Japan while reducing the scope of US command and control in the Pacific region. Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said Friday there was "no change" to the countries' agreement to enhance their deterrence capabilities under the US-Japan alliance. "We want to continue the close discussions between Japan and the United States... to further strengthen the interoperability and responsiveness" of the two militaries, Hayashi told reporters. He did not comment directly on whether the United States had explained the reported plans to Japan. Japan is in a multi-year process of increasing its defence spending to the NATO standard of roughly two percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Now the nation faces a delicate diplomatic dance as Trump presses its allies to take more responsibility, fiscally and otherwise, for their defence. Japan relies on the US military to defend itself, but its presence is a delicate subject in the country. The Japanese public have voiced anger over crimes and accidents, particularly concerning sexual violence in the southern island of Okinawa, where most of the US troops are based. Cooperation fuels accelerated economic growth in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region Xinhua) 08:24, March 21, 2025 BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- As the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region enters its second decade in 2025, it has witnessed a significant milestone. For the first time in a decade, the region's annual GDP growth has outpaced the national average, reflecting deepened cooperation and high-quality development. Official data shows that in 2024, Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei recorded respective GDP growth rates of 5.2 percent, 5.1 percent and 5.4 percent, bringing the region's total economic output to 11.5 trillion yuan (about 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars). In 2014, China initiated the strategy of coordinating the development of the national capital of Beijing and neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province. Since then, the region has made remarkable breakthroughs in high-quality development, offering the world Chinese wisdom on the future of mega-urban governance. This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2024 shows new energy vehicle model SU7 produced by Chinese tech firm Xiaomi displayed during the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) "I am deeply grateful to Beijing, the fertile ground that nurtured Xiaomi," Lei Jun, founder and CEO of tech giant Xiaomi, said early this month. On Feb. 28, Xiaomi launched its SU7 Ultra EV, drawing significant market attention. By early March, the company's market value had tripled to 1.3 trillion yuan within a year, underscoring its growing influence. Xiaomi's rapid rise in China's new energy vehicle market is a testament to the industrial synergy of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, where collaboration has played a crucial role in shaping a new model of high-quality development. In one example of this collaboration, 22 percent of SU7 Ultra's components are sourced from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Beijing supplies window regulators and air filters, Tianjin contributes headlights, seats and gearboxes, and Hebei provides batteries and luggage racks. This photo taken on Feb. 26, 2025 shows the construction site of the Beijing sub-center comprehensive transportation hub in Tongzhou District, sub-center of Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) This industrial synergy reflects a broader regional transformation. "Over the past decade, the region has undergone a significant transition, shifting from reducing excessive capacities to fostering high-quality development," said Liu Bozheng, executive deputy director of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordination office. In Beijing, this shift is evident in the rise of new market entities in the technology and commercial sectors, whose market share grew from 40.7 percent in 2013 to 67.7 percent in 2024. Tianjin has deepened its economic restructuring by reducing debt burdens and optimizing industrial planning. Meanwhile, Hebei has undertaken significant capacity adjustments, cutting its steel production from a peak of 320 million tonnes to under 200 million tonnes. "The integration of innovation and industrial chains across the three locations has enhanced the region's competitiveness and accelerated the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements," said Zhou Hao, deputy director of the coordination office. This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2023 shows a view of a production line at the Lenovo Tianjin Innovation Industrial Park in north China's Tianjin. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) At a dark factory operated by Lenovo in the Binhai New Area of Tianjin Municipality, countless green lights flicker as workers conduct routine inspections The zero-carbon smart manufacturing facility operates in "black-light" mode, where a computer motherboard production line runs at full capacity with seamless automation. "With our IT architecture, production efficiency has increased by 200 percent, allowing us to complete one motherboard and one laptop every nine seconds," said Yu Xiaojian, director of Lenovo's Tianjin factory. In 2023, the Lenovo Tianjin Innovation Industrial Park was officially launched, becoming the company's first global headquarters outside of Beijing. The facility has not only strengthened Lenovo's industrial footprint but also brought significant business and employment opportunities to Tianjin. Today, Lenovo's workforce in the municipality exceeds 3,000 employees, and its annual revenue surpasses 30 billion yuan. An aerial drone photo taken on March 19, 2025 shows the headquarters of China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd., which is the first centrally administered state-owned enterprise to set foot in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Beyond industrial collaboration, the region has made strides in infrastructure development, ecological governance and public services. In a testament to these efforts, the region's annual average concentration of PM2.5 in 2024 dropped by over 60 percent compared to 2013, highlighting significant progress in environmental management. Meanwhile, Beijing facilitated 84.37 billion yuan in technology transfers to Tianjin and Hebei in 2024, fostering deeper regional integration. Additionally, the three areas have jointly established 14 innovation platforms, further strengthening their collaborative momentum. "The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is focusing on developing new quality productive forces, leveraging Beijing's core economic momentum to transform its growth model and build a modern capital metropolitan area, which will, in turn, drive the development of the broader Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban cluster," said Yin Zhi, executive deputy director of the Institute for China Sustainable Urbanization at Tsinghua University. "The future is not about the three places competing for a fixed share of resources, but about expanding the economic pie together," Yin added. (Reporting by Li Sibo, Guo Yujing, Ji Ning) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A total of 4,306 prisoners of war (POWs) have been returned to Ukraine, work is underway to return each one, said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "For more than three years, almost the entire time of this war, our Coordination Headquarters has been working - all the services that return prisoners of war. More than 4,000 people have already been returned: 4,306. And we will return everyone," Zelenskyy said, speaking at the conference of the Coordination Headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war "Hope, struggle, return - three years." He also noted that when Ukraine talks with the American side and other partners about how to end the war, the release of prisoners is discussed as one of the first steps. The President thanked everyone who keeps the issue of prisoners of war on the information agenda, as well as the teamwork of the Presidents Office, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ombudsman, and everyone else who is involved and thanks to whom Ukrainians are returning. "We always return our people, and this is one of the most important rules of our state. This is how it is and will be," Zelenskyy stressed. What's in Germany's giant spending 'bazooka'? Berlin, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Germany's giant spending "bazooka" to beef up its military and modernise its infrastructure faces a final hurdle Friday when the upper house must sign off on the cash splurge. Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has voiced confidence it will pass, as it did through the lower house last week, with the help of the Social Democrats of outgoing leader Olaf Scholz and the Greens. Merz has stressed the need to build up Europe's defences against a hostile Russia as US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the future strength of the NATO alliance. German media have scrambled for superlatives to describe the fiscal plan, labelling it an "XXL-sized" funding "bazooka". The plan exempts defence spending above one percent of GDP from strict debt rules and sets up a 500-billion-euro ($545-billion) fund for infrastructure over 12 years. All in all, it paves the way for over one trillion euros (dollars) worth of outlays in Europe's top economy, which has shrunk for the past two years. Here is an overview of the spending plan: - What does Germany's military need? - Merz's top priority is to build up the armed forces as fears grow Russia could in the future threaten an EU ally, with confidence warning that the United States would come to Europe's defence. Germany, with its dark World War II history, has long been reluctant to spend big on its military, and funding dropped off sharply after the Cold War ended. In recent years, Germany's Bundeswehr has been mocked for equipment failures, including helicopters that don't fly and rifles that don't shoot straight. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago jolted Scholz into action. He announced 100 billion euros in extra defence spending which has allowed Germany to meet the NATO target of two percent of GDP. But much remains to be done, and the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, Eva Hoegl, has warned the military still has "too little of everything". Major orders have been placed, including for German-built submarines, but they will take years to build and deliver. The chief of Rheinmetall, Germany's largest defence company, Armin Papperger, said last week that "an era of rearmament has begun in Europe that will demand a lot from all of us". - What about roads, bridges and schools? - German politicians have long complained about late trains, crumbling bridges and vast areas with poor mobile phone and internet coverage. "We have a lot of infrastructure that dates back to the 1960s and 1970s," says the transport ministry, which estimates 5,000 bridges need rebuilding. On the insistence of the Greens, 100 billion euros will flow into a climate fund and could help pay for projects such as renewable energy and electric car recharging stations. - Will it kickstart the ailing economy? - Experts have voiced hope the spending splurge will help kickstart an economy that has shrunk for the past two years, and boost growth in the wider eurozone. But analysts warn that money alone won't be the answer and call for reforms to bring down energy costs, slash bureaucracy and attract more skilled foreign labour. "Modern infrastructure is essential for one of the world's largest economies, but it doesn't inherently drive innovation, sector transformation or new growth opportunities," wrote ING analyst Carsten Brzeski. He said "the chances of a cyclical rebound in the German economy... have clearly increased" but also stressed the need for "real structural reforms". Otherwise, he warned, the fiscal package "will only be a very huge flash in the pan". - Has frugal Germany become a big spender? - The money splurge signals a radical departure for a country famously reluctant to take on debt, fearful the repayments will burden future generations. Aside from green-lighting vastly more borrowing for defence, the package will also allow state governments to run annual deficits of up to 0.35 percent of GDP. Brzeski wrote that the new package meant that the debt brake "is not officially dead but buried alive". Merz -- who during the election campaign had insisted he would stick with the debt brake -- has stressed that it's not just a huge pot of play money for politicians. He has warned the SPD that belt-tightening will be needed elsewhere, especially in welfare spending. German debt will increase, but experts say that at a current ratio of 62 percent of GDP -- about half that of the United States -- there is still room for manoeuvre. bur/fz/sr/yad RHEINMETALL Robots to retrieve radioactive sandbags at Fukushima plant Tokyo, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Robots will begin moving sandbags that were used to absorb radiation-contaminated water after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster as soon as next week, a spokesman for the plant operator said Friday. TEPCO, the operator of the stricken Japanese power plant, says the bags on underground floors of two buildings have been left untouched following the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. Radiation levels on the sandbags' surface are as high as 4.4 sieverts per hour, which means "humans can die if they approach" them, TEPCO spokesman Tatsuya Matoba told AFP. Japanese media reports said there were 2,850 bags to be collected, a number which has not been confirmed by TEPCO, which says that they weigh 41.5 tonnes (91,500 pounds) in total. Two robots developed to collect the bags, one with a moving claw, were on Wednesday placed on the underground floors, Matoba said. Workers will use them to "carefully" bring the sandbags out in an operation that TEPCO aims to finish by the end of the 2027 fiscal year. The bags will then be placed inside containers for radioactive material and kept at a temporary storage site outside the buildings, the spokesman said. Three of Fukushima's six reactors went into meltdown 14 years ago after a huge tsunami swamped the facility. The tsunami, triggered by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake, left 18,500 people dead or missing. No one was recorded as having been directly killed by the nuclear accident, which forced evacuations and left parts of the surrounding area uninhabitable. In addition to contaminated sandbags, around 880 tonnes of radioactive debris remain in the plant. Removing this is seen as the most daunting challenge in the decades-long decommissioning project because of the dangerously high radiation levels involved. A trial removal of nuclear debris from the plant began last year. kh/kaf/sco German upper house approves massive spending package Berlin, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday gave the final seal of approval to a massive spending package aimed at beefing up the country's military and overhauling its infrastructure. The package, which modifies Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt brake, needed a two-thirds majority to pass and was approved by 53 of the Bundesrat's 69 members, after it cleared the lower house on Tuesday. The package is the brainchild of the incoming government of the likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose centre-right CDU/CSU is in coalition talks with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) after February's election. US President Donald Trump's overtures to Moscow over the Ukraine war have convinced many German politicians of the urgent need to invest in Germany's defence to become more independent from Washington. The Bundesrat upper house of parliament is made up of representatives of Germany's 16 federal states, and several state leaders spoke in favour of the package before the vote. Bavaria's state premier Markus Soeder, who heads the CSU, told the chamber that "we must do everything we can to ensure that Germany once again becomes one of the strongest armies in Europe and can protect itself". Soeder said the armed forces need new weapons systems, including drones and air defences. He labelled the massive infrastructure spending a new "German Marshall Plan", in reference to the American post-World War effort to rebuild western Europe. The plan exempts defence spending above one percent of GDP from strict debt rules and sets up a 500-billion-euro ($545-billion) fund for infrastructure over 12 years. All in all, it paves the way for over one trillion euros (dollars) worth of outlays in Europe's top economy, which has shrunk for the past two years. Israel defence minister threatens to annex parts of Gaza Jerusalem, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened Friday to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas militants release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the war-battered Palestinian territory. "I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza... The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel," he said in a statement. Should Hamas not comply, Katz also threatened "to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area". Israel's renewed air and ground offensive in Gaza shattered the relative calm that had reigned in the territory since a January 19 ceasefire and drew widespread condemnation. Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on Tuesday, citing deadlock in indirect negotiations on next steps in the truce after its first stage expired early this month. Gaza's civil defence agency said Thursday that 504 people had been killed since the bombardment resumed, more than 190 of them minors. The death toll is among the highest since the war began more than 17 months ago with Hamas's attack on Israel. Katz vowed to step up the assault, using civilian as well as military "pressure points" to defeat Hamas. "We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval and ground shelling as well as by expanding the ground operation until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian pressure points." He said these included implementing President Donald Trump's proposal for the United States to redevelop Gaza as a Mediterranean resort after the relocation of its Palestinian inhabitants to other Arab countries. On Thursday, the Israeli military said troops had begun "conducting ground activity" in the Shabura area of Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city near the Egyptian border. It said it had also closed off the territory's main north-south route as it expanded the ground operations which resumed on Wednesday. Germany's huge spending package passes final hurdle in upper house Berlin, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday gave the final seal of approval to a massive spending package to build up the military and overhaul infrastructure. Worth hundreds of billions of euros, the so-called spending "bazooka" has been pushed by the likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose centre-right CDU/CSU won elections last month and is now in coalition talks with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). The plan exempts defence spending above one percent of GDP from Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt brake and sets up a 500-billion-euro ($545-billion) fund for infrastructure over 12 years. This paves the way for over one trillion euros (dollars) worth of outlays in Europe's top economy, which has shrunk for the past two years. The plan marks a dramatic break from Germany's economic orthodoxy, particularly for the CDU/CSU alliance which has been wedded to the debt brake since it was brought in in 2009. The party has shifted position in the wake of US President Donald Trump's overtures to Moscow, saying there is now an urgent need to invest in defence to become more independent from Washington. Bavaria's state premier Markus Soeder, who heads the CSU, told the chamber that "we must do everything we can to ensure that Germany once again becomes one of the strongest armies in Europe and can protect itself". And he labelled the massive infrastructure spending a new "German Marshall Plan", referring to the American post-World War II effort to rebuild western Europe. Soeder said Germany would undertake long-neglected upgrades of roads, bridges and rail lines, arguing that letting them fall into disrepair was a greater disservice to the next generation than building up state debt. - 'Brutal paradigm shift' - Berlin's move to bolster its fiscal firepower has been keenly watched by its neighbours as Europe scrambles to adapt to Trump's pivot away from traditional alliances. The package needed a two-thirds majority and was approved by 53 of the Bundesrat's 69 members, after it cleared the lower house on Tuesday. The upper house is made up of representatives of Germany's 16 federal states, and several state leaders spoke in favour of the package before the vote. Boris Rhein, CDU leader of the central state of Hessen -- home to many US army bases -- said that geopolitical turmoil spelt "a brutal paradigm shift" for Germany which had learnt that "we cannot rely on military help from the United States". He pointed to Trump berating his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in front of the world's media in the White House last month, calling the exchange "an obscene humiliation of a president whose people are fighting for their freedom". "Europe must react to this, Germany must react to this, quickly and decisively," he said. Representatives from the states of Thuringia and Brandenburg, where the far-left BSW party is part of governing coalitions, refused to approve the spending plans on Friday, as did those from Saxony-Anhalt and Rhineland-Palatinate, where the debt-averse Free Democrats (FDP) are in state governments. North Korea tests-fires new weapons and welcomes Russian security chief Seoul, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 North Korea said Friday it had test-fired a new weapons system which would boost its combat readiness, as Russia's security chief held talks in Pyongyang with leader Kim Jong Un. Traditional allies Russia and North Korea have drawn closer since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Seoul accusing Kim of sending thousands of troops and container loads of weapons to help Moscow fight Kyiv. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially confirmed the troop deployment, but the two countries signed a sweeping military deal last year, including a mutual defence clause, when Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to the nuclear-armed North. Moscow's top security official Sergei Shoigu was visiting North Korea on Friday, Russian news agency TASS reported, the latest in a recent series of high-level exchanges between North Korea and Russia. Shoigu passed on "greetings and best wishes" from Putin to Kim in a meeting with the North Korean leader. He also hailed a strategic partnership treaty that includes mutual defence components, signed and ratified last year, as "fully meeting the interests of both countries". Kim oversaw the test-fire of the country's latest anti-aircraft missile system, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Friday, without specifying when the test happened. Kim said it showed North Korea's army would be "equipped with another major defence weapon system with laudable combat performance," KCNA said. The announcement came a day after South Korea wrapped up a major annual joint military exercise with the United States, known as Freedom Shield, which Pyongyang separately denounced Friday as "a rehearsal of war of aggression". The North -- which attacked its neighbour in 1950, triggering the Korean War -- has long been infuriated by any military exercises between the United States and the South. Seoul said last week the North had fired "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles" after it began the joint drills, which involve US soldiers stationed in South Korea. Pyongyang also carried out a test-launch of strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea in late February, which it said showed off "counterattack capabilities". The most recent Freedom Shield exercise featured a collaborative drill focused on countering weapons of mass destruction, specifically targeting nuclear, chemical, biological, and radioactive threats. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. - Tests for Russia? - Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP that the latest launch appears to be "the testing of weapons for export to Russia to be used in Ukraine". Pyongyang is using the US-South Korea joint exercises as an excuse to develop and export such weapons to Moscow, he added. South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have said that more than 10,000 soldiers from the reclusive North were sent to Russia last year to help it fight a shock Ukrainian offensive into the Kursk border region. Seoul's spy agency said last month that the North has sent more soldiers and re-deployed several to the frontline in Kursk. Seoul has also accused the North of sending container loads of weapons to Russia, and a recent report by Seoul's defence ministry said the North was "continuing to provide weapons, ammunition and other military support to Russia following its troop deployment in the Ukraine war". North Korea's repeated weapons tests are aimed as "showcasing the development of strategically valuable weapons," Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP. "If North Korea improves its missile interception and air defense capabilities through technological cooperation with Russia... it could significantly affect South Korea's 'kill chain'" defence plan, he said. "In particular, North Korea may receive assistance for its vulnerable radar systems and field command vehicles from Russia," he added. Germany says it's committed to order of US F-35 fighter jets Berlin, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Germany said on Friday it was committed to buying F-35 fighter jets despite reports that it was reconsidering due to worries about an over-reliance on American defence supplies. Countries across Europe have been alarmed by US President Donald Trump casting doubt on future transatlantic ties. On Thursday, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily reported that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius was planning to consult with top military officials over security issues related to the jets and other US-made systems. However, on Friday, defence ministry spokesman Mitko Mueller told reporters: "No 'crisis meeting' is planned, not today, not in the future. We are continuing with the project." In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 Germany said it would buy 35 of the jets to replace its ageing Tornado fleet. Concerns have been raised that Washington could potentially exercise control over the jets, including via a potential "kill switch" embedded in the aircraft, giving Washington the final say over any use. However, Mueller insisted that "there is no way to simply 'switch off' the F-35s remotely". Experts have warned that even in the absence of such a "switch", the jets would be reliant on spare parts and software updates and could transmit data to the United States. Earlier this month, Canada -- which Trump has said should be the "51st state" in the US -- said it was reviewing its own plans to purchase F-35 jets. Mueller pointed out that the jet is "not an exclusively American product". "It was developed by eight countries, 14 NATO member states use it or will use it soon... this community of different users plays an important role," he said. Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has said he wants European suppliers to have priority for future defence contracts. However, in the case of replacing the Tornados, the F-35s are considered the best fit for carrying US nuclear warheads stationed in Germany. Germany approves 3 bn euros in new Ukraine military aid Berlin, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Germany on Friday approved three billion euros ($3.25 billion) in new military aid for Ukraine, just days before planned US-brokered talks with Moscow and Kyiv on a limited truce. The money is earmarked for defence equipment for the country fighting Russian forces, including munitions, drones, armoured vehicles and air defence systems. The parliament's budget committee gave the green light for the funds, which had been on hold for months amid discord in the coalition government of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. But the final adoption on Friday of a major new spending package that also eased Germany's strict debt rules for defence outlays gave the government new room for manoeuvre. Greens MP Britta Hasselmann, whose party has strongly pushed for Ukraine aid, expressed relief the new billions were being released, "albeit late". She called it "a strong signal to Ukraine, a signal that is absolutely necessary for peace and security in Europe". The new money comes on top of four billion euros in Ukraine military aid already planned in Germany's budget for 2025. A further 8.3 billion euros were earmarked for Kyiv for 2026 to 2029. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit has said the latest package would include units of the German-made Iris-T air defence systems that had yet to be built and would be delivered over the next two years. - Support vow - Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest supplier of military aid, worth some 28 billion euros so far, after the United States since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago. But the situation has changed dramatically since US President Donald Trump reached out to Russia's Vladimir Putin to end the war and froze military aid for Ukraine, while casting doubt on America's commitment to NATO. Russia and Ukraine on Friday traded accusations of massive overnight attacks, three days before both sides will hold talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia on how to halt the war. Both countries have said they agree with a 30-day pause in strikes on energy targets, though they have continued their aerial attacks unabated. Each has repeatedly accused the other of breaking the truce, which has not been formally agreed. Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz, whose party won February elections, has pushed through a spending package worth hundreds of billions to bolster Germany's armed forces and infrastructure and to keep backing Ukraine. Merz's conservatives are in coalition talks with the SPD of Scholz, who has also vowed that Germany would keep supporting Kyiv. Ukraine "can rely on us and we will never leave it on its own," Scholz said at a European Council summit late Thursday. "It will also need a strong army in times of peace, and it must not be put in danger by any peace agreement." US denies French researcher was refused entry for his political views Washington, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 US authorities on Friday rejected claims that a French researcher was denied entry because of his political views, saying he had confidential information from a nuclear research laboratory. The French government said Wednesday that a researcher had been prevented from entering the United States, where he planned to attend a scientific conference in Texas. "This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because this researcher's phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration's research policy," said Philippe Baptiste, the French minister of higher education and research. But a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to AFP that "any claim that his removal was based on political beliefs is blatantly false." The spokesperson said "the French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory -- in violation of a non-disclosure agreement -- something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal." The Los Alamos National Laboratory, located in New Mexico, was founded by Robert Oppenheimer during World War II to develop the atomic bomb, and still conducts research on nuclear weapons. According to a French diplomatic source, the space researcher was subjected to a random check upon arrival, during which his work computer and personal phone were searched. He was allegedly accused of posting messages "that convey hatred toward Trump and can be classified as terrorism." His professional and personal equipment was reportedly confiscated, and he was sent back to Europe on March 10. Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has targeted the scientific community, cutting research budgets, imposing conditions on universities, and censoring certain subjects in funded research. The French Academy of Sciences on Friday called on international scientific institutions to "denounce an authoritarian drift that is harmful to science." Trump awards next-generation F-47 fighter jet contract to Boeing Washington, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Donald Trump announced Friday that Boeing has been awarded the contract for the Air Force's next-generation stealth fighter plane, which the 47th US president said would be named the F-47. "Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it'll be known as the F-47. The generals picked a title, and it's a beautiful number, F-47," said Trump at the White House. The contract aims to develop the replacement for the F-22 jet -- which has been in operation for some two decades -- with a new, more advanced aircraft able to operate alongside uncrewed drones. "After a rigorous and thorough competition between some of America's top aerospace companies, the Air Force is going to be awarding the contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform to Boeing," Trump said in televised remarks in the Oval Office. He said the price of the contract could not be revealed for security reasons. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking alongside Trump, said the new aircraft "sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we're not going anywhere, and to our enemies that... we will be able to project power around the globe unimpeded for generations to come." The announcement is a boon for Boeing, which faced a difficult last year in which it struggled with a lengthy labor strike and safety problems on its civilian airliners. At around 16:25 GMT on Friday, Boeing's shares were trading higher on the New York Stock Exchange, gaining 4.78 percent to reach $181.09. - 'Virtually unseeable' - The NGAD effort was paused in 2024 over cost concerns -- a major focus of the Trump administration, which has tasked billionaire donor Elon Musk with slashing government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Congressional Budget Office estimated in 2018 that the NGAD airframe could cost up to $300 million apiece -- significantly more than various other aircraft currently in the US inventory. In 2024, "officials cast doubt on whether the Air Force could afford to develop the NGAD alongside programs including the B-21 Raider bomber and the Minuteman III ICBM replacement," the Congressional Research Service said in a report earlier this year. A senior Air Force officer said earlier this month that the service conducted a study following the pause, which concluded that "not only in the past, not only in the present but in the future, air superiority matters." "What this study told us is we tried a whole bunch of different options and there is no more viable option than NGAD to achieve air superiority in this highly contested environment," Major General Joseph Kunkel told the AFA Warfare Symposium in Colorado. The F-47 will replace the F-22 Raptor, which features stealth technology, a high degree of maneuverability and the ability to supercruise, or maintain supersonic flight without afterburners. Little is known about the capabilities of the F-47, but Trump said the new jet will be "virtually unseeable" with unmatched maneuverability and power, and the ability to fly "with many drones, as many as we want, and that's something that no other plane can do." Yermak: We welcome idea of tough economic action against Russia if it does not cease fire Russian attempts to deceive the international community with a fake ceasefire agreement will not work, the head of the President's Office of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, is confident. "The Russians' attempts to deceive everyone and pretend that they are 'observing the ceasefire' will not work, as will the fakes about strikes on the gas station. We welcome the idea of tough economic actions against Russia if it does not cease fire," Yermak wrote on the social network X. As reported, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied the enemy's accusations that Ukrainian forces allegedly shelled the Sudzha gas metering station in Russian Kursk region. The military stressed that the station was repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. In particular, last summer it was bombed by guided aerial bombs, and three days ago the Russians again struck it with bombs. Israel defence minister threatens to annex parts of Gaza Jerusalem, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened Friday to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas militants release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the war-battered Palestinian territory. The warning came as Israel stepped up the renewed assault it launched on Tuesday, shattering the relative calm that had reigned in the war-battered territory since a January 19 ceasefire. Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed 11 people on Friday -- three in pre-dawn strikes and eight more during the daytime. On Thursday, it had reported a death toll of 504 since the bombardment resumed, one of the highest since the war began more than 17 months ago with Hamas's attack on Israel. "I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza... The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel," Katz said in a statement. Should Hamas not comply, Katz also threatened "to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area". French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said his country was "opposed to any form of annexation whether it concerns the West Bank or the Gaza Strip". The military urged residents of the Al-Salatin, Al-Karama and Al-Awda areas of southern Gaza to evacuate their homes on Friday ahead of a threatened strike. "For your safety, head south toward the known shelters immediately," Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X. AFP images from northern Gaza showed donkey carts piled high with belongings as residents fled their homes along rubble-strewn roads. - 'Pressure points' - Israeli forces on Friday said they had killed the head of Hamas's military intelligence in southern Gaza in a strike a day earlier, the latest official targeted in recent days. Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on Tuesday, citing deadlock in indirect negotiations on next steps in the truce after its first stage expired early this month. Its resumption of large-scale military operations was coordinated with US President Donald Trump's administration but drew widespread condemnation. Turkey condemned what it said was a "deliberate" attack by Israel on a Turkish-built hospital in Gaza. "We strongly condemn the destruction by Israel of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital," its foreign ministry said. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed "concern" over the fresh Israeli assault in a telephone call Friday with the ruler of Qatar, one of the mediators of the January ceasefire. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed worry about the government's actions in a video statement on Thursday, saying it was "unthinkable to resume fighting while still pursuing the sacred mission of bringing our hostages home". Thousands of protesters have rallied in Jerusalem in recent days, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of resuming military operations without regard for the safety of the hostages. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, 58 are still held by Gaza militants, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had closed off the territory's main north-south route as it expanded the ground operations which resumed on Wednesday. - Projectiles from Gaza - Israel's military said it intercepted two projectiles fired from northern Gaza on Friday, after air raid sirens sounded in the southern city of Ashkelon. Hamas's armed wing claimed the attack in response to "massacres against civilians". On Thursday, sirens went off in central Israel as Hamas said it fired rockets at Tel Aviv in its first military response to Israel's resumed offensive. The military said it intercepted one rocket, while two fell in an uninhabited area. "We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval and ground shelling as well as by expanding the ground operation until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian pressure points," Katz said. He said these included implementing Trump's proposal for the United States to redevelop Gaza as a Mediterranean resort after the relocation of its Palestinian inhabitants to other Arab countries. Israel rejected negotiations for a promised second stage of the truce, calling instead for the return of all of its remaining hostages under an extended first phase. That would have meant delaying talks on a lasting ceasefire and was rejected by Hamas as an attempt to renegotiate the original deal. Hegseth to make first Asia trip as Pentagon chief Washington, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Pete Hegseth will make his first trip to Asia as defense secretary next week, traveling to key US allies the Philippines and Japan, the Pentagon said Friday. The trip "comes as the United States builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. During the trip -- which will also take him to Hawaii and Guam -- Hegseth will participate in a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Parnell said. Toward the end of World War II in 1945, Japanese and US forces engaged in a brutal, five-week combat on the tiny island around 780 miles (1,250 kilometers) south of Tokyo. Japanese soldiers used a web of underground tunnels to fight the Americans with overwhelming firepower -- a saga that has inspired many movies and books. Japan lost nearly all of its 21,000 soldiers on the island, while the US side lost more than 6,800 troops, with more than 19,000 wounded. Efforts to find the remains of the war dead continue on the island, which is now off limits for civilians. Germany approves 3 bn euros in new Ukraine military aid Berlin, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Germany on Friday approved three billion euros ($3.25 billion) in new military aid for Ukraine, just days before planned US-brokered talks with Moscow and Kyiv on a limited truce. The money is earmarked for defence equipment for the country fighting Russian forces, including munitions, drones, armoured vehicles and air-defence systems. The parliament's budget committee gave the green light for the funds, which had been on hold for months amid discord in the coalition government of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. But the final adoption on Friday of a major new spending package that also eased Germany's strict debt rules for defence outlays gave the government new room for manoeuvre. President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Germany for the new aid in a post on X, saying it would provide "exactly what Ukraine needs most -- what saves Ukrainian lives. "This means contracts with the German defense industry will now be signed for future -- a significant step toward building long-term security guarantees," Zelensky said. "It is also a recognition that Ukraine's army will become even stronger after the war ends, and Germany is committed to contributing to that." Greens MP Britta Hasselmann, whose party has strongly pushed for Ukraine aid, expressed relief the new billions were being released, "albeit late". She called it "a strong signal to Ukraine, a signal that is absolutely necessary for peace and security in Europe". - Support vow - The new money comes on top of four billion euros in Ukraine military aid already planned in Germany's budget for 2025. A further 8.3 billion euros were earmarked for Kyiv for 2026 to 2029. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit has said the latest package would include units of the German-made Iris-T air-defence systems that had yet to be built and would be delivered over the next two years. Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest supplier of military aid after the United States, contributing some 28 billion euros so far since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago. But the situation has changed dramatically since US President Donald Trump reached out to Russia's Vladimir Putin to end the war and suspended military aid to Ukraine. He also cast doubt on America's commitment to NATO. - Ukraine 'can rely on us' - Russia and Ukraine on Friday traded accusations of massive overnight attacks, three days before both sides will hold talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia on how to halt the war. Both countries have said they agree with a 30-day pause in strikes on energy targets, though they have continued their aerial attacks unabated. Each has repeatedly accused the other of breaking the truce, which has not been formally agreed. Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz, whose party won February elections, has pushed through a spending package worth hundreds of billions to bolster Germany's armed forces and infrastructure and to keep backing Ukraine. Merz's conservatives are in coalition talks with the SPD of Scholz, who has also vowed that Germany would keep supporting Kyiv. Ukraine "can rely on us and we will never leave it on its own," Scholz said at a European Council summit late Thursday. "It will also need a strong army in times of peace, and it must not be put in danger by any peace agreement." vbw/fz/fec/jj Russia does not want the war to end, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, is sure. "Putin is lying that he wants peace. Instead of making real efforts to put an end to the war he started, Putin is sending drones and missiles - his perverted version of the 'doves of peace' that attack Ukrainian cities day after day," Stefanchuk wrote on Facebook on Friday. The speaker recalled that in recent days alone, when Putin allegedly agreed to a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, Russia has shelled civilian infrastructure in Odesa, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Kyiv, Khmelnytsky, and Chernihiv regions. According to Stefanchuk, during a working visit to Strasbourg, he told colleagues from parliaments of other countries the truth about what was happening. "I had the honor to speak from the rostrum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I called on European partners to maintain unity and principle: the aggressor understands only force, therefore only joint determination can stop the war. This visit once again confirmed: Ukraine is not alone. The world is not tired - it is rallying," Stefanchuk noted. He also reported that he had completed a working visit to Strasbourg, where he took part in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments and held about 30 bilateral meetings and conversations with colleagues - heads of parliaments of the Council of Europe, EU and NATO member states. Jones, who is Emeritus Professor of Cultural History at Londons Queen Mary University, debunks the idea of the Frenchman as a hot-headed revolutionary whose ancestors sought to take on Cesar and whose more recent forebears actually did take on Marie Antoinette. Its no truer, he argues, than the opposite and equally reductive stereotype of the Frenchman as a coward, so often deployed by the British. He writes at length of the conflicting influences that have shaped Frances hexagonal frontiers and the nation within it. French borders have always been porous, Jones writes, suggesting the history of France is truly the history of who most influenced France at any given time. The country, he shows, has always been open to external forces a far cry from the more xenophobic strain of nationalism around today and, through culture and (yes) colonialism, has long defined itself through its relationships to others. 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 There was an opportunity at JTI to be assessed, she says. I went through with it and got a diagnosis of ADHD with traits of autism spectrum disorder. And it hit home thats obviously where the struggles have been throughout my childhood, growing up and in my family life. In a witness statement for the February hearing, Mr Hampshire said: If there was any question of this being available in the public domain, I was not warned of it and, if I had been, I would never have agreed to submit a witness statement, much less go into the level of confidential detail which I did in my statement. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, has congratulated Azerbaijani compatriots and the global Azerbaijani community on the occasion of Novruz holiday, Trend reports. The Prime Minister addressed the citizens of Azerbaijan, wishing them peace and prosperity. He stated, "Novruz is a celebration of renewal and kindness. We take pride in the centuries-old coexistence and friendship that unites Christians, Muslims, Georgians, and Azerbaijanis. This is truly a proud relationship, a friendship. For many years, we have been building the future of our country together. This history continues today, and it is a beautiful tradition that we must pass on to our children and future generations. I wish you the best, peace, and prosperity." Mr Cross said: HMP Woodhill received several intelligence reports showing a non-speculative risk to the claimant, including that two other prisoners at HMP Woodhill were plotting to assault the claimant to gain kudos and notoriety, and that the claimant had a mark on his head and would be killed by a lifer if located on a wing. He spoke to soldiers stationed with each vehicle and at the Warrior, after asking the troops about their upcoming operational exercises, said of his visit to the base: Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what youre doing and keeps everyone on their toes. Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21.Units of the Armenian armed forces fired several times from small arms at positions of the Azerbaijani Army, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. On the night of March 20-21, the Armenian armed forces units using small arms several times subjected the Azerbaijan Armys positions to fire from the directions of the Gorus, Basarkechar, and Chambarak regions. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. Dear Ilham Heydarovich, Please accept my most sincere congratulations on the occasion of Novruz the Spring Festival. Russia-Azerbaijan relations are successfully developing in the spirit of partnership and alliance. I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will continue to actively strengthen mutually beneficial bilateral ties for the benefit of our friendly nations and in the interest of enhancing security and stability in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region. I sincerely wish you, dear Ilham Heydarovich, good health and success on this bright festive day, along with happiness and prosperity for all the citizens of Azerbaijan, reads the letter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. The 54th high-level meeting of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) took place in Paris on March 20, 2025, with Azerbaijan represented by the Azerbaijan International Development Assistance Agency (AIDA), operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trend reports. The meeting brought together representatives from over 50 countries and around 15 international organizations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bulgaria, Croatia, South Africa, India, and traditional DAC donor countries. The primary focus of the meeting was on enhancing the quality and effectiveness of international development assistance, fostering stronger bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and mobilizing additional financial resources for sustainable development. AIDA Chairman Elmaddin Mehdiyev highlighted Azerbaijans emerging role as a new donor country for international aid, emphasizing the nations significant contributions to development. He also underscored the importance of the historic outcomes at COP29 in promoting development and the application of climate finance lessons to development financing. Mehdiyev expressed optimism about the future of new partnerships, particularly those focused on climate change and official development assistance, which were jointly organized by AIDA and OECD DAC during COP29. He is confident that these initiatives will enhance the effectiveness of development assistance. Other meeting participants noted that official development assistance is increasingly threatened by geopolitical tensions and economic challenges. The importance of providing aid based on the needs of recipient countries rather than the foreign policy interests of donors was emphasized, alongside the need for multilateralism and innovative financing sources. During the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation also held productive discussions with OECD DAC leadership, exploring prospects for further strengthening cooperation in the field of international development assistance. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. Azerbaijani State Security Service has arrested Abulfaz Sarijanov, the son of Azer Sarijanov, sentenced to life imprisonment for the assassination attempt on MP Fazil Mustafa, Trend reports. Abulfaz Sarijanov was charged under Article 28.277 of the Criminal Code. He is accused of preparing an assassination attempt on the lives of specific state and public figures in a criminal case initiated by the State Security Service. By decision of the Sabayil District Court, a four-month pre-trial detention measure was selected for him. His lawyer Bakhtiyar Hajiyev also confirmed that an arrest warrant was issued for Abulfaz Sarijanov and that he was charged under Article 28.277 of the Criminal Code, providing for a sentence of up to 20 years or life imprisonment. On March 28, 2023, at 21:51 (GMT +4), unknown men opened fire at Azerbaijani MP Fazil Mustafa, near his house. The MP came out unscathed, taking two bullets to the shoulder, one on the right side. A criminal case has been initiated in the Main Investigation Department of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan under articles 277 (attempt on the life of a statesman or public figure to terminate his official or political activity or revenge for this activity) and 228.2.1 (illegal acquisition, storage, transportation and carrying of firearms, their parts, and ammunition by a group of persons, entered into a preliminary conspiracy) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Interim President Ilie Bolojan on Thursday said that in the European Council meeting discussions were held regarding the acceleration of measures for the preparation of European defence, with NATO remaining the foundation of collective defence. "Discussions focused on accelerating measures for the preparation of European defence, so that there is significant consolidation within the next five years, with NATO remaining the foundation of collective defence. This means that in the near future, member states will be able to conduct joint defence procurements, which is an opportunity for the national defence industry to integrate into the value chains of the European or global defence industry," Ilie Bolojan told a press conference in Brussels. He clarified that this means that, in the near future, member states will be able to carry out joint defence procurements, and the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economy will analyse the funding opportunities to integrate into European defense conglomerates. "In the near future, both the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economy, private companies in the defence sector, as well as other companies that supply components that can be transferred to the defence industry, will have the opportunity and will need to work, at least the ministries, to analyse the opportunities related to these kinds of funding, so that we can integrate into European defence conglomerates, in terms of production, to conduct joint procurements and access the funding made available to us by the European Union through the decisions made at the last Council meeting," said the interim president. Ilie Bolojan pointed out that there is no specific amount allocated to each country from the 150 billion euro loan mechanism proposed by the European Commission. "Each country, respecting the rules proposed by the Commission, will submit a simplified financing application. This financing application will depend on the priorities set by the Ministry of Defence for defence strengthening procurements, but also on the overall European defence strategy, as some procurements will be made at the European level, and following this shared responsibility, we will decide on which priorities to pursue. As for the companies involved, we have over 100 private or state-owned companies in the defence industry, and these will be able to participate in such projects. I hope that both state-owned companies and private companies will be involved in these projects, because every order executed in Romania from these markets, like in other industries, means jobs in Romania, means better salaries, means technology absorbed by our industry, and it means capabilities for the future," emphasised the interim president. Interim President Ilie Bolojan on Thursday said that in the near future there will be a joint communication from those involved regarding the date when the Visa Waiver program will apply for Romania. "When I left the Council meeting, coming towards you, my colleagues informed me about this matter. Apart from the clarifications from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I have no further comments. I believe that in the coming period, at least by the end of this month, when this deadline exists, we will have a joint communication from those involved, so that the date when it will actually come into effect can be announced," Ilie Bolojan told a press conference after attending the European Council meeting The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on Thursday evening that the Romanian Embassy in Washington is in active dialogue with U.S. authorities, in direct contact with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is tasked with implementing Romania's accession to the Visa Waiver program. "There is currently no official communication regarding the modification of the date considered for updating the Electronic System for Travel Authorization - ESTA. Romania views the Visa Waiver program as a security partnership, and we are confident that its becoming operational will contribute to border security and combatting illegal immigration," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out. Romanian press reported, quoting sources from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, that Romania's entry into the Visa Waiver program is being re-evaluated. A large-scale tech exhibition, business summits with global leaders, revolutionary solutions and exclusive networking opportunities will be organised as part of this year's Bucharest Tech Week, which will take place from June 14 to June 20. According to the organisers, for one week, the capital of Romania will become a hub of technological innovation, through an event expected to attract around 30,000 tech enthusiasts, approximately 70 exhibitors and over 60 speakers, both local and international experts, who will take the stage at five summits to share valuable insights with 1,500 business professionals on the latest trends. This year's edition will feature Tech Expo, a free exhibition for the general public, on June 14 and 15 (Saturday and Sunday), at Romexpo, Pavilion B1. The exhibition will span 6,000 square meters, where visitors will have the opportunity to discover the latest innovations in areas such as smart home, automotive, e-mobility, e-health, devices and gadgets, wearables and robots. The event will also include a dedicated area exclusively for the gaming industry, where popular streamers from Romania will test the most popular games of the moment alongside fans. Additionally, there will be two testing zones - for those interested in automotive mobility or alternative transport. For fans of alternative transportation, exhibitors will present a wide selection of electric bicycles and scooters, while car enthusiasts will have the chance to test the latest electric and hybrid car models. Additionally, this year, Tech Expo will host The Smart Home Summit - Spring Edition, dedicated to the end consumer. Visitors will be able to interact with the latest products for home automation and discover the newest innovations in the area of smart homes. Bucharest Tech Week 2025 will also feature five business summits, a series of thematic conferences held between June 16 and June 20 (Monday to Friday) at Nord Events Center by Globalworth, aiming to bring together over 60 speakers and more than 1,500 professionals from the business environment. The technology week will conclude with the Software Architecture Summit, which will bring together specialists who will reveal to programmers how to enhance their coding skills and improve their experience in the projects they are working on. Participation in any of the five business summits requires a ticket, which can be purchased directly from the event's website. Until April 3, 2025, tickets are available at a special price of 269 euros, while VIP packages are priced at 449 euros. Participation in Tech Expo (June 14-15) is free for all individuals over 18, with prior registration at [https://www.techexpo.ro/](https://www.techexpo.ro/). Interim President Ilie Bolojan convened a meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT), which will take place March 28 at 12:00 PM, at the Cotroceni Palace, the Presidential Administration informed. According to the source, the meeting agenda includes topics related to: * The status and perspectives of the conflict in Ukraine following the illegal and unjustified aggression by the Russian Federation; implications for Romania; * Romania's position in the context of the negotiation process for ending the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine * A report on the activity carried out by the institutions with responsibilities in the area of national security in 2024 and the main objectives for 2025; * The report of the Supreme Council for National Defence on the activity carried out in 2024. "During the meeting, other current issues in the area of national security will also be analysed," the Presidential Administration mentioned. On Thursday evening, the interim president announced that the CSAT meeting would take place either March 28 or 31. "Either on [March] 28 or 31. I can tell you that I signed the documents just before leaving, but the date is set. I will ask my colleagues who manage this chapter to communicate the exact date and agenda to you tomorrow," Bolojan told a press conference after attending the European Council meeting. The "Healthy Meal" programme plays an important role in preventing school dropout and ensuring quality education in rural areas - as well as in disadvantaged environments or for disadvantaged individuals, Education and Research Minister Daniel David said on Friday. In his opinion, the "Healthy Meal" programme should be extended in the future. "In rural education, when children are concentrated in more complex school structures - which should be done when the villages of a commune are not far apart - top facilities can be provided, and quality human resources can be brought in, both contributing to the educational act as it should be (as we saw in Farcasa). In other rural areas, the rural campus model remains a suitable option. The Healthy Meal programme, which plays an important role in preventing school dropout and ensuring quality education in rural areas (and generally in disadvantaged environments/for disadvantaged individuals), should be extended in the future," the minister wrote on Facebook. According to him, in urban areas, where higher concentrations of children are natural or easier to achieve, the partnership with local authorities for quality education must be strengthened. The minister believes that the rural campus model remains a suitable option in certain rural areas. "I have encouraged the use of the Edulib platform (https://roedulib.ro/), where the first 3,700 digital lessons can facilitate the educational act at the middle school level, thus reducing educational opportunity gaps in our education system," David said. The minister paid visits this week to educational institutions in Bucharest, Maramures, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca and Satu Mare. Romania's Finance Minister Tanczos Barna told the fourth edition of the Transylvanian Economic Forum on Friday, in Targu Mures, that in terms of trade between Romania and Hungary, the former three times less present on the Hungarian market as against the latter. "It was a very interesting debate, first of all about trade between Romania and Hungary. From that perspective, statistics are obvious, there are more products brought to Romania from Hungary - at a ratio of one to three, one to two, depending on the field we are analysing. And as far as investments are concerned, Romania is practically three times less present on the Hungarian market and there are a lot of investments from Hungary coming to Romania, especially in Transylvania. Romanian entrepreneurs need the government's support to expand into other markets. From that point of view, there are many good programmes in Poland and Hungary, in many countries of the European Union, and we need to implement new programmes, similar systems. We also talked about the taxation system in Romania and about the challenges of these times," Tanczos told the press. "We talked about stability and predictability, because entrepreneurs have this basic demand, they want predictability, and they will not change the tax system overnight. From that point of view, I hope that the December ordinance was the last one that was not preceded by public debate, a deep impact analysis and prepared implementation. We are preparing these days the latest regulations on tax on special structures, for example. We are talking here about something that was decided in December and by the end of March we will present to the government and the coalition our proposal from the Ministry of Finance to regulate this type of tax in detail. But once again, the business community needs predictability, like a multi-year plan of fiscal consolidation. And here the state also benefits because then the revenues are predictable in the budget." The Ministry of the Interior (MAI) "firmly" rejected on Friday any statement related to the lack of cooperation with the American authorities or tolerance towards crime, qualifying as "unfounded" the statements of senator Petrisor Peiu posted on the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) website under the title "Romanians' hopes of entering the Visa Waiver program were shattered by the hybrid regime in power in Bucharest". "The statements of senator Petrisor Peiu are unfounded, in blatant contradiction with reality, alarmist and risk damaging Romania's efforts to consolidate the strategic partnership with the United States of America. The Ministry of the Interior, through the specialized structures of the Romanian Police, has carried out constant activity in combating organized crime. Thus, 116 organized criminal groups were dismantled in 2024, in cooperation with domestic and international partners," the Ministry of the Interior said in a release sent to AGERPRES. According to the cited source, illegal migration in Romania decreased as a result of the "firm" actions of the authorities, by 84% in 2024 compared to 2023. The result of these actions was the basis for the success of the negotiations in the Schengen accession process, the Ministry of the Interior highlighted. "There is currently no official communication from the U.S. authorities regarding the modification of the calendar for Romania's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, and Romania has been favorably assessed by the U.S. authorities about the fulfillment of the technical criteria of the program," the MAI added. In June 2024, high-level bilateral consultations were held with representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State, followed by the final assessment in October 2024, following which the U.S. side confirmed that Romania fully meets all the technical criteria for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. According to the Ministry of the Interior, official data resulting from the exchange of information between Romania and the U.S. contradict senator Peiu's statements because, in January and February 2025, only six cases of Romanian citizens found illegally crossing the border between Mexico and the U.S. were recorded, while no such incident was reported at the Canadian-U.S. border. Romania actively cooperates with U.S. authorities in the field of security, and a concrete example is the operationalization, starting with September 2024, of the Border Security Partnership with DHS, which allows automated data exchange, real-time checks and access to the U.S. database with over 285 million identities, the Ministry of the Interior explained. "Biometrics have been introduced in the process of granting Romanian citizenship - in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior has implemented the collection of biometric data of citizenship applicants and introduced the Romanian citizenship card, increasing the transparency and security of this process," the Ministry of the Interior's press release reads. Romania has met all the technical requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, confirmed by American strategic partners, the Ministry of the Interior concluded, adding that senator Petridor Peiu's statements are "contradicted" by documented reality and "risk creating an erroneous perception among public opinion and international partners." AGERPRES The National Company 'National Administration of Maritime Ports' Constanta signed, on Friday, a contract funded by European funds, worth over 86 million lei, for the power supply of all types of ships at the shore, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES. "The National Company 'National Administration of Maritime Ports' Constanta signed contract no. 10475/11.03.2025, which aims to design and execute the project Ensuring electrical conditions for ships' shore connection in the Port of Constanta (Cold Ironing regime) - E-COLD - for interconnection to TEN-T for implementing the EALING project, funded through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Programme,' with contractor SC TIAB SA Bucharest. The value of the design and execution contract is 86,129,240.43 lei (excluding VAT) and is funded from European funds through the Connecting Europe Facility - CEF Transport programme," the source informs. The duration of the design and execution contract is 27 months (including 3 months for design).By implementing this investment, the existing installations will be upgraded to a high-performance operational state, with improved energy efficiency. As a result, the conditions provided by the Port of Constanta will be significantly improved compared to other ports in the Black Sea Basin, which could lead to an increase in cargo traffic. National leader of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor said on Friday in Targu Mures that after the establishment of the common candidate of the governing coalition, in the person of Crin Antonescu, there were no other discussions about other candidates, as it is stated in the public space, regarding a possible intention of candidacy of the country's interim President Ilie Bolojan. "Those discussions are not true. There were no such discussions, I can't stop anyone from talking as they see fit. But in the coalition, after we established who the coalition's candidate is, namely Crin Antonescu, there were no other discussions about other candidates. So from that point of view, it is certainly not good, but at the same time it is not true either," Kelemen told the press, when asked about the statements of National Liberal Party (PNL) First Deputy Chairman President Ciprian Ciucu regarding the Social Democratic Party (PSD) blocking Bolojan's presidential bid. Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) President Kelemen Hunor, on Friday, at the opening of the 4th edition of the Transylvanian Economic Forum in Targu Mures, said that the majority of the European political elite makes no intellectual effort to understand the ideological basis of the Trump administration in order to realise that behind it there is a well-consolidated ideology. "The vast majority of politicians speak about things that are true, such as taxes, this tax war, transactionalism, issues related to security and the presence or disengagement of the United States in Europe. We must see that Pax Americana has ended, on one hand. On the other hand, we need to understand what is behind these actions, and I am under the impression that the majority of the political elites in Europe do not make an intellectual effort to understand that behind the decisions made by the Trump administration, there is a very well-consolidated ideology. Without understanding this ideology and the values behind it, it is almost impossible to get closer again," UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor told the press at the end of his speech. In his view, the UDMR leader said, there is still a need for strong transatlantic relations, but Europeans must make an effort to understand what is happening, "not to lament and constantly speak only in harsh terms about the United States." "For at least the last 10 years, the European Union should have known. They knew, but they thought it was another reality. They knew that we needed to increase defence investments. Even during President Obama's period, the United States started turning towards the Pacific. It was clear that the moment would come - it was very visible in the first Trump administration - when we would have to invest in defense. Europe lived under the false illusion that up until the end of time, lunch could be free, and there would be no cost. So, it is impossible not to realise that America will not support the defence and security of Europe until the end of time. We lost 10 years on false issues, and now we wake up to find that we suddenly need to invest massively because the United States is starting a disengagement from Europe, and the attention of the United States will turn more towards the Pacific, towards Asia. From this point of view, it is clear that we need to do this, after which we must be very honest that, at this moment, the European Union does not have the necessary funds, nor does it have the developed industry to support, from one day to the next, year after year, everything needed for the security of the continent," said Kelemen Hunor. The UDMR leader believes it will take 8-10 years, and that it cannot be said or accepted that, without the United States, for example, the shield on the eastern line - the Baltic States, Poland, Romania - will function without the U.S. "Without America, it will not work because the Patriot systems only work with the Americans. That is why we still need the United States. At the same time, we need to invest in weapons, in the army, in equipment, in infrastructure, and Romania will move in this direction... Romania's defence industry does not look very good, but in a few years, it will look better. We need to invest in know-how, we need to invest in new technologies, in modernisation, and in things that probably didn't exist 10-20 years ago, like drones, and so on," Kelemen Hunor also said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21.The bodies of Azerbaijan Army's servicemen, soldier Imanov Ali Tariyel and soldier Hamidov Ruslan Rustam, who were caught in an avalanche in foggy weather conditions while returning from their duty station located in the territory of the Gadabay region, were found, Trend reports citing the joint statement of Azerbaijans Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. "The leadership of the Ministry of Defense expresses deep condolences to the families and relatives of servicemen, who died while fulfilling their duty, and wishes them patience. May Allah rest their souls in peace! It should be noted that in order to find Azerbaijan Army's servicemen, who were caught in an avalanche, special equipment, forces and means of the relevant units of the Azerbaijan Army, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the contractor company of the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads were involved in joint search and rescue operations held in a mountainous area with difficult terrain despite the unfavourable weather conditions", - statement says. ST. LOUIS Boeing will build the U.S. Air Forces next-generation fighter jet, promising to deliver an aircraft with advanced technology that will eclipse anything in the Pentagons current fleet. The decision, announced Friday by President Donald Trump, is expected to secure St. Louis place in the defense aviation industry for decades to come and inject new jobs into the regional economy, where Boeings defense arm employs some 16,700 workers. The contract, likely worth hundreds of billions of dollars over coming decades, marks a historic victory for Boeings defense business as it sought a major new fighter jet contract to replace the aging F/A-18 and F-15 production lines in north St. Louis County. This contract also represents historic investment in our defense industrial base, Trump said at a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House. The new fighter will be called the F-47. Its a beautiful number, Trump, the nations 47th president, said about the planes name, adding that the generals picked the title. The Air Force decided on Boeing after a rigorous and tough competition, the president said in announcing his decision, first reported by Reuters. Boeing was competing with Lockheed Martin for the contract. Trump said stealth technologies make the fighter virtually unseeable and theres never been anything like it in terms of maneuverability. Its speed, he said, is top. He said the government could not release a detailed photo rendering of the fighter due to national security considerations. Boeing recognizes the importance of the program, said Steve Parker, interim president and CEO of Boeings defense, space and security division. We made the most significant investment in the history of our defense business, Parker said in a statement. Boeing officials announced in July 2023 that the company would build an advanced manufacturing site in North County, part of the companys $1.8 billion expansion project at its complex at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The expansion project, including the 1.1 million-square-foot facility, is poised to be a key part of one of the largest defense projects in the regions history. Boeing officials have said they hope to complete the new manufacturing facility by next year. Theyve already built much of what has to be built in terms of production, Trump said Friday. Boeing declined to answer a question about how much of the work on the Next Generation Air Dominance program will be done in the St. Louis region. But defense aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia said final assembly, at least, is likely to happen here. There are no guarantees, but between that investment and the tremendous premium on experience in this industry, it is implied, Aboulafia said. Experimental aircraft flights and conceptual testing over the past five years laid the groundwork for the sixth-generation, crewed fighter jet, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. Because of that work, Allvin said the F-47 will fly during President Trumps administration, an incredibly fast timeline for a major weapons system. The F-47 is a generational leap forward, Allvin said in a statement Friday. The maturity of the aircraft at this phase in the program confirms its readiness to dominate the future fight. U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt lauded Trump for the decision. The F-47 next generation fighter that will dominate the skies and protect America will be built in St. Louis, Schmitt posted on social media. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said the county is an enthusiastic partner to Boeing. This will be an incredible boost to the regions economy, Page said in a statement Friday. We are pleased that St. Louis County provided tax incentives to make this exciting project in north St. Louis County possible. St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Rita Days, who represents the area around Boeing, called the decision a monumental win for North St. Louis County. Boeings decision to anchor this program here reflects our skilled workforce and strategic location, Days said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner called the announcement amazing news for the Greater St. Louis region and our nations security. Today is an exciting day for Boeing and the entire St. Louis region, said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. The City will remain a strong partner as we continue to promote St. Louis as a leader in innovation and industry. Boeing expansion already underway The St. Louis County Council approved about $155 million in tax breaks for the project in September 2023, and the company broke ground that winter. Boeing will get half off real and personal property taxes for 10 years in exchange for the investment and creating 500 jobs. The deal includes a clawback measure if Boeing doesnt keep the new jobs plus at least 12,100 total jobs in the region over the plans lifespan. The business group Greater St. Louis Inc. helped craft the tax incentive package along with other regional and state leaders. Interim CEO Dustin Allison said Friday the deal helped set the stage for job growth and investment in the St. Louis metro. St. Louis officials in 2023 also approved an agreement with Boeing to lease about 158 acres for its expansion at Lambert. Under the lease, Boeing is set to pay the city-owned airport at least $2.63 million a year. The expansion got underway last June with the start of construction of a building on airport-owned property on Lamberts eastern end in Berkeley, said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, director of the airport. The former McDonnell Douglas, acquired by Boeing nearly 30 years ago, built St. Louis into a powerhouse of military aviation and a key part of the countrys military industrial base. Hundreds of F/A-18 fighters for the U.S. Navy and F-15s for the Air Force have been churned out here. But the legacy fighter programs have faced uncertainty for over a decade, staying alive with small additional purchases pushed through by Congress or sales to U.S. allies abroad even as military brass at times sought to phase the programs out. The F/A-18 program is now slated to end in 2027. The F-15 recently won a major sale to Israel under the Biden administration that could keep its production line going into the next decade. In the meantime, Boeing has won smaller contracts that kept its production lines in St. Louis humming, including the T-7 training jet and an unmanned refueling drone. But missing was a major new military aircraft program to secure its St. Louis assembly line for decades. Boeing lost out to Lockheed Martin 25 years ago in the competition to build the militarys current strike fighter, the F-35. A decade ago, it lost out to Northrup Grumman for the contract to build the B-21 bomber. Trump declined to say how much the contract was worth, saying that could reveal classified information to adversaries. But the initial contract to proceed with production was $20 billion. Dan Grazier, director of the national security reform program at the Stimson Center, said $20 billion is just seed money. The total costs coming down the road will be hundreds of billions of dollars. Boeings St. Louis campus is one of two sites in the country that does final assembly for military fighter jets, which analysts have said gave it strategic importance as the military weighed where to build the next generation fighter. Even after Boeing began building its expansion site in anticipation of winning the next generation fighter contract, the program was put in doubt when the Air Force last year paused it. Former President Joe Bidens Air Force secretary, Frank Kendall, ordered a pause on the advanced fighter program to review if the aircraft was still needed or if the program, which was first designed in 2018, needed to be modified to reflect the past few years of warfighting advances, particularly the increasing use of unmanned drones. That review by think tanks and academia examined what conflict with China would look like with the new fighter and then without it and determined that the next generation manned warplane was still needed. Kendall then left the decision on which firm would build the fighter jet to the incoming Trump administration, a defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to provide details on the decision-making. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, appearing beside Trump Friday, mentioned the pause to take a swipe at the Biden administration anyway. They paused this program and were prepared to potentially scrap it, Hegseth said. We know this is cheaper, longer range and more stealthy. Mr. Trump said were reviving it and were doing it. We are also gonna reestablish deterrence. Under the previous administration, we looked like fools. Not anymore. President Trump has reestablished American leadership. The F-47 is part of it. Seeming to acknowledge the debate over manned versus unmanned fighter aircraft in future conflicts, Trump added that the F-47 flies with drones. It flies with many, many drones. As many as you want. Trump has backed Boeing before The F-47 is the latest good news for Boeing against rival Lockheed Martin. Earlier this month, the Navy eliminated Lockheed from a competition to build that branchs next carrier-based fighter. Boeing and Northrup Grumman remain in the running. It could also be a solid boost for the larger company, which has suffered recently from manufacturing problems, labor strife and financial woes, mostly on the commercial side of its business, though there have been some delays on the military side, too. In November, the company said it would lay off some 700 people here. Companywide, it announced in plans to lay off 10% of its workforce. The layoffs in St. Louis were mostly due to Boeing delaying production on the long-range widebody 777X commercial jet, according to DeLane Adams, a spokesman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. And though the military contract is a welcome win, Boeing still faces uncertainty amid tariffs and a brewing trade war that could hurt both the cost of its materials and its access to European and Chinese markets for its passenger planes. Boeing posted a fourth-quarter loss of $3.8 billion in January. ST. LOUIS A 29-year-old man was given a seven-year prison sentence Thursday in the shooting death of another man in 2022 at a homeless encampment in the city's Old North St. Louis neighborhood. Joseph A. Baylark III, of the 1400 block of North 19th Street, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, according to a release from the St. Louis Circuit Court. Baylark had been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Rudy Boykins, 50, behind a warehouse in the 1500 block of North 13th Street on Nov. 30, 2022. Baylark's trial had been set to start next week. Authorities wrote in charging documents that Baylark had admitted to the shooting after initially denying killing Boykins. BERKELEY The city manager here has sued the city alleging her predecessor discriminately reduced her salary because she is a Black woman and retaliated against her when she complained. The lawsuit by April Walton, appointed city manager in January, seeks damages for loss of wages and emotional distress alleged to have been caused by former city manager Nathan Mai-Lombardos treatment of her while she was human resources director and municipal court administrator. Walton alleges Mai-Lombardo, who is white, discriminated against her when he reduced her salary while raising salaries for several other male employees. Acting Mayor Rita Crawford-Graham and City Attorney Donnell Smith both declined comment, as did Mai-Lombardo. Walton, who is being represented by a personal attorney, did not respond to an interview request. The lawsuit is at least the second time high-ranking employees in Berkeley, a majority Black-suburb of about 8,000 residents, have sued alleging discrimination by white supervisors in recent months. In November, three Black fire commanders sued the city alleging the fire chief, who is white, racially discriminated against two of them by passing them over for promotions and firing the third, without evidence of wrongdoing, after he struck a dog that ran into the street with his vehicle. In her lawsuit, Walton alleges that Mai-Lombardo, shortly after he was hired as city manager, summoned Walton to his office in October of 2022 and said her salary was too high because it was within $10,000 of his salary. The lawsuit did not specify either Mai-Lombardo or Waltons salaries at the time. According to city records, Mai-Lombardo was appointed by the city council in August of 2022 with a $120,000 salary. The city manager, who oversees day to day administration of the city, is the highest paid position in Berkeley, according to public records. Walton, at the time, was serving as both the citys human resources director, overseeing employment matters, and administrator of the citys municipal court, which adjudicates violations of city ordinances. She had worked for the city for more than 25 years, according to her lawsuit. She made $97,593 in gross pay in 2022, according to public pay records. Walton told Mai-Lombardo that she was underpaid because she was working two different, full-time jobs, the lawsuit says. The next day, Mai-Lombardo called her into his office and told her he had reflected on the conversation. I reflected on our conversation from yesterday and said to myself who does this bitch think she is? Mai-Lombardo said, according to the lawsuit. In March of 2023 he reduced Waltons salary from $100,000 to $85,000, while at the same time increasing salaries for several male employees, the lawsuit says. Salaries for the fire chief, police chief, administrative captain, emergency medical services officer, deputy chief inspector and deputy chief training officer, which ranged from $80,000 to $99,000, were increased to top out between $102,000 to $130,000. Walton was the only employee in the group with an advanced degree and more than 25 years experience working for the city, the lawsuit said. That year, Mai-Lombardo received $138,428 in gross pay and Walton received $92,860 in gross pay, according to public pay records. After Walton filed a discrimination complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights in September of 2023, Mai-Lombardo retaliated against her and micro managed her, Walton alleged. Mai-Lombardo told her the letter to my office from your lawyer is not helping you, according to the lawsuit. In January, the city council, in a 4-2 vote, fired Mai-Lombardo. City records do not list a cause for the firing. The council that month appointed Walton as acting city manager in addition to human resources director, and approved her salary at $150,000, according to city records. Walton received a notice from the state human rights commission of her right to sue in court in December. She filed suit in St. Louis County Circuit Court last week. ST. LOUIS Brandon Jones Sr. is hoping to make a change when hes finally released from jail. The 37-year-old has been locked up in the downtown City Justice Center for about seven months, but he says he has tried to make the best of it. He got a job in the jail kitchen. He has been getting to know the men in his pod of cells. And in recent weeks, he has joined a re-launched city program through the St. Louis Agency on Training and Development (SLATE) meant to help incarcerated people get the training, schooling or connections they need to find gainful employment upon their release. My goal is to give back to the community, Jones said. He aims to find a job working with his hands, like cooking, cleaning or fixing things. It starts with me. Im going to lead by example. Jones and about a half-dozen other men gathered Friday in a small room on the first floor of the City Justice Center on Tucker Boulevard to speak with TV, radio and newspaper journalists about the program. They sat across from a group of SLATE workers while jail and city officials stood by. It was the first time in two years that reporters and cameras have been allowed inside the facility after dozens of complaints about riots, violence, understaffing, inadequate health care and a string of inmate deaths. Last year, the city announced it had contracted Doug Burris the former head of eastern Missouris federal probation and parole system who was credited with improving the St. Louis County jail to conduct a review of the facility. Then, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones announced hed become the provisional jail commissioner charged with fixing the problems he uncovered. One of the biggest concerns was a lack of recreational opportunities that left detainees sitting bored in their cells and almost no programming to help reduce their chances of returning to jail. But in the last few weeks, SLATE has returned after a five-year hiatus. A new veteran-specific program is starting up, as well as GED classes and partnerships with faith-based organizations. About 20 people are enrolled in SLATE so far. We know all you need is some help and some hope, Burris told the group of SLATE participants on Friday. The men who are locked up for a variety of charges, including robbery, domestic assault, stealing and weapons offenses shared with reporters what theyd been hoping to gain from their experience with SLATE. Caylen Gordon, 31, said he was working hard on his addiction recovery. His 14-year-old daughter was waiting for him outside, he said, and he wanted to be able to provide for her by getting a job in a kitchen, like hed had in the past. If Im better, he said, shes going to be OK. Edward Shelton, 41, is hoping to get certified in doing HVAC work. And Kelvin Shermon, 39, said he wanted to become licensed as a security officer. Hed worked as a bouncer before, but he said he wanted to get more training. Some of the program participants may go from the jail into prison but Burris said SLATE stays in touch with them and will be available upon their release. Shermon said hes committed to the process. Its going to take time, Shermon said. Its a life-changing thing. MADISON COUNTY A driver fleeing a traffic stop hit and seriously injured a Metro East police officer after he laid down a spike strip, authorities say. Prosecutors in Madison County on Thursday announced that multiple felony charges had been filed against Kendall Brown, 27, of Florissant, in connection with the incident Sunday morning. Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine said in a news release that Brown's 2012 Hyundai struck Brooklyn Officer Josh Dallas' leg and hand, nearly severing his thumb, and ran over his foot. Dallas was treated at a hospital and released. Dallas was hit on Illinois Highway 3 near Venice about 5 a.m. The series of events began when another Brooklyn officer tried to stop Brown at another location but he drove off, said Brian Brueggemann, a spokesman for Haine. Haine's office said the high-speed pursuit continued across the McKinley Bridge into St. Louis. Brown was arrested at Goodfellow Boulevard and Lillian Avenue, more than two miles northwest of the bridge. In an unrelated incident, a St. Louis police officer, Nathan Spiess, underwent a partial leg amputation after he was hit by a car Monday on Interstate 70 in north St. Louis. JEFFERSON CITY One by one, each of the more than 50 people seated on folding chairs at a public library explained why they were there. Im just really upset about our voting rights being taken away from us, one woman said. Im mad, and I want to do something with my anger that protects my rights, the next woman exclaimed. I want to understand how the heck they can do this, added another. The citizen activists, many of them heretofore strangers, had come together two days after the Missouri House passed legislation to overturn a voter-approved ballot initiative guaranteeing paid sick leave for workers and cost-of-living increases to the minimum wage. The people werent focused on how to stop the Senate from taking the same action. Rather, the group had something bigger in mind: Preventing the Legislature from ever reversing the will of the voters again. Paid sick leave highlights a Missouri fight As Republican President Donald Trump tests the U.S. Constitutions separation of powers with far-reaching executive orders, lawmakers in some states are engaged in a tug-of-war for power with the people who elected them. In Missouri, Republican lawmakers not only want to reverse the workers benefits law approved by voters in November, theyre also proposing to undo parts of a new abortion rights amendment and make it more difficult to approve future state constitutional amendments. Missouri lawmakers have a history of such actions. They previously tried to block funding for a voter-approved Medicaid expansion and authored changes to voter-approved measures regulating dog breeders and legislative redistricting. Frustrated citizen activists are fighting back. They are holding town-hall forums across the state seeking to build support to put a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot limiting the Legislatures ability to limit citizen initiatives. Our goal is to ban politicians from attacking the will of the people, presenter Lindsay Browning told people gathered on a recent Saturday at the Missouri River Regional Library, blocks from the state Capitol. Two days earlier, Republican state Rep. Mitch Boggs used a parental analogy while explaining to colleagues why they should overrule voters desire for paid sick leave and annual minimum wage increases. Of course, the people voted for it. It would be like asking your teenager if he wanted a checkbook. Theyre going to vote for it every time, Boggs said. But if we dont protect our businesses, theres not going to be a job to go to to get a minimum wage. Nebraska lawmakers also are considering carving out exceptions to voter-approved minimum wage and paid sick leave laws. 100 bills that restrict citizen initiatives About half the states allow citizens to place proposed laws or constitutional amendments on the ballot through initiative petitions. In recent years, activists have used that process to enshrine abortion rights in state constitutions, legalize recreational marijuana, raise minimum wages, expand Medicaid health care coverage and enact other measures that legislatures had been unwilling to approve. Some lawmakers have responded by trying to make it harder to get initiatives on the ballot and tougher for voters to pass them. The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, which backs progressive ballot measures, is tracking about 100 active bills in 18 states that would make it more difficult for citizen-led initiatives to succeed, said the groups executive director, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo. The abundance of such legislation is an indictment of our representative democracy, said Kelly Hall, executive director of The Fairness Project, another progressive group that has backed 43 state ballot initiatives since 2016. In Idaho, a Republican lawmaker this year proposed giving the governor veto power over ballot initiatives approved by voters with less than two-thirds support. That bill stalled in a House committee. But bills already have passed in other states. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed several laws aimed at initiative canvassers, including ones requiring them to verify that petition signers have read the full ballot title and shown photo identification. Utah lawmakers this month voted to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would require 60% approval for future initiatives that raise or impose taxes. Arizona voters narrowly approved a similar measure in 2022. South Dakota looks to rein in initiatives In South Dakota, which gave birth to the initiative movement in 1898, lawmakers recently passed several measures seeking to rein in the initiative process. One would shorten the time for gathering petition signatures. Another would require a minimum number of signatures from all 35 state Senate districts in addition to the current statewide threshold to qualify a proposed constitutional amendment for the ballot. Yet another measure, which will go before voters in 2026, would set a 60% threshold for approving constitutional amendments instead of a simple majority. In 2022, South Dakota voters rejected a legislative proposal to require 60% approval for new taxes and multimillion-dollar spending measures. That same year, voters approved a Medicaid expansion initiative by a 56% vote. This year, lawmakers placed a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would end the expanded Medicaid coverage if the federal government doesnt continue to pay at least 90% of the costs. Republicans who control the Legislature noted that amendments to the U.S. Constitution require approval from three-fourths of states. They also asserted that out-of-state groups have bankrolled initiatives pushing radical agendas, citing recently defeated ballot proposals for abortion rights and open primaries. Our constitution must be protected from the transient political influence and whims of a bare majority, South Dakota state Sen. Sue Peterson said during debate. UNITED NATIONS Freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi, who was beaten, chained and starved while held for 491 days by Hamas, expressed his anger during an appearance at the U.N. Security Council on Thursday for having to suffer for so long and worry every day about being killed. Where was the United Nations? Where was the Red Cross? Where was the world? Sharabi asked. He challenged the U.N.s most powerful body: If you stand for humanity prove it by bringing home the 59 hostages still in Gaza, many of whom are believed to be dead. The fate of the remaining hostages became more uncertain after Israel on Tuesday ended a six-week break in the fighting that had allowed for the return of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Sharabi said the council talked about the need to get humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, but he saw Hamas militants eating stolen food from dozens of boxes marked with U.N. emblems while the hostages starved. They were given maybe a piece of pita and a sip of tea a day, and an occasional dry date, he said. When he was released on Feb. 8, Sharabi said he weighed 44 kilos (about 97 pounds) less than the weight of his youngest daughter, who was killed along with his wife and older daughter in Hamas surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, along with about 1,200 others. He was among 251 people taken hostage. The United States in November vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza because it was not linked to an immediate release of the hostages. The Palestinians and their supporters then went to the 193-member General Assembly, which adopted a resolution in December demanding a ceasefire and reiterating its demand for the release of the hostages. Unlike Security Council resolutions, though, those passed by the General Assembly are nonbinding. The ceasefire that went into effect in January was shattered on Tuesday with surprise airstrikes on Gaza that killed more than 400 Palestinians, one of the highest death tolls in the nearly 18-month war. Gazas Health Ministry said most victims were women and children. Sharabis appearance before the council, the second by a freed hostage, followed an Israeli request last week for a meeting on the plight of the hostages. Britains deputy ambassador James Kariuki called Sharabis suffering beyond the imagination and said, Hamas must be held accountable for their despicable actions. But Kariuki also said the U.K. condemns Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katzs warning of the total destruction of Gaza. Britain calls for the rapid resurgence of aid to Gaza, an investigation into allegations of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces, and an urgent return to the ceasefire deal, he said. Frances new U.N. ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, expressed his countrys deepest condolences to Sharabi but also condemned the resumption of Israels bombing, saying it will not ensure the release of hostages, and demanded an end to Israels humanitarian blockade of Gaza. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told the council, Our hearts were filled with sorrow as we listened to the tragic story of Mr. Eli Sharabi, adding such brutality can have no justification. Polyansky criticized Israels leaders for not moving to phase 2 of the ceasefire deal, which calls for the release of all hostages and a permanent end to the fighting. He said its difficult to discuss the future when Israels military and political leaders appear to have made the choice in favor of war. Algerias U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama, representing the Arab world on the council, called Sharabi a representative of civil society, and said no civilian, irrespective of their background, should endure suffering. He then accused Israel of cherry-picking international law. He pointed to Israels ban on humanitarian aid, fuel and electricity entering Gaza since March 2, its killing of civilians, and the cutoff of the International Committee of the Red Cross access to over 9,500 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons since Oct. 7. After all council members spoke, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, sent our condolences to Sharabi over the killing of his loved ones and his prolonged captivity. He said Palestinians understand this pain because we live it. Sharabi made no mention of Israeli actions, except to say that on the morning of Oct. 7, when he heard that militants were inside Kibbutz Beeri where he lived, he reassured his wife not to worry: The army will come, they always come. That morning, they never came. He told the council he came to speak for 24-year-old Alon Ohel, a fellow hostage whom he left behind in the tunnel, and all others, including his older brother, Yossi, who was killed but whose body remains in Gaza. Bring them all home. Now! Sharabi said. KYIV, Ukraine Senior military officers from more than 30 countries across Europe and beyond met in England on Thursday to flesh out plans for an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine as details of a partial ceasefire are worked out. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he didnt know whether there would be a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, but we are making steps in the right direction as a coalition of the willing led by Britain and France moves into an operational phase. We hope there will be a deal but what I do know is if there is a deal, the time for planning is now, he said during a visit to the meeting of military planners at a British base in Northwood, just outside London. Its not after a deal is reached. It is vitally important we do that work, because we know one thing for certain which is a deal without anything behind it is something that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will breach, he said. Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders this week, though it remained to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off limits to attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in Norway on Thursday, said though he originally sought a broader ceasefire, he was committed to working with the U.S. to stop attacks being directed at power production and civilian facilities. I raised this issue with President Trump and said that our side would identify what we consider to be civilian infrastructure, Zelenskyy said. I dont want there to be any misunderstanding about what the sides are agreeing on. Shuttle diplomacy expected The tentative deal to partially rein in the three-year war came after Putin rebuffed Trumps push for a full 30-day ceasefire. The difficulty in getting the combatants to stop targeting one anothers energy infrastructure highlights the challenges Trump will face in trying to fulfill his campaign pledge to quickly end the war. Negotiators from Moscow and the U.S. will meet Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Putins foreign affairs adviser Sergei Ushakov told Russian news agencies. Zelenskyy said team would also meet with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia to discuss technical issues, and then the U.S. will act as an intermediary running shuttle diplomacy between Kyiv and Moscow. Despite the negotiations, hundreds of drone attacks were launched overnight by both sides, injuring several people and damaging buildings. Kropyvnytskyi, a city in central Ukraine, faced its biggest attack of the war as about four dozen drones injured 14 people, including a couple with serious burns, and damaged houses and apartments. More than 50 drones were intercepted in Russias Saratov region the largest attack of its kind in the area shattering windows in a hospital and damaging two kindergartens, a school and about 30 homes, Gov. Roman Busargin said. The attacks were focused on Engels, an industrial city near Russias main base for nuclear-capable strategic bombers. Battlefield losses mount In its latest estimate, the U.K. Defense Ministry said Russian troops suffered 900,000 casualties including up to 250,000 killed since Moscows invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Thats a jump of 200,000 from a fall estimate. Western estimates of the parties war losses have varied and couldnt be independently verified. War losses have been a tightly guarded secret in Russia. The Defense Ministrys most recent figures were from 2023 when it reported 6,000 deaths, which was regarded as unreliable. The U.K. did not release a similar estimate for Ukrainian casualties. Zelenskyy told NBC News last month that more than 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and more than 350,000 wounded. Those figures couldnt be independently confirmed and could be an undercount. Russia resistant to peacekeepers If peace comes to Ukraine, the number of troops that would help enforce it is vague. Officials have cited figures of between 10,000 and 30,000 troops as part of whats been termed a reassurance force. Only Britain and France have said they are willing to send troops, though countries including Australia, Canada, France and Finland say they are open to being involved in some way. Russia says it wont accept troops from NATO countries being based on Ukrainian soil. Trump gave no sign the U.S. will guarantee reserve firepower in case of any breaches of a truce. Starmer says the plan wont work without that U.S. backstop. In addition to the meeting in England, EU leaders in Brussels planned to discuss Ukraines security needs with Zelenskyy during a meeting about ramping up defense spending after the Trump administration signaled Europe must take care of its own security. The German parliaments budget committee is expected to decide Friday to clear up to $3.3 billion in extra funding for German military aid to Ukraine this year. That comes after parliament voted to loosen Germanys debt rules for military and security spending. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. With the arrival of the Novruz holiday, all bus stations and terminals have been operating in enhanced mode since March 19, the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency told Trend. Baku International Bus Station has seen a record-breaking number of 386 trips on a single day, transporting more than 14,000 passengers to their destinations, marking the highest figure in the past two years. To meet the increased demand, an additional 150 trips were added compared to regular days. Nearly 45 percent of passengers purchased their tickets online through the "biletim.az" portal. For those using the portal or the mobile app between March 20-31, a cashback of 3 percent will be offered for purchases made using ATB cards. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel One of the most cherished values among the American people is our value of education. It is the great equalizer in our society. And one of the most common ways to access education, from early childhood through later adulthood, is the public library. Libraries are also one of the few places these days where anyone is welcome, regardless of income or background. I run a public law library, one of the few places available in our region where anyone can come and get assistance in doing legal research or finding an attorney. Today, our libraries are under attack both at the state and federal level. Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins recently suspended state funding for an app that provides e-books to public school libraries, ostensibly due to concern for inappropriate books being made available to minors. Specifically, Hoskins suspended funds allocated to the public school version of Overdrive, known as Sora. Sora is the Overdrive platform that public schools use for e-books and electronic materials for their libraries. No details were provided as to what Hoskins believes is inappropriate. Materials contained within Sora are individually selected by Missouri librarians for K-12 students, and are categorized by grade levels with consideration for both reading level and age and developmental appropriateness. For example, an elementary student cannot access materials designated for middle or high schoolers. It is concerning that the secretary of state would insert himself in the role of deciding what he thinks is appropriate or not in a school library. Things are no better at the federal level. On March 14, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order insisting on the closure of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency charged with distributing congressionally approved funds to state libraries and to library, museum, and archives program grant recipients. The fact that Congress recently funded the IMLS through the remainder of this fiscal year was ignored. Gutting and defunding this agency will be deeply harmful to communities all over the country. Millions of people across the country, in urban, suburban and rural areas, rely every day on library programs and services supported by IMLS. IMLS funding also goes to critically important health sciences research. In Illinois for example, IMLS funding went to the Medical Library Association to support a system for health librarians to obtain research skills and increase their research productivity. The project was geared to meet the special needs of health librarians who support health providers, patients and consumers. IMLS draws less than 0.003% of the annual federal budget. But its impact is huge. It funds everything from services for people with disabilities to programs for the elderly to summer reading programs for families. What can you as a public citizen do to support our libraries? Here are concrete steps you can take: To object to the recent action by the Missouri Secretary of States Office concerning e-book funding for public school libraries, call the office at (573) 751-4936. To object to the recent presidential Executive Order defunding and eliminating the IMLS, call your members of Congress. Go to https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member and type in your address to get contact information for your U.S. senators and your member in the House of Representatives. Let members of Congress know that they comprise the branch of government that has authorized funding for IMLS and that they need to speak out about this unlawful and harmful overreach. Lets do all we can to support our public libraries and all they stand for in our country. USAV Calaboza, a U.S. Army landing craft utility vessel, is moored at Yokohama North Dock, Japan, in December 2024. (Michael Graf/U.S. Army) FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii U.S. Army Pacific is tackling a watercraft shortage by maintaining and repairing vessels overseas and augmenting its fleet by leasing privately owned boats. There is a gap in our ability to conduct intra-theater lift and movement, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey VanAntwerp, deputy chief of staff for the command, told reporters Thursday during a conference call from his headquarters at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. We have a lack of Army watercraft and the ability to move everything that we would like to be able to move and have the type of agility wed like to have, particularly in the first island chain, but in the second island chain as well, he said. The first island chain, which includes the Japanese archipelago, Taiwan and the northern Philippines, lies closest to China, a potential adversary. The major step that were taking is to be able to repair forward in Japan, he said. In the future, wed like to be able to repair forward in Japan, Korea, even out in Australia. So, were taking steps to be able to do that, rather than have to send them all the way back to the East Coast to make repairs. The Army trimmed its watercraft fleet by half over six years ending in May 2024, according to a report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in October. By that point, the Armys fleet had shrunk to 70 vessels from 134 in 2018, the office found. The Armys fleet moves supplies, equipment and personnel in deep ocean, shallow coastal waters, inland waterways and rivers. The fleets vessels are also plagued by maintenance issues, with the fully mission capable rate for watercraft steadily declining from 75% in 2020 to less than 40% in 2024, the GAO reported. Undertaking repair work within the Indo-Pacific, however, is not a cure-all for increasing mission-ready capability in an aging fleet, VanAntwerp said. What were not going to be able to do is instantly make them newer, so repair issues and wear and tear will continue to be an issue, he said. But I think being able to repair forward will drastically decrease the downtime and increase the overall [readiness] rate. And were seeing that already as weve begun to repair some of these forward. The Army is also experimenting with the use of leased vessels as a means of reaching anticipated need in the event of conflict. Were just not going to be able to build enough Army watercraft to be able to meet the need, VanAntwerp said. I think the key for us will be the ability to ramp up capacity during conflict through a combination of Army watercraft and leased vessels, he said. Were finding that leased vessels provide a pretty phenomenal capability and a pretty high level of readiness, he said. They have also proven to be incredibly flexible, VanAntwerp said. Theyve made modifications upon request and done it really rapidly to install, like, a front-loading ramp in order to roll-on, roll-off your equipment onto a beach per se or somewhere where theres not a standing pier, he said. You start to weigh out the cost of leasing a vessel versus owning it full time, he added. It really starts to look like a favorable mix going forward. The destroyer USS Carney defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea in October 2023, according to the Navy. (Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy) Increasingly advanced technology used by Iran-backed Houthis against ships in the Red Sea is raising the chances of a successful militant strike on U.S. forces, analysts and former defense officials say. A replenishable supply of sophisticated Iranian and Russian weapons is bolstering the Houthis, whom U.S. forces have repeatedly attacked this week at dozens of sites across Yemen in a bid to cripple their offensive and command capabilities. The Houthis have improved tactically since beginning their assaults on commercial and military shipping following the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel war, U.S. Navy officials have said. Now they may be acquiring hydrogen fuel cells to power drones, which could give them new reconnaissance capabilities. An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman on March 19, 2025 in Middle East waters. (U.S. Navy) It would only take one strike and some American casualties in the Red Sea to draw the U.S. into a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, Nadwa Al-Dawsari, a nonresident fellow at the Washington-based think tank Irregular Warfare Initiative, said recently during a briefing sponsored by the Middle East Institute. Its a matter of when, not if, said Al-Dawsari, adding that Navy officials have told her that some Houthi strikes have come dangerously close to U.S. ships. In August, a weapons shipment seized by Yemeni National Resistance Forces uncovered hydrogen fuel cells, according to a March 12 report by Conflict Armament Research. The U.K.-based independent research group tracks illicit arms flows. In this screenshot from a Navy video, USS Gettysburg launches a Tomahawk cruise missile during strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15, 2025. (Facebook/U.S. Navy) The discovery of the Chinese canisters mislabeled as oxygen was startling because it was the first time they had seen the technology used for drones by a non-state actor, said Taimur Khan, the research groups head of regional operations for the Persian Gulf. The canisters likely were acquired commercially and there was no evidence of Chinese government involvement, he added. Hydrogen fuel cells would allow some Houthi drones to fly higher and longer than those powered by other means, Khan and other analysts said. The U.S. Coast Guard fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound for Houthi-controlled Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, Jan. 28, 2024. (U.S. Central Command) The Houthis may not need fuel cell-powered drones to conduct one-way attack missions in the Red Sea, but drones at 10,000 feet on long-endurance missions could find targets more than 100 miles away using passive electronic sensors or visual and infrared cameras, said Bryan Clark, a retired Navy officer and director of the Hudson Institutes Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. That capability could come in handy as the Houthis work to find alternatives to radar and command centers destroyed in recent U.S. strikes, Clark said. Hydrogen fuel cells also could be useful in powering underwater drones because they have a lower sound and heat signature, making them more difficult to detect, analysts said. (The Houthis) have realized in their sort of learning curve in attacking shipping that if you want to sink a vessel, hitting it from above doesnt work, hitting it on the water line may or may not work, but hitting it under the water definitely works, said Ian Ralby, a maritime law and security expert and founder of I.R. Consilium, a research and consulting firm. The Pentagon acknowledged Houthi counterattacks in response to their strikes this past week but said they havent come close to U.S. ships yet. There were at least a few Houthi attacks last year that required added defensive measures. In January 2024, the destroyer USS Gravely had to use its close-in weapons system to shoot down a cruise missile that came within a mile of the ship. Houthi fighters also have employed swarm drone attacks and upgraded ballistic missiles, Navy officials said last year. Choking off Houthi access to weaponry and advanced technology is a vexing problem for the U.S. and its allies with few options or quick solutions, Ralby and other experts said. U.S. naval forces in recent months have interdicted weapons bound for the Houthis. They also work through the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain to stop illicit cargo from reaching militants through the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and nearby waters. But the Navy doesnt have the number and types of ships needed to interdict every small trading vessel that travels from Iran to Yemen, said Thomas Warrick, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the former deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism policy at the Department of Homeland Security. A blockade only could be achieved through a declaration of war, something the U.S., Europe and other partners likely would be unwilling to do. A yearslong blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia in 2015 kept aid from reaching starving Yemenis, creating a humanitarian crisis. While a stepped-up international effort to inspect ships is needed and possible, the problem isnt limited to the sea. Commercial componentry also is moved by air freight companies, Ralby said. Seemingly innocuous items are delivered to different locations for later assembly. Its a method that helped Ukraine destroy or disable more than a third of Russias Black Sea Fleet, he said. And now what were seeing is essentially a replication of that in Yemen where you can potentially move non-weapon parts of weapons that assemble to be much more lethal than a single firearm, Ralby said. A better intelligence picture of the groups supply chain and a partnership with Yemeni government forces is needed to keep weapons out of Houthi hands, Ralby and other analysts said. In addition to U.S. military actions, a more comprehensive approach, such as broader regional involvement in interdicting Iranian ships headed to Yemen, would better prevent arms shipments from getting through, said retired Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command from 2016 to 2019. We have not effectively done that, Votel said. (Stars and Stripes) After groping through 12 years of darkness, a little Korean boy, Lee Toi Byun, was given his sight recently after an operation performed by Maj. G. Peter Halberg a New York eye specialist at the 121st Evacuation Hospital near Seoul. Shown examining the boy after one cataract was successfully removed are (left to right) 1st Lt. Phyllis Duke, Lee, Col. William L. Spaulding, hospital commander, and Halberg. Col. William L. Spaulding, commanding officer of the 121st Evacuation Hospital and Eight Army consulting ophthalmologist, examines the eye of 12-year-old Lee Toi Byun. Lee just had cataract removed from his right eye by Maj. G. Peter Halberg (right), an eye specialist at the 121st. Halberg found Lee in a Korean clinic and brought him to the evacuation hospital where adequate facilities for the cataract surgery are available. Surgery on the left eye will follow soon. Looking for Stars and Stripes historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/ The JS Akishio, a decommissioned Japanese submarine, is the centerpiece of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force museum in Kure, Japan. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) Learn about the history and mission of Japans contemporary navy as you explore three levels of exhibits and walk through a decommissioned submarine at a free museum near Hiroshima. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Museum opened on April 5, 2007, and is the only museum in Japan where you can board a real submarine. The JDS Akishio, commissioned in 1986, was in service until March 3, 2004. The museum is in Kure city, by toll road a little over an hour by car from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Tolls are $18 or so, round. Admission to the museum is free. The museum doesnt have any dedicated parking spots; however, there are several paid parking lots nearby. Free parking for motorcycles is available across the road from the museum. The museum is English friendly and entirely self-paced, but it does have a set, one-way route for visitors to follow. Naval weaponry on display at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force museum in Kure, Japan. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) The first level exhibits explore the history of Maritime Self-Defense Force in the city of Kure. The second level focuses on its minesweeping mission during Japans postwar era. The third level explores the history and technology of Japans submarines. The highlight of the museum is stepping into a decommissioned submarine sited prominently in front of the museum. There are some interactive opportunities, such as looking through the periscope, while exploring the subs interior. The 250-foot-long diesel-electric Akishio has been on display since 2007. It carried a crew of 75 and six torpedo tubes. On the surface, the sub was powered by its diesel engines; submerged, it moved via electric motor. At the end of the tour route a gift shop sells a variety of Maritime Self-Defense Force collectible items and souvenirs. If you like collecting military memorabilia, this is the place for you. Next to the gift shop is a cafe, I highly recommend ordering the submarine curry, which costs about $6.70. The rice is shaped into a submarine in a curry sauce with two meat patties topped with decorative rising sun flag. The curry rice at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Museum in Kure, Japan, arrives in appropriately sculpted fashion. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) On the QT Directions: An hours drive from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni via expressway. 5-32 Takaramachi, Kure, Hiroshima, Japan 737-0029. Times: Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Monday; closed Tuesday Costs: Free Food: Cafeteria with food and drink options Information: Online: jmsdf-kure-museum.go.jp The Sudanese military said Friday that it has retaken the presidential palace the seat of government in the capital, Khartoum after almost two years of a brutal civil war that the United States says has killed more than 150,000 people and unleashed what the U.N. Childrens Fund (UNICEF) describes as the worlds largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis. Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, a spokesman for the Sudanese military, said in a video statement posted on social media that the army has crushed fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and retaken the Republican Palace, which he described as a symbol of the sovereignty and dignity of the Sudanese nation, as well as surrounding ministry buildings and the Arab market to the south. Videos on social media showed Sudanese soldiers chanting inside the Republican Palace, which appeared to be partly in ruins. If confirmed, the seizure of the building, which was the last heavily guarded RSF bastion in the city, would amount to a symbolic victory for the military. Today the flag has been raised, the palace returned, and the journey continues until victory is complete, Sudanese Information Minister Khaled al-Aiser wrote on X. The RSF, in a statement on its social media account, said the battle for the palace has not ended yet, as our brave forces are still in the vicinity of the area. The rebel group said its forces have attacked members of the military inside the palace. The recapture of the palace is unlikely to mean an immediate end to the war, as the RSF still controls territory in other parts of the country, including the western Darfur region. But it is a significant development in a war that broke out in April 2023 amid a rivalry between Sudans military chief and de facto head of state, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the head of the RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is widely known as Hemedti. Both sides have faced allegations of human rights abuses, which they deny. In January, the outgoing Biden administration imposed sanctions on Burhan, Sudans army chief and RSF head Hemedti. Defense Department elementary school students build sorobans during a workshop at the Tsukazan Community Center and Museum in Haebaru town, Okinawa, March 20, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) HAEBARU TOWN, Okinawa A 6-year-old Japanese girl stood with her back to Defense Department students gathered Thursday to learn about the Japanese abacus, or soroban, at the Tsukazan Community Center and Museum. As a series of 10 two-digit numbers flashed on a screen in front of her, her hands moved swiftly, clicking beads on an invisible soroban as she calculated in her head. Just seconds after the numbers stopped, she gave the correct answer 556 and the room erupted in cheers. The girl demonstrated how some Japanese students become so adept at mathematics on a soroban that they can do away with the actual device and perform calculations mentally. Two other Japanese students repeated the mental arithmetic with larger numbers, earning even bigger cheers. Suyin Gillen, center, and Frank Long build sorobans during a workshop at the Tsukazan Community Center and Museum in Haebaru town, Okinawa, March 20, 2025. Both students attend Ralph F. Stearley Primary School at Kadena Air Base. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) Defense Department elementary school students build sorobans during a workshop at the Tsukazan Community Center and Museum in Haebaru town, Okinawa, March 20, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) The demonstration capped off a soroban workshop sponsored by the Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific and Okinawas branch of the League for Soroban Education of Japan. The 120 DODEA students in grades two through five 15 from each of the eight DODEA elementary schools on Okinawa built their own personalized soroban, with their names engraved in Japanese. They then learned how to add and subtract using the 400-year-old device. You experience putting it together that means you have a very clear understanding of how it works, Melissa Hayes, DODEAs Pacific South District superintendent, told Stars and Stripes as the students assembled their sorobans. A soroban allows students to see and manipulate a physical representation of abstract numbers, according to The Japan Society website. Japanese third- and fourth-graders are required to practice soroban in math class, according to the education ministrys website. Before 2020, DODEA students participated in soroban competitions alongside Japanese students in Okinawa and mainland Japan. American students on Okinawa competed for more than 20 years, soroban league director Mitsuhiko Arakaki said before Thursdays event. Defense Department elementary school students react to a soroban demonstration at the Tsukazan Community Center and Museum in Haebaru town, Okinawa, March 20, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) After the COVID-19 pandemic, DODEA shifted to a soroban workshop instead, beginning last year, Hayes said. Students also received a crash course in soroban history. China introduced its version of the abacus to Japan in the 1600s, and the Japanese refined it to suit their needs, according to a video presentation shown to students. Nowadays, no businesses use the soroban to calculate, but I want people to know that this tool existed, Arakaki said. And it is not only about calculating, but you can also improve your imagination, concentration and thinking ability. Third-grader Lydia Maxey, of Bob Hope Elementary on Kadena Air Base, enjoyed building her soroban, though she made it backward. So, my name was put in backwards, she said. Maxey plans to show her siblings and parents how to use it, though she doubts shell match the skills of the Japanese students. How do they do it? she asked after the event. A 6-year-old can do all of that? I cant do that. Stars and Stripes reporter Keishi Koja contributed to this report. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson sails with a flotilla of U.S., Japanese and South Korean warships in the East China Sea on March 17, 2025. (Pablo Chavez/U.S. Navy) The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group joined warships from Japan and South Korea for a four-day exercise in the East China Sea, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. At least seven warships from the three navies trained together through Thursday in formation sailing, communication operations, maritime interdiction and air combat, along with staff exchanges, 7th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. j.g. Sarah Merrill said Friday. All three countries are committed to further strengthening trilateral security cooperation through exercises, improved information sharing, and increased cooperation on ballistic missile defense, Merrill told Stars and Stripes in an email. Our ships and aircraft strengthen our combined deterrence by demonstrating our combat capabilities through integrated, high-end operations with our allies, she wrote. Additional training included anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and search-and-rescue drills, according to a Thursday news release from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The exercise took place in the East China Sea, the release said. Participating ships interacted with foreign military assets at sea, but all interactions were consistent with international norms and did not impact the exercise, Merrill said. U.S. military vessels routinely interact with foreign warships and aircraft while operating throughout the region, she wrote. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson. South Korea dispatched the guided-missile destroyers ROKS Sejong the Great and ROKS Dae Jo-yeong, while Japan sent the destroyer JS Ikazuchi. The trilateral drill overlapped with the larger Freedom Shield exercise but was unrelated, Merrill said. Freedom Shield, an annual large-scale training that began March 10 and concluded Thursday, involved 19,000 South Korean troops and an unspecified number of U.S. personnel. The Carl Vinson sent an F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter to a Freedom Shield airpower drill Thursday alongside two F-35As from the U.S. and South Korean air forces, according to a 7th Air Force news release. Japan's Ministry of Defense test-launched its upgraded Type-12 surface-to-air missile at the Niijima branch of the Air Systems Research Center, Tokyo, in October 2024. (Japan Ministry of Defense) North Korea warned Japan against stationing long-range missiles on Kyushu, accusing the country of furthering a history of aggression, according to a report Thursday from the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Japan is considering deploying an upgraded version of its Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles there at the end of the next fiscal year, Kyodo News reported Sunday, citing unnamed government sources. Japans fiscal year runs April 1 to March 31. The deployment to Japans southernmost main island would put the missiles expected to have a range of about 620 miles, according to Kyodo within reach of North Korea and Chinas coast. The KCNA report, attributed to an unnamed policy section chief of North Koreas Institute of Japan Studies, warned that any military means targeting North Korea are an object to be wiped out. The report also accused Japan of possessing preemptive attack capability and of revealing its wild ambition of militarism following its 2022 national security strategy revision. The updated strategy calls for increased defense spending and counterstrike capabilities against potential adversaries missile sites. Japans Ministry of Defense declined to confirm the potential deployment or the missiles range in an unsigned email to Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. Tokyo has yet to decide where it will deploy the missiles, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters Tuesday. We will decide it at the appropriate moment after considering it comprehensively, he said at a news conference. Japan conducted three successful test launches of the ground-based missile in October. It is expected to be fully implemented in fiscal 2025. In 2023, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force opened a missile base on Ishigaki Island, at the far end of the Nansei island chain southwest of Kyushu. The base was armed with Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missiles and Type-03 surface-to-air guided missiles as a hedge against an increased Chinese military presence in the seas east of the chain and around Taiwan. STATEMENT OF SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN ON THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S PROBE OF GHOST STUDENTS The National Bureau of Investigation's probe of ghost beneficiaries from the senior high school voucher program (SHS-VP) should unmask people trying to defraud the government. Once they are exposed, those involved in irregularities should serve time behind bars for their gross deception of the Filipino people. May pondo nga tayong nilalaan para sa mga nangangailangan nating mga kababayan at mga nagsisiksikang public schools, ngunit maaaring napupunta lang ito sa mga hindi naman totoong mag-aaral. The Department of Education's steps to resolve discrepancies in records are welcome developments. Moving forward, I reiterate my call for the issuance of new guidelines on the SHS-VP, which should prioritize the poorest learners and help decongest our public schools. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. Azerbaijan opened its wallet wide, bringing in products worth $1.1 billion from CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States) nations in the first two months of this year. Data obtained by Trend from the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee indicates this metric's escalation by $427 million, or 62.2 percent, relative to the corresponding timeframe from the previous fiscal year ($686 million). In the designated reporting timeframe, Azerbaijan executed exports amounting to $231 million directed towards CIS nations, reflecting an uptick of $8 million, or a 3.6 percent increment, in juxtaposition to the initial two months of 2024, which recorded $223 million. The importation metrics from the CIS nations into Azerbaijan outstripped the export figures by a factor of 4.8. To note, throughout the designated reporting interval, Azerbaijan's outbound trade to CIS jurisdictions constituted 4.86 percent of aggregate export metrics, whereas inbound trade from CIS territories represented 26.9 percent of overall import figures. NATO defense ministers meet for two days of meetings at the alliances headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, June 27, 2019. (Lisa Ferdinando/U.S. Department of Defense) (Tribune News Service) NATO plans to ask European allies and Canada to increase their stocks of weaponry and equipment by about 30% in the next few years, according to a senior alliance official. New targets for the military capabilities of NATO allies, which would update ones set before Russias invasion of Ukraine, are currently being discussed with the aim of adopting them by early June, when the alliances defense ministers gather in Brussels. Reaching these new levels would require a massive financial effort from most European allies and Canada, while U.S. outlays wouldnt need to change, officials added. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is responding to the growing threat from Russia, as well as President Donald Trumps drive to shift more of the burden for defense from the U.S. to the rest of the alliance. As currently envisioned, the new targets would require a 30% increase broadly across sectors in the volume of equipment, with some specific categories going up much more, or less, according to one of the officials, who like the others was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive plans. According to the senior NATO official, these new targets, which will take 5 to 15 years to implement, will lead to a much stronger European and Canadian force within NATO that is less reliant on the U.S. The U.S. would largely be able to meet the new targets with equipment it already has. But most allies would need to raise defense spending to more than 3% of gross domestic product a level that leaders are widely expected to set as their new spending target when they meet for a NATO summit in The Hague in late June. Trump has repeatedly accused NATO members of taking advantage of Washington by not spending enough on defense. He has indicated that the U.S. will step back from its traditional security role in Europe and demanded allies spend 5% a goal widely viewed as unrealistic and one even the U.S. doesnt meet. Allies now widely expect the U.S. to reduce its troop presence in Europe as its priorities shift to the Indo-Pacific region. Ever since Trump won the election, European countries have been scrambling to boost defense spending and rethink their military positioning. The five main areas being targeted in the next period are air defense systems, deep-fire capacities, logistics, communication and information systems and land maneuver capacities. Those will be underpinned with increased weapons stocks and spare parts. Air defense systems were specifically singled out as an area that require more capability from all allies, including the U.S. Even as Europe boosts its capabilities, the U.S. would remain an essential backbone, particularly in areas of high-end combat power such as intelligence and reconnaissance, logistics, nuclear submarines. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Priscilla Presley gazes at a bronze statue of her former husband, Elvis Presley, in Bad Nauheim, Germany, March 20, 2025. Priscilla met Elvis in the spa town in 1959, when she was 14. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) BAD NAUHEIM, Germany Priscilla Presley has fond memories of studying at a U.S. Air Force-run high school in Wiesbaden, Germany, in the late 1950s and early 60s, although she admits she wasnt in class often. After attendance was taken in the mornings at H. H. Arnold High, Priscilla Beaulieu, as she was known at the time, and her friends often got on a bus that took us in town, stayed there for about three hours, then went back. It was a lot of fun, Presley told reporters Thursday during a visit to the region. Presley was speaking about 25 miles north of Wiesbaden, in Bad Nauheim, where 14-year-old Priscilla met her future husband, Elvis Presley, for the first time. Elvis lived off-post in the historic spa town of Bad Nauheim from 1958 to 1960 while stationed with the Army in nearby Friedberg. Among those turning out to bid farewell to Sgt. Elvis Presley March 1, 1960, as he left for the U.S upon completion of his overseas tour of duty was Priscilla Beaulieu, the stepdaughter of an Air Force officer stationed at Wiesbaden. Seven years later, she and Presley were married in Las Vegas. (Stars and Stripes) Priscilla Presley takes questions from reporters in Bad Nauheim, Germany, March 20, 2025, ahead of speaking engagements in the town where she met her future husband, Elvis Presley in 1959. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Elvis memorabilia decorates a creperie in Bad Nauheim, Germany, March 20, 2025. The historic spa town has capitalized on its Elvis connection in recent decades, hosting the European Elvis Festival each summer. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Bad Nauheim has capitalized on its Elvis connection in recent decades, hosting the European Elvis Festival each summer. During the 2021 event, a bronze statue of Elvis dressed in his Army uniform was unveiled in a park. Presley saw it for the first time Thursday. This is very important to me, she said. Being back brings back so many memories of that time. Presleys stepfather, Joseph Paul Beaulieu, was an Air Force officer whose career meant frequent relocations for the family. The teenager was crushed when she learned she would be moving from Austin, Texas, to Germany, as she was about to enter high school and didnt want to leave her friends behind. The teenagers that I knew back in Texas would all say, Oh, youre going to where Elvis Presley is. Hes over there at the same place that youre going to go to, Presley recalled. I never in my imagination thought that I would meet him. Army Sgt. Elvis Presley relaxes during an interview at Ray Barracks in Friedberg, West Germany in February of 1960, shortly before being discharged from the service and leaving Germany. (Stars and Stripes) Elvis Presley signs autographs for fans as he arrives at what has been his home-away-from-home in Germany while serving with the U.S. Army's 3rd Armored Division in 1960. During his service, the singer rented the house at Goethestrasse 14 in Bad Nauheim. (Stars and Stripes) But just weeks after arriving in Germany, a mutual acquaintance who was in the Air Force introduced the two at a party at Elvis rented home. In 2016, Presley tried to visit the home, but the owner didnt seem to share the communitys general enthusiasm for Elvis and his former wife. I knocked on the door and the woman who owns the place wouldnt let me in, Presley said, giggling. I told her I was Priscilla and I had very, very wonderful memories of the home and I just wanted to take a look at it, and she absolutely would not let me in. Bad Nauheim Mayor Klaus Kress said as of Thursday, town officials were still trying to convince the owner to let Presley visit. Elvis deployment ended about six months after he met Priscilla, when he returned to the United States. I did not hear from Elvis till about 14 days after he left, she said. I thought he was not going to call me anymore and then on that day, when he called, it was like my life came back together. Then I thought, I havent lost him. Priscilla Beaulieu waves as she sees Elvis Presley off at Rhein-Main airport, March 1, 1960. Presley and Beaulieu, an Air Force dependent, met in 1959 during Presley's Army service in Germany. (Stars and Stripes) Over the next three years, Elvis and Priscilla kept in regular contact as he continued his movie and music career in Hollywood, and she continued attending classes at H. H. Arnold High School, or at least some of them. In the summer of 1963, as a 17-year-old about to start her senior year, Presley moved to Memphis at Elvis invitation with her parents reluctant approval and under strict conditions set by Elvis and his manager, Col. Tom Parker. There, she enrolled at Immaculate Conception High School, where she graduated. Presley said she keeps in contact with some of her classmates from her school days in Germany and empathizes with military children. Just when you get to know someone, and really like them, and you want them as friends, they leave, she said. That was the hardest thing for me, to know that this friend I wont have very long because theyre going to be going to another base. H. H. Arnold High School was demolished to make way for a new facility that opened in 2017. It was named Wiesbaden High School but maintains the history and legacy of H. H. Arnold High. The original crest mosaic was preserved and incorporated into the new building. When asked if she had any advice for students at the school today, Presley smiled and said she was probably not the best person to ask, considering her behavior when she was a student. Over the years, Presley has spoken positively about the military. In a 2021 video message shared by the USO, she encouraged people to support U.S. troops by signing the organizations thank-you card. On Thursday, Presley said that in the end, Elvis was happy he had served. It was very hard for him to leave, of course, and (he) didnt understand why he had to go in the military, she said. But (he) did, and served, and actually, he was glad. That sorrow of going in was erased by the people he met here. Municipal workers clean up after Russian drones hit shops during the night attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Friday, March 21, 2025. (Michael Shtekel/AP) KYIV, Ukraine Russian drones pummeled the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, injuring three people and sparking massive fires, officials said Friday, an attack that underlined Moscows intention to pursue aerial strikes even as it agreed to temporarily halt strikes on energy facilities. The head of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, said the city suffered local emergency power outages in three of its districts, an indication that the energy infrastructure of the city could have been damaged. Reacting to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that joint pressure on Russia, strengthening sanctions and defense support for our state ... is the way to stop such terror and Russias prolongation of the war. We expect real pressure on Russia from the U.S., Europe and all our partners, Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram. This is what will allow diplomacy to work. Russia, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of blowing up a gas facility in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have launched an incursion, in violation of the ceasefire deal. Ukraine denies the accusations. Russian drone attack sparks massive blazes in Odesa The strike came shortly before Czech Republic President Petr Pavel visited Odesa on Friday morning, meeting with the citys leaders and officials from other southern regions. This is another reminder to the whole world: the war continues and Ukraine continues to fight, Kiper said in a statement. He said there were blazes at at least three locations after the attack late Thursday. Civilian infrastructure, commercial facilities are on fire, cars damaged, Kiper said. Over 70 people and 20 fire engines were involved in extinguishing what the emergency services called massive fires. Russia accuses Ukraine of blowing up natural gas facility in the Kursk region Russias Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of blowing up a gas metering station near the town of Sudzha in Russias Kursk region, in what it described as a deliberate provocation by the Kyiv regime, which is part of a series of recent strikes on Russias energy infrastructure in order to discredit the U.S. presidents peaceful initiatives. Ukraines military General Staff rejected Moscows accusations and blamed the Russian military for shelling the Sudzha gas metering station as part of Russias discrediting campaign. The gas metering station serves a major pipeline that had pumped Russias natural gas to Europe until supplies were halted last year. Views differ on what is covered by the truce Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders this week, though it remained to be seen what possible targets would be off limits to attack. The three sides appeared to hold starkly different views about what the deal covered. While the White House said energy and infrastructure would be covered, the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said he would also like railways and ports to be protected. Zelenskyy told reporters after Wednesdays call with Trump that technical talks in Saudi Arabia this weekend would seek to resolve what types of infrastructure would be protected from attack under the agreement. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and U.S. negotiators will discuss technical details related to the partial ceasefire during a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday. Russian negotiators are set to hold separate talks with U.S. officials there. I cant tell you how the meeting will end, Zelenskyy said, speaking talking with the Czech leader. It will be good if the meeting ends with a result that brings us closer to a full ceasefire Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is open to a full, 30-day ceasefire that Trump has proposed, saying we will not be against any format, any steps toward unconditional ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a complete ceasefire conditional on a halt of arms supplies to Kyiv and a suspension of Ukraines military mobilization demands rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized Friday that the agreement reached between Trump and Putin referred only to energy facilities, adding that the Russian military is fulfilling Putins order to halt such attacks for 30 days. The Russian military are currently refraining from strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure in accordance with the agreement reached between Russia and the United States, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. Other attacks reported by both sides In another attack, Russian glide bombs injured at least six people, including a child, in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight Thursday to Friday. Regional head Ivan Fedorov published photos showing fire fighters extinguishing flames at multiple damaged residential buildings. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 214 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks. It said 114 of them were intercepted and another 81 were jammed. Russias Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 43 Ukrainian drones, 34 of them over the Volgograd region and others over Rostov, Kursk and Belgorod regions. The authorities didnt report any casualties or significant damage. Meanwhile, a massive blaze at an oil depot in the Krasnodar region has continued to rage since it was hit by a Ukrainian drone attack late Wednesday. Associated Press writer Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 21. Turkmenistan's Ambassador to Belgium, Sapar Palvanov, met with the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Eduards Stiprais, to discuss the implementation of joint initiatives, Trend reports. According to the Embassy of Turkmenistan, the meeting also covered prospects for bilateral relations and preparations for upcoming events within the framework of interregional cooperation. The discussion focused on key areas of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union, as well as the EUs strategy for engagement with Central Asian countries. Palvanov and Stiprais reaffirmed their commitment to a productive dialogue aimed at strengthening the legal framework of the partnership and supporting the regions sustainable development. Turkmenistan and the EU have been enhancing cooperation with a focus on energy, trade, and sustainable development. In 2024, trade turnover between the countries reached approximately $1 billion, reflecting growing economic ties and paving the way for deeper collaboration. The ISPCA couldnt determine the dogs breed due to its extensive hair loss and pigmentation The adorable pup has recovered and has been rehomed A Cork woman has been banned for life from keeping dogs after her pet was rescued from a derelict property in Ryefield East, Co Cork. Sheila Casey (68) with an address at Shanowen, Rathcormac, Co. Cork pleaded guilty to five offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The Court heard that the dog in question, a Norwegian Elkhound named Dusty, had significant hair loss all down his back, rump, legs, and tail due to an untreated lice infestation. A veterinary examination found that, in addition to the skin condition, the pup was under weight and had muscle loss as a result of being confined in the pen. In evidence, ISPCA Inspector Caroline Faherty said she initially couldn't even tell what breed the dog even was due to the hair AQ\Zloss and the fact that the pups skin was pigmented black. Ms Faherty described the condition of the dogs living quarters a pen that was filthy with faeces, dirt, and old straw, further describing two kennels containing wet dirty straw which took up a lot of space leaving little room for Dusty to move around. There were approximately seven vessels in the pen all containing dirty, green, murky looking water, she told the court, and added that the pen was difficult to access due to nettles and briars. It was also apparent that the dog hadnt been out of the pen in a very long time due to the presence of overgrown weeds which made its fencing impossible to move, which left Ms Faherty with no option but to use a bolt cutters to access the pen and rescue Dusty. Following this, the defendant Sheila Casey contacted the ISPCA to claim ownership of the dog. The adorable pup has recovered and has been rehomed When Inspector Faherty spoke to her under caution, she said that Dusty was originally her brothers pet but that nobody had lived in the Ryefield East property for years. She said she lived 23 km away but travelled there to feed the dog and admitted she had neglected to seek veterinary help for Dusty, saying: I wont lie that was the way I was brought up with dogs. Judge Philip O'Leary at Cork City District Court described the case as shocking and added that he was thankful to the ISPCA for the dog making a full recovery. He disqualified Ms Casey from keeping dogs for life, ordered that she pay 2,439.68 in ISPCA costs and 2,000 in legal costs, and imposed a fine of 250. The man had pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to assaulting the girl on dates in 2021. A FORMER garda reservist has been spared a criminal record for punching his eight-year-old daughter in the heart after they talked about getting a bouncy castle for her first Communion party. The man, who also punched the girl on the leg when she complained that he had not got her an ice cream on a day out in the park, was left without convictions for the assaults. Judge John Hughes instead gave him the benefit of the Probation Act after he paid 5,000 compensation to the girl and completed parenting and anger management courses. The man had pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to assaulting the girl on dates in 2021. The case was heard last year and came back before Judge Hughes for finalisation. Defence barrister Luke OHiggins said his client still had a good relationship with his daughter and unsupervised access. The prosecuting garda felt the man had learned a lesson. Judge Hughes said the accused had been frustrated and blew his top but regardless of whether the girl was acting up, his behaviour was unacceptable and resulted in traumatising the child. The judge said a conviction could have a significant effect on the mans employment and as he was contributing financially to his children, this could have an indirect effect on the victim. He also noted that the accused had no prior convictions and was deemed to be at a low risk of re-offending. Applying the Probation Act, he said the compensation was to be held in an account until the victim reaches the age of 18. Previously, the court heard gardai received a Tusla notification about suspected physical abuse of the child after a sibling reported seeing the accused hitting her. The victim was interviewed and said her father struck her after they went to a Dublin park and she complained when he did not buy her ice cream. She was sitting in the back of the car and he started shouting and punching her multiple times on the leg, a garda sergeant said. This had caused bruising and the girl fell off her car seat onto the footwell. She was crying, could not catch her breath and her father told her to shut up. The girl also told gardai about another incident when she was looking for a bouncy castle for her first Communion party. This was being discussed and after the girl tried to leave the room, the accused again shouted at her and punched her in the heart, the court heard. The man felt deep regret, shame and embarrassment over the offences, Mr O'Higgins said. In the incident when his daughter was crying about not getting ice cream, he lost his temper. The accused had initially pleaded not guilty but when he realised his daughter would have to be cross-examined he decided he did not want to bring his family into court. Maloney has 109 previous convictions. Ian Maloney says he has put his criminal past behind him A convicted criminal, who fired several shots into a house where there was a child, contacted gardai to confess several months later because he was haunted by guilt. Having entered crime at a young age because he blamed gardai for the death of his brother, Ian Maloney (37) known by the nickname Mad Dog has since done a 360-degree turnaround and published three books of poetry for charity. Maloney of Cashel Road, Crumlin in Dublin was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, where he had pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semiautomatic firearm with intent to endanger life on February 10, 2022 at an address in Crumlin. He has 109 previous convictions. Garda Ian Ward told the court that several rounds of 9mm-calibre ammunition were fired at the house, where the occupants at the time included a couple, their adult children and a child. The householder was one of a number of people who contacted the gardai to say shots had been fired through a door and window. On arrival, gardai found the front door and window and a car in the driveway were damaged with bullets. The couple had been watching TV when they noticed something happening at the window, before a bullet came through the blind. The man later saw that bullets had lodged inside the house, including in a fridge. The defendant became a person of interest due to social media posts showing that he was in an ongoing feud with one of the occupants of the house. He was arrested and interviewed seven times over a number of days, but made no admissions. However, he was in custody in Cloverhill Prison in December of that year, when his solicitor contacted gardai to say he wished to make a statement about the shooting. I was the male who fired the shots through the front door, bottom windows, top windows and cars, he told them. You said there was a little girl in the house, he continued. I did not know I have three little girls myself Im sorry I regret it. Ian Maloney says he has put his criminal past behind him He was asked why he was telling them now. I think its the right thing to do, he replied. Garda Ward said that he had two relevant previous convictions, including for a robbery in 2008, where 1.2 million worth of jewellery was stolen from a shop in Dundrum, after a shotgun was produced to staff. Maloney was sentenced to 12 years with the last two suspended for that crime. He also received a four-year sentence for an assault causing harm that he carried out in 2009, and he was on bail for a number of offences, including trespassing at a garda station, when he carried out the Crumlin attack. Gda Ward explained that the occupants of the house had declined to make a Victim impact statement. He agreed with Michael OHiggins SC, defending, that gardai accepted that it was a reckless discharge rather than something he set out to do. He agreed that he had seen a psychological report, which explained that Maloneys brother had died when he was 16, and this had a significant impact on him. Ian 'Mad Dog' Maloney Mr OHiggins explained that the two brothers had gone camping, but that the deceased had been due in court, and he was arrested on a warrant when he returned from camping. He was found with injuries in a laneway near Rathfarnham Garda Station a short time after being released from there, and he died in hospital. Mr Maloney blamed the gardai and himself for bringing him on the camping trip. He had a hatred of the gardai afterwards, said Mr OHiggins. Gda Ward agreed that it was unusual for someone with Maloneys background to ask his solicitor to contact the gardai to tell them he had committed a crime because it was the right thing to do. Counsel told Judge Sarah Berkeley that he was seeking a probation report for his client, which was unusual when there were such significant previous convictions. But its unusual that he self-reported to the guards because it was the right thing to do, he said. He has completely changed his view of things and has done a 360-degree turnaround in terms of his conduct. Mr OHiggins handed in a number of character references, including one from a publisher, whom the defendant had approached about publishing books of his poetry for a childrens charity. She had been wary of him at first, but had since published three of his books. The barrister then read out a letter Maloney had written to the family, whose house he had targeted. I was reckless, he wrote. Ive been haunted by guilt. I made the statement because I couldnt live with myself. In a letter to the court, he said that he was no-longer that person, and has done voluntary work here and abroad. Ive distanced myself from my past, he said. Im still under pressure. My house has been attacked by people trying to provoke me. Mr OHiggins said that Maloney's guilt, anger, and deep-seated resentment at the gardai over the death of his brother were what had provoked him to get involved in crime. However, now he felt enormous guilt, he said. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Maloney in custody until sentencing on May 22. The father-of-one was sent messages saying I'm on your case mate, it won't be long" and "soon, very soon bang bang" Father-of-one Jordan Davis was warned by a drug dealer - "I'm on your case mate, it won't be long" and "soon, very soon bang bang" - 19 days before he was shot to death as he pushed a pram carrying his four-month-old son in a laneway on Dublin's northside, the Central Criminal Court has heard. A detective has previously given evidence that drug "tick lists" found at two addresses linked to drug dealer Robert "Roo" Redmond had contained the name "Jordo" - the same nickname Jordan Davis was known by - with amounts up to 153,000 recorded as owing. The prosecution contends that Robert Redmond is the older brother of accused woman Rachel Redmond (34), who is accused of driving the alleged shooter - her then partner Wayne Cooney - away from the scene and later checking him into a hotel in an effort to help him evade prosecution. It is also the State's case that Robert Redmond was engaged "in some acrimony" with 22-year-old drug dealer Jordan Davis, who was murdered in broad daylight by a lone gunman on a distinctive orange bike at 4pm on May 22, 2019. Robert Redmond Giving evidence today, Detective Garda Kevin Farrell told Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, prosecuting, that he examined an iPhone and two Nokia devices in May 2019, which were found on the body of Jordan Davis. The detective said he used the software 'Cellebrite' to extract data from the iPhone and had found a thread of 'WhatsApp' messages exchanged between Mr Davis' phone and a phone number saved on the deceased's handset as 'Rew', which ended in the numbers 858. Det Gda Farrell agreed with the prosecutor that the message exchange took place on May 3, 2019 - 19 days before Mr Davis was murdered. A series of messages were sent from the number saved as 'Rew' to Mr Davis' phone at 9.49am on the morning of May 3 beginning with: "How much you give him in total about 3k". Another message sent a minute late from the number saved as 'Rew' to Mr Davis said: "You haven't gave him anymore than 10K you owed 70K so thats how you owe 60K or over" [sic]. Mr Davis sent a message at 1.29pm saying: "3K get your facts right to you even talk to him pal". The number saved as 'Rew' says at 1.34pm "they didn't add anything on" followed by "someone be onto you today". Mr Davis replies: "classic Robert" to which 'Rew' asked "you on the gear or something". At 1.36pm 'Rew' says to Mr Davis: "Lad who you trying to be". A minute later 'Rew' sent a message to Mr Davis' phone saying: "F**king clown that can't pay bills trying to be a big man. I heard a lot about you trust me I'll get you soon". 'Rew' also says in a message: "I'm on your case mate it won't be long" followed by a series of 13 or 14 laughing emojis. The next message sent from 'Rew' to Mr Davis at 1.38pm says: "Get off me phone soon, very soon bang bang" to which Mr Davis replies: "Nice one mate". Ashling McNally previously told the jury that she had been going out with Rachel Redmond's brother Robert Redmond, of Streamville Road in Donaghmede, for about three years in May 2019 before the relationship fell apart. Ms McNally said she referred to him as Robert but others called him "Roo". Ms McNally agreed with the prosecution that she had told gardai in May 2019 that Robert Redmond had used a number ending in 858. The jury has also been told that Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in May 2013 to the possession of heroin worth almost 37,000 and was jailed for five years. Wayne Cooney, Jordan Davis and Rachel Redmond Ms Redmond from Coolock but with an address at Clifdenville Road, Cliftonville Avenue, North Belfast, Antrim is charged on two counts that on or about May 22 2019, in the county of the City of Dublin, did knowingly or believing that another person, namely Wayne Cooney, committed an arrestable offence, to wit murder, without reasonable excuse did an act with intent to impede his apprehension or prosecution. Ms Redmond has pleaded not guilty to the two counts. The jury have been told that the prosecution have to establish that Ms Redmond, who was in a relationship with Mr Cooney at the time, knew or believed he had committed the murder. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women. Ciaran Sam OSullivan had previously let CAB know he had no plans to return from Spain to contest the case over 16,000 in a bank account. A CONVICTED drug dealer with close ties to Christy Kinahan sr has changed his mind about fighting a Criminal Assets Bureau case against him. Ciaran Sam OSullivan had previously let CAB know he had no plans to return from Spain to contest the case over 16,000 in a bank account. But in a sudden change of heart the south county Dublin native wrote a polite email the night before the case was due to be heard at the High Court this week. Counsel for the bureau told the court that an email arrived at 5.10pm the night before in which OSullivan thanked CAB for the correspondence but said he had been ill. He indicated that he doesnt agree with what has been said about him and asked if CAB could request more time for him from Judge Alex Owens. OSullivan in the email asked for 30 more days to represent himself and come up with some sort of rebuttal to CABs case. Judge Owens said: Im going to give him one last chance. He ordered that an affidavit must be filed within two weeks or the hearing will go ahead in May. The case had been due for hearing last month but luckily for OSullivan was held up over a procedural issue. He hasnt appeared or been represented at any court dates when called and it was previously heard that he had been contacted by phone and said he had no plans to return to Ireland. The bureau had been given permission to serve him legal notice of the proceedings against him by email . Now in his late 40s, he grew up in a south Dublin suburb but got involved with the Kinahan gang as it began to emerge as a major player in the Netherlands and then in Spain OSullivan was found to be part of the Chinese money-laundering operation after the criminal network was targeted in an intelligence-led Garda operation in 2020. A series of raids were carried out in Dublin and Wicklow in June that year, shortly after Dutch and French police hacked the encrypted Encrochat service used by criminal gangs. During the search operations by gardai targeting the Chinese gang in 2020 OSullivan was spoken to by gardai but later left for Spain, according to source. Gardai seized over 800,000 in series of searches in an operation against his Chinese crime partners. In evidence given to the High Court against members of the Chinese gang OSullivan was described as having displayed a vast amount of wealth obtained from drugs. Ciaran OSullivan is renowned by multiple law enforcement agencies as a transnational drug trafficker with OCG connections in Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain and Holland. While has no conviction in Ireland his convictions and arrests abroad were highlighted. This included a four-year prison sentence after being caught in Spain in 2003 in Spain over the seizure of 1,200 kilos of cannabis. He got a month in prison in Holland after his arrest over the seizure of 97 kilos of amphetamines, a firearm and 35,000 in cash in 2007. OSullivan has also been arrested in the UK over money laundering but not prosecuted it was added in evidence. The Sunday World previously revealed how Sam OSullivan had supplied Encrochat phones to the Kinahan mob in Ireland. This year it emerged police there believe he had also been selling the encrypted phones to criminal gangs in France. According to files seen by the Sunday World, OSullivan and barman Robert Noctor sold up to 380 handsets to drugs and weapons dealers. A 41-year-old man who screamed "Paki bastard" into a shopkeeper's face in Dublin during a phone top-up rage has been spared jail. Ghana national Matthew Jude, with an address at Russell Court, Little Britain Street, Dublin, used the racial slur on August 28 at a Centra store on Parnell Street in the city centre. He pleaded guilty to using threatening, insulting and abusive behaviour in connection with his outburst. After hearing an outline of the evidence from Garda Aoife Kavanagh at Dublin District Court, Judge Michele Finan said Jude behaved abominably. The officer said that Jude was shouting and screaming in the shopkeepers face calling Paki bastard and was irate with gardai and members of the public. Jude had no prior criminal convictions, and his defence barrister asked for leniency. The mitigation plea revealed that the accused, who came to Ireland in 2009, had educational and mental health issues, and was sorry for his unacceptable conduct in the shop. The court heard he had problems with his phone top-ups, so he went back and forth to the shop. Judge Finan lambasted the accused, telling him she took a very dim view of his actions. Shop workers already had to endure so much abuse, and his unmitigated rage was criminal behaviour. She noted the mitigation plea and asked him to get 250 for the victim. However, Jude, on disability from the social welfare office, could not come up with any money and had no one to assist him. Judge Finan applied the Probation of Offenders Act, sparing him a recorded conviction and sentence. Dublin District Court heard yesterday that gardai recovered cannabis herb worth 240,000 along with quantities of 50,960 of heroin, 4,800 of cannabis and 5,400 worth of cannabis vapes and confectioneries. Gardai discovered a group of men sitting at a kitchen table beside drugs worth about 300,000, including cannabis jellies and vapes, a court heard. Shane Flynn, 45, of Dunsink Avenue, Finglas, Dublin, 47-year-old part-time data analyst Alan Daly from Lough na Mona Park, Leixlip, Co, Kildare, and unemployed father of two Daniel Harkin, 37, with an address at Neilstown Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin were arrested in Co Meath by gardai from the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) on Thursday. Dublin District Court heard yesterday that gardai recovered cannabis herb worth 240,000 along with quantities of 50,960 of heroin, 4,800 of cannabis and 5,400 worth of cannabis vapes and confectioneries. DCRT officers had a warrant and conducted a search of Back-gate Lodge, at Hilltown Stud, Clonee, Co. Meath, Judge Michele Finan heard. They objected to bail. Garda Thomas Pemberton told Judge Finan that a vacuum sealing and bagging machine was recovered and that the substances with a combined value of 301,160, were stored with the purpose of distribution in Dublin. The drugs were packaged or in a cardboard box. Mr Flynn allegedly told gardai that he visited a man at that address to help him because he had health problems. Alan Daly told them, 100 per cent not my drugs, I was only there to bring someone to a doctors appointment. Mr Harkin had an additional charge for possessing illegal alprazolam tablets worth 1500 at his home address. He told the DCRT officers that he was collected by Shane Flynn and brought to the property in Clonee and did not know why they went there or the occupier of the house. Judge Finan granted bail with independent sureties that have yet to be approved: 40,000 for former ground worker Mr Flynn, 12,000 in the case of father of two Mr Daly and Mr Harkins was set at 1,000. The court heard further charges could be brought and the DCRT gardai must seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Finan remanded them in custody to appear again on March 27. Once bail has been taken up they must obey various conditions: remain out of Clonee, not associate or contact each other, remain contactable by phone and sign on regularly at a Garda station. A fourth man arrested during the operation remains in Garda custody. Two men who assaulted a Mongolian couple, resulting in the Mongolian man having one-third of his ear bitten off, will be sentenced later this year. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Robert Costello (35) of Liberty House, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. His co-accused, Ciaran Whelan (35) of Glouster Place, Sean McDermott St, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. The offending occurred at Findlater Place, Dublin 1, on August 9, 2016. Garda Peter Byrne told Pieter LeVert BL, prosecuting, that a Mongolian couple were walking home after being out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary. Costello and Whelan were walking ahead of the couple, and then Costello stopped to urinate. As the couple walked past him, he said, Hey, you f**king d**kheads. The man in the couple stopped and spoke with Costello. Costello then shouted up the street for Whelan. The court heard that while Whelan was returning down the street, Costello told the couple to suck his d**k. Whelan then picked up a traffic cone and threw it at the couple. A fight then broke out, with the injured party trying to defend himself. All three men ended up on the ground, and Whelan bit part of the man's ear off. Whelan jumped up and said, Ive bitten him, Ive bitten him, look at how much of his ear Ive got. Gda Byrne said the female in the couple was also assaulted. Costello pulled her by the hair, took her handbag and hit her with it. She screamed for help. When the gardai arrived at the scene, both Costello and Whelan were aggressive and passed remarks that the couple were liars. An ambulance was called, and the couple were taken to hospital for treatment. A medical report was handed into the court that outlined that the male injured party sustained an injury where one-third of his ear had become separated from the remainder of his ear. He had a CT scan and had a skin graft from his scalp transferred to his ear. The female injured party sustained a fracture to her nasal bone and underwent surgery in Mongolia. Two victim impact statements were handed into the court on behalf of the couple who were not present in court as they returned to Mongolia. The male injured party the attack had a profound effect on him, he said that he no longer felt safe in Ireland. He described feeling guilty for not being able to protect his wife. The female injured party described that she feels intense fear when walking alone. She also described being anxious and easily startled. Costello has 29 previous convictions with his last conviction dated in 2017. Whelan has 33 with his last conviction in 2012. Gda Byrne agreed with Patrick McCarthy BL, defending Costello, that the guilty plea was beneficial to the prosecution and that his client was not responsible for the ear injury. The gardai accepted that Costello had addiction issues at the time but has now made strides in dealing with this. Mr McCarthy said his client feels he was confronted by the couple, but he accepts that the matter escalated. He said Costello accepts his actions and is remorseful. The court heard that Costello had a very difficult childhood and drug addictions. Counsel said when his client viewed the CCTV footage, he described it as looking at someone else. Mr McCarthy asked the court to consider the strides his client has made, his guilty plea and his family obligations when sentencing. Garreth McCormack BL, defending Ciaran Whelan, put it to Gda Byrne that his client was of the belief that Costello was under attack, which is why he threw the traffic cone, to which he agreed. The garda agreed with counsel that Whelan took responsibility for biting the man's ear at the scene immediately. He also agreed that Whelan was highly intoxicated on the night in question and has addiction issues. He said Whelan had 3,000 in court as a practical expression of remorse and would like time to collect a further sum. He said his client wants to do everything he can to put things right. Mr McCorrmack told the court that Whelan had a difficult childhood and had addiction issues. He is now currently waiting on a placement for a 14-week drug rehabilitation programme. He asked the court to consider adjourning the case for finalisation so Whelan could undergo his rehabilitation while also raising more money for the injured parties. Judge Ronan Munro agreed to adjourn this case for finalisation until June 20 to allow Whelan to engage in rehabilitation services and to allow him more time to collect a further monetary token of remorse. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 21. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belarus, Nazarguly Shagulyyev, visited the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) to strengthen cooperation in the automotive industry, Trend reports via Turkmenistan's Embassy in Minsk. Together with other Permanent Representatives of the CIS member states and diplomats, Turkmenistan's Ambassador was introduced to the truck assembly process. Special attention was given to the modern assembly lines and the use of the latest technologies aimed at increasing production efficiency. The delegation was presented the latest models of trucks developed by MAZ for operation in various climatic conditions, as well as new models of city and intercity buses with energy-efficient engines and comfortable saloons. The management of MAZ held a meeting with the ambassadors of CIS countries, during which Ambassador Nazarguly Shagulyyev expressed Turkmenistans interest in studying the advanced practices of Belarusian colleagues in the field of automobile manufacturing and expressed willingness to develop cooperation. In turn, the management of MAZ expressed interest in supplying their vehicles to CIS countries and developing long-term partnerships It follows major warnings for Irish holidaymakers in Spain that had been hit with its fourth storm in under two weeks A 24-hour weather warning has been issued for ten counties after a storm that caused chaos in Spain heads towards Ireland. Heavy rain and thundery downpours could cause flooding, Met Eireann warned, as Storm Martinho moves north from Iberia. The Status Yellow - Rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Galway, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Kerry kicked in this afternoon and will remain in place until 2pm tomorrow. In an updated forecast for the weekend Met Eireann said showers or longer spells of rain will spread northwards across the country this afternoon and evening. There'll be some heavy or possibly thundery downpours, especially in southern coastal areas, they stated. Tonight will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain, most persistent over the western half of the country while tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with more outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy at times. On Saturday night, there will be further showers or longer spells of rain leading into Sunday morning when patchy rain and drizzle will gradually clear eastwards with drier, brighter weather following. It follows major warnings for Irish holidaymakers in Spain that had been hit with its fourth storm in under two weeks. Weather officials had even said there was a chance of snow as Storm Martinho made its presence felt. Three people lost their lives during Storm Laurence that battered the country earlier this week just days after storms Jana and Konrad. Hours after Storm Laurence passed Aemet, Spain's weather advisory, issued severe weather warnings for across Galacia including A Coruna, Pontevedra, and Ourense. The entire west coast of Spain remained under a mixture of yellow and orange wind alerts as the storm makes landfall with 70kph winds. In A Coruna snow is expected over the weekend. In Sanabria and nearby Leon up to 5cm of snow is expected to fall on Saturday. Creepy voyeur Ivor Kissick, who was convicted 13 years ago of secretly filming a woman naked, had been living in the Glebeside estate in the Co Antrim town. An ex-UDA boss has praised a protest against a pervert who moved into his home town of Ballymoney, we can reveal. Creepy voyeur Ivor Kissick, who was convicted 13 years ago of secretly filming a woman naked, had been living in the Glebeside estate in the Co Antrim town. Last week posters and placards appeared on lampposts in the estate warning locals about a registered sex offender living in the area. It emerged Peeping Tom Kissick has been going by a different name and loyalists from the Glebe area mounted a campaign to have him removed. Police confirmed they attended a peaceful protest in the Hamilton Park area and said it passed without incident. The protest won the support of former North Antrim UDA boss Marcus Boreland who posted a congratulations message on a loyalist facebook page which highlighted the campaign. Pervert Ivor Kissick Boreland wrote: Brilliant well done to all involved Kissick pleaded guilty to four counts of voyeurism for sexual gratification at Antrim Crown Court in 2012. The former bar manger had used a hidden camera to secretly record an unsuspecting female victim getting washed and dried. He made four short films between January and March 2011. signs in Ballymoney He found himself back in court three years later after it emerged he had taken a picture of his own genitals on a camera phone despite being banned from having such a device. Originally from Portstewart, Kissick had been working in a bar in Coleraine when he was caught out as a creepy voyeur. However, he was forced to move out the area when he was exposed. He change his surname before moving into the loyalist Glebe in Ballymoney but he was rumbled by locals who knew his true identity. A spokesperson for the police confirmed that they responded to reports of the protest on Thursday, March 6, stating: Police attended a report of a protest in the Hamilton Park area of Ballymoney on Thursday 6th March. The protest passed without incident. The UDA-linked Facebook page The Loyalist After Voice North Antrim posted after the protest: Last nights announcement regarding the news that a dangerous sexual offender was living in the Glebeside Estate we were delighted at the quick community response from the local women in organising a peaceful protest. We would like to congratulate those involved in taking this action to ensure the women and children of the estate remain safe. We would like to encourage you all to keep going with this noble cause and we have no doubt that it will end with a positive result. Keep up the good work ladies. That won the praise from former UDA boss Boreland, who runs his own security firm and provided security for the King and Queen on visit a couple of years ago. Last year we revealed how Boreland was injured when he was attacked during a band parade and was later told his life was under threat. Boreland has been a well-known figure in Co Antrim loyalist circles for a long time. He previously served nine months behind bars on the loyalist UDA wing of HMP Maghaberry after he was convicted of making threats to kill a Catholic work colleague. A court heard how Boreland told the man he would be shot by the Red Hand Defenders. In 2006, the High Court seized half a million pounds worth of assets from Boreland which prosecutors claimed were obtained by VAT fraud. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in west London. More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted on Friday due to the closure of the airport following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in west London. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those impacted by the power outage. Online flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said the closure would affect at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow. It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced. There are seven flights due to depart Dublin Airport alone for London Heathrow before noon today. There are five flights due to arrive in from London Heathrow on a Friday morning before noon. Both Cork Airport and Shannon Airport facilitate one flight arrival and departure from London Heathrow each on a Friday. London fire crews are battling a blaze at an electrical substation in Hayes. (London Fire Brigade/PA) Heathrow is the UKs largest airport, with more than 83.9 million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024. A Heathrow spokesperson said: Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Online tracking services showed flights being diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Irelands Shannon Airport. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said on X there was a large-scale power outage in Hayes, Hounslow and the surrounding areas impacting more than 16,300 homes. A National Grid spokesperson said the fire had damaged equipment and they working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible. London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were on the scene at Nestles Avenue in Hayes. Around 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible. The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption. Firefighters led 29 people from surrounding properties to safety. Footage posted to social media showed huge flames and large plumes of smoke coming from the facility. The brigade said nearly 200 calls had been received in relation to the incident with crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding areas on the scene. Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.23pm on Thursday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Mr Goulbourne said firefighters urged people to take safety precautions as crews worked to extinguish the blaze. This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night, he said. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible. London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police both confirmed they were on scene supporting fire crews. More to follow Jamie Cooper, 33, fled from the GEOAmey vehicle travelling to Lancaster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Lancashire Police said A search for a man who escaped from a prison van on a motorway has entered its third day. Jamie Cooper, 33, fled from the GEOAmey vehicle travelling to Lancaster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Lancashire Police said. The force said they received a report of the escape, believed to have taken place on the M55 near junction two for Catforth, near Preston, at about 8.54am. In a video obtained by the BBC, a man thought to be Cooper can be seen running across a field next to a road and looking over his shoulder. A spokesperson for GEOAmey said: Whilst in transit to Lancaster Magistrates Court the vehicle had to pull over on the M55 in the Catforth area to deal with an on-board medical emergency. The detained person involved in this emergency then overpowered and evaded the escort officers and escaped from the vehicle. Cooper is described as 5ft 7ins, of medium build with short, cropped hair, and is thought to have been wearing a blue coat, blue jeans and black trainers. In a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Lancashire Police said: We know that this may be concerning to hear about, but we want to reassure you that incidents like these are extremely rare in Lancashire and it is something we are taking incredibly seriously. Searches and an investigation are ongoing, and you will see an increase in our officers in the area as they continue their inquiries. Coopers most recent confirmed sighting was in the early hours of Thursday morning in Blackpool. There were also reports he had been spotted in Preston and Bolton on Wednesday afternoon. We have a dedicated team of both uniformed officers and detectives searching for Cooper and running an investigation, Lancashire Police said in a Facebook post. You may see them out and about as they continue to conduct these enquiries and if you have any concerns or information, please do approach them. Cooper has links to Blackpool and Bolton, police said. Anyone who sees Cooper should not approach him but is asked to call 999 immediately. Other information can be shared by calling 101 quoting log 0237 of March 19. GEOAmey said they will be conducting a full investigation regarding the incident. Whakatane District Council voted on Thursday to investigate a proposal by Mayor Victor Luca to establish a health advisory group within the council. Most councillors considered it a positive move to advocate for better health services, provided it didnt become, as councillor Nandor Tanczos put it, another impotent talk fest. Luca presented councillors with a proposal to set up a group similar to Kapiti Coast District Councils Kapiti Health Advisory Group established in 2017. He said his proposal was in response to the current health system crisis and was announced at a Community Health Forum he hosted last month. He visualised a group that came under the council umbrella but was not necessarily populated by councillors or council staff. It could be part of the input the community has into the health system such as what we lost when the district health boards were wiped out. Luca said he had spoken to Kapiti Mayor Janet Holborow who said their health forum cost next to nothing and practically ran itself. Councillors expressed both support and reservations about the idea but voted unanimously to have staff investigate the matter. Tanczos was among the councillors who were concerned about what input the group would have with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora. It becomes another impotent talkfest if Te Whatu Ora doesnt recognise it and provide a place for it to dock into the health services. We need the ability to put some hard questions to Te Whatu Ora, but also get answers. Deputy Mayor Lesley Immink echoed Tanczos concerns. Councillor Nandor Tanczos wants Health New Zealand heads to front up to a public council meeting. We dont want to create another talkfest with very little outcome. Were also not in charge of running the hospital or fixing the New Zealand healthcare system so Ive got a little bit of concern that it might take us down a path wasting time for staff. She was also concerned about it taking elected members away from their core duties. Kapiti does have a dedicated councillor that has been driving the advisory group. Luca said he had put the idea to Te Whatu Oras regional deputy chief executive Cath Cronin recently asking whether she would be open to the idea of one or two people from within the system making up part of the group. She said I would need to see what it looked like before I commit to anything. So we need to give this some shape, then pass the ball to her. Having the councils stamp on it would give it some mana and legitimacy, he said. Councillor Toni Boynton wanted to ensure that other health agencies such as the Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance, Te Puna Ora o Mataatua and Te Tohu o te Ora o Ngati Awa were engaged with as part of the investigation. Though they are not directly the hospital itself ... they are the arteries, I guess, into supporting local families. They have a very in-tune sense of what is actually happening on the ground. Councillor Gavin Dennis suggested the Opotiki and Kawerau district councils also be invited to join. Whakatane Mayor Victor Luca is advocating for a group to be formed under the council umbrella to advocate for better health services in the district. I believe that in this current climate, we have the responsibility to be the watchdog for the community in regard to what the public health systems are doing, he said. Councillor Andrew Iles said the issues were not limited to the Eastern Bay and suggested it might be something that could better be fostered at Local Government New Zealand level. Councillor Julie Jukes agreed to the idea but said the council needed to be open-minded about the fact there might be a better, more appropriate organisation or advocacy group to do it. Tanczos asked that either the new interim general manager of the hospital or Cronin be invited to update the council on the current hospital situation at a public council meeting as he felt the public meeting at the Little Theatre recently had been poorly attended. [It] was at short notice and it was at a bad time of the day and it wasnt livestreamed. People can ask questions at a public meeting like that, but they cant interrogate. If councillors had a chance to interrogate, we might get some answers to some questions that still remain unanswered in the public realm. The council also agreed to Luca writing a letter to the Minister of Health and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, on behalf of the council, expressing its concern regarding the health system crisis, in particular, the loss of secondary obstetrics and gynaecology services in Whakatane and the effect that ongoing funding cuts will have. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. In the event that we can crack the engineering, itll open up a new frontier for more affordable energy and boost our energy security. Jones told the Rotorua Daily Post supercritical geothermal was frontier-busting technology and investment internationally. Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones met with mana whenua from around the Taupo Volcanic Zone to discuss the potential of the abundant but underutilised natural resource. How supercritical geothermal technology could open up a new frontier for more affordable energy was discussed at a Rotorua hui between iwi and Government representatives today. Thats good for the entirety of our country. What is supercritical geothermal energy? Geothermal energy is generated from steam, with traditional wells drilled to a maximum of about 3.5km. Supercritical geothermal is sourced from extremely hot rock heated by magma. Scientists believe by drilling deeper possibly to 6km deep the energy output could be up to three times greater than traditional geothermal. The Government had ring-fenced up to $60 million from the regional infrastructure fund to explore the potential of supercritical geothermal technology. Jones said about $12m to $15m had already been spent on investigative work. Five million dollars will be drawn down for work on the detailed design and costs of drilling the first of three deep exploratory wells in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Geothermal energy is already sourced in the region with the power station at Wairakei being the second oldest geothermal power station in the world. Jones said supercritical geothermal energy had a different character to bog-standard geothermal energy. He said the escalating cost of electricity was a major weakness in our economy. Scientists believed supercritical geothermal energy could be converted into a flow of electricity thereby boosting the resilience of our electricity system, he said. At the hui, Jones planned to outline the potential of thel resource and share some international learnings including reasons why some projects had failed. People have sought to extract this resource in Iceland, Italy, America, Japan, and theres a tremendous level of interest amongst international geothermal experts as to how the Kiwis are going to go. Guard rails essential for choosing well sites At the hui, GNS Science presented research identifying possible sites for the three wells. Asked if any potential sites were in Rotorua, Jones referenced the closure of geothermal bores in Rotorua in the late 1980s. The resource had been excessively exploited. So, guard rails are absolutely essential. The optimal location will be informed not necessarily by landowner willingness but by science engineering. Theres a lot of Maori land in the area that has geothermal potential and perhaps its an opportunity for industry, the Crown, and Maori landowners to collaborate. Jones said Maori had a long history of using geothermal resources for heating, cooking, and therapeutic purposes. Maori were now involved commercially in geothermal energy generation, glasshouse food production using geothermal heat, and tourism ventures, Jones said. I am excited to start a conversation about where we go next. Jones expected to launch a geothermal strategy later this year. GNS geothermal resource specialist Brian Carey said it would be sharing a high-level introduction to the five years of science behind the GNS-led Geothermal: The Next Generation programme at the hui. This work laid the foundation for the Governments decision to ringfence $60m to pursue exploration of the supercritical superhot geothermal potential of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. According to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, about 18% of New Zealands electricity comes from geothermal sources and it is the worlds fifth-largest geothermal generator. Green MP Steve Abel met Wickliffe in prison on Wednesday and has given the Herald his notes from their conversation. The former prison escapee wont eat until he is released without conditions, his supporters say. Wickliffe has been on a hunger strike since March 10 and has lost more than 17kgs, his lawyer Annette Sykes told the Herald . Lifetime parolee Dean Wickliffes supporters say the notorious criminal is resolute - he will walk out of Springhill Prison a free man, or be carried out in a body bag. If you start something youve got to finish it to the end, Wickliffe said in Abels account of their meeting. Because of my age I might not survive, but Ive made the decision I wont back down. If Im not walking out of here a free man, theyll carry me out in a body bag, he said. It is not Dean Wickliffe's first hunger strike. He survived a 35-day strike in 1986. On Friday, Wickliffes lawyer Annette Sykes submitted an application to the parole board for an urgent hearing. His scheduled hearing is not until April 3 and supporters fear he wont last that long if he continues with his hunger strike. Sykes is also providing options for accommodation to be urgently assessed by the probation service. Wickliffe was arrested on March 5 for breaching his parole by living in his car and not the address in his parole conditions. He claims he was assaulted by a guard after being sent to Springhill Corrections Facility on March 6. There was blood all over me. It took 10 hours to stop the bleeding in Waikato hospital [because] Im on blood thinning meds for my heart, Wickliffe told Abel on Wednesday. Kym Grierson, Corrections Acting Commissioner Custodial Services confirmed on Wednesday a staff member had been asked not to come to work while the alleged incident was being investigated. A prisoner allegedly refused a request to enter his cell and, after throwing an item, took a fighting stance towards staff, Grierson said. Following this, staff intervened and the prisoner sustained injuries while being restrained. He received medical treatment from prison health staff and was taken to hospital on Thursday evening. Sykes has submitted requests under the Official Information Act to have footage and incident reports for the alleged incident released to her. This is not Dean Wickliffes first hunger strike. In 1986 he went on a 35-day strike in Paremoremo Prison. Now 77, he told Abel he is aware of the greater risk of organ failure. Springhill Correctional Facility, near Meremere. Wickliffe alleges he was assaulted by a guard at the facility on March 6. Abel told the Herald that during his 70-minute meeting with Wickliffe on Wednesday, the lifetime parolee looked thin, drained and determined. He is gaunt. His lower cheeks are caved, Abel said. We sat at the table. The Scottish guard brought us each a paper cup of water and shut the door behind him. We were able to speak freely, the guards were loitering at a distance. Dean [was] recounting stories from his life grappling with the justice system and his decades of time behind bars including advocacy for better conditions for prisoners Abel told the Herald. Wickliffe told Abel that when he was picked up by police, he wasnt homeless. Many have offered me a bed. That was the only night I had to sleep in my car, the Green MPs notes record Wickliffe saying. He told Abel he wants to be free from parole conditions, which have seen him recalled to prison a number of times for breaches. I was 28 years in D block [Paremoremo Prison]. Rangatira (chief) there. Called the shots on outcomes that improved conditions, he told Abel. I saw 4-5 commit suicide, and mental breakdowns. We united the gangs to stand with us, and they did, and we got concessions. This battle is not all about me he said. If I die, I would like some good consequence, like an in-depth investigation into the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit at Paremoremo. They need to have a look at whats going on. Shed light on it. Wickliffe also has other grievances. Im the first in NZ to get life for manslaughter. Really thats my main grievance. I still find it hard to deal with he told Abel. Dean Wickliffe was once New Zealand's longest-serving prisoner. Asked about the conditions at Springhill, Wickliffe told Abel: Its 22 hours a day of lockup. When asked what will end his hunger strike, Wickliffe told Abel: Id need to know I was going to be released to the outside world with no more conditions. I dont deserve to be treated like this because I became homeless. Wickliffe said he has not reoffended in a long time. Ive experienced a lot of injustice ... I gave up crime to turn my life around and now Im in this situation. He said the hunger strike would continue. I dont cheat ... I wont take anything but water. I wont compromise. He told Abel he is proud of where he came from. Im Maori. I was brought up by my father in Maketu. I know who I am. I know my whakapapa. he told the MP. Abel said while Wickliffe was animated to begin with, then towards the end of their 70-minutes his words start slurring and he appeared tired. Green MP Steve Abel had a 70 minute face-to-face meeting with recalled inmate Dean Wickliffe on Wednesday at Springhill Prison. Before I left, we embraced Abel told the Herald. Theres not much to him. He slightly faltered and propped himself on the table before sitting down again, Abel said. 'Science is for everyone; it's not just men in white coats' In the fight against the misinformation and denial spread on social media, Angela McLean, British Government Chief Scientific Adviser, believes there is a need for "science pop stars" and influencers Cristina Vallejo MALAGA. Friday, 21 March 2025, 12:33 Compartir The interview with Dame Angela McLean, chief scientific adviser to the British government since 2023, takes place at the Transfiere Forum that was held at the end of last week in Malaga, where the United Kingdom was the guest country. The institution she directs, whose mission is to ensure that the design of public policies has excellent science advice and that science is heard and understood as part of the decision-making process, is a pioneer in the world and has just turned sixty. -Do governments listen to you? -I would say 'yes, they listen to us'. And we have to accept that science advice is one part that goes into making a decision. We know that our advice is not the only consideration. So, sometimes what we advise is not what will happen. Zoom -Might there be a clash between what you advise and what the people want, between science and democracy? Governments can make decisions based on your advice that do not have the support of the voters... -Democracy comes first. Without question. And that is the role of politicians. My job is to gather science advice that I think is reliable and to offer it to a politician. It is the politician who is the elected representative. We are just advisers in the service of the democratic process. Have there been any disputes between your advice and government decision-making? -No, I don't have any examples since I've been in this position. And before... Covid, for us all, was a very fraught time. There were no good options. Every decision had bad outcomes. There were many times where science advice took a long time to act on, shall we say. -Before you took up this post, you were chief adviser on defence issues - there are twenty advisory divisions for the government and now you are the head of all of them - but is defence the issue that the government consults you most about now? -In the United Kingdom we have a whole strategic defence review that is indeed calling on science and technology advice. It has particular people appointed to that review to take account of the technology and the science angles which, of course, everybody knows are very, very important. The strategic defence review was one of the first things that our new government announced last summer. And it's, of course, partly motivated by the war in Ukraine, but not only. Zoom Migue Fernandez -Is your mandate linked to the governing party? -Mine is not a political appointment. When the government changes, my role doesn't change. The science that is true under one political party should be the same science that is true under another political party. But ideology is not a component in science. -At Transfiere we have heard that science is in danger because of cutbacks, evidence denialists... What do you think? -I would not use the term "endangered", I would say science is under threat from misinformation and disinformation. I do not think it is in long-term danger. This is much too powerful a way of understanding the real world to be destroyed by these forces. But I think the real issue is that these forces have new ways to spread through social media. And that has caused a new kind of problem that we need to learn how to counter. I feel up until now we have stayed out of it and I am not sure we can forever. So up until now we have tended to say we will make sure that the correct information is available to everybody in what we think of as the mainstream media, so if anybody wants to, they can go and find out. But I now am beginning to believe that is not enough. I don't know the answer but I do feel like we need to build stronger defences from this threat, by being more proactive. Maybe we should find some real influencers. Maybe there are some pop stars who would be science pop stars. We need advice from people whose life is much more connected with that kind of information than mine. I think we need to learn how to put strong science messages on social media in ways that they get heard. "Science that is true under one political party should be true under another". -Can deniers be dangerous for the economy? -How many people have died of measles in Europe? It's dangerous. There's a big measles epidemic happening in the US too. You have to keep vaccination rates very high, 95%, to keep it under control and vaccination rates have fallen. So both in North America and in Europe we have big measles outbreaks. This is very dangerous, not only for the economy, but directly for the people. -Are we prepared for the next pandemic? -We are working very hard to be prepared for the next pandemic. No matter how well prepared we are, it will be hard. -And for climate change? -I'm concerned about what we would call climate adaptation and climate resilience. There are two things. There's net zero, to make it not get too much worse. We know what we need to do. We're not doing enough of it, but we know what we need to do. And then there's adaptation; our roads, our railways, our embankments, all sorts of things were built for a climate that we don't have anymore and is not coming back. And I don't think we are doing that fast enough. For us in the UK, a big issue is flooding, but we have concerns about wildfires. And then, of course, we have a lot of infrastructure that is not built for heat. So we have many things we have to change. And in particular, we need to make sure everything we build new is built in a way that is adapted for a climate that we know is going to change. Even if we did everything absolutely right with net zero, the climate is changing. And there is much we can learn from other countries about those things, but also I think we have much to offer on an international stage. I'm very interested in the UK's expertise in climate prediction and weather prediction, but also in what we would call catastrophic risk analysis, basically, thinking about where there will be catastrophes and what will be lost. Because if you can figure out what would be lost, then you can make rational decisions about where you must invest to protect. -We now have a government in the US that questions vaccines and climate change. Does it influence your work? It does not impinge on our work, no. And other than that, I wouldn't want to comment. -How has Brexit affected science in the UK? We're tremendously delighted to be back in Horizon, the European funding scheme for scientific collaboration across Europe. The UK was out for a while and now we are back and we are very, very pleased because it is a fantastic scheme. So Brexit has ended for science in the UK. It's almost as if we had never left. "I still find that when I go to an event with a man from my team, people only ask him questions. So I have to protect myself from that. I think we live in a society that still thinks scientists are men". -You are the first woman in your position. Is it more difficult for a woman to be heard? Not in an absolute sense I would say. I still have experiences sometimes where I go to an event with a junior man and everybody only asks him questions. So I have to guard against that. And I don't think it happens because I'm an idiot; I think we live in a society that still thinks of scientists as men. So I do not feel it is a problem most days. There are some days where I feel I'm struggling to be heard. It's hard for a man. It's hard for a woman. It's hard to be a science adviser full stop. -What can be done to improve the situation of women in science, so that there are more women scientists? Things are improving but there's still work to do. I think that one of the things to do is send out the message that science is for everybody, that scientists are not only white men, that all sorts of people become a scientist. That's the number one thing. Some of the stereotypes about what is a scientist are very damaging, it's not just a man in a white coat. I want there to be the understanding out there that there's so much we still need to do, and that with a science training there are so many different kinds of things you can do. You're not necessarily going to be, well, actually quite unlikely to be working in a laboratory. All the advisory work, all the decision-making, all the protecting the environment, how we care for the elderly... All of that, I think, is open to science. We have to make it very clear to children that there's still so much interesting work to do. Emergency workers remove reeds and other plant debris blocking water at the mouth of the Guadaiza river in Marbella on Tuesday this week. SUR MALAGA. Friday, 21 March 2025, 14:36 Compartir This week it was the turn of Storm Laurence to cause havoc in parts of Malaga province, in particular the lower Guadalhorce valley around Cartama and the Campanillas river, a tributary of it. In Campanillas, some 1,200 people were temporarily evacuated on Monday night as the Casasola reservoir upstream started to overflow. There were also incidents in many other areas including Almogia and San Pedro in Marbella. On Wednesday, a 61-year-old motorcyclist went missing, swept away by the swollen Genal river in the Serrania de Ronda. The Cartama districts of Dona Ana and Molino Carvajal were among the worst at risk of flooding. Here locals said they had never seen the Guadalhorce river as high for so long. Meanwhile, in Campanillas, water and mud rushed into garages and houses in the area of the main road. The flood, even though not as destructive, reminded residents of the one in 2020. Memories of badly damaged homes and furniture back then kept people awake for several nights. Zoom This normally busy road in Campanillas was flooded. S. Salas Locals in both areas have called again for proper maintenance of the nearby dams and regular river clean-ups in order for future floods to be prevented. Aurora Junquera, a resident of the Dona Ana neighbourhood in Cartama, was one of the people who was evacuated. She said, "It rained so much that the whole plot was flooded. We started to take the water out as best as we could, but it suddenly started to come in so fast that I already have more than half a metre in my house." "It has been a very distressing time," she said, relieved that her daughter and her grandson were not there when the flooding started. They also managed to relocate their four dogs and shelter their horse. Cartama mayor Jorge Gallardo said that the river caught them off-guard. "It is the first time that it has been overflowing for so long. The level has not dropped and it has been like this for three or four hours," he said on Tuesday morning. On Thursday, the Guardia Civil found the motorcycle of the missing 61-year-old man in Pujerra, who was swept away by the current of the Genal river while attempting to cross it. Authorities in the Serrania de Ronda found the vehicle near the spot where the man fell, buried under a metre and a half of sediment, including rocks and logs, according to sources. The search continued on Friday with a Guardia Civil helicopter and drones. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 21. The UNDP and the US Embassy in Turkmenistan held the second coordination meeting of the Sustainable Economy and Finance (SEF) Working Group in Ashgabat to support the countrys economic development, Trend reports. The main goal of the meeting was to explore ways to contribute to the sustainable economic and financial development of Turkmenistan through enhanced cooperation and open dialogue. Participants were presented with detailed information about key strategic documents and initiatives, including the Turkmenistans Socio-Economic Development Program: Priorities and Investments 2025. Joint efforts related to Turkmenistans accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) were also discussed, along with the main conclusions of the UNs Country Analysis, which contains important recommendations for the countrys development. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the international community and the Government of Turkmenistan to jointly develop strategies aimed at creating a more sustainable and diversified economy in the future. The discussion on the Socio-Economic Development Program 2025 and WTO-related issues reflects a forward-looking approach to economic planning and integration into the global trading system. The SEF Working Group, established within the framework of the Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG), seeks to increase the effectiveness of international organizations and diplomatic missions in finance and economics by fostering closer cooperation with the Government of Turkmenistan to achieve shared economic growth objectives. Neil Young performs in concert during Farm Aid 2024 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on September 21, 2024 in Saratoga Springs, New York. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images A rock legend has canceled plans for a free concert in Ukraine out of safety concerns. Billboard reports Neil Young planned to perform there for the first time in his storied career, but said the situation had changed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently agreed to a partial ceasefire after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, a potential first step in ending the three-year war. We had a good venue, close to a shelter, but the changing situation on the ground was too much, Young wrote on Thursday. I could not in good conscience take my crew and instruments into that area. My apologies to all. Ukraine is a great country with a good leader. Slava Ukraini. Young, who has long been a critic of Putin, never announced a specific date but teased the concert earlier this month by encouraging Ukraine to keep on rockin' in the FREE WORLD. Young has also chastised Trump, saying the U.S. is no longer the leader of the free world. Under 47s leadership, the US has lost its standing, the Canadian-American musician wrote last month. Loyalists will never be stronger than Patriots, and Patriots are in the majority here in the USA. Our Patriots will take to the streets to peacefully demonstrate. There will be a moment of truth in our country and we will show the world who we really are. The USA will again be the leader of the Free World. Young, 79, is still set to go on tour with his new backing band, The Chrome Hearts. Upcoming concerts include one Upstate New York stop on Aug. 23 at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts the same site as Woodstock, where Young performed at the 1969 festival with Crosby, Stills and Nash. (Find tickets here.) Young recently released a lost album from 1977 and is expected to release new music with The Chrome Hearts soon. The group, stylized as neil young and the chrome hearts, also includes Spooner Oldham (Farfisa organ), Micah Nelson (guitar and vocal), Corey McCormick (bass and vocal), and Anthony LoGerfo (drums). Young is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and CSNY, plus solo projects featuring hits like Harvest Moon, Heart of Gold, Rockin in the Free World and Old Man. He formed The Chrome Hearts after canceling a tour with Crazy Horse last year. NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Steve Winwood performs on stage at A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's benefitting The Michael J. Fox Foundation at the Hilton New York on November 10, 2018. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images For the first time since 2018, one of the 80s most iconic pop-rockers makes his return to touring. Steve Winwood will embark on a North American solo tour starting September 12. The 11-date trek will include a performance at The Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY, on September 27 at 8 p.m. ET. This will be one of several stops in the Northeast, including venues in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. A complete list of Winwoods tour dates is available here. Tickets for the Verona show, along with other dates, go on sale to the public starting Friday, March 21 at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster. Tickets are also available through secondary market platforms such as Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and StubHub, which offer verified tickets with buyer guarantees. As a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Winwoods extensive career spans several decades, with contributions to bands like Traffic, the Spencer Davis Group, and Blind Faith, before launching a successful solo career in the 1980s. Hes best known for chart-topping solo hits like Higher Love. Roll with It, While You See a Chance, and The Finer Things. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has announced plans to spend $4 million to improve the Central New York Regional Market. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com) Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com Onondaga County will spend $4 million to help the Central New York Regional Market attract more visitors and better serve farmers, County Executive Ryan McMahon announced Thursday. The improvements include a ghost kitchen to be used by food entrepreneurs, a more attractive entrance from Park Street and work on the markets historic C-Shed, McMahon said in his 2025 State of the County address. Calling the market a severely underutilized asset, McMahon said the investments would help the agriculture, hospitality and tourism sectors of the local economy. We need to support our farmers, small businesses and have a modern attraction for residents across NY State, McMahon said in prepared remarks for the speech. McMahons plan comes almost a year after a state audit criticized the market for years of poor financial management. That, in turn, led McMahon last summer to help engineer new leadership at market, which is run as a state authority. At McMahons urging, the board appointed former Deputy County Executive Bill Fisher as its new chief executive officer last year. The $4 million county investment is just small part of what could amount to about $70 million in government aid to the market, most of it likely to come from the state. Among other things, the 50-acre market at 2100 Park St., much of which dates to the 1930s, is in need of major infrastructure improvements. The regional market offers year-round space to wholesale food vendors, seasonal stalls to farm-and-retail vendors and rental space for other businesses. It recently embarked on a plan to bring concerts back to its F-Shed, as both a way to earn revenues and highlight its versatility. McMahon outlined these three projects under his $4 million plan: The Park St. Kitchen: The county will spend up to $800,000 to create and outfit a ghost kitchen with cooking and prep areas to be used by multiple restaurants and caterers. The goal is to expand the food business at the Market and in Central New York, McMahon said. He called it first major, multi-tenant ghost kitchen in Onondaga County serving a currently underutilized market of entrepreneurs. Park St. Market Gateway Entrance: McMahon wants to spend $950,000 to improve the Park Street entrance to the market, including new and decorative overhead signage. The current main entrance to the Central New York Regional Market is lackluster in aesthetics and wayfinding and can be generally confusing to new users of the Market, McMahon said. . Historic Market Shed Improvements (C-Shed): McMahon plans a $2 million investment in the nearly 90-year-old C-Shed, one of the oldest buildings at the market. It currently houses moveable stalls for farmers and other vendors. The improvements will include facade work, updated electrical service and more. Ben Paine, of Paine Farms, speaks to a customer at the Central New York Regional Market in Syracuse on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com) Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Syracuse, N.Y. President Donald Trump has ordered the Treasury Department to dismantle a 30-year-old federal program that provides loans to small businesses and first-time homebuyers in rural and disadvantaged communities, including those in Central New York. Trump signed an executive order late Friday requiring federal agencies to eliminate to the maximum extent allowable by law the Treasury Departments Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. The $300 billion fund, which has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress, provides money for certified institutions to lend to small businesses and homeowners in low- and moderate-income communities that large banks ignore. The free CNY Fly Tying Symposium runs Sunday, March 23, at Harts Hill Inn in Whitesboro, from 11-6, and features 20-30 fly tyers showing off their favorite patterns and tying techniques. Pictured here is an Orange Stimulator dry fly. Tie one on this Sunday, March 23, at the annual Central New York Fly Tying Symposium. The free event will be held from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Harts Hill Inn in Whitesboro, and features 20-30 fantastic fly fishing folks showing off their favorite local patterns and tying techniques. The symposium is a celebration of CNYs wide range of fishing opportunities, including geologically diverse subregions such as Tug Hill, Mohawk Valley, and the Western Central Adirondacks. Expert speakers from White Dog Outdoors, Bernie Hiney IFGA World Fishing, and Upstate Guide Service will be on hand, along with exhibitors from CNY sporting businesses and non-profits, including Mark Usyk, JP Ross Fly Rods, Nash Fly Works, Trout Unlimited, and Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust. The event is kid friendly, and there will be bucket raffles for outdoor fishing gear, including a canoe, fly rod, a float trip, and prizes for the non-fisherman too. No need to go off site if you want something to eat or drink. Cash bar opens at noon, and a hot buffet rolls out from 4-5:30. Tickets for the hot buffet are $40 and can be purchased ahead of time. Proceeds for the buffet and raffles go to Trout Unlimiteds Trout in the Classroom program. The Trout in the Classroom program teaches students in 20 different schools about trout life cycles, habitat and the importance of clean water. Students raise trout and later release them on a field trip in local waters. To learn more about bringing Trout in the Classroom to a local school contact mohawkvalleytu@gmail.com. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors. Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday intending to eventually close down the Department of Education, and almost immediately, New York states attorney general and U.S. senators signaled their intention to fight against the presidents action. Trumps executive order says, in part, that The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. The order also requires that any program or activity receiving Federal assistance terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label diversity, equity, and inclusion or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology. No timeline was set for the actions, and its unclear how it will be accomplished, USA Today reports, because federal agencies can only be eliminated by Congress. The Democrats know its right, and I hope theyre going to be voting for it because ultimately it may come before them, Trump said at the signing. Trump said that critical functions of the department such as student aid, loans and grants; funding for special education; and funding for high-poverty areas will be continued, the New York Times reports. Trump said that some functions would be redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them. New York state officials quickly criticized the presidents action. Attempting to dismantle the Department of Education is one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said. This. Will. Hurt. Kids. This horrible decision by Donald Trump will be felt by teachers, parents, school leaders, and in the quality of education our children receive. Across the country property taxes will go up, while the quality of many schools will go down. Presidents cannot make departments and they cannot eliminate them either, only Congress can do that. U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand joined Schumer in opposition. Make no mistake individual states simply do not have the funding, personnel, or expertise to provide this same level of support to millions of students. President Trump is prioritizing minimal cost savings from cutting a small federal department at the expense of the literacy and math skills that will allow our kids to secure high-quality, good-paying jobs in the future, Gillibrand said. Every child in this country regardless of background has the right to a high-quality and free public education. We will not stand idly by while President Trump and Elon Musk destroy the promise of education for all. Attorney generals from 20 states including Letitia James of New York and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit last week seeking to stop the Department of Education from laying off more than 1,300 employees, CBS reported. Shortly after Trump signed the executive order on Thursday, James posted on the social media site X, Donald Trumps attempt to shut down the U.S. Department of Education will harm tens of millions of students, including disabled and low-income students who rely on this agency to access a quality education, and its illegal. We will see this administration in court. President Donald Trump's executive order directing the Education Department to begin dismantling itself has sparked questions about student loans. Trump holds up a signed executive order at an education event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Ben Curtis | AP Photo) (Ben Curtis/AP Photo) President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday telling the Education Department to begin dismantling itself. The order has sparked questions what the move means for student loans. The department cant be eliminated completely without action from Congress and some, including New York state officials, have vowed to fight. But theres no doubt the order will affect how the agency operates. The administration had started shrinking the department even before the order through layoffs. Administering student loans is one of the Education Departments major tasks. The agency lends tens of billions of dollars to students and parents for higher education every year and oversees the collection of about $1.6 trillion in outstanding loans from about 40 million borrowers, according to The New York Times. Heres what to know about Trumps order and how it might affect student loans: - Loans arent just going to disappear. If the Education Department does actually close, another agency will likely take over the loan portfolio. Trump previously mentioned the Small Business Administration as one possibility. The Treasury Department is another, according to the Times. In the meantime, officials have said that whatever is left of the department will continue to operate student lending. UPDATE: Trump formally moved the departments student loan operations to the Small Business Administration on Friday, according to The New York Times. - Specific programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness wont end either. At least not right away. Programs like PSLF were created by laws and will continue to exist, unless Congress takes action. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said those programs will be honored. Its assumed another federal agency would take over administering them, the Times said. Its possible Congress could try to overhaul them, which could lead to changes for borrowers. Its also possible the upheaval itself could cause issues. PSLF helps borrowers who commit to work in fields like education, health care and public safety get loan forgiveness. - Service could be affected. During whatever transition takes place, processing times for new loans, applications and payments could be slower, according to Axios. Theres also potential for more administrative errors. Its possible there could be a pause in payments for a period, but theyd eventually still be due. Trump spoke out repeatedly during the campaign against Bidens effort to cancel student debt. - More loans could go private. If federal student borrowing becomes uncertain, some might turn to private loans. They arent necessarily more expensive, but interest rates could vary among borrowers and private loans dont have forgiveness programs. Income-based repayment options arent guaranteed, Axios said. - Loan terms and conditions cant change, even if the agency overseeing them does, according to CNBC. Borrowers rights were guaranteed when they signed the master promissory note when their loans were originated, the network said. - Theres a lot of uncertainty about whats ahead, according to Axios. Current borrowers should take steps to save their information by screenshotting or downloading their repayment history. - Borrowers should also keeping making their payments, according to the Times. If your loan is on pause, make sure youre reading everything from your loan servicer carefully and follow all instructions precisely. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. Since the start of commissioning on October 1st, 2022, up to March 1st, 2025, the volume of gas transported through the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) stood at 33,008,796.79 MWh in direction from Greece to Bulgaria, ICGB, the pipeline operator, told Trend. "The volume of gas supplies in the direction from Bulgaria to Greece via virtual reverse flow amounted to 1,912,579.44 MWh," said the company. The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector connects Bulgaria to the Southern Gas Corridor and is part of the Vertical Gas Corridor. The pipeline strengthens energy connectivity and security in the region, providing access to natural gas from new, diversified sources. Currently operating at 3 bcm/y, the pipeline has the potential to expand its technical capacity up to 5 bcm/y. The interconnector currently secures about 70 percent of Bulgarias internal natural gas consumption and is a reliable route for diversified deliveries to key markets such as Moldova and Ukraine. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Devices used for congestion tolling hang above traffic on a Manhattan street in New York, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) AP NEW YORK (AP) The Trump administration has pushed back a Friday deadline for New York to end its new $9 congestion toll on most drivers entering Manhattan. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday said he was giving the state an additional 30 days as discussions continue on the Republican administrations demand. But he also lashed out at New York officials, who have said for weeks they did not intend to comply with the deadline as they have filed a lawsuit challenging Duffys decision to rescind the tolls federal approval last month. Your refusal to end cordon pricing and your open disrespect towards the federal government is unacceptable, Duffy wrote in a strongly worded post on X, formerly Twitter. Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check. Continued noncompliance will not be taken lightly. Spokespersons for Duffy didnt immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls office shrugged off the announcement. Weve seen Secretary Duffys tweet, which doesnt change what Governor Hochul has been saying all along: the cameras are staying on, spokesperson Avi Small said in a statement, referring to the system of traffic cameras used to assess the tolls to drivers in the congestion zone. The fee started Jan. 5 and comes on top of tolls drivers already pay to cross bridges and tunnels into Manhattan. It is meant to help deter drivers and relieve traffic congestion while also providing millions of dollars in new revenue to the citys beleaguered transit system. Similar toll programs have long existed in other cities, including London, Stockholm, Milan and Singapore, but they have never been tried before in the U.S. Trump, whose namesake Trump Tower penthouse and other properties are within the congestion zone, vowed to stop the toll as soon as he took office. Duffy, in his decision to rescind federal approval, called the fee a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners. Janno Lieber, chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that administers the toll, vowed earlier this week that the Friday deadline would come and go with no changes to tolling. He maintained the Trump administration lacks the legal authority to revoke approvals granted under former President Joe Bidens administration. Nothing is going to change, and we are very confident that there wont be a rollback of congestion pricing because the program stepped through every hoop on the way to getting that federal approval, Lieber said Tuesday at an unrelated event in Penn Station. It cant be unilaterally rescinded. Hochul, meanwhile, has met privately with President Donald Trump at least twice in recent weeks to convince him to drop his opposition to the toll. State officials have said the tolling plan is working as intended. They say thousands of fewer vehicles are heading into central Manhattan each day, and commuters who continue to drive in are seeing shorter drive times on bridges, tunnels and busy cross streets. The toll is also on track to generate roughly $500 million by the end of the year, allowing planned transit improvements to move forward, according to a recent MTA report. The status quo remains, which means everyone can continue to expect less traffic, faster commutes, and safer streets in Manhattan, MTA spokesperson John McCarthy said in a statement Thursday. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 21. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan continue to strengthen energy cooperation, prioritizing natural gas as a strategic resource for sustainable economic growth and regional energy security, Trend reports via Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy. In the course of the working visit to Ashgabat, Vice-Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Zhamauov discussed key issues of energy cooperation, including the development of gas infrastructure, gasification, and attraction of investments in gas projects. Kazakhstan presented its initiatives in gas exploration, production, transportation, and processing, as well as ongoing projects for the construction of gas processing plants. The global energy sector is undergoing rapid changes driven by technological advancements and environmental challenges, while Central Asia has the potential to become a leader in innovative gas sector solutions, said Kazakhstans Vice Minister of Energy, Alibek Zhamauov. Zhamauov emphasized the importance of gas for the development of domestic industries, attracting investments, and creating favorable conditions for long-term partnerships. Special attention was given to international partnerships and expanding collaboration in the gas industry. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening energy cooperation, recognizing the strategic importance of natural gas. Participants agreed to maintain an ongoing dialogue to fully unlock the regions potential in the gas sector and contribute to its further development. In general, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan maintain strong and steadily developing relations. Countries agreed to take coordinated measures to achieve the goal set by the presidents of both countriesto increase trade turnover to $1 billion. The volume of mutual trade between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan has consistently exceeded $500 million over the past two years. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Teagasc announces post storm timber harvesting and marketing events The Teagasc Forestry Development Department has announced an upcoming series of events to support forest owners impacted by recent storms, running between April 1 and 15, 2025. These comprise of two post-storm timber harvesting events and Talking Timber, a post-storm conifer timber marketing event. Teagasc, in conjunction with the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) is organising two important on-site demonstrations on managing forestry storm damage, focusing on harvesting of timber and planning for forest restoration. The first of these events will take place near Mountbellew, County Galway on Tuesday April 1, 2025 and includes attendance options for either a morning or afternoon session. A second on-site demonstration event will take place near Castlerea, County Roscommon the following Tuesday, April 8. Talking Timber, Teagascs annual timber marketing event returns with a particular focus on the post-storm harvesting response. This event, organised in association with DAFM and Forest Industries Ireland, will address the harvest and marketing of timber in the aftermath of recent storms. The event will take place at the Clayton Hotel, County Sligo on Tuesday April 15, 2025. Speaking at the announcement of these upcoming events, Teagasc Director, Professor Frank OMara said: Teagasc is committed to providing ongoing support for forest owners impacted by recent storms. This important series of upcoming events is part of a suite of post-storm support measures focused on providing guidance on both harvesting and marketing of timber from impacted forests. I encourage all forest owners impacted by recent storms to attend. Tom Houlihan, Acting Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department said: Teagasc forestry staff have been very busy supporting forest owners since the recent storms. The two post storm harvest events on April 1st and 8th , wi ll be held in forests where an appropriate response plan is in place and windblow clearance operations are underway. The Talking Timber event on April 15 will have a particular focus on the marketing of timber harvested from storm-impacted forests. Talking Timber will be a combination of an outdoor timber display, short conference along with a forest industry expo. Our priority is the provision of advice on appropriate post-storm planning and responses to maximise the forest potential for impacted owners. Pre-registration is required for each event. Further details and registration is available at the following links: Post-storm harvesting events: www.teagasc.ie/stormharvestdemo Talking Timber: www.teagasc.ie/talkingtimber Further details are also available from your local Teagasc Forestry Advisor. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. What just happened? If you're going to promote something, make sure it lives up to the promises you make. Case in point, Apple is being sued over Apple Intelligence features it advertised and has since delayed. Cupertino removed ads for the upgraded version of Siri, but they had already been running for several months, showcasing them as key new features in the latest iPhones and other Apple devices. The suit, filed Wednesday in US District Court in San Jose, highlights ads for the iPhone 16 that promised a more personal Siri experience thanks to the power of Apple Intelligence. The ads in question feature The Last of Us and Game of Thrones actress Bella Ramsey demonstrating some of the upgraded Siri's capabilities. It all looks pretty impressive. However, months after the ads had been running, Apple confirmed that the upgraded Siri would not be arriving until 2026. The company never gave any reasons for the delay. The mess led to upheaval among Apple execs, with AI head John Giannandrea being replaced by Mike Rockwell, the vice president in charge of the Vision Products Group. The suit claims that Apple's advertisements created the expectation that the Apple Intelligence features would be available upon the iPhone 16's release. It adds that while Apple recently pulled the ad from YouTube, it has failed to retract all the similarly false representations in the market that began in the Summer of 2024. Apple is accused of promoting a functionality that did not exist and continuing to advertise the features even after it knew they would not arrive in time, all with the aim of encouraging people to buy a new Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone. "Contrary to Defendant's claims of advanced AI capabilities, the Products offered a significantly limited or entirely absent version of Apple Intelligence, misleading consumers about its actual utility and performance," the suit reads. "Worse yet, Defendant promoted its Products based on these overstated AI capabilities, leading consumers to believe they were purchasing a device with features that did not exist or were materially misrepresented." It was recently reported that Robby Walker, a senior director at Apple, spoke to the Siri team, acknowledging that delays to key features have been both "ugly" and "embarrassing," especially as they had been showcased prior to release. The company filing the suit, Clarkson Law Firm, has experience in this area. It previously sued Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft over alleged misuse of personal and copyrighted data to train their AI systems. The tech giants defeated the suits. Recap: The AI accelerator race is driving rapid innovation in high-bandwidth memory technologies. At this year's GTC event, memory giants Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron previewed their next-generation HBM4 and HBM4e solutions coming down the pipeline. While data center GPUs are transitioning to HBM3e, the memory roadmaps revealed at Nvidia GTC make it clear that HBM4 will be the next big step. Computerbase attended the event and noted that this new standard enables some serious density and bandwidth improvements over HBM3. SK Hynix showcased its first 48GB HBM4 stack composed of 16 layers of 3GB chips running at 8Gbps. Likewise, Samsung and Micron had similar 16-high HBM4 demos, with Samsung claiming that speeds will ultimately reach 9.2Gbps within this generation. We should expect 12-high 36GB stacks to become more mainstream for HBM4 products launching in 2026. Micron says that its HBM4 solution will boost performance by over 50 percent compared to HBM3e. However, memory makers are already looking beyond HBM4 to HBM4e and staggering capacity points. Samsung's roadmap calls for 32Gb per layer DRAM, enabling 48GB and even 64GB per stack with data rates between 9.2-10Gbps. SK Hynix hinted at 20 or more layer stacks, allowing for up to 64GB capacities using their 3GB chips on HBM4e. These high densities are critical for Nvidia's forthcoming Rubin GPUs aimed at AI training. The company revealed Rubin Ultra will utilize 16 stacks of HBM4e for a colossal 1TB of memory per GPU when it arrives in 2027. Nvidia claims that with four chiplets per package and a 4.6PB/s bandwidth, Rubin Ultra will enable a combined 365TB of memory in the NVL576 system. While these numbers are impressive, they come at an ultra-premium price tag. VideoCardz notes that consumer graphics cards seem unlikely to adopt HBM variants anytime soon. The HBM4 and HBM4e generation represent a critical bridge for enabling continued AI performance scaling. If memory makers can deliver on their aggressive density and bandwidth roadmaps over the next few years, it will massively boost data-hungry AI workloads. Nvidia and others are counting on it. Image credit: ComputerBase The big picture: A big challenge in analyzing a rapidly growing company like Nvidia is making sense of all the different businesses it participates in, the numerous products it announces, and the overall strategy it's pursuing. Following the keynote speech by CEO Jensen Huang at the company's annual GTC Conference this year, the task was particularly daunting. As usual, Huang covered an enormous range of topics over a lengthy presentation and, frankly, left more than a few people scratching their heads. However, during an enlightening Q&A session with industry analysts a few days later, Huang shared several insights that suddenly made all the various product and partnership announcements he covered, as well as the thinking behind them, crystal clear. In essence, he said that Nvidia is now an AI infrastructure provider, building a platform of hardware and software that large cloud computing providers, tech vendors, and enterprise IT departments can use to develop AI-powered applications. Needless to say, that's an extraordinarily far cry from its role as a provider of graphics chips for PC gaming, or even from its efforts to help drive the creation of machine learning algorithms. Yet, it unifies several seemingly disparate announcements from recent events and provides a clear indication of where the company is heading. Nvidia is moving beyond its origins and its reputation as a semiconductor design house into the critical role of an infrastructure enabler for the future world of AI-powered capabilities or, as Huang described it, an "intelligence manufacturer." In his GTC keynote, Huang discussed Nvidia's efforts to enable efficient generation of tokens for modern foundation models, linking these tokens to intelligence that organizations will leverage for future revenue generation. He described these initiatives as building an AI factory, relevant to an extensive range of industries. While it's a bit of a heady vision, the signs of an emerging information-driven economy and the efficiencies AI brings to traditional manufacturing are starting to become clear. From businesses built solely on AI services (think ChatGPT) through the robotic manufacturing and distribution of traditional goods, there's little doubt we're moving into an exciting new economic era. In this context, Huang extensively outlined how Nvidia's latest offerings facilitate faster and more efficient token creation. He initially addressed AI inference, commonly considered simpler than the AI training processes that initially brought Nvidia into prominence. However, Huang argued that inference, particularly when used with new chain-of-thought reasoning models such as DeepSeek R1 and OpenAI's o1, will require approximately 100 times more computing resources than current one-shot inference methods. In other words, there's no reason to worry that more efficient large language models will reduce the demand for computing infrastructure and we're still in the early stages of the AI factory infrastructure buildout. One of Huang's most important yet least understood announcements was a new software tool called Nvidia Dynamo, designed to enhance the inference process for advanced models. Dynamo, an upgraded version of Nvidia's Triton inference server software, dynamically allocates GPU resources for various inference stages, such as prefill and decode, each with distinct computing requirements. It also creates dynamic information caches, managing data efficiently across different memory types. Operating similarly to Docker's orchestration of containers in cloud computing, Dynamo intelligently manages resources and data necessary for token generation in AI factory environments. Nvidia has dubbed Dynamo the "OS of AI factories." Practically speaking, Dynamo enables organizations to handle up to 30 times more inference requests with the same hardware resources. Of course, it wouldn't be GTC if Nvidia didn't also have chip and hardware announcements and there were plenty this time around. Huang presented a roadmap for future GPUs, including an update to the current Blackwell series called Blackwell Ultra (GB300 series), offering enhanced onboard HBM memory for improved performance. He also unveiled the new Vera Rubin architecture, featuring a new Arm-based CPU called Vera and a next-generation GPU named Rubin, each incorporating significantly more cores and advanced capabilities. Huang even hinted at the generation beyond that named after mathematician Richard Feynman projecting Nvidia's roadmap into 2028 and beyond. During the subsequent Q&A session, Huang explained that revealing future products well in advance is crucial for ecosystem partners, enabling them to prepare adequately for upcoming technological shifts. Huang also emphasized several partnerships announced at this year's GTC. The significant presence of other tech vendors demonstrated their eagerness to participate in this growing ecosystem. On the compute side, Huang explained that fully maximizing AI infrastructure required advancements in all traditional computing stack areas, including networking and storage. To that end, Nvidia unveiled new silicon photonics technology for optical networking between GPU-accelerated server racks and discussed a partnership with Cisco. The Cisco partnership enables Cisco silicon in routers and switches designed for integrating GPU-accelerated AI factories into enterprise environments, along with a shared software management layer. For storage, Nvidia collaborated with leading hardware providers and data platform companies, ensuring their solutions could leverage GPU acceleration, thus expanding Nvidia's market influence. And finally, building on the diversification strategy, Huang introduced more work that the company is doing for autonomous vehicles (notably a deal with GM) and robotics, both of which he described as part of the next big stage in AI development: physical AI. Nvidia knows that being an infrastructure and ecosystem provider means that they can benefit both directly and indirectly as the overall tide of AI computing rises, even as their direct competition is bound to increase Nvidia has been providing components to automakers for many years now and, similarly, has had robotics platforms for several years as well. What's different now, however, is that they're being tied back to AI infrastructure that can be used to better train the models that will be deployed into those devices, as well as providing the real-time inferencing data that's needed to operate them in the real world. While this tie back to infrastructure is arguably a relatively modest advance, in the bigger context of the company's overall AI infrastructure strategy, it does make more sense and helps tie together many of the company's initiatives into a cohesive whole. Making sense of all the various elements that Huang and Nvidia unveiled at this year's GTC isn't simple, particularly because of the firehose-like nature of all the different announcements and the much broader reach of the company's ambitions. Once the pieces do come together, however, Nvidia's strategy becomes clear: the company is taking on a much larger role than ever before and is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious objectives. At the end of the day, Nvidia knows that being an infrastructure and ecosystem provider means that they can benefit both directly and indirectly as the overall tide of AI computing rises, even as their direct competition is bound to increase. It's a clever strategy and one that could lead to even greater growth for the future. Bob O'Donnell is the founder and chief analyst of TECHnalysis Research, LLC a technology consulting firm that provides strategic consulting and market research services to the technology industry and professional financial community. You can follow him on Twitter @bobodtech BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. The ICGB, operator of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), will plant 30,000 saplings as part of its action to support biodiversity, Trend reports via the company. Marking this International Day of Forests, ICGB is taking action to support biodiversity and environmental restoration through a large-scale reforestation initiative in Greece. As part of its sustainability commitments, the company will plant 30,000 saplings in two key areas - along the pipeline route and in an offset reforestation area designated by forestry authorities, said the company. By integrating responsible environmental practices into its operations, ICGB continues to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future. Protecting forests today means securing a healthier planet for generations to come. The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector connects Bulgaria to the Southern Gas Corridor and is part of the Vertical Gas Corridor. The pipeline strengthens energy connectivity and security in the region, providing access to natural gas from new, diversified sources. Currently operating at 3 bcm/y, the pipeline has the potential to expand its technical capacity up to 5 bcm/y. The interconnector currently secures about 70 percent of Bulgarias internal natural gas consumption and is a reliable route for diversified deliveries to key markets such as Moldova and Ukraine. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Greenpeace $660mn damages ruling shocks global NGOs Paris, March 20 (AFP) Mar 20, 2025 Civil society groups on Thursday condemned a US court order that Greenpeace pay over $660 million in damages to an oil pipeline company as a chilling attack on climate action around the globe. Environmental defenders rallied behind Greenpeace after the shock ruling by a North Dakota jury fuelled concerns that courtrooms were increasingly being used to smother critics. "It sends a dangerous message: that fossil fuel giants can weaponize the courts to bankrupt and silence those who challenge the destruction of our planet," said Anne Jellema, executive director of advocacy group 350.org. The judgement "is not only an attack on Greenpeace -- it is an assault on the entire climate movement, clearly intended to chill the resistance to fossil fuels", she added in a written statement to AFP. Ana Caistor Arendar from rights monitor Global Witness said it was "an existential threat to activism, protest and to land and environmental defenders, not just in the US, but everywhere". Energy Transfer (ET), the Texas-based pipeline operator that was awarded the damages, has denied any attempt to stifle free speech by suing Greenpeace. The company had accused the environmental advocacy group of orchestrating violence and defamation during the construction of the contentious Dakota Access Pipeline project nearly a decade ago. - 'Unconscionable' - From 2016 to 2017, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led one of the largest anti-fossil fuel protests in US history against the pipeline, and the demonstrations saw hundreds arrested and injured. The jury awarded more than $660 million in damages across three Greenpeace entities, citing charges including trespass, nuisance, conspiracy, and deprivation of property access. Greenpeace has vowed to appeal and continue its advocacy work. Brice Bohmer from Transparency International, a global corruption watchdog, said the lawsuit was "unconscionable" and evidence of a much wider problem. "This kind of activity is becoming increasingly common across climate action, with fossil fuel actors undermining progress wherever possible," he said. ET initially sought $300 million in damages through a federal lawsuit, which was dismissed. It then shifted its legal strategy to state courts in North Dakota -- one of the minority of US states without protections against so-called "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" or SLAPPs. Throughout the years-long legal fight, ET's billionaire CEO Kelcy Warren, a major donor to President Donald Trump, was open about his motivations, saying in interviews that he wanted to "send a message". Tasneem Essop, executive director of Climate Action Network International, a coalition of nearly 2,000 non-government organisations, said the verdict should "worry us all". - Fight on - Matilda Flemming, director of Friends of the Earth Europe, said she was "appalled" by the outcome but warned it was not an isolated case. "The right to protest is under threat across the world, from big corporations and self-interested politicians who threaten our democracies," she said. Greenpeace International is counter-suing ET in the Netherlands, accusing the company of nuisance lawsuits to stifle dissent. Rebecca Brown, president and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), said the fight for environmental justice would go on. "No abusive company, lawsuit, or court decision will change that," she said in a statement on Wednesday after the verdict was handed down. Oil Change International echoed that tone: "We will continue to resist and hold corporations accountable because our future depends on it," said the group's US campaign manager Collin Rees. np-jmi/rlp US refuses water request for Mexico in new battleline Washington, March 20 (AFP) Mar 20, 2025 The United States said Thursday it refused a request from Mexico for water due to shortfalls in sharing by its southern neighbor, as President Donald Trump ramps up a battle on another front. The State Department said it was the first time that the United States has rejected a request by Mexico for special delivery of water, which would have gone to the border city of Tijuana. "Mexico's continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture-- particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley," the State Department's bureau handling Latin America said in a post on X. The 1944 treaty, which governs water allocation from the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers, has come under growing strain in recent years due to the pressures of climate change and the burgeoning populations and agriculture in parched areas. The treaty sets five-year cycles for water deliveries by Mexico, with the latest set to end in October 2025. US farmers and lawmakers complain that their southern neighbor has waited until the end of each cycle and has been coming up short in the latest period, as Mexico struggles with drought, while the United States has sent its share of water regularly. A year ago, the last sugar mill in southern Texas shut down, with operators blaming a lack of water deliveries from Mexico. After 18 months of negotiations, the United States and Mexico reached an agreement in November, days after Trump's election, to improve deliveries. Hailed by the then administration of Joe Biden, the understanding calls for Mexico to work with the United States to deliver water in a more timely way, including earlier in each five-year cycle. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday before the State Department announcement that the water issue was "being dealt with" through the two countries' boundary and water commission. "There's been less water. That's part of the problem," she told reporters. - Water worries on both sides - Tijuana, a sprawling city on the border with the US state of California that has become a hub for manufacturing, depends on the Colorado River for about 90 percent of its water and has suffered waste from creaky infrastructure. The Colorado River, also a major water source for Los Angeles and Las Vegas, has seen its water levels shrink due to drought and heavy agricultural consumption in the southwestern United States, with around half of its water going to raise beef and dairy cattle. In southern Texas, farmers have voiced fear for the future of cotton, citrus and other farming products without more regular water deliveries from across the border in Mexico. US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday announced $280 million in relief funds for Rio Grande Valley farmers. "Texas farmers are in crisis because of Mexico's noncompliance," Senator Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X, praising the State Department's water decision. "I will work with the Trump administration to pressure Mexico into complying and to get water to Texas farmers." The water dispute comes as Trump takes a tough approach to Latin American nations, especially on migration. Trump has vowed to end arrivals of undocumented migrants, who largely come from Central America and Venezuela but transit through Mexico. Trump deployed troops to the border and announced painful tariffs on Mexico, although he has since put them on hold until April 2. Photo: Official Information Source of the Prime minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan ASTANA. Kazakhstan, March 21. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektanov has signed a decree to initiate the construction of an ammonia and urea plant in Kazakhstan, as part of an investment agreement, Trend reports. The project will be carried out by a joint venture between QazaqGaz National Company and ESTA Construction under Qazesta Fertilizers Ltd. The plant will be located in the Mangistau region, chosen for its strategic location to facilitate product exports via the Caspian Sea. The total investment for the project is $1.35 billion, with construction expected to be completed within three and a half years. Once operational, the plant will provide 400 permanent jobs and 3,000 jobs during construction. The plant's annual production capacity is projected to reach up to 700,000 tons of urea and 42,000 tons of ammonia. This project aims to develop the gas-chemical industry in Kazakhstan, contribute to import substitution, and produce high-value-added products. Currently, Kazakhstan produces three types of fertilizers: ammonium nitrate, amorphous, and ammonium sulfate. Despite a national demand of 3.2 million tons, domestic production only meets about half of that need. The establishment of the urea plant is expected to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the country's food security, while also positively impacting the agricultural sector. Unlikely wolf pair sparks row in rural France Tulle, France, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 A rare discovery in France of a pair of wolves, each from a distinct genetic background, has excited animal lovers demanding their protection and objections from farmers eager to protect livestock. Environmental association Carduelis reported earlier this month it had spotted the pair of wolves, one a male German-Polish wolf -- a species found mostly in western Poland and eastern Germany -- and the other an Italian she-wolf, usually native to the Italian peninsula. Many European countries have reported an increase in wolf populations, aided by a return of deer, wild boar and other forms of prey. While wolf packs typically remain in areas of no more than a few hundred square kilometres (miles), young wolves can travel alone over distances of thousands of kilometres. The French finding, confirmed by authorities, has scientists speculating that a mix of both gene pools could produce a more resilient wolf population. "This is a massive stroke of luck," said Carmen Munoz Pastor of the Carduelis association. "It will allow a genetic mingling that is always favourable to animal or plant species." Any offspring carrying a genetic crossing of the two different European wolf lineages would be a first in France, Carduelis said. Animal defence association One Voice called for the pair to be protected, including against the so-called "defensive" shooting of wolves. Local authorities have permitted shooting, which they say allows farmers to protect their livestock from wolf attacks. "The male wolf has already been injured," said One Voice president Muriel Arnal. "Some livestock farmers have so much hatred of wolves at a time when they are returning to France naturally," she said. Arnal said the two animals were the only wolves on a massive plateau in the Correze department in central France, some 500 kilometres (310 miles) south of Paris. "There's room for everybody," she said. Arnal has pleaded with local authorities to ban wolf shooting, recommending the use of guard dogs instead, but to no avail. Some 25 local livestock farmers continue to be authorised to shoot at wolves who they suspect of killing dozens of farm animals every year. "It is urgent to stop the threat," local farming associations said in a joint statement. "We don't want any wolves," said Emmanuel Lissajoux, president of the FDSEA federation. "We must think of our livestock and our business." European grey wolves eat between two and five kilogrammes (4.4 to 11 pounds) of meat per day on average. Their favourite prey in the wild includes deer. But they may also go after captive farm animals where available, including sheep and cattle. Brought to eel: France busts elver-smuggling ring Rennes, France, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 Police broke up an operation smuggling critically endangered eels in western France, arresting seven people suspected of causing nearly half a million euros' worth of ecological damage, authorities said Friday. European elvers -- the eel in their juvenile state -- are threatened with extinction, in part due to poachers hoping to make a killing by flogging them off to eel-ravenous buyers in Asia. Estimating the harm caused at a minimum of 476,000 euros ($515,000), authorities said the illegal eel-smuggling ring in the Vendee and Charente-Maritime regions was dismantled in a "vast judicial operation" on Tuesday. "Several fishing professionals are suspected of having organised a clandestine export network towards Spain, in violation of the regulations in force," said a joint communique from the justice ministry, the French biodiversity office, the police and the Central office for the fight against harms to the environment and public health. It noted that elver-fishing was highly regulated in France, with quotas and restricted periods of the year. Elvers for food usually sell for 400 euros per kilogramme in France. But poachers prize the migratory fish because it can go for between 2,000 and 6,000 euros per kilo to breeders in Asia, the joint statement said. The authorities said that the bust resulted in tens of thousands of euros and five vehicles, including a Porsche, being seized as likely compensation for the assessed ecological damage. The suspects were released after being processed,to be summonsed for trial at a later date, the biodiversity office said. If convicted, they face up to seven years in prison and fines of up to 750,000 euros. World's glacier mass shrank again in 2024, UN says Geneva, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2025 All 19 of the world's glacier regions experienced a net loss of mass in 2024 for the third consecutive year, the United Nations said Friday, warning that saving the planet's glaciers was now a matter of "survival". Five of the last six years have seen the most rapid glacier retreat on record, the UN's World Meteorological Organization said on the inaugural World Day for Glaciers. "Preservation of glaciers is a not just an environmental, economic and societal necessity: it's a matter of survival," said WMO chief Celeste Saulo. Beyond the continental ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide cover approximately 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 square miles), the WMO said. But they are rapidly shrinking due to climate change. "The 2024 hydrological year marked the third year in a row in which all 19 glacier regions experienced a net mass loss," the WMO said. Together, they lost 450 billion tonnes of mass, the agency said, citing new data from the Swiss-based World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). It was the fourth-worst year on record, with the worst being in 2023. - Huge loss over 50 years - "From 2022-2024, we saw the largest three-year loss of glaciers on record," Saulo said. Glacier mass loss last year was relatively moderate in regions such as the Canadian Arctic and the peripheral glaciers of Greenland, but glaciers in Scandinavia, Norway's Svalbard archipelago and North Asia experienced their worst year on record. Based on a compilation of worldwide observations, the WGMS estimates that glaciers -- separate from the continental ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica -- have lost more than 9,000 billion tonnes since records began in 1975. "This is equivalent to a huge ice block of the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 metres," said WGMS director Michael Zemp. At current rates of melting, many glaciers in western Canada and the United States, Scandinavia, central Europe, the Caucasus and New Zealand "will not survive the 21st century", the WMO said. The agency said that together with ice sheets, glaciers store around 70 percent of the world's freshwater resources, with high mountain regions acting like the world's water towers. If they disappear, that would threaten water supplies for millions of people downstream. - 'Ignoring the problem' - For the UN, the only possible response is to combat global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "We can negotiate many things in the end, but we cannot negotiate physical laws like the melting point of ice," said Stefan Uhlenbrook, the WMO's water and cryosphere director. He declined to comment on the return to office of US President Donald Trump, a climate change sceptic who has pulled the United States out of the landmark 2015 Paris climate accords. However, Uhlenbrook said that "ignoring the problem" of climate change "is maybe convenient for a short period of time", but "that will not help us to get closer to a solution". For the inaugural World Day for Glaciers, the WGMS named a US glacier as its first Glacier of the Year. The South Cascade Glacier in Washington state has been monitored continuously since the 1950s and provides one of the longest uninterrupted records of glaciological mass balance in the western hemisphere. The US Geological Survey, the government body that studies the natural environment, has measurements there going back to 1958, while WGMS's records there began even earlier, in 1952. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 21. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted the growing strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in a message of congratulations on Nowruz to President Sadyr Zhaparov, Trend reports Mirziyoyev expressed his joy at the expanding ties between the two countries in recent years, noting that both nations have shared a deep, historic bond. "Our fraternal peoples have long celebrated this significant day with joy and unity, working together toward noble goals and plans," Mirziyoyev said. The Uzbek president also expressed confidence that high-level dialogues and joint efforts in the near future would elevate their mutually beneficial and long-term cooperation to new heights, further benefiting both nations. Mirziyoyev extended his best wishes to Zhaparov, wishing him good health, family happiness, and continued success, while wishing peace, prosperity, and further progress to the people of Kyrgyzstan. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Elon Musks estranged daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson confessed even she isnt sure how many children her father has. In a new interview with Teen Vogue, Wilson the Tesla CEOs 20-year-old daughter, and who is transgender was asked about her relationship with her siblings. I will say I do not actually know how many siblings I have, if you include half-siblings, she told the outlet. That's just a fun fact. Ms Wilson is just one of the reported 14 children Mr Musk has welcomed in the last 20 years with four different women. Her mother, Justine Wilson, was married to the billionaire SpaceX founder for eight years from 2000. The two have six children together, including Vivian. Mr Musk also has four children (Strider, Azure, Arcadia, and Seldon Lycurgus) with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, as well as three (X A-Xii, Exa Dark Siderl, and Tau Techno Mechanicus) with music artist Grimes. Last month, a MAGA influencer named Ashley St Clair claimed that Mr Musk was the father of her baby. However, Musk has yet to acknowledge her child as his own. A few days later, Ms Zilis announced that she and Musk had welcomed a second son together. Elon Musks estranged daughter Vivian Wilson says she found out about two of her siblings on Reddit ( vivllainous/Instagram/Getty ) I found out about the Shivon Zilis thing the same time everyone else did, Wilson said of Ms Ziliss birth announcement. I had no idea before that. I found out about Grimes having a second child because a drag queen posted about it on Reddit, she went on to say. For a time, me and Grimes were not really in communication because I wasn't in communication with anyone in that family, which still holds true. Tatianna from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 and RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars 2 tweeted, [Not] Grimes popp[in] out another axolotl, which made the front page of the RuPaul's Drag Race subreddit, which is how I found out about it, she said. When it came to St Clairs baby announcement, Ms Wilson, again, found out through Reddit. If I had a nickel for every time I found out I had half-siblings through Reddit, Id have two nickels, she joked. In 2022, Ms Wilson filed a petition in California to change her name, stating in court documents that she doesnt wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form. Speaking to NBC News in July 2024, she called out her estranged father for claiming he was tricked into approving her undergoing gender-affirming medical care. He was not by any means tricked, Ms Wilson said, noting that Mr Musk had read over medical documents multiple times. They save lives. Lets not get that twisted. They definitely allowed me to thrive. Now, she claimed she barely thinks about her father. I'm not giving anyone that space in my mind, she told Teen Vogue. The only thing that gets to live free in my mind is drag queens. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Cheesecake Factory is making some major changes to its menu. The beloved restaurant chain is planning to remove 13 items from its menu, the company confirmed to The Independent on Thursday. Most of the items being discontinued are entrees, including two of the brands iconic breakfast options: Loaded Mashed Potato Omelette and Taco Dorados and Eggs. Some pasta and pizza dishes are being eliminated, like Bistro Shrimp Pasta, SkinnyLicious Spicy Shrimp Pasta, and Everything Flatbread Pizza. Customers can also say farewell to The Cheesecake Factorys Mushroom Burger, Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, White Chicken Chili, Spicy Cashew Chicken, Fried Shrimp Platter, Petite Filet, and SkinnyLicious Lemon Herb Parmesan Chicken. The restaurants Factory Combinations dish, which offers three different menu items, is also being eliminated. Although these 13 items are being removed, new dishes have already been added, as shown on The Cheesecake Factorys new menu. A representative for The Cheesecake Factory said the brand changes its menu twice a year ( Getty Images ) Some of the new food items are Grilled Asparagus, Honey Roasted Carrots, Charred Sugar Snap Peas, Asian Cucumber Salad, Asian Cucumber Salad, Thai Stir Fried Noodles, and Grilled Steak & Eggs. The menu also includes some new drink options, like Yuzu Crush, Yuzu Drop, Margarita Verde, and Japanese Whisky Sour. The Cheesecake Factory is removing some selections from the existing 250+ items on the menu to make room for more than 20+ new menu items, a spokesperson for The Cheesecake Factory told The Independent. [The restaurant] has historically rolled out new menu items twice a year. The restaurant is known for its towering cake slices and extensive options on the menu. Its also famous for its numerous cake flavors beyond just a regular slice of cheesecake. The brand has seen growth in business over time, according to a report by Placer.ai, a consumer affairs analysis firm. The report found that during the week of Christmas in 2023, visits from customers were up by 24.5 percent when compared to the chains weekly average. The report also credited the company for its ability to harness the power of annual dining milestones, since these days are powerful drivers of foot traffic at restaurants. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Getting dental care in the UK can be difficult. In fact, experts are urging the government to pick up pace and keep its promises to help stop desperate patients from resorting to extreme measures, such as pulling out their own teeth or travelling abroad. This call to action comes after an Ipsos survey of 1,091 British adults revealed that fewer than half (48 per cent) were able to secure an NHS appointment in the past two years. Meanwhile, 36 per cent didnt attempt to make one and 18 per cent were unable to get an appointment. Of those unable to book an appointment, 26 per cent said they had treated themselves, while 19 per cent said they went abroad for treatment. open image in gallery Using your teeth to open drinks is not advised ( PA ) Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, said: Desperate people are reaching for pliers or cheap flights because for many NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist. This service can have a future, but only if government is willing to pick up pace and keep its promises. With access to dental care becoming more difficult and expensive, maintaining good oral hygiene at home is crucial to prevent long-term damage. We spoke to top dentists who shared 8 things you should never do to your teeth and why. 1. Use your teeth as tools Popping a bottle cap with your teeth might feel like a harmless fun party trick, but your teeth arent designed for tasks like that. Using them as tools can cause chips, cracks, or even fractures, leading to painful dental issues and costly repairs, warns Dr Rizwan Mahmood, dentist, doctor, and co-founder of luxury dental clinics Ruh Dental. Instead, keep a bottle opener or scissors handy, your teeth will thank you. 2. Grind your teeth Whether its stress or an unconscious habit, grinding (bruxism) can wear down enamel, cause tooth sensitivity, and even lead to jaw pain, says Mahmood. If you catch yourself clenching during the day, try some stress-relief techniques such as deep breathing. At night, a custom night guard from your dentist can protect your teeth while you sleep. 3. Try DIY whitening hacks Social media, especially TikTok, is flooded with DIY whitening hacks but its best to approach them with caution and consult a medical professional first. I get it. Everyone wants a brighter smile, but homemade remedies like lemon juice, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide can do more harm than good, says Mahmood. These harsh substances can erode enamel and make teeth more sensitive. For safe, effective whitening, talk to your dentist about professional treatments or approved whitening products. 4. Order unregulated whitening products online Similarly, ensure that any dental products you purchase online are properly regulated. While ordering at-home whitening kits online can seem easier and faster, they can be very harmful for your teeth, as they may contain dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide which could cause significant damage to the protective enamel on your teeth, says Nyree Whitley, chief clinical officer at mydentist. Tooth-whitening products and kits bought over the counter on the internet can legally only contain up to 0.1 per cent hydrogen peroxide, according to the Oral Health Foundation. 5. Brush too hard open image in gallery Try to avoid brushing with too much force Brushing too hard (or with hard-bristled toothbrushes) can wear down enamel and irritate gums, leading to sensitivity and receding gumlines, warns Mahmood. Stick to a soft-bristled brush, use gentle, circular motions, and let the toothpaste do the work. 6. Chew on hard objects Weve all been there, chewing on pens, ice cubes, or even fingernails when bored or anxious, recognises Mahmood. But these habits can cause small cracks in your teeth that might worsen over time. If youre a habitual chewer, try switching to sugar-free gum. Its gentler on your teeth and can even help stimulate saliva to keep your mouth healthy. 7. Brush your teeth straight after breakfast open image in gallery Give yourself and hour after having breakfast before you brush Try to wait an hour after breakfast before brushing your teeth. Though eating breakfast can surpass brushing our teeth in our morning routine, it is wise to brush your teeth before you eat to protect your teeth. After youve eaten, your teeth need a little time to remineralise, explains Whitley. This is particularly the case when youre consuming foods or drinks high in acidity such as orange juice or jam. If you brush your teeth less than an hour after eating, youre more at risk of erosion to the enamel of your teeth. 8. Smoke Smoking and nicotine-based products can cause damage to your teeth and gums. In some cases, smoking can lead to gum disease and oral cancer because of the way in which smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, impacting the mouths ability to heal itself, says Whitley. More common side effects of nicotine products include gum irritation, receding gums, yellowed or stained teeth, and ulcers. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Throughout my life, Ive always struggled with being overwhelmed by my feelings. I didnt always know how to manage them. Id often zone out up to 60 times a day. I had mood swings and negative thoughts. I lacked motivation and I would crash out a few times a day with fatigue. I couldnt retain information. My memory was shocking. I had no idea any of it could be traits of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD as I only knew about the disorder in the form of hyperactivity. I was always going to my GP explaining these individual symptoms, asking for help and saying, There is something wrong with me. I was handed antidepressants or therapy. I felt useless. I had been through so much trauma. Surely this was the only reason I was struggling to cope? I remember being quite anxious as a child. My parents separated when I was just one year old, and my older sister and I grew up with my dad, who often had to work away from home. As a teenager, I had a tough time at school being bullied. I was dyslexic and struggled to focus. I had very low self-esteem. I also lived with scoliosis, a disability that caused a 74-degree curve in my spine, which added to my feelings of insecurity about the way I looked. At the age of 14, I had to have major spinal surgery. I now have 21 screws and two rods in my spine and Ive had to learn to live with chronic pain. I couldnt attend school for six months after the operation, as I had to learn to walk again. I felt socially isolated. I was also struggling with coming to terms with the breakup of my mum and stepdad. It felt like everything in my life was falling apart. It was around this time, aged 14, that I began to spiral into a dark place. I tried to take my own life. I felt like everyone else would be better off without me. I just couldnt cope with the intense and difficult emotions. I just wanted to escape. Im lucky to be alive. I stayed at the hospital for a week before I was referred to CAMHS (child adolescent mental health services). It was a wake-up call but even after some therapy, I stayed stuck in a vicious cycle of medicating my feelings. When my parents were out, Id raid their alcohol cupboard and make concoctions with my friends. When I got my first boyfriend, I was very body-conscious because of my scoliosis and found drinking made me feel more confident. If I was out partying with my friends, my drinking was acceptable even though Id often be stumbling around paralytic before wed even left the house. Drinking was normalised I was young and having fun. I may have been high-functioning and coping but that wasnt a healthy, happy, or sustainable way to live. Eventually, things turned from manageable to bad to worse It was only a problem with close friends and family, who saw me change after a drink. All the suppressed hurt and pain I felt would come out explosively. It only made me feel more ashamed. I soon started abusing the codeine pills Id been prescribed for my back pain to take the edge off my anxiety. Looking back, I understand the dangers of addiction to strong painkillers and I find it surprising that doctors handed pills out so freely to me from the age of 16. I became reliant on them. By now, aged 19, Id somehow ended up in a relationship that became abusive I couldnt leave. As is quite often the case with victims of abuse and people who suffer from low self-esteem, I ended up wondering if I was the problem in the end. I started drinking alone before midday on my own wine, lager, and vodka. One New Years Eve, my boyfriend suddenly packed all his things and left me. Wed been together for three years. I felt so alone, so the first thing I did was go to the shop and buy three bottles of prosecco to drink on my own. My dad took me to see a doctor who told me that I was alcohol dependent. But I didnt want to hear that then. I would talk myself out of thinking I had a problem there were periods when Id drink more, then less, so I thought I cant be out of control if I can make these choices. I may have been high-functioning and coping but that wasnt a healthy, happy, or sustainable way to live. Eventually, things turned from manageable to bad to worse. I hated myself and my life. I hated everything. I wasnt happy, I was stuck in survival mode. Some days I couldnt even leave my bed. By 26, I was struggling to function, and I admitted that I didnt feel like living anymore. Thats when my dad suggested I go to Delamere, a private rehab near me. If I thought I was going because of my drinking, I dont think Id have gone. There are so many stigmas around rehab, and there is often a denial state before you can accept and see what others around you may see already. He said it would be good for my mental health. I paid for the rehab with my savings it cost around 16,500 for a 28-day inpatient treatment plan. We did group therapy and had one-to-one counselling. I needed to process what Id bottled up, so I could accept and heal from my past. I also needed to work on my self-esteem and confidence so that I felt capable of being able to express my feelings and needs without relying on alcohol and pills to do that. Facing all that stuff with people so openly made me feel internally strong and gave me the courage to face it head on. open image in gallery The doctor immediately knew Francesca had ADHD just from the ADHD stimming repetitive behaviour that is self-stimulating and self-soothing ( Francesca Jackson ) I wanted to be free of the constant noise in my head. It was during my time there that a therapist said: I bet you have ADHD. They advised me to get it checked out properly when I left the rehab. It took me over a year to get a formal ADHD diagnosis on the NHS through Psychiatry UK. I had to fill out monthly questionnaires asking Are you still feeling this way? to remain on the waiting list. Eventually, I had a two-and-a-half-hour video call consultation. The doctor immediately knew I had ADHD just from the ADHD stimming repetitive behaviour that is self-stimulating and self-soothing. Im always fiddling with things or moving restlessly around. I was diagnosed with combined-type ADHD, which is characterised by symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Ive been beating myself up for years thinking Why do I feel like this? now I know. I am somebody who wants to escape my mind and this is where a lot of the ADHD comes into it. Regardless of whats gone on, time can move on, but my mind constantly overthinks everything. And this is what causes my anxiety. The only way I could cope was to drink and take pills. I was prescribed medication for ADHD, but I cant take it yet. After I left rehab, I had a brain scan as Id been passing out for years and they found a tumour or a cyst on my pituitary gland, which could grow bigger on ADHD meds. I have to show two years of clear scans to show its not growing before I can start them. Im now 21 months sober. I went back to college to train as a mature student in beauty therapy and lash tech, something that has always been a passion of mine. People with ADHD do end up with alcohol and drug problems. I feel angry I wasnt diagnosed sooner. But at least the shame has gone and Im able to look forward with hope. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Fox News host Kat Timpf has shared an update after receiving a shocking breast cancer diagnosis just hours before she gave birth to her first child. On February 25, Timpf, 36, shared the harrowing reality of learning about her stage zero breast cancer diagnosis just hours before birthing her first child, a son with husband Cameron Friscia. The Gutfeld! panelist also revealed she would require a double mastectomy as soon as possible. In an update posted on her Instagram account Thursday, Timpf shared a picture from a hospital bed after the surgery. Post-op! Theyre honestly not much smaller than they were before I got pregnant, she quipped in the caption below a censored image of her socked feet. In an Instagram Story, Timpf shared a photo of a personalized cake sent to her by fellow Fox News colleague Jessica Tarlov. Titty free and fabulous! the sweet treat read. Timpfs Fox colleagues continue to offer their support. Greg Gutfeld commented on her latest post, Cant wait to have you back. Fox meteorologist Janice Dean offered support following Timpfs initial announcement. Love you. Always here for you. Boys are the best, Dean commented. Another Fox News host, Maria Bartiromo, commented on Timpfs recent photo outside Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Fiercely hilarious and so courageous be strong can't wait for your return, Bartiromo wrote. Outside of her Fox co-hosting duties, Timpf is a comedian and the author behind two New York Times bestselling books. She joined Fox in 2015 and is a regular contributor on Gutfeld! Since announcing her cancer diagnosis, Timpf has provided several updates via social media. Shes kept details of her newborn private while publicly detailing her cancer journey. This is obviously a really crazy difficult unexpected time, she said in a video posted February 28. And while shes been grateful for the support, shes also been overwhelmed with medical advice from her fans. Trust me, theres no one for whom that seems more extreme than me, she said referring to her doctors order for the double mastectomy. I find it devastating, she said of the surgery. Timpf then reassured her fans that she is receiving excellent medical care including a team who is very knowledgable on this. Trust that Im making the best decision for me and my family, she continued. The Independent has reached out to Fox for comment. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pete Davidson is officially in a new relationship with model Elsie Hewitt. The two hard-launched their romance over the weekend when they were spotted enjoying a PDA-filled vacation in Palm Beach, Florida. In paparazzi photos published on Wednesday, Davidson, 31, and Hewitt, 29, could be seen kissing in the water. Hewitt was pictured in a vibrant bikini with sunglasses and a slicked-back hairdo, while Davidson was in black swim trunks. Other photos showed the two getting cozy on a lounge chair in the sand while Hewitt wore a white tank top and jeans and Davidson sported a black T-shirt and cap. A source told The Independent that Davidson and Dewitt only recently started seeing each other, but did not give details on when or how they met. Before Hewitt, the Bodies Bodies Bodies actor was most recently romantically linked to Outer Banks actor Madelyn Cline. The duo dated for 10 months before ultimately calling it quits in July 2024. open image in gallery Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt are confirmed to be dating after they were seen kissing in Florida ( Getty Images ) Davidsons list of exes also includes Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Phoebe Dynevor, and Chase Sui Wonders. So, who is the King of Staten Island actors new girlfriend? Heres everything you need to know about Elsie Hewitt and her star-studded dating history. Hewitt was born in London, England, on March 5, 1995. She grew up in Los Angeles and has since moved to New York. A model and influencer, Hewitt boasts over one million followers online. Before she became an internet personality, she would post videos of her trying different foods on YouTube. Hewitt has since been the face of several fashion campaigns and starred in a number of magazine spreads. She even made it on the big screen, starring in an episode of the HBO series Industry in 2024, as well as two short films. If you havent seen her on-screen, you may have seen her on the arm of one of her famous boyfriends over the years. In October 2019, Hewitt confirmed she was in a relationship with record producer Benny Blanco, whos now engaged to Selena Gomez. open image in gallery Elsie Hewitt and Benny Blanco famously dated back in 2019 ( Getty Images ) Next to a collage of the two of them, Hewitt wrote on X at the time: I just saw its #NationalBoyfriendDay i wish u were here instead of being on the titanic but thank u for existing and i dont know what id do without u. The two started dating after Hewitt appeared in the music video for Blanco and the late Juice WRLDs song, Graduation. Its not clear when they broke up, however, Hewitt opened up about their split four years later during an appearance on the In Good Company podcast. I get a little bit salty when my friends go to his house, she confessed before adding, Ill always love him. After Blanco, Hewitt dated Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis. The two were caught kissing and hugging outside Birds Street Club in Los Angeles in January 2024. A few months later, they were seen playing Uno together at a game night hosted by Questlove. The final time Hewitt and Sudeikis, 49, were spotted together in public was for the U.S. Open in September 2024. As of now, neither Hewitt nor Davidson have spoken publicly about their new romance. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Last month, helping my parents clear out some cupboard space in our family home, I stumbled across a fashion treasure trove. Buried underneath a pile of scratchy old towels was a blue Ikea bag crammed with relics from my teenage wardrobe; theyd clearly been earmarked for a charity shop at some point, but never left the house. Of course, not all of them were worth getting excited about (ratty old freebie T-shirt from a nightclub ominously named Loveshack, anyone?) But I was genuinely thrilled that this cache included a couple of pieces from Kate Mosss old Topshop collections: a navy blouse with massive puffy sleeves, and a sky blue dress covered in painterly red poppies. Somehow, more than a decade and a half has elapsed since I bought them with my babysitting money. And yet neither item would look particularly out of place in my wardrobe today. The top, especially, with its extravagant sleeves, could easily be from a recent collection by Damson Madder or Ganni; back in 2008, I was mildly perturbed when someone told me it was very Lady Di, but I now know that to be the highest compliment. It got me thinking about just how well Topshops old designs I cant bring myself to describe these clothes as vintage, because that would make me vintage, too have managed to withstand the test of time. So when speculation started to bubble up earlier this week, suggesting that the beloved brand might be about to make some kind of comeback, my ears pricked up, as if responding to some siren call operating at a frequency only audible to millennials. On Wednesday, Topshop shared Instagram posts that read we missed you too and weve been listening. The posts, it turned out, were advertising a London treasure hunt competition and the return of the brands standalone website, but devotees are hoping that this could still augur bricks and mortar premises some time in the near future. After all, this stunt comes a few months after the Danish company Bestseller (owner of brands including Vero Moda and Jack & Jones) bought a 75 per cent stake in Topshop, prompting chief executive Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte to state that they will consider plans to get back on the high street again. I can only hope that Alexa Chung and/or Pixie Geldof are on standby for the inaugural DJ set, should a grand opening actually take place. Because in order to have half a hope of surviving in a tough retail climate, the brand desperately needs to bring back the spirit and the style of Old Topshop. When I along with thousands of other fashion-loving, nostalgic millennials talk about Old Topshop, Im referring to the brands imperial phase, an epoch that roughly stretched between 2000 and 2015. For the first half of this period, Jane Shepherdson was in the top role of brand director; she oversaw Topshops transformation from a run-of-the-mill high street label to a fashion trailblazer. Her approach was to forget designing for some mythical customer who someone or others created, as she once told The Guardian, and instead to just focus on selling clothes that you and I and everyone we know would love. It really worked and so did the just-about-affordable collaborations with then-rising young designers such as Christopher Kane. Shepherdson left in 2007, but Topshops fortunes continued to rise thanks to other, clever team-ups such as the Kate Moss collab, which launched that year and ran until 2010, with a brief comeback in 2014; partnerships with future stars such as JW Anderson and Mary Katrantzou; and the attention-grabbing Topshop Unique shows at London Fashion Week. The colossal flagship store at Oxford Circus was a site of pilgrimage for fashion obsessives from London and much further afield; urban legends of the coolest girls being scouted by model agencies or snapped by street style photographers outside the entrance helped add to the general mystique. So did the fact that every time you visited, a new nail salon / dedicated piercing bar / hair-bleaching station seemed to have popped up on one of the lower floors, and you never seemed to be less than six feet away from a former T4 presenter. open image in gallery Topshops Oxford Circus flagship was the site of many a fashion pilgrimage ( Getty Images ) The brand desperately needs to bring back the spirit and the style of Old Topshop But as the 2010s wore on, Topshop lost its golden touch. They tried to keep up with the faster-than-fast fashion whirlwind of PrettyLittleThing and Boohoo, but never matched the extremely low price point offered by those upstart brands. This only served to alienate their long-time fans (who just didnt really want everything to be cropped, or decimated by arbitrary cut-out sections) while never really getting younger customers onside. Before the pandemic hit, sales were already nosediving. Topshop has been languishing in a strange sort of retail purgatory since 2021, when the brand shut down its high street stores amid the collapse of parent company Arcadia Group, the retail empire presided over by Philip Green. Shopping site ASOS, then enjoying a lockdown-related boom, bought Topshop, and a few other Arcadia brands such as Miss Selfridge, in a 265m deal. Since then, its been available to buy online, but the magic has all but ebbed away. Yes, you can still buy Joni jeans (if youre still wedded to your skinny jeans, that is) but theyre buried among similar styles from hundreds of fast fashion competitors. Frankly, theres currently very little to set Topshops current offerings apart from the Stradivariuses and the Bershkas and the Missguideds of the world. So, in order to make any potential comeback a proper success, it seems clear to me that something needs to change. Whenever my friends and I (all of us in our late twenties or early thirties) bemoan how hard it seems to shop for clothes right now, given the preponderance of disposable fast fashion that barely lasts one wash, our conversations always tend towards one solution: if only theyd bring back Peak Topshop. And so, I reckon, the cleverest thing that Topshop could do would be to go through their back catalogues and resurrect some of their old designs a balance of the really obviously retro stuff, to appeal to the nostalgia crowd, and some of the more classic pieces that still look timeless now. Theyd do well to look back at the materials they used then, too: I still wear Topshop stuff from decades ago, which must have been washed hundreds of times, and most of it has proved to be way more durable than stuff Ive bought on the high street in the last year or so. open image in gallery Kate Mosss Topshop collaboration was one of the brands most popular launches ( Getty Images ) The timing could hardly be better, given fashions current obsession with all things Noughties. The Kate Moss collaboration has been having another moment in the spotlight ever since the costume designer on Saltburn confirmed that shed sourced dresses from the collections to kit out the films extras in authentic period finery. Last year, Vogue reported that thered been over 58,000 searches for the collection on resale app Vinted in the previous 12 months (some of them were me, although Ive never yet moved fast enough to snap anything up). Its not all millennials hankering after their lost youth either; much of the Noughties resurgence and romanticisation has been driven by Gen-Z, who were toddlers the first time around. A greatest hits-style capsule collection of Kate Moss-style pansy print tea dresses, a few of those really great trenches and faux-fur coats, the high-necked floaty dress that Alexa Chung wore to a Topshop catwalk show, and that iconic Christopher Kane crocodile T-shirt would be a good place to start. I reckon the zebra jeans from the 2012 collaboration with JW Anderson would go down well, too, in these pro-animal print times (my OG pair are in the attic). Hell, they could even throw in a few three-for-6 jolly socks for good measure. Leaning into nostalgia, rather than trying to race fast fashion competitors to the bottom, is certainly the way to go. And if youre reading this, Topshop bosses, Id happily volunteer to dig through the archives. Id much rather that than finally admit its probably time to start shopping at M&S. Press Release March 21, 2025 Guest of Honour Philippines Unveils New German Editions, Leipzig Lineup, and First Wave of Authors for Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025 Berlin, March 20, 2025 - As Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, the Philippines announced its key initiatives, major programs and activities during a press talk in Berlin today. These developments include new German editions of Philippine books and the initial lineup of authors set to participate in literary and cultural events at both the National Stand and the Philippine Pavilion, and around Frankfurt during FBM 2025. The country also announced its first-ever national stand and official presence at the Leipziger Buchmesse. Additionally, it will launch its inaugural cultural program, Oculus. At the press talk, the Philippine Guest of Honour delegation was represented by Karina Bolasco, curator of books and head of the literary program, alongside acclaimed Filipino authors Daryll Delgado, who introduced the new German edition of her climate fiction novel Remains, and J. Philip Ignacio, presenting his compelling historical graphic novel Alandal. The discussion with the authors was moderated by Frankfurter Buchmesse's Director Juergen Boos. Senator Loren Legarda, the driving force behind this initiative, reflected on its deeper meaning, stating, "The Philippines' presence in Germany is more than a literary offering--it is a call to journey through stories that sail across oceans, voices that weave connections between cultures, and ideas that know no boundaries." Juergen Boos added, "At a time of global division, literature remains a powerful tool for connection. Our Guest of Honour program enhances the visibility of the guest country's literature and the expansion of the international network of publishers, authors and cultural institutions, which are important players for the democratic civil society." The Philippines Guest of Honour presentation (PHLGoH2025) at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025 is a collaborative undertaking of the National Book Development Board (NBDB), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda. Inspired by a line from Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, the country's theme The Imagination peoples the air encapsulates the profound intersection of Philippine literature, vibrant culture, and rich history. It invites the global audience to experience the nation's literary heart. New German Editions The PHLGoH2025 Translation Subsidy Program for Foreign Publishers, led by the NBDB, has facilitated the translation of more than 120 Filipino books into foreign languages. By supporting Filipino writers working in both Philippine languages and English, the program amplifies their voices and connects them with readers worldwide. Twenty-seven titles have been translated into German- including the highly anticipated Aswanglaut by Allan Derain, Tiempo Muerto by Caroline Hau, The Collaborators by Katrina Tuvera, The Singing Detainee and the Librarian with One Book: Essays on Exile by Michael Beltran, Second Opinion by Gideon Lasco, Essays on Philippine Cinema by Nick Deocampo, and graphic novels such as mga walang pangalan pero andyan by Archie Oclos, Death Be Damned by Mike Alcazaren, Noel Pascual, and AJ Bernardo, Depikto by Ruvel Abril, and Josefina by Russell Molina and Ace Enriquez. More titles are set for release in 2025, including Kites in the Night by Blaise Campo Gacoscos, Some People Need Killing by Patricia Evangelista, and Trese Vol. 3 by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. March 2025 will also see the release of Remains by Daryll Delgado and The Age of Umbrage by Jessica Zafra. More than expanding readership, this initiative strengthens the Philippines' literary presence on the global stage, opening doors to wider recognition and international publishing partnerships. Kristian Sendon Cordero, co-head of the translation committee with Flor Marie Sta. Romana-Cruz, highlights its significance, "Translation allows our literature to break beyond local languages and enter a global dialogue. Philippine writers contribute to the world, and in turn, our literature is enriched by engaging with other cultures." Aside from the products of the translation subsidy, the Philippines will also feature existing translated works, as well as German editions that have been translated through the initiative of foreign publishers who have shown interest in Filipino books. The complete list will be announced before October. Authors at Frankfurter Buchmesse The Philippines has unveiled its initial lineup of authors for the program at the Pavilion and National Stand at the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, presenting the nation's rich literary diversity. This selection features both established and emerging voices, including award-winning novelists, poets, indie authors, and publishers who are shaping the future of Philippine literature. The lineup spans a wide array of genres, including climate fiction, new adult, science fiction, poetry, graphic novels, children's and young adult literature, and contemporary fiction. Five National Artists--the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts--lead the roster of creatives, namely, Virgilio S. Almario (Literature, 2003), Resil B. Mojares (Literature, 2018), Kidlat Tahimik (Film, 2018), Gemino H. Abad (Literature, 2022), and Ricky Lee (Film and Broadcast Arts, 2022). Notable multi-awarded authors include Jose Dalisay--acclaimed for Last Call Manila and the recent German translation of his Killing Time in a Warm Place, a novel set during martial law--and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, trauma journalist Patricia Evangelista, alongside poets and novelists Luna Sicat Cleto, Luisa Igloria, Marjorie Evasco, and Merlie Alunan. The lineup also includes award-winning authors such as children's book writer Luis Gatmaitan, novelists Sarge Lacuesta and Ronaldo S. Vivo Jr., and leading graphic novelists Budjette Tan (Trese), Manix Abrera (Kikomachine), and Mervin Malonzo (Tabi Po). More authors will be revealed at the Frankfurt press conference on June 26, 2025. The country's publishing industry strongly supports its literary talents, with contributions from leading academic institutions such as Ateneo de Manila University Press, The University of the Philippines Press, and University of Santo Tomas Press. Major commercial publishers like Anvil Publishing, Vibal Publishing House, and Adarna House, along with independent publishers--19th Avenida Publishing House, Milflores Publishing, Komiket, Balangay Books, and Exploding Galaxies--bring fresh perspectives to the literary scene. Additional publishing houses will be announced in June. "This selection underscores the Philippines' commitment to engaging the world in meaningful conversations on identity, history, imagination, and today's pressing issues," said Karina Bolasco. First Participation at Leipziger Buchmesse Building momentum for its Guest of Honour role at Frankfurt 2025, the Philippines will make its debut at the Leipziger Buchmesse (March 27-30, 2025), presenting German-translated Filipino works at Hall 4, C402 and eleven events on different stages at the fairgrounds and in the city of Leipzig. The Philippine stand will feature 150 titles, including 14 German editions, six of which are new releases. The delegation includes both award-winning and emerging authors. Representing the country's thriving graphic novel and comic scene are Renren Galeno, J. Philip Ignacio, and Paolo Herras. Celebrated authors Daryll Delgado, Jessica Zafra, and Stephanie Coo will discuss themes like climate change, colonialism, globalization, and social inequality. Translators Kristian Cordero, Annette Hug, and Monica Frohlich will give vivid impressions on the art of literary translation. Beyond Books: Philippine Culture Takes the Spotlight The Philippines' Guest of Honour participation extends beyond literature with Oculus, an exhibition exploring how we "see things." Hosted at the Heidelberger Kunstverein, Oculus reflects on the intersections of science, art, and imagination-where the line between real and spectral blurs. Curated by Patrick Flores (also the curator of the Philippine Pavilion, FBM 2025), the exhibition references Jose Rizal's ophthalmological studies in Heidelberg and his novel Noli Me Tangere, which he partly wrote in the city. Artists Stephanie Misa and Joscha Steffens work out how seeing, shaped by both ecology and imagination, can give rise to visions. Oculus opened on March 15 and runs until May 18, 2025. More cultural and literary activities will be announced. For full event details, visit philippinesfrankfurt2025.com, download the digital press kit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, LinkedIn @philippinesfranfurt2025. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 21. Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon expressed confidence that Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will continue their joint efforts to enrich the content of their multifaceted relationship, Trend reports via Kyrgyz president's administration. In his congratulatory message on the occasion of Nowruz to the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, Rahmon emphasized the importance of strengthening friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the peoples of both nations. This ancient holiday, symbolizing the unity of cultural heritage and centuries-old traditions, based on ideas of peace, security, good neighborliness, mutual respect, and support, plays an important role in strengthening ties between the peoples of its region. The timeless constructive traditions of Nowruz encourage us to make continuous efforts to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between our nations and peoples. I am confident that our countries, relying on the high universal values of this ancient holiday, will continue their joint efforts to enrich the content of their multifaceted relations, the message read. Rahmon wished Zhaparov good health and further success in his responsible state activities and extended his best wishes for happiness, well-being, peace, stability, sustainable progress, and prosperity to the brotherly people of Kyrgyzstan. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Texas man has been jailed after urinating into a water cooler at the doctors office where he worked, which resulted in other employees contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Lucio Catarino Diaz, who worked as a janitor at the practice, was sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, namely, his urine. He was sentenced to six years but has already served two. The crimes were first flagged in the summer of 2022 at the doctors office along Houstons East Freeway. According to court documents, obtained by The Independent, the practice had a five-gallon water dispenser in a shared common area that was used by staff and others. On August 30 2022 an employee, known as M.A., noticed "the water she got from the water dispenser had a funny taste and smell to it," according to the complaint. She later told police she began to bring her own water bottle rather than drink sour water. The employee later "noticed her water from her personal water bottle that she brought from the store smelled nasty," the documents stated, adding that the woman had decided to throw away the bottle rather than investigate further. Since the office did not have security cameras, the woman then bought a small camera online and attached it to her computer. She also bought a large bottle of water and put it in view of the camera. open image in gallery Lucio Catarino Diaz, who worked as a janitor at a Houston medical practice, was sentenced to six years in jail on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a charge of aggravated assault with deadly weapon, namely, his urine. Prosecutors alleged he urinated into the communal water cooler and employees personal water bottles ( Houston Police Department ) The woman was alerted later that evening to movement on the camera. What she would witness moments later was far worse than anyone could imagine, the court papers stated. The video clearly showed the nighttime janitor, Lucio Diaz, approach M.A.s desk as if to clean, set the cleaning rag and cleaning bottle on the desk, unzip his pants, pull out his penis, grab the water bottle sitting on the desk, unscrew the cap, and begin to insert his penis into the water bottle (turning it upwards to ensure the water in the bottle touched his penis), and rub his penis on the mouth of the bottle. He then put the cap back on the bottle, set it back where he found it, zipped up his pants, grabbed the cleaning bottle and rag, and continued to clean the desk. Lucio Diaz was not phased, he was not nervoushe had done this beforeand it had now become just a part of his daily cleaning ritual. Diaz confessed to the crimes when questioned by police, according to the complaint, saying he "did it because he knew [the employee] would drink it the next day." He added that he had a sickness. The woman later had several STD tests done which came back positive for Herpes simplex virus type 1, something she had never previously tested positive for, according to the complaint. Tests on Diaz revealed he was positive for the same virus, as well as chlamydia. Following the discovery, multiple other women working at the medical practice found they had also contracted STDs. The Independent has viewed multiple civil suits against Diaz. The District Attorney's office has classified Diaz's urine as a "deadly weapon" because Herpes simplex virus type 1 can "weaken the immune system" and cause "bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death." However, Diaz will not have to register as a sex offender, according to court documents. In a statement shared with KPRC, Diazs attorney Jimmy Ortiz said: Mr. Diaz was remorseful for his actions and did not want to go to trial and put the complainants through that process as well. He accepted responsibility for his actions and accepted the negotiated plea offer. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Cops in Southern California have released the chilling moment they arrested the mother of an 11-year-old found stabbed to death inside a Los Angeles-area hotel on Wednesday. Around 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Saritha Ramaraju, 48, called 911 and admitted to stabbing her son inside of their room, according to the Santa Ana Police Department. When officers arrived at the scene, they found her son dead on the bed of their room in a La Quinta Inn close to John Wayne Airport. Bodycam footage shows the officers encountering a calm Ramaraju close to the doorway of her room. She walks towards them with her phone in her hand. The woman is then handcuffed while appearing to be motionless. She is facing charges of charges of murder, child endangerment, torture, and aggravated mayhem. Saritha Ramaraju, 48, has been booked into the Santa Ana Jail on charges of murder, child endangerment, torture, and aggravated mayhem ( Santa Ana Police Department ) As she is cuffed, a female police officer is heard saying: She has blood on her hands. The officer then demands to know who else is in their room. A male officer walks into the room where he makes the horrific discovery. One guest told KTLA what she heard just before the police arrived. We heard the banging, and something hit the wall. It sounded like something hit the floor really hard, and we heard like a short yell, but that was it, Alyssah Witherell said. Ramaraju told the police she had ingested an unknown substance. The suspect was rushed to a local hospital, with the latest reports indicating that she is in stable condition. Ramaraju is reported to have consumed over 20 pills of Advil or Tylenol pills, police told The Orange County Register. A murder weapon was also found inside the hotel room, according to police reports. A motive has not been established. The suspect had reportedly been embroiled in an ongoing custody battle with her sons father, Prakash Raju, who works as a senior data architect at Irvine-based Panasonic Avionics Corporation, according to The Orange County Register. According to court records seen by The Register, the pair divorced in January 2018, and Ramaraju was given some visitation rights. His father was granted full custody. At the time of the tragedy, the child was legally allowed to be with his mother. The child, who was a student at the Irvine Unified School District, was due to be reunited with his father that evening. The custody agreement alleges that Ramaraju wanted the couples son to live with her in Fairfax, Virginia, while his father wanted him to remain in California. During their dispute, Ramaraju accuses her former husband of reneging on a promise to allow the child to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with her. In 2023, Raju pleaded guilty to a DUI, resulting in him being given probation. He maintained in legal documents that since that incident, he has abstained from alcohol. Homicide detectives are now looking for additional witnesses and have urged anyone with information relating to the incident to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to contact SAPD Homicide Section Detectives at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Walgreens employee is behind bars on assault with a deadly weapon charges in San Francisco after he was accused of stabbing a would-be shoplifter in the eye. In the early hours of Wednesday, police in San Francisco say that Larry Whitlock, 30, left the drugstore along Castro Way without paying for his goods. Surveillance video shows a worker named Guang Hong, 45, chasing him onto the street. The two exchange words during a standoff. Hong goes back into the store while Whitlock remains outside. Minutes later, Hong returns, and the pair exchange words again. Whitlock lunges at Hong, and the staffer throws his arms at the alleged thief, causing him to fall to the ground, holding his face. Hong appears to kick Whitlock before going back inside the store. In the video, Hong can be seen wearing a blue Walgreens smock. Whitlock remains in the area, and Hong once again comes outside. The two walk out of the frame. It was around 20 minutes after the original altercation when police were called to the scene after receiving a report about a stabbing. That particular store is open 24 hours, the only one of its kind in the city. The security footage was first broadcast by FriscoLive415. open image in gallery Authorities in San Francisco have confirmed that Whitlock was stabbed in the eye with a set of keys ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Hong was taken into custody, and Whitlock was brought to a nearby hospital before being charged with battery and petty theft. His injuries have been described as non-life threatening. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that Whitlock was stabbed in the eye. ABC San Francisco reports that the weapon used was a set of keys. Terry Asten Bennett, the president of the Castro Merchants Association and operator of Cliffs Variety store, told NBC San Francisco that while shes sympathetic to Hong, she believes he should never have followed Whitlock outside. Bennett said that her staff are also subject to threats from the local homeless community. Another resident, Chris Murray, who often shops in the store, told CBS San Francisco after seeing the video: You know, I feel really bad after seeing what I just saw... Im pretty surprised to see him do something like that. But like I said, these people deal with this every single night... You go in there and they dont even try and hide it. They go in with their bags open and just start scooping the aisle into the bag. In 2023, security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony was arrested for shooting dead a would-be shoplifter named Banko Brown at a Market Street Walgreens in the city. Charges against Anthony were later dropped. Hong, if found guilty on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, could face up to four years in prison and a fine of $10,000, whereas Whitlock could face up to six months in prison and a fine of $3,000. Legislation to create a school district to match the new city of St. George is off to the races and has met little initial opposition. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 21. The US President Donald Trump congratulated Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon on the successful delimitation of the border with Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports via press-service of the Tajik president. In his congratulatory letter on the occasion of Nowruz, Trump extended his best wishes to the people of Tajikistan for the holiday. "On behalf of the people of the US, I wish you and the people of Tajikistan a blessed Nowruz. This is a celebration of peace, prosperity, and renewal for all. I also congratulate you on the successful demarcation of the border with the Kyrgyz Republic. This is a major achievement that will bring great economic benefits and security to both countries. The people of the United States welcome this important agreement, which brings peace and stability to all," the message said. Trump expressed appreciation for the ongoing cooperation between the two nations and emphasized the hope for continued collaboration to strengthen the security of both countries . "As our nations move toward a more prosperous and better future, the United States remains a steadfast supporter of Tajikistan's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity," the letter concluded. On March 13, 2025, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed a bilateral agreement on the delimitation of the international border, which is more than 980 kilometers long. If you're African American or in certain organized or social groups, you know there's a national DEI boycott planned for Friday. If you haven't heard about it, know that some Black folks along with allies will be living their normal lives without buying breakfast, lunch or dinner out, without buying coffee, snacks and soda at a neighborhood convenience store and without going to a local or big box store to shop for clothes or groceries. The idea is for enough Black people to withdraw from commerce while standing together in favor of diversity, equity and inclusion and against companies that have moved away from DEI, a valuable business approach and strategy that works to make things better for everyone. Were now less than two months away from the start of another hurricane season one that AccuWeather has predicted will be turbulent and the authority that oversees flood protection on the east bank of the Mississippi River in several New Orleans area parishes is in disarray. Katie Bauman is the senior rabbi at Touro Synagogue in New Orleans. Aaron Bloch is the director of Jewish-Multicultural and Governmental Affairs at the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. Sara Lewis is the vice president of advocacy at the National Council of Jewish Women-Greater New Orleans Section. For a tiring period in the olden days, I was a gossip columnist. Openings, plays, clubs yep, last to leave. Drink card in hand, heels wrecked, one particularly bad morning-after memory of doing a cartwheel in a mini and G-string. At a recent work reunion, an old colleague took in my matronly respectability: You were wild. Never home. He wasnt wrong. Nights started at nine. I was drunk for about five years straight. Staying in felt depressing. Michelle Obama has endorsed heading to bed straight after dinner. Credit: AP Now? When someone suggests dinner at seven, the thought bubble above my head is, Can we do 5.30? Early bedtime is my holy grail. Ideally solo, except for the dog, while Chris picks his fantasy footy team. Or reading until my Kindle slides from my hand, no one texting after 9pm (it used to be 10, but thats now too brutal). So, I loved it when Michelle Obama told the Not Gonna Lie podcast this week that she has a nightly dispute with husband Barack ... over bedtimes. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. In his first public remarks on the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the opposition of playing up the incident in order to take attention away from their own internal problems, Trend reports. "The oppositions attempt to present its internal conflicts or problems with the law as the countrys most pressing problem is the height of hypocrisy. They have been trying to politicize the subject," he said. "The opposition is aware that the majority of tip-offs and documents [in Imamoglus case] have been handed over to the judicial authorities by fellow [party] members. Problems of the Republican Peoples Party are not the problems of our country or people. These are the problems of a very small group of ambitious people in their own offices. We, as a political party or an alliance, have no time for the opposition's theatrics," Erdogan said in a televised address. To note, on March 19 the Istanbul Prosecutor General's Office issued a detention warrant for seven suspects, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Deputy Secretary General of Istanbul Municipality Mahir Polat, and the head of the Sisli municipality Resul Emrah Sahan, on charges of "assisting the PKK terrorist organization. The communique from the Prosecutor General's Office indicated that as part of the municipal elections held on March 31, 2024, an activity called "Urban Consensus" was carried out with the aim of strengthening the influence of the PKK terrorist organization in major cities, including Istanbul. The leaders of the terrorist organization, Cemil Bayik and Mustafa Karasu, published their ideas and instructions through media outlets connected to the organization in the run-up to the election. There is evidence that in the Istanbul election, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu formed an alliance with the Peoples' Democratic Congress (PDK), an umbrella structure of the terrorist organization, based on the principle of "urban consensus." As a result, operations were simultaneously conducted against PDK members in several cities, especially in Istanbul, and investigations continue into the detained individuals. The investigation revealed that members of the municipal council elected on the Republican People's Party (CHP) list, as well as some appointed mayors, are connected to the terrorist organization. As part of the investigation, based on gathered evidence, Imamoglu, Polat, Sahan, Head of the Institute of Reforms Mehmet Ali Caliskan, as well as A.B., identified as a member of the ideological structure of the terrorist organization and currently on the run, an employee of the "Spectrum House" company, and H.A., whose name was linked to recruitment for the armed forces of the terrorist organization in 2018, as well as Deputy Mayor of Sisli Ebru Ozdemir, are allegedly involved in the "urban consensus" activity. Ekrem Imamoglu is a Turkish entrepreneur, real estate developer, and social democratic politician now holding the position of the 32nd mayor of Istanbul. He was initially elected with 4.1 million votes, securing victory by a margin of 13,000 votes against his AKP rival in the March 2019 mayoral election as the joint candidate of the Nation Alliance, including the CHP and the Good Party. Former AFL star Jason Akermanis has lost a nearly three-year legal battle to overturn a conviction for exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h. Akermanis Toyota Kluger was detected travelling at 141km/h in a 100km/h zone on May 22, 2022 at Mutdapilly south-west of Brisbane A magistrate later convicted and fined the Brownlow medallist and Brisbane Lions triple premiership player $1500 following a hearing that lasted most of a day. Jason Akermanis (centre) in action for the Lions in 2005 against Sydney Credit: Andy Zakeli The Queensland Court of Appeal last week denied Akermanis, 48, leave to appeal following his attempts to overturn the conviction in the District Court in February 2024. An embattled water company had to be propped up with a multimillion-dollar injection of government cash after bungled billing left customers refusing to pay for incorrect, inflated or delayed charges. Greater Western Water has also lost its chairman and is now under investigation by the Essential Services Commission as the fallout from its botched $100 million-plus upgrade of its billing system continues to grow. Greater Western Water customer Lissie Fiddian is in dispute with the company over charges. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Customers have been left fuming with complaints including failed direct debits, delays in property settlements, potential data breaches and huge queues for assistance about inaccurate bills. The botched billing and payment system update has hit Greater Western Waters bottom line, forcing it to borrow more money from Victorias treasury late last year. Star West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern says fellow backman Harry Edwards was left to fend for himself on an island during last weeks 87-point loss to Gold Coast. The off-season trade of Tom Barrass to Hawthorn means Edwards has now been entrusted with shutting down some of the competitions best key forwards on a weekly basis. The 24-year-old was given a rude awakening last week when he had six goals kicked on him by Gold Coast forward Ben King. Premiership-winning Eagle Tom Barrass is now a Hawk. Credit: AFL Photos Edwards will no doubt end up on a poster after King took a spectacular mark-of-the-year contender on the West Coast defenders shoulders in the third quarter. Gold Coasts rampant midfield meant Edwards was helpless at times to stop the avalanche of silver-spoon supply to King. McGovern acknowledges it will take time to bed in the game plan of new coach Andrew McQualter, but hes optimistic about what lies ahead. Were at the start of something new, and weve just got to keep looking to improve, he said. Against Gold Coast, it was our first actual real game of trying to implement a new style of game plan. Its going to take time to get it perfect, thats for sure. I hope the fans understand that it might take a bit of time. Were a very young side, a brand new coach, a lot of changes. But I think for us, its just going back and looking at the contested footy. That was probably the most disheartening aspect from the loss. The Eagles will be without All-Australian forward Jake Waterman (back), but have regained Liam Ryan from a hamstring injury. AAP Climate activists are planning to disrupt politicians election campaign appearances by reviving a tactic called bird-dogging that has already interfered with media appearances from Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor this week alone. Campaigners from the Rising Tide group interrupted the speeches to harangue the major parties for their support for fossil fuels. Bird-dogging originally referred to dogs that follow their owners when they go shooting and retrieve birds. It is now used to describe activists who force politicians to respond publicly on issues that they try to avoid. Dozens of progressive US campaign groups have published instructions for bird-dogging on their websites. Rising Tides Zac Schofield said the group would take every opportunity that arises to bird-dog politicians. Were protesting both major parties because both major parties have serious policy failures on energy and the climate, he added. To date, there isnt much evidence that Breakthrough Victoria will move the dial in a significant way, and there is a good argument for the funding to be redirected towards polices that more effectively achieve that outcome. Shiffman, a tech investor and start-up founder, said that rather than using taxpayer money to take equity stakes in start-ups, the government should provide interest-free loans to help companies access the existing research and development tax incentive, as well as office premises for early-stage ventures and payroll tax relief for more established ones. Business figure Paul Bassat says Breakthrough Victoria should be wound up. Credit: Nicole Reed Picking winners with a relatively undefined mandate using a whole variety of different mechanisms is probably the worst structure I have ever seen, Shiffman said. David Burt, the director of entrepreneurship at the University of NSW, urged the Victorian government to retain Breakthrough Victoria. He cited its recent $10 million investment in Quantum Brilliance, a company that specialises in the design of quantum devices used in supercomputing, to shift its manufacturing operations from Stuttgart, Germany to Victoria. Australia is in a global competition to attract manufacturing operations of the next generation of important technology companies, Burt said. Whether it is equity or debt or a grant, there is a role for government capital to keep technology development in Australia. Breakthrough Victoria is doing good work, it is doing it in the right way. David Burt from the UNSW says Breakthrough Victoria has been a success and should be retained. Breakthrough Victorias troubled investment in Seer Medical, a Melbourne-based company that developed technology to enable people living with epilepsy to better monitor their health from home, is forensically examined in a 172-page administrators report provided to creditors last week. The report, prepared by Pitcher Partners insolvency expert Lindsay Bainbridge, reveals that on July 4, 2022, Breakthrough Victoria made an investment of $30 million into Seer Medical in the form of an unsecured, convertible note to help the medtech company increase its Australian workforce and expand its operations in the US and UK. Tech investor Adir Shiffman says there are better ways to support start-ups. Under the terms of the investment, the company would remain based in Victoria, the funds would be repaid to Breakthrough Victoria by September 2025 and in the event of a capital raise, Breakthrough Victoria would be able to convert its debt into company shares at a discounted rate. The injection of taxpayer funds, although welcomed at the time by Seer Medical co-founder and former University of Melbourne researcher Dean Freestone, coincided with an abrupt collapse in the companys finances and governance. By the end of June 2023, expenses had ballooned, the company had posted trading losses of $30 million and there was material doubt about it being an ongoing concern. An exodus of directors, failed capital raising and a voluntary product recall meant that by July last year, Seer Medical was burning cash at the rate of $2 million a month. It liquidated its operations in Germany and the UK, ceased its US operations and reduced its workforce from a peak of 270 people to just 30 staff. Freestone stood down as a director and lodged an unfair dismissal claim against the company and separate unconscionable conduct claim against Breakthrough Victoria. Both of those matters are before the courts. The company estimated that without further intervention, it would have run out of money in October. Instead, Breakthrough Victoria stepped in with more taxpayer funds. Dean Freestone, one of the co-founders of Seer Medical, in 2021. Notwithstanding the poor financial performance of the company after July 2024, BV [Breakthrough Victoria] continued to invest in the company executing a convertible note agreement in July 2024 with the company receiving the following subsequent payments: $2m on 29 July 2024; $2m on 26 August 2024; and $2m on 17 September 2024, Bainbridge reported. When Seer Medical was placed into administration, Breakthrough Victoria was the companys largest secured and unsecured creditor, with total claims for $39.25 million. According to Bainbridge, Breakthrough Victorias best prospect of seeing some of that money again is to convert $25.7 million of its debt into equity and become a major shareholder of a new company to be controlled by Cadwell Industries, a US-based neurodiagnostic equipment manager. Loading Under a second proposed corporate rescue, Breakthrough Victoria would take control of a rebooted company, in partnership with TriCap Consulting Pte Ltd, a Singaporean biotech investor. Both of these options will be put to a meeting of Seer Medical creditors on Tuesday. Breakthrough Victoria defended its ongoing support for Seer Medical. In Victoria alone, Seer Medical saw well over 6000 patients who otherwise would have directly cost the Victorian healthcare system over $90 million, the government spokesperson said. 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 When Leah Grinter was hunting for an apartment to buy, it was art deco that had her heart. She is one of the growing number of Melbourne buyers enamoured by the restrained elegance and generous proportions of the citys suburban art deco apartments. The hallmark architectural style of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, which shaped Melbournes earliest days of density living and social renewal after the Great Depression, is experiencing a renaissance. Among Melbourne buyers, art deco was the second-most searched keyword on Domain.com.au last year, trumped only by pool, and up from eighth place in 2023. For Grinter, who bought in Elwood, art deco is the gold standard for apartments, about a century since their construction. They have bigger bedrooms, good-sized living areas and decent kitchens, the marketing director says. Art deco seems to encapsulate all of that. Advertisement I am a big cook and the idea of having a galley kitchen, like you find in the modern builds, just did not appeal. These are smaller blocks with fewer owners and lower body corporate fees. Grinter says her art deco apartment felt like home as soon as she saw it. Credit: Chris Hopkins And I think they are beautiful buildings. I had my heart set on art deco and it took a while to find. When I walked in the door, I thought, This is home. Art deco apartments were among Melbournes first apartments. In lively, city-edge suburbs, from the baysides Elwood and St Kilda, to the east, including South Yarra and Toorak, they were a step up from the inner-city rooming houses of the early 1900s and geared towards a better standard of living. Art deco is shorthand for desirable attributes, says Eliza Owen, head of residential research at CoreLogic. Advertisement When you talk to people looking for art deco, it is a code or signifier of quality, resilience and being enjoyable to live in, she says. Those are superlatives that a spurt of mass-produced apartments in the past decade have fallen short of. Loading An off-the-plan apartment frenzy in the 2010s catered to investors, and these units abundance, compact features and depreciation benefits were not tailored to owner occupiers. CoreLogic research identified 14 Melbourne suburbs with an influx of new apartments where median prices dipped between 17.2 to 4.2 per cent below their 2017 and 2018 peaks. In the City of Melbourne local government area, 48.4 per cent of all units that sold in the December quarter traded at a loss, CoreLogic found. Because the nature of development was geared towards attracting investor interest, I think there was a bit of a deterioration in the quality and size of apartments to maximise the financial outcome for the developer and the investor, Owen says. Examples of reduced quality include borrowed light in bedrooms, tight kitchens and no outdoor areas. Advertisement However, art deco is distinguished by thoughtful details, including glamorous but functional curves, entry foyers and corner windows. Angie Zigomanis, head of data and insights at Quantify Strategic Insights, said art deco apartments were built in the image of houses solid brick and made to last. They are seen as appealing alternatives to a house, in what are now suburbs with seven-figure medians. With an art deco apartment, you know it has stood the test of time, but buying off-the-plan has risks, unless you have a reputable builder who is going to come back and fix defects, Zigomanis says. There have been stories about all sorts of apartment buildings having issues. Even the best quality ones and the highest-end ones. Structural problems with modern builds come to light often due to the developers defect liability period, Zigomanis says, which can lead to a public spat. Advertisement Art deco is not perfect, but apartment owners are more likely to go through the rigmarole in private, which helps the reputation as unbreakable. Interior designer and sustainable design consultant Megan Norgate, director of studio Brand New Eco, has transformed art deco properties for clients. Coveted features include ornamental stained-glass that play with light, large windows relative to room size, and curves, which create a flow between rooms, and are a precursor to open plan. The period translates well to modern life, Norgate says. It is easier to draw a contemporary experience out of an art deco building than it is, say, from an Edwardian or a Victorian, which had a formal programming of rooms, higher ceilings and smaller windows, Norgate says. In smaller spaces, curves can be used to increase the circulation and remove any choke points between one space and another. That is something that started to happen during the art deco period, and is a useful spatial resolution tool. Advertisement BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the liberation of Karabakh after nearly 30 years of occupation as a significant milestone in the region's history, Trend reports. Speaking at an event in Ankara celebrating the Novruz holiday, Erdogan also praised Azerbaijan for being one of the first countries to offer assistance to Turkiye following the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023. "The greatest value for the countries of the Turkic world is unity," Erdogan emphasized, stressing that this unity has grown stronger through joint efforts, fostering cooperation across various sectors. He further stated that the fraternal nations of the Turkic world are committed to creating a new global order, with the Turkic world at its center. Disha Salian death issue rocks Mah Houses MUMBAI : Aaditya Thackeray says he will reply in court MEMBERS of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance on Thursday raised the Disha Salian death controversy in both Houses of Maharashtra Legislature, leading to heated exchanges, even as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray said he would give reply to the allegations against him in the court. A day after Dishas father Satish Salian demanded a fresh probe in her death, the issue was raised by Ameet Satam (BJP) in the Assembly. Disha, former manager of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died or was killed on June 8, 2020, Satam said. Police termed the death as suicide....An SIT was formed in December 2022, but no report has been submitted yet. But social media is full of speculation about whether a party was going on when she died, whether she was killed, he said. Salians father has said he suspects his daughter was gangraped and murdered. He has filed a petition.The previous MVA Government suppressed the case. The then Mayor met him, misled him, and pressurised him not to speak. He has said a minister in the MVA regime was involved, Satam added. Satish Salian had said on Wednesday that his petition in the High Court demands registration of an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray, who was a minister in the MVA Government led by Uddhav Thackeray when Disha died. Satam sought to know what the Special Investigation Team formed by the previous Mahayuti Government had been doing. Will it interrogate the persons named by Satish Salian, the BJP MLA asked. BJP Minister Nitesh Rane demanded to know whetherthe former minister will be arrested. Shouting slogans, MLAs of the ruling alliance members entered the Well of the House. Speaker Rahul Narwekar then adjourned the house for ten minutes. Afterwards, Minister of State for HomeYogesh Kadam said the SIT probe was still going on, and Salians father has made the State Government a party to his petition. We will act as per the court orders. Those who are guilty, no matter how powerful they are, will not be spared, he said. Disha Salian died on June 8, 2020, after falling off the 14th floor of a residential building in suburban Malad. The police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) case. Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput allegedly committed suicide in his apartment in suburban Bandra six days later. In the Legislative Council, Manisha Kayande (Shiv Sena) and Pravin Darekar (BJP) raised the issue through a point of information. Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, who belongs to the Sena (UBT), objected, calling it a politically motivated case. The Government can conduct inquiries and even set upanother SIT, but same rulesshould apply to the suspiciousdeath of Pooja Chavan, he said, referring to the death of a youngwoman in Pune in 2021 that ledto then MVA minister SanjayRathods resignation. Rathod isa minister in the current BJP-leddispensation too. Anil Parab, another Sena (UBT)leader, said a case against AadityaThackeray was going on for morethan a year and a half. The freshpetition filed by Dishas father isa copy-paste petition.... The CBI has given a clean chit (toThackeray), he said. He also asked why the rulingalliance did not seek resignationof BJP minister Jaykumar Gore, apparently referring to allegations by a woman that Gore sent her objectionable photographs. The minister earlier this monthhad denied the allegation. Asked by reporters about Satish Salians petition, AadityaThackeray said attempts werebeing made for the last five yearsto tarnish his image. We will putforth our side in the court. Wewill give our replies (to the allegations) in the court, he added For a successful pearl farming By Shivani Gupta : A DECADE ago,as Narendra Kumar Girwa scrolled through YouTube insearch of videos on terrace farming, an in advertenttypo directed himto the intriguing world of pearl farming.This chance encounter piqued his curiosity. Despite Rajasthans climate and agricultural traditions focused on wheat, bajra (pearl millet), and jau (barley), Narendra saw potential in cultivatingpearls,whichhadarobust demand and lucrative market rates in India. Before this unexpected turn, Narendras life was steeped in uncertainty. Raised in a middle-income family with five siblings in KishangarhRenwalof Jaipurdistrict, he had no land or agricultural background. After graduating, he opened a bookstore near schools and colleges - a prime locationforhis stationery business. For eight years, business was good until his landlord asked him to vacate the shop. I was running the bookstore for eight years inthe same location. All of a sudden, my landlord asked me to vacate the premises. He wanted to make way for his sonto establisha business in thesamespot.So, Ihadtovacate the shop. Itook another shopon rent,abouthalfa kilometre from theoldlocation,butI wasnt getting good customers there, Narendra tells. Forced into a less advantageous location, he struggled to attractcustomers,leadingtosignificant financial losses - amounting to Rs 45 lakh. The businessdrainedhissavings,and despitehiswifessupportthrough her earnings from stitching clothes, their financial health deteriorated rapidly. Disheartened, Narendra found himself at a crossroads. Transforming setbacks into stepping stones Whilebrowsingonlinefornew opportunities,hisaccidentaldiscovery of pearl farming videos signalleda possible escape from his financialtroubles. Intrigued, hebeganresearchingthisunconventionalfarmingpracticethoroughly. Although the idea seemedoutlandishinRajasthans dry climate, many mocked his interest, including his own family. An invaluable resource inhis quest was the Central Institute ofFreshwaterAquaculture(CIFA) inOdisha.Here,Narendrafound the training he needed to pursue his new passion. Forafee of Rs6,000,helearnedthenuances of pearl farming over a five-day course and gained insights into the delicate process of developing pearls within mussels. Equippedwithnewknowledge and determination, Narendra ventured into the world of pearl farming in 2015. He purchased 500 mussels from Kerala and started freshwater pearl cultivation in this village. His initial attempts were fraught with challenges, as Rajasthans climate posed significant obstacles, and a lack of local expertise left him tonavigate largely alone.Within two weeks, his mussels started dying,onebyone. Outofhis first batch of 500 mussels, only 35 survived due to unforeseen issues with ammonia levels. I had failed miserably, he says with a sigh. But Narendra was undeterred by failure. He recalibrated his strategy,investingtimeinunderstanding pearl farming better. Overcoming losses of Rs 50,000, he refined his methods to improve survivalrates and masteredthe art of maintainingprecise pond conditions. After six months, he procured another 500 mussels. Through persistent experimentation and adaptation,within18months,his efforts started yielding promising results. His button-shaped pearls possessed a unique lustre that captivated the market. Selling these pearls at Rs 300 each,hissecondbatchproduced a harvest of 700 pearls, earning him a lucrative income of Rs 2 lakh. The success validated his risky venture and opened doors to new possibilities, solidifying his standing as a pioneering figure in Rajasthans nascent pearl farming industry. Narendras own venture, now sprawling across 300 square feet with 3000 mussels, serves as a shining example of success. Generating5000pearlspercycle, he profits upwards of Rs 10 to Rs 15lakhover18months.Hispearls are sold through Amazon and retail markets, while his foray intopearl-basedjewelleryfurther diversifies his income. Buildingapearl farming community As word spread of Narendras success, so did opportunities to educate and inspire others. Recognisingachancetohelpfellow farmers, he began offering training sessions. As of now, he has trained over 200 individuals from neighbouring states - Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and UttarPradesh.ChargingRs4,000 for two-day workshops, he provided comprehensive training andcontinuoussupportandfostered a nascent community of pearl farmers. Jodhpurs Aditya Kachawa underwent training with Narendra last February. Reflecting on his experience, he shares, The training provided detailedexplanationsinanexcellentmanner.Thebestpartisthat Narendra ji is incredibly helpful and always available to answer questions through any mode of communication. He continues, I manage several farming projects, including a nursery and mushroom cultivation, and had some unused land.I wanted to make the most ofit,soIcurrentlyhave1,000pearl mussels in my cemented pond. Evenafterthetraining,Narendra offered ongoing support to help meestablishmypearlbusiness. Despite invitations to share his expertise globally - from Dubai to Bhutan and London - Narendrastayedfocusedonlocal impact,evenassistingpearlpond setups abroad, suchas inNepal. Secrets to freshwater pearl farming For those inspired by Narendrasjourney,headvocates astep-by-stepapproachtopearl farming. 1. Source good quality mussels from renowned vendors. About 10 percent of losses are estimatedduringtransportation. To keep mussels healthy during transportation, make sure that you keepthemina wetjutesack. As it takes two to three days for transportation, sprinkle water on the cover when it starts drying up. 2.Farmerscanstartbyfirstsetting up a 1015-foot pond. This area is suitable to hold 1,000 mussels.Eventhoselackinglarge land plots can succeed by setting up smaller ponds on the terraces of their homes. 3.Narendra emphasises maintaining zero ammonia levels.This can be achieved by deploying motors of water coolers that rotate waterin pond. Use motor for two to three hours daily. 4. Understanding Rajasthans uniqueclimate,Narendradigshis ponds five feet deep to regulate temperature, ensuring mussels thrive, eveninthe summerheat. He advises maintaining a temperature between 10 and 30 degrees. By leveraging green shades, he maintains critical temperature stability, facilitating productive harvests from October to March. 5. Under optimal conditions, witha70percentmusselsurvival rate, farmers can earn up to Rs 4 lakh from 1,400 pearls. Narendra also advises turning shellwasteintohandicraftitems to earn an extra income. FRESH OFFENSIVE 30 Naxals killed in 2 encounters in Cgarh BIJAPUR/KANKER : IN A fresh offensive against Naxals, security forces killed at least 30 members of the banned CPI (Maoists) in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region on Thursday, officials said. While 26 Naxalites were killed in Bijapur district, four Maoists were gunned down in Kanker by a joint team of the BSF and District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel of the State Police. A police jawan was also killed in the encounter in Bijapur, the officials said. An official said a gunfight broke out around 7 am in a forest along the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was out an anti-Naxalite operation in Gangaloor police station area in Bijapur. The bodies of 26 Naxalites besides firearms and explosives were recovered from the spot, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P told PTI. A jawan of the DRG unit was also killed in the gunfight, he said. Another encountertook place in the morning in a forest along the border of Kanker and Narayanpur districts when a joint team of the DRG and Border Security Force (BSF) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela said. The bodies of four Naxalites and automatic weapons were recovered following the action,he said. Searchoperationswere underway at both the encounter sites, police said. With the latest action, 113 Naxalites have been killed in encounters in the state so far this year. Of them, 97 wereeliminatedintheBastardivisioncomprisingsevendistrictsincluding Bijapur and Kanker. In 2015, on the initiative of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud, located in the Val-de-Travers (Switzerland), marked the rebirth of one of the greatest names in watchmaking: Ferdinand Berthoud (1727-1807). The first FB 1 collection unveiled on this occasion stemmed from meticulous research and development undertaken four years earlier, in 2011, amid the uttermost secrecy. The aim was to provide a contemporary horological expression of the quest for precision initiated by Ferdinand Berthoud. In 2025, Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud celebrates its tenth anniversary and remains more than ever guided by the pursuit of authenticity, fully respecting the work of the eponymous watchmaker. This is an opportunity for its President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, to look back on the progress accomplished by responding to ten questions. Retrospective Ferdinand Berthoud 1. Which aspect of the master horologists work guides the development of each of the collections? Definitely chronometry. Ferdinand Berthoud devoted his life to creating increasingly accurate marine chronometers to accompany the landmark maritime expeditions that shaped the 18th century. The master-watchmaker constantly improved his escapements, suspensions, materials and displays to achieve tolerances that were absolutely extraordinary for the time. The most convincing example is doubtless the Marine Clock No. 8 (kept at the CNAM in Paris) which, after 12 months at sea, was only 1.35 minutes off compared with the time at its departure. This personal trajectory has guided all the developments that we are now making in his name. 2. How is this reflected in your collections? Through a concept that is ultimately quite simple: each movement corresponds to a different approach to timekeeping. Each of our calibres features distinct technical choices, yet all are governed by the same objective: to improve precision. We have studied the mechanisms favoured by Ferdinand Berthoud himself such as fusee-and-chain transmission, the remontoir degalite and the cylindrical balance-spring in order to create contemporary wristwatches. Every movement that leaves our workshops must be COSC-certified, with the results obtained exceeding the criteria imposed by this independent organisation. 3. Which awards have made the greatest impression on you? Those we have received at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG). Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud has won five prizes in the five editions of the GPHG in which it has participated. These awards include the Aiguille dOr Grand Prix the best-in-show distinction received in our very first year of existence but also and above all, the three Chronometry prizes among these five trophies. These awards make Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud unique in the history of the GPHG. Retrospective Ferdinand Berthoud 4. Why did you choose to set up the company in Fleurier? Ferdinand Berthoud was born in Val-de-Travers and so was the Chronometrie that bears his name: the former in Plancemont sur Couvet and latter in Fleurier. There are less than five kilometres between these two places and the house where Ferdinand Berthoud was born is in fact still standing. The timepieces crafted in our workshops are engraved with the words Val-de-Travers Suisse, a designation of origin, as it were. I am personally involved in viticulture and therefore view this respect for the correct designations, steeped in history, as essential. It is thus about respect for terroir, because Ferdinand Berthoud would certainly not have had the same life if he had been born elsewhere. 5. How important is the heritage and history of Ferdinand Berthoud to you? At the Manufacture in Fleurier, we have a private museum the L.U.CEUM as well as a museum space exclusively dedicated to the creations of Ferdinand Berthoud. Our collections have been patiently built up over time. Some of these historical objects have been restored using 18th-century methods and are all in working order, which is quite rare for a museum. It is important to point this out because as well as being a source of inspiration for our own creations, these measuring instruments are also a heritage to be preserved, like true witnesses to the work and genius of the master watchmaker. 6. Which do you see as the most important historical timepiece? Ferdinand Berthoud's contemporary chronometers stem from an approach based on their historical coherence. In this respect, the Astronomical Pocket Watch No. 3 (Ferdinand Berthoud, Paris, 1806) has particular value from our standpoint. In addition to being the first time-measuring instrument signed by Ferdinand Berthoud to have joined the L.U.C.EUM in 2005, it was also the original inspiration for the first FB 1 collections. It was thanks to this model that we chose to develop a movement with fusee-and-chain transmission and adopted the idea of an hours and minutes counter positioned at 12 oclock along with a long central seconds hand. 7. How have the workshops evolved over the past decade? When it was founded, Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud had just three artisans. Today, there are more than 20, and just over 300 watches have been delivered in ten years. Demand currently far exceeds supply, but we are perhaps the only ones to inform our customers of the number of calibres produced for each reference. We therefore do not take any orders above this threshold, which also helps limit the waiting list effect. Retrospective Ferdinand Berthoud 8. What about collectors perceptions over the same period? The first FB 1 collections were deliberately presented in 2015 with an octagonal case, which is highly distinctive. As with any breakthrough creation, we noticed a divide between supporters and opponents of this design. While some collectors struggled to embrace it, change always requires a certain amount of time to adapt and it is amusing to note that purists today prefer the style of the original cases the ones that helped shape the image of Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud. We now manufacture both round and octagonal cases depending on the collection and these two distinct shapes coexist very well. We have no plans to abandon one in favour of the other. 9. How can your collectors appreciate the level of finishing applied to your creations? Each finished watch is examined under 6.7x magnification, a choice that goes far beyond conventional watchmaking standards. We have never made any concessions and collectors appreciate this ongoing commitment that allows us to offer them impeccable service. We also always encourage them to come and visit our workshops and discover what goes on behind the scenes in the making of their timepieces. They can thus appreciate the entire creative process and better understand why each movement requires several hundred hours of manual decoration. 10. 2025 is an anniversary year for Chronometrie Berthoud: what can we expect? While we have various activities planned throughout the year, the most eagerly awaited revelation is undoubtedly the culmination of the Naissance dune Montre 3 project. This initiative aims to bring together the talents of yesterday and today, to assemble their notes and sketches, to unite their knowledge in pursuit of a common goal: not merely the entirely hand-crafted timepiece, but in fact the safeguarding of the expertise that brings it to life. The project will be the culmination of our first ten years of learning, innovation and transmission. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. HAZY TRUCE DAYS after his disastrous Oval office meeting with President of the United States Mr. Donald Trump, Ukraine President Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy came around and held a phone call with the US President while agreeing to Russias offer of a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure for next 30 days. It is seen as a step for a broader cease-fire as Washington prepares ground to bring Moscow and Kyiv together to end the threeyear long war. On the face of it the two phone calls within 24 hours between Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy trigger hope of closure of the long-stretched conflict but the larger issue is too complex to hammer out such easy solutions. The fire might be ceased for a while but ending the military conflict remains a major challenge not only for Mr. Trump but also for all the world leaders taking efforts to bring peace to the region. The White House summary has termed both conversations by Mr. Trump as positive as Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy showed great willingness to pause the fighting. There were many proposals put forth by both leaders as Mr. Trump opened his negotiation rulebook. This will remain the biggest catch in the entire matter. In the end, it will all boil down to the gains each country is seeking from the ceasefire. The US had already called Ukraine to sign an agreement for access to its rich mineral reserves. The deal did not materialise after the momentous meltdown in the Oval Office when Mr. Trump and US Vice-President Mr. J D Vance gave a massive dressing down to the Ukraine President in full public glare. It was an embarrassing moment for international relations and diplomacy as the US acted like a wild bully. Yet, Ukraine has shown super restraint to overcome the episode and turn around to thank Mr. Trump while showing keenness to go ahead with pending agreements. These issues will be on the table after the two phone calls between the US, Russia and Ukraine . Three broader takeaways from the phone calls will be in play during the negotiations as the pause comes into effect. One, the control of energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Mr. Trump has already floated the idea of the US taking control of the power plants in Ukraine. It is seen by experts in Kyiv as a workable deal. It will be a win-win situation for Mr. Zelenskyy if the US goes ahead with the idea as attacks on energy infrastructure has remained a pain point for both Kyiv and Moscow. However, what Mr. Zelenskyy is seeking is a written commitment from Russia. Ukraine has refused to take just the assertion and the word of Mr. Putin on not striking energy sites in the future as a guarantee. In the words of Mr. Zelenskyy, it is a fair demand as the war has made us practical people. The US will need its expertise to extract a commitment from Moscow on the issue. It is easier said than done. The second takeaway entails reining in Moscows maximalist aims in Ukraine. The phone call between Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump has been termed as a positive development but what has not been told is the Russian leaders reluctance to retreat from his demands. He has conceded very little so far on the prisoner swap and return of occupied territories. These were the goals pursued by Kremlin since the war started and Ukraine cannot be faulted if it sees the cease-fire advantageous to Russia. The third issue pertains to the frosty relations between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia claims that Ukraine has violated many agreements in the past and committed barbaric terrorist crimes in the Kursk region of Russia. Lack of trust in each others word rules heavily in the bilateral relations between the neighbours. No negotiation can sustain if the distrust factor is not dealt with permanently. It makes the cease-fire only a minor pause, not the end of the war. Jabalpur EOW raids rice mill in Seoni Our Correspondent SEONI, DSP of EOW A V Singh said that the action is being taken on the basis of a complaint Stock of paddy taken for milling during procurement of the mill operator is being investigated The team of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Jabalpur raided Shakuntala Devi Rice Mill located in Bhurkalkhapa of Seoni. A six-member team, including two DSPs, has started investigation in this mill operated by Ashish Ashu Agarwal, State President of Madhya Pradesh Rice Mill Association. The team is verifying all the documents along with Government paddy and prepared rice. Quality test of rice was also done on the spot. During investigation, officials of Civil Supplies Corporation, Seoni Tehsildar and employees of other departments were present. Action can continue for two days. DSP of EOW A V Singh said that this action is being taken on the basis of a complaint. Stock of paddy taken for milling during procurement of the mill operator is being investigated. This action can continue for the next one or two days. Seoni is one of the major paddy producing districts of Madhya Pradesh. Last week, EOW also investigated Civil Supplies Corporation and some rice mills in Balaghat. Earlier, a case of paddy scam worth crores had also come to light in Jabalpur district. MoUs worth Rs 6,136 cr inked for investment in distt Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari lighting the traditional lamp at the Nagpur District Investment Summit held here in the city on Thursday while other dignitaries are also seen. Staff Reporter ; In a major boost to industrial growth in the region, Nagpur District Investment Summit held here in the city on Thursday witnessed signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for investments worth Rs 6,136 crore in the coming financial year. Entrepreneurs have signed MoUs to set up 157 units in the region that are expected to create 7,260 jobs. The proposed investment will be in Gondia and Nagpur districts in sectors like packaging, metal, solar, battery cells, food and agro processing, hospitality, research and innovations, pharma, plastic and defence among others. Under the aegis of Ministry of Industries, Government of Maharashtra, the summit was organised here by Joint Director of Industries, Nagpur for attracting investments. Similar investment summit held last year saw MoUs worth Rs 4,600 crore for setting up 42 units. Out of these, 27 units have already started operations and work on the remaining 15 units is in the advanced stages. Vijayalakshmi Bidari, Divisional Commissioner, Nagpur, was the chief guest while Gajendra Bharti, Joint Director of Industries, Vidarbha, presided over the programme. S S Muddamwar, General Manager, DIC, Nagpur; Manohar Pote, Regional Manager, MIDC; CA Julfesh Shah, Chairman COSIA; P Mohan, President, MIA; Kishor Malviya, President BMA; Santosh More, DGM, SIDBI; and others were among the prominent persons present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Bidari appreciated the efforts taken by Industries Department for promoting industrialisation and entrepreneurship in the region. She also encouraged the stakeholders from various sectors to invest in the region. She assured all support from the Government for smooth implementation of the proposals. Major investors who signed MoUs included Xolopack (Rs 1,200 crore); Inventry Research (Rs 700 crore); PD Properties Taj Gateway (Rs 400 crore); Vithoba Group (Rs 100 crore); Confidence Group (Rs 150 crore); Hilton Group (Rs 175 crore); MMP (Rs 50 crore); Taj Agrika (Rs 45 crore) and others. At the outset, Gajendra Bharti made the introductory remarks. Muddamwar coordinated the MoUs signing ceremony. In addition to this, presentation were also made by Bhaskar Murode, E&Y representative from Mumbai on MAITRI.2.0 portal, which has now become operational and is a single window system for all compliances and permissions. Kamal Nayak of National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) apprised the audience about various schemes beneficial for the industries. Priyanka Shende from SIDBI guided the participants on various finance schemes. A panel discussion was also held on various issues related to industries. Muddamwar proposed a formal vote of thanks. Three paper units to come up with an investment of Rs 1,185 crore Xolopak India Ltd, Shashank Mishra led group will set up two units of paper industry in Gondia with an investment of Rs 950 crore and Rs 225 crore. Another unit in the same sector in the name of Hardoli Paper Mills Ltd will come up in Katol with an investment of Rs 10 crore. MP Dubey expresses gratitude to Minister Nitin Gadkari, urges speedy completion of flyovers MP Ashish Dubey holding discussions with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on development projects in Jabalpur. Staff Reporter : Member of Parliament (MP) Ashish Dubey met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi to express gratitude for approval of various road and flyover projects in Jabalpur Parliamentary constituency. During the meeting, Dubey discussed current status of roads and flyovers in Jabalpur and invited Minister Gadkari to inaugurate the flyover from Madan Mahal to Damohnaka. Dubey also raised concerns about progress of other proposed flyover and road projects, requesting Gadkaris personal intervention in monitoring their timely completion. Following Union Minister Gadkaris directions, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued orders to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a new high-speed four-lane road between Jabalpur and Bhopal. MP Dubey expressed gratitude for the initiative and further discussed enhancing road connectivity in Jabalpur, including plans for a high-speed corridor connecting the city. Gadkari reassured Dubey that the Central Government is committed to improving road infrastructure across Madhya Pradesh, including Jabalpur. He emphasised that efforts are underway to enhance connectivity, develop high-speed corridors and introduce better facilities for travellers on national and express highways. The Minister assured that Jabalpur will not be deprived of improved roads, better connectivity and modern facilities. MP Dubey acknowledged leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister Gadkari stating that their guidance has resulted in significant infrastructural development in Jabalpur, including the construction of new flyovers and better roadways. Furthermore, he said that the Central Government is set to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in developing and modernising national highways and expressways in Madhya Pradesh. The investment is expected to transform the States road network, create new employment opportunities and accelerate key infrastructure projects. SIGNS OF RETURN TO NORMALCY Curfew lifted in Nandanvan, Kapil Nagar Stillness in Air: Ever busy Badkas Square witnessed thin traffic post-violence, on Thursday. (Right) The bustling Kirana Oli remained shut for third straight day, hitting the trade. The effects of violence are palpable in the area. (Pics by Satish Raut) Staff Reporter : In a calibrated response, Nagpur City Police, on Thursday, lifted curfew under the jurisdiction of Nandanvan and Kapil Nagar police stations under Zone 5. The move followed inputs and subsequent analysis on part of police machinery that situation has eased in these parts and thus, there was no need for any further clampdown. The restrictions that came with curfew were relaxed from 2 pm onwards, providing relief to the citizens. Also, relaxation was provided in curfew for two hours on Thursday in the jurisdictions of Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shanti Nagar, Sakkardara, Imambada police stations. These stations fall under Zone 3 of City Police and the same was done to enable citizens to stock on necessary items. Similarly, relief was also provided in jurisdiction of Yashodhara Nagar Police Station in Zone 5. Though the two hours relaxation from curfew from 2 to 4 pm on Thursday was provided, the shops remained closed as there was no advance information to businesspersons, said the locals. For citizens, who were confined to their homes, it was a welcome measure as they managed to step out of their houses and feel the air. However, as the markets remained closed, citizens could not make much of the relaxation. City Police had imposed curfew under jurisdiction of 11 police stations post violence that erupted in Mahal area of Kotwali Police Station on March 17. As the people took to ransacking and damaging shops, the cops clamped down from wee hours of March 18. In the areas from where curfew was lifted people were slowly picking up the pieces. The entire chain of events was fast-paced and nobody had any inclination as to why restrictions got imposed as their area did not witness any violence. The markets, however, remained closed in Nandanvan, Mominpura, Mahal, Itwari, Gandhibagh areas of the city. Even the essential commodities stores that were open, the business was lacklustre as people were not venturing out of their homes in good numbers, said the traders. Cops invoke provisions relating to sedition against Fahim Khan Staff Reporter After stumbling upon vital clue linking Fahim Khan -- the alleged mastermind of the March 17 arson in Mahal area, cops have invoked stringent provision relating to sedition. Fahim Khan, President, Nagpur Unit, Minorities Democratic Party (MDP), along with five others were booked under sec. 152 of BNSS. The six allegedly fanned tension by spreading misinformation relating to alleged defacement of verses of a religious book. Without bothering to verify, the youth in the community went on rampage, targeting shops, damaging vehicle and setting them afire. As cops tried to rein in the mob, they too came under attack, leaving scores of them injured, some of them sustaining serious injuries. With violence abating, police are trying to piece together the events to pin down the culprits who fanned the tension. While going through the social media posts, the cyber experts found the alleged inflammatory posts of Khan and five others. The speeches were clearly trying to incite the people by painting a wrong picture of events that occurred earlier. Deputy Commissioner of Police Lohit Matani, while interacting with newspersons, said that, 50 persons have been booked and four fresh FIRs relating to arson and violence are registered at Cyber Police Station. A video of Fahim Khan, he is the main culprit in arson of March 17, has surfaced wherein his provocative comments are clearly heard. Khan, along with five others, was instrumental in coaxing community brethren that then spiralled out of control in Bhaldarpura and other adjoining area triggering the violence. The police are scanning social media as they have stumbled upon posts that stoked violence by spreading rumours. DCP Lohit Matani said, the 37 persons were picked for posting objectionable posts that further fuelled the rumours causing flaring of violence by the people who got swayed by it. He said, the city police is keeping vigil on cyber space and any violations would be dealt with as per provisions of laid down laws. Congress forms panel to inspect riot-hit areas Expressing regret over the violent incident in Nagpur on Monday night, the Congress has set up its committee to inspect riot-hit areas of city. The committee has been formed on the instructions of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal. The committee is expected to inspect the riot-hit areas of Nagpur city, discuss with locals and establish peace. The committee includes former President in-charge of Goa Manikrao Thakre, former MP Hussain Dalwai, former minister Dr Nitin Raut, Adv Yashomati Thakur, A Sajid Pathan. Nagpur City Congress Committee President MLA Vikas Thakre is the Convener and All India Congress Committee Secretary Praful Gudadhe Patil is the coordinator. This Congress committee will visit the riot-hit areas to inspect the situation and try to restore peace, informed Adv Ganesh Patil, State Vice President for Organisation and Administration. Aurangzeb may not be the reason behind arson, claims Pyare Khan Staff Reporter : The recent unrest in Nagpur is being investigated by the police, with media speculating that the controversy surrounding Aurangzeb could be a potential cause. The police are examining past incidents and local tensions to understand the situation better. Some community leaders have expressed doubts about this theory, urging a deeper investigation. State Minority Commission has taken the note of these incidents, Chairman of the Commission Pyare Khan said after a meeting with the police officials and urged the administration to find the culprit behind these incidents. Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal demanded to remove the tomb of Aurangzeb at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. After this, some anti-social elements protested by pelting stones, which started the unrest in the city. Nagpur has been tense for the past three days, many areas are under curfew. But this has made the unrest communal dividing citizens into two groups. Pyare Khan claimed that the unrest was not due to the Aurangzeb tomb protest. Now, why exactly the unrest started is being investigated by the police, he said. He also instructed the Police not to prosecute any innocent person who had no role in riots in city on March 17, in a meeting with police and district administration held at Police headquarters on Thursday. Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector; Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Commissioner of Police; Chetan Dedhiya, Vice President of State Minority Commission; Wasim Burhan, Ahmed Deshmukh, Gulam Rasul Sheikh and others were present at the meeting. He informed Commission that a camp will be held at RTO office to compensate people whose vehicles had been damaged. Dr Singal also assured that the curfew imposed in various areas of the city will be lifted after the situation is brought under control. Muslim community for impartial probe Staff Reporter The Muslim community has called for an impartial probe into the violence in city in aftermath of agitation leading to burning of effigy of Aurangzeb in Mahal area. Addressing mediapersons at Press Club on Thursday, the community members claimed that the burning of a green coloured cloth piece that had verses of Quran written on it is deplorable and action should be taken against Bajrang Dal members, said the community members on Thursday. Arif Kaji of Shiv Sena (UBT) group said the way violence was carried out it points to fact that all the acts were premeditated. The targeting of innocent Muslim youth is deplorable. To a question, he and others also denied allegation of targeting of women police constables who were participating in combing operations after the arson. Two decades back, when Anees Ahmed and others represented Central Nagpur Assembly segment, Hindu and Muslim communities maintained cordial relations. All of a sudden, a communal colour is being allegedly given with an aim to paint the Muslims as perpetrators of violence, which is wrong, said Kaji and Adv Asif Qureshi while addressing the press conference. Rizwan Ansari, Javed Akhtar, Jamal Alazmazam, Faizal Tawlekal, Farooq Rehman Qureshi also were present. Telangana to host72nd Miss World HYDERABAD : TELANGANA Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said on Thursday that the 72nd edition of the Miss World contest will be held across various culturally significant venues in Telangana-- including Hyderabad-- from May 10 to May 31, at an estimated cost of Rs 54 crore. This cost will be equally shared between the Telangana Tourism Department and Miss World Limited, the minister stated at a press conference organised to announce the pageant. Telanganas Rs 27 crore contribution will primarily come from sponsorships, he added. Media reports have speculated that the event may cost around Rs 200 crore, prompting opposition parties to question such a large expenditure on a beauty pageant, especially when the state faces a revenue shortfall of Rs 71,000 crore. Rao, citing the globally successful South Korean television series Squid Game as well as the immensely popular band BTS, said that South Korea has successfully capitalised on its cultural assets to boost its economy. Notably, the Jurassic Park franchise alone has generated more revenue than the sale of 15 million Honda cars demonstrating the power of cultural exports in shaping economic outcomes, he said. Addressing the oppositions accusation of misplaced financial priorities, the minister assured that the Miss World pageant would also boost Telanganas economy. RaofurtherhighlightedTelanganasgrowingculturalinfluence,pointing out the increasing global interest in the states festivals and traditions. Having the Miss World pageant in Telangana is not merely a prestige issue. It isachance to celebrate women across the world. It is a clarion call to recognise their narratives, aspirations, and grit, he added. Speaking on the occasion, reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova said she started her journey as Miss World in India, in Mumbai and New Delhilast year, andthatfinishing thatjourney againinIndia could be the best ending she could think of. I would say that Indias diversity is its strength and power. You (the country) have so many languages, so many ethnicitiesits beautiful. You have strength because the sense of unity connects all of it, and the whole world can learn from this, said Pyszkova. Tourism Secretary Smita Sabharwal said that Telangana, the Three Linga Desha and Indias youngest state, has grown into one of the countrys most vibrant states, boasting robust infrastructure,economicprosperity,andculturalrichness. TheeventwillhighlightTelanganasarchitectural marvels, from the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple to the grand Charminar and Golconda Fort, she added. A quintessential diving watch launched in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms by Blancpain was born out of the need for a robust and reliable instrument for a combat diver unit. Here is its story World War II had finally come to an end, and fate was about to bring together three men without whom the Fifty Fathoms would never have come to life. Jean-Jacques Fiechter, CEO of Blancpain from 1950 to 1980, was himself a diver, dreaming of uniting the two essential aspects of his life: watchmaking and the sea. Two heroes of the Free French Forces, Captain Robert "Bob" Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud, initiated the creation of a combat swimmer unit within the French army. An elite corps whose mission was to carry out underwater espionage activities as well as execute sabotage acts such as the destruction of ships or the attack on ports. These were feats accomplished by frogmen who most often operated at night. Bathyscaphe in ceramic, 43.6 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window, textile strap. CHF 12'600 Blancpain To successfully carry out such missions, Captain Maloubier and Lieutenant Riffaud needed reliable and robust instruments, including a diving watch. Why? Firstly, to measure dive times and not exceed the oxygen reserve duration of the soldiers. But also for the ability of such an instrument to time the necessary duration to reach navigation objectives. Finding nothing on the market that met their needs, they decided to contact Jean-Jacques Fiechter, CEO of Blancpain. This is how the genesis of the Fifty Fathoms began Bathyscaphe in ceramic, 43.6 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window and flyback chronograph function, NATO-type canvas strap. CHF 16'900 Blancpain The three men were on the same wavelength, and the project materialized quickly: "A watch with a black dial, large numerals, and clear indications in the form of triangles, circles, and squares, as well as an external rotating bezel mirroring the dials markers. This would allow, at the start of a dive, the bezel to be aligned with the large minute hand to indicate the remaining time. All of this thanks to markers as obvious as a star to a shepherd." Bathyscaphe in ceramic, 43.6 mm diameter, automatic movement with complete calendar, day and month by windows, date by hand, and moon phase indicator, textile strap. CHF 16'900 Blancpain Both passionate, specialized, and visionary, Jean-Jacques Fiechter went further by adding several key innovations. A unidirectional rotating bezel to prevent accidental rotation, which could mislead the diver into thinking the dive had started later than it actually had. A screw-down case back for optimal water resistance. A self-winding movement to reduce the number of crown manipulations, thus preserving the watchs waterproofness. Protection against magnetic fields, essential for a timepiece used for military purposes. And finally, a humidity indicator located at six oclock. In the form of a small circle, it displays a blue hue if the air inside the case is dry. At the slightest water infiltration, the color changes to pink as a warning signal. Bathyscaphe in titanium, 42.3 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window, titanium bracelet. CHF 17'800 Blancpain The three men had clearly thought of everything, and in 1953, the Fifty Fathomsmeaning 50 fathoms in Englishwas born. From then on, it perfectly met the needs of combat swimmers, but not only them Commander Cousteau discovered the Fifty Fathoms by Blancpain and chose it for his historic dives, immortalized in the film The Silent World, which won an Oscar and the Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956. Thus, the legend began and never stopped The Fifty Fathoms was even delivered to the U.S. military and established itself as a true source of inspiration for all future diving watches. Bathyscaphe in titanium, 42.3 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window, rubber strap. CHF 15'300 Blancpain A watch-instrument that today has risen to the rank of an icon, representing one of Blancpains main creative pillars. This explains why the manufacture offers the Fifty Fathoms in numerous versions under the Bathyscaphe collection. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Friday that accelerating glacier melt risks unleashing an avalanche of cascading impacts on economies, ecosystems and communities, not just in mountain regions but at a global level. This warning comes on March 21, the first World Glacier Day of 2025, which has also been designated as the International Year of Glaciers Conservation. While the retreat of glaciers is one of the most well-known and indisputable signs of global warming, the United Nations aims to highlight the broader significance of this melting. There is far more at stake than just unique landscapes, even for countries like Spain, which are distant from the mountain ranges home to the largest glaciers. Preservation of glaciers is a not just an environmental, economic and societal necessity. Its a matter of survival, said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO. A recent international study published in Nature, coordinated by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) and involving 35 research groups, estimates that the worlds glaciers have lost an average of 273 billion tons of ice annually since 2000 equivalent to three Olympic-sized swimming pools per second. This trend has worsened in the last decade, with ice loss accelerating by 36% during the second half of the study period (20122023) compared to the first half (20002011). The research, called GlaMBIE (Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise), which combines four different measurement methodologies, reveals that glaciers have lost 5% of their total volume. This loss ranges from 2% in the Antarctic and subantarctic islands to 39% in the Alps and Pyrenees, which are in the most dire condition. At this rate, scientists predict that, despite their reputation as eternal ice, many glaciers in western Canada and the United States, Scandinavia, Europe, the Caucasus, New Zealand, and the Tropics will not survive the 21st century. One of the most serious consequences of the reduction in ice cover is the impact on future water supplies in certain parts of the world, particularly in Asia, where glaciers serve as massive reservoirs of freshwater. However, the effects are varied, leading to concerns about an avalanche of cascading impacts. As Samuel Nussbaumer, a researcher at the Global Glacier Monitoring Service at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, points out, the retreat of glaciers can, for example, lead to the formation of lakes, which in turn can trigger slope instability and flash floods. Changes in glaciers impact us at different levelsfrom local natural hazards to regional water availability and global sea level rise, explains Nussbaumer, one of the authors of the GlaMBIE team. The most widespread impact on humanity is the rise in sea level. After the warming of the oceans themselves (which causes their volume to expand), the other causes of rising water levels are the melting of glaciers and the melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice caps, each contributing roughly a third. As Alejandro Blazquez, another GlaMBIE author and a scientist at the Laboratory for Space Geophysics and Oceanography Studies (LEGOS) in Toulouse, France, explains, sea levels are currently rising at a rate of 3.5 millimeters per year. However, glaciers outside of Antarctica and Greenland contain enough ice to potentially cause a rise of 3035 centimeters. In Greenland, there is about seven meters of water, and in Antarctica, about 40 meters, but thats another level. Were already talking about a radical change in the Earth, and no model predicts that Antarctica will melt entirely in the next 200 to 300 years. Glaciers outside these regions are melting much faster. The problem with the sea level rising just a few centimeters is that it makes coastal storms and extreme events much more severe, says Blazquez. According to the WMO, the 2024 hydrological year marked the third consecutive year in which all 19 glacial regions experienced a net loss of mass. Glacier mass loss reached 450 billion tonnes in the 2024 hydrological year, the fourth-largest on record. While mass loss was relatively moderate in regions such as the Canadian Arctic and the Greenland periphery, glaciers in Scandinavia, Svalbard, and northern Asia saw the largest annual mass loss on record. We are in a truly worrying situation, and glaciers are one of the clearest signs of the climate crisis, even if they are just one piece of the puzzle, says Nussbaumer. We must recognize that many of todays glaciers will continue to melt in the coming years, and many will disappear. However, depending on future emissions trajectories, some glaciers can still be preserved. We will have less ice in the future, but I hope that the same proportion can be saved. This is also the meaning of the International Year of Glacier Conservation and World Glacier Day on March 21: any additional warming that can be prevented directly impacts glaciers; this is the key to preserving [part of] our glaciers. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed It was not one revolution, but many simultaneous ones. The 1960s were a turning point a generational rupture, the birth of something new. There was the explosion of pop culture and counterculture, the protests of a well-educated post-war youth looking for its place in society, the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, the missile crisis, the trip to the Moon, the Stonewall riots, the birth control pill and sexual liberation. It was a time of activism: pacifism, feminism, the struggle against racial segregation, coming out, and anti-nuclear environmentalism. And there was May 1968, which resonated from Prague to Mexico, but had its epicenter in Paris. The ultra-conservative backlash that the planet is experiencing today, with its fury against the concepts of equality and inclusion, its new imperialism and its focus on dismantling the state, seems to be a defeat of all that 1968 represented, the pinnacle of a revolutionary decade. But the changes that 1968 set in motion will not be easily erased. To understand what happened then, the prolific British director Lyndy Saville, who specializes in history and pop culture, brought out two documentaries, available on Amazon Prime and on YouTube. They are called 1967: The Summer of Love and 1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond. She made them in 2017 and 2018, the 50th anniversary of the events chronicled, combining archival footage with commentary by mostly British experts who lived through those years. Watching the two together makes it possible to observe the leap that a single generation made from hippy idealism to barricades and protests in a matter of months. Parallels are drawn between cultural, social and political movements, and the footage dwells on the fashion, cinema, television and advertising that reflected the spirit of the times. 1967 focuses on that explosion of flower power, psychedelic drugs and hedonism experienced among the young people of San Francisco and London, seasoned with good music in a glorious year for rock. In 1968, activism gathered momentum, targeting multiple issues including the war, capitalism, institutional racism, and the political classes. The Vietnam War and the assassinations of left-wing leaders lit the fuse. A generation gap became ever more glaring: parents could not stand to see their sons take on certain female aesthetic roles or their daughters feeling liberated. Many adults at the time feared their way of life would be destroyed. More ambitious and in the same vein is the series produced by Tom Hanks for CNN in 2013 called The Sixties. The story starts out fast-paced, but then slows to give us time to digest what weve seen. If Savilles two documentaries tend to look at the world from the perspective of London, The Sixties focuses on the U.S. The seventh of the 10 episodes explains how the hippy movement came out of the beatniks and the Greenwich Village folk scene, through the crazy summer of 1967 in Haight-Ashbury, to the onset of decadence shortly after Woodstock. The eighth episode focuses on 1968, but has a narrow perspective: it is more focused on politics, on a turbulent and bloody election year in the U.S. than on what was happening on the streets, with no mention of what was going on anywhere except in Chicago (which was host to the tumultuous Democratic National Convention), let alone in other countries. It is worth remembering that 1968 was a difficult year. It was certainly a political failure, not only for its extremists. What followed was a reestablishment of the conservative order, with leaders like Nixon in the U.S. and Pompidou in France appealing to the silent majority. Then came the oil crisis, and later another right-wing wave that of Reagan and Thatcher. So, the hippie ideal has experienced various crises, starting in 1969, when Charles Manson and his followers murdered Sharon Tate, when Hells Angels rained violence on the Altamont festival and Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison, all aged 27, died due to the excesses of the times. The dream is over, sang John Lennon in God (1970). But despite all the setbacks, the revolutions of the 1960s seemed to have shifted the cultural war the questionable term used to describe the ideological battle over social values in their favor. They introduced secularization, the end of racial segregation, the emancipation of women, the right to divorce and abortion, respect for freedom and sexual diversity, the construction of ones own image and identity, inclusion all the things that are now under siege from the far right. Currently, we are witnessing solidarity and egalitarian values being demonized by the major powers, and the so-called strong men are back. In reality, the culture wars have their roots much further back than the 1960s. Otherwise, feudalism and slavery would never have been abolished, nor would the suffragettes have won womens right to vote. Perhaps it has always been a case of light against darkness, the Enlightenment and the Counter-Enlightenment. The question is whether we will need to take to the streets again. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition An idea is circulating in the offices of some renowned politicians and scientists: Europe has a historic opportunity to reverse what happened almost a century ago with the rise of Nazism. Just as some of the greatest minds of the 20th century left Europe for the United States, fleeing Hitler and World War II, there may now be a reverse tide of researchers leaving Trumps United States and settling in the European Union. This scenario represents an opportunity for Europe, European Commission sources told EL PAIS. The EU executive has confirmed it is receiving requests from parliamentarians, member states, and companies to strengthen its programs to attract talent fleeing the United States due to the cuts, uncertainty, and paralysis in scientific research imposed by the new White House administration. We are analyzing these proposals and exploring ways to expand our immediate actions, the Commission added. Brussels is planning a meeting of European ministers to coordinate a common response in this regard. On Wednesday, 10 countries wrote to the European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zakharieva, demanding more funding and facilities to attract emigrating talent. The petition, to which this newspaper had access, was led by France, which sees scientific freedom as a European standard to attract the U.S. scientists most affected by the Trump administration, which has gutted diversity and minority inclusion programs. France has issued a public appeal to researchers wishing to settle in the country. Its research minister, Philippe Baptiste, also confirmed the detention and expulsion of a French researcher from the United States, allegedly because border agents found messages on his cell phone criticizing Trumps policies. The European Commission is also attacking the flank of freedom and inclusion. The European way of life prioritizes health, family, and social security policies, with inclusive neighborhoods and vibrant communities. The EU offers a high quality of life, with a generous healthcare system, a strong emphasis on work-life balance, and a rich cultural scene, the same sources explain. The big question is how much money Europe is willing to spend on recruiting top scientists, especially when the budget priority is to allocate 800 billion ($865 billion) to defense. Researcher salaries in the United States are significantly higher than in many European countries, and the annual U.S. investment in research, development, and innovation precisely some $865 billion is more than double that of the entire European Union. 1 million to 2 million for principal investigators Pending negotiations in the coming weeks, the Commission is putting forward some measures. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked the European Research Council (ERC) to increase funding from 1 million to 2 million ($1.08-$2.16 million) for principal investigators moving to the EU, starting with the call for advanced grants opening in May 2025. She has also requested the same budget increase for principal investigators moving to the EU under the 2026 and 2027 work programs. With a budget of 20 million, the ERC could fund 20 of these positions starting in 2026 and continuing into 2027, they note. There is also a Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions pilot initiative that will provide early-stage researchers with a pathway to permanent positions. In 2027, the ERA Chairs program, which aims to attract high-level scientists, will expand by 170 million ($184 million), creating approximately 80 permanent positions to attract scientists and innovators to form their own teams within the EU. All this movement comes at a critical time for science, research, and higher education in the United States. One of the most painful measures of the Trump administration has been to cut the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This state agency is a giant that dedicates some $43 billion to biomedical research each year, making it the largest public research organization in the world. The cuts and project freezes imposed by the Trump administration have put many fundamental research projects on hold and threaten to leave the countrys universities without an essential source of funding for their operations. A Massachusetts judge has halted these cuts while she decides whether they are legal. If they finally materialize, it could lead to a considerable increase in university tuition, which already reaches exorbitant prices compared to Europe, and a further factor in inequality in access to higher education. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The ranch of horror has opened its doors. The Mexican Auschwitz, as it has come to be known, is a compound in the middle of harvested sugarcane fields, accessible through a black iron gate riddled with bullet holes. Inside, there is little to see: a barren field with four dusty palm trees, filthy bathrooms, and three sheds with tin roofs. On March 5, a group of people searching for their missing relatives entered unannounced and discovered human skeletal remains, signs of cremations, hundreds of items of clothing, toiletries, and even toys. But the image that has shocked the public and evoked comparisons to Nazi atrocities is the pile of abandoned shoes that was found. The Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlan, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, is one of the many training camps used by organized crime to recruit young people to their cause. It is also known that these recruits are subjected to the cruelest practices to strip them of any fear of using knives and guns, even forcing them to kill one another. Many of the thousands of people who have disappeared in Mexico have fallen into the hands of cartels. And it is no longer known whether they are alive or dead. Panoramic view of the Izaguirre ranch, in Teuchitlan, Jalisco, on March 20, 2025. Hector Guerrero The Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office allowed the media and searchers' groups to enter the ranch, where hundreds of clothes, shoes and personal belongings were found. Hector Guerrero The ranch remains in the custody of the State Attorney's Office. Hector Guerrero The visit to the organized crime training camp discovered in Teuchitlan left the searchers' collectives frustrated, as they found none of the evidence they had hoped for. Hector Guerrero Personnel from the State Prosecutor's Office continue to carry out investigation work at the ranch. However, so far no official figures or data have been confirmed regarding last week's findings Hector Guerrero A state police officer stands guard on one of the trails near the Izaguirre ranch. Hector Guerrero View of one of the small buildings inside the ranch. Hector Guerrero Although there is no reliable information, experience suggests it is a training camp for young people to serve organized crime. Hector Guerrero The Mexican Army maintains a constant presence in the vicinity of the ranch. Hector Guerrero A security tape in the central area of the ranch. Hector Guerrero On the floor of one of the roofed rooms, there are still rudimentary weights made from cans and cement to build muscle. The Attorney General's Office is handling the case, but nothing is known yet about the young people who may have passed through there, nor who owned the clothes found on the ranch, let alone what has happened to them. Hector Guerrero A small building fitted out as a kitchen inside the ranch. Hector Guerrero View of the soil that has been excavated. Hector Guerrero A group of parents and searchers entered the ranch on March 5. It was accessible to anyone, but they were escorted by the National Guard, as they always operate in dangerous terrain. Hector Guerrero Throughout the ranch, flags have been placed to indicate potential areas with traces of human remains. Hector Guerrero A member of the Prosecutor's Office stands guard inside the ranch. Hector Guerrero The scandal has been so significant that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has chosen to face it head-on and has announced comprehensive measures to bring order between the state and federal prosecutor's offices. Hector Guerrero With the entire chain of custody of the evidence compromised, the public debate now centers on the impunity that may result from this case, which will now be led by the Attorney General's Office. Hector Guerrero Several groups of searchers from Jalisco, as well as from other states, visited the ranch on Thursday. Muffled cries were heard, faded by the shock, but above all, there was despair as it became clear that there was no more evidence inside. Why did they bring us here? asked one person. This is a mockery, said another. The only truth is that they dont care about the missing, one individual told the press, which was also granted access to the ranch for the first time. The Jalisco Prosecutors Office, at the request of the Attorney Generals Office, chartered seven buses and transported dozens of journalists, who jostled at the doors of the ranch in the stifling heat. Inside, the searchers scoured through the dirt floor with their feet and found a few socks, a blue Adidas backpack, a gold-handled razor, and some toothbrushes. This is how they search for clues, one of them sarcastically remarked before several microphones. The shock from the macabre discovery on March 5 was followed by disbelief at the sloppy work of the Jalisco State Prosecutors Office. The authorities had entered the ranch last September, arrested 10 people, rescued two, and recovered a body but little else. The site was supposedly sealed off, yet in the months following that operation, two vehicles were stolen from the location. It was left virtually abandoned. Little to nothing is known about the survivors; no statements were taken, no fingerprints were collected, and no questions were raised about the owners of the ranch, located just a few miles from Guadalajara, one of Mexicos wealthiest cities. All of this has been publicly condemned by Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero. This kind of negligence is attributed to either fear of organized crime or collusion with it, and such failures of law enforcement are common across the country. The Attorney Generals Office has since taken over the case, removing all clothes, shoes, and items, which have been displayed to the public in the hopes that they will be identified by the relatives of the missing. However, the outrage over the states handling of the investigation is overwhelming. So many missed opportunities. The ranch is now fully dug up, with excavations made in the ground to search for clues. In some of the holes, red flags indicate positive results, while in certain corners, there are mounds of ash. Flags are placed at the sites where investigators are searching for human remains. Hector Guerrero The ranch has been opened to the public, but information remains scarce or nonexistent. How many young men and women passed through there, how long ago, who survived, whose bones were found, what exactly happened there, and since when? There is nothing to report while the Prosecutors Office conducts its investigation, but it has already been made clear that the initial team responsible for gathering evidence failed, and the searchers fear that, once again, theyll pass the buck and the case will be closed without any results. It is assumed that the brutal training camp was controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which dominates the area, but even that remains uncertain. On the unpaved floor of one of the sheds lie rudimentary weights made from two rusty cans filled with cement. On the wall, there are other metal objects that also seemed to be intended for physical exercise. They want them strong, says a woman involved in the search, referring to the forced recruitment by criminal organizations. Beside her, a young woman wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the image of her missing loved one finds no solace, sitting on the cobblestones and embracing her friends from the bus. The area where the recruits apparently trained. Hector Guerrero In Mexico, 124,000 people have been officially missing for several decades. The earliest cases were victims of the state itself, during what became known as the Dirty War, when the military and police took away people who opposed the regime. The missing people of today are victims of organized crime. Some voluntarily join their ranks, while others are abducted daily from neighborhoods, streets, and highways, never to be seen again. Some may be dead, but others may have endured the horrific indoctrination in these camps and turned into criminals themselves. All of them are being searched for by their mothers. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition TOL offers 'smart' solutions to traffic General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite - Take advantage of advanced technology to explore 'smart' solutions to traffic. This was the message of Caviteno Reelectionist Senator Francis 'TOL' Tolentino at the inauguration of the brand new traffic signalization system in General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), Cavite province, on Friday morning. "Traffic is the consequence of population boom and rapid urbanization. It is a reality that often comes with progress. But there are solutions we can explore, and among these is the use of advanced technology," Tolentino said at the unveiling of the new traffic signal lights at the corner of Governor's Drive and Congressional Road. Powered by smart technology from Korea, the traffic signalization system is equipped with sensor cameras that are capable of adjusting the length of green phases based on real-time traffic conditions. "As your community marches forward, may this project contribute to ensuring order at this busy intersection, and the safety and welfare of pedestrians and motorists alike," expressed the senator, whose niece Athena Tolentino is the incumbent Governor of Cavite. The ceremony was graced by GMA Mayor Maricel Torres, together with municipal and transportation officials. The project is part of the Traffic Management Mentorship Assistance Program, a collaboration between the senator and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Office (LTO). A similar project was unveiled by Tolentino earlier this month in Naga City, Camarines Sur, and in Dumaguete City, Negros Island Region last February. Offering innovative solutions to traffic has been one of the long-time advocacies of Tolentino, the former Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelenskiy by phone on Wednesday that the best way to secure defense measures for Ukraines energy sector was to transfer its nuclear power plants to U.S. companies. This is what the U.S. president proposed to his Ukrainian counterpart, according to a White House press spokesperson, corroborating a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. [Trump] said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure, read the statement. The Ukrainian media received the news with disbelief. After the minerals deal described as blackmail by TSN, Ukraines main private television news channel Trumps latest proposal appears to take advantage of Ukraines weakness. Under the yet-to-be-signed agreement, Ukraine would cede 50% of the revenue from its strategic mineral deposits, oil, and natural gas to a U.S.-led consortium. This pact had been a key demand from Trump as a precondition for continuing negotiations on future U.S. defense support for Kyiv. The fear in Ukraine is that the U.S. president will have another demand: to take over control of its four nuclear plants. These are the Khmelnytskyi plant, which recently acquired new reactors from the U.S. company Westinghouse; the Rivne nuclear plant, also known as South Ukraine; and the most well-known of all, the Zaporizhia nuclear plant the largest in Europe, currently under Russian occupation. On Wednesday night, Zelenskiy stated that Trump had only mentioned the possibility of U.S. investment in Zaporizhia if it were liberated. The situation is reminiscent of the confusion that followed the March 11 meeting between the Zelenskiy and Trump delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidents office, denied that they had discussed which occupied territories would be ceded to Russia. But Waltz said in a television interview that they had, of course, discussed territorial concessions, and that he had even laid out a map of Ukraine on the table to illustrate how the regions could be divided. The U.S. mission in Jeddah also showed particular interest in the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. Zelenskiy, who has opted for a strategy of courting Trump, described his call with the U.S. president as positive, very substantive, and frank, and thanked him several times for his support. During an official visit to Norway on Thursday, the Ukrainian president reaffirmed that its nuclear power plants are state-owned and that the option for the U.S. would be to invest in Zaporizhia, modernizing and upgrading the facility once Russia no longer occupies it. The issue is expected to be revisited at the meeting scheduled for next Monday in Saudi Arabia between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations. Like a vulture Not everyone has reacted so tactfully. Trump is like a vulture flying over a wounded Ukraine, Maksim Borodin, a former MP from Mariupol and prominent political activist, posted on social media. Translation: the U.S. wants to own Zaporihzhya nuclear power plant, otherwise it might fall into Russian hands, Tymofiy Mylovanov, Ukraines former economy minister, added in a message on X. Euromaidan Press, a pro-European outlet, called it another colonial-style imposition, like the minerals deal. Perhaps this is what he meant when he said he would talk to Vladimir Putin about sharing Ukraines assets, one of the top commanders on the Zaporizhia front, speaking on condition of anonymity, told EL PAIS. His remarks refer to Trumps statements last Monday, a day before his phone call with Putin, in which he expressed interest in discussing dividing up certain assets in Ukraine, specifically mentioning the occupied territories and the Zaporizhia nuclear plant. Weve been fighting for three years to recover this plant, and now the person who was supposed to be our ally says that only if its theirs can it be protected from the Russians. I dont even know what to say, added the senior military official. Ukraine has grown used to this news, but theres always a sense of unease because Trump is unpredictable, Oleskii Melnyk, co-director of the Razumkov Center for Political and Security Studies, told EL PAIS. Melnyk believes that the best course of action for the Ukrainian government is to support any American initiative and not anger Trump, because the consequences have proven to be very negative. This academic is referring to the 10-day suspension of U.S. military intelligence in Ukraine in March, which was a serious setback for the countrys defenses amid the ongoing invasion. Zelenskiy has quickly adapted to this strategy, says Melnyk, since he understood that arguing is useless, during his fight in the Oval Office [the stormy meeting with Trump on February 28 at the White House]. In some way, we have to learn from what our enemy, Putin, does with Trump he tells him yes but stalls in the meantime and gets what he wants. Melnyk argues that Trumps proposals are not only unsound but also unworkable. The Razumkov Center, home to some of Ukraines top energy policy analysts, has concluded that a U.S. company would be unable to operate the Zaporizhia plant because it uses Soviet-era technology and Ukrainian domestic adaptations. Mykhailo Gonchar, director of the Strategy XXI analysis group one of Ukraines leading institutions for energy sector studies confirms that Ukrainian power plants cannot be run by U.S. technicians. However, U.S. ownership of the company could be a possibility. In that case, according to international protocols, they should guarantee that U.S. military personnel operate defense systems, from anti-aircraft missiles to fighter jets, said Gonchar. The U.S. wants to benefit from Ukraine and our weakness, Gonchar added. He hopes the Ukrainian government will reject the proposal because, despite promises of military aid, the countrys energy security is at stake. The Americans havent talked about minerals for days. Perhaps the deal is dead, said Melnik. And perhaps theyll forget about nuclear power plants and pull out another proposal in a week. His conclusion is that unfortunately, there is growing evidence that the U.S. government isnt pursuing any strategy, only impulses aimed at achieving short-term results. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Yes Significant efforts are being made No Much more needs to be done Some progress But there are still critical gaps Vote View Results In the first years of life, an explosive learning process unfolds. Yet, paradoxically, we rarely remember any fragment of our existence before the age of three, and complete memories usually dont form until around six. Some people claim to recall their first steps or being cradled in a crib by their mother, but these are almost certainly false memories reconstructions shaped by photos or stories from those who were present. As memory researchers have demonstrated time and again, our capacity for recall is less like a recording device capturing reality and more like a narrative we construct to shape our identity and better navigate life. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud coined the term infantile amnesia to describe this lack of early memories, attributing it to the repression of thoughts related to childhood sexuality or aggression ideas deemed unacceptable to a civilized mind. Since then, various theories have emerged to explain this phenomenon. Some, like Freud, suggest it results from later reformatting, though not necessarily due to cultural repression. Others argue that the infant brain is simply not capable of forming memories. This second hypothesis is based on the fact that the different regions of the hippocampus are connected by what is known as the trisynaptic circuit, a neuronal pathway that is still immature in a childs brain. This immaturity would prevent the hippocampus from encoding episodic information, the ability that later enables us to recall personal experiences in specific places and times. Furthermore, this idea seemed to be reinforced by observations that childrens memory capacity is as limited as that of adults with hippocampal damage-induced amnesia. However, an article published on Thursday in Science challenges this hypothesis, providing evidence that children do form memories but later, when they grow up, cannot retrieve them. One common explanation for childhood amnesia is that the hippocampus the brain region responsible for memory storage has not fully developed before adolescence, which prevents memories from being encoded. But a team led by researchers at Yale University has found that this is not the case. Using innovative techniques to study memory formation in infants, the researchers showed images of faces, objects, and scenes to children between four months and two years old while monitoring their brain activity with fMRI. Then, while continuing to monitor neuronal activity, they showed them the same objects again along with others they had never seen before. When infants had previously observed a stimulus, they were expected to look at it more closely when it was presented again. In the experiment, when shown two images one novel and one familiar if the infant focused their gaze more on the latter, the researchers concluded that they recognized it as familiar. With this hypothesis in mind, the team investigated whether hippocampal activity was linked to infants memory. The results showed that the greater the activity in the hippocampus when an infant first saw an image, the longer they gazed at it when it was shown to them later, suggesting that the information had been stored in that brain region. But where do these memories go if they are formed but never retrieved? Thats the question being asked by researchers like Nick Turk-Browne, the studys lead author. One possibility is that they are stored in ephemeral memory. Another is that they reside in our brains, although they can no longer be accessed. To find out, Turk-Browne and his colleagues are testing childrens memories with videos taken from their point of view. What the preliminary results show is that memories formed during early childhood are there, but they fade before the age of six. Santiago Canals, a researcher at the Alicante Institute of Neurosciences, acknowledges the expertise of the scientists who published the study in Science in conducting experiments with children. However, he believes the study does not resolve the questions that remained unanswered before its publication. There was already evidence that children store memories, he says. There is a conditioned response in babies aged one or two years old, who react in a given context, such as when you put them in a crib and they smile, or when they recognize familiar objects or imitate things their parents do, and imitate them later. There was little doubt that children learn and then forget. The fate of these early memories remains an open question: do they gradually fade away, or does something happen that prevents their retrieval, even though they remain in our adult brains? Nick Turk-Browne acknowledges that the answers to these questions are still hypothetical. An inability to retrieve memories could suggest that the hippocampus isnt being sent the correct information to access childhood memories, possibly due to other changes in how the brain processes experiences, he notes. For example, as we acquire language, concepts, and skills, the same event, such as going to the grandparents' house, might be processed very differently in an older child or adult than in a baby. This different processing could mean that the hippocampus isnt receiving the appropriate search terms to find the memory as it was stored, based on the childs experience at the time. In the future, he speculates, perhaps we could hope to recover childhood memories by focusing on memories with content processed similarly in infancy and later life such as smells or faces while avoiding those that are processed differently, like spoken or written language, which is foreign to infants. Although the possibility of recovering early memories remains a distant challenge in humans, studies with mice have made significant progress. In 2023, a team from Trinity College Dublin published an experiment in Science Advances in which they used invasive techniques ethically unfeasible in humans to label the specific neurons that encoded a maze memory in mice during childhood. The mice initially learned how to escape the maze, but by the time they reached adulthood weeks later, they had forgotten the solution. However, by stimulating the neurons that originally stored the memory using light, the researchers were able to reactivate the lost memory, allowing the mice to recall how to exit the maze. Although this type of direct hippocampal stimulation to reactivate memories wont be possible in humans in the short term, there may be other ways [to achieve it], if those memories still exist, says Turk-Browne. The study published on Thursday does not determine how long childhood memories persist beyond the minutes measured by the researchers. However, it is believed that these memories could last until around the age of six or seven. After that, the demands of adulthood and the learning processes that move us beyond childhood such as written language and abstract thought make these early memories largely inaccessible. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Tesla Motors, one of billionaire Elon Musks companies who now serves as head of the Department of Government Efficiency has been the target of a series of violent attacks against its vehicles and dealerships. The vandalism is part of a protest movement against the policies of the entrepreneur and the Trump administration. For his part, the U.S. president has shown his support for Musk and his company, and has indicated that the acts (which he considers unpatriotic) will be considered domestic terrorism. A wave of attacks Since the South African-born Elon Musk took a key role in the Trump administration as the leader of DOGE, detractors have carried out various protest actions. While some people (including celebrities) decided to get rid of their Tesla cars and in some cases donate the money to various communities affected by the Departments decisions (such as massive layoffs at the federal level), there have been reported cases of attacks on vehicles produced by the company or against its dealerships. One such incident occurred on March 18, 2025, in Las Vegas, when a Tesla Collision Center was set on fire. At least five vehicles were damaged after a person dressed in black approached the building with Molotov cocktails and a gun. The attacker, who wrote RESIST on the display window, caused severe damage by setting the cars on fire and allegedly firing several shots at them. This targeted attack led the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to bring in counterterrorism detectives and the FBI. Several vandalized vehicles at a Tesla service center on March 18 in Las Vegas. Bizuayehu Tesfaye (AP) In Kansas City, several Tesla Cybertrucks were set on fire in what police suspect may have been an intentional attack. In Oregon, two separate shootings occurred at Tesla dealerships, while other incidents in South Carolina and Massachusetts have raised suspicions of coordinated attacks. Many of the attacks are linked to the Tesla Takedown movement, a protest group that has spread across several cities. Founded by actor Alex Winter in February 2025, the group openly targets Musk for his controversial role in the Trump administration. Its website encourages people to sell their Teslas, dump their stock and join protests to express their dissatisfaction with Musks leadership and political affiliations. Although the movement initially claimed to be peaceful, the recent escalation of violence has changed its image. Moreover, the acts of protest are not just on U.S. soil, as the anti-Tesla and anti-Musk movement has gone global. In January of this year, the British-based group Led By Donkeys took credit for an act in which an image of Elon Musk performing what appears to be a Nazi salute and the word Hail was projected onto the facade of a Tesla factory outside Berlin, Germany. Protests of various kinds have been held in other parts of Europe due to the billionaires support for the far right. One of the four Tesla cars torched in Berlin, Germany, on the night of March 13, 2025. Christophe Gateau (AP) White House response President Donald Trump has condemned the attacks and suggested they should be labeled domestic terrorism. Trump, who has had a contentious relationship with Tesla and Musk, expressed his support for the company, along with the entrepreneur, at a White House appearance. He called for swift action against those responsible for the violence, and stated that anyone who targeted Tesla would face legal consequences. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the most recent attacks domestic terrorism, and stressed that the perpetrators would face serious consequences, including lengthy prison sentences. On Thursday, March 20, she announced that three individuals face federal charges for attacking Tesla properties with Molotov cocktails in different states. Bondi called the charges a warning to others who engage in vandalism. One of the suspects in Oregon was armed with an AR-15 while attacking a showroom, another one attempted to set a fire in Colorado and the third set Tesla charging stations on fire after writing anti-Trump messages. The charges carry sentences ranging from five to 20 years in prison. The White House has stood firmly behind Musk, with officials urging support for Tesla and condemning Democrats for failing to denounce the violence. Donald Trump steps out of a red Tesla Model S vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House, March 11. AP Musks response For his part, Elon Musk has condemned the attacks as insane and deeply wrong. In a post on his social network X (which reportedly came under attack a few weeks ago), Musk expressed his belief that Tesla was being unfairly targeted despite the companys focus on electric vehicle production. Musk also suggested that behind the attacks could be dark forces, specifically leftist billionaires, although he has not provided concrete evidence to back up his claims. The attacks on Tesla showrooms have coincided with a sharp drop in the companys shares, whose sales are faltering amid growing criticism of Musks political involvement, both in the United States and in Europe and Canada a country that has been threatened by Trump, who has expressed interest in it becoming just another state in the American Union. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A routine visit to immigration authorities became the turning point for the Gonzalez family in the United States. Gladys and Nelsons story in the country has come to an end after 35 years. The couple has been swallowed by the deportation machine that the Trump administration set in motion after taking office. It mattered little that Nelson and Gladys had a long history in California, three American daughters, and a clean criminal record. Now, they must start from scratch in Colombia, the country they left decades ago to begin a life in Laguna Niguel, south of Los Angeles. The couple were sent back on Tuesday night, March 18. They arrived in Colombia together and are doing well, said Stephanie Gonzalez, 27, one of the couples three daughters. She and her sisters Gabby, 23, and Jessica, 33 closely followed their parents ordeal in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers. We are thankful this nightmare is over, while at the same time grieving the reality that our parents will not be coming home anytime soon, said Stephanie. The Gonzalez familys long road to freedom began on February 21, the day they were detained and transferred to a private immigration jail in San Bernardino. They handcuffed their wrists and ankles, as if they were criminals, Stephanie told local television. According to Stephanie, Gladys, a 55-year-old homemaker, and Nelson, a 59-year-old laboratory employee, went to the ICE offices to gain some certainty about their status in the United States, something they did periodically. The only thing they were told was that they had exhausted their stay. This, despite the fact that they managed to extend their permit to be in the country every year and that they are law-abiding citizens who have never hidden from the authorities, said Stephanie. The daughters didnt hear from their parents for two weeks, until they were finally allowed to communicate. It was then that they learned Gladys and Nelson had been taken to detention centers. Their deep faith was key. No matter where my parents are, they are choosing to be used by God, Stephanie wrote in the GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign, explaining that the two were both leading Bible readings in detention. Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez in an image from the GoFundMe campaign. Cortesia As time passed, however, the Gonzalez family began to come to terms with the fact that uniting again would be difficult, if not impossible. Although the Trump administration promised to focus on detaining the most violent criminals, the reality is very different. ICE agents have targeted practically anyone who has entered the country irregularly, regardless of their criminal background. This is the case of the Gonzalez family, who entered the United States by land in 1989 at the San Ysidro border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, and allowed their visas to expire. In 2000, a judge ruled that there was no legal basis for the Gonzalez family to remain in the U.S. and offered them the option of self-deportation. The family maintains that, for decades, they did everything they could to appeal and regularize their status, but were unsuccessful. After talking to over 30 attorneys, the best thing we can do right now is help our parents prepare for a new life in Colombia, Stephanie said in an updated to the crowdfunding appeal, which has more than 500 donors and raised more than $62,000. After the San Bernardino jail, Glady and Nelson Gonzalez were taken separately to another center in Arizona earlier this month. They stayed there only briefly. Communication between the couple and their daughters was cut off, and the girls assumed the authorities had moved them again. They were right. On March 13, Nelson and Gladys arrived at their final destination in the United States: the Louisiana detention center, which has become the main hub for Trumps deportations and where other high-profile cases have ended up, such as pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil or the Georgetown academic deported for his Palestinian ties. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A huge number of fake voter ID cards, packed in several sacks was recovered in the Krishna Kalitala area under the Santipur police station in Nadia district today, triggering fresh political turmoil in the state. The voter IDs were found abandoned by the roadside, escalating tensions between political parties amid ongoing controversy over alleged fake voters in Bengal. According to local reports, residents of the 24th ward in Krishna Kalitala stumbled upon the scattered voter ID cards near the immersion ghat road. Upon closer inspection, they found several sacks filled with IDs bearing addresses from multiple locations, including North 24-Parganas, Hooghly, and various areas within Nadia district. Authorities from the Santipur police station were immediately alerted and swiftly arrived at the scene, seizing the recovered voter ID cards for further investigation. Advertisement The discovery has sparked heated political debates, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) exchanging accusations. BJP organisational leader Dr Somnath Kar alleged that these fake voter IDs were being used in elections and were hastily abandoned by ruling party operatives due to the ongoing court-mandated Aadhaar-Voter ID linking process. Kar demanded a thorough investigation to expose those responsible for the fraudulent voter IDs. Advertisement Countering the allegations, local TMC councillor Bikas Chandra Saha dismissed the BJPs claims, suggesting that the incident could be a part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the Opposition. He emphasised that the TMC, under chief minister Mamata Banerjees leadership, had already launched a campaign to identify and remove fake voters at the booth level. Saha reiterated that the matter should be investigated by the election commission and the administration to ensure an impartial probe. The incident has added fuel to the ongoing political discord in the state, with both parties demanding justice while blaming each other. Ruckus erupted in the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday, the last day of the second phase of Budget session, as the BJP legislators protested, staged a walkout, and then burnt the effigy of Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay in the lawn. The protests were against an attack on a rally of BJP led by Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition (LoP), on Wednesday at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district. Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay is the MLA from the Baruipur Paschim constituency. Advertisement While staging the protest at the Assembly lawn, the BJP legislators also demanded the immediate resignation of Bandopadhyay from the chair of the Speaker. Advertisement As the proceedings of the House started on Thursday afternoon, the BJP legislators started protesting over the attack on the Adhikari-led rally allegedly by the local Trinamul Congress activists. First, the BJP legislators came down to the well of the House and started protesting there raising slogans condemning the attack. After continuing with the protests within the House for almost half an hour, the BJP legislators staged a walkout from the House and continued with their protests on the Assembly lawn. Later, they also burnt the effigy of the Speaker on the lawn as a mark of protest. The chief whip of the BJP legislative party in the Assembly, Shankar Ghosh said that Wednesdays attack proved how right the LoP was treated as he questioned the impartiality of the Speaker. It is unfortunate that the rally and even the vehicle of the Leader of Opposition were attacked within the Assembly constituency of the Speaker. Our protests on this issue will continue, Ghosh added. He also claimed that the seriousness of the attack on the convoy of Mr Adhikari was such that it could have posed a life threat for the latter. If the Leader of Opposition had to face such an attack, the safety of the common people in the state can be well understood, Ghosh said. Meanwhile, Mr Adhikari has already registered an FIR with Baruipur district police for the attack on his convoy and rally on Wednesday. The police have started an investigation and are checking the footage of the CCTVs installed on the route of the rally. The board members of IndusInd Bank have decided to appoint an independent professional firm to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify the root cause of the discrepancies in the banks derivative portfolio. As per the exchange filing, the firm will assess the correctness and impact of the accounting treatment of derivative contracts following prevailing accounting standards, identify any lapses, and establish accountability. Advertisement Further, the IndusInd Banks promoter has also assured that they are ready to inject additional capital if required. Advertisement However, the bank remains well-capitalised, and there is no immediate need for additional capital. In a sensational revelation, on March 10, IndusInd bank said that an internal review found discrepancies in its derivative portfolio, which would have an impact of over 2 per cent on its net worth. The private sector lender also revealed that the bank had appointed an external agency, PwC, to conduct a review, whose report is still awaited. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had also stepped in to address speculations surrounding the bank. The central bank had assured that the private sector lender remains well-capitalised and financially stable. The central bank had also said that there was no need for them to react to speculative reports, and affirmed that the banks financial health is stable and is being monitored closely by the central bank. It is to be highlighted that recently, Moodys has placed the IndusInd Banks baseline credit assessment (BCA) under review for a possible downgrade following the disclosure. It further placed IndusInds Ba1 Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA under review for downgrade. IIHL, the investment arm of Hinduja Group, has recently got RBIs in-principle approval to raise its stake in IndusInd Bank from 16 per cent to 26 per cent . IIHL chairman Ashok Hinduja said IndusInd Bank has not sought any fresh capital from its promoters even though it suffered a huge loss in its net worth following an accounting discrepancy. For the last quarter, (Q3FY25), IndusInd Banks Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 16.46 per cent , Provision Coverage Ratio was 70.20 per cent. Elon Musk visited the Pentagon Friday to hold a meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after U.S. media published reports that the tech oligarch would receive a briefing on one of the best-kept and most sensitive secrets inside the U.S. Department of Defense: combat plans in case of war with China. Both President Donald Trump and the Pentagon have categorically denied those reports, maintaining that the meeting was strictly about cost-cutting and budget efficiency. Musk arrived at the Pentagon early in the morning, where he immediately proceeded to meet with Hegseth, in a visit lasting about an hour and a half. The meeting took place in the Defense Secretarys office, rather than in the area known as The Vault, where the Pentagons top-secret information is kept. The New York Times, which first reported that the conversation would be about China, had said the briefing would take place there. Following the meeting, the newspaper reported that the planned session on the hypothetical plans regarding a war with China was canceled after the intention to hold it had come to light. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump flatly rejected the reports. I dont want to show it to anybody. You know, youre talking about a potential war with China. But certainly, you wouldnt show it to a businessman who is helping us so much. Hes a great patriot. Hes paying a big price for helping us cut costs, and hes doing a great job. Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story, the president added. Trump spoke at a joint appearance with Hegseth to announce that Boeing will build the next generation of U.S. fighter jets, the F-47. The Defense Secretary said, We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. Thats not what we were doing the Pentagon. The U.S. president had already lashed out Friday against The New York Times on his social media platform, Truth. Their fake concept for this story is that because Elon does some business in China, that he is very conflicted and would immediately go to top Chinese officials and spill the beans, Trump wrote. The story is absolutely ridiculous and false, and probably libelous, he continued. Elon is not being briefed on anything China by the Department of War (sic)!!! In a previous post, the Republican magnate had asserted that China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!! The Pentagon has also denied the information. In a message on X, his social network, Musk threatened those responsible for the leak. I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found. The Times quoted four Pentagon sources to indicate that, during his visit, Musk was to obtain information on the plans envisaged in the event of the outbreak of a war with China, the great geopolitical and military rival of the United States. One of the possible reasons the paper put forward for why Musk would want to know about potential war plans against China is his role as head of DOGE, the entity charged with cutting bureaucracy and spending in the federal government. In that position, knowing what priorities and needs the Pentagon has in the event of a conflict would help him not to order cuts in sensitive areas. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition With the arrest of four persons, including three Bangladeshi immigrants, one of whom is their Bangladeshi facilitator and an Indian facilitator, the Delhi Police have unearthed a syndicate facilitating infiltrations into the country. One of the immigrants was in possession of a Bangladeshi as well as an illegally acquired Indian passport. Advertisement The arrests resulted in the recovery of fake identity cards, including Passports, aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, PAN cards, and driving licences procured by their Indian facilitator, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam. Advertisement The DCP mentioned that the syndicate was involved in facilitating illegal immigration from Bangladesh to Delhi through Assam and providing the infiltrators accommodation in NCR areas using forged documents ensuring that the immigrants remain undetected. Among the arrested include a kingpin of the nexus, Mohammad Iqbal, who changed his name to Farhan Khan and married a woman from Madhya Pradesh through a matrimonial platform, without disclosing her his Bangladeshi nationality. He has two daughters from this marriage and since 2022, he, along with his Indian wife and children, has been residing in the Panchsheel Vihar and Malviya Nagar areas of South Delhi. Presently, he is engaged in the business of selling garments in weekly markets and to ensure smooth running of his garment business, he needed workers. So, he trafficked several Bangladeshi nationals to Delhi through the Assam border with the help of human traffickers based in the NCR, Gautam added. The person who facilitated their stay in Delhi, identified as Agarsen Kumar, revealed that he is an authorized person to procure Aadhaar cards and confessed to his involvement in this scandal with his other associates. It was further revealed that Kumar and his associates have enrolled many illegal Bangladeshi immigrants on Aadhaar by submitting false information to the government departments, the DCP elaborated. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has strongly responded to allegations surrounding the death case of Disha Salian, saying he has been unfairly targeted for the past five years. As legal proceedings unfold, Thackeray made it clear that he would address the matter only in court. The controversy reignited after Dishas father, Satish Salian, filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, demanding an investigation into his daughters death. His plea seeks an FIR against Thackeray and others, along with a transfer of the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Advertisement A lot of people have tried to defame me over the last five years, Thackeray told reporters on Thursday. Since the case is in court, I will speak there. Advertisement The young leader also turned the focus toward politics, accusing the Maharashtra government of failing to keep its promises. He alleged that his party had exposed the ruling dispensations misleading claims, particularly regarding the state budget. Additionally, he called out the BJP, describing their Hindutva stance as fake and accusing them of using historical figures like Aurangzeb to divert public attention. We exposed the government in this budget session itself, he said. They made false promises to the people of Maharashtra. The BJPs Hindutva is fake, and they keep bringing up Aurangzeb to cover up real issues. Im grateful to the RSS for bringing some sense back to the BJP. Disha Salian death case: A quick recap Disha Salian, who worked as a talent manager for late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, was found dead on June 8, 2020, after allegedly falling from a high-rise building in Mumbai. Her death came just days before Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on June 14, sparking widespread speculation and conspiracy theories. At the time, Mumbai Police registered an accidental death case for Salian. However, in 2023, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up to take a closer look into the circumstances surrounding her demise. Meanwhile, Sushants case, which had triggered a nationwide debate, was eventually handed over to the CBI. His postmortem confirmed asphyxia as the cause of death, with the procedure being conducted at Mumbais Cooper Hospital. Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane reignited the controversy, questioning Aaditya Thackerays involvement. This is not just a political allegation. Is her father lying too? Yesterday, Kishori Pednekar claimed that Dishas father was asking for money. If such a statement was made, there should be legal action taken against her, Rane said. Rane also accused former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of intervening in the case. If Uddhav Thackeray believes we are making political allegations, why did he call Narayan Rane twice, asking him to save his son from this matter? he claimed. Adding to the debate, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske pointed out that Satish Salian had alleged in his petition that he was under pressure and that crucial evidence had been concealed. He mentioned names like Ekta Kapoor, Dino Morea, and Aditya Pancholi, demanding that their phone records be examined. This should be investigated. These are not baseless accusations, Mhaske stated. He also took a dig at Aaditya Thackerays social circle. Everyone knows about Aaditya Thackerays nightlife group. If they are innocent, then he and Sanjay Raut should come forward and demand an inquiry. Sanjay Raut used to criticize Aaditya, but now that he is part of their party, he remains silent, he said. Recognizing his remarkable contribution to global cinema, Hollywood star Tom Cruise will be honored with the BFI Fellowship, the highest accolade from the British Film Institute. The Fellowship will be presented to Cruise at the BFI Chairs Dinner in London on May 12th, 2025. Advertisement Talking about his latest honor, an excited Cruise shared, I am truly honored by this acknowledgment. Ive been making films in the U.K. for over 40 years and have no plans to stop. The U.K. is home to incredibly talented professionals actors, directors, writers, and crews, as well as some of the most stunning locations in the world. Im grateful for all the BFI has done to support U.K. filmmaking and this incredible art form we share. Advertisement BFI Chair, Jay Hunt added, We are thrilled to be honoring Tom Cruise with a BFI Fellowship. Tom has brought so much to the UK as a producer by choosing to make many of his films on our shores, where he is welcomed by our crews who step up to help make his cinematic visions a reality. In doing so, he also supports our studios and puts our locations on a world stage, in the process creating jobs and inspiring the next generation of film talent. He is, of course, also simply one of the worlds great actors and a true movie star, delighting audiences as the action hero and romantic lead and then surprising us with brave, leftfield roles where his versatility and talent shine through. For the unversed, Alumni from the BFI Film Academy and BFI Future Skills Programme have worked on the latest two Mission: Impossible films featuring Cruise in the lead. Not just that, several Mission: Impossible films, including the latest, Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning have been shot in Britain. The eighth installment in the Mission: Impossible film series will also star Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Angela Bassett, and Rolf Saxon in prominent roles. Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning is scheduled to release on May 23, 2025 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Senior advocate Vikas Singh has had a glorious practice of around 30 years in the Supreme Court. He was designated as a senior advocate in the year 2004. There-after he served as the Additional Solicitor General, Government of India, from 2005 to 2008. He is also the former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. In an interaction with PARMOD KUMAR of THE STATESMAN, Singh gets candid about the collegium system, huge pendency of cases in Indian courts, and the greater role of the apex court to interpret law. Advertisement Q: Given your vast experience in judicial functioning, how do you see the state of judiciary in the country today? Advertisement A: The state of judiciary is certainly better under the present Chief Justice of India than it was under the erstwhile CJI. However, much remains to be done to restore peoples faith in this institution, which has been eroded over the past several years. So, the first change is that CJI Sanjiv Khanna wants to tackle the pendency in a non-discriminatory way without looking for matters giving him any publicity. I think that is a very welcome change because in the institution in the erstwhile Chief Justices tenure, everybody felt that he would only be interested in taking up matters which either are internationally or nationally making news, and not the regular dispensation of justice. Q: There are over 5.5 crore cases pending before different courts leading to the perception that these would not be decided in ones lifetime or at least by 2047 when India would be celebrating 100 years of its independence. Your comment? A. The pendency of cases cannot be resolved unless urgent steps are taken to first upgrade the infrastructure for dispensing justice, ensure all vacancies at all levels of the judiciary are filled expeditiously, and if this is done on a war footing, we can expect some improvement in the disposal of pending cases. When I say infrastructure, there are lower courts without stenographers or even paper clients have to sometimes bring paper for judgments to be written.. There are no judges in many courts, courts are without a presiding officer for months together. The quality of judges has to improve and more emphasis has to be given on the people who are able to decide matters quickly rather than those who are indecisive and just keep lingering on matters without any disposal. So, these are the two issues which will actually make a huge difference in the disposal of the backlog of cases in the country. Q: Do you think the Supreme Court is effectively discharging the role of a constitutional court with many matters relating to the interpretation of law and the Constitution pending adjudication for a long time? A: I believe the apex court should focus more on deciding constitutional issues rather than correcting every error committed by the high courts, and thus becoming a regular court of appeal. The Supreme Court should intervene only in cases where it believes that a High Court has committed gross injustice. Otherwise, it should confine itself to constitutional matters. Q: On judicial appointments, there is a perception that the collegium system has not brought forth men of merit. Many former Supreme Court judges have also voiced their reservation on the opaqueness in the entire selection process and the working of the collegium. Do you agree? A: The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) had two facets one was prescribing qualifications for persons to be considered for appointment, and the second was vesting the appointing authority in a committee that had a majority of government nominees. The NJAC was faulted solely on the ground that the appointment process was taken over by the government, thus reducing the primacy of the Chief Justice of India in matters of appointments to the higher judiciary. Parliament could have enacted a law prescribing the method of recruitment for the remaining part of NJAC that is, laying down qualifications and establishing a transparent system for determining eligibility. However, it seems the Parliament was not interested in the quality of persons being appointed but only in assuming the authority to appoint, and hence, no such law has been framed to date. In fact, I had submitted a draft bill to Kiren Rijiju, the then law minister, proposing a framework to regulate the collegium system. Although Rijiju mentioned in Parliament that I had provided a bill on the subject, no steps have been taken to introduce such a bill. In my view, the collegium system must reinvent itself by imposing self discipline and formulating transparent criteria for determining eligibility for judicial appointments. It should allow all eligible candidates to apply, and the best among them should be appointed, rather than continuing with the present system of appointing only those known to or appearing before the collegium members, which breeds nepotism and favouritism. Another criterion could be a minimum number of reported judgments in which the advocate has appeared, along with a requirement for pro bono/legal aid work to demonstrate empathy for the justice delivery system and for the underprivileged and downtrodden. Q: In the recent past, actions of certain High Court judges have raised concern in judicial circles. For instance, a Calcutta High Court judge resigning and joining the BJP, and the statement of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court. Your take? A: The recent trend of judges joining political parties after resigning or making inappropriate statements in public is a grim reminder of the flaws in the appointment process, which allow individuals with such backgrounds to be elevated to the higher judiciary. This should also be a very important criterion when considering persons for appointment to the higher judiciary. Q. There are more than 5,700 vacancies in district and subordinate judiciary, and 327 vacancies in the High court. With a huge backlog of cases and not many meritorious lawyers opting for or being picked up for judgeship, are we faced with a situation where the justice delivery system is crumbling? A. If the collegium system was to prescribe qualifications for appointment to the higher judiciary and establish a transparent selection process, more meritorious lawyers would be encouraged to become judges. One of the factors that dissuades good lawyers from considering elevation is the delay in the appointment process. Timelines should be clearly defined, particularly with regard to IB clearance and the issuance of the notification. If a recommendation remains pending for more than a month without any adverse findings against the nominee, the appointment should be finalized without any further delay to instil a sense of certainty in the process, thereby encouraging more meritorious lawyers to opt for judicial appointments. One of the core issues for a healthy democracy is a robust judiciary, and if people start losing faith in the justice delivery system, it poses a grave threat to democracy itself. At a time when India is aspiring to be a global leader, we must demonstrate to the world that we have a vibrant and robust judiciary that does not shy away from taking decisions, even against the government, when necessary, with the rule of law being the sole consideration in deciding matters. Padma Shri awardee Prathibha Prahlad, a celebrated Indian classical dancer, has mesmerized audiences globally with her artistry and vision. Founder of the Prasiddha Foundation, she has led it for over four decades, setting new standards in dance and artistic excellence. Q. What was your initial vision when you founded Prasiddha Foundation, and how has it evolved over the past 40 years? Advertisement A. Prasiddha Foundation started as a dance school. In 1990, we decided to register it and instead of calling it a dance school, named it Prasiddha Foundation. The idea was to work through the Foundation for art and artistic community, towards preservation, promotion and propagation of the arts. Advertisement Over the last 40 years, I have done precisely that. I have worked really hard for the betterment of the artistic fraternity and initiated many festivals that gave prominent platforms to artists. Q. What inspired you to curate Ramayana Chaitravali as the centerpiece of Prasiddha@40? A. If you pay attention to Lord Ramas story, it is Seeta who is the kinetic energy behind this story. Can one envisage Ramayana without Seeta? The other women figures of Ramayana are equally important in as much as they take the story forward. After the very successful WARRIOR WOMEN of BHARAT, which was based on historical women warriors, this new dance theater SAAMARTHYA-Women of Ramayana will bring focus to women protagonists and their enormous contribution to the movement of the great Maha-Kavya Ramayana. Q. How do productions like SAMARTHYA, EKAM SAT, and BHARAT AFTER MAHATMA showcase the power of classical dance in unveiling untold stories, exploring spiritual unity, and addressing contemporary social challenges? A. While Warrior Women of Bharat and Saamarthya- Women of Ramayana explore stories of women from epics and contemporary history, EKAM SAT is a very special production and explores that concept of ONE UNIVERSE and ONE GODHOOD. The music was done with attention to detail, vocalizing and layering and is really special. EKAM SAT is the need of the times and should be viewed by all, and in schools and colleges in our Country. BHARAT AFTER MAHATMA aims to set in motion representations of India, each of which expresses a personal reality as is perceived, imagined or dreamt. Q. What role can institutions like Prasiddha play in fostering cross-cultural collaborations between India and other nations? A. Cultural diplomacy is a very effective tool to promote Bharats art forms and place them in their rightful place on the world stage. We have not explored the full potential of soft diplomacy until now and both the Government and the private sector should come together to do this for our Country. Q. What legacy do you hope the Prasiddha Foundation will leave for the next generation of Indian classical artists? A. Through Prasiddha Foundation, my message is clear. Art unifies, art harmonises, and art makes a better person of each of us. If most are touched by art, the society and Country becomes a cultured country and that is what we should strive for. Q. Indian art, be it dance, theatre or music, has often interpreted the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana in myriad ways. How do you approach these epics when it comes to your art? A. I have never done a straight laced narrative of epics in my choreographies. I have always looked for ways and means to put forth something new, something different, something that can make audiences think. I believe I have achieved this through my many choreographic works. Q. As a veteran artist who has performed across the length and breadth of the country and abroad, and explored varied themes in your work, do you still have a dream project? Or any upcoming work you are looking forward to? A. Dance is my love, dance is my passion. As long as the fire of creativity burns in me, I will keep working on ideas, concepts, music and dance choreographies that can give a different perspective, retell stories differently with a vision of high calibre art and excellence. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday highlighted the remarkable rise in Ayodhyas spiritual prominence, stating that while only 2.34 lakh devotees visited the city in 2016-17, over 16 crore people are arriving to catch a glimpse of Lord Shri Ram in 2025. This reflects the growing glory and grandeur of Ayodhya, he said. Advertisement The Chief Minister made these remarks as the chief guest at the grand inauguration of the Timeless Ayodhya Literature Festival. He began the event with a symbolic gestureoffering water to an Ashoka plant amidst Vedic chanting. Applauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he noted that the Prime Minister has revived Indian traditions by seamlessly blending heritage with development, marking a new beginning for the nation. Advertisement Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was the first to be welcomed at the festival, held at the Maharaja Palace (Raj Sadan) in Ayodhya. He was greeted with traditional rituals and Vedic chants upon his arrival. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, Ayodhya is the foundation of Sanatan Dharma. It is not just a city, but a source of inspiration for religion and literature. Reflecting on the compositions of the Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas by Maharishi Valmiki and Saint Tulsidas, he noted that Ayodhya has long been a center for literature and culture. He further stated that Ayodhya is the spiritual heart of Sanatan Dharma. It was here that Lord Manu laid the foundation of human religion, and this sacred land became the karmabhoomi of Lord Shri Ram, an incarnation of Shri Hari Vishnu. The Ramayana, he noted, emerged as the worlds first epic, offering new direction to literature. Chief Minister Yogi added that just as Maharishi Valmiki immortalized the Ram Katha, every creation associated with Ayodhya continues to resonate deeply with people today. The Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas, he said, are still read and cherished in every household across India and in corners of the world. Discussing the Ram Mandir movement, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that Ayodhya deserves the respect it has long been entitled to. He shared how, when the plan to celebrate Deepotsav in Ayodhya was introduced in 2017, some people raised doubts, but today millions of devotees participate in the celebration, making it a massive success. On the topic of literature, the Chief Minister remarked that it reflects societys values and plays a crucial role in preserving culture while guiding the community in the right direction. He acknowledged the disruption of traditional reading and writing habits in todays digital age but expressed confidence that events like the literature festival would help revive these practices. Congratulating the team behind the Timeless Ayodhya Literature Festival, the Chief Minister stated that such programs would inspire future generations and elevate Indian literature to new heights. He noted that the festival demonstrated that Ayodhya is not just a religious center, but also a revered land of literature and culture. The Chief Minister also shared a personal anecdote from his visit to Europe, where he had a conversation with a taxi driver from Punjab. Upon asking about his origin, the driver initially hesitated before revealing that he was from Pakistan. When the Chief Minister asked why he had identified himself as Indian first, the driver explained, We feel safer saying we are Indian. If we say Pakistani, who knows what might happen. The CM highlighted that this reflected a broader global respect for India, but also pointed to the disdain toward those who fostered terrorism. The Chief Minister concluded by noting that today, people take pride in identifying as citizens of India, particularly those from Uttar Pradesh. Coming together of states feeling threatened by the delimitation exercise heralds a new beginning of a movement to shape the countrys future and save federalism and democracy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Friday, on the eve of the first meeting of the Join-Action Committee (JAC) of all the southern states besides West Bengal and Punjab, in Chennai. Describing it as a defining moment and a historic day for Indian Federalism, Stalin, also DMK president said What started as Tamil Nadus initiative has now grown into a national movement, with states across India joining hands to demand fair representation. This is a defining moment in our collective journey. This is more than a meeting it is the beginning of a movement that will shape the future of our country. Together, we will achieve. Advertisement With Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan having landed already, Stalin extended a warm welcome to leaders from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal and Punjab. Besides Vijayan, Chief Ministers of Punjab (Bhagwant Mann) and Telangana (Revanth Reddy), leaders from parties including Akali Dal, BRS and Trinamool Congress, will be in attendance. Advertisement Claiming that Fair Delimitation has become the talk of the town right now, Stalin also explained why the DMK has brought this into focus, in a post along with a video on his X handle. Because by 2026, delimitation will happen. And if the delimitation exercise is carried out based on population size, our representation in Parliament will be severely affected That is exactly why we raised our voice first, he said. The March 5 all-party meeting of Tamil Nadu, in which 58 registered political parties, barring BJP, participated and took a unanimous decision to oppose delimitation and a freeze on it, he said was a landmark moment. Building on this historic unity, efforts were made to hold the JAC, he added. Further, he made it clear This is not just about the number of MPs. This is about States rights. Our voice in parliament will be silenced. Our rights will be compromised. This is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to undermine certain states. States that have controlled their population growth, governed efficiently and contributed significantly to national progress must not be punished by the Union Government. To ensure the participation of the Chief Ministers and leaders of political parties, Stalin said, he had personally spoken to them over phone besides deputing delegations comprising state ministers and MPs to invite them. Our rightful demand will prevail. Our initiative will protect India, Stalin said, exuding confidence. The Madhya Pradesh State Assembly witnessed emotionally charged scenes on Friday when an opposition Congress MLA begged for justice, alleging that a false police case was registered against him and his son. In response, the Minister of State for Healthanswering in place of Home Minister and Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadavcame to tears and announced with a choked voice that the TI of the concerned police station would be suspended and a thorough probe conducted. On the eighth day of the ongoing budget session of the Assembly on Friday, Congress MLA from the Semariya Assembly constituency in Rewa district Abhay Mishra raised the issue of the fake FIR registered against him and his son Vibhuti Narayan Mishra by the Chorahata police. Advertisement He pointed out the flaws in the registration of the case against him on 16 December 2022 and sought action against the erring police officer. Advertisement Mishra said he was even ready to fall at the Ministers feet for justice. Congress MLAs, including Ajay Singh, also spoke in favour of Abhay Mishra. Ajay Singh said that the Madhya Pradesh police are working in a high-handed manner and false cases are being registered even against MLAs, with no one taking any action. Health Minister Narendra Shivaji Patel said that a probe would be conducted into the matter, but the morale of the police also needs to be upheld. On hearing this, agitated Congress MLAs created a din and charged that while on the one hand, the police are harassing MLAs, on the other, the minister is saying that the morale of the police should also be ensured. Ajay Singh charged that Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav is the Home Minister but has not responded to a single law and order-related question in the Assembly, while Narendra Shivaji Patel is bearing the brunt on his behalf. Following that, tears welled up in Patels eyes. He then announced with a choked voice that in the case of Abhay Mishra, the TI of Chorhata police station, Avneesh Pandey, would be suspended and a thorough investigation conducted. He also assured the House that if the FIRs were registered on the basis of a false complaint, then the person who registered the false case against MLA Mishra would also be booked. Narendra Shivaji Patel has been authorised to reply to questions related to the Home Department on behalf of CM Dr Mohan Yadav in the State Assembly. Later, Abhay Mishra told some media persons outside the House that an FIR had also been registered against the son of minister Narendra Shivaji Patel in Bhopal in the past, but nothing could be done. A few months ago, an FIR was registered at the Shahpura Police Station in Bhopal against Patels son for alleged violence and assault. Deloitte India has expanded its presence in Uttar Pradesh by inaugurating a new office in the state capital on Friday to solidify its commitment to supporting UPs ambition of growing into a US$1 trillion economy by 2030. Deloitte India marked this milestone a year after opening its office in Noida. Advertisement With this new addition, Deloitte India now has 19 offices across 14 cities in the country. Advertisement While inaugurating the office, state Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said, Uttar Pradesh has become a global investment destination by attracting companies that seek both scale and talent. As we work towards becoming an industry hub across sectors, the presence of leading firms like Deloitte is a strong endorsement of the states vision. The expansion reflects business-friendly policies, a skilled workforce, and the robust infrastructure the state offers to further enhance innovation, boost employment, and support our journey towards economic excellence. Deloitte South Asia CEO Romal Shetty said, As one of Indias fastest-growing states, UP has established itself as a global testing hub, a booming centre for electronics manufacturing, and is on its way to becoming a semiconductor hub. With its expanding infrastructure, flourishing digital ecosystem, and skilled workforce, the state presents immense opportunities for businesses and professionals alike, he said. He added, At Deloitte, we are driven by purpose, committed to nation-building, and dedicated to empowering communities. Tier 2 and 3 cities are an important part of our strategy as they play a crucial role in the next wave of growth and innovation. Our decision to expand to Lucknow underscores our confidence in the regions potential and our commitment to contribute meaningfully to the states economic and technological transformation. In its initial phase, the establishment is expected to generate 800-1,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, with plans to scale further over the next five years. Additionally, Deloitte India will collaborate with local academic institutions and training centres to enhance employability through skill development programmes and internships, creating a pipeline of industry-ready talent. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said investigations seem to point at a Bangladeshi link in the recent Nagpur communal riot. He said the police are investigating if there were larger designs behind the riot which was provoked through social media. It has been found that some social media posts were in Bengali, which is the kind of Bengali spoken in Bangladesh. We will probe whether there is a larger design, he told reporters here. Advertisement He said that the mastermind in the case, Fahim Khan, of the Minorities Democratic Party, hails from Malegaon in Nashik district. One of the masterminds of the Nagpur riots hails from Malegaon. A thorough investigation will be conducted and those who spoiled the atmosphere will not be spared. Advertisement We have also filed cases against VHP and Bajrang Dal members. If attacks on the police are tolerated, law and order in the state will collapse. Therefore, we shall teach the culprits a lesson, Fadnavis said. Fadnavis also claimed that the Nagpur incident cannot not be described as intelligence failure. We cannot call it an intelligence failure. However, the monitoring of social media after noon was inadequate. Inflammatory posts were spread through social media. We have the capacity for social media monitoring, but we need to develop the habit of using it. Now, violence is less on the streets and more through social media. The police responded in the quickest possible time and this can be seen in the CCTV footage, he said. He said that an investigation is on into whether there were some larger designs in the Nagpur riot incident. In the past incidents of violence in the country, we have seen a pattern. Whether the same pattern was there in Nagpur also is being investigated. More than 100 persons have been arrested so far, Fadnavis said. Meanwhile, the police has stated that the Nagpur riot mastermind Fahim Khan allegedly spread inflammatory and morphed videos before the violence began. Khan proactively shared his inflammatory video, which propagated hate against another community and police, said cyber cell DCP Lohit Matani. Khan had also led a protest to Ganeshpeth police station on Monday, to file a complaint against VHP and Bajrang Dal members for allegedly burning an effigy of Aurangzeb and a religious chadar. After he left the police station, he allegedly posted a video blaming the police for shielding VHP and Bajrang Dal demonstrators which went viral, leading to the violence in Nagpur. According to the police a 250-member troll army played a key role in making the video go viral on social media. Some of the posts were allegedly doctored to escalate tensions. There was no holy inscription on a cloth chadar burned near Gandhi Gate. The videos were morphed, a cyber sleuth said. Police cyber sleuths also identified social media users from Bangladesh, amplifying hate speech. The ferocity of the troll army was no less than the rioters on the ground, the cyber cell official said. BEIJING - A delegation of Japanese opposition lawmakers on Thursday sought an end to China's total ban on Japanese seafood imports in a meeting with a senior official of the ruling Communist Party in Beijing, the group's leader told reporters. Li Shulei, head of the Publicity Department of the party's Central Committee, told the meeting that China and Japan should promote strategic and mutually beneficial ties by ensuring "the right direction of peaceful coexistence" and cooperation, according to Katsuya Okada, executive adviser of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. Okada also said he called for more high-level exchanges between politicians of the two countries during the talks held at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital. The opposition lawmakers are on a four-day visit to China through Sunday after the CDPJ and the Communist Party signed a memorandum of understanding last August to boost cooperation and communication. Sino-Japanese relations have shown signs of improvement despite challenges such as China's blanket ban on seafood imports, imposed in August 2023 over the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, as well as the detention of Japanese nationals on espionage charges. Tokyo and Beijing agreed in September last year that seafood imports from Japan will gradually resume, contingent upon Beijing's participation in monitoring activities. Okada, a former foreign minister, told reporters he urged Beijing to provide reasons when court rulings are handed down against Japanese nationals detained in China. The CDPJ lawmakers' latest visit to China came as political and economic exchanges between the two countries have increased despite ongoing tensions. China's top diplomat Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Japan for a trilateral meeting this weekend with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts. In Tokyo, Wang will separately hold bilateral talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and the two will co-chair the first high-level bilateral economic dialogue in about six years. Iwaya visited Beijing for talks with Wang last December. His trip was followed by visits to China by delegations of Japanese ruling lawmakers and business representatives earlier this year. Related coverage: Wang suggests Japan PM Ishiba's China visit in February Japan PM rallies opposition support in Diet to achieve policy goals Chinese Premier Li welcomes visit by Japan PM Ishiba to China: lawmaker Another FIR has been registered at the Civil Lines police station in Patiala in the unfortunate assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by police officials on the intervening night of 13-14 March following a statement of the victim. The statement of Colonel Bath names the police officials who assaulted him with the roles played by each of them in the assault. Advertisement A high-level special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted by the Director, Bureau of Investigation, for investigation into the case in an expeditious manner. Advertisement The SIT has been directed to conduct the investigation on a day-to-day basis for collection of evidence and further legal proceedings to ensure that the culprits are proceeded against as per the law. A Punjab Police spokesperson stated that instructions have been issued to DIG Patiala Range to immediately transfer the concerned police officials out of the Patiala district so that the investigation could be conducted in a fair manner. The spokesperson added that all the 12 concerned police officials have been placed under suspension while departmental proceedings for major punishment have been initiated against them. The additional director general of police, Security, Punjab has been directed to provide adequate protection to the family of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath. The Goa government has announced the acquisition of a plot of land in the sacred city of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the construction of Goa Ram Nivas, a dedicated space for the devotees of Shri Ramlala Virajman, particularly from the state of Goa. The Goa government expressed heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad, and the government of Uttar Pradesh for their unwavering support in facilitating this historic initiative, officials here on Friday confirmed . Advertisement This initiative is in line with the ongoing development of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a vision brought to life under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Goa Ram Nivas will provide a place to stay for devotees visiting Ayodhya, offering them a peaceful environment to fulfill their spiritual journey. Advertisement In keeping with the spirit of Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi, the Goa Ram Nivas project not only supports the spiritual well-being of devotees but also reinforces the cultural and spiritual connections between Parshuram Bhoomi Goa and Ram Janmabhoomi Ayodhya. It is a testament to our shared heritage and a step towards the holistic development of Bharat, blending spiritual devotion with modern infrastructure. With Mr Mark Carney taking over as the new Prime Minister of Canada, India on Friday hoped the two countries can rebuild ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity. The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing. Advertisement His statement came amid reports that the two nations have resumed contact between their security agencies and are looking at the possibility of appointing new high commissioners, after the strain in ties over the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Advertisement Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged the hand of Indian agents in Nijjars killing without providing any evidence. His statement dented the relationship further with India withdrawing its high commissioner and five other diplomats who were declared persons of interest in the investigation into Nijjars killing and expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats. Regarding Indian PhD candidate Ranjani Srinivasan at Columbia University who self-deported herself to Canada from the US for alleged pro-Hamas sympathies, the spokesperson said, We are not aware of her getting in touch with our consulate or our embassy for any help. We only came to know of her departure from the United States through media reports and we understand that she has gone to Canada. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved eight proposals worth over Rs 54,000 crore that include the purchase of more powerful engines for the Armys T-90 tanks, anti-submarine torpedoes for the Navy, and Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Aircraft Systems for the Air Force. The council accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of a 1350 HP engine to upgrade the present 1000 HP engine for the T-90 tanks. This will enhance the battlefield mobility of these tanks especially in high-altitude areas by increasing the power-to-weight ratio, according to a Defence Ministry statement. Advertisement Similarly, the Council gave its nod for the procurement of the indigenously-developed Varunastra Torpedoes (Combat) for the Indian Navy. The ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo has been developed by the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory. Induction of additional quantities of this torpedo would enhance the Navys capability against adversaries submarine threats. Advertisement The DAC also accorded AoN for Indian Air Forces procurement of Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Aircraft Systems which are capability enhancers that can change the complete spectrum of warfare and exponentially increase the combat potential of every other weapon system, the statement explained. As a part of celebrating 2025 as Year of Reforms in the Ministry of Defence, the DAC also approved the guidelines for reducing the timelines at various stages of the Capital Acquisition Process for the defence services to make it faster, more effective and efficient, the Defence Ministry said. The large orders being placed for India-made military hardware have also resulted in an increase in self-reliance in accordance with the governments Atmanirbhar goal. Rajnath Singh has expressed confidence that defence production, having crossed the record figure of Rs 1.27 lakh crore in 2023-24, will exceed Rs 1.60 lakh crore by the end of 2025-26 while defence exports, which touched the record figure of Rs 21,000 crore, will surpass Rs 30,000 crore. Earlier in the day, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the acquisition of the India-made Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) worth nearly Rs 7,000 crore, marking a major step towards the countrys self-reliance in the defence sector. Politics in Jharkhand has heated up over the issue of delimitation (redrawing of constituencies) with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress alleging that after delimitation, the number of reserved tribal seats may decrease, weakening the political representation of tribal communities. The parties claim that the BJP-led Central government is carrying out the process to harm tribal interests. However, dismissing these allegations as misleading, the BJP assured that the tribal seats wont be reduced. In fact, they suggest that there would be an increase in the seats. With the controversy of the delimitation growing, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has started working on a strategy to clear doubts among tribal communities. Advertisement The JMM is raising this issue aggressively. Former Chief Minister Hemant Soren is also expected to discuss the matter in a meeting proposed by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin. The JMM and Congress accuse the BJP of using delimitation as a tool to weaken tribal political power, just like they did earlier with the CNT Act and Sarna Code controversies. JMM leaders claim that if the number of reserved seats are reduced, it would disturb the political balance in Jharkhand, directly affecting tribal leadership. Advertisement Currently, Jharkhand has five Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) and 28 Assembly seats reserved for tribal candidates. The Opposition parties argue that reducing these seats will directly benefit the BJP since tribal-dominated areas are strongholds of the JMM and Congress. In the last elections, the JMM-Congress alliance won all five tribal Lok Sabha seats and 27 of the 28 tribal Assembly seats. The Opposition alleges that the BJP was using delimitation as a strategy to change these political equations. Responding to these accusations, BJP state president Babulal Marandi said that the Opposition is spreading false propaganda. He assured that tribal rights in Jharkhand would remain fully protected and that delimitation will not reduce the number of tribal seats. BJP leaders also accused the JMM-Congress government of ignoring the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration, which they claim is harming the cultural and social identity of the tribal community. To strengthen BJPs stance, the RSS has increased its activity. Senior RSS officials have begun discussions with regional leaders and tribal communities. Their goal is to counter opposition propaganda and inform tribal people about the actual situation. As per the Constitution, the delimitation process is scheduled for 2026, during which new boundaries for Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies will be decided based on population. However, there is no official decision yet on whether the number of tribal reserved seats will change. Still, given the strategies of BJP and the Opposition, it is clear that this issue will remain a major political debate in Jharkhand in the coming days. AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his statement blaming a Bollywood movie Chhava for the riots that broke out at Nagpur a few days ago. Owaisi accused the ministers in the Maharashtra Cabinet of making provocative and communally charged statements and took a dig at Fadnavis for failing to act when a complaint was lodged before the police. Advertisement Every year Owaisi addresses the Youm-ul-Quran public meetings in Hyderabad on the Fridays of the holy month of Ramzan. A large section of congregants usually stays back after the afternoon prayers to listen to him speak on various issues. Today, he spoke at a similar meeting at Tallabkatta where he pinned the blame for the violence on the state government and certain ministers. Advertisement Their minister had said throw them out and after there was a disturbance, they (Fadnavis) blamed it on a movie. What were you doing? After all, Nagpur is your city. And what did they do? They (right wing) had burnt the cloth inscribed with verses from the Quran, alleged the Hyderabad MP in his address. He further alleged that although a complaint was lodged about the burning of the cloth with the holy inscriptions the police failed to intervene on time. He then questioned the police inaction saying What were you doing? Are your hands dyed with mehendi? It is your government, the police are yours, and so was the intelligence failure. Owaisi then lashed out at ministers like Nitish Rane who publicly spoke several times about removing the grave of Aurangzeb from Maharashtra. Those of your people who have now become ministers have spoken against Muslims and spread muck, nonsense, and poison but dont say anything to them should the government run according to the rule of law or your whims? said Owaisi. He slammed the BJP for raking up issues that have no significance today, wondering whether he should talk about Pushyamitra Sunga or the Cholas. The Hyderabad MP also spoke about the amendments proposed in the Waqf Act which is likely to be tabled in Parliament after Eid. The alleged recovery of cash from the residence of a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court was raised in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar assured the House that he would find a mechanism for holding a structured discussion on the issue. Raising the matter, Congress member Jairam Ramesh sought the Chairs response on judicial accountability and reminded him about a pending notice regarding the impeachment of a judge of the Allahabad High Court. Advertisement He said, This morning, we read about a shocking case of huge amounts of cash unearthed at the residence of a judge of the Delhi High Court. Advertisement He also pointed out that earlier, 50 members of Parliament had submitted a notice to the chairman regarding certain remarks that were made by a judge of the Allahabad High Court. You yourself has repeatedly spoken about the urgency for judicial accountability, Ramesh said. He requested that the Chair make some observations on this and give necessary directions to the government to come up with a proposal for increasing judicial accountability. Vice President Dhankhar said, I had the opportunity to seriously consider that whatever is included in the Indian Constitution must first emanate from our Constitution makers and then whatever change is made must be ratified by Parliament and in some cases by the Legislatures of 50 per cent of the States. Ultimately, it gets constitutional sanction after it is signed by the President under Article 111, he added. Therefore, I requested the Leader of the House that it is necessary for the House to know that the Constitution which is in force today is implemented as per this directive. All of you would recall that if the mechanism, which was passed by this House almost unanimouslythere was no dissent in the Rajya Sabha except for one absent memberall the political parties were united in this initiative of the Government. I would like to know what is the current status of that historic bill (of judicial accountability) that was passed by the Indian Parliament, ratified by the legislatures of 16 states and signed by the Honble President under Article 111. He further said, That historic law, which was supported by this Parliament with unprecedented unanimityunheard of in the parliamentary history of this countrytook this problem very seriously. If that problem had been addressed earlier, perhaps we would not have had to face these kinds of issues. I am concerned that this incident happened and did not come to light immediately. Mr Dhankhar said, If it happens to a politician, he is immediately targeted, whereas in the case of a bureaucrat or an industrialist, there is an immediate response. Therefore, a systemic response is necessary that is transparent, accountable and effective. I am sure steps will be taken in this direction. He said that with the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the House being the heads of their parties they would reach a good decision. Fortunately, he said, Our House is uniquely equipped to deal with thisthe Leader of the House is also the president of the ruling political party also, and the Leader of the Opposition is also the president of the main Opposition party. With these two distinguished persons present, I am sure their advice and that of other members will be useful. I will discuss it. We will have to have a structured discussion, which has not happened so far. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly on Friday, accusing the state government of neglecting the demands of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers. The workers have been on strike outside the Secretariat for the past 40 days, demanding a hike in their honorarium and post-retirement benefits. Advertisement Raising the issue in the Assembly, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan stated that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had initially responded positively when the matter was brought to his attention a few days ago. Advertisement Subsequent discussions were held with the protesters, but they failed to reach a resolution. He urged the government to continue efforts to address the concerns of the striking ASHA workers. Responding on behalf of the Chief Minister, Excise Minister MB Rajesh claimed that the negotiations failed due to the adamant and stubborn stance of the ASHA workers rather than any fault of the government. He further alleged that the protest was politically motivated and aimed at pressuring the state government while ignoring the Centres role in the issue. The Centre is not accurately allocating incentives, nor is it ensuring an increase in them. It is also unwilling to recognize ASHA workers as employees, Rajesh said. He accused the protesting ASHA workers of indirectly supporting the Centre by not challenging its stance on these issues. Following this exchange, the opposition staged a walkout in protest against the governments handling of the ASHA workers strike. Meanwhile, the ASHA workers hunger strike entered its second day on Friday. Having protested outside the Secretariat for the past 40 days, they began a relay hunger strike on Thursday, the 39th day of their agitation. Representatives of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, including state general secretary MA Bindu, state committee member R Sheeja, and Thiruvananthapuram district committee member Thankamani, are currently leading the hunger strike. The latest development in the Trump-Putin talks over Ukraine reveals just how tenuous and conditional any path toward peace remains. After much anticipation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed only to a limited pause ~ halting Russian attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure. His outright rejection of a full ceasefire proposal underscores both the complexity and the fragility of the negotiations now underway. While President Donald Trump portrays this as a significant breakthrough, the reality suggests otherwise: this is less a step toward lasting peace and more a tactical pause designed to serve Moscows interests. Mr Putins acceptance of an energy ceasefire comes with heavy strings attached. His demand that all foreign military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine end as a pre-condition for any comprehensive truce is not new ~ but its been reasserted with fresh urgency. For Kyiv and its European backers, this remains a non-starter. Mr Putins conditions go far beyond the battlefield; they aim to isolate Ukraine strategically and leave it exposed. This dynamic reflects an enduring asymmetry in negotiations, where Moscow continues to set terms that benefit its military objectives. Mr Trump, for his part, has shifted from earlier insistence on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire to settling for a partial one. In doing so, the US position has retreated from what was secured just a week ago when Wash ing ton convinced Kyiv to agree to a full 30-day ceasefire proposal. That agreement now appears shelved in favour of Mr Putins narrower offer, casting doubt over Washingtons leverage and the coherence of its diplomatic strategy. Mr Trumps framing of the call as productive masks the more unsettling reality: the US seems willing to accept incremental, symbolic gestures in exchange for broader concessions from Ukraine. Advertisement For Kyiv, the implications are troubling. President Volodymer Zelenskky has cautiously welcomed the idea of a ceasefire covering energy infrastructure but quickly pointed to on-going Russian drone attacks ~ including strikes on hospitals and civilian power supplies ~ as evidence of bad faith. Ukraines leadership sees Mr Putins move as a way to buy time, entrench his position, and extract further concessions without making meaningful compromises. The Kremlins narrative ~ that a complex, stable, and longterm settlement requires an end to Western support for Ukraine ~ lays bare Mr Putins intentions. European leaders, including Germany and the UK, have responded by reaffirming their commitment to Ukraines defence and calling for a full ceasefire. But the momentum of these negotiations remains uncertain. Advertisement Mr Trumps apparent willingness to scale back support has emboldened Moscow, while Kyiv faces mounting pressure to make difficult decisions without guarantees of security. Ultimately, the fragile pause agreed upon in the Trump-Putin call risks becoming yet another chapter in a conflict defined by delayed resolutions and shifting red lines. It may offer a brief respite from attacks on critical infrastructure, but it falls far short of a durable peace. Whether this marks the start of genuine negotiations or just another geopolitical chess move by Moscow remains to be seen. President Donald Trumps intentions to strike a peace deal in Ukraine without security guarantees for Kyiv and his possible relinquishing of Americas role as supreme allied commander of NATO have sparked concern among allies. U.S. partners are wondering if Washington is abandoning its 80+ year military commitments in Asia and Europe, and many are asking what measures they need to take to secure themselves during Trump 2.0. In short, friends of America are worried that Washingtons approach to overseas military commitments is over and that forthcoming economic and geopolitical realignments will make them less secure. Few should be surprised of where things appear to be heading. Trump has long expressed doubt about the utility of Nato and Americas defence of others. Trumps unorthodox views towards Americas military alliances goes back to at least 1987 at which time the then 41-year old real estate developer bought newspaper ads criticizing Japan and Europe for not paying their proper share for common defence. Advertisement During the 2024 presidential campaign, candidate Trump stated he would not defend Nato-member countries who do not meet defence spending targets. Additionally, on different occasions Trump has cast doubts about his willingness to defend Taiwan, suggesting that efforts to ward off a Chinese invasion are impractical given the island states proximity to mainland China. President Trumps recent opposition to including U.S. security guarantees in the Ukraine minerals deal is only the latest example reflecting his unconventional approach to foreign policy. Advertisement Put simply, Washingtons abandonment of its prior role as underwriter of the global order weakens deterrence and increases prospects of great power conflicts, nuclear exchange and world wars. Whether or not Trump 2.0s approach will be adopted by future administrations remains unclear. Trumps public statements against Ukraine and Nato appear to have had their effect on American public opinion. A February 3-9, 2025 Pew Research Center poll found that nearly a third of U.S. adults (30 per cent) think Washington is providing too much support for Ukraines war efforts against Russia (up from 27 per cent in 2024) and a declining number of Americans believe that the U.S. benefits from Nato membership. Amid these dynamics, Americas allies will need to come to terms with this outcome and act. This change to the global security framework must compel American partners in Asia and Europe to address this question: In addition to forming new geopolitical relationships, what economic and hard power military measures can be taken to protect themselves from Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping? For starters, vulnerable European states the Baltics, Georgia, Moldova and the western Balkans should consider engaging in economic treatises with Washington. Similar to the proposed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, the idea is for such partnerships to create a sustained American financial commitment to the development of the threatened countries economies and to generate the economic growth needed to purchase U.S.-made weapons. Additionally, the presence of American businesses on local soil could help deter attacks by outside powers who do not want to cross swords with Washington. Yet, economic treatises for Ukraine and Europe are not enough. In a Trump 2.0 world, Europe will need to assume more responsibility for its own security as Washington exits the stage. This means EU and Nato member counties negotiating a new security construct for the continent, spending more on defence and expanding their militaries. The March 5 announcement by Germanys Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz of a political deal to dedicate hundreds of billions of euros for infrastructure and defence is one such necessary development. Another step in the right direction was UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers March 2 disclosure of a four-point plan for a multinational coalition of the willing to defend Ukraine and bring the war to a conclusion. While a decline in American military support may be unavoidable while Trump is in office, U.S. allies in Europe and Asia must do everything they can to protect their existing intelligence cooperation programmes with Washington. Terminations of intelligence sharing will leave these states blindfolded and vulnerable. However, it is likely that economic partnerships, increased defence spending and new coalitions will need to be bolstered with additional measures. A rethink of nuclear deterrence in Europe will be required. Specifically, the United Kingdom and France will need to boost their nuclear weapons capabilities and place fellow Europe partners under a new protective nuclear umbrella. While both countries at-sea nuclearpowered ballistic missile submarines are vital, they are insufficient. Paris will need to re-establish its land-based medium-range nuclear ballistic missiles and London must reinvest in air-delivered nuclear weapons using either F-35s or Typhoon fighter aircraft. In the Indo-Pacific, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand will also need to rearm. This will require build-outs of naval, coast guard and missile defense capabilities. Additionally, investments will be needed in drone technology, sea mines, long range anti-ship missiles and cruise missiles. Increases in defence spending, replete with American weapons systems purchases, could ingratiate Asian states into the good graces of Trump. Deliberate efforts need to be made for local countries to emulate Beijing and build their own antiaccess/arial denial (A2/AD) strategies to defend territory, protect against aerial and maritime incursions, and deter Chinese aggression. Regional states should continue on-going efforts to deepen information sharing and defence ties such as recent partnerships among the Philippines, Japan, India, Vietnam, Australia and Indonesia. This same approach should be pursued with Pacific Island states, Canada and willing European partners. The Quad diplomatic partnership between Australia, Japan, India and the United States will need to deepen economic and security engagement to keep the Pacific open and stable. Likewise, the Australia-United Kingdom-United States security and technology partnership (AUKUS) must receive the investments it requires for stepped up nuclear-powered submarine production and regional nuclear deterrence. South Korea and Japan will be forgiven if they take the disturbing yet understandable step of going nuclear. During a time when the U.S. adopts a narrow pursuit of its own national interests and cedes its role as the security provider for the rulesbased order, the world will need to adjust to the resulting uncertainty and instability. To address these new realities, U.S. partners will need to engage in long-term efforts to rebuild their own security capabilities, construct new alliances and reinvest in the resilience of their nations. (The writer is Associate Clinical Faculty at Claremont Graduate University in Los Angeles.) TOKYO - Thirty years after the deadly sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, some survivors are still suffering debilitating aftereffects, raising concerns over the adequacy of support for victims. Hideyuki Nosaka was heading to work at a department store in Tokyo's upscale Nihonbashi district when he was exposed to sarin gas that evaporated from a bag wrapped in a newspaper on the floor of a subway train on March 20, 1995. The attack was carried out by the AUM Shinrikyo cult, which targeted five trains in total on three subway lines during the morning rush hour. Fourteen people were killed and over 6,000 injured in one of the worst terrorist attacks in Japan's postwar history. When Nosaka, now 66, saw the newspaper and that liquid was seeping from it, his first thought was that it had been left behind by a drunk passenger. But he soon felt something was wrong -- while he could still see, everything seemed to be getting dark -- a symptom specific to sarin exposure called "miosis." After learning that an attack had taken place, he went to a hospital but only received an intravenous drip as he had no other symptoms. He went back to work a few days later but, waking in his sleep every hour, he suffered severe fatigue. A 10-year veteran at the department store, he began for the first time to receive complaints from customers. "Without realizing it, I probably began speaking sharply because of the state I was in. Until then, I had only had to deal with customer complaints leveled at my colleagues," said Nosaka, who decided to leave the store at age 37. He also developed a pain in one of his toes that spread to his whole body by the time he entered his 40s, with no sign of healing despite regular monthly hospital visits. He said he had to give up on finding a regular job and getting married. Currently, he works as a cleaner at a high-rise building in Tokyo's Shibuya district from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. "Even if my body movements are awkward, it's okay as long as I get the work done within the given time," he said. Nosaka wants the government to offer support for the treatment of victims, explaining that he has had to find out for himself the best medicines to deal with the effects he suffers. He is also troubled by the uncertainty surrounding his condition as a rare victim of sarin poisoning. "I could die suddenly. It could get worse," he said. He also wants a follow-up survey on survivors that covers how they have suffered, how their lives have changed, and what treatments have been effective, believing that keeping a record would be helpful for any future sarin incidents. Ikuno Morise, 52, another survivor, has made it a habit to stand near the doors when riding on a crowded train. The palms of her hands often become drenched in sweat. On the day of the sarin attack, she was riding on the Hibiya Line when her train was stopped at Kodenmacho Station, where there was sarin on the platform. She was taken to hospital with difficulty in breathing. As she struggled with headaches, dizziness and fatigue in the aftermath of the attack, a remark from someone saying that as a survivor, her life was now a gift, struck a chord in her deeply. Morise decided to live a life without regrets. She left her job a year later and landed a new job in the electrical construction industry, a field she was interested in. She became an on-site supervisor for designing electrical facilities at stores, earned a certificate as a lighting designer, and did part-time jobs at photo and bicycle shops as she wanted to experience customer service. Morise also took English conversation lessons and went on trips abroad, something she had never considered before the sarin attack. But while she proactively pursued life, her physical condition improved little. She would sometimes fall when getting out of bed due to dizziness and often crawl to get to the bathroom. She went from one hospital to another but never found an effective treatment. Her dream is to launch a daycare facility for aging pet dogs. But in recent years, the pain that she has suffered in her fingers has grown to the point that it is unbearable, clouding the outlook for her future. Hearing by word of mouth that Shinichi Ishimatsu, president at St. Luke's International Hospital, who had treated patients at the time of the incident, was continuing to do follow-up surveys on them, she decided to pay him a visit. But while she now attends St. Luke's every two months, she remains anxious about the future as she is concerned about who will succeed the 65-year-old doctor in looking after the sarin survivors after he retires. St. Luke's is near where some of the victims were poisoned and he dealt with many of them at the time of the attack. There were no doctors around him who had been taught about sarin exposure, he said. "Like others, I had also believed the aftereffects would get better as time passed," Ishimatsu said. But after seeing many survivors going from hospital to hospital in search of an effective cure, Ishimatsu decided to offer support, including the follow-up medical checks. "No cure has been established, and I cannot treat them or provide them with sufficient explanations. I always felt frustrated that all I could do was listen to their complaints," he said. "But I continued to do so in the hope that even just showing them the possibilities would help ease their feelings," he added. "If there is a special remedy, I want to know myself." Ishimatsu is not sure how long he can remain active as a doctor at the hospital but stressed that the victims' need for support has no end, calling for establishment of a system so medical facilities can respond to their various medical issues. "I feel that the belief that 'no way, it won't happen again' has been spreading with the passage of time. I want to make people continue to be on alert for the possibility that we could face (another such attack) tomorrow," Ishimatsu said. Related coverage: Japan marks 30 years since Tokyo subway sarin attack by AUM cult Victims of 1995 AUM sarin attack struggling with PTSD, survey shows Japan AUM cult web archive opens ahead of sarin attack's 30th anniv. As many as 25 Indian nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 11 in Saudi Arabia have been awarded death sentence but the judgement is yet to be implemented, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. Citing the informal information available with the local Indian Mission, the government also detailed that no Indian national has been executed in the UAE between 2020-2024. Advertisement Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha on Indians languishing in prisons in foreign countries, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response that, as per the information available with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the number of Indian prisoners, including undertrials, in foreign prisons at present stands at 10,152. Advertisement While revealing the country-wise list, the minister highlighted that, due to strong privacy laws prevailing in many countries, the local authorities do not share information on prisoners unless the person concerned consents to the disclosure of such information. Even countries which share information do not generally provide detailed information about the foreign nationals imprisoned, he mentioned. The government attaches high priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals in foreign countries, including those in the foreign jails. Indian Missions/Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents of Indian nationals being put in jail in foreign countries for violation/ alleged violation of local laws. As soon as the information about the detention/arrest of an Indian national is received by an Indian Mission/Post, it immediately gets in touch with the local Foreign Office and other concerned local authorities to get consular access to the detained/arrested Indian national to ascertain the facts of the case, confirm his/her Indian nationality and ensure his/her welfare, the minister informed. According to the details submitted by the MEA, as many as seven Indian nationals three each in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and one in Zimbabwe were either executed or given capital punishment in 2024. The number of Indian nationals who have been awarded death sentence but the judgement is yet to be implemented include 25 in UAE, 11 in Saudi Arabia, six in Malaysia, three in Kuwait and one each in Indonesia, Qatar, USA and Yemen. Indian Missions/Posts abroad provide all possible assistance to Indian nationals who have been sentenced, including with death sentences by the foreign courts. Indian Missions/Posts also provide consular access by visiting the jails and follows up their cases with courts, jails, public prosecutors and other concerned agencies. The jailed Indian nationals are also assisted in exploring various legal remedies including filing of appeal, mercy petition, etc, Singh noted in his reply. While the issue of release and repatriation of Indian nationals in foreign prisons is regularly pursued by Indian Missions and Posts abroad with the local authorities concerned, the government also follows it up during consular and other consultations with other countries. In addition, the government, through its Missions/Posts abroad and during high level visits, also takes up and pursues grant of amnesty/commutation of sentences of Indian prisoners in foreign countries. India has also entered into prisoner transfer treaties with many nations that allow a person convicted of a crime to be transferred to his/her home country to serve the prison sentence, the minister detailed in his response. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has also been set up in Indian Missions and Posts abroad for assisting overseas Indian nationals in distress situations on a means tested basis in deserving cases. The support extended under ICWF includes financial assistance to Indian prisoners for legal aid as well as travel documents/air tickets during repatriation. Miri Eisin, a veteran of Israeli intelligence with a distinguished career spanning two decades, has served in critical intelligence roles within the military to advising the countrys Prime Minister during pivotal moments. Colonel Eisin brings an unparalleled depth of knowledge regarding Middle East and Counter-terrorism. Currently a Fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, a faculty at Reichman University, and a leading voice in global media on Middle Eastern affair, Colonel Eisin spoke with IANS in this exclusive interview on the events following October 7, 2023 in context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, offering her comprehensive and nuanced perspective. Advertisement Excerpts: Advertisement IANS. What is the anatomy of Hamas attack on Israel that took place on October 7, 2023? How it is different, from the earlier attacks? Miri Eisin: When we talk about the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, were talking about something that Hamas prepared for a very long time, and Im going to divide it into two different aspects the attack itself on October 7, meaning the infiltration into Israel, and that Hamas prepared for such a long time is what Im going to call tiers of defence, levels of defence that were prepared physically, underground, above ground, years in advance to support the attack itself into Israeli territory. The terror attack into Israel was a unique one. We dont want any other terror organizations copying this modus operandi. But, the aspect of what they prepared in their tiers of defence is really where Israel, for the last year and four months, is finding the biggest challenges, because beyond that horrific terror attack of October 7, what they built inside the Gaza Strip as their defence system is an enormous underground sub terrain, an arena which is only for the use of Hamas, the terror army. This is something which is incredibly difficult for militaries to do anything with. And thats what Israel has been trying to destroy for over a year and four months. And you do it systematically, slowly. But theres no easy way to do so. Its built underneath the entire Gaza Strip, hundreds of kilometres of underground subterranean tunnels that interconnect, that are protected. Thats where they put the hostages that they took. Its where they have their own defences. They want to pull the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) under underground. What it gives the terror army is the protection underground, and mobility. Mobility is a very military term. In the second level of defence, Hamas built an advanced underground subterranean arena they were building for two dozen years. This is something that theyve been doing for such a long time. Above ground, its taking the urban area. Think of the urban sprawl, a city sprawl anywhere in the world, in India or anywhere youre thinking of, and in the structures themselves, in the buildings where people live, thats where you are building all of the different positions. Assuming that the IDF are going to come in, you come into urban area, which is always a difficult military arena, and Hamas built into the childrens room on the second floor and the third apartment; behind underneath their beds, they were having the RPG positions. Hamas also built the different structures and positions for the missiles, the rockets, the different type of projectiles that they have in the mosque, in the courtyard of the school, inside the classroom, let alone inside and underneath hospitals. And these are things where we say the term terror army. No army does that. A terror army does that. So you have things that were prepared years in advance, underground and above ground. But those are only two layers of defence that Hamas prepared in advance. They also took the hostages. IANS: So was taking hostages also a part of this multi-tier strategy of Hamas? Miri Eisin: Well, one of the main focus of the October 7 attack, when they came in from over 60 different sites simultaneously, where they overcame all of the different defences that we had and didnt have, they were coming in to murder, to terrorize, to brutalize by barbaric attacks in every way. I dont like expanding on it. It hurts me to even talk about it. But the focus was in coming in there, taking 250 different hostages from the age of nine months, where they brutally murdered a nine-month baby that they took alive and then murdered with bare hands afterwards. They killed people from some nine months to the age of 84, from different communities. IANS: Why was Hamas focused on taking Israeli citizens as hostages? Miri Eisin: The hostage taking is to terrorize, to scare us, to tear us apart as Israelis. That is their defence system; that theyre tearing us apart, and also this hostage taking was to be used in a horrific way as a bargaining chip. So you already have here three tiers of defence that Hamas built over years. And the hostage situation was the target. IANS: You mentioned about three levels of defence built by Hamas, what were the other two levels? Miri Eisin: Two additional levels of defence were built upfront by Hamas for over a very long time period. One is the international organisations, the UNRWA. The main employer inside the Gaza Strip, after the Hamas controlled government was the United Nations Organization agency called UNRWA. A lot of people have heard of it. The United Nations Relief and Welfare Agency for the Palestinian Refugees, who literally for the last 75 years from 1949-50 have been the ones who are supposed to give what it sounds like welfare, but they are the second largest employer. They are, by far, the largest education system. And they became also, in that sense, a cover for Hamas defence. The Hamas built both sites and capabilities projectiles in different sites inside UNRWA schools, hospitals, and different facilities and then it is being made to appear as if the United Nations is being attacked by Israel, when literally Hamas is just deeply embedded inside that organisation. So, these are four levels of defence that were prepared in advance. The fifth level of defence is the one where Israel has had the biggest challenges. And thats the information warfare or the terror narrative, or the legitimising of a terror army. And in that one, on October 7, on that day of the attack, while they were attacking, while they were doing their barbaric acts in Israel, taking the hostages, murdering people, killing, sexual abuse, horrific, horrific things. At the same time, Hamas put out two different versions of the October 7 attack, and they filmed two different versions. And those two narratives have had an enormous impact because the one was to terrorize us, the Israelis, supporters of Israel, who saw the barbaric attacks that they did. Its to make us scared and change our lives and for the rest of the world. It was to show how these resistance fighters are humiliating the horrible occupiers. And that narrative has been expanded horrifically over the last 14 months because of the tiers of defence I described before. Because as soon as they took the hostages and went into these tiers of defence. Hamas immediately presented themselves as the victims, as civilians, as Israel, attacking them for no reason. And, here we are in 2025, with those five tiers of defence still standing, the underground subterranean has not been destroyed by Israel. The facilities or operations of Hamas above ground have been exposed, but again, its an enormous amount to take care of. Theyre still holding hostages. The international organisations are vehemently anti-Israel, and in the information warfare, a large portion of the world has turned against Israel. IANS: Right now, there is an exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners many of which are terrorists and radical islamists, which is going on, how do you see this panning out? It seems to be too slow, why? Miri Eisin: Issue of the hostages is a core part of the terror army attack on October 7. Hostages for Hamas are strategic bargaining chips of what they want to achieve. First of all, they want to legitimize themselves. One of the main things that theyve tried to show over the last 16 months is that the hostages that they took from their homes in such a barbaric attack on October 7 are same as prisoners in Israel. The fact is that those were in Israeli prisons are mainly men that have been, participating actively in terror organisations and terror activities, who were arrested while they were doing these activities, who were put on trial, who were found guilty, who were put into prison, and who are serving prison sentences for terrorism. But Hamas has tried to project as if they are the same as the hostages who were taken and murdered at the age of nine months and 84 years and are held in that subterranean arena. Thats the first thing that theyre trying to achieve. And for Hamas, that means that they dont mind how long it takes, because, for them, its a bargaining chip. What they want to achieve is to get as many prisoners out of jail. That is part of the bargaining chip, but they want it to be in the focus of the world. They want to show it because they want the world to not do the distinction between these hostages that were taken and between the prisoners that are inside Israel. This aspect of the negotiation is very, very difficult. There is no easy way if we dont let out the prisoners from jail, then we wont get back our Israeli and non Israeli citizens mothers, grandparents, children. And, if you let out these horrific terrorists, they have blood on their hands. So, its both a combination of, long term prisoners who have been in Israeli jails for acts of terrorism over the last 10, 20, 30, even 40 years and different Hamas terror fighters that were arrested by Israel in the fighting in the last 16 months. That is the horrific world of terrorism. You know that in India, thats not something unique here. That is part of what terrorism does. They take the hostages and then they want to be paid in prisoners who have been put on trial and found guilty in jail, in the stages of negotiations, Israel tried to get to the hostages in additional way. We managed to release, to free, some of the hostages. Not a large number through military actions, where we went into. We did military actions to bring back the, the dead bodies of some of the hostages. But at the end, what Hamas planned on October 7 was both to take them and to hold them in such a way where if we do our actions, they murdered six young people rather than have us get to them. We inadvertently, so erroneously, killed three hostages, not understanding who they were. They have done all of these actions. Thats part of the terrorizing. So, when we get to the stage of negotiation, this isnt a happy stage. Its not a peace stage. Theres no easy way. It isnt just an exchange. Its that you have to give up the prisoners. And, Israelis are willing to give up these terror prisoners for the hostages. But, its with an understanding that youre letting go. Somebody who has killed somebody in Israel before or killed many people in Israel before. These prisoners who were let out, some of them, are from West Bank. Some of them are from like East Jerusalem. Some are from Gaza. And part of the negotiation and the devil is in the details is where were will these freed terror prisoners go to? And so thats why it takes so long. Thats why its so hard. Were letting out horrific terror prisoners, but were doing it in exchange for our citizens. And what Hamas want to do is to prolong this, because every time they hold it, there in the eye of the world more. As I said, their defence system is mainly built on the narrative that they are the victims. And if theyre the victims, whos the bad guy? Israel. So that the whole structure, even of the hostage situation, is about legitimizing for Hamas their own people and about the Hamas and Palestinians being the victims. And, I give all of this background because were in a stage where weve managed to get out so many of the hostages, weve paid a high, high price. We brought in over 175 of the 250 that were taken, but there are still 59 hostages in the Gaza Strip. Of the 59, only 24 are alive, and I dont even know for sure all of those 24 are alive. But Hamas have held dead hostages for years, not just from this war. And I give all of that because thats where we are. Its like you have to negotiate it. You have to agree. Its never going to be easy. The devil in the detail is also how do you actually do the exchange? And in the five exchanges that happened in January and February, mainly in February of 2025, Hamas used it as a stage. I call this a Terror Theatre, where they are trying to show all sorts of different aspects that continue with that same horrific terror narrative that I described before. So Im very, very challenged by the stage were in. Weve agreed to get to a certain stage. They still hold 59 Israelis, 24 of them hopefully still alive. And its already been a year and four months. The ones that have come back have been in horrific shape. And Hamas has threatened that they will murder the hostages. They hold them as a bargaining chip. And they announced that theyll murder, though if we dont give up what they want. Were talking about a horrific situation. Theres no easy way out. Theres enormous public pressure inside Israel. And I understand it because it could be your kid. My kid, my mother. I mean, in that example, in that sense, people arent aware that there are three bodies of women hostages that were taken and killed. Theres a woman there in her 70s, and you say shes not alive, but if we dont get back those bodies, then again, Hamas use these as bargaining chips later on. So right now, what were trying to get to is a deal that will bring back all 59, both the 24 who were alive and the rest of the bodies. Hamas is demanding a price which for Israel is very hard to think about at all. Its not just the release of horrific prisoners, Palestinian terror prisoners from jails. Its also a really meant that Israel would leave all of the Gaza Strip that we have been in different areas of since the beginning of this war, trying to get to our hostages, trying to destroy Hamas, and to do so when Hamas still has viable capabilities, weve degraded them horrifically. And thats excellent. But we have not destroyed their military capabilities. Certainly we never tried to destroy, the ideology. Thats a really big challenge. Germany has reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 13-year closure, Syrian media reported on Thursday, coinciding with a visit by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Baerbocks trip, her second to Syria since the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assads government in December 2024, saw the reopening of the diplomatic mission. Advertisement German media, citing Baerbock, reported that a small number of diplomats, fewer than 10, will be stationed at the reopened embassy. Advertisement During her visit, Baerbock held high-level meetings with Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, foreign affairs chief Asaad Al-Shaibani, and representatives of Syrian civil society. Baerbock also toured the heavily damaged Jobar neighbourhood in Damascus, a district that bore the brunt of the countrys civil war. Germany closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012 when the countrys brutal civil war began. Several other European countries, such as Italy and Spain, have already reopened their embassies in the Syrian capital. The reopening of Germanys diplomatic mission in Syria marks a significant shift, following the ousting of President al-Assad by a coalition of rebel forces led by his newly appointed successor, Ahmad al-Shara. The swift rebel offensive, which led to the end of more than five decades of Assad family rule, set the stage for this diplomatic move three months later. However, the reopening comes at a time of intense violence, particularly along the Syrian coast, the heartland of the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs. Clashes between security forces loyal to the new government and those still backing the old regime have resulted in significant casualties. According to monitoring groups such as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, hundreds of civilians, primarily Alawites, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. Germany, a leading power within the European Union, joins a growing list of countries adjusting their diplomatic stance following the fall of Assad. Italy reopened its embassy last year, prior to Assads fall, while Spain did so after his ouster. In December, the EU announced plans to reopen its mission in Syria, signalling its intent to engage with the countrys new leadership. In January, Hungary became another EU member to resume its diplomatic presence in Damascus, while Turkey and Qatar, key backers of the rebel forces now in power, were among the first nations to reopen their missions in Syria following the regime change. Spain followed suit shortly thereafter, reopening its embassy in January as well. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Thursday strongly condemned continuous US airstrikes on Yemen and intensified Israeli attacks in Gaza. His remarks came after US airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen starting Saturday and intensified Israeli assaults on Gaza since early Tuesday. Advertisement Baghaei voiced deep sorrow over civilian casualties, including innocent women and children, and the destruction of vital infrastructure in Yemen caused by what he called US military aggression. Advertisement He said the countries providing Israel with arms, financial and political support were accomplices in the Israeli crimes. The simultaneity of the US attacks on Yemen with the intensified genocide in Gaza left no doubt about the joint US-Israeli conspiracy to eliminate any call for solidarity with and support for the oppressed Palestinian people, he said. The United States launched a new round of airstrikes on Yemens capital Sanaa on Wednesday evening, which, according to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, wounded at least nine people, including seven women and two children, Xinhua news agency reported. This marked the second US strike on the area since Saturday, when earlier raids killed 53 people and wounded 98, including many women and children. In the Gaza Strip, an Israeli airstrike on a crowd of mourners in the north on Wednesday evening killed at least 16 Palestinians and injured over 30 others. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also condemned it and said that deadly US strikes on the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were a crime that must be stopped. This attack on the people of Yemen, on Yemeni civilians, is a crime that must be stopped, Khamenei said in a video published on his website. Earlier on March 18, Iran had rejected and condemned reckless and provocative remarks by US officials, including President Donald Trump, over Tehrans alleged role in attacks by Yemens Houthis, Irans envoy to the United Nations said in a letter cited by state media. North Korea has successfully test-fired its latest surface-to-air missile system, state media reported on Friday, as South Korea and the United States wrapped up their annual joint military drills. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch the previous day of the anti-aircraft missile system that was recently put into full-scale production, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Advertisement North Korea said the test-firing was aimed at examining the comprehensive performance of the system, claiming that it proved the missiles combat fast response is advantageous and highly reliable. Advertisement Photos released alongside the report showed what appeared to be a launched missile hitting a target and exploding, and Kim smiled contentedly apparently at the test result. Kim said the countrys army will be equipped with another major defence weapons system with laudable combat performance, expressing gratitude to the research group in charge and relevant munitions industry enterprise for strengthening national defence capability, the KCNA said. South Koreas military said it had detected the launch of multiple surface-to-air missiles in real-time from the Norths western port city of Nampho the previous day, adding further analysis is underway, Yonhap news agency reported. The launch took place at around 9 a.m. before South Korea and the US announced the completion of their annual springtime Freedom Shield exercise after an 11-day run, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said. Another military official said North Korea is presumed to have used a cruise missile as a mid-air target for the latest test of the surface-to-air missile. An anti-aircraft or surface-to-air missile is used for defensive purposes. But since a cruise missile can be used for attacks against us, we are focusing more on such an aspect, the official told reporters. North Korea has denounced the joint drills as a rehearsal for invasion and has a track record of staging weapons tests in protest, but it did not carry out major provocations this year. South Korea issued a warning against North Koreas additional provocations. I once again make clear that our military training is an annual and defensive exercise to deter war and guard peace, Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson at Seouls Unification Ministry, said in a regular press briefing. North Korea should not make the wrong judgment of using the exercise as a pretext for provocation. TOKYO - Japan pledged Friday to remain committed to enhancing the deterrence and response capabilities of its alliance with the United States, despite media reports indicating Washington could halt the expansion of its forces in the Asian country as part of defense spending cuts. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that there is "no change" to the bilateral plan that was confirmed when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump met in February, noting that "further efforts are necessary to strengthen the alliance." Earlier this week, CNN and NBC News reported the Trump administration was reconsidering the plan based on a Pentagon briefing document in a move that could save around $1 billion. There has been wider cooperation in recent times between the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military to better address security threats posed by North Korea and China. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesman, echoed Nakatani's view, emphasizing the importance of a strong bilateral alliance amid the severe security environment in the region. "We hope to discuss boosting interoperability and responsiveness as well as the respective command and control frameworks of the SDF and the U.S. military," Hayashi said at a regular press conference. Under the security pact between the two nations, U.S. military forces are stationed in Japan. Most are in Okinawa Prefecture close to both Taiwan, a potential flash point due to Beijing's claim on the island, and the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Trump's return to the White House on Jan. 20 has raised concern that his administration may pressure Japan to shoulder most of the costs associated with hosting U.S. forces. Related coverage: Japan eyes deploying long-range missiles on Kyushu island Japan's Iwaya calls U.S. tariffs "regrettable" in talks with Rubio Japan MSDF frigate makes port call in Australia amid contract bid Malayalam superstar Mammootty has teamed up with Vkation Experiences, a staycation-curation group, to offer a 'boutique villa' experience at his home in Kochi (Kerala) for guests and tourists who can afford to shell out the bucks. Named 'Mammootty House', the residence is located in the posh Panampilly Nagar neighbourhood on KC Joseph Road. Reservations will begin on April 1, as announced by Vkation Experiences, the firm known for curating luxury stays across South India. The residence has four double occupancy bedrooms, which guests can avail of for Rs 75,000 per night. The reservations can be mailed to reservations@vkation.com. They are reachable at the following numbers: 9778465700, 9778455700 It's not yet known whether there will be an opportunity to meet the actor recent reports indicated that he is now staying in Chennai but the locality and the residence should make for a relaxing experience for anyone new to the area known for its pleasant ambience. Mammootty is not the only film personality staying in the locality. Other celebrities can be occasionally seen chilling in some of the neighbourhood cafes. The Panampilly Nagar area is one of the busiest areas in Kochi that bustles with activity throughout the day it is populated with cafes, restaurants, salons (even for pets), bookstores, boutiques, and clinics. Adjacent to 'Mammootty House' is an establishment run by another veteran actor's family the Live-In Style salon, managed by actor Kunjan's wife Shobha. It is easy to read about another persons tragedy from a comfortable distance. Manikarnika Dutta, Oxford historian, specialist in imperial and post-colonial history, now finds herself at the mercy of bureaucratic arithmetic. The Home Office, wielding its cold calculus, has decided that 691 days abroad in a decade is too many. No matter that those days were spent in archives essential to her research. No matter that Britains claim to be a global intellectual hub relies on scholars like her. No matter that her husbandgranted residency under the global talent schemewas deemed worthy of staying while she, an equally brilliant mind, was not. The decision landed in her inbox like a hammer blow: You must now leave the United Kingdom. For Dutta, the battle is just beginning. Lawyers will argue. Petitions will circulate. The three-month limbo begins, a stretch of time in which she waits to see if the country she has called home for 12 years will continue to treat her as a disposable inconvenience. But what if this had happened 50 years earlier? What if there were no lawyers, no petitions, no institutional backing? What if the recipient of that deportation order was a 20-year-old, alone in a foreign country, with no legal aid, no safety netjust a sinking realisation that the only home he had known since adolescence was being yanked away? Morecambe, 1973. A crummy, cheap accommodation on Chatsworth Road, the Barbary Coast of the North West. The plaster on the walls peeling like sunburnt skin, the mattress barely softer than the floor. I had just returned from a badminton tournament in Holland, my body aching but my spirit high. Then came the knockloud, heavy, the kind of knock that isnt asking permission to enter but announcing a verdict. I opened the door to a police bailiff, stone-faced, carrying an envelope that looked like it weighed more than my entire future. Home Office. Urgent. The words swam before my eyes. You are in breach of your conditions of stay. You must leave the United Kingdom within 14 days. Panic. Humiliation. A cold sweat of failure. At 20, I had no lawyer. No powerful institution backing me. No Guardian journalist to document my plight. Just the burning shame of knowing I had switched from a psychiatric student nurse to a bank clerk, an administrative technicality now deemed worthy of expulsion. I thought of my father, waiting in Malaysia with an I-told-you-so smirk. His voice echoed in my mind: You were only fit to climb coconut trees. I thought of the Kuala Lumpur Syrian Orthodox Church elders who had expected me to carve out a respectable future, their disappointment already hanging in the air like incense in a Sunday service. And then the darker thoughts came. The creeping whisper: It would be easier to just disappear. But despair has a nemesisanger. And mine burned hotter than my fear. And then there was my cousin, PC Cherianthe man who had sponsored me to come to England but seemed to resent every step I took forward. He had already tried to sabotage me once, sending an anonymous, poison-penned letter to my Bank Manager, Brian Heeler, at the Morecambe branch of the National Westminster Bank. The letter, written with the elegant strokes of a fountain pen, declared that I was not to be trusted with money. A calculated betrayal. If Heeler had believed it, I would have been sacked, my meagre existence in England shattered. But fateor perhaps just Heelers good judgmentintervened. The letters venom was too obvious, its spite bleeding through every line. The handwriting was traced back to my own cousin, his jealousy exposed like a rotting underbelly. Heeler, with a quiet shake of his head, tore the letter in two and consigned it to the bin. That was the backdrop to the deportation notice. No safety net. No allies I could count on. Just a country that had turned against me, an envious relative sharpening his knives, and the looming spectre of returning to Malaysia in disgrace. But I wasnt going down without a fight. I threw on my running shoes and sprinted towards Morecambe seafront, the salty wind slapping my face, each step pounding into the pavement a refusal to accept my fate. I ran until my lungs burned, until the suicidal thoughts had no space to breathe. Then I hitch-hiked to Lancaster University, walked into the indoor recreation centre, and found an England badminton champion for a gruelling singles session. By the time we were done, my thoughts were clear. This was not how my story would end. I fought. Alone. Without resources. Without hope. And yet, today, I am still standinga British Citizen, a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Manikarnika Dutta has the world behind her nowuniversities, lawyers, colleagues willing to fight. But the feeling in that moment, when the deportation order lands like a guillotine, is universal: the suffocating terror of having the ground pulled from beneath your feet. The cold calculation of a system that sees you as a statistic, not a person. And yet, as history has proven time and again, the human spirit does not go quietly. Had I given in, had I surrendered, my story would have been forgotten in the cracks of time. But here I am. And I hope Dutta will be, too. Somewhere, Al Pacino and the late Gene Hackman in Scarecrow would be clapping. India's bio-economy has witnessed an extraordinary 16-fold surge over the past decade, growing from $10 billion in 2014 to an impressive $165.7 billion in 2024. Announcing these figures, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh released the "India Bioeconomy Report 2025" (IBER 2025) at the BIRAC Foundation Day ceremony at the National Media Centre today. This exponential growth, he emphasized, underscores the governments commitment to positioning biotechnology as a key driver of Indias economic expansion. Continuing its thrust on fostering Indias economy by exploring hitherto under-explored Biotechnology sector, Modi Govt 3.0 adopted #BIOE3 Policy ie Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, Environmentwhich aims to accelerate research, innovation and entrepreneurship in this pic.twitter.com/Zu06MvHmoC Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) March 21, 2025 "In just a decade, India's bio-economy has grown from a modest $10 billion to $165.7 billion, exceeding our initial target of $150 billion by 2025," Dr. Singh stated, quoting IBER 2025. The report highlights the sectors remarkable progress, noting that it now contributes 4.25% to India's GDP. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9% over the past four years, India is emerging as a global biotechnology powerhouse. The minister also launched BioSaarthi, a pioneering global mentorship initiative for biotech startups. Designed as a structured six-month cohort, BioSaarthi will foster mentor-mentee engagements, offering personalized guidance to emerging entrepreneurs in the biotech sector. With the bio-economy playing an increasingly vital role in Indias growth story, the government is keen on leveraging innovation, research, and policy support to cement the countrys position as a global biotech leader in the years ahead. The minister also highlighted that India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has more than doubled over the past decade, soaring from 60,196 crore in 2013-14 to 1,27,381 crore in 2024. This sharp rise reflects the governments unwavering commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation. Singh said that India is witnessing the dawn of a bio-revolutionone poised to be as transformative for India as the IT revolution was for the West. "With sustained efforts, India is not merely keeping pace with the global biotechnology revolutionwe are leading it," declared Dr. Jitendra Singh. As BIRAC celebrates its 13th anniversary, the Minister urged industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to harness emerging opportunities and position biotechnology as a driving force behind Indias economic growth and global influence in the years ahead. The Bijapur encounter in which at least 30 Naxalites were killed by security forces is the latest operation in India's offensive push against Left Wing Extremism (LWE). Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said in an interview that the country will be liberated from the Naxal threat by March 2026. The security personnel fighting the Naxals in the jungles of Chhattisgarh now enjoy a clear upper hand over the guerilla militants due to a superior armoury. Drones, night vision equipment, helicopters and modern weapons have helped them outgun the enemies. Gone are the days when CRPF men feared ambush and landmines in the so-called "red corridor" of India. The establishment of forward operating bases and the deployment of mine-sweeping technology and explosion-withstanding vehicles have evidently given security forces the upper hand. Former Naxals who decided to put down their weapons are recruited into CRPF's CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) -- another strategy that proved effective in the battle as their familiarity with the terrain and inputs to intelligence gathering often corner the LWE groups. ALSO READ | WhAP: This TATA-DRDO amphibious armoured vehicle ensures Naxal mines, IEDs can no longer hurt CRPF jawans in Chhattisgarh Here are five weapons that India equipped its security forces in Chhattisgarh with to counter the Naxal militias Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC) SMGs An indigenously developed submachine gun, JVPCs come with visible and invisible laser designators, silencers and bayonets. A proven beast for close-range assaults, it was designed based on a unique 5.56 x 30mm calibre to replace outdated 9mm submachine guns being used by Indian forces. Its polymer construction ensured a reduced weight (2.98 kg) and a high rate of fire. India's AWEIL has bagged an order worth Rs 85 crores for 5000 Nos of @DRDO_India Joint Venture Protective Carbine (#JVPC) from Delhi Police. pic.twitter.com/ru5zysTmHm Defence Decode (@DefenceDecode) April 1, 2022 Designed by DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment and manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), JVPC offers a range of 200m. "The Unique design features include retractable butt, integral grip outer housing the 30 round magazines & a modular trigger mechanism and Picatinny rail," DRDO said on its website. Carl-Gustaf 84 mm recoilless The Swedish-made, man-portable, recoilless rifle was introduced in the Indian Army as an anti-tank weapon in 1976. It remains the go-to weapon for the country's infantry units. It can be fired from the shoulder or from a vehicle and can fire high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shells, illuminating and smoke ammunition rounds. "The Carl-Gustaf system to be manufactured in Jhajjar, Haryana, is packed with technology that provides an edge on the battlefield by significantly improving the first-hit probability, with ammunition ballistics integrated directly into the sight. The gunner simply selects the pic.twitter.com/0GUg5Yj7Jn Saab India (@SaabIndia) February 14, 2025 Its manufactures Saab AB has begun work on the first fully foreign-owned defence production facility in India. THE WEEK had earlier reported that the latest M4 designs with upgraded sighting technology and advanced carbon fibre winding are being made in India. READ HERE | The importance of making the Carl-Gustaf rocket launcher in India The battle against Naxals doesn't require Carl-Gustaf anti-tank HEAT rounds. Rather, it is the high-explosive rounds (1,000m range) that are handy for the CoBRA units in the jungle warfare along with smoke rounds and guided ammunition. While two men are needed to operate the portable models, the shelf life of its ammunition is 10 years, according to the Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services) website. 81mm mortars 81mm mortars being used during a war drill | Representation A lightweight indirect fire weapon, the highlight of this medium-weight mortar is its easy deployment and disengagement features. It is easy to disengage them in order to be moved to new fire positions, the British Army claimed on their official website. 81mm is capable of providing accurate high explosive, smoke and illuminating rounds out to a maximum range of 5600m. Equipment stability is guaranteed in all ground conditions due to a rotating socket. The equipment weighs 135 kg including all accessories like boxes transit for barrel and baseplate while the mortal shell alone is 4.7 kg heavy. It can fire six to eight rounds per minute with relaying mortal while it can send up to 20 rounds otherwise. IWI Tavor assault rifle The brainchild of Israel Weapons Industry (IWI), a former Israeli government firm that was privatised in 2005, the Tavor assault rifles are a mainstay in the arsenal of India's paramilitary forces. With a max range of 550m, it can fire 750 to 950 rounds per minute. There is nothing quite like watching the splendour of Indias bravest in full form. The Indian armies parachute regimen carrying Israeli Tavor TAR-21 assault rifles. A deadly combination. pic.twitter.com/SSIrfvHvSJ Kavita (@Mahadev_Bhakt80) January 26, 2022 According to reports, it is the X95 variant of the bullpup-type gun that is being used by the CoBRA units in Chhattisgarh. Ejection ports on both sides make the gun ambidextrous and Tavor variants are chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO rounds. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Tavor X 95 rifles have been manufactured domestically since 2021. Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) The Bulgarian-made AK series assault rifles being used by CoBRA commandos are now equipped with under-barrel grenade launchers. DRDO's 40mm UBGLs can launch the grenade when a soldier is holding the Kalashnikov on his shoulder as recoil energy is conducive to firing from the shoulder. Its breech loading enables easy loading and unloading of ammunition while pump action ensures a fired cartridges are easily unloaded. The UBGLs can hit a target anywhere between 28m to 400m. UBGL is designed and developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, and manufactured at Ordnance Factory, Trichy. Agreeing with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's statement that Russia should fear Britain's submarine-based nuclear deterrent 'Trident', a retired Royal Navy Rear Admiral has stated that the missiles were indeed capable of destroying 40 Russian cities. Starmer during a visit to greet the return of British Navy ship HMS Vanguard after its 200 days in the sea, warned the Kremlin on Wednesday of the new weapon. "I think they appreciate our capability. What is obviously important is that they appreciate that it is what it is, which is a credible capability, the Prime Minister said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pays a visit to a Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), capable of carrying up to 16 Trident II D5 SLBMs.pic.twitter.com/bDiDci2DmA Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) March 20, 2025 While many were apprehensive about Trident's capacity, a retired Royal Navy official, Rear Admiral Chris Parry, completely agrees with the Prime Minister. "One Trident submarine has the ability to incinerate 40 Russian cities very quickly. That is a lot of food for thought for Putin and that should make any world leader fearful," he told The Telegraph. Britain's Trident programme consists of four submarines HMS Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance. Each submarine can carry up to 16 ballistic missiles and each piece is loaded with 12 independently targeted warheads. This meant that a single vessel could potentially deliver 192 warheads in a single volley. "Putin knows what Trident submarines can deliver and that is something he has to factor into all of his calculations when he is provoking the West, says Rear-Adml Parry. He added that Russian air defence systems were not that great. "Russia is also the largest country on earth it is impossible to defend against a ballistic missile attack," he added. The missiles have a range of 6,500 nautical miles and each has a speed of around Mach 19 more than 13,000 miles an hour. This means that it would only take 30 minutes for the missile to hit the targets, including Moscow, depending on whether the submarine is based. Slight Malfunction UK: The British Navy misfired a Trident II missile from a nuclear submarine and nearly killed Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, on January 30, The Sun reports. "After the launch, the missile deviated from its course, spun and fell next to the submarine in pic.twitter.com/z9pNRzAJjH {Matt} $XRPatriot (@matttttt187) February 22, 2024 That said, things aren't too good for the British Navy with regard to the Trident. Recently, the submarines suffered two recent missile test failures. In January 2024 a test firing from HMS Vanguard failed after the weapon failed to launch properly and crashed into the sea. The Ministry of Defence, however, described the incident as an "anomaly". In 2016, a Trident missile test from HMS Vengeance also failed. The age of the fleet is also a concern with the oldest one commissioned in 1993 and the last one in 1999. However, Admiral Parry thinks the missiles are still very capable. "There have been problems but it is important not to overplay these events. The missile firings, for example, were about testing the launch process there was too much focus on the missiles failing. Yes they are old, but they are still very capable," he said. A deep-jungle tactical meeting of the Naxals was intercepted by security forces in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, neutralising 30 militants. The development has brought the country's focus back to anti-Naxal operations. Landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used to be the go-to weapons of Left Wing Extremist Naxals in Chhattigarh for long. Security forces took significant casualties over the years as the militants used mines to ambush patrolling troops. However, India has significantly turned the tide in recent times, liberating many parts of the "red corridor" that used to be impenetrable for uniformed men. Tata Advanced Systems Maroc (TASM) factory in #Morocco to have an annual production capacity of 100 vehicles; initial order placed for 150 88 WhAP by Morocco. pic.twitter.com/OSFkjr7yfv News IADN (@NewsIADN) September 28, 2024 The use of advanced technology and weaponry played a crucial role in bringing the Naxals to their knees across the jungles of Chhattisgarh. Night vision goggles, drones, and rocket launchers have all helped the security forces to counter the guerilla militants effectively. However, the Wheeled Armoured Platform or WhAP 8X8, an indigenously developed armoured troop carrier, requires special mention. WhAP arrives to counter LWE WhAP 8x8 According to reports, the Naxals learnt that WhAP is not to be messed with. Their first encounter with this state-of-art machines happened in 2024 when they launched a surprise attack on a CRPF camp in Telangana's Tekulagudem. The officer in command of the camp quickly ordered his men to mount the Medium Machine Guns (MMGs) on WhAPs. The Naxals, who thought they had the element of surprise, had no choice but to beat a retreat as they had no chance against the heavy fire. Indian engineering goes global! Morocco signs agreement with Tata to manufacture WhAP 8*8 armoured vehicles for Moroccan defence forces. pic.twitter.com/xR2AxUGbP4 Engineering Marvels (@engmarvelsindia) September 28, 2024 ALSO READ | Sidelined by India, Tata-made Wheeled Armoured Platform combat vehicles find a taker in Morocco The deployment of WhAP 8X8 in Bastar and other Naxal-hit areas has provided the CRPF personnel with protection from explosives. Neither landmines nor IEDs can "wipe out" the jawans any longer as they are moving in these unbreachable giants. If one forward operating base (FOB) comes under attack, troops from nearby FOBs rush to help in these vehicles that can travel at a speed of 40km/h in off-road conditions. What are WhAP 8x8? The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed WhAP 8x8 in collaboration with Tata Advanced SystemsTata Advanced Systems. The nomenclature "8x8" refers to a vehicle with eight wheels, all of which are powered. It is Indias first amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicle (Wheeled) that can travel in water at a speed of 10km/h using a water jet. It can carry 10 fully equipped soldiers apart from the two crew members. WhAP 8x8 WhAP can negotiate muddy terrain with ease and can reach 100 km/h on regular roads. It can be equipped with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), 30mm cannons or 7.62mm coaxial machine guns depending on the variant. They have been inducted into the Indian Army and Paramilitary forces. Why Naxal mines are useless against Wheeled Armoured Platform? Its hull is designed with a V-shaped bottom to absorb impact and provide better protection to the riders and provide stability to the vehicle. The bottom panel, meanwhile, can deflect blast energy and absorb the force. This too, reduces the impact of the explosion on the vehicle and safeguards the soldiers. The vehicle can withstand mine blasts as it has STANAG Level III-IV ballistic protection. Additional armour can be fitted to them depending on requirements, various missions and operating conditions. Tata claims they were "designed for optimised survivability, all-terrain performance and increased lethality." TOKYO, Kyodo News Plus - Gunma Prefecture in eastern Japan has topped a ranking of the most popular destinations among Japanese looking to relocate to regional areas of the country, according to a recent survey. Gunma Prefecture was the destination of choice among potential movers seeking first-time, over-the-counter consultations about relocating in Japan, through the non-profit Furusato Kaiki Shien Center in Tokyo in 2024. It is the first time the prefecture has topped the ranking based on consultations since the center, which provides information and support for relocation, began compiling the ranking in 2009. Gunma ranked second behind Shizuoka in 2023, but increased media coverage of the prefecture led to an increase in consultations sought by people in their 20s and 30s, according to the center. The prefecture was also popular among 50-year-olds embarking on what the center called a "second life," as well as professionals looking for a location from which to telework. An area with fewer natural disasters was among other appeals cited by people who sought consultation about Gunma, according to the center. Financial support for relocating to Gunma Prefecture is considerable. All the municipalities in the prefecture participate in Japans regional revitalization support program which provides subsidies for residents and workers in Tokyo who relocate away from the capital. Through the program, municipalities in the prefecture offer relocation subsidies of up to 600,000 yen ($4,000) for people living alone. Up to 1 million yen is available for households, with a further subsidy for each household member under 18 years of age. Gunma topped the ranking ahead of perennial relocation destination favorite Shizuoka Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, in second. Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, ranked third. Fukushima, Chiba, and Hyogo prefectures also saw an increase in interest. Tokyo failed to make the top 20 in the previous survey but ranked 14 this time around. A booth set up at the center promoting relocation to the Tama area, in western Tokyo, and the Izu islands has proved popular, according to the center. Furusato Kaiki Shien Center Chairman, Hiroshi Takahashi said that Gunma and Tochigi have become increasingly popular relocation destinations since the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press release, Takahashi described the prefectures as benefiting from a "synergy effect," after they held fairs near the center on the same day in November. In a separate ranking compiled by the center, Hiroshima Prefecture, in western Japan, ranked third based on responses to questionnaires issued at relocation seminars. Seminars for foreign residents held in English by the prefecture since 2021 have been well received, according to the center. The Furusato Kaiki Shien Center provides information and support in cooperation with around 650 municipalities across Japan. Consultants from around the country are stationed at the center's facility in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. The center handled a record 61,720 consultations in 2024. This article was submitted by a contributing writer for publication on Kyodo News Plus. After the recovery of a huge pile of cash at the official residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma in Delhi, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has sought a fact-finding report from Delhi High Court Chief Justice Upadhyaya. Sources said the Collegium members had suggested to the CJI to try and get this at the earliest as that will assist the decision on whether to order an in-house inquiry or not. The Collegium led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna took a serious view of the incident after which it was decided to hold an in-house inquiry. According to highly placed sources, the in-house inquiry is already underway. A meeting of all the Supreme Court judges happened just before the court convened for the daily hearings in their courtrooms. Sources told THE WEEK, that CJI Khanna along with the other four senior-most judges -who are also part of the Collegium- have conveyed to the other judges the reasons for the transfer of the judge to another HC. #WATCH | Prayagraj, UP: On SC Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of Delhi HC to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Anil Tiwari, President, Allahabad High Court Bar Association says "...If Rs 15 lakhs are found at the pic.twitter.com/wTE1NsymsT ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 It is learnt that the report recommended a transfer since he is also part of the Delhi High Court Collegium which plays a crucial role in the appointment of judges. #WATCH | Delhi | On SC Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of Delhi HC to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Vikas Singh says,"It is a very serious matter because people pic.twitter.com/xR0BjgHT37 ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Meanwhile, Justice Varma didnt attend his court on Friday and had gone on leave. #WATCH | Delhi | On the Supreme Court Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal says, "...The issue of corruption pic.twitter.com/hPQPqeT57t ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 In the interim, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA), Allahabad also passed a resolution condemning corruption. Early in the day, the Delhi HC Chief Justice Upadhyaya while responding to senior advocate Arun Bhardwaj on the allegations against Justice Varma said, Today's incident has pained many of us. Please take some steps on the administrative side so these incidents do not happen in future and the judicial system is maintained. The incident leading up to the discovery of cash took place on Holi. Reports suggest that Justice Varma was not at home when a fire broke out at his official residence and family members alerted the fire brigade. Reports also suggested that while dousing the fire, the first responders stumbled across a huge amount of unaccounted cash inside a room. Justice Varma was first appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in October 2014. He took oath as a permanent member of that court two years later, in February 2016. During his tenure at the High Court, he handled matters relating to the Constitution and labour disputes, as well as laws governing industries, corporations and taxes. Supreme Courts official statement Supreme Court of India in an official release said, "On receiving the information, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court commenced the In-house enquiry procedure collecting evidence and information. The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who had commenced his enquiry prior to the Collegium meeting on 20th March 2025, will be submitting his report to the Chief Justice of India today i.e. on 21 March 2025. The report will be examined and processed for further and necessary action." The statement by the Supreme Court further reads, "The proposal for transfer of Mr Justice Yashwant Varma, who is the second senior most Judge in the Delhi High Court and a member of the Collegium, to his parent High Court ie, the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, where he will be ninth in seniority, is independent and separate from the In-house enquiry procedure. The proposal was examined by the Collegium comprising of the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court on 20 March 2025, and thereafter letters were written to the consultee Judges of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justices of the High Courts concerned and Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma. Responses received will be examined and, thereupon, the Collegium will pass a resolution." How is a judge removed? In 1999, the Supreme Court laid down guidelines to deal with allegations of corruption, wrongdoing, and judicial irregularity against judges of the Constitutional Court. According to these guidelines, on receiving a complaint, the Chief Justice will first seek a reply from the judge concerned. If he is dissatisfied with the answer or believes the matter requires further investigation, an internal committee is formed. After the committee submits a report and if the Chief Justice thinks that the alleged misconduct of the judge in question is grave requiring removal, he will ask the judge to resign. If the judge refuses, the Chief Justice will then write to the government to initiate proceedings for his/her removal by Parliament, under Article 124(4) of the Constitution. Article 124 (4) says: "A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proven misbehaviour or incapacity." Article 218 applies the same rule to a judge of the High Court. Further, the Constitution provides for the Parliament to decide how this process will be followed, and that's where The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, comes in. This law essentially regulates the procedure for investigation and proof of misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court. Ahead of the DMK-led Opposition parties meeting in Chennai on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a dig at the Opposition saying they were raising the language issue because of political considerations. Shah spoke against the Opposition parties particularly, the DMK, which was at loggerheads with the Centre over the three-language formula as envisaged under the new education policy. The home minister argued that the language divisions should not be raised as Hindi was not being imposed. He said the Modi government had started engineering education in Indian languages, and when BJP is voted to power in Tamil Nadu, it would initiate the same in the Tamil language. "You can't hide your corruption under language row." Amit Shah Tears Into Stalin's DMK Over Language Row pic.twitter.com/P6ZE7Q9Epe Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) March 21, 2025 Shah, who was replying in Rajya Sabha, during the discussion on the Home Ministry, went on to add that after December, he corresponded with the chief ministers, and elected representatives in their respective languages. This was apparently to blunt the attack of the Opposition parties, particularly in the South, which are trying to get together to counter the BJP-led government over a host of issues. On Saturday, the Opposition parties are gathering in Chennai on the invitation of DMK, to discuss the issue of delimitation of Lok Sabha seats. The argument is that the Southern states stand to lose if the population remains the criteria to redraw the electoral map as these states due to their progressive populations had managed to control it. While, the northern states like UP, Bihar with its burgeoning population will gain more Lok Sabha seats, which would tilt the balance in their favour, thus giving them more power in deciding who comes to power in Delhi. Language is another issue which can create a north versus south debate. "Hindi is not in competition with any Indian language, it is only a friend. The government works on spreading all Indian languages. Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Assamese... every language has been included, and there will be apps for translation too," Shah said. Shah was at his combative best as he said the Modi governments zero tolerance against terrorism had ensured peace. "Earlier, bomb blasts happened frequently. But in the last 10 years, bomb blasts have stopped. The country is safe under Narendra Modi. Home Minister said his government would uproot terrorism and the country would be free from Left-wing by March 31, 2026. Shah also referred to abrogation of Article 370 which brought peace in the valley. Shah said the issue of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, left-wing extremism, and insurgency in the Northeast were among the biggest challenges for India. Around 92,000 citizens were killed in four decades. No organised effort was made to deal with these, and the Modi government did it. The death toll in the massive anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh has increased to 30, with security forces also recovering firearms and explosives from their hideouts. Revealing behind-the-scenes details of the operation, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said the militants were conducting a tactical meeting when the attack happened. Addressing presspersons, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who handles home portfolio said, Naxalites had gathered in remote jungles for a meeting considering their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC), which is typically observed between March and June. #WATCH | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh | Visuals of the arms and ammunition recovered by security forces and bodies of the 30 Naxalites who were neutralised during the two separate encounters in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region yesterday. pic.twitter.com/mlbLgCVPEW ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Sharma said the security forces surrounded the Naxals on Thursday, cornering them from all sides. Naxals opened fire on security forces who retaliated, Sharma said. Hailing the operation, Sharma said Thursdays operation was a major achievement against Naxals. In two separate operations conducted along the border areas of Bijapur and Dantewada districts on Thursday, security forces gunned down 30 Naxalites. In the anti-Naxal operation conducted in the forest areas of Bijapur, security forces comprising personnel from Border Security Force and Chhattisgarh polices District Reserve Guard killed 26 Naxalites. In another operation in Kanker, four Naxalities were killed. #WATCH | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh | Police personnel pay tribute to the mortal remains of Raju Oyam, District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan who sacrificed his life in the line of duty during an encounter with the naxals in Bijapur-Dantewada area. pic.twitter.com/6cWEZGD3kZ ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 A DRG jawan got killed in the exchange of fire. Bastar IG Sundarraj P. Said Raju Oyam, the martyred soldier was associated with Maoist organisations in the past and joined mainstream in 2020. Sundarraj said Oyam had taken part in several anti-Naxal operations. The senior police officer added identities of the bodies of 18 Naxalites have been identified. He said 14 women and 12 men Maoists got killed in the operation. Security forces have also recovered a huge cache of weapons and ammunition from the location. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had appreciated the security forces and said the country would become Naxal-free by March next year. Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that the Canada-India bilateral relations became strained due to the "licence" to "extremist and secessionist elements" in Ottawa. With Mark Carney replacing Justin Trudeau as the prime minister, India hopes to improve the ties between both nations. #WATCH | Delhi: On India-Canada relations, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on pic.twitter.com/on36QS3aYr ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 "Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was quoted by ANI. #MEABriefing ||#WATCH | Delhi: On Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri detained in the #US, @MEAIndia Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We are given to understand through media reports that this individual has been detained. Neither the US Govt nor the individual has pic.twitter.com/5JdJ7iD632 All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 21, 2025 "The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity," he said. Ahead of swearing-in Carney said that there are opportunities to rebuild the relationships with India. "There needs to be a shared sense of values around that commercial relationship and if I am the Prime Minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that," he said. The relations between India and Canada worsened after Trudeau alleged India's role in the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia in 2023. The MEA had called the allegations "baseless" and said Canada has "presented no evidence" in support of the serious allegations. After the heated arguments and controversy, both countries recalled their diplomats. MEA held Trudeau responsible for the damage caused to India-Canada ties. #WATCH | Delhi: MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "India and the US are in the process of taking bilateral trade negotiations forward. The two governments are actively working to build a framework for the BTA, which would aim to expand trade, enhance market access, pic.twitter.com/HZZUcLhhFv ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Also, regarding the India-US trade ties, Jaiwal said that both countries are in the process of taking bilateral negotiations forward. "The two governments are actively working to build a framework for the bilateral trade talks, which would aim to expand trade, enhance market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers," he said. In a shocking turn of events, the Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma back to Allahabad HC after a huge pile of cash was found at his official residence. The Collegium led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna took a series view of the incident after which it was decided to hold an in-house inquiry. The incident leading to the discovery of cash happened on the day of Holi. Justice Verma was not at home when a fire broke out at his official residence. His family members alerted the fire brigade. While dousing the fire, the first responders stumbled across a huge amount of unaccounted cash inside a room. The local police officers, who were at the spot, informed their seniors about the discovery. The matter was immediately conveyed to the judicial authorities, following which the action was taken by the collegium. The decision was unanimous that Justice Varma needed to be transferred back. Further action could follow after some members of the five-judge collegium felt the offence required an in-house enquiry, after which he should be removed from the Parliament. Letting him off the hook with just a transfer would not only tarnish the judiciary but also the trust in the institution, the members felt. According to sources, the resolution regarding the transfer hasnt been uploaded intentionally so that it does not hamper the investigation. Justice Yashwant Verma was sent from Allahabad to the Delhi High Court in October 2021. How is a HC judge removed? In 1999, the Supreme Court laid down guidelines to deal with allegations of corruption, wrongdoing, and judicial irregularity against judges of the Constitutional Court. According to these guidelines, on receiving a complaint the Chief Justice will first seek a reply from the judge concerned. If he is dissatisfied with the answer or believes the matter requires further investigation, an internal committee will be formed. After the committee submits a report and if the Chief Justice thinks that the alleged misconduct of the judge in question is grave requiring removal, he will ask the judge to resign. If the judge refuses, the Chief Justice will then write to the government to initiate proceedings for his/her removal by Parliament, under Article 124(4) of the Constitution. (With inputs from Kanu Sarda) The police probing the Saurabh Rajput murder case in Meerut are reportedly investigating whether the accused Sahil Shukla practiced black magic or any tantric rituals after police found "disturbing images" on his home walls. There are also unconfirmed reports that Sahil may have taken the victim's severed head with him to his house before returning it to Muskaan's house. Police officials who visited Sahil's house saw images on his walls, which they believed could be part of "a ritual". These along with the possibility that Sahil could have taken the severed body parts to his home have prompted the officials to delve deep into his activities, according to Aaj Tak. However, the black magic angle could also be a ploy employed by Sahil to misdirect the investigation, Meerut SP Ayush Vikram Singh was quoted by NDTV India. The black magic theory is also strengthened by Sahil's blind belief in spirits. His unbridled mind, corrupted by continuous drug use, was manipulated by Muskaan to use him to kill her husband. Muskaan created a fake Snapchat account to get in touch with Sahil and even convinced him that his late mother was communicating with him through the account. Though the social media profile didn't have the name of Sahil's mother, he was convinced that his dead mother had reincarnated and was using the account to communicate with him. Gradually, Muskaan took control over Sahil's mind and gradually convinced him that he should join the woman's efforts to kill Saurabh. Money, education The police are also probing Muskaan's claims that Saurabh had Rs 6 lakh in his account, some of which he transferred to her and his mother's accounts. Saurabh's London journey and his job at the Merchant Navy have also come under the police scanner, especially since it is said that he hasn't studied beyond school. The Centre on Friday raised concern over Allahabad High Courts verdict in a POCSO case ruling grabbing minors breasts or snapping a pyjama string do not constitute rape or an attempt to rape. The Union ministry for women and child development said the Supreme Court must intervene in the matter. Talking to presspersons, Annapurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, said the Supreme Court should intervene in the matter as the order has wider implications. I am completely against this decision and the Supreme Court should take serious note of it. Such a ruling has no place in a civilized society, PTI reported. VIDEO | Here's what Union Minister Annapurna Devi (@Annapurna4BJP) said on Allahabad High Court's remark on rape cases. "I don't support this decision, and the Supreme Court should also re-consider this decision because it will have adverse impact on a civil society." The pic.twitter.com/38AqsOlI2J Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 21, 2025 The minister added the order has broader repercussions and it could affect society negatively. She added, Somewhere, this will have a negative impact on society and we will discuss this matter further. The Allahabad High Court on Thursday ruled mere grabbing of a minors breasts or snapping pyjama strings will not constitute as rape or attempt to rape under the POCSO Act. The High Court was hearing a plea moved by two accused of a POCSO case in Uttar Pradesh seeking to alter charges registered against them in the case. The duo are accused of attempting to rape a 11-year-old girl in Kasganj in 2021. The accused were charged under section 376 IPC for rape and section 18 under POCSO Act, attempting to commit an offence. The Allahabad High Court, hearing the matter, observed, Fact is not sufficient to draw an inference that the accused persons had determined to commit rape on the victim as apart from these facts no other act is attributed to them to further their alleged desire to commit rape on the victim, Bar and Bench reported. The High Court directed the trial court to alter the charges to section 354B IPC, assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe, along with Sections 9/10 of the POCSO Act, aggravated sexual assault, and issue fresh summons to the accused. During a hearing at the City Sessions Court in Kolkata on Friday, lawyers representing Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam, appealed for his release, citing his deteriorating health. They informed the court that he has been seriously ill and had required oxygen support since Thursday. The bail plea pertains to a CBI investigation into the recruitment irregularities within the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBPE). Chatterjee, the former education minister of West Bengal, was arrested on October 1 last year. His counsels argued that while the federal agency interrogated him later on the 15th of the same month, no further questioning had taken place since then. The CBI filed a chargesheet against the former TMC leader on December 27 last year, accusing him of accepting bribes from over 1,000 job applicants under the pretence of offering them employment. According to reports, the agency also alleged that he personally wrote instructions on a list of tainted candidates, which were later transcribed onto another document by a woman. However, the CBI was unable to present the original handwritten notes but stated that the woman in question had been interrogated. Chatterjees lawyers challenged these claims, asserting that without his original handwritten instructions, the agencys allegations were baseless. They also argued that the CBI had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the claim that he had recommended 15 candidates out of a list of 700. Chatterjee was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July 2022 as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam. The Supreme Court granted him conditional bail in this case in December last year. Meanwhile, Chatterjees son-in-law, Kalyanmay Bhattacharya, who is also an accused in the ED case, has turned an approver. On Tuesday, he recorded his statement as a witness in the ongoing investigation. Israel has dismissed the head of its powerful internal intelligence agency Shin Bet, an unprecedented move since it was set up in 1949. Shin Bet is one of three principal intelligence services of Israel along with Aman, which deals with military intelligence, and Mossad, which oversees foreign intelligence. The decision to terminate the services of director Ronen Bar was made unanimously at a cabinet meeting held last night and has become a major political controversy roiling Israel. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said the decision was made as the PM lost confidence in Bar and that he would serve till April 10 or till a new permanent director was appointed to lead the agency, whichever came earlier. The dismissal came a year and a half ahead of his scheduled retirement and was challenged immediately at the High Court of Justice by the Movement for Quality of Government. In Jerusalem, people are protesting against the dismissal of the head of Shin Bet. pic.twitter.com/IipF0G1FuK INW English (@INWEnglish) March 20, 2025 Netanyahus office said Bars removal was necessary for achieving Israels war aims in Gaza and was aimed at preventing the next disaster, implying that Shin Bets security lapses were among the reasons behind Hamass October 7 attacks. Netanyahu has repeatedly blamed the agency for not doing enough to prevent the attacks. An internal investigation by Shin Bet had shown that the agency was unsuccessful in anticipating and preventing the attacks. Bar, meanwhile, also blamed Netanyhus policies for the volatile security situation. Provocative moves by the far-right members of the Netanyahu cabinet such as visiting the Al Aqsa compound and mistreatment of Palestinians were contributing factors behind the audacious attack by Hamas, according to Shin Bet. The latest provocation, however, behind Netanyahus insistence to do away with Bars services is possibly the Qatar-Gate investigations. Shin Bet has been looking into charges that some members of Netanyahus inner circle have lobbied inappropriately on behalf of Qatar. Yesterday, police detained two suspects for alleged financial ties with the government of Qatar. The PMs office alleged that it was a witch-hunt by the leftist deep state, comparing it to investigations against President Donald Trump in the US. The controversy erupted after Israeli businessman Gil Birger acknowledged that he moved money from a Qatari government lobbyist to Eli Feldstein, a spokesperson in the prime ministers office. Adding to the drama, Israels attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara wrote a letter to the prime minister ahead of the cabinet vote to dismiss Bar that the government lacked the power to remove the Shin Bet chief without the authorisation of a special committee. Netanyahu wrote back saying the AG was exceeding her authority by writing such a letter. Bar responded to his dismissal with an explosive statement, saying the move was illegal, invalid and was entirely tainted by conflict of interest. He said the cabinet meeting to remove him was hastily convened, denying him the right to explain himself. He also blamed the manner in which the Gaza operations were conducted and said Netanyahu was putting the lives of the hostages still in Hamas custody in jeopardy by ousting him and the Mossad chief from the negotiating team dealing with the crisis. Tens of thousands of people are protesting against the decision to sack Bar, calling it an assault on democracy. Police have arrested dozens as protesters continue to block key highways and streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Netanyahus decision to abandon the Gaza ceasefire and escalate the conflict against Hamas has also added to the situation. Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad celebrated the court conviction of two men in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting her by openly challenging Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei in a social media post. Alinejad, a journalist, was targetted by two men, who allegedly worked for the Iranian government after she campaigned against the mandatory wearing of headscarves for Iranian women. Alinejad was not at the at the Manhattan federal court when the verdict the delivered but she reportedly broke down hearing the news. She also expressed her relief at the verdict after the assassination attempt that happened at her Brooklyn home. The journalist, however, minced no words when she targeted Iran's ruling regime, calling them "the real masterminds" who are still in power in Iran. It was then that Alinejad took to X to celebrate her victory and slam Khamenei. "I and the women of Iran have today won and you @khamenei_ir and your hated regime have lost!," she posted to X. I and the women of Iran have today won and you @khamenei_ir and your hated regime have lost! I am relieved that after nearly three years, moving more than 20 times between safe houses, the men hired by the Islamic Republic to kill me on US soil have been found guilty. But make pic.twitter.com/zmW2lP5iQt Masih Alinejad (@AlinejadMasih) March 20, 2025 "For the first time, the regime of the Islamic Republic is being held accountable for bringing its campaign of terror to U.S. soil," Alinejad wrote, "This is just the beginning of exposing and dismantling its network of violence." The incident related to the plot to murder Alinejad happened in 2021 when Iranian intelligence officers reportedly hired two Russian mobsters, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, to assassinate her. The duo were convicted of murder for hire, firearms possession and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The US Justice Department said the Iranian officials planned to lure Alinejad to a third country where the abduction was planned. They plotted to pay off her relatives in Iran to betray her which failed. They also hired private investigators to spy on the target's Brooklyn home and family and set up a live video feed of the property. The mobsters also planned to take a military-style speedboat to evacuate her from New York City to Venezuela, an ally of Iran. The Prosecutors said Iran's government was the mastermind of the plot, however, Tehran termed the allegations "ridiculous and baseless". TAIPEI - Taiwan's Cabinet has appointed Shigeru Iwasaki, a former chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, as a political consultant, sources familiar with the matter said Friday, triggering a rebuke from China, which views the self-ruled island as its own. The appointment marks the second time that a Japanese national has been known to take up the post of adviser to the Executive Yuan, Taiwan's Cabinet, in recent years, following Tainan-based businessman Takao Nozaki, who assumed the post in August. China lodged a protest with Japan over the appointment of Iwasaki, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference in Beijing, urging Tokyo to "be careful" with its words and actions regarding Taiwan issues. "The DPP authorities' collusion with external forces to seek independence and provocation will not succeed," Mao said, referring to Taiwan's independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party led by President Lai Ching-te, who has been condemned by Beijing as a separatist. It is rare for a foreigner to be assigned to the role and the decision to choose a former top officer of the SDF appears to demonstrate Taiwan's intent to explore security cooperation with Japan in response to mainland China's military pressure. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo that he is not in a position to comment on the activities of a person who has retired from public service, but said he is aware of the report about Iwasaki. Hayashi also said there is no change to the unofficial relations Japan maintains with Taiwan based on the 1972 Japan-China joint communique, which stipulates that Beijing is the only legitimate government of China. Iwasaki recently visited Taiwan at the invitation of the Executive Yuan and met Premier Cho Jung-tai, according to the sources. During his one-year term, Iwasaki is responsible for making policy recommendations to the Executive Yuan. After serving as the top officer of the Air Self-Defense Force, Iwasaki worked as the SDF's chief of the Joint Staff between 2012 and 2014. According to Taiwanese media, Iwasaki made local headlines last May when it was reported that he was attending Lai's inauguration ceremony, a first for a former chief of the Joint Staff of the SDF. Related coverage: Japan blocked ex-Taiwan leader Tsai's 2024 visit over China concerns China warns Japan not to interfere in Taiwan affairs Japan MSDF destroyer sailed Taiwan Strait in Feb., 1st since Sept. Israel's Supreme Court on Friday ordered to temporary halt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissal of the country's intelligence chief Ronen Bar. The court said Bar could not be dismissed till his appeal is heard. The top court's decision came hours after Netanyahu's Cabinet unanimously approved his appeal to fire the head of the Shit Bet internal security service. Also read | For the first time in history, Israel fires its intelligence chief. Is Qatargate to blame? Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated tonight in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu's decision to fire the director of the Shin Bet security agency Ronen Bar. Netanyahu's move is perceived as part of his campaign to weaken Israel's democratic institutions pic.twitter.com/rUabk7ZEeI Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) March 18, 2025 The court said it was delaying the firing until an appeal could be heard no later than April 8. Netanyahu's office said that Bar's dismissal takes effect from April 10 onwards, however, he would be removed if a replacement is found earlier. As the resistance intensifies, protestors chant "You are zeroes" towards Cabinet members who are discussing the dismissal of Shin Bet Head Ronen Bar at the government compound in Jerusalem. Credit: Orna Kupferman pic.twitter.com/HNBkjS3sVm USA 4 Israeli Democracy (@USA4ILDemocracy) March 20, 2025 The Israel PM had cited a lack of trust in Bar to dismiss him as the intelligence chief. Bar's sacking has triggered massive protests across Israel. Protesters raised anti-government slogans and accused Netanyahu of destroying the democracy. Who is Ronen Bar? Ronen Bar was appointed in October 2021 for a five-year term as the chief of Shin Bet- Israel's domestic intelligence agency. Bar, 59, a former special forces soldier holds degrees from Tel Aviv and Harvard universities. Bar served his military service in the Sayeret Matkal, Israels elite special forces. Later he ran a bar in Tel Aviv, where he met his wife. He has degrees in political science and philosophy from Tel Aviv University and a masters degree in public administration from Harvard. After his studies, he joined the Shin Bet and rose steadily through the ranks of its operations division. Though Shin Bet's priority is counter-terrorism, the service also investigates espionage, manages security clearance for thousands of sensitive posts and has a legal duty to defend Israel's democratic system. As Shin Bet chief, Bar had accepted his failure in preventing the 2023 Hamas attack and said that he intended to resign. A Shin Bet report into Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack acknowledged failures by the security agency. But it also criticised the policies of Netanyahu's government that paved the way for the attack. Following a request by the United States, Israel is considering holding off its response to missiles fired recently from Yemen. The US has reportedly asked Israel to refrain from targeting Houthi positions, with a senior official saying, "Leave it to us. This follows an overnight ballistic missile attack by Houthi rebels on March 20 aimed at central Israel, which was intercepted by Israeli air defences and did not reach Israeli soil. There were no reports of damage or injuries. The attack, however, triggered warning sirens across central Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and their suburbs, forcing millions of residents to scramble to bomb shelters at 4 in the morning. Washington has urged Tel Aviv to allow American forces, currently engaged in operations against the Iran-supported Houthis, to handle any retaliation. Israel is likely to heed the American request, avoiding airstrikes previously conducted by its Air Force. Such operations are logistically challenging because of the distance between Israel and Yemen, necessitating mid-air refuelling. While the IAF has demonstrated its long-range capabilities, the US, with aircraft carriers positioned in the region, possesses better capacity for sustained strikes, as evidenced by its recent attack on Houthi targets. Dear Houthis- Were having fun. Thanks for inviting us to play. Signed, Merica pic.twitter.com/Yp7pOsnan3 Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) March 21, 2025 The Houthi attack against Israel on March 20 was the first such incident in two months. Earlier, US strikes (on March 15) in Yemen killed over 23 and injured more than 20, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. The US hit Yemeni capital Sana and the Houthi stronghold of Saada in the northwestern part of the country. The Houthis, however, have vowed to continue targeting Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, undeterred by American military action or appeals from allies like Iran, who reportedly urged de-escalation via diplomatic channels. It is believed that Iran delivered messages to the Houthis via Oman. The US has, meanwhile, signalled a firm stance, with President Donald Trump condemning Houthi attacks on American vessels and disruptions to global shipping lanes, pledging overwhelming force to protect freedom of navigation. Watch how it will get progressively worseit is not even a fair fight, and never will be, wrote Trump on his social media platform Truth Social. They will be completely annihilated. The recent strikes against the Houthis have been the largest American military operation since Trump took charge in January. He said he would hold Iran responsible for the strikes and has also set a two-month deadline before Tehran to reach a nuclear deal with the US. A US court has blocked the deportation of Indian researcher Badar Khan Suri, who was detained by immigration authorities earlier this week for spreading Hamas propaganda. His lawyer had argued that he was being targeted due to his wife's Palestinian roots. Suri is a postdoctoral fellow studying and teaching at the prestigious Washington DC institution on a student visa. In an order on Thursday, Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles said Mr Suri "shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order". He was arrested on Monday night by agents of the Department of Homeland Security from his home in Arlington, Virginia. A sworn statement by his wife Mapheze Saleh said Suri's detention "has completely upended our lives and children missed him dearly." "As a mother of three children, I desperately need his support to take care of them and me." His arrest comes amid the detention or deportation of other foreign students and academics, including Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Indian PhD student Ranjani Sreenivasan. The Canary Mission In his petition before the court, Suri had alleged that he and his wife had long been 'doxxed and smeared" online by an "anonymously-run blacklisting site" known as The Canary Mission. The site has a dedicated profile for her in which it accuses Saleh of working for Hamas. "She expressed support for Hamas terrorism and called for Israel's destruction," it read, The petition alleged that The Canary Mission runs a blacklist of individuals who its creators believe support Palestinian rights and "is infamous for bullying, slandering, and defaming academics and students." The complaint also alleges that the couple were "smeared" by other websites. Saleh's Hamas links In her sworn statement, Saleh has detailed her father's alleged links with the Hamas, stating that her father lived in the US for nearly 20 years while pursuing a master's and PhD. "Afterward, he served as political advisor to the Prime Minister of Gaza and as the deputy of foreign affairs in Gaza," she said. But, he left the Gaza government in 2010 and "started the House of Wisdom in 2011 to encourage peace and conflict resolution in Gaza". Saleh's father was father-in-law is a former adviser to killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the Washington Post and New York Times reported. Britain's Prince William, Colonel-in-Chief, Mercian Regiment, attends field training after the official handover ceremony between The Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercian Regiment to highlight a transfer of authority at Tapa camp, in Tallinn, Estonia. Tapa is home to Britain's largest overseas military deployment, some 140km west of the Russian border | Reuters Arson struck the Hyper Cacher supermarket in Paris overnight, reigniting painful memories of the 2015 terrorist attack that left four Jewish men dead in the store. Authorities are investigating after a man was caught on CCTV setting fire to containers outside the supermarket before igniting a nearby dumpster, reports say. The front of the supermarket sustained damage, with flames licking into the interior, though no injuries have been reported. The attack is the latest in a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic incidents across Europe. The Hyper Cacher supermarket holds a tragic place in history. On January 9, 2015, it became the scene of a brutal hostage standoff and massacre when Amedy Coulibaly, claiming allegiance to ISIS, stormed the store and murdered four Jewish men before being shot dead by police. The attack came just days after the Charlie Hebdo massacre, where 12 people were slaughtered by Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists. The latest attack has sparked widespread concern among Frances Jewish community, already on edge amid rising tensions. French authorities have yet to release details on a suspect or motive, but many fear the symbolic targeting of a site forever linked to terror and tragedy. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A real estate businessman who aided a Chinese effort to pressure an expatriate to return home has been sentenced to over a year in a U.S. prison. U.S. prosecutors say Quanzhong Ans activities were part of the Chinese governments Operation Fox Hunt, which Beijing says is about pursuing people who have fled justice. Washington sees it as transnational repression, a term for governments working to silence dissenters beyond their borders. Quanzhong An acted at the direction of the (Chinese) government to harass and intimidate individuals living on U.S. soil as part of a pernicious scheme to force their repatriation, Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney John Durham said in a statement Wednesday. Messages seeking comment were sent Thursday to Chinas embassy in Washington and consulate in New York. China has previously denied threatening its nationals abroad. An, a 58-year-old Chinese citizen and legal U.S. resident, pleaded guilty last year to acting as an illegal foreign agent. He was sentenced to 20 months behind bars. He has served seven of them already. Mr. An is in my opinion, on balance, a very fine man and accordingly, seeing him return to prison for even one additional day is heartbreaking, his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said Thursday. But he noted that prosecutors had sought a considerably longer prison term. According to prosecutors and an indictment, An was the key U.S.-based player in a transcontinental effort targeting a former manager of a Chinese state-owned company. Prosecutors havent named the man or the company. Beijing has accused the man of embezzlement, identified him as an Operation Fox Hunt priority and asked law enforcement agencies worldwide to find and apprehend him, according to the indictment. An, who lives in suburban Roslyn Heights, New York, showed up at the home of the targets son to try to find the father in 2017, the indictment said. Then, in a series of recorded meetings with the son starting in early 2020, An leaned on him to secure his fathers return to China. An said he that was trying to help the Chinese government communicate with the two, and that he would look good to Chinese officials if he could arrange the fathers return, according to the indictment. While acknowledging that a Chinese embezzlement case against the father and son was a legally frivolous pressure tactic, An told the son that Chinese officials were monitoring the familys relatives and would keep pestering you if the father didnt return, the indictment said. Their intent is to make your life difficult, the indictment quotes him as saying. An even offered to pay back the mans allegedly ill-gotten gains, according to the indictment, and eventually arranged for a Chinese official to press the mans son by phone. In recent years, the U.S. Justice Department has charged dozens of suspects with acts of transnational repression on behalf of China, Iran or other countries. On Thursday, a Manhattan federal jury convicted two men of conspiring to kill Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad in what U.S. prosecutors claimed was a murder-for-hire plot financed by the Iranian government and foiled when police stopped the intended hit mans car. Tehran has denied involvement in any schemes to kill people in the U.S. An was charged in 2020 along with six other people, including his daughter Guangyang An. She is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty last May. The current status of the other five isnt immediately clear. In a separate case in the same Brooklyn federal courthouse, three men were convicted in 2023 at the first trial surrounding U.S. claims about Operation Fox Hunt. Two of those defendants have been sentenced to prison; the third is awaiting sentencing. (AP) Monday night, Agudath Israel of Americas New Jersey Office hosted a legislative dinner at Bell Works in Holmdel, New Jersey. The event brought together over 250 elected officials and the communities they represent, providing both with a unique opportunity to meet face to face. Shlomo Schorr, who serves as Director of Legislative Affairs for Agudath Israel of Americas New Jersey office, opened the evening by speaking about the crucial work Agudath Israel does in New Jersey saying, Whether it is our advocacy at the Statehouse, fighting discriminatory laws on the local level, or through our social service programs such as Yahalom and Zahav, we rely on the working relationships with all of you to ensure that religious rights are protected, nonpublic school students receive equitable support, and vital resources are available to all those in need, allowing us to have a tremendous impact around the state. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin was presented with the Humanitarian Award for his crucial role in ensuring that children who attend nonpublic school are included in New Jerseys expansion of the free school lunch program. His leadership on this issue reflects a deep sense of responsibility and compassion for all New Jersey students, regardless of where they receive their education, Schorr said. We are fortunate to have a leader like Speaker Craig Coughlina leader who fights for working families, who uplifts our seniors, and who understands the needs of all communities, including our own. His vision, compassion, and dedication continue to shape a stronger, fairer New Jersey for all of us. Speaker Coughlin spoke about working with Agudath Israel and New Jerseys Orthodox Jewish community for the benefit of the entire state saying, I am proud to be able to work together with Agudath Israel to build a New Jersey where every child and every family and every community has an opportunity to succeed. Lakewood Township Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein was presented with the Community Service Award in recognition of the work he does on behalf of the Lakewood community. He was introduced by Assemblyman Avi Schnall who spoke about how Committeeman Lichtenstein embodies the many aspects of a community servant, from serving as an elected official to being a member of Hatzalah of Central Jersey, stating Every time someone in the community has an issue no matter how big or small, whether it is about busing for the entire Lakewood or a stop sign, it goes to Committeeman Lichtensteins door And he knows how much his community relies on him and therefore he continues to serve them. Committeeman Lichtenstein spoke about his appreciation for the Agudah saying, Agudath Israel has brought forth the combination of the clear minds of our Rabbis together with laymen. The Community Leadership Award was given to Mr. Moshe Feuer, President, Kehilla of Raritan Valley for his tireless work on behalf of the Orthodox Jewish community across the state. Elected officials that joined include Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Senator Bob Singer, Assemblywoman Melinda Kane, Assemblyman Michael Venezia, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi, Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Lakewood Committeewoman Debra Fuentes, Lakewood Committeeman Menashe Miller, Jackson Councilman Mordy Burnstein, Edison Councilman Asaf Shmuel, and Ocean County Democratic Chairman Wyatt Earp. A top Russian security official met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang on Friday and thanked him for the countrys support of Moscows war efforts in Ukraine, according to Russian state media. The meeting came after South Koreas spy agency said in late February that North Korea appeared to have sent additional troops to Russia after soldiers fighting in the Russian-Ukraine war suffered heavy casualties. Russias state-run news agency Tass reported that Sergei Shoigu, Russias Security Council secretary, during a meeting with Kim, expressed gratitude for North Koreas solidarity with Russias position on all critical geopolitical issues, particularly on the Ukrainian issue. Tass said Shoigu also conveyed a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who extended his greetings and vowed to give utmost attention to implementing agreements reached in their recent summits. Interfax, another Russian news agency, quoted Shoigu as saying that various issues were discussed with Kim, including Russias war in Ukraine, Moscows dialogues with the Trump administration and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. Shoigus visit comes after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders, though it remained to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off-limits to attack. North Koreas state news agency, KCNA, earlier confirmed the arrival of a Russian delegation led by Shoigu but didnt provide details on the purpose of their visit. North Korea has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to Russia, and last fall it sent about 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia as well, according to U.S., South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials. In its Feb. 27 statement, South Koreas National Intelligence Service said it was trying to determine exactly how many more troops North Korea has deployed to Russia. South Korean media put the number of newly deployed North Korean soldiers at about 1,000 to 3,000. South Korea, the U.S. and others suspect North Korea is receiving economic and military assistance from Russia in return for providing weapons and troops. Many experts say North Korea will likely ramp up its support of Russia to win as many benefits as possible from Russia before the war ends. Shoigus trip could be related to Kims possible trip to Russia, some observers say. In June 2024, Putin visited Pyongyang and signed a major mutual defense treaty with Kim. At the time, Putin invited Kim to visit Moscow. In 2023, when Shoigu, then a defense minister, traveled to North Korea, Kim gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. In September 2024, Shoigu, then with the new security council post, went to North Korea again for a meeting with Kim, and the two discussed expanding cooperation, according to North Koreas state media. Earlier Friday, KCNA said Kim oversaw the test-launches of new anti-aircraft missiles the previous day. It cited Kim as calling the missiles another major defense weapons system for North Korea. The missile launches, North Koreas sixth weapons testing activity this year, occurred on the same day that the U.S. and South Korean militaries concluded their annual training that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. The 11-day Freedom Shield exercise was the allies first major joint military training since Trumps inauguration in January. North Korea often responds to major U.S.-South Korean military drills with its own weapons tests and fiery rhetoric. Hours after this years Freedom Shield training began on March 10, North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea. (AP) BEIJING - North Korea said Friday it conducted a test-fire of a new anti-aircraft missile system the previous day that was overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, with its full-scale production already underway, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The test proved the system's "combat fast response" and Kim expressed his gratitude for the efforts of researchers and munitions industry officials, saying the North Korean military will be equipped with "another major defense weapon system with laudable combat performance," KCNA said. It remains unknown where the test-fire was conducted. U.S. and South Korean military officials have said that Pyongyang may have received technical support from Moscow in the development of conventional weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, in exchange for the deployment of North Korean troops to boost Russia in the Ukraine war. KCNA also carried a statement from the North Korean Defense Ministry criticizing a large-scale annual joint military exercise conducted by South Korea and the United States, claiming it involved a drill aimed at removing Pyongyang's nuclear weapons. The 11-day joint exercise through Thursday was "no more than a rehearsal of war of aggression aimed at invading and occupying" North Korea, the statement said. "The accumulated reckless military moves" of Washington and Seoul "can undoubtedly bring the gravest consequences they do not want," it warned. Related coverage: Japan eyes deploying long-range missiles on Kyushu island North Korea tests cruise missiles to demonstrate nuclear deterrence 51% of Japanese feel relations with South Korea are "good": survey For weeks, Democratic lawmakers have met with and mimicked figures they believe may offer them a path back to power in Washington: online influencers and content creators. Hours before President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress this month, Senate Democrats huddled with a dozen online progressive personalities who have millions of followers. House Democrats were introduced, without staff, to 40 content creators who Democratic leaders said could help them grow their audience online. An earlier tutorial session in February featured online personalities like the YouTube commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. The result has been a burst of Democratic online content, including direct-to-camera explainers in parked cars, scripted vertical videos, podcast appearances and livestreams some topping trending charts online, others drawing mockery from liberal allies and Republicans in Congress. But while the Democratic Party is largely divided over the path forward after last years election losses, party leaders agree that, no matter the message, how they connect with voters in the digital media landscape will be key to a political comeback. Democrats are aiming to double engagement with digital content More than a dozen Democratic senators, asked about the partys digital strategy, pointed to Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey as the architect of their new push. Weve seen tremendous growth of Democratic senators now. Theyre engaging in the tools and strategies necessary to elevate their voice in a new, changing media market, where legacy media is not the place that people get their news now, Booker said. Were just weeks into this, but just by making key changes were seeing a massive growth in engagement with the content that our senators are creating, and weve only just begun. Booker said hes aiming for Democratic senators to double online engagement with their content over the next year and early metrics have been noticeable. Democratic senators racked up more than 87 million views on content they published in response to Trumps joint address to Congress, according to Bookers office. But the Democrats digital efforts also draw Republican mockery Not all of that online engagement is positive. After more than two dozen Democratic senators posted identical scripted videos knocking Trumps speech, saying he should have addressed the cost of living and his support for billionaire adviser Elon Musk, conservatives mocked them as inauthentic and out of touch. They are all actors reading a script, Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. Theres no doubt that Democrats are playing catch-up. Trump and his fellow Republicans built a digital operation that fed on bombast and celebrity, and its a strategy theyve taken with them to the White House. Official government accounts are new filled with right-wing memes, cinematic videos and pugnacious statements. The Democratic embrace of influencers has also yielded mixed early results. Democrats were ridiculed online after a food and wellness influencer who attended the House Democrats creators event created a Choose Your Fighter video collage of Democratic congresswomen for Womens History Month. The White House posted a video in response that read America chose its fighters last November, and the Pentagon, normally known for being studiously non-partisan, posted a video stating We chose our fighters a long time ago. But Booker and other Democratic leaders dont consider the sneers to be a downside. Missteps are to be expected, they say, but the path to Americans attention will require some discomfort from lawmakers. I do think that the caucus as a whole is trying to figure out how we show people that we are real people, said Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, one of the congresswomen featured in the viral Fighter video. Crockett, whose posts regularly garner millions of views online, said she was used to criticism for her often frank statements and was more interested in combating perceptions that Democrats are elitist or robotic. I didnt like the jumping, Im going to be honest, though, Crockett added about the viral Choose Your Fighter video. Trump prompts a more aggressive digital posture Democrats adopted a more combative stance online in recent weeks as Trumps moves to slash the federal workforce drew protests from liberals and pushback at GOP town halls. Top Democratic digital operatives who worked for the 2024 presidential campaign of then-Vice President Kamala Harris have been in high demand, with many Democrats anticipating close 2026 races in which digital strategies may be key. Some of the most prominent Democrats across the country have been engaging more in new media since the election. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York has touted the partys message on progressive podcasts over the last month, including from the comedian Jon Stewart and the progressive outlet MeidasTouch. Clips of those videos were also lampooned online but garnered millions of views. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, has launched a podcast of his own on which he has welcomed close Trump allies like the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk and former Trump aide Steve Bannon to discuss hot-button political topics. We want to make sure we hit the podcasters that normally dont have Democrats on there, said Rep. Derek Tran, a Democrat from a competitive California House district. The ones that are more right-leaning or independent, and be able to address a crowd and an audience thats not typical for the Democratic base. Democrats divide on message vs. messaging Some House Democrats have expressed frustration that the guidance from Democratic leaders about social media is too vague, while others grumble that leaders are too prescriptive in their approach to messaging on platforms they dont intuitively understand. Meanwhile, Democratic strategists have cautioned lawmakers that garnering attention online is secondary to the goal of using social media as a tool in specific policy fights and campaigns. I think theres a fine line before were being cringe and trying too hard and seeming too thirsty. I think the most important thing in any of this is being as authentic and genuine as we can be, said Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif. When it comes to authenticity, it also means leaning into what makes each of us unique. Like many of my colleagues probably should not be doing get ready with me videos. It would look super cringe. But Im a 36-year-old woman, and I do my makeup all the time, and I watch a lot of makeup tutorial videos, so it makes sense for me to do it, said Jacobs. Some Democrats think that the partys messaging strategy hinges as much on the messengers as the medium its communicated on. If you know how to talk to people, it doesnt matter what medium is going to exist, said Sen. Ruben Gallego, a freshman Democratic senator from Arizona. You could be the best freaking spokesperson in the world, but if you dont know how to talk to working-class people, it doesnt matter if you have the best TikTok following, its just not going to translate. (AP) Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago, according to data collected by The Associated Press. They allege the disruption campaign is an extension of Russian President Vladimir Putins war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine. The AP documented 59 incidents in which European governments, prosecutors, intelligence services or other Western officials blamed Russia, groups linked to Russia or its ally Belarus for cyberattacks, spreading propaganda, plotting killings or committing acts of vandalism, arson, sabotage or espionage since the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. The incidents range from stuffing car tailpipes with expanding foam in Germany to a plot to plant explosives on cargo planes. They include setting fire to stores and a museum, hacking that targeted politicians and critical infrastructure, and spying by a ring convicted in the U.K. Richard Moore, the head of Britains foreign intelligence service, called it a staggeringly reckless campaign in November. It is often difficult to prove Russias involvement, and the Kremlin denied carrying out a sabotage campaign against the West. But more and more governments are publicly attributing attacks to Russia. The alleged disruption has a double purpose, James Appathurai, the NATO official responsible for the alliances response to such threats, told the AP. One is to create political disquiet and undermine citizens support for their governments and the other is to undercut support for Ukraine, said Appathurai, deputy assistant secretary-general for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber. During the investigation, the AP spoke to 15 current officials, including two prime ministers, and officials from five European intelligence services, three defense ministries and NATO, in addition to experts. The AP plotted the incidents on a map to show the scope of the alleged campaign, which experts say is particularly worrying at a time when U.S. support for Ukraine is wavering and European allies are questioning Washingtons reliability as a security partner and ally. What is happening? The cases are varied, and the largest concentrations are in countries that are major supporters of Ukraine. Some incidents had the potential for catastrophic consequences, including mass casualties, as when packages exploded at shipping facilities in Germany and the U.K. Western officials said they suspected the packages were part of a broader plot by Russian intelligence to put bombs on cargo planes headed to the U.S. and Canada. In another case, Western intelligence agencies uncovered what they said was a Russian plot to kill the head of a major German arms manufacturer that is a supplier of weapons to Ukraine. European authorities are investigating several cases of damage to infrastructure under the Baltic Sea, including to a power cable linking Estonia and Finland. Finnish authorities detained a ship, suspected of being part of Russias shadow fleet used to avoid sanctions, after that cable and others were damaged. When a fake French Defense Ministry website claimed citizens were being called up to fight in Ukraine, a French minister denounced it as Russian disinformation. German authorities suspect Russia was behind a campaign to block up scores of car tailpipes ahead of national elections, according to a European intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Officials from Estonia, Poland, Latvia and Finland, meanwhile, have accused Russia and Belarus of directing migrants to their borders. Putins spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told the AP that the Kremlin has never been shown any proofs supporting the accusations and said certainly we definitely reject any allegations. How AP documented the cases The AP scoured through hundreds of incidents suspected to be linked to Russia since Moscows invasion that were reported in open sources such as local media and government websites. They were included in APs tally only when officials drew a clear link to Russia, pro-Russian groups or ally Belarus. Most of the accusations were made to or reported by AP, either at the time they occurred or during the course of this investigation. Fourteen cases were reported by other news organizations and attributed to named officials. In about a quarter of the cases, prosecutors have brought charges or courts have convicted people of carrying out the sabotage. But in many more, no specific culprit has been publicly identified or brought to justice. A bolder approach Countries have always spied on their enemies and long waged propaganda campaigns to further their interests abroad. But since the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has become bolder, hitting the West with sabotage, vandalism and arson in addition to the tactics it previously used, including killings and cyberattacks, said Elisabeth Braw, an expert on the attacks at the Atlantic Council in Washington. The way you can weaken a country today is not by invading it, she said. China has also been accused of espionage and cyber operations in Europe, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in 2022. Kyiv has denied this. Multiple countries engage in hybrid operations, said David Salvo, managing director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. Russia is the overwhelming culprit in Europe. How to respond even as US support wavers A coordinated approach especially sharing intelligence is critical to tracking and countering the threats, Appathurai said. That cooperation never easy since intelligence is not shared collectively across NATO members faces new challenges now, as the Trump administration increasingly questions the role of the alliance, embraces Russia and spars with its European partners. Still, as the scale of the campaign becomes clearer, some nations are becoming more assertive. Appathurai pointed to the approach to suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea, where NATO has launched a mission to protect critical infrastructure. If we are to have a chance of stemming the threat, Braw said, then we have to work together. (AP) A fire that closed Londons Heathrow Airport has sparked one of the most serious disruptions to air travel in years. More than 1,300 flights were canceled and hundreds of thousands of journeys were disrupted following the blaze at an electrical substation, whose cause is under investigation. Here is a look at some past incidents: July 2024: Faulty software causes chaos A faulty software update sent to millions of Microsoft customers by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused technological havoc worldwide. Airlines lost access to their booking systems, thousands of flights were canceled and tens of thousands were delayed, leading to long lines at airports in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. August 2023: UK air traffic control problems A glitch at Britains National Air Traffic Services in August 2023 meant flight plans had to be processed manually, rather than automatically. Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled at the height of the summer holidays. The NATS system had already suffered several software-related failures in the years after it opened in 2002. March 2020: COVID-19 pandemic As a new coronavirus spread around the globe in early 2020, the worlds airports shut down. Many governments closed national borders and imposed travel restrictions. By April, the number of flights around the world had fallen by 80%. When air travel resumed, it was with masks, mandatory coronavirus tests and other measures that made flying more onerous and expensive. It wasnt until 2024 that global passenger numbers reached 2019 levels again. December 2018: Gatwick drone sightings More than 140,000 travelers were stranded or delayed after dozens of drone sightings shut down London Gatwick, south of the U.K. capital and Britains second-busiest airport, for parts of three consecutive days before Christmas. A monthslong police investigation failed to identify the culprits or determine how many of the sightings were real. May 2017: British Airways IT glitch A computer failure at a British Airways data center forced the airline to cancel all flights from Heathrow and Gatwick on a holiday weekend. The airline blamed a power-supply issue for the incident which affected some 75,000 travelers. August 2016: Delta outage Delta Air Lines planes around the world were grounded when an electrical component failed and led to a shutdown of the transformer that provides power to the carriers data center. Delta said that it canceled more than 2,000 flights and lost $100 million in revenue as a result of the outage. April 2010: Icelands volcano People around the world learned how to pronounce the name of Icelands tongue-twisting Eyjafjallajokull volcano (ay-yah-FYAH-lah-yer-kuhl) after it roared to life, sending plumes of ash and dust into the atmosphere. Airspace over northern Europe was shut for several days and airlines canceled flights between Europe and North America because of concerns the ash could damage jet engines. More than 100,000 flights were canceled, stranding millions of passengers, at an estimated cost of $3 billion. September 2001: 9/11 U.S. airspace was closed to commercial flights on Sept. 11, 2011 after hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Thousands of planes were grounded and flights in the air heading for the U.S. were diverted to Canada and Mexico. Flights began to resume two days later, but air travel was forever altered, with passengers facing more rigorous security, more intrusive scrutiny and longer lines. (AP) In an extraordinary and unprecedented move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet voted unanimously in the early hours of Friday morning to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. The ousting of Barthe first-ever dismissal of a Shin Bet director in Israeli historyhas sent shockwaves through the country, with critics decrying it as a dangerous power grab and a potential obstruction of justice, while supporters praised it as a necessary step to restore confidence in national security leadership. However, on Friday, Israels High Court intervened, issuing an injunction that temporarily freezes Bars dismissal pending a full legal review. Bars final day was initially set for April 10, though Netanyahus government had hinted at forcing him out even sooner if a replacement were secured. The High Courts freeze, however, has thrown this timeline into uncertainty. The decision to remove Bar, finalized in a late-night emergency cabinet session, was justified by Netanyahu as a matter of lost trust in Bars leadership following the catastrophic October 7 Hamas attack. Netanyahu argued that Bars alleged inaction and lack of decisiveness had compromised national security. Yet Bar and his allies assert that the dismissal is a politically motivated act of vengeance aimed at stifling an explosive investigation into Netanyahus inner circle. During the cabinet meeting, which Bar pointedly refused to attend, Netanyahu reportedly lambasted the Shin Bet chief, accusing him of being soft and ineffective. He had a soft approach and was not aggressive enough, Netanyahu claimed, pointing to Bars removal from the hostage negotiation team as a turning point that, he argued, led to more successful talks with Hamas mediators. Bar, in response, issued a scathing letter condemning the move as illegal and driven by personal and political interests rather than national security concerns. The unfounded claims against me are nothing more than a cover for completely different, extraneous, and fundamentally invalid motives designed to disrupt the ability of the Shin Bet to fulfill its role, he wrote, warning that Netanyahus actions were actively weakening Israel at a critical time. The High Courts decision to freeze the firing came after Israels Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, filed an urgent petition arguing that Netanyahu lacked the legal authority to unilaterally dismiss the Shin Bet chief without a broader consensus or clear evidence of misconduct. The court has scheduled a hearing for early April to determine whether the cabinets decision violates Israeli law, setting the stage for a historic confrontation between the judiciary and the executive branch. At the core of this controversy lies Qatargate, a burgeoning scandal involving allegations that Netanyahus inner circle maintained covert ties with Qatar, a key mediator in Israels war with Hamas. Bars Shin Bet has been leading an investigation into whether Netanyahus advisers facilitated Qatari paymentspotentially amounting to millions of dollarsto influence Israeli public opinion and policy during the conflict. With Bars removal now on hold, critics fear that the probe, which could implicate the prime minister himself, remains at risk of interference, while supporters of Netanyahu argue that Bars leadership had become a liability that distracted from the investigations integrity. Adding fuel to the fire, an anonymous Israeli officialwidely speculated to be Netanyahulaunched a dramatic counterattack against Bar, accusing him of negligence in the lead-up to October 7. Why, after you knew about the Hamas attack many hours before it happened, did you do nothing and did not call the Prime Ministersomething that would have prevented the disaster? the official charged. Bar has denied these claims, with Shin Bet sources insisting that intelligence warnings were shared with political leaders, though the exact timeline remains disputed. Public opinion is sharply divided. A Channel 12 poll conducted shortly before the High Courts ruling revealed that 51% of Israelis oppose Bars dismissal, compared to 32% who support it. Additionally, 46% say they trust Bar more than Netanyahu, whose approval ratings have plummeted amid ongoing war and corruption allegations. Opposition leader Yair Lapid seized on the moment, accusing Netanyahu of orchestrating a purge to silence dissent and shield himself from accountability. For a year and a half, he saw no reason to fire him, but only when the investigation into Qatars infiltration of Netanyahus office began did he suddenly feel an urgent need, Lapid said. The High Courts intervention has amplified the legal stakes. Attorney General Baharav-Miara had previously warned that Netanyahus move exceeded his authority, a stance now bolstered by the courts freeze. Legal experts predict that the case could redefine the balance of power between Israels government branches, particularly as Netanyahu faces separate corruption trials that have already strained his relationship with the judiciary. With Bars removal paused, attention turns to potential replacements. Netanyahu is reportedly considering two Shin Bet veteransidentified only by their Hebrew initials Mem and Reshboth of whom are said to align more closely with the prime ministers hardline security stance. However, the High Courts ruling ensures that no successor can be appointed until the legal process unfolds, leaving the Shin Bet in limbo at a time when Israel faces ongoing threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and other regional actors. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) There is something very unsettling about the figures suggesting the nations grandmas are being forced to abandon their dreams of putting their feet up and instead, having to work until they drop. What kind of society are we, that kindly grey-haired ladies are having to slave away in what should be their golden years, one might wonder. Some of the sixty-something women will still be at work by choice, but in many cases, it is simply a question of financial necessity and compulsion. The main reason is the rise in the state pension retirement age which for previous generations was 60 for women and 65 for men. It is now 66 for both sexes and will rise to 67 starting next year. The plan is for it to go up even further, to 68, as people live longer. This presents millions of women with a stark choice: either work for longer, or struggle to make ends meet in what ought to be a happy and carefree retirement. This dilemma does, of course, face men as well, because the male state pension age is also rising. However, the situation is worse for women because most of them have significantly smaller retirement pots and savings generally. A combination of lower earnings throughout their working lives plus career breaks to bring up children means women are a lot worse off when it comes to their pension pot. That gap was recently calculated to be 7,000 a year less retirement income for women. Research by Scottish Widows shows that 42 per cent of women currently face poverty in their old age. About two million women say they dont believe theyll ever be able to retire. The figure for men, standing at 35 per cent, is also far higher than it should be. There are also plenty of women who would not be on the breadline if they retired, but prefer to carry on in their careers rather than skimp on holidays or handbags. Rachel Reeves will unveil her Spring Statement next week The rise in silver splitters couples who divorce in later life is another factor, particularly for women who relied on their husbands pension rather than accumulating their own. Divorce, even if she is granted a share of her exs pot, may leave a woman with less than she needs. For a minority of successful women, breaking the age barrier in the workplace is a final taboo. Those turning 65 now came of age in the go-getting 1980s when Maggie was in Downing Street and are part of the first generation to smash through the glass ceiling in a big way. They include Superwomen such as fund manager Nicola Horlick, who turns 65 this year, and ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall, who will be 64. Women at the top of their game have no desire to hang up their stilettos and shoulder pads any more than an equivalent man would. On a lower-octane level, many employers tell me they are wary of hiring youngsters because of their poor work ethic and would much rather recruit their mums and grandmothers. What kind of society are we, that kindly grey-haired ladies are having to slave away in what should be their golden years, one might wonder These latest figures suggest there may be a change in attitudes and that the awful ageism women have faced in the workplace perhaps is fading. Despite these glimmers of change, the harsh truth is many, if not most, of these women are working from necessity not choice. It is a profound social shift with implications for family life and employers. Lets not forget that women in their sixties are often expected to look after grandchildren or their own elderly parents sometimes both. If older women are compelled to remain at work, it will leave a gaping chasm in care. We will soon find out whether society really is ready for working grans. The London Metal Exchange (LME) has been fined nearly 10million for its role in chaos that engulfed global nickel markets three years ago. The exchange, famous for its central ring where traders make deals in person, failed to ensure it could deal with severe market stress, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. When the price of nickel tripled in a few hours, in March 2022, LME cancelled billions of pounds worth of trades, triggering legal action from aggrieved investors. Trading in nickel, used in electric car batteries and steel production, was then suspended for eight days. The nickel pickle began after Russias invasion of Ukraine prompted fears over supply. Some investors were shorting nickel betting that its price would fall. One of the largest shorters was Tsingshan Holding Group, a Chinese nickel producer run by tycoon Xiang Guangda, known as Big Shot. Fined: The London Metal Exchange is famous for its central ring where traders make deals in person As the price rose, Tsingshan had to close its short position and buy into nickel, pushing the price even higher. The exchange then cancelled several trades placed in the preceding hours, limiting the losses of both Tsingshan and Xiang. But others in the market such as banks, commodity traders and hedge funds who stood to benefit from the price rise saw their profits wiped out. While the courts have ruled the exchange acted lawfully, the FCA said LMEs actions undermined the orderliness of and confidence of the market and fined it 9.2million. It said some junior staff on duty during its Asian trading hours of 1am to 7am London time, had not been trained to recognise the causes of the dysfunction. The FCA also noted that LME staff took steps to accommodate the increasingly extreme price rises. This included disabling price bands, automatic controls designed to serve as circuit breakers to stop prices rising and falling too quickly. The watchdog said this allowed the price of nickel contracts to rise much faster. Steve Smart, the FCAs joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said: The LME should have been better prepared to address the serious risks posed by extreme volatility. The watchdog acknowledged changes made by the LME, which dates back to 1877, since the scandal to strengthen controls, adding that the exchange accepted the findings and as a result received a 30 per cent discount on the fine. Some critics alleged that LME, owned by a Hong Kong company backed by the Chinese state, may have been pressured by Beijing to protect Tsingshan. Rachel Reeves has been warned that Britains high streets could be ravaged as flagship stores look to escape her soaring taxes. In a House of Lords debate yesterday on the Chancellor of the Exchequers business rates reforms that will hammer the biggest stores, peers heard that the demise of town and city centres posed a threat to social cohesion. If the Government continues to increase costs on businesses in the same way as they have begun, there will not be any businesses left on our high streets to tax, Baroness Scott of Bybrook told Parliament. The comments came as peers voted by 283 to 177 to back her amendment to exempt anchor stores such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis from higher rates. Industry experts welcomed the vote but expectations of any meaningful change are low. Retailers face a perfect storm of higher costs from next month as employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage rise, alongside business rates. Taxing times: The House of Lords was told how Chancellor Rachel Reeves's s business rates reforms will hammer the biggest stores The issue has been highlighted by the Mail, which has launched a Save Our High Streets Campaign. The Chancellor has promised to reform business rates a tax that is based on the value of a property but the changes so far will mean major retailers paying a higher levy on their biggest stores. Experts believe this could force them to move to out-of-town locations. It is feared there would be a knock-on effect on smaller shops, which benefit from the number of shoppers who visit the big stores. Worrying figures yesterday revealed 249,000 retail jobs have been lost in the past five years. And British Retail Consortium (BRC) boss Helen Dickinson has warned that worse could be yet to come after the professional services firm PwC forecast an acceleration in closures on the High Street. The Government has promised to level the playing field between the High Street and online giants by putting up rates for larger premises. It is intended to target giant warehouses used by the likes of Amazon but also means bills will increase for 4,000 shops. In the Lords, Baroness Scott said that higher business rates could end up being the straw that breaks the camels back as stores face a barrage of tax hikes. If the anchor stores move away, they will not be able to sustain themselves, she said. Lord Thurlow also warned that without a golden goose, many local communities would suffer. The damage to society locally in losing them will be difficult to restore, and social cohesion will suffer, he said. The Chancellor has delayed the introduction of a new business rates system until 2026 at the earliest. Shops should not have to pay more under the reforms, according to Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsburys, B&Q owner Kingfisher, Morrisons, Primark and Asda. Tom Ironside, director of business and regulation at the BRC, said: The House of Lords has clearly seen the risk of raising business rates on large retail stores, which provide vital services for customers and drive footfall which supports surrounding businesses. The Government needs to go further and ensure no shop pays more as a result of the reforms. Once royalty of the AIM market, with a valuation that once put it on the cusp of the FTSE 100, ASOSs fall from grace has been rapidand well documented. Earlier this week, its shares were languishing at levels last seen 17 years ago. But Friday brought some much-needed cheer as the stock leapt 18 per cent following a brief trading update suggesting its turnaround plan might just be working. Underlying profitability is now expected to beat market forecasts. A bright spot was a return to growth in full-price sales of its own-label ranges. ASOS credited its 'Test & React' model, which trials small batches of new designs and scales up quickly if they land with customers. This approach now makes up over 15 per cent of own-brand sales and is growing. Shore Capital analysts, while still cautious about shifting customer habits and wider market pressures, welcomed the groups progress in shoring up profits and strengthening its balance sheet. With the shares trading at their lowest level since 2008, they now look like a relative bargain. On this basis, the broker upgraded its rating from hold to buy. Turning to the broader market, growth stock investors had something to smile about as the AIM All Share rose 1.2 per cent over the week to 694.97, outperforming even the FTSE 100despite jitters in the US rippling across global markets. Sticking with the upbeat stories (for now), Pri0r1ty Intelligence soared 119 per cent after clinching a deal worth up to 100,000 to build an AI-powered information hub and website for the charity Leukaemia Care. Asos was once royalty of the AIM market, with a valuation that once put it on the cusp of the FTSE 100 Thruvision, the employee screening specialist, enjoyed the weeks most explosive rise (up 128 per cent) after a trading statement appeared to belatedly hit home with investors. Pensana jumped 45 per cnet after securing $268million to advance its Longonjo rare earths project in Angola. The cashsourced from the Africa Finance Corporation, Absa Bank and Angolas sovereign wealth fund - will fund phase one of the mine, which is led by seasoned industry figure Paul Atherly. Now, for the gloomier corners of the market. Alpha Growth plunged 77 per cent after announcing plans to delist from the London Stock Exchange, blaming weak investor interest. Over at Trakm8, the story was no better. The telematics group issued a profit warning after losing a key contract, saying 2025 revenue will likely be 10 per cent below the 3.3million reported for 2024. Theres an old market cliche that its better to travel than arrive. Predator Oil & Gas was the latest example. Its shares fell 20 per cent as investors locked in gains after a promising update from its MOU-5 well in Morocco. The company confirmed its pre-drill concept and found a surprise 30-metre sand interval - never before seen in the Guercif Basin. Harvest Minerals had a rollercoaster week that ended on a high, as investors slowly digested solid production numbers for its KP Fertil fertiliser. The Brazil-focused group delivered 37,186 tonnes. After hitting a low of 0.35p on Monday, shares bounced to 0.45p by Friday, up 12.5 per cent for the week. And finally, ANGLE (up 5 per cent) announced the successful completion of two major projects for AstraZeneca. The work expands use of ANGLEs Parsortix liquid biopsy system, which isolates cancer cells from blood samples, allowing non-invasive monitoring of disease progression - unlike traditional tissue biopsies. The Surrey-based firm has developed two new tests: one for the androgen receptor in prostate cancer, and another for detecting DNA damage via micronuclei in tumour cells. Both have been approved by AZ and are now being used in clinical trials. ANGLE said these developments open the door to supporting large-scale studies for AstraZeneca and will be added to its wider commercial offering. For anyone reading between the lines: this could be a big opportunity. For all the breaking small- and mid-cap news go to www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk Tourists visit the ancient city of Side in Manavgat District, Antalya Province, Turkiye, March 18, 2025. Key data on Turkiye's tourism industry in 2024 and early 2025 show that tourism is playing a crucial role in the country's economy, Turkish industry insiders said.(Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) ANKARA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Key data on Turkiye's tourism industry in 2024 and early 2025 show that tourism is playing a crucial role in the country's economy, Turkish industry insiders said. Turkiye hosted 52.6 million international tourists in 2024, a 7 percent increase from the previous year. The tourism industry recorded a record-breaking revenue of 61.1 billion U.S. dollars last year, according to official data. Additionally, the industry is experiencing a surge in early foreign reservations for 2025, a key indicator of traveler confidence and sector growth. Murat Toktas, vice president of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation, noted that early foreign bookings have risen by around 20 percent compared to previous years. "This surge underscores Turkiye's growing appeal as a premier travel destination," Toktas told Xinhua, highlighting the potential economic benefits both in the short and long term. Building on this momentum, the Turkish government has set ambitious targets for 2025, aiming to attract 65 million visitors and generate 65 billion U.S. dollars in tourism revenue. While Russia and Germany remain Turkiye's key tourism markets, new contributors such as France, Britain, Poland, and Iran are gaining prominence, said Recep Yavuz, a tourism expert from the southern province of Antalya, a major tourist hub on the Mediterranean coast. Antalya, in particular, is focusing on attracting more European and Asian visitors, aiming to surpass its 2024 record of 17 million tourists with a target of 18.5 million in 2025, Yavuz told Xinhua. Yavuz explained that despite global economic challenges, the competitive pricing of most resorts in Turkiye is a major factor driving the increase in early bookings. Amid geopolitical uncertainties, Turkiye stands out as a stable and relatively affordable travel destination for both Western and Eastern tourists, he said. Turkiye is also capitalizing on the growing demand for cruise tourism. The number of cruise ship passengers arriving in the country surged by over 500 percent in February compared to the same period in 2024, marking a record high for the month, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced earlier this month. "Achieving back-to-back records highlights Turkiye's growing strength as a cruise tourism destination," Uraloglu said in a written statement. Tourists raft in a canyon in the Manavgat district of Antalya province, Turkiye, March 18, 2025. Key data on Turkiye's tourism industry in 2024 and early 2025 show that tourism is playing a crucial role in the country's economy, Turkish industry insiders said.(Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts have warned of the effect of overusing cell phones on sleep quality, as the electronic device has become indispensable to modern life while problems with sleep have surged. A recent survey about Chinese people's sleep condition reveals that 48.5 percent of Chinese adults have sleep disturbance, and the suffering will sharpen as people age. On the occasion of World Sleep Day, which fell on Friday, experts have reminded people to reduce the use of electronic devices before sleep time, especially to avoid indulging in social media and video-sharing platforms. The survey, conducted by the Chinese Sleep Research Society and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, notes that the population spending over three hours on social media per day is 2.3 times more susceptible to sleep disturbance. "Each hour of exposure to electronic screens will shorten 10 to 20 minutes of deep sleep," said Meng Fanqiang, a senior doctor at a Beijing-based hospital leading in mental disorders. Experts also warned that many teenagers have poor sleep quality due to the overuse of mobile phones before going to sleep. The blue light emitted by electronic screens can reduce the secretion of melatonin, an important hormone that helps fall asleep. "Teenagers with poor sleep state for a long time will experience a significant decline in their daytime attention and memory," Meng said. In recent years, China has pooled efforts from both school and family to ensure sufficient sleep for students, requiring that at lease eight hours of sleep are needed each day. SYDNEY, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Police said on Friday that police were investigating a second threat made against a mosque in southwest Sydney after another nearby mosque was threatened. Authorities believed the incidents were linked and were treating them with utmost seriousness. Lakemba Mosque revealed on Thursday that it had received an online threatening comment on Wednesday referencing the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack in two Christchurch mosques that killed 51 people. During the investigation, the police uncovered a similar threat directed at a mosque in nearby Padstow on Thursday. "They both reference the tragedies in the terrorist incident in Christchurch in 2019," Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio Sydney on Friday. "The fact anyone is referencing that sort of horrific incident is something we're taking very seriously," McFadden said, adding the police have been working closely with the local Muslim community to ensure safety. Regarding the online comment, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement that there was no place for racism and Islamophobia in Australia, the ABC reported. "I fully support the authorities as they investigate this incident and expect those responsible to face the full force of the law," he said. These threats followed the recent arrest of a 16-year-old from Western Australia less than three weeks ago for making a similar reference to a Sydney mosque at Edmondson Park. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Filimone Jitoko, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Filimone Jitoko, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, in Beijing on Friday. Noting Fiji was one of the first Pacific Island countries to establish diplomatic relations with New China, Han said their bilateral relationship had stood the test of the changing international landscape, and the two countries had become a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. Han said China was willing to work with Fiji to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, carry forward the traditional friendship and jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. China is ready to work with Fiji to deepen political mutual trust and firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, Han said. He also called for more cooperation outcomes to promote the sustained and healthy development of China-Fiji relations. Jitoko said adhering to the one-China principle is the cornerstone of Fiji-China relations. Fiji highly appreciates the major initiatives and ideas put forward by China and is willing to continuously enhance political mutual trust with China, promote cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, poverty reduction and tourism, and deepen exchanges between legislative bodies and governments of the two countries. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Filimone Jitoko, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The main opposition factions of the Israeli parliament filed a petition with the High Court of Justice on Friday following the Israeli government's unanimous decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, chief of Israel's internal security service Shin Bet. In the petition, four factions -- Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beiteinu, and the Democrats -- requested an order to overturn Bar's dismissal. The petition claimed that the "hasty initiation of the dismissal" was taken with a severe conflict of interest by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, based on extraneous considerations, related to Shin Bet's investigation into Netanyahu's office, which "clearly indicated the responsibility of the political echelon for the October 7 disaster." "These things take on added significance as the prime minister prevents the setup of a state commission of inquiry, and the entire government is openly and knowingly delaying a move that could examine its responsibility for the disaster," read the petition. Netanyahu's office said in a statement early Friday morning that the Israeli government has unanimously approved Bar's dismissal. Bar's last day in office is set for April 10, earlier than the initially planned April 20, though he may leave sooner if a replacement is confirmed. Israeli media said this is the first time in Israel's history that a Shin Bet head has been removed by the government. The meeting to finalize his dismissal lasted about three and a half hours. Bar was not present at the meeting but sent a letter condemning the move as being "entirely tainted by conflicts of interest" and a "fundamentally invalid" attempt to obstruct the Shin Bet's investigation into Qatar's influence on Netanyahu's office, local media reported. He referred to an inquiry into ties between Netanyahu's close aides and the Qatari government. Qatar has played a key role in mediating between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages. However, Qatar and Israel currently do not have formal diplomatic relations. HARARE, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabweans have proudly welcomed the election of Kirsty Coventry as the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion and Zimbabwe's Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, becomes the first woman and African to lead the IOC. "Congratulations to our own Kirsty Coventry on her historic election as the first female and first African President of the IOC. A proud achievement for Zimbabwe and the continent! Wishing her the greatest of success," Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on X late Thursday. Many Zimbabweans expressed joy on social media at Coventry's election as the leader of the global Olympic body. "Congratulations to IOC President Coventry. She has scored many firsts. First Female IOC president. First IOC president from Africa," said Zimbabwean government spokesperson Nick Mangwana on X. The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) described Coventry as the pride of the country. "Huge congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her historic election as IOC president! As the first African, woman and youngest leader in the role, she embodies excellence and pride for Africa, Zimbabwe and women. We are proud to support her as she leads the IOC into a new era," the ZOC said. Here's a report working it's way through the right-wing news bubble . . . It might be worth a read but it's also based on "journalism" that's mostly a prank call. Check-it . . . The Daily Caller reports that dozens of federally-funded hospitals including one in Kansas continue to provide gender-affirming care to children. More than three dozen hospitals that offer sex changes to minors and also receive federal funding told the Daily Caller that they are still providing services including puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, or surgeries to people under the age of 18, Senior Editor Amber Duke wrote. The University of Kansas Health System is on the Daily Caller list of those hospitals. A member of the Daily Callers staff called pretending to be a parent looking for gender-affirming care for their minor and spoke with a staff member. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Conflicting stories: Is KU Health Systems violating state law on gender-affirming care? - The Sentinel The media department at the University of Kansas Health Systems says gender-affirming care is not provided, but two employees say otherwise. Some might see this story as a struggle between good and evil . . . Sorry, but TKC watched this drama unfold just as closely as any other news outlet and it kinda seems like a fight for publicity with one side having A LOT more fun than the other. Here's an update that's very far from the final word . . . A lawsuit filed by an Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas demanding sacred items in the possession of Michael Stewart, founder and president of the Satanic Grotto, be handed over to the Church was dismissed Thursday in the District Court of Leavenworth County. In the filing, Naumann contends that any and all consecrated hosts and consecrated wine are property of the Catholic Church. Citing the rules dictating who may administer a consecrated host, how and when, Naumann claims the Defendants wrongfully detained the sacred items. The response is also worth a look for avid news readers . . . Stewart says he responds to those accusations the same way they did in court: We didnt do it, he told 13 NEWS in a phone call Thursday afternoon. Stewart says he wouldve thought the accusations were funny because theyre almost explicitly written after Catholic doctrine and not and U.S. law, if not for what he calls collusion between the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas at the legislature. He accuses both of attempting to exclude the Grotto from public spaces due to their disdain for the organization. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . For now . . . Should've tagged this one this way . . . EAST SIDE ACTIVIST ULTIMATUMS BACKFIRE AS COUNCIL MERELY EXTENDS SUSPENSION!!! Behind the scenes . . . The racially-charged rhetoric scared everyone and Mayor Q is still fighting pretty hard for the guy knowing that his departure will diminish the 29th floor. Caveat . . . If we see a massive rally and push against Brian Platt from East side voters . . . Then maybe they'll be able to boot him . . . But most residents might ask themselves; Why should I care??? We're willing to listen to anybody who has a answer to that question and can explain it without laughing. Here's the roundup . . . Council voted that, instead of terminating Platt as City Manager or bringing him back into the role, the city will extend his suspension for an unspecified amount of time. That suspension will continue with pay as well. Acting City Manager Kimiko Gilmore will continue in the role. Platt's suspension began two weeks ago and followed a lawsuit against the city which claimed Platt told a former communications director to lie to the media. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . KC Council votes to extend suspension of City Manager Brian Platt The council voted that, instead of terminating Platt as City Manager or bringing him back into the role, the city will extend his suspension for an unspecified amount of time. Kansas City, Missouri, City Council votes unanimously to extend suspension of City Manager Brian Platt The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted unanimously Thursday to extend the suspension of City Manager Brian Platt. A worldview to consider amid an upcoming vote . . . Black children do better in school if during their academic journey they can connect with a teacher who looks like them. The same goes for Latino students and children from other minority groups. The data is clear, said Cornell Ellis, executive director of Brothers Liberating Our Communities, a Kansas City nonprofit known as BLOC that supports Black male educators. The barriers for learning are lower when students and teachers have similar language, experiences and culture. That knowledge has guided teacher recruiting efforts for many school districts, especially those like Kansas City Public Schools, where 52% of the student enrollment is Black, 29% is Latino and only 10% is white. Recruiting minority teachers has been touted as a best practice. Now, it is incendiary. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . This one is either a win for "liberty" or locals putting A LOT of faith in their leaders to understand the news and pandemics . . . When, in fact, just about EVERYBODY was wrong during the last spread of plague . . . Even the most reactionary virus deniers don't completely discount that a great many people who "didn't believe in COVID" ended up dead. Check-it . . . Kansas lawmakers Thursday voted to ban unilateral COVID-style closings and gathering bans by health officials. Henceforth, such orders by health officials at both the state and local level will be considered only recommendations that must be sanctioned by elected officials or judges. In short, no more church closings by fiat. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . TUNIS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Kamel Madouri and appointed Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri as the new head of the cabinet, according to a statement released by the Tunisian presidency on Friday morning. Zaafrani, 62, is Tunisia's third prime minister in less than two years and the country's second woman premier. She is an engineer and has served as the minister of equipment and housing since 2021. During a meeting with Zaafrani, Saied emphasized the importance of enhancing government coordination and overcoming obstacles to meet the expectations of the Tunisian people. Madouri was appointed prime minister on Aug. 7, 2024. The aftermath of the pandemic persists with a Missouri conservative connection to serious federal charges. Check-it . . . The husband of former Missouri Democratic Congresswoman Cori Bush is accused of defrauding two federal programs designed to provide relief to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. attorneys office in Washington, D.C., which is headed by former Missouri Republican Chairman Ed Martin, made the indictment against Cortney Merritts public on Thursday. Merritts is accused of lying on applications for paycheck protection and economic injury disaster loans. All told, he received about $21,000 from the programs, which he allegedly spent for personal benefit rather than on the businesses. An attorney representing Merritts said he intends to plead not guilty. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a landmark agreement on Friday to invest 2.5-billion U.S. dollars in Beijing over the next five years, signaling the multinational's confidence in the world's second-largest economy. "The investment highlights our confidence in Beijing's world-class life sciences innovation ecosystem, extensive collaborative opportunities, and exceptional talent pool," AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in an interview with Xinhua. The deal was inked with the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, commonly known as e-town, where the company's northern China headquarters is located. It marks the largest single investment in Beijing's biopharmaceutical sector in recent years, spanning multiple stages from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing and commercialization. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will establish a global strategic R&D center in Beijing, its sixth worldwide and second in China after one in Shanghai. The new center, equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence and data science laboratory, will accelerate early-stage drug research and clinical development. The Beijing center will focus on technology-driven biopharmaceutical innovation, leveraging China's scientific advancements to propel the firm's global growth. "We believe China can become a core part of our R&D strategy," Soriot said. Additionally, the pharmaceutical titan, which has been deeply rooted in China for over 30 years, will form a new joint venture with Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., Ltd. in Beijing to develop, manufacture, and commercialize innovative medicines targeting respiratory and other infectious diseases. "China is a global leader in innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry," said Soriot, noting that the strong signals from this year's government report that reaffirm the country's commitment to science, innovation and opening up, are "highly encouraging." "We have been investing in science and innovation for many years in China," he said. "And we plan to invest even more in the future." Soriot highlighted the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector, emphasizing China's unique advantages in advanced technologies, a dynamic business environment, and the remarkable "China speed," which make it an attractive hub for pharmaceuticals. "In the biopharmaceutical industry, the future lies in leveraging data to accelerate drug development," he said. "Our collaborations are primarily with academic institutions and companies that bridge AI and biology. China's talent pool in AI and its large datasets give it a competitive edge." The mega investment marks AstraZeneca's latest effort to double down on China. In 2024, the firm inked an agreement to invest 475 million U.S. dollars in a small molecule drug factory in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province. It also invested 750 million dollars in an inhalation aerosol factory in Qingdao. "AstraZeneca's strong foundations in China, skilled R&D team, and globally recognized high-tech manufacturing capabilities, which deliver China-made medicines to over 70 countries, underline our continued commitment to China," Soriot said. "We have no doubt China will consolidate its position as a global scientific powerhouse and make an even bigger difference for patients around the world in the coming years," he added. Students test knowledge and skills at Alaska Science Olympiad Photo by Sarah Ellen Johnston Students collect data and answer questions about an unknown chemical substance by performing chemistry tests in the Cant Judge a Powder event in the 2024 Alaska Science Olympiad at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Alaska Science Olympiad competition for students in grades 6-8 will convene March 28-29 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The olympiad is part of a nationwide competition consisting of hands-on, team-based tournaments designed to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering and math fields. Sixth- through eighth-graders compete in Division B. Fifteen student teams from 11 middle schools across Alaska will compete in 17 events, ranging from written subject tests to construction of projectile launchers, towers and helicopters. Students will travel from Wasilla, Palmer, Kenai, Seldovia, Cordova, Nome and Utqiagvik to compete with Fairbanks North Star Borough students. In addition to the opportunity to compete, the Alaska Science Olympiad gives Alaska middle school students a chance to experience a taste of college campus life: sleeping overnight in UAF dormitories, eating in the Wood Center dining hall, and visiting several campus buildings and the Student Recreation Center for the various competition events. The public is welcome to attend to watch the tournaments build events at the Patty Center on Friday. The events, Air Trajectory and Mission Possible, take place concurrently between 8:15 a.m. and 11:45 pm. Helicopter and Tower both take place between 1:10 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. The first-place winning team will advance to compete nationally at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on May 23-24, 2025. The Alaska Science Olympiad is organized by the Alaska National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines and the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics. Generous sponsors of Alaska Science Olympiad include ConocoPhillips, Alaska 529, Alaska Blue Economy Center, Alaska IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, UAF professor Brian Rasley, the UAF College of Engineering and Mines, UAF Residence Life, and the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council. Visit the website to learn more about Alaska Science Olympiad. ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Tara Borland, taborland@alaska.edu 207-25 By Nicole Lyons, March 21, 2025 Participants talk during a professional development workshop hosted by the Greater Kansas City Writing Project, which recently received a grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Greater Kansas City Writing Project (GKCWP) at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) plans to expand its literacy education network thanks to a grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). UCM, the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Missouri-St. Louis collectively received a $4.9 million grant over five years. This grant will allow the partners to provide support for teachers to improve literacy outcomes for all students. The funds are part of the 2024 Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) program by the U.S. Department of Education, which awarded grants to 23 state and federal district education organizations. Missouri DESE received $5.89 million for year one and could potentially receive up to $49 million to distribute statewide over five years. During the first round of CLSD funding in 2020, GKCWP received $2.3 million to support the literacy initiative over five years. The organization worked with teachers in grades 4-12 in science, social studies and English language arts. A two-year study of student writing from this program shows significant growth in all four attributes assessed. Katie Kline, director of the Greater Kansas City Writing Project, said the latest round of funding will allow the organization to provide research-based professional learning and leadership opportunities to a new group of educators. In addition to professional learning, teachers will have access to tuition scholarships for UCM's Graduate Certificate in Teaching Writing. We've been working previously with K-12 educators. This new round of funding will focus on secondary teachers, including the new addition of the career tech educators, Kline said. Several years ago, we developed a program called Literacy that Works, which focused on the unique disciplinary literacy need of career tech educators. We're excited to get to work alongside those teachers again. Kline said the grant will also serve as a tool for improving teachers professional well-being. At a time when teachers are leaving the profession at a high rate, the GKCWP will not only be providing evidence-based literacy practices but also a networked community focused on supporting literacy for teachers. Our professional learning model really gives them the support they need to stay in their classrooms, Kline said. The Greater Kansas City Writing Project, one of nearly 200 university-based National Writing Project sites, was established in 1983 and has been housed at UCM since 2016. It is a professional development and leadership network for teachers from preschool through college. GKCWP provides professional development in schools and operates youth programs like KC Kids Unite and KC Storytellers. Kline said the groups fundamental belief is that teachers of all grade levels and content areas are teachers of writing. Kline said that hearing Writing Project may lead some to believe that the professional development opportunities are strictly for teachers of English or language arts, but she said that literacy goes beyond subject areas. Participating in the GKCWP is for any teacher, even those who dont see themselves as writers or writing teachers. We have a pretty expansive approach to literacy in our global, very connected world, Kline explained. Education is often designed to put subjects in silos, and I think writing and reading are literacy practices that are the bridges between those silos. Students need to be able to communicate with each other in their future college, in their future career, in their future communities, and thats really what our work is about: helping teachers improve student literacy so that they're successful regardless of the future path they take. Through an application process, DESE will select up to 20 early learning programs and up to 80 schools and career and technology education centers to participate in the latest round of CLSD funding. For more information, visit gkcwp.org. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 'Pile of unaccounted cash' found at Delhi HC Judge's residence Raising serious concerns over corruption in the Indian Judiciary, a pile of unaccounted cash was found at the official residence of Delhi High Court sitting judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, leading to his immediate transfer by the Supreme Court Collegium Friday March 21, 2025 5:39 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies New Delhi: Raising serious concerns over corruption in the Indian Judiciary, a pile of unaccounted cash was found at the official residence of Delhi High Court sitting judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, leading to his immediate transfer by the Supreme Court Collegium. The unaccounted cash was found by the firefighters at Justice Yashwant Varmas Delhi bungalow when a fire broke out at his residence on Holi. Fire broke out in Justice Varmas official resident around 11:30 PM on March 14, 2025 when he was not in, according to Delhi Police sources. The Fire Department received a call and soon rushed fire tenders to douse the blaze. There, the fire fighters saw a huge pile of money stumbled in a room in flames. The exact amount recovered at Justice Varma's residence is unclear. But, a section in the media claimed, it is around 15 crore rupees. The case came to the light of the Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who convened a meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium Thursday. The Supreme Courts 5-member Collegium headed by CJI Khanna unanimously resolved to recommend the transfer of Justice Varma to his parent court, Allahabad High Court, after the Collegium members were apprised of a video purportedly of burning cash. Not Trash Bin In another twist in the case, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association objected to Justice Varmas transfer. This decision of the Collegium raises a serious question - is the Allahabad High Court a trash bin? This matter becomes important when we examine the current situation wherein the Allahabad High Court is short of judges and despite the continuous problem, new judges have not appointed for many years, the Bar Association said in a letter to the Chief Justice and other judges of the Allahabad High Court. The Bar Association in its letter, a copy of which is also leaked on social media, said, they were taken aback by the SC decision to transfer Justice Varma to Allahabad High Court on the ground of his involvement in corruption. Meanwhile, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, and sought a response from RS Chairperson, Jagdeep Dhankhar. Calling on the SC Collegium to take serious note of the matter and the issue of corruption in the judiciary, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said, "This is not something articulated by senior councils and lawyers for the first time." Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Peruvian soldiers patrol at Larcomar Park, in the tourist area of Miraflores district, in Lima, Peru, on March 20, 2025. The Peruvian government declared a 30-day state of emergency on Monday in Metropolitan Lima and its neighboring province of Callao to address the rise in criminal activities recorded in recent days. (Xinhua/Mariana Bazo) Peruvian soldiers patrol at Larcomar Park, in the tourist area of Miraflores district, in Lima, Peru, on March 20, 2025. The Peruvian government declared a 30-day state of emergency on Monday in Metropolitan Lima and its neighboring province of Callao to address the rise in criminal activities recorded in recent days. (Xinhua/Mariana Bazo) Peruvian soldiers talk to a woman while on guard at Larcomar Park, in the tourist area of Miraflores district, in Lima, Peru, on March 20, 2025. The Peruvian government declared a 30-day state of emergency on Monday in Metropolitan Lima and its neighboring province of Callao to address the rise in criminal activities recorded in recent days. (Xinhua/Mariana Bazo) Peruvian soldiers stand guard at Larcomar Park, in the tourist area of Miraflores district, in Lima, Peru, on March 20, 2025. The Peruvian government declared a 30-day state of emergency on Monday in Metropolitan Lima and its neighboring province of Callao to address the rise in criminal activities recorded in recent days. (Xinhua/Mariana Bazo) KHARTOUM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Military personnel and journalists were killed in a drone attack targeting a military and media gathering inside the Republican Palace in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, according to a military source. Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. For nearly 70 years scientists have been probing, measuring, drilling and generally getting to know South Cascade Glacier in the US Northwest, developing and honing skills now used worldwide. Generations of glaciologists have studied the slow-moving ice mass in Washington state, which was named "glacier of the year" on Friday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and is one of five "benchmark" US glaciers, keeping tabs on how they are changing as human activity warms the Earth. While glaciers have been studied in Europe since at least the 19th century, what scientists learned here has been invaluable. "A lot of the scientific methods that we use to measure glaciers were developed here," said Andrew Fountain, professor emeritus at Portland State University, who specializes in glaciers and climate change. That includes the use of ice radar, which allowed researchers to see just how thick the ice is in a spot where a glacier has probably existed for upwards of a million years. - Ideal for studying - South Cascade Glacier sits in a basin at the head of the South Fork of the Cascade river, which flows down ultimately into Puget Sound. The size of the basin -- more than 2 square miles (over 6 square kilometers) -- along with its straightforward geometry made it ideal to study for scientists wanting to know how these dynamic bodies are faring in the changing world. A glacier is a perennial accumulation of snow and ice that is always on the move, abrading the rocks underneath and -- over a long enough period of time -- carving valleys. Measurements began at the site in 1958, according to the US Geological Survey, the government body that studies the natural environment. The following year, the USGS began what is known as a "continuous mass balance" measurement project that keeps a running tally of streamflow runoff, precipitation, air temperature, barometric pressure, snow thickness and density, ice ablation, surface speed and surface altitude. - Retreating - The data collected here, as well as from the four other benchmark glaciers -- three in Alaska and one in Montana -- provides a continuous record, capturing their seasonal variations and their year-to-year changes. Over nearly seven decades, glaciologists have been able "to track how the glacier is responding to climate." And what they are seeing is not good, says Fountain. "As you can imagine, it's been retreating like crazy" and is now about half the size it was when measurements started. All the world's 19 glacier regions suffered a net mass loss in 2024, the third year in a row, the WMO said Friday. With a very complete record of the conditions, it's clear that the rising temperatures of the industrial age are to blame, said Fountain. A warmer atmosphere reduces the amount of precipitation that falls as snow and increases the ambient air temperature, so what snow does fall doesn't hang around. While people may find it difficult to discern any long-term trends from the wildly differing amounts of snow a region can experience from year to year, a shrinking glacier is an obvious sign that the balance of nature is off. "We can understand very viscerally that the climate is warming," he said. Since President Donald Trump -- a climate change skeptic -- came to power, he and billionaire adviser Elon Musk have set about slashing government spending, eliminating tens of thousands of government jobs, including scientists. This week, researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency -- which tackles environmental issues including pollution, clean water and climate change -- were put in the firing line. For Fountain, whatever the reason a government has for diminishing the work of scientists, they should not be ignored. About two percent of the world's water is stored in glaciers, and if they all melt, it will run eventually into the oceans, further raising sea levels and imperiling human settlements along tens of thousands of miles of coastlines worldwide. That, amongst other reasons, is why the science of glaciology that came of age at South Cascade Glacier is invaluable, said Fountain. "Just because we don't want to hear a message doesn't mean it isn't happening," he said. hg/amz/bfm/cms/pbt Hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Istanbul late Friday to protest the arrest of the city's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, defying a warning from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey would not tolerate "street terrorism". It was the third straight night that demonstrators had rallied against the arrest of Imamoglu -- Erdogan's biggest political rival -- in Turkey's biggest street protests in more than a decade. Opposition leader Ozgur Ozel, head of the CHP which called the nationwide protests, told a vast crowd in front of Istanbul City Hall that "300,000 people" had joined the demonstration. "This is not a CHP rally, the people here are from all parties and have come to show solidarity with Mayor Imamoglu and stand up for democracy," he told the vast crowd, which punctuated his speech with cheering and applause. Erdogan is "trying to twist Imamoglu's arm by using the judiciary as a weapon and take over this building. But we won't hand it over to a government-appointed trustee!" he yelled. As he spoke, clashes erupted on the sidelines of the protest, with riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets, according to two AFP correspondents who were both hit in the leg. Clashes also broke out in Ankara and the western coastal city of Izmir where police fired water cannon and tear gas against protesters, an AFP correspondent and the opposition Halk TV said. "Don't stay silent or it will be you next," chanted the demonstrators in Istanbul as the massive gathered at sunset with protesters waved placards reading: "Don't be afraid, the people are here!" and "Law, rights, justice". "We did not take to streets by force. We are here because of Erdogan," 56-year-old Necla, who was wearing a headscarf, told AFP. "I don't believe in the allegations about Imamoglu. There is no man as honest as him," she said. - Street protests a 'dead end' - In a post on X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 97 protesters were arrested during Friday's demonstrations. The mayor's arrest came just days before Imamoglu was to have been formally named as the CHP's candidate in the 2028 presidential race. Protests spread quickly from Istanbul to at least 40 of Turkey's 81 provinces, according to an AFP count. As the CHP's Ozel urged people across the country to demonstrate, Erodogan said: "Turkey will not surrender to street terror." "Let me say it loud and clear: the street protests that the CHP leader has called for are a dead end," he added. He accused the opposition leader of "grave irresponsibility", raising the prospect that Ozel, too, could face legal sanction. On Friday, the authorities extended a protest ban to Ankara and Izmir. Ahead of the Istanbul rally, they blocked off the main access routes to City Hall, including Galata Bridge and Ataturk Bridge. On Thursday, police fired rubber bullets and teargas at protesters in Istanbul and Ankara, where at least 88 protesters were arrested, Turkish media said. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 16 police officers had been hurt. Police detained 54 people for online posts authorities deemed "incitement to hatred". Prosecutors say they are investigating Imamoglu for "aiding a terrorist organisation" -- the banned Kurdish PKK militant group. They say they are also investigating him and around 100 other suspects for corruption. - Currency, stock market, hit - The move against Imamoglu has dealt a heavy blow to the Turkish lira, and on Friday the BIST 100 stock exchange traded lower, shedding nearly eight percent at close. Despite Imamoglu's detention, the CHP has vowed it would press ahead with its primary on Sunday at which it would formally nominate him as its candidate for the 2028 race. The party said it would open voting to anyone, not just party members. Observers said the government could seek to block the primary to prevent a further show of support for Imamgolu. "If a large number of people show up and vote for Imamoglu, it will further legitimise him domestically and really move things in a direction that Erdogan doesn't want," Gonul Tol at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told AFP. bur-hmw/rmb On March 15, Sir Keir Starmer hosted a virtual summit of 26 countries that could form a coalition in support of Ukraine. It seems that the UK Prime Ministers strategy is starting to take shape. (1) He called for maximum pressure on Russia to weaken Putins war machine. (2) He is pressuring Russia to accept the ceasefire agreement presented by the United States. He criticizes Russia for using delaying tactics and calls on Moscow to demonstrate that it is serious about peace. (3) Finally, he forms a coalition of countries wishing to ensure a lasting peace if an agreement can be reached. It is already made up of 30 states. In addition, Sir Keir Starmer has convened a meeting of the military chiefs of some thirty of Kievs partners on 20 March in London to specify how they could commit peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. The meetings of chiefs of staff in Paris (11 March) and London (20 March) on Ukraine are in reality only pretexts to prepare the candidacies of France and the United Kingdom to replace the United States at the head of NATO. JAKARTA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The administration of East Flores regency in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province has declared an emergency response status after the alert level of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki was raised to the highest level on Thursday, National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesman Abdul Muhari said on Friday. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation recorded a significant increase in volcanic activity between March 13 and March 20, including a rise in volcanic earthquakes and eruption columns. A major eruption occurred at 23:56 local time on Thursday, with the height of ash column measured at approximately 8,000 meters above the summit, which is about 9,584 meters above sea level. The eruption has also affected air travel, leading to multiple international flight cancellations. According to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport management in Bali, seven international flights were canceled between 09:45 and 16:00 local time on Friday. Additionally, five international flights experienced delays, while domestic flights have not yet seen cancellations. "As an anticipatory measure, the East Flores regency government declared an emergency response status for the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which is valid for 14 days from March 20 to April 2," Muhari said in a press release. A total of 389 people were evacuated on Wednesday from villages at risk of being impacted by eruptions, he said. According to BNPB data, around 4,000 residents remained displaced since the first eruption on Nov. 4, 2024. Richard Felt, a senior official at the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency, told Xinhua that the total number of evacuees in the regency has reached 4,796. The BNPB has urged the public to remain calm and avoid misinformation regarding the eruption. Residents within a 7 km radius of the volcano, as well as those within 8 km in the southwest and northeast sectors, have been advised to evacuate immediately. The BNPB also warned against the potential for rain lava floods due to volcanic material carried by water when it rains. In Tehran, Iranians are anxiously wondering whether, once their economy is exhausted and they can no longer defend themselves, the Israelis and the United States will bomb them. Under these circumstances, should they or should they not negotiate with the enigmatic President Donald Trump? On March 2, 2025, the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) voted no confidence in Economy and Finance Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati, due to his handling of the Western economic blockade and the resulting economic crisis. On the same day, his friend Mohammad Javad Zarif, former negotiator of the Joint Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (JCPOA) and current Vice President, submitted his resignation. President Donald Trump revealed on March 7 that he had sent a letter to Iran. The international press had announced that it had been handed over that same day by Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, to Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister. But Nournews revealed that Russia had refused to act as intermediary. According to Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, it was ultimately Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, who handed it over on March 12. In any case, without waiting to hear about it, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Revolution, declared: "Whats the point of negotiating when we know he wont honor his commitments? We sat at the same table and negotiated for several years, and once the agreement was completed, finalized, and signed, he overturned the table and tore it up." The JCPoAs legacy Indeed, in 2013, Iran negotiated a comprehensive agreement with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, the 5+1, in Geneva. They resulted in the temporary halt of Irans nuclear program and a partial lifting of Western unilateral coercive measures and Security Council economic sanctions. The 5+1 negotiations then broke off, while direct discussions between Iran and the United States continued behind the scenes. They finally resumed in 2015 in Lausanne. The public agreement was signed in Vienna, in much the same terms as the draft that had been drawn up two years earlier. It is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The United States finally recognized the Islamic Republics right to develop its civilian nuclear program. In exchange, Iran agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify that it was not concurrently developing a military program. To this end, it agreed to possess no more than 5,060 centrifuges, not enrich uranium above 3.67%, and limit its plutonium production. France and the United Kingdom expressed satisfaction, while the French negotiator, Sayan Laurent Fabius, acknowledged that, as the talks progressed, he had informed the Israeli Prime Minister, his friend Benjamin Netanyahu, without the knowledge of other diplomats. Russia and China concluded from these discussions, confirmed by their own observations on the ground, that Iran had closed its military nuclear program in 1988, in accordance with a fatwa from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and had never resumed it [1]. On April 30, 2018, Benjamin Netanyahu released 100,000 documents stolen by the Mossad from archives in Tehran relating to the AMAD project. He explained that, by resorting to the Muslim principle of Taqiya, Iran had lied. Tehran had developed a military nuclear program from 1989 to 2003 under the leadership of physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. A week later, on May 8, 2018, President Donald Trump announced the United States withdrawal from the agreement signed by the Obama administration in Vienna. The persistent unilateral Western coercive measures are maintained and strengthened. "Since then, Iran has lost $100 billion a year," according to former President Hassan Rouhani. By this measure, the US withdrawal would have caused $650 billion in losses over the past six and a half years. Subsequently, nuclear experts who studied the Iranian documents provided by Israel would all insist that it was not Iran that lied, but Israel. The only part of the AMAD project that could be linked to the manufacture of an atomic bomb is a shock wave generator, which is used to make a detonator for this type of bomb. [2]. Iran, in turn, withdrew from the JCPoA and the secret agreements signed with the United States. Its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium increased to 182 kg in the last quarter of 2024. In 2020, Israel assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in Tehran. Towards New Negotiations Asked by the Iranian press about possible contacts via Oman, Abbas Araghchi said: "Yes, this is not a strange method, and it has happened many times throughout history. Therefore, indirect negotiations are feasible... What is important is that the will to negotiate and reach a fair and just agreement arises on equal terms between states. The form of the negotiation is irrelevant." On March 12, the same day President Trumps letter was delivered, France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States convened the Security Council behind closed doors to examine Irans continued failure to comply with IAEA requests for information. The following day, May 13, Mohammad Hassan-Nejad Pirkouhi, Director General for International Peace and Security at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, summoned the ambassadors of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. He criticized them for convening the Security Council as "irresponsible and provocative" and abusing UN mechanisms. He emphasized that while Iran is no longer complying with its commitment not to enrich uranium above 3.67%, it is still respecting its JCPoA commitments to IAEA inspectors and fulfilling its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The United Kingdom has indicated its readiness, no later than October 18, to reinstate UN sanctions if Iran does not curb its uranium enrichment. These sanctions have, in fact, been suspended, not repealed. On March 14, Russian Sergei Ryabkov and Iranian Kazem Gharibabadi met with their Chinese counterpart, Ma Zhaoxu, in Beijing. The latter emphasized that "the parties concerned should commit to addressing the root causes of the current situation and abandoning sanctions, pressure, or threats of force." At a press conference, Kazem Gharibabadi said that "all negotiations and discussions will be focused exclusively on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions." The former JCPoA negotiator, for his part, told the BBC that "negotiations should not include Irans missile program or its regional influence. Adding these topics would complicate the process and make it unmanageable." Finally, Sergei Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the press that adding additional conditions to the negotiations would doom them to failure. Finally, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that "in the current situation, we believe that all parties must maintain calm and restraint in order to avoid the escalation of the Iranian nuclear situation or march towards confrontation and conflict. Meanwhile, G7 foreign ministers, meeting in La Malbaie, Canada, discussed arbitrary detentions in Iran and assassination attempts by Iranian intelligence abroad. On March 15, former President Hassan Rouhani emphasized that Leader Ali Khamenei "does not have absolute opposition to negotiations." He continued: "Didnt we negotiate with the United States on Iraq, Afghanistan, and the nuclear deal? Even back then, when I was secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, the Leader himself wrote that negotiations must adhere to certain principles." The Stakes of the New Negotiations If new contacts take place (and it is likely that they have already begun), the pacification of US-Iranian relations would once again disrupt the broader Middle East. Currently, Iran has lost in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Tehran maintains its military influence only in Yemen. Economically, the country, subject to unilateral Western coercive measures, is on the brink of famine, like Iraq before the overthrow of Saddam Hussein (2002) and Syria before the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad (2024). It would no longer be able to withstand a ground invasion. Nature abhors a vacuum, and Israel and Turkey are attempting to divide up the regions ruins. The internal pacification of the Kurdish question in Turkey delegitimizes the position of Kurdish mercenaries from the pseudo-state formed in Syria (Rojava) and makes them available for a possible ground invasion of Iran on behalf of Israel. Behind the scenes, the man behind Benjamin Netanyahu, Elliott Abrams [3], is doing everything possible to turn President Donald Trump against Tehran [4]. 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 N125 EDITORIAL 3080 The London Virtual Summit for Ukraine AMERICAS 3081 Donald Trump orders the elimination of 7 federal agencies 3082 Donald Trump dissolves USAGM 3083 Whats Behind the U.S. African Development Foundation? 3084 JD Vance and Elon Musk 3085 Charles E. Grassley and Ron Johnson Reveal How Joe Bidens FBI Monitored Donald Trump 3086 Donald Trump strips law firm of access to federal agencies 3087 Donald Trump calls for fighting corruption in the Justice Department 3088 Education Department Investigates Racist Practices at Universities 3089 Donald Trump Deports Foreign Gangsters 3090 Donald Trump dismisses Hunter and Ashley Bidens security details 3091 Donald Trump prepares for the US to relinquish leadership of NATO 3092 Donald Trump declassifies the archives on the assassination of John F. Kennedy 3093 Steve Bannon talks about a third term for Donald Trump 3094 AI Software Is Unreliable When It Comes to Information 3095 Greenpeace heavily condemned for sabotaging North Dakota pipeline EUROPE 3096 Muslim Brother appointed Ofsted chairman 3097 London expels Russian diplomat and his partner 3098 British police crack down on pro-Palestinian protests on behalf of and under Tel Avivs control 3099 IDF Chief of Staff Secretly Received by British Editors 3100 Raphael Glucksmann wants France to take back the Statue of Liberty 3101 France prepares a survival manual for its population 3102 Emmanuel Macron announces the strengthening of nuclear deterrence 3103 New corruption scandal in the European Parliament 3104 Dutch government opposes Prime Minister on the "Rearming Europe" plan 3105 Poland, the Baltic States and Finland could again use anti-personnel mines 3106 Friedrich Merz commits Germany to rearmament 3107 Slovakia refuses to spend a penny on military aid to Ukraine 3108 EU should exempt defense industry from VAT 3109 EU pays Ukraine another 3.5 billion in non-refundable funding 3110 Volodymyr Zelensky continues dialogue with Donald Trump 3111 Long telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump 3112 Moscow and Washington talk again about Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG2 AFRICA 3113 Arrest of an Islamic State cell in Morocco 3114 Massacre in Burkina Faso 3115 Complaint against the Bollore 3116 Russia to train the Ethiopian navy 3117 EU sanctions Rwandan officials for their support of the M23 3118 Qatar poses as a surprise mediator in the Congolese conflict 3119 Everything is falling apart between South Africa and the United States ASIA 3120 Benjamin Netanyahu wants to fire Shin Bet director 3121 Itamar Ben Gvir regains his ministerial post 3122 Israel plans to deport Palestinians to Sudan, Somalia or Somaliland 3123 In violation of ceasefire, Israel opens gates of hell in Gaza 3124 In violation of ceasefire, Israeli bombing continues in southern Lebanon 3125 Arrest of Ibrahim Houeija 3126 EU backs the new Syrian regime 3127 U.S. Attacks Yemen 3128 Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns that Turkiye will not allow Israeli barbarism to continue 3129 Arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Recep Tayyip Erdogans rival 3130 Tulsi Gabbard accuses Bangladesh of drifting towards an Islamist caliphate 3131 Andrei Rudenko in Pyongyang INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 3132 UN Security Council still divided over Gaza massacre 3133 Ukraine makes its red line known to the G7 Im just going to say it: Thank God. Thank God Cass Beckman has a weird habit of hanging out in hospitals where she does not work. Thank goodness she has a strange passion for making PowerPoints, and thank the high heavens that some dumb college kids ruined Teddy Altmans morning with a prank on her way into work this week. I had not yet given up on the possibility of Teddy hooking up with Sophia Bush, who wandered onto the show earlier this season as a trauma surgeon from a competing hospital and whose open marriage mightve opened up new possibilities for Greys Anatomys most stagnant couple. (Sorry.) Now, we seem to be on the fast track toward just that. Cass came back to wait around while her husband got a colonoscopy, which gave her the perfect opportunity to make Teddy question the confines of her marriage. Theres a real spark there, and not just because Cass offered to take some work off of Teddys hands. Teddy seems lighter around Cass freer. Supported. Maybe because Cass seems to be the only one who recognizes how exhausted she is. Owens too busy daydreaming about his childhood friend, Nora. Its not just that I dont like Teddy and Owen Hunt together (I dont; as the worlds most obnoxiously dedicated Owen hater, I dont like him with anyone). Ive simply spent years hoping that this show would give us some truly interesting relationship mess some innovative romantic configuration to drag us out of the monogamous, two-person rut that most couples on this show have fallen into. Remember the incredibly layered and complicated mess that was Lexie Grey-Mark Sloan-Callie Torres-Arizona Robbins? Ive been hoping for something that feels like that but with less biphobia. And now, it might finally be happening. The mechanics that got us here feel a little forced, but truthfully, I dont care. Did Owens friend Nora just kind of show up out of nowhere? Yes. Does their chemistry feel nonexistent, even after she tried to kiss him? Oh, yeah. Does the whole thing feel drummed up to lead us to this weeks parking-lot conversation, where Owen and Teddy both admitted that even though they love each other, their eyes are wandering? Absolutely. And if all of this leads us to crack this prison of a marriage open and set Teddy free, Id watch it all again a thousand times. Theres a nonzero chance that this weeks candid chat will lead to a breakup, but Im not getting the vibe that were headed in that direction at least, not yet. Would Owen, king of annoyingly retrograde opinions, really go for an open marriage, allowing himself to explore things with Nora while Teddy indulges in some couples spa days with Cass? I have my doubts! Still, this feels like a win; maybe they break up, or maybe they stop depressing us all with their passionless marriage, but either way, Im cheering. In a way, this week was all about hanging onto deep, formative love. Besides advancing Teddy and Owens decades-long romantic saga, the Alzheimers tragedy of last week continued to unfold as Catherine Foxs former protege, Evan Moore (Lena Waithe), fought like hell to keep her wife, Tasha, from losing the donated liver that she secured by lying about Tashas condition. This drove an unexpected wedge between Meredith and Nick, which shouldnt actually surprise anyone because if theres one thing Meredith will do in a situation like this, its make the choice that pisses everyone off. That said, while I understand why Evan got mad at Meredith no one wants to hear that a board of bureaucrats must deliberate over whether their loved one will live or die Nicks anger took a bit longer to parse. Obviously, he worried that Meredith could one day be in similar shoes to Tasha, which would put him in Evans role. At the same time, that doesnt change medical protocol, which is all that Meredith was trying to enforce in spite of all of the intense feelings that this situation naturally brings up. Did Meredith show us those feelings? Of course not this is Meredith Grey were talking about, after all. But you could see them simmering beneath the surface just the same. In the end, the important thing is that these two came to an understanding and Meredith shared a rare emotional disclosure: I cant imagine my life without you. When I tell you I actually gasped and clutched my chest this moment was so sweet!!! Also, because Nick is a McGenius transplant surgeon, he came up with a brilliant solution to our problem, splitting the liver into two parts and donating it to two patients Tasha and a librarian named Lisa, who, like Devin on Love Is Blind season eight, has formed an unhealthy dependency on ibuprofen. Lisas case might not have been super interesting, but the absolute ego trip that she brought out of Ben Warren sure was. His review from Altman is in, and Im sure youll be shocked to learn that it was not good at all. The problem for Ben is that his wife is also his boss, and if theres one thing Miranda Bailey cant stomach, its a bad review. As the two care for Lisa, she poked and prodded him for signs of insubordination, and in the end, when she brought up the review and told her hubby to stay in his lane and remember hes still on a trial period, he came back with the most Ben-like response possible. Hes not a floppy-eared resident in his 20s, he said. Hes got knowledge! And experience! And with that in mind, he said, I am going to do what is best and hope my boss can see that. Im sorry, but that is absolutely wild behavior. I dont care how experienced this guy is; theres a chain of command in every establishment, and they exist for a reason, especially in hospitals. Also, and I cannot emphasize this enough, Ben is still on a freaking trial period! Mirandas nemesis, Sydney Heron, was right the nepo energy is strong with this one. Then again, lets face it: At Grey Sloan, everyone considers themselves an exception to the rules. Just look at Blue and Lucas, who snuck Blues ex Molly in for a cheeky EEG after she suffered a seizure. When Amelia caught them, she couldnt help but take a look at the results and diagnosed Molly with temporal lobe epilepsy. Understandably, Molly wasnt eager to undergo more brain surgery that could potentially cost her even more years worth of memory, but Blue is desperate to start a new life with her and didnt want to hear it. Eventually, they landed on a compromise: Molly will do the surgery if Amelia also performs an experimental procedure to try and get her memory back. Well have to wait until next week to see if Amelia bites, but given her passion for impossible surgeries, I think we probably all know the answer. The OR Board Our other patient of the week, Cameron, felt a little disappointing. I did love the scavenger hunt subplot, and the visual of Cameron getting pinned to the MRI machine with a metal pole was fun, but overall, I wish the love triangle felt a little more I dont know believable. Much like Teddy and Owens marriage, it felt kind of perfunctory. Still, Im glad that the college shenanigans at least inspired Jules to get over her post-Mika angst. Who needs vibe-killing sorrow when you can go to Joes and meet someone new? Also, she got to flex on everyone in the process by figuring out the final clue on her way out, which is almost as good as sex anyway. Seriously, though, what do we think the odds are that Owen and Teddy choose an open marriage and if they do, what are the odds that they actually stay together? Based on our knowledge of both of them, I feel like the odds are 70 percent and 0 percent, respectively. Secret Mall Apartment. Photo: Wheelhouse Creative/Everett Collection It is a crazy story. In 2003, a group of young, displaced artists in Providence, Rhode Island, decided to spend a whole week at the giant new mall that had taken over their neighborhood and wound up staying for years. The initial idea was both a lark and the kind of vaguely thought-through provocation one comes up with in the restless flush of youth: Oh, we should live at the mall. It came in response to a radio ad in which a mom (or, well, a mom) said she wished she could live at the Providence Place shopping center. So, these impulsive artists took it upon themselves to try it out. Looking for hidden spots to crash for the night, they chanced upon a forgotten, 750-square-foot nowhere space in one of the upper floors, an unclaimed anomaly in the architecture hidden behind dark, narrow, dusty passageways. They set up camp, and ever-so-slowly turned it into an ersatz condo, with a couch, a TV, lights, tables, cabinets, and more. They smuggled in a mountain of cinder blocks and construction equipment and put in a wall and a door, with its own keys; they were a week away from putting in plumbing and a wooden floor when they were finally discovered in 2007. Jeremy Workmans deliriously entertaining and moving documentary Secret Mall Apartment lets the artists themselves tell us the story. Remarkably, most of them have not been identified until now. Built in 1999, the 1.5-million-square-foot Providence Place was an architectural Goliath that took over a large, unclaimed area near one of the citys working-class neighborhoods. (As one interviewee informs us, the building didnt really have any entrances on the side facing the poorer part of town; this shopping center filled with expensive stores was not meant for the people who actually lived in the area.) Following the malls construction, politicians and developers set their sights on gentrifying the nearby lower-income neighborhood of Olneyville, home to an artists colony known as Fort Thunder, an abandoned warehouse where for years Providences impoverished creative class found room to live and work in an elaborate, art- and music-filled community. All of these areas were remnants of the citys industrial-era glory years as a mill town, as well as symbols of its post-war decline, when businesses fled and Providence was split by highways that turned it into a glorified rest stop for people traveling to bigger cities and better suburbs. Among the people who lived in this area was Michael Townsend, who became the de facto ringleader for the artists who created the secret mall apartment. For him and his compatriots (which included Adriana Valdez-Young, his then wife), the notion of carving out a domestic abode inside one of Providence Places own underutilized spaces was a sly way of getting back at the forces that had displaced them. There was also a certain conceptual poetry in the idea of buying all those tony home goods being sold at the mall in order to create a tony (and very much illegal) home in the mall. Workmans film makes it clear that these people werent a bunch of layabouts. Townsend was an artist who created startling public installations. Perhaps more importantly, he was (and remains) a master of tape art temporary but beautiful murals made with painters tape, which he taught weekly at a local childrens hospital and which he had also done to support the crews working at the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and, later, to commemorate the anniversary of September 11. (I do remember seeing some of Townsends work at the time. He and his group of artists created life-size tape silhouettes of 9/11 victims at various locations throughout lower Manhattan; if you connected all these spots together on a map, it would reveal three giant hearts overlaid across the lower half of the island.) These are the intriguing ideas at work in Secret Mall Apartment, but the film works as a movie thanks to the sly way its been put together. The artists themselves shot some footage at the time using a Pentax Optio S4i camera, which could fit into an Altoids can and produced a fuzzy image with lousy sound. They even captured scenes of themselves lugging couches and other objects and evading security as well as one time when they got discovered, mid-cinder-block-smuggle. Workman cuts this footage together into a suspenseful through-line, which he then intercuts with contemporary interviews. He films his subjects today in vibrant fashion, often in colorful, domestic spaces a couple of interviewees even have their pets with them reinforcing the idea of home as an extension of ones humanity, an assertion of the self in the world. The director also doubles back and tells Townsends story, connecting the pointed impermanence of the artists work with the high-wire nature of the secret mall apartment. Watching Secret Mall Apartment, I was reminded at times of James Marshs Man on Wire (2008), about Philippe Petits 1974 daredevil tightrope walk between the towers of the World Trade Center. Many have said that Petits walk humanized the Twin Towers, taking what was seen at the time as a cold, usurping architectural monstrosity and turning it into a quaint, approachable part of New Yorks landscape. The secret mall apartment wasnt public until it was finally revealed, of course, but theres an echo of Petits act in the idea of these young artists carving out a home for themselves inside the unfeeling concrete beast that helped take away their community. It also speaks to the life and death of cities and suburbs, and our boom-and-bust dreams of affluence. Like many malls across the United States including the now-defunct malls where I spent much of my own youth Providence Place has seen better days, as the destruction of brick-and-mortar commerce by the Amazons of the world continues apace. Townsend had been banned for life from the mall, but hes finally being allowed back in because Secret Mall Apartment is premiering this weekend on multiple screens at the Showcase Providence Place Cinemas, complete with Q&As. Something tells me both the mall and its movie theaters could use the business. URUMQI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Hairdresser An Jong Euk is from Suwon, South Korea. He has been working and living in northwest China's Xinjiang for over 20 years. He first worked in a South Korean hair salon in Urumqi, where he met his wife Shi Jifang, a colleague at that time. Later, the two of them seized the market opportunity and opened their hair salon. With his business expanding from a small hairdressing store to two large high-end salons in Urumqi's central business district, the hairdresser has also felt the big changes in his industry. An Jong Euk (L) gives a haircut to a customer while an intern observes on the side at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk chats with staff members at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk gives a haircut to a customer at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk gives a free haircut to a senior customer at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) A senior customer expresses gratitude to hairdresser An Jong Euk after receiving a free haircut at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk plays the ocarina at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk (L) purchases vegetables at a grocery shop in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk (R) invites his neighbor to visit his home in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk (L) embraces his neighbor in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk communicates with a customer about her hairstyle at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) "In the past, everyone went for the most popular hairstyle. However, this meant that everyone looked the same. Now, people are looking for styles with individuality, and their sense of style has also improved," he said. An's hard work in bringing beauty to local residents has won him respect in his community. To show his gratitude for the hospitality and kindness that local people had extended to him, An offers free haircuts for people over the age of 65 every Monday morning. "While I come from ROK, my heart belongs to Xinjiang," said An. Shi Jifang welcomes a customer at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk gives a haircut to a customer while his wife Shi Jifang serves tea to a senior customer at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk (1st R) and an intern give a haircut to a customer at a hair salon in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) An Jong Euk takes a family photo with his wife Shi Jifang and their youngest son at home in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu) Coordinators: Wang Qingqin, Meng Chenguang, Hu Zhixuan, Chu Jiayin Reporters: Hu Huhu, Aman Designers: Zhou Dixiao, Mu Wenchun Robert De Niro in The Alto Knights. Photo: Rose Clasen/Warner Bros. Somewhere along the way, The Alto Knights appears to have become afraid of its own story. That may be one explanation for the phony structural razzle-dazzle that bogs down Barry Levinsons period crime drama, which stars Robert De Niro as both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, two of New Yorks most legendary mob bosses. The movie delivers a lot of exposition you might even learn some basic mafia history watching it but it rushes through characters and incidents with such awkward abandon that one wonders if it was hacked to pieces from something larger, or if it was maybe never a fully realized work to begin with. Another explanation for the films frenetic stylization might just be that its trying to replicate the ferocious pace and formal bounce of Martin Scorseses Goodfellas, a film to which it pays homage at several points. Beyond De Niro, the two movies do admittedly share a screenwriter: the great Nicholas Pileggi. Perhaps more important, they share a producer: the great Irwin Winkler (Raging Bull, Rocky), who has been trying to get this project made since 1974, back when the late Pete Hamill was supposed to write it. The films got pedigree, and theres certainly value in the concept. On paper, The Alto Knights feels like the kind of serious, genre-inflected drama we could use more of. But its totally inert. Childhood friends, Costello and Genovese thrived as bootleggers during Prohibition and rose to the upper ranks of the mob. After Genovese fled to Italy in the 1930s to beat a murder rap, Costello wound up becoming the big boss. World War II intervened, and by the time Vito came back to the U.S., he found himself marginalized, and a slow-boiling war began. The film opens with a failed 1957 attempt on Franks life ordered by Vito and then doubles back and lets Frank narrate the story of how things got to that point in a haze of flashbacks. Along the way, Levinson intercuts between Genoveses and Costellos lives while also splicing in later interview footage, black-and-white slides of the old days, flashbulbs exploding, and snippets of other scenes. Everything hurries along with little life or inspiration or involvement. In Goodfellas, all that stylistic pizazz meant something: We felt the intoxicating charge of power and money and violence, and what that meant for a protagonist who had been an outsider to the street-corner romance of gangsters. Here, it comes off as posturing and mimicry. Not to mention unnecessary: This is a story in which (supposedly) small gestures mean everything, set in a world where subtle actions a word dropped here or there, a name mentioned in passing can bring entire empires down. (Theres a reason all those Godfather installments clock in around three hours.) This is a movie that needs its viewers to be locked in, not adrift and confused. The clumsily rushed storytelling means that we get no time to understand or care about the stakes of the conflict developing between these men. Casting De Niro as not one but two rival mob bosses probably seemed like a neat idea at some point, but the results are borderline disastrous. For the impulsive chatterbox Genovese, De Niro appears to be doing such an obvious Joe Pesci imitation that its hard not to imagine Pesci reading every line. (They really do feel like they were written for Pesci, too. Is it possible he was attached at some point?) But even if you had no idea who Pesci was, thered be something off-putting about seeing these two De Niros, and not just because of the poor prosthetic work on their faces. As Costello, the actor plays a reserved, anxious, quiet guy, deferential to a fault its not a bad part for him, given his ability to always hint at darker undercurrents. But putting the two performances against each other keeps drawing our attention to the phoniness of De Niros turn as Genovese, to its prefab energy and programmed profanity. Individually, the two turns are merely kind of dull; juxtaposed, they start to feel like a bad comedy routine. How did we get here? Levinson has certainly made some great films in the past. But his talent always seemed to lie in character and setting. As a writer he had a good ear, and as a director he had patience: He seemed to understand people, and to understand that if you watched them long enough theyd reveal things about themselves. These are two qualities sorely lacking from The Alto Knights, a movie where the dialogue is so lackluster and the actors seem so lost. As conceived, it probably needed a stylist, someone with a deft visual touch and a sense of rhythm. And frankly, Levinson isnt any of those things. (Very few directors are.) The Alto Knights is a movie whose ambition has passed. It feels like the husk of something that might have been great once. Daniel Craig, star of Queer, and Gwyneth Paltrow, star of Marty Supreme. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images (Berk Ozkan/Anadolu, Marc Piasecki) The popularization of intimacy coordinators has been one of the most concrete effects of the Me Too era in film and TV. A few years after Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence, and Gwyneth Paltrow spoke out about their experiences with sexual abusers and harassers like Harvey Weinstein, SAG-AFTRA announced an official plan for a new liaison position between actors and production an important safety net for those involved in simulated sex scenes. These professionals couldnt mitigate all of Hollywoods ills, but they could at least make a set less vulnerable. A number of stars and filmmakers, like Emma Stone and Karyn Kusama, have since praised coordinators for improving set atmospheres during intimate scenes. Thank you for your existence in our industry, for making the space safe, for creating physical, emotional, and professional boundaries so that we can make work about exploitation, loss of respect, about the abuse of power without being exploited or abused in the process, said Michaela Coel, who dedicated her BAFTA win for I May Destroy You to her intimacy coordinator Ita OBrien. OBrien was the first intimacy coordinator to appear on a set for Netflixs Sex Education, pioneering a new presence on TV and film sets. At the time, she felt revolutionary. Now, its unclear whether the industry still feels this way. In conversation with Vanity Fair ahead of her return to the big screen in this years Marty Supreme, Me Too figure Paltrow cast some doubt deliberately or not on the necessity of intimacy coordinators on set. I dont know how it is for kids who are starting out, but if someone is like, Okay, and then hes going to put his hand here, I would feel, as an artist, very stifled by that, she explained, also joking that shes from an era in which you get naked, you get in bed, the cameras on. Paltrows comments echo some of her peers over the past year. Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey shared an intimacy coordinator for Luca Guadagninos Queer, though Craig said, the two of us, were grown-ups. We knew what we wanted to achieve, and we had Luca guiding us. Mikey Madison caught flack for saying there wasnt an intimacy coordinator on Anora an option presented to her by the filmmakers (Sean Baker, Samantha Quan, and Alex Coco) that she refused. That a coordinator was presented as a choice rather than a necessity, and that Madison refused, was seen as troubling evidence of possible misconduct in the weeks after by people online. While Babygirl director Halina Reijn said intimacy coordinators made it possible to shoot more extreme sex scenes that look way more risky, between Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson, others are questioning whether or not the position gets in the way of authenticity, making it the butt of jokes about the current industry (director Mia Hansen-Lve, for instance, referred to them as the virtue police). In many ways, intimacy coordination doesnt seem all that different from blocking, an essential part of any film or television shoot. Sex scenes require a specific sense of physical coordination thats useful to have in place prior to calling action, to say nothing of those who do, in fact, feel more comfortable simulating sex with an advocate on set. But unlike cinematography or choreography, intimacy coordination is a relatively new profession, and though SAG outlined some guidelines in 2019, sets are still figuring out the rules for a role that emerged in a state of industry panic. Five years ago, there was little expectation that directors would employ an intimacy coordinator. Today, there can be knee-jerk horror when one of those potentially vulnerable people criticizes intimacy coordination at all. Its not exactly surprising that Paltrow herself might be skeptical of the practice. In 2017, Paltrow was concerned with Weinsteins behavior off movie sets in surreptitious hotel-room meetings, during violent phone calls, at awards shows. Add into the equation that in more recent years the Goop CEO has been flirting with conservative ideas, speaking with vague optimism about RFK Jr.s Make America Healthy Again efforts, and supporting former Republican mall magnate Rick Caruso. As celebrities remain mum in the face of Trumps erosion of governmental systems, or suddenly reveal fresh conservative opinions, any quote that casts doubt on the effectiveness of a Me Tooera concern can feel like a retreat for the whole industry. At the same time, the strain of policing that comes when female actors express their opinions about these positions, as seen with Madisons comments and how it may have briefly impacted her Oscars run, feels counterproductive to the aims of a more progressive time, too. Conversations about intimacy coordination might go better if everyone acknowledges the evolving nature of the discourse. But in the end, this is a position that shouldnt be cast aside wholesale or seen as automatically disruptive and dismissive of the artistic process. And celebrities should know what is at risk for their peers when they cast doubt without context. Stars may feel safe, but that doesnt mean that everyone feels safe, as many who have spoken up about mistreatment on set are extras, rather than top-billed talent. So if actors want to opt against intimacy coordinators, well, as Daniel Craig puts it, theyre grown-ups. But as we know, grown-ups can be capable of great harm. How many ways can one person say The Pitt rules? It rules, okay? Just when you think the medical drama cant possibly have any additional tricks to show off or theres no way it could one-up the previous hour, it goes and delivers an episode like this. As Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center is turned into what basically amounts to a war triage unit when theres an active shooter situation with mass casualties at PittFest, 6:00 P.M. sees both sides of what makes this show so great working in perfect tandem. The craftsmanship here this episode was directed by Amanda Marsalis and written by Joe Sachs and R. Scott Gemmill is unmatched. The way Marsalis keeps the camera moving, giving us eyes on every element of this effort, from triage out in the ambulance bay to each of the allocated medical-care stations to the cafeteria where family members await news, feels relentless and chaotic and so seamless. When night-shift attending Dr. Shen says Jesus, when is this gonna end? at the end of the hour, you feel that. We are in it with these doctors from minute one. The amount of work this takes to pull off is staggering to think about the preceding episodes feel almost like dry runs to prove something as complicated as this could actually be pulled off. And babes, do they pull it off. The other half of what makes The Pitt work is its roster of compelling characters and the fact that over the past 12 hours, even though their specificities have only come in bits and pieces, we feel like weve gotten to know them. We care about them. While this episode is fast-moving and overflowing with patients, The Pitt has put in the character work already so that even a completely procedure-focused scene with all medical-jargon dialogue still reveals character. In a crisis like this, people either rise to the occasion or crumble, and we get to watch all of these characters face that choice. While the moments we get with these people may be briefer than usual before the episode moves on to the next thing, each makes an impact. Like, did I fist-pump when Dr. Mel King went from being unsure she could lead the yellow-tag section (injuries to extremities but otherwise good vitals) to basically forcing Robby to let her donate her own blood to her patient? Yeah, of course I did, dude. What are we doing here if you arent fist-pumping moments like that? But 6.00 PM shows off The Pitts deft characterwork in other ways too. Not to be all Dr. Shen all the time here, but we spend all of, what, five minutes with that guy, and still, from the casual way hes just sipping an iced coffee and barely paying attention while Robby gets him situated running triage, to then revealing that he very much knows what hes doing, we know everything we need to about him. On The Pitt, time crunches never seem to be a hindrance, and it continues to be a model of efficiency in storytelling. That whole time-is-of-the-essence thing is a central part of The Pitt in a very meta way, but its also a central part of the show in a very real, visceral, oh my God can you believe how many patients are pouring into the hospital right now way. So lets get into a few of the biggest moments from the episode. Things kick off with an unsettling, eye-of-the-storm type of quiet. The code triage has been called, and Robby and Dana know that, as the closest trauma center to the event, theyll be inundated in no time, and yet Robby still calmly goes about gathering the troops. Gloria Pink Blazer is down in the ER and even Robby seems a little surprised at just how prepared and helpful shes being to make sure he has all the supplies, medicine, personnel, and room he needs to make this work. Every patient currently in the ER will either need to be discharged, moved upstairs, or taken to family medicine. In short: They cant stay here. Gloria is all over it. Robby does still manage to get in a quick jab about not having enough nurses, and I commend his commitment to that bit. Supplies are at the ready, even though Robby knows theyll be out of so many things in almost no time. More doctors and nurses are being called in and Robby is truly kicking himself for letting Collins go home and explicitly telling her to turn off her phone. Dr. Abbott even reappears after hearing about the shooting on his police scanner (hows that for a character detail), and as someone who watched The Faculty more than three times in my adolescence, I was really rooting for this return. The whole setup for incoming victims, down to the color-coded slap bracelets at the ready, is so smooth and organized that my first thought was, Of course, look at how good these people are at their jobs. That quickly led to thoughts much more stomach churning: How fucked up is it that we live in a world where hospital staffs know exactly how to prepare for a mass-casualty shooting event? That they know what to do because for many, this isnt their first? That there are multiple mass-casualty faculty meetings? The Pitt doesnt have time to be preachy about this countrys gun-violence problems, instead electing to simply show us the horror that we inflict on each other, and that is more than enough. Its all there in the screams, the crying, the bloody handprints on ambulances because people are desperate for EMTs to stop and help. I dont know about you, but I dont think I need to see what a gunshot wound through someones jaw looks like ever again, thanks. Theres not much time to get overly emotional (until the credits roll), since each new scene is just a shock to the system, but I will admit I was in tears as Robby gathers his team to tell them whats happening and go over the plan: who is in charge of what, protocols to follow, the fact that there are no tests to be run, no labs, doctors are just checking pulses and awareness and going with their gut. Its a scene full of very straightforward dialogue as Robby and Abbott quickly give out orders to everyone on staff, and there I am, in tears. The quiet, nervous energy, the fear in some of these characters faces is so real, if these professionals are this worried about whats coming through those doors, uh, what are us plebes in for? King is the most vocal about her nerves as she, Santos, and Whitaker man the yellow-slap-band area, but once she gets to work, shes laser-focused on her patients. One is a woman named Sylvia, who arrived in the back of a van with her son, Omar, who was shot in the chest. She was hit by a car in the melee, but is only thinking about getting her son, who is deaf, proper care. Omar is taken up to an OR almost immediately, though Garcia later reports back that hell be just fine, but Sylvias broken leg belies a bigger injury. King and Whitaker find her unconscious, and through Abbotts handy travel ultrasound machine realize she has a liver laceration and is bleeding internally. Its a major catch, that, yes, leads to King demanding she be allowed to donate blood to save her patients life as they wait for an OR. I mean, its no Jack Abbott tapes a blood bag to his leg so he can donate while still working move (I know I shouldnt be turned on right now, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and also remember that whole thing about The Faculty?), but it is close. The moment is only made better for King thanks to the arrival of her favorite senior resident, Frank Langdon. Robby is in no way happy to see him, but its not the time to turn away doctors and they both know it. Santos isnt exactly thrilled by Langdons reappearance either, but she has enough going on to mostly ignore him. The look on her face during the big meeting at the top of the hour, maybe more than anyones, projected enough fear that I was waiting for tough-talking Santos to crash and burn here, but I was happy to be proved wrong. Instead, she gets a great little story in which she realizes one of her patients is faking an injury in order to get inside the hospital, and she finds him filming whats going on, realizing hes a reporter. She calls for security and then watches as the guy runs off but slips in a puddle of blood. She has him admitted for his head injury and makes sure to include the order to have him in restraints for the next few hours. Then she takes his phone and chucks it into a mop bucket full of now-bloody water. Way to make us all very pro-Santos, show! Hey, I guess almost all of our newbies in the ER get some time to show how well they handle a crisis (Sorry, Whitaker, maybe youll shine in the next hour.) Javadi winds up side by side with her mother, who continues to smother her even in the middle of this horror show. It doesnt take long for Javadi to hiss at her to read the fucking room, to let her work and go help someone who needs it; McKay gives her an approving smile. Then, when theyve run out of chest tubes and thora-seals, its Javadi, in a real MacGyver move, who directs her mother to use an ET tube and a urine output bag instead. You know who is impressed with her then? Not her mom; thats so cute youd think that. No, its Mateo, who calls the idea genius. Utah is alive and well, it seems! Every doctor save in this episode is pretty incredible, from Mohans blowhole incisions to save her patient with the subcutaneous emphysema to Robbys bubble intubation. But one of the smartest moves The Pitt makes in this episode doesnt involve a medical save. That would be having Chad yes, that Chad walk onto the floor. Chad remains, as ever, a dope. He walks off that elevator into the ER, after having been moved upstairs, with such arrogance. He doesnt care what the security guard says, his ex-wife is a doctor, hes allowed to be here, his son is in the break room. He has such a smug look on his dumb face as she lets him go, and then he turns the corner and is smacked with a dose of reality. The chaos, the violence, the carnage of it all rattles him completely. When McKay yells at him to go find Harrison, he has no smart-ass reply, he just does it. Chad finds Harrison innocently watching a movie in the break room waiting for his mom and you can see it all over his face: All Chad wants to do is protect his son from the scene just outside the door, to keep him safe. Allowing us to watch this play out with a character like Chad only amps up the gravity of an already very grave situation. A situation, unfortunately, that is nowhere near over according to Robby as the episode comes to a close. Hes been overseeing every aspect of the hospitals response, moving from room to room, from patient to patient this entire time. Hes also one of the few people aware that the police, and soon the FBI, are talking to Theresa about her son, David after Robby alerted them to the situation when the police first arrived, they pinged Davids phone and he was at the shooting location. But on top of everything, Robby still cant get ahold of Jake. So, if anyone wishes this nightmare would just end already, its Dr. Rabinovitch. And yet, all he can do is press on. From Operation Mincemeat, at the Golden. Photo: Julieta Cervantes Whats more pleasantly surprising? That a self-described big, dumb musical about a particularly wacko tidbit of World War II history, created by a scrappy British comedy troupe, is now making its debut on Broadway after rocketing through the strata of UK theater, selling out on the West End, and taking home two Olivier awards? Or that its actually the third musicalthat we know of!written about said historical escapade, along with a whole crop of books, TV episodes, and films? (I now personally wish I could have seen the one performed by Welsh schoolchildren.) The Britsand the Welsh, for reasons that will become clearhave been telling the wilder-than-fiction story of Operation Mincemeat pretty much since the event itself occurred. But if youre an American who doesnt necessarily trip over herself to watch anything with Matthew Macfadyen, heres a primer. In 1943, the British were in search of an invasion route into Nazi Europe, and Sicily looked like the best bet, except that there were 100,000 German troops stationed there. They needed a scheme to throw Hitlers command off the scent to convince them that there was an Allied invasion coming from somewhere else. At MI5, several intelligence officerschiefly Ewan Montagu and Charles Cholmondeley (thats pronounced Chumly, fellow Yanks)cooked up a scheme they called Operation Mincemeat: Disguise a corpse as a British pilot, plant a briefcase full of misleading documents on it, and let it wash up on the coast of Spain, where German spies would be almost certain to get their hands on the bait. If all this sounds like a James Bond movie, theres a reason for that: Ian Fleming himself was a naval intelligence officer at the time, and a memo written by his boss, Rear Admiral John Godfrey, provided significant inspiration for the plan. That detail, though, is less important to the multitalented dynamos of SpitLip, the writer-performers of Operation Mincemeat, the vivaciously silly and quite charming musical thats made landfall on Broadway. Fleming shows up in their story (how could he not? The opportunity to incorporate riffs on the Bond intro is too irresistible), but they dont bother much with Godfrey. Theyve already got a compellingly odd-couple-ish pair of heroes in Cholmondeley and Montagu, and with just five inexhaustible triple-threat performers, theyre ready to fill out the world around these aspiring spies with a whirlwind of rolling furniture, tangled telephone cords, dabbing Nazis, and shanty-singing submariners. Operation Mincemeat isnt exactly blazingly cleverthe jokes fly thick and fast, and they tend toward broad grin-crackers rather than breathless zingersbut it overflows with good humor and heartfelt commitment. Director Robert Hastie and choreographer Jenny Arnold keep the quintet of actors in such constant motion, rife with genre winks and references, that I was astonished not to see Ben Stoness crisp, transformable base costumes of pinstripes, suspenders, and ties soaked clean through by the finale. While some moments certainly sizzle more than others, theres more than enough sincerity and goofy charisma on stage to keep the show powered. Theres also a sound instinct by the writing team (SpitLips David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoe Roberts collaborated on book, music, and lyrics, and all but Hagan appear on stage) about where to pull all the zany stops out and where to pepper in dashes of earnest reflection or ethical quandary without oozing into preachiness. If theres a deeper conflict underlying the plays top layer of giddy spy-thriller action, it has to do with the moral corners that are easily cut during war, or simply in the pursuit of success and glory, and with the ever-troublesome question of who does the work and who gets the credit. Ewan Montagu (played with a plummy patriarchal growl and irrepressible BDE by Hodgson) is the swaggering, cavalier, ends-justify-the-means type. Stop fretting about guidelines and rules, he tells Cholmondeley (Cumming, wonderfully elastic of face and body). Remember, were His Majestys finest, / And regulations are for cowards and fools. Nervous, bespectacled Cholmondeley, meanwhile, probably couldnt swagger with a gun to his head. Hes a scientist, a creepy-crawlies enthusiast (except, emphatically, bees), and an all-around grade-A nerd. I cant believe theres not an intentional Morris Moss allusion happening in the fact that hes got a coffee mug with his own face on it, and I further cant believe that Im about to make my second critical reference to the same Jeeves and Wooster character in less than a year but how can one not think of Gussie Fink-Nottle when Cholmondeley starts yammering on about newts? Here, its brainy Cholmondeley who thinks up the brilliant plan and cocksure Montagu who sells it to the top brass, with the indispensable support of Hester Leggatt, the not-to-be-trifled with head of all MI5s secretaries (played with tart perspicacity and hidden wells of feeling by Jak Malone), and the gutsy new girl in the typing pool, Jean Leslie (Claire-Marie Hall). While Montagu bulldozes ahead from the jump, the women and Cholmondeley wrestle more with their consciences. When they find a body for their schemean unidentified homeless chap who swallowed rat poisonwhat are their moral responsibilities? You must at least know his name? Hester ventures. Who was he? And what about the dicey backstreet coroner who provided the corpse (given flamboyant Sweeney ToddmeetsHairspray energy by Malone, covered in red glitter blood)? Was any of that in any way legal? Cholmondeley gulps. But Montagu scoffs in the face of such trifles. As he taught us in the shows opening number, Born to Lead, when youre an Eton boy, you grow up assured of one thing: My centuries of breeding, / I know theyll fail me not, / For fortune favours bravery / And a fortunes what Ive got. Theres more than a touch of Gilbert and Sullivan there. Stick close to your desks and never go to sea, / And you all may be Rulers of the Queens Navy, sung the First Lord of the Admiralty in H.M.S. Pinafore, providing Montagu with clear ancestry for lines like, Well, let Navy lads get soaking / Well all stay nice and dry; / Well shout to all the soldiers Jump! / And hear them shout How high? The cheeky satire is where Operation Mincemeat really sparkles; where its gleam dulls a bit, its in the shows signs of a different, more American strain of heritage. The unmistakable cadences of Hamilton turn up in certain stretches of semi-rapped lyrics, particularly by the MI5 teams Christopher JacksonasWashingtonchannelling boss, Colonel Johnny Bevan (Roberts, who zings delightfully between parts, including a derpy Ian Fleming). Not only are the musicals dips into hip-hop its most forced sections, in terms of both aesthetics and performance; theyre also just hard to hear. Whether its a matter of delivery or sound engineering, the fast-flying lyrics get swallowed up, and Mincemeat is a show where its imperative to catch the words. Fortunately, the less engaging passages quickly roll onwards into more farcical fun and, as in the case of Hesters song Dear Bill, into some truly poignant gems. Cholmondeley and Jean find themselves attempting to write a love letter from their fictional airmans fictional fiance, to plant on the body to lend it more credibility, but neither has enough life experience to rise to the task. (Mercifully, unlike the 2021 Netflix film, this Operation Mincemeat avoids adding a romantic subplot.) Enter Hester, who tuts at her colleagues overwrought efforts and begins primly, Dear Bill, / Im afraid Ive not got long to write; / Im off to Marys, you know how she feels about bridge night Malone sings the whole song standing still, glasses just so, hands mostly together, a single curl neatly placed on his forehead but the quiet anthem unfolds Hesters inner life, growing from a place of deliberate mundanity (Look, when youre writing to someone you love, far away Id imagine you want them to feel as normal as possible, she says) into a revelation of real love and loss. Its a highlight of the show, as well as a lovely example of Mincemeats subtle queering of a historical narrative. The only rules are: Ewan Montagu must be played by a woman. Hester Leggatt must be played by a man, reads the scripts front matter. Its not a matter of shoehorned commentary simply of letting new bodies fill seemingly familiar spaces and seeing what resonates. After all, its a body pretendingor being pretended aboutthat anchors this whole affair. Though the real Operation Mincemeat proceeded, and somewhat miraculously triumphed, by inventing Major William Martin, brave and beloved pilot who crashed his plane fighting for [his] country, Hesters question about the truth of this imaginary heros identity still resonates. It eventually came out that his name was (probably) Glyndwr Michael, a Welshman who traveled to London and never escaped poverty. Is it enough to remember him now? Is it okay to take delight in the wild caper that followed his sad end? Who can say, really? But SpitLip argues vigorously and convincingly in favor of delight. Look, the world is a mess, Charlie, says Ewan in one of his more unaffected moments. Small flashes of joy, its all any of us can hope for. Whether or not its all, its a strong something, and Operation Mincemeat has plenty of joy to go around. Operation Mincemeat is at the Golden Theatre. Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, visits Wangkou Village of Wuyuan County in Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 18, 2025. Li made an inspection tour of Jiangxi Province from Monday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) NANCHANG, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Li Xi, China's anti-graft chief, has urged solid efforts from discipline inspection and supervision agencies to carry out the education campaign to implement the central leadership's "eight-point decision" on improving work conduct, promote full and rigorous Party self-governance, and combat corruption. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, made the remarks during an inspection tour of east China's Jiangxi Province, which lasted from Monday to Thursday. While visiting different localities, Li urged discipline inspection and supervision agencies to continue intensifying the crackdown on irregularities and corruption among the people, and to perform their oversight duties well to step up work to improve conduct, promote integrity and combat corruption in state-owned enterprises. At a symposium held during the tour, Li called on discipline inspection and supervision agencies at all levels to deepen political oversight and achieve new, greater results in their exercise of full, rigorous Party self-governance. He also urged them to enhance their political capacities, their understanding of policies, and their knowledge of discipline and laws. Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, presides over a symposium in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 20, 2025. Li made an inspection tour of Jiangxi Province from Monday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Over the centuries Rome has inspired numerous English-language poets. Lovers of English poetry must often wonder what Keats would have made of Rome had he lived. But he died in terrible agony only three months after his arrival in November 1820 and hardly ventured much beyond Piazza di Spagna where he was lodging (now the Keats-Shelley House at no 26). We can only speculate what he might have made of the ruins, the light, the paintings, the people that so inspired others down the centuries, from Shakespeare to Brodsky. Romes link with poetry in English, however, remains an intimate one. As Ezra Pound praises Latin poet Sextus Propertius for bringing the Greek dance to Italy, so literary historians credit Sir Thomas Wyatt, courtier to Henry VIII, with bringing the Petrarchan sonnet to England, a spin-off of a 1527 diplomatic mission to Rome. Indeed, Wyatt, poet and aspiring lover, adopts and adapts Petrarchs sonnet CXC to bewail, vis-a-vis his deer/dear Anne Boleyn, his own predicament: There is written her fair neck round about Noli mi tangere for Caesars I am: And wild to hold, though I seem tame. The same Caesar/Henry VIII would later imprison Wyatt in the Tower of London for treason, though, unlike poor Anne, he was spared execution through a last-minute reprieve. The sonnet form, after further adjustments by Wyatts follower and fellow sonneteer Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, was ready complete with iambic pentameter and closing couplet to be handed on to Shakespeare. Shakespeare's Rome Rome, of course, appears and how! in the plays, such as Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, and Antony and Cleopatra, with an authenticity to make Sicilian professor Martino Iuvara put the case that the Bard was Italian born and bred. Baroque sensibility Three decades after Shakespeare, the Catholic exile Richard Crashaw certainly did stay in Rome. The Oxford Anthology of English Literature cites the controlled frenzy of Crashaw's 1648 poem, The Flaming Heart, celebrating St Theresa, a fitting match for Berninis statue in S. Maria della Vittoria sculpted in the same period. The 20th-century literary critic Douglas Bush called Crashaw the one conspicuous incarnation of Baroque sensibility, of a particularly English variety, via of course Italy. Romes Baroque is later reprised in Robert Brownings The Bishop Orders his Tomb at Saint Praxeds Church. Thinking of his former mistress, a bishop from his deathbed addresses his nephews/sons, his envisaged tomb being an exercise less in spirituality than in ecclesiastical one-upmanship. The nephews evidently failed to take their dying father at his word to build the tomb. Visit St Prassedes the church for peace and youll look for the tomb in vain. The artefact is a figment of Brownings sumptuous, and somewhat mischievous, imagination. Robert Browning drew inspiration from Villa Sciarra. Unlike the still viewable Baroque Wall Fountain in Villa Sciarra, described with flowing intricacy by 20th-century American poet, Richard Wilbur. It spills/ In threads from the scalloped faun menage.// Happy in all that ragged, loose/ Collapse of water, its effortless descent/And flatteries of spray, / The stocky god upholds the shell with ease And so on for a dozen delicately sculpted quatrains to do an old Baroque master proud. Anyone lucky enough to study A-Level English in the late 1960s will recall as set text Thom Gunns In Santa Maria del Popolo: Waiting for when the sun an hour or less / Conveniently oblique makes visible / The painting on one wall of the recess. Caravaggio State-of-the-art lighting now makes any wait to see Caravaggio's masterpiece unnecessary. Gunns existential interpretation of the outstretched arms of Saul becoming Paul still sounds bleakly impressive: the large gesture of solitary man, / Resisting, by embracing nothing. It surely falls short, however, of Caravaggios intention. For balance heres a translation of art critic Vittorio Sgarbis prose: The fall is the miracle. Pride has been humiliated and the man is at the mercy of the animal that could crush him at any moment. Yet this humiliation is the beginning of redemption. Thom Gunn was inpsired by Caravaggio's Conversion on the Way to Damascus in the Cerasi Chapel of the church of S. Maria del Popolo. Byrons Manfred waxes duly reverential: I stood within the Coliseum wall, / Mid the chief relics of almighty Rome; / The trees which grew along the broken arches / Were dark in the blue midnight, and the stars / Shone through the rents of ruin. But the same poets Childe Harold can express a less conventional empathy for the monuments victims: I saw before me a gladiator lie. / butchered to make a Roman holiday. Romantic raptures Meanwhile English poet Arthur Hugh Clough, visiting Rome during the 1848/49 uprising of the Roman Republic, complains in Amours de Voyage: Rome disappoints me much/ Rubbishy seems the word that most exactly would suit it, sharpening the dose with, Brickwork I found thee, and marble I left thee, their Emperor vaunted; / Marble I thought thee and brick I find thee, the Tourist my answer No romantic raptures here, though another section fizzles with the immediacy of a stop-press dispatch: a National Guard close by me. / Broke his sword with slashing a broad hat covered in dust and / Passing away from the place with Murray under my arm, and / Stooping, I saw through the legs of the people the legs of a body Rome's ruins Ruins mean different things to different people. Archaeology and immediate autobiography (the birth of a daughter) converge in the poem To the Roman Forum by New York poet Kennet Koch: I went down and sat and looked at the ruins of you / I gazed at them, gleaming in the half-night / And o my, My goodness, a child, a wife// I thought Id look at some very old great things / To match up with this new one... It wasn't only foreign poets who were inspired by the Roman Forum, as illustrated by Turner's View of the Forum, Rome, with a Rainbow (1819). Romes ruins and more ruins, but also and above all its light. Such that On the threshold of heaven, the figures of the street / Become figures of heaven, the majestic movement / Of men growing small in the distances of space, from the Wallace Stevens poem To an Old Philosopher in Rome. In the poem Stevens attributes the perception to his former tutor George Santayana, whose last decade was spent on the Coelian hill, lodging in the convent of the Blue Nuns of the Little Company of Mary near the S. Stefano Rotondo church. If, around dusk or dawn, you happen to be in Romes Monti district, gaze down at the sun bouncing off the sanpietrini of Via Panisperna as it undulates toward Trajans Markets and one can replicate Stevens' experience of growing small in distant spaces, or, by gazing upwards: How easily the blown banners turn to wings. Elegies to Rome Stevens' celestial possible re-emerges in the following extract from Joseph Brodsky's Roman Elegies (1981), written during the Nobel Laureates stay at the American Academy up on the Gianicolo: To translate, making allowances for rhyme, from an Italian translation of the original Russian: I have been to Rome. I was drowned in light, / The way only a splinter can dream about; / A drachma of golds been placed across my sight. / Its enough to see me through the longest night. The grave of John Keats at the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome. This an echo of Go thou to Rome from Shelleys Adonais, his elegy to John Keats buried in Romes Non-Catholic Cemetery. The Brodsky piece mirrors the lines three stanzas later: The One remains, the many change and pass; / Heavens light forever shines, Earths shadows fly; / Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, / Stains the white radiance of Eternity By Martin Bennett This article was published in the June 2018 edition of Wanted in Rome magazine. Irish Film Festa marks 16 years in Rome in 2025. The Irish Film Festa, the festival dedicated to Irish cinema and culture, returns to Romes Casa del Cinema in Villa Borghese from 26-30 March. The event, now in its 16th edition, offers the public a wide selection of feature film premieres and meetings with filmmakers as well as a short-film competition. The films are screened in their original language with Italian subtitles, with free entry to the venue until full capacity is reached. This year's programme features 24 films, including feature movies and short films, 21 of which are Italian premieres, as well as a classic to rediscover, and the usual meetings with directors, actors and producers. The festival's artistic director Susanna Pellis said this year's edition is focused "more than ever" on actors, hailing them as the "true treasure of Irish cinema", highlighting also the short films and documentaries on the 2025 programme. Special guests include Pat Shortt, Peter Coonan, Eva Birthistle, Ciaran McMenamin, Hazel Doupe, Luke McManus, Dermot Malone and Luke McManus. For full details of the 2025 programme see the Irish Film Festa website. This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 21, 2025 shows Shenzhou-19 astronaut Cai Xuzhe leaving China's orbiting space station for extravehicular activities. (Xinhua/Li Minggang) BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Shenzhou-19 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's third series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) at 8:50 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze worked for about seven hours to complete multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices and extravehicular auxiliary facilities, as well as extravehicular equipment inspection. They were assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth. Cai and Song, the two crew members assigned to undertake spacewalk duties, have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. Cai has now carried out five extravehicular missions, more than any other Chinese astronaut to date, according to the CMSA. The Shenzhou-19 crew has been in space for nearly five months, and the various space scientific experiments and tests are progressing smoothly. The crew is scheduled to return to Earth in more than a month. This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 21, 2025 shows Shenzhou-19 astronauts Cai Xuzhe (R) and Song Lingdong preparing for extravehicular activities inside the airlock cabin of China's orbiting space station. (Xinhua/Li Minggang) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 21, 2025 shows Shenzhou-19 astronaut Cai Xuzhe performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. (Xinhua/Li Minggang) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 21, 2025 shows Shenzhou-19 astronaut Cai Xuzhe performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. (Xinhua/Li Minggang) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 21, 2025 shows Shenzhou-19 astronaut Wang Haoze working inside China's orbiting space station. (Xinhua/Li Minggang) Ryan Dunne An expert witness has told a Central Criminal Court jury that blood staining on the clothing of a 37-year-old murder accused contained DNA that matched that of his partner, who was found stabbed to death in their home. Forensic scientist Dr Yvonne ODowd said that blood matching that of Larisa Serban (26) was found on the T-shirt of her partner Daniel Blanaru, while there were extensive blood stains and blood spatters on the walls, floors and doors of the house they shared in Co Meath. Mr Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Serban on or about August 12th, 2022. It is the State's case that she was stabbed to death by Mr Blanaru, whom they argue was a jealous and "controlling" partner. The jury previously heard that in garda interview, Mr Blanaru said that he might have stabbed Larisa with a very sharp knife, but he could not say how deep into her body it went. He also told gardai: I am guilty, I killed her. Please lock me up. Dr ODowd gave evidence on Thursday to counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eilis Brennan SC, that she was given a number of items to examine, including a knife recovered from the scene, a second knife recovered from the accuseds car, swabs of blood stains, items of clothing, and DNA samples from Mr Blanaru and the deceased. The witness said she carried out an examination of the scene at Rathmore to perform a bloodstain pattern analysis, finding extensive blood stains in the hallway and front bedroom of the house on the floors, walls and doors. She said that there were drip stains in the bedroom, which form as the result of blood drops falling onto a surface. The drip stains were all very similar, being circular and having come from above. Dr ODowd said there was one drip stain on the bed, one on the floor, then a third and fourth, which created a drip trail. She said that a drip trail was something one would expect to see if an object with blood on it or a person with an actively bleeding wound was moving along that trail. The witness went on to say that there was a pool of blood with clotting on the floor towards the door, which one would expect to see if a person with injuries was stationary and bleeding. She said that there was spatter staining around this pool, which can be caused when an external force is applied to an injury. Dr ODowd said there was a pool of dried blood in the hallway, which again indicated a person who was bleeding and stationary, with spatter stains on the hall floor. There was spatter staining on the glass and frame of the door, and spatter on the floor. The witness said she sampled all the swabs from the scene and generated DNA profiles, with all of the profiles with the exception of one matching the DNA of Larisa Serban. She went on to say that she found no blood on a small knife that was found in the closet of the house nor on a small knife found in Mr Blanarus car. Dr ODowd said she also examined the accuseds clothing and found a blood stain near the waist area of a t-shirt which had a DNA profile that matched Larisas. There was a small blood stain on his shorts that contained a mixed DNA profile, with the accused, Larisa and a third contributor found. The witness also examined the accuseds jacket, runners and belt, but she said that no blood was found on these. Defence counsel Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC said that the science used was strong at establishing a persons DNA, but as to the timing of when blood stains were made, all that can be said is that they likely occurred since a garment was last washed. Dr ODowd confirmed that it was not possible to say the timing of when blood stains were made. The trial continues on Friday before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury of 11 men and four women. Congratulations Well done to local girls Kate Mannix and Ruby Hallinan who were part of the U14 Dungarvan United team who beat Herbertstown FC, in the SFAI National quarter final at Kilrush Park. The final score was Dungarvan FC 3, Herbertstown FC 1. Both girls played exceptionally well with Kate scoring two of the three goals and Ruby scoring the other. Best of luck to the girls and team in the upcoming semi-finals. Ruby Hallinan and Kate Mannix, Dungarvan FC Sliabh gCua Set Dancing The Scor na bPaisti County final was held on Sunday, March 23, starting at 2pm in the Community Centre, Cappoquin. Also it wont be long now until our Liverpool friends, The Bolger Cunningham School of Irish Dance, will be coming over to us for their first visit since before Covid-19. The visit is scheduled from Friday, April 11 to Monday, April 14, and we will be having an Irish night in the Park Hotel on the Sunday night which will have live music, ceili dancing and performances from both the Sliabh gCua dancers and the Bolger Cunningham dancers. A great night is in store. Reduced Garda Presence A very important community meeting will be held in the Lismore Heritage Centre on April 24. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the reduced Garda presence in West Waterford and also how Community Alert groups can actively be involved with neighbouring groups and with the Gardai, to assist with making West Waterford a safer and crime free place to live. We are asking as many people as possible to attend to help forge a positive way forward for all who live in West Waterford. World Happiness Report The global launch of the World Happiness Report 2025 was be launched this Thursday, March 20, with a series of events, live-streamed from around the world to celebrate the International Day of Happiness. This year's edition will once again feature a ranking of countries by their average levels of life satisfaction. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. In 2023, Ireland was ranked 14th in the report, in 2024 Ireland had dropped to 17th place out of 153 countries and it will be interesting to see where Ireland will be ranked this year. The last report showed young people in Ireland being the happiest and the upper middle age group being the unhappiest. The top 10 countries for 2024 were Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia. The United Kingdom ranked 20th and the United States Of America ranked 23rd. From 2024, the World Happiness Report is a publication of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, UK. If you would like more information go to https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/happiest-countries-in-the-world Gaelic for Mothers and Others The first night of the Gaelic for Mothers and Others training sessions commenced last week and there was a fantastic turn out with lots of fun for the first session. If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, come along to the hall in Ballymacarbry on Thursday nights from 9pm - 10pm. All are welcome. Waterford V Offaly The location of Waterfords Allianz national hurling league game against Offaly next weekend has been moved from Dungarvans Fraher Field to Walsh Park, Waterford, with a new throw-in time of 4pm. Wishing Waterford all the best against Offaly. Local Lotto Due to the bank holiday weekend, the lotto draw took place last Monday night instead of Sunday night. Results in next weeks paper. Riddle For The Week Last weeks riddle was: I shave several times a day but I still have a beard, what am I? Answer: A barber. This weeks riddle is: How many letters are in the alphabet? Answer in this column next week. Eoin Reynolds A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to possession of a semi-automatic rifle at a house in Finglas where video footage from a phone seized by gardai showed the weapon being fired. Glen Ward (32) appeared briefly on Friday morning at the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. He entered a guilty plea to the charge that on January 1st 2022 at an address in Finglas he was in possession of or had control of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. Ward's brother, Eric O'Driscoll (23) previously pleaded guilty to possession of the same gun. During a sentencing hearing for O'Driscoll last year, Det Inspector Damien Kelly told the court that during a search of a home in Finglas in February 2022, gardai recovered the semi-automatic rifle along with a military grade sub-machine gun and ammunition. The guns were found to be in good condition and were successfully fired by a garda ballistics examiner, the detective said. In June that year, gardai conducted an unrelated search of a taxi on the Tolka Valley Road and found a bank card in Eric O'Driscoll's name and a phone that they were later able to connect to the defendant. Det Insp Kelly said analysts found a video clip on the phone in which O'Driscoll could be seen taking the AR-15 rifle from another man and firing it from the rear of a home in Finglas. In another clip, the firearms that had been seized in February 2022 were filmed having been laid out on a table at the same address in Finglas. Ms Justice Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until a date in April this year. Alison O'Riordan Father-of-one Jordan Davis was warned by a drug dealer "I'm on your case mate, it won't be long" and "soon, very soon bang bang" 19 days before he was shot to death as he pushed a pram carrying his four-month-old son in a laneway on Dublin's northside, the Central Criminal Court has heard. A detective has previously given evidence that drug "tick lists" found at two addresses linked to drug dealer Robert "Roo" Redmond had contained the name "Jordo" the same nickname Jordan Davis was known by with amounts up to 153,000 recorded as owing. The prosecution contend that Robert Redmond is the older brother of accused woman Rachel Redmond (34), who is accused of driving the alleged shooter her then partner Wayne Cooney away from the scene and later checking him into a hotel in an effort to help him evade prosecution. It is also the State's case that Robert Redmond was engaged "in some acrimony" with 22-year-old drug dealer Jordan Davis, who was murdered in broad daylight by a lone gunman on a distinctive orange bike at 4pm on May 22nd, 2019. Giving evidence on Thursday, Detective Garda Kevin Farrell told Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, prosecuting, that he examined an iPhone and two Nokia devices in May 2019, which were found on the body of Jordan Davis. The detective said he used the software 'Cellebrite' to extract data from the iPhone and had found a thread of WhatsApp messages exchanged between Mr Davis' phone and a phone number saved on the deceased's handset as 'Rew', which ended in the numbers 858. Det Gda Farrell agreed with the prosecutor that the message exchange took place on May 3rd, 2019 19 days before Mr Davis was murdered. A series of messages were sent from the number saved as 'Rew' to Mr Davis' phone at 9.49am on the morning of May 3rd beginning with: "How much you give him in total about 3k". Another message sent a minute late from the number saved as 'Rew' to Mr Davis said: "You haven't gave him anymore than 10K you owed 70K so thats how you owe 60K or over" [sic]. Mr Davis sent a message at 1.29pm saying: "3K get your facts right to you even talk to him pal". The number saved as 'Rew' says at 1.34pm "they didn't add anything on" followed by "someone be onto you today". Mr Davis replies: "classic Robert" to which 'Rew' asked "you on the gear or something". At 1.36pm 'Rew' says to Mr Davis: "Lad who you trying to be". A minute later 'Rew' sent a message to Mr Davis' phone saying: "Fucking clown that can't pay bills trying to be a big man. I heard a lot about you trust me I'll get you soon". 'Rew' also says in a message: "I'm on your case mate it won't be long" followed by a series of 13 or 14 laughing emojis. The next message sent from 'Rew' to Mr Davis at 1.38pm says: "Get off me phone soon, very soon bang bang" to which Mr Davis replies: "Nice one mate". Ashling McNally previously told the jury that she had been going out with Rachel Redmond's brother Robert Redmond, of Streamville Road in Donaghmede, for about three years in May 2019 before the relationship fell apart. Ms McNally said she referred to him as Robert but others called him "Roo". Ms McNally agreed with the prosecution that she had told gardai in May 2019 that Robert Redmond had used a number ending in 858. The jury has also been told that Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in May 2013 to the possession of heroin worth almost 37,000 and was jailed for five years. Ms Redmond, from Coolock but with an address at Clifdenville Road, Cliftonville Avenue, North Belfast, Co Antrim, is charged on two counts that on or about May 22nd, 2019, in the county of the City of Dublin, did knowingly or believing that another person, namely Wayne Cooney, committed an arrestable offence, to wit murder, without reasonable excuse did an act with intent to impede his apprehension or prosecution. Ms Redmond has pleaded not guilty to the two counts. The jury have been told that the prosecution have to establish that Ms Redmond, who was in a relationship with Mr Cooney at the time, knew or believed he had committed the murder. The trial continues on Friday before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women. Eva Osborne Kingfishr have announced a second date Live at the Marquee Cork after the first date sold out. The date for the new gig is July 16th, 2025, and the tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 28th. The July 24th date has already sold out. Kingfishr recently won the Music Moves Europe Award and, on the live front, completed a European tour with James Bay while building upon a career total of 70 million streams to date. Surprisingly, Kingfishr are yet to release their debut album - their biggest body of work so far being the Irish Independent Chart #1 Live From Dublin album. At the end of last year Kingfishr released two new songs Bet On Beauty and the hugely popular Killeagh which celebrates Killeagh GAA, the hurling club which Eoin Fitz Fitzgibbon (bass) played for. Having also supported Bruce Springsteen, George Ezra, Tom Walker and Snow Patrol as well as festival performances including Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Electric Picnic, Isle of Wight and Rock Werchter festivals, Kingfishr were recently special guests for James Bay at his OVO Wembley Arena show. The Neighbourhood Weekender follows in May as well as Mad Cool (Madrid) and a return to Latitude in July, in addition to sold out headline shows at Fairview Park (Dublin) and Live At The Docklands (Limerick) in June and August. Dunhill will celebrate its rich heritage with the first-ever Heritage Place Day next month. The local community will come together for a special event dedicated to honouring Dunhills rich history, vibrant culture and strong community spirit. The afternoon will feature exhibits, displays, performances and information stands from over 25 local groups and organisations, inviting attendees to discover more about Dunhills past and present. From sporting achievements to environmental initiatives and historical insights, the event will showcase the diverse fabric of the community. The ethos behind Dunhill Heritage Place Day is to foster a deeper connection between residents and the distinctive character, history, activities and achievements that define the area. The event will offer an opportunity to learn about Dunhills natural environment, architectural landmarks and cultural traditions. A spokesperson for Dunhill Heritage Keepers commented: "Our local heritage is an essential part of our identity and this event is an opportunity to celebrate what makes Dunhill such a special place. Heritage is more than just preserving old buildings; its about understanding the stories and traditions that shaped our community. "We hope that by coming together, we can inspire a renewed interest in preserving and sharing our collective story for future generations." The idea for the Place Day grew from a heritage course run by the Burrenbeo Trust, which brought together local participants. The voluntary group has since worked, with support from a small fund provided by the Burrenbeo Trust, to create this special day for the community. The event is set to be held on Sunday, 6th April 2025, from 1.30pm to 6pm at Dunhill Community Hall (Eircode X91 Y389). Waterford activists representing Gaeil ar son Gaza and Waterford for Palestine travelled to Dublin this week to hear UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese speak on the situation in Palestine. Ms Albanese, who is an international law and human rights expert, said in her speech at the Carmelite Community Centre at Aungier Street, Dublin, on Wednesday, that activism is essential for people to see what is happening in Palestine. She went on to say that if a Criminal Tribunal were established today for Palestine alone, it would take 100 years to hear all the evidence against Israel. "The people of Palestine are facing an existential threat. They are being slaughtered by Israel in plain sight, and if it weren't for the activism of ordinary people like yourselves, they wouldn't even be seen. "Despite what some politicians may tell you, this is not a complicated situation. "It is not just Gaza the entire Palestinian people are being genocided by Israel. If someone tells you 'it's complicated', that is just an excuse for their own inaction and for ignoring the situation," said Ms Albanese. The meeting was held by Sadaka, the umbrella group for the many Irish organisations, including Amnesty International, Christian Aid Ireland, Oxfam, SIPTU, Comhlamh, ICTU and many more who aim to make the Irish government accountable for their relationship with the state of Israel and apply economic sanctions immediately. It was jointly chaired by Senator Frances Black, who introduced the Occupied Territories Bill in 2018, and former Director of Trocaire and now Chairperson of the Sadaka group, Eamonn Meehan. Among contributors were student representatives from Irish Jews for Palestine who said that this Genocide is being carried out in their name. The students later joined an emergency protest for Palestine outside the Dail, which then proceeded down Grafton Street, bringing traffic to a standstill for over an hour. Gaeil ar Son Gaza say they are demanding the removal of the IHRA definition of anti-semitism from the current programme for government. "This definition is insidious, and accepting it will shut down all possibilities for debate or criticism of what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people." They say they would demand the government to ban the use of Shannon Airport for US warplanes to refuel especially for the US and Germany. "As citizens who live in a democracy, we are entitled to hold our politicians accountable for their response (or non-response) to Israel's genocide in Palestine, which contravenes international law," said the group. The group also want universities to end their relationship with Israel. The current phase of the conflict in Palestine began on October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, Israel has killed more than 60,000 people and injured more than 17,492, with more than 14,000 missing and presumed dead, according to Aljazeera. As of the start of February, Israel has reportedly killed 905 people, including 181 children, in the Occupied West Bank. We reported last week, Failte Irelands intentions to develop a tourist attraction of scale on Waterfords North Quays. Their recent report outlined the necessity to develop a "visitor attraction of scale for the north side of the river and within or in the vicinity of the North Quays of Waterford City to become a transformational project for tourism across the South East Region" Sharon Doyle. Photo: Joe Evans Waterford News & Star enquired as to whether a specific tourist offering has yet been identified. A Failte Ireland spokesperson responded: Developing a Visitor Attraction of Scale is one of six catalyst projects identified in the Waterford DEDP. This project is at the early stages of concept and feasibility development, so there are no details yet on what this attraction may be. Waterford City and County Council will lead this project in partnership with Failte Ireland. Given that no attraction has yet been decided on, we asked members of the public what they would like to see. Wiktor Szpilka. Photo: Joe Evans Wiktor Szpilka suggested the addition of a recreational park: I think an entire park area different to People's Park, with cafes, ponds and shops would be something nice to attract people in." Ann Marie and Terri said: I think more features along the quays instead of just car parks is what we need, with cafes and a boardwalk, so people can stop and sit out by the river and take it in. "Years ago you had Jury's Hotel to look out across the town, but now you can't really see much, so a boardwalk to sit down and look across the river at the city would be nice." Ann Marie and Terri. Photo: Joe Evans Sharon Doyle shared similar sentiment regarding Jury's Hotel (Ard Ri), saying that it's redevelopment would itself attract tourists: It was a great hotel back in the day and I think someone should develop it to make it what it should be again. Its a shame having the north quays and having that sat there derelict." Classical music organisation Waterford Music, is hosting a unique concert that blends classical and traditional music on Thursday, April 3. Uilleann piper David Power will perform with baroque violinist Marja Gaynor and flamenco guitarist John Walsh, in Garter Lane Arts Centre at 7.30pm. This talented trio don't perform to a set programme. That means the audiences can expect to hear an entirely unique programme on the night. It is however likely to feature pieces by Turlough O'Carolan, Georg Philipp Telemann, Henry Purcell and Egberto Gismonte, melding baroque classical melodies with more traditional airs. David Power has achieved renown as a solo piper and in collaborations with the likes of Willie Kelly and Martin Hayes. Audiences in the south-east may also have seen David's performances with Camerata Kilkenny. Marja Gaynor is a baroque violinist from Finland. Now based in Cork, she is best known for playing the strings on the Oscar-winning song 'Falling Slowly,' performed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. David first met Marja Gaynor in 2016 when he worked with baroque group Camerata Kilkenny (of which she is a member), to investigate combining music on the uilleann pipes with the baroque folk tradition. The collaboration led to the well-received 'The Piper and the Faerie Queen' on the RTE lyric fm label. John Walsh who is also featuring on the night, is a leading flamenco guitarist who performed as part of Bill Whelan's, 'Riverdance'. He has also performed for Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland. Tickets are available from garterlane.ie and at the venue on the night. They are priced at 20 for full price tickets, 15 for seniors/unwaged and 5 for students. The Yakutia will enhance the capabilities of the domestic nuclear fleet, contribute to addressing key multifaceted challenges facing the national economy, and further solidify Russias status as a naval power. Eight Russian icebreaker ships are now in service, the highest number since the Cold War. By the end of this decade, Rosatom the nuclear agency that operates them has set out plans for its fleet to number 17. In 2022, almost 3.2 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent were pumped out of the polar region or around 5.5 per cent of global production that year. Credit: AP Sovcomflot, the Russian state shipping giant, is also building more Arc7 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo ships capable of navigating ice on their own. They are expected to play a growing role in transporting resources out of the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets regions, adjacent to the Barents and Kara seas, respectively, where about 80 per cent of Russias gas and 60 per cent of its oil are produced. According to the Centre for High North Logistics, transit shipments through the North Sea Route reached a record 3.1 million tonnes in 2024 most of it crude oil that was shipped to China. The World Wide Fund for Nature, which opposes drilling in the Arctic due to the risk of environmental destruction to species such as polar bears, seals and walruses, says Russia is by far the largest Arctic producer but it is by no means alone. In 2022, almost 3.2 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent were pumped out of the polar region or around 5.5 per cent of global production that year. Russia accounted for 2.9 billion barrels, followed by 176 million barrels by the US in Alaska and Norways Arctic producing 98 million barrels. Despite the protestations of green campaigners and some governments, all three countries have plans to increase outputs, experts predicting that Donald Trumps arrival in the White House will eviscerate any remaining hesitancy in Washington. Loading For Russia, exploiting the Arctic is a key plank of its economic independence, while for the US, extracting oil in Alaska chimes with Trumps America first policies, says Klaus Dodds, a professor of geopolitics at the Royal Holloway. I expect that under Trump, you will see a doubling-down on his previous goal of energy dominance, Dodds says. That is likely to mean more energy extraction in Alaska and far less restraint being shown than you saw under Biden or Obama. Like Russia, Trump has a raw focus on issues such as energy security and shipping lanes. A common theme between him and Putin is that they have made clear they are not going to allow others, such as China, to take advantage of a more accessible Arctic. This is probably what has animated Trumps recent fixation with threatening to annex the Danish territory of Greenland, explains Dodds, following attempts by Beijing to establish footholds there. Chinas interests in the region include opening up shipping lanes so that its own companies can take advantage and potentially lay claim to resources such as fish. The nuclear-powered Yakutia ship, designed to carve a safe path through ice-covered waters, is the fourth of a new class being built at the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg. Credit: AP However, the Arctic region as a whole is also becoming more important militarily as Russia re-establishes bases there, creating a need for the US to reopen radar stations and other monitoring outposts to detect missile launches. Despite the fanfare, however, many experts believe the potential of the Arctic for both shipping and resources has been overstated. Navigating passages past Canada or Russia does offer potential alternatives to routes that go via the Suez Canal or the Strait of Malacca, but the ice cover makes it unpredictable. Excitement among companies such as BP for offshore oil and gas reserves has waned over the years due to the difficulty of extracting it. Long voyage days certainly reduce the economics of the NSR passage, which include icebreaker costs, although lower bunker expenditure due to the shorter distance travelled via the NSR and no need to pay Suez Canal dues helps to balance that out, said shipbroker Gibson in a 2023 report. So far, crippling Western sanctions aimed at supply chains and insurance have also slowed Russias attempts to build more ice-breaking tankers and open its Arctic LNG 2 project. The expectations in the early 2000s of an economic bonanza didnt really materialise, says Katarzyna Zysk, a professor of international relations at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. But Russia, in particular, still has an ambition to develop the North Sea Route into a major shipping lane between Asia, Europe and North America. Loading In the past, Moscows ambitions have involved bringing in foreign investment and expertise, she says, with sanctions relating to the Ukraine war making this more difficult although a Trump-brokered peace deal with Kyiv could change this. If there was a change that reopens possibilities, then shipping could become more plausible, more profitable and more safe. But at the moment, things look quite limited. For now, like an icebreaker carving a path through frozen seas, Putins dream of conquering the Arctic can advance only slowly. Telegraph, London Australian finger limes are seen at the "window of world tropical fruits" in Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yue) HAIKOU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- From Australian finger lime and Central American yellow pitaya to West African miracle fruit and Cuban mamey sapote, looking through the "window of world tropical fruits," one marvels at the variety of fruits, the names of many most likely unknown to the average observer. Located in the picturesque countryside of Qionghai, in south China's island province of Hainan, this vast "kingdom of tropical fruits" spanning 1,000 mu (about 66.67 hectares) is home to an astonishing variety of exotic fruits from around the world, highlighting both biodiversity and China's growing openness in the agricultural sector. "So far, nearly 700 types of tropical fruits from over 50 countries and regions have been introduced," said Wang Qiao, general manager of Hainan Grand Modern Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. who noted that 420 of these varieties were introduced to China for the first time at this location, with 380 of them proving successful in trial cultivation, earning the site the nickname "United Nations on the Tongue." According to Dai Jun, director of the Qionghai Tropical Crop Service Center, the park, by integrating agriculture with tourism, has become a driver of rural economic development. "It follows a model consisting of enterprise, cooperatives and farmers," he said. By giving or selling seedlings to local farmers, the project has promoted cultivation of 40,000 mu of high-quality tropical fruits across Hainan, said Dai, while adding that it contributed to the upgrading of the fruit industry in 20 villages and benefited more than 1,000 households directly. One of the beneficiaries is Quan Deru, who used to toil in her own orchard. In 2019, she learned that the park was recruiting farmers to pick fruit. "I thought that I could work for them without affecting my own farm work, which meant that I could have some extra income," she said. Now she can earn more than 4,000 yuan (roughly 557 U.S. dollars) as a monthly salary from the park. Additionally, having noted that South American abiu fruit was proving profitable, she started growing the fruit in her own orchard, while she has also received subsidies from the local government since 2022. "The company is giving us seedlings for free, while our costs in growing the abiu is quite low," she said, beaming. "The exotic fruit is sweet and juicy, and has medicinal properties, making it is easy to sell. Our 10 mu of abiu fruit trees are beginning to bear fruit." Tourism revenue is another source of income for the park. Since opening to the public in 2022, the park has welcomed more than one million visitors. In 2024 alone, it recorded 455,300 tourist visits -- marking a 25.57 percent year-on-year increase. Notably, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 will be held from March 25 to 28 in Hainan. Capitalizing on the prominence of the BFA, the site has been upgraded to a 4A-rated tourist attraction this year, serving as a window to showcase Chinese agriculture to the world. Visitors can enjoy immersive experiences like chocolate and lipstick making, while using agricultural products from the park. The park plans to create a world resource center for tropical fruit germplasm and an international agricultural exchange center to boost cross-border cooperation in terms of talent, technology and trade, said Wang. Quan, meanwhile, has expanded her orchard this year, trying to also grow guava. "I would like to grow more novel fruits in the future to increase my income. Life is becoming better," she said. The gate of the "window of world tropical fruits" is seen in Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yue) Quan Deru, a worker at the "window of world tropical fruits," is pictured in Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yue) Cuban mamey sapotes are seen at the "window of world tropical fruits" in Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yue) Exotic fruits are seen at the "window of world tropical fruits" in Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yue) 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 four-part English drama Adolescence, currently the most-watched show globally on Netflix with 24.3 million series views, has won almost universal praise for its unflinching approach to its difficult subject: the ripple effects of a violent murder committed by a teenage boy. In particular, it has been lauded for the way it tells that story: each episode of the show, created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, consists of a single take. The technical difficulty of that is immense, especially in the second episode, in which two detectives visit the school where the victim, Katie, and her accused killer, Jamie (Owen Cooper), were students. More than 300 extras and about 50 crew had to be choreographed to allow the camera to follow the police as they move through the sprawling multi-level campus. In the final moments of the episode, the camera lifts off, flies a couple of hundred metres and then descends for a close-up of Eddie (Graham) as he visits the site of his sons crime for the first time. It is bravura filmmaking and, for many viewers, their first taste of one-shot storytelling. Stephen Graham as chef Andy Jones in the feature film Boiling Point (2021), shot in a single take by director Philip Barantini and cinematographer Matthew Lewis. Credit: But this is a form that dates back almost 80 years. And among its previous proponents are the team behind Adolescence Graham, director Philip Barantini and director of photography Matthew Lewis. Barantini and Lewis first worked together on a short in 2016, in which the former acted. Lewis then shot Barantinis first short as director, Seconds Out, in 2019, and the same year they were joined by Graham for Boiling Point, a 20-minute, single-shot film set in a restaurant kitchen. Advertisement In 2021 the three beefed that up to a feature of the same name, with the single take now stretching across 90 minutes of action as chef Andy Jones (Graham) comes undone during a frantic service. The four-part series spun-off from that film (currently on SBS) abandoned the one-take approach, but Adolescence pushes it well beyond anything this tight-knit team has attempted before. Loading The one-shot format does two fundamental things, Thorne says. It imposes a structure on the writing. You have the unity of time, place, action forced upon you. The second is it gives the actor the power. Typically, screen acting involves delivering short grabs of script often just a single line on cue, repeatedly, with big breaks between takes. Maintaining character is a challenge. The extended take allows the performer to inhabit that character without interruption. As Erin Doherty, who plays the psychologist who visits Jamie in remand in episode three, puts it: The more youre in a characters skin, they just become a part of your soul. Theres a freedom that comes with the repetition we did. Of course, it also demands getting it right in one go. Advertisement Each episode took three weeks to pull together: a week for the actors to rehearse with Barantini and Thorne, a week for tech rehearsals, in which every movement was choreographed, and a week for the actual shoot. There was time for two takes per day, though sometimes a take was abandoned partway. Episode three in which Jamie is interviewed by the psychologist (Doherty) was shot first, took 11 takes, and was captured on the final day. Episode four in which Jamies family visits a hardware store (the handheld camera was slipped into a rig mounted on the front of the van for the journey, then dismounted upon arrival) took 16. Episode two took 13, while episode one was captured on the second take, on day one. Adolescence was only possible because the technology (lightweight cameras and rigs, high-powered drones) and the established modes of working for this creative team allow it. They create the space for exceptional performances to happen. Farley Granger, James Stewart and John Dall in Alfred Hitchcock's Rope (1948). Credit: But the first attempts at one-shot storytelling date back to Alfred Hitchcocks 1948 film Rope. A drawing-room thriller based on a real-life murder, the movie was cut to look like a single take. In truth, that would have been impossible, as the cameras used held only 10 minutes of film. The film consisted of 10 segments. It wasnt until the emergence of digital cameras that cinema-quality extended takes became feasible. The earliest efforts were understandably formal: Mike Figgis Timecode (2000), shot simultaneously with four cameras, was shown in a split-screen format, with overlapping plot lines and characters; Alexander Sokurovs Russian Ark (2002) took us on a POV tour of the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and simultaneously through centuries of Russian history (its 83 minutes were captured four times and featured a cast of more than 2000 people). Russian Ark. Credit: Advertisement But soon the potential of marrying action and tension with the form became apparent. In PVC-1 (2007), Greek-Colombian director Spiros Stathoulopoulos created an 84-minute edge-of-the-seat thriller about a woman forced to wear an improvised explosive device, with a timer, around her neck. The German film Victoria (2015) pushed its bank-heist plot past the two-hour mark. Writer-director Sebastian Schipper got the version he wanted on his third, and final, try. Loading All up, more than 50 features have been made using the single-take approach, with another dozen using edits but presenting as single-take films (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritus Birdman and Sam Mendes World War I film 1917 being the most notable). For some filmmakers, the one-shot is the ultimate challenge. And in the new comedy series The Studio, theres a whole episode devoted to that. Sarah Polley plays a director about to shoot the single-take finale of her film just as the sun is going down. Theres time for two takes at best. But studio head Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) causes absolute havoc when he visits set to witness a shot his offsider Sal (Ike Barinholtz) dismissively calls the stupid magic-hour one-er. The entire episode is shot in a single, elaborately choreographed and very funny take. Advertisement Well, well, well. The good news is that Pete Evans new cookbook doesnt encourage parents to replace breastmilk or infant formula with bone broth. The bad news is that it warns readers not to use tap water (unless you have a well). Chef and cookbook author Pete Evans. Credit: Instagram Ten years ago, publisher Pan Macmillan said it would no longer publish the paleo diet book by the former My Kitchen Rules host that contained a baby formula based on liver and bone broth. Back then the federal Health Department said the books recipes for home-made infant formula were not a suitable alternative to infant formula that complied with food standards. Fast-forward to 2025. Evans is making hay in Donald Trumps America, much like former PM Scott Morrison, billionaire Gina Rinehart and nude golfer Greg Norman. In fact, the MAGA-hat enthusiast recently attended an evening with Trump and enthusiastic maker of children Elon Musk, at Mar-a-Lago. London: One of the worlds busiest airports has been forced to close for the day after a nearby fire cut power, disrupting hundreds of thousands of passengers as airlines, including Qantas, cancelled flights or diverted them to other airports. Londons Heathrow Airport, which is used by about 200,000 passengers a day, said it had no choice but to close after the fire broke out at an electricity substation in the citys west on Thursday night (Friday AEDT). It expected significant disruption for days. About 1300 flights take off or land at Heathrow every day and it is Europes busiest airport. The London Fire Brigade said around 70 firefighters were tackling the blaze in the west of London. Credit: Twitter Passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens, Heathrow said in a statement. The impact was immediate. Some 120 flights were in the air when the closure was announced, with some turned around and others diverted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris or Irelands Shannon Airport. Truly, I lack the words to describe just how depressing the resumption of bombings in Gaza is. By now, you will probably have read several analyses explaining how inevitable this moment was, how it was baked into the terms of the ceasefire. That is true, but ultimately not true enough; the inevitability was baked in long before that. It was baked into Israels stated aims in responding to the October 7 attacks, which were contradictory and unrealisable. A war fought on such pretexts has no way of ending. It is, in its very design, a forever war. Israeli forces resumed airstrikes in Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire reached its end. Credit: Getty Images Specifically, Israel has always said that it wants to retrieve all its hostages, and eliminate Hamas. On the surface, these may appear to be allied goals, but they are not. The easiest way to retrieve hostages is to strike a deal with Hamas much as happened in the past two months. But if youre Hamas and Israel has said it will not stop until it eradicates you, what would returning those hostages ultimately get you? It cant be a lasting peace because Israel has said that cannot happen until youve been destroyed. And since we can safely assume Hamas doesnt want to be destroyed, the whole logic of this approach demanding Hamas release hostages while maintaining a policy that removes any incentive for it to do so quickly falls apart. That leaves only the option remaining of bombing your way out of this contradiction. And here we are. In labs around the world, scientists are using AI to search among existing medicines for treatments that work for rare diseases. Drug repurposing, as its called, is not new, but the use of machine learning is speeding up the process and could expand the treatment possibilities for people with rare diseases and few options. Loading Thanks to versions of the technology developed by Fajgenbaums team at Philadelphias University of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, drugs are being quickly repurposed for conditions including rare and aggressive cancers, fatal inflammatory disorders and complex neurological conditions. And often, theyre working. The handful of success stories so far have led researchers to ask: How many other cures are hiding in plain sight? There is a treasure trove of medicine that could be used for so many other diseases. We just didnt have a systematic way of looking at it, said Donald C. Lo, the former head of therapeutic development at the National Centre for Advancing Translational Sciences and a scientific lead at Remedi4All, a group focused on drug repurposing. Its essentially almost silly not to try this, because these drugs are already approved. You can already buy them at the pharmacy. The National Institutes of Health defines rare diseases as those that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the US. But there are thousands of rare diseases, which altogether affect hundreds of millions of people around the world. And yet, more than 90 per cent of rare diseases have no approved treatments, and pharmaceutical giants dont commit many resources to try to find them. There isnt typically much money to be made developing a new drug for a small number of patients, said Christine Colvis, who heads drug development partnership programs at NCATS. I had this really clear realisation that I didnt have a billion dollars and 10 years to create some new drug from scratch. Dr David Fajgenbaum Thats what makes drug repurposing such an enticing alternative route to finding treatments for rare diseases, said Dr Marinka Zitnik, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who studies computer science applications in medical research. Zitniks Harvard lab has built another AI model for drug repurposing. Other laboratory discovery techniques have already put drug repurposing on the map, Lo said. AI just puts rocket boosters on that. Finding clues in old research Repurposing is fairly common in pharmaceuticals: Minoxidil, developed as a blood pressure medication, has been repurposed to treat hair loss. Viagra, originally marketed to treat a cardiac condition, is now used as an erectile dysfunction drug. Semaglutide, a diabetes drug, has become best known for its ability to help people lose weight. The first time Fajgenbaum repurposed a drug, it was in an attempt to save his own life. At 25, while in medical school, he was diagnosed with a rare subtype of a disorder called Castleman disease, which led to an immune system reaction that landed him in the intensive care unit. There is no one way to treat Castleman disease and some people dont respond to any of the available treatments. Fajgenbaum was among them. Between hospitalisations and rounds of chemo that temporarily helped, Fajgenbaum spent weeks running tests on his own blood, poring over medical literature and trying unconventional treatments. Coates assumed he was going to die from a rare blood disorder before a doctor using an AI model found a lifesaving drug regimen. Credit: New York Times I had this really clear realisation that I didnt have a billion dollars and 10 years to create some new drug from scratch, he said. The drug that saved Fajgenbaums life was a generic medication called sirolimus, typically given to kidney donation recipients to prevent rejection. The medication has kept Fajgenbaums Castleman disease in remission for more than a decade. Fajgenbaum went on to become a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and began seeking out other drugs with unknown uses. Existing research, he realised, was full of overlooked clues about potential links between drugs and the diseases they could treat, he said. If theyre just in the published literature, shouldnt someone be looking for these all day, every day? His lab had some early successes, including finding that a novel cancer drug helped another Castleman patient. But the process was laborious, requiring his team to examine one drug and one disease at a time, he said. Fajgenbaum decided he needed to speed up the project. In 2022, he established a nonprofit called Every Cure, aimed at using machine learning to compare thousands of drugs and diseases all at once. Work similar to Every Cures is taking place in other labs around the world, including at Penn State and Stanford University, as well as in Japan and China. Loading In Birmingham, Alabama, an AI model suggested a 19-year-old patient debilitated by chronic vomiting try isopropyl alcohol, inhaled through the nose. Essentially, we ran a query that said, Show us every proposed treatment there has ever been in the history of medicine for nausea, said Matt Might, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who leads the institute that developed the model. The alcohol popped to the top of our list, Might said, and it worked instantly. The model developed by Mights institute has successfully predicted other treatments, too: Amphetamines typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder relieved periodic paralysis in children with a rare genetic disorder. A Parkinsons drug helped patients with a neurological condition move and speak. A common blood pressure medicine called guanfacine drastically improved the mobility of a pediatric patient with a different neurological condition. Many drugs do more than one thing, Might said. Their additional features sometimes get characterised as side effects. If you comb through enough drugs, you eventually find the side effect youre looking for and then that becomes the main effect, he said. At the University of Pennsylvania, Fajgenbaums platform compares about 4000 drugs against 18,500 diseases. For each disease, pharmaceuticals get a score based on the likelihood of efficacy. Once the predictions are made, a team of researchers combs through them to find promising ideas, then performs lab tests or connects with doctors willing to try the drugs on patients. Elsewhere, pharmaceutical companies are using AI to discover entirely new drugs, a pursuit that has the potential to streamline an enterprise already worth billions of dollars. But drug repurposing is not likely to prove lucrative for any one party. Many drug patents expire after a few decades, which means there is little incentive for drug companies to seek out additional uses for them, said Aiden Hollis, a professor of economics at the University of Calgary with a focus on medical commerce. Other laboratory discovery techniques have already put drug repurposing on the map. AI just puts rocket boosters on that. Dr Donald C. Lo Once a drug becomes one of the thousands of generics approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it typically faces stiff competition, driving down the price. If you use AI to come up with a new drug, you can make lots and lots of money off that new drug. If you use AI to find a new use for an old, inexpensive drug, no one makes any money off of it, Fajgenbaum said. To fund the venture, Every Cure received more than $100 million in commitments last year from TEDs Audacious Project and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, an agency within the federal health department dedicated to supporting potential research breakthroughs. Fajgenbaum said that Every Cure would use the money, in part, to fund clinical trials of repurposed drugs. Loading This is one example of AI that we dont have to fear, that we can be really excited about, said Dr Grant Mitchell, another Every Cure co-founder and a medical school classmate of Fajgenbaum. This ones going to help a lot of people. Someone had to be the first to try Dr Luke Chen was sceptical when Fajgenbaums model suggested he treat a patient with Castleman disease using adalimumab, a medication typically used to treat arthritis, Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. I didnt think it was going to work, because its kind of a wimpy drug, said Chen, a haematologist and professor at Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia. But the patient had already undergone chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant and had tried drugs including the one that saved Fajgenbaums life. Nothing worked, and he was entering a hospice. We had basically given up, but I put in a last call to David [Fajgenbaum], Chen said. With no other options, Chen gave the patient the adalimumab. In a matter of weeks, the patient was in remission. The case was recently the subject of a paper in The New England Journal of Medicine. No model is infallible, Zitnik said. AI can sometimes make predictions based on evidence that isnt sufficiently strong. Colvis said ranking potential treatments by likelihood of success can also prove difficult. Such issues make physician oversight crucial. Sometimes, a doctor would determine that a treatment suggestion was too risky to try, she said. But then there are instances where they will see something and say, OK, this looks like its reasonable, Colvis said. Loading When Fajgenbaum first suggested that Dr Wayne Gao, a haematologist and oncologist in Washington state, try a novel treatment on one of his patients, Gao had doubts. The patient was Coates, the Washington man headed for hospice, and the aggressive drug combination suggested by Fajgenbaums model seemed a little bit crazy, Gao said. In fact, he worried that the treatment might kill Coates faster. But Coates was a young man, and there were no other treatments to consider. And so, Gao said, someone had to be the first to try. Indonesia: A snorkelling boat carrying 15 people, including a number of Australian tourists, capsized in rough seas off Indonesias resort island of Bali on Friday, killing a Canberra woman and injuring two other Australians, police said. The Sea Dragon 2 boat was on its way from a port in Bali to Nusa Penida, a popular tiny island near Bali, when it was overwhelmed by high waves, local police spokesperson Agus Widiono said. The groups boat was hit by a large wave about 8.30am (Bali time) that threw a 39-year-old woman, identified by officials as Anna Maree Blight, overboard in Kelingking waters. It was followed by a second wave that capsized the boat, Widiono said. A nearby boat was rushed to rescue the survivors, including two local crew members and two injured tourists, from the choppy waters. Rescuers located the body of Blight, the spokesperson said. She was declared dead on arrival at hospital. This photo shows Megapack energy-storage batteries in east China's Shanghai, March 21, 2025. Tesla's new Megafactory in east China's Shanghai on Friday exported its first batch of Megapack energy-storage batteries, the company announced. It took the new Megafactory just over a month after its production launch to achieve its first export, with the batteries being transported from Shanghai Port to Australia. (Xinhua) SHANGHAI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Tesla's new Megafactory in east China's Shanghai on Friday exported its first batch of Megapack energy-storage batteries, the company announced. It took the new Megafactory just over a month after its production launch to achieve its first export, with the batteries being transported from Shanghai Port to Australia. This export highlights Tesla's further expansion in the global energy storage market, and also underlines the extension of its battery technology from electric vehicles to energy storage, according to the company. The batteries produced at the Shanghai facility will supply both the domestic and Asia-Pacific markets. Megapack is an electrochemical energy storage device that uses lithium batteries -- a dominant technical route in the new-type energy storage industry. This sector is characterized by short construction periods, flexible layouts and fast responses, when compared to conventional pump storage. Hailed by the company as a "milestone," the new Megafactory is the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States and the company's second plant in Shanghai, following the inauguration of its Gigafactory in 2019. The Shanghai facility was built with an initial annual production capacity of 10,000 units. Notably, each Megapack unit can store over 3.9 megawatt-hours of energy -- sufficient to power approximately 3,600 households for one hour. Tesla anticipates a year-on-year increase of at least 50 percent in its energy storage deployments in 2025. "Megafactory gives us the ability to scale production and efficiency," said Mike Snyder, vice president of Tesla. "We can lower logistics costs as well as product costs, and grow the business to new markets." Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025 The World Customs Organization (WCO) European Union (EU) COLIBRI Project recently concluded its second international operation leading to significant seizures of narcotics and other contraband. Called Operation COLIBRI Paramuno, this international effort, coordinated in partnership with the Maritime Analysis Operation Centre Narcotics (MAOC-N), took place from 1 to 16 March 2025. Building on insights gained from Operation COLIBRI Rutilant (2023), Paramunos primary objectives were to detect contraband and identify emerging trends, routes, and methods used by criminal networks within the general aviation (GA) sector, and intercept illicit shipments and fiscal fraud and expose unlawful activities. Over a 16-day period, Operation Paramuno identified 1,897 general aviation controls registered in the WCO geospatial platform (Geoportal). Initial results of the operation indicate that national authorities seized approximately 2.2 tons of drugs, confiscated weapons, uncovered more than a hundred undeclared runways, and impounded around a dozen aircraft for fiscal fraud. In total, 1,897 controls were carried out using the Geoportal. These outcomes underscore the need for continuous control in the general aviation sector. Final results of the operation will be announced in May. Operation Paramuno brought together 19 partner countries across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and West and Central Africa (WCA), - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic; Benin, Cape Verde, Cote dIvoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. More than 80 national agencies - spanning Customs, Police, Air Force, Civil Aviation, and other relevant law enforcement partnerscollaborated, underscoring the critical nature of international cooperation in securing the GA sector. Ian Saunders, WCO Secretary-General, declared that: The COLIBRI Project puts a needed spotlight on General Aviation as a mode of transport widely used by criminal organizations to move illicit goods. Operation Paramuno demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration among WCO Members under the auspices of the project. I commend all participants for their exceptional contributions. When we stand united, we can make a difference. Sjoerd Top, Executive Director of MAOC(N): The MAOC (N) is delighted to be part of this huge platform where so many countries work together to combat the abuse of General Aviation flights for illegal actions. I am glad to see so many countries supporting each other in their approach in this international phenomenon. A big thanks to all the people doing the checks in several countries and sharing their knowledge and insights with others. Maria Rosa Sabbatelli, Head of Unit, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments.1 (Global and Transregional Threats and Challenges), European Commission Congratulations to all 19 countries participating in Operation Paramuno! The Operation has shown once again that criminal organisations can be defeated by our joint efforts and commitment. The EU is proud to contribute to disrupting illicit trafficking in general aviation through a long-term partnership with WCO within the COLIBRI project. Operation Paramuno confirms that GA is a crucial part of the criminal supply chain. and underscores the need for continued investment in specialized training, coordinated international action and intelligence-driven methodologies to safeguard general aviation against exploitation by criminal networks. For additional details on the COLIBRI Project, please visit colibri.wcoomd.org. Media and other inquiries may be directed to: colibri@wcoomd.org. BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China's e-commerce sector demonstrated sound growth momentum in the first two months of 2025, the Ministry of Commerce said Friday. Artificial intelligence and the country's consumer goods trade-in program have contributed to steady growth of the sales of online goods, with humanoid robots and other embodied intelligent products emerging as new highlights in digital consumption, according to the ministry. Official data showed that China's online retail sales of physical goods rose 5 percent year on year during the Jan.-Feb. period, outpacing the 4 percent growth of retail sales of consumer goods. Boosted by policy incentives such as the expansion of visa-free entry policies, online services also registered rapid growth in this period, with sales of online tourist services surging by 35.9 percent compared with a year earlier, the ministry revealed. The data also showed that under the Silk Road e-commerce cooperation framework, sales of passion fruit from Colombia and wine from Serbia on key platforms had soared by 355.5 percent and 215.8 percent from a year earlier, respectively. BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has announced 10 measures to stimulate cultural and tourism consumption among workers to invigorate economic and social development further. Key initiatives include distributing trade union consumption coupons, raising the standards for helping people in need, and increasing support for consumption assistance, according to the ACFTU. It said these measures will enhance workers' access to cultural, sports, and tourism services while improving welfare protection. Grassroots unions are encouraged to issue annual consumption coupons for daily goods and cultural and tourism products. In January, China's State Council announced a series of measures to incentivize cultural and tourism consumption, such as offering more coupons and discounts for consumers and more cultural, arts-related and other relevant services at public institutions. WSU sustainability leader honored for exceptional community engagement March 21, 2025 OGDEN, Utah A leader in Weber State Universitys award-winning sustainability efforts is being recognized for decades-long dedication to the university and the surrounding community. Alice Mulder earned the 2025 John A. Lindquist Award presented by the Center for Community Engaged Learning during CCELebration, an annual banquet that celebrates the life-changing work of campus and community partners. This years banquet will be held at noon March 25 in the Shepherd Union Ballroom at WSUs Ogden campus. Mulder is an associate professor in the Department of Geography, Environment & Sustainability and director of the Sustainability Practices and Research Center. She has spent over 20 years building impactful partnerships that connect students, faculty and community members in meaningful sustainability initiatives. Through collaborations with organizations such as the Utah Climate Action Network, Solve Climate Utah, and AmeriCorps, Mulder has led transformative projects like the Intermountain Sustainability Summit, Empower Ogden, and the Susie Hulet Community Solar program, directly benefiting the local and regional community. Her leadership in sustainability education has inspired countless students, many of whom have pursued careers and further studies in environmental fields. During my years at WSU, I have dedicated a lot of time toward building an ecosystem of sustainability education, thought and action on campus and in our community, Mulder said. She said students have joined her in these efforts through SPARC, community engaged learning classes, and other sustainability internships and campus experiences. Current and former students have praised Mulders fearless commitment to sustainability, her outstanding mentorship and hard work in integrating sustainability across WSU programs. COLOMBO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) training aircraft crashed in Wariyapola, located in the North Western Province, on Friday morning, with both pilots ejecting safely, according to a spokesperson. Air Force spokesperson Eranda Geeganage said the aircraft was on a training mission after taking off from the SLAF academy in eastern Sri Lanka. Geeganage said both pilots ejected safely, sustaining only minor injuries, and they were admitted to a regional hospital for treatment. An investigation into the crash is currently underway. SLAF operates an aging fleet, and earlier this month, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament that plans are in place to modernize the fleet in the coming years. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 21 (Xinhua)-- The first session of Brunei's legislative council meeting in 2025 ended on Thursday after two weeks of discussions. Speaker of the legislative council Haji Abdul Rahman Taib in his closing remarks said 187 questions were raised and answered by government ministers involving over 400 issues ranging from economic, social, education, health and issues affecting the underprivileged and disabled people in 57 hours of deliberation. Starting this year, Brunei's legislative council will convene twice a year. The speaker said the meeting was held amidst global uncertainty, increasing geopolitical tension and re-shaping of the economy. The speaker lauded elected members for focusing on the agenda and hailed their high quality of deliberation. The public expectation of the government is high, which is delivered through the legislative council. Realizing the Brunei Vision 2035 requires cooperation, innovation, and high spirits from all parties, said the speaker. Sarah Slater Comedian, actress and entrepreneur Amy Huberman has added another string to her bow by launching her own branded wine. Named, Ah Wines, the mother-of-three and wife of former International rugby ace and TV pundit Brian ODriscoll is working closely with winemakers in Spains Comunidad Valenciana to create Ah Sauvignon Blanc and Ah Cava Brut Rose. The 46-year-old Dublin native shared the news launch on her official Instagram page and explained: "An absolute pinch me moment to be just days away from launching Ah Wines Our business has grown from a little grape seed over the last three years right up today; just days away from launching and I couldnt be prouder of the incredible team involved, or more excited to pop open the bottles and share with you all! Also having her own shoe brand, the Finding Joy comedy series actress added: The story started over many discussions of all things bubbles. "Hit me up with a glass of champers all you like but we spoke about how special occasion and spendy that can often be. Also talking with friends about how a lot of people can find Prosecco on the sweeter side. Ive always loved cava as a drier, more accessible tipple. Tastes more along the lines of champagne but with a bit more [cash] leftover. And here we are today, just a few days away from introducing Ah, Cava Brut-Rose. Pointing out a fun feature on her bottles, she continued: Ah, a beginning. The rest is yours to fill in. We are so excited about our bottle label too, as you can write on it. Very fun when gifting. "You can write any number of funny, kind, sentimental, obscure sentiments to surprise and/or delight your friends or loved ones with when calling over with a bottle of wine. Costs range from 17.95 to 24.95. Tom Tuite A masked raider held up a Dublin shop at knifepoint and threatened to stab a worker and take him hostage, a court has heard. Jonathan Byrne, 41, from Castlepark, Tallaght, was charged with robbery of 850 from Londis, Terenure Road West, on September 27th, 2024. He faced bail objections when he appeared before Judge Michele Finan. Garda Dean Maxwell told Dublin District Court a robber wearing a hat and surgical mask, produced a knife and said he would take the injured party hostage and stab him if money was not handed over. The court heard the raider fled with cash and used a bicycle to leave the area, but it was allegedly recovered on Wainsfort Crescent in Terenure. Garda Maxwell said the victim told officers that the mans hand was cut and DNA evidence, as well as CCTV footage, were obtained. Garda Maxwell alleged there was a match with Mr Byrnes DNA after a blood swab was taken from him. Mr Byrne was then charged and had no reply. He remained silent throughout the contested bail hearing. The investigating garda also voiced witness interference concerns and said that none of the cash taken was recovered. He agreed with the defence that there were no allegations against Mr Byrne of offences since the date of the robbery. The court heard Mr Byrne was currently homeless and staying in a hostel with a curfew rule. His lawyer stressed that the accused was presumed innocent and would obey conditions. Otherwise, his client could spend a year in custody on remand awaiting trial if it goes to the Circuit Court. The defence said Mr Byrne, who has not yet entered a plea, suffered from health problems and had a hospital appointment in April. Judge Finan granted him legal aid but refused the bail application and remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next week. She also directed that he receive medical attention in custody. Ireland West Airport Knock have announced that today's Aer Lingus services to and from Heathrow Airport have been cancelled due to a fire near the London facility. More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted today due to the closure of the airport following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in west London. The airport, which is supplied by the substation, said it was among those impacted by the power outage. Ireland West issued the following statement to passengers this morning. "Unfortunately, due to a fire near London Heathrow (LHR) the airport has been closed today and all flights into and out of the airport have been cancelled." "As a result todays Aer Lingus service to and from London Heathrow has been cancelled." "Passengers due to travel to and from London Heathrow are advised to contact the airline to rebook and for further information." The recent visit by members of the European Parliaments Committee on Regional Development (REGI) to the west of Ireland is a salient reminder of the role Europe can play in our development and, indeed, wishes to play. The delegation was hosted by Midlands North West MEPs Ciaran Mullooly and Maria Walsh themselves both members of the committee and was led by the vice-chair of REGI, Lubica Karvasova, from Slovakia, and also included MEPs Raul De La Hoz Quintano, from Spain, and Paulo Roberto Do Nascimento Cabral, from Portugal. On their three-and-a-half day tour of our region, the delegation visited Athenry to hear from West on Track on the need for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Sligo as well as visits to Galway Port, ATU Mountbellew, and Carrownagappul Bog, outside Mountbellew, in addition to a tour of the broader Midlands region. The support of the MEPs for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor, not just to Tuam and Claremorris but northwards to Sligo, was very apparent after meetings and a visit to Oranmore Train Station, which was developed due to the demand created by the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor from Limerick to Athenry. Their comments are instructive on the importance most European countries and the EU as a whole place on regional development, compared to Ireland. Rail infrastructure is the backbone of regional development," MEP Karvasova said. And the timing of the visit is crucial because the Parliament will be formulating its budgets over the next few months, for the next cohesion policy. If the European Union wants to be competitive on the world stage, it all starts at local level. The railway will be an enabler for proper regional development. We found the visit very informative and we will report to the Parliament and its committees and support the proposal to fund the project. Portuguese MEP Paulo Roberto do Nascimento Cabral said extending the Western Rail Corridor to Sligo would be a crucial development for the north-west region of Ireland. The rail project will establish enterprise opportunities and will speed up the delivery of progress to the region, he said. It will help retain qualified young people in the region. This project is an excellent example of what needs to be delivered to connect all of Europe. This comprehensive approach will create jobs. The north Atlantic face of Europe is strategically very important for the integral operation of the European Union. Connectivity to the ports is vital too, MEP do Nascimento Cabral added. Galway county councillor Peter Feeney, a member of West On Track, highlighted the need for balanced regional development and the potential use of European funding to help make the full reopening of the Western Rail Corridor (Sligo to Limerick) a reality. If transport infrastructure is not upgraded, the northern and western region will continue to lag even further behind the more developed Eastern and Southern regions, said Cllr Feeney. For example, there are more students between Galway and Sligo today than in all of Ireland 40 years ago, but there is currently no rail connectivity for students along the entire 258km route from ATU Letterkenny to ATU Galway. The importance of the corridor for freight for industry was also stressed. MEPs for this region, Maria Walsh and Ciaran Mullooly, also expressed full support for the extension of the rail line from Galway to Sligo. Maria Walsh said that this was the kind of project that fitted exactly with the committees brief. She was confident that the next phase of the railway would be getting underway shortly and that it made sense that planning for its continuation to Sligo should also be happening. Stressing the urgency of enhanced regional development, Ciaran Mullooly expressed his full support for the extension of the rail link from Galway to Sligo and said that the EU can be critical in its delivery. This was why they had invited the visiting delegation to come to the west to see the situation for themselves. Its essential that after 20 years of work and advocacy, we see this rail line completed within the next decade. People need this vital infrastructure in place, said Mullooly afterwards. I was very impressed with the response from my European colleagues regarding this much-needed development of the rail line. With their vast experience in rail infrastructure projects in countries like Spain, Portugal, and Slovakia, it is heartening that they have pledged their full support for these proposals, he added. It is a timely boost for the campaign to reopen the Western Rail Corridor all the way to Sligo. While the reopening from Athenry to Tuam and Claremorris is all but assured, the extension from there to Sligo is not as far, literally, down the tracks. But the logic of connecting the two largest urban centres in Connacht via rail is very obvious, especially so when the original tracks and route remain in situ. Indeed, one might ask the question about the incredibly short-sighted decision to close the line in 1977. Then there is the slow pace at which the Government has moved in terms of reopening a line that can greatly help a region currently ranked by the European Union as being a lagging region, a region which ranks 218th out of 234 European regions for transport infrastructure development. The responsibility still rests squarely with the Irish Government who, if they decide to go ahead with the project, can then request EU funding support. The Western Rail Corridor can avail of European Union financial support through the Trans European Network Transport (TEN-T) Comprehensive Fund. Of course, it was denied access to the much greater funding tranche that is the TEN-T Core Fund when then Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar removed the Western Arc from the Core funding map in 2011. The Western Arc ran from Cork to Belfast via Limerick, Galway, Sligo and Derry. Areas on the Core network have access to multi-billion euro European support for road, rail and aviation. The stroke of Varadkars pen confirmed the long-standing Dublin-centric approach by the Irish Government with the vast majority of the Core network in Ireland now entirely radiating to and from Dublin. Is it any wonder were in a lagging region? It doesnt have to be like that. High Court Reporter Arytza, the owner of the Cuisine de France and other bakery brands, has asked the High Court to strike out challenges by four former executives to the way the company arrived at the decision that they were not entitled to performance-related shares. The four former executives have claimed specific performance of entitlements in accordance with the termination agreements they entered into in 2020. They are also claiming damages. Aryzta Technology Ireland Unlimited Co, and its Swiss parent Aryzta AG, have asked the High Court to refuse to deal with their actions or halt them, on the basis that there are already mirror proceedings in Switzerland which the firms say is the correct jurisdiction for the cases. The former CEO of the Irish company, Kevin Toland, former chief executive for Europe, Gregory Sklikas, chief people officer Anthony Murphy, and one-time chief commercial officer of Aryzta North America, John Heffernan, oppose the application and say the cases should be dealt with in Ireland. The court heard the dispute centres on the interpretation of rules on executive compensation through the system for issuing shares. The executives had an entitlement to what are called performance share units which are vested and converted into shares in accordance with the company's long-term incentive plan to incentivise employees to perform. This "vesting" is determined by a remuneration committee of the board of the parent (Swiss) company in accordance with certain rules and based on the economic performance of the company during the tenure of executives. Aryzta says the fixing of the vesting multiple at zero for determining the former executives share allocation was taken on foot of poor economic performance during their employment. The four claim Aryzta has gerrymandered the rules to deny them their entitlements which were preserved by the termination agreements. It is claimed the application of a vesting multiple of zero for them was discriminatory compared to how it was applied to others in the company. The claims are denied. On Friday, Eoin McCullough SC, for the Aryzta firms, asked that the claims be struck out or stayed pending a decision by the Swiss court. Mr McCullough said Aryzta was the first to bring proceedings over the matter, in Switzerland, after the company received a letter in January 2024 from Mr Toland's lawyers challenging the board's vesting decision. On April 10th, 2024, Aryzta issued proceedings with the Conciliation Authority in Switzerland to determine whether it had any liability for the manner in which it exercised its functions under Swiss law. Less than a week later, the four men issued their proceedings in the Irish High Court. Mr McCullough also said that while Mr Toland had previously issued similar proceedings in Ireland, they were never served or proceeded with and were superseded by the new proceedings. Counsel said the issue of which jurisdiction should hear the case was covered by the Lugano Convention which provides that the court where the proceedings were first in time, or "first seized", is where the cases should be heard. Aryzta also claims the case has nothing to do with their employment contracts or termination agreements because it relates entirely to the rules governing the incentive scheme and the exercise of the powers of the Swiss parent board. Cathy Smith SC, for the four former executives, said it was their position that the proceedings in Ireland are not the same as in Switzerland although they are related. These were proceedings involving an Irish employer and they related to loss of benefits under the termination agreement, she said. Ireland was where they should be dealt with, she said. Mr Justice Liam Kennedy reserved judgment. An aerial drone photo shows vehicles waiting to board ferries ahead of the Eid al-Fitr at Merak Port, Banten Province, Indonesia, March 28, 2025. The Indonesian transport authorities estimated that approximately 146.68 million people will travel to their hometowns by air, sea, road, and railway ahead of Eid, which falls on March 30 and 31. (Photo by Harshal Alshaki/Xinhua) JAKARTA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian transport authorities have prepared to ensure that the annual mass exodus involving millions of travelers runs smoothly ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday season. The Transportation Ministry estimated that approximately 146.68 million people will travel to their hometowns by air, sea, road, and railway ahead of Eid, which falls on March 30 and 31. Authorities have readied transportation facilities and infrastructure to accommodate travelers, with 30,451 buses, 772 ships, 404 aircraft, and 2,550 trains prepared for service. "Today, we mark the start of the operation of the 2025 Eid Transportation Command Center, which will run for 22 days, from March 21 to April 11. This demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that people can enjoy a safe and smooth homecoming trip," said Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi while inaugurating the command center on Friday. The command center also involves several relevant agencies, including police and weather agencies. The minister urged travelers to plan their journeys carefully, use official transportation services, and stay updated through government information channels. (250329) -- CILEGON, March 29, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Motorists line up to board a ferry ahead of the Eid al-Fitr at Ciwandan Port in Cilegon, Banten Province, Indonesia, March 29, 2025. The Indonesian transport authorities estimated that approximately 146.68 million people will travel to their hometowns by air, sea, road, and railway ahead of Eid, which falls on March 30 and 31. (Photo by Harshal Alshaki/Xinhua) BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Faced with the twin demographic challenges of a low fertility rate and a graying population, China is spearheading systemic policy innovations and people-oriented practices to bolster birth rates, boost consumption and drive sustainable socioeconomic growth in the coming decades and beyond. This strategic emphasis on encouraging childbirth was underscored earlier this month during China's national "two sessions," where the term "provide childcare subsidies" was included for the first time in the annual government work report. Additionally, a recently unveiled plan to increase consumption, proposes establishing a childcare subsidy system, expanding childbirth insurance coverage and enhancing pediatric services. These initiatives indicate that promoting childbirth has become a national strategic priority. China's total fertility rate has remained at around 1 for a few years, less than half of the required replacement level of 2.1. Meanwhile, the country's degree of aging continues to increase. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that those aged 65 years and above made up about 15.6 percent of the total population last year. "Severe sub-replacement fertility will be China's greatest economic and social challenge," according to a recent article by veteran demographer James Liang, executive chair of China's online travel service giant Trip.com Group. Liang noted that only by prioritizing birth rate improvement, leveraging institutional strengths, and mobilizing social resources can the problem be effectively addressed. In October 2024, a State Council directive outlined 13 targeted measures to enhance childbirth support services, expand child care systems, strengthen support in education, housing and employment, and foster a birth-friendly social atmosphere. Earlier data from China's national health authorities revealed that over 20 provincial-level regions had explored offering childcare subsidies at different levels, with more comprehensive versions being introduced recently. The latest such measures were rolled out in north China's Shanxi Province, where several counties introduced policies aimed at encouraging childbirth and alleviating family burdens by providing one-time childbirth subsidies, while partially covering hospitalization costs for childbirth. For example, families in Xingxian County of the city of Lyuliang in Shanxi that give birth to their first, second or third child on or after Jan. 1, 2025, are eligible for one-time subsidies of 2,000 yuan (about 279 U.S. dollars), 5,000 yuan or 8,000 yuan, respectively. Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, a city known for its economic vitality and inclusiveness and home to China's largest migrant population, has also pledged to actively implement national initiatives by enhancing its childbirth support policy system and incentive mechanisms. These developments follow Hohhot's earlier announcement of a new childcare subsidy initiative, which attracted nationwide attention to this city, which is the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, an area known for producing top quality milk, resulting in a boost for market confidence. In Hohhot, couples having their first child will be offered a one-time payment of 10,000 yuan. For a second child, 50,000 yuan will be distributed in annual installments of 10,000 yuan. For all subsequent children, the same annual subsidy will be offered until the child turns 10, totaling 100,000 yuan, which is much higher than in other cities and amounts to roughly twice the annual income of local citizens. These tangible subsidies are expected to drive consumption momentum in the maternal and infant product sector, according to Han Fei, vice president of Hohhot-based Yili Group, Asia's largest dairy company. Han added that the city also plans to provide a daily cup of free milk for new mothers, which will accelerate the consumption of fresh milk in China's dairy industry heartland. Since 2013, China has implemented several rounds of progressive adjustments to adapt its population policies to evolving demographic and socioeconomic conditions. In 2021, it announced support for couples who wish to have a third child -- and it is from that time onward that childbirth subsidies began to emerge. Notably, the first city in China to offer such subsidies, Panzhihua in southwest China's Sichuan Province, has witnessed positive growth in its permanent resident population for four consecutive years. Meanwhile, Tianmen, a county-level city in central China's Hubei Province, saw a year-on-year increase of 17 percent in its newborn population in 2024, significantly higher than the national average of 5.8 percent, and ending an eight-year decline. Among the 7,217 newborns in Tianmen, more than half were second or third children. From baby bonuses and childcare subsidies to maternity leave allowances and home purchase incentives, total rewards for second and third children in Tianmen amount to 96,300 yuan and 165,100 yuan, respectively. Tianmen's tangible, holistic pro-birth policies also spurred a strong recovery in the real estate market of the city, where the average housing price is 5,000 yuan per square meter -- attracting over 100 regions to conduct research and learn from its practices. These cases show that financial incentives are probably the fastest way to boost fertility rates, and yet they are far from sufficient. Increased childcare services, extended maternity leave, and strengthened support in the fields of education, housing and employment, as well as a healthy marriage and childbirth culture, are also crucial in fostering a birth-friendly society. Encouragingly, various regions have already begun exploring such avenues. Cash rewards ease financial burdens, but boosting birth rates requires tackling deeper issues like childcare challenges, work-life balance, and education costs, said Yue Ling, associate professor at the Beijing-based China University of Labor Relations. Liang also highlighted the need for comprehensive measures including tax breaks, housing subsidies, increased childcare facilities, and promoting flexible work arrangements, to effectively boost willingness to have children. Experts also emphasized the importance of coordinated consideration at both the national and local levels, to make support policies more reasonable, feasible and sustainable, as regional economic disparities can have an impact on the effectiveness of policies. KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), which owns Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), has announced on Friday the acquisition of 30 new aircraft directly from Boeing as part of its fleet modernization strategy. The order includes 18 Boeing 737-8 and 12 Boeing 737-10 aircraft powered by the CFM LEAP-1B engines, with the option for 30 more 737 aircraft, MAG Group managing director Captain Izham Ismail said at a document exchange ceremony for Malaysia Aviation Group's Narrowbody Aircraft Replacement Order today. "These next-generation aircraft offer greater fuel efficiency, extended range, and enhanced passenger comfort," he said. "The expected delivery of the new Boeing 737-8s and 737-10s commences in 2029. However, MAG has the option for 30 more Boeing aircraft and it would be a combination of 737-8 or 737-10," he said. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and attended by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz. With the new addition, MAG will gradually phase out older Boeing 737-800s operated by Malaysia Airlines and aim for a modernized narrowbody fleet of 55 Boeing 737-8s and Boeing 737-10s by 2030. The group currently operates a fleet of 113 system-wide, including 42 Boeing 737-800s under Malaysia Airlines and five under budget airline Firefly. TOKYO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A government-appointed panel in Japan said Friday that residents of Tokyo and nearby prefectures should stay home to prevent panic in the event of an eruption of Mount Fuji. It would not be realistic for residents of densely populated Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures to flee the region at once if Japan's tallest mountain erupts on a massive scale and spews large amounts of ash, according to a report released by the Cabinet Office panel headed by University of Tokyo professor emeritus Toshitsugu Fujii. The panel broke down possible scenarios into four stages depending on the severity of the ash fall: from Stage 1 when the ash fall is under 3 centimeters to Stage 4 when it exceeds 30 centimeters. The report said residents in areas receiving less than 30 centimeters of ash should stay home and refrain from nonessential outings and stock up on necessities that would sustain them for two weeks. Meanwhile, those who reside in wooden houses, or those near such buildings, should evacuate only if the ash fall reaches 30 centimeters or more, as the weight of ash may increase if it rains, possibly causing such structures to collapse. This was the first time such specific guidelines on how residents should act under possible wide-scale effects of an eruption of Mount Fuji and its subsequent ash fall in the Tokyo metropolitan area have been released. Mount Fuji last erupted in 1707. Experts said an eruption on a similar scale could blanket wide areas of Tokyo, Kanagawa prefecture and elsewhere with 10 centimeters or more of ash. Renowned Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore has been appointed as the jury president for the main competition section of the Golden Goblet Awards at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. "It's a big honor for me," Tornatore told Xinhua. #GLOBALink KHARTOUM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 military personnel and journalists were killed in a drone attack targeting a military and media gathering inside the Republican Palace in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, according to a military source. "A suicide drone attacked the outer courtyard of the palace, resulting in the death of about 10 military personnel and journalists," the military source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. An eyewitness said the drone launched about two projectiles into the outer courtyard of the palace, when "soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) were celebrating the takeover of the palace, and a Sudan TV team was covering the event." Another eyewitness told Xinhua that among the casualties were two military media officers, several soldiers from the SAF's moral guidance division, and three members of the official Sudan TV, expecting the death toll to exceed 10. The incident came after the SAF reportedly regained control of the Republican Palace, or the presidential palace, on Friday, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023. Later on Friday, the RSF vowed in a statement that the battle for the palace is "not over yet," stressing its forces remain in the vicinity and continue to fight. The RSF also claimed it has carried out a military operation inside the palace, killing 89 army personnel and destroying various military vehicles. Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed almost 30,000 lives, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring group cited by the United Nations. The conflict has also displaced more than 15 million people, both inside and outside Sudan, according to estimates by the International Organization for Migration. Yang Qing (C, Rear), director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Cai Guiyang (Front), a doctoral student of Yang's and leader of the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team in The Gambia, along with Kebba Gassama (L, Rear), an obstetrician-gynecologist at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, and Mariama Baye, a nurse, perform a laparoscopic surgery in Banjul, The Gambia, on March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Yuan) by Xinhua writer Si Yuan BANJUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- On the afternoon of March 17, in the obstetrics and gynecology operating room of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, a local infertility patient anxiously awaited her surgery. There was a cyst in her right adnexal region, a condition that required laparoscopic exploration. The lead surgeon for this operation was Yang Qing, director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University. She arrived in Banjul only two days earlier with four other medical professionals for a week-long teaching and training program. The program, at Edward Francis Small, was part of a medical assistance partnership between the two countries. Serving as the first assistant was Cai Guiyang, a doctoral student of Yang's. Cai now leads the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team in The Gambia. Yang, 61, recalled that Cai began his clinical practice in 2010 and went on to provide medical aid in rural areas in 2019. "Seeing my student grow into an independent doctor, and even taking part in international medical assistance, fills me with immense pride and gratification," she said. Also assisting in the operation were Kebba Gassama, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the hospital, and Mariama Baye, a nurse. Gassama and Baye, who received short-term training at Shengjing Hospital in China last year, have continued to gain experience under Cai's guidance since their return. Now, three generations of mentors and trainees stood together in the operating room, working to treat Gambian patients. This surgery also gave Yang a glimpse of the progress made by Gambian medical professionals. "During training sessions, they used to observe from the sidelines. Now, they are actively participating in surgeries. Perhaps in the near future, they will be able to perform such procedures independently." As the surgery commenced, Yang deftly maneuvered the laparoscopic trocar through the patient's navel into the abdominal cavity. Cai assisted while guiding Gassama through the procedure. As the probe slowly advanced, the affected area became distinctly visible on the monitor. "Do you see it?" Yang gestured Gassama to focus on the screen, noting that the patient's condition was complex and required extra patience and precision. Gassama nodded attentively in response. Cai, now an associate chief physician, said the operation felt like a "second examination" in his career. "Performing surgery with my mentor is always a high-pressure experience." The procedure went smoothly, removing the ovarian cyst that had blocked the fallopian tube, Cai said, his shirt drenched in sweat. "Every operation is a learning opportunity. Even the slightest deviation from protocol is immediately pointed out." Now a mentor himself, Yang cherishes the chance to help his young Gambian colleagues. "Helping them grow is also a way for me to improve," he said. For Gassama, his time as a trainee in China feels like it was just yesterday. "In China, we not only attended extensive theoretical lectures but also participated in daily teaching rounds, case discussions, and hands-on training," he said. "The practical experience was invaluable." "The most unforgettable part was the simulation training," Baye added. "The program in China deepened my understanding of minimally invasive surgery." Upon returning to The Gambia, however, Gassama and Baye both became acutely aware of the gaps in local medical resources. "The infection control standards in Gambian operating rooms need further improvement, as do the surgical environment, sterilization procedures, and aseptic conditions," Yang observed. She emphasized that China's medical aid goes beyond providing equipment: it aims to enhance The Gambia's medical standards, quality control, and personnel training. "Today, they are my assistants. In the future, they will be independent surgeons, training the next generation of Gambian obstetricians and gynecologists skilled in laparoscopic surgery," Yang said. Abdoulie Keita, head of the obstetrics and gynecology department at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, also attended short-term training at Shengjing Hospital, in 2019. Before that, he had no experience with laparoscopic surgery. "That experience was incredible," Keita recalled. "The Chinese doctors were highly skilled and shared their knowledge without reservation. From simulation labs to the operating room and clinical practice, they guided us step by step. We feel truly honored to have learned from them." Not long after returning to The Gambia, Keita was able to perform minimally invasive surgeries independently. "To date, I have completed nearly 200 laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures," he said. "I am deeply grateful to the Chinese doctors for their support." Yang Qing (2nd L), director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Cai Guiyang (2nd R, Front), a doctoral student of Yang's and leader of the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team in The Gambia, along with Kebba Gassama (1st L), an obstetrician-gynecologist at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, and Mariama Baye (1st R, Front), a nurse, perform a laparoscopic surgery in Banjul, The Gambia, on March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Yuan) Yang Qing (2nd L), director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Cai Guiyang (1st R), a doctoral student of Yang's and leader of the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team in The Gambia, along with Kebba Gassama (1st L), an obstetrician-gynecologist at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, and Mariama Baye (3rd L, Front), a nurse, perform a laparoscopic surgery in Banjul, The Gambia, on March 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Yuan) WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that he said would "begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all." This move, as local media described it, fulfilled decades of conservative ambition to get rid of the agency. Why do some want the department shut down? What would it mean for students? And can it actually be dismantled? Here's what we know. WHY DO SOME WANT IT GONE? Noting that the Education Department is "doing us no good," Trump said that he is going to "shut it down as quickly as possible." While local education departments primarily control how their schools are run, the federal department sets academic standards, guides schools through regulatory compliance, and interprets civil rights laws. Trump said that the order's goal was to "return our students to the states." Trump has long criticized the Education Department, arguing that despite significant federal investment in education, the quality of education has not met expectations, citing deficiencies in American students' skills in reading, math and other areas. He said schools could compete with European countries and China under a new system without the Education Department. Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, said the department has done little more than lining the pockets of bureaucrats and activists. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan said Thursday on social media that "Democrats want federal bureaucrats to control your child's school. Republicans want to give parents the choice to do what's best for their children." Additionally, Trump has accused the department of being filled with individuals holding left-wing ideologies, even describing it as a hotbed of "radicals, zealots and Marxists." Under the former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, the department was fiercely criticized as being overly deferential to teachers' unions and overreaching on certain issues, such as student loan forgiveness and its interpretations of civil rights laws on behalf of transgender students, according to The New York Times. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR STUDENTS? Among the Education Department's most significant functions is administering federal student aid programs, providing billions in grants, work-study funds and loans to more than 13 million students. The agency also oversees programs addressing special education, English-language acquisition and education for disadvantaged students. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said ahead of Thursday's signing that the order would move to "greatly minimize the agency," but certain "critical functions" like student loans and administering grants for at-risk students would remain under the agency's umbrella. Trump said those functions would be preserved but "redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them." However, polling shows that Trump's move is broadly unpopular. It was called an "unlawful decision" and a "betrayal to students, parents and educators" in a joint statement from Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Grace Meng and Education Task Force Chair Rep. Mark Takano. "The Trump administration is denying the next generation the resources they need to succeed in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires," the statement said. Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott called the executive order "reckless" and argued in a statement that it would put "low-income students, students of color, students with disabilities and rural students at risk." A Quinnipiac University survey conducted on March 6-10 found that 60 percent of registered voters opposed the plan. Just 1 percent of Democrats are in favor of the move, while 98 percent oppose it. CAN IT REALLY BE SHUT DOWN? No U.S. president has ever successfully closed a cabinet-level agency enshrined in law before. Scrapping the Educational Department, which was created in 1979, would require congressional approval. Abolishing it would face major obstacles from Democrats in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to overcome filibusters and advance measures to final votes. Republicans currently hold 53 seats. But Trump has already taken significant steps that have limited the agency's operations and authority. Nearly half of the Education Department's employees have been put on notice they could be laid off, local media reported. Trump said Thursday that the "reduction in force" was successful. Although Trump officials acknowledge they don't have the necessary votes to dissolve the department, it's suggested that Trump's order could still starve it of funds and staff. According to administration officials, Trump's executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure," which could include reorganizing certain functions, appointing a leadership aligned with the downsizing goal, and potentially returning specific authorities to states where federal law permits, The Guardian said. Weekslong lockups of European tourists at US borders spark fears of traveling to America JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces said Friday in a statement that its air force intercepted two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip towards Ashkelon, after air raid alerts were activated in the southern Israeli city. On Tuesday, Israels prime minister and indicted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to resume the bombardment of Gaza in a renewed offensive aimed at the systematic extermination or displacement of Gazas remaining Palestinian population. Some 400 Palestiniansnearly half of them childrenwere killed. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right leader of Jewish Power and former national security minister, has rejoined Netanyahus coalition government after resigning in protest over the January ceasefire. This ensures the smooth passage of the budget, opposed by some of Netanyahus ultra-orthodox partners, in a key vote later this month that would otherwise have precipitated early elections. Israeli far-right lawmaker and head of the Jewish Power party, Itamar Ben-Gvir, gestures after the first exit poll results for the Israeli Parliamentary election at his partys headquarters in Jerusalem. November 2, 2022. [AP Photo/Oren Ziv] The resumption of the war took place as the US continued its days-long bombing of Yemen, part of its wider campaign against Iran and ultimately China. Hours later, 40,000 Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv in one of the largest demonstrations for months. This was not centred on the resumption of a genocidal war but was planned earlier to oppose Netanyahus plan to fire Shin Bet domestic security chief Ronen Bar. Other rallies took place in Jerusalem and elsewhere, with further protests planned, including a long-term tent encampment outside the prime ministers official residence. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who joined Netanyahus security cabinet to prosecute the war on Gaza, and former prime minister and military chief Ehud Barak, joined the protests in Jerusalem Wednesday. The families of hostages held in Gaza held demonstrations protesting against how the resumption of fighting would make it more difficult to secure the release of the 59 remaining hostages, less than half of whom are thought to be alive. Protesters demand the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 18, 2025. [AP Photo/Ariel Schalit] The main rally in Tel Avivs Habima Square was organised by the group Protective Wall for Israela front for scores of former top officials from the military, police, the domestic and external intelligence services Shin Bet and Mossad. The focus of the rally was Netanyahu, with protesters chanting, The time has come to topple the dictator amid a sea of Israeli flags. One of the speakers was former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, who accused Netanyahu of being a coward, charlatan and liar and putting Israel on track to self-destruction. We wont forgive and wont forget the abandonment of the countrys defence, he added. You, the suspect Benjamin Netanyahu, pose a clear and present danger to the nations security. Once again, as in the nine-months-long protests against Netanyahus plans to neuter the judiciary and give his government unrestrained powers prior to October 7, the military and intelligence chiefs along with opposition leaderswho have all at some time served under Netanyahuare dominating over anti-war sentiment focused on the fate of the hostages, not the Palestinians. This opposition is politically centred on hostility to Netanyahus fascistic government as a threat to the Israeli state. The protest movement is not politically homogeneous. As they have progressed, many more placards have focused on calls for an end to the war on Gaza and the violence directed against them has been stepped up, with the police knocking Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats Party, to the ground and using water cannons to spray them with foul-smelling liquid. Significantly, one protester denounced opposition National Unity party leader Benny Gantz for joining Netanyahus coalition when he attempted to address Wednesday nights protest. Gantz later posted on X attacking an unrepresentative handful of arsonists who hate Netanyahu more than they love the country. He lambasted them for calling him a traitor, insisting that this handful of extremists are no less dangerous than the extremists on the other side, and I do not intend to surrender to them. Nevertheless, the protests are led by individuals and tendencies no less committed than Netanyahu to the Zionist project and Israels expansion at the Palestinians expense. They have nothing to say about Netanyahus total blockade of the enclave, preventing the entry of food, fuel and medication and shutting off Gazas electricity supply, that started earlier this month. They have issued no statements opposing the resumption of the war. They are all complicit in Netanyahus war crimes. Their fear is that the turn to open dictatorship and the domination of religious forces over everyday life will jeopardise the interests of Israels corporate and financial elite. They offer no alternative to the working class, both Jewish and Palestinian in Israel, and nothing whatsoever to the occupied territories. In essence, the difference between the two wings of the Israeli bourgeoisie rests upon which faction is best suited to defend Zionism. The infighting between Netanyahu and the military-security forces Netanyahus announcement of his intention to fire Ronen Bar and take control of Shin Bet along with his expected call for the dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has reignited bitter factional warfare. The military and intelligence chiefs and their political allies have condemned his attack on Israeli democracy while both sides blame each other for the failings that led to the October 7 Palestinian cross-border attack, despite the mounting evidence that they all knew that such an attack was in the offing and deliberately stood down their forces to provide the pretext for an all-out war of annihilation on the Palestinians. Control over Shin Bet would give Netanyahus fascistic government almost unlimited access to information about its critics and rivals, as well as the ability to conduct investigations under the pretext of state security. He is widely expected to choose a compliant replacement who will carry out his orders unquestioningly as he restarts the war in Gaza, escalates attacks on the Palestinians in the West Bank, carries out airstrikes against Syria and threatens Iran. In announcing his decision in a video statement on Sunday, Netanyahu said that ongoing distrust made it impossible for him to continue to work with Bar, who has led Shin Bet since 2021. It follows his sacking last November of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the forced resignation of IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzl Halevi earlier this month and the resignation of several other senior military commanders and officials in the wake of October 7. The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, hosting the outgoing head of the Shin Bet, Nadav Argaman, and the incoming head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, October 13, 2021. [Photo by Amos Ben Gershom / Government Press Office of Israel / CC BY-SA 3.0 Netanyahu has presented himself as the victim of the military and intelligence establishments failings leading up to October 7 and refused to set up a state commission of inquiry. He is accusing the judiciary and the intelligence services of orchestrating his ongoing corruption trial as part of a left-wing coup against him. While Bar had indicated he too would resign over October 7, his dismissal comes in the wake of a series of incidents that have set the agency in conflict with Netanyahu. A few days ago, Bar approved the opening of an inquiry into claims that three of Netanyahus closest aides or former aidesEli Feinstein, Israel Einhorn and Yonatan Urichhad leaked documents to the press (see also: Britains Jewish Chronicle exposed as propaganda outlet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) and received large sums of money from the Qatari government. Qatar has also handed over billions of dollars to Hamas as part of Netanyahus bid to erode the standing of President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Bars predecessor as Shin Bet chief, Nadav Argaman, who had opposed Netanyahus strengthen Hamas policy between 2014-2023, said in a television interview that he might reveal further accusations of wrongdoing by Netanyahu should he break the law. He, along with other Shin Bet chiefs, know a lot, said Argaman. If we think things we know jeopardize Israels security, we will use them according to the law. Argaman is now subject to a police investigation for criminal extortion. While Shin Bets internal investigation into October 7 largely accepted responsibility for its intelligence failings, it also highlighted Netanyahus policy of maintaining quiet in Gaza and Qatars funding of Hamas with Israels encouragement and the Trump administrations support in 2019. According to TV Channel 12, Shin Bets investigationwhose findings and conclusions were also based on Hamas documentation found in Gaza tunnels, and on interrogations of Hamas detaineesmakes clear that this policy was maintained despite multiple warnings issued by the Shin Bet to the prime minister [ahead of the Hamas invasion] that Israel was facing a disaster. It concluded that a thorough investigation of the nature of a state commission is needed. Bar attacked Netanyahu, saying that his expectation of a duty of personal loyalty, the purpose of which contradicts the public interest, is a fundamentally illegitimate expectation. He added, The duty of loyalty placed on the Shin Bet is first and foremost to Israeli citizens. This underlies all my actions and decisions. Some 151 former heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, department heads in both organisations and dozens of former IDF generals and officers signed a letter supporting Bar. Attorney-General Beharav-Miara, whose position is under threat from Netanyahu, has insisted that Bars dismissal might be tainted by illegality and conflict of interest and a complete inversion of justice, making it necessary to subject the decision to a judicial review that could end up going to Israels Supreme Court. Netanyahu rejected this, claiming in a statement posted on X that it is under his exclusive authority to fire the Shin Bet chief and by suggesting otherwise, she is engaging in dangerous heresy. Bars dismissal is subject to a flurry of legal injunctions by opposition figures. Yair Lapid, a former prime minister, claimed that Netanyahus firing of Bar was motivated by the investigation into Netanyahus aides ties with Qatar and called it a loss of composure and moral collapse. Yair Golan, chair of the Democrats Party formed out of a merger between the remnants of the Labour Party and Meretz, described Netanyahus decision as a declaration of war on the state of Israel. The greatest existential threat to Israel is not external but internal, and it is Netanyahu himself. Netanyahus response to the threat to his personal political position is to escalate Israeli aggression against the Palestinians to create the most right-wing climate possible and embolden his fascist supporters who have been among the loudest voices demanding the firing of Bar and Baharav-Miara. A new perspective is needed The political and constitutional crisis now engulfing Israel is not merely the product of Netanyahus desire to remain in power and somehow avoid imprisonment for corruption via war, as the opposition leaders claim. It is the inevitable outcome of the Zionist project that established the state of Israel in 1948 through the forcible expulsion and brutal suppression of the Palestinians. Such a state, based upon capitalism, was always incapable of developing a genuinely democratic society. It functions as a Middle East garrison for US imperialism, repeatedly at war with its Arab neighbours, in a state of perpetual war with the Palestinians and engaged in a covert war on Iran and its allies. It is dependent upon US military subventions and political and diplomatic support, without which it could not protect Washingtons interests in the resource-rich Middle East. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, September 27, 2024. Netanyahu brazenly held up maps depicting the entire Middle East as a cursed zone. His maps also showed Gaza and the West Bank as parts of Israel. [AP Photo/Richard Drew] Pursuing an expansionist Greater Israel policy, it rests ever more firmly on the right-wing settler population in the Occupied Territories. It has acute levels of social inequality, among the highest in the world42 Israelis were featured in Forbes World Billionaires list for 2024with a total wealth of $205 billion, up 7.8 percent on last years list. These are the conditions that have paved the way for Netanyahu and his fascistic government. As in the US, Europe and elsewhere, the turn by Israels ruling elite toward dictatorship and war is rooted fundamentally in the extreme growth of social inequality and the escalation of war that are the twin products of capitalism in its death agony. It will not be halted by substituting Israels opposition leaders for Netanyahuthey will do everything in their power to prevent any action that threatens the Zionist state. It can only be halted by unifying Palestinian and Jewish workers and developing the escalating class struggle and opposition to war throughout the world into a conscious political movement for socialism. US deportees being frog-marched into El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) [Photo: El Salvador Presidential Press Office] Following its invocation of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act on Saturday, claiming an invasion by a Venezuelan gang to justify mass deportations without any due process or legal recourse, the Trump administration is employing tactics reminiscent of the disappearances used by fascist military dictatorships in the last century. Hundreds of migrants are being dragged out of their homes, arrested while making routine appointments with US immigration authorities or intercepted in the street at all hours, often by plainclothes officials, and taken to unknown locations. Lawyers and relatives struggle to find their whereabouts as records are erased or falsified online. Some, accused on an entirely arbitrary basis of being terrorists or belonging to gangs, turn up in what are effectively concentration camps overseen by security forces with long records of torture, extrajudicial killings, and fascist repression. These actions, which can only be described as transnational fascism, are not taking place in Spain, Italy or Germany in the 1930s or under the CIAs Operation Condor that coordinated cross-border repression between Latin American dictatorships in the 1970s, but in North America in 2025. On Wednesday, Univision issued the alarming report that there is an ongoing frantic search among terrified families after hundreds of immigrants go missing from the ICE online locator. This includes at least 48 people picked up during a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids last week in New Mexico and put on a plane to an unknown destination. Many are feared among the estimated 300 Venezuelan and Salvadoran migrants who were immediately sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvadorthe largest prison in the Americasin defiance of a US federal court order challenging the use of the Alien Enemies Act and pausing the deportations. The Trump administration has not only refused the judges request to disclose additional information about the two deportation flights to El Salvador. On Monday night, ICE official Robert Cerna recognized in a sworn statement that many deported Venezuelans lacked criminal records, making the nonsensical argument that the lack of information on the deportees actually highlights the risk they pose. The fascistic President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, featured a propagandistic video of troops and police overseeing the manhandling and humiliation of the migrants as they arrived in what is a sprawling torture center. Bukele thanked the Trump administration for the fee of $6 million to house the migrants for a year and for the forced labor that will be extracted, claiming this will make the Salvadoran prison system self-sustainable. The United States also deported 23 alleged members of the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13, which was also declared a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. Ominously, Bukele said that getting his hands on these alleged members, including two ringleaders, would help us finalize intelligence gathering and go after the last remnants of MS-13. This can only mean interrogations and torture. Relatives and lawyers of Venezuelan deportees have gone to media outlets and social media to insist that those sent to CECOT have no affiliation with the Tren de Aragua gang, which the Trump administration accuses of an invasion of the United States. The Washington Post reported that four men were deported because of unrelated tattoos, including one commemorating the birth of a mans child. Experts cited by the corporate media have indicated that the Tren de Aragua does not have any tattoos that identify members. The Miami Herald cites three more cases, including that of a migrant who worked installing pipes after entering the United States legally by requesting asylum in December 2023. He was arrested in early February while taking the trash out, according to his pregnant wife. Lindsay Toczylowski, a lawyer for one of the Venezuelans sent to El Salvador, described the deportations as psychological warfare and the most shocking thing she has seen in her career. Her client is an LGBTQ+ artist and a very sweet [and] normal guy who fled repression in Venezuela and had passed a credible fear interview in applying for asylum, she explained. On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced Bukele for creating concentration camps and throwing good people in jail without trials, insisting that the detainees were arrested just for being Venezuelan migrants or having a tattoo. He cited the example of two men from the Venezuelan state of Zulia who turned themselves in to US authorities to be deported and were robbed of their goods and money, and sent to El Salvador. This is called fascism and Nazism, he said. While Maduro is partly seeking to save face after reaching a deal with the Trump administration to receive deportees and even sending planes to pick them up in Texas, this description of the CECOT prison and the Bukele regime is not hyperbole. Since launching an ongoing state of exception in 2022, suspending constitutional rights, Bukele has arrested 87,000 people, more than 1 percent of the population. Thousands were summarily detained and sentenced in mass trials. The human rights organization Cristosal has issued reports of hundreds of deaths of detainees from malnutrition, beatings and lack of medical treatment. An analysis of exhumed victims found signs of torture, leading to the conclusion that torture is a state policy under Bukele. The US State Departments own 2023 country report for El Salvador points to credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings; enforced disappearance; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary Conditions in the mega-prison are equivalent to torture. Inmates in overcrowded cells are allocated 0.6 square meters each. They sleep on cots that lack mattresses, sheets or pillows. Lights remain on 24/7 and guards constantly monitor cells destroying any sense of privacy. There is no contact with the outside world. Utensils for eating are prohibited, and water access is strictly regulated. As of mid-March, the Trump administration claims that all migrants detained in another overseas concentration camp in Guantanamo Bay, a US-occupied territory in Cuba, were relocated to Louisiana after it became clear that claims that the detainees were high-threat Tren de Aragua members were false. But US officials insist that the facility, which has long been a torture center, will eventually be used again to detain migrants. Beyond the CECOT and Guantanamo, the Trump administration has created a broad, extraterritorial detention and deportation network to places that human rights lawyers have called legal black holes, where migrant workers arrive in chains and, until recently, on military planes. The Trump administration reached deals with Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama to hold migrants indefinitely until their fates are decided. The Costa Rican ombudsman Angie Cruickshank denounced the mistreatment of Venezuelan migrants following the arrival of new deportees from the United States. She indicated that they have been sent to overcrowded modules without adequate meals, mattresses or bottled water, and are denied use of the internet or phones. Earlier this month, the Panamanian government liberated about 65 migrants from a detention center in the inhospitable Darien jungle, amid growing outrage caused by reports on their treatment. The migrants, mostly from Central Asia, were deprived of their phones and held in unsanitary conditions without legal counsel or information. These migrants were then thrown into the street and left in limbo without money or being able to speak Spanish. Aid groups identified at least three who needed medical attention because they were not given treatment or medicines. One migrant told the Associated Press that Panamanian armed guards cracked down violently on a protest, while a Chinese migrant carried out a hunger strike for a week. Within the United States, the Trump administration has reopened facilities for the detention of families with children for deportation. Numerous human rights reports have exposed these baby prisons which are run for profit, for inflicting trauma resulting from sexual and other forms of abuse and a failure to provide for basic needs. The move has raised fears among advocacy groups of a return of family separation and detention to the dog kennels without showers, beds or sufficient food that created a public outrage under the first Trump administration. Burned-out cars and homes lie in rubble on Alameda Street, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Altadena, California. [AP Photo/Chris Pizzello] Two months after the devastating fire that tore through Los Angeles, California, on January 7, claiming 29 lives and causing up to $275 billion in economic losses, alarming signs of corporate negligence and government complicity continue to emerge. As investigations unfold, the evidence increasingly points to electric utility Southern California Edison (SCE) management as a prime culprit. The utility giant had long-standing work orders for critical maintenance on power lines near Altadenawhere the Eaton fire ravaged entire neighborhoodsincluding vegetation clearance and repairs deemed an ignition risk, yet the company failed to act in time. Now, with the devastation of homes and communities still fresh, one must ask: Why is basic public safety still subordinated to corporate profits? As of December 31, SCE had 94 open work orders along three lines under suspicion for sparking the Eaton fire. Many of these orders carried a clear warning of ignition risk, meaning Edison had full knowledge of the potential for disaster yet chose inaction. Two of the implicated power lines were active, delivering electricity up until the moment of the fire. The third, the Mesa-Sylmar line, had been decommissioned since 1971, yet it is now under scrutiny as a possible ignition source. Last week, it was revealed that SCE was warned in 2022 that a partial emergency power shutdown could overload their transmission lines, increasing wildfire risk. Despite this, necessary upgrades were delayed repeatedly. Robert McCullough, a veteran energy analyst, confirmed that surges can lead to overloading and catastrophic failure of power lines. The 2022 study showed that by reconductoring the line and implementing improvements to substation terminal equipment, the plan, bearing the modest cost of $17 million and already approved by the California Independent System Operator, would have had a significant impact on reducing the risk of [Public Safety Power Shutoff] or wildfire event impact. Moreover, in June 2023, a Level 2 priority work order for vegetation clearance targeted a transmission tower near Altadena, where the fire may have started. Another Structure Brushing work order for the Eagle Rock-Mesa line was issued the same week. Despite being labeled Ignition Risks, both orders remained open past the six-month deadline. Experts have also pointed to the possibility that an idle power line could have become energized through electromagnetic induction, sparking the fire that consumed thousands of acres and displaced families. In a grotesque admission of their failure, SCE executives have scrambled to assure the public that they are conducting an internal investigation, all while maintaining that they had done everything possible to prevent such an event. The facts ultimately show, however, that SCE management allowed critical maintenance tasks to remain unaddressed, even in areas flagged for high wildfire risk. The work orders included the replacement of broken insulators, securing loose connectors, and repairing transmission towersall tasks directly related to preventing catastrophic failures. Fire safety scientist Vyto Babrauskas has pointed out that running electricity through old infrastructure without proper upkeep is a well-known fire hazard, making SCEs negligence all the more egregious. An electromagnetic field from the transmission line that is operating will basically cut through that dead line and induce a current in it, Babrauskas told the Los Angeles Times. Another expert, Ali Mehrizi-Sani, an electrical engineering researcher and director of Virginia Techs Power and Energy Center, was more explicit: It seems some high-risk lines had repair due dates quite far into the future. This raises the concern that SCE may have been negligent in following proper policies related to maintenance of their equipment before the Eaton fire. It would be a mistake to view Edisons failures in isolation. The political establishment of California, overwhelmingly led by Democrats, has long protected the profit interests of utility companies. Multimillionaire Governor Gavin Newsom, whose political career has been bankrolled by corporate donors, including energy giants like PG&E and SCE, has consistently prioritized these relationships over the safety of Californians. When it became clear PG&E was responsible for the devastating Camp Fire in 2018, which claimed 85 lives, Newsom quickly intervened to shield the company from the full consequences of its actions. He facilitated the passage of legislation that allowed PG&E to emerge from bankruptcy while saddling ratepayers with the cost of its liabilities. Rather than demanding stringent safety measures, Newsom and his allies ensured that corporate executives could continue reaping massive profits while the public bore the risks and consequences of their actions. Other top officials in California share this culpability. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), ostensibly tasked with regulating utilities, has repeatedly failed to hold these corporations accountable. Utility companies have successfully lobbied for regulatory exemptions, enabling them to defer maintenance and delay the removal of aging infrastructure under the guise of future potential use. This dereliction of duty has led to one preventable disaster after another, each more devastating than the last. A 2022 report by the state auditor found that state officials, including the CPUC, were not effectively ensuring that Californias electric utilities took adequate steps to prevent fires caused by their equipment. The report emphasized that the newly established Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety approved utility prevention plans without sufficient scrutiny, raising concerns about the effectiveness of regulatory oversight. In January 2024, the CPUC approved a settlement agreement penalizing PG&E $45 million for its involvement in the 2021 Dixie Fire, one of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California history. Such paltry penalties are insufficient compared to the extensive damages caused by these fires, and from the perspective of PG&E stockholders, they are considered modest operating expenses. The Eaton fire is the canary in the mine for a far deeper systemic failure. It is not simply a story of one companys negligence but a broader indictment of capitalisms inability to prioritize human needs over corporate profits. In a rational, socially planned system, the maintenance of critical infrastructure would not be left to the whims of for-profit corporations or ambitious pro-capitalist politicians. Fire prevention would not be relegated to backlogged work orders that remain open for years, while executives collect multi-million-dollar bonuses. Public utilities must be managed for the collective good, with proactive safety measures and investments in modernizing electrical grids. Furthermore, Californias worsening wildfires are exacerbated not just by corporate negligence but by the lack of comprehensive urban planning and fire prevention infrastructure. Decades of deregulation, driven by both Democratic and Republican administrations, have stripped away essential public services, leaving communities vulnerable to disaster. Capitalist-induced climate change, only heightens the risk, creating the perfect conditions for repeated devastation. The fascistic policies of the Trump administrations attack on science, social programs and regulations, combined with Democrats aligning with Trump instead of fighting him, heighten risks to public safety. Governor Newsoms recent interactions with Trump and his podcast interviews with far-right figures are a pathetic example of this trend. The Eaton fire illustrates that private ownership of essential infrastructure is incompatible with public safety. Corporate-run utilities prioritize profits over maintenance and fire prevention, endangering entire communities. A socialist model, where energy and infrastructure are publicly owned and worker-controlled, would focus on safety rather than shareholder returns. More broadly, socialism would redirect resources from corporate subsidies and the coffers of the ultra-rich to wildfire prevention, climate resilience and sustainable energy. Housing and infrastructure would prioritize safety and sustainability over corporate profits. Momodou Taal On Thursday, March 20, Momodou Taal and co-plaintiffs Mukoma Wa Ngugi and Sriram Parasurama filed a new emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Trump administration. The motion was filed in response to unidentified law enforcement stalking Taals place of residence in Ithaca, New York, an act of intimidation against the filing of a March 15 lawsuit challenging two executive orders that suppress free speech rights. Taal, a Cornell PhD student and British-Gambian citizen legally residing in the United States, has been targeted by the Trump administration for deportation due to his participation in pro-Palestinian protests at the university. His co-plaintiffs have also faced discipline from the university as part of the broader crackdown on free speech and student demonstrations against the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The lawsuit, filed on March 15, challenges Executive Order 14161, Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, and Executive Order 14188, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism. Both executive orders attempt to suppress any speech critical of the Trump administration, Israel and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The motion states that since the filing of the initial lawsuit, new evidence has emerged that Defendants are actively taking steps to detain Mr. Taal and initiate immigration proceedings against him, which poses a significant risk of depriving this Court of jurisdiction to address Mr. Taals constitutional claims. The imminent threat of enforcement actions, if not immediately restrained, will not only result in irreparable harm to Mr. Taals constitutional rights but also undermine the efficacy of this litigation by prematurely removing him from the jurisdiction of this Court. Mr. Taal is now in imminent danger of detention or deportation, causing irreparable harm that cannot be undone. The emotional distress, combined with the threat of enforcement action, constitutes an irreparable injury to his rights, and therefore, Plaintiff respectfully requests the issuance of a TRO to prevent further harm and preserve his due process rights until a full hearing can be held. In spite of the intimidation by law enforcement, later in the afternoon several hundred students and supporters attended a demonstration called just hours earlier in a strong show of support. The demonstration, held on the campus of Cornell University, was called by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation. Speakers included his attorneys Eric Lee and Chris Godshall-Bennett, Cornell AAUP President Risa Lieberwitz, and Sandra Babcock of Cornell Law School. Lee, immigration litigator and co-counsel for Taal, began addressing the demonstration by reading a statement from Taal: I wish I could be with you all in person but the situation has got to the point where it is no longer safe. However, your solidarity is a source of my strength. It is nothing short of tragic that expressing this basic wish [for an end to the genocide in Gaza] has become an act of treason according to the president; that affirming the simple humanity of the Palestinian people is mistranslated for the calling of the destruction of another. I encourage people to stand by their conscience, to keep speaking out, but more importantly to act. Remember: the point is to change the world. Free Palestine! After finishing Taals remarks, Lee told the crowd of demonstrators that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia student who was illegally detained and arrested for his involvement in anti-genocide protests and is currently being held in Louisiana, had been in touch earlier that day and also had a message to convey to the supporters. Lee read from Khalils message: What Im going through is nothing compared to what the people of Palestine have been going through. This is just the beginning in the attack on democracy. If they can go after me, they can go after youcitizens included. To the American people: it is time to stand up to defend our basic right to free speech before its too late. This is not a sign of strength on the part of the president, it is a sign of weakness and a testament to their fear of the opposition that exists in this country to their policies. He concluded Khalils remarks to applause. Lee then invited the demonstrators to attend the hearing, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 25, at 2:00 p.m. in Syracuse, New York. The first hearing on the lawsuit was scheduled to take place on March 19 before US District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe but was rescheduled until next week. Coombe ordered both parties to present their written arguments prior to Tuesdays hearing. Lee explained the issues at stake in the lawsuit: Our lawsuit is a challenge to the constitutionality of the two executive orders that Trump claims to have made law through executive fiat which illegalize all criticism of the United States government, its institutions and its culture by non-citizens, including those living here lawfully; and the second executive order which attacks all of youcitizens as wellby opening up everybody who criticizes the state of Israel to criminal prosecution. Theres nobody but you who will stand up to stop this. The Democratic Party has paved the way for these attacks on democratic rights. Not only are they doing nothing, but they are pledging to work with Trump. They have agreed to the budget, theyve dropped opposition to it, giving Trump his Enabling Act. We will be using every ounce of our power in the courts to make the best legal arguments that we can, but whats really going to resolve the situation is your actions. The purpose of these acts is to intimidate you and to make an example out of people like Momodou Taal and Mahmoud Khalil, but its incumbent on you to stand up and start fighting back against this. Godshall-Bennett, executive legal director for the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, also addressed the demonstration: I came out from DC to support Momodou and our plaintiffs and Eric in this historic litigation defending the very basic protections of the First Amendment that apply to all of us, no matter their citizenship, who are in the United States. Im compelled to mention that I am Jewish. Ive devoted my life, my career, to this work in solidarity with Palestine and in defense of Arab Americans and their allies. Its not lost on me that the excuse, the pretext being used to intimidate and to incarcerate people like Momodou and Mahmoud, is my safety; and its a notion I reject fundamentally. Im sure there are other Jews in this crowd who agree. Its incumbent on us to continue to stand up and say: not in our name. Im very proud to be with you as the stakes could not be higher. Godshall-Bennett then described how an unidentified law enforcement agency staked out Taals residence. This is a naked attempt at intimidation, he continued. It is a complete and utter aberration from what youd expect to be the norm when someone asserts their rights in federal court. Under Biden, Taal was threatened with suspension and revocation of his F-1 student visa last year for participating in peaceful protests against the genocide. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Asia India: Bank workers plan nationwide strike over pay and conditions The United Federation of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella of nine bank unions, has called for a two-day nation-wide strike of workers from public sector banks, private, foreign, co-op and regional banks for March 24. The UFBU, which covers about 900,000 Indian bank workers, called the strike after talks with the Indian Banks Association failed to improve pay and conditions. The unions have put forward 12 demands. These include increased recruitment to reduce unreasonable workloads, permanent jobs for temporary workers and a five-day week. They also want performance incentives repealed, improved workplace safety, proper tax-free gratuity and other demands. Striking ASHA workers in Kerala joined by protesting Anganwadi employees Around 26,000 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers are maintaining a strike they began on February 10 over poverty wages and poor conditions. They began protesting outside the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat on March 8 to mark International Womens Day and tried to blockade the Secretariat on March 17. On Thursday, they started a protest hunger strike. Workers want their monthly wage increased from a meagre 7,000 rupees ($US80) to about 21,000 rupees, a 5,000-rupee pension, and withdrawal of the compulsory retirement age of 62. Workers complained that they only receive 4,000 to 5,000 rupees of the current monthly pay. Two weeks ago, the health minister claimed ASHA workers were highly paid compared to their co-workers in other states and threatened to replace them with new recruits if they did not end the strike. While this struggle has gained wide public support, the union leadership has isolated the ASHA workers in Kerala and their protest outside the Secretariat, determined to prevent a political challenge to the Kerala state government and ultimately the BJP-led government in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Kerala Anganwadi (rural childcare centre) workers began protesting on March 17 outside the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat, alongside ASHA strikers. They were demanding higher pay, a 5,000-rupee festival benefit, quality food for children, a decent smart phone for communications, wages in single payments, Employee State Insurance and expansion of the welfare boards operations. The Anganwadi protest was organised by the Indian National Anganwadi Employees Federation, which is affiliated to the Congress Partys Indian Trade Union Congress. The union leadership have kept the disputes separate and have not voiced any kind of solidarity with ASHA workers. ASHA workers also protested in Bellampally, Telangana state on March 17 for higher pay, followed by their counterparts in Haveri, Karnataka state on March 18. Pakistani textile workers strike over delayed salary and bonus payments Artistic April and Majid textile factory workers in Karachi stopped work and protested against non-payment of salaries and bonuses for two months on March 10. Management called rangers and police who violently attacked the striking workers. Workers were forced to end the protest after management threatened them with serious consequences. Bangladeshi garment workers continue protests in Gazipur From March 14 to 18, workers demonstrated from over a dozen garment factories in Gazipur. They presented multiple demands, including payment of wage arrears, overtime pay, night shift allowances, annual bonuses, and payment for Eid bonuses and extension of Eid holidays. They demanded maternity-leave benefits and the resignation of factory officials. At least 12 factories closed fearing spread of the protests. On March 14, around 300 garment workers from SMUG Sweater in Telipara area protested with 14 demands, including payment of Eid bonuses, overtime pay, night shift allowances, maternity leave benefits, and annual bonuses. They demanded the resignation of the general manager of the factory. Workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipurs Basan area until Gazipur industrial police forced them to end the protest. One worker said, Our factory employs about 300 workers, but we never receive our salaries on time. Last months wages remain unpaid, and some workers are owed two months arrears. The management keeps delaying payments, forcing us to take to the streets, the worker said. On Tuesday, workers from the Giant Textile factory in Baniarchala stopped work to demand a 12-day Eid break and resignation of the factorys general manager. Bangladeshi food manufacturing workers demand unpaid wages Workers from food manufacturing company Fu-wang Foods blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway to demand the payment of three months wage arrears and bonuses. Industrial police and the army were deployed to disperse the workers. The workers lifted the blockade after assurance from the factory authorities to fulfil their demands. Bangladesh Railway workers demand unpaid wages Hundreds of Bangladesh Railway temporary workers (TLR) called off their strike on Monday following an assurance from the Ministry of Railways that their wage arrears would be paid by March 23. Workers also demanded reinstatement of 109 temporary workers who had been dismissed in Syedpur and permanent jobs for long-serving workers. The workers began their demonstration on Monday morning outside Rail Bhaban on Abdul Gani Road. They also protested at Kamalapur Railway Station. One worker said, TLR workers have not been paid for five months. Its become very difficult to provide for our families like this. Sri Lankan postal workers strike over high workloads Postal services across the country were paralysed on Sunday and Monday when thousands of members of the Postal and Telecommunications Officers Association and the Joint Postal Trade Union went on strike. They had several issues, including the failure to fill Postal Department vacancies. Workers said there have been 7,500 unfilled jobs in the Postal Department since 2018, causing excessive workloads. Sri Lankan plantation workers protest exploitation Hundreds of tea and rubber plantation sector workers belonging to the Ceylon Workers Red Flag Union of Sri Lanka protested on Tuesday outside the Hulftsdorp court complex in Colombo. They were protesting the growing trend by companies to use the informal labour system to slash production costs. Workers carried placards in Sinhala, Tamil and English saying, We deserve rights not informal jobs, We wont be cheated by company profit drive lies, and No profit at our expenses, stop exploiting workers. Australia BAE shipyard workers in South Australia walk out again for pay rise Over 500 workers from British multinational BAE Systems naval shipyard at Osborn in Adelaide walked off the job at 10 a.m. on Monday to demand industry standard pay rates. The strikethe third in the last monthcoincided with an all-hands meeting called by BAE management in response to the long-running pay dispute. The workers are covered by three unions, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Australian Workers Union (AWU) and the Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU). The unions have allowed negotiations for a new enterprise agreement to drag on since July last year. In September, workers rejected BAEs proposed enterprise agreement, which included a pay increase of only 9.75 percent over three years. The pay rise offer has since been increased to 12 percent over three years. Workers want a 30 percent wage increase on average over three years to keep them in line with industry rates. The unions claim their BAE members are paid on average 20 percent less than other workers with the same skills in the same industry. Their last pay increase in 2023, negotiated by the unions, was only 2 percent when the consumer price index rate was over 6 percent. Healthscope nurses in New South Wales resume industrial action Healthscope nurses and midwives from the Newcastle Private Hospital, north of Sydney, walked out on Thursday and imposed a 26-hour overtime ban. It was the first action since a 26-hour strike planned for February 21 by the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) at eight Healthscope hospitals in NSW was suspended by the Fair Work Commission on questionable safety grounds. Negotiations with the Canadian-based health provider for a new agreement have been ongoing since May. NSWNMA members struck in November and December at several hospitals after they rejected Healthscopes pay increase offer of just 13.55 percent over three years. The NSWNMA claims that nurses and midwives at Healthscope hospitals in NSW are paid 16 percent less than their colleagues in Queensland-based Healthscope hospitals. They also receive less annual, maternity and personal leave than if they were working in public sector hospitals. Nurses and midwives are calling for an immediate 15 percent pay rise in line with the unions public sector pay claim, mandated nurse/midwife to patient ratios across all wards and units, night shift penalty rates increased from 15 percent to 30 percent and improved leave entitlements. Healthscope is Australias second-largest private hospital group with 38 hospitals across every state and territory. Noosa council workers in Queensland strike for better pay Over 150 workers from the Noosa Shire Council, in southeast Queensland, walked off the job on Wednesday morning and marched through Tewantin township and rallied outside the council building in Tewantin. The Services Union (TSU) and Australian Workers Union (AWU) members want an improved pay offer in the councils proposed enterprise agreement. The negotiations, which began in October, reached deadlock after workers rejected annual increases of 6.5 percent, 3.5 percent and 3.5 percent in the three-year agreement. The TSU is seeking increases of 9.5 percent from February 2025 and 4.5 percent or consumer price index (CPI) (whichever is greater) in each of the last two years of the agreement. Noosa is a popular tourist area with its high cost of housing and rentals forcing many to move outside the area. Noosa Shire Council is not budging on its offer and has made submissions to the Industrial Relations Commission to have the dispute mediated in the commission. Allied health workers at Wagga Wagga Hospital protest for better wages and conditions About 170 allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, psychologists, radiation therapists, pharmacists, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, radiologists and sexual assault workers, walked off the job and demonstrated for an hour outside the Wagga Wagga Hospital in southwest New South Wales on Wednesday. Workers protested against the low Award wage rates and the deteriorating workforce retention rates impacting their ability to provide patient care. According to the Health Services Union, negotiations with the state Labor government for new Allied Health Awards are scheduled to commence in April for the first time in 15 years. The start of the negotiations will coincide with the release of the Special Commission of Inquiry outlining the urgent reforms needed in the Allied Health Awards. Tasmanias Metro bus drivers protest against passenger violence and privatisation On Wednesday, bus drivers from state-owned Metro Tasmania protested outside the entities business office against the rundown of the commuter service and the Liberal state governments plans to privatise the wholly-owned government enterprise. The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) allege that chronic underfunding of Metro Tasmania is aimed at preparing the public service for privatisation. Workers say the governments cost cutting has led to chronic driver shortages, unreliable services and a failure to deliver promised safety and technological improvements. The RTBU is demanding increased funding and implementation of driver safety reforms the government committed to two years ago, including transit officers and safety screens. Drivers reported eight assaults in the past week with one assault resulting in hospitalisation of the driver. The RTBU has said Metro Tasmania bus drivers, starting Saturday, will not collect fares from passengers on the Hobart network. Denver rally against school cuts on March 20, 2025 [Photo: Colorado Education Association] On Thursday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing US Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education (ED) and return authority over education to the States and local communities. Titled, in typical Orwellian fashion, Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities, the executive order claims that shuttering the 45-year-old department would allow children and families to escape a system that is failing them. With rows of small children seated at school desks staged as props beside him, Trump emphasized, My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. Were going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. Its doing us no good. He added that it would be great, pointing to Texas and Florida schools and suggesting the costs would probably be half. He professed his love for educators and called for the expansion of merit pay, a scheme that undermines teacher salaries and punishes them for the impact of decades of public school defunding. Referring to the $1.6 trillion in student loans currently overseen by the ED, Trump urged it to exit all bank functions. Ending federal subsidies for student loans would deprive countless young people of the ability to attend college. The administration claimed that the EDs core functions would remain, citing Pell Grants, Title I aid for low-income schools and special education. However, Trump has previously called for ending the entitlement status of Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and transforming them into block grants, whose funding is easy to cut. Additionally, he failed to mention his plan for universal vouchers to carry out the mass privatization of schools. Trump is seeking to reverse the historic gains of the fight for universal, high-quality public education, the product of 250 years of struggle in the US. This is an attack not just on current students and their families but on the collective knowledge, culture and scientific achievements of the whole society. The money-mad American oligarchy is wielding a wrecking ball to dismantle public education. If it is not stopped, the outcome will be a vast expansion of the class divide, where the working class receives only a minimal, work-oriented education while the financial elite purchases the finest education available. Workers and young people will not accept this lying down. Polling shows that two-thirds of Americans oppose closing the department. Educators have staged protests over the past five weeks throughout the US opposing the shutdown and many more against the ongoing cuts to school districts across the country. No modern president has ever tried to unilaterally shut down a department, and no cabinet-level department has been abolished since the Post Office Department was replaced with the United States Postal Service by Richard Nixon in 1971, setting that agency up for the current privatization efforts by Trump. Trump lyingly claims that he is speaking for millions of parents who are supposedly clamoring for education to be run by the states. The reality is that he represents a filthy rich oligarchy that wants to privatize education and transfer billions from public coffers to edubusinesses and Wall Street. A significant element of this attack stems from the well-placed fear by the oligarchy of the masses of working people. They aim to use the attacks on public education to stifle critical thought in the working class and attempt to browbeat youth with right-wing patriotism, racism, xenophobia, religion and anti-scientific drivel. The Democratic Party, a party of Wall Street alongside the Republicans, downplayed the existential nature of the attack. The top Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, issued a statement describing the order as dangerous and illegal and citing the disparities affecting low-income students, students of color, and those with disabilities. Expressing the Democratic Partys policy of complete subservience to these attacks, he registered disappointment in McMahon and urged his Republican colleagues to hold the president and Elon Musk accountable. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten evinced similar complacency. See you in court, she said, and reiterated that only Congress can lawfully close the Department. Despite Linda McMahons promise to assist Trump in closing the ED from the beginning, Weingarten and National Education Association President Becky Pringle assured her of their intention to find common ground. As Trump signed the executive order, Weingarten was in Chicago collaborating with Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teachers union lobbyist, to block a strike by 25,000 educators in the nations third-largest school district. At a press conference outside of the Chicago Board of Education, Weingarten admitted that some $100 billion in federal funding would be effectively abolished from schools, and that the diversion of this money to the states would go to those like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who would voucherize and privatize their schools. During the press conference, a WSWS reporter asked Weingarten, given the existential threat to public education and the fact that any contract signed in Chicago would not protect educators and students from massive budget cuts, Why isnt your union and the NEA (National Education Association) calling a strike of Chicago and all national educators to stop this threat? And isnt preventing a strike just emboldening Trump to carry out this attack? The AFT president, a member of the Democratic National Committee, replied, What we are doing is fighting in the courts. The court of public opinion. Were fighting in Congress. She added, There may be a time when there will be a national strike in America, before saying the most important thing right now was getting a contract signed in Chicago. In other words, the AFT bureaucracy was working to prevent a strike that could become the catalyst of a national movement to defend public education. While the Democrats and the Democratic Party-aligned unions are preaching legal remedies and blocking mass protests, Trump is openly defying the law. This was underscored by his refusal to obey a federal court order over illegal deportations this week. Jamal Green, a law professor at Columbia University, described this as dictatorial power, adding that the words constitutional crisis fail to capture the gravity of the situation. Furthermore, the dismantling of the Department of Education is already taking place in plain view, with or without a formal dissolution by Congress. Two thousand out of the 4,200-employee workforce have already been laid off, with multiple ED functions eliminated or rendered ineffective. For example, this week the ED stopped accepting income-driven student loan repayments and removed the application from its website (prompting an AFT lawsuit.) While the agency is on life-support, Trumps congressional supporters are moving to deliver the legal coup de grace to the Cabinet-level department as soon as practicable. Last month, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky re-introduced his bill to abolish the ED by December 2026. Funding cuts are underway. The recently enacted Republican-drafted continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government until September 30, which only passed thanks to Democratic support in the Senate, cut education by $290 million. This may just be the beginning, as Trump has already withheld congressionally appropriated funds. Educators fear that programs not explicitly funded under the CR will go, including Title II grants for improvement and professional development, $2.2 billion; migrant education grants, $376 million; magnet school grants, $139 million; and McKinney-Vento Homeless Act grants, $129 million. Over the past month, the Department of Education has already been gutted. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has lost over 40 percent of its workforce. Six regional officesBoston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, Philadelphia and San Franciscohave been shuttered. In fiscal year 2024, parents and students petitioned the OCR for help with 22,687 complaints, approximately half of which were fighting for legally mandated disability services. Michael Pillera, a senior civil rights attorney at OCR, said, Many parents and students are going to go without access to education, go without responses from OCR at all. The remaining OCR employees are being redirected to Trumps ideological witch-hunts against antisemitism and discrimination against white students. The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the departments research division, has lost at least 62 percent of its staff. IES has played a crucial role in promoting evidence-based instructional methods, including much of the research that supports the science of reading movement. These reductions have also hollowed out the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the National Center for Education Research. Data crucial for shaping educational policy and research is being compromised, potentially eliminating any objective measure of student achievement nationwide. It also threatens the accuracy of data collection regarding poverty, teacher shortages and student absenteeism. The decline in NCES data is likely to lead to a decrease in federal funding for rural schools, especially for child nutrition and mental health services. Rural schools account for about 20 percent of K-12 schools and rely heavily on federal assistance. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, responsible for distributing grants for special education services and monitoring state compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has been cut. Thirty states and the District of Columbia were already out of compliance with federal disability law as of June 2024. The Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) is nearly eliminated. This office mandated compliance with the Supreme Courts 1974 Lau v. Nichols decision, which guarantees English learners the right to English language instruction and administers Title III grants for supplemental services for the nations 5.3 million English learners. The Office of Education Technology was also eliminated. It assisted states and districts in implementing technology, including artificial intelligence. It is the working class that must intervene to stop these attacks. On March 15, the Educators Rank-and-File Committee held a powerful meeting of nearly 200, including teachers across the US and from Brazil, Sri Lanka, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Opposing the toothless measures of petitions, social media campaigns of the trade union apparatus, it called for mass action through independent rank-and-file committees in schools, workplaces and communities to prepare for strikes and collective resistance. Opposition to these attacks, as well as the Trump administrations rampage across agencies, freezing grants, removing databases, imposing censorship, and imposing mass layoffs, is growing. We urge all supporters of the fight for public education to get involved today in the Educators Rank-and-File Committee. IYSSE meeting in defense of Mahmoud Khalil in New York City, March 14, 2025 Last Friday, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) held a public meeting in New York City to oppose the state kidnapping of pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil on March 8, which was carried out by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the orders of the Trump administration. The meeting, titled Free Mahmoud Khalil! Mobilize the Working Class Against Trumps Dictatorship, was attended by workers from various industries and students and staff from schools across the city. Attendees were broadly opposed to the illegal detention of Khalil, Trumps moves to establish a fascist dictatorship in the United States and the collaboration of the Democratic Party with Trump. Fridays meeting was chaired and introduced by a leading member of the IYSSE in New York, Karsten Schneider, who explained that the IYSSE takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and thanked attendees who chose to wear masks. Masks were distributed at the meetings check-in table and all but two or three attendees wore them. Tim Avery, another leading member of the IYSSE and a writer for the World Socialist Web Site, delivered the meetings main political report. Avery reviewed the details of Khalils detention and placed it within the broader context of the escalating drive by the Trump administration to establish a dictatorship in the US. The report explained that Khalils detention is entirely illegal. Khalil has not been charged with any crime, Avery noted. Instead, according to a court document issued by the Department of Homeland Security, Republican Secretary of State Marco Rubio has determined that [Khalils] presence in the United States would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. He continued, Khalils presence is only a threat to the foreign policy of the United States insofar as he has exercised, as Im sure many of you in this room have, his First Amendment right to protest the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza, which studies estimate has killed upwards of 186,000 people, mostly women and children. The report placed Khalils detention in the broader context of the Trump administrations moves toward presidential dictatorship, emphasizing that Trump has not come out of nothing. As the WSWS wrote, Trump's presidency represents the violent realignment of the American state to correspond to the oligarchic character of American capitalism. Avery called on attendees to turn to the working class to free Khalil and halt Trumps plans for dictatorship. He explained that the working class, which is being driven into struggle against the attacks on its living standards, jobs and social rights, is the revolutionary social force in capitalist society, but it needs independent organizations, rank and file committees, to realize its revolutionary potential. The report sharply exposed the treacherous role of the Democratic Party. Avery explained that the Democratic Party is incapable of opposing Trump because it is as much a party of Wall Street and the financial oligarchy as the fascist Republicans. He added that this is no less true of all the pseudo-left champions of the Democratic Party, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Following the report, which received warm applause from the audience, the majority of attendees remained for the hour-long question and answer period. One attendee asked about the IYSSEs position on building coalitions of the left with organizations like the DSA. Avery and Schneider responded that the IYSSE is open to collaboration with all those who agree with the fundamental political principle of the necessity of independently mobilizing the international working class against capitalism and for socialism, but that the DSA is the pseudo-left arm of the Democratic Party, specifically representing privileged sections of the middle class and working to corral workers and youth opposed to present conditions behind the Democratic Party and its policies of war. Avery stressed that, fundamentally, the Trotskyist movement is not concerned with the size of the movement, but with how to prepare the revolutionary political vanguard of the working class for the mass movement that is coming. Schneider explained that the IYSSE and Socialist Equality Party (SEP) fight for the unity of the working class across all attempts to divide it based on nationality, skin color, gender, religion and other artificial factors of identity. He further explained that all political tendencies and organizations have specific class origins and orientations, which emerge through an understanding of an organizations history and political program. Rank-and-file members of pseudo-left organizations turning to the IYSSE on the basis of fundamental political programmatic agreement is entirely different from mixing political banners with the organizations of the middle class, Schneider explained. Emma Arceneaux, a leading member of the IYSSE in the US, briefly explained that one of the main tasks of the IYSSE is to help youth and students to politically evaluate the class orientation of various organizations and tendencies. She continued, Individual politicians and political organizations can say about themselves whatever they want to say, but we have to look at their actual record and history and development in order to evaluate them. Youth and students require a clear Trotskyist political program and perspective. As Lenin said, there is bourgeois ideology and socialist ideology, there is no middle ground. Several speakers emphasized that in regard to political program, there can be no compromise with the pseudo-left organizations. The lessons of the past 17 months of protests against the genocide in Gaza were discussed in detail, specifically the middle-class protest politics of the organizations presently leading the protests versus the Trotskyist call for this movement to be based on the developing opposition in the working class. Bill Van Auken, the Latin American editor of the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) and a member of the National Committee of the Socialist Equality Party in the US, raised that the meeting took place on the fiftieth anniversary of the US withdrawal from Vietnam. He explained that a whole generation had been radicalized by that war and within the anti-war movement there were various political tendencies. On the one hand, the most prominent, radical tendencies advocated for mass protests to appeal to Congress and the Democratic Party. Others, the Maoists in particular, sought paramilitary options, including bombings and bank robberies. Both sides of the middle-class left ended up bankrupt and solidly in the corner of the bourgeoisie. Van Auken stressed that the Trotskyist movement alone advocated for a turn to the working class in opposing the war and that this political perspective and program remains the only option in opposing the developing third world war and fascist dictatorship. A construction worker noted the low level of political consciousness among many of his colleagues who do not understand the connection between the assault on living standards and working conditions and the escalation of imperialist war, genocide and fascist dictatorship. He asked how the consciousness of workers can be raised to meet the demands of the present situation and recommendation for resources to aid in this task. Avery and Schneider stressed that the task of educating workers, raising the political consciousness of the working class, is the central task of the socialist, Trotskyist movement. Speakers pointed to the WSWS as the most important resource of the working class in the development of socialist consciousness. The WSWS does not simply publish news on global events, but provides a political orientation for the growing ranks of working people and youth around the world thrown into struggle. The speakers emphasized the necessity of taking up a serious study of the history and political heritage of the Trotskyist movement in order to understand the great historical and political tasks confronting the working class as the international revolutionary social force today. Several attendees asked about next steps and how to move forward following the meeting. Avery and others spoke to the need to form rank-and-file committees, part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), in factories, workplaces and schools to free Khalil, stop the assault on democratic rights, mass deportations, inequality, genocide and war. Above all, workers and young people should join the IYSSE and SEP and study the works of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky as part of an active struggle for socialism in the working class. ICE Denver released this photo showing mother and grandmother Jeanette Vizguerra handcuffed and in chains after being arrested in Aurora, Colorado Target parking lot while on break. On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) goons arrested and imprisoned Jeanette Vizguerra, 53, a mother of four and grandmother who has lived in the United States for 30 years. ICE agents confirmed to local news that Vizguerra was arrested in the parking lot of a Target in Aurora, Colorado, where she had been working as a cashier. According to multiple reports and her children, Vizguerra is currently incarcerated in an ICE Aurora detention facility. In an interview with CNN, Luna Baez, one of Vizguerras children, told the network her mother noticed unmarked vehicles following her the past few days while she was driving to and from work and on her breaks. Baez recounted that her mother told her that ICE agents surrounded her on all sides of her car while she was on break. After taking her out of the car she was put in a truck, the whole time she told me they were laughing at her. Speaking to the New York Times, Jordan Garcia, an acquaintance of Vizguerra for 15 years and an immigrant-rights advocate with the American Friends Service Committee, confirmed to the paper she was arrested at Target and that agents gloated after locking her up, We finally got you. In a fascistic post on Wednesday, ICE Denver released a photo of Vizguerra wrapped in chains with an inciting statement that smeared Vizguerra as a convicted criminal alien who will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States. Following her arrest, Vizguerras children and supporters in the community have held daily rallies and protest outside the detention facility where she is incarcerated. Vizguerras arrest, detention and possible deportation underscore that Trumps racist and dehumanizing attacks on immigrants have nothing to do with public safety but are aimed at intimidating and suppressing the democratic rights of everyone. Vizguerra is not a violent criminal, and, in fact, was named one of Time magazines 100 Most Influential people in 2017 for her outspoken advocacy of immigrant rights. She first came to the United States from Mexico in 1997 with her husband and eldest daughter. In 2009, Vizguerra was cited for minor crimes related to being undocumented, including using a fake Social Security number. For the next several years, Vizguerra appealed deportation orders and attempted to apply for citizenship. In 2017 she gained international fame after she and her children were obligated to take sanctuary in the basement of the First Unitarian Church in Denver to avoid deportation under Trump. Vizguerra and her three American children spent three years living in the church. In a statement to Denvers NBC9News, First Unitarian Church Reverend Mike Morran, denounced Vizguerras detention, This administration has shown that they dont care about legalities, Morran said. It's quite obvious to me that the object of this kind of exercise is to generate fear. To keep people quiet. To keep people who might speak out against injustices or insist on due process make them unwilling to do that. While remaining mostly silent on the abduction of anti-genocide activist and Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, as well as thousands of others who have been kidnapped by the Trump administration in the last 60 days, a few Colorado Democrats have released tepid statements opposing Vizguerras arrest. On March 18, Senator Michael Bennet posted on X, Jeanette Vizguerra is a mother and pillar in her community. I am deeply concerned about ICE's actions to detain her without any due process, like a deportation order. ICE should ensure Jeanette has legal counsel and immediately release her. That same day, Denvers Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston released a statement characterizing Vizguerras arrest as a Putin-style persecution of political dissidents. While the Democrats seek to divert mass social anger in service of war against Russia, the fact that Vizguerra is currently incarcerated and facing deportation is entirely the fault of the Democratic Party. In 2021, after years of fighting against deportation orders, the Biden administration granted Vizguerra and four other Colorado immigrants only a one-year stay on their deportation orders but refused to grant any of them citizenship or permanent legal status. Instead, throughout the Biden administration, the Democrats and Republicans attempted to pass legislation that would provide some $20 billion to greatly expand the border police apparatus. The border bill, was proposed and backed by Democrats as way to secure Republican support for military spending, including funding the US-NATO war against Russia, the genocide in Gaza, and arming Taiwan in preparation for war with China. The Democrat-backed bill provided funding for more immigrant prison camps and border police but no pathway to citizenship or amnesty for undocumented persons currently living in the US. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly stated their support for the legislation and attacked Trump from the right for his role in quashing the bill. Near the end of his presidency, while Biden found the time to pardon his family members and political allies on his way out the door, he did nothing to protect millions of immigrants including Dreamers who arrived to the US as children, and people like Vizguerra who have lived in the US a majority of their life. Instead, prior to Trumps inauguration, Democrats in the Senate and House voted with their MAGA-colleagues to pass the fascistic Laken Riley Act. The anti-immigrant legislation greatly empowers state attorneys general, granting them standing to challenge federal immigration policy, including on an individual basis. The bill also requires no-bond detention of immigrants who have simply been accused of a petty crime, such a shoplifting. According to the latest statistics from the Department of Homeland Security, immigrant detention facilities are currently at 120 percent capacity, with over 43,000 people, including now Vizguerra, languishing in a network of mostly for-profit private prisons. BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- In the first week after opening his car wash in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province in late 2023, Ji Hui regretted the decision to start a business that employs people with Down syndrome. "I felt like I had opened an outlet just for myself," said Ji, a former professional weightlifter, who is in his 20s. He ended up cleaning cars all by himself for a whole week. The idea to open a car wash for people with intellectual disabilities resulted from an unplanned visit to a special education school in Nantong with a friend. It was during this visit that Ji met a group of students with Down syndrome. He learned that the students had received some kind of car washing training at school, but the chance for them to secure regular employment would be very slim due to the syndrome. "So I figured it would be good to open a small outlet to give these students something to do," Ji recalled. Ji, who has a stable income thanks to his other initiatives, thus opted to open a car wash, which he named Xibao'er. After the difficult first week of operation, Ji decided to use his own car as a tool to teach the employees how to work effectively, guiding them step by step and multiple times a day. At the start of operations, some employees did not even know how to hold a towel. "Now they each have their own tasks and responsibilities, and everyone is doing an excellent job," Ji said, highlighting the significant progress made by his staff. Just over a year later, Ji had the confidence to open a second Xibao'er car wash outlet -- with his total number of employees increasing from single digits to more than 10. Ji said that by working very closely with his employees, he had truly come to understand people with special needs, while witnessing with his own eyes how they had improved little by little. "It's not that they can never learn -- on the contrary, they can learn to do things well," he explained. Friday marks the World Down Syndrome Day. According to the United Nations, the estimated incidence of Down syndrome ranges from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. An official report released in 2012 estimated that 23,000 to 25,000 children were born with Down syndrome in China every year. In recent years, more attention has been paid to the improvement of the employment prospects and social adaptation of people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities in China, whose employment rate in the country could be less than 5 percent, as suggested by some statistics. Notably, in China's five-year plan for enhancing the well-being of people with disabilities released in 2021, the government emphasized the need to create more opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to work near their homes, receive vocational rehabilitation and achieve social integration. Experts, meanwhile, have called for more coordinated efforts between the government, social organizations, enterprises and individuals who are willing to help, in providing stable job opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. According to Liao Juan, an associate professor at the School of Management of the Beijing-based Capital Normal University, money spent on training and other support costs can lead to successful employment, thus resulting in long-term benefits for people with intellectual disabilities. She noted that regular employment can enhance the social participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities, help them break free from isolation, reduce the amount of time needed for daily caregiving by their family members, and even lower broader social costs that are shared by society. While many people with intellectual disabilities in China have engaged in handicraft production as their form of employment, more individuals and social organizations, just like Ji, have turned to the service sector to create increased opportunities for such people -- enabling them to work outside their homes and giving them more chances to interact with others. Located in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xiaobo Yaohong is a Chinese dumpling restaurant that employs individuals with Down syndrome, and has been operated by 55-year-old Hong Bo since 2023. Hong, who has worked in the food industry for years, opened the restaurant partly due to his previous experience of eight months of blindness caused by diabetes. To train individuals with Down syndrome to become qualified employees, Hong personally designed training programs and compiled instructional materials -- ranging from how to greet customers, to how to cook dumplings. Having started with a first batch of just six employees, Xiaobo Yaohong Dumpling House has now grown to several franchised outlets and has provided training to around 80 individuals with Down syndrome. Moreover, many volunteers, including university professors and psychological experts, have also joined this effort -- working together to improve training and employment programs. Bai Ye, honorary chairperson of the association for people with intellectual disabilities and their families of Inner Mongolia, believes that working outside the home is part of the lifelong rehabilitation needed for people with intellectual disabilities. Bai, whose son was born with Down syndrome, said some individuals with intellectual disabilities are actually reluctant to stay at home after graduating from special schools. Staying at home in the long term could lead to deterioration of their intellectual and overall abilities. "For them, working is also a process of rehabilitation," she said. Ji Hui echoed the significant impact of working outside the home on his employees. He said the most noticeable transformation was witnessed in an employee nicknamed Chubby. According to this employee's mother, she and Chubby had exchanged very few words over the 20 years before he started working at the car wash -- as he was afraid to talk to others and could not even make eye contact. However, the car wash job created opportunities for Chubby to meet and communicate with strangers, resulting in him becoming more lively. Chubby's mom even spotted him wearing headphones and dancing in his room at night on several occasions -- scenes she had never witnessed in more than two decades. Now, having gained an increased understanding of people with Down syndrome via interactions with his employees, Ji hopes that he can do even more to help such people. "If there's a chance, I'd love to open Xibao'er flower shops, where girls can do floral arrangements, and maybe even open a few dry cleaners, as these are all ways to address the employment challenges faced by people with special needs," he said. In an attack on access to education and culture in the US, Donald Trump issued an executive order March 14 aimed at doing away with the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services. Kanza Library and Learning Center (kawnation.gov) As the American Libraries magazine explains, The president cannot fully eliminate IMLS without congressional approval, but his order takes every possible step in that direction. The order calls for the elimination of IMLS, by limiting budget requests from the agency to only the funds needed to shut it down. Otherwise, the administration, through its Office of Management and Budget, will reject funding requests. Trumps action is intended to cut off a financial lifeline to museums and libraries, already woefully underfunded. Seventy-five staff will also lose their jobs. IMLS describes itself as an institution that provides opportunities that address regional challenges improving library services and access to resources, enhancing museum exhibitions and educational programs, digitizing historical documents and collections, promoting lifelong learning and cultural engagement, and supporting workforce development within libraries and museums. The institute gives out grants to large state libraries and smaller local ones, as well as to a large range of museums and historical societies in all 50 states, including those that serve the poorest demographics in the US, such as people living in rural areas and the Native American population. The IMLS administered $266.7 million in grants to museums and libraries across the US and Puerto Rico in 2024. The role that museums and libraries play in educating millions of people about history, archaeology, art and science cannot be underestimated. Public libraries not only make books, videos and sound recordings freely available to anyone who has a library card, but serve as community centers and places for after-school programs. For millions of people in the US, especially those in the bottom 50 percent of income earners, libraries are among the only safe and intellectually stimulating public spaces available to them. IMLS provides grants to numerous tribal libraries for basic operating expenses, such as purchasing books and computers; to programs that provide digital literacy training in underserved communities; and to efforts to digitize important historical collections. This is a small sample of last years grants: The IMLS gave a $10,000 grant to the Kaw Nation and the Kanza Library and Learning Center, a Native American library in Kaw City, Oklahoma, to purchase books and computers, and to purchase furniture for the library, including for a childcare center. The Griswold Memorial Library in the town of Colrain, Massachusetts received a National Library Medal from the IMLS that came with an award of $10,000 for its community-driven Kindness Reading Project to their partnership with public health nurses. The IMLS provided $240,000 to the Rochester [New York] Museum & Science Center for an exhibit that will explore themes of Haudenosaunee cultural continuity and change, identity, and sovereignty through featured artists and artworks. A series of educational programs featuring traditional Haudenosaunee artistry through artist demonstrations, workshops, and cultural festivals. The institute gave $249,000 to the Sciencenter in Ithaca, New York to use input from prior library collaborations and listening sessions to co-create STEM activity kits and establish a learning community with library educators to support locally relevant STEM learning. The New Mexico State University Museum received $44,000 from the IMLS to complete an inventory and assessment of its archaeological holdings to improve intellectual control and public access to the collection. The Indianapolis Zoo in Indiana received $114,000 for operating expenses. The Lorain Historical Society in Ohio received $24,000 for an oral history project to collect and share stories of older adults and foster dialogue with area youth. The Maine State Library received $1,500,000 to ensure that all Maine residents have equitable access to high quality information resources through libraries and to improve information services for Maines diverse population, including people who are underserved and underrepresented, living in rural and remote communities, the disabled, those who are homebound, immigrants, or any resident who struggles with financial and other challenges. The IMLS granted the Foundation for the Advancement of Conservation $692,000 to partner with researchers to understand the carbon impact of six activities central to museum collections work: treatment; environmental control; emergency preparedness; time-based media and digitization; pest control; and object loans. Griswold Memorial Library (colrain-ma.gov) Library and museum associations have raised a hue and cry about the loss of this funding. By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, said the American Library Association (ALA) in a statement, the Trump administrations executive order is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer: Early literacy development and grade-level reading programs. And those who will feel that loss most keenly live in rural communities. The American Association of Museums (AAM) said in a statement: This Executive Order threatens the critical roles museums and museum workers play in American society and puts jobs, education, conservation, and vital community programs at risk. There is no efficiency argument when IMLS represents just 0.0046% of the federal budget, while museums generate $50 billion in economic impact. The abolition of the IMLS has clearly come as a shock to many in the professional museum and library associations. They exhibit every sign of not knowing what has hit them. The ALA implores Trump to reconsider this short-sighted decision, and the AAM has made available templates of letters to senators and House members that ask them to speak up to the Administration stressing the importance of IMLS. The decision to eliminate the IMLS is not an error that Trump and his administration will rectify. The defunding of libraries is part of the program of the oligarchy. The stream of executive orders since January 20 this year has had one purpose: to eliminate democratic rights and establish a dictatorship. The role of libraries, and, by implication, museums, has been an inherent feature of American democracy since early in its development. In 1823, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter that the establishment of such libraries in every town brings the use of books so much within the means of everyone that the public have the right and the understanding to judge for themselves. The oligarchy behind Trump abhors this concept and is determined to extinguish the right and the means to think critically. The drive to abolish the IMLS is part of this program. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025 [AP Photo/AP Photo] As the Trump administration doubles down on its plans to ethnically cleanse and annex the Gaza Strip, the US has launched a new military offensive targeting Yemen and ultimately Iran as part of a systematic escalation of the US-Israeli war to reshape the Middle East under Washingtons domination. On Sunday, the US military launched a major attack on Yemen, the impoverished country of 34.7 million people located in the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula, followed by days of continuous bombardment. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump pledged to completely annihilate Yemen, declaring, Its not even a fair fight, and never will be. They will be completely annihilated. He proceeded to threaten Iran, saying it will suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire! By declaring his intent to annihilate Yemen, Trump invoked the words of his political role model, Adolf Hitler. On March 30, 1941, Hitler told his assembled generals that the war Nazi Germany was planning against the Soviet Union would be a Vernichtungskampf, or a struggle of annihilation. True to his promise, Hitler waged the war to destroy the Soviet Union, involving the systematic massacre and starvation of the civilian population, leading to the deaths of over 30 million people. Trumps threat to annihilate a small impoverished country on the other side of the world expresses the degree to which the language of genocide, the operative concept of the US-Israeli effort to expel the people of Gaza from their land through massacres and starvation, increasingly defines broader areas of American foreign policy. Trump is vowing to treat all resistance to direct US colonial subjugation in the way that its Israeli client treats the Palestinians: through extermination. Before the Gaza genocide, Yemen was the worlds leading example of the deliberate mass starvation of civilians at the behest of the imperialist powers. Between 2015 and 2022, Yemen was subjected to a Saudi-US campaign of bombardment and deliberate starvation that led to the deaths of as many as 400,000 people. As Kamel Jendoubi, the chairperson of a UN expert group on Yemen, said in 2020, Civilians in Yemen are not starving, they are being starved, citing the deliberate US-backed blockade of Yemens ports by Saudi Arabia. At the time, the conduct of Saudi Arabia in Yemen was recognized as criminal even by the governments funding and arming its military. In the November 2019 presidential debate, Joe Biden accused the Saudis of going in and murdering children, and theyre murdering innocent people, adding, they have to be held accountable. He pledged, [w]ere not going to, in fact, sell more weapons to them. But that is precisely what Biden did upon assuming the presidency. He sold the despotic Saudi regime $650 million in missiles in 2021 and subsequently lifted all restrictions on arms sales to the kingdom. In 2022, Biden proceeded to give a public fist bump to de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man who orchestrated the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a long-term US resident and journalist for the Washington Post. Bin Salmans barbaric regime presided over the highest number of executions in Saudi history during 2024, when more than 300 people were put to death. The immediate context of the renewed US assault on Yemen is the systematic scrapping of any pretense by Israel, with the support of the United States, that it is working toward a ceasefire in Gaza. After having carried out daily attacks over the two-month period during which a ceasefire was nominally in force, killing hundreds of people, Israel has now abandoned any adherence to the ceasefire. Nineteen days ago, Israel blocked the entry of all food, water and medical care into Gaza. This week, it renewed its full-scale aerial bombardment of Gaza, killing over 400 people in a single day on Tuesday. Under the terms of the ceasefire negotiated two months ago, Yemens Houthi movement, which controls territory that is home to 60 percent of the countrys people, suspended attacks on shipping transiting the Red Sea. In response to Israels imposition of the total blockade of food, water, fuel and medical supplies on Gaza, the Houthi government said it would target Israeli ships in the Red Sea. The US has, in turn, seized upon this warning by the Houthis to renew its assault on Yemen as part of a military escalation throughout the wider Middle East. Figures within the Trump administration are openly advocating a direct attack on Irans nuclear facilities. For over four decades, American imperialism has been determined to reverse the consequences of the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79, which destroyed the bloodstained tyranny of the US stooge Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The September 11, 2001 terror attacks provided a pretext for the launching of a massive military operation in the Middle East aimed at restoring direct US domination over the region. Following the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, US President George W. Bush proclaimed an Axis of Evil including Iraq and Iran. This campaign will not be finished on our watch, yet it must be, and it will be, waged on our watch, he declared. Bushs proclamation was followed the next year by the 2003 invasion of Iraq. At the time of the 9/11 attacks, Gen. Wesley Clark said a decision had been made to go to war with seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and then finishing off Iran. The Bush administration was only able to carry out full-scale invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. But the Obama administration launched regime change operations in Libya and Syria, succeeding in overthrowing the Libyan government in 2011. The Syrian governmentafter over a decade of warwas brought down in December 2024. In 2006, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, praising that years US-supported Israeli invasion of Lebanon, proclaimed the New Middle East in which the US would wage war against countries aligned with Iran with increased violence. Rices termthe New Middle Easthas been the watchword of the regime of Benjamin Netanyahu in carrying out the Gaza genocide and waging war throughout the region. Just days before the Hamas-led uprising of October 7, 2023, Netanyahu travelled to the United Nations to display a map showing Israel annexing the entire territory of Palestine. Netanyahu declared, well build a new corridor that connects Asia through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, to Europe. The broader framework of this effort to impose direct US colonial control over the Middle East is the US effort to position itself for a looming conflict with China. The Middle East is home to 50 percent of the worlds proven oil reserves and 40 percent of its proven natural gas reserves. Perhaps even more importantly, approximately 9 percent of the worlds sea traffic and 20 percent of the worlds container traffic passes through the chokepoint of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Yemen occupies the entire eastern and northern shorelines of this critical waterway. As Bloomberg explained: Massive volumes of crude oil, diesel, natural gas, other petroleum products and bulk commodities from the Middle East and India travel through the Red Sea on their way to Europe, as its the shortest route between these regions. Western sanctions on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 turned the Red Sea into part of a vital trade artery for crude flowing in the other direction as well, as Moscow is now selling the lions share of its petroleum to Asia. Under Trump, US imperialism is seeking to seize and dominate the key chokepoints of global trade in order to prepare for conflict with China. This includes not only the domination of the Red Sea but also Trumps plan to seize the Panama Canal and annex Canada and Greenland to control a future Northwest passage through the Arctic. Global war and the drive to establish a dictatorship at home are essential components of Trumps program. Trump seeks, through unlimited military violence and the use of coercive economic tools like tariffs, to secure American global domination, principally against China. His escalation of war is inseparable from the frontal assault on the working class being carried out by his administration, which is aiming to liquidate the bedrock social programs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and use the proceeds for rearmament and bank bailouts. None of this can be done without the turn to dictatorial forms of rule. The Trump administration has sought to slander opponents of US foreign policy as terrorists, using the police state machinery of the US immigration system to illegally detain and deport them. As Trumps war throughout the Middle East escalates, including the potential direct targeting of Iran, this campaign to silence all opposition to the policies of his administration will extend to American citizens as well. Trumps plans for global war require the erection of a dictatorship and the impoverishment of the working class. For this reason, the struggle against his administration cannot be limited either to opposition to the Gaza genocide or his attack on democratic rights. The only social force capable of stopping Trumps efforts to create a dictatorship in the United States is the working class. The central task is building a socialist leadership in the working class, armed with the theoretical program of Marxism, so that it can be mobilized in an industrial and political struggle to put an end to imperialist war and the capitalist profit system that is the root cause of war. The Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) are in the forefront of this struggle. Nurses picket in Long Beach, California, March 19, 2025. On Tuesday, nearly 2,200 nurses at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center protested the inhumane conditions that have become the norm in hospitals across the United States. Holding an informational picket, these healthcare workers sought to expose the hospital administrations callous refusal to address the ongoing crisis of understaffing, workplace violence and burnout. Their modest demandsadequate staffing and safe working conditionsare a fight for the survival of healthcare itself. Yet, they face not only an intransigent hospital administration but a union leadership and political establishment determined to suppress any genuine struggle. This struggle unfolds amid growing fascistic attacks against immigrants and democratic rights by the Trump administration. Workers face escalating crackdowns on labor rights, free speech and protests as well as the dismantlement of education. Trumps second term signals an urgent need for all workers to organize independently against an incipient dictatorship that is resorting to police repression and legal intimidation to silence dissent. The crisis at Long Beach Medical Center is part of a broader assault on science and healthcare workers, deepened under the Trump administrations operatives, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz. Trumps agenda is full-scale privatization, slashing public healthcare funding and gutting worker protections. Kennedy and Oz serve as frontmen, disguising the drive for deregulation under fraudulent appeals to health freedom. The result is hospitals run like for-profit slaughterhouses, where profit margins dictate care, patients lives are placed at risk and workers are pushed to exhaustion. Nurses at Long Beach Medical Center experience this firsthand. They work grueling hours under extreme stress, with dangerously low staffing ratios that endanger both them and their patients. They face increasing workplace violence, yet management refuses to implement serious protections. They are overworked, underpaid and treated as expendable by a system that prioritizes corporate profits over human lives. The California Nurses Association, under National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), has a history of sabotaging workers struggles. In 2022, nurses at Long Beach Medical Center waged a powerful strike against unsafe conditions, yet the CNA swiftly shut it down by calling for a vote on a sellout agreement, demobilizing nurses just as they were gaining momentum. Rather than organizing a fight to win nurses demands, the CNA leadership ensured the strike would end before it could threaten the hospitals profits. Three years later, as workers conditions have only further deteriorated, the union offers only another toothless informational picket, refusing to mobilize the full strength of healthcare workers. Nurses picket in Long Beach, California, March 19, 2025. The CNA/NNU has collaborated with management, particularly at Kaiser Permanente, where it receives corporate funding through the Labor-Management Partnership. Union agreements have justified workforce restructuring, replacing registered nurses with lower-paid, less-trained staff via telehealth and command center models, creating a generic workforce. This increased RNs workloads as they supervised less-experienced staff while managing patient care remotely. Tied to the Democratic Party, CNA has failed to oppose policies that weakened healthcare. Californias Democratic government neglects safe staffing laws, benefiting hospital profits, while Democratic administrations have prioritized corporate bailouts over worker protections, leaving healthcare staff struggling for better conditions. The WSWS spoke to several nurses who expressed concerns about safety. Jessica, a nurse with many years of experience in the rehab department said, People come in from buses or trains in the middle of the night and come into our unit. Security guards dont stop them, its scary. Sometimes we have to send them up to ICU. Theres staffing ratio [issues], things are severe. The social crisis has become worse. She focused on the social crisis and working conditions: Theres a lot of homeless[ness] and mental illness, people yelling, cursing, coming in. We havent had any of us physically assaulted, not yet, thank God, but its stuff like that. Our reporter raised the issue of medical care becoming increasingly financialized. She replied, Exactly! You know, when I started out in nursing, it was all about patient care. And now its all about numbers and documentation. Theres no direct patient care it seems like anymore. When the reporter asked the nurse her thoughts on the Trump administration, she said, Dont get me going! Another nurse, James, said, We are fighting for better staffing. When were understaffed, its very hard to provide good patient care. At the same time, theyre cutting some of our benefits. They removed the time-and-a-half pay for working the night shift and for the graveyard shift. We used to get it for the past five to six years. Everybodys getting overworked. Honestly, its overwhelming. Its really hard to work like that, full of stress. Sometimes, when I go home, its so draining. And then you have to come back the next day and do it all over again. Draining. Nurses picket in Long Beach, California, March 19, 2025 Shelley, a nurse, also stressed the safety issue: We need more assurances that the nurses and all the other employees are safe in the workplace. If theres more of a chance for workplace violence, that affects the safety of all the patients, and it also depends on the nurse-to-patient ratios. She reflected on Trumps fascistic policies: Theres Ukraine and its special minerals and natural resources. And then the way he talked with the Canadians, kind of like Well, you dont even have much of a military. Dont just think were going to protect you just because were friends. It was like a veiled threat. She emphasized the volatility of the international situation: Im thinking, do we have a World War III coming on right now? Thats where my heads at. Hes talking all about tariffs. No, I feel like hes just getting ready because were about to go off to war, for World War III. Like most workers, Shelley is becoming increasingly politicized: Americas stuck in this two-party system, and its difficult. I dont know. Im waiting and watching, trying not to have anxiety about it, just show up to work, do the right thing and love people. It does seem that the nurses here are waking up to the fact that they have rights, you know, that they can speak up. When asked what she thought of the Trump administrations gutting of federal workers jobs and the deportations, she replied: Trump is firing thousands of federal workers under the narration of waste and fraud. So you cant just do that and not show proof. They say theyre going to show it, but are they going to show it? About immigrant raids, Shelley offered: They show ICE picking up the criminals, the rapists and human traffickers, and then theres someone who says, Yeah, but they went after me, and Im not any of those things. They could also be picking up a mom with her sick kids. Charles Keith and Abraham Bonowitz walk to the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Florida capitol in Tallahassee on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 to deliver petitions opposing the execution of Edward James [AP Photo/Kate Payne] Four death row inmates were executed at the hands of state authorities this week, one each in Louisiana, Arizona, Oklahoma and Florida. While these mens death warrants were signed before Donald Trump took office January 20, the state executioners and the US judiciary were certainly emboldened to see these executions through to completion by the new administrations rampage against democratic rights and use of fascistic terror against immigrants, protesters against genocide in Gaza, mass layoffs of federal workers and the threats to dismantle entire government departments. One of the first executive orders signed by Trump on Inauguration Day called on the US attorney general to take all appropriate action to seek the overruling of Supreme Court precedents that limit the authority of State and Federal governments to impose capital punishment. Promotion of the death penalty is a critical component of Trumps bid to establish a presidential dictatorship. He has pledged to make the resumption of federal executions and an expansion of the death penalty a top priority of his second term. Louisiana The World Socialist Web Site reported on the first of this weeks executions, of Jessie Hoffman Jr., which took place Tuesday at Angola state prison in Louisiana. The state ended a 15-year pause in state killings with the execution of Hoffman, who became the fifth person in the US put to death by nitrogen hypoxia. In a 5-4 ruling, the US Supreme Court declined to halt his execution. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, wanting to grant a stay of execution, and Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote a separate dissenting opinion, citing religious grounds. Jessie Hoffman Jr. [AP Photo/Caroline Tillman/Federal Public Defender's Office For the Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana] Hoffman was 18 years and 88 days old, closely missing being disqualified for execution as a juvenile at the time of the crime. He suffered a violently abusive childhood and spent his nearly three decades of incarceration trying to turn his life around, becoming a Buddhist and mentoring other prisoners. Louisiana authorities have only released a redacted version of its nitrogen gas execution protocol to the public. Little was revealed Tuesday about Hoffmans execution, except statements by prison authorities who characterized the procedure as flawless. In the four previous nitrogen gas executions, which all took place in Alabama, prisoners were seen to writhe, shake and gasp as the gas was pumped into a sealed mask covering the victims face. Louisiana state law outlaws euthanizing cats and dogs with nitrogen gas unless they are first rendered unconscious, as a large group of dogs killed in this manner had eyes wide open and dilated, saliva round the mouth, signs of vomiting and diarrhea, that they had been frightened and scared, and had suffered, according to a long-time Louisiana veterinarian. The gas began flowing into Hoffmans mask at 6:21 p.m., according to the Associated Press (AP). He lay strapped to a gurney with a heavy blanket covering all but his head and forearms. The procedure kills by forcing the condemned inmate to breath pure nitrogen gas, depriving the individual of oxygen forcing the shutdown of all bodily functions. The gas was pumped in for about 19 minutes, including five minutes after he flatlined on monitors. Witnesses reported that Hoffman shook for a few minutes, followed by shallow breathing. He was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill commented after the execution that her office would begin reviewing death penalty cases to determine how many executions might take place in the state this year. Were going to start working our way through motions and begin to clear the underbrush and move these cases forward. There are currently 62 people on death row in Louisiana. The state has executed 29 men since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Arizona The second person to be executed was Aaron Brian Gunches in Arizona on Wednesday, March 19. Gunches, 53, was convicted and sentenced to die for the kidnapping and murder of his girlfriends ex-husband, Ted Price. Gunches was the first person executed in Arizona since 2022. He represented himself before the Arizona Supreme Court in 2022, despite not being an attorney. He initially asked the court to issue an execution warrant but later withdrew the request. The execution was scheduled anyway. In February of this year he told the state clemency board that he was not seeking a reprieve. Aaron Brian Gunches [AP Photo/Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry] Gunches was initially scheduled to be put to death in April 2023, but Governor Katie Hobbs called it off and ordered a review of the states death penalty procedures after several so-called botched lethal injections. In the May 2022 lethal injection of Clarence Dixon, the prison execution team failed for 25 grueling minutes to set an intravenous line in Dixons arms before performing an unauthorized cutdown, using a vein in his groin to insert the IV, a notoriously painful procedure made worse when attempted by untrained personnel. Gunches execution began just after 10:00 a.m. local time at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. Sitting up on a gurney, covered with what looked like a white onesie and tucked in with a sheet, Gunches looked straight ahead and had no final words before the execution, AP reported. He was injected with a single drug, pentobarbital. It took about 17 minutes for him to die; he was pronounced dead at 10:33 a.m. Although prison officials reported that the execution proceeded without incident, Dale A. Baich, a legal representative for Gunches, told ABC15 following the execution: The witnesses did not see what happened under the jumpsuit and sheet. We know from scientific studies that rapid administration of a high dose of pentobarbital is excruciatingly painful. Pulmonary edema develops in seconds as the lungs fill with water and one is not able to breathe. There is a sensation of drowning from within and not being able to do anything about it. It is like being waterboarded to death. The eight deep breaths and chest heaving, the gurgling sounds, and Mr. Gunches trying to catch his breath, are all signs of pulmonary edema. Even though it may have looked peaceful, it was not. Arizona has carried out 41 executions since 1992. Oklahoma Wendell Arden Grissom, 56, had been on Oklahomas death row since he was charged with the 2005 murder of Amber Matthews and injuring her friend Dreu Kopf during an invasion and robbery of Kopfs home, which was picked at random. Grissoms co-defendant Jessie Johns is serving a life sentence without parole. Wendell Grissom [AP Photo/Oklahoma Department of Corrections] The state Pardon and Parole Board voted 4-1 to deny clemency for Grissom. Grissoms attorneys, federal public defenders Kristi Christopher and Thomas Hird, acknowledged Grissoms guilt but argued before the board that he suffered from brain damage that was never presented to a jury. They said he should not be eligible for the death penalty due to developmental issues, telling the board that his brain abnormalities had been demonstrated by CT and MRI scans. Grissoms mother had a prolonged labor at his birth in 1968 in Arkansas, causing him oxygen deprivation during delivery. This had a lasting effect, resulting in stunted growth and communication challenges and behavioral problems in school. He had a significant history of drug and alcohol abuse, which began as a teenager. Working as a truck driver, Grissom picked up Johns, a homeless hitchhiker, and the two drank whisky the day before the murder and the following day. He admitted guilt and attributed his actions to his struggles with addiction, saying, What I did stemmed from substance abusetheres no denying that. Grissom died by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester on Thursday, March 20. The execution began around 10:00 a.m. local time. According to witnesses, he appeared to stop breathing at 10:09 a.m., and the color began to drain from his face. He was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m. Oklahoma has executed 128 men since 1990. Florida Edward Thomas James was executed Thursday, March 20, at the Florida State Prison near Starke. James, 63, was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1993 murder and attempted rape of Elizabeth Dick, 58, and the rape and murder of her 8-year-old granddaughter Toni Neuner. James was drunk and high on cocaine and possibly LSD when he committed the murders. Edward Thomas James [AP Photo/Florida Dept of Corrections] James pleaded guilty to the murder, child abuse and kidnapping, and pleaded guilty to other charges he said he could not remember. James attorneys argued that their client was unfit for execution because he had suffered significant cognitive decline in recent years and could not remember simple words or follow conversations. A petition to the US Supreme Court filed March 17, 2025, cited what psychologist Yenys Castillo wrote after evaluating James: He does not remember the homicides or his behavior leading up to them. However, he desired to be punished and even executed throughout the years. It is unclear whether Mr. James truly appreciated the seriousness and finality of being sentenced to die during his initial penalty phase and postconviction proceedings, and these competency concerns persist into the present day. The US Supreme Court rejected an 11th-hour stay of execution for James on Thursday, clearing the way for his execution. James execution was delayed for two hours for unexplained reasons. Prison officials said he was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m. after receiving a three-drug lethal injection. With the execution of James, Florida has executed 108 people, including two women, since the reinstatement of the death penalty. * * * According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a total of 1,617 people have been put to death in the United States since 1976, including 1,599 men and 18 women. States in the US South have carried out 1,308 of these executions. African Americans make up a disproportionate 41 percent of people on death row, and 34 percent of those executed. Foreign nationals have accounted for 34 executions, while 22 individuals have been convicted, sentenced to die and executed for crimes committed as juveniles. A Leopard II battle tank is on display to advertise for joining the German army Bundeswehr at the Essen Motor Show in Essen, Germany, Friday, December 1, 2023. [AP Photo/Martin Meissner] In a historic turning point, the German parliament has authorised 1 trillion in new loans. Officially, it is being justified with the countrys defence and security needs as well as the renovation of ailing infrastructure. But this is empty propaganda. It is not a defence programme, but a war programme. The real purpose of the gigantic armaments package is to transform Germany back into a major military power that can free itself from American control, dominate Europe and take on other great powersRussia, China and the USin the battle for the violent redivision of the world. Eighty years after the capitulation of Hitlers Wehrmacht (Army), German militarism is throwing off the last shackles that were imposed on it because of its war crimes. No one should harbour any illusions. The price for this massive rearmament offensive will be borne by working people and especially the youth in the form of falling wages and social benefits, the reintroduction of compulsory military service, the suppression of democratic rights and ultimately war and destruction. While the parties of the incoming grand coalition, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD), with the support of the Greens, are releasing unlimited sums for rearmament, they are also insisting on intensifying cuts in social and pension spending as well as in the public sector. Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz (CDU) has already announced further cuts to Burgergeld (welfare payments) and other social spending. Moreover, the special fund for infrastructure, which accounts for around half the new borrowings, is not being used to renovate dilapidated schools and hospitalsas has been widely reportedbut to expand roads, bridges and other facilities to make them fit for war. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has stated that huge investment in infrastructure was central to a strong Germany in a strong Europe that takes on more responsibility for security. The White Paper on defence policy, presented by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, lists military mobilitya network of land corridors, airports and seaports for the transport of troops and materialand the development of new technologies for electronic warfare as central components of European rearmament, alongside the production of modern weapons systems. Added to this are the enormous costs for interest and loan repayments, which have to be financed from the regular budget. The total debt of federal, state and local government will rise from the current 2.5 trillion to 4.2 trillion within 10 years as a result of the rearmament loans. The undemocratic means by which the package was whipped through the Bundestag (parliament) already show that the implementation of this huge rearmament programme requires dictatorial methods. During the Bundestag election campaign, neither the CDU/CSU nor the SPD came clean with the electorate and announced that they wanted to invest a trillion euros in armaments. For years, both parties have paraded the constitutionally enshrined debt brake, which places a strict limit on new borrowing, like an untouchable holy relic in order to justify unprecedented social cuts. The outgoing coalition government of the SPD, Greens and Liberal Democrats (FDP) fell apart over this issue, and Merz had claimed during the election campaign that the debt brake would be observed. But as soon as the polling stations closed, the CDU/CSU and SPD recalled the outgoing Bundestag to decide, together with the Greens, on gigantic borrowings for their war programme, since the incoming government lacks the necessary two-thirds majority in the new Bundestag required to pass such legislation. End of the transatlantic alliance If you read the papers of the relevant think tanks and the commentaries in leading German media, the real purpose of the gigantic arms offensive becomes clear. Three goals are being pursued: Breaking free from military dependence on the US, the sustained weakening and imperialist subjugation of Russia, and German dominance in Europe. Jorg Lau writes in Die Zeit that Donald Trumps renewed assumption of office marked the end of an era of transatlanticism in German foreign policyan era in which governments of all colours took it for granted that the alliance with America would secure Germanys security and prosperity. Putins attack on Ukraine had revealed the frightening extent of Europes dependence on the USA, said Lau. Now, Merz must design a German foreign policy that in case of doubt, could function without the USA as a benevolent partner (or even with the USA as an opponent). Der Spiegel was jubilant about the European spring in security policy. A detailed article by seven authors states: A NATO without the USAthat would be a task for the century, a historic turning point. But that is exactly what is now being seriously considered. Possible outlines of a Europeanised NATO in which Washington plays little or no role are already emerging. A new, flexible alliance could reach from Van in Turkey to Vancouver in Canadaand in the best-case scenario, count on the battle-hardened Ukraine. The news magazine accuses the Americans of having deliberately organised NATO in such a way that not much works without it. The alliance has always been a vehicle for controlling the allies. High-resolution satellite images, transport aircraft and US intelligence had held NATO together. Many European countries had bought US weapons that were dependent on American spare parts and software updates. In the meantime, Europe is puzzling over whether the Pentagon might even have built a kind of kill switch into the F-35 stealth jeta mechanism that would render the aircraft unusable if necessary. The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) echoes this sentiment. There is no longer a transatlantic alliance as we know it and the cohesion between Europe and the USA is eroding further every day, writes its Eastern Europe expert Stefan Meister. Trump is not only serving up Ukraine to Putin, but also Europe, which cannot defend itself without US security guarantees. The costs of the German and European denial of reality over the last decade are now becoming brutally visible. DGAP has published over a dozen articles urging faster rearmament and a more aggressive German foreign policy. The headlines alone speak for themselves: A Europeanisation of NATO is indispensable. For a militarily strong Germany, Franco-German defence cooperation: now or never, Germany must once again become a driving force in EU trade policy, Cyber defence is not enough against China and Russias cyber aggression and The time for naivety is overto name just a few. DGAP is the authentic voice of German imperialism. Founded in 1955 by leading representatives from politics and businessincluding Hermann Abs and Robert Pferdemenges, both leading bankers under the Nazismore than two thirds of its funding still comes from the private sector. Its current president, Thomas Enders, was for many years head of Airbus, the worlds largest aircraft manufacturer and Europes third-largest defence company. Warmongering against Russia The swan song for the transatlantic alliance goes hand in hand with hysterical warmongering against Russia. Germany and other European powers are reacting to Trumps attempts for rapprochement with Putin with a crazy plan to bring the worlds second-largest nuclear power to its knees on their own. Der Spiegel cites a retired British general who was convinced Europe alone can stand up to Russia. According to him, European NATO members would have to spend 3.5 percent of their economic output, or around 250 billion a year, to replace American capabilities and troops. Economically, according to Der Spiegel, the Europeans have a clear advantage in the arms race. Russia only has one-tenth of the economic power of all European NATO states. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk put it in a nutshell: 500 million Europeans are asking 300 million Americans to protect them from 140 million Russians. European weapons production is being massively ramped up. The 150 billion that the EU is making available for this purpose should explicitly not be used to buy American weapons because there was no strategic autonomy without European preference,Der Spiegel quotes a French minister as saying. In order to prevent the war plans being blocked by EU members such as Hungary, a coalition of the willing, which also includes non-EU members such as the UK, Norway and Turkey, should be formed to create a European NATO. Turkey controls access to the Black Sea and maintains a 400,000-strong army, the second largest in NATO, says Der Spiegel. Its defence industry can quickly deliver weapons, combat drones and artillery shells. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has already promised to participate in a new European security architecture. According to Der Spiegel, future cooperation with Kyiv is just as important. Nobody knows better than Ukrainian soldiers how to fight with drones. The Europeans can benefit enormously from this knowledge. A German manufacturer is already producing them together with Ukrainian kamikaze drones: Anything that keeps Putin in check helps. DGAP is in favour of forcing regime change in Russia by escalating the war in Ukraine and further expansion of the EU. It is an illusion to believe that Putin will stop the war against Ukraine and the West in return for any kind of concessions, writes Stefan Meister. The Putin system must be weakened in a sustained manner so that political change from within becomes possible. It remained crucial that Russia realise the limits of its military power in Ukraine. The madness of this strategy cannot be exaggerated. Regime change in Moscow would probably bring a faction to power that would be much faster than Putin to deploy nuclear weapons. Figures like the late Alexei Navalny, who are completely in the service of NATO, have hardly any supporters in Russia. The memories of the German war of annihilation, which cost the lives of 28 million inhabitants of the Soviet Union, are too vivid for that. The claim that Russia will conquer the whole of Europe if it is not defeated in Ukraine is absurd. The country lacks all the economic and military prerequisites for this, as well as a political motive. Putins invasion of Ukraine was a reactionary response to the advance of NATO to its borders, which Moscowas todays war hysteria confirmsrightly perceived as a threat. Precisely because Russia lacks the necessary means to wage a conventional war against a highly armed Europe, the danger of it resorting to nuclear weapons is particularly high. Longstanding rearmament plans Trumps attacks on the European Union, the imposition of punitive tariffs and the attempt to reach an agreement with Putin on a Ukraine deal over the heads of the Europeans have accelerated Germanys rearmament plans. But these go back much further. The German ruling class has never come to terms with the fact that it had to take a back seat militarily after the failure of Hitlers war of annihilation. What held it back from becoming a major military power again was the mistrust of the victorious powers and, above all, the resistance of the working class. When NATO was founded in 1949, its task was to keep the Americans in, the Russians out and the Germans down, as the first NATO Secretary General Lord Ismay put it. Initially, the post-war Federal Republic of Germany had no armed forces of its own and was only admitted to NATO six years later, with the escalation of the Cold War against the Soviet Union. Although the Bundeswehrs troop strength was soon relatively high at just under 500,000 conscripted soldiers, it was primarily used for territorial defence and was never deployed in active warfare before 1999. Opposition to war and militarism was widespread in Germany. In the 1950s, millions protested, supported by the trade unions, against rearmament and efforts at nuclear armament. At the end of the 1960s, the protest movement against the Vietnam War was linked to a sharp rise in conscientious objection to conscription. And in 1982, mass demonstrations against the deployment of medium-range nuclear missiles on German soil led to the premature end of Helmut Schmidts (SPD) government. With German reunification in 1990, calls for a German great power policy became louder. In 1993, then German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel (FDP) declared: As a nation of 80 million people, as the country with the strongest economy in the centre of Europe, we bear a special, sometimes new responsibility, whether we like it or not. Due to its central location, its size and its traditional relations with Central and Eastern Europe, Germany was predestined to derive the main benefit from the return of these states to Europe. In 1998, the Bundestag voted in favour of the first deployment of German troops in the NATO war against Yugoslavia. As is the case today, the old Bundestag, which had already been voted out, was then reconvened. The Greens, who had strictly rejected German participation in the war during the election campaign, voted in favour, paving the way for their entry into the German government, with Green leader Joschka Fischer as foreign minister. Back then, the decision in favour of war almost tore the party apart; today, the Greens are the worst warmongers. In 2013, more than 50 leading politicians, journalists, academics, military and business representatives drew up the paper New PowerNew Responsibility, which served as a blueprint for the foreign policy of the newly formed grand coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD under Angela Merkel (CDU). Ursula von der Leyen, also CDU, now president of the European Commission, was defence minister at the time and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) was foreign minister. The paper claimed an international leadership role for Germany: As a trading and exporting nation, which lived from globalisation like hardly any other country and required demand from other markets as well as access to international trade routes and raw materials. In particular, the increasingly unstable European environment from North Africa to the Middle East and Central Asia was named as a target for German military operations. Escalation in Ukraine This strategy experienced its baptism of fire in Ukraine. In February 2014, Berlin, together with the US, supported the coup by far-right forces, which helped a pro-Western regime to power and provoked the current war. David North, chairperson of the World Socialist Web Site international editorial board, said shortly afterwards in his speech to the 2014 international May Day rally: For German imperialism, the confrontation with Russia is welcomed as a pretext for the repudiation of the constraints on militarism imposed in the wake of the unspeakable crimes committed during the years of Hitlers Third Reich. In recent months, the German media has been engaged in an increasingly frenzied propaganda campaign directed against not only Russia, but also against the deeply rooted anti-war sentiments of the German working class. ... Behind the propaganda stand definite economic and geopolitical interests. The German president has declared that his countrys weight in the world economy requires that it obtain the military force necessary to secure its broader geopolitical interests. As in the twentieth century, Germany is once again gazing longingly upon the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Central Asia and the vast land mass of Russia. Eleven years and several hundred thousand war dead later, this imperialist war policy is taking on new dimensions. In order to pursue its economic and geopolitical interests, German imperialism is not only investing huge sums in rearmament, but also accepting the risk of nuclear annihilation. In doing so, it is following in its traditional footsteps. German imperialism already focussed on Russia and Ukraine in the First World War and the Soviet Union in the Second. And just like back then, it endeavoured to dominate Europe in order to achieve its goals. The same is true today. Political scientist Herfried Munkler, who has long advocated a strengthening of German militarism, regards this as one of the most important tasks of the rearmament programme. Above all, the Germans must emerge with a relatively large amount of money in order to regain the leading position within Europe, he said in a Pioneer podcast. The confrontation with Trump is currently bringing the European powers a little closer together. French President Emmanuel Macron is also endeavouring to build a European army and has reiterated his offer to deploy French nuclear weapons to protect the whole of Europealthough the decision on their use should be left exclusively to him. The UK is taking part in European meetings despite Brexit and wants to continue to support Ukraine in the war against Russia. And Poland is working closely with Germany and France on armaments. However, the confrontation with the US, rival economic and geopolitical interests, the battle for lucrative defence contracts and growing domestic political tensions will inevitably cause the conflicts within Europe, which made the continent the scene of two world wars, to flare up again. Neither France nor Britain nor Poland, which was devastated by Germany in the Second World War, are prepared to accept the German leading position within Europe invoked by Munkler. Only the working class can stop the relapse into war and barbarism. The objective conditions for this are developing rapidly. Europe is already being repeatedly shaken by violent class struggles and protests. But these require a perspective. The working class must free itself from the paralysing influence of the trade unions and pseudo-left organisations that openly support the war programme or steer resistance against it into the dead end of impotent appeals to those in power. It must organise itself in independent rank-and-file action committees and unite across Europe. It must combine the struggle against social cuts, for better wages and for democratic rights with the struggle against war and its root cause, capitalism. The super-rich and large corporations must be expropriated, and the economy geared towards social needs rather than private profits. The goal must be the construction of a United Socialist States of Europe. This is what the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) and its sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International are fighting for. Striking post-doctoral workers picket outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City on December 13, 2023. [Photo: Sinai Postdoctoral Organizing Committee-UAW] Mount Sinai Beth Israel, a 696-bed teaching hospital in New York City, is on the brink of closure, pending a determination by a panel of judges. In February, the hospital, which has ended all inpatient services, set March 26 as its last day of operation. Days after the hospital announced its closure date, a New York appellate court judge issued a temporary stay order. If Mount Sinai Beth Israel closes, then the closest major hospital for neighborhood residents would be Bellevue, which is about a mile away. In addition, New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan would become the only facility serving residents south of 23rd St. The shuttering of Mount Sinai Beth Israel would continue a trend of hospital closures amid a resurgence of preventable diseases and unprecedented, bipartisan attacks on public health. Mount Sinai Beth Israel is an academic affiliate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. It is one of eight hospitals in the Mount Sinai Health System, which is the largest hospital network in New York. The nominally nonprofit system employs more than 9,000 physicians, more than 8,350 nurses and more than 2,390 residents and clinical fellows. It employs 48,000 workers overall and reported annual revenue of $10.8 billion in 2023. The system has been a hotbed of opposition, with a three day nurses strike in 2023 and a two week strike by postdoctoral students. Physicians also voted to authorize strike action that same year. Both struggles were wound up with sellout contracts, which did nothing to address the main issues healthcare workers face, above all, understaffing. In 2024, the system was fined $2 million by the state government for persistent understaffing at three of its hospitals. Theres no other hospital south of Beth Israel in Manhattan that has the type of facility that Beth Israel has, attorney Arthur Schwartz told FOX 5 New York. Schwartz represents a group of activists that sued to keep the hospital open. There were almost 50,000 people last year that went to the Beth Israel emergency room. Those people will go to Bellevue Hospital, which has seen a 25 percent increase in its emergency room visits in the last two years. Mount Sinai Health System has long sought to close Mount Sinai Beth Israel. In 2016, the system announced a plan to build a new hospital with only 70 inpatient beds several blocks away from Mount Sinai Beth Israel, which would be closed and sold. Mount Sinai Beth Israels labor and delivery department and Continuum Center for Health and Healing were closed in 2017. In late 2023, Mount Sinai Health System announced that it would close Mount Sinai Beth Israel by July 12, 2024, provided that the New York State Department of Health gave its approval (which it later did). The hospital cited losses of $1 billion during the past decade to explain the closure. New York City is home to 110 billionaires, which is more than any other city in the world, according to Forbes. New Yorks billionaires have a combined net worth of approximately $694 billion. The resources to keep Mount Sinai Beth Israel open are available, but the priority of the citys government, whether under the administration of a Democratic or Republican mayor, is to safeguard and increase the wealth of these billionaires at the expense of the working class. In response to Mount Sinai Health Systems announcement, activists founded the Community Coalition to Save Beth Israel Hospital, which filed a lawsuit to keep the hospital open. After a legal battle of more than a year, New York Supreme Court Judge Jeffrey Pearlman dismissed the lawsuit against closure in February 2025. The hospital then set a March 26 closing date. As part of the transition, we will be opening our new expanded urgent care center located two blocks south of the hospital to coincide with this closure, the health system said in a statement. But the establishment of a new urgent care center would not compensate for the loss of an emergency department. Urgent care centers are not staffed or equipped to treat patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Moreover, they cannot adequately treat patients with psychiatric emergencies, who will have to go to Bellevue if Mount Sinai Beth Israel closes. The Community Coalition to Save Beth Israel Hospital obtained a stay from a New York appellate court judge, and a panel of judges will now decide the hospitals fate. In the meantime, Mount Sinai Health System has agreed not to close any further services. The potential closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel is part of a broader trend. A 2024 study reported in Beckers Hospital Review found that 45 percent of rural hospitals in New York state were at risk of closing in the next two to three years. In addition, 57 percent of rural hospitals were at risk of closing in the next six to seven years. Nationwide, more than 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closure because of financial problems, more than half of which are at immediate risk of closure, according to Beckers Financial Management. The bankruptcies of health systems such as Steward Health Care and Prospect Medical Holdings also raise the possibility of closures. The process underlying these closures is the subordination of healthcare to the accumulation of private profit. At the same time, the administration of President Donald Trump is accelerating the bipartisan attacks on public health and science that have intensified since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other measures, Trump and his cabinet have frozen funding for medical research, cut hundreds of jobs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and falsely suggested that the childhood vaccine schedule causes chronic disease. The American ruling class now regards all spending that does not increase military capabilities or enrich the financial and corporate oligarchy as wasteful. For workers at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and healthcare workers around the world, the conclusion to be drawn is that the fight to keep hospitals open, defend science and improve public health is inseparable from the fight to mobilize the independent strength of the working class against both Trump and his enablers in the Democratic Party and the union bureaucracy, whose response varies between cowardice and collaboration. This means developing new organs of struggle, rank-and-file committees, to organize joint actions from below rather than waiting for permission which will never come from the tops. This must be connected with a fight for the expropriation of the healthcare system, in order to remove the chief obstacle to providing high quality care: the profit motive. At a public meeting on Wednesday evening, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) exposed the anti-democratic refusal of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to grant it official party registration. Despite this censorship preventing the SEPs candidates from appearing on the ballot alongside their party name, speakers outlined the socialist and revolutionary perspective that the SEP will advance in the upcoming federal election. The party, they emphasised, will be alone in fighting to mobilise the working class against war, austerity and dictatorship, under conditions of a massive crisis globally and in Australia. Held in person in the working-class Sydney suburb of Bankstown and streamed on Zoom, the meeting was attended by a broad cross-section of workers, students and young people. Many were electoral members, who signed-up because they wanted the SEP on the ballot. Others were students, met during recent university orientation week events. Participants tuned in from most Australian states, as well as from New Zealand, the UK and the US. The meeting was chaired by Warwick Dove, a longstanding SEP member and retired metal worker, who has fought for a socialist perspective in the working class for more than three decades. Dove briefly outlined the anti-democratic character of the AEC rejection. The SEP had complied with onerous requirements, submitting a membership list in excess of the arbitrary requirement of 1,500. After an opaque process that dragged on for almost five months, the AEC claimed that from a minuscule sample of the list submitted by the SEP, of just 33, several had said they were not members. Citing bogus privacy provisions, the AEC has refused to disclose who those individuals were, if they indeed exist. The refusal to register the SEP was carried out so late that it is a foregone conclusion that its candidates cannot have their party name listed on the ballot. Dove noted that all of this, together with the anti-democratic laws that the AEC is implementing, are a desperate attempt to shore-up the widely despised two-party system. Max Boddy addresses SEP meeting opposing AEC registration ban, March 19, 2025 In the opening report, SEP Assistant National Secretary Max Boddy explained that this censorship was being conducted amid a crisis of the traditional mechanisms of capitalist rule. The dominance of the two major parties is rapidly eroding, Boddy explained. This is not merely a matter of shifting electoral fortunes; it reflects a fundamental breakdown of the political order established in the period following the Second World War. The election, which must be held by May 17, is occurring amid polling indicating that neither of the major parties will be able to form a majority government. The prospect of a hung parliament was openly referred to as a nightmare scenario in the corporate media, because it would usher in even deeper political instability and could obstruct the agenda of war and austerity that is being demanded. The major parties were responding to the crisis by shifting even further to the right. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Coalition leader Peter Dutton were competing, as to who would be best placed to collaborate with the fascistic US President Donald Trump. This centred on the confrontation with China, Boddy stated. Under the Labor government, Australia has been transformed into a frontline state for such a war, with a massive expansion of military spending and of US basing in the country. More was being demanded, with calls in the corporate elite for tens of billions more to be committed to war. This, they were openly stating, would mean deep-going austerity, with the Australian Financial Review, for instance, insisting that the issue of guns versus butter could no longer be postponed. It was in this context, with growing opposition to the agenda of the ruling elite, that attacks on democratic rights were intensifying, including the refusal to register the SEP. Over the past 18 months, there had been major protests against the genocide in Gaza. Governments, above all, Labor had responded with witch-hunts, hate speech laws and the continuous lie that opposition to the Zionist war crimes is antisemitic. The witch hunt, Boddy said, had been facilitated by the bankrupt line that dominated the protest movement, based on endless appeals to the very Labor government that had consistently supported Israels onslaught politically, diplomatically and materially, as part of its broader participation in the eruption of imperialist militarism globally. In the election, Boddy emphasised, the SEP will advance a diametrically opposed perspective. This will be based on the fight to mobilise the working class against the entire political establishment, including Labor, the Greens and the union bureaucracy, as part of the struggle to develop a unified international anti-war movement based on a socialist program. In the main report, SEP National Secretary Cheryl Crisp placed the political crisis in Australia, and the AEC rejection, in their international context, outside of which they could not be understood. Never before in history has mankind faced the scale and intensity of economic, social, environmental, and political crisis that exists today, Crisp stated. Donald Trumps re-election as president of the United States has caused a global political earthquake. As was the case in the 1930s, when this process was last experienced, the German bourgeoisie turned to Hitler to obliterate the fighting capacity of the German working class, to prosecute war. Germanys war to redivide Europe was not possible without the defeat of the German working class. The war, necessary for the United States to redivide the world, likewise requires the defeat of the American and the international working class. Crisp provided a detailed comparison between the consolidation of the Nazi regime in the 1930s and the extraordinary rapidity with which Trump is seeking to establish a presidential dictatorship. In just eight weeks in office, he had attacked some of the most fundamental pillars of the Constitution and of democratic rule. This was part of a global phenomenon, with the ruling elites turning to authoritarianism and fascism around the world, to enforce their program of war and social counter-revolution. Any conception that Australia was an exception would be a grave error, Crisp warned. The major parties had shifted far to the right, while the countrys oligarchs, such as mining magnates Clive Palmer and Gina Rinehart were openly seeking to develop a Trumpian movement. The AEC decision was part of this broader lurch to the right. Why did the AEC reject our registration? Because there is an understanding within the ruling class of the widespread opposition and hostility to the government, the Coalition and all the ruling parties. The wholesale support of the Gaza genocide of the Palestinians by the Albanese government, the unbearable explosion in the cost of living in this country, and the attack on democratic rights, have resulted in the rejection by millions of ordinary people of the two main parties of rule in Australia. Crisp noted that in World War II, a Labor government had carried out similar measures to those now being enacted by Trump, including the internment of enemy aliens, such as Japanese people, and the widespread arrest and detention of socialists, including members of the Trotskyist movement. Why would one assume that a Labor government would not carry out such measures again today, Crisp asked, under conditions where it is fully committed to the program of war and has already carried out major repression of the mass opposition to the Gaza genocide? Crisp emphasised: [T]here is a force that can defeat the rise of fascism, of dictatorship and of war. That is the working class. It cannot do so with the leadership that exists at present. The Labor Party, the trade union leaderships, the Greens and the pseudo-lefts which support these parties have proven by their actions and political program as organisations that tie the struggle of workers to capitalism. That meant learning the lessons of history and building the SEP as the revolutionary leadership of the mass working-class struggles that will inevitably develop. A lively question and answer session followed the reports. Attendees asked about different elements of the analysis presented, including specific details of the measures being enacted by Trump and the bogus antisemitism campaign of the political establishment in Australia. Significantly, many of the questions centred on how attendees could assist in taking forward the SEPs work. Crisp, Boddy, Dove and other leading members of the party called on attendees to join the SEP as full members, to take forward this task, and to participate as actively as possible in the partys election campaign. Ruba Ghazal was elected without opposition as Quebec Solidaires female co-leader at the partys national convention last November. Alongside 2012 Quebec student strike leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Ghazal now leads the pro-independence, pseudo-left formation, as it makes a marked shift towards anti-immigrant chauvinism and economic nationalism in response to the capitalist crisis and Trumps return to the White House. The ruling class and the corporate media welcomed Ghazals election and have been full of praise for her. For example, the Journal de Montreal, a right-wing nationalist tabloid that promotes xenophobia, described her as one of Quebecs most promising politicians, capable of breathing new life into Quebec Solidaire. During an appearance on the prime-time CBC program Tout le monde en parle, Ghazal was described as a formidable politician, never radical. Quebec Premier Francois Legault has also praised Ghazal, calling her a model of integration in Quebec, a reference to her Palestinian origins. She arrived in Quebec, learned French and speaks it perfectly, he enthused. Shes involved in politics, she loves Quebec culture. Coming from the chauvinistic, ultra-conservative Legault, these remarks are highly revealing. The ruling class knows that behind her moderate left image, Ghazal is a fervent Quebec nationalist who poses no threat to the established capitalist order. During her more than six years as the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for the Montreal riding of Mercier, Ghazal has proven herself a loyal defender of the interests of Quebecs big-business elite. Ghazals selection as QS co-leader exemplifies the sharp rightward turn taken by this pseudo-left party of the privileged middle class. Over the past decade, QS has put aside its pretensions to be an oppositional party of the street, which were used to chloroform workers and young people, to more openly assume its true rolereviving Quebec nationalism and the reactionary Quebec independence project alongside the Parti Quebecois (PQ) and the sovereignist movement as a whole. Ruba Ghazal, speaking alongside another Quebec Solidaire MNA, at an event held in Sherbrooke on January 21 to celebrate the Quebec flag [Photo: Ruba Ghazal/Facebook] Ghazal comes from a family of Palestinian refugees and spent part of her youth in refugee camps in Lebanon. She immigrated to Canada at the age of 10. She holds a bachelors degree in business administration from the Universite de Montreals prestigious HEC business school, a masters degree in environmental studies and a certificate in occupational health and safety. Although she describes herself as a girl from the shop floor, Ghazal actually worked as a health, safety and environment manager for the American multinational Owens-Illinois. She subsequently entered politics, as a protege of Amir Khadir, Quebec Solidaires first-ever MNA, winning election to his old seat in 2018 when he retired from the partys senior ranks. In recent years, Ghazal has been in the forefront the QS leaderships pragmatic turn, that is the repudiation of its previous protest image in order to project itself as a responsible party, one that is de gouvernement or capable of administering the Quebec capitalist state. The few limited social reform measures QS proposes here and there, such as free school meals, are just window dressing. And even if these timid measures were ever implemented, they would do nothing to meaningfully address the vast social problems caused by decades of capitalist austerity. Ghazal and Quebec Solidaires increased promotion of Quebec independence is a key element in the partys pragmatic turn. Quebec Solidaires PQ partners have long criticized it for supposedly placing too much emphasis on its left-wing social project to the detriment of defending Quebecs interests and promoting independence, prompting QS to respond with a further shift to the right. Ghazal was the main public face of Quebec Solidaires 2024 tour to promote Quebec independence among university and CEGEP (technical and pre-university) students. According to her own observations, young people associateand rightly soQuebec nationalism with a discourse of identity and conservatism. Ghazals role is to change this perception, to cover up the true nature and function of nationalism and separatism: an instrument of class domination and an incubator for the most reactionary political forces. The fraudulent conception of inclusive and progressive nationalism Ghazal declared, for example, that nationalism does not belong to the right. It needs to be reclaimed by the left in the most inclusive way. I always say an inclusive, unifying and open nationalism. She added demagogically: The right-wing wind is blowing hard. While our opponents are fighting over who will be toughest on immigrants or who will be most accommodating to the very rich, we on the left are fighting for the people, were fighting for Quebec. This is a monumental fraud. The front-page of the QS statement promoting its supposed "inclusive vision" for an independent capitalist Quebec : "A New QuebecBuild a country that looks like us" [Photo: Quebec Solidaire] The nation-state, historically obsolete, is at the heart of the current crisis of the capitalist system. The contradiction between the growth of an ever more integrated world economy, underpinned by globalized production processes, and the division of the world into rival capitalist nation-states is driving the imperialist powers, including Canada, towards commercial/trade war and military conflict. It was this contradiction that lay at the root of the two world wars of the previous century, and today risks giving rise to a third. Indeed, the contours of such a catastrophe can already be perceived in the US-NATO-instigated war against Russia in Eastern Europe, Washingtons all-sided economic and military-strategic offensive against China, and the US-Israeli drive to create a new Middle East through a genocidal assault on the Palestinians and war against Iran and its allies. The globalization of production is a historically progressive process that increases labor productivity and unites workers across national borders. Under the democratic control of the working class, globalization would enable the rational planning and use of the Earths resources to reorganize society on a socialist and egalitarian basis, responding to the needs of all. Under capitalism, however, globalization is used by the major transnational corporations to move production anywhere in the world in search of ever cheaper labor to exploit; it also engenders a fierce struggle between different national capitalist cliques for access to resources and markets. In other words, the system of nation-states, in which private profit accumulation is rooted, makes it impossible to coordinate global production in order to satisfy human needs. This has been dramatically demonstrated by the inability of the capitalist ruling class to offer any scientific, coordinated response to the climate crisis threatening humanity, even though global warming, like the COVID-19 pandemic, ignores national borders. Nationalism is an ideological tool of the ruling class to mobilize the working class behind their economic struggles and wars against their capitalist rivals. The myth promoted by QS of a progressive nationalism is designed solely to better conceal the real class relations in Quebec, keep Quebec workers tied to the Quebec bourgeoisie, and turn them against their class brothers and sisters in the rest of Canada and the world. This fabrication goes hand in hand with the idea of a peaceful Quebec having nothing in common with the United States, where Trump is pushing to establish a fascist dictatorship. Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, for example, wrote on X that we must cherish the Quebec difference. Despite all our problems, were fine here in Quebec. Despite all our disagreements, we are still able to talk to each other, to imagine a future together. In reality, QS has already signaled that it will make common cause with the other bourgeois parties and the union bureaucracy to protect the class interests of the ruling elite in the face of Trumps trade war. This involves supporting retaliatory tariff measures against the the US, while advancing a Quebec First agenda that includes potentially striking deals with Washington at the expense of the Quebec elites rivals within the Canadian federal state. This economic war, which QS has already embarked on with its proposal to retaliate against Trump by raising the price of Quebecs electricity exports to the US, will be waged on the backs of the working class through increased worker exploitationausterity, the privatization of public services, job cuts and price hikes. QS, nationalism and the rise of far-right chauvinism As with the rise to power of the fascist Donald Trump in the United States and the Canadian medias promotion of Pierre Poilievre, his Conservatives and their Canada First program, the recent growth of nationalism in Quebec is directly linked to the rise of anti-immigrant chauvinism and the far right. Quebec Solidaire has been tasked with blurring this reality. Legaults Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) and the PQ are at the forefront of a campaign of Quebec chauvinist incitement in which the entire ruling elite, federalist and sovereignist (pro-Quebec independence), is complicit. This has included the adoption of a series of discriminatory laws to promote secularism and the primacy of the French language, such as Bills 21 and 96; agitation for a massive reduction in the number of immigrants; the denunciation of minorities as an existential threat to the Quebec nation and so forth. Despite this far-right agitation and agenda, QS consistently defends the PQ and CAQ against all charges of racism and xenophobia. In fact, QS has tacitly supported the attack on religious and cultural minorities by always insisting that the debate on secularism is legitimate and necessary. This position is summed up by Ghazal when she declares that saying we want fewer [immigrants] isnt the problem. Its when you say, We want fewer of them because theyre the cause of the housing crisis. That can be offensive. Quebec independence: a reactionary project for a new capitalist state in North America Equally fraudulent is QSs attempt to present independence as a progressive project for the Quebec people. In reality, powerful sections of the French-speaking Quebec ruling class, supported by layers of the middle class, advocate the creation of a new capitalist state in North America, whose borders would serve as a new means of dividing the working class. The Quebec bourgeoisie, assisted by the trade union bureaucracy, and with the tacit backing of Canadian capital, used Quebec independantiste nationalism to politically subjugate a militant working class upsurge in the Quebec of the 1960s and 70s that developed as part of a powerful offensive of the international working class. Like the May-June 1968 general strike in France, this movement had an immense emancipatory potential, but the unions channeled the social opposition of the working class behind the ruling elite and the pro-independence Parti Quebecois. The program of Quebec independence is now largely discredited, above all due to the brutal anti-worker austerity measures the PQ imposed during the multiple ocassions it held office over the past half-century. During the same period, the unprecedented integration of the global economy and internationalization of socioeconomic life has undermined the objective foundations for nationalism. While in any earlier period the PQ-led sovereignist movement tried to win popular support by associating, however insincerely, independence with social reform, over the past two decades it has based it calls for Quebecs secession from Canada ever more explicitly on ethnic-national exclusivism and anti-immigrant chauvinism. At the same time, with increasing frankness it has spelled out that a capitalist Republique du Quebec would mean the accelerated dismantling of public services and Quebecs increased participation in the crimes of imperialism, as a member of NATO, NORAD and other predatory alliances. As opposition grows in the working class internationally to Trumps drive towards dictatorship, and the embrace of authoritarianism and world war by the ruling elites in all the imperialist states, Ghazal and Quebec Solidaire are desperately trying to rebrand this political trap for the working class. As a form of extreme nationalism, the promotion of Quebec independence is aimed at dividing Quebec workers and isolating them from their class brothers and sisters elsewhere in Canada and internationally, in order to prevent the emergence of a unified working-class offensive against capitalism. QS as a defender of Canadian imperialism More often than not, Quebec Solidaire maintains a complicit silence on the crimes of Canadian imperialism abroad. Whenever it takes a clear stand, it does so, like the other parties in the National Assembly, in support of these crimes, under the false pretext that Canada is a force for peace in the world and is promoting human rights. This was the case when Ottawa joined Washingtons wars in Afghanistan, Libya and Syria to impose its hegemony in the vital, resource-rich Middle East. Ghazal herself has joined the US-Canadian imperialist campaign of aggression against Iran by organizing for the National Assembly to adopt a resolution that demonizes Irans bourgeois-clerical regime in the name of womens rights. QS is totally silent on the federal states massive military spending to advance the predatory interests of Canadian imperialism. This includes billions of dollars in military aid to the neo-Nazi-infested Ukrainian regime, which acts as a proxy force for Washington and NATO in the war against Russia. The aim of this war is to subjugate Russia in order to loot its resources and better position the western powers for a possible war against China. QS has also joined the ruling elite in supporting Israels genocidal assault on the Gaza Palestinians. When a QS MNA dared to denounce the complicity of the Quebec political establishment in the Gaza genocide, Ghazal and the QS leadership told him to shut up and demanded a public apology. An independent political movement of the working class must be built QS is following the same path as Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain and Die Linke in Germany, parties that QS calls its cousins. Despite their left pretensions, when in government these parties have imposed savage austerity on the working class, attacked migrants fleeing war and advanced the interests of European imperialism, including by staunchly supporting the war on Russia and European rearmament. Were Quebec Solidaire to come to office, it would be no less ruthless in attacking the working class than its Liberal, PQ and CAQ predecessors. The working class must reject the national-chauvinist agitation of the Quebec political establishment, just as workers across Canada must reject Canadian nationalism, the political-ideological weapon of the federalist sections of the financial and business elite. Workers in Quebec and across Canada face the same fundamental issues as workers in the US, Europe and internationally: attacks on wages, living conditions and public services; the elimination of democratic rights; the rise of far-right forces; the threat of global nuclear war; pandemics and global warming. The working class must prepare for the fierce class struggles on the horizon by building an independent political movement that will unite workers across national borders in the fight for workers power and socialism. This is the program for which the Socialist Equality Party, as the Canadian section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, is fighting. The arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, Turkeys largest city with a population of 16 million, by police raiding his home on Wednesday morning, marks a new stage in President Recep Tayyip Erdogans establishment of a presidential dictatorship. The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Socialist Equality Group), the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, and the World Socialist Web Site demand the immediate release of Imamoglu and countless other political prisoners. Those charged with terrorism are actually imprisoned for exercising their basic democratic rights, including freedom of expression and political activity. Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, giving a speech in front of Istanbul Palace of Justice on 31 January 2025. [Photo: X / @ekrem_imamoglu] It is an open secret that the Erdogan government uses the judiciary as a weapon to suppress its political opponents. The fact that the methods that have been used to persecute Kurdish politicians and leftists in particular are now being turned against the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), the largest bourgeois opposition party, marks a major escalation. The CHP is the party that founded the Turkish Republic and, after two decades in opposition, overtook Erdogans AKP in the local elections in 2024 to become the first party, with Imamoglu one of its main political figures. Imamoglus potential arrest had been hinted at by Erdogan himself for some time. The immediate reason was growing indications in polls that Imamoglu could defeat Erdogan in the next election, set for 2028, as the CHPs presidential candidate. To prevent this, Imamoglus university diploma was first revoked on Tuesday, and then he was taken into custody by police on Wednesday morning for at least four days. This was a preventive coup against a future president likely to be elected by more than 50 percent of voters. The government knew this illegitimate operation would trigger mass protests, but the Istanbul Governorates attempt to suppress social opposition quickly failed. A four-day ban on demonstrations, declared in violation of the constitution, was overturned by mass protests by workers and students, while large crowds across the country took to the streets to protest this anti-democratic attack. On Wednesday evening, tens of thousands of people filled the area in front of the municipality building in Istanbul. On Thursday, mass demonstrations continued in Istanbul and many other provinces, particularly at universities. Imamoglus arrest follows a broad state crackdown over the past few months. Elected mayors from the CHP and its ally in the 2024 local elections, the Kurdish nationalist Peoples Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), as well as leaders of various left groups allied with these parties, were targeted. An investigation involving approximately 6,000 people was revealed, and the will of millions of voters was disregarded as the Interior Ministry appointed trustees in many municipalities to replace elected mayors. The Erdogan governments drive to get rid of its bourgeois opposition is due to two main factors that reflect the deepening crisis of the global capitalist system. The first is growing social inequality and class tensions. According to the Credit Suisse 2023 report, Turkey leads Europe in wealth inequality, with the top 1 percent of the population controlling 40 percent of wealth and the richest 10 percent controlling 70 percent. Eurostat also ranks Turkey first in income inequality in Europe. Official data show that in Turkey, where 32 million people are employed, 43 percent of workers, or about 14 million people, earn a minimum wage equivalent to about a quarter of the poverty line for a family of four. These conditions, combined with a severe cost-of-living crisis, provoke growing struggles of workers. The Erdogan government responds by banning strikes on the grounds that they are harmful to national security. Mehmet Turkmen, the leader of the independent union BIRTEK-SEN, who was targeted for a wildcat strike movement of the textile workers in Gaziantep, has been in prison since February. The second factor is the escalating imperialist wars in the region surrounding Turkey, in which the Turkish bourgeoisie is deeply involved. The consequences of the US-NATO regime-change war in Syria since 2011 and the far-right coup in Ukraine in 2014, which ultimately led to war with Russia, have accelerated Turkeys moves toward dictatorship. Ankara enthusiastically participated in the US-led reactionary war in Syria using Islamist militias as proxies. Later, as Kurdish militias emerged as the main proxy of the Pentagon, forming the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Ankara responded by strengthening ties with Moscow. The tensions that led Turkey to be labeled an unreliable ally in the West culminated in the 2016 attempted military coup aimed at overthrowing Erdogan. After defeating the NATO-backed coup thanks to mass opposition, he launched a severe counterattack by declaring a state of emergency that lasted nearly two years. The 2017 constitutional referendum, whose results were disputed, granted Erdogan broad powers. Erdogans governments offensive against the Kurdish nationalist movement, both in Syria and within Turkey, received support from the CHP. The Kurdish deputies of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), the predecessor of the DEM Party, were imprisoned on fabricated terrorism charges after their immunities were lifted with CHP support. Multiple military invasions into Syria targeting the SDF were also authorized with CHP votes. Mass protests that erupted over irregularities in the 2017 referendum were quickly brought under control by the CHP. Turkeys transition to a new stage of presidential dictatorship is closely linked to the deepening of war in the Middle East and the impetus given to authoritarian forms of rule worldwide by Donald Trumps second presidency. Trump has begun to rule as dictator on day one, effectively declaring he will not recognize the Constitution or judicial decisions. As the commander-in-chief of NATOs second-largest army, Erdogan is praised by his ally in the White House, not only for constructing a presidential dictatorship that suppresses any kind of opposition, but also for his lawless foreign policy. In a statement in early January, Trump said that President Erdogan is a friend of mine. Hes a guy I like, respect. I think he respects me also, before adding: If you look at what happened with Syria, Russia was weakened, Iran was weakened, and hes a very smart guy. And he sent his people in there through different forms and different names, and they went in and they took over in Damascus. Erdogan made a phone call to Trump just three days before Imamoglus arrest, their first conversation since November. It was reported that Erdogan expressed his support for Trumps efforts to reach a negotiated settlement in the Ukraine war with Russia. The two leaders also reportedly discussed Syria, where al-Qaeda-linked groups backed by the United States and Turkey seized power in December. While no details were given, the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and plans against Iran and its allies, including the Houthis in Yemen, were certainly discussed. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told his Turkish counterpart Mehmet Simsek that the Trump administration was committed to restoring maximum pressure on Iran. The overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon have dealt a severe blow to Irans influence in the region, while the genocide in Gaza continues to intensify. Washington has been targeting Yemen with airstrikes since last week, preparing for war against Tehran alongside its Zionist attack dog. Turkeys stance is crucial for Washingtons plans, as it hosts numerous US-NATO bases, including a radar base monitoring Tehran, and shares a long border with Iran. The recent increase in tensions between Turkey and Iran accompanies the US quest for a new Middle East under its full domination. In a late February interview with Al Jazeera, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan responded to allegations that Iran might be supporting the Kurdish SDF in Syria by saying, If you support a group in another country to create unrest, another country might support a group in your country to create unrest. He was referring to the large Turkic-Azeri population in Iran. This interview was followed by the reciprocal summoning of ambassadors. The Erdogan government has begun negotiations with Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in an attempt to dismantle the PKK and its affiliates in Iraq and Syria. The SDF, which considers Ocalan its leader, recently announced that it had agreed to be integrated into the new Ankara-backed regime in Damascus. With this initiative, which has the support of parliamentary groups, including the DEM and the CHP, Erdogan hopes to resolve a major point of conflict with Washington, which backs the SDF in Syria. It could also pave the way for bringing together Turkey, the new Damascus regime and the Kurdish movement, in a US-led anti-Iranian axis. Erdogan is making his domestic policy with the awareness that he is a critical ally for the Trump administration in the Middle East. Erdogans escalation of state crackdown at home follows his call last September to strengthen the internal front in relation to the deepening Middle East war. He claimed that Israel, whose war machine he continues to feed, especially by intermediating the flow of Azeri oil, might target Turkey after Palestine and Lebanon. In the event of such a conflict or a war against Iran, the goal of neutralizing the Kurdish nationalist movement as a threat to the interests of the Turkish bourgeoisie and potentially turning it into an ally in line with Turkeys ambitions in Syria and Iraq played a significant role in restarting negotiations with the PKK. As the Erdogan government seeks to strengthen ties with Washington, it also aims to exploit growing tensions between the US and European powers and advance its goal of joining the European Union. In the wake of Trumps unilateral move toward a deal with Russia, Ankara has declared that Turkey is indispensable to European security and is among the countries considering sending troops to Ukraine. The Erdogan government also continues to play its reactionary role in preventing millions of refugees in Turkey from crossing into Europe, using this as leverage. Erdogan calculates that his European allies, who are engaged in massive social attacks to finance unpopular wars and militarism and are promoting the rise of far-right forces, will not go beyond token criticisms of developments in Turkey. This shows that the struggle against dictatorship and for democratic rights cannot be separated from the struggle against the ruling class and imperialist war. This is precisely why the CHP, which is a traditional faction of the ruling elites and oriented towards NATO and EU imperialism, is totally incapable of leading this struggle. The first thing the CHP did after winning the local elections last year was to start a process of normalization with Erdogan. At the same time, young people and workers who protested the governments complicity in the Israeli genocide in Gaza or who exercised their right to demonstrate on May Day were violently attacked by the police and arrested. Imamoglu himself was the first leading figure who wanted to visit Damascus after the regime-change in Syria. In his message from custody, Imamoglu speaks of changing this unequal, unjust and corrupt order, but this is not possible in the capitalist social system. The only social force that can ensure equality, justice and establish a democratic regime is the working class, which must be armed with an international socialist program to take power. This is the perspective for which the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu fights. TEHRAN, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned here on Friday that the United States and its allies will receive a "hard slap" if they use threats when dealing with Iran. "The Americans should know that, when dealing with Iran, they will get nowhere with threats. They and the others should know that if they take any malicious action against the Iranian nation, they will receive a hard slap," Khamenei said during a meeting with people from different walks of life in the country. The U.S. and European allegation that resistance groups in the West Asia region are Iran's proxies was a "big mistake and an insult to these groups," he said, noting that Iran does not need any proxy. He called for opposing and resisting Israel's "malicious acts" in any way possible. Khamenei's remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump recently accused Iran of "still sending large levels of supplies" to the Houthi armed group in Yemen, and promised to hold Iran "fully accountable" for Houthi actions. Last week, the Houthi group said it would resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab al-Mandab Strait until crossings into Gaza are reopened and humanitarian aid is allowed in. On Saturday, the United States renewed airstrikes on Yemen, after Trump vowed a continued crackdown on the Houthi group until it ends attacks on Red Sea shipping. On Tuesday, Israel resumed strikes in Gaza after its ceasefire deal with Hamas that began on Jan. 19 unraveled. Israeli troops later launched ground operations in southern, northern, and central Gaza. In response, the Houthis threatened on Tuesday to "resume escalation at its highest levels" against Israel if the renewed Israeli assault on Gaza does not stop. The group has subsequently launched new attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets. Thousands of migratory birds return to the Yellow River Wetland in Dalate Banner, China's northern city of Ordos, embracing spring. Under the warm sun and amid the gentle breeze, they play on the thawing river, composing a symphony of spring and showcasing environmental progress. Produced by Xinhua Global Service BRUSSELS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that Paris will host a summit of the "coalition of the willing" supporting Ukraine on March 27 to discuss further military aid for Kyiv. Speaking to reporters following a European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, Macron said the meeting will focus on short-term military support for Ukrainian forces and explore how European countries can provide long-term security guarantees to help Ukraine sustain its defense. "The entire process will be finalized in the next few days," Macron said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from multiple European countries are expected to attend the Paris summit. The EU summit, originally scheduled for two days, was cut short and concluded Thursday after just one day at the bloc's headquarters in Brussels. Leaders discussed key issues including European competitiveness, the situation in Ukraine, defense cooperation and developments in the Middle East. Zelensky addressed EU leaders via video on Thursday, urging European Union leaders to promptly approve a package of at least 5 billion euros (5.45 billion U.S. dollars) for artillery shells and continued pressure on Russia. Li Dong prepares for patrol at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Forest rangers patrol at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Li Dong takes out an infrared camera installed under a rock at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 19, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote mountain patrols and six low-lying mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A drone photo shows forest rangers patrolling at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A drone photo shows a group of elk at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 19, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Forest rangers patrol at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Li Dong (front) and other forest rangers patrol at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Forest rangers patrol at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Li Dong (front) counts the number of elk at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 19, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A drone photo shows forest rangers patrolling at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Li Dong walks to an elk with suspected injury at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 19, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A drone photo shows a management station at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Li Dong (C) talks about moss protecting at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 19, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Forest rangers patrol at Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Li Dong, vice head of a management station of Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, has dedicated over 30 years to protecting the forests of Helan Mountain. With a pair of binoculars, Li conducts at least three remote-mountain patrols and six low-lying-mountain patrols each month, covering a cumulative distance of over 40,000 kilometers these years. The Helan Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1992, is a forest and wildlife reserve located at the border of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At present, there are 75 species of wild animals under national protection at the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Maintenance engineers repair an engine at the engine overhaul workshop of Taikoo Engine Services (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Fu Min) XIAMEN, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Foreign investors have actively increased investment and expanded production in east China's Fujian Province, expressing enthusiasm for investment and firm confidence in China. At the engine overhaul workshop of Taikoo Engine Services (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., an engineering branch of the multinational company Swire Group, maintenance engineers are busy repairing dozens of engines. Founded in 2008, the enterprise is a global one-stop aviation maintenance base in Xiamen. Simon Smith, director and general manager of the company, said that they saw revenue grow by over 30 percent in 2024. Moreover, he anticipates continued growth, projecting a compound annual growth rate of at least 5 percent for the next decade. According to Smith, the enterprise plans to invest around 100 million U.S. dollars in new technology and product development over the next few years. "We are going to invest in 4D inspection technologies, drone robotics, and AI technology, and build a 9,500-square-meter expansion to our facility which should be completed by January 2026," he said. For Smith, the Chinese market is both huge and important, and it will continue to be central to their opportunities in the future. "The aviation market is growing in China, and it presents a lot of opportunities to grow with it," he said. Alu Rehab (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Germany-headquartered Meyra Group, a global leader in wheelchairs and rehabilitation aids, has been a witness to China's steady development over the years. In 2024, they enjoyed a record year in both turnover and the number of units sold. "The potential of China is huge. Our sales in the Chinese market over the last two years have increased. We have just talked to the distributors about this year and they are very optimistic for 2025," said Jan Laegaard Broni, Meyra Group's executive vice president. "So for sure, we'll put more focus into domestic sales and activities in China." "We always invest in research and development (R&D). This is what we have done for the last 15 years -- investing in the future in China because we have always believed the potential is there," he said. The new Xiamen Industrial Park, currently under construction and intended for rental by Schneider Electric, is more than double the size of its existing factory in Xiamen. It is expected to double its production capacity over the next five years. "The park will become a major R&D center, manufacturing center and supply hub for Schneider Electric to serve the global medium voltage market, which shows that the company has been optimistic about the Chinese market and we are determined to deepen the operations in Xiamen," said Frederic Godemel, executive vice president, energy management, Schneider Electric. According to Godemel, China has always been an important source of innovation for Schneider Electric globally. Schneider Electric will continue to reinforce the "China Hub" strategy and continue to increase investment in innovation. In recent years, foreign investors have maintained strong enthusiasm for investing in Fujian, further deepening their presence in the Chinese market. Data show that in 2024, there were 102 newly introduced projects with an investment of more than 1 billion yuan (about 139.48 million U.S. dollars) each in Fujian Province, with the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises increasing by 9.7 percent. By the end of 2024, more than 75,000 enterprises had been set up by foreign investors in Fujian, and the actual use of foreign investment exceeded 150 billion U.S. dollars. In 2024, Fujian formulated and implemented a slew of measures to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign investment and protect the national treatment of foreign-invested enterprises. In February this year, China issued an action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025. Per the plan, China will support pilot regions in effectively implementing opening-up policies related to such areas as value-added telecommunication, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, providing whole-journey services for foreign-invested projects in these sectors. "China's proposal of high-quality development and new quality productive forces will undoubtedly bring more development opportunities for multinational enterprises. The Chinese market is very attractive. Schneider Electric is full of confidence in deepening our presence in the Chinese market," said Godemel. A worker assembles wheelchairs at the workshop of Alu Rehab (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Fu Min) Prince William is in Estonia for the first time as he makes his first official international trip of 2025. The Prince of Wales, 42, arrived in the small state on the Baltic Sea in northeastern Europe on the afternoon of March 20. He is visiting the country, which borders Russia, for two days. His trip is a solo one without his wife, Kate Middleton, and he is there to visit some of the British troops who are stationed there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But his first stop was to visit the President, Alar Karis. The conflict in Ukraine is likely to be on the agenda. William is Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, which is part of NATOs eastern flank as part of Operation Cabrit. The operation has British troops based in Poland as well. Victoria Jones/Shutterstock Prince William on his first afternoon in Tallinn, Estonia, on Mar. 20, 2025 Prince William on his first afternoon in Tallinn, Estonia, on Mar. 20, 2025 "Operation Cabrit is the name of the U.K. operational deployment to Estonia where British troops are leading a multinational battlegroup as part of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP)," the British Army says. "U.K. Armed Forces have a leading role in NATOs eFP in the Baltic States in order to enhance Euro-Atlantic security, reassure our Allies and deter our adversaries." Related: Prince William Makes Surprise Poland Trip to 'Look into the Eyes' of Those Helping Ukraine and 'Say Thank You' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is also spending time in the capital Tallinn to learn more about how the country has responded to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and how Estonia is innovating in renewable energy and technology amid the critical energy security issues in Eastern Europe. Prince William is expected to meet some Ukrainian families who have fled to Estonia in the last three years. It will be seen as another step in his burgeoning role as an international statesman. Two years ago, the royal traveled to Poland to see some of the efforts undertaken by British, European and U.S. allies to help Ukraine and met some of the refugees displaced by the war. Related: Prince William Joins Royals and World Leaders as He Stands in for King Charles at D-Day Event Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His spokesperson said then, "This is a continuation of the evolution of his role as a global statesperson. We talk often about him using his global platform for the good of the environment, via Earthshot. But this is the first opportunity for him to take a visit of this kind as Prince of Wales and, given that it is one of the biggest political issues facing every country on the planet, this is a demonstration of him growing as a statesmanlike figure." Chris Jackson/Getty Prince William and President Alar Karis of Estonia at the Presidential office in Tallinn on Mar. 20, 2025 Prince William and President Alar Karis of Estonia at the Presidential office in Tallinn on Mar. 20, 2025 In recent years, Prince William has had top-level meetings with President Joe Biden when he was in Boston for his environmental initiative, the Earthshot Prize, in 2022 and President Donald Trump in December 2024 when he was invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to Notre Dame's reopening, a job he undertook on behalf of his father, King Charles. The Prince of Wales also represented the U.K. alongside other world leaders at the commemorations of D-Day in northern France in June 2024. Related: Prince William Steps Up His Statesman Role to Represent King Charles at Reopening of Notre Dame Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, William has also met the leaders from South Africa and Qatar as he helped his father welcome them for state visits or traveled to countries for his Earthshot Prize. It is the second visit by a member of the British royal family this year. Williams follows that of his uncle Prince Edward, 61, who traveled to Estonia for a two-day stay in January to undertake a series of military engagements. He had gone there in his royal role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Dragoon Guards and went to see troops deployed to Estonia. Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images Prince William meeting Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw, Poland in Mar. 2023 Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! On Monday, March 17, Princess Kate, 43, underlined her commitment to one of her regiments, the Irish Guards. As honorary Colonel of the regiment, a role she took over from William, she took part in the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations with some of the troops in London. Read the original article on People DHAKA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi interim government has decided to declare an additional holiday through an executive order for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. A meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in the chair decided to declare April 3 as a holiday. The decision was made with the largest Muslim festival expected to be celebrated in the country on or around March 31 based on the sighting of the new moon. With the declaration of the additional holiday for April 3, the government employees in Bangladesh will now enjoy a continuous nine-day holiday from March 28. Writers write for a variety of reasons to process emotions, interpret what they see or wish to see in the world, or create an escape. To make ends meet, many face the added challenge of working around the demands of other jobs. For three local writers, practicing their craft got a little easier with awards from the Rhode Island Foundation's Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund. Chosen from a pool of 189 applicants, Afua Ansong, Gina Rodriguez-Drix and Seth Tourjee will receive $30,000 grants to focus on their work. By giving these writers the financial freedom to advance their craft, we invest in their future and in a sector that creates the connections that bring us together as neighbors and a community, said the Rhode Island Foundation's president and CEO, David. N. Cicilline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Established in 2003, the MacColl Johnson Fellowships rotate annually among composers, writers and visual artists. Applicants must be legal residents of Rhode Island. The awards have no strings attached the winners can simply concentrate on their craft, professional development or exploring new directions. This year's recipients each have different ideas about how theyll use the grant. Here are their stories. Afua Ansong: An ode to West Africa Afua Ansong turns memories of her native Ghana into poems, shedding "light on the enduring cultural impact of African practices and artistic forms. Ansong, who immigrated to the United States at 12, began by turning memories of her native Ghana into poems. Her work lengthened, describing emotions surrounding her family loss, reforming of immigrant identities and memory as both comfort and heartbreak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her heart and her writing are never far from West Africa as she gives a voice to the experience of those still there. Her work evolved from mostly nonfiction to observances where she surmises what the subject goes through. My work amplifies voices from underrepresented communities and uses poetry to connect contemporary artistic expression with traditional cultural practices," she says. "It also sheds light on the enduring cultural impact of African practices and artistic forms. Her current full-length manuscript, I Buried [Her] in the Field of Lemongrass, which explores ceremonies of death and rebirth for African immigrant women, was a finalist for awards including the 2024 Levis Prize, Philip Levine Prize, Autumn House Rising Writer Prize and the 2023 National Poetry Series. Asked why she writes, Ansong explains, To think, to ask a question about my immediate world, to uncover the nuances and challenges of the everyday person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Readers, she hopes, finish her work with new information that keeps echoing in their life or coming back as a memory. The award will help Ansong complete the manuscript for her novel in verse titled "Adinkra: Farewell." The work, which she hopes to finish within the next year, looks at the not-uncommon practice of African immigrant women who choose to return to their native country. Additionally, she plans to offer in-person and virtual poetry workshops in Ghana. What do we know about immigrants? she asks. Let me put myself in their shoes and see how they make a home where they are. Its a message applicable to many. Ansong earned a Ph.D. in English literature and creative writing as well as an MBA at the University of Rhode Island and an MFA at Stony Brook University. She is an assistant professor of Africana studies at URI. Gina Rodriguez-Drix: Family legacy of Mariel Boatlift Gina Rodriguez-Drix plans to use her grant to write a novel based on her family's experience as Cuban immigrants. Her father emigrated to the U.S. during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift. Rodriguez-Drix feels called to write and says if one doesnt respond to such a call, its felt in the soul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like I have to write, she says, adding that shes fascinated with anything that envelops her in a story. Writing always helps me come back to center." The daughter of a Cuban refugee exiled to the U.S. as part of the 1980 Mariel Boatlift, she is also called to represent the experiences of her father and others in her work, much of which details the resilience of families facing physical, emotional and ideological separations. Its important to support these stories and find ways to imagine yourself in someone elses experience, especially now, Rodriguez-Drix says. Her current project is a novel based on her familys experience and how this micro-population of Cuban immigrants struggles with their heritage and reconnecting with relatives. The fellowship funding will enable her to travel to research her novel, including visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, various archives and writers conferences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the fellowship will support her with the gift of time. I have diligently worked on this passion project for years, said Rodriguez-Drix. This is a catalytic opportunity, as it will support me to carve time and space for writing and research, and to complete this story that will not let me go. Sharing the experiences in her own words is both exhilarating and terrifying, but she hopes readers get a sense of resonance with it; art is subjective, so they may feel anger, joy, disgust. The Providence arts administrator has a bachelor of arts degree in Africana studies from Brown University and has worked in the nonprofit cultural sector, public service and higher education. Seth Tourjee: 'Writing between genres' to push the boundaries of language Seth Tourjee will use the grant to explore visual forms of poetry through a new series of collage poems and finish a draft of an experimental young adult novel. As a naturally quiet person, Tourjee has always looked to writing as the most natural and comfortable means of communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Words have always fascinated me, says the Providence author of a book of poetry, "Sam Says, Sam," and three fiction chapbooks, which are longer than a short story but shorter than a novella or novel. They enjoy writing between genres, feeling that the work dictates the form. This is a way of experiencing the world a little deeper. When I see things, I think about why I noticed it or why it was important to me. Then I come back to it in a creative way, Tourjee says. They enjoy pushing the boundaries of language and flexing its ability to relay stories centered on the human experience. Embracing that is what they hope their work gives readers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope readers feel how I use language to articulate experiences we have that we dont see because they are so common, they say. I hope to bring readers in to hear what Im saying, and that leads to a moment of discovery. The award will allow Tourjee to continue exploring visual forms of poetry through a new series of collage poems. In addition, they hope to finish a draft of an experimental young adult novel focused on disability and queerness. The work is personal, as Tourjee was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teen. Tourjee who earned an MFA in literary arts, fiction at Brown and a BA in English at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a content and curriculum consultant at Watson Creative Consulting. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: MacColl Johnson Fellowships: How 3 RI writers will use $30,000 grants Filly, a jaguar from Belize who arrived here earlier this year, has "successfully transferred" to her habitat in the Milwaukee County Zoo's Big Cat Country, the zoo reported in a post on its Facebook page. The March 18 post includes a video of Filly exploring her new home. A female jaguar estimated to be 6 or 7 years old, Filly arrived at the zoo Jan. 23 from the Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center. After her arrival, she went through a standard quarantine period and related onboarding care from zoo staff. Filly, a jaguar from Belize, is acclimating to her new home at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Filly was humanely trapped in 2019 and brought to the Belize Zoo through the Human Jaguar Conflict Program, which rescues jaguars that have been reported to be preying on livestock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These are nearly always jaguars who are older, injured, or sick and unable to compete successfully with healthy jaguars for food and territory," Milwaukee County Zoo stated in its January announcement of Filly's arrival. The Milwaukee zoo's animal care team has taken a one-step-at-a-time approach to acclimating Filly, and they will keep monitoring her in her new environment. In the Facebook post, the zoo said that Filly and resident male jaguar Frankie may see each other in passing, but they will not be directly introduced to each other until "she is confident in all jaguar habitat areas, and not until she shows signs of estrus. After the first meeting, the animal care team will follow Filly and Frankie's cues to let us know if they want to be together." The Milwaukee and Belize zoos have a conservation partnership that goes back to the 1980s. Frankie is the son of Pat, who arrived from the Belize Zoo in 2008 and also was a conflict jaguar, according to the Milwaukee County Zoo. More: Free admission days and events at Milwaukee museums and the zoo in April Note: This story was updated to add a photo. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Zoo visitors can now see the zoo's new jaguar, Filly DENVER (KDVR) One person is facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to light Molotov cocktails to start a fire at a Loveland Tesla dealership in February. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced Thursday that three people are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in the violent destruction of Tesla properties around the country. The three are accused of using Molotov cocktails to set fire to Tesla vehicles and charging stations. US attorney general labels Tesla vandalism domestic terrorism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Lucy Grace Nelson, who was initially charged with malicious destruction of property, was federally indicted on charges of: Possession of an unregistered firearm Possession of unregistered firearms Malicious (attempted) destruction of property According to a release from the Department of Justice, Nelson was arrested in Loveland after allegedly attempting to light Teslas on fire with Molotov cocktails. The DOJ said Nelson was allegedly in possession of materials used to produce more incendiary weapons. The federal complaint accuses Nelson of knowingly and unlawfully possessing a firearm that is a destructive device that was not registered on or around Jan. 29. Then on or around Feb. 7, according to the complaint, Nelson knowingly and unlawfully possessed unregistered firearms that were destructive devices, as well as attempted to use fire and explosive materials to damage and destroy vehicles used in interstate or foreign commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nelson is set for a three-day jury trial beginning May 5 at 9 a.m. James Allbee, a law enforcement procedural expert, told FOX31 that these types of crimes are politically motivated against objects, not people, which he called the lesser of the evil. This is kind of a nationwide crime spree that were seeing specifically with this manufacturer, as being targeted, Allbee told FOX31s Kasia Kerrdige. I think thats where the deterrence is going to kick in is the fact that theres federal minimum sentencing guidelines that are much more adhered to than here in Colorado. Another defendant is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon while armed with a suppressed AR-15 rifle. The third defendant is accused of writing profane messages against President Trump near Tesla charging stations in Charleston, South Carolina, before lighting them on fire with Molotov Cocktails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ said each defendant faces serious charges that carry a penalty of five to 20 years in prison. The exact charges were not specified. Cords cut at Tesla charging stations at Colorado Mills, police investigating The Loveland Police Department provided the following statement: The Loveland Police Department is so grateful for the collaboration we have had with our federal partners, like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, along with that of the Federal Bureau of Investigations. To have these criminal acts being taken so seriously is reassuring, as those committing such crimes must be held accountable. The acts which occurred at our Loveland Tesla endangered human beings, not just property, and that is never acceptable. The investigators involved have worked relentlessly to ensure that those committing such crimes were held responsible. We are thankful for the hard work of those involved, the support of our community during this time, and the attention given to this by media sources. Loveland Police Department Bondi described the string of incidents as a wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, and the DOJ said it is committed to ending acts of violence and arson directed at Tesla properties and otherwise. Lakewood police aware of video showing person vandalizing Cybertruck Its discouraging and super unfortunate that were in this day in age where we feel like we have to go and vandalize peoples property to try to prove a point, Allbee told Kerridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Loveland Tesla dealership has been the target of several reported crimes in the last few weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A driver was killed following a crash in Pahrump on Tuesday after crossing into another travel lane, according to police. According to Nevada State Police, the driver of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was traveling southbound on State Route 160 north of Rainbow Avenue when for unknown reasons traveled left across both the left turn travel lane and centerline into the northbound travel lanes. The driver of a Dodge Ram pickup was traveling in the northbound lanes and attempted to steer right to avoid crashing with the Toyota, but was unsuccessful. The right front of the Toyota struck the front of the Dodge. The Toyota was re-directed to the left and then entered into the paved northbound outside shoulder and desert area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dodge was re-directed to the right and entered the paved northbound outside shoulder and desert area, just east of the Toyota. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation by Nevada State Police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAYTON, Utah (ABC4) One person was critically injured from an electrocution accident in a Layton neighborhood, the Layton City Police Department said. According to police, a 24-year-old man had been cleaning rain gutters when the ladder he was on touched powerlines, leading to the electrocution. A co-worker he was with reportedly attempted to move the ladder, which burnt her hands. Layton City Fire said that life-saving measures were performed and the man was taken to the University of Utah Medical Center by U of U AirMed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient and their loved ones during this difficult time, Layton City Fire wrote in an online post. An investigation is currently underway. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Albuquerque police said an officer-involved shooting happened on Sage Rd. just east near Unser on Thursday. Police said the suspect was wanted for murder. Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina said the shooting happened after the man tried to escape when confronted. He said officers tried to use less lethal means to get the man into custody but he ran toward a residential area. It is extremely dangerous when you have an armed individual who is fleeing from officers armed with a gun trying to get into an residential area. He is doing everything he can to get away from officers, said Medina. That person is in custody and was taken to the hospital. Their condition is not known. Officers were not injured. Albuquerque man sentenced for deadly 2023 shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Multi-Agency Task Force is investigating the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 31, 2024 - Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Anyone miserable in their jobs will take some solace from Careless People, a blistering new memoir by Sarah Wynn-Williams, former global public policy director at Facebook (since rebranded as Meta). This tale of her years at the company, from her idealistic pitch for an international role in 2011 to her firing in 2017, charts a descent into the swamp of Silicon Valleys narcissistic greed and frigid amorality, offering personal indictments of several executives to whom she answered, including Joel Kaplan, Sheryl Sandberg, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In the book, Wynn-Williams details how Facebooks managerial disputes and failures in this period, when it was rapidly expanding around the globe, had dire and fatal effects. Able to describe even her near-death by shark attack in her New Zealand childhood with frighteningly sober clarity, the former diplomat covers political scandals and workplace nightmares with zero hyperbole only regret for continuing to believe in Facebooks potential as signs of catastrophe grew impossible to ignore. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meta has sought to limit the impact of Careless People, winning an emergency ruling from a U.S. arbitrator to prevent Wynn-Williams from distributing or promoting the book, which was kept a closely guarded secret until shortly before its release this month. In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, the company dismissed it as a mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about the company and false accusations about our executives, claiming that Wynn-Williams was fired for poor performance and toxic behavior, and that an investigation at the time determined she made misleading and unfounded allegations of harassment. Former Meta employees have also disputed details of the book. A representative for Sandberg, who is no longer with the company, declined to comment about how she is depicted in Careless People. Macmillan Publishers and its imprint Flatiron Books are standing behind the tell-all, which is now the New York Times number one bestseller. Here are 11 of the wildest moments from Wynn-Williams journey to the heart of Big Tech. An Aborted Organ Drive Early in her tenure at Facebook, Wynn-Williams writes, she sought to convince leadership to forge connections with foreign governments as it looked to grow user bases in those countries. At one point, chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg decided on a global organ donation initiative, despite the overwhelming cultural, legal, and religious complexities it presented and the fact that Facebook was hardly equipped to serve as an organ or patient registry. Wynn-Williams recalls how frustrated Sandberg became when she heard that the program would merely encourage people to sign up with local donation sites, in part because of concerns about the company enabling organ trafficking. Sandberg, according to the book, posed a bizarre rhetorical question: Do you mean to tell me that if my four-year-old was dying and the only thing that would save her was a new kidney, that I couldnt fly to Mexico and get one and put it in my handbag? Wynn-Williams writes that she was forced to carefully explain, to Sandbergs apparent displeasure, that this is indeed illegal. The initiative was radically scaled down, though Sandberg ensured that registered as an organ donor could appear on user pages as a life event, like a marriage or moving to a new city. Hillary Clinton in a Colombian Salsa Club One surreal scene unfolded on a trip Wynn-Williams took to Cartagena, Colombia, in 2012, with Facebooks head of global growth, Javier Olivan. Wynn-Williams writes that she was given the unusual mission of convincing this executive to remain at the company even after he and other early employees struck it rich on an imminent IPO, and by her own admission, she didnt really know how she might make the case for staying. But the visit for a summit among heads of state went well enough, and, after midnight one evening, she found herself partying with her coworker and some of his friends in the area, who eventually migrated from the tourist center of the city into gritty neighborhoods and found a back-alley salsa club. It was there that Olivan declared he had spotted Hillary Clinton. Wynn-Williams chalked it up to the drinks and the excitement of the summit, arguing, there is no chance that the U.S. secretary of state is here. Lo and behold, Clinton was partying, too: Beer in hand, next to the band, dancing with a small group of her staff, security detail conspicuous with their earpieces in the steamy club. The cabinet official was completely caught up in the music, right in the front, clapping and swinging her hips. Some after-hours diplomacy, it seems. Bruising Board Games As Facebooks influence spread and Wynn-Williams role became more significant, she spent more time with Mark Zuckerberg, and writes that their office relationship could be quite awkward. At one point, Zuckerberg told her he had no interest in meeting the prime minister of New Zealand, not realizing the prime minister was standing with them. The social interactions werent always much better. During a tour of Asia, she writes, Zuckerberg suggested playing the strategy board game Settlers of Catan and while everyone got into the nerdy spirit of it, Wynn-Williams began to suspect that her colleagues deliberately never went after their boss. Youre letting him win, she told them, but they denied it, while Zuckerberg, she writes, seemed totally oblivious. Years later, she again played board games with Zuckerberg on his private jet, and didnt hold back, beating him twice in a row. Both times, she says, he accused her of cheating. You had multiple ways to win, she informed him the second time, laying out the better moves he could have made toward the end of the round. The dispute turned into a discussion of how Zuckerberg, in Wynn-Williams eyes, had mismanaged Facebook. Youre so used to being the winner who takes all, she told him. The Casual Suggestion of Election Interference Abroad Wynn-Williams was often shocked by the incurious nature of others at Facebook, she writes, especially what she saw as their seeming indifference to basic laws and norms abroad. After Joel Kaplan, a former White House chief of staff under George W. Bush, became her boss on the policy team, he moved aggressively to turn profits through political and electoral advertising in other countries while, she claims, still having to be informed where certain Latin American nations were and that Taiwan is an island. Soon, Facebook was facing regulatory problems in other countries because of its election advertising. Apparently undeterred, Kaplan told Wynn-Williams that Facebook should establish political action committees around the world, she claims, only to learn from her that this is illegal. Nobody wants foreigners bankrolling their elections, she explained. In his surprise, she writes, he changed tack, saying, We need to get moving on channeling money to our key allies offshore, you know, our most influential politicians in other countries. Wynn-Williams said that this would be viewed as bribery and corruption, except perhaps by dictators, who would gladly take the money. For a minute I worry that hes seriously considering it, she writes. The chapter ends there, and theres no indication Facebook spread money around this way. Sandbergs Bedroom Invites Careless People paints former Facebook chief of operations Sheryl Sandberg (who left in 2022) as prone to bursts of anger and tone-deaf self-promotion, often at odds with the feminist principles she laid out in her hit corporate advice book Lean In, and unmoved by the plight of other women working in male-dominated Silicon Valley. More strangely, however, Wynn-Williams claims that Sandberg had a habit of crossing boundaries with her female subordinates. Not only did they have to assist on matters like book tours and public appearances that fell outside their job responsibilities, she writes, but they were sometimes instructed to join Sandberg in her bed on her private jet. On a flight back to the U.S. following the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wynn-Williams planned to spend the hours in the air working on a debrief as required by Sandberg, but the executive continued to insist while wearing her pajamas that she come to bed in the jets sole bedroom. Thinking that it wouldnt be right for a male COO to ask for this and its not right for a female one to, Wynn-Williams kept refusing. She writes that Sandberg, irritated by this, said one more thing to her when the plane eventually landed in California: You should have got into the bed. On a later trip, Wynn-Williams claims she saw another of Sandbergs female employees go into the bedroom with her at her request. Heartwarming Arrest of Employee In 2016, Diego Dzodan, a Facebook vice president in Brazil, was arrested because WhatsApp, which the company owns, wouldnt hand over messages related to a drug trafficking case. Wynn-Williams was horrified by the situation, but Zuckerberg charmed by Dzodans allegiance to him in the face of possible prosecution by a nation with strict internet laws wanted to celebrate the moment with a Facebook post, Wynn-Williams says. He drafted several versions, she writes, originally calling it a heartwarming story and claiming that Dzodan was acting in order to protect our community, while neglecting to mention that Facebook was shielding the privacy of an accused drug trafficking organization that had threatened to assassinate the judge in the case. She says that employees also warned a stubborn Zuckerberg that such a message would sabotage their legal defense of Dzodan, which was to tell the court that WhatsApp was a distinct company, and that a Facebook vice president cant be held responsible for its decisions. Throughout internal discussions, Wynn-Williams observes, Zuckerberg doesnt seem to be worried about Diego in the slightest. Ultimately, Dzodan was released within a day, and Zuckerberg never shared his heartwarming update on the vice presidents brief detainment. Patterns of Alleged Sexual Harassment and Possible Retaliation According to Wynn-Williams, Kaplan, her former boss, asked about her breastfeeding and the effects of the amniotic fluid embolism that nearly killed her after she gave birth to her second child, and deliberately drew attention to his habit of joining their virtual meetings from his bed. She alleges that he also commented on her looks and ground against her while dancing at a corporate event. Wynn-Williams further claims that he required her to do work during her second maternity leave and subjected her to a performance review the day she formally returned to the office, complaining she wasnt responsive enough during her time recovering from the difficult birth and a coma due to extensive blood loss. During an unrelated internal investigation, Wynn-Williams put some of her complaints about Kaplan on the record with company lawyers, she writes, though when the possibility of a probe into Kaplan was floated, she agreed to drop it if he would stop making her uncomfortable. But he didnt, she claims, and Kaplan effectively demoted her after this. She writes that a subsequent investigation into his behavior cleared him of any wrongdoing then, at Wynn-Williams next performance review, she was summarily fired and escorted out of the office by a security guard, she writes. Responding to a request for comment from Rolling Stone on this matter, Meta claimed that the investigation into Wynn-Williams harassment claims was thorough and took longer than the average case, involving a review of all the documents she provided and 17 witness interviews. Trouble in China Throughout Wynn-Williams tenure at Facebook, Zuckerberg was intent on expanding into China, where the platform was blocked. Their efforts, she writes, led to all kinds of gaffes, subterfuge, and queasy compromises. In 2015, Zuckerberg had the opportunity to shake hands with Chinese president Xi Jinping but was excluded from a closed-door meeting between Xi and other American tech CEOs. He posted a picture of himself and the back of Xis head anyway, making it appear that he was part of that meeting and infuriating the Chinese government. (At a state dinner in the White House two days later, she writes, Xi declined Zuckerbergs request to do him the honor of naming the child his wife was then carrying.) Later, Wynn-Williams was appalled at internal documents indicating the ways Facebook was evidently willing to comply with Chinas censorship demands and requests for user data in exchange for being able to operate within the country someday: one memo cautioned that Facebook employees will be responsible for user data responses that could lead to death, torture and incarceration. In an incredibly clumsy move to penetrate the Chinese market, Facebook secretly released apps in the country through shell corporations without authorization, but supposedly with the tacit approval of Chinas internet regulator. They were shut down after a New York Times story about the scheme. Targeting Emotionally Vulnerable Kids Careless People is unsparing in its account of how Donald Trumps 2016 campaign gamed Facebooks systems with misinformation and inflammatory content in the run-up to an upset election victory (and how Zuckerberg and Sandberg, in Wynn-Williams view, were impressed rather than alarmed by this). But the next year, Wynn-Williams writes, she discovered that the company was also courting advertisers with the option of targeting thirteen-to-seventeen-year-olds across its platforms, including Instagram, during moments of psychological vulnerability when they feel worthless, insecure, stressed, defeated, anxious, stupid, useless, and like a failure, per a leaked document from a presentation to Australian brands. When the communications team considered a statement to the effect that Facebook wanted to remedy such practices, one member noted that they really werent doing anything to prevent such exploitation: users could be targeted based on emotional states, as well as racial and ethnic background. Facebook went as far as tracking when teen girls deleted selfies so that a company could serve a beauty ad to them right after, Wynn-Williams writes. Employee Ignored While Having Medical Crisis Toward the end of her time at Facebook, Wynn-Williams felt that the basic humanity of the office environment had evaporated. One day, she recounts, she heard a commotion and ran over to see a woman convulsing on the floor, foaming at the mouth and bleeding from her face as if she had hit her desk while falling. But nobody at the desks nearby helped her, instead remaining focused on their screens, she claims. She and two other people called 911, though they knew none of the information that would be useful to the dispatcher or EMTs. Wynn-Williams writes that she asked a woman studiously concentrating on her computer if she was the stricken womans manager, and she confirmed that she was, adding, But Im very busy. All she said beyond that, Wynn-Williams claims, was that the ill woman was a contractor, that her contracts coming to an end soon, and that Wynn-Williams could contact human resources for any additional information. This exchange occurred, she writes, as the woman continued to convulse. The Myanmar Genocide In 2013, Wynn-Williams was dispatched on a harrowing one-woman mission to Myanmar while pregnant to make contact with the ruling military junta and find out why they had blocked Facebook in the country. Against all odds, she was able to reach a government ministry and plead the companys case, and soon enough, millions in the country were able to access a limited version of Facebook on their mobile phones. With that, however, came an explosion of viral hate speech and misinformation targeting the Rohingya people, a largely Muslim minority in Myanmar, which coincided with riots and the burning of mosques. Wynn-Williams claims that Facebook did not take steps to make the site compatible with the Burmese language, didnt post their Community Standards in Burmese, failed to take down anti-Muslim slurs, blocked her attempt to hire a human rights expert in Southeast Asia to mitigate problems in the country, and, for a while, was entirely reliant on a single contractor to moderate extremist content spreading there. In 2016, following a free election that saw voters reject the junta in favor of democratic candidates, the military launched a brutal campaign against the Rohingya widely recognized as an ethnic cleansing, with thousands killed and hundreds of thousands fleeing across the border to Bangladesh. It would emerge that the junta had specifically used Facebook to inflame hate against its own Muslim population. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. January 12 1918. The world is at war. In Washington, the British ambassador to the United States, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, writes a letter to a former US secretary of state William Jennings Bryan. In office, Bryan had worked tirelessly to keep the USA out of the war, crossing swords with Spring Rice. But the ambassador is effusive about Bryan and the USA in general. One thing is absolutely certain: in no other country can an Englishman make such friendships. He encloses a poem he had written as a sort of spontaneous outpouring. The first line is I vow to thee my country, all earthly things above. I had no idea that one of our nations favourite hymns began life as part of US-British diplomacy until I came across this letter in a book of Spring Rices diplomatic despatches. My grandfather had bought the book perhaps out of loyalty Spring Rice was his wifes uncle rather than interest: the book was unread, and many of the pages uncut. Reading it armed with a pair of scissors, and with Trump, Ukraine, and tariffs ringing in my ears, I was taken back to a world that had disappeared and yet is eerily familiar. The poem enclosed by Sir Cecil Spring Rice in a letter to a former US secretary of state, William Jennings Bryan, in 1918, which would later become the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country - Eddie Mulholland Spring Rices links to America were strong. He had been best man to Theodore Roosevelt, who called him Springy and was godfather to Spring Rices son. Roosevelt helped give Spring Rice an entree to the American elite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1915, he was staying with Jack (JP) Morgan a lynchpin in financing the British war effort when a German assassin broke in and shot and wounded the banker. I had no part in the fight except vainly trying to get the pistol out of the murderers hand. I see that the thing to do is to close at once with the assassin and not let him put his arms out. Morgan was really a trump. But, while ambassador, Spring Rice realised that his friendship with Roosevelt then in the political cold had become a liability. A Democrat, Woodrow Wilson, was in the White House and he was determined to keep the US out of Europes war. The concept of the special relationship did not exist, but the sense that the US should be on our side was strong in Britain. Spring Rices despatches to London constantly remind the foreign secretary that this perception was wrong: We wrongly suppose, because they talk our language, they are an Anglo-Saxon people. As a matter of fact they are a foreign nation, or rather several foreign nations. None of these nations is particularly friendly to us, and those of them who are of our race have very particular reasons for disliking us. It would be wiser to bear this in mind and to treat the American people not as cousins, still less as brothers, an attribution which they would greatly resent, but as English-speaking foreigners, some of whom make most agreeable companions and talk a most sympathetic language. Furthermore, it is not so long ago that we boasted of our splendid isolation and only left it when we found it was impossible to maintain... We ought, therefore, to find it easy enough to put ourselves into the position of this country and I hope we shall try to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spring Rices explanations of US neutrality strike familiar notes today. First and foremost, we are making war and they are making money, Spring Rice wrote. There is a prevailing feeling that whatever happens, America must keep out of the war, and, while it lasts, make as much money out of it as possible. And he added: If the US wants to sell, they must facilitate sales; if they dont facilitate sales, they cannot sell. This, and not the European struggle, is what interests them, and I daresay we should be the same. But Americas growing prosperity was being generated by a nation divided into entirely distinct and separate sections, which do not speak the same language, or think the same thoughts. He wrote: About 13,000,000 American citizens are speaking a foreign language and look on the old inhabitants of this country much as the Puritans regarded the Indians with at best a superior sort of pity. If the war had not taken place I expect the Germans would have captured the U.S, by peaceful penetration in another 10 years. It may be too late to try now, but the struggle is on. America divided. America putting its interests first. And America led by a populist president whose tendency has been to follow very exactly the dictates of popular opinion. The president, who adopted the mantra America First, told Spring Rice, he had to take the course which commended itself to the great majority of the American people whose interpreter he was bound to be It was not so much a question of what was the right thing to do from the abstract view point, as what was the possible thing to do, from the point of view of the popular condition of mind. It was his duty to divine the moment when the country required action and to take that action which the great majority demanded. Former US president Woodrow Wilson was known to make unpredictable decisions and had an autocratic approach to governing his Cabinet - Library of Congress Wilsons utterances were cryptic. The process of decision-making was opaque and unpredictable: We regard the White House rather as Vesuvius is regarded in Naples; that is, as a mysterious source of unexpected explosions. Wilson took no individual into his counsel, but led an autocratic government, treating the members of his Cabinet in the same way as under the Tudor monarchy in England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As to foreign policy, Wilson had an iron grip. The real business of foreign politics is transacted by the president alone. He used secret foreign agents, a long succession of whom have passed through the White House. He has also a succession of advisers, who, one after the other, are discarded. With Americas economy booming and its population divided, Wilsons foreign policy aimed to keep the US out of Europes war, and to mediate a peace. In July 1916, the Battle of the Somme raging, Spring Rice wrote: I am sure we would make a mistake if we counted on the active intervention of America as one of the guardians of a world peace. Every indication points in the opposite direction. Its army was inadequate, wholly unprovided with men, transport or ammunition for a very large force. And the ambassador reminded London time and again how the well-organised, vocal German community was pressuring Wilson to curb finance and exports to the Allies ordering the Federal Reserve to discourage investments in British Treasury Bills. As the 1916 presidential election approached, for Wilson a pro-German policy is not so dangerous politically as a pro-Ally policy. Spring Rice foresaw that if America were to enter the war, it would need to be an American war in defence of American interests. In 1917 those interests began to be threatened. German attacks on neutral shipping began to cripple US exports. The publication of a secret German cable to the Mexican government, proposing a German/Mexican alliance against the US, enraged Congress. Yet, as Spring Rice pointed out just a month before the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, US policy was pro-Ally but anti-British, and it is pro-Ally because it is anti-German. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once in the war, Wilsons vision was for peace without victory.... Victory would mean peace forced upon the loser. He initially proposed a League of Peace and Spring Rice told Wilson how conscious we were of the immense importance of the role which would now have to be played by the president of the United States. Wilson admitted the fact, which he regretted. The USA was a new global titan but a reluctant one. At his last meeting with Wilson, Spring Rice articulated how the horror and sacrifice of war might bring their two nations together. He told the president: We could almost endure with equanimity all the horrors of this terrible struggle if they led in the end to a close, sure and permanent understanding between the English-speaking peoples. If we stood together we were safe. If we did not stand together nothing was safe. The conversation ended with renewed and most cordial assurances from the president. Of course, our world is different in many ways to the world Spring Rice inhabited. So what light, if any, can his experiences and observations shed on todays tumultuous politics? Maybe two things. The first is that, then as now, the American president was putting American interests first. They are in effect following the dictum of Lord Palmerston, who was foreign secretary when Britain was in the ascendancy: We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow. This is obviously deeply unsettling a cold shower of reality, waking us from the reverie Europe has been in since 1945, shattering our assumption that simply because the US has troops on the continent and is a member of Nato, it will come to Europes aid if we are attacked. So maybe the USA is simply reverting to type. Far from this being a new world, maybe we are going back to the old world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But flowing from that is surely an unavoidable conclusion: when Americas interest are threatened or attacked, it will act to defend them just as it did in 1917, and again in 1941. Maybe this is simply out of economic interest. Or maybe action, when it comes, shows that we are bound by something deeper than just material wellbeing. Spring Rice wrote to Roosevelt about what he thought the Americans and Britons shared in common: Lord Bridges has studied the letters of Cecil Spring Rice, Britains ambassador to America between 1912 and 1918 - Chris McAndrew Wherever we stand, that spot for us is the spot to which we owe our whole allegiance, loyal to our own homes with an entire loyalty, not to a foreign power, whether of our own race or another. It is still the old story of the Puritan to walk with God and our fellow men, according to our own conscience and not according to the will of a King or Emperor or Pope. There is more real community of feeling between men who think the same, according to their own free will and judgment, than between men who act together in obedience to another man, be he who he may. Our kingdom is within us. Now read this: Generations of people who have fought for this country, whove built this country, who have made things in this country, and who would fight and die to protect this country if they were asked to. Now thats not just an idea, my friends. Thats not just a set of principles, even though the ideas and the principles are great that is a homeland. That is our homeland. People will not fight for abstractions, but they will fight for their homes. And if this movement of ours is going to succeed, and if this country is going to thrive, our leaders have to remember that America is a nation and its citizens deserve leaders who put its interests first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was vice-president JD Vances speech to the Republican National Convention last year. Much separates Spring Rice and Wilson from Vance and Trump, but they might have one thing in common: I vow to thee my country. Lord Bridges of Headley is a former government minister Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A 12-year-old was arrested and charged for a robbery that happened in Northwest D.C. on Wednesday, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Police say officers responded at 4:52 p.m. to reports of a robbery in the 100 block of Q Street NE. Waldorf man dies in Southeast DC shooting; police investigating According to police, the robber approached the victim on the street, assaulted her and stole from her. The woman was then transported to the hospital by DC Fire and EMS with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 12-year-old boy was arrested Thursday in connection to the incident and charged with Robbery. The robbery remains under investigation and anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text the Departments tip line at 50411. MPD offers a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Thirteen suspects were arrested during a large-scale operation targeting gang members in Los Angeles County. Detectives with the L.A. County Sheriffs Department were investigating an Antelope Valley street gang accused of violent crimes. Several members of the gang were identified, along with their residences. With help from several agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), search warrants were served at 18 locations throughout Lancaster and Palmdale on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the searches, detectives seized 23 firearms, including two AK-47 rifles, high-capacity magazines, ammunition and a large amount of narcotics. At one location, suspected C-4 explosives and a mortar were found, which were safely removed by LASDs Arson and Explosives Detail. Thirteen suspects were arrested on felony charges including: Possession of a destructive device or explosive Felon in possession of a firearm Felon in possession of ammunition Carrying a loaded firearm not the registered owner Possession of a controlled substance while armed Possession of a machine gun Possession for sale of a controlled substance Possession of methamphetamine for sale Thirteen suspected gang members were arrested and detectives seized 23 firearms, including two AK-47 rifles, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and a large quantity of narcotics on March 20, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department) The suspects were all booked at the Palmdale Sheriffs Station and held on zero bail. Their identities were not released. A court hearing is scheduled for March 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to combat criminal street gang activity, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department formed the Operation Safe Streets (OSS) Bureau in 1979, officials said. There are OSS teams assigned to patrol stations throughout the county that are dedicated to investigating, identifying, and apprehending suspects involved in criminal street gang activity. The cases remain under investigation. Anyone with additional information can call OSS Bureau Lieutenant Daniel Rodriguez at 310-680-2511. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel's High Court of Justice on Friday issued a temporary injunction against the dismissal of Ronen Bar, chief of Israel's internal security service Shin Bet. According to the court, the injunction will remain in effect until the court hears the petition submitted in opposition to Bar's removal from office. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement early Friday morning that the Israeli government has unanimously approved Bar's dismissal. Bar's last day in office is set for April 10, earlier than the initially planned April 20, though he may leave sooner if a replacement is confirmed. Bar was not present at the 3.5-hour-long meeting finalizing his dismissal, but sent a letter condemning the move as being "entirely tainted by conflicts of interest" and a "fundamentally invalid" attempt to obstruct the Shin Bet's investigation into Qatar's influence on Netanyahu's office, local media reported. He referred to an inquiry into ties between Netanyahu's close aides and the Qatari government. Qatar has played a key role in mediating between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. However, Qatar and Israel currently do not have formal diplomatic relations. Later on Friday, the main opposition factions of the Israeli parliament -- Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beiteinu, and the Democrats -- filed a petition with the High Court, requesting an order to overturn Bar's dismissal. The petition claimed that the "hasty initiation of the dismissal" was taken with a severe conflict of interest by Netanyahu, based on extraneous considerations, related to Shin Bet's investigation into Netanyahu's office, which "clearly indicated the responsibility of the political echelon for the October 7 disaster." "These things take on added significance as the prime minister prevents the setup of a state commission of inquiry, and the entire government is openly and knowingly delaying a move that could examine its responsibility for the disaster," read the petition. Meanwhile, a cabinet meeting agenda posted Friday on the website of Netanyahu's office showed that the Israeli government is due to meet on Sunday for a vote of no confidence against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who has ruled that the government has no legal basis to sack Bar. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) More than 140 area student doctors were matched into local and national residencies on Friday morning, March 21, in at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, the college said in a news release. Burrell College said Match Day was held on Friday morning at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Rd. in Las Cruces. Match Day is when the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) unveils the results of residency and fellowship applications, read the news release. Governed by the NRMP and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), Match Day ensures a standardized process for pairing residency programs with qualified candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are immensely proud of our students and their success in obtaining residency positions across the country and especially within our mission regions, John Hummer, president of Burrell College, said. Match Day represents the culmination of years of dedication and the beginning of their careers as physicians of whom we as a nation need more than ever, he added. Burrell College said student doctors simultaneously opened envelopes containing their match placements in an emotionally charged moment. Our students have worked tirelessly to reach this milestone, and we celebrate their achievements as they take the next step in their medical careers, Dr. William Pieratt, dean and chief academic officer of Burrell College, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burrell College said the transition to residency cycle begins in September during applicants final year of medical school. Applicants apply to residency programs in specialties of their choice, and throughout the fall and early winter, they interview with those programs. In February, applicants rank in order of true preference the programs where they wish to train, and program directors rank in order of true preference the applicants they wish to train. Those confidential rank order lists are then submitted to the NRMP, which processes them using a computerized mathematical algorithm to match applicants with programs, Burrell College added. In 2024, Burrell College successfully placed 144 graduating doctors into residency programs across the U.S., reinforcing the colleges commitment to improving health care access and training highly skilled physicians, according to the news release. You can watch last years Match Day here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: John Thomas Stewart. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember John Thomas Stewart, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The Onondaga County deputy sheriff whose gunshots killed two teenagers in a stolen car he thought was going to run him over will not face criminal charges after a 17-month investigation. Three gunshots fired by Deputy John Rosello into the moving Hyundai-brand car killed 15-year-old Lueth Mo and 17-year-old Dhal Apet in the early morning of September 6, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of extensive work by the New York State Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigation, prosecutors feel they couldnt disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that his actions were justified. While clearing him criminally, the office does criticize Deputy Rosellos failure to activate his uniform-worn camera and calls out his choice to turn off his vehicles dashboard camera just before the shooting. After reports of suspicious activity were called into 911, Rosello responded to a parking lot at the intersection of Danzig Street and Poznan Avenue in the Town of DeWitt. The neighborhood is near Midler Park Drive. Rosello accurately suspected he was dealing with the suspects of a burglary he responded to not even 45 minutes earlier at Princes Smoke Shop in Mattydale. The teens are also accused of a burglary at a smoke shop in Oneida and stealing the vehicles to get there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Rosello failed to activate his uniform-worn camera and turned off his vehicles dashboard camera, a nearby doorbell camera recorded the only known video of the incident. When they saw the officers cruiser approaching, suspects who had been exchanging stolen goods between vehicles ran into the two vehicles, one of which sped away. As Rosello pulled up, he tried to block the remaining vehicle, which was able to back up into bushes and maneuver an exit. As the car pulled away, the video showed the vehicle moving in the officers direction and getting dangerously close. To determine whether Rosellos gunfire was justified, the Office of Special Investigation worked with experts to enhance the video quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video does not clearly show the precise moments or angles of Dep. Rosellos shooting, said investigators. In consultation, a shooting reconstruction expert told the Attorney Generals Office that the first shot was not fired until the Hyundai had started accelerating towards (the officer) and he ceased firing his weapon before the Hyundai fully passed him. But, the third and final shot was fired when the vehicle was no longer in a position to strike the deputy. The most helpful testimony to clearing Rosello of criminal wrongdoing was from a use of force expert, Ashley Heiberger, interviewed by the Attorney Generals investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such use of deadly force would have been in accordance with generally accepted law enforcement practices, she said, according to the written report. She said Rosello did not engage in a preemptive strike,' but, held his fire until the potential threat, the car, became an imminent threat by moving toward him. In defense of Rosellos third shot, which investigators say was after the imminent danger had passed, the expert said it was not outside acceptable parameters because of how long it takes a humans brain to perceive and respond to a change in threat level. The third teen in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, who was driving, told investigators he did not intend to hit the deputy and did not feel the deputy was in danger of being hit because there was plenty of space in the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through an attorney, the Office of Special Investigation says Deputy Rosello refused a request to be interviewed. The Onondaga County Sheriffs Office, which defended its deputy all along, issued a basic statement Friday: Today, the New York State Attorney Generals Office announced that Deputy John Rosello had been exonerated in the September 2023 shooting deaths of two teenagers. The Onondaga County Sheriffs Office defers all questions regarding the investigation to the Attorney Generals Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK) Charges have been upgraded for a 17-year-old accused of shooting a man in Nacogdoches on Thursday. Officers discover video of East Texas daycare worker sexually assaulting child, affidavit says Nacogdoches PD said officers responded to N. Popp Street at around 1 p.m. on Thursday after residents reported hearing the sound of gunshots. When they arrived, officers found a man who had been shot at least two times in the front yard of a home. Mugshot of Hernan Cuarenta, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Jail. The victim, now identified as Gerber Panteleon-Palencia, 33, of Nashville was taken to a Tyler hospital for surgery, but passed away from his injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was visiting family in Nacogdoches when the shooting took place. Hernan Cuarenta, 17 of Nacogdoches, was originally charged with aggravated assault and theft of a firearm. Those charges have now been upgraded to first-degree murder. Cuarenta being held at the Nacogdoches County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with several carjackings and thefts, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office says. The teen is facing multiple charges, including eight counts of theft of property, three counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of carjacking. According to the Shelby County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to a carjacking at a gas station in the 4100 block of Hacks Cross Road on Tuesday. The victim reportedly told deputies that a male got into her vehicle through the passenger side and forcibly removed her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect allegedly crashed the victims vehicle while trying to flee the scene. Fatal hit-and-run crash leaves one dead The sheriffs office says detectives with the Burglary, Robbery, and Auto Theft Unit (BRAT) tracked the stolen vehicle to the Parkway Village area. When detectives arrived at the location, they reportedly found another vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Memphis. The sheriffs office says detectives were able to identify the 17-year-old as the suspect and linked him to multiple carjackings in the area. The teen was arrested on Friday in the area of South Perkins and Cottonwood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shelby County Sheriffs Office says the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (901) 528-CASH. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A 17-year-old teen was indicted as an adult in an incident where prosecutors said police officers were targeted with and injured by fireworks during a protest in Glendale. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced Thursday that Joseph Matthew Lopez was indicted on 22 counts of aggravated assault one count for each Glendale police officer prosecutors said was hurt during an hours-long Feb. 2 protest attended by hundreds of people against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement near 67th Avenue and Camelback Road. The protest was deemed an unlawful assembly as protesters became increasingly aggressive, according to the Attorney's Office. The protest led to three others, two minors and an adult, arrested on felony charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When an officer is assaulted, its not just an attack on them, its an attack on the safety of our communities," said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in a statement. "I will not tolerate anyone treating law enforcement as targets or endangering their lives." Lopez lit a firework and threw it into a group of officers after police tried to disperse the crowd, prosecutors said. Officers suffered a range of injuries including burns and hearing damage, according to the Attorney's Office said. Glendale police announced Lopez's arrest on March 6 but did not name him. Police released a video with an edited photo of the suspect, his face superimposed by that of actor Channing Tatum doing an exaggerated Latino accent in a scene from the 2014 comedy film "22 Jump Street." The social media video showed footage from the protest that featured fireworks seen igniting on a street with officers in tactical gear and protesters nearby.In body-worn camera footage shared by police from the protest, someone is heard saying "hurt so bad" in reference to the fireworks. Also released by police was footage taken inside what appears to be a Wingstop restaurant in which police said the suspect, now identified as Lopez, discussed throwing fireworks at officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A pair of 16-year-old boys were previously charged on suspicion of stealing a vehicle, burglary and rioting, and a 20-year-old man was charged with misdemeanors and a felony charge of endangerment, police announced on Feb. 20. Those arrests were made following a review of social media tying the suspects to surveillance videos at the protest, according to police. A portion of the video released by police in relation to those three arrests showed a person jumping into a marked police SUV and driving a short distance before stopping and fleeing on foot into the crowd of demonstrators. The 67th Avenue and Camelback Road intersection had been taken over by demonstrators who lit fireworks and were being "unruly and defiant towards officers," police said the morning after the protest. Police added the protest had drawn more than 1,000 people and that by 7:45 p.m., the intersection was closed in all directions due to vehicular and pedestrian congestion. Glendale police said that around 10:15 p.m., they and Phoenix police dispersed multiple chemical agents on "the unlawful assembly," and the intersection was cleared 20 minutes later. There were five marked patrol vehicles damaged, including broken windows, shattered windshields, slashed tires and damaged hoods and body panels, according to police. People in the area not involved in the demonstration had to shelter in place, and many of their vehicles and some businesses suffered "extensive damage," police said at the time. A large storage container near a business was set on fire, police added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez has a $100,000 secured bond, meaning he must pay the court 10% of the bond to be released. (This story has been updated to add a new video.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fireworks attack left 22 officers hurt, 17-year-old charged as adult Europes busiest airport experienced a complete closure on Friday after a substation fire caused a full power outage at the London Heathrow Airport. Thousands of passengers flying to and from London were impacted by the closure, with over a thousand flights canceled, more than a hundred diverted and others delayed, according to BBC. The airport was able to resume flights about 18 hours after the power outage began. Did the Heathrow Airport closure impact flights out of Salt Lake City? The Salt Lake City International Airport has one direct flight to Heathrow through Delta Airlines. The flight is scheduled to depart from Salt Lake City at 6:15 p.m. on Friday and will land at 10 a.m. in London on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday morning, that flight is expected to depart as scheduled on Friday evening, Delta officials say.. Empty seats and a board with canceled flights is seen as Britain's Heathrow Airport has closed for the full day Friday after an electrical substation fire knocked out its power, disrupting flights for hundreds of thousands of passengers at one of Europe's biggest travel hubs in London, Friday, March 21, 2025. | Kin Cheung How many flights were impacted by Heathrows closure? According to BBC, as of Friday morning, there were 1,149 flights canceled, with 119 flights diverted. The most diverted flights went to Amsterdam, London Gatwick, Frankfurt and Paris. British Airways was the most affected airline, with 329 departing flights and 328 arriving flights into Heathrow canceled. We have flight and cabin crew colleagues and planes that are currently at locations where we werent planning on them to be, said the airlines chief executive Sean Doyle, according to The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City had eight flights scheduled to depart for Heathrow on Friday; of those eight, five have been canceled. All eight flights arriving at JFK from Heathrow have been canceled, according to The New York Times. According to The Associated Press, the most impacted destinations were JFK, Dubai and Frankfurt. Firefighters extinguish the fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire Thursday night and led to a closure of Heathrow Airport in London, Friday, March 21, 2025. | Kirsty Wigglesworth What happened to the airport? A fire began at the North Hyde electricity substation at around 6:30 a.m. local time on Friday. The fire to the substation caused power outages to about 4,900 customers in the area, including the Heathrow Airport, per The New York Times. Flights to and from Londons Heathrow Airport were canceled Friday after a fire at a nearby substation knocked out power to Europes busiest airport, disrupting travel plans around the world. Footage posted to social media showed huge flames coming from the facility. pic.twitter.com/9kbcllnISC The Associated Press (@AP) March 21, 2025 Originally, airport officials said it would remain closed until midnight, but disruptions to travel would last throughout the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The New York Times, the London Fire Brigade reported that the fire was under control with only 10% left burning. When will the airport reopen? According to BBC, the airport announced that it is able to safely restart flights, but it will begin by prioritizing repatriation and relocation of aircraft. Along with that announcement, airport officials shared that they hope to restart full operations on Saturday. The first flight into Heathrow since the power outage landed 18 hours after the airport closed. The flight was a repositioning flight from London Gatwick which had originally come from Singapore, per The AP. Mar. 20Police arrested a man in Greeley, Colorado, on Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Maria Kapustin last summer. For months, 19-year-old Cougar L. Devereaux Jr. had a warrant out for his arrest after Kapustin was killed in a North Central drive-by in July , according to a Spokane Police Department news release. Law enforcement responded to the shooting around 1:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of West Courtland Avenue, a road overlooking Emerson Park, and found Kapustin with a gunshot wound to her torso. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She's the strongest, most beautiful, independent, sweetest girl ever, and had nothing to do with a situation like that," Kapustin's boyfriend said at the time. "She didn't deserve anything like that." Kapustin's sister, Viktoriya Kapustina, posted on Facebook about the arrest and thanked people for their prayers and support. "I pray this goes all smoothly for all of us and that most importantly that this person finds salvation in Jesus mighty name," she wrote. Devereaux Jr. will be extradited from Colorado back to Washington pending a court hearing. CAIRO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Friday categorically denied media reports that it is prepared to relocate half a million Gaza residents to North Sinai as part of Gaza reconstruction efforts. In a statement, the State Information Service (SIS) denounced these allegations as "false," saying they completely contradict Egypt's firm position against any attempt to displace Palestinians, forcibly or voluntarily, to any place, including Egypt. The statement warned that relocating Palestinians to Egypt endangers Egyptian security and liquidates the Palestinian cause. The SIS stressed that the basis of Cairo's plan for Gaza reconstruction is to keep Palestinians on their land, adding this 53-billion-U.S. dollar plan has been unanimously approved by Arab leaders at an emergency Arab summit held early this month. Earlier on Friday, several Israeli media outlets reported that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said during a symposium in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh that he is "willing to temporarily relocate half a million residents from Gaza to a designated city in North Sinai as part of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip." According to the reports, the plan "would require Egypt to open its border to Gaza residents wishing to leave the territory." HONOLULU (KHON2) A suspect has been arrested in connection to a shooting in Waikiki on Sunday, March 16, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Police announced a 19-year-old male was arrested in Kalihi for reckless endangering and a firearms offense. Waikiki shooting incident under investigation Sundays incident happened shortly before 10 p.m. on Kalakaua Avenue when it was reported that two males exchanged gunfire, striking businesses in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Waikiki favorite opens location in Japan: Hawaii eats Three shots were said to be fired just across the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Officials said all parties involved fled before police arrived. Honolulu police said this is an ongoing investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) A 19-year-old died on Friday in a hospital in Serbia, becoming the 16th fatality in the collapse of a concrete canopy at a train station last November. The tragedy triggered months of anti-corruption protests rattling Serbia's populist government. Vukasin Crncevic died more than four months after tons of concrete crashed down on Nov. 1 without warning on him and other people outside the central train station in the northern city of Novi Sad. Thousands of people on Friday evening marched through the streets of Novi Sad and lit candles in a vigil for Crncevic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many in Serbia believe the deadly crash was the result of poor renovation work on the station building which resulted from rampant government corruptio n, negligence and disrespect of the safety regulations. Months-long protests demanding accountability over the crash have drawn hundreds of thousands of people. Daily protests and blockades have up to now included 15-minute silence for those who had died in the disaster. Silent traffic blockades were held on a number of different locations in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, as well as the city of Novi Sad and other cities on Friday. Also Friday, Serbia's autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic announced plans to organize counter-rallies, which could further escalate tensions and potentially cause clashes between groups of protesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the southern city of Nis later on Friday, protesters threw eggs and water at the mayor from the ruling right-wing Serbian Progressive Party, although riot police deployed to secure the party meeting. Vucic demanded in a video posted on Instagram that all bandits be arrested. He announced he would visit Nis and promised that all the thugs will end up behind bars. Vucic has accused the protesters of terrorizing people in Serbia and of violence, although the anti-graft protests which are led by university students have been largely peaceful. The latest rally in Belgrade last weekend was among the biggest ever held in the Balkan country, which has a long record of anti-government demonstrations. The populist authorities have faced accusations of using a sonic cannon against the protesters during the commemorative silence on Saturday evening, which Vucic and other government officials have denied. Initially, 14 people died and three were injured in the Novi Sad station crash. Belgrade's military hospital, which was treating him, said that Crncevic died due to complex injuries and ensuing complications. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The two adults who were arrested following a fight that broke out outside of West Middle School last month have each pleaded not guilty to their charges. Channing Walker, 33, and Rebecca Orellana Gomez, 38, are both charged with one count of riot and one count of assault while participating in a felony. According to court documents, Walker pleaded not guilty on Monday, March 17, while Orellana Gomez pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, March 18. South Sioux City man sentenced for fentanyl conspiracy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Feb. 28 release, the Sioux City Police Department said that officers they were called Feb. 26 just after 3 p.m. to West Middle School due to a fight that broke out in front of the school building. Officials said that there were nine people involved in the fight, both parents and students. As of Feb. 28, Walker had been arrested. Orellana Gomez and three juveniles were then arrested on March 3. The three juveniles were charged with participating in a riot. Walker and Orellana Gomez have since bonded out of the Woodbury County Jail. On March 10, seven students in the Sioux City Community School District were expelled. The district did not provide the students names, nor did they say if the expulsions were related to the incident outside West Middle School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker has a jury trial set for May 14, while Orellana Gomez does not yet have her next court appearance scheduled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Authorities arrested two people in what Charleston Police are calling a series of sophisticated ATM thefts across multiple jurisdictions. Officials with the Charleston Police Department said their investigation began on Feb. 21 when an ATM owner reported that several of his machines had been accessed fraudulently. Charleston PD detective determined the suspects used software to bypass the ATMs security systems and then emptied the cash inside the machines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thefts resulted in the loss of roughly $70,000 across the tri-county. Officials say the investigation involved complex coordination across multiple jurisdictions that included law enforcement from Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the U.S. Secret Service. Together, they were able to identify the arrest the two suspects. Charleston Police Detectives used body camera footage provided by a Florida law enforcement agency, stemming from a minor vehicle crash earlier this year. That footage helped confirm the identity of one of the suspects and tied him to the vehicle used in the ATM thefts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vladyslav Shyrokyi , 29, of Florida, has been charged with three counts of safe cracking. Nikita Ptushkin, 35, of California, has been charged with two counts of safe cracking. Both were arrested in Monroe, North Carolina on March 8. They are being held at the Al Cannon Detention Center where additional charges may be pending from other jurisdictions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Two people have been taken into custody in connection with the stabbing death of a man at a mobile home park in Clarksville. Thomas Gray Jr., 54, of Clarksville, was found stabbed to death during a welfare check at Campville Mobile Home Park along Cedarcrest Drive around 2 a.m. Saturday morning, officials said. Officials reportedly found Gray unconscious lying beside a running vehicle when they arrived. Authorities added the man appeared to be bleeding from apparent stab wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE | Latest headlines from Clarksville and Montgomery County Jassim Hamadi Al Robaie (Courtesy: Clarksville Police Department) Karlie Jade Parks (Courtesy: Clarksville Police Department) Clarksville homicide detectives worked with the Metro Nashville Police Department to arrest 33-year-old Jassim Al-Robaie, of Davidson County and 31-year-old Karlie Jade Parks, of Clarksville, in Antioch Thursday afternoon. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Both were booked into the Montgomery County Jail Friday morning and charged with criminal homicide. No additional information was immediatley 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 WKRN News 2. At least two federal offices in Pierce County appear on the chopping block in the Department of Government Efficiencys Wall of Receipts. The offices, one in Tacoma and the other in Puyallup, are among proposed lease terminations involving hundreds of federal offices nationwide. A statement from the governments main real-estate oversight agency indicates some leases and office space reductions have not yet been settled. DOGE list and local offices The office of Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, operating under the U.S. Department of Labor, is listed as a Tacoma federal office expected to see its lease terminated by Sept. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office enforces federal labor laws regarding wages, hours and working conditions, including minimum wage, overtime compensation and child-labor laws. The DOGE list included 20 such offices nationwide. DOLs official list of offices under its Wage and Hour Division only lists its Seattle district site, serving Washington state and Alaska. The Department of Labor has a Google business listing of an office at the Tacoma Centre, 1145 Broadway, and a call that goes to a phone tree at its listed number identifies it as a WHD office. On Friday, a news release from U.S. Sen. Patty Murrays office listed the Tacoma WHD site as 949 Market St., and said the office is mainly used by Department of Labor investigators who spend time conducting investigations in the field and use the office as a work station. A regional media representative for the Department of Labor directed questions from The News Tribune to the General Services Administration, which exercises jurisdiction over federally managed buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GSA did not directly answer whether a Tacoma office lease had been terminated in its response. The other local site on the DOGE lease termination list is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Puyallup Service Center in the Puyallup Executive Park, 1011 E. Main Ave., Suite 306, expected to terminate Aug. 31. The office works to promote conservation efforts by helping people reduce soil erosion, boost water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and more. It also provides funding opportunities for farmers and landowners through its programs. An auto-response email from that offices district representative, which operates under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stated the representative was out of the office for the next few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A media representative for USDA later emailed a statement, attributable to a USDA spokesperson as follows: Secretary (Brooke) Rollins fully supports President Trumps directive to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. USDA is optimizing building capacity and consolidating underutilized offices to reduce inefficiencies while continuing to prioritize frontline services for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. The email referred further questions on lease terminations to a general GSA media email, and did not specifically address what was happening to the offices workers or where that work would be consolidated. Another USDA-related office in the area, Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service in Olympia, is on the DOGE online list, as is a Forest Service office in Pomeroy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expected lease expiration dates were first reported by The Associated Press earlier this month based on GSA planning documents obtained by The AP. Successful Farming, an online publication, reported March 14 that more than 100 USDA offices were listed for lease termination by DOGE, notably Natural Resources Conversation Service sites and Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service offices, across 39 states and four territories. The nationwide list includes 35 NRCS offices (including one in Renton and another in Dayton, Washington), and 18 APHIS offices. If the Renton and Puyallup service centers close, that would reduce USDAs Puget Sound region offices from four to two one in Olympia and the other in Bremerton, based on information listed in an NRCS state office directory updated in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the DOGE list, there were 20 service centers statewide, according to the state directory. A listing on the Loopnet online real estate site shows the Puyallup office already being marketed for lease available Sept. 1 and noting the space can accommodate 8 to 24 people. Figures from the state Department of Employment Security earlier this month showed USDA workers at the top of the jobless filings by agency list in the state, with 190 first-time claims filed by Washington state-based USDA workers at that time. No. 2 was Washington state workers with the Department of Interior with 116 initial claims. What GSA says A GSA agency representative responded to The News Tribunes questions with a prepared statement, also attributed to a GSA spokesperson, sent via email: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GSA is reviewing all options to optimize the federal footprint and building utilization, the statement read. We are actively managing lease contracts by leveraging existing contract cancellation rights. As leases enter their soft term, we are sending letters of intent to customer agencies to inform them GSA is considering lease termination (thereby exercising GSAs contractual rights as agreed upon with our lessors). The statement added, Actively managing leases gives GSA the opportunity to work closely with our partner agencies on their evolving and longer term needs and will often allow us to enhance space utilization and secure better terms for the government including better pricing. The GSA response did not directly answer whether the lease terminations would proceed and also did not address questions about whats happening to the Puyallup and Tacoma offices in terms of relocations and workforce. In instances where the current space remains the most suitable option whether temporarily or longer term we are adjusting our approach. For these agencies, we are either rescinding termination notices or, in some cases, not issuing them at all, the response stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These contractual cancellation rights are in accordance with regular and well-accepted private industry contracting processes. GSAs letters of intent to terminate have no immediate effect and do not mean the lease has been terminated. Others on DOGE list Several other offices in the state are also noted on the DOGE list. They include a Geological Survey Office in Spokane Valley, Drug Enforcement Administration office in Yakima, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration in Port Angeles, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in Olympia, Small Business Administration and Government Accountability offices in Seattle, Employment Standards Administration Office of Workers Compensation Programs in Richland and Bureau of Indian Affairs office in Toppenish. A regional Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services office in Seattle is also reportedly among six regional offices closing. At least two people were killed and 21 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional officials reported on March 11. Ukraines Air Force intercepted 114 of 214 Russian drones launched overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones. Another 81 drones reportedly disappeared from radars before reaching their targets, likely acting as decoys to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses. Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, aviation, and mobile fire groups repelled the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed, and three others were injured as Russian forces shelled critical infrastructure, residential areas, and social facilities, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 73-year-old man was killed, and a 68-year-old woman was injured in Russian drone and artillery attacks, Governor Serhii Lysak said. A house and a garage sustained damage. Seven people were wounded in Donetsk Oblast four in Kramatorsk and three in Dobropillya due to Russian shelling, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, three women, two men, and a 4-year-old child were injured in Russian attacks, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A massive Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast injured three people, including children, and damaged civilian infrastructure. Strikes hit a residential high-rise, a shopping center, and several shops, Governor Oleh Kiper said. Read also: Russia hits Odesa with drones during visit of Czech President Petr Pavel Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A car with two Russian officers exploded on March 20 in the Russian-occupied town of Skadovsk in Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) said on March 21. Skadovsk, a city with a pre-war population of 17,000, lies on the Black Sea coast. Russia has occupied it since March 2022. According to the statement, the explosion occurred at 8:40 p.m. local time on Myr Street. "A pile of warped metal remained" from the Nissan car, which reportedly carried two Russian officers, HUR said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims. Russia declared annexation of partially occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts in September 2022, a step denounced by Ukraine and the international community as illegal and void. Russian officials, their proxies, and collaborators have been routinely targeted in both occupied parts of Ukraine and inside Russia. Kyiv does not typically comment on the attacks or claim responsibility. Read also: Trump wants a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia which side would gain more? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. CAIRO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed on Friday, including a mother and her two children, in a three-story building collapse in Egypt's central Asyut province. According to a statement published on the province's official Facebook page, the collapse also left 11 persons wounded, who were later transferred by the civil protection forces to the nearest public hospital. Swift intervention teams were removing debris to find more survivors, the statement said, adding that an urgent engineering committee has been formed to identify the reasons for the collapse and investigate the safety of neighboring buildings. Originally appeared on E! Online The coast is clear for two Floridian teens. Two days after friends Avery Bryan and Eva Aponte, both 16, were rescued after being stranded off the Florida coast for over 16 hours, Levy County Sheriffs Lieutenant Scott Tummond detailed their harrowing experience at sea. According to Tummond, the teens were paddleboarding from the island of Atsena Otie Key to Cedar Key on March 17. However, their half-mile trip took a disastrous turn when the waters powerful currents carried them off their path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was rough, I mean rough out there, Tummond told TODAY on March 20. Were talking 6-foot seas with gusting winds. And really cold. Water temperatures got down to the high 30s overnight. More from E! Online TODAY reported that Avery and Eva, who werent wearing life jackets, floated 14 nautical miles off their original course and were left stranded on their inflatable paddle board for over 16 hours. The duo were soon reported missing, and a search effort teamconsisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Levy and Citrus County Sheriffs offices, and local volunteersbegan an overnight search, per Floridas WCJB-TV News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ordeal ended on a liberating note March 18, when three fishermenWill Pauling, Russell Coon, and Alex Jefferiesfound the duo on a shallow marsh near Yankeetown, a small town in the states northside, that morning. Facebook/Levy County Sheriff's Office Another volunteer, Gray Bartell, then transported Avery and Eva back to land on his airboat, noting the girls were visibly shaken up by the incident. They got very quiet when I asked about what happened, so I started joking around with them, Bartell told TODAY, adding his 8-year-old son Brody helped calm the teens down by offering them a snack. And thats when they really started to relax. The duo (who havent publicly talked about the experience) were later reunited with their families and taken to the hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia and dehydration before being discharged on March 20. As for what kept them afloat, Bartell noted the teens commitment to staying on the paddle board is the reason they are alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tummond echoed the sentiment, saying, What Mom and Dad taught them it stuck. Thank God they were able to remember some of those life skills. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App A February road rage incident in Dearborn left a 19-year-old dead and her family heartbroken as they still search for answers a month later. Rawan Baseti of Dearborn Heights was fatally struck by gunfire on Feb. 21 when her vehicle was shot at around 9:45 p.m. at the intersection of Tireman Avenue and West Morrow Circle on Dearborns east side. A road rage shooting in Dearborn killed 19-year-old Rawan Baseti on Feb. 21. A month later, her family, police, and Crime Stoppers announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. "To say that my family and I are devastated or heartbroken it's an understatement. Losing Rawan broke us," said the victims brother, Hani Baseti, at a Friday news conference, exactly a month after his sister was killed. "She was only 19 years old, loved, full of life and innocence. She had a bright future ahead of her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Her smile could light up the whole room." Joined by the victim's family and Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Police Chief Issa Shahin announced that a $20,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and charges in the road rage shooting that killed Rawan. A road rage shooting in Dearborn killed 19-year-old Rawan Baseti on Feb. 21. A month later, her family, police, and Crime Stoppers announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Rawan was driving a black 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee when a white 2015 Chrysler 200 allegedly cut her off near the intersection of Warren Avenue and the Southfield Freeway Service Drive, according to Dearborn police. The victim then followed the Chrysler to get the license plate number, heading north on the Southfield Service Drive before turning east onto Tireman Avenue. Police say the victim followed the vehicle for 2 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As the vehicles reached the intersection of Tireman and West Morrow Circle, the suspect vehicle turned north onto Cheyenne Street and fired several gunshots at the victims vehicle," according to a Dearborn police release the day after the incident. "One of the bullets entered the victims vehicle through the windshield, fatally striking the driver." Rawan had two friends in the car with her when the chase and the shooting took place, according to the release. Police pronounced Rawan dead upon arrival; the two female passengers were not injured. "Rawan knows not to follow any cars; we've had that talk multiple times if somebody scratched your car, hit you if you can't take a picture, don't take a picture. Someone told her to follow that car," the victim's sister, Serin Baseti said through tears at the news conference. "Sadly, one of her friends were the ones who told her to pursue that car. That's what she sadly did. She's never the one to just chase a car or anything like that." In light of the shooting and as a reminder to the public, Shahin advised not to follow a vehicle during a traffic altercation; instead, separate yourself. If possible, provide any information you have to law enforcement for follow-up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rawan is remembered by her family as a beloved daughter, sister, and aunt who had a bright future ahead. A graduate of Dearborn High School, she was continuing her education at Henry Ford College and planned to become a physicians assistant. "As Muslims, we're taught to believe that if you kill an innocent life, it's as if you killed all of humanity, and that's how we feel today," Hani, said. "My father is standing right behind me today, sadly, because he had to bury his little girl. As a parent, you never seem to think that you'll bury your younger ones." Rawan's brother urged the public to come forward with any information, no matter how small. "To the person or people who are responsible. We know that the DPD will bring justice. You stole Rawan's future and stole her from us," he said. "We urge anyone who's seen anything or heard anything to speak up so that my beautiful baby sister can get the rest she deserves. We urge you to come forward, no matter what information you have." A road rage shooting in Dearborn killed 19-year-old Rawan Baseti on Feb. 21. A month later, her family, police, and Crime Stoppers announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to make an anonymous tip at 1-800-SPEAK UP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $20,000 reward comes from donations by local businesses and a matching contribution from Crime Stoppers of Michigan. "What we're asking for is the community's assistance and support to come forward," Hammoud said. "The $20,000 is an opportunity to change your life, but most importantly, it's an opportunity to bring closure to the family that's standing here today." Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Rawan Baseti. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn road rage shooting kills 19-year-old, $20K reward offered CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) 22News made a special visit to the St. Joan of Arc school in Chicopee on Thursday to read to children in honor of National Reading Month. Drivers identified in deadly pedestrian crash on Abbey Memorial Drive in Chicopee 22News storm team meteorologist Chris Bouzakis read to 4th and 5th graders there to inspire western Massachusetts youth to read. He says, Its always fun to try to teach and inspire the next generation and let them learn about the plant, learn about how the weather works, and try to inspire some kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Education Association created Read Across America Month in 1998 to celebrate the birth month of Springfield native Dr. Suess, whos work has inspired decades of young readers. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. (FOX40.COM) The Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office, alongside other law enforcement partners, conducted a countywide organized retail theft operation Tuesday that led to the arrest of 28 people. Video Above: Law enforcement business leaders celebrate prop 26 (Jan. 15) The other agencies involved consisted of the Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office, California Highway Patrol, Modesto Police Department, Ceres Police Department, and Turlock Police Department., according to the sheriffs office. (IMAGE: Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office) (IMAGE: Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office) (IMAGE: Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office) (IMAGE: Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office) (IMAGE: Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office) The sheriffs office is letting the community know that they are committed to, preventing retail theft from negatively impacting businesses and residents in our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traffic stop turns into major arrest for Folsom Police Department SCSO said it wouldnt tolerate organized retail crime in Stanislaus County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Mar. 21A second family filed a lawsuit against a top-rated Huber Heights child care center following a police investigation into injuries suffered over the summer by multiple infants and a criminal charge against a former employee. The new lawsuit was filed Monday in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court by Columbus-based Soroka & Associates against Anna's Early Beginnings Child Care and Learning Center, 5833 Shull Road, and multiple current and former employees and administrators. It alleges at least four infants were injured, that an employee witnessed one incident and that the day care failed to report suspicions of child abuse. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Tipp City family whose daughter was 6 months old when she allegedly suffered a traumatic brain injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Dayton Daily News investigation earlier this month noted the day care still has a gold Step Up to Quality rating from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth following state inspections after the police investigation began in July. One employee at the center of the investigation, who has since been fired, is facing one misdemeanor charge. According to the lawsuit and Huber Heights police reports, a routine checkup July 29 at a pediatrician's office revealed the Tipp City child had an enlarged head. After a scheduled ultrasound showed fluid on the brain, the girl was referred Aug. 14 to the Dayton Children's Hospital emergency room for a CT scan, which reportedly found two brain bleeds that were considered suspicious. The same day the infant was taken to the ER, the now former director of the day care center alerted her parents their daughter had been coughing and throwing up her bottles, the lawsuit stated. The girl was admitted to the hospital, where she remained through Aug. 17. The child's injury was reported to Miami County Children's Services, police records say. They were advised to file a police report after telling a social worker their daughter attended Early Beginnings. Huber Heights police said it was not the first incident reported associated with the day care, the lawsuit stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What stands out in this case is that Early Beginnings Child Care and Learning Center completely failed to supervise their employees and hold their employees accountable for their actions and inactions," said attorney Roger Soroka. "What is more troubling is that we have sufficient evidence to believe Early Beginnings was aware of the child abuse and neglect happening at their facility and they simply turned a blind eye to it. Early Beginnings disregarded what was happening and ignored their statutory duty to report reasonable suspicions of child abuse and neglect." Early Beginnings issued a statement in response to media inquiries. "The safety, wellbeing, and development of the children in our care remain our highest priorities," the statement read. "We understand that this situation may raise concerns, and we remain committed to transparency and maintaining the trust of our families. While we are unable to provide further details due to the ongoing legal process, we want to emphasize our dedication to upholding the highest standards of care and safety." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement says the company can't comment on personnel matters "due to privacy concerns." Previous suit, allegations A previous lawsuit was filed March 6 in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court by Columbus law firm Cooper Elliott on behalf of a Troy family. Huber Heights police opened an investigation after they were notified July 17 that the 11-week-old boy was taken by Troy medics to Dayton Children's, where he was found to have a brain bleed in addition to blood in his urine, vomiting and bruising on his arms. Both infants included in the lawsuits required surgical treatment and hospital stays. During the investigation into their injuries, police learned about two more abuse complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The director of the Child Advocacy Center at Isaiah's Place in Troy reported Aug. 15 that a child abuse allegation was reported to Miami County involving Early Beginnings. In that case, the parents of an infant girl took their child June 28 to a local ER for a cold. During the exam, the child was found to have bruising on her left cheek, a yellowish bruise in the middle of her back and a bruise on her elbow. The mother reported she thought the injuries were from her daughter sleeping on a pacifier, which investigators said did not appear to be consistent with the injuries, according to the Huber Heights police report. A fourth abuse allegation, which came to light in October, is the only one that led to a criminal charge against a former employee who worked in the infant room at the time of the injuries. Jessica Nicole Matthews, 47, of Huber Heights was charged with misdemeanor endangering children in Montgomery County Municipal Court Eastern Division. She pleaded not guilty during her Feb. 4 arraignment. She is scheduled to appear Thursday for a pretrial hearing, but her attorney filed a motion for a continuance. Matthews' attorney did not return a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mandated reporters In Ohio, day care employees are mandated reporters, meaning they are legally required to report suspected child abuse or endangerment. No one has been charged with failing to report in connection to the investigation at Early Beginnings. An Ohio Department of Children and Youth investigator said there was no notification to the state or children services about the July 30 incident. Early Beginnings neither informed the parents of any incidents involving their daughter nor provided any written incident or injury reports, according to the lawsuit filed on behalf of the Tipp City family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As a survivor of abusive head trauma, (the child) is more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disabilities throughout childhood as a direct consequence of her brain injuries," the suit read. The child and her parents "suffered extensive economic and noneconomic damages, including medical bills, lost wages, ongoing rehabilitation and therapy expenses, extreme emotional distress, and other losses in amounts to be determined at trial," the suit states. Although both lawsuits were filed in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, the first case was assigned to Judge Mary Montgomery and the latest was assigned to Judge Susan Solle. DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) Work has begun on a county-funded, nearly $5 million expansion of broadband services in Delaware County. This project is the next phase of an effort that began in 2023 to get more people connected. Delaware County conducted a study in 2023 to identify its internet deserts. Most of the places identified are in the northern half of the county, which is primarily farmland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To expand broadband, the county is using money from the American Rescue Plan Act. Leeds Farm will be one of the many to benefit from improved connectivity. The farm has grown over the years, stretching roughly 30 acres and offering family-fun activities. One thing its lacking is connectivity. When you get a lot of people on the farm, its really hard to even make a call or, you know, send a text, Leeds Farm co-owner Rob Leeds said. Its just really difficult. Even in agriculture, you know, we have planters and we have sprayers and everything has some connectivity to it. Even our grain bins, were monitoring by, you know, some kind of connectivity on our phone to make sure everythings working. County leaders said agriculture is the biggest industrial sector in the county, which is why its vital for farmers to have reliable internet access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. A transportation bill working its way through the Florida Legislature to address the Department of Transportation's future plans for high-speed highways includes raising the state's maximum speed limit. If an amendment added to SB 462 by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Pinellas sticks, it would raise speed limits by 5 mph across the state, raising the max speed in Florida to 75 mph. Raising the state speed limit is a common request during state legislative sessions, with at least seven states seeking to raise theirs last year. A bill raising Florida's speed limit passed the legislature in 2014 but then-Gov. Rick Scott vetoed it, citing concerns from law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I strongly respect the opinion of state and local law enforcement officers who have contacted me to warn about the possible serious negative consequences should this bill become law," Scott said in his veto message. "While the evidence suggests that increased driving speeds are not the sole cause of traffic accidents, they clearly contribute to the increased severity of vehicle crash outcomes in the form of needless injuries and deaths. The amendment does not appear on a companion bill (HB 567) in the House from Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota. What would the Florida speed limit proposal do? DiCeglie's amendment, added this week, would: Strike the current 40 mph minimum speed limit on all roads four lanes or larger and leave it to FDOT to determine on a case-by-case basis Up the maximum allowable speed limit on limited access highways from 70 to 75 mph Hike the maximum allowable speed limit on divided, four-or-more-lane highways from 65 to 70 mph Allow FDOT to set maximum and minimum speeds on all other roads but with the max limit raised to 65 rather than the current 60 mph Is raising Florida's speed limit safe? Law enforcement and safety organizations have spoken against raising speed limits. Multiple studies, such as a 2021 from AAA, found that higher speeds increase the drivers risk of severe injury or death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Higher speed limits cancel out the benefits of vehicle safety improvements like airbags and improved structural designs, said Dr. David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The faster a driver is going before a crash, the less likely it is that theyll be able to get down to a survivable speed even if they have a chance to brake before impact. A 2019 IIHS study found that rising speed limits have cost nearly 37,000 lives over 25 years. Which US states have speed limits of 75 mph or more? Currently, 18 states have maximum speed limits of 75 mph or more in certain situations, often rural highways. The states with 75 mph speed limits are: Arizona Arkansas Colorado Kansas Lousiana Maine Michigan Nebraska New Mexico North Dakota Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven states Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming have maximum speed limits of 80 mph. By law, the Texas Transportation Commission may set a speed limit up to 85 mph if the roadway is designed to accommodate that speed safely, although that hasn't happened yet. What is Florida's SB 462, Department of Transportation bill? The bill itself is a sweeping one that seeks to clarify a lot of existing laws and add some big changes. Some of them include: The Department of Revenue would be required to distribute 6 cents per kWh of sales tax from commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging to the State Transportation Trust Fund for five years, starting in October FDOT would be able to use eminent domain in advance to acquire land for future proposed developments Requirements for FDOT to award proposed construction and maintenance work to the lowest responsible bidder, when its estimate is $100 million or less and it meets other criteria relating to other bids Requires contractors doing work that requires marine general liability insurance to carry marine general liability insurance Allows FDOT to waive prequalification certification for contractors bidding on certain contracts of $1 million or less, raises the maximum contract amount for which FDOT can waive bond requirements from $150,000 to $250,000 Requires FDOT contractors working on the maintenance of safety elements such as guardrails, traffic signals and stripping to be qualified and experienced with the correct equipment and record Authorizes the State Arbitration Board to arbitrate a claim of up to $2 million or more, instead of the current $1 million Cuts the time period for written warranty or defect claims in half, from 820 days after final acceptance to 360 days after FDOT provides written notice of them Requires underground utilities at a right-of-way to be electronically detectable and defines restrictions, liability, highway reimbursement for utility replacement, and the process utility owners must use Requires FDOT to prioritize new highway and highway redevelopment plans to cover gaps in Floridas Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) of highways so they become contiguous Requires FDOT to create a report on the effects, costs and schedule for widening Interstate 4 from west of U.S. 27 in Polk County to east of World Center Drive (S.R. 536) in Orange County When would Florida's new speed limit take effect? If the amendment stays in, the bill passes and Gov. Ron DeSantis signs it, it becomes law on July 1, 2025. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida speed limit 75 mph bill amendment. SB 462 details ROCHELLE, Ill. (WTVO) A 75-year-old pedestrian is dead after being struck by a train in Rochelle, according to police. The Rochelle Police Department were called to the railroad track near Main Street and 2nd Avenue around 3:51 p.m. Thursday and located the victims body just west of the crossing. An investigation determined the man had been struck by a westbound Union Pacific freight train. No foul play is suspected, police said, adding that the incident is under investigation by the Rochelle Police Department, Union Pacific Police and Ogle County Coroners Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim has not yet been publicly identified. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. The China Writers Association held meetings of its presidium and national committee on Thursday in Beijing. Tie Ning, vice chairperson of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, presided over the meeting. The meeting emphasized that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, writers and literary workers have consciously taken on the cultural missions of the new era. They have adhered to a people-centered approach, fostered innovation, pursued progress, and strived to promote the high-quality development of literature in the new era, contributing to building China into a country with a strong culture, according to the meeting. The meeting also underscored the need to implement the Party's policies on literature and art, adhere to the principles of serving the people and socialism, uphold the policy of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend," and focus on innovative transformation and creative development. It called for a steadfast commitment to the socialist path of cultural advancement with Chinese characteristics and the pursuit of a new pinnacle of Chinese culture. KATHMANDU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and 64 others injured in hundreds of fires across Nepal in the past month, police said on Friday. A total of 501 fires broke out in Nepal between mid-February and mid-March, also leaving 146 animals dead and 54 houses and 57 sheds destroyed, Nepal Police said in a report. "Properties worth 404 million Nepali rupees (2.92 million U.S. dollars) were destroyed in the fires," the report said, noting most of the fire incidents were reported in the provinces of Koshi, Madhesh and Lumbini. Between mid-January and mid-February, 478 fire incidents across Nepal claimed 22 lives and wounded 87 others. An 8-year-old boy who was among two children shot Thursday afternoon in the South Shore neighborhood has been identified by the Cook County medical examiners office. The boy was Josiah Hooker of the 1400 block of East 71st Place, officials said. A man detained at the scene of the shooting remained in custody Friday afternoon, according to a Chicago police spokesperson. The results of an autopsy of the child conducted Friday were inconclusive and pending a police investigation. Authorities, citing preliminary information, said Thursday evening that two boys, ages 8 and 5, were inside a home on 71st Place when they both were wounded shortly before 5:30 p.m. The younger boy suffered a graze wound to the head, and Josiah was shot to the left side of the head. Both boys were taken to Comer Childrens Hospital, where the older boy was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has opened an investigation into the boys family, a spokesperson for the department said. Police have not commented on exactly how the shooting occurred. Nearly all Americans blame the Kremlins leader Vladimir Putin for the Russia-Ukraine war rather than Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a survey released Thursday. The new Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos poll found that 86 percent of American respondents blamed Putin for the three-year conflict in eastern Europe. Roughly a third placed the blame on Zelensky. More than half of U.S. adults, 55 percent, were supportive of the country providing economic assistance to Ukraine while another 52 percent were on board for Washington to continue supplying arms and military supplies to Kyiv, according to the survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 53 percent of respondents said President Trump favors Russia over Ukraine. An NBC News poll, released earlier this week, found that nearly half of Americans believe the president sympathizes with Russia over Ukraine in the conflict. Only 8 percent said they think Trump is on Ukraines side. Most U.S. voters, 69 percent, across the political spectrum said they think the peace negotiations, which Trump has been spearheading with both sides since taking office, should include the U.S., Russia, Ukraine and the European Union, the Thursday poll found. Nearly 6 in 10 voters, 58 percent, opposed the prospect of Russia keeping all of Ukraines territory it has conquered in the conflict. Russia currently occupies some 20 percent of Ukraines territory. A large majority of Americans, 76 percent, said they have faith that Ukraine would respect the peace agreement parameters if it ends up being signed, according to the survey. Only 20 percent of Americans thought the same about Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although nearly 6 in 10 voters, 58 percent, said they thought the U.S. and the EU are equally obligated to assist Ukraine against Russias three-year invasion, the latest figure has dipped by 10 points since 2023, the pollster found. A Gallup poll released Tuesday found that more Americans, 46 percent, said they believe the U.S. is not doing enough to assist Kyiv, representing a 16-point uptick from December last year and closely mirroring the numbers from the summer of 2022. Thursdays survey was conducted March 14-16 with 1,021 Americans. The margin of error was 3.2 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY) Abbeville man is cited for allegedly shooting a Louisiana black bear in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) said. Authorities said they cited Shannon R. Parker, 50, of Abbeville, for allegedly shooting a bear during a closed season. During the investigation, authorities said Parker admitted to shooting the bear with his .270 rifle. Lafayette veteran takes state record black bear during recent hunt Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities Parker admitted he shot at a dark silhouette that he believed was a wild hog and failed to identify his target prior to firing his rifle. Later on it was discovered Parker failed to have written permission to hunt on property at night, did not have the landowners contact information in his possession and failed to notify the Vermilion Parish Sheriffs Office of his intention to attempt to take wild hogs at night, authorities said. The black bear was killed near Palmetto State Park on private land and died sometime around early March, authorities said. Experts said described the bear to be female, about 10 years old and weighed around 200 pounds. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest In 2024, LDWF held the first black bear hunting season in Louisiana in over 35 years by issuing 11 tags to select lottery applicants. A total of 10 black bears were harvested during the open season from Dec. 7-22, 2024. In 2025, the black bear hunting season will be from Dec. 6-21 with 26 tags being issued to select lottery applicants. Authorities said taking a bear during a closed season brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Failing to comply with wild quadruped times and methods of taking carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Parker will also face civil restitution totaling $10,000 for the replacement value of the illegally taken bear, authorities said. Latest news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Julian Barnes, New York Times National Security Reporter joins Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss his stunning reporting detailing that the Pentagon set up a meeting with Elon Musk where Musk was set to get a briefing on the United States military plans for any potential conflict with China, until it was stopped by Donald Trump after reporting about the meeting broke the news. A voter deposits a mail-in ballot at the drop box outside the Chester County Government Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Capital-Star/Peter Hall) More than 9,000 Pennsylvanians successfully cast ballots in the 2024 election, after they initially made mistakes on vote-by-mail ballots, a voting rights group said. About half of the voters who made errors on their mail ballots were able to preserve their rights to vote. Thats an improvement over recent elections, when confusion over the rules for voting by mail caused as many as 22,000 voters to be disenfranchised in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said its analysis of the 2024 election found more than 7,000 voters were notified by county election officials they forgot to sign or date their ballot envelopes or made similar disqualifying mistakes. County policies allowed those people to correct the errors and have their ballots counted. A further 2,000 were able to vote because of a state Supreme Court decision last year that requires county election officials to count provisional ballots cast by voters who find out that their mail ballots have been disqualified. But more than 8,500 voters still did not have their votes counted because of errors that have not bearing on their qualifications to cast ballots, the analysis found. And 6,500 mail ballots were not counted because they arrived after the Election Day deadline. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings the ACLU of Pennsylvania published Thursday show county notice and cure policies and the Supreme Courts ruling made a difference, Mike Lee, the groups executive director, said. Thats a win for democracy, and we applaud the majority of counties that inform voters about their potentially disqualifying mistakes. Our question for the other counties is, Why arent you doing more to help people vote? Lee said in a statement. Pennsylvanias 67 counties have a patchwork of differing practices under Act 77, which made voting by mail without an excuse an option for the first time in 2020. Some counties inform voters by telephone, email or letter that they have made mistakes ahead of Election Day. Others record canceled ballots in the Statewide Uniform Registry of Voters (SURE), which automatically generates an email that tells voters about their ballots status. When voters know theres a problem, they can preserve their right to vote by casting a provisional ballot at their polling place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a case led by the ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center last year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of voters from Butler County that election officials were required to count the provisional ballots cast after their primary ballots were canceled. Marian Schneider, the ACLU of Pennsylvanias senior policy counsel for voting rights, told the Capital-Star the lack of uniformity is the result of state courts concluding counties cannot be compelled to allow voters to correct mistakes and the Election Code neither requires nor prohibits notice and cure policies. A state law explicitly addressing the issue would help to ensure disqualified ballots and voters are treated the same from one county to the next, she said. The Department of State, which oversees elections at the state level, could issue a directive that all counties have to record whether a ballot has been rejected in the SURE system. That would give voters the notice they need to cast a provisional ballot, Schneider said. Legislation awaiting action in the state House would address three of the main reasons mail-in ballots get rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 499 introduced by Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery) would change the deadline to apply for a mail ballot from seven days before the election to 12 days, to ensure that the postal service has enough time to deliver and return them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX It would also eliminate the requirement to use a blank secrecy envelope inside the return envelope for mail ballots. Ballots returned without secrecy envelopes now must be disqualified. Websters bill would clarify that the requirement to sign and date mail-in ballots means to include the date of the voters signature. It would also state that failing to date the ballot cannot be the sole reason to disqualify the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it would explicitly give counties the authority to use ballot drop boxes and establish minimum requirements for the counties that choose to do so. Another measure Webster introduced, House Bill 473, would prohibit third-party organizations from sending ballot applications to eligible voters. Ballot applications submitted in bulk, sometimes with incorrect information, prompted investigations in several counties last fall. Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre) introduced House Bill 37 to allow counties to begin preparing to count mail ballots up to a week before Election Day. Election workers now may not begin preparing mail ballots until polls open on Election Day, leading to delays in providing election results. The legislation, which Conklin said is consistently the most requested change to Act 77, passed the House last session but was not considered in the Senate. (This story was updated at 11:22 a.m., Friday, March 21, 2025 to clarify how Pennsylvania courts have ruled on notice and cure policies.) LOUISIANA (KLFY) Recent findings by the Southern Shrimp Alliance uncovered that United States taxpayer dollars were being used to finance foreign shrimp operations through international financial institutions. Cheri Blanchard is a Louisiana board member with the Southern Shrimp Alliance. We find these situations like weve been ringing the bell about the World Bank and about international financing going into foreign shrimp aquaculture and with taxpayer money, said Blanchard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Blanchard, this contributed to the eventual downfall of the local industry. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest The value of U.S. Shrimp has been cut in half from 2021 to 2023, and its still about that value because people have had to tie up their boats, she said. Based on what the Southern Shrimp Alliance uncovered, lawmakers are reintroducing the Save Our Shrimpers Act to make sure it does not continue. Also, they put it in the legislation that the GOA should investigate and make sure that theyre actually complying with the law, she said. The act was previously introduced in 2024 but was never passed. Blanchard and the rest of the organization hope and believe it can finally go through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanchard advises everyone to go to the Southern Shrimp Alliance website for more details on the industry moving forward. Latest news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. The countrys top immigration official was in Orlando Friday when he announced the first arrests under the Alien Enemies Act. Thats the 1789 law that allows broader power in the deportation of undocumented immigrants. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements acting director, Todd Lyons, joined local and state law enforcement officials at the Florida Highway Patrol office to discuss the arrests. The arrests included alleged Tren de Aragua, or TdA, gang members, one of whom was 52-year-old Franklin Jose Jimenez-Bracho, a citizen of Venezuela. He is accused of multiple crimes, including the murder of his wife in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lyons said authorities have apprehended 68 alleged TdA gang members in the past 48 hours and 390 since the beginning of January. Officials said these arrests are their mission in Florida and across the nation. They did not do into details of their plans. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Mayor Eric Adams tapped Randy Mastro to be first deputy mayor Thursday about six months after the lawyer dropped an ill-fated bid to become the Big Apples top attorney. Mastro, who was a deputy mayor under Rudy Giulianis administration, will return to City Hall as part of a leadership reboot by Adams after four of his top aides resigned following the Justice Departments move to quash Hizzoners corruption case. Mayor Eric Adams tapped Randy Mastro to be first deputy mayor Thursday about six months after the lawyer dropped an ill-fated bid to become the Big Apples top attorney. Mastro was a deputy mayor under Rudy Giulianis administration. Hermann, Marc, A. Randy is a storied and impressive New Yorker with a track record of success in the face of some of the city and nations most challenging times, Adams said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ex-federal prosecutor was nominated by Adams last year to be the citys corporation counsel, but Mastro pulled out of consideration in September after it was clear the City Council had no interest in approving the appointment. But there had been talks about bringing Mastro aboard the administration for weeks leading up to Thursdays announcement, sources told The Post. Randy is a storied and impressive New Yorker with a track record of success in the face of some of the city and nations most challenging times, Adams said in a statement. Matthew McDermott I am honored to serve the city again and grateful to Mayor Adams for affording me this opportunity, Mastro said in a statement. Like so many New Yorkers, I love this city and want it to succeed. BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The main forum of the three-day 2025 Global South Financiers Forum kicked off here Thursday, gathering experts, industry leaders and government officials from the financial sector across the world. Financiers at the forum shared insights on the economic and financial development of the Global South, and expressed confidence in a promising prospect for South-South cooperation and the development of the Global South. "Global South has achieved a great significance in the global economic system," said Inayat Hussain, executive director of State Bank of Pakistan. "The countries of the Global South have contributed to more than half of the world's growth in recent years, intra-south trade accounts for more than a quarter of all world trade, and the outflows of foreign direct investment from the South represent a third of the global flows." Calling the Belt and Road Initiative a great example of South-South cooperation, he said Chinese financial resources and technical assistance are helping the development of many countries in the Global South, including Pakistan, where the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a project under the initiative, has promoted local infrastructure development through financial cooperation and technical assistance. South-South cooperation "has a very high potential to address complex challenges of the developing world because countries in the Global South -- though on different stages of economic development -- can better understand the resource constraints and capacity challenges faced by their Global South peers," Hussain said, adding that the cooperative mechanism can lead to more effective coordination that is mutually beneficial for all participants. The Banker magazine of the Financial Times Group monitors around 4,000 banks worldwide. It has witnessed the growth of the Global South over the past two decades, with Chinese bankers dominating the top of its annual ranking, said the magazine's Editor-in-Chief Silvia Pavoni. The growth of the Global South is mirrored and complemented by the growth of their banking sectors, Pavoni said, particularly in a time full of challenges such as climate change and new geopolitical maneuvering. Noting that the United States has unilaterally created the longest economic, commercial and financial blockade in history, Yamile Berra Cires, the first vice president of the Central Bank of Cuba, said, "Cuba agrees on the need to reform the international financial architecture and strengthen financial cooperation among the Global South countries based on non-discriminatory treatment and inclusive strategies." She said the New Development Bank provides an alternative for member and participating countries to strengthen their economic functioning, expressing hope for more initiatives to boost financial mechanisms that facilitate the development of countries like Cuba. The world is navigating through an unprecedented time with challenges of rising economic crises, geopolitical tensions and climate change, said Jonathan Titus-Williams, deputy minister of planning and economic development of Sierra Leone. "These challenges demand innovative, flexible and collaborative approaches to financing" tailored to each country's unique needs and circumstances, he said. "A unified Global South effort, and the globe in general, will be essential to confronting the pressing issues that no nation can solve alone ... Through diverse and creative financing options, we can create a more equitable, sustainable and resilient world," Titus-Williams said. South-South financial cooperation has funded critical infrastructure including ports, roads and bridges in developing countries, and boosted regional economic integration, said Mohammad Nazmul Haque, executive vice president of Infrastructure Development Company Limited of Bangladesh. It complements traditional North-South cooperation by prioritizing mutual self-sufficiency and economic interdependence among developing countries aligned with global frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals, he added. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin Fire Department rescued a person who was reportedly struck by and pinned underneath a vehicle on the service road of Interstate 35 at East Riverside Drive. AFD posted on X at 11:31 a.m. that crews had rescued the person. Austin-Travis County EMS declared an adult patient as a trauma alert and transported them to Dell Seton Medical Center with potentially serious injuries, according to a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another person was evaluated on the scene for minor injuries but refused to be transported, ATCEMS said. Austin Transportation and Public Works posted on X just before 11:30 a.m. alerting drivers that multiple lanes were closed due to the crash. The department posted an update at 12:30 p.m. that the crash had been cleared and all lanes were back open. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. On February 10, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Washington challenging President Donald Trump's January 20 executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). On February 25, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction, forcing the government to recommence USRAP processing. In the weeks following the injunction, Afghan USRAP applicants at processing hubs around the world have still been forbidden from departing for the U.S. A single Afghan USRAP applicant and her family have skirted the prohibition, however, thanks to a workaround that advocates see as a method for other well-vetted, travel-ready refugees to follow in their path. "A Beautiful Accident" Priority-1 USRAP applicant Freshta was a prosecutor for the former Afghan government. Because she used a burgeoning Western legal system to bring justice for victims of domestic violence, she was a prime target for Taliban retribution following the group's ascent to power in August 2021. Her husband Hadi, a renowned journalist, was also at risk after the U.S. withdrawal, already having survived a stabbing attack in 2012 because of his anti-Taliban positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Taliban seized power in their homeland, Freshta and Hadi fled to Pakistan, where they lived in a one-bedroom apartment with their two children for more than three years while awaiting the processing for Freshta's USRAP case. Life in Pakistan has been difficult for Afghan refugees, who cannot be processed in their homeland, where there is no operational U.S. Embassy. The cost of living is higher in Pakistan, and refugees are not able to work or send their children to school. The situation became more difficult in late 2023 when the Pakistani government began deporting large numbers of Afghan migrants, causing fear in the American allies awaiting the processing of USRAP or Special Immigrant Visa cases. When a new wave of deportation began in late 2024, Hadi found himself in Pakistani custody. The police threatened Hadi with deportation, placing him in a small room with around 15 other Afghans, some of whom had visas or protection documents from European countries. Hadi worried that he would be handed "directly to the Taliban border forces" and notified volunteers that he was in trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since his wife's USRAP processing was finished and the family had already been scheduled for travel in early February, the State Department issued Hadi's family a Global Boarding Letter as proof for the Pakistani police that Hadi was preparing to leave the country. Upon receipt of the document, Hadi was released. "I came home and the next day they told me all of [the other detainees were] deported to Afghanistan," Hadi said. He now describes detention as "a beautiful accident" since his Global Boarding Letter became his pass to freedom. "We Got Out of Hell" The nonprofit Jewish Humanitarian Response has been working with the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA) to assist Afghan legal professionals with access to USRAP as they slowly make their way through the processing pipeline. The risk they face is clear: Since 2021, there have been 57 documented cases of former Afghan legal professionals or their family members being murdered in the de facto government's reprisal campaign. APA's Task Force Counsel Mark Dumaine said that at the time of the January 20 executive order, hundreds of Afghan judges and prosecutors remained unprocessed, including 45 women deemed at special risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Injustice struck Freshta's family exceedingly hard since they all had plane tickets in hand when the suspension went into effect. Freshta "was mentally crushed by that, because it really did seem like it was the last opportunity," Dumaine said. When a federal judge ordered the resumption of the USRAP at the end of February, Freshta's supporters saw a window of possibility. A coterie of volunteers secured travel plans and found the family an American attorney. Because their Global Boarding Letter had been issued prior to Trump's executive order, Hadi was able to convince Pakistani officials to allow his family to board their flight to Seattle. When they arrived in Washington, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer examined a virtual copy of the federal judge's injunction before collecting Hadi and Freshta's electronic devices and situating them in a small room, where the family waited to learn their fate. After a tense hour and a half, the official returned to congratulate the family and welcome them to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hadi turned to Freshta, who was now shedding happy tears. "This is what freedom looks like," he told her. "You are now free." East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar C. Moore III, along with a host of other Americans, were waiting to welcome the family to their new home. Moore described feeling myriad emotions. "You could see the toll it's taken on Freshta for sure," he said. "She's lost weight. Her skin color is different." At the same time, he enthused, "You have to see their children dancing and laughing. You have to see them so relieved." Locals have responded enthusiastically to APA's attempts to raise funds and gather household goods for the newly arrived family. "We can't even keep up with the calls," Moore said. The kindness of strangers has been meaningful for Hadi and Freshta. "We are really lucky people," Hadi said. "All of that anxiety and fearit was a really bad life we had the last four years. It was like hell. And we got out of hell." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hadi also noted that he recognizes that many "families in Pakistan have no support, no income.It's a really bad situation for all of those people." "A Death Sentence" The Pakistani government has threatened to deport all Afghan citizens starting on April 119 days before the USRAP suspension is set to end. Dumaine stressed that if the female prosecutors are deported to Afghanistan, "that's a death sentence." At present, the only thing holding the women back from entry is a Global Boarding Letter. The government's current efforts to restart USRAP are nonexistent, with IRAP stating on March 11 that "the government's attorney was unable to specify a single concrete step the government had taken to comply with the injunction." Dumaine believes that the federal government's compliance should be measured by the number of Global Boarding Letters they issue to Afghan USRAP applicants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department did not respond to questions about whether it has issued or intends to issue Global Boarding Letters to USRAP applicants. The post Afghan Refugees Stuck in Limbo as USRAP Suspension Defies Court Order appeared first on Reason.com. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham talks about some of the bills on crime in the Legislature this year. The news conference was held in the Governor's Office, Tuesday, January 28, 2025 Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday signed a bill to create an independent office for child welfare, but made clear her displeasure with both the Legislature and State Attorney General Raul Torrez over the debate surrounding the Children, Youth and Families Department. Because the governors office received HB5 more than three days before the sessions end, she was required to sign or veto it by Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 5 creates an Office of the Child Advocate headed by a state child advocate appointed by a seven-member committee with members chosen by the governor, lawmakers and the courts. The office is administratively attached to the office of the attorney general (which is how the renamed Department of Justice is referred to in the legislation), but amendments added on the Senate Floor curtailed some of the offices original powers. That included removing its ability to subpoena; and requiring the New Mexico Office of the attorney general to develop rules to prevent conflicts of interest. An amendment also removed language that would have allowed the new office the authority to determine if CYFD or one of its employees had violated a childs rights and referred such instances to the Attorney General. The bill is one of several lawmakers debated during the session in response to ongoing problems at the beleaguered agency. The states Risk Management Division recently reported a $3.9 million shortfall in its settlement fund, with child welfare cases playing a heavy role. In 2024, CYFD settled for $18 million across 12 settlements, according to a Source NM review of the settlement data available on the states portal. The settlements ended lawsuits alleging the departments responsibility for the deaths or severe injuries of children in state custody, from years ago. In her message to lawmakers on Friday, the governor noted the importance of protecting children and said that is why she had proposed creating the Child Protection authority to receive and investigate complaints of abuse, neglect and foster care cases. The Legislatures preferred Office of the Child Advocate, she said, was initially weaponized by the AG and the Legislature to intimidate CYFD and its staff. The bill, she added, was not designed to protect children. Rather, it was a thinly-disguised vendetta by a Legislature that is still upset at my continuing pursuits of meaningful criminal justice legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lujan Grishams message also made note of an earlier version of the law that would have allowed the AG to engage in civil litigation against CYFD and its employees. I find it disturbing that the individual who refers to himself as the chief legal counsel and advisor to the executive branch of state government including all executive department literally lobbied for authority to bring legal action against the very people he purports to be counsel and advisor to and did not appreciate the obvious conflict of interest that would have created. The governor concluded by describing herself as deeply disturbed by the legislatures gleeful condemnation of CYFD. These same legislators insulted social workers, foster families, and case managers. People that literally spend their days trying their best to do good work for our children to keep them safe and give them the supports they need. The irony that the same individuals that literally refuse to fully fund the agency to hire enough staff then criticize their vacancy rates and unmanageable workloads. In response, Department of Justice Chief of Staff Lauren Rodriguez issued a statement that said, While we are encouraged by HB5 becoming law, we are deeply disappointed that the Governor chose to center the discussion around herself and her inner circle.The focus of this bill should have remained squarely on the children who suffer from neglect, abuse, and systemic failures. Nowhere in the Governors statement is there acknowledgment of their struggles or the urgent need for reform. I believe leadership means prioritizing the people we serve, not engaging in personal grievances. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX "Six hours after he was inaugurated he violated the Constitution and we sued. He has people running amok in our government," Ford said. (Photo courtesy NV Dems) Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford on Friday condemned the Trump administrations plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, saying he doesnt believe public promises that federal funding for widely used education programs wont be cut as a result. Trump on Thursday issued an executive order calling on the dismantling and closure of the Education Department. The announcement, long expected, has ramped up uncertainty about the future of educational programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is supposed to ensure that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education, and Title-1, which provides additional funding for schools in low-income neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada over the past 5 years has received $6 billion from the federal government for education programs, according to Ford. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Thursday released a statement saying that closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them and said the administration will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs. Trump has similarly said these popular programs will be preserved in full. I dont believe him, Ford said Friday at a press conference in Carson City. I have been engaging in litigation since he was inaugurated. Six hours after he was inaugurated he violated the Constitution and we sued. He has people running amok in our government. It is Congress, not the president, that holds the authority to completely shut down a federal department. But Trump and McMahon have made it clear their goal is shutting the department down. The administration has already instituted mass layoffs, ended existing contracts, and made other significant reductions to the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a harmless restructuring, said Ford. Ford and other Democratic attorneys general have filed multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration, including one earlier this month over the halving of the Education Departments workforce. Ford on Friday vowed to continue filing such lawsuits as needed. On Friday, the Trump administration announced that administration of federal student loans would be moved from the Education Department to the U.S. Small Business Administration and that special education services and nutritional programs would be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services. North Valleys High School Principal Tomas Macaluso, who spoke before Ford at the press conference, pointed out that Trump is gutting staff at numerous departments and it will likely be difficult for them to adequately absorb additional programs and duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Assemblymember Angie Taylor, a career educator who also spoke at the event, made a more fundamental argument about the potential move of education programs into other federal departments: They belong in the Education Department. 2026 gubernatorial race Ford plans on challenging Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo next year. The two men have publicly clashed before, but Fridays press conference, organized by the Nevada State Democratic Party, could be seen as the first proactive attack Ford has lobbed at Lombardo. Lombardo just sold out Nevadas kids and their futures, said Ford, adding that the governor will have to answer to Nevadans if the federal cuts result in fewer teachers, bigger class sizes, and the dismantling of programs with special needs. Ford continued, He didnt have to do this. Nobody forced him to do this. He chose to do it. Joe Lombardo wants to kiss up to Donald Trump? Fine, but he doesnt get to do it at the expense of Nevada students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lombardo on Thursday threw his full support behind Trump, writing in an op-ed on the right-wing platform Breitbart that the president is returning education back to state control. Ford noted that Lombardos piece ran immediately after Trumps announcement and had to have been prewritten. He didnt hesitate, added Ford. He prepared himself to abandon children. In his op-ed, Lombardo said by eliminating the Department of Education, Trump would be returning curriculum to the state and district level. The federal law that established the Department of Education specified that the department does not develop curriculum or set educational standards, and those are the state and local responsibilities. By removing harmful DEI policies, restoring integrity in womens sports, and implementing educational freedom, President Trump has already made significant progress in our schools and universities, Lombardo said in Breitbart. Even though wholesale egg prices are falling, its unclear if U.S. consumers will see grocery store prices decline anytime soon, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Thursday. Rollins said in a call with reporters that New York wholesale egg prices had declined more than 50% to $4.08 a dozen from a record high of $8.53 Feb. 26. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that day it would invest $1 billion in an effort to cut egg costs. While calling lower wholesale prices a move "in the right direction," Rollins said grocery store prices could, in fact, continue climbing, given increased demand ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday. In addition, she noted that the spring migration of wild birds is imminent, bringing the threat of increased bird flu outbreaks, the main reason for the egg-price runup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While prices are exponentially down, and we're really, really encouraged by that, theres always a possibility that prices could tick back up, said Rollins. Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, carry the deadly disease, spreading it primarily during their spring and fall migrations. Highly pathogenic avian influenza has forced U.S. farmers to cull 168 million birds since the outbreak began in February 2022. Producers in Iowa, the nation's largest egg producer, have destroyed nearly 30.7 million chickens, turkeys and other birds in an effort to contain the disease. Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell (left), U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins (center) and Kentucky Venues President & CEO David S. Beck (right) at the National Farm Machinery Show. Heres what to know about the U.S. approach to curbing bird flu and lowering retail egg prices, which were nearly 60% higher in February than a year ago, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index report. USDA offers assessments to cut bird flu outbreaks An Iowa egg farm. Farmers in the largest egg-producing states will be the first offered voluntary assessments of their facilities' general biosecurity and analyses of how wildlife could spread avian influenza to their flocks, expanding a pilot project started under President Joe Biden before he left office in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rollins said the two free consultations will be available to egg operations that haven't experienced outbreaks as a way to help prevent losses. The USDA will share 75% of the costs to remedy the highest biosecurity risks, she said. Facilities that have been hit with bird flu will receive a biosecurity audit before restocking to help protect future flocks, Rollins said. More: As bird flu continues to drive egg prices higher, lawmakers eye vaccination Additionally, the USDA is roughly doubling the amount of money that poultry producers hit by bird flu receive, Rollins said. The added assistance about $17 more per bird provides "critical relief to farmers, helping them more quickly replace their flocks, she said. Turkey, South Korea boosting U.S. egg sales Turkey and South Korea have agreed to export liquid eggs to the U.S. to help address shortages, Rollins said, adding that shell egg exports from the U.S. have declined, keeping more eggs on the domestic market. A third country is in talks with the USDA to export eggs, Rollins said, but she declined to identify it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters has reported that the USDA asked European countries, including Denmark, to export eggs to the U.S. to help lower prices. Theyre among the countries that President Donald Trump is levying tariffs against, and it's unclear how that might affect prices. Pumping $100 million into vaccine, therapeutics research As previously announced, the USDA is moving ahead with plans to invest $100 million in research and development of poultry vaccines, a move that Rollins had previously said would reduce the need to cull birds to prevent the virus' spread. Some Iowa flocks that have been destroyed numbered in the millions, an impact large enough to result in egg shortages. Should the U.S. let bird flu run rampant in flocks? After Rollins had left the call, Kailee Buller, the USDAs chief of staff, said she could spread no further light on her boss's thoughts about U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s suggestion that officials should let avian influenza run through the flock so that we can identify the birds, and preserve the birds, that are immune to it. Buller said Rollins and Kennedy talk regularly to align their approach" on avian influenza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's an idea the New York Times reported Kennedy has proposed more than once while on Fox News. Scientists are concerned that allowing the virus to race unchecked through farms would enable it to mutate, potentially becoming dangerous to humans. So far, the public health risk of the H5N1 virus is low, with no person-to-person spread, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. But on Monday, the U.S. reported its first outbreak since 2017 of another bird flu strain, H7N9. Unrelated to the H5N1 strain, it has proven to have a high death rate for humans worldwide. The detection came in a commercial broiler breeder chicken flock in Mississippi, the World Organization of Animal Health said. The flock of 46,000 birds was destroyed, the USDA said. It said state and federal officials are conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why grocery egg prices might fall slower than wholesale in the US A high-ranking Brazilian government official issued a broad criticism of Western developed countries including France on Thursday, in the run-up to a meeting of Brics energy ministers in the South American country's capital. Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira said in a press briefing that the world's developed countries had "no interest" in helping developing nations industrialise, and that Brics members would need to work together to achieve this goal. The minister veered into the diatribe after a question about criticism about Brazil's oil exploration in the equatorial fringe of the Amazon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "There is not a single time when I go to France where Le Monde and other French media do not question Brazil's position ... to [insist on] a global energy transition ... and, at the search for oil off the Brazilian coast." "I always respond, very objectively, that it's a shame that France doesn't have oil and has one of the biggest oil companies in the world, even exploring off the Brazilian coast," he said. Silveira, who is chairing the Brics Energy Working Group in Brasilia this week, also excoriated "those who proclaim international interests that are most certainly not ours". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group's meeting is one of many Brics conferences that lay the groundwork for this year's summit in Rio de Janeiro in July. Silveira's comments come at a time when Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is trying to unite the Brics countries on climate finance ahead of the 2025 United Nations Conference of the Parties - more commonly referred to as Cop30. The forum for climate negotiations is set to convene in Brazil in November. Last month, Brazil's Brics negotiator, Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio, said that developing countries were dissatisfied with the outcome of the 2024 climate conference in Azerbaijan, stressing the need to align the Brics countries' priorities at Cop30. "In terms of financing and given the need for a greater volume of climate finance, the results were modest," Lyrio said, adding that at least US$1.3 trillion is needed to fund the Global South's efforts to decarbonise their economies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazil has also expressed concern about a possible failure of the climate talks in November. This year's Cop president, Andre Correa do Lago, said the summit was "in exceptional circumstances" and that the results achieved by the negotiators were likely to be "influenced by the decisions of key countries such as the United States, which recently announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement". During Thursday's press conference, Silveira emphasised that the Brics energy group supports a "fair, inclusive and balanced energy transition", using language that tends to run counter to the priorities of US President Donald Trump, a climate science sceptic. Alluding to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro without naming him, Silveira also criticised supporters of the "new politics", who celebrated Trump's electoral victory last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to slow climate change "should serve to include people with dignity and not exclude them", Silveira said. "All the Brics countries are very aligned in this regard, making significant investments in this model of energy transition." China, India, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Ethiopia have sent delegations to the in-person talks in Brasilia. Indonesia, which joined the group this year, and Saudi Arabia will participate via video conference. Iran was not involved in the talks, although Brazil expects it to attend the leaders summit in July. Silveira said there was "great enthusiasm among Brics members to achieve the meeting's goals" on energy policy, adding that Brazil would build on the progress made at last year's G20 summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For years, there was no consensus document [on energy] at the G20. Last year, we succeeded, and our declaration has already had a practical impact on the energy sector around the globe," Silveira said. "We want to achieve the same with Brics." 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. COXS BAZAR, Bangladesh (AP) They first faced persecution in their country. Then a deadly crackdown by Myanmars army sent hundreds of thousands fleeing into Bangladesh. Driven from their homes, many of the Rohingya have since lived in refugee settlements entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance. That assistance largely led by the United States is at the risk of being cut, following U.S. President Donald Trumps decree to freeze most of his countrys foreign aid. For more than 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh it means they could be left with too little food and money for survival. No cuts have happened yet. But the U.N. World Food Program said if it is not able to raise funds, it will have no option but to halve food rations to $6 a month from previous $12.50 in the country's southern coastal district of Coxs Bazar, where the Rohingya live in sprawling camps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not immediately clear if the WFPs decision was directly related to the Trump administrations action, but during a recent visit to the refugee camps, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized the U.S. and other countries in Europe for halting or reducing their aid budgets. UN food agency says no choice but to reduce rations To be sure, a large portion of funds needed for supporting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has come from the U.S. Agency for International Development, but the countrys government and dozens of aid organizations also look after their daily needs. Yet, any drop in humanitarian aid could have extreme impact on the lives of Rohingya refugees. Coxs Bazar is ground zero for the impact of budget cuts on people in desperate need, Guterres said last week during his visit to the camps. He said that drastic cuts in humanitarian aid are a crime and urged the international community to continue to support the Rohingya refugees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aid workers have warned that aid cuts if they become effective in April will devastate the lives of the refugees, especially women and children. We will have no choice but to reduce rations starting in April," said WFP spokesperson Kun Li. Rohingya say aid cuts will make their lives impossible Before being forced from Myanmar, farmer Mahabub Alam was an influential figure in his community, serving as the chairman of a local government body in a village in western Rakhine state. Today, the 56-year-old says, he is broke and his nine-member family solely depends on aid, because like other refugees he is not formally allowed to work outside the refugee camps in Coxs Bazar. Alam has been worried, even shocked, since he first heard that food rations could be cut to half from next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will not be able to live on that ($6 a month), and we will die here, said Alam, who has been living in the camp since 2017, after fleeing the Myanmar military's brutal attacks on the Rohingya. The $6 allowance per month will only be sufficient for minimum quantities of rations, Alam said. According to UNICEF, more than 15% of children in the camps are acutely malnourished. Earlier, we used to be able to eat something, have medications, and fish, but now we wont be able to have any of them, he said. Alams worries are not only limited to having access to food and financial support. He said aid cuts could also fuel unrest in the camps, where groups among the refugees have sometimes clashed over essentials and to establish supremacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be an increase in number of thieves and robbers here. People will get kidnapped, things will be stolen, and unrest will increase. The situation will worsen, Alam said. He said he'd rather go back to Myanmar but only if there are guarantees for safety. In reality, returning is not option for the refugees, as military-ruled Myanmar is mired in a civil war. Children most at risk The aid cuts if they do come could also cause major concern for camp residents who need money for medical treatment. It will be very difficult for us to live, said Tomida Khatun, 46, who arrived to Cox's Bazar with her family in 2017. We have diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes. We need money for treatment, but we will not have any. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are worried about how we are going to feed our children. How are we going to send them to school?" Khatun said. The monthly food ration of $12.50 for each member of her family is already stretched to the limit, she said, and the funding shortfall could only makes things worse. Londons Heathrow Airport shut down Friday after a large fire at an electrical substation caused a power outage, disrupting 1,350 flights and putting the state of air cargo passing through the hub in disarray. After 4 p.m. local time, the airport said it was safely able to restart with a reduced operation, with the first flight touching down at Heathrow nearly two hours later. The airport, which is the busiest in Europe, hopes to return to a full schedule on Saturday. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for air cargo, it will likely take several days to mobilize planes, cargo carriers and flight crews, as well as clear backlogs. Anita Mendiratta, an aviation and tourism consultant, told the Associated Press roughly 4,000 tons of cargo were stranded by the closure. According to live capacity and air demand data from air cargo software and consulting provider Rotate, 12 percent of European cargo has been directly impacted by the closure. Trans-Atlantic capacity is most affected, with 20 percent of cargo capacity on the lane either going to or from Heathrow. The Heathrow closure isnt just another logistics issue; its a real-time stress test for supply chain resilience. Businesses must demonstrate how quickly they can pivot under pressure, said Vitaliano Tobruk, a director at Moodys who focuses on supplier risk. The E.U.s major cargo hubs, such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris are absorbing the overflow, but capacity is not unlimited, and congestion will ripple outward. Any companies that rely on supply chains which are too dependent on single transit points would now be facing difficulties. Heathrow is a critical air freight hub, with 215.6 billion pounds ($278.6 billion) worth of cargo was imported and exported through the airport last year, totaling over 1.5 million metric tons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airport accounted for 67.7 percent of U.K. air freight imports in 2024, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. The second and third largest airports, East Midlands and Stanstead, each accounted for less than 10 percent of imports and so may not be able to take up all the slack while the smaller airports wont have the handling capabilities or onward logistics, said Chris Rogers, head of supply chain research at S&P Global Market Intelligence. IAG Cargo, which has a hub in Heathrow and said its operations were temporarily disrupted, began accepting new cargo bookings as of Friday afternoon. The company has not commented on how it expects to handle potential backlogs. IAGs Heathrow hub handles over 500,000 metric tons of cargo every year. IAG Cargo transports cargo using the belly capacity of IAGs sister airlines, including British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British International Freight Association (BIFA) noted that this usage of belly capacity in passenger aircraft could pose problems. When flights to and from LHR are restored, there will be a considerable influx in demand by passengers for seats to continue their journeys. Potentially this will restrict the capacity to move cargo, BIFA said in a Friday statement. Supply chains work based on a consistent flow of goods and this has been severely interrupted, BIFA said. For exports, the immediate concern will be that airline sheds will fill up rapidly and be unable to accept fresh freight deliveries, which will then affect other parties. For imports, freight will not arrive at or be diverted from its original final destination. An operational update from Flexport indicated that any export shipments booked from Friday through Sunday are now scheduled for Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The digital freight forwarder cited a noticeable increase in requests to export from surrounding airports, including but not limited to Amsterdam, Manchester and Paris. For U.K. imports, Flexport expects significant delays in pickups due to disruptions and emergency service activity at the airport. The company anticipates more imports will be diverted to Birmingham and Manchester. A DHL spokesperson told the New York Times that the logistics company is using ground transport to reroute shipments that were already at Heathrow to other British airports. Heathrows closure generated some criticism from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is it that critical infrastructureof national and global importanceis totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative, said Willie Walsh, IATAs director general. If that is the caseas it seemsthen it is a clear planning failure by the airport. Airports worldwide got a similar response last July, when a software glitch from cybersecurity company Crowdstrike caused a global IT outage that grounded thousands of flights worldwide. The incident caused mass delays and cancellations throughout the day and disrupted cargo handling operations with weeklong backlogs. Coming right after the epically named all-caps VIKING NEBULA bomber mission earlier this month, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa recently began another exercise named wait for it Turbo Weasel. To some people, Turbo Weasel may sound like a character in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game that your parents played long long ago. It also harkens back to Operation Sleepy Weasel, the name of the top secret mission in the first Hot Shots movie, which remains one of the best pre-Global War on Terrorism films about the U.S. military. In reality, the name underscores the speed and mission focus of the 480th Fighter Squadron out of Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, which is tasked with suppressing enemy air defenses, according to Senior Master Sgt Jarad Denton, a spokesman for the 52nd Fighter Wing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turbo refers to the rapid generation and deployment of F-16s demonstrating our ability to launch combat power quickly and effectively, Denton wrote in a statement to Task & Purpose on Friday. Weasel pays homage to the squadrons specialized role in the Wild Weasel mission set: the suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD). Together, the name signifies a high-tempo, combat-ready force uniquely skilled in neutralizing threats and enabling air superiority. Turbo Weasel has also been a foundational concept for Agile Combat Employment, setting the standard for how the Air Force projects power with speed, flexibility, and resilience. Wild Weasel pilots are so good at suppression and destruction that in 2017, while supporting an Army Ranger unit that was under attack, Lt. Col Craig Andrle dropped every single bomb from his F-16 in Afghanistan, then flew back to the airfield, hopped out, jumped into a new F-16 and dropped every bomb on that plane, too. The first iteration of this years Turbo Weasel exercise began on Tuesday and runs until March 26, and the second is scheduled for April 8 to 17, according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa. Stories like this allow Task & Purpose to reflect on a truism that the U.S. military seems to have forgotten until recently: Names of military operations and exercises shouldnt be boring. The Armys successful mission to capture Saddam Hussein in December 2003, for example, was named Operation Red Dawn after the legendary movie about a group of teenagers who battle a communist invasion of the United States and manage to repair a pickup truck by urinating in the radiator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is worth noting that the military did not name the mission for an artsy war film, like The Thin Red Line, because any movie that could put dead people asleep is not inspiring. But for the past decade or so, the codenames for U.S. military operations have tended to be a little, well, lame. The U.S.-led mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi Rebels in Yemen was named Prosperity Guardian, which sounds like two nouns stuck in a forced marriage. The U.S. and British air and missile strikes against Houthi Targets got the name Operation Poseidon Archer, which begs the question: Poseidon was the ancient Greek god who ruled the seas; how would he shoot arrows from underwater? While the name Turbo Weasel may be slightly confusing to the layman, its certainly far from banal, and it shows that military planners can still come up with some intriguing names when they want to. Although Russian and Chinese intelligence analysts may be trying to find some hidden meaning in Turbo Weasels name, the real message to adversaries is the U.S. military is finally upping its game when it comes to naming operations and exercises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your move, comrades. The latest on Task & Purpose Editors note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travels weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. The shutdown of Londons Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, is causing chaos across the world today, with thousands of flights affected and major disruption expected to last for days. At least 1,351 flights so far have been impacted by Fridays closure, which is due to a significant power outage caused by a large fire nearby. Some experts predict that it will take several days for the airport to resume full operation and to clear flight backlogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Heathrow, which flies up to 291,000 passengers a day, has since announced that the west London airport will be resuming some flights later today and hope to run a full operation tomorrow. Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery, reads a statement from Heathrow. Were pleased to say were now safely able to begin some flights later today. Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologize for the inconvenience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to live flight-tracking website Flightradar24, at least 120 aircraft were en route to the airport, which connects London with over 230 destinations in nearly 90 countries, when the unexpected closure was announced. Heathrow is currently the base for 90 different airlines, including the UKs flag carrier British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. As the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow uses as much energy as a small city, therefore getting back to a full and safe operation takes time, the spokesperson added. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium indicates that 615 flights are scheduled to depart from Heathrow on Saturday, with a further 604 flights due to fly to the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So how long is the disruption from the closure likely to last for? The impact of this incident can cascade over several days, as aircraft, crew, passengers are out of place, with limited spare aircraft and seats available to recover passengers, says the analytics firm. Significant impact Airplanes remain parked on the tarmac at Heathrow International Airport after a nearby fire wiped out the power at the airport. - Carlos Jasso/Reuters Paul Charles, CEO of the PC Agency, a leading travel consultancy based in London, has suggested that the disruption may last up to a week before returning to normal. I would expect (Heathrow) by tomorrow to have some power back on stream, but the longer this goes on, the more the costs mount up, the more disruption for passengers, of course, and I would expect it to be a week at this rate before things are back to normal, Charles told CNNs Becky Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You will not be able to go back to all systems operating as normal in one fell swoop, he said. Charles estimates that losses for airlines affected by the airport shutdown could run up to $25 to 35 million. That is based on all airlines being affected. This is every single airline that flies in and out of Heathrow with 290,000 passengers, both in and outbound during a 24-hour period, he said. Charles points out that costs would include planes being out of place, the extra fuel required to move the planes and crew around, as well as extra costs for passengers, such as car hire and extra hotel accommodation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brett Snyder, who runs a concierge air travel assistance service and website named Cranky Flier, describes the situation as shocking, noting that the closure will absolutely have a ripple effect on other airports and airlines. It is definitely going to be a mess that needs to be untangled, he said. Snyder stresses that theres no way to know how long the effects of the closure may last, at this stage, explaining that it depends on how long it takes for Heathrow to resume normal operations. He added that British Airways passengers would likely see the largest effects on their travel plans, while the the outage will probably not be that big of an issue for those traveling on US airlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the outage took place before the summer spike in travel, airlines may have more excess capacity to help get passengers where they need to go, he said. Customers due to travel from Heathrow on Friday are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice, reads a statement from British Airways on Friday. This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and were working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond. Flights have been diverted to alternative destinations wherever possible, with airports at Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Germanys Frankfurt, Irelands Shannon and Gatwick Airport, the UKs second largest airport, already accepting several. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven United Airlines flights have returned to their point of origin or been diverted to other airports, according to the American carrier. During the closure of London Heathrow airport, United is offering flexibility to customers with a travel waiver allowing them to switch eligible flights to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris or Edinburgh, the airline said in a statement on Friday, adding that it expected to operate most scheduled Friday departures to London. Singapore Airlines has confirmed that three flights en route to London have either been diverted to Frankfurt or Paris or returned to Singapore. Five flights to and from Heathrow have since been canceled, said the airline. Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific told CNN that several flights to and from London were canceled Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air France canceled eight flights to and from Heathrow, but the flag carrier of France says routes to other UK airports are operating normally. If you are traveling to or from London Heathrow today, please do not proceed to your departure airport at this time, Virgin Atlantic said, adding that it would be offering flexible options to allow customers to adapt their travel plans. You can choose to be rebooked onto the next available flight, reschedule your journey for a later date, or change your destination within our direct network. If you no longer wish to travel, you may also request a refund, the airlines website recently added. Low-cost airline Ryanair has launched eight rescue flights between Dublin and London Stansted to help affected passengers, with four operating Friday, and another four on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passenger Kim Mikkel Skibrek, a 40-year-old US-Norwegian citizen, was on a Delta Air Lines flight from the US to London when it had to turn back to Minneapolis after just three hours. Safety priority Firefighters at the scene following a major fire at the North Hyde electricity substation, which has caused a significant power outage at Heathrow Airport. - Leon Neal/Getty Images Everything is fine, he told CNN. People were frustrated with the flight returning after over three hours but now it seems everyone is calmer. Skibrek says hes hoping to be able to board another flight to London as soon as possible. The situation at Heathrow Airport is incredibly difficult, an incident like this at one of the worlds busiest airports will have a very significant knock-on impact on all travel for the next few days, Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive officer of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said in a statement. Of course, the priority for everyone is safety, and the airport and the airlines will be working hard today to make sure the area is safe and that they can resume operations as soon as possible. Lo Bue-Said went on to point out that Friday is typically the busiest day for travel, and the incident will undoubtedly have a knock on effect. Therefore, the reality is that the London airports would have been busy today already and this incident will exacerbate it further, she added. Shukor Yusof, founder of Singapore-based Endau Analytics, an advisory firm focused on the aviation industry, told CNN that financial losses from the shutdown could be in the hundreds of millions of pounds. The fallout will cause chaos, undoubtedly, for the weekend and into next week because they have to resolve all those flights that couldnt come in, all those problems that have piled up because of this shutdown, he said. A record-breaking 83.9 million passengers passed through Heathrow in 2024, according to recent data. CNNs Zoe Sottile, Martin Goillandeau, Olivia Kemp and John Liu contributed to this story. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Tourists view exhibits at the Abdeen Palace Museum in Cairo, Egypt, on March 20, 2025. The Abdeen Palace, initially served as a royal residence in the 19th century, now stands as a public museum of Egypt. (Photo by Tao Yubin/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 20, 2025 shows a view of the Abdeen Palace Museum in Cairo, Egypt. The Abdeen Palace, initially served as a royal residence in the 19th century, now stands as a public museum of Egypt. (Photo by Tao Yubin/Xinhua) Tourists visit the Abdeen Palace Museum in Cairo, Egypt, on March 20, 2025. The Abdeen Palace, initially served as a royal residence in the 19th century, now stands as a public museum of Egypt. (Photo by Tao Yubin/Xinhua) A New York couple has been charged with manslaughter after a fire at their Airbnb property killed a mother and her young daughter. Dennis and Meredith Darcy, 57 and 55 respectively, were arrested following the tragic incident that took place at their home in Clinton, New York, in October. The Darcys both face two counts of manslaughter in the second degree, a class C felony. On October 14, Massachusetts couple John Hubbard, 40, and Shannon Hubbard, 35, were on the back patio of the Airbnb they had rented with their two young children, aged 3 and 1, when they noticed smoke coming from inside the house. According to reports, the Hubbards ran back inside the home to save their children. Shannon Hubbard and her young daughter were killed during a fire at an Airbnb property in New York last October (Dignity Memorial) Shannon Hubbard and her 1-year-old daughter later succumbed to their injuries, New York State police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A comprehensive investigation determined that the residence was not properly equipped with functional smoke detectors, in violation of New York State fire, building, and residential codes. The Dutchess County district attorney said the Airbnb owners "deliberately ignored significant risk of death" due to the lack of detectors. This devastating tragedy could have been prevented, Anthony Parisi said in a statement to WRGB-TV News. Dennis and Meredith Darcy, 57 and 55 respectively, both face two counts of manslaughter in the second degree, a class C felony (Dutchess County District Attorney) The deaths of Shannon Hubbard and her young daughter in this senseless fire serve as a tragic reminder of the critical role smoke detectors play in safeguarding lives. Their absence was not only a failure of the necessary safety measures. The Defendants were aware of and deliberately ignored the significant and unjustifiable risk of death that this absence created. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire investigators concluded that the blaze originated in the chimney flue and was not intentionally set. An attorney for the Darcys said they are "devastated" at what happened, but have "a stark difference of opinion" with the district attorney over the manslaughter charge. Their bail was set at $50,000 each and they are next scheduled to appear in court on April 7. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) We have an update on the case of the Ellsworth airman accused of killing a Native American woman. He is now charged with first-degree murder. Lawsuit claims hotel negligent in toddlers death 24-year-old Quinterius Chappelle is accused of killing of 21-year-old Sahela Sangrait last summer on the western South Dakota air base. She was missing until earlier this month, when a hiker found her body south of Hill City, more than 50 miles from the base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chappelle was originally charged with second-degree murder, but on Thursday a federal grand jury decided he should be charged with first-degree murder instead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. [Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage from a previous shooting at Borders Drive Thru in the player above.] AKRON, Ohio (WJW) A 17-year-old boy on Friday pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a 47-year-old man at a drive-thru. Tyler J. Bartley, 17, of Akron, was indicted in July on felony counts of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the February 2024 shooting of Patrick Boergert at Borders Drive Thru along South Arlington Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohios 1st measles case of 2025 reported in Ashtabula County Bartley, who was working as a clerk at the drive-thru, encountered Boergert there, who was a passenger in a friends car, according to a Friday news release from Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich. Bartley reached through the back window of the car and shot the 47-year-old man. The driver of the car drove away and called 911. Police and EMS rendered emergency medical procedures and transported Boergert to a hospital, where he later died, according to the release. Boergert was born in Cleveland and had been living in Akron for years before the shooting, according to the mans obituary. The church volunteer had seven children and seven grandchildren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No grievance should ever escalate to this level of violence, Kolkovich is quoted in the release. Our thoughts remain with Patrick Boergerts family and loved ones as they grieve this unimaginable loss. I also want to recognize the efforts of the first responders who did everything they could to save Boergerts life. The shooting was caught on surveillance cameras, according to the release. Witnesses also corroborated Bartleys involvement. Bartleys case was bound over from the county Juvenile Court to the Common Pleas Court, where he was tried as an adult. He pleaded guilty to one unclassified felony count of murder, with a one-year firearm specification, and is due for sentencing on June 4, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement List: The Social Security offices expected to close this year Boergert was the second person to be fatally shot at that drive-thru in two months. DaQuan MarTa Isaac, 27, of Akron, pleaded guilty in November to murdering 21-year-old drive-thru clerk Ahmad Alibrahim on Dec. 12, 2023. The shooting stemmed from an argument between Isaac and the clerk over an unacceptable bill Isaac had tendered to buy a Black & Mild. Alibrahim was fatally shot in the neck. Isaac was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 now awaits the signature of Governor Kay Ivey after passing in the Alabama House Thursday. The bill had already passed in the Alabama Senate. The legislation would offer up to eight weeks of maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave after the birth, stillbirth or miscarriage of a child for teachers and state employees. Person arrested after allegedly driving onto school grounds while intoxicated in Leeds Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Womens Foundation of Alabama sent out a news release Thursday calling it a historic paid leave win for Alabama families! The WFA wrote in part This historic win was made possible by the leadership of Senator Vivian Davis Figures (D-Mobile) and Representative Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg)..and the lawmakers who voted in support Senator Figures is a co-sponsor of the bill. In an Associated Press article, she is quoted as saying the bill would give mothers time to heal after pregnancy, improve education, and help the state recruit the personnel we need to be able to retain them. Currently, state employees have to use sick leave and unpaid time off if they want to stay home after a childs birth. According to WFA, nearly 60% of state employees and 80% of teachers, are women. LaShundra Pinkard is the interim President and CEO of Womens Foundation of Alabama, which advocated for paid parental leave with other organizations across the state. In the release, Pinkard stated that the issue of paid leave has been a core priority for Womens Foundation of Alabama since 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Ivey is expected to sign the legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, (right) speaks with Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston on the floor of the Alabama Senate on March 19, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate Thursday passed a bill creating new regulations on reimbursements and fees pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) charge to pharmacies. SB 252, sponsored by Sen. Bill Beasley, D-Clayton and called the Community Pharmacy Relief Act, seeks to address concerns from independent pharmacies over reimbursement rates and business practices that critics say have driven many out of business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were losing almost one drugstore per week, going out of business because they are paid such a small amount of money from the PBM industry to fill prescriptions for their patients at their drugstore, Beasley, a retired pharmacist, said on the Senate floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PBMs act as a middle-man between health insurers, pharmacies and drug manufacturers. They negotiate drug prices, determine reimbursement rates for pharmacies and manage prescription drug benefits. Critics accuse PBMs have used their position to impose unfair fees and steer patients toward PBM-owned pharmacies. PBMs are also accused of keeping manufacturer rebates for themselves instead of passing the savings along to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, which passed in a 32-0 vote with one abstention, would impose new restrictions on PBMs, including a prohibition on reimbursing independent pharmacies at rates lower than those paid by the Alabama Medicaid Agency. It would also ban PBMs from charging certain fees to pharmacies, require them to pass on 100% of manufacturer rebates to health plans and prevent them from blocking pharmacists from disclosing lower-cost alternatives to patients. The bill faced intense but cordial debate on the Senate floor, with supporters of the bill saying PBMs are currently straining independent pharmacies. Beasley, pointing to pharmacy closures, criticized the PBM industry for what he described as unfair reimbursement practices. The PBM industry owns the mail-order pharmacies. They control the contract that the drug solos agree to, Beasley said, adding that over the last 40 years, and they always say, if you let me be your manager, well save you money on your expenditures on prescription drugs. Well, Senators, it hasnt happened. Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, introduced an amendment that would have delayed the reimbursement provisions until January 2026 to allow businesses time to adjust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have friends in the business community, both on the pharmacy side and on the employer and employee side. And what this does is simply move again the effective date so it gives them time to work through their contracts and enter into new contracts, Elliot said. The amendment failed after Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, opposed the delay, saying that pharmacies needed relief immediately. After further discussion, lawmakers settled on an October 1 effective date as a compromise. After the vote, senators from both parties said the bill was a significant step in addressing rising prescription drug costs and protecting local pharmacies. This is something that has been worked on for years to try to rectify this situation, and weve just finally gotten to the point it has been bipartisan. These two gentlemen have practiced pharmacy in the state for a long time. They understand the process, Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, said after the Senate adjourned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones made a point to say that the bills provisions would not increase consumer costs. The actual acquisition cost of drug plus the reimbursement, which is based on Medicaid, that cannot be passed on to the consumer, Jones said. And anything to the contrary is just a scare tactic. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Mar. 21Alaska Commissioner of Education Deena Bishop was in attendance Thursday when President Donald Trump signed an order to "facilitate the closure" of the federal Department of Education. The order is meant to shrink the number of employees in the department and transfer some of its duties to other arms of the federal government. The dissolution of the department would require an act of Congress. Bishop declined an interview request after attending the signing event in Washington, D.C. A spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development said the order would "return control of public education back to the states." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With more control, Alaskans can better focus in on how education resources are spent, and on what they deem most beneficial to our students and their future," the spokesperson said in an email. Alaska receives hundreds of millions of dollars annually to operate K-12 schools. The percentage of total school budgets coming from federal sources is among the highest in the nation when compared with other states. The funding is targeted at disadvantaged students, including those from lower-income households and those with disabilities. [What to know about Trump's plan to abolish the Education Department] Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said during a press availability in Juneau on Thursday that it "could be a good outcome" if "there's more federal dollars with less D.C. strings attached." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Department of Education, since it's been enacted, has spent over a trillion dollars, and our secondary school education results have dramatically declined, and I'm not sure federal dictates from Washington that don't understand certain local education imperatives is the best way to approach it," he said. "So the key question to me is, are they just dismantling everything or is the vision to dismantle and then get the money to the Alaska state Legislature and local communities, who, in my view, have a way, way better sense, especially for Alaska, on how to spend the money and how to prioritize the money because they're closer to the kids, they're closer to the teachers," Sullivan added. In a statement on Friday, U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III celebrated Trump's efforts to close the department. "The centralized one-size-fits-all factory model of education has proven to be a poor approach. It's time to end this experiment and restore local leadership in education," Begich wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, also a Republican, questioned the claim shared by Sullivan and other Republican lawmakers that the federal Department of Education "dictates" local education decisions. "There is a strong argument for finding efficiencies within the department and ensuring that student aid is delivered more effectively. However, the assertion that the department has 'control' over our kids' education is incorrect, as federal officials are explicitly prohibited by law from meddling in schools' curricula, state standards, student assessments and more," Murkowski said in a written statement. "The benefits that the U.S. Department of Education provide for Alaska are almost too numerous to list," she said, pointing to its efforts to ensure Alaska Native students can access culturally relevant curricula, among others. "The Department of Education was created by statute and it will require approval of the Congress to close it. I will continue to defend the continuation of the laws, programs, and funding that the Department administers that Alaska's educators, students, and parents rely on," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [The Education Department was created to ensure equal access. Who would do that in its absence?] State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, a Sitka independent who chairs the House Education Committee, said that even though education funding cannot be eliminated without congressional approval, she is concerned about the impacts of Thursday's order. She said the loss of federal education department staff could mean the elimination of data and oversight and the Alaska education department does not necessarily have the capacity to take up tasks currently entrusted to federal oversight. "Everybody loves to get funding with no strings attached," she said. "Having free-flowing funding and never having to report back on how it was spent or follow guidelines on how it should be, to me, is risky if we're interested in waste, fraud and abuse." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In remarks to the state board of education last week, Bishop said that an executive order could not on its own eliminate the federal funding that flows to Alaska schools, but she welcomed the elimination of some regulations attached to the funding. Bishop said she signed on to a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon this month proposing changes to how federal education policy is handled, including by requesting "more flexibility with the federal funding." A department spokesperson did not immediately provide a copy of the letter. "There are different categories of funding, and the request was more flexibility within the funds to share those funds," Bishop said. The National Education Association of Alaska, a union representing most public school teachers in the state, opposes the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, its leader said Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Department of Education provides many things, including vital support for Alaska students with special needs, through the Individuals with Education Disabilities Act. Alaska receives the most Title 1 funding per pupil of any state in the nation. Over 51,000 Alaskan students benefit from that support," wrote Tom Klaameyer, president of NEA-Alaska, in a statement. "Historically, NEA-Alaska may not have always agreed with decisions or directives coming from the Department of Education," said Klaameyer. "However, whether it's through gutting the department from the inside, or seeking congressional approval for the complete elimination, the most vulnerable students in America and the educators who serve them will ultimately pay the price." Among its roles, the U.S. Education Department also handles student loans for higher education. According to an email from University of Alaska President Pat Pitney, officials with the state's public university system "don't expect there to be significant changes to our operations or the ability of students to access federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and loans." "Advocating for federal student aid funding remains a top priority for the UA system regardless of what changes happen at certain federal departments or agencies," Pitney wrote in a letter to students and faculty. "Federal student aid is a vital component of ensuring access and affordability for students across the State of Alaska." LAS VEGAS At the first stop of their Fighting Oligarchy tour out West, two of the Democratic Partys most unabashed progressive lawmakers had plenty to say about President Donald Trump. But they also had some strong words for their own party. This isnt just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, too, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told the fired-up crowd gathered at the Craig Ranch Amphitheater to see her and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. But what that means is that we as a community must choose and vote for Democrats and elected officials who know how to stand for the working class. While Ocasio-Cortez did not mention any Democratic leaders by name, the crowd broke out into multiple Primary Chuck chants a reference to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who backed down from a funding fight with Trump last week. The move enraged the base and prompted some of Ocasio-Cortezs House colleagues to encourage her to mount a primary challenge to Schumer, her fellow New Yorker, in 2028. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., greet the crowd during a rally at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas on Thursday. Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders stars on the left who are channeling a fighting spirit at a time when Democrats say thats what they want to see more of are looking to turn the partys anger into action and mobilize voters in the fight against Trump and his MAGA movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think unfortunately, the conservatives are playing a really good game of chess, and now its time for the Dems to go ahead and step up to the plate and figure out how were going to go ahead and take our democracy back, said Samantha Petras, a resident of Phoenix who attended the pair's second event of the day, in Tempe, Ariz. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez made a direct appeal Thursday to working-class voters a populist message they hope will particularly resonate in a battleground state like Nevada, which is home to one of the largest hospitality workers unions in the country. We have two very different Americas. In one of those Americas, the wealthiest people have never, ever, in the history of our country, had it so good. People on top are doing extraordinarily well today, Sanders said, prompting boos from the crowd. We have more income and wealth inequality in our country than we have ever had. Democrats plan to hold nearly 30 town hall events this week, while Republican lawmakers continue to largely stay away from in-person constituent events because of voter backlash over Trump and billionaire Elon Musks sweeping cuts to the federal government. Democratic lawmakers, though, are also hearing an earful from constituents who want their elected officials to stand up to Trump more aggressively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez expect more than 51,000 people to turn out for their events this week, which will also include stops in Denver and Greeley, Colo., and Tucson, according to Sanders office. Sanders, 83, launched his Fighting Oligarchy tour last month with a pair of events in Iowa and Nebraska in a bid to target Republican voters dissatisfied with Trump and Musk. Sanders planned the events in districts narrowly won by Republicans in 2024 to pressure lawmakers to vote against any cuts to entitlement programs, housing, nutrition or education, his office said. Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that not everyone in the crowd may agree with all of her politics or may not have even voted in the last election, but she encouraged the crowd to unite around an agenda that puts working-class voters first. We might all come from different places, but we share a lot of the same experiences. So to all those who came here today unsure of whether or not this is where you belong, I want to say that you do, she said. You do, no matter who you voted for, no matter if you know all the right words to say, no matter your race, religion, gender, identity or status, no matter, even, if you disagree with me on a bunch of things. But if you are willing to fight for someone you dont know, you are welcome here, regardless of who they are, how they identify or where they come from you are welcome here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders tried to broaden their appeal beyond the typical base, plenty of criticism was aimed squarely at Trump. We will not accept an authoritarian form of society with a president who undermines the Constitution every day and is working aggressively to take away our freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, Sanders said. No, we will not accept the society of massive economic inequalities where the very rich are becoming much richer while working families across the country struggle to put food on the table. The Democratic Party is struggling to find its footing amid historically low approval numbers and a voter base that wants its leaders to put up a fight against Trumps agenda. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say they want congressional Democrats to stick to their positions even if it risks sacrificing bipartisan progress, compared with 32% who want them to make legislative compromises with Trump, according to NBC News most recent poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The polling mirrors backlash Democratic lawmakers have received at their own town hall events, where voters this week complained about the partys passive response to Trumps Cabinet picks, empowerment of Musk and cuts to the federal workforce. The frustration among Democratic voters and lawmakers alike intensified last week after Schumer led a group of Democrats to help advance a Republican government funding bill backed by Trump to avert a government shutdown, even as House Democrats warned the measure would codify spending cuts Trump pushed for. Ocasio-Cortez skewered Schumer last week for his support of the Republican-led funding measure, calling it a betrayal and suggesting it could weaken the trust between House and Senate Democrats. Democratic voters, too, said they were dismayed by Schumer's approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should have shut the government down, 55-year-old Marc Borzcon of Chandler, Ariz. said on Thursday at the event in Tempe. I have no doubt in my mind that that was the proper thing to do under the circumstances. After hearing Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez speak, Borzcon encouraged Democrats to "fight a little lower." "I think we've seen the other side continuously break the rules and thumb their nose at the rules. So at some point you got to say, 'Hey, we don't play by the rules either,'" he said. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif, publicly urged Ocasio-Cortez to launch a primary challenge against Schumer in 2028 if he runs for re-election, and several House Democrats told NBC News that her colleagues also privately pushed her to do so at a party retreat last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also speculation she could mount a run for president, though her team insists she isnt thinking about her own political future at the moment. But the crowd in Las Vegas certainly is: AOC 2028 pins were being sold at a merchandise stand outside the venue. Melanie Zanona reported from Las Vegas, Nnamdi Egwuonwu from Tempe, Ariz., and Brennan Leach from Washington, D.C. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday didnt reserve her criticism for Republicans while calling for change, saying Democrats need a party that fights harder for them. This isnt just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us too, Ocasio-Cortez said to applause. But what that means is that we as a community must choose and vote for Democrats and elected officials who know how to stand for the working class. The comments from the progressive New York Democrat highlight tensions within the party as many call for a stronger strategy to counter President Donald Trump. Ocasio-Cortez spoke as she joined independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for the start of a West Coast swing of his cross-country Fighting Oligarchy tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, she said, handed the keys to Elon Musk and is selling this country for parts to the richest people on the planet for a kickback. In exchange, they will bankroll his campaigns and those of his allies. Sanders, for his part, criticized a familiar target the wealthiest Americans saying the richest among them have fun flying off into outer space on their very own spaceships. And maybe they should stay there, he added. Sanders, accusing Republicans of targeting Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and Veterans benefits, concluded that the worst addiction in this country today is the greed of the oligarchy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are like heroin addicts they need more and more and more, he said. And if they destroy Social Security and Medicaid to get what they want, that is what they will do. With more than 18 months until the midterm elections, Democratic fury at party leadership particularly in the Senate has been on display in recent days in the wake of a contentious fight over government funding in Congress. Much of the frustration among Democrats has been aimed at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for paving the way for passage of a Trump-backed spending bill. Schumer has defended his decision, arguing that while he opposed the bill, a government shutdown would have led to even worse consequences. The rally by the progressive duo of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez is an attempt to channel at least some of that fury, which has been bursting into public at town hall events in Republican and Democratic districts alike this week. And its a blueprint that the Sanders team hopes national Democrats will follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a five-page memo Wednesday, which was obtained by CNN, Sanders chief political operative Faiz Shakir described a populist revolt nationwide that Democrats are failing to capture. It touted Sanders use of tactics like in-person events in five different GOP-held House seats and direct-to-camera videos with a million-plus views rather than chasing social media trends. Rallygoers gathered outside of a North Las Vegas amphitheater on Thursday to see Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez. Stacy Short was in line with her 19-year-old son Bryce, who was born with a rare autoimmune disorder and relies on Medicaid to cover his $25,000-a-month medication. Short is worried about cuts to government services. If those cuts happen and he loses those benefits, I dont know what were going to do to keep him healthy so he can live his life, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Short argued that Democrats need to do more to fight back against the Trump agenda. I wish I could say I was proud of my party for standing in front of buildings and getting arrested, she said. I wasnt there, but it reminds me of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, and I just want to know whos our MLK here? Whos getting arrested in the streets? Whos sitting down and saying, No, Im not moving because youre not getting in this building. Because you dont need to be here. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez head next to Tempe, Arizona, before making stops in Denver and Greeley, Colorado and Tucson, Arizona. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) After a string of vehicle burglaries were reported in Putnam County last month, investigators say they now have the individuals responsible in custody alleged gang members from Nashville. The Putnam County Sheriffs Office have been searching for the suspects connected to vehicle break-ins that occurred late February. Break-ins were reported on multiple roads, including Hulon Dyer Drive and Cedar Creek. Investigators added that a vehicle was stolen from the same area. PREVIOUS | Deputies searching for suspects following series of vehicle burglaries in Putnam County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance camera footage reportedly showed the masked suspects wearing goggles, hoodies, gloves, and at least one appeared to be armed with a semi-automatic handgun. Fast forward to March 11, multiple law agencies, including those in Metro Nashville, Mt. Juliet and Putnam and Warren counties, arrest Isaiah Mosley, Zoey Giuliano, and Graham Kennedy. The arrests come after officials found a stolen vehicle, leading them to the suspects. It was noted when we interviewed and got the confession that they actually googled an area here in Putnam County that had a higher income housing area and thats where they went to, Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris told News 2. Theyre known more in the place they live, theyre closer to home, more people know them so they move out in other areas to try to avoid being known and avoid law enforcement that might know them. RELATED: Three arrested in connection with string of Putnam County auto burglaries Not only did Mosely and Giuliano admit to the thefts, according to Putnam County authorities, they also admitted to being gang members from Nashville, affiliated with the G Shine Bloods gang, which is a subset of the Bloods gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a gang that derived out of the east coast, it specifically came from the New York prison system. So, its found its way not only on the east coast but coming further south, said Farris. This isnt the only recent crime where suspects have expanded to surrounding areas. On Tuesday, Metro police arrested a 29-year-old year old man believed to be connected to robberies in Nashville, Brentwood and La Vergne. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Putnam county authorities told News 2 growth in technology, like license plate readers or LPRs, are helpful as law agencies team up to catch criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not use to the gangs really in our area. So, when people of that stature start coming out in our areas, theyre noticed pretty quickly, said Farris. Police didnt provide additional information about Graham Kennedy. All three suspects now face multiple charges, including burglary and theft of property. As of publication, Mosley and Giuliano are being held in the Wilson County jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The American Land Title Association (ALTA), through their Good Deeds Foundation, announced a $6,000 grant to be given to the Jacksonville Community Land Trust on Thursday. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Announced at ALTA EDge, the Jacksonville Community Land Trust is one of the 17 nonprofit organizations to receive this grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In just a few years, the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation has transformed the generosity of title professionals into tangible community impact, awarding more than $1.2 million to 211 nonprofit organizations across the country, said Foundation Board Chair Mary ODonnell, president and CEO of Westcor Land Title Insurance Co. and past president of ALTA. These grants empower local organizations to continue their critical work, strengthening neighborhoods and supporting those in need. We are honored to be the recipient of this grant from the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, said Robin Pfalzgraf, Executive Director at Jacksonville Community Land Trust. Our organization will use this grant to create homeownership options for low- and moderate-income individuals and families to improve neighborhood stability, promote economic development, and build wealth while preserving affordable homes for future generations. The Jacksonville Community Land Trust was nominated for the grant by Stephanie Burch at Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne and Diebenow, PLLC. Click HERE to learn more about the Good Deeds Foundation. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. JAKARTA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that his country will continue to pursue a friendly foreign policy toward all nations. "I emphasize that the government I lead holds the view and policy of maintaining friendly relations with all countries. We want to be a good neighbor," Prabowo said during the launch of the Batang Industrial Special Economic Zone in Central Java province on Thursday. He said Indonesia and China have been interacting for hundreds of years, and maintaining strong relations will benefit both countries significantly. Prabowo said he believes that harmonious international relations will create more opportunities for cooperation in various strategic sectors. He cited the idea that "a thousand friends are too few, one enemy is too many," underscoring Indonesia's commitment to peaceful diplomacy in addressing global challenges. By Patricia Zengerle and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - George Glezmann, an American detained in Afghanistan for more than two years before being released by the Taliban, arrived in the United States on Friday, where he reunited with his wife and was greeted by a welcoming party that included his former cellmate. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Ryan Corbett, another former prisoner of the Taliban who had been held in the same cell as Glezmann, was at Joint Base Andrews, outside Washington, to greet Glezmann. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "After a brief ceremony, George and (his wife) Aleksandra flew to another location in the United States to rest and recover," Bruce told a regular State Department news briefing. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Thursday confirming the release of Glezmann, who was detained in 2022 while visiting Kabul as a tourist. A source told Reuters he left Afghanistan aboard a Qatari aircraft on Thursday evening bound for Qatar, following direct talks between U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler and Taliban officials in Kabul. Bruce said the U.S. is grateful for the support of the government of Qatar in bringing Glezmann home. She said the United Arab Emirates also played a role in facilitating the initial discussions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the Taliban called Glezmann's release a "goodwill gesture" reflecting its willingness to engage with the United States "on the basis of mutual respect and interests." Bruce said the United States remains "deeply concerned" about the well-being of Mahmood Habibi and other Americans still believed to be in custody in Afghanistan. Thursday's meeting in Kabul marked the highest-level direct U.S.-Taliban talks since President Donald Trump came to power in January. Boehler met with the Taliban administration's foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Richard Chang) Updated, March 24 The West Virginia House Monday rejected its version of a Senate bill that would have loosened school vaccine requirements and expanded exemptions, voting it down 42 to 56. The bills defeat came after the House twice amended the Senates version of the legislation, first to remove both the philosophical and religious exemptions approved by the Senate and then to reinstate religious exemptions only and to allow private and parochial schools to set their own mandatory vaccine requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pro-vaccine messaging won out, Northe Saunders, executive director of the pro-vaccine SAFE Communities Coalition, told The 74 Monday. West Virginia now has among the countrys strictest regulations governing the immunizations required for children entering child care and schools, allowing for medical exemptions only. Its unclear what might come next. While the Houses vote effectively killed the current legislation, over a dozen other vaccine-related bills have been introduced in the West Virginia legislature and the governor signed an executive order in January establishing the religious and philosophical exemptions that House members rejected. Saunders said time may be running out for the other vaccine-related bills to move forward during this legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An amendment that would give West Virginia parents much greater leeway to exempt their children from mandated school vaccinations was deleted from a House bill at the last minute this week, but the prospect of far fewer students in the state getting immunized remains strong. As written, the West Virginia bill would still expand and loosen requirements for medical exemptions for students, making them the broadest in the country, one advocate said. The religious and philosophical exemptions that were struck from the House version of the legislation could also be reintroduced and, while it doesnt carry the same force of law, Gov. Patrick Morriseys January order establishing similarly far-reaching exemptions is also hanging in the balance. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Historically, West Virginia has had some of the nations strictest childhood vaccination policies and the current move to soften them is occurring against a deadly measles outbreak that has infected more than 300 people in 15 states and taken the life of one school-age child in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related 1st Confirmed Death in Texas Measles Outbreak Is Unvaccinated, School-Aged Child Its hard to wrap your head around why we would do this right now or anytime, said Candice Lefeber, executive director of West Virginias chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. But at such heightened alertness with measles spreading in our country, it should be a wake-up call. And unfortunately, I dont think thats happening, West Virginia is not an outlier in its quest to allow parents to opt their children out of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that is a requirement in all 50 states for children entering child care and schools. On Wednesday, Idaho lawmakers passed a medical freedom act that would significantly broaden an existing law banning COVID vaccine mandates to include mandates on any medical treatment. If the governor signs it, the bill would apply to public and private schools as well, making Idaho the first state in the country to remove all mandatory school vaccination requirements. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) appears at President Donald Trumps first Cabinet meeting on Feb. 26. Seated to his left is Education Secretary Linda McMahon. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Childhood vaccination rates have been falling since COVID, and theres fear that decline will accelerate now that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, is heading the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. He initially downplayed the measles spread in late February, and in a March 4 Fox News interview, seemed to link the ongoing outbreak and child fatality to malnutrition and poor health while pointing to unproven treatments, such as cod oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best thing Americans can do is to keep themselves healthy, Kennedy said in the interview. It is very, very difficult for measles to kill a healthy, well-nourished person. Related Parents, Medical Providers, Vaccine Experts Brace for RFK Jr.s HHS Takeover Three months in, the number of measles cases has already surpassed 2024s total and in the 15 states where its spread, 95% of infections have involved a person who was unvaccinated or whose status was unknown. Three of those states border West Virginia, although, so far, the Mountain State has no reported cases. We just want the policy left alone The latest House bill still has a more wide-ranging medical exemption that also protects health care providers who grant them in good faith from civil liability, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also includes no enforcement mechanism from a government oversight body nor is there guidance as to what qualifies someone for a medical exemption. Northe Saunders, executive director of the pro-vaccine SAFE Communities Coalition, fears this might lead to bad actors writing bogus exemptions. Saunders group, which is based in Portland, Maine, opened a West Virginia chapter in February after local advocates asked for their help amid the exemptions push. Were glad that the religious and philosophical exemptions were not part of the bill that came out of committee, said Saunders, who believes the measles outbreak was a factor in their being cut, but we expect [attempts to modify the bill] going forward. Saunders said his organization is tracking an additional 20 vaccine-related bills in the West Virginia legislature. And, across 20 states, 47 bills have been introduced which would add or broaden vaccine exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents across the country are able to apply for exemptions if their child is unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons. Most states also have religious exemptions, and 20 have some form of personal belief exemptions, leaving a varied landscape. West Virginia is currently one of only five states that dont allow any exemptions, beyond medical ones. Last school year, they had the highest childhood vaccination rates for four of the major mandated vaccines, significantly outperforming national averages. Almost all kindergarteners there 98.3% had received both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The state also had the lowest rate of exemption, with less than 0.1% of kindergarteners being exempt from one or more vaccines. And it was the only state that supported Donald Trump for president in November that did not see an average rise in official exemptions. That could change, depending on the fate of the pending legislation and the governors executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current policy as is, is something that is highly favored among myself and my colleagues, said Andrea Lauffer, an internal medicine doctor and pediatrician at WVU Medicine Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston. We just want the policy left alone. Michael Ramey is the president of the Parental Rights Foundation. (Parental Rights Foundation) Michael Ramey, president of the Parental Rights Foundation, noted the role the pandemic has played in the current vaccine skepticism. He said that while his organization does not hold a position on the safety or efficacy of vaccines, it stands in support of bills like the one in West Virginia. We welcome a move to give parents greater authority to make the decision thats best for their individual child, he said. The vast majority of Americans 88% believe the benefits of the childhood vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella outweighs the risks, compared with just 10% who say the risks outweigh the benefits, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll. Seventy percent of Americans say healthy children should have to be vaccinated to attend school, down from 82% in 2019. And the share of parents who think they should be able to decide against vaccination is up 12 percentage points from four years ago, to 28%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This shift is being driven by Republicans, 57% of whom now support vaccination requirements down from 79% in 2019. The heat is on The debate over vaccine mandates in West Virginia is not new, but this year, definitely, the heat is on, for sure, at a higher temperature, said Sissy Price, a registered nurse who serves as co-director of West Virginia Families for Immunization. Sissy Price, a registered nurse, serves as co-director of West Virginia Families for Immunization, a local chapter of the SAFE Communities Coalition. (LinkedIn) Last year, former Gov. Jim Justice vetoed a bill which would have allowed private and parochial schools to set their own vaccination policies. Meanwhile, Morrisey signed his executive order creating religious and philosophical exemptions on his first full day in office. The governor wrote that current mandatory vaccine laws force West Virginians who have objections to choose between their religious belief and their childrens fundamental right to public education. The order, he said, was based on his interpretation of the Equal Protection for Religion Act, signed by Justice in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pending legislation was meant to clarify and codify his order. Even if the bills final version does not include religious and philosophical exemptions, the governors executive order would still stand, said Richard Hughes, a George Washington University law professor and leading vaccine law expert. While the ability to set new laws lies only with the legislature, the governor does have the ability to interpret those laws, which is what his executive order does, Hughes said. If the executive order is not in line with what the legislature passes, however, it would remain vulnerable to court challenges. The governor could be checked by the courts on this interpretation, he said. Introduced Feb. 13, the Senate version of the bill would have allowed parents to simply provide a written statement to exempt their child from vaccines for religious or philosophical reasons and applied to public, private and parochial schools. In addition to loosening the medical exemption process and protecting medical professionals from disciplinary actions, it would also eliminate the position of state immunization officer and no longer require schools to report a violation if an unvaccinated child without an exemption attempted to enroll. At a Feb. 21 committee meeting, both Democratic and Republican senators spoke out in opposition to the bill. Many cited the measles outbreak that began in West Texas in late January as core to their concerns. GOP Sen. Mike Oliverio read aloud from a letter written by one of his constituents, a retired physician. Loosening these requirements will eventually lead to outbreaks of these diseases, including in our children, as the number of vaccinated individuals fall, he read. I urge you to vote against this bill for the sake of West Virginias children. Related Senate Health, Education Chair Bill Cassidy Struggles with RFK Jr.s Nomination A number of Republican lawmakers also spoke in favor of the bill, which ultimately passed by a 20-12 vote, with two senators absent, before going to the House. The House bill that came out of committee this week is now expected to move to the floor, where it will be debated and potentially amended again. If the final House bill that passes still differs from the initial Senate bill, senators will need to either accept the Houses version or head to a conference committee to reconcile the two before sending it on for Morriseys signature. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel inflicted serious damage on Hamas with airstrikes this week that killed its Gaza government chief and other top officials, but Palestinian and Israeli sources say the group has shown it can absorb major losses and still fight and govern. After its main Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar was killed in October, it moved to a leadership council, less reliant on a single figure, Hamas sources said. As its rocket arsenal was reduced, it refocused on guerrilla warfare, while both its military and political wings switched to using human messengers to avoid electronic spying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest Israeli strikes were mainly aimed at weakening Hamas' ability to rule in Gaza, signalling a major new round of military attacks that the group has so far responded to with only a few rockets fired at Tel Aviv. The violence shattered a weeks-long ceasefire after 15 months of relentless conflict in which Israel tried to destroy Hamas with a pounding bombardment and repeated ground offensives in retaliation for the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Hamas' de facto government head Essam Addalees and internal security chief Mahmoud Abu Watfa were killed by Israeli strikes on Tuesday, adding to a tally of thousands of Hamas fighters lost in the war, including many of its military and political chiefs. With a full-blown conflict now poised to resume in a volatile Middle East, Hamas' capacity to withstand a renewed Israeli assault will be crucial in determining the timescale of a new conflict and what Gaza will look like afterwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said the main aim of the war is to destroy Hamas as a military and governing entity. He has said the aim of the new campaign is to force the group to give up remaining hostages. Reuters interviews with four sources inside, and close to, Hamas, as well as with Israeli and Palestinian analysts well-versed in the group's abilities and operations, suggest that although it is weakened, Hamas remains a potent adversary. Sources' accounts of Addalees' own example throughout the war so far - holding meetings, appointing officials, paying salaries and negotiating security for aid deliveries - showed Hamas' ability to retain some control even amid the chaos. "Hamas is still on its feet. Hamas still governs the territory and the population and Hamas does its utmost to reconstitute itself militarily," said Kobi Michael at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CASUALTIES Hamas' first response to Israel's renewed airstrikes, which began on Tuesday with its ground assault starting on Wednesday, came with the firing of three rockets at Tel Aviv on Thursday. The group had previously said it was not responding to give more time for mediators to work out a possible way to continue the ceasefire - something that seems increasingly unlikely. In the weeks before the ceasefire took effect in January, Hamas killed dozens of Israeli soldiers with hit-and-run guerrilla warfare that was some of the deadliest of the conflict. "If Israel sends forces deep into Gaza areas then fighting becomes inevitable and Israeli soldiers will begin to get killed," said a source close to Hamas thinking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel says its campaign has significantly reduced Hamas' arsenal of rockets and its ability to operate as a coherent military organisation, and that it has killed around 20,000 fighters. Hamas disputes that assertion, though it has not said how many fighters it has lost. Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer at the Moshe Dayan Center in Tel Aviv, said Hamas had been able to recruit thousands more fighters drawn from the many jobless young men in Gaza. Meanwhile, despite being cut off from external arms supply and although Israeli operations have hit its internal manufacturing sites, Hamas has proven able to still make new bombs from unexploded ordnance, said Michael. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOVERNING ABILITY Inside Gaza, the killing of Addalees and other top figures this week was a significant blow to the group. "They lost several very senior figures. Essam Addalees was the head of the shadow government in Gaza. But even after the damage they control the street," said Milshtein, describing Hamas as the "dominant player" in the territory. "There is always someone who will replace him," he added, without suggesting specific candidates. Addalees' own ability to operate even in the most intense phases of the war underscores the difficulties for Israel. "He remained at work throughout the war, moving secretly between institutions to oversee work," said Ismail al-Thawabta, who worked under Addalees as head of his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source associated with Addalees said he had been able to move around Gaza discreetly, sometimes in vehicles, sometimes on foot, to meet people. He had mostly communicated with colleagues with messages on paper, the source said. Addalees and his office even managed to ensure continued salary payments to government workers, the source associated with him and a source close to Hamas said. "Imagine the difficulty in coordinating the distribution of salaries and getting them to employees in areas across the Gaza Strip where tanks and warplanes operated," the source close to Hamas said, without revealing how this was accomplished. (This story has been refiled to add that Kobi Michael is also a researcher at the Misgav Institute, in paragraph 10) (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo and Emily Rose in Jerusalem. Writing by Angus McDowall, Editing by William Maclean) BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 21 (UPI) -- The deadly clashes that erupted this week in an area between Lebanon and Syria have brought historical border issues and smuggling problems to the forefront, along with fears of possible sectarian retribution spilling over from Syria, Lebanese political and military analysts said. The cross-border clashes near the town of Al-Qasr in northeastern Lebanon -- one of several key smuggling and supply routes long used by Hezbollah -- were sparked by the killing of three soldiers of Syria's new Army inside Lebanese territories. Lebanon and Syria had different versions of what caused the killings and who was behind them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Lebanese reports indicated that the three were smugglers and were killed by armed members of a pro-Hezbollah clan after they crossed the border, Syrian authorities accused the Iran-backed militant group of kidnapping them from inside Syria and killing them. Although Hezbollah, a key ally of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad, denied any involvement, confrontations quickly broke out, killing at least 10 people and wounding 56, mostly Lebanese, during two days of artillery shelling. The violence came to a halt after the Lebanese Army sent large military reinforcements to the border area and both countries agreed on a cease-fire. Syria's new leadership, led by Ahmad Sharaa, has vowed to combat the country's Captagon trade that flourished under Assad and to destroy his drug empire. It also pledged to take control of the borders to prevent drug and weapons smuggling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was bad news for smugglers on both sides of the border and for Hezbollah, which not only lost a main ally with the collapse of Assad's regime, but also its main supply routes, Riad Kahwaji, who heads the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, told UPI. Kahwaji explained that Hezbollah created "very strong relations" with the Lebanese clans over the years because of "common interest: smuggling." After Assad's ouster by Islamist rebels in December, Hezbollah was no longer able to receive weapons and other support that used to be channeled from Iran. Kahwaji referred the tense situation along the borders as an attempt by Hezbollah and the smugglers to reach out to their former smuggling partners on the Syrian side "to restart the business." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon may have interests in maintaining these smuggling routes for funding and logistical purposes, said Yeghia Tashjian, regional researcher and analyst with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut. "Tensions over these routes, therefore, could spark clashes when one side seeks to clamp down on the trade while the other tries to protect it," Tashjian told UPI, referring to Syrian authorities' attempt to assert control over their borders. Smuggling has been a main problem since the establishment of the border between Syria and Lebanon, which extends for approximately 230 miles from the east to the north, with no clear demarcation in many areas. Illicit trade includes essential goods upon which that hundreds of families on both sides of the border rely for their livelihoods due to price differences in their respective markets. It also involves weapons, drugs, money laundering, smuggling currency and stolen cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The northern and eastern borders of Lebanon with Syria remain a contentious area due to historical disputes, natural geographic challenges and political factors. Abdul Rahman Chehaitli, a retired major general and author of The Lebanese Land and Maritime Borders: A Historical, Geographical, and Political Study, said that after the French Mandate in 1920, both countries were delineated as separate entities, but there has been no formal border agreement between them. Chehaitli said there were 37 "real estate-land ownership" disputes along the border, "which went out of the control of the Lebanese authorities" in the 1970's in favor of Syria. With the outbreak of the Syrian Revolution-turned into civil war in 2011, the border became "passageways" for Hezbollah, which engaged in the fighting in Syria to support the Assad regime, with mafias flourishing on both sides, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Hezbollah out of the equation after its war with Israel and the fall of its Syrian ally, only the smugglers are still active. "The situation could become very dangerous if not contained," Chehaitli told UPI, referring to the recent cross-border clashes and the possibility that the armed groups affiliated to the new Syrian authorities "are not aware or informed about their specific borders." Are smuggling and border control the only reasons behind the clashes? Did someone want to instigate such fights? It's not yet clear, but they could very well serve Hezbollah's argument for the need to keep its arms to protect Lebanon and its minorities -- both from Israel's continued aggression and the possible emerging threats from the new Sunni-led rule in Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tashjian said that if sectarian conflicts in Syria escalate and lead to assaults on Hezbollah- or Shiite-populated villages on the border, the group might cite the worsening security situation as "a reason to preserve its military strength" to guarantee the safety of Shiites in Lebanon and Syria from sectarian attacks. Earlier this month, more than 1,225 civilians, mostly Alawites, were killed in an outburst of sectarian retribution and killings after pro-Assad gunmen ambushed security forces of the transitional government and attacked government institutions in Syria's coastal region -- the heartland of the Alawite minority. Fierce clashes also killed 231 people from the government security forces and 250 Alawite insurgent gunmen. To Kahwaji, showing that the new leadership in Syria was "a threat to minorities'" and that the Shiites, who are allies of the Alawites, are also menaced fits Hezbollah's claim to retain its arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This could also be used as a pretext, an excuse to explain why they need to keep their arms -- that it is not just Israel's occupation [of some areas in south Lebanon]," he said. Israel, which has greatly weakened Hezbollah during a destructive war that started in October 2023, is demanding the complete disarming of the militant group to withdraw from the southern areas and stop its continued air strikes. The Lebanese Army, which was entrusted with taking control of the southern region in line with the Nov. 27 cease-fire that stopped the Hezbollah-Israel war, has also deployed in the clashes areas on the eastern border with Syria. The Army emerged as the only force able to restore order on the border with Syria, as neither Hezbollah nor the inhabitants of those villages "have any other choice," Chehaitli said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He suggested that if the situation deteriorates in a way that threatens civil peace in Lebanon, it could bring the "old demand for deploying international forces to these frontiers back to the table." Kahwaji cautioned that the Lebanese Army could protect the borders, but cannot maintain peace there if people still carry arms and use them to instigate trouble. To prevent the recurrence of such clashes and end the tension, Syria and Lebanon need to demarcate and closely monitor the border, block illegal routes and prevent a possible infiltration of radical fighters or "potential terrorists" from Syria, Tashjian said. BOSTON (SHNS) Absent an actual proposal from the White House or congressional Republicans, a policy expert mapped out specific vulnerabilities Thursday as Massachusetts and other states brace for possible changes to federal support for Medicaid. Manatt Health Senior Managing Director Patricia Boozang was one of the featured speakers during a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation webinar. She laid out how the budget framework the U.S. House adopted last month could put Medicaid in the crosshairs of a pursuit for trillions of dollars in tax cuts and federal spending reductions over the next decade. The House Energy and Commerce Committee must find at least $880 billion in cuts, a task many observers think is possible only with changes to Medicaid and Medicare. Meanwhile, President Donald Trumps White House has pledged not to cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits, and says it is instead focused on reining in improper payments, waste and fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve not seen a cut of that level in this program before. If that number stands were going to have to wait for legislative language to know the details of the proposals that are going to advance and if that target stands, I also want you to remember that $880 billion isnt just $880 billion, Boozang said. Because then it will go back to states, which match with state funds what the government gives them for the Medicaid program, and they wont be able to make up that gap. In fact, theyll have to pull back some of their own funding. Boozang said Manatts estimate is that states would have to increase their own spending by 20% to maintain the current program level spending if deep federal cuts are enacted. Cuts in Medicaid would ripple through MassHealth, which combines Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program and affords health care coverage to about 2 million Bay Staters. MassHealth is the largest single chunk of spending in the state budget, representing about $22.6 billion or 36% of line-item spending in Gov. Maura Healeys fiscal 2026 budget, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Healeys budget, filed before the threat of deep Medicaid cuts became clear, expects federal reimbursement for Medicaid spending to increase by $1.8 billion to $14.2 billion, per MTF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The uncertainty about federal support for Medicaid comes as Beacon Hill Democrats are trying to redraft Healeys budget for fiscal year 2026, at a time when the states spending demands are elevated and general purpose tax revenue growth is modest. A reduction in federal funding could nudge state budget managers closer to taking unpopular steps, potentially including allowing federally-funded services to end, cutting back on state support for programs, dipping into preciously-guarded state reserve accounts, or raising taxes to bring in more revenue. Boozang detailed some of the ways Republicans in Congress could get to their target of $880 billion in cuts during Thursdays webinar. The Congressional Budget Office said last year there is the potential to generate $600 billion in savings over 10 years by changing the amount of federal funding available to all states through the federal match rate, usually known as FMAP. Right now, nearly every dollar in MassHealth spending is reimbursed by at least 50% in federal revenue, Boozang said, with CHIP expenditures reimbursed at 65% and expenditures for the states Medicaid expansion reimbursed at 90%. Congress could use a budget bill later this summer or fall to eliminate the 90% federal match rate for states like Massachusetts that expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, to eliminate the current 50% FMAP floor, to set a standard 50% rate for administrative costs, or any combination of those ideas, Boozang said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are really would be, if advanced draconian cuts. In Massachusetts, one analysis predicts that Medicaid enrollment would decline by nearly 19%, almost 20%, over 10 years if that match rate were reduced and Massachusetts had to end its expansion, she said. Alternatively, Massachusetts could pick up the federal share, but that would cause the state to have to increase its spending by $15 billion over 10 years. Massachusetts would be one of 10 states impacted by the removal of the 50% floor, Boozang said, adding that the CBO estimated federal spending would drop by a cumulative $530 billion for those 10 states if the floor is eliminated. Another possibility being discussed is switching from the current FMAP reimbursement structure to one in which Medicaid is funded through per capita spending caps or block grants, both of which Boozang said would represent a cost shift to states. Those changes would likely need to happen through Congress, through Boozang said the executive branch may be able to require states to accept capped funding as part of a waiver approval process. While Boozang flagged the tight margin by which Republicans control Congress as a possible impediment to some of their major plans, she highlighted one area that she sees as ripe for action either by Congress or the White House: limiting the use of Medicaid provider taxes and state directed payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Massachusetts, the state uses, like all states use, revenues from provider taxes to fund the state share of Medicaid expenditures. So that would mean the state would have to come up with more state general funds if theyre forced to reduce their reliance on taxes, she said. As I said, we do think Congress could well use the budget reconciliation to enact these policies. If it doesnt, we think the administration is very likely to step in and use its administrative authority to advance these changes. Boozang also flagged a risk associated with the $67 billion Medicaid waiver that Massachusetts under Gov. Charlie Baker entered into in October 2022. That waiver is set to run for five years, expiring in 2027. Many other states have Medicaid waivers, sometimes referred to as Section 1115 demonstration waivers, that allow them to tailor the public health insurance programs to more closely align with their specific preferences and needs. We do understand and expect the Trump administration to actively focus on Section 1115 waivers. We think states should be prepared for the administration to act on waiver policy that doesnt align with the administrations priorities, Boozang said. One signal we already have is on health related social needs that the administration has rescinded prior groundbreaking Biden administration guidance. There are myriad ways that CMS could act on the MassHealth waiver. We think there are things that clearly wont be at risk, things like the re-entry waiver. I think [health related social needs], some of the flexible services, may be at risk, but Id also point out that some of those services are very much aligned with the Make America Healthy Again agenda. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh mentioned the states waiver this week when responding to the notion that waste, fraud and abuse are at the root of the Trump administrations review of spending. She said that using the term wasteful to define the Medicaid contract between the feds and Massachusetts is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What theyre calling waste, fraud and abuse are actually the terms of the contract they negotiate with us. And theyre pointing to it because our waiver prominently mentions the word equity, because we want to ensure outcomes for people across our entire state, Walsh said Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Anderson County Judge Carey G. McKinney issued a burn ban Thursday afternoon due to imminent threat of wildfire conditions. This declaration is for seven days. The Commissioners Court meets Monday, March 24, and could make the decision to extend the burn ban due to dry conditions and current drought status in the state and our county. Although Anderson Countys Keetch-Byram Drought Index was registered at 164 Thursday which is within the 0 to 200 low fire danger range from drought the National Weather Service in Fort Worth reported that humidity values are expected to fall between 15 and 25% Friday and wind gusts up are expected to rise up to 30 to 35 miles-per-hour, resulting in an elevated fire threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, local governments have the authority to take such action to protect residents. When conditions threaten public safety, a county judge or commissioners can impose a ban, or restrictions, on outdoor burning. County officials could lift the ban if the county gets a lot of moisture. This ban cannot be extended, but another ban can be imposed. Violating the ban ordinance on outdoor burning constitutes a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. Beyond burning, dont toss lit cigarettes on the ground, secure tow chains to avoid dragging and never park/drive over tall grass. Contact your local fire department or law enforcement agency if you smell smoke or see fire. BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Online influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan left the United States for Romania on a private flight on Friday to fulfil legal obligations related to a criminal investigation against them, they said. The brothers are under investigation in Romania on accusations of forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They have denied all wrongdoing. "Spending $185,000 on a private jet across the Atlantic to sign one single piece of paper in Romania," Tate posted on social media platform X. "Innocent men don't run. They clear their name in court." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of preventative judicial control measures pending the investigation, the Tates are required to regularly check in with police. Their next check-in is due on March 24. Their return from Florida comes three weeks after Romanian prosecutors lifted a travel ban against them. A U.S. source familiar with the matter acknowledged that Washington had pressed Bucharest to give the brothers, who have dual U.S. and British citizenship, their passports and allow them to travel. Andrew Tate's media team said they would arrive at their home near the Romanian capital Bucharest at around 2300 GMT. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said on March 4 his office had opened a criminal investigation against the brothers, a move welcomed by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, which represents one of Tate's alleged victims, a Florida resident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tate said on X at the time that the brothers had returned to Miami to see family and been insulted by the opening of the investigation. "We have no criminal record and expected a hero's welcome after being unfairly abused abroad," he posted. On Thursday, UltraViolet, a national women-led gender-justice organization put up "Unwanted" posters across Miami, demanding that the Tates be extradited. An initial criminal case against Tate and his brother failed in December when a Bucharest court decided not to start the trial and sent the files back to prosecutors, citing flaws in the indictment. A British arrest warrant has also been issued for the Tates and they will be extradited after Romanian trial proceedings are completed. The allegations in Britain - denied by them - relate to sexual aggression between 2012 and 2015. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Alison Williams) CLEVELAND (WJW) A local parish employee is now under indictment, accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse involving a minor. A Cuyahoga County grand jury on Feb. 25 indicted Andres Andino, 59, of Cleveland, on five felony counts including rape, sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He was arrested on Sunday, March 16, a diocese spokesperson said. Police: Lorain Preparatory High School student attacks 2 teens with brass knuckles on school bus Andres Andino (Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office) His indictment alleges multiple offenses that happened between 2013 and 2018 when the victim was between 13 and 16 years old, and while Andino was in a position of authority over the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andino, who apparently goes by Andy, is the director of worship at Saint John Bosco Catholic Church along Pearl Road in Parma Heights, according to its website, which now lists him as being on administrative leave. Andino also worked part-time in Saint Joseph Parish in Avon Lake, according to a Friday statement from a diocese spokesperson. He is now on unpaid leave from both parishes, pending the outcome of the investigation, said the spokesperson. Akron drive-thru worker, Tyler Bartley 17, pleads to fatally shooting Patrick Boergert, 47 The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Saint John Bosco Parish and Saint Joseph Parish leadership were shocked and dismayed to learn of the arrest of a parish employee, Andres Andino, Sunday evening, March 16, on very serious and troubling charges. We have taken steps to ensure that any parish or school at which he was volunteering within the diocese has suspended his volunteer activity. We pray that the legal process reveals the truth and that justice is served. Statement from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Andino pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday, March 19. He later posted a $50,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No future court dates have been set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia's Federal Security Service, in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia's Federal Security Service, in Beijing on Friday. Wang said that the Chinese side is willing to work with the Russian side to firmly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and strengthen multi-level meetings between law enforcement and security departments. Wang added that the Chinese side is also willing to work with the Russian side to deepen and expand practical cooperation on counter-terrorism, combating transnational crimes and ensuring security in cyberspace, promote in-depth development of law enforcement and security cooperation, and continuously enrich the connotation of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Echoing Wang's remarks, Bortnikov said the Russian side stands ready to support China firmly and make joint efforts in addressing security challenges. Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia's Federal Security Service, in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) The Democratic Party is a mess. Donald Trump is systematically dismantling the United States government in order to consolidate power around himself, and last week Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) abdicated what little congressional power Democrats have left by supporting the Republican resolution to fund the government. The president was pleased. The Democratic Partys favorability is, not surprisingly, now at a record low, according to a CNN poll released earlier this week. There are still some signs of life within the opposition to Trump, however. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been holding rallies around the nation, warning Americans of the oligarchy taking shape. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a fierce critic of Schumers decision to support the GOPs spending resolution, joined Sanders on Thursday for events in Arizona and Nevada. Social media users posted pictures of long lines to get into both events. Our fight is to make sure we remain a democracy. One person, one vote. Not billionaires buying elections, Sanders said in Arizona behind a podium that read FIGHT OLIGARCHY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that hes in power we can see it as clear as day, AOC said of Trump in Nevada. Hes handed the keys to Elon Musk and is selling this country for parts to the richest people on the planet for a kickback. Musk whose so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has spent the past two months indiscriminately slashing the federal workforce and vital government services spent nearly $300 million last year to elect Trump and Republicans. The president has granted the unelected quasi-official an unprecedented amount of power while using the White House to boost the value of Musks private holdings including by actively pitching Musks electric vehicle company Tesla. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Musk is set to receive a top-secret briefing on plans for war with China, where he has significant business. Trump and other administration officials have denied this. Musk has repeatedly insisted that his slash-and-burn project is part of an effort to return the power to the people. AOC and Sanders called bullshit on Thursday, driving home the indifference if not disdain the Trump administration holds for working class Americans. For all the big talk that Republicans and the Trump administration like to flap about working people, if you actually listen carefully, every once in a while they let the masks slip about what they actually think about us, AOC said in Nevada before citing an instance last week in which Trump lawyer and adviser Alina Habba mocked AOC for having worked in a bar, suggesting the Democrat wasnt capable of intellectual thought because she had served people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Understand that this kind of disdain for working people by the most powerful people in this country doesnt just come from not being raised right, AOC continued. Its a shorthand for Elon Musk and Donald Trumps entire political agenda, and a certain ugly kind of politics: lying to and screwing over working people so they can steal from our health care and Social Security and veterans care to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest and bailouts for their crypto billionaire friend. Theres a word for this: corruption. The Trump administration has indeed been making cuts to the nations health care systems, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hours after AOCs remarks in Nevada, Trumps Social Security chief threatened to turn off the system entirely in response to a federal judge ruling that Musk and DOGE couldnt have unfettered access to the personal and private data of hundreds of millions of Americans. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said the country needs a Democratic Party that is prepared to fight to stop President Donald Trump from enacting his sweeping agenda. At an event with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Las Vegas, Ocasio-Cortez called out Republicans for enabling people like Elon Musk to advance their priorities, adding that the U.S. political system right now is ill-prepared for this abuse of power. But Ocasio-Cortez said the challenge at hand goes far beyond just opposing the GOP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt just about Republicans, she said. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us too. But what that means is that we as a community must choose and vote for Democrats and elected officials who know how to stand for the working class. The congresswoman praised the Nevada Democrats who opposed a GOP spending bill that cleared both chambers of Congress last week, adding that the party needs more people like them with the courage to brawl for the working class. I want you to look at every level of office around and support brawlers who fight because those are the ones who can actually win against Republicans, she said. Ocasio-Cortez was among the Democrats who voted against the Republican spending plan that was signed into law by Trump on Saturday. The congresswoman sharply criticized her fellow New York Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for his decision to abandon his plans to filibuster the legislation even though all but one Democrat opposed the bill in the House, calling it a tremendous mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free when weve been sent here to protect Social Security, protect Medicaid and protect Medicare, she told CNN last week. Schumer has repeatedly defended his call to vote to advance the GOP spending bill, noting that a government shutdown would have made matters worse. Ocasio-Cortez is joining Sanders on a tour across Nevada, Colorado and Arizona this week, titled Fighting Oligarchy, which involves holding town halls with working class Americans who are upset over the direction of the country. She also took aim at Trump White House counselor Alina Habba after the latter mocked the congresswomans time in the service industry during an appearance on Fox News last week. Related... Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) took a shot at Alina Habba on Thursday after the Trump White House counselor mocked her for once working as a bartender. I dont care what this woman says about me but I want you to understand that she isnt just talking about me, shes talking about you. Shes talking about all of us, said the congresswoman at one of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) rallies on his Fighting Oligarchy tour in Las Vegas, Nevada. Habba, in a Fox News appearance last week, joined host Sean Hannity where the two questioned whether Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) were leading the Democratic Party in intellectual thought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You were in the bar. You were in a bar. You were in a bar, AOC. Calm down. And not to have a drink, to serve one, said Habba after Hannity sarcastically referred to Ocasio-Cortez as such a genius. The remarks drew backlash on social media, and on Thursday, when the congresswoman noted that the GOP and Trump administration talk a big game about the working class only to let the mask slip every once in a while. She went on to refer to Habbas time serving as President Donald Trumps personal attorney prior to the start of his second term. Trump hired her to speak for him so imagine what it means for our country that the presidents own lawyer cannot even conceive of a working class person being intelligent simply because of the job that they have, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This woman could not even recognize the American dream if it was fed to her on a silver spoon. She argued that the disdain those in power have for working class people isnt a symptom of their upbringing, rather, its a shorthand for billionaire Elon Musk and Trumps political agenda. Her remarks arrive just days after a new CNN poll found that Ocasio-Cortez best reflected the Democratic Partys core values, according to responses from Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. Ocasio-Cortez, who recently ripped Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for folding on his plans to filibuster and vote against the GOP funding bill, told the crowd that Americans need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us too as she urged them to back brawlers who can beat Republicans. AOC: Alina Habba said, What intellectual thought.. you were in a bar AOC. Not to have a drink but to serve one. I dont care what this woman says about me but I want you to understand that she isnt just talking about me, shes talking about all of us. Trump hired her to speak pic.twitter.com/vbqbRxzSql Acyn (@Acyn) March 20, 2025 Related... Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago, according to data collected by The Associated Press. They allege the disruption campaign is an extension of Russian President Vladimir Putins war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine. The AP documented 59 incidents in which European governments, prosecutors, intelligence services or other Western officials blamed Russia, groups linked to Russia or its ally Belarus for cyberattacks, spreading propaganda, plotting killings or committing acts of vandalism, arson, sabotage or espionage since the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incidents range from stuffing car tailpipes with expanding foam in Germany to a plot to plant explosives on cargo planes. They include setting fire to stores and a museum, hacking that targeted politicians and critical infrastructure, and spying by a ring convicted in the U.K. Richard Moore, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence service, called it a staggeringly reckless campaign in November. It is often difficult to prove Russias involvement, and the Kremlin denied carrying out a sabotage campaign against the West. But more and more governments are publicly attributing attacks to Russia. The alleged disruption has a double purpose, James Appathurai, the NATO official responsible for the alliance's response to such threats, told the AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One is to create political disquiet and undermine citizens support for their governments and the other is to undercut support for Ukraine, said Appathurai, deputy assistant secretary-general for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber. During the investigation, the AP spoke to 15 current officials, including two prime ministers, and officials from five European intelligence services, three defense ministries and NATO, in addition to experts. The AP plotted the incidents on a map to show the scope of the alleged campaign, which experts say is particularly worrying at a time when U.S. support for Ukraine is wavering and European allies are questioning Washingtons reliability as a security partner and ally. What is happening? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cases are varied, and the largest concentrations are in countries that are major supporters of Ukraine. Some incidents had the potential for catastrophic consequences, including mass casualties, as when packages exploded at shipping facilities in Germany and the U.K. Western officials said they suspected the packages were part of a broader plot by Russian intelligence to put bombs on cargo planes headed to the U.S. and Canada. In another case, Western intelligence agencies uncovered what they said was a Russian plot to kill the head of a major German arms manufacturer that is a supplier of weapons to Ukraine. European authorities are investigating several cases of damage to infrastructure under the Baltic Sea, including to a power cable linking Estonia and Finland. Finnish authorities detained a ship, suspected of being part of Russias shadow fleet used to avoid sanctions, after that cable and others were damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a fake French Defense Ministry website claimed citizens were being called up to fight in Ukraine, a French minister denounced it as Russian disinformation. German authorities suspect Russia was behind a campaign to block up scores of car tailpipes ahead of national elections, according to a European intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Officials from Estonia, Poland, Latvia and Finland, meanwhile, have accused Russia and Belarus of directing migrants to their borders. Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told the AP that the Kremlin has never been shown any proofs supporting the accusations and said certainly we definitely reject any allegations. How AP documented the cases Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP scoured through hundreds of incidents suspected to be linked to Russia since Moscows invasion that were reported in open sources such as local media and government websites. They were included in APs tally only when officials drew a clear link to Russia, pro-Russian groups or ally Belarus. Most of the accusations were made to or reported by AP, either at the time they occurred or during the course of this investigation. Fourteen cases were reported by other news organizations and attributed to named officials. In about a quarter of the cases, prosecutors have brought charges or courts have convicted people of carrying out the sabotage. But in many more, no specific culprit has been publicly identified or brought to justice. A bolder approach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Countries have always spied on their enemies and long waged propaganda campaigns to further their interests abroad. But since the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has become bolder, hitting the West with sabotage, vandalism and arson in addition to the tactics it previously used, including killings and cyberattacks, said Elisabeth Braw, an expert on the attacks at the Atlantic Council in Washington. The way you can weaken a country today is not by invading it, she said. China has also been accused of espionage and cyber operations in Europe, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in 2022. Kyiv has denied this. Multiple countries engage in hybrid operations, said David Salvo, managing director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. Russia is the overwhelming culprit in Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to respond even as US support wavers A coordinated approach especially sharing intelligence is critical to tracking and countering the threats, Appathurai said. That cooperation never easy since intelligence is not shared collectively across NATO members faces new challenges now, as the Trump administration increasingly questions the role of the alliance, embraces Russia and spars with its European partners. Still, as the scale of the campaign becomes clearer, some nations are becoming more assertive. Appathurai pointed to the approach to suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea, where NATO has launched a mission to protect critical infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we are to have a chance of stemming the threat, Braw said, then we have to work together. ___ Associated Press reporters John Leicester in Paris; Vanessa Gera and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland; Jill Lawless in London; Kirsten Grieshaber and Geir Moulson in Berlin; Suman Naishadham in Madrid; Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary; and Karel Janicek in Prague, Czech Republic, contributed. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine BHIWANDI, India (AP) Abdul Sattar stands in a dimly lit aisle surrounded by dozens of electric-powered looms that make a rhythmic din several decibels above what is considered healthy for a human ear. With his flowing white beard and a wispy head of hair, he could be mistaken for a professor or a philosopher, but, at 70, he has spent most of his life working 12-hour shifts on power looms in poorly ventilated, noisy workshops. When he arrived in Bhiwandi as a 15-year-old boy, workshops weaving cloth on the looms were thriving, providing ready jobs for many unskilled workers from far-flung villages in north India. The wages were poor and the hours long, but it was steady employment. In recent years, however, about 30% of the looms have shut down, according to Abdul Rashid Tahir Momin, President of Bhiwandi Powerloom Weavers Federation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Increasing yarn prices and more expensive electricity supply are making them less competitive against cheap Chinese imports. Power looms, an innovation of the early 19th century, are also an old technology. They are being replaced by newer automatic looms that make higher quality cloth faster and need fewer operators. Bhiwandi is about 58 kilometers (36 miles) from Indias financial capital, Mumbai. Its proximity to the sea and the large metropolis make it an attractive location for small manufacturers and suppliers. The future of the roughly 300,000 power looms still operating in Bhiwandi is uncertain. Ishtaq Ahmad Ansari, 54, who used to own 110 power looms, had to shut his business down four years ago and now works as a contractor in another factory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This industry was once the second largest employer after farming. It is sad to see it in such a state, Ansari says. While loom owners are grappling with whether to use loans to modernize, Sattar has decided to stay put in the profession he knows best. I have managed to provide for my family all these years. I will keep working as long as my body allows me, but I am sure about one thing: I dont want my son to be in the same profession, Sattar says. March 14-20, 2025 A woman cries after her friend died from a bullet wound when soldiers fired their guns into the air as a tribute during the funeral of two soldiers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. State oil company employees transport and wield hoses in an effort to mitigate damage from an oil spill in Ecuador. A young supporter of bullfighting demonstrates as Mexico City banned the practice. This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The selection was curated by AP photographer Ramon Espinosa, based in Havana. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Three NC Appeals Court judges, Tobias Hampson (D), John Tyson (R), and Fred Gore (R), hear arguments in GOP Judge Jefferson Griffin's attempt to throw out more than 60,000 votes. (Screenshot from Court of Appeals video feed) Three Appeals Court judges will decide whether they should order thousands of votes cast in Novembers race for a seat on the state Supreme Court to be thrown out. Republican appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffin wants more than 60,000 votes in his race for the Supreme Court seat tossed. He is trailing Democratic incumbent Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs by 734 votes. Two recounts have affirmed her lead. Griffin believes he can win if he can convince courts to reject the votes hes challenging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Board of Elections dismissed his protests in December. Griffin contends the elections board is counting illegal votes. His case against the elections board has traveled a tangled route through state and federal courts. A trial court judges decision in favor of the elections board teed up Griffins appeal. The case may yet make its way back to federal court. Two Republican judges, John Tyson and Fred Gore, and one Democrat, Tobias Hampson, heard Griffins appeal on Friday. Griffin is challenging three sets of ballots. He claims that more than 60,000 voters were not properly registered because they did not include either a partial Social Security number or drivers license number on their forms. Voters Griffin is challenging have come forward in the past months to say they did provide that information, but it was excluded from the electronic voter file due to typos or data mismatches. Griffin is also challenging the votes of more than 5,500 military and overseas absentee voters because they did not provide voter ID with their ballots. These voters are from a handful of overwhelmingly Democratic counties. The state Board of Elections does not require military and overseas voters to submit a copy of their photo ID. Griffins lawyers say the elections board is wrong to exempt those absentee voters from the photo ID requirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lastly, he is challenging the ballots of overseas absentee voters who have never lived in North Carolina, but who are connected to the state through their parents. Lawyers for Riggs and the elections board argued that Griffin wants to change election rules now that hes lost. It would be wrong to throw out ballots cast by people who followed the rules months after the election, they said. This court should reject petitioners destabilizing request to cancel the votes of more than 60,000 innocent voters who did everything they were asked to cast a ballot in the November 2024 General Election, said Nick Brod, the lawyer representing the state elections board. Griffins lawyers said this case is not about changing laws after the election, but about enforcing existing laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Supreme Court set a precedent for erasing votes in a case known as James vs. Bartlett, when it ordered about 11,000 ballots cast in 2004 to be discounted, they said. The protests do not violate the constitution because they do not impose a severe burden on voters, said Craig Schauer, one of Griffins lawyers. Judge Griffin is asking the court to impose evenhanded laws that ensure only qualified voters are allowed. Brod countered that the facts of the James case were very different from Griffins. Judge Jefferson Griffin and Justice Allison Riggs (Courtesy photos) The rules voters followed last year were in place for a long time before Griffin bought his challenge, and there was plenty of time before the election to question them, Brod said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court precedent dating back more than a century confirms it would be fundamentally unfair to cancel votes based of errors allegedly made by elections officials, he said. A 2011 law the legislature unanimously passed allows people who have never lived in North Carolina but are connected to the state through their parents to vote absentee. The law has been in place for 43 elections, said Ray Bennett, Riggs lawyer. Included in that group of voters are children of military members who move from base to base, and children of missionaries. The 2011 law was fashioned after federal law designed to make it easier for service members and civilians living overseas to vote absentee. Griffins lawyers contend that these absentee voters should have been required to show photo ID, and that the state Board of Elections decision to exempt them from the ID law was wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board of Elections approved a rule exempting military and overseas absentee voters needing to show photo ID. The state Rules Review Committee approved it, Brod said, and no one objected at the time. No other state requires military and overseas voters to submit photo ID, including the 35 other states that require it from other voters, said Bennett. The North Carolina legislature never amended the overseas voting law to require photo ID. Most people who vote this way dont use paper, but vote via an electronic portal, he said. If you log onto that portal, youre not provided with an opportunity to provide a photo ID or to provide an exception. Concerning incomplete registration forms, Troy Shelton, one of Griffins lawyers, said the problem was brought to the elections board in December 2023, but the board didnt attempt to collect the missing information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elections board has since found that about half the people Griffin is targeting for incomplete registrations actually provided the information, but it didnt get attached to their electronic files. Under the law, even if there is no match, voters cannot be prevented from registering or voting, Bennett said. Hampson asked how the remedy Griffin wants would not impose a severe burden on the right to vote. He also questioned Griffin selectively challenging certain ballots. In addition to challenging military and overseas votes from only a handful of heavily Democratic counties, the only people Griffin is challenging on the basis of incomplete registrations are those who voted early. Those are ballots that can be traced to individuals. He is not challenging people who voted on Election Day and whose registrations may be missing the same information. Ballots cast on Election Day cant be traced to individual voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just because some voters were identified as violating the law and others werent doesnt raise an equal protection violation, Schauer said. Gore said he was troubled that the electronic voting file still has information missing. Im troubled that we are at 2025 and we still have voter identification errors sitting in our state registry he said. I see why we have this challenge to a certain degree. There are a certain number of voters who dont have proper identification in the registry, and that is troubling to me. The judges provided no indication as to when they will issue a ruling. A federal appeals court Friday refused the Trump administrations request to lift a judges order that officials reinstate teacher preparation grants in eight Democratic-led states that sued. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to put the ruling on hold after the administration warned it will allow the states to immediately draw down $65 million the government cant recover if the legal challenge ultimately fails. The States convincingly explain that this is simply not the case, in part because recipients submit reimbursement requests for expenses already incurred. And, in fact, the Department has not pointed to any evidence of any attempt at any such a withdrawal by any recipient, wrote U.S. Circuit Judge William Kayatta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department previously signaled it was prepared to take the case to the high court. President Trump has publicly called for the elimination of the Education Department and signed an executive order Thursday aimed at gutting it. The lawsuit concerns two of the departments grant programs the Trump administration terminated in February: the Teacher Quality Partnership Program and the Supporting Effective Educator Development Program. Both support teacher development. Coalitions comprising three private education groups and eight Democratic state attorneys general separately sued over the terminations, claiming they violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration appealed to the 1st Circuit after U.S. District Judge Myong Joun, an appointee of former President Biden who serves in Boston and oversees the states challenge, ordered the administration to reinstate grant funding in the eight states until the next stage of the case. The 1st Circuit panel comprised Kayatta, an appointee of former President Obama; U.S. Circuit Judge Gustavo Gelpi, a Biden appointee; and U.S. Circuit Judge Lara Montecalvo, another Biden appointee. The states had urged the panel to not intervene, noting that such temporary orders are not normally appealable and that Joun has scheduled another hearing for March 28 on whether to grant a longer injunction. The appeals panel said it agreed to sidestep that argument at this stage of the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department this week suggested they were prepared to seek an emergency intervention from the Supreme Court if the 1st Circuit didnt intervene, warning that the judges ruling was riddled with factual and legal errors. The district court dismissed the governments interest on the theory that Congress had appropriated funds for these purposesbut Congress did not specify these specific grants in its appropriation. That is a core matter of executive discretion, and a single district judge has now usurped the power to set education policy priorities, the Justice Department wrote in court filings. In the other lawsuit, a judge has separately ordered grant funds owed to the education groups and their members be reinstated. That order also states the administration cannot terminate any more of the grant awards in a manner this court has determined is likely unlawful. The Hill has reached out to the Justice Department for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin (D), one of the co-leads on the lawsuit, celebrated the ruling in a statement. The Trump Administrations cancellation of critical education funding is shameful and illegal, said Platkin. We are thrilled with todays Court of Appeals decision, and we will not rest in our fight to block this cruel termination of programs for kids with special needs and those in urban and rural districts. We will always stand up for our students, families, and educators in New Jersey. Updated at 2:42 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Archaeologists discovered a 1,700-year-old 20-inch statue of Hercules in Florence, Italy. A student with a pickaxe discovered the miniature marble statue in three fragments. The fragments all fit together, allowing the statue to piece together, minus that pesky head, of course. Archaeologists excavating a private property in Florence, Italy, discovered a 20-inch statue of Hercules missing its head, though not altogether headless. Despite no cranium on the Greek hero, the statue included details from Hercules mythic 12 labors, including the skin of the Nemean lion and the severed head of the Cretan bull. Archaeologists from Valdelsa Fiorentina and the University of Florence discovered the statue in the town of Montaione in the province of Florence and has been dubbed the Hercules of Valdelsa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a discovery that excites us and reminds us how archaeology constantly surprises us with new objects and insights, Antonella Ranaldi, superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Florence, said in a statement provided by Cornell University. The professional archaeologists got an assist from archaeology majors from Cornell, including senior Alexander Cooper-Bohler. Thankfully, I noticed the strange shape of the statues abdomen before my pick could cleave it in half, Cooper-Bohler said. I spent the rest of the day carefully removing the dirt from around the statue with dental tools. It is the first statue found in over a decade of excavations at the site and made the weeks of digging in the hot Tuscan summer worth it! The statue was dated to between the middle and late Imperial age from the third to fourth centuries, A.D., according to a translated report from Italian media, making it a roughly 1,700 find. The diminutive statue depicts a nude Hercules leaning to his right on his club, adorned with the trophies from his labors. According to Greek mythology, the Oracle of Delphi advised Hercules to travel to Tiryns to serve his cousin, King Eurystheus of Mycenae, for 12 years, for which he would be rewarded with immortality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the two beasts included on the statue, other labors included retrieving a golden apple from the edge of the world, capturing the multi-headed dog Cerberus, cleaning the stables of King Augeas, and more. Hercules was often depicted with the Nemean lion skin in statues and art, along with a variety of his unique weapons, but experts said finding art showing him capturing the bull is rare. The statuette is nearly complete, made of three fitting pieces, Ranaldi said, and the bull at Hercules feet is an unusual and fascinating detail. Uncovering this statue reminded me of one of the things that drew me to archaeology in the first place, said Cooper-Bohler, which is the thrill of discovery and the excitement of never knowing what youll find. You Might Also Like BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Bring Back The Kern and the City of Bakersfield were back in court Thursday afternoon as the debate to let the Kern River flow through Bakersfield persists. Multiple attorneys on both sides argued both for fish and against fish. An old law, enacted in 1915, states that water levels need to stay at a level high enough to sustain wildlife. Attorneys argued in front of three justices at the 5th district court of appeals in Fresno. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Bakersfield judge said the law requires the river to have water year round. North Kern Water Storage district appealed saying farmers were entitled to the water. The storage district argued the law is being used to support fisheries more than anything else. Second man dies while in custody of Kern County Sheriffs Office at Lerdo within a week They also argued that a 1915 law does not relate to 2025. Attorney William McKinnon representing Water Audit California argued the need of consistent scientific studies to determine how much water should flow. What weve been trying to do is get the city and the real parties to meet with us and say okay, lets do some monitoring and measuring, lets do a decent set of studies, and we can adjust again, said McKinnon. The state is behind Bring Back the Kern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October, the Attorney General filed a brief in support of letting the river flow past the Calloway Weir. Justices have 90 days to make a decision. The suit is back in trial court on Nov. 14, and a trial is set for Dec. 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. DHAKA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi interim government has approved a revision of an act, setting the maximum sentence for soliciting a sexual relationship with false promises of marriage at seven years in prison. The decision was made at the advisory council meeting of the Bangladeshi government on Thursday, with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in the chair. Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, told journalists that the revision of the "Women and Children Repression Prevention Act" was approved by the cabinet on Thursday. He said the new stringent measures are aimed at reducing rape cases that occur after false promises of marriage. Bangladeshi Law Adviser Asif Nazrul had earlier said they prepared the draft of the amendment to the act, reducing the trial and investigation time of rape cases by half. Shondiin Silversmith AZ Mirror A settlement that will provide reliable and safe water for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe has been introduced in Congress, where it must be approved to take effect. This is a historic moment for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizonas Democratic senior senator, said in a press release. After years of hard work and collaboration, were delivering a water settlement that secures reliable, clean water and strengthens Tribal sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 would ratify and fund the largest Indian water rights settlement in the country, which will secure water rights for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. Kelly and U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, Arizonas other senator, introduced the legislation. Identical legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Tucson); it has been cosponsored by Arizona Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Phoenix), Eli Crane (R-Oro Valley), Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson), David Schweikert (R-Scottsdale) and Greg Stanton (D-Phoenix). The agreement will end the three tribes claims to the main stem of the Colorado River, the Little Colorado River and relevant groundwater sources in Arizona. The settlement would guarantee the tribes access to over 56,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, with specific groundwater rights and protections. Additionally, the agreement requires the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe to leave 17,050 acre-feet per year of Arizona Upper Basin water in Lake Powell for the first 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will also allow the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe to lease a portion of their water rights, providing the tribes a chance to create economic opportunities until local demand is met through new infrastructure. The legislation authorizes $5.1 billion to acquire, build, and maintain essential water development and delivery projects, including a distribution pipeline. For countless generations, Arizonas tribes have been caretakers of the Colorado River, Gallego said in a written statement. But for too long, water rights disputes have prevented them from having full certainty around their water future. With this historic legislation, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will finally get the security and stability they deserve, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Katie Hobbs said that her administration is proud to support the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, as it will provide clean and reliable water to thousands of Indigenous families, address generations of injustice, and promote economic and social progress. For decades, the Navajo, Hopi, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes have fought for a fundamental human right: access to water, Hobbs said. Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley said the settlement will secure prosperity for future generations of the Dine, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute people. People doubted that three tribes could unite, Curley said. This dispute was imposed on us, but with something as vital as water at stake, we came together not for ourselves, but for our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curley said that, without the settlement, their communities would remain disproportionately vulnerable to diseases and development, and the Navajo Nation would continue to be limited by the lack of water infrastructure. Tens of thousands of Navajo people in Arizona do not have water in their homes, Curley said. The infrastructure funded under the bill secures the necessary water supply that will serve our communities and our future generations. Hopi Chairman Tom Nuvangyaoma echoed Curleys statements and called the settlements introduction a historic moment. I want to thank our Navajo and San Juan Southern Paiute relatives for setting aside differences, as we did as Hopi, Nuvangyaoma said. This settlement isnt for us its for the sustainability and survival of future generations. It must happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nuvangyaoma said the settlement will ensure the Hopi Tribes water future by providing a reliable water supply and much needed infrastructure. The act will benefit water users throughout northeastern Arizona by ending costly, decades-long litigation and providing certainty about water resources, he added. San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe President Carlene Yellowhair called the settlement a genuinely historic moment for all the tribes because clean, running water and home structures are luxuries that their people have gone too long without. This legislation will ensure we have these basic human rights now and into the future, Yellowhair said, adding that she is grateful for the Arizona delegations support of the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the water allotment and funding, the legislation will formally establish a reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. The tribe will receive 5,400 acres of land within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation. This Legislation establishes our homeland, ensures our water rights and provides for secure infrastructure, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Vice President Johnny Lehi, Jr. said. It has been a long time coming and we are excited about the new challenges and opportunities that will surely follow. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. Arkansas Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders examine the floor plan of the new Arkansas Schools for the Deaf, Blind and Visually Impaired during a groundbreaking ceremony on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Randall Lee for the Arkansas Governor's Office) A federal lawsuit filed Thursday alleges the Arkansas Department of Education violated federal law by failing to equip an online survey seeking input on the future of the states deaf and blind schools with auxiliary aids. The plaintiff in the lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas Central Division, also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction ordering the defendants to cease construction of the schools new campus, immediately republish the ADE survey with appropriate accessibility measures and include plaintiffs in ongoing stakeholder meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit comes a week after officials broke ground on a new combined campus for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Little Rock attorney Mike Laux, along with two attorneys from the National Association of the Deaf, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Arkansas Association of the Deaf. Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and members of the Arkansas State Board of Education are the named defendants in the case. According to the complaint, an online survey posted on ADEs Facebook page in late December 2023 sought feedback from stakeholders with connections to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Failure to ensure the survey was accessible to plaintiffs members resulted in limited responses and inadequate feedback from the target audience, the complaint states. Not making the survey accessible by including American Sign Language (ASL) translations and audio descriptions and related auxiliary aids violates both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, according to the lawsuit. This unlawful discrimination denied plaintiffs members their right to civic participation, the suit says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants discriminatory conduct effectively silenced an entire communitys voice in matters directly affecting their lives and education, the complaint reads. Without immediate court intervention, Plaintiffs members will face barriers to meaningful engagement with the policymakers whose decisions affect their community. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The complaint asks the court to issue an order requiring defendants to publish an identical survey thats accessible; enjoin defendants from relying on the results of the original survey in policy decisions; legislative recommendations and administrative actions regarding the two schools; and declare any actions taken based on the inaccessible survey are deficient and must be reconsidered following the completion of an accessible survey. The state has a duty to communicate to all of its citizens, and excluding deaf and blind Arkansans from the ADE survey is even more egregious because the issues being addressed in the survey directly pertain to this community, Laux said during a virtual press conference Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while we wish we could say that this was just an oversight, a harmless accidental oversight by the state, we fear that it is instead a designed tactic used to eliminate the voices of these folks who have a real stake in what happens, and instead to use these inaccurate, incomplete survey results to justify political maneuvering and decisions that had already been made and preordained, he said. The survey was meant as a cover to lend legitimacy to maneuvers that the state was looking to engage in regardless of the survey. The poor conditions of the schools for deaf and blind students gained widespread attention following legislators tour of the dilapidated facilities in late 2023. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Feb. 2024 announced plans to create a new state-of-the-art facility on the current campus and combine administrative functions. Sanders cited the survey, saying the responses revealed three priorities that would inform the project keeping the campus at its current location, providing resources for deaf and blind students beyond the Little Rock campus and addressing critical safety needs. Lawmakers took steps Monday to combine the two schools by filing House Bill 1810. Nicole Walsh, who was named the School for the Deafs superintendent last year, told the House Education Committee Thursday the merger is an administrative move so we can ensure cohesive services between the two schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the committee advanced HB 1810 on a unanimous voice vote, the lawsuit argues the bill removes numerous protections and specific provisions related to the operation of the schools. For example, employees would no longer be compensated for providing parent training or student services on the weekend or the evenings, according to the lawsuit. The complaint also raises concerns about HB 1810s proposal to combine the schools two boards of trustees into a single board consisting of five members appointed by the governor. The proposed bill eliminates the current statutory requirement that the board include one member who is a deaf person who fluently utilizes deaf sign language, and in so doing, effectively removes guaranteed deaf representation on the governing board, the lawsuit states. HB 1810 sponsor Rep. Joey Carr, R-Armorel, told the House Education Committee the single board of directors will represent both the deaf and blind students, and they will each have a parental advocate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In unifying these schools it will create greater security for safety, also a more effective instructional support for their individual learning needs, he said. In response to a request for comment on the lawsuit, an ADE spokesperson said the department doesnt comment on active lawsuits. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A man from Arkansas was arrested and charged after he allegedly sent a lock of his hair along with a four-page love letter to a teenager in West Seneca, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Friday. Brayden Storey, 21, of West Fork, A.R. allegedly contacted the victim on Instagram in September 2022 when she was 13-years-old. He was 19-years-old at the time. The two talked for a year on Instagram, Discord, and through text, officials said. In October 2023, Storey allegedly sent a nude image of himself to the victim and asked for pictures in return. It is alleged that they exchanged sexually explicit images for six months before the victim blocked him on social media, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May 2024, Storey allegedly sent a lock of his hair to the victims home address. It was contained within a four-page letter requesting the two be together, and expressing his suicidal ideations, according to officials. A month earlier, Storey had allegedly called the victim 50 times in two days before she blocked his number. Storey was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. A man accused of trying to enter Tampas Mons Venus strip club armed with a gun and wearing a devil mask has been sentenced to a decade in state prison as part of a deal with prosecutors. Michael Rudman, 46, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and four other charges. As part of a plea agreement, Rudman was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He will receive credit for the two years he has spent in the Hillsborough County jail waiting for his case to be resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He faced as many as 30 years in state prison if convicted at trial. The brave actions of a security guard named Manny Resto prevented this case from becoming what could have been a much more violent crime, Hillsborough State Attorneys Office spokesperson Erin Maloney said in an emailed statement. This 46-year-old defendant will spend 10 years day-for-day behind bars for his assault of Mr. Resto, who was merely doing his job. This resolution puts this defendant in prison for a significant amount of time and spared the taxpayers the expense of a trial that would likely have resulted in a similar resolution. The resolution came two years and a day after Rudmans arrest at the club after a physical struggle near the front door that Resto later called a fight for my life. Police Chief Lee Bercaw said at the time that he believed the guards prevented a mass shooting, but Rudmans attorney told the Tampa Bay Times that he doesnt believe that was his clients intent. Rudman arrived at the club, located at 2040 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in a silver Toyota pickup around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2023, according to court documents. Rudman parked the truck on the side of the building, left it running and got out holding a Glock 9mm pistol and wearing a red and black Satan mask, documents state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resto saw Rudman coming and tried to wrestle the gun out of his hand. Rudman hit Resto multiple times during the struggle, according to prosecutors. The gun discharged once during the fight but no one was shot. Rudman was carrying three magazines, each with a 17-round capacity, documents state. One of the magazines had seven live rounds and the other two were fully loaded. Inside his truck, investigators found nine knives. At a news conference two days later, Resto, a former professional wrestler known as the Puerto Rican Punisher, said he initially thought Rudman was another guard trying to play a prank on him, but then realized that wasnt the case and immediately concentrated on getting the gun out of Rudmans hands. He called on his days as a wrestler and previous security guard experience to get Rudman whom Resto described as a very big man on the ground. I decided that he was not going to enter the club and hurt anybody, Resto said. I wasnt going to let this happen. I was not going to let him win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resto got Rudman to the ground and was trying to hold him down when two more guards came to help. Surveillance video from the club shows Resto then picking up the gun and pointing it at Rudman, who rushed at him. A round discharged from the gun during the confrontation and hit the door. One security guard sustained minor injuries. No one else was hurt. As part of the deal approved Thursday by Judge G. Gregory Green, Rudman also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon, possessing a firearm while under a risk protection order, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rudmans attorney, Jawdet Rubaii, said in an interview that the minimum allowable prison sentence according to state guidelines about 4 years would have been more appropriate, but they agreed to the deal because Rudman faced a much longer prison sentence if convicted at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubaii said Rudman has schizophrenia and was off his prescribed medication at the time of the incident due to supply shortages and a lack of contact with mental health care professionals stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Rubaii noted Rudman does not have a lengthy criminal history but does have a history of being taken into protective custody under Floridas Baker Act. Rubaii said he understands why Bercaw and others believe Rudman was at the club intending to commit a mass shooting, but Rubaii doesnt believe that. He said Rudman never pointed the gun at anyone. What about all the people outside? Why not start there? Shoot your way in, Rubaii said. And why, when you get in a tussling match with a guy whos grabbing the gun from you, you dont point it and shoot anybody? It doesnt make sense. Rubaii said his clients life was likely saved when he was stopped by security guards because he could have been shot by someone in the club had he gained entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rudman was under a risk protection order in Pinellas County at the time of his arrest that prohibited him from possessing a firearm. The orders are issued by a judge at a law enforcement agencys request if they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others. In Rudmans case, a Pinellas judge had extended a risk protection order until October 2023 because the court found, among other factors, Rudman engaged in a threat of violence against themselves or others, has violated a previous or existing risk protection order, and has stalked another person, court documents state. After his arrest in Tampa, Rudman was charged in Pinellas with violating the order, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Records show that case is still pending. Recovery has been slow since wildfires devastated the Los Angeles area earlier this year. Most of the areas impacted still look much like they did in the immediate aftermath of the fires. According to Cal Fire, the Eaton and Palisades fires are two of California's most destructive wildfires ever, with the 2018 Camp Fire topping the list. Combined, the two fires burned more than 37,000 acres and over 16,000 structures. Earlier this month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in an effort to speed up assistance for wildfire prevention projects ahead of wildfire season's peak. This year, more than 58,000 acres have burned from 545 wildfires, according to Cal Fire. ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: In an aerial view, a lone Firefighter walks through a neighborhood destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 19, 2025 in Altadena, California. / Credit: Getty Images Even though some structures are gone, there remains a passion to preserve memories. Asher Bingham is using her artistic talents to create invaluable mementos for victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The night the fires began, Bingham received an urgent text message from her friend, Charlie Britz, who was getting married in Las Vegas. "She's like, 'I think you're the closest one of our friends to my house in Altadena. Can you please go get my cats?' We got her cats out of there. The next morning, I woke up to a text that just showed the rubble of her house and she's like we lost it in the middle of the night," Bingham said. At a loss for words, Bingham went to her comfort zone. "I've been drawing my entire life. I love art and I've always had a pencil or pen in hand," she said. "I sent her a text. I was like, 'I hope this is OK. I just sat down and drew your house as I remembered it and I'd love to give this to you as a gift.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bingham's photo is the only thing Britz has left of her home. She's thankful for her friend's kindness and love. "It's better than anything I could have salvaged because anything I could have found would've been part of fire damage, and this is something that comes only from a place of love and has no bad history whatsoever," Charlie said. Artist Asher Bingham is creating drawings of homes lost to the California wildfires for victims. / Credit: Asher Bingham Creating memories for wildfire victims Bingham posted her drawing on social media as well, asking anyone who had lost a home to the fires if they would like one. She was then inundated with messages. What Bingham didn't expect though, were the stories that would come along with the requests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I knew that this person had just given birth three days before and they lost their house. I knew that this was a couple's first home purchase and they bought it last year," she said, adding that she felt enormous pressure. "I don't want to misrepresent someone's memory." Bingham draws the homes using either pictures given to her or by finding street views online. Each piece takes between a half hour to an hour and a half to complete. With more than 12,000 homes lost to the fires, the requests haven't stopped. The Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. / Credit: Damian Dovarganes / AP Help from across the country Bingham, a TV editor, isn't working much these days, but she said the drawings keep her busy. She does not accept payment for them, but with 1,500 requests and counting, she says the work is too much for one person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I just happened to be watching the news and Asher popped up and so I sent her a message saying, 'Hey, I don't need a home drawn, but I can draw homes,'" said Carolyn Stich. Stich, who lives in Holland, Michigan, is one of the 17 artists from all over the country who are contributing their skills. "I love drawing these homes knowing, or hoping what they mean to people," she said. One of the homes Stich was asked to draw belonged to Melanie Goldberger. She lived in her home in the Palisades for 20 years. "I was pregnant with my daughter, Sydney, when we moved in," Goldberger said. She has the photo of their old home now hanging in the house her family currently rents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's the only thing I've hung up in this house. I love it," she said. Goldberger said she's grateful for the gift, given by the time and efforts of a complete stranger. "We thought we would have our home forever, but we'll have this forever," she said. Michigan swing voters express regrets over voting for Trump Judge declines to stop DOGE takeover of U.S. Institute of Peace Court hearing expected on mass deportation flights to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison How can President Donald Trump appeal to the Supreme Court on the issue of whether a district judge can block action nationwide when I dont believe the issue has gone through lower courts? Tom Morris, Richmond, Virginia Hi Tom, There are different ways that cases get to the Supreme Court. The traditional route is for an issue to be fully litigated first through the trial and appellate courts, which can take years. Then theres the route that the Trump administration took on birthright citizenship, which lands on the courts so-called shadow docket or emergency docket, where the justices handle preliminary or urgent matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how that background plays out in the birthright citizenship litigation. Federal trial judges in three states (Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington) preliminarily halted Trumps attempt to restrict birthright citizenship. The administration went to the respective federal appeals courts to try to upend those trial-court orders, lost those efforts, and then went to the Supreme Court with applications that are still pending. As you note, the issue the administration is pressing to the high court isnt the constitutional merits of the birthright citizenship question per se but whether judges can block a move nationwide instead of just helping the people who brought the lawsuits in these cases. Nationwide injunctions are an issue thats applicable across all sorts of cases and one that Republican-appointed justices have criticized; along with the merits of the birthright citizenship issue not favoring the government, that could be what made taking the nationwide injunction issue to the justices a more attractive litigation strategy for the government rather than more directly and immediately seeking to upend a long-standing constitutional protection. Notably, the justices arent treating the Trump administrations applications with much urgency. Trumps acting solicitor general filed the applications to the high court on March 13, and the justices gave the opposing parties an April 4 deadline to respond. In the context of purported emergency litigation, thats a luxurious timeline. Whether that reflects the high courts skepticism of the governments underlying argument on the merits of the birthright citizenship issue, something else or some combination of factors may become more apparent in retrospect when the court ultimately rules on the governments applications. But in light of that relatively luxurious timeline, it will likely be at least a couple more weeks until we learn more about the courts thinking. Have any questions or comments for me? Id love to hear from you! Please email deadlinelegal@nbcuni.com for a chance to be featured in a future newsletter. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Stepping foot on American soil is like being born again, said the Atlanta man who spent more than two years as a captive of the Taliban in Afghanistan. George Glezmann landed in the U.S. Friday at Joint Base Andrews, outside of Washington, D.C. It was a long journey, flying from Afghanistan on Thursday to Qatar and then back to his home country. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Retired federal agent George Taylor told Channel 2 Action News Investigative Reporter Mark Winne that Glezmann left Joint Base Andrews in the afternoon. He is flying to Texas where he will be debriefed and receive much needed medical treatment, as well as help with the emotional aspects of his captivity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glezmann, a Delta Air Lines mechanic before being captured, hopes to come back to work. I went through hell and back, Glezmann said Friday. And one of the things, the two things that kept me going were my wife and my Delta Air Lines family. Taylor was there the moment Glezmann embraced his wife, Aleksandra Glezmann, for the first time in years. He said over the hours he spent the reunited couple this morning, it was clear the former Taliban prisoner was immensely grateful for the release engineered by the Trump Administration. George Glezzman reunited with his wife Friday in Washington, D.C., after spending two years in Afghanistan as a prisoner of the Taliban. George and Aleksandra Glezmann were photographed in front of the airplane that brought him to the U.S. He had been a prisoner of the Taliban since they wrongfully detained him in December 2022 while he was a tourist in Kabul, Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor told Channel 2 he was part of the very small team that lobbied for action by the U.S. government on Glezmanns case for many months. Getting him home was a very big goal Taylor said the Trump Administration achieved by getting to work on it right away after taking office in January. When they abducted me, it was in a very, very violent way, Glezmann said. I am assuming that they called me, and I did not hear so they came in with their guns. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Dennis Fitzpatrick, who teamed for months to secure Glezmanns release, also joined the homecoming in D.C. Ryan Corbett, a New York man released by the Taliban in January in a prisoner swap and Glezmanns former cellmate in Kabul, also greeted him. Special presidential envoy Adam Boehler was the point man for the U.S. in discussions with the Taliban, and he flew into Kabul to retrieve George Glezmann and returned on the airplane with him. I owe (my wife) so much. Yeah, all you guys I owe Dennis. I owe President Trump, (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio, (National Security Adviser) Mike Waltz, Adam Boehler and everybody involved. Taylor says when he met the man that he, Fitzpatrick and Aleksandra fought for so hard, the reality hit him that George was home. Taylor says he joked with the freed hostage, who has a passion for exploring new cultures and visited more than 100 countries, that he was going to take his passport. Everybody that has been involved has my gratitude, and I cannot repay, Glezmann said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] TUPELO More than a week after some 17,000 Lee County residents lost natural gas service to their homes and businesses, Atmos Energy says most have had their service restored. In an update posted to the company's website at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Atmos Energy said approximately 12,609 customers have had their natural gas service restored. The company said it has brought in more than 700 additional Atmos Energy employees and contractors from across the companys eight-state footprint to support the restoration effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers can visit atmosenergy.com/LeeCounty for the most up-to-date information, including a service restoration map where customers can determine the restoration status of the area near their home or business. Much of Lee County lost natural gas service after a pipe burst in the Plantersville area on March 12, injuring three contractors in the process. Customers with natural gas service ready to be restored will receive text messages from Atmos letting them know workers will be in their area. Customers must be at home in order for Atmos employees to inspect and relight appliances that use natural gas. As of the Monday afternoon update, Atmos Energy crews were currently going door-to-door in the following areas to restore service: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chesterville Road (Tupelo) Lawndale / Lee Acres (Tupelo) Colonial Estates Road (Tupelo) Holly Hill Subdivision and the Gun Club Road (Tupelo) The Villages Community (Tupelo) Clayton Road and Joyner Avenue (Tupelo) Haven Acres and Green Tee Subdivision (Tupelo) The Highland Circle and Madison (Tupelo) County Line 6 (Tupelo) County Line Road (Tupelo) Saltillo South Thomas Street, south of Pemberton Ave. between Lawndale Drive and Cliff Gookin Blvd. (Tupelo) Downtown (Tupelo) Atmos Energy crews have already gone door-to-door, making multiple passes to restore service in the areas listed below. Residents or business owners who were present when crews were restoring service can contact Atmos for further instructions. Guntown The Grove (Saltillo) Frog Island (Tupelo) Beech Springs (Saltillo) East Tupelo Natchez Trace Villas (Saltillo) Tupelo West Apartments (Tupelo) Barnes Crossing (Tupelo) Plantersville AUSTIN (KXAN) After months of back and forth, and a bit of drama within the Austin climbing community, Austin Bouldering Project announced that it has pulled out of the project in which it would have taken over the space that was previously Crux Climbing Center on Pickle Road. ABP, which is part of the national climbing gym chain Bouldering Project, sent an email to members earlier this week making the announcement. The gyms webpage for the South Congress location also now leads to an Error 404 Page Not Found message. In October, we announced that Bouldering Project planned to open at 121 Pickle Road. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we made the difficult decision to cancel this project, ABP said in the email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin Bouldering Project to take over Crux Climbings south Austin location The project was announced in the fall, and the Bouldering Project owners faced backlash online from the local climbing community after a social media post from Crux claimed that ABP had negotiated a lease with their landlord, without Cruxs knowledge, to take over the location. However, ABP told KXAN that it didnt conspire with the locations landlord and that the owners viewed the space as an opportunity to further support the climbing hobby in Austin. 3423 Pickle LLC, the locations landlord, said that Crux in 2023 declined to enter a longer term commitment after 3423 had offered Crux a 10-year lease on the location. After Crux backed out, 3423 said it went to Bouldering Project with the offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was also slight legal drama surrounding the circumstances. The buildings landlord in December filed a civil lawsuit against Crux, stating that the gyms claim that the climbing walls are trade fixtures was erroneous. The landlord sought a declaration that the climbing walls were its property, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in January. Crux Climbing Gym lawsuit dismissed, new location announced Crux has been in the process of moving its south Austin location to Ralph Ablanedo Drive, which is in the construction phase, according to its website. Crux also has a central Austin location on Dillard Circle and recently opened a new location in Pflugerville. We have already moved everything out of the Pickle Rd location, including the climbing walls. We had a lease with terms that allowed us to operate at that location until 2028 and the landlord chose to terminate early to allow another tenant to have the space. That tenant has now backed out and I understand the property is back on the market, but it would be unwise for us to return to that location for a number of reasons. Weve made plans for our new location in South Austin and are excited to provide the community with an even better facility. Response from Crux The Bouldering Project, a national chain, has two locations in Austin right now one on Springdale Road and one on South Lamar at West Gate Boulevard. The gym still plans on opening another location in Austin, according to the email announcing their withdrawal from the Pickle Road plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this setback, we remain committed to opening a full-service roped gym in Austin, the email stated. We will also continue to invest in our existing Springdale and Westgate gyms. ABP said it will start upgrades at the South Lamar/West Gate location this month. KXAN reached out to the owners of ABP and Crux, as well as 3423 Pickle LLC, to ask for commentary on ABPs recent announcement. ABP did not indicate in its email if the owners know what will happen to the space at Pickle Road, nor was a reason for withdrawing from the project given. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a landmark 2.5-billion-U.S. dollar agreement on Friday to invest in Beijing over the next five years, signaling the multinational's confidence in the world's second-largest economy. The deal was inked with the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, commonly known as e-town, where the company's northern China headquarters is located. It marks the largest single investment in Beijing's biopharmaceutical sector in recent years, spanning multiple stages from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing and commercialization. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will establish a global strategic R&D center in Beijing, its sixth worldwide and second in China after one in Shanghai. The new center, equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence and data science laboratory, will accelerate early-stage drug research and clinical development. Additionally, the pharmaceutical titan will form a new joint venture with Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., Ltd. in Beijing to develop, manufacture, and commercialize innovative medicines targeting respiratory and other infectious diseases. "The investment highlights our confidence in Beijing's world-class life sciences innovation ecosystem, extensive collaborative opportunities, and exceptional talent pool," AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in an interview with Xinhua. AUSTIN (KXAN) In just two days a homeless camp in southeast Austin was cleaned up after months of complaints from the community. KXAN stopped by multiple times since January only to find more people and more trash piling up on the site. Neighbors living by complained about drug use, open fires and trash building up, so KXAN took those concerns to the City. We do recognize that this specific property is posing some challenges to the community, said David Gray, the City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer, when KXAN spoke to him before the camp was cleaned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray said this property is private so they had to go through a number of steps before they could go onto the property to clean. We have now gotten to the point in the process where the city is just taking the action, said Gray. We are going to be putting a lien on the property. That way the city and our taxpayers can get their money back. South Austin homeless camp drawing concerns as drug use, open fires continue On Thursday, Gray stopped by as crews cleaned up the property, he said about 25 people accepted help and resources and are now in shelters. Of the 25 people who came into shelter a lot of those users, or had been using expressed interest in substance abuse treatment and that is a resource we make available at all of our city shelters, said Gray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not everyone accepted the invite to go into shelters though, KXAN spoke with some people at the camp to find out why. KXAN asked, Would you go into shelter? Nah, just because its a bunch of homeless people gathered together, in the same place, said Jack, whos lived on the streets of Austin on and off over the years. Jack said he was one of the first people in the Bluff Springs camp, but over time more people started moving in who were using and selling drugs. He said he was about to move out when the clean-up crews came in. I have had enough of this place, why would I want to go to another place, said Jack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KXAN asked Gray about what happens to the people who refuse shelter or resources. AFD responds to fire at south Austin homeless encampment, not the first time For a lot of these people what we will try to do is offer them one more shot at a service, said Gray. We know for some people it takes seeing the actual action for them to change their mind and be willing to come into shelter. Gray said some people would take their stuff and move to other areas, KXAN asked Jack where he was heading next. I found a place in the woods with a guy I know, hes still got some stuff there and to get away from this, said Jack. Camp Conditions KXAN asked Jack about conditions in the Bluff Springs camp, he said drugs and theft were a constant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did you see anyone overdose in this camp? asked KXAN. Many times, people overdosed all the time, said Jack. Jack said drugs are causing major issues for the homeless community, especially Fentanyl. With the Fetty, the new Fentanyl drug there is less respect, less everything, cause they are just trying to get their addiction, said Jack. Jack said the drug use in the camp led to people stealing his phone on a number of occasions. You learn real quick that the homeless feed on the homeless too, they steal from each other and that is very sad, but it happens, said Jack. Gray said the city is working to add more bed space at shelters and last year they were able to transition about 1000 people from shelters into permanent housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) An Austintown man was sentenced to prison in a child sexual abuse material case. William Shaltz, 24, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor. He was secretly indicted in August 2024 and was eventually arrested in Michigan. Following Shaltzs indictment, there was a change at the helm of the prosecutors office when Lynn Maro took over, and she said that they almost missed picking Shaltz up as he was being released on bond in Michigan because the prior administration had not made arrangements to bring him back to Mahoning County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) A snorkeling boat carrying 13 people, including 11 Australian tourists, capsized in rough seas off Indonesias resort island of Bali on Friday, killing a woman and injuring two others, police said. The Sea Dragon boat was on its way from a port in Bali to Nusa Penida, a popular tiny island near Bali, when it was overwhelmed by high waves, local police spokesperson Agus Widiono said. The group was looking at underwater scenery when their boat was hit by a large wave that threw a 39-year-old woman, identified by police as Anna Maree, overboard. It was followed by a second wave that capsized the boat in Kelingking waters, Widiono said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A nearby boat was rushed to rescue 12 survivors, including two local crews and two injured tourists from the choppy waters. Rescuers also found the body of Maree, the spokesperson said. Survivors were treated at nearby health clinic and are in stable condition. Maritime accidents have killed hundreds of people in Indonesia in recent years. Boats are often overcrowded, and safety regulations are poorly enforced. The vast archipelago country spans more than 17,000 islands with a population of 280 million, and boats are a popular and relatively cheap form of transportation. Authorities released the identity of a Weymouth man killed after being hit by a car in Quincy on Monday night. 58-year-old William Jacobs succumbed to his injuries Tuesday morning at a Boston hospital, according to the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office. Police say Jacobs was hit by a car while trying to cross Southern Artery around 7 p.m. on March 17. The driver of the car, an 82-year-old Quincy man, was uninjured and is not facing any charges at this time, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the crash remains under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW BOONE, Iowa The Boone County Search and Rescue is preparing for a second public search for Jessie Leopold of Jewell, whos been missing since 2016. In 2016, Jessie Leopold left his job and was never seen again. His car appeared three days later at the Ledges State Park, but the immediate search that followed yielded no results. Over the past nine years, police and family efforts to locate Jessie have been unsuccessful. The first public search took place in 2023 with almost 100 volunteers showing up to search several acres of the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, the Boone County Search and Rescue and the Boone County Sheriffs Office will conduct a search of 23 acres of grassland at the end of Peony Lane, north of Ledges State Park. The search will begin at 9 a.m. and will last till approximately 1 p.m. The Boone County Sheriffs Office says that after almost a decade and a block in the investigation, they have turned back to the park. No. 11 seed Drake holds on after blowing big lead and beats Missouri 67-57 in March Madness opener We kind of circled back to, well, what makes the most sense, said Andrew Godzicki, Boone County Sheriff. We know that he voluntarily left his work. We know that he drove his vehicle away from there. We know that his vehicle did appear here. And actually, there was some interaction with the vehicle by park rangers and they created some documentation for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While several private searches of the park have been conducted, Saturdays search will be the second public search. With the help of volunteers, detectives, drones, K9 units, and an anthropologist, the goal is to cover as much ground as possible. Were going to actually try out some new software that, if people are willing to participate in that part of it, theyll be able to use their cell phones to actually keep track of where everybody is searching, said Godzicki In that way, you know, and the goal here, is that we want to get just a comprehensive search of the park. Volunteers interested in Saturdays search should meet at the Park and Ride at 1808 South Story Street in Boone. Registration will take place there and then a shuttle with bring volunteers to the search area. Visit the Boone Search and Rescue for additional details. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Are you angry about politics right now? Seething? Youre not alone. According to the Mood of the Nation Poll by researchers at Penn State, 9 in 10 Americans can name a recent news event or something about American politics that made them angry. Political scientists Steven Webster, Elizabeth Connors and I have investigated what happens to peoples social networks their friends, family and neighbors when partisan anger takes over. For example, suppose your neighbor is a member of the opposite political party. Youve always watered their plants when they go on vacation. Given the news these days and how angry youre feeling, what will you say when they ask for help during their next trip? We found that when someone is angry with the opposite party, they avoid people with those views. That can include not assisting neighbors with various tasks, avoiding social gatherings attended by people from the other side, and refusing to date people who vote differently. It means being disappointed if your son or daughter marries a supporter of the opposing party, and even severing close friendships or distancing yourself from close relatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see that political anger disrupts ordinary life coffee with a friend as well as more major life decisions. Political anger breaks our social networks. People rely on their relationships to understand our world and to vote. The more we isolate ourselves from people who see things differently, the easier it is to misunderstand them, pushing us to separate even more. Stereotype vs. reality During the Obama administration, my collaborators and I asked a nationally representative sample of voters to describe their stereotypes about the opposite party. Our questions were intended to tap into perceptions of the other sides lifestyles and cultural values, in addition to policy attitudes. First, we wanted to establish each sides actual views. Our 2012-2016 study asked around 1,300 Americans whether they agreed with statements that are often associated with one party or the other including creationism, guns, taxes and eco-friendliness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, 42.5% of all Republicans we surveyed agreed with the statement that this country would be safer if every law-abiding citizen possessed a firearm, versus 25.1% of independents and 14.2% of Democrats. Meanwhile, 38.7% of Democrats agreed that this country would be better if every citizen drove an electric car, compared with 22% of independents and 11.4% of Republicans. Which party do you associate with these cars? 3alexd/iStock via Getty Images Plus Two months later, we went back to the same voters and asked them a different question: What percentage of Democrats and Republicans did they think would agree with these statements? We saw dramatic evidence of stereotypes. For example, only 19% of Democrats agreed that all Americans should pay more taxes, but more than 80% of Republicans believed the percentage to be higher. The same pattern occurred with electric cars and firearms. Just over 42% of Republicans agreed that all law-abiding citizens should have a gun, but the typical Democrat believed the percentage to be 60%-80%. Americans do not understand each other across the red-blue divide. Importantly, respondents with more ideologically extreme views themselves had less accurate perceptions of the other party. Avoiding the Joneses The more extreme our beliefs become, the harder it will be to understand our neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suppose you are a Republican. You learn that your Democratic neighbors believe that everyone should drive an electric car, marijuana should be legal in all states, and universal health care should be available to all citizens. Or suppose you are a Democrat, and you learn that your Republican neighbors believe that humans and dinosaurs walked the Earth at the same time, that elementary school students should be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, and that a fence should be built between the U.S. and Mexico. Would you want to be friends? These hypothetical neighbors have stereotypical beliefs and most Americans say they do not want those neighbors in their social networks. Specifically, according to our 2023 study, they reported not wanting to become friends, not having this neighbor over for a family meal, and not feeling comfortable allowing their children to play with the neighbors kids, among other activities. Stereotypes dont just drive individual people and families apart; they make neighborhoods less cohesive. We ascribe stereotypical beliefs to people who are members of the opposite party and then we react to these stereotypes, not to our neighbors themselves. Social citizens Cutting off those in-person relationships isnt just a problem for safety and friendliness around the block. Its a problem for democracy because Americans need relationships with people whose politics are different than their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority of Americans have social circles that are politically homogeneous. Even in 2020, 53% of Republicans said that their network was exclusively composed of Donald Trump supporters, and 55% of Democrats said that their network was exclusively composed of Joe Biden supporters. In her book Through the Grapevine, political scientist Taylor Carlson documents that approximately 1 in 3 American voters mostly learn about politics from socially transmitted information: news they get from talking with friends or scrolling on social media. Relying on these sources is particularly problematic in social networks that are homogeneous, as exposure to information from someone in your own party can lead people to have more extreme positions. Carlsons work highlights that voters who rely on friends to shape their views rely upon a resource that is heavily biased. In my own book The Social Citizen, I investigated the influence peers have on political decisions, from voting and donating to identifying with a political party. For example, if a neighbor knocks on your door and asks you to turn out to vote, you are 4%-11% more likely to go cast a ballot than if a stranger knocked on your door. Democracy in action What can we do to remedy the fractures? We need to understand each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has a long tradition of political dialogue. Indeed, after a brutal election tested their friendship, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson did not exchange letters for 11 years. But the pair resumed their correspondence in 1812 with Adams statement later echoed by Jefferson You and I, ought not to die, before We have explained ourselves to each other. What Adams and Jefferson understood in the 19th century still applies to the divisions in American society today: Reconciliation requires understanding. These conversations are frequently painful and hard; data scientists have noted that Thanksgiving dinners with guests who cross party lines are frequently shorter. But as my own research shows, we are most able to persuade people with whom we have the closest ties. Democracy challenges us to participate in more ways than simply by voting. It challenges everyone to understand those around us and seek what is in the collective best interest. And we have the most influence over people in our social networks. So that friend youre really angry with about their politics? Its time to give them a call and have a conversation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Betsy Sinclair, Washington University in St. Louis Read more: Betsy Sinclair 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. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) In a rare joint interview, the two top leaders at Upstate Medical University are detailing plans for the hospitals new emergency department as they wait to hear how much money the project will get from New York State. Regardless of the funding, the need is obvious. Sometimes well have 120 patients in our ED, said Dr. Robert Corona. We have 35 beds. Corona, the CEO of Upstate University Hospital, and Dr. Mantosh Dewan, President of Upstate Medical University sat down for this weeks edition of Newsmakers on NewsChannel 9. Latest local news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hospitals plan is to build an emergency department four times the current size in a yet-to-be-finalized location across the street from the facility. Regularly feeling underfunded, Upstate University Hospital has asked for $450 million from New York State for the project. Their request was made by every local state senator and assembly member. In her budget proposal, Governor Kathy Hochul is committing to $200 million, just under half the request. Shell have to negotiate with the State Legislature. Both the State Senate and State Assembly have separately passed their own budget bills that fully fund SUNY Upstates $450 million request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Chris Ryan, who advocated for the hospital funding even before being sworn in, said: Im particularly proud that my call for full funding for SUNY Upstate was met. By including an additional $250 million for a total of $450 million, were demonstrating the importance of this funding for key repairs and emergency room renovations. The expansion will come with more beds, more capacity for mental health emergencies and an enhanced burn unit. One key desire is to separate walk-ins with less serious emergencies from the Level 1 Trauma patients who are rushed in. Whats behind it is an incredibly deep infrastructure of specialists that are on 24/7, said Dr. Corona explaining the complexities of any emergency department deserving of the Level 1 Trauma title. You have head trauma, you need neurosurgeons. You have cardiac trauma, you need a heart surgeon. Abdominal trauma, you need general traumatic surgeons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have to have a backup team, said Dr. Dewan, because trauma often comes in multiples. He said: Thats why theres only five trauma centers in the state that do Level 1 trauma for children and adults. Were very fortunate to have one in Syracuse. The space that holds the current emergency department will be renovated into a pediatric emergency room, including Level 1 trauma treatment for children. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) Alabama consumers may not have to pay state sales tax on some baby, menstrual and maternity supplies as a new bill makes its way through the state legislature. The bill, led by Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, would exempt items such as baby formula, baby bottles, baby wipes, breast milk pumping equipment, breast pump, diapers, maternity clothing, and menstrual hygiene products from state sales tax. However, this exemption would not apply to county and municipal sales taxes, unless county commissions and city councils approved and adopted it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report from Al.com shows the bill would save Alabama taxpayers around $13 million a year by removing the 4% state sales tax. Alabama lawmakers approve paid parental leave for teachers and state employees The bill passed 102-0 in the House of Representatives on Thursday and now moves to the senate. If passed, the exemptions would take effect on September 1, 2025. While the bill passed the House unanimously, Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, told the Alabama Reflector that there were concerns about what clothes could be considered maternity in the bill. The Alabama House also passed a bill this week, cutting grocery tax from 3% to 2%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: Alabama House passes grocery tax cut bill Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Mar. 20Moving with warp speed by State House standards, the state Senate unanimously passed and sent to the desk of Gov. Kelly Ayotte legislation to make it much easier to deny bail to those arrested for violent crimes. While most House Democrats clearly opposed the change, all 10 Senate Democrats went on record in support of the bill (HB 592) that Ayotte made a top priority while campaigning. The Senate vote was 23-0; Sen. Dan Innis, R-Bradford, was absent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House took four unrecorded votes on the measure, the last of which was a 204-175 vote to pass the bill over to the Senate a week ago. In response, Senate President Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, scheduled a Judiciary Committee hearing for Tuesday, and that panel unanimously recommended its passage the same day. The final bill lowers the legal bar for judges to determine an accused offender should be held without bail pending trial. It creates presumptive detainment for anyone arrested for a violent crime if they previously committed a felony or serious misdemeanor while out on bail, failed to appear in court or violated a condition of bail. Ayotte said it also closes a loophole to allow someone to be held for up to 36 hours before a bail hearing, up from the current 24. The current law resulted in some suspects being released because courts couldn't schedule a bail hearing on short notice during a weekend or holiday period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, said he's been trying for six years to completely undo a 2018 bail reform law former Gov. Chris Sununu signed but later admitted had been a mistake. "Today we can finally shut the revolving door. If someone is arrested for a violent crime, a judge will have to determine whether it is appropriate for that suspected offender to get bail," said Gannon, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ayotte said she looks forward to signing the bill soon. "Thank you to Senate President Carson and members on both sides of the aisle for voting to protect our law enforcement officers and keep our communities safe," Ayotte said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ground zero: Manchester Manchester's two senators one Democrat, one Republican spoke in support of the measure. "There is a clear pattern of systemic abuse to this bail reform law which is endangering our citizenry," said state Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester. Later she added, "There have been tweaks and a soft-handed approach to bail reform law changes that have not succeeded." In November, Sullivan unseated former Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy, who ironically spent years imploring Democratic colleagues to support bail reform changes. Sullivan's fellow first-term senator, Patrick Long, D-Manchester, said he too had supported changes as a House member after lawmakers acted in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For six years I have been concerned about this and hopefully this bill will do all that it was intended to do," Long said. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais led a coalition of nine mayors from both parties calling for the change. "Going forward, repeat and violent offenders will be staying behind bars and off our streets," Ruais said. Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, urged her colleagues to ensure that the next two-year state budget includes enough money for the judicial branch to deal with more bail hearings and more people being incarcerated in county jails awaiting trials. "We know this is another downshift of costs from the state to the counties, supported only by local property taxes," Altschiller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, lawmakers approved a four-bill package of bail changes, one of which created three court magistrates who started in January to hear bail requests on nights and weekends when judges were not working. Altschiller said these magistrates were signed to five-year positions, and should be phased out over time and not summarily let go. A coalition of progressive activists led by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire had opposed the bill and pointed out violent crime in New Hampshire had fallen since the 2018 bail reform law went into effect. "Gov. Ayotte is disregarding years of state data that shows a clear and remarkable decrease in crime and is instead pushing fearful anecdotes to make anti-civil liberty changes to our bail laws," said Amanda Azad, ACLU-NH policy director, in a recent statement. "Our current laws ensure that poorer people, wealthier people, and everyone in between is treated the same but the governor wants to change that." klandrigan@unionleader.com SEOUL, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday condemned the Freedom Shield military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea as "a rehearsal of war," warning that the DPRK may consider using "the most destructive and deadly military means" against them, reported the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday. A DPRK Defense Ministry spokesperson lashed out at a special warfare drill aimed at "destroying the secret underground tunnel network" and "removing nuclear weapons" during the large-scale military exercises, calling the move proof that the exercises were "a rehearsal of war of aggression aimed at invading and occupying" the DPRK, according to the KCNA. The spokesperson stressed that "as the military provocations of the hostile countries are committed at the grave level that can never be overlooked and tolerated," all options for "containing the United States and South Korea and for eliminating the source of provocation, if necessary, including the use of the most destructive and deadly military means," would be under the consideration of the DPRK's armed forces, said the KCNA. South Korea and the United States concluded their 11-day Freedom Shield military exercises on Thursday, during which 51 joint outdoor maneuver exercises were conducted, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) In this weeks Basin Bites, we visited La Herradura, a restaurant in Midland that has some of the most authentic Mexican food you will find. Dishes that were brought to the table include machaca and eggs, carne asada tacos, and cheese enchiladas. Included with all of these dishes was a jalapeno salsa that literally goes with everything you put on it. La Herradura is a family-owned and operated business that has been going strong for seven with both Karen Trevino and her mother. Basin Bites: Dog House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we asked Trevino on why locals should visit her restaurant, she kept it simple: It is authentic food, and it tastes like if youre eating at home. La Herradura Mexican Restaurant is located at 1211 S Big Spring St, Midland, TX, United States, Texas, and is open Monday to Friday from 6 AM to 3 PM and Saturday and Sunday, from 7 AM to 3 PM. For more information, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Canadians are angry, very angry. US president Donald Trump is not backing down from his annexation plans - and this week he even called the country nasty. On last weeks episode, we looked at a small minority of Canadian separatists who said they would welcome Trumps plan to turn Canada into the 51st state. It caused quite a stir among our Canadian listeners. So on todays episode, we go back to Canada and look at the majoritys view on Trumps expansionist plans and how the current crisis is affecting politics there in unusual ways ahead of new Prime Minister Mark Carney calling a snap election expected in April. We hear first-hand from some of our Canadian listeners and Roland Oliphant is joined by Mark MacKinnon, senior international correspondent at Canadian broadsheet, The Globe and Mail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Battle Lines, a podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app. 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. SOLANO, Calif. (KRON) Federal freezes on funding are impacting food assistance programs and Bay Area food banks are already feeling the pinch. KRON4 visited the Food Bank of Contra Costa in Solano to see how it was navigating through major gaps in funding and how people can help. Right now, were seeing a lot of uncertainty, said Caitlin Sly, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Sly said that individual donations are already down 5% year-over-year. The Trump administrations federal funding freeze on two programs is impacting the nonprofits operations. Since the end of January, its been crippling, according to Sly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildflowers poised to bloom in Bay Area One, to the emergency food assistance program, which is USDA commodities that we provide to people in need, Sly said. The other cut is to the local food purchase assistance cooperative agreement program, which is limiting the food banks ability to buy fresh produce from locally owned farms. That was money that we were expecting to come in over the next year that will not be coming in, Sly said. Additionally, the CalFood program is facing potential cuts. Sly says it is staring at an 87% reduction in the current state budget proposal a drop from $62 million in funding to just $8 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our food bank has used that to buy fresh produce, to buy fresh protein, eggs, meat things of that nature, Sly said. The things that our clients want the most, and, the things that are most expensive to buy in the grocery stores. Although the federal cuts have already happened, Sly says there is still time to save CalFood. In the meantime, the food bank can sustain its current level of services for six months. After that, without federal dollars, Sly says the food bank will struggle to keep up with growing demand from food insecure families. For CalFood, that is a potential cut. Thats not a cut thats been made yet, so people can advocate with their state legislature. People can also donate to help us fill that gap, said Sly. Each month, the food bank serves 65,000 households and provides enough food for 2.7 million meals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. On a Sunday afternoon in mid-February, a small but politically charged event took place in the heart of Amsterdam. A group of eight people gathered for a photo-op protest on the citys Dam Square holding placards that called for an end to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine and the removal of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The event was part of an international campaign that stages small protests in several countries to advocate for elections in Ukraine, its organizers wrote on Facebook. Martial law imposed in Ukraine at the outset of Russias full-scale invasion prohibits the country from holding elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dutch community page that called on people to participate in the protest claimed the event was coordinated by Ukrainian refugees. Strangely enough, it appears there were no Ukrainians at the gathering. Of the eight demonstrators who showed up in Amsterdam, five were Dutch and two were Russian. The identity of one remains unverified by the Kyiv Independent. Without attracting much attention on the streets, participants quietly unfolded their placards bearing blunt and provocative messages: Ukraine is evil for Dutch taxpayers and Zelensky! Stop killing your people! Another read Sponsoring Kiev is sponsoring terrorism against Ukrainians, using the Russian spelling for Ukraines capital city Kyiv. No Ukrainian flags were seen at the protest, despite the organizers claim that Ukrainians had coordinated the event. The only country flag present was Russian, with the words Peace with Russia written on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters took turns posing with different posters. The messages on the posters warned of war between NATO and Russia, calling for a Ukraine without Zelensky, blaming Zelensky for Russias full-scale invasion, and demanding the end of forced mobilization in Ukraine. While a small event, the gathering was part of a larger anti-Ukraine movement posing as a peace initiative that has been ongoing for over two years. Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer and it worked Network of Dutch Russians After the onset of Russias full-scale invasion, a group of Dutch activists took to the streets in response to what they perceived as the establishment and media inciting warmongering and hatred toward Russia. Since February 2023, the group, which operates under the name Vredesdemonstratie meaning Peace Demonstration in Dutch, has been holding monthly protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At these events, demonstrators advocate for ending military aid for Ukraine who they blame for the war along with NATO and making peace with Russia. Their banners usually feature phrases such as No weapons for peace or Peace with Russia in both Dutch and English. The foreign military aid, including assistance from the Netherlands, which the group so passionately opposes, has been critical to Ukraines ability to defend itself from Russias invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among individual countries, the Netherlands ranks fifth in total military aid, contributing 5.88 billion euros between Jan. 24, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2024, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks aid to Ukraine. Although they present themselves as a movement of pacifist idealists, members of Peace Demonstration make their demands solely of Ukraine and its supporters, and never of Russia. The reason for this approach becomes clear as soon as one looks at the composition of the participants: many of the most active protesters at these rallies are Dutch Russians migrants of Russian origin who settled in the Netherlands long ago. Some have lived in the Netherlands for over 20 years. The groups demonstrations often feature Russian flags and sometimes include cultural performances, such as singing traditional songs, dancing, and wearing traditional attire. Natalia Vorontsova (C) holds a Russian flag, while another Russian, Elnara Muermans, sings and plays the accordion during a "peace demonstration" at Dam Square in Amsterdam on March 31, 2024. (Screenshot / Potkaars-live) Despite their clear ties to Russian culture, the protesters never identify as being members of the Russian diaspora. It appears that they purposefully keep the origin of the protests blurry, trying to pass the events as Dutch or Ukrainian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those posing with a Russian flag in a recent photo-op protest was Natalia Vorontsova, also known as Nata Heezen. As a co-organizer, she is a key figure in nearly every Peace Demonstration event. Originally from Russias southwestern city of Voronezh, Vorontsova has lived in the Netherlands for over 20 years. She works as a nurse in mental health care. Alongside fellow activists Nikita Ananjev and Elena Plotnikova, she has been lobbying for Russian interests in the Netherlands since 2014, the year when Russia invaded Ukraines Crimea and the eastern part of Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Campaigning in the Netherlands In 2016, Vorontsova joined a campaign organized by the Dutch Socialist Party that brought together a group of Russians and Ukrainians with pro-Russian views to advocate against Ukraines European integration in a Dutch referendum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite a low turnout of 32.2%, Dutch voters rejected the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The vote was non-binding and did not overturn the agreement, which had already been ratified by the other 27 EU member states. Alongside Vorontsova, two other prominent campaigners were Nikita Ananjev a Russian who formerly chaired the Russian Student Association in the Netherlands and Elena Plotnikova, who describes herself on X as a Russian from Donetsk, a Ukrainian city that has been under occupation since 2014. Three years later, in 2019, all three were involved in another organization the Dutch branch of the Global Rights of Peaceful People (GRPP) international platform, which has advocated for Russian-controlled forces in eastern Ukraine. Ananjev is introduced in one of the platforms videos as the president of the Dutch Committee of GRPP, while Plotnikova managed the organizations email correspondence. The GRPP is deregistered from the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. It is not known why its registration was canceled. GRPP organized a press conference aimed at discrediting an official investigation conducted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine. According to the JITs conclusions, Russia's military delivered a Buk missile fired by Russian-controlled militants in July 2014, killing all 298 people on board, including 196 Dutch citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the press conference, where Vorontsova served as host, a documentary by a former Russia Today journalist Yana Yerlashova and a Dutch blogger Max van der Werff was presented. The film seeks to discredit the official MH17 investigation and deny Russias responsibility for the planes downing. The films creators are best known for their involvement with Bonanza Media, a project widely regarded as part of the Kremlins disinformation efforts. A joint investigation by Bellingcat and The Insider revealed evidence that Bonanza Media coordinated with Russias military intelligence service (known by its Russian acronym GRU) to downplay Russias involvement in the MH17 downing. Investigators also discovered that Plotnikova was involved with Bonanza Media. Natalia Vorontsova holding Russian rubles, in an undated photo. (Vredesdemonstratie) Today, it appears, Vorontsovas main focus is solely on co-organizing Peace Demonstration events in the Netherlands where shes one of the key faces and voices heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She maintains close ties with Russian state media, including TASS and RIA Novosti, whose correspondents often attend the demonstrations and interview Vorontsova for their articles. The published materials are later reshared by Vorontsova in the online groups for protest participants. While their demonstrations attract little attention from the Dutch media, they receive extensive coverage in Russia, making them seem like a large-scale movement. Meanwhile, Plotnikova remains active primarily on social media and within the Peace Demonstration community. In 2023, she delivered a speech at one of the demonstrations. Embracing conspiratorial narratives about NATO missiles killing civilians, Vorontsovas demonstrations attract individuals from both far-left and far-right populist circles, united by their pro-Russian sentiment. The pool of guest speakers ranges from communists in anti-fascist movements to MPs from the Dutch far-right party Forum for Democracy (FvD). An investigation by the Dutch newspaper NRC found that Vorontsova may have received funding for her activities from Volunteers of Victory a Russian government-funded organization that glorifies Russian military patriotism during World War II and supports Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Despite Volunteers of Victory being sanctioned by the EU, its Dutch branch Victory Team 75 Netherlands remains active by operating unofficially and avoiding formal registration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a conversation with the Kyiv Independent, Vorontsova denied any involvement with the Dutch branch of Volunteers of Victory, stating that she had only worn a cap with the organizations logo that she received as a gift, but had no connection to the group. She also emphasized that she is an independent activist, acts on her own, and is not financially supported by anyone. According to Vorontsova, she finances the demonstrations with donations from supporters. Another participant of the February photo shoot in Amsterdam, Iolanta DuCroix, also known as Klimaite Bardash, appears in several photos on the Instagram page of the local branch of Volunteers of Victory. A Russian-born resident of the Netherlands, DuCroix assisted Vorontsova in holding a Russian flag during the photo shoot. Another participant, Nikita Ananjev, is also a prominent figure in the Russian Volunteers of Victory movement. Known as a coordinator of the Dutch branch, he seems to be present at nearly every one of the organizations events. He was also a representative of the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots in the Netherlands, an organization that works closely with the Russian embassy. After Russias full-scale invasion, Ananjev openly expressed pro-Putin views. On his page on Vkontakte a Russian social media platform he reposted an image stating: "Kyiv will either be Russian or deserted. And we're fine with it being deserted too." When asked about her cooperation with Ananjev, given his active involvement with organizations affiliated with Russia, Vorontsova told the Kyiv Independent that she has not seen Ananjev in years nor collaborated with him on any activities since they were both part of the Dutch branch of the International Platform Global Rights of Peaceful People (GRPP). Read also: Investigation: Russia profits from arms exports to Saudi Arabia despite sanctions, leaks reveal A Ukrainian defector and a Soviet-era emigrant Although Peace Demonstrations messaging appears to reflect Russian interests, its members claim that Ukrainians are also among their representatives. After analyzing dozens of participants in the groups demonstrations, the Kyiv Independent found only one Ukrainian who actually spoke in person at their protests. The groups website and social media present the supposed Ukrainian representative as Elena from Kiev, using the Russian spelling for both her name and Ukraines capital. Elena from Kiev (sic) speaks at a "peace demonstration" at Dam Square in Amsterdam on July 30, 2023. (Screenshot / Vredesdemonstratie) In reality, Elena from Kiev has not lived in Ukraine since the 1990s, having spent several years in Afghanistan before settling in the Netherlands, according to an interview she gave to AlternatiefTV in August 2023. Her experience of Ukraine is limited to the Soviet era. Like other participants in the rallies, Elenas views, as she expressed them in the interview with Alternatief TV, align with a line of Kremlin propaganda that insists Ukrainians and Russians are "the same people. This view is widely rejected in Ukraine. A 2022 poll found that 91% of Ukrainians do not consider Russia and Ukraine to be one people. Two other Ukrainians appeared at the demonstrations via video message, supposedly from Russia. One of them, Dmitry Vasilets, is a pro-Kremlin propaganda blogger. In 2024, he was sentenced in absentia by a Ukrainian court to five years in prison for justifying Russia's aggression against Ukraine, as well as advocating for a violent overthrow of the government. Vasilets criminal record dates back to 2017 when he was convicted of facilitating the broadcast of a Russian propaganda channel in Russian-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine. He spent two years in a pre-trial detention center in Ukraine. Dmitry Vasilets speaks at a "peace demonstration" at Dam Square in Amsterdam via a video message on Aug. 27, 2023. (Screenshot / Vredesdemonstratie) According to Ukrainian law enforcement, eleven days before Russia's full-scale invasion, he fled Ukraine for Egypt and later settled in Moscow, where he declared himself the secretary of the so-called Representative Office of the Ukrainian People a body not recognized by Ukraine. At Vorontsovas demonstrations, Vasilets appears on the LED screen, calling himself a leader of the Ukrainian party Derzhava in exile. However, Derzhava was banned in Ukraine in 2022 due to its ties to Russia and was so unpopular that it never gained parliamentary representation. During its only attempt to get into parliament in 2006 as part of the "State-Labor Union" bloc, it earned just 0.14% of the vote. Moreover, the Peace Demonstration group also claimed to have Ukrainian independent press at one of their press conferences but did not specify which outlet. The Kyiv Independent found only one non-Dutch media platform covering the event Vasilets pro-Russian Telegram channel, Mriya. The biography of the second Ukrainian, who participated virtually in events organized by Peace Demonstrations in the Netherlands, is no less vivid and far from Ukraine. Read also: Fall of Assads regime disrupts Russian army recruitment in Syria Yanukovych era fugitives Judging by the social media posts of Peace Demonstration the international pro-Russian photo shoots appear to be coordinated by another Moscow-based organization, the Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine. Its spokesperson, Leonid Ilderkin, is mentioned in posts related to a previous international pro-Russian campaign that features almost identical scripted messages promoting anti-NATO and anti-Zelensky messages. Ilderkin appeared in a video message for Peace Demonstrations as a so-called Ukrainian opposition figure in exile. In the video, he blames the U.S. and Europe for Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A native of Dnipro, Ukraine, Ilderkin was previously an activist in the pro-Russian communist organization Borotba, meaning struggle in Ukrainian. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, Borotba members supported the occupation of eastern Ukraine, with some even taking up arms on the Russian side. After fleeing Ukraine that same year, the group now operates from Russia and recently participated in an event titled the International Anti-fascist Forum in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast. Leonid Ilderkin speaks in a video blog on the YouTube channel 'Hotbed of Propaganda, published on Aug. 28, 2023. (Screenshot / Hotbed of Propaganda) According to documents obtained by the independent Russian anti-corruption project Dossier Center, Russia's military intelligence agency (known by its Russian acronym GRU) attempted to use organizations linked to Ilderkin to coordinate with the European radical left and recruit individuals for protests and acts of sabotage. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify this information. The Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine, which has been given a platform by Dutch demonstrations, consists of pro-Russian fugitives. Among them is Mykola Azarov, Ukraines former prime minister under Kremlin-backed President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted following the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014. Azarov participated in a meeting organized by the Union of Political Emigrants in late 2016. Russian demonstration network in Europe Although the Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine has little media presence and minimal influence on social media, it supports other pro-Russian demonstrations beyond the Netherlands. For instance, a so-called Ukrainian political prisoner from the union addressed pro-Russian demonstrators in the U.K. online from Moscow in August 2024. The political prisoner in the video address is the Unions chairwoman, Larisa Shesler. She is wanted by Ukrainian law enforcement for undermining Ukraines territorial integrity. Shesler, a Ukrainian, played a key role in undermining pro-European protests in the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv in 2013-2014. She coordinated the local anti-protest movement and organized pro-Russian rallies before eventually fleeing to Russia. The Kyiv Independent found out and verified that she had obtained Russian citizenship. Sheslers video message to the British pro-Russian demonstrations was picked up and promoted by Theo Russell from the U.K.-based International Ukraine Anti-Fascist Solidarity movement. Russell, a British activist, is also involved in the Dutch organization Peace Demonstration, having spoken at events and frequently posted in community groups. Meanwhile, the YouTube channel Chega Serna English, which has been sharing videos of Ukrainian political prisoners, posts footage from pro-Russian rallies in cities like Washington, D.C., Sacramento, Paris, and notably Amsterdam. The footage reveals a recurring pattern consistent messaging, tone, and symbols, including Soviet and Russian flags. A unifying theme runs through these rallies: a push to end military aid to Ukraine, a critical lifeline for its defense. This mirrors what was seen in Amsterdam. Russian influence in Europe remains strong, backed by a vast network of pro-Kremlin actors, some of whom are hiding behind Ukrainian names. Note from the author: Hi, Im Linda Hourani, the author of this story. Thanks for reading! I hope this piece serves as a reminder that, in times when Russian disinformation is strong, it is crucial to stay critical and not be misled. If youd like to help us produce more investigative reports like this, please consider supporting our work. Read also: Match made in heaven Why the US will fail to drive a wedge between Russia, China Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. What Vladimir Putin wants is not only the annexation of territories, but loyal regimes and the full 'Russification' of countries, says Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. She told Euronews that although the protest movement in her country was mostly forced underground, it also means people are preparing to rise up when the time is right. Speaking about whether changes in Russia can have an influence on Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya thinks "something can happen in Russia and hence it will weaken Alexander Lukashenko and people will rise up again. It might be victory for Ukraine. It will weaken Putin and weaken Lukashenko." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But changes in Russia can start from changes in Belarus as well," Tsikhanouskaya added, saying there are "more possibilities to change regime in Belarus, than in Russia." Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to journalists as he arrives at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, 13 March, 2025 - AP Photo "This constant repression that we have been going through for four, almost five years, already hasn't made people forgive or forget, or to deny their pro-European perspectives." According to the Belarusian human rights center Vyasna, over 50,000 people have been detained on political grounds after mass protests broke out following Lukashenko's 2020 presidential election win and at least 5,472 people have been convicted in politically-motivated criminal cases. The United Nations estimates that around 300,000 Belarusians have left the country since then, with most going to Poland and Lithuania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even today, between 15 and 20 people are being detained in Belarus every day, according to Tsikhanouskaya. "He (Lukashenko) behaves as if he still has thousands of people standing in front of his palace," she says. "This visible quietness of the country doesn't mean that people gave up. It means that people are preparing and they will be ready when there will be the possibility." Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko visits Moscow, enacting a security treaty and signing a range of agreements that pull Belarus further into Russias orbit. U.S. President Donald Trump slashes RFE/RL funding in another blow to Belarusian media in exile. Latvia restricts movement at last open border crossing with Belarus amid migration concerns. Japanese citizen sentenced to seven years in Belarus on trumped up charges of spying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland and the Baltic states seek to withdraw from the anti-personnel mine ban treaty. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Lukashenko, Putin meet in Moscow, enact Union State security treaty Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko made a three-day state visit to Moscow that ended on March 15 his first official visit abroad following his so-called "re-election in January. The visit also occurred before the Belarusian autocrat was officially inaugurated as the countrys head of state. Following talks, Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted the Union State treaty, which the sides have dubbed as security guarantees. Signed on Dec. 6, 2024, and ratified in late February, the treaty expands Russias military presence in Belarus in exchange for the Kremlin opening its nuclear umbrella over Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The treaty is widely seen as ceding Belaruss sovereignty over its defense and foreign policy. Since using Moscows support to crush mass protests triggered by election fraud in 2020, Lukashenko has been largely cut off from the West, and has increasingly relied on Moscow to keep him in power and to support Belaruss sanctioned economy. Now, deeply dependent on Russia, Belarus is providing logistical and military support for Moscows war against Ukraine. At least 287 Belarusian enterprises supply the Russian war machine, according to Belarusian democratic leader in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Addressing the Russian Federation Council, Lukashenko said there had been an erosion of Belarusian sovereignty, adding that Belarus would not formally merge with Russia in the near future. If we were to burst through this open door, we would ruin everything we have done. It is necessary to go calmly, step by step, Lukashenko said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his speech, Moscow approved an agreement to delay Belaruss repayment of nearly $800 million in debts. Belaruss total debts to Russia stand at $8 billion. RFE/RL journalist and political analyst Yury Drakakhrust described the highly controlled yet officially still independent Belarus as an example of the Kremlins desired model for relations with post-Soviet countries including Ukraine. The Russian and Belarusian dictators also signed an agreement granting rights to Russian and Belarusian citizens permanently residing in each others territories to vote in local elections, further deepening the integration processes between the two states. Another agreement signed during Lukashenkos visit was dedicated to the mutual protection of citizens unjustly persecuted by foreign states or international justice bodies. The document contains a pledge to jointly combat the negative trend of the politicization of international legal cooperation in criminal matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian human rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023 over their involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine. The threat of an ICC warrant is also hanging over Lukashenko after Lithuania referred a case against him to the court in September 2024. Human rights groups such as Reporters Without Borders and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus have also submitted evidence on the regimes alleged crimes. Like Russia, Belarus has abused Interpols Red Notice mechanism, using it to hunt down the regimes political opponents abroad. Read also: Polish right takes hard line on Ukraine ahead of presidential vote Trumps defunding of RFE/RL deals another blow to Belarusian media in exile Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko made a three-day state visit to Moscow that ended on March 15 his first official visit abroad following his so-called "re-election in January. The visit also occurred before the Belarusian autocrat was officially inaugurated as the countrys head of state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following talks, Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted the Union State treaty, which the sides have dubbed as security guarantees. Signed on Dec. 6, 2024, and ratified in late February, the treaty expands Russias military presence in Belarus in exchange for the Kremlin opening its nuclear umbrella over Belarus. The treaty is widely seen as ceding Belaruss sovereignty over its defense and foreign policy. Since using Moscows support to crush mass protests triggered by election fraud in 2020, Lukashenko has been largely cut off from the West, and has increasingly relied on Moscow to keep him in power and to support Belaruss sanctioned economy. Now, deeply dependent on Russia, Belarus is providing logistical and military support for Moscows war against Ukraine. At least 287 Belarusian enterprises supply the Russian war machine, according to Belarusian democratic leader in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Addressing the Russian Federation Council, Lukashenko said there had been an erosion of Belarusian sovereignty, adding that Belarus would not formally merge with Russia in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we were to burst through this open door, we would ruin everything we have done. It is necessary to go calmly, step by step, Lukashenko said. Following his speech, Moscow approved an agreement to delay Belaruss repayment of nearly $800 million in debts. Belaruss total debts to Russia stand at $8 billion. RFE/RL journalist and political analyst Yury Drakakhrust described the highly controlled yet officially still independent Belarus as an example of the Kremlins desired model for relations with post-Soviet countries including Ukraine. The Russian and Belarusian dictators also signed an agreement granting rights to Russian and Belarusian citizens permanently residing in each others territories to vote in local elections, further deepening the integration processes between the two states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another agreement signed during Lukashenkos visit was dedicated to the mutual protection of citizens unjustly persecuted by foreign states or international justice bodies. The document contains a pledge to jointly combat the negative trend of the politicization of international legal cooperation in criminal matters. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian human rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023 over their involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine. The threat of an ICC warrant is also hanging over Lukashenko after Lithuania referred a case against him to the court in September 2024. Human rights groups such as Reporters Without Borders and the International Accountability Platform for Belarus have also submitted evidence on the regimes alleged crimes. Like Russia, Belarus has abused Interpols Red Notice mechanism, using it to hunt down the regimes political opponents abroad. Trumps defunding of RFE/RL deals another blow to Belarusian media in exile Seventy years of U.S.-backed broadcasts promoting democracy worldwide may come to an end after U.S. President Donald Trump on March 14 signed an executive order eliminating seven federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees RFE/RL and Voice of America (VoA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Belarus media in exile, the order serves another major blow to the independent press, which have been outlawed in Belarus and forced into exile. An earlier USAID funding cut in January affected around two-thirds of Belarusian outlets, with about 20% pushed to the brink of closure, according to the independent Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). Trumps executive order put 1,300 VoA employees on administrative leave and terminated the U.S. Congress-authorized grant for RFE/RL. In response, on March 19, RFE/RL filed a lawsuit against USAGM and its officials to block the funding halt. So far, the Belarusian service of RFE/RL continues to operate, although some freelancers have been let go. RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said that canceling the organizations funding would be a massive gift to Americas enemies. Propagandists in Russia, meanwhile, celebrated the decision. RFE/RL launched its coverage in Belarusian in 1954. Unlike in Ukraine or Russia, the Belarusian service of RFE/RL was never permitted to open an official bureau in Belarus and was never granted FM broadcasting rights. In December 2021, the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko officially deemed the Belarusian service to be an extremist organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The independent journalism fostered at the Belarusian service of RFE/RL kickstarted the development of the media industry in Belarus the services first correspondent on the territory of the then Soviet Belarus, Ales Lipai, later founded the first independent Belarusian news agency, BelaPAN. Beyond being among the few Belarusian-language media, Radio Liberty is the last outlet preserving pre-Soviet spelling and grammar norms, which were later altered to make written Belarusian more similar to Russian. The shutdown of Belarusian Radio Liberty would eliminate this norm from public use. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said losing RFE/RL and VoA would be a grave mistake, calling them symbols of the free world. Former RFE/RL journalists Ihar Karnei and Ihar Losik remain behind bars in Belarus, serving sentences of more than three and 15 years, respectively. Another Belarusian correspondent, Andrei Kuznechyk, was recently freed in a U.S.-brokered prisoner release. Belarusian propaganda aired interviews with the prisoners in an attempt to undermine Radio Libertys coverage of the 2020 anti-government protests in Belarus. Since strangling popular protests against the rigged 2020 presidential elections, the Lukashenko regime has raided and shut down independent outlets, blocked websites, and jailed 41 journalists and media workers. Thirty-three media workers have been labeled extremists, and 12 have been declared to be terrorists. Donating to or advertising with one of the 38 banned media is punishable by up to five years in prison. About 400 media workers have fled Belarus, relying on foreign grants to keep their newsrooms operating in exile. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said EU foreign ministers discussed the functioning of RFE/RL at a meeting in Brussels on March 17. The bloc cannot automatically fund Radio Free Europe, she said, adding that the EU will look into potential options. Ten European countries backed the proposal to fund RFE/RL, Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvorak announced on March 18. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky did not rule out that the European Union might buy Radio Free Europe from the United States. Read also: EU approves over $2 billion in economic support for Moldova Latvia restricts movement on sole remaining border crossing with Belarus The Latvian government, seeking to prevent the inflow of illegal migrants into the country from Belarus, on March 19 limited traffic across the country's only remaining border crossing with Belarus for motorized vehicles. Similar measures extend to the two checkpoints on the Latvian-Russian border. Belarus orchestrated an artificial migration crisis in 2021 by channeling flows of nearly 8,000 irregular migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to Belarus's borders with the EU. The crisis was reignited with the Kremlin's backing in 2022, prompting Poland and the Baltic states to declare it a "hybrid attack" aimed at destabilizing the region. Latvia's decision prohibits pedestrians and bicycles from crossing the border at Patarnieki-Hryharouschyna, the last operating border post between Latvia and Belarus, for six months. According to Border Guard Chief Guntis Puyats, the possibility of a full shutdown is not ruled out if the irregular migration flow again becomes critical. The Latvian State Border Guard requested that the government approve the partial closure on March 17, following a nine-hour halt of operations at the checkpoint due to the threat of irregular migration. According to Puyats, border officers decided to block all traffic movement on the border after they noticed about 30 migrants, predominantly men aged between 20 and 35, with no visas or residence permits, who were seeking to cross the border. "We understand that this is an instrumentalization of migration," the border guard chief said on air on Latvian TV3. The Belarusian State Border Committee said that the temporary traffic block had been caused by "a group of Africans traveling to the European Union with valid documents," without specifying whether the foreigners actually had visas to enter the EU. Latvia's State Border Guard has stopped 254 illegal border crossing attempts from Belarusian territory since the beginning of 2025. In 2024, according to border guards data aggregated by the independent news outlet Pozirk, there were around 30,000 border crossing attempts 14% less than in 2023 with 85% of the attempts occurring on the Polish-Belarusian border. Since the onset of the artificial migration crisis, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland have built physical barriers along their land borders with Belarus and shut down several border crossings. The Latvian government is actively discouraging its citizens from traveling to Belarus. Two proposals were submitted to parliament in February to prohibit travel companies from organizing trips to Russia and Belarus and to ban passenger transportation with each of the two countries. Japanese citizen sentenced to 7 years on politically motivated charges in Belarus After subjecting Japanese citizen Masatoshi Nakanishi to trial on alleged undercover activities, a Belarusian court sentenced him to seven years of imprisonment, the maximum term for the offense, the Belarusian Prosecutor Generals Press Office reported on March 17. A key Russian ally, Belarus has intensified the persecution of foreign nationals since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Viasna Human Rights Center. At least 19 foreigners have been tried and sentenced in Belarus for undercover activities a vaguely defined act of cooperation with a wide range of foreign or international entities. The court convicted Nakanishi for allegedly taking over 9,000 photos of civilian and military infrastructure, including military and railway facilities. Belarusian authorities also claimed Nakanishi traveled to the Ukrainian border. The court imposed the maximum possible prison sentence and a fine of around $6,500. According to a documentary aired on Belarusian state-run TV, Nakanishi lives in Homiel, a regional center near Belaruss border with Ukraine, and was officially employed as a Japanese language instructor at the local university. The first news of his arrest was published in September 2024, although he was actually arrested in July 2024. Jailed foreign nationals are often used as bargaining chips by the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In August 2024, Belarus released a German citizen, Rico Krieger, who had been subjected to a swift trial and sentenced to capital punishment on charges including undercover activities. Lukashenko pardoned Krieger and released him as part of a historic East-West prisoner swap in August 2024, assisting Moscow in returning the Russian killer Vadim Krasikov from prison in Germany. In 2022, Swiss-Belarusian dual national Natallia Hersche was released after a year-and-a-half in a Belarusian prison following intense efforts by Switzerlands Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Swiss newspaper Der Bund linked the appointment of a Swiss ambassador to Belarus in February 2022 to the freeing of Hersche. Belarus still holds around 1,200 political prisoners, at least 36 of them foreigners, under a range of politically motivated charges. Estonian citizen Alan Royo was prosecuted for slandering Lukashenko and founding an extremist formation, while Latvian citizen Jurijs Ganins was charged on March 13 with discrediting Belarus, calling for sanctions, and insulting Lukashenko. Poland, Baltics to withdraw from anti-personnel mine treaty The defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, the EU member states bordering Belarus and Russia, have unanimously recommended that their countries withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning the use of anti-personnel mines. The ministers reasoned that Russias aggression against Ukraine and its ongoing threats to the Euro-Atlantic community had fundamentally changed the security situation in the region since the ratification of the Ottawa Convention. With this decision, we are sending a clear message: our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to defend our territory and freedom, reads a statement published by Polands Ministry of National Defense. Despite withdrawing from the convention, the countries say they would uphold their commitments to international humanitarian law, including protecting civilians during armed conflict. The decision still requires approval by the countries parliaments. While all EU member states have ratified the treaty, Russia and the United States have not. Neither was Russia a signatory of the convention banning cluster munitions, a weapon widely used in the Russia-Ukraine war. Lithuania voted to withdraw from the convention banning the use of cluster munitions earlier in March. The move to withdraw from the anti-personnel mine ban treaty signals a shift in the front-line NATO states defense policies in the wake of Russias aggression against Ukraine. Both the Kremlin and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko and his military officials have in recent years repeatedly used hostile rhetoric in relation to NATO member-states. Read also: Poland, Baltics to withdraw from anti-personnel mine ban treaty Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Bentonville High School Principal Jack Loyd died the night of March 20 of an undisclosed illness. Bentonville High School Principal Jack Loyd (COURTESY: Bentonville Schools) Loyds death was confirmed by the Bentonville School District, which expressed condolences to his wife, Christine, and daughters, Jordan and Jalan, as well as his extended family and the Bentonville High community. Jack was a friend to all and cherished Bentonville Schools, Bentonville Schools said in a statement on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district said in a separate statement on Facebook that his wife and children established the Jack Loyd Memorial Scholarship to be awarded to deserving High School seniors who want to enroll in college or a career preparatory school. Chickamauga Nation raises concerns over Franklin County prison site Bentonville High School Principal Jack Loyd was a veteran educator who loved Bentonville like no other. He advocated endlessly for his students and championed his staff, the district said. Courtesy: Bentonville Schools Details regarding a celebration of life will be released after spring break, according to the district. This is a developing story. KNWA/FOX24 will provide updates as they come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. The General Assembly returns to Frankfort Thursday to wrap up the 2025 regular session. The statue of Abraham Lincoln stands in the center of the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has a few days left to act on bills from the Republican-controlled legislature including several bills that have to do with the states judicial system. Among the bills on his desk, Beshear must consider a proposal to make interfering with legislative proceedings a crime in Kentucky as well as a bill that would allow law enforcement agencies to withhold records from public disclosure if they believe it could jeopardize an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Beshear has already signed some proposals dealing with courts and public safety into law, such as bills creating new crimes like sexual extortion and tampering with gift cards. Lawmakers recessed last week for the governors 10-day veto period. Beshear has until they return Thursday to issue any vetoes on legislation. However, Republicans, who hold supermajorities in the House and Senate can easily override his rejections. Beshear can also choose to let bills passed in the General Assembly become law without his signature. It is a way to not give a true endorsement of a policy. Bills on Beshears desk Senate Bill 2 seeks to ban the use of public funds for elective medical care for inmates, including ending hormone treatments for 67 transgender inmates. The legislation stems from a Kentucky Department of Corrections regulation allowing transgender inmates to apply for gender-affirming treatments. Opponents have argued that its unfair to target a small population. House Bill 10, a Republican-backed bill that received support from some Democrats, outlines how property owners can request law enforcement officers to remove squatters from their property. If it becomes law, the bill would require the property owner to fill out a petition to remove persons unlawfully occupying real property. Plus, the legislation would include property damage by a squatter as a criminal mischief offense. House Bill 38 would enhance criminal penalties for repeatedly violating a protection order. If it becomes law, it would allow people who violate protection orders twice in five years to be convicted of a Class D Felony on a third violation, if it involves use of physical force or threat of physical harm regardless of if the violations involved the same protected person. If House Bill 399 becomes law, interfering with legislative proceedings would become a crime in Kentucky. The bill says a person would be guilty by causing an interruption with the intent to disrupt, impede, or prevent the General Assembly from conducting business. The first offense would be a Class A misdemeanor and on a third or subsequent offense, a Class D felony. In response to a recent Kentucky Supreme Court decision, the General Assembly passed House Bill 520, which would allow law enforcement agencies to withhold records if they deem a premature release of information would harm an investigation or informants. The legislation has been criticized by open government advocates for shielding investigation records from public disclosure and subverting the states open records law. Beshear must weigh in on a bill that aims to direct how Kentucky courts review authority disputes between executive branch agencies and the legislature. If Senate Bill 84 becomes law, the bill says courts would have to interpret laws without deferring to a state agencys interpretation of them. The legislation mirrors the effect of last years U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the precedent for the Chevron deference at the federal level. Bills signed into law BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said Friday that China remained steadfast in its commitment to expanding opening-up, despite the complex international landscape. Wang made the remarks during a meeting with David A. Ricks, the CEO of the U.S.-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce. Multinational corporations are a steadfast force of globalization, Wang said, adding that China hopes Eli Lilly and other foreign-funded companies will continue to invest in China and share the opportunities and dividends of Chinese modernization. The company is welcome to establish innovation incubators in China and to collaborate with Chinese companies in developing and introducing more innovative products and services that will benefit the people of China and countries around the world, the minister added. China's "two sessions" this year have sent positive signals for foreign investment, Ricks said, noting his company will increase investment and expand production capacity in China. The law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (Paul Weiss) is facing blowback from the legal community after agreeing to provide $40 million in pro bono representation to the Trump administration in order to avoid being punished by the president for representing his political rivals and defending laws and principles he disagrees with. Earlier this month, Trump issued a series of executive orders targeting major American and global law firms he accused of engaging in activities that make our communities less safe, increase burdens on local businesses, limit constitutional freedoms, and degrade the quality of American elections. The president claimed that Paul Weiss had violated civil rights law by engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion-based hiring practices. Trump also complained that the firm had previously employed Mark Pomerantz, a former special assistant district attorney in New York who urged Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to pursue an indictment against Trump in 2022. Pomerantz has since become a target of MAGA Republicans retribution agenda against Trumps perceived political enemies. The executive order which like many of Trumps presidential edicts is of dubious legality would have stripped all security clearances held by individuals at Paul Weiss and Mark Pomerantz, revoked all federal contracts involving the law firm, and barred employees of the firm from accessing federal buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the president announced that he had rescinded the order after meeting with Paul Weiss Chairman Brad Karp. In a lengthy statement posted on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the firm had committed to not deny representation to clients, including in pro bono matters and in support of non-profits, because of the personal political views of individual lawyers. Trump wrote that Paul Weiss also agreed to dismantle any diversity related initiatives and would dedicate the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services over the course of President Trumps term to support the Administrations initiatives, including: assisting our Nations veterans, fairness in the Justice System, the Presidents Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, and other mutually agreed projects. The president included a statement from Brad Karp, who said: We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul Weiss. We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration. Attorneys who formerly worked at Paul Weiss are livid. It is beyond disappointing to see Paul Weiss cower at Trumps executive order, one former attorney, who chose to remain anonymous, told Rolling Stone. Their humiliating response emboldens the administration to keep targeting political enemies and embarrasses every Paul Weiss lawyer who believed the firm was willing to go toe to toe with giants. Instead, they showed everyone that one of the great legal heavyweights had a glass jaw all along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another attorney who no longer works at the firm said that as lawyers, we have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law. Paul Weiss a firm with extraordinary resources, talent, and power capitulated to an authoritarian show of force rather than challenge the executive order in court. Its a betrayal of the work theyve done in the past to confront Trump, a betrayal of other firms targeted by similar orders, and a betrayal of the legal profession, they added. Hours after Trump made the announcement, Rachel Cohen, an associate at the Skadden Arps legal firm, resigned in a blistering company-wide email condemning the capitulation. Please consider this email my two week notice, revocable if the firm comes up with a satisfactory response to the current moment, she wrote. Earlier this week, Cohen authored an open letter signed by over 300 associates at major law firms calling on them to defend their colleagues and the legal profession by condemning this rapid purge of partisan actors, a group that seems to be synonymous with those the president feels have wronged him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her conditional resignation email, Cohen called on Skadden to sign an amicus brief supporting Perkins Coie another law firm targeted by their administration in their efforts to block the enforcement of the executive orders, committing to broad future representation, regardless of whether powerful people view it as adverse to them, and a public refusal to fire or otherwise force out employees at the Trump administrations directive or implied directive. Paul Weisss deal with the administration reflects a larger pattern of major industry leaders folding when threatened by the president. Much like a mafia boss running a protection racket, the best defense against the Trump administration is to pay tribute upfront. Its obvious in the Silicon Valley giants who lined up for dinners at Mar-a-Lago after the election, and dumped millions into the presidents inaugural fund, and in how ABC News agreed to donate $15 million to Trumps presidential library in order to settle a defamation lawsuit many believed they would have won. On Monday, while discussing his tariff policy in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that people are coming to me and talking about tariffs and a lot of people are asking me if they could have exceptions. The president has indeed granted exceptions. One could argue that, more often than not, he is selling them. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Democrats across the country are desperate for our party to take a more aggressive and coherent fighting stance against Donald Trump. That is why there is so much anger about the decision by Senate Democrats not to filibuster President Trumps bill to keep the federal government, and his agenda, rolling along. But if nothing else, what that decision revealed is the abject weakness of the cards that congressional Democrats are playing with. A far more effective fight, however, can be waged by Democrats in state houses across America. Fifteen states, home to 123 million people, have Democratic trifectas: Democrats control the governors mansion and both houses of the legislature. Democrats control two of the three in another five states, home to an additional 37 million people. In a heavily overlapping geography, 22 states and the District of Columbia have a Democratic attorney general. In other words, roughly half of Americas population lives in states where Democrats have far more power than they do on Capitol Hill. These are the states that generate the bulk of our nations economic activity. They are also the places most likely to be affected by Trumps agenda, which will target both progressive policies and federal funding streams that blue states in particular depend on. Trump will be happy to see places like New York and California forced to choose between losing federal education funding and, say, green-lighting school privatization schemes or between slashing Medicaid and curtailing access to abortion care. And so blue states have both a lot of reasons and a lot of power to be creative and proactive in fighting back. Heres what that might look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Empower state agencies to do what the feds wont. Trumps dismantling of the parts of the federal government that protect ordinary Americans may be the place where blue states can most readily respond. From housing discrimination to consumer protection to environmental preservation, legislators should give state agencies the authority and resources necessary to take enforcement action and protect their people. And with the crack-up of federal public health infrastructure, blue states should expand information sharing between their health departments and fund multistate consortiums, so vital disease tracking and response efforts can continue across state borders. Protect the people Trump is targeting. With each passing day, the Trump administration and its gubernatorial proxies in deep-red states get bolder in their efforts to persecute by prosecution, or even to round people up with no due processfrom doctors providing abortion care to immigrants who have broken no laws. Blue states should pass laws to shut down cooperation with the federal government and red states when it comes to the weaponization of law enforcement. Supercharge state attorneys general. Democratic A.G.s are already fighting and winning in court to stop or slow down some of the most draconian actions by the Trump administration. But this represents a massive new line of work that could extend into any number of policy areas, and blue states should be providing their attorneys general with significant new resources to litigate on every front. Wage fiscal warfare. Perhaps the most existentially challenging assault that blue states will face will be financial. This may come in the form of straightforward federal funding cuts or more pernicious political gambits where state officials are told to bend the knee on policy issues in order to hold onto federal cash. Bending the knee, of course, is not a smart long-term strategy when responding to the accelerating creep of fascism. Blue states must figure out how to fight back, including developing mechanisms to replace federal funds without the kinds of tax increases that drive people from one state to another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One obvious way: increasing corporate income taxes that are tied to in-state sales rather than a companys physical presence. Increases could be structured to go into effect if and when states are hit by federal funding cuts. This would have the added benefit of putting direct pressure on some of the billionaires whose support, or at least acquiescence, Trump depends on. Another, more nuclear, option being proposed in Maryland and New York would withhold state payments to the federal government when Trump refuses to disburse funds owed to the state in contravention of a court decision. This is not a distant hypothetical. Less than two weeks after Trump took office, a federal court issued a restraining order against his administrations massive funding freeze, and a week after that, the judge in the case said that the administration was ignoring his order as states still couldnt access funds they were due for infrastructure projects. Different pieces of this state-based resistance agenda have been enacted, or are being pursued, in different places. But now is the moment when every Democratic governor and legislator in every blue state must summon their most legally aggressiveand risk-tolerantpolicymaking instincts. Even where a particular idea falls flat or gives the MAGA crowd grist for their political mill, lawmakers should not be deterred or over-calculate. And to the extent that states can act in concert, these tools will have even more power. We are in unchartedand, indeed, impossible to chartterritory. The net effect of an all-out fight in the states will be to protect people from very real threats posed by Trump and his minionsand to give Democrats something to rally around between now and the time we can try to wrest back control of Congress and more effectively confront Trump at the federal level. Voters cast their ballots in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) County election offices have removed more than 144,000 individuals from Idahos voter rolls after recently completing voter registration maintenance required every two years under Idaho law. Following the voter roll clean up, there are 1,017,691 remaining registered voters in Idaho a shift from the 1,178,750 individuals registered as voters during the 2024 general election, the Idaho Secretary of States website shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Election offices regularly update their voter rolls, removing individuals who moved out of state, those who have not cast a ballot in four years, or those who are ineligible. Elections offices sent notices to people who were removed from Idahos voter registration list. The biennial effort is meant to ensure the accuracy and integrity of Idaho elections, according to the Idaho Secretary of States office. Ensuring the integrity of our elections starts with maintaining accurate voter rolls, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said in a press release. Thanks to the hard work of our county clerks and our collaboration with state and federal agencies, Idaho continues to lead the way in protecting our elections. We are committed to ensuring that only eligible voters are on our rolls, and we are taking every step necessary to make that happen. Additionally, in July, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed an executive order, the Only Citizens Will Vote Act, focused on ensuring only U.S. citizens can vote even though non-U.S. citizens are already not allowed to vote in nearly all U.S. elections. But some places outside of Idaho allow non-U.S. citizens to vote in local elections, according to USA.gov. Idaho was the first state to implement an executive order of this kind, ordering the Secretary of State to coordinate with the Idaho Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to check immigration records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This effort underscores Idahos commitment to ensuring that only eligible citizens are on our voter rolls, McGrane said. Our partnership with state and federal agencies has provided additional safeguards to protect the integrity of Idahos elections. Voters can check their registration status and learn more about elections in Idaho at www.VoteIdaho.gov. To check your registration status, click the Check Voter Record icon on the website and enter your name and date of birth in the fields provided. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Theresa Collins and Jonathan Leverton grew up in foster care, facing different challenges but sharing the same desire to be seen, heard, and valued. Family pictures of Theresa Collins show just her and her sister after she was seven and went into foster care. Its devastating, and you dont know whats going on. We went to a foster home that really didnt want us to be there, Collins recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their foster family seemed fine to the naked eye, but behind closed doors, Collins said it was a different story. It was a nice family from the outside. They used to time our showers and make my sister and I shower together, and they would say, you have 2 minutes total for the shower together. They would stand at the door with the timer, Collins explained. How Big Country CASA helps foster kids navigate the court system As a child, her biggest wish was simple: she wanted a family picture. They would always ask me to take the picture, right? I got to be behind the camera and take the picture of our family, Collins said. I was never on a Christmas card, and I was never a part of that family picture. So being on a Christmas card was like a dream of mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After about two years, a speck of light came into her life through one person, a court-appointed special advocate, or CASA. My CASA volunteer is the first person who ever made me feel special, capable, worthy. I felt like she saw me. Hearing that at nine years old, when youve never heard those words of encouragement from anyone in your life before, it was striking, and it stayed with me, Collins said. Defying Gravity: Best friends speak at ACU on life with Down syndrome Jonathan Leverton entered the system at 12 and shortly moved to an all-boys home, where he said he spent 9 months immersed in a military-style lifestyle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ran for hours down that road where he would just make me run back and forth, back and forth, to try to get the discipline out of me, which I dont know. The way I was raised is Im not going to let him break me, Leverton said. He said that during his time in foster care, he was fighting to go back home, reluctant to face the reality of his home life. I thought I had a role as the older sibling to defend my father. So, I never really wanted to concede that maybe there was some justification for us being removed. So I can remember when we initially were separated, my whole stance was to get us back home, and if that meant lying, if that meant being manipulative, thats what I thought it would take, Leverton said. He built connections throughout the unknown with those around him, which made the transition easier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just to get to interact with those kinds of guys who we were all on the same playing field because we were separated from our family for a variety of reasons, Leverton said. After 9 months in foster car, Leverton returned home then later joined the Marine Corps, where he left an impact on kids in Iraq by helping to build an orphanage. Leverton did not have that person by his side when he was in the system, something he shared he would have benefited from. We never consistently got the same person. When a new person would come and pick us up to take us to visitation or whatever, we could always tell that they were just barely getting a scratch of the information with us, Leverton said. Now, both are ending the cycle of hopelessness, with Leverton becoming the person he wished he had and Collins embodying the person she did have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just gives me a different mindset and more of an open heart to just be patient with them and let them kind of be willing to break those walls down, and we can do it together. I can kind of help them navigate that process and show them, Hey, this is what worked for me,' Leverton said. Collins opens up about overcoming the shame she once felt as a foster child. I pushed it way out of my reality. My ex-husband never knew I was in foster care. Actually, he had no idea that I was ever a foster kid. It surprised him when I started talking about it a few years ago, Collins said. Abilene teacher aims to become Americas Favorite Teacher, Voting ends tonight Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, she is using her story to inspire every kid to be #fosterkidfierce. I want every foster kid to feel deeply foster kid fierce, Collins said. To say I can do this. I can change the world. I can be the next president because of my experience as a child, not in spite of it but because of it. I have this tool bag. CASA is currently seeking more volunteers to help out with foster children in our community. Visit Big Country CASA online to find out how you can join. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Kern County Coroners Office has determined the cause of death of a big rig driver who crashed into the California Aqueduct on Dec. 22, 2024 as a drowning. According to coroner officials, Raul Cibrian Navarro, 32, of Calexico, Calif., was the driver of a semi-truck that left the roadway and crashed into the aqueduct on Interstate 5. Earlimart man arrested on suspicion of armed robbery at McFarland gas station Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coroners office says the cause of his death was determined to be drowning and the manner was an accident. The crash was reported on Dec. 22, 2024 near Interstate 5 and Laval Road just before 5 a.m. Navarro was found in the semi-trucks cabin after the vehicle was removed around 2:46 p.m. He died at the scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. BIG SPRING, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Authorities are asking for the publics assistance in locating a suspect connected to a shooting that occurred earlier this month in Big Spring. According to the Big Spring Police Department, officers were dispatched to a convenience store near 4th Street and Circle Drive around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2025, in response to reports of a shooting. Following an investigation, an arrest warrant has been issued for 21-year-old Clifford Anglin Jr. The charge: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. At this time, police have not released additional details regarding the incident or the condition of the victim, but they are urging anyone with information about Anglins whereabouts to come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime Stoppers of Big Spring and Howard County is offering a confidential and anonymous way for community members to share tips. Anyone with information is encouraged to call (432) 263-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted through the P3 Tips mobile app or online at www.p3tips.com/1277. Authorities ask tipsters to refer to case number 2-25-00600 when providing information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. (WHTM) Pennsylvania lawmakers circulated a bill that would allow members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to officiate marriages. Pennsylvania state legislators are currently not among the public officials allowed to officiate civil marriages. This bill aims to change that. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest The bill, circulated by State Reps Benajmin Sanchex (D-153), Melissa Cerrato (D-151), and Nancy Guenst (D-152), would apply to current members of the General Assembly if they register with the Chief Clerk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The representatives said that allowing members of the General Assembly to officiate marriages would give couples more options regarding how they want to conduct their marriages. We would also never have to turn down our neighbors who ask if we can, as a legislator, officiate their marriage, the representatives wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Lee Anderson, Grovetown Republican, talks about a bill that would limit where breeders can sell dogs, cats and rabbits in Georgia. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder A bill designed to make it harder for unscrupulous breeders to entice animal lovers into an impulse purchase is now on the governors desk. The measure, House Bill 331, would ban the practice of selling dogs, cats and rabbits in parking lots, along the roadside, on sidewalks, at seasonal flea markets and other similar outdoor areas that tend to be hotspots for unlicensed breeders who prioritize profit over the wellbeing of the animals in their care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate sponsor, Grovetown Republican Sen. Lee Anderson, said the bill targets bad actors in Georgia. We need this bill so we can make sure all our pets are taken care of, and also it protects the companies that already do it the right way, Anderson said, referring to breeders. Supporters of the bill say it will reduce opportunities for illicit pet sales, which they argue is commonly tied with other illegal activity. The original sponsor, Concord Republican Rep. Beth Camp, pitched the measure as both a consumer and animal protection bill, since animals purchased from illegitimate breeders often turn out not to be as advertised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These dogs oftentimes end up getting dumped, and they get dumped at animal shelters, which cost our counties money every single day. And its just heartbreaking, Camp said recently to state senators. Breeders would still be able to sell dogs, cats and rabbits from their home, business, a veterinarians office or other designated locations, like outside a police department. These individuals do not allow people to come to where these dogs live because they dont want anyone to see where these animals live, because theyre living in deplorable, substandard conditions for anything thats alive, Camp said. If approved, someone who violates the measure would be fined $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second and $500 for the third or subsequent offense. Each animal sold in violation of the measure would represent a separate offense, including if multiple animals were sold on the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, the state Department of Agriculture seized 136 dogs from a puppy mill in south Georgia. The bill may be serious, but it also brought a little levity to the day. Anderson rested his case Friday by saying a vote for his bill would help keep Lt. Gov. Burt Jones out of the doghouse. Jones wife runs an animal rescue organization. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE TOPEKA (KSNT) A bill requiring quarterly reports of Kansas non-citizens drivers licenses to be checked is on its way to the Governors desk. On Thursday, March 20, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 2020 83-35. This bill, as its written, would require the director of the Division of Vehicles (DOV) to submit a monthly report to the Kansas Secretary of State containing the personal information of non-citizens, including the following: Names. Addresses. Phone numbers. Social security numbers. Dates of birth. Alien registration numbers. Temporary drivers license numbers and its expiration dates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Kansas Health and Environment labs debuted in downtown Topeka After compiling a list, the Secretary of State (SOS) would compare it to the voter registration rolls, and after an investigation, the county election officer would remove the name of any noncitizens that showed up within five business days. The county election officer would be in charge of notifying anyone who has been removed from the voter registration rolls. To be reinstated on the voter registration rolls, the person would need to provide proof of citizenship. One day prior, the Senate passed this bill 32-8. According a letter from House Elections Chair Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, during the bills testimony, the SOS office said it examined data about non-citizens from the Motor Vehicles Division that states as many as 80 non-citizens were on the voters rolls, and possibly 20 or more non-citizens may have voted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka leaders help fund local sports complex expand Voter confidence that the results of our elections reflect their will, that every vote is counted and that only valid votes are counted, lies at the very heart of our form of government and our way of life, Proctor said. Even if we dont find a single non-citizen on our voter rolls, this is a positive result because we will be able, for the first time, to confidently tell Kansas voters that noncitizens arent voting in our elections. Now, the bill will head its way to Governor Laura Kellys desk. Once she is presented with the bill, she will have 10 days to make her decision. For more Capitol Bureau 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, in the Senate chamber on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas Sen. Dan Sullivan filed legislation Thursday to abolish not only the State Library Board, but the State Library as well. Senate Bill 536 would carry out Sullivans promise to dismantle the library board by transferring the agencys and boards powers, authorities, funds, contracts and employees to the Arkansas Department of Education. The Arkansas State Library is already under the departments umbrella but operates independently, and the board consists of seven members appointed by the governor who disburse funds to public libraries on a quarterly basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Sullivan introduced Senate Bill 184, which would have abolished the State Library Board but not the State Library. The bill also would have dissolved the Arkansas Educational Television Commission, which oversees Arkansas PBS and is also under the education department but operates independently. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Sullivan, a Republican from Jonesboro, said he would amend SB 184 to no longer include the Arkansas PBS commission after making an agreement with the chairman. As of Friday morning, the amendment had not been posted on the Legislatures website. Sullivan did not respond to a text message asking if SB 184 will not be considered now that SB 536 has been filed. The 28-page SB 536 would delete all mentions of the State Library from existing state statute and make prohibit[ing] access to age-inappropriate materials to a person who is sixteen (16) years old or younger a condition of public libraries receiving state funds from the education department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It looks like materials that are written by and for adults would fall under the scope of this, and to receive funding from the state, we would have to engage in unconstitutional censorship, said Adam Webb, executive director of the Garland County Library and president of the Arkansas Library Association. The legislation defines age-inappropriate material as books, media, or any other material accessible at a public library containing images or explicit and detailed descriptions of sexual acts, sexual contact and human genitalia. The bill includes a limited exception for sex education materials, which minors under 12 years old would not be able to access if their parents or guardians have stated in writing that they are not allowed to see such materials. Required hours of operation Page 18 of the 28-page Senate Bill 536 outlines how many hours public libraries would be required to be open per year in order to receive state funding from the Department of Education. The requirements would be based on the population of the library systems service area: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1,480 hours per year for less than 10,000 people 1,730 hours per year for 10,000 to 19,000 people 1,980 hours per year for 19,001 to 49,000 people 2,470 hours per year for more than 49,000 people Libraries in sparsely populated areas of Arkansas might not have the tax base and therefore enough funds to meet the required hours of operation, which includes paying utility costs, Arkansas Library Association President Adam Webb said. These libraries might lose funding under this section of SB 536, he said. Libraries would also be required to provide a process for a member of the public to request the inclusion, removal, or a policy regarding access to age-inappropriate or sex education materials and resources in order to receive state funds. The location of books based on appropriateness for minors was the thrust of Act 372 of 2023, also sponsored by Sullivan. The law would have given local elected officials the final say over whether to relocate challenged library materials some consider obscene and made librarians legally liable for disseminating such materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Webb, the Arkansas Library Association and 16 other plaintiffs sued the state over Act 372, claiming portions of it violated the First Amendment. A federal judge sided with the plaintiffs by temporarily and later permanently blocking the challenged sections; Attorney General Tim Griffin appealed the ruling in January. Supporters of Act 372 said the policy was necessary to keep pornographic content away from children. Opponents of the law said it would be used to reduce access to content that reflects the general public, including the LGBTQ+ community. SB 536 would require libraries to submit annual reports to the Department of Education that include an assurance of compliance with the applicable laws of the state, rules promulgated by the department, and the policies of the public library. If the education department determines a library no longer qualifies for state funding, the library would be allowed to appeal the decision as long as it can prove the determination was made in error or the determination was correct but remedial actions have been taken by the public library to bring the public library into compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 536 has an emergency clause that would make it effective July 1, the start of the 2026 fiscal year, instead of 90 days after the adjournment of the legislative session. The State Library Boards next regularly scheduled meeting is May 9. Emergency clauses require two-thirds support from each legislative chamber, 24 Senate votes and 67 House votes. SB 184 has no emergency clause, and it passed the Senate with 23 votes on Feb. 17. Debate on the bill focused more on the potential outcomes of eliminating the Arkansas PBS commission than the State Library Board. Background Sullivan and former senator Jason Rapert of Conway have repeatedly criticized the State Library Board for rejecting Raperts efforts to withhold state funds from libraries where sexually explicit content is within childrens reach. Rapert has been a member of the board since December 2023, and the board has also rejected his efforts to withhold funds from libraries suing the state over Act 372. On March 13, the library board held a special meeting after Sullivan spoke with several board members and said he would withdraw SB 184 if the board developed policies that protect children and disaffiliated from the American Library Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board rejected by a 4-3 vote Raperts proposal to create an ad hoc committee to recommend measures to protect children from sexually explicit materials in public libraries. It also rejected his motion to remove all references to the ALA in board documents. Jason Rapert, a member of the Arkansas State Library Board, attempts to withhold funding for libraries that dont separate sexually explicit books during a meeting on Friday, November 9, 2024. Member Lupe Pena de Martinez looks on. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) The board subsequently adopted a motion by member Lupe Pena de Martinez of Mabelvale for the board to create non-binding policies to protect children while honoring First Amendment freedoms and libraries material selection policies. The motion passed by the same 4-3 vote that rejected Raperts motion. Pena de Martinez said she made the motion in good faith and was disappointed that Sullivan remained determined to abolish the library board. Board Chairwoman Deborah Knox of Mountain Home said the day after the meeting that she could simply not support Mr. Raperts motions yesterday, even though that probably does spell the end of our board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rapert and Sullivan have both criticized the portion of the ALAs Library Bill of Rights that says access to libraries should not be restricted based on a persons age. Far-right conservatives nationwide who object to the public availability of certain content have claimed this is proof the ALA believes in forcing content about sexual activity and LGBTQ+ topics onto children. On Tuesday, a subcommittee of the Legislatures Joint Budget Committee rejected Sullivans proposal to ban the State Library from funding ALA-affiliated local libraries. Sullivan was successful with Act 242 of 2025, which removes the requirement that public library directors and the State Librarian hold a masters degree from an ALA-accredited program. The law will go into effect 90 days after the legislative session ends. SB 536 accounts for Act 242 by specifying a public library director may hold a masters degree in Library Science from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation or a bachelors or another graduate degree from a similarly accredited institution. Library directors may also have work experience in libraries, which is included in Act 242. SB 536 will be heard by the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CHENGDU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The air route linking Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Japan's Tokyo resumed on Friday morning. CA459 operated by Air China left for Narita International Airport carrying 139 passengers. According to Air China, three round trips are scheduled each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Using an Airbus A320 aircraft, the outbound flight departs at 10:20 a.m. local time, arriving in Tokyo at 3:50 p.m. The return flight leaves the Japanese capital at 5:30 p.m. local time before landing in the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport at 10:50 p.m. The air route between Chengdu and Tokyo was launched in June 2011 but was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the summer and autumn, the flight frequency will be increased to five round trips a week, said Lu Jiangkuan of Air China. Chengdu is home to many Japanese enterprises. Figures from the city's commerce bureau showed that between 2019 and 2023, the accumulated imports and exports between Chengdu and Japan reached 176.4 billion yuan (about 24.3 billion U.S. dollars). It is hoped that the resumption of air flights could further facilitate trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges between Chengdu and Tokyo. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A bill filed in the Arkansas legislature on Thursday would abolish the Arkansas State Library and its board and transfer its property to the state Department of Education. Senate Bill 536 strikes down a significant part of the current state library law and would have the education department transfer its collections to digital archives. Removing the library board would also change the oversight of libraries that receive state funding in communities and schools, including colleges. Four takeaways from the 10th week of the 95th Arkansas General Assembly Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill calls for the Department of Education to prohibit access to age-inappropriate materials to anyone 16 years old or younger under its library oversight duties. Sex education materials would also be restricted for those 11 years old or younger. Libraries would also be required to enact a policy allowing community members to request that material be restricted for youth. According to the bills terms, libraries that do not comply with the access restrictions would not receive state funding. Bill putting Arkansas library board and AETN under Department of Education passes in committee The legislation includes an emergency clause, meaning it would go into immediate effect if it becomes law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills primary sponsor is Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro), with cosponsor Wayne Long (R-Bradford). Sullivan and Long sponsored earlier-filed legislation to abolish the state library and the Arkansas Educational Television Commission. In a committee hearing earlier this week, Sullivan said that he had reached an agreement with the television commission and that the bill was no longer going forward. That hearing was for a Sullivan-sponsored amendment to state library funding to de-fund any state library affiliated with the American Library Association. Amendment to tighten restrictions on libraries fails in committee The amendment failed, as senators were concerned with its broad language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) A bill aimed to give student loan relief to veterinarians who commit to practicing in New Mexico is heading to Governor Michelle Lujan Grishams desk. Senate Bill 8 offers incentives to vets specializing in large animals who commit to providing full-time services for a minimum of four years in specific underserved counties across the states. New Mexico lawmakers push juvenile crime bill before session ends We need large animal vets. We are at a huge disadvantage in the state to be able to work our livestock. Any time that we have sick livestock now you have to get a prescription and have to get a vet consultation. Sometimes that could take 2 or 3 days before you can get a vet and by that time its too late, said Bronson Corn, New Mexico Cattle Growers Association President. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill now heads to the governors desk for final action. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) One bill aimed at requiring citizenship documentation for students and allowing for tuition payments if parents cannot provide proof of citizenship died in a Senate committee this week. SB 1044 by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) would require parents enrolling their children in public schools to provide certain documentation proving citizenship or else pay tuition for their child. TN lawmakers expect more protests over bill impacting undocumented students Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in the Senate Education Committee held on Wednesday, March 19, Bowlings bill failed to receive enough votes to move out of committee and be heard by the full Senate. A 5-3 vote of Republicans on the committee killed any forward movement on the measure. The lone Democrat on the committee, Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari, was not present at the time the bill was heard in committee. The move is just one measure that advocates for immigrants in Tennessee have sounded the alarm about, calling attention to what they call the attack on immigrants rights in the Volunteer State. The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition and Education for All Tennessee celebrated the bills defeat. Under mounting public pressure, the Tennessee Senate Education Committee rejected SB 1044/HB 0746 yesterday in a 5-3 vote, the group said in a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom Education for All Tennessee is a grassroots coalition of over 60 organizations that has mobilized thousands of Tennesseans to speak out to defend every childs freedom to learn, the group said in the release. Education is a right, not a privilege. Our schools should be places where all kids can dream, grow, and reach their potential, yet this bill instills fear in those students who want to be pioneers for a better future for themselves and their communities, said TIRRC Executive Director Lisa Sherman Luna. While extreme lawmakers continue to lay out their small vision for Tennessee, yesterday showed that Tennesseans visions are bigger, bolder, and brighter than he can ever imagine. A state where everyone has the freedom to thrive, the freedom to love, and the freedom to learn in our communities no matter the color of our ski, whats in our wallet, or how we came to call Tennessee home. We call on the Tennessee legislature to do the right thing and reject the remaining harmful bills. Bowlings bill wasnt the only one targeting immigrant children. Another bill, by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bo Watson (R-Hixson), would authorize public schools and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Watsons bill was recently amended to include the tuition provision as well as the proof of citizenship documentation, providing for school districts to prohibit enrollment of undocumented children so long as they have exhausted all available appeals pursuant to the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowlings bill and Watsons both serve as challenges to the U.S. Supreme Court 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, which held that all children living in the U.S., regardless of citizenship, had a right to free public education. Watsons amended bill includes references to Plyler in the opening paragraphs. Watsons bill is up for discussion in the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for Tuesday, March 25, and the House Education Committee on Wednesday, March 26, per the Capitol calendar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Some days you just want to give Javier Milei a chainsaw and point him towards the Department for Education. Bridget Phillipson has launched a review of the national curriculum; various groups have said it must avoid celebratory accounts of British history or explore climate solutions. These are just submissions; the contextual rot runs deeper. The review is run by Becky Francis, an education professor not a full-time teacher, who has previously written about using schools as a means of promoting equality. Her review applies a social justice lens throughout its work, like Superman spotting racism through walls. The interim report endorses climate science, and diversity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phillipson seems determined to abandon the English experiment in knowledge-based learning even though its bearing fruit, copying the Scottish skill-based system at the moment when its failings have become apparent. The reviews recommendations will be imposed on previously exempted academies. Even the most ignorant history student would call that Stalinism. The irony is that the curriculum is being used to embed Leftist ideas it was explicitly created to combat. After the comprehensive revolution of the 1960s, Labour PM Jim Callaghan floated the idea of a national curriculum to correct informal methods of teaching and a lack of thoroughness and depth. The one we finally got, in 1988, was Tory-devised and emphasised science and technology allied to respect for heritage. It has been updated every generation to over-correct the corrections hastily made in the past, causing great stress for teachers. For New Labour, the curriculum was olde worlde and didnt prepare for the workforce; creativity suffered under Blair as testing proliferated. Gove entered office determined to impose stricter standards/conservative values while also liberating schools to pursue their own methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Labours elites who are motivated by hatred of grammars if nothing else this was a selection with a free market spin (double-plus-ungood). Kids with keen parents get great, if Victorian, education at the like of Michaela Community School; poorer ones are confined to knife addled-rape sheds, to quote The Thick of It. So, Phillipson is using Goves precedent to deploy the national curriculum as a culture war weapon, essentially to reverse everything he did and reimpose the comprehensive philosophy from the top. This leaves conservatives who care about education with a tricky choice. Do they continue with a system that allows successive education ministers to rewrite whats taught in the classroom and wait patiently for a Tory/Reform government to take its turn? Or do they take away that power from Whitehall by abolishing the national curriculum? Some conservatives warn that most teachers are more Left-wing than Phillipson and, if not given parameters, would lecture all day on cross-dressing and Marx. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not so sure. The wokest nonsense tends to come from the private sector; my snobby old grammar flies the trans flag (Id turn it into a comp, and force the fluid little brats to do woodwork). Ive found that the more challenging the school environment, the more teachers complain about poor discipline and lazy parents, and have no bandwidth for anything but delivering the basics. Everyone is conservative about the thing they know about. Some educators could give Mr Milei a run for his money. Ergo, the optimal solution might be to abolish the education department altogether, and leave professionals to get on with the job. 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. MATTESON, Ill. This is what bird flu looks like. The coop is empty and cavernous, the air still heavy with the stench of chicken waste. On the floor, wood chip bedding has soaked up most of the blood from the birds slaughtered to prevent further spread of infection. Stray feathers litter the ground. A few remnants of beige eggshells crunch underfoot. There used to be 3,000 hens on Kakadoodle Farm scratching, pecking, following the farmworkers around. Creating a din so loud you could barely hear someone yell from the other end of the coop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now there are none. Marty Thomas, a co-owner of Kakadoodle Farm, in a quarantined chicken coop on the farm. Its a scene that keeps repeating itself, again and again, on poultry farms large and small across America. The biggest avian influenza outbreak in U.S. history is taking a brutal toll. Birds are dying off or they're slaughtered by the thousands. Farms are suffering massive financial losses, compounded in some cases by federal funding cuts and freezes. The outbreak has driven retail egg prices to a record high last month of $5.90 a dozen on average, nearly double what they were a year earlier. They have reached $12 a dozen in some places. No one else, human or animal, has come down with bird flu at Kakadoodle since the virus hit. But a large part of the farm the dirty zone is now under quarantine. And it will be for months to come. At first, they thought it was the cold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was early January, and temperatures in southern Illinois were plunging into the single digits; the water lines running to the farms three coops kept freezing over. So when the workers told Kakadoodle Farm owner Marty Thomas about the birds, he first thought they must have frozen to death. About 30 were scattered across the floors of two coops. A restricted access sign blocks the entrance to a quarantined section at Kakadoodle Farm. At the time, Marty didnt think too much of it. Lets make sure we keep an eye on the water make sure its flowing, he told them. The next day, as he headed down to the coops, he saw one of his farmworkers walking out with her arms full of dead chickens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh, my God, he said, rushing toward her. A hundred more had died overnight. They began piling the bodies outside in the snow. Most lay dead on the coop floor. A few had died inside the red nesting boxes with their heads sticking out. Some were still alive, but just barely they were listless, stirring only when they were picked up, too weak to stand or walk. Marty was mystified about what was ailing his birds. But he knew what he had to do with the ones that werent going to make it. He picked up an ax from the shed and asked his wife to come out back to help. A feather atop a burial mound where hundreds of chickens are buried after being culled to curb the spread of bird flu at Kakadoodle Farm. Kakadoodle Farm sits on the edge of a busy road about 45 minutes from the southern end of Chicago. It has been a working farm for nearly 200 years, but Marty and MariKate took it over just recently, in late 2023, to grow the burgeoning egg business theyd been running out of their small, 5-acre homestead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They inherited two existing coops and built a third, adding chickens and giving their birds access to grassy pasture and a non-genetically modified feed. Kakadoodle eggs are a specialty product; most commercial eggs come from large-scale producers, and most of the national flock isnt pasture-raised. Their goal: To produce healthier chickens and more nutritious, better-tasting eggs that crack open to reveal happy, bright orange yolks. They also launched an online farmers market to deliver local produce, meat and grocery items directly to customers. It was a small, fledging business, with just seven part-time employees. But the couple were already drawing up plans to create new grazing areas for sheep and livestock in the fallow fields that stretched toward the train tracks. They didnt have any experience with farming; he was a software entrepreneur, and she was an ER nurse. It was a wild dream theyd chased after Marty survived Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hed gone through months of chemotherapy, lost his hair, prayed and was declared cancer-free by the end of 2018. Dillon Thomas and Marilyn Thomas play on the swings of their family home. But Marty couldnt stop wondering how hed gotten sick in the first place and kept coming back to the chemicals in the food he ate, the pesticides sprayed over the land. He stared at the raw eggs that he cracked into a bowl for the kids every morning and realized hed never given a thought to where theyd come from or why they were so cheap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They started with eight birds. Pretty soon the chickens started laying more eggs than their four kids could eat. Marty created a website where you could arrange for home delivery, inviting local friends and relatives to place orders. They bought more chickens. Which meant more eggs. Which started overflowing in the kitchen sink, where they were washing all of them by hand. Then, driving toward the interstate, they saw it: a sprawling 74-acre property for sale, just a short distance from their home. Their dream could grow far bigger. In January 2022, the first wild birds in the United States tested positive for a highly contagious and deadly strain of bird flu. The next month, it had spread to a turkey farm in Indiana. By April, the countrys first human case was found in Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outbreak picked up steam last year, jumping to dairy cattle for the first time in history while continuing to rip through poultry farms across the United States both small, pasture-raised producers like Kakadoodle and massive operations that pack thousands of chickens together indoors. A large part of the farm the dirty zone is under quarantine. And it will be for months. Bird flu has now affected 167 million birds across the United States, and its also spreading to cats, rats, tigers and seals, among other species. The risk to humans remains low, with one death and 70 known cases, most involving people who had been in close contact with infected animals. But the rampant spread of the virus increases the likelihood that it could mutate into a version thats far more dangerous to humans and can be passed easily between them, creating another pandemic. And for domestic birds like chickens which contract the virus through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces the virus has a mortality rate of nearly 100%. The USDA, along with some animal health officials, has advised limiting outdoor access for poultry given the risk from wild birds but the virus is also striking farms where birds are only kept indoors. While some birds may display symptoms, the USDA says, others can die suddenly without any warning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bird flu is is a devastating disease for large and small flock owners alike, the USDA said in a statement, pointing to the agencys recent efforts to help poultry farms affected by the outbreak USDA is committed to exploring additional ways to aid flock owners and minimize their financial burdens. Do you have a news tip that youd like to share about the bird flu outbreak? You can contact NBC News securely here, or message Suzy Khimm on Signal: SuzyKhimm.42 Just days before their chickens started to die, another farmer had warned the Thomases that bird flu was spreading in southern Illinois. But he said some farmers never reported it, because they didnt want the USDA to come in, shut down and quarantine their operations. Kakadoodle Farm owners Marty and MariKate Thomas. MariKate had worried about the wild birds that flitted around the pastures where the chickens roamed and pecked at their feed, knowing they could transmit the virus. But it was impossible to completely isolate their flock. There are things you cant control, Marty told her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he picked up one dead chicken after another, Marty didnt immediately think it was bird flu, he said. So many were dying, but without the obvious symptoms of the virus difficulty breathing, nasal discharge or low egg production. And at first, the veterinarian agreed: It was probably the freezing weather that had done in the birds. The vet pointed out that the newest, most modern coop hadnt been hit and advised Marty and MariKate to keep the birds comfortable. They all hustled to bring in more bedding and heaters. Driving home, Marty felt assured that his flock was in good shape. These birds look great, he remembers thinking. Theyre scratching; theyre laying eggs. They seem perfectly healthy. Within two days, there were dead chickens inside every coop. Bird flu has drastically altered the business of the farm. The vet realized it might be worse than they all thought, the Thomases said and let them know he was notifying the state Agriculture Department. Shortly after, MariKate got a call directly from the USDA, which wanted to visit the farm immediately and asked her to collect the bodies of three dead birds for testing. By the time the federal veterinarians showed up in their hazmat suits, less than a week after the first chickens had fallen, nearly 2,500 birds were dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were splatters of blood in the snow where Marty and MariKate had killed the ailing birds, which flop around when their heads are severed, and an ashy pit where theyd burned some of the carcasses. Only 500 were still alive. MariKate steadied one in her arms as the vet approached, it cawed as the vet stuck a long swab down its throat. Just a few hours later, she got the call: Their chickens had come back positive for bird flu. The USDA was coming back the next morning to slaughter the rest inside the coop a standard procedure known as depopulation. The Thomases didnt have to be there if they didnt want to. They didnt want to be there. MariKate Thomas, a co-owner of Kakadoodle Farm, in a barn on her farm. After it was all over, farmworker Joline Lyons was the first to open the coop door. She walked inside, then immediately walked back out, her face pale. Theres a lot of blood and a lot of heads over here, Lyons recalled telling the Thomases. The USDA had gassed the 500 remaining chickens with carbon dioxide to stun them, then decapitated them. The body parts were scattered throughout the coop, with blood streaked on nesting boxes and roosting bars. The farmers were left to clean up the mess. Chickens that died during the bird flu outbreak on Kakadoodle Farm. Marty worried whether hed have a business left to run and what on Earth their customers would think. Anyone driving by the farm that day would have been able to spot the white hazmat suits and wonder what the hell was going on. He and his wife agreed: They had to tell their customers. They had to tell everyone. The whole point of their farm was for people to understand where their food was coming from, what was going into it and how it came to be. This was part of that, too. Important Message from Kakadoodle, they wrote. This week our chickens started dying without any symptoms ... After some hesitation, they also set up a GoFundMe campaign. The USDA compensates farmers only for the birds that are alive when it gets there and dead when it leaves not the ones that have already died from bird flu. The Thomases will get $5 a bird from the USDA, they said, which means $2,500 in total. It doesnt come close to the $100,000 in egg revenue Kakadoodle will lose by the time the mandatory 120-day quarantine is over in June, when they can have chickens on the farm again. If they can get chickens on the farm again. The loss of more than 1,600 flocks in every state since 2022 has meant a nationwide run on egg-laying chickens. The farm is also being squeezed by the broader cuts to federal funds: In October, it was greenlit for a $220,000 grant to transform an old barn into a distribution center for their online marketplace, pending USDA approval. The Thomases spent $80,000 on renovations pouring a concrete floor, putting in insulation fully expecting to be reimbursed. But the Trump administration has since cut funding for the program. The loss of 167 million birds in the U.S. since 2022 has meant a nationwide run on egg-laying chickens. MariKate keeps thinking about what their pastor said in church, just a week before their birds started dying. Theres two kinds of people in life, she said. You can either say why me? or whats next? They dug the graves on the edge of the farm, in a field dotted with dried corncobs. The four of them went out together: Marty, MariKate and two farmworkers. It took them all day to dig the holes, then cart over all the chicken carcasses in a skid steer. They buried all the bodies, along with thousands of dollars of feed and eggs, as the USDA had instructed them to do. MariKate wept inside her N-95 mask. Marty Thomas in a barn on his farm. That day, a car had pulled up to the farm, and one of their regular customers got out, hoping to pick up fresh eggs. Still dressed in her hazmat suit, MariKate explained what had happened. He immediately handed her all the cash in his wallet. Then the messages started pouring in. Praying for you guys in this time of struggle. All your dental friends are rooting for this to be all fixed up as quickly as possible!! Donations to their GoFundMe campaign have swelled since word got out as have orders for their online farmers market, the main source of their remaining revenue. They've been moved by the outpouring of support from their customers and community. But Kakadoodle Farm is still in financial peril. Theyre considering applying for a private loan to keep the farm afloat. Were at the bottom of our barrel, Marty said. If this doesnt work, were out our entire life savings. Egg cartons and shipping materials sit in a warehouse at Kakadoodle farm. What they keep telling themselves: Theyve weathered other disasters on the farm and somehow found a way to survive. There was the barn that burned down because of a faulty extension cord. The bacterial infection that tore through their flock, cratering egg production. There were endless mishaps and mistakes they made as they expanded their operation, battling mites and frozen water lines and the aftermath of tornados, scouring YouTube and turning to more seasoned farmers for answers. Its happened again and again and again, Marty said. This is crazy, what were doing. Like we dont know this world at all. And the next time, he and MariKate will be better prepared. They want to renovate their coops to keep wild birds out of the feed, while still giving the chickens space to roam. Theyll make sure to keep their farm shoes on the farm, to help reduce the spread of disease. Because bird flu isnt leaving America any time soon. Just three weeks ago, Marty and MariKate got a call from another local farmer who suspected he had a bird flu outbreak. He agonized over whether to call the USDA. His father begged him not to, warning that the agency would come and slaughter all of their birds. All I can tell you is what we did, MariKate told him before she hung up. The farmer made the call. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Birmingham Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection to an attempted murder after community members helped identify him. On Feb. 9, West Precinct officers responded to a call in the 1900 block of Woodland Avenue Southwest. An adult male was found in the road unconscious and badly beaten. He was transported to UAB hospital with life-threatening injuries. After assistance by community members, the alleged assailant was identified as Will Rogers III of Birmingham. A warrant for felony attempted murder was issued March 11, and Rogers was taken into custody March 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rogers is in custody at Jefferson County Jail. He is being held without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Yesterdays scenes from Birmingham, where a mobile bin collection was called off after it was swarmed by residents desperate to dispose of their rubbish, have reinforced the image of it fast becoming a failed city. Some will say that none of this is new to Britain that sight of bin bags piling up on rat-infested streets was commonplace in cities like Birmingham during the so-called winter of discontent in the late 1970s. It is a fair point to make industrial action by binmen is bound to have this kind of impact, especially in densely-populated areas of inner-city England. But this overlooks the spectacular mismanagement of Britains second-largest city in recent times, which is largely down to the culturally dysfunctional nature of its key public institutions most of all, Birmingham City Council, which has developed a reputation for being one of the most incompetent local authorities in the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in September 2023, Labour-controlled Birmingham City Council issued a Section 114 notice, effectively declaring itself bankrupt. The factors behind this declaration included a huge equal pay liability and disastrous IT system upgrade leading to significant cuts to services and considerable council tax increases. The residents of Birmingham are paying more for less benefits, being expected to foot the bill for their own councils rank ineptitude. A damning report published a couple of months ago by auditors Grant Thornton highlighted an organisational culture at Birmingham City Council of not reporting or being receptive to bad news, an over-emphasis on protecting personal reputations and a lack of challenge and rigour in governance. As well as raising the serious mismanagement in the waste and street-scene services (which preceded the refuse workers strikes), auditors also flagged serious failings in services for families and children with special educational needs and disabilities. Perhaps it is no surprise that the Social Mobility Commissions recent State of the Nation report placed Birmingham in the unfavourable category for conditions of childhood. Officials and staff at the council have also faced allegations of criminal corruption, excessive hospitality, and failing to declare interests in connection to multi-million-pound housing repairs contracts. Birmingham does not only suffer from woeful governance at the hands of the local council in the shape of West Midlands Police, the city falls under a territorial force which is completely out of its depth when it comes to so-called community relations. Back in 2015, it was revealed that senior officers at West Midlands Police suppressed a report on Birminghams grooming gangs, for fear that it would inflame racial tensions ahead of the 2010 general election. A total of seventy-five suspects were identified, most having a history of sexual violence and predominantly being of Pakistani heritage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Midlands Polices diabolical approach to diversity management was exposed yet again during last summers violent disorder. Superintendent Emlyn Richards revealed that his force consulted Muslim community and business leaders after rumours that a far-right English Defence League march was planned for the Muslim-concentrated Birmingham areas of Alum Rock and Bordesley Green. This colonial-style British Raj approach to keeping the peace by outsourcing law-and-order responsibilities to unaccountable community figures clearly didnt pay off, with The Clumsy Swan pub being stormed by a violent mob who wrongly believed that EDL members were at the establishment. There was a time when Birmingham was considered one of the worlds greatest cities. Playing a critical role in the Industrial Revolution, Birmingham was described in the summer of 1890 by Harpers Magazine as the best-governed city in the world. It evolved from being a small seventh-century Anglo-Saxon hamlet to a shining beacon of gold-standard governance and groundbreaking commercial innovation. Atrocious forms of modern-day governance at both the national and local level have contributed towards the thirdworldification of Birmingham. It is now a city defined by its malfunctioning public institutions, dire social infrastructure, unstable community relations, and loss of civic industrial pride. Birminghams tragic decline is surely one of the most depressing tales of post-WWII Britain. Dr Rakib Ehsan is the author of Beyond Grievance 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. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Students from Bishop Heelan had a busy day Thursday, helping feed the less fortunate for the Feed Just One More project. Students from 5th grade through 12th worked together to pack 120,000 meals, which will all be sent overseas to provide food for families. The meals include rice, veggies and more in every bag, and each bag contains six meals. Community Action Agency of Siouxland providing food assistance to daycares Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students had an assembly line to quickly put meals together. There is a box number thing, and once it gets all filled out, you put it into a box and then you tape it, 7th grade student Vivian Youngblade said. Working efficiently was not the only thing students learned. Its important because it get us kids to know that helping others is a good deed, and that it really helps those that are in need, 7th grade student Evelyn Shetler said. The project has been part of Bishop Heelans goal of doing community service for more than a decade. We came upon this about 15 years ago, event organizer and volunteer Mary Jayne Mousel said. [Gehlen Catholic in Le Mars] was doing it, so I went up and checked it out. I thought, we could do this at Heelan, and thats how we got started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mousel says the project leaves students with a lasting impression. Remarkable Women: Mary Jayne Mousel spreading joy in the community its cool when I have alumni come back and say, can I come help work, because I did it as a student and I really liked it, so can I come work now as an adult? So thats pretty cool that they come back, Mousel said. The meals packed at Bishop Heelan will be shipped to Honduras, along with meals packed by students at Gehlen Catholic school in Le Mars. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the dates of three virtual meetings for public feedback on a possible black bear hunt in Florida. The meetings will discuss proposals based on comments from the public meeting on March 13, as well as meetings with stakeholders groups. the FWC said. The material covered at all three meetings will be identical. The proposals for "highly regulated black bear hunting" will be presented to FWC commissioners at a meeting in May. When are the FWC's virtual meetings to discuss a black bear hunt? Why is the FWC considering a black bear hunt? The FWC reported at its December 2024 commission meeting that bear populations across the state have grown to around up to five times above the minimum population objectives to maintain a healthy population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida currently has more than 17,000 square miles of suitable bear habitat, of which 46% is protected. But statewide bear-related calls are at an all-time high, up 42% from 2016. The calls run about 60% positive (bear sightings) and 40% negative (complaints), which has stayed fairly constant through the years. After the presentation, the commissioners directed staff to bring back options for a potential bear hunt. When was the last state-sanctioned bear hunt? The last black bear hunt, the first in 21 years, happened in 2015 under then-Gov. Rick Scott. But the planned 7-day hunt was shut down at the end of the second day after nearly 300 bears were killed, with hunters hitting nearly triple the kill limit in the Panhandle region. There was a public outcry at how quickly the bears were killed and reports of hunters baiting bears. Bear hunting was allowed in Florida from the 1930s through 1994 but was made illegal when the black bear population was in danger of dying out. The population has grown back from several hundred in the 1970s to over 4,000 today, something the FWC says is one of Florida's most successful conservation efforts. Where are black bear encounters happening the most? How to get involved Those interested in attending the meetings can join by going to myfwc.com/hunting/bear/ and clicking on the links. You must have the Zoom app installed. Comments can be sent to BearComments@MyFWC.com. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida bear hunt ahead? It's been 10 years since last one If the UK television drama industry was a pilot episode, it would have have just five minutes left to stop the bomb from going off, Sister chief Jane Featherstone has warned. In a speech at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in London last night, where she was awarded an outstanding contribution prize, the Black Doves exec producer became the latest high-profile name to voice extreme concern over the future of the biz. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, the Sister co-founder and Chief Creative Officer again pointed to the funding crisis in the public service broadcasting (PSB) system. Featherstone was the first high-level producer to publicly note that the BBC has several shows stuck in a post-greenlight funding cavern, during an appearance at the UK parliamentary inquiry into high-end TV and film in January. In her BPG speech, she built on the point, saying: Today, the gap between available funding for programming and current budgets is simply too high Were at risk of losing the very stories that define us so. The danger isnt theoretical. Its immediate. We are in the 45th minute of the pilot episode, and weve got five minutes left to stop the bomb from going off. Featherstone, who launched Sister in 2015 after leaving storied drama house Kudos, called for collaboration across the industry to protect the source of our great shared success, our PSB system and the practitioners it supports. She described the UKs PSB system, which allows producers to own the rights to the shows they make, as like the Amazon rainforest for storytelling, adding, If it dies, it takes the oxygen of diverse story with it, and we dont have the luxury of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Featherstone said the industry needed to first collectively agree there is something at risk here and that is worth protecting before making a case clearly and unapologetically to government and to each other for financial support. Wolf Hall writer Peter Kosminsky has been leading the charge for the UK to adopt a streamer levy akin to those in place in Europe and other parts of the world, calling the current situation the greatest crisis he had witnessed during his working career in a recent interview with Deadline. Featherstone has previously said she is less keen on a streamer levy, but argued in her speech that the industry should debate the ways in which support was provided. That could mean levelling up the high-end television tax incentive to match independent film better rights deals for independents and producers, higher licence fees from the broadcasters, or indeed, other solutions. There are many, and we need to discuss them, but we need to give ballast during this time of change. This isnt special pleading, its strategic, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Deadline revealed that Featherstones indie had doubled turnover but was still failing to turn a profit. It has since closed its U.S. office and Cindy Holland has exited. Yesterday, Chris Fry was promoted to Managing Director. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. An Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered a tomb of a military leader from the reign of King Ramses III (around 1184 BC-1153 BC), the second king of the 20th Dynasty, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Thursday. A group of mass and individual graves from the Greco-Roman Period (around 332 BC-640 AD) and Late Period of ancient Egypt (around 747 BC-332 BC) were also discovered, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the discovery was made during the mission's work in the Maskhouta area of Ismailia Governorate, northeast of Egypt. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the discovery demonstrates the military importance of the site in protecting the country's eastern borders during the New Kingdom, according to the statement. Some of the artifacts found inside the military commander's tomb, including bronze tools, arrowheads, and the remains of a scepter, revealed the importance of their owner, who held a high-ranking military position, Khaled said. The tomb, built of mud brick, consists of a main burial chamber and three other chambers. A gold ring bearing the cartouche of King Ramses III, a collection of beads and stones of various shapes and colors, and a small ivory box were also found. The mission also discovered a collection of alabaster vessels, all in good condition and decorated with engravings, including two cartouches of King Horemheb (around 1323-1295 BC), one of the most important leaders and warrior kings during the 18th Dynasty. WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called on the U.S. Supreme Court to limit the power of federal judges to issue injunctions that block his administration's policies, indicating growing tensions between the president and the judiciary system. "Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding that "These Judges want to assume the Powers of the Presidency." "STOP NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. If (Chief) Justice (John) Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!" Trump said. Several policies of the Trump administration have already faced lawsuits, including the revocation of birthright citizenship, the acquisition of private information from the U.S. Treasury by Elon Musk and members of the Department of Government Efficiency, the withholding of funding from the National Institutes of Health, the dismissal of employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as mass layoff in the Education Department. So far, a number of actions taken by the Trump administration have been halted or temporarily suspended through judicial rulings. This has sparked anger within the administration and among Trump's supporters, resulting in frequent calls for impeaching the judges. Earlier this week, Trump called for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg after he blocked the deportation of Venezuelan migrants. Boasberg is the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In a rare statement, Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday criticized Trump and his supporters for advocating the impeachment of the judges who have ruled against the administration. "For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," Roberts said. "The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose," said the chief justice. Theres nothing new in claims that social media platforms as they target young users cause children a host of mental health issues, from unhappiness and depression to online bullying and even teen suicides. But a Bloomberg News feature documentary, Cant Look Away: The Case Against Social Media, set to premiere April 4 on Jolt, has spotlighted a link between online drug dealers and social media algorithms that allow the sale of fake pills to young people online, and a resulting epidemic of drug overdose deaths. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a public health crisis. Were facing a mental health emergency. It is tied in many ways to social media, Perri Peltz, who co-directs the feature doc with Matthew ONeill, tells The Hollywood Reporter. Cant Look Away will also have a theatrical run at DCTVs Firehouse Cinema in New York City and will appear on Bloomberg Media platforms starting in July 2025. The doc includes a David vs. Goliath legal battle by parents whose children died from consuming fentanyl-laced pills to potentially hold tech giants accountable for the harm allegedly caused by their negligence and threatening algorithms. Cant Look Away, in part, focuses on the Social Media Victims Law Center and its lawsuit against Snapchat on behalf of families whose children met tragic ends after consuming counterfeit prescription drugs acquired through the disappearing messaging app run by parent Snap. ONeill argues the increasing trade in harmful pills sold on social media sites results from drug dealers now being able to move from street corners to online sites where preset algorithms are designed to become addictive to young people. Whats more, online drug pushers can easily keep their illegal activities away from the eyes of parents or the authorities by using disappearing or encrypted messages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The social media sites themselves could do far more to protect young users, not least by allowing greater regulation of their platforms. As ONeill put it, these social media platforms consistently choose profits over real harm to children, and these are things a social media company can target. The Bloomberg News film includes interviews with parents involved in efforts to secure wins in the courts and the halls of power in Washington D.C. to regulate social media platforms. The Cant Look Away trailer includes an interview with Jaime Puerta, who lost his only child after his son contacted a drug dealer on Snapchat and died from fentanyl poisoning. They have the best distribution system in the world, and nobody has stopped them, Puerta, who in a lawsuit alleges Snapchat had a role in his sons death, declares from the steps of the U.S. Congress. Cant Look Away, based on investigative reporting by contributing producer Olivia Carville, warns at one point about the use of Snap Map, which identifies a users geographical location. That potentially allows drug dealers to more easily target potential customers. Peltz, whose earlier credits include Axios on HBO and Surveilled with Ronan Farrow, countered prevailing myths about young people making bad decisions on social media sites. She argued that, too often, teen users see whats offered to them by preset algorithms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your kids are looking at content they didnt ask to see. Theyre looking at content that an algorithm decided they should see because the algorithm knows what is most sticky for young people, and thats a euphemism for addictive, Peltz insisted. All of which underscores an urgent call to action from the Cant Look Away film for industry reform and political action around social media and its use of algorithms to target and potentially exploit and endanger vulnerable young people. That campaign has been dealt a blow by the increased lobbying by social media giants with the new Donald Trump administration, with an eye to turning a once adversarial relationship between government and Big Tech to their advantage. You saw, as we all did, so many leaders of tech companies in an unprecedented way appear at President Trumps inauguration, and obviously one of the biggest tech leaders in the world, Elon Musk, is a very important element in this administration, ONeill conceded. But he added that politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington, D.C., increasingly see common causes to work for parents and families to lessen the harm social media sites can cause young users. And ONeill, a two-time Oscar nominee, dismissed any talk about Silicon Valley giants needing fewer guardrails, and not more, to protect U.S. dominance in digital technologies against global competitors like China. The United States managed to dominate the automobile industry and innovate with seat belts, and I dont see why we cant do the same with technology and with communications and social media, he insisted. Ultimately, ONeill sees young people forcing politicians to impose real regulation on tech giants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kids arent suckers and a lot of young people as they discover the ways in which social media companies are taking advantage of them are fueling a backlash. Thats not the power of regulation. Thats the power of public conversation, he said. The film is also produced by ONeill and Peltz, and executive produced by Kristin Powers. It is Bloomberg News second original feature documentary after Ruin, an earlier original doc about Sam Bankman-Fried and the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange, FTX. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. European officials have said that the Donald Trump administration has reduced its involvement in efforts to close loopholes for circumventing sanctions on Russia. Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda Details: The officials, who asked not to be named, said the United States was practically absent from several working groups set up by allies to combat attempts to circumvent sanctions imposed on the Kremlin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officials said the US had largely been unresponsive to the activities of one group, which focuses on preventing the Russians from obtaining parts and equipment used to make weapons. Another group, in which the US does not participate, is dedicated to monitoring and enforcing the G7's price cap on Russian oil. The sources noted that it was unclear whether the US had made an active decision to wind down its participation or whether it simply lacked key personnel. They added that some of the meetings had been attended by junior officials with little decision-making power. The sanctions imposed on Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine are becoming a major point of tension between Washington and Kyiv's European allies as President Donald Trump presses for an end to the conflict. Trump said he would be ready to increase sanctions against Russia if Moscow did not seriously engage in peace talks. European officials said there had been few signs of preparations for such a move, and it is unclear what actions, if any, the US is taking to combat the circumvention of existing measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, earlier this month, the Trump administration did tighten its restrictions by allowing some banks to suspend their licences to make energy-related payments. The US had already withdrawn from the KleptoCapture working group, established by the Biden administration with a broad mandate to take action against Russia, in February. Since the sanctions regime took shape in 2022, the US and its allies have created a number of working groups and task forces to coordinate their efforts to ensure compliance. All of them see limiting Moscow's access to technology and parts needed for warfare goods as a top priority and pay particular attention to cutting off trade routes through third countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and India, that Russia uses. This work includes joint activities, sanctions against companies in third countries that help Moscow, and diplomatic pressure on these countries to close trade routes. The officials said the UK, the European Union and other G7 allies continue to coordinate these efforts. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was reported earlier that several US national security agencies had stopped working on coordinated efforts to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks, easing pressure on Moscow amid the Trump administration's efforts to end the war in Ukraine. At the end of February, it was reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered US Cyber Command, a Pentagon unit, to stop planning offensive cyber operations against Russia. Other news outlets soon confirmed this report. However, the Pentagon later denied this information. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) District 87s Board of Education is renaming one of its buildings to honor two Bloomington-area leaders. The building is located at 2309 E. Oakland Ave. and will be renamed the Willie G. and Gloria Brown Education Center. The school district bought it from State Farm, and it will house the Bloomington Area Career Center and the Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Willie G. and Gloria were both graduates of Bloomington High School, with Willie being inducted into the schools hall of fame in 2007. District 87 Superintendent David Mouser said the move is meant to honor both of them for their support of the Bloomington-Normal community. Naming the building after Willie G. and Gloria Brown is a way to celebrate their lasting legacy and reaffirm our communitys commitment to education and service, Mouser said. Willie G. Brown retired in 2009 as an Executive Vice President of State Farm after 38. His community service included contributions to Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan Universities, State Farm Foundation, United Way of McLean County, Urban League, 100 Black Men of Central Illinois, NAACP, Western Avenue Community Center, and Promise Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gloria was a staunch supporter of her husbands community service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. US President Donald Trump has announced the launch of a new sixth-generation fighter jet for the Air Force, dubbed the F-47, hailing it as unmatched worldwide. US aerospace giant Boeing has been awarded the contract to build the new fleet, which Trump said will take shape in the coming years. "It's something the likes of which nobody has seen before. In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, there's never been anything even close to it, from speed to manoeuvrability to what it can have for payload," he said at the White House on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A prototype has already been "secretly" flying for nearly five years, he revealed. Currently, the F-22 and F-35 both fifth-generation fighters are the most advanced in US service. While the F-22 is no longer in production, it remains in use by the Air Force. The new jet will be designated the F-47 a nod to Trump being both the 45th and 47th US president. "This is a historic investment in the American military," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. The contract is a major win for Boeing, which has faced financial setbacks in recent years, while rival Lockheed Martin continues producing the F-35. The Pentagon will award its next-generation Air Force fighter jet contract to Boeing, a deal initially worth more than $20 billion, President Trump announced Friday alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, an F-47 fighter jet, will replace Lockheed Martins F-22 Raptor with an aircraft meant to fight alongside drones, Trump announced at the White House. The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built, Trump said in the Oval Office. An experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost five years, and were confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boeing and Lockheed were competing for the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the contract for the sixth-generation fighter jet, a winner-take-all approach that grants the victor hundreds of billions of dollars over the programs lifetime. Designs from both companies for the aircraft were finalized last year. The move is in line with the Pentagons new strategy focused on countering drones, or autonomous unmanned aircraft systems, which are set to dominate the battlefield in the years ahead, particularly when countering adversaries like China and Russia. The F-47 notably matching Trumps position as the 47th U.S. president will succeed the F-22, the countrys first fifth-generation fighter that entered service some 20 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump touted the F-47s state of the art stealth technologies, claiming it was virtually unseeable, as well as its maneuverability and speed. He would not say how many jets the U.S. initially hoped to procure or how much each one would cost, but said a fleet will be built and in the air during my administration though initial estimates indicate the jet will not be fielded until the 2030s. Trump also floated the possibility of ally countries purchasing toned down versions of the jet. Hegseth, meanwhile, called the new award a historic investment in the American military, in the American industrial base, in American industry, that will help revive the warrior ethos inside our military, which were doing, rebuild our military, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration is seeking to move the NGAD program forward after it faced delays or possible cutbacks following budget concerns and potentially shifting priorities within the Air Force Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall last summer paused the program to review its costs and requirements, with the service conducting an internal review of the effort and calling in an outside panel of former senior officials to see if there was still a need for the aircraft. Both groups concluded the advanced fighter was still required, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin reportedly pitched the program to Trump. Allvin, who was also present for the F-47 announcement, said the manner in which the program was crafted puts more control in the hands of the government, so officials are able to update and adapt at the speed of relevance, at the speed of technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The programs family of systems, to include drones, also means having to deploy less troops, something that takes maybe months and cost more lives. Boeings win comes as the aerospace giant is struggling with a number of programs, including cost overruns, delays, and issues with its VC-25B presidential aircraft the next Air Force One as well as its KC-46 Pegasus tanker and T-7A Red Hawk trainer. The firm also has had major issues in its space and commercial sectors. Boeing also lost out on the F-35 program in 2001, with the contract going to Lockheed. That fighter program, which produces each plane for roughly $80 million, has for years been criticized for its unprecedented size, complexity, ballooning costs, and delayed deliveries. Updated: 1:05 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In the biggest development for U.S. Air Force tactical air power in more than two decades, Boeing has been announced as the winner of the services Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter initiative. As the centerpiece of the NGAD effort, the new crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet, now designated the F-47, is set to change air combat forever, with the Air Force hoping to begin fielding it in the next decade. Boeing and Lockheed Martin had been facing off to build the NGAD combat jet, but neither company had formally confirmed it was competing. Northrop Grumman dropped out of the bidding process on its own accord to focus on other opportunities. Just the fact that the fighter component of NGAD is moving forward at all is news as the program has been put on hold for the better part of a year, with concerns over cost and relevance being examined. The Biden administration punted the program to the Trump administration due to this ongoing uncertainty. From the legacy of yesterday to the future of combat, your @USAirForce will continue to own the skies with the worlds first 6th-generation fighter jet: the F-47. pic.twitter.com/TcFHEdEbGq General David Allvin (@OfficialCSAF) March 21, 2025 The announcement was made personally by U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office today, alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract for NGAD is expected to be worth approximately $20 billion, although, across the life of the program, the company is in line to receive hundreds of billions of dollars in orders. Each copy of the jet, once series production commences, has been estimated in the past to cost upwards of $300 million. That is if the original concept for the aircraft has not changed. A Lockheed Martin rendering of a notional sixth-generation combat jet. Lockheed Martin Its worth recalling that, while the NGAD terminology is frequently used to refer to the crewed combat jet that will be at the center of the effort, the program of the same name is a much broader initiative. As such, it includes the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones with high degrees of autonomy, as well as new jet engines, weapons, electronic warfare suites, sensors, networking ecosystems, battle management capabilities, and more. The NGAD combat jet program evolved from plans for what was originally referred to as a Penetrating Counter-Air (PCA) platform, which emerged publicly in the mid-2010s. The PCA concept was an outgrowth of previous work the Air Force had done in cooperation with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). That includes the Aerospace Innovation Initiative, which was publicly announced in 2015 and produced at least one classified flying demonstrator design. In contrast to previous fighter competitions, NGAD has been cloaked in secrecy from the outset. Indeed, for a long time, the Air Force didnt even disclose which companies were in the running for NGAD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the likely candidates were always going to be Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman the established heavyweights in terms of U.S. combat aircraft manufacturers. As noted, Northrop Grumman removed itself from the running for NGAD in July 2023, as you can read about here. The firm is also highly focused on fulfilling the high-stakes B-21 Raider contract. The three defense contractors are understood to have flown up to three NGAD demonstrators possibly one from each company, although this, too, is unconfirmed. The fact that a full-scale flight demonstrator for NGAD had flown at all was first revealed back in September 2020. A screen capture from a Northrop Grumman promotional video showing a rendering of an advanced combat jet concept, at left, among other aircraft. Northrop Grumman capture Its also worth noting Lockheed Martin was reportedly recently dropped from the separate competition to build the U.S. Navys F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter, which is part of the services own (and somewhat confusingly named) NGAD effort. In contrast, Boeing has recently suffered some notable setbacks in both its commercial and defense businesses. Trump had previously slammed the company over its contract to build two new Air Force One planes, which are running behind schedule. In the context of NGAD, however, the companys entire future as a fighter-builder could be at stake. Notably, the company announced back in 2023 that it was going to shutter the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet line and indicated it would refocus in part on advanced combat jet efforts. The firm has made significant investments in its St. Louis, Missouri, facility to prepare it for sixth-generation fighter production. Boeing alongside Northrop Grumman is still in the running for the Navys F/A-XX. As for tactical jet production, Boeing is currently building F-15 Advanced Eagles and the Air Forces T-7 jet trainer and will be for foreseeable future. Since pausing #NGAD, USAF has continued to fund both Boeing & Lockheed led teams in case the program is cleared to move forward. Boeing has continued to invest in advanced capabilities in anticipation of a next gen fighter award (It is a finalist on both AF and Navy programs). pic.twitter.com/5nLVpammNl AirPower 2.0 (MIL_STD) (@AirPowerNEW1) March 21, 2025 A Boeing rendering of notional U.S. Navy sixth-generation combat jets flying past an aircraft carrier. Boeing Lockheed Martin is already highly active in the fighter business, with its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in production for three U.S. services and multiple foreign countries and with manufacturing of the latest Block 70/72 versions of the F-16 also ongoing. It also continues to sustain the F-22 Raptor. Its Skunk Works advanced projects division is famous for pushing the technological envelope, especially when it comes to tactical airpower-related programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps Air Force NGAD announcement comes at a time at which the president has been seeking to cut costs throughout the U.S. government, including slashing tens of billions of dollars from existing defense programs. NGAD has been a significant source of uncertainty over the past year, having been put on pause in May 2024 as the service reviewed its requirements amid concerns about the affordability of the aircraft, capability needs, and shifting priorities. Ultimately, it seems the services need for a sixth-generation fighter in a potential Indo-Pacific conflict secured the future of the program. A rendering of a notional sixth-generation combat jet refueling in flight. Lockheed Martin Envisioned ostensibly as a successor to the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, the NGAD combat jet was always intended to provide airpower capabilities sufficient to counter near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia. Although the fighter remains highly classified, its widely assumed to be tailored to counter future high-end fights in the Indo-Pacific theater, in particular. We tried a whole bunch of different options, and there was no more viable option than NGAD to achieve air superiority in this highly contested environment, Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, director of Force Design, Integration, and Wargaming within the office of the deputy chief of staff for Air Force Futures, said earlier this month. A rendering of a notional sixth-generation crewed stealth combat jet. Collins Aerospace As such, the fighter will emphasize significant range and payload capabilities but will also boast a host of exotic features and subsystems, among them, broadband stealth, advanced electronic, and other spectral warfare capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TWZ has previously looked in detail at what kind of performance the aircraft might have in the end. Once again, the NGAD combat jet is intended to work within a broader air combat ecosystem one in which CCA drones will play a critical part. The NGAD aircraft has always been envisioned as serving, in part, as a forward drone controller and otherwise operating closely together with companion drones. Reflecting the combat role of the CCAs, the Air Force recently announced new fighter drone designations for the designs that General Atomics and Anduril are currently developing in the first phase, or Increment 1, of the CCA program. Boeing now joins these two companies as they set about completing the development of a new family of air combat systems for the Air Force. A composite rendering of the CCA designs that General Atomics (top) and Anduril (bottom) are currently developing, along with their new formal designations. General Atomics/Anduril/TWZ While there are still many questions to be answered about the NGAD aircraft, todays historic announcement means we do now know, at least, that the Air Forces sixth-generation stealth combat jet will be a Boeing product. Stay tuned for full analysis and updates that we will post below. UPDATE: 12:18 PM EDT The only image we have of the newly minted F-47 design shows the design from a head-on perspective. While limited in what it shows, some major features are clearly visible. Most notable are the wings. F-47 from Boeing. (USAF) Anna Moneymaker We see a wing with a very high dihedral and downward swept tips. This immediately is reminiscent of Boeings famed YF-118G Bird Of Prey technology demonstrator that flew clandestinely out of Area 51 in the 1990s. Another loosely similar high-dihedral design has come into the picture more recently in the form of Scaled Composites Model 401 demonstrators. One positive aspect of this design element is that sensors and communications antennas on the bottom of the aircrafts fuselage can maintain line-of-sight to targets even when the aircraft is banking at steeper angles. The YF-118G proved out a number of technologies, including advanced stealth and tailless design, to new breakthroughs in manufacturing and even visual stealth. It was a far lower performing machine compared to what the F-47 is set up to be, but clearly lessons learned from Bird of Prey are very much alive in Boeings NGAD design. We will likely be hearing more about this historical linkage in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There appears to be some sort of canard foreplanes visible in the image provided. These structures are usually not optimal for low-observability (stealth), although we have seen them in some artwork related to future NGAD-like concepts, especially from Boeing. Adding them would allow for better maneuverability and stability, especially for an inherently very unstable tailless design. We will have to wait and see if this feature is included in the final product or not. There is always the possibility that features are included in the concept art shown to throw off foreign intelligence. We also see a very broad, shovel-like nose, which could house a very large radar array and a large bubble canopy. We dont know if the aircraft will feature one or two crew. We see a single nose wheel, as well. Beyond that, not much can be concluded, including the jets inlet configuration, although the fuselage appears notably svelte, at least from this angle. UPDATE: 1:00 P.M. EDT In the Oval Office presser today, Trump said he was thrilled to announce the NGAD fighter contract award to Boeing, describing the aircraft as the worlds first sixth-generation fighter jet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aircraft has received the Mission Design Series designation F-47, for reasons that arent entirely clear. F-47 was previously used for the World War II-era P-47 Thunderbolt after the designation system was revised in 1947. It may simply be a happy coincidence that Trump is the 47th U.S. president. An F-47 Thunderbolt. U.S. Air Force Trump noted that the F-47 has been in the works for a long period of time, and that the Boeing design was selected after a rigorous and thorough competition between some of Americas top aerospace companies. Its something the likes of which nobody has seen before, Trump continued, as he outlined the F-47 in broad strokes. In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, theres never been anything even close to it, from speed to maneuverability, to what it can have to payload The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built. Trump said he was confident that the F-47 massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation. Theres no other nation, we know every other plane, Ive seen every one of them, and its not even close. This is the next level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as being equipped with state-of-the-art stealth technologies, which will make it virtually unseeable, the F-47 has the most power of any jet of its kind ever made, Trump claims. Maneuverability theres never been anything like it, despite the power and speed, he added. Trump said that the F-47s speed is top, over two, which is something that you dont hear very often. This would seem to imply a top speed in the region of Mach 2. According to Trump, an experimental version of the F-47 has secretly been flying for almost five years. This is in line with the announcement of September 2020, from Dr. Will Roper, then Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, that a previously undisclosed NGAD demonstrator had begun flight testing. Since then, its been reported that at least three NGAD-related demonstrators have flown. The president also announced an aspiration to have the F-47 enter series production before the end of his term in office, which ends in January 2029. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyve already built much of what has to be built in terms of production, including the sheds, Trump said, in reference to investments in infrastructure at Boeings St. Louis, Missouri, plant. As for the unit cost of the new fighter, we cant tell you the price, because it would give it would give way to some of the technology and some of the size of the plane, Trump said. Perhaps most surprisingly, Trump said that U.S. allies are calling constantly with a view to obtaining an export version of the NGAD fighter. He said that the United States would be selling them to certain allies perhaps toned-down versions. Wed like to tone them down about 10 percent which probably makes sense, because someday, maybe theyre not our allies, right? Having the F-47 cleared for export, even in a downgraded version, would be a significant difference from the F-22 stealth fighter, which the NGAD jet was originally schemed to supersede. Despite foreign interest, the F-22 was never approved for sale to other nations, due to the sensitive nature of its technologies. It will be intriguing to see how this issue would be resolved in the even more cutting-edge F-47. Watch as @POTUS, @SecDef and @OfficialCSAF share major news for the Air Force and our country! https://t.co/cdhTc4GV33 U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) March 21, 2025 Allvin, in his statement on the F-47, branded the new aircraft the most advanced, lethal, and adaptable fighter ever developed designed to outpace, outmaneuver, and outmatch any adversary that dares to challenge our brave airmen. Allvin also referred to a flight test campaign related to the NGAD fighter having been carried out over the past five years, noting that more than one X-plane has been involved, flying hundreds of hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These experimental aircraft have demonstrated the innovations necessary to mature the F-47s capabilities, ensuring that when we committed to building this fighter, we knew we were making the right investment for America, Allvin said. This test work has apparently resulted in a fighter that is very close to the series-production configuration, which should ensure it flies in this form during Trumps administration. The Air Force chief also provided an interesting comparison with the F-22, stating that the F-47 will cost less and be more adaptable to future threats. Furthermore, the Air Force will have more F-47s than the current fleet of just over 180 Raptors. Furthermore, the new fighter will have a significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, be more sustainable, supportable, and have higher availability than our fifth-generation fighters. It will also take significantly less manpower and infrastructure to deploy. UPDATE: 1:30 PM EDT Another image we now have of the F-47 concept shows a very interesting and downright puzzling angle. We see that indeed this aircraft has a very broad shovel-like nose and its Bird of Prey-like wing dihedral is also apparent. The canopy looks quite wide as well and a better look at the fuselage is also seen here. The overall design of the fuselage appears very loosely similar to Boeings X-45 UCAV demonstrators and it also has a superficial likeness to the NASA/Boeing X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft. Two X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) are shown to members of the news media on July 11, 2002, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The X-45A, developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Boeing Company, is the first unmanned system designed from inception for combat missions. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) David McNew The most puzzling part of this image is the canards, which look more like smaller forward root extensions here. We also see what appears to be a blockish intake on one side but not the other. This incongruity is curious, but as we stated earlier, the imagery could be altered in key ways to help throw off foreign intelligence. We also have an official high-resolution image of the head-on view, which shows the canards more clearly. Here is what the Air Force said about the head-on image: Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Forces sixth-generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. Full official art of F-47. (USAF) From the legacy of yesterday to the future of combat, your @USAirForce will continue to own the skies with the worlds first 6th-generation fighter jet: the F-47. pic.twitter.com/TcFHEdEbGq General David Allvin (@OfficialCSAF) March 21, 2025 We have a few answers but more questions at this point, which is not uncommon for sensitive aircraft reveals. UPDATE: 2:15 PM EDT Statements are now coming in from some of the companies involved in the NGAD fighter competition, among them winners and losers in todays announcement. Lockheed Martin, the losing entrant for the NGAD fighter contract, has provided TWZ with the following statement: Lockheed Martin continues to work to advance critical technologies to outpace emerging threats and deliver true 21st-century security solutions to our nations military forces. We are committed to advancing the state of the art in air dominance to ensure America has the most revolutionary systems to counter the rapidly evolving threat environment. While disappointed with this outcome, we are confident we delivered a competitive solution. We will await further discussions with the U.S. Air Force. The last sentence of that statement would appear to suggest that some sort of protest against the contract award could be on the cards. Meanwhile, engine manufacturer General Electric posted the following to X: A statement from GE Aerospace on today's Next Generation Air Dominance Program Announcement: pic.twitter.com/hKtt25sM7D GE Aerospace (@GE_Aerospace) March 21, 2025 Earlier this year, Air Force contracts with General Electric and Pratt & Whitney had their ceilings increased to $3.5 billion, for the companies to continue work on prototype next-generation jet engines. This is part of the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, which is focused primarily on developing new engines to power the NGAD fighter. The NGAD combat jets future is now an open question, but NGAP might also feed into other advanced aviation programs. Todays big winner is, of course, Boeing. As John Ostrower, editor-in-chief of The Air Current, notes, this is the first time that the company has won a contract for a clean-sheet jet fighter design. Otherwise, successful Boeing products in this field have been inherited from McDonnell Douglas, with which it was merged in 1997, including the F-15, AV-8B, F/A-18, and EA-18. Okay, I checked my encylopedias on my bookshelf, and Boeing's NGAD win is the first clean-sheet jet fighter awarded in its entire history. theaircurrent.com/dispatches/ Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower.com) 2025-03-21T17:29:36.783Z Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs has provided a few more details on where the F-47 program will go next. Todays contract award will fund the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase, which includes maturing, integrating, and testing all aspects of the F-47. This phase will produce a small number of test aircraft for evaluation, the Air Force says. The contract also includes competitively priced options for low-rate initial production. Coming soon to our Air Dominance Combined Test Force! #AFMChttps://t.co/VER2YqXDbB Edwards Air Force Base (@EdwardsAFB) March 21, 2025 UPDATE: 4:00 PM EDT Boeing has issued an official statement on its award, with the following quote from Steve Parker, interim president, and chief executive officer of its Defense, Space & Security division. We recognize the importance of designing, building, and delivering a sixth-generation fighter capability for the United States Air Force. In preparation for this mission, we made the most significant investment in the history of our defense business, and we are ready to provide the most advanced and innovative NGAD aircraft needed to support the mission. UPDATE: 12:00 PM EDT 3-22-25 A couple things to follow up with now that the initial announcement day has passed. First off, the DoD posted a high-resolution version of the F-47 flying render. We do see the canards oddly obscured by clouds, but they are there. Tough to say exactly what the final aircraft configuration will look like. Canards are a very interesting if not puzzling choice for many reasons, low observability being the biggest. We will be exploring this further soon. Also, as noted repeatedly above, how accurate or purposefully misleading these images are is unknown. (U.S. Air Force graphic) Secretary of the Air Force Publi Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Forces sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (U.S. Air Force graphic) Secretary of the Air Force Publi Air Force Chief of Staff, General Allvin, took to X to clarify why the NGAD tactical jet got its strange designation: The F-47 designation was chosen in consultation with @secdef & carries multiple significant meanings. It honors the legacy of the P-47, whose contributions to air superiority during WW2 remain historic Also, the number pays tribute to the founding year of our incredible @usairforce, while also recognizing the 47th @POTUSs pivotal support for the development of the worlds FIRST sixth-generation fighter. Also, the number pays tribute to the founding year of our incredible @usairforce, while also recognizing the 47th @POTUSs pivotal support for the development of the worlds FIRST sixth-generation fighter (2/2). https://t.co/wjBynCSejr General David Allvin (@OfficialCSAF) March 21, 2025 We also want to highlight the similarities between what we are seeing of this new aircraft and McDonnell Douglas Phantom Works (now Boeing) X-36 subscale demonstrator from the 1990s. This aircraft was used to prove-out tailless fighter design. The canard arrangement, canopy and the nose are certainly similar. We will have more on this in a future post. (Museum of the US Air Force) UPDATE: 2:18 AM EDT 3-23-25 We have new info on two x-planes that were flown as part of the genesis of the F-47, one built by Boeing and one by Lockheed Martin. Read about it in our new article here. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com and tyler@twz.com KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) With school buildings going on 70 years or older, Kettering City Schools has been working with state officials and contractors to create a plan to address the aging infrastructure. On Thursday night, officials unveiled their plans during a public forum, sharing some pretty big changes in the works, including both potential renovations and demolitions to buildings within the Kettering City Schools system. Greenville rebuilds beloved stadium after 2024 tornado Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Partnering with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) for funding, city officials had multiple plans some involving the consolidation of elementary and middle schools in the district. Were presenting some bold plans for the future, does the community want to consider consolidating Kettering Middle School and Van Buren into one combined middle school? said Mike Ruetschle, architect. And might it be at Fairmont High School? Its kind of an extraordinary idea. Many of the schools in Ketterings district are coming up on 70 years old and after inspections with the OFCC, they wouldnt fund renovations of some schools due to age and poor condition. Dealing with a forecasted decline in enrollment and facing the mounting potential costs of renovations, officials had to propose funding in the hundreds of millions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A first pass at an eight school solution would be roughly a $433 million plan, said Ruetschle. Anticipating $286 million locally, $147 million from the state. Another plan would put nearly $380 million onto residents without state assistance. 2 NEWS spoke with one school board member who said the biggest challenge right now is just communicating everything with the community. Truly, the biggest thing was the sheer volume of information that we presented tonight, said Bill Lautar, Kettering school board member. The architect went through all the different aspects involved, presented some different scenarios of what can be done, and I think its just a lot of information to digest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The steer committee will be meeting monthly until the fall to further hear from community members and continue developing plans. If community members have questions, they can submit them on the Kettering City Schools webpage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bonney Lake Mayor Terry Carter has sent a letter to Gov. Bob Ferguson to consider reversing the parole decision for Timothy Pauley, who was convicted for the murders of three tavern employees in 1980. Pauley, then 21, tortured five people at Barn Door Tavern in SeaTac during closing time, killing three of them with his accomplice. The pair used extension cords to tie up three women and two men who were cleaning up. They forced the women to undress and brought the men into a walk-in cooler, where Pauley executed them with a revolver. One of the women was later strangled by a cord used to tie her to a bar rail, the Associated Press reported. The other two women survived. He was serving three life sentences for the robbery, rape, and murder of those three people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the sentence, opportunities for parole have still come up for Pauley throughout the decades. In 2016, when there was a possibility for his parole, families of the victims and survivors told KIRO 7 that they were outraged and that they couldnt understand why a life sentence didnt actually mean life in prison. Pauley opens up this cooler door and puts a .357 Magnum handgun to our fathers head and pulls the trigger. When you are told life, you believe that he is going to be spending the rest of his life in prison, Angie Dowell, a daughter of one of the victims, said in 2016. Now, nearly 10 years after that plea from family members, the Bonney Lake community was informed that Pauley could soon be out and living among them. In former Gov. Jay Inslees last few days in office, he apparently reversed a 2022 decision to cancel Pauleys parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the states Indeterminate Sentence Review Board unanimously found Pauley rehabilitated. It said he completed years of counseling for drug and alcohol abuse and for post-traumatic stress disorder for a workplace injury, he suffered before the killings and was okayed to be released. At the time, Inslee said he did not believe Pauleys rehabilitation was complete because he did not apologize to the victims families. As Inslee was on his way out, it appears he reversed his decision. While the triple murders took place near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Carter said he was made aware that if released, Pauley may be living in Bonney Lake. With that information becoming known, Mayor Carter wrote a letter to now-governor Ferguson a letter asking him to look into the decision and act as deemed fit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I only became aware of this due to social media. Pauley is said to be released to live near Bonney Lake. As the Mayor, it is my duty to attempt to protect this community from harm. My intent in writing this letter is not to spread fear but to ask for meaningful action that you, based on your elected position seem to be the only person who can stop this. Only the Governor has the power to cancel this parole. The letter continued: With your background, especially as the former Attorney General for the great State of Washington, Im sure you are aware of the negative effects this release could pose for the community. Earlier this week, the Bonney Lake City Council allowed for public testimony about the release, and they specifically heard from victims families, who said he failed to express remorse for his crimes or accept responsibility. I respectfully request for you to investigate this matter. I believe if you look at this matter with an eye toward public safety, which I believe you will, I believe youll come to the same conclusion that I have. Pauley is a danger to others and his release would be absolutely traumatizing to his victim and their families. This is a moment for the community to come together, not to spread fear, but to channel concerns into meaningful action. You can stand for justice. You can make sure the voices of the victims, and their families are not forgotten. You are our only hope, Carter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to KIRO 7, Fergusons office said: Governor Fergusons office was recently informed of Mr. Pauleys impending release, currently scheduled for March 27. Governor Ferguson has the authority to cancel Mr. Pauleys parole. Under Washington state law, that authority requires the Governor to thoroughly review the record before making his decision. Our office is currently conducting its review of the extensive record in this matter. The governor is currently in the process of scheduling a time to meet with family members of Pauleys victims. Its unclear when Pauley could potentially be released. COSTA NAVARINO, Greece, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Punta Cana of the Dominican Republic has been officially selected to host the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in 2027, following a vote by IOC members here on Friday. This marks the first time the Dominican Republic will host this gathering of the IOC membership and represents a return of the Olympic Movement to the Caribbean 38 years after the 95th IOC Session in Puerto Rico in 1989. The proposal to consider Punta Cana as the host city was initially put forward by the IOC Executive Board. This recommendation was based on a feasibility study conducted by the IOC Session Evaluation Commission, led by IOC member Ser Miang Ng. The Boston School Committee voted late Thursday night to close four schools in the city and merge two more, despite pleas from teachers and parents to keep them open. A 5-1 vote in favor of the closures and merger comes as the district faces high needs, special needs, and multi-lingual learners. District leaders say that combining resources at the bigger schools will allow for better student outcomes. Excel High School in South Boston, Community Academy in Jamaica Plain, Mary Lyon Pilot High School in Brighton, and the Paul A. Dever Elementary School in Dorchester will close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The John Winthrop Elementary School and Roger Clap Elementary School will be merged into the Frederick Middle School. The closures and merger of the schools will save Boston Public Schools $20 million, which they plan to invest into larger schools to allow for more resources for students. Our reality is that many of our school buildings were built for a different time when decision-makers had a narrower understanding of what students needed to be successful, Boston Public Schools Superintendant Mary Skipper said. We are trying to rectify that through this work. About 1,300 students will be impacted by the changes, however, Boston Public Schools said it expected a decreased enrollment over the next five years and educators want to ensure they are planning for the future now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The schools will close at the end of the 2025-26 school year. RELATED: Community could be splintered: Parents rally to keep Dorchester school from closing Boston Public Schools superintendent recommends permanent closure of Excel High School Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Two young boys were shot Thursday afternoon, one fatally, in the South Shore neighborhood, according to the Chicago police. The boys, ages 5 and 8, were inside a home in the 1400 block of East 71st Place when they were both wounded around 5:20 p.m., police said, citing preliminary information. The 8-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of his head, while the younger boy suffered a graze wound to his head, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both boys were taken to Comer Childrens Hospital, where the older boy was pronounced dead, police said. The 5-year-old was listed in good condition. The victims relatives began to gather in the vestibule of Comer Childrens Hospital around 8:15 p.m. but were not able to enter the building because the hospital was placed on lockdown. None would make public comments. Police said a firearm was recovered from the scene but did not indicate whether the children may have been playing with the weapon. About an hour after the shooting, neighbors on 71st Place looked on as police lined the front walk to a brick cottage on the north side of the street. They watched as police led a man into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A neighbor who asked not to be named was looking out her window at 5:19 p.m. and witnessed the moment a mail carrier on her route saw something at the victims home, dropped her packages and ran toward it. Police cars soon began arriving on the block, she said. The neighbor added the victims family lived in the home for about two years. In warmer weather, shed see the children out in a nearby vacant lot or playing in the street. Wentworth Area detectives were investigating. Armando Sanchez contributed to this report. MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A Bridgeport man was arrested on Thursday in alleged connection to the overdose death of a woman on March 15, according to police. Police say Gerome Eldridge, 43, sold drugs to a 28-year-old woman who was found dead in the Super 8 Motel at 1015 Boston Post Road in Milford. Detectives seized the victims cell phone and found text conversations between her and Eldridge regarding purchasing drugs. Also found in her motel room were pills believed to be Xanax, unknown pills and powdered white substance believed to be crack cocaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milford man charged with firing gun in home with kids An arrest warrant issued for Eldridge charged him with illegal distribution of narcotics and $50,000 bond. During his arrest at the Motel 6 at 111 Schoolhouse Road in Milford, police say they found materials including multiple narcotics pills, a large box containing what is believed to be cutting agents, numerous wax fold packaging materials, baggies, numerous drug scales with residue, 12 cell phones and over 23 grams of suspected marijuana. A police search of Eldridges car revealed cocaine, opiates and Xanax. Eldridge was arrested and additionally charged with three counts of possession with intent to sell narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, operation of a drug factory and narcotics not in original container. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was issued an additional $50,000 bond and transported to Milford court on 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 WTNH.com. March 21 (UPI) -- The British government said Friday it holds $32.3 billion in frozen Russian assets, according to an Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation report. The OFSI report said the figure "includes the value of funds frozen in the U.K. as well as overseas where those funds or economic resources are subject to U.K. financial sanctions legislation." The amount has gone up by 10% in a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The U.K. has frozen $32 billion worth of Russian assets and working with our allies, we have deprived Russian of over $400 billion the equivalent to four years of Russia's military spending. We will continue to robustly enforce our financial sanctions as part of our wider response to Russia's barbaric invasion of Ukraine," British Economic Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said in a statement Europe has frozen roughly $216.5 billion in Russian assets as calls mount for that frozen money to be used to support Ukraine. The immobilized funds are held in Belgium by Euroclear. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever told reporters Thursday evening that using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine would amount to "an act of war." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October Britain loaned Ukraine $3 billion from frozen Russian assets. In December the United States loaned Ukraine $20 billion funded by frozen Russian assets. Then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement the money "will provide Ukraine a critical infusion of support as it defends its country against an unprovoked war of aggression." A Chinese milk tea chain and a China-made childrens doll are on the receiving end of consumer backlash in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, over their alleged acknowledgement of Beijings claims to the South China Sea. Sales of Baby Three Doll, a Chinese-made doll popular with kids and Gen-Z, are tanking in Vietnam following an online outcry over imagery on the dolls face thats said to resemble the so-called nine-dash line, which designates Beijing's claim over vast swathes of the South China Sea. Retailers were slashing prices to try to entice consumers to buy the toy, according to Vietnamese media. The dolls became available in Vietnam in September last year, and sales of the dolls reportedly reached $1.6 million between September and December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vietnams industry and trade ministry has weighed in, calling for an inspection of the toys and warning that they were affecting national security and territorial sovereignty. Chagee, a Chinese milk tea chain, is also dealing with angry consumers. The company is preparing to open its first Vietnam outlet in Ho Chi Minh City. Yet customers noted that its mobile app uses a map that includes the nine-dash line. Outraged Vietnamese flooded Chagees Facebook page with complaints, leading the chain to limit who can comment on its Facebook posts. That pushed angry Vietnamese users to post comment on Chagee's Malaysia Facebook page instead. Chagee has since removed the map on its app. The chain did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's relationship with Southeast Asia China is the top trading partner for Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Yet despite their close economic ties, these Southeast Asian countries disagree with Beijing's claims over the resource-rich South China Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An international tribunal in The Hague rejected Chinas territorial claims in 2016. Yet Beijing dismissed that ruling and has often deployed its navy to protect what it argues is its territory. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brunei all have competing claims over territory in the South China Sea. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man pleaded guilty after thousands of images of child pornography were recovered, some including depictions of prepubescent minors, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Friday. Alexander Weidner, 35, allegedly uploaded child pornography on Snapchat and Instagram accounts, officials said. On Feb. 28, 2023, investigators seized two cellphones during a search warrant executed at his residence. According to officials, around 4,843 images and 371 videos of child pornography were recovered. Some of the images included depictions of children under 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weidner also allegedly used a private messenger app to share child pornography with another user. Weidner pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He is expected to be sentenced in July. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. SHANGHAI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Tesla's new Megafactory in east China's Shanghai on Friday exported its first batch of Megapack energy-storage batteries, the company announced. It took the new Megafactory just over a month after its production launch to achieve its first export, with the batteries being transported from Shanghai Port to Australia. This export highlights Tesla's further expansion in the global energy storage market, and also underlines the extension of its battery technology from electric vehicles to energy storage, according to the company. "Megafactory gives us the ability to scale production and efficiency," said Mike Snyder, vice president of Tesla. "We can lower logistics costs as well as product costs, and grow the business to new markets." BOOSTER TO GREEN TRANSFORMATION An energy-storage system charges when wind power or solar power generates a large volume of electricity or when the power consumption is low, and discharges when power generation is low or consumption is high. It can smooth the unstable output of solar or wind power to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the grid. Megapack is an electrochemical energy storage device that uses lithium batteries -- a dominant technical route in the new-type energy storage industry. This sector is characterized by short construction periods, flexible layouts and fast responses, when compared to conventional pump storage. "The large-scale application of new-type energy storage systems like Megapacks will strengthen grid stability, security and economic efficiency, contributing to the green transition of the energy structure," said Zhang Yu, a senior expert at the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company. Snyder has reaffirmed Tesla's commitment to supporting China's green transition. The executive added: "Tesla is not just an electric vehicle company. We're building a world powered by energy generation and storage products and transported by electric vehicles to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy." The smooth production and export of the new Megafactory take Tesla's envision a step forward. The Shanghai facility was built with an initial annual production capacity of 10,000 units. Notably, each Megapack unit can store over 3.9 megawatt-hours of energy -- sufficient to power approximately 3,600 households for one hour. Tesla anticipates a year-on-year increase of at least 50 percent in its energy storage deployments in 2025. The batteries produced at the factory will supply both the domestic and Asia-Pacific markets. According to the General Administration of Customs (GAC), China's lithium battery exports reached 3.91 billion units in 2024, marking a record high. Last year, the country's export of wind turbines surged by 71.9 percent, and the photovoltaic product exports exceeded 200 billion yuan (about 27.9 billion U.S. dollars) for four consecutive years. "China's green products not only enrich global supply, but also make contributions to tackling climate change and green and low-carbon transformation," said Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis. MAGNET FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT Hailed by the company as a "milestone," the new Megafactory is the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States and the company's second plant in Shanghai, following the inauguration of its Gigafactory in 2019. Covering an area of approximately 200,000 square meters, the new Shanghai plant represents a total investment of about 1.45 billion yuan, according to the administration of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, where the new Tesla facility is located. Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the rapid operation of the Megafactory reflects the extensive opportunities that China provides to foreign companies. "China, with its vast market, complete supply and industrial chains, and investor-friendly environment, will continue to be a top choice for global capital," Bai said. As outlined in this year's government work report, China has pledged to encourage foreign-funded enterprises in China to reinvest in the country, strengthen services for foreign investors, and make China a favored destination for foreign investment. In 2024, 59,080 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, up 9.9 percent year on year. Over the past five years, the return rate of foreign direct investment in China has remained at approximately 9 percent, ranking among the highest in the world. "Numerous foreign enterprises in China are rejecting decoupling and supply chain disruption," Bai noted. "Their focus is on deepening collaboration with Chinese firms to achieve shared growth." BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday morning after dragging and seriously injuring a Town of Tonawanda police officer in 2023, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. Dareious Akbar, 21, abruptly drove off during a traffic stop on May 29, 2023. The responding officer, David Piatek, held on to the side of the vehicle, fell and struck his head on the pavement. He was taken to ECMC with serious injuries. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. near the intersection of Sheridan Drive and Sheridan-Parkside Drive. Akbar was driving a vehicle stolen out of East Aurora at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Akbar pleaded guilty to the following charges in July 2024: two counts, first-degree assault assault upon a police officer third-degree criminal possession of stolen property third-degree unauthorized use of motor vehicle Additional initial charges were dismissed including attempted murder and aggravated assault upon a police officer. The Erie County District Attorneys Office said it requested the maximum sentence against him. Along with the fifteen years, Akbar will receive five years of post release supervision. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak and City Councilors are urging Gov. Phil Scott to reverse course and sign the Budget Adjustment Act and extend the states hotel-motel emergency housing program for more than 80 households that are scheduled to be evicted from the program on April 1. Scott vetoed the spending plan, in part because he opposed the inclusion by Democratic lawmakers of a $1.8 million appropriation to continue the program. As Vermonts Governor, we implore you to seriously consider the profound negative impacts your veto will have, not only for the households this affects but the strain that will be placed on municipalities and social service organizations who are already stretched to the limit, said the letter, which was also signed by Burlington Schools Superintendent Tom Flanagan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plea to the governor noted that Burlington spent an estimated $8 million related to unsheltered homelessness in 2024. And it cited data showing a more than six-fold increase in unhoused Vermonters, most of them in Burlington, since 2023. These costs to the City are largely supported by municipal taxpayers, the letter said. As municipal leaders, we are forced into action to support basic human dignity while mitigating health and safety concerns for all residents, businesses, and visitors. The ongoing budget battle as the clock ticks toward April 1 has worried community leaders across the state, but especially in Vermonts largest city. Sarah Russell, Burlingtons Special Assistant to End Homelessness, said Wednesday that 83 households in Burlington alone would be kicked out of their motel rooms if a new deal isnt reached, including 12 families with children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, in their own letter to the governor, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth and House Speaker Jill Krowinski said they were willing to accept Scotts budget cuts as long as the motel program is extended. In a scathing response, Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark said Scott has offered to compromise by providing $2.1 million in grants to Vermont cities and towns to be used for community supports. The response suggested that debate over the motel program take place during FY26 budget deliberations. The proposal was not accepted. No legislative alternative was offered, Clark said. But Thursdays letter from Burlington leaders said the lift to support people living unsheltered has become impossible due to repeated cuts in funding and the states diminishing role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is unsustainable and far more costly to Vermonters than extending motel stays through the end of the fiscal year, the letter said. We want to be partners in creating a sustainable and humane transition out of the motel program however, that work becomes near impossible when we are constantly forced into a crisis response posture. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Despite the ever-looming threat of a major earthquake hitting the Cascadia Subduction Zone, efforts to reinforce Portlands Burnside Bridge have been delayed. Multnomah County leaders decided to extend the design phase for the years-long Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project until 2028 a year behind schedule. Hwy 26s The Bump sends cars airborne as locals fight for improvements Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the decision comes during a period of uncertainty on a federal level. By delaying the bridges construction, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said the county will be able to find more opportunities to cut costs. The County remains committed to resilience projects like the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project, which are critical for our region, Vega Pederson said. This seismically resilient bridge will not only provide much needed infrastructure, it will be an immediately usable lifeline route for emergency responders in the wake of a major earthquake, increase multi-modal transit options and help us meet climate goals for the long term. The project, which began in 2019, has worked with several groups including engineers, architects, and other agencies for aesthetic plans, structural components, costs and long-term maintenance needs. In September, the county announced that an inverted-Y, cable-stay design had been approved. Multnomah County Transportation Director Jon Henrichsen told KOIN 6 News they had been counting on grant funding but are now unsure whether they can expect federal money during the Trump Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies are being reduced. Agencies that oversee the project and the regulatory environment of the project, including the environmental regulations that the project is built in, are experiencing changes in their mandates, Henrichsen said. So were kind of waiting to see how all that works out. The inverted-Y bridge was approved as the design choice for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project on Sept. 12, 2024. (Multnomah County) Henrichsen said the bridge project with an 895 million dollar budget will be difficult to get done without the help of federal money. Multnomah County is dealing with money issues of its own, though he also added that the transportations budget will not be impacted We cant really start construction until we have enough money to complete the whole bridge, because were building the new bridge, on the same alignment as the existing bridge, he said. Were going to have to take the existing bridge out of service. Once its gone, its gone. And we cant risk not having enough money to put the old bridge back in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eugene limited edition sneaker shop owner, CFO plead guilty to $80M fraud scheme The project aims to replace the Burnside Bridge with a bridge that will withstand a Cascadia Subduction Zone quake, which is expected in the zone every 300-500 years. According to Multnomah County, the project is necessary because no vehicular bridges that cross the Willamette River would be usable after the The Big One. As of 2025, the only bridge currently thought capable of surviving the shock is the Wapato Bridge connecting Portland to Sauvie Island. Jan. 26, 2025, marked the 325th anniversary of the most recent earthquake a massive magnitude 9 quake spanning Northern California to British Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Henrichsen said the delay does not mean the project is not a priority for the county. Its not unusual for a big project like this to experience delays, or to get the timeline pushed back a bit because theyre complex, he said. But it doesnt have anything to do with the importance of the project to Multnomah County. Its really just the situation that were in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday for a new business complex that officials say is part of an effort to revitalize the Historic Westside of Las Vegas. The development, a mixed-use microbusiness park, aims to welcome education, work, and housing opportunities to the area This is the start of many projects to come, said William McCurdy II, a Clark County commissioner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am a native of Las Vegas We grew up right here in this community, and we moved away, like so many others, said Shon Murray, who attended Thursdays ceremony. Murray and her husband Duane recently sold their home in Centennial Hills and bought a new home in the Historic Westside. What made us want to come back is we see the potential. We see the opportunities, said Murray. This has always been vacant land, nothing happening, and Ive always dreamed that the Westside would be a vibrant community. The vacant lot on the northwest corner of West Lake Mead Boulevard and Engelstad Street will be the site of the new business and housing hub. Officials hope the location, situated next to the Las Vegas Culinary Academy and Nevada Partners, will create unique opportunities for workforce development and business incubation. The mixed-use development, a partnership with UNLV, will include 76 units of workforce housing and a 20,000-square-foot office, retail, and entrepreneur space. The project aims to foster entrepreneurship while providing quality housing for Clark County residents earning 80 percent or below the area median income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the residential side, the 76 units will offer studios and one- to three-bedroom options with rent at approximately $900 to $1800 monthly. Congressman Steven Horsford said the development is a boost of opportunity right in the heart of the historically underprivileged and impoverished community. For those of us who are born and raised here, we always have known about the rich history and the assets and the excellence that is the Historic Westside, but it is also known because of racial segregation as a community that was left out, that was left behind for far too long, said Horsford. What were just trying to do is create opportunity. The same opportunity as you would see in other parts of the valley, we recognize that those opportunities should be here. Officials believe those opportunities are focused on building up a community based on the vision of its people. We would not have been able to get to this point had it not been for the vision of the people for themselves, said McCurdy. We went out into the community, and they said what they wanted. They said they wanted more workforce housing. They said they wanted more support for small businesses. And as a result of what they asked for, this is what we delivered on today as a county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Helen Toland, a 98-year-old resident in the community, its a vision decades in the making. The Westside is home, said Toland. This is a great part of our future, and the more we invest, the better our future will be. The Microbusiness Park project is expected to be completed next summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. HOSSTON, La. (KTAL/KMSS)- The Caddo Parish Commission changed the TA Truckstop TIFT tax from an ordinance to a resolution for legal reasons. Shreveport Police searching for missing teenager The two percent tax resolution will now be voted upon at a future meeting. The truck stop is in Chris Kracmans district. He voted against advancing the resolution along with three other commissioners. The truck stop developer said, We have lowered the prices in the store twenty, twenty-five percent to offset the tax. Ive explained that over and over, but he wants to vote on principle. His only principle is his own self-interest, apparently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Commissioner Victor Thomas asked Kracman to work with him for the betterment of Hosston, Kracman said, I was against this and am against this on principle. During the meeting, Commissioner Epperson also introduced three resolutions: opposing mass firings of federal employees, cuts to national aid programs, and tariffs against our trading partners. Emotions ran high during the debate. Ultimately, the resolutions failed, but Epperson said he would continue to fight for his constituents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. (KTLA) A Southern California couple that came to the United States without authorization some 35 years ago, raised three daughters and now have a new grandson were deported to Colombia earlier this week, according to media reports. Related video above: Federal judge hears arguments on deportation flights Nelson Gonzalez, 59, and his wife Gladys Gonzalez, 55, of Orange County, originally entered the states near San Ysidro before ultimately settling in Laguna Niguel and starting their family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the couple tried numerous legal avenues to remain in the country over the years, including appeals to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Board of Immigration Appeals, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told The Orange County Register that the Gonzalezes had exhausted all legal options to remain in the U.S. between March 2000 and August 2021, and were ultimately in violation of immigration law. Their three daughters, Gabby, 23, Jessica, 33, and Stephanie, 27, all U.S. citizens, told KTLA that they were devastated when they learned their parents had been detained on Feb. 21 during a regular check-in with U.S. immigration officials. They were put into handcuffs by their wrists and ankles and treated as criminals before getting to these detention centers, Stephanie Gonzalez told KTLA. All they said is they extended their stay, even though every year theyve had permission to be here and theyre law-abiding citizens who show up and are doing their duty to check in with immigration and say, Hey Im here. Im not hiding or doing anything wrong. Then they just arrested them like that. Gladys and Nelson, neither of whom have a criminal record, were originally held at the Adelanto Detention Center in San Bernardino County before being transferred to a facility in Arizona and later Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephanie told The Register that though her parents have been traumatized by everything thats transpired, they are grateful to no longer be in detention centers and have made contact with family in Colombia who are helping them start a new life. The two younger sisters, Gabby and Stephanie, are currently living with Jessica and her husband in Newport Beach. They all plan to visit their parents within the coming weeks. Family members also acknowledged theyre one of many who have been affected by President Donald Trump and his administrations goal of ramping up arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants throughout the U.S. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A California judge on Friday denied a prosecutor's bid to ensure the last death-row case within his jurisdiction is reclassified to life in prison without parole. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen was previously successful in getting the death-row sentences of 12 inmates changed in the last year, but Superior Court Judge Benjamin Williams declined to do so in the final case that of gunman Richard Farley, a software technician who killed seven people and wounded four others at his former workplace in 1988. "There is no reason for this court to believe that Mr. Farley is any less dangerous today or has rehabilitated himself," Williams said, noting that Farley has not had any serious disciplinary infractions on his prison record but has also failed to undergo extensive behavioral rehabilitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He has not demonstrated that he has learned anything in the past 37 years," Williams said, adding, "Nothing suggests he is remorseful." The court held previous hearings last year in the countys effort to resentence Farley, but additional family members of victims, survivors and public safety officers gave statements Friday in opposition before Williams ruled. "How is it in the best interest of justice to reduce this mass murderer's sentence?" said Richard Townsley, who was shot three times by Farley and still has the bullet fragments in his body, in a letter read to the court. "No one should have to go through what we did, and it's not right that Farley should live the rest of his life without the death penalty hanging over his head." Others recounted the chaotic events of the day and the lives lost, and pressed Williams not to resentence Farley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resentencing reviews by district attorneys are not uncommon, but theyre often controversial. Among them in California is the high-profile case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are seeking their freedom after they were previously sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 1989 deaths of their parents in their Beverly Hills home. But Californias 592 death row inmates have already found a reprieve. In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on executions. The last one was conducted there in 2006, before an ongoing nationwide shortage of lethal injection drugs. But anti-death penalty advocates say executions could still resume under a future governor, and Newsoms action does not prohibit local prosecutors from seeking death sentences in future trials. District Attorney Jeff Rosen. The Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Fridays resentencing, but Rosen, who was first elected in 2010 in a nonpartisan race, has said the death penalty is an antiquated, racially biased, error-prone system that deters nothing and costs us millions of public dollars and our integrity as a community that cherishes justice. He first announced in 2020 that his office would no longer pursue the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges and juries of the People should decide where an inmate dies, Rosen said in a statement last year. God should decide when. Of the 17 death row inmates eligible for resentencing in Santa Clara County, four of them declined to participate, according to the district attorneys office. While the reasons are unclear, its not unheard of for death row inmates to refuse similar commutations. Rosen, who does not align with the progressive prosecutor movement, had previously been a supporter of the death penalty, writing in an opinion piece in 2012 that it can be used sparingly and responsibly. But in the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Rosen took two trips to Alabamas Legacy Museum, which highlights the countrys history of slavery and lynchings, and found that his views on capital punishment were shifting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His decision to undo death sentences, however, has opened up agonizing memories for others. Elizabeth Williams Allens husband, Wayne Buddy Williams, was among those killed by Farley at ESL Inc., a high-tech defense firm in Sunnyvale, a city west of San Jose. Allen, 22, and Williams, 23, were newlyweds, and both worked at ESL but had not known Farley, who by then had been fired. Prosecutors said Farley had been stalking a former female co-worker who rebuffed his advances. He was armed with multiple guns during his rampage. Elizabeth Libby Williams Allen with her husband, Wayne Buddy Williams Jr., who was killed in a 1988 mass shooting in Sunnyvale, California. Allen did not attend Farleys initial sentencing, but for years had been waiting to learn when he would be executed so she could be a witness. Then, last year, she said, she got a letter from Rosens office about the resentencing and was stunned. Ive never been so angry in my life, said Allen, now 59. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Allen said she can understand a prosecutor choosing to re-evaluate a case that may have been undermined by misconduct and racial bias, she insists Farleys is not one. Hes white and his victims were white, Allen said. You cannot treat every crime like theyre the same. When you take this singular case of Richard Farley what he planned to do, what he decided to do this is what the death penalty was created for. And he has shown no remorse. Allen was able to track down other family members of victims to inform them of the resentencing, and a San Jose lawyer, Jim McManis, helped to represent them and find others who were victimized by the shooting. McManis said California law allows for a defendants term of imprisonment to be modified, but disagrees that should apply to death row inmates because their sentences were not imprisonment but death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not a question of whether youre for or against the death penalty, McManis said. Its a question of the rule of law and applying the statute to it. Farleys public defender declined to comment prior to Friday's hearing about the resentencing, but in a court filing said others have described the now-76-year-old as an ideal inmate and that his previously undiagnosed autism and dysfunctional childhood had impaired his understanding of proper societal behavior as an adult. While his autism does not excuse his crimes, the filing said, explaining the function of the brain and how this relates to autistic thinking would have been a significant part of mitigation, which would have helped contextualize his crimes and extenuated the need for a death sentence. Unfortunately, this evidence was not presented to the jury. Absent a death sentence, Mr. Farley will spend the remainder of his life as he has for three decades quietly, posing no danger to fellow prisoners, staff, or the people of California, the filing added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen, however, was worried about what signal Rosens request may send to both criminals and other district attorneys. This has nothing to do with justice, she said prior to Friday's sentencing. This has to do with an overreaching, unnecessary grab on his own whim. Elisabeth Semel, a professor and the founding director of the Berkeley Law Death Penalty Clinic, said no matter what someone thinks of the death penalty, there remains no evidence that executions advance public safety. A 2011 study published by the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review found that the states death row prisoners cost $184 million more per year than those sentenced to life in prison without parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of capital trials, public legal representation and enhanced death row security is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in a haphazard, discriminatory, and unreliable effort to grease the machinery money that is desperately needed elsewhere, Semel said in an email. Former district attorneys in Alameda and Los Angeles counties have also attempted to resentence a large number of defendants, Semel said, but not at the degree of every death-sentenced defendant like Rosen. The district attorney, she added, has been forthright about what prompted him to act. As he writes and has stated elsewhere publicly, the death penalty system is irredeemably broken. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com SACRAMENTO, California Forget the big, nation-leading swings on health care and climate. Instead, California Democrats are talking about energy bills and zoning for new housing. Their modest legislative ambitions and subdued response to the second Trump administration mark a striking departure for a state known for flexing its economic and political clout to mold the national agenda. California Democrats for decades have wielded their monopoly on power to enact and ultimately export ambitious policies including clean energy mandates, health care for undocumented immigrants and worker guarantees like paid family leave and sick days. But Gov. Gavin Newsom and his party are recalibrating after a bruising 2024 election in which President Donald Trump outperformed his 2020 results across the state and voters signaled they were fed up with crime and a crushing cost of living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to take a step back and assess what Californians are prioritizing and what their attitudes are, said state Sen. Tom Umberg, a Southern California Democrat, citing a poor election performance by native Californian and then-Vice President Kamala Harris. This is a philosophic question as to whether we need to lead or follow. From battleground states to Capitol Hill, reeling Democrats are searching for a path back to relevance after voters repudiated them at the ballot box. But the retrenchment in California, a blue bastion where Democrats feel their footing eroding, reflects the depth of the party's challenge to counter Trumpism and win back voters. California was never going to swing its electoral votes to Trump. But Harris comfortable margin was freighted by warning signs across the ballot. Harris underperformed Joe Biden by seven points, slipping in deep-blue counties and populous working-class areas like Riverside and San Bernardino, where Democrats lost legislative seats that were never supposed to be in play. Voters fed up with crime and homelessness jettisoned their mayors in San Francisco and Oakland and overwhelmingly passed a statewide initiative to stiffen drug and theft sentences despite opposition from Newsom on down, emboldening long-sidelined Republican lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our leaders, the governor, the speaker, are recognizing that what were doing is not working, said Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, the leader of Sacramentos moderate bloc. I think what happened in November was a wakeup for some folks that if we dont do something about it, people arent going to trust us anymore. Sacramento responded to Trumps first win by pushing through sweeping limits on cooperation with immigration authorities and a requirement that all electricity flow from renewable sources, citing the need for California to model alternative leadership. Lawmakers took direct swipes at the president with proposals like a since-overturned law compelling Trump to release his tax returns and resolutions denouncing a border wall and demanding Trumps impeachment. But in December, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas opened the legislative session with a speech that omitted any mention of the president. The Central Coast Democrat invoked some version of the words cost or affordability a dozen times, and warned his caucus that our constituents dont feel that the state of California is working for them. It reflected a broader belief, echoed in interviews with Democratic lawmakers, that the party has to reassess its tactics and goals. Even Newsom, usually a ready Trump foe, has toned down his rhetoric as he seeks federal wildfire aid for Los Angeles after one of the costliest natural disasters in the nations history. The likely 2028 presidential contender has conceded Democrats have a messaging problem by hosting Trump loyalists on his podcast, where he infuriated some allies by aligning with a Republican position on transgender athletes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To steal a line from the Governor: Do you want to make a point, or do you want to make a difference? Newsom spokesperson Bob Salladay said in a written statement. There's a lot of noise out there, a thousand things to react to from DC. The Governor would rather make a difference by holding firm to California's values, protecting the enormous gains we've made on clean air and water, lifting and supporting all segments of society, and protecting our economy from assault. That's our agenda. The state is not simply capitulating to Trump. But much of its pushback is playing out in court, with Newsom calling a special session last November to allocate extra funding for Attorney General Rob Bonta to wage legal combat against the White House a focus that underscored the Legislatures limited power to block or curb the administrations farther-reaching policies. Bonta has already challenged the president over firing federal workers and seeking to end birthright citizenship, among other moves. Certainly we have to fight back against some of these horrific cuts that are going to hurt people, literally threaten peoples lives, said Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, but a lot of the fight right now is in the courts, so as much as Id love to control how many staffers at the VA, I dont control that as a state legislator. Internal caucus meetings have featured running debates over the proper balance in Democrats agenda. Those conversations unfold in Trumps long shadow, as lawmakers debate how aggressively to protect the states turf, like by safeguarding clean car rules and pushing back on federal cutbacks; how much is even feasible if federal dollars dry up and Wall Streets wobbles widen a budget deficit; and how much to antagonize a hostile White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, the White House has already threatened to attach strings to wildfire aid, senior officials Newsom administration has counseled Democrats to tread carefully on trans issues, and Democrats have fretted about inviting immigration raids. Democrats are crafting legislation to bring down housing and energy prices, including by streamlining permitting processes that are often blamed for delaying projects and inflating costs. Theyre projecting a unified emphasis on household budgets, with progressive members asserting they can jumpstart their agenda by improving voters quality of life. Our agenda this year is about: How do we deliver real dollars into people's pockets? How do we deliver the maximum amount of services? said Assemblymember Alex Lee, a progressive Bay Area Democrat. Yes, there is going to be real fighting back against a hostile, fascist White House that wants to strip people of their basic entitlements and services, but its about how do we deliver real results for working-class people. At the same time, Democrats and their progressive allies have paused a push for single-payer health care, citing an inhospitable federal climate. Budget woes have imperiled a program extending health insurance to undocumented immigrants. Advocates of shielding Californias environmental rules from federal encroachment are intentionally proceeding quietly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres just no margin for error, so everyones being a bit more circumspect in what fights they pick, said state Sen. Henry Stern. We definitely are playing defense on a lot of stuff weve passed and just need to see it through. Republicans who have spent years hammering Democrats over the price tag of sweeping new programs and mandates are skeptical its more than a rhetorical shift designed to provide political cover without actually cutting costs. And they believe Democrats are still primarily motivated by animus toward Trump. If I talk with any of my colleagues one on one, theyre all concerned about affordability, but here in Sacramento, something happens, said Assemblymember Joe Patterson. Every committee meeting its Trump this, Trump that. California air quality regulators announced the launch of a first-in-nation satellite data project Friday, with the aim of monitoring and minimizing methane emissions. The technology involves the use of satellite-mounted methane sensors that transmit data regarding the location of methane leaks that could otherwise go undetected, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The project, funded by a $100 million state budget investment, serves to bolster collaboration between industry and state and local leaders, in order to curb emissions and protect public health, per the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In advancing this new initiative, state officials touted the effort as critical climate action amid the Trump administrations many rollbacks in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Decades of progress to protect public health is on the line as the Trump Administration works to roll back critical environmental protections, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a statement. California isnt having it. Of specific concern to Californians has been the EPAs decision to reconsider whats called the endangerment finding the basis for federal actions to curb planet-warming emissions. Were using satellite technology to detect methane leaks as they happen, Newsom said. With this new data, well be able to move faster to cut harmful methane pollution protecting Californians and the clean air weve fought so hard for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Methane a clear, odorless gas released from landfills, livestock facilities and fossil fuel operations is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide when it comes to near-term warming. The satellites, one of which has already been deployed, will be able to show specific regions for observation, leading to targeted mitigation efforts. The effort provides information that is much closer to real time than the data now available, CARB Chair Liane Randolph said in a statement. It allows us to get ahead of one of the major contributors to what has become an immediate threat to public health and the environment. The governor also announced Friday that he was joining the America Is All In bipartisan climate coalition as its newest co-chair. The coalition of state and local leaders intends to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050, while boosting resilience amid climate challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the all-out assault were now facing on low-carbon, green growth from the federal level, its the subnational leaders those of us leading our states and cities who have to step up, Newsom said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Cambridge University has been granted a High Court injunction that will ban protests from taking place at graduations this summer. On Friday, the university won a four-month court order blocking pro-Palestine demonstrations from certain areas of its campus until the end of July. It is seeking to prevent a repeat of the pro-Gaza protests that disrupted the graduations of more than 1,600 students last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the institution was handed a temporary injunction to protect one weekends graduation ceremonies but saw an application for a five-year order rejected. The new order will run until the last scheduled graduation ceremony for this academic year, which is due to take place on July 26. Twelve ceremonies will be held during that time. The injunction period will also cover the universitys end-of-year exams, which take place in May and June. The Telegraph understands that Cambridge may return to the High Court at a later date to apply for a further injunction. In his ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Soole said that there was a compelling need for the legal action because of the strong probability that activists are planning further disruption across Cambridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction, the judge said. In documents submitted to court last week, Cambridge claimed that protesters were blocking the university from using its own land without any lawful right to do so. They are doing so not just at great cost and disruption to the university, its staff, graduating students and their guests, but also at risk to themselves, the documents read. Pro-Palestine occupations and demonstrations were held on university grounds last year - Getty Images/Mark Kerrison Last month, The Telegraph revealed that the institution submitted court evidence claiming pro-Palestine protesters stole commercial secrets during a 15-day occupation of a key admin building belonging to the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the occupation of Greenwich House in November and December last year, members of the Cambridge for Palestine protest group raided locked filing cabinets holding highly confidential documents belonging to the university. Myriam Stacey KC, representing the university, insisted the latest injunction application was not intended to stifle pro-Gaza protests but to prevent disruption on campus. It is the activity we are seeking to stop, not the viewpoint. It is legally irrelevant who is doing this. It is what they are doing that we object to, she said. The court case, which began on Wednesday, saw Liberty and the European Legal Support Center, two rights groups, intervene to represent pro-Gaza protesters at Cambridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberty has described the universitys application as an attempt to silence students and academics. Ruth Ehrlich, the groups head of policy and campaigns, said Fridays ruling sets a dangerous precedent which will severely restrict protest rights on campus. An open letter accusing the universitys court action of an assault on freedom of expression was signed by over 200 staff and 580 students. Cambridge for Palestine, which describes itself as a student-led activist group, also accused the university of attempting to destroy one of the strongest student movements for Palestine ahead of the High Court hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Cambridge University spokesman said: We took this action to protect the right of students to graduate and to prevent access to buildings that contain sensitive, confidential information. This was never about preventing lawful protest. The injunction safeguards a very small part of the university estate from an occupation that would prevent graduations from going ahead. It also protects the right for our staff to work. Protests occur regularly at the university, including a rally held immediately outside Great St Marys church during the last graduation ceremony while an injunction covering the Senate House, a few yards away, was in place. 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. JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel will annex territories in the Gaza Strip if Hamas refuses to release the remaining hostages, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Friday. "As Hamas continues its refusal to release the Israeli hostages, it will lose more and more territories to be annexed by Israel. Israel will continue the operation with increasing intensity until the hostages are released," Katz said in a statement. Katz added he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to seize more areas in Gaza, evacuate the population, and expand the security zone around the enclave to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers through Israel's permanent control of the area. "We are intensifying the fighting with strikes from the air, sea, and land and by expanding the ground maneuver until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian means of pressure," he stated. Katz said the methods would include "evacuating the Gaza population to the south and implementing U.S. President (Donald) Trump's voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents," referring to Trump's controversial proposal in early February to relocate Gaza residents and for the United States to take over the area, which has stirred widespread criticism. Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after its ceasefire deal with Hamas that began on Jan. 19 unraveled. Israeli troops later launched ground operations in southern, northern, and central Gaza. According to the Hamas-run Gaza media office, the death toll from the renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza has neared 600, in addition to more than 1,000 wounded. On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump "fully supports" Israel's renewed air and ground assault on Gaza. Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner and former Massachusetts General Hospital oncologist James Cusack Jr. are among 11 new alleged brothel customers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire identified in court on Friday. Toner, a former schoolteacher and former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association who is serving his second term as city councilor in Cambridge, is to date the highest profile of alleged sex buyers of the high-end brothel ring run out of buildings in Cambridge, Dedham, Watertown, and Virginia. Paul Toner is a person Ive known my entire life. Hes a man of high character. He loves his family, and his family loves him, said defense attorney Tim Flaherty. Hes a hardworking city councilor, and the city of Cambridge is very fortunate to have him on the city council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cusack is the former director of Oncology Labs at Massachusetts General Hospital. A hospital spokesperson said Friday that Cusacks employment ended in May 2024. Cambridge District Court Clerk Sharon Casey found probable cause for all of the alleged sex buyers. The men identified in court on Friday hail from Bay State communities including Marblehead, Concord, Exeter, Belmont, Cambridge and Charlestown. While none of the men appeared in court, Casey informed their counsel that she would file charges against all of them. Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner charged with buying sex from high-end brothel network. Toner among list of names revealed today during second round of hearings in case. His attorney says hes a man of high character #Boston25 AT 4/5/6 pic.twitter.com/zvQ6xct58A Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredes) March 21, 2025 All of the men will be required to show their faces at their next hearings in several weeks or warrants will be issued for their arrest, Casey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the names of a dozen accused sex buyers, from communities including Winchester, Lincoln, Concord, Newton, and Waltham, were made public. Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral on Friday detailed the allegations against the men as he read from police reports: Steven Riel, of Laconia, New Hampshire Nathaniel Welch, of Concord, Massachusetts Jeff Henry, of Exeter, New Hampshire Fred Rosenthal, of Marblehead, Massachusetts Timothy Ackerson, of Waltham, Massachusetts Matthew Fulton, of Belmont, Massachusetts Howard Redmond, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts Anurag Bajpayee, of Cambridge, Massachusetts Paul Toner, of Cambridge, Massachusetts Paul Grant, of Charlestown, Massachusetts James Cusack Jr., of Boston, Massachusetts The phone subscription of Fulton, one of the alleged sex buyers, was linked to MIT by Cambridge Police, investigators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fulton agreed with another that is user of the brothel phone to engage in commercial sex with an unidentified female with the stage name Tiki for 60 minutes for the price of $540, Cabral said during the hearing. Investigators say the full list of 28 suspected clients include scientists, professors, politicians, and corporate executives. These are mere allegations. All of my clients are presumed innocent under the law, said defense attorney Lorraine Belostock. During the first round of hearings last week, only two accused sex buyers appeared in court: 29-year-old Jason Han of Concord and 28-year-old Mark Zhu of Lincoln. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged sex buyers identified in court on March 14 included: Jonathan Lanfear, 56, of Winchester; Patrick Walsh , 66, of Swampscott; Pinhao Chao of Newton; David LaCava, 47, of Waltham; Jason Han, 29, of Concord; John Doran, 75, of Wellesley; Pablo Domingo Maceira, 39, of Roslindale; Peter MacGillivray, 60, of Boston; Yihong Zou, 30, of Boston; Boya Zhou, 27, of West Roxbury; Kerry Wu, 54, of Natick; and Mark Zhu, 29, of Lincoln. The public court hearings have drawn supporters of victims of the commercial sex industry, who said the alleged sex buyers should be held accountable. When you were interacting with your phone, trying to get these services, like these women are a merchandise, theyre not. Theyre human beings, said Ivette Monge of Ready Inspire Act. Audra Doody, a sex work survivor, said naming the alleged sex buyers brings transparency to the problem of the commercial sex trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is sending a clear message to all the sex buyers out there that your name is going to be out there, and youre gonna have to be held to the same consequences as we are, Doody said. Additional names are expected to be announced during the next round of probable cause hearings on March 28. So far, through two rounds of hearings, a total of 23 people have been named in the brothel case. Toner was elected to the Cambridge City Council in November 2021 and began serving on the council in January of 2022, according to biographical information provided on the citys website. In 2022, Toner earned $86,505 for his role as city councilor, according to an online salary database. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toner, a father of two, started his career as a seventh- and eighth-grade social studies teacher at the Harrington Elementary School in Cambridge, his city biography states. In 2001, he was elected the president of the Cambridge Teachers Association. Toner went on to be elected vice president, then president of the 113,000-member Massachusetts Teachers Association, where he served from 2006 to 2014. The attorneys for the Boston-area John Does identified in the black books of the sophisticated interstate high-end brothel network have desperately tried to keep their identities private, arguing that revealing their names violates their privacy. In 2023, then-acting Boston U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said the clientele of the brothels included politicians, big pharma executives, government contractors with security clearances, professors, lawyers, accountants, and scientists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A pair of Boston-based media outlets had filed to view criminal complaints against the alleged clients of a prostitution ring, however, the SJC also sided with the clerks decision to keep the complaints sealed until the first show-cause hearings are held in Cambridge District Court. In November 2023, authorities arrested Han Lee, Junmyung Lee, and James Lee on charges of running a commercial sex network in Watertown, Cambridge, and Virginia, where buyers paid up to $600 per hour for a wide array of advertised sex acts. Han Lee, the 42-year-old leader interstate commercial sex ring, was sentenced earlier this week to four years in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Han Lee didnt just recruit women to sell their bodies for sex she built a criminal enterprise designed to thrive in the shadows, evading law enforcement while profiting off her victims like commodities, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Happy Friday! The brief lull in the undeclared war against Houthi rebels is over. Shortly after the Iranian-backed rebel group threatened to resume attacks against Israeli ships, the U.S. military carried out air and missile strikes against Yemen on Saturday for the first time in months. The Houthis then attempted to attack the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, but Air Force fighters shot down Houthi drones, and a ballistic missile launched against the ship missed. President Donald Trump has vowed that the Houthis will be completely annihilated, but the rebel group survived more than a year of periodic U.S. and British air and missile strikes that began in January 2024 and were intended to stop Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea. Before that, the Houthis outlasted seven years of attacks by a Saudi-led coalition. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, director of operations for the Joint Staff, told reporters on Monday that the U.S. military is now striking a much broader set of targets in Yemen than it did under President Joe Bidens administration. For example, the initial strikes targeted one compound where several senior Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle experts were operating, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other key differences are the delegation of authorities from the president through Secretary [of Defense Pete] Hegseth down to the operational commander, Grynkewich said during a Pentagon news conference. So that allows us to achieve a tempo of operations where we can react to opportunities that we see on the battlefield in order to continue to put pressure on the Houthis. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stressed that the current operations against the Houthis are not an endless offensive, adding, This is not about regime change in the Middle East. When asked if the U.S. military might send ground forces into Yemen to bring the Houthis to heel, Parnell did not answer directly, explaining that it is important for battlefield commanders to keep the enemy guessing. Now, thats not to say that weve got ground troops in in Yemen, Parnell said. Thats not to say that were sending ground troops in. But its difficult to talk about that stuff for operational security reasons from the podium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats just for starters. Heres your weekly rundown: Thank you for reading! Have a pleasant Friday, and it would be nice if the news could take the weekend off for a change. Jeff Schogol OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada on Friday announced sanctions targeting eight current senior officials of the Venezuelan government, alleging involvement in activities supporting human rights violations and undermining democracy. "Today's sanctions reflect Canada's long-standing commitment to upholding democracy and the rule of law. They are also a clear message to the regime of Nicolas Maduro that Canada will not tolerate any activities that violate human rights," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement. Venezuela's President Maduro and his government have always rejected sanctions by the United States and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an "economic war" designed to cripple Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the countrys resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa) TORONTO (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to trigger the process for an early parliamentary election this weekend for an expected vote on April 28. The election will take place against the backdrop of a trade war and sovereignty threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared a trade war. Trump has repeatedly said that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state and he acknowledged Friday that he has totally upended Canadian politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Trump hasn't said is that the almost daily attacks on Canada's sovereignty have infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trips south of the border and avoiding buying American goods when they can. The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered Liberal poll numbers. The opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged. But after decades of bilateral stability, the vote is now expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with the United States. What happens next? Carney will visit Governor-General Mary Simon on Sunday and request to dissolve Parliament, a government official who wasnt authorized to publicly give details so spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Requests by the prime minister to the governor-general are rubber-stamped. Simons office holds a constitutional and ceremonial role as the representative of Canadas head of state, U.K. King Charles III. Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies. An election campaign lasting about five weeks will then officially begin. How will the election work? People throughout Canada will elect all 338 member of the House of Commons, one for each constituency. There are no primaries or runoffs, just a single round of voting. Canada is like Britain in that uses a first past the post system of voting, which means that the candidate that finishes top in each constituency will be elected, even if they dont get 50% of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has generally cemented the dominance of the two largest parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, because it's difficult for smaller parties to win seats unless they have concentrated support in particular areas. How is the prime minister chosen? The party that commands a majority in the House of Commons, either alone or with the support of another party, will form the next government and its leader will be prime minister. Carney replaced Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January, but remained in power until the Liberal Party elected a new leader on March 9 following a leadership race by the governing Liberal Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister on March 14. Carney said Thursday in this time of crisis that the government needs a strong and clear mandate. Who is running? Carney, 60, is among the two main candidates. He navigated crises when he was the head of the Bank of Canada and when in 2013 he became the first noncitizen to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. His appointment won bipartisan praise in the U.K. after Canada recovered from the 2008 financial crisis faster than many other countries. A highly educated economist with Wall Street experience, Carney worked for 13 years for Goldman Sachs in London, Tokyo, New York and Toronto, before being appointed deputy governor of the Bank of Canada in 2003. He has both financial industry and public service credentials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney still hasnt had a phone call with Trump yet. He has said that hes ready to meet with Trump, if he shows respect for Canadian sovereignty. Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservatives, is Carney's main challenger. The party and Poilievre were heading for a huge victory in Canadas federal election this year until Trumps near-daily trade and annexation threats derailed them. Poilievre, 45, for years the partys go-to attack dog, is a career politician and firebrand populist who says he will put Canada first. He attacks the mainstream media and vows to defund Canadas public broadcaster. His party announced that it won't allow media onboard his campaign buses and planes. President Trumps tariffs and his rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state have clearly helped the Liberals in the polls while putting the Conservatives in an odd position, as their rhetoric exhibits some similarities with Trumps and a significant minority of their supporters like the Presidents populist style and ideas," said Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Poilievre has said he will stand up to Trump. 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? BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Canisius President Steve Stoute is taking a temporary leave of absence and it is unknown when he will return, according to a statement from a spokesperson with the university. Stoute will be traveling out of the country for important family matters of a personal nature, according to the statement. Stoute was announced as Canisiuss new president in 2022 after a ten-month search. He previously served in a vice-president position at DePaul University in Chicago and was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canisius College announces Steve Stoute as next president Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Harold Fields will serve as the officer in charge in the meantime. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Caring For Others, an Atlanta-based non-profit, is returning to CSRA to provide relief for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene this month. According to a press release from the organization, they plan to distribute 4,500 pairs of shoes and apparel to the children and families of Richmond County Schools, as well as clothing and household items to residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Caring Convoy distribution will be held on March 29 at 8 a.m. in the following sections: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Distribution Area A: Robert Howard Community Center located at 103 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah, Ga. 30815. Distribution Area B (Re-Homing support): Diamond Lakes Campground located at 113 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah, GA 30815. (in partnership with The Convoy of Care, NOBLE, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol and other state law enforcement agencies, WSB-TV (ABC affiliate) and the Georgia Motor Trucking Association.) Our goal is to allow every person impacted by the disaster to get back on their feet with these shoes, clothing and household goods, said Caring For Others Founder and CEO Eslene Richmond-Shockley. We hope this third phase of disaster relief will uplift the community impacted by the recent disasters. We are grateful to the contributions of our partnerships. In October 2024 in the days following the hurricane, Caring For Others hosted a distribution event and provided more than $750,000 in merchandise to Augusta residents. Those interested in making a donation to assist in hurricane relief can visit visit caring4others.org/hurricane-helene/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. Florida first lady Casey DeSantis further stoked speculation that she may run for governor in 2026, telling an audience well see when asked about launching a bid. The states first lady praised her husband, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), during a panel at the National Review Institutes Ideas Summit in National Harbor, Md., on Friday, calling him the GOAT. Ive been around politics, and Ive seen a lot of people. Not a lot of people have a backbone like him. They get into office because they wanna be somebody, DeSantis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have to just applaud him, because all of what he has done is extremely fragile, right? Like, you could get somebody in, and all of this revert back. And Ill tell you, Florida, like, in so many instances, it is the free state, and it is an inspiration to a lot of other states across the United States, but having the opportunity to travel around the world, people across the globe know about what he has done, and they are so proud. So its the long-winded answer of saying, you know, well see, right? Well see, she said. Last month, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) became the first Republican to jump into the race to replace the governor, who is term-limited. Donalds also has the coveted backing of former President Trump. The governor and the congressman notably fell out during the 2024 Republican presidential primary when Donalds endorsed Trump over DeSantis. They also had friction over state education guidelines set by DeSantis on African American history in 2023. The governor initially had now-Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) in mind to be his successor but instead tapped her to replace now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polling paints a muddled picture of a potential primary faceoff between Donalds and Casey DeSantis. According to a poll published last month by the University of North Floridas Public Opinion Research Lab, 57 percent of registered Republicans said they had a favorable view of DeSantis. Donalds had a 27 percent favorability rating. However, an internal poll from Donaldss campaign pollster Fabrizio Lee and Associated released last week showed Donalds with a 34 percent to 30 percent lead over DeSantis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOGADISHU, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Friday by reaffirming its support and commitment to promoting equality, dignity and respect for all in Somalia. James Swan, acting special representative of the UN secretary-general for Somalia, said racial discrimination has no place in any society since it undermines peace, security, justice, and social progress. "It is a violation of human rights that tears at individuals and cuts the social fabric of society, and we must all unite and work together to eradicate it," Swan said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The UN envoy said this year's observance also marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which remains a cornerstone in the global fight against racial discrimination and the promotion of equality. "As the first of the UN's core international human rights treaties, ICERD set the stage for future human rights advancements. Its commitment to eliminating racial discrimination and promoting equality fosters the promotion of global understanding and unity free from racial segregation," the statement said. In Somalia, the UN works with the government, civil society organizations, and international partners to promote an inclusive and respectful society where everyone can thrive, feel safe, and express themselves freely, thus contributing meaningfully to the country's success, added Swan. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21, the day in 1960 when police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws." First Lady Casey DeSantis, in blue, attends Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix First Lady Casey DeSantis kept the speculation alive that she will run to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis during a discussion at a conservative summit in Maryland on Friday. Well see, the first lady said, responding to a question about the campaign talk and referring to her husband as a GOAT (greatest of all time) in the executive post. The governor added that the late conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh once said Casey DeSantis should be governor. The couple spoke about what lessons the country can learn from conservativism in Florida during a panel discussion at the National Review Institutes summit in National Harbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, all Im saying is, my view is shed be great at whatever she does, but Ive been the most conservative governor in America, Ron DeSantis said. Ive delivered the most conservative results, and I think Id say she would be as conservative or more conservative than me. The first lady would face obstacles in the 2026 primary against U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, whom Trump is backing. Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, whom DeSantis succeeded, said the Fox News Brian Kilmeade Show that Donalds would win the race. I think hell be a phenomenal governor. I think hes gonna win. Im glad that Trump endorsed him, Scott said on the radio show. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An alert on his phone made a Cass County man jump out of bed in the morning to check a Powerball ticket he had purchased a few days prior. The alert notified Robert Cusumano that a $1 million Powerball prize had been won by a ticket sold at the Big T restaurant located at 155 Main St. in Lawton, where he had purchased a ticket for the March 1 drawing, according to the Michigan Lottery. Lawton is about 20 miles southwest of Kalamazoo. Cusumano, 65, checked his ticket and saw that it matched the five white balls drawn March 1 2, 23, 36, 44 and 49. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Kent County woman wins $1 million on Michigan Lottery instant ticket "I looked it over slowly and there were all five numbers right in front of me. It was incredible! Cusumano told the Michigan Lottery. I play pretty regularly and buy tickets wherever I happen to be, Cusumano said. This is the most I have ever won, and I am going to use it to invest in my future. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cass County man wins $1 million Powerball prize SCRANTON Concerned residents took to social media recently to protest the removal of dozens of cat shelters from the woods on Allied Services property on the Morgan Highway this week. They say the absence of the shelters will mean many of more than 60 feral cats who call the area home will die without food and a safe haven. But officials from the medical facility say the cats were causing unsafe conditions for provision of services, which include rehabilitation, hospice care and assisted living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allied Services Vice President Jim Brogna said the medical facility has been unfairly villainized by members of the community, who have accused them of animal cruelty. He fears the allegations will unfairly affect the facilitys reputation, creating hatred for an organization thats 65 years old and has an impeccable reputation for human care. Providing cat care Scott Welsh said he understands Allieds concerns regarding safety and aesthetics, but is concerned about the cats health and safety as well. Welsh said when he retired a few years ago, he began channeling his energy into volunteering his services to help animals, including building and constructing shelters for cats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welsh installed several of his cat shelters at Allied and regularly visited the property to provide food for the cats living there, especially when temperatures plunged below freezing. I never really made friends with the cats because they are feral, he said. But, we were doing all we could do to make their lives better. He said he was one of many who were caring for the cats at Allied Services as well as other sites. When Allied posted a sign several weeks ago saying the area was private property and that the shelters would be discarded after two weeks, Welsh said he attempted to get in touch with administrators of the facility, but wasnt able to get through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He moved the shelters farther back in the woods so that they couldnt be seen from the roadway. He was hoping he could come to a compromise with Allied, that would provide a safe haven for the felines. But, Brogna said it wasnt a matter of simply seeing the shelters, but of the health concerns they caused on the property. The organization feels its inappropriate for a health care facility to have cats on their property. He points out that the animals dont stay in an specific area near the roadway, but instead wander throughout the whole campus, he said. In addition to causing a health hazard, visitors often have to avoid hitting the cats, which often make their way onto the facilitys roads, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer is to spay and neuter the cats and relocate them to an appropriate location, he said. There is no other acceptable solution, Brogna said. Welsh said out of more than 60 cats, he was able to get 38 spayed or neutered and returned to the property. But, its difficult to trap feral cats who are able to avoid traps, he said. Animal loving staffers Brogna said many of the staff at the facility have pets, some which have been rescued from shelters. He, himself, volunteered at Griffin Pond Animal Shelter for over a year. The facility also has two programs which emphasize the benefits of spending time with a pet. The Pet Peace of Mind program enables hospice patients to keep their pets at home throughout their end-of-life journey and the Compassionate Care program brings therapy dogs onto campus to spend time with residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the organization waited until the temperatures rose before taking down the shelters, Brogna said. One sure thing Welsh has two pet cats which he rescued from bad situations: Gabby and Bob. Welsh rescued Gabby years ago after he was abandoned at a renal property in a plastic bag. Bob was found with a severe neck injury and Welsh nursed him back to health over the course of several months. Welsh said he understands Allieds safety concerns and admits he doesnt have a solution to the problem. The best solution, he said, would be if there were enough owners to care for all the cats. But, because that is not possible, its important to provide quality lives for the feral felines, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of one thing Welsh is sure. This was in no way their fault, he said. Welsh took to his Facebook page to complain about Allied Services decision to remove the cat shelters from its property, with the post shared more than 350 times. People care about this, he said. Those cats werent hurting anyone. * Temporary shelters for feral cats on property owned by Allied Services were recently dismantled and eventually discarded. (SUBMITTED) * Gabby, an abandoned cat rescued by Scott Welsh after he was left in a plastic bag in a rental property. (SUBMITTED) * Temporary shelters for feral cats on property owned by Allied Services were recently dismantled and eventually discarded. (SUBMITTED) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Temporary shelters for feral cats on property owned by Allied Services were recently dismantled and eventually discarded. (SUBMITTED) * Scott Welsh of Clarks Summit has worked to save cats over the years. Shown is his cat Bob who he rescued after a severe injury. (SUBMITTED) Show Caption 1 of 5 Temporary shelters for feral cats on property owned by Allied Services were recently dismantled and eventually discarded. (SUBMITTED) Expand LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Clark County School District elementary school teacher was arrested on Thursday after being accused of lewdness with a child. Manuel Ayala-Tovar, 33, faces two counts of lewdness with a child following an investigation that started at Manuel J. Cortez Elementary School in November 2024 in the northeast Las Vegas valley near Lake Mead and Lamb boulevards, according to police. Ayala-Tovar has been employed as a teacher with CCSD since September 2022. He has been assigned to home since the investigation began per the terms of the negotiated agreement with the bargaining unit, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayala-Tovar is scheduled to be in court on Friday, according to online records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mar. 21LIMA Manufacturing remains one of the largest industries in Lima and Allen County, employing 19.3 percent of the region's workers. As the sector evolves, local manufacturers are embracing technology and innovation to enhance efficiency, sustainability and workforce development. Local manufacturers including PPG Coatings Services, Remlinger Manufacturing and the Ford Engine Plant leverage digital transformation, automation and artificial intelligence to remain efficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Embracing innovation PPG Coatings Services, known for its high-performance protective coatings, continues to innovate to meet industry demands. "PPG leverages advanced technologies to streamline coating processes, maximize production efficiencies, and reduce logistics costs," said Timothy Ball, plant manager for PPG's facility on Neubrecht Road. "This includes the use of state-of-the-art equipment, real-time process control systems and proprietary inventory tracking systems." PPG invests in sustainable solutions such as powder coatings, which provide environmental benefits and improved performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, PPG is exploring new applications for coatings on wood, plastic and 3D-printed materials to broaden its market reach. The Ford Lima Engine Plant, on Bible Road, incorporated 3D printing in-house six years ago. 3D printing in-house allows for quicker prototyping of engine components rather than waiting on tests from a different location. Ford can print a part with 3D printing technology much quicker than the traditional method, which takes longer and costs more, said Matt Hewlett, resident engineer for Ford. The Lima plant will continue to invest in 3D printing. Remlinger Manufacturing, which has produced farm equipment for over 60 years, has had to adjust to shifts in the agricultural industry at its plant on U.S. 224 outside Kalida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Farms have gotten smaller, and fields have gotten bigger," Chairman John Remlinger said. "That reduces your sales area. Now you're selling to three farmers when you used to sell to 10." As a result, the company has expanded its product line and now manufactures larger harrow equipment. The business also began diversifying beyond agriculture as early as the 1980s, securing contracts for guardrails and industrial components. In 2022, it formed a partnership with Paul Martin & Sons to manufacture the Ninja Cover Crop Crimper. Despite declining sales in some areas, the company remains optimistic about the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One year things are up, and the next they're down," Remlinger said, noting the ebbs and flows of the agricultural industry. Recent farm shows in Louisville and Fort Wayne have provided positive signs, and the company aims to balance farm product sales and contract work more evenly in the coming years. The Lima Ford Engine Plant is also home to collaborative robots, also known as cobots. One showing of cobots came directly after engines endured a series of cold start tests towards the end of the line. The particular cobots were installed in early 2025 and are used to capture photographs of the engines for last-second quality inspections, including oil leaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unusual for an engine to be flagged for an oil leak this late in the process, said Jack Klass, a process engineer. An engine goes through approximately 100 cold start tests in just a couple of minutes before moving to the collaborative robots. Collaboration between the operator and robot will continue to play an efficient role throughout the plant. Workforce education Ohio State University-Lima and Ford Motor Company are preparing students for the workforce right from the Ford plant. Located in the plant, the Engineering Education and Manufacturing Center provides engineering technology students access to local talent and resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 40,000-square-foot facility provides engineering technology students with hands-on experience in labs equipped with 3D printers, robotics, and other industry-grade technology, similar to those in the Ford plant. Ohio State University-Lima Dean Dr. Margaret Young is hopeful for a 3D printing course in the future. "That's how folks are doing manufacturing," Young said. Young noted the diverse curriculum and coursework will serve students as they enter the workforce with little to no future training. The program gives students direct access to industry partners through mentorships, capstone opportunities, internships, and a clear career pathway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CELEBRATING OUR SPIRIT Hard workers throughout the region contribute to the economic health of the Lima region. In the coming weeks, this series looks at the issues affecting the area's largest employers. This week's story looks at manufacturing, which accounts for 19.3% of the region's workers. Read more stories at LimaOhio.com/tag/spirit. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings The Colfax Inn, near Interstate 80 in Jasper County. (Photo via Google Earth) A central Iowa hotel with a long history of health and fire-safety issues has been cited for more than a dozen violations related to unsanitary conditions, rodents, cockroaches, human waste and fire safety. State records indicate that on March 7, inspectors from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing, as well as the Colfax police chief and a representative of DIALs Fire Safety Bureau, visited the two-story, 63-unit Colfax Inn near Interstate 80. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DIAL officials inspected 47 of the 63 guest rooms and, according to their report, the hotels manager indicated that he had no way to unlock several of the rooms. The manager also indicated that nine of the guest rooms were closed and not available to rent based off various factors, DIAL officials stated in their report. Of the guest rooms that were inspected, DIAL officials reported strong, foul odors in 11 of the rooms that contained tenants belongings and were in gross, unsanitary conditions. The 11 rooms were described by inspectors as having an excess of trash, empty food cans, open boxes and bags with exposed foods, unwashed dining ware, personal items throughout the room and bathroom, various types of cooking equipment, stains and holes on carpets and walls, unsanitary beds, unsanitary bathrooms and toilets with accumulated feces. The door locks were not functional in seven rooms and windows in six rooms were described as broken or cracked. The area where the pool, spa and gym are located had been abandoned, inspectors said, with an excess of unusable equipment and construction materials littering the surroundings. The area was closed off from guests, although there were no working locks to secure the area, inspectors reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a serious concern and so I am not going to give you any details. Colfax City Council member Karla Jones Glue traps and pest-control devices were seen in the hallways and there was evidence of water-damaged ceiling tile outside of one room. Hallway wallpaper was reported to be torn and there was a foul odor throughout the second-floor hallway, the inspectors said. Ceilings and unspecified electrical equipment in the pool area were reported to be damaged and not maintained. Part of the ceiling was missing in the mechanical room near the pool, exposing what inspectors called the growth of a mold-like substance in the rafters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is an abundance of food and non-food-related garbage in several rooms, the inspectors reported. Trash has accumulated in these rooms, creating an unsanitary condition with the proliferation of pests Evidence of flies, cockroaches and mice are present in rooms 107, 114, 119, 120, 121, 125, 222, 228, 229, and 234. Some rooms were outfitted with bed comforters that showed signs of burns, and the bathroom floors of several rooms were cracked or left in disrepair. One bathroom tub was described as not maintained clean, the toilet seat in another room was cracked and broken, and there was a buildup of a mold-like substance along the bathroom floor of another room. Additional issues were noted with lighting, a nonfunctioning elevator, bathroom fixtures, water pressure and evidence of smoking taking place in non-smoking rooms. State records indicate the visit was in response to a non-illness complaint of an unspecified nature. The records also indicate DIALs Fire Safety Bureau observed violations of the Fire Safety Code during the inspection, but those violations are not detailed in DIALs published report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve rooms were designated unsanitary, with inspectors noting that they contained excess food, human refuse, strong foul odors, and bathrooms stained with fecal matter. In addition, unwashed dishes and cooking utensils were found in bathroom sinks and tubs. The DIAL inspectors report indicates a follow-up visit is to be completed on or after April 3, 2025. Hotel has history of recurring violations State records show that many of the problems cited by inspectors this month were also cited by DIAL inspectors in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In May 2022, DIAL rejected the hotels license application after a pre-opening inspection revealed numerous violations. A few weeks later, however, DIAL approved the license, noting that repairs and improvements were still in progress in rooms not yet approved for occupancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional violations were found during inspections in September, October, November and December 2022, as well as June 2023. During the September 2023 inspection, DIAL concluded the business was also operating as more of an apartment building than a hotel, with some guests having stayed there for six months while receiving their mail at the hotel. At that time, DIAL inspectors also noted a proliferation of pests, including bed bugs, flies and mice. There was also fecal matter that signaled the presence of larger animals in the building, inspectors said. The state fire marshals office found multiple fire-safety violations. including a lack of smoke alarms in multiple guest rooms. In December 2023, more violations were cited, including mold, peeling wallpaper and a strong, foul odor in the building. Mattresses and bedding were described as heavily stained and damaged. In April 2024, DIAL suspended the hotels license. Three months later, in July 2024, state inspectors and the citys police chief revisited the hotel and concluded that despite the lack of a license it was still open and doing business as a hotel. The county then took the hotels owners to civil court for operating without a license, but the matter was dropped a few weeks later when DIAL indicated the hotel was back in compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DIAL records show that in August 2024, a preopening inspection resulted in citations for issues with a jacuzzi tub, rodent droppings, the air conditioning and heating unit, and the lack of ventilation in 15 rooms. But a week later, DIAL approved the hotel for licensing, saying the hotel management had submitted documentation to the agency, including photos, that verified the problems there had been corrected. Police chief says there is no investigation Jasper County records indicate the hotel was foreclosed in 2010 and purchased one year later by the Nana Corp. Last year, it was sold on contract to a company called Vairt Inc. of Pennsylvania. At the time of the states August 2024 inspection, Jamil Ahmed Sukhera of Vairt Inc. was listed in state records as the person in charge at the hotel. At the time of the March 7, 2025, visit, Dylon Turner was listed as the person in charge. A man who identified himself only as the hotels manager said Friday that the staff is working to bring the hotel into full compliance with all fire and health regulations and has purchased fire extinguishers and made repairs to electrical systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about the March 7 inspection of the hotel that he participated in, Colfax Police Chief Jeremy Burdess provided a written statement to the Iowa Capital Dispatch that said, The City of Colfax and applicable state agencies are not engaged in any investigation rather just ensuring that the business is following all applicable city codes and state laws that pertain to a hotel/motel. One Colfax City Council member, Karla Jones, declined to comment on the situation other than to say it was considered a very serious matter by the city. It is a serious concern and so I am not going to give you any details, Jones said. If youre a reporter and this is going to be public knowledge, Im not the person to speak. Attending and resident physicians from all over Massachusetts gathered for a rally outside Boston hospitals. Over 300 physicians gathered to address the large, inflated salaries of hospital execs, sparked by the recent surge in layoffs from Mass General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Womens Hospital (BWH) while their CEO, Anne Klibanski, earns $6 million a year. Among the supporters were Councilmember Fitzgerald, who publicly expressed solidarity with the healthcare workers cause, Hessann Farooqi with Boston Climate Action Network, Darlene Lambo with Greater Boston Labor Council, and Katie Murphy, President of Massachusetts Nurses Association Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rallies aim to bring attention to legislative proposals S.899 and H.1398, which seek to cap healthcare CEOs salaries at 50x their lowest-paid employees. At this time, Kibanski currently brings in 193x the lowest salary of an MGB worker. Physicians also argue that directing some of that pay to things like patient care, staffing enhancements, and essential hospital resources for a more suitable hospital. These layoffs seem to target those who reached the top of their pay scales. But what are the tops of these pay scales? These employees salaries were fractions of what the highest-paid MGB executives make, said Dr. Dale Davis, a resident physician at BWH. This frank unfairness is angering. Time to stand up for our unceremoniously fired colleagues, to stand up for patient care. We WILL make this better! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tons of frontline doctors struggle to make basic living requirements, while the top healthcare executives in Mass. collectively make upwards of $15 million. Let me be clear: CEOs do not save lives. We do. All of us at the hospital do, said Dr. Tom Ituarte, a resident physician at MGH. CEOs do not stay up all night in the ICU, making split-second decisions that determine whether a patient lives or dies. We do. CEOs do not carry the weight of an understaffed and broken hospital system on their backs while still trying to provide the best possible care. We do. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Wildfire smoke is filling neighborhoods in Polk County, forcing evacuations as the fires burn cars and buildings. Shelters have been opened for those displaced by the fires, which have damaged seven buildings and burned 1,000 acres by lunchtime today. SIMILAR COVERAGE: McDowell County residents back home after wildfire forced evacuation It was chaos, said Chris Franks, who tried to save his sons home along Fish Hook Lane but was unsuccessful due to the strong winds. " We were up here trying to put the fire out and couldnt get it out. The fire department came and the winds picked up. After that happened, it was all she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Franks showed Channel 9s Dave Faherty the remains of his sons home, which was destroyed by the wildfire along with their cars and a neighbors garage. Less than a mile away, a mountain home that had just sold was also destroyed by flames overnight. Amanda Skutthes, a renter in the area, expressed concern for the community, saying, I just feel bad for all the people that live here with Helene and this back to back. I really hope that the beauty can stay intact. Residents were seen moving their RVs and equipment away from the flames to prevent further loss. CFD responding to Polk County wildfires Faherty was in Polk County also as fire crews from Charlotte, Cleveland County, and Grover worked to help put the wildfires out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were working to protect structures such as a Baptist church using water from the Green River. Faherty spoke with officials at a staging area for the North Carolina Forest Service and volunteer departments. Its what we train for. Were sad that it happens but were all glad to join in together and work as one team, said Assistant Chief Jimmy Hensley of the Grover Fire Department. Faherty saw people scrambling to move campers and other equipment away from the fires. Residents told Channel 9 winds reached 40 miles per hour overnight Thursday, causing spot fires across the mountainside. Polk County officials said as many as seven buildings have burned in the three fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors spoke with Channel 9 Friday and said they were concerned about the winds picking up again. Just keep everything away from the brush line as best we can, one resident said. The winds down here have really pushing the fire even more. The other concern is not only the winds but the very low humidity, which was expected to bottom out Friday afternoon. WATCH BELOW: York County firefighters assist in battling wildfires in Horry County MAGOFFIN COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Following weeks of inclement weather in February and March, district leaders with Magoffin County Schools have made changes to the rest of the years schedule to stay on track for the final day of classes and ceremonies. The district posted on Facebook on Friday that, as a result of the schedule changes, March 31 through April 2, which had originally been part of the countys spring break, will be regular instruction days. Beshear vetoes anti-DEI bill for public Kentucky colleges: House Bill 4 is about hate Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contingent upon the Governor signing HB241, the last day for students will be Wednesday, May 28th, with no changes to the daily schedule, school leaders wrote. The HWMS Promotion Ceremony is set for Thursday, May 29th, and the MCHS Graduation Ceremony for Friday, May 30th. Magoffin County Schools wrote that educators understand families may have already planned trips during the three days and said students with trips planned that hold significant educational value can turn in an Educational Enhancement Opportunity (EHO) form for approval. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: These forms allow students to receive an excused absence for educational activities that provide enrichment aligned with their learning, the district wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EHO forms can be viewed and submitted online 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 FOX 56 News. CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)Charleston County deputies recently apprehended a man wanted on charges in New York since 2021. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office received a tip that Paul Etzel was in the county, so Deputy Micah Cox began investigating. Etzel was found shortly after on James Island and taken into custody. He was taken to the Charleston Executive Airport Tuesday, where New York State Police Department officers retained custody of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Etzel was flown back to New York, where he faces charges, including driving while intoxicated in the fifth degree and bail jumping. This successful operation underscores the strong partnership between local and state law enforcement, ensuring that justice is maintained across jurisdiction, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. CARACAS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A group of 311 Venezuelan migrants repatriated from Mexico arrived Thursday at the Maiquetia International Airport, where they were received by a committee led by Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace Diosdado Cabello. Cabello said the migrants were repatriated thanks to "a direct agreement with the Mexican government" as part of Venezuela's Return to the Homeland Plan, a scheme to ensure migrants' safe and dignified return. "It is a generous gesture from the Mexican government, and we thank them for the attention they have given to Venezuelans there," Cabello said. "Having them back in our country today guarantees tranquility and peace for their families." The group included families and unaccompanied minors, who will be handed over to their parents or grandparents, said the minister. Launched in 2018, Return to Homeland Plan "has already brought nearly 1 million Venezuelans back to the homeland," he said. "President Nicolas Maduro has instructed us to bring all Venezuelans back, wherever they are, and we are going to do that," said Cabello. Venezuelan ministries are coordinating the repatriation plan, including health and background checks for returning migrants. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) A 35-year-old Charleston man has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison for possessing illegal ghost guns and 3D-printed gun parts. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of South Carolina said Friday that Jimmy Franklin King, Jr., imported firearms parts and components from China to his North Charleston home, including an illegal silencer. While executing a search warrant on his home, agents found illegal firearms, ammunition, and 3D-printed firearm components, including a machine gun conversion device, which officials say is often used to convert a semiautomatic weapon into a fully automatic machine gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities also discovered two 3D printers and a computer that contained software programs for 3D printing machine gun conversion devices. King was arrested in September 2023, during which agents found two more unregistered firearms on him. United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced King to a sentence of 115 months in prison, which the U.S. Attorneys Office said is the maximum sentence called for by the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Kings term of incarceration will be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance served oysters grown by Maryland aquaculture businesses at their lobbying day outside the State House on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy the Chesapeake Bay Foundation) Chesapeake Bay oysters had another good year in 2024, new Maryland data shows. Oyster reproduction levels were above the median for the fifth straight year, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, which surveys for the bivalves each year in the bay and its tributaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overall population was also strong, with the third-highest level over the past 32 years. In addition, the data showed a decline in the prevalence of oyster diseases, which proliferated in 2023 amid high salinity conditions. The 2024 Fall Survey confirms Marylands oyster population is doing well, with the key indicators showing encouraging results, said Christopher Judy, director of DNRs Shellfish Division. Certain low-salinity regions still need to improve, but overall the findings are promising for the near-term future of this vital species. But even with the promising data, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other advocates are concerned for the future of oyster programs, given the uncertainty of state and federal budgets. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are concerned that there would be an opportunity to disinvest in oyster restoration moving forward, which has resulted in some of the important gains we have seen over the past few years, said Allison Colden, Maryland executive director of the Bay Foundation. In particular, CBF cited potential cuts to the states Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund and the Clean Water Commerce Program, which contribute funding to oyster plantings as well as aquaculture operations. Legislative analysts had included those programs among a list of potential cuts as the state struggles to close a projected $3 billion deficit for fiscal 2026. The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday rejected cuts to the Clean Water Commerce Program, but approved the transfer of $10.5 million out of the bays trust fund. It could have been worse: Analysts had recommended cutting the trust fund without limitation through fiscal 2029. The money transfered out this year would be moved to general DNR operating expenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The transfer will enable DNR to continue to fully fund and staff all programs, grants, interagency transfers, and planned projects, read a statement from department spokesman A.J. Metcalf. Oysters are filter feeders, meaning that they can purify the bays waters, removing harmful nutrients and sediment. As a result, the success of their population is seen as critical to the bays overall health. Hilary Harp Falk, CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, shucks oysters during a lobbying event in Annapolis on March 18. (Courtesy of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation) 2023 was a banner year, particularly for baby oysters, known as spat. High salinity in the bay, spurred by drought conditions, contributed to strong spat numbers, including once-in-a-generation results in the Potomac River. But the 2023 conditions were also favorable for the spread of diseases MSX and Dermo, which can cause die-offs in oyster reefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, the disease numbers declined in 2024, as a rainy start to the year inundated the watershed with fresh water and drove salinity downward. The spatset in the Potomac River returned to a modest level in 2024, according to DNR. But gains were observed elsewhere, including in the rare observation of spat north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. To Capt. Robert Newberry, chairman of the Delmarva Fisheries Association, which represents watermen, the new data is evidence that a healthy oyster population can coexist with a strong oyster harvest. He decried oyster sanctuaries, where harvesting is prohibited. You got problems with oysters? You call an oysterman, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colden said the successes with oysters show the value of a multipronged restoration effort, including oyster plantings at sanctuaries and elsewhere in the bay, and plantings on oyster farms, which yielded $13.3 million in economic output in 2023, with more than 94,000 bushels harvested, compared to about 430,000 bushels in the wild fishery during the 2023-2024 season. But she fears that cuts not just at the state level, but at the federal level, could call into question future efforts. Colden said she wonders about state government employees focusing on oyster restoration, whose positions are funded by federal money, and about the fate of federal grant programs that sponsor new oyster reefs, and monitor current reefs. Were in a really good place with the areas that have been restored, but if we just walk away forever? We wont know how those reefs are doing, she said. CHESAPEAKE A Chesapeake Middle School fifth grader will compete in the 100th Annual Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., at the end of May. Joseph Keffer, 10, first won his classrooms spelling bee, which qualified him for the schools annual spelling bee. And he just kept winning, Josephs mother Laura Keffer said. Joseph was able to move onto the Lawrence County Spelling Bee and eventually the regional spelling bee in Athens, Ohio, where he competed against students from Jackson, Meigs and Gallia counties, among other areas in the state, on March 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although this is not the first time Joseph has competed, it will be his first time making it to nationals. He did the Chesapeake Spelling Bee last year, and he came in fourth or fifth, but this year he won, and just kept getting to go on. ... Its exciting just to make it to the national spelling bee, period. Its a big thing, Laura Keffer said. According to the Scripps National Spelling Bee webpage, the spelling bee will be from May 27-29. A broadcast schedule will be announced online starting May 1. While the national competition originally started off with only nine participants in 1925, Scripps has hosted more than 200 spellers from across the country in the last couple of years, reaching millions of viewers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were just really proud of him. Hes really worked hard and pushed himself, and were just really excited for him to get to ... compete at the national level, Laura Keffer said. Laura Keffer said Joseph often practices spelling words at home and uses an app developed by Scripps to study official pronunciations, definitions and origins and try to recognize patterns. She said only the first two rounds of the competition have word lists for spellers to study in advance, but beyond that, judges could potentially ask competitors about any word in the dictionary. All spellers will receive a prize package from Scripps for competing, including Bee souvenirs and a certificate of participation. All spellers will also receive a United States Mint proof set and one-year subscriptions to the unabridged online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Britannica Online Premium, Epic Family, and Tynker, plus eight live one-on-one coding classes through Byjus Future School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quarter finalists and semifinalists will receive gift cards and a commemorative pin or medal, respectively, and finalists will receive a medal and cash prizes that increase with placement. But the champion will receive a $50,000 cash prize, a commemorative medal and the Scripps Cup from Scripps; a $2,500 cash prize and reference library from Merriam-Webster; and $400 of reference works, including a 1760 Encyclopdia Britannica Replica Set and a three-year membership to Britannica Online Premium from Encyclopdia Britannica. The champions school and sponsor will also receive an engraved commemorative plaque. While there have been several champions from Ohio and Kentucky, there has never been a champion from Lawrence County in a century of competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chesapeake Middle School Principal Glenn Dillon, who attended the school and has been principal for three years, said to his recollection, this is the first time CMS has sent a student to nationals. Were just very proud of Joseph. Hes a very hardworking student. He puts a lot on himself to be the best that he can be in anything he does. He does put a lot of time in to study the words, but every aspect of the education process, he is constantly wanting to get better than he was the last time. So its impressive to watch him. He definitely pushes himself, Dillon said. Dillon said, while Joseph isnt yet old enough to compete in many groups on the middle-school level, he recently competed in a math pong tournament at Ohio University Southern against other schools in the county and won. Were excited for him, Dillon said. And I know all the teachers and the community itself is excited for him. Joseph said in a statement provided by Laura Keffer, Its been a long journey, and Im super excited. I didnt expect to get this far, and I cant wait to go to Washington and try the nationals. Im excited to represent my school. CHICAGO Authorities in Chicago are asking for help tracking down a person wanted in connection with a string of arsons that occurred on the citys North Side late last year. According to Chicago police, the officers are searching for a person who set three fires in Edgewater on Sunday, Nov. 4, last year. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officers said the fire unfolded less than 30 minutes apart in the early morning hours between 2:45 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. Police provided the following list of times and locations where the incident unfolded: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1300 block of West Early Avenue at around 2:45 a.m. 5600 block of North Ridge Avenue at around 2:55 a.m. 5800 block of North Glenwood Avenue at around 3:20 a.m. On Friday, Chicago police shared photos and videos captured by security cameras of a person who is believed to be responsible as the search for the culprit continues. Photo provided by Chicago Police shows a person wanted in connection with a string of arsons on the North Side in November of 2024. In one of the videos, the individual can be seen picking up a piece of litter from the road before setting it on fire and placing it in a trash can near a building. Officers say they believed the individual is a man with medium-length hair and a possible mustache. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the incidents, he was spotted wearing a long dark-colored coat, a fedora hat and dark-colored shoes with white soles. He was also spotted carrying a colorful back-pack style guitar case Anyone with information on the arsons is asked to contact Central Investigations Arson Detectives at 312-746-7618 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their search can also leave a tip for police at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. CHICAGO The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) appear to be close to a deal on a new contract, but theyve hit some bumps in the final stretch. The CTU says it is just inches away from reaching an agreement with CPS, but now, the Chicago Board of Education has to figure out how to pay for that contract, on top of reimbursing the city for a $175-million pension payment for non-teacher staff. On Thursday the school board canceled a vote on that budget amendment, citing negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines We are extremely extremely close to settling the teachers union contract so as a result the budget amendment and related items have been withdrawn from todays agenda, Board of Education President Sean Harden said. The budget amendment includes $139 million dollars in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. CPS wants to use that money for the CTUs new contract, while Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing for CPS to reimburse the city for the pension payment. After a meeting with Johnson at City Hall Wednesday, representatives from both CPS and the CTU met again Thursday to keep bargaining. Their progress was noteworthy after nearly a year at the bargaining table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are closer than we have been to a deal. And I know we have heard from both sides that weve been close. But we are done. We are done and we need a deal, CTU Organizing Director Casey Sweeney said. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Board members have expressed a desire for clarity on the final cost of the contract before voting on the budget amendment. The Board President is confident that the two sides are very close to coming to an agreement, and I share his confidence. A contract agreement is critical to the stability of our schools and communities, Johnson said in a statement. Johnson added that it is even more important as President Trump begins carrying out his plans to dismantle the federal Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the number one responsibility that this school board could do right now, and this superintendent could do right now, to tell the world we are stepping up is to finalize a contract, a fair contract with the Chicago Teachers, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten 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 WGN-TV. DENVER (KDVR) Aurora Police Department Chief Todd Chamberlain held a press conference Thursday to further clarify the timeline and statements made about two detainees who escaped from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody Tuesday. On Wednesday, ICE said, Local authorities were notified immediately and declined to assist with the search. ICE also notified additional state and federal law enforcement partners. 2 escape ICE detention facility in Aurora; ICE claims local authorities refuse to help Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky and Chamberlain said ICEs statement about authorities not responding is inaccurate. Thats a frustrating and misleading statement. APD was not even notified until 5 hours after these individuals went missing, Jurinsky told FOX31s Vicente Arenas. Every agency in the state and possibly neighboring states should have been notified at that exact moment. MOU outlines what APD will, will not do with ICE facility The city of Aurora Police Department has a memorandum of understanding with The Geo Group, which is the private business that is contracted to run ICEs detainment center in Aurora. The MOU dictates how the police agency can and will respond to escapes at the facility. The MOU states that if requested, Aurora Police officers may respond to escape situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding officers will be assigned to man perimeter positions around the GEO facility to limit the movement of escapees into populated areas, the MOU states. Responding officers may detain and take escapees into custody as the act of escape from this facility represents a criminal violation of the United States Code. Chamberlain explained Thursday afternoon that the MOU has protocols around hot and cold escapes. He said that a hot escape is one that is reported to Aurora police within 15 minutes of its occurrence. A cold escape is anything outside of that timeframe, Chamberlain said, or an escape that is discovered during a head count of detainees. In the case of a hot escape, the Geo Group can contact Aurora police for assistance, and officers will be assigned to positions around the facility to help lockdown the area. But the MOU just says that Cold escapes will be reported to the police. Timeline: How 2 ICE detainees escaped, why Aurora police didnt immediately respond Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency had already shared the timeline of events on Tuesday into Wednesday, starting with a power outage at the detention facility at about 9:30 p.m., followed by a headcount that was completed by facility staff at about 12:30 a.m. The detention facility called Aurora 911 at about 2:30 a.m., according to police, who also shared the entire 911 call during the Thursday press conference. Chief shares Aurora 911 call made hours after escape Chamberlain said that the 911 call demonstrates a lack of urgency on the Geo Groups part, noting the conversation did not have a heightened tone and lasted for several minutes. He said that the police departments watch commander called the facility back at about 3:30 a.m. to learn more about the incident and determined it was not a hot pursuit and did not meet the criteria established in the MOU. We got contacted, again, at 2:30 a.m., Chamberlain said. Thats a break of almost- well, it is: Its a break of five hours, the actual headcount itself where they actually determined themselves that they were gone by themselves was at 12:30 (a.m.), which even that is an incredible amount of time. Chamberlain reiterated that his agency was not requested to conduct an active search, nor did the agency have the necessary information to conduct one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1 facing federal charges for alleged crimes at Loveland Tesla When you look at a four to a half to a five-hour delay and then you put all of that responsibility onto Aurora Police Department, I hope theres some self-assessment going on in that GEO facility and I also hope theres some self-assessment thats going on at ICE, Chamberlain said. He said that as of 3 p.m. on Thursday, ICE GEO had not provided the information necessary for APD to conduct a search or even arrest either escapee. He described how there needs to be a warrant for their arrest based on a criminal offense, like escape, but right now, the two escapees were reportedly being held on civil detainers. Colorado law prevents law enforcement from making an arrest based on a civil detainer. ICE supervisors confirmed that there was never an expectation for APD to lead this investigation, yet it has become basically public sentiment and statements that ICE said otherwise, Chamberlain said. This mischaracterization, in my humble opinion, is unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICEs retired field office director told FOX31s Vicente Arenas that the escape triggers a series of questions and possibly fines for the private contractor that runs the facility. Theres going to be an investigation into what occurred at the facility. The office of the Inspector General will be contacted. There will be an open investigation where they will look into exactly how two people were able to get outside of the facility, ICE Retired Field Office Director John Fabbricatore said. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Chamberlain said that he does not believe this incident damaged his agencys partnership with ICE and that the department remains ready to work with the federal agency in any endeavor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not about trying to address it with ICE, Chamberlain said. Its about trying to address it with the community. That they know that they have a department that has due diligence, that will do what is necessary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A child was killed when a Dodge pickup crashed into a bridge railing. It happened around 7:30 p.m. Thursday just west of the Turon city limits on Sun City Road. The Reno County Sheriffs Office responded and found three people inside the truck. Two sustained minor to no injuries, while the third occupant, a juvenile, was found dead at the scene. On Monday, the sheriffs office identified the juvenile as 6-year-old Cameron Epp of Turon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Person, dog found dead after fire engulfs Hutchinson home Authorities have stated that the crash remains under investigation. A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Epps family. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. (KTLA) A child tested positive for fentanyl after ingesting mystery pills that were reportedly found at a day care in Victorville, California. On March 18, San Bernardino County deputies responded to La Petite Academy after reports that blue pills were found in a classroom. Workers collected the caplets and immediately called law enforcement. Authorities recognized the pills with M30 printed on them as possible counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman killed during conjugal visit with infamous California murderer, officials say After reviewing surveillance footage, deputies identified three children who appeared to have ingested the pills. The children, along with two staff members, were treated at local hospitals where at least one child tested positive for fentanyl. Its unknown how the pills arrived at the facility, and authorities were gathering evidence and interviewing staff and parents for more information. No further details were released as the incident remains under investigation. In the United States, fentanyl is blamed for tens of thousands of overdose deaths every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The average prison sentence for those convicted of trafficking fentanyl-related drugs was seven years and three months in 2023, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. MANILA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers on Friday found two of the six missing foreign nationals who went missing while hiking in a central Philippine volcanic mountain, a village leader confirmed to the local media. However, police have yet to release the two rescued hikers' names and conditions, saying they are still confirming the report. Police said the male hikers, three German nationals aged 67, 60, and 58, a 38-year-old Russian, a 63-year-old British, and a 50-year-old Canadian, left around 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday to climb Mount Talinis, located southwest of Valencia, a town in the Negros Oriental province. The hikers were reported missing Thursday after they failed to return to their rental house. On Thursday, local authorities sent a team to search and rescue the hikers. Mount Talinis is a complex volcano about 1,903 meters above sea level. It is the second-highest mountain on Negros Island after Mount Kanlaon. Gomas only functioning paediatric surgery unit is struggling to cope with hundreds of wounded children after Rwanda-backed rebels launched an assault on the DRC. Large numbers of young children many of whom have suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds have been treated at the specialist operating theatre at Bethesda Hospital in the western part of the city, which was seized by M23 in January. The influx has overwhelmed the small facility, and several patients have died on the operating table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the M23 arrived, we performed routine surgeries like cleft palate repairs and treated injuries from road accidents, said a doctor at Bethesda Hospital. We occasionally treated gunshot wounds from gang violence, but we were seeing around 10 children a week. Now, we can have 100 children arriving in a single day, the doctor told The Telegraph. Some have severe cranial injuries, others have injuries to their chest or abdomen. These are critical emergencies requiring surgeries that can last two to three hours. And as we treat one child, more keep arriving in the emergency room. The UN has estimated that at least 3,000 people have been killed, and thousands more injured - LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images The doctor and his team are among the few surgeons left in Goma a city of more than two million people who are capable of performing complex surgeries on children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their surgical unit was built in 2021 by Kids Operating Room, a Scottish charity which sets up high-tech paediatric operating theatres in hospitals around the world. It is entirely powered by solar panels, which allows it to continue functioning despite frequent blackouts caused by the fighting, but it was never meant to treat war casualties. These children are innocent. We are doctors, so we must do our job, but its really very tough psychologically, they said. Since the M23 launched its offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in late January, capturing Goma, Bukavu, and surrounding towns, the militia has been accused of numerous human rights abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN has estimated that at least 3,000 people have been killed, and thousands more injured. Reports of bodies in the streets, arbitrary executions, kidnappings, and gang rapes have flooded out of the cities. Locals describe an atmosphere of constant fear. One source in Bukavu told The Telegraph he never knows if he will wake up in the morning, as the sound of gunfire fills the streets at night. Since M23 launched its offensive in eastern DRC, the militia has been accused of numerous human rights abuses - LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images A document seen by The Telegraph details the surgeries performed at Bethesda Hospital in January and February, when fighting between the M23 and Congolese army was at its peak. There seems to be no particular pattern to the injuries they range from trauma to the face, skull, legs, arms, back, thorax, abdomen, and genitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors have been forced to amputate the limbs of children as young as three. Most of the patients are under 10. Three weeks ago, soldiers from M23 entered the hospital, the doctor at Bethesda told The Telegraph, looking for government soldiers that were being treated there. The M23 took them by force. They came at night and took the men. We dont know where they went, he said. The group also allegedly kidnapped male family members of patients, who are typically relied upon to assist with care in hospitals across parts of Africa. It is unclear whether they will have been recruited into the rebels ranks or killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amnesty International documented similar kidnappings at two hospitals in Goma in late February and early March. At least 130 men were abducted, according to the NGO, and taken to a stadium in the city where they were tortured. The M23 forced some abductees to lie on the ground and whipped them until they agreed to join their ranks. Whilst some civilians were released, many remain missing. A woman wounded in the fighting uses a walker to move to her hospital bed in Bukavu - LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images Sultani Makenga, the military leader of M23, said in a recent interview that members of the Congolese army at the hospitals pretended to be patients or caregivers. He said M23 found 14 weapons in the hospitals and that hospital staff had alerted them to the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whilst the situation in Goma has begun to ease now the M23 has a firm hold on the city, Bethesda Hospital is providing ongoing care for the children injured at the height of the fighting. Some of our patients can take up to one month being managed in the hospital, especially the children being amputated, and they also require psychological support, the doctor said. We are still managing several in the wards. Sometimes patients with gunshot wounds need to go back into the theatre three times, four times, even five times, so we still have quite a big number here, he added. Hopes of a cessation in the fighting were dashed on Monday when the M23 withdrew from peace talks with the Congolese government set to take place in Angola this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the group said that European Union sanctions imposed against their leaders and Rwandan officials accused of supporting them had made the talks impracticable. The rebel group has previously called for an end to what it says is the persecution of ethnic Tutsis in Congo. The DRCs government has repeatedly said the rebels are terrorists and must lay down their arms. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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. China and Brazil on Thursday voiced support for a US-led initiative to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, urging Kyiv and Moscow to engage in negotiations to achieve that goal. Their endorsement came after a meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The two countries co-chaired the meeting with delegations from their initiative seeking peace in Ukraine and launched in December. Brazil's UN ambassador, Sergio Danese, said after the meeting that recent developments around Ukraine suggested the war might be shifting "from the battlefield to the negotiating table", calling it a "potential turning point" for advancing towards a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "From the very beginning, we have consistently advocated for an early peaceful resolution and the need to observe principles for de-escalation," said Fu Cong, China's ambassador to the UN. "We firmly believe that only a negotiated political solution, including inclusive diplomacy, can bring this conflict to an end." Delegates from Algeria, Bolivia, Colombia, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and Zambia also took part in Thursday's meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their support came as Donald Trump's White House ramps up pressure for a mediated exit from the armed conflict that has lasted more than three years. Last month, US Vice-President J.D. Vance reportedly discussed with European partners the idea of sending peacekeepers from Brazil and China to monitor a ceasefire. However, when asked about this, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing would continue to rely on "diplomatic mediation rather than military involvement". That proposal was followed by a series of negotiations, including a meeting in Saudi Arabia during which American and Ukrainian officials met to explore a path towards ending the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the talks, the US emphasised a need for European allies to shoulder more of the burden in supporting Ukraine's defence while seeking to position itself as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv. The renewed push for negotiations followed a proposal presented last year by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Brazilian special adviser Celso Amorim. The plan called for an international peace conference and outlined steps including prisoner exchanges, humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians. Ukrainian servicemen react after returning from captivity during a POW exchange between Russia and Ukraine in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine on Wednesday. Photo: AP alt=Ukrainian servicemen react after returning from captivity during a POW exchange between Russia and Ukraine in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine on Wednesday. Photo: AP> Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia signalled openness to the proposal, but Ukraine and its Western allies dismissed it, arguing it would solidify Moscow's territorial gains. During the UN General Assembly last year, China and Brazil met to gather support for their initiative. While the US and European Union declined to attend, more than 20 nations from the Global South took part. Wang at the time said the conference should ensure a "fair discussion" of all proposals without "Cold War mentality" politics. On Thursday, Danese and Fu underscored their commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diplomats highlighted the disproportionate impact the war has had on Global South nations, particularly in terms of food and energy security. "We are committed to maintaining close engagement with all relevant parties and playing a constructive role in supporting efforts towards peace," Danese said. While China and Brazil have positioned their initiative as a pragmatic solution to break the deadlock, critics have countered that it lacks the backing of key Western powers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has openly criticised the proposal, saying it benefits Russia by freezing the battlefield in the Kremlin's favour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv and its supporters singled out the absence of any guarantees for Ukraine's territorial integrity as a major concern. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Supply Lines is a daily newsletter that tracks global trade. Sign up here. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas imports of US cotton, cars and some energy products all plunged in the first two months of the year after President Donald Trump started imposing tariffs and Beijing retaliated. In a prelude to what could be widespread disruption to global trade, Chinese purchases of cotton fell almost 80% from a year earlier, according to Bloomberg analysis of data released Thursday. Imports of large-engined cars were down nearly 70%, while purchases of crude oil and liquefied natural gas dropped more than 40%. All these goods were subject to Chinese retaliatory tariffs either in February or March. The tit-for-tat trade war measures that the US and China have imposed on each other over the past six weeks and the probability of more to come in the months ahead are creating huge uncertainty and raising costs for businesses across the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firms are already reacting, with Chinese companies cutting the export of small parcels in February. Meanwhile, Walmart Inc. and others in the US are asking for price cuts to compensate for the levies. Terminal readers can click here for more news on tariffs Some US goods targeted by China actually saw growth. Soybean imports rose almost 50% to reach $4.2 billion ahead of the new levies that China imposed in March. And purchases of processors and chips nearly doubled, helping overall imports from the US increase 2.7% to almost $27 billion in the first two months of this year, according to data released earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imports of machinery used to make semiconductors fell by a third in the first two months of this year, the data showed. The US has been ramping up export restrictions on the high tech machinery for years, although Chinese companies have continued to purchase less advanced instruments. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. When I walked into Chuck Schumers Brooklyn apartment, he was puttering around in his socks. This wasnt household policy, the 74-year-old Democratic Senate minority leader assured me, so there was no need for me to shed my shoes. But, as a gesture of hospitality, he asked, Do you mind if I keep mine off? I didnt seem to have any actual say in the matter, and so minutes later, we were lounging on the L-shaped sofa in his study, as he discoursed on the color of the wallscall it terra-cottathat he told me he really likes, but his wife, Iris, doesnt. He had invited me over because there was a hole in his schedule. This was supposed to be the week that he embarked on a multicity tour for his new book, Antisemitism in America: A Warning. The launch was going to be his literary bar mitzvah, where he would bask in the glory of publication. Schumer had poured himself into the project, forcing himself to write intimately about his career, his faith, and his actual bar mitzvah, an event that had come to feel like an omen. Then, as now, the outside world trampled his big moment, and Schumer disappointed loved ones at the very moment he hoped to reap their praise. As he tells the story, he was scheduled to become a man, in the eyes of the Jewish community, on November 23, 1963a case of terrible timing, because Lee Harvey Oswald killed the president a day earlier. Even though nobody was in the mood to celebrate anything, his family plowed ahead with the event. And in front of a mournful congregation, Schumer choked. He humiliatingly fumbled through his Torah portion and had no fun at the party that followed. His abiding memory of the day is his father arguing with the caterer to recoup the costs for the after-dinner drinks that never were served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [From the April 2024 issue: The golden age of American Jews is ending] Similarly inopportune timing has wrecked the launch of his book. Days before its publication, he announced that he would be supporting a Republican continuing resolution that would prevent a government shutdown. The decision was wildly unpopular with his partys rank and file, who accused him of squandering the Democrats last remaining source of leverage over the Trump administration. On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart mocked him: Senator Schumer, no disrespect, but you are a disgrace to Jewish stereotypes about financial negotiation. Outside Schumers Park Slope apartment, on seemingly every mailbox and street sign, there were posters with his photo that read, Missing Backbone If Found Contact Charles Schumer. Schumers security team began to track specific threats against him. They worried that the furor over the shutdown would create a wave of protests that would test their ability to safeguard him. So Schumer accepted advice that he postpone his tour for a more placid moment in the indeterminate future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With newfound time on his hands, Schumer and I began to kibitz. He splayed on his sofa, tucked his stocking feet under his knees and propped his head on his hand, striking a Cleopatra pose. He badly wanted to talk about his neglected book and not the continuing resolution. But I began to realize that the two subjects were, in fact, woven together. The book is unintentionally a political self-portrait. Schumers Jewish identity is at the core of his beliefs: that the viability of public institutions should be defended at all costs; that the fragility of Jewish existence, and of democracy, demands that he resist emotionally satisfying gestures, if they ultimately risk damaging those institutions. Few American politicians are more unmistakably Jewish than Chuck Schumer. Soon after he joined the House of Representatives in the early 1980s, he recalls in the book, a woman in Queens rushed up to him: You have more courage than any of the other members of Congress. Schumer didnt just take the compliment. He wanted to know why she was lavishing him with such praise. Youre the only one who had the courage to wear a yarmulke, she told him. To disabuse her of that idea, he bent down to show her the appetizer-plate-sized bald spothis wordsthat she had confused for a skullcap. Despite the expectations Jews might have had for him, he didnt define himself that way. He told me, I was always proudly Jewish, but I never emphasized Jewishness. When I ran for the Senate, I was really worried. How would these upstate people react to me? (Perhaps he need not have worried; he defeated the incumbent, Alfonse DAmato, after an only-in-New-York controversy over whether the Republican senator had called Schumer a putzhead, a riff on the Yiddish slang for penis.) Decades passed, and his cautious attitude didnt change. But then, on October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, and Schumer felt a new sense of responsibility. No Jew in American political life had ever held the power he then possessed. (The Democrats held a majority in the Senate, so he was running the chamber.) Witnessing the outpouring of anti-Semitism on the left, which focused its harshest criticisms on Israel rather than Hamas, Schumer felt compelled to fully embrace his identity, in all the ways hed historically resisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His decision to expend so much time talking about anti-Semitism didnt please his aides, who urged him to steer clear. On the political merits, his staff had valid arguments. Schumer planned on chastising the left, attacking members of the party he led. He writes that he was determined to make a fervent case for Israel, despite that countrys diminishing popularity among die-hard Democrats. He recalls telling himself, You are no great Jewish sage or scholar, you are no King Solomon or Maimonides or Elie Wiesel, but for better or for worse, you are here, and you ought to try to do some good. [Read: Trumps crocodile tears for the Jews] Whats interesting about the book was that writing it didnt just inspire him to more strongly identify himself as a Jew, but also prodded him to consider the Jewish roots of his approach to politics. (Full disclosure: At several points in his book, Schumer approvingly quotes an essay I wrote about Judaism in America.) He began to think back to his time as a student at Harvard, in the late 60s. Even though he protested against the Vietnam War, just like his classmates, he didnt like how they took over buildings in the name of the movement. In the book, he recalls, I was never going to be on the side of the radicals. I was going to take my own path and try to work through the system and get results, even if it meant compromise and concession from time to time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumers recollections of that era mirror his current difference of opinion with his base over the government shutdown. Even if I failed and they shut me down and some of them told me I was a sellout, he writes, I would try to convince them to seek progress with me on the issues we both cared about. It was more of a human principle and less of a political one. When I brought up this passage, he told me that this human principle grew subconsciously, at least in part, from his Jewishness. Schumer viewed the preservation of American institutions as a matter of Jewish preservation, because those institutions were equipped to protect religious minorities. They were the source of Americas exceptional tolerance of Jews: One of the great things about America is weve always had these norms, and we dont want them broken, he said, because they protect all Americans, but particularly Jewish people, who have been so subject to problems and vilification through the centuries. In the past few weeks, many of the American institutions he reveres, and the constitutional system designed to insulate them, have come under intense pressure that they might not withstand. And, apropos of Schumers book, Trump has created conditions for anti-Semitism to flourish. The president has surrounded himself with a disturbing collection of appointees with records of repeating old canards about Jewish power. As Schumer explained the presidents attitude toward Jews, he told me a story that hed left out of the manuscript: After Trump came to office in 2017, he invited congressional leaders to meet with him. Theres a spread in the White House, and the first thing he says to me is, Chuck, have a pig in the blanket. Theyre kosher. First, Im not sure they were kosher. Second, what was he thinking? Hes a Jew. (I reached out to the White House for comment on this anecdote and have not yet heard back.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, in his autocratic mode, seemingly ascribed himself the power to determine whats kosher and not. And more than that, hes determined that he has the ability to determine whos a Jew and not. Last week, he bizarrely declared that Schumer is not Jewish anymore. In the words of the president of the United States, He has become a Palestinian. (Dont tell my mother, Schumer told me in response.) The president was assuming a posture that rarely ends well, in which the regime separates the good Jews from the bad ones. By deeming them religious reprobates, the regime is signaling that they are the acceptable ones to abuse. Does Schumers institutionalism have the fortitude to resist Trump? When he voted to prevent the government shutdown, he was acting not just on instinct, but on intelligence gleaned from Republican sources, who told him that the administration was baiting the Democrats into shutting down the government. The White House had a plan for how it would use the cover of a shutdown to accelerate its assault on the government, while pinning blame for the crisis on the Democrats. But Schumer was also acting on instinct. As he remembers the radicals at Harvard, he says, I saw how their zeal and fury led them to be not only demeaning to other students but disruptive, which was ultimately counterproductive. They turned too many people off. In the end, he was right, and they were wrong. The backlash against antiwar protest helped doom 60s liberalism, ending the Great Society and stalling the advance of civil rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I sat with him on the sofa, I received an alert from Axios: Schumer faces growing House Dem calls to step down. But he seemed unfazed. The higher you go on the mountain, the more fiercely the wind blows, he told me. The only way to protect yourself from these fierce winds is to have your own internal gyroscope. Thats what motivated me in how I voted. The same instinct motivated him back at Harvard, he said. I hated the Vietnam War, but I felt there was a right way. He was now lying on his back, his feet propped up, the knot of his tie dangling at his torso, a man either oblivious to the revolt brewing against him or at ease with his own political choices. Article originally published at The Atlantic DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Dayton Branch of the NAACP is holding a session to hear directly from candidates vying to be on the Dayton City Commission. At 6:30 p.m. on March 24, a town hall will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, located at 1001 Harvard Blvd. in Dayton. The following commission candidates are scheduled to be at the town hall: Darius Beckham Darryl Fairchild Jacob Davis Karen Wick Valerie Duncan Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Derrick L. Foward, president of the Dayton Branch NAACP, said the organization doesnt endorse candidates, but rather allow the community to hear viewpoints of the candidates. We Do Not Endorse candidates however, we are an issue driven organization and reserve the right to publicize if a candidate does not support our issues, said Foward. We look forward to hearing about how the candidates plan to address the needs of the people and deliver upon the promises they make to the Citizens for the office they are seeking. Tom Roberts, second vice president and chair of the Dayton Unit NAACP Political Action Committee, will moderate the event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WJET/WFXP) The City of Erie has been awarded a $51,000 state grant to help make upgrades to traffic safety around town. That grant money has been awarded to help the city improve how pavement quality is analyzed along with automated sign detection State Representatives Bob Merski and Pat Harkins announced. Greene Twp. awarded $50K grant for extreme weather response Funding for the grant comes courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both representatives said the funds will help make roads safer for residents and visitors. Work starts to realign Route 77, Route 8 intersection in Crawford Co. Traffic safety is a shared responsibility, and this funding allows us to adopt state-of-the-art tools that can make a measurable difference. We`re grateful to the DCED for supporting our efforts to create safer roads for everyone in our community, Harkins said This grant represents a significant investment in the safety and well-being of our community, Merski said. By leveraging innovative technologies like pavement performance analytics and automated sign detection, we`re taking proactive steps to improve traffic safety and protect lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. South Florida has plans to celebrate their music acts in a major way. According to local news station NBC6, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved the naming of streets to reflect the legacy of talent from the area. The plan continues the goal set by District 3 Commissioner Keon Hardemon who proposed the initiative, to continue the revival of the historic neighborhood. If you play this music to the people who are from this area, they are going to light up like its the Fourth of July, detailed Hardemon. The essence of this is to encourage economic development in our community. The essence of this is to let people know that this exists in Miami-Dade County and you should come and see it. Keon Hardemon poses backstage during the Overtown Music & Arts Festival 2018 on July 14, 2018 in Miami, Florida. According to the outlet, the streets are located on 8th Avenue in Liberty City and the artists selected reflect an important story. To be considered, artists must have achieved significant chart success such as being placed on the Billboard Top 100 and Billboard 200 and contributed to the cultural identity of Miami-Dade County and simulated the local economy either by having concerts or through philanthropic efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 1950s or so, during the time of segregation, 18th Avenue was the place to be, Hardemon detailed, explaining how Black artists were welcome. It had juke joints, it had bars, it had restaurants, and it had living quarters thats why they named it Broadway. A majority of the street names will reflect the Hip-Hop and Rap legacy of South Florida including recognition for Trina, Trick Daddy, Uncle Luke, Rick Ross, Ball Greezy, Mike Smiff, and City Girls. Betty Wright, PitBull, FloRida, and more also made the cut. It gives you hope, said Mike Smiffs brother Rondo Smiff to CBS News. It lets you know that no matter where you start, you always have a destination. This is very exciting, added the rappers mother. Weve gone from being working homeless to now having a legacy for our grandkids and for the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As noted by CBS, in addition the new street names, there are planned murals honoring local artists to be painted throughout the neighborhood. Mike Smiff performs during 2025 Jazz In The Gardens Music Festival Day One at Hard Rock Stadium on March 8, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. View the full list of music-dedicated street names coming to Miami below per NBC6 South Florida: Between Northwest 18th Avenue and Northwest 19th Avenue, the following names will be added to the existing designations: Whats My Name Street on NW 62nd Street City Girls Street on NW 63rd Street Soul Ties Street on NW 64th Street Post & Delete Street on NW 65th Street Chase Dis Money Street on NW 66th Street Born N Raised Street on NW 67th Street Big Money Baller Street on NW 68th Street We the Best Terrace on NW 68th Terrace Still Da Baddest Street on NW 69th Street Trick Love the Kids Street on NW 69th Terrace Its Your Birthday Street on NW 70th Street Bad Boys Bad Boys Street on NW 71st Street Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between Northwest 18th Avenue and the jurisdictional boundary of the City of Miami Welcome to the MIA Terrace on NW 62nd Terrace I Luv My Dawgs Street on NW 63rd Street I Deserve It All Street on NW 64th Street Closer to My Dreams Street on NW 65th Street Tunnel Vision Street on NW 66th Street Welcome to My House Street on NW 67th Street You Go Girl Street on NW 68th Street People Change on NW 68th Terrace Lovers and Friends Street on NW 69th Street Peace In Da Hood Street on NW 69th Terrace Run Da Yard Street on NW 70th Street Between NW 17th Avenue and NW 18th Avenue No Pain, No Gain Street on NW 71st Street Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between NW 62nd Terrace and NW 71st Street Memory Lane Avenue on NW 18th Avenue More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. UPDATE: The City of Gladewater rescinded their boil water notice on Saturday. GLADEWATER, Texas (KETK) The City of Gladewater issued a boil water notice for all customers as of Thursday but announced it on Friday morning. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Gladewater public water system to notify all customers who experienced low pressure or no water to boil their water before consumption. This includes water used for washing hands and faces, brushing teeth, and drinking water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children, seniors, persons with weakened immune systems and all customers are asked to follow these instructions. Individuals can purchase bottled water in place of the notice. The City of Gladewater will notify residents when it is no longer necessary to boil their water. Anyone with questions is asked to contact Wendy Emmel at 903-844-6331. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. The Tacoma City Council has approved $6.9 million for new affordable-housing projects, totaling a more than $27 million investment over the past five years. According to the city, the collective $27 million investment will help create 724 units of affordable housing. During its March 18 meeting, the Tacoma City Council approved an amendment to the Affordable Housing Fund agreement with the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority. The amendment contributes more than $6.9 million to three additional affordable housing projects. The projects and investments include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $1 million to Mercy Housing Northwests Aviva Crossing near Tacoma Community College. According to the City of Tacoma, the funding will help create 129 units of affordable housing. $3.7 million to HumanGood Affordable Housings South Yakima Senior Housing facility. The funding is expected to create 66 units of housing. $2.2 million to Mercy Housing Northwest for 80 units of affordable housing at a development referred to as 35th and Pacific Maria Lee, a spokesperson for the City of Tacoma, said the money will go toward the construction phase of the projects. The projects were selected through an application process in 2024 administered by the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority. According to Lee, the city committed an additional $6 million to Aviva Crossing through a similiar funding oppurtunity in 2023. Lee said the priorities for affordable-housing projects are consistent with priorities previously identified by the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a city memo, households served by the projects must have incomes below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI), and some projects include lower income limits, such as below 50% AMI or below 30% AMI. Tacomas AMI is $83,857 per household, according to the most recent U.S Census data from 2023. According to a memo from the city, a goal is to decrease the percentage of individuals who are spending more than 45% of income on housing and transportation costs, a burden felt disproportionately by Tacomas Black and Pacific Islander households. As of the last reported U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 51% of people in Tacoma are experiencing renter cost burden, meaning they pay more than 30% of income on monthly housing cost expenses, the citys memo states. Money for the projects comes from the citys Affordable Housing Fund, which raises money through sales-tax revenue. One-time general fund contributions can also be allocated to the Affordable Housing Fund periodically by the City Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee said some contracts funded by the Affordable Housing Fund will extend into future decades. Completed projects funded by Tacomas Affordable Housing Fund include: The Shiloh New Life Apartments operated by Shiloh Baptist Church which the city committed more than $4.4 million towards to create 60 affordable housing units. Tahoma Place operated by the Korean Womens Association, which received more than $1.9 million to create 87 affordable housing units. Other projects that have received committed funding from the Affordable Housing Fund are still under construction or in pre-development. Some of those projects are: This is an adapted excerpt from the March 20 episode of Deadline: White House. Donald Trump and his administration believe they are more powerful than the judicial system. They believe that his executive authority has more weight than the rule of law. But that is not the way our Constitution is designed and that is not the way we have conducted business in the United States of America for almost 250 years. Across the country, dozens of judges have blocked parts of Trumps agenda from going into effect. According to the president, these judges arent basing their decisions on the rule of law. Instead, he claims they are radical left lunatics targeting his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to an analysis from Adam Bonica, a professor of political science at Stanford University, that is not the case. He found that judges across ideological lines are ruling against Trump at a similar rate. Bonica also took the decisions handed down from the courts thus far and compared them to decisions from Trumps first administration. While a judges ideology strongly predicted case outcomes back then, Trumps overreach during his second term has united judges across partisan divides. This isnt partisan opposition to Trump its the judiciary functioning as intended by cutting across partisan lines to uphold the Constitution, Bonica wrote. Judges are putting their political biases or ideology aside, theyre looking at the Constitution and the rule of law, and theyre making rulings in accordance with how our country is supposed to run. While Trump may find a friendly judge and succeed in one or two of these cases, there will likely be a lot more cases where Republican-appointed judges come down against this administration. Trump knows this. Thats why the president and his allies are pushing for these judges to be impeached but thats not happening. Impeaching a federal judge requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate. In the end, all Trump is doing is political theater and animating his base in a way thats very dangerous to people who sit on the bench. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simply rejecting or dismissing Trumps far-fetched push to impeach these judges isnt enough, however. I believe some of my former colleagues in Congress people who have been in the system for a long time and have great faith in our constitutional checks and balances have not fully grasped how far Trump has already gone. Hes taken inspiration from autocrats across the globe. Hes targeted higher education, tried to shut down the free press and has ousted people from the federal government who may disagree with his positions. He is taking the U.S. to a place that is absolutely autocratic. Forget any checks and balances when it comes to the legislative and executive branches: The president has a Republican-controlled Congress already bending the knee. I cant believe that more U.S. senators, especially those on the Judiciary Committee, have not spoken up about the presidents threats against these judges. Trump wants to clear the field of any defenders of the Constitution. He wants to blow up our rule of law and put himself in charge. And frankly, way too many people who know better in his party are going along with it. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Filimone Jitoko, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to foster multi-tiered exchanges between legislative bodies with Fiji, said China's top legislator Zhao Leji during talks with Filimone Jitoko, Fiji's speaker of the parliament, in Beijing on Friday. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that 50 years since China and Fiji established diplomatic ties, both sides had upheld mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation, and achieved tangible cooperation results. China is willing to work with Fiji to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and promote the sustained, healthy, and stable development of the China-Fiji comprehensive strategic partnership, said Zhao. Noting China has consistently supported Fiji's efforts in upholding its sovereignty and national dignity, and highly appreciates Fiji's adherence to the one-China principle, Zhao said the two sides should synergize development strategies and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Zhao called on both countries to achieve more cooperation results in areas such as economic and trade investment, infrastructure, and agriculture and fisheries, while enhancing exchanges in culture and youth sectors. He noted special concerns regarding climate change of Fiji and other Pacific Island countries, saying China is willing to enhance cooperation with Fiji in green and low-carbon development to jointly address climate change, which is a global challenge. On the cooperation between the two countries' legislative institutions, Zhao said that China is willing to foster multi-tiered exchanges between legislative bodies with Fiji, enhance coordination in the Asian Parliamentary Assembly and other multilateral mechanisms. China welcomes more Fijian parliamentarians to visit China and exchange experiences in reform and development, poverty reduction and alleviation, and the development of the rule of law, said Zhao. Jitoko said that Fiji firmly adhered to the one-China principle, upholding the authority of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, adding that the country supports major global initiatives proposed by China and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Jitoko also expressed gratitude for China's long-standing assistance to Fiji's economic and social development. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Filimone Jitoko, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) CLAXTON, Tenn. (WATE) Students at Claxton Elementary School will soon have access to a better math and science education thanks to an Extreme Classroom Makeover that is bringing $7,500 worth of new STEM equipment to one teachers classroom for the school year. On Thursday, Oak Ridge Associated Universities surprised fourth grade math and science teacher Stormie Adkins. Earlier this year, ORAU invited teachers and their classes to submit applications for its annual Extreme Classroom Makeover contest. In what was called a potentially precedent setting moment Thursday, Adkins class won a runner-up award of $5,000 and the viewers choice award for $2,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton 12 member Anna Theresser Caswell dies at 82 Adkins said she was speechless after finding out she won, but ORAUs Jim Sears said the awards were well earned by Adkins and her students. This is one of our core ways to really give back to the community and those of us who live near Oak Ridge and really brings so much to the future of East Tennessee and everything thats happening in and around our area here bring that technology and so that we can really develop the workforce of the future to really be able to make some really great things for East Tennessee and Oak Ridge in the future. Adkins said one of the things shes looking to purchase for the classroom is a portable box light to allow her to teach her class in the schools outdoor classroom. Getting the students outside and in a different environment than a standard classroom will encourage engagement with STEM, she explained. (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) (WATE) The way that education is going in our whole life with technology and things like that, prepping them for the future and having those skills that can support them in their later careers in life. I think thats huge. And then to get that engagement part up, because I think sometimes they look at the textbook and its just too much for them. So doing fun activities [and] interactive projects really gets them get going in their minds racing. And so that brings back a passion for education for just them and me, Adkins said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump orders shutdown of the Education Department. What does it do? In the video Adkins submitted for the contest, she had her students wright what they wanted to be. While her students may still be a decade away from their future careers, she shared that its important for students to start working toward their dreams now. If you really want to be successful, no matter what path you want to go on, you have to start when youre young, everything builds upon each other, so having that good foundation, having those good leadership skills and and working skills. Its gonna build them up and hopefully support them in future. Adkins added that she almost didnt submit the video for the application because she didnt think they had a chance, but she believed in her students and they believed in her, and it turned out great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Mar. 20PARKSTON, S.D. More than 80,000 South Dakotans struggle with food insecurity, including one in nine children and one in 12 adults. Food insecurity doesn't just affect nutrition it impacts overall health, making it harder for individuals to recover from illness, manage chronic conditions and maintain well-being. Now, a new partnership between Avera Health and Feeding South Dakota is tackling the issue where it intersects most critically with health inside hospitals and clinics. Avera and Feeding South Dakota have introduced clinic-based food pantries to provide immediate relief to patients facing food insecurity while also connecting them with long-term support. Through a $5.4 million, five-year federal Healthy Start grant, these wellness pantries aim to bridge the gap between medical care and access to nutritious food. By addressing food insecurity at the point of care, the initiative ensures that vulnerable patients receive not only treatment but also the essential nutrition needed to support their recovery and overall health. The idea for this initiative had been developing for years among both Feeding South Dakota staff and Avera's top officials. Every three to five years, Avera conducts a community needs assessment survey, and food insecurity has consistently emerged as a top concern among patients. The collaboration made sense to leaders of both organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a true testament of what can happen when organizations bring together their expertise," said Megan Kjose, chief development officer of Feeding South Dakota. The program first launched at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, where patients at the main campus are screened for food insecurity. If a patient is identified as needing assistance, they receive an emergency supply of shelf-stable items, dairy products, and fresh produce. In addition to providing immediate relief, care teams also refer patients to local food pantries for ongoing support, helping to create a more sustainable solution to food insecurity. With its initial success, Avera expanded the program beyond Sioux Falls to Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston, ensuring that rural communities also have access to essential food resources. At Avera St. Benedict, clinic and hospital patients have been screened for social determinants of health for well over a year. In November, food insecurity was officially added to the screening process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're asking diabetic patients to eat healthily to meet their goals, but if we're not assessing their access to food, we're not doing our job," said Lindsay Weber, president and CEO of Avera St. Benedict Health Center. At the Parkston clinic, every patient is now asked about food insecurity. If they indicate concerns about securing their next meal, staff assess household size and discreetly provide an emergency supply of food from the wellness pantry. The food, dispersed confidentially by nursing staff, includes proteins, fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates. Each bag also comes with a produce prescription vouchers to the Parkston Food Center for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables ensuring that patients have access to both shelf-stable and fresh food options. "This allows patients to not only have access to shelf-stable items but also gives them access to healthy food sources at the local grocery store," Weber explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since its implementation, the pantry at Avera St. Benedict has distributed over 60 bags of food. Each distribution is documented electronically in the patient's medical record, allowing the clinic to track needs, monitor trends and better understand food insecurity in the community. While not open to the general public, the pantry functions as a critical emergency resource for patients identified through screenings. In 2024, 72,000 South Dakotans were identified as food insecure, and it's projected that 106,000 will be affected in 2025. This highlights the urgency of addressing food insecurity now, before it reaches even greater levels, Kjose said. Kjose noted that 65% of food-insecure residents do not qualify for federal food assistance programs, leaving a significant gap in available resources. By embedding food support within a medical setting, Avera and Feeding South Dakota are working to close that gap. Avera Vice President of Communications Lindsey Meyer describes food insecurity as a silent problem one that patients may feel more comfortable admitting to their healthcare providers. Because of this trust, wellness pantries serve as an effective model for ensuring patients have access to the food they need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As patients open up to their healthcare providers about their struggles with food insecurity, Avera staff see firsthand the impact of these conversations. "Patients trusting us and opening up to us is great. Being able to have that conversation with them is rewarding," Weber said. Feeding South Dakota has been tackling hunger in South Dakota communities for 50 years this year, marking a major milestone in its mission to combat food insecurity. Over the decades, the organization has developed a variety of programs to reach those in need, and this partnership with Avera represents a new step in addressing hunger directly within healthcare settings. Avera has previously partnered with Feeding South Dakota to support its mobile food pantry, which serves 55 counties. Avera has helped fund and expand the pantry's reach, adding seven distribution locations within its service area to better assist communities facing hunger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the program continues to develop, Avera hopes to expand clinic-based food pantries to additional regional sites, integrating food security further into patient care. While specific locations for future expansions have yet to be determined, the goal is to refine and replicate the model in other healthcare settings, demonstrating how health systems can play a direct role in addressing hunger. "We're committed to being pioneers in these models," Weber said. "Avera Parkston has always been willing to trial initiatives that will positively impact our communities. We're excited and grateful to have the opportunity to better serve our patients." Washington is expected to ramp up pressure on Tehran in response to last week's trilateral nuclear talks between China, Iran and Russia - given the hardening consensus in the US against both the meeting's host Beijing and the Middle East nation. Despite the pushback, China will continue to pursue multilateral negotiations on the nuclear issue, using them to reinforce its role as a key Middle East mediator and further expand its regional influence, according to analysts. At the Beijing talks on March 14, the three nations reaffirmed their commitment to non-proliferation and jointly condemned "sanctions, pressure, or the threat of force". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also proposed a five-point plan for the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue that included a commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal that President Donald Trump pulled the US out of during his first term. Tehran's positive response to the talks - which came just days after Trump sought to engage Iran in bilateral nuclear negotiations - was in stark contrast to Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's swift rejection of the Washington proposal. Khamenei said Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations after Trump announced he had written to Iran suggesting a restart to bilateral talks - followed by a declaration that the US would have to "go in militarily" if the Iranians did not want to negotiate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent - a short step from the weapons-grade level of 90 per cent - was reported to be around 280kg (617lbs) in February - an increase of 90kg in only three months. While Tehran's preference for Beijing's multilateral approach over Washington's bilateral outreach underscored its strategic positioning in an increasingly hostile diplomatic environment, it could provoke an even harsher response from the US. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosts the trilateral meeting between China, Iran and Russia in Beijing on March 14. Photo: Xinhua alt=Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosts the trilateral meeting between China, Iran and Russia in Beijing on March 14. Photo: Xinhua> "Trump must be upset with Russia and China's strategic support for Iran ... It is highly possible that Trump will impose some extra pressure on Tehran in the near future," said Middle East specialist Wen Shaobiao from Shanghai International Studies University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wen also observed that the US would be very unlikely to return to multilateral talks - "because Trump never believed multilateralism can solve problems". Trump's recent approach to Iran mirrors the hardline stance of his first administration's withdrawal from the JCPOA, followed by the imposition of sweeping economic sanctions under the so-called maximum pressure strategy. Despite former president Joe Biden's efforts to revive negotiations during his term in office, the second Trump White House has made it clear that the maximum pressure strategy will continue for the next four years. Yan Wei, deputy director at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at China's Northwest University, said it was possible that Beijing's deepening engagement in nuclear negotiations might further escalate tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Yan, Beijing's engagement could potentially push Washington towards adopting a more aggressive stance on Tehran, rather than seeking a balanced diplomatic solution. "Amid growing Sino-US rivalry across the globe, Washington might conduct a further rightward policy to Iran. Meanwhile, Beijing is conducting a more stable approach towards the Iranian nuclear issue," he said. Analysts also noted that China's engagement with Iran and Russia on the nuclear issue aligned with its broader diplomatic strategy in the Middle East of actively engaging with regional politics, after previously focusing on economic ties. China's presence in the region has expanded significantly since the JCPOA was signed in 2015, with Beijing these days regarding the Middle East as a critical arena for its global ambitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, China brokered a landmark peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This was followed last year with negotiations in Beijing that brought together 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah. "China's continued diplomacy in the Middle East would reflect its own calculus in portraying itself as an active player in the region," said Clemens Chay, a research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute. According to Chay, hosting last week's trilateral discussions also allowed Beijing to challenge what it viewed as coercive tactics by Washington. "China's calculus on hosting Iran's nuclear talks is also to seize the opportunity to denounce a bullying narrative of America." Sun Degang, director of the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, noted that even as a close partner, China was also working to prevent Iran realising its nuclear ambitions, which risked driving Arab states, particularly in the Gulf, closer to Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If Iran keeps moving forward on the nuclear issue, it will upset the regional balance and push many Arab countries into the US, which is not in China's interest," Sun said. "China is involved in the Iranian nuclear issue for regional balance ... It hopes that the Iranian nuclear issue can achieve a soft landing and avoid a confrontation between the US and Iran." For the Gulf states, Iran remains the region's most pressing security concern. Several of the monarchies strengthened diplomatic ties with Israel during Trump's first term, motivated by the perceived Iranian threat. In 2023, Saudi Arabia and the US were reportedly close to finalising a defence treaty aimed at countering Iran's regional power when the deal was stalled amid the outbreak of the Gaza war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. CNN called out Gavin Newsom after he claimed that nobody in his office has ever said the word Latinx. The network ran an eyebrow-raising series of clips showing that at least one person had used the gender-neutral wordNewsom himself. The California governor sought to distance himself from accusations of being woke in an interview on his podcast with MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. The word is used as a gender-free alternative to Latino and Latina. Gavin Newsom was called out by CNN. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Not one person ever in my office has ever used the word Latinx, Newsom insisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront begged to differ. CNN KFile senior editor Andrew Kaczynski highlighted a series of four clips of Newsom talking about the Latinx community between 2020 and 2023. We did find someone who used it repeatedly in his office. Lets take a listen to this, Kaczynski said. You see there, that is a lot of use of Latinx by him for somebody who said that nobody in his office has ever used that phrase, he added after the examples aired. CNN also went after Newsom for intimating he had nothing to do with a California law allowing transgender athletes to take part in womens sports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It turns out in 2014, years before I was governor, there was a law established that established the legal principles that allow trans athletes in womens sports, Newsom told Kirk. But the issue of fairness is completely legit. It is an issue of fairness and I think Democrats have lost that. In that statement, hes kind of making it sound like he wasnt involved in this at all, said Kaczynski. Hes like, Oh it was 2014, years before I was governor. Like, you mean when you were the lieutenant governor. When you actively defended and praised that law? Latinx is not a term that is regularly used by the administration, Newsoms office told CNN. Gavin Newsom got smacked down by a CNN fact check on Thursday. (Watch the video below.) Anchor Erin Burnett and colleague Andrew Kaczynski tag-teamed to reveal the California governor lied when he said his office never used the term Latinx. Burnett noted the Democrat has been broadening his circles by interviewing MAGA figures such as Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his podcast. The move could be to position himself as more of a centrist for a presidential run in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his conversation with Kirk a few weeks ago, Newsom appeared to dismiss the word Latinx a gender-neutral alternative to Latino. Not one person ever in my office has ever used Latinx, Newsom declared, getting a thumbs-up from the Turning Point USA founder, who said the term can finally be put to bed. Whoopsie, Governor. Kaczynski dug up several video clips and social media posts in which Newsom proudly used Latinx. That is a lot of use of Latinx by him for somebody who said that nobody in his office has ever used that phrase, Kaczynski said. A Newsom spokesperson told the news channel, Latinx is not a term that is regularly used by the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The progressive has been accused of consorting with the enemy of late. Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois blasted Newsoms chat with Bannon. Because Gavin Newsom wants to run for president and thinks hes going to be this healer, he brings on this nationalist, Kinzinger said. Many of us on the right sacrificed our careers taking these people on, and Newsom is trying to make a career with them. This is insane. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said it wasnt worth giving Bannon oxygen on any platform. Newsom defended himself by saying last years election results emphasized the need for Democrats to explore new and unique ways of talking to people. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says "not one person" in his administration "has ever" used the word "Latinx." But our @KFILE found one person who has: Newsom himself pic.twitter.com/7zfC78CIfV Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) March 21, 2025 Related... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a dog stuck in icy waters near the Soo Locks Wednesday. The Sector Northern Great Lakes Command Center received word that a dog was stranded on the ice of Saint Marys River near the Soo Locks, the USCG said in a Thursday release. An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie rescued a dog, Cujo, who was stuck on the ice near the Soo Locks. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie responded to the scene, a boat basin for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The crew was able to get out onto the ice and rescue the pup, named Cujo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cujo was brought safely to shore and was later returned to his owner. An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie rescued a dog, Cujo, who was stuck on the ice near the Soo Locks. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie rescued a dog, Cujo, who was stuck on the ice near the Soo Locks. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie rescued a dog, Cujo, who was stuck on the ice near the Soo Locks. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie rescued a dog, Cujo, who was stuck on the ice near the Soo Locks. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie rescued a dog, Cujo, who was stuck on the ice near the Soo Locks. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) Once on scene, the dog readily accepted the help and cuddled right up to our ice rescue team member during the transit back to the station, Operations Unit Controller Cory Cichoracki said in the release. An ice rescue team with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie rescued a dog, Cujo, who was stuck on the ice near the Soo Locks. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard) Cichoracki added that the Michigan State Police and Army Corps of Engineers helped bring Cujo home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) 7 Brew, a coffee shop chain, is planning to donate a portion of its beverage sales from one location to support children at Dayton Childrens. From 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on March 26 and 27, the 7 Brew location at 785 W. Central Ave. in Springboro is donating 7 percent of the sales to Dayton Childrens. The donation will coincide with the University of Dayton Flyerthon 2025 event on Sunday, April 6, which 7 Brew will sponsor, said the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initiative is a part of the brands Caffeine for a Cause. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It was a cold start to spring Thursday morning across New Mexico. Much warmer weather is on the way by next week. Very cold temperatures settled into New Mexico this morning with Gallup breaking a record low of 5! Moriarty was one of the coldest spots in the state, dropping down to 2. Temperatures around Albuquerque got down into the 20s and teens. Temperatures have climbed quickly this afternoon, into the 50s and 60s for most of the state. Winds have also picked up across northeast New Mexico where they are gusting up to around 40 mph at times. This is bringing a high fire danger to eastern parts of New Mexico. Calm weather returns Friday as high temperatures will be back to near and slightly above average for this time of year. Windy weather returns Saturday with westerly winds gusting 35 to 50 mph, especially in central and eastern New Mexico. This will again bring a high fire danger to these areas. A cold front moves into the state Saturday night, slightly dropping high temperatures on Sunday with a bigger drop across the eastern part of the state. Clouds will increase Sunday as well with a chance for a couple sprinkles in the northern mountains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High pressure starts building towards New Mexico early next week. This will bring in a stretch of warmer, calmer, and dry weather through at least next Friday. High temperatures by the middle of the week will be some of the warmest so far this year. Albuquerque could see its first 80 day of the year by Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency said on Friday that an intelligence-led strike on Thursday had eliminated Osama Tabash, head of Hamas' military intelligence in southern Gaza. The joint statement said Tabash was also in charge of Hamas' surveillance and targeting unit. There was no immediate response from Hamas on the claim. Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after a ceasefire with Hamas that began on Jan. 19 unraveled. Israeli troops subsequently launched ground operations in southern, northern, and central Gaza. Since the resumption of airstrikes, Israel has killed several senior Hamas officials, including Issam al-Daalis, a member of Hamas' political bureau and head of the Government Follow-up Committee in Gaza. The Civil Defense in Gaza said at least 11 people were killed in Friday's airstrikes, with the overall death toll from the renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza potentially exceeding 600, in addition to more than 1,000 wounded. President Donald Trump has not been shy about sharing what his administration intends to do to college protestors they deem "terrorist sympathizers." He wrote in two Truth Social posts early this month that federal funding would stop for any colleges that allowed "illegal protests" and that the Trump administration "will find, apprehend, and deport" foreign-born campus protestors. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images On March 8, ICE detained Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student who became a prominent figure in the pro-Palestine protests last year. Khalil is a legal resident of the United States and is currently being held at an ICE facility in Louisiana. Andrew Harnik / Getty Images I wanted to know how college students are feeling amid all of this, so I asked students of the BuzzFeed Community to give their take on Trump's threats. Whether you agree or not, here's what they said: Advertisement Advertisement 1."I have mixed feelings about it. It's one thing to protest, but it's another to go after an entire people group and support literal terrorists at the same time. I've personally seen people with signs that say 'Death to Israel, Jews, etc.,' along with signs that support Hamas or Hezbollah. What's going on with Palestine is horrible, but if you're going to make a point out of it, maybe don't villainize yourself while doing it. That's the whole reason people voted for Trump, because he promised to deal with people like that." Gari Garaialde / Getty Images Anonymous, 19, CA 2."This is really scary! He will arrest and/or deport anyone that doesn't think like he does." vaultgirl6 Advertisement Advertisement 3."I now feel scared to go to college both for my college and myself. I know that Trump wouldn't be afraid to turn his guns on the peaceful protesters, and even if I wasn't a part of that crowd, I could lose friends or be caught in the chaos. This terrifies me." Anonymous, Teenager 4."Anyone who breaks the laws of our country, supports terrorism, or violates the constraints of a visa or green card deserves the consequences coming to them. Due process, of course. You cannot break laws as a non-citizen and expect to stay in this country. Explicit stated and financial support for terror groups who want America destroyed is a one-way ticket the hell out of America." Motortion / Getty Images/iStockphoto Anonymous Advertisement Advertisement 5."How does anyone look at what he just did and say, 'He's right. EXPEL THEM ALL!' Like, does no one realize that this is violating the First Amendment? I think ICE employees should stand up to him and draw the line here. You may not want immigrants in your country, but how do you believe that THIS is right?" sillysun252 6."I'm terrified on behalf of my student body. I'm an able-bodied white woman, which makes me less of a target, but it's still terrifying to know that other students are at more risk simply for being non-white or for daring to speak up for their own people. Nobody should have to go to class, not knowing if they'll ever go home again." Anonymous, 22, Portland, OR Advertisement Advertisement 7."I'm leaving for college in two years, and even though I'm a white female, I'm still terrified. Trump is literally going against the First Amendment, and nobody is stopping him. 'No masks' is basically just saying you have no right to privacy. This country and all of its progress was built by young people of every background protesting for what they believe in. Trump is a tyrant wannabe dictator, and while I may not personally be affected, my Black best friend will, my non-binary best friend will, my Japanese best friend will, and my lesbian aunt will. Hell, we all will unless we stop him." Spencer Platt / Getty Images "Guess what Hitler did as one of the first things when he rose to power? Get rid of free speech. I'm getting deja vu, and everyone else should be too. Please, I beg of you, young people, who will be able to vote in the next four years. VOTE, make America safe again for us all before it's too late." Anonymous, 16 8."I'm scared to death for the future of free speech and the ability to rectify wrongs by means of protest and civil disobedience which, as an American, is something that I consider to be a building block for democracy being used to punish students and institutions, criminally and economically. Because it isn't just college students, faculty, and staff who don't agree with him that he's going to go after. It's everyone that isn't a MAGA neo-Nazi asshole that he and his ilk want to make disappear, and I refuse to remain silent and hope that I don't end up dying as an inmate in one of the Great Cheeto Face's Concentration Camps!" Advertisement Advertisement Gen X Lady 9."Whether you support Mahmoud Khalils message is not going to be the point here, but his right to protest is. If Trump and ICE threaten him, all protestors with opposing views will be threatened. Censorship will overtake freedom of speech, and many will suffer in the process. More deportations, more outrage. This. Must. Stop." hurry2028 10."As a college student who voted for Trump, I would like to tell my fellow students who may be in the United States on visas or green cards that the First Amendment right to protect the speech of citizens does not shield the privilege of immigration documents from revocation. Rights and privileges are not the same thing. I have close friendships with international students spanning my entire stay on campus, people I would report to the State Department within five minutes of hearing any pro-Gaza sentiment. Luckily, they are people of good moral character who have no sympathy for these campus riots or Hamas. That may sound harsh, but Gaza and its belligerent victimhood will not be tolerated by the administration and its voters." Images By Tang Ming Tung / Getty Images "This story is in the headlines because of Mr. Khalil's arrest and pending deportation. I would like to point out that for such a politically contentious arrest, it's likely no coincidence that he was transferred to both a state Trump won and a state represented by the Republican speaker of the house. Advertisement Advertisement I would like any Democrats, journalists, and pro-Gaza foreign students to understand that for the judge presiding over this case, there is only one correct verdict and that the only matter disputed in this case is whether or not the judge will find the said correct verdict to deport Mr. Khalil or be impeached from the bench. The Immigration and Naturalization Act leaves green card revocation at the clear discretion of the Secretary of State, and a failure to understand the basic application of the law is a good enough reason for Congress to remove a judge from the federal judiciary..." "...For a student, foreign or otherwise, to extract any tax or immigration benefit and attend American universities paid for or subsidized at the expense of the families of Hamas's American hostages and victims is a morally unacceptable reality for this nation. That is why I will be calling on members of Congress to ban federal hiring and mandate the revocation of security clearances from any Columbia or Barnard College graduates for at least the next five years. The rot at these institutions runs deep. For every Mahmoud Khalil who occupies and disrupts campus activities while distributing Hamas fliers, there is an admissions coordinator who accepts him, clubs who foster their grievances, campus police who refuse to disperse the riot, and an administration who would rather lose $400 billion in federal funds than levy discouraging consequences against their terrorist-endorsing students." Logan, 23, University of North Carolina at Pembroke 11."I'm a criminal justice major in my senior year of college; this is an attack on our First Amendment right to protest peaceably and have our grievances addressed. I'm very worried." Hill Street Studios / Getty Images Anonymous, 65, Senior at University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL Advertisement Advertisement 12."Threatening people's safety should not have to be political; people go to college to learn, not to be distracted and feel scared about violent protests. This goes for anyone. It is not about this side or that side; disrupting the safety at a college is considered a crime, and those should be prosecuted accordingly." Anonymous 13."As a US citizen and graduate student myself, my right of free speech to peacefully protest a position on political issues is destroyed, especially if the issues and my ideas go against Donald Trump. I have seen groups of anti-LGBTQ+ protesters on Auburn University's campus, the university I attend but I can assure you, with certainty, their free speech will never be infringed so why is mine? The answer is very clear: because Donald Trump is pushing a fascist agenda, and freedom of speech on issues such as Palestine or LGBTQ+ rights may inhibit the deplorable change he wishes this country and world at large will shift towards." B. Justin H., 28, 5th year PhD candidate, Auburn University, Auburn, AL Advertisement Advertisement 14."I'd be more worried if he starts ordering law enforcement to shoot at protestors. He is as close to a dictator as we've ever had. I hope all young people protect themselves first. I swear to god if he touches a hair on these kids' heads... he may actually be surprised by how quickly his own supporters turn on him. Let's not forget how many conservative parents have liberal children. Nothing about protesting is illegal in this country. He is a sorry excuse for a man." Pacific Press / Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images areyoukidding 15.And finally, "A friend and I were thinking about applying for student exchange this or the next year and even started the process pre-election. I pulled out immediately upon seeing the results and have advised the friend to do the same. At first, she was skeptical. We kept monitoring the situation, and soon enough she revoked her application as well. As foreign female students, neither of us feels safe anymore." Anonymous What's your take on this? If you've got opinions, students, we want to hear them let us know in the comments or via this anonymous form. STORY: Deicy Aldana says her husband has no ties to criminal gangs. Yet, she says U.S. immigration authorities told her Andres Guillermo Morales was deported from the U.S. over the weekend. And now he, a Colombian-Venezuelan dual citizen, is being held in a high-security prison in El Salvador. "I'm so worried because he's a human being, and they are violating his rights. It's not fair what they are doing to him and the other Venezuelans for being Venezuelans." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Morales' case. The Trump administration is facing a March 25 deadline to respond to a judicial request for more details on the deportations of hundreds of migrants to El Salvador. This is as U.S. District Judge James Boasberg considers whether officials violated his order temporarily blocking the expulsions. Trump had invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. He said this allowed him to deport alleged members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Those migrants are now being held in El Salvador, under an agreement with President Nayib Bukele's government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families of some of the men said that ICE told them their loved ones have tattoos linked to the violent gang. "I don't know why they sent him there, just for having tattoos, tattoos that are not related to the Tren de Aragua... The tattoos that he had were the name of his mother, the name of his father. On Thursday, Aldana told Reuters her husband had a legal work permit as part of his U.S. asylum application when he was arrested by ICE in early February. "He's a hard worker. He is a man who fights for his people. I don't know why they connected him to the Tren de Aragua if he has nothing to do with that. He doesn't have a criminal record in Colombia, and he doesn't have a criminal record in Venezuela; if he had one in the United States, they would have left him there to serve time, but he doesnt have any. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters has independently verified Morales work authorization and was not able to immediately find any U.S. criminal convictions. Aldana, a Colombian citizen, is now staying with her mother across the border in Venezuela. She returned from the U.S. with her two young daughters following her husband's detention. Aldana shared and Reuters confirmed paperwork showing her husband was raised along the two countries' border and has no criminal convictions in Colombia. She says Morales had a signed deportation order for Colombia and was told by that country's San Francisco consulate in that he would be deported to Bogota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Yesterday, I spoke with the Colombian chancellery, where I explained that he had signed documents, and everything was ready for him to be sent to Bogota. I don't know why they sent him to El Salvador, they told me they were going to be on top of the case, they put me in contact with the consulate of El Salvador. Last night, I received an email from them telling me they would talk to the Salvadoran authorities and soon give him a response. Since then I know nothing more about him, I don't know where he is, I don't know how he is. He was sick, he hadnt received his medicines. I know nothing about him." The Colombian foreign ministry has told Aldana they are following the case. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. I will do whatever I can to get him out, to help him get out of where he is." DENVER (KDVR) On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order called Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities. The move is being condemned by teachers unions and many Democratic legislators, while Republicans have cheered the measure as a way to cut government bloat. Earlier this presidential term, the Department of Education laid off nearly half of its workforce. Top Democrats, unions condemn upcoming Trump order to dismantle Education Department Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Education Department Secretary Linda McMahon released a statement about the executive order shortly after it was signed. Todays Executive Order is a history-making action by President Trump to free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success. We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs, McMahon said. She argued, as does the executive order, that education is a state responsibility. Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states to take charge and advocate for and implement what is best for students, families, and educators in their communities, McMahon wrote. Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on themwe will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs. Were going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working through Congress to ensure a lawful and orderly transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive order came as hundreds of teachers protested at the Colorado Capitol about state education funding. Rep. Lauren Boebert, Republican Colorados 4th Congressional District Rep. Boebert, an outspoken supporter of Trump and his administrations goals, applauded the executive order on social platform X. The Department of Education is DONE!, she wrote. Thank you, President Trump! The Left will fight this one HARD but its the only way to save our country from the woke indoctrination that has INFESTED our school system. 70% of eighth graders are not proficient in either reading or math yet somehow we spend the most per pupil on education. The DOEs budget has exploded by 600% but the results have only gotten WORSE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our children deserve a REAL education, not the federal mess we have now. Now the money will go back to the states and well get QUALITY education again. Promises made. Promises kept, the congresswoman concluded. U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Democrat 7th Congressional District Pettersen sent a lengthy email that included a statement and information about how the executive order would impact Coloradans. She said that the Department of Educations Title I funding is provided to schools with high concentrations of low-income students to level the playing field. She said about 914 Colorado schools receive that funding, which supports over 326,200 students. She also said that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding ensures students with disabilities get the services and support they need to succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado receives more than $205.9 million for IDEA funding to make sure these students have an accessible learning environmentfrom speech therapists to special equipment and more, Pettersen wrote in her email. Federal Pell Grants provide need-based aid to 69,248 Colorado students, while Work Study helps 5,245 students earn money for their education through part-time jobs. Aurora Public Schools cancels classes Thursday for rally at State Capitol She said together, the programs provide over $328 million in higher education funding. Growing up, I faced significant challenges at home. I made it where I am today because I had access to great public schools and teachers. Thanks to their investments in me, I was given a chance to build a better life and overcome the obstacles that I faced at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Trump is ripping that same opportunity not just from low-income families and students with disabilities, but from thousands of Colorado kids. When public education is attacked, every classroom and every student will feel the impact. Lets be clear: the President of the United States is taking books, teachers, and education programs away from our schools all so he can put more money in the pockets of billionaires. We will not let this stand. Rep. Diana DeGette, Democrat Colorados 1st Congressional District Rep. Diana DeGette sent a lengthy statement about the matter via email. Donald Trumps reckless order directing Secretary McMahon to take steps to eliminate the Department of Education is a direct attack on our kids, our teachers, and the future of public education in this country. Every childno matter their zip code, background, or abilitydeserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive in their school. But Trump and his billionaire allies are more interested in gutting funding, allowing discrimination, and censoring curriculum than ensuring every student gets a quality education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Education is a civil rights agency. It exists to protect students from discrimination, to ensure equal access to education, and to support programs that millions of families rely onlike Pell Grants, FAFSA, special education services, and supplemental funding for public schools, including higher education institutions, across the country. This order is a direct threat to students with disabilities, low-income students, and every family that depends on school resources to give their child a fair shot. For months, Ive been hearing from parents, teachers, and education advocates across Denver who are terrified of what this could mean for their childrens future. Now, their worst fears are coming true. However, Trump does not have the power to unilaterally eliminate the Department of Education simply because his billionaire pal Elon Musk recommends it. He needs Congress to sign offand I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that never happens. Our students deserve better than this chaos. Our teachers deserve better than these attacks. And our country deserves a president who actually values public educationnot one who wants to destroy it. Rep. Jeff Crank Republican, Colorados 5th District Crank posted to X about the order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you to @POTUS for returning education decisions to parents and local governments! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (SOUTHERN COLORADO) A man who assaulted and injured a family member on Thursday morning, March 20 was captured later the same day in Trinidad after fleeing in the victims car. According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), officers originally responded shortly before 6 a.m. to a reported family disturbance in the 2600 block of East Dale Street, in the Knob Hill neighborhood north of Platte Avenue. When officers arrived, they discovered a man who had been assaulted and injured by a family member. The suspect, identified as Dawson Flagerholm, reportedly left the scene in the victims car and an arrest warrant was issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later on Thursday, around 3 p.m., Colorado State Troopers made contact with Flagerholm hours away near Trinidad, and he was taken into custody without incident. Flagerholm was booked into the El Paso County Sheriffs Office and is charged with attempted first degree murder, first degree assault, robbery, and false imprisonment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Columbia University agreed Friday to the Trump administrations demands to start negotiations over returning $400 million in federal funding, which was revoked over claims of antisemitism, according to a letter from the school to federal agencies. As part of the four-page agreement, Columbia committed to ban masks for the purpose of concealing ones identity, give dozens of public safety personnel the power of arrest, and appoint a top school official to oversee the universitys Middle Eastern studies department. Our response to the government agencies outlines the substantive work weve been doing over the last academic year to advance our mission, ensure uninterrupted academic activities, and make every student, faculty and staff member safe and welcome on our campus, Interim President Katrina Armstrong wrote in an email to faculty and students on the day of the extended deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At all times, we are guided by our values, putting academic freedom, free expression, open inquiry and respect for all at the fore of every decision we make. The U.S. Department of Education did not immediately say if the concessions went far enough to warrant restoring the canceled federal grants and contracts the loss of which has interrupted funding for training programs, medical research and other programming that relies on the governments support. Federal education officials have previously accused Columbia of not doing enough to protect Jewish students from harassment during campus protests against Israels military campaign in Gaza. The Education Department and two other federal agencies released a joint memo on March 13 outlining their demands. The stipulations were criticized by faculty as placing Columbias academic independence in jeopardy, particularly through the added level of supervision for Middle Eastern studies. The Columbia chapter of the American Association of University Professors previously condemned the demands as overreach, calling the memo a ransom letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbias compliance does not guarantee that federal funding will be restored, but is instead a precondition for formal negotiations regarding Columbia Universitys continued financial relationship with the United States government, according to the federal agencies. Another demand in the memo called for meaningful discipline for the campus protest activity of last year. The same day, Columbia moved to expel and suspend for multiple years students involved in last springs takeover of Hamilton Hall. The Columbia chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, which lost formal recognition last school year, condemned part of Columbias response, in which it said it plans to launch programming at its hub in Tel Aviv as soon as next quarter. Rather than stand up against [a] fascist administration, Armstrong and CU trustees have bent over backwards, the group wrote on X, citing the growing death toll in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, pro-Israel faculty members called the moves a good start. The Columbia chapter of Faculty Supporting Israel wrote on X, With todays news, Columbia has signaled a willingness to adopt some of the recommended changes. We welcome the implementation of these changes and more to ensure that our community is safe and welcoming to all. Student activists have resisted calls to remove their masks, citing concerns about doxxing. The new rules mean that anyone who wears a mask must present their Columbia identification to administrators or campus security. Protesters who refuse to do so will face discipline up to detention for trespass, Columbias letter to the Trump administration read. Masks are permitted for religious or medical reasons. Meanwhile, 36 special officers will have the ability to arrest students. They are currently nearing the end of their training and credentialing under New York law, according to university officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbias new policies stopped short of calling the oversight of its Middle Eastern studies department a receivership, as demanded by the Trump administration. Instead, a new senior vice provost is being appointed to review the department and related academic programs to ensure the educational offerings are comprehensive and balanced, as well as to have a say in hiring and any curricular changes. Civil liberties groups voiced deep concerns over what they described as Columbia crumbling under the Trump administrations heavy-handed pressure. The federal government abandoned its existing process to browbeat Columbia and Columbia folded, said Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE. If Columbia with its immense resources and influence cant stand up to government demands that threaten free speech, what are other colleges to do? The free speech group said it would stand with any college or university willing to stand up for itself. A sad day for Columbia and for our democracy, Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, wrote on Bluesky. A hate-filled agitator sent an antisemitic email to Columbia Universitys law school this week calling for death to Judaism, Zionism and Israel, cops said. A security guard at the Ivy League school where multiple anti-Israel protests have erupted over the past year received the threatening email Monday and reported it to police on Wednesday, authorities and sources said. The hateful email sent to Columbia Universitys law school called for death to Judaism, Zionism, and Israel. Robert Miller A security guard at the school reported the email to police Wednesday. AP The email comes shortly after protests at the university over the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil. Robert Miller Death to Judaism, death to Zionism, death to Israel, the email read. Antisemitism is 100% free speech. Jews are sickness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guard said the email was sent to a number of administrative offices at Columbia, according to cops and sources. No arrests had been made in connection to the disturbing email Thursday, and it is unclear who was responsible for sending the message. The guard said the email was sent to a number of administrative offices at Columbia. James Keivom No arrests had been made in connection to the disturbing email. Robert Miller We are aware of an email with antisemitic and harassing language that was sent to a few administrative offices at Columbia from an external email address, a Columbia spokesperson said in a statement. After it was reported to Public Safety and our Office of Institutional Equity, the University immediately blocked the email address and will track if there are any additional messages from this user, in addition to notifying law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The frightening missive comes about a week after protests raged over ICEs arrest of former Columbia student and protest ringleader Mahmoud Khalil including a demonstration in the dining area of Trump Tower that led to nearly 100 arrests. Vandals also splashed the historic home of Columbias president with red paint and the words Free Them All late last week. James Keivom Vandals also splashed the historic home of Columbias president with red paint and the words Free Them All late last week. In a fiery letter written from his Louisiana immigration detention facility, Khalil called himself a political prisoner while urging students to respond with even more protests. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) North Carolina encourages you to apply, the head of N.C.s Office of State Human Resources said in a memo aimed at workers displaced from careers rooted in public service. The call for applicants comes as part of a new initiative from Governor Josh Stein in which a new websitewww.nc.gov/joinNChas been launched. According to Steins office, the website is intended to be a resource for people who have been subject to recent mass layoffs of the federal government and for anyone displaced due to Hurricane Helene. NC Gov. signs $528 million Helene recovery bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site, Steins office said, is all about welcoming talented and dedicated people to apply to work for the state of North Carolina. North Carolina is a great place to live, play, and work, said Governor Josh Stein. Public servants help make our state everything that it is, and there are many talented people looking for work right now. The State of North Carolina is proud to welcome smart and dedicated public-spirited people to join our team. The website also provides resources for servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans to apply for positions in North Carolina state government. SO how exactly does it work? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People interested in public service jobs in North Carolina visit this new website and, after filling in some basic information, are connected with an employment recruiter from OSHR to help match their skills to a job in state government. Information required to submit includes basic contact information for the applicant as well as disclosing how they came to be terminated or furloughed, the type of employment theyre interested in, and whether an in-person, hybrid or remote position is preferred. If desired, applicants can also provide their resume, a cover letter and a completed state application before submitting. Our state welcomes job seekers from a wide range of industries and will help match them with a career that is rewarding and will make a difference, Gov. Steins announcement said on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. AUSTIN (KFDX/KJTL) An East Texas lawmaker is trying to make the cannon the official state gun of Texas. Senator Bryan Hughes filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 this legislative session. The resolution passed the Senate Committee on State Affairs unanimously on Monday, March 17, and is now heading to the Senate floor for a full vote. House Representative Cole Hefner has filed a companion resolution thats identical to Hughes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But doesnt Texas already have an official gun? In 2021, Senator Charles Schwertner filed SCR 20, recognizing the 1847 Colt Walker pistol as the official handgun of the state. The legislation walked through the halls of the capitol with no pushback. Governor Abbott signed the resolution on May 24, 2021. A simple Google search of what is the official gun of Texas, and pops up as the Colt Walker pistol. Lets look at the language in each piece of legislation: Hughes SCR 22 states: WHEREAS, These historic weapons serve as powerful reminders of our states epic struggle for freedom, and they further highlight the unique heritage shared by all those who are proud to call Texas home; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate the cannon as the official state gun of Texas. Schwertners SCR 20 states: WHEREAS, The original 1847 Colt Walker pistol is still the most powerful black powder pistol in existence; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby recognize the original 1847 Colt Walker pistol as the official handgun of the State of Texas. Britannica describes a cannon as a big gun, howitzer, or mortar, as distinguished from a musket, rifle, or other small arm. So basically, the cannon and Colt Walker pistol are both guns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both have been crucial in Texas history. Perhaps both can carry the Official Gun of Texas title after this legislative session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick raised alarm over fraudsters receiving Social Security benefits, as Trump allies have ramped up rhetoric about potential waste in the program amid a major restructuring effort at the agency that oversees the program. During an appearance on the All-In podcast that was released on Thursday, Lutnick said the government doesnt have to take one penny from someone who deserves Social Security, not one penny for someone who deserves Medicaid, Medicare. What we have to do is stop sending money to someone whos not hurt, whos on disability for 50 years, he claimed. Its ridiculous, and they have another job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point in the wide-ranging, nearly two-hour conversation, Lutnick also said that if Social Security didnt send out their checks this month, his mother-in-law, whos 94, she wouldnt call and complain. Shed think something got messed up, and shell get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining, the billionaire businessman said. Anybody whos been in the payment system and the processes, who knows the easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen, because whoever screams is the one stealing, he said. Because my mother-in-laws not calling, come on, your mother, 80-year-olds, 90-year-olds, they trust the government. So, the people who are getting that free money, stealing the money, inappropriately, getting the money, have an inside person whos routing the money, he said. They are going to yell and scream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments come after tech billionaire Elon Musk, whom President Trump tapped to head up the Department of Government Efficiency, called Social Security the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time earlier this month and suggested there could be hundreds of billions of potential cuts targeting waste in entitlement programs. The rhetoric has prompted pushback from experts and advocates who have accused Trump allies of spreading false claims about the amount of fraud actually found in the program. Trump has vowed not to cut Social Security benefits, however. Lutnick also said on Thursday that hes against raising the retirement age a proposal some Republicans have floated in Congress as a way to help shore up solvency for the program. I find it disgusting when were the richest country in the world, and some politician says in order to save Social Security, rather than getting rid of the waste, fraud and abuse, we should move it to 70, Lutnick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How about no? How about were rich enough to give people the benefit of the bargain of being a great American, but lets put great people in charge, he said. The Commerce secretary was also asked about the idea of a sovereign wealth fund which Trump pitched earlier this year and whether it could be a balance sheet for Social Security, as its trust funds are projected to be depleted in about a decade. We have a budget deficit of $2 trillion. So, Donald Trump wants to knock down the $2 trillion, and then hes focused about the 36 trillion, which the Social Security is part of it, Lutnick said this week, referring to the nations $36 trillion-plus debt. So, how he allocates it? He was elected president of the United States, he said. I was not. I like the Social Security idea because its really easy to explain to people and sell to people, and so they understand it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the fact is that its the same money if I put it in Social Security or I put it on the debt of the United States of America, and Im gonna let Donald Trump make that decision, he said. In the last Congress, senators had also discussed the idea of a sovereign wealth fund as a means to help finance Social Security. Since Trumps inauguration, thousands of federal employees have been axed as the administration looks to significantly reshape the federal government. The administration has signaled more firings are on the way, even after a recent court order that found some terminations were unlawful prompted officials to move to reinstate upward of 20,000 workers. Last month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) notified employees that significant workforce reductions were on the way amid reports that thousands of workers could be let go. Dozens of SSA offices are also expected to shutter as the government-wide cost-cutting operation continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the SSA said on Monday that individuals would be required to come in person to verify their identity instead of doing so via telephone if unable to use online-authentication. The agency said the measure is aimed at safeguarding Social Security records and benefits against fraudulent activity. Updated at 4:33 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Front) speaks during a presidential inauguration ceremony in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 21, 2025. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in on Friday as the first female president of Namibia after winning elections last year. (Photo by Musa Kaseke/Xinhua) WINDHOEK, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in on Friday as the first female president of Namibia after winning elections last year. At a ceremony that coincided with Namibia's 35th anniversary of independence, Nandi-Ndaitwah assumed office, succeeding outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba, who had taken over power following the death of former President Hage Geingob in 2024. As Namibia's fifth president since its independence in 1990, Nandi-Ndaitwah won the 2024 presidential election with 57 percent of the vote. "The task facing me, as the fifth president of the Republic of Namibia, is to preserve the gains of our independence on all fronts and to ensure that the unfinished agenda of economic and social advancement of our people is carried forward with vigor and determination to bring about shared balanced prosperity for all," Nandi-Ndaitwah said in her inaugural speech as president. "I am optimistic that, as a nation, we can make a success of our country. We must work together as a united people with one heart and one mind," she added. The inauguration ceremony was attended by heads of state from several African countries, as well as leaders of international and regional organizations. Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is a member of Namibia's ruling South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) party, which has been in power since the country gained independence in 1990. She joined the party when it was leading the struggle for independence and has since held several senior positions. Nandi-Ndaitwah entered the National Assembly in 1990 and became a cabinet minister in 2000, leading the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare. She later served as minister of information and broadcasting, minister of environment and tourism, and minister of foreign affairs. In February 2024, she became Namibia's first female vice president. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Front) speaks during a presidential inauguration ceremony in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 21, 2025. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in on Friday as the first female president of Namibia after winning elections last year. (Photo by Musa Kaseke/Xinhua) SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Daycare providers are being offered food assistance by a local nonprofit agency. The National Child and Adult Care Food Program is a federal program that pays for healthy meals and snacks for children and adults in daycare. The Community Action Agency of Siouxland administers the program locally, but says only 38 out of 91 eligible child care providers in Woodbury County have actively participated. Lineworkers hard at work restoring power to Siouxland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are 53 daycare providers just in Woodbury County alone that are not taking advantage of this program, and we feel like its a great, great program and it helps pay for, helps reimburse the cost of meals and snacks that the daycare provider would serve in their home, Community Action Agency of Siouxland Executive Director Jean Logan said. So its win-win, really. Any daycare providers interested in joining this program can learn more by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Thousands of people are preparing for the St. Patricks parade in Holyoke this weekend. Dozens of people gathered at Nathan Bills Thursday night for their annual opening ceremony, eager to celebrate this weekend. Holyoke road race & parade preps include parking and safety regulations Two checks were presented to local organizations, all thanks to the Thomas J. Sullivan Memorial Fund. Checks were able to be presented to Pope Francis High School and the Chicopee Marine Ball Committee. The Memorial Fund continues to honor the life and legacy of the owners brother who dedicated his life to service as a marine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a heroic person he had a high moral code and he was all about doing the right thing, says Joe Sullivan, Owner of Nathan Bills Bar and Restaurant. Sullivan says that because of the Memorial Fund, students can have the opportunity to receive a private school education. Since November, The Pope Francis Scholarship Fund has raised more than $750,000. Nathan Bills also plans to host the ultimate after-party following the parade with delicious Irish food and live Irish music. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) Congressman Jim McGovern visited seniors at the Applewood retirement community apartments in Amherst on Friday. Congressman Jim McGovern discussed the efforts of the Trump Administration with residents. Whats happening in Washington directly impacts the people who are gathered here in this room. People are nervous, people are concerned, and people want to express their opinions. Massachusetts audit reveals $2M state benefits fraud, SNAP leads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGoverns visit allows the Applewood community to voice their questions and concerns about whats going on at the federal level, especially regarding healthcare and social security. Elon Musk has described federal benefit programs as fraud, suggesting they will be a target in his goals to reduce government spending. Hes falsely claimed that undocumented immigrants are fraudulently accessing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of benefits, including social security, Medicaid and disability programs. Plus, DOGE plans to close dozens of Social Security Administration offices across the country this year. The Social Security Administration has suggested that citizens applying for social security or disability benefits over the phone would need to verify their identities in person or using an online program. If youre shutting down offices and laying off staff, its going to be very very difficult. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has said the president will always protect social security and will not cut benefits. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Monday, any American receiving social security benefits will continue to receive them. The sole mission of DOGE is to identify waste, fraud, and abuse only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While uncertainty remains, McGovern plans to continue town hall-style forums to bridge the gap between Washington and western Massachusetts. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) President Donald Trump has signed an executive order, dismantling the Department of Education. Springfield postal workers rally against privatization The Trump Administration has signed an executive order shuttering the Department of Education even after 21 Democratic Attorneys General filed a lawsuit last week deeming the elimination of the department unlawful. The Department of Education was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 and is one of the smallest cabinet-level departments, only representing 4% of the U.S. budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Trump Administration, the education authority is set to return to the individual states. Congressman Neal told 22News his other worry about the dismantling of the Department of Education is disability rights, saying it will be harder to determine what the term disabilities mean in learning initiatives if each state can have different qualifications. If we are going to say that 50 states are going to have 50 different standards for how we measure educational achievements in America, that is a mistake, he says. To formally close the Department of Education, Congress will need to be involved, but with an executive order, the Trump Administration will effectively make it nearly impossible for employees to do their work, like what happened to the US AID. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) As they craft a state budget that will send billions of sought-after dollars to local school districts, lawmakers in Hartford diverged sharply in their responses to President Donald Trumps executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Democrats like State Rep. Jenn Leeper, the co-chair of the legislatures Education Committee, are planning for a worst case scenario. How will Trumps executive order shutting down the Department of Education impact Connecticut schools? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That worst case scenario, Democrats say, could see education shortfalls in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars. If that money goes away, were gonna eliminate school meals for children all across the state, were gonna eliminate special education funding, State Sen. Bob Duff, the majority leader of the State Senate, said. These are dire circumstances. But Republicans cautioned Democrats not to overreact to the Trump administrations executive order. Lets see what actually happens, State Sen. Eric Berthel, a top-ranking Republican on the Education Committee, said. As of Friday morning, the states own Department of Education said they have not experienced any interruptions in funding for any [U.S. Department of Education] programs that the [Connecticut Department of Education] administers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states education department also reiterated that their federal counterpart has stated they will continue to deliver on all statutory programs under their purview a point the Trump White House was quick to emphasize on Thursday when the President rolled out his executive order. Trumps order directs the uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. The order is part of the Trump administrations broader stated goal to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities. The notion that state and local leaders might retain its federal education funding while gaining more control over how that money is spent is something that members of both parties signaled an openness to but Democrats doubt Connecticut will see a continuation of the current federal funding levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Republicans think that somehow were just gonna get all that money in a block grant, then I got a bridge to sell you, Duff said. It aint happening. Republicans expressed optimism that states around the country could see a scenario very similar to the one Duff dismissed as remote. Such a scenario, those Republicans said, would be preferable to the current arrangement. Gov. Lamont proposes $54 million increase in state aid for special education services Any effort to dismantle bureaucracy in D.C. in favor of local control of education is a plus in my opinion, State Rep. Joe Polletta, a top Republican on the legislatures tax-writing committee, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what if Connecticut does see significant cuts to federal education aide? Berthel said that the states sizable rainy day fund could function as a source of stopgap cash. That would be a rainy day, I think by definition, Berthel said. Wed have to backfill. Leeper was more pessimistic, saying the worst case scenario being contemplated by members of her party would see deep cuts not only to federal education funding, but also to Medicaid. In that scenario, Leeper said even extraordinary budgetary maneuvers might not be enough to maintain current services. The rainy day fund might get us through one year, Leeper said. Its not going to get us through four. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) requested an investigation into Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks comments urging Americans to buy Tesla stock as the companys shares dip due to mass firings and reform efforts overseen by CEO Elon Musk. This is just the latest example of the Trump Administration using taxpayer resources to enrich the Presidents inner circle, Connolly wrote in a Thursday letter to John K. Guenther, acting general counsel for the Department of Commerce. His inquiry comes two months after President Trump dismissed dozens of independent agency watchdogs without congressional approval. Regulatory agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, are also set to undergo layoffs, further fueling concerns about Musks involvement in government proceedings while earning billions from the private sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lutnick urged Americans to take advantage of the 34.6 percent drop in Tesla stock, citing the best leader of any set of companies in America working for America. I think, if you want to learn something on this show tonight: Buy Tesla, he said during an appearance on Fox Newss Jesse Watters Primetime. Its unbelievable that this guys stock is this cheap. Itll never be this cheap again. Connolly said the comments violate the Standards of Ethical Conduct, alleging the Trump administration is using taxpayer resources to enrich the Presidents inner circle. The Virginia lawmaker requested financial disclosures from Lutnick and his deputy secretary in addition to all political appointees, plus a copy of their electronic communications with the White House and correspondence between the White House counsel, Office of Government Ethics, or Office of the Special Counsel and the Department of Commerce prior to his Fox interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connolly requested Guenther present the information by April 3. The present circumstances differ in that Tesla is owned by an individual who has been given license by the President to slash and burn his way through the federal government, indiscriminately and lawlessly terminating federal workers and eliminating the services they provide to the American people, while lining his own pockets with billions of taxpayer dollars, he wrote. These ongoing violations of law require a response befitting of the level abuse to deter further lawlessness and to ensure the American people that members of this Administration seek to serve all people rather than to enrich a select few. The Hill has reached out to the Department of Commerce and the White House for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The ironies abound. As the United States looks forward to the 250th anniversary of American independence, the sitting president is pictured wearing a crown and describing himself as a king, apparently oblivious to the fact that he is proudly embracing the political identity of Britain's George III. Donald Trump can perhaps be forgiven his awkward gesture. He sings from an old songbook: Dont know much about history. But the fact that Trump is embracing the title of monarch as we prepare to celebrate Americas dramatic denunciation of monarchy merits more than a passing smile. Moreover, the conflict between the values of the American Revolution and the Trump political agenda goes much deeper. And that fact is likely to be fully exposed in the flood of books, op-eds, podcasts and a Ken Burns six-part documentary on the American Revolution, due out in November (full disclosure: Im quoted in the series). Regard the following words as a preview of the coming attractions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Calmes: It's a 'break-glass' moment in Washington, but then what? In addition to the explicit denunciation of monarchy, the American Revolution was founded on what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. described as a promissory note contained in the Declaration of Independence. Here are the magic words of the American founding: We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are established among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. This is the seminal statement of the American Creed, as sociologist and economist Gunnar Myrdal called it. Abraham Lincoln, who also knew how to make history with words, claimed that Thomas Jefferson was the original American oracle: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All honor to Jefferson to the man who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for national independence by a single people, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document, an abstract truth and so to embalm it there, that today and in all coming days, it shall be a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the harbingers of reappearing tyranny and oppression. Read more: Someday, most likely, the buck will stop with Trump We can safely assume that Lincoln had a twinkle in his eye when he wrote a merely revolutionary document. His main point was to interpret Jeffersons words as a bold attempt to plant an egalitarian ideal at the very start of American history that would, over the stretch of time, slowly but surely become a social and political reality. In effect, the American Revolution did not end when Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington; it has been a living and constantly growing set of truths. In the ensuing celebrations of American independence, once the July 4th fireworks die down, we see a robust debate among historians about Lincolns interpretation of Jeffersons words and heated battles over the reasons why the founders consciously decided to defer the full meaning of the Jeffersonian promise, most especially to tolerate slavery, an institution clearly at odds with the core values of the Cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is where the Trump political agenda enters the argument. The current president not only intends to unravel the American republic, he also seeks to end the ongoing American Revolution that Jefferson launched and Lincoln described. His popular slogan Make America Great Again is deliberately ambiguous. For some it could mean before a man who looked like Barack Obama occupied the White House. For others, residents of the former Confederacy, it could mean before the Civil War. Read more: Goldberg: Is Trump's Napoleon quote just idle trolling? This context suggests otherwise In between it might mean: before MLK Jr. had his dream, before the Voting Rights Act of 1965, before Roe vs. Wade, before Brown vs. Board of Education, before Lyndon Johnsons Great Society, before FDRs New Deal. The list could go on, but an overarching pattern is clear. The significant reforms of the 20th and 21st centuries, the movements that mobilized government powers to support racial and gender equality in keeping with Jeffersons vision of the founding, must be relegated to oblivion. In effect, the American Revolution must end, erased from the history books. The commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence is destined to generate a spirited debate over who and where we are as a people and a nation. Will Trump and his devoted followers be right to celebrate the end of the American Revolution? Or is the idealism of Jefferson and Lincoln still alive and the American Revolution poised to enter a new chapter? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While historians are great at predicting the past we are no better than everybody else at predicting the future. The jury is still out. Joseph J. Ellis is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. His latest book, The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding, will be published in October. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. We all learned long ago, perhaps on the playground, that giving in to a bully only makes things worse. That is why it is shocking to see capitulation on the part of those being illegally bullied by President Trump. This will only embolden him. On Thursday and Friday, a law firm and Columbia University surrendered. Trump said Thursday that the national law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP had reached a settlement with his administration. A week earlier, the president had issued an executive order, Addressing Risks from Paul Weiss. that revoked security clearances for all lawyers in the firm, ended its government contracts with the firm and limited access to government buildings for those working at the firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: University of California orders hiring freeze, cuts in response to Trump threats Why was Paul, Weiss targeted? The primary reason given was that one of its former partners worked in the Manhattan district attorneys office and was part of the legal team that investigated Trump in the case that later resulted in his prosecution and conviction on business fraud charges. Also, the executive order says that a Paul, Weiss lawyer represented clients suing Jan. 6, 2021, rioters. This is nothing but blatantly illegal retribution. A federal judge in issuing a temporary restraining order against a similar Trump executive order directed at the law firm Perkins Coie, which had represented Hillary Clinton, said that action was an extreme, unprecedented effort and that it "casts a chilling harm of blizzard proportion across the entire legal profession." The law is clear that lawyers are not to be punished for representing clients or for their lawful advocacy. But Trump on Thursday said he was withdrawing the Paul, Weiss executive order and in exchange the firm would contribute $40 million in legal services to causes Trump has championed, including the Presidents Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, and other mutually agreed projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: As Trump attacks DEI, UC bans diversity statements in faculty hiring This obviously only emboldens the president to target more law firms in shakedowns. As of Friday, Columbia University has agreed to the same type of capitulation. On March 13, the Trump administration announced it was cutting off $400 million in federal money to Columbia citing "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students," especially as to pro-Palestinian protests that occurred last spring. Such a cut in federal funds is illegal in many ways. The federal governments claim was that Columbia violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in not adequately responding to a hostile environment against Jewish students. But Title VI requires an express finding on the record, after opportunity for hearing of failure to comply with the statute, as well as a full written report submitted to House and Senate committees at least 30 days before a cutoff takes effect. There was no hearing, no finding and no report by the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal standard under Title VI is that a recipient of federal funds must not show deliberate indifference to a hostile environment. Not only was there no such finding, given Columbia's ultimately aggressive response to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations last spring, it is not plausible to say it was deliberately indifferent. Read more: Demonstrators sue UCLA over handling of pro-Palestinian protests Also, as the Department of Education previously has made clear, a university cannot be required to stop speech that is protected by the 1st Amendment. That would be unconstitutional. Yet Columbia is being punished for adhering to that requirement. Let's say Columbia had been found to have violated Title VI. The law says that the remedy, cutting off funds, must be limited in its effect to the particular program, or part thereof, in which noncompliance has been so found. Instead, the Trump administration apparently planned to cut off funds affecting a broad swath of the universitys programs , including the medical school, which was far removed from the protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia had every reason to file suit, challenging the order. Instead, it conceded, amid claims that there was overlap between what Trump wanted and reforms it was already considering. The Trump administrations demands included changing Columbia's admissions criteria, establishing rules related to protest that could restrict student speech and putting Columbias Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department under academic "receivership" for at least five years, taking control away from its faculty, a potential violation of academic freedom. Choosing to make a deal rather than fight the president is understandable. Litigation is expensive and can be protracted. The presidents attack could seriously damage Paul, Weiss and Columbia; they want their nightmare to be over and giving in to the president seems the fastest way to accomplish that. But both the university and law firm have substantial resources to challenge the Trump administration challenges, and their capitulation will have enormous costs for other schools and law firms, some with fewer resources, as the president determines his next targets. Trump has taken a page from the playbook of all dictators: govern by fear and intimidation. If democracy is to survive, though, it must be because the illegal and unconstitutional acts of the Trump administration are stopped. That requires that those targeted fight back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erwin Chemerinsky is the dean of the UC Berkeley Law School. His latest book is "No Democracy Lasts Forever: How the Constitution Threatens the United States." If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) A Corbin woman was charged with allegedly assaulting emergency personnel who were trying to get her to the hospital on Wednesday. The Laurel County Sheriffs Office told FOX 56 News that around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, deputies were dispatched 12 miles south of London to the area of Beatty Avenue in response to reports of a woman holding a small child in a ditch line. A Cobrin city police officer was at the scene when deputies arrived, who said the woman holding the child had allegedly been raped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armed and dangerous man wanted following drug-related search in Georgetown Court documents note that deputies found Olivia Thomas, 28, in the back of an ambulance and unable to cooperate with law enforcement. She told deputies she had not been raped, but was on some type of drug, possibly meth, a uniform citation reads. The sheriffs office got in contact with social services since a child was involved, informing them of the situation. Thomas and the child were both taken to Baptist Health Corbin in separate ambulances, per an arrest citation. Social services members met with the LCSO at the hospital, where an EMS technician who was in the ambulance with Thomas said she allegedly grabbed his arm and slapped him on the face while she was in his care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ambulance crew member reportedly had redness in his face but denied immediate medical treatment. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Thomas was charged with third-degree assault of EMS personnel, endangering the welfare of a minor, and public intoxication under the influence of a controlled substance. She was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional 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 FOX 56 News. Chinese satellites to enhance global early warning systems 08:27, March 21, 2025 By Zhao Yimeng ( Chinadaily.com.cn China will launch three Fengyun geostationary meteorological satellites over the next two years to enhance global early warning systems, supporting the United Nations' Early Warnings for All initiative and helping billions fight climate change, a senior official said. Chen Zhenlin, head of the China Meteorological Administration, said the satellites one optical over the Indian Ocean, and one optical and one microwave over the western Pacific Ocean are in their final phases of integration testing and are scheduled for launch between 2025 and 2026. The deployment of these satellites will bring groundbreaking development to global early warning systems, Chen told China Daily in an exclusive interview ahead of World Meteorological Day, which falls on Sunday and is themed "Closing the Early Warning Gap Together". "Their high-frequency monitoring capabilities will allow these satellites to take advantage of the window for disaster prevention," Chen said. The Indian Ocean and the western Pacific regions are vulnerable to extreme weather events, including typhoons and torrential rainfall. Real-time monitoring by the Fengyun satellites will enable early detection of disaster precursors, buying crucial response time. The microwave satellite, which is capable of penetrating cloud cover, will provide precise analysis of typhoon structures, improving the accuracy of their path and intensity forecasts. "This will give nations across Asia and the Pacific advance warnings ranging from hours to days," Chen said. The optical satellites are capable of detecting heat waves and smoke from wildfires, while the microwave satellite can monitor changes in atmospheric moisture, helping in flood prediction. Together, they can track drought trends in Africa and conduct 3D observations of severe rainstorms in Southeast Asia, supporting climate resilience in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Each of the optical satellites features a rapid scanning mode, providing minute-specific data for high-risk areas. "For instance, Pacific island nations will be able to predict the landfall of a severe cyclone 72 hours in advance," Chen said. In line with global efforts to strengthen climate adaptation, China unveiled its Action Plan on Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation (2025-27) during the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November. The action plan focuses on sharing China's expertise and technological prowess with developing economies to enhance disaster preparedness, minimize economic losses, and reduce casualties from extreme weather events. Under the plan, China will provide and co-develop cloud-based early warning systems, alongside capacity-building programs, Chen said, adding that a key feature is integrating satellite data, global numerical forecasting, and AI-powered meteorological models to improve prediction accuracy and accessibility. Multi-hazard monitoring will extend across meteorology, hydrology, and marine fields, providing digital tools and interactive platforms to developing economies to close the technological gap. "A cloud-based early warning system has already been deployed in Pakistan, the Solomon Islands, and several other countries involved in the BRI, significantly enhancing their ability to respond to climate threats," Chen said. The action plan also prioritizes the development of local expertise. China will train 2,000 specialists, offer 100 scholarships, and provide 50 visiting scholar positions over the next two years to help partner nations build independent meteorological and disaster response teams. The plan was well received when it was unveiled last year, Chen noted. Selwin Hart, special adviser to the UN secretary-general on climate action, called it the first national action plan directly supporting the UN's Early Warnings for All initiative, which was launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in March 2022. The initiative called for every person on Earth to be protected by early warning systems by 2027. Celeste Saulo, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization, highlighted the critical role of China's upcoming satellite launch in advancing global early warning capabilities. Chen, from the China Meteorological Administration, said the country plans to expand cloud-based early warning platforms, with a focus on supporting African nations in building meteorological early warning systems. AI models and numerical forecasting technology will improve the accuracy of global meteorological disaster predictions, he said. China will establish data service hubs in high-risk regions such as Africa, ASEAN countries, and South Asia, aiming to bolster African drought and flood responses through cross-border meteorological disaster coordination. "China is exploring trilateral cooperation with developed economies, including the United States and European nations, to expand the reach of early warning services," Chen said. The country will continue implementing capacity-building programs for developing economies, including setting up joint laboratories and fostering international research collaborations to equip vulnerable countries with technical expertise, he added. Beyond meteorology, China seeks to integrate early warning systems with UN sustainable development goals, using climate data to enhance food security in Africa and improve urban infrastructure resilience worldwide. "The combination of Chinese technology and international cooperation will directly benefit billions of people, making a tangible contribution to global climate resilience," Chen said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Hong Kong maintained third place globally and continued to hold the top position in the Asia-Pacific region in a financial centers index published Thursday by British and Chinese think tanks. The Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) 37 Report, released by British think tank Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute in Shenzhen, assessed a total of 119 financial centers around the world. According to the report, Hong Kong's overall rating increased by 11 points to 760, slightly closing the gap in rating with first place. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said that the report fully recognized Hong Kong's leading status and strengths as an international financial center. Hong Kong's rankings in the areas of "human capital," "infrastructure," and "financial sector development" rose to second in the world, while rankings in "business environment" and "reputational and general" rose to third globally. Hong Kong also ranked among the top in various financial industry sectors. Among these, Hong Kong ranked first globally in "investment management," "insurance" and "finance," and ranked third globally in "banking." In addition, the report assessed the financial centers' fintech offering, and Hong Kong's ranking leapt further by five places to fourth in the world. The spokesperson said that with the staunch support of the country, Hong Kong will continue to leverage the advantages under "one country, two systems," actively integrate into national development, and deepen international exchanges and cooperation, with a view to fulfilling its roles as a "super-connector" and a "super value-adder." The GFCI Report is released in March and September every year since 2007. U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 21, 2025. Trump suggested on Friday he is open to the proposal that the United States could be offered "associate membership" in the British Commonwealth. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday he is open to the proposal that the United States could be offered "associate membership" in the British Commonwealth. "I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, linking to a report by the British tabloid The Sun that a proposal could be made by the British monarch when Trump makes a state visit to Britain later this year. While joining the Commonwealth would largely be symbolic, the move could be used to help avoid the heightened tariffs on steel and aluminum Trump has promised, according to the Daily Mail. The Commonwealth of Nations, created in 1926, has 56 member states, most of them former colonies of the British Empire. U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 21, 2025. Trump suggested on Friday he is open to the proposal that the United States could be offered "associate membership" in the British Commonwealth. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 21, 2025. Trump suggested on Friday he is open to the proposal that the United States could be offered "associate membership" in the British Commonwealth. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 21, 2025. Trump suggested on Friday he is open to the proposal that the United States could be offered "associate membership" in the British Commonwealth. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A correctional officer plans to plead guilty to having sexual contact with an inmate at the Pennington County Jail. Fire nearly burns home on Cheyenne River Reservation A court document says Weston Bettelyoun engaged in the sexual act in July of 2023. It involved a federal inmate who was being held in the county jail, so Bettelyoun is charged in federal court. The complaint and a plea agreement were both filed on Friday afternoon. The documents say once Bettelyoun enters a guilty plea, he could face a maximum of 15-years behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bettelyouns employment with Pennington County ended on July 26, 2023, the Sheriffs Office said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) In an exclusive interview with 8 News Now, Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto warned about impending cuts to Medicaid, adding Republicans plans to extend President Donald Trumps tax cuts could devastate social programs. Republicans, who already have ruled out massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare, are turning their attention to siphoning as much as $880 billion from Medicaid over the next decade to help finance $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. States and the federal government jointly pay for Medicaid, which offers nearly free health care coverage for roughly 80 million poor and disabled Americans, including millions of children. About 800,000 Nevadans are covered under Medicaid. In 2023, it cost $880 billion to operate nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the U.S. House voted to adopt a budget proposal, which calls for $2 trillion in spending cuts alongside trillions in tax cuts. A report this week from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found deficit levels would explode if the 2017 tax cuts were made permanent, The Hill reported. The last budget surplus for the federal government was in 2001 under a bipartisan spending plan from former President Bill Clinton. Our role in Congress is the oversight role and to shine a light on how its happening, Cortez Masto said. The challenge we see is this administration is coming in to streamline government and I think we all agree it needs to be streamlined and there also needs to be a way to figure out how we live within our means like every family does. But what we see this administration doing is not a thoughtful business strategy approach where it makes sense to trim back, where it makes sense that we look at programs that are not effective. It is just this blanket, across the board: We are going to eliminate all probationary employees. Were going to cut funding across the board. And because of it, it is having a major impact on some essential programs that we need based on whats happening around the country right now. Can they cut anywhere else besides Medicaid? 8 News Now Investigator David Charns asked Cortez Masto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To extend those Trump tax cuts, they need $4.5 trillion to do that. The House Republicans have put forward a budget to pay for $2 trillion of that and the other $2 trillion will come just as a deficit. Theyre just going to add to the deficit. That $2 trillion they are looking at they have sent to their committees, the bulk of that, about $900 billion to the committee that oversees Medicaid. Trump has promised his budget will not include Medicaid cuts. Were not going to touch it, the president said earlier month. Theyre saying it, their actions are saying it, Cortez Masto said. Thats what Ive been telling people. Dont listen to what he says, following his actions, because he says in one breath that he cherishes Medicaid and then the next day, he supports the House version of making these cuts to Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cortez Masto toured the state this week, highlighting how the potential cuts would affect Nevadans. Lawmakers in Carson City are working to prepare for possible cuts and must have a plan in place before the end of their legislative session in early June. Nationally, 55% of Americans said the government spends too little on Medicaid, according to a January poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The Alzheimers Disease Research Center (ADRC) at the University of Pittsburgh is one of the countrys hubs for researchers working to improve detection and treatment for a disease that afflicts nearly 7 million Americans. Anne Cohenan ADRC faculty member who leads work on neuroimaging and identifying biomarkers of Alzheimers in patientsuses positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of research participants brains to work on the early detection of the disease before cognitive symptoms emerge. Cohen has been busy over the last two months, not with her own research, but trying to keep the ARDC open. The ADRC, like the other 35 Alzheimers research centers across the country, relies on funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cohen had counted on the arrival of funding from a five-year grant renewal submitted in June to the National Institute on Aging that was favorably evaluated, or scored, in the fall by a peer review committee. The expectation was that we would continue to operate as our center always has, Cohen told The Dispatch. But the federal dollars never came through, and Cohen and her colleagues are scrambling to retain staff while operating with less than a third of their normal budgetthe centers budget is typically $300,000 a month but is now operating at $115,000 a month from donated funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The center has had to stop all its PET imaging, which runs about $6,000 per participant. Often our imaging contributes to the science; in symptomatic individuals, it can provide clarity and information about diagnosis, so those downstream effects of losing the ability to do this imaging on our participants has really been a challenge, Cohen said. After President Donald Trump took office in January, the NIH stopped meetings of review committees and the institutes advisory councilsthe bodies responsible for the final approval of new research proposals and the extension of existing grants. Why the meetings were canceled and how long it would be before they were rescheduled has been unclear amid weeks of turmoil at NIH that have included the dismissal of probationary employees and high-profile resignations. The first advisory council meeting notice since the halt was published in the Federal Register on Thursday. As the delay dragged on, the NIH research funding pipeline largely ground to a halt, and biomedical labs are now running out of money to continue their work and pay researchers salaries. The NIH, apparently working with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has canceled grants for projects officials deemed too closely tied to woke ideology and DEI efforts. (The DOGE X account periodically posts lists of individual grants canceled as part of this campaign.) In February, Trump administration officials at the Department of Health and Human Services directed NIH to cut billions in research dollars by imposing a cap on research grants indirect costsoverhead like facilities and administrative expensesbut a federal court temporarily blocked the move earlier this month. In justifying the grant cancellations and the cost cap, the administration argued its actions would result in more money being spent on truly beneficial medical research rather than woke boondoggles or bureaucratic bloat. The United States should have the best medical research in the world, the NIH Office of the Director said in its February memo outlining the rate cut. It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even as the administration put forward these argumentssomething medical researchers and some former NIH officials strongly disagreed withthe canceling of advisory council meetings has frozen a reported $1.5 billion in research funds. The submitted grants were sought for all kinds of biomedical research, supporting not just indirect costs but all research costs and enabling work to continue on everything from Alzheimers disease to cancer treatments. Although federal courts have blocked Trump officials from freezing federal funds, the administration has been able to cut off the funding pipeline using a bureaucratic workaround. New grants and proposals for renewed funding of ongoing research must be reviewed by study sections and approved by advisory councils. The study sections are made up of scientists from around the country and provide peer review for grant proposals, scoring each submission, and delivering written feedback to the researchers. After study section review, the top-scoring grants move forward to the appropriate advisory council, which provides a secondary review and final approval of the grants. Jeremy Berg, an associate senior vice chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and the former director of the National Institute of General Medicine Science, told The Dispatch that grants are legally required to be approved by the councils or else the money cant go out the door. But in order for both the study sections and the councils to meet, notices of the meetings have to be posted in the Federal Register in accordance with legal requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The Trump administration blocked the postings for the meetings. Berg said that based on his analysis of funding disbursement in February compared to the same period last year, the administration also has slow-walked an additional $1.8 billion in money for current grants that do not need study section or council reviews but are paid in annual installments and reviewed administratively each year to ensure compliance with grant conditions. The delay in disbursements is reportedly the result of confusion and fear among NIH staff about Trump officials directives potentially conflicting with court orders. Michael Lauer, the deputy director of the NIH office responsible for grant funding, was seemingly forced out of the agency in February the day after he sent a memo to NIH staff members directing them to resume grant disbursements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that study sections were stopped dead in their tracks and not rescheduled puts the lie to the argument that its all being done in the name of more money for science, Evan Morris, a radiology and biomedical imaging professor at Yale School of Medicine, told The Dispatch. There aint no money coming right now. Late last month, notices for study section meetings began to appear again in the Federal Register, and a new batch of them went up this week, along with the notice for a meeting of the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Integrative Health that went up Thursday. Normally, advisory councils consider grants during three approval cycles each year, typically around February, May, and September. At this point, the delay has likely consumed two approval cycles, meaning the funding gap for already scored projects will continue for monthseven if all council approvals resumed immediatelyand will extend even longer for proposals yet to be reviewed by study sections. Its common for proposals to receive promising scores from study sections but also feedback for improvement, requiring researchers to resubmit their proposals during the next review cycle. From a projects conception to the actual disbursement of funds is almost always more than a year and frequently two years when accounting for resubmissions. Weve made the assumption that even if everything got back on track tomorrow, we probably would not see funds until early summer, probably late May, early June, Cohen told The Dispatch of the ADRC grant her center submitted last summer. Cohen said the ADRC has shifted resources from research to staff retention, noting that if highly skilled staff members left, decades of institutional knowledge would leave with them. Many biomedical researchers, even faculty at universities, rely on federal grants for their salaries. She also emphasized the need to continue serving Alzheimers research participants. These relationships have been built over almost 40 years, and stepping away from those I view as a breach of trust with the communities that weve committed to working with, Cohen said. Demonstrators protest funding cuts outside of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 8, 2025. (Photo by MICHAEL MATHES/AFP via Getty Images) The funding delay has severely disrupted ongoing research, but it also has stunted the progress of promising new research projects. Morris, the Yale researcher, is still waiting for a study section review of a grant proposal to expand a pilot study on the relationship between sleep deprivation and substance abuse. Morris explained that his research team believes they have observed, for the first time, a direct effect of poor sleep on the dopamine system. He said that if the findings are confirmed, they could have huge implications for everyone from psychiatrists to night shift workers to air traffic controllers. But its a pilot study, he added. It was six men and six women, and it needs to be expanded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with the NIH delay, hes lost one researcher out of a team of four working directly on the project because he couldnt guarantee a salary and another over a visa complication. Theres a limited pool of people who have the expertise to conduct the research, Morris explained. Its sort of like I have the World Series Red Sox from 2007 or 2018, he said, and then to find out that the whole team has been broken apart. Justin Perry, an immunologist and cancer biologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York, is also experiencing disruption in work on a potential new treatment for breast cancer. Perry and his colleagues are trying to raise funds for a clinical trial on a treatment that could reprogram the bodys immune cells to use fructose to fight cancerous tumors. They submitted an NIH grant proposal for the trial that has yet to be reviewed. Perry also said that in the absence of NIH support, private investors have been reluctant to take on the financial risk of making up the funding gap, particularly given current broader economic uncertainty. Im not going to sit here and say this is going to cost lives, because you just cant prove that, Perry said, noting his comments dont necessarily represent the views of MSK. Its impossible to know if my work or my colleagues work is going to lead to the next treatment for breast cancer, but I do think that there are some significant dominoes that are falling in a bad way that we cant rectify. Researchers hope the delay will soon come to an end with the confirmation of Trumps nominee for NIH director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. He was asked during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing earlier this month if hed resume the advisory council meetings as soon as hes confirmed. Yes, if Im confirmed, I want those advisory councils, all of that to go, said Bhattacharya, who cleared the committee vote and is headed for a vote in the full Senate. But even if the grant pipeline restarts, the damage done to the rising generation of biomedical researchers could prove enduring. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trumps nominee to be direction of the National Institutes of Health, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senates Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in Washington D.C., on March 5, 2025. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) Research universities across the country are slashing their graduate student admissions in reaction to both the funding delay and the uncertainty around future federal support with the administrations move to cap indirect costs. Last week, the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School announced it would rescind all admissions offers to its biomedical science doctoral program for the 2025-26 academic year. Cohen told The Dispatch one of her biggest concerns is the harm that could be done to the next generation of Alzheimers researchers as early-career scientists, many of whom have had their first grant submissions bogged down by the delay, are now considering leaving the research sector. Its going to be a huge loss to science to see these folks go do other things, she said. Im sure they will be fantastic at those other things, but it will be a loss to our field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. is currently the global leader in biomedical research, but geopolitical adversaries like China are close behind. With the current turmoil, China could surpass the U.S. in the near future, and we may be buying advanced medicines and other scientific-research-intensive products from Chinese companies in the not too distant future, David Baker, a University of Washington biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry last year, told the Wall Street Journal. Its unclear what policy goals a broad rollback in research funding would further aside from some relatively small reductions in federal spending. But even on cost savings grounds, its far from clear that slashing federal support would result in a net benefit, considering the volume of commercial patents and the economic value produced by NIH-funded researchin fiscal year 2024, $37 billion in NIH funding resulted in $94 billion in downstream economic activity. There are good-faith arguments to be made about reforms to the NIH or the merits of specific research prioritiesBhattacharya would like to see the NIH tackle more ambitious, riskier research goals, for example. But the suspension of advisory council meetings combined with the Trump administrations other efforts targeting medical research generally have thrown the system into chaos. We have terrible treatments for breast cancer, Perry told The Dispatch. Its the deadliest cancer in women, and yet, this all is affecting our ability to do that [research.] Whenever I go home to Alaska and people learn what I do, he added, this is the thing that everyone wants the NIH to do. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. CAIRO (AP) The war in Sudan appears to be reaching a critical juncture after nearly two years of fighting that has killed tens of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and spread famine. In recent months, the military has been making steady advances against its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and it says it has wrested back control of the capital of Khartoum, including the iconic Republican Palace, traditionally the seat of the country's president and government. A politician associated with the RSF acknowledged the loss, though the RSF later said its troops were still in the area and fighting. While the war is unlikely to end soon, here is a look at what the developments could mean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats happening on the ground? The war erupted in April 2023 between the military and the RSF with battles in Khartoum and around the country. The leaders of the two forces had been allies who were meant to have overseen the democratic transition after a popular uprising in 2019, but instead worked together to thwart a return to civilian rule. However, tensions exploded into a bloody fight for power. Since then, at least 28,000 people have been killed, though the number is likely far higher. The war has driven more than 14 million people from their homes and pushed parts of the country into famine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will this end the war? The military victory in Khartoum likely just moves the war into a new chapter, creating a de facto partition of Sudan into military- and RSF-run zones. Military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan has shown no sign of engaging in serious peace talks. The RSF, headed by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has seemed to be determined to keep fighting. The RSF still holds much of western Sudan, particularly most of the Darfur region. Also, Khartoum International Airport, only some 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) southeast of the republican Palace, has been held by the RSF since the start of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The advances in Khartoum may cause strains to break open in the militarys coalition. The military has been backed by a collection of armed factions including former Darfur rebels and Islamist brigades that are historic rivals united only by the goal of fighting the RSF. What is the significance of the RSF recently creating a parallel government? The RSF and its allies signed a charter in February in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, establishing a parallel government. Burhan also has spoken of setting up a transitional government, raising the potential for two rival administrations jockeying for support as their forces battle entrenching Sudans effective partition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RSFs 16-page charter calls for a secular, democratic and decentralized state, maintaining what it called Sudans voluntary integrity of its territory and peoples a nod to Sudans many communities demanding autonomy from Khartoum. The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, mobilized two decades ago by then-president Omar al-Bashir against populations that identify as Central or East African in Darfur. The Janjaweed were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities. In the current war, the RSF has been accused of numerous atrocities. The Biden administration slapped Dagalo with sanctions, saying the RSF and its proxies were committing genocide. The RSF has denied committing genocide. The military has also been accused of abuses and denies that. President Donald Trump demanded the Supreme Court step in and counter the federal judiciarys attempts to rein in his administration. In a set of Thursday evening social media posts, Trump weighed in on very dangerous and incorrect court orders that have reversed or challenged his administration's mass layoffs and deportations. Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country, Trump wrote on Truth Social. These Judges want to assume the Powers of the Presidencya President has to be allowed to act quickly and decisively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump took it a step further, calling for action from the Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble, he said. Despite his ideological bend towards Trumpism, Roberts rebuked the presidents call for judicial impeachment earlier this week. On Thursday, Trump also lobbed attacks at James Boasberg. The district court judge is overseeing a contentious case on Trumps deportation of Venezuelans to an El Salvadoran jail. Judge James Boasberg is doing everything in his power to usurp the Power of the Presidency, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, calling the judge a Grandstander, looking for publicity. Boasberg sparked MAGA uproar last week when he ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt deportations. The White House ignored that order, with Trump's Department of Justice calling the order not enforceable on Monday. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Onondaga County isnt giving up on the CNY Regional Market, despite the challenges the facility has been facing. The future of the Central New York Regional Market is looking much brighter. I am pleased to announce Onondaga County will invest 4 million dollars at the market specifically on the Park Street kitchen, said Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. Latest local news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Up to $800,000 will go towards creating a ghost kitchen at the market. This will be the first major multi-tenant ghost kitchen in Onondaga County. Serving a currently underutilized market of entrepreneurs, said McMahon. The space will feature cooking and prep areas, commercial-quality kitchens and more. So if you have a small restaurant business or a small food service business and need a commercial quality kitchen, thats pretty hard to find around here, but we will be offering one or more commissary kitchens that are available to rent, said Bill Fisher, CEO of CNY Regional Market. Fisher says the project is something theyve been looking forward to and are excited to get started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now were working with architects. Were working with kitchen equipment companies, including some local ones whose names you would recognize and trying to figure out whats the best design here as we move towards actually building this out and buying the equipment and fitting it out for the commercial kitchen or the commissary kitchens. We want to start hearing from folks that might be interested in renting it on a month-to-month basis or longer term, said Fisher. McMahon says changes are also being made to the markets current main entrance. The current main entrance to Central New Yorks Regional Market is lackluster at best. Its generally confusing to users of the market. Were changing that. The $950,000 investment will transform this area into a gateway entrance with new and decorative overhead signage, plus more, said McMahon. In addition to improving the Park Street entrance, the county will also be sprucing up the other gateways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the course of growers season from May to the end of October, youll see a lot of changes, said Fisher. Changes made to invest in the markets future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Court documents revealed that a man who may have been experiencing a mental health crisis was charged for his involvement in a barricade situation that happened at the CIA headquarters in McLean on Wednesday. In an affidavit filed Thursday, a CIA police officer said he was on patrol near the headquarters just before 9:45 a.m. when he received a call about a man with a gun near Route 123, just outside the headquarterss main gate. He found the man sitting on a bench, holding a gun pointed toward his own head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Help is available at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline The man identified himself as 28-year-old Robert Scofield and told the officer he was on probation out of the state of Oregon. I conversed with Scofield while I attempted to talk to him and deescalate the situation, the officer said, according to the affidavit. Other officers with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) spoke with him over multiple hours while he remained seated on the bench. Later that afternoon, the CIA police officer said he was told Scofield eventually peacefully surrendered after smoking his final cigarette. FCPD confirmed that he surrendered just before 3:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fairfax County police: Armed man near CIA headquarters surrenders after barricade incident While investigating, the officer reviewed security camera footage that showed Scofield walking near the headquarters. At one point, he pointed a handgun into the installation and fired several rounds. The footage allegedly shows Scofield pointing the gun toward his head as he continued walking toward the memorial bench. According to court documents, Scofield was convicted on Dec. 5, 2023, on a controlled substance charge out of Washington state. He was also charged earlier this year on Jan. 30, 2025 in Oregon state court of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the barricade incident, Scofield was charged with felon in possession of a firearm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. AUSTIN (KXAN) A federal court judge ruled March 13 that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot require Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to place LGBTQ+ children in supportive foster homes. PREVIOUS: Paxton sues federal agency over protections for LGBTQI+ foster kids District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle, appointed to the court in 2018 by President Donald Trump, wrote that HHS overstepped its statutory authority by creating a new category of foster children and by requiring new and untested methods in fostering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHSs interpretation of its rulemaking authority runs into another problem: the major questions doctrine. Its highly unlikely that Congress would authorize HHS to issue a rule with such sweeping social policy implications by using the statutory language here, wrote Kernodle, citing the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in West Virginia v. EPA. He also called HHS stance, which was that safe and proper care for children includes affirming LGBTQ+ status, untenable. HHS insists that safe and proper care requires that States provide for LGBTQI+ foster youth exactly as outlined in the Final Rule, Kernodle wrote, The Court [does not] owe any deference to HHSs mere assertion that the Final Rule falls within a permissible interpretation of safe and proper careCongress did not delegate to HHS the authority to compel States to support and affirm LGBTQI+ foster children under a general statutory guarantee of safe and proper care.' Kernodles ruling can be read below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foster Care Memo and OrderDownload Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling a tremendous victory in a March 21 press release. The Biden Administration had no authority to force radical gender ideology onto vulnerable children and demand compliance from foster care providers under threat of lost funding, Paxton said. I will always fight to protect our values and ensure that Texas children are not used as pawns in the federal governments social experiments. The rule was implemented under former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. It would have prevented conversion therapy and retaliation against foster parents for supporting an LGBTQ+ child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every child deserves a safe and loving home, Becerra said in an April 29, 2024 press release. When any child comes into government care, they should have supports and services that meet their specific needs. By addressing the needs of LGBTQI+ children, this rule brings us one step closer to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive. The HHS, now led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is unlikely to appeal the decision. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. LAMAR, Mo. The Chartis Center for Rural Health has recognized Cox Barton County Hospital as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital for 2025. It is the the third year in a row for the hospital to receive the rating. Only three other rural hospitals in Missouri have earned the honor. "Year after year, our team demonstrates that rural health care can be compassionate and effective as any other location in the country," Andrea McKay, president of Cox Barton County Hospital, said in a statement. "Being named a Top 100 Rural Hospital for the third consecutive year reaffirms our commitment to providing personalized care to every patient, every time." To determine the 2025 list, Chartis used an index which assesses performance in inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and finance. TUNIS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia's newly appointed Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri chaired her first cabinet meeting on Friday, pledging to prioritize economic reforms, improve living standards, and fast-track strategic projects to address the country's mounting challenges. In a statement issued by the state-run Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP), Zaafrani, 62, thanked President Kais Saied for his trust and acknowledged the "weight of national responsibility" as she outlined her agenda. She said the government must "deliver tangible results" to meet public expectations and safeguard sovereignty. Zaafrani, Tunisia's second woman prime minister, is the country's third prime minister within less than two years. She called for the economy's "structural transformation" through accelerated public projects and legislation to remove bureaucratic hurdles. The prime minister also emphasized support for vulnerable groups and cohesion within her government team, stressing that unity was critical to tackling Tunisia's protracted economic crisis. Zaafrani, the former minister of public works, was appointed prime minister on Friday after Saied dismissed Kamel Madouri from the position Thursday night. CHICAGO Chicago police say a man who was missing for more than two weeks has been located. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Authorities did not provide details on what led to his disappearance or where he was 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 WGN-TV. The law exists to be broken. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no such thing as a society without lawbreakers. That said, the vast majority of us do follow the law, and we expect others to do the same; this is the unspoken bond of a high-trust society. But what happens when an increasing percentage of the population begins to ignore the law altogether? And what happens when our bodies of power fail to control them? Answer: You get the UK. Crime is on the rise, and the British public has noticed. In the year ending June 2024, crime experienced by households and individuals rose by 10 per cent in England and Wales. In September last year, it was reported that incidents of customer theft had risen from 3.7 million to 20.4 million over a 12-month period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it seems that stealing clothes wasnt enough for Britains retail criminals; violence and abuse towards shopworkers also rose by 50 per cent. These thefts cost retailers 2 billion. But dont gasp yet; it gets worse. New figures suggest that over 100,000 phones were stolen across the UK last year. 70,137 of those phones were nicked in London. One of those phones was mine. Cases of violence with injury rose to 562,000 up from 376,000 the year before and robberies peaked at around 139,000 incidents. To put it bluntly: theres trouble at tmill. And no one is doing anything about it. Petty crime if we can still call it that has spiralled out of control because criminals know they will go unpunished. The general public knows this too. We watch kamikaze shoplifters thieves who clear whole shelves in broad daylight and scarcely look up from our shopping lists. We witness a 15-year-old in a balaclava steal an old womans phone and zip off on an e-bike, and we say things like: She shouldnt have been checking the time. I hope she has insurance. We see videos of young men clutching machetes and chasing each other through the streets of a once quiet town, and all we do is sigh and pray we wont get caught in the crossfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government hides their negligence behind a feigned impotence. Politicians and members of the local council go on camera and pretend to look sad or shocked and say things like: Knife crime is out of control. And we must get a handle on phone theft. You feel like shaking them by the shoulders and saying: We know. Weve known this for a long time. But your job isnt to frown on camera and use it to score political points on X your job is to fix it. So fix it! You only have to spend five minutes at a Tube station to see how uninterested in crime our authorities have become. Each station is a conveyor belt of fare dodgers. The hi-vis-wearing TfL worker is too busy sitting in the ironically named assistance booth and playing Candy Crush to take any notice. The police are probably filming a TikTok somewhere else. So the job of stopping opportunistic criminals falls on our shoulders. Am I to be the streetwise Hercules who gets in their way and has a strong word? No, because Id rather not get the snot kicked out of me by a gaggle of 16-year-old kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TfL lost an estimated 130 milliom to fare dodgers in 2023. All of this was at the tax payers expense, of course. And what was TfLs response? They raised ticketing fines to 100. I would love to have been a fly on the wall at that meeting: Hey, you know those fare dodgers who we cant catch and who cost us 130 million Ive got an idea. Go on. Lets start fining them 100. But Sadiq, if we cant catch them, how are we going to fine them? Thats what got us into this mess in the first place. Shouldnt we just station more police? Youre fired. Major cities like Blackpool, Birmingham and Bradford also struggle with violent crime. And dont think that provincial England has escaped this mess either. I spent eight months living in Devon, and I can tell you that there are more fights and crack pipes in Devonshire than Escape to the Country will have you believe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any step that the government has taken towards reducing crime feels preformative. Last year, they banned the sale and possession of machetes and zombie knives. The first modern machete was sold in 1845; did it really take the British Government 179 years to realise that pointy object is bad? Wouldnt it be better to introduce harsher sentencing? Shouldnt we actually catch the criminals wielding sharp objects rather than galvanising a black-market of weapons? Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently urged smartphone companies to introduce a kill switch to deter phone thieves. Again, I feel like were shifting the blame here, Yvette. The public is tired. Theres an air of resignation in the streets. Many of us are wondering why we bother to pay for our train tickets; why we spend our earnings at the supermarket when John in the face bandana just stole a small armys worth of steaks; why crime seems to be getting worse with each passing day. We know that the Government has the power to stop it, and so the question remains: why wont they? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Bloomberg) -- Bismuth a niche metal used in industries from paints to defense has rallied spectacularly since early February, when Beijing triggered export curbs in response to US President Donald Trumps trade offensive. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The metal was among five materials that were added to Chinas list of controlled exports after Trump slapped an initial 10% import tariff on Chinese goods. Exports of bismuth from China then plunged in February, tightening the global market and sparking a near-500% surge in prices. China dominates production of a swathe of strategic materials ensnared in the intensifying geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Beijing. On Thursday, Trump invoked emergency powers to encourage more US production of critical minerals adding to moves by his predecessor Joe Biden. Bismuths violent price action in the past seven weeks demonstrates Beijings ability to shake up flows of materials viewed as important for national security. China makes about 80% of the worlds refined bismuth, while the US hasnt produced any since 2013, according to the United States Geological Survey. America gets about two-thirds of its bismuth from the Asian nation. Chinas exports of bismuth sank to 458 tons in February, less than half of last years monthly average, according to the countrys customs administration. Benchmark global prices tracked by Fastmarkets Ltd. rocketed from $6 a pound before Beijings action on Feb. 4, to almost $35 this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeking Alternatives A risk for President Xi Jinping over the longer term is that any effort to weaponize Chinas clout in strategic commodities simply spurs more nations to find other options. As the major supplier of bismuth to the world, China is effectively shooting itself in the foot with export restrictions causing huge spikes in the price that may incentivize customers to look for alternative materials, Robin Goad, chief executive officer of Fortune Minerals Ltd., which aims to mine metals including bismuth later this decade, said in an interview. This is not good for the market over the longer term. Bismuth is used in everything from automotive coatings to pharmaceuticals and low-temperature alloys. It joined an expanding suite of metals on Chinas list of goods subject to heightened scrutiny for export approval. Those also include tungsten, molybdenum, indium and tellurium. Prices for antimony, included in an earlier round of export controls, are 300% higher than a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has also been a buzz around critical minerals producers on Chinas stock markets in recent weeks as tensions simmer between Washington and Beijing. Zhuzhou Smelter Group Co., a producer of bismuth as a by-product of making lead and zinc, is up 24% this month, compared with a gain of less than 2% on the broader Shanghai stock market. The only significant domestic source of bismuth in the US is from recycled alloys, which accounted for between 3% and 10% of supplies in the past five years, according to the USGS. The material can be found in some lead ores, but the last US domestic primary lead smelter was closed more than a decade ago. Chinas domestic bismuth ingots have doubled in price since the export restrictions. Traders are holding back material from the market, putting upward pressure on prices, according to Mysteel Global analyst Chen Qiqi. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Crowder College surgical technology students won their first scrub bowl competition at the Missouri Association of Surgical Technologists' annual meeting in Camdenton recently. Students participating in the competition were Cadynce Macy and Aidan Boydston, both of Joplin, and Rebecca Stephens, of Neosho. To say we are excited is an understatement, Melissa Smith, director of Crowder College-Joplin, said in a statement. We were able to defeat the reigning eleven-year champion school in our third year as a program. The first year of our program, they narrowly edged us out by one point. The surgical technology program at Crowder College offers students the opportunity to earn an associate of applied science degree and a career working in perioperative settings. The crypto industrys Fairshake political action committee is flooding Republican candidates with last-minute money in special congressional elections in Florida. Two U.S. House of Representatives seats had been opened by resignations when their occupants were tapped for posts in President Donald Trumps administration, including that of Matt Gaetz, the politician Trump sought for the attorney general job who was tied to accusations of sex with a minor and drug abuse. The open seats are pivotal for Republicans' control of their tight margin in their House majority, so Democrats have devoted tremendous money and attention to them. An affiliate of the Fairshake super PAC, which is set up to devote money to candidate advertising independent of campaigns' involvement, had already weighed in during the primary there to tap crypto-friendly candidates. Now it's spending another $1.2 million to support state Senator Randy Fine, who is seeking the seat vacated by Trump's national security advisor, Michael Waltz, according to PAC spokesman Josh Vlasto. And it's putting about $345,000 toward the state's chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, to fill Gaetz' seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Republican candidates in the April 1 special election check Fairshake's primary box: They support digital assets. Early voting is set to begin this weekend, and Democrats have also devoted money. However, the seats have leaned significantly Republican in recent voting. Overall, the House is short four members, because two Democrat members from Texas and Arizona died this month. If Democrats managed to win all four seats, Republicans would be left with a single-vote majority. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reported that Roever had been found safe. ORIGINAL TITLE: CSPD looking for missing 74-year-old woman THURSDAY 03/20/2025 9:44 a.m. The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is asking for the publics help in finding a woman last seen at around noon on Thursday, March 20. Kathryn H. Roever, Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department CSPD said that 74-year-old Kathryn H. Roever was last seen around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday when she left to go for a walk from her home in the 600 block of South Union Boulevard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roever is described as a white woman, about 410, 142lbs with white hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue jacket, multi-colored blouse, and black sweatpants. If you have seen, or know of Roevers location, contact CSPD at (719) 444-7000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is notifying the community that a sex offender whose past behavior had led him to be labeled a Sexually Violent Predator will be on supervised release, and parole and has moved to an address in Colorado Springs. Mugshot of Steven John Long According to CSPD, Steven John Long is currently registered as homeless in the area of 5 West Las Vegas Street. He is described as a white man, 603, 200 lbs, with grey hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSPD said Longs criminal history reveals he was convicted in 2003 of Indecent Assault and Battery, Child Under 14 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He was also convicted in 2010 of Unlawful Sexual Contact in Lewiston, Maine. In Colorado, Long was convicted of Reckless Endangerment and Firing Woods/Prairie in Fremont County in 2015; Harassment in Fremont County in 2019; and Vehicular Assault-DUI in Fremont County in 2022. CSPD has made the community notification as required by law and undertaken the following tasks, among others: Notified the Colorado Department of Public Safetys Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Notification Team. Reviewed and confirmed Longs residence, employment, access to vehicles, legal status, and past crimes. Made notifications to neighbors and businesses deemed to be in the immediate area. Briefed patrol personnel on Longs status, history, appearance, residence, employment, and vehicles. Notified surrounding law enforcement agencies. Provided an online video that describes the SVP community notification process, SVP information, and additional resources for the community. Online SVP Community Notification video at: www.coloradosprings.gov. Click on Public Safety then click on Police. CSPD will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that Long registers as a sex offender and that he understands his responsibilities as such. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long is one of 21 Sexually Violent Predators currently registered with CSPD who reside in the community. CSPD takes their presence in the community very seriously and intends to ensure they lawfully conduct themselves and that citizens remain safe and aware. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Cal State Bakersfield police have issued a warning about an increase in vehicle wheel and tire thefts occurring throughout Bakersfield, including some incidents on campus. Honda vehicles have been especially targeted for these thefts, according to a recent release by the department. Police are increasing patrols in the CSUB campus parking lots. Drivers are advised to: Turn the wheels at a 45-degree angle, as this makes it more difficult for thieves to access the lug nuts. Install locking lug nuts on at least one lug per wheel. These make theft more challenging as they require a specialized tool to remove. Use a vehicle alarm system with tilt sensors. The sensors activate if the vehicle is lifted, helping prevent theft attempts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police encourage anyone who observes any suspicious activity on campus to report the incident by calling 661-654-2111, or a non-emergency number at 661-654-2677. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. LIMA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A mine collapse in southern Peru has left at least four people dead and four others injured, local media reported Friday. The accident occurred on March 18 at the Santa Maria-Lunar de Oro mine in La Rinconada, a high-altitude mining town in the Puno region. According to state news agency Andina, three workers died inside the mine, while a fourth died en route to a medical center. Rescue operations were carried out under extreme conditions, with teams descending nearly 300 meters to recover the bodies. Local prosecutor Fredy Condori has launched an investigation into the causes of the collapse and potential liabilities. Santa Maria-Lunar de Oro is one of many mines in La Rinconada, where miners often work in hazardous conditions. Residents are calling for stricter safety measures to prevent future tragedies. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Cuban national is expected to stand trial in Nevada, facing charges related to a bank robbery. Anoy Lopez-Bles, 50, is accused of robbing a bank armed with a replica gun. According to US Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, Lopez-Bles has six prior felony convictions, including for previous bank robberies and multiple burglaries and drug crimes in Nevada. He has five prior misdemeanor convictions, including domestic violence, drug, and larceny convictions in Nevada, DOJ officials said. He failed to appear 20 times and has violated his probations or parole over 10 times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez-Bles made his first court appearance on Wednesday related to the February incident. He faces one charge of bank robbery, with a jury trial expected to begin in May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Trump administrations rapid slashing of the government workforce creates fertile ground for foreign adversaries to recruit disgruntled staffers who know some of the nations most closely guarded secrets, according to former intelligence officials and national security insiders. Hundreds of intelligence and national security officials who had access to reams of classified information are among the tens of thousands of federal workers who lost their jobs since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. POLITICO spoke to more than half a dozen people connected to the U.S. intelligence community former intelligence officials, lawyers who work on national security and experts on insider threats for this story. All expressed deep concern that the administration's rapid cuts to the national security workforce will create recruiting openings for other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we have done is we have created a ripe set of targets for our adversaries, said James Lawler, a former CIA operations officer who specialized in recruiting foreign spies for the U.S. Counterintelligence, which refers to efforts to thwart information gathering by foreign adversaries, has long been front of mind for U.S. spy agencies. Intelligence agencies have established procedures to mitigate the risk posed by aggrieved former employees. They often remind departing officials about their lifelong commitment to protecting classified information. As a result, former intelligence officials are acutely aware about the possibility that they may be approached by a foreign intelligence service. But the pace of the job losses, which have thrown thousands into professional and financial uncertainty, makes it more difficult for agencies to get ahead of attempts by hostile governments to recruit former workers, said Kevin Carroll, a former CIA case officer who conducted operations in Iraq and New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre absolutely creating a counterintelligence risk, Carroll said. Not by letting people go, but the manner in which youre letting people go. American officials and lawmakers have repeatedly warned that Beijing especially is waging an unrelenting espionage campaign against the U.S. The FBI has singled out China as its top counterintelligence priority, opening thousands of cases into espionage emanating from the country. The chaotic and haphazard way the administration and DOGE are going about firing seasoned intelligence and law enforcement officers across the government including, for example, officers that specifically work on counter-espionage severely increases the counterintelligence risk to America, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement. Days after Trump was inaugurated, dozens of career officials who were assigned to work on diversity initiatives at the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence were placed on administrative leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge ruled last month that the Trump administration could go ahead with firing the intelligence officials if it was deemed to be in the national interest, but urged agency leaders to find new jobs within the intelligence community for those who have been ousted. Carroll is now a lawyer and represents 19 intelligence agency workers from the CIA and ODNI who sought to challenge their firings in court. On Monday, his 17 clients at the CIA were notified that the agency would be moving ahead with terminating their jobs and that there would be no opportunity to seek reassignment. None of the officials affected were career diversity officers. Carroll stressed that he had no concerns that his clients represented a counterintelligence risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CIA has also begun reviewing probationary personnel within their first two years of service. For some, that will result in termination, a spokesperson for the agency said. Intelligence agencies insisted they were taking appropriate precautions. CIA incorporates security and counterintelligence considerations in every action it takes, said CIA spokesperson Liz Lyons said. The concern extends beyond those working directly in intelligence. Hundreds of officials with access to highly sensitive information have been fired or placed on administrative leave across the federal government. The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it was forging ahead with plans to cut some 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs. A slate of top national security officials at the FBI and Department of Justice have also been removed from their posts. More than 100 posts at CISA, the nations cyber agency, have been slashed including those serving on so-called red teams whose job it is to identify vulnerabilities in U.S. security systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No specific concerts have been raised regarding officials who have been let go. But the sheer scale and speed of the job losses could elevate the risk. Former intelligence officials say counterintelligence considerations are huge when dealing with personnel issues. To lessen those risks, agency officials often look at their benefits package or place them on administrative leave to soften the blow. The IC was generally very sensitive towards trying not to create a security risk by taking adverse actions against employees, said Mark Zaid, a lawyer who has represented current and former national security officials and whistleblowers. They would often give the employee a little bit of time, so that they can try and secure additional employment, he said. Whats happening now is unprecedented and incredibly dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that foreign intelligence services have long targeted current and former U.S. government employees for recruitment, but declined to answer questions about whether counterintelligence risks were taken into account when weighing recent cuts to the workforce. Counterintelligence risks are standard points of consideration and education throughout an intelligence officer's career, from the initial screening process to their last day in the office and beyond, ODNI said in a statement. U.S. clearance holders take an oath to protect classified information even after departing government service. Lawler, the former CIA officer who recruited foreign spies, said the administration is creating exactly the kind of vulnerabilities that they sought to exploit. I never recruited happy people, said Lawler, who led the team that dismantled a nuclear smuggling network spearheaded by the Pakistani nuclear physicist A. Q. Khan. People who were pissed off, people who had axes to grind made it very easy for me to convince them to basically commit espionage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CIA and the FBI have publicly sought to use the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to recruit Russians who are frustrated with their government and the countrys trajectory. Last year the CIA releaseda slick Russian-language video, distributed on social media, appealing to Russian intelligence officials frustrated by corruption in the country to contact the agency. The number of U.S. officials who have gone on to expose the nation's secrets to adversaries numbers in the low hundreds. David Charney, a psychiatrist who has studied insider threats in the intelligence community, estimated that since the Second World War, some 200 to 225 U.S. officials have been caught spying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That speaks well to the dedication, devotion of the whole workforce, said Charney, who served on the defense team of Robert Hanssen, a former FBI special agent who pleaded guilty in 2001 to spying for Moscow. Yes they can be treated quite shabbily at this end of their career, but it doesnt mean right away that they are going to disown and throw off all of that attachment to the country and to their profession, he said. But intelligence officials are mindful that even one insider spy or leak of classified information can do significant damage. In 2013 Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old National Security Administration contractor, disclosed vast quantities of information revealing extensive U.S. government surveillance programs to the press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is regarded as one of the most significant leaks of classified information in U.S. history. The recent cuts are likely to have a profound impact on officials who remain in government and have seen their colleagues maligned and forced out of their jobs. What were looking at is an entire world of our U.S. government that is shattered, depleted and has had a great drop in their sense of morale, said Charney. That is a precious commodity. Wars are won based on morale. When I taught research methods to undergraduates, I would start by asking whether anyone in the class had $20. Though harder to come by thanks to digital payment options, inevitably someone would produce a $20 bill. I would then ask whether they knew how the bill came to look the way it does. Students would take guesses often rooted in history and counterfeiting concerns. While valid, the larger font and picture designs that came about in the 1990s and early 2000s were also the result of research intended to make the bills more accessible for the 3.5 million Americans with low vision. One of those Americans with low vision was a researcher on the team designing the new bill, experimental psychologist Gordon Legge. These changes made it easier for those low-vision Americans, their families and others around the world to read and use American dollars. In other countries, bills and coins come in different sizes that pertain to their value, making them much easier for people with low vision and the blind to use. Legges research saved Americans the cost of having to completely redesign the currency to come in different sizes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My goal in talking about the currency redesign with my students was to show them how research has shaped their lives, often in ways they didnt even realize. Now, following President Donald Trumps executive order on federal projects related to DEIA diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility many research initiatives similar to the bill redesign project will lose funding. As a social psychologist, some of the studies Ive worked on would be considered DEIA work. Social psychology as a field grew, in part, during World War II as researchers tried to understand bias-motivated atrocities such as the Holocaust. DEIA initiatives are projects that seek to reduce discrimination and promote equal opportunities and equal access in multiple spaces such as school and workplaces, as well as in legal, housing and medical systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While frequently focused on those who have faced long-standing barriers to these resources for example, racial and ethnic minorities and people with disabilities the results of research related to DEIA are often applied to help all people achieve their potential. The Trump administrations list of DEIA-related terms is so broad that its flagging non-DEIA related work for potential termination. Ive heard many scientists discuss how their programs of research have been wrongfully included in the anti-DEIA sweeps because they use terms such as biodiversity. However, research that would be considered DEIA work has made influential contributions to society over the past few decades it raises the question of whether any flagging is actually right. The backlash to anti-DEIA research seems to have started with criticism of DEI-related human resources training in workplaces. But the word list goes well beyond what would appear in HR training. DEIA research identifies the problems and proposes the solutions. Solutions such as translation services for the hearing impaired, parental leave for mothers and fathers, pay equity, time off for religious holidays and lactation rooms for nursing mothers all stem from what could be labeled DEIA research and advocacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, lactation rooms came about based on research into what working mothers needed to ease their return to work after pregnancy. This included research into breast pumps and even architectural research on how to best design these rooms. DEIA contributions DEIA work is nothing new just the label is. After all, it was DEIA research in the 1950s that psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark presented to the Supreme Court to argue that school segregation harmed children, leading to the banning of the policy. Kenneth and Mamie Clark, left, with their two children. Research by the Clarks led to desegregation policies in school. Charlotte Brooks for Look Magazine and Brooks Archive This work continues today as new DEIA research reveals that schools are often still racially homogenous. That means many American students still go to schools where the student bodies are primarily white or primarily racial minorities. However, the reasons for these divides are no longer due to segregation being the law. In the 1970s, it was DEIA research that inspired the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and led to the creation of special education practices for neurodiverse students. These practices have improved educational outcomes for students with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and a variety of other neurodiversities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And DEIA research is continuing to review and improve these practices today. Starting in the 1980s, it was also DEIA research that led to HIV/AIDS, a virus disproportionately affecting the LGBTQ+ community, no longer being a death sentence. Doctors now have a drug that prevents HIV, including preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to infant. Just today, I received a news alert about scientific breakthroughs in the neurological study of postpartum depression. Because women and pregnant people are on the list of terms flagged as DEIA-related, studies on postpartum depression could be considered DEIA. DEIA science on DEIA science It is DEIA science that has demonstrated how diverse research teams promote innovative performance. This research would suggest that Americas diversity may very well be one of the key elements shaping its prosperity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some might say of course DEIA research will show DEIA works, but it is also DEIA research that critiques the limitations of training to reduce bias such as human resources workshops intended to teach workers about inclusive language, cultural sensitivity or implicit bias. Other non-DEIA HR training also faces criticism. Scientists discuss these limitations, and the scientific process is constantly self-correcting as researchers search for better solutions. Recommendations about better training are proposed based on new research. For instance, racial colorblindness is an ideology that grew out of the civil rights era and a desire to treat individuals equally regardless of race. However, it has led to some problems where people say they ignore race when really they dont. For instance, in one study looking at race and dating preferences, white people endorsing a colorblind ideology were actually more likely to say they wouldnt date a Black person than those who didnt endorse colorblindness. Colorblindness can also make people feel uncomfortable bringing up race in any context. One study shows how young people, who are not yet wary of identifying people by race, can outperform adults, who avoid race, during a game of Guess Who. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These studies are just some examples of DEIA science that showed the colorblindness approach is a mixed bag at best. Other times, it is harmful for minority groups and majority groups alike, or even backfires, making people more, not less, discriminatory and uncomfortable. Alleged alternatives to DEIA Despite its shortcomings, many prominent figures in the anti-DEIA movement have seemingly endorsed colorblindness. For example, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott created executive order GA-55 to end DEIA policies and institute a color-blind approach instead. Texas public universities had to eliminate DEIA offices and practices but not legacy admissions and scholarships that studies show disproportionately benefit white students. In his second inaugural address, Trump promised that his administration would forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based. While a meritocracy may sound good on paper, DEIA research has suggested that meritocracies dont work in the current society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meritocracies assume a level playing field and can ignore disparities, such as wealth, that may afford some more opportunities than others social mobility between income levels is rare and can take generations. Where we stand Despite the anti-DEIA rhetoric present in American discourse, most Americans do not have negative attitudes toward DEIA; 52% even still think DEIA in the workplace is good. Most Americans, including white people, men and Republicans, also do not report having been harmed by DEIA policies. Overall, studies report that Americans value inclusivity. Ultimately, blanket bans on anything remotely DEIA harm advancement across scientific disciplines. The disparities DEIA research examines still exist in courts, in schools, in jobs, in health, in housing and in violent victimization rates. Stopping cancer research because cancer prevention training doesnt always work and sometimes backfires wont stop cancer. Ignoring disparities will not make them go away. DEIA-related science is an ingrained part of the scientific enterprise, and cutting its funding could mean missing out on important breakthroughs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: H. Colleen Sinclair, Louisiana State University Read more: H. Colleen Sinclair does not personally have any DEIA-related federal grants but she has received foundation research funding for math education research that includes looking at how to close disparities in achievement. The statements and opinions included in this The Conversation article are solely the author's. Any statements and opinions included in these pages are not those of the Social Research and Evaluation Center, the College of Human Sciences & Education, the Louisiana State University, or the LSU Board of Supervisors. A growing chorus of New England state officials and not just Republicans is calling for cuts to clean energy programs in an attempt to rein in high electric bills. These efforts are underway everywhere from Maine, where legislators are trying to repeal incentives for rooftop and community solar, to deep-blue Massachusetts, where regulators recently slashed $500 million from a proposed energy-efficiency plan. The irony, clean energy advocates say, is that many of the investments under threat contribute relatively little to customers monthly bills and save everyone money in the long run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They see these programs as some sort of addition thats being put on their bill that they dont see the effects of, said Kyle Murray, director of state program implementation for climate nonprofit Acadia Center. Cutting these programs will not really save us money, and it will actually end up costing us more money in the long term. Concerns about the cost of energy are not unique to New England, but the region does have the nations highest electricity prices outside of California and Hawaii. Compounding the problem, this years cold winter increased gas and electric use, driving recent bills to levels many ratepayers and policymakers say are unsustainable. Politicians have responded by pointing a finger at renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts. In Connecticut, Republicans are going after the states public benefits charge, a utility bill fee that funds energy efficiency programs and a state clean energy fund. Vermonts Republican governor, who has supported climate action in the past, is pushing to weaken the states Global Warming Solutions Act, saying the move is necessary to lower prices for residents. In Rhode Island, a Democratic lawmaker has proposed delaying the states 100% renewable target by 10 years. Though each states circumstances are different, advocates argue that it is almost universally true that these intended quick fixes would cost consumers and the environment in the long-run. Solutions exist, they say, that would preserve the long-term benefits clean energy and energy efficiency offer, while also making power less expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The work is difficult, but there is not an inherent conflict between clean energy and affordability, said Larry Chretien, executive director of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance. What makes power so expensive in New England? Electricity bills are made up of several components. The supply charge pays for the actual power delivered to a customer. Distribution and transmission charges cover the cost of the wires, poles, and other infrastructure needed to deliver that power. Utilities often collect additional fees to fund energy efficiency programs, renewable energy initiatives, assistance for low-income customers, and other work. While this last segment of the bill has gotten the most attention lately, the other two make up the majority of the monthly cost. In Maine, for example, electricity supply currently accounts for 39% of the average residential energy bill and transmission and distribution for 51%. Lowering or even stabilizing supply and delivery costs can be tricky. But it is precisely the renewable energy and energy efficiency programs being targeted for cuts that can help control those costs, because they lessen the need for expensive grid upgrades and shelter ratepayers from volatile natural gas prices, advocates say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utility infrastructure is built to handle far more power than is needed on most days; the systems are scaled to be able to meet the demand of millions of air conditioners running on the hottest days of the year. So lowering the power needed at those peak moments through energy-efficient heat pumps or rooftop solar panels that generate power right where its needed can reduce the cost of keeping the infrastructure up to the challenge. Everything is built out to serve a couple days of peak energy each year, said Vickash Mohanka, director of the Massachusetts chapter of the Sierra Club. Everybodys bills are paying for those peaks, and I think we need to see a lot more progress in flattening that consumption. Energy efficiency and renewable energy progress can also mean cheaper power supply. Electricity supply in New England is so expensive in large part because of the regions dependence on power plants that run on natural gas, a fuel that is prone to price volatility and which is forecast to get more expensive in coming years. Energy efficiency improvements lower electricity demand, reducing the impact these price fluctuations have on consumers. And replacing this power with renewable energy that gets free fuel from the sun and wind can also reduce and stabilize electric bills. Cutting support for renewables and efficiency may seem to save money, but the costs just crop up again elsewhere, said Greg Cunningham, vice president of clean energy and climate change for the Conservation Law Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It feels like and it looks like we're eliminating a cost or reducing it, but its like Whac-A-Mole, he said. How to lower energy bills in the Northeast Containing costs for supply, distribution, and transmission is challenging but doable and necessary, advocates say. Though Massachusetts cuts to energy efficiency programming disappointed consumer and environmental groups, many praised a plan Gov. Maura Healey announced this month to save residents $5.8 billion in energy costs in coming years. Her proposal includes new discount rates, tighter regulations on competitive electric suppliers, and reviews of every additional fee on utility bills to root out those that are no longer needed. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu this week announced plans to tackle the citys high energy costs by installing 5,000 heat pumps and weatherizing 10,000 buildings over the next three years in partnership with Mass Save, the states energy efficiency administrator. The initiative is expected to use $150 million in incentives and create $300 million in savings for Boston residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connecticut legislators are considering proposals to make appliance energy standards more stringent and to allow cities and towns to aggregate their energy demand, negotiate for lower supply prices, and potentially use the savings to develop their own renewable power projects. Advocates have also suggested that states adopt a performance-based ratemaking structure, in which utilities make money not just for building and repairing infrastructure but for reaching specific goals, such as equity, emissions reductions, or cost control. Several noted that states could also lower the rate of return utilities are allowed to earn on their infrastructure investments. Clean energy advocates accept that some programs might need to change. Massachusetts, for example, could reconsider the value of some years-old initiatives paid for by ratepayers, Chretien said. In Maine, it makes more sense to review the solar-incentive program known as net energy billing for possible cost-saving tweaks than to completely repeal it, Cunningham said. Whats important, advocates say, is that policymakers avoid scapegoating energy efficiency and renewable energy, and start the hard work of solving the real problems. It feels to me like every year there is a public outcry, theres a media outcry, and theres a reaction, Cunningham said. What there is much less of is longer-term planning. We need to do something about this. When Kim, a grandmother in recovery, moved to North Carolina to be closer to her son in 2018, she initially had difficulties filling her buprenorphine (Suboxone) prescription because her provider could no longer prescribe her medication across state lines. Using Suboxone has greatly helped me not only be free of drugs and alcohol for the whole time being here, but its my livelihood, Kim, who is using her first name only for privacy reasons, told Salon in a phone interview. I cant function without it and Ive tried. In the 20 years that Kim has been using buprenorphine, there have been several times where changes in her life, like her move, or changes in policy have abruptly cut her off from her medication. She has been able to access treatment through Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income Americans, uninterrupted for the past couple of years. But she worries that budget cuts being debated by Republicans could take that away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This saved my life and it can save a lot more, Kim said. I don't understand why you would try to take it from people. Medications like buprenorphine and methadone are considered the gold standard for treating addiction, according to decades of research, because they can reduce deaths as well as improve social functionality. Increased access to these drugs is thought to be a major factor contributing to the first significant reduction in national overdose deaths to occur since 2018. Although 87,000 Americans still died from overdoses in 2024, a decline of 24% from the previous year, many are concerned this progress could be lost, especially if the federal government makes significant cuts to Medicaid. Its time to double down on all of the things that have been working, not reverse them, said Stephanie Strong, co-founder and CEO of Boulder Care, a telehealth addiction treatment center. Thats what I fear will happen if people lose their health benefits. President Donald Trump has promised to cut between $1.5 and $2 trillion from the federal budget in the next decade. Although he has said he will not cut Medicaid, Senate Republicans have been debating whether to overhaul the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some are skeptical that the administration will cut Medicaid significantly, but an analysis performed by The Congressional Budget Office earlier this month found that it would be impossible to find enough cuts elsewhere that do not affect Medicaid in some way. Medicaid, the largest source of insurance for addiction treatment, has demonstrably saved lives and improved access for many people seeking addiction treatment. In one 2020 study, Medicaid expansions were associated with between 1,678 and 8,132 lives saved from an overdose between 2015 and 2017. Another 2021 study found admissions for addiction treatment were 36% in states that had expanded Medicaid four years after the expansion compared to ones that had not. Probably the single biggest policy-level change that has benefited addiction treatment has been guaranteeing Medicaid and Medicare coverage for medical treatment of addiction with methadone and buprenorphine, Dr. Ryan Marino, an emergency medicine physician at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, told Salon. More people are certainly able to access evidence-based treatment, and lives have been saved. Trumps stance on drug policy seems to largely be focused on the criminalization of drugs rather than treating the overdose crisis like a public health issue, which experts say is not as effective in stemming the overdose crisis. Trump has said that he issued high tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China because theyve allowed fentanyl to come into our country at levels never seen before and has even threatened war with drug cartels. But this week, the Trump administration also extended an emergency declaration to address the national opioid crisis, first declared in 2017, which allows for some expedited decisions to be made related to substance use disorder treatments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, if the Trump administration does cut Medicaid funding, regions in which its constituents live could be hardest hit by the decision. In West Virginia and Tennessee, for example, two states where Trump won the vote in the 2024 election, upwards of 20% of the population is on Medicaid. And these two states have some of the highest rates of per-capita overdose deaths in the country. Medicaid funding not only expands access to medication-assisted treatment like buprenorphine and methadone, but also funds things like group or individual therapy as well as programs that help people find employment and other aspects of recovery in certain states, said Dr. Elizabeth Stone, who researches health services and policy at Rutgers University. Recovery is an ongoing process and for people who are stabilized with medication for opioid-use disorder or are seeing their therapist regularly, losing insurance coverage can be a really high-risk time for harm, Stone told Salon in a phone interview. Downstream, then youre also potentially having people even less likely to access care than they already are now. If Medicaid access is reduced, Kim worries about the time it would take to switch over to another insurance, if she could even find one she could afford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would be days or weeks from getting any kind of insurance, and if you are sick and going through withdrawals, youre not going to wait, Kim said. Youre going to go and do whatever you can to get to feeling better. Policies that cut Medicaid might include taking away coverage from people who dont meet certain work requirements or limiting payments given to states, pushing the states to make the cuts. But cutting work requirements, for example, has been tried by some states without success. In Arkansas, a temporary program with these requirements led to the loss of coverage for thousands of people but did not increase employment. My perspective is that they're not actually effective in reducing the number of people who are eligible for Medicaid, they just create more hoops and ultimately, more costs and administrative waste, Strong told Salon in a phone interview. [We need to be] making sure the resources are going to the right places, and leveraging technology and telemedicine to offer care that's lower cost and more available in rural areas, rather than investing in building more facilities and more beds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, whether potential cuts to Medicaid funding would in fact cut costs is unclear. Like with any medicine, reducing access to treatments used for addiction can make people seek care when they have more health care needs, which ends up costing more money. In one 2021 analysis, all forms of medication-assisted treatment (buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone) were associated with up to $100,000 in lifetime cost savings per person compared to people who were not treated. Additionally, because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services covers such a large portion of the population, the center can often negotiate drug prices to be lower, which affects the market and can benefit people on other insurances, Marino said. They're saying that they're saving us money by doing these cuts, but there are very few things that are as cost-effective as Medicare and Medicaid, Marino said. Not only because of the kind of preventable health benefit and downstream economic benefits, but also because CMS can negotiate down the prices of drugs, and even people who are on private insurance then get benefits. Some hospitals and treatment centers are also dependent on reimbursements from CMS, so even a small cut in Medicaid could affect their funding and lead to shutdowns, Marino said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is going to impact not only people who are in addiction treatment, Marino said. If the closest hospitals shut down and you now have to drive 30 minutes away when youre having a stroke or a heart attack or someone is overdosing, that is going to lead to a lot of additional problems. These decisions are expected to be made in mid-2025, when Congress faces a deadline for passing Trumps agenda. For now, the close to 4.9 million people using Medicaid for addiction treatment will have to wait and see if they are impacted. Were trying to get ourselves better and were trying to be drug-free, Kim said. I would hope that the government could see that. Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 21 March as part of his two-day visit to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, citing the office of the Czech president Quote: "Czech President Petr Pavel has arrived in Kyiv, where he will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday 21 March." Details: The day before, Pavel visited Odesa when Russian troops launched a large-scale drone attack on the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Czech president met in Odesa with Oleksii Kuleba, the Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraines Reconstruction, the leadership of Odesa Oblast, and representatives of the cities of Mykolaiv and Kherson. They discussed further support for the oblast, which is located right on the front line. Quote from the Office of the President of Czechia: "So far, Czechia has provided aid in the form of combat vehicles, drones, protective vests, mobile phone jammers and medical equipment such as lung ventilators and medical beds." Background: In January 2025, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said that the country was seeking the support of other EU countries to organise a new initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine. In late February, Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said that exports of military equipment to Ukraine had increased by at least a third last year. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in Kyiv on March 21, the Office of the President of the Czech Republic announced in a statement. "On the morning of Friday, March 21, President Petr Pavel arrived in Kyiv, where he will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal," it said. As part of his two-day visit to Ukraine, Pavel on March 20 met with Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba in Odesa, along with the leadership of the Odesa Oblast, and representatives of the cities of Mykolaiv and Kherson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his visit to Odesa, Russia launched three groups of Shahed-type drones at the city, Kuleba said on March 20. "The entire civilized world should see Russia's crimes against Ukraine," Kuleba added. Three people were injured during the attack, and civilian infrastructure was damaged, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said. The officials discussed maritime security, post-war reconstruction, and community development. Kuleba highlighted the urgent need for de-mining efforts, also noting that since summer 2023, Russia has fired more than 450 missiles at Ukraine's port infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuleba invited Pavel to attend the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which is set to take place in Rome this summer. Read also: Ukraine accuses Russia of false flag attack on Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Czech President Petr Pavel has said he left Odesa just 20 minutes before the first explosions from the Russian attack on the city. He had been visiting Odesa on 20 March. Source: Pavel during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as reported by European Pravda Details: Pavel emphasised that it was a coincidence, as his visit had been scheduled according to a planned time frame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We had left Odesa by train about 20 minutes before the first explosions were heard... What I take out of it is that one has to be truly cynical when declaring the will to have a peace negotiation or negotiations on a ceasefire and at the same time to launch a massive attack on civilian infrastructure," Pavel said. He noted that given such attacks, "It's extremely difficult to deal with such a party". "That's why I believe that we have to clearly point to these events to demonstrate how Russia approaches these talks. And we have to be cautious about any potential agreement," he concluded. Background: Pavel visited Odesa on the day when Russian forces launched a large-scale drone attack on the city. The Czech president later remarked that such large-scale attacks, occurring as negotiations for a ceasefire and a potential peace agreement are starting, do not suggest that Moscow is serious about pursuing peace. Earlier, Katarina Mathernova, the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, condemned the Russian strikes, stating that they demonstrated what the peace promised by the Kremlin truly looks like. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Czech President Petr Pavel has arrived on a visit to Ukraine, including a visit to Odesa, which has been under a large-scale Russian attack since the evening of 20 March. Source: Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraines Reconstruction; representatives of Kropyvnytskyi City Council, on Telegram Quote: "I am pleased to welcome Czech President Petr Pavel to Ukraine. We met in the city of Odesa, which is terrorised by Russia every night. It was during our meeting that the Russian Federation launched three groups of Shahed drones on the city. The entire civilised world must witness Russia's crimes against Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Kuleba said the parties had discussed key issues related to shipping security, mine clearance, Ukraine's reconstruction and hromada development. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Petr Pavel in Odesa. Photo: Oleksii Kuleba on Telegram "Czechia is one of the leaders among the countries that systematically help Ukraine. Over the three years of the full-scale war, our partner country has provided Ukraine with US$900 million in support from humanitarian programmes to military equipment. In particular, the Neptun anti-ship systems, based on Czech Tatra vehicles, have made a significant contribution to our maritime security," he noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuleba also reiterated that Czechia is actively involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine: it has taken patronage over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where it is updating water treatment stations, supplying power generators, medical equipment, etc., modernising a Kyiv Oblast children's hospital and implementing projects in other areas. "We also agreed on expanding humanitarian aid for affected regions, including providing temporary housing for those who have lost their homes and supporting medical facilities. Together with the heads of Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson oblast military administrations, we discussed further direct support for the regions," he added. In addition, Kuleba invited Pavel to join the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference, which will take place this summer in Rome. Background: The Russians launched attack drones towards Odesa on the evening of 20 March, explosions were heard in the city and large fires broke out. Casualties were reported. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Members of Iowa's congressional delegation proposed legislation aiming to address high prescription drug prices. (Photo illustration by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Members of Iowas congressional delegation have introduced legislation they say will help lower drug costs. U.S. Congress has largely not met this week, with most of the attention in national politics centering on President Donald Trumps moves to close the U.S. Department of Education and militarize a part of the U.S.-Mexico border. Still, Iowas federal legislators introduced several measures this week, including proposals dealing with the cost of pharmaceuticals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks reintroduced the Delinking Revenue from Unfair Gouging (DRUG) Act Tuesday, a bill focused on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the third-party businesses that negotiate prescription drug prices between drug manufacturers, health insurance companies and pharmacies. The Iowa representative also introduced the measure in 2o24. Miller-Meeks proposal would require PBMs to charge a flat fee for their service in negotiating prices on a certain drug instead of charging using a percentage of the drug price. The current practice of charging based on a percentage of the drugs costs incentivizes PBMs to promote the use of higher-cost medicines, according to a news release from Miller-Meeks office, which takes money away from patients. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have excessive influence over the prices patients pay at the pharmacy counter, Miller-Meeks said in a statement. Local Iowa pharmacies are closing due to greedy PBM practices, impacting proximity and access to medications for Iowans. The DRUG Act will put downward pressure on prescription drug prices and insurance premiums by removing the incentive for PBMs to drive up the list price of medications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many pharmacists have called for action to restrict certain business practices by PBMs, which they say are raising drug costs and limiting the ability to fill prescriptions. Iowa state lawmakers are also considering legislation that would place limits on some PBM actions. Miller-Meeks has advocated for Congress to ban certain PBM practices, like patient steering, encouraging or requiring patients to use certain affiliated pharmacies instead of a pharmacy of their choice and spread pricing, where a PBM charges a higher cost for a drug than what is reimbursed to the pharmacy practices that are also a focus of the Iowa legislation. Charles Crain, managing vice president of policy of the advocacy group the National Association of Manufacturers, praised the legislation as a way to help manufacturing employers provide workers affordable health care coverage. PBMs increase health care costs by driving up prescription drug list prices, forcing patients to pay more at the pharmacy counter and making it more difficult for manufacturers to offer affordable health care benefits, Crain said in a statement. Manufacturers commend Rep. Miller-Meeks and her colleagues for re-introducing the DRUG Act, which will rein in PBMs operating in the commercial market by removing their perverse incentive to maximize their own profits at the expense of manufacturers and manufacturing workers. Grassley introduces bill targeting product hopping In the Senate, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley co-introduced a bill that would attempt to stop pharmaceutical manufacturers from attempting to shut out competitors by product hopping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Product hopping refers to practices by some pharmaceutical companies to coercively move patients using a branded drug that has an expiring patent to a new patented drug in an effort to stop patients from moving to a generic version of the original product. According to a news release from Grassley, some manufacturers use tactics like destroying the inventory of their old product, raising its price or stating it is unsafe in attempts to discourage people from using the drug. Under this practice, it is difficult to switch patients to the cheaper generic when the market protections for the earlier drug expire, the news release stated. This abuse of the patent system forces patients to continue paying high costs for a drug that is substantially similar to their old one for many years to come. Grassley, alongside Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut and Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, introduced the Drug Competition Enhancement Act Monday that would make product hopping an antitrust violation. Companies engaging in this practice could face enforcement action from the Federal Trade Commission, including being brought to court. The Iowa Republican said the bipartisan measure would help bring down drug prices by preventing companies from engaging in anticompetitive practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of my top priorities in the Senate is reducing the cost of prescription drugs, Grassley said. Our bill will bring much needed transparency to drug pricing by cracking down on product hopping and giving Iowans more access to lower-cost generic drugs. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it could enter Israeli territory. Israel's emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), reported that there were no casualties or damage. The missile launch triggered air defense sirens across central Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, prompting millions to seek shelter. The Israel Police said officers were conducting searches for potential impact sites to ensure public safety. Following the missile launch, Israel's Ynet news website reported that an Israir flight from Athens to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv circled in the air before receiving clearance to land. This marks the third missile launch from Yemen into Israel since fighting in Gaza resumed on Tuesday. As a hill farmer on the Southern Uplands of East Ayrshire, I have suffered many dog attacks on my livestock, but theres one that stands out for how distressing it was. A few years back, two dogs a spaniel and a terrier with no owner in sight got into one of my fields and began chasing my sheep. My farm is a 5,000-acre estate, on which 3,500 breeding ewes roam. In this instance, I watched helplessly as the dogs ran riot. All I could do was shout and try to stop them chasing certain sheep, but they then just went for others. Eventually, the ewes collapsed from exhaustion, and the dogs ripped into them. They managed to kill two, and seriously injure several more. I have never owned a gun, but on that occasion, I wish Id had one with me. I would have shot both dogs on sight and I think I would have had every right to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, farmers are always suffering from livestock attacks or sheep worrying, where they are subjected to stress. A report last year by the National Sheep Association (NSA) showed that 78 per cent of rural crime teams in England reported an increase in dog attacks on sheep. Since 2021, in Scotland, police have increased their powers to prosecute dog owners, who can face fines of up to 40,000 and imprisonment for attacks or worrying. It is a year-round problem, but spring when the weather warms up and more dog walkers are out in the fields is a particularly tense time. At present, I am hearing of at least one attack a week from the UK farming community. This will not only affect the animals health and welfare but the farmers livelihoods and mental well-being. I find it very sad. There are, however, things dog owners can do to help. Firstly, and this is common sense, please put your dog on a lead, even if the livestock is two fields away or so. As we all know, if they decide to run and chase sheep, it is nearly impossible to get them back. All too often, farmers encounter dogs chasing their livestock with the owner nowhere in sight. Secondly, I personally feel its better if dog walkers avoid fields with livestock completely. Of course, some will argue they have the right to roam, and these rights are stronger in Scotland, where I live than in England. But I say this because sheep do not understand that a dog is on a lead. All they know is the fear for their life, and they can become very agitated just from the sight of a dog. Sheep can miscarry or refuse to eat if they become stressed - Stuart Nicol Such stress is the biggest killer of livestock. We farmers may go to great lengths to ensure our animals are calm and happy so that their health is not compromised. But if a ewe gets stressed by a dog, she may refuse to eat. If she is then pregnant or has a lamb to feed, and loses vital nutrition, she may not last the night especially if it becomes cold and wet. Pregnant ewes may also miscarry their lambs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirdly, its worth pointing out that even though lambing season can be a hotspot with small lambs very vulnerable to attacks this is a year-round problem. Many farmers lamb at different times of the year. I imagine part of the reason for the rise in attacks is down to the increased number of dogs since Covid. There are now an estimated 10.6 million dogs in the UK. And while my hill farm is not too badly affected by walkers, farmers in more densely populated locations suffer more. Sadly, I have heard of incidents where 10 or even 20 sheep have been killed sometimes by one big strong dog, sometimes by several with absent or inconsiderate owners. I also know farmers who have shot dogs. It is awful, and no farmer wishes to do this, but it is all too often the outcome. Ive toyed with the idea of getting a firearm, but I havent as yet. It would be solely for the purpose of shooting rampaging dogs, but I dont see why I should have to do that. Firearms are dangerous and it shouldnt be the farmers responsibility to control pets this way. Is this what the general public wants to see; a countryside full of landowners with guns? Still, with the rising number of dog attacks, I think many farmers may well resort to buying a gun. Profits are very marginal in farming, but this isnt just about livelihood; its about protecting the animals we care for. Dog attacks are not the fault of dogs; the pets are often doing what comes naturally and just see it as a game of chase. Attacks are the fault of owners and they need to know there can be serious consequences to their actions if they do not control their pets. As told to Gwyneth Rees 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. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Friday on the Daily 8, were looking at a new tiny home village in Grand Rapids making moves, Mayor David LaGrands first State of the City address, a dog rescue near the Soo Locks and more. You can watch the full Daily 8 for March 21, 2025, in the video player above or check out any of the stories mentioned below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each weekday, the Daily 8 brings you the top eight stories we are keeping an eye on in and around West Michigan. Join us again on Monday for the Daily 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 WOODTV.com. The far-right activist Tommy Robinson has lost a High Court challenge over the conditions of his imprisonment at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is currently serving an eighteen-month sentence in solitary confinement after admitting to contempt of court for repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee. His barristers argued that the treatment had caused an evident decline in his mental health. Lawyers for the Ministry of Justice stated that he was segregated for his own safety. One man who has argued for Robinsons release wrongly labelling him a political prisoner silenced for exposing the brutality of the Pakistani rape gangs is billionaire X owner Elon Musk. So how has Robinson managed to find this new following amongst Trumps new right fan base? How has he repositioned himself as the victim of an establishment conspiracy? In this special edition of the Daily T, Camilla goes to Luton in search of the real Tommy Robinson, and asks those whove worked with him how he has come to be hailed as a folk hero and where his motivations truly lie. Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to The Daily T newsletter for updates. 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. DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Darlington County detention center employee was fired on Thursday after authorities found marijuana in his vehicle during a search of jail property for contraband, authorities said. Christian Javuon Jackson faces a possession charge and is awaiting a bond hearing scheduled for Friday afternoon. He is being held at the W. Glenn Cambell Detention Center. Authorities said a K-9 alerted authorities to a small quantity of marijuana was located in the front passenger seat and in the trunk of Jacksons vehicle, the sheriffs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search area included the jails employee parking lot, locker rooms and administrative offices. It was conducted by Darlington police, Hartsville police and the county sheriffs office. All detention center employees were subjected to the body scan machine and every employee was scanned for contraband, the sheriffs office said in a news release. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A 50-year-old Darlington County man with 15 prior shoplifting convictions is headed to prison for six years after pleading guilty Wednesday to yet another theft. Michael Cherrys 16th conviction stemmed from a September incident at a Circle K store in Darlington in which he stole $131 in merchandise by hiding it in his pants, the Fourth Circuit Solicitors Office said. He pleaded guilty without any sentencing recommendations from prosecutors just before the start of his scheduled trial, the solicitors office said. Shoplifting carries a maximum 10-year sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Cherry is a chronic problem for retailers in Darlington County, Assistant Solicitor Savannah Baxley said. Incarceration is the only answer when someone with a criminal record like his wont stop stealing. Solicitor Mike Burch praised the efforts of law enforcement in the case. Darlington PDs actions assistance in this prosecution allowed us to get a repeat offender off the streets, Burch said. While we might not be able to alter Cherrys criminal behavior, we know he wont be a burden for Darlington for years to come.Darl * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer knows better than anyone, the Democratic base is pissed off. And not just a little. The intensity of the anger roiling the party is at a historic level, suggesting a breach between congressional Democrats and the party grassroots so severe that it could reshape the 2026 primary election season. Congressional Democrats have typically enjoyed higher popularity with their voting base than their Republican counterparts. But the trauma of the 2024 presidential election defeat appears to have ruptured that relationship. A review of Quinnipiac Universitys annual first-quarter congressional polling reveals that, for the first time in the polls history, congressional Democrats are now underwater with their own voters in approval ratings. Just 40 percent of Democrats approve of the job performance of congressional Democrats, compared to 49 percent who disapprove. Thats a dramatic change from this time last year, when 75 percent of Democrats approved compared to just 21 percent who disapproved. The Democratic bases disillusionment runs so deep that its eerily reminiscent of Republican grassroots sentiment in the period leading up to Donald Trumps takeover of the Republican Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The numbers are clear: No longer satisfied with the status quo in their party, Democrats are on the verge of a Tea Party-style, intra-party revolt. The Democratic approval data is unlike any in recent history and it isnt a case of bitter, disaffected partisans reacting to a loss in the last election. The first time Democrats lost an election to Donald Trump, their congressional approval ratings within the party actually ticked up, as Democratic base voters largely approved of the ways that party leadership resisted the Trump administration in early 2017. The same phenomenon surfaced among Republicans in 2021 when, despite Trumps defeat and the subsequent chaos of Jan. 6, Republican voters remained generally positive regarding their views on the congressional GOP. The closest partisan parallel to the level of anger currently gripping Democratic voters would be roughly a decade ago, when Republican political unknown Dave Brat toppled House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a shocking 2014 primary upset. Two years later, Trump tore through a crowded field of accomplished establishment candidates and forever upended Republican politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the restive energy in the partys progressive wing, the Democratic discontent does not seem to be centered around a desire to pull the party to the left or the right. Democrats cannot seem to agree on which direction the party should move in recent Gallup polling found that 45 percent wanted the party to become more moderate, while 29 percent felt it should become more liberal, and 22 percent wanted it to stay the same. Instead, the numbers suggest that the fury is at least partly fueled by the Democratic bases dissatisfaction with congressional leaderships relatively conciliatory approach to Trump this time around, and their inability to stop him. Recent polls from CNN and Data For Progress both found supermajorities of Democratic voters calling for the partys congressional leadership to do more to oppose the president a sentiment that sparked the fierce backlash against Schumers recent move to facilitate the GOPs passage of a continuing resolution funding the government. Historic precedent suggests it would be extremely unusual for this kind of dissatisfaction to persist without any major changes in the party, especially because these voters dont have anywhere else to go. Third parties continue to see their vote shares decline, and polarization between the two major parties continues to rise, meaning that the odds of these dissatisfied Democrats voting for non-Democratic candidates are extremely low. That ratchets up pressure in the 2026 primary election season. Political science literature suggests that partisans angry enough to have an opinion on their party leadership are also the likeliest to show up and vote for Democrats anyway so it is not clear that the party will incur a turnout penalty as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, these numbers open the door to a potentially bruising string of primaries in both the House and Senate. There are 13 Democratic-held Senate seats up for reelection next year many of them involving veteran senators in the bluest states raising the prospect of a stream of younger, insurgent candidates more closely aligned with the party base, similar to what the GOP has contended with over the past 15 years. A handful of liberal groups have already called for Chuck Schumer to step down as party leader after voting last week for a GOP stopgap funding bill. Democratic House members have also felt the sting of grassroots rage in recent days at town halls marked by testy exchanges with deeply frustrated liberal constituents. Hoping that the unrest blows over, and that Democratic voters return to the fold eventually, isnt a smart option. The Republican establishment learned it the hard way in 2010 and the two subsequent election cycles, when House and Senate incumbents and other party-backed candidates were frequently dragged into bruising primaries that resulted in shocking upsets. Just ask Eric Cantor. Alfreda Masters, the daughter of the first enlisted Black man to serve in the Marine Corps, told ABC News she finds it "unbelievable" that the webpage honoring her father's service has been taken down as a part of diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, scrubbing at the Pentagon. Alfred Masters, after whom she is named, was sworn in to the Marine Corps in 1942 after he was "rejected from the Marines ... because they didn't think Blacks were good enough," Alfreda Masters said. After a chance encounter with a Marine recruiter in Oklahoma City who asked Masters if he'd like to become the first Black Marine, to which he said yes, Masters enlisted. He served in a segregated unit in World War II in Guam and the South Pacific, where he rose to the rank of technical sergeant. PHOTO: U.S. Marine Alfred Masters is shown in this undated portrait. (The collection of Dr. Isabell Arch Masters Family, Courtesy of Alfreda Dean Masters) MORE: DOD says it 'mistakenly removed' Jackie Robinson, other content from website amid DEI purge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm sad and angry at the same time," Masters said of the removed Marine Corps webpage that honored Black History Month and her father. The Marine Corps article, which now leads to a 404 error code, noted President Ronald Reagan's designation of February as Black History Month and honored the Marines of Montford Point, who "broke ground for the right to serve amongst all who come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds." PHOTO: U.S. Marine Alfred Masters stands at attention. (The collection of Dr. Isabell Arch Masters Family, Courtesy of Alfreda Dean Masters) "During a time of hardship, African American Marines honored the call, stood for what they believed in and had the courage to leave home during the nation's time of need despite the fact that their basic rights were often disregarded by their fellow Americans," the webpage said. Masters said that "it first hit" that her father had been "caught up in the DEI thing and wouldn't get his just due" when she called Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base, about his being honored for Black History Month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Very politely, very diplomatically, they said they couldn't do it," she said. "They're proud of all Marines." PHOTO: The Museum display at the Montford Point Marines Museum at Camp Lejeune Military Base, North Carolina. (The collection of Dr. Isabell Arch Masters Family, Courtesy of Alfreda Dean Masters) MORE: Pentagon aims to cut 50,000 to 60,000 civilians Masters said the removal is an act that amounts to erasing history. "It's history. It's not Black history. It's American history," she said. "All our history erased. ... We can't believe it," she said. Yet there will no doubt be resilience, she added. PHOTO: U.S. Marine Alfred Masters with his platoon. (The collection of Dr. Isabell Arch Masters Family, Courtesy of Alfreda Dean Masters) "I have faith in this country," she said. "My friends have faith in this country -- in democracy. Nobody I know wants to live in Russia or China. No. We'll get back what's our due. It's just another battle." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Masters overcame his fair share. After he was discharged two days before Christmas 1945, Masters "was determined to get home to his family by Christmas," his daughter told ABC News. "When he got to Jim Crow South, he no longer could sit with his fellow Marines in the passenger car," she added. "And there was no 'colored' car to leave that day for Oklahoma." The Marine insisted he be allowed on that train, riding in the mail car and sitting on a milk can. He arrived home on Christmas Day. Daughter of 1st Black Marine says it's 'unbelievable' to see 'my dad caught up in DEI' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Families of 42 freed hostages and more than 250 relatives of those still held in Gaza issued a letter on Friday demanding an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations, accusing officials of sacrificing captives to prolong the conflict. The letter, signed by freed hostages and families of the 59 remaining captives, called for a comprehensive deal that would secure their release in exchange for ending the fighting and establishing a post-war plan for Gaza. It alleged that military operations had endangered hostages, claiming that 41 had already died as a result of Israel's tactics. "The Israeli government chooses an endless war over rescuing and returning the hostages, thereby sacrificing them to their deaths. This is a criminal policy -- you have no mandate to sacrifice 59 hostages," the letter stated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has repeatedly maintained that military pressure is key to securing hostage returns, a position the families dismissed as "reckless" in the letter. More than 240 people were taken hostage during Hamas' October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 in Israel. The ensuing 17-month conflict has left over 48,000 dead in Gaza. Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after a ceasefire with Hamas that began on Jan. 19 unraveled. Israeli forces subsequently launched ground operations across southern, northern, and central Gaza. Gaza's Civil Defense said at least 11 people were killed in Friday's airstrikes, with the overall death toll from the renewed strikes potentially exceeding 600, in addition to more than 1,000 wounded. A day after tornadoes ripped through Gary, residents and officials alike are continuing to grapple with the devastation left behind. Friday morning marked a slow return to normalcy for many, as utility crews worked tirelessly to restore power and residents sifted through debris. Its tough to look at, but people are doing what they can, said Ken Patton, a Tolleston neighborhood resident. I was lucky, but these are my people, he said, pointing toward 21st Avenue, the hardest-hit area in Gary. Patton said his property wasnt damaged, but he was hurt and sad to see what happened to his neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were regular folks working to make it, he said. You never know how long it will take people to rebound. According to the National Weather Service, three separate tornadoes touched down in Gary during Wednesday nights storms. The Tolleston, Black Oak, and Emerson neighborhoods were hit particularly hard, with the most substantial damage reported in Tolleston. Streets that were once impassable are now mostly clear, as city workers and volunteers moved felled trees and broken limbs to the sides of the road. Utility poles that once blocked driveways or crashed onto homes have been cleared or restored to their original positions. NIPSCO reported Friday that power has been restored to approximately 98% of affected customers in Gary. Still, about 250 customers remain without electricity, with full restoration expected by 7 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday morning, NIPSCO workers were abundant, cranes lifted toward the sky as crews worked on power lines. Men stood on rooftops, hammering and replacing shingles. There have been no reports of missing persons or fatalities, and all residents are accounted for, said Deputy Fire Chief Mark Terry. The mayor of Hobart, Josh Huddleston, sent a public works team to assist Garys cleanup efforts, removing fallen trees and hauling away debris. It takes a village, Huddleston said in a Facebook post about efforts to assist Gary. At the newly renovated Monroe Center at 4101 Washington St., shelter workers were prepared to assist any residents impacted by the tornadoes. Shelter employee Kayla Gates recalled how she received a call Wednesday night and drove through inclement weather to open the shelter. When she arrived, families were already waiting, including a single mother with her four children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chalise Gains, the shelter manager, said staff remain ready to support anyone who needs help. Were here waiting to help, she said. The shelter, which operates from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., is staffed with a security guard and provides two meals, one when people arrive and another in the morning. The space has several bathrooms, showers, televisions, couches, and separate sleeping rooms for men, women, and women with children. It also has a laundry room where staff wash clothes for those staying overnight. The Calumet Township Trustees office also stepped up, providing emergency food assistance, cleanup kits, and temporary daytime shelter for affected residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents needing assistance with fallen trees are encouraged to call the city at (219) 881-1311, while those who want to report downed power lines should contact NIPSCO at (800) 464-7726. The city is urging residents to remain cautious as cleanup efforts continue. Moving forward, it will take time for the city to recover, Patton said. Everyone made it out with their life. Thats a good thing, he said, before pausing for a few seconds. Dont just pray for Gary. Help. See if people need water, clothes. Donate. Do something. The post Day After Tornadoes, Gary Residents Begin to Rebuild and Reflect appeared first on Capital B Gary. Mar. 21State Rep. Desiree Tims, D-Dayton, is behind a new bill that asks Ohio to pick up where the federal government left off in reimbursing the growing number of food stamp beneficiaries who fall victim to benefits theft. Her bill, House Bill 174, is essentially a state continuation of a short-lived federal program that reimbursed folks who were defrauded of their federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits before Congress let it expire in December 2024. In the final 18 months of that program, the federal government reimbursed SNAP beneficiaries in Ohio 34,742 times, totaling more than $17 million in relief, according to Ohio Job and Family Services spokesperson Tom Betti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under H.B. 174, those funds would come from the state, not the feds. "I think it's worth the investment to make sure people don't go hungry," said Tims in an interview with this news outlet. "Obviously, it's not a long-term solution, and we can't just pour money down the drain and allow people to get away with theft. However, in the meantime, our food banks are already overwhelmed, food prices are already high. And then on top of that, to have a vulnerable population of people who are supposed to have access to benefits being prevented from that because of criminal behavior and activity, it's unfair." The bill has not yet received a hearing in the Ohio House, but Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, told this outlet Monday: "overarching goal of it makes sense to me." "If someone's SNAP benefits are stolen, of course you have to ask why, who stole them, the criminal part of it has to be brought up," Huffman said. "But yeah, we want to make sure that people have the benefits that they need under that program." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem The federal program, and the one Tims and her joint sponsor Rep. Tristan Rader, D-Lakewood, would like to see, are the response to a nationwide proliferation of benefits theft, largely through card skimming. While most credit and debit cards have become more secure through chip technology, those advancements haven't come to Ohio's SNAP benefit cards. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, only California uses chip technology in their benefit cards, with Maryland and Oklahoma to "soon" follow. Ohio is not yet on that list. Tims told this outlet that the long-term solution to the problem in Ohio is "re-imagining what SNAP benefit cards look like" and expressed interest in getting the state to join the federal government's modernization efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the USDA, Ohio's contract with its SNAP benefit card provider ends in June 2025, with four two-year options to extend. In the meantime, the Ohio JFS is urging SNAP users to take advantage of security measures that already exist, like a benefits card locking feature. How would it work? Here's how H.B. 174 would work: First, it directs the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which administers SNAP benefits to some 1.4 million Ohioans each year, to "establish a program to replace supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for households that have had benefits," the bill reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohioans would then fill out an application attesting that they had no knowledge of "any transaction for which the household is applying for replacement benefits." Beneficiaries would be able to receive the amount of benefits stolen from the household, or up to two months of their household's monthly SNAP allotment, whichever value is lower. ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man was convicted this week for fatally shooting a man during a gender-reveal party four years ago. On March 20, 2021, the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) said then-18-year-old Nyjell Outler was at the gender-reveal party, hosted at a home on Madison Street NE. He interacted with different guests throughout the evening and stayed at the party for about half an hour. Then, just before 7:45 p.m., he stepped away and pulled an AK-style rifle known as a Draco out of his backpack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of people were inside the house and backyard while Outler approached the party with the gun. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DC murder suspect added to US Marshals 15 Most Wanted list One man, Daloni Williams, took a few steps toward him as if to say, put that away. Outler shot Williams twice in the legs from point-blank range. He then pivoted and pulled the trigger twice more at 21-year-old Demetris Johnson and another young man who were both trying to run away. Johnson was struck in the back and Outler fled. When the Metropolitan Police Department responded to the home, they found Johnson in the backyard, unconscious and not breathing. He died just before 8 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams spent nine days in the hospital after emergency surgery to save his leg, the USAO noted. At the time of the shooting, Outler was wearing a GPS monitor due to a previous arrest for possessing another AK-style Draco. About two hours after the shooting, he cut off the GPS and was on the run for nearly a year. The U.S. Marshal Service placed Outler on its Top 15 most wanted list and he was eventually arrested in Florida in February 2022. He was found guilty on March 18, 2025, of voluntary manslaughter while armed and aggravated assault while armed. His sentencing is scheduled for May 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Theres an exciting development in D.C. planned for East of the river. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the District selected Therme Groups proposal to bring a massive health and wellbeing complex to Poplar Point in Ward 8. Its expected to bring 5,000 temporary construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs. Leaders in Anacostia say its a big deal for the economy. You can experience art, culture, well-being and have incredible food all in one place, said Robert Hammond, President of Therme US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cherry blossoms reach stage 4, inching closer to peak bloom Thats the promise of Therme DC, developing 15 of the 110 acres at Poplar Point. Therme Group has locations across Europe and this is the first investment in the U.S. Its really like a state-of-the-art oasis, an urban oasis for people of all ages and all walks of life, Hammond said. The project is expected to bring in $27 million a year in tax revenue and two million visitors a year to Historic Anacostia. We envision a Poplar Point that creates jobs for residents and opportunities for businesses, and helps us draw visitors from around our region, our nation and the world, said Bowser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are energized by this and what it means for the future of Ward 8, said Kristina Noell, executive director of the Anacostia Business Improvement District. Noell said she visited the Therme facility in Bucharest, Romania and could imagine how an experience like that would serve her community. Therma DC will have an indoor water park with slides fit for adults and kids, multiple pools and swim-up bars, steam rooms and saunas. This is the kind of investment that I and the Anacostia BID have been working for years to bring to our community, Noell said. Are you earning enough to live comfortably in your city? Heres what it takes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site is expected to include a 70-acre riverfront park and trail system and 25 acres for mixed-use development. Hammond is excited to bring Therme to Anacostia. Everything that is happening there is already so fascinating and so exciting, so to be a part of that is a real honor, Hammond said. And that people have said that they want us to come there is really exciting for us. Its not a done deal just yet. The District is currently working to complete the federal transfer of Poplar Point from the National Park Service to the District. That process includes a land use plan and an environmental assessment to consider uses on the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Residents impacted by the Palisades and Eaton wildfires have until March 31 to decide how they will remove debris from their properties. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is urging all homeowners impacted by the Palisades Fire to opt into debris removal through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is free. Bass is also announcing a new emergency executive order to help expedite the rebuilding process and protect against future disasters. USACE says if homeowners have not enrolled in its option, or if they previously opted out of the program and have not begun removing debris, they can still sign up at recovery.lacounty.gov. Phase 2 cleanup is only about 3% complete, according to USACE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you opt into the USACEs debris removal program, the agencys contractors will remove 6 inches of soil, chimneys, burned vehicles and any other hazardous materials. Homeowners can hire their own contractor, but that can be expensive, and homeowners must assume all liability. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. This summer will mark 10 years since Donald Trump first descended the escalator at Trump Tower to announce his candidacy for president of the United States. Now, two months into his second term, its becoming painfully clear that many of the people best positioned to push back against his agenda still haven't accepted how much the world has changed. The latest example came from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer in "Mad House," an upcoming book from Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater of The New York Times, which revealed a 2023 exchange in which he said Trump was an aberration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres my hope after this election, when the Republican Party expels the turd of Donald Trump, it will go back to being the old Republican Party," he said, according to the book. There are a lot of things wrong with this quote other than its needlessly vivid imagery. I remember the old Republican Party well. I was its chairman in 2009 shortly after the transformative victory of President Barack Obama and Democratic dominance in both chambers of Congress. The late Sen. John McCain had been the partys nominee in 2008 and then-Gov. Mitt Romney would be its nominee in the next cycle. These former figureheads of the party are now considered by Trumps acolytes as RINOs, Republicans in Name Only. MAGA Republicans fantasize about McCain roasting in hell. Conservative heavy-hitters like Matt Schlapp say Romneys physical safety would be jeopardized if he so much as attended the Conservative Political Action Conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "old" Republican Party is gone. It sold its soul to Trump in return for two presidencies and three Supreme Court seats. One by one, the Republicans who stood up to Trump in the beginning have either left politics or capitulated, often in humiliating fashion. After Trump insulted his wifes appearance and lied about his father during the 2016 presidential primary, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz could have continued calling Trump out as a sniveling coward. Instead, he became one of his sniveling supporters. When Trump dragged him into a stomach-turning exchange about genital size on a national debate stage, then-Sen. Marco Rubio could have insisted to Republican voters that their rhetoric had to rise above Trumps brazen behavior. Instead, he now serves as Trumps Secretary of State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of this is careerism. Trump has shown that he can turn the Republican base against even the most stalwart conservatives, which leaves those who want to remain in elected office with a choice: debase themselves to gain power or stick to their principles and be cast aside like Romney and McCain. But the truth is Republicans capitulate even when it's not necessary. Far too many of todays Republicans are unwilling to call out Trump's seedy dealings with Russia, heed warnings about the perils of relying too heavily on tariffs or stand with law enforcement over pro-Trump extremists all positions that are unpopular with broad swaths of voters. Another reason the Republican Party I once led is never seeing a revival? Republican voters dont want to revive it. In fact, MAGA officials repeatedly race to outdo each others depravity because they know todays Republican voters will reward them for it. South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, who once envisioned a Republican Party that carved out space for LGBTQ+ rights, now fundraises on a bizarre obsession with trans peoples bathroom habits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Far-right Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once considered a fringe conspiracy theorist by people with multiple brain cells, is now one of the party's leading political figures and the top congressional fundraiser in her state. Even Trumps most unhinged Cabinet picks were awarded confirmations not despite their lack of experience or support for conspiracy theories, but because of them. And theres Trump, whose criminal indictments and even convictions became a cause celebre and his highest fundraising days of the 2024 campaign. The old Republican Party is not coming back. Those bridges have been burned by Republicans. The sooner Schumer and those Republicans interested in the re-emergence of traditional republicanism understand this reality, the sooner we move on from Trumpism. But sitting back and waiting for the GOP to "expel" Trump won't change a thing. For more thought-provoking insights from Michael Steele, Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend, watch The Weekend every Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. ET on MSNBC. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com (NewsNation) The remaining classified files on the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy were released Tuesday evening on the National Archives website. It, however, remains unclear which documents are new and which ones have been released unredacted. The long-awaited release has so far yielded little new information. Despite hopes that the files might contain groundbreaking details, early reviews suggest much of the material has been previously available in some form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more from Ross Coulthart on the JFK assassination and other stories the media is supposedly not meant to tell, watch his series, Reality Check, on YouTube now. President Donald Trump said Friday that individuals will be able to make their own determination as to who killed JFK. JFK assassination files released I dont think theres anything thats earth-shattering, said Trump. But youll have to make that determination. So far, there hasnt been any smoking gun that would validate decades-old conspiracies about the assassination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. More than 305 million people require lifesaving humanitarian aid today. Most of them live in areas wracked by conflict, such as Sudan, Gaza, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By many estimates, there is more need than ever for this assistance and the need is growing. But humanitarian funding, which is primarily provided by governments, is declining. The Trump administration stopped disbursing nearly all U.S. humanitarian aid on Jan. 20, 2025. It made these cuts at a time when the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Belgium and other wealthy countries are slashing their own aid spending. Judges have ruled that the U.S. government must rehire aid workers and make overdue payments for aid already delivered by nongovernmental organizations, international agencies and private contractors. While legal disputes wend through the courts, these cuts are already having disastrous consequences for people in Afghanistan, Sudan and other places facing crises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As scholars who study humanitarian aid, we are seeing not just a crisis of funding but also one that jeopardizes the credibility of the entire global system that provides this lifesaving assistance. When conflict breaks out or a disaster like an earthquake strikes, people require emergency medical care, temporary shelter, food and water. In countries where the government is unable or unwilling to provide these services, humanitarian organizations and international agencies step in to fill the gaps. Humanitarian aid is based on empathy and the recognition that everyone has a right to live with dignity. When discussing the impacts of its aid freeze and challenging the Trump administrations misinformation about the U.S. Agency for International Development, many NGOs and experts on humanitarian assistance have not focused on empathy and rights. They have in their defense of the agency responsible until now for most of the foreign aid the U.S. provides instead relied on arguments that appeal to U.S. national security, soft power and economic interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Chris Coons, a Connecticut Democrat, has warned that China will benefit from the U.S. aid cutoff. Our biggest global competitor and adversary is delighted that weve handed them an opportunity to say to communities and countries around the world that we are not a reliable partner, Coons said. By highlighting geopolitical, security and economic arguments for humanitarian aid, in our view, they risk further hurting the sectors legitimacy. Protesters rally in support of USAID in Washington on Feb. 5, 2025. Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images A seismic shock Tom Fletcher, who leads the United Nations humanitarian efforts, has called the Trump administrations aid reduction a seismic shock to the sector. But the latest cuts are part of a longer-term trend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While needs have increased, humanitarian funding has been flat or declining for years, leaving millions of people who need food, health care, shelter and protection without the assistance they need. Every year, the U.N. assesses humanitarian need for the coming year and issues what amounts to a global budget request to meet those needs. Government donors commit funds toward that budget request, and those funds are then distributed to U.N. agencies and NGOs that implement humanitarian programming. Since 2016, the gap between funding requirements and funding commitments has grown. In 2024, the U.N. requested US$49.5 billion in humanitarian funding and received less than half, or $23.9 billion, with the U.S. contributing 41% of that amount. Until January 2025, the U.S. accounted for 35%-46% of total annual global humanitarian funding. The abrupt cutoff of funds has led to a scramble to pay for food for malnourished children in Sudan, health care for refugees from Myanmar, and maternal health services in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without U.S. funding, the humanitarian work of the United Nations agencies and NGOs that deliver humanitarian aid in part funded by governments is in jeopardy. Because of the cuts, Catholic Relief Services and the International Rescue Committee, for example, have laid off staff and shuttered health clinics that prevent or treat infectious diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS. They can no longer provide access to clean water and sanitation services or other lifesaving aid in many places where they work. Core principles violated Humanitarian groups have historically embraced a set of core principles that emphasize the alleviation of human suffering wherever it may occur while remaining independent, neutral and impartial. In conflict zones, these principles are essential for gaining access to people who need help. Aid workers build trust and acceptance by not picking sides in a conflict and providing aid based on need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Focusing on what benefits donor countries instead of what serves humanitarian needs in areas experiencing famine, disasters or conflicts is at odds with these principles. However, in January, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that U.S. interests would decide how aid is allocated. Every dollar we spend, every program we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions, Rubio said. Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous? Since late January, the Trump administration has cut 83% of USAIDs programs, according to recent reports. Transactional arguments In March, the State Department sent a questionnaire to nongovernmental organizations and U.N. agencies asking how they will conform to President Donald Trumps America First policy and distribute aid in alignment with foreign policy goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governments always consider their own interests as one factor when making decisions about humanitarian aid. But, we are concerned that humanitarian organizations and the public are not pushing back on these purely transactional arguments. Instead, some organizations seem to be falling in line. This investment pays dividends by preventing humanitarian crises, containing disease outbreaks, and countering adversarial influence in vulnerable regions, stated InterAction, an association of U.S.-based NGOs that distribute humanitarian aid and development assistance. Thats why foreign aid has maintained decades of support across party lines it is vital for U.S. security and international stability. We also see in these comments signs that justifications for aid are changing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When former Secretary of State Colin Powell called nongovernmental organizations a force multiplier in 2001, it stirred controversy because he suggested that they were an extension of the government and a pillar of U.S. strategy. Even still, he acknowledged that NGOs required independence from government to do their essential work. An important choice Humanitarian organizations are grappling with the financial and operational consequences of their reliance on a small number of donor governments that have cut off or cut back aid. As they adjust to the new reality, we believe that they must make a choice. They can embrace the increasingly transactional agendas of the rich countries that have historically provided most humanitarian aid funding. Doing so may increase aid flows but compromise humanitarian neutrality and impartiality potentially restricting their access to the places they need to go to do their work. Or they can focus on people affected by crises as recipients of assistance and as agents of change. This option would likely mean operating on an even smaller budget at a time when needs are increasing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either way, the decisions made today will have significant implications for the future of humanitarian action. The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. On the streets of New York City, tens of thousands of delivery workers are constantly shuttling everything from take-out dinners to groceries. Most of the workers plying this trade are immigrants, and a substantial portionno one knows exactly how manyare undocumented. These days, with President Trump imposing harsher immigration policies and ICE launching raids, those workers are afraid. There are a lot of people who are scared, said Gustavo Ajche, a longtime delivery worker. But there is no choice. They need moneythey have to work. Trumps reascension to the Oval Office has added an anxiety-inducing layer of labor to what was already a difficult job. Delivery drivers have little choice but to help watch each others backs. They are warning one another about where ICE agents have been spotted while scanning the news for the latest information about government raids. Advocates are out trying to bring these workers up to speed about their rights. But resources are tight. The thing that would help the most, access to immigration lawyers, is in short supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the greatest frustration may be that while these workers keep doing the actual delivering for the billion-dollar delivery companies, those companieslike Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhubare offering them no immigration help. Unlike the early months of Trumps first term, when these companies lined up to proclaim the importance of immigrants and promise legal help for their immigrant workers, the companies have been silent on civil rights this time aroundthough some have spoken a different way, through big donations to support Trump. In November, Uber gave $1 million to Trumps inaugural committee, contributing to a no-limits fund that paid for inaugural festivities. The funds leftover cash can be used for other things, possibly a Trump presidential library. Ubers CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, kicked in another $1 million. Instacart, another major delivery company that largely relies on immigrant workers, gave $100,000 to the Trump inaugural fund. The companies did not respond to questions about why they made the donations. Workers for these firms say those large gifts were disappointingbut no surprise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont care about workers, Ajche said of the app companies. They dont care about anything. They just focus on making money, and thats it. Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the advocacy group the Workers Justice Project, said the gifts to Trump were part of a long pattern. I wasnt surprised to see the companies aligned themselves with a president who has, since day one, been clear that hes not representing working-class Americans, she said. They point to more than just the donations to the president as evidence of the companies attitude toward immigrant workers. Despite the rising fear of deportations, none of the major delivery app companiesincluding Uber, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Instacartare offering any kind of help to their delivery workers. The companies silence this year is a big departure from the first months of Trumps first term. At the time, many of these firms made conspicuous public pronouncements about their concern for immigrants. They promised to protect their workforce, and they backed those pledges with capital. Uber put out a statement in January 2017 deriding Trumps unjust immigration ban and announced it would create a $3 million legal defense fund to help drivers with immigration and translation services. Instacarts CEO, Apoorva Mehta, announced a $100,000 donation to the ACLU and said the company would pay for office hours with immigration counsels for employees and their families in need. On January 29, 2017, DoorDashs CEO said the company would give free food to any lawyers or advocates working this weekend to support immigrants, refugees. None of the companies have made similar public announcements or monetary commitments at the start of Trumps second term. (Uber, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Instacart did not respond to The New Republics questions about their support for immigrant workers or about criticisms from workers like Ajche.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even those 2017 promises were little more than P.R. stunts, according to the workers advocates. They were part of a pattern of donations aimed at buying goodwill in the companies fight against efforts to strengthen workers rights, according to Guallpa. If the companies wanted to really help workers, she said, they would take their donation money and put it back into the pockets of workers. The workers say they are under no illusions: The delivery companies are not going to help, and immigrants who fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement are on their own. In response, they are banding together. Manny Ramirez, an experienced delivery worker and advocate, said workers are in large WhatsApp groups where they warn one another about ICE sightings. People try to avoid areas with ICE or hide out for a day at home, choosing to lose that days wages rather than risk deportation, he said. And community leaders like Ramirez and Ajche are doing whatever they can to help others understand their rights. Ajche, who helped found the advocacy group Los Deliveristas Unidos, said he wants workers to know that there is an organization that is supporting them, that is fighting for them. We just have to keep moving forward. Were not going to be scared. Against some tough odds, the workers can point to limited wins against the delivery companies. Last month, DoorDash agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general that claimed the company deceptively used tips from customers to reduce its own payments to delivery workersif DoorDash promised a worker $10 for a delivery and the customer provided no tip, DoorDash would pay the full $10 to the worker, but if the customer provided a $3 tip, DoorDash would only pay $7, according to the attorney general. As part of the settlement, DoorDash will pay more than $16 million in restitution to the workers. While this victory doesnt directly address the new stresses of Trumps deportation plans, it demonstrated to workers that the companies are not invincible. Guallpa said the settlement was a key example of standing up to greedy bullies who are attempting to exploit workers. More organizing is needed, she said, to fight back against the oligarchy and corporate power. But the workers fight to protect themselves from the government and the delivery companies can feel like a lonely one. The city said thank you to the immigrant delivery workers for working during the pandemic, Ramirez said, but now it feels like the companies, and the city too, everyone is against the immigrant people. BAGHDAD, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Four extremist Islamic State (IS) militants were arrested in Iraq's Sulaymaniyah and Salahuddin provinces, Iraqi security authorities said on Friday. Iraqi security forces arrested two IS terrorists in a village in eastern Salahuddin province, and they were handed over to relevant authorities, the Iraqi interior ministry said in a statement. In a separate statement, the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) announced that it arrested 2 IS militants, one in Salahuddin province and the other in Sulaymaniyah province in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. The CTS also reported the detonation and destruction of four IS hideouts, a tunnel, and a cave in separate operations. While Iraq declared victory over the IS in 2017, remnants of the terrorist group continue to carry out attacks against security forces and civilians in urban areas, deserts and remote regions. A screenshot provided by the House Majority Forward of the ad against Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska. (Courtesy of House Majority Forward) LINCOLN A Democratic-aligned billboard ad campaign against U.S. Rep. Don Bacon in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District will stay up despite national Republicans threatening legal action against at least one of the ads vendors. The targeted anti-Bacon billboards from House Majority Forward are part of a larger campaign by the DNC and Democratic-aligned groups to soften six vulnerable House Republicans across the country. The ads emphasize billionaire Elon Musk and his U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) teams efforts to cut federal programs and end some federal agencies. Billionaire Elon Musk, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, arrives to meet with Senate Republicans at the Capitol on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) The National Republican Congressional Committee, or NRCC, tried and, in some cases, succeeded at removing some of the ad blitz. The groups leaders said in a news release that Democrats were just ordered to take down billboards they launched falsely accusing Don Bacon of voting to cut Medicaid and giving billionaires like [Elon Musk] tax cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NRCC release referred to the House Majority Forward billboard ad buy. It linked to a Washington Examiner article headlined Democrats dealt messaging blow after NRCC defamation threat forces Medicaid billboards to come down. The article specified that the NRCC had sent cease and desist letters threatening legal action if the ads werent taken down. But when the Nebraska Examiner reached out to House Majority Forward, a group tied to the ads focused on Democratic efforts to retake the House, a spokesperson said its anti-Bacon ads are still up and running. Budget and spending fight The House Majority Forward ad says, Don Bacon voted to cut Medicaid to give Billionaires like his tax cuts, with an arrow pointing to Elon Musk. The ad refers to a non-partisan federal budget office, saying earlier this month that GOP-proposed budget cuts cant happen without cutting Medicare or Medicaid. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., discusses the difficulty of running in a mixed district in the 2nd Congressional District. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) The Nebraska House Republican voted yes for the proposed GOP budget that would expand the 2017 Trump tax cuts and cut $2 trillion in spending. Bacon and other House Republicans claim the cuts can happen without touching Medicaid and other social programs, which, though possible, would be challenging to pull off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Bacon and the rest of the Nebraska federal delegation also voted for a continuing resolution to keep the federal government from shutting down. The stopgap bill reduced overall spending compared to last years totals, increased military funding by approximately $6 billion, decreased non-defense spending, and will fund the government until September. Bacon has said he pushed to protect military spending in that bill and took criticism for Medicaid cuts. The Washington Examiner originally reported that all six ads were pulled, but a House Majority Forward spokesperson said the billboards criticizing Bacon and Rep. Gabe Evans, R-CO, are still up, because they are under a different vendor. He said, she said An NRCC spokesperson said that if and when they find out who the different vendor is, they will get them taken down in a second. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addresses a lunch-hour crowd at Big Mamas Kitchen in North Omaha supporting State Sen. Tony Vargas over U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) These dishonest billboards are another attempt to distract Nebraskans from the truth, said Zach Bannon, an NRCC spokesman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nebraska Examiner obtained the same cease and desist letter as the Washington Examiner, which shows the NRCC telling the ad vendor, If you proceed with displaying the false message that these six Members of Congress voted to CUT MEDICAID, you will be liable for the defamatory messages spread to voters in each district. The Examiner also obtained the response from the vendor, Lamar Advertising Company, complying with the request to take down the billboards. Lamars National Sales Campaign Specialist has confirmed that the copy is no longer running, the vendor letter reads. While your letter came to Mario Martinezs attention, Mr. Martinez was not involved in the Advertisers campaign. Notwithstanding, Mr. Martinezis available to assist the NRCC with counter messages or future campaigns. House Majority Forward officials said the NRCC used dirty tricks and claimed the Lamar vendor has ties to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our BIG, BEAUTIFUL billboards on Gabe Evans and Don Bacon, who voted to cut Medicaid, are still up in CO-08 and NE-02, said Katarina Flicker, a House Majority Forward spokesperson, in a statement. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Bacons seat as a Republican toss-up. He has won the slightly right-leaning 2nd District five times despite its recent blue tilt in presidential races. Bacon recently tweeted about being the most efficient House representative. This is [a] fear-mongering campaign and a dishonest one, Bacon said on X, responding to the original Washington Examiner reporting about some campaign ads being taken down. 3.19.25 NRCC Letter LAMAR SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A week after breaking with most Congressional Democrats to pass President Donald Trump's budget, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is ready to acknowledge that has pushed the country into a constitutional crisis. In a 90-second clip teasing a full interview with NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, the Democratic senator from New York told host Kristen Welker that the president was a lawless, angry man. He thinks he should be king. He thinks he should do whatever he wants, regardless of the law, and he thinks judges should just listen to him, he added. We have to fight that back in every single way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumers comments come amid calls from many within the Democratic Party to remove him from leadership. The long-time power player in the party was one of scant few Dems who broke with the party to push through a Republican budget and avoid a government shutdown. The fifth-term Senator canceled a book tour slated to begin earlier this week after demonstrators gathered outside his Brooklyn home to rally against his vote. One demonstrator told Salon last week that Schumers vote was a sign the minority leader was capitulating to fascism. Still, Schumer drew at least one red line in terms of Democratic cooperation with Trump. Discussing the presidents recent push to impeach federal judges whove blocked portions of his second-term agenda, Schumer promised no compromise. Democrats in the Senate will not impeach judges. Full stop, he said. We have to watch him like a hawk. Defying court orders is why our democracy is at risk and well have to do everything to fight back in that regard. Republicans are not the only lawmakers facing confrontational town halls over the congressional recess. Democratic lawmakers are increasingly facing the ire of the partys liberal base over their response to the Trump administration. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) clashed with pro-Palestinian attendees at a town hall Wednesday, leading police to shut down the forum. That followed Rep. Glenn Iveys (D-Md.) town hall Tuesday, where he faced criticism for being too calm in the face of the Trump administration. And in California, Democratic Rep. Gil Cisneros faced constituents angry about Social Security, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, potential cuts to Medicaid and fired federal workers. I wish youd be angry, one woman said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its not just House Democrats in safe districts taking heat from liberal constituents. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) responded to frustrated constituents at a town hall Wednesday by saying that her job is to be more than just an activist and that yelling from progressives has not stopped President Trump. The raucous events come as Democrats have sought to use town halls to target GOP lawmakers in their own districts. The town halls have Republicans and Democrats on edge, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are put on the defensive on home turf. If youre home, my town halls look like a Republican town hall. Im not taking it personally. People are scared. They want to see us do something, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) told CBS Newss Face the Nation over the weekend. The confrontations also come as Democrats continue to struggle to find their footing during the second Trump administration. And recent polling paints a dismal picture of the state of the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An NBC News poll released Sunday found that only 27 percent of voters said they had a positive view of the Democratic Party, while 55 percent of voters said they have a negative view of it. Additionally, 20 percent of Democrats in the poll said they had a negative view of the party. A separate CNN poll also released Sunday had similar findings, showing the party with a record-low 29 percent favorability rating. Fifty-two percent of Democratic-aligned adults said the leadership of the Democratic Party is currently taking the party in the wrong direction, compared to 48 percent who said the partys leaders were taking them in the right direction. This weeks town halls appeared to be a manifestation of that data. [Democratic leadership] neglects to see the army of pitchforks behind them ready to fight back if theyre willing to take action, said Sawyer Hackett, a progressive Democratic strategist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, what were seeing is those pitchforks arent necessarily on our side, he continued. Their anger is pointed at Democratic lawmakers. There is growing frustration from Democrats across the ideological spectrum over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with nine other Senate Democrats, helping Republicans advance a House GOP-drafted government funding resolution. Liberals had hoped the Democrats would use the Senate filibuster to block the bill. Weve had one source of leverage to push back on these people and do everything we can to grind the gears of government to a halt to fight back, and we didnt use it, Hackett said. Even Democrats who voted against the resolution in their respective chambers, like Ivey and Slotkin, have faced tough questions over the future of their party at town halls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting the right way is literally the least you can do, said Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. The expectation is that Democratic elected officials proactively do things to show that they get that were in an existential fight for the future of America. Anybody on the inside who does not understand that their role in this moment in time is to be an organizer in addition to a policymaker, is failing to meet the moment. Thats an absolute fact, Green said. One attendee at Iveys town hall Tuesday told the congressman that his constituents want him to show fight, and you are not fighting. Its not that youre in the minority, its that youre not even working on a shared strategy, and that is failure, the attendee shouted, garnering applause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message you should clearly take to your colleagues from your constituents is this: We are not interested in hearing that youre in the minority. We know that. We want you to show some of the backbone and strategic brilliance that Mitch McConnell would have in the minority, the attendee said. Progressives say Democratic officials and lawmakers need to take Trump and Musk head on, not just through votes. I wish more Democratic lawmakers would call for boycotts of Musks products, Hackett said. I wish more Democratic lawmakers would pressure their Democratic states to cut contracts with SpaceX, to cut contracts with Starlink, to cut contracts with Tesla charging stations. Democratic leadership seems to think that they can just lay low and point at Republicans until the midterms, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright noted Democrats are fighting with alligator arms tied behind their back in this case, but said the key battle will be at the ballot box in 2026. Weve got to keep our eye on the bigger prize, and thats winning elections, because thats how we change the tone, he said. But it doesnt mean that leaders in our party get a free pass on making bad political decisions. Republican lawmakers are also grappling with viral videos emerging from heated town halls. Republicans have blamed the interruptions on Democratic agitators, and earlier this month House GOP leadership urged members to hold virtual events or telephone town halls as opposed to in-person events. Democrats have used the opportunity to put their Republican counterparts on defense by traveling to GOP districts to hold town halls. What we are seeing in town halls across the country is a rejection of the failed Republican agenda, and its why vulnerable House Republicans are hiding from their constituents. They know they are witnessing the beginning of the end of their majority, said Viet Shelton, a spokesperson at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Progressives say there are Democratic lawmakers who are taking a step in the right direction. A number of Democratic senators have gone on the offense this week, holding town halls in GOP House districts within their respective states. If one is reading tea leaves, the willingness of Democratic senators to go to House Republican districts within their state and step on toes to fight for the future of America, is hopefully a good signal of backbone to come, Green said. Progressive figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are taking matters into their own hands, hitting the road on their Fighting Oligarchy tour. Sanders told The New York Times on Thursday that a goal of the tour is to encourage more people to run as independents outside of the Democratic Party. At the Las Vegas stop of the tour Thursday with Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Ocasio-Cortez told attendees to look at every level office around and support brawlers who fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because those are the ones who can actually win against Republicans. Lets be real about that, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Democrats need a fix, but what is it? (NewsNation) Political commentator Buck Sexton and former Ohio state lawmaker Nina Turner, a Democrat, are from opposite ends of the political spectrum, but they find some common ground discussing potential strategies for struggling Democrats. They join On Balance to share their views. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Democrats in the state legislature are pushing for more transparency from ride hailing companies like Uber and Lyft. Thousands attend March for Life rally in Hartford The idea means that when you order a car or a meal from one of these apps, the driver and customer would get to see how much the customer is paying, and how much of that money is going to them. The driving idea is to make it as crystal clear as possible, when youre working for one of these companies whether its Uber, Lyft or another company what your compensation is going to be like, State Sen. Jorge Cabrera (D) of the Labor Committee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is one part of a larger push at the Capitol to give drivers more rights as more and more people use driving as a side gig to make extra money with high costs of living, Cabrera said. Republicans have pushed back hard on the pay transparency measure. They argue that these issues should be settled between the companies and the drivers. It is government putting its thumb on the scale, State Rep. Joe Canino (R) Labor Committee said. And while transparency is a great cause, this is not the role of state government. Not only do Republicans see this as government tipping the scales, they also see it as a backdoor way to grow the ranks of labor unions, who are big backers of Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is being done for one reason and one reason only, and that is for the state government not only to encourage the unionization of these employees, but to actually collectively bargain on behalf of these employees, Canino said. Watch the full video in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark said on Thursday it has begun advising transgender people to contact the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen before visiting the United States, amid concerns that President Donald Trump's gender polices could cause problems with their travel documents. The announcement came a week after Finland issued a similar warning in the wake of Trump's executive order that the United States will recognise only two unchangeable sexes - male and female. The Danish foreign ministry did not refer directly to Trump's order but said the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization application form only has two genders to choose from, male or female, and this could cause complications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If your passport has the gender designation X or you have changed gender, it is recommended to contact the U.S. embassy prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed," the updated Danish travel advisory page read on Friday. Under Danish law, citizens can apply to have their gender designated as X in their passport if the application "is based on an experience of belonging to the other gender, that the person concerned is intersex, does not identify as either male or female". A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen said on Friday that visa applicants with an X marker in their passport would receive a visa that reflected the applicants' biological sex at birth. The spokesperson referred to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for information regarding foreign nationals entering the United States without a visa, such as through the Visa Waiver Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finland updated its advice page on March 14 to warn travellers: "If the applicant's current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry". Trump's order, issued on his first day in office, requires the U.S. government to use the term "sex" rather than "gender", and mandates that identification documents, including passports and visas, be based on what it described as "an individuals immutable biological classification as either male or female". A spokesperson for the Danish foreign ministry said no Danish citizens had been refused entry to the U.S. or detained since Trump took office. Germany this week updated its travel advisory for the United States to emphasise that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry for its citizens after several Germans were recently detained at the border. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen, additional reporting by Essi Lehto and Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik, Andrew Heavens and Diane Craft) Denmark is advising its transgender and nonbinary citizens to proceed with caution when traveling to the U.S., according to a new advisory. An update made Thursday to the Danish foreign ministrys webpage on travel to the U.S. recommends trans people contact the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen before visiting the country, which under the new Trump administration has enacted several policies targeting transgender rights. The advisory does not explicitly mention President Trump or his administration but comes as the State Department suspended a policy allowing trans, nonbinary and intersex Americans to update the sex designations on their passports, causing confusion and concern among travelers over whether it is safe for them to fly. The department previously allowed U.S. passport holders to self-select their sex designations, including an unspecified gender marker denoted by the letter X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven trans and nonbinary Americans are challenging the new policy, which stems from a Jan. 20 executive order declaring the U.S. recognizes only two sexes male and female in federal court. If your passport has the gender designation X or you have changed gender, it is recommended to contact the U.S. embassy prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed, reads the advisory from the Danish foreign ministry. The addition comes one week after Finland issued a similar advisory for transgender residents seeking visas to the U.S. If the gender listed on the applicants passport does not match the gender assigned at birth, the US authorities may deny the application for a travel permit or visa, Finlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, citing Trumps executive order. Please check the entry requirements with the US authorities in advance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, recently issued travel advisories to the U.S. after reports of citizens being detained at the border. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ANKARA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday "strongly" condemned Israel's attack on the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in central Gaza. "The deliberate targeting of a hospital providing healthcare services to civilians in Gaza constitutes part of Israel's policy aimed at rendering Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displacing the Palestinian people," the ministry said in a statement. It urged the international community to take concrete and deterrent measures against Israel's "unlawful attacks and systematic state terrorism." "All those responsible for the ongoing genocide in Palestine, including (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu himself, will, sooner or later, be held accountable under international law," it said. Israeli forces targeted the hospital on Thursday, which had already ceased operations due to fuel shortages and previous strikes. The Israeli military claimed that the site was being used by Hamas as a command and control center to direct attacks against Israeli forces and targets. The incident came as Israel resumed strikes in Gaza starting Tuesday after its ceasefire deal with Hamas that began on Jan. 19 unraveled. Israeli troops later launched ground operations in southern, northern, and central Gaza. DENVER (KDVR) Spring officially arrived Thursday with the vernal equinox, and right on cue warmer, more springlike weather is moving into Denvers weather forecast. Weather tonight: Cloudy, seasonal Thursday night will stay mainly cloudy with a westerly breeze gusting up to 25 mph. Temperatures will drop to the upper 20s, which is right in line with normal for this time of year. FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar Weather tomorrow: Mainly sunny, seasonal Sunshine returns Friday. Temperatures will climb to the upper 50s, which is right in line with our seasonal average. Looking ahead: Mountain snow, much warmer next week Snow will move into the high country Friday into Saturday, with most of the snow falling Friday evening into Saturday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accumulating snowfall plus wind gusts up to 60 mph will make travel very difficult. Because of this, a winter weather advisory is in place from midnight Friday night through Midnight Saturday night. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team Warmer and breezy conditions move into for the start of the weekend. Sunshine and a westerly breeze gusting over 35 mph at times will aid in boosting high temperatures Saturday to the mid 60s. Temperatures will drop slightly on Sunday, but comfortably still climb toward 60 degrees. Sunshine and a warming trend moves in for the upcoming workweek. By Thursday, Denver could tie a record high of 78 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Democrats are speaking out about President Trumps executive order calling for the dismantling of the Department of Education. Harrison Fields, the Trump administrations principal deputy press secretary, speaks about the order on The Hill. Weve had a Department of Education since 1979 and since then, what has it done for the individual education of Americas students? Fields asks. He believes President Trump will successfully close the agency before the end of his second term. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. President Donald Trump waves before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AUSTIN (KXAN) On Thursday, President Donald Trump ushered in the end of the Department of Education. Following an executive order, Education Secretary Linda McMahon was ordered to dismantle DOE. The long-term impacts of this decision have yet to be felt, but experts say it could be a good thing for students studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Theres going to be more experimentation on approaches of how to get students ahead, and those approaches are going to be shared out very fast to a lot of these other states, said Nhon Ma, CEO of Numerade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerade is a website and app that offers students help with homework using videos and AI tutors. The company highlights a focus on STEM textbooks on its website. Over the past 30, 40 years, the budget within the DOE has gone from 14 billion to then 90 billion, most recently, at the same time, your scores for math, science and reading are at all-time lows, Ma said. Mah pointed toward improved test scores in Alabama. Experimentation in DeKalb County saw improvements post-pandemic after several teachers altered the way they taught the subject. Supporting these kinds of actions requires funding. This is where I think one of the biggest worries are with the elimination of the Department of Education, especially for Title One schools and rural communities or even urban communities, Ma said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mah said teacher training might see a decline as a result of the DOE dismantling. Ensuring that Title One schools, those located in lower economic areas, see funds will be on state and local leaders. We need to manage these districts, school systems, classes by how many students are actually hitting these objectives and those who are not, lets make sure that they actually get what they need. Everything comes back to accountability, Ma 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. TECUMSEH, Okla, (KFOR) The Pottawatomie County Sheriff says detectives with his office are investigating after a landowner found human remains on their property south of Tecumseh Thursday evening. Pottawatomie County Sheriff Freeland Wood told News 4 the owner of a property, located on Tucker Road just east of US-177, called 911 Thursday evening after finding what appeared to be decomposed parts of a human body in one of their pastures. Wood said deputies arrived at the property around 6 p.m. Thursday and quickly determined the remains belonged to a human. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said its unclear how old the remains are, how long the remains have been on the property, or any other characteristics about them including the age or gender of the person they belonged to. Wood said investigators expect to learn more once the medical examiners office looks at the remains. Human remains found on property near south of Tecumseh. (KFOR) Deputies flying drown over the area where human remains were found. (KFOR) Deputies flew a drone over the property and continued searching on foot until sunset Thursday. Wood said they were looking to see if they could find more remains or parts of remains. He said deputies would return to the property on Friday morning to continue searching. Sheriff Wood said, as of Thursday evening, his office was not considering the investigation criminal, and is waiting to learn more details before determining whether foul play was involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said investigators have no evidence to suggest there is any ongoing danger to the surrounding community. Wood said if anyone in the area has information about the history of the specific property, or people they have seen on or near it recently, to please give the Pottawatomie County Sheriffs Office a call. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The family of a man shot to death by a Kern County sheriffs deputy was awarded $30.5 million by a federal jury Wednesday in one of California's largest police shooting payouts. Unarmed Mickel Lewis Sr. died after being shot five times by Deputy Jason Ayala on Oct. 2, 2020. His family said that, after he was pulled over in an "unwarranted" stop, he was shot in the back and died in the street. Lewis family filed a civil complaint against Ayala, Kern County and several unnamed defendants in the Eastern District of California. They claimed excessive force and unreasonable force, battery, negligence and a violation of the Civil Rights Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury agreed with the claims, awarding $5 million for loss of life, $1 million for Lewis pre-death pain and suffering and $24.5 million in wrongful death damages to Lewis children. Civil rights attorney Toni Jaramilla, who represented Lewis Sr.s family, said she believed it was the second-highest jury verdict award in a police shooting case in the state. The lead attorney in the case was Dale Galipo. Read more: Kern County immigration raid offers glimpse into new reality for California farmworkers It is the largest verdict in Fresno for a police shooting case, she said in a statement. The 39-year-old Lewis Sr. was pulled over in an unwarranted vehicle stop, according to the complaint, and then shot in the back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayala was alleged to have provided no emergency medical care and attention before Lewis died on the street, according to the complaint. An after-hours call to the Kern County Sheriffs Office for comment was not returned. The complaint also alleges intimidation and harassment by multiple deputies, who congregated near a memorial for Lewis Sr. and surveilled his family as they gathered. Read more: Mayor and LAPD chief tout data that show homicides and shootings on the decline Sheriff's officials have said that Ayala knew that Lewis, who had multiple previous convictions, was on probation and believed he was possibly in possession of a gun when he stopped him, according to reporting by KGET 17 in Bakersfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants argued at trial, according to Jaramilla, that Lewis reached under the seat of his vehicle for a gun and threatened to kill Ayala. They said he concealed his right hand behind his back, and was facing Ayala during all of the shots. Jaramilla said Ayalas testimony was countered by witnesses, physical and forensic evidence and the trajectory of the gunshots. A November 2020 review by the Sheriff's Office of Ayala's use of force in the incident was found to be "within departmental policy." The trial lasted five days and the jury deliberated for about 4 hours, according to Jaramilla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are grateful this Fresno jury showed reverence for the life of Mickel Lewis Sr., a 39-year-old unarmed African American father who was shot five times, twice in the back, by a deputy sheriff who refused to account for his use of deadly force, and a Kern Sheriff Department that defended the indefensible, co-trial counsel J. Bernard Alexander said after the verdict. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. DES MOINES, Iowa A man has been jailed after police say he shot at a Lyft driver Thursday night in the Good Park neighborhood. JaeQwan Hutchinson JaeQwan Hutchinson, 20, is being held in the Polk County Jail on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, criminal mischief, and possession of a controlled substance-marijuana. Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for the Des Moines Police Department, said officers responded to the 1900 block of Carpenter Avenue around 11:45 p.m. after a Lyft driver reported being shot at when they went to pick up someone requesting a ride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Des Moines police investigating officer-involved shooting on citys south side The victim told police they were responding to a ride request in the 1100 block of 18th Street and was approached by a person at 18th Street and University Avenue. They said the person fired multiple shots at them. A criminal complaint filed in the case said officers in the area at the time of the shooting found a male matching the suspects description exiting a home in the 1100 block of 18th Street, attempting to take another Lyft ride. Police said the investigation led to Hutchinsons arrest. Video taken from a neighbors security camera showed a male wearing the same clothes as Hutchinson shooting at the Lyft drivers vehicle, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were also able to confirm with Lyft that the same person ordered both Lyft rides. Multiple shell casings were collected at the scene. Police said they also recovered a handgun as part of the investigation. Metro news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. DES MOINES, Iowa The Des Moines Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on the citys south side Thursday afternoon. According to DMPD, officers responded to a 911 call at around 4:24 p.m. that was made in the Watrous South neighborhood. Police said the 911 call didnt provide much information and was responded to as an unknown problem. Kanzi the bonobo at Ape Initiative in Des Moines has died Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 10 minutes after the 911 call was made, responding officers watched a male assault a female near SW 9th Street and Rittenhouse Street, the DMPD said. An officer attempted to intervene and the male fled from the officer. At around 4:35 p.m. a second officer located the male suspect at the intersection of SW 11th Street and Wade Street. According to DMPD, as the officer tried to take the suspect into custody an altercation ensued and the officer fired his handgun, hitting the suspect. Police said the officer involved also sustained head injuries and transported to an area hospital. The officer has since been released. The adult male remains hospitalized. A second officer that was responding intercepted the suspect here at 11th and Wade and when he went to take him into custody, there was a physical altercation that followed. Multiple tools were used to try and get him into custody. But ultimately, the officer fired his weapon, Sergeant Paul Parizek, a Public Information Officer with the Des Moines Police Department said. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been contacted to lead the investigation into the shooting. No additional information has been released. Metro News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Californians could be drinking water tapped from the Pacific Ocean off Malibu several years from now that is, if a company's new desalination technology proves viable. OceanWell Co. plans to anchor about two dozen 40-foot-long devices, called pods, to the seafloor several miles offshore and use them to take in saltwater and pump purified fresh water to shore in a pipeline. The company calls the concept a water "farm" and is testing a prototype of its pod at a reservoir in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. The pilot study, supported by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, is being closely watched by managers of several large water agencies in Southern California. They hope that if the new technology proves economical, it could supply more water for cities and suburbs that are vulnerable to shortages during droughts, while avoiding the environmental drawbacks of large coastal desalination plants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It can potentially provide us Californians with a reliable water supply that doesn't create toxic brine that impacts marine life, nor does it have intakes that suck the life out of the ocean, said Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions for the Natural Resources Defense Council. If this technology is proven to be viable, scalable and cost-effective, it would greatly enhance our climate resilience." OceanWell's Mark Golay, left, and Ian Prichard, deputy general manager of Calleguas Municipal Water District, walk toward a prototype of the desalination pod being tested in Las Virgenes Reservoir. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) During a recent demonstration at Las Virgenes Reservoir, Tim Quinn, the companys water policy strategist, watched as the 12-foot-long cylindrical prototype was lowered underwater on a cable. We pull fresh water only up out of the ocean, and the salt stays down there in low concentrations, where it's not an environmental problem, Quinn said. The testing at Las Virgenes Reservoir will help the companys engineers check how the system works in filtering out plankton and discharging it back into the water. When the pod was nearly 50 feet underwater, Mark Golay, the companys director of engineering projects, turned on the pumps and water flowed from a spigot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next step, expected later this year, will involve conducting trials in the ocean by lowering a pod from an anchored boat into the depths about 5 miles offshore. We hope to be building water farms under the ocean in 2028, Quinn said. Quinn previously worked for California water agencies for four decades , and he joined Menlo Park-based OceanWell two years ago believing the new technology holds promise to ease the states conflicts over water. Ocean desal has never played a prominent role in California's water future, he said, and this technology allows us to look to the ocean as a place where we can get significant sources of supply with minimal, if any, environmental conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Climate change identified as main driver of worsening drought in the Western United States Managers of seven Southern California water agencies are holding monthly meetings on the project and studying what investments in new infrastructure such as pipelines and pump stations would be needed to transport the water the company plans to sell from the shore to their systems. Leaders of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, who are spearheading the effort, held an event at the reservoir Friday to showcase how the technology is being tested. The pilot study is being supported by more than $700,000 in grants from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The company still will need to secure additional permits from the federal government and the state. And it has yet to estimate how much energy the process will require, which will be a major factor in determining the cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But water managers and other experts agree that the concept offers several advantages over building a traditional desalination plant on the coast. Significantly less electricity is likely to be needed to run the systems onshore pumps because the pods will be placed at a depth of about 1,300 feet, where the undersea pressure will help drive seawater through reverse-osmosis membranes to produce fresh water. While the intakes of coastal desalination plants typically suck in and kill plankton and fish larvae, the pods have a patented intake system that the company says returns tiny sea creatures to the surrounding water unharmed. And while a plant on the coast typically discharges ultra salty brine waste that can harm the ecosystem , the undersea pods release brine that is less concentrated and allow it to dissipate without taking such an environmental toll. Golay lowers a prototype into Las Virgenes Reservoir for testing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) If the technology proves viable on a large scale, Gold said, it would help make Southern California less reliant on diminishing imported supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the Colorado River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research has shown that human-caused climate change is driving worsening droughts in the western United States. Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration has projected that as rising temperatures diminish the snowpack and intensify droughts, the average amount of water available from the reservoirs and aqueducts of the State Water Project could shrink between 13% and 23% over the next 20 years. Southern Californias water agencies are moving ahead with plans to build new facilities that will transform wastewater into clean drinking water , and have also been investing in projects to capture more stormwater . In addition to the economic viability, other questions need to be answered through research, Gold said, including how well the system will hold up filtering tiny sea life, how much maintenance will be needed, and whether the pods and hoses could present any risk of entangling whales. OceanWells executives and engineers say their system is designed to protect marine life and eliminate the environmental negatives of other technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Bergstrom, OceanWells chief executive, has been working on desalination projects since 1996, and previously built and operated plants in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands for the company Seven Seas Water, which he founded. When Bergstrom retired, he moved to California and eventually decided to go back to work to develop technology to help solve Californias water problems. I had a big idea, Bergstrom said. I knew this was going to be just a huge lift to get this done, a moonshot. OceanWell, founded in 2019, now has 10 employees. Its lead investor is Charlie McGarraugh, a former partner of the investment banking company Goldman Sachs. One of its major investors is Japan-based Kubota Corp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building on Bergstroms concept, Chief Technology Officer Michael Porter and the engineering team have worked on the design. They built the first prototype in Porters kitchen in San Diego County, and did initial tests in a lab. It was inspired by the environmental community in California pointing out problems that needed to be solved, Bergstrom said. Desalination plants are operating in parts of California, including the nation's largest facility, in Carlsbad, and a small-scale plant on Santa Catalina Island. But proposals for new coastal desalination plants have generated strong opposition. In 2022, the California Coastal Commission rejected a plan for a large desalination plant in Huntington Beach. Opponents argued the water wasnt needed in the area and raised concerns about high costs and harm to the environment. The problem of traditional shallow intakes drawing in large amounts of algae, fish larvae and plankton goes away in the deep sea, Bergstrom said, because the perpetual darkness 1,300 feet underwater supports vastly less sea life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have much cleaner water to deal with, Bergstrom said. It's pretty much a barren desert where we've chosen to locate, and as a result, we just don't have that much stuff to filter out. Read more: A celebrity-studded L.A. water district has a very big drought idea: Seafloor desalination A specific site for the first water farm has not yet been selected, but the company plans to install it nearly 5 miles offshore, with a pipeline and a copper power cable connecting it to land. Putting the system deep underwater will probably reduce energy costs by about 40%, Bergstrom said, because unlike a coastal plant that must pump larger quantities of seawater, it will pressurize and pump a smaller quantity of fresh water to shore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bergstrom and his colleagues tout their invention as a totally different approach. They say its not really desalinating seawater in the traditional sense, but rather harvesting fresh water from devices that function like wells in the ocean. After their first water farm, they envision building more along the coast. Bergstrom believes they will help solve water scarcity challenges in California and beyond. Various sites off California would be well-suited to develop water farms, from San Diego to Monterey, Bergstrom said, as would many water-scarce countries with deep offshore waters, such as Chile, Spain and North African nations. I believe it'll reshape the world more than just California water, Quinn said, because I think the globe is looking for something that is this environmentally friendly. Read more: State Water Project supplies could fall up to 23% within 20 years due to climate change Under the companys plans, the first water farm would initially have 20 to 25 pods, and would be expanded with additional pods to deliver about 60 million gallons of water per day, enough for about 250,000 households. Las Virgenes and six other water agencies including L.A. Department of Water and Power, the city of Burbank and Calleguas Municipal Water District are working together on a study of how water could be delivered directly from the project, and at what cost, as well as how inland agencies could benefit indirectly by exchanging supplies with those on the coast. We're very heavily dependent on imported water, and we need to diversify, said David Pedersen, Las Virgenes general manager. We need to develop new local water that's drought resilient, and that can help us as we adapt to climate change. His district, which depends almost entirely on imported supplies from the State Water Project, serves more than 75,000 people in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and surrounding areas. Mike McNutt, public affairs and communications manager for Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, tastes water that flows from a spigot after passing through a prototype desalination system at Las Virgenes Reservoir. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) During the drought from 2020 to 2022, the district was under severe water restrictions and customers reduced usage nearly 40%. Pedersen hopes the district will be able to tap the ocean for water by around 2030. At Calleguas Municipal Water District, which delivers water for about 650,000 people in Ventura County, deputy general manager Ian Prichard said one of the big questions is how much energy the system will use. If the technology works and they can bring it to market, and we can afford to bring the water into our service area, then that would be great, Prichard said. The big test is, can they produce water at a rate that we want to pay? This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On March 21, 1963, the United States closed Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary; over 1,500 inmates had been jailed at the island prison off the coast of San Francisco, California, over its three decades of use. So did Alcatraz close its doors? Or open them? From the 1934 until 1963, Alcatraz had been Americas elite top security prison, where the nations most notorious prisoners went to serve out their time. Per historical accounts, it became expensive to manage and maintain, so plans were made to shut it down. American Indians occupying the former federal prison on Alcatraz Island, off the coast of San Francisco, celebrate their Thanksgiving Day feast buffet-style in the exercise yard of the prison, Nov. 28, 1969. The turkey and all the trimmings were sent over to the island from sympathetic restaurants for the holiday feast. The group claims the former federal prison under an old treaty that returned unused federal land to the Sioux. | Robert W. Klein According to historical accounts, out of the 36 Alcatraz inmates who tried to flee before the prison was closed in March 1963, only three remain unaccounted for, according to the U.S. Marshals Service, which maintains active arrest warrants for the men who vanished in 1962. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per alcatrazhistory.com, famous criminals who spent time as guests of the federal prison system were Al Capone, Alvin Karpis, George Kelly Barnes (Machine Gun Kelly), Mickey Cohn and James Whitey Bulger. Robert Stroud became known as the Birdman of Alcatraz, and is likely the most famous, and perhaps, most violent inmate who stayed there. In 1963, the final prisoners were escorted off the island to other facilities. Alcatraz closes doors, only ghosts remain, read the Deseret News headline. In November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Native Americans, initially primarily from San Francisco, who were later joined by AIM and other urban Native Americans from other parts of the country, who were part of a wave of activists organizing public protests across the country through the 1970s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1972, Alcatraz was transferred to the Department of Interior to become part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about Alcatraz, some of the more notorious prisons in the U.S. and why prison reform is an issue still not resolved: FBI re-creates decoy heads Alcatraz inmates used in escape Once a prison, Alcatraz now top tourist lure Night tour of Alcatraz Island is eerie 7-year-old triumphs over Alcatraz Alcatraz movie premiere has em trying to break in Alcatraz: Former guard remembers notorious prisoners at escape-proof island Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only survivor of Alcatraz plot dies at 61 Escape from Alcatraz gets anniversary attention Alcatraz film revisits 1969-71 takeover Last meals are quirky custom Huey Newton leaves prison without fellow Black Panther Violence on rise at penitentiaries Rikers Island, New Yorks notorious jail complex, is reportedly the scene of a humanitarian crisis Inmates were watching Lambs before rioting Deseret News archives: Did the Alcatraz escapees make it? PRAGUE, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic on Friday reinstated border controls with neighboring Slovakia in response to an outbreak of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among cattle on three Slovak farms. According to Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny, extraordinary border controls at Slovak crossings were reinstated in agreement with the Czech Police and Interior Minister Vit Rakusan. Police and veterinary inspectors are currently enforcing a ban on imports of livestock from affected regions at four main border crossings with Slovakia, he said. Vyborny has also contacted the leaders of key agricultural unions and associations, urging their members to adhere to emergency measures and strict biosecurity protocols. "I once again appeal to all farmers not to underestimate the necessary protective measures for their livestock, including hygiene, disinfection and a strict ban on unauthorized entry into their facilities," the minister said on social media platform X. Earlier this month, the Czech Republic banned the transport of susceptible animals from Hungary and Slovakia over outbreaks of FMD. The ban was canceled only a few days ago. FMD primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and blisters on the mouth and feet. According to the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic, in addition to human activity, wild animals, including wild boars, can also act as vectors of the disease. The virus is primarily transmitted by inhalation and direct contact between animals. QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) If youre looking to shop local this month, we have just the thing for you. The Destination Ditmars Merchants Association just launched its month-long initiative to spur business in the area. Twenty-four businesses are taking part in Destination Ditmars bingo. More Local News From March 20 to April 20, customers can buy a bingo card for 30 dollars, and then gain access to discounts from the participating businesses. And for shoppers who get bingo, theres another treat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole Panettieri owns both the Tiny Owl and the Brass Owl on Ditmars Boulevard. The store is one of the businesses taking part. If you get a bingo, you get a prize. If you get blackout, were giving one prize to someone who gets every box. Panettieri says the goal is to encourage people to shop locally. Astoria is the true DNA of New York City. We love our mom-and-pop shops so youre going to go to restaurants and shops and see the owners the people who are working at the stores live in the community. All that money stays and circulates in the community. Ciara Sullivan with Rivercrest Restaurant is also taking part. She says the hope is to raise money for community initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ditmars is such a tight-knit community it was easy to get everyone on board. It just shows how dedicated the community is to having Halloween parades and lights for the holiday. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Over at Bier and Cheese Collective, owner Rick White agrees. White founded the Destination Ditmars Merchants Association which is hosting the event for its second time. We want to support local businesses its still a very challenging fiscal climate so we want to support them in whatever means we can. Its bringing the business community together along with our neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These owners want customers to know that even if they dont get bingo, the card alone equals more than 250 dollars in savings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A wave of international visitors held in U.S. detention centers has sparked fresh concerns about the increasingly unpredictable nature of border crossings. The detentionssome lasting weekshave left travelers and immigration experts questioning what to expect when entering the country. Recent Detention Cases A 28-year-old British woman just returned home after spending three weeks in a Washington State immigration detention center. Her detention stemmed from questions about her visa when attempting to cross into the U.S. from Canada. This case follows two separate incidents involving German tourists who were both deported after weeks in a San Diego detention facility. Both expressed confusion about the reasons behind their detention and eventual removal from the country. As The New York Times reports, these cases have rattled international travelers, particularly citizens from European nations who have long enjoyed visa-free travel to the United States for stays up to 90 days. Related: El Chapos Wife Has A New Skim: A Shapewear Line to Rival Kim Kardashians Underwear Empire Entry Requirements For those planning travel to the U.S., the entry requirements remain strict. All non-citizens must present a valid passport not expiring within six months. Most travelers need either a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for those from countries participating in the visa-waiver program. "The visaor the authorizationis just an entry document to get people to the airport or a land border," explains Jeff Joseph, a Denver-based immigration lawyer. "It does not guarantee entry to the United States." Even after obtaining proper documentation, immigration officials conduct questioning regarding visit purpose, duration, accommodations, and planned activities. Some visitors face additional rounds of questioning. Related: Southwest Waves Goodbye to "Bags Fly Free" Era Visa Types and Waiver Program The U.S. offers three main categories of nonimmigrant visas: B-1 for business purposes, B-2 for tourism, and a combined B-1/B-2. While these visas can be valid for up to a decade, visitors cannot stay longer than six months per visit. The visa-waiver program covers 43 countries, allowing most citizens to visit for up to 90 days without a visa. Travelers must still obtain a valid ESTA, which costs $21 and remains active for two years. Visitor Rights at the Border At border entry points, U.S. federal law grants government agents the right to search visitors' property, including electronic devices, without suspicion of wrongdoing. While all visitors have the right to remain silent, visa holders bear the burden of proof. When deemed inadmissible, visitors may withdraw their intent to enter and return homethough officers can deny this option, resulting in detention. Because these encounters technically occur outside U.S. territory, constitutional rights don't fully apply, and detainees aren't necessarily entitled to legal representation. Get inspired with our latest travel pickswhether youre craving a relaxing escape or an unforgettable adventure, weve got something for every kind of explorer. Find all the details below or click here to start planning your next trip. A Georgetown University graduate student from India who was taken into custody this week and targeted for deportation by the Trump administration never made any pro-Hamas or antisemitic comments, his lawyer said. Immigration agents detained Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow who teaches at Georgetown and has a visa, outside his home in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday night, his attorney has said. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Suri is actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Suris lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, denied Thursday that Suri ever made pro-Hamas or antisemitic statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahmad has objected to Suris detention as "beyond contemptible." Badar Khan Suri. This is still the United States of America, and we dont punish people, we dont whisk them away and send them 1,000 miles away from their family, based on what they may have said, what they may have posted on social media or who they are related to, Ahmad said. A federal judge in Virginia ordered Thursday that Suri not be removed from the United States unless ordered by the court. Sophia Gregg, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, said the judges block on any deportation was exactly what we were hoping for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were very concerned for our client, especially when we learned that he was at a Louisiana staging facility, which is the last stop on the way to tarmac, she said Thursday. That was a big concern for us, that he would be summarily deported. Suri was at the Alexandria Staging Facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, on Thursday, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Wednesday on X, Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. Suri has a wife who is a U.S. citizen and three children in Virginia. His wifes father, Ahmed Yousef, who lives in Gaza, is a former adviser to now-deceased Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh but he told The New York Times that he left the Hamas-led government of Gaza more than a decade ago and does not have a senior position with Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yousef told the newspaper that Suri was not involved in any political activism, including on behalf of Hamas, the Times reported. Yousef has also publicly criticized Hamas decision to attack Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the newspaper reported. Ahmad told NBC News that he has no information that Suri has been in regular contact with Yousef. Im only aware of one instance when my client had contact with his father-in-law, and that was to ask for his daughters hand in marriage, Ahmad said. The Trump administration is trying to deport two other people involved in protests against the war in Gaza at Columbia University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of them, Mahmoud Khalil, is a Columbia graduate student who is a legal permanent resident and is married to a U.S. citizen. The second is Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman who attended Columbia but overstayed her visa, officials said. The Trump administration is seeking to deport Suri and Khalil under part of U.S. immigration law that allows it if a person would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. The ACLU and others have called the administration's actions an attempt to punish people for expressing their constitutionally protected views about Israel and the war in Gaza. "Political speech however controversial some may find it may never be the basis for punishment, including deportation," Mary Bauer, the executive director of ACLU of Virginia, said in a statement Thursday. "We will not let this egregious, unprecedented, and illegal abuse of power go unchecked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended attempts to deport Khalil by saying that no one has a right to a student visa. A judge has temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation. President Donald Trump in his election campaign condemned student protests against Israel's military action in Gaza, which followed the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. Some congressional Republicans have also criticized universities for what they called antisemitic behavior at protests. The Justice Department in February announced what it called an antisemitism task force focused on college campuses. The Trump administration on March 7 also said it was canceling around $400 million in federal grants to Columbia. On March 4, Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, "All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suri is a postdoctoral fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown. The director of that center, Nader Hashemi, told NBC Washington that he is shocked by Suris arrest and the attempt to deport him. Hashemi said that that Suri was not political or an activist, and that he was focused on his teaching and research. I would never imagine in a million years to see a faculty member, a student whos engaged in exercising their First Amendment rights would be picked up by the state and thrown into jail and then deported, Hashemi told the station. Thats what they do in Putins Russia. Thats what they do in Xi Jinpings China, he said. Thats what they do in the Islamic Republic of Iran, not in the United States, at least until now. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) A detention officer was arrested and booked into the Stephens County Jail for allegations of rape. Christi Gail Baird booking photo On Monday, March 3, the Stephens County Sheriffs Office requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the allegations of rape at the Stephens County Jail. During the investigation, OSBI special agents determined a Stephens County detention officer, identified as 58-year-old Christi Gail Baird, conducted inappropriate misconduct with an inmate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, March 19, an arrest warrant was issued for Baird by the Stephens County District Court on two felony charges of Second-Degree Rape and Sexual Battery. On the morning of Thursday, March 20, Baird was arrested and booked into the Stephens County Jail on a $25,000 bond. This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. Tetiana Soloshchuks phone started beeping and ringing March 6. It hasnt stopped. I dont even know how many phone calls Ive received, Soloshchuk, a Ukrainian refugee, said through a translator recently. My phone rings on the hour every hour. On March 6, President Donald Trump said he was considering rolling back a President Joe Biden era program called the humanitarian parolee program that many Ukrainians refugees used to enter the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters and other media outlets have reported a decision on whether to revoke the humanitarian parole program could come as early as April. If Trump revokes humanitarian parole status that means possibly thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Central Kentucky would lose their legal right to be in the United States and could possibly be on a fast-track to deportation. Mary Cobb, director of the Lexington office of Kentucky Refugee Ministries, said her agency has tracked at least 800 Ukrainian refugees that have entered the country over the past two years through the humanitarian parole program. Lexington Refugee Ministries provides a host of services to refugees who enter the country legally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This would be hugely devastating to Central Kentucky, Cobb said. Soloshchuk and others in the Ukrainian community in Central Kentucky the majority live in Jessamine, Fayette and Woodford counties thinks the number could be as high as 3,000 people who used the humanitarian parole program and now live, work and send their kids to school in Central Kentucky. Another type of immigration status, temporary protected status, that many Ukrainians have successfully applied for and received, people cant access or have been told the program is frozen, Soloshchuk said. That temporary protected status will keep Ukrainians fleeing war in the country until October 2026. Its not known how many Ukrainian refugees have successfully be granted temporary protected status, sometimes referred to as TPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shannon Church Egan, a Lexington-based immigration lawyer, said she has heard from some Ukrainian clients who are worried about their status given the uncertainty. Ukrainians who fled Russian aggression in their home country and came to Kentucky seeking safety and stability understandably fear being forced to return to an active war zone, Church Egan said. If TPS does disappear, recipients would lose the authority to be lawfully present in the U.S. and would need to find another way to obtain lawful status - by seeking asylum if eligible, pursuing a family-based or employment-based petition, etc. Yaroslavl Boyenchko, left and Victor Selepina spoke at the Peace Vigil for Ukraine put on by Mayors International Affairs Advisory Commission at the Robert Stephens Courthouse Plaza on Wednesday March 2, 2022 in Lexington, Ky. No place to return to Soloshchuk moved here from Ukraine three years ago at the start of the war. She first stayed with a childhood friend in Jessamine County who helped her and her family settle in the United States. She has a law degree but also empathy for newly-immigrated Ukrainians who feel lost, unsettled and worried about family in Ukraine as they try to navigate life in this country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She felt that too when she first moved here, Soloshchuk said. She recently set up a nonprofit to help Ukrainian refugees called With Ukraine in Heart. She can provide advice and financial help but she cant take away the uncertainty, she said. They dont know what to expect. They have no place to return to. We left because of the war. They have no stability. Sergey Tsymbalyuk immigrated to the US in 1998 as a child but has lived in Central Kentucky since 2014. He said people followed the law and the promise the US government made them when they came to the country through the humanitarian parole program. The program started at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are very thankful to the United States government and to all of the officials here, Tsymbalyuk said. Ukrainians want to be helpful. We want to be useful. Tsymbalyuk said he and others know dozens of Ukrainians who came to Kentucky in the past three years who have started their own companies, employing Ukrainians and other residents. The economic impact would be disastrous, Soloshchuk said if the humanitarian parole program was revoked and possibly thousands of people who are now earning wages, paying taxes and investing in companies were forced to leave. Others dont know if they should sign leases for apartments they may not be able to live in come April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, others are still trying to help support family members still in the Ukraine. Many want to eventually return to Ukraine but cant because of the war, she said. Most had to sell homes and businesses in Ukraine to afford to come to the United States to escape the war, Soloshchuk said. The uncertainty is impacting the mental health of refugees as their fate and hope for stability has played out on national television over the past three months of the Trump administration, Soloshchuk said. Tsymbalyuk watched the testy exchange between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 28 on television. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My stomach just dropped, Tsymbalyuk said. Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian actor and comedian. At first, many Ukrainians thought the live, fiery verbal banter between the two world leaders was a joke, Tsymbalyuk said. Later Zelenskyy apologized. Trump cut off some aide to Ukraine after the exchange but later restored it after Ukraine agreed to the United States proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. On Tuesday, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to an immediate ceasefire against energy infrastructure but negotiations stopped short of a 30-day ceasefire. But the stress is mounting for everyone in the Ukrainian community, Tsymbalyuk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive gone gray, he joked. Trump has also flip-flopped in other areas in addition to his stance on Ukraine. He has announced tariffs and then delaying implementation after other countries announced counter-tariffs. Its possible Trump will back off his pledge to nix the humanitarian parole program too. Were not looking to hurt anybody, were certainly not looking to hurt them, and Im looking at that, Trump told reporters March 6. There were some people that think thats appropriate, and some people dont, and Ill be making the decision pretty soon. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A man caught on video attempting to carry out a potential mass shooting at the Mons Venus gentlemans club in Tampa last year pled guilty to the crime. Michael Rudman took a plea deal for trying to force his way into the gentlemans club in Tampa. Body of missing child found at Winter Haven lake We dont know what it is that a jury is going to do, convincing six people of someones guilt can sometimes be challenging, and so this was the decision that was made by the state attorneys office and the defendant in working out a negotiation today, State Attorney Suzy Lopez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That night, security guard Manny Resto spotted Rudman approaching the club, wearing a devil mask and armed with a gun. He tackled him before he could get inside. I decided that he was not going to enter the club and hurt anybody, Resto said in a press conference in 2023. Once officers arrived, they found more ammunition, knives, and firearm accessories in Rudmans truck, evidence the clubs owner believes proves his deadly intent. If he would have gone in there and just shot that gun, it would have hit somebody, club owner Joe Redner said. Rudman was facing decades in prison, but Lopez said other factors influence the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Rudman had no prior record whatsoever, and so he was offered 10 years in the Florida state prison for taking responsibility for what it is that he did that night, she said. Rudman will serve his 10-year prison sentence with credit for time served. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) President Donald Trump dismantling the U.S. Department of Education is leaving Ohio leaders at odds about whether it will help or hurt our education system to have more power returned to the state. I think there could be major benefits for all for Ohio, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said. Im concerned about that, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How dismantling the Department of Education will affect Ohio schools Gov. Mike DeWine took a clear stance on the issue. A spokesperson confirmed that DeWine attended the executive order signing. Today, I joined President Trump and several fellow governors at the White House in support of the presidents proposal to return education back to the states, DeWine said in a statement. Every student, family, and community is different, he said. In Ohio, weve achieved great results by focusing on our administrations priorities, like improving literacy achievement, ensuring all students have pathways to thrive in our workforce, and more. Now its time to take the next step. By giving states more authority over education, we will have the flexibility to focus our efforts on tailoring an educational experience that is best for our children and that meets Ohios needs, rather than trying to chase federal priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Democratic Party criticized DeWine for attending the signing. Ohios students are our states future, but their elected officials are cheering as billionaires rip away their access to a quality education, Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer said in a statement. Today reveals DeWine, Husted & Morenos complete disinterest in any future that isnt focused on their extreme politics. Our elected officials should be standing up for our students, but they cant even stand up to Donald Trump. Former lawyer pleads guilty to lying to FBI about discussing client with sex worker How does it all really impact Ohio? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states public K-12 schools and universities receive millions, sometimes billions, of dollars a year from the Department of Education. McColley said it comes with too many strings attached. A recent example is Title IX compliance funding. Its now basically legal bribery to the states to say you have to take this federal money and you have to do everything that were asking you to do, otherwise, youre not going to get this federal money, McColley said. And they put us in a position where, quite frankly, the one-size-fits-all approach thats coming down from Washington, D.C. is not working. Overall, McColley said the money from the federal government should be free for use, as prescribed by the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would be better served to block grant that money to the state of Ohio and to all the other 49 states and basically say, Look, the beauty of this country is we have 50 laboratories of democracy. Some states are going to get it right. Some states are going to get it wrong, he said. McColley said it lends itself to one simple fact: Ohio knows what is best for Ohio. Just greater flexibility on how were going to spend the money in the state, I think would be helpful for everybody, he said. We are going to have a better idea of what Ohio education needs are than they are in Washington, D.C. Thats just a simple fact. But it is not that straightforward for Antonio. Antonio said she worries about how Ohios Republican-led legislature would dole out the money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You hear leaders say things like the Fair School funding formula is just not sustainable; they need $1 billion. And at the same time, the same legislator leader is suggesting that we give $1 billion to private schools, religious-based schools, she said. Fishermen in Ohio found guilty for unlawfully taking more than the legal daily limit of six walleye Antonio said it goes beyond the ways Ohio would choose to spend the money, but also the threat of a loss of programs, like Title 1. Which provides a supplemental reading services and additional help for kids that are that otherwise would fall through the cracks, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont have enough learning problems to qualify for, to be on an individual education program or plan. But they still need some assistance, some help. And theyre identified and theyre given extra assistance. Antonio said while there is no telling what will really be done, she does not trust Republicans in power in Ohio to legislate responsibly when given more power. Theres a disconnect with the state of Ohio legislators in power right now who support giving money to private entities over public schools. I think thats a problem, she said. I dont think Ohio is a good example of a state going ahead in and forging ahead with its own policies when it comes to education. But McColley said, when it comes down to it, he thinks this power rightfully belongs to the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every state is going to have a better idea of what they can do with that money, better than what Washington, D.C. is having us do, he said. The Constitution, quite frankly, dictates that we should be the ones controlling education in our states, not the federal government. Ohio attorney general backs Trump order ending birthright citizenship There are a lot of levers, pulleys and checks and balances that come through the Department of Education, that states left to their own devices, I worry what that means for each individual state, Antonio said. More importantly, I worry about what it means for our children. This all comes after Ohio lawmakers majorly restructured the states own State Board of Education and Department of Education and Workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin attempted to clarify the Trump administrations decision to deny a French scientist entry into the U.S., saying he was in possession of concealed confidential information he kept on his electronic device. McLaughlin was pushing back against claims from the French government that he was blocked because of critical messages he posted against President Trump. The French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory in violation of a non-disclosure agreement something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal, she wrote on social platform X, in response to a post from a French analyst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any claim that his removal was based on political beliefs is blatantly false, McLaughlin added. The back-and-forth came after Philippe Baptiste, Frances minister for higher education, said Thursday that the scientist, who was set to attend a conference in Houston, was denied entry and deported due to his messages that criticized the Trump administrations policies on research. The academic, whose name was not revealed, was on assignment for the National Center for Scientific Research, according to Baptiste. This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because this researchers phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administrations research policy, Baptiste told multiple outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold, he added. I will defend the possibility for all French researchers to be faithful to them, in compliance with the law. Upon his arrival in the U.S., the academic underwent a random inspection during which his computer and phone were allegedly examined. He also faced allegations of sending messages that showed hatred towards Trump and could be deemed as terrorism, as reported by Agence France-Presse, referencing another source close to the situation. All charges against him have since been dismissed, according to the international outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TOWN OF DICKINSON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A Town of Dickinson man previously charged with statutory rape is now facing additional charges after allegedly filming himself having sex with his juvenile victim. On March 11, Broome County Sheriffs Office detectives charged 20-year-old Jordan Wilson with Rape in the second Degree (Victim under 15 years), a Class D Felony and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor following an investigation into statutory rape in the Town of Colesville. Wilson was taken into custody, arraigned, and released in accordance with New York State Law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the investigation continued, detectives executed additional search warrants related to the incident. They allegedly recovered multiple video recordings of Wilson engaging in sexual acts with the victim. Following the investigation, Wilson was arrested again and charged with the following: Three Counts of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, Class C Felonies Three Counts of Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, Class D Felonies Three Counts of Possession an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, Class E Felonies Wilson will be arraigned for the additional charges. He remains in custody at the Broome County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Excellent work, as always, by our Broome County Sheriffs Office Detectives Division in ensuring that sexual predators who seek to do harm to our communitys children are held accountable for their actions to the furthest extent of the law, said Sheriff Fred Akshar. There is no place in a civilized society for predators like this. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. ADDIS ABABA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The complex challenges affecting peace and security in Africa require stabilization efforts and inclusive political processes to advance durable peace, according to a statement issued by the African Union (AU) on Thursday. The remarks were made by Joao Lourenco, Angolan president and chairperson of the African Union (AU), and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the AU Commission, following the latter's recent official visit to Angola. Highlighting Africa's current peace and security priorities, focusing on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Somalia, the two leaders acknowledged the complex challenges in some of these situations. They stressed the importance of sustained AU engagement, alongside existing efforts on the ground, to support stabilization and inclusive political processes, aimed at advancing durable peace and strengthening national institutions. Lourenco and Youssouf emphasized the need to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture, enhance the role of regional economic communities and regional mechanisms, and reinforce the AU Peace and Security Council to address emerging threats. The two sides pledged to advance the AU's "Silencing the Guns" agenda as a central priority for sustainable peace and stability in Africa. They also shared their vision for the 55-member continental organization, underscoring infrastructure development as critical to regional integration, economic transformation, and the realization of the AU's 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063. They further reaffirmed the AU's continued commitment to working closely with international partners to advance the union's strategic objectives and collective strategic interests in promoting peace, security, and sustainable development across the continent. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Around 34 million years ago, the ancestors of modern iguanas likely embarked on what may be the longest overwater journey undertaken by a nonhuman, land-dwelling vertebrate species. Starting off the epic trek from the western coast of North America, these iguanas traveled nearly 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) one-fifth of the Earths circumference across the Pacific Ocean, eventually arriving in Fiji, according to a new study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using genetic evidence, researchers propose that these iguanas made the extraordinary voyage by rafting on floating vegetation, possibly composed of uprooted trees or plants. For decades, scientists have debated how Fijis iguanas arrived. Previous theories suggested that an extinct species of iguana rafted from the Americas without a clear timeline, while others proposed that the lizards migrated overland from Asia or Australia, said lead study author Dr. Simon Scarpetta, an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco. Scarpetta conducted this research during his National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, and in his current role. The findings, published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, help clarify the long-standing mystery of how these reptiles reached such remote islands. Scarpetta and his team aimed to test both the overwater rafting and overland theories, as well as other hypotheses for the biogeographic origin of Fijian iguanas, including dispersal through Antarctica or across the Bering land bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Understanding this type of water dispersal could offer new insights into how other species have colonized isolated areas over time, Scarpetta added. Tracing genetics Iguanas have already demonstrated an ability to survive long-distance ocean travel, according to an October 1998 study. At least 15 green iguanas appeared on the beaches of Anguilla in the Caribbean in 1995 on rafts of uprooted trees. Researchers determined the lizards likely floated nearly 200 miles (322 kilometers) from Guadeloupe following a hurricane event. Scarpetta noted that this type of overwater rafting is often described as sweepstakes dispersal, a rare event that allows a species to colonize an otherwise unreachable area. Major weather events, such as hurricanes or floods, can dislodge vegetation and carry animals along with it. To determine when iguanas arrived in Fiji, researchers analyzed the genes of 14 living iguana species. The team found that the closest living relative of Fijian iguanas is the Dipsosaurus a type of desert iguana native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, according to the new study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fossil evidence further supports the idea that these iguanas originated in North America, as no fossils of desert iguanas have been found elsewhere in the world, Scarpetta said. The analysis also suggests that the Fijian iguanas diverged from their American ancestors between 34 million and 30 million years ago, settling around the same time as the volcanic formation of the Fijian archipelago, Scarpetta said. This timeline challenges previous theories that iguanas may have made a complex overland journey from South America via Antarctica, which would have happened much later in history, said study coauthor Dr. Jimmy McGuire, a professor of integrative biology at University of California, Berkeley. In phylogenetic analyses there is always some degree of uncertainty when trying to predict the timing of divergence events between species, said Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton University, who was not involved in the study. In this case, the authors were very thorough in collecting multiple different kinds of genetic data and use(d) multiple different models to test their hypothesis and find that most of the results are largely in agreement. How was the trek possible? While a monthslong voyage across the Pacific may seem impossible, iguanas are surprisingly well-equipped for such extreme travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you had to pick a vertebrate group that could survive a rafting event across thousands of kilometers of open ocean, iguanas are a great choice, Scarpetta said. Many iguana species, especially those in desert environments, can endure extreme heat, starvation and dehydration, Scarpetta noted. Being ectothermic means that you dont expend many of your food resources or fat reserves maintaining an elevated body temperature, McGuire said, referring to the metabolic rate of cold-blooded animals. Ectotherms can be about 25 times more efficient in this regard than endotherms (warm-blooded animals), so they dont need to eat nearly as much food nor nearly so frequently. Some estimates suggest that an overwater journey from North America to Fiji could have taken anywhere from four to 12 months. However, newer simulations indicate the trip may have been closer to 2 to four months, Scarpetta said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite basic survival challenges, food scarcity likely wouldnt have been a major one. If necessary, the herbivorous reptiles may have been able to feed on their floating vegetation mats, McGuire said. Scientists said they hope that by studying dispersal events, they may be able to predict which species can survive long-distance overwater travel, offering new insights into how animals spread across the globe. We now know that overwater dispersal is not only possible, but it has likely played a large role in shaping species diversity on islands around the world, Campbell-Staton said via email. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) The North Carolina Zoo offers free field trips to every student in the state of North Carolina, but did you know that homeschooled students are included in that? In this weeks edition of Zoo Filez, FOX8s Shannon Smith took a trip to Ashebro to learn more about special home school days at the zoo. You can visit the Zoos website for information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at Lancaster Airport on November 03, 2024 in Lititz. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) In light of the success that statewide Republican candidates had in 2024, some analysts hint that Pennsylvania is headed the way of Florida, a one-time swing state that has become reliably Republican. The states Democratic partisan voter registration advantage has declined from 1.2 million to around 340,000 over the last decade, and there have been geographic, demographic and social changes happening within each party. But did Trump really drive those changes? And do they represent a durable realignment in the state that advantages Republicans, making them the states dominant party? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aligning changes in voter registration to a presidents term of office is the most logical way to understand the impact of presidential personalities and policies on state politics. The single largest period of partisan change this century took place during the second term of the Bush administration, when Democratic registration surged and Republican registration sank. Voters in the second term of the Bush administration were extraordinarily negative about Bushs performance and it drastically changed the states partisan balance, giving Democrats a registration advantage of 1.2 million voters by the end of his term. The single largest drop in Democratic partisan registration since 2000 took place during Bidens term of office, which again corresponds to a period of relatively poor presidential ratings, even among Bidens own partisans. The greatest increase in Republican registration this century occurred during Trumps first term, but the largest relative growth was among third-party registrants. In fact, growth in unaffiliated and third-party registration outpaced growth for the major parties during every administration this century except during Bushs second term. While both major parties had registration growth since 2000, third-parties had the most relative growth, rising from under 800,000 voters in 2000 to 1.4 million in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a historical perspective, the Trump bump is more a bend than a bounce. Partisan registration shares may have converged a bit faster after 2016, but there is no pronounced jump in registration as has appeared at other periods in the states history. The most abrupt change in the states voter registration happened between 1932 and 1936, during Franklin Roosevelts first term. Roosevelts candidacy and presidency profoundly changed the states politics, finally making it possible for Democrats to compete in the state. An election worker hands a sticker to a voter after she dropped off a mail-in ballot outside the Chester County Government Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Capital-Star/Peter Hall) Other presidential eras have also produced noticeable breaks with past trends. The most pronounced changes took place in 1956 1960, 1972 1976, and 2004 2008, but none has come close to driving change like FDRs New Deal. The partisan movements associated with the Trump era fall closer to the normal rates of change evident throughout recent history than to the largest disruptions of past eras, perhaps because Trump had no objectively obvious economic tailwinds to ride. Many people reported being worse off economically in 2024 than in the prior year, but objective measures of GDP did not show a recession. The sharpest swings in voter registration have usually coincided with sizable recessions. Identifying critical elections that signal a break from past politics is hard to do in real time. Sometimes a critical election produces a sudden notable change that fades gradually, as happened during the New Deal Era. In other circumstances, the initial changes are small but ripple outward and grow over time. Some scholars believe this happened in the mid-to-late 1960s and played out into the emergence in the 1990s of sustainable Republican U.S. House majorities. The evidence from history suggests that the Trump era, while significant for many reasons, has not been outside the norms of historical partisan switching. History also suggests the electoral ripple effects could play out for some time. The changes in registration taking place during the past decade were mostly created by President Trump taking advantage of the changes already happening within the states electorate, including movement away from both major parties. The Trump-driven move in registrations does not yet give Republicans a durable advantage. The electoral implications of the states partisan shifts point to a near future that remains highly competitive because of a smaller registration advantage for Democrats and a rising share of unaffiliated voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats had the opportunity in 2008 to create changes to the policy status quo that could have cemented their partisan advantages, but they failed. A similar opportunity now belongs to the Republicans, who enjoy not only Trumps presence in the White House but also bicameral majorities in the House and Senate and a sympathetic Supreme Court. Will Republicans be more successful than Obama-era Democrats were at creating a new policy coalition from an electorate longing for change? Their policies will matter more than the presidents personal popularity if they hope to build a sustainable and enduring advantage in future elections. Berwood Yost (Courtesy of F&M College) Berwood Yost is the director of the Franklin & Marshall College Poll Social media platforms tend not to be that bothered by national boundaries. Take X, for example. Users of what was once called Twitter span the globe, with its 600 millions-plus active accounts dotted across nearly every country. And each of those jurisdictions has its own laws. But the interests of national regulatory efforts and that of predominantly U.S.-based technology companies often dont align. While many governments have sought to impose oversight mechanisms to address problems such as disinformation, online extremism and manipulation, these initiatives have been met with corporate resistance, political interference and legal challenges invoking free speech as a shield against regulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is brewing is a global struggle over digital platform governance. And in this battle, U.S. platforms are increasingly leaning on American laws to challenge other nations regulations. It is, we believe as experts on digital law one an executive director of a forum monitoring how countries implement democratic principles a form of digital imperialism. A rumble in the tech jungle The latest manifestation of this phenomenon occurred in February 2025, when new tensions emerged between Brazils judiciary and U.S.-based social media platforms. Trump Media & Technology Group and Rumble filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, challenging his orders to suspend accounts on the two platforms linked to disinformation campaigns in Brazil. The case follows earlier unsuccessful efforts by Elon Musks X to resist similar Brazilian rulings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together, the cases exemplify a growing trend in which U.S. political and corporate actors attempt to undermine foreign regulatory authority by pressing the case that domestic U.S. law and corporate protections should take precedence over sovereign policies globally. From corporate lobbying to lawfare At the core of the dispute is Allan dos Santos, a right-wing Brazilian influencer and fugitive from justice who fled to the U.S. in 2021 after De Moraes ordered his preventive arrest for allegedly coordinating disinformation networks and inciting violence. Dos Santos has continued his online activities abroad. Brazils extradition requests have gone unanswered due to claims by U.S. authorities that the case involves issues of free speech rather than criminal offenses. Trump Media and Rumbles lawsuit attempts to do two things. First, it seeks to frame Brazils judicial actions as censorship rather than oversight. And second, it seeks to portray the Brazilian court action as territorial overreach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their position is that as the target of the action was in the U.S., they are subject to U.S. free speech protections under the First Amendment. The fact that the subject of the ban was Brazilian and is accused of spreading disinformation and hate in Brazil should not, they argue, matter. For now, U.S. courts agree. In late February, a Florida-based judge ruled that Rumble and Trump Media need not comply with the Brazilian order. Big Tech pushback to regulation The case signals an important shift in the contest over platform accountability a move from corporate lobbying and political pressure to direct legal intervention in foreign jurisdictions. U.S. courts are now being used to challenge overseas decisions regarding platform accountability. The outcome and the broader legal strategy behind the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications not only for Brazil but for any country or region such as the European Union attempting to regulate online spaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resistance against digital regulation predates the Trump administration. In Brazil, efforts to regulate social media platforms have long faced substantial opposition. Big Tech companies including Google, Meta and X have used their economic and political influence to lobby against tighter regulation, often framing such policies as a threat to free expression. In 2020, the Brazilian Fake News Bill, which sought to hold platforms accountable for the spread of disinformation, was met with strong opposition from these companies. Google and Meta launched high-profile campaigns to oppose the bill, warning it would threaten free speech and harm small businesses. Google placed banners on its Brazilian homepage urging users to reject the legislation, while Meta ran advertisements questioning its implications for the digital economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These efforts, alongside lobbying and political resistance, were successful in helping to delay and weaken the regulatory framework. Mixing corporate and political power The difference now is that challenges are blurring the line between the corporate and the political. Trump Media was 53% owned by the U.S. president before he moved his stake into a revocable trust in December 2024. Elon Musk, the free speech fundamentalist owner of X, is a de facto member of the Trump administration. Their ascent to power has coincided with the First Amendment being wielded as a shield against foreign regulations on digital platforms. Free speech protections in the U.S. have been applied unequally, allowing authorities to suppress dissent in some cases while shielding hateful speech in others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This imbalance extends to corporate power, with decades of legal precedent expanding protections for private interests. The case law cemented corporate speech protections, a logic later extended to digital platforms. U.S. free speech advocates in Big Tech and the U.S. government are seemingly escalating this trend to an even more extreme interpretation: that American free speech arguments can be deployed to resist the regulation of other jurisdictions and challenge foreign legal frameworks. For instance, in response to the European Unions Digital Services Act, U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, expressed concerns that the act could threaten American free speech principles. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has fought disinformation on tech platforms, attends a session of the countrys high court on Feb. 26. Ton Molina/NurPhoto via Getty Images Such an argument may have been fine if the same interpretation of free speech and its appropriate protections were universally accepted. But they are not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The concept of free speech varies significantly across nations and regions. Countries such as Brazil, Germany, France and others adopt what legal experts refer to as a proportionality-based approach to free speech, balancing it against other fundamental rights such as human dignity, democratic integrity and public order. Sovereign countries using this approach recognize freedom of expression as a fundamental and preferential right. But they also acknowledge that certain restrictions are necessary to protect democratic institutions, marginalized communities, public health and the informational ecosystem from harms. While the U.S. imposes some limits on speech such as defamation laws and protection against incitement to imminent lawless action the First Amendment is generally far more expansive than in other democracies. The future of digital governance The legal battle over platform regulation is not confined to the current battle between U.S.-based platforms and Brazil. The EUs Digital Services Act and the Online Safety Act in the United Kingdom are other examples of governments trying to assert control over platforms operating within their borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As such, the lawsuit by Trump Media and Rumble against the Brazilian Supreme Court signals a critical moment in global geopolitics. U.S. tech giants, such as Meta, are bending to the free speech winds coming out of the Trump administration. Musk, the owner of X, has given support to far-right groups overseas. And this overlap in the policy priorities of social media platforms and the political interests of the U.S. administration opens a new era in the deregulation debate in which U.S. free speech absolutists are seeking to establish legal precedents that might challenge the future of other nations regulatory efforts. As countries continue to develop regulatory frameworks for digital governance for instance, AI regulation imposing stricter governance rules in Brazil and in the EU the legal, economic and political strategies platforms employ to challenge oversight mechanisms will play a crucial role in determining the future balance between corporate influence and the rule of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Yasmin Curzi de Mendonca, University of Virginia and Camille Grenier, Sciences Po Read more: Camille Grenier is Executive Director at the Forum on Information and Democracy, a non-profit entity led by civil society organisations and mandated to implement democratic principles. Yasmin Curzi de Mendonca 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. PAVLOHRAD, Ukraine They are Ukraines Rosie the Riveters, rolling up their sleeves and doing a dirty job once considered suitable only for men. But unlike their American equivalents in World War II, theyre not working in defense-industry factories. Instead theyre going 900 feet underground, helping to dig coal and keep the power on, replacing the men who left to fight Russia. Now theyre hopeful that President Donald Trump can secure a ceasefire deal and bring an end to the war, which entered its fourth year in February. We really wanted to help and to replace those men who went to fight and to protect Ukraine, Nadiya Moskalenko told NBC News on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 48-year-old grandmother said two of her sons had volunteered to fight Russia, and a few months after President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in February 2022, she signed up to go down the 50-year-old mine on the outskirts of the city of Pavlohrad in eastern Ukraine. Nadiya Moskalenko working at the DTEK coal mine. Before the war started, the government barred women from doing jobs underground because it considered the work too physically demanding. But after many male miners joined the military early in the war and others were later conscripted, the Soviet-era policy was scrapped. Moskalenko, who wears lipstick and eyeliner to work, operates the cable cars that move workers and supplies across the mines vast 75-mile tunnel network. It was not hard physically, but its a very responsible job, she said, adding that she has to react quickly if anything goes wrong. You cant miss anything and [have] to be very attentive and responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At her mine alone, 700 of the 3,000 male workers went off to fight, according to Alyona Lapina, a communications manager at DTEK, the mines owner and Ukraines largest private energy firm. She added that 71 had been killed and 200 were wounded. The mine is near the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. Since then, the Donbas, which is made up of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, has been used as a staging post for Russian attacks into Ukraine. Putin illegally annexed them in September 2022 along with the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Ukrainian forces are still fighting to regain control of all four territories. Workers head down the shaft at the DTEK coal mine in Ukraines Pavlohrad region Thursday. Elevator operator Iryna Basanets, 38, said she also joined up after the war began. Since then, she said, the women and men had learned to work together. The boys help us, she said. We are sweeping here, cleaning, keeping our working space clean and tidy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But war is always close, with an air raid siren sounding shortly after miners returned to the surface for lunch on Thursday. The coal they mine is used primarily to power Ukrainian electricity and heating stations, key energy infrastructure that has come under frequent Russian attacks and is now the subject of a proposed temporary ceasefire accepted by Ukraine and partially agreed to by Putin. Previous Russian attacks on energy infrastructure like power stations and substations had led to blackouts, Basanets said, leaving miners underground with no electricity or cellphone signal, though they were eventually brought back to the surface. We always store water in advance, she said, adding that some blackouts are scheduled. Irina Basanets. Both Basanets and Moskalenko said they were hopeful that Trumps recent talks with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could lead to a peace agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz said that in a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, Zelenskyy agreed to move forward with a partial ceasefire against energy, according to a joint White House statement. Zelenskyy later confirmed in a lengthy post on X that Ukraine was ready to implement this deal. Their call came a day after Trump spoke with Putin, who declined to endorse a 30-day ceasefire that was accepted by Zelenskyy. But, according to a Kremlin readout of their conversation Tuesday, the Russian leader did agree to mutually refrain from strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. We want this to happen, Moskalenko said of the peace agreement. And when you really want something, then you hope and you believe that it will happen. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Galesville Reservoir near Azalea, Ore. was operating near capacity this week, after 4 to 5 inches of rain fell on southwest Oregon between March 14 and 16. The heavy rain flooded towns, washed out roads and turned hillsides into streams of mud. Douglas County spokesperson Tamara Howell told KOIN 6 News that the storm pushed the Galesville dam to its limits on March 17 and 18, filling the 42,225-acre-foot reservoir to the brim. Flooding in Drain, Ore. on March 16, 2025. (Photos by North Douglas County Fire) Until [Tuesday], we were all holding our breath with the possible spillover at Galesville Dam, Howell said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dam prevented multiple communities from more-disastrous flooding, according to Douglas County. While most people think of the Galesville Dam as a conduit for irrigation in southern Douglas County, this time it acted as a major flood-control device, saving the communities of Glendale, Riddle, Myrtle Creek and Winston from even greater flooding and additional carnage, Howell said. Deadly flooding in southwest Oregon, multiple people rescued from high water According to U.S. Geological Survey data, the reservoirs outlet, Cow Creek, saw its highest streamflow since 2006 on Monday. Oregon State Climatologist Larry ONeill said that the creek was experiencing a streamflow of 1,340 cubic feet per second while the dam was near capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My understanding is that the dam itself was not in immediate danger of an uncontrolled overflow, but it was operating near capacity, ONeill said. The creek reached the third-highest water levels since the dam was built in 1986. The largest streamflow ever recorded on Cow Creek happened on Jan. 15, 1974 (10,600 cubic feet per second). The catastrophic flood of 1964 brought the creek to 8,430 cubic feet per second. Flood damage on Fat Elk Road in Coos County. (Coos County Emergency Management) The end-of-winter flooding prompted Gov. Tina Kotek to declare a state of emergency for the region. Local and state officials are still assessing the damages caused by the storm. However, Coos County Commissioner Drew Farmer told KOIN that officials are worried that the retreating waters may bring more damage. With some roads still being flooded we have concerns that, once the water recedes, we will see a suction effect that will pull additional material out from under our roads resulting in additional road failures, Farmer said. I made it around most of our cities and some outlying communities [March 17] and the problem is substantial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. CHEYENNE When the Laramie County commissioners denied Artillery World and Jurassic Fireworks a permit to sell fireworks in the county last year, Frank Pete Elliott Jr. accused the governing body of discrimination against the stores for being Colorado-owned, likening it to discrimination against minorities during the Civil Rights era in the 1960s. This is going to be a Rosa Parks book, Elliott, who represented the businesses, told the WTE last year. Everybodys going to know. On Tuesday, the county commissioners again voted to deny the annual permit for Artillery World to operate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite being denied a permit twice last year, the businesses were able to continue to operate after a First Judicial District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction when the fireworks businesses sued the county over its decision. This means the businesses continued to operate until the court passes judgment on whether the commissioners decision was lawful as part of the petitions for review filed by each company. Commissioner Ty Zwonitzer said he did not feel comfortable approving this permit while the litigation between the county and Elliott is ongoing. Commissioner Troy Thompson echoed this sentiment. But the primary reason members of the governing body oppose issuing the permits is because they see the fireworks stores as bad business partners for the county. Last year, Thompson said in a commissioners meeting discussing the permit that Elliott would project recorded messages on bullhorns criticizing Phantom Fireworks, which is next door. The Laramie County Sheriffs Office had to address noise complaints there multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, he said employees would stand on top of tractor-trailers waving flags, and stand in the middle of the road to direct traffic to their store, instead of the nearby rivals. Elliott said these were just his unorthodox marketing tactics in response to rumors he believed Phantom Fireworks started about him, including that he sexually harassed their female employees, attempted to pay people to burn down their building and sends people to damage Phantoms products. Artillery World and Jurassic Fireworks are registered under the name Breanna Elliott, Frank Elliotts daughter, but Frank Elliott oversees much of the operations of the fireworks businesses and has been vocally critical of the commissioners. The cases against the county were filed under Breanna's name, not Frank's. Thompsons concerns rose when his personal business received a call from Frank Elliott about an upcoming protest against his vote to deny the permit, something he has done for the past six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the commissioners met Tuesday, Thompson played the recording of the phone call to his office. He said the call took place in May 2024. In the call, Elliott asked the receptionist how many employees work at Tri-State Veterinary Clinic, which Thompson owns. Weird question, Elliott said of his inquiry in the call, but we are looking to protect some of the employees and staff from whats coming to happen here real soon. ... Theres going to be a big protest theres going to be a big protest outside coming up in the next week or so and we just want to make sure that the employees know its nothing towards them, and theres no harm, that theyre going to be safe, were not going to do nothing out to disrupt them. Thompson said he took this call as a personal threat toward him and his business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just goes to this history of this man being a bully to our employees, to whoever it is that he thinks is standing in his way, Thompson said. And I cannot, in good conscience, ever vote for this person to be doing business in Laramie County. This isnt what we want in Laramie County. Commission Chairman Gunnar Malm agreed with Thompson, adding that it is inappropriate for a member of the public to threaten or protest in this manner. I dont see how that is appropriate in any world where were a civilized society, especially not in Wyoming, Malm said. Malm added that this not a case of discrimination against the business for being Colorado-owned, because the other fireworks stores in the same area are based out of state, as well, but have had their permits approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has nothing to do with that. It is about behavior, its about attitude, and it is about decorum, he said. And those are the things that I strongly believe this applicant does not possess, and I am against allowing them to do business in Laramie County if this is how theyre going to behave. The protest never happened at Thompsons business. Thompson said he believes it is because the stores were awarded a preliminary injunction to remain operational. Elliott said he does not believe the call indicated any sort of threat. Rather, he said he was looking out for the safety of Thompson's employees while wanting to exercise his right to organize a peaceful protest. I didnt hear it, but I can imagine theres no threat because I dont threaten people. Thats my M.O., Elliott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that he knew the denial of the permit was coming because thats what hes come to expect from the Laramie County commissioners. Elliott said he will seek every legal remedy possible to overturn the decision the commissioners made Tuesday, something he said last year after the same decision. When granted the injunction last year, the fireworks stores were given conditions to follow in order to keep the business open while the litigation plays out. Those conditions were: * Nobody representing Artillery World or Jurassic Fireworks could enter the right of way using a bullhorn, waving flags or engaging in activities to direct people toward their property Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * If using a bullhorn, it could only be from their property and not from an elevated platform, though speakers on their building are acceptable, as long as these sounds do not exceed 80 decibels at the propertys border; and * Nobody representing Artillery World or Jurassic Fireworks can engage in any harassment or conduct that is likely to disturb or interfere with other fireworks business operations. Bruce Asay, Elliott's legal counsel, said the businesses have abided by those conditions over the past year, and he argued the commissioners have no legal grounds to deny the permit. The commissioners also voted to fold those three conditions into any subsequent fireworks permit applications for any business in the county, something Asay said he is supportive of. In 1972, 29-year-old journalist Geraldo Rivera filmed an expose revealing the atrocities inside Willowbrook School, a state-supported institution on Staten Island for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Children whose only crimes lay in looking and acting slightly different from their nondisabled peers were sentenced to life in a filthy, reeking room where they huddled naked on the floor in their own feces or rocked and howled in terror or sat slack-jawed and vacant-eyed day after day while a single staff member tried to attend to the basic needs of 50. Contrast these images with a recent New York Times photo of Rachel Handlin, 30, resplendent in a black lace top and smiling beside the field camera she used to shoot photos for her solo exhibition strangers are friends I havent met yet at New York Citys White Columns Gallery. In May 2024, Handlin became the first person with Down syndrome to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree. The exhibition depicts other people with her genetic condition whove graduated from two- and four-year colleges and universities around the world, including Spains Pablo Pineda, 51, who left his acting career to earn a B.A. in Educational Psychology and a teaching certificate; community college graduate Kayla McKeon, 38, who in 2017 became the first Capitol Hill lobbyist with Down syndrome; and Adam DeBacker, 27, who earned a B.S. in Theater and a recording arts graduate certificate at Missouri State University where he now works as a recording engineer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, President Donald Trump held a showy ceremony at the White House to mark his signing of an executive order attempting to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency canceled dozens of DOE contracts, including an 11-year study of youths with disabilities that was supposed to identify which programs are effective in improving employment and educational outcomes for these students after high school. Over 1,000 students with disabilities were supposed to receive special instruction and support in 2025 and 2026 through this study, which has now been terminated, the nonprofit Hechinger Report notes. Earlier this month, the Department fired more than 1,300 of its employees including over half of the staff in the Office for Civil Rightsthe department responsible for fielding student and parent complaints about discrimination in schools. The National Down Syndrome Congress responded by issuing this statement: This action will have very negative consequences for students, educators, and the future of our education system, and especially students with disabilities. In 1975 when my brother was born in Southern California, the pediatrician told my parents that because hed never be able to walk or talk, they should put him in an institution. Over my dead body, my mother replied, and brought him home and enrolled him in infant physical therapy and later, in special education classes at schools separate from the public school I attendedthe only option he had back then. Im here to tell you that he can walk and talk just fine, and also hold down a job at his local steakhouse, compete on his Special Olympics bowling and track teams, and do a spot-on impression of The Three Stooges. Inspired by my brother, Ive spent a year and a half researching and interviewing people with Down syndrome all over the world for my forthcoming book Down Syndrome Out Loud: 20+ Stories about Disability and Determination . I listened as designer Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, 28, who presented her collection at London Fashion Week, recounted how she graduated from college in Guatemala but was denied entrance into fashion schools by teachers who worried she couldnt keep up with the curriculum. I spoke with Charlotte Woodward, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and now works as Education Program Associate for National Down Syndrome Society. She told me how shed been popular and happy, enrolled in general education K-8 classes until the first day of high school, when she found herself placed in a special class for people with intellectual disabilities far away from her friends. She advocated for her right to access the general education curriculum and won. But thats not the reality for many people with disabilities, she told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over and over, as I spoke with the subjects in my book, I heard stories of people having to fight for the right to mainstream education, people who literally had to sue their schools for the same educational opportunities as their non-disabled friends and peers. Theyve relied on the support of investigators in the Office for Civil Rightsemployees who were placed on administrative leave Fridayironically, World Down Syndrome Day. What will become of our youngest students with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities without the backing of skilled and compassionate educators at the government's highest levels? More and more people with Down syndrome are graduating from mainstream high school, college, and university classes and going on to be of service in the world. Im thinking of Cody Sullivan, 23, who earned a Certificate of Achievement in Concordias College of Education and works as a teaching assistant in Portland, Oregon. Im thinking of Dr. Karen Gaffney, 47, who earned her teacher's aide certificate at Portland Community College and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Portland for her activism as president of the Karen Gaffney Foundation. And Im picturing Mexicos Ana Victoria Espino De Santiago, 26, who, last year, became the first lawyer with Down Syndrome. In her graduation photo, De Santiago stares the camera down, resplendent in her black satin cap and gown. She told The Latin Times that her goal is to end discrimination for people with disabilities. Weve come a long, long way from committing to institutions those who look and act slightly different from the majority and condemning them to a lifetime of fear and filth and isolation. Even those with the hardest hearts among us must agree that we cannot go back. Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. We asked readers for their reaction. Here's what they said: People wake up! This is not going well! I am expressing my view on this subject here. None of the federal departments should be dismantled without the approval of Congress, and a solid plan for replacing its functions, or removing legitimately unneeded programs. The Department of Education is particularly important in its mission of ensuring disabled and special needs American kids are properly educated. President Donald Trump and his minions apparently want to return to the days when these people were warehoused for life in asylums and other miserable institutions. His penchant for all things to be beautiful and gold-plated, never having to see a wounded warrior or disabled journalist, is sickening. His oligarch friends are willing to go along with anything that allows them to keep more of their own riches as they jockey for position on the Forbes 100. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People need to wake up.or pay attention.wise up.educate themselves.or whatever you want to call it. This is not going to end well (for families) if its allowed to continue. Linda P., Oklahoma City I'm glad, but here's why Im glad that President Donald Trump finally signed the executive order dismantling the Department of Education. Not because I thought it was the right thing to do. I firmly believe the opposite, because I grew up poor in rural Oklahoma, where I had free lunches and the ability to attend programs funded by Title I. And Im not glad about the dismantling of the Office of Civil Rights, which protects my disabled daughter's right to a free, appropriate public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, Im only glad because this is the only way many will learn how vital the US Department of Education is. Watching (state schools) Superintendent Ryan Walters and Gov. Kevin Stitt celebrate the DOEs demise was frustrating, primarily since Oklahoma already controls its education. The state controls the curriculum standards and budgets, sets the pay, etc. Every DOE program is voluntary. Oklahoma never had to participate. The thing was, if Oklahoma did, they had to prove they used the money for the purpose it was intended for. Now, they can take whatever amount they are allotted and give it to their rich private school buddies truly one of their greatest passions. So now that Oklahoma has caught the car, theyll have to eat the tires. What does that mean? Well, here Ill break it down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its all on you now, Bucko. Therell be nobody left to point fingers at or scapegoat. More: State leaders meet Trump's order to dismantle education department with both enthusiasm, worry When rural schools cant provide lunches, buses, after-school care, or even stay open? Thats all on you now. When parents of disabled children lose access to vital services and potentially access to education for their kids? That's all on you now. When teachers flee the state, and businesses wont come here because their workers dont want to deal with a dumpster fire education system? Thats all on you now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for me? Im lucky to be privileged enough to have options for my family. Many people will not be so fortunate. I wanted to end this op-ed on a positive note. I wanted to stress the importance of public education. I wanted to talk about Oklahoma's history and why access to public education was included in our state constitution. I wanted to discuss Clara Luper, Kate Barnard, Ada Lois Sipuel-Fisher, and Ruth Brown. But Im angry and upset, and all I can think to say right now is this: I hope that they will prove me wrong. That they have a shred of decency left in their souls to care about ALL Oklahoman students. I have never in my life wanted to be incorrect as much as I do about this because disabled kids, poor kids, and all kids deserve a quality public education in Oklahoma. Please get in touch with your state reps and remind them of this fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reagan Grunder, Oklahoma City Just another vain ploy IF the last few weeks of reversal by the courts are any guide to the future, the administration will lose the USDE legal challenge as well. The goal of shutting down the USDE has never been about improving educational outcomes across the county, but rather just another vain attempt by the administration to discredit legitimate government services via intentional chaos. The ploy has not worked before, and this episode will fail in the same way. Howard Kuchta, Lawton, Oklahoma More: Left and right clash on need for Education Department What will it take? As if 2016-2020 wasnt awful enough, the craziness now holding court in our fragile democracy seems to be getting even worse than many of us feared possible. Someone with brains, a backbone and enough legal authority must step up to save the US from imploding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What bizarre action by the bully elected in November and his (minions) will it take to bring back healthy legislation and safety for all of our citizens? Suzy Morgan, in the 7th decade of life, a retired high school teacher and a proud graduate of Classen High School and the University of Oklahoma (both public schools). A bad idea Mr Trump is like a bull in a china shop. He destroys everything he touches. DOE destruction is a bad idea. B Toma, Norman Does Trump have spirit to protect children? WHY in this nation of people who claim to care about childrenwe are now allowing the dismantling of a federal government agency that is all about our children? And its being done by our president. ... If he can't find it in his spirit to protect the children, then you know he doesnt give a (expletive) about anything else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diane Inks The Public Square is a Viewpoints feature that seeks engagement from readers to questions on various issues of the day. Follow The Oklahoman on Facebook and on Twitter @TheOklahoman_ for weekly prompts for The Public Square. What are the guarantees without federal oversight? The idea of shutting down the U.S. Department of Education is not just shortsighted its dangerous for our children, particularly those in special education. For decades, this department has ensured that students with disabilities receive the education they deserve through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Without federal oversight, what guarantees do we have that states will uphold these protections? Additionally, Title I funding provides critical resources to low-income schools, ensuring all childrenregardless of ZIP code have access to quality education. Pell Grants make higher education possible for countless students who might otherwise be unable to afford it. If we eliminate these programs, what happens to those students? Who will ensure that states prioritize public education over private interests? The Department of Education exists to protect and support students, not control local schools. If we remove this safeguard, history has shown that states often put politics above student needs. I remember what education looked like before IDEA before we committed to all students, not just the privileged ones. We cannot afford to go back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dismantling the Department of Education is a reckless move that places ideology above childrens futures. If we care about special education, public schools, and equal access to learning, we must oppose this idea. I urge fellow Oklahomans to speak out against this harmful proposal before its too late. Robin Schein, Washington, OK Can we trust states to uphold fundamental rights without accountability? There is renewed discussion around eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and replacing it with a state-run system. While the appeal of local control has a certain surface-level charm, Oklahomans and all Americans must not overlook the far-reaching consequences of such a move. The Department of Education exists to safeguard the principle that every child, no matter their ZIP code, deserves access to a quality education. If we dismantle federal oversight, we risk returning to an uneven playing field, where affluent districts flourish and rural or underserved communities fall even further behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Equity in education should not be a privilege; it should be a promise. Beyond classroom resources, the Department enforces civil rights protections in schools protections that guarantee students aren't denied opportunities because of their race, gender, or disability. Gutting the department would weaken these safeguards. Can we consistently trust all 50 states to uphold such fundamental rights without accountability? Additionally, the logistics of dismantling the Department are no small matter. Programs like federal student loans and grants, which help thousands of Oklahomans attend college, would face significant disruptions. Operational breakdowns could leave students in limbo, and the long-term damage could take years to repair. Even for those eager to see less federal influence, lets be honest: abolishing the Department would require full congressional approval no easy feat in todays fractured political climate. While this may make the idea more symbolic than actionable, we should still take the threat seriously. Improving education is noble but destroying a national system without a proven alternative is reckless. Reform? Yes. Accountability? Absolutely. But abolishing the Department of Education risks undermining the very future we claim to protect. Lets not trade our childrens opportunity for a talking point. David Myers, Oklahoma City Will all students' rights be upheld now? Ive worked in education for 20 years and can attest that the system needs to be updated, since it was developed to hone obedient factory workers, and our manufacturing has moved abroad. However, an attempt at closing the department completely is a publicity stunt that will have deeply negative impacts on an already struggling system. Im fortunate that the state I work in has its own well-funded and high standards regarding quality education for students with special needs. However, I worry deeply about those states that rely on the oversight and funding to ensure the rights of all students are upheld. Why are we allowing this to happen? Where are our checks and balances? Why have we abandoned democracy? Courtenay Bell, Oakland, California Who will prevent the state from not doing the right thing? I believe this will have a negative effect on the education of students with special needs and students with any type of learning disability, especially if those students attend a school which is located within a high poverty community. Any school which currently receives federal funds for reading, special education or other programs will now, in theory, receive the same amount from the state. The plan will be that each state will receive the same total dollars as before. It will just be transferred from a federal government account to the state. The problem that will immediately rise is whether the state is required by the Trump government to distribute the money in the same manner as before? My prediction is that there will be few restrictions on how the money is spent. So if a state wants to use the money to buy Bibles, or allocate some of the money to increase vouchers for private school tuition, or even to pay teachers, what or who will prevent those actions? Rolla Weber, Norman DOE has been broken. Trump is fixing it. Youve heard, If it aint broke, dont fix it? Well, the DOE has been broken for a long time and Trump is trying to fix it. Our childrens future depends on it! Linda Clinton, Guthrie This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What will dismantling the Department of Education mean? Readers react Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said President Trump told students he doesnt give a damn about them with a recent move against the Department of Education. Today, Donald Trump and the corrupt billionaire he installed as Education Secretary told 50 million public school students across America that he doesnt give a damn about them. We should be investing in kids instead of billionaires, a statement from Martin in a Thursday DNC release obtained by The Hills sister network NewsNation reads. On Thursday, the president signed an executive order looking to facilitate his goal of getting rid of the Department of Education. The order recognizes that it would take congressional action to completely close down the department, but Trump ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to do all she can to result in its abolition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making, Trump said during a White House signing ceremony Thursday. I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education. The departments useful functions will be preserved, fully preserved, the president added in reference to Pell Grants, Title I funding and programs for students with disabilities. Theyre going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments. But beyond these core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. Were going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. In the last few months, the Trump administration has moved to drastically reshape the federal government, causing dramatic change at agencies and departments across the government. If youre a public school student, a working family, or a parent whose child is on an [Individual Education Program], Trump is directly attacking you. And from Appalachia to the rural South, his own voters will suffer, read the statement from Martin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to the White House and the Department of Education for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) KHARTOUM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. The SAF forces "managed to crush the remnants of the militia in the central areas of Khartoum, including the Al Souq Al-Arabi Market, the Republican Palace buildings and the ministries," SAF spokesman Nabil Abdalla announced in a televised statement. "Our forces have completely destroyed the enemy's personnel and equipment and seized large quantities of its equipment and weapons in the mentioned areas," he said. The battle for the palace intensified over the past four days, with the SAF deploying warplanes and drones against RSF fighters entrenched in high-rise buildings and government institutions. Heavy artillery and airstrikes caused extensive damage, with activists sharing footage of fires raging in central Khartoum. Since February, the Sudanese army has reclaimed most of Khartoum, with the RSF holding only a few strongholds, including the Jabal Awliya area in the south, home to a major dam. On Saturday, RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo insisted his forces would not withdraw from Khartoum or the presidential palace. However, the RSF has been steadily losing ground in central Sudan despite maintaining control over much of western Sudan and parts of the capital. On Sunday, the Sudanese army's armored corps launched a large-scale operation in Khartoum, advancing north and east to link up with the army's general command in the city center. This move further tightened its grip on RSF fighters at the palace. Sudan has been embroiled in conflict between the SAF and RSF since mid-April 2023, with almost 30,000 lives lost, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project cited by the United Nations. Sudanese Armed Forces are seen at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, on March 21, 2025. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. (Photo by Ibrahim Awad/Xinhua) Sudanese Armed Forces are seen at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, on March 21, 2025. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) Sudanese Armed Forces are seen at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, on March 21, 2025. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) Photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) Sudanese Armed Forces are seen at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, on March 21, 2025. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) Sudanese Armed Forces are seen at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, on March 21, 2025. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, which had been held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, according to official Sudan TV. (Photo by Ibrahim Awad/Xinhua) Mar. 20ST. PAUL The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on a draft update of the management plan for Roseau River Wildlife Management Area in northwest Minnesota, the agency said in a news release. The updated master plan will guide management of the 75,000-acre hunting and wildlife-watching destination in northwestern Minnesota. The DNR will use the updated master plan to guide management of Roseau River WMA's diverse wetlands, grasslands, shrublands and forests. The plan will include management goals, objectives and strategies for the WMA for the next 10 years. The previous management plan for the area was developed in 1980. Minnesota DNR staff will host two events one online and one in-person to provide an overview of the plan and its purpose, answer questions and collect public input. Registration is not required for either event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The online meeting is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 8. A link to join the webinar is available on the Roseau River WMA page of the DNR website at mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/roseau_river_wma.html . The in-person public meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in the Trapper Room at Roseau City Center, 121 Center St. E., Roseau, Minnesota. The public can review the updated master plan and submit online comments on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/roseau_river_wma.html . Comments can also be submitted by: * Emailing roseauriver.wildlife@state.mn.us. * Using the online form on the Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engage with DNR website at engage.dnr.state.mn.us/wma-ama-planning/surveys/roseauriverwma . * Providing verbal and written comments at the April 8 online meeting or April 9 in-person meeting. * Calling Roseau River WMA staff at (218) 452-7610. * Mailing Roseau River WMA Master Plan, Fish and Wildlife Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155. Comments will be accepted through Friday, April 25. Roseau River WMA's 75,163 acres consist of a mosaic of wetlands, woodlands, forest, shrublands, grasslands and peatlands that provide extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. The WMA contains 10,600 acres of managed shallow water wetlands, 17.5 miles of river, 12 oxbows, and nine moist soils cells that provide important breeding, nesting and migration habitat for waterfowl. Roseau River WMA is a popular destination for hunters, trappers, wildlife watchers and anglers. More information about the WMA is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/roseau_river_wma.html and the WMA finder at mndnr.gov/wmas . Elon Musk's government efficiency team, DOGE, is taking aim at Social Security, claiming fraud while pushing controversial changes that could make it harder for seniors to access benefits. Critics, including Mark Cuban, say the changes are part of a "backdoor" effort to cut payments and gut the agency. Elon Musk's Department for Government Efficiency has a new target in its quest to eliminate government waste: Social Security. Musk and the DOGE team have accused the agency of being engaged in widespread fraud, most notably claiming that tens of millions of dead people are erroneously receiving payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To curb some of this claimed identity fraud, the agency is enforcing stronger identity proofing procedures: a proposal that would force millions to file Social Security claims in person. The change has been criticized by some, including billionaire Mark Cuban, who called the move a "backdoor way to cut payments." Former SSA officials and experts have echoed Cuban's comments and raised concerns about the impact DOGE's initiatives could have on Social Security payments. "SSA recently required nearly all agency employees, including frontline employees in all offices throughout the country, to work in the office five days a week. This change ensures maximum staffing is available to support the stronger in-person identity proofing requirement," a Social Security spokesperson told Fortune in an emailed statement. "The agency will continue to monitor and, if necessary, make adjustments, to ensure it pays the right person the right amount at the right time while at the same time safeguarding the benefits and programs it administers." Backdoor benefits cut Laura Haltzel, a former associate commissioner at the Social Security Administration who resigned in late February, told Fortune DOGE was using the pretense of fraud within the agency as a way to reduce the amount of benefits being paid out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency announced on Tuesday that individuals who are unable to verify their identity through an online My Social Security account will need to visit their local Social Security office to do so in person. A leaked memo also hinted that Social Security phone support may end identity verification, which would also increase in-person visits. In response to the new identity proofing measures, the Social Security Administration also plans to expedite the processing of direct deposit change requestsboth online and in-personto just one business day, a significant reduction from the previous 30-day hold. Several people, including Cuban, have raised concerns about how this could affect senior citizens living off Social Security checks. "How many seniors who live exclusively off of their SS checks can afford internet? How many seniors no longer have a SS office near them now that dozens have been closed? What are people without internet or the ability to travel, or dont have an office near them supposed to do if they need to reconfirm their bank account," the billionaire said in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haltzel said that the changes would make it more difficult for some Americans to access their benefits while doing little to target actual fraud. She said the changes amounted to a "de facto" Social Security cut, despite the Trump administration's promise not to touch the popular benefit. "It's creating an environment where the very beneficiaries we're trying to serve are simply not going to be able to access the benefits they've paid for," she said. "We have always tried to make it easier for claimantsmore efficient for claimants. And the justification that's being put forward for why they are pushing this is the idea that there's a great deal of fraud taking place," she said. "Well, the math there just doesn't add up." According to the SSA's inspector general, only 0.3% of claims are attributable to fraud. Social Securitys payment accuracy rate is over 99% and the agency has several safeguards in place against improper payments, according to the progressive think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiffany Flick, a former chief of staff at the U.S. Social Security Administration, has also said DOGE's takeover of SSA appeared to be based on the general myth of supposed widespread fraud." In a court filing, Flick raised concerns about DOGE staffers ability to protect sensitive taxpayer data. She said she was not confident that DOGE employees had the requisite knowledge and training to prevent sensitive information from being inadvertently transferred to bad actors, as the team had never been vetted by SSA or trained on SSA data, systems or programs." In such a chaotic environment, the risk of data leaking into the wrong hands is significant, she said in the filing. On Thursday, a federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing sensitive data at the Social Security Administration, saying they had little justification for their search for fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion, the judge wrote. Musks dead people database One of the main arguments Musk and DOGE have used for the need for reform is the claim that dead people are being paid Social Security, something Musk has referred to as a "dead people database." Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security, Musk said in a post on X. Having tens of millions of people marked in Social Security as 'ALIVE' when they are definitely dead is a HUGE problem. Obviously. Some of these people would have been alive before America existed as a country. Think about that for a second," he added in a separate post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump later echoed the claims in a press briefing, claiming millions and millions of people over 100 years old were receiving Social Security benefits: Theyre obviously fraudulent or incompetent." The claims have been debunked by experts and news outlets, but Musk has continued to push the claim. "What people don't understand is that you can have an active Social Security number for a very long time because Social Security pays a worker's earning record and can pay widow's benefits or children's benefits, so there can be many different benefits," Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works and chair of the Strengthen Social Security coalition, told Fortune. Altman said she was concerned that DOGE was trying to convince people that there was widespread fraud to undermine confidence in the program and the government, while using it as an excuse to "hollow out" the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It could end up completely nonfunctional, and create a lot of waste and abuse," she said. The numbers thrown out by Musk and Trump appear to misrepresent Social Security data. "They don't understand the difference between an active claim and active benefits and historical claims and historical benefits," Haltzel said, pointing out that people may still be in the system but not actually be receiving benefits. "It's simply not worth the time and effort of our staff to go into the records to undo the previous history of somebody who has passed on; they're not receiving benefit payments today." Job cuts could put the already understaffed agency under strain Officials have also raised concerns about the proposed staff cuts at the SSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haltzel, who took early retirement in February, said the team had "instilled in everybody at SSA a definite fear that if they didn't leave, their job might be lost to them." She accused the cost-cutting team of intentionally creating a culture of fear and unpredictability and operating with a clear disdain for government employees. DOGE has been clear about its plans to slash government headcount, but experts say cuts could cause the already understaffed SSA to crumble under the pressure. "You can reduce the direct costs by having fewer federal employees, and you can make it harder for people to claim benefits because the people who would have served them are gone," Haltzel said. "The fewer people, the longer it's going to take. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They are absolutely creating administrative burdens where there need not be any, under the guise of saving, you know, waste, fraud, and abuse," she added. Altman warned the agency's workloads had increased as staffing levels decreased. The SSA hit a 25-year low in agency employees in the 2024 fiscal year. "You've got increasing birth and decreasing staff," she said. "I've been working on this program for the last 50 years, and this is the most serious threat I've ever seen to it." This story was originally featured on Fortune.com As tensions between the White House and the federal judiciary continue to rise, litigators at the Justice Department are increasingly seeking to have judges removed from cases where they have ruled against the administration. On Friday, the Justice Department filed a motion to disqualify U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell from overseeing a lawsuit brought by major law firm Perkins Coie. The suit is challenging an executive order that lawyers said was designed to destroy the firm in retaliation for previous work on behalf of President Donald Trumps political enemies. Howell has repeatedly demonstrated partiality against and animus towards the president, a Justice Department attorney wrote in the motion. It pointed to Howells previous statements regarding Jan. 6 rioters, rulings she made while overseeing sealed matters connected to special counsel Jack Smiths investigations of Trump and her comments during the initial hearing in the Perkins case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reasonable observers may well view this Court as insufficiently impartial to adjudicate the meritless challenges to President Trumps efforts to implement the agenda that the American people elected him to carry out, the motion reads. Earlier this week, a separate Justice Department attorney sent a letter to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, calling for Chief Judge James Boasberg to be removed from an ongoing case regarding the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. The letter took issue with what it called Boasbergs highly unusual and improper procedures. The appeals court has thus far declined to act on the Justice Departments request and Boasberg remains on the case. Howell will be the one to rule on the Justice Departments motion and its unlikely she will disqualify herself. Seeking the disqualification of a judge is a highly unusual move, especially coming from the Justice Department. Generally, efforts to remove a judge from a case are reserved for times where there is a clear conflict of interest or blatant misconduct by a judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors in Smiths office faced public pressure last year to move for Judge Aileen Cannons disqualification over her handling of Trumps classified documents criminal case. At the time, Trump called attacks on Cannon an effort to illegally intimidate and harass a judge that he had appointed. They are calling her terrible names, wrongfully threatening her with Impeachment, and disrespecting her, all because they want her to act like the dishonest, politically biased, and conflicted Judges in New York, and not like the fair and impartial Judge that she is, Trump said in an April 2024 Truth Social post. Smiths prosecutors never asked Cannon to remove herself from the classified documents case. Cannon dismissed those charges against Trump last summer. Trump is no stranger to attempting to remove judges from cases. His lawyers filed motions to disqualify judges in his Washington election interference criminal case, his Manhattan hush money criminal case and his Manhattan civil fraud case. All those motions were denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, Howell and Boasberg both served as the chief judge of the federal courthouse in Washington while sealed proceedings connected to Smiths investigations into Trump were taking place. Howell passed that seat to Boasberg in March 2023. In that role, both judges were responsible for rulings that allowed prosecutors to obtain evidence and testimony that Trump and his allies had attempted to claim as privileged. Fridays motion for Howells recusal argues those rulings are evidence of her bias against Trump, accusing her of enabling the improper efforts of disgraced former prosecutor Jack Smith. Last week, Howell entered a court order temporarily preventing the administration from enforcing the executive orders most serious sanctions against Perkins Coie. Litigation in that case continues and Howell is set to consider arguments on the constitutionality of the executive order next month. (Bloomberg) -- The US Justice Department is seeking to intervene on behalf of President Donald Trump in the long-running civil lawsuits accusing him of being personally liable for the violence and disruption at the US Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cases have been held up for years amid a fight over whether Trump is entitled to immunity. In a notice filed Thursday night, a Justice Department official told a judge Trump was acting within the scope of his office during the events in question, meaning the US government, and not Trump, should be the defendant in the cases. If government lawyers succeed in swapping Trump out of the litigation, it would rid him of one of the last remaining personal legal threats he faces. But a judge will first have to approve the move, and the plaintiffs are expected to oppose it. Trumps return to the White House has aided his fight against a slew of court cases filed after he left office in 2021. Following his November win, a now-former special counsel dropped criminal charges including an indictment related to the 2020 election and Jan. 6 attack because of Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. The US Supreme Court has said that presidents can face civil claims over personal conduct, so Trumps defense against the Jan. 6 lawsuits has focused on whether he was acting within his official capacity leading up to the Capitol assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump lost the first round of the immunity fight. But a federal appeals court ruled in December 2023 that he could try again if he could present evidence that key events cited in the lawsuits, such as his Jan. 6 speech to supporters, were official activities. His personal attorneys renewed the immunity bid in January. Congressional Democrats and law enforcement officers who sued have continued to argue he was engaging in personal conduct as a candidate. Joe Sellers, a lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said on Friday that they were considering their options to respond to the Justice Departments latest move. He said that because the immunity fight has hinged on whether Trump was acting within the outer perimeter of the presidency, the issues presented by Justice Departments substitution effort are already before the judge. During Trumps first term, the Justice Department unsuccessfully tried to substitute the US government as the defendant in a civil case accusing Trump of defaming writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexually assaulting her decades ago. Following court setbacks for the Justice Department, US officials under former president Joe Biden reversed course and determined Trump didnt qualify for the legal protection afforded to government employees. Carroll prevailed at trial against Trump. Hes appealing that verdict as well as his loss in a separate but related lawsuit brought by Carroll. Trump is also appealing a civil fraud verdict in a case brought by the New York attorney general, as well as his criminal conviction on state charges in Manhattan in a separate hush-money case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is Blassingame v. Trump, 21-cv-858, US District Court, District of Columbia. --With assistance from Erik Larson. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Big Boy Restaurant Group is opening the Dayton areas first Dollys Burgers and Shakes location near the Dayton Mall. At 7 a.m. on March 24, Dollys will hold a soft opening at 8181 N. Springboro Pike in Miami Township. This is the building which previously housed Frischs, which closed its doors in late 2024. Opening day giveaways On March 24, Dollys is expected to provide free burgers to select customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First 50 drive-thru customers with a free Signature Burger at 11 a.m. Up to 150 dine-in or carryout patrons with a free Signature Burger at 2 p.m. Guests wanting to participate in the food giveaway are able to line up starting at 1:30 p.m. All guests will also be able to participate to try and win door prizes like tickets to the Dayton Dragons and season passes to Kings Island. Free meals: EMS, fire, police According to the company, the location will offer one free meal per day to each firefighter, first responder, paramedic and police officer who are in uniform through March 30. BBRG CEO talks first Dayton-area spot BBRG CEO Tamer Afr said upon opening the new location, Dollys patrons will notice familiar flavors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dollys will serve up all of the familiar flavors its parent company is known for when the restaurant chain opens its doors and drive-through window to guests in Miamisburg, said Afr. The Miami Valleys next Dollys location is planned to open in Troy at a later date. What customers can expect From 7 to 11 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends, a breakfast bar will be available to guests. A salad and soup bar will be available each day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The CEO also addressed rumors of which sauce may be used on burgers, which some may know an alternative from other locations of BBRG. But rest assured contrary to what you may have heard, we know that the white sauce is the right sauce for our Signature Burgers in southwest Ohio, Afr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through Easter, a seafood buffet will be offered on Fridays. As of now, Dollys Burgers and Shakes is a working title, as the company plans to expand across southwest Ohio. WDTN.com previously reported the new restaurant opened earlier this month in two Cincinnati suburbs. If you are looking to apply to the new location, available positions can be viewed here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. (NewsNation) The parents of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki have requested authorities to declare her dead, but laws in the Dominican Republic, where she went missing, may lead to the requests denial since a body has not been recovered. A judge in the Dominican Republic ruled that the last person to see the 20-year-old is free to return home to the United States. Joshua Riibe, 22, has been questioned in the disappearance of Konanki. However, he has not been charged with wrongdoing or named as a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private investigator T.J. Ward joined NewsNation Now to discuss the latest in the case. Missing college student timeline: Where is Sudiksha Konanki? I dont believe that she drowned. I think something else happened, said Ward, who has worked on various high-profile missing cases, including that of Natalie Holloway in 2005. Its way too early. I dont believe she drowned, he said. Ward worked on Holloways case for 18 years. Now, he said he contacted Konankis mother, offering to get involved as a private investigator. This case is going to stay active until they find some evidence to move forward, Ward said. I think something else happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Donald Trump lashed out at The New York Times over its report that Elon Musk would be briefed on classified U.S. plans if war should break out with China. Musk did visit the Pentagon today, but Trump and other officials denied the report. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said that Elon wouldnt do it. He wouldnt want to put himself in that position. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has substantial business interests in China, and the Times report raised further alarm over his influence and potential conflicts of interest in the administration. They have fake sources or they dont have sources. I think they make most of it up, Trump said of the Times. He also called them the enemy of the people. A Times spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment. But the Times has not backed away from its reporting. In its story posted on Thursday, with five bylines, it quoted two unnamed U.S. officials on the plans to brief Musk on the war plans. It noted its initial response from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who told them, The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting. About an hour later, according to the Times, Parnell posted on X that the story was 100% fake news. The Wall Street Journal later reported that Musk would be briefed on the war plans, and updated its story to reflect Trumps assertion that he would not. But the Journal also stuck by its story that Musk was to receive a top secret briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On X, Musk called the Times pure propaganda, and wrote, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. In the Oval Office, Trump extended his media attacks to CNN and MSNBC, as he has done before. We have made such big strides over the past two months, and we just need honest journalism, and we dont have it, Trump said. He claimed that CNN and MSNBC were both doing horribly in the ratings. I think they are going to be turned off. Last week, Trump called CNN and MSNBC illegal for reporting negatively about him. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Losing your wife to own the liberals: Sounds like a parody of a Donald Trump voter, but it's turning out to be the story of Bradley Bartell, a Wisconsin man whose wife, Camila Munoz, is being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Munoz is a Peruvian immigrant who overstayed a visa, after being trapped in the country during the pandemic. She met Bartell while working illegally in the U.S., but because she married an American and is working on a green card, the couple thought it was safe to go on their honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Now she is sitting in a Louisiana detention center, having been arrested at the airport. Initially, much of the reaction to this story was framed in terms of "regret," with some outlets claiming Bartell is "questioning" his vote. It's an understandable error. It should be that someone would regret taking an action that led directly to his wife being arrested. Careful reading of the story shows, however, that all Bartell would commit to was saying, "It doesnt make any sense," without ever saying if he was reconsidering the wisdom of voting for a man who promised to deport everyone like Munoz, starting "day one." I took to Bluesky and warned people that there was no evidence that Bartell had learned a lesson, gently predicting he would stand by Trump. On Wednesday, that prediction came true, with Bartell telling Newsweek, "I don't regret the vote," even as he asked people to donate to GoFundMe to raise cash for Munoz's bond. He twisted himself in knots to argue that this wasn't Trump's fault, insisting, "He didn't create the system, but he does have an opportunity to improve it. Hopefully, all this attention will bring to light how broken it is." This is, of course, delusional. ICE is acting Trump's orders, which his press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified in January: "If an individual is overstaying their visa, they are therefore an illegal immigrant residing in this country, and they are subject to deportation." Bartell would have seen that, if he read the USA Today story about his and Munoz's plight, but I'd bet he didn't. USA Today is the hated "mainstream media," and MAGA refuses to trust it, even if it has useful, fact-based information, such as how deadly serious Trump is about this deportation agenda. Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only. None of this is to single Bartell out. On the contrary, the reason it was so easy to predict how he would react is that this is typical of most Trump voters, whose devotion to the MAGA cult reliably outstrips what should be more pressing concerns, such as the safety of their families. We saw this during the pandemic, as Republican voters unable to admit liberals could be right about anything, including the germ theory of disease refused to take precautions and even rejected the vaccines that Trump himself had authorized research funding for. The result was also predictable: death rates from COVID-19 among Republicans swiftly outpaced those of Democratic voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being willing to admit you're wrong is hard for most people. In June 2017, I first wrote about the decades of psychological research showing that "buyer's remorse" makes people feel bad about themselves. Most everyone has, at one point or another, tied themselves in rationalization knots to avoid uttering the phrase, "I was wrong." Republicans have been swimming in decades of propaganda telling them liberals are the most loathsome people on the planet, making it all that much harder to admit that liberals were right all along. In addition, the personalities most attracted to Trumpism are hostile to critical thinking and attracted to "my way or the highway" attitudes that make no room to listen to disagreement. In the years since, Trump and MAGA leaders have employed tactics familiar to anyone who's watched a documentary about cults. The term "Trump derangement syndrome," applied to anyone who criticizes Trump, functions like "suppressive persons," the Scientologist phrase for outsiders. It doesn't just warn members against listening to reason, but contains a threat: this is how you'll be labeled if you leave the fold. Cult members are under a deluge of conspiracy theories and disinformation, degrading their ability to think rationally and making them more dependent on the cult leadership. Above all, they are soaked in an "us vs. them" mentality, told constantly that outsiders are trying to destroy them. Last month, NPR ran a 3-part series by journalist Zach Mack, about his failed efforts to de-radicalize his father, who had grown addicted to wild MAGA conspiracy theories prophesizing mass arrests of Democrats and the collapse of American cities. In the course of the series, his father loses both his wife and daughter, who end their relationship with him rather than put up with the nonsense. It's an audio format, so the listener gets to hear his father talk about all this, and what's striking is how gratingly arrogant his dad is. He drips contempt for people who are skeptical that an electromagnetic pulse will soon wipe out New York City, or disbelieve Barack Obama is about to be tried for treason. Mack's father's main complaint is he doesn't get the "respect" he feels he deserves. It swiftly becomes clear that preserving an image of himself as someone who knows better than all the annoying liberals matters more to him than anything even if it costs him all his money and his entire family. The quotes from Bartell's interview showcase a similar preoccupation. "I've received a lot of hateful messages, plenty of people saying we deserve this. And a lot of other insults," he complains. One would think that Bartell has bigger things to worry about than being miffed that people are less than gracious about how wrong he is and how right they are. Or that he might consider whether his critics have a point, that voting away his wife's safety was a poor decision. But this need for ego preservation is so strong, especially with loyal Trump voters, that these considerations don't even rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Watson at Skepchick released a sobering video on this topic a few weeks ago, explaining why it's not as simple as "be nice to Trump voters suffering from their choices, and maybe we can win them over." She agrees that "a lot of Trump voters were victims of an elaborate scam," but notes that doesn't mean they're about to wake up. "I've been studying scams for several decades," she explains. "One of the most obvious ways to know if someone is going to get scammed is knowing that they already got scammed before." As she explains, even if someone does come around to rejecting the current scam they're in, they have rarely addressed "the root problem that allowed them to be scammed." My research on the topic led me to the same conclusion. Once in a blue moon, a person is willing to do the hard internal work that leads to real, sustainable change. Most people who are radicalized, however, are lost forever. Even if they give up the current cult or conspiracy theory, they will almost always jump right into another. There are plenty of people who can say, "I was wrong" or "I'm sorry." People who have that skill, however, tend to be empathetic, self-aware, and curious all traits that prevent ever having voted for Trump in the first place. People who are attracted to Trumpism often have personality flaws, especially thick-headedness, that interfere with ever learning a lesson, no matter how serious the consequences. Not that readers should give up all hope. Joe Biden won in 2020, by a small but crucial margin of persuadable swing voters. The bad news is most of these folks are low-information voters, which is why they were suckered by lies and social media noise into sliding back to Trump in 2024. The good news is that most of them didn't like Trump that much to begin with, and voted for him impulsively and even reluctantly. That means their ego isn't as wrapped up in the vote as the more hardcore MAGA people. Many may even "forget" they voted for him when that prospect becomes more embarrassing. Trump has only been in office for a few months, but he's already slipping with those voters rapidly in approval ratings. Think of these folks like people who get audited by a Scientologist once, on a lark, but are weirded out by the process and never go back. Not everyone who encounters a cult is sucked into it forever. The key is focusing on those who never put more than a toe across the threshold, instead of those who walked all the way in and shut the door behind them. You are here: Business A bullet train runs on the China-Laos Railway's Luang Prabang cross-Mekong River super major bridge in Laos, May 28, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) rose 9.1 percent year on year to 22.97 billion U.S. dollars in the first two months of 2025, data released Thursday by the Ministry of Commerce shows. Chinese companies' non-financial ODI in Belt and Road partner countries expanded 17.6 percent from the previous year to total 5.52 billion dollars for January to February. During the period, the turnover of overseas projects contracted by Chinese companies amounted to 18.34 billion dollars, down 5.6 percent. The value of new contracts surged 28.7 percent to 35.34 billion dollars. The turnover of contracted overseas projects undertaken by Chinese companies in Belt and Road partner countries was 15.06 billion dollars during the period, down 5.2 percent year on year. The value of new contracts signed by Chinese companies in these countries totaled 30.92 billion dollars, up 33.7 percent, according to the data. PHNOM PENH, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Togo have signed two deals on the establishment of bilateral consultations and visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports, said a press release from the Cambodian foreign ministry on Friday. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey inked the deals in Phnom Penh during the latter's visit to Cambodia from March 18 to 20, the press release said. During their talks, the two ministers exchanged views on enhancing ties and expanding cooperation between the two countries, it said, adding that both sides welcomed the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of Cambodia-Togo diplomatic ties as an opportunity to deepen engagement, especially in trade and investment. Dussey also commended Cambodia's durable peace, stability, and remarkable socio-economic development, the press release said. Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of common interest and reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination and mutual support on international platforms, it added. In celebration of the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two ministers agreed to promote high-level exchanges, with Dussey inviting Sokhonn for an official visit to Togo this year, the press release said. T.J. Johnson, chair of the Department of Transportation's governing board (left) and Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell (right) at a meeting on March 20, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy of SCDOT) COLUMBIA Widening shoulders and increasing visibility along more than 400 miles of primary roads in rural areas has significantly reduced the number of life-threatening car accidents in the state, the secretary of the state Department of Transportation said this week. Justin Powell, who has been leading the DOT for almost a year, told the agencys governing board Thursday the improvements have reduced serious and fatal car accidents by 20%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measures are part of the Rural Road Safety Program, one of the pillars of the departments 10-year-plan set in 2017 when lawmakers passed legislation that raised the states gas taxes and other fees to fund the repair of the states roads and bridges. This program is one of the most impactful things we do because I feel that our work is leading to people being able to go home at the end of day, Powell told the SC Daily Gazette in a phone interview after the Thursday meeting. He added that increased highway patrol presence and efforts from other departments have been crucial to dropping the rate as well. South Carolina has the highest fatality rate on non-interstate, rural roads in the nation, according to a report from The Road Information Program, a nonprofit transportation research group, that evaluated 2022 statistics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of March 7, the department had removed trees, added rumble strips and brighter signs, and widened shoulders, among other fixes, along more than 417 miles of rural roads in the state. The state has an additional 700-plus miles that are either in the process of being improved or are contracted. Powell said he was confident the DOT would meet its objective of having 1,300 miles completed or under construction by the end of 2027, saying the program has been aggressive in initiating projects. He said the Rural Road Safety Project has spent nearly $500 million since 2017. The department has $50 million annually dedicated to the program and had $96 million in one-time funds allotted in last years budget. Powell told DOT commissioners that $66 million of the nonrecurring money had been contracted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roads being targeted by DOT are high-traffic rural roads that have accounted for 30% of serious crashes despite making up only 5% of rural roads in the state. These streets are often worn down and might not have clear road markers, Powell said. That means its easier for people to swerve out of their lane, which is how the highest number of rural road accidents occur, he added. Ensuring that road markers are clear and new, as well as laying down bump strips are a pair of measures that Powell told the SC Daily Gazette have been effective. Crashes from a vehicle leaving roads all together have gone down more than 40% in areas that have been treated, according to DOT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything we can do to keep their attention on the lane, Powell said. The law that started the Rural Road Safety Program also created parallel efforts for bridges and interstates, as well as paving around South Carolina. Goals for those programs are also on track to be met as well, Powell said. The departments Momentum 2050 Plan that aims to modernize roadways and bridges and ease congestion as South Carolinas population continues to rise was approved Thursday. The program will cost more than $3 billion annually, according to the presentation given during the meeting. DOT will have to make up a nearly $1 billion gap to meet that price, Leah Quattlebaum, the deputy secretary for planning explained during the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that hurdle, the plan was applauded by multiple commissioners during the meeting. Each of South Carolinas seven congressional districts has its own DOT commissioner and there are two at-large appointees from the governor. One of the at-large spots is currently vacant. Its so nice in South Carolina we have plans were proud of, said Max Metcalf, commissioner in the fourth district that is made up of parts of Greenville and Spartanburg Counties. We feel like were focused and we can get this accomplished. That gives us the ability to go out and talk to people and say we got something. In the wake of a fireworks explosion that destroyed part of a home and left a man in critical condition, more than two dozen families remain displaced. The explosion in the 13500 block of Remington Street in Pacoima was reported around 9 a.m. and is believed to have been caused by the manufacture of fireworks, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The 24-year-old man who was hurt allegedly the manufacturer of the fireworks was in critical condition with first-degree burns to at least 50% of his body, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once he recovers, hes expected to face numerous charges. Man in critical condition after fireworks explosion levels L.A. home Despite the devastation, not all of the fireworks were detonated, and some of the chemicals used in manufacturing fireworks remain in the home as well, officials said. As a result, the explosion has displaced 26 families, 15 under mandatory evacuation orders and 11 under evacuation warnings, KTLAs Carlos Herrera has learned. Those displacements are expected to last until Monday or Tuesday. It would be a good idea to anticipate, like I said multiple times, its going to be slow and methodical due to the nature of the investigation, said LAPD Officer Kevin Terzes. I would anticipate at least a day or two, but be flexible. I know thats a lot to ask, but thats where were at in order to keep everybody safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hotel vouchers have been offered to those displaced, and the American Red Cross has also set up an emergency shelter at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region and our partners are working tirelessly to support those who have been evacuated from the fireworks explosion area in Pacoima. Red Cross LA has opened an emergency shelter providing shelter, food, water, health and emotional support services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. GARY, Ind. (WGN) An elementary school and multiple homes were damaged, displacing dozens of families, as strong thunderstorms raked Northwest Indiana on Wednesday. A National Weather Service survey team confirmed much of the damage was the result of an EF-1 tornado. The hardest hit area appears to be in Gary, near Hendricks Street and West 21st Avenue. On Thursday, the city was in recovery mode as residents were left to figure out what comes next. The lights started blinking. The rain started hitting the house real, real hard, Gary resident Donell Currin Jr. told WGN. I looked at the school and I see all the debris rotating in a funnel cloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frankie Woods McCullough Academy, an elementary school, had part of its roof torn off by the strong winds. An EF-1 intensity tornado packs winds ranging from 86 to 110 MPH. School principal Charmayne McKinley called the damage devastating. Photos show damage inside Gary school hit by tornado Tornado damages Steger building, uproots trees Currin and his cousin, Michael Reeves, were working on a house across the street from the school when the storm passed. It tore the school up. It tore them houses up, and it was throwing all that debris and we just tried to outrun it, Reeves said. When we got back and saw the damage, oh man, we just started praying because we know theres a lot of people in these houses and our hearts go out to them. Officials with the school district expressed gratitude that the damage wasnt worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could have happened earlier in the day, and we just think about all of those things and all of our babies, staff, and teachers that were in the building, said Chelsea Whittington, the chief spokesperson for Gary Community School Corp. City officials say wind damage and business flooding are among the other difficulties theyre assessing as utility crews worked to fix broken poles and downed power lines. But as far as theyre aware, there were no serious injuries or deaths associated with the storm. Deputy Chief Mark Terry with the Gary Fire Department said one woman became trapped by debris when the roof of her home collapse but she was rescued and taken to a hospital in stable condition. Officials have setup a 24-hour shelter at the citys site on the 4100 block of Washington Street for those impacted to shower, sleep and have a hot meal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Highland, a NWS survey team said an EF-0 struck the community, uprooting trees and leaving debris scattered. Its going to take a long time to get all of this together, said resident Sheila Courtright, who was left cleaning up after a tree fell on her home. Another resident summed up the situation, saying: Property can be replaced. Lives cant. Late Thursday, survey crews confirmed two additional, weaker tornadoes hit Gary on Wednesday: one in the business district and another in the southwestern part of the city, near 29th Avenue and Burr Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Donald Trumps pick to lead a major federal healthcare agency is in doubt over his previous support for gender-affirming surgeries for transgender children. Dr Mehmet Oz, the former TV host, is the presidents nominee to lead the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). He appeared before the Senate Finance Committee last week, which will hold a vote on whether to advance his nomination to the full Senate floor. But Republican Senator Josh Hawley has raised concerns that the doctor had previously praised trans surgeries for minors and supported the use of puberty blockers for children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Hawley is an influential voice and Dr Oz can only afford to lose three Republican senators to win confirmation in a full Senate vote without any Democratic support. He also questioned Dr Ozs previous comments on abortion, adding: I hope hes changed his views to match President Trump! We need the Trump agenda at CMS. Mr Hawley said Dr Oz had hosted various transgender advocates as well as a surgeon who performed transgender surgery on his programme. He said he had also invited children to discuss switching genders and praised parents for helping their children transition. In 2010, Dr Oz hosted a 15-minute segment on his show called Transgender Kids: Too Young to Decide? in which he spoke to transgender children, their parents and a doctor who provided gender-affirming care. Credit: YouTube/ The Real Dr. Mehmet Oz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the show, Dr Oz discussed the right way to nurture a transgender child and spoke about treatments including puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries. What does it mean to be a boy? What does it mean to be a girl? Those two simple questions are infinitely complex and gut wrenching for parents of children who are born transgender, Dr Oz said at the start of the show. Speaking about Josie, eight, who was born male, Dr Oz said: Her sex on the outside didnt match how she felt on the inside, and thats how every transgender child feels. Dr Oz speaks to a child on his show segment Transgender Kids: Too Young to Decide in 2010 Another guest was Isaac, 15, who was born female and decided to have a double mastectomy when he was in seventh grade (age 12-13). He described the surgery as just like taking off two big tumours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to Isaac and his parents, Dr Oz said: I think your parents love you dearly. Dr Oz also spoke to Dr Robert Garofalo, a paediatrician, who said: These parents should be applauded for being truly amazing. During the programme, the broadcaster also noted that transgender care was a complex and controversial issue and others had warned that transgender children do not always grow up to be transgender adults. The show was initially praised by LGBTQ organisation GLADD as groundbreaking at the time, but Dr Ozs show has since been criticised for allegations of promoting false or misleading medical claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Ozs comments during the programme resurfaced during his unsuccessful bid for the Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022. Credit: YouTube/ Real America's Voice Asked at the time if he supported a ban on puberty blockers for children, Dr Oz said he would want a doctor to make the decision with the patient. Im very dubious of giving young children pyramid blockers, surgery or anything else. I mean, I cant imagine scenarios where that will be welcomed, but I dont want to interfere with doctors and parents working together. In his two-page list of questions for Dr Oz, Mr Hawley, a Republican Senator for Missouri, asked if he believed that CMS has a role in promoting or supporting gender transition surgery in any way and if he would support efforts to halt federal funding to hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children. Senator Josh Hawley has raised concerns that Dr Oz previously supported the use of puberty blockers for children - Mark Schiefelbein/AP If confirmed, Dr Oz would take over the $1.5 trillion agency and oversee health insurance for about 150 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or ACA coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Hawley also pressed Dr Oz on whether he supported the overturning of Roe v Wade, which made abortion access a constitutional right. In 2019 Dr Oz opposed state limitations on abortion related to foetal heartbeat by describing it as little electrical exchanges in the cell that no one would hear or think about as a heart. The Telegraph contacted a representative for Dr Oz for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Hug me brotha! There hasnt been much of a break for Drake Bell since the hit Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh ended in 2007. Since then, hes had a son, released three studio albums, embarked on his latest solo tour, and shared vulnerable sexual assault stories he experienced in the hit documentary Quiet on Set. That hasnt stopped him from taking a step back to reflect on the success of the series and the nostalgia of that era. On April 12 in Buffalo, Bell will host a 2000s Party at VENU in Buffalo. News 8 WROC had a chance to catch up with the star ahead of the show hours after the release of his latest music video, Diosa. News 8 WROCs Gio Battaglia: Congratulations on the Diosa video! Thats got to be exciting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drake Bell: We did a video for the song. That song had such an interesting life because we released it like in the middle of the pandemic. So, we werent able to tour it, or make a video for it, or do anything. We just kind of had to put it out. And then after the pandemic, I was like, Oh, we should make a video for Diosa. And so, we made the video. I was sort of already working on the new album and the new videos and artwork and everything, and it just kind of got put on the back burner, like Oh, well, well release it. So, I just did a kind of a surprise drop last night, which a lot of the fans I saw some good reactions. Battaglia: While youre in this current era of music, what made you want to tag team this current era of music with the 2000s event thats happening in Buffalo in a few weeks? Bell: Those things are just really fun. Like, you know, Im a big guy. Like, I love nostalgia, you know. We had the awesome generation of, like, classic TV, and all that stuff. And Im a big Disneyland fan. I love, like, you know, people are like, what? Why do you go to Disneyland so much? Because when you walk in, youre like, Oh yeah, this is what it felt like when I was a kid. I can not worry for a couple hours and just have fun. And so, I like events like that, you know, where we kind of like give the fans like a taste of nostalgia. Its fun. Battaglia: Something that every time I see tagged photos of you, or a fan mentions you, it always seems like they are getting the ultimate experience. They get to meet you, they get to watch you perform. How is that connection and why is it so important to you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bell: With the music, its really special because people are being affected by stuff that I wrote my bedroom, and then having fans come up and reference the show and what it meant to them growing up, or the impact that the documentary had, like, all of these encounters are really moving and amazing. And Im a big fan of who Im a fan of. And Ive had encounters with people that Ive looked up to like that that have been incredible, and some that have been, like, heartbreaking, you know. And so, Ive taken away from both of those interactions, Wait, I have the opportunity to be in your shoes. So, how would I want to? And now I know what it feels like on the other end, too. So, its this weird thing where I kind of have been able to experience both sides of it. And when you walk up to someone and youre like, Hey, can I get a picture? Can I get an autograph? And theyre like, you know, Im eating or not right now, [] then I got that like, Okay, I cant do that to people.' Battaglia: Thats important, and it definitely pays off. I Mean, these fans get so excited when they get to meet their idol, whether it be you or anyone else. So thats great that you provide the experience. And then when it comes to the music, how does it look when you create a set list for all these different shows? Is there one song that resonates with the fans that you got to make sure you put on or else youll hear about it? Bell: Definitely Found a Way is that encore hit. That makes everyone go crazy. But, when youre setting up a set list, its kind of difficult, actually, because as the musician, I always want to play the new songs. I always want to play stuff that I we havent played before and work it out and figure out new ways to bring it to stage and maybe change something thats not on the record, make it more dynamic. Youre always wanting to do that, but then you have to go, Oh, wait, but the fans want to come, and they want to hear this song, they want to hear that song, they want to hear and so its kind of pulling yourself back and going, Alright. Battaglia: You have had, as you mentioned, a big year of bravery and vulnerability. The documentary you talked about, it really was wildly received with at least what Ive seen is love and support. How has that been for you since it came out? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bell: Ive had a lot of experiences that I wasnt expecting. You know, I travel a lot, so Im constantly interacting with the public, you know, Im at airports all the time and Ive recently, people are now coming up, and I had an interaction at the airport recently where its not just for a selfie or an autograph. Theyre sharing their story with me, like, Something happened, and I wasnt able to tell anyone until I saw your story, and I was able to share it with my this. And now were going, now were going to our state legislature, and were getting bills passed to help to make sure that kids are safe because mine happened in the school system, so were able to go to the state. And Im like, that came from the documentary? Like, wow, thats really, really cool, So really unexpected reactions. Battaglia: Back to the 2000s event, have you played Western New York before? Bell: Ive been up there a few times. Yeah, its cool. Its cool. I like it up there. Battaglia: What else can fans look forward to from you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bell: Just a lot of stuff coming the record. Ive got a lot of tour dates coming up, hitting the US right now. We just did a bunch of stuff in Mexico and then hope were planning our Latin America tour now. Just a lot of really cool surprises this year that I think a lot of people are going to be excited about. Tickets for the April 12 2000s Party at VENU in Buffalo are on sale now. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. DENVER (KDVR) A man is facing several charges including vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in a crash that killed a mother on Interstate 70 last week. Identity released of woman killed in suspected DUI, wrong-way crash on I-70 Jian Bin Chen, 34, appeared in court Thursday, and the following charges were officially filed: Vehicular homicide (f3) Vehicular homicide (f4) Reckless endangerment Driving under the influence second alcohol-related offense Reckless driving Improper driving on a divided highway Careless driving Compulsory insurance Driving with expired license plates Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from a crash that happened early Thursday, March 13 on I-70 in Wheat Ridge. Police believe Chen was under the influence when they said he drove west on the eastbound side of the interstate and collided with another car. A mother driving the other vehicle, identified as Jody Weber, 36, was killed in the crash and pronounced dead on the scene. According to court documents, her 2-year-old son was in a car seat in the backseat and was found with scrapes and bruises, but no substantial injuries. He was taken to a hospital and released. According to Chens arrest affidavit, a witness told police they saw a silver SUV swerving through lanes and traveling slowly before the vehicle exited I-70 at Kipling Street. The SUV turned onto the interstates eastbound exit ramp and re-entered the highway traveling in the wrong direction. Another witness reported that he had to dodge out of the way of the SUV around 5:10 a.m. Police said the crash was reported around 5:15 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police responded to the scene, Chen reportedly opened the back door of a police vehicle and voluntarily entered the back seat. Police reported noticing a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and bloodshot eyes. Chen posted his bond and a hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 1 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) One of the drivers involved in a serious crash in Taunton earlier this week has died, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III announced Friday. Richard Blanchette, 20, of Middleboro, was critically injured in Tuesdays three-car crash on Somerset Avenue. He was rushed to a Massachusetts hospital, where he died Thursday. BACKGROUND: 4 taken to hospital after serious crash in Taunton Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three other people were also taken to the hospital with injuries. The crash remains under investigation. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. (NEXSTAR) Edmunds, a popular online automotive resource, says its data shows a potential shift in buyers feelings toward Tesla vehicles based partly on a record-high number of Tesla trade-ins. The Tesla brand has become a target of criticism by critics of CEO Elon Musk, who is now also an advisor to President Donald Trump and a key figure at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has taken controversial actions to slash government spending. Musk critics have organized dozens of peaceful demonstrations at Tesla dealerships and factories across North America and Europe. But some dealerships and vehicles have also been vandalized acts which Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled domestic terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump goes to bat for Tesla as backlash, financial woes escalate Some Tesla owners, including U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) who feuded with Musk, have also vowed to get rid of their vehicles. Celebrities including Jason Bateman and Sheryl Crow have done the same thing. Activists in the San Francisco Bay Area have also hung fliers urging residents to get rid of their swasticars, an apparent reference to accusations that Musk attempted to perform Nazi salutes at Trumps second inauguration in January. We can get back at Elon, a protestor outside a Tesla dealership in Boston told the Associated Press earlier this month. We can impose direct economic damage on Tesla by showing up at showrooms everywhere and boycotting Tesla and telling everyone else to get out, sell your stocks, sell your Teslas. A protester poses for a photo with his placard outside the Tesla dealership in London on March 15, 2025. (Krisztian Elek/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) But are these boycotts having any effect? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the reason, Tesla trade-ins have reached an all-time high, Edmunds data shows. Specifically, Edmunds observed that Tesla vehicles (model years 2017 or newer) accounted for 1.4% of trade-ins toward non-Tesla cars in March 2025 a percentage that represents a record high for Tesla. (For comparison, that percentage one year earlier in March 2024 was 0.4%.) Shoppers arent seeking out new Teslas at the same rate they used to, either, at least according to Edmunds. The companys data shows buyer consideration for new Tesla vehicles fell to 1.8% in February 2025 (the lowest point since October 2022) from a high of 3.3% in November 2024. There has been no significant drop, however, in shoppers seeking out used Teslas. Prices have yet to fall significantly for the brands used vehicles, but Edmunds analysts are expecting that to change as a result of increased trade-ins. Protesters demonstrate outside of a Tesla dealership in Seattle on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds head of insights, acknowledged that Musks political views and relationship to Trump may have alienated current Tesla owners, but believes many just cant afford to sell off their cars for a new one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality is many consumers are not in a financial position to replace a newly purchased vehicle immediately especially in todays market, where used EVs face significant depreciation compared to their [internal combustion engine] counterparts, Caldwell said. One resident of Chicago told Nexstars WGN that hes indeed considering selling his Tesla anyway, following an incident in which his car was vandalized with a swastika sticker and a sticker that said Heil Elon. If it comes down to it, I might have to [sell it], Peter Katz told WGN. Its going to be at a loss because, now, the value of the car is going to go down because everyone is trying to get rid of them. But Katz, if he sells his car, is probably in the minority, Caldwell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike switching smartphone brands or streaming services, replacing a car is a major financial decision, and even the most disillusioned Tesla owners will likely hold onto their vehicles out of necessity, Caldwell said. Trump sharply denies Musk China briefing, citing business conflicts Teslas stock prices, meanwhile, have struggled since popping in December 2024, losing almost half their value since that time. Trump has since held an event to tout Teslas vehicles at the White House, and current Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has urged Americans to buy Tesla stocks. Both actions have prompted ethics concerns and calls for investigations. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), in a letter to the acting general counsel for the Department of Commerce on Thursday, called Lutnicks remarks a clear violation of the Standards of Conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is just the latest example of the Trump Administration using taxpayer resources to enrich the Presidents inner circle, Connolly said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Rain continues to stay away from much of Florida's peninsula, prompting the National Weather Service to issue both red flag warnings and fire weather watches in the wake of a cold front. Red flag warnings are in effect for east central Florida. Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location A fire weather watch has been issued for several counties along the east coast in South Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Low humidity and gusty winds, combined with existing drought conditions, have prompted the weather advisories. Here's what you should know. Red flag warnings issued for east central Florida A red flag warning is in effect for east central Florida March 21, 2025. A red flag warning has been issued for a large part of east central Florida. Residents can expect wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph and a relative humidity of 20% to 35% as vegetation continues to dry, the National Weather Service Melbourne posted of X, formerly known as Twitter. Forecasters urge residents to: Avoid open flames or sparks Keep vehicles off dry grass Properly discard cigarettes What counties are under a red flag warning? Seven Florida counties (or portions of them) are under a red flag warning: Brevard Indian River Martin Okeechobee Orange Osceola St. Lucie South Florida under fire weather watch A fire weather watch has been issued for South Florida March 21, 2025. There are "elevated fire weather concerns" as existing drought conditions combine with today's low humidity and winds of 10 to 15 mph, the National Weather Service Miami posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Outdoor burning is NOT recommended." What counties are under a fire weather watch? Five Florida counties are under a fire weather watch Broward Hendry Martin Miami-Dade Palm Beach What is a fire weather watch? A fire weather watch is issued when confidence is lower that conditions will reach the point of extreme fire danger. If there's more certainty, a red flag warning is issued, according to Robert Molleda, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service Miami in a call Friday morning. Criteria that are factors in the decision have to do with humidity and wind, although available fuel also is considered. Humidity of 35% or lower and winds of 15 mph or greater are used to determine weather a fire weather watch or red flag warning will be issued. If the humidity is low and the winds are high, or expected to occur shortly, a red flag warning is issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there's more uncertainty on those two criteria, but it's possible, a fire weather watch is issued. "Today, the humidity will easily reach the criteria below 35% Molleda said. But winds are expected to decrease as the day continues. "It all has to do with timing. There could be a couple of hours late morning or early afternoon" where conditions could warrant a red flag warning. "There's just more uncertainty today. "Be very careful out there. Be very, very mindful of the threat. It's too dry out there." The next chance of rain for the area won't be until next week, when there's a 20% to 30% chance for rain on Tuesday, March 25, and a 20% chance on Wednesday. What is a red flag warning? A red flag warning is issued when "critical fire weather conditions" are in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A red flag warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger," the National Weather Service said. Brush fire in Miami-Dade County grows to 25,000 acres #MDFR, along with @FLForestService, continue working to contain the brush fire in southeast Miami-Dade. The fire spans approximately 24,000 acres, with 30% contained. Our crews are working tirelessly to protect the community and extinguish the fire. Watch the latest update for pic.twitter.com/Ab2HPnyfEn Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) March 21, 2025 Firefighters with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service continued Thursday to battle a brush fire in south Miami-Dade County. The fire has burned 25,000 acres and was 30 percent contained as of 8:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the Florida Forest Service. Officials have urged residents to watch for road closures. Card Sound Road remains closed in both directions, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We advise residents that live or commute close to the area and have a health condition to take precautions and limit exposure," Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue said on X. People with respiratory conditions should limit outdoor activity and keep their windows closed. Heading to the Florida Keys? What to know about brush fires, smoke, road closures The 25,000 acre brush fire in southern Miami-Dade County could affect your trip to the Keys. U.S. 1 was closed briefly known as the 18-Mile Stretch has been closed intermittently this week as firefighters battled the wildfire. Wednesday afternoon, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said motorists could expect lengthy delays along an 18-mile stretch of U.S. 1, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 6 a.m. Friday, Card Sound Road remains closed to all traffic in both directions, but the 18-Mile Stretch is open, according to the Florida Keys Sheriff. "We urge residents and commuters to avoid the area due to heavy traffic delays and to prevent further congestion," said Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County on X. Burn bans in effect for several Florida counties Burn bans in effect across Florida as of March 4, 2025. Burns bans are in effect for these counties: Charlotte Collier Glades Hendry Highlands Sarasota Burning yard debris is always prohibited in these counties: Duval Hillsborough Orange Pinellas What should you do or not do under a red flag warning? Forecasters said residents under a red flag warning should follow this advice: If you are allowed to burn in your area, all burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch. Do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road. Extinguish all outdoor fires properly. Drown fires with plenty of water and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Dunk charcoal in water until cold. Do not throw live charcoal on the ground and leave it. Never leave a fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread. Current drought conditions in Florida The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 314 on a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Thursday, March 20, there are 10 Florida counties with an average Keetch-Byram Drought Index over 500, which means drought or increased fire danger. Another 15 of Florida's 67 counties have index numbers in the 400s. Broward: 653 Charlotte: 512 Collier: 591 Glades: 564 Hendry: 576 Lee: 551 Martin: 539 Miami-Dade: 643 Monroe: 591 Palm Beach: 612 Interactive map: Enter your address to see closest wildfire risks Wildfire and smoke tracker: Active wildfires in Florida Everyday wildfire prevention tips Tips to help prevent wildfires. "Most wildfires are caused by humans; many everyday things can create sparks," the National Weather Service said. Suggestions for everyday wildfire prevention include: Have a 10-foot radius around campfires, burning brush, etc. and never leave a fire unattended. Properly extinguish the blaze before leaving. Use grills and smokers on gravel or paved surfaces. Do not toss a lit cigarette on the ground. Put ashes in a metal container with a tight lid. Store water near campfires, fire pits, grills, burning brush, etc. Maintain your vehicle's brakes and tires and secure tow chains so they don't drag on the ground. Do not drive on dry grass or brush. Water your lawn and keep grass cut. Mow early in the morning when it's not windy or excessively dry. Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida fires burn, NWS issues red flag warning for Friday KIGALI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Rwandan government has reassured Belgians in the country and those wishing to visit that the recent severing of diplomatic relations with Belgium will not affect them. In a statement issued late Thursday, the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the free movement of travelers and professionals from Belgium to Rwanda continues normally. "The severance of diplomatic relations does not affect Belgian citizens residing in Rwanda or wishing to visit our country. Belgian nationals will continue to obtain a visa on arrival, without visa fees for a 30-day stay, in accordance with the current visa regime," the ministry said. Rwanda cut diplomatic relations with Belgium earlier this week, giving the Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country. It also closed its embassy in Brussels. The diplomatic spat came after Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused Belgium of advocating for international sanctions against Rwanda over the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Rwandan diplomats in Belgium were declared "persona non grata." On Monday, the European Union sanctioned three Rwandan military commanders, accusing them of being responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability, and insecurity in the DRC. Is our little blue marble of a planet actually a lot more crowded than we thought? A new study suggests we've been significantly undercounting populations in rural areas, because of the grid-based method typically used to count people. The grid idea is simple: Split the world into squares, and estimate the population in each square based on census data. But because these estimations have mostly been calibrated in urban rather than rural settings, inaccuracies in rural areas have gone undetected, according to researchers from Aalto University in Finland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rural regions account for 43 percent of the world's population estimated to be just over 8 billion, at the last count and if the calculations in this new study are correct then the number of unaccounted-for people could potentially stretch into the billions. The researchers looked at data across 35 countries. (Lang-Ritter et al., Nature Communications, 2025) "For the first time, our study provides evidence that a significant proportion of the rural population may be missing from global population datasets," says environmental engineer Josias Lang-Ritter from Aalto University. "We were surprised to find that the actual population living in rural areas is much higher than the global population data indicates depending on the dataset, rural populations have been underestimated by between 53 percent to 84 percent over the period studied." The team analyzed population data for the period 1975-2010, looking at the effects of dam construction work on people displacement a scenario for which there is usually verifiable, on-the-ground data for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crunching the statistics on 307 dam projects across 35 countries, the researchers compared the official number of displaced people in these areas against the number of people thought to be there by five different major population datasets. The significant disparity between the population estimates and the actual number of people moved in an area is ultimately because far less granular data is available for rural areas, the researchers say: including census data, health data, and infrastructure data. "The results are remarkable, as these datasets have been used in thousands of studies and extensively to support decision-making, yet their accuracy has not been systematically evaluated," says Lang-Ritter. Not everyone is convinced. Scientists who weren't involved in the study told Chris Stokel-Walker at New Scientist that improvements in satellite imagery and the quality of data collecting in some countries would make these discrepancies smaller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there's definitely a conversation to be had. Even if the miscount is more moderate, we could still be looking at a correction encompassing hundreds of millions of people. Population estimates are crucial in everything from providing public services to estimating the impacts of climate change, and the team behind the new research wants to see more investment in population tracking in rural areas to make sure these people don't miss out. "To provide rural communities with equal access to services and other resources, we need to have a critical discussion about the past and future applications of these population maps," says Lang-Ritter. The research has been published in Nature Communications. Related News BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Livingston Parish and East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Offices have arrested multiple suspects in connection with a shooting that happened during the Bayou Classic in New Orleans on Nov. 30, 2024. On March 19, EBRSOs Gang Intelligence agents received information that the suspects were in Livingston Parish. Investigators identified them with help from the New Orleans Police Department. They used shared intelligence from different agencies. Authorities arrested 17-year-old Dantrell Sanford and a 16-year-old juvenile, both wanted for principal to attempted second-degree murder. EBRSO agents and LPSOs Narcotics Division conducted surveillance and spotted the suspects near a vehicle matching the description from their sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With help from LPSOs K9 Division, officers stopped the vehicle on Buddy Ellis Road. They found Sanford and his mother, Keyonna Sanford, inside. Both were taken into custody. Six suspects from Baton Rouge wanted in French Quarter shooting that left teen injured After the arrest, officers searched an apartment where they found two more juveniles, clothing worn during the shooting, two AR pistols, body armor, marijuana, and codeine. Dantrell Sanford and the 16-year-old were booked as fugitives from NOPD and charged with principal to second-degree murder. Another juvenile was charged by LPSO with drug and firearm offenses. Keyonna Sanford faces similar charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LPSOs Narcotics and K-9 Divisions assisted in the operation. A GoFundMe has been created for the victim. LSU Police arrest Prairieville man accused of raping girlfriend Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) An East Liverpool man was sentenced this week on a felonious assault charge. According to the Columbiana County Prosecutors Office, Lonnie Barker, 41, was sentenced to six to nine years in prison. Barker was charged in connection to the May 2023 assault of a woman and convicted during a jury trial that ended on March 13, 2025. Barker was also sentenced to a year in prison in December 2023 on a federal weapons charge in connection to a May 2023 search of his home for the above-related case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside Barkers home, investigators found 11 weapons, which is wasnt allowed to have because of a 2003 assault conviction in Columbiana County. Joe Gorman 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. HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) Several counties across East Texas are seeing a higher risk of fires because of recent high winds and dry weather. LIST: East Texas counties issue burn bans Some of this is from people either just burning trash or trying to do controlled burns that get out of control with the current wind conditions that were experiencing, South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief David Birdsong said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Birdsong said the high call numbers are already putting a strain on their crews and resources. Were doing whats called emergency staffing, Birdsong said. What that means is we have individuals that are willing to come in and staff the stations and be ready at a moments notice. In Henderson County, firefighters have been battling a high number of fires all week. Weve had a lot of fires. Forestry services they worked 25 fires yesterday, Henderson County Fire Marshal Laura Good said. Warning that this weather can make small fires turn dangerous quickly. Longview firefighters helping battle fires across Texas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fires are getting bigger before we get there because theyre being wind driven, Good said. The bigger the fire, the more water it takes to contain it. Thats something both Henderson and Van Zandt counties are concerned about due to their lack of easy water access. We have to have tankers bring water to the location or at least close enough, Good said. They want residents to know that theyre taking precautions and are asking everyone else to do the same. If its blowing hard enough to blow something out of your hand then you should not be burning anything outside, Good said. Many of the recent fires theyve responded to recently started as controlled burns that got out of hand. This is requiring departments to staff up their station for faster response times so they can be ready to respond when the call comes in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) The ECU Brody School of Medicine celebrated Match Day for incoming graduates. Before medical students can provide patient care they have to complete a residency. For Lauren Nurrdin, pediatrics was a dream since she was three years old and that dream is turning into reality. Walking across the stage while her son, friends and family cheered from the stands proved that those close to her could not be more proud of the achievement. Im going to into Pediatrics Bay Care at Tampa, Florida. My familys in Tampa, so Im so excited to be closer to them, Nurrdin said. Ive known I wanted to be a pediatrician since I was a little girl. I really relate to kids. Im a parent myself, so I relate to parents as well and I just really inspired of the resilience of kids and just everything that they represent. Im so excited for that part of their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It feels like a dream realized. Ive seen her persisting all her goals. Everything she said was gonna happen, came true, Laurens husband Shaquille Nurrdin said. And today is just another stepping stone into the next chapter. Students at Fridays event will be following their dreams and for The Brody Schools staff, its the best day of the 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 WNCT. Much Chicago talent walks out the metaphoric door of the Chicago Sun-Times Friday, a consequence of buyouts offered to help plug what reportedly is a multimillion dollar operational deficit at our tabloid rival. The Sun-Times, now part of a joint nonprofit venture with the WBEZ radio station, an NPR affiliate, gets to save a little more than $4 million and avoid involuntary layoffs; Chicagoans who love consuming news in return lose some 23 of their most experienced sources. Needless to say, we know the painful drill all too well. Whether for-profit or nonprofit, newspapering is a tough if still vital business. We mostly just want to pay tribute here to those writers and editors making their exit, especially our experienced opposite numbers on the Sun-Times editorial board, including editorial page editor Lorraine Forte and board members Thomas Frisbie and Marlen Garcia. Weve long been of the view that having strong competition makes all of us better and we can think of plenty of times when the Sun-Times respected (and fast-moving) editorial board said something we wished wed thought of first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Roeper, the long-running and ever-lively movie critic who links the paper to the glory days of Roger Eberts famous partnership with our late, great Gene Siskel, is leaving too. So are many other similarly experienced writers and editors, including several names who enjoy great currency with fans in this sports-loving city. Many, were sure, will find ways to stay in the conversation and still engage with their loyal readers. Its also important to note that many fine journalists will remain at the Sun-Times, mission-oriented folks determined to bring you the news and analysis of the day, every day. Still, this city owes this particular class of journalistic excellence a debt of thanks. The Tribune tips its collective hat to all of you. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Illinois voters should have the opportunity to send a message to politicians on the most important issues affecting their quality of life and cost of living. Unfortunately, they rarely have that chance. Thats why were pleased to see a number of suburban townships asking voters to weigh in on big issue advisory questions on April 1. The questions cover thorny issues for Illinois politicians: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fair maps: Should the state of Illinois create an independent citizens commission to draw fair and competitive federal and state redistricting maps, rather than allowing lawmakers to decide? Unfunded mandates: Should the state of Illinois be allowed to force unfunded mandates on local governments who may raise property taxes to cover the costs of those mandates? Pension reform: Do you support constitutional pension reform to protect workers existing retirements and generate savings which could provide property tax relief or be reinvested in the community? The editorial board has long-held opinions on each of these issues. First, as we wrote in these pages earlier this month, Illinois must adopt fair maps that lead to fair and representative elections. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie along with Reps. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria and Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva are championing a lawsuit filed in January that would throw out the current outrageously gerrymandered map in favor of a fairer one. Theyve asked the Illinois Supreme Court to declare todays map unconstitutional and appoint an independent official to draw a new map. Regardless of the outcome in that lawsuit, the problem of gerrymandered maps and politicians picking their voters isnt going away until we change the way political maps are drawn. To that end, we encourage voters in Lemont, Homer and Palos townships to vote yes on this advisory question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, the state should not be forcing unfunded mandates onto local governments, especially because they so often lead to increased tax burdens for residents. Why should the state be allowed to pass a bill that requires spending someone else has to cover? For example, Illinois sets required wage rates local governments have to pay for public works projectsa mandate that takes away local control, significantly inflates costs and limits the ability to stretch taxpayer dollars. We encourage voters in Palatine, Lemont, Homer, Palos, Leyden, Wheeling and Addison townships to vote no on this advisory question. Third, the only way Illinois homeowners will ever see meaningful property tax relief is for the state to enact pension reform, which means a constitutional amendment. While supporting current retirees, this board has long said the state must amend a provision added to its constitution in 1970 that has made real progress on pensions practically impossible. This would not provide immediate property tax relief, but would stop pension costs from driving up property taxes in the long term. We encourage voters in Palatine, Lemont, Homer, Palos and Winfield townships to vote yes on this advisory question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True, these questions are advisory, meaning theyre nonbinding and have no legal impact. But they matter, because this opportunity offers a rare chance for us to see how Illinois voters feel about key issues and ideas for reform. We wish it was easier for Illinoisans to get meaningful, binding questions on the ballot, but Illinois rules make it incredibly difficult to the point that it almost never happens. Meanwhile, Californias process empowers voters there to directly participate in the states legislative process by proposing and enacting laws or constitutional amendments. We encourage Springfield to give that power to the people of Illinois. Related Articles Until then, its important that voters weigh in when they can and for elected officials to listen to the results. These are important issues. If the powers that be look at this I hope they see that people are taking notice, Lemont Township Supervisor Mike Shackel told the editorial board. Hopefully this gets the attention of the legislators and the governor. These issues have to be dealt with and theyre being ignored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just like elections to determine who will represent you in the Illinois General Assembly, Village Hall and your local school boards, these advisory questions are an opportunity to send a message to Springfield. Tell them its time to focus less on Washington and more on whats happening right here in Illinois. We say: Yes to fair maps. No to unfunded mandates. Yes to constitutional pension reform and property tax relief. Voters, the balls in your court. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The future of the U.S. Department of Education is now uncertain after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to gut the agency. This comes after the Trump administration fired about half of the departments staff earlier this month. The White House stresses the executive order will put education back in the hands of states, but education advocates are already promising to fight the presidents actions in court. With the stroke of a pen, President Trump dismantled the federal Department of Education and promised its closure will have no impact on public services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Probably, the cost will be half, and the education will be maybe many, many times better, said Trump. The Education Department sends billions to public schools every year, which make up about 14% of K-12 school budgets. Education Secretary Linda McMahon says the executive order will remove red tape and empower governors, educators and parents, to tailor the education for their community, for their students. Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee says thats exactly what states want. We know what our children need. We know how to uniquely educate them, said Lee. Education groups, including the National Education Association, argue low-income students and students with disabilities will suffer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt about the test scores. This is about providing tax breaks for the billionaires, said NEA vice president Princess Moss. Congress created the Education Department in 1979 to combat segregation and would likely have to act to completely shut down the agency. The House considered that in 2023, but 60 Republicans joined Democrats, like Indiana Congressman Andre Carson, in opposing it. Im urging my Republican friends to be bolder in their critiques toward President Trump. Students plan on protesting the presidents actions by taking their desks and homework to the Education Departments doorstep in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. HONOLULU (KHON2) Hawaiis public schools have relied on federal support for everything from special education to school lunches. With the Department of Education now being dismantled, state officials are preparing for what could be major changes. Interested in early childhood education? UH Manoa posts new degree option We know for our state, $300 million comes from the federal government year over year so that accounts for 11% of the total budget. That is too much for us to absorb that cost, so were doing things like holding funds back seeing in ways we can fill those gaps, said state Rep. Justin Woodson, chair of House Committee on Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ironically, its Education Week at the state capitol and today, the State Superintendent was speaking with Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono about what needs to be done to protect Hawaiis education budget. State Superintendent Keith Hayashi said while no programs have been impacted yet, theyll stay focused on the needs in the classrooms as they monitor developments. Well continue to do that work together with our schools, with our communities, to be sure that were able to provide the best education possible. Thats definitely a commitment from the Hawaii State Department of Education as we move forward together, said Keith Hayashi. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You At the federal level, all four Hawaii congressional members condemned the Trump administrations actions against the education department and theyve vowed to push back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well the first thing is that we can do our best to stop him from preventing these funds to come to our state, and that requires a lawsuit. And that is happening. But at the same time, we need to establish some priorities and I hope the legislature will come back into special session if they have to, to shore up the gaps in education support, said Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono. According to a news release from Congressman Ed Case, it is estimated $193.8 million in federal funding that provides services to Hawaii schools including Title 1, after-school programs and programs to support military families would be impacted, while another $22.3 million would be cut to services supporting state DOE workers. Check out more news from around Hawaii In a statement, Case called President Trumps effort to abolish the USDOE as one of the broadest and deepest and outright shortsighted and heartless of many attacks on the foundation of our society to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (AP) Officials say it will take decades to replace and revitalize trees at the national memorial in western Pennsylvania to the crew and passengers who died there when a hijacked airplane crashed on Sept. 11, 2001. About 700 dead or unhealthy trees were removed nearly a year ago and work has begun to add topsoil and plan for what is expected to be a lengthy effort to rehabilitate the trees in 40 memorial groves and along a central walkway. The crescent of groves at the Flight 93 National Memorial commemorate the 40 passengers and crew killed when they acted to force down their airplane hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists before it could be used as a weapon against Washington, D.C. Passengers in the flight from New Jersey to California memorably declared lets roll before moving against the hijackers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landscape architect James Mealey said Thursday it may take 40 years before visitors see the fully mature trees, according to the Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown. Mealey said one issue had been a rushed effort to get the project done. Problems have been attributed to poor soil quality, tree species that did not thrive in conditions at the reclaimed coal strip mine, low quality nursery stock, inadequate irrigation, harsh winters, hungry deer and limited maintenance capacity. Obviously, that wont mean that were planting the last trees in 40 years, but thats sort of how long it takes to establish a landscape of this scale and this complexity," Mealey said. "In terms of the actual, like, replanting, that would take place over the next decade, maybe even into two decades. About 2,000 native deciduous trees of various types were planted at the memorial from 2012 to 2016, a key feature of the park's landscape design. The first tree replanting may take place next spring. Money is being raised to pay for the tree revitalization effort. Nearly 3,000 people died in the Sept. 11 attacks, when terrorists seized control of four planes. Two were flown into the World Trade Center skyscrapers in New York and the fourth into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. LUSAKA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China and Zambia signed an agreement on Friday for economic and technical cooperation, marking another step in strengthening the longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. The agreement was signed by Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy Wang Sheng and Zambian Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane. The agreement outlines the framework under which new China-aided projects will be implemented in the future. In his remarks, Wang said the agreement is another example of the strong cooperation between the two governments. He said both governments have identified priority projects, including the construction of three additional milling plants to enhance food security in Zambia, with work set to begin this year. China has already built three such plants in the country. Wang also announced that a team of experts would soon arrive in Zambia to conduct a feasibility study on establishing 300 small solar-powered piped water systems to help alleviate water shortages. Moreover, a program for the supply of HIV testing kits and medication would be implemented to support public health services in Zambia. "For a long time, China has adhered to an approach that emphasizes sincerity, real results, amity and good faith with Africa. We understand the importance of honoring commitments, and all pledges will be fulfilled," he said. He said negotiations on revitalizing the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway line were progressing, with major breakthroughs expected in the coming weeks. According to Wang, China has been a steadfast friend to Zambia since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964, providing support for various infrastructure projects over the years. While expressing appreciation for China's unwavering support and solidarity with Zambia over the years, Musokotwane said the signing of the agreement underscored both countries' commitment to fostering economic growth and technical advancement. DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) UPDATE (12:40 p.m.): Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative has provided an update on restoration. As of Friday at noon, there are 721 without power, 13 substations offline, and 200 structures needing replacement. The cooperative said crews are working in four priority areas, which includes western Woodbury, Monona, and Harrison counties. There are 43 transmission lines working in the field, eight from NIPCO and the rest from other cooperatives providing mutual aid. The cooperative said it is also receiving material from others so they can start replacing damaged infrastructure. Crews are facing issues of difficult terrain and soft conditions due to melting snow, impeding the progress of repairs. PREVIOUS (10:50 a.m.): Crews are still working Friday to restore power after the Wednesday blizzard caused multiple outages in Iowa and Nebraska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storm downed power lines along Interstate 29 Wednesday and at its peak, more than 23,000 were without power. Multiple power companies have had their line workers and others working around the clock to restore power. Northeast Power, based out of Wayne, said that as of 7 a.m., there are around 50 customers without power, but power should hopefully be restored Friday night. . They said that crews worked into the night and restarted work today at 6 a.m. The company also added that most of the damage that remains for them to repair is northeast of Homer. Lineworkers hard at work restoring power to Siouxland As of 9:50 a.m., MidAmerican Energy is still working to restore power to 231 in the Sioux City service area, with more than half impacted in Blencoe. Worse than Siouxland is the Council Bluffs area with 727 without power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MidAmerican said that crews worked through the night to replace broken poles and will continue until power is restored. The company used semi-trailer-sized generators to provide some power for Little Sioux, Pisgah, Mondamin and Blencoe with plans to restore power in the afternoon. The company plans to have power restored in Missouri Valley and Moville by noon Friday. There are many in the Omaha Public Power District that remain without power since Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Egypt has denied claims that it is prepared to temporarily accept Palestinians from the neighbouring Gaza Strip. The pro-Iranian Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar had reported that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi informed Arab leaders of a plan to evacuate 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza to Egypts Sinai Peninsula. Without naming the newspaper, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) on Friday called the report "false" and categorically rejected the claim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Egypt completely denies allegations circulated in some media that it is ready to temporarily transfer half a million Gaza residents to northern Sinai as part of Gazas reconstruction," SIS was quoted as saying by the state-linked al-Qahera News TV. "These false claims contradict Egypts firm and final rejection of any attempt to displace the Palestinian people, forcibly or voluntarily, particularly to Egypt," the statement added. Earlier this month, an emergency Arab summit in Cairo approved an Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its population. The plan was presented as an alternative to a previous US proposal under President Donald Trump to resettle Gazans elsewhere and turn the enclave into a Middle East "Riviera." Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, has long played a key role in mediating the conflict. In January, Cairo, alongside the US and Qatar, brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Earlier this week, Egypt condemned renewed Israeli strikes on Gaza, calling them a "flagrant violation" of the ceasefire agreement. MERCER COUNTY WV (WVNS) Eight people were arrested after a drug search warrant was carried out in Mercer County. According to a post on the Mercer County Sheriffs Offices Facebook page, members of the Mercer County Sheriffs Office carried out a drug search warrant on Thursday, March 20, 2025 in the Princeton area of Mercer County. Mercer County man arrested after theft of explosives material investigation in Wyoming County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight people were arrested for drug-related and other criminal charges, and the post stated that seven other people were detained for additional investigation. Photo Courtesy: Mercer County Sheriffs Office The people arrested and charged as a part of the drug search warrant include: Ronald Nicky Mills: Possession with intent to distribute, Possession of a controlled substance (x2), Theft of power Matthew Pigg: Magistrate court capias Donald McCall: Fugitive from justice (Russell County, Virginia), Grand Larceny, Conspiracy, Possession of a controlled substance Shawn Roberts: Fleeing on foot Briana King: Fleeing on foot Tammy Carter: Possession of a controlled substance Dawlton Blankenship: Possession of a controlled substance Joseph Hunt: Possession of a controlled substance The eight people were arrested after a month-long investigation held by members of the Mercer County Sheriffs Office, as well as the publics help. Let this serve as a warning to drug dealers and usersyour door could be next. The Mercer County Sheriffs Office stands ready to take action against those who contribute to the spread of illegal drugs in our community. Sheriff A. P. Christian Former Tazewell County teacher sentenced for soliciting child pornography from a minor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post from the Mercer County Sheriffs Offices Facebook page stated that members of the Mercer County Sheriffs Office and the Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney aim to seize houses or have property owners stop allowing drug activity on the property by using West Virginia Code 61-9-1. According to the post, the code defined nuisance locations as places where illegal activity, including lewdness or assignation, is permitted or maintained, and property owners who knowingly allow criminal activity to continue on their property could face legal action such as court-ordered abatement measures or the forfeiture of their property. The Mercer County Sheriffs Office aims to protect and help the community by targeting illegal drug activity, and those with information about drug-related crimes can contact the Mercer County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Editors note: The El Paso County Sheriffs Office sent a statement to KTSM saying the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) findings are not about inmate Miguel Montoya, but rather about inmate Joe Murvin, who died from natural causes. EPCSO also wants to assure the public that required physical checks were conducted by our detention officers. However, due to a technical issue, our electronic system did not register them. The physical checks have been verified through video footage, and we are actively working with TCJS investigators to correct the report and ensure accurate documentation moving forward. EPCSO remains committed to transparency and the highest standards of inmate care, the Sheriffs Office said. Once the TCJS reviews the video footage of the physical checks being conducted, we should be in compliance, the Sheriffs Office added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the Sheriffs Office said the TCJS is still investigating inmate Montoyas death. ORIGINAL: EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso County Jail received a new non-compliance notice in February following the death of inmate Joe Murvin due to natural causes. The day of Murvins death, out of 55 conducted observation rounds, one round was an hour hour and 37 minutes late, equaling three missed observation rounds, according to the non-compliance report. The non-compliance states that every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day. Facilities shall have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all inmates by jailers no less than once every 60 minutes. Observation shall be performed at least every 30 minutes in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined, read part of the non-compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One jailer shall be provided on each floor of the facility where 10 or more inmates are housed, with no less than one jailer per 48 inmates or increment thereof on each floor for direct inmate supervision. This jailer shall provide documented visual inmate supervision not less than once every 60 minutes, according to the violated code by the state. Brandon Wood, the executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, said the County has 30 days to send a corrective action plan detailing exactly how the jail will rectify the issues. The commission will then review the plan and monitor that those actions are being taken. A previous non-compliance notice was issued in January 2024 regarding the death of another inmate at the El Paso County Jail when Richard Wiles was sheriff. State issues non-compliance ruling after inmate death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As KTSM previously reported, when El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte took office at the beginning of the year, he addressed the shortage of staff throughout the County. Sheriff Ugarte focusing on addressing local crime, not on enforcing immigration Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) An El Paso businesswoman is aiming big with a new product and promises to give back to the Borderland as a way of saying thank you for the support she received while she was building her business from the ground up. Beatriz Landin Beatriz Landin, from Tamaulipas, Mexico, is the creator behind the Wander Pillow, an innovative neck pillow with a blanket stored inside, perfect for travelers. Landin said the official website launched this year, and her product will be available on Amazon in April, shipping her product worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what is so special about the Wander Pillow? Landin explained the product features high-quality foam, a washable design, and an attached blanket that zips back into the pillow. Its the perfect solution to avoid juggling multiple items while traveling. Landin said she has accomplished amazing things with this innovative product. For starters, she was featured in the Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs Magazine, which according to its website, publishes the most popular biography-based titles in the industry. Video courtesy of Landin She also got fifth place nationwide in a competition to be featured in Forbes Magazine and a session with Daymond John, an investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while Landin is in a good position to expand her product, it wasnt always this way. Landin arrived in Juarez in 1996, where she got her accounting degree from the Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez. As a single mom of three, and wanting a better future for her family, she decided to get her citizenship and moved to El Paso 15 years ago. Landin said the road was not easy, and she even faced homelessness back in the day, but her resilience paid off for her and her family once they were in El Paso. Landin said she served as a chief financial officer for a charter school in El Paso, and as a finance director for the City of Anthony, New Mexico. She added that her work in education even led to research collaborations with Harvard University in the field of technology in online teaching. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Years later, she is now happily married, with one of her daughters serving in the Army. Ive always used to invent stuff, and when traveling, I realized it was too complicated to carry that many items with you when you are on the plane. Especially blankets, I was always losing blankets, and I was always cold. she said. Thats how she came up with the idea of her product experiencing the burden herself of juggling items in the airport. Landin said her next step is to give back to the community that helped her grow. I want the Latino community to get their spirits up, to keep working, and know that everything is temporary, Landin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landin said a goal of hers is to have her product manufactured here in El Paso and hire El Pasoans and the Latino community as a way of helping locals. As a way of giving back to her community, Landin will also be sponsoring MMA professional fighter Elizabeth Rodriguez in April, saying she wants to help Latino athletes achieve their dreams. Whats next in Landins journey? At the end of the year, Landin will be featured on Amazon Prime Videos The Blox season 21, a competition show about entrepreneurship. Businesses from across the country were chosen to compete in a week-long intensive bootcamp designed to take their companies to the next level, according to Prime Videos website about the show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres still a long future ahead in Landins career, but shes living proof that hard work and dedication get you far. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. LUMPKIN Its noon on a Saturday, and three El Refugio volunteers dance around each other in the kitchen, mashing fresh guacamole and frying tortillas over popping oil. The rooms of El Refugio, a hospitality house for families visiting loved ones detained at the ICE Stewart Detention Center, are empty outside the kitchen. Backpacks and suitcases are tucked into corners, left behind by about 10 visitors who stopped at the house before heading to Stewart. Male visitation hours start at 2 p.m. Most try to get in line by 12:30 p.m., scared to miss their chance to see their family members. El Refugio sits at 210 Main St. in Lumpkin. Staff photo: Lucille LanniganThis letter was never sent to Santiago Baten-Oxlaj who died from COVID-19 while detained at Stewart Detention Center. Staff photo: Lucille Lannigan The walls of El Refugio feature photographs of families whove visited the house for more than 15 years. Artworks by detainees and their children hang in clusters, depicting life at Stewart. In the entrance hall hangs a framed envelope made out to Santiago Baten-Oxlaj, a greeting from El Refugio Ministries. Recycle. Deceased is written at the bottom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a letter that was never delivered, Amilcar Valencia, El Refugios executive director, said. Baten-Oxlaj, was one of four ICE detainees who died after testing positive for COVID-19 while in custody at Stewart Detention Center.Signs in front of Stewart Detention Center provide instructions in both Spanish and English. Staff photo: Lucille LanniganOver time, the center has gained the title of one of the deadliest immigration detention centers in America. Along with COVID-19 deaths, multiple people have died by suicide while in custody. The center is located in the rural south Georgia town of Lumpkin, which has a population of about 900 and is known as the home of Providence Canyon State Park, one of Georgias Seven Natural Wonders. Those detained behind the razor wire fences and cement walls come from all across the Southeast, and so do their families, who visit and try to find legal help on the outside. El Refugio was established in 2010 to provide a haven for those families. In Lumpkin, theres no resources, not much infrastructure, Valencia said. If someone comes here from North Carolina, it takes 10 hours to get to the detention center to see their loved ones, and then theres no place for them to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Refugio provides free shelter or a rest stop on weekends where families can eat a hot meal as they wait to visit their family members at Stewart. Access to information is limited at the detention center, so El Refugio offers resources and connections with attorneys and advocacy organizations. El Refugio collects shoes to donate to people at Stewart Detention Center.The rooms at El Refugio have multiple beds to accommodate families.El Refugio also keeps clothes for people detained at Stewart. It started in a tiny, two-bedroom home but has since moved to a larger one gifted by comedian Samantha Bee centrally located in Lumpkin. Spacious rooms are fitted with beds, couches, toys and computers. At lunch time between female and male visitation hours the seats at a long dining table tend to fill with different families. They eat and exchange stories in Spanish. Valencia said El Refugio sees about 800 guests per year, usually about 15-20 per weekend. However, in the weeks after President Trump entered office, with promises to crack down on illegal immigration, Valencia said theyve seen about 45 people each weekend. Stewart Detention Centers capacity is about 1,800 inmates. Valencia said hes consistently heard from families that the centers been at capacity since mid-February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Refugio operates on the weekends with the help of volunteers who travel to stay at the house and visit the detention center. Sister Imelda Ngwitu travels from Blakely to Lumpkin. She prepares meals early in the day and then spends the afternoons visiting with people detained at Stewart. Sister Imelda Ngwitu cooks lunch to prepare for the arrival of families after visitation hours at Stewart Detention Center. Staff photo: Lucille Lannigan I listen to their stories, she said. I encourage them to have hope and to trust that one day theyll be reunited with their families, to trust in God and things will be better. Ngwitu said her visits often start with tears, but by the end of the hourlong session, shes able to coax out a smile from people. She promises to pray for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detainees at Stewart can spend anywhere from 90 days to more than a year at the facility, meaning El Refugio has seen repeat visitors over the years.A family stands in front of the original El Refugio house. Staff photo: Lucille Lannigan One of these visitors is a 27-year-old woman from Stone Mountain, who asked not to be named due to the sensitive and private legal nature of her situation. Her husband was detained in February of 2024. Shes traveled to Lumpkin to visit him nearly every weekend since. She and her husband met at a Taekwondo class, where he was a black belt instructor. He proposed with cake and flowers a year and a half into their relationship, in the breakroom of the company where they both worked. They didnt legally get married until he was detained at Stewart. In December of 2023, her husband received a letter stating he no longer had his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. The woman said this was a surprise. His papers werent expired, and he had always been quick to start the renewal process months before they expired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple was in the midst of working with lawyers to figure out what happened. They had a wedding ceremony planned for the end of February 2024, but it would never happen. That day he was taking me to work, literally pulling out of the driveway at the first stop sign by the house, and they just came out of nowhere, surrounded the car, asked his name and just took him out and handcuffed him, she said. He was served a warrant, and officers told her shed receive a call from him. She was left alone to sit in the driveway and process what had happened. She called his family and then her own. Its been more than a year of visiting her husband, staring through a glass window and speaking over a phone in a room with five other families. Theres no touching and no privacy. She said in the beginning, it was a quick process to sign in at Stewart.Children of detainees at Stewart created art to describe what its like to be separated from loved ones. This is the caption on one. Staff photo: Lucille LanniganNow, because of everything thats going on with Trump, they are overpopulated; theres more families coming to visit, she said. Ive had to wait five, six hours before just to see him for an hour and then head back home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She tries to keep their conversations light, talking about her week. She distracts him with promises of a Disney World trip once he is released. A decision on her husbands case, whether hell face deportation or remain in the U.S., was set to be made in February. She, his family and his friends all traveled to Lumpkin for the court hearing. The judge said, OK, at the end of this, Im gonna give my response, she said. We all spoke. He took five minutes to make his decision. Right when he came back, there was no WiFi. The system was down. The written decision was delayed until March 20. Life at Stewart Detention Center hasnt been easy for her husband. Hes lost 100 pounds due to poor quality food. Hes been prescribed antidepressants. She said some days he doesnt even get out of bed. Hes witnessed fights over limited electronic tablets. Hes watched detainees overdose on illegal substances that were snuck into the center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valencia said theres an active campaign to close the detention center over human rights violations. Over the 15 years hes worked in Lumpkin, he said hes heard consistent reports of overcrowded rooms and a lack of appropriate medical attention, including mental health support. When they have emergencies, when they get sick or if they have medical conditions like diabetes, heart issues, respiratory problems often, people dont get the medical attention that they need, he said. At least 10 people have died at Stewart Detention Center from 2017 to May 2024. Life without her husband hasnt been easy for the El Refugio visitor either. She said shes struggled financially, unable to make payments on the home they share. She said El Refugio offers gas money cards, which have helped her to get home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she hopes people understand that Trumps deportation policies are hurting families. Most of the people that are getting deported are the fathers or the head of the household, she said. It affects families drastically. Were struggling, and its something many will never have to experience. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An 80-year-old man has died after he was seriously injured from falling in front of a car making a turn in North Portland. Gary L. Boyd had been stepping off a curb at the intersection of N Lombard Street and McKenna Avenue when he lost his balance and fell in front of a 2007 Mercedes Benz making a left turn, according to investigators. How high: OLCC detects excessive levels of THC in products advertised as hemp Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers responded to the crash on Jan. 15 around 2:30 a.m. and had Boyd taken to the hospital. The driver remained on scene to speak with police. The driver braked, but struck the pedestrian on the ground, pushing him about two feet. The Mercedes did not run over the pedestrian, officials said. There were no signs the driver was impaired. No arrests were made or citations were served. Boyd died on Jan. 22, and a medical examiner determined he had died from the injuries that he received from the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) An Elkins man was sentenced to 30 years after pleading guilty to murder in the second degree. Dominic Heal, 21, was also sentenced in connection to 26 additional charges across eight cases. The charges include crimes related to firearms, evidence tampering, drugs and several property offenses. In addition to the 30-year sentence, Heal received a ten-year suspended sentence, which will follow his prison term. Case background The case stems from a fatal shooting on Aug. 15, 2023, when Fayetteville police responded to reports of gunfire on North Leverett Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 911 callers reported hearing five to seven gunshots, with a pause in between. Upon arrival, officers found blood in the parking lot, two firearms and several shell casings. The victim, Aveyun Smith, had already been transported to a local hospital and died shortly after from a gunshot wound to the face, according to a news release. REPORT: Fayetteville ranked most competitive small rental market Investigators found that the shooting occurred after an ongoing dispute between Smith and Heal. Heal, driving a stolen minivan, encountered Smith and others in a parking lot, where gunfire was exchanged. Smith was struck in the face and later died from his injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, Heals partially burned, abandoned minivan, which had a bullet hole, was found by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission near Bug Scuffle Road and Old Cove City Road. Heal had a criminal history, with seven other cases in Washington County dating back to late 2021, including charges of breaking and entering, possession of stolen firearms, theft and drug offenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. House Republicans can have $6,600 for supporting Elon Musks drive to impeach judges who place checks on President Trumps lawless executive actions, as a treat. Musk has been championing talk of impeaching federal judges who block or place temporary holds on some of Trumps most Constitution-smashing executive actions since Day 1. When judges first started shutting down some of DOGEs initial stabs at freezing and rescinding congressionally allocated federal grants and funds, Musk was one of the first to push the idea that judicial impeachments were in order. Since then, some of Trumps closest allies in the White House and his more far-right friends in the Peoples House have latched onto the effort. Its been a natural escalation in some ways. As I noted in yesterdays edition of Where Things Stand, House Republicans began ceding their own check on the executive branch during shutdown talks last week. It makes a certain sense for them to begin trying to pare back the third branch of governments checks as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced articles of impeachment against U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who has attempted to keep the Trump administration in check after it defied his instructions to halt deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. Republicans have also moved to impeach federal judges Paul Engelmayer, John McConnell Jr., John Bates and Amir Hatem Mahdy Ali. The New York Times is now reporting that Musk has, apparently, made the maximum allowable donation to Republican members of Congress who support impeaching federal judges, in the Times words, citing five people with knowledge of the matter. Those who have received the $6,600 donation include Gill, as well as Reps. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI). Each of these Republicans has either publicly supported impeaching judges who have ruled against the Trump administration or has taken some sort of action in response to recent rulings. Musk also donated to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who criticized Boasberg. Not content to just hand over their own authority, and thereby expanding the powers of the executive branch, Musk is giving House Republicans incentive to help the Trump administration take a sledgehammer to additional parts of our system of checks and balances. GOP Stunned To Learn People Care About Fed Govt While most of her colleagues are hiding from their constituents while at home in their states this week, Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), who launched a successful primary challenge against former Rep. Liz Cheney in 2022, decided to face voters in person in her district (one that Biden won in 2020). Rather than answering questions about constituents concerns, it appears she spent the whole time gaslighting the crowd, which was angry about the Trump administrations latest lawless executive actions. Per NBC News: Its so bizarre to me how obsessed you are with federal government, Hageman told attendees, prompting more outbursts from the crowd. You guys are going to have a heart attack if you dont calm down, she added. Im sorry, your hysteria is just really over the top. She ended the town hall 15 mins early and her office later claimed that the uproar was staged by Dem activists, just as it, presumably, was for the rest of her Republican colleagues who have been berated by scared and angry constituents in recent weeks. Paxton Is Going After Midwives Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has brought the first criminal charges under his states near total abortion ban against a midwife for, he claimed, providing illegal abortions. Its one of the first times since Roe was overturned that a provider has been charged. As Abortion, Every Day author Jessica Valenti pointed out, it appears that Paxton is attempting to do some broader anti-abortion, but also anti-midwife care, messaging with the arrest by framing it as a crackdown on someone practicing medicine without a license rather than an outright attack on abortion access in the state. Radical Reinterpretations Of The Sheriffs Role Check out this new piece from The Bulwark, as the constitutional sheriffs movement gets in line behind Trumps mass deportations effort: Your Sheriff Might Be Planning to Help ICE Conduct Mass Deportations TPMs ICYMI MAGA Is Raging Hard Against The Judges Who Get In Its Way Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Problem With Needing Trump To Whip Your Votes Yesterdays Most Read Story DOJ Asserts Trump Hypothetically Has Power To Purge All Female Agency Heads, Or Those Over 40 What We Are Reading Vivian Wilson on Being Elon Musks Estranged Daughter, Going Viral, and Protecting Trans Youth If Trump Defies the Courts, Heres What a Judge Can Do Tesla Recalls Cybertrucks After Steel Trim Pieces Come Loose CAIRO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and four others injured on Friday in a collision between two pickup cars in southern Egypt's Aswan province, official media reported. The state-run Ahram newspaper reported that the accident occurred on the Wadi al-Alaqi road in Aswan province, adding that the injured were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment. A security source at the Aswan Security Directorate told Xinhua that the accident was caused by excessive speed, which led to a direct collision between the two vehicles. The source revealed that adding that the two cars carried Egyptian and Sudanese nationals, and relevant authorities are investigating the accident to determine who was responsible for the accident. Traffic accidents claim thousands of lives in Egypt every year. Most of the accidents were caused by speeding, negligence of traffic rules and laws, and poor maintenance of roads. Over the past few years, Egypt has been upgrading its traffic infrastructure by building new roads and bridges and repairing old ones to ease traffic and reduce accidents. Billionaire Elon Musk on Friday is set to receive a briefing from the Defense Department on the countrys top-secret plans for how it would fight a potential war with China should one ever happen according to multiplenewsreports. The news was first reported by The New York Times. President Donald Trump dismissed the report as completely untrue, blasting the Times for covering what he described as falsehoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How ridiculous? Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Musk echoed Trumps words, going a step further by threatening to go after the Times unnamed sources. I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT, Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. They will be found. The report, which cited two U.S. officials, raised eyebrows especially because Musk has business interests in China a major U.S. adversary given the country plays a major role in Tesla manufacturing. His aerospace company SpaceX also has U.S. government contracts, including with the Defense Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Musk will be visiting the Pentagon Friday, he said the billionaire would simply sit in on an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Despite the Trump administrations claims, the plans to brief Musk on the top-secret preparations have now been independently confirmed by several news outlets. Its unclear, however, if the briefing will still go ahead following the reports. The Wall Street Journal noted that Musk had requested to be read in on the sensitive plans. The Times said the presentation the billionaire would sit in on involves up to 30 slides detailing how the U.S. would fight China if a conflict broke out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One reason Musk, a top ally of the president, could have interest in receiving such a briefing, the Times said, is to figure out what parts of the Pentagons budget he would be safe to slash as part of the so-called Department of Government Efficiencys plans to overhaul and downsize the federal government. Musk is reportedly planning to cut up to 60,000 civilians from the Defense Department, a senior defense official said earlier this week, according to The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Trump and Hegseth are due to deliver remarks from the Oval Office on Friday morning, the White House said, teasing an undisclosed statement. Read the full New York Times report. Related... The father of the world's richest man Elon Musk has insisted that his son isn't racist, claiming that his son had Black friends growing up: his familys servants. Errol Musk, Elon's 79-year-old father, told the Washington Post this week that his children were not interested in "political nonsense" despite growing up in apartheid-era South Africa. His evidence that his son wasn't racist? Elon was friends with the family's Black servants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had several black servants who were their friends, he said in an email to the newspaper. Errol was responding to questions about his son's opposition to workplace programs focusing on diversity and equity. Elon's father seemed to miss the old days of South Africa, describing the country during the years of his children's youth as a "well-run, law-abiding country with virtually no crime at all." Interview with Errol Musk, father of Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk, said his son wasnt racist because he befriended the familys Black servants as a child (REUTERS) During apartheid-era South Africa, the Black majority African population was kept largely in poverty and lived under a strict racially based segregation. Apartheid ended in 1990, when Elon was 18 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Errol told the Washington Post that he imported emeralds from an unregistered mine in Zambia, which "helped me and my two boys sustain ourselves during the collapse of Apartheid in South Africa. Elon has tried to distance himself from his father's emerald mining background. In 2014 he bragged about his father's involvement in the mine, but in 2021 when he came under scrutiny for his connection to the mine he insisted there was "no evidence whatsoever of an 'emerald mine'" connected to his past. In a tweet denying the story from March 25, 2021, Musk said an article that accounts of his father owning an emerald mine were false. He also said he arrived in Canada in 1989 by himself with only $2,500 Canadian dollars to his name. He further insisted he paid his own way through college, accruing $100,000 in student loan debt and claimed he started his first business without funding and with his own personal computer. Elon at least according to his biographer Walter Isaacson was telling the truth about the mine. His father did not own the mine, as had been reported, but did import emeralds from the mine, according to Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Errol also spoke to Isaacson about the mine, and claimed he imported his emeralds from an unregistered mine because otherwise "you would wind up with nothing because the Blacks would take everything from you." One of Elon's old schoolmates, Rudolph Pienaar, also spoke to the Washington Post and described the billionaire's youth as living in a "bubble of entitlement." I am not sure if Elon can conceive of systematic discrimination and struggle because thats not his experience, he told the newspaper. His life now in some ways is how it was under apartheid rich and entitled with the entire society built to sustain him and his ilk. The Independent has requested comment from Elon. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. earlier this year (Getty Images) The billionaire faced criticism after his takeover of Twitter in 2022 after his policy changes allowed a slew of verified accounts posting pro-Nazi information including speeches from Adolf Hitler to exist on the social media platform, according to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, his alignment with the far-right has only grown more brazen. During Donald Trump's second-term inauguration celebration, Elon threw a salute that many identified as a "Nazi" salute, though his defenders insisted it was just a "Roman" salute. Elon responded to the allegations by posting a message to X formerly Twitter full of puns using the names of Hitlers Nazi aides. Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musks eldest daughter, has publicly addressed his alleged Nazi salute at two events in January. In a recent interview, she publicly called out Musk and his recent actions with the federal government. Her remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the two, as Wilson has previously distanced herself from Musk. What did Vivian Wilson say about Elon Musks Nazi salute? Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musks estranged daughter, has publicly accused her father of making a Nazi salute at two events in January. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Wilson insisted that the gesture was intentional and should be acknowledged as such. She stated, The Nazi salute s**t was insane. Honey, were going to call a fig a fig, and were going to call a Nazi salute what it was. That s**t was definitely a Nazi salute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Wilson has been outspoken about her strained relationship with Musk. She legally changed her name in 2022 to cut ties with him. She has spoken about their difficult relationship, describing Musk as emotionally distant and critical of her when she was younger. In an interview with NBC News, she shared, He was cold. Hes very quick to anger. He is uncaring and narcissistic. Musk has addressed their relationship publicly, saying he was tricked into signing documents that allowed Wilson, then a minor, to receive gender-affirming medical care. The billionaire said, I lost my son, essentially. They call it deadnaming for a reason. The reason they call it deadnaming is because your son is dead. He also claimed that this experience led him to oppose progressive ideologies, which he refers to as the woke mind virus. Now a student in Tokyo, Wilson has been an outspoken advocate for transgender rights. She has emphasized the importance of medical care for trans youth and criticized the negative portrayal of transgender minors. The post Elon Musk Definitely Did a Nazi Salute, Says Daughter Vivian Wilson appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. An attorney representing MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair said Elon Musk has substantially reduced his financial support towards the child the couple allegedly shares after St. Clair petitioned for a paternity test. Elon Musk has financially retaliated against his own child and reduced his financial support substantially and unilaterally, Karen Rosenthal said in a statement shared with HuffPost via a spokesperson. He did this after Ashley was forced to bring this matter to court, when he refused to respond to her many private attempts to resolve this matter without publicity. Rosenthal confirmed with HuffPost directly that Musks attorneys have finally accepted service of legal documents. Elon Musk, holding a child alleged to be his son with influencer Ashley St. Clair. New York Supreme Court St. Clair, 26, filed two petitions against Musk last month seeking a court-ordered paternity test and sole custody of the 6-month-old she claims she shares with the Tesla CEO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She alleged in court filings reviewed by HuffPost at the time that Musk had acknowledged parentage of the child in various written correspondences, but only spent a total of three hours with the baby, identified as R.S.C in the filings. Text messages allegedly sent between Ashley St. Clair and Elon Musk. New York Supreme Court Musk has not publicly acknowledged St. Clairs claims. Attorneys listed as his representatives in the case did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost. Rosenthals statement went on to say Musk also filed an emergency application to gag Ashley and prevent her from communicating about his actions. However, Rosenthal said, The judge denied the emergency nature of the application, even though it is still pending. Ashley is vigorously opposing this application in order to preserve her right to speak-out, the statement read. All while Mr. Musk fashions himself a first amendment warrior and freely communicates via his owned social media platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosenthal concluded, Given that Mr. Musk is dedicated to transparency in government, it would be helpful if he administered his own life by the same principles. Related... Elon Musk issued a stark warning to Pentagon officials following reports that he was scheduled to receive a briefing Friday about the U.S. militarys top-secret war plans for China. Hours before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Musks visit on Thursday, The New York Times reported that military officials would show the tech billionaire a slideshow of how the U.S. would engage in a conflict with China. Musk claimed that the information was false and derided the newspaper for allegedly disseminating propaganda before issuing a thinly veiled threat to Pentagon officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Times is pure propaganda. Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT, he tweeted early on Friday morning, sharing a Truth Social Post from President Donald Trump denying the claims. They will be found, Musk added. Elon Musk has denied reports that hes set for a top-secret briefing on war plans for China (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A U.S. official told The Times that senior military officials would attend the briefing for Musk at the Pentagon, providing an overview of various topics, including China. The meeting was due to take place in the Tank, a highly secure conference room used for high-level meetings, not Hegseths office. The briefing would consist of 20 to 30 slides outlining the U.S.s strategy if war broke out with the adversary in the Far East. Sources said Hegseth was informed of the plans on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wall Street Journal also reported that Musk had been scheduled to be briefed on the war planning against China. A source close to Musk told The Journal that the Department of Government Efficiency lead would be in the meeting because he requested it. Sources also confirmed to The Washington Post that China would be discussed, though they did not refer to the war plans. They said the focus would also include Musks government slashing efforts with DOGE and unspecified defense issues. One person familiar with the issue told The Post that China would be the main focus of the discussion. Late Thursday, Trump denounced reports that Musk would be granted any access to the closely guarded operational blueprints as completely untrue and that China would not be discussed. The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential war with China, he posted on Truth Social. Both Donald Trump (L) and Pete Hegseth denied claims that Musk would be briefed on the U.S. war plans for China (AFP via Getty Images) How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth also contested the report, tweeting that the meeting is about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. He also lambasted the so-called fake news, adding: This is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans. Early on Friday morning, Musk replied to the defense secretary, noting that he had visited the Pentagon multiple times in recent years. Fridays meeting will be Musks first known visit of the year. Access to this highly classified military plan would significantly expand Musks role as a Trump adviser. The reports fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who, as the head of Tesla and SpaceX, has business interests in China and with the Pentagon being granted highly classified information unavailable to his competitors. However, The Times pointed out that Musk may require access to sensitive military strategies to ensure that proposed budget cuts do not inadvertently affect essential weapons systems vital to the Pentagon's defense plans, particularly concerning potential conflicts involving China. Elon Musk addressed the ongoing Tesla protests and vandalism incidents during an all-hands meeting Thursday. The CEO said he understood if people don't want to buy a Tesla, but they shouldn't resort to the destruction of property. The DOJ and Trump have said attacks on Tesla dealerships will be considered domestic terrorism. Elon Musk has a message for Tesla vandals: "Stop being psycho." "Listen I understand if you don't want to buy our product," Musk said during an impromptu all-hands meeting with Tesla employees on Thursday that was livestreamed on X. "But you don't have to burn it down, that's a bit unreasonable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk initially remained quiet about the protests taking place across Tesla dealerships and referred to them as "fake rallies" with "hardly any people." As protests grew, however, and Tesla dealerships and owners began reporting multiple vandalism incidents, Musk denounced the actions. "If you read the news, it feels like armageddon," Musk said on Thursday night. "I can't walk past the TV without seeing a Tesla on fire." Has there ever been such a level of coordinated violence against a peaceful company? I understand not wanting to buy a product, but this is extreme arson and destruction! https://t.co/AIL8WPt0uv Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2025 Musk posted on X about the attacks earlier this week, calling them "deeply wrong." He also spoke about the vandalism during a "Hannity" on Fox News appearance on Tuesday. The billionaire said the vandalism had reached a new level and he was shocked by it. "Tesla is a peaceful company," he said. "We've never done anything harmful." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the hourlong all-hands meeting held at Tesla's Texas gigafactory, Musk also discussed Tesla's safety record, its delivery numbers, autonomous driving, and robotics. He also urged employees and investors to hold on to their stock, despite a recent slump amid declining delivery numbers, boycotts, and public demonstrations. As the company faces increasing political backlash, mostly from the left, President Donald Trump has come to Tesla's defense, even purchasing a Model S last week after a splashy photo op in front of the White House. He also indicated last week that attacks against Tesla dealerships will be labeled as "domestic terrorism" and that "they're the same guys who screw around with our schools and universities." The Department of Justice echoed Trump's words and said the attacks are "nothing short of domestic terrorism" in a statement on Tuesday night, following Tesla vandalism incidents on Monday and Tuesday. At least five Teslas were destroyed in Las Vegas this week after police believe they were set on fire. Police said a suspect also fired at least three shots at a Tesla store early Tuesday and spray-painted "resist" across the storefront. Meanwhile, Kansas City police are investigating possible arson after two Cybertrucks were damaged this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest attacks follow a number of other vandalism incidents at dealerships in Colorado, Oregon, South Carolina, and Massachusetts. Tesla owners have also been individually targeted, with some telling Business Insider about recent experiences of harassment and vandalism on their vehicles. While the DOJ has charged multiple suspects, some facing crimes with mandatory minimum sentences of five years, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday evening that those vandalizing Teslas could receive up to 20 years in prison. "People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders," Trump said in the post. "WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Musk opened the Thursday all-hands meeting by acknowledging that "there are times when there are rocky moments," but reassured employees that the "future is incredibly bright and exciting." Read the original article on Business Insider Elon Musk said the people who are vandalizing and in some cases, blowing up Tesla cars because they are upset with his support for President Trump and his leadership of DOGE need to stop being psycho. Musk made the comment during an all-hands meeting for Tesla, the company he has run since 2008, late on Thursday night. If you read the news, it feels like, you know, armageddon, Musk told the crowd of Tesla employees.I cant walk past the TV without seeing a Tesla on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I understand if you dont want to buy our product, but you dont have to burn it down. Thats a bit unreasonable, you know. Like, this is psycho, Musk added, while chuckling. Stop being psycho, OK? The Tesla and SpaceX boss comment comes a few days after cars at a Las Vegas Tesla store were shot and torched with Molotov cocktails. A similar incident occurred in Colorado, where a woman was charged with setting Tesla cars on fire and writing Nazi cars on a store building in Feb.; another man was arrested by federal agents last week for setting fire to a Tesla charging station in South Carolina. At the same time, a number of clips have gone viral in the past month, showing vandals defacing and keying Tesla cars in parking lots. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday announced those who attack Tesla vehicles will be treated as domestic terrorists. Bondi said attackers will face a minimum of 5 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent wave of destruction comes after Musk backed President Trump, both financially and vocally on X, the platform he owns, during the 2024 election. That relationship has grown since Trump returned to office, with Musk spearheading DOGE, which has been on a cost-cutting spree within the federal government. Musk has said he is aiming to cut $1 trillion from the annual federal budget or about 15% of what the U.S. spent last year but the severity of the cuts have taken some by surprise. Teslas stock has taken a beating this year as a result of the turmoil, dropping 37% since the start of 2025. That drop has made many of Musks critics, including ABC comedian Jimmy Kimmel and former Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz, happy in recent weeks. Teslas stock price was up 1.5% an hour into trading on Friday, with shares priced at $240. The post Elon Musk Tells Tesla Vandals to Stop Being Psycho: You Dont Have to Burn It Down appeared first on TheWrap. Elon Musk has threatened to substantially reduce child support for the son he shares with Ashley St. Clair after the influencer sued the tech billionaire for sole custody of their baby, her attorney claims. St. Clair, 26, who last month disclosed that she had given birth to the worlds richest mans thirteenth child, filed a petition of custody with the New York Supreme Court in February. In response to the lawsuit, St. Clair, a prominent MAGA figure, claimed that Musk attempted to attack her financially and silence her with a gag order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk has financially retaliated against his child and reduced his financial support substantially and unilaterally, her attorney Karen Rosenthal told People on Thursday. He did this after Ashley was forced to bring this matter to court when he refused to respond to her many private attempts to resolve this matter without publicity." At the same time, he filed an emergency application to gag Ashley and prevent her from communicating about his actions, she added. Ashley St. Clairs legal team claimed that Musk was withholding financial support after her lawsuit in Febraury (@stclairashley/X) Rosenthal said Musks gag order requestan attempt to restrict St. Clair from speaking publicly about the scenariois still pending, but the judge denied the application because it was an emergency. St. Clair has opposed the application to preserve her right to speak out, her attorney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosenthal urged Musk to administer the same transparency he dedicates to government in his private life. Upon filing her petition on February 21 seeking sole custody of her child, who is known only as RSC, St. Clair also asked the court to compel Musk to submit a paternity test so he may be declared the father of the child, St. Clairs representative Brian Glicklich previously confirmed to The Independent. Ashley St. Clair has filed paternity and custody petitions to protect the best interests of her child. She has made every effort to collaborate with Mr. Musk before taking this step, he said. Musk, pictured in the Oval Office last month with his son X, has reportedly not yet directly responded to St. Clair (AFP via Getty Images) Musk is currently not named as the childs father on his birth certificate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The South African native has also not directly addressed St. Clairs claims, though he responded with the single phrase whoa to an X post alleging that the woman had attempted to ensnare him for five years. St. Clair claims she and Musk began a romantic relationship in May 2023 and conceived the child in January 2024 before giving birth in the autumn. She asserts she had no other sexual partners at the time. On February 14, she posted an announcement on X about the child. Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child's privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause, it read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to last months filings, Musk chose not to be present for the birth of his child but did visit St. Clair and his newborn son for two hours, days after his birth. In one text message exchange provided in the filing, Musk appeared to acknowledge his son while claiming it was necessary for his child not to have his last name for security reasons. In another message where St. Clair attempted to reconcile the dispute with Musk, the tech entrepreneur mostly ignored her message but, per the filing, said: We do have a legion of kids to make. ISLAMABAD, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani military announced late Thursday night that security forces had killed 10 terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the Dera Ismail Khan district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, the operation was launched based on intelligence reports regarding the presence of a group of terrorists in the area. Security forces surrounded the hideout and engaged the militants, resulting in their elimination, said the ISPR. During the intense exchange of fire, a Pakistan Army officer, Captain Hasnain Akhtar, who was leading his troops from the front, was martyred after fighting gallantly, the statement added. The military also recovered weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists, who had been actively involved in attacks against law enforcement agencies and the targeted killings of innocent civilians. The ISPR reiterated that Pakistan's security forces remain committed to eradicating terrorism from the country, stating that such sacrifices further strengthen their resolve. WASHINGTON Trump adviser Elon Musk visited the Pentagon on Friday for a briefing that President Donald Trump insists was focused on the tech mogul's Department of Government Efficiency efforts, disputing a New York Times report that the meeting would include a discussion of plans for any potential war with China. "He's there for DOGE, not there for China, and if you ever mentioned China, I think he'd walk out of the room," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office later in the morning when asked about Musk's meeting. The Times was first to report Musk's Pentagon briefing. Citing two U.S. officials, the news outlet also reported that the meeting would focus on what the military might do if any war were to break out with China. Trump and his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, repeatedly denied the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations," Hegseth told reporters at the Oval Office after he and Trump had announced the production of a next-generation fighter jet. "It was a great, informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans, there was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans." Hegseth, who had met with Musk in the morning at the Pentagon, did not say whether the discussion completely excluded talk about China more generally. Elon Musk and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth depart the Pentagon on Friday. Musk arrived at the Pentagon at a little before 9 a.m. ET and his visit lasted a little over an hour. When asked afterward how the meeting went, he told reporters as he was walking with Hegseth, Its always a great meeting. Ive been here before, you know," Musk added as the two men joined in a laugh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three defense officials had confirmed to NBC News earlier Friday that Musk had been scheduled to have a briefing at the Pentagon, and one of the topics would be China. But the officials could not confirm that the meeting would focus specifically on plans for any potential war, known as the operational plan, or O plan. Two of the officials also said the briefing would be unclassified. The decision to brief Musk on military plans for China would mark a notable evolution of his involvement in the Trump administration and, potentially, his access to U.S. secrets. Musk, whom the president has charged with overseeing a government cost-cutting initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency, could also have conflicts of interest, as Musks own products and businesses are used by the federal government, including Starlink and SpaceX, which contracts with the Defense Department. Musk also has deep financial interests in China his electric vehicle maker Tesla has two facilities in Shanghai, and China is the company's second-largest market. Late Thursday night, Trump denied the Times' article, saying in a post to his Truth Social platform that the news outlet had reported "incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China.' How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked for comment about Musk's visit to the Pentagon, the White House referred to the president's Truth Social post. Hegseth also denied the Times report, saying in a post on X "this is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war plans.' It's an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the Times reporting 100% Fake News in a post on X. Just brazenly & maliciously wrong. Elon Musk is a patriot. We are proud to have him at the Pentagon. Asked Friday in the Oval Office why he wouldn't want to show potential plans for a war with China to Musk, Trump said, "I dont want to show that to anybody, but certainly you wouldnt show it to a businessman who is helping us so much. Hes a great patriot," referring to Musk's spearheading of the administration's efforts to slash the size of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hes finding tremendous waste, fraud and abuse," Trump said. "But I certainly wouldnt want, you know Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and billionaire Elon Musk met at the Pentagon Friday morning. The New York Times reported Musk went to the Department of Defense for a briefing on war plans with China, but Secretary Hegseth and President Donald Trump said the point of the meeting was to discuss cuts to the Pentagon. It was a great, informal conversation, Hegseth said. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans. Theres no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk accused Pentagon staffers of leaking false information, writing on X, they will be found. He was over there to talk about costs, President Trump said, adding he wouldnt share war plans with China with anyone. Certainly, you wouldnt show it to a businessman whos helping us so much, he said. The Pentagon said its trying to identify people and programs it can cut to reduce 5 to 8% of the budget. Hegseth and President Trump announced a contract for a new F-47 fighter jet in the Oval Office on Friday. President Trump announced Boeing would build that jet. The initial contract for the Air Force Jet is $20 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An experimental version of the plane has been secretly flying for almost five years and were confident that it overpowers the capabilities of any other nation, President Trump said. A Pentagon official said engineers are working on a future, unmanned version of that fighter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Elon Musk visited the Pentagon on Friday for a conversation about cost-cutting and innovation, but President Donald Trump denied there were ever plans for him to get a top-secret briefing on China as news reports had claimed. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk met Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who walked him out of the building after the meeting. Hegseth has been one of the most vocal champions of Musks Department of Government Efficiency, boasting of hundreds of millions of dollars in spending cuts done in collaboration with DOGE staffers. If theres anything I can do to be helpful, Id like us to have a good outcome here, Musk told Hegseth as he left. At a later meeting at the Oval Office alongside Trump, Hegseth said hed welcomed Musk to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. Musk has done several such stop-bys at government agencies in his role as head of DOGE. But the Pentagon visit sparked controversy before it began after the New York Times reported Thursday night that Musk was to get a top-secret briefing about the US militarys planning for any potential war with China. The Times, which cited multiple unidentified US officials familiar with the plans, said Musk would see details of American plans in a presentation led by Hegseth and other top US military leaders. Any such briefing would expose some of the Pentagons closest-guarded strategic thinking to a billionaire with extensive business ties in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks views on China have also provoked concern. Hes called Taiwan an integral part of China and once suggested that the self-ruled island become an administrative zone of the country. Trump and Hegseth both denied there were ever any plans for Musk to get such a high-level briefings. In the Oval Office on Friday, Trump acknowledged Musks potential conflict when he explained why hed never give him such a briefing. I dont want to show that to anybody, but certainly you wouldnt show it to a businessman who is helping us so much, Trump said. I certainly wouldnt want you know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story. In an earlier social media post, Trump said China will not even be mentioned or discussed in Hegseths meeting with Musk. The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post both reported later that China had been among the topics the two men talked about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk is one of Trumps closest advisers, a billionaire backer who spent tens of millions of dollars to get him elected to the presidency again. In addition to his role leading DOGE, Musks companies together hold billions in lucrative federal contracts, including with the Pentagon. Musks Pentagon meeting occurred hours before Trump announced at the Oval Office that Boeing Co. had won the competition to build the USs next-generation fighter aircraft, dubbed the F-47. Musk has publicly criticized US stealth fighter jets, saying theres no longer any need for manned fighter aircraft given advances in drone technology. --With assistance from Skylar Woodhouse, Courtney McBride and Tony Capaccio. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The political action committee run by the worlds richest man, Elon Musk, is once again offering payouts to voters who indicate they are aligned with Musk politically or at least willing to say so for cash. America PAC is offering $100 to each eligible Wisconsin voter who signs a petition against activist judges, echoing Musks highly controversial earlier scheme to award $1 million checks to a handful of lucky voters who indicated they were aligned with President Donald Trump before the November election. Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas, the new petition reads. By signing below, Im rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role interpreting, not legislating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The language of the petition mimics complaints that Trump and administration officials have voiced repeatedly in recent weeks as their attempts to justify some of their actions in court have gone poorly. Judges have the power to evaluate executive actions and legislation in a process known as judicial review. The legality of Musks cash-for-signature effort remains highly controversial, even if at least one judge has given it the green light. Musk and Republicans are heavily invested in the Wisconsin race to elect a new judge to sit on the states supreme court that is now underway with early voting. The winner will determine whether the court retains its liberal majority or flips conservative, predicting the future of abortion rights for Wisconsinites and how the state will handle future elections, among other hot-button issues. Wisconsins Election Day is April 1 which is also the last day of Musks promotion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state swung for Trump in the 2024 presidential election by a margin of less than one point. In the fall, voters in select swing states around the country were told they would be entered into an America PAC sweepstakes to win $1 million if they signed a petition in support of the First Amendment. The scheme was challenged in court in Pennsylvania, but a judge there ultimately allowed the contest to go forward, even though Musks PAC admitted to hand-selecting the winners based on whether they were likely to be good pro-Trump spokespeople. Musk had previously told the public that the winners would be chosen at random. The contest led to other lawsuits and heated accusations that Musk was attempting to bribe voters. Related... A former sound engineer for award-winning rapper Eminemalso known as Marshall Matherswas charged on Wednesday with stealing the rappers unreleased music and selling it for Bitcoin, according to federal prosecutors. Joseph Strange, 46, allegedly sold 25 of Eminems unfinished songs to a Canadian man he met on the internet in exchange for $50,000 worth of Bitcoin, according to a criminal complaint filed in Michigan on Wednesday. Prosecutors allege that Strange stole the songs from Effigy, Eminems music studio that is based in Michigan, and that Strange worked for Eminem between 2007 and 2021. Its important for people to understand that a criminal complaint is merely a set of allegations signed by a prosecutor and publicized by press release, Wade Fink, a lawyer representing Strange, told Fortune. We havent even been in a courtroom yet let alone had the allegations tested by a judge or jury. Thats where these allegations belong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A longtime spokesman for Eminem told Fortune, "The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminem's artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, let alone the enormous financial losses incurred by the many creators and collaborators that deserve protection for their decades of work. Strange is being charged with criminal infringement of a copyright and interstate transportation of stolen goods for leaking the songs without Eminems consent, according to the complaint. The charges come after employees at the rappers music studio discovered that some of Eminems unreleased music was available on online platforms including Youtube and Reddit, triggering an FBI investigation, according to court documents. Strange is allegedly heavily involved with Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining, according to witnesses interviewed in the complaint, and would only accept payment for the music in cryptocurrency. Strange faces up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 if convicted on the charge of criminal copyright infringement. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2002, a number of tracks on his The Eminem Show album were being sold online and on the street by pirates before the intended release date, forcing the rapper to move up the albums release to minimize financial losses. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The dates for Second Harvest Food Banks annual Empty Bowls fundraising events have been released. The events fight hunger and bring people together to enjoy delicious soup. Those interested in the fundraiser can join in on the following days: Thursday, March 27, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Clark County Empty Bowls, Wittenberg University Student Center Dining Hall Wednesday, April 2, from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Champaign County Empty Bowls, The Farmers Daughter in Urbana Thursday, April 3, from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Logan County Empty Bowls, The Flying Pepper Cantina in Bellefontaine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a $20 donation ($10 for kids under 12-years-old), guests can choose a hand-crafted bowl made by local high school and Wittenberg University students. Using the bowl, they can enjoy a selection of soup from local restaurants. All proceeds go to Second Harvest Food Bank. In 2024, the food bank assisted over 56,000 people facing food insecurity. These events are a true testament to the kindness and generosity of our community, said Jennifer Brunner, Development Director of SHFB. Every bowl filled, and every donation made, brings us one step closer to making sure none of our neighbors go hungry. The events in Champaign and Logan Counties will have Soup Crawls where guests can go from restaurant to restaurant to try a variety during the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were excited to expand the Soup Crawl format to Logan County this year while continuing the tradition in Champaign County, said Allie Godfrey, SHFB Marketing & Events Specialist. This event is a great way for people to experience local flavors while supporting a vital cause. To learn more, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Mary Steurer South Dakota Searchlight Energy Transfer Executive Chairman Kelcy Warren claimed in court testimony he traveled to North Dakota in December 2016 to discuss a settlement with then-tribal chair David Archambault II to end protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. I said, David, Im here to make a deal with you, Warren said in a video deposition shown to jurors last week during a trial involving Energy Transfer and Greenpeace. What do you want? Money? Land? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren, who was CEO of Energy Transfer at the time, said he was willing to give the tribe a ranch that the company had purchased near part of the pipeline construction site in North Dakota. Energy Transfer just months prior had bought Cannonball Ranch, which is north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in an area that became the center of the anti-pipeline demonstrations. Warren said he also offered to build a new school on the reservation. Archambault in a Monday statement to the North Dakota Monitor said his memory of his meeting with Warren is very different. Archambault did not appear as a witness during the trial. From my perspective, the purpose of the meeting was not to negotiate a settlement, Archambault wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archambault said he met with Warren because he was concerned about growing violence at the protests. Given the growing danger, I felt it was necessary to have a direct conversation to discuss de-escalation, he wrote. Archambault said that oil and gas magnate Harold Hamm and then-Quapaw Nation chair John Berrey helped arrange his meeting with Warren. He said he told Warren at the meeting that he was not there to end the protests. He asked what it would take to stop the movement, and I explained that it was no longer in my control, Archambault said. The fight against the pipeline had become much bigger than Standing Rock; it was about Indigenous rights and the long history of injustice faced by our people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Archambault, Warren told him if he had been aware of the history of how infrastructure projects have affected the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe then we might not be in this situation. Archambault said in the statement that more than a year before his meeting with Warren, he met with another Energy Transfer executive, Joey Mahmoud, to relay his concerns about the Dakota Access Pipeline. Mahmoud was in charge of the project for Energy Transfer. At that time, I made it clear that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe would resist the pipeline due to the historical and ongoing harm caused by infrastructure projects on Indigenous lands, Archambault wrote. Archambault said Mahmoud told him that Energy Transfer is used to dealing with protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I let him know I thought this was going to be different, Archambault wrote. Warren in his video deposition speculated that Archambault rejected his offer to settle because he had already made a separate deal with a third party. Warren said he suspects someone had paid money to the tribe and that Earthjustice, an environmental law group, was the carrier of that money. It was very clear to me he had struck a deal with the devil, Warren said of Archambault. Warren acknowledged that he did not have concrete evidence that the deal took place. Warren has no evidence of it because it never happened, Jan Hasselman, a senior attorney for Earthjustice who previously represented the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a statement to the Monitor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archambault said that his meeting with Warren ended with an understanding that neither side would change course. Energy Transfer would attempt to push the pipeline through, and we would continue to resist, he wrote. Warrens deposition came as part of Energy Transfers lawsuit against Greenpeace over its involvement in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 and 2017. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe started the protests to oppose the project, which it states is a pollution threat to its water and a violation of Native sovereignty. Greenpeace was one of many organizations present at the demonstrations. In his testimony, Warren said that he was not privy to the day-to-day operations of Energy Transfer at the time of the protests. He said that he had no personal knowledge of Greenpeaces involvement in the demonstrations, and that his legal staff were heading up the lawsuit against the environmental group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren said that it was his understanding that the purpose of the lawsuit was to push back against an organized effort to harm the company, which he said included defamation and paid protesters. I did feel strongly that weve got to stand up for ourselves, Warren said. Energy Transfer alleges Greenpeace coordinated illegal attacks against the pipeline that cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars. Greenpeace denies the claims. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, went to trial in Mandan in late February. The parties presented their closing arguments on Monday, though the jury has yet to render a verdict. ENFIELD, Conn. (WWLP) A driver who was allegedly on the run from Massachusetts State Police was stopped by Enfield police during a high-speed chase on Wednesday. Thousands in cash found in Springfield safety deposit boxes, man charged with trafficking cocaine The Massachusetts State Police told 22News that troopers began the chase on I-91 north in Whately during an attempted traffic stop and continued into Deerfield. A trooper was able to deploy a tracking device on the Toyota Camry and canceled the chase. They tracked the Camry using GPS, and the Air Wing from Massachusetts State Police across state lines into Enfield, Connecticut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the incident report sent to 22News from the Enfield Police Department, an Enfield officer driving on I-91 South noticed the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The officer said they reached 85 mph while observing the driver switching lanes erratically in which the officer called off the pursuit. Officers ahead stopped traffic while the driver operated down the breakdown lanes passing approximately 100 vehicles, disregarding officers before hitting a tire deflation device. The driver came to a stop near Exit 46 and was taken into custody along with its passenger. Full surveillance video from the MSP Air Wing The driver, identified as 26-year-old Shicorey Johnson-Harris of Hartford was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, operating a motor vehicle while suspended, and reckless endangerment. He was released on a $30,000 cash surety bond and is scheduled to be in court on March 31st. When the Enfield Police asked Johnson-Harris why he tried to evade police, he stated that he saw the police on the highway but didnt pull over because his license was suspended. Records show that his license was suspended indefinitely out of Connecticut in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The passenger, identified as 22-year-old Alejandro Pena was found to have PRAWN warrants out of East Hartford Police Department. He was charged with failure to appear in the second degree and was held on a $5,000 bond. Shicorey Johnson-Harris (Enfield Police Dpeartment) Alejandro Pena (Enfield Police Dpeartment) Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Britain is modernising its nuclear arsenal. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, warned that Britains nuclear weapons have the power to inflict untold damage to any adversary that dares to attack it. Sir Keir Starmer simultaneously declared that Russia respects Britains nuclear deterrent and praised Britains transition from Vanguard-class to upgraded Dreadnought-class nuclear-capable submarines. Britains nuclear build-up was wholly expected. In April 2024, the Prime Minister declared that his commitment to Britains nuclear deterrent was unshakeable and absolute. Sir Keir also insisted that he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if Britain was under attack. Yet it is also indicative of a broader trend that reflects an increasingly insecure world order and waning confidence in U.S. security guarantees: a new nuclear arms race. Poland is pushing for the transfer of U.S. nuclear weapons to its territory. If that cannot be achieved, Poland wants to be protected by the French nuclear umbrella. Incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz wants the British and French nuclear arsenals to protect Germany. Since Donald Trumps return to the White House, South Korean foreign minister Cho Tae-Yul has reignited discussions about building a domestic nuclear deterrent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The onrush of countries pursuing nuclear deterrents can be explained by three factors. The first is the enduring impact of Ukraines historical experience. When Ukraine achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, it possessed the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. Fearing potential economic blowback from the U.S. and its allies, Ukraine ceded its nuclear weapons in exchange for the 1994 Budapest Memorandums security guarantees. Although Russia was a signatory to the Budapest Memorandum, it still proceeded to invade Ukraine in 2014 and 2022. Would Ukraines retention of a nuclear arsenal have prevented Russias aggression? On the one hand, it is important to emphasise that Ukraine never exercised sovereign control over its nuclear arsenal. Ukraine also did not have escalation dominance over Russia in the nuclear sphere. When I interviewed Ukraines first president Leonid Kravchuk in 2017, he emphasized that Russia had clusters of nuclear weapons in Nizhny Novgorod that would have overwhelmed Ukraines capabilities. On the other hand, it is conceivable that the U.S. could have greenlit Ukraines autonomy over its nuclear arsenal in the event of Russian aggression and thwarted a full-scale invasion. The latter argument has much more sway in Kyiv. At the Munich security conference in February 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed frustration about the insecurity that followed its unilateral nuclear disarmament. Now that Mr Trump has taken Nato membership and Article 5 security guarantees off the table, Mr Zelensky views a Ukrainian nuclear arsenal as the next best thing. Polands nuclear umbrella aspirations align with this thinking. The second factor is the collapse of the post-Cold War international arms control regime. Starting with Russias contraventions and the U.S.s 2019 withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, arms control treaties have lost their enforcement capacity. China resisted U.S. pleas to participate in new strategic arms reduction treaty (Start) negotiations to contain its nuclear arsenal and Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine torpedoed new Start inspections. Russias incendiary wartime rhetoric has normalised the use of nuclear threats as a tool of deterrence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third is the growing nuclear ambitions of the Russia-China-Iran-North Korea authoritarian axis. Although Russias nuclear modernisation drive has been hampered by technological shortfalls and sanctions-induced delays, China intends to have 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. North Korea has announced breakthroughs in nuclear-powered submarine development. Irans inexorable pursuit of the nuclear bomb could lead to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt pursuing similar deterrents. While many countries might fear sanctions if they independently develop nuclear deterrents, they could circumvent this risk by enriching uranium to just under the threshold needed to produce a nuclear bomb. Germany and South Korea already possess much of the technological know-how needed to achieve this goal. This trend would set off an arms race spiral that will be hard to contain. It is also a potent reminder of how the erosion of U.S. security guarantees is making the world less secure. Samuel Ramani is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) 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. ENTERPRISE, Ala (WDHN) An Enterprise man has been sentenced to more than a decade behind bars in a federal prison after pleading guilty to gun charges. On Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced 33-year-old Michael Glenn Saizan to 14 years after he pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in December. In January 2024, officers responded to reports of a shooting at a home in Daleville. Alabama state trooper arrested on child porn charges days after retirement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the US Attorneys Office, Saizan and another mad had been arguing when Saizan pulled an AR-style rifle, shot the other man, and fled. The victim was not fatally injured. Attorneys say officers raided Saizans Enterprise home after an investigation and found the rifle and ammunition. Saizan was arrested, and had a previous felony conviction, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Brunei is looking at several rural areas to launch small scale housing schemes to reduce population migration, a government minister said on Thursday at the legislative council. The small scale housing scheme will be constructed in Labi and Sungai Mau situated in the oil rich town Belait district and Supon Besar and Lamunin-Menengah located in the middle Tutong district, Haji Muhammad Juanda, minister of development, said. The minister said development in these growth centers is one of the efforts of the Ministry of Development to ensure that the rural district has planned settlements. The villagers can also remain in their original districts in the social and family environment and have sufficient basic amenities. Since its inception in the 1950s, the national housing scheme has made remarkable progress, with the Housing Development Department at the Ministry of Development successfully completing 31,145 houses and land lots by July 2024, equipped with modern infrastructure. For a quarter of a century, a Black neighborhood in Beaumont, Texas, where Chris Jones lives has been the subject of two federal civil rights investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency that explore the role of race in his communitys disproportionately high levels of air pollution. In San Francisco, Kamillah Ealoms neighborhood has been the site of an environmental cleanup for decades, with the government regularly imposing fines on the worst polluters. And in the Midwests steel city, Gary, Indiana, Donna Jack and her neighbors have worked with the EPA to put polluters like Gary Works, the nations largest steel mill, under court-supervised cleanup agreements that threaten businesses with closure if they dont change their ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the presidency of Joe Biden, efforts to address environmental harms in communities of color underwent a significant expansion, offering neighborhoods that advocates said had been long-neglected a semblance of hope and additional federal dollars to combat pollution. But with President Donald Trumps return to office, the future of a national campaign to focus on reducing pollution in Black communities is seriously at risk before its positive impacts could fully take hold. Through the first 60 days of his second term, Trump has dismantled anti-pollution programs, shut down regulatory offices, and begun sweeping rollbacks of environmental protections. Now, environmentalists say, Black neighborhoods are being left vulnerable to the detrimental effects of industrial emissions, soil contamination, water pollution, and other hazards, while the president promotes an agenda that critics say prioritizes deregulation over public health. In a little less than two months, advocates say, Trumps actions already threaten to undo much of the work of the EPA during its 55 years of existence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EPA is losing the E and the P from its name, said Marvin Brown, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, one of the nations largest environmental law organizations. It seems like the agency is really giving up on protecting the environment and human health. People will die from the unnecessary amounts of pollution. For one activist, Debra Ramirez of Lake Charles, Louisiana, the decimation of the EPA and its regulations comes as no surprise. In the 1990s, her community faced a cluster of cancer cases connected to contamination from a neighboring chemical plant. As far as people of color, Black people, we have been through it all our lives, so its nothing new to us, she said. Now everyone else will feel it, too. Americas new environmental agenda The Trump administration is rolling back more than 30 major environmental protections. In a statement, Lee Zeldin, the new EPA director, said officials plan to unwind protections against air and water pollution, including limits on emissions from power plants, industrial facilities, and cars. According to EPA analyses, these rules prevented tens of thousands of premature deaths annually and saved Americans and the nations health care system billions of dollars by limiting hospital and doctor visits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the Trump administration has also shut down all environmental justice offices within the EPA, wiping out programs that have existed for decades. Many of those programs were created under Republican President George H.W. Bush to address high pollution levels. Under Biden, those programs had been expanded, with more funding and staff to directly support communities suffering from environmental hazards. The efforts promoted by Biden administration officials helped coordinate federal grants, partnerships, and regulatory actions aimed at reducing pollution in neighborhoods where Black residents have been breathing dirty air for generations. But now, all of that is gone. Statistically, Black people are more likely to be exposed to excess air pollution in America. (Adam Mahoney/Capital B) Zeldin, appointed by Trump, justified the cuts under an executive order titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing. The administration has deliberately lumped environmental justice initiatives into its broader attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, framing the move as a way to reduce federal oversight. We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion, Zeldin said during his announcement of actions that closely mirror Project 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the election cycle last year, critics of federal environmental regulations spent $445 million on lobbying Trump and Congress, including $96 million directly to the Trump campaign. Many deregulation advocates, including the American Petroleum Institute, directly called on Trump to repeal these initiatives and rules. These actions by Zeldin and Trump to demolish EPA protections, to quote Zeldin, will drive a dagger straight into the heart of our health, drive up medical, energy, and disaster costs, and destroy our future, said Leslie Fields, the chief federal officer for WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a Black-led national organization based in Harlem. Read More on the EPA Moves That Got Us Here: The Trump administration also plans to eliminate the EPAs scientific research arm, and have proposed firing up to 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and other scientists. This move would dramatically shrink the EPA workforce and eliminate the Office of Research and Development, which provides scientific backing for policies aimed at clean water, air quality monitoring, and toxic site cleanup. Environmental activists warn that those cuts could severely compromise the EPAs ability to safeguard public health and fulfill its core mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, who was an EPA adviser during the first Trump administration, called the move a wrecking ball assault on science. Zeldin, advocates say, has made it clear that the EPAs new mission is to lower costs for businesses and consumers. The administrator said, These actions will create American jobs and lower [the] cost of living for Americans. Public health researchers warn that these changes will lead to higher pollution levels, worsening respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in places that were already struggling. In nearly every American county, more Black people die from air pollution, said Fields, of WE ACT. Enabling this disparity is environmental racism, and these rollbacks will lead to continued increasing rates of cancer, lung and heart disease, illnesses, and premature death in our communities. Funding for grants to help local groups monitor air quality, clean up toxic sites, and fight industrial pollution, have also been cut. Without those programs, communities already hit hardest by environmental hazards are losing a critical lifeline, advocates say. Read More: Will Bidens Billions Deliver True Environmental Justice? The EPA is supposed to take care of any and every American. I dont care if theres only one house facing the impacts, theyre supposed to take care of that family with everything they have to make it good for them with concerns to air contamination, water contamination, and soil contamination, Ramirez said. Now it is like we as a people have to put up with this corporate businessman behavior without any pathways. Whats at stake for Black communities when EPA protections go away Gary, Indiana: The city of steel and smoke From the coal-based blast furnaces of the steel mill flaring a smoky haze into the air to five EPA-prioritized Superfund sites and 87 brownfield sites that contaminate the ground with toxic waste and heavy metals, Gary is overexposed to several environmental hazards. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B) Long before drivers reach the outskirts of Gary, they encounter a huge black cloud the smoke emitted from the stacks of the nations largest integrated steel mill, Gary Works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the EPAs Environmental Justice Screening online tool to map polluted areas, which has been shut down in the wake of the EPAs environmental rollbacks, Garys environmental hazards include high levels of exposure to particulate matter, proximity to Superfund sites, and air toxins. Local environmental activist Donna Jack has seen and felt the effects of that pollution firsthand. Growing up between the Inland Steel mill in East Chicago and living less than a 10-minute drive away from Gary Works, Jack has spent a lifetime between two of the most polluted facilities in the region. She recalls working at Inland Steels plant in soot-covered clothes to pay her way through college and showering feverishly to get it out of her skin. I am a child of the 70s. Ive seen every kind of protest you could think of, the 67-year-old resident said. If you live long enough, you will see a lot of it, over and over and over again. Were still fighting the same pollution fights. Were still fighting for the same civil rights. I hate that this generation is having to do what we did all of our lives, and it hasnt changed. The same week the EPA announced cuts to its programs, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued an executive order to remove environmental considerations in grants and permits, raising alarm among Gary residents and advocates, who warn that the move undermines protections from overburdened communities like Gary and deem them as sacrifice cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want to make money and with impunity, without any responsibility, and places like Gary are where they like dumping, Jack said. Instead, she said she wants to not be afraid for the health of future generations, allowing them to run outside on fresh soil and to look up into clear, smokeless skies. Read More: Toxic Air, Limited Care: The Risks of Pregnancy in Gary Beaumont, Louisiana: A Black enclave built by Big Oil Chris Jones (left, with his father) is president of the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood association in Beaumont, Texas. Jones describes his home as an industrial horseshoe; on one side of the neighborhood is the Port of Beaumont; on the other is the worlds eighth-largest oil refinery, the citys power plant, and the largest hydrogen storage facility in the world; and on the last adjacent side sits a railway, which carries petroleum and other toxic chemicals. (Adam Mahoney/Capital B) About three blocks from the yellow shotgun home where Chris Jones and his family have lived for decades sits the ExxonMobil Refinery, one of the worlds 10 largest facilities. Jones has spent years fighting for his neighborhoods survival in the plants shadow. Once a thriving Black community, it has suffered waves of displacement as the plant expanded. But Jones environmental advocacy isnt only about the state of the land he lives on. Instead, he said, its about the dignity and humanity of his community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been here longer than any of these companies, he said. With worsening pollution, residents face an impossible choice: stay and suffer or sell and watch history disappear. Jones said the goal of his work is simple: he said that he wants to be able to sit in his front yard and breathe fresh air. Now, the air that and his neighbors breathes carries a sulfuric stench, sewage spills onto streets, and refinery flares burn for days. In 2022, nearly 10% of his community had cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With fewer protections, he knows that it might get worse. Read More: What Happens When a Black Enclave Is Built by Big Oil San Francisco: A toxic cocktail in the citys last Black neighborhood Kamillah Ealoms family has struggled through the suffocation of life in San Francisco, from air pollution to massacres. (Adam Mahoney/Capital B) For decades, residents in Bayview-Hunters Point have lived next to one of the nations most contaminated sites, separated from the toxins by just a chain link fence. It is the only San Francisco neighborhood with a population that is more than 10% Black. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EPA has long funded a long-term clean-up program to remove the chemicals; much of it nuclear waste at military installations dating back to World War II. Environmentalists said that the EPAs clean-up plan was far from it intended to pave over the contamination rather than remove it. A group of advocates took the agency to court over its proposal. But the community now faces the prospect of not having any remediation efforts take place at all: The Trump administration recently rescinded much of the $1 billion funding allocated by the Biden administration for removing toxic waste. Read More: The Last Black Neighborhood in San Francisco Kamillah Ealom, who leads the environmental organization All Things Bayview, said it can be difficult to not feel a sense of helplessness. Our lives are capped off at 65 years old. So were constantly going to funerals. Im constantly giving rides to the emergency room, Ealom said, referring to the premature deaths and health ailments among her neighbors which they attribute to the lingering environmental waste in the community. But they mask it and blame it on us, so they can overlook the cancer, the environment, the respiratory issues, and the industrialized sites and redlining thats pushing us here. The post EPA Rollbacks Mean More Pollution, Less Justice for Black Communities appeared first on Capital B Gary. Istanbul (dpa) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday condemned the ongoing protests sparked by the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, vowing the country would not "be abandoned to street terror." He accused Imamoglu's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) of exploiting the investigation as a pretext to plunge the country into chaos. "We will not tolerate any disruption of public order. Just as we have not bowed to street terror before, we will not yield to vandalism now," Erdogan said at a Nowruz celebration in Istanbul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erdogan also accused the CHP, which is the founding party of modern Turkey, of corruption and inciting unrest. A court has yet to weigh in on the corruption and terrorism allegations against Imamoglu and several others. The mayors detention on Wednesday triggered nightly protests across the country. Authorities have responded with heavy security measures and banned gatherings in four major cities, including Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. Istanbul (dpa) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday condemned the ongoing protests sparked by the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, vowing the country would not "be abandoned to street terror." He accused Imamoglu's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) of exploiting the investigation as a pretext to plunge the country into chaos. "We will not tolerate any disruption of public order. Just as we have not bowed to street terror before, we will not yield to vandalism now," Erdogan said at a Nowruz celebration in Istanbul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erdogan also accused the CHP, which is the founding party of modern Turkey, of corruption and inciting unrest. A court has yet to weigh in on the corruption and terrorism allegations against Imamoglu and several others. The mayors detention on Wednesday triggered nightly protests across the country. Authorities have responded with heavy security measures and banned gatherings in four major cities, including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Imamoglu party was preparing to name him as their presidential candidate on Sunday when he was taken into custody. The CHP has said it would still proceed with the selection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a crackdown on social media protests over the detention, Turkish authorities have detained 54 people, the government said on Friday. A total of 326 accounts were under investigation for posts suspected of incitement to hatred and encouraging criminal acts, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on the social media platform X. On Thursday, Yerlikaya said 37 users were detained. Separately, the authorities brought criminal charges against 53 demonstrators who joined the protests, according to Yerlikaya. DENVER (KDVR) One of two detainees who escaped from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody during a power outage on Tuesday was arrested in Adams County Friday. ICE Denver said that the Adams County Sheriffs Office arrested Joel Gonzalez, 32, on Friday morning. A spokesperson for the sheriffs office told FOX31 that the arrest happened around 4:30 a.m. near West 64th Avenue and Beach Street when a deputy contacted a suspicious person, who turned out to be one of the escapees. 2 escape ICE detention facility in Aurora; ICE claims local authorities refuse to help Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies told FOX31s Vicente Arenas that Gonzalez-Gonzalez was riding a bike in a dark industrial area and reportedly gave conflicting information in two encounters with law enforcement. Gonzalez was taken into temporary custody and ICE responded and took him into custody in a reasonable amount of time, the spokesperson wrote in an email. The deputy who arrested Gonzalez did not know he was talking to an escapee. He did not. He just thought it was the person he said he was from the previous contact. But then again, he gave different information than he did from the first contact and hes like, somethings not right here, Adams County Sheriffs Department Public Information Officer Adam Sherman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies brought Gonzales back to a sheriffs substation where they were able to positively identify him using fingerprints. ICE said he will remain in custody pending criminal and immigration proceedings. Timeline: How 2 ICE detainees escaped, why Aurora police didnt immediately respond Gonzalez and another detainee at the Aurora GEO Corrections Detention Center, run by GEO Group, walked off the premises Tuesday during a power outage that began around 9:30 p.m., according to police reports. Staff at the detention facility conducted an emergency head count and at 12:35 a.m. they confirmed that two detainees were missing. The last time the two were accounted for was during a facility-wide count around 2 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez allegedly entered the country on Feb. 11, 2013 at the El Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas. According to ICE, he had violated the conditions of his admission. He was in custody at the Adams County Jail in Brighton when ICE encountered him on Jan. 8. ICE issued an immigration detainer and arrested him on Feb. 12 and was being held at the ICE facility pending immigration proceedings. 2 escape ICE detention facility in Aurora; ICE claims local authorities refuse to help New Information about other escapee The other escapee was identified by ICE as Geilond Vido-Romero, 24, and a probable cause arrest affidavit out of the Eighteenth Judicial District listed his name as Vido Romero Geilond Jose. The other escapee remains at large. ICE said he entered the U.S. near Eagle Pass, Texas on Dec. 20, 2023. He was reportedly released by U.S. Border Patrol officers on his own recognizance. ICE said an immigration judge ordered him in absentia removed from the U.S. to Venezuela Feb. 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show a man with a variation of this name was arrested in Lone Tree last month. Police say he shoplifted over $1,500 from a department store. Police caught him after a foot chase and said they knew something wasnt standard when they tried to identify him. And in this case, the suspect gave a name and a date of birth, and we were able to run that name and date of birth through our police resources and in this particular case he came back no record, Lone Tree Police Commander Timothy Beals said. It wasnt until later at the Douglas County Jail that he was determined to be an undocumented immigrant and was transported to the GEO ICE Detention center. ICE encountered him on Feb. 26 at the Douglas County Jail in Castle Rock. He was arrested by local officials and was issued an immigration detainer. ICE took him into custody on Feb. 27 and he was being held at the detention facility pending his removal from the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Feb. 26 arrest affidavit out of Douglas County obtained by FOX31 on Friday, he was initially arrested by Lone Tree police on charges of theft ($1,000-$2,000) and resisting arrest. That day around 5:15 p.m., an officer with the Lone Tree Police Department was dispatched to a reported theft at a Macys store at the Park Meadows Mall. The person who reported to the police said that the suspect entered the store and picked up a white puffer jacket and put several pieces of jewelry in a white duffle bag. He allegedly walked out of the store with $1,529.50 worth of merchandise. Chief on ICE facility escape: Never an expectation for APD to lead this investigation Police found him in a parking garage and activated their emergency lights, then he started to run. Police chased him on foot and arrested him in the Dillards parking lot. According to police, the duffle bag was recovered with the jacket and 13 pieces of jewelry inside one of the pockets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the affidavit, he admitted to the theft after police read him his Miranda rights. ICE asks anyone with information about his location to call the ICE tip line at 866-347-2423 or complete the online tip form. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders are now in agreement that the EU must be fully capable of defending itself against a Russian attack by 2030, despite earlier resistance to the deadline from some countries, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday. Europe is dramatically stepping up spending on defence because of concern that the United States, which had guaranteed Europe's security since the end of World War Two, was no longer keen to do so, shifting its attention to the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But not all EU countries are equally committed to higher defence spending, especially those geographically further from Russia. Speaking after a summit of EU leaders that discussed the EU plan to step up defence readiness, Tusk said countries now spending less than others on defence had been reluctant to accept the five-year scheme proposed by the European Commission. "Behind the scenes... it stirred some emotions. Especially in countries that spend little on defence now. There are several large countries that still spend very little. And they don't want to spend more. For now," Tusk told a press conference. NATO member Spain spent 1.28% of GDP on defence in 2024 and Italy spent 1.49%, falling well short of the agreed NATO target of 2% of GDP, despite three years of war in Ukraine and U.S. pressure to further raise the NATO defence spending target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slovenia, Belgium and Portugal also spend between 1.29% and 1.55% of GDP on defence. Italy plans to increase military spending to 1.6% of GDP in 2027, while Spain wants to reach NATO's spending target of 2% of GDP only before 2029. "Our position, shared with Denmark and Sweden, was that the more Russia has the advantage today, the more we have to hurry. We finally accepted, as the European Council, this commitment that by 2030 Europe must obtain full defence capabilities," Tusk said. "By 2030 Europe must be, in terms of army, weapons, technology, clearly stronger than Russia. And it will be." Tusk said the five-year deadline corresponded to analysis by NATO head Mark Rutte that this was the amount of time Europe had before Russia rebuilt its offensive capabilities, after losses suffered in Ukraine, sufficiently to be ready to attack Europe. He made clear this did not mean Europe expected an attack by Russia in 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is key that Europe be really capable to defend itself and deter Putin," Tusk said. "Or, it is less about defending and more about showing through facts, decisions, that Putin's Russia does not stand a chance against Europe that is united and well-armed. It is the only effective method to avoid a war." (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Alex Richardson) Katarina Mathernova, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, has commented on Russias overnight drone attack on Ukrainian cities, carried out on the night of 20-21 March. Source: Mathernova on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda Details: Mathernova condemned the Russian strikes, saying they show what kind of peace the Kremlin has promised. Quote: "Now we all know what the Russian peace promised by President Putin to President Trump really looks like." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Mathernova noted that Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia were targeted during the night. Russia struck civilian infrastructure, including shopping centres and residential buildings. She called on the world to "wake up". Quote: "We must understand what is at stake. Putin is relentlessly destroying Ukraine and its people." Background: It was also reported that Czech President Petr Pavel visited Odesa on the same day that Russian forces launched a large-scale drone attack on the city. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed doubts about the large number of meetings on Ukraine in various formats, saying they have not yet led to any progress. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The proposal by the EUs chief diplomat Kaja Kallas to allocate billions of euros in military aid to Ukraine has stalled because of the absence of concrete implementation plans. Source: European Pravda Details: Kallas' plan to allocate billions of euros for military support to Ukraine was first presented at the extraordinary EU summit on 6 March, and later, she mentioned the figure of 40 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, European Pravda reports that even at that time, EU officials expressed confusion over the abstract nature of the plan, which changed in cost multiple times. The publication notes that even despite Hungary's opposition since its stance was clear from the outset Kallas still failed to secure unanimous support for her initiative across Europe. This lack of consensus was reflected in the search for wording regarding Kallas' plan while drafting the conclusions of the 20 March EU summit, which were revised at least twice. The final version of the conclusions mentioned Ukraine's specific need for artillery ammunition, but it also stressed that supporting the EU top diplomats plan was not mandatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European Pravda sources revealed that Italy, France and Slovakia were the most insistent on changing the wording of the military aid section. These countries shared opposition to one of the key elements of Kallas' original proposal, which envisioned mandatory contributions from every EU state to Ukraines military support fund, with the amount calculated based on each state's Gross National Income (GNI). One senior EU diplomat remarked that, regardless of whether individual states agreed to participate in Kallas' project, her proposal remained "very raw" and did not provide enough clarity for governments to contribute billions of euros from their national budgets. The official explained that while some officials pressed on making decisions right away, citing the fact that it was nearly halfway through the year and Ukraine needed help, there were reservations about how to justify such a move in public. He questioned where the money would go, underlining the reality that there was no clear proposal. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is continuing discussions with EU member states on her 40 billion initiative for military support to Ukraine and hopes to secure its approval. Source: Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission, at a briefing in Brussels on 21 March, as reported by European Pravda Details: The spokeswoman stressed that Kallas continues to hold discussions with EU states on the 40 billion military support project for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So to answer simply, yes," said Hipper, answering a question from journalists about whether Kallas believes her plan to support Ukraine will be approved. "The plan [is] to ensure that we have the full support for Ukraine, also when it comes to our military support, this is why the high representative has put forward her plan and we're discussing this. It's our responsibility to ensure that Ukraine is in a position of strength, so this is why we need to urgently step up all the measures. As we have seen from last year, we've provided more than 20.5 billion of military support to Ukraine, and we need to do much more in the light of the current challenges," she said. Hipper noted that Kallas proposed to increase military support to Ukraine by focusing on three main needs. "First of all, it's important to listen to what exactly Ukraine needs and has asked for, and hence, this is why the focus is now on the immediate, on the 5 billion in ammunition support. This is about artillery ammunition. The second point is also about air defence systems, the missiles, the drones and the fighter jets. And also the support for the regeneration of the [Ukrainian military] brigades," she pointed out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokeswoman added that the idea of planning the contributions of each participating state in accordance with its gross national income (GNI) has not been removed from the agenda. "So what we have in terms of the GNI, this is our proposal that stands. It is important that the GNI key takes into account the economy of each country. At the same time, we also know that there are concerns in this regard. That's why we are discussing with member states in this regard," Hipper said. Background: Italy, France and Slovakia insisted on a softer version of the Kallas plan to help Ukraine during the preparation of the EU leaders' summit on 20 March. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The News European Union leaders failed to agree a 5 billion ($5.4 billion) military aid package for Ukraine at a summit in Brussels Thursday, as the continent struggles to unite on a strategy to rearm itself and assert influence on peace talks with Russia. The package faltered after France and Italy hesitated to commit to specific financial contributions, Euro News Reported. Tensions also rose over the failure to put forward a senior figure to represent the bloc in US-led negotiations with Russia, according to Bloomberg. There was greater consensus on imposing fresh sanctions on Russia, although Hungary which has grown more willing to diverge from the EU on Ukraine declined to take part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few countries have committed to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, the focus of a separate summit in London Thursday. A major concern is that coalition troops could get sucked into a hot war with Russia without substantial US support to back them up, the Wall Street Journal reported. Europe has been racing to build regional defense plans in the absence of the US, a stark signal of the radical reconfiguring of the global security order since US President Donald Trump took office. US defense manufacturers are being frozen out of new EU defense spending plans. European leaders are also discussing reducing American involvement in NATO. VIENTIANE, March 21 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition opened in the Lao capital, Vientiane, on Friday showcasing key political events that illustrate the evolution, leadership, and impact of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in celebration of its 70th anniversary. The exhibition "70 Years of the Birth and Growth of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party," featured nearly 300 images, documents, and artifacts, Lao National Radio reported on Friday. The opening ceremony was attended by top leaders, including Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, along with other members. The exhibition emphasized the Party's proud legacy, showcasing its pivotal role in leading Laos to victory in the national liberation struggle and its ongoing efforts in national development and protection. Serving as both an educational and inspirational platform, the exhibition aims to promote national prosperity and well-being while encouraging younger generations to uphold the Party's ideals and contribute to advancing the nation's progress. The LPRP was established on March 22, 1955. THE HAGUE, Netherlands European Union leaders have wrapped up a busy week for defense, endorsing a landmark plan Thursday to unlock a combined 800 billion ($866 billion) in European military spending, though some political fissures became visible. The bloc hopes to mark a watershed moment in the continents history in the face of Russias war against Ukraine, seen by many here as an opening move to grander territorial aspirations, and a feared abandonment by the United States under President Trump. The spending plan is explicitly designed to decouple from a reliance on America for weapons and security, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying that Europe must buy more European and strengthen the European defense technological and industrial base. It also focuses on joint procurement, a growing trend throughout the continent that promises to bind the countries together even tighter. Under the plan, joint procurement will also be open to Ukraine and other countries in the EUs sphere of influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There remained some haggling around specifics. Spain would like to include cybersecurity and climate change mitigation in the definition of defense, for instance, which top EU officials have rejected as defense-washing. And Italy, long a proponent of common loans and buying European, suddenly flip-flopped on those positions, now calling into question the EU plans, seemingly with a worry for giving the EU more power that had previously been reserved for national governments. Hungary, meanwhile, stuck to its stated position of weapons for Europe yes, weapons for other countries no a reflection of Budapests distaste for Ukraine military aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the mood of a newfound sense of self-assuredness remained, progress particularly on support for Ukraine somewhat faltered as old divisions within the bloc reared their heads. Front and center of those hitting the brakes were the usual suspects of Hungary and Slovakia, whose Russia-friendly governments have often threatened to block European support for Ukraine or new sanctions against Moscow. As had already been the case at an emergency summit earlier this month, precipitated by the disastrous White House meeting between Ukrainian president Zelensky and U.S. president Trump, the EU fell just short of consensus on underscoring its continued support for Ukraine. Only Hungary refused to sign onto the joint declaration promising Europes continued commitment to providing military and financial aid to Ukraine. An EU plan to mobilize 40 billion in additional support for Ukraine appeared unworkable, and even a downsized 5 billion version focusing exclusively on artillery shells seemed on life support going into Friday. European diplomats lamented that the initiative had been botched by not consulting with the relevant stakeholders early on, with France the unions preeminent military power hesitant to support the initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, the EU has provided 139.2 billion to Ukraine, including 49.3 billion in military support. Despite the stumbling stones, the EU has been moving at lightning speed at least by Brussels standards to fill the power vacuum left by a United States in retreat and has shown remarkable unity in doing so. What has changed is the new sense of urgency. Because something fundamental has shifted, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels earlier this month. Our European values democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are under threat. The European Union may allocate up to 9 billion for military aid to Ukraine in 2025 as part of assistance funded through proceeds derived from frozen Russian assets. Source: European Pravda Details: The conclusions of the 20 March EU summit mentioned "the military needs component of the G7 ERA initiative" among the possible ways to finance Ukraine's military needs. This refers to a loan mechanism under which the European Union will provide Ukraine with 18.1 billion in 2025 through the taxation of profits from frozen Russian assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One of the diplomats representing a major EU national told European Pravda that under the terms of the G7 ERA loans secured by the income generated by frozen Russian assets, Ukraine could allocate up to 9 billion for military needs, half of the amount announced for 2025," European Pravda noted. Meanwhile, the article notes that it is not yet clear what the Ukrainian government's plans are for this 18.1 billion. Previously: The discussion of the ERA mechanism comes as the European Union criticises the plan of its chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, to allocate billions of euros for weapons to Ukraine, citing the lack of specific implementation mechanisms. "However, Kallas' initiative isn't dead either. The next substantive discussion on it at the political level will take place at an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Warsaw on 2-3 April," the article reads. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The European Union is preparing a 10 million support package for independent media in Ukraine, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova has announced. Source: Mathernova on Ukrainian Radio, as reported by European Pravda Details: Mathernova said that supporting independent media is one of the key areas of European assistance. The ambassador stated that the EU is currently preparing a 10 million support package for independent media in Ukraine for this year, with 7 million to be provided through EU partners. She added that in May, the EU delegation would announce a 3 million competition for two areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mathernova specified that one of these areas will focus on investigative journalism, while the other will support local and regional media. Background: Recently, funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was cut due to US President Donald Trump's decision to reduce the budget of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Earlier, reports emerged about issues at Voice of America, where journalists were suspended, effectively halting the broadcasters operations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 83% of USAID programmes would be scaled back following a six-week review. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Three years of war in Ukraine have left Europe with a hefty bill: nearly $122 billion in direct assistance, plus billions more plowed into the continents militaries and defense industry. But the region has so far refused to touch the $229 billion of Russian central bank cash sitting in the European Union, frozen after Vladimir Putins 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last week, however, French lawmakers passed a non-binding resolution calling on their government to use frozen Russian assets to finance military support to Ukraine and its reconstruction specifically, the assets themselves rather than just the interest they are earning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the United States and Canada had already introduced legislation empowering governments to confiscate frozen Russian assets. In its final days, the Biden administration also tried to persuade European allies to confiscate immobilized Russian funds. Some progress on that front was achieved last week, when the European Parliament agreed on a resolution to confiscate Russian frozen assets for Ukraines defense and reconstruction. The text of the resolution has not yet been voted on by the parliaments lawmakers. The EU is already using the interest from the frozen funds to back multi-billion-dollar loans to Ukraine. But European governments remain hesitant about confiscating the capital. In an understatement from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 15, its a complicated issue. The Russian flag hangs from Russian investment Bank VTB Capital in London, above a memorial to World War I British war dead, on January 31, 2022, less than a month before Russia's full-scale invasion. - Richard Baker/In Pictures/Getty Images Mountain of cash The concerns are twofold: economic and legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not touching these Russian assets, French government spokesperson Sophie Primas told journalists last Wednesday, warning that doing so could set a dangerous precedent, discouraging foreign investment in Europe, even as the government examines legal pathways to use the funds. A country like China, aware that it could face European sanctions if it invaded Taiwan, might be reluctant to place funds in the region, the argument goes. Indeed, Russia has for years been moving its official funds out of the US, apparently fearful of repercussions over its aggressions in Ukraine and Georgia. There is a precedent for this sort of US action. It seized German assets after World War II, as well as Afghan and Iraqi assets, said Professor Olena Havrylchyk, an economist at Paris Pantheon-Sorbonne university, adding that Moscow hadnt had the same fear about Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, Europes central banks have expressed concern (cloaked in diplomatic language) that seizing foreign funds could harm the euro as a reserve currency, Havrylchyk told CNN. But continued support for Ukraine will carry on costing Europe money and interest from Russias funds wont cut it. Thats a reality that European taxpayers will need to remain on board with, Havrylchyk said, if seizing Russias money outright is off the table. Havrylchyk believes a nuclear-armed Russia will never agree to pay reparations as part of a peace deal, so Kyivs hopes for compensation must lie in funds already in the Wests hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The world isnt ruled solely by economists, she said. International law is above all for justice, not just property rights. Legal worries Legally, Europes hesitancy over seizing rather than just freezing Russias assets stems from one of the key principles of international law: the immunity of a states overseas assets from seizure. The justification for seizing the principal of Russias assets would therefore be all-important, Frederic Dopagne, professor of public international law at the University of Louvain in Belgium, told CNN. A bucket loader is used to clear rubble from Antonovycha Street in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district after a Russian missile attack, in December 2024. - Ukrinform/NurPhoto/Getty Images Reparations for Russias damage to Ukraine and bolstering Ukraines own defense capabilities against aggression are the strongest legal arguments Europe could use, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the US passed the 2024 bipartisan Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act, it justified any seizing of Russias assets in the US on the basis that they would be used to rebuild Ukraine. And French lawmakers debating the non-binding resolution last Wednesday voted through an amendment explicitly removing provisions to use Russian assets to fund Europes own defense. With around two-thirds of all frozen Russian funds sitting in the EU, the stakes and potential benefits are much higher for European governments than they are for the US. Dopagne at the University of Louvain said Europes hesitancy is partly due to the lack of historical precedent. After World Wars I and II, a vanquished Germany was compelled to pay reparations through international treaties. But, with even a 30-day ceasefire off the table for Moscow, any such post-war accord with Russia is a distant prospect, Dopagne said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, the question for Western decision-makers on Ukraine is: Can we really have an agreement on reparations before weve even got a peace treaty? Dopagne said. It would be a novelty, he added, even if it cant be ruled out. Ukrainian service members unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered by plane as part of the US military support package for Ukraine, on February 10, 2022. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters Unanimous consent needed The arguments on either side of the debate havent yet reached critical mass. States like Belgium, which holds the lions share of frozen Russian assets (some $193 billion, according to the Institute of Legislative Ideas, a Ukrainian think tank), remain dubious, and backing from economic powerhouses like Germany would be essential for broader European buy-in. Any EU-wide action would almost certainly require unanimous consent from member states, an unlikely result, given the support for Russia in the Hungarian and Slovak administrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials from the Biden administration had hoped to use Russias frozen funds as leverage in peace negotiations, forcing Putin to the table. With Donald Trumps enthusiastic overtures to Moscow and the first moves toward a peace deal in three years of fighting, a European seizure of Russias cash is more likely to kill than to aid negotiations. For now, Moscows nest egg looks safely out of European pockets. CNNs Serene Nourrisson contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The U.K. has increased its travel warning for those entering the United States amid the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, Reuters reported Thursday. The website for the countrys foreign office currently states, You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry. The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules. In early February, according to the outlet, guidance was more brief, and did not mention anything about arrest or detention: The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, U.K. tourist Becky Burke was being detained for more than 10 days by Immigration and Customs Enforcement over a reported visa mix-up. Her parents, Paul and Andrea Burke, told the BBC that she was taken in leg chains, waist chains and handcuffs, which left her traumatized. Paul Burke added: She is not Hannibal Lecter. She has since been able to return home. Several German tourists have also been detained for extended periods of time, with one travelers offense reportedly being traveling with tattoo equipment. That country responded by updating its own travel advisory to stress that a visa or entry waiver does not necessarily mean they will be allowed into the U.S. (NewsNation) The Trump administrations immigration policies are raising concerns among the United States European allies. Germany and the United Kingdom have advised their citizens to be extra vigilant about U.S. entry requirements, following the detentions of tourists from these countries and Canada. The United Kingdom issued an updated travel advisory for those going to the U.S., telling citizens that they could face repercussions if they breach U.S. immigration laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany issued a travel directive urging citizens to double-check their travel documents, warning that holding a visa or entry waiver doesnt guarantee entry into the U.S. The notice came following the arrest of three of its citizens who were detained when attempting to enter the U.S. DHS denies targeting scientist for political views A French scientist, who was not named, was on the way to a conference in Texas and was reportedly denied entry because he sent messages critical of President Donald Trump. He was on assignment for the National Center for Scientific Research. Philippe Baptiste, Frances minister for higher education, said, He had learned with concern that a French academic who was going to a conference in Houston was denied entry before being deported (back to Europe). Musk visiting Pentagon to discuss DOGE reforms Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, Any claim that his removal was based on political beliefs is blatantly false. The French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory in violation of non-disclosure agreement something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal, McLaughlin wrote on X. Georgetown scholar faces deportation In another case, Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University scholar from India on a student visa, was arrested in Washington D.C. this week. Badar Khan Suri, who is an Indian national, was detained by ICE earlier this week and was sent to Louisiana, where he is awaiting a hearing in immigration court, his lawyer, Hassan Ahmed told the Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLaughlin wrote on X Wednesday that Suri was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. She wrote that Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist who is a senior advisor to Hamas. She said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined on March 15 that Suris activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act. A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deport Suri until his case is heard in court. Professor deported accused of attending Hezbollah leaders funeral In a separate incident, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University professor, was deported to Lebanon over the weekend despite having a visa and a court order allowing her to remain in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security officials stated that Alawieh had attended the funeral of Hezbollahs former leader last month and admitted to following his teachings, though she denies agreeing with his political views. Travel warnings come pro-Palestinian activist crackdown These events have occurred as the Trump administration cracks down on pro-Palestinian activism. Mahamoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and activist, was arrested by Immigration Customs Enforcement earlier this month after leading campus protests against U.S. military support for Israel. The administration has accused Khalil of supporting Hamas, a claim his lawyers deny. A former ICE director told NewsNation that detainments and denials of entry into the U.S. arent uncommon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stop cutting the BS: Governors react to Education Department executive order However, travel experts warn that such incidents could severely impact the tourism industry, a trillion-dollar sector, especially with the spring and summer seasons approaching. I do, in my professional opinion, think that were going to have a decline in tourism this summer and spring, and this is our busiest season, said travel industry and tourism expert Sandra McLemore. This is when a lot of companies directly or indirectly related to tourism and travel will produce a huge amount of revenue and a huge amount of income, especially in states like New York, Florida and California. Canada has not yet issued a travel warning; however, a Canadian lawyer on Thursday also urged citizens to avoid travel to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsNations Brooke Shafer and The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Over his years in Washington, a European defense official granted anonymity to speak freely grew used to a certain warmth from his American counterparts. He gave the Air Forces annual conference as an example. Every year he went, the speakers thanked U.S. allies for their help, and at least one U.S. officer approached him with a question: What can we do for you? That changed this month, at the same conference in Aurora, Colorado. The scarce crowd in attendance barely mentioned American allies, the official noted. No one asked him what he needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many Europeans either visiting or posted to Washington, moments of comity are becoming scarcer as the second Trump administration rapidly alters Americas 75-year military role in Europe. Officials described struggling to get meetings with their Pentagon counterparts, including longtime contacts. At the same time, in private conversations, American defense officials are delivering abrupt changes in policy, from a drop in American forces on the continent to a lack of interest in having them counter China in the Pacific. The shift has many European officials wondering who they should listen to, and what is the Pentagons new strategy. It feels like the task is not to promote European allies and NATO but to ensure a U.S. withdrawal with minimum fuss, said a second European defense official. This story is based on interviews with half a dozen European officials, all of whom were allowed to speak anonymously to avoid becoming a target of the Trump administration. They described the personal effect of a new chill felt from the Pentagon toward Europe, one that is already causing their governments to doubt Americas commitment to them, and in turn their commitment to America. Warning signs The warning signs for Europe under the second Trump administration came early. The president has long been skeptical of Americas role in NATO and accused European partners of free-riding off U.S. military power. That rhetoric hardened when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to the alliances headquarters in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent, he said, arguing they should spend closer to 5% of GDP on defense. In private, some on the continent welcomed the lecture. A record 23 of NATOs 32 members now spend the alliances 2% floor of GDP on defense, but Europe would still struggle to defend itself without American assistance a problem clear to many of the countries in the east. What no country in the alliance wants, though, is American abandonment, something Europeans began to fear two weeks after Hegseths speech. In late February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Oval Office to sign an agreement trading natural resources for U.S. military support. It ended up in a shouting match, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating him for a perceived lack of gratitude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. paused military and intelligence support for Ukraine days later, a suspension that lasted a week. Trump had threatened such steps before but largely avoided acting on them in his first term. The pause made it clear to many in Europe that this time was different, said Max Bergmann, who studies European security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It [created] the sense that the U.S. is walking away, and may not be on our side, Bergmann said, describing European sentiments. For many Europeans inside or visiting Washington, Zelenskyys visit has come to represent a growing sense of alienation they feel from the U.S., especially from the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several defense officials from the continent described having much more difficulty getting meetings with counterparts in the Defense Department, even with long-term contacts. Some said their counterparts were now having to get approval from supervisors before gathering casually, say for coffee or lunch. Others who have secured meetings reported stiff discussions in which U.S. officials stuck closely to prepared talking points, despite at times outlining sharp changes in policy. After years of courting allies to take the threat of China more seriously, the Pentagon is now discouraging Europeans from getting more involved in the Pacific. Countries such as Britain and Germany that join U.S.-led military drills around Asia havent yet been disinvited, the officials said, while noting that they still saw it as a possibility. Instead, the message now is that Europe should focus almost solely on its own security. [There is] no demand signal from the U.S. for the Europeans to be involved in the Pacific, the second official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Europeans are also preparing for a drastic change in Americas military posture on the continent. Pentagon officials have previewed a drawdown in private, though they havent specified which units will depart, except to say it will likely involve the 20,000 troops the Biden administration surged to Europe after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Several top policy officials now in the Pentagon have previously argued that the U.S. military is over-committed in Europe and should shift forces toward Asia, to better deter China. The Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment. Buy European That said, some European officials are struggling to discern the signal from the noise, hearing different things from different parts of the administration. Their confusion is part of a larger issue many allies are facing: Who has real authority when Trump himself dictates so much of Americas foreign policy? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, one official said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was assured during his March visit to Washington, where he met with Trump, that the 20,000 troops surged to Europe would remain. The United States has repeatedly reaffirmed its strong commitment to NATO. President Trump emphasized this when he met with Secretary General Rutte at the White House last week, a NATO spokesperson said when asked for comment. The alienation has also not been universal. While visiting Europe last month, Hegseth traveled to Poland and had a warm reception with the countrys Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves as the defense minister. Its quite intentional that our first European bilateral is right here in Poland, Hegseth said at a press conference. We see Poland as the model ally on the continent, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland spends over 4% of GDP on defense, and its president has pledged to increase that to 4.7% this year, which would make it the largest among NATO countries. And up until last year, Warsaw had been governed by a right-wing party that courted Trump, at one point even proposing a Polish military base named after the U.S. president. Other allies are taking note. In early March, Britains secretary of state for defense arrived in Washington to meet with Hegseth, a cordial meeting that ran 30 minutes longer than scheduled. Speaking with reporters later, John Healey delivered two points. One, the United Kingdom was grateful for the Trump administrations effort to end the war in Ukraine, despite the still-active pause in aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two, Britain was stepping up. A week before, Britain pledged to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP within two years on the way to reaching a full 3% later on. Other members of NATO have since unveiled pledges of their own to spend more, a top goal of the Trump administration. In private, officials from some of those countries offered a counter: Dont expect the extra money to go to American defense firms the new creed in Brussels amid a planned rearmament of the European Union to the tune of hundreds of billions of euros. I expect Europe to buy European, Bergmann said. French President Emmanuel Macron will host European leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Paris on March 27 to discuss the peace process in Ukraine. Participants will include the "coalition of the willing," a group of countries who have pledged to help secure a future peace in Ukraine. Germany, Poland, and the U.K. will attend next week's Paris peace talks. "We will finalize our work on short-term support for the Ukrainian army, on defending a sustainable and durable Ukrainian army model to prevent Russian invasions, and then on the security guarantees that European armies can provide," Macron said at the end of the European Council meeting on March 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to diplomats who spoke to Reuters, Zelensky will arrive in Paris on March 26 and the meetings with international leaders will take place the following day. Earlier today, the U.S. announced plans to hold indirect talks between Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. The negotiations are scheduled for March 24 and will involve "shuttle diplomacy," with Russian and Ukrainian representatives present in separate rooms and U.S. officials mediating. European representatives have not been invited to participate in the Saudi Arabia talks, despite repeated appeals to include Europe in peace negotiations. Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have emerged as Europe's leading voices in the Russia-Ukraine peace process, lobbying U.S. President Donald Trump to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and organizing a coalition of Western allies to monitor a future ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The upcoming Paris talks will follow recent summits organized by France and the U.K., including a virtual summit, which took place on March 15. During the summit, participating leaders discussed plans to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine accuses Russia of false flag attack on Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MADISON The Evers administration is ordering Milwaukee Public Schools officials to improve how the district is cleaning up lead paint hazards after finding children had returned to classrooms where paint scrapings and dust were present in one school and officials had not posted warning signs where abatement was underway in another. In a letter dated Wednesday to MPS director of facilities and maintenance Sean Kane, a Wisconsin Department of Health official said the way MPS is handling the lead paint abatement is violating state rules governing such work and has "created a condition that is an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of the children and staff attending MPS schools." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel obtained the letter under the state's public records law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No amount of lead is safe, especially for children. The order from the state health department to change abatement practices comes after four Milwaukee schools have temporarily closed in recent months to address significant lead paint concerns. Small children and children with developmental needs who are prone to putting their hands in their mouths are particularly at risk for exposure to lead. During visits in February and March to the affected schools, health officials found MPS had in some cases not properly secured areas where the abatement was underway. In one classroom at Fernwood Montessori School, health officials found on March 11 "a significant amount of paint chips and renovation debris were visible within arms length of a child's desk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was clear the surface was not covered with plastic during the paint scraping," the letter states. During the visit to Fernwood, state health officials found visible paint chips and debris on floors and window sills, indicating "a post renovation cleaning verification was not completed in these areas." "MPS allowed children back into the work areas at Fernwood to attend class on March 11, 2025, while paint chip dust and debris from the previous nights work was present," the report says. The officials found paint chips, renovation debris and dust predating the work in five classrooms, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a Feb. 17 visit to Trowbridge Elementary, health officials found no warning signs in the building to keep children or staff out of the gymnasium where MPS workers were scraping away lead paint. DHS is ordering MPS to immediately implement a correction plan that will keep state and local health officials informed of what kind of lead paint abatement work will be done and when it will be performed. It also orders the MPS officials to adhere to rules that make such abatement work safer, like cleaning the work area at the end of each workday, and to take measures to contain dust and debris, among other safety precautions. If MPS fails to comply with the order, DHS could take additional enforcement actions including "forfeitures, suspension, revocation" or a referral to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, according to the letter. In a statement, MPS spokesman Stephen Davis said the MPS workers and contractors charged with addressing lead issues "are under the direct supervision of a certified lead-safe renovator." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said MPS has established new accountability measures and will submit a plan Friday to the Milwaukee Health Department that outlines how their practices will adhere to state and federal rules governing such abatement work. MPS continues the practice of consulting the Milwaukee Health Department at each step of the process so that students and staff can safely return to their schools, he said. Alison Dirr of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Evers administration orders MPS to improve lead paint cleanup MANILA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers on Friday resumed searching for six missing foreign nationals who went missing while hiking in a central Philippine volcanic mountain. Police said the male hikers, three German nationals aged 67, 60, and 58, a 38-year-old Russian, a 63-year-old British, and a 50-year-old Canadian, left around 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday to climb the Mount Talinis, located southwest of Valencia, a town in the Negros Oriental province. The hikers were reported missing Thursday after they failed to return to their rental house. Local authorities immediately conducted a search and rescue on Thursday but did not find the hikers on the trail. Mount Talinis is described as a complex volcano at about 1,903 meters above sea level, and it is the second-highest mountain on Negros Island after Mount Kanlaon. The Trump administrations foreign policy will upend the United States' position as an international beacon of freedom, former U.S. ambassador to Brazil Elizabeth Bagley said during an appearance this month in Palm Beach. We have been leaders of the free world, and now we are not, clearly, she said in response to a question from the audience at a March 13 breakfast lecture hosted by the Palm Beach Civic Association at the Beach Club. Former ambassador Elizabeth Bagley said that the Trump's administration adversarial stance towards longtime allies will only serve to isolate the U.S. Bagley, who has held a position in every Democratic administration since President Jimmy Carter's told the audience that since the Cold War, international aid programs have been an essential part of U.S. foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the administration of John F. Kennedy, the United States Agency for International Development and other programs funded by the U.S government have served to "develop friends through persuasion," Bagley said. That has helped the U.S. avoid pursuing foreign policy goals through the military, she said during the discussion moderated by Civic Association CEO Michael Pucillo. Such programs, and U.S. diplomacy are referred to in policy circles as "soft power" that can help the U.S global standing and serve as an invaluable tool to prevent volatile situations from escalating into armed conflict, Bagley said. She recalled that Jim Mattis, secretary of defense during Trump's first term, said, "if you cut development, then I'm going to need more soldiers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the beginning of Trump's second term on Jan. 20, the administration has cut more than 80% of the programs under USAID and fired thousands of workers and placed others on administrative leave. On March 18, a federal judge for the district of Maryland blocked Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from firing any more USAID workers or terminating USAID contracts. On March 10, a federal judge ruled that the Trump Administration is not allowed to freeze funds Congress had already directed to be spent on foreign aid. Bagley told the audience that America's foreign policy had historically been bipartisan, as it was important for the country to speak to the world with one voice. Bagley noted the diplomatic work the bipartisan Presidents Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy accomplished during her tenure on the board during the President George W. Bush's administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She questioned whether bipartisan advisory commissions would continue to exist under the polarized politics of the Trump administration. Career diplomat Elizabeth Bagley spoke with Palm Beach Civic Association CEO Michael Pucillo about her time as a U.S. ambassador, and the importance of aid programs including USAID. Bagley also expressed concern over the current administrations treatment of longtime allies. She noted the administration's hostile rhetoric to Canada, Mexico, Ukraine and the European Union, and its softened stance toward Russia, a historic rival. She cited the Feb. 24 United Nations General Assembly Meeting, where the U.S. voted against a European-drafted resolution that called for the end of the war in Ukraine. Because Ukraine did not remove the statement noting Russia's invasion, "we vetoed the resolution, she said. The countries that voted against the resolution include Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, "all the good guys," she said sarcastically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that meeting, U.S. also abstained from voting on its own resolution that called for an end to the fighting in Ukraine, after Europeans led by France successfully amended the resolution to make it clear that Russia was the aggressor. Bagley also spoke about her time in the Carter administration as the Congressional liaison officer for The Panama Canal Treaties that returned the canal and its surrounding land to Panama, as the ambassador to Portugal under President Bill Clinton's administration, and as the ambassador to Brazil during the President Joe Biden's term. Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Ex-envoy: Trump foreign policy will upend US role as beacon of freedom Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger has accused MAGA of brazen hypocrisy over its fury at attacks on Tesla. Kinzinger, who served as a representative for Illinois from 2011 to 2023 and is vehemently anti-Donald Trump, contrasted the fury at Tesla being boycotted and its cars being vandalized with how Budweisers work with transgender social media creator Dylan Mulvaney set conservatives alight with anger in 2023. Republicans are ALWAYS the victim. Not very masculine pic.twitter.com/5uGXpZgBA0 Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) (@AdamKinzinger) March 21, 2025 So, heres an interesting question. Why is it that whenever Republicans decide to boycott a company like Bud Light or Disney, theyre doing it because theyre victims of that company? he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet when America decides to boycott a company like Tesla, because the CEO is running around telling Americans what they can and cant live without so he can have a tax break, then all of a sudden theyre victims again. He then said Republicans have a victim mentality. So theyre victims when theyre being boycotted and theyre victims when theyre boycotting, he reasoned. Thats because Donald Trump has made his fortune and his political career on being a victim. And Republicans have learned the same thing, always be a victim. Thats not a very masculine trait to me. Kinzinger recently dared Trump to charge him for his work with the House Jan. 6 committee in defiance of the pardon then-president Joe Biden issued while still in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late night host Jimmy Kimmel also touched on the hypocrisy on his show Thursday. On Jimmy Kimmel Live! he played clips of MAGA figures like JD Vance and Fox News host Sean Hannity criticizing a joke where he sarcastically pleaded with the public not to burn Teslas. But if you try to taser a cop on the steps of the Capitol, weve got your back, he then quipped, before making a reference to the MAGA Bud Light saga. Everyone needs to crack open a Bud Light and relax already, he said. Jonah Bevin, left, attended a court hearing Friday with his lawyer, John Helmers Jr., over an emergency protective order he is seeking to retain against his adoptive father, former Gov. Matt Bevin. At center is his adoptive mother, Glenna Bevin with lawyer Steve Romines and at right, Matt Bevin. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool) LOUISVILLE An unusual bit of courtroom drama unfolded Friday when former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin acting as his own attorney grilled his adopted son, Jonah, about an emergency protective order the son is seeking to keep in place against Bevin. Jonah, 18, adopted at age 5 from Ethiopia, alleges he experienced abuse and neglect in the Bevin home, culminating in his abandonment at a brutally abusive youth facility last year in Jamaica while he was 17. Jonah is seeking an extension of the temporary protective order he obtained March 7 against Matt Bevin, saying he fears him and wants no contact with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Bevin, seated beside his ex-wife, Glenna, at a table next to Jonahs, spent about 30 minutes questioning him about a three-page statement Jonah provided in support of his request for an EPO at one point challenging his claim that Matt Bevin had threatened to euthanize Jonahs pet dog if the youth failed to follow his directives. In a series of questions, the one-term Republican governor, seated with a stack of documents before him, demanded to know who paid for the dog, bought dog food and purchased its dog bed. Jonah Bevin, 18, responds to questions in Family Court on Friday, March 21, 2025. Jonah sought an emergency protective order against his parents, former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and his wife Glenna Bevin. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool) You paid, Jonah replied, but I had to pay you back for everything. Fridays hearing was continued until Tuesday by Family Court Judge Angela Johnson after parties said they would need more time to present witnesses. The couples divorce became final March 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glenna Bevin, who is not subject to the EPO, appeared alongside her lawyer, Steve Romines, a prominent Louisville defense lawyer In addition to seeking the protective order, Jonah Bevin has filed a report with Louisville Metro Police, alleging he was abandoned in Jamaica at age 17 by the Bevins, a Class D felony in Kentucky. She sat quietly, hands folded in her lap, while her lawyer handled questions on her behalf. Romines spent most of his time apparently seeking to distance Glenna Bevin from allegations involving her ex-husband and show that she had attempted to get help for Jonahs emotional problems and learning disabilities. Neither Bevin has commented on Jonahs allegations, first reported in the Kentucky Lantern Feb. 28. Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin listens to a complaint against he and First Lady Glenna Bevin in Family Court on Friday, March 21, 2025. Their son, Jonah Bevin, 18, has been granted an emergency protective order against his parents. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool) After the 90-minute hearing ended Friday, Matt Bevin twice ignored a reporter asking if he had any comment on the proceedings, walking by without reply. Glenna Bevins lawyers said they would have no comment until the hearing is concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonah also left without commenting. Dawn J. Post, a New York lawyer and child advocate also representing Jonah, said the experience of having to testify about his ordeal especially under questioning from Matt Bevin, who he has accused of abuse was emotionally retraumatizing. She called Bevins decision to represent himself, and thus directly question his son, unexpected. That certainly can feel like another form of abuse, Post said, referring to the questions by his father. Jonah, sitting beside his lawyer, John Helmers Jr., spoke softly, at times, almost inaudibly during the hearing, at one point prompting Family Court Judge Angela Johnson to ask him to speak louder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Matt Bevins questioning, Helmers twice asked the judge to direct him from interrupting Jonah while he was attempting to answer, which she did. Jonah was asked by the judge to verify the statement he provided in support of the EPO was truthful after Johnson read it into the court record. Yes maam, he replied. The statement alleged a threat by Matt Bevin that I can take your life and I can make your life miserable. It also included allegations Glenna Bevin slapped and struck him and the Bevins recently tried to coerce him into a trip to Ethiopia to meet his biological mother, whom they previously had told him was deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I now believe they were trying to get me to disappear, his statement said. The judge also asked if had any contact with the Bevins during the several months he was held at the Atlantis Leadership Academy which he said involved brutal beatings and punishment that amounted to torture before Jamaican child welfare authorities shut it down for suspected abuse and neglect. I didnt have any contact with them, he said, adding youths were not permitted to make phone calls to families. Did they call you? Johnson asked. No maam, he replied. Jonah also said he had no help from the Bevins after he was removed from the Jamaican facility and eventually returned to the United States, he believes with the help of the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica, which was involved in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under questioning from Romines, Jonah detailed a troubled life he acknowledged involved being kicked out of several schools, running away, altercations with the Bevins and other problems. He has said he was sent to the first of a series of out of state facilities by the Bevins at age 13. He also said he was sexually assaulted at age 10 by someone connected to the Bevin family and said Glenna Bevin had obtained counseling for him. The case will be back in court Tuesday with the Bevins planning to present witnesses expected to include some of their adult children. They have four children adopted from Ethiopia, including Jonah and five biological children, all but one is over 18. Helmers, Jonahs lawyer, declined to predict the outcome but said this: Were just confident the judge is going to do the right thing. VIRGINIA BEACH A former prosecutor pleaded guilty Friday to stealing thousands of dollars from a fund meant for crime victims in order to cover his extensive online gambling debts. James Spero Panagis Jr., 46, pleaded guilty to five felonies: embezzlement of more than $500, two counts of uttering a forged check and two counts of embezzlement by a public officer. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison. Five other counts were withdrawn in exchange for Panagis plea. Sentencing was set for June 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panagis worked as a prosecutor in Fairfax County for several years before joining the Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorneys Office in 2015. He left in February 2022 to take a job with Wolcott, Rivers and Gates, a large Virginia Beach law firm. He was fired in August, when he was indicted by a grand jury. The money came from a fund meant to reimburse victims for expenses that arise from a crime, such as medical bills, lost or damaged property, and funeral costs. The thefts occurred over a two-year period, from September 2019 to September 2021, according to the indictment. Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorney Colin Stolle said at the time the charges were filed that hed asked Virginia State Police to conduct an investigation into his former employee after discovering irregularities in his files. The irregularities were found after a victim reported they never received the full amount of restitution owed to them. Stolle also asked that a special prosecutor be appointed, and the case was assigned to the Chesterfield County Commonwealths Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panagis turned himself in after he was charged, and was released shortly afterwards on a $10,000 bond. He will be allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing. The Virginia State Police agent who investigated the case, First Sergeant A. R. Ashby Jr., testified Friday that Panagis used the restitution money to cover personal debts from online gambling. The Commonwealths Attorneys Office audited 600 cases Panagis worked on, and Ashby compared those records with Panagiss bank records, along with records obtained from 12 online gambling sites. The records showed the former prosecutor most frequently used BetMGM, and appeared to be gambling at all hours of the day and night, Ashby said. The investigator also said Panagis manipulated the system to try to conceal the missing money. He said Panagis would ask defense attorneys or the other parties in his cases to give him a check with a blank payee line in exchange for him withdrawing or reducing their charges. He would then fill in a fake name that had the initials J.P. to match his own, and he would sign the checks in a way that left only the J and P legible. He would then deposit the money into his personal bank account but report that the restitution money had been paid in full, according to Ashby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evidence presented described stolen checks of $560 and $540 to make whole a business that reimbursed two women who had been defrauded by an employee, and a $585 check to the City of Virginia Beach stemming from a case related to damage to a police vehicle. Its unclear how much money Panagis stole using this method. Ashby testified that when he interviewed Panagis at his office last summer, he initially said he didnt remember what happened to the restitution money but conceded the evidence showed it could only have been him who couldve taken it. At some point in the interview he became emotional, Ashby said, and admitted to struggling with alcohol and cocaine. Ashby connected Panagis to resources to help get his gambling and substance abuse under control, and also shared stories of other lawyers who have had similar criminal histories and been able to return to their careers. Speaking to the judge after the evidence was presented, Panagis said everything Ashby said was true. He said he was struggling at the time Ashby interviewed him and that he owes him a tremendous debt for helping him through this. Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com By Andrew Goudsward and Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The FBI has cut staffing in an office focused on domestic terrorism and has scrapped a tool used to track such investigations, in a shift that could undermine law enforcements ability to counter white supremacists and anti-government extremists, according to sources familiar with the matter. The moves, sources said, are an indication that domestic terrorism investigations, which in recent years have largely involved violence fueled by right-wing ideologies, may be less of a priority under FBI Director Kash Patel, a prominent critic of the effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some sources said the changes will reduce the FBIs ability to monitor threats posed by white supremacists and militia groups and potentially hamper law enforcements ability to disrupt plots. The moves come despite repeated warnings from U.S. officials in recent years that domestic violent extremists present some of the most significant security threats to the United States. There is a broader desire I think within the administration to at best ignore data and put their head in the sand and at worst to realign resources away from this battle, said Jacob Ware, an expert on domestic terrorism at the Council on Foreign Relations. The FBI did not directly address Reuters' questions about the changes, but said it is committed to "protecting the U.S. from many threats including terrorism, violent crime, drug trafficking, and cyberattacks." "All our work is focused on providing safer communities for our citizens every day," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI leadership recently transferred agents and intelligence analysts from its Domestic Terrorism Operations Section, which supports investigations run out of the FBIs 55 field offices and provides information on domestic threats, according to five sources briefed on the moves. Two sources familiar with the changes said about 16 people had been reassigned from the section, which would have hundreds of employees if fully staffed. A different source said senior FBI officials have discussed disbanding it entirely, though a final decision has not yet been announced. The FBI has also discontinued a practice of tagging investigations with a connection to domestic terrorism, two of the sources said. The tags were an important tool in helping the bureau identify trends and track relevant probes across the country. The Trump administration has separately directed the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces, which investigate domestic and international terrorist threats, to assist in President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, according to a memo seen by Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some former officials said that it is not unusual for the FBI to shift resources based on changing threats. Patel has previously vowed to streamline operations at the FBI's Washington headquarters. FOCUS ON TESLA ATTACKS The changes come as the Trump administration has said it will treat attacks at Tesla dealerships and charging stations as domestic terrorism, an effort nearly certain to involve FBI investigators. Protests have erupted in recent weeks against Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his leading role in Trump's effort to slash the federal government. At least three people have been accused in separate cases of using Molotov cocktails to set fire to Tesla property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The changes at the FBI also follow Trumps decision to pardon nearly all roughly 1,600 people charged with participating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. The leaders of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups were released from prison as part of Trump's sweeping grant of clemency. Trump-appointed officials at the Justice Department have said they are reviewing FBI agents' handling of those cases for potential misconduct. The FBI stepped up its focus on domestic terrorism following the killing of a counterprotester at a 2017 white-nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters kicked those efforts into high gear. The FBI said in a 2023 report that it had about 2,700 active domestic terrorism investigations, about half of which were related to the Capitol riot, up from roughly 1,000 in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That report identified white supremacists as posing the most consistent threat, though FBI officials have warned that violent extremists are often motivated by a mix of ideologies. The FBI's previous efforts have drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers and Trump allies like Patel, as part of a broader claim that the FBI improperly targeted conservatives. Three former FBI agents testified to Congress in 2023 that FBI officials pressured agents to boost the number of cases tagged as domestic terrorism. A Republican-led panel alleged the tagging of cases was used to advance a political narrative favorable to Democrats, a claim a senior FBI official denied. A spokesperson for Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, a Trump ally who led that panel, called the removal of tagging for domestic terrorism cases a "great step in the right direction of returning the FBI to its primary crime fighting mission." Two of the FBI witnesses testified that they received financial support from a group founded by Patel. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward and Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Alistair Bell) WASHINGTON Republican lawmakers are pressing the FBI to investigate threats and attacks against Tesla vehicle owners, even going so far as to ask FBI Director Kash Patel to open an inquiry into a Democratic lawmaker on Capitol Hill. In a letter sent to Patel on Friday, led by Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, lawmakers are pressing the top Justice Department official to investigate incidents in which individuals are fomenting, inciting, and engaging in domestic terrorism. The letter specifically names Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat who has been outspoken about carrying out a Tesla takedown. A sign announcing that the premises is under surveillance stands nearby several Cybertrucks parked at a Tesla dealership in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 21, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News Peaceful protests have long been part of our American heritage, but there is no place for violence and our courts have agreed that incitement to violence is criminal conduct, Biggs wrote. Activities that appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion are also acts of domestic terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter has already garnered support from a handful of Republican lawmakers who have attached themselves as co-signers, including Reps. Eli Crane, Eric Burlison, Andy Ogles, Keith Self, Clay Higgins and Lauren Boebert. The request comes amid a growing number of attacks on Tesla dealerships in apparent retaliation to Tesla CEO Elon Musks prominent role in the Trump administration. A group of House Republicans led by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting investigations into whether recent attacks on Tesla dealerships are acts of domestic terrorism. | Barnes, Zach Since Musk was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency, a commission dedicated to cutting government spending and reducing the federal workforce, critics have gathered to protest at Tesla dealerships and factories across the country. Many of these protests have proved to be peaceful, but there have been instances in which protesters have been arrested for vandalizing cars and setting fire to vehicles. In some cases, protests have gotten more violent. In Oregon, one man was arrested after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla store and then returning one day later to shoot out the windows. Other stores have also been the target of gunfire in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biggs and other Republicans have decried those attacks, comparing them to acts of domestic terrorism. Of course, these despicable acts are growing in an organized way to intimidate ordinary citizens who simply own a car manufactured by Tesla, the lawmaker wrote. Those behind this conspiracy of violence are now trying to dox Tesla owners and are encouraging vandalism and violence. A Tesla charger stands in front of a Tesla dealership in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 21, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News Republicans cited comments by Crockett earlier this week encouraging individuals to take down Musk and the automotive company out of protest. The Deseret News contacted Crocketts office for comment. Those comments have prompted backlash from several GOP lawmakers, with some calling on their Democratic colleagues to publicly condemn the attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats, just utter these words: I condemn all acts of violence and vandalism against Teslas, Tesla dealers, and Tesla owners, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said in a post on X . Its not that hard. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has also weighed in on the protests, telling reporters on Thursday that while individuals should have the right to protest to their hearts content, there are consequences for those who go too far. They should be imprisoned for any property damage or breaking of any laws, Cox said. The FBI has already vowed to investigate attacks targeting Tesla owners and dealers, according to bureau deputy director Dan Bongino. Attorney General Pam Bondi has also vowed severe consequences for those involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has called the uptick in violence quite a shock. I thought the left, you know, Democrats, were supposed to be the party of empathy, the party of caring. And yet theyre burning down cars, Musk told Fox Newss Sean Hannity. Theyre firebombing dealerships. Theyre firing bullets into dealerships. Theyre just smashing up Teslas. There has not been any evidence indicating the political affiliation of those who have been arrested in connection with the vandalism and destruction of Tesla vehicles. DES MOINES, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Legislation setting work requirements to receive Medicaid and SNAP benefits was approved by a Senate appropriations subcommittee Thursday, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. The bill, Senate File 599, directs the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to seek a waiver from the federal government to institute work requirements for the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), the states Medicaid expansion program. The bill adds work requirements for other public assistance programs as well, including for food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Iowa House advances bill to change school nutrition standards Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The work requirements would apply to Iowans between age 19 and 65, with exceptions listed to the work requirements, including people with disabilities, parents of children under age 6, people with a high-risk pregnancy and those in substance abuse treatment programs for a period of up to six months. While an earlier version of the bill set a requirement for Iowans to work or volunteer 20 hours a week to maintain IHAWP membership, language in the current legislation does not specify how many hours would be necessary to maintain benefits. Several speakers said denying Iowans assistance who do not fit into these exceptions would lead to much higher overall costs for Iowas health care system, by not giving consideration to people like parents of children with disabilities, who are unable to work while caring for their child, or for people who are not disabled but still require access to their prescription medicine in order to avoid being hospitalized and to maintain a job. Leslie Carpenter with Iowa Mental Health Advocacy gave a fiscal estimates for the cost of 100 people who would need to make a hospital emergency department visit if they cannot access their medication after being removed from Medicaid coverage. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated the average cost of an emergency department visit to be $1,506, she said, which means a there would be a cost of roughly $150,000 for 100 patients being hospitalized for a day and $1,316,000 if they were hospitalized for a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I suspect that my estimates of having only 100 people who are severely sick being at risk for having their Medicaid insurance lost is actually quite low, Carpenter said. If those numbers are actually higher, you can imagine the fiscal impact on the taxpayers. Others called for Iowa legislators to look at other states, including Georgia, which have tried to implement Medicaid work requirements as proof that the policy does not work. Anne Discher with Common Good Iowa, a progressive nonprofit, also cautioned against Iowa lawmakers moving on work requirements when federal action is expected on the subject. It feels a little bit like were rushing forward on this bill at a point where we know at the federal level, Republicans are very interested in making massive changes to SNAP and to Medicaid, and the area where there seems to be agreement at the federal level is on something in the vicinity of reporting requirements, Discher said. We certainly oppose those at the federal level. However, the worst case scenario, the worst of both worlds would be for Iowa to rush ahead, the feds do something different, and then we have to come back and clean it up. Iowa Senate advances constitutional amendment on remote testimony Bill would suspend expanded Medicaid if work rules arent approved The bill proposes suspending Iowas expanded Medicaid program if work requirements are not implemented, and would resume it if the work rules take effect. That could at least temporarily halt IHAWP, which provides health coverage to adults age 19 through 65 who have an income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level roughly $20,030 for a single adult and $27,186 for a married couple. According to data compiled by the Legislative Services Agency, there were 179,918 Iowa adults on IHAWP in fiscal year 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the subcommittee meeting, multiple advocates criticized the bill for tying IHAWP coverage to receiving federal approval. MaryNelle Trefz with Iowa ACEs 360, an advocacy group focused on trauma recovery and support, said this provision will create financial hardships for Iowas economy by requiring federal approval for Iowas expanded Medicaid program to continue to exist. If those requirements arent approved now or in the future, Iowa would be forced to walk away from expansion entirely, jeopardizing coverage for thousands, increasing costs for hospitals and businesses, and worsening our workforce shortage, Trefz said. Sen. Mark Costello, R-Imogene, said there were misunderstandings about the IHAWP trigger provisions, saying he received letters from constituents who believed other Medicaid and benefit programs would be impacted if the federal government does not approve Iowas request to implement reporting requirements. That is, you know, a group that is already in a higher income or (a part of the) expanded population there, that we would hope some of them would be able to get insurance through the exchange or whatever, Costello said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, said he has been involved in state government since former Gov. Terry Branstad signed IHAWP into law in 2013. He said adding work requirements to the program is common sense and is in line with why and how the bill passed at the very beginning. Iowa secretary of state says 277 noncitizens confirmed to be on Iowas voter rolls The safety net is intended to be just that, a safety net that bounces people back up, not a poverty trap that has folks that are consistently sticking and staying and have no incentive to get off of those taxpayer-funded services, Bousselot said. The work and job training requirements that are found in this bill, and the goal to align those, are in line with the idea that job and work requirements have existed for folks that are disabled on Medicaid for decades, have existed for other social services that taxpayers provide. While Iowa lawmakers are pursuing legislative action to implement work requirements, Gov. Kim Reynolds also said during her Condition of the State address in January she plans to apply for a federal waiver to implement Medicaid work requirements. Iowa Capital Dispatch is 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. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter. This story was republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. A high-wattage new nonprofit organization is trying to do the impossible: take the politics out of climate. And by doing so, they think they can help the Trump administration make major progress on the environment. Backed by a slew of social media influencers and leaders across the political spectrum, as well as organizations ranging from the National Wildlife Federation to Ducks Unlimited, Nature Is Nonpartisan is launching to cut through partisan politics and usher in meaningful progress. They've already had meetings at the White House and with key cabinet officials, and their founder, Benji Backer, told The Cool Down he feels "optimistic" about "pro-environmental" actions from the Trump administration, despite public setbacks to progress toward fighting increasing global temperatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I actually believe that once we shift the dialogue, we will see some of the biggest investments in the environment that America has ever made," Backer told The Cool Down. "I know for so many people, that might seem impossible right now, but I believe that that's about to happen, and that's from conversations that I've had behind the scenes, pretty much as close to the source as you can get." So how do they plan to build the largest, broadest environmental movement in America, and counter critics who don't believe climate advocates should or even effectively can work with this administration? We spoke to Backer, a longtime conservative environmentalist and founder of the American Conservation Coalition, to find out. Who's behind Nature is Nonpartisan? Go to the nonprofit's website, and you'll see something unique each staff member's political leaning is explicitly called out as "Liberal" or "Conservative," to underscore the organization's intention to be politically balanced, from their staff to their board members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To further that point, their launch event was hosted in the literal geographic center of the country Belle Fourche, South Dakota where Backer was joined by social media influencers and climate champions Amir Odom, Kristy Drutman, Oleysa Rulin, and Chrissy Clark. "Today, there's really no environmental organization that spans the political spectrum," Backer told TCD. "So we're basically trying to rebrand the environment as a nonpartisan issue in America again." The organization's board, he says, is a microcosm of how the group wants to approach America as a whole, "which is to put some really unlikely people together in the same room and start working together to forge solutions." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "We have David Bernhardt, who was Trump's Department of Interior Secretary, and the former CEO of the Sierra Club [Michael Brune] on the same board," Backer said. "We have one of the most well-known, up-and-coming actresses in the country who's starring in the new Accountant movie [Daniella Pineda], with one of the most famous conservative influencers in the country. These are about as diverse of people as you can get." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberal CNN host and commentator Van Jones, former Biden official Jerome Foster, and David Livingston of Galvanize Climate, an organization backed by Democrats John Kerry and Tom Steyer, all serve on their advisory board. On the other side of the aisle are conservative board members Jack Selby from Thiel Capital and former GOP congressman Carlos Curbelo. "They're sick of the tribalism and American politics today, and they're sick of us being unable to solve problems, and what better way to start working together than on this issue?" Backer explained. "Unlikely stakeholders, unlikely allies, move needles more than anything else, and that's how you get long-lasting policy. No group has been able to do that for the past few decades." Why has climate change gotten so political? Backer says most Americans want clean air and clean water, but the path to get there has become unnecessarily politicized and polarizing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe that the environmental movement is inherently broken," Backer said. It's become too partisan, too difficult to get things done, he said, and "the reality is most Americans don't see the environment itself as a partisan issue." New data from the Yale School for Climate Change Communication confirms Backer's point. A majority of people in nearly all states support a transition from fossil fuels to 100% clean energy by 2050, think that global warming is affecting the weather now, and believe that it will harm future generations as well. "We're going to show politicians what Americans want across the political spectrum," Backer said. "Americans actually do want a lot of the same things, and that has not been showcased at the federal or state level in decades." What is "Nature is Nonpartisan" trying to accomplish? Too many environmental organizations are focused on fighting against things and Backer said "Nature is Nonpartisan" will focus on advocating for things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization's biggest priorities include supporting meaningful pro-environmental policy, building a coalition of one million politically diverse Americans willing to take the pledge to show politicians that there is a nonpartisan environmental movement in America, and creating a cultural movement and social identity around a nonpartisan environmental movement. On that last point, they're calling it "Make America Beautiful Again" (MABA) which may cause some eye rolls from liberal environmentalists while, Backer surely hopes, helping to get more conservatives to embrace his way of thinking. "Our goal is to showcase that Americans have a deep desire for their leaders to invest in our environment that's the main point," Backer told TCD. "Donald Trump needs to hear that, Democrats need to hear that, Republicans need to hear that. The main thing that's missing is that nobody's pushing for that message that actually resembles all of America." How is "Nature is Nonpartisan" working with the current administration? Backer and the team just returned from meeting Trump administration officials in the Executive Branch and cabinet leaders, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright. "I'm optimistic that there's going to be a shift from this administration toward a pro-environmental vision," he claims, asserting that administration officials are open to his approach, despite being intent on what the administration has characterized as "unleashing" the country from environmental regulations, which many health experts have warned will lead to dangerous increases in air pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're having a lot of access in a way that other environmental organizations haven't been able to have, which I think is proof of the need for our concept. An environmental movement should not lose access every time their preferred candidate doesn't win." He told us that behind closed doors, the president and cabinet officials have expressed "a strong desire for this president to leave a pro-environmental legacy." Backer's leaning into that slogan "Make America Beautiful Again," a term he came up with. "It doesn't matter if you believe in Make America Great Again or not we all agree that America has the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world," he explained. Under the "MABA" banner, Nature is Nonpartisan is proposing a "sizable investment" in "conserving America's beauty for future generations," though the specific policy objectives remain to be seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want to see action through Congress, through the cabinet, at the state level," he explained. "We want this to be a theme that actually exceeds what 'Make America Healthy Again' can do because unlike MAHA, there's really no big opponent to investing into America's beauty. So let's make it happen." And, he admitted, there's a lot of work to be done. "We are doing our environment a disservice by keeping it in the culture wars. Our national parks are underfunded. Our biodiversity numbers are decreasing. Our management of ecosystems has gotten worse. Our forest fires are getting worse. Our environment is worse today than it was in recent decades, partially due to climate change, but also partially due to our lack of ability to invest in protecting these places and conserving these places." Bringing the president along with his mission is critical, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Trump leading this, for so many people, would be an unlikely hero and an unlikely ally, and that's this whole point of Nature is Nonpartisan, is to show that these unlikely stakeholders can come together to find common ground on the environment." But how do you work with a seemingly "anti-climate change" administration? We asked Backer how he contends with an administration that has backed away from using the term "climate change" and has made policy changes that benefit the expansion of fossil fuel industries like oil and gas, which cause climate change. While he admits "the messaging isn't that great," and he does see "cause for concern around all of the rollbacks that are happening," he also urges people to remember that "we have three over three and a half years left to make things the way that we want them to look, and what that means is that we need to work with the stakeholders who are willing to meet us in the middle and find sensible results." He said he recognizes that many of the administration's dramatic cutbacks to the U.S. Forest Service, National Parks Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency do not send a message of caring about the environment and the science being done to protect it, but he said he's focused on what happens when that "dust cloud" settles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What do you do to make sure that we protect national parks in the future? What do you make sure we do to protect air quality into the future? What do you make sure we do to protect wildlife and biodiversity into the future?" he asked. "And that's what we're trying to advocate to the administration, is what they should be for instead of only saying what you're against." Addressing the skeptics Critics might argue that working with an administration that has shown a disregard for pollution regulations and climate change science is an unacceptable compromise. To that, Backer says that it's more important to work on showing the administration the importance of certain objectives rather than fighting with them. "The main role of Nature is Nonpartisan is to make the most impact regardless of who's in office," Backer said, adding that he started work on the initiative a year ago and that the organization would have worked with a Harris Administration just as it is working with the Trump Administration. "I don't care who wins an election; I want to make progress," he said. "Do you want a pro-environmental voice to work with the president, or do you not? Because if you do, we're there, and if you don't, maybe you're more worried about partisan politics than you are about protecting the environment." "It's not gonna be easy," he added. "I'm sure we're going to make some missteps along the way." But, Backer said, "We will always be trying to do what's best for the environment and work with everybody to do that. I think that the positives will outweigh the negatives by the end of this term, and that's my goal." 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. Insurance industry experts are bracing for impact following President Trump's tariff announcements. The president recently signed an executive order delaying 25% tariffs on many imports from Canada and Mexico, per CNN. Meanwhile, tariffs on imports from China have already gone into effect, the New York Times reported. And tariffs of 25% on all foreign steel and aluminum imports still took effect on March 12, per the Times. What's happening? Mexico and Canada are among the United States' biggest steel trading partners, and Canada is the biggest aluminum supplier, Insurance Business reported. So, additional tariffs on these nations, even if delayed, are a concern for these industries, as are international tariffs more broadly. Kenneth Saldanha, senior managing director at Accenture, revealed that geopolitical instability is impacting insurance companies, including auto insurance. Advertisement Advertisement "Ongoing supply chain disruptions whether from tariffs, COVID-19, or a port strike are already impacting the industry," Saldanha said, per Insurance Business in February. "These disruptions drive up costs for auto parts, building materials, and other essentials, leading to higher indemnity expenses." Saldanha also mentioned that insurance growth is closely tied to gross domestic product. GDP could be impacted during a global trade war, which means insurance would likely be affected, too. Tariffs could have a negative impact on the environment as well. China and Canada have already announced retaliatory tariffs in response to the U.S., NPR revealed. According to Forbes, scientists suggest that a scenario with retaliatory tariffs can significantly increase the risk that rising global temperatures and extreme weather events will not be addressed properly. Why is the impact of tariffs on insurance important? If the new tariffs cause car insurance prices to increase, drivers will yet again have to pay more for coverage. Advertisement Advertisement A recent report from Insurify indicated that car insurance rates spiked 15% last year. On average, as of the January report, drivers paid $2,313 in most states. Rising prices are particularly concerning for drivers of electric vehicles. EVs can have higher insurance premiums. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, EV insurance can cost up to 20% more than insurance for a gas-powered car, CNBC reported. What's being done about insurance rates, and how can drivers prepare? According to Insurance Business, insurance executives are aiming to keep cost-cutting measures a top priority as the tariffs go into effect. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. EV drivers can compare rates to find the best insurance deal. Driving history, annual mileage, and other factors are used to determine insurance prices. Advertisement Advertisement Despite the potentially higher cost of insurance, choosing to purchase an EV can help car owners save money due to the lack of gas and maintenance required. Some EV models even qualify for a $7,500 tax credit, per Car and Driver at least as long as this incentive lasts. 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. CANBERRA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) has called for an emergency National Science and Technology Council meeting in response to growing threats to Australia's strategic R&D capability. The threats particularly came from the unpredictability of its key ally, the United States, according to an AAS statement on Friday. The United States has cut funding to at least six Australian universities, including the Australian National University, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Thursday. While the United States remains a crucial research partner, Australia must proactively manage risks and reduce over-reliance on a single strategic ally, the statement said. "Under these circumstances, Australia must assess and manage risks and set policy pathways so we are not over-reliant on one strategic partner, and be poised and ready to face an uncertain future," said AAS President Chennupati Jagadish. As the United States is Australia's largest research partner, in 2024 alone, U.S. government research funding involving Australian research organizations totaled 386 million Australian dollars (242.83 million U.S. dollars). This does not include in-kind contributions or provision of critical research infrastructure, according to Jagadish. He cited an example that 40 percent of Australian publications in the physical sciences involve U.S. collaborators in strategic areas including quantum science, space science and others. The AAS warned that disruptions to U.S.-funded research could impact essential services, including vaccine development, weather forecasting, GPS communications, and defense technology. To safeguard the research, the AAS called on the Australian government to convene an emergency meeting of the National Science and Technology Council, chaired by the prime minister, to assess Australia's exposure to U.S. research investment and develop risk mitigation strategies. It urged the government to attract top global talent by capitalizing on the exodus of researchers from the United States through a rapid talent recruitment program, the statement said. The AAS suggested authorities expand international research partnerships beyond the United States. By Nina Chestney LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. administration suggested this week the United States could help run and possibly own Ukraine's power plants and energy infrastructure as part of a ceasefire deal with Russia. Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and Trump discussed only the vast Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the country has also started importing U.S. gas to cover its domestic needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv also offers to store gas in its large underground storage to help supply Europe. U.S. IMPORTS Since taking office for his first term in 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing Europe to replace Russian gas with U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. At first, the idea looked far-fetched as Russia was supplying Europe with around 40% of its gas needs under long-term contracts at relatively cheap prices, ensuring the competitiveness of economies such as Germany and Austria. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed it all. In the three years since the war started, Russia's gas export pipeline monopoly Gazprom lost almost all of its EU customers, who switched to buying LNG, largely from the United States, and increased pipeline gas imports via other routes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking office for the second time this year, Trump has pushed Europe to buy even more U.S. gas to help address what he sees as the EU's unfair trade surplus. For decades, Ukraine relied on imports of Russian gas, and even in recent years some Russian gas volumes have reached Ukraine via reversed flows from Europe. All Russian gas flows via Ukraine stopped in 2025. Ukraine this week agreed a second deal to buy U.S. LNG and Kyiv says it aims to expand purchases. U.S. exports of gas into Ukraine have the potential to strengthen an economic partnership with Washington and its presence in Ukraine's storage facilities could deter Russian attacks and encourage more gas to be stored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HUGE STORAGE Ukraine cannot import U.S. LNG directly as it is lacking regasification facilities on the Black Sea. Those could be built fairly quickly although the first project to build an LNG terminal in Odesa never took off. Ukraine's current U.S. gas imports can come either via pipelines from regasification terminals in Poland or Germany, or from further south from regasification terminals in Greece. "The U.S. has a significant amount of LNG capacity set to start up between now and the end of the decade. Export capacity is set to grow by 65%. A large part of this capacity is being built on the back of expectations that Europe will be there as a buyer," said analysts at ING. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has the largest underground gas storage in Europe and the third largest in the world, capable of holding more than 30 billion cubic metres of gas. In comparison, the whole of Europe has a maximum capacity of around 100 bcm to serve gas demand of around 450 bcm a year. Ukraine's storage is well connected with Europe's gas network, offering traders space to store surplus gas in summer when demand is usually lower. VAST PIPELINES In 2020, Ukraine harmonised its regulatory framework with that of the EU and cut shipping fees and duties. EU companies and traders stored gas in Ukraine in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons but suspended those activities over the past year as Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure intensified, damaging compressor stations at storage facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's ability to fill storage with gas - including U.S. LNG - is limited by the capacity of pipelines which connect to neighbouring Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Analysts at Bruegel estimate this capacity at 1.5-1.8 bcm a month or up to 22 bcm a year. The capacity for shipping gas from Ukraine to Europe is much bigger because its pipelines have been designed to ship Russian gas to the continent. Pipelines crossing Ukraine cam pump more than 60 bcm a year or some 13% of Europe's gas needs. They can supply buyers in Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania and customers further away in Austria, Italy, Germany, France and Greece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means direct imports of U.S. LNG into Ukraine by sea - were they ever to happen - could result in large flows reaching Europe via a vast pipeline network, which was once used by Moscow to dominate EU's gas markets. (Reporting by Nina Chestney in London; additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv and Marek Strzelecki in Warsaw; Editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Peter Graff) which continues to burn following a drone attack on 19 March. Two people have been injured, the road to the city of Krasnodar has been closed and residents of the area have been advised not to go outside. Source: Krasnodar Krai Operations Centre, a Russian authority; Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS; Russian Telegram channels Quote from operations centre: "While extinguishing the fire at the oil depot, an explosion of petroleum products and a release of burning oil occurred due to the rupture of a burning tank in the Kavkazsky district. Three fire appliances were damaged and two firefighters were injured as a result." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: It was reported that the fire had spread to another tank. "This means that two tanks are burning now, along with isolation valves, petroleum products in a containment area around the tanks and the portion of burning petroleum products ejected beyond the tanks by the explosion. The total area of the fire has increased to 10,000 sq m," the operations centre reported. 21 , 19 , ; 2 , , . Telegram- Astra pic.twitter.com/qiS7SW8eDT (@ukrpravda_news) March 21, 2025 It was noted that 456 firefighters and 181 fire appliances were involved in extinguishing the fire. The road towards Krasnodar has been closed. Authorities have advised residents of the Kavkazsky district, where the oil depot is burning, to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: On 19 March, drones attacked the Naftatrans oil depot in the village of Kavkazskaya. At the time, the oil depot contained 100,000 tonnes of petroleum products five tanks storing 20,000 cubic metres each. According to the Astra Telegram channel, a pipeline between two tanks at the oil depot was damaged in the attack by five drones. One of the tanks caught fire several hours after the attack. This oil depot is connected to a railway oil terminal and a connecting pipeline leading to Kropotkin oil pumping station 6, which is part of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system. From there, the oil is transported to Novorossiysk. Thirteen kilometres from this oil depot is the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, which was put out of operation by a drone attack on 17 February. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! AUSTIN (KXAN) On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary Ground Stop for arriving flights from Houston and Dallas into the Austin airport (AUS). The order has since been lifted, according to the FAAs dashboard. According to the FAA, the ground stop was issued due to staffing purposes, with a medium probability of extension. After the order was lifted, AUS recommended travelers keep an eye on flights as airline partners work to resume their schedules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the ground stop, Representative Lloyd Doggett said safety was a concern and Central Texans were being unnecessarily inconvenienced. With less than half the number of air traffic controllers we should have, and Trump making matters worse with the totally unjustified firing of a key safety equipment maintenance worker, my overriding concern is safety, Doggett said. Its essential that the Trump administration does not continue to delay until we have the type of deadly catastrophe that happened so recently over the Potomac. Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes posted on X THIS is why Ive been demanding action on the critical air traffic controller staffing crisis. Travelers deserve safety AND reliability The FAA must address this emergency now not after a tragedy forces their hand, Fuentes continued in a separate post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PAST COVERAGE | Rep. Doggett slams short notice ground delay at Austin airport Sunday Previously in December 2024, the FAA issued a ground delay at the Austin Bergstrom-International Airport, which affected numerous flights. According to past KXAN coverage, an FAA spokesperson did note the agency hired more than 1,800 air traffic controllers in 2024, hitting its targeted goal. More than 2,000 additional air traffic controllers are expected to be hired come 2025. Ground delays result in impacts to airplanes departure times and are enacted when the projected traffic demand is expected to exceed the airports acceptance rate, per the Federal Aviation Administration. Factors like poor weather, airline operation problems, technology hiccups, and operational issues from both federal agencies and airport operators can lead to air travel delays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. This story was updated to add additional information. Amid an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration placed a brief ground stop on Friday for incoming flights from all Houston and Dallas airports. Beyond a ground stop at ABIA from three of the Lone Star State's busiest airports, AUS also mentioned that flyers should be in touch with their airline if their flight is from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Although the New Orleans airport was mentioned, it does not seem that a ground stop took place there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The halt was announced by ABIA on X, formerly Twitter, at 11:27 a.m. and was lifted at 1:02 p.m. In a statement, the FAA said the stoppage was due to "staffing in the air traffic control tower," and that operations had since returned to normal. During the stoppage, elected officials quickly took to social media to comment on the situation. FAA just issued a Ground Stop at Austin airport due to air traffic controller shortages, halting flights from the Houston and Dallas area. This is why I've been demanding action on the critical air traffic controller staffing crisis. Travelers deserve safety and reliability, Vanessa Fuentes, who represents District 2 on the Austin City Council, wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The FAA must address this emergency now - not after a tragedy forces their hand. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, echoed these concerns and harkened to the recent aviation disaster in Washington D.C. as an example of waiting too long to fix an overstressed system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Central Texans continue to be unnecessarily inconvenienced because of the FAAs failure to do its job. With less than half the number of air traffic controllers we should have, and Trump making matters worse with the totally unjustified firing of a key safety equipment maintenance worker, my overriding concern is safety," Doggett said. "Its essential that the Trump administration does not continue to delay until we have the type of deadly catastrophe that happened so recently over the Potomac." ATC staffing at Austin's airport is at half of its goal Doggett has long been concerned with the staffing situation at Austin-Bergstrom, and this ground-stoppage only emphasizes his previous sentiments. ABIA remains in the top five airports nationally with the greatest air traffic controller shortage. Instead of responding to this nationwide problem, Donald Trump imposed a hiring freeze and also urged them to take a buyout for early retirement like other federal employees, Doggett said in a previous statement. At the end of last year, Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Crystal Essiaw said the airport had 33 certified controllers with six more in training and that additional trainees were expected to start over the next few months. Doggett disputed this claim, stating there are just 29 certified controllers and that two trainees had been medically disqualified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Austin congressman blasts FAA for flight delays, safety issues at ABIA The FAA had previously set a goal to employ 60 air traffic controllers in the Austin tower by 2024, according to last year's Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan. Moreover, On Feb. 17, the FAA fired approximately 400 workers as announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Doggett confirmed that at least one Austin FAA worker was included in the recent layoffs, despite the well-documented shortages in staffing. Airport officials have previously noted that ABIA itself is autonomous from the FAA and has no control over federal staffing. In previous statements, airport officials acknowledged the shortage and supported alleviating it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are grateful for Congressman Doggetts continued leadership and advocacy in addressing FAA air traffic controller staffing at AUS. A fully staffed tower is essential to ensuring the highest standards of safety. We continue to collaborate closely with the FAA to implement a staffing plan that meets the growing needs of AUS. This is a developing story. Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: FAA has lifted ground stop at Austin airport; here's what we know Until recently, it was a little-known program to help Black and Latino students pursue business degrees. But in January, conservative strategist Christopher Rufo flagged the program known as The PhD Project in social media posts that caught the attention of Republican politicians. The program is now at the center of a Trump administration campaign to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education. The U.S. Education Department last week said it was investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to the nonprofit organization. That followed a warning a month earlier that schools could lose federal money over race-based preferences in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigations left some school leaders startled and confused, wondering what prompted the inquiries. Many scrambled to distance themselves from The PhD Project, which has aimed to help diversify the business world and higher education faculty. The rollout of the investigations highlights the climate of fear and uncertainty in higher education, which President Donald Trump's administration has begun policing for policies that run afoul of his agenda even as he moves to dismantle the Education Department. The Trump administration asked colleges to explain ties to The PhD Project There is a range of nonprofits that work to help minority groups advance in higher education but The PhD Project was not well known before Rufo began posting on X about its work with colleges, said Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not hard to draw some lines between that incident and why 45 institutions that were partners with The PhD Project are getting this investigation announced, he said. The 45 colleges under investigation for ties to the organization include public universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State and the University of California, Berkeley, along with private schools like Yale, Cornell, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Education Department sent letters to the universities informing them its Office for Civil Rights had received a complaint and they were under investigation for allegedly discriminating against students on the basis of race or ethnicity because of a past affiliation with The PhD Project. The letters set a March 31 deadline for information about their relationship with the nonprofit. In a statement, the PhD Project said it aims to create a broader talent pipeline" of business leaders. This year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colleges tread carefully on inquiries that threaten federal funding Public reaction from the universities leadership has been minimal and cautious, with most issuing brief statements saying they will cooperate with investigators and refusing further comment. Colleges may see reason not to push back. The Trump administration has shown willingness to withhold federal funding over issues involving antisemitism allegations, diversity programs and transgender athletes. At Columbia University, under fire for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the administration pulled $400 million in federal money and threatened billions more if it does not comply with its demands. There is a concern that if one university steps up and fights this then that university will have all of their funding cut, said Veena Dubal, general counsel for the American Association of University Professors. They are being hindered not just by fear but a real collective action problem. None of these universities wants to be the next example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some colleges moved swiftly to stop working with The PhD Project. The University of Kentucky said it severed ties with the nonprofit on Monday. The University of Wyoming said in a statement that its college of business was affiliated with the group to develop its graduate student pipeline, but it plans to discontinue its membership. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas issued a statement saying three professors participated in the program, but two no longer work at the university and a third was killed in a shooting on campus in 2023. Arizona State said its business school is not financially supporting The PhD Project this year and it told faculty in February the school would not support travel to the nonprofits conference. A campaign against the nonprofit's work began on social media Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar fallout came in Texas earlier this year, when Rufo began posting on X about the PhD Project. Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference, Rufo posted on Jan. 13. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, accused the university of supporting racial segregation and breaking the law. The next day Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot posted on X that the university president will soon be gone unless he immediately fixed the matter. Texas A&M responded by withdrawing from the conference, and soon after at least eight other Texas public universities that had participated previously in The PhD Projects conference also withdrew, the Texas Tribune reported. Rufo has not responded to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the schools under investigation raised questions about where the complaints against them originated. Montana State University said it follows all state and federal laws and was surprised by the notice it received and unaware of any complaint made internally with regards to The PhD Project. Six other colleges are being investigated for awarding impermissible race-based scholarships, the Education Department said. Additionally, the University of Minnesota is being investigated for allegedly operating a program that segregates students on the basis of race. At the University of California, Berkeley, hundreds gathered Wednesday on the campus known for student protests. But this one was organized by faculty, who stood on the steps of Sproul Hall, known as the birthplace of the free speech movement in the 1960s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a fight that can be summed up in five words: Academic freedom is under assault, Ula Taylor, a professor of African American studies, said to the crowd. In a campus email Monday, Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons did not specifically mention the investigation targeting his school. But he described the federal governments actions against higher education as a threat to the school's core values. A Berkeley without academic freedom, without freedom of inquiry, without freedom of expression is simply not Berkeley, Lyons said. We will stand up for Berkeleys values and defend them to the very best of our ability. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Associated Press writer Collin Binkley contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Claim: Joe Biden's administration cut 442 reporters from the White House press pool in 2023. Rating: Rating: Mixture What's True: In 2023, the Biden administration tightened the requirements for obtaining an all-access White House press credential called a "hard pass." After the stricter requirements went into effect, the number of hard passes issued dropped from 1,417 to 975, in part because many journalists chose not to renew them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's False: However, the Biden administration's changes did not cut or replace reporters in the "press pool," a small group of journalists historically selected by the White House Correspondents' Association to receive privileged access and travel with the president at almost all times. What's Undetermined: It's unclear how many journalists were made ineligible for hard passes by the Biden administration's tightening of the requirements. Context: The claim was prompted by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's controversial February 2025 announcement that the Trump administration, not the White House Correspondents' Association, would henceforth select which journalists constitute the press pool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 25, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced a consequential change to how the news media covers the U.S. president: The White House Correspondents' Association would no longer be in charge of selecting journalists for the White House press pool, a small group of journalists with privileged access who travel with the president at almost all times. Instead, President Donald Trump's administration would pick the members of the press pool itself. In a statement, WHCA President Eugene Daniels, a reporter for Politico, objected that the White House gave the WHCA no warning and said the decision "tears at the independence of a free press in the United States." WHCA board member and Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich added on X that the decision would not "give the power back to the people - it gives power to the White House." Following those criticisms, Fox News posted an article on Feb. 26 titled "FLASHBACK: Biden also changed White House press pool, cutting off more than 440 reporters' credentials." The article likened the Trump administration's press pool change to a decision about journalists' White House access made during the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, comparing the two actions is misleading at best. The Biden administration's change tightened the requirements for obtaining a certain press credential, and, according to Heinrich, presidential administrations have always been in charge of press credentialing. What the Trump administration is trying to change is which small group of White House reporters travel with the president in the "press pool," something a presidential administration has never been in charge of. What the Biden administration did In 2023, the Biden administration tightened the requirements for the so-called "hard pass," a yearly credential that allows a White House journalist to "come and go at will" when the White House is open, according to The Washington Post. That article listed the revised eligibility requirements under Biden as follows: Employed by a news organization. Live in the Washington, D.C., area. Have gone to the White House for work at least once in the last six months. Have a press credential for either the Supreme Court, the Senate or the House of Representatives. Crucially, one-day press passes still remain available for all journalists, even those who do not meet the above requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Politico, the number of hard passes dropped from 1,417 to 975 after the new requirements came into effect simply because many journalists chose to not renew the pass despite the stricter requirements, only one application was denied. A White House spokesperson told Politico that just before the change that "roughly 40 percent of hard pass holders had not accessed the White House complex in the prior 90 days." As such, it's misleading to claim that the Biden administration "cut off" the credentials of more than 440 reporters reporters had the chance to renew their credentials, but some decided not to. It is unclear how many of the journalists who did not renew their hard pass credential did so because they wouldn't qualify under the new guidelines (and again, such reporters could still attend news briefings with a day pass). Furthermore, because the general public might misunderstand the term "press pool" to mean "the large group of reporters covering the White House" instead of the smaller group of journalists that it actually is, it's also misleading to suggest that a change affecting the requirements for press credentials was a change comparable to giving the White House sole control of the makeup of the press pool. What the Trump administration did The Trump administration's decision did actually affect the small rotating group of journalists who travel with the president or the people that "relay the president's activities to the public," as The New York Times wrote. The press pool, set by the WHCA, has been traveling with the president since Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration in the 1930s and 1940s, according to the organization's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House's announcement that it would control the press pool itself came not long after the Trump administration barred The Associated Press from the White House for not following its demand to replace the term "Gulf of Mexico" with "Gulf of America." According to The New York Times, the AP was subsequently kicked out of the pool entirely. Sources: "Covering the White House." White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), https://whca.press/covering-the-white-house/. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025. Fahri, Paul. "New White House Rules: Reporters Can Be Kicked out If Not 'Professional.'" The Washington Post, 9 May 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/05/09/white-house-press-rules-simon-ateba/. Hays, Gabriel. "More than 440 Reporters Lose Press Passes after White House Changes Requirements." Fox News, 4 Aug. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/media/440-reporters-lose-press-passes-white-house-changes-requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Information for Journalists." United States Department of State, https://www.state.gov/information-for-journalists/. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025. Shear, Michael D. "What Is the White House Press Pool, and Why Is Trump Seizing Control of It?" The New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/us/politics/trump-white-house-press-policy.html. Smith, Jordan-Marie. "White House Says It's Changing the Pool of Journalists Who Travel with the President." NPR, 25 Feb. 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-5308234/white-house-says-its-changing-the-pool-of-journalists-who-travel-with-the-president. Stancy, Diana. "FLASHBACK: Biden Also Changed White House Press Pool, Cutting off More than 440 Reporters' Credentials." Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/flashback-biden-also-changed-white-house-press-pool-cutting-off-more-than-440-reporters-credentials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stokols, Eli, et al. "Simon's No Longer Got a Hard Pass." Politico, 2 Aug. 2023, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2023/08/02/simons-no-longer-got-a-hard-pass-00109526. Thomma, Steve. "Statement on White House Excluding AP from News Coverage." White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), 11 Feb. 2025, https://whca.press/2025/02/11/statement-on-white-house-excluding-ap-from-news-coverage/. ---. "WHCA on 'Attempted Government Censorship of a Free Press.'" White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), 14 Feb. 2025, https://whca.press/2025/02/13/whca-on-attempted-government-censorship-of-a-free-press/. ---. "WHCA Statement on White House Announcement on Press Pool." White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), 25 Feb. 2025, https://whca.press/2025/02/25/whca-statement-on-white-house-announcement-on-press-pool/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "White House Bars AP Reporter from Oval Office Because of AP Style Policy on 'Gulf of America.'" AP News, 11 Feb. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/trump-ap-journalism-first-amendment-8a83d8b506053249598e807f8e91e1ae. White House Takes Control of Press Pool That Covers Trump. 26 Feb. 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce30n52e6p1o. Claim: On March 19, 2025, longtime Tesla investor Ross Gerber called for the company's CEO, Elon Musk, to step down, saying: "I think Tesla needs a new CEO." Rating: Rating: Correct Attribution Context: Some posts called Gerber "top Tesla investor," which readers could interpret as meaning he has the largest number of shares in the company. This is not true. Filings from 2024 show he owned 262,000 Tesla shares, which were worth $106 million at the end of 2024. Gerber also suggested Musk should either focus on running Tesla or find someone else suitable for the role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 19, 2025, a claim circulated online that major Tesla investor Ross Gerber, the president and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management, had asked Elon Musk to step down as the company's CEO. The rumor appeared on multiple social media platforms, including Facebook (archived) and Bluesky (archived). One X post featuring the claim (archived) read: "BREAKING: Top Tesla investor Just officially asked Elon Musk to step down as head of the company for destroying the electric vehicle maker's reputation," while a Reddit user wrote (archived): "Tesla investor Ross Gerber calls for Elon Musk to resign - 'I think Tesla needs a new CEO.'" BREAKING: Top Tesla investor Just officially asked Elon Musk to step down as head of the company for destroying the electric vehicle maker's reputation pic.twitter.com/hHiJcnmZkm PoliticsVideoChannel (@politvidchannel) March 19, 2025 In short, it is true that on March 19, Gerber announced during an interview with British news media outlet Sky News that he thought Tesla needed a new CEO (at minute 4:08): His full comments were as follows: Elon chooses to work, you know, all the time, but you can only work so many hours a day. It's 24 [hours], right, and he sleeps. So there's no question he's been committed to his job in the government, that's where he's spending his time, he is not running Tesla and, you know, that's why I'm gonna say it. I think Tesla needs a new CEO and I decided today I was gonna start saying it, and so this is the first show that I'm saying it on. It's time for somebody to run Tesla. The business has been neglected for too long. There's too many important things Tesla's doing, so either Elon should come back to Tesla and be the CEO of Tesla and give up his other jobs, or he should focus on the government and keep doing what he's doing, but find a suitable CEO for Tesla. Many posts, such as the one above seen on X, described Gerber as "top Tesla investor." Readers could interpret this as meaning Gerber is the top investor in Tesla, which is not true. However, Gerber is a major shareholder with about $106 million in Tesla stock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August 2024, Gerber told Business Insider that he had sold around $60 million in Tesla shares, saying he lacked confidence in Tesla's ability to sell cars. Sources: Fox, Matthew. 'He Called Tesla's Stock Crash. Now He Thinks It'll Fall Even More.' Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-stock-price-crash-outlook-ross-gerber-elon-musk-tsla-2025-3. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Sor, Jennifer. 'Tesla Investor Ross Gerber Says He's Been Dumping the Stock Because No One Wants the Company's Cars or Robots'. Markets Insider, https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-outlook-elon-musks-cars-sales-robots-ross-gerber-2024-8. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. 'Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) Stock Major Holders'. Yahoo Finance, https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TSLA/holders/. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKBpQ6cBIew. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. After Chief Justice John Roberts rebuked calls this week by the Trump administration to impeach judges, social media users falsely claimed that he and other high-level legal professionals are part of a secretive, invite only club. Many questioned the motives of members, hinting at coordinated efforts to oppose President Donald Trump. Among those named was U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, who Trump had demanded be removed from the bench for his order blocking deportation flights that the president was carrying out by invoking wartime authorities from 18th century law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the group in question the American Inns of Court is hardly secretive given its large public presence, and there is no evidence that members are involved in nefarious activities targeting Trump. Roberts is no longer an active member and Boasberg is the president of a chapter that is no longer affiliated with the parent association. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: Roberts, Boasberg and other powerful legal professionals are part of a secret, invite-only club that is working against Trump. THE FACTS: This is false. Roberts was a member of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court chapter of the organization prior to his confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2005, but he is not currently an active member of the organization, according to Executive Director Malinda Dunn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg is the president of the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court, but the chapter disaffiliated from the parent association about 10 years ago when it decided it no longer wanted to pay dues to the national group, Dunn said. He was an active member prior to the chapter's decision to operate independently. Information on the American Inns of Court is readily available online. Chapters also have their own websites, which often include details about programs they host for members, typically focused on networking, education and mentorship. Dunn said that members have a wide range of political opinions, but that the organization itself is assiduously apolitical. Some on social media, however, baselessly claimed that there is more to the group than meets the eye. It has been revealed that Chief Justice John Roberts is part of an elite, invite-only group called the American Inns of Court, alongside some of the most openly anti-Trump judges in D.C., reads one X post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet a check of other members reveals a diverse group. Many current and former Supreme Court justices have been members of the American Inns of Court, according to Dunn, including Sandra Day O'Connor, Neil Gorsuch, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Clarence Thomas. Inns of Court have existed in the United Kingdom for hundreds of years. The American system, founded in 1980 out of discussions among legal professionals, including Chief Justice Warren Burger, is loosely based on this concept from across the pond. The American Inns of Court states on its website that it is dedicated to professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence and that its mission is to inspire the legal community to advance the rule of law by achieving the highest level of professionalism through example, education, and mentoring. O'Connor said in a 2015 video that maintaining and improving an ethics of professionalism is what the American Inns of Court are all about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are more than 300 active chapters across the U.S. Each one manages its own membership and some are limited to practitioners in a certain legal field. Roberts former chapter, for example, states that members are elected to the Inn after being nominated by a current member and that they must be actively engaged in appellate practice. Dunn said chapters are advised to ensure that their members include legal professionals with different levels of experience. Some may hold membership drives to recruit new faces. Roberts is currently an honorary bencher in The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, an inn of court in the U.K. This is a purely ceremonial role that, according to Dunn. British inns of court will always offer such a position to Supreme Court justices when they are confirmed, she said. Representatives for Roberts and Boasberg did not respond to a request for comment. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck. (Reuters) -Britain's Heathrow Airport said on Friday that it had begun reopening after a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation knocked out power, forcing a shutdown at Europe's busiest airport and disrupting the flight schedules of airlines globally. At least 120 inbound flights to Heathrow were diverted to other airports, according to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. Here are the top 10 airlines by capacity whose aircraft were set to arrive at Heathrow Airport on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AIRLINE FLIGHTS SEATS British Airways 341 67,962 Virgin Atlantic 31 9,058 Lufthansa 21 3,780 American Airlines 20 5,744 Aer Lingus 19 3,484 United Airlines 17 3,673 SAS 14 2,520 Swiss 12 2,000 Eurowings 13 1,906 Delta Air Lines 11 2,687 Other 67 airlines 143 9,790 Total 669 145,836 Here is what airlines are saying about the closure: * British Airways: "We've been given clearance by HeathrowAirport to depart eight of our long-haul flights today from 7pm.We are now urgently contacting customers to let them know sothey can make their way to the airport from 5pm." * United Airlines: We will continue to adjust our flyingschedule to London in close coordination with airportauthorities. At this time, we expect to operate most scheduledFriday departures to London. * Air India: "London Heathrow-bound AI129 from Mumbai isreturning to Mumbai; AI161 from Delhi is diverting to Frankfurt.All our remaining flights to and from London Heathrow, includingAI111 of this morning, have been cancelled for 21 March." * Aer Lingus: "Cancelling all flights to and from LondonHeathrow Airport until further notice today following theclosure of the airport by the authorities." * Virgin Atlantic: "This has had a significant impact on ourflying programme both into and out of Heathrow and all VirginAtlantic arriving and departing flights are cancelled untilmidday on March 21, with the rest of today's schedule currentlyunder review." * Qantas: "Our Singapore-London and Perth-London serviceswere diverted to Paris today, with buses arranged to takecustomers on to London." * Scandinavian Airlines System: "All our 12 round trips areso far cancelled to and from Heathrow. We will keep affectedpassengers informed." * Ryanair: The airline said in a post on X that it had addedup to eight rescue flights between Dublin and London Stansted torescue passengers affected by Heathrow's closure. * Singapore Airlines: A spokesperson for the airline saidfour flights from Singapore to London were affected and fourflights from London to Singapore had been cancelled. * JetBlue: All JetBlue flights to and from Heathrow will becancelled and additional flights may be scheduled once theairport reopens to accommodate affected passengers. * Delta Air Lines: "Delta has suspended operations toHeathrow Airport and provided customers additional flexibilityin rebooking their travel." * American Airlines: "American issued a travel alert,providing additional flexibility for customers impacted by theLondon Heathrow Airport closure." * Emirates: The airline said it would resume flightoperations starting with flight EK07 from Dubai to London onMarch 22, following the reopening of Heathrow Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Source: Data from Cirium Ascend, company statements. Note: The seats represent capacity, not ticketed passengers. (Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job, Abhijith Ganapavaram, Jamie Freed, Surbhi Misra, Angela Christy, Devika Nair, Aatreyee Dasgupta and Chandini Monnappa; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Pooja Desai) (FOX40.COM) President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Thursday eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Video above: CA Reacts to President Donald Trumps Executive Order Eliminating U.S. Department of Education The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges released a statement saying they are concerned with President Trumps Executive Order entitled Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities which lets the Secretary of Education facilitate the closure of the Department of Education. The FACCC stated that they are seeing targeted attacks on financial aid, diversity initiatives, protected speech, and a new way of hostility against our immigrant students and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This reckless move threatens the foundation of our nations education system, disproportionately harming the students who rely on accessible, affordable, and quality education to build a better future. Community colleges are the backbone of this nations workforce today, yet our mission faces unprecedented threats. The current administrations agenda of draconian cuts to education funding, attacks on vulnerable students, and now the Executive Order calling for the closure of the U.S. Department of Education threatens everything we stand for, said Wendy Brill-Wynkoop, President of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. The threat of deportation is now a part of the community college campuses, creating an environment of fear rather than learning, according to the FACCC. These attacks arent just on the Department of Education but on democracy. A society without broad access to education becomes a citizenry disengaged from the political process, casting ill-informed votes for those who benefit from an uneducated working class, said Brill-Wynkoop. Those who seek to dismantle education understand this all too well. According to The White House website on Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities section one, purpose and policy stated, Taxpayers spent around $200 billion at the Federal level on schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, on top of the more than $60 billion they spend annually on Federal school funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov, Gavin Newsom released this statement late Thursday saying: This overreach needs to be rejected immediately by a co-equal branch of government. Or was Congress eliminated by this executive order, too? Gov. Gavin Newsom For more information on what the executive order entails 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. MADRID, March 21 (Xinhua) -- If the U.S. government carries through its threat to impose tariffs on European olive oil, it will probably affect American consumers more than European and Spanish exporters, a Spanish industry representative said on Friday. Spain's annual production of olive oil is around 1,400,000 tons, with 180,000 tons exported to the United States, making up approximately 40 percent of the country's total olive oil imports. If the U.S. decides to impose tariffs, "we have to value the effect and how they could be implemented," Rafael Pico, director of the Spanish Association for the Industry and Commercial Export of Olive Oil (ASOLIVA), told Xinhua. "If it is a general tariff, then all the countries exporting olive oil (to the U.S.) would be affected in the same way," he said, noting that the U.S. domestic production of olive oil is "very low" and could not cover domestic needs. Bearing that in mind, "the main impact would be on the U.S. consumer, who would have to pay a higher price for olive oil," he said. "Tariffs would have the effect of distorting the U.S. domestic market," explained Pico. Olive oil had previously been threatened with tariffs by the first Trump administration as part of a conflict over the aeronautics industry, Pico said, adding that although the Spanish government would "always defend the country's olive oil producers," he didn't want to see the sector "be used as a bargaining chip in other disputes." If the tariffs become a reality, the sector would "have to try and explore other markets and export to other countries," he noted. A row of library books. A member of the the Fairhope Public Library Board said Friday that library officials were caught by surprise by the Alabama Public Library Service's decision to cut its funding. (Getty) Fairhope Public Library staff and officials were surprised to learn that the Alabama Public Library Service had rescinded their funding on Thursday. One library board member said she was eating lunch when one of the staff called and told her about the vote to eliminate state aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was shocked, distressed, couldnt quite believe they would do something like that without a warning, or anything from them that said we were not in compliance, said Randal Wright, one of the board members of the Fairhope Public Library. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Wright said that APLS board members as of late Friday morning had not reached out to staff or any of the board members to get their account of the situation before they decided to simply pause our funding. The APLS board voted to rescind state aid for the Fairhope Public Library at the same meeting that the board also terminated Nancy Pack who had been at APLS since 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several parents complained during the public comment period that the board for the Fairhope Public Library decided to retain books in the teens section of the library over their objections, saying they belonged to the adult section. Shortly after a public comment period ended Thursday, board member Amy Minton made a motion to eliminate funding to the library in Fairhope, with nearly all the remaining members voting in her favor except for Ronald A. Snider, who also voted against terminating Pack. The Fairhope library is one of the jewels of the state library system, one of the best funded in the state library system, in one of the most conservative parts of Alabama, Snider said during the discussion. He said the board is filled with prominent people and all of whom have been reappointed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To tell them that we are going to make the choice for how they do things, is far beyond the scope of this agency, Snider said. The library modified its policies in the fall based on the administrative code changes that were imposed in 2024 that APLS sent to local library boards and wanted them to follow. Among them is that libraries must have a policy in place to move materials from their collection that were sexually explicit or obscene to the adult section. Critics have charged the changes aim to lead to the removal of books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Wright said that the library relocated five books but stands by the decision to keep the other books where they are. That Alabama code does say that you have to remove sexually explicit books, Wright said. Well, what does sexually explicit mean to you? It might not be the same thing that it means to me. For example, for me, something that is sexually explicit is written to arouse you and to titillate. These books do not do that. These books have a brief mention about something, but the whole book is not about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A message seeking comment was sent to John Wahl, chair of both the APLS board and the Alabama Republican Party, on Friday. Our goal is not to punish anyone but to ensure that all libraries receiving state funding adhere to the established standards that protect our children, Wahl wrote in a statement on Thursday. We look forward to working with Fairhope Public Library to resolve this matter so that funding can be restored as soon as possible. Wright said that the Fairhope Public Library sent APLS its revised policies that considered changes to the administrative code and that APLS approved them. More than 100 parents signed a letter addressed to Wahl that expressed support for the decisions made by the board of the Fairhope Public Library. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wahl responded to that letter in February, telling the parents that libraries are required to abide by the new administrative code while also telling them that the Fairhope Library has complied with the requirements. I am thankful that the Fairhope Library has now come into compliance, and I look forward to working with them as we strive to provide the best library experience possible to all Alabamians, Wahl said in the email response. In an interview with the media following Thursdays APLS meeting, Wahl said that the situation involving the Fairhope Public Library was different because parents had complained to the board about their challenges, but the board did not act to relocate the books to the adult section, per the new administrative code and after they changed their local policies. There were a significant number of books in 2023 that we decided to accept the directors decision on those books and the books were going to stay where they were, Wright said. Parents have asked us in email if we would reconsider those books that were not moved. That was a decision made in 2023. It was way before APLS changed the code and we said we would not reconsider those books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a state code defining that terminology and they do have books in their minors section that are in violation of that, Wahl said during the interview. Obscenity was found in the state code, which includes offensive sexual conduct that is offensive or perverse. Part of that definition includes what a reasonable person would find that the material, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. Minton sent a message to the Alabama Reflector stating that the term sexually explicit is defined in the United States Code that includes sexual intercourse, excitement, as well as nudity. Those terms are further defined in Alabama state code. She also stated the term sexually explicit is defined in a section in the Alabama Code dealing with child pornography. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics of those support additional restrictions for library materials say that they are reading passages from books without considering the entire body of work, and that the literature portrays the lives of people in society and the issues that affect them. They are, in effect, valid information that the public should have access to. Wright said there is a process to challenge materials in the collection, even the sections of the library where they are located, that begins with patrons completing the form and having the library director review the materials and decide if the books should be reshelved or be removed from circulation. The director is currently on leave and the process to challenge books will begin once the director returns. A committee of two board members will then review any appeals submitted by parents if they disagree with the directors decision and issue a recommendation to the full board. For now, the challenge forms that were filed are awaiting the return of the library director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The library director has recommended that five books be moved and the rest, they are going to stay where they are, because that is where they belong, Wright said in response to the challenges. They are appropriate for the age and the level of readers where they are shelved. Clarification: The story was updated to reflect additional information about where the term sexually explicit is found in Alabama Code. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE DENVER (KDVR) The family of the victim who was hit and killed while using a scooter near 52nd Ave and Federal Boulevard are pleading with drivers to slow down after 15-year-old Sammy Rubys life was taken from him. They said that he loved video games and was respectful and loving. His family also said that people who drive the intersection treat it as a racetrack. 1 facing federal charges for alleged crimes at Loveland Tesla Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are pleading with drivers to slow down and hope a growing memorial will be a reminder of the tragedy that happened. Its hard knowing this is all we have, too, said Vanessa West, the victims sister. Tuesday around 7:30 a.m. the Denver teen was hit and killed by a car while on a scooter, heading to school. My brother was the baby brother, West said. He was the youngest of us and it was my moms baby. He had friends at school that were waiting for him to go to school. Sammy Ruby (Courtesy Vanessa West) Sammy Ruby (Courtesy Vanessa West) Sammy Ruby (Courtesy Vanessa West) Police say preliminary information indicates Sammy was riding a standup scooter and crossed the street against the traffic light and was struck by a driver who stayed on scene. The 15-year-olds family believes otherwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was pushing a scooter; he wasnt riding a scooter up the street, said West. He rode it up here and then as he was crossing he stopped at the middle. Theres a camera at the intersection, but the family said they were told it was not operable. FOX31 reached out to CDOT Thursday, a spokesperson said they would look into our request Friday. Colorado politicians react to President Trumps order dismantling Education Department At least once a month somewhere along this stretch between (Interstates) 70 and 76 theres an accident of some sort, said Cory Schmidt. I feel like its kind of in a nomads land between the city of Denver and Adams County and it feels like someone is waiting on whos going to make the first move to invest in safety improvements along the corridor. I feel like the time is ticking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has lived in the area for about a year. The sirens from the crash woke him up. Of course, I was surprised because you never expect tragedy to strike so close to home, he said. He believes wider sidewalks, signage and bike lanes could be added to the area to make it safer. Thousands of teachers rally over education funding at Colorado Capitol I hope that through this tragedy those who can make a difference in making our neighborhood and this section of Federal Boulevard safer for everyone so that this tragic death doesnt happen in vain, said Schmidt. We just want this to stop. We want people to watch We want the pedestrians to be careful. We want the whole community to be aware, slow down, said West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the investigation is ongoing and no one has been arrested or cited for the crash. Sammys family hopes there was someone who witnessed what unfolded. They hope they will come forward to help give them answers and closure. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. The family of a man fatally shot by a Lockland police officer early Wednesday morning is seeking answers, believing he was simply a bystander when he was confronted by authorities responding to a pursuit that ended in Evendale. Samuel Mumyarutete, 48, of Woodlawn, was a refugee fleeing a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his family said in a statement Friday through their attorney. "Although we know the police were involved in a high-speed chase in the area, we have received no information that our father was involved in any aspect of that chase," the statement reads. "We believe he may have been an innocent bystander." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Chester Township police began the pursuit at the intersection of Princeton Glendale Road and Provident Drive after they received notification from a license plate reader of a stolen vehicle, according to a township spokeswoman. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to pull it over, but the driver fled. West Chester officers pursued the vehicle for approximately six miles and ended the chase at the Hamilton County line, where other departments picked it up. Several police departments responded at about 2:45 a.m. to assist when the chase entered Hamilton County, according to Evendale police. The vehicle being pursued was found crashed near Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive, though occupants of the vehicle were not found there, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After one suspect had been taken into custody, a Lockland officer located Mumyarutete walking along the interstate, according to Lockland police. Mumyarutete was holding something and refused to obey police commands, police said, adding the Lockland officer tried to stop Mumyarutete with a Taser but was unsuccessful. As Mumyarutete continued to disobey commands, the officer opened fire and struck him in the chest, police said. Mumyarutete was not fluent in English and relied on a translation app on his cellphone, his family said. The Ohio Bureau of Investigation was called to handle the shooting inquiry, as commonly happens after police shootings in the state. However, officials have yet to release body camera footage of the shooting and what led up to it. Samuel Mumyarutete. "We are optimistic that there will be a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation," the family's statement reads. "We are hopeful that we will be provided answers soon." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamilton County Municipal Court records show Mumyarutete was arrested March 14 on a misdemeanor assault charge after he allegedly attacked someone with a metal pole. He was released from jail on his own recognizance, meaning the court trusted Mumyarutete to return for future hearings without posting a monetary bond, just two days before the shooting. The court records indicate Mumyarutete planned to argue that he acted in self-defense. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Family of man shot, killed by Lockland police had fled from civil war (FOX 5/KUSI) Since July 2011, Mary Zahau-Loehner has made it her mission to get to the truth about the cause of her sister Rebeccas death. The 32-year-old was found gagged and bound with her arms and legs tied from behind, and hanging naked from a balcony at her billionaire boyfriend Jonah Shacknais Coronado mansion. Homicide detectives, under the leadership of former Sheriff Bill Gore, called it a suicide, but it was a conclusion that Zahau-Loehner never believed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its almost 14 years now since shes been gone. My sister did not commit suicide and I know that her murder has been covered up, Zahau-Loehner said. My sisters case from the beginning is a very simple easy murder to solve. For the past two years, Zahau-Loehner has poured her heart out into her recently published book, Unraveling the Knots. Its a deep dive into her sisters case, including never-before-seen pictures, autopsy reports, court transcripts and more. 2021 book details the Coronado Mansion case When it comes to the sheriffs offices investigation and subsequent reviews, she doesnt hold back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I am trying to reveal with the book is the corruption of the San Diego Sheriffs Office. The lies about the case. The lies to the family, Zahau-Loehner said. Within the books nearly 300 pages and 25 chapters, Zahau-Loehner picks apart some of the agencys evidence that she says was left behind and glossed over. They know there was a partial male fingerprint in there if they claim that they couldnt investigate back then. Then I would like with the current technology to restest it again, Zahau-Loehner said. There is also a piece of evidence that Zahau-Loehner says was overlooked. The dryer sheet in the room was not even collected, and its a well-known concept that dryer sheets are used to remove fingerprints, Zahau-Loehner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also points out flaws with the offices video re-creation of how knots were tied around Rebeccas wrists. Zahau-Loehner said the direction and the type of knot is wrong, and that officials havent even bothered to try to recreate the entire scenario. Zahau-Loehner believes they simply wanted to make this look like a suicide to close the case. They did a bunch of busy work to make it look like they worked and did something, but they didnt do anything, Zahau-Loehner said. In a statement, a representative of the sheriffs office said, Our sympathies continue to go out to all those affected by Rebeccas passing. At this time, there is no new information which would lead the San Diego County Sheriffs Office to re-open this investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebeccas death wasnt the only one at the historic Spreckels Mansion. Days before, her boyfriends young son, Max, fell over a staircase railing and was hospitalized with severe trauma. He died after Rebecca did and his death was ruled an accident. Sheriffs investigators have suggested Rebecca killed herself because she was distraught over Maxs fall. There was definitely a conspiracy as far as what should happen with the case, Zahau-Loehner said. However, Zahau-Loehner claims Rebeccas boyfriends brother, Adam, was liable for her death because he wanted revenge for her not watching over the boy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2018 civil trial, a jury did find Adam liable, giving Rebeccas family $5 million in damages. While they never cared about the money and knowing it would not bring Rebecca back, Zahau-Loehner has this message: Confess your murder. It will give you peace on this earth and it will give you forgiveness and a better life and really bring closure to the family. Zahau-Loehner is hoping the medical examiner will change her sisters manner of death to undetermined or murder, and shes asking the current Sheriff, Kelly Martinez, to hand the case over to the FBI or another agency for a full investigation. A representative of the Department of the Medical Examiner said that after an attorney for the Zahau family requested a review of Rebeccas death in 2022, staff pathologists and a medical examiner who originally worked on the case reviewed it again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September of 2023, Chief Medical Examiner Steven Campman issued a letter that stated, After reviewing the totality of the evidence, the conclusion of this office has not changed. With her new book, Zahau-Loehner is hoping readers will get to really know Rebecca from their childhood in Burma to her final days here in San Diego. Shes a daughter, shes an aunt, shes a sister and she is loved by her family, her friends and I think people forget that, Zahau-Loehner said. In a cruel twist of fate, Zahau-Loehner is battling non-smokers lung cancer. She raced to finish the book in her late sisters honor before her own life ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More FOX 5 coverage of Rebecca Zahau I dont know what Gods timeline is and I dont know if Ill get to see justice on this earth while Im still alive, but I would love to do so, Zahau-Loehner said. Zahau-Loehner also has an inspiring thought for those who have followed Rebeccas story: Dont give up when you know the truth. No matter how hard it is you always have to fight for the truth and you always have to fight for justice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. BOONE COUNTY, Mo. Family members of Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who died last year during a group trip to Nashville, Tennessee, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his former fraternity and pledge brothers. Strain, who was reported missing on March 8, 2024, during a fraternity trip, was found deceased in Nashvilles Cumberland River nearly two weeks later. On the night of his disappearance, he was escorted out of a bar around 9:30 p.m. Surveillance video showed him walking around Nashville by himself shortly afterward. At some point after he left the bar, Strain texted his friends and said he was heading back to the hotel, but he never arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fatal fireworks home explosion trial delayed to July An autopsy later classified Strains death as accidental, listing the cause as drowning and ethanol intoxication. The autopsy revealed that Strains blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, though authorities did not suspect foul play in his death. A wrongful death lawsuit, filed Friday in the Boone County (Missouri) Circuit Court, argues that the Delta Chi fraternity and its members were negligent in taking proper precautions to ensure all fraternity members would be safe and failed to intervene when Strain was visibly impaired. The lawsuit lists 32 individuals, including Delta Chi chapter presidents, recruitment chairs, and various fraternity leaders and brothers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, Strain initially declined to attend the fraternitys annual formal trip to Nashville in 2024, but he ultimately agreed after continued peer pressure from his fraternity brothers. The lawsuit states that Strain boarded a charter bus from Columbia, Missouri, to Nashville, where Delta Chi members provided beer and pre-made alcoholic Jello shots using vodka, well in excess of 15% ABV. It claims that Strain was offered multiple drinks despite fraternity policies that should have prohibited such conduct. Shortly after arriving in Nashville, according to the lawsuit, several fraternity members noticed Strain was behaving unusually, struggling to speak, walk and interact with others. By the evening, Strain was described as visually incoherent. The lawsuit states, He was leaning against walls to stay upright, stumbling up and down steps, was completely unable to speak or communicate, and needed help. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News The lawsuit alleges that when Strain was kicked out of the bar, his fraternity brother had two choices to stay with him and ensure his safety or continue partying. Rileys Delta Chi brothers chose to continue partying, the lawsuit states. After he left the bar, Without help, he immediately began walking in the wrong direction and away from the hotel where the fraternity was staying, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit further claims that Strain wasnt checked on until the next day. It alleges that most of the Delta Chi group returned to the hotel around 1 a.m. on March 9 and that Strains roommates noticed he was missing but didnt take action. The next day, Strain parents were reportedly informed around noon that he was missing, at which point they contacted Nashville police, prompting an extensive citywide search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit alleges that Delta Chi failed to prevent dangerous activities, such as excessive drinking at the formal, and failed to act when Riley was in danger. The lawsuit further alleges that Delta Chis leadership and policies should have prevented events that led to Rileys death. Strains family is seeking damages for medical, funeral, and burial expenses, as well as compensation for Rileys pain and suffering before his death. The lawsuit also requests additional damages resulting from his death and a jury trial for a court to decide on any further relief deemed a matter of right. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The family of Riley Strain, the University of Missouri student who was found dead in Nashville's Cumberland River last March after a night out with fraternity friends, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Delta Chi on Friday. The suit in Missouri's Boone County Circuit Court names the Delta Chi fraternity and several of its members and officers as defendants. The family is seeking damages related to Strain's death and compensation for pain and suffering, as well as payment for funeral and medical expenses. The plaintiffs are Michelle Whiteid, Christopher Whiteid, Robert Ryan Gilbert and Melissa Gilbert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit argues fraternity members violated their own policies by providing strong liquor to Strain. Delta Chi is prohibited from having drinks that contain more than 15% alcohol by volume at chapter facilities and events, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit said most, if not all, of the alcohol served during the Delta Chi travel to the spring "formal" event was above the 15% limit. Representatives of the fraternity and Strain's family did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit said Strain did not want to attend the spring 2024 formal trip to Nashville but was eventually pressured to attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While on the charter bus to Nashville, beer and vodka Jello shots were served. "Although it was supposed to be prohibited, this type of conduct was typical for the Delta Chi formal. It would have disastrous results for Riley," the lawsuit states. After the group arrived in Nashville, fraternity brothers noticed Strain was acting unusual and began having difficulty speaking, walking and interacting with those around him, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit said Strain was leaning against walls to stay upright, stumbling up and down stairs as the group reached their final bar stop in Nashville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State investigators with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission have determined Strain was not visibly drunk or overserved at Luke's 32 Bridge bar the last bar where he was seen the night he went missing. After Strain was kicked out of Luke's 32 Bridge bar, the lawsuit said his friends continued partying instead of helping Strain get back to the hotel safely. The Davidson County Medical Examiner ruled his death as an accidental drowning and ethanol intoxication with a blood-alcohol level of .228 nearly three times the legal limit. Prior to his death, Strain and his fraternity brothers visited four bars on Broadway, the TABC report noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the bouncer was removing Strain from Luke's 32 Bridge, the group said they would meet Strain back at the hotel, but Strain never returned. Strain's official time of disappearance is 9:53 p.m. on March 8, 2024. The lawsuit said fraternity brothers did not call 911 when they realized Strain was not in the hotel room when they returned at 1 a.m. On March 22, 2024, Strain was found dead face down on the banks of the Cumberland River, a four-minute walk from the bar where the college student was kicked out. According to the autopsy findings, Strain showed signs of pulmonary edema and pleural effusions, which happens when too much fluid builds up in the lungs and chest cavity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit argues the fraternity had a duty to prevent conduct and actions that result in harm to Strain. It also states the organization failed to enforce written policies of the Delta Chi chapter, failed to properly train leadership and failed to adequately take precautions to keep members safe while on the formal trip. Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Riley Strain's family files wrongful death lawsuit against fraternity PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A family from New York will finally get back the thousands they shelled out for a vacation rental in the Poconos they call a nightmare booking. 28/22 News spoke to the family about what they discovered upon arriving, including what they described as mold and safety hazards. The family may be getting their $6,000 back after theyve been fighting for months for a refund after booking a rental home in Carbon County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in December 2024, the Shumack family packed up and headed to the Poconos for their third annual New Years Eve trip. Remembering one of Scrantons finest Expecting luxury and relaxation over the holiday they, along with five other families, traveled to a home in Albrightsville off PA 534. Found this house and walked in and it was not like the pictures at all, completely misrepresented, explained Jacqueline Shumack, Long Island. Thats when the trip took a turn. Anything that I had talked to the host about prior to going there, was lied about, claimed Shumack. Shumack told 28/22 News they documented everything. Taking photos and videos of what looks to be black mold filling parts of the home and hot tub, along with safety hazards, such as missing cabinet doors and exposed wires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day before I contacted the host about the hot tub and she said it was in perfect working order so we got there, it was full of mold so obviously it hadnt been working for quite some time. There was mold in the refrigerator, in the bathrooms. It was a complete nightmare, explained Shumack. Leaving immediately to find another rental, the family contacted the host and booking company Vrbo expecting a full refund of $6,000. Vrbo initially told her the issues were minor, but later offered them half of the cost, stating that their investigation determined that the property did not meet the criteria for significant misrepresentation. No consumer should have to go through this. I think its absurd that its even gotten this far for me, said Shumack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes taken her story to social media, and after months of contacting those involved, Shumack says she was told Thursday night that they will be receiving a full refund. Something theyre grateful for, as well as the communitys support. Everyone has been so supportive, its been unbelievable. I was waiting for people to come out and say stuff, but everyone is just disgusted by the photos, stated Shumack. The home in Carbon County has been hidden from Vrbos site during its investigation. A Vrbo spokesperson sent 28/22 News the following statement on Wednesday, March 19th, before a full refund was promised to Shumack by the host on Thursday, March 20th: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to ensure our guests have a positive experience and were sincerely sorry that wasnt the case. We understand that this situation has been challenging. While refunds not covered under our Book With Confidence Guarantee (BWC) are at the hosts discretion, we want to ensure that Ms. Shumack feels supported. As a courtesy, Vrbo has offered her a 50% refund, which she has declined twice. This offer remains available to her, considering her experience with the property. We hope this can help address her concerns. As background, Vrbo has a full-time Trust and Safety team that carefully reviews cases when health and safety concerns are reported. The team investigated the Shumacks claims and determined that the property did not meet the criteria for significant misrepresentation. The listing remains hidden from our platform while we work with the host on proper cleanliness procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vrbo has since sent 28/22 News a statement stating: Vrbo is providing a full refund to Mrs. Shumack due to her experience with the property. The listing remains hidden from our platform while we work with the host on proper cleanliness and safety procedures. Our customer service team will be in touch to provide her with more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Florida Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Orlando, will hold a news conference Friday morning. Family members of late Sen. Geraldine Thompson will join Bracy Davis for what she is calling an important announcement. The event is set to get underway around 10 a.m. outside the WellsBuilt Museum in Orlando. Thompson died in February after complications from surgery. In June of 2024, Bracy Davis brother, Randolph Bracy, threatened a lawsuit against then-incumbent Thompson as he squared off against her in the race for Senate District 15. He accused her of not living in the district she was serving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bracy Davis threw her support behind Thompson instead of her brother, noting in a press release, Senator Thompsons unwavering commitment to our community and her exemplary leadership make her the ideal candidate to continue representing us in the Florida Senate. Bracy Davis currently serves the 40th District for the Florida House of Representatives. Channel 9 will be at Fridays news conference. Monitor WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News for an update on this story. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A family of three is missing after leaving the Grand Canyon and driving through a winter storm earlier this month, Arizona authorities said on Wednesday. Jiyeon Lee, 33, Taehee Kim, 59, and Junghee Kim, 54, were last known to be traveling from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas while on vacation earlier this month, according to a missing person flyer the Coconino County Sheriff's Office posted Wednesday on Facebook. The flyer states that the GPS on the family's rental car last showed the vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 40 on March 13. That day, a multi-car accident occurred on I-40 an intercontinental highway that stretches from California to North Carolina but it is unclear if their car was involved in the crash. A photo from a missing person flyer for Jiyeon Lee, 33, Taehee Kim, 59, and Junghee Kim, 54. The family was driving a 2024 white BMW with a California license plate, according to the flyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 22 vehicles including multiple tractor-trailers and 36 drivers and occupants were involved in the incident that left two dead and 16 others injured, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (ADPS) said in a statement. Neither of the two fatalities were identified as any of the three missing family members, according to the department. The ADPS added that a winter storm was affecting the area at the time of the crash and that "the road was covered in snow and ice. "The collision caused a fire which quickly spread to the other involved vehicles and burned for more than 20 hours," the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A detective assigned to the missing persons case for the Coconino County Sheriff's Office said in a phone call on Friday that authorities did not have any additional information to share at this time. The sheriff's office encouraged anyone who has information about the family or their whereabouts to contact authorities. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Tesla's new Megafactory in east China's Shanghai on Friday exported its first batch of Megapack energy-storage batteries, the company announced. It took the new Megafactory just over a month after its production launch to achieve its first export, with the batteries being transported from Shanghai Port to Australia. This export highlights Tesla's further expansion in the global energy storage market, and also underlines the extension of its battery technology from electric vehicles to energy storage, according to the company. The batteries produced at the Shanghai facility will supply both the domestic and Asia-Pacific markets. Megapack is an electrochemical energy storage device that uses lithium batteries -- a dominant technical route in the new-type energy storage industry. This sector is characterized by short construction periods, flexible layouts and fast responses, when compared to conventional pump storage. Hailed by the company as a "milestone," the new Megafactory is the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States and the company's second plant in Shanghai, following the inauguration of its Gigafactory in 2019. The Shanghai facility was built with an initial annual production capacity of 10,000 units. Notably, each Megapack unit can store over 3.9 megawatt-hours of energy -- sufficient to power approximately 3,600 households for one hour. Tesla anticipates a year-on-year increase of at least 50 percent in its energy storage deployments in 2025. "Megafactory gives us the ability to scale production and efficiency," said Mike Snyder, vice president of Tesla. "We can lower logistics costs as well as product costs, and grow the business to new markets." A man clears snow in Malatya, Turkiye, on March 21, 2025. Heavy snowfall has impacted Turkiye's central Anatolia area and eastern regions, disrupting transportation and daily life, local IHA news agency reported on Friday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) ANKARA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snowfall has impacted Turkiye's central Anatolia area and eastern regions, disrupting transportation and daily life, local IHA news agency reported on Friday. The report said 911 people were stranded on the highways connecting Kayseri to Malatya, Gurun, and Goksun in Anatolia, adding they were later rescued by emergency teams. In Sivas province, east of Anatolia, the Sivas-Gurun highway was closed due to blizzards. Security teams took precautions by blocking the road and preventing vehicle passage. However, rescue teams reportedly responded to four traffic accidents, and one missing person was found. The Geminbeli Pass, a crucial route connecting Anatolia to the Black Sea region, was also affected by heavy snowfall. Many drivers, caught off guard, were left stranded. Road maintenance teams were working to clear snow and reopen roads. Turkish State Meteorological Service predicted that heavy rain and snowfall would likely continue in several areas, including Istanbul, throughout the day, warning of possible transportation disruptions, icy roads, and avalanche risks in high-altitude areas. Additionally, a yellow-coded weather warning has been issued for Giresun, Ordu, and Samsun, indicating potentially hazardous weather conditions. Authorities have urged residents, particularly those outdoors, to remain cautious. People walk on a snow-covered road in Malatya, Turkiye, on March 21, 2025. Heavy snowfall has impacted Turkiye's central Anatolia area and eastern regions, disrupting transportation and daily life, local IHA news agency reported on Friday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) Vehicles are seen on a snow-covered road in Malatya, Turkiye, on March 21, 2025. Heavy snowfall has impacted Turkiye's central Anatolia area and eastern regions, disrupting transportation and daily life, local IHA news agency reported on Friday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) Vehicles run on a snow-covered road in Malatya, Turkiye, on March 21, 2025. Heavy snowfall has impacted Turkiye's central Anatolia area and eastern regions, disrupting transportation and daily life, local IHA news agency reported on Friday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) Mar. 21---- Just a few weeks ago, Cindy VanDerPol put together bids to supply the , and school districts next school year with beef, pork, chicken and eggs raised on her family's Pastures A Plenty farm between Clara City and Kerkhoven. She contacted small-town meat processors and a hatchery in the area to make sure they would be able to meet the farm's needs if awarded the bids. "The Farm to School Program was going to make a big impact on our farm," VanDerPol told U.S. Sen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tina Smith , D-Minn., at a gathering of local food producers Tuesday at the Becker Market in Willmar. A few weeks after VanDerPol put her bids together, the announced it was ending funding for the Farm to School and other programs allowing child care centers and food shelves to purchase foods from local producers. The USDA will not honor agreements to provide more than $17 million over three years to help Minnesota schools purchase food from local farmers, according to a March 12, 2025, report by Minnesota Public Radio. Three generations of the VanDerPol family operate the farm, and are impacted directly by the federal budget cut, VanDerPol told Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VanDerPol said the impact will be felt well beyond her family's farm. Four different communities are affected too, as the processors who would have worked with the family will not see that economic activity, she pointed out. The Farm to School funding helps family farmers, and benefits the rural economy while also providing children with good nutrition, Smith said in response. "If suddenly the rug gets yanked out from under you, then it has a lot of ripple effects through the community, not to mention your business," she said. "The last time I checked, it's not easy to make a ton of money farming," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buying local foods is not only good for the rural economy, it's also important for young people to know where their food comes from, according to Jeanine Bowman, food services director for the "It is truly about teaching our kids where their food comes from," Bowman told Smith. The purchases a wide variety of local foods for its students, thanks in part to Beverly Dougherty, founder and director of the Becker Market, according to Bowman. Her work makes possible a consistent supply of local foods for the district and area, she explained. Since its start about 17 years ago, the Becker Market has served as a food hub for local producers. Fresh and locally raised vegetables, fruits, meats and other products are available at the market year-round. Dougherty and her son, Jason, distribute the products to locations in a roughly 50-mile radius of Willmar, assuring a consistent supply of locally-raised foods to people in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowman said students in Morris appreciate the quality of local foods. She laughingly said she fears there would be a "revolt" in the district if it could not maintain its fresh egg fry every Thursday. Janeen Peterson, food and nutrition services director for the , told Sen. Smith that the nutritional value and the sustainability of growing our own foods is very important. Local food producers at the session said the Becker Market and food hub has helped them grow their operations. Dan Moe, an organic vegetable producer with in Hutchinson, said that until the Becker Market opened, he believed the only market for local foods was in the more populated area east of Hutchinson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kent and Lori Peterson, of in Benson, said they've seen demand grow as well, especially last year. Thanks to the food hub and the market access it provides, they are able to grow in larger quantities. In fact, at what would be considered retirement age, they are expanding and adding a greenhouse, Kent Peterson told Smith. He urged the senator to continue working in Washington to support local foods. "We need your support to help people like Beverly, which in turn helps people like us," he said. Smith said she would continue to work in support of local foods. She decried the decision to cut funding for a program when it was expected to be in place for the coming year and more. "This is about the federal government making an agreement with a farmer in this country saying 'if you do this, we'll do that' and this administration is not living up to those agreements. (It's) putting farmers in an untenable position," Smith said. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A Farmington man was arrested amid an investigation into drug sales in Ontario County. The Ontario County Sheriffs Office received tips from residents of drug activity at Farmington Court Apartments. Over several months, investigators accused 35-year-old Eric Gonzalez of using his apartment to sell drugs and transport drugs. Furthermore, it was alleged Gonzalez was involved in multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions., After a search of his car and apartment, deputies said they found a large amount of crack cocaine in Gonzalezs pants, around $2,7000 in cash, and a digital scale. Drugs were also found in his vehicle, according to deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. He was taken to the Ontario County Jail and released on his own recognizance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Father charged in connection with baby found dead in vehicle in New Jersey LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (PIX11) A father is facing charges after his infant son was found dead in a vehicle in Lakewood Township on Tuesday, prosecutors say. Moshe Ehrlich, 35, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child on Thursday after police found his 4-month-old son in a car on Fifth Avenue, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor. More Local News Ehrlichs son appeared to be left alone in his fathers vehicle for an extended period of time on Tuesday, authorities say. Emergency teams from Hatzolah Medical Services tried to give lifesaving aid to the child, but he was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ehrlich surrendered himself to Lakewood Township police on Thursday. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and say there may be additional charges filed. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. (NewsNation) Israel broke the ceasefire deal with Hamas last week, killing dozens of Palestinians, saying the strikes will intensify until all of the hostages are free. The last living American hostage is Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli American. An Israeli Defense Force soldier born and raised in New Jersey, Alexander has been in captivity for more than 500 days since the wars start on Oct. 7, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family of American hostage in Gaza remains hopeful their son, 21, will return Edans father, Adi Alexander, spoke with NewsNations Morning in America, sharing that he knows nothing about his sons whereabouts. He called the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza very disturbing. We urge everybody to go onto the bargaining table and start talking again, he said. The question to Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu), how do you plan to get the last hostage out without ending this endless war and without committing to the second phase of the deal? Its a really open question and we should receive an answer for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) After President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the federal Department of Education (DOE), educators across the Commonwealth are now wondering whats next for Kentucky education. In a move President Trump calls 45 years in the making, the executive order was officially signed Thursday, March 20. The United States spends more money on education by far than any other country and spends likewise by far more money per pupil than any country, and its not even close, President Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beshear vetoes anti-DEI bill for public Kentucky colleges: House Bill 4 is about hate Around 3 p.m. on Thursday, the Fayette County Education Association (FCEA) announced its opposition to the order in a news release, saying students need more resources and greater protection, not less. The dismantling of the DOE will have a very real impact on students across the commonwealth, especially low-income students, the FCEA wrote. Local educators like Fayette County Education Association president Jessica Hiler disagree with the move. Hiler is also a teacher and fears the worst could happen. It really is a feeling of profound sadness that this is whats happening at the federal level to public education, Hiler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hiler is now keeping a close eye on Washington, especially with what this change could mean for local districts. Theres so much people dont realize. Ive heard the argument that the funding will go back to the states. Well, that really puts public education in an even more precarious situation than were already in. Thats going to heavily depend on the politics at every state, Hiler said. Those not in favor of the move worry about the impact on resources like Title I funding, Pell Grants, and school meals. Jason Bailey is the executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. Bailey said this would be detrimental for districts when it comes to resources that some students need. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It fills some critical gaps, especially for providing resources to schools and students who have fewer advantages, Bailey said. With the order signed, talks are still in the very early stage, leaving those in education like Hiler wondering what will happen next. I dont know what the legislators will decide to do if they have control over it, or what department is going to do with it. So much is up in the air which is why people are so concerned. Right now, were fine. Things are going to go the way they are. For next year, its really hard to say, Hiler 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 56 News. In the Trump administrations latest crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion, FCC chairman Brendan Carr has put companies who promote invidious DEI policies on notice, warning that the agency is prepared to block any merger and acquisition proposals they may make. Any businesses that are looking for FCC approval, I would encourage them to get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination, Carr told Bloomberg in an interview on Friday. We can only under the statute move forward and approve a transaction if we find that doing so serves the public interest, he continued. If theres businesses out there that are still promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination, I really dont see a path forward where the FCC could reach the conclusion that approving the transaction is going to be in the public interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest threat comes as the agency has already opened investigations into Comcast and NBCUniversal and Verizon over their DEI practices. The former is preparing to spin off its cable network portfolio by the end of 2025, while the latter has entered into a deal to acquire Frontier Communications that is expected to close by the first quarter of 2026. Carr also reinstated news distortion complaints against WPVI-TV over ABCs fact-checking of Trump during a presidential debate and WCBS-TV over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris and a complaint against WNBC-TV alleging Harris appearance on Saturday Night Live violated the agencys equal time rule. The FCC is allowing the public to weigh in on Harris 60 Minutes interview video and transcript it requested as part of its investigation into WCBS-TV and as it reviews the pending $8 billion Skydance-Paramount mergers required transfer of broadcast licenses. Additionally, Carr is investigating NPR and PBS for alleged violations of the agencys underwriting rules for noncommercial broadcasters and KCBS Radio for allegedly violating public interest obligations for describing an immigration raid during one of its news broadcasts. In a letter to the agency, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal slammed Carr for singling out media broadcasters that faced the wrath of President Trump during his presidential campaign, including actual litigation or outright threats of investigations in retaliation for perceived negative coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that the exclusive targeting to the apparent benefit of the President is further reflected by Carrs decision to not renew a news distortion complaint against a Fox TV station nor launch any investigation into News Corp. around its diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The Commissions investigations appear predicated on dubious legal theories that deviate from the FCCs public guidance, rules, and past enforcement actions, raising the question of whether the FCC is operating under a new set of standards, the letter added. Carrs vexatious investigation of opponents of President Trump represents a threat to the First Amendment and inflicts upon newsrooms, affiliate groups, local media, nonprofit organizations and religious broadcasters an ever-looming risk of retaliatory federal investigations for protected speech. The Senates Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has set a deadline of March 26 for the FCC to turn over information and records related to its investigations. Representatives for the FCC did not immediately return TheWraps request for comment. The post FCC Chair Threatens to Block M&A for Companies That Embrace DEI Policies appeared first on TheWrap. WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) No one was seriously injured in a fire that caused significant damage to a home Thursday night, according to the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. Around 10:15 p.m., neighbors called 911 to report a fire at a home on Oak Valley Court SW near Klaver Street off of Burlingame Avenue SW in Wyoming. In a Friday release, the Wyoming Fire Department said crews arrived to find the significant fire coming from the front of the entire home and cars parked in the driveway. Firefighters were able to put the flames out within a half hour, Wyoming fire inspector Brad Dornbos said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three people live in the house; all made it out. Firefighters initially said no one was hurt, but a Friday release clarified that minor injuries were reported and the patients were checked out at the scene before being released. The fire department said multiple pets were killed, through it did not provide specifics. The scene of a house fire on Oak Valley Court SW near Klaver Street in Wyoming. (March 20, 2025) The scene of a house fire on Oak Valley Court SW near Klaver Street in Wyoming. (March 20, 2025) A News 8 crew at the scene saw firefighters at the home and significant damage to the garage and front of the house. Its not clear how the fire started, but firefighters are investigating. Firefighters said the home did have working smoke alarms. The Wyoming Fire Department reminds the community of the importance of having working smoke alarms, developing an emergency escape plan, and taking precautions to prevent fires, a release said. If you are in need of smoke alarms for your home, please reach out to the Fire Administration Office at 616-530-7250 to discuss available options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Red Cross is helping the displaced family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. There's a rush on Rush. Stores up and down Santa Monica Boulevard have seen a run on the signature red and yellow vials this week, as the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on poppers, a product that has long existed in legal limbo. The active ingredient in Rush and other poppers is alkyl nitrite, a chemical that instantly dilates blood vessels when inhaled, producing a brief but intense feeling of euphoria. It also causes a loosening of smooth muscle tissue, including the anus, an effect that has made it a staple of gay sex for generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although officially banned for human consumption by the FDA, poppers have been sold openly in thumb-sized bottles marketed with a wink and a nod as nail polish remover, liquid incense or VHS tape cleaner. But after the FDA raided a popular brand called Double Scorpio this month, many fear the Trump administration is ending the era of tolerance. Within days of the Double Scorpio raid, rival brands such as Pig Sweat, Brown Bottle and Dumb Bitch Juice have also become scarce, many retailers said. "People are calling asking if we're out," said Sandy, a cashier at Smoke 4 Less, who gave only her first name because she wasn't authorized to speak to the media. "They're stocking up. Right now we're capped at 10 at a time, just to keep it fair." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: More than 1,600 sexual assault cases against Uber merged in far-reaching court ruling Similar buying frenzies have been reported around the country, with some worried it's the opening of a new front in a broader campaign against LGBTQ+ people by the federal government. "Its a hit on the community," said Edward, a clerk at Circus of Books in West Hollywood, who declined to give his last name, citing concerns about the drug's legality since the FDA raid. "If thats taken out, they dont know whats next." Roughly a third of gay men have used poppers, and about 20% said they had used them in the previous three months, according to a 2020 report in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs and a 2018 study in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I describe it to people as a muscle relaxant," Edward said. "It helps with anal sex for people whose bodies are more sensitive." The bottles are popular enough to enjoy pride of place beside the cash register, and top billing on Circus of Books' Instagram grid. Still, no one asking for poppers is likely to get them. "You can call it so many things, but you cant call it poppers," said Jay Sosa, an associate professor of gender, sexuality and women's studies at Bowdoin College in Maine and a scholar of the drug. Everett Farr III, a longtime maker of Rush-branded nail polish remover, is credited as a pioneer in rebranding. He noted that there have been several past crackdowns, and cautioned that one FDA raid doesn't necessarily spell the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not my first rodeo," said Farr. "Its been pursued religiously before." But to many, this moment feels different. Read more: 9th Circuit clears Grindr, dating app for gay men, in child sex trafficking case President Trump has taken action on several gay and transgender issues, blocking gender-affirming therapies for children and military veterans, in effect halting a global AIDS prevention program, and weighing drastic cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions HIV division that would kneecap domestic efforts to end the disease. "If thats the weather, then [the crackdown on poppers] is a lightning bolt," said Adam Zmith, author of "Deep Sniff, a History of Poppers and Queer Futures." "Its designed to be intimidating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before he was FDA chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also frequently railed against alkyl nitrites, repeating the conspiracy theory that poppers cause AIDS. That myth has recently gained new traction online, experts said. The FDA would not answer questions about the recent Double Scorpio bust, nor would it identify which other nitrite makers had been targeted, or when. But by Monday, major players including Pac-West Distributing and Nitro-Solv had taken down their websites or replaced them with banners saying they no longer operate. Brown Bottle did not respond to calls and emails for comment. Double Scorpio co-founder Julian Bendana referred questions to his lawyer, who did not immediately respond. "We dont have a lot of information to share but we believe that the FDA has performed similar actions towards other companies recently," Double Scorpio posted on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amyl nitrites emerged in the 19th century as an early treatment for chest pain and asthma attacks. According to a 2024 paper in the California Law Review, they were available over the counter in the 60s, then taken back under prescription at a manufacturer's request after gay nurses helped popularize recreational use. Amyl was replaced by other alkyl nitrites, sold under many of the same brands still in sex-shop vitrines today. In the 70s, poppers were a common club drug. Through the 80s, their use was mostly limited to gay men, thanks in part to the miasma of suspicion that hung over them during the AIDS epidemic. By 1990, they were made illegal for human consumption. Then in the 90s, Farr took over the trademark for Rush. Since then, he has become an expert on how to safely market and sell within the confines of the law. Read more: 'League of Justice': California AG part of group gearing up for court battles with Trump Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I manufacture a completely legal product," he said. "Some people dont understand the law and how to comply with it." Since the pandemic, alkyl nitrites have again surged in popularity among clubgoers, moving from adult stores into head shops and even corner stores. The Double Scorpio brand has sleek packaging, hip social media presence and LGBTQ-owned bona fides that helped reach new users. "They really cultivated a queer community," said Zmith, the "Deep Sniff" author. Officially sold as "leather cleaner," Double Scorpio also comes in pumpkin spice flavor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Double Scorpio are three different nitrites," said Edward, the West Hollywood clerk who doubles as a kind of nitrite sommelier. "Its popular because its scented." The inhalant has also grown more popular with women, many of whom see it as a safer alternative to cannabis and alcohol, sellers and experts said. "A lot of girls use it before they go out partying," Edward said. "Its a body high, but it doesnt affect your mentality like marijuana does." It's also widely available and can be bought with Apple Pay. "Its a cheap, easy, legal high," Zmith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But information about what the substance is or how to take it is scant. As it moves into new markets, problems have emerged. "Were seeing an increase in ingestion-related poisonings people drinking poppers," said Dr. Joseph J. Palamar, an associate professor in population health at NYU Langone Health. Sniffing alkyl nitrites can cause skin irritation, dizziness, low blood pressure, headaches and other unpleasant side effects. Drinking them even in tiny amounts causes a type of blood poisoning that turns victims blue from sudden hypoxia. "Even a couple drops are enough to make you sick," Palamar said. The FDA first warned consumers to not confuse poppers for energy drinks in 2021. By 2024, the problem was significant enough that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene began distributing signs saying "DO NOT DRINK POPPERS" to bodegas that sell them. Still, experts said ingestion poisonings have only really appeared in the last few months, recent enough that federal authorities are unlikely to be responding to them. In raw numbers, they're small. By contrast, many public health experts fear a broad crackdown on poppers could force the market underground, diverting users to riskier drugs as it did during previous raids in 2013. "This is likely to hurt people," said Dr. Timothy Hall, a psychiatrist and anthropologist specializing in HIV and addiction at UCLA. "Disrupting the supply of poppers in the U.S. is more likely to push people to seek more dangerous alternatives." The FDA took the same stance in 1987, Sosa said. Despite widespread evidence that the compound was being used illegally including as part of a protracted trademark fight over Rush in federal court the FDA has generally chosen to ignore it. That policy could now be at an end, many fear. "People dont want to touch it," Zmith said. "A lot of people dont want to talk about anal sex, and they dont want to make political statements defending anal sex." Amid the uncertainty, some sellers have hiked prices. Still more have preemptively yanked products from their shelves. A clerk at Rough Trade Gear in Silver Lake claimed the store had never sold alkyl nitrites, despite highlights promoting poppers on its Instagram. The rest are simply selling what they have left in stock. "Im waiting for an order," said Sandy, the Smoke 4 Less clerk. "Well see what I get." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mar. 20Ahead of signing an executive order Thursday that aims to ax the Department of Education, President Donald Trump said three key funding programs, Pell Grants, Title I and funding for children with special needs, would not be dissolved with the department. "They're going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them," Trump said at a news conference Thursday. Congress would have to approve the elimination of the department, which it created in 1979. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By vowing to fully preserve Title I, Trump has likely softened the blow that could've been felt by New Mexico's largest school district, Albuquerque Public Schools, with the shuttering of the federal department. Federal grants make up around $345 million of the APS budget, and $37.9 million is allocated to Title I schools where a majority of students are economically disadvantaged. The budget doesn't explicitly outline funding for students with special needs, which make up almost 25% of the district's enrollment. On Wednesday, APS said it appeared federal funds would continue flowing in, and spokesperson Martin Salazar said the district was "grateful for that." But Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein cast doubt on the president's commitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You would have to trust that statement. And I don't," Bernstein said. At the national level, the teachers union has vowed to sue Trump for dismantling the department, and Bernstein said she supports that move. "Just like with everything else, this is about chaos," Bernstein said. "Chaos creates fear and uncertainty and our job in education is to provide stability, it just makes our job that much harder." Trump did not explicitly vow to protect funding streams outside of Pell Grants and Title I and in a statement Thursday U.S. Sen Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., expressed concern Title II and III funding could be eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Title II, Part A funds teacher professional development. New Mexico receives over $2 million per year from the Department of Education to help educators improve and expand their teaching skills," Heinrich said. "Title III funds help students learn English. One out of three families in New Mexico speak a language other than English at home, and about one out of six students are classified as English learners. New Mexico currently receives about $9 million per year to help kids learn English." While the announcement appears to keep some key funding streams in place for APS and other districts in the state, the executive order could hinder the University of New Mexico's ability to receive federal dollars. Trump's order requires that the secretary of education ensure that the allocation of any department funds is "subject to rigorous compliance with Federal law and Administration policy" and any program must eliminate "'diversity, equity, and inclusion' (DEI) or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology," to receive funding. On March 15, the Trump Administration announced a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Education against UNM's main campus and 44 other universities for participating in DEI initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "UNM is committed to complying with all laws. Our focus remains on providing a supportive environment for all students, faculty, and staff to learn, work, and thrive," university spokesperson Cinnamon Blair said in a statement. She added that the university was anticipating the dismantling of the department, but "there are no specific or actionable matters related to it." "We do want to assure our students that we continue to distribute federal financial aid and that the order itself directs the Department of Education to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits," Blair wrote. Trump's order intending to dismantle the department fulfills a long-standing campaign promise and comes roughly a week after 1,300 layoffs sliced the department in half. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cutting the Department of Education is the wrong approach, Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., told the Journal Thursday afternoon. "Education is the way out of poverty for many families. Certainly, it was the way for my family and for myself to move into the middle class," Vasquez said. MOSCOW, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday said Ukrainian forces have "deliberately blown up the Sudzha gas metering station" as they retreated from Russia's western Kursk region. The facility, located several hundred meters from the Ukrainian border, has been under Ukrainian control since August 2024, the ministry said. Russia has recently regained control over Sudzha. The Investigative Committee of Russia announced Friday that it has launched a criminal investigation into the explosion at the station. The committee said that Ukrainian servicemen deliberately detonated the facility on Thursday, causing significant damage. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook that Russia's claims regarding Ukraine's shelling of the station are "groundless," and the station has been "repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves." The station was a major entry point for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine until it ceased operations on Jan. 1, following the expiration of a five-year transportation agreement. Alex Flores (Courtesy photo) After Donald Trump was reelected as United States president last year, Alex Flores had no plans to leave his job at the federal Department of Justice. But after Trumps second inauguration, Flores said it quickly became clear to him that the administration is politicizing and weaponizing the department, turning its powers on political enemies, punishing dissenters and turning its mission on its head, he told Source NM in an interview on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flores, who lives in Albuquerque, resigned from the United States Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico on March 7, but made sure to outline his work in response to the infamous directive by Elon Musk to list five work accomplishments. In his last week at work, Flores wrote in his resignation letter, he reminded my fellow prosecutors that although we have now witnessed certain senior government officials engage in gross, politically motivated abuses of power, each of us can stand firm by our oath. By doing so, we safeguard New Mexicos citizens and preserve our own honor. Flores told Source NM the request from the independent Office of Personnel Management for five work accomplishments stood out as highly unusual based on his experience in the Marine Corps and at DOJ. Every federal employee is required to report their work to be held accountable to a chain of command, he said. The idea that an external entity, not even belonging to the U.S. government, would demand work updates was asinine, Flores said. I think that the purpose of that organization has not been to increase the efficiency of government, but instead to gut and handicap government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said no one thing caused him to leave, but rather the cumulative effect of the departments promise to punish law firms that provide legal support to the presidents political opponents; its discontinuation of the Civil Rights and Public Integrity sections work; and its elimination of due process protections for whole classes of people being deported under the Alien Sedition Act. But one situation that really got under my skin, Flores said, was when federal prosecutors implemented Trumps policy by questioning Native Americans U.S. citizenship in court. The United States connection with the children of illegal aliens and temporary visitors is weaker than its connection with members of Indian tribes. If the latter link is insufficient for birthright citizenship, the former certainly is, the Trump administration argued in a case challenging his birthright citizenship executive order. Flores is married to and a father of enrolled members of New Mexico Pueblos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I found it unconscionable that we were citing that kind of law in legal arguments, he told Source NM. Good people remain Earlier in Flores legal career, he clerked for then New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Edward Chavez until joining the Marine Corps in 2014 as a prosecutor and then an instructor on the law of war. He took the job at the DOJ in February 2020, during the first Trump administration, according to his resume. I have only ever worked in public service, in government, and so it was a natural continuation on that path, he said. Flores worked for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico for five years, where he co-led the Indian Country Crimes Section, a team of six prosecutors who handle cases in and affecting Native sovereign lands in New Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he personally prosecuted nearly 200 federal felony cases and supervised the prosecution of approximately 200 to 400 felony cases. Flores said he will continue service in the military reserves and is joining a plaintiffs law firm in Albuquerque called Singleton Schreiber, where he will focus on personal injury lawsuits, environmental injury, mass tort claims and wildfire litigation. The Indian Country Crimes Sections mission had not fundamentally changed when Flores left earlier this month, he said, and his departure was not about what was happening to the section. Good people remain in the department and remain in government doing the good, critical and necessary work, Flores said. This was a very personal decision, and even though I could not go on serving in this administration, I am glad, heartened and grateful that other people are staying. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This story was updated following publication to clarify Flores role with the Indian Country Crimes Section. Attorneys Nate Cade (far left) and Kimberley Motley (center) stand with the mother of Alvin Cole, Tracy (far right), and other members of Cole's family. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) A civil trial in Milwaukees federal courthouse over the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole by former Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah ended in a hung jury on Thursday. After four days of hearing testimony and evidence, the eight-member jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision about whether Mensah used excessive and unreasonable force when he shot Cole on Feb. 2, 2020. A new trial has been set for September of this year, with pretrial preparations expected in August. The day began with closing arguments from attorney Nate Cade, who told the mostly white jury of seven women and one man to remember whos involved. Cade showed a picture of Cole to the jury, saying, Hes a kid, just a kid. The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation. Cade recounted the four days of testimony, starting with Coles father, Albert, who said he will be haunted by the memory of dropping off his son, the last time he saw him, for the rest of his life. Cade pointed to conflicting testimony about the shooting among the police officers who were there, and emphasized the testimony of David Shamsi, a combat veteran and FBI agent, who said Cole did not move or point a gun at Mensah before he fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another officer, Jeffrey Johnson, also testified that he did not see a weapon pointed at Mensah at the time of the shooting, and that Cole was on his hands and knees. Cade said that if Mensah had paused a moment, Alvin Cole would still be alive. Plaintiffs attorneys also reminded the jury that after the shooting, Evan Olson, Mensahs friend on the force, went off with Mensah in a squad car where they had an unrecorded conversation, in violation of polices stating officers should be kept separate after a shooting to avoid statement contamination. Cade stressed to the jury that in order for Mensah to be right, everybody else has to be wrong, and that Mensah had never apologized on the stand for the shooting. Attorney Joseph Wirth, representing Mensah, said that night consisted of split second decisions. Alvin Cole made catastrophically bad decisions, said Wirth, arguing that Cole brought a gun to the mall, got into a fight, fled from and fired upon police, and then tried to fire again before Mensah killed him. You cant bring 20-20 hindsight, said Wirth, urging the jurors to put themselves in Mensahs shoes that night. Wirth refuted plaintiffs attorneys who said Mensah was bored in his own sector, and wanted some action. Wirth stressed that when an officer perceives danger, he has a duty to act and it is not necessary [to prove] if this danger actually existed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wirth argued that Shamsi, who said the gun didnt move at all, was still prepared to shoot Cole, and that the teen never stopped running, or indicated he wanted to surrender. Wirth also said that Cole pointed a gun both at Mensah and Olson, suggesting that the two officers are not contradicting each other. Plaintiffs attorneys asked for $22 million in damages, which Wirth called outrageous. The jury went into deliberations shortly after noon, and returned around 4:30 p.m. saying they were unable to come to a decision. They were told by the judge to go back into deliberations until 5 p.m. When they were called back, they had still been unable to reach a unanimous decision. Judge Lynn Adelman said one main issue was the quality of squad car videos. The jury was excused, and a new trial was set for Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. The day ends with armed marshals, and words from the family The family of Alvin Cole and their attorneys outside the federal courthouse in Milwaukee. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) At the end of the day as the jury returned, at least five U.S. marshals, several of them armed, entered the court room. The arrival of the armed marshals caused a stir in the courtroom from the gallery to the plaintiffs bench and attracted the attention of Judge Adelman himself. I dont want marshals here, Adelman said. Its unclear why the marshals were there, but attorney Cade told media and the judge that it was inappropriate, and could send the wrong message to a jury. People get screened coming into this courthouse, said Cade. The family has not shown outThey have not done anything dangerous, they have not made any threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tracy Cole, Alvins mother, said she was satisfied with the presentation of her familys case. I cant complain, she said, they showed the evidence, everything on the table. We aint gave up, were not going to give up. Undiscouraged by the hung jury she said, it just make us fight more. Cole did say that she was hurt when she wasnt allowed to testify during the trial. I thought that if I wouldve spoke on it, I thought it will let some of the relief off of me, but now it havent because I still have that pain inside, said Cole. It hurts, but Im dealing with it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TULSA, Okla. An Ottawa County couple charged in Quapaw Nation Tribal Court with manslaughter in the starvation death of their two-year-old son are now facing federal murder charges. Amber Murphy, 31, and Daniel Ash, 32, both of Commerce, were indicted on Tuesday with second-degree murder in the death of their two-year-old son and four counts of child neglect involving the deceased son and three other children in their care. Charles Wayne Ash died on September 11. His manner of death was classified as a homicide, and the cause of death is listed as starvation, according to an autopsy report. He weighed 17 pounds at the time of his death, the standard weight of a six-month-old infant, according to pediatric experts. Daniel Ash is also charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12. U.S. vs. Daniel Ash, 25-cr-00088 The couple is being held in the Cherokee County, Kansas, jail on a $30,000 cash bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When questioned about the child sexual abuse allegations, Quapaw Nation Chief Marshal Charlie Addington referred all questions to the U.S. Attorneys Office. A writ of habeas corpus was issued ordering the couple be transferred to federal custody. If you suspect a child is being abused, please contact the Childrens Advocacy Center of Ottawa County at (918) 540-1621 in Miami or the Delaware County Childrens Special Advocacy Network at (918) 253-4539 in Jay if they suspect any child is a victim of abuse. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. A Florida man who left threatening and profanity-laced voicemail messages at the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in federal prison. Michael Shapiro, 73, of West Palm Beach, pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in Detroit to one count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. He was indicted in February 2024 on three counts of the same charge after making calls from his cellphone, according to court records. Federal prosecutors asked for a 27-month sentence, consecutive to a separate 24-month sentence Shapiro is currently serving after being convicted in a federal court in Florida for threatening acts of violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors detailed Shapiro's history of threatening to harm or kill people and their families based on animus or political or personal disagreement, including U.S. Congress members and a U.S. Capitol Police agent. Messages were left for his attorney, Elizabeth Young, who could not be reached Thursday. In her sentencing memorandum, Young wrote Shapiro was battling severe major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder at the time of the offense; and that he "deeply regrets his actions in this case, and apologizes to every member of CAIR." She asked for a sentence of 15 months concurrent and six months consecutive to his Florida sentence. Shapiro was accused of leaving six voicemails on the business phone number for CAIR Michigan's office in Canton over the course of two weeks in December 2023, according to his plea agreement, which indicated he was in Florida when he left the voicemails. CAIR is the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors indicated that a Dec. 8 voicemail included maniacal laughter and stated: "I'm going to kill you b------s." A Dec. 14 voicemail repeatedly stated: "I'm going to kill you!" And a Dec. 15 voicemail, prosecutors stated, included: "You're a violent people. Why do you come to America? Why do you come to Europe?" Feds: Promises to apologize, not do again 'proved to be hollow' Prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum that Shapiro terrorized the people who worked at the Michigan CAIR chapter with the disturbing and threatening bias-motivated calls. "These threats are just one piece of the defendant's ten-year history of threatening to harm others based on animus or disagreement," they wrote. "Despite being contacted by law enforcement over the years about his alarming calls even having faced arrest and conviction for several Shapiro has never been deterred and there is no reason to believe that he will be deterred in the future." CAIR reported the calls to Canton police after the first two voicemails. After the third call, the group's executive director directed his employees to work remotely until after the new year out of concern for their safety, prosecutors wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His threats did not stop. "The defendant's last call consisted of nine seconds of what can be described as maniacal and unsettling laughter," prosecutors wrote. "The safety concern and fear caused by Shapiro's threats prompted CAIR's landlord to upgrade the security of CAIR's offices by installing new locks and key card access on the doors." When employees returned to the office, the memorandum indicates, the group's staff attorney changed her schedule to make sure she wasnt in the building alone. "The CAIR staff did not know that the defendant was calling from a different state; to them, they feared that the violence that Shapiro threatened could be imminent, especially given the rise of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate incidents" since the war between Israel and Hamas started in October 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Shapiro called a presidential candidate's campaign office in 2015 stating he was going to "harm her." They wrote when he was interviewed by law enforcement, he apologized and was not arrested. Three years later, prosecutors wrote, he left three voicemails at the office of a U.S. Congresswoman, including one with repeated threats. Again, Shapiro apologized when interviewed by law enforcement and was not arrested, prosecutors wrote. Later in 2018, he placed eight phone calls to the son of a U.S. Congressman, including one that repeatedly threatened: "Tell your father I'm going to kill him." "When interviewed by the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI in October 2019, the defendant apologized and said it would never happen again. That promise, like the ones before, proved to be hollow," prosecutors wrote. "Three weeks after the interview, the defendant called the U.S. Capitol Police several times, issuing a series of threats against the Capitol Police agent who had interviewed him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors wrote the threats included to kill the agent. For this, Shapiro was convicted of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce and sentenced to three years' probation. Not even 11 months after his probation term expired, prosecutors wrote, Shapiro issued the threats to CAIR. About the same time, they indicated, he also threatened a U.S. Congressman by leaving a series of five voicemails Dec. 19, 2023, one of which threatened to kill the Congressman's children and another threatened to kill him. Shapiro was convicted of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce and in August was sentenced to 24 months in prison, according to the sentencing memorandum. His sentence of 18 months in the CAIR case is to be served after he finishes his time in prison in Florida. Attorney: Client watched Fox News; anchors were his 'lifeline to society' In her sentencing memorandum, Young wrote: "Though no excuse for the harm he has caused, Mr. Shapiro's chronic mental health and substance use issues are important underlying factors that shed light on his behavior in this and prior cases. Mr. Shapiro was once a successful attorney in New York City. Now, he is disbarred, widowed, and alone. His alcoholism and depression have alienated him from his children, impaired his judgment, and led him to act impulsively in response to politically divisive news stories." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wrote that Shapiro is ashamed of his actions in this case and in prior cases; he accepts full responsibility, and acknowledges that he needs professional help to address his depression and alcoholism. She indicated he didn't intend to carry out any act of violence, but his words caused fear among the employees and Muslim community. She wrote that Shapiro, an only child, was born in Romania and his family fled to the U.S. as refugees when he was 13. His father, a Holocaust survivor, had been imprisoned for political reasons. His father's stories about his experience in a German concentration camp in Romania impacted Shapiro "and no doubt shaped his perception of the world at an early age." Young wrote that Shapiro married, had two daughters and became a personal injury attorney and real estate broker in New York City. But, he was battling a serious alcohol addiction and over time "self-destructed," alienated himself from his family and fell apart at work. He engaged in bankruptcy fraud in 1996 to which he turned himself in, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years of probation, according to Young's memorandum. It indicates he still makes restitution payments to victims in the case. Young wrote that Shapiro was investigated for commercial bribery from 1994 to around 2002. It didnt lead to a conviction, according to her memorandum, but he was disbarred in 1999. He and his wife divorced in 2004. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Shapiro further reflected to counsel: 'I became insignificant in my own life. In order to have a voice in my life I started drinking. And I listened to what's going on in the world around me. I wanted my voice to be heard, so I started making phone calls,'" according to the memorandum. Shapiro's second wife died from cancer in 2008; he developed symptoms of depression, retired and moved to Florida to care for aging parents who were in poor health and eventually died. He checked himself into a psychiatric hospital in Florida for two days and began drinking more heavily to cope with his grief and loneliness, Young wrote. "Aside from drinking, Shapiro's sole activity of choice was watching Fox News. Shapiro felt a connection with the anchors on Fox News. Shapiro told counsel: 'They were my lifeline to society,'" according to her memorandum. "Shapiro's depression during this decade of his life made him uniquely vulnerable to the messaging being fed to him through the television. He internalized the vitriol, and fear consumed him. It was in this state of mind that Shapiro made threatening phone calls." Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Man gets jail for voicemail threats at Muslim group office in Michigan NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday touted the results of a program aimed at getting homeless people out of the subway system. Launched in fall 2023, the Subway Co-Response Outreach, or SCOUT, program employs co-response teams of police officers, nurses and social workers. The teams have had 11,000 interactions with people on the trains, with 3,000 of those encounters resulting in connections to temporary housing, food, clothes, medical care and removals from the system, the mayor said at a press conference at the 34th St.-Herald Square station. Police also removed about 900 people from the system and issued 290 summonses, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is making sure people can ride the train safely day or night, Adams said. And so we want to be clear on this. Were not saying those who are unhoused and in need of support are the primary source of crime in our subways. We dont want that to be the interpretation. It adds to the feeling of (being) unsafe. Weve driven down crime, but we hear New Yorkers say over and over again, they feel unsafe. The mayor emphasized numbers showing a 28% year-to-date decrease in subway crime which comes after President Trumps Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened in a letter Tuesday to withhold or redirect federal funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority unless it can prove its reducing violent crime and homelessness in the subway system. We continue to make progress on our goal of bringing down crime, Adams said, and have achieved record achievements for subway safety in recent months. But mayoral challenger state Sen. Zellnor Myrie said the mayors not doing enough, arguing that transit felony assaults are still up 65% from before the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I take the train every day, Myrie said, and as any of my fellow straphangers know, our transit system is not as safe as (it) needs to be. Now is not the time for Mayor Adams to be applauding himself for half measures. _____ YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) New fiber optic internet cable is in the process of being installed throughout the city of Youngstown. The process includes digging up peoples yards and putting the lines underground. Its also being done in parts of Boardman and Poland. Thursday, around 25 people attended a meeting on Youngstowns North Side, which is the first side of town getting the new fiber optic cable. Representatives from Lumos, the North Carolina-based company laying the lines, said Youngstown is the second least connected city in Ohio. Only East Cleveland was worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resident Vickie Johnson lives on Norwood Avenue. Theyve already installed her new cable, but she doesnt want it. They came on my property after I told them I didnt want it on my property. They came in there anyway and put it on there, Johnson said. Councilwoman Samantha Turner said shes heard a lot of complaints. So were getting a lot of complaints just about the lack of communication; when theyre coming, what theyre doing, not being able to really speak to a foreman on the job. They have to look for a foreman that can help, Turner said. Since the lines are being installed in the public right of way, people cant refuse to have them digging in front of their houses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lumos will also restore the property to its original state. Once Lumos installs the lines, and theyre up and running, its expected to create competition with Spectrum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. London's Heathrow Airport said it was "safely able to restart flights" Friday afternoon after a fire at a nearby electrical substation closed one of the world's busiest airports for nearly a day. However, even as the airport said it could restart flights, officials advised people not to travel "unless your airline has advised you to do so." The airport said it hopes to "run a full operation" on Saturday. "Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. We're now safely able to restart flights, prioritising repatriation and relocation of aircraft," Heathrow said in a statement. PHOTO: People wait at the Paddington railway station, after a fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out power at the Heathrow International Airport, in London, March 21, 2025. (Isabel Infantes/Reuters) The fire at the substation caused a "significant power outage" to the airport, which was initially expected to be closed until 11:59 p.m. local time on Friday night, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens," a spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said. Impact on flights In a statement Friday, British Airways said it expected to operate around 85% of the nearly 600 arrivals and departures scheduled Saturday but said all passengers should be prepared for delays. "We are planning to operate as many flights as possible to and from Heathrow on Saturday, but to recover an operation of our size after such a significant incident is extremely complex," the airline said in a statement. An analysis said as many as 290,000 passengers were expected to be impacted by the closure Friday, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. There were 669 flights scheduled to depart to Heathrow on Friday, with 145,836 seats, according to Cirium. The fire could affect another 270,000 passengers on Saturday, too, Cirium said. PHOTO: Arrivals area, Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, London, UK (Ucg/UCG/Universal Images Group via G) "Accordingly, the impact of this incident can cascade over several days, as aircraft, crew, passengers are out of place, with limited spare aircraft and seats available to recover passengers," Cirium said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier Friday, inbound flights to Heathrow were being redirected to other U.K. airports, officials said. PHOTO: Firefighters extinguish the fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire Thursday night and lead to a closure of Heathrow Airport in London, Friday, March 21, 2025. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP) "Due to a power outage in the London Heathrow area, London Heathrow Airport is currently closed," British Airways said. "As a result, customers due to travel from Heathrow on Friday are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice. This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond." Fire investigation continues -- but not seen as suspicious The blaze at the West London power station sent plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, led to a large number of power outages in other homes and businesses and led to some evacuations of residents in nearby properties, according to the London Fire Brigade. Approximately 5% of the fire "remains alight in isolated hotspots" at the substation, the London Fire Brigade said in a statement Friday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The fire involved a transformer comprising 25,000 litres of its cooling oil fully alight," London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith said in a statement Friday. "This created a major hazard owing to the still live high voltage equipment and the nature of an oil fuelled fire. As of the most recent update, approximately 5% remains alight in isolated hotspots, and we will maintain a presence at the site until the incident is resolved." The cause of the fire is still not known. "After initial assessment, we are not treating this incident as suspicious, although enquiries do remain ongoing," a statement from London's Metropolitan Police said. Because of the location of the substation "and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure," the Met's Counter Terrorism Command was leading the investigation, authorities said. MORE: Right main landing gear collapsed on impact in fiery Toronto plane crash: Preliminary report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, 70 firefighters and 10 fire trucks responded to the blaze in west London when the brigade was first called at 11:23 p.m. local time Thursday. Firefighters safely evacuated 29 people from neighboring properties and, as a precaution, established a 200-meter cordon with around 150 people evacuated. Residents were also advised to keep their windows closed due to significant amounts of smoke from the fire. Crews remain at the scene of the fire in #Hayes - please continue to keep windows & doors closed due to smoke & avoid the area. This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night. Read more: https://t.co/d6UNReGHa6 pic.twitter.com/6rQpIp5Bad London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) March 21, 2025 ABC News' Clara McMichael and Ayesha Ali contributed to this report. Passengers warned of delays as flights set to resume at London's Heathrow Airport originally appeared on abcnews.go.com One of the busiest airports in the world, London Heathrow is closed today following a large fire at a nearby electrical substation that caused a power outage, USA TODAY is reporting. Is this affecting any Ohio flights? Here's what to know. Is Heathrow Airport closed? Fire causes power outage The London Fire Brigade said a transformer within an electrical substation in Hayes in west London was ablaze, USA TODAY reports. Fire crews responded to the scene at about 11:23 p.m. local time on Thursday and worked through the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 4:08 a.m. local time Friday, the London Fire Brigade said half of the transformer was still burning. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded. About 150 people near the fire were evacuated and authorities set up a 200-meter cordon as a precaution, Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said in a statement. When will London Heathrow reopen? A Heathrow Airport spokesperson told USA TODAY that there is no clarity on when power will restored, and that the airport expects significant disruption over the coming days. What Ohio flights are affected by London Heathrow Airport shutdown? British Airways flies out of Cincinnati According to flight arrivals and departures listed online, there's a British Airways flight from Heathrow arriving at 8:50 p.m. today at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. A flight bound for London will depart at 10:50 p.m. tonight. Both are listed as "on time." No other flights from Ohio's major airports to London were listed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Heathrow is one of the major hubs of the world," Ian Petchenik, a spokesperson for flight tracking website FlightRadar24, told Reuters. "This is going to disrupt airlines' operations around the world." According to FlightRadar24, scores of flights were already being diverted to other airports. Some flights from the U.S. were turning around mid-air and returning to their point of departure. Where is Heathrow Airport? Heathrow is located in the west London suburban borough of Hounslow, roughly 18 miles from Central London. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fire shuts down London Heathrow. Are Ohio flights impacted? SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Authorities on the Cheyenne River Reservation are looking into what sparked a fire on Highway 212 Thursday. Lawsuit claims hotel negligent in toddlers death A viewer sent us these pictures of the fire. Smoke and flames could seen coming from a semi. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement said a semi carrying hay bales caught fire. A home was in the path of the fire but crews were able to stop the fire from reaching it. Authorities say no injuries were reported from the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Fire officials investigating fire at OKC reptile breeding company OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) It was a sad morning at Bob Clark Reptiles near Northwest 122nd Street and MacArthur Boulevard. Flames sparked at the reptile breeding company around 1 a.m. on Friday. Whenever we arrived on scene, there were heavy smoke conditions throughout the building, said Major Bo Woodard, a district chief for the Oklahoma City Fire Department. Through prior knowledge of the building, we knew that this warehouse housed several snakes, tortoises, and lizards and were able to make an offensive fire attack and get the fire extinguished that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite firefighters best efforts, not all of the reptiles could be saved. LOCAL NEWS: Fireproof safe burns inside home during wildfires, family loses birth certificates and other valuables Our crews are doing an extensive salvage and overhaul operation, said Woodard. The Oklahoma City Fire Department is investigating the cause. The owner did not want to talk with KFOR on camera, but said he believes it was an electrical issue. The fire department also said the building has extensive damage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BRATISLAVA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Slovakia has implemented a series of emergency measures in response to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, authorities announced Friday. The disease has been confirmed at three livestock farms located in the southern Slovak villages of Medvedov, Narad and Baka, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac told a news conference. All susceptible animals within a three-km radius of the confirmed FMD outbreak will be culled, Slovak Chief Veterinary Surgeon Martin Chudy said. Extraordinary emergency measures have come into effect in Slovakia and will remain in force until further notice. The movement of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed animals is prohibited throughout Slovakia, except for necessary transport within the same holding, Chudy said. "This prohibition also applies to any movement of susceptible animals between Slovakia and other countries," he added. In addition, all zoos across Slovakia will be closed. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious and febrile viral illness affecting livestock, with significant economic consequences. LONDON (AP) A fire that closed London's Heathrow Airport has sparked one of the most serious disruptions to air travel in years. More than 1,300 flights were canceled and hundreds of thousands of journeys were disrupted following the blaze at an electrical substation, whose cause is under investigation. Here is a look at some past incidents: July 2024: Faulty software causes chaos A faulty software update sent to millions of Microsoft customers by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused technological havoc worldwide. Airlines lost access to their booking systems, thousands of flights were canceled and tens of thousands were delayed, leading to long lines at airports in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement August 2023: UK air traffic control problems A glitch at Britains National Air Traffic Services in August 2023 meant flight plans had to be processed manually, rather than automatically. Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled at the height of the summer holidays. The NATS system had already suffered several software-related failures in the years after it opened in 2002. March 2020: COVID-19 pandemic As a new coronavirus spread around the globe in early 2020, the worlds airports shut down. Many governments closed national borders and imposed travel restrictions. By April, the number of flights around the world had fallen by 80%. When air travel resumed, it was with masks, mandatory coronavirus tests and other measures that made flying more onerous and expensive. It wasnt until 2024 that global passenger numbers reached 2019 levels again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement December 2018: Gatwick drone sightings More than 140,000 travelers were stranded or delayed after dozens of drone sightings shut down London Gatwick, south of the U.K. capital and Britains second-busiest airport, for parts of three consecutive days before Christmas. A monthslong police investigation failed to identify the culprits or determine how many of the sightings were real. May 2017: British Airways IT glitch A computer failure at a British Airways data center forced the airline to cancel all flights from Heathrow and Gatwick on a holiday weekend. The airline blamed a power-supply issue for the incident which affected some 75,000 travelers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement August 2016: Delta outage Delta Air Lines planes around the world were grounded when an electrical component failed and led to a shutdown of the transformer that provides power to the carriers data center. Delta said that it canceled more than 2,000 flights and lost $100 million in revenue as a result of the outage. April 2010: Icelands volcano People around the world learned how to pronounce the name of Icelands tongue-twisting Eyjafjallajokull volcano (ay-yah-FYAH-lah-yer-kuhl) after it roared to life, sending plumes of ash and dust into the atmosphere. Airspace over northern Europe was shut for several days and airlines canceled flights between Europe and North America because of concerns the ash could damage jet engines. More than 100,000 flights were canceled, stranding millions of passengers, at an estimated cost of $3 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement September 2001: 9/11 U.S. airspace was closed to commercial flights on Sept. 11, 2011 after hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. Thousands of planes were grounded and flights in the air heading for the U.S. were diverted to Canada and Mexico. Flights began to resume two days later, but air travel was forever altered, with passengers facing more rigorous security, more intrusive scrutiny and longer lines. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, one of the Federal Trade Commissions two Democratic members fired by Donald Trump this week, slammed the president on Wednesday as she claimed that she received no justification for her absolutely illegal termination. Slaughter told CNNs Kaitlan Collins the issue was bigger than her losing her job. Its the principle that our laws need to be enforced without fear or favor and specifically, without commissioners fearing that they will get fired for failing to do a favor for the Presidents allies, she said. That is a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slaughter who was appointed to the FTC during Trumps first term previously spoke out on the firings, noting that she has a voice and Trump is afraid of what she was able to tell Americans in her role. Slaughter said that as one of two Democrats on the majority Republican FTC, she aimed to bring transparency and accountability to the work of the independent federal agency. She argued that without the voice of minority commissioners, Americans may not have any reason to know what was going on behind-the-scenes and may not see explanations and counterarguments when the FTC dismisses one of its litigations with big tech CEOs. The FTC firings are just one of a number of Trumps terminations of Democratic officials from independent, bipartisan bodies in the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firings bring to focus a 90-year-old unanimous Supreme Court decision known as Humphreys Executor, which established that the president cant fire leaders appointed to such agencies without cause. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the FTC firings this week as she claimed that the president absolutely has the authority to let the two commissioners go. On Wednesday, Collins turned to an image of tech giants including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg who attended Trumps inauguration before Slaughter noted that the FTC is in active litigation with almost all of them on the screen. Slaughter recalled the agency settling a privacy case with Facebook (now Meta) in which the tech company agreed to pay a $5 billion fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority, at the time, touted it as the largest payment ever, and a huge successful win for law enforcement, she said of the typically bipartisan commission. But I said I disagreed, that I thought it wasnt nearly what the violations merited, and people should understand it as a slap on the wrist for a company that had the kinds of profits and revenue that Facebook had at the time, she said. Slaughter pressed that she plans to fight her firing as long as it takes, suggesting that her case could reach the Supreme Court. Related... After all the hullabaloo about fired federal workers, many are now back at work sort of. They're on paid administrative leave after a court ordered the Trump administration reinstate roughly 25,000 of them. Ten of them spoke to BI about the whiplash of their careers and financial lives. The latest twist in the White House's efficiency push is roughly 25,000 fired federal workers being ordered back on the government's payroll but not doing any work. "I'm sitting at home not doing anything," said Monte Burns, a 55-year-old Internal Revenue Service worker who was fired in February and then reinstated on administrative leave last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burns feels relieved, but has only temporarily paused his job search because he's doubtful his IRS paycheck will last. "I definitely am not wanting to put all my eggs in this basket again," Burns said. "They kind of put holes in the basket, and I don't want the eggs to fall out and crack." Burns isn't the only sitting duck on the federal government payroll. Around 25,000 federal probationary workers across 18 agencies were fired under the Trump administration in the last month or so. Now, many of them are back, following a judge's order. But that doesn't mean they're pushing papers; instead, many have been placed directly on paid administrative leave, which OPM has said in a filing is the first step in reinstating workers' jobs. "Their version of reinstatement is just adding us back to personnel rolls but not letting us actually do our jobs," a reinstated Consumer Financial Protection Bureau worker said, adding they expect to be fired again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business Insider spoke to 10 workers about what it's like being fired, unfired, and then bracing for a possible second firing. Many viewed the latest turn of events as as antithetical to DOGE's mission to reduce what Donald Trump said was the many federal workers who "don't work at all." For the newly re-employed, it's a frustrating period. Workers say they want to be working, but instead they're twiddling their thumbs. At least they're getting paid for now. "I get more and more annoyed and angry at the way they're treating us as this little ball they can just hit around. Just make up your damn mind," a reinstated National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worker said. "You're basically holding everybody in limbo and playing games with their livelihoods." Representatives for the White House, CFPB, NOAA, IRS, DOGE, and DOE did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have a tip? Contact these reporters via Signal at julianakaplan.33, aalt.19, asheffey.97, nsheidlower.30, alicetecotzky.05, and bgriffiths.25. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. When a push for efficiency means getting paid to sit around and do nothing The reinstated workers BI spoke with said they don't want to be slacking off. It's a strange twist of fate for people who were fired, obstensibly, for performance issues, which they dispute. "It's just been for me, a little bit of a back and forth mentally. Obviously I feel like I was wrongly terminated, but also I didn't take my oath to uphold the Constitution to sit here and do nothing and get paid. It just feels like I'm stealing from the taxpayers in a way," one reinstated IRS worker said. A reinstated IRS worker said that while "it sucked to get swept up in the mass cuts" they originally supported the cost-cutting mission and believe "the country has to do penance for the overspending." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the aim has been distorted. "I find it ironic that 'they' were wanting to flush out the people who were earning checks and not actually producing and now, due to the way they fired us, they created the same scenario," they added. Even getting in touch with workers to get them back on payrolls brings its own challenges. One reinstated General Services Administration worker said that the letter informing them of their reinstatement went to their spam folder. A reinstated Veteran Affairs worker said it's not that simple to bring people back they'd need new equipment and new IDs. The worker said the plan is to get equipment and IDs next week and get back to work then. The worker said there's still "a lot of gray area with unknown direction" given there's a hiring freeze still, which impacts their work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spokespeople from both the VA and GSA told BI that the agencies are complying with the court order. One pending question is whether workers will actually pick up their pens and paper again. The GSA worker seriously doubts they'll be tangibly reinstated, but another reinstated IRS worker was more optimistic. "It's sounding like they're going to be bringing us back to official duties soon once they can re-onboard us, so it'll also be nice to be able to feel productive again," they said. For now, though, workers are sitting and waiting for what comes next. "We want to go back to doing what we did that's to help people," a reinstated NOAA worker said, adding, "You're now paying us to not work. How is that making things more efficient?" A few more days of unexpected pay For some workers, the brief reinstatement has been a boon. The administrative leave means at least a few more days of pay that they hadn't expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's pretty awesome," said a reinstated IRS worker who'd had a job interview the day before, adding, "Obviously you never know when you'll get a job offer, so having a paycheck to rely on in the meantime will definitely help." Some said they're using the extra paid time to think about what comes next, or to take some breathing room for the job hunt. But it's also a time to lament jobs that none are anticipating they'll actually get back. "Ideally, I would return to my job. I just do not think that that's going to happen," a reinstated IRS worker said. A reinstated Department of Energy worker said that they loved their job and their team, but they do expect to be let go again. They're "not at all" counting on actually staying. One reinstated NOAA worker said, emotionally, they've moved on. They still "adore" the agency and think highly of it but it's too stressful to stay under the current circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have a family to care about," they said. "I just need to seek something else that is going to be not necessarily stable, because no job is really stable, but at least isn't going to treat me like dirt." Have a tip? Contact these reporters via email at jkaplan@businessinsider.com, aaltchek@insider.com, asheffey@businessinsider.com, nsheidlower@businessinsider.com, atecotzky@insider.com, and bgriffiths@insider.com. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider Firefighters said wind coming off the water from a pond next to the home caused the fire to quickly spread, making it challenging for the flames to be put out. (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire in South Sacramento on Thursday afternoon leaving two people injured. Video above: What happens when you call 9-1-1? According to Sac Fire, the incident happened on the 6600 block of Carnation Avenue at around 3:50 p.m. One person was transported to a local hospital to be treated for their wounds, said fire officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that the location of the fire was in the garage with an extension into the house. Kaiser Permanente breaks ground on new medical center in Sacramentos Railyards At this time, crews are unknown as to what caused the garage to explode. FOX40 will update this article as we receive more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) Its been a big dilemma for victims of the recent wildfires that devastated parts of Oklahoma. Several families have told News 4 that their fireproof safe boxes burned, and the blaze destroyed all that was inside. We first introduced you to the Davenports on Wednesday, the couple was pulled from their burning Norman home by firefighters last week. Suspect sought by police after spray-painting Nazi on Tulsa womans Tesla Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their fireproof safe that had birth certificates, passports, and college degrees was destroyed in the wildfires. It truly looked and felt indestructible, said Jason Davenport. Davenports fire safe. Image courtesy, the Davenports. The fireproof safe was made out of ceramic material that was said to withstand heat, specifically in fire situations, however, that was not the case. They bought the safe years ago, and saw it in the pile of rubber and ash, hoping their documents inside would be salvageable. When they went to grab the safe, it crumbled and everything inside vanished. Remnants of the box. Image courtesy, the Davenports. Captain John Chenoweth with the Oklahoma City Fire Department said all safes arent fireproof, but some can be fire resistant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday, it was extreme conditions. Houses burned down, completely down. So like I said, it was extreme conditions, thats why they didnt stay held up, said Capt. Chenoweth. Capt. Chenoweth also said fire safes have a rating system. You can see on the box, youll see it can be resistant for up to 30 minutes or can be resistant up to an hour, he said. The Davenports home is a total loss, but their storm shelter was left in perfect condition. Jason says that he wished he wouldve stored the box inside of it. Make multiple copies, say like birth certificates, your taxes, anything like deeds, or a mortgage, said Capt. Chenoweth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jason said the family wants to move forward and start rebuilding, but with no insurance paperwork, theres a long road ahead. An insurance representative from Brown OHaver said they advise their clients to store important documents in clear tote bags so its easy to grab and go in the event of a natural disaster. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. During a nearly two-hour-long hearing at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. , on Friday, Judge Ana Reyes expressed frustration with the Trump administrations efforts to dissolve a block on its transgender military ban, calling into question the governments failure to provide clear answers or evidence supporting its motion. She later reinstated a stay she had previously put in place to allow for time to complete the court record. The hearing came after the administration filed an emergency request Friday to dissolve the preliminary injunction blocking the ban, set to take effect at 10 a.m. that day. The Department of Defense issued new guidance on Friday morning, with Justice Department lawyers arguing that it nullifies the need for the courts preliminary injunction in the challenge to Executive Order 14183. The guidance claimed to clarify that the policy targets those with clinically diagnosed gender dysphoria, not all transgender people, but the distinction is largely irrelevant. Most transgender people experience gender dysphoria until they receive gender-affirming care, which alleviates the distress caused by the condition. Lin argued the government wasn't banning "trans people per se." Youre still excluding people who identify as transgender by focusing on those with gender dysphoria, Reyes said. The policys impact is the same. This is still a ban on transgender service members . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge sounded frustrated throughout the hearing as Department of Justice special litigation counsel Jean Lin struggled to provide direct answers. At one point, Reyes asked Lin to identify who had been involved in the policy decision-making process. Lins response was vague, prompting Reyes to press for clarity. You cant even tell me who made this decision? she asked. I want to know who was part of this. Lin couldnt say whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had even seen the policy. Reyes called out the DOJ for insisting that the Pentagon ban wasnt about transgender people when Hegseth explicitly indicated on X (formerly Twitter) that it was. Justice Department lawyers had argued that he was just using "shorthand." She also accused the Justice Department of attempting to gaslight her. I am not going to abide by government officials saying one thing to the public what they really mean to the public and coming in here to the court and telling me something different, like Im an idiot, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reyes grew exasperated with the governments inability to provide evidence for its assertions. When Lin claimed the Department of Defense had considered the impact of gender dysphoria on military readiness, Reyes pointed out that the DoD had no data on how many service members were affected. Right now you dont know how many gender people with gender dysphoria are in the military, right? Reyes asked. Lin admitted that nobody knows. Despite the governments inability to provide supporting data, Lin insisted that the policy was necessary to address concerns about unit cohesion and military readiness. Reyes, however, pointed out the contradiction in the governments position. You dont have any evidence that people with gender dysphoria are inherently unfit to serve, right? she said. You have not been able to point to me any other medical classification that the military uses that impacts one class of people, right? At one point, Reyes demanded that any transgender service members on administrative leave be returned to regular duty immediately. Im not extending the stay, she declared. The governments efforts to move forward with the March 26 deadline for voluntary separations and March 28 for involuntary separations also came under scrutiny. Reyes asked if the Trump administration lawyer if the government would agree to extend those dates to allow for a resolution to be reached, but Lin responded that such an extension was unlikely. Reyes grew frustrated, questioning why the government could not delay the deadlines. "Why is that highly unlikely right now its extended? she asked. Why is it a burden on you all to extend it a few more days?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing ended with Reyes ordering the lawyers to come up with a solution and timeline. You all defendants are the ones putting a time pressure on the D.C. circuit. Not me and not Ms. Levi, Reyes said, emphasizing that she wanted to avoid creating a rushed situation for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs legal team, including Jennifer Levi from GLAD Law, expressed a willingness to work toward a fair resolution, stressing the importance of an orderly process. We are open to working out a reasonable solution that minimizes the burden on the court and the appeals process, Levi said. Reyes gave the parties until 3 p.m. Friday to finalize the next steps, promising a written ruling to follow. Ultimately, Reyes issued a minute order reinstating the stay on the injunction. She ordered the Justice Department to file any guidance concerning the March 26 separation date by 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday to the public docket. Reyes also gave plaintiffs until 10 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday to file their opposition to the governments motion. She specified that if any transgender service member is negatively affected before the stay is lifted, that individual could file a temporary restraining order, which she would consider expeditiously. Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting. BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A statue of Harriet Tubman was unveiled today behind the Binghamton University Downtown Center, completing a public trail dedicated to our areas Black history. The bronze sculpture of the famous abolitionist and activist is positioned near the Chenango River Walk. Its the final piece of an ambitious Freedom Trail that includes 13 markers related to the Underground Railroad and struggle for civil rights placed throughout downtown Binghamton. The Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity at BU spearheaded the project with a $400,000 grant from New York State and $100,000 from the City of Binghamton. Tubman was known for being a conductor on the Underground Railroad, which helped escaped slaves from the South flee to Canada, as well as an army nurse and woman to lead a US combat regiment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUNY Chancellor John King says Tubman was a trailblazer who still inspires today. Without her belief that the words of the Declaration of Independence must mean what they say, there would be no Bud Fowler, there would be no Martin Luther King, Junior, and you and I may not be here today, said King. The statue, which was designed by New York City figurative sculptor Zoe Dufour. The Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers of Ithaca performed for the large crowd prior to the unveiling. On Monday at 5 p.m., the Tubman Center and the BU Art Museum are co-sponsoring a talk and reception with Dufour in the museums main gallery on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Boeing has been selected to build the US Air Force's sixth-gen fighter aircraft. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter is expected to succeed the F-22 Raptor as the top air dominance fighter. President Trump said on Friday that the new aircraft will be known as the F-47. The way forward for the US Air Force's mysterious sixth-generation fighter aircraft is clearer. The president revealed that it has a name, and Boeing Co. will build the new jet. President Donald Trump announced at the White House on Friday that Boeing, a US aerospace giant, is being awarded a lucrative contract to build the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, which is set to succeed the stealth F-22 Raptor, the world's first fifth-generation fighter jet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who was flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said the new aircraft will be known as the F-47, and hailed it as the most advanced, capable, and lethal aircraft "ever built." "Nothing in the world comes even close to it," the president said in the Oval Office. The NGAD is expected to succeed the Lockheed Martin-manufactured F-22, which entered service two decades ago, as the Air Force's top air superiority fighter and will be built to operate alongside drones. The program is considered a "family of systems" and is expected to work with uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) that function as semiautonomous "loyal wingmen" for the new aircraft. The first official rendering of the NGAD fighter. US Air Force graphic The latest movement in the development of the NGAD fighter comes as the US military looks across the Pacific at China, which the Pentagon has identified as its "pacing challenge." Beijing's long-range air defenses and electronic warfare capabilities have advanced dramatically since the F-22 ended production. China's military has also fielded capable fifth-generation fighters and flown what seem to be sixth-gen fighter prototypes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These developments by a top US military rival make the coming NGAD fighter, which top Air Force officials have said needs to be able to achieve air superiority and penetrate contested combat environments, critical. The new fighter aircraft's exact design is unclear, but it will presumably include advanced stealth technology and other high-end sensors beyond the top capabilities of current fifth-gen aircraft. Boeing's share price jumped while Lockheed's dropped as the NGAD news dropped on Friday. Trump said an experimental version of the aircraft has secretly been flying for almost five years. He said the plane will have unprecedented speed, maneuverability, and payload capacity, as well as low observability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that the new fighter aircraft will be equipped with "state-of-the-art stealth technologies," making it "virtually unseeable." The NGAD will replace the F-22 Raptor, pictured above. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob M. Thompson Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin called the F-47 the "crown jewel" in the NGAD family of systems. "This is allowing us to look into the future and unlock the magic that is human-machine teaming, and as we do that, we are going to write the next generation of modern aerial warfare," Allvin said in the Oval Office. The Air Force paused the NGAD program last year to review its goals and requirements in depth. Service leaders under the Biden administration then decided to delegate decision-making to the incoming Trump officials. The president was recently briefed on the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its 2025 budget proposal, the Air Force set almost $20 billion for the NGAD program. Boeing and Lockheed previously competed for the US military's Joint Strike Fighter program, with Lockheed's X-35 edging out Boeing's X-32 for the contract. The fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is in service with American and allied forces. Read the original article on Business Insider A notice board on the closure of Heathrow Airport is seen at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, March 21, 2025. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) LONDON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Counter-terror officers from the Metropolitan Police are leading the investigation into a major fire that has closed London Heathrow Airport, a spokesperson said on Friday. London Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation. A Met spokesperson said its Counter Terrorism Command was leading the investigation due to "the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure." There was "currently no indication of foul play," but the spokesperson added that officers were retaining an "open mind at this time" regarding the cause of the blaze. Flights have been canceled, people evacuated from their homes, and local schools shut after two explosions and a fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, on Thursday night. The outage has affected the entire airport, with no clear timeline for power restoration. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 GMT on March 21," the airport spokesperson added. National Grid posted on social media X that it had restored power to 62,000 customers by 0600 GMT, but some 4,900 homes remained without power. The power is expected to be back on "in hours", but it was too soon to say exactly when this would be, according to the BBC. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice. Over 1,300 flights are affected on Friday, according to Flightradar24, a live flight-tracking website. Some planes have been diverted to other airports, including London Gatwick Airport, those in Paris, and Shannon Airport in Ireland. British Airways, Heathrow's largest carrier, urged customers not to go to the airport until further notice and said it is working to update them on travel options. The airport, which handled a record 83.9 million passengers last year, said its back-up diesel generators had "all operated as expected... but they are not designed to allow us to run a full operation". Ofgem, Britain's energy regulator, announced it would commission a review "to understand the cause of this incident and what lessons can be learned." A notice board on the closure of Heathrow Airport is seen at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, March 21, 2025. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows the walkway to Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) A staff member tries to help passengers at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, March 21, 2025. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows the walkway to Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows an electricity substation which suffered a fire near the Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. The outage has affected the entire airport, with no clear timeline for power restoration. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 GMT on March 21," the spokesperson added. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) Firefighters work outside an electricity substation which suffered a fire near the Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, March 21, 2025. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. The outage has affected the entire airport, with no clear timeline for power restoration. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 GMT on March 21," the spokesperson added. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows an electricity substation which suffered a fire near the Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. The outage has affected the entire airport, with no clear timeline for power restoration. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 GMT on March 21," the spokesperson added. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows an electricity substation which suffered a fire near the Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. The outage has affected the entire airport, with no clear timeline for power restoration. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 GMT on March 21," the spokesperson added. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows an electricity substation which suffered a fire near the Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. The outage has affected the entire airport, with no clear timeline for power restoration. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 GMT on March 21," the spokesperson added. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows an electricity substation which suffered a fire near the Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. London's Heathrow Airport remains closed until midnight Friday due to a "significant power outage" caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, a spokesperson said. The outage has affected the entire airport, with no clear timeline for power restoration. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 GMT on March 21," the spokesperson added. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida Circle K manager was arrested Wednesday after deputies said she took nearly $36,000 worth of lottery books and cashed out a winning scratch-off ticket worth $1,000. According to a complaint filed by the Florida Department of Lottery, Candace Dingman took 30 lottery books from a Circle K she managed in Fruitland Park between February and August 2023. Circle Ks corporate office notified the lottery department about a charge of nearly $36,000, which included 30 missing books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you earning enough to live comfortably in Tampa Bay? Heres what it takes According to the complaint, Dingman went to a lottery office in Altamonte Springs and claimed a $1,000 winning prize three days after the books were missing. The criminal complaint shows that Dingman admitted to removing the books, resulting in an arrest warrant. Seminole County deputies said Dingman was arrested for the active warrant at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on Wednesday. She was charged with filing a false lottery claim. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Florida lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to support a bill to add life sentences for any person convicted of killing a law enforcement officer. Legislation that would mandate life sentences for any person convicted of killing a law enforcement officer passed another step in Tallahassee. Committees in both the Florida House and Senate overwhelmingly voted for that measure on Thursday. It would add the manslaughter of a police officer to a list of crimes for which life in prison without the possibility of parole is the mandatory minimum. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Gov. Ron DeSantis discusses education initiatives, some controversial. Jan. 23, 2023. (Via DeSantis Facebook) Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar called President Donald Trumps move toward eliminating the U.S. Department of Education political games. To Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, it is unconstitutional. Thursday, Trump signed an executive order directing the departments secretary, Linda McMahon, to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the department. Gov. Ron DeSantis joined Trump at the White House for the signing of the order. Our Constitution has a duty to provide a world-class, free public education to every child in our state, regardless of race or place, Spar said in a news release. If education is that important to us and the politicians in our state, why would we dilute the source with which we can ensure a high-quality public education? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order, denounced by FEA and the Florida Democratic Party, is unlikely to lead to the department shutting down. Only Congress has the authority to do that which is unlikely because 60 votes would be needed to pass the Senate. Along with DeSantis at the White House were governors of other states with expanded school choice programs: Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas. After DeSantis joined Trump at the White House, he appeared on Fox News, where he called on Congress to shut down the department altogether. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I think what President Trump can do, is I think he can from the inside neuter the organization. But it will not be wiped off the statute books by an executive order, that has got to come from the Congress, DeSantis on The Ingraham Angle, adding praise to Trump for making a move that GOP politicians have long campaigned on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis advocated for leaving education policy up to the states, repeatedly referring to the federal department as a bureaucracy. It doesnt surprise me that Ron made the trip to D.C. to spend the day as an Oval Office lapdog, Fried said in a news release. Floridians deserve better than a series of victory laps and photo ops as he ends his lame duck political career. Ron needs to stop grandstanding and get back to Florida. DeSantis appeared Friday at the Advancing American Conservatism summit hosted by the National Review Institute. There, he reiterated that whatever the president can do, hes going to do, yet acknowledged that Congress would have to act. Some of Floridas GOP congressional delegation applauded the move, with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott saying the executive order is a promise kept by Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the federal Department of Education has grown, student performance has consistently declined, Scott posted to X. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a candidate for governor, criticized the department, saying on X it FAILED. They prioritized bureaucracy over the success of our kids. U.S. Rep. Greg Steube called it a great first step, calling on Congress to act, and Rep. Daniel Webster said on X that the executive order will cut waste, expand school choice, and put the education of Americas children first. Whats the impact? The department manages federal funding for students with disabilities, researches education trends, including the Nations Report Card, and manages student loans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This executive order is unconstitutional and orders his unqualified super-donor secretary to eliminate the department, but it wont give states more power, Fried said. Instead, it takes us back to a segregation-era education policy and rips away safety nets for millions of vulnerable students. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, indicated her organization would take legal action against the order, States Newsroom reported. According to a report compiled by the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee Democrats, Florida receives $2.2 billion in Pell Grants for more than 450,000 students and nearly $860 billion in annual funding flows through the department to Florida students with disabilities, plus $134 million annually for career and technical education development. The Trump administration said the executive order would not affect student loans, Pell grants, Title I program funding for low-income families, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, CBS reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need a federal agency to ensure that students who are supported with Individualized Education Programs, students experiencing homelessness, students living in rural areas, adults needing access to higher education opportunities, and so many more can continue to succeed, Spar said in a news release. As someone with dyslexia and who had an IEP that helped me succeed in school and in life, I worry greatly about so many of our students, including my own daughters. Phoenix reporter Jackie Llanos contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Edward James was executed by lethal injection at the Florida State Prison on May 20, 2025. (Photo via Florida Department of Corrections) The state of Florida carried out the execution of Edward James by lethal injection on Thursday night for the 1993 murders of a Seminole County woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter. It took place at 8:15 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Supreme Court denied final appeals for James to avoid execution earlier on Thursday. James, 63, pled guilty on two counts of first-degree murder in 1995 for the murders of Toni Neuner and her grandmother, 58-year-old Betty Dick, in Castleberry in 1993. He was sentenced to death in August 1995. Brenda Teed, Betty Dicks daughter, told WESH-TV after James had been put to death that the case was something her family had been dealing with for 31 years. It has hit us in places that you cant imagine. James is the second inmate in Florida to be executed this year, and the 10th inmate in the United States, according to USA Today. On March 10, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant for Michael Tanzi to take place on April 8. Tanzi was sentenced to death in 2003 for the 2000 death of Janet Acosta. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE March 21 (UPI) -- The State of Florida on Thursday executed a death row inmate convicted of raping and killing an 8-year-old girl and then killing her grandmother while heavily intoxicated in 1993. Edward James, 63, was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m. EST, Paul Walker, deputy communications officer with the Florida Department of Corrections, said in a press conference that followed. "The execution tonight took place without incident," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The method of execution was not mentioned, though the Death Penalty Information Center states that Florida's method of execution is lethal injection. He was convicted of raping and killing 8-year-old Toni Neuner, and murdering her grandmother, Betty Dick, 58, on the night of Sept. 19, 1993. James pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and a slew of other charges in April 1995 and was sentenced to death in August that same year. The Supreme Court early Thursday rejected his final appeals, paving the way for his sentence to be carried out. Outside the Florida State Prison in Raiford, located 45 miles west of Jacksonville, a small group of anti-death penalty advocates protested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the press conference, Jere Pearson Jr., one of Neuner's older brothers, addressed those who opposed James' execution, asking them not to judge his family. "Our lives were extremely altered by the choices he made that day," he said. "We lost generations because of his actions." According to court documents, James was heavily intoxicated on alcohol and drugs the night he committed the murders. He was a family friend of his victims and was renting a room in Dick's house. The night of the crime, he was at a party a few houses down the street and had consumed upwards of 24 cans of beer, some gin and about 10 hits of LSD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents state that when he returned home, Dick's four grandchildren, including Neuner, were asleep in the living room. After eating a sandwich in the kitchen, James returned to the living room where he grabbed and strangled Neuner. Believing she was dead, James raped the girl and then threw her body behind his bed, the court documents state. He then went to Dick's bedroom and hit her over the head with a pewter candlestick while she slept. As he stabbed the woman, one of her grandchildren entered the room, whom he tied up and locked in a bathroom. Following the crime, he showered, stole Dick's purse and jewelry and drove across the country, stopping to sell his stolen wares along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested on Oct. 6, 1993, in Bakersfield, Calif. "Tonight was the night Eddie James paid for the crimes he committed 31 years ago against our grandmother, sister and niece," Pearson said, urging the public to pray for them and for James' family. "Nobody wishes to be in these shoes; however, because of him and his crimes, this is the reason we are all here tonight. May we all find some kind of peace in the process." James' execution was the fourth this week in the United States and 10th this year. Earlier Thursday, Oklahoma executed Wendell Grissom. It also marked the second execution by Florida in 2025. The State of Florida killed James Ford, 64, on Feb. 14, for killing a couple in front of their 22-year-old daughter in 1997. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) For years, lawmakers have tried to overturn a Florida law banning individuals under 21 from buying guns. Now a Republican-led bill advancing through the statehouse could lower the age required to buy firearms statewide. If the measure passes, Floridians 18 and older would be able to purchase a long gun, like rifles. House Bill 759 cleared its committee stops in the House and is all set to be debated on the floor. But in order for it to arrive at the Governors desk, there needs to be movement over in the Senate, and its unclear if that will happen this legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to have a policy discussion when theres so much emotion in the room, and I think thats what happened years ago when the original bill was passed, said State Representative Michelle Salzman, (R-Escambia County). Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in 2018, then Governor Rick Scott signed a package of gun safety measures, including the provision raising the gun-buying age from 18 to 21. That hasnt stopped lawmakers from trying year after year to roll back restrictions on the gun-buying age. In a matter of minutes, a 19-year-old walked into my high school and killed 17 and injured 17 more, a matter of minutes, said State Representative Dan Daley, (D-Coral Springs). The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Salzman said while she respects the criticism following this issue, she still feels strongly about moving forward with these efforts. This is real raw emotion, these are things that they could probably close their eyes and just see everything replay, even now many years later, said Rep. Salzman. As I said in committee, we are legislators, and we really need to remove the emotion from the process and make true logical choices that are best for the constituency and for Floridians. Salzman notes that getting this bill passed has been a House priority for years now and was honored to carry the bill this session. She touts the relationship she has with lawmakers across the aisle, as well as the empathy she has for the concerns that surround the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive had serval events in my own community where we have people in Pensacola who are living at home with young children, 18- and 19-year-old single moms who have not had the opportunity to have that and they have expressed to me that they would like to purchase a firearm for the protection of their home, Rep. Salzman said. Salzman adds that in response to the Parkland shooting, she supports a great deal of the bill package that was passed in 2018, but has one problem, the age restrictions to purchase a firearm. In opposition to the bill, Broward County School Board Chair, Debbie Hixon, shared her connection to the Parkland shooting. To me, this feels like salt being poured into an opened wound, families very early into grief and shock of what happened, came up here to Tallahassee and asked you to do something and you did it, you did it as a bi-partisan body, that believed in the things that were in this bill, and you know what, it made out communities safer, said Hixon. And now you want to repeal things, and to me, that makes me feel like you have forgotten who my husband and the other 16 victims were, Hixon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the public testimony, the bill still passed, 16 YAYS-6 NAS. WHY IS THERE NO TRACTION IN THE SENATE? State Senator Randy Fine, (R-Brevard County), filed similar legislation and said he believes citizens 2nd Amendment rights start when you are an adult. I think that the critics, while I understand where they are coming from, but I think they have to ask themselves, if they dont believe 18-year-olds should be adults then they should be willing to put that forward as policy, said Sen. Fine. They should say at 18 you cant own a gun, you shouldnt vote, you shouldnt be in the military, youre either an adult or youre not. When asked about this specific bill, State Senate President Ben Albritton continues to be hesitant to give a firm answer on gun legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not easy, its not easy. Im an NRA lifetime member. Nearly every day I carry at least one weapon; I have a concealed carry permit. The legislature passed permitless concealed carry, constitutional carry. That shows this legislature takes a second amendment seriously, said President Albritton. Representative Salzman said she will continue to re-file this bill if it does not make it through the 2025 legislative session, but she remains hopeful it will start moving in the Senate. I think youre going to see the House file this bill every year until it gets passed, said Salzman. Getting it done would be great, so we dont keep putting these families through this, coming up here and having these conversations and having to relive those nightmares. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. With massive growth in school voucher programs, the Florida Senate on Friday released a plan that, in part, would seek to address funding concerns as students move between schools. The Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the bill (SPB 7030), which would make changes affecting public schools and voucher programs. Over the last few years, we have learned that for the money to truly follow the student, we need better ways to track where students are at key points throughout the school year, Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who will take a lead on the legislation, said in a prepared statement Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also need to ensure money appropriately follows the student to the familys provider of choice, including when they move back and forth between providers. With input from stakeholders across the spectrum of school choice, this bill creates reasonable timeframes and mechanisms to improve both transparency and efficiency in education funding. The bill, among other things, would create what is known as a categorical budget fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, a major voucher program. Categorical funds are earmarked for specific programs. Also, the bill would use an educational enrollment stabilization program to provide supplemental money to address enrollment changes during the course of the academic year in public schools and voucher programs. In the new environment of universal choice, where the money follows the student, we know everyone is working diligently to ensure students have access to the educational settings their parents choose, Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Chairman Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said. However, as our choice programs expand, mid-year transitions have proven difficult to keep track of. Additionally, parents with students in the personalized education program and unique abilities program (voucher programs) have been frustrated by the reimbursement process, which can be quite time consuming and at times inefficient. This legislation is about lessons learned over the last few years. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on Thursday announced steps to open up more acreage for oil and gas leasing in Alaska. Restrictions will also be lifted on building an LNG pipeline and mining road to carry out President Donald Trump's executive order to remove barriers to energy development in the state. Burgum said the agency plans to reopen the 82 percent of Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve that is available for leasing for development and the 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas leasing. "It's time for the U.S. to embrace Alaska's abundant and largely untapped resources as a pathway to prosperity for the nation, including Alaskans," said Burgum. Republicans and Democrats have battled for decades over the development of Alaska, which has massive fossil fuel resources and holds unparalleled expanses of untouched natural habitats. Trump made "Drill, Baby Drill" a slogan of his candidacy and presidency, arguing that ramping up oil and gas production is needed to face what he calls a "national energy emergency." ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) A woman has been charged after a dog was found dead in a restroom at Orlando International Airport, according to local reports. Alison Lawrence, the dogs owner, was arrested Tuesday on animal cruelty charges, according to outlets including WESH and WFTV. More Local News The Orlando Police Department said officers were dispatched to Orlando International on Dec. 16, 2024, after receiving reports from airport staff who had found the dog in a womens restroom. A spokesperson from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) told WESH that Lawrence is believed to have drowned her dog in a toilet before going through security checkpoints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said she was trying to board a flight but didnt have the proper paperwork to allow the dog on the plane, and couldnt take her pet with her. Florida deputy jumps 6-foot fence to save dog from burning home An airport employee also told police she had seen a woman cleaning up water and dog food in one of the stalls, WESH reported. The woman was later identified as Lawrence. The dead dog later found in the restrooms trash was wearing tags displaying Lawrences name and contact information, according to police. Lawrence is charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. Police said she has since posted a $5,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. A Florissant, Missouri man is accused of striking an officer with the Brooklyn Police Department during a police chase the weekend. According to a charging statement from the Madison County States Attorneys Office, the pursuit happened on Sunday, March 16, when a Brooklyn police officer attempted to make a traffic stop on Kendall Brown, 27. Prosecutors said Brown sped off with police in pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family of Riley Strain files wrongful death lawsuit against Delta Chi fraternity A Brooklyn officer attempted to deploy a spike strip on Illinois Route 3 near Venice. Brown allegedly swerved toward the officer, striking the officers leg and hand, and running over his foot. Prosecutors said the officers thumb nearly severed. The pursuit continued across the McKinley Bridge. Authorities said Brown crashed at Goodfellow Boulevard and Lillian Avenue in north St. Louis and was taken into custody. Prosecutors charged Brown with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The injured officer was released from the hospital on Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. FLOYD COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) The Floyd County Volunteer Fire Department and the Floyd County Fire Department responded to a brush fire on Wednesday. On March 19 around 5 p.m., units were dispatched near the Montgomery County line to a brush fire on Shooting Creek Road near the Parkway. Photo Credit: Floyd County Volunteer Fire Department Photo Credit: Floyd County Volunteer Fire Department Photo Credit: Floyd County Volunteer Fire Department Upon arrival, crews found a wind-driven fire and were able to control the flames after two and a half hours on the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire departments urge residents to refrain from burning until conditions improve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Two women running for a Windber-area district judge seat have filed petitions in court each seeking to have the other removed from the ballot. In the initial filing, three Windber-area residents signed affidavits alleging their names and signatures were forged without their knowledge on nomination documents filed by candidate Amy Thomas. A Hollidaysburg attorney filed the civil motion to set aside Thomas petitions, seeking to have her disqualified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amy Thomas, the wife of convicted former Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas, responded in court Tuesday, filing a nearly identical motion to set aside election petitions filed by fellow candidate Kayla Kormanik- Lucas, of Ogle Township. A Somerset County judge will hold hearings on both challenges Thursday. Thomas, of Paint Township, is a licensed attorney making her first run for the seat being vacated by outgoing District Judge William Seger. Thomas briefly faced charges in 2022. She was accused of perjury and witness intimidation for allegedly driving to the home of a woman who said she witnessed Jeffrey Thomas assaulting her while talking to Thomas on the video app FaceTime but the case was resolved with charges expunged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kormanik-Lucas is a Widener Law School graduate, her campaign site shows. She has served as a law clerk in the region and now works as a contract administrator for a local defense contractor, her filings show. Both women have cross-filed to appear on the Republican and Democratic primary ballots for a seat that handles cases in the Windber area and Shade-Central City communities. The territory is officially called District 16-3-02. To qualify for the ballot, a candidate must collect at least 100 signatures from registered members of the party whose nomination they are seeking, and each of those signers must have addresses within the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means for the district judge ballot, the campaigns for candidates who cross-file must obtain 100 signatures from Democrats and, separately, Republicans. Forgery allegations One civil petition to set aside challenges Thomas petition to appear on the GOP ballot, alleging 44 of her 129 signatures should be stricken by the court as invalid, on the argument those signatures were filed by people who either arent registered Republican voters, arent registered to vote at all or dont have an address within the magisterial district. The other petition filed against Thomas makes nearly identical allegations about her Democratic petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In both cases, forgery is alleged. A Somerset County man signed an affidavit, saying his purported signature, name and address appeared on Thomas Republican petition but that he did not sign the document or give anyone else approval to do so. It appears that many of the addresses of signatories were filled in by a person with the exact same handwriting, in violation of several portions of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code but more pertinent here in violation of (state law governing election law), Hollidaysburg attorney Daniel Kiss wrote. The document shows Kiss filed the document on behalf of Leah Petrunak, a registered Somerset County Republican who objected to Thomas petition. A registered Democrat, Karen Vilga, filed the objection related to Thomas petition to run on the Democratic ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By law, a registered voter in the district can only sign one candidates nomination petition and there are instances where the same persons names appear on both candidates petitions, including two Sugar Maple Drive neighbors of Thomas, one of whom who signed a notarized affidavit March 16 stating she did not place her name, address or signature on Thomas election forms. At no point did I agree to sign her nomination petitions nor did I meet with her or anyone on her behalf to do so, Debra M. Flori wrote. Thomas responds Thomas responded with petitions in Somerset County asking a judge to set aside Kormanik- Lucas election forms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes petitions that would put the Ogle Township woman on the Republican and Democrat ballots. Thomas alleges multiple irregularities and concerns were identified regarding the validity of several signatures, prompting this petition. Among them, Thomas alleges signatures representing different names on the petitions were signed by the same hand or that information such as addresses were filled in by someone else not matching the signature on the form. In other cases, Thomas wrote that a number of signers werent registered to vote or are registered for a different party on Kormanik-Lucas petitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an attorney, Thomas filed the allegations, representing herself. Her civil filings do not contain signed affidavits by any voters alleging their name was forged, but she alleges the act of forgery occurred numerous times on the document. On Kormanick-Lucas Democratic petition, Thomas is asking a judge to remove 84 signatures, which would reduce it to 44 signatures. Both petitions, if granted, would put the candidates below the threshold to serve as nominees for the seat. Criminal investigation? As a 2021 incident in Cambria County shows, forged nomination petitions can carry criminal consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A St. Michael man, James Moss, was charged with misdemeanor forgery allegations after an investigation indicated he forged a number of signatures in petitions for his brother, Kirk Moss, a year earlier. Kirk Moss was running for county sheriff at the time. Unlike the current Somerset County dispute, concerns apparently didnt arise about James Moss forging signatures until after the deadline to challenge nomination petitions. And Kirk Moss already lost the race in the spring primary by the time charges were filed against his brother. Police alleged James Moss signed the petition that contained the forged signatures, making him legally responsible. It was not immediately clear Wednesday how Moss case was resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar, when asked about the Somerset County- based forgery allegations Tuesday, spoke generally about the topic. She said if there are indications criminal activity occurred, those allegations would be referred to the appropriate local law enforcement agencies to investigate. Rare challengePetition challenges arent uncommon during candidate races sometimes challenging whether the minimum required number of registered voters signed documents or that a candidate completed all steps to file for office but area election officials said allegations of forgery are rare. Somerset County Election Director Tina Pritts said she could not recall a challenge regarding allegations of forged signatures in her 25 years as director let alone two in one week. The county Election Office is tasked with receiving and collecting petitions for races within the county. While anyone circulating a petition is required to sign statements verifying their submissions are accurate to the best of their knowledge, its not the role of an Election Office staff to examine each and every signature and determine if its illegitimate, Pritts said. Blair County Election Director Sarah Seymour agreed. Blair County has had petition challenges in recent years too although none involving forgery allegations and she said its up qualified objectors or a fellow candidate within an election district to determine whether a candidates petition has issues that warrant a challenge, said Seymour, a veteran Election Office administrator. We have hundreds of petitions each election with thousands of names, Seymour said. A staff of four people (with other daily duties) could never handle that. Pritts said itll be up to a Somerset County judge to determine whether or not signatures could be stricken from petitions. Somerset County Judge Dan Rullo scheduled a 11 a.m. proceeding Thursday to listen to each of the petition challenges, court documents show. OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) A former Box Elder County judge made his initial appearance in Second District Court on Thursday for charges related to child sex crimes. In a packed Ogden courtroom, Kevin Christensen listened to charges read from Judge John Bean during his initial appearance. Christensen faces at least eight charges of child sex crimes, including enticing a minor and aggravated sexual Exploitation of a minor. Hearing the judge read his charges kind of made my skin crawl, said one court observer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Child exploitation case against former fire chief transferred to FBI over conflict of interest Christensens hearing lasted less than five minutes, where he was followed by former Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen, who is also facing similar charges. Court documents alleged that Hansen and Christensen engaged in a sexual relationship with one another, where they also shared child sex abuse material. Documents also allege that Hansen and Christensen had graphic conversations with each other about what they wanted to do with minors. The story has rocked northern Utah as both of the accused held positions of trust in the community. Clayton Sims, a Utah criminal defense attorney, told ABC4.com that this could enhance penalties if they are found guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What makes this case unique is that you have somebody who is in a position of trust, Sims began. A judge and a fire chief, who we know have background checks, who we know have no criminal past and theyre held to a higher standard. Christensen will be back in court on April 24 to decide whether or not to proceed with a preliminary hearing. Hansen was denied bail and will be back in court on May 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rapper Eminem said "significant damage was caused" and his team is "appreciative" after his former longtime employee was charged with leaking his unreleased music online. Joseph Strange, a 46-year-old from Holly, Michigan, was charged with criminal infringement of copyright and interstate transportation of stolen goods after allegedly leaking the rappers unreleased songs, Michigan prosecutors announced Wednesday. The criminal complaint said that to date, over 25 songs have been played or distributed on the internet without Eminems or his labels consent. According to the criminal complaint, the songs were originally created by Eminem between 1999 and 2018 and were in various stages of development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strange worked for Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, from 2007 to 2021, when he was let go. "Eminem and his team are very appreciative of the efforts by the FBI Detroit bureau for its thorough investigation which led to the charges against Joe Strange," Eminems spokesperson, Dennis Dennehy, said in a statement. "The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminems artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, let alone the enormous financial losses incurred by the many creators and collaborators that deserve protection for their decades of work. We will continue to take any and all steps necessary to protect Eminems art and will stop at nothing to do so," he added. Eminems reps and Wade Fink, an attorney for Strange, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors say that on Jan. 16, the FBI was contacted by employees of Eminems music studio in Ferndale, Michigan, after they discovered that unreleased, still-under-development music was available on the Internet. The complaint says the employees received and recognized an image of the list of unreleased music taken from a hard drive in the Ferndale studio and being sold online. The FBI was able to identify and locate several people who had bought the unreleased tunes, who then identified Strange as the seller. According to the criminal complaint, Strange was one of just four employees who had access to the studio's hard drives containing Eminem's music. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI searched Stranges residence and found hard drives containing copies of the unreleased music and found financial records showing payment to Strange for the music, prosecutors say. Investigators also found handwritten notes and lyric sheets created by Eminem. The FBI interviewed a man from Canada who bought the unreleased music. He said he paid $8,500 for four songs via Bitcoin and had raised the money with the help of a group of Eminem fans online, the complaint says. Overall, the man believed he sent $50,000 worth of Bitcoin payments to Strange over a six-month period and purchased 25 songs in total. "Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution by individuals who seek to profit from the creative output of others," Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Julie Beck, said in a statement. Fink told The Associated Press that Strange is a married father of two and called the charges against his client untested allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will handle the matter in a courtroom and we have great faith in the judges of our district, he said. If convicted of criminal infringement of a copyright, Strange faces a maximum of five years in prison and an up to $250,000 fine. Meanwhile, the interstate transportation of stolen goods charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and executives from Doral Renewables LLC break ground on the Mammoth Solar project in Northwest Indiana in October 2021. (Photo courtesy Holcomb's Flickr) Former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcombs first role since leaving state office will be as board director for a Philadelphia-based renewable energy developer. Doral Renewables LLC announced Holcombs board appointment on Thursday, less than three months after the two-term Republican governors tenure came to end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After eight years in office, Holcomb passed the baton to Gov. Mike Braun in January. I couldnt be more excited to join the relationship-centric team at Doral Renewables, Holcomb said in a written statement. Dorals world-class vision and mission are both critically important to meet the communities needs and provide them with economic opportunities and increased energy demand we are going to experience in the upcoming years. I look forward to strategically assisting Doral as the months and years unfold. Holcomb, 56, had previously resisted speculation on where he might go or what he would do after completing his role in state government. He and his wife, Janet, have since moved from the governors residence to a home just northwest of Indianapolis. Doral Renewables describes itself as an an independent power producer specializing in greenfield development meaning new construction projects on undeveloped land of utility-scale renewable energy projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The companys 14-gigawatt portfolio includes the 1.3-gigawatt Mammoth Solar complex in Indiana and the 1.2-gigawatt Vista Sands Solar project in Wisconsin. The Indiana project which spans 13,000 acres across Starke and Pulaski counties is expected to power roughly a quarter-million households once complete, according to company officials. Holcomb cited the project in his 2022 State of the State address, calling it an incredible investment and confidence in the state of Indiana and its people, and emphasized the significant economic and environmental benefits coming to Northwest Indiana, as a result. Holcomb, along with leaders of Indianas Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), held multiple meetings and public engagements with project executives from Doral Renewables in both Indiana and Israel. The U.S.-based developer has roots in Israel and is backed by both Israeli and U.S. investors. Governor Holcomb brings decades of exceptional experience in policymaking and economic development. His vision and leadership have resulted in record-breaking investments in Indiana, said Nick Cohen, president and CEO of Doral Renewables. His innovative mindset aligns with our farmer community, especially as we continue to enhance our agrivoltaics deployment efforts, benefiting both the national grid by diversifying energy resources and cost reduction as well as local farmers by maximizing land use and creating additional revenue streams. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX IRVINE, Ky. (FOX 56) A former Estill County pastor faces 20 years in prison after being found guilty in a decades-old case. Attorney General Russell Coleman announced on Friday, March 21, that Samuel McKinney, 60, was convicted of first-degree rape against a child under the age of 12. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim reported that McKinney abused her about once a month from May 1982 to December 1985 and stopped when she was around 11 years old. Shes 50 now and reported the crime in 2023 after learning McKinney had become a pastor at an Irvine church. Hes since left the church, the attorney generals office said. In our Commonwealth, there is no statute of limitations for felony charges, which allowed this courageous woman to come forward and report her abuse after all these years, Coleman said. Her bravery was critical to putting this criminal behind bars, and we hope her example will encourage others in similar situations to come forward. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury recommended a sentence of 20 years in prison and being required to register as a sex offender. He must serve 85% of his sentence before hed be eligible for parole. McKinney will be sentenced on June 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. A former Illinois State Police (ISP) Special Agent pleaded guilty to a hit and run that occurred in Dec. 2024 in Shiloh. According to our partners at the Post Dispatch, former ISP Special Agent Julian Feix is accused of running a red light, crashing his car into a car and leaving the scene of the accident on Dec. 7 while he was off duty. This is the St. Louis Cardinals presumed 2025 Opening Day roster following the crash, feix agreed to resign from his job, surrender his illinois law enforcement certification, serve two years probation, and perform 100 hours of community service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feix must also pay back the teenage driver of the car he hit, which will depend on the outcome of a civil lawsuit filed by the teens mother. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Former Niagara Falls mayoral candidate Demetrius Nix is out of jail and back behind the counter at his restaurant on Pine Avenue. He said this week that he also has much bigger plans now, including pursuing the development of a program to help improve the lives of residents living in poverty and high-crime areas in Alexandria, Louisiana. Nix, who failed in his bid to become mayor in 2023, was released from the Niagara County jail on March 5 after serving a six-month sentence stemming from a plea agreement on charges that he broke in and caused damage to a house on Pierce Avenue that he was hired to renovate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I came home with my mind right, he said. While I had time in jail, I had time to think about how to do things and how to do them right. While he was offered a probationary sentence, Nix chose to serve time in jail so he could be done and free with the case. After his release, his first order of business was to restart N-Town Wingz, the restaurant he opened in April 2024 to raise the money needed to cover the $32,000 restitution ordered by the courts as part of his plea deal. Nix credited income from the restaurant with allowing him to cover the full restitution. He said he has now hired three people to help run the restaurant. One thing this situation did do, it created a new means of income for me, he said. The charges against Nix stemmed from a break-in at a home on the 1100 block of Pierce Avenue on Jan. 16, 2023. Nix was also linked to a reported burglary at an apartment building on the 500 block of 20th Street, between Jan. 18 and 19, which is under the control of the same owners as the Pierce Avenue property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was never charged in connection with the 20th Street incident. The Pierce Avenue break-in resulted in an estimated $30,000 of property damage. The property was being renovated by Rod Davis, a Western New York developer, whose firm Power City Ventures, LLC, had been designated by the city as the preferred developer for a housing renovation project that was eligible for up to $1 million in reimbursable grant funds through the states Restore New York program. Davis withdrew from the project after a Niagara Gazette investigation raised questions about his record of payment to vendors, handling of rent payments he collected for a company that managed properties in the Falls and his involvement in a Cedar Avenue development project that was never completed. Nix said hes glad to have the issues with Davis and the Pierce Avenue property behind him and is now concentrating on the restaurant and fixing up and renting out apartments he owns in the city. He is also continuing to work with co-director Trent Hamilton on offering services to residents in need out of the Entrepreneur School of Thought, an adult resource center located at 1110 19th St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im really trying to make it bigger and put more time and more energy into the school because it helps so much, he said. Prior to going to jail, the center received a visit from Reddix Washington, a member of the Alexandria city council who expressed interest in opening a similar school in his community. Nix said he has also met with the citys mayor and police chief to talk, and that Washington stayed in touch with him while he was in jail and they have agreed to talk again now that he has been released. Alexandria has the same population as us but three times the murder rate. The killing thats going on out there is crazy and they dont know what to do with it, Nix said. Nix said hes also interested in finding ways to expand on another one of his ideas, the motivational slogan and movement he dubbed WAWG, short for the slogan he ran on during his mayoral campaign, We All We Got. Prior to serving jail time, Nix met with rapper and music producer Master P to discuss the possibility of expanding WAWG to other parts of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he often does not receive the same level of interest or response from leaders in this area. In Niagara Falls, nobody wants to help, he said. The only help Im getting is from my people. There, the government wants to help. When it comes to the system here, Im always running uphill. WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban in Afghanistan has released a U.S. citizen it detained more than two years ago following efforts by the Trump administration and Qatari negotiators, the U.S. State Department said in a statement on Thursday. George Glezmann, 65, an airline mechanic, was on his way back to the United States to be reunited with his wife, said the statement. Glezmann was held by the Taliban in December 2022 when he traveled through Afghanistan as a tourist. He is the third American detainee to be released by the Taliban since January. The first two were set free in the last days of the Biden administration. The Taliban gave up its previous demand that America hand over imprisoned Taliban members and agreed to release Glezmann in exchange for improved relations with Washington, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials. There are still seven Americans detained in Afghanistan, including one who is deceased, said the report. Qatar has hosted negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban for years. Two former Orland Park police officers, including one who an arbitrator ruled should be reinstated to his job, filed lawsuits against the village in federal court in Chicago. William Sanchez, a sergeant and 19-year veteran of the force, alleges he was fired in March 2024 after complaining to supervisors and the villages Human Resources Department that he was denied a promotion to lieutenant because of his racial identity as a Hispanic Latino. Apart from the village, the lawsuit names police Chief Eric Rossi and Brian West, previously deputy chief and now interim village manager, among the defendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanchez said he also filed charges of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Kenneth Kovac, a retired sergeant, alleges in his lawsuit that there was a conspiracy to violate his constitutional rights, including his First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The Orland Park resident says he was unlawfully arrested and charged with false personation and disorderly conduct, which he said stemmed from a parody Facebook profile he created aimed at West, at the time deputy police chief. The charges were later dismissed in Cook County court, according to the lawsuit. The village said it has been made aware of the lawsuits and that the village stands by its actions and those of its employees and remains confident that they were appropriate and fully compliant with the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Village is committed to maintaining a fair and inclusive workplace, upholding the highest professional standards in our employment and law enforcement practices, and ensuring that all employees are treated with respect and in accordance with the law, according to the statement. We will address these claims through the legal process and remain confident that the village has acted lawfully and appropriately in these matters. The law firm Hughes Socol Piers Resnick, & Dym, Ltd. represents both Sanchez and Kovac. The lawsuits were filed March 14. Sergeant Sanchez deserves to get his job back, and for Orland Park to take meaningful steps to make sure no one else has to fear for their jobs just because they voice their concerns about potential race discrimination within the police department, Justin Tresnowski, an attorney with the firm, said in a news release. Sanchez said he was initially notified in February 2024 he was being suspended without pay for alleged misconduct, then later fired. He said his union, the Orland Park Police Supervisors Association, filed a grievance challenging the firing and demanding arbitration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An arbitrator ruled in January that Sanchez was not fired for just cause and ordered the village to reinstate him to his former position and make him whole for all losses suffered. The village is appealing the decision. Sanchez sought reinstatement along with back pay. At the time of his firing, Sanchez was president of the Orland Park Police Supervisors Association, a bargaining unit separate from patrol officers that represents police sergeants and lieutenants in the department. Sanchez was hired in 2004 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2021 and that August was assigned as supervisor of the departments traffic safety unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He alleged harassment and racial discrimination on the part of Rossi and West, while Sanchez was alleged to have contributed to creating a hostile work environment for West. In his lawsuit, Kovac said he created a parody Facebook page, under the profile Bryan East, after he became concerned about abuses of power within the Police Department. West is a defendant in his lawsuit along with the village and Rossi. It seeks attorney fees, court costs and other unspecified damages. In his lawsuit, Kovac said that, using the Bryan East name, he posted what he described as innocuous comments on the villages Facebook page. He said he created his Facebook page in January 2024, and deleted it within about a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kovac said he was subjected to an investigation, including search warrants used to examine his personal communications and other data. During the investigation, he said, his attorney contacted the village and warned that Kovacs Facebook activities were constitutionally protected, and that Orland Park could open itself up to liability. Kovac said in the lawsuit that two criminal complaints were filed against him in late March 2024, and that he turned himself in April 7 of last year. The charges against him were dismissed in court this past January, according to his lawsuit. Sergeant Sanchezs retaliatory termination for complaining about discrimination and Mr. Kovacs arrest and prosecution for non-threatening parody posts online were patently illegal abuses of power, Tresnowski said in the news release. Mr. Kovac and Sergeant Sanchez deserve justice, and the Village must be held accountable. Fernando Bustos, 42, a former Greenfield police officer and security coordinator at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, has been charged with eight additional counts of invasion of privacy involving victims under 18, according to an amended criminal complaint. The complaint, signed Thursday by Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Hasle, shows Bustos now has a total of nine charges. Bustos, of Greendale, was initially charged March 3 after being accused of placing a camera in a locker in the girls locker room at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee. The investigation uncovered hundreds of videos recorded between May 2024 and February 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his initial appearance on March 5, Bustos was released on a $750 cash bail with conditions prohibiting contact with high schools in Milwaukee County and the use of video surveillance to inappropriately record individuals under 18. He pleaded not guilty on March 13 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 16. Records show Bustos was also a former Greenfield police officer who resigned in 2020 following an investigation for mishandling evidence, which led to his inclusion on the Milwaukee County "Brady List." The Brady List which is kept by the District Attorney's Office tracks officers who have had a history of dishonestly, bias or past crimes, and is used by prosecutors to fulfill their legal obligations to disclose potentially favorable evidence to people accused of crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, TMJ4 News and Wisconsin Watch investigation found the Brady List is inconsistent and incomplete, raising questions about how useful it is in practice. Parents and students have expressed concerns regarding the school's response to the incident, with many noting the school's lack of communication and empathy regarding the situation, most notably following a tense school board meeting on March 5. Videos from that school board meeting have since gone viral on social media. Cristo Rey said the meeting had to be cut short after the school determined that the meeting was no longer constructive. Cristo Rey Jesuit sent emails to the community and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel addressing the situation and saying the safety of students was the school's number one priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cristo Rey Jesuit High School stands in solidarity with our students and families to see that Fernando Bustos is brought to justice," the school said in an email Friday to the Journal Sentinel. "We appreciate the hard work of the District Attorneys office and the commitment of the Milwaukee Police Department to ensure the recognition of the victims and that justice is served." "We are committed to making sure that our school and campus are safe and that our community receives the necessary support and resources as we all navigate this difficult time," the school said. Cristo Rey Jesuit attorneys are working closely with law enforcement officials so the school staff can focus their energy and efforts on the education and well-being of the students, according to the letter. The school also said it would ensure that communication with these incidents will be handled better in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with additional information to come forward. Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former police officer facing 8 more charges for behavior at Cristo Rey CHICAGO The former owner of a suburban home repair company was handed a five-year prison sentence this week for swindling homeowners out of thousands of dollars. 51-year-old Nicholas Giuffre, an Avondale, Arizona resident, pleaded guilty to charges that he defrauded customers out of thousands by failing to complete agreed-upon home repair projects, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Friday morning. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Raoul, Giuffre was the owner and operator of MDH Concrete and Construction Inc., a home remodel and home construction company based in Mokena. In June of 2023, when Giuffre was first charged in connection with the fraudulent deals, prosecutors alleged that he had entered into agreements for home repair projects with five homeowners who paid him a total sum of $28,875, but he never completed the agreed-upon work. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Alongside the fraudulent agreements, Raoul said Giuffre also provided a fraudulent Certificate of Liability to one of his victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, it was announced that Giuffre was sentenced to five years in prison by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Ursula Walowski and five years in prison by Will County Circuit Court Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre. Giuffres sentences will be served concurrently. Raouls office did not provide a booking photo for Giuffre. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. TAZEWELL COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A former teacher with Tazewell County Public Schools was sentenced to almost 200 years in prison for soliciting child pornography from a minor. According to a press release, 33-year-old John Michael Sharpe, of Tazewell, was sentenced on Thursday, March 20, 2025 to 193 years in prison on 20 counts of enticing a child to perform in pornography with 19 of those counts being a second or subsequent offense. Early morning shooting in Princeton leaves man in critical condition This case is still a tragedy. Not only is it a case involving the exploitation of a minor child, it is also a case of broken trust of the victim, her family, the school system, and the entire community. John Sharpe simply refuses to take responsibility for his actions and even claims his interactions with the child, are the fault of the victim. This is what makes John Sharpe dangerous and deserving of the time in prison he received today. Chris Plaster | Tazewell County Commonwealths Attorney Members of the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office investigated the case, and the Sheriffs Office, the Tazewell County Department of Social Services, and Tazewell County Public Schools were thanked for their work and cooperation on the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Former Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen and former 1st District Justice Court Judge Kevin Christensen appeared in court on Thursday to hear their charges involving sexual crimes against children formally read. Both criminal cases have been moved from the Brigham City District Court to Ogden after judges in Brigham City recused themselves because of their professional connection with Christensen. Christensen, 64, shuffled in for his first appearance, never looking through his wire-framed glasses at the packed gallery and reporters lining the aisle with cameras pointed at him. He was shackled at his hands and feet, wearing the faded blue and gray stripes of his Davis County Jail uniform, accompanied by his lawyer, Ryan Bushell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing was a simple reading of information about the charges against Christensen, stemming from a November 2024 investigation. His charges: two counts of inciting a minor, three counts of attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, both second-degree felonies, two counts of dealing in materials harmful to minors, and one count of obstruction of justice, all third-degree felonies. Christensen spoke only to say he understood the charges and to thank the judge. The five second-degree felonies, according to Judge Joseph Bean, each carry a sentencing range of one to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. The three third-degree felonies each have a potential sentence of zero to five years in prison and $0 to $5,000 in fines. Christensen's next hearing was set for April 24. He is being held without bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen, 54, was charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a first-degree felony. He first appeared in court Monday, where his attorney asked for a hearing with his assigned judge on Thursday to address bail. Hansen, who is being held at the Weber County Jail, looked attentive and wide-eyed across the courtroom. The former fire chief's defense team requested he be released on bail. "He's been a firefighter in the community," Hansen's defense attorney Shannon Demler said. "He's been employed here ... he owns his own house, he has substantial equity in the house, he has a wife and two daughters in the area," Demler said, arguing he is not a flight risk. Carl Hollan, with the Utah Attorney General's Office, said they filed a warrant for arrest instead of a summons because of the "highly disturbing and dangerous sexual behavior" alleged in this case, arguing against bail. Due to the evidence supporting the charges, Bean denied the request for bail. Hansen was scheduled for another hearing on May 1. His family rushed out of the room in tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hansen appeared before Christensen, in his former role as a judge, in January. Prosecutors asked the then-judge to keep him in custody, without bail, before official charges had been filed a request Christensen denied, ruling Hansen could be released. At that point, investigators had not connected the two men. A booking affidavit for Christensen said he did not disclose during that hearing that he and Hansen had sent "sexually charged chats" to each other something the officers believed affected his decision to release Hansen. An investigation into Hansen's behavior began in November after law enforcement connected him to an account on an app that had distributed child sex abuse material, charging documents said. Later, police discovered chats between Hansen and Christensen, where Hansen "expressed interest" in sexually abusing children and offered to "share" the children with Christensen, charges said. The documents said Christiansen offered to share pictures of children he knew with Hansen and that the two were involved in a sexual relationship together. Contributing: Emily Ashcraft VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A former Virginia Beach prosecutor has pleaded guilty to embezzlement and uttering, which is similar to forgery. Ex-Virginia Beach prosecutor indicted by grand jury on embezzlement, money laundering charges A special prosecutor was assigned to this case back in August 2024 after irregularities were found in James Panagis files, who worked as a prosecutor in Virginia Beach. The investigation into Panagis was ordered two years prior, in August 2022, and conducted by the Virginia State Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorneys Office passed jurisdiction on the case to the Chesterfield Commonwealths Attorneys Office due to a conflict of interest. The office was additionally advised to turn the case over to the Virginia State Bar lead ethics counsel after the conclusion of the criminal investigation. Panagis was accused of taking restitution money that belonged to victims when he worked at the Commonwealths Attorneys office. According to court documents, Panagis would instruct a defense attorney to submit a restitution check or money order to him with the payee line blank. The check would then be made payable to the victim or a vendor for the victim. Investigators then explain that Panagis would reduce the criminal charge in the case. Panagis would allegedly then fill the payee line on the check with a fake name, with the first name beginning with the letter J and the last name beginning with the letter P. Documents detailed that he would then sign the back of the check and use an ATM to deposit it into his personal account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An interview was done with Panagis in July 2024, where he told investigators that he was addicted to gambling, alcohol and cocaine. Panagis pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement by public officer and two counts of uttering. He pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of greater than or equal to $500. Two counts of embezzlement by public officer and two other counts of uttering were nolle prossed. A money laundering charge was also nolle prossed. His sentencing is scheduled for June 26. Panagis was employed at the office from Aug. 22, 2015 through Feb. 16, 2022 and left of his own accord. There were no disciplinary issues with Panagis during his time with the office, according to the Commonwealths Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) City officials in Fort Myers, Florida, unanimously agreed to pass a memorandum on Friday allowing local authorities to receive training from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and assist with deportations. This decision reverses a contentious vote earlier this week that led to threats of suspension from state officials. The three-hour special meeting began with two hours of spirited public comment, with most speakers dissenting the memorandum by citing fears of increased racial profiling as a top concern. The presiding officer of public comment also continually interrupted speakers who discussed the council's vote or thanked councilmembers on Monday who disagreed with the memorandum, saying that it was off-topic to Friday's meeting. Then, councilmembers prompted questions to Fort Myers Deputy Police Chief Victor Medico and City Attorney Grant Alley, who Councilmember Darla Bonk called out for leaving members with multiple unanswered questions before Friday's presentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I must express my grave concern that there was a significant dereliction of the duty on the part of my city attorney, said Bonk, who initially voted against the agreement earlier this week. We, as councilmembers, were put in the position of voting on a matter that was not within our legal authority or jurisdiction, as a state rep also reminded us at the top of this meeting. The actions subjected us public servants to unnecessary grave, personal and professional risk. City officials' about-face comes a day after Gov. Ron DeSantis warned them that failing to approve an immigration agreement could have steep consequences, including suspension from office. Earlier this week, state Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an investigation of councilmembers who voted against the agreement, saying the city was implementing an illegal sanctuary policy. Councilmember Diana Giraldo said in the meeting that she was concerned with the memorandum's designation of authorized functions to police officers, saying it could boost racial profiling. These functions, according to the memorandum, include the power to arrest any immigrant who does not have legal status without a warrant and the power to interrogate any person believed to be an immigrant. Giraldo said the city already has been working with federal immigration agents for years, a reason she objected to any claims of Fort Myers being a sanctuary city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked, Alley said it was very not clear whether the council violated the law, and that he'd normally suggest asking the attorney general. In this case, the attorney general weighed in, and when asked he advised the councilmembers to support this agreement. The attorney general is not a court, but it is the top law enforcement, and they issue opinions, and this wasn't in the form of an opinion. This was in the form of an immediate compliance with state immigration laws, Alley said. In Uthmeier's letter, he cited laws passed by Florida legislators just earlier this year in a special session, which include provisions that say state and local law enforcement and supervising entities must use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law. The Fort Myers City Council unanimously approved the 287(g) agreement with ICE on March 21, 2025. (Stock photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images) The Fort Myers City Council reversed course amid legal threats from the states attorney general and signed an agreement with the federal government deputizing city police officers to act as immigration enforcement officials. The reversal of the councils block of the agreement with U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) came three days after Attorney General James Uthmeier sent them a letter warned that Gov. Ron DeSantis could remove them from office if they didnt approve the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three city council members who voted against the agreement earlier said they did so because they didnt have enough information about the legal consequences, with council member Darla Bonk blaming the citys attorney. We were never told this vote could expose us to becoming labeled as a sanctuary city despite the citys continued lawful cooperation with ICE. That omission is critical to the lack of efficacy that we were displayed, Bonk said during the Friday meeting. The role of the city attorney is not merely advisory, it is protective. It is the duty of our city attorney to guide this council clearly, lawfully, and thoroughly, especially when our decisions carry legal, financial, and physical implications. Uthmeiers letter warned the council that its decision not to enter the agreement with ICE implicitly made Fort Myers a sanctuary city, which Florida law bans. Under a so-called 287(g) federal-state task force model, city police officers who receive training could question people about their immigration status and detain them if they are subject to deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Responding to the councils cave, Uthmeier said on X: Good choice. DeSantis appointed Uthmeier, his former chief of staff, as attorney general last month to replace Ashley Moody, now a U.S. senator. The packed audience at the meeting erupted into boos after the council voted unanimously to approve the agreement with ICE, although police Deputy Chief Victor Medico couldnt say how many officers would receive the 40-hour mandatory online training. City Attorney Grant Alley urged the council to support the agreement. The attorney generals opinion is not law, but it is persuasive. It should be given great weight, Alley said, noting that its not clear whether the council broke the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, council members said they still had concerns about racial profiling, which was the reason the Obama administration discontinued its use of the 287(g) agreements after investigations and lawsuits in Maricopa County, Arizona. To be clear, our vote was in concern to this because of the potential of violation of the Fourth Amendment and the racial profiling. It wasnt that we are not in agreement of the city of Fort Myers Police Department collaborating with ICE, because we have been doing that, Council member Diana Giraldo said, referencing a 2021 agreement allowing city police to execute and serve search orders, warrants, and subpoenas. The agreement at issue during the Friday meeting would go beyond that, empowering police to detain people without warrants. How are other cities and counties reacting to the pressure? The courts could provide guidance on whether Uthmeiers interpretation is correct, so the city of South Miami wants to punt the matter to the judicial branch, according to the Miami Herald. However, that city has not formally asked a court to intervene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fort Myers is not the only place where DeSantis push for sheriffs, state agencies, and municipalities to enter into the agreements that he labeled as the maximum level of cooperation that will lead to street-level enforcement. In Pinellas County, the chief of school police signed a 287(g) agreement without the knowledge or authorization of the school board and superintendent, with an inquiry from Florida Phoenix alerting district officials that he had done so. Luke Williams, chief of Pinellas County Schools Police, said during a meeting on March 11 that he signed the agreement because he thought he had to. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This story has been updated to include information about a 2021 agreement between the city police and ICE. Mar. 21STERLING Candidates for the Sterling City Council alderman at large race that will be decided April 1 met Wednesday for a forum to share their views on city issues. Jon Mandrell, Sauk Valley Community College vice president of Academics and Student Services, moderated the 2025 candidate forum at Sterling City Hall, where candidates Jim Wise, Ryan Nares and Allen Przysucha answered questions, some of which were submitted by the public. Candidate Kaitlyn Ekquist, who currently serves on the council alongside Wise, was not present for the event. Each candidate introduced themselves, was asked the same seven questions and had two minutes to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wise has served on the City Council for several years and is seeking reelection. "I hope the voters will see to it that I can be a member of the City Council for a few more years," Wise said. "We've done great things in the city over the last several years, and I look forward to the opportunity to be able to do more with your support." Nares is a local business owner who takes inspiration from his grandfather, who served as a Sterling alderman. "I see this role as a way to be a voice for the community, not for ego, but to serve," Nares said. "As a former correctional officer and sergeant, I learned to listen and find common ground, and also skills I bring as a business owner of The Mercantile. I'm proud to be backed by the Northwestern Illinois building trades, a testament to my commitment to supporting the local workforce. I'm also partnering with the WACC (Whiteside Area Career Center) CEO class to inspire youth to dream big and feel pride in our area." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Przysucha is a member of Sterling's Planning Commission, a board member of the United Way of Whiteside County and is an Area IV Governor for Rotary District 6420, in addition to several other community clubs and committees. "I don't think there's anything more important than giving back to the community," Przyscucha said. "Rotary has a motto: "Service Above Self." I strongly believe in that. Strongly believe in giving back to community. I think it's important to be able to do that, and this is just another avenue for me to give back and help be a voice for those that don't have a voice. We can all make the city a better place." What qualifications or experiences make you the best candidate for this position, and what sets you apart from your competition? Wise said he has extensive experience in city government, having spent nearly 30 years in various positions as either an elected or appointed official, including nearly eight years on the City Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Over the last several years, we initiated a stormwater management program, we initiated the effort to redevelop our riverfront, and we've learned a great deal from that experience over these years, and that helps put me in a position to be a candidate for reelection," Wise said. Nares said his range of work experiences and his willingness to openly communicate with anyone, especially those he might disagree with, make him a suitable candidate. "I'm confident that I can deescalate situations, find common ground and be a voice for the people," Nares said. "I want to see more people involved. It's hard for these city officials to read people's minds and represent people without hearing their voice. I want to be that voice for the people." Przysucha said his heavy involvement in various city organizations and clubs sets him apart from Wise and Nares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One big thing I'm proud of is through the Sterling Township," Przysucha said. "I'm part of the youth committee that helped form the Elevate Youth Center. Giving back to the youth, I think it's very important. I'd love to see a partnership between the city, the township and the school district that just goes to help the youth." What do you see as the biggest challenge facing Sterling in the next five years, and how would you address it as an alderman at large? Nares said although fixing these issues falls outside his expertise, recent events, such as the decline of the Sterling Fire Department's vehicles and investments into the city's sewer systems were in good hands with city officials like City Manager Scott Schumard. "The city's in good hands with him," Nares said. "I would rely heavily on people calling him to bring those to our attention because some things have fallen through the cracks, but I don't believe that's happened with him. The sewer is the biggest thing. Thankfully, he already has a plan for that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Przysucha said he believes the city's biggest concern is supporting its fire and police departments, and credited the city for its recent approval to purchase a new $2 million fire truck with an aerial ladder. "That's a huge step, huge win for the fire department, but there still needs to be updating," Przysucha said. "we need to be able to protect our citizens, and by doing that, the fire department, the firefighters, need to have the equipment that they need. They need to have the apparatuses to be able to get to those emergency situations. Same goes with the police department." Wise agreed with both Nares and Przysucha but said the city's lack of housing is one of its more pressing issues. "We have a depleted inventory, and that is causing the rental and purchase prices to be sky high," Wise said. "Now, there are other economic patches, but we lack inventory here. We need to continue to work at bringing in opportunities for developers and builders to alleviate that problem." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How will you balance the needs of sterling residents? Some individuals may want more infrastructure. Some want more housing, and others want tax relief. How will you decide which issues are important and how will you prioritize? Przysucha said that no single issue should be prioritized over the other as all issues are important. "It's probably more of a need situation," Przysucha said. "Housing is important. It's all important. I just don't think you can emphasize one particular thing to say, 'Let's get this done' and move on. You've got to be able to work with every situation that you're given and adapt and overcome, and be able to multitask and get as many things done as possible." Wise said he agrees that all the issues are important, but highlighted public infrastructure and tax relief as key priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This year alone, we're going to invest nearly seven and a half million dollars in public infrastructure," Wise said. "The bigger chunk of that total is going to be the Second Street rebuild, but you also have to throw in all of the other streets. There's another $1.2 million in residential streets that is going to be redone. You got curb, gutter and sidewalk that the public works department will be undertaking, and as far as the tax relief goes, we bonded out the pension debt here two or three years ago, which was a key move thanks to Scott and the support of the council and the staff." Nares said not everyone will agree on which issues should be prioritized, but conversation and transparency can go a long way in helping people understand why some decisions are made. "The best way to address something like this is to be completely transparent and make people aware why decisions are made by bringing them to the table," Nares said. "There's been times in the past where this council has made decisions that I don't agree with, and I didn't understand. But after having a conversation, I understood why they came to that conclusion. So, while you can't make everybody happy, I think it's important for people to know that the people up here are making decisions in good faith and are trying to do the best for the city." How do you plan to attract new businesses and industries to Sterling while supporting existing businesses? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wise said he would continue utilizing existing economic development organizations, such as the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Sterling Main Street. "Main Street is a big driver of attracting businesses into the downtown, with their incubators," Wise said. "And while we're sustaining existing businesses, we continue to work to find ways to reduce their costs of doing business, such as property tax levies and permitting fees can be waived periodically. So, that can help grow existing businesses." Nares agreed and said he knows firsthand the "fantastic job" Sterling Main Street does at supporting local businesses. He also supports the city's investment into Sterling's riverfront. "As a small business owner, I know how scary it can be to start something new and to not know if you have the backing of the community or your family," Nares said. "So, to get that from smaller entities, and then also going back to the riverfront, I feel what the city is going to do there will inspire people, because I believe there might be quite a bit of people that feel disenfranchised in this area. I want people to feel a part of this area. Invested in it. Because somebody that feels a part of it, invested in it, is very much a part of the outcome." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Przysucha said the community does a great job of supporting new businesses and also feels the riverfront development is good for the city. "It's thrilling to see all the redevelopment, not just along the river, but over on the east end with Marshalls and Old Navy," Przysucha said. "You're starting to see a lot of influx of not only the bigger businesses, but the smaller businesses as well, like The Mercantile. I think you do have that sense of wanting to support the business, and by seeing that support and excitement, I believe that's going to give other entrepreneurs the want and the drive to open a business here." Budgets are tight, and oftentimes trade offs are necessary in order for local governments to balance the books. Do you have any priorities that require significant new investments from the city, and if so, where would you divert resources to fund those investments? Nares said he does not pretend to know everything and would consult with city administration and fellow council members if elected. "I don't care if my idea is the right idea," Nares said. "I care about getting to the right idea and listening to as many people as possible to get that. So, I would rely heavily on my ear to the streets of our constituents and everybody else that's here. I sat down with Scott the other day and got to see how the city is able to afford a $1.9 million firetruck that everybody rightfully was a little worried about. These aren't surprises to anybody here. These are just surprises to good people that don't attend these meetings." Przysucha agreed with Nares, saying city officials do a wonderful job of managing these matters and that while more transparency is always beneficial, many people's questions can be answered by simply reaching out to their alderman or city administration. "They will sit down and give you the time to explain why something was done or why something was paid for, or where it came from," Przysucha said. "I think the city is doing a great job as far as funding different things. The roads are a big topic. It's no secret we need to work on our roads. The unfortunate thing is, materials and labor for the roads keep going up, and there's only so much money going around. I want to reassure people, roads are getting fixed." Wise also credited Schumard and city administration for its handling of city finances, and agreed a little more transparency is a good thing. He said the city's financial savvy is the reason it was able to purchase its new $1.9 million firetruck. "They've been able to manipulate our budget for the last several years and still give us everything that we need and find money to save," Wise said. "We have reserves that we can tap into and fund things that we absolutely need." The City of Sterling is implementing new regulations for rental property owners. What are your thoughts on these new rules, and how do you see them impacting landlords, tenants in the overall community? If elected, would you support, modify or oppose these regulations, and why? Przysucha said that before Monday, he felt there were problems with the city's new residential rental housing code and inspection program. Although he does not agree with everything in the ordinance, such as imposing fees for inspections, he credited city administration for making some concessions in its final version of the ordinance after receiving input from outside interest groups. "Did everybody win, no," Przysucha said. "But did everybody lose? No. There does have to be some accountability. I think there's a lot more good landlords than bad landlords. Having rented myself, I know outside of paying my rent, I maybe saw my landlord once. You'd like to think that these landlords know what's going on in their units. Some of them really don't, but if they don't get called, there's really no need for them to go in." Wise voted to approve the ordinance on Monday, and continued to support the program, saying it would also provide Sterling's Code Enforcement department the ability to hold private property owners accountable. He said he would also like to see the ordinance modified to eliminate inspection fees. "We don't charge fees to walk through properties for fire inspections, and police don't charge fees to search somebody's garage for an intruder," Wise said. "Nonetheless, there are other ways to accomplish this without charging for it. I support the ordinance, but I do believe that we can modify this over the next several months to ensure that all the principles involved are satisfied and willing to work together to make it work for the benefit of the community." Nares said while he supports the ordinance, as a business owner and a renter, he can see both sides of the argument. "My concern was that it would increase costs after finding out what the fees were," Nares said. "They're not consequential, especially when talking about how many units they have. This is not a cosmetic thing. This is a safety and health thing. A lot of these homes look terrible. But that being said, that is also on the renters. I think the best thing to acknowledge is that when there is an issue and it goes unchecked for a while, the correction oftentimes is an over correction. If that is the case, I think as everybody up here said, we're open to making sure that it's fair to both parties, but clearly the tenants need someone to represent and protect them." What is your approach to ensuring transparency and accountability in city government? Wise said he would continue to maximize social media and the internet to keep people informed and credited the city's website for providing open access to city council agendas, materials and for providing Zoom links to meetings. "Something that we should try a little harder to do is something along the issue of ward meetings or having town halls periodically to bring that information to the public, rather than asking that they step into this room," Wise said. Nares said that while there is always room for the city to improve, transparency is a "two-way street." "We need more people to be involved," Nares said. "It's hard for somebody to read people's minds when our voter turnout is as small as it is. The amount of voices we're hearing, you're representing a minority. It makes things harder. For transparency, I plan to and have been posting on social media and utilizing that. I want to recap council meetings, give those in little spark-note versions on social media." Przysucha agreed with Nares and said it was important for people to reach out to their ward's alderman. He also suggested broadcasting City Council meetings over Facebook Live to make them more accessible. "It's easy to have a problem on your street, or you have a problem with an ordinance and you sit there and stew over it, and you get mad, and you start bad mouthing the city," Przysucha said. "That's going to happen, but we're here to listen to you, and if you do have a problem, bring it up to one of your aldermen. We can't fix the problem if we don't know about the problem." WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that the Small Business Administration (SBA) will take charge of managing student loans, instead of the Education Department, which he aims to dismantle. "We have a portfolio that is very large, lots of loans, tens of thousands of loans, pretty complicated deal," Trump told reporters in the White House Oval Office. "That's coming out of the Department of Education immediately." Also on Friday, the SBA announced that it is cutting more than 40 percent of its roughly 6,500 staff, as part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to reduce the federal workforce. The president's remarks came one day after he signed an executive order to formally begin the process of dismantling the Education Department. He said his administration is returning education back to the states. Beyond the "core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department," Trump said in a speech at the White House Thursday. "We're going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible," Trump said. The U.S. president noted that the department's functions such as Pell Grants -- federal financial aid that helps low-income undergraduate students pay for college, Title I which provides federal funding to school districts and schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families -- and funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs, will be "fully preserved" and be "redistributed to various other agencies and departments." On Friday, Trump also said that the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) "will be handling special needs and all the nutrition programs and everything else." "I think that will work out very well. Those two elements will be taken out of the Department of Education," Trump said. Americans owed about 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars in student loans as of June 2024 -- 42 percent more than what they owed a decade earlier, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center. Among adults under 40 who have at least a four-year college degree, for example, 36 percent have outstanding student loan debt, the analysis showed. Trump's bid to dismantle the Education Department has drawn criticism from Democrats. "Attempting to dismantle the Department of Education is one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken. This. Will. Hurt. Kids," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a post on social media platform X. "This horrible decision by Donald Trump will be felt by teachers, parents, school leaders, and in the quality of education our children receive," Schumer said. "Across the country property taxes will go up, while the quality of many schools will go down." The Democratic leader also noted that presidents cannot establish departments or eliminate them, "only Congress can do that." DENVER (KDVR) Four people and two cats have been displaced after a structure fire in Denver on Thursday afternoon, according to a post on X from the Denver Fire Department. The Denver Fire Department said it responded to a structure fire near Zuni Street and Vassar Avenue around 1:15 p.m. USDA confirms wolf relocated to Colorado killed by Wildlife Services in Wyoming Denver firefighters work to extinguish a house fire (Credit: Denver Fire Department) Denver firefighters work to extinguish a house fire (Credit: Denver Fire Department) Denver firefighters work to extinguish a house fire (Credit: Denver Fire Department) Denver firefighters work to extinguish a house fire (Credit: Denver Fire Department) When crews arrived on the scene they found a home on fire. Firefighters said that none of the residents were injured when they arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews extinguished the fire around 1:37 p.m. but the damage done was enough to displace the residents. In a post on X around 5:10 p.m. the Denver Fire Department said four people and two cats were displaced and the Red Cross is assisting them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Video: Arkansas prison funding bill back to Senate after amendment fails in subcommittee LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Arkansas legislature had a busy week as it worked to pass several impactful bills. Bills covered a range of issues, but some of the bigger ones were: ELECTRIC UTILITIES Without fanfare, a bill signed into law this week changes the relationship between the Public Service Commission and the electric utilities it regulates and, ultimately, outcomes for ratepayers. Senate Bill 307 created the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025 by becoming Act 373. For ratepayers, rates will increase incrementally as power plant construction projects are undertaken, as opposed to rates going up a lot in a short period after a power plant is completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas legislators vote for ivermectin over-the-counter sales, heads to governors desk The bills sponsor, Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy), said it was motivated by Arkansas losing two of its five coal-fired power plants in 2030 against an ever-rising demand for electrical power. ARKANSAS ACCESS Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law this week the higher-education-changing Arkansas ACCESS Act. The legislation is the higher education version of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, which was passed in 2023 to change K-12 education. Bill to bring online gaming to Arkansas filed in legislature The legislation includes provisions for accelerated learning in every public high school, including technical training, where students can access college-level coursework. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ACCESS stands for acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarship and standardization. PRISON FUNDING After an at-times full-throated debate in the Joint Budget Committee, the bill to finance the remainder of a proposed $825 million prison in Franklin County received a do-pass vote and is scheduled to return to the Senate floor on Thursday afternoon. Legislators speaking against the bill were concerned with what they saw as a lack of planning and the possible cost of resources not included in the bill, like wastewater treatment and road improvements. Arkansas constituents voice concerns at town hall meeting for 2nd Congressional district Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the bill receives a favorable vote in the Senate, it will move to the House for further debate. 89 BILLS This week, the governor signed 89 bills into law in two separate signing sessions. Legislation ranged from routine allocation acts to acts clarifying abortion laws, enhancing human trafficking penalties and for dealing fentanyl, creating sports raffles, and protecting property owners when dirt bikes are ridden. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A FOX 2 News crew caught up with police officer-turned-suspect Preston Caruso as he left the St. Louis County Circuit Court with a decision from a judge granting him some leeway in his bond release. As he walked out, we asked, What did happen after that crash in Chesterfield? Caruso had no answer about the October 2024 crash on Interstate 64 in Chesterfield Valley. St. Louis County prosecutors allege Caruso was involved in a crash while off duty and was recorded by the other driver saying, If you blame it on me, Im going to [expletive] you up as well as I will murder you right here on the side of the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court records, a prosecutor said you could hear the sounds of Caruso hitting the other driver. We also asked Caruso, What did you say? We were met with silence again. Caruso reportedly resigned from the Florissant Police Department the day he was charged. This past February, FOX 2 reported on a case when Caruso was still with the department which is now the focus of a civil lawsuit: Carusos response to a 2021 noise complaint. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Police bodycam video shows Officer Caruso telling two men, I need to see IDs then approached them, saying, Turn around put your hands behind your back, before slamming one of them against their vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impacted family is now suing, claiming it was excessive force. The familys attorney, Mark Pedroli, acquired internal police paperwork showing the department decided Carusos actions complied with department policy. FOX 2 also asked about that case after Thursdays court hearing. Do you stand by your actions that night? Caruso remained silent for each of our three questions. In court, he was able to successfully convince a judge that he be able to remove his ankle monitor and instead be monitored by a cell phone GPS program. Carusos police license is currently suspended according to the Missouri Department of Public Safety, with further action against his license being considered at a hearing coming up in August. Hes also back in court on the assault case in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. WALTHALL COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT) The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) will provide free Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccinations and birth certificates to residents impacted during the tornado outbreak in Walthall and Jefferson Davis counties. Staff from the MSDH Office of Vital Records will be onsite taking applications for replacement birth certificates. To apply for a free birth certificate, you must be 18 or older, directly affected by the storms, and have a valid photo identification or other acceptable form of identification. Tylertown tornado victims aided by neighbors, churches and volunteers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to MSDH, you can complete an application for yourself, a parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild; or as a guardian or legal representative. Once an application is completed, MSDH staff will distribute the documents the next day onsite. Residents and first responders ages 19 and older can receive the Tdap vaccine at no cost. A Tdap booster is recommended for all adults over age 19 impacted by tornadoes, especially those involved in storm clean-up, if its been 10 years or more since your last Tdap vaccination. At the mobile unit, you will need to complete a short form before being vaccinated. Children (ages 18 and younger) needing the Tdap vaccine will need to visit their county health department or primary care provider. Locations, dates and times for the MSDH Mobile Units: Walthall County Health Department 903 Union Road, Tylertown, MS 39667 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday, March 24, 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 9:00 a.m. until noon United Cajun Navy sends emergency supplies to tornado-hit Mississippi Jefferson Davis County Granby Volunteer Fire Department: 956 East Saint Stevens Rd., Prentiss, MS 39474 Thursday, March 27, 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, 9:00 a.m. until noon A representative from the Social Security Administration will also be in Walthall County to assist those needing replacement Social Security cards. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Weather Forecast Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Through May, Clark County residents can claim a free shade tree through a community project aimed at addressing rising temperatures across the region. The Community Canopy Project is a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and the Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) will deliver about 4,500 trees to community members. Residents are eligible for at least one, free, water-efficient tree, with the greatest need prioritized based on a map of local heat vulnerability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the National Weather Service (NWS), 2024 was the hottest summer on record for Southern Nevada. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner reported 526 deaths where heat was a factor last year. Records during the past summer were set for the highest recorded temperature (120 F on July 7), average high temperature (107.6 F) and average temperature (96.2 F), according to the NWS. The Community Canopy Project is available through May 2025 or until supplies run out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PARIS (AP) Gisele Pelicot, who became a symbol of the fight against sexual violence during the drugging-and-rape trial that riveted France last year and turned her into a global icon, will publish her memoir next year. "A Hymn to Life' will be published in English, in French and 20 other languages in January 2026, British publisher the Bodley Head said in a statement late on Thursday. I am immensely grateful for the extraordinary support I have received since the beginning of the trial. I now want to tell my story in my own words, Pelicot said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through this book, I hope to convey a message of strength and courage to all those who are subjected to difficult ordeals. May they never feel shame. And in time, may they even learn to savour life again and find peace, she added. Last year, 51 men were convicted year by a court in the southern French city of Avignon which handed down prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years in the shocking case that spurred a national reckoning about the blight of rape culture. Pelicots ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, and all but one of his co-defendants were convicted of sexually assaulting her over a period of nearly a decade after hed knocked her unconscious by lacing her food and drink with drugs. The other co-defendant was convicted of drugging and raping his own wife with Dominique Pelicots help. Gisele Pelicot became a hero to many in France and beyond for courageously demanding that the mens trial be held in open court. The evidence included stomach-churning homemade videos of the abuse that Dominique Pelicot filmed in the couples retirement home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere. By Alban Kacher (Reuters) - French media regulator Arcom has ordered Eutelsat to cease broadcasting Russian channels STS and Channel 5, after a probe revealed the satellite provider's commercial agreements had links to a sanctioned entity. The formal notice follows an investigation prompted by requests from several non-governmental organizations that the broadcasting watchdog should take action against Eutelsat. "These channels are controlled by the Russian company JSC National Media Group, whose financial resources have been frozen ... which entails a ban on their distribution," Arcom said in a statement on Friday. National Media Group, Russia's largest private media holding company, has been subject to European sanctions since December 2022. "Eutelsat scrupulously respects ARCOM's directives, and this request will be implemented as soon as possible," the group said in an emailed statement. Eutelsat added National Media Group was not its direct customer, but that of an intermediary distributor. STS and Channel 5 are broadcast through Eutelsat's capacity on the Eutelsat 36C satellite, operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). The company has three days to stop broadcasting them, Arcom said, after which the regulator could trigger a sanction procedure leading to an eventual fine. During the investigation, Arcom also notified several internet providers of the presence of irregular content on their platforms, which was then withdrawn, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The regulator is still investigating several other channels that were reported to it as not conforming with sanctions, the source said. Eutelsat said that to its knowledge, there were no other channels targeted by Arcom at the present. French NGO Comite Diderot welcomed Arcom's decision, but noted it applied only to 21 of the 190 frequencies it had indicated to the watchdog in November. "In our view, priority should have been given to the Russian army's three Zvezda channels and the Orthodox Church's Spas channel," Comite Diderot's coordinator Andre Lange told reporters. In 2022, Eutelsat stopped broadcasting three Russian TV channels after Arcom urged it to do so. (Reporting by Alban Kacher in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi) WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced the award of the contract for the development of the U.S. Air Force's next-generation fighter jet to Boeing. Trump, the nation's 47th president, said in the Oval Office that the F-47 fighter jet "will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built." Trump claimed that the F-47 is "the world's first sixth generation fighter jet" in a video posted by the White House on X platform. "The Next Generation Air Dominance Platform (the F-47) contract is a monumental leap forward in securing America's air superiority for decades to come," Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Gen. David Allvin said in a statement. "The F-47 will have significantly longer range, more advanced stealth, be more sustainable, supportable, and have higher availability than our fifth-generation fighters," said Allvin. The Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract for the program is expected to be worth approximately 20 billion U.S. dollars, although, across the life of the program, Boeing is in line to receive hundreds of billions of dollars in orders, The War Zone, a defense-analysis website, reported. Each copy of the jet, once series production commences, has been estimated in the past to cost upwards of 300 million dollars, said the report. (NewsNation) The legal standoff between the Trump administration and a federal judge could escalate further at a Friday afternoon hearing over the presidents use of a 200-year-old law to deport hundreds of migrants. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., accused officials of evading questions about Saturdays migrant deportation flights. The federal judge overseeing this case has described the information provided to him so far as woefully insufficient and said the administration has until 10 a.m. ET to deliver a declaration from someone at the cabinet level involved in the decision-making of these flights. That deadline comes ahead of a 2:30 p.m. scheduled hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge is looking for information on the planes that landed in El Salvador, including who was on them, how many people were on them, what time they took off, what time they left the U.S. and when the deportees on those planes were transferred out of American custody. The deportations are part of President Donald Trumps plan to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime law, to deport people it claims are part of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The 18th-century law gives the president the ability to quickly deport immigrants from hostile nations during war or when a foreign government perpetuates an invasion. Trump signs order aimed at eliminating Department of Education Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg said hes trying to determine if his court orders were deliberately flouted as the White House contends the planes were already out of U.S. airspace, which would mean the rulings were not applicable. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, As Ive said from the podium, and we will continue to say, all of the flights subjected to the written order from the judge already took off before the written order was pushed in the courtroom. The Justice Department called the situation inappropriate judicial overreach. They could invoke the state secrets privilege, contending that giving up too much information could jeopardize national security and operations of the federal government. They have not said either way whether they intend to do that or not, though the judge in the case has said hes skeptical of the risk as some of the information regarding those flights is public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. LIVINGSTON, Texas (KETK) The Polk County Sheriffs Office said they arrested a fugitive wanted for several warrants on Wednesday. According to a press release, deputies arrived at the Wiggins Village #1 Subdivision at approximately 11:30 p.m. where they identified Mikell Allen Green. Green was quickly apprehended after the sheriffs office said he tried to run and hide from responding deputies. He allegedly had eight warrants out for his arrest including one for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drug paraphernalia consistent with methamphetamine use was allegedly observed while the deputies searched the residence. They also found Adam Eugene Wooten who reportedly had four outstanding Class C warrants. Justice of the Peace Jamie Richardson granted a warrant that led to deputies seizeing narcotics and related items. Green and Wooten were both charged with possession of a controlled substance in addition to their warrants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WBRE/WYOU) President Trump signed the executive order around 4:30 p.m. Thursday shutting down the Department of Education (DOE). Many are now wondering what that means for schools right here in NEPA, as well as across the country. To fully eliminate the department requires an act of Congress, and while the White House says funding for essential programs for schools across the country will remain, local educators and analysts have concerns about how exactly schools will get the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police nab SNAP benefits skimming suspect Currently the department funds our title programs and also programs with idea so thats anybody with disabilities and things like that, title program offers funding for interventions for students in reading and math programs, said Brian Durkin, Superintendent, Valley View School District. Valley View alone receives more than one million dollars from the federal government. Superintendent Brian Durkin is cautiously optimistic hoping the impact wont be as detrimental as some fear when it comes to losing or decreasing funding. Were hoping that its not going to be as bad as people are painting a picture of. We believe that public schools are underfunded as it is, so anytime you have a chance of losing a million dollars, what youre gonna have to do is look at programs, and how to increase funding for those programs and the last thing that we wanna do is have to put that back onto our taxpayers and have to raise taxes, explained Durkin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political analyst David Sosar says Trumps plan intends to redirect funds to local governments, but warns this could create new problems. At least thats Mr. Trumps plan and Mr. Musks plan that one would return this money to the local governments and let them distribute what needs to be in the categories. I dont know if substituting one bureaucracy in the federal government for 50 bureaucracies which would have to be established across the country is maybe the best thing to do, said Sosar. Sosar says Pennsylvania has historically struggled with education funding, raising concerns about how effectively the state would manage these funds. It (pa) always has a problem with its educational programs as well and educational budgets so will they spend the money as it most effectively would be, thats gonna be the question, wondered Sosar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sosar also tells me theres still a lot of gray area to this, that we wont really know how giving the money to states will work until it actually happens. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Kern County firefighter Randy Raymond is fighting more than just fires. Raymond was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in December of 2023. A year later after multiple scans, doctors found cancer yet again but this time it spread to various parts of his body. I got a great support system. I got a great family and Im just going to move on with my life and get through this, said Raymond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5 year battle between Arvin farmers, construction company over road use Raymond was joined by KCFD engineer Fletcher Dilly and firefighter Christopher Castaneda to talk about another element to their pancake fundraiser; selling hats. To help support Randy on his journey to being cancer-free, you can stop by 2020 G Street from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., on Friday, March 21 to purchase a pancake stack for $5 or to pick up a hat. See the player above for the full interview. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) has invested over $8 billion through various monetary award programs, helping underserved people and communities. The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) helped wrap up $3.8 billion in contracts for minority businesses in 2023. That drive is significant as it can help those firms, including Black-owned businesses, to scale up and potentially fuel revenue growth. However, the downside now is the CDFI Fund and MBDA deep-rooted and bipartisan supporters of Black entrepreneurs and individuals, among others are being cut by President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are among seven agencies proposed for elimination as part of a new executive order that continues Trumps actions to cut federal government spending. The CDFI Fund supplies financial backing to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) via grants, bond guarantees, and tax credits. CDFIs were created to spur community development in local communities. Their work includes funding affordable housing and small minority-owned businesses. They provide loans and other financial products in underserved communities, often with lower fees than rivals like mainstream banks and payday lenders. The CDFI Fund plays an important role in generating economic growth and opportunity in some of our nations most distressed communities, per its website. The order commands the fund to trim personnel and operations. Started in 1994, the CDFI Fund is part of the U.S. Treasury Department. Industrywide, CDFIs had roughly $452 billion in assets as of the first quarter of 2023. That consisted of $300B for credit unions, $118B for banks, and $35B for loan funds, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to its 2024 annual report, the CDFI Fund award recipients successfully leverage billions in private sector investment to create jobs, build affordable housing, build essential community facilities, and provide financial counseling. That includes investing in distressed and underserved communities lacking access to traditional lending or banking institutions. The report also stated that $81 billion has been supplied through the funds New Markets Tax Credit program. The CDFI Fund declared that since its start, it has helped build the capacity of 1,400 Certified CDFIs in all 50 states along with the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Trumps order occurred the same day he signed a continuing resolution into law that calls for $324 million in funding for the CDFI Fund for fiscal 2025. Its unknown if prior approved grants will be paid for financial institutions now utilizing CDFI Fund grants. In an email to BLACK ENTERPRISE, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, This Administration recognizes the important role that the CDFI Fund and CDFIs play in expanding access to capital and providing technical assistance to communities across the United States. CDFIs are a key component of President Trumps commitment to supporting Main Street America in the pursuit of job growth, wealth creation, and prosperity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, As required by President Trumps March 14, 2025, Executive Order, the Treasury Department will provide a response to the Director of the OMB on this matter and looks forward to future engagement with CDFIs and other stakeholders to strengthen the impact of these statutory programs and incentivize economic opportunities for all Americans. As for the MBDA, Trumps latest dictate marks the second time since 2017 he has tried to erase the agency catering to minority firms for over 50 years. The MBDAs efforts have included providing access to capital, contracts, and market opportunities as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Two years ago, the agency also brought access to $1.5 billion in capital to empower minority businesses and helped them generate or protect over 19,000 jobs, according to its website. Efforts to get a comment from the MBDA were unsuccessful. William Michael Cunningham, an economist and founder of Creative Investment Research, told BLACK ENTERPRISE by email that his firm has long recognized the CDFI Funds significant role in strengthening Black economic empowerment. For a decade (2013 through 2023), Cunningham estimates that at least $219 million from the CDFI Fund has supported Black-owned banks and businesses through targeted programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, he says around $31 million has benefited Black-owned banks via the funds Bank Enterprise Award program, directly enhancing their capacity to serve communities often overlooked by mainstream financial institutions. Further, Cunnigham mentioned about $188 million has flowed to Black-led Community Development Financial Institutions, fueling lending and investment in Black-owned businesses nationwide. He stated notable recipients include institutions like Hope Credit Union, TruFund Financial Services, and Community First Fund, whose critical efforts drive economic justice, equity, and opportunity in underserved Black communities. Ongoing disparities underscore the need for significantly increased funding and new, innovative support mechanisms. Cunningham shared that the potential reduction in support from the CDFI Fund and MBDA poses significant risks to minority businesses. He says it could lead to reduced access to capital and funding shortages, severely limiting the businesses growth and sustainability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He expressed that the scarcity of business development support, including strategic guidance and capacity building, could impact competitiveness. Another potential snag: The loss of networking and market access facilitated by these agencies could negatively impact revenue generation. The Small Business Majority advocacy group criticized Trumps latest order. The groups research showed that the institutions play a large role in benefiting women BIPOC-owned small businesses. Some 24% of respondents polled last year declared that a government program geared to help a specific demographic group prevented their business from closing, and 14% stated a demographically targeted program helped them gain contracts. Of small businesses that got publicly funded support, roughly 25% had help from MBDA. In a statement, Small Business Majority Founder and CEO John Arensmeyer touched on the impact of shattering the CDIF Fund and MBDA. Among his comments, he noted that between 2021 and 2024, there were 21 million new business applications. But he added that these fledgling small businesses cannot succeed or survive without support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump may well succeed in undermining our smallest and most under-resourced businesses, but in doing so, our economy and our communities will be devastated. Instead of searching for ways to cut small business programs no matter their size or purpose, President Trump should be looking for ways to boost entrepreneurship. RELATED CONTENT: The Minority Business Development Agency Announces Winners Of The 2024 National Minority Enterprise Development Week Awards With the busy tourism season just around the corner, a top attraction on the bayfront is in need of an operator. The port authority continues its search for an operator of the tower on Dobbins Landing as the current one confirms hes stepping aside. Ashtabula Co. Sheriff warning of numerous scams in area, impersonation scam stopped Its iconic. People see the tower and they recognize it right away, said Chris Temple, director of communications for VisitErie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the focal point of the Bayfront District. But the future operation of the Bicentennial Tower at Dobbins Landing remains uncertain. At the end of the month, Presque Isle Boat Tours lease will expire. And owner Tim Sedney will not seek renewal. Q: Whyd you make that decision? It was a business decision, Sedney answered. Spotted lantern fly egg sacs found in Millcreek Twp., heres what to do with them The Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority put out a request for proposals, but a new operator hasnt yet been named. Q: Are you concerned that theres no operator lined up right now? Yeah because its an asset thats really. You gotta go up on top and take a look. Its beautiful, said said Jerry Skrypzak, president of the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Fishing Club. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Executive Director Julie Slomski said port authority staff will ensure operations at the tower continue. We will not miss a beat. The tower will still be open as the normal schedule. With that first free Tuesday, April 1 and of course every weekend in April, she said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Slomski said they received one proposal for operation of the tower, which they are reviewing. Im sure whoever the port authority works with will be a good operator and were willing to work with those people. Because we want to make it a community down here. Thats what its all about, Sedney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We certainly dont want to let our visitors or our residents go without something really cool. But I have complete faith that theyll get something figured out soon, Temple went on to say. Trump orders dismantling of DOE, what does that mean for PA schools? Slomski said the proposal they received will be brought before the full board and marketing committee next month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Rachel Maddow reported Thursday night that a young gay Venezuelan man, deported without due process under a Trump administration directive, has been identified publicly for the first time. His name is Andry. He is 23 years old. He is a makeup artist. And he has vanished into a Salvadoran mega-prison. Lindsay Toczylowski, who identified the man only by his first name, shared photos of the 23-year-old on The Rachel Maddow Show. The Advocate is not using Andry's last name due to concerns over his safety. Toczylowski said the Trump administration forcibly removed her client from the United States without a court hearing or deportation order. She explained that her team decided to share his identity because the government had already disclosed it in an internal document. Names and identities of people have been shared today via a list, she said. And so we know that it is inevitable that our client will be identified, and we feel it's important to let the world know who Andry, our client, is because he is a human being. He is a young professional from Venezuela. He's a makeup artist. He is a gay man.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andry had arrived in the U.S. seeking asylum, his lawyer said. He was detained after immigration officials flagged his tattoos as possible signs of gang affiliationa claim his attorney says is unfounded. These are not the tattoos of somebody who is involved with gangs, Toczylowski said. These are normal tattoos that you would see on anybody at a coffee shop anywhere in the United States or Venezuela. watermarked promo image Rachel Maddow reporting on MSNBC Rachel Maddow on MSNBC According to Venezuelan independent news outlet Cronica Uno, which interviewed the young man's mother, Andry last spoke to his family shortly before his disappearance. They believed he would be deported to Venezuela. He never arrived. Instead, he is now being held in El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center, known as Cecota sprawling, 40,000-capacity mega-prison used to detain suspected gang members. The Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelan men to Cecot despite a federal judges emergency order to stop the flights on March 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, we have confirmation from the governmentone of the few groups or attorneys that have confirmationthat our client is indeed in El Salvador, Toczylowski said. International human rights groups have condemned the prison for extreme overcrowding, systemic abuse, denial of medical care , and a communications blackout. Theres no phone, mail or visits, political scientist Mneesha Gellman told The Guardian. LGBTQ+ individuals are at heightened risk inside the facility, where detainees are often identifiedand sometimes targetedbased on tattoos alone. Andry was scheduled to appear in U.S. immigration court to challenge the governments allegations last week. He never appeared. ICE never presented him, Toczylowski said. The immigration judge said, How is it possible that he's been removed if there's no removal order? And the ICE attorney that was in the courtroom said, I don't know. watermarked promo image Lindsay Toczylowski on MSNBC Lindsay Toczylowski on MSNBC Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toczylowski said ICE has since told her team it will not facilitate communication with Andry or make him available for his next immigration hearing. They will not facilitate communication with our client, because he has, in their words, been removed, she said. And they will not make him available for that hearing in two weeks. Maddow described the case as part of one of the most dramatic crises of this new presidency, and said the administrations legal argument amounts to claiming unchecked executive authority. Just on Trumps say-so, youre gone out of the country, disappeared indefinitely, she said. The Advocate contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment on Friday. The agency did not immediately respond. Toczylowski warned that her clients case reflects a broader assault on due process and the right to seek asylum. Were pursuing all avenues, she said. Because our client's life is at risk. We're concerned for his safety. And the fact that he was forcibly taken from the United States with no due processit's justits something that really shocks the conscience in a way that we haven't seen since family separation happened in 2018. DNA EVIDENCE SAYS FIRST AMERICANS CAME FROM ASIA Natives Americans are believed to have descended from Asian people who arrived in North America via the Bering Strait. The DNA of ancient American bog people is closer to the Japanese than Americans. Glenn Hodges wrote in National Geographic: In recent years geneticists have compared the DNA of modern Native Americans with that of other populations around the world and concluded that the ancestors of Native Americans were Asians who separated from other Asian populations and remained isolated for about 10,000 years, based on mutation rates in human DNA. During that time they developed unique genetic signatures that only Native Americans currently possess. [Source: Glenn Hodges, National Geographic, January 2015 /~] These genetic markers have been found not only in the DNA recovered from Naias skeleton from Hoyo Negro, Mexico but also in the remains of a child buried some 12,600 years ago in western Montana, on a piece of land now called the Anzick site. In 2014 Danish geneticist Eske Willerslev reported that an analysis of the childs remains had yielded, for the first time, a full Paleo-American genome. Now weve got two specimens, Anzick and Hoyo Negro, both from a common ancestor who came from Asia, Waters says. And like Hoyo Negro, the Anzick genome unquestionably shows that Paleo-Americans are genetically related to native peoples. Though some critics point out that two individuals are too small a sample to draw definitive conclusions, theres strong consensus on the Asian ancestry of the first Americans. /~\ RELATED ARTICLES: EARLIEST EVIDENCE OF HUMANS TO AMERICA factsanddetails.com ; WHEN AND HOW THE FIRST HUMANS CAME TO AMERICA: THEORIES AND EVIDENCE factsanddetails.com ; MIGRATION ROUTE OF THE FIRST HUMANS IN AMERICA factsanddetails.com ; SINGLE WAVE VS MULTIPLE PULSE THEORY AND MIGRATION OF EARLY PEOPLE TO AMERICA factsanddetails.com ; EARLIEST MODERN HUMANS IN WHAT IS NOW ALASKA AND CANADA factsanddetails.com ; EARLIEST MODERN HUMANS IN WHAT IS NOW THE CONTINENTAL U.S. factsanddetails.com ; WHITE SANDS 23,000-21,000 YEAR-OLD HUMAN FOOTPRINTS factsanddetails.com ; CLOVIS PEOPLE: SITES, POINTS, PRE-CLOVIS, MAMMOTHS factsanddetails.com ; EARLIEST MODERN HUMANS IN SOUTH AMERICA factsanddetails.com ; EARLIEST MODERN HUMANS IN SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA factsanddetails.com ; FIRST HUMANS AND SETTLEMENTS IN THE AMAZON factsanddetails.com ; SOLUTREAN HYPOTHESIS factsanddetails.com RECOMMENDED BOOKS: Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas By Jennifer Raff, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Kansas (Twelve, 2022); Amazon.com; First Peoples in a New World: Populating Ice Age America by David J. Meltzer, an archaeologist and professor of prehistory in the Department of Anthropology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, (Cambridge University Press, 2021); Amazon.com; The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere by Paulette F. C. Steeves (2023) Amazon.com; First Migrants: Ancient Migration in Global Perspective by Peter Bellwood Amazon.com; Ancestral DNA, Human Origins, and Migrations by Rene J. Herrera (2018) Amazon.com; Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past by David Reich (2019) Amazon.com; Our Human Story: Where We Come From and How We Evolved By Louise Humphrey and Chris Stringer, (2018) Amazon.com; "The Settlement of the Americas: A New Prehistory" by Thomas D. Dillehay ( Basic Books, 2000 Dated) Amazon.com; Strangers in a New Land: What Archaeology Reveals About the First Americans by J. M. Adovasio, David Pedler (2016) Amazon.com; Paleoindian Mammoth and Mastodon Kill Sites of North America by Jason Pentrail (2021) Amazon.com; Clovis The First Americans?: by F. Scott Crawford (2012) Amazon.com; Across Atlantic Ice: The Origin of America's Clovis Culture by Dennis J. J. Stanford, Bruce A. Bradley, Michael Collins Amazon.com; From Kostenki to Clovis: Upper PaleolithicPaleo-Indian Adaptations (Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology) by Olga Soffer (1993) Amazon.com; Genetic Model of the First Americans Laura Geggel wrote in Live Science: Geneticists studying the first Americans tend to paint a more consistent picture than archaeologists do, mainly because they're using the same human remains and genetic datasets. Genetic analyses have found that Ancient North Siberians and a group of East Asians paired up around 20,000 to 23,000 years ago, Jennifer Raff, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Kansas, told Live Science. Soon after, the population split into two genetically distinct groups: one that stayed in Siberia, and another, the basal American branch, which emerged around 20,000 to 21,000 years ago. Genetic data suggest the descendants of this basal American branch crossed the Bering Land Bridge and became the first Americans. [Source: Laura Geggel, Live Science, October 9, 2023] The basal American branch then split into three groups: unsampled population A (UPopA), a mysterious "genetic" ghost that has "only been detected indirectly from the genomes" of the Mixe, of what is now Mexico, Raff said; Ancient Beringians, who have no known living descendants; and Ancestral Native Americans (ANA), whose descendants live on today. All three of these groups ultimately made it to North America, but their diverging genetics suggests that they crossed in separate movements, Meltzer and Willerslev wrote in the review. Some didn't make it very far; The Ancient Beringians entered Alaska but never made it south of the continental ice sheets. The last known Ancient Beringian, known as the "Trail Creek individual," died around 9,000 years ago in Alaska. Meanwhile, the ANA lineage underwent several splits, suggesting that these people settled in different areas of North America as they had limited gene flow between them, Raff said. There was one split between 21,000 and 16,000 years ago and then a second one around 15,700 years ago. During this second split, the Northern Native Americans whose living descendants include speakers of the Algonquian, Salishan, Tsimshian and Na-Dene language groupings separated from the Southern Native Americans (SNA), who spread southward and whose descendants include the Clovis, Raff said. Every known living and deceased Indigenous "individual south of Canada belongs to SNA," Raff said. DNA Studies Related to the First Americans One study revealed that the first Native American group to settle in the Americas had just about 250 people in it. According to Live Science: To make the finding, researchers looked at the DNA of people from Native American groups in Central and South America, different Siberian groups, and people from China. Because genetic divergence (for instance, between Native Americans and Siberians) increases with time, the researchers were able to plug the DNA data into a computer model and work backward to determine the size of the original group. [Source: Laura Geggel, Live Science, December 25, 2018] Eske Willerslev of the University of Cambridge and the Center for GeoGenetics at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen sequenced the first ancient human genome in 2010 and later sequenced numerous genomes in an effort to get a picture of the first Americans, including a 12,400-year-old boy from Montana, 11,500-year-old infants at Alaskas Upward Sun River site and the skeletal DNA of a boy whose 24,000-year-old remains were found at the village of Malta, near Russias Lake Baikal. [Source: Fen Montaigne, Smithsonian magazine, January-February 2020] Fen Montaigne wrote in Smithsonian magazine: According to Willerslev, sophisticated genomic analyses of ancient human remains which can determine when populations merged, split or were isolated show that the forebears of Native Americans became isolated from other Asian groups around 23,000 years ago. After that period of genetic separation, the most parsimonious explanation, he says, is that the first Americans migrated into Alaska well before 15,000 years ago, and possibly more than 20,000 years ago. Willerslev has concluded that there was a long period of gene flow between the Upward Sun River people and other Beringians from 23,000 to 20,000 years ago. There was basically an exchange between the populations across eastern and western Beringia, Willerslev said in a phone interview from Copenhagen. So you had these groups hanging around Beringia and they are to some degree isolated but not completely isolated from each other. You had those groups up there, on both sides of the Bering Land Bridge, around 20,000 years ago. I think that is very likely. Chinese researchers Feng Zhang, Bing Su, Ya-ping Zhang and Li Jin have done studies based on Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), circular chromosomes found inside cellmitochondria that is passed down on along the female line. They wrote in an article published by the Royal Society: Among Native Americans: There are three linguistically identified groups of population: Amerind, Eskimo-Aleut and Na-Dene. mtDNA haplogroups of Native America include four Asian haplogroups (A, B, C and D) and one European haplogroup studied Amerind populations and showed that the sequence diversity of haplogroup B is much lower than those of haplogroups A, C and D. Furthermore, haplogroup B is absent in Siberia, while A, C and D are prevalent. These two observations imply that the Amerind linguistic group might have been derived from two migrations. [Source: Genetic studies of human diversity in East Asia by 1) Feng Zhang, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 2) Bing Su, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, 3) Ya-ping Zhang, Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, Yunnan University and 4) Li Jin, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University. Author for correspondence (ljin007@gmail.com), 2007 The Royal Society ***] Lell et al. (2002) analysed 12 Y-SNPs in 549 individuals from Siberia and the Americas. Three major Y lineages of Native American populations have been found: M3 (66 percent), M45 (25 percent) and M130 (5 percent). M3, also known as DYS119 (Underhill et al. 1996), was confined to the Chukoka peninsula in Siberia. M45 was divided into two subgroups; one subgroup (M45a) is found throughout the Americas, and another (M45b) is prevalent in North and Central America. These two sub-haplogroups have different distribution patterns in Siberia (M45a in middle Siberia and M45b in eastern Siberia). The C-M130 haplogroup has a similar distribution to that of M45b in Siberia and in North America. They hypothesized that there were two independent migrations into America from Siberia, which is consistent with the mtDNA evidence (Wallace et al. 1985). M242 is a polymorphism, which was introduced after M74 (arising in Asia) but before M3 (arising in America) in the phylogeny of the human Y chromosome (Underhill et al. 1996, 2000), and can be used to date the entry into the Americas. Based on the diversity of 15 Y-STRs in 69 Eurasian M242-T samples, the time of first entry into the Americas was estimated to be close to 15 00018 000 years BP (Seielstad et al. 2003). Did the First Americans and Japanese Come from China? A DNA study published in May 2023 in Cell Reports revealed that some of the first arrivals in America came from China during two distinct migrations: the first during the last ice age, and the second shortly after. "Our findings indicate that besides the previously indicated ancestral sources of Native Americans in Siberia, the northern coastal China also served as a genetic reservoir contributing to the gene pool," Yu-Chun Li, one of the report authors, told AFP. [Source: Issam Ahmed, AFP, May 10, 2023] AFP reported: Li added that during the second migration, the same lineage of people settled in Japan, which could help explain similarities in prehistoric arrowheads and spears found in the Americas, China and Japan. It was once believed that ancient Siberians, who crossed over a land bridge that existed in the Bering Strait linking modern Russia and Alaska, were the sole ancestors of Native Americans. More recent research, from the late 2000s onwards, has signaled more diverse sources from Asia could be connected to an ancient lineage responsible for founding populations across the Americas, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and California. Known as D4h, this lineage is found in mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from mothers and is used to trace maternal ancestry. The team from the Kunming Institute of Zoology embarked on a ten-year hunt for D4h. Charles Q. Choi wrote in Live Science: The researchers analyzed more than 100,000 contemporary and 15,000 ancient DNA samples from across Eurasia. D4h is a rare mitochondrial DNA lineage which is currently found in only about 1 in 200 people worldwide. "This genetic type had only been sporadically reported in different studies," study lead author Yu-Chun Li, a molecular anthropologist at the Kunming Institute of Zoology in China, told Live Science. "Therefore, this female lineage, as well as its origin and dispersal history especially its dispersal into the Americas gained little attention until now." Previous research found that one branch of D4h, known as D4h3a, was seen in Indigenous Americans, while another offshoot named D4h3b was detected in China and Thailand. This suggested that ancient members of the D4h lineage might help bridge Asia and the Americas."The most difficult work was to collect as many samples belonging to D4h as we could," study senior author Qing-Peng Kong, an evolutionary geneticist at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, told Live Science. [Source: Charles Q. Choi, Live Science May 10, 2023] The Kunming team eventually landed on 216 contemporary and 39 ancient individuals who came from the ancient lineage. By analyzing the mutations that had accrued over time, looking at the samples' geographic locations and using carbon dating, they were able to reconstruct the D4h lineage's origins and expansion history. The results revealed two migration events. The first was between 19,500 and 26,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheet coverage was at its greatest and climate conditions in northern China were likely inhospitable. The second occurred during the melting period, between 19,000 and 11,500 years ago. Increasing human populations during this period might have triggered migrations. In both cases, the scientists think the travelers were seafarers who docked in America and traveled along the Pacific coast by boats. This is because a grassy passageway between two ice sheets in modern Canada, known as the "inland ice-free corridor," was not yet opened.In the second migration, a subgroup branched out from northern coastal China to Japan, contributing to the Japanese people, especially the indigenous Ainu, the study said, a finding that chimes with archeological similarities between ancient people in the Americas, China and Japan. Li said a strength of the study was the number of samples they discovered, and complementary evidence from Y chromosomal DNA showing male ancestors of Native Americans lived in northern China at the same time as the female ancestors, made them confident of their findings.Loren Davis, an archaeologist at Oregon State University in Corvallis who did not take part in this research, told Live Science while the new study is exciting, it's just "another piece of the puzzle," on how and when ice age humans first populated the Americas, Davis said. For instance, the researchers stressed that while these new findings suggest this single northern Chinese lineage may have contributed to Indigenous American ancestry, "it does not represent the whole history of all Native Americans," Li said. "Investigating other lineages showing genetic connections between Asia and the Americas will help obtain the whole picture of the history of Native Americans." Migration Patterns Deduced from Blood Types and North America and Siberian Languages Geneticists believe that early Americans were composed of three separate groups that arrived in America at different times from different places: 1) the Amerind, the dominate group in North and South America, possess only type O blood; 2) the Na-Dene, who live in clusters in Alaska, Canada and part of the U.S. Southwest, have mostly O but a little A blood; and 3) the Alaskan and Canadian Inuit (Eskimo) have A, B, AB and O blood group patterns which parallel other groups found in the rest of the world. Joseph Stromberg wrote in smithsonian.com: A pair of linguistics researchers, Mark Sicoli and Gary Holton, recently analyzed languages from North American Na-Dene family (traditionally spoken in Alaska, Canada and parts of the present-day U.S.) and the Asian Yeneseian family (spoken thousands of miles away, in central Siberia), using similarities and differences between the languages to construct a language family tree. As they note in an article published today in PLOS ONE, they found that the two language families are indeed relatedand both appear to descend from an ancestral language that can be traced to the Beringia region. Both Siberia and North America, it seems, were settled by the descendants of a community that lived in Beringia for some time. In other words, Sicoli says, this makes it look like Beringia wasnt simply a bridge, but actually a homelanda refuge, where people could build a life.[Source: Joseph Stromberg, smithsonian.com, March 12, 2014 ^] Sicoli began looking into the relationships between languages to model migration in the region several years ago, when he was with Holton at the University of Alaska (Sicoli is now at Georgetown University). The relationship between Yenesian and Na-Dene languageswhich would theoretically serve as proof that Native Americans ancestors had migrated from Asiawas proposed as far back as 1923, by Italian linguist Alfredo Trombetti, but the first rigorous research to prove the link was only conducted over the past decade or so. ^ Sicoli and Holton sought to go a step further: They wanted to not only show the two groups were related, but analyze the similarities and differences between languages in the two families to paint a geographic picture of this ancient migration. To do so, they relied upon software programs that conduct phylogenetic analyses. Most often, phylogenetics refers to sorting out the evolutionary relationships between different organisms, using genetic similarities and differences to construct an accurate family tree of species. But because languages, like life, gradually evolve over time, linguists have put the same sort of analysis to work in constructing language trees. ^ The researchers collected data on two Yeniseian languages, 37 Na-Dene languages and Haida (a language spoken on Canadas Pacific coast but not believed to be related to Na-Dene, used as a control) from the Alaska Native Language Archive and several other published sources. Then, they used phylogenetic algorithms to create a family tree of the forty languages, determining which were most closely related based on the number of similarities (such as phonemes that serve particular roles in the languages grammar, for instance). ^ Their tree confirmed that Yenesian and Na-Dene are relatedand that Haida is notbut because these languages were carried by populations of humans that were moving over time, the lengths of branches in the tree also allowed Sicoli and Horton to weigh the odds of two different migration hypotheses. The first, proposed by many linguists, held that the source of both the Yenesian and Na-Dene languages was in Asia, with a subset of its speakers migrating across Beringia and bringing evolved versions of the language to North America. The second held that the source was in Beringia itself, with subsets of its speakers fanning out over both Siberia and North America. ^ The phylogenetic analysis, based on the degree of similarities between Yenesian and Na-Dene languages and within both groups, strongly supported the latter hypothesismeaning that residents of communities as far apart as Central Siberia and the Great Plains share common ancestors, who likely lived in Beringia for an extended period of time. Growing up, Id look at maps showing migrations to the Americas, and theyd always just show arrows going in one direction: straight across from Asia to North America, Sicoli says. What we see now is something more complicated, because some of those arrows go back to Siberia, and it wasnt a non-stop trip. ^ This fits with what we know about the geography of the region at the time. Asia and Alaska were connected by a land bridge because global sea levels were much lower, largely because of how much water was locked up in glaciers that covered much more of the planet than today. But even though these glaciers opened up the corridor between North America and Asia, they also closed the door, because, as mentioned before, Alaska itself was under a thick sheet of ice at that time. Thus, the land bridge was a dead end, potentially explaining why these ancient migrants could have spent about 10,000 years in Beringia. Then, about 17,000 years ago, the glaciers began to recedeand sea levels began to riseproviding two reasons to leave Beringia, either for new territory in Alaska or back toward Siberia. 24,000-Year-Old Siberian DNA Suggests Native Americans More Closely Linked to Eurasians than East Asians Meeri Kim wrote in the Washington Post: The genetic analysis of a 24,000-year-old arm bone from an ancient Siberian boy suggests that Native Americans have a more complicated ancestry than scientists realized, with some of their distant kin looking more Eurasian than East Asian. The new study, published in the journal Nature, represents the oldest genome of a modern human ever fully sequenced. [Source: Meeri Kim, Washington Post, November 20, 2013 ||+||] Modern-day Native Americans share from 14 to 38 percent of their DNA with the Siberian hunter-gatherers who are not closely related to East Asians with the remainder coming from East Asian ancestors. Most scientists have thought that the first Americans came only from the East Asian populations. If you read about the origins of Native Americans, it will say East Asians somehow crossed the Bering Sea, said study author and evolutionary biologist Eske Willerslev at Copenhagen University. This is definitely not the case its more complex than that. ||+|| It isnt known where or when the meeting of the two peoples happened, but a likely location could be Beringia, the region surrounding the current gap between Alaska and Siberia. Although presently occupied by the Bering Strait and its surrounding waters, the glaciers of roughly 20,000 years ago locked up much of the earths water, exposing a land bridge between the two continents. The prehistoric crossroad provided an easy way for people, animals and plants to spread. ||+|| Originally excavated in the 1950s, the remains of the boy had been tucked away in the bowels of a museum in St. Petersburg. He was about 3 when he died, and he was buried with a variety of grave goods, including a swan figurine and an ivory pendant. When Willerslev sequenced the DNA from the boys upper arm bone, he thought the results were a mistake: It said the boy belonged to a lineage commonly found among Europeans, but not in East Asians. We put the study on hold for a year because I thought it was contamination, Willerslev said. They tried again, this time digging deeper and looking at the Y chromosome. It and the rest of the genome told the same story: The boy had links to present-day western Eurasians and Native Americans, but not East Asians. ||+|| They also sequenced a more recent Siberian adult whose DNA wasnt as well preserved, and they got similar results. They were members of a really cosmopolitan group that probably reflect early modern humans leaving Africa and spreading into central Asia, said study author Kelly Graf, a Texas A&M anthropologist. Their results support fossil evidence from early Paleo-Indian humans, such as a well-preserved skeleton known as Kennewick man found in Washington state. Dated to about 9,000 years old, he has facial features that dont look East Asian but rather somewhat Caucasian a mystery found replicated in other skulls. ||+|| The fact that the first Americans were already mixed to begin with could answer these controversies, Willerslev said. Any Western Eurasian genetic signatures found in Native Americans today were previously attributed to post-1492 colonial mixing with Europeans. Maybe it has much deeper roots from Siberia, not Europeans coming over in their boats, Graf said. ||+|| Single Wave Migration Theory Versus Multiple Pulses Theory for the First Americans There are two theories about the migration process of the first American: 1) it was a single migratory event, the so called single wave theory, or 2) it occurred in multiple pulses, waves or migrations. The evidence gathered so far seems to suggest it was a single event or at least a dominant single event, with some sideshow migrations that didnt leave much of a DNA impact. Tests on mitochondrial DNA taken from the few examples of ancient American DNA, Joel Achenbach wrote in the Washington Post, have a genetic marker common today across the Americas, one that scientists say evolved in a prehistoric population that had been isolated for thousands of years in Beringia, the land mass between Alaska and Siberia that formed a bridge between the continents during the Ice Ages. Thus, according to the report, the Native Americans and the Paleoamericans are the same people, descended from the same Beringia population. They just look different because of recent evolution. [Source: Joel Achenbach, Washington Post, May 15, 2014] Most scientists have assumed that the first humans to come to the Americas traveled from Eurasia across the Bering land bridge that existed before the oceans rose after the Ice Ages. But there is great debate about whether this represented a single migratory event or multiple pulses of people from different parts of Eurasia and via different routes, including a coastal migration. One maverick theory, based on archeological finds, contends that people came from Europe, following the edge of the ice around the North Atlantic. Adding to the mystery is that the Paleoamericans, such as Naia, didnt look like later Native Americans. Naia had a small, projecting face, with narrow cheekbones, wide-set eyes and a prominent forehead. Native Americans of later millennia tended to have broader, longer, flatter faces, and rounder skulls, said James Chatters, an independent researcher based in Washington state. See Separate Article: SINGLE WAVE VERSUS MULTIPLE PULSE THEORY AND MIGRATION OF EARLY PEOPLE TO AMERICA factsanddetails.com Genetic Links Between Early Americans and Early Japanese Aileen Kawagoe wrote in Heritage of Japan: A 1994 study concluded that ancestral lineages of Ainu people migrated across Beringia carrying HTLV-I virus (subtype A) to the American continent in the Paleolithic era. Phlylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA and HLA type analysis suggest there is a relationship between Japanese and Paleo-Indians in South America (DRB10802 was found to be present in almost all Amerindians, Siberian Eskimos and Japanese Ainu but specifically two Meso and South Amerindian DRB1 alleles DRB10411 and DRB10417- are also shared with Siberians and Asian Pacific coast populations (Ainu, Japanese and Taiwan) as well as Athabaskans and Eskimos (other First American inhabitants) with the exception of the Aleuts). [Source: Aileen Kawagoe, Heritage of Japan website, heritageofjapan.wordpress.com] A 2000 American Scientist article suggested that the highest frequencies of these four haplogroups occur in the Altai Mountain/Tuva/Lake Baikal region, implying that this general region gave rise to the founders of Native American populations. Otherwise, haplogroup B is absent in the vast majority of native Siberian populations, haplogroup A occurs at very low frequencies outside of Chukotka, and haplogroups C and D are the predominant mtDNA lineages in northern Asia. However, the presence of a certain control region mutation in haplogroups C and D may point to alternative source areas for ancestral Native Americans. This mutation appears in the majority of both haplogroup C and D mtDNAs in Native American populations, suggesting it is part of the original sequence motifs for both of them. Among all Asian and Siberian mtDNAs, however, this mutation only appears in haplogroup C mtDNAs from Mongolia and the Amur River region and in haplogroup D mtDNAs in the Japanese, Korean and Ainu. This distribution suggests that East Asia as well as southeast Siberia or Mongolia might be source areas or migration pathways for these haplogroups." Adachi N, and others in a study of Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Jomon skeletons assigned D1a (along with M7a, N9b) to ancient DNA recovered from 16 Jomon skeletons excavated from Funadomari site, Hokkaido, Japan. The fact that Hokkaido Jomons shared haplogroup D1 with Native Americans validates the hypothesized genetic affinity of the Jomon people to Native Americans, providing direct evidence for the genetic relationships between these populations It appears that the genetic study of ancient populations in northern part of Japan brings important information to the understanding of human migration in northeast Asia and America. Adachi N, and others in Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Jomon skeletons from the Funadomari site, Hokkaido, and its implication for the origins of Native American, Am J Phys Anthropol. 2009 Mar;138(3):255-65. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.20923)] See Separate Article: FIRST JAPANESE AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE AMERICAS factsanddetails.com DNA Studies on the Relationship Between North and South Americans Some studies have suggested that the first Americans diverged genetically from their Siberian and East Asian ancestors about 25,000 years ago. These people traveled across the Bering Strait Land Bridge and eventually split into distinct North and South American populations. By about 13,000 years ago, people of the Clovis culture, known for its use of distinctive, pointy stone tools, came to occupy much of North America. But by this time, people were already living as far south as Monte Verde, Chile. They had been there since a least 14,500 years ago, according to archaeological findings there. Still it is not totally clear how the Clovis culture were linked to populations in South America. [Source: Laura Geggel, Live Science, November 9, 2018] According to an ancient DNA analysis published online November 8, 2018 in the journal Cell prehistoric people from different populations made their way across the Americas thousands of years ago. People genetically linked to the Clovis culture, one of the earliest and best-known cultures in North America, migrated into South America as far back as 11,000 years ago but then mysteriously disappeared around 9,000 years ago. The 2018 study says that another ancient group of people replaced them, but it is certain how or why this occurred, and the population turnover happened across the entire continent of South America. Laura Geggel wrote in Live Science: To unravel the genetic mysteries of the these ancient Americans, the researchers reached out to indigenous peoples and government agencies all over Central and South America, asking for permission to study the remains of ancient peoples that have been discovered over the years. In all, the international team of scientists was given permission to do genomewide analyses on 49 ancient people whose remains were unearthed in the following Central and South American countries: Belize, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Argentina. The oldest of these people lived about 11,000 years ago, marking this as a study that takes a big step forward from previous research, which only included genetic data from people less than 1,000 years old, the researchers said. Their findings showed that DNA associated with the North American Clovis culture was found in people from Chile, Brazil and Belize, but only between about 11,000 to 9,000 years ago. "A key discovery was that a Clovis culture-associated individual from North America dating to around 12,800 years ago shares distinctive ancestry with the oldest Chilean, Brazilian and Belizean individuals," study co-lead author Cosimo Posth, postdoctoral researcher of archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, said in a statement. "This supports the hypothesis that the expansion of people who spread the Clovis culture in North America also reached Central and South America." [In Photos: New Clovis Site in Sonora] Curiously, around 9,000 years ago, the Clovis lineage disappears, the researchers found. Even today, there is no Clovis-associated DNA found in modern South Americans, the researchers said. This suggests that a continentwide population replacement happened at that time, said study co-senior researcher David Reich, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Following this mysterious disappearance, there is a surprising amount of genetic continuity between people who lived 9,000 years ago and those living today in multiple South American regions, the researchers said. Although these findings shed light on early Americans, it's far from complete. The researchers acknowledge that they don't have human remains that are older than about 11,000 years old, "and thus we could not directly probe the initial movements of people into Central and South America," they wrote in the study. Moreover, although the study looked at 49 people who lived between about 11,000 and 3,000 years ago, the research would be more comprehensive if more ancient individuals from different regions were included, the researchers said. "We lacked ancient data from Amazonia, northern South America and the Caribbean, and thus cannot determine how individuals in these regions relate to the ones we analyzed," Reich said in the statement. "Filling in these gaps should be a priority for future work." California-Peruvian Connection The 2018 Cell study also revealed an unexpected connection between ancient people living in California's Channel Islands and the southern Peruvian Andes at least 4,200 years ago. It appears that these two geographically distant groups have a shared ancestry, the researchers found. [Source: Laura Geggel, Live Science, November 9, 2018] Laura Geggel wrote in Live Science: It's unlikely that people living in the Channel Islands actually traveled south to Peru, the researchers said. Rather, it's possible that these groups' ancestors sallied forth thousands of years earlier, with some ending up in the Channel Islands and others in South America. But those genes didn't become common in Peru until much later, around 4,200 years ago, when the population may have exploded, the researchers said. "It could be that this ancestry arrived in South America thousands of years before and we simply don't have earlier individuals showing it," study co-lead researcher Nathan Nakatsuka, a research assistant in the Reich lab at Harvard Medical School, said in the statement. "There is archaeological evidence that the population in the Central Andes area greatly expanded after around 5,000 years ago. Spreads of particular subgroups during these events may be why we detect this ancestry afterward." First Americans from Australia? Inhabitants of what is now Australia travelled by canoe to settle in the Americans more than 30,000 years ago, some anthropologists have argues. Reuters reported: in 2004 They would have island hopped via Japan and Polynesia to the Pacific coast of the Americas at a time when sea levels were lower than they are today, Dr Silvia Gonzalez from John Moores University in Liverpool said annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Exeter in 2004. The claim will be unwelcome to today's native Americans who came overland from Siberia and say they were there first. Most researchers say they came across the Bering Straits from Russia to Alaska at the end of the Ice Age, up to 15,000 years ago. [Source: Reuters, September 7, 2004] But Gonzalez said skeletal evidence pointed strongly to Australian origins and hinted that recovered DNA would corroborate it. "This is very contentious," said Gonzalez. "[Native Americans] cannot claim to have been the first people there." She said there was very strong evidence that the first migration came from Australia to the Pacific coast of America. Skulls of a people with distinctively long and narrow heads discovered in Mexico and California predated by several thousand years the more rounded features of the skulls of native Americans. One particularly well preserved skull of a long-face woman had been carbon dated to 12,700 years ago, whereas the oldest accurately dated native American skull was only about 9000 years old. She said there were tales from Spanish missionaries of an isolated coastal community of long-face people in Baja California, known as the Pericues, who were of a completely different race and rituals from other communities in America at the time. "They appear more similar to southern Asians and the populations of the Pacific Rim than they do to northern Asians," she said. "You cannot have two face shapes coming from the same place." The last survivors were wiped out by diseases imported by the Spanish conquerors, Gonzalez said. Researchers have ruled out the theory that the first Americans were Pacific Islanders who boated across the open ocean, because people didn't migrate to Polynesia until around 3,000 years ago and genetic evidence shows that the first Americans are only very distantly related to Polynesians. [Source: Laura Geggel, Live Science, October 9, 2023] See Separate Article: PEOPLE WHO LIVED AUSTRALIA 20,000 TO 10,000 YEARS AGO factsanddetails.com Those That Argue That DNA Doesnt Tell the Whole Story Fen Montaigne wrote in Smithsonian magazine: Some archaeologists, like Ben A. Potter at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, emphasize that genetics can only provide a road map for new digs, not solid evidence of the Beringian Standstill theory or the settlement of the Americas 20,000 years ago. Until theres actual evidence that people were in fact there, then it remains just an interesting hypothesis, he says. All that is required is that [ancestral Native Americans] were genetically isolated from wherever the East Asians happened to be around that time. Theres absolutely nothing in the genetics that necessitates the Standstill had to be in Beringia. We dont have evidence that people were in Beringia and Alaska then. But we do have evidence that they were around Lake Baikal and into the Russian Far East. [Source: Fen Montaigne, Smithsonian magazine, January-February 2020] After Potter unearthed the 11,500-year-old remains of two infants and a girl at the Upward Sun River site in Alaskas Tanana Valley among the oldest human remains found in North America Willerslev sequenced the infants DNA. The two scientists were co-authors on a Nature paper that support[ed] a long-term genetic structure in ancestral Native Americans, consistent with the Beringian standstill model. But Potter thinks that news stories on these and other findings have been too definitive. One of the problems with the media coverage is its focus on a single hypothesis a pre-16,000-year-old migration along the northwest coast that is not well supported with evidence. Potter remains doubtful that humans could have survived in most of Beringia during the bitter peak of the ice age, about 25,000 years ago. Across the board, he says, from Europe all the way to the Bering Strait, this far north area is depopulated. Theres nobody there, and that lasts for a long time. Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons Text Sources: National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Nature, Scientific American. Live Science, Discover magazine, Discovery News, Ancient Foods ancientfoods.wordpress.com ; Times of London, Natural History magazine, Archaeology magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, BBC, The Guardian, Reuters, AP, AFP and other publications. Last updated June 2024 BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV) GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Brunswick, the agency said Thursday. An 18-year-old was injured in the incident, a GBI spokesperson said. Larry Labraun Kirkland, of Brunswick, Ga., was reportedly involved in a shooting at a home on MLK Jr. Boulevard. After he left the home, Brunswick Police officers located him and a chase ensued after he ran from officers, officials said. GBI The chase ended at a home in the 2700 block of Wolfe Street where officers reportedly gave verbal commands and attempted to arrest Kirkland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While trying to arrest Kirkland, the officers allegedly saw a gun on Kirkland. One officer deployed their taser, and another shot at Kirkland, a GBI spokesperson said He was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. No officers were injured. The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. The case file will be given to the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office for review following the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Democratics and Republicans alike are already gearing up for the 2026 Midterm election. At a townhall at Bakersfields IBEW Local 428 union hall Thursday night, Democratics discussed possible pathways to future victory, following major local and national losses in 2024. Kern County Republicans face their own troubles especially Congressman David Valadao. Two days in a row, constituents rallied outside his Bakersfield district office to protest potential cuts to programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KCSO lieutenant caused 2 crashes on Sunday, allegedly driving under the influence Show me what America looks like, this is what America looks like, protesters chanted Wednesday evening. And on Thursday morning, nurses with Bakersfields Memorial Hospital chanted, When our healthcare is under attack, stand up and fight back. [Were here] to demand that he votes no on the current federal budget in the House of Representatives. And votes no to any cuts to Medicaid said Noe Garcia, policy coordinator with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. These concerns stem from House Republicans budget blueprint approved in February, for which Valadao voted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this blueprint, Republicans say they want to cut $880 billion from programs managed by Congress Energy and Commerce Committee. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said such a massive cut likely cannot happen without cutting Medicaid, Medicare and other programs. These cuts are up in the air. Nothing is finalized, and Congress and President Trump just passed a temporary spending bill to keep the government open and funded through the end of September. But again, voters are concerned that in the future when budget conversations pick up again, there is an opportunity for those entitlement cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need people to be able to get their insulin, to take care of their chronic illnesses and see their doctors on a regular basis, said Sandy Reding, a nurse at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Reding added, Its oftentimes the working poor, the disabled, the children [that are affected]. Valadao, you represent the largest number of people in California that are on Medicaid, food stamps, disability programs, education programs, said local activist Dolores Huerta. Medicare provides health care to seniors. Medicaid assists low-income and disabled people. Valadao has declined all interview requests since early this month but said in a statement: I know how important Medicaid is to Central Valley families, and I remain committed to ensuring they have access to affordable healthcare, said Congressman Valadao. There has been a lot of political rhetoric about cuts to Medicaid, but the reality is no such cuts have been made. As Congress continues to work through the budget process, I have been clear with House Leadership that I will only support a final package that protects critical programs like Medicaid and meets the needs of our community. My priority remains standing up for Central Valley families and making sure they can get the care they need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huerta added, Republicans, independent voters, Democrats, people that dont vote, everybodys going to be impacted by these tax cuts. So, what are political implications as the 2026 Midterm and yet another reelection bid for Valadao fast approaches? Hes in a tough spot. Hes always in a tough spot, though, said Central Valley political analyst Tracy Leach. Throughout his tenure, he is a Republican in a very Democrat district. 17 News also spoke to Central Valley political strategist Tal Eslick. 17 News Jenny Huh: Do you think that can actually threaten his reelection bid? Tal Eslick: So, when voters ultimately make the decision as to whether or not theyre going to reward an elected official with reelection, its usually not one specific thing. Maybe its a couple of things [that impact their vote] Valadao is probably the only Republican that can consistently win in this particular seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five-term congressman has walked a fine line as a moderate Republican, winning in the majority Latino, largely Democratic district, beating Latino candidates like former California Assemblyman Rudy Salas. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage His 22nd Congressional District is a competitive purple district Democrats and Republicans have a fair shot. But healthcare is an Achilles for him, Leach noted. In the past, it was healthcare, arguably, that was his undoing in 2018 to repeal and replace Obamacare. He voted for that. That was the one year thus far Valadao lost his reelection bid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Constituents encouraged Valadao if wants reelection in 2026. Under those pressures of Washington D.C. and the current Administration, stand firm, stand strong, stated Grace Huerta, co-director of Kern Exceptional Family Center. Valadaos district, two thirds of the people are on Medicaid, the residents, Leach remarked. That is a huge number. So, he has to somehow navigate that with his party in D.C. but not let down his own constituents here in the Central Valley. Strategist Eslick noted, The specificity of these cuts does not exist yet, right? So, everything that were talking about so far is mostly rhetoric Congressional Democrats are using this as a bludgeon against anyone in a competitive seat. All eyes are on Valadao whether it be his constituents, or his party, with the potential President Trump can put up a Republican primary opponent against the congressman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. Generative AI chatbots are known to make a lot of mistakes. Let's hope you didn't follow Google's AI suggestion to add glue to your pizza recipe or eat a rock or two a day for your health. These errors are known as hallucinations: essentially, things the model makes up. Will this technology get better? Even researchers who study artificial intelligence aren't optimistic that'll happen soon. That's one of the findings by a panel of two dozen artificial intelligence experts released this month by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. The group also surveyed more than 400 of the association's members. AI Atlas In contrast to the hype you may see about developers being just years (or months, depending on who you ask) away from improving AI, this panel of academics and industry experts seems more guarded about how quickly these tools will advance. That includes not just getting facts right and avoiding bizarre mistakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reliability of AI tools needs to increase dramatically if developers are going to produce a model that can meet or surpass human intelligence, commonly known as artificial general intelligence. Researchers seem to believe improvements at that scale are unlikely to happen soon. "We tend to be a little bit cautious and not believe something until it actually works," Vincent Conitzer, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and one of the panelists, told me. AI has developed rapidly in recent years The goal of the report, AAAI president Francesca Rossi wrote in its introduction, is to support research in artificial intelligence that produces technology that helps people. Issues of trust and reliability are serious, not just in providing accurate information but in avoiding bias and ensuring a future AI doesn't cause severe unintended consequences. "We all need to work together to advance AI in a responsible way, to make sure that technological progress supports the progress of humanity and is aligned to human values," she wrote. The acceleration of AI, especially since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, has been remarkable, Conitzer said. "In some ways that's been stunning, and many of these techniques work much better than most of us ever thought that they would," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are some areas of AI research where "the hype does have merit," John Thickstun, assistant professor of computer science at Cornell University, told me. That's especially true in math or science, where users can check a model's results. "This technology is amazing," Thickstun said. "I've been working in this field for over a decade, and it's shocked me how good it's become and how fast it's become good." Despite those improvements, there are still significant issues that merit research and consideration, experts said. Will chatbots start to get their facts straight? Despite some progress in improving the trustworthiness of the information that comes from generative AI models, much more work needs to be done. A recent report from the Columbia Journalism Review found chatbots were unlikely to decline to answer questions they couldn't answer accurately, confident about the wrong information they provided and made up (and provided fabricated links to) sources to back up those wrong assertions. Improving reliability and accuracy "is arguably the biggest area of AI research today," the AAAI report said. Researchers noted three main ways to boost the accuracy of AI systems: fine-tuning such as reinforcing learning with human feedback, retrieval-augmented generation in which the system gathers specific documents and pulls its answer from those, and chain-of-thought where prompts break down the question into smaller steps that the AI model can check for hallucinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will those things make your chatbot responses more accurate soon? Not likely. "Factuality is far from solved," the report said. About 60% of those surveyed indicated doubts that factuality or trustworthiness concerns would be solved soon. In the generative AI industry, there has been optimism that scaling up existing models will make them more accurate and reduce hallucinations. "I think that hope was always a little bit overly optimistic," Thickstun said. "Over the last couple of years, I haven't seen any evidence that really accurate, highly factual language models are around the corner." Despite the fallibility of large language models such as Anthropic's Claude or Meta's Llama, users can mistakenly assume they're more accurate because they present answers with confidence, Conitzer said. "If we see somebody responding confidently or words that sound confident, we take it that the person really knows what they're talking about," he said. "An AI system, it might just claim to be very confident about something that's completely nonsense." Lessons for the artificial intelligence users Awareness of generative AI's limitations is vital to using it properly. Thickstun's advice for users of models such as ChatGPT and Google's Gemini is simple: "You have to check the results." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement General large language models do a poor job of consistently retrieving factual information, he said. If you ask it for something, you should probably follow up by looking up the answer in a search engine (and not relying on the AI summary of the search results). By the time you do that, you might have been better off doing that in the first place. Thickstun said the way he uses AI models most is to automate tasks that he could do anyway and that he can check the accuracy, like formatting tables of information or writing code. "The broader principle is that I find these models are most useful for automating work that you already know how to do," he said. Read more: 5 Ways to Stay Smart When Using Gen AI, Explained by Computer Science Professors Is artificial general intelligence around the corner? One priority of the AI development industry is an apparent race to create what's often called artificial general intelligence, or AGI. This is a model that is generally capable of a human level of thought or better. The report's survey found strong opinions on the race for AGI. Notably, over three-fourths (76%) of respondents said scaling up current AI techniques such as large language models was unlikely to produce AGI. A significant majority of researchers doubt the current march toward AGI will work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similarly large majority (82%) believe systems capable of artificial general intelligence should be publicly owned if they're developed by private entities. That aligns with concerns about the ethics and potential downsides of creating a system that can outthink humans. Most researchers (70%) said they oppose stopping AGI research until safety and control systems are developed. "These answers seem to suggest a preference for continued exploration of the topic, within some safeguards," the report said. The conversation around AGI is complicated, Thickstun said. In some sense, we've already created systems that have a form of general intelligence. Large language models such as OpenAI's ChatGPT are capable of doing a variety of human activities, in contrast to older AI models that could only do one thing, such as play chess. The question is whether it can do many things consistently at a human level. "I think we're very far away from this," Thickstun said, noting these models lack a built-in concept of truth and the ability to handle truly open-ended creative tasks. "I don't see the path to making them operate robustly in a human environment using the current technology," he said. "I think there are many research advances in the way of getting there." Conitzer said the definition of what exactly constitutes AGI is tricky. Often, people mean something that can do most tasks better than a human but some say it's just something capable of doing a range of tasks. "A stricter definition is something that would really make us completely redundant," he said. While researchers are skeptical that AGI is around the corner, Conitzer cautioned that AI researchers didn't necessarily expect the dramatic technological improvement we've all seen in the past few years. "We did not see coming how quickly things have changed recently," he said, "and so you might wonder whether we're going to see it coming if it continues to go faster." The divvying of Gene Hackmans $80 million Hollywood fortune faces major roadblocks following the Oscar-winning actors death last month at 95. Laura Cowan, an estate planning attorney and founder of 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer, told the Daily Mail that Hackman made one crucial mistake with his trusts before passing: All of his successor trustees have already died. She explains that when creating a living trust, a person will pick a successor trustee to manage and distribute the trust assets when theyre gone, which makes Hackmans situation particularly complicated and could lead to major problems with his estate later on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackman had left everything to his wife, Betsy Arakawa-Hackman, but she passed away days before him. New Mexico law states that had the couple died within 120 hours of one another, their deaths would have been considered simultaneous. But since investigators have found through his pacemaker activity that Hackman outlived his wife by seven days, experts are saying that his estate may then be divided among his remaining beneficiaries. If he died first and she [Betsy] had survived, it wouldve been World War III, a legal expert told the Daily Mail. Santa Fe Sheriff Adam Mendoza told reporters Friday that though he is confident of the timeline of events, the case will remain open until they look through more evidence and manage to close the loopholes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The late actors estate filed a petition Monday to request a new temporary successor trustee be appointed, which subsequently got approved on Thursday of this week. Avalon Trust, LLC, was appointed as the temporary sole trustee of Hackmans trust, as per the recommendation of the estates representative. LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa are seen on November 16, 2001 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) / Bauer-Griffin / GC Images According to Cowan, this is a common, proactive step in high-stakes estates, especially when multiple deaths or complex family dynamics are involved. She adds that whats interesting about Hackmans estate is that the problems he had has nothing to do with him being wealthy, but that his will was 20 years old. As an estate planning attorney, what we struggle with so often is people think wills are only for the wealthy, Cowan said. And now theres the question about whether it really reflects his wishes. As a result, the estate might face complications like delays, tax burdens, and additional probate costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Budagher, an attorney at Budagher & Tann., said that given Hackmans deterioration from Alzheimers, the dates any legal documents or wills were signed could open the doors to queries regarding any updates to his papers, leaving them riper for a potential challenge. Any prenuptial or postnuptial agreements could also come into play, and anyone else might attempt to make a claim on the estate, such as potential beneficiaries or children, the latter of which were possibly omitted from his will. There are many unknowns that could come into play in the coming weeks, Budagher said. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) The Tennessee General Assembly approved a resolution congratulating News Channel 11s Chief Meteorologist Mark Reynolds for 40 years of service. Reynolds run at WJHL began in 1985. Chief Meteorologist Mark Reynolds celebrates 40 years at News Channel 11 The resolution calls Reynolds an advocate for animals and a true Tennessean who is dedicated to his career. A copy of Senate Joint Resolution 153 is below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SJR0153-2Download To read more about Reynolds, visit his WJHL Meet the Team tab. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The caller, who purported to be a member of the Berks County sheriffs office, wasnt mincing words: Either pay the $9,000 bond after failing to respond to a subpoena for a hearing or spend 72 hours in jail. The recipient, a Spring Township woman, chose to pay. According to township police: She was instructed by the caller, who identified himself as Jeremy Kalis, the same name as a sergeant in the sheriffs office warrants division, to go to a local Gaint supermarket to pay for the bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The caller, who was eventually tracked down and arraigned this week in Berks County, kept her on the phone, a common technique used by scammers to keep up the pressure so their victims dont have a chance to get their bearings. She was directed to a Coinstar kiosk at a nearby Giant supermarket. Coinstar is a company that operates self-service kiosks, allowing people to exchange loose change for cash, e-gift cards or make donations to charity, with a service fee deducted for the conversion. Coinstar also offers cryptocurrency purchases and remote transfers to bank accounts. Coinstar kiosks are in many grocery stores and retail locations, but government and law enforcement officials will never ask for payment via one of these machines, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said. (STEVEN HENSHAW/READING EAGLE) The woman went to the kiosk inside the Giant store on Van Reed Road in Spring Township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After she saw the warning on the Coinstar machine that law enforcement does not request payment through this machine, she left and told the caller she was going to drive to the sheriffs office at the Berks County Courthouse. Thats when the caller said he would have his lieutenant and captain speak to her. Two other men joined the conversation. The perpetrators used technological sleight of hand to demonstrate they were with the sheriffs office. The captain added another call to the line that resulted in Berks County Sheriff Ofc being displayed on the call-received line. The woman returned to the store and followed instructions from Jeremy, who gave her a wallet ID and a code that allowed her to place $9,000 into the machine. He told her to remain on the line while he called the judge to cancel the warrant. While she waited, he hung up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was out $9,000, a victim of the time-tested fake warrant scam. In these types of scams, people impersonating local law enforcement call potential victims, making claims of false outstanding warrants or fines, sometimes falsely accusing them of being a no-show for jury duty or court appearances. The woman reported the events of June 20 to Spring Township police the next day. Throughout the summer, investigators obtained search warrants to identify the Cash App account owner linked to the cryptocurrency account that received the victims funds and trace the flow of funds across his various accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank, that allows users to instantly send and receive money and invest in stocks and bitcoin. Records showed the account owner, Shaquavian Freeman, was sending and exchanging cryptocurrency and depositing money from his Cash App account into his bank account. Spring Township police charged Freeman, 27, of Columbus, Ga., on March 4 with one felony count of receiving stolen property. In a twist of irony, the Berks sheriffs warrants division played a role in bringing Freeman into custody and transporting him to Pennsylvania following his extradition from Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acting Sheriff Mandy P. Miller said deputies asked local authorities in Georgia to arrest Freeman on the warrant from Spring police. A Berks County Sheriffs Office vehicle. (READING EAGLE) Berks deputy sheriffs picked him up this week. Freeman was committed to the county prison in lieu of $80,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment Wednesday night before District Judge Priscilla Campos in Reading Central Court. Mandy Miller Miller said shes glad Spring police identified and charged someone who impersonated a law enforcement officer. I think its terrible that people take advantage of those that answer their questions, she said. It puts fear and distrust in law enforcement when they find out it is a scam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one in law enforcement is ever going to ask anyone to pay for something over the phone. And they should not be in a rush to do anything. District Attorney John T. Adams (READING EAGLE) District Attorney John T. Adams said scammers keeping coming up with new ways to trick people into instantly transferring their money to get out of a bind the perpetrators made up. This is why it has become so difficult, he said. The scammers are not only spoofing the real number but using the real names of law enforcement. It should raise a red flag if a law enforcement officer asks you to pay specifically via cryptocurrency, gift card or mobile app, he said. People need to know, Adams said, the sheriffs department or any other government agency will never direct someone to deposit money into one of these Coinstar crypto ATMs or any mechanism like that. Germany's Bundestag budget committee approved 3 billion ($3.2 billion) in additional military aid for Ukraine in 2025 and a further 8.3 billion for 2026 to 2029, attendees told dpa on Friday. The funds, which can now be released, are intended to bolster Ukraines increasingly difficult defence against Russian forces. With Washington scaling back support for Kiev, uncertainty over sustained Western aid is growing. European allies are stepping up to fill the gap, warning that Russias military build-up now extends beyond the war in Ukraine and increasingly threatens NATO territory. Germany's Bundestag budget committee approved 3 billion ($3.2 billion) in additional military aid for Ukraine in 2025 and a further 8.3 billion for 2026 to 2029, attendees told dpa on Friday. The funds, which can now be released, are intended to bolster Ukraines increasingly difficult defence against Russian forces. An important part of this move was the approval of an amendment by Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday, easing the country's strict debt limits for increased defence spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Washington scaling back support for Kiev, uncertainty over sustained Western aid is growing. European allies are trying to fill the gap, warning that Russias military build-up now extends beyond the war in Ukraine and increasingly threatens NATO territory. The package, negotiated with both industry and Ukrainian officials, is designed to swiftly deliver essential military equipment, budget lawmaker Andreas Schwarz from the Social Democrats said in Berlin. A spokesman for Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that the equipment delivered to Ukraine would consist of Iris-T air defence systems, guided missiles, surveillance radars, drones, combat vehicles and light weapons. Winfried Kretschmann, Minister President of Baden-Wurttemberg, speaks at the plenary session of the German Bundesrat. During its session, the chamber of the federal states will discuss, among other things, the reform of the debt brake passed by the Bundestag as a prerequisite for the future federal government's planned multi-billion euro financial package for defense, infrastructure and climate protection measures. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Germany's Bundestag budget committee on Friday approved 3 billion ($3.2 billion) in additional military aid for Ukraine in 2025 and a further 8.3 billion for 2026 to 2029. The funds, which can now be released, are intended to bolster Ukraines increasingly difficult defence against Russian forces. An important part of this move was the approval of an amendment by Germany's upper house of parliament earlier on Friday, easing the country's strict debt limits for increased defence spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Washington scaling back support for Kiev, uncertainty over sustained Western aid is growing. European allies are trying to fill the gap, warning that Russias military build-up now extends beyond the war in Ukraine and increasingly threatens NATO territory. The package, negotiated with both industry and Ukrainian officials, is designed to swiftly deliver essential military equipment, budget lawmaker Andreas Schwarz from the Social Democrats said in Berlin. A spokesman for Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that the equipment delivered to Ukraine would consist of Iris-T air defence systems, guided missiles, surveillance radars, drones, combat vehicles and light weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said Germany has provided more than 44 billion in aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Germany, calling the fresh aid "exactly what Ukraine needs most" to save lives. He also expressed gratitude to both outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his likely successor, Friedrich Merz. BERLIN (AP) The prospective next German government's plans to enable higher defense spending by loosening strict debt rules and to set up a huge infrastructure fund that's aimed at boosting Europe's biggest economy cleared their final parliamentary hurdle Friday with approval by the upper house. The chamber, which represents Germany's 16 state governments, approved the measure proposed by likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz with the necessary two-thirds majority. Its endorsement followed approval on Tuesday by the lower house. Conservative leader Merz, who won last month's election, and his prospective center-left coalition partners say recent weeks have brought new urgency to efforts to further strengthen Germanys long-neglected military, as doubts have grown about the United States' commitment to the trans-Atlantic alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans needed a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament because they involve changes to Germanys strict self-imposed borrowing rules the so-called debt brake, which allows new borrowing worth only 0.35% of annual gross domestic product and is anchored in the constitution. That forced the would-be coalition partners into negotiations with the environmentalist Greens, whose votes were needed to get enough support. The package exempts from the debt rules spending on defense and security, including intelligence agencies and assistance to Ukraine, of more than 1% of GDP. It also foresees setting up a 500 billion-euro ($544 billion) fund, financed by borrowing, to pour money into Germanys creaking infrastructure over the next 12 years and help restore the stagnant economy to growth. At the Greens insistence, 100 billion euros from the investment fund will go into climate-related spending. The package also will give state governments more freedom to borrow money. The parties that negotiated the plans control 41 of the 69 votes in the upper house of parliament. Another 12 votes from states where other parties are also in government gave the package the necessary majority. Four states whose governments contain parties that oppose the plans abstained. Friday's vote completed a successful first test for Merz, but he still faces plenty of work to put together a coalition of his Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. If you're looking for reasonably priced stocks to pick up right now, you shouldn't overlook Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). The pharmaceutical giant isn't as risky an investment as it may appear to be. Its financials aren't in bad shape, and while the stock has been struggling, now could make a great time to load up on it. Here are three reasons why Pfizer could prove to be a steal of a deal this year. 1. It's trading at an incredibly low earnings multiple Buying quality stocks at decent valuations can give you a good margin of safety and minimize your investment risk. And while many stocks trade at cheap valuations because they are highly risky, that isn't the case with Pfizer. There is some uncertainty about the company's growth prospects, especially as patent protections on several important drugs in its portfolio will expire soon, but I don't believe the stock should be as heavily discounted as it is right now. The company is guiding for revenue of between $61 billion and $64 billion for 2025, which is comparable to how much it reported this past year ($63.6 billion). While that range does suggest a modest decline on the top line is likely, the company is still investing in growth opportunities -- its growth days are by no means over. Currently, the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of less than 9, based on analysts' expectations for the year ahead. By comparison, the average stock in the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at a forward P/E of nearly 18, making Pfizer look like a deeply discounted stock today. 2. Its dividend can buffer investors' returns against market declines The stock market is facing a lot of additional uncertainty this year due to President Trump's tariffs and trade wars. In times like these, investors may look for safety in the form of dividend income. At the current share price, Pfizer's dividend yields a mouthwatering 6.7%, so it could become a more popular option among income investors. That payout is well above the S&P 500's average yield of 1.4%. Those dividend payments could help serve as a buffer if stock prices suffer amid challenges to the economy this year. While investors may be worried about the sustainability of the dividend, it doesn't look to be in any danger. In 2024, Pfizer generated free cash flow of $9.8 billion, which was more than the $9.5 billion it paid out in dividends. 3. The company looks to still be in acquisition mode Pfizer previously told analysts and investors that it wanted to add $25 billion to its top line by 2030 via acquisitions and through its pipeline. CEO Albert Bourla says that the company has added about $20 billion thus far, with its acquisition of oncology company Seagen in 2023 contributing a big piece of that sum. Germanys Bundesrat on Friday approved a constitutional amendment clearing the way for a 500 billion ($547 billion) financial package to fund defence, infrastructure, and climate initiatives. The step secured the required two-thirds majority in the upper house, following a similar vote in the Bundestag earlier in the week. The measure now awaits review and formal approval by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Bundesrat, 53 out of 69 votes backed the amendment, surpassing the 46-vote threshold. Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Rhineland-Palatinate abstained, with abstentions counted as opposition votes. The amendment relaxes Germanys constitutionally enshrined debt brake, allowing borrowing for spending on defence, civil protection, intelligence and cybersecurity. Any such expenditures exceeding 1% of Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) can now be financed with new debt. The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has approved the allocation of an additional 3 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2025, along with a further 8.3 billion between 2026 and 2029. Source: German press agency dpa with reference to participants of the committee meeting, as reported by European Pravda Details: Lars Klingbeil, one of the leaders of Germanys Social Democratic Party (SPD), confirmed the approval, welcoming the committees decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Germany is capable of taking action in these times and is assuming responsibility for security in Europe. We continue to stand closely with Ukraine," German TV news channel n-tv quoted him as saying. Another SPD representative, Andreas Schwarz, said: "This is the right decision and a clear signal to Putin, our allies and Ukraine. Germany can be relied upon, and Ukraines fight for freedom deserves our full support." The additional funds were requested by the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Background: Approval from the Budget Committee was expected after the upper house of the German parliament, the Bundesrat, passed a reform allowing billion-euro investments, which took place earlier on Friday. Earlier it was reported that the German government had agreed to allocate an additional 3 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2025 following parliamentary approval of billion-euro investments in defence and infrastructure this week. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Rachel More and Friederike Heine BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany seized a decrepit tanker found adrift off its northern coast in January that is believed to be part of a shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions, Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday, citing security sources. The Panama-flagged ship, called Eventin, was secured by German maritime authorities after being found off the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen, prompting Berlin to sharply rebuke Moscow. The tanker had been heading from Russia to Egypt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spiegel reported that a confiscation order has been issued for the tanker, meaning the vessel and its cargo of around 100,000 metric tons of oil, worth some 40 million euros ($43.33 million), now become German property. The German finance ministry, which oversees the customs authorities, declined to comment in detail on the matter given the current security situation, a spokesperson said in Berlin, alluding to high Russian-Western tensions over the war in Ukraine. "Customs measures are currently under way." The local customs authority said in a statement that the measures had not yet been made legally binding, without commenting further on the case. Moscow has no information about the ship and no knowledge about its owner or reasons for its seizure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, responding to a Reuters query. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventin was included in the European Union's 16th package of sanctions targeting Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The package aimed to put extra pressure on Russia's "shadow fleet" - vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains around in violation of sanctions. The vessels are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers. Germany continues to work with its partners on closing this loophole, which Russia uses to finance its war in Ukraine, a spokesperson for the German foreign office said. ($1 = 0.9231 euros) (Additional reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Christian Kraemer in Berlin;editing by Frances Kerry and Mark Heinrich) German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has reaffirmed Berlin's commitment to defence cooperation with the United States and dismissed concerns over future arms deals. The US remains a crucial ally for Germany, including when it comes to equipping the Bundeswehr, Pistorius told dpa on Friday. His remarks came as the Defence Ministry rejected reports that US-made F-35 fighter jets ordered for the Bundeswehr could be remotely disabled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no way to simply shut down the F-35 remotely," a ministry spokesman said, while acknowledging that acquiring a fully integrated weapons system comes with logistical and digital dependencies. Pistorius: F-35 is example of cooperation with US The ministry also denied reports of that a crisis meeting was held due to concerns regarding the US aircraft, stating that the F-35 programme is a multinational effort with contributions from eight countries, including five European nations. Fourteen NATO members and 20 countries worldwide currently operate or plan to operate the jet. Pistorius pointed to the F-35 project as an example of industrial cooperation between the US and its allies, adding that key components are manufactured outside the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany has ordered 35 F-35 stealth fighters, primarily for its role in NATOs nuclear-sharing programme, which allows allies access to US nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict. Pistorius noted that nuclear sharing is only possible with fighter jets certified by the United States. The German government has confiscated a tanker stranded in the Baltic Sea linked to Russia's "shadow fleet," Der Spiegel reported on March 21, citing security sources. The shadow fleet refers to aging and largely uninsured oil tankers that Russia uses to transport oil above the $60 per barrel price cap that the EU, the U.S., and G7 countries imposed in December 2022 as part of the effort to cut Moscow's fossil fuels revenue. On March 14, German customs authorities seized the Panamanian-flagged tanker Eventin. It was sailing from the Russian port of Ust-Luga through the Baltic Sea to Egypt and had been anchored off the coast of Ruegen since mid-January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the risk of an oil spill, the tanker was towed to the waters off Sassnitz, where it was monitored by Germany's Coast Guard and federal police. After a confiscation order from the General Customs Directorate (GZD), Germany has acquired ownership of the vessel and its cargo approximately 100,000 tons of crude oil worth over 40 million euros ($43 million). By seizing the Eventin, the German government aims to signal to Russia that it will not tolerate their oil shipments through the Baltic Sea, Der Spiegel said. In recent months, shadow fleet vessels have been suspected of sabotage operations in the Baltic Sea, causing major damage to undersea cables. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraine accuses Russia of false flag attack on Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Germany seized a tanker believed to be part of Russias shadow fleet off its Baltic coast following a string of sabotage attacks and illegal shipping. The Panama-flagged ship, called Eventin, was secured by German maritime authorities after being found off the island of Rugen. The confiscation order means the vessel and its cargo of around 100,000 metric tons of oil, worth some 40 million euros ($43.33 million), now become German property, German newspaper Spiegel reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin said it had no information about the ship and no knowledge about its owner, according to Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. Russias shadow fleet refers to a growing armada of ageing, uninsured vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains around in violation of sanctions, helping to feed its war machine. The tanker, which had been travelling from Russia to Egypt, also sparked environmental concerns over a potential oil spill. Eventin was included in the EUs 16th package of sanctions targeting Russia for invasion of Ukraine and trying to put extra pressure on its ghost fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Russian ships have been accused of carrying out sabotage operations in the Baltic Sea, including severing undersea cables. This week, it emerged that a ship linked to Russias shadow fleet was seen dropping an anchor close to an undersea cable in Irish waters earlier this year. It is not clear if the ship was intentionally targeting the cable before it was ordered to leave the area. Moscows ships have also increasingly been spotted in the English Channel. Earlier this week, one of the largest convoys of Russian warships entered British and French territorial waters since the start of the Ukraine war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Royal Navy warships shadowed the Russian destroyer RFN Severomorsk, landing ship RFN Alexander Shabalin and two transport ships, through the English Channel and North Sea. Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset and minehunter HMS Cattistock, supported by RFA Tidesurge and naval helicopters, were involved in the operation to follow the vessels as they returned from Syria. Russia should be in no doubt that the UK will defend our waters, Luke Pollard, the defence minister, said on Wednesday. The operation was the third time in six weeks that the Royal Navy has shadowed Russian task groups returning from Syria. 03:15 PM GMT Thats all for today Thank you for following our live coverage from the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict. 03:12 PM GMT Ukraines defence minister to lead talks with US Ukraines defence minister, Rustem Umerov, will lead the Kyiv delegation at next weeks peace talks with the US in Saudi Arabia, a senior official told AFP. 02:42 PM GMT Ukraine still in talks with US over minerals deal Ukraine is continuing to hold talks with the US about a long-debated minerals deal, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday. The White House earlier this week said it had moved beyond just the economic minerals deal framework and was focused on peace between Ukraine and Russia. The US president said on Thursday that the minerals deal would be signed shortly. Ukraine was even ready to sign the agreement in Jeddah, Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukraines foreign ministry spokesman, told a briefing, referring to US-Ukrainian talks in Saudi Arabia last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Tykhyi said the teams continued dialogue, but declined to comment on media reports that the US was aiming to change the terms of the agreed draft. 02:13 PM GMT Ukraine hoping to secure partial ceasefire at Saudi talks Ukraine is hoping to secure a partial ceasefire at upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia during which US officials will meet separately with Russian and Ukrainian representatives, a senior Ukrainian official has said. We still want to agree on a ceasefire, at least on what we have proposed, a source told AFP, adding that the Ukrainian delegation on Monday would be led by the countrys defence minister Rustem Umerov. Both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a partial ceasefire covering energy and civilian infrastructure in a call with Donald Trump this week, though attacks have continued through the week. 01:51 PM GMT Why the Heathrow fire might be linked to Putin A fire the likes of which has never happened before. One which instantly closes Europes biggest air hub at a time of rising geo-political tensions, and just as a meeting of the continents most senior defence chiefs breaks up. Can it really be a coincidence? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont yet know what caused the fire which broke out at an electricity sub station which supplies Heathrow in the early hours of Friday morning, but the British security services will be all over it. Every inch of the area will be subjected to a bank of forensic checks as will all CCTV and communications for miles around. The reason is simple: the fire has all the hallmarks of Russian state-sponsored terrorism a hybrid form of war that has been raging in Europe for more than three years now. Ministers and security officials dont want to alarm the public but there have been sabotage operations recorded in 15 countries including Britain linked to Russian intelligence since Vladimir Putin rolled his tanks into Ukraine in late February 2022. Its many if you go back to the invasion of Crimea in 2014. They include train derailments, arson attacks on warehouses and transport planes, assassination plots against industrialists, car rammings, election interference, social engineering and, yes, attacks on vital infrastructure including power and communications lines. Heathrow Airport has been forced to close following a significant power outage, triggered by a large fire - UKNIP 01:24 PM GMT EU sets deadline to prepare for Russian attack The European Union has agreed the bloc must be ready to defend itself against a Russian attack by 2030, Polands prime minister has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe is dramatically stepping up spending on defence amid concerns the US will no longer come to its aid. But not all EU countries are equally committed to higher defence spending, especially those in southern Europe who are further away from Europe such as Spain and Italy. Speaking after an EU summit that discussed a plan to step up defence readiness, Donald Tusk said countries now spending less than others on defence had been reluctant to accept the five-year scheme proposed by the European Commission. Behind the scenes... it stirred some emotions. Especially in countries that spend little on defence now. There are several large countries that still spend very little. And they dont want to spend more. For now, Mr Tusk told a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our position, shared with Denmark and Sweden, was that the more Russia has the advantage today, the more we have to hurry. We finally accepted, as the European Council, this commitment that by 2030 Europe must obtain full defence capabilities, Mr Tusk said. By 2030 Europe must be, in terms of army, weapons, technology, clearly stronger than Russia. And it will be. 01:04 PM GMT UK to accelerate plans for Ukraine peacekeeping force The UK will accelerate plans next week for a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine, including a discussion about how it can operate and the structure, a spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer said this afternoon. British military planners will meet again at the Northwood base in London next week to discuss how the force could work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will continue to accelerate the pace and scale of operation planning with further meetings at our Northwood headquarters as we look closer at the details and structure of any future force, the spokesman said. It comes after the Telegraph reported that Britain was considering proposals for British fighter jets to police the skies above Ukraine. 12:45 PM GMT Putins top security official discusses Ukraine with Kim Jong Un Vladimir Putins top security adviser Sergei Shoigu discussed Ukraine with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the state-run TASS news agency reported this afternoon. Dialogue between Russia and the United States was also among the issues discussed with the North Korean leader, Mr Shoigu told reporters. US, Ukrainian and South Korean officials have said North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 troops who were sent into combat in Russias Kursk region, and also shipped heavy weapons including artillery and ballistic missiles. North Korea is believed to have received military and civilian technology and economic assistance from Moscow in return. Vladimir Putins top security adviser Sergei Shoigu disembarks a plane as he arrives in North Korea - REUTERS 12:16 PM GMT Macron: Russia doesnt want peace Emmanuel Macron said Russia has shown it has no interest in peace after it launched another series of devastating strikes in Ukraine overnight. Moscow launched one of its heaviest strikes on on the Black Sea port of Odesa overnight, injuring three people and damaging an apartment block and shopping centre, the regional governor said. Posting a picture of the damage, the French president said: Once again last night, Russia showed that it sincerely does not want peace. Full support for the Ukrainian people. Once again last night, Russia showed that it sincerely does not want peace. Full support for the Ukrainian people. pic.twitter.com/GOSfHZETLg Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 21, 2025 12:07 PM GMT Ukraine accuses Russia of bombing own gas pipeline Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up its own gas pipeline in order to pin the blame on Kyiv and undermine the proposed energy ceasefire. New footage this morning shows a huge fire and a large cloud of smoke above Sudzha, in Russias Kursk region. The Sudzha pipeline had been a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine. As of October, it was delivering 42.4 million cubic meters daily through Sudzha. Ukraines general staff has denied that his forces struck the pipeline and instead said it had been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. Sudzha was the last town occupied by Ukrainian troops in their incursion into Russia. They were driven out last week. Credit: Reuters 11:38 AM GMT Your views... 11:03 AM GMT Prince William rides in tank on Natos front line The Prince of Wales has donned army fatigues and taken a ride in a tank as he joined British troops on a field exercise in Estonia. Meeting soldiers from the Mercian Regiment on the front line of Natos defence against Russia, the Prince rode in a Warrior armoured vehicle while wearing a military camouflage outfit and beret. He joined the soldiers in trench warfare at Tapa Camp, just 80 miles from the Russian border and home to the UKs largest military deployment overseas. At the parade ground for the official handover of British troops, he said he hoped his visit to Estonia would keep everyone on their toes. With the royal standard flying alongside flags of Nato members, the Prince was shown a selection of military vehicles including an Archer, a Challenger 2, a Warrior, a French Griffon, an MLRS and a Trojan. Prince William rides along in a Warrior tracked armoured vehicle at Tapa camp in Tallinn, Estonia - Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson 10:46 AM GMT Russia blames Ukraine for Sudzha strike Russia has accused Ukraine of blowing up a major Russian gas pumping and measuring station in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border in what it called an act of terrorism. Russias Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes, said in a statement it had opened a criminal case over the incident which it said had done significant damage to the facility near the town of Sudzha. The Ukrainian military has denied involvement in the attack. The town was taken by Ukrainian troops in August last during a daring cross-border incursion, but was reclaimed by Russia last week. 10:13 AM GMT Kremlin says Russian forces not striking Ukrainian energy The Kremlin has said Russian forces have not targeted energy targets in Ukraine, despite Kyiv accusing Moscow of breaking the truce several times. Vladimir Putins order is in force and the Russian armed forces are refraining from strikes on energy facilities, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Despite Moscows claims, Russia bombed Ukraine energy infrastructure just hours after Putin told Donald Trump he would halt attacks on the grid. Putins forces conducted an airstrike on the energy infrastructure of Slovyansk, a city of 100,000 people in the Donetsk region, according to local reports, leaving part of the city without electricity. 09:46 AM GMT Zelensky urges joint pressure on Russia Volodymyr Zelensky has urged joint pressure on Russia after another night of drone attacks in Ukraine. It is joint pressure on Russia, along with tougher sanctions and stronger defense support for our country, that paves the way to ending this kind of terror and Russias prolongation of the war, the Ukrainian president said. Starting in the evening, Russia attacked regions of Ukraine with over two hundred strike drones and decoy drones. Guided aerial bombs were also used. Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernihiv regions came under fire. As a result of the massive strikes by the pic.twitter.com/0SKnWgDwMk Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 21, 2025 09:13 AM GMT Russia-Ukraine talks to take place in adjacent rooms Russia and Ukraine will speak to US in separate but adjacent rooms in Saudi Arabia later this week, a senior Trump administration official has said. Gen Keith Kellogg, Mr Trumps envoy for Russia-Ukraine, told ABC News that the talks are going to be proximity discussions. One group will be in this room, and one group will be in [another] room, and theyll sit and talk, go back and forth, sort of like shuttle diplomacy in a hotel, he said. Thats how its going to work, well find out where everybody stands. 09:02 AM GMT Pictured: Russian soldier rings church bells in Kursk A Russian soldier has been pictured ringing church bells over the town of Zamostye in Kursk, which was recently recaptured by Moscows forces. A Russian soldier rings the churchs bells over the settlement of Zamostye in Kursk - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service 08:49 AM GMT Macron exploring UN alternative to Starmers Ukraine plan Emmanuel Macron is actively exploring alternatives to putting European boots on the ground in Ukraine his plan drawn up with Sir Keir Starmer. The Telegraph understands that the French president is considering the possibility of a mission to protect a future peace deal being led by the United Nations. The Prime Minister and Mr Macron have been leading a push to form a coalition of the willing of Nato and EU states to form a peacekeeping force backed by US security guarantees. Sir Keir hosted 30 senior military leaders from European countries and beyond near London to hash out the plans. They were moving into an operational phase, he has said, but it is still unclear how many countries are willing to send troops or how the plan will be implemented. 08:17 AM GMT Watch: Sudzha gas station burns The station at Sudzha was the only point through which Russian gas had passed on its way through Ukraine and on to Europe until Kyiv declined to prolong a transit agreement in January this year. A second crossing point was closed in 2022. So, russia hits Odesa's infrastructure & causes POWER outages. Ukraine returns the favour and hits the Sudzha gas pipeline hard. Immediately the russian MOD issues the following statement: "Ukraine has violated the ceasefire" FAFO. Fucking idiots! pic.twitter.com/noCNIhgYjc Rocke Fella - NAFO Raccoon (@NAFORaccoon) March 20, 2025 07:51 AM GMT Russia launched 214 drones at Ukraine, Kyiv says Ukraines air defences shot down 114 out of 214 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack on Friday, the air force said. It said that another 81 drones were lost in reference to the Ukrainian military using electronic warfare to redirect them. 07:24 AM GMT Czech president in Odesa as Russia pounded city with drones Petr Pavel, the Czech President, was in Ukraines Odesa as Russia pounded the city with several waves of drones in an overnight attack, Ukrainian officials said this morning. Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said Mr Pavel had visited the Black Sea port on Thursday. Significantly, it was during our meeting that the enemy once again massively attacked the Odesa region, Kiper said on the Telegram messenger app. This is another reminder for the whole world: the war is on and Ukraine continues to fight. MR Kiper posted pictures of Mr Pavel and various Ukrainian officials in Odesa and said they discussed Black Sea security. 07:01 AM GMT In pictures: Aftermath of strike on Odesa A firefighter works at a site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russias attack on Odesa - REUTERS Putin launched a strike on Odesa overnight - REUTERS 06:53 AM GMT How Trumps nuclear bounty could secure peace in Ukraine Donald Trump came away from his call with Vladimir Putin this week bemoaning the loss of blood and treasure on both sides of the Ukraine war. While even he knows he cannot bring the dead back to life, he believes treasure can be salvaged from the destruction. Weeks ago, the US president was trying to cut a deal for Ukraines critical minerals but he now appears to have found a new target: its nuclear power plants. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, held by Russia, is Europes biggest and supplied more than 20 per cent of Ukraines energy before the 2022 invasion. 06:44 AM GMT US seeks to reopen terms of Ukraine minerals deal Donald Trump is seeking new terms for U.S. access to critical minerals and energy assets in Ukraine, according to a report. The administration is widening its economic demands on Kyiv as it pushes for a peace deal with Russia, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing two Ukrainian officials. The US president said on Thursday that the minerals deal would be signed shortly (see 2.36am post). 05:31 AM GMT Explosion at oil depot in southern Russia An explosion rocked an oil depot in Russias Krasnodar region where firefighters are trying to extinguish a blaze that broke out after a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week, regional authorities said on Friday. During the extinguishing process, due to depressurisation of the burning tank, there was an explosion of oil products and release of burning oil, officials said on the Telegram messaging app. The fire spread to another tank, and the fire area increased to 10,000 square metres, they added. Two firefighters were injured. 04:34 AM GMT Prince of Wales to meet British troops in Estonia The Prince of Wales is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment - Andrew Matthews/AFP The Prince of Wales will on Friday meet British troops stationed in Estonia who are part of a Nato contingent deterring Russia. The Prince, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian regiment, will visit the regiments soldiers as they take over front line defence duties on Natos eastern flank. While at Tapa Camp, an army base just 80 miles from the Russian border, he will join the soldiers for a field training exercise. It is the Princes first visit to Estonia and is meant to show support for the British Armed Forces. On Thursday he met with Ukrainian refugees in the country and reiterated his support for Ukraine, praising the resilience and spirit of the Ukrainian people. 03:15 AM GMT Macron announces new summit of coalition of the willing Emmanuel Macron announced that the coalition of the willing, a group of countries dedicated to support for Ukraine, will meet in Paris on March 27. The French president and Sir Keir Starmer have been at the forefront of the informal grouping of EU and Nato states, which was formed with the goal of establishing a peacekeeping force with US-backed security guarantees for Ukraine. The Telegraph understands that Mr Macron is also actively exploring alternatives to putting European boots on the ground, including a peace plan led by the UN. He broached the subject during Thursdays European Council summit with Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, who was a guest of the EU leaders. The Prime Minister, who along with Mr Macron backed a European presence in Ukraine, is also reportedly considering other options. The RAF is in talks to police the skies above Ukraine under a proposal discussed in the coalition of the willing. 02:36 AM GMT Trump: Minerals deal with Ukraine will be signed shortly Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US would shortly sign an agreement with Ukraine on rare earth minerals and that talks to end the war were going pretty well. Were doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine, Mr Trump said during a White House event on Thursday. The US president has been engaged in discussions this week with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky with the aim of obtaining the backing of both leaders for his 30-day ceasefire plan. Although the talks fell short of that goal, a pause was agreed on attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. We would love to see that (war) come to an end, and I think were doing pretty well in that regard, Mr Trump said. 02:11 AM GMT Drones strike Odesa A Russian drone attack struck Ukraines Black Sea port of Odesa late on Thursday, injuring three people and damaging a high-rise apartment building and a shopping centre, the regional governor said. Strikes hit in three locations, triggering fires, and three districts of the city have suffered power outages, Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. Public broadcaster Suspilne had earlier reported more than 18 explosions in the city after 10pm local time (8pm GMT). Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in the more than three-year-old war, particularly the citys port facilities. The governor of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region, Ivan Fedorov, reported several strikes on areas near the city of Zaporizhzhia, including one guided bomb. He said five people were injured, including a child. Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine via Reuters 02:05 AM GMT Welcome We will be bringing you the latest news out of the Russia-Ukraine war today. In breaking news, Russian forces launched a drone strike on Ukraines energy sites overnight and attacked Odesa. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A parent who sued Garder Edgerton School District after alleging she was subsequently banned from all school events has won her fight for a preliminary injunction. Carrie Schmidt is now allowed back on school property and at school events. A federal court hearing was held on Thursday. The lawsuit, which spans 70 pages, centers around Schmidt, a mother, who believes this is part of a coordinated effort by the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmidt told FOX4 that both her children and her constitutional rights were being violated. The mother of two previously led efforts to ban certain books in the classroom. At one point, she represented more than 90% of the complaints filed to the district regarding books she believed should be removed. Schmidt volunteers by packing snack packs for the mens and womens wrestling teams. One day, while doing so, she decided to walk around the school. She began taking photos of signs that she claims violate an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, called Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schools. Police investigating shots fired into crowded Lawrence home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She believes the executive order places the teacher-posted signs in direct conflict with the law, not because the signs say, safe space, but because of the group GLSEN, which sponsors the sign. After taking the photos, Schmidt sent them to a popular conservative, anti-LGBTQ Twitter page called Libs of TikTok. One of the photos, which included a teachers name, was shared by the page, resulting in online threats directed at the teacher. According to a letter from the district sent to Schmidt, the harassment became so severe that, at one point, the teacher had to leave work. Thats when Schmidts ban from school events went into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Following Thursdays hearing, Schmidt released the following statement to FOX4: No one pays me to fight for our children. The people that attack me without knowing what is going on is something I guess I have to bear. The judge said the district overreacted, which is an understatement in my opinion. The judge said I had done nothing disruptive and that the school district had too thin of skin. The judge put me back with every other parent who can come on the property or anywhere to support my children. Whatever persecution from others ignorant of what is at stake is a price I am willing to make. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mar. 20Celia Tellez spent her childhood days as a Girl Scout in New Mexico, building leadership skills and selling cookies to her neighbors in Old Town. On March 31, Tellez will take over as the next CEO of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails. "My vision for this is to expand the inclusivity and the belonging of what we do," Tellez told the Journal. "I want to reach more girls and be able to create a larger community of collaboration and belonging and foster those leadership skills so that girls don't stop pursuing math, don't stop pursuing engineering or whatever leadership role they want." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tellez previously served as vice president of program strategy and development, national partnerships and council program operations for Girl Scouts of the USA. Before her work at the national level, Tellez served as chief of programs and community engagement at Girl Scouts of Central Texas, following a stint running her own business in Austin, Texas. Tellez brings more than 25 years of nonprofit management experience to the role. "Celia's leadership, strategic mindset and passion for empowering young women make her the perfect leader for this moment," said Marti Fourier-Revo, board chair of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails. "Her deep roots in New Mexico and extensive Girl Scout experience will be instrumental in strengthening our programs, expanding community partnerships, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tellez attended the University of New Mexico, receiving bachelor's degrees in economics and Spanish. She said she is ready to build up the skills and confidence of girls in New Mexico. "This is my dream job," Tellez said. "I had experiences here as a Girl Scout and I have all this experience professionally as a Girl Scout and I want to make an impact in the community I grew up in." The RAND Corporation, a policy think tank that researches and explores a global range of issues and subjects, is staying put with its Pittsburgh office through 2035. At least, thats the extent of RANDs lease renewal. The Elmhurst Group, the downtown-based real estate firm, announced on LinkedIn that it has reached an agreement with RAND for the organization to maintain its office there at the corner of Craig Street and Fifth Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elmhurst pointed out that RAND is now part of the Pittsburgh Innovation District, with its office location situated between the campus of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. Founded after World War II, RAND is based in Santa Monica, California, and also has offices in Boston and Washington, D.C., as well as three offices in Europe, with more than 2,000 employees researching subjects that range from its nonpartisan roots in international relations to chronic diseases and many other subjects from education to artificial intelligence. Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW At a time when rising unilateralism and protectionism are combining to disrupt global economic governance, ever-closer ties among the Global South financial community are expected to inject fresh impetus into the forging of a new international financial order. This is the latest consensus reached by representatives of the Global South financial community at the 2025 Global South Financiers Forum in Beijing, which was hosted by Xinhua News Agency from March 19 to 21. Attendees of the forum included representatives from government departments, financial institutions, international organizations and scholars from more than 30 countries and regions. They called for the financial community of the Global South to make joint efforts to bridge the North-South financial gap and foster a new financial order that is more just, equitable and inclusive. Rising against headwinds As a bloc of developing countries, emerging economies and the least-developed nations, the Global South, as a whole, faces common development tasks and missions as it is home to about 85 percent of the world's population, according to Jiao Jie, dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance. Over the past few decades, Global South countries have posted remarkable economic growth, injecting stability and vitality into the world economy, said Jiao, who estimated that the share of the Global South in the world's real GDP had surged from 26 percent in 2006 to 42 percent in 2024 -- driven notably by emerging economies, including China and India. However, the forum's attendees warned, the external environment has become more complex for the Global South, as the world economy is grappling with slowing growth, geopolitical tensions and resurgent protectionism. In 2023 alone, nearly 3,000 new trade-distorting measures had stifled cross-border flows of technology, capital and labor, Jiao told Xinhua, underlining that the latest round of protectionism, represented by additional tariff hikes, is posing even more challenges. Yamile Berra Cires, first vice president of the Central Bank of Cuba, said that a technological and economic blockade from certain developed countries, coupled with geopolitical tensions, climate change and accelerated digital transformation in the financial sector, have exposed greater vulnerabilities in Global South economies, such as that of Cuba. Despite accounting for more than 40 percent of the global economy and contributing 80 percent to world economic growth, Global South nations still face a disparity between their economic contribution and their influence in the current international financial system, according to Gu Shu, chairman of Agricultural Bank of China, one of the country's major lenders. Vision for new financial order In releasing the Beijing Consensus document, representatives of the Global South financiers are calling for Global South countries to join hands to address common challenges, including sizable financing gaps, mis-allocation of resources and widening technological divides. "As we navigate a rapidly changing global economic landscape, nations in the Global South find themselves at a pivotal moment, gifted with unprecedented opportunities and facing notable challenges," said Andre du Plessis, CEO of Standard Advisory (China) Ltd, who hailed the consensus as a milestone move. For Africa, as a major member of the Global South, a multilateral and inclusive approach is essential for economic development, Du Plessis said, while calling for greater collaboration in terms of inclusive financial cooperation. "When the Global South acts, its future development prospects appear even more promising," he added. Notably, many countries in the Global South are struggling with unsustainable debt levels -- which are significantly limiting their ability to invest in key areas such as health, education, social equity and other national priorities, said Shyam Prasad Bhandari, joint secretary of Nepal's finance ministry. Bhandari suggested that Global South countries enhance coordination concerning green finance, as it's a strategy that shapes resilience, drives innovation and ensures future prosperity. "The investment needs of the Global South are even larger if we consider challenges such as global warming, which would require countries to invest in new infrastructure, renewable energy and agricultural technology to improve their readiness," said David Sumual, chief economist of Indonesia's Bank Central Asia, who called for enhanced South-South cooperation. "While the road ahead is undoubtedly challenging, it is also full of opportunities," said Jonathan Titus-Williams, deputy minister of planning and economic development of Sierra Leone. Through diverse and creative financing options, Global South countries can create a more equitable, sustainable and resilient financial governance order, Titus-Williams added. Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has been around for almost 150 years, finding ways to innovate and grow. Today, it's the most valuable healthcare company in the world, with a market cap of $730 billion. The next largest healthcare company is UnitedHealth Group, which is worth less than $450 billion. Over the past five years, Eli Lilly's stock has soared by around 530%, soundly beating the S&P 500 and its 136% gain during the same time frame. Even with such impressive gains in recent years, there is no shortage of reasons to feel comfortable buying and holding the stock for the long haul. Here are five of the best reasons to buy shares of Eli Lilly today and why it's not too late to add it to your portfolio. 1. Eli Lilly has a robust pipeline of drugs with plenty of growth opportunities What's made Eli Lilly a hot buy in recent years is its GLP-1-related efforts. The company has a couple of GLP-1-approved drugs in Zepbound (weight loss) and Mounjaro (diabetes), and the billions in revenue these drugs may generate in the years ahead has investors bullish on the company's future growth. However, there's also hope that Alzheimer's drug Kisunla, which regulators approved last year, may also become a blockbuster for the business. And the company is still eyeing more growth opportunities. Last year, it reached an agreement with Aktis Oncology to develop radiopharmaceuticals, which are more targeted cancer treatments. It's a relatively new type of therapy option for patients, treating specific cancer cells, and just one example of the company's plentiful, robust pipeline. Eli Lilly has dozens of ongoing clinical trials. With the company's strong commitment to innovation, there may be many more blockbuster drugs in its future. 2. Eli Lilly is investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing to help meet demand There's no denying that GLP-1 drugs are a big part of Eli Lilly's business today and will be for years to come. The biggest problem these days is to ensure that there's adequate supply. To combat this, the company has been investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing. Last month, Eli Lilly announced plans to invest $27 billion in four new manufacturing locations, and that's in addition to other investments. Over the past five years, it has announced over $50 billion in manufacturing investments, which CEO David Ricks says is "the largest pharmaceutical expansion investment in U.S. history." By growing its operations to bolster its supply of drugs, Lilly is reducing the risk that it may miss out on lost sales due to massive demand. It's a good problem to have and an important one to address, and a big reason the company can do so is because of its impressive financials. Google is suing a network of scammers who manipulated Google Maps by faking or hijacking about 10,000 business listings to con people out of money. The main defendant named in the lawsuit is a Maryland man who allegedly played a central role in the scheme by helping coordinate teams of scammers around the world to carry it out. The lawsuit, first reported by CBS News, states the man for two years "abused Google services to create fake online listings for businesses that do not exist and to bolster them with fake reviews from people who do not exist." It also claims the man engaged in a "lead-generation" scheme by selling information to other scammers about the people he lured in by his fake business listings. A common scam involved a victim calling a business, such as a locksmith, found on Google Maps, only to be rerouted to a different number. That number would connect them to an unrelated locksmith, who could charge an inflated price for the service once they arrive at the home. "This behavior misleads consumers and is likely to erode their trust in Business Profiles on Google as a reliable and safe way to find and contact local businesses," the company said in the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google said it received a complaint from a locksmith in Texas who was impersonated on Google Maps, and then started a deeper investigation into what uncovered a larger trend. The company used automated scanning tools and a dedicated analyst team to investigate complaints and suspicious activity, uncovering thousands of fake profiles or hijacked business accounts that had been taken over by scammers. Google removed these fake listings from Google Maps, blocked the accounts that created them, and filed legal action in response. However, the lawsuit said the scheme by the Maryland man remains "active and ongoing" with his latest scam attempts against businesses in the Washington DC area within the last few weeks. "Fake business listings are prohibited on Google Maps, and we use a range of tools to protect businesses and users," Google general counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado said in a statement sent to CNET. "This litigation builds on our efforts and sends a clear message that impersonation schemes will not be tolerated." To avoid falling victim to these scams, Prado advised on "CBS Mornings Plus" this week that users visit ScamSpotters.com to look up the latest warnings. She also recommended checking URLs to ensure they match the legitimate business, pausing if asked for unnecessary personal information like a Social Security number for a mailing list, and watching out for misspellings, wire transfer requests or demands for gift card payments. Time consuming to detect Josephine Wolff, an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at Tufts University, said it's not unusual for one person or a small group to generate a lot of scams or fake reviews and listings given how easy it often is to automate that process, especially with the introduction of large language models. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That ability to scale up means that these efforts can have a very significant impact on a lot of people -- and these scams can be very time consuming to detect given how many reviews and businesses are listed on services like Google Maps," she said. She noted how, in one part of the Google lawsuit, the company had to track down people leaving reviews for various businesses in different states and even countries about the issue. "Automated tools may be able to help flag those types of incidents, but actually going through to see how plausible the reviews are requires a fair bit of effort," Wolff said. "So it's a big deal not just that this fraud was happening on a large scale, but also that Google took the time and trouble to root it out and file the lawsuit, most likely as a warning to other scammers that there can be consequences for this type of behavior." Senate Republicans want to put their stamp on President Donald Trumps cost-cutting campaign and are urging the Trump administration to send them a request for cash to cancel. It might not be that easy, however. The White House does not appear to be in any hurry to move a so-called rescissions package up to Capitol Hill, according to interviews with members of Senate GOP leadership, senior Republicans and close Trump allies. And theres no guarantee the cuts will pass if and when it arrives: The GOP tried and failed to enact the same maneuver during Trumps first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the clamor for congressional involvement is taking on a new sense of urgency this time around. With the courts increasingly questioning efforts by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to slash the federal bureaucracy, some GOP senators are privately advising the White House that a congressional vote could provide the spending cuts some legitimacy. It would be a big mistake if we dont, Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said about voting on rescissions. Its the one way to make DOGE cuts real. Unlike most legislation, Republicans could clear a rescissions package with a simple majority vote in both chambers, making it an attractive option for fiscal hawks who are eager to make their mark on DOGEs agenda. Their 53-seat majority gives the Senate GOP some breathing room, though theyll still need to muscle it through the House, where Republicans have a smaller margin for error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time Republicans attempted to approve such a package, under Trump in 2018, it resulted in failure something senators are eager to avoid. Many are already limiting their public disapproval of DOGEs work over fears of incurring Trumps wrath and Musks social media megaphone. This time around, the task could be trickier: The 2018 package tried to claw back $15 billion, and it unraveled because it tried to make cuts to funding priorities of GOP senators. Now rescissions advocates want Congress to bless a package of cuts totaling between $100 billion and $500 billion, and theres wide private unease among Senate Republicans about Musks sledgehammer approach. We tried that in the first Trump administration, it fell a couple of votes short. So we would want to make sure we have something that can pass the House, pass the Senate, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming said in a brief interview. Still, there are some in the GOP who want to give it a shot. They got a boost from Musk, who was interested in the idea when Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) pitched him on it during a lunch with Senate Republicans earlier this month, according to lawmakers in attendance. Asked later that day whether Congress should weigh in on his widespread cuts, Musk responded, Well, they do have a vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a close Trump ally, said he has personally talked to White House officials about the idea and said they are absolutely considering sending a rescissions request in the coming weeks. I think theres a lot of opportunities to really lift up the hood and look at some fraud and waste in these programs, Mullin said in a brief interview. The White House did not reply to a request for comment Thursday. The drumbeat of court decisions blocking DOGEs moves to shrink or shutter federal agencies has further heightened the stakes for congressional intervention. Trump has publicly disavowed the 1974 law that created the rescissions process that Republican lawmakers are urging him to use. On the campaign trail, Trump argued that the Budget and Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional and that presidents have the power to unilaterally withhold congressionally approved funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are forces in the administration who want to simply fight the constitutionality of the Impoundment Act, Paul said, questioning how quickly the White House would send a formal request. You might argue that there might not be an incentive to send a rescission package if you plan on fighting the constitutionality of the law. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a senior appropriator who publicly wrestled with the 2018 package before ultimately voting for it, appeared skeptical earlier this month that the White House really wanted congressional buy-in: Do you think that theyre asking for us to vote on this? Indeed, the administration has privately reassured GOP lawmakers, particularly House Republicans, that DOGE will continue to unilaterally rescind congressionally approved funding whether lawmakers are given the chance to weigh in or not. Still, there are key voices outside the Senate pushing for a congressional role. Vice President JD Vance raised the possibility of a rescissions package during a private meeting with House Republicans earlier this month. And Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that lawmakers anticipate we will get a rescissions package from the White House but in the right timing with the right calculations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clearing a package cementing Trumps funding cuts could also give Republicans more savings to finance the party-line bill they are now pursuing one that could enact trillions of dollars worth of tax cuts and hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending on the military and border security. While any savings from a rescissions package wouldnt be counted in the official price tag for the larger bill, and some Republicans doubt it would constitute a substantial offset in the current fiscal year, it could bolster the GOPs overall messaging on fiscal restraint. Perceptually, people kind of think of them as the same, even though they are different, said Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.). There are political risks to pursuing rescissions, however. While a congressional vote could put Musk and Trumps moves on firmer legal ground, it could also force lawmakers to wrestle with specific cuts that have sparked unease within the conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP senators have privately pushed back against some of Musks efforts, including urging the White House to have Cabinet secretaries in the driver's seat on personnel changes. And roughly half of Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to the recent government funding bill that would have codified the administrations dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine, who voted against the 2018 measure, said a new rescissions package from the administration would be one way for us to decide whether we're going to accept the DOGE cuts. There should not be unilateral major changes that dont go through the appropriations process, she added. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, in a brief interview, predicted that the administration would wait until DOGE has completed more of its work before sending over a rescissions request if they send one at all. I think it would happen if it happens it would happen after the DOGE does its work and the president and his team make recommendations, he said. Meredith Lee Hill contributed reporting. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) told a packed Salt Lake City town hall Thursday night that she is concerned about the country careening toward authoritarianism if we dont get the executive branch under control. But she said her concerns arent tied to President Trumps return to office or directed at the grievances the town hall attendees lobbed at her and Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah) during their nearly hourlong event. When Biden was president, I had the same concern, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attendees, some waving signs, frequently interrupted the duo, pressing for clarity over the Trump administrations efforts to reshape government by drastically cutting the federal workforce and programs. We are not going to get out of the situation were in financially without all of us feeling some pain, Malloy told the crowd at one point. Maloy, 43, was elected to the House in a 2023 special election to replace Republican Chris Stewart, who stepped down after a decade in the seat, citing his wifes health issues. Maloy, who formerly worked for Stewart, won her first full term last year. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. House Republican leaders have advised members against holding public forums because of recent protests prompted by President Trumps first two months back in office, especially changes implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CHEYENNE In his first-ever public veto of a bill, Gov. Mark Gordon shot down Senate File 196 on Tuesday afternoon. He said he held a public session because he believed it is an important enough issue that the people of Wyoming care deeply about. SF 196 would have amended the Second Amendment Protection Act (SAPA), which Gordon signed into law three years ago. SAPA requires a county prosecutor to file charges against an individual police officer if the officer violates the Second Amendment rights of a gun owner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposed amendments under SF 196 would have said law enforcement could not legally aid the federal government in enforcing federal gun laws and would have allowed citizens to sue institutions responsible for violating the act through civil penalties. Gordon said that, while he supports the Second Amendment, the proposed SAPA amendments would have restricted Wyoming law enforcements ability to assist with a federal task force or enforce any federal laws, something he said he believes goes too far. He likened the legislation to Defund the Police efforts across the country, and said it is not in line with the Back the Blue Wyoming values he grew up with. Particularly, Gordon expressed concerns with how the bill would impact the Trump administrations policies to enforce violations of federal human trafficking and undocumented immigration laws by not being able to cooperate with the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyoming, I believe, supports the Trump administrations efforts. We feel greatly about our law and order. I think this bill would, at best, hinder and, at worst, prevent our local police departments, sheriffs offices and Highway Patrol from participating in the federal task forces that address these very issues, he said. The bill also would have prohibited any local agency from hiring former U.S. government employees who had ever enforced any type of federal firearms regulation. This would include people like the U.S. Marshals guarding federal courthouses and National Guard members who may be staffing the gate at Camp Guernsey. Gordon said law enforcement agencies could be fined $50,000 for hiring veterans who had that experience if he didnt veto this legislation. Col. Timothy Cameron, administrator of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, expressed concern with how SF 196 would have impacted his departments ability to do its job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, not allowing us to participate in state federal task forces, limiting or eliminating our ability to participate with Bureau of Indian Affairs on our reservations, and finally, our ability to hire anyone after July 1 that participated in the enforcement of federal gun laws, Cameron said. Additionally, critics of the bill said it would have made it more difficult for local and state law enforcement to aid in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Park County Sheriff Darrell Steward expanded on Camerons concerns about collaboration with the federal government. I see several possible pitfalls of working with our federal partners when we need those types of resources available for the crimes were working on, he said. Ive actually experienced a couple of cases in the last couple of years that we relied heavily on the FBI to assist us. And with their federal enforcement, we were able to get these cases charged through the federal government, where we could not have done it through state government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gordon provided an example of how the amendments may clash with federal law. He said that someone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence cannot possess a firearm, but only under federal law. No such state law exists, meaning law enforcement would be criminally and civilly liable if they removed a firearm from someone convicted. The 68th Legislature made a point to make the Second Amendment a political litmus test, Gordon said. Weve had Second Amendment bills in every legislative session for a number of years. The Legislature itself (this year) killed nine Second Amendment bills on their own. They did pass two pieces of legislation, and, as you know, Ive had problems with the two that came through. In addition to SF 196, Gordon was also referencing House Bill 172, which repealed gun-free zones in state-run buildings, public schools and public meeting spaces. Gordon vetoed a similar bill last year. Although Gordon said SF 196 crossed the line, he let HB 172 go into law without his signature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (SF 196) crossed the line for the reasons I said, this impedes peoples ability to do their jobs. Youll remember a year ago (when I vetoed the gun-free zones bill), I had said, Give us time. Well work the policy. Gordon said the original SAPA he signed into law in 2022 still included many protections under the amendments in SF 196 and added that the law has not been used in the past three years. SF 196 was supported by 29 of 31 members of the Senate and 53 of 62 representatives in the House. The House and Senate can no longer override the veto, as March 6 was the final day of the session. When the session ended, House and Senate leaders published a news release supporting the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the House and the Senate are committed to adopting SF 196 exactly as passed this year, the release reads. If the Governor sees fit to veto SF 196, as is his prerogative, then the Legislature will take this issue up immediately as we convene for the 2026 session and send it to the Governor first. Following his veto, the governor issued a statement about his decision. The 68th Legislature showed again its penchant to throw reason out the window, to forget practicality, and to ignore common sense when it comes to any piece of legislation with the words Second Amendment attached to it, he wrote. Other actions Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gordon also signed nine bills Tuesday, including legislation banning sanctuary cities in Wyoming, prohibiting the use of private funds for elections and a prohibition on ranked-choice voting. He also exercised his line-item veto authority on Senate File 169, Strategic investments and projects account-repeal. He left in place $10 million for the siting, design, construction and operation of a new State Shooting Complex. However, he questioned the inclusion of the shooting complex in a bill outside the supplemental budget process, while the Legislature chose not to fund other capital construction projects, including a new veterans home, according to a press release from the governors office. In his letter vetoing Sections 1, 2, and 3 of SF 169, Gordon wrote that he has always supported simplicity in budgeting, but the repeal of the Strategic Investments and Projects Account (SIPA) removes the ability of the governor to use investment income that should be available to any governor in recommending a budget. The effort seems counterintuitive and parochial, serving only the narrow focus of withholding revenue from the Executive Branch budgeting process while preserving it exclusively for the legislatures priorities, Gordon wrote. Wyoming is required to balance its budget with expenditures not exceeding income. That effort has always been a joint effort. Artificially constraining income to one branch breaks with that practice and will not necessarily result in a cleaner or a leaner budget. The governor also vetoed Section 4 in the bill, which would have terminated the Wyoming State Penitentiary Account (WSPA), a sub-account of the SIPA. The preservation of the account will enable the Department of Corrections to fund integrated security improvements, according to the release. SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) Its no secret that immigration is a key political topic. Thats why it was featured as the subject matter on Thursday in New College of Floridas The Socratic Stage. Its a discussion series involving public policy topics to promote civil dialogue and moderated by College President Richard Corcoran. In the latest panel, Gov. Ron DeSantis was featured alongside Border Czar Tom Homan and former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, who served in Trumps first administration. Trump signs executive order to dismantle Department of Education Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cannot say people who are (here) illegally are scot-free up until the time they actually commit a separate criminal offense. I want them out before they commit a separate offense against someone, DeSantis said. The governor is referring to the recent immigration law he signed last month. One of the measures makes it a state crime for migrants to knowingly enter Florida without legal permission. One of the goals for the new policies was also to help federal officials curb border crossings. ICE doesnt have enough personnel and resources to do what needs to be done. So, if we just say its their responsibility, then were not going to get the job done. We have to supplement with state and local, DeSantis said. President Trump has signed several executive orders involving immigration. Opponents have gotten the federal courts involved over some of the measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homan said those orders and executive actions have helped reduce the number of migrants escaping border agents. He compared the average daily number during a time from the previous administration to Wednesdays figure. The getaway number (Wednesday) was 41. 1,800 to 41. That means less people are getting into this that we dont know who they are, Homan said. Homan refers to people that were spotted by agents and were not captured as getaways. We have a 96% decline in illegal border crossings, Homan said. Trumps border official also said the administrations efforts will help prevent business owners and farmers from looking to migrants for work and they will instead hire citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I truly believe out of the goodness of my heart, they hire them because they can work them harder, pay them less, and undercut their competition, Homan said. Protestors against the current approach to combat illegal immigration gathered near the discussion venue on campus. Husband and wife, Paul and Dee Schur, joined the group hoping to get their voices heard. Everyone that lives in this state is going to have to face the truth about how dependent this state is on our immigrant population, Dee Schur said. The panelists were aware of protestors and mentioned them during the discussion but didnt specifically address their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This whole thing is not about politics. Its not about Republicans versus Democrats. Its about morals and principles and weve abandoned them, Paul Schur said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. A Detroit artist received official state recognition Thursday when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) to tour Tiff Masseys 7 Mile + Livernois exhibition. Ive heard so many wonderful things about Tiffs work, Whitmer told the Free Press exclusively, and I just wanted to come and see it for myself. And I feel really lucky that I got to actually spend time with the artist. Thats a unique thing, no? To have one of Detroits own showing at the DIA. And I know its really inspired a lot of people in the city, but certainly to have the opportunity to actually talk to the artist and understand and ask questions. Its really unique, and I feel really lucky to be here. Massey called the experience an honor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That you came and took the time out of governing all the people of Michigan, and no telling what else youre doing, to come and see what Ive been working on Im honored. Im honored for you to be here to see it, she said. Whitmer spoke glowingly of her affection for the DIA. You know, as someone who loves and appreciates the arts but doesnt have an artistic bone in her body, she said, I love coming to (the) DIA. Its a special place, and to get to spend time with this incredible artist its humbling. I have a great deal of respect for the work that she does. Shes incredibly talented, recognized around the world, and were really lucky that shes right here with us. The pair spent about half an hour wandering the exhibit together and whispering like old friends about the works on the walls and floors. Detroit artist Tiff Massey, right, talks to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, at Masseys exhibit, 7 Mile + Livernois at the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit on Thursday, March 20, 2025. We were mostly just talking about the ins and outs of the work, said Massey. Things that are printed on the wall, (but also) things that a lot of people cant read about. Theres a lot of press and things surrounding the exhibition, so I just wanted to talk about some of the other details, and just my personal experience of being asked to represent Detroit, and a lot of other representations: Black women, queer women, boss women, Detroit, 7 Mile. Its just a great opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DIA director Salvador Salort-Pons, traveling internationally on museum business, was unable to attend the event, but sent DIA board vice chair Marsha Battle Philpot as a proxy to represent the museum. We are beyond honored that the governor has come here in order to look at the relationship of this work, said Philpot, not only to Detroit, but to the entire state of Michigan, and how inspiring this is to others in the arts throughout the state, and for those who wish to enjoy the arts, even if they are not artists. In an official statement, Salort-Pons wrote, We thank Tiff for entrusting the DIA with this exhibition, and for the extraordinary dedication and creativity she brought to her work on this transformational show. Katie Pfohl, DIA associate curator of contemporary art, commemorated the occasion with words of admiration for the governors interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was such an honor to host the governor at the DIA, Pfohl said, and to see such an incredible force in local and national politics so visibly support the arts at a time when theyre under threat. Her embrace of the show and Tiffs message was an extraordinary affirmation of the arts importance to this city. Detroit artist Tiff Massey, left, talks to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, at Masseys exhibit, 7 Mile + Livernois at the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The city of Detroit, and the art world writ large, are eagerly awaiting to learn whats next for Massey after such an explosive and prominent exhibition. The sky is the limit, she said. Theres no cap on that. Im working on some permanent situations outside that people can experience for a lifetime. Im really into, as you can see, space and interactive works and things like that. I do have a philanthropic arm. It is really, high-key, about the community and the future of artists in Detroit and Michigan where can we get access to actually seeing works like these on a regular basis, or access to studios that can actually jumpstart careers in multiple areas? I just dont understand why people say we dont have room for the arts when everything that were looking at is designed by someone. We just need to tap more into that. So Im definitely going to use my time on this earth to try to, you know, make it pop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitmer expressed fondness for the piece Massey was commissioned by the museum to create as a response to late artist Donald Judds Stack. Last year, Massey told the Free Press that Stack was a piece that I remember when I was a kid; it was installed on the contemporary walls. I wanted to climb it. So I was like, Lets go, Im going to make my own Stack. Of Masseys response piece, Whitmer said the story touched her heart. It reminds me of growing up, she said. It reminds me of my best friend, Ursula. Its powerful to see it next to a piece that actually inspired Tiff as a young person when her mom brought her here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitmer said the exhibition is just one representation of Michigans strong arts workforce. We want to deliver a Michigan that appeals to all people, she said, and where every person can find a path to be successful in this state. The arts (are) an important part of that. It is about quality of life. It is about a well-rounded education. It is about a statement of who we are, and its about learning and education. Im hopeful that we can continue to expand on what we have been able to do in Michigan. It is not just an extracurricular its a fundamental part of robust education and a robust life. Tiff Masseys 7 Mile + Livernois is on display through May 11. For more information, visit dia.org. Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gov. Whitmer visits DIA to see Tiff Massey's '7 Mile + Livernois' show NEW YORK Gov. Kathy Hochuls cross-town bus ride Friday had been planned as an act of resistance a demonstration of the lack of traffic, scheduled for the day the feds had tried to order her to turn the states congestion tolling system off. Instead, less than a day after President Donald Trumps transportation secretary unexpectedly walked the deadline back, Hochul did a victory lap proclaiming traffic down in the congestion zone with the program set to survive at least 30 more days. Todays an important day, Hochul declared at a rally in Chelsea near the end of the M14 bus line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cameras are staying on they sure as hell are, she said to cheers from assembled transit advocates. This was not an easy journey countless lawsuits, people going on television constantly berating us, saying it wouldnt work, Hochul said. I want them to come here now and feel a very different New York City, she added. It is not jammed and stuck in traffic, we are moving once again. According to the latest data from the MTA which administers the toll and is the beneficiary of its revenue traffic in the congestion tolling zone was down 11% last month over 2024. Traffic on the bridge and tunnel crossings into Midtown and lower Manhattan are traveling at speeds up to 30% faster than last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent polling has found that the toll, which charges most motorists $9 a day to drive on surface streets in the tolling zone, is gaining support among city residents. The toll is charged with reducing vehicular traffic while raising money for a slate of specific MTA capital projects. But Trump has sought to kill congestion pricing which was adopted into state law in 2019, approved by federal regulators in 2024, and went into effect in January since the start of his second term. In February, Trumps transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, claimed he could instantly revoke a federal authorization to initiate the toll given by the Biden administration in 2024 following a lengthy environmental review process. The MTA immediately sued, claiming Duffys order was unconstitutional. The feds have yet to respond to that suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duffy tried again, demanding Hochul end the program by March 21 something the governor said she wouldnt do absent a court order. As that deadline loomed Thursday, Duffy walked back the deadline by tweet, saying New York now had 30 more days to comply and threatening to take away federal funding if Hochul didnt turn the cameras off. Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check, he wrote Thursday. Continued noncompliance will not be taken lightly. Asked about the Trump regimes use of funding as a cudgel Friday, Hochul brushed it off. I feel confident in the long-term viability of congestion pricing, which is a significant funding source, she said. The threats? I think theres always going to be threats coming out of Washington tweets from secretaries. I have a direct communication line to the president, she added. I feel confident that well find a path forward that sustains this important source of not just revenue but a way that stimulates a quality of life and a vitality that weve not seen in this city for a long time. Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images Key Takeaways Consumers' anxiety about the economy prompted General Mills and J. Jill to issue downbeat forecasts, the latest cautious outlooks to arrive. Companies have shared downbeat projections days after U.S. retail sales ticked up less than expected in February. Economic unease may bode well for Ollie's Bargain Outlet, CEO Eric van der Valk said. The economic unease that's marked the past year hasn't faded, executives say. Americans are worried about the economy, and that anxiety is leading to scaled-back outlooks at a range of companies. Women's retailer J. Jill (JILL) sees increased concern about the market and geopolitical conditions, executives said, and now expects same-store sales to fall as much as 5% year-over-year in the current quarter. General Mills (GIS) lowered its outlook for the coming fiscal year after reporting a 7% year-over-year decline in North American retail sales in its latest quarter. "We thought the consumer environment would improve," General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening said on a third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. That hasnt really been the case. And consumers are still seeking value as much or more than they had [been] when our fiscal year began. Companies have shared downbeat projections days after U.S. retail sales ticked up less than expected in February. Americans may be cutting back on expenses in part because they expect to pay more for groceries and household goods in the coming months, according to Bank of America research released Tuesday. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment last month touched levels not commonly seenoutside the pandemicsince the 2008-09 recession. Shoppers are under pressure, and consequently, seeking out markdowns, particularly while shopping online, J. Jill CEO Claire Spofford said on an earnings conference call Wednesday. As we have heard from others across the industry, fiscal 2025 has started off more slowly than expected," Spofford said, according to a transcript from AlphaSense. "Our surveys echo the uncertainty." Customers are already dining out less frequently, according to General Mills' Harmening, and are now looking to save further on groceries. "Our belief is that consumers have become much more value conscious," he said. At Williams-Sonoma (WSM), executives on Wednesday cited an "unpredictable" economic backdrop while suggesting that sales could fall in 2025. Dollar General (DG) recently said that while it has seen some customers trading down to its offerings, its core consumer is feeling stressed. Governor Josh Shapiro will visited Carnegie Mellon University to unveil the results of the Shapiro Administration's Generative AI Pilot Program with ChatGPT. The pilot program - the first program of its kind in the country - was designed to empower Commonwealth employees to use new tools to better and more quickly deliver services to Pennsylvanians. (Commonwealth Media Services) A little over 18 months after signing the executive order, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the findings of a pilot program that made Pennsylvania the first state in the nation to partner with OpenAI. Gen AI is one of the most significant technological developments of our time. It will likely lead to a new era, just as the agricultural revolution and industrial revolution did in this country over the last century or so, Shapiro said in Pittsburgh on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro said 175 Commonwealth employees from 14 different agencies used OpenAIs ChatGPT during the pilot program. He said t even though 48% of them never used ChatGPT before, 85% of them reported they had a positive experience utilizing i tfor their jobs. We heard the same feedback from workers from across all different ages, all different backgrounds and all different types of roles of Commonwealth service, Shapiro said. From our lawyers who had chat GPT in their hands to our construction project managers who were using these open AI tools. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE He added the employees who took part saved 95 minutes per day with the help of AI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats nearly eight hours a week that they got back, 30 hours a month that they got back, Shapiro said. Another example the governor mentioned was the AI program helped the state simplify job descriptions and speed up hiring times, reducing the amount of time to onboard an employee from 90 days to 60 days. Joined by elected leaders, unions, tech employees, and academia, Shapiro announced Phase Two will expand the use of AI for commonwealth employees on June 1, which is one day after the initial effort ends. We will involve more employees and give them more generative AI tools to get more stuff done for the good people of Pennsylvania, Shapiro said. Im excited about the opportunities that generative AI has in our efforts to serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Its shown that it is a big difference maker in our work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro emphasized AI is not a replacement for the employees experience and expertise. We confirmed this tool is a job enhancer, not a job replacer. We believe that is critically important to remember as we go forward, Shapiro said. Shapiro also took a not-so-subtle jab at the federal government, claiming that some there want to berate and belittle public servants. Thats not okay, he said. I want you know here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we respect public service and we respect those who have made a decision in their lives to serve others, to help their fellow Pennsylvanians, and rather than eliminating their jobs haphazardly, we are methodically working with them to help them be more effective and efficient stewards of taxpayer money and to more quickly meet the needs of our fellow Pennsylvanians. Rep. Ginny Shaver (left), R-Leesburg, and Sen. Vivian Figures (right), D-Mobile, laughing in the House press room at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 20, 2025. The pair passed legislation to give eight weeks of parental leave to state employees and educators. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday gave final approval to a bill extending paid parental leave to all state and education employees staring July 1, sending the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey. The House passed SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, 94-2 after substituting it for HB 327, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill allows women who give birth, have a stillbirth, or a miscarriage after 12 weeks to receive eight weeks of paid leave. It also allows a father to take two weeks of paid leave under those circumstances. If a couple adopts a child under 3 years old, either parent may have eight weeks of leave. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I think the impact will be seen in future years, and the effects of it and how it helps families, and helps to support families and enable them to properly bond with their children and have that time at home to take care of their children, Shaver said after the bill passed. Figures carried a version of the legislation that only applied to educators last year, but it died in the Senate in the last week of the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This day has really touched my heart, Figures said in an interview. Ivey, who called for the legislation in her State of the State address in February, said in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, that she would sign the bill. Thank you to Rep. Ginny Shaver and Sen. Vivian Figures for carrying this important legislation. I look forward to receiving the bill and getting my signature on it, she wrote. Under current law, educators are given two weeks of paid leave for catastrophic sick leave, which parents usually take when they have a baby, Shaver said. She also said that catastrophic sick leave should be reserved for unusual circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having a baby is a normal function. The catastrophic leave is for that, catastrophic and for unusual circumstances, Shaver said in an interview. Besides the catastrophic sick leave, teachers accrue one sick day per month of employment. Rep. Jim Carns, R-Birmingham, asked Shaver why teachers could not use those sick days as parental leave. He said that if teachers had not used their sick days for years, they would already have time to take off for parental leave. That was built for situations like this, in my opinion, Carns said. After three years, you have 30 days. Shaver said those sick days could be used when the parent, or child, is sick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It takes more than 10 days to recover from having a baby, Shaver said. Carns and Rep. Ben Harrison, R-Elkmont, voted against the bill. Harrison said he was worried that the benefit would deter people from working in the private sector. Shaver said the legislation will serve as a recruiting tool for state jobs. We are using taxpayer dollars from the private sector to recruit employees away from the private sector to fill these jobs, Harrison said. Figures said after the bill passed that she was unaware of the lack of parental leave for state employees until her son, U.S. Congressman Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, told her about it while on the campaign trail. She said women deserve to be represented and advocated for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women populate this world. We are the ones who have to conceive that child, she said. We are the ones who have to carry that child for nine months, unless you have a health issue or whatever. Then when that child comes into this world, its the mother that that child looks to. When Figures carried the legislation last year for educators, it was changed to remove male employees leave in the case of a miscarriage and stillborn. Former Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed blocked the bill from passage on the 27th legislative day. Figures said after SB 199 passed the House that she is pleased that the chambers could work together across the aisle to pass legislation for parents. It signifies that you can have a bill that means so much to so many people, as well as you can have a bill working with the other party, with someone whos a member of the other party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shaver said parents should not have to stress about financials when starting a family. Thats our Alabama values, no matter who you are: to support families, she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency for the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. He said ongoing system failures have interrupted services statewide. Landry issued an executive order on March 20. The order explained the many technical problems with OMVs old system. These issues have caused regular closures of field offices and public tag agencies. In the order, Landry said the OMVs application and database system, which is over 50 years old, is now unreliable. This causes delays in processing drivers licenses, vehicle registrations, and reinstatements. Landrys emergency declaration temporarily suspends important rules. This includes parts of the Louisiana Procurement Code and the Information Technology Procurement Code. The goal is to speed up the rollout of a new OMV system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order also waives expiration rules for Class E drivers licenses. It removes the $15 late renewal fee for licenses that are more than ten days expired. The current system is simply unsustainable, Landry said. We cannot allow technical failures to disrupt essential services for Louisianas citizens. This emergency order will clear the way for necessary improvements without unnecessary bureaucratic delays. The executive order stays in effect until April 19, 2025, unless extended or canceled. Louisiana OMVs face technical outages Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, Senate President Mattie Daughtry and Gov. Janet Mills during the annual joint House-Senate debate on the justice system in the State House in Augusta on Feb. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Gov. Janet Mills signed the two-year budget on Friday that the Democratic majority of the Legislature passed late Thursday without Republican support. Over the last two months, I repeatedly encouraged Democratic and Republican leadership to work together so we could avoid this unfortunate outcome, Mills said in a statement. However, I have signed this budget bill because it is in the best interest of the people of Maine. It will pay Maine hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers, protect Maine forests from spruce budworm, and ensure essential government services that Maine people rely on are funded for the biennium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The budget continues funding for state services at the same level in the next biennium, while also providing one-time funding to fill the current funding gap in MaineCare, the states Medicaid program, to treat a growing outbreak of spruce budworm (a destructive insect that threatens Maines northern forests) and provide cost-of-living adjustments for certain essential support workers that the state started withholding in January, a move legislators and the public have argued is illegal. The Legislature earlier attempted to pass funding for those urgent needs in a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year, after the Mills administration warned lawmakers of a looming MaineCare shortfall in January. However, that plan died in non-concurrence last week after a months-long statemate, with all but two Senate Republicans opposed. The supplemental was amended to include some key demands from Republicans, however the minority party in the upper chamber refused to back the package unless it included structural reform to the MaineCare program. Mills also signed a proclamation calling the Legislature back into session on Tuesday, after the Legislature technically adjourned just after midnight on Friday morning in order to start the clock to allow the budget to take effect in 90 days, which will be just before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1. Without Republican support, the budget only secured a simple majority in both chambers, falling markedly short of the two-thirds support needed to make the funding available immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are very concerned that this temporary pain could produce permanent damage, Jeffrey Austin, vice president of government affairs for Maine Hospital Association, told Maine Morning Star on Friday. Several of the 36 hospitals in the association are not in a position to absorb the payment cuts theyre seeing as a result of the funding delay, Austin said. Hospitals are doing their part to treat patients, he said. The Legislature needs to do its job. On March 12, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services started capping payments owed to health care providers in an attempt to ensure some level of funding was available for the duration of the current fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department is only paying 70% of prospective interim payments to critical access hospitals and is withholding payments for all hospital claims greater than $50,000. All payments are being withheld to large retail pharmacies, large durable medical equipment providers and out-of-state providers of hospital, ambulance, pharmacy and durable medical equipment services. John McAnuff, chief financial officer of Sweetser, told Maine Morning Star that the statewide behavioral health organization hasnt yet been impacted by delayed payments. Some had been expected by the payment cycle that begins next week, but with a payment date now in sight, Sweetser has a plan to be able to make it into late June, McAnuff said. We have been getting continual updates from the department and we really appreciate that theyre working closely with providers like us, he said. I think now that theres a little bit of finality to the process that we will be receiving a more definitive plan. Regarding the time-sensitive treatment window for spruce budworm this spring, Maine State Forester Patty Cormier said, though not ideal, those in the forest industry believe theyll be able to use existing resources specifically $12 million in federal funds to be used for what will ultimately be a multi-year treatment effort in order to pay for initial treatment this spring until final payment is due. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were lucky in this case that it works, Cormier said. Reiterating what Democrats said on the House and Senate floors Thursday night, Mills said the two-year budget provides needed stability. During this period of significant uncertainty nationally, our people, businesses, municipalities, and schools must have stability from their state government, Mills said. All other bills the Legislature had been considering are now carried over into this special session Mills officially called on Friday. Let me be clear, Mills said. The Legislature has significant work left to do. Noting that procedural scuffles have already delayed payments to health care providers, the governor urged lawmakers to not let tensions of the moment derail important long-term decisions for Maine people. RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The first bill Josh Stein signed into law as North Carolina governor was a Hurricane Helene relief package worth more than $500 million. The package was about half of what Stein originally requested from state lawmakers, but those legislators promised more help is on the way. This bill shows that when we work together, we can get really good things done for the people of this state, said Stein during a bill signing ceremony in Raleigh on Wednesday night. Gov. Josh Stein shares his vision for NC with inaugural State of the State address Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest portion will go to farmers, $200 million to cover crop losses. $120 million will help pay for a home reconstruction and repair program while $20 million will be used to pay for debris clean up. $9 million will be used to pay for a learning program to make up lost schooling time for students in western North Carolina. Remaining dollars will go toward helping people get rehoused after being displaced by previous storms in eastern North Carolina. House Speaker Destin Hall said the General Assembly is already planning to pass another relief package. This is the fourth bill weve passed on Helene Recovery, Hall explained. Its not the last one, passing this today, its going into law. Tomorrow well begin working on the next round of relief for Helene because its going to be a long recovery with incredible devastation in western North Carolina. NC Senate passes bill easing concealed carry gun restrictions Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western NC is also still waiting on federal aid which will cover the lions share of recovery costs. Stein said he continues to work with the states DC delegation to get money to the state. Its really complicated because the federal government has appropriated funds but it hasnt allocated funds and even when it has allocated funds, it has not distributed the funds, 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 Queen City News. The Trump administration could be on the verge of a crucial decision that would cause a setback in the fight against global carbon pollution. Per Reuters, the Department of Government Efficiency, effectively led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has proposed plans that include canceling the lease of the support office for the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawai'i. Founded in 1956, the observatory is known as "the birthplace of global carbon dioxide monitoring" because it "maintains the world's longest record of measurements of atmospheric CO2," according to the news service. The lease on the support office was set to end Aug. 31, according to a government official. The support office is listed by DOGE as being located in Hilo, and it is, per Reuters, one of more than 20 offices rented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that faces the possibility of having their leases ended as part of DOGE's recommended money-saving efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A listing on the DOGE website assesses the annual lease cost for the NOAA office in Hilo as $164,391 and that canceling the lease would have a total savings of $150,692. Reuters noted that DOGE didn't reply to an email request for comment, and NOAA staff declined to comment publicly after their communications office did not respond to an emailed request for comment as well. However, there was still widespread disappointment regarding the impact that closing the office would have on the ability to evaluate the effects of polluting gases on the climate crisis. "It would be terrible if this office was closed," atmospheric scientist Marc Alessi, a fellow with the Union of Concerned Scientists advocacy group, told Reuters. "Not only does it provide the measurement of CO2 that we so desperately need to track climate change, but it also informs climate model simulations." "It has already become very difficult to continue our global greenhouse gas-monitoring network," added an atmospheric scientist involved in NOAA's measurements who asked not to be named. "It requires continuous shipping of sampling equipment back and forth all over the world. Suddenly, we cannot use our government-issued credit cards anymore. ... It looks like our monitoring program will soon be dead." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Trump administration continues to make questionable decisions regarding climate research, it's important to do our part to reduce planet-warming carbon pollution to help slow the effects of the changing climate. Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Governor Ron Desantis posted a 2-minute video to the X social media platform Tuesday, singling out Bay County three times for agreeing to the new Florida doge audit. Bay County County Manager Bob Majka had mentioned the audits to county commissioners earlier that day. Majka and Commissioner Doug Moore voiced support for the proposal, but the commission was not able to vote on it. Its a procedural issue. You know, we started these conversations a while back, you know, about being interested in the process just because we wanted to make sure we had a voice at the table. Not necessarily from the perspective of being first, but just if theres going to be a conversation, we would like to be involved in the conversation about how this is going to take shape and how things are going to be looked at, Bob Majka said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis urges local governments volunteer for Florida DOGE audits Desantis has accused local governments of raising taxes on citizens, even though the counties and cities are getting more money from the state. Shouldnt you know how this money is being spent especially in those counties that have seen dramatic increases in their state budgets? Now we are working with the Florida legislature to get more prescriptive authority to be able to go in and conduct audits of these local governments so that taxpayers get the full picture of whats going on, Desantis said. If commissioners approve the governors request, the state doge will audit Bay Countys budget and expenditures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor suggests forming a DOGE in Panama City Auditors will use AI to review operations and identify more ways to cut spending. You know, never hurts to continue to look and evaluate and reevaluate what youre doing. So were looking at this as a very positive process. I think the benefit of AI is that it can conduct evaluative research very quickly. I think the fundamental part of this conversation is what government should be and should not be spending money on. And so, you know, a lot of that is driven by a community desire, Majka added. Majka says the state will not be charging the county to perform the audit. If the audit finds unnecessary spending in the budget, but county officials disagree with the finding, what happens then? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local government decisions are made by local government, and it really comes down to what people in the community want their government to look like and to fund and what services they desire, Majka continued. Majka plans to present the audit proposal for a vote at the April 1st commission meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. John Kennedy spoke at a March press conference celebrating the passage of Georgia's lawsuit overhaul bill. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Its official: Legislation intended to limit damages Georgia juries can award is heading to the governors desk. Kemps legislative white whale, which will overhaul the way Georgias civil litigation system functions and make it harder to prevail in lawsuits against negligent businesses, passed in a 34-21 vote Friday afternoon. The bill was forced to return to the Senate after being amended by the House, where it passed Thursday afternoon with the bare minimum 91 votes required to clear the chamber. Sen. Randy Robertson, who is the Senate GOP whip, urges his colleagues to vote against a proposed amendment to the Kemp-backed Kemp-backed bill creating new limits on lawsuits in Georgia. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder The new limits to damage awards outlined in Senate Bill 68 are immensely popular with business interests like the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, but it took a good deal of arm-twisting by top GOP power brokers to convince enough legislators to jump on board. At the start of the 2025 session, Gov. Brian Kemp had pledged to drag lawmakers back to Atlanta for a special session if meaningful, impactful changes were not made to the states civil justice system by the end of the regular session on April 4. His office also threatened to back primary challengers to any Republicans who opposed the bill. Ahead of the Friday vote, Republicans in the Senate briefly paused floor proceedings to assemble for a caucus meeting attended by Kemp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation also faced fierce opposition from Democrats, trial lawyers and survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking, who held waves of protests as the legislators debated the bill in the House Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform. The bill was eventually amended to carve out greater protections for survivors of human trafficking, but lawmakers in both chambers voted down amendments that would have extended similar protections to children, the elderly and sexual assault victims. As in the House, the final Senate vote did not fall cleanly along party lines. Sen. Colton Moore, a Trenton Republican whose votes are routinely out of step with his party, spoke out against the bill, and SB 68s supporters included a few Democratic defectors: Sen. Ed Harbison of Columbus and Sen. Emanuel Jones of Decatur. At a press conference held immediately after SB 68s passage, Kemp celebrated his legislative victory and commended lawmakers for their efforts in tackling such a complex issue. I was very excited to see bipartisan support in the House and in the Senate, he said. I think that says a lot to the people of our state, regardless of the rhetoric that was going on around the bill and the tough politics around it, it shows that people were very thoughtful and that this is a big issue for our state. Sen. John F. Kennedy defends the Kemp-backed bill creating new limits on lawsuits in Georgia. Kennedy was the bills lead sponsor. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder Senate President Pro Tem John F. Kennedy, a Macon Republican who sponsored the bill, also applauded SB 68s passage, adding that the bill will continue to make sure that folks from the hardworking Georgians that have to pay insurance premiums to the rest of us that all want to live in this great state are doing so in a good, fair, competitive environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats swiftly condemned the SB 68s passage, citing concerns that it could give companies less incentive to protect their customers. We know that unfortunately, at some of these businesses, people are going to be harmed, said Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II. This bill was a response to that, and thats why I say the response was either protect Georgians or protect insurance companies, and it is clear that this governor and the Republican Legislature decided to protect insurance companies. Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat, pushes for additional changes to a proposal that would create new limits on lawsuits in Georgia. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder Trial lawyers, who warn about the unintended consequences SB 68 could create for Georgians seeking justice through the civil court system, also condemned the bills passage. It will take years to know and understand the carnage this poorly written bill will leave in its wake as it is codified into law, said Kara Phillips, a personal injury lawyer at the Atlanta firm Deitch & Rogers who has been speaking out against the bill. During that time numerous survivors and victims across the state of Georgia will not have access to civil justice. Today is a bad day for Georgians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the most contentious part of the lawsuit debate is over, legislators still have some work ahead of them. A companion bill, Senate Bill 69, which was also authored by Kennedy, has yet to come up for discussion in the House Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform. It is expected to come up for a vote in committee next week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BOSTON (WWLP) Governor Maura Healey is reacting to President Donald Trumps order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Congressman Richard Neal reacts to Trumps order to dismantle Department of Education In an interview with NBC Boston, she said the move is distressing and a quote, really dumb idea. She says she wants to see America doing everything we can to invest in education and make our country more competitive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Massachusetts, nearly 10 percent of school funding comes from the federal government, amounting to more than $2 billion a year. Were proud that Massachusetts has the best schools in the nation and its why we know that shutting down the U.S. Department of Education is bad for students, teachers and schools, said Governor Maura Healey. President Trump claims he wants to give power back to the states, but as a Governor, I know that the way to do that is not gutting the programs and funding that our students rely on. It makes no sense. This will mean bigger class sizes, cancelled after school programs and less support for our students, especially those who live in rural communities or have special needs. Thats on top of the cuts the President has already made to professional development, research and programs that feed students lunch and keep them healthy. Attorney General Campbell and her colleagues are already in the fight against this. We need Congress to step up and oppose it too. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden speaks to a joint session of the Legislature on Jan. 28, 2025, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhodens latest batch of bill signings includes one prohibiting transgender people from using public restrooms or changing rooms aligned with their gender identity, and another one requiring public schools and libraries to have appeal processes in place for decisions about obscene materials. The bathroom bill requires state-owned properties and other public entities, such as schools, to designate multi-occupancy changing rooms, restrooms or sleeping quarters exclusively for females or males. More legislative news Visit South Dakota Searchlights 2025 South Dakota Legislature page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation defines female as an individual who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization, and has a similar definition for male referencing the reproductive system that produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for fertilization. The bill empowers people who encounter a member of the opposite sex in a restroom or changing room to seek a court order against allowing it. A complaint would have cause for legal action if a public entity provided permission for a transgender person to use a bathroom matching their gender identity or failed to take reasonable steps to prohibit it. The library bill started as an attempt to repeal the affirmative defense for libraries, schools, museums and universities against charges of distributing obscene material to children. Legislators supporting that version of the bill alleged that children are being exposed to pornographic books available at schools and public libraries. A wave of opposition to the legislation resulted in a wholesale amendment. That version, which ultimately passed, converted the bill into a requirement that school and public libraries have appeal processes in place for people who disagree with determinations about what does or doesnt constitute obscene material that should be inaccessible to children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhoden has signed 154 bills and vetoed one so far. The annual legislative session is over accept for a day on March 31 for lawmakers to consider his vetoes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Apple manager who has led Siri until now told his team in a recent meeting that the delays were ugly and that staffers may be angry and embarrassed. The executive, Robby Walker, also said he was unsure when the features would actually arrive due to competing development priorities. Apple has publicly stated that the features will be ready sometime in the coming year. The need to rescue Siri is especially urgent. The company has struggled to release new features that were announced last June, including the ability to tap into a users data to fulfill queries. Despite the technology not being ready, Apple advertised the enhancements for months on TV in order to sell the iPhone 16. Following development snags, the company further delayed the features earlier this month. Rockwell is currently the vice president in charge of the Vision Products Group, or VPG, the division that developed Apples headset. As part of the changes, hell be leaving that team, though the Vision Pro software groups will follow him to Federighis software engineering group. The hardware team will remain under John Ternus and report to Paul Meade, a hardware engineering executive who worked on the Vision Pro. The moves underscore the plight facing Apple: Its AI technology is severely lagging industry rivals, and the company has shown little sign of catching up. The Apple Intelligence platform was late to arrive and largely a flop, despite being the main selling point for the iPhone 16. The iPhone makers senior leaders a group known as the Top 100 just met at a secretive, annual offsite gathering to discuss the future of the company. Its AI efforts were a key talking point at the summit, Bloomberg has reported. Rockwell will report to software chief Craig Federighi, removing Siri completely from Giannandreas command. Apple announced the changes to employees on Thursday following Bloomberg News initial report. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has lost confidence in the ability of AI head John Giannandrea to execute on product development, so hes moving over another top executive to help: Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell. In a new role, Rockwell will be in charge of the Siri virtual assistant, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the moves havent been announced. (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. is undergoing a rare shake-up of its executive ranks, aiming to get its artificial intelligence efforts back on track after months of delays and stumbles, according to people familiar with the situation. Story Continues Apple shares have declined 15% this year, part of a broader retreat for tech stocks. They fell less than 1% to $214.10 on Thursday in New York. By tapping Rockwell, Apple is betting on an executive with proven technical experience. He has demonstrated the ability to ship new products and run an engineering organization with thousands of people. Rockwell has a knack for solving problems and often takes the role of evangelist for futuristic technologies. Rockwell is known as the brains behind the Vision Pro, which is considered a technical marvel but not a commercial hit. Getting the headset to market required a number of technical breakthroughs, some of which leveraged forms of artificial intelligence. He is now moving away from the Vision Pro at a time when that unit is struggling to plot a future for the product. Over the last decade, Rockwell has been one of the few Apple executives to take a major hardware device from zero to one industry parlance for conceiving a new product and bringing it to market. He joined Apples hardware engineering group in 2015, and the company released the Vision Pro in February of last year. Giannandrea has a different background. A former Google star, he was hired in 2018 to run Apples AI work. Giannandrea had been one of Alphabet Inc.s most senior executives, overseeing the search and AI divisions. Rockwell, in contrast, doesnt have prior experience as an AI leader or clout within the burgeoning machine-learning community. Apple has set the stage for the change by increasingly referring internally to the Vision Pro and VPG initiatives as AI products. Rockwells experience with hardware also could help the company more deeply embed AI into its future devices. Already, the company is exploring the idea of AirPods with outward-facing cameras that could feed data to AI. Siri the AI divisions main consumer product has had a number of bosses over the years. When Apple first launched the voice assistant in 2011, it was overseen by software executive Scott Forstall. It was then given to services chief Eddy Cue in 2012 and transferred to the current software head, Federighi, in 2017. Giannandrea took it over a year later. Now it will be led by Rockwell, with oversight returning again to Federighi. Giannandrea will remain at the company, even with Rockwell taking over Siri. An abrupt departure would signal publicly that the AI efforts have been tumultuous something Apple is reluctant to acknowledge. Giannandreas other responsibilities include oversight of research, testing and technologies related to AI. The company also has a team reporting to Giannandrea investigating robotics. Federighi, Rockwells new manager, is the companys senior vice president of software engineering. He oversees development of Apples iOS, iPadOS and macOS operating systems, as well as development tools. Along with Giannandrea, he was a key figure in the development of Apple Intelligence. Right now, hes also orchestrating an extensive revamp of the companys core software. Siri had been plagued by engineering and quality problems long before Giannandrea arrived on the scene. Though he struggled to turn around that technology, hes made headway in other areas. That includes luring top AI researchers to Apple, which hadnt been known for such work in the past. He also unified the companys AI work under one roof, pulling in related technologies from across Apple into a single division. The AI management shift has been months in the making and predates Apple announcing the Siri delays. Last year, the company tapped Rockwell deputy Kim Vorrath to help advise the Siri team. Shes known for bringing order and execution to troubled development programs. In January, she was officially moved over to the AI group as a top lieutenant to Giannandrea to oversee AI program management. She is now moving to Federighis division. In the past several days, Apple started moving over another senior manager from Rockwells team Aimee Nugent to the Siri group. Like Vorrath, she has a reputation for fixing challenging projects. The changes allowed two of Rockwells trusted executives to evaluate the organization before he became heavily involved. Inside Apple, Rockwell hasnt been shy about criticizing Siri, according to people familiar with the matter. For years, he has pitched senior vice presidents on ideas for overhauling the voice assistant to make it more personalized. He has also been advising the AI group in recent weeks. Even before the management changes, Giannandrea long considered Rockwell a potential successor. When developing the Vision Pro, Rockwell believed that Siri could be a central way to control the $3,499 device. Now, its only a limited element, with the company primarily focusing on hand-and-eye control. Rockwell has had more experience with the AI team in recent months as the company worked to bring Apple Intelligence to the Vision Pro. The features are launching on the headset in April as part of a visionOS software upgrade. (Updated with news on Vision Pro software team moving in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. WILSON, N.C. (WNCT) Johnson & Johnson broke ground on its new bio-pharmaceutical facility in Wilson Friday. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein joined the company in celebrating the milestone. Governor Stein speaks on Johnson and Johnson facility groundbreaking in Wilson When the facility opens, it will help the company grow the pipeline of transformational medicines. This will also add thousands of jobs in North Carolina. Johnson & Johnson said they will be collaborating with the state to develop a talent pipeline within Eastern North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This plant here in Wilson is going make a difference not only to the people who work in this plant, its going to make a difference in the quality of life for people all across this globe. Gov. Stein said. We want our people to have every opportunity to succeed. That means developing our workforce, creating an infrastructure thats attractive to businesses like Johnson & Johnson. They know when they come to North Carolina that we have a skilled workforce who can perform the tasks they need to get done. This is the first biologic manufacturing facility in Wilson and is projected to make a long-term economic impact for Eastern North Carolina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. Marcus Bausley texted a foreboding message to his mother and siblings about 5 p.m. Feb. 20, according to prosecutors: If something happens to me, take care of my son, please. Less than an hour later, Bausley, 40, went on a stunning spree of violence, prosecutors alleged, stabbing his 33-year-old former girlfriend and her two children, killing the woman and seriously injuring the boys. The attack also led to an Amber Alert after Bausley left the home in the 7100 block of South Eberhart Avenue with two children. He is charged with murder and other felony counts including attempted murder and kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a hearing Friday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, a Cook County judge ordered Bausley detained while awaiting trial as family members of Teone Jones, who shared a child with Bausley, watched from the gallery. He is an absolute danger to those boys and to anybody in the community he comes into contact with, Assistant States Attorney Mike Pekara said. Even though they were no longer in a romantic relationship, Bausley and Jones lived together with their 4-year-old son and Jones two older children, prosecutors said. During the attack, the two younger sons were home while the oldest son was at basketball practice, prosecutors said. About 5:45 p.m. that day, Bausley and Jones got into an argument, Pekara said. Bausley pushed Jones down the stairs, then began stabbing her, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones 8-year-old son yelled at Bausley to stop before Bausley turned and began stabbing the boy, Pekara told the judge. The boy later told police his mothers face was white as she lay at the bottom of the stairs, Pekara said. Bausley then left the home with the two younger children and headed to his mothers house where he dropped off his 4-year-old son, Pekara said. Meanwhile, the oldest child, around 12, was at basketball practice, waiting there when no one picked him up at the end of the session about 6 p.m., prosecutors said. But around 6:35 p.m., Bausley picked up the boy from practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, Jones mother went to the home on Eberhart after she grew concerned about not hearing from her daughter. She knocked on the door and saw blood when she looked through a window, Pekara said. She climbed through a bedroom window, he said, then saw her daughters body at the bottom of the stairs. She called 911, Pekara said, and police issued an Amber Alert for the two older boys. About 7:15 p.m., Pekara said, Bausley began stabbing the 12-year-old boy. Surveillance video captured a struggle in the car, he said. The boy ran out of the car and knocked on a nearby door screaming for help, he said. The boy told first responders his stepdad had stabbed him, Pekara said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bausley had the 8-year-old boy in his car for about seven more hours, until about 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 21 when the boy, still wounded, told Bausley he was thirsty, Pekara said. Bausley dropped the boy off at a gas station, where surveillance video captured the boy walking in, buying a water bottle and walking back out, Pekara said. About 4 a.m. Bausley called his mother and told her where he left the boy. Police officers found the child in the 8200 block of South Damen Avenue, Pekara said. License plate readers tracked Bausleys vehicle into Indiana, where he was arrested by authorities in Lake County, Indiana, after a chase. As police approached the vehicle, Bausley stabbed himself several times, Pekara said. The 12-year-old boy remains in critical condition, Pekara said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones had previously reported domestic incidents to police, he said. Judge Shauna Boliker said Bausley has minimal criminal history, but noted the brutality alleged in the attack and the trauma suffered by the boys. When that 8-year-old attempted to stop the defendant, the 8-year-old was met with the same brutal and vicious attack this defendant perpetrated on (his mother), Boliker said. As the hearing concluded, Jones family jeered at Bausley, shouting from the gallery: What you crying for? Hold your head up. Be a man. Before leaving the courthouse, Jones brother Malik Wilson said that Jones children are strong boys. Theyre going to make it through this, he said. He remembered his sister as a beautiful, loving soul. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) In his first State of the City address Thursday night, Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand focused on housing, policing and improving neighborhoods. The mayor opened his speech thanking sponsors, city employees and commissioners. Then he outlined what he called three baskets for policy challenges housing, justice and policing, and city and neighborhood design. HOUSING We all know that Grand Rapids is no longer a cheap housing market, and that makes sense. Housing is cheap in places people dont want to live and more expensive when theres demand, LaGrand said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He cited studies that found to meet demand, Grand Rapids will need 12,400 housing units over the next two years a goal in which the city is behind, he said. Kent Countys housing crisis: How did we get here? Thats about twelve units a day for the next 1,000 days. Last year, we built one a day. Building is happening, but the scale of supply isnt meeting the scale of need, LaGrand said, adding that housing is needed as fast as possible at every price point. He noted that 73 people have been housed and 72 have been referred to a permanent housing resource in Grand Rapids 100 in 100 initiative that began in September, which aimed to provide housing for 100 individuals experiencing homelessness in 100 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The slogan is catchy, 100 in 100, but the vision behind this work is to build up permanent protocols to help drive that this population number to near zero and keep that number there, said LaGrand. He also mentioned the three-building project planned for the old Charleys Crab site, the conversion of the Fifth Third Bank building into housing and more units planned for Factory Yards and in the Monroe North area. He highlighted two new housing initiatives. The first is GR Land Bank, which can receive foreclosed properties, clear title issues and get properties back into use in the community. It can also actively spur new housing work, LaGrand said. The second is a new Accessory Dwelling Unit task force, which will focus on making it easier for homeowners to build ADUs. GR makes significant changes to housing rules: Heres what they mean Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Think of an ADU, in its simplest form, as a garage that you might convert to a one-bedroom or studio apartment. they already exist all over the city. They dont displace anything. They have four walls, they already have a roof, they have a floor. Theyre near utility hookups, and theyre locally owned. Locally owned of course also means locally accountable. A tenant in my backyard is a tenant I know, its a tenant I can keep track of, LaGrand explained. He hopes to see hundreds of those units across the city. JUSTICE AND POLICING Public order is the bedrock of a strong city, LaGrand said. The mayor said Grand Rapids is making real progress on non-police centered public order work, including a city-run program, Cure Violence, that is expanding across all three wards and a 911 system that flags mental health calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new crisis stabilization unit at Trinity Health provides a place for first responders to bring people in mental health crisis rather than jail 1,300 people have already been helped, according to LaGrand. Violence interrupters see early signs of success in Grand Rapids Our core first response teams in Grand Rapids, our police and fire departments, are strong. Chiefs Winstrom and Brown have the strongest, most positive rapport with our officers and firefighters that Ive ever seen, LaGrand noted, expressing his pride of Grand Rapids public safety teams. Crime is down in the city and the Grand Rapids Police Department has added over 35 officers since a low point in August, expecting to add another 13 by this summer. The fire department had over 800 applicants at the last hiring opening and two new fire stations, as well as a training facility on the West Side, are in the process of being built, LaGrand said. NEIGHBORHOOD FLOURISHING Shifting focus, LaGrand said his goal is for Grand Rapids neighborhoods to fulfill most wants and needs: safe, walkable and bikeable streets, healthy public infrastructure, healthy public transportation, thriving schools, solid business districts, parks to connect in, and third spaces to get together with each other and share experiences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community says goodbye to 2 GRPS elementary schools LaGrand praised the Grand Rapids Public School Board for working with city leadership to repurpose old buildings for community centers, housing or more. He mentioned goals of cultivating people-centered streets, business districts, active parks and safe biking and scootering. Wanting to open the dialogue between city officials and residents, LaGrand promoted his Mayors Mondays discussions, which are held in each ward in turn on Monday evenings to talk about the baskets he mentioned housing, policing and neighborhoods. Ideas brought up at these meetings are turning into policies and programs, LaGrand said. He encouraged people to visit the website to find out more. Grand Rapids mayor-elect calls on residents to get involved Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was LaGrands first State of the City speech as mayor. He won the mayoral election in November of 2024, defeating Senita Lenear 63% to 37%. He was sworn in on Dec. 17 and officially took office Jan. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) High winds sparked concern over a grass fire near the state Veterans Cemetery in northern Sioux Falls. U.S. Mail is not for sale: Postal workers rally in Sioux Falls The fire started last night and spread to about 5 acres before firefighters from Sioux Falls and Renner were able to put it out. Crews were back out there this morning after the winds picked up an there were reports of smoke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters covered some burned trees with foam to make sure the fire did not reignite this afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) WSAVs Kim Gusby was honored by the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce for her legacy as a journalist and work as a community leader. Gusby, an award-winning journalist, is Savannahs long-serving morning news anchor. She joined WSAV in 1993 and was inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2024. A true Savannah native, she is a Herschel V. Jenkins High graduate and attended Georgia Southern and Savannah State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is the founder of Founder of The Village Scholarship Fund which helps support college-bound students, a board member for Brightside Child & Family Advocacy Savannah, a member of the National Association of Black Journalist and active in Savannahs Eagle Outreach. Gusby is also a winner of AP and Edward R. Murrow Awards for stories on Black history. She also has recieved the following awards: Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award in 2019 SSU Southern Regional Press Institute Hall of Fame in 2019 100 Black Men of Savannah Community Service Award in 2018 Herschel V. Jenkins Hall of Fame in 2017 National Association of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle Inductee in 2015 Congratulations, Gusby! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece has charged more than 20 people and arrested five managers and employees at the state town planning service on the tourist island of Rhodes, for violations ranging from breach of duty to bribery and document forgery, police said on Thursday. It is the second scandal to emerge since December involving public sector workers accused of bribery over the issuance of construction permits, and follows years of economic hardship and international bailouts for the country. Transparency International, which measures perceptions of public sector corruption, ranks Greece second from bottom in the euro zone ahead of Malta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Greek police investigation was launched after a member of the public tipped them off that town planning employees were asking for bribes for related work of up to 100,000 euros. In total seven people have been arrested including an architect, who police believe is the leader of the group involved, and a civil engineer. More than 600,000 euros ($650,000) and 77 gold British pounds, worth hundreds of euros each, were confiscated from the homes of those detained, among them two senior managers, police officials said. In December, 21 people were arrested in northern Greece including a former mayor and municipal managers at a local town planning service on similar charges. They were accused of receiving bribes to expedite the issuance of permits and topographical plans for illegal construction work. ($1 = 0.9230 euros) (Reporting by Yannis Souliotis; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Greene Countys $40 million transition to soft water wont reach all residents BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN) A multi-million dollar project to reduce the hardness of tap water is now in effect, but some residents say they are not seeing any improvements. For years Beavercreek residents have battled hard water and officials say they have now reached their goal of decreasing that after a months-long process. However, some residents say the solution does not help families who still use wells for water and they are still looking for answers. Greene Countys switch to soft water could put home plumbing at risk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overall water quality, everything thats gone through this native filtration system should be improving the overall water quality, said Mark Chandler, Greene County Sanitary Engineering director. Greene County leaders say the $46 million upgrade to the regional water treatment plant in Beavercreek Township was a success. Over the last three months, this water softening transition process has lowered the amount of dissolved minerals in water, also known as the hardness. The Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department reports that local water went from 27 grains per gallon to about 8 grains per gallon a number that is standard in the region. With the high quality of water that were going to be distributing and the amounts of water that that we can produce, thats economic growth and thats whats going to support and help build this region, said Chandler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this difference, the county says residents should see a noticeable change in the taste, smell and overall quality of their water. They also say it will open new opportunities for real estate and property developments. But some people who live in cities like Beavercreek still use wells to pump water. These residents say they feel forgotten by the county, as they say city leaders refuse to address their need to access city water. When you constantly have to buy salt and you constantly have to pour bleach down the well, and it smells like sulfur and no matter what you do, it doesnt get better, said Molly Byrd, a Beavercreek resident who uses well water. The group of residents is asking local officials in Beavercreek and Greene County to provide a pathway to access soft water as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want us to keep paying in, but were not getting any benefits from the city and were not getting fresh softened water. And I feel like in Beavercreek, the leaders could do something to help us, said Byrd. The city says residents should continue to see improvements to their water quality. Residents who use wells are still looking for solutions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A Greenfield woman has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty in a fatal drunken driving crash near Timmerman Airport in Milwaukee, according to online Milwaukee County court records. Alma Espino, 26, was sentenced Thursday by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Wagner after she pleaded guilty to one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The second charge homicide by use of vehicle with prohibited alcohol concentration was dismissed. After Espino is released from prison, she will serve six years of extended supervision. She was also ordered to not use any firearms or body armor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Records show she has been in custody since July 13, and will receive credit for 253 days served. Espino was arrested after a crash causing the death of a 57-year-old Milwaukee man On the evening of July 11, Milwaukee police arrested Espino after causing a crash that killed Dimitri Boone, 57, of Milwaukee, who was found trapped beneath a vehicle at North Swan Road and West Hampton Avenue. Witnesses told police Espino was speeding and driving erratically before crashing into a fence and flipping her car. Espino seemed unaware that she had been a car crash and struck a pedestrian. Her blood alcohol concentration was 0.163%, more than twice the legal limit. Police noted they smelled intoxicants from Espino and found open containers of Crown Royal Peach Tea Whisky in her vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Greenfield woman sentenced to 8 years in prison after fatal crash By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Tom Little NUUK, Greenland (Reuters) - Ivik Knudssen-Ostermann, whose company runs boat tours to see Greenland's glittering blue icebergs, says his bank has told him to expand ahead of an expected influx of tourists after U.S. President Donald Trump put the island in the global spotlight. Trump's comments, coupled with the opening of a new international airport in the capital Nuuk, have already boosted arrivals and more are expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Already now, we are getting many more bookings than we have received earlier, especially because of a man with the last name of Trump. He has really put Greenland on the map once again," Knudsen-Ostermann, operator of Greenland Cruises, said, standing on the dock of an ice-packed harbour. Greenland became the focus of international attention in January when Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., arrived at the newly opened Nuuk airport. Since then, the U.S. president has doubled down on his pledge to make the Arctic island part of the United States, as he eyes its vast wealth of rare earth minerals critical for high-tech industries. Greenland is hoping new airports will bolster its tourism and mining industries to diversify the economy, which is currently reliant on fishing for 95% of its exports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country's vast ice sheet, glaciers, deep fjords and abundance of marine life, including whales, are the key attractions, while pride in the local Inuit culture is also growing. The opening of the airport in Nuuk in November last year has made travel to the island easier. United Airlines is set to begin direct flights from New York to Nuuk in June, replacing the previous route which required tourists to fly via Copenhagen and transit at the former U.S. military base Kangerlussuaq. Ilulissat, Greenland's main tourist hub known for its UNESCO-listed ice fjord, is also due to open a new international airport in 2026, while another international airport is under construction in Qaqortoq in southern Greenland. "We will see quite a significant growth this summer already," said Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the bank is telling Knudsen-Ostermann to get more boats and more people, he says he is cautious. "I want to see what the new airport brings us, what 2025 brings us. We don't know the future, so I'm holding back a little," he said. Statistics Greenland reported a 14% year-on-year rise in the number of passengers on international flights to Greenland in January. The number of hotel nights has seen a steady increase over the past decade, with 355,000 recorded last year, up from 210,000 in 2014, it said. Three-quarters of tourism operators reported an increase in bookings in the three months following the opening of Nuuk's new airport, according to Visit Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lars Ipland, a Danish tourist in Nuuk, said Greenland was one of the last parts of the world he hadn't seen. "It's a part of Denmark, so I thought I have to see it. Now with all the attention, you don't know what's happening next week or if it's another flag up here or whatever they decide to do." (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Sharon Singleton) After ASEAN Light Vehicle (LV) sales dropped for two consecutive years in 2023 (-1% year-on-year (YoY) and 2024 (-5% YoY), the downward trend continued in January 2025 with a decline of 8% YoY, due to weak performances in the regions three largest markets: -11% YoY in Indonesia, -10% YoY in Thailand, and -24% YoY in Malaysia. In contrast, LV volumes in Vietnam and the Philippines increased by 22% YoY and 11% YoY, respectively. In Vietnam, the outstanding sales performance was due to the low base in January 2024 and strong economic growth. GDP growth reached 7.6% YoY in Q4 and 7.1% for full-year 2024, driven by exports, manufacturing, and foreign investment inflows. The tourism sector rebounded strongly, too, with the number of foreign visitors returning to pre-pandemic levels. On the domestic front, the property sector is continuing to recover from the bursting of the bubble in 2023. Source: GlobalData A key development for the Vietnamese market is that the government enacted Decree No. 51/2025/ND-CP on March 1, 2025, which stipulates that it will continue to waive registration fees for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) until February 28, 2027. This initiative is intended to motivate more consumers to consider purchasing Electric Vehicles (EVs) and is likely to be beneficial to VinFast, a Vietnamese EV manufacturer. It is noteworthy that in Vietnam, the registration fee represents a significant portion of the cost when buying a vehicle, with the percentage varying by location and vehicle type. For the Philippines, the double-digit growth was supported by affordable Chinese models and strong remittance inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFW). Based on media reports, remittance inflows increased by 3% YoY and hit an all-time high of $34.5 billion in 2024. Note that remittance inflows from OFW accounted for 8.3% of the Philippines GDP in 2023. Despite these developments, no significant changes have been made to the countrys sales outlook. In addition, both positive and negative factors continue to play a role in the Philippines LV market. On the positive side, the government is preparing a new automotive policy called Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE), the full details of which will be officially announced in March or April. On the negative side, the economy and LV demand could be hurt by political instability after former President Duterte was arrested for crimes against humanity during his drug war period. Looking ahead to February, our recent data indicated that Indonesian and Malaysian sales increased by 3% YoY and 2% YoY, respectively. The improvement in Indonesia was mainly supported by the 2025 Indonesia International Motor Show event from February 13-23. For the Malaysian market, Perodua and Chery Group were the main growth drivers, thanks to solid demand for the Myvi and Bezza from Perodua, and the newly launched Jaecoo J7 from Chery Group. France's Greenpeace activists perform an action to support Greenpeace USA, next to Statue of Liberty at Pont de Grenelle in Paris on Feb. 20, 2025. Energy Transfer, the Big Oil company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, sued Greenpeace USA for $300 million. Credit - Thibaud MORITZGetty Images The environmental organization Greenpeace was ordered to pay more than $660 million dollars to the Texas-based pipeline company Energy Transfer this week over its role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests nearly a decade ago. The outcome was a blow to the environmental advocacy group, which has previously said that a lawsuit of this size could bankrupt its U.S. operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy Transfer, the operator of the Dakota Access Pipeline, accused Greenpeace USA and International of playing a central role in organizing the resistance to the pipeline at Standing Rock in 2016 and 2017. The protests drew national attention as activists set up camp on land owned by Energy Transfer in an attempt to delay the projects construction. Law enforcement responded by deploying water cannons, tear gas, and other weapons on unarmed protestersinjuring hundreds. Greenpeace denied the companys claims, and has said the case is one of the largest Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) cases ever filed. Greenpeace played an extremely limited role at Standing Rock, and is proud of showing up in solidarity with Standing Rock activists, Deepa Padmanabha, senior legal advisor for Greenpeace, said in a statement in February. The protests brought together thousands of activists from around the country who opposed the development of part of the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock reservation. At no time did Greenpeace engage in property destruction or violence. All claims to the contrary are a reckless disregard for the truth. Experts say that the success of the so-called SLAPP lawsuitand heavy penalty Greenpeace was dealtstands to silence other activists who speak up against big companies. This verdict, especially given its scope, really changes the calculus for advocacy groups who are engaged in, not just environmental issues, but more generally, in advocacy, says Jennifer Safstrom, director of the Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic at Vanderbilt Law School. They too could face liability for their advocacy efforts. What are SLAPP Lawsuits? SLAPP lawsuits are a type of strategic civil litigation aimed at silencing speech by burying an organization or private citizen in legal fees. The term was coined by two professors in the 90s, Safstrom says, who notes that the practice was created in large part to target environmental activistsso much so that the professors used another term, eco-SLAPP, to define the practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's an abuse of the court system, not for a legitimate legal end, but to try to shut somebody up, says Gabe Walters, an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The practice has grown in prominence in the last decade. EarthRights, a non-profit environmental law group, identified 152 cases by fossil fuel companies between 2012 and 2022 that used strategic lawsuits against critics. A report by the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) documented 820 SLAPP suits in Europe as of August 2023, with 161 lawsuits filed in 2022, and 135 cases filed in 2021. (The European Union passed an anti-SLAPP directive in April 2024, which aims to provide safeguards against strategic lawsuits that target public participation.) Thirty-five states and Washington D.C. have anti-SLAPP laws in place, though what protections they provide may vary. Some states require that verdicts be reached on expedited timelines, while others have implemented fee shifting, which allows a defendant to recover legal fees if they win their case. But in states that dont have protections in place, the impact of a SLAPP lawsuit can be devastating for organizations and individuals alike. The goal is not even necessarily to win in court, says Walters. Just having to defend a lawsuit can be financially ruinous for a private person or for a nonprofit advocacy organization because the costs of litigation are so high. How are Environmental Groups Responding? Environmental groups have said they wont back down from their work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement released after the verdict was announced, EarthRights, said that the decision would not silence environmental advocacy. EarthRights proudly joins Greenpeace USA in speaking up against brazen legal attacks and ensuring that the environmental movement only continues to grow stronger, despite the appalling result in North Dakota. Rebecca Brown, president and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law, said that no abusive company, lawsuit, or court decision would hinder the climate fight. This misuse of the legal system stifles legitimate dissent and must be seen as a direct threat to environmental justice and democratic freedoms, said Brown. Such tactics will not deter us, they only strengthen our commitment to resistance and solidarity and defense of the constitutionally-protected right to protest. ClientEarth CEO Laura Clarke, said in a statement to TIME that the loss highlights the growing trend of big polluters using the legal system to intimidate and silence critics. The message they seek to convey is a deeply chilling one: that no organization that challenges polluting industries is safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenpeace has said it plans to challenge the ruling. The groups international arm also filed a lawsuit in Dutch court against Energy Transfer in 2024one of the first tests of the European Unions newly-enacted anti-SLAPP Directive. Energy Transfer hasnt heard the last of us in this fight. Were just getting started with our anti-SLAPP lawsuit against Energy Transfers attacks on free speech and peaceful protest, Kristin Casper, Greenpeace International General Counsel, said in a statement. In the meantime, Walters warns that, without national anti-SLAPP protections in place, Wednesdays verdict will likely embolden powerful companiesand potentially silence activists and groups that are unable to afford a costly legal battle. The judgment in the Greenpeace case has two practical effects, he says. One is that the sheer size of the judgment will chill speech. It will deter others from criticizing powerful interests. The other effect is that it may incentivize copycat lawsuits. A large judgment like this can be a powerful incentive to file further litigation and try to silence critics. Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) New developments in Greenville often lead to trees being cut down. In 2021, leaders with the City of Greenville planned for how to combat that. Since its creation, the 2021 Tree Ordinance the City of Greenville has raised nearly $2 million in funding. While construction hasnt slowed in the city, the tree ordinance states that anytime someone cuts down a tree, theyre responsible for either replanting it or paying a fee. To determine a price, trees are measured by their diameter at about 4.5 ft tall, with a max fine of $25,000 dollars per acre. Its $50 per inch, said Drew Smith, the urban forester for the City of Greenville. If its a heritage tree, its an additional $45 per inch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city utilizes a tree plotting software that can map out where there are aging trees and gaps in the canopy. According to Smith, more than 300 trees have been recently planted in Cleveland Park. Last year alone, the city gave away nearly 1,500 trees and planted more than 1,000. While Hurricane Helene knocked down trees all over the Upstate and Western North Carolina, Smith said that it helped the city get more funding to plant back what was lost. The planting back is great, but there are a lot of small trees out there now, Smith said. Hopefully this will help us in the future years, 10 years from now, 15 years from now to where we can see a difference. Smith said that, while he and other city leaders love to see the area flourish, they will continue to work to keep the Green in Greenville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced that it plans to continue listing grizzly bears as an endangered species, but while bear advocates are celebrating this announcement, it may undermine grizzly populations in the long term. The protections afforded to grizzlies under the Endangered Species Act are often onerous for states and landowners who live with the species every day, and they can inspire animosity when the federal government enforces them. Under this proposed rule, bears will continue to be afforded federal protection across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington. But past legal battles over wolves suggest those protections may not last if neighboring communities are alienated by federal regulations they feel are too restrictive. If people dont have a way to directly contest the bears listed status with FWS, they will be more likely to lobby their representatives to congressionally delist the species and give total control back to the states. In this scenario, the federal government will lose any oversight authority it currently has, and will have to defer to state population preferences. Last summer, I conducted 12 interviews with state and federal officials, legal scholars, and conservation groups to explore this issue in greater depth. My goal was to understand how attitudes about living alongside grizzly bears are influenced by government policies. I found that while the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has saved species like bald eagles and alligators from extinction, it often fails to provide a viable path for returning species management to states. As grizzly bear populations in Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem continue to rise in concert with increased human activity, encounters are becoming more common. This necessitates a more flexible, pragmatic approach to foster lasting coexistence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grizzly bears used to occupy most of western North America, ranging from Alaska to Texas and across much of the Great Plains. Today, they are limited to four distinct populations in the lower 48 states, mostly in and around national parks, national forests, and other public lands, plus a larger population in Alaska. With the latest decision from USFWS, those four lower 48 populations will all be lumped together and stay listed until that overall population is deemed recovered. Since being classified as endangered in 1975, the total population has already grown from around 700 animals in the year 2000 to more than 2,000 animals across these different zones, a remarkable recovery. This progress is due largely to the protections afforded to grizzly bears under the ESA. Alongside Florida panthers and gray wolves, the grizzly bear was one of the ESAs first flagship species. The goal of listing was to someday connect the few ecosystems where the animals still survived to establish a larger, more genetically diverse and durable population. As their numbers have increased, the historically distinct population segments around Glacier National Park and Yellowstone have almost achieved this goal and are now separated by only 35 miles. This gap will (hopefully) be closed soon, and this could be facilitated by physically relocating bears from each ecosystem to accelerate the genetic exchange. This success has not come cheaply, though. The USFWS, along with relevant states, spent $200 million on bear recovery between 1994 and 2020. As these costs have continued to mount, and bear encounters have become more common, states like Montana and Wyoming have sued the federal government to delist the bear and cede management to the states. This would allow the states to legalize annual harvesting (hunting) of grizzly bears at a level they deem sustainable to keep the population in check. The bears most ardent defenders argue that 2,000 animals do not constitute a huntable population, even if that exceeds the original ESA recovery goal, but the states say otherwise. There is no objective answer to this question, which highlights the sociopolitical influences on science-based wildlife management. The debate over grizzly management is often framed as a binary choice between strict federal protections and complete state control, but this is a false choice. We do not have to choose between grizzlies on Main Street and a reckless population cull. The Montana-based Property and Environment Research Center has called for a phased delisting that embraces the flexibility of Section 4(d) of the ESA and offers a more durable path forward. This sections rules allow for more tailored management of species that are protected under the ESA but not classified as endangered in the sense that they are not facing extinction. A 4(d) classification extends protections to species by listing them as threatened, but this is a lower level of protection than a more at-risk, endangered species would enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A gradual delisting process would demonstrate to Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming that the federal government was willing to shift its role from being an enforcer to an active conservation partner. The current application of the ESA is undermining the laws integrity by continuing to list a species that has met its population recovery goals. This in turn alienates states and landowners who feel hamstrung by what they see as excessive red tape. Under Section 4(d), though, a modest change in the ESAs application could allow for more community input and increase the regions social tolerance for grizzly bears with more market-based incentives for coexistence. These incentives could include things like paying landowners for providing habitat, compensating them for the costs of guardian dogs and electric fences, and offering carcass removal. As the 4(d) rule is currently being applied, the Fish and Wildlife Service is not taking full advantage of its flexibility. This is particularly important now, given the recent decision to keep grizzlies listed until populations recover across each of the historically distinct population segments, which are now being reclassified as a single metapopulation. If this is the new standard for delisting, the recovery goal-posts will have been moved once again, and the grizzlies will remain indefinitely endangered unless the Trump administration or Congress says otherwise. If the ESA functions solely as a last-ditch effort to prevent extinction, it will remain an important tool in conservation. But it will fail in its broader mission: achieving full species recovery with management being turned over to the states. The use of a 4(d) rule may offer a more practical alternative. Crucially, it would do so without handing the states complete autonomy over a species that could slip back into vulnerability if aggressively hunted. This phased approach, in which the states would be gradually (and conditionally) given more control over species management, could act as a show of good faith from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service while upholding the agencys duty to return management of recovered species to the state wildlife agencies. If the goal is to promote continued species recovery, which it should be, then federal policy must not alienate landowners and communities, as it so often does currently. Failing to do so will result in lower social tolerance for bears, and has even led to instances of poaching. In some cases where bears have come into conflict with rural livestock owners, people have adopted a practice referred to as shoot, shovel, and shut up, in which bears are simply shot and buried in retaliation for (or fear of future) livestock predation. With risks like this, states have a responsibility to uphold their end of this bargain, too, and would lose the right to manage grizzlies if they proved unable or unwilling to do so responsibly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grizzly population continues to grow and expand as bears spill out of the mountains into more populated human areas, but that comes with real risks for people. This expansion bodes well for the species overall, but only if those adjacent communities are given the tools to live safely and sustainably alongside the bears. So long as grizzlies are wholly handled by the federal government, though, it will be difficult for these communities to feel like they have a say in how the animals are managed, which only inspires resentment. This same resentment led to the 2011 congressional delisting of grey wolves in Montana, when Sen. Jon Tester attached a rider to the federal budget bill that removed protections for the wolves in his state. Since then, hundreds of wolves have been killed via numerous methods that the federal government has been unable to regulate. With congressional delegations across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho clamoring for a similar delisting of grizzlies in 2025, the bears could meet the same fate if the Fish and Wildlife Service does not offer a compromise like 4(d). If bears are congressionally delisted and aggressively trapped and hunted, the ensuing population decline may land them back on the list and perpetuate an increasingly litigious cycle. The grizzly bear is a proud icon of the American West, but it, like every species in our modern world, still requires some degree of management. To let its population flourish, we need to make sure that the people who make that expansion possible on the front lines arent bearing excessive burdens to do so. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Matthew Schweich, of the Voter Defense Association of South Dakota, speaks during a press conference in Sioux Falls on Mar. 21, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) SIOUX FALLS Two voter advocacy groups urged South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden to veto a bill that would require citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to gather petition signatures from all state Senate districts, and said theyll refer the measure to a public vote if he signs it. The Voter Defense Association of South Dakota and the League of Women Voters of South Dakota announced the referendum pledge Friday at the Sioux Falls Downtown Library. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Schweich leads the Voter Defense Association. He said the bill creates unfair barriers for grassroots efforts. This creates a tyranny of the minority over the petition process, Schweich said. Just one district could block something the rest of the state wants. For a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to reach the ballot, current state law requires petitions to have signatures from registered voters equal to at least 10% of the votes cast statewide for governor in the last general election. The signatures can be from anywhere in the state. House Bill 1169 would add a requirement that petitions have signatures from each of the 35 state Senate districts, in numbers equal to 5% of the total votes cast for governor in each district during the last general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josie Harms, spokeswoman for the governor, declined to reveal the governors thoughts on the bill Friday. The governor has about 60 bills left to sign, and he will announce his decision on that specific bill in the coming days, Harms said. The advocacy groups would have until June 30 to collect 17,508 signatures from South Dakota registered voters to refer the bill to the 2026 general election ballot. If voters rejected the bill, it would not become law. Schweich said that beyond his opposition to the geographic requirement, he also has other concerns about the bill, including the burden of figuring out how many signatures in each district are needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You would have to piece together complex data by hand, Schweich said. The League of Women Voters also opposes the bill. Amy Scott-Stoltz spoke at the event. We are committed to safeguarding direct democracy for all South Dakota, she said. Petition circulators across the state stand ready to begin circulating the referendum petition. Amy Scott-Stoltz with the League of Women Voters of South Dakota speaks during a press conference in Sioux Falls on Mar. 21, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) Democratic former state Sen. Reynold Nesiba, of Sioux Falls, plans to help with the referendum effort. He said the bill would overwhelm the states petition process. Petitioners would need 35 clipboards, he said, referring to one for each district. Circulators will have to turn voters away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nesiba also warned about the workload for the Secretary of States Office, which oversees South Dakota elections. They would need to validate signatures from 35 separate piles, he said. Each district must meet the mark or the whole thing fails. Legislative supporters of the bill said it would prevent petitioners from focusing only on places like Sioux Falls and Rapid City. This ensures amendments have real statewide support before they go to the voters, said Rep. Rebecca Reimer, R-Chamberlain, during the legislative session. The bill was one of several passed during the legislative session that would make it more difficult for citizen petitioners to put a measure on the ballot and win its approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report from the Voter Defense Association says no state goes as far as South Dakotas proposed geographic rule. Colorado has the closest system. It requires 2% from each district. Were going from no requirement to the strictest in the nation, Schweich said. The report also warns of legal risks. A similar law in Idaho was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 2021. The court ruled that Idahos law gave every legislative district veto power. The court called it tyranny of the minority. Schweich said South Dakota would likely lose a similar case and taxpayers should not pay for this mistake. Ballot questions for 2026 The bill requiring signatures from all state Senate districts for constitutional amendment petitions is one of many questions that could appear on South Dakota ballots in 2026. Already placed on the ballot by the Legislature: A constitutional amendment to authorize the termination of Medicaid expansion if federal funding support for the program falls below 90%. A constitutional amendment to raise the approval threshold for constitutional amendments to 60% instead of a simple majority. A constitutional amendment seeking voter permission for the state Investment Council to manage a trust fund for unclaimed property. A constitutional amendment clarifying that an individual must be a citizen of the United States to be eligible to vote. Citizen-backed measures proposed for possible petition circulation: The leader and two members of a cultlike group that has been connected to six killings in three states face new gun charges in Maryland. Authorities have described Jack LaSota, who is also known as Ziz, as the apparent leader of an extremist group called the Zizians who follow her online writings on veganism, gender identity and artificial intelligence. The group has been linked to killings in Vermont, Pennsylvania and California. A cross-country investigation into LaSota and the Zizians broke open in January when one member of the group died and another was arrested after the shooting death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland in Vermont. Man found guilty in 1982 Vacaville cold case murder Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaSota, Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank were charged with trespassing, obstructing law enforcement and illegal gun possession last month after a Frostburg, Maryland, man told police that three suspicious people parked box trucks on his property and asked to camp there. Their trials had been scheduled to begin in Allegany County District Court on Monday, but their cases were transferred Wednesday to the countys higher-level circuit court after new indictments were handed up. Jack Ziz Amadeus LaSota is seen in a Feb. 16, 2025 mugshot released by the Allegany County Sheriffs Office. LaSota now faces nine charges, Zajko faces 14 and Blank faces 12. The new charges, which include carrying concealed and loaded handguns, are misdemeanors. The possible maximum penalties for each charge range from three months of incarceration for trespassing and up to five years for some of the gun charges. Initial court appearances are scheduled for April 8. Members of the Zizian group have been tied to the death of one of their own during an attack on a California landlord in November 2022, the landlords subsequent killing in January, and the deaths of a Pennsylvania couple in between. The Pennsylvania victims were Richard and Rita Zajko, the parents of Michelle Zajko. A Maryland prosecutor has said two guns Zajko purchased were recovered in connection with the shooting death of Maland, the Border Patrol agent killed in a shootout during a traffic stop in Vermont in January. Teresa Youngblut, who was driving the car and is accused of firing at Maland, has pleaded not guilty to federal firearms charges. Felix Bauckholt, a passenger in the car, also was killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bauckholt and LaSota were living together in North Carolina as recently as this winter, according to their landlord, who also was renting a duplex to Youngblut in the same neighborhood. Youngblut also had applied for a marriage license with Maximilian Snyder, who is charged with killing landlord Curtis Lind in California. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An Oakland High School student is banned from Rutherford County Schools after authorities found a gun concealed in his backpack Friday. The district said a school resource officer received information Friday that a student might have brought a gun on the school campus. A search of the student's backpack revealed a loaded small-caliber handgun concealed in a compartment of his backpack. Authorities found an empty holster on the student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student was removed from campus and is permanently banned from returning to any schools in the Rutherford County Schools district. The student is charged with felony carrying of a weapon on school grounds and is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center. "Parents, we know these situations are frightening, which is why we are so thorough when they occur. We are grateful for our law enforcement and emergency response partners, all of whom responded immediately today and assisted the school with the investigation and search," the district said in a statement via email. "The responding agencies include the sheriffs office, Murfreesboro police, Rutherford County Emergency Management, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Homeland Security. Again, we are very appreciative of their robust partnership with our schools. " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County Oakland High student banned after loaded gun found Have you been debanked? Email money@telegraph.co.uk. Half a million customers were debanked last year, the highest figure in almost a decade, figures show. An estimated 408,000 bank accounts were shut down, compared to just 45,091 in 2016-2017, figures obtained from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under Freedom of Information rules revealed. In all of these cases, lenders cited financial crime reasons for the decision to close accounts. But critics accused banks of penalising innocent customers to avoid expensive payouts and money-laundering checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government tightened fraud reimbursement rules in October, with the authorising and receiving bank now jointly liable for up to 85,000 worth of losses. Financial institutions are allowed to close accounts for commercial reasons, and if they suspect criminal activity. There is no legal right to a bank account in the UK, unlike in countries such as France and Belgium. The increase comes despite the furore over account closures after Nigel Farage was debanked by private bank Coutts in 2023, with internal documents revealing that the Reform politician was considered a reputational risk. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform and MP for Clacton, said: These numbers are appalling. The last government promised me there would be changes but nothing happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Farage, who was sensationally debanked by private bank Coutts in 2023 for what he claimed were ideological reasons, added: The FCA do not protect innocent customers who are debanked either. Anti-money laundering rules were substantially tightened in 2017, requiring banks to monitor customer activity and check identities. Kristian Niemietz, at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) think tank, said: Banks already spend billions on anti-money laundering activities, and investigating every suspected case would be prohibitively expensive. So, the economically rational thing to do from their perspective, is to close an account upon the slightest suspicion. The majority of them are probably innocent people, who just engage in some financial practice that a money launderer might also engage in, such as frequent and irregular cash deposits, or overseas transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Frost, a fraud expert at Vox Veritas Vita, said that scam reimbursement rules introduced by the now scrapped Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) last October could have contributed to the number of closures. He said: This is to be expected, especially in light of the incentives regulators have created in respect of APP fraud. Every APP fraud requires a mule and logically, many of the recipients of APP fraud will end up being unbanked. The National Crime Agency estimates that 10bn is laundered through the UKs banking systems every year. Between January 2022 and September 2023, an estimated 194,084 money mules had their accounts shut, according to FCA data. Money laundering rules mean that banks who suspect customers are engaging in criminal activity cannot tell them why their accounts are being closed. This can prove frustrating for customers, especially those who are victims of fraud themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One pensioner, Mark Latham, 64, who Barclays believed to be the victim of an investment fraud, told The Telegraph that his account had been closed as a result, negatively impacting his credit score. His account will be completely closed in April, after Barclays initially suspended it in January. Mr Latham had been trying to send 826.39 to another company in order to invest in what turned out to be a crypto scam. He later attempted to send 3,002.99 to another transferring service. Mr Latham claimed that the suspension and later account closure led to his defaulting on personal loan repayments and meant he couldnt pay his rent. The housebound pensioner was even visited by the police, after the fraud team at Barclays contacted his local force in Warwickshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But despite his vulnerability, in a provisional decision seen by The Telegraph, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said that Barclays actions were the right ones. An ombudsman said: In the current climate, there is a high burden on banks in the UK to put measures in place to protect customers accounts for fraud and scams. The FOS declined to comment further. A Barclays spokesman said the case had been looked into and that it would be inappropriate to comment further while the FOS investigation was ongoing. A spokesman for the industry body UK Finance said: A small proportion of accounts are closed, and if this happens, the main reasons are financial crime or fraud concerns, being unable to complete customer due diligence or an account being dormant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a bank does have to close an account, this only happens after extensive review and investigation. An FCA spokesman said: Firms have a responsibility to do proper financial crime checks and ensure they have appropriate measures in place to prevent criminal activity. Where firms have grounds to close an account, we expect them to communicate as openly as they can. 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. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned Hamas that Israel will maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza unless the hostages in Gaza are released as Israel escalates a new offensive in the territory. The shaky ceasefire collapsed on Tuesday when Israel bombarded Gaza, shattering two months of calm that also saw dozens of hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. Katz said Friday that hed instructed the Israeli military to seize additional areas in Gaza, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza in order to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers through permanent maintenance of the territory by Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel, he added. It was unclear whether Katz meant the indefinite occupation of parts of Gaza. Katz comments came as Hamas said it was continuing contacts with mediators to try to re-establish the ceasefire that was in effect between January 19 and Tuesday. Katz said Israel was adhering to the proposal of President Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff for the release all the hostages, both living and dead, in advance and in two stages with a ceasefire in between - without endangering Israeli security interests. In the meantime, Israel would intensify strikes from the air, sea and land, and civilian means of pressure would be adopted along with military pressure, including evacuating the Gaza population to the south and implementing US President Trumps voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas meanwhile says it is considering the latest US ceasefire plan for Gaza and remains fully engaged in the mediation process. In a statement Friday, Hamas said it was continuing to deliberate on a proposal from Witkoff, who has suggested extending the first phase of the ceasefire-hostage deal through early April. It reiterated its demand for a permanent end to the war, saying it was exploring various ideas on the table in a manner that aims to achieve a prisoner exchange deal that ensures the release of detainees, ends the war, and secures a withdrawal. The proposal from Witkoff last week would have secured the release of a handful of living hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the extension of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, CNN has reported. Of the 59 hostages still being held in Gaza, fewer than half are still believed to be alive. Witkoff proposed the ceasefire extension would run until the end of Passover, extending the pause in fighting and renewing the entry of humanitarian aid through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has insisted on sticking to a timeline previously agreed with Israel and the US that would move the warring parties into a second phase of the truce, in which Israel would commit to ending the war. But Israel has refused, saying it wants to extend the first phase instead. A Palestinian man hugs the body of a baby following Israeli overnight airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip, at the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, on March 20, 2025. - Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images Khaled Meshaal, a senior Hamas official, on Thursday accused Israel of using the Witkoff plan to blackmail Hamas by retrieving the (hostages) from the first phase of the agreement without committing to the obligations of the second phase, which include a lasting calm and full withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip. Israeli fire has killed more than 500 people and injured nearly a thousand in Gaza since the fighting resumed, according to the enclaves Health Ministry. Hamas fired rockets into Israel Thursday for the first time since the truce collapsed, but no casualties were reported. At least nine senior Hamas members, including top government officials, are among those killed, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The dead include Essam al-Dalis, the Hamas head of government in Gaza; Mahmoud Abu-Watfa, the interior minister; and Ahmed Al-Hatta, the justice minister, according to the IDF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Fridays rocket-fire, the IDF ordered the evacuation of neighborhoods in north-west Gaza, as an early warning before a strike. Terrorist organizations are returning to and firing rockets from populated areas the IDF posted on X in Arabic. The United Nations childrens agency, UNICEF, said the reported number of children killed on Wednesday marked one of the largest single-day child death toll in the last year. The Israeli military said Thursday that it began a ground operation in southern Gazas Rafah city. The citys municipality reported Friday that more than 100 civilians had been killed under bombardment most of them children and women. It said residents were being forcibly driven into the open, with no shelter or food. Smoke billows behind a cemetery during Israeli strikes west of Gaza City on March 18, 2025. - Omar Al-Qatta/AFP via Getty Images Palestinians flee with their belongings from northern Gaza toward the south via the Salah al-Din road on Thursday. - Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images Egypt, one of the key mediators in the conflict, has given a gloomy assessment of the chance of renewed negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by CNN whether Israel appears to be willing to return to the negotiating table, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf said: It doesnt, and I think its an isolationist policy and runs diametrically opposed to what the global community would like to see an end to this war. Egypt had no indication that Israel was going to breach the Gaza ceasefire when Israeli negotiators were in Cairo on Sunday, just two days before Israel renewed attacks, Khallaf told CNNs Becky Anderson in an interview on Thursday. We have not been receiving these indications. We were engaged in ceasefire talks in order to move forward with phase two and phase three, he said, calling Israels return to war a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement that will trigger ripple effects. This story has been given a new headline and updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com New Hampshire state representatives narrowly voted Thursday to table a controversial bill that would legalize doctor-assisted suicide, which advocates call "medical aid in dying." By Rishav Chatterjee and Aaditya GovindRao (Reuters) -Macquarie-backed fibre network Vocus Group is closer to becoming one of Australia's largest owners of underground fibre infrastructure, as the competition regulator approved on Thursday its A$5.25 billion (about $3.3 billion) deal with TPG Telecom. Vocus and TPG, back in October 2024, had agreed to a deal for the former to take over the telecom operator's fibre and fixed network infrastructure assets, enabling Vocus to connect almost 20,000 buildings in Australia. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the deal would not likely result in a substantial reduction of competition in any market. It said that Vocus would continue to face major competition from firms including Telstra, Singapore Telecommunications-owned Optus and local players such as Superloop and Aussie Broadband A spokesperson for Vocus said that the ACCC's decision was a positive step, and TPG's complementary assets will allow Vocus to drive competition into the sector. Analysts at Sandstone Insights called the clearance a major turning point for TPG, which resets its balance sheet. "With lower interest costs, a declining opex profile and lower capex requirements, TPG is poised for substantial free cash flow growth for the next 3-4 years," the analysts said. Shares in TPG gained 5% in Sydney, while those of its biggest rival Telstra were up 0.9%. The deal remains subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval and U.S. regulatory approvals, TPG said. The Australian watchdog's review focused on how closely Vocus and TPG compete in the supply of data network and connectivity services, including fixed-line internet services, to large enterprise and government customers, it said in a statement. The probe found that Vocus focuses on providing services to large enterprise and government clients while TPG concentrates on the small and medium enterprise segment of the market. A Macquarie-managed infrastructure fund, alongside Aware Super, acquired Vocus in 2021, taking the company private and delisting it. ($1 = 1.5721 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee and Aaditya Govind Rao in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Mrigank Dhaniwala) HARTSELLE, Ala. (WHNT) Hartselle City Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Clayton informed the Board of Education that he will be retiring. I have truly enjoyed working with you all and Hartselle City Schools. I have learned so much in this endeavor and look forward to the success of Hartselle City Schools continuing, Dr. Brian Clayton said. Claytons retirement will go into effect June 30, 2025. We now begin the task of finding another experienced and talented educational leader to step into this vital role for Hartselle City Schools. That process will begin immediately, and it will be the goal of the Board of Education to find an extraordinary superintendent to build on, and to enhance, Hartselle City Schools record of success, Hartselle City Schools said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clayton is a native of Eutaw, Alabama, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he earned four degrees. Clayton has held the role since Jan. 1, 2023. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. The end of freezing temperatures means ticks are active again and with them comes the risk of Lyme Disease. Pennsylvania has high rates of Lyme Disease overall. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, 25% of deer ticks in the state carry the transmittable bacteria. St. Luke School students welcome spring with bubbly tradition As people return to outdoor activities, the Erie County Health Department has tips to limit your risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those include staying in the middle of trails, treating yourself and pets with repellant, and checking for ticks afterward. Deer ticks are only about the size of a sesame seed so its important to be vigilant. Future opperation of Bicentenial Tower murkey ahead of tourism season So a lot of times theyre in their armpits, or the backs of their knees. around their waistline. And knowing that they crawl up. They dont jump so start with your feet and work your way up, said Breanna Adams, director of environmental health services for the Erie County Dept. of Health. Adams said if a tick has attached to you, remove it with tweezers or a tick tool. Consult your doctor if you have symptoms including achy joints, fever, fatigue or a bulls eye rash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Former Las Cruces Police officer Brad Lunsford, who was found guilty last month of voluntary manslaughter, had a motion hearing Friday, March 12 regarding his attorneys request for a new trial. The motion hearing began at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Las Cruces and is currently ongoing. Lunsfords attorneys filed a motion last month, stating that there was improper juror substitution during the trial and also asked for Lunsfords release from custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ex-Las Cruces Police officers attorneys request new trial As we have previously reported, Lunsford was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter last month for shooting and killing Presley Eze at a gas station in 2022 in Las Cruces. Ex-Las Cruces Police officer found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for shooting, killing man A sentencing hearing for Lunsford is still scheduled for Friday, April 4. This story will be updated once we gather more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Heartbreaking footage has surfaced showing a humpback whale calf struggling to free itself from a netting that seems hopelessly wrapped around its head off the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The footage appears to be weeks old, but folks were sharing the clip this week to sound the alarm for boaters to remain on the lookout. "We need help ASAP! Hawaii News Report pleaded via Instagram. About 1 mile off the North Shore of Oahu a baby whale is caught in nets! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Domeier, a prominent shark researcher who has a home in Hawaii, shared the footage with this description: This is heartbreaking hopefully the NOAA team can free it from the net (if they still have a job). Domeier later provided an update that's somewhat reassuring for those wondering about the plight of the whale: "The Hawaii Whale Entanglement Network was able to cut some of the net away. Some strands of the net [remained and] hopefully they will break loose. If anyone sees this baby with some of the net still hanging, please contact them." Instagram user ge_keoni, who is from Hawaii, provided the most detailed description on Thursday: Not really what I like to share but posting for awareness. If anyone sees this little guy around contact NOAA disentanglement hotline. Last seen off Alii beach park a few weeks ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NOAA was contacted and responded but were unsuccessful in removing all the net, so it is still somewhere around north shore tangled. This footage is not from today so only contact NOAA hotline for future sightings of this whale. The weary calf is shown resting against its mom, who is helpless to provide additional assistance. NOAA-trained disentanglement teams strive to save whales that become caught in fishing gear. However, rescue efforts are low-percentage endeavors because of the dangerous challenges involved. But in this case the young whale appears to have been given a fighting chance. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Humpback whale calf shown with fishing net around head off Hawaii The University of California system and Princeton this week joined more than a dozen top schools including Harvard, Duke and Stanford in announcing hiring freezes following Trump administration spending cuts. Johns Hopkins University said it was laying off more than 2,000 employees after it lost more than $800 million from US Agency for International Development funding amid White House efforts to reduce wasteful spending and downsize the federal government. The drastic moves come as dozens of colleges and universities face federal investigations for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian demonstrations that disrupted campuses across the country last spring over the war in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in the biggest salvo in the escalating war against elite universities, the Trump administration this month targeted Columbia University, canceling about $400 million in federal grants and contracts over allegations of antisemitism on campus. The university on Friday made apparent concessions, announcing a series of new policies, including restrictions on demonstrations, new disciplinary procedures and immediately reviewing its Middle East curriculum. Washingtons unprecedented campaign against the Ivy League school has the attention of US higher education leaders, who must weigh whether to acquiesce or fight back against a series of onslaughts on issues from pro-Palestinian activism to diversity programs to transgender women competing in womens sports. The dangerous assault against the countrys leading universities, higher education leaders warn, has unfolded rapidly on multiple fronts threatening not only Americas economic and technological strength but also its vaunted democratic system and traditions of academic freedom and free speech. It is, I think, the most serious intrusion into academic freedom, and the autonomy of universities, said Lee Bollinger, a First Amendment scholar and Columbias president for more than two decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were seeing a kind of effort to transform all parts of the government and all major parts of civil society to bring those into a partisan ideological conformity that is characteristic of emergent authoritarian regimes. The warning signs, Bollinger said, are evident: Attempts to gain greater control over traditional civil service sector and administrative agencies; the ignoring of the rule of law and judicial orders; the attacks on the media and law firms and universities; and the crackdown on equity and inclusion programs. The pattern of behavior here the attacks on the courts, the attacks on the rule of law, on law firms, on media and now on universities theyre part of a pattern of intimidation that is very alarming, Bollinger said. How universities respond will play into how other institutions respond. President Donald Trump, with students looking on at the White House on Thursday, signs an executive order to shut down the Department of Education. - Nathan Howard/Reuters On Thursday, the White House delivered yet another blow, signing an executive order to begin dismantling the US Department of Education, which is responsible for administering federal funding for students with disabilities, along with federal Pell Grants for undergraduate students from low-income households. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think this is a whole nother level, Morton Schapiro, an expert on the economics of higher education and former president of Northwestern University, said of the series of moves. This is certainly the greatest challenge Ive seen. White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the moves. The Trump administrations decision to pause federal grants to universities is linked to these institutions inability to address rising antisemitic violence and protect biological women on their campuses factors that are also not conducive to intellectual inquiry and advancement, Desai told CNN this week. The Trump administration is committed to increasing transparency in our scientific research apparatus while cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. Effort to destroy and control Columbia In the second week of his second term, Trump signed an executive order promising to combat antisemitism on college campuses by revoking visas and directing universities to monitor and report on the activities of international students and staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order, Trump said, came in response to a surge of what the administration described as antisemitic incidents on college campuses that began following Hamas deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The last academic year saw widespread campus unrest, including pro-Palestinian protests and encampments, counterprotests, building takeovers, arrests and scaled-back graduation ceremonies. Columbia became the epicenter of the nationwide demonstrations. Last spring, the student coalition Columbia University Apartheid Divest demanded the school divest from its financial ties to Israel and call for a ceasefire in Gaza. After the university missed its deadline for an agreement on divestment, students and people unaffiliated with the school entered Columbias Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves inside. The university called the police to remove the protesters and more than 110 people were arrested, according to the NYPD. Columbia is a pretty obvious target, I think, if the government wants to set an example, said Scott Bok, who stepped down as chairman of the University of Pennsylvania board of trustees in December 2023 along with the schools president following a congressional hearing over the handling of antisemitism on campus. Multiple university leaders across the country resigned amid criticism over protest responses. Students and faculty rally at the University of California, Berkeley campus to protest the Trump administration on Wednesday. - Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP On March 8, the Trump administration upped the ante with the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked over his involvement in demonstrations at Columbia. The government cited his alleged activities aligned to Hamas. His detention was seen as having a chilling effect on college campuses, where students said theyre being forced to think carefully before exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech. A Columbia graduate, Khalil has not been charged with a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, two foreign-born academics with visas to work at other prominent universities Georgetown and Brown have been detained or deported over homeland security concerns. Another Columbia student and Fulbright scholar left the country after she was told she faced immigration action as part of Trumps crackdown on international students. The fallout from the targeting of international students has already begun. I hear anecdotally now all the time of people who are not coming to the United States as international students because of fears, said Bollinger, Columbias president emeritus. There is evidence of this in schools where applications are down considerably from various countries, with major consequences for the financial bottom line of various schools and departments, but also for the richness of our educational system. Columbia has nearly 24,000 international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an effort to destroy and control Columbia University, said a former president of a leading research university who asked not to be named. It is also aimed at making an example of Columbia, thereby intimidating others from joining to fight these measures. A big coalition is a key to resisting these attacks, but those who stand with Columbia will fear they are the next target of a government takeover and an effort to financially cripple or drop the university. Columbia, meanwhile, has said it expelled, suspended or temporarily revoked the degrees of students who barricaded themselves in Hamilton Hall. Columbia continues to make every effort to ensure that our campus, students, faculty, and staff are safe, the universitys interim president, Katrina Armstrong, said last week. Columbia is committed to upholding the law, and we expect city, state, and federal agencies to do the same. A self-inflicted wound In its first months, the Trump administration has sought reductions in the overhead costs that research institutions can charge the government through the National Institutes of Health. Courts have placed some orders on hold. Researchers have said the moves would hurt the nations status as a global leader. The funds typically cover facilities, maintenance and staff. Research grants for graduate education have also come under the ax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have built up an incredible machine of research and education around the commitment of the federal government for more than a half-century to be a primary funder of basic research and a lot of educational opportunities, Bollinger said. And to use that now as a means, as a tool, of trying to bring universities to heel on issues that cut to the core of institutional freedom and institutional integrity, thats really unacceptable. Schools with large endowments could be targeted for increased taxation, according to university leaders. In 2017, the first Trump administration imposed a 1.4 percent tax on large private university endowments. Trump has talked about increasing the tax. Some schools rely on endowments to cover financial aid to students. I see the current situation as pretty tragic, Bok said. I think, unfortunately, the word existential is not an exaggeration. If you think about the combination of significant research funding being withdrawn and possibly an increased endowment tax. For a major research university, you can pretty quickly get to a billion dollars a year in lost funding. And theres no university that has an endowment that could fill that gap. At Johns Hopkins, for instance, the bulk of the more than 2,000 layoffs affected international employees, the university said. A federal judge on Tuesday indefinitely halted the dismantling of USAID, saying Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, exceeded his authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diminishing the US research enterprise in this country would be a self-inflicted wound; that system is one of our greatest strengths as a country, said the former president of a top research university. Lab workers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in February. - Shelby Lum/AP/File That enterprise has produced new understanding and treatment of cancer, diabetes, heart disease; has deepened our knowledge of this planet; has unleashed new frontiers in the power of data. Our universities attract top-flight talent from all over the world as faculty and graduate students. If we hobble that, other countries will step into the breach and raid our talent in an effort to rob us of our acknowledged global leadership in research. Federal funds accounted for 55 percent of the total $109 billion universities and colleges spent on scientific research, with that share rising even higher for some highly specialized fields, according to a survey last year by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. There are no good choices The effects of a flurry of executive orders from the White House and concerns about broader assaults have rippled through the world of higher education, leaving university leaders scrambling for ways to react without their schools becoming targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre a university president right now, youre in a terrible position, and if you are a board chair or board member, youre in a terrible position, the former university president said. Presidents and boards have to make the impossible strategic calls about what to do. And there are no good choices. Some university leaders are calling the escalating clash the largest assault on higher education since the McCarthy era. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Sen. Joseph McCarthy unleashed a political witch hunt to root out US college professors labeled as communists. Many were fired, their careers ruined. The gravity of this one is much more serious than anything we faced since the 1950s. But even then, the attacks were on particular individuals, not on institutions, said Bollinger, who as president of the University of Michigan successfully defended affirmative action at the law school in a landmark 2003 case. Grutter v. Bollinger long allowed consideration of race in admissions and particularly enhanced opportunities for Black and Hispanic students. It was the law of the land until 2023, when the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The outlines of how to deal with very aggressive attacks on universities are clearly there, Bollinger said. I would be shocked if universities fell into the trap, ultimately, of sacrificing their basic principles I do think ultimately that it will be necessary to turn to the courts for assistance and protections. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Yash Roy, Ronald Brownstein, Andy Rose, Matt Egan, John Towfighi, Maria Sole Campinoti, Kevin Liptak, Sunlen Serfaty, Karina Tsui, Elizabeth Wolfe, Chelsea Bailey, Gloria Pazmino and Taylor Galgano contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As part of his push to crack down on immigration, President Donald Trump dusted off an obscure 18th-century law, drawing harsh criticism and a court order to stop it, which his officials are fighting. On March 16, the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and deported around 250 Venezuelans, claiming they were part of a dangerous prison gang even though U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement later admitted in a court filing that many didnt even have criminal records. Historian Heather Cox Richardson (who you know from her popular Substack Letters from an American) is now sounding the alarm, warning that this could set off a troubling ripple effect. If the president can decide who gets to come into the country and who gets deported, and can simply decide who those people are really, none of us are safe, she told Katie Couric during an exclusive interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richardson went on to emphasize that there are meant to be procedures in place for deportations, such as court hearings. Thats what due process does it establishes the facts of who you are and whether or not youve committed a crime. But wait what exactly is this centuries-old law that Trump used to justify the deportations? According to Richardson, the Alien Enemies Act was originally meant to detain or deport nationals from enemy nations during wartime or an invasion. What the Trump administration did is misuse this act from the 1700s and declare Venezuela an enemy, she explains. But rather than returning the migrants to Venezuela, Richardson points out that the Trump administration sent them to Cecot prison in El Salvador, a facility infamous for its brutal conditions and accusations of human rights abuses. You can probably think of times in our own history when people were sent to prison based solely on someones word, Richardson says. And its easy to find examples in other countries, where simply doing something the person in power dislikes can land you in prison like Syria until recently, Russia today, or any authoritarian regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the gravity of these deportations, Richardson remains hopeful. Somebody once said to me that Americans will never put up with authoritarianism because were too ornery, she said. I would add to that that we dont like to shut up, and that we will find ways to get our message out. For deeper insights into Trumps deportations, his growing tensions with judges, and the dismantling of federal agencies and why these actions are causing serious concern watch Katies full interview with Richardson in the video above. The post Heather Cox Richardson on Trumps Deportations: None of Us Are Safe appeared first on Katie Couric Media. The closure of Londons Heathrow Airport meant a long trip for passengers on a Charlotte-based flight. FlightAware data shows Thursday nights 7:10 p.m. flight out of Charlotte made it to the outskirts of Newfoundland, Canada, before turning around. The Latest: Heathrow coming back to life 18 hours after fire shut down busy hub The flight then had to land once again in Charlotte. Channel 9 is asking American Airlines what they are doing for impacted travelers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heathrow Airport stirred back to life late Friday, with flights slowly resuming about 18 hours after an inferno at an electrical substation caused a power outage that shuttered Europes busiest air travel hub and left 200,00 passengers stranded. The Associated Press contributed to this report. VIDEO: Caught on camera: Southwest flight, private plane nearly collide at Chicago Midway Airport Unilever plans to list its ice-cream business, which owns 10 brands including Ben & Jerrys, on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters Ben & Jerrys has accused its parent group, Unilever, of sacking the ice-cream brands chief executive for refusing to oversee the dismantling of its progressive values. David Stever who led the company for almost two years having first joined it as a tour guide in 1988 was removed from his post earlier this month, it has was claimed in a court filing from the US-based brand. Ben & Jerrys alleged in a submission to the US district court for the southern district of New York that Unilever, the UK-based consumer group that owns brands including Marmite and Dove, wanted to stop the boss from making political statements. Related: Jury awards $50m to man injured by scalding-hot tea from Starbucks Anuradha Mittal, the chair of Ben & Jerrys independent board, said: Dave has courageously advanced the companys social mission and values, has continued to drive innovation in its super premium product range, and has delivered strong financial results, far outpacing the rest of Unilevers ice-cream business. What Dave hasnt done is what Unilever would like him to do, which is to oversee the dismantling of Ben & Jerrys mission, progressive values. The court action is the latest episode in a testy relationship between the ice-cream brand and its parent group, which ousted its own chief executive, Hein Schumacher, last month and replaced him with its finance chief, Fernando Fernandez, to speed up a turnaround process. Last month, Ben & Jerrys accused Unilever of demanding that it stop publicly criticising Donald Trump. And in November it launched legal action against its parent, accusing the company of trying to block it from making public statements supporting Palestinian refugees in the conflict in Gaza. It claimed Unilever had breached the terms of a confidential settlement agreed in 2022 after a clash over plans to stop selling its products in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Ben & Jerrys, which was founded by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978, was bought by the UK-based consumer goods group in 2000. As part of the merger deal, an independent board was set up to protect the ice-cream brands mission and strong stance on social issues. Mittal also accused Unilever of wanted to dismantle that agreement, which he said had protected Ben & Jerrys position as a wholly owned autonomous subsidiary, the very things that have created the companys financial success and incredible brand loyalty among its fans. That is why the independent board has sued Unilever and why Unilever is seeking to punish the chief executive. A passenger whose plane was due to land at Heathrow today said the pilot told those onboard that they had no idea where they could land after Europes biggest airport shut after a fire caused a major power outage. Thousands of travel plans have been thrown into chaos after Londons Heathrow Airport closed in the early hours, and it will remain so until at least 11.59pm on Friday, 21 March with 1,351 flights have been affected. Up to 300,000 customers were set to fly through Heathrow on Friday. Tim, a passenger who was flying to London from Bangkok, Thailand, told LBCs Nick Ferrari at Breakfast that the pilot told the cabin that they were unsure where the plane would go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, 120 planes were in the sky heading for Heathrow and had to divert to other airports. Firefighters at the North Hyde electrical substation which caught fire (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire) Tim said that during the 12-hour flight from the Thai capital, the pilot told them: "We don't know where we're going to go yet." Stansteds full, Gatwicks full, we are trying to find out where we can land, Tim recalled the pilot saying. The flight did end up landing in Brussels, with Tim telling the station that Belgium was better than being turned back all the way back to Asia, I suppose." When asked if he knew when the plane was likely to end up getting back to the UK, Tim said: "It's a big aircraft so it's going to be a decent-sized airfield, isn't it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They refuelled us and the captain's just waiting for a slot somewhere to fit us in in the UK." Speaking from the tarmac at Brussels, where the plane had been sitting for four hours, Tim said: "What's annoying is that they haven't come around with any [food or drinks]. I've gone down to get some water." Later on, the passenger and the rest of the flight ended up being taken off the plane and were waiting in the airport for a plane to take them back to the UK. The fire at the North Hyde electrical substation (London Fire Brigade) Heathrow has asked passengers not to travel to the airport and to contact their airline for further information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airport has closed to maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues. Meanwhile, significant disruption is expected to continue over the coming days, according to a Heathrow spokesperson. At least 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines have been deployed to Hayes in west London to tackle the fire, the London Fire Brigade said, adding that 150 people have already been evacuated and hundreds of nearby homes were without power. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast In a disaster movie, Russian and Chinese spies infiltrate our national infrastructure and launch a devastating cyber attack, freezing our transport and communications as a prelude to invasion. The opening scene? Britains main airport is engulfed in a fireball. We are living in a time when reality is starting to converge with Hollywood doomsday scenarios. Just look at the pictures of the fireball at Heathrow. You almost expect Tom Hanks to make an appearance as Sir Keir Starmer, with Christopher Walken playing Vladimir Putin and, I dont know, James Corden as Donald Trump. But this is serious. Heathrow closed? This sort of scandal hasnt occurred since the mysterious Gatwick drone incident of 2018, when 140,000 passengers were affected; and before that, the 2010 volcano eruptions in Iceland. The economic damage will be eye-watering. And I cant be alone in worrying that this is more than a random malfunction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details are continuing to emerge as I write. But only yesterday, the Telegraph disclosed that Russian agents had researched fire protocols at a Berlin factory owned by the Diehl group, a German arms firm supplying Ukraine, shortly before it burst into flames last summer. Speculation might not be very helpful, but on the face of it this does seem rather pertinent. Or how about the fact that this week, prosecutors in Lithuania a Nato member blamed Russian spooks for an arson attack on an Ikea in Vilnius last year? They called it an act of terrorism. I dislike the Swedish flatpack giant as much as the next man, but this was worrying. Prosecutors said the suspect had agreed in a secret meeting in Warsaw to blow up and burn down shopping centres in Lithuania and in neighbouring Latvia. To the south, meanwhile, about 30 supermarkets and other civilian targets had been set on fire in Poland in an effort to disrupt the population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list goes on. Last October, when a parcel caught fire in a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, Moscow was suspected of placing an incendiary device on a plane in a sabotage attack that could have caused a catastrophic air disaster. This was a carbon copy of a subsequent attack on a DHL cargo aircraft that caught fire while on the ground in Leipzig; by sheer coincidence, it had not yet taken off due to delays. The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, said: All I can say and I will not go into details, but I can confirm the validity of these fears is that Russia has been planning acts of air terror, and not only against Poland, but against airlines all over the world. Which causes suspicion to circle over Heathrow. Was it the Kremlin? This has to be the main question for MI5. The truth will doubtless emerge: the Russians are never brilliant at covering their tracks, as I discovered in Salisbury 2018 when I unearthed CCTV of the bungling Novichok assassins who had targeted Sergei Skripal and his daughter peering cheerfully through the window of a rare stamp shop shortly after dispatching the poison. But perhaps they have improved their tradecraft since. Russians are not as stupid as to leave that breadcrumb trail, sometimes they simply want us to find out they have flexed their muscles. Its part of the hybrid warfare, a European security source told the Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The underlying problem is that while Britains political class has been absorbed in a culture of decadence and complacency since the Second World War, in which open borders, the erasure of national differences and trust in the universality of democratic values have been seen as the only way to an enlightened future, the Russians have carried on wishing us harm. So have the Chinese, the Iranians and many others. Free from the democratic encumbrance of having to change governments every few years, our enemies yes, lets name them have been embarking on a decades-long plan to dominate the worlds resources and destabilise the West. What has been our reaction? To put Beijing in charge of great swathes of our telecommunications and nuclear energy sites, allow it to purchase influence in our universities and parliament, welcome it into the WTO, relax our guard on Russia and be shamefully slow to defend points of vulnerability like our vital undersea cables, which continue to bare their throats to Moscows knife. And now hapless Sir Keir he would be wonderfully depicted by Tom Hanks, dont you think? is angling to lead our depleted armed forces gung-ho into battle in Ukraine without a clear plan. As Nick Timothy pointed out this week, how will the 10,000-strong British-led coalition respond if hundreds of thousands of Russians open fire upon them? Will we defend Ukrainian airspace by shooting down Moscows jets with our diminishing stock of missiles? And if we are drawn into a skirmish, how well defended is our infrastructure at home? Not particularly well, recent events might suggest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the context in which the fireball at Heathrow blazes. Disaster movies are intended to offer a comfortable thrill at the security we all enjoy. But big beasts are stirring in Europe. It was entirely right to support Ukraine from the beginning, just as it is entirely right to support her now. But the light of the flickering airport blaze has exposed our basic lack of readiness. For years, we thought war in Europe was behind us. To the Kremlin, however, it wasnt even cold. 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. LONDON (Reuters) -London firefighters are working with police to investigate the cause of a huge fire at an electrical sub-station which shut down Heathrow Airport on Friday, a fire-fighting chief told reporters. Huge orange flames and plumes of black smoke shot into the sky around 11 p.m. (2300 GMT) on Thursday as a blaze engulfed the substation. "The fire involved a transformer comprising 25,000 litres of cooling oil fully alight," Jonathan Smith deputy commissioner at the London Fire Brigade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This created a major hazard due to the still live high voltage equipment and the nature of the oil-fueled fire." That forced Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, to shut, disrupting flight schedules around the world and prompting speculation as to what had caused the blaze. British energy minister Ed Miliband said earlier on Friday there was no suggestion that there was foul play involved. Asked whether the police were investigating the cause of the fire as a possible terrorist incident, Smith said he was unable to comment. "All I can say, is the Metropolitan Police are investigating the cause of this fire, ably assisted by our fire investigation officers," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith said 10% of the original fire remained alight and his officers were working to safely resolve the incident, adding that they would work with National Grid as they assess the site and attempt to restore power. (Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton) HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Hendersons mayor is back in town after a trip to Washington DC. City officials met with federal lawmakers to push for support for the new I-69 bridge connecting to Indiana. Current plans call for closing down the southbound Twin Bridge when the new bridge opens. Mayor Brad Staton wants to keep both bridges open and says there is lots of support. It makes me feel much better that we have support up and down the chain, said Mayor Staton. It gives us the best chance to keep both twin bridges open and fully functional which is really important to the city of Henderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staton listed several reasons to keep both bridges open. We need both twin bridges for redundancy just in case theres a barge strike, or an earthquake or something of that effect, said Staton. The new I-69 bridge is expected to open by 2031. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Honolulu Fire Department crews rescued a family of four from the Manana Ridge Trail on Thursday after they became lost and unable to safely descend on their own. The department received a 911 call at 11 :59 a.m. and dispatched six units with 17 personnel. First responders arrived at the scene by 12 :09 p.m. and secured a landing zone at the top of Waimano Home Road to prepare for air operations. Rescue personnel were inserted by Air 1 to the familys location and escorted them to a remote landing zone nearby. The family was then airlifted to the Waimano Home Road landing zone, where they declined medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported among the hikers or fire department personnel. The Honolulu Fire Department reminds the public to assess their fitness level and hiking capabilities before attempting any trails. They advise comparing personal ability with trail descriptions and choosing routes that are realistic and safe. Staying hydrated is also essential to prevent heat exhaustion, disorientation and muscle cramps. 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Construction of a new Columbus Division of Police substation along Sullivant Avenue in the Hilltop will start later than previously planned. The new facility will be built along Sullivant Avenue just east of the current substation 19. At the moment, the property is full of brush and trees. I grew up here and for me, this has been a parcel that is ripe for revamping, said Brandon Barcus, a lifelong Hilltop resident and member of the Greater Hilltop Area Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWine attends signing of executive order to dismantle Department of Education The current substation is more than 50 years old, has ceiling damage, is too small, and has flooded multiple times, according to CPD. It just does not meet the needs of the community and doesnt meet the needs of the officers, Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant said to NBC4 in June of 2023. Bryant and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther talked to NBC4 about the substation and plans for the new one that summer. Design funding was approved back then. A city fact sheet dated October 1, 2024 called for construction of the new facility to start in January of 2025. Construction was to be completed in April 2025, according to that same document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But construction has not started. Ginther said he is hoping it will begin in May or June. This was a more complicated, we had to work with the state of Ohio to acquire this land, there were a number of other land issues we had to work out, but its full steam ahead, Ginther said. Ohio reports first measles case of 2025 The mayor also described the project as a priority of his. Barcus and Carla Carr, another member of the Greater Hilltop Area Commission, said residents have been asking about whats going on with the project. Theres been just a lot of conversations about is it really even coming and just where is it, weve been promised this for a very long time, Carr said. Its something that weve waited for quite some time and I think itll be a great asset for all the neighbors in our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once built, the new substation will also be a place for community members to gather. The mayor said the goal is for it to open in 2026. Im just excited to see groundbreaking. Itll look a lot different and that will be a welcome change, Barcus 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is set to receive an investment of more than $1.4bn from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the revitalisation of its railway infrastructure and operations. This announcement was made by TAZARA Managing Director and CEO Eng. Bruno Chingandu at the Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference (ZIMEC 2025) in Kitwe, Zambia. The funding will be used for comprehensive rehabilitation and procurement of new rolling stock under a 30-year concession arrangement. The investment aims to transform TAZARA into an efficient and reliable transport corridor. The proposed agreement with CCECC includes a $1bn allocation for the full rehabilitation of TAZARA's railway track infrastructure to enhance safety, efficiency, and capacity. An additional $0.4bn will be invested in the procurement of 32 new locomotives and 762 new wagons, which will significantly increase freight and passenger transport capacity. Chingandu said: This concession will mark the beginning of a new era for TAZARA. The investment from CCECC will not only restore our railway infrastructure but also position TAZARA as a key enabler of trade and economic growth between Tanzania and Zambia. Through this strategic partnership, we are ensuring that TAZARA remains a competitive and sustainable transport solution for the region. The concession structure outlines a three-year construction and rehabilitation phase followed by 27 years of full operational management. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model was selected to align with TAZARA's long-term vision and the interests of its shareholders. As the concessionaire, CCECC's responsibilities will include immediate rehabilitation of the railway track, supplying rolling stock, covering operational costs through concession fees payable to TAZARA, and efficiently maintaining and operating the railway system. At the end of the concession period, CCECC will hand back fully rehabilitated assets. The investment is the latest in a long line of Chinese-backed infrastructure projects across Africa, many of which are part of the Belt and Road project. In January this year, Tanzania and Burundi signed a $2.15bn agreement with two Chinese firms to build a railway for transporting metals, including nickel, to Dar es Salaam. The project will be developed by China Railway Engineering Group and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group, with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB). "CCECC to invest $1.4bn to revitalise Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. NEW JERSEY (PIX11) It was the Power of Women in NJ, coming together to celebrate Dynamic Hispanic leaders in business, healthcare, and finance. It was all thanks to the Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. More Local News Its hard to believe Gianna Schiavone is only 16 years old. She is wise beyond her years. Although she was born without her left hand and forearm, she says she has found ways to adapt and maintain a positive attitude in life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schiavone wanted to be a model. During fashion week in New York, she modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and Victorias Secret. Today, she is among the dozens of amazing women honored at the Madison Hotel in Morris County, New Jersey. Thanks to the Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. From the CEO of the Girl Scouts to healthcare executives to JPMorgan Chase. The day was all about uplifting and honoring Hispanic women. It was indeed a family affair. Esperanza Porras-Field founded the Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. Her two daughters are now following her legacy and leading the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of their biggest supporters are men. Porras-field saw a need to bring together the best in business and help rising stars in the Hispanic community, especially women. This years womens empowerment breakfast theme was Living Limitless: Redefining Boundaries. Maria Trusa was the keynote speaker and delivered this message. The event brought together the whos who of business leaders. For 36 years, the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce has supported hundreds of small 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 PIX11. The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations said a vacuum of U.S. leadership could allow nations like China to play a larger role in global affairs which would be detrimental to American security and interests in the world. She also said the hobbling of "soft-power" approaches like the USAID food program will worsen conflicts and ultimately cost the country more in defense spending. Linda Thomas-Greenfield will speak at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison April 1 where she'll share insights from her experience in foreign policy and how it applies to modeling respect and compromise in policy making. The event is free and open to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas-Greenfield most recently served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under the Biden Administration. She has a served under both Republican and Democratic administrations in a variety of roles, including U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Director General of the U.S. Foreign Service and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Letters: Ukraine minerals deal shameful. Russia is the nation that started war. A native of Louisiana and graduate of Louisiana State University, she received her master's degree from UW-Madison, so her return to the campus will be a homecoming of sorts. Here are five takes from her interview with the Journal Sentinel's Kristin Brey ahead of her speech. The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity. USAID plays important role in American diplomacy and national security Question: With USAID and the U.S.'s role in helping feed the world in limbo right now, can you explain for people who are unfamiliar with the organization, and having seen it up close, how USAID makes the world safer? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Answer: USAID is our soft arm of power. So we have three arms of power that we project overseas: It's diplomacy, that I represented, it's defense and it's development. And those stools, the legs of those stools are very equal in terms of the impact that they have on the countries we're engaging in. as well as the impact on the United States, on American citizens because American citizens benefit from what USAID does but they also contribute to what USAID has been able to achieve. And for me the soft power that USAID projected was so much more important than any of the legs of this three-legged stool because it costs so much less. So people see billions of dollars, but when we look at the whole scheme of what we spend on international programs, on defense programs overseas, on diplomacy, the aid part of it is very small, but it has a significant benefit in terms of projecting our power and our engagements with other countries in the world. Wisconsin agriculture plays major role in battling food insecurity Question: You last visited our state in August to commemorate the the 12th anniversary of the Sikh shooting in Oak Creek. When you were here, you also made a visit to the Wisconsin State Fair. What did you learn about Wisconsin's role in feeding the world? Opinion: As fights rage over DOGE and USAID, farmers battle decades of government failure Answer: Well, it was interesting because I was there to talk about food insecurity and to talk about Wisconsin's role, but I don't think I realized how significant that role was until I went to the fair and how many farmers are engaged in activities that contribute to providing food aid around the world. So Wisconsin is a big player and, for me, being in the food security arena is extraordinarily important. I do think that despite the fact that we have food insecurity, we have enough food to feed the world and Wisconsin is a huge contributor to that. What U.S. leadership in the United Nations and world means Question: During your confirmation hearing as UN Ambassador, you quoted a Noble Peace Prize winner who said the United Nations is the greatest peace organization ever dedicated to the salvation of mankind's future on earth. But, you noted, that is only true if America is leading the way. If America stops leading the way, what do you predict is going to happen to peacekeeping around the world and our place in the world? (The post of UN Ambassador has not been filled since Thomas-Greenfield stepped down.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Answer: American leadership is part of our inner soul, and it is expected by the countries that we work with. They don't expect the United States to sit on the sidelines. They want us sitting right in the front. And we can't do it alone. We need other countries, we need the UN, but our leadership is really powering all of the other activities of other countries and institutions like the United Nations. When we're not leading, others will step in and lead, but they may not lead based on the rules of the road and the principles. that we hold dear. And they may take the international world order in a direction that will not be in our interest. When we leave leadership vacant, all manners of others will step in to lead. I've heard over and over again, including in my (confirmation) hearing, concerns about the role that China plays and really demand that I work to counter China's power and actions in the United Nations. Us leaving our leadership role vacant is opening the door. It's offering China leadership on a silver platter. They don't even have to work for it. On dismantling of DEI programs in government, education and businesses Question: Today with the dismantling of, not even just DEI programs, but the idea of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Do you have thoughts on that as far as what you've seen, what you've overcome, what you've achieved, and what role any of these institutions have for opening doors versus the quote unquote meritocracy? Answer: It makes me very, very sad because the assumption here is that if there is a DEI program that the people who benefit are not qualified, that we don't merit being where we are. And we all know that that is not true. We know that we have a society that has a history, a deep history of racism and a society in which people of color have not always been given access to the same benefits that others have been given. And so it makes me really concerned and worried and again, sad that this is happening in our country at this time. I don't think that there's anyone who can question my qualifications for being the UN ambassador. Using gumbo diplomacy and personal connections to ease polarization Question: You've talked about gumbo diplomacy, which is the idea of sharing a meal and a personal connection to break down barriers during negotiations. And so that sounds like a much better strategy than yelling on Twitter. Is there an example or a story you have of when that worked? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: We welcome tariffs on Canadian and Mexican beef. Heres why. Answer: So, you know, it's not just that the gumbo is a concept, more than a meal. And the concept of gumbo, it's a mixture, it's a melange of all kinds of ingredients that come from everywhere. And you don't have to have the same ingredients. My gumbo recipe may be completely different from another person's gumbo recipe, but it's about bringing things together and making them work. ... It's not always over a meal. For me, Gumbo's diplomacy is an approach. So I might have a meeting with an adversary and I've been given my two pages of talking points where I have to deal with some very difficult topics. And I have 30 minutes to do it. My staff would always freak out because the first five minutes of that conversation would be, tell me who you are. Where'd you come from? How many children do you have? Where are they in school? Tell me what you like to eat. I'd love to have you over for gumbo. You know, and just have that minute conversation that brings down the temperature and allows you to get to know the person as a person instead of an adversary. And then you deal with the issues and you walk away from the meeting, respecting each other. And I don't always win. I've won a lot, I will say, but I didn't always win. I usually came out of that discussion with a relationship that allowed me to go back maybe a second or a third time to that person and eventually get to where we want to get some kind of compromise. But if the meeting is adversarial from the moment you start, you don't know who the person is other than he or she is your adversary and you have... some differences of views on something, and then you walk out of the meeting and you've not achieved anything and you've not set yourself, you've not set the stage for a second meeting or a third meeting. So for me, that's gumbo diplomacy. If we happen to have gumbo at the same time, it makes it even better. Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Thomas-Greenfield to speak at UW-Madison on conflict resolution | Opinion A Hollywood Hills man was sentenced on Friday to more than three years in federal prison for paying kickbacks to those who referred patients to his Orange County rehabilitation facilities. Casey Mahoney, 48, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison, as well as being ordered to pay $240,000 in fines, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. He was convicted in September of: One count of conspiracy to solicit, receive, pay or offer illegal remunerations for patient referrals Seven counts of illegal remunerations for patient referrals Three counts of money laundering Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahoney recruited clients for two addiction treatment facilities that he owned: Huntington Beach-based Healing Path Detox LLC and San Juan Capistrano-based Get Real Recovery Inc., using so-called body brokers, the DOJ said. Conflicts between neighbors, group homes persist in Californias Rehab Riviera These brokers make money referring patients to rehab and, in Mahoneys case, in turn paid thousands of dollars in cash to patients, prosecutors said. Some of these patients were supplied drugs so theyd qualify for more lucrative levels of care at Mahoneys facilities, prosecutors said. They were also sometimes introduced to drug dealers at Orange County motels. Some of these patients later overdosed and died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this scheme and others like it, the targets are often health insurance companies. Mahoney also requested that his employees send brokers to track down former patients with lucrative insurance policies, which he called his most wanted list,' the DOJ said. Orange County rehab worker illegally paid people to bring addiction patients to his facility, prosecutors say To cover up the scheme, Mahoney entered sham contracts with body brokers that promised a fixed payment that wasnt determined by patient volume or value. That, however, was not the case, prosecutors said. In reality, Mahoney and the brokers negotiated payments based on the patients insurance reimbursements and the number of days Mahoney was able to bill for treatment, the DOJ explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahoney is far from the only person accused of wrongdoing in the Orange County drug rehab industry. Scott Raffa of Newport Beach was charged with a similar alleged arrangement, as was another O.C. rehab worker who allegedly paid body brokers to refer patients to him. In another alleged scheme, six people worked together to have sober-living patients undergo medically unnecessary surgeries that racked up tens of millions of dollars in costs. Bribes and kickbacks compromise the integrity of substance abuse treatment facilities and undermine patient care, said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. As the sentence imposed today demonstrates, those that engage in body brokering will go to federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. MAGA celebrity Rob Schneider has joined one of Elon Musks most controversial efforts: offering to pay voters. The comedian and actor on Thursday matched an offer made by the Musk-backed America PAC for registered Wisconsin voters to sign a Petition in Opposition to Activist Judges and receive $100 in return. Axios was the first to lead with the Musk report. Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas, America PAC said in a post on X. Wisconsin registered voters receive $100 for signing the petition & $100 for each signer they refer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schneider quickly joined in: I will MATCH [Elon Musks] PAC OFFER to Wisconsin voters for $100 dollars Up to $100 dollars! Schneider, an SNL alum, is a longtime outspoken Trump supporter who appears on conservative shows including Fox & Friends. I will MATCH @elonmusk PAC OFFER to Wisconsin voters for $100 dollars Up to $100 dollars! https://t.co/19tdVyXxCa Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) March 21, 2025 An April 1 election in Wisconsin will fill a crucial seat on the swing states Supreme Court. America PAC and Building Americas Future, another Musk-backed group, have spent nearly $20 million to boost Brad Schimel, the Republican bet for the Wisconsin court seat. His Democratic opponent, Susan Crawford, has drawn in millions of donations from liberal donors including George Soros and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MAGA fanatics, led by President Donald Trump himself, have called for the impeachment of judges who have blocked the administrations sweeping moves to remake the federal government. Trump threw a fresh meltdown Thursday evening after federal judge James Boasberg blasted a woefully insufficient filing by the administration in the legal battle over the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants. The Chief Executive, our PRESIDENT, is the ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL VOTED into OFFICE by ALL of the CITIZENS of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL for the PRESIDENT to be impeded by a DISTRICT COURT JUDGE. Congress must LEGISLATE to STOP this impediment NOW! https://t.co/msTP1M2NdC Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) March 21, 2025 Schneider also blasted federal judges and Democrats in a series of X posts. The Chief Executive, our PRESIDENT, is the ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL VOTED into OFFICE by ALL of the CITIZENS of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, he wrote. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL for the PRESIDENT to be impeded by a DISTRICT COURT JUDGE. Congress must LEGISLATE to STOP this impediment NOW! HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) As the celebration of Irish culture continues, the Colleens visited the Blessed Sacrament School in Holyoke Thursday afternoon. Each girl was able to talk to the students and get them excited for the festivities this weekend, this years Grand Colleen, Moira Reardon, was able to pass the crown down to a future colleen. She told 22News that the future Colleen is chosen by a submission of essays. Then the Colleens choose which one stood out the most. We spoke with Moira about her time as a grand colleen so far this parade season, Being able to represent my family, my community of Holyoke, and my Irish heritage. Its so special, she says. The girls are all great and there just making this the best experience I could ask for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moira was also a student at Blessed Sacrament School and competed to be a future Colleen almost 10 years ago. She says that this moment was a very full circle moment for her. The Saint Patricks Parade kicks off at 11:10 Sunday morning and we will have full coverage on 22News starting at noon. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) A Chicopee man was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly attempting to lure a high school student into his vehicle, leading Holyoke police to seize a loaded firearm and a significant quantity of drugs, authorities said. Drivers identified in deadly pedestrian crash on Abbey Memorial Drive in Chicopee According to Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, School Resource Officer Manny Rivera received a report around 7:50 a.m. from a student who said they had been approached by a man in a white pickup truck near Oak and West Franklin streets. The student told police that the driver attempted to persuade them to enter the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers immediately launched a search and, within 30 minutes, located the unoccupied truck on Franklin Street. They identified the vehicles owner and later tracked down the suspect, 33-year-old Justin Mangual of Chicopee, inside an apartment on Maple Street. While conducting a sweep of the apartment, officers discovered approximately 100 vials of crack cocaine. Upon receiving permission to search the truck, they also recovered a loaded rifle. Authorities said Mangual did not have a drivers license or a license to carry a firearm. Mangual, who has a prior conviction for possession of a firearm without an FID card, was placed under arrest and charged with: Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle Carrying a Firearm without an FID Card Subsequent Offense Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Keenan praised the student for quickly alerting school staff, calling their response critical in leading officers to the suspect. I want to commend this student who, in a traumatic situation, immediately alerted staff of this incident, Keenan said. Without that quick intervention and the ensuing actions by our responding police officers, we would not have been able to locate this suspect as quickly as we did. He also credited School Resource Officer Rivera for building trust with students, which helped ensure a swift response. Holyoke police detectives are continuing to investigate the allegations of enticement and the narcotics found in the apartment. Additional charges could follow. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. By Catarina Demony LONDON (Reuters) -Thousands of travellers stranded by a huge fire near London's Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, scrambled to find ways to get home and reunite with their families on Friday as they faced what could be days of disruptions. Heathrow was shut after a blaze that erupted overnight at a substation in the west of London, knocking out power to the airport and surrounding area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Airlines advised passengers not to travel to Heathrow. Waiting at central London's Paddington station, which normally offers express train services to Heathrow, U.S. citizen Tyler Prieb was contacting airlines to find a way back home to Nashville, Tennessee. "I'm sure everybody is going to need a new flight somewhere, somehow. So I'm just trying to get ahead of that the best I can," said Prieb, 36, who was in London for work and to see friends. "Hopefully, it will just take me an extra day to get back to my wife and my daughter," he said. In the meantime, Prieb said he had asked OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT for ways to pass the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I thought maybe I'd go explore another city somewhere," he said. Heathrow was due to handle 1,351 flights on Friday, flying up to 291,000 passengers. John Moriarty, another U.S. traveller, listened attentively to his phone's speaker, hoping to get through to customer service and book a new flight home to Boston to see his daughter, who had travelled from New York to visit him. "All the lines are busy, so I might be here another day. Not the worst thing in the world. (London) is my favourite city, but I need to be home," 75-year-old Moriarty said. 'PRETTY STRESSED OUT' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travel experts said the disruption would extend far beyond Heathrow, and global flight schedules would be affected more broadly. "I'm pretty stressed out," Robyn Autry, 39, from New York, said. "I do have animals back home that I need to get to." The university professor said she was looking at "very, very expensive" flights out of other London airports and considering departures from cities including Bristol and Manchester. "I think I'm going to have to pay a lot of money out of pocket today," she said. Chicago couple Anna Schiferl, 26, and Charlie Katt, 27, said they were experiencing the latest episode in a long history of holiday adversity, including out-of-season hurricanes, illnesses and apartment rental misadventures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're engaged, and we've had just horrible travel luck ... our whole relationship," Schiferl said. "We are with each other so that's good. We have enough clothes, enough underwear. We're going to be fine." Mahmoud Ali, 40, an employee of Domino's Pizza in London, had been due to fly to his native Pakistan to be with his wife and children, who he has not seen since last summer. "They are waiting for me. I'm trying to call the airline and Heathrow (to find out) what time the situation will be resolved," he said. The fire also forced the rerouting of incoming flights, leaving some passengers unsure of where they would land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adrian Spender, who works at British retailer Tesco, said in a post on X that he was on an Airbus A380 that had been headed for Heathrow. "#Heathrow no idea where we are going yet. Currently over Austria," he wrote. (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Writing by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Joe Bavier) Local Democrats voiced a mix of hope and frustration at a town hall meeting with state and local party members to talk about ways to push back against the Trump administration. More than 100 people packed into the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 428 union hall Thursday evening for an event with Rep. Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles; state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks; and Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano, who represents much of Kern County. The message from the party leadership was fairly simple: Organize now and keep up pressure on Republican representatives so Democrats can flip the 22nd Congressional district in 2026 and take back control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message from many in the audience: We can't wait that long. "Trump and his guys don't give a fascism about the laws, and that's the problem," said Kathleen Weinstein, swapping out one F-word for another. "We're not fighting the normal people. Everything here is an abnormal, and we just sit here and we say, 'We're going to organize it and we're gonna take care of it.' And you know what? I don't think people are buying this." The meeting began with brief remarks from Democrats and several pre-selected speakers who shared stories on being impacted by funding freezes and cuts to federal agencies. Much of the rhetoric focused on health care and Social Security, with a particular emphasis on the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid implied by a U.S. House of Representatives budget resolution last month. But as unscheduled speakers began to put questions to the delegation, several speakers voiced concern that waiting two years was too long, and some even questioned whether elections would still be held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If this much could hit the fan in 60 days, waiting until the primaries and 2026 to vote them out, we're not going be allowed to vote," said Robert Dixon of Tehachapi. Another speaker, Nick Billing, also of Tehachapi, said California Democrats failed to adopt a single-payer health-care program despite their super majority in the state Legislature, and questioned whether the party could deliver on its promises. "The same party that doesnt let single-payer go through in this state, what assurances do we have that if we work our butts off, again, to get you guys back in power, what assurances do we have that youre going to do what we need you to do?" Billings asked to a round of applause. Party officials said they agreed, and that in addition to organizing meetings, it would take persuading friends and neighbors not just to vote, but to reach out to elected officials and tell them about how they're being impacted by decisions in Washington D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The reality is that public sentiment lives with people who don't come to meetings like this, who don't have time to come to meetings like this, who didn't hear about this meeting. But you know them, you talk to them," Hicks said. Bains was particularly animated at Thursday's meeting. A medical doctor, Bains said she saw firsthand the effects of what cuts to federal health-care programs do. "There are people in this community that are saying, 'That's not true. This is just Democratic propaganda. There is going to be no Medicaid cuts. There's going to be no Medicare cuts. What are you talking about? It doesn't do anything. And everybody in this room is going to say, '(expletive),'" Bains said. "Everybody, I give you the authority, doctor's orders. You say '(expletive), prove it to me because it's not true.'" Gomez is the first of two out-of-town Democrats to make visits to Bakersfield on the claim the district's Republican representative refuses to meet with constituents as the Trump administration attempts to make drastic changes to the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ro Khanna of Santa Clara plans to make an appearance at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Center on Sunday, and both representatives have emphasized the Democrats' intent to flip several districts in California in the 2026 mid-terms in order to frustrate President Donald Trump's legislative agenda. For all the talk of flipping the 22nd District, a candidate still hasn't emerged to take up the challenge. The last Democratic candidate to run against five-term incumbent Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, was Rudy Salas. Salas was in the audience Thursday, but he didn't deliver remarks. Hicks told The Californian, "There's a lot of time between now and the 2026 primary." Separately, Bains was asked if she had considered running for the seat, and she replied, "Let's just hope I don't have to." In a statement to The Californian, Valadao accused Gomez and the Democrats of playing politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know how important this (Medicaid) is to Valley families, which is why I have been outspoken in my commitment to ensuring access to affordable and reliable health care," Valadao said. "Scaring people with misinformation doesnt help anyone but its clear Rep. Gomez is more interested in partisan stunts than real solutions. "Just last week, he voted to shut down the government, which would have put programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security at risk. While he tries to distract from that with a political event, Ill keep showing up for my constituents every day, fighting for the issues that truly matter to the Valley." Protesters gather to demand freedom and due process for Fabian Schmidt a German-born New Hampshire man being held at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Left foreground, Zack Mezera of Working Families Party speaks to the crowd with Fr. Jarrett Kerbel of Saint Lukes in East Greenwich at bottom right. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) Imagine being detained for days in a federal prison facility without knowing why. Thats what is happening to Fabian Schmidt. And its happening in Rhode Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once again, a detention facility in the smallest city in the smallest state is involved in a federal immigration enforcement nightmare. And, once again, we have a moment for all Rhode Islanders to ask what kind of government activity we want in our backyard. Schmidt, a German-born, U.S. permanent resident who lives in Nashua, New Hampshire, was stopped at Bostons Logan Airport on March 7 upon returning from a vacation in Europe. His mother told WGBH that, at the airport, her son was stripped naked by agents and placed in a cold shower. He was also placed on a mat in a bright room, given little water or food, and denied access to mental health medication. He collapsed and was taken to a local hospital. U.S. Customs and Border Protection disputes this account. These claims are blatantly false with respect to CBP, said Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs Hilton Beckham Tuesday in a statement. When an individual is found with drug related charges and tries to reenter the country, officers will take proper action. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has declined requests for comment about the case from multiple news organizations, including Rhode Island Current. Schmidt had a prior marijuana-related misdemeanor from California that his lawyer, David Keller, says had been resolved. What law Schmidt may have violated to prompt his arrest and detention remains unclear. Neither he nor his lawyer have been informed of any charges, Keller told reporters, including journalist Steve Ahlquist, at a protest outside the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls Tuesday night. Schmidt was transported to Wyatt after his arrest at Logan, and remains detained there more than a week later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its seriously a horrible, horrible thing that hes being held here, Keller said. Protestors gathered outside the facility to express their outrage over Schmidts treatment and the broader actions of ICE under President Donald Trump. But this moment also refocuses attention on the future of Wyatt itself. The facility opened in 1993, when the cash-strapped former manufacturing city needed money, and a private prison was seen as a solution. Ensuing years did indeed bring a windfall: Between 1994 and 2009, Central Falls received millions in host fees. They also brought scandal. Wyatt has faced lawsuits alleging malicious and sadistic treatment of detainees and a lack of treatment for prisoners in withdrawal from opiates. In 2019, a guard who worked at Wyatt drove a truck into a crowd of protestors at the prisons gate. A few years later, the facilitys warden resigned after facing charges of multiple felonies for domestic abuse. The most notorious incident occurred in 2008, when 34-year immigration detainee Hiu Lui Jason Ng died from illnesses and injuries that were neglected (and actively exacerbated) at the facility. Ngs death prompted a lawsuit from the Rhode Island ACLU and a multimillion dollar settlement. In the aftermath, ICE pulled detainees from Wyatt but it resumed housing them there during President Donald Trumps first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that Trump is back in office, Wyatt remains in heavy use by ICE. At one point last month, the facility reportedly held more than 100 ICE detainees. And so we have an unrestrained federal approach to immigration being used at, among other places, a Rhode Island facility with an abysmal track record. The situation is dangerous and it demands swift action. In the short term, first, we can ask our federal delegation to demand that the Wyatt (and all federal detention facilities) abide by basic principles of humane treatment, including the Bill of Rights prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. We can ask the same of the facilitys five-member, publicly appointed board of directors. And given the recent track record of ICE, and Director Tom Homans statement that I dont care what the judges think, Rhode Islanders ought to demand another pause on ICE detention at Wyatt. We know from past experience that the stakes are life and death. The only way to ensure an end to Wyatts cruelty and dysfunction would be to shut it down. The arguments for this are especially compelling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people of Central Falls dont like it. In 2019, a survey of city residents found that 98% of respondents had negative feelings about the facility. That same year, the citys then-Mayor James Diossa, now general treasurer, called the Wyatt a massive brick and barbed wire monument to out-of-control capitalism, corporate greed, and social injustice and called for its closure. In the years since, lawmakers from Central Falls have repeatedly introduced legislation that would shut the facility down. The facility is a moral stain on our state. The concept of a privately run prison facility with a profit motive was objectionable from the start. And these perverse incentives were aptly, if grotesquely, summarized in 2009, when, in the wake of Ngs death, the jails chairman told the Providence Journal, Frankly, Im looking at it like Im running a Motel 6 I dont care if its Guantanamo Bay. We want to fill the beds. (He was fired shortly thereafter.) A lengthy 2008 New York Times article captured the moral costs of the facility, which persist and are likely to get worse during Trump 2.0. The financial justifications for Wyatt no longer apply. Following the removal of ICE detainees after Ngs death, impact payments to Central Falls from the facility have been sporadic. When discussing the financial relationship between Wyatt and Central Falls, former mayor Lee Matthews has said the city was sold a bill of goods. In 2019, Diossa said from 2010 to 2014, the city received zero payments from the Wyatt. Lately its been bondholders, rather than local citizens, who are fighting hardest to keep Wyatt operational. And then there is the fact it could be something so much better. The federal criminal justice system could adapt to Wyatts closure. The upside for Central Falls could be massive. Central Falls is famously small, with an area of less than 1.3 square miles, and the Wyatt occupies a 3-acre space large enough to house 770 detainees near the Blackstone River. Instead of a prison, this could be a great site for affordable housing in a state that desperately needs it. Or, in light of Central Falls dearth of green space, a park for picnics, concerts, and food trucks. Or even a performing arts venue in honor of the Oscar-winning Central Falls native Viola Davis. For now, it remains the setting of the detention of Fabian Schmidt and countless others who, as Rhode Island Sen. Jonathan Acosta, a Central Falls Democrat, said in 2021, are being treated as though they are among the worst of our criminals, when their only crime is their desire to become Americans. This story was originally published by Rhode Island Current, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. LAKE POWELL, Utah (ABC4) A young mare was rescued and is recovering in southern Utah after being stranded on a remote Lake Powell beach for 18 months. The horse, now named Solo, became trapped on the beach when water levels began to rise, cutting off their escape. Jen Reid with Best Friends Animal Society says that fluctuating water levels at Lake Powell have trapped horses before, including the herd that Solo was part of. Some of her herd did die, and she was the last one standing, Reid said. And honestly, she would have gone that same way if it werent for the private individuals that found her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reid is part of the team that helped rescue Solo. And this isnt the first time this type of rescue has happened. In 2023, their team saved a mare named Emma and her baby from a nearly identical situation, and says the lessons they learned with that rescue helped them with Solo. We learned a lot of lessons from that rescue that we certainly were able to apply to Solo to make it a little easier and a little quicker, Reid said. The rescue for Solo went quick, taking about four hours to get them to safety. Now at her new home at the Horse Haven, Reid says that Solo has been adjusting to life there quite comfortably, but their training and socialization is going to take time. Some horses come through the taming process quite quickly, Reid said. Others take a little bit more time. We always want to progress them but ultimately, its on their timetable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reid says rescues like Solos are both challenging and rewarding, and even after years of work, they didnt expect to see the same kind of rescue twice. It is really gratifying to be able to help individuals like Solo and Emma, Reid continued. I will say, with Emma, I never thought we would repeat that situation, but here we are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. By Xiuhao Chen and Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) - Iron ore miner Vale, a Chinese commercial partner since the 1970s, is welcome, along with other Brazilian firms, to further expand economic links with China, its commerce ministry said on Wednesday. The comments came as chief executives of foreign firms gathered in Beijing this week for a key annual corporate forum and China mounted a charm offensive to woo foreign investment. Vale has seen China turn into a global manufacturing powerhouse since receiving its first iron ore cargo in 1973, but the country's pivot to a more consumption-driven economy requires it to woo new foreign investors in emerging sectors. "China welcomes Brazilian companies, including Vale, to continue to deepen trade and investment cooperation," Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen told the company's chief executive, Gustavo Pimenta, in Beijing. China was also welcoming Vale to participate in opportunities in the domestic market, the commerce ministry added in its statement on Thursday. In a "special action plan" unveiled last week to boost consumption, Beijing pledged to further open its service sector to foreign capital, encouraging ventures in areas ranging from bed and breakfast offerings to property services. "As consumption in China grows, if our household consumption relative to annual economic output is to rise to 50%, or even higher, from 40%, services consumption must play a big role," said Tang Yao, an economics professor at Peking University. "(We) should encourage foreign investment to enter the services industry," added Tang, who teaches at the university's Guanghua School of Management. As it grapples with the problems of an ageing population, Beijing also seeks investment in healthcare. A 500-bed hospital wholly owned by a Singapore company began operations late in February in the northern city of Tianjin, marking a first for China's healthcare sector. Three wholly foreign-owned hospitals have been approved, with 13 foreign-owned companies cleared to provide value-added telecom services, while over 40 foreign firms have launched biotech projects, a ministry spokesperson told reporters. Foreign companies are welcome to take a share in the dividends of China's development, a foreign ministry official told a regular news conference on Thursday. At the same time, some foreign businesses need to brace themselves for fierce competition from Chinese rivals. On a trip to the southwestern province of Yunnan on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping was asked to try some local coffee. The cost of long-term care in Pennsylvania, coupled with limited staffing, is challenging nursing facilities tasked with caring for the commonwealths fast-growing demographic. Advocates are looking to Pennsylvania lawmakers for help ensuring seniors have access to affordable and quality care. Since 2019, more than 30 nursing homes across the state have closed. Dozens have filed for bankruptcy. Numerous reorganizations and changes of ownership have occurred, said Pennsylvania Health Care Association President and CEO Zach Shamberg. Thats because caring for seniors in Pennsylvania is like trying to walk up a down escalator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shamberg spoke during a hearing for the House Majority Policy Committee. It is chaired by Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, who represents Erie County. Bizzarro is preparing to introduce legislation aimed at addressing the financial challenges nursing facilities are facing and improving care for seniors at government-run facilities, nonprofits and for-profit nursing homes, as well as personal care homes and assisted living facilities. Last June we saw two nursing home closures: one for-profit and one non-for-profit in the city of Pittsburgh. Three weeks ago there was a closure announced up in rural Luzerne County. It doesnt matter if its urban. It doesnt matter if its rural. This is happening everywhere, Shamberg said. Advocates say the current reimbursement system is setting providers up to fail. They point to the budget adjustment factor, known as BAF, and say the system is outdated and crippling providers. BAF determines how state funds are distributed to nursing homes that care for seniors who use programs like Medicare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For every dollar we were supposed to be reimbursed, we only received 78 cents, said Meir Gelley, CEO of Nationwide Healthcare. Several local representatives were at the hearing, including Rep. Robert Matzie, who represents Beaver County. Sounds to me like weve got a crisis. Its that simple, Matzie said. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives has sent a letter to USC requesting information on Chinese nationals taking classes at the university. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party lists its mission as working on the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and [to] develop a plan of action to defend the American people, our economy, and our values. In the letter addressed to Dr. Carol Folt, the committee states, The United States is at a dangerous crossroads where the pursuit of short-term financial gains by academic institutions jeopardizes long-term global technological leadership and national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California couple deported after living in U.S. for 35 years It goes on to say that universities are being used as conduits for foreign adversaries to gain access to critical research and advanced technology illegallyalthough the letter does not provide proof or evidence to support these claims. Too many U.S. universities continue to prioritize financial incentives over the education of American students, domestic workforce development, and national security. They do so by admitting large numbers of Chinese nationals into advanced STEM programs, potentially at the expense of qualified Americans, the letter reads. The letter calls this a brain drain of critical expertise, describing it as a reflection of Beijings explicit strategy to leverage academia for technological advancements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House committee then requests that USC provide information, including the previous universities attended by Chinese national students at USC, sources of tuition funding, the types of research being conducted, and a list of labs and research initiatives where those students currently work. The bipartisan committee includes Rep. Young Kim (R-CA 40) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA 17). USC has not yet stated whether it will comply with the requests but confirmed to KTLA that it received the letter and is reviewing it. University data shows 5,993 international students from China enrolled for Fall 2024. Other universities, including Purdue, Stanford, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Maryland, and Carnegie Mellon, received similar letters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Mar. 20Ending years of frustration and narrow defeats, House Speaker Sherman Packard celebrated Thursday after a sweeping parental rights bill cleared the House of Representatives with a smattering of bipartisan support. This year's bill (HB 10) was sparked by a controversy over a Manchester school board policy that kept school administrators from informing a mother about her child's stated desire to use different gender pronouns. The state Supreme Court last summer affirmed parental rights, but in denying the mother's case, it also ruled this was not an "unqualified right" in New Hampshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Packard, R-Londonderry, wrote the bill and worked with a team of Republicans on the House Children and Family Committee to "fix its flaws," which had included possible criminal penalties for educators who violated it. He also handed the gavel over to Deputy Speaker Steven Smith, R-Charlestown, for the entire debate so he could make one of the final speeches for the bill. "Promises made, promises kept. House Republicans delivered upon the mandate to protect parental rights and give families the voice they deserve," Packard said in a statement after the vote. "The passage of HB 10 is a victory for parents who have been demanding transparency in education and respect for their natural rights in the care and upbringing of their own children." The bill still includes penalties for doctors who violate the right of parents to obtain medical information about their children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A health care provider could be subject to disciplinary action and prosecuted for a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to a one-year sentence in county jail. Party crossovers The House passed its bill over to the Senate on a vote of 212-161 with five Democrats joining all but two House Republicans in support of the measure. Rep. Jonah Wheeler, D-Peterborough, was one of the Democrat converts. He said he had been misled by his party colleagues. "In 2024, I was told, 'Don't worry about it, parents already have those rights in statute,'" Wheeler said. "After caving and following the very scary red flag that was put up in front of me, I was lied to." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democrats joining Wheeler in favor were Peter Leishman of Peterborough, Dale Girard of Salem, Allison Knab of Stratham and Jim Maggiore of North Hampton. The two Republicans who voted against the bill were Reps. Joe Guthrie of Hampstead and Susan Vandecasteele of Salem. Rep. Heather Raymond, D-Nashua, said the bill threatened to put students in harm's way by making it very difficult for teachers to keep information from parents whom they suspected abused their children. The Senate passed its bill, 15-8, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats against. What's Next: The House and Senate will now each consider the parental rights bills coming over from the other body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prospects: Good for a final agreement depending on the language; Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said along with the state budget, this is one of a few priority issues for her in 2025. klandrigan@unionleader.com One Houston Family Dollar employee got the wake up call of a lifetime after a Black man schooled her about watching what she says. He recorded the entire interaction which has since gone went viral online. Now, the corporate office has gotten involved. Deon Chico Young was standing in line waiting to check out at a local Family Dollar. But when the customer in front of him began having a conversation with the cashier in Spanish, things took an interesting turn. She [the customer] asked the girl behind the counter what about the white tenis the Spanish word for shoes, Young recalled to Fox 26 News. The conversation between the two women continued until the cashier allegedly told the woman I put the box behind the counter because... the Black people be stealing, Young translated adding, but she said it in Spanish in a derogatory way. On the surface, Young looks like your average southern Black man, but little did the cashier know hes actually fluent in Spanish and heard everything they said about Black folks. Thats when Young started recording. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let me give you a word of advice, Young told the young cashier. Man, you got to watch what you say when you say it... because you dont know who speaks Spanish. The cashier quickly backtracked and tried to justify the offensive statements she made just moments before. tiktok-7481806948749364523 Yo soy Cubano. Yo entiendo, he told her in response. In fact, Youngs mother is Creole from Houston, and his father is Cuban. Because of this, Young is fluent in English, Spanish and French. I was just saying it, the cashier repeatedly said to Young before accusing him of recording her. Young, who was only filming himself at the time, told the woman I aint recording you. Im recording myself. Then, he turned the camera to the cashier while saying Im recording you now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video was posted to Youngs TikTok account, @chicodeon. Asit was uploaded almost a week ago, its garnered 739,500 views. A friend of Youngs eventually posted the video on Facebook, getting even more attention. Now, the video has gone viral and even got the attention on Family Dollars corporate office, who gave Young a personal call. tiktok-7482869529333271854 Corporate called me to apologize. That made me feel good that somebody took out their time that somebody responded to my complaint, Young told Fox 26. The company promised him they would take care of the situation, but Young said he wasnt trying to get the employee fired, but es lo que es it is what it is. Its unclear if the cashier was indeed fired from that Family Dollar, but Young told the company that was not his intention. I was just tryna make her aware of not having certain conversations especially at work around us folks, Young said. Because were Black doesnt mean we dont understand what youre saying. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. By Kate Holton, Sarah Young and Andrew MacAskill LONDON (Reuters) -Flights at Britain's Heathrow resumed late on Friday after a fire knocked out its power supply and shut Europe's busiest airport for the day, stranding tens of thousands of passengers and causing travel turmoil worldwide. Heathrow said its teams worked tirelessly to reopen the world's fifth-busiest airport after it was forced to close entirely after a huge fire engulfed a nearby substation on Thursday night, with travellers told to stay away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airport had been due to handle 1,351 flights on Friday, flying up to 291,000 passengers, but planes were diverted to other airports in Britain and across Europe, while many long-haul flights returned to their point of departure. Heathrow said there would be a limited number of flights on Friday, mostly focused on relocating aircraft and bringing planes into London. "Tomorrow morning, we expect to be back in full operation, to 100% operation as a normal day," said Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye. "What I'd like to do is to apologise to the many people who have had their travel affected ... we are very sorry about all the inconvenience." Police said that after an initial assessment they were not treating the incident as suspicious, although enquiries remained ongoing. London Fire Brigade said its investigations would focus on the electrical distribution equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closure not only caused misery for travellers but provoked anger from airlines, which questioned how such crucial infrastructure could fail. The industry is now facing the prospect of a financial hit costing tens of millions of pounds, and a likely fight over who should pay. "You would think they would have significant back-up power," one top executive from a European airline told Reuters. Heathrow's Woldbye said back-up systems and procedures had worked as they should. "This (power supply) is a bit of a weak point," he told reporters outside the airport. "But of course contingencies of certain sizes we cannot guard ourselves against 100% and this is one of them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked who would pay, he said there were "procedures in place", adding "we don't have liabilities in place for incidents like this". British transport minister Heidi Alexander said the incident had been out of Heathrow's control. "They have stood up their resilience plans very swiftly and have been working in close collaboration with all the emergency responders and the airline operators," she told reporters. DIVERTED Airlines including JetBlue, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air India, Delta Air Lines, Qantas, United Airlines, IAG-owned British Airways and Virgin were diverted or returned to their origin airports in the middle of the night, according to data from flight analytics firm Cirium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shares in many airlines, including U.S. carriers, fell. Aviation experts said the last time European airports experienced disruption on such a large scale was the 2010 Icelandic volcanic ash cloud that grounded some 100,000 flights. While flights are restarting, it will be some time before all scheduled passenger services return to normal. "We have flight and cabin crew colleagues and planes that are currently at locations where we werent planning on them to be," said Sean Doyle, chief executive of British Airways, the biggest carrier at Heathrow which had 341 flights scheduled to land there on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, it will have a huge impact on all of our customers flying with us over the coming days." Britain's Department for Transport said it had temporarily lifted restrictions on overnight flights to ease congestion. Passengers stranded in London and facing the prospect of days of disruptions were scrambling to make alternate travel arrangements. "It's pretty stressful," Robyn Autry, 39, a professor, who had been due to fly home to New York. "I'm worried about how much is it going to cost me to fix this." Prices at hotels around Heathrow jumped, with booking sites offering rooms for 500 pounds ($645), roughly five times the normal price levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A WAKE-UP CALL Airline executives, electrical engineers and passengers questioned how Britain's gateway to the world could be forced to close by one fire, however large. Heathrow and London's other major airports have been hit by other outages in recent years, most recently by an automated gate failure and an air traffic system meltdown, both in 2023. Philip Ingram, a former intelligence officer in the British military, said Heathrow's inability to keep operating exposed vulnerability in Britain's critical national infrastructure. "It is a wake-up call," he told Reuters. "There is no way that Heathrow should be taken out completely because of a failure in one power substation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Willie Walsh, the head of the global airlines body IATA and a former head of British Airways, said Heathrow had once again let passengers down. Heathrow said it had diesel generators and uninterruptible power supplies in place to land aircraft and evacuate passengers safely. Those systems all operated as expected. But with the airport consuming as much energy as a small city, it said it could not run all its operations safely on back-up systems. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said there were questions to answer about how the incident occurred and there would be a thorough investigation. (Reporting by Angela Christy, Surbhi Misra, Devika Madhusudhanan Nair and Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru, Jamie Freed in Sydney, Dan Catchpole in Seattle, Abhijit Ganapavaram in New Delhi, Joanna Plucinska, Muvija M, Catarina Demony, Andrew MacAskill in London, Tim Hepher in Paris, writing by Kate Holton and Michael Holden, Editing by Catherine Evans, Joe Bavier, Alison Williams, Kirsten Donovan and Daniel Wallis) Pa. (WETM) In an attempt to combat the ongoing issue of human trafficking in the United States, Pennsylvania State Representatives Clint Owlett (Tioga/Bradford) and Tina Pickett (Bradford/Wyoming) are hosting two events in Pennsylvania to help teach local residents how to keep their children safe from the crime. In a release from Representative Owlett, Owlett states that human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States and that children are often the ones falling victim. Oftentimes, these children fall victim to the crime in their own homes over the internet. Crafts for Cats fundraiser to be held in Blossburg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When most people hear about human trafficking, they think about abduction, smuggling or confinement, but that is not the most common scenario we see here in the Commonwealth, Owlett said. More and more human trafficking victims are kids who are going to school, participating in extracurricular activities and having dinner with their familieswhile also being groomed and exploited online. To help combat this issue in the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, Owlett and Pickett will host two seminars in early April to discuss how children can be protected against human trafficking online. One session will be held in Tioga County and the other session will be held in Bradford County. Low-cost vaccine & microchip clinic to be held in Knoxville The sessions will be led by Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters, and President and Founder of Lantern Rescue Korrin Moon, who will share their knowledge and advice on the matter. The two will be joined by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday for the Tioga County session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both of the seminars are geared towards parents, grandparents and caregivers who are concerned about the issue of human trafficking and are interested in learning how to protect their children when it comes to its presence over the internet. The sessions are not recommended for young children due to the subject matter, but teens are encouraged to attend to learn how they can protect themselves. The sessions will be held on the following dates, times and locations: Bradford County Towanda Area Junior/Senior High School Wednesday, April 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 1 High School Drive Tioga County Wellsboro Fire Department Annex Thursday, April 3, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 21 East Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who are interested in attending a session are encouraged to RSVP either online or by contacting Owletts Wellsboro office at 570-724-1390 or Picketts Towanda office at 570-265-3124. RSVPs are not required but requested. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. With Londons Heathrow Airport shut Friday, global air travel is expected to be disrupted for days, potentially costing the airline industry hundreds of millions of dollars. The chaos in air travel caused by a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport could last days, according to aviation experts. Heathrows closure is expected to affect more than 1,300 flights in the coming days, and airline analytics firm Cirium estimated that upwards of 145,000 passengers could be affected. Shukor Yusof, founder of Singapore-based Endau Analytics, an advisory firm that focuses on the aviation industry, told CNN the financial losses from the shutdown could be in the hundreds of millions of pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fallout will cause chaos, undoubtedly, for the weekend and into next week because they have to resolve all those flights that couldnt come in, all those problems that have piled up because of this shutdown, he said. Heathrow was the worlds fourth-busiest airport in 2023, according to the most recent data, with a record-breaking 83.9 million passengers passing through last year. John Grant, senior analyst at travel data provider OAG, estimates that it will take up to four days for the flight disruptions to fully resolve, he told CNN. Likewise, Cirium said: The impact of this incident can cascade over several days as aircraft, crew, passengers are out of place, with limited spare aircraft and seats available to recover passengers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Airlines rely on precisely coordinated networks to ensure planes and crews are in the right place at the right time. Now, dozens of carriers must rapidly restructure their operations to reposition aircraft and staff. Yusof at Endau Analytics said a closure like this could affect entities and people beyond airlines and travelers. Its a whole network of people involved in running the operations of an airport and adjacent areas, ranging from retailers, cargo firms, jet fuel suppliers and surrounding communities that depend on the airport for their livelihoods, he added. At the moment, I think that the real focus is how to mitigate the impact of the airport closure on airlines and also on the people who work there, Yusof explained, as it could take days, or even weeks, for airlines to clear the backlog of passengers. Shares of airlines operating out of Heathrow tumbled Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British Airways owner International Airlines Group sank as much as 5% early morning local time, before paring losses to trade 2.2% down on the day by mid-afternoon. Compensation for travelers is likely to be the largest immediate cost for the airline, analysts at Jefferies, an investment bank, said in a note. Shares in Germanys Lufthansa were down 2.1% by the same time, while Air France-KLM had fallen 2.5%. Shares in Australian airline Qantas closed 2.4% down. British Airways canceled all short-haul flights to Heathrow Friday but said it had been given clearance by Heathrow Airport to depart eight of our long-haul flights today from 7pm. All customers booked for travel to or from Heathrow between Friday and Sunday will have the option to rebook for free for a later travel date, according to the airline. Anna Cooban and Olesya Dmitracova in London contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com HONOLULU (KHON2) Its never too early to start thinking about summer and the City and County of Honolulu is gearing up for its 2025 Summer Fun program. The Department of Parks and Recreation said they need hundreds of motivated workers to help lead keiki in positive and empowering activities. Olomana Glow Golf adds third option for Oahu golfers Honolulus Summer Fun program provides a safe and fun environment for keiki and teens to learn and grow for future educational and lifelong success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only will workers get a chance to experience their keiki grow, but they can also develop essential job skills such as teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution and more. Ill be honest, I came from the housing so I had a rough upbringing, but it was programs like this help me push through to make it out cause it gave me an opportunity to do something different and not hanging around the neighborhood, explained Kahi Ehai, former Summer Fun kid and current Summer Fun Recreation Director. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Officials said they need staff for 63 Summer Fun sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City said jobs are available with pay rates ranging from $15 to $20.10 an hour with focuses on coordinating recreation, keiki supervision, lifeguarding our pools and therapeutic aide. Volunteer Junior Leaders are also encouraged to register. In 2024, more than 1,200 Junior Leaders led keiki in various activities. The 2025 Summer Fun Program will run on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting June 9. Check out more news from around Hawaii If youre ready to make a difference in your community, apply to work for the Summer Fun Program on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) The University of Illinois says one out of 10 people in the state struggle with hunger. Hunters in the state are helping fight back one deer at a time. Were very grateful for the hunters, said SNAP educator Michelle Fombelle. READ MORE: Hunters Feeding Illinois bringing 97K meals to local families And for good reason. In 2024, people around the state donated deer they killed to Hunters Feeding Illinois. The organization more than doubled their reach giving venison to 44 counties statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did receive 24,278 pounds of ground venison. And then that translated into 96,856 meals, said SNAP educator Meredith Probst. To donate, you take a deer youve killed to a meat processor who is connected to the program. Theyll grind it into one- or two-pound packages and send it off to food pantries. But people can get more than just meat. University of Illinois extension SNAP Education also provides nutrition education at the food pantries in order to help them prepare the ground venison, Fombelle said. SEE ALSO: U of I students create website to track meal deals U of I Extension even provides recipes for people who arent as familiar with cooking deer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We together as a team created these 20 recipes and a venison recipe book, and then those are professionally printed and distributed at the food pantries, Fombelle added. They say the favorite recipe was taco soup. All the ingredients you need are available at food pantries making it an easy meal and a nutritious one. We feel really grateful that this program can get that lean protein to our local food pantries and help those families. said SNAP educator Kaitlyn Streitmatter. And, theyre not stopping with their record setting year. Hunters feeding Illinois wants to expand even more. If youre a hunter, meat processor, or food pantry, they want to connect. You can find more information on how to contact them here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Former ABC News journalist Husam al-Titi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday evening local time, the night the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended, according to al-Titi's family. PHOTO: Former ABC News Journalist Husam Al-Titi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday evening local time, the night the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended. (Obtained by ABC News) Al-Titi was a sound engineer for ABC News for 20 years until 2014, when he left the company and became a teacher. He lived in Gaza City with his wife, daughter and three sons, but he was in Deir al Balah in a displacement camp when he was killed. Al-Titi's wife, daughter and three of his sons were taken to the hospital after the airstrike. Three of his sons remain hospitalized and one was seriously injured, al-Titi's family told ABC News. Husam al-Titi, former ABC News journalist, killed in Gaza air strike originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By Clare Jim HONG KONG (Reuters) -CK Hutchison (CKHUY) on Thursday reported an 11% drop in underlying profit for 2024, as one of Hong Kong's most powerful conglomerates becomes increasingly embroiled in a political row over the sale of its ports business to a BlackRock-led consortium. The telecoms-to-retail conglomerate, owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing, said this month it had agreed to sell most of its global ports business, including assets near the strategically important Panama Canal, in a deal that would garner the firm more than $19 billion in cash. Its shares initially rallied after the deal, with investors cheering the high purchase price. They had expected management would give indications at Thursday's earnings conferences about how it would reinvest the proceeds and whether it would pay a special dividend. The company, however, cancelled its post-earnings media and analyst conferences in a rare move following criticism over the deal from the government in Beijing. CK Hutchison made no mention of the ports deal in its earnings statement, although it said "geopolitical and trade tensions have ... risen significantly." "The operating environment for the Groups businesses is expected to be both volatile and unpredictable," it said in the statement. China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has reposted two state media commentaries depicting the deal as a betrayal of China and contrary to its national interests, fuelling speculation as to whether China could take steps to try to scupper the sale. The deal has become highly politicised, with U.S. President Donald Trump hailing it after previously calling for the Panama Canal to be removed from what he says is Chinese control. CK Hutchison has said the deal is "purely commercial in nature and wholly unrelated to recent political news reports concerning the Panama Ports". Analysts have said the deal would represent a significant strategy shift because it would leave ports contributing only about 1% of the conglomerate's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITA), down from 15%. Even before the sale, CK Hutchison's infrastructure and telecom businesses contributed a significant portion of the group's profit, despite it being the world's largest privately owned port operator. Li has been diversifying his business outside of Hong Kong and mainland China since the 1980s and now only about 12% of CK Hutchison's revenue is from Hong Kong and China, with the remainder from Europe, the rest of Asia Pacific and Canada. Former Congresswoman Cori Bush speaks to reporters in February 2024 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges Thursday against the husband of former Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush alleging he defrauded pandemic-era relief programs. Cortney Merritts, 46, faces two counts of wire fraud for allegedly filing sham applications in 2020 and 2021 with the Small Business Administration, enabling him to collect money aimed at helping struggling businesses make payroll during the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges were filed by Ed Martin, a former chairman of the Missouri Republican Party who was appointed a D.C. U.S. attorney position by President Donald Trump. Merritts attorney told St. Louis Public Radio that he intends to plead not guilty. According to the indictment, Merritts allegedly lied on applications and forged documents in order to receive a bigger loan from COVID-19 relief programs. When one loan was rejected because it was nearly identical to a previous application he submitted, he allegedly applied on behalf of a different business that he claimed he started in 2020. Federal prosecutors say he recieved a loan for $20,832 that was forgiven by the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bush served two terms representing a St. Louis-based seat in Congress before losing last year in the Democratic primary to Wesley Bell. She is not mentioned or accused of any wrongdoing in the indictment against her husband. Controversy has swirled around the couple before when Bush hired Merritts as her security guard. A complaint was filed alleging Merritts employment with the Bush campaign violated federal law, but it was ultimately dismissed by the Office of Congressional Ethics. Just a few days after President Donald Trump took office in January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a workplace raid in Newark, New Jersey, that alarmed local officials and immigrant advocates. ICE agents detained "undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant," said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka in a January 23 statement. "This egregious act is in plain violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees 'the right of the people [to] be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.'" The Trump administration could be gearing up for broader warrantless immigration enforcement. Lawyers for the administration "have determined that an 18th-century wartime law the president has invoked to deport suspected members of a Venezuelan gang allows federal agents to enter homes without a warrant," The New York Times reported on Thursday, which would effectively set "aside a key provision of the Fourth Amendment that requires a court order to search someone's home." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "18th-century wartime law" in question is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which gives the president broad authority to detain and deport noncitizens during times of war. Trump invoked the law earlier this month to justify deporting alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. Members of the gang had "unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare" against Americans, Trump explained in an executive order. "All such Alien Enemies, wherever found within any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are subject to summary apprehension," the order continued. Senior Justice Department lawyers believe that language and the Alien Enemies Act's historic applications mean "the government does not need a warrant to enter a home or premises to search for people believed to be members of that gang," the Times reported. The administration should think twice about acting on that interpretation, given the fallout over last weekend's Alien Enemies Actrelated deportations. An ICE official's sworn affidavit "paint[ed] the picture of a Trump administration and ICE management that were determined to deport as many people as possible, no matter how tenuous the connection to Tren de Aragua or any crime," wrote Reason's Eric Boehm. Reports on the deportees suggest that many may have been sent to a Salvadoran prison for extremely flimsy reasons, including innocuous tattoos. It would've been far better for the government to assess those grounds for deportation in court hearings rather than whisking people out of the country and potentially making grave, life-altering mistakes. "Currently, immigration agents without a warrant can do little more than knock on a door and ask to come in," noted the Times. "The Fourth Amendment applies to everyone in the U.S., not just individuals with legal status," Christopher A. Wellborn, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, told the paper. Removing that protection would be an "abuse of power that destroys our privacy, making Americans feel unsafe and vulnerable in the places where our children play and our loved ones sleep." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, a lawsuit filed by the National Immigrant Justice Center and the American Civil Liberties Union's Illinois chapter alleged that ICE violated the rights of 22 people, in many cases using improper warrants or no warrants at all. Under a 2022 settlement in a class-action lawsuit, which applies in several Midwestern states, "ICE officials can conduct a warrantless arrest if they believe an individual is likely to escape but they must provide evidence," noted WBEZ Chicago. The lawsuit alleges that ICE detained a U.S. citizen for over 10 hours without documenting the arrest, conducted "warrantless and often violent arrests" of nine individuals, and produced warrants after arresting several of the plaintiffs. As it turns out, fulfilling campaign trail promises of "the largest deportation operation in the history of our country"and doing it at Trump's desired speedrequires cutting some corners. In reality, the mass deportation plan is not solely (or even primarily) about deporting actual security risks. The administration has had to resort to moves such as removing temporary protected status designations to create more removable immigrants. Expanding warrantless immigration enforcement might help toward numerical deportation goals, but it's also likely to generate more rights abuses (and lawsuits) in the process. The post Will ICE Use the Alien Enemies Act To Enter Homes Without Warrants? appeared first on Reason.com. OTTUMWA Members of the Indian Hills Community College Higher Education Association, a group of full-time and part-time faculty members, will soon be voting whether to unionize. Whether they get what they seek may come with some risk. After petitioning twice since last fall, only to fall short of the 30% "show of interest" threshold, the group met the legal requirements with the Iowa Employment Appeal Board earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Indian Hills is one of only two non-union community colleges in the state," John McKerley, a union representative with the Iowa Secondary Education Association, said in a press release Tuesday. "Once we started meeting, it didn't take long to recognize their problems. It's about basic dignity and respect." Indian Hills president Matt Thompson couldn't comment much on the advice of legal counsel, but knew of "rumors there was a discussion." "The hard part is I can't say a lot because I don't want to influence anything," he told The Courier Thursday. "But, it's the right of employees to explore it." Thompson did, however, send a memo to faculty and other instructors Wednesday afternoon about what their rights are. He cited Iowa Code 20.9 and 20.22, which discusses base wages, and that if a union and the college go to arbitration over base wages, members of that union will only be rewarded no more than a 3% increase, or the consumer price index, whichever figure is lower.; the current CPI is 2.8%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For three consecutive years, IHCC faculty have received a 3.5% increase, so members of a union would be leaving money on the table, according to the memo. According to the press release from ISEA, faculty at the college have concerns over "stagnant wages, increasing workloads, lack of job security, administrative miscommunication and growing class sizes." "These are highly educated folks, and they provide a critical service to our region's students," McKerley said. "They give them the skills to compete and degrees with less debt. But at the end of the day, they just aren't keeping up when it comes to pay, benefits and their rights at work." But Thompson said in an email to The Courier that faculty "are within the load limitations of the Iowa Department of Education. If they are asked to teach above 9-11 credit hours (three to four classes) during a term they are paid overload wages for teaching additional courses." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the average lecture course consisted of about 15 students during the last academic year. "The college will not retaliate against any employees for exercising their right to vote in this election," Thompson said in his memo. According to IHCC's employment web page, employees work "a standard four-day work week" among other benefits from the college. The faculty's organization has launched a Facebook page to increase its organizing effort, and are encouraging faculty and community members to get involved. Several photos posted to the page from neighboring school education associations have demonstrated support for the Indian Hills' faculty's cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Employment Appeals Board will send ballots starting Friday to the residences of eligible voters, and they must be received by the EAB by April 11 at 3 p.m. The question on the ballot is a simple yes or no question: "Do you wish to be represented, for purposes of collective bargaining, by Indian Hills Community College Higher Education Association?" ILLINOIS (WCIA) President Donald Trump signed an executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education Thursday afternoon, and Illinois politicians are sharing their perspectives on how that will influence education within the state. The department handles federal student loans, investigates complaints of discrimination and gives funding for schools and universities. The order will move several functions to different agencies, as well as return some regulations to each state. Top Democrats, unions condemn upcoming Trump order to dismantle Education Department Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has previously spoken about the dangers he anticipates without the department. He said the impacts will be immediate. It will harm students and their families in rural communities who rely on federal funding to keep their schools open, the governor said. It will remove support students with disabilities and special needs rely upon. And low-income students who depend on Pell Grants to earn their college degrees will be forced to drop out. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) applauded President Trump for dismantling the Department of Education, as she thinks it will help put parents back in control of their childrens education. For far too long, our students have been left behind by woke, unaccountable Washington bureaucrats and a bloated system failing them academically, Miller said. Now, our country has the opportunity to expand educational freedom, increase opportunities for families, and unlock our full potential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do Education Department cuts mean for student loans? Sen. Dick Durbin called Trump a fool for signing the order. President Trumps dangerous demagoguery knows no bounds, he said. Shredding the Department of Education, a federal agency dedicated to the success of the next generation, is depraved and deeply damaging to the future of this country. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is part of a lawsuit with 20 attorneys general to stop the Trump administrations workforce and program cuts to the Department of Education. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Critics say theyre concerned grant funding, used for low-income and special needs students, could be at risk. Proponents say those concerns are unfounded, and the removal of the Department of Education will return more money to Illinois schools. For decades, conservative activists have called for eliminating the agency, which was created by Congress in 1979. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Trump remakes the federal government, he has assailed the department as wasteful and responsible for spreading woke ideas such as programs to support diversity, equity and inclusion, and protections for transgender students. Trump has argued the federal office hasnt improved student outcomes and is unnecessary in a country where states and local districts primarily control education from funding to hiring and curriculum. Among those at Thursdays signing were the governors of several Republican states, along with activists who say parents should have more power over their childrens education. The agencys main role is financial. Annually, it distributes billions in federal money to colleges and schools and manages the federal student loan portfolio. Closing the department would mean redistributing each of those duties to another agency. The Education Department also plays an important regulatory role in services for students, ranging from those with disabilities to low-income and homeless kids. The main goal of this whole process is to eliminate another layer of government thats filled with 4,000 employees, lots of bureaucracy, delays, and time, said Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley). And were sending money to Washington and getting a little bit of it back. Why not keep the money in the states where more money can go into the classrooms? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets, roughly 14% Dawn Granath, a special education teacher for Rockford Public Schools, and former president of the Rockford Education Association union, said the presidents executive order has educators uneasy. When you start not knowing for sure if youre going to have funding, not knowing for sure if the rules and the laws are going to be enforced, not knowing for sure if youre going to be able to meet the needs of these high needs students, it makes everybody very uneasy, she said. It makes us question what is going on with the current administration. At a stop in Rockford on Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker said, Look, what Im concerned about is they often say one thing and do another. Returning control [to the states] sounds great. What they also want to do is cut funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can all disagree or agree about whether [or not] there should be a Department of Education. I think there should be [a look into] whether that department is efficiently delivering to the states. But, we shouldnt have a disagreement about whether or not were going to provide people with special needs, special education for the developmentally disabled, or other disabled children, going to school. Thats the funding we need, he continued. On Friday, Trump said the Small Business Administration would take over the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio, which also includes Pell Grants and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). School meal programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture so they also are not affected. Trump offered a blueprint of how the agencys core functions would be handled, saying sending oversight of programs for kids with disabilities and low-income children to the Department of Health and Human Services. Eliminating the department entirely would require an act of Congress. Republicans in Congress are planning legislation to eliminate the agency, but they face heavy opposition from Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. By Nicole Jao and Shariq Khan NEW YORK (Reuters) -Top U.S. oil major ExxonMobil asked regulators to block changes proposed by the Colonial Pipeline to its fuel shipping terms, citing potential harm to shippers and consumers, a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) showed. The Colonial Pipeline, a key 5,500-mile (8,851 km) artery for shipping fuel from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the East Coast, this month sought approval from FERC to stop shipping different grades of gasoline at the same time and to reduce the total number of grades it moves on the pipeline. The changes would mark one of the most significant overhauls on the longest U.S. fuel pipeline, which Colonial says will help it ship more fuel by streamlining operations and minimizing slowdowns. That benefits shippers, the public and the pipeline itself, a company spokesperson said. However, a number of shippers earlier told Reuters on the condition of anonymity that they were preparing to challenge the proposals. Exxon, which operates refineries in the U.S. Gulf Coast from which it ships fuel on Colonial, is the first to file a formal protest. It said the changes would severely disrupt the efficiency of the gasoline supply chain, and argued that Colonial's proposals would directly hit its fuel supply economics by ending shipments of a grade it supplies and by raising costs to meet new specifications for gasoline to be put on the pipeline. At the same time that Colonial is limiting shippers to supplying more expensive gasoline grades, another change it has sought would allow the pipeline to blend that fuel and supply cheaper grades at destination markets, Exxon argued. "Only Colonial benefits from this proposal," Exxon said in its filing. In response, a Colonial spokesperson reiterated that the changes would increase pipeline capacity and gasoline supplies, while reducing operational stress and optimizing Colonial's system. The price consumers pay at the pumps is decided mainly by supply and demand, Colonial said. "If minor fluctuations occur as other parties in the supply chain seek to protect their margins, we would expect such impacts to be limited to a small number of markets for a short part of the year," Colonial added. The company intends to file a response with FERC about Exxon's protest on Monday, it said. (Reporting by Nicole Jao and Shariq Khan in New York; Editing by Deepa Babington and Jamie Freed) Incumbent Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune announced during an event on Thursday night her plans to run for mayor in November. When I started this journey in 2017 I did it with a really bold vision, and I did it because I was passionate about changing my community that I was born and raised in, Bethune said. I saw a lot of things that were not being paid any attention to, and things that I thought were important, not only to our residents, but to our visitors and for the future of Myrtle Beach. Bethune said she will continue to focus on making Myrtle Beach better in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We we are making so much progress and changing quickly, and I want to keep going in that direction, she said. Were headed in the right direction, and I want to keep the momentum going. On Thursday morning, The Sun News briefly spoke to Bethune on the phone. She said she had been planning to publicly announce her campaign on Thursday for a while. It was important to me to start early, let people know what my intentions are, she said. Bethune said running campaigns can be expensive, and that shes already started her fundraising efforts. Ive been asked by a lot of people, What are you going to do? Are you going to run again? Are you going to run for something else?, she said. And you know, my heart is right here in Myrtle Beach, so I wanted to get started so that we can just keep awareness out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected, Bethune said that her priorities will include investing money into the city and maintaining strong relationships. I want to point out that when we talk about downtown, that is not just something that benefits the businesses and the residents in the downtown area, that is going to benefit our entire community, especially when we talk about trying to attract professionals who want to come here, she said. Bethune some of her accomplishments since first getting elected as mayor include strengthening relationships with the state and Horry County and decreasing violent crimes across the city by over 40%. Everything we are investing in is for the future and making transformational changes for generations to come, because we want this to be a place where people, young people, all people, want to live, work, invest and raise their families, she said. On Thursday morning, Bethune said the best way for constituents to contact her is through her email or Facebook messenger. The election is on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman has announced an internal investigation into a November police shooting that killed a mother and her baby, while applauding the officer who fired the fatal bullets. The announcement of this investigation comes almost a week after the Jackson County Prosecutors Office declined to press criminal charges against the officer, identified by Dustman as Jordan White. In a news release, Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said her office could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting officer used excessive force. Three officers responded to a call for an alleged assault on Nov. 7 at Oval Spring Apartments that resulted in the deaths of Maria Pike, 34, and her 2-month-old daughter Destinii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not believe that there is a path to charging this specific case under the law, Dion Sankar, Jackson Countys chief deputy prosecutor, told Pikes loved ones Friday. At a Thursday news conference nearly a week after that decision was announced, Dustman identified the responding officers as White, Chad Cox and Derek Karr. White and Cox were the officers who were first on the scene, and White fired four shots that killed the mother and daughter. All three were placed on administrative leave after the shooting. White and Cox remain on leave but are full-time employees, Dustman said. Karr, who has since returned to duty, was responding to the call with a mental health worker at the time of the shooting. When police entered the third-floor apartment, body camera footage showed Pike standing in a closet, which was also Destiniis nursery, holding the infant. White and Cox spent around 12 minutes talking with Pike, who never let go of her daughter, before Pike reached with her right hand toward the nightstand for a concealed butcher knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pike raised the knife over her head and moved toward officers. White, who spent all 12 minutes with Pike, fired the four fatal shots. During Thursdays news conference, Dustman called the shooting justified because Pike had a weapon. That woman retrieved a knife that was concealed inside of that apartment that she knew, Dustman said. She retrieved that deadly weapon and she charged at the officers. Those were her decisions. And I am very, very sad that those decisions were made, but those were hers and hers alone. Doug Blodgett, second vice president for the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police and an Independence police officer, attended the briefing to show solidarity and echoed Dustmans thoughts about the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They operated flawlessly within the way that they were trained, Blodgett said. Their actions were justified and unfortunately necessary. Blodgett also wanted to make clear that the union supports officers during an officer-involved shooting investigation, and does not keep bad officers. We respond to make sure that we are there to represent our officers and ensure that, to that end, that their rights are protected and that their mental health is taken into consideration, he said. Dustman said he talked to all three officers on Wednesday, calling them strong and resilient. Theyre all doing as well as can be expected, but it does weigh on me, he said. It weighs on me in a world in which we are that line to keep our community safe, and this job is becoming more and more dangerous. Maria Pike with baby Destinii after her birth We are not robots White has a total of 17 years of law enforcement experience, Dustman said. He has been with the Independence Police Department for four years over two stints. White is also a former United States Marine, Blodgett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox has spent 23 years in law enforcement, spending more than a decade in Independence. Karr has spent his two years of law enforcement experience in Independence, Dustman said. Dustman spent almost 30 minutes defending the officers actions. From the time that she retrieves that knife to the last shot that is fired is four seconds. From the time the first shot is fired to the time that the last shot is fired is two seconds, he said. When you slow it down and you look frame by frame, you think, Okay, well, isnt there a point here where, one could say, hey, theres no longer a knife here. In reality, that doesnt happen in real-time. Thats just who we are as human beings.... we are not robots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the news conference, police sent the entire video to media, showing the full encounter from their arrival to the moments after the shooting when Destinii was rushed out and White was trying to resuscitate Pike. In the video, after White fired his weapon, he immediately requested for Cox to grab Destinii, who was bleeding from her skull and pronounced dead at a hospital according to the prosecutors office, and radioed for an ambulance. White put handcuffs on Pike, who was also bleeding and suffered four gunshot wounds, while Cox grabbed the baby and rushed to get her assistance. Oh my God! screamed Mitchell Holder, Destiniis father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You killed the baby too! Holder screamed at White. After almost a minute, Karr entered the room and gave Pike chest compressions while White worked to remove the cuffs. Well, she was trying to stab me, White shouted back at Holder at one point. All I could see was the knife. I couldnt even see the baby anymore, White said to Karr. Masha, stay with them, Holder shouted as officers gave Pike chest compressions. Officers entered the apartment shortly after, and White left the apartment. Maria Pike, 34, and Mitchell Holder only spent a little more than two months with their daughter, Destinii, before Pike and their baby were shot and killed by Independence police. Best practice policing Loved ones of Pike and Holder have called for Whites firing since the incident happened. He should have gotten some kind of punishment out of this, Talisa Coombs, Destiniis paternal grandmother, previously told The Star. He dont need to be a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a meeting with the prosecutors office last Friday explaining their decision to not criminally charge White, prosecutors empathized with the family and said they wished White could have responded differently. Do I wish they would have done something different? Yes. Do I have to analyze the facts as they appeared at the time? Yes, Sankar said. Thursday, Dustman said the incident was textbook for how officers should respond to these kinds of situations. This is current best practice policing, he said. We dont get to dictate the outcome of that sometimes and unfortunately and sadly and tragically, sometimes, you know, a loss of life occurs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dustman said he understands why the family feels that way but stood firm in supporting his officers. Their lives are forever changed, and that breaks my heart, he said. But that can also occur, and the officers actions can be reasonable and justified at the same time. The chief gave no timetable for how long the administrative investigation could take or what punishment, if any, the officers might face. Pamunkey chieftain Cockacoeske is the only Native American woman featured in the Virginia Women's Monument. During her time as a leader, Cockacoeske strategized with her people against attacks from Bacons Rebellion, provided warriors as a defense to Jamestown, appealed to the General Assembly for release of Pamunkey prisoners and restoration of property and signed the Treaty of Middle Plantation to reunite several tribes under her authority. However, some of those tribes refused to become subservient or pay tribute to her. She is depicted in her statue holding a bronze signed treaty. (Photo by VCU Capital News Service) Groups of Virginia education leaders want answers about why Indigenous Peoples Day was removed from state standards dictating what students should learn about American history since the Board of Education adopted the revised standards two years ago. While the holiday was omitted during the revision process, it was put back in before the final adoption of the standards in 2023. This week, some education leaders noticed that Indigenous Peoples Day was missing in the online versions of the standards for the states youngest schoolchildren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What else is in the standards (that) has been changed or removed? asked Chris Jones, executive director for the Virginia Association for Teaching, Learning and Leading (VATLL), an education advocacy group. He said the holidays removal has led leaders to suspect changes could have also been made to the instructional guides meant to help teachers implement the history standards into their lessons, which could be the reason some of the guides have still not been released, after a two-year delay. But because we dont know, and nothing is really being communicated publicly, were of course left to make assumptions, Jones said. Indigenous Peoples Days addition and subtraction Some educators and advocates noticed the holiday was missing recently by comparing the history and social science standards approved by the Board of Education two years ago to the online versions for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd-grade history courses. In each of the three grade levels, the standards state that students would be required to apply history and social science skills to explain how communities honor state and national traditions and recognize designated Virginia holidays, including, Columbus Day (also known as Indigenous Peoples Day). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the online versions excluded the mention of Indigenous Peoples Day, first observed in Virginia starting in 2019 through a proclamation by former Gov. Ralph Northam to recognize the histories and cultures of Indigenous people. Its also an alternative to Columbus Day, named after the 15th century explorer of the Americas who paved the way for the colonization and decimation of Indigenous communities. The holiday was also removed from the standards during the process before the board placed it back in. A VDOE spokesperson confirmed Thursday afternoon, after the agency was contacted about the holiday missing from the online versions of some standards, that the oversight has been corrected. [The department] has reviewed the footage of the Board of Education work session discussion on April 19, 2023 and Board approval of Item G on April 20, 2023 and it seems to have been an oversight by the Department to not include Indigenous Peoples Day as a parenthetical notation next to Columbus Day, the spokesperson wrote to the Mercury. To align with board action, we have made the correction which is now reflected online throughout the 2023 history SOL documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, some education advocates view the change as a violation of the public input process to revise the states history and social science standards, which set student learning expectations and are assessed through Standards of Learning tests. State law requires the standards be reviewed every seven years. The initial omission of the Indigenous Peoples Day perplexed some educators. Its interesting because all of us felt like we remembered seeing, also known as Indigenous Peoples Day in there, and it being a significant part of the discussion, and so when they came out, there was a little bit of confusion, said Danyael Graham, president of the Virginia Social Studies Leaders Consortium. Long-delayed instructional guides prompt more concerns Graham said the organization, made up of history educators, is also concerned about the lack of direction for implementing the standards, especially for smaller districts going through textbook adoptions, and the delay of providing instructional guides for teachers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instructional guides, according to the education department, provide educators guidance on implementing the recently adopted 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and transition away from the 2015 history standards, the most recent version before the 2023 update. Jones wrote a letter on Feb. 13 to the Board of Education on behalf of VATLLs policy team requesting the release of the instructional guides. He wrote that if schools do not perform adequately on the SOL test next year, the departments dereliction of duty, and not the work of Virginias teachers, will be the key source of underperformance. In response, Lisa Coons, then-superintendent of public instruction, notified Jones that several guides have already been published: Grade 5 United States History to 1865, Grade 6 United States History: 1865 to the present, Grade 7 Civics and Economics and Grade 12 Virginia and United States Government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coons wrote that the remaining history instructional guides have been undergoing copy edits and were planned to be released the week of February 24. However, as of Wednesday afternoon, the agency had not published all of the remaining guidelines. Coons also resigned on March 19, with questions remaining about her decision. Emily Anne Gullickson, former chief deputy secretary of education, replaced Coons as the acting state superintendent. Jones said Coons resignation absolutely elevated the concern that the guidelines will be even further delayed. Right now, theres a lot going on behind the scenes that the people should know, Jones said. Weve started pulling at the thread with the instructional guides, but this idea of removing something from the standards, I think thats wow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, more than a dozen educational organizations including the Virginia Social Studies Leaders Consortium, Virginia Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators and VATLL plan to submit a letter to the Virginia Board of Education requesting an implementation delay of the 2023 revised History and Social Science Standards of Learning for one year. A VDOE spokesperson said producing high-quality history instructional guides for teachers is a top priority and agency staff will be providing an update to the Board of Education at its work session on March 26, which will include a release timeline. The spokesperson added that the department has been reviewing the instructional guides and all corresponding linked resources to ensure compliance with recent federal executive actions. Editors note: This story has been corrected to clarify that while former Gov. Ralph Northam made a 2019 proclamation slating every second Monday of October as an observance of Indigenous Peoples Day in Virginia, it is not defined as an official holiday in state law. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Indivisible Owensboro has been around for a while, but recent actions by President Donald Trumps administration has prompted its membership to become more active in making their voices heard. The nonpartisan group plans to express its displeasure with the recent announcements pertaining to cuts to the Veterans Administration by holding a Veterans Support Sidewalk Rally at 4 p.m. Friday (today) on the sidewalk facing Parrish Avenue in front of the Owensboro VA Clinic at 2060 E. Parrish Ave. The main focus of the group is to be alert to the changes that are happening with the difference in politics and philosophies, and to educate ourselves about what we can do for the things that we are concerned about, said Judy Dixon, one of the groups leaders. Cuts to veterans, cuts to Medicaid and Medicare those are things that we see as hurtful to people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dixon said she finds it impossible to understand why any administration would propose changes to veterans benefits and lessen access to health care. It breaks my heart, she said. I have good friends who are veterans who depend upon the medical care there. Most of them were in the Vietnam War, and some have suffered from Agent Orange and have lots of health issues because of that. I think there are some veterans who dont feel it yet, but there are others who are very concerned about being able to get their benefits, being able to see physicians in the veterans clinics. There is so much uncertainty that people get so fearful, and I think there is a great deal of concern about that. Indivisible Owensboro is a grassroots movement with a mission to hold elected leaders accountable by using public pressure and to protect democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indivisible Owensboro recently held a prayer vigil for local Ukrainians to show support in the wake of criticism of the Ukrainian government from the Trump administration and in support of the Ukrainian people still fighting the war against Russia. About 150 people from varying backgrounds attended the prayer vigil. Indivisible Owensboros VA rally Friday was prompted by a request from a local veteran for a show of support. Dixon said the group will continue to hold events for issues and concerns that need attention. If its an issue that we feel strongly about, then we will have a rally, she said. We would love to have a town hall meeting with our legislators, but that doesnt seem like something that is going to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of Indivisible Owensboro recently traveled to Bowling Green to join members of the SOKY Indivisible group to request Rep. Brett Guthrie come to Owensboro for a town hall event to answer concerns about federal funding cuts. Dixon said the groups membership regularly calls and emails Guthries office, but she hasnt been pleased with the response. I got a call from (Guthries) office asking about concerns; they wanted to know what I thought could be done, not just about the VA, but a lot of things, she said. I said we would like to have a town hall meeting, and that I would be glad to facilitate it. She said, I dont know what the congressmans schedule is, but Ill certainly check with him. He was in town the next day reading to students at (Owensboro Catholics 4-6 Campus). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dixon said she feels the congressman is seeking to avoid having to answer hard questions from constituents. Indivisible Owensboro, however, hopes to get its message through loud and clear. Im expecting a lot of signs; just holding up our signs in a show of support, Dixon said. We are expecting people to be non-confrontational. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) After weeks in the United States, influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrived early Saturday back in Romania, where they face charges of human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The Tates, who are dual U.S. and British citizens, were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges that they participated in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They deny all of the allegations against them. The brothers' plane which Andrew Tate said earlier in a post on X cost $185,000 to jet across the Atlantic to sign one single piece of paper landed at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport shortly before 1.00 a.m. local time Saturday morning (2300 GMT, Friday). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After arriving at their residence near the capital, Bucharest, Andrew Tate told reporters they returned because innocent men dont run from anything and he vowed to clear his name in court. After all weve been through, we truly deserve the day in court where it is stated that weve done nothing wrong and that we should have never been in court in the first place. We should have never gone to jail. We should have never had our assets seized. We should have never had our names slandered," he said. Anyone who believed any of this garbage has a particularly low IQ. Their return to Romania comes nearly a month after a travel ban imposed on the brothers was lifted, after which they flew on a private jet to the U.S., landing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The brothers remain under judicial control, which requires them to appear before judicial authorities in Romania when summoned. Eugen Vidineac, one of the Tate brothers lawyers in Romania, told The Associated Press that the Tates are due to check in with a surveillance officer on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days after the Tates arrived in the U.S., on March 4, Floridas Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office had opened a criminal investigation into Andrew and Tristan Tate. He said in a social media post that he directed his office to work with law enforcement to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the brothers. A day after the investigation was opened, Andrew Tate said in a post on X: I didnt commit any crime and theyre trying to find one because they dont like me." The lifting of their two-year travel ban came after a Bucharest court in December ruled that a case against the brothers could not go to trial because of multiple legal and procedural irregularities on the part of the prosecutors. The case, however, remained open. For his part, Tristan Tate said after returning to Romania, I think its very telling that we were investigated for two and a half years, and we were dragged ... in front of the media, into prison, out of prison, all this time, and in December last year, a judge said ... theres not evidence enough for this to even go to trial." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last August, Romanias anti-organized crime agency DIICOT also launched a second case against the brothers, investigating allegations of human trafficking, the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements and money laundering. They have denied those charges as well. Andrew Tate, 38, a former professional kickboxer and self-described misogynist who has amassed more than 10 million followers on X, has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. There are a lot of people in the world today that do not have faith in Romanian institutions ... but were going to restore that faith by coming home, as American citizens, going to court, and getting the not guilty that we deserve, Andrew Tate said. If a court needs to speak to us, well be there because were innocent. The Tate brothers legal battles are not limited to Romania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four British women who accused Andrew Tate of sexual violence and physical abuse are suing him in the U.K. after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute him. In March last year, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case after U.K. authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression in a case dating back to the period from 2012 to 2015. The appeals court granted the U.K. request to extradite the Tates, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded. Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad gestures to supporters outside the federal courthouse after testifying at the trial of her would-be assassins in New York, Mar. 18, 2025. Credit - Seth WenigAP On Thursday, after deliberating for less than four hours, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against two Eastern European self-described gangsters hired by Iran to send a hit man to kill an Iranian dissident at her Brooklyn home. The intended victim, Masih Alinejad, is a journalist and activist with nearly 9 million Instagram followers and the personal enmity of Irans Supreme Leader, who calls her the American agent. The July 2022 plot was at least the third attempt on Alinejads life by Iran, and the trial marked the first time the regimes assassination apparatus was laid out in detail in a U.S. courtroom. Until the United States v. Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, the Justice Department had issued indictments against Iranian officials that described their alleged efforts to assassinate U.S. officialsincluding Donald Trump and John Bolton, Trumps National Security Advisor in his first term. But on the 24th floor of a lower Manhattan U.S. District courthouse, a string of FBI agents filled in the nitty grittydetailing the forensic penetration of iPhones, Google accounts, WhatsApp messages, and search histories of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operatives hunting Alinejad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through a Google account opened in the name Alex Peterson, evidence showed, Brig. Gen. Ruhollah Bazghandi repeatedly searched Masih Alinejad arrests and Masih Alinejad kidnapping plot. (Iran had plotted to abduct Alinejad in 2020, the U.S. charged in an earlier indictment.) The general also searched his own name and, 93 times in a span of 18 months, looked up US sanctions on IRGC intelligence officers, of which he is the subject. Other Iranian intelligence operatives repeatedly searched Rafat the thiefthe nickname of Amirov, who resided in Iran at the time and according to prosecutors, was the mobs point of contact for Iranian intelligence. (Amirov photos, ID cards, and airline tickets were found on an Iranian operatives phone.) It was unclear how much of the $500,000 Iran had promised for killing Alinejad had been transferred to the mobsters. But after their hitman was arrested near her house on July 28, 2022, with an assault rifle and a ski mask, the Iranians wanted it back. This is addressed to you, your boss and mafia, read a text message to the operative handling Amirovs gang, dated Oct. 4, a Tuesday. If the job gets no result by Saturday, there will be nothing left to say between us, and you will lose the job. Additionally, you must return the deposit or else you will have to face the consequences. Until Saturday then. All the telltale data was harvested from phones confiscated when the mobsters were arrested or handed over by U.S.-based internet companies that responded to FBI search warrants. (In the digital realm, American law enforcement enjoys home-field advantage.) In the courtroom, the cumulative effect proved overwhelming. In closing arguments, Amirovs lawyer acknowledged that the governments digital narrative points in my clients general direction, and could only argue that no evidence proved it was Amirovs thumbs that sent the more damaging texts. He also pointed to what he described as gaps in the prosecutors technical case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But just as the gangsters put their faith in the would-be hitman to carry out the plot, their lawyers turned to him for a defense. Khalid Mehdiyev, 27, testified for the government. I was there to try to kill the journalist, he announced on the stand, then spent hours cheerfully acknowledging the criminal implications of the messages and images on his phone, including a distinctive screenshot of Alinejads address that also was on the phone of an Iranian operative. But Mehdiyev, a hulking presence referred to as the fat one in his bosses messages, also proved useful to defense lawyers. They pointed out that he had incentive to accommodate the FBI, which had relocated his family to the U.S. from his native Azerbaijan and offered what Omarovs attorney called the golden ticket of remaining in the U.S. after serving a reduced sentence. That attorney, Elena Fast, devoted her entire closing argument to the former pizza delivery driver, who claimed to have testified truthfully about the plot but acknowledged lying about everything from the facts of his visa application to whether his mother was alive (she is, and testified that shed been threatened by Omarov; Fast told jurors she should have won an Oscar). Fast argued that Omarov and Mehdiyev, after divvying up a $30,000 advance from Iran, never intended to kill Ahlinejad. This was a scam, she said. They wanted to make some money herescamming the Iranians, scamming Amirov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alinejad testified to a packed courtroom on Wednesday. Since moving to the U.S. in 2009, the journalist has emerged as a prominent dissident, with a large following inside Iran, especially among young women who understand the regimes enforcement of compulsory hijab, or modest dress, as shorthand for all its misogynist laws. Irans most recent attempt on her was in 2024, when, according to a U.S. indictment, Iran engaged an Afghan to arrange the assassination of both her and Trump. They wanted Ms. Alinejad dead, not in the witness box, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Lockard. Appearing with her signature yellow blossom in a towering nimbus of hair, Alinejad explained that she had been out of town for most of the time that Mehdiyev was staking out her street. On the day they overlapped, she was alarmed to lock eyes with him while looking out a front window. He was in my sunflowers, staring into my eyes. I got really panicked, she said, and she ducked out of the house with a friend. Mehdiyev soon fled as well and was arrested after running a stop sign. Most of Alinejads testimony was about Irans animus toward her. Ive been accused of being CIA, Mossad, MI6, she said, naming intelligence agencies of Israel and the U.K. In the courtroom, the most chilling statement of Tehrans intentions was a cartoon on the front page of a state-owned newspaper the day after Iranians turned out for a women in white protest Alinejad had organized on social media. The newspaper, controlled by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, depicted Alinejad cowering in fear beneath the captive forms of two dissidents the regime had lured back to Iran from exile and executed. The caption reads, in Persian: Next. Be Ready. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alinejad struggled for composure speaking of the executed activists. Both of them were kidnapped by the Iranian regime, she said. In digital messages entered into evidence, the mobsters referred to their target as the whore. Their attorneys, however, showed Alinejad only respect, and they joined prosecutors in a statement stipulating as unchallenged fact that Iran operated assassination campaigns. Her testimony, as courageous as it was, illustrated the contrast between Irans system and ours, Michael Martin, who represented Amirov, told the jury in closing. Presumption of innocence is one way in which we distinguish ourselves from Iran. Contact us at letters@time.com. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) The Connecticut Office of the Inspector General Friday released a report saying the use of deadly force by a Hartford police officer last October was justified. Hartford Police Officer Brian Sulliman shot 44-year-old Jamie Grant on Oct. 14, 2023. Hartford police officer fatally shoots armed suspect, mayor says On the day of the incident, police responded to Barbour and Westland streets around 2 p.m. for the report of armed individuals in a vehicle who were threatening others. The officers pulled a silver Honda over and the suspect got out of the passengers side and walked toward the back of the car before the officer got out of his patrol car, according to the Office of Inspector General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer approached the car and Grant was holding a firearm in his left hand and raised his arm in the direction of Officer Sulliman. The officer then discharged his firearm multiple times striking Grant, according to the Office of Inspector General. The suspect was taken to the hospital by EMS where he died due to his injuries, according to the Office of Inspector General. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Research biologists pause among the wetlands of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain, with the Brooks Range in the background. The Trump administration is taking steps to offer the entire coastal plain for oil and gas leasing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Thursday. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS) Two months after a lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge failed to draw any bids, the Trump administration Department of the Interior said on Thursday it is taking steps to sell leases across much more territory in the refuge. All of the 1.56-million-acre refuge coastal plan will be opened to oil leasing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. The Bureau of Land Management, an Interior agency, will make that happen, reversing Biden administration environmental protections in the area, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its time for the U.S. to embrace Alaskas abundant and largely untapped resources as a pathway to prosperity for the Nation, including Alaskans, Burgum said in the statement. For far too long, the federal government has created too many barriers to capitalizing on the states energy potential. Interior is committed to recognizing the central role the State of Alaska plays in meeting our nations energy needs, while providing tremendous economic opportunity for Alaskans. The department did not release any more information about the specific steps to be taken, and no new rule proposals were issued as of Thursday afternoon. Intentions for more ANWR oil development were already declared in an Inauguration Day executive action issued by President Donald Trump called Unleashing Alaskas Extraordinary Resource Potential. They were also declared in a follow-up secretarial order that Burgum issued on Feb. 3. In addition to planning for expanded ANWR leasing, Interiors BLM is taking steps to expand oil development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, on the west side of the North Slope, Burgum said in his statement. Most of the refuge will be open to development, reversing protections that had kept about half of it off-limits, Burgum said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the BLM will be revoking Biden administration actions that maintained protections for lands along the trans-Alaska pipeline corridor and Dalton Highway north of the Yukon River, Burgum said in his statement. Those plans were included as well in the presidential and secretarial orders issued in January and February. They would affect several Biden-era environmental policies in Alaska that Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other Trump supporters have asked the new administration to revoke. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been the subject of decades of debate and controversy. Alaska politicians, Inupiat organizations and other development supporters say the refuges coastal plain could produce a new oil bonanza; environmentalists and some Indigenous tribal members say it should be protected because of its importance to the Porcupine Caribou herd one of the few tundra caribou herds not in decline and other Arctic natural resources. Mixed responses In a statement, Dunleavy called Burgums announcement more great news for Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to thank President Trump and Interior Secretary Burgum for their commitment to work on behalf of Alaska to ensure that our great state and its resources can continue to be a solution for many of Americas challenges. The news today will provide more investment opportunities, more jobs, and a better future for Alaskans. We look forward to our continued work with President Trump and his administration to move Alaska and our country forward, Dunleavy said in his statement U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, in his annual speech to the Legislature on Thursday, celebrated Burgums announcement and praised Trump for his executive orders. Alaska has never seen such a positive signal directly from a U.S. president that we should pursue our vision of a state that seeks private sector wealth and job creation with a federal government that is a partner in opportunity, not a hostile opponent, Sullivan said in the speech. That includes reinstatement of the ANWR leasing program, which was in the law, Sullivan said, referring to the 2017 tax act that mandated at least two lease sales in the refuge coastal plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burgums announcement also got a favorable response from Inupiat leaders on the North Slope who have supported oil development there as a vital source of revenue and jobs.. One was Charles Lampe, president of Kaktovik Inupiat Corp., the for-profit corporation owned by the Native residents of a village at the northern edge of the refuge. Among many in Kaktovik, a village of about 270 people, oil development in the refuge coastal plain has long been viewed as a promising local opportunity. A sign in Kaktovik with images of polar bears is seen on Sept. 24, 2018. Kaktovik is at the northern edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and residents there largely support oil development. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) We applaud todays decision by DOI and Secretary Burgum, which upholds both the 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act and overwhelming support from our community for development opportunities on the Coastal Plain, Lampe said in a statement. As the only community within ANWRs 19-million-acre boundaries, we have fought for years for our right to self-determination and local economic development in our Indigenous homelands. Secretary Burgums decision today suggests our communitys voice is finally being heard in Washington. Lampes statement was issued by an organization called Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, a coalition of North Slope municipal governments, tribes, corporations and other entities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmentalists criticized the Trump administration plans and said they will work to oppose them. If we let the Trump administration destroy Alaskas irreplaceable wild places for corporate profits and polluting fossil fuels that no one needs, the damage will be severe and long-lasting, Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. Trump wants to dig, burn and dump his way across Alaskas finest wildlife refuges and national parks, giving away our public lands to put more money into the pockets of billionaires, Freeman said. Alaskas most precious resources are its vast expanses of wild lands and habitat for wildlife like caribou and polar bears, and well keep fighting hard to protect those beautiful places. The national Sierra Club also weighed in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sierra Club and its millions of members and supporters across the country stand with the Gwichin and Alaska Natives in opposing these actions. We will do everything in our power to stop the giveaway and preserve our wild and special places for the next generation, Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement. The Gwichin, Indigenous tribal members from northeastern Alaska and northwestern Canada, have been among the most ardent opponents of oil development in the refuge. Economic report questions leasing benefits Meanwhile, a new report from a nonpartisan organization describes development supporters estimates of fiscal benefits from Arctic refuge leasing as vastly exaggerated. Rather than generating more than $1 billion for the federal treasury, as predicted by development supporters, sales of oil leases in the refuge would generate only $3 million to $30 million, said the report issued Thursday by the nonprofit group Taxpayers for Common Sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means revenues from oil leasing in the wildlife refuge would amount to less than 0.001% of an offset to the $4.5 trillion in tax cuts that the Trump administration and Congress have proposed, the report said. Continuing to promote Arctic drilling under the illusion of future revenue is a waste of taxpayer time and resources, concludes the Taxpayers for Common Sense report. The estimate is based on past data from 20 years of oil leasing on Alaskas North Slope. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The $3 million estimate assumes that 10% of the refuges coastal plan is leased. Even if all 1.56 million acres of the coastal plan were leased, the estimated return to the federal government would be no more than $30 million and there has never been a lease sale on the North Slope in which all bids were received on all offered tracts, the report notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, the year the tax bill was passed and signed into law, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the two lease sales it mandated would generate a total of $2.2 billion in revenues over 10 years, to be split evenly between the federal and state governments. Rather than attract a bidding rush, the two past ANWR lease sales drew no bids from any major oil companies. Bidding in the first sale, in 2021, was paltry and came mostly from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state-owned development agency. The lease sale four years later drew no bids. That experience was part of the information considered in the new analysis released by Taxpayers for Common Sense. Including new ANWR lease sales as a revenue raiser in budget reconciliation underscores a fundamental disconnect between lofty promises and fiscal reality. The ANWR leasing program was sold as a financial boon for taxpayers, but the numbers tell a different story. Based on past lease sales, industry trends, and financial constraints, the claim that drilling in ANWR will deliver substantial revenue is misleading at best, the report said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for the stabilization of foreign trade with a pioneering and innovative spirit, and for the accelerated creation of new strengths in high-level opening-up. Chinese premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the Jinjiang dry port in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2025. Li made an inspection tour in Fujian Province from Tuesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour of southeast China's Fujian Province, which lasted from Tuesday to Thursday. When visiting sportswear manufacturer ANTA in Quanzhou, he stressed the need to make greater efforts in research and development input, in brand building, and in winning market favor with better products. At the Jinjiang dry port, the premier stressed the importance of improving the full-chain service functions of land ports, and of providing more robust support for foreign trade enterprises. During his tour of Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, Li said that China will expand the opening-up of its services sector, leverage the role of free trade pilot zones, create a more favorable business environment, and provide improved support for foreign-invested enterprises. At a symposium held during the inspection tour, Li called for unswerving efforts to expand opening-up, for the vigorous development of diversified markets, and for active innovation in trade channels and approaches. Noting that private enterprises are China's primary foreign trade entities, Li said governments at all levels must strive to provide improved policy support and a better development environment for private businesses. (Reuters) - CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, agreed to sell much of its global $22.8 billion ports business that includes assets near the strategically important Panama Canal to a group led by BlackRock this month. The canal's strategic value in global trade and U.S. President Donald Trump's call to end what he describes as Chinese control over it has made the deal a flashpoint for U.S.-China trade tensions, with media reports saying Beijing was unhappy with the deal and was reviewing it for security and antitrust issues. Owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing and founded and listed in Hong Kong, CK Hutchison has a global footprint with businesses spanning from ports to telecommunication. Here is a look at its origins and current standing globally: ORIGINS Li Ka-shing established Cheung Kong Industries in 1950 at the age of 21. The tycoon acquired a controlling stake in Hutchison Whampoa nearly three decades later. Hutchison Whampoa traced its roots to a small dispensary firm in China's southern Guangzhou that was established in 1828 and a dock and repair yard operator founded on the Pearl River in 1863. Li Ka-shing carried out a major reorganisation of the business in 2015 by merging his two flagship companies, Hutchison Whampoa and Cheung Kong. This created CK Hutchison, one of Asia's largest conglomerates with a global presence. GLOBAL STANDING CK Hutchison has interests in every continent and operates in more than 50 countries, employing more than 300,000 people as of June last year. About half its operating earnings come from its telecoms and infrastructure operations, with three-quarters derived from countries and territories outside mainland China. TELECOMMUNICATIONS The telecommunications business is the group's most profitable segment and brought in a quarter of its operating profits in 2024. Its CK Hutchison Group Telecom unit handles European operations, while Indonesia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka are under Hutchison Asia Telecommunications. Italy and the UK are the top business contributors for the European unit, while Ireland and Sweden are the fastest growing markets. Three, its telecom brand, operates in eight countries including Ireland, Britain, Austria, and Sweden. Hutch in Sri Lanka and Vietnamobile in Vietnam are the prominent Asia brands. INFRASTRUCTURE The group's infrastructure operations are anchored by CK Infrastructure (CKI) and contributed just under a quarter of its operating profits in 2024, making this segment the second-largest profit earner. CK Infrastructure manages a wide range of assets across energy, transport, water infrastructure, waste management, and other related businesses across the world. Its interests include UK Power Networks, Northern Gas Networks, and Canadian Power. A nearly 400-page list provided to Congress may give rare insight into the scope of Secretary of State Marco Rubios cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which have already roiled the global humanitarian community and shut down programs around the world. Some of the cuts on the list appear to impact lifesaving services such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria prevention, along with maternal and baby health which would contradict a Trump administration commitment to continue such programs under the State Departments umbrella. Ending those programs would also hurt Americans, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement to The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations slash-and-burn approach to U.S. foreign assistance, including lifesaving programs, is putting Americans at risk from infectious diseases like Ebola and drug-resistant TB, she said, referring to tuberculosis (TB). These cuts also hurt American farmers whose crops nourish severely malnourished people in conflict situations and diminish our global stature and ability to compete with global adversaries, like China and Russia. Other items on the list run the gamut from cybersecurity assistance to administrative resources like printers, conference tables and car maintenance. The internal list, which has not been previously reported, was provided to Congress by a whistleblower. Democrats say it originated from the desk of Peter Marocco, one of the leading figures dismantling USAID alongside Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department has yet to make available a comprehensive list of its terminated programs and did not respond to questions about the list obtained by The Hill. A federal court earlier this month ordered the Trump administration to restart payments on programs initially labeled as paused and under review. However, some groups long funded by USAID say theres no sign of payments being restored. In lieu of restarting payments they just went ahead and terminated all of these programs, a Senate Democratic aide said. The Supreme Court ruled that the administration must pay out reimbursements for programs where funds were initially frozen. At least one aid group contacted by The Hill said it was starting to see some payments. Rubio claims that he has conducted a thoughtful, methodological review to root out waste, fraud and abuse in USAID, without undermining lifesaving programs. Rubio, in a statement on March 10, said he was cutting 83 percent of the agency and terminating 5,200 programs. Court filings put that number at 5,800 programs at USAID and 4,100 at the State Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moves are facing a barrage of legal challenges, and the Trump administration is on a string of losses. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Musk and DOGE likely acted unconstitutionally in their efforts to shutter USAID. Another federal judge ruled earlier this month that President Trump overstepped his constitutional authority in the initial foreign aid freeze. Its pretty clear that these guys are not interested in reforming [USAID], theyre interested in destroying [USAID], thats pretty clear in the way theyre approaching things, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told The Hill shortly after a closed-door meeting with Marocco on March 6. Republicans, even those with concern over canceled programs, largely toe the Trump administrations line that audacious action is needed to disrupt a slow-moving bureaucracy, and echo criticisms of waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve heard me pretty publicly say, we can have a little bit more compassion, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said of USAIDs quick shutdown. If I could be king for a day, would I do it differently? Of course. But Ill come back to this weve tried to do it the nice way. Weve tried for decades and weve failed. We have to admit the country elected a disruptor. Rubio, in the March statement, said 1,000 USAID programs would be moved under the auspices of the State Department. Court filings said the administration preserved only 500 programs, and Devex, the media platform covering the global development community, reported USAID staff were ordered to review and rescind terminations to meet the 1,000 program benchmark. Aid groups contacted by The Hill describe more than two months of whiplash, from Trumps initial foreign aid freeze and stop-work orders, Rubios waivers for lifesaving humanitarian assistance, termination letters and then rescinded termination letters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We never stopped that lifesaving work because we felt it was too important to continue, Janti Soeripto, Save the Children U.S. president and CEO, said in an interview with The Hill last week. Soeripto described the situation as fluid and said the organization has put out an emergency appeal to fill the shortfall left by the federal funding cuts. What were seeing, though, now is a real impact of other organizations leaving areas. We see increased risks for children, which are already very vulnerable just because theres less capacity. Save the Children ended operations in five countries after receiving more than 100 termination letters from USAID. Some of those programs were reinstated, and the organization is just starting to see reimbursements for costs it incurred in December and January as part of its contracts with USAID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another terminated program that initially received a waiver was a $1.2 million contract aiding victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Women and girls in the DRC are facing a staggering crisis of sexual violence, where the United Nations estimates 60 rapes are occurring per day, and sexual violence is being implemented as a deliberate tactic of war. That was considered lifesaving, that got a humanitarian waiver, Rachel Moynihan, a spokesperson for the UNFPAs Washington office, said of the DRC program. And then abruptly, on Feb. 26, it was terminated. Its not clear who within USAID knew who was terminating what. UNFPA, like all other USAID grant recipients, received immediate stop-work orders as part of Trumps foreign aid freeze. The organization received some waivers for programs, then termination letters, some of which were pulled back. The rescission of terminations, we havent been talking to anyone, so we dont know why, but I would hope its because this is lifesaving work, and that this is work that really makes a dramatic impact on the lives of some of the most marginalized and vulnerable women in the world, said Sarah Craven, director of UNFPAs Washington, D.C., office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been a very confusing time, to put it mildly, she added. Republicans and Democrats are increasingly split in the fight over foreign assistance, an area of historic bipartisan convergence, but increasingly in the crosshairs of Trumps America First foreign policy. Mr. Marocco was very clear in exposing the waste that goes on out there in pointing out the way that many of these programs at State and USAID were designed to not be accountable, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said after meeting with the USAID deputy head on March 5. And making sure the priority is to put dollars into programs that save life, food medication and not all the other BS that has been going on, the radical liberal things such as drag shows in Ecuador, doing transgender job fairs in places like Bangladesh for $500,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That grant is not on the list that was provided to Congress, but some of the programs included as terminations in Bangladesh include prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, initiatives to promote food security, administrative resources, resilience in natural disasters, economic development, environmental protection and support for womens rights, to name a few. Malnutrition programs in Bangladesh are halted, the group told The Hill in an email, and the USAID cuts have also resulted in the group halting similar programs in Nigeria and Nepal. The organization has also suspended work to treat and prevent blinding and disabling diseases in six countries in West Africa. Without funding and clear guidance on how to resume, children and families around the world continue to go without critical, lifesaving treatment, the organization said. Helen Keller International, an aid group in Bangladesh, said in a statement on March 6 that although the U.S. government had rescinded some terminations, including contracts to produce ready-to-use therapeutic foods used to treat malnutrition, funding has not resumed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without funding and clear guidance on how to resume, children and families around the world continue to go without critical, lifesaving treatment, the organization said. Some canceled programs appear to contradict goals set by Trumps diplomatic nominees. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Trumps nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, said its one of her top priorities to increase American representation in some of the technical organizations at the body to edge out China leading these groups. But listed among USAIDs terminations is funding to increase Americans in the United Nationss humanitarian space, estimated at $736,750. Some of the canceled funds are curious, like a tablecloth shipment that cost $770 in airfreight and clearance charges, used for the mission directors residence overseas. Or $3,659 for a front office wooden plaque for a USAID office in Uganda. One organization said they received a termination letter for a program that was already ending in February 2025, underscoring the confusion around the cuts. But overall, critics warn foreign aid cuts are creating a preventable crisis that is contributing to deaths and increased hardship around the world. Aid groups say that even if the U.S. wants to demand that other countries step up contributions, the gap between American funds and the top foreign donors cannot be bridged over a matter of days or weeks. In 2024, the U.S. represented 41 percent of all total global funding for humanitarian aid contributions a figure that represents about 1 percent of the U.S. budget. The second- and third-highest donors, Germany and the EU, respectively, support only about 8 percent of total humanitarian funding. An internal USAID memo painted a grim picture of the global impact of the cuts. It said Ebola and Marburg virus are likely to impact tens of thousands more people every year; malaria alone could cause 166,000 additional deaths; hundreds of millions of polio infections are likely to occur in children, with 200,000 paralyzed; and 1 million children will be left untreated for severe, acute malnutrition. Still, some Democrats are counting on Republican allies to lean on Rubio to help mitigate the damage, but a Senate Democratic aide acknowledged that the impact is scattershot. I think youre seeing increasing discontent by Republican lawmakers, who were keen to have a review, and root out what they view as an unnecessary funding, but were not looking at a process that was going to scrap all foreign assistance, the aide said. Updated: 12:01 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) An investigation determined an altercation at Wallace Middle School earlier in March was motivated by religion/ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime, according to Waterbury Police. Twin sisters, who are Muslim, alleged they were attacked based on their religion. News 8 previously reported that Farham Memon, The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the girls were bullied for two weeks leading up to the assault. Advocates, parents push for increased protections after Muslim twin sisters were assaulted at Waterbury middle school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a joint press release with the Waterbury Department of Education and the Office of Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr., the Waterbury Police Department said Friday that the Waterbury PDs Juvenile DivisionCriminal Investigation Bureau interviewed numerous staff members and students who either witnessed or were involved in the incident. A 12-year-old girl was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree after allegedly being involved in a physical altercation involving four seventh-grade students on March 3. Another female student was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest based on her involvement in the incident. According to the release, the Waterbury DOE verified the bullying incident, took disciplinary action, and implemented enhanced school safety measures in response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farhan Memon, the chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement, This is a tragedy for everyone involved. While we acknowledge the appropriateness of hate crime charges in this disturbing case, the girls who were attacked have undergone a severe trauma that will take a long time to recover from. Were also concerned about the two girls that instigated this attack. To have hate at such a young age for another student is awful. We vehemently disagree with Waterburys assessment that this was an isolated case. Weve heard from other parents of Muslim students that their kids have been harassed because of their religion. This result should send a message that bias-motivated actions will not be tolerated in our schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRIMES, Iowa Patty Sneddon-Kisting wears a lot of hats. Shes the executive director of a nonprofit, a mom, a wife, and a Down syndrome advocate. This is the third year shes visited her daughter Addis school to teach kids more about it. We try to find ways to celebrate Down syndrome and individuals just being their unique, authentic selves with their, whether its a disability or just something that makes them unique. She has the kids play games to help them understand what its like, whether its trying to make sense of a jumbled up sentence or writing their name with their non-dominant hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes it may be a little hard to understand what shes saying or sometimes it may take a lot of extra work for her to do some things that come natural to other kiddos. Julie Parnu is the Special Education teacher at Addis school and says Addi brings joy to everyone she meets. Perry Principal Dan Marburger to receive posthumous award from Medal of Honor Recipients I think the biggest part of it with Addi is that she is in the classroom. She learns so much being in there with her friends and on the other side of it, they also learn from her. The kids are learning about kindness, empathy and accepting differences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inclusion 100%! The students grow together and they all learn about one another no matter what. And thats everything from social interaction to science. This year theyre asking bigger questions, like, okay, these are our chromosomes. How did they get there? Can they change? Do we all have these? And its almost like, oh, were going to get a medical book for these kids and explain so much more and Im watching as their brains are growing and developing! A few hours every year, making a big impact. I mean, all parents want the best for their kids, Patty says, they want their kids to have a sense of belonging and to have meaningful friendships and to be supported, you know, just as who they are and where they are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Tehran Iran's supreme leader said Friday that U.S. threats against his country "will get them nowhere," after President Trump warned of possible military action against the Islamic republic if it refuses to negotiate a new nuclear deal. "The Americans should know threats will get them nowhere when confronting Iran," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his live annual televised speech marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year. He said Americans "and others should know that if they do anything malign to the Iranian nation, they will get a hard slap." On March 7, Mr. Trump said he had written to Khamenei, urging negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program and warning of potential military action if it refused. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, March 21, 2025. / Credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/Handout via REUTERS On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the letter was "more of a threat" but also said it appeared to offer opportunities. Araghchi added that Tehran was still weighing its response, which he said would be issued in the coming days. On Wednesday, U.S. news website Axios, citing a U.S. official and other sources, said Mr. Trump's letter set a "two-month deadline for reaching a new nuclear deal." The report did not specify a start or end date for the two months, and the White House has not confirmed that Mr. Trump's letter presented Tehran with a deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Trump announced the letter in an interview with Fox News, telling the network he "would rather negotiate a deal" with Iran, but warning: "The time is coming up. Something's going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran and I've written him a letter, saying, 'I hope you're going to negotiate.' Because if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them." In the interview, Mr. Trump said he believed Iran wanted to negotiate, adding that "the other alternative is, we have to do something. Because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon." Khamenei has previously dismissed Mr. Trump's overtures for talks, accusing the U.S. president of attempting to deceive global public opinion by portraying the United States as willing to negotiate and Iran as unwilling to engage. Mr. Trump, who began his second term in January, has reinstated his policy of "maximum pressure" against Tehran. During his first term, he unilaterally withdrew the United States in 2018 from the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sweeping economic sanctions on the Islamic republic. Iran initially adhered to the deal for a year after the U.S. withdrawal, but it then started scaling back its commitments, bolstering its uranium enrichment program. Under the original nuclear deal, Iran was permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity and maintain a stockpile of no more than 661 pounds at that level. At that purity level, uranium can be used for medical, research and other civilian purposes, but not to build a nuclear weapon. The most recent report by the United Nation's nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, found Iran was enriching more uranium to 60% purity much closer to the level required for weapons, which is about 90%, and a level at which it was only confirmed to have started enriching after Mr. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear agreement. Its stockpile of that highly enriched uranium had risen as of February to about 606 pounds, according to the IAEA report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Israel and the United States have warned they will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontation. Late in August, Khamenei opened the door to possible talks with the U.S., saying there is "no harm" in engaging with the "enemy." However, more recently the supreme leader tempered that, saying negotiations with America were "not intelligent, wise or honorable" given the pressure applied by Mr. Trump. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have so far failed. Iran "definitely will not negotiate directly while facing pressure, threats, and increased sanctions," Araghchi said on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. and Israeli officials are expected to meet next week to discuss Iran's nuclear program, and Russia, an ally of Iran that has been trying to improve ties with Washington since Mr. Trump's return to office, has offered to help broker a deal between Washington and Tehran. Speaking Friday in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Iran, "like all other countries, has the right to develop the peaceful atomic sector, peaceful nuclear energy, and is taking important steps in this direction." "We are convinced that the problem of Iran's nuclear program should be resolved exclusively by peaceful political and diplomatic means, and we believe that everything necessary is available for this," Peskov said, according to the Reuters news agency. "All that is needed is political will." Michigan swing voters express regrets over voting for Trump Judge declines to stop DOGE takeover of U.S. Institute of Peace Could DoorDash's Klarna payment plan move signal recession fears? (Reuters) -Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday that Tehran does not need proxies in the region and that Yemen's Houthis, who are among the groups in the Middle East that Iran is aligned with, act on their own motivations. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the Houthis, as his administration expanded the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since he returned to the White House. Over the years, Iran has been aligned with groups across the region that describe themselves as the "Axis of Resistance" to Israel and U.S. influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those groups include Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and various Shi'ite armed groups in Iraq. Americans, said Khamenei, "make a big mistake and call regional resistance centres Iranian proxies. What does proxy mean?" "The Yemeni nation has its own motivation and the resistance groups in the region have their own motivations. Iran doesn't need proxies," Khamenei said. "They issue threats," added Khamenei, but "we have never started a confrontation or conflict with anyone. However, if anyone acts with malice and initiates it, they will receive severe slaps." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts on Yemen, where the Houthis expanded control during years of civil war, say the group seems mainly motivated by its domestic concerns and support base. (dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com; Editing by Aidan Lewis) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) An Irondequoit man is accused firing shots into an occupied home in Gates. On February 17, officers responded to Albert Street after receiving reports of shots being fired into a home. Children and adults were in the house at the time of the shooting. Investigators were able to get a description of the suspect vehicle leaving the scene. On February 24, the Greece Police Department found the vehicle and detained 22-year-old Jalen Hannah, who allegedly was in possession of a handgun at the time of his arrest. At the time, he was charged with possessing a handgun without a permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said they tested the gun against the casings found at the Gates scene and determined them to be a match. Hannah turned himself in on Thursday and was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment. He is being held at the Monroe County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. A new jury could hear the federal civil case brought by the son of a circuit court judge, who alleges two Milwaukee police officers illegally detained him nearly 10 years ago while he was delivering a turkey to a neighbor. Stephen C. Dries, a federal magistrate for the U.S. District Court for Wisconsin's Eastern District, handed down the order for a new trial on March 17, online court records show. "Seventh Circuit victory!" Milwaukee attorney Mark Thomsen, who represents Isaiah Taylor, wrote in a Thursday post on Facebook. "The Court concluded 'that clearly established law bars the type of stop and frisk conducted here.' Even one second of continued detention after an unlawful stop is too long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When reached by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Thursday, Thomsen deferred further comment until after he has had a chance to talk with his client and his client's family. Attempts to reach Taylor or his mother, Lena Taylor, whom Gov. Tony Evers appointed last year to fill the circuit court judgeship left vacant when Audrey Skwierawski became interim director of state courts, were unsuccessful. Isaiah Taylor filed a lawsuit in federal court in Milwaukee in 2021 accusing Milwaukee police of racial profiling and of violating his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Named as respondents are Milwaukee police officers Justin Schwarzhuber and Jasen Rydzewski, and the city of Milwaukee. Here's how things unfolded for Isaiah Taylor nearly 10 years ago Isaiah Taylor had returned home on Dec. 21, 2015, with Lena Taylor, then a state senator, after giving out holiday meals to needy families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaiah Taylor, who was 16 at the time, wanted to take a turkey to a neighbor down the street. On the way, he was stopped by Schwarzhuber and Rydzewski as he was running near North 15th Street and West Capitol Drive. Court records say the officers frisked him, searched his bag and detained him in their squad car while they checked to see if he had any outstanding warrants. Robberies had been reported in the area beforehand. Here's what has happened in court The magistrate judge presiding over the case earlier in district court granted qualified immunity and summary judgment to Schwarzhuber and Rydzewski on Taylors Fourteenth Amendment equal protection claim. The magistrate also allowed it on Taylors Fourth Amendment claim concerning the initial stop and his being frisked. However, the court denied qualified immunity to the officers on another Fourth Amendment issue on whether the officers were operating within the law when they continued to detain Taylor beyond the initial stop and frisk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found the officers not liable, and the court later denied Taylors motion for post-trial relief. That triggered an appeal from Taylor, who argued the court improperly awarded qualified immunity and summary judgment to the officers, and improperly declined to grant him judgment as a matter of law. Dries concluded the officers aren't entitled to qualified immunity or summary judgment, and vacated both the summary judgment on the stop-and-frisk issue. Dries also vacated the jury verdict on Taylor's continued detention claim and ordered a new trial. It was unclear immediately when a new trial could be scheduled. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Isaiah Taylor gets new trial for profiling case against 2 Milwaukee officers General Motors (GM) and Hyundai are nearing an agreement on a partnership that would allow Hyundai to supply two electric commercial van models to GM in North America, reported Reuters citing a source familiar with the talks. According to Hyundai documents reviewed by the news agency, South Korean automaker, in exchange, may receive pickup trucks from GM for sale under the Hyundai brand in the region. The discussions encompass a range of collaborations, including joint purchasing or development in areas such as computing chips, next-generation batteries, and battery materials. These talks are driven by the increasing competition from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers and the looming threat of a global trade war, which has prompted the companies to consider sharing products to reduce expenditure. Under the proposed arrangement, Hyundai would manufacture two electric van models for both its own and GM brands, initially importing them from South Korea before potentially shifting production to North America by 2028. For producing vans in North America, Hyundai is exploring the possibility of building a new plant, expanding an existing facility, or outsourcing the production. On the pickup side, discussions focus on GM sharing its midsized trucks with Hyundai. While Hyundai has expressed interest in GM's full-sized pickups, this option has not yet been tabled by GM. The pickup-sharing deal is expected to take longer to finalise compared to the commercial van agreement. In addition to vans and trucks, Hyundai may also supply GM with compact SUVs to strengthen its product lineup in Brazil. Hyundai previously announced in January 2025 that it was in talks to supply electric commercial vehicles to GM, as part of a preliminary agreement to explore cooperation on vehicles, supply chains, and clean-energy technologies. US tariff threats are adding complexity to the GM-Hyundai partnership discussions, according to sources familiar with the matter. The partnership may also extend to sharing sales and service networks for these vans. Recently, Hyundai Motor said it plans to build a hydrogen fuel cell plant in South Korea. This will be Hyundais second fuel cell manufacturing plant globally, following its existing plant in Guangzhou, China. "GM and Hyundai in talks over electric van partnership report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The News The Israeli cabinet on Thursday approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus request to fire the leader of the countrys domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, as more than 100,000 people protested in Jerusalem. The cabinet voted unanimously to replace Ronen Bar, who had repeatedly clashed with Netanyahu, citing a misunderstanding of the subordination of the service and its head to the political echelon. Israels supreme court moved later in the day to freeze the decision, pending appeals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came as more than 100,000 protesters gathered in Jerusalem over the past two days to protest the dismissal as undemocratic, with one telling Reuters that he is very, very worried that our country is becoming a dictatorship. Bar had previously led a corruption investigation into several aides in Netanyahus office who were offered bribes by senior Qatari figures. Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Bar will step down on April 10, or earlier if a replacement is approved. Israel has ordered its army to seize more ground and intensify strikes on Gaza after Hamas refused to free more hostages. Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said the military would step up strikes from the air, sea and land, and expand ground operations until the hostages are released and Hamas is finally defeated. I ordered [the army] to seize more territory in Gaza ... The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel, he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should Hamas not comply, Mr Katz also threatened to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area. Israels renewed air and ground offensive in Gaza shattered the relative calm that had reigned in the territory since a January 19 ceasefire and drew widespread condemnation. It also resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on Tuesday, citing deadlock in indirect negotiations on next steps in the truce after its first stage expired early this month. An Israeli tank manoeuvres inside Gaza as IDF forces re-enter the enclave - Amir Cohen Tuesdays first day of resumed airstrikes killed more than 400 Palestinians according to Hamas-run organisations inside Gaza, making it one of the deadliest days in the conflict, which re-ignited on October 7, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Mr Katz vowed to step up the assault, using civilian as well as military pressure points to defeat Hamas. He said: We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval and ground shelling as well as by expanding the ground operation until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian pressure points. Trumps Gaza resort could be implemented He added that these included implementing a proposal from Donald Trump, president of the United States, to redevelop Gaza as a Mediterranean resort after the relocation of its Palestinian inhabitants to other Arab countries. On Thursday, the Israeli military said troops had begun conducting ground activity in the Shabura area of Rafah, Gazas southernmost city near the Egyptian border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said it had also closed off the territorys main north-south route as it expanded ground operations. Elsewhere, fewer than half of Palestinian Red Crescent emergency vehicles are operating due to fuel shortages in Gaza. Of 53 vehicles in total, 23 remain operational after aid supplies into Gaza, including fuel, were halted in early March, Tommaso Della Longa, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told reporters in Geneva. Meanwhile, one of the largest providers of food aid in Gaza warned on Friday it only has enough flour to distribute for the next six days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking from central Gaza, Sam Rose, from the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), told reporters in Geneva: We can stretch that by giving people less, but we are talking days not weeks. The situation in Gaza is gravely concerning with massive reductions in distribution of aid supplies, UNRWA said. Six of 25 bakeries that the World Food Programme were supporting had to close down. There are larger crowds on streets outside bakeries, Mr Rose added. This is the longest period since the start of conflict in October 2023 that no supplies whatsoever have entered Gaza. The progress we made as an aid system over the last six weeks of the ceasefire is being reversed, Mr Rose added. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Israeli army has been instructed to seize more territory in Gaza -- while evacuating Palestinians -- as it expands its ground operation. Israel said the longer Hamas refuses to release the remaining hostages, the more territory they will lose, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. "We will intensify the fighting with strikes from the air, sea and land and by expanding the ground maneuver until the hostages are released and Hamas is defeated, while using all military and civilian means of pressure -- including evacuating the Gaza population to the south and implementing U.S. President Trump's voluntary transfer plan for Gaza residents," the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, translated from Hebrew. "If the Hamas terrorist organization continues to refuse to release the hostages -- I have instructed the IDF to seize additional territories, while evacuating the population, and expand the security zones around Gaza for the benefit of protecting Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, through permanent maintenance of the territory by Israel. The more Hamas continues its refusal, the more territory it will lose to Israel," the ministry said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. PHOTO: Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Mar. 20, 2025. (Hatem Khaled/Reuters) Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas on Tuesday launching a series of extensive strikes and vowing to open the "gates of hell." Nearly 600 people have been killed and over 1,000 injured since the ceasefire was broken, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 180 of those killed this week were children, according to the ministry. Tuesday was the deadliest day for children in this conflict, with 130 being killed in a single day of Israeli bombings, according to UNICEF. MORE: 60 feet below in a 3-foot-wide tomb: Freed Israeli hostage details conditions of Hamas captivity A United Nations staff member was killed and five other personnel were seriously injured in an Israeli strike on Wednesday. The deaths brought the number of U.N. staff members killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, to 280 people, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "The locations of all U.N. premises are known to the parties to the conflict, who are bound by international law to protect them and maintain their absolute inviolability," a spokesperson for Guterres said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Secretary-General stresses the need for the ceasefire to be respected to bring an end to the suffering of the people. Humanitarian aid must reach all people in need. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally," the spokesperson said. PHOTO: Displaced Palestinians, carrying their belongings as they move between southern and northern Gaza along a beach road in the outskirts of Gaza City, Mar. 21, 2025. (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israeli leaders made the decision to resume strikes on Gaza several days before they began, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Delegations from Israel and Hamas were meeting to negotiate in the week leading up to the end of the ceasefire. Israel is demanding the release of all the remaining hostages, living and dead, with stages of a ceasefire in between releases, according to the ministry. Israel ended the fragile ceasefire with Hamas on March 17. The ceasefire had been in place since Jan. 19 when phase one of the proposed three-phase ceasefire deal agreed to, right before U.S. President Joe Biden left office, went into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first phase of the ceasefire deal ended on March 2, the same day Israel implemented a stop on all humanitarian aid to Gaza. The next two phases of the ceasefire deal were supposed to be negotiated as the first phase was in place, but negotiations between the two sides have made little progress in recent weeks. PHOTO: Palestinians use a donkey-pulled cart to transport their belongings as they flee Beit Lahia in the Northern Gaza Strip, Mar. 21, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) The second phase of the agreement signed by Hamas and Israel was supposed to begin in early March. Days before it was set to begin, Israel said it would not withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor as stipulated in ceasefire -- a key sticking point in negotiations. As part of the second phase of the agreement, which was agreed to as part of a draft proposal with final negotiations to come, Hamas and Israel would reach a sustained calm. There would be a permanent cessation of military operations and all hostilities to be implemented before the exchange of remaining Israeli male hostages, civilians and soldiers for an agreed-upon number of prisoners in Israeli jails and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, proposed a new agreement that would last until April 20. On the first day of his outline, half of the hostages would be released in one group. At the end of the outline -- if an agreement was reached -- the remaining hostages would also be released, all at once. PHOTO: A Palestinian woman carries her belongings as she flees Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Mar. 21, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) Hamas has refused this proposal, saying Witkoff only discussed the release of hostages in recent negotiation meetings, but did not address larger issues that were supposed to be negotiated before terms of the second phase were agreed upon. Israel has agreed to the Witkoff proposal. Hamas had agreed to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other dual nationals last week, but the U.S. and Israel balked at the deal. PHOTO: Smoke billows after an Israeli strike near the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Mar. 21, 2025. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images) The White House said last week that it had presented a bridge proposal to Hamas to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover to allow time to negotiate a permanent ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Egypt and Saudi Arabia have condemned the resumption of aggression against the Gaza Strip and the direct shelling of civilian areas. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said it "strongly condemns" the Israeli airstrikes of Gaza, which constitute a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire and represents a "dangerous escalation. That threatens to have severe consequences for the stability of the region." Far-right Israeli Minister Ben Gvir and his party have rejoined Netanyahu's coalition in the Knesset, after leaving when the ceasefire went into effect earlier this year. ABC News' Guy Davies contributed to this report. Israel orders expansion of ground operation in Gaza, seizure of more territory originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Israel's renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip threatens to be even deadlier and more destructive than the last, as it pursues wider aims with far fewer constraints. Israel resumed the war with a surprise bombardment early Tuesday that killed hundreds of Palestinians, ending the ceasefire and vowing even more devastation if Hamas doesn't release its remaining hostages and leave the territory. President Donald Trump has expressed full support for the renewed offensive and suggested last month that Gaza's 2 million Palestinians be resettled in other countries. Iran-backed militant groups allied with Hamas are in disarray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is stronger than ever, and there are fewer hostages inside Gaza than at any point since Hamas ignited the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which gives Israel's military more freedom to act. It all suggests that the war's next phase could be more brutal than the last, in which tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed, the vast majority of the population was displaced and much of Gaza was bombed to rubble. If all the Israeli hostages are not released and Hamas is not expelled from Gaza. Israel will act with an intensity that you have not seen, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday. Return the hostages and expel Hamas, and other options will open up for you, including going to other places in the world for those who wish. The alternative is complete destruction and devastation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even less US pressure to spare civilians The Biden administration provided crucial military and diplomatic support to Israel throughout the first 15 months of the war. But it also tried to limit civilian casualties. In the early days of the war, Biden persuaded Israel to lift a complete siege on Gaza and repeatedly urged it to allow in more humanitarian aid, with mixed results. He opposed Israel's offensive in southern Gaza last May and suspended a weapons shipment in protest, only to see Israel proceed anyway. Biden also worked with Egypt and Qatar to broker the ceasefire through more than a year of negotiations, with Trump's team pushing it over the finish line. The Trump administration appears to have set no restrictions. It hasn't criticized Israel's decision to once again seal off Gaza, to unilaterally withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement that Trump took credit for, or to carry out strikes that have killed hundreds of men, women and children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel says it only targets fighters and must dismantle Hamas to prevent a repeat of the Oct. 7 attack, when Palestinian militants killed roughly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages. The Biden administration voiced doubt about those aims, saying months ago that Hamas was no longer able to carry out such an attack. The offensive killed more than 48,000 Palestinians before the January ceasefire, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its count but says more than half of the dead were women and children. Trump has suggested Gaza be depopulated Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump appeared to lose interest in the ceasefire weeks ago, when he said it should be canceled if Hamas didn't immediately release all the hostages. A short-lived White House attempt to negotiate directly with Hamas was abandoned after it angered Israel. Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, then blamed Hamas for the demise of the truce because it didn't accept proposals to immediately release hostages. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages its only bargaining chip in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as called for in the ceasefire agreement. Trump, meanwhile, has suggested that Gaza's entire population be transferred to other countries so that the U.S. can take ownership of the territory and rebuild it for others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinians say they don't want to leave their homeland, and Arab countries roundly rejected the proposal. Human rights experts said it would likely violate international law. Israel has embraced the proposal and said it is drawing up plans to implement it. Netanyahu's government is stronger than ever Netanyahu came under heavy pressure from families and supporters of the hostages to stick with the truce in order to bring their loved ones home. For months, thousands of protesters have regularly gathered in downtown Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, blocked major highways and scuffled with police. In restarting the war, though, Netanyahu brushed them aside and strengthened his hard-line coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resigned to protest the ceasefire, returned to the government shortly after Tuesday's strikes. He and Bezalel Smotrich, another far-right ally of Netanyahu, want to continue the war, depopulate Gaza through what they refer to as voluntary migration, and rebuild Jewish settlements there that Israel removed two decades ago. Netanyahu has also fired or forced out several top officials who had appeared more open to a hostage deal. Hamas and its allies are in disarray Hamas still rules Gaza, but most of its top leaders have been killed and its military capabilities have been vastly depleted. Israel says it has killed some 20,000 militants without providing evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its first attack since Israel ended the ceasefire, Hamas fired three rockets on Thursday that set off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv, without causing casualties. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which traded fire with Israel throughout much of the war, was forced to accept a truce last fall after Israel's air and ground war killed most of its top leadership and left much of southern Lebanon in ruins. The overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad removed a key ally and further diminished the militant group. Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, and which directly traded fire with Israel twice last year, appears unlikely to intervene. Israel said it inflicted heavy damage on Iran's air defenses in a wave of retaliatory strikes last fall, and Trump has threatened U.S. military action if Iran doesn't negotiate a new agreement on its nuclear program. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have resumed long-range missile fire against Israel, which has rarely caused casualties or serious damage. The U.S., meanwhile, launched a new wave of strikes on the Houthis, which could further limit their capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International criticism could be more muted The first phase of the war sparked worldwide protests, some criticism from European leaders and action at the United Nations. Israel was accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanayahu. This time could be different. The Trump administration has detained foreign-born pro-Palestinian student activists and others, and threatened to pull billions of dollars in federal funding from universities accused of tolerating antisemitism, making a repeat of last year's U.S. campus protests unlikely. Europe is already locked in high-stakes disputes with Trump over aid to Ukraine and American tariffs, and appears unlikely to push back on the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and Israel have adamantly rejected the actions by both international courts, accusing them of bias. Trump signed an executive order in early February imposing sanctions on the ICC, of which neither the United States nor Israel are members. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Israel ordered its troops to permanently seize parts of the Gaza Strip to be annexed to Israel unless Hamas hands over the remaining hostages, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday. The statement came after Israel this week broke the two-month ceasefire with Hamas, with the resumption of airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza killing nearly 600 people. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to intensify those operations until the militant group, which nominally controlled Gaza before this round of conflict, returns the 59 dead and living hostages who it continues to hold captive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have instructed the IDF to seize additional areas in Gaza, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza for the protection of Israeli communities and IDF soldiers, Katz said in a statement. The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel. Israeli soldiers look out from a tank toward destroyed buildings in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Katz also threatened the use of all military and civilian pressure tools including the evacuation of Gazas population southward and the implementation of voluntary relocation plans for Gaza residents, while describing the new more expansive phase of Israel's military offensive in the enclave. He added that this would be done "through permanent Israeli control of the territory." Hamas said Friday that it "remains at the heart of the negotiations," and was engaging with mediators including "discussing the Witkoff proposal and the various ideas on the table." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group said in a statement that its aim is "achieving a prisoner exchange deal that secures the release of prisoners, ends the war, and achieves withdrawal." Since signing the ceasefire in January, Netanyahu has faced the twin pressures of hostage families urging him to facilitate their return, and his hard-right coalition members threatening to collapse his government unless he restarts the war. On Tuesday, his military opted for the latter, launching strikes into Gaza that he and the White House blamed on Hamas refusal to release more hostages. But Netanyahu's accusations do not reflect the structure of the deal. In the first phase of the truce, Israel exchanged 1,800 Palestinian prisoners and detainees for the return of 25 living hostages and the bodies of eight more of the roughly 250 who were taken captive during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, in which some 1,200 people were killed, according to Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 49,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive in the enclave, according to local health officials, whose figures the World Health Organization has said in the past are reputable. The first phase of the ceasefire ended March 1 and was meant to precede a second phase 16 days later involving the exchange of all remaining hostages and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire. That never happened, with Netanyahu agreeing to a proposal tabled by White House envoy Steven Witkoff to extend the ceasefire by 50 days in order to discuss phase two. This was immediately rejected by Hamas, but Katz said Friday that Israel was still standing by it. The White House has made it clear it stands with Israels decision but has yet to respond to NBC News' request for comment on Katz's remarks Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president made it very clear to Hamas that if they did not release all of the hostages there would be all hell to pay, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli forces advanced deeper into the Gaza Strip on Friday and blew up the only specialized cancer hospital in the war-torn territory, as Israeli leaders vowed to capture more land until Hamas releases its remaining hostages. The hospital was located in the Netzarim Corridor, which splits Gaza in two and was controlled by Israeli troops for most of the 17-month-long war. Israel moved to retake the corridor this week shortly after breaking the ceasefire with Hamas. The truce delivered relative calm to Gaza since late January and facilitated the release of more than two dozen hostages. The Israeli military said it struck the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which was inaccessible to doctors and patients during the war, because Hamas militants were operating in the site. Turkey, which helped build and fund the hospital, said Israeli troops at one point used it as a base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Zaki Al-Zaqzouq, head of the hospitals oncology department, said a medical team visited the facility during the ceasefire and found that, while it had suffered damage, some facilities remained in good condition. I cannot fathom what could be gained from bombing a hospital that served as a lifeline for so many patients, he said in a statement issued by the aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the hospital's destruction and accused Israel of deliberately rendering Gaza uninhabitable and forcibly displacing the Palestinian people. Hospitals can lose their protected status under international law if they are used for military purposes, but any operations against them must be proportional. Human rights groups and U.N.-backed experts have accused Israel of systematically destroying Gazas health care system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel warns it will escalate military operations Israels renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip threatens to be even deadlier and more destructive than the last, as it pursues wider aims with far fewer constraints. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that his country would carry out operations in Gaza with increasing intensity" until Hamas frees the 59 hostages it holds 24 of whom are believed alive. The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel, Katz said. The Israeli military said Friday its forces were planning fresh assaults into three neighborhoods west of Gaza City, and issued warnings on social media for Palestinians to evacuate the areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warnings came shortly after the military said it intercepted two rockets fired from northern Gaza that set off sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. Hamas had also fired three rockets the previous day in its first attack since Israel ended the ceasefire. A long-range missile fired by Yemens Houthi rebels set off air raid sirens over Jerusalem and central Israel for the fourth day in a row Friday, with the military saying it was intercepted. Israeli forces advance in Gaza's north and south Israeli troops had moved Thursday toward the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the southern border city of Rafah, and resumed blocking Palestinians from entering northern Gaza, including Gaza City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Displaced Palestinians fled northern Gaza along a coastal road Friday carrying their belongings, firewood and other items on horse-drawn carts. A strike east of Gaza City on Friday killed a couple and their two children, plus two additional children who werent related to them, according to witnesses and a local hospital. The Israeli army said it struck a militant in a Gaza City building and took steps to minimize civilian harm. It was not immediately clear if the army was referring to the same strike. And in the southern city of Rafah, Palestinian municipal officials said Israeli bombardments forced residents to move outdoors in rainy weather, deepening their suffering. Court delays Netanyahus firing of Israeli security official Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's push to fire the countrys domestic security chief has deepened a power struggle focused largely over who bears responsibility for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. It also could set the stage for a crisis over the countrys division of powers. Hours after Netanyahu's Cabinet unanimously approved the firing Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet security service, the Supreme Court ordered a temporary halt to his dismissal until an appeal can be heard no later than April 8. Netanyahus office had said Bars dismissal was effective April 10, but that it could come earlier. Israels attorney general has ruled that the Cabinet has no legal basis to dismiss Bar. However, Netanyahu sounded defiant in a social media post Friday evening, saying: The State of Israel is a state of law and according to the law, the Israeli government decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet. Critics say the move is a power grab by the prime minister against an independent-minded civil servant, and tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated in support of Bar, including outside Netanyahus residence on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu has resisted calls for an official state commission of inquiry into the attack and has tried to blame the failures on the army and security agencies. Hundreds killed in Gaza since ceasefire collapsed Around 600 Palestinians have been killed since Israel relaunched the war with a wave of predawn airstrikes across Gaza on Tuesday, which came as many families slept or prepared to start the daily fast for the holy month of Ramadan. Israel had already cut off the supply of food, fuel and humanitarian aid to Gazas roughly 2 million Palestinians, aiming to pressure Hamas over the ceasefire negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack by Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023, killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Most of the hostages have been freed in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of dozens more. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 49,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It does not say how many were militants, but says more than half of those killed were women and children. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. ___ Rising reported from Bangkok; Mednick reported from Tel Aviv. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday threatened to occupy further areas of the Gaza Strip, in a bid to put more pressure on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The longer Hamas refuses to release hostages, the more territory it will lose to Israel, Katz said, according to his office. It said he had instructed the army to call on the local population to flee in this case. No details were given as to how territory would be seized, though some Israeli media reported areas would be annexed. Katz also mentioned the expansion of unspecified security zones in the border area of the Gaza Strip, saying these should be permanently controlled by Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel would exert all "military and civilian pressure," including the "evacuation of the population of the Gaza Strip to the south," he warned. Israel is sticking to the proposal of US special envoy Steve Witkoff to release all the abductees and hostage bodies remaining in the Gaza Strip in two stages with a ceasefire in between, he said. Witkoff presented a plan to this effect some three weeks ago, though at a recent mediators' meeting he proposed an updated plan for an extension of the ceasefire lasting several weeks and the release of only a few hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas, meanwhile, is demanding the immediate implementation of a second phase of the Gaza agreement, which provides for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and was originally due to start at the beginning of March. However, the two parties to the conflict have not yet negotiated the key points. This week's renewed fighting shattered the fragile ceasefire that had held since mid-January. By Muhammad Al Gebaly CAIRO (Reuters) - The Israeli government unanimously approved early on Friday a proposal from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, the prime minister's office said. "Ronen Bar will conclude his duties on April 10 or when a permanent ISA Director is appointed whichever comes first," it added. On Sunday, Netanyahu told the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service that he will ask the government to approve his dismissal this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justifying his decision, Netanyahu said he had long ago lost confidence in Bar and that trust in the head of the domestic security service, whose roles include counter-terrorism and security for government officials, was especially crucial at a time of war. Bar's sacking would be likely to draw widespread criticism amid a new Israeli offensive in Gaza with dozens of Israeli hostages still held there. The war was triggered by Hamas' surprise attack on October 7, 2023, one of Israel's worst security failures, which led to the killing of 1,200 people, and the capture of 251 people who were taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli campaign has killed more than 49,000 people in Gaza, Palestinian health authorities say, and caused a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, fuel and water. (Reporting by Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Stephen Coates) Israel's government has decided on the highly controversial dismissal of the head of the domestic intelligence service, Ronen Bar. The Cabinet unanimously backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to remove Bar from office, Netanyahu's office said. The Times of Israel reported in the early hours of Friday that the Cabinet meeting lasted some three-and-a-half hours. Netanyahu had announced plans to fire Bar on Sunday evening, triggering mass protests. According to the Israeli media, it is the first time in Israel's history that a government has dismissed the head of the Shin Bet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu cited a "lack of trust" in Bar as the reason for his dismissal. Relations between the two have been strained. Netanyahu had removed Bar from the Israeli negotiating team conducting the indirect talks with the Palestinian militant organization Hamas over the war in Gaza. In an investigation by Shin Bet into the mistakes that had made the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, possible, Netanyahu's policies had come in for criticism. In addition, Shin Bet is investigating alleged illegal ties between Netanyahu's associates and Qatar. Qatar is one of the negotiators in the talks with Hamas, and is also a supporter of the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics in Israel fear that Netanyahu could replace Bar with a successor who is loyal to him and will shut down the investigation. Bar will leave his post on April 10, unless a successor is appointed before then, Netanyahu's office said. There had been mass protests against Bar's dismissal. On the night of the decision, thousands demonstrated again despite heavy rain. (Reuters) -The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen on Friday, one day after shooting down two projectiles launched by Houthi militants. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it fired a ballistic missile toward Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the group's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a televised statement in the early hours of Saturday. Saree said the attack against Israel was the group's third in 48 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He issued a warning to airlines that the Israeli airport was "no longer safe for air travel and would continue to be so until the Israeli aggression against Gaza ends and the blockade is lifted". However, the airport's website seemed to be operating normally and showed a list of scheduled flights. The group's military spokesman has also said without providing evidence that the Houthis had launched attacks against the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. The group recently vowed to escalate attacks, including those targeting Israel, in response to U.S. strikes earlier this month, which amount to the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January. The U.S. attacks have killed at least 50 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis' fresh attacks come under a pledge to expand their range of targets in Israel in retaliation for renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza that have killed hundreds after weeks of relative calm. The Houthis have carried out over 100 attacks on shipping since Israel's war with Hamas began in late 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Gaza's Palestinians. The attacks have disrupted global commerce and prompted the U.S. military to launch a costly campaign to intercept missiles. The Houthis are part of what has been dubbed the "Axis of Resistance" - an anti-Israel and anti-Western alliance of regional militias including Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and armed groups in Iraq, all backed by Iran. (Reporting by James Mackenzie, Hatem Maher and Menna Alaa El-Din; editing by Diane Craft and Leslie Adler) Several Israeli opposition parties plan to take action following the controversial dismissal of the Shin Bet secret service chief Ronen Bar. His centre-right party Yesh Atid and other parties have submitted a corresponding application to the Supreme Court, opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a post on X, citing a conflict of interest in the government's decision. In an investigation by Shin Bet into the mistakes that had made the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, possible, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies came in for criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Shin Bet is investigating alleged illegal ties between Netanyahu's associates and Qatar. Qatar is one of the negotiators in the talks with Hamas, and is also a supporter of the group. Several organizations have also submitted petitions to the Supreme Court to challenge the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief. The court can now order a hearing of the parties and prevent the government's decision to dismiss Bar until then or afterwards, according to Israeli media. However, the judges could also reject the appeals, though some local media see this as unlikely. The Israeli government approved the highly controversial dismissal of the domestic intelligence chief on Thursday night despite mass protests. The Supreme Court in Israel has suspended the government's decision to dismiss the head of Shin Bet, the country's domestic intelligence service. A judge issued a temporary injunction on Friday, which, according to the court, will remain in place until a hearing on the matter has been held. This is to take place by April 8 at the latest. Several groups, including opposition politicians, had filed petitions with the court against the government's decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's government had approved the highly controversial dismissal of the head of the domestic intelligence service during the night, despite mass protests. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that Ronen Bar would step down on April 8 unless a successor is appointed before then. Netanyahu has not fared well in a Shin Bet investigation into mistakes ahead of the massacre by Palestinian Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023. In addition, the service is investigating alleged illegal ties between Netanyahu's associates and Qatar. That country is one of the negotiators in indirect talks with Hamas, but is also considered a supporter of the terrorist organization. Israelis take part in a demonstration against the government over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to remove Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, the resumption of Israeli strikes on Gaza, and the return of far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir to the cabinet. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Israel's Supreme Court suspended the government's dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service on Friday, hours after the Cabinet agreed on the decision. A judge issued a temporary injunction on Friday, which, according to the court, will remain in place until a hearing has been held. This is to take place by April 8 at the latest. Israel's government had approved the highly controversial dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar during the night, despite mass protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several groups filed petitions with the court against the government's decision. The centre-right party Yesh Atid and other parties submitted an application to the Supreme Court challenging Bar's dismissal, opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a post on X, citing a conflict of interest in the government's decision. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that Bar would step down on April 8 unless a successor was appointed before then. Netanyahu first announced plans to fire Bar on Sunday evening, triggering mass protests. Israeli media reported that this was the first time in Israel's history that a government has dismissed the head of Shin Bet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu cited a "lack of trust" in Bar as the reason for his dismissal. Relations between the two have been strained. Netanyahu had removed Bar from the Israeli negotiating team conducting the indirect talks with the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas over the war in Gaza. Netanyahu's policies had come in for criticism in an investigation by Shin Bet into the mistakes that had made the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, possible. In addition, Shin Bet is investigating alleged illegal ties between Netanyahu's associates and Qatar. Qatar is one of the negotiators in the talks with Hamas, and is also a supporter of the group. Israeli companies press government to comply with court order Following the suspension of Bar's dismissal, numerous Israeli companies threatened consequences if the government did not comply with the court order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Media reported that a major Israeli economic forum threatened to paralyse the country's economy if the government does not respect the order. "If the Israeli government does not comply with the order and plunges Israel into a constitutional crisis, we call on the entire Israeli public to no longer respect the government's decisions," the forum, which represents executives from the country's 200 largest companies, said. Dozens of the largest companies in the technology industry, which is considered a driving force in the Israeli economy, also joined the call, the Israeli news site ynet reported. They threatened to shut down their companies if the government disregards the court order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some ministers had previously said the court had no authority to intervene in the government's decision to dismiss Bar. Israeli defence minister threatens to take further parts of Gaza Meanwhile Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday threatened to occupy further areas of the Gaza Strip, in a bid to put more pressure on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The longer Hamas refuses to release hostages, the more territory it will lose to Israel, Katz said, according to his office. It said he had instructed the army to call on the local population to flee in this case. No details were given as to how territory would be seized, though some Israeli media reported areas would be annexed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Katz also mentioned the expansion of unspecified security zones in the border area of the Gaza Strip, saying these should be permanently controlled by Israel. Israel would exert all "military and civilian pressure," including the "evacuation of the population of the Gaza Strip to the south," he warned. Israel is sticking to the proposal of US special envoy Steve Witkoff to release all the abductees and hostage bodies remaining in the Gaza Strip in two stages with a ceasefire in between, he said. Witkoff presented a plan to this effect some three weeks ago, though at a recent mediators' meeting he proposed an updated plan for an extension of the ceasefire lasting several weeks and the release of only a few hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas, meanwhile, is demanding the immediate implementation of a second phase of the Gaza agreement, which provides for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and was originally due to start at the beginning of March. However, the two parties to the conflict have not yet negotiated the key points. This week's renewed fighting shattered the fragile ceasefire that had held since January. On Thursday, Israel's military launched a ground offensive in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Ground attacks also continued in the north and centre of Gaza, while Israeli airstrikes targeted sites across the territory. Israelis protest against the government over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to remove Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, the resumption of Israeli strikes on Gaza, and the return of far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir to the cabinet. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Israel's Supreme Court suspended the government's dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service on Friday, hours after the Cabinet agreed on the decision. A judge issued a temporary injunction on Friday, which, according to the court, will remain in place until a hearing has been held. This is to take place by April 8 at the latest. Israel's government had approved the highly controversial dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar during the night, despite mass protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several groups filed petitions with the court against the government's decision. The centre-right party Yesh Atid and other parties submitted an application to the Supreme Court challenging Bar's dismissal, opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a post on X, citing a conflict of interest in the government's decision. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that Bar would step down on April 8 unless a successor was appointed before then. Netanyahu first announced plans to fire Bar on Sunday evening, triggering mass protests. Israeli media reported that this was the first time in Israel's history that a government has dismissed the head of Shin Bet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu cited a "lack of trust" in Bar as the reason for his dismissal. Relations between the two have been strained. Netanyahu had removed Bar from the Israeli negotiating team conducting the indirect talks with the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas over the war in Gaza. Netanyahu's policies had come in for criticism in an investigation by Shin Bet into the mistakes that had made the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, possible. In addition, Shin Bet is investigating alleged illegal ties between Netanyahu's associates and Qatar. Qatar is one of the negotiators in the talks with Hamas, and is also a supporter of the group. Israeli companies press government to comply with court order Following the suspension of Bar's dismissal, numerous Israeli companies threatened consequences if the government did not comply with the court order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Media reported that a major Israeli economic forum threatened to paralyse the country's economy if the government does not respect the order. "If the Israeli government does not comply with the order and plunges Israel into a constitutional crisis, we call on the entire Israeli public to no longer respect the government's decisions," the forum, which represents executives from the country's 200 largest companies, said. Dozens of the largest companies in the technology industry, which is considered a driving force in the Israeli economy, also joined the call, the Israeli news site ynet reported. They threatened to shut down their companies if the government disregards the court order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some ministers had previously said the court had no authority to intervene in the government's decision to dismiss Bar. Israeli defence minister threatens to take further parts of Gaza Meanwhile Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday threatened to occupy further areas of the Gaza Strip, in a bid to put more pressure on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The longer Hamas refuses to release hostages, the more territory it will lose to Israel, Katz said, according to his office. It said he had instructed the army to call on the local population to flee in this case. No details were given as to how territory would be seized, though some Israeli media reported areas would be annexed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Katz also mentioned the expansion of unspecified security zones in the border area of the Gaza Strip, saying these should be permanently controlled by Israel. Israel would exert all "military and civilian pressure," including the "evacuation of the population of the Gaza Strip to the south," he warned. Israel is sticking to the proposal of US special envoy Steve Witkoff to release all the abductees and hostage bodies remaining in the Gaza Strip in two stages with a ceasefire in between, he said. Witkoff presented a plan to this effect some three weeks ago, though at a recent mediators' meeting he proposed an updated plan for an extension of the ceasefire lasting several weeks and the release of only a few hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas, meanwhile, is demanding the immediate implementation of a second phase of the Gaza agreement, which provides for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and was originally due to start at the beginning of March. However, the two parties to the conflict have not yet negotiated the key points. This week's renewed fighting shattered the fragile ceasefire that had held since January. On Thursday, Israel's military launched a ground offensive in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Ground attacks also continued in the north and centre of Gaza, while Israeli airstrikes targeted sites across the territory. Six people, all of them children, were killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to a request for comment, the Israeli military said that it had attacked a Hamas fighter inside a building and that precautions had been taken to minimize harm to bystanders. Israel destroys former hospital in Gaza The Israeli army says it has destroyed a former hospital in the Gaza Strip. The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Nezarim was used by Hamas cadres, a spokesman for the armed forces told the Israeli media on Friday. Hamas, the Israelis said, had converted it into a "terrorist infrastructure." The military had struck a group of Hamas members in the building from the air, the spokesman added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, videos circulating on the internet suggest that the hospital was more likely to have been destroyed by a controlled explosion, according to a report in the Times of Israel newspaper. The hospital was built and financed by a Turkish state organization. It is located in the Netzarim Corridor, a section of land that divides the Gaza Strip in the middle. Israelis burn objects during a demonstration against the government over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to remove Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, the resumption of Israeli strikes on Gaza, and the return of far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir to the cabinet. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa The Israeli army says it has destroyed a former hospital in the Gaza Strip. The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Nezarim was used by Hamas cadres, a spokesman for the armed forces told the Israeli media on Friday. Hamas, the Israelis said, had converted it into a "terrorist infrastructure." The military had struck a group of Hamas members in the building from the air, the spokesman added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, videos circulating on the internet suggest that the hospital was more likely to have been destroyed by a controlled explosion, according to a report in the Times of Israel newspaper. The hospital was built and financed by a Turkish state organization. It is located in the Netzarim Corridor, a section of land that divides the Gaza Strip in the middle. The Israeli army reoccupied the area in the past few days after withdrawing from there during the now collapsed ceasefire. The hospital itself has not been in operation for more than a year. The Israeli military has also used the building as a base at various times during the conflict. By Daren Butler DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - The detention of Istanbul's popular mayor risks undermining Turkey's move to end the PKK militant group's 40-year-old insurgency - a plan relying heavily on the government's nascent, delicate cooperation with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party. Many Kurds worry that the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - President Tayyip Erdogan's chief political rival - could signal an autocratic turn that will close the space for a historic reconciliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At stake, pro-Kurdish politicians and their voters say, is not just ending the PKK conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people and hamstrung regional development, but also prospects for democratisation in Turkey as a whole. Such concerns were voiced among some of the tens of thousands who gathered on Friday in the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir - on the other side of the country from Istanbul - for the Kurdish Newroz spring festival. "They speak of democracy but then detain Imamoglu. It'll hurt the peace process and people's trust in it," said Ali Okal, 57, a construction worker. Nearby, people linked hands and danced in line to Kurdish songs, many wearing the red, green and yellow colours emblematic of Kurdish identity and chanting in support of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ocalan, held in a Turkish prison since 1999, called last month for the PKK to disarm and disband. But the process has been shaken by Wednesday's arrest of Imamoglu, which has triggered protests by thousands. One charge against him is that he aided the PKK by forming an electoral alliance with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, parliament's third largest. 'ANXIOUS AND WORRIED' DEM - long a target of sharp criticism by Erdogan's AK Party - played a key role facilitating the PKK disarmament call, which the government has backed. "The people are of course anxious and worried when the government detains the mayor of Turkey's largest city," said DEM lawmaker Mehmet Zeki Irmez in the mountainous Sirnak province near the Iraqi border, one of the areas which has seen some of the most intense conflict since the PKK took up arms in 1984. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Such steps do not pave the way for democratisation and peace... They reduce Turkey's prestige and reputation in the international arena," he said at Newroz celebrations, where many adults and youths wore the traditional Kurdish baggy trousered green outfits reminiscent of those worn by PKK militants. The local head of the ruling AK Party in Diyarbakir, Omer Iler, said he did not think the Istanbul investigations would have a negative impact on peace efforts. "They are two separate things," he told Reuters, a framed photo of Erdogan hanging on the wall behind him. "Some people could use this as an excuse to sabotage the terror-free process and the beautiful atmosphere of brotherhood here, but our people will not rise to that bait," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erdogan said on Thursday that Imamoglu's party, the main opposition CHP, was seeking to cover up its own mistakes and deceive people with "theatrics", without elaborating. Meanwhile, his nationalist ally Devlet Bahceli, who first proposed that Ocalan call on the PKK to disarm, suggested that the PKK convene a congress in early May to disband itself, a group designated as terrorist by Turkey and its Western allies. ELECTORAL PACT Imamoglu's detention shows that the peace process concerns Turkey as a whole because the ultimate goal was to strengthen democracy, said Ebru Gunay, a DEM deputy leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What happened in Istanbul showed once again that this country needs a real democracy," she told Reuters in Diyarbakir. Aside from corruption allegations, the main charge against the mayor results from the 2024 local election alliance between DEM and Imamoglu's CHP, dubbed the "Urban Consensus", which prosecutors say brought PKK-linked people into municipalities. The pro-Kurdish party and its predecessors have long been accused of ties to the PKK, resulting in thousands of arrests and the ousting of elected mayors in favour of state-appointed "trustees", but the party denies the charges made against it. The "Urban Consensus", devised by DEM in 2023, embodies one of its main aims - to strengthen local government and boost decentralisation in Turkey - alongside goals of boosting Kurdish language and cultural rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gunay said the CHP was now the target of what the pro-Kurdish political movement has experienced for years. "The government has a concept of terrorism that can be pulled in every direction," she said. "The threat of (using government-appointed officials as) trustees, repression and arrests is imposed on Kurds, and now it's happening to Turkey's opposition. There is no guarantee that it won't happen to others tomorrow." (Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Aidan Lewis) Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have pointed out that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin is preparing Russians for a prolonged war in Ukraine and wants to use the upcoming ceasefire talks to obtain preventive concessions from Ukraine and the United States. Source: ISW Quote: "Putin continues to condition domestic Russian audiences to prepare for a protracted war in Ukraine rather than a sustainable peace built on compromise." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Statements by Putin and other Kremlin officials in recent days and weeks, which emphasise narratives about the difficulty of the negotiations, the alleged illegitimacy of Ukrainian officials, and the divide between the US and Europe, are reinforcing the message that Russia expects a prolonged war in Ukraine and peace only on its terms. It is also reported that Putin has explicitly told Russian businessmen to prepare for a prolonged war. Quote: "Kremlin officials continue to amplify narratives indicating that Putin remains committed to his long-standing goal of conquering Ukraine and is attempting to leverage upcoming ceasefire negotiations to secure preemptive concessions from Ukraine and the United States." Details: On 20 March, Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, reiterated statements that the Ukrainian government is illegitimate and that the Ukrainian authorities must cancel the September 2022 decree banning talks with Putin before Ukraine and Russia could discuss ending the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoigu also said that Ukraine should change the constitutional provisions on territorial integrity. Ukraine's constitution recognises temporarily occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, as Ukrainian and prohibits the Ukrainian government from amending the constitution if these changes aim to eliminate Ukraine's independence or violate its territorial integrity. Quote: "Shoigu is likely calling for Ukrainian authorities to amend the constitution in order to allow Ukraine to recognise Russia's occupation and illegal annexation of occupied Ukraine." Details: The review also notes that Kremlin officials are working to escalate tensions between the United States and its European allies in order to cut off Western support for Ukraine and undermine the NATO alliance. On 20 March, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Europe's militarisation plans were "clearly at odds with" Putin and Trump's efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine and that Europe has become "a war party". To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 20 March: Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike against Engels Airbase in Saratov Oblast on the night of 19-20 March. Russia, Ukraine and the United States have not yet concluded the details of the moratorium against energy infrastructure strikes. The Ukrainian strike against Engels Airbase would not have been subject to this moratorium in any event because it is a military target. The Kremlin announced that Russia and the United States will hold another round of talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 24 March, and it is unclear whether these talks will include Ukraine. Kremlin officials continue to amplify narratives indicating that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin remains committed to his long-standing goals of conquering Ukraine and is attempting to leverage upcoming ceasefire negotiations to secure preemptive concessions from Ukraine and the United States. Ukraines allies continue to provide financial and material military assistance to Ukraine, including funds from frozen Russian assets in Europe. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Belgorod Oblast and Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Velyka Novosilka. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's education ministry on Friday instructed schools to ban the growing use of gender-neutral symbols, saying they were unclear and flouted the rules of Italian grammar. The move risks exacerbating tensions between the right-wing government, which portrays itself as a guardian of traditional values, and LGBTQ and womens' rights advocates. "The use of non-compliant graphic signs, such as the asterisk (*) and the schwa (), is contrary to linguistic norms and risks compromising the clarity and uniformity of institutional communication", the ministry said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked controversy when she said she wanted her official title of prime minister "presidente del consiglio", to be preceded by the masculine article "il", rather than the feminine "la". In Italian, as in other Latin-based languages, nouns and adjectives take a feminine or masculine form, while in cases of plural nouns involving both genders, the masculine form takes precedence. Some see this as an expression of male dominance and support the introduction of gender-neutral noun endings, such as asterisks or the so-called "schwa", a sort of inverted 'e'. The Accademia della Crusca, an institution that acts as the guardian of the Italian language, has in the past suggested avoiding the novelty of gender-neutral symbols in official documents. (Reporting by Claudia Cristoferi, editing by Gavin Jones and Editing by William Maclean) Standard Chartered will invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and hire more wealth managers in Hong Kong and other markets to achieve its goal of pulling in US$200 billion of net new money from affluent clients over the next five years, according to global CEO Bill Winters. The London-based bank has operations in more than 50 markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, where affluent populations continues to grow. Hong Kong, where Standard Chartered has been issuing currency notes since 1862, is the biggest market for the lender that focuses on emerging markets. "In Hong Kong, China, India, Asean and increasingly in the Middle East and Africa, we are seeing both the demographics and maturation of the economy leading to a greater pool of affluent people who need some help," Winters said in an exclusive interview. 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. "Hong Kong is extremely important for Standard Chartered," he added, noting that most of the bank's [mainland] Chinese clients work with its bankers in Hong Kong, Singapore or Dubai. Last month, Winters unveiled a plan to invest US$1.5 billion in its wealth-management business over the next five years. Robust growth in serving affluent clients drove the bank's profit 19 per cent higher in 2024. The money will be used to develop AI tools and other technologies and to hire more experienced bankers in wealth management to serve affluent clients in Hong Kong, Singapore and elsewhere. Winters said the US$200 billion client money target would be achieved through the proposed investment in AI, technology and talent. Standard Chartered's CEO Bill Winters (right), during the HKMA's Global Financial Leaders' Summit conference in Hong Kong on 19 November 2024 with (left to right) HKEX CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting, HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery, Bank of China's Chairman Ge Haijiao, and Peking University's Professor Huang Yiping. Photo: Dickson Lee. alt=Standard Chartered's CEO Bill Winters (right), during the HKMA's Global Financial Leaders' Summit conference in Hong Kong on 19 November 2024 with (left to right) HKEX CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting, HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery, Bank of China's Chairman Ge Haijiao, and Peking University's Professor Huang Yiping. Photo: Dickson Lee.> AI could be used for fraud detection and prevention, anti-money-laundering screening, and supporting the lender's relationship managers in delivering a set of products and services to their clients. Jacksonville police arrest suspects in June 2024 shooting JACKSONVILLE, Ark. Police in Jacksonville have made two arrests tied to a teens death in June 2024. Jacksonville Police Department officials said 17-year-old Davion Williams and 28-year-old AnTisha Dowling are facing charges in connection with the death of 17-year-old Tamra Holman. On June 30, 2024, police responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of Heather Street shortly after 3 a.m. Jacksonville police investigating deadly Sunday morning shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they arrived, officers found a 17-year-old girl, later identified as Holman, with multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to a local hospital where she later died. Court records show Williams, who is being charged as an adult, is facing multiple charges, including capital murder, intimidating a witness, first degree endangering the welfare of a minor and eight counts of terroristic act. Dowling is facing multiple charges as well, including intimidating a witness and hindering apprehension or prosecution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) A group of Jacksonville protesters want Congressman Greg Murphy to host in-person town halls to better address concerns of his constituents. The protesters feel that Murphy no longer has the best interests of Eastern North Carolina in mind and do not feel like he is listening to his voters. None of his social media posts reflect any of the voices that we know and that are around Congressional District Three, Protest Coordinator Rebecca Maldonado said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a veteran. Alright, I took an oath to the Constitution. So did all of our representatives and none of them are upholding that oath right now, Stacy Shouse said. Maldonado said in-person town halls will be beneficial to both constituents and to Murphy. People can think of thoughtful questions to ask him, Maldonado said. Theyll also be able to set out an hour of their time to really listen to what Congressman Murphy has to say so that they can be better aware of the subjects and the issues at hand. In a statement, Murphy said the following: Since coming to Congress, I have been committed to being a transparent and accessible representative. My office engages with hundreds of constituents every day and I send thousands of letters and emails every month responding to constituents inquiring about and advocating for various policies, Rep. Murphy said. I host several telephone town halls throughout the year, and one just last week, which reach up to 100,000 constituents each time, to connect with as many constituents as possible. I appreciate that folks are concerned about the future of our country in this pivotal time, and I will continue to be a fighter for our community in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maldonado described last weeks phone town hall as a debacle. Monday, when we called, they said we dont know what time it will be, but well write down your name and number, and then miraculously, at 7:20, only select people of his congressional district received a phone call saying that the town hall was right now, Maldonado said. However, there are reports of people that missed their phone call and when they called back, they were not able to get back into the town hall. The group will have another protest this Saturday from 12-2 p.m. at 815 New Bridge Street in Jacksonville. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. More than three decades after he murdered a Seminole County woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter, Edward James was put to death by lethal injection Thursday night at Florida State Prison. James, 63, was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m. and became the second person executed in Florida this year. Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected attempts by James attorney to halt the execution. Family members of the victims, Betty Dick and her granddaughter Toni Neuner, watched the execution from a viewing room and spoke to reporters later about the losses they suffered in the 1993 murders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been dealing with this for over 31 years, said Brenda Teed, whose mother was killed. It has hit us in places you cant imagine. Jere Pearson Jr., whose sister was Toni Neuner, described Dick as a rock and said the family lost generations because of James actions. Toni never had a chance at life, Pearson said. What he put her through that night was horrific. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Feb. 18 issued a death warrant for James, who rented a room from Dick and committed the murders after a night of drinking and drug use. Court documents said James came to the Seminole County home and strangled the child and sexually assaulted her. He then went to Dicks bedroom, where he intended to have sex with her. He stabbed her to death, the documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lethal-injection procedure lasted 15 minutes, which is about the same amount of time as in past executions. James chest could be seen trembling about two minutes into the process, which also has occurred in past executions. When a Florida Department of Corrections official asked James if he had a last statement, he replied, No, I dont. Moments earlier, he briefly raised his head and appeared to look at witnesses who were behind a window in the viewing room. James did not have visitors Thursday as the execution neared, Florida Department of Corrections spokesman Paul Walker said. James woke at 7 a.m. and ate a last meal of fried catfish, potato salad, hush puppies, cookies, soda and coffee. The state executed James Ford on Feb. 13 in the 1997 murders of a couple in Charlotte County. Also, DeSantis on March 10 signed a death warrant for Michael Tanzi, who was convicted in the 2000 murder of a woman in Monroe County. Tanzi is scheduled to be executed April 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The death warrant in James case touched off a flurry of legal battling. His attorney, Dawn Macready, went to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Florida Supreme Court and a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected appeals aimed at halting the execution. The Florida Supreme Court upheld a decision by Seminole County Circuit Judge Melanie Chase. In the state-court cases, James attorney argued, in part, that drug and alcohol use since childhood, multiple head injuries and a near-fatal heart attack in 2023 helped lead to James suffering cognitive decline and that executing him would violate the U.S. Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Macready said in a Florida Supreme Court brief that James brain was deprived of oxygen during the heart attack at Union Correctional Institution. The brief said results of a CT scan after the heart attack should be treated as newly discovered evidence to bolster arguments about halting the execution. In court documents, Macready also pointed to a non-unanimous jury recommendation before James was sentenced to death and a lengthy period after his conviction and sentencing when he was not represented by an attorney. A judge sentenced James to death after receiving an 11-1 jury recommendation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state of Florida continues to be an extreme outlier when it comes to nonunanimous jury recommendations, thereby rendering Mr. James death sentence and impending execution in violation of the (U.S. Constitution) Eighth Amendments prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, Macready wrote Monday in a motion for a stay filed at the U.S. Supreme Court. Nonunanimous jury recommendations do not comport with the evolving standards of decency; and executing an individual like Mr. James whose death sentence was imposed by a nonunanimous jury recommendation constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The Florida Attorney Generals Office urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the request for a stay and a related request for additional legal proceedings. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. TOKYO (AP) Japan's prime minister on Friday urged foreign ministers from China, South Korea and Japan to focus on finding common ground ahead of a key joint meeting of the three Asian power houses the following day. The meeting on Saturday will see Japans Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and South Koreas Cho Tae-yul plan for their countries' trilateral summit in Japan later this year. They will also discuss North Koreas missile and nuclear development, Russias war on Ukraine and other regional and global issues. On Friday, the three foreign ministers met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Japan has had historical and territorial disputes with both China and South Korea, and holding such three-way meetings is an achievement. Last one was held in South Korea last year. Ishiba said Friday that cooperation among the three countries will serve their national interest and regional and global peace. The talks come amid growing political and economic uncertainty at home and challenges from U.S. President Donald Trump. Later Saturday, delegations from Japan and China will meet separately and hold their first high-level economic dialogue since April 2019. Iwaya and Wang will also hold separate bilateral talks with Cho. U.S. allies Japan and South Korea have rapidly improved ties as they share mutual concerns over China's growing threat in the region. Tokyo and Beijing agreed in December to improve ties despite differences, including disputes over a group of uninhabited islands that both claim, as well as Chinas territorial disputes with other countries in the South China Sea. By Kantaro Komiya and Nivedita Bhattacharjee TOKYO/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Japan's Astroscale, a company specialised in removing orbital junk, has agreed with Bengaluru-based space companies Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace to collaborate on technology and services, it said on Friday. The tie-ups will "hopefully" result in an orbital services bid for Indian clients "in one to two years", which would mark Astroscale's first operations in Asia-Pacific outside its home, its Japan unit president Eddie Kato said. "India has been on our top list of possible markets" with established space capabilities, where Astroscale's on-orbit servicing technology would meet demand, Kato told Reuters. Astroscale is also interested in South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia, he added. "India's space policy used to be rather protectionist, but we've seen very rapid moves, to bolster ties with the United States and liberalise the market for commercial actors - even fostering them," Kato said. The agreement did not contain any monetary terms. India has opened the country's space sector beyond the state-owned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to private players and created a 10 billion rupee ($116 million) fund to support startups. At home, Astroscale is working with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to demonstrate a commercial debris removal mission in 2027. It has also won orders from the U.S. Space Force and space agencies of Britain and France, which include experimental services to extend a satellite's lifespan. As the number of orbiting satellites increases, potential collisions could create more than $500 million in risk over the next five years, according to an industry estimate. Digantara provides space situational awareness services to monitor orbital objects and has contracts with multiple U.S. defence agencies. Bellatrix Aerospace manufactures satellite propulsion systems. With the partners, Astroscale would first provide on-orbit services for Indian government clients, Kato said. The partnership would "help unlock new market opportunities across both established and emerging space economies," Digantara's Vice President Shreyas Mirji said in a statement. It "marks a significant step for us as we venture into the Japanese market," said Bellatrix chief executive Rohan M Ganapathy. The move was the latest of budding tie-ups between Japanese and Indian space companies, such as between moon explorer ispace and rocket maker Skyroot, as well as SKY Perfect JSAT-affiliated Orbital Lasers and robotics firm InspeCity. With Jasmine Crocketts birthday fast approaching, she has just one wish and it involves Elon Musk. During a livestream for #TeslaTakedown on Wednesday, the Texas Democrat stated that her birthday wish for March 29 is for Elon to be taken down, emphasizing she is calling for nonviolent action. She elaborated on her reasoning, making it clear that her concerns run deeper than a personal vendetta. I have learned as I serve on the DOGE Oversight Committee that there is only one language that the people that are in charge understand right now, and that language is money, Crockett explained of her role on the congressional subcommittee ostensibly seeking to cut government waste alongside Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency. In a livestream Wednesday, Rep. Jasmine Crockett encouraged protesters planning to demonstrate at 500 Tesla showrooms worldwide next week. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images The congresswoman also expressed pride in the movement, which has chosen her birthday for its biggest day of action a plan to stage protests at 500 Tesla showrooms worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are fighting for our country. Were fighting for democracy. Were fighting for our freedoms, she declared. She then made it clear that by fighting, she was strictly speaking in a figurative sense, emphasizing the nonviolent nature of the movement. I think that it is important that we say that we stand for freedom in this country, she said. We stand for our Constitution in this country. And the best way to show that we are American is by using our constitutional rights and deciding that we are going to engage in protest. Crockett went on to describe protests as a necessary way to yell and scream at people that are trying to close their ears to everything that the people are crying out for. I have learned as I serve on the DOGE Oversight Committee that there is only one language that the people that are in charge understand right now, and that language is money, Crockett, seen here during a committee hearing in February, told participants in a #TeslaTakedown event Wednesday. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images If our government refuses to listen, theres another way to really make them think hard about listening to you and it comes in the form of your protests, she asserted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following her passionate remarks, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade wasted no time in distorting her message, while also dragging actor John Cusack into the mix with a wildly inaccurate claim. And this guy, John Cusack, whos an actor with marginal success, is actually calling on March 29th to be the day to blow up Teslas! And Crockett too! She he should be indicted! Kilmeade proclaimed. During the livestream, Cusack and Crockett both advocated for peaceful protests, saying thats whats in the best interest of the American people. Related... Jeanette Vizguerra speaks at Colorado Capitol in Denver on Feb. 3, 2025 for the national "A Day Without Immigrants" demonstration, a response to President Donald Trump's policies that target the immigrant community. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline) A federal judge on Friday ordered that immigration officials cannot deport Jeanette Vizguerra, the Denver immigration rights activist arrested earlier this week, before a hearing in the case scheduled for next week. Vizguerra sometimes goes by Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the fact that Ms. Vizguerra-Ramirez was recently taken into ICE custody, it does not appear that there will be any prejudice to Respondents by maintaining the status quo pending resolution of this action, particularly given the expedited manner by which this action is proceeding, the order from United States District Judge Nina Wang said. A hearing is set for the afternoon of March 28. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Vizguerra was taken into custody on March 17, and her lawyers immediately filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in federal court. Respondents listed in the petition include local immigration officials, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. That petition argues that Vizguerras detainment is illegal, because there is not a current and valid order of removal against her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wang wrote that the reinstatement of a removal order from years ago against Vizguerra, who is originally from Mexico, is procedurally flawed. A deadline for the governments lawyers to explain why they detained Vizguerra and want to deport her is set for Monday. Vizguerra has lived in the United States since 1997. She was convicted in 2009 for driving without a license and not having car insurance, which set off her struggle against deportation. She gained national attention in 2017 when she sought sanctuary in a Denver church to avoid deportation during the first Trump administration. Her arrest prompted deep criticism from local Democratic elected officials, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who called the arrest Putin-style political persecution. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE JENNINGS, La (KLFY) In Jennings, we continue our coverage of the mayoral race with three people vying to be the citys next mayor. As registered voters prepare to vote for the citys mayor, candidate Melvin Adams is running against incumbent Mayor Henry Guinn and another mayoral candidate Christopher Carrier. When asked what motivated him to run for office, Adams said, I feel the people believe they want different leadership. He said when it comes to leadership, the city of Jennings needs change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe I bring a different dynamic to the position, and I think Im more than qualified, he said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest With over 17 years of serving the public as a police juror with Jeff Davis Parish and being an educator, Adams said his ability and experience working with different departments and agencies in government along with his values of honesty, integrity and compassion, are reasons he should be elected as mayor. This is what Im running on. I believe in fairness and equality, he said. Adams believes the growth in Jennings should be throughout the city and not just in certain areas. He said if hes elected mayor, his priority will be to listen to his constituents as hes done in the past, and he plans on doing that by having town hall meetings, listening to the people and finding out what exactly what they want. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early voting will end on March 22. and election day will be on March 29. Latest news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Jersey Mikes Subs is once again stepping up to make a difference in the community with its annual Day of Caring, a charitable event that will take place on March 26th. On this day, 100% of the proceeds from all local Jersey Mikes locations will benefit Arkansas Childrens Hospital, providing vital funding for the hospitals ongoing efforts to deliver top-quality care to children throughout the state. This event is part of Jersey Mikes nationwide initiative, where locations across the country will partner with local charitable organizations. In Northwest Arkansas, the funds raised will directly support Arkansas Childrens Hospital, which serves as the states primary pediatric healthcare provider. As one of the largest childrens hospitals in the country, Arkansas Childrens Hospital provides specialized care for a range of medical conditions, from routine pediatric needs to complex and life-threatening diseases. Giving Back to the Community The Day of Caring initiative is an integral part of Jersey Mikes commitment to supporting the communities they serve. By dedicating the entirety of the days sales to Arkansas Childrens Hospital, the company aims to raise awareness and inspire action to help make a difference for local children and their families. Last year the fundraiser raised $144,000. How to Participate To be a part of Jersey Mikes Day of Caring, all customers need to do is visit any participating Jersey Mikes location on March 26th. Whether youre grabbing lunch or dinner, every sub purchased will contribute directly to the cause. Jersey Mikes has multiple locations in and around Little Rock, as well as throughout the state, ensuring that Arkansans across the region can get involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Support for Arkansas Childrens Hospital Arkansas Childrens Hospital has long been a cornerstone of pediatric healthcare in the region, treating thousands of children each year for everything from routine procedures to critical, life-saving treatments. The funds raised during Jersey Mikes Day of Caring will go toward supporting various programs and services offered at the hospital, including state-of-the-art medical equipment, patient and family support services, and advancements in research. A Local Tradition For many, Jersey Mikes Day of Caring has become a much-anticipated local tradition. Families, businesses, and individuals come together to support the cause, knowing that their simple purchase of a sub sandwich can make a meaningful impact in the lives of children in the state. The event is a reminder that giving back to the community can be as easy as enjoying a meal with loved ones. As March 26th approaches, Jersey Mikes invites everyone to mark their calendars and get ready to sub for a cause. Whether youre a regular Jersey Mikes fan or new to the brand, your participation will help make a lasting difference in the lives of Arkansass youngest patients. Join Jersey Mikes on March 26th, and make a difference today. For more information about Jersey Mikes Day of Caring, visit JerseyMikes Official Website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff has a response to Donald Trumps constant taunting of him as a pencil neck, or watermelon head. Schiff said Friday that Trump could go f--- himself, as he discussed how the president doesnt like him during a sit down on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where Kimmel played him a montage of Trumps insults. Trump has called Schiff a slew of nasty names, and at one point wondered aloud how that neck can hold up that big, oversized, ugly head. Kimmel quipped, Your neck, Im looking at it, do people look at it now? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let me tell you, a watermelon head on a pencil neck is a pretty tough balancing act, Schiff said, joking after the montage, Im getting the impression he doesnt like me very much...but you know, Im a good Democrat, so my view, of course, is when they go low we go high. He can go f--- himself. As for his party, Schiff said the path back to power for the Democratic Party is to show that we can get s--t done again, as he admitted, Weve lost some of that. The partys been torn about how to respond to Trump and his billionaire tether Elon Musk, but Schiff told Kimmel, We cannot be divided in the minority, he continued, and the only way were going to stop bad stuff from happening in the Democratic Party is if we are absolutely united and speaking with one voice. That said, he was absolutely against Chuck Schumers decision to allow the Republicans to have their way to avoid a government shutdown last week, saying, We are going to have to get it by fighting and we had an opportunity to fight last week and we should have taken it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he talked about what his own party could be doing differently, he still had a few insults for Musk, who he called an erratic evil, not-so-genius. Schiff said that two days ago, I was in the loneliest place on earth I was in Berkeley, California walking past a Tesla dealership. It was so empty in that store, it was like a vacuum in there. I thought you meant Elon Musks heart, Kimmel quipped in response. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) A Johnstown woman admitted in federal court to trafficking heroin and crack cocaine, marking the latest conviction in a widespread drug investigation. Sandra Box, 59, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Prosecutors said Box was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining and distributing the drugs between February and April 2021. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 24, where she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The final sentence will depend on federal guidelines, including the severity of the crime and her prior criminal record, if any. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation, which brings together federal, state, and local agencies to dismantle high-level drug trafficking networks. The FBIs Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations led the probe, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies across Pennsylvania. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. It is our role on the board of commissioners to serve as the governing system for providing a free, public education in grades K-12 for children within the boundaries of the Indianapolis Public School Corp. We newbies were sworn in Jan. 7, a day that will be forever etched in my mind. Not because it was a day of joy and excitement, but because it marked the day of division about school types, and a fight that pitted neighbor against neighbor. An argument that could even possibly cause the largest school district in Indiana to become insolvent. So, I quickly began researching history in hopes of coming up with a solution. Heres where I chose to start. In 2014, our district took a significant step by partnering with charters to protect our lowest-performing schools from state takeover. Charters became the gap filler for our most marginalized children. Each year since, the district earned revenue on the property tax dollars from this initiative. As partnerships expanded over time, we not only gained more high-quality collaborators, but also received more property tax revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Briggs: The IPS-charter school fight puts politics over children As we have educated fewer students, we invested in our charter partners through some sharing of property tax dollars, facilities and transportation resources. In 2023, we charged taxpayers for our Rebuilding Stronger plan to fix our citys oldest facilities (which also house some of our charter partners), offer families school zones and provide transportation for all students attending a school in our portfolio. Since IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson's appointment, weve seen an increase in high school graduation rates, unprecedented partnerships with local universities offering automatic admittance to any IPS graduate with a 3.0 GPA and strong community collaborations to support our students. Im grateful for the work this administration has done to lead the charge for our students. An IPS board meeting begins Jan. 19, 2023. I also recognize that weve yet to figure out an accessible and reliable school transportation system that works for all students within our boundaries. Currently, thousands of public school students lack access to transportation. Every child deserves to be safely transported to and from school that is a foundational component of a public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a commissioner representing all students in our district, I believe to solve these concerns it is important to continue having key conversations with our state lawmakers on the following matters: Increase dollars in public education. The fight for public education is not against each other and which type of school we choose to send our children; the effort should be directed towards legislators, demanding more funding. Our state budget has a surplus of over a billion dollars. Yet, the message is there are not enough dollars to ensure all schools have the resources to educate all children. We cant simply rely on philanthropy our state needs to invest in public education. Ensuring equity in our transportation services. Ive spoken with families who struggle to get their kids to school on time. Some families arent offered transportation because they live too close to the school, even though its unsafe for them to walk to school due to high-traffic areas. I also know that some schools are spending over $200,000 of their education budget on transportation, funds that could be invested in teacher pay and curriculum. We need a system that gives everyone the option to receive reliable transportation to and from school. Decision-making remaining local. The district and board propose the establishment of a local advisory board, as outlined in statute, composed of appointed members representing the IPS school board, the charter sector, business and civic leaders, community organizations, families, and students. This advisory board should be responsible for collaboratively designing a coherent educational system that addresses the changes resulting from property tax adjustments. Key priorities must include developing a transportation system that promotes access and efficiency, as well as establishing a governance model that supports aligned decision-making. We grow a lot of things in Indiana and every child deserves to grow up great! Education is the only equalizer to achieve equity. Deandra Thompson is an at-large member of the IPS Board of Commissioners. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IPS, Indiana lawmakers need to talk. Let's move forward. | Opinion Mar. 20AMERICAN TOWNSHIP President Donald Trump is living up to his promises, one of the region's U.S. representatives said during a visit Thursday to Lima. Trump signed 92 executive orders in his first two months in office, according to the Federal Register, in comparison to President Joe Biden's 162 in his four-year term or Trump's 220 in his first term. (President Jimmy Carter holds the four-year record with 320 executive orders.) "I love the pace and the intensity we're seeing from President Trump and the administration," said U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, during a visit to Lima on Thursday morning. "We've never seen anything like it. I think that's good. He's doing what he told the voters he was going to do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan pointed to the U.S. Constitution for the validity of using executive orders to manage the government instead of "the left thinking that it's the unelected bureaucrats or unelected members of the judiciary who are supposed to determine everything." Jordan spoke with local media following a tour at Hesseling & Sons Firearms and Gunsmithing, 3787 Elida Road, Lima, which opened at that location in January 2024. Jordan toured the gun shop, shooting range and customization area of the business. Jordan, an outspoken supporter of the president and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said "everything's on the table" when it comes to keeping the judiciary branch of the government accountable. Trump recently suggested impeaching federal judges who opposed his programs. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said impeachment wasn't the proper recourse in those cases, including for the judge who ruled to stop deportation flights. "Judge Roberts, the chief justice, was accurate when he said the remedy for bad judicial decisions is the appellate courts," Jordan said. "I get that. But when you have a judge, Judge (James) Boasberg as an example, a judge who seems to be functioning in a purely political fashion, then that almost seems like it's a little different." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan said he expected to start hearings on judicial problems starting next week and going into the following week. He also noted a piece of legislation out of the committee that if a federal judge applies an injunction, it only applies to parties of a case within that jurisdiction. He said he hoped House Speaker Mike Johnson would bring it to a vote soon. He also offered his support to the efforts of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to find waste in the government. "There's waste they're identifying that is not in any way hurting benefits," Jordan said. "That's what Elon and his team are up to. So we think that makes sense." He also shared his support of eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The average person at the Department of Education makes $144,000," Jordan said. "The average teacher in the classroom here at the Elida schools, Lima schools or any school in Allen County is probably making half of that. Then you ask yourself sort of the fundamental question: Who actually helps the student, te teacher in the classroom making $70,000 or the bureaucrat in D.C. making $140,000? We all know the answer to that." Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter/X @Lima_Trinko. Featured Local Savings A judge has been accused of gender prejudice against a husband in a 61.5 million divorce battle. High Court judge Mr Justice Francis awarded Simon Entwistle, a 42-year-old City trader, 325,000 after his divorce from Jenny Helliwell, an interior designer and multimillionaire heiress, in January last year. Mr Entwistle had sought to be awarded 2.5 million of Ms Helliwells 61.5 million fortune. Now his barristers have accused the judge of gender prejudice, arguing that Mr Entwistle would have received more money if he had been a wife being divorced by a wealthy husband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Court of Appeal on Thursday, Deborah Bangay KC, for Mr Entwistle, said: The judge was warned against gender prejudice, but failed to heed that warning. Had the positions been reversed, it is very unlikely that he would have ... so ungenerously assessed the needs of a wife after a six-year relationship. Husband ordered out Mr Entwistle and Ms Helliwell married in 2019 in a 500,000 ceremony in Paris and lived in a 4.5 million villa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which was gifted to her by Neil Helliwell, her businessman father. But they split after just three years of marriage in 2022 when Ms Helliwell ordered her husband out of their home with 48 hours notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Entwistle asked for 2.5 million from his ex-wifes personal fortune, which the previous High Court hearing was told stood at 61.5 million. His statement of needs submitted to the court included 36,000 a year for flights and 26,000 for a personal meal plan. Mr Francis said in the previous hearing that the statement of needs was astonishing. He said to me, I cant even cook an omelette. Well, my answer to that is, Learn. It is not difficult, the judge said. You do not have to be a master chef to learn how to eat reasonably well. But he was left 125,000 out of pocket following proceedings because his legal costs of 450,000 exceeded the 325,000 he was awarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parties went through this painful litigation and the husband is actually worse off now than he would have been if he never brought a claim in the first place, which is tragic for everybody, Mr Justice Francis told the previous hearing. A generous award Edward Faulks KC, for Ms Helliwell, told Thursdays Court of Appeal hearing that the 325,000 award was generous. This was a three-year, childless marriage, he said. It was not his first marriage. It is the wifes submission that the judge was generous to the husband. Mr Faulks added: [The judge] assessed the husbands needs on a generous basis and awarded him a lump sum of 400,000 in addition to his own assets. He did so despite the fact that the husbands needs were self-created. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They largely arose from his depletion of funds on costs borne of his decision to challenge the pre-nuptial agreement and thereafter reject generous open offers which exceeded his ultimate award. The Court of Appeal reserved its ruling to be made at an unspecified later date. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing data at the Social Security Administration (SSA) on Thursday. The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion, U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander said in an order obtained by the Daily Beast. Conspiracy alone, the judge noted, does not justify granting Musks team unbridled access to the private data of millions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [DOGE] has launched a search for the proverbial needle in the haystack, without any concrete knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack, Hollander wrote in the scathing 137-page order. DOGE and the White House have claimed that the task force needs access to SSA records to root out vast fraud and waste. But Hollander noted that, in court, DOGEs lawyers never identified or articulated even a single reason that the service needed access to SSAs record systems, which include things like Americans social security numbers, medical records, and banking information. U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in a portrait from 2020. / United States District Court for the District of Maryland Instead, the government simply repeats its incantation of a need to modernize the system and uncover fraud, she wrote. Its method of doing so is tantamount to hitting a fly with a sledgehammer. This, the judge suggested, made her decision on Thursday an easy one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE has been barredfor the time beingfrom accessing Americans' data at the SSA, handing a win to the labor unions and retirees who requested an emergency order to limit DOGEs access at the agency. The order also requires that DOGEs team of 10 at the SSA delete any personally identifiable information it has already obtained. Musk, who has gone on a rampage against federal judges who have issued rulings to hold the presidents power in check, did not immediately react to Thursday afternoons ruling. March 20 (UPI) -- A federal judge has blocked a move by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency to gain access to sensitive Social Security records. In a scathing ruling, Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander accused DOGE of engaging in a "fishing expedition" and wrote that the quasi-government agency, loosely overseen by SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, failed to provide any reason why it needed access to vast troves of personal and private Social Security information. "The defense does not appear to share a privacy concern for the millions of Americans whose SSA records were made available to the DOGE affiliates, without their consent," the judge wrote, CNBC reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOGE team, despite claiming that it has experts on the team, never provided a valid reason for needing unfettered access to sensitive Social Security information, "thereby exposing personal, confidential, sensitive and private information that millions of Americans entrusted to their government," Hollander wrote. According to a lawsuit, filed by union members, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the, DOGE was attempting to access to data that contained Social Security numbers, medical provider information, medical and mental health treatment records, employer and employee payment records, employee earnings, addresses, bank records and tax information. Veterans and activists hold posters during a Friday "NowDC" rally against the Trump administration's proposed cuts to Social Security, federal job losses of veterans, the pardoning of January 6 rioters and the reductions in veterans' healthcare costs on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Friday. The rally, organized by Fourteenth Now, is calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from the White House over his alleged actions during January 6 at the Capitol in 2021. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI The Trump administration has said it is taking an aggressive approach to downsizing the federal government and eliminating waste from the budget. It has laid off tens of thousands of employees across various high-profile agencies and administrations, many of which have been engaged in finding a solution to the latest outbreak of the Avian flu, tax collection and conservation programs. By Prakhar Srivastava (Reuters) -Kraken, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, said on Thursday it would buy retail futures trading platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, in a deal that would allow it to expand into multiple asset classes and grow its user base. The acquisition comes at a time the crypto industry is optimistic about more relaxed regulation under U.S. President Donald Trump, who courted crypto donors during the election and promised to support the sector. Industry leaders hope for policy shifts that roll back enforcement actions, encourage institutional adoption and create clearer rules for digital asset trading. Earlier this month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dismissed a civil lawsuit accusing Kraken of operating illegally as an unregistered securities exchange. Kraken is the world's tenth-ranked cryptocurrency spot exchange based on traffic, liquidity, trading volumes and confidence in the legitimacy of reported trading volumes, according to trading data website CoinMarketCap. The deal also highlights the deepening ties between crypto companies and traditional financial firms as digital assets gain wider acceptance. Growing demand from retail traders to access a wide range of assets from stocks and bonds to crypto and derivatives has pushed companies to expand beyond their roots and integrate more deeply into their customers' financial habits. "It is an important deal for the industry because it is a deal that a crypto native acquiring a traditional finance and it is a large, billion-dollar-plus deal," said Oppenheimer analyst Owen Lau. Lau expects "more deals to come under the most pro-crypto president, Congress and regulators", and said "there will be continuous crypto-traditional finance convergence". Long Ridge Equity Partners-backed NinjaTrader will continue to operate as a standalone platform under Kraken. Founded in 2003, NinjaTrader provides affordable retail future trading platform to nearly 2 million traders. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025. (Reporting by Prakhar Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas and Shilpi Majumdar) U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is blasting the Trump administration for providing a woefully insufficient response to his demand for more details about last weekends flights deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. Boasbergs brief order is an initial step toward proceedings that could result in government lawyers or officials being held in contempt. He directed Justice Department lawyers to explain by Tuesday why two planes carrying Venezuelan citizens from a south Texas airport continued to their destination in El Salvador, despite the judges instructions to return the planes to the U.S. Boasberg also gave the Trump administration a Tuesday deadline to declare whether it is invoking the state secrets privilege to keep specifics about the operation from him. Lawyers for the administration have asserted that disclosing any details would raise grave national security concerns and could upset diplomatic relations with several countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg, who serves as the chief judge of the district court in Washington, D.C., and is an appointee of President Barack Obama, has become increasingly frustrated by the administrations refusal to provide details that would show whether it violated his directive to turn the planes around amid frantic litigation over Trumps authority to deport the Venezuelans using wartime powers under the Alien Enemies Act. Trump has raged against Boasbergs directive , calling him a Radical Left Lunatic and joining calls for him to be impeached. On Thursday evening, Trump again slammed Boasberg, asserting that the judge is trying to usurp the powers of the presidency. He is a local, unknown Judge, a Grandstander, looking for publicity, and it cannot be for any other reason, because his Rulings are so ridiculous, and inept. SAVE AMERICA! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Meanwhile, Justice Department attorneys have put forward lawyerly claims that the government did not defy Boasbergs directive to turn the planes around. They argued in court that Boasbergs directive lacked the formal force of a court order because he issued it orally from the bench, rather than in writing. They also maintained that the planes were outside of U.S. airspace at the time and that they could have run out of fuel if they tried to return to the U.S. The Trump administration deported more than 200 Venezuelan nationals on Saturday on three flights, using the 1798 law, which has been invoked just three times in American history before last week, most recently during World War II. The administration alleges that the migrants were members of Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal gang that Trump has designated as a terrorist organization linked to the Venezuelan government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg issued an order Saturday morning to block the removal of a small group of Venezuelans who filed suit over their imminent removal. The judge ordered the Trump administration to attend a hearing later that day to discuss whether to issue a more sweeping block for others subject to Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. But before Boasberg could issue his broader ruling, two planes departed and were in the air, even as the judge weighed the case. Boasberg ultimately decided to block further deportations until he had more time to consider the complicated issues at the heart of the Alien Enemies Act and Trumps effort to apply it to this group. He ordered the planes to be turned around, but hours later, a carefully choreographed video of the planes landing in El Salvador and the Venezuelans being shackled, shaved and led away, began circulating from both El Salvadors government and the White House. In the video, three U.S.-registered planes were visible on the tarmac at the San Salvador airport, but Trump administration officials say one did not carry any deportees subject to Trumps Alien Enemies Act proclamation. Boasberg has since been inquiring about whether the administration openly defied him. He has expressed doubts about the governments claim that U.S. judges authority ends at the waters edge but nevertheless is seeking details about when the flights departed and when they crossed out of U.S. airspace. If Boasberg finds that the government did defy his directive, he could hold officials in contempt of court, a sanction that can include fines or imprisonment. Those sanctions are rare, and judges historically are more willing to find the government in contempt without any penalties effectively a reprimand of the executive branch by the judiciary. (Bloomberg) -- A top Justice Department official said hes involved in Cabinet-level discussions to invoke a secrecy claim to shield information about the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, after a judge blasted the Trump administration over lax court disclosures. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told the judge in a filing Friday that talks are ongoing over using the so-called state secrets privilege to avoid privately answering the judges questions. US District Judge James Boasberg on Thursday said an earlier court filing on the matter was woefully insufficient, further escalating a high-profile standoff between the White House and the courts. Boasberg demanded that a Trump administration official with direct involvement swear that the talks are taking place. The judge has set a hearing for Friday afternoon in Washington on his March 15 ruling temporarily blocking further use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1789 to remove alleged gang members. The case has attracted attention as the Trump administration pushes back at courts that have been halting some of his policies. Boasberg and the administration are in a standoff over whether the US defied his ruling last weekend by sending hundreds of migrants on planes to an El Salvadoran prison. President Donald Trump has called for the judges impeachment, prompting a rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. In an order on Thursday, Boasberg said the Justice Department had evaded its obligations to provide him with specific information about the flights last weekend to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang to an El Salvador prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He faulted the governments submission from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official that said cabinet secretaries are actively considering whether to invoke the state-secrets privilege but cant properly do so in just 24 hours. This is woefully insufficient, wrote Boasberg, the chief judge in Washington federal court. The government cannot proffer a regional ICE official to attest to Cabinet-level discussions of state-secrets privilege. The state-secrets privilege is a longstanding doctrine that lets the government refuse to provide information in litigation on the grounds that it would harm national security or foreign relations. Boasberg also demanded a legal filing from the government by March 25 on whether the US violated his oral order on March 15 to have two planes return from their flights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump attacked Boasberg again in a Truth Social post on Thursday. Judge James Boasberg is doing everything in his power to usurp the Power of the Presidency, Trump wrote. He is a local, unknown Judge, a Grandstander, looking for publicity, and it cannot be for any other reason, because his Rulings are so ridiculous, and inept. SAVE AMERICA! --With assistance from Greg Stohr. (Updates with filing by deputy attorney general.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from removing a Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar from the country until the court can consider his legal challenge. Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national who has a student visa, filed a habeas petition challenging his detention after he was arrested by immigration authorities in Virginia on Monday. The Trump administration alleges that Suri has close connections to a senior adviser to Hamas, has actively spread Hamas propaganda and promoted antisemitism on social media. His attorneys say he is being targeted because his wife, a U.S. citizen, is of Palestinian descent and the two have voiced support of Palestinian rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles in a brief order Thursday afternoon instructed the government to not remove Suri from the country unless and until the Court issues a contrary order. Giles is an appointee of former President Biden. In his petition, Suri indicated he was being held in Farmville, Va., a roughly three-hour drive from where he was arrested in Arlington. His legal challenge was first reported by Politico. It is the second known case in which the administration has justified detaining someone under a provision of federal immigration law allowing someone to be removed if the secretary of State determines their continued presence in the country poses serious adverse foreign policy consequences. The administration has also cited the provision in attempting to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student who helped lead pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the school. His legal challenge remains pending in New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. No More Fishing For Needles In Haystacks With Sledgehammers U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander of Maryland issued a detailed enumerated temporary restraining order barring DOGE from accessing the personally identifiable information of Americans kept by the Social Security Administration. In her scathing 137-page opinion accompanying the order, Hollander berated the Trump administration for its actions and for its lame defense: The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion. It has launched a search for the proverbial needle in the haystack, without any concrete knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack. To facilitate the expedition, SSA provided members of the SSA DOGE Team with unbridled access to the personal and private data of millions of Americans, including but not limited to Social Security numbers, medical records, mental health records, hospitalization records, drivers license numbers, bank and credit card information, tax information, income history, work history, birth and marriage certificates, and home and work addresses. Yet, defendants, with so called experts on the DOGE Team, never identified or articulated even a single reason for which the DOGE Team needs unlimited access to SSAs entire record systems, thereby exposing personal, confidential, sensitive, and private information that millions of Americans entrusted to their government. Indeed, the government has not even attempted to explain why a more tailored, measured, titrated approach is not suitable to the task. Instead, the government simply repeats its incantation of a need to modernize the system and uncover fraud. Its method of doing so is tantamount to hitting a fly with a sledgehammer In response, Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek petulantly threatened to essentially shut down the Social Security Administration because the TRO broadly targeted DOGE affiliates: My anti-fraud team would be DOGE affiliates. My IT staff would be DOGE affiliates, Dudek said. As it stands, I will follow it exactly and terminate access by all SSA employees to our IT systems. He said he would ask the judge to immediately clarify her order. Really, I want to turn it off and let the courts figure out how they want to run a federal agency, he said. Dudek, youll recall, was the low-level SSA bureaucrat who showed enough affinity for the arriving DOGE team to get himself elevated to the top spot. Woefully Insufficient The Trump DOJ is pushing U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to the breaking point as he seeks to determine whether to hold the Trump administration in contempt of court for violating his order halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After asking for and getting a last-minute reprieve on a key filing deadline, the Justice Department missed its new deadline and filed a declaration from a low-level acting ICE official that essentially told the judge to pound sand. Calling the governments filing woefully insufficient, Boasberg quickly ordered the government to meet a new set of deadlines and began to set the stage for a contempt hearing, though he hasnt scheduled one yet. The Justice Department met the first of those deadlines this morning with a terse, minimally compliant declaration from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that the administration is considering invoking the state secrets privilege. A hearing later today will refocus the case for now on the substance of last weekends Alien Enemies Act deportations of Venezuelan nationals with claimed but unsubstantiated criminal gang ties. They remained imprisoned in a labor camp in El Salvador after the Trump administration rushed through the paperwork and flight logistics in what seems like a clear effort to avoid judicial scrutiny until after the fact. Meanwhile, the NYT reports that the U.S. intelligence community issued an assessment last month that Tren de Aragua was not controlled by the Venezuelan government, undercutting a key portion of the Trump administrations already dubious justification for invoking the Alien Enemies Act. Quote Of The Day Honest to god, Ive never seen anything like it. We look at these comparative cases in the 21st century, like Hungary and Poland and Turkey. And in a lot of respects, this is worse. These first two months have been much more aggressively authoritarian than almost any other comparable case I know of democratic backsliding.Harvard political scientist Steven Levitsky, coauthor of How Democracies Die and Competitive Authoritarianism, on the speed of Trumps subversion of the judiciary Capitulation Youve seen by now that President Trump played the Paul Weiss law firm like a drum, targeting it with an unlawful executive order, drawing it into a negotiation over how much of its professional ethics and independence it would get to keep, and then publicly holding the law firms scalp up high for everyone to see. IMPORTANT The Justice Department is now moving to short circuit the civil lawsuits against Donald Trump over Jan. 6. Federal Judge Blocks Deportation Of Georgetown Fellow U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles of Virginia issued an order blocking the deportation of Georgetown University fellow Badar Khan Suri until his habeas action can be heard. DHS says Suri, who had his visa unilaterally revoked without due process, was singled out because of his father-in-laws ties to Hamas. In a new filing in the case, Suris wife, who is an American citizen, attested that her husband has only met her father twice, both times more than a decade ago. The Destruction: Schools, Libraries, Museums DoE : President Trump issued an executive order purporting to abolish the Department of Education IMLS: DOGE descended on the DC offices of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the bedrock of federal support for the nations museums and libraries, has ignited fears among union leaders that the agencys staff could be next on the chopping block, NBC News reports. The Corruption: Treasury Secretary Touts Tesla Stock Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged Fox News viewers Wednesday night to buy Tesla stock, an apparent violation of federal ethics rules that prohibit officials from endorsing products or businesses, WaPo reports. What Elon Wants Elon Gets? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited Elon Musk to the Pentagon for a briefing today that the NYT reports was going to the U.S. militarys highly secret contingency plan for a war with China. After the NYT report, President Trump and the Pentagon denied that the briefing session was going to be about military plans involving China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WSJ duplicated the NYTs reporting and included this remarkable paragraph: Musk, according to one person familiar with the arrangements, is receiving the briefing because he asked for one. He has a security clearance but isnt in the military chain of command or known to be a military adviser to Trump. Because he asked for one. Brilliant CNN: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths February memo ordering all diversity, equity and inclusion-related content to be removed from Pentagon websites was so vague that military units were instructed to simply use keyword searches like racism, ethnicity, history and first when searching for articles and photos to remove, and to interpret the directive broadly, multiple defense officials told CNN. Dont Mess With Jackie Robinson The Pentagons absurd purge of a Jackie Robinson tribute page has cost a controversial senior Defense Department spokesman his position. Nonsense Watch Attorney General Pam Bondi has as many as a thousand FBI agents working day and night to scour investigative files on the late Jeffrey Epstein to satisfy right-wing demands that more materials be released, ABC News reports. The Trump White House scrambled to clean up the mess it created by exposing Social Security numbers when releasing JFK assassination files, WaPo reports. Have A Good First Weekend Of Spring Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know! During a high-stakes hearing over Donald Trumps use of a centuries-old wartime law to swiftly deport suspected Venezuelan gang members, a federal judge rebuked lawyers for the Department of Justice for their intemperate and disrespectful language in their responses to court orders. Trump and his allies have threatened to impeach Judge James Boasberg after he temporarily blocked the administration from deporting immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act and questioned whether the government intentionally defied his court orders to turn planes around before they emptied out dozens of people into a prison in El Salvador last week. A standoff between the judge, who has ordered the administration to respond to several questions about the flights, has reached a boiling point, and legal scholars and critics of the administration have warned that Trumps apparent defiance has reached a dangerous constitutional crossroads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did you not understand my statements in that hearing? Boasberg asked Justice Department lawyers during Fridays hearing in Washington, D.C. You did tell them that it was an order from me to turn the planes around to bring back people to the United States. You understood that? Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign suggested that he believed that conversation is covered under attorney-client privilege. Boasberg cut him off. Im asking what you understood, Boasberg said. Did you think it was hypothetical, not serious, was going to be modified? Donald Trump and his allies have threatened to impeach District Judge James Boasberg after he blocked the administration from carrying out deportations under the Alien Enemies Act (AP) Boasberg stressed that his orders did not stop the government from deporting anyone under normal immigration enforcement proceedings, and didnt order anyone to be released into the United States. The orders only applied to deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, which Trump has invoked for the fourth time in history as he turns his anti-immigration agenda into a wartime effort against suspected members of Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its important to the public to make sure those facts are clear, Boasberg said. Trumps order, which was covertly invoked last week, states 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. But the government has admitted in court filings that many of the nearly 300 Venezuelans on those flights dont have a criminal record. In a court filing, ICE official Robert Cerna claimed that a lack of a criminal record actually highlights the risk they pose and demonstrates that they are terrorists with regard to whom we lack a complete profile. Why was this proclamation essentially signed in the dark on Friday or Friday night or early Saturday morning and people rushed onto planes? Boasberg asked. Seems to me the only reason to do that is if you know its a problem and you want to get them out of the country before a suits filed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Affidavits from family members and attorneys for some of the men deported to El Salvador show that they were waiting for asylum hearings in the United States, had no orders for their removal from the country, and had no criminal record or indication that they would abruptly be thrown on a flight to the notorious jail, where they cannot speak to an attorney. Boasberg repeatedly questioned what would happen if the United States deports someone who is not a member of Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act. The Justice Department argues that those immigrants can raise detention challenges through a normal habeas corpus petition process. Are you going to tell each person thats going to be deported that they have rights to challenge their detention, Boasberg asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also reminded the government that there is a court the Alien Terrorist Removal Court set up explicitly for this reason, and its never been used before. Until this year, Boasberg was the chief judge. American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gerlent said the idea that immigrants who are removed through Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act have the option to challenge their deportation is illusory. It cant just be you're put on a plane in two hours, otherwise anyone could be taken off the street, he said. This is a very dangerous road were going down where the Alien Enemies Act can be invoked against a gang. Boasberg appeared to agree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy ramifications of this are incredibly troublesome and problematic and concerning, he said. Its an unprecedented and expanded use of an act that has been used in the War of 1812, World War I and World War II, when there was no question there was a declaration of war and who the enemy was. He suggested that, under the governments arguments, if a Chinese fisherman comes into U.S. waters, and the president calls that an invasion and orders the detention of all Chinese fishermen, thats fair game, nothing we can do, right? Even you would agree thats alarming, he told government lawyers. Donald Trump defended his use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office March 21 (Getty Images) At the White House on Friday, Trump said he was told that Venezuelans deported to El Salvador went through a very strong vetting process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to make that kind of mistake, he said. Asked whether he believes his administration has the authority to detain immigrants and deport them without presenting any evidence against them, Trump said: Well, thats what the law says and thats what our country needs. Several people on the flights including women and people who were not from Venezuela were returned to the United States because the Salvadoran government wouldnt take them, according to Gerlent. Boasberg, meanwhile, is still seeking answers from administration officials about the flights themselves including who was on them, and when the planes left U.S. airspace to decide whether the administration avoided his court orders to turn the planes around. Government lawyers in court documents have argued that there is no justification to order the provision of additional information, and that doing so would be inappropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those answers would disclose sensitive information bearing on national security and foreign relations, they argued. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche who is also Trumps personal criminal defense lawyer wrote in a court filing Friday that there are cabinet-level discussions underway to decide whether to avoid answering Boasbergs questions about the flights under a state secrets privilege. The judge is giving government lawyers until March 25 to decide whether they are invoking that privilege. The Trump administration has also appealed Boasbergs injunction that blocks deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. An appeals court will hear arguments in that case Monday. Max Nesterak Minnesota Reformer A Minnesota district court judge ruled that the state may prosecute Native Americans on most reservations for possessing large amounts of marijuana, allowing a felony case against a White Earth man to proceed. The ruling is the first though likely not the last to address state law enforcements jurisdiction over marijuana in Indian Country since Minnesota legalized its recreational use in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todd Thompson, a White Earth citizen, faces a felony possession charge with a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for selling marijuana without a license from his tobacco store in Mahnomen on the White Earth reservation. Mahnomen County sheriffs deputies and White Earth tribal police raided his store on Aug. 2, 2023, a day after recreational cannabis became legal in Minnesota, and seized about 7.5 lbs of cannabis, 433 grams of marijuana wax and $2,748 in cash along with Thompsons cell phone and surveillance system. Thompson asked Mahnomen County District Judge Seamus Duffy to dismiss the charge, arguing that the state doesnt have the legal jurisdiction to prosecute him. Under whats called Public Law 280, Minnesota has the power to prosecute tribal members on certain reservations including White Earths for criminal acts but not civil or regulatory violations of state law. Thompson and his attorney, Claire Glenn, argued that after cannabis was legalized in Minnesota, possessing and selling the drug became a regulatory matter, not a criminal one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge, in a ruling issued earlier this month, disagreed. He wrote that the possession of non-personal, non-recreational amounts of marijuana in public is generally prohibited, and that just because the state may issue licenses to businesses to sell marijuana, doesnt mean its only a regulatory matter. He pointed to a case in which a White Earth man was convicted of possessing a pistol without a permit on tribal land. Thompson also argued that prosecuting him for possession of cannabis violated his rights under the United States 1855 Treaty with the Ojibwe, which guarantees the Ojibwe usufructuary rights to hunt, fish and gather on ceded lands. Again, the judge disagreed, pointing out that even Thompson acknowledged marijuana was not used in a ceremonial way in the 1800s, and that treaties guarantee rights to tribes, not individuals. Minnesotas law does not limit the White Earth Nations right to regulate marijuana on their land, the judge wrote. Thompson, through his attorney, said the ruling was disappointing, but not surprising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exercising my rights should not be controversial or complicated. But once again, the state has failed to respect our sovereignty, our constitution, our own rule of law that has existed since long before the state of Minnesota even existed, Thompson said. Thompsons attorney said they are considering their avenues for appeal. Complicating matters is the fact that criminal cases can typically only be appealed after a conviction, which means Thompson could be forced to go to prison before being able to appeal the judges ruling. The potential conviction of a Native American man for selling marijuana without a license would seem to cut against one of the central arguments Minnesota Democrats made in favor of legalization, which was to undo racial disparities in marijuana charges. State Democrats even mandated that a certain number of licenses be set aside for so-called social equity applicants who have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs. Even so, in the interest of public safety, state lawmakers maintained criminal penalties for possessing large amounts of cannabis or selling it without a license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompson flouted those requirements in a direct challenge to state and tribal regulations. Like many Native people, he says he doesnt believe Public Law 280 is legitimate. He also says the White Earth tribal council which voted just days before the state cannabis law took effect to legalize adult-use cannabis and sell it from a tribal-run dispensary overstepped its authority in establishing rules on cannabis sales. This isnt the first time Thompson has publicly taunted law enforcement in order to assert tribal sovereignty. In 2015, he was cited for illegally gillnetting on Gull Lake without a permit. Thompson fought the charges, which were ultimately dropped years later after a district court judge ruled that Thompson retained fishing rights on Gull Lake as a citizen of the White Earth Nation. Thompson also successfully fought a citation by the state Department of Natural Resources for illegally harvesting wild rice on Height of Land Lake in 2023. Prosecutors initially dropped that case in 2024 but refiled it last August, right before ricing season. Thompson argued the timing and delay was malicious, and on Wednesday, Becker County District Judge Michelle Lawson agreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She dismissed the ricing case, ruling that prosecutors unnecessarily delayed bringing the case, which caused Thompson to miss two seasons of harvesting wild rice out of fear of further incidents with law enforcement. (Bloomberg) -- A federal judge admonished a Justice Department lawyer for failing to obey his oral order last weekend to have the US government halt deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members who ended up in a prison in El Salvador. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US District Judge James Boasberg on Friday criticized a lawyer he directed six days earlier to convey to government officials an order to turn the planes around immediately. The government is not being cooperative at this point, Boasberg said at a court hearing in Washington. I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order and who ordered this. The testy exchange came during arguments over whether Boasberg should extend a temporary block he imposed March 15 on the Trump administrations use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 a wartime law used only three times in US history to remove alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The hearing is certain to deepen Boasbergs rift with President Donald Trump, who has called him a radical left judge. Trump called for the veteran jurists impeachment, prompting a rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. The case has attracted widespread attention as the Trump administration pushes back at courts that have been halting some of his policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg, the Washington courts chief judge, grilled Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign over whether he understood his oral order last weekend, when he said any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States. The judge asked if Ensign understood that the order was effective immediately. I understood your intent was that you meant that to be effective at that time, Ensign said. He said that at the March 15 hearing he didnt have any information from the government as to the status of those flights and he was unable to secure it. In court filings this week, the Justice Department argued that Boasbergs oral order wasnt binding. A written order, issued less than an hour later, didnt mention the judges directive to return the flights. The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to remove Boasberg from the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge didnt rule Friday on a request by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Democracy Forward Foundation to extend a temporary halt on using the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected gang members. The lawyers sued on behalf of five men who feared deportation under the law. Boasberg had previously clashed with Justice Department lawyers over their disclosures about the flights. In a court filing Thursday, he said the Justice Department had evaded its obligations to provide him with specific information he requested. He said one filing was woefully insufficient. The heart of the dispute involves a Trump proclamation, issued just hours before the flights, that accused gang members of an invasion or predatory incursion. Trump said they conduct irregular warfare that benefits Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and they are terrorists who use drug trafficking as a weapon against US citizens. Boasberg, Justice Department lawyers argued in court filings, improperly intruded on the presidents authority to declare an invasion and remove dangerous aliens who pose grave threats. They say he has impeded Trumps ability to conduct foreign affairs and national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But lawyers for the Venezuelans argue that the law can only be invoked in an actual or imminent war involving a foreign nation. A criminal gang like TdA doesnt fit that definition, they say. Dangerous Road At the hearing, ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said the proclamation offers no chance for alleged gang members to dispute the declaration. This is a very dangerous road were going down, Gelernt said. Were so far afield from what Congress intended. The judge seemed to agree. The policy ramifications of this are incredibly troubling and concerning, Boasberg said. White House border czar Tom Homan said this week that 238 Tren de Aragua members were deported. The White House says 137 of them were deported under the act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the hearing, the Justice Department issued a press release about an alleged Tren de Aragua member who was arrested on charges that he kidnapped three women in Chicago and shot them all in the head, killing two of them. Boasberg had also asked the Justice Department to say how many other Venezuelans could be affected by the Trump proclamation. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement official, Robert Cerna, said 258 people could be affected, including 172 with pending deportation cases who have been allowed to live in the US while their case is decided, 54 in immigration detention, and 32 in criminal custody. Gelernt told the judge that some of the people who were deported on the three flights were returned to the US after it was determined that they were sent by mistake. The case is J.G.G. v. Trump, 25-cv-766, US District Court, District of Columbia (Washington). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with details of hearing starting in ninth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A district judge said Thursday that Columbia University is not to give the House Education and Workforce Committee information it had requested about student disciplinary actions until after a hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The GOP-led House panel demanded data on recent activities on campus, including student-specific disciplinary information, as Republicans accuse the university of failing to shield students from antisemitism, the same accusation levied by the Trump administration as it withholds hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding from Columbia. Detained activist Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia student, and others sued to block the school from handing over student records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Thursday ruling from Judge Arun Subramanian says it is not based on the merits of the case but to maintain the status quo until a hearing is held on the matter. Khalil, a legal immigrant, sued after he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He became a target due to his time as lead negotiator for Columbias pro-Palestinian encampment last spring. The records demanded by the Committee are not substantially related to antisemitism. Rather, the Committee has instrumentalized accusations of antisemitism to attack ideas it ideologically opposes. It traffics in anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and Islamophobic dog whistles to justify unjustifiable intrusions on First Amendment rights, the lawsuit stated. The ruling by Subramanian comes the same day Columbia has to decide if it will accept the federal governments demands to change disciplinary actions and other university policies in order to begin talks to restore the $400 million in federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia has become a top target of the Trump administration after protesters at the school served as the epicenter for the pro-Palestinian campus movement last spring that led to the arrest of more than 2,000 individuals across the country. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Education Committee, said the information the committee wants from Columbia is critical to its consideration of legislation on this issue. Our Committee will continue its work to protect Jewish students and hold schools accountable for their failures to address rampant antisemitism on our college campuses, he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed diamond miner Lucapa Diamond Company has announced the finalisation of its mineral investment contract (MIC) for the Lulo joint venture (JV) in Angola, increasing its stake in the JV to 51%. The contract is now pending a formal signature by the Angolan Ministry of Mineral Resources and Petroleum. The Lulo JV focuses on the exploration of kimberlites at the Lulo concession in Angola. The MIC was proposed to increase Lucapa's interest in the Lulo JV from 39% to a majority stake of 51%. The finalisation of the contract was achieved after a three-day meeting in Angola, where the MIC Committee and JV partners Endiama, Rosas & Petalas and Lucapa agreed on the outstanding details. Lucapa managing director and CEO Alex Kidman said: Securing a majority stake of the Lulo exploration JV is a pivotal outcome for Lucapa because it will deliver us an increased share of any exploration success and the finalisation of the new MIC is something a number of our shareholders have been awaiting for a long time. The progress with the MIC shows Angolas commitment to Lucapa and to Lulo, as one of the highest profile diamond projects in the country and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to find the source of Lulos incredible diamonds. Currently, the Kimberlite bulk sampling programme is under way at the Lulo concession, with stockpiling of a sample from L130/01. The programme is also preparing to process samples from other promising sites including L349, L137 and L130. In May 2024, Lucapa Diamond announced plans to offload a 70% interest in the Mothae diamond mine in Lesotho. "Lucapa Diamond secures majority stake in Lulo JV in Angola" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg vowed Friday to determine whether the Trump administration defied his command to turn around planes bound for El Salvador carrying Venezuelan immigrants Trump claimed were members of a terrorist gang. The governments not being terribly cooperative, the judge said during an afternoon hearing, before making it clear that he was not dropping his quest to establish whether his Saturday directive was ignored or deliberately breached. I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order, who ordered this and what the consequences will be. Boasbergs hearing offered the latest drama in the extraordinary showdown between the chief judge of the district court in Washington and President Donald Trump, who this week decried Boasberg as radical left lunatic and endorsed calls for his impeachment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boasberg, an appointee of President Barack Obama, didnt mention Trumps name during the hearing but acknowledged the simmering tension, chastising the Justice Department for a series of court filings using what the judge called intemperate and disrespectful language Im not used to hearing from the United States. The judge portrayed Trumps invocation of war powers last week part of a secretive effort to summarily deport hundreds of Venezuelans to harsh conditions in a Salvadoran prison as a potentially alarming assertion of executive power, which the administration claims is virtually unreviewable by any court. Trumps proclamation relied on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a war authority used just three times in American history, most recently in World War II. Boasberg wondered why, if the administration was confident in its legal footing, it acted in secrecy last week. Why was this proclamation essentially signed in the dark on Friday and then these people rushed onto planes? Boasberg said. So far, the Trump administration has declined to say precisely when Trump signed the proclamation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems to me the only reason to do that is if you know its a problem and you want to get them out of the country before there are suits filed, the judge said. The ultimate decision may be out of Boasbergs hands. The Trump administration has appealed his rulings to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has scheduled a Monday hearing on the matter. But the three-judge panel considering the case has so far declined the Trump administrations urgent demandsto pull Boasberg off the case altogether and block any further action by the veteran judge. Boasberg also offered repeated warnings Friday about the breadth of the powers Trump has claimed. The judge said Trumps actions raised a series of very frightening possibilities, including that the president could declare an invasion by almost any group of foreigners and throw them out of the country. The judge raised the hypothetical of Chinese fishing boats crossing into U.S. waters and the president declaring it an invasion. In that scenario, any Chinese fisherman may be held and interned and deported, Boasberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, an attorney for the Venezuelans targeted by Trumps order American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Lee Gelernt said there were numerous errors in the first wave of deportations to El Salvador. The group included at least one man who was not Venezuelan as well as some women, all of whom the Salvadoran government declined to accept and were instead returned to the United States. Gelernt said the return of some prisoners undercut the Trump administrations claims that, by the time Boasberg ordered the planes to turn around, it wasnt practical to bring the prisoners back to the U.S. Boasberg began the two-hour hearing acknowledging Trumps broad power to enforce immigration law, but said thats not the end of the conversation. The judge sought to clarify what he said were incorrect impressions left by the Trump administration throughout the week. My [restraining orders] did not order anybody to be released into the United States, Boasberg said. They also did not order that the government could not deport anyone via regular procedures. They only ordered that the government could not summarily deport in-custody non-citizens subject to the proclamation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the outset of the hearing, Boasberg grilled Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign about his understanding of the courts orders last weekend and whether he had any doubt about the meaning of the judges directive to turn the planes around immediately. Ensign said he took the order as something that needed to be acted on right away, although the Justice Department is now arguing that it did not actually need to be followed because a later written entry in the courts docket was less detailed. I understood your intent, that you meant that to be effective at that time, said Ensign, a former deputy solicitor general in Arizona. Pressed by Boasberg, Ensign said he had no information during Saturdays hearing about the status of the deportation flights and that when he tried to get more details during a break in the session he was rebuffed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did not personally have knowledge of where the flights were or if there were flights at that moment, Ensign said. I sought that information in that window between the two hearings and was unable to secure it from my clients. Boasberg has repeatedly demanded more details about the timing of the flights, but has received few specifics beyond the fact that two of them left U.S. airspace before he issued his written order to halt the deportations. The judge has set a new deadline of Tuesday for the administration to answer his questions about the flights or to invoke the state secrets privilege to block the information from being disclosed. Jurors heard closing arguments Friday in the case of a Nashville man who was shot and killed in robbery allegedly ordered by his sister after a family fallout over inheritance money, lawyers said. David Huddleston, 40, was shot in 2015 as he sat next to his wife in a car on a 300-acre family property in northwest Nashville. The case was cold for nearly a decade before police arrested three men in connection with the killing Isaiah Berkley, Antonio Martin and Jaimerio Askew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial began this week for Berkley, 28, who is being tried separately. Each man is charged with first-degree murder and one count felony murder, which applies to someone who participates in a deadly crime, even if they did not kill anyone. Attorneys said the Huddleston family strife began after its wealthy patriarch, Charles S. Huddleston, known in family as Big Daddy, died in 2013 with an incomplete will. David Huddleston and one of his brothers were named executors to handle the estate in probate court, sparking a battle among the six siblings, according to attorneys. David Huddleston, 40, was shot in the chest while exchanging gunfire with a masked man who approached the couple's car on Cato Road in northwest Nashville just after midnight Jan. 17, 2015, police reported. David Huddleston's sister had fallen back on house payments and was in danger of losing her home when she allegedly commissioned Berkley to rob her brother. The Tennessean is not naming the sister because she has not been charged with the crime in this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In closing arguments Friday, Deputy District Attorney Amy Hunter said Berkley was connected to the family because his mother was friends with David Huddleston's sister. She said Berkley roped in the two other men to commit the robbery. She said cell phone records linked him to the scene and police later found the gun used the shooting and connected the weapon to Berkley. Much of the prosecution's case relied on testimony from Trenton Raybon, an acquaintance of Berkley, who said Berkley confessed the crime to him. Hunter said police were able to corroborate many details of the crime from Raybon. Hunter said Berkley apparently showed no remorse when he alleged confessed to his friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When he told Trenton Raybon, he was boasting, he was bragging, he was laughing," she said. Defense Attorney David Hopkins, however, said the prosecution's evidence is weak, with no DNA, fingerprints or witnesses. Hopkins said Raybon originally came to police in 2016 with the information on the crimes, which was supposed to be a "big break" in the cold case. But despite the big break, it took authorities another five years to indict Berkley and the other two defendants. Hopkins said Raybon has possible incentives to testify for the prosecution as he is facing criminal charges for other cases in multiple counties. He also said despite the crime being a supposed robbery, no money was taken from the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You don't have any physical evidence linking Isaiah Berkley to this crime," he said. Jurors were expected to begin deliberating Friday. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jurors hear closing arguments in Huddleston murder trial in Nashville Kristin Casper, center, general counsel for Greenpeace International, and other representatives for Greenpeace speak to the media March 19, 2025, outside the Morton County, N.D., Courthouse. (Photo by Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) A North Dakota trial jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline, finding that the environmental group incited illegal behavior by anti-pipeline protesters and defamed the company. The nine-person jury on Wednesday delivered a verdict in favor of Energy Transfer on most counts, awarding more than $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer and Dakota Access LLC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case centers on Greenpeaces involvement in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 and 2017. The demonstrations were started by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which views the project as a pollution threat and imposition onto Native land. Thousands of protesters camped for months north of the Standing Rock Reservation, near where the pipeline crosses underneath the Missouri River in Morton County. Energy Transfer filed the colossal lawsuit in 2019, accusing Greenpeace of providing resources, including supplies, intel, and training, to encourage Dakota Access Pipeline protesters to commit criminal acts to stop construction of the project. The company also claims that Greenpeace intentionally spread misinformation about the pipeline to tarnish its reputation with banks. Energy Transfer attorney Trey Cox, center, and other attorneys for the Dakota Access Pipeline developer speak to media March 19, 2025, outside the Morton County, N.D., Courthouse. (Photo by Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) These are the facts, not the fake news of the Greenpeace propaganda machine, Trey Cox, lead attorney representing Energy Transfer, said in a press conference outside the Morton County Courthouse after the verdict. Energy Transfer representatives believe protesting is an inherent American right but that Greenpeaces actions were unacceptable, Cox continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company sued three Greenpeace entities Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace International, and Greenpeace Fund. The jury found Greenpeace USA liable for almost all claims. The jury did not find Greenpeace International and Greenpeace Fund responsible for the alleged on-the-ground harms committed by protesters, but did find those entities liable for defamation and interfering with Energy Transfers business. The jury found Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace International liable for conspiracy. Attorneys representing Greenpeace International and Greenpeace Fund told the jury that they never had any employees visit the demonstration camps or provide money to support the protests. Complex case Both the plaintiffs and the defense have called the case one of the largest and most complex civil suits in state history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenpeace USA, which the jury ordered to pay more than $400 million of the damages, has previously said the lawsuit threatened to bankrupt the organization. When asked whether that was still the case Wednesday afternoon, Greenpeace Senior Legal Adviser Deepa Padmanabha said, The work of Greenpeace is never gonna stop. Greenpeace didnt say immediately whether the organization would appeal the decision. We have not had a chance to even circle up as a group yet, but the fight is not over, Padmanabha said. During closing arguments on Monday, Cox told jurors that Greenpeaces actions caused between $265 million and $340 million in damages to the company. He asked the jury to award Energy Transfer that amount plus additional punitive damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The verdict brought to a close a more than three-week trial. The jury began deliberating Monday afternoon after hearing testimony from dozens of witnesses, including current and former Greenpeace employees, Indigenous activists, Energy Transfer representatives, and law enforcement. Among the witnesses was former Greenpeace executive director Annie Leonard and Energy Transfer Executive Chairman Kelcy Warren, who appeared by video deposition. Greenpeace denies the allegations and says the lawsuit is a ploy to punish activist groups. Standing Rock was not heard Some observers of the trial who participated in the anti-pipeline demonstration expressed anger after the verdict was announced Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standing Rock was not heard, Waniya Locke, a Standing Rock citizen who attended much of the trial, said. She said that she will continue opposing the pipeline. More Dakota Access Pipeline coverage Kandi White, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation who also observed the trial, said she is ashamed of the decision. She said she found the implication that Greenpeace orchestrated the Dakota Access Pipeline protests insulting to Standing Rock and the other Native nations that were at the center of the movement. An appeal should be easy for any court, White said. Greenpeace maintains that the protests were Indigenous-led and that it only provided support to demonstrators because it was asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some witnesses, Native organizers, and law enforcement who attended the protests also testified that Greenpeace was not seen as a leader at the camps. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chair Janet Alkire in a statement earlier this month called the lawsuit frivolous. Alkire did not testify in the case. Free speech and environmental advocates have also spoken out against the trial, arguing that the suit should have been dismissed outright and that the Morton County jury would not be able to render a fair verdict. It is our collective assessment that the jury verdict against Greenpeace in North Dakota reflects a deeply flawed trial with multiple due process violations that denied Greenpeace the ability to present anything close to a full defense, a group of attorneys that monitored the proceedings said in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenpeace more than once petitioned to move the case to a different North Dakota court but was denied. U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., applauded the verdict Wednesday. Today, justice has been done with Greenpeace and its radical environmentalist buddies who encouraged this destructive behavior during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests with their defamatory and false claims about the pipeline, Cramer said in a statement. They can think twice now about doing it again. Additional litigation Greenpeace recently filed suit against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands, asking a court to find that the companys legal challenge in Morton County violated the environmental groups rights and to award it damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That case is believed to be the first lawsuit filed under a new European Union directive intended to shield organizations against free speech attacks. Other major lawsuits involving the Dakota Access Pipeline protests are pending. North Dakota in 2019 sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for $38 million, alleging that the federal agency mishandled its response to the demonstrations. The Army Corps has jurisdiction over the portion of the pipeline that passes underneath Lake Oahe, a reservoir of the Missouri River, and owns the land that became site of the largest protest camp during the demonstrations. A judge has yet to rule on the case. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in October filed a separate case against the Army Corps for allowing the pipeline to continue operating without an easement. The tribe is asking a federal judge to shut the pipeline down. This story first appeared in the North Dakota Monitor, a member with the Phoenix in the nonprofit States Newsroom. Two families have been awarded $750,000 after a jury ruled that the owner of a Virginia campground discriminated against them because one of the campers was a Black man. Friends Amanda Mills and Angela Smith had planned a joint family camping trip to Lazy Cove Campground in June 2020. Smith, who is white, took her husband, Damien Smith, who is Black, and their 8-year-old son to join Mills family for the getaway. Their plans took a turn after they got a phone call from the campgrounds owner, Regina Turner. According to a complaint filed with the Virginia Fair Housing Board first reported by The Washington Post Turner told Mills, You didnt tell me that your friends husband is Black. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Had I known, I wouldnt have rented the lot to them. I saw the son, but I figured everyone makes a mistake, she said, according to the complaint. According to court documents, Turner is alleged to have told another tenant on the campground that she wanted to wait until their lease ended instead of moving forward with eviction. I cant make them move now because if I give both of them moving notices now, they could take my park from me. Im smart, you know, and Ive got to use my head, according to court documents. The Virginia Attorney General's Office and the Virginia Fair Housing Board filed a civil suit against Turner on one count of refusing to rent and two counts of discrimination. The suit resulted in the families' being awarded $100,000 each for their losses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury also awarded an additional $550,000 in punitive damages, Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a news release Thursday. It was like a sigh of relief, but at the same time, Im still angry because we never should have had to go through this, Damien Smith told the Post. It was 2020 at the time, and somehow were still getting judged by the color of our skin versus the kind of person we are. Miyares said his office is pleased by the jurys verdict, and Im immensely proud of my Civil Rights Unit. The people of Franklin County have spoken: Smith Mountain Lake is for everyone. The $750,000 verdict more than triples the states former largest fair housing victory, which was a $200,000 judgment in a 2011 sexual harassment case, Miyares said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turners lawyer, Rocky Mount Mayor Holland Perdue, filed a motion to set aside the jurys verdict, and the next court appearance is scheduled for April 8, according to the Post. Perdue did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. Turner told the Post that she never evicted the families and that, even though her late husband refused to rent to Black people, the campground now accepts all kinds of people. She said she did call Mills about Damien Smith because she felt betrayed by not knowing he was Black. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com SOMERSET, Pa. Jury selection will head into a fifth day for the capital murder trial of a state prison inmate accused of killing an SCI-Somerset corrections sergeant in 2018. Another full day of questioning of potential jurors Thursday added one more person to the panel. That brings the number of jurors to 11, one short of the 12 needed for a full panel. Paul Jawon Kendrick, 29, is charged with homicide in the case, and would face the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted of first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Jawon Kendrick This undated photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections shows inmate Paul Jawon Kendrick, accused of fatally assaulting correctional officer Sgt. Mark Baserman on Feb. 15, 2018, at a state prison in Somerset. Kendrick is accused of fatally beating Sgt. Mark Baserman, 60, who died while hospitalized two weeks after an altercation in an SCI-Somerset day room. Another corrections officer was also injured in the incident. Cambria County Senior Judge Patrick Kiniry, who is presiding over the case in Somerset County court, has scheduled a full day of selection Friday to complete the panel and allow attorneys to select four alternate jurors, who would step in to help decide the case if one or more jurors isnt able to complete the task. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court officials have anticipated that the trial, and if necessary a capital penalty phase, could run for two weeks or more once a panel of jurors is seated. Thursdays questioning wrapped up just before 6 p.m. Groups of potential jurors have arrived for jury duty daily since Monday, assembling in a courtroom for instruction each morning before entering a jury room one at a time for individual questioning about their feelings on murder, the death penalty and other topics related to the case. According to Somerset County Court Administrator Tammy Escalera, 42 potential jurors were interviewed or had their questionnaires considered Thursday. Approximately 60 more have not yet been interviewed, and more than half were on deck to appear for jury selection Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Somerset County residents called for jury duty can be ruled out by Kiniry following their interviews if they are deemed unable or unfit to fairly serve. But prosecutors and defense attorneys each entered jury selection with 20 preemptive strikes at their discretion, which can be used to rule out a potential juror who is deemed less than ideal for their case. On Thursday, those strikes started adding up, with each side using a handful. Each side has now used 11 strikes, meaning each has nine remaining. As attorneys on both sides have often said, its their duty to find people who are not only willing to serve on a homicide case but also would maintain an open mind even if a defendant is found guilty of intentionally killing someone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A suitable juror must then be willing to weigh arguments for a sentence of life in prison without parole or a death sentence and be willing to cast their individual vote to support their decision. As dozens of potential jurors have told attorneys this week, thats not easy. But thats nothing unusual, defense attorney Edward E.J. Rymsza said after court. The Williamsport attorney has spent more than 15 years defending clients in capital cases. Sometimes, it takes weeks to select (a jury), he said. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Kern County Sheriffs Department ruled the shooting justified four years ago, but on Wednesday a federal jury in Fresno rendered a very different sort of verdict Kern County was liable, to the tune of $30.5 million. 39-year-old Mickel Erich Lewis Sr., his girlfriend and her two teenage daughters were driving home with ice cream sundaes from the Mojave Wienerschnitzel on Oct. 3, 2020, when a Kern County Sheriffs deputy pulled them over for a vehicle code infraction. What happened next has been examined, debated and rehashed, but what is indisputable is this: Lewis was shot five times, including twice in the back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs share of the $30.5 million award will be divided among the seven Lewis children. The eldest, Mickel Lewis Jr., said deadly force should never have been employed. A Taser isnt going to end someones life, he said. I mean, a Taser is used to momentarily stop this person thats coming at you. So, if you were that fearful for your life, that he was gonna harm you, why not use a Taserpull out your baton, you know. Youre trained, my father wasnt. Toni Jaramilla, working alongside lead counsel Dale Galipo and co-counsel J. Bernard Alexander, suggested Deputy Jason Ayala just lost his composure. I think that Deputy Ayala panicked and just saw a Black man coming at him, she said, and he just started shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the award represented the second largest jury verdict for a police shooting in California history. The county issued a statement in response to the jurys decision, saying in part, Kern County disagrees with the courts ruling and maintains that the Kern County Sheriffs Office and the Deputy Sheriff responded appropriately, adhering to departmental policy and the law. The County is reviewing the decision and will consider all legal options, includingan appeal. 2 arrested in deadly stabbing on Pioneer Drive Sheriffs officials have said Ayala knew Lewis was on probation and possibly in possession of a gun when he stopped him. They said Lewis initially cooperated, but then ran back to his truck, reached inside and then charged at the deputy with a hand in his waistband, the Sheriffs Department said. Ayala fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No guns were found on or near Lewis, although a handgun was recovered behind a utility pole near where one of his passengers was seen after the shooting, according to the KCSO. The Lewis family says some of those details conflicted with witness testimony and forensic evidence. They were, in fact, furious with the KCSOs account. Youre really desperate to try to paint my father as this horrible criminal person, Lewis Jr. said, when in reality you were just negligent in your duties as an officer. Lewis had convictions for resisting an officer, spousal battery and failure to register as a sex offender on a criminal record that spanned at least 22 cases in both Kern and Los Angeles counties. He was on probation and had multiple pending cases at the time of his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No body cam or dashcam video of the incident exists, according to the KCSO. The jury award included $5 million for Lewiss loss of life, $1 million for his pre-death pain and suffering, and $24.5 million in wrongful death damages to his children. The jury unanimously determined that Deputy Ayala used excessive and unreasonable force, and was negligent in the discharge of his weapon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. After President Donald Trump vowed that actions against Tesla would be treated as domestic terrorism, the government has now unveiled the first three sets of charges. The president joked about sending the defendants to serve out 20-year sentences in El Salvador, notorious for its violent prisons. The Trump administration has made clear protests against Tesla would be treated as domestic terrorism. Now, three people have been charged by the Department of Justice in connection with vandalizing Tesla propertiesand the president just floated sending them to an infamous prison in El Salvador. I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday morning. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday said three people were charged after the violent destruction of Tesla properties and face a possible maximum sentence of 20 years each. All three defendants will face the full force of the law for using Molotov cocktails to set fire to Tesla cars and charging stations, Bondi said in a press release. The administration recently deported hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador, claiming it was removing violent gang members. The legality of the move is now being litigated in the courts. Sending away the defendantsif they are convictedmight not be legal: The action could violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment as well as the First Step Act, a sentencing reform law Trump signed in his first term, Axios reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged Tesla vandals include a person in Loveland, Colo., who tried to light a Tesla on fire; a person who threw incendiary devices at a dealership in Salem, Ore., and a third person in Charleston, S.C., who wrote profane graffiti about Trump at a Tesla charging station before setting it on fire, according to the DOJ. With Tesla CEO Elon Musk becoming the public face of the administrations government-cutting efforts, protesters are registering their displeasure by targeting Tesla dealerships and infrastructure. While dozens of peaceful protests have taken place, people have also set Teslas on fire and shot up Tesla dealerships. The company did not reply to Fortunes request for comment. Trump, who recently held a promotional event for Tesla on the White House lawn where he reportedly bought a $90,000 Model S, has vowed to treat acts against the company as domestic terrorism. The FBI defines domestic terrorism as including crimes dangerous to human life that are intended to intimidate civilians or affect government policy via coercion, assassintion, mass destruction or kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ did not specify the names of the defendants or the specific charges, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 404 Media linked the arrests to incidents that took place in February and March. Police used license-plate readers and social media records to identify the alleged perpetrators, 404 Media reported. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The Trump administration Friday demanded a federal judge step aside from overseeing Perkins Coies challenge to President Trumps executive order targeting the law firm. The new filing claims U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell has repeatedly demonstrated partiality against and animus toward Trump, taking aim at both her decisions in the lawsuit and previous major cases she oversaw. Reasonable observers may view this Court as incapable of fairly adjudicating these claims against the Commander-In-Chief, Deputy Associate Attorney General Richard Lawson wrote in the motion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It marks the second time the Justice Department has called for a judges removal from a pending lawsuit against the administration, which comes as Trump himself steps up his chastising of judges who rule against him. Earlier this week, the administration called for the removal of the judge overseeing a high-profile deportation flight case. Howell was randomly assigned to oversee Perkins Coies lawsuit challenging Trumps executive order restricting firm attorneys security clearances and access to federal facilities. Trump has long clashed with the firm over its work advising Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign and connections to the discredited Steele dossier that contained unflattering allegations about Trump and his connections to Russia. The case remains in early stages, but the judge has already temporarily blocked part of Trumps order. Nominated to the federal bench by then-President Obama in 2010, Howell long has drawn Republicans ire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She previously served as chief judge of Washingtons federal district court and oversaw several sealed disputes concerning the criminal investigations into Trump. Howells decisions included invoking the crime-fraud exception to provide special counsel Jack Smith with documents from one of Trumps attorneys and holding X, then known as Twitter, in contempt for not handing over Trumps private messages. This Courts pattern of hostility toward President Trump is not limited to his supporters. It also utilized the judicial power against President Trump himself, Lawson wrote. The Justice Departments new motion also takes aim at a gala speech Howell gave in 2023 while accepting an award, when the judge did not name Trump but indicated she agreed that the country was at a crossroads teetering on the brink of authoritarianism. We are having a very surprising and downright troubling moment in this country when the very importance of facts is dismissed or ignored, Howell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Northern Kentucky mother convicted of murder in the overdose death of her toddler, who ingested fentanyl she bought with a federal stimulus check, has lost her appeal to the Kentucky Supreme Court. In a unanimous opinion on Thursday, the court upheld 37-year-old Lauren Bakers conviction and rejected most of her arguments, including that the judge who presided over her trial wrongly overruled a motion seeking to acquit Baker of wanton murder due to insufficient evidence. A Kenton County jury found Baker guilty in April 2023 of murder, importing fentanyl and trafficking in a controlled substance. She was sentenced to 33 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Kenton County Commonwealths Attorney Rob Sanders said at trial that Baker was the first person in the county to be convicted of murder for exposing their child to fentanyl. Baker used $1,200 of a stimulus check she received in March 2021 to buy nearly an ounce of fentanyl from a drug dealer in Cincinnati, court filings state. Baker and her 2-year-old son took a nap together at her Ludlow home just a few days later. When she awoke in the afternoon, the child was unresponsive lying across her lap with the contents of her purse, including fentanyl and drug paraphernalia, scattered across the bed. Lauren Baker (center) sits in court April 19, 2023 on trial for murder in connection with her 2-year-old sons overdose death. He was later pronounced dead at the Cincinnati Childrens. Prosecutors said the boy had more than 10 times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. Advertisement Advertisement A medical examiner determined the child was able to access something he should not have had access to that resulted in his death, the courts opinion states. Justices reject argument that murder conviction was 'clearly unreasonable' Baker argued as part of her appeal that it was clearly unreasonable for the jury to convict her of wanton murder and the evidence at trial didnt show her actions manifested an extreme indifference to human life, the opinion states. While being interviewed by investigators, Baker said she stored her fentanyl in a plastic bag, placed it inside a cigarette box and then placed it inside a pouch, which was kept in a purse that zipped shut. She would then tie the purse around the headboard of her bed and place it between the wall and bed, court records state. Advertisement Advertisement Her attorneys argued at trial that Baker took substantial precautions to keep opioids out of her children's reach, noting that she immediately administered Narcan and performed CPR on the child until first responders arrived. However, prosecutors said Baker was aware fentanyl is deadly but brought it into her home regardless and she knew the child could get into her paraphernalia because hed done so just a year earlier. The justices sided with the trial court, writing that she knew the danger of fentanyl but she decided to store it in a place where her toddler could apparently access it. Baker also argued that the jury shouldve been instructed on and allowed to consider a less serious charge of reckless homicide during their deliberations. Advertisement Advertisement In response, the justices ruled that the evidence did not support a reckless homicide instruction and the jurors chose to convict Baker of murder despite also being instructed on a lesser charge of manslaughter. The Enquirer left a voicemail and email with Baker's attorney seeking comment on the courts opinion. According to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, Baker will become eligible for parole in March 2041. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky Supreme Court upholds mom's conviction for toddler's OD death KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson says that a Jackson County jury has convicted a Kansas City man in connection to a deadly shooting from 2024. The prosecutors office says that DAires Gadson was found guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. Hes scheduled to be sentenced on June 5. Court records show that KCPD responded to a shooting at East 55th Street and College Avenue on October 3, 2024. They found one victim in the street with gunshot wounds. That victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boyfriend charged with murder after woman stabbed to death in south KC Records also show that surveillance footage showed Gadson pulling a firearm and shooting the victim, who ran toward his truck while Gadson continued firing at him. Witnesses also said Gadson went through the victims pockets before taking his truck, according to those records. Gadson was also convicted of second-degree robbery and armed criminal action in 2018, which prohibited him from having a firearm. Chief Trial Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jamie Hunt and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kendall Robbins prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A Virginia-based group, Parents Defending Education, has filed a complaint alleging that a Kansas City Public Schools effort to hire more Black and Latino teachers is discriminatory (Credit/Kansas City Public Schools). Black children do better in school if during their academic journey they can connect with a teacher who looks like them. The same goes for Latino students and children from other minority groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data is clear, said Cornell Ellis, executive director of Brothers Liberating Our Communities, a Kansas City nonprofit known as BLOC that supports Black male educators. The barriers for learning are lower when students and teachers have similar language, experiences and culture. That knowledge has guided teacher recruiting efforts for many school districts, especially those like Kansas City Public Schools, where 52% of the student enrollment is Black, 29% is Latino and only 10% is white. Recruiting minority teachers has been touted as a best practice. Now, it is incendiary. On Jan. 9, as students and teachers were settling back into class from winter break, a complaint against KCPS was filed with the Kansas City area office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came from a Virginia-based group, Parents Defending Education, and it alleged that hiring practices at KCPS are discriminatory. PDE and its members oppose racial discrimination and political indoctrination in Americas schools, the letter states. It accuses KCPS of implementing hiring quotas directly related to an educators race, as opposed to their merit. As evidence, the complaint cites a district strategic plan adopted in 2023 and revised since. Known as Blueprint 2030, the document sets goals to increase the representation of minority teachers to 40% by this year, and 45% by 2030. Currently, 38% of the districts teachers are Black or Hispanic. The complaint was a sign of things to come. Eleven days after it was filed, Donald Trump became president and launched a full-throttle crusade against all things related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps Department of Education has opened a formal tip line just for DEI allegations. It has threatened to yank federal funding from schools that use race-based practices in hiring, admissions and any other practice. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order banning state agencies from considering race in hiring decisions. Bills under consideration in the Missouri legislature would outlaw any state funding for DEI initiatives and impose penalties for school districts that teach what one sponsor calls divisive concepts. Lost in the blizzard of orders and threats is a trove of research explaining why school districts, especially those who serve minority students, are seeking qualified minority teachers. Were stuck in an echo chamber of narratives, Ellis said. And the data is not part of those narratives. How Black teachers boost student performance Numerous studies have shown that a minority students chances of graduating from high school increase dramatically if the child is paired with at least one teacher of the same race or ethnicity, especially in elementary school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Blazar, an associate professor at the University of Maryland, has released recent findings suggesting that white students may also benefit from a Black teacher. His data shows improved math and reading test scores and less chronic absenteeism in classrooms with Black teachers, who tend to form strong bonds with students and families and run well-organized classrooms with a positive atmosphere. Graphic showing the racial and ethnic makeup of U.S. public school teachers and students. The move against DEI will likely dampen efforts to diversify teacher workforces, Blazar said. I think we very much can expect to see cases like this being brought about in the near future across the country, arguing that teacher diversity missions are quota-driven and are discriminatory, he said, referring to the EEOC complaint in Kansas City. There is scientific evidence about the importance of Black teachers to Black students and non-Black students, Blazar said. There are practical reasons for why we need more teachers in schools. And so I am disheartened that this current push is being called out as discriminatory. What is Parents Defending Education? Parents Defending Education describes itself as a grassroots organization working to reclaim our schools from activists imposing harmful agendas. It solicits tips from the public and has filed complaints and lawsuits against school districts around the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most are focused on hiring but others center on the makeup of student clubs and employee groups; policies related to the sexual and gender identity of students; and policies regarding speech. The Beacon was unable to reach anyone at Parents Defending Education to ask how the complaint against KCPS originated. Derald Davis, the districts deputy superintendent, said the premise was erroneous. KCPS does not and will not use racial quotas in our hiring, he said. Our focus is on creating the best educational environment for our students and we welcome any conversation to further clarify our policies and practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To support its goal of hiring more minority teachers, the districts strategic plan calls for: Creating opportunities for school staffers to become certified teachers. Providing scholarships for KCPS students to obtain college teaching degrees. Establishing relationships with colleges and universities that serve Black and Latino students. Supporting teachers once they are hired. Blueprint 2030 also pledges that the district will evaluate and adjust the hiring process with a core focus on improving equitable and diverse hiring practices a commitment that Parents Defending Education labeled unorthodox. Davis describes it as student-centered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is not a single hiring committee or hiring protocol that focuses on race, he said. Were confident in our hiring practices and remain committed to transparency and compliance with all relevant laws. KCPS reaches out to educators of all races, Davis said, in part because, like many school districts around the nation, it faces a chronic teacher shortage. Were looking for teachers of all races, all backgrounds, different lived experiences to reflect all of the diversity of the students and families we serve, he said. Our commitment to diversity is about raising standards, not lowering them. I just want to make it clear that in KCPS we do not see having a more diverse teacher population as being at odds with merit. Low representation of Black, Latino teachers in Kansas City region For Edgar Palacios, the complaint filed against KCPS is another unwelcome distraction from the hard work of educating children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is time for us to come together to understand that education is what makes the American Dream accessible, said Palacios, founder and CEO of Latinx Education Collaborative, a Kansas City-based nonprofit that seeks to benefit Latino youth, in part by getting Latino teachers into classrooms. Teachers hold the key to that accessibility, he said. And so its time for us to figure out how to support and encourage our educators to thrive, versus fighting these ridiculous battles. The Latinx Education Collaborative, in partnership with the Urban Education Research Center, published in 2019 the most up-to-date study of teacher representation in the Kansas City area. It showed that 40% of students in public K-12 schools on the Missouri side of the region were from minority groups, while teachers of color made up 9% of the teaching ranks. Black teachers accounted for 6%. The representation of Latino teachers was less than 2%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Kansas side of the region, the representation of minority students was similar to Missouri, almost 40%. Only 5% of teachers were from minority groups, with Black teachers accounting for almost 3% of that sliver. Fewer than 1% of teachers at the time were Latino. Palacios said hes seen some movement since then, and the collaborative is three years into a concerted effort to see 50 new Latino educators hired in Kansas City area classrooms by 2027. The collaborative does not rely on federal or state funding, but Palacios is watching to see what the anti-DEI push will mean for his nonprofit. Were still unclear on what the impact will be from a philanthropic perspective, he said. Same mission, different vocabulary Regardless of that impact, Palacios plans to continue speaking out. Were constantly looking for ways to improve the way that we do our work, he said. And I think we are going to double down on the idea that diversity, equity, inclusion matters, that we understand the impact of having a diverse teacher workforce. That might be a dangerous position to take at this moment, but the only way forward is to stand up to some of the craziness thats happening. Ellis, the BLOC executive director, said his group has no plans to veer from its mission of increasing and supporting the ranks of Black teachers. It may talk about its work a bit differently, however. Well be talking less about DEI, he said. Well be talking less about some of those buzzwords and trigger words that are being targeted. That doesnt mean that were going to do the work any differently, though. Working in Missouri, Ellis already has learned the significance of word choice when he testifies at legislative hearings in Jefferson City. If you show up and start talking about Black male teachers, they turn you off, he said. So I talk about representative teachers. I talk about teachers that simply look like our students, teachers that represent the families and communities that we are serving. Thats not going to change. Davis, the KCPS deputy superintendent, said the district has received no word from the EEOC office regarding the Parents Defending Education complaint and has not drafted a response. KCPS has no plans to rein in its effort to recruit more teachers overall and more teachers of color specifically, Davis said. Were going about expanding our talent pool, considering a broad range of experiences and qualifications to enhance the overall quality of our teacher workforce, he said. The district is doing one thing differently, though. For some time it has operated a Department of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation that helps students with the college application process. The language on its webpage received a mention in the Parents Defending Education complaint. Going forward, Davis said, that office will become the Department of Post-Secondary Access and Student Success. This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. TOPEKA (KSNT) State wildlife officials are set to meet in Topeka in late March to discuss Kansas duck zones and coyote night vision hunting season. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) said in a press release that commissioners will meet at noon on Thursday, March 27 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library to hold discussions and votes on a variety of topics. Some of the topics that KDWP commissioners may vote on during the meeting include: 2025-2026 waterfowl season date, bag and possession limits. K.A.R. 115-25-8 elk open season, bag limits and permits. K.A.R. 115-25-9 big game regulations 2025 deer permit quotas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park officials target invasive trees spreading in Kansas Clawson said Kansas duck zones can only be changed once every five years in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the four Flyway Councils. Commissioners will be discussing the duck zones during the meeting as the start of the standard review process for the 2026-2027 season. The discussion at next weeks Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meeting is to kick off the first of two workshop sessions to evaluate Kansass duck zone boundaries, Clawson said. If its determined any changes are warranted, they would be up for commission action later this summer. KDWP commissioners and other attendees will also hear about topics like the downlisting of some Kansas threatened and endangered species, nonresident waterfowl hunting, camping fees and snagging of invasive carp. KDWP Secretary Chris Kennedy will also deliver remarks on coyote night vision hunting season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can watch the meeting live by clicking here. You can read through the full agenda for the meeting by clicking here. The KDWP will meet again on Thursday, April 24 at the Flint Oak Hunting Resort in Fall River. What are the pink mystery rocks scattered across northeast Kansas? For more Kansas Outdoors, 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 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. TOPEKA (KSNT) State education officials have issued a statement Friday following the Trump Administrations push to close the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Denise Kahler with the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) issued a press release on March 21 in the wake of President Donald Trumps decision to shut down the DOE. Kahler said the KSDE is waiting for a response from Congress and will be looking over Trumps order in the coming days to determine what the impact will be on Kansas. For decades, federal support has played a critical role in ensuring equitable access to education, particularly for students with disabilities, those from low-income families, and rural communities. While we have received assurances that funding will not be affected, we do not know yet what impact the elimination of federal oversight will have for programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), and the Higher Education Act (HEA). The administration has said there will be no programmatic disruption. KSDE statement excerpt What are the pink mystery rocks scattered across northeast Kansas? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Administration argues that closing the DOE will give children and families an opportunity to escape a system that is failing them, according to an executive order filed on March 20. This comes shortly after Trump appointed WWE co-founder Linda McMahon to lead the DOE. Kahler said the Kansas State Board of Education (KBOE) and the KSDE will continue to work with both state and federal leaders, community partners and school district to protect educational opportunities for Kansas students. The KSDE will clarify funding sources, policy implications and legal obligations while staying in contact with schools to maintain a transition with minimal classroom disruptions across the state. The educational StarBase program which connected the states students to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) was also closed in February. The closure of this program ended about 30 jobs for state educators. Controversial FAFSA high school graduation requirement removed in Kansas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, on Jan. 14, 2025, at a committee meeting at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA The chair of the Kansas Senate Committee on Government Efficiency restricted access to public submissions to its suggestion portal until after the 2025 legislative session, despite state law that requires public records be made available as soon as possible. The committees online portal invites members of the public to submit ideas on how state government can better serve the residents of Kansas. The chair of the committee, Wichita Republican Sen. Renee Erickson, has granted access to certain lawmakers, but has said she wont fulfill Kansas Reflectors request for the records until April 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ron Keefover, a former president of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government, said based on his 25 years of experience working with open government issues, especially the Kansas Open Records Act, the submission records should be released immediately. If they are being made available to some, they should be made available to everyone, he said. A public invitation to submit feedback has been featured on the Legislatures homepage since the portals launch on Jan. 31. Users can email the committee or offer comments through an online form, which requires users to check a box that acknowledges the records are subject to KORA. Legislative leadership created the Senate committee in the likeness of billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musks federal Department of Government Efficiency, which is not actually a governmental department because it wasnt formed by an act of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal department, known as DOGE, and Kansas Senate committee, known as COGE, wield detectable influence over potential legislation and changes to government services. DOGE has been involved in litigation because of its lack of compliance with federal public records law, known as the Freedom of Information Act. COGE has sponsored 11 bills this session, many of which target public assistance programs or public employees. The nine-member committee met more than 20 times since the sessions Jan. 13 start date, introducing, hearing and debating bills and receiving informational presentations from state officials. In Senate President Ty Mastersons initial announcement of the committees formation, which he said was meant to closely align with DOGE, he said the committee will explore ways to restructure and reform state government to reduce spending and increase government efficiency. Erickson has promised the committee will continue to meet after the legislative session. She said she intends to create a spreadsheet containing an organized overview of the submissions that could be available for distribution. She also said the submissions will inform the topics the committee intends to discuss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas Reflector submitted a public records request for the submissions to the portal with the intention of reporting on how the publics suggestions to improve government compare with the committees actions and rhetoric. Erickson, the custodian of the records, recognized the request on Feb. 28, three weeks after Kansas Reflectors initial inquiry. Erickson first denied access to the records until May 1, then moved the date to April 9, a week and a half after the anticipated March 28 end date of the 2025 legislative session. The plan has been, and always has been, to gather that information thats submitted on the portal and categorize it during session, and then this committee would take those submissions up during the interim, she said during a March 5 committee meeting. Also during that meeting, she said she intends to comply with the request theres no question about it, she added. Topeka Democrat Sen. Patrick Schmidt, a committee member, submitted a public records request of his own during a March 6 committee meeting, citing concerns for a lack of transparency. The day before, Schmidt, who declined to comment for this story, said he hoped committee members could have access to the submissions so they have ample time to consider them during the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a letter obtained by Kansas Reflector, Erickson granted Schmidt immediate access as early as March 17 while the records are still in the process of being reviewed. Kansas Reflector was not offered the same access. Jackie Sayers, a spokesperson for Senate Democrats, confirmed that Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, of Lenexa, had read-only access to the submissions. She does not sit on the Committee on Government Efficiency. Erickson did not respond to a request for comment, which included a question as to why she provided different responses to two requests seeking the same records. Erickson previously told Kansas Reflector the cause for delay was because of sensitive information being included in submissions to COGE. Kansas public records law allows for redactions of sensitive personal information, such as home addresses or Social Security numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, expressed concern during the May 5 COGE meeting that the amount of submissions requested could become voluminous. Im sure some of the suggestions may or may not even be viable, Thompson said. My concern is, over time, this could be turning into a fishing expedition. I dont know for what or for why. He said he understood the importance of complying with KORA. You know were trying to be transparent about government, he said. Were trying to provide good information, good government, good ways to become efficient. And I hope somebodys not doing this just to bog us down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While journalists, and in this case lawmakers, can request records that are in the public interest, members of the public are entitled and able to access records, too. March 16 marked the beginning of Sunshine Week, a weeklong annual event that educates on the publics right to civic information and brings awareness to open government. Public records laws like KORA and the federal Freedom of Information Act are some of the only tools to combat government secrecy. The term Sunshine Week has several origins. One of them is from a famous line from former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis: Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman. TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will host a statewide virtual disaster preparedness summit. The summit is for Kansas residents to learn how to prepare for disasters, storm safety, alert and warning notification, fire safety and mitigation, and more. The free summit will take place Tuesday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Kansas education leaders respond to shutdown of DOE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas residents have two options for participating in the summit: Microsoft Teams: Meeting ID #: 265 133 230 265 Passcode: JS7eE3q3 By telephone: 785-414-8630 Phone conference ID: 913 421 959# For more information about the Division of Emergency Management, 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 KSN-TV. Sen. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican, presides over a March 5, 2025, session of the Senate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Sen. Virgil Peck wants to raise the rent of reporters who write inaccurate things about him from their Statehouse offices. The Associated Press, Kansas City Star, Topeka Capital-Journal, Kansas Public Radio, KSNT-TV and Hawvers Capitol Report, now run by State Affairs, currently pay $100 per year for basement offices that range in size from 154 to 311 square feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peck, a Havana Republican, inserted into the state budget a directive to increase the rent to $1 per square foot per month, which collectively would total $16,000 per year for the six news outlets. I dont understand, No. 1, why we have office space for the press, but why we are not charging them something, Peck said during a March 11 Senate budget hearing. And I realize that the press will probably write my name a few times now, but I dont care. I just dont think that taxpayers when I mention this in a forum back home, people come unglued: You are only charging $100 a year for the press to write stories about you, that frequently are inaccurate. Those are my words. Peck offered no evidence to support his claim that journalists write inaccurate stories. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one else on the Senate Ways and Means Committee voiced support for Pecks proposal, but the committee agreed by a party line voice vote to insert the rent change into the state budget, which is formally called Senate Substitute for Substitute of House Bill 2007. The Senate passed the budget, with the rent change, on a 28-12 vote on March 18, but the Senate and House still need to work out differences before sending it to the governor for consideration. Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, has the option to veto the bill in its entirety or individual line items. The Senate committees two Democrats both challenged Peck to justify the rent change. During a March 13 debate on Pecks proposal, Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City, Kansas, Democrat, asked: Do you have any idea how long weve been allowing press to have space in the Capitol? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pecks response: Yes, absolutely. Too long. Pettey said journalists provide a valuable service in delivering information to the public about whats happening in the Statehouse. This seems to be a way to look at reducing that access by saying they have to pay more. I dont think it hurts us, Pettey said. She also challenged Pecks assertion that the people he heard from in forums in his district are opposed to providing Statehouse office space to journalists. You know, I might get a different reaction if I chaired it at a town meeting in my community, Pettey said. The public still wants information, she said, and we dont have to be the only source. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peck told her his proposal wouldnt keep journalists from reporting from the Statehouse. They can sit in the benches in the hallway and write whatever they want to write, Peck said. It has nothing to do with anything other than if you are not a government agency, I dont think you should have free space in the state Capitol. He moved forward with his amendment, which directs the secretary of the Department of Administration to collect monthly rental payments in the amount of $1 per square foot from any nonstate entity that leases or is assigned office space in the Statehouse. Peck said the journalists were still getting a bargain because the state typically charges nearly $2 per square foot per month for office space elsewhere. Before the committee voted on the amendment, Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, raised concerns about how news publications have struggled financially in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press is an important part of reporting on democracy and bringing things to light, Holscher said. So coverage of what we do is important to our democracy. Its important to keeping citizens informed, and again, because of that and because of the need to have them here, plus the fact that financially, so many of them are struggling, to me, this is not a good look for us. Holscher also said in a statement that she was appalled by the actions taken by the extremist/MAGA legislators who dominate our state government who continue to work to keep the press at bay. While the claim is being made this is being done as a fairness issue, the disdain some legislators have for the press is indisputable, Holscher said. It should make citizens ask what exactly these elected officials are wanting to hide. When Kansas Reflector, a nonprofit news outlet, launched five years ago, administrators said there wasnt office space available at the Statehouse because it was already taken by legacy media. The Kansas Reflector office is two blocks north of the Statehouse in Suite 408 of the Columbian Building, 112 S.W. 6th Ave. Karen Reads lawyers filed a petition with the United States District Court of Massachusetts after Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone on Thursday denied the defense teams request to delay the start of her second murder trial. Judge warns against personal attacks as prosecution and defense clash in Karen Read case The defense filed a motion earlier this week seeking to push back Reads retrial from April 1 to April 28 to allow them time to appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judges ruling denied a request to have jurors from the first trial questioned about their verdicts on three charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense lawyers say a delay will hopefully help them show that jurors unanimously found Read not guilty of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash. They are also arguing that Reads double jeopardy interests havent been taken into consideration. In denying the defenses request, Cannone cited concerns about scheduling the large jury pool for retrial. Well, Im not going to grant the motion. We have jurors coming in that were summonsed months ago, Cannone explained. I called the jury commissioner yesterday and asked how long it would take to get the right numbers that we were able to get starting April 1st at a minimum of ten weeks. But Im not going to do that. In the federal court filing, the defense wrote, Read will be irreparably harmed by the denial of a stay which would force her to undergo a retrial that she contends violates her double jeopardy rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cannone did note on Thursday that if a jury is in place by April 25 and if the federal appeals court hasnt issued a ruling on the defenses request to drop two charges against Read, she might revisit the request to delay. Cannones statement isnt sufficient enough to protect Reads rights, her lawyers argued in the filing. If the superior court again denies Reads motion at that point, she will immediately be placed in jeopardy a second time with no ability to seek a stay with this Court or the First Circuit to prevent what she asserts is a violation of her constitutional rights, the defense wrote. Additionally, Reads trial counsel cannot realistically be expected to select a jury without knowing whether the trial will include all three counts or only Count 2. Reads attorneys concluded, In sum, the petitioner respectfully submits that the double Jeopardy protections at stake in this matter are simply too important to force Read to stand trial for murder, in what she contends would be a violation of her rights, before having the opportunity to appeal her substantial constitutional claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe with her Lexus SUV in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die after a night of drinking. The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton and then dragged outside and left for dead. Her first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024. Jury selection in her second trial is slated to begin on April 1 as previously scheduled. Read the full filing below: Karen Read Motion to Stay Federal Court 3-20-25 by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Failed Arizona gubernatorial and senatorial candidate Kari Lake, now a special advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, took a jab at her most recent opponent, Democratic Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, during a chance run-in at Neds Club near the White House in downtown Washington, D.C. The private club is known as a place where cable news personalities can be seen holding meetings alongside Democrats and Trump administration officials away from prying eyes. According to The Bulwark, Gallego was on his way out one day this winter when he ran into Lake. Gallego went in for a handshake, and Lake grasped his with both hands, seemingly a warm gesture, before she asked: How does it feel to be bought and paid for by the cartels? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An individual familiar with the incident told the outlet that Gallego was taken aback, as was Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, who could hear what was being said. During the campaign last year, Lake accused Gallego during an interview with Newsmax on September 27 of being controlled by the cartels. She added: His own father was a Colombian drug trafficker, and so hes got links to the cartel. PolitiFact rated the claim as pants on fire. Kari Lake has reignited an old feud with her former ubernatorial and senatorial opponent during a chance meeting at a D.C. club (Getty Images) While Gallegos father was arrested for drug violations when the senator was a child, theres no evidence to suggest that he has any links to the cartels. Gallego wrote in a memoir that his father was a drug dealer who disappeared from his life after his parents divorce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about the chance meeting with Lake, Gallego told The Bulwark: I mean, look, it is pretty gross. He said he attempted to avoid escalating the situation but jabbed back at Lake before they split up. My wife is very disappointed in me because she said, You didnt take the bait for two years, said Gallego. I should not have overreacted, he told the outlet. I did try to rub it inwhen [Lake] essentially said, How could you live with yourself every day? Im like, Easily I won, and I walked away. Reacting to the incident, Phil Boas wrote in an op-ed in the Arizona Republic that Lake is morally reprehensible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will never confront the cartels; he is controlled by them, Lake said during the campaign. He has close family members who are drug traffickers. Kari Lake has been called morally reprehensible for her attacks on Senator Ruben Gallego (AFP via Getty Images) Gallego wrote in his memoir They Called Us Lucky from 2022 about how he grew up with a single mother in Chicago in an apartment so small the senator said he ended up sleeping on the floor. Being poor is one thing, Gallego wrote. Having a dealer for a dad thats a different level. I always knew we were poor. There was no shame in that. You worked hard, and things got better. But now, as a young teenager, I felt we were trash. Lying on the floor of our apartment one night, hungry and tired because I worked after school earning money to help my mother pay for things, I told myself this was not who I was, he added. I was not going to be poor trash the rest of my life. I was going to college, no matter what it took. Boas went on to argue that Kari Lake likes to tout her Christianity, so let me point out that The Bible very explicitly counsels that we are not to blame the child for the sins of the parent. By Stephen Nellis and Max A. Cherney SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) -Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Wednesday that his company had not been approached about purchasing a stake in Intel. During a press conference at Nvidia's annual developer conference in San Jose, California, Huang was asked whether Nvidia was part of a consortium with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co to buy Intel. "Nobody's invited us to a consortium," Huang said. "Nobody invited me. Maybe other people are involved, but I don't know. There might be a party. I wasn't invited." Reuters earlier this month reported that TSMC had approached Nvidia, Broadcom and Advanced Micro Devices about taking stakes in a joint venture that would operate Intel's factories. Other media had previously reported that Intel, with backing from U.S. President Donald Trump, was considering a plan to separate its manufacturing operations and turn over control of them to a consortium that would include TSMC. Intel and Nvidia shares were both flat in after-hours trading after Huang's remarks. Earlier in the day during a question-and-answer session with financial analysts, Huang said orders for some 3.6 million of Nvidia's flagship Blackwell chips from four top cloud service providers "under represented" demand, since they did not include orders from key customer Meta Platforms and smaller cloud providers and startups. Facebook-owner Meta is among the largest buyers of Nvidia chips and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of the social media giant, said early last year the company planned to use Blackwell chips to train the company's open-source large language Llama models. Meta has said it expects to spend up to $65 billion in AI infrastructure this year, a large chunk of which is expected to go toward Nvidia chips, mirroring similar commitments from other big tech giants as they race to develop the best AI products. Huang has been trying to allay investor concerns surrounding demand for the pricey AI chips that have made Nvidia one of the world's most valuable firms, after China's DeepSeek made a competitive chatbot with allegedly fewer AI chips. "The good news is that the understanding of R1 was completely wrong," Huang said on Wednesday, referring to DeepSeek's AI model. DeepSeek's focus on reasoning - the ability of an AI system to make inferences - will increase the need for computation, helping drive demand for Nvidia chips, Huang said. Nvidia's shares were up nearly 2% after the analyst call. They fell 3.4% on Tuesday, when investors were unconvinced by Huang's pitch that the company was well-positioned to respond to a pivot in the AI market as businesses shift from training AI models to getting detailed answers from them. Kay Flock has been found guilty after being accused of multiple violent crimes. Inner City Press reported a jury delivered mostlybut not allguilty verdicts in the trial where prosecutors alleged he 21-year-old rapper he led the Bronx Sev Side gang. This case is not really against Kevin Perez. It is against Kay Flock. It is US versus drill rap, claimed the defense. The artist, whose legal name is Kevin Perez, was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, use of a firearm resulting in death, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and the use of a firearm for attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. He was acquitted on a charge of murder in aid of racketeering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to AllHipHop, Perez faces a mandatory life sentence at his July 16 sentencing. The platform noted that the rappers visuals and lyrics were introduced as evidence with one video Who Really Bugging, standing out. The video was used in the trial as allegedly referencing a real-life shooting. Kevin Perez, aka Kay Flock, was the leader of a neighborhood street gang known as Sev Side / DOA, and with that gang, he committed a series of gang-motivated shootings. Perez, a drill rapper, instilled fear across the community with his violent actions, and then threatened rivals, bragged about shootings, and taunted victims in his rap lyrics, said acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky in a statement following the guilty verdict. But as a unanimous jury has now found, Perez can no longer hide behind his music and instead will be held to account for his violent crimes. Thanks to the hard work of the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners, the cycle of violence that Perez engaged in is over. This Office remains resolute in its commitment to prosecuting gang members who sow fear and spread violence on our city streets. The Bronx native was first indicted on federal murder and racketeering charges in February 2023. Authorities accused Perez and other alleged gang members of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon arising from seven shootings committed in the Bronx between June 2020 and February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, the rising New York Drill rapper was already behind bars, awaiting trial for the 2021 murder of alleged gang member Hwascar Hernandez outside a Harlem barbershop in New York City, now the one not guilty verdict mentioned above. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) Nearly two years after a deadly Mothers Day shooting in Kalamazoo, police say a suspect has been arrested in Georgia. Dontaviour Lawrel Smith, 23, was taken into custody on March 12 in Atlanta, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety announced Friday. Authorities also carried out a search warrant at his home that day, finding several guns, drugs and cash, a photo released by KDPS shows. A photo released by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety shows evidence recovered from a March 12, 2025, search of Dontaviour Smiths residence. Police say Smith was wanted on a nine-count felony warrant out of Kalamazoo County. He is now awaiting extradition to Michigan, facing charges that include open murder and assault with intent to murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from the May 14, 2023, drive-by shooting that killed 33-year-old Marcus Pierce, according to KDPS. The shooting, which targeted a home on Ada Street on the north side of Kalamazoo, also left two other people injured: a 58-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man. Series of shootings in Kalamazoo leave 1 dead, 3 injured This arrest is the result of relentless teamwork and strong partnerships across state lines, said KDPS Chief David Boysen in a statement. Leaving the state doesnt mean youve escaped justice. When someone commits a violent crime in our community, we do everything in our power to find them no matter how far they run. The assigned detective with KDPS worked consistently on the case for more than a year, according to the department, and other detectives helped pinpoint Smiths location in the days before his arrest. KDPS thanked the U.S. Marshals Service and the Fulton County (Georgia) Sheriffs Office for their help taking Smith into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A codefendant in the deadly shooting, Demario Jackson, has already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, police say. He is serving a prison sentence of 18 to 50 years, according to KDPS. Police say theyre still investigating the 2023 shooting. If you know anything, youre asked to contact KDPS at 269.337.8139 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SOUTH DAKOTA (KELO) Much of our nations story is rooted in amber waves of grain and rolling livestock pastures. The people who care for that land often come from generations of farm and ranch families. However, over the next two decades, an estimated 24 trillion dollars in farmland and agricultural assets will change hands, according to the National Land Realty. Thats why the South Dakota Ag Foundation wants to help current farm families transition land into the hands of the next generations. One farm 11 miles west of Ethan, South Dakota, has been in the Klumb family for 115 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are currently in our fourth generation coming back, Shannon Klumb said. My great-grandpa started, my grandpa, then my dad, now me and my two brothers. March Madness a busy time at Grand Falls Klumb says the hope is for the farm to soon transition into the hands of the next generation. I have one that just graduated from vo-tech and I have a nephew thats going to be done a year from now. So, yes, they will take over, slowly take over, and I can maybe transition out before Im pushing daisies, Klumb said. But when it comes to passing on a farm, its more than just teaching someone to drive a tractor or care for a calf. Theres a whole business side that often gets procrastinated or overlooked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where we live, on a day-to-day schedule, farming comes first, family comes second and the family business meeting is always going to happen tomorrow, Klumb said. And we never got to tomorrow. Thats why Klumb sought some help from Alan Hojer and the Keep Farmers Farming program. Were helping agriculture with the transfer of wealth to the next generation, Hojer said. Hojer says it works like a consultant role for farmers. I think we really play the middle ground between, I call it the professionals the attorneys, the accountants they have their roles but its really to help people understand who they are within their operation, within their family and talk about those tough questions and come up with solutions which lead us to the strategies of which we pull in the professionals, Hojer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klumb says through this program they now have scheduled meetings for the whole family. Everybody now knows, has a chance to sit at the table, know whats going on in different areas, bring problems to the table, ideas to the table, Klumb said. So it gives us a chance to actually talk business at a table instead of out in a tractor or in a pickup or tomorrow, which we never, ever got to. And bringing everyone to the table is important because Hojer believes we are losing a generation of farmers and ranchers. Its not that they want to leave agriculture but because they dont have the information of what the future looks like they finally just move on, Hojer said. Its that simple. Its not that the parents and the grandparents dont want to provide that information, they just dont know how or what to do. So as we work on that vision, that vision becomes more transparent and all of sudden, individually, everybodys finding a vision for the next generation and moving forward. And what it does, it gives everybody peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peace that is near-sighted. Its huge on the stress level of the operation. Because now nobody has to take all of the burden. Everybodys involved, everybody feels like theyre involved in it, nobody is left out, Klumb said. And peace that is far-sighted. And you think about it, were looking at their children and the decisions we have to make then at this time, really prepares you for the next generation as well, Hojer said. Its hooked together and people dont realize what they have to do to prepare for two generations away. Klumb says the Keep Farmers Farming program is not only helping with the transition process, but also the day-to-day operations of the farm and its financials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program was started by First Dakota National Bank 10 years ago but merged into the South Dakota Ag Foundation in January of 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 KELOLAND.com. EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4) Kent Cody Barlow appeared virtually in court on Friday as attorneys on both sides of the case made oral arguments in preparation for trial. Barlow, 28, was charged with two first-degree felony murder charges after he allegedly crashed his car into an Eagle Mountain horse stable, killing two 3-year-old boys, Hunter and Odin, in 2022. Prosecutors claim Barlow was driving recklessly and was high on methamphetamine at the time of the crash. Barlows trial is set to begin on April 14, nearly three years after the crash. Fridays oral arguments before Judge Derek Pullan were about defining his charges and ironing out some of the details before the trial begins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Kent Cody Barlow ordered to stand trial for two counts of murder for 2022 case The State argued that Barlow should be charged with depraved indifference homicide instead of murder, saying the jury might misunderstand the meaning of murder. I think most members of the community who are not lawyers and even those who are lawyers but do not specialize in criminal law, believe murder means intent to kill, argued state prosecutor Ryan McBride. Judge Pullan responded by saying he had carefully considered the issue, ruling that the jury would be instructed that Barlow has been charged with depraved indifference murder. He said the title accurately reflects the charges that Barlow has been accused of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barlows trial is anticipated to last three weeks and will end exactly three years after the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. KENT, Ohio (WJW) For the second time this week, Kent State University students made it clear that Senate Bill 1 will hurt academic freedom. A coalition of student groups held a rally outside of the student center in response to Wednesdays vote to approve what Republican lawmakers call a bill that would reform publicly funded higher education. Former Senator Sherrod Brown and wife moving out of Cleveland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 1 would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, forbid strikes by faculty, create a state review on tenure and prevent universities from taking positions on what Republican lawmakers call controversial beliefs on about things like climate change or politics. Institutions that dont follow this could lose state funding. Supporters call it a long-needed overhaul of public colleges. But students and others say it takes away academic freedom. Not only is it going to prevent us from talking about really important historical matters in the classroom, its also going to impact fields of health care, fields of technology and all the really important majors that made you want to come to Kent State in the first place, rally organizers said before a crowd of about 100 students and faculty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rally was the result of a coalition of different student groups coming together to speak out against Senate Bill 1. They said taking away diversity, equity and inclusion programs means that people of color, people with disabilities, women and LGBTQ individuals are not welcome, and neither are their viewpoints. Ohios 1st measles case of 2025 reported in Ashtabula County The rally moved indoors, where students organized a petition drive they said they will continue to pressure lawmakers and the governor to stop this. This is the Ohio referendum. We are working to get the bill reversed. So you start with a thousand signatures and move through different steps, said Akyra Holley, KSU student coalition organizer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this does become law, many of the young people here said they will take their skills and their tuition money to a state that wants different opinions and different types of people in it. Youre telling people that they cannot be themselves at your school or anywhere in the nation in the world of cancel culture. So when you decide to take away things that people say that they want, what they need, youll get your students to go away, Black United Students President Julian Grimes 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. TEMPLE, Texas (FOX 44) The City of Temple is hosting a brand new event to kick off the Spring season, and youre invited! The inaugural Petals & Pints event promises a celebration of Spring and craft brews. The city is bringing together the best of local craft breweries, wineries, and the wildflowers which make Temple the Wildflower Capital of Texas! Visitors can sip on unique brews, savor gourmet bites, and soak in the live music while exploring interactive activities for all ages including fun games, educational experiences about Temples beloved Texas wildflowers and pollinators, and plenty of bloom-worthy photo ops to capture the moment. Be sure to check out the impressive lineup of classic and custom vehicles during the car show! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city says this event will take place in and around the Santa Fe Plaza from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free! Below is the event map and a tentative schedule, courtesy of the City of Temple: (Courtesy: City of Temple) Main Stage Santa Fe Plaza Located at Santa Fe Plaza 2:15 3:15 PM: Jenny B 3:45 4:45 PM: David D Band 5:15 6:15 PM: Vinny Tovar 6:30 PM: Car Show Winners Announced 6:45 8:00 PM: Members Only Band Astound Firewheel Stage Located at Fred Springer Park 2:00 3:00 PM: Meg Groves 3:15 4:15 PM: Russell Weller 4:45 5:45 PM: Jacob Augustine 6:45 8:00 PM: Lilly Milford Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smile Doctors Orthodontics Temple Bluebonnet Stage Located at The Yard Food Truck Plaza 2:15 3:15 PM: Reds Terrific Trivia (Free with prizes) 3:30 4:30 PM: Harold Huertas 4:45 6:45 PM: Name That Tune Bingo (Free with prizes) 7:00 8:00 PM: FuZion Astound Car Show Santa Fe Plaza 2:00 8:00 PM: Car Show Display 3:00 6:00 PM: Judging 6:30 PM: Winners Announced on Main Stage Cornhole Tournament Located near Santa Fe Plaza 3:00 PM: Warmups Begin 3:30 PM: All Teams Must Be Checked In 4:00 PM: Bags Fly! Armadillo Races Santa Fe Market Trail Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3:00 5:00 PM Dont miss these Texas-sized sprints! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The talks between Ukrainian and US representatives in Saudi Arabia on Monday will focus primarily on technicalities surrounding a potential limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Kiev said. "This is a meeting to establish the parameters for the various proposed ceasefire options currently on the table," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said on Friday. Tykhyi reiterated that Ukraine had agreed to the US proposal for a full ceasefire lasting 30 days and again blamed Russia for the failure to implement any sort ceasefire so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Ukraine had no information on how the separate negotiations between the US and Russia would unfold in Riyadh, noting that Ukraine is preparing only for talks with American representatives. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will not travel to the Gulf state, but Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is set to participate. Ukraine has been defending itself against Russias all-out invasion for over three years. The talks in Riyadh are set to focus on a US proposal to protect shipping in the Black Sea by implementing a limited maritime ceasefire. The talks between Ukrainian and US representatives in Saudi Arabia on Monday will focus primarily on technicalities surrounding a potential limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Kiev said. "This is a meeting to establish the parameters for the various proposed ceasefire options currently on the table," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said on Friday. Tykhyi reiterated that Ukraine had agreed to the US proposal for a full ceasefire lasting 30 days and again blamed Russia for the failure to implement any sort ceasefire so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Ukraine had no information on how the separate negotiations between the US and Russia would unfold in Riyadh, noting that Ukraine is preparing only for talks with American representatives. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will not travel to the Gulf state, but Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is set to participate. Ukraine has been defending itself against Russias all-out invasion for over three years. The talks in Riyadh are set to focus on a US proposal to protect shipping in the Black Sea by implementing a limited maritime ceasefire. Ukraine rejects Moscow's accusations of shelling Kursk gas plant Ukraine earlier rejected Moscow's accusations that it shelled an important gas metering station near Sudzha in the Russian region of Kursk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These accusations are unfounded," the Ukrainian General Staff wrote on Telegram, saying Russia had shelled the station several times, this time with artillery, in order to defame Ukraine internationally. The information from both sides could not be independently verified. Videos of a large fire allegedly at the gas facility have been circulating on social media. It is not clear who is currently carrying out checks at the plant, which is close to the Russian-Ukrainian border. Russia has largely pushed the Ukrainian troops out of the parts of Kursk which they captured in August. Military observers say Kiev now occupies only around 160 of the 1,200 square kilometres once under its control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed Ukraine for the attack on the Sudzha gas facility, which he said violated a ceasefire on energy facilities ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine has also fired at a fuel depot in southern Russia, he said. Peskov told the state-owned TASS news agency that Russia was meanwhile adhering to the ceasefire. Putin assured US President Donald Trump of this on Tuesday. However, Ukrainian cities such as Sloviansk have reported power outages following heavy airstrikes since Tuesday. Kremlin slams European decision to dramatically boost defence Meanwhile the Russian leadership criticized European Union plans to significantly boost the bloc's defences, made as the Kremlin continues to wage war on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The militarization of Europe is an extremely dangerous trend," said Kremlin spokesman Peskov , saying it would neither lead to detente nor restore trust. "Nor does it make Europe safer," he said. Many Europeans do not like it, but almost all politicians are following the mainstream, the spokesman said. Peskov was responding a day after the decision by EU leaders to significantly strengthen Europe's defence readiness in the coming years. The European Union plans to mobilize 800 billion ($868 billion) over the next four years, including 150 billion in loans for arms projects and exemptions from EU debt rules for defence investments. The above video is coverage from 2024 about spotting misinformation online, after a report of an orca in the Outer Banks turned out to be fake. KITTY HAWK, N.C. (WAVY) A survey crew that has spent the past five years tracking whale locations just had their first orca sighting off the coast of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. According to a social media post from the Florida-based Clearwater Marine Aquarium, their research institutes aerial survey team made the exciting, rare discovery on March 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a photo of the orca whale, also known as a killer whale. You can see it swimming along with a much smaller sea creature. The orca is the oceans top predator. Its actually the largest member of the dolphin species. Photo Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funded by United States Army Corps of Engineers. Taken March 13, 2025. According to the North Carolina State Parks website, orcas are rarely seen in North Carolina waters, even well offshore. Back in 2011, though, a pod of killer whales were observed off Oregon Inlet. From mid-November through mid-April, survey teams researching the current North Atlantic right whale population take to the sky to search the waters below for mother and calf pairs. They spotted the orca near the Outer Banks while on one of these survey missions. According to the Clearwater Marine Aquariums website, there are approximately 372 right whales remaining in the entire world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were only 20 right whale calves spotted during the 2023-2024 season. 50 calves are needed on average annually for multiple years to stop the decline. Since 2017, the whales have been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event. There have been more deaths than births. The biggest threats to their population are vessel strikes, ocean noise and fishing gear entanglement. Third entangled endangered whale spotted in span of a week off East Coast WAVY News 10 has reported on several recent whale deaths in our region alone. An endangered North Atlantic right whale was found dead off the Virginia Beach coast last April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just days later, a dead whale washed ashore at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. And this past December, a humpback whale washed up near the Bennett Street Beach Access in Kitty Hawk, NC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Prospex Energy has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Tarba Energia, enhancing its stake in European gas projects. The acquisition involves purchasing Warrego Energy's entire shareholding in Tarba, which holds investments in the El Romeral production concessions and associated gas-to-power plants in southern Spain. Under the terms of the shareholders agreement with Warrego, Prospex, through its subsidiary PXOG Muirhill, exercised its pre-emption right to purchase Warrego's shares. This right was triggered by a share sale and purchase agreement between Warrego and a third-party buyer. The acquisition price for Warrego's shares totals 652,725 ($709,205), with 100,000 payable upon approval of drilling permits for three of five wells under regulatory review. Prospex will fund the acquisition using existing cash resources and has until 19 April 2025 to complete the transaction. Prospex CEO Mark Routh said: "I am extremely pleased to announce the increased ownership in Tarba, the El Romeral concessions and the related gas-to-power plant in Carmona. Importantly the acquisition is being made using accumulated cash reserves from our investment portfolio and is expected to lead to significantly increased production revenue once the permits to drill the five new wells on the EL Romeral concessions are approved. "In terms of prospective gas resources acquired in the El Romeral asset alone, the equivalent price of $0.092/boe [barrel of oil equivalent] is an excellent price by almost any measure. Prospex sees further upside in the concessions with further mapped structures to evaluate and drill once the first five wells have been permitted and drilled." Additionally, the buyer must pay Warrego a 5% gross overriding royalty on future Tesorillo Project revenues. The purchase price, matched to the third-party offer, reflects an independently derived value for the assets. Currently, the El Romeral asset accounts for 10% of Prospex's net production. Post-acquisition, it will represent approximately 20% of the company's enlarged net production. Prospex's other assets include the Viura field in northern Spain and the Selva Malvezzi asset in Italy. Drilling operations at the Viura gas field, operated by HEYCO Energy, are delayed by six to eight weeks. The operations are now expected to commence in May 2025 due to operational reasons. "Prospex Energy to acquire Warrego Energys shares in Tarba Energia" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44) The Killeen Independent School District is taking steps to reinforce a safe and respectful school environment. Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Fey sent a statement to families Friday afternoon, saying as students are being welcomed back from Spring Break, the district is taking steps to reinforce structure and behavior expectations at all campuses. The goal is to help students return to school with a positive mindset. As part of these efforts: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families should expect more consistency in procedures for arrival, class transitions, lunch, recess and dismissal at all schools. This includes a multi-layered security check upon entry to the building at all secondary schools. As such, administrators will not be available to meet with families during arrival/dismissal or lunch times. Help support the districts multilayered security checks by ensuring students do not bring prohibited items to school. You can see a list of these prohibited items on Page 11 of Killeen ISDs Student Code of Conduct. More staff will be present in hallways and common areas to promote positive student behavior and interactions. Stronger disciplinary measures will be in place for students involved in threats, altercations, fights, assaults and repeated misconduct. In addition, off campus incidents linked to or leading to a disruption at school, will face DAEP placement. Students with repeat misconduct will face a loss or restriction of campus privileges. All students returning from DAEP to their home campus will have structured transition plans. PREVIOUS STORY: Killeen ISD superintendent holds another press conference Dr. Fey says as a reminder, Roy J. Smith Middle School classes will resume on Tuesday, March 25. All other Killeen ISD schools will return to classes on Monday, March 24. The district will continue to provide updates to keep the Killeen ISD family and community aware at www.killeenisd.org/crisis-response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Fey says the district knows that student success is built on strong partnerships between families and schools. You can help by encouraging students to follow school expectations, make responsible choices, and seek help when needed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Trump administration officials accuse Georgetown University fellow Badar Khan Suri of being a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda and having close ties to a suspected or known terrorist. But to his defenders, Khan Suri is an accomplished scholar whose research focuses on peacebuilding in the Middle East. Khan Suris attorney argues his client is being targeted in part because his wife is a Palestinian American. The research fellows nighttime arrest and detention this week marks yet another controversial immigration enforcement action by the Trump administration at one of the preeminent universities in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khan Suris legal team is challenging his detention in court, and on Thursday, a federal judge ruled he cannot be removed from the country while his petition is pending. Heres what we know: The arrest Khan Suri, an Indian national in the US for doctoral research at Georgetown, was arrested Monday night after his J-1 visa was revoked, according to his attorneys and the university. Attorney Hassan Ahmad told CNN his client was snatched away from his family and has been held in a detention center in Louisiana since Tuesday. Ahmad called the judges order temporarily blocking deportation the first due process Dr. Khan Suri has received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration officers who arrested Khan Suri wore black masks and were brandishing weapons, according to Nermeen Arastu, an attorney on Khan Suris legal team and associate professor of immigration law at CUNY School of Law. ICE agents came in the night, took him captive, taking him from his wife and children, Arastu told CNN. This is every familys worst nightmare. What US immigration authorities say About two days after the arrest, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin alleged in a post on X that Khan Suri was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. She also accused Khan Suri of having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. McLaughlin said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a determination on Saturday that (Khan) Suris activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable under an obscure legal statute that gives the secretary of state authority to act if he or she believes a non-citizen would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card, by the way. So when you apply for a student visa or any visa to enter the United States, we have a right to deny you for virtually any reason, Rubio said in remarks to the press last week. CNN has reached out to the DHS for further clarification, while the State Department declined CNNs request for additional comment. Hassan Ahmad, attorney to Georgetown University fellow Badar Khan Suri, speaks with CNN. - CNN What Khan Suris family and attorneys say The Georgetown scholars defense team denies the US governments claims and argues that Khan Suris detainment is part of the Trump administrations broader effort to clamp down on individuals purportedly based on their participation in Palestine-related speech, according to his court petition. Ahmad argued in a court filing that Khan Suri was targeted because of his wifes identity as a Palestinian and her constitutionally protected speech, the Associated Press reported. She is an American citizen, according to the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khan Suris wife, Mapheze Saleh, is Palestinian, the detention petition notes, and a former employee of the Qatari-based news network Al Jazeera. A court declaration filed on Thursday by Saleh said she posted on social media to show her support for the people of Gaza after the start of the Israel-Gaza war. Saleh notes in her declaration that she was born in the US and moved to Gaza at age 5. Her father, who lived in the US for two decades, served as political advisor to the Prime Minister of Gaza and as Deputy of Foreign Affairs in Gaza until 2010, the filing said. In February, Saleh says she started to feel unsafe, as online websites falsely accused her of having ties to Hamas, according to her declaration. Court filings also said Saleh had been smeared by an online group that spreads misinformation and seeks to discredit American Muslims. Court filings said Khan Suri met Salehs father on two occasions once during a humanitarian visit to Gaza and a second time to ask for Salehs hand in marriage. The couple moved to India in 2013 and Badar never returned to Gaza, his wifes declaration adds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the filing does not mention Salehs father by name, The New York Times reported that Ahmed Yousef a former adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh confirmed in a voice message that he was Suris father-in-law. Yousef told The New York Times that he had left his position with the Hamas-run government more than a decade ago, and that his son-in-law was not involved in any political activism. CNN could not independently verify Yousefs claims about Khan Suris activities. When asked about Khan Suris father-in-law, Ahmad said, Im only aware of one, possibly two times, that hes met his father-in-law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the administration to say that its a close tie to a known and suspected terrorist, well, wheres the evidence? No administration official has put forth a shred of evidence that my client Dr. Khan Suri has been involved or is affiliated with any known or suspected terrorist, Ahmad told CNNs Kaitlan Collins Thursday. Political speech however controversial some may find it may never be the basis for punishment, including deportation, ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer said. We will not let this egregious, unprecedented, and illegal abuse of power go unchecked. The ACLU of Virginia has joined Khan Suris legal team. We expect the legal system to adjudicate this case fairly, Georgetown says In a statement to CNN, a Georgetown University spokesperson said, We expect the legal system to adjudicate (Khan Suris) case fairly. In a letter obtained by CNN, Georgetown University Interim President Robert Groves told the schools Board of Directors that Khan Suri had been detained and his visa revoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity and we have not received a reason for his detention, the letter said. Khan Suris visa was to allow him to continue his doctoral research on peace building in Iraq and Afghanistan, court filings said. Attorney Ahmad disputes the suggestion that Khan Suri poses any harm to US foreign policy, telling CNN, If an accomplished scholar who focuses on conflict resolution is whom the government decides is bad for foreign policy, then perhaps the problem is with the government, not the scholar. Khushnuma Khan, Khan Suris sister, echoed Ahmads questioning of why the Georgetown scholar was being targeted. My brothers wife is from Gaza. So maybe that is why this is happening, Khan told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNNs Kaanita Iyer, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Aishwarya S Iyer, Chris Boyette, Evan Perez, Tierney Sneed and Aleena Fayaz contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In March 2025 claims (archived) circulated on social media that police and SWAT teams were guarding Tesla car dealerships in the U.S. amid protests targeting the company's CEO, tech mogul and billionaire Elon Musk, a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump. Looks like police are showing up to guard and protect Tesla dealerships. Too bad Uvalde Elementary didn't sell cars. Sean Gardner Turner ProChoice Vote Blue Wear AMask (@Allareblessed2) March 15, 2025 One X user wrote: "Looks like police are showing up to guard and protect Tesla dealerships. Too bad Uvalde Elementary didn't sell cars," an apparent reference to a mass shooting in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022. The claim also appeared on X (archived), Facebook (archived), Threads (archived), Instagram (archived) and Bluesky (archived). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it was not possible to confirm systematic deployment of police in the U.S. to Tesla dealerships. We reached out to Tesla and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ask if either had asked for or offered police protection. We also reached out to police forces in California, Florida, Texas, New York and Washington states with a large number of Tesla dealerships and await their replies. In addition to this, we reached out to the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Union of Police Associations and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers to ask if union members had reported being deployed specifically to protect Tesla dealerships. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Seattle Police Department, Bellevue Police Department (BPD) and Miami Police Department (MPD) reported their officers were not protecting Tesla dealerships. BPD added that Tesla had not asked for assistance, but the agency did provide a local dealership some general crime-prevention tips. MPD said officers would drive by as part of regular patrols. LAPD said officers would respond "if there was a protest or disturbance at a location." The DHS referred our query to Tesla. Snopes awaits a reply. Spate of Tesla-related attacks branded 'domestic terrorism' The claims circulated amid a flurry of reports about fiery attacks on Tesla cars and dealerships across the U.S. The attacks gained national notoriety and the attention of both the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 18, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi released a statement about the attacks, calling them "domestic terrorism." The statement read: The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes. On March 20, Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI, wrote (archived) on X: "Our teams are actively working on the Tesla incidents and the swatting incidents, along with our other responsibilities to keep the Homeland safe." Also on March 20, Bondi announced that three suspects charged in attacks on Tesla cars, dealerships or charging stations would face charges carrying a minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years in prison. According to a DOJ statement, Bondi said: "Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The specific claim about police guarding Tesla dealerships may have originated from reports surrounding a protest in Chicago, Illinois, on March 8. A photo (archived) circulating on March 9 showed police outside a Tesla dealership on North Rush Street in Chicago. It was unclear when the photo was taken, but local news media reported that anti-Musk protesters had marched past the dealership on March 8 as part of "Takedown Tesla" protests (more on this below). Not sure I've ever seen a more obvious picture to remind us that police exist to protect the property of the ruling class, not the rights of the people. pic.twitter.com/AaJVtyDfxs Existential Comics (find me on bluesky) (@existentialcoms) March 9, 2025 We reached out to Chicago Police Department to confirm whether the officers in the picture were deployed to protect the dealership on March 8 and whether any arrests were made. We await the department's reply. Trump and Musk both commented on the attacks. Posting on X, Musk called (archived) the attacks, "insane and deeply wrong." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on Truth Social on March 20 that: "People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!" Tesla 'Takedown' movement vows global action Takedown Tesla describes itself as a U.S. and international "peaceful protest" movement against Tesla, an electric car manufacturer run by the tech mogul who also serves as a U.S. government special employee with the Department of Government Efficiency. The movement asks people to sell their Teslas and dump the company's stock in order to inflict financial damage on Musk. The movement's key message reads: "Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy." The movement appeared to have started after Musk took up his role in the Trump administration. The website domain was registered on Feb. 12. The movement started its Bluesky account on Feb. 18, 2025. According to a Forbes tracker, attacks on Tesla dealerships predated Feb. 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear who was behind the movement. According to Valerie Costa, an environmental justice campaigner whom Musk accused of being behind Takedown Tesla, the movement was "decentralized." The movement is planning a global day of action (archived) on March 29. Sources: @Allareblessed2. "Looks like Police Are Showing up to Guard and Protect Tesla Dealerships. ." X, 15 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/Allareblessed2/status/1901031662638821597. @chattyhub54. "Police and SWAT Teams Are Providing Security for Tesla Dealerships Nationwide." Instagram, 19 Mar. 2025, https://www.instagram.com/chattyhub54/reel/DHZV5HDS7qh/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement crankyyankee.bsky.social. "Police and SWAT Teams Are Providing Security for Tesla Dealerships Nationwide." Bluesky, 21 Mar. 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/crankyyankee.bsky.social/post/3lkvgee3dx224. "Elon Musk Targeted Me over Tesla Protests. That Proves Our Movement Is Working." The Guardian, 13 Mar. 2025. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/13/elon-musk-tesla-takedown-protest. @elonmusk. "This Level of Violence Is Insane and Deeply Wrong. ." X, 18 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1902025957646508355. @existentialcoms. "Not Sure I've Ever Seen a More Obvious Picture to Remind Us That Police Exist to Protect the Property of the Ruling Class, Not the Rights of the People." X, 9 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/existentialcoms/status/1898799444830888338. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @FBIDDBongino. "Communication and Transparency Are My Priorities. We Work for You, the American Citizen. ." X, 20 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1902531589143224441. @frederickdsciortino. "Police and SWAT Teams Are Providing Security for Tesla Dealerships Nationwide." Threads, 20 Mar. 2025, https://www.threads.net/@frederickdsciortino/post/DHZjkRVMt3S. @glenn_tunes. "Tesla Dealerships Get Nationwide Police & SWAT Protection. Meanwhile, Schools Lack Comparable Security." X, 20 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/glenn_tunes/status/1902808236203430391. Johnson, Rebecca. "Hundreds Gather to Criticize Trump, Musk's Spending Cuts at 'Takedown Tesla' Protest." Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025, https://archive.ph/Fy9OB#selection-1731.4-1924.0. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murray, Conor. "Tesla Protests And Vandalism Surge: Trump Says Vandals Should Serve 20-Year Sentences In El Salvador." Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/03/21/tesla-protests-and-vandalism-surge-trump-says-vandals-should-serve-20-year-sentences-in-el-salvador/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025. Office of Public Affairs | Attorney General Bondi Statement on Violent Attacks Against Tesla Property | United States Department of Justice. 18 Mar. 2025, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-bondi-statement-violent-attacks-against-tesla-property. Office of Public Affairs | Attorney General Pamela Bondi Announces Severe Charges Against Violent Tesla Arsonists | United States Department of Justice. 20 Mar. 2025, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-pamela-bondi-announces-severe-charges-against-violent-tesla-arsonists. Stadtlander, Claudia. "Police and SWAT Are Providing Protection Services to the Tesla Dealerships Nationwide." Facebook, 20 Mar. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/claudiastadtlander/posts/pfbid025DBKqCkAqYLV8CenL2sTtCUeccVp6iPrGCapT3Mzx8Va3SugRTGeLEZoTzsqFL9yl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement teslatakedown.com. "LFG! #teslatakedown GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION March 29." Bluesky, 20 Mar. 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/teslatakedown.com/post/3lkrlezirv22n. @teslatakedown.Com - Internect.Info. 18 Feb. 2025, https://internect.info/did/did:plc:hljkd4e73ttz5xjjywsvebzz. Teslatakedown.Com WHOIS Domain Name Lookup - Who.Is. https://who.is/whois/teslatakedown.com. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025. Trump, Donald J. "People That Get Caught Sabotaging Teslas Will Stand a Very Good Chance of Going to Jail for up to Twenty Years, and That Includes the Funders. ." Truth Social, 20 Mar. 2025, https://trumpstruth.org/statuses/30291. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday in an effort to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education. With the stroke of his pen, he officially set in motion a plan to shutter the 46-year-old agency, as he said, once and for all. But the order stops short of immediately closing the department, which cannot be done without congressional approval. Rather, according to the text of the order released by the White House, it directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. At the signing, Trump said federal Pell grants (a common type of federal undergraduate financial aid), Title I funding and resources and funding for children with disabilities would be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But beyond these core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department, he said, adding that he would do so as quickly as possible. The move still promises to upend the key functions the department performs in the broader education system, which include oversight of the federal student loan portfolio, civil rights enforcement in schools and the distribution of billions of dollars to help impoverished and disabled students. Several big questions about the Education Departments future remain unanswered. But there is still a significant amount known about the agencys history and duties as well as the many plans conservatives have circulated for decades to unwind the agency. What does the Education Department do? In 1979, Democratic President Jimmy Carter signed legislation that made the Education Department a Cabinet-level agency. Until that point, the government had a Department of Health, Education and Welfare, created during the Eisenhower administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservatives have been clamoring to abolish it for more than 40 years essentially since it was created. Carters successor, President Ronald Reagan, vowed to shut it down one year after it opened and Republicans have basically repeated that call since. The Education Department is one of the smallest Cabinet-level departments. Its $268 billion appropriation last year represented 4% of the U.S. budget. McMahon announced earlier this month a plan to cut roughly half of the agencys staff. Among its most prominent duties, the agency manages the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio for college and postsecondary students. It also distributes billions of dollars in funding for K-12 schools through programs that serve more than 50 million students in nearly 100,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools. That funding includes more than $15 billion for thousands of so-called Title I schools schools that receive federal dollars to help low-income families. And it includes more than $15 billion in funding for programs under the auspices of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides grants to states for the education of children with disabilities that ensure disabled students have access to a free and appropriate public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Education Departments Office for Civil Rights enforces laws aiming to prevent discrimination in schools, and the agencys Institute of Education Sciences runs data collection, statistics and research monitoring student outcomes. The vast balance of power on education, however, still lies with states and local districts, which fund the bulk of K-12 education and set all curriculums. The U.S. Education Department has no say in curriculum matters. It does not set requirements for enrollment and graduation in schools, nor does it have a say in the selection or use of school or library books, textbooks or resources. Schools that receive federal money through Title I programs and IDEA must meet specific conditions and maintain specific reporting rules. Conservatives have long claimed that those requirements are arduous and have pushed for allowing states to have flexibility and freedom to spend the money as they wish. What would it look like to wind down the Education Department? Even though Trump cannot fully end the Education Department himself, McMahon agreed at her confirmation hearing that the administration hopes to present a plan that Congress would support, and Republicans in the House have introduced various plans that seek to eliminate the department. Still, with narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate, its unlikely to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet short of that, the administration has other ways to shrink the departments footprint. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said ahead of the executive orders signing that critical programs will be protected and that, specifically, student loans and federal Pell Grants would continue to be handled by the department. In addition, a senior administration official said Wednesday night that Title I, student loans and students with disabilities who rely on IDEA funding will not be affected. But it remains unclear how existing services would not be interrupted as the agency is dismantled. Education advocates have long warned that major cutbacks would dramatically affect the federal governments enormous student loan portfolio and Title I and IDEA funding. What these cuts would mean for groups who rely on that funding remains one of the biggest questions to emerge after news first broke that the Trump White House was looking to eliminate the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One possibility is that the new framework for education policy could take its cues from the many plans that conservative education activists have circulated for decades on how theyd like to see the department disemboweled. Those plans largely center on transferring key functions of the department to other federal agencies, even though some education experts contend that even those transfers would require congressional approval. One House bill introduced in January by Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., proposes transferring most of the departments responsibilities to other agencies. Student loan programs would go to the Treasury Department, for example, and job training programs to the Labor Department. The bill also proposes that the federal government be allowed to provide nearly all other education funding it currently gives to states with almost no conditions or reporting requirements attached. One plan from February touted by officials at the conservative Manhattan Institute for Policy Research pushed for transferring civil rights enforcement issues in public schools to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Education advocates have warned that moving those responsibilities to the DOJ would likely result in fewer investigations and less enforcement, because it would mean saddling a smaller team with even more responsibilities. The Justice Department also has discretion in which cases it investigates, whereas the Education Department is required to investigate complaints alleging discrimination within the past 180 days. (The Trump administrations layoffs at the Education Department earlier this month greatly impacted the agencys Office for Civil Rights.) That plan also advocated for spinning off the federal student loan portfolio into an independent financial entity. Meanwhile, Project 2025 which pushed for abolishing the whole agency also advocated for ending Title I funding in phases. It also proposes ending student debt cancellation programs. Other advocates for conservative education policy have said the federal government should convert most of the funding it gives to states for K-12 programs into block grants, a form of funding that comes with fewer rules and less federal oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But public education advocates have warned that kind of shift could allow red states to pour dollars into private schools, which do not have to abide by federal education civil rights laws. Under some other GOP proposals, Title I funding for the poorest schools would shift to allow poor students to take that money to private schools if they choose. In February, a dozen top education officials from GOP-controlled states pitched McMahon on giving out federal school funding as block grants. Those Republicans said they wanted to be allowed to shift funding to support state-driven initiatives and alternative spending approaches, and asked McMahon to grant them waivers on certain federal requirements that come with their allocations. Red states typically rely more heavily on federal education funding than blue ones. Private schools that do not receive federal funding are exempt from civil rights laws, such as those barring discrimination based on a students race, gender or disability. Private academies also do not have to provide individualized education plans to children with learning disabilities. Its unclear whether any of the federal civil rights protections overseen by the Education Department would apply if states used federal dollars to support private K-12 schools under their proposed block grant schemes. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Thursday afternoon, the Knox County Health Department and Versiti Blood Center held a blood drive. Knox County Health Departments Community Health Nurse Susan Yochum said that coming out of the holiday season there was a critical shortage of blood and that it has now gotten out of that range. However, she says that she expects that not to be the case for much longer. This week is spring break all across the United States, so they have had many struggles trying to get people to donate this week, said Yochum. I anticipate there to be a pretty big need here in the next few days into the next week until they can get those donations back up to where they normally are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Micro wrestling and MINIKISS coming to The Mill Yochum says the area has seen a downward trend in the number of donations over the past few years. She says that donating blood is one of the most powerful things a person can do. Whenever there is a blood shortage, surgeries have to be postponed, critical treatments have to be postponed, so we encourage healthy individuals to donate as they can really make an impact on peoples lives, said Yochum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) United States Postal Service employees and members of the public held protests across the nation on Thursday as the Trump administration considers an overhaul that the American Postal Workers Union says would hike up prices and negatively impact service for millions of Americans. President Donald Trump said last month that he was considering putting the USPS, which has operated independently since 1970, under the control of the executive branch by making it a part of the Commerce Department. He also expressed a willingness privatize the post office, making it operate like a for-profit business rather than a public service. USPS agrees to work with DOGE on reform, planning to cut 10,000 workers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics have warned that the privatization would slash service to Americans living in rural areas and cut tens of thousands of jobs, many of which are held by military veterans. More than 72,000 veterans are postal service employees, accounting for over 10 percent of the USPS workforce. Two demonstrations were held Thursday in Knoxville outside the post offices along Main Street and Weisgarber Road. Right now, the United States Postal Service is required to deliver to every address in America, said Lorri Hornback, a Knoxville Postal Service Clerk. If you privatize the Postal Service, theres a possibility we lose that right to receive mail and that will greatly impact, especially the elderly and rural communities that receive mail every day. The Postal Service dates back to its creation during the Second Continental Congress in 1775. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to establish post offices, meaning significant changes to the agency would require congressional approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See more top stories on WATE.com The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act passed by Congress in 2006 required, among other things, that the Postal Service reimburse the government for inflated retiree benefit costs. It accumulated $87 billion in losses from 2007 to 2020, mostly attributed to the decline in profitable first-class mail and cost of retiree benefits. However, the USPS reported a net profit of $144 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. According to the PEW Research Center, this marks the first time the agency posted a profit since 2006. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Mar. 21A man not afraid to role up his sleeves has been tabbed to do the often thankless work of a city official. Ethan Kolp, 36, of Libby is the municipality's newest councilor following his selection at Monday night's special meeting. Kolp has been a full-time employee for four years at Hoot Owl Farm, the very popular operation located just outside city limits in Highway 37. Kolp, an Ohio native, takes the place of Ian Smith. Smith resigned the seat Feb. 18 because he took a job with the Troy Police Department. Smith served on council for 14 months following his election in November 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith must live in Troy to be a member of the force and his change in residency means he can not be a city councilor in Libby. According to city Treasurer/Clerk Leann Monigold, because Smith resigned prior to serving two years of a 4-year term, that seat will also be open to election this fall. Kolp will fill that council seat until the end of 2025, and whoever is voted in during the election for that seat will serve until the end of the term, expiring in 2027. Kolp was nominated for the seat by councilors Kristin Smith and Melissa Berke. Kolp, in an interview with The Western News following his selection, said he grew up in southwest Ohio, south of Akron. He earned an Associate degree in Arts at Ohio State University where he met his partner, Jacqui Zielinski, a traveling nurse who is know employed at the Libby Chapter of Commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We hit the road and found jobs here in Libby," Kolp said. "Knowing you're feeding kids is a very great feeling." Kolp said he hopes to see the small things that can be done to improve Libby. "The main thing is the image of Libby, what can we do for its infrastructure, are there enough parking spaces? Things like that," he said. During questioning by council members, Kolp said the idea of being a council member snuck up on him. "From working at Hoot Owl to volunteering and other things, I thought it was another way to serve the community," he said. He also said he enjoys the number of community events that exist in Libby and he feels a big personal strength of his is the ability to find different ways to solve problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council members were enthused to see five applicants for the open seat. Brad Nelson, Brooke Bolin, Brian Crompton and Erica Schaefer also threw their hats in the ring. Nelson ran for the open seat in 2023, got 317 votes, but was beaten by Smith after he tallied 406. Nelson was nominated for Smith's seat by Hugh Taylor. Gail Burger and Taylor voted for Nelson while Kolp got the backing of council President Brian Zimmerman, Berke and Kristin Smith. Zimmerman shared a laugh with Kolp about his work at Hoot Owl. "You keep my grandkids very happy because they love to eat vegetables, unlike myself," Zimmerman said with a chuckle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several councilors recommended to those that applied to consider running for some of the seats that will become open in the next few years. "Don't give up just because you didn't get this seat," Zimmerman said. "It won't be long before there are more openings." The terms of Berke, Smith, Burger, as well as Mayor Peggy Williams, each expire at the end of the year. The Kremlin has stated that the order from Vladimir Putin for Russian troops to temporarily halt attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure "remains in force and is being observed". Source: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov at a briefing on 21 March, as cited by Kremlin-aligned news agency TASS Quote: "The commander-in-chiefs order remains in effect, and the Russian armed forces are currently refraining from striking Ukraines energy infrastructure in accordance with the agreement reached between the US and Russia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Peskov emphasised that the agreement preventing Moscow and Kyiv from targeting certain facilities for 30 days currently applies only to energy infrastructure, saying, "That is what was agreed upon". Background: From the evening of 20 March, the Russians attacked Ukraine with 214 Shahed-type strike UAVs and various types of decoy drones; 114 drones were destroyed, while 81 disappeared from radar. On the same evening, the Russians launched strike drones against Odesa, with explosions heard in the city and large fires breaking out. There are reports of casualties. DTEK, Ukraines largest private energy company, reported local emergency power outages in Odesas Prymorskyi, Peresyp and Kyiv districts. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that Russia shelled the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast with artillery to discredit Ukraine, emphasising that the defence forces were not involved. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Russian leadership criticized European Union plans to significantly boost the bloc's defences, made as the Kremlin continues to wage war on Ukraine. "The militarization of Europe is an extremely dangerous trend," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow, saying it would neither lead to detente nor restore trust. "Nor does it make Europe safer," he said. Many Europeans do not like it, but almost all politicians are following the mainstream, the spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov was responding a day after the decision by EU leaders to significantly strengthen Europe's defence readiness in the coming years. The European Union plans to mobilize 800 billion ($868 billion) over the next four years, including 150 billion in loans for arms projects and exemptions from EU debt rules for defence investments. You are here: China Wu Yingjie, a former member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), stood trial on Thursday on charges of accepting bribes. Wu, also former head of the Committee on Culture, Historical Data and Studies of the CPPCC National Committee, is accused of taking undue advantage of his various positions between June 2006 and February 2021 to offer inappropriate help to others concerning project contracting and business operations. In return, he illegally accepted property worth more than 343 million yuan (47.8 million U.S. dollars), according to prosecutors. Wu pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in his final statement. A verdict will be announced in due course. By Chandini Monnappa (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco-backed industrial software firm Cognite on Wednesday opened its AI services center in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru and said it was exploring potential contracts with top conglomerates in the country. The company said it had signed up with a large industrial cement company and a major automotive firm but declined to provide further details. "Cognite is betting on India and is investing millions of U.S. dollars currently and our investment in India will continue to increase," chief strategy officer Hakon Bjerke said. Cognite makes software that allows companies to improve the operations and safety of industrial installations, such as oil and gas platforms. It is controlled by Aker ASA, the investment firm of Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Roekke. "The decision to come to India was really the big opportunity here as the world was looking for an alternative to China," CEO Girish Rishi told Reuters. Apple, Tesla and electronic component maker Jabil have announced plans to expand or launch in India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to bring global companies to set up centers. The recent boom in AI is changing the way many companies operate, with manufacturing firms tapping into the technology for streamlining operations, enhancing product quality and optimizing supply chains. Cognite, which recently shifted its headquarters to the U.S., currently counts AkerBP, Japanese refiner Cosmo Energy Holdings and U.S.-based Koch Chemical among its customers. Saudi Aramco, via subsidiary Aramco Overseas Company B.V., has acquired a 7.4% stake in Cognite as of February 2022. (Reporting by Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas) BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Lake Isabella residents are invited to make their voice heard Friday, on what you think matters most in the Kern River Valley. On March 21, the KRV Bridge Connection will gather at 6069 Lake Isabella Boulevard, as residents voice concerns within the community. The public forum is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Organizers say the idea is to create a united voice that is heard and address critical needs in the Kern River Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump orders shutdown of the Education Department. What does it do? Karen Zuber joined 17 News at Noon to talk about the event and how the organization has been working towards getting feedback from the community, on what they thought was most important. This is our chance to attract new volunteers, and give the people of the community a chance to speak up around the issues they believe are most important to address in the KRV, said Zuber. We want to promote community belonging and activity by hearing concerns and working together to find solutions, where possible. For more information on the upcoming meeting, watch the full interview in the player above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has dismissed as manipulations and falsehoods the claims spread by Russia regarding "atrocities and crimes" supposedly committed by Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing Tykhyi at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday 21 March Quote: "The Russian accusations of atrocities and crimes committed by Ukraine in Kursk Oblast are completely unfounded. Ukraine has always adhered to international humanitarian law, particularly in ensuring the humane treatment of civilians in conflict zones, and has not violated these principles." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Tykhyi emphasised that Ukraine is fully aware of how Moscow fabricates this "evidence base" to make false accusations against Kyiv. Quote: "All of this is false. The majority of local population and property in Kursk Oblast have been impacted by Russian bombardments, including targeted strikes. We understand and observe how Russia has frequently and purposefully attacked civilians, particularly villages, during this operation to falsely accuse Ukraine of crimes." Background: Earlier, Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian artillery had shelled the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast in an attempt to discredit Ukraine, emphasising that Ukrainian forces were not involved. The General Staff further stated that "the Russian Federation is intensifying its discrediting campaign against Ukraine" and that "the enemy has bolstered its planned destructive information operations with yet another provocation". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Reuters) - Ukraine accused Russia on Friday of illegally pressuring Ukrainians in occupied territory to change their legal status or leave, and said it would report the practice to the International Criminal Court. Russia - which controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory - issued a presidential decree on Thursday saying Ukrainian citizens living "in Russia without legal grounds" should "regulate" their status by September 10. It did not spell out what it meant by regulate, though Russia has been pressing Ukrainians in those areas to obtain Russian citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesman, said the move was a "despicable act". "It is yet another step in Russia's campaign of discrimination, persecution and forced displacement of Ukrainian citizens from their homeland, or forcing them to acquire foreigner status," he told a briefing in Kyiv. Russia, which regularly denied accusations of carrying out abuses, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to its foreign ministry. President Vladimir Putin's decree affects Ukrainians who live in the Crimean peninsula - annexed by Russia in 2014 - as well as occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow unilaterally declared the Ukrainian regions to be Russian territory in 2022 after launching its full-scale invasion. "Ukraine ... appeals to the International Criminal Court with a requirement to take into account this decree as additional evidence of war crimes by the leadership of the Russian Federation," Tykhyi said. In March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and his children's commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of illegally deporting children from Ukraine. Kyiv says it has officially confirmed the illegal abduction of at least 19,000 children by Russia since Moscow launched the full-scale war. Russia says it was helping the children to leave the war zone. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Los Angeles has a budget problem. Well, another budget problem. According to a recent report from independent news organization Crosstown LA, the city is fighting a losing war over parking and parking enforcement. Crosstown analyzed data provided by City Controller Kenneth Mejia, which showed that L.A. is spending tens of millions more on parking enforcement than it is receiving from parking tickets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the fiscal year that ended in June 2024, after giving out 2 million parking tickets, the city collected about $110 million in parking fines. Meanwhile, according to Mejias data, it was spending $88 million on parking enforcement expenses like salaries and equipment. But when the cost of pensions and other obligations and liabilities were added to the mix, that figure jumped to more than $176 million. A $65 million shortfall. A $65 million shortfall when the city is experiencing a significant budgetary crisis that it needs to address. A No Parking sign with Tuesday restrictions in Los Angeles County shown on July 11, 2024. (KTLA) The parking enforcement problem isnt new. The city hasnt made money by issuing parking tickets since 2016. But there doesnt seem to be any end in sight. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the existing problem with parking restrictions temporarily or permanently lifted in some places. Revenue in the fiscal year that ended in June 2021 was down 37% from the prior year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fewer people are also commuting and filling the city centers than pre-pandemic times, meaning less cars overstaying their welcome or parking where they shouldnt. Steet sweeping tickets are lucrative for L.A. but not enough And the existing budget crisis is likely to only make the problem worse, Crosstown says, citing an interview with Department of Transportation spokesman Colin Sweeney. Staff cuts and open positions left vacant are another main culprit for the decrease in parking enforcement fines. The City eliminated more than 60 positions in the 2024-25 budget, Sweeney said. Dozens of traffic officers have also retired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And since the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic officers have taken up different non-revenue-generating roles, initially helping with COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites, providing traffic control during events, and even helping with Mayor Karen Basss pet project Inside Safe, which brings the unhoused off the streets and into more appropriate temporary housing. Sweeney says LADOT is advocating for more officers to be hired as part of the next city budget, and the department will hope its pitch will be heard before the budget is finalized April 21. To read the full story, including the methodology used by Crosstown, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman reiterated this week that he wont honor his predecessors request to resentence the Menendez brothers unless they admit their lies. In an interview with ABC News, Hochman said hed only be willing to recommend resentencing if Lyle and Erik Menendez sincerely and unequivocally admit for the first time in over 30 years, the full range of their criminal activity and all the lies that they have told about it, referring to the brothers claims of self-defense in the murders of their parents. Last week, Hochman withdrew former DA George Gascons previous recommendation that the brothers be resentenced and made immediately eligible for parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochman added he had a checklist of lies the brothers would need to account for. The essence of that checklist is that theyd have to finally admit after 30 years, they killed their parents willfully, deliberately and in premeditated fashion, not because they believed that their parents were going to kill them that night, Hochman said. The brothers are both serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 1989 shotgun slayings of Jose and Kitty Menendez at the familys mansion in Beverly Hills. The brothers have claimed their father sexually abused them for years and that they feared their parents would kill them before they could expose their misdeeds. In late October, Gascon announced that he was officially recommending the brothers be resentenced after reviewing new evidence of their sexual abuse claims. However, Gascon lost his reelection campaign to Hochman less than two weeks later, giving way for the new DA to make his own determination in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Menendez family members held a rally outside Hochmans office Thursday. We will not let him erase their abuse, we will not let him ignore the transformation, and we will not let him silence this family, said their cousin Anamaria Baralt. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is currently weighing a separate clemency request from the brothers that will have a hearing in June. A scientist manipulates cultured meat samples in a sterile laboratory environment. (Getty Images) Indianas Senate on Thursday decided to shelve lab-grown meat for a year while multiple state agencies study its safety. And House lawmakers sent a carbon sequestration measure to Gov. Mike Brauns desk without a funding compromise, while also advancing nuclear development. Senators adopted an amendment saying no one can make, offer for sale, or sell a cultivated meat product in Indiana from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Violators could be fined up to $10,000 a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labeling requirements in House Bill 1425 prompted confusion in committee earlier this month. It sat on the second reading calendar for about two weeks, racking up amendments. Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, said she was working to find the right language. Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, in committee on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) I believe we have come to the right point, said Leising, the bills Senate sponsor. Theres a lot of uncertainty of this product so I think this will give us time. The Indiana Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health and Department of Health would study how safe lab-grown meat is and deliver a report to lawmakers by Dec. 1. The legislation could get a Senate vote as soon as Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To produce cultivated meat, manufacturers sample animal cells and multiply them in sealed vats, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency has allowed lab-grown meat sales since 2023, when it gave final approval to chicken-derived products by two California companies, Reuters reported. Other states are also grappling with the issue. A Montana proposal to ban lab-grown meat is moving in that states legislature. And lawmakers in North Carolina are considering a bill mandating that a manufactured-protein food product with an identifying meat term be labeled with an appropriate qualifying term such as cell-cultured, fake, lab-grown, or grown in a lab in large type. Carbon measure finalized (kind-of) A measure tweaking Indianas carbon dioxide sequestration policies crossed the finish line Thursday on a 55-37 vote but a separate measure striking a funding compromise is yet to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ed Soliday told his colleagues, You are voting (for) who is going to pay for the administration of a corporately owned sequestration pipe and well. And the choice is simple: if you vote for the bill, the corporation does; if you vote against it, your taxpayers pay for it. Hes the House sponsor for Senate Bill 457, which would exempt pipeline companies from needing to get certificates of authority in certain cases, create a permit for exploratory wells and well conversions; add inspection provisions; charge new fines for legal violations and tweak other fees. Sen. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, speaks during a meeting on Aug. 27, 2024. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Originally, fine and fee proceeds wouldve gone to dedicated funds to defray state spending on project administration and monitoring. But a Senate amendment directed the money to the states General Fund instead; House lawmakers didnt consider two amendments filed to undo the changes or take a 50-50 approach. While on the floor, Soliday said there may be some correction. He previously indicated that could come as a trailer bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents were skeptical. Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said the redirection means there is no guarantee that regulators will have the money to do the permitting, monitoring and other enforcement required by law. And under Administrator Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has moved to give more states the power to self-regulate carbon dioxide injections and sequestration, recently approving a request from West Virginia. If Indianas Department of Natural Resources wants that authority, Pierce said, it may need even more personnel and resources, not less. Worries over how companies can skip certificates of authority also went unresolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 457 says theyre not required if pipelines and storage facilities stay within a property even if they have impacts beyond those boundaries. In committee, Soliday said he shared Pierces concerns and said that would be part of the financial fix. House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said the legislation improves implementation of Indianas existing sequestration policies. Asked how confident he was that the promised changes would materialize, Huston told reporters, There are some things that were noted today in the debate, but I felt good about it. Good to get that one across the finish line, get it to the governor, and well work through a couple of the other issues. Nuclear-booster approved A bill aiding early development work on emerging nuclear power technology also won acceptance from the House Thursday although recent changes require Senate consent to send it to Brauns desk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 424 would offer public utilities working on small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) a path to recover 80% of pre-construction costs, including anticipated spending, from customers within three years and before they obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The other 20% would be part of a general rate case. Rep. Matt Pierce speaks against a nuclear power bill on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Included are expenditures for design; engineering; environmental analyses and permitting; federal approvals, licensing and permitting; equipment purchases and more. Soliday, also this bills House sponsor, said its not a giveaway to utility companies. The utility doesnt just get to go out and start working on a small modular reactor and then collect the money from the ratepayers, he told colleagues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation lays out a process. Once the IURC gives a utility permission to start spending, the company would be able to request approval of a rate schedule to pass those costs on to customers. Regulators would have to approve if they find the costs reasonable in amount, consistent with their best spending estimate, and necessary to support SMR development. Overspending wouldnt get passed to ratepayers unless regulators deem the spending reasonable, necessary, and prudent in supporting reactor development. Expenditures for canceled or abandoned projects wouldnt be recoverable without the same reasonable, necessary, and prudent finding. Even so, a utility wouldnt profit unless regulators also find the decision was prudently made for good cause, that profit is appropriate to avoid harm to the utility and its customers; and that costs will be offset or reimbursed through other, listed means. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All were doing here is actually helping the ratepayers, Soliday said. He argued that the legislation lets utilities pay as they go, and the worst thing that happens is they get a much lower interest bond. Pierce, however, opined that it unreasonably shifts the risk of an unproven technology onto electricity customers. Most Hoosiers are served by one of the states big five investor-owned, regulated monopolies. He cited one failed SMR project that wouldve required $1 billion in pre-construction costs. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Heres the thing that really bothers me, Pierce continued. If the utility knows that theyre going to bear the cost of a failed project, theyre going to think long and hard about whether its economically viable. Were telling them no problem, because were going to let you recover all those costs, and were going to define those costs in a fairly broad way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 424 advanced on a 59-30 vote. Solidays committee deleted a Senate expiration date for the cost-recovery provisions, so the Senate must agree to the change before the legislation heads to Braun. Identical language in House Bill 1007 is also expected to cross the finish line. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Britains growth prospects have gone from bad to worse. Next week, the Office for Budget Responsibility is expected to downgrade Britains growth rate for the financial year 2025, which runs from April to March 2026. Instead of a meagre 2 per cent, we can expect a pathetic 1 per cent. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will try to blame this result on the impact of Donald Trumps tariffs on the global economy. This act of economic seppuku by the American president may prove an easy scapegoat. But Britains economy was already on life support before Trump entered the Oval Office. The UK economy grew by just 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of last year (from October to December); the previous quarter (July to September) saw no growth; and then the economy shrank by 0.1 per cent in January this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government promised to make growth its central mission. It has indeed achieved something quite magical on that front: perfect mathematical stagnation. Its not like there wasnt an opportunity for something different. When Labour came to power last July, the public and investors were genuinely enthusiastic for something different. People wanted them to succeed. And its easy enough to imagine an alternative reality, with the EU and US struggling, where the UK attracted vast global capital looking for a home. Instead the Government forgot the iron rules of economics. Their first major mistake was to think it was possible to fix public finances by clobbering the private sector. Reeves increased National Insurance and capital gains tax; she also abolished non-dom status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economics teaches us that people respond to incentives. Tax hikes on the productive part of the economy and the biggest wealth-creators inevitably create negative expectations among customers and investors. As we have seen with sackings over recent months and record numbers of millionaires leaving the country, that slows down economic activity and ultimately means less taxpayer revenue. The public finances are in no better position, with the government borrowing more in recent months than expected. They put up taxes in no small part to boost public sector wages. This is capitulating to union demands: higher wages do not amount to productivity increases, more accountability or improved service delivery. Higher wages mean higher costs. The Government has also championed state-led spending with a net zero green tinge as the solution to Britains growth woes. They are spending billions of taxpayers money on Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund. Once again, they are forgetting that growth comes from the private sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attempts by the state to pick winners almost always end in failure. Bureaucrats cannot outguess markets, nor can central planners replicate the discovery process when businesses compete, innovate, and respond to real consumer demand. There have been gallant efforts to cut back red tape, including instructing quangos to prioritise growth and reforming Britains broken planning system. But even there, changes have been piecemeal, with experts suggesting they are hardly the big bang reforms needed to jump-start the economy. On the other hand, from new rental rules and banning new oil and gas to fresh labour market laws, the regulatory burden going is up rather than down. Economics teaches us about unintended consequences. Even well-meaning rules often distort incentives and hamper growth. Making it more difficult to sack people will discourage firms from hiring and investing in the first place. Removing so-called no-fault evictions could result in many landlords pulling their properties off the market; this will lead to higher rents for those remaining. Banning domestic oil and gas production is unlikely to solve climate change; in fact more imports could just result in costlier energy and higher emissions in transport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the election, Reeves spoke extensively about the need to bring stability to attract investment. This was a neat way to poke at the last Governments revolving door of leaders. But it also revealed something more profound. Labour genuinely believed that changing the cast of characters in Number 10 and Number 11 from baddie Tories to goody Labourites would be enough. They have discovered that governing is actually quite difficult, and that no matter how hard you try you cannot hide from economic realities. Matthew Lesh is Country Manager at Freshwater Strategy and Public Policy Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs 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. Ukrainian soldiers have received a number of Western arms seen as upgrades to their Soviet-era weapons. For its Special Operations Forces, one upgrade was when they got American M4s. A soldier told BI that it was a tough transition for some, but they eventually got the hang of it. Ukrainian special operators needed a minute to get the hang of M4 carbines when they traded their classic Soviet-era rifles for the American weapon, a Ranger recently told Business Insider. A lack of ammo didn't help. The soldier goes by the call sign Harley and is with the 4th Ranger Regiment, a Ukrainian special operations unit patterned after its US Army counterparts. He said that SOF units started the war in February 2022 with Soviet-designed Kalashnikovs. After a few weeks, they received US-made M4A1s, changing both the training and combat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harley, who spoke to BI through a translator, said that he had previous experience with the M4 before the Russians invaded, so it wasn't a big deal for him to make the transition away from the Kalashnikov rifles. However, he said, the switch was a bit of a problem for many of his fellow soldiers at first. The Ukrainians weren't used to the M4, so they had to overcome some psychological barriers and past habits. "But when a rifle shows results, it quickly changes your mind to it," he said. A Ukrainian soldier holding an AK-47 in the direction of Kurakhove in December 2024. Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images The M4 carbine is a widely popular weapon developed in the 1980s by the American gun maker Colt's Manufacturing Company. It's a shorter version of the M16 used by the US military and dozens of other countries, and it fires 5.5645 mm NATO rounds. This is a change from the Soviet Kalashnikovs, also widely used, which fire 7.62x39 mm ammunition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kalashnikov, represented by firearms like the AK-47 and AK-74, is a very recognizable collection of assault rifles that were originally designed and produced in the Soviet Union. Given Ukraine's history with Soviet weaponry, the country is more accustomed to these rifles. One of the biggest issues during the transition, Harley said, was that the Ukrainian soldiers didn't receive enough M4 bullets only around 100 per soldier each day for training at the start of the war. They did, however, have plenty of rounds for the Kalashnikovs. An American sniper previously told BI that he prefers the Soviet weapons because the ammunition is easier to come by. The Ukrainians have a lot of it, and they can always take bullets off the Russians, too. "When you don't train well, it's difficult for you in operations," Harley said. "Of course, in operations, no one limited us to ammunition, and we had as much ammunition as we wanted. But it was during training that, at first, we did not have enough ammunition to prepare properly and raise our hits to the level required." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harley said that once the Ukrainian soldiers started using the M4 in combat missions, they became comfortable with the rifles. A US Army Reserve drill sergeant fires an M4 rifle at a training range in Germany in February 2024. US Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kevin A. D. Spence Beyond the ammunition and psychological barriers, the upgrade had only advantages. They eventually received enough bullets for extensive training. "Now this situation has changed, we have everything available," he told BI earlier this month. "We have raised our level of proficiency with this weapon." The switch from the Kalashnikovs to the M4 is one of many examples where, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukrainian troops traded Soviet-designed weaponry for Western-made combat equipment. Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles instead of BMPs, F-16 fighter jets instead of old MiGs and Sukhois, and Abrams tanks instead of T-72 tanks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harley said that later in the war, the SOF received and started using the DDM4 rifle, which is similar to the M4A1. He said this weapon combines some of the characteristics of an assault rifle and a sniper rifle, allowing for flexibility in missions. Since Russia invaded, Ukraine's Western backers have given it weapons to boost its defensive capabilities. Beyond tanks, armored vehicles, and fighters, the war-torn country has also received artillery, air defenses, and long-range missiles. It hasn't always been the smoothest process, with Western indecision and delays at times causing Ukraine to miss critical windows of opportunity. It continues to be a challenge even now as Ukraine is in negotiations to potentially end the war. Read the original article on Business Insider BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) The small number of staff laid off at the Battle Creek Veteran Affairs Medical Center are back with the agency in some capacity. American Federation of Government Employees Local 1629 President, Kenny Cheek, told News 8 that recently some employees were put back to work while others were placed on paid leave. Battle Creek VA employee hopes to return amid mass layoffs He said the Department of Veterans Affairs is now tasked with either getting the employees back into their old jobs or at one that is of equal pay. Cheek said the employees have also been given back pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 8 spoke with one of the affected workers who said she was weeks from completing her probationary period. Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered some federal probationary workers to be reinstated. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs alone has laid off more than 2,400 employees nationwide during efforts officials deemed as cutting government waste. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jacques Thibodeaux, director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Prepareness, addresses the media ahead of Hurricane Francine in September 2024. (Julie O'Donoghue/LAI) Gov. Jeff Landry announced Thursday he is restructuring the states disaster response office and folding it into the Louisiana National Guard. The Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will now be placed under the authority of National Guard Brig. Gen. Jason Mahfouz, who will serve as GOHSEPs interim director, according to a news release from Landrys office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Short on details, the governors announcement described the restructuring as a cost savings measure to cut wasteful government spending. He said the move would save the state millions but did not offer details as to how this would happen. We will definitely put some of that info out at a later date, Landry spokeswoman Kate Kelly said in a text message. Landry said the change aligns with his belief in relying more on the National Guard for emergency response. His announcement did not explicitly say whether GOHSEPs current director, Jacques Thibodeaux, will have any future role with the agency or in Landrys administration. Kelly said Thibodeaux would stay with the agency at least until the transition is complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thibodeaux, who retired from the National Guard as a colonel in 2015, was appointed as GOHSEP director shortly after Landry took office. He recently gave an interview to the Illuminator to discuss the fate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and President Donald Trumps suggestion of maybe getting rid of FEMA. In his statement, Landry thanked Thibodeaux for his service. GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodeaux took on a challenging role and served our state with dedication under difficult circumstances. We deeply appreciate his service, Landry said. Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, the highest ranking member of the Louisiana National Guard, has been instructed to provide oversight and guidance to GOHSEP during the transition, the governor said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (KRON) Seven human trafficking victims were found during the raid of a suspected large-scale brothel operation in Sunnyvale on Thursday, according to authorities. The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Investigations Unit and the Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Investigating Human Trafficking Task Force executed a search warrant at a commercial building on Reamwood Avenue following what authorities said was an extensive investigation. Man arrested in 2009 rape cold case in Sunnyvale Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the raid, Sunnyvale DPS said it arrested six sex buyers and a woman who managed the brothel. Seven adult human trafficking victims were connected with resources, according to authorities. Authorities did not release the identities of those arrested. More than $27,000 in cash was seized in the search, Sunnyvale DPS said. This type of illegal activity will not be tolerated in Sunnyvale and will be vigorously investigated, authorities 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 KRON4. Mar. 20LAS CRUCES A 19-year-old man shot by a Las Cruces police officer on March 13 remains in a hospital one week later, last reported in stable condition. He faces charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer, negligent use of a deadly weapon and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. At a news conference Thursday, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story presented a timeline and video footage of events leading to the shooting of Gabriel Padilla, beginning with a 911 call from a security guard at a pizza shop on S. Main Street downtown. At 6:53 p.m., the caller reported a young man, identified later as Padilla, running toward the street holding a handgun. The shop sits in a large plaza surrounded by office buildings and businesses near a busy downtown intersection. Security footage from neighboring cameras showed the man wandering around parking areas and buildings holding what appeared to be a handgun, at times interacting with another man in an orange shirt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The security guard told dispatch he observed Padilla point the gun and that he had fired it twice. In one piece of footage, a puff of dust or debris is shown a short distance from Padilla near a spot where Story said police recovered a .45 casing. Body-camera footage shows a lone LCPD officer, who has not been identified, arriving at a parking lot one block south of the pizza shop and calling out to Padilla, who proceeds to flee by the side of a nearby motel southwest toward S. Main Street. The officer commands Padilla to stop and yells, "Stop reaching!" three times as the foot chase continues along the sidewalk, against the direction of traffic, while no pedestrians appear to be in view. After the third command, five gunshots are heard and Padilla is seen falling to the sidewalk with the firearm in his hand before dropping it and lying with his hands over his stomach. Approximately 16 seconds pass from the beginning of the chase to when Padilla falls, having been shot with one round in his lower back over the right buttock, according to police. No criminal complaint against Padilla appeared in court filings available Thursday afternoon, and Story said the criminal investigation was still in process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Padilla does not appear to have a criminal record in New Mexico, but Story told reporters Padilla had had previous encounters with law enforcement agencies and that his behavior had "escalated" recently, including "potential firearms use, saying he wanted to have gang affiliation, things like that." Information about the firearm was limited, but Story indicated it had not been reported stolen. While Padilla could lawfully possess the firearm, Story said video footage showed that he had the gun concealed at times and did not appear to have a concealed carry license. Story said the officer had been placed on standard paid leave while the shooting is under investigation. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Las Vegas Metro police officer was not injured after he was hit in the leg during a traffic stop in the east valley, according to police. The traffic stop took place on Thursday shortly after 4 p.m. along Boulder Highway near Twain Avenue. According to police, during the traffic stop the driver became uncooperative when officers were speaking to him while he was in the vehicle. The driver then drove away from the officers and struck one of the officers in the leg, police stated. No other information was released by police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LASALLE, Ill. A LaSalle County man accused of child pornography possession is facing a handful of felony charges following his arrest this week. 29-year-old Jonathan Boone, a LaSalle resident, has been charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, LaSalle County Sheriff Adam Diss announced Wednesday morning. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The charges were handed down after Boone was taken into custody on Monday. Boones arrest was the result of a collaboration between the sheriffs office, the Illinois Attorney Generals Office High Tech Crimes Bureau and the LaSalle Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland After being taken into custody and transported to the LaSalle County Jail, he was later released and given a notice to appear in court. Authorities said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and additional charges may be filed 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 WGN-TV. LONDON (AP) Heathrow Airport stirred back to life late Friday, with flights slowly resuming about 18 hours after an inferno at an electrical substation caused a power outage that shuttered Europes busiest air travel hub and left 200,00 passengers stranded. A British Airways jet touched down just before sunset after Heathrow lifted its closure order that disrupted global travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Further arrivals followed, including a short-haul flight from Manchester in northwest England. The first departure took place later Friday. The British government temporarily lifted restrictions on overnight flights to help clear the backlog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's the latest: ___ First plane takes off from Heathrow after day-long closure sparked by a fire grounded hundreds of flights The first plane has taken off from Heathrow Airport after a day-long closure sparked by a nearby fire grounded hundreds of flights. After power was restored, a British Airways jet touched down just before sunset on Friday after Heathrow lifted its closure order. Further arrivals followed, including a short flight from Manchester in northwest England. A British Airways flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia took off from Heathrow just before 9 p.m. (2100GMT). British Airways says it will run eight long-haul flights on Friday night. The airport plans to operate full schedule on Saturday, but disruption is expected to last for days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heathrow coming back to life hours after fire shut down busy hub Heathrow Airport stirred back to life late Friday, with flights slowly resuming about 18 hours after an inferno at an electrical substation caused a power outage that shuttered Europes busiest air travel hub and left 200,00 passengers stranded. A British Airways jet touched down just before sunset after Heathrow lifted its closure order that disrupted global travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Further arrivals followed, including a short-haul flight from Manchester in northwest England. The first departure was scheduled for later Friday. The British government temporarily lifted restrictions on overnight flights to help clear the backlog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heathrow shutdown had massive impact on international travel Heathrows shutdown had a massive impact on international travel because it is the busiest airport in Europe and one of the busiest in the world. OAG, a travel-data provider based in the U.K., provided some statistics on Heathrow and the flights canceled. Heathrow is the fifth largest airport in the world and second largest for international capacity. More than 1,300 flights had been scheduled Friday. British Airways, which has its main base at Heathrow, was the operator of more than half of those flights. Destinations that were most impacted, included New Yorks JFK, which had flights canceled with 5,300 seats of capacity; Dubai with 4,500 seats and Frankfurt with 3,000 seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First plane lands at Londons Heathrow since a fire shuttered Europes busiest air travel hub The first plane has landed at Londons Heathrow Airport since a fire at an electrical substation shuttered Europes busiest air travel hub. The British Airways jet touched down on Friday about 18 hours after the airport was closed due to a massive power outage. Heathrow had canceled all flights for the day but was able to resume some after electricity was restored. Heathrow CEO apologizes for disruption caused by airports daylong closure Heathrows boss has apologized for the disruption caused by the airports daylong closure, but says there was no choice but to shut the airport for safety reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye said we would not shut down the airport unless we had severe safety concerns. More than 1,300 flights due to take off or land were disrupted Friday, affecting more than 200,000 passengers, after a fire ripped through an electrical substation near the airport. Woldbye said Heathrow drew power from three substations and two are still working. He said that is enough to restore power, but it was necessary to restructure the electricity supply after the fire to get Heathrow back up and running. Woldbye rejected suggestions that Heathrow did not have adequate contingency plans, saying the incident was unprecedented and all our procedures have been working as they should. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said contingencies of certain sizes we cannot guard ourselves against 100% and this is one of them. BA warns disruption at Heathrow will persist for days British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle says the closure of Heathrow Airport will have a huge impact on passengers even after it reopens. Heathrow is BAs base and it is the airline most affected by the shutdown. Doyle said the airline had been due to operate more than 670 flights carrying more than 100,000 passengers on Friday. Passengers booked to fly to or from Heathrow on Saturday or Sunday are being given the option to rebook to a later date for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video to customers, Doyle said: We hope that power will be restored as soon as possible. But even when that does happen, this incident will have a substantial impact on our airline and customers for many days to come, with disruption to journeys expected over the coming days. Lights are back on at Heathrow Terminal 4 Travelers say power is back on at one of the two Heathrow Airport terminals left in the dark after a fire at an electricity substation. Lights came back on at Terminal 4 on Friday afternoon. Firefighters earlier said that terminals 2 and 4 at the airport had lost all power after the blaze. Heathrow shut the airport to all arriving and departing flights until at least midnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electricity distributor National Grid said it had found an interim solution that reconfigured its network, allowing electricity to be restored to all customers, including Heathrow. Its unclear whether power to the airport has been fully restored. Heathrow is facing questions about how it could be shut down by a fire at a single substation 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away. The airport said it has emergency backup systems that worked as expected, but they are not enough to run the whole airport. Airline industry boss hits out at systemic issues Willie Walsh, director general of airline industry group IATA, took to social media to lambaste Heathrows management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firstly, how is it that critical infrastructure of national and global importance is totally dependent on a single power source without an alternative, he said in a post from IATAs account on social media platform X. If that is the case as it seems then it is a clear planning failure by the airport. He also questioned whether it was fair that airlines are solely responsible for picking up the tab when infrastructure fails. Prices surge at hotels near Heathrow Stranded travelers looking for somewhere to stay until they can fly out of Heathrow faced the possibility of jacked-up prices for rooms because hotels are capitalizing on a huge spike in demand, warned Tim Hentschel, CEO of booking platform HotelPlanner.com. In one example from the companys website, the Crowne Plaza at Heathrows Terminal Four was charging 485 pounds ($627) for a room on Friday, compared with 140 pounds for the same time next week. Hotels near major transport hubs like Heathrow often see price fluctuations during such crises, as supply struggles to meet the sudden demand, Hentschel said. He added that there is also an essence of the hospitality industry price gouging to cash in on unfortunate circumstances, which is a real shame. United Airlines offers travel waiver to Heathrow customers United Airlines says that it is offering a travel waiver to its customers while Heathrow is closed so that they can switch to eligible flights to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris or Edinburgh. The airline said that all flights scheduled to arrive at Heathrow on Friday are canceled due to the closure. Eurostar adding trains to help travelers Eurostar says it is adding two additional trains between London and Paris to accommodate passengers stranded by Heathrows shutdown. The high-speed train that goes beneath the English Channel said it was increasing capacity by 882 passengers per train on Friday. Heathrow says it doesn't know when power will be restored Heathrow Airport says it doesnt know when power will be restored and expects disruption to last for days. The airport said in a statement it does not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. It said it expects significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. Heathrow earlier said the airport is not expected to reopen until Saturday. Analysts say Heathrow closure raises worrying questions While the cause of the fire that shut down Heathrow Airport is still unclear, analysts say the incident raises concerns about the U.K.s ability to withstand attacks or natural disasters that damage critical infrastructure such as communications and power networks. Its particularly worrisome given recent comments by Britains security services that Russia is conducting a reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe, said Alan Mendoza, the executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based think tank focused on security and democracy in Europe. The U.K.s critical national infrastructure is not sufficiently hardened for anywhere near the level it would need to be at to give us confidence this wont happen again, Mendoza said. I mean, if one fire can shut down Heathrows primary systems and then apparently the backup systems as well, it tells you somethings badly wrong with our system of management of such disasters, he added. European airline shares fall on main indexes The Heathrow disruption weighed on shares of European airlines, which posted declines that outpaced the fall in broader main stock indexes on Friday. Shares of International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, were down 1.4% after falling as much as 3% in early trading. Shares of Lufthansa, which operates Germanys biggest carrier as well as Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and others, fell 1.3%. Air France-KLM, which operates the main carriers in France the Netherlands, slid 1.3%. German leisure and tourism company TUI, which owns five airlines including one that serves the British market, slid 1.8%. Other European airlines that dont operate at Heathrow were also dragged down by the negative sentiment. Wizz Air shares declined 1.4%, easyJet was down 0.7% and Ryanair dipped 0.8. UK prime minister calls for rigorous investigation into fire The British government says clearly there are questions to answer about how a single fire could shut down Europes busiest airport. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there must be a rigorous investigation to make sure this scale of disruption does not happen again. Tom Wells said the most pressing task is to extinguish the fire, which is still burning on Friday. He said that at the moment the priority is to deal with the incident in hand. He said its very premature to speculate on the cause of the blaze. US flight operations normal as Delta issues waiver for Heathrow passengers Flight operations remained normal in the United States on Friday despite the Heathrow fire, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Delta Airlines has issued a travel waiver through Sunday for customers who need to rebook their flights due to the Heathrow fire, a spokesperson said in a statement. The company canceled 10 flights scheduled to depart from Heathrow on Friday. No indication of foul play in London blaze, police say Police say there is so far no indication of foul play in blaze that shut Heathrow but counterterror detectives leading the investigation into its cause. The Metropolitan Police force says that is because of the location of the electrical substation fire and its impact on critical national infrastructure. The force says counterterrorism command has specialist resources and capabilities that can help find the cause quickly. Heathrow closure recalls Icelandic volcano disruption The Heathrow closure is drawing comparisons to the 2010 Icelandic volcano eruption that closed much of European airspace for five days out of fears volcanic ash could damage jet engines. The eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull (ay-yah-FYAH-lah-yer-kuhl), after two centuries of silence, spewed an ash cloud that closed Europes airspace and grounded millions of travelers. Iceland was briefly infamous as the country that stopped the world. Read more about Icelands tourism boom in the aftermath of the 2010 eruption. Scandinavian Airlines cancels 12 round-trip London flights Scandinavian Airlines has canceled all 12 of its flights to and from London Heathrow on Friday. We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in continuous dialogue with Heathrow. Naturally, we hope for a swift resolution, the company said in a statement. Known as SAS, its considered the national airline of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Hopes dashed for family seeking to travel home to Texas At Heathrows Terminal 5, a family of five traveling to Dallas had shown up in the hopes their flight home still listed as delayed would take off. But when Andrea Sri brought her brother, sister-in-law and their three children to the airport, they were told by police that there would be no flight. It was a waste of time. Very confusing, said Sri, who lives in London. We tried to get in touch with British Airways, but they dont open their telephone line until 8 a.m. Other London-area airports could reroute stranded travelers Heathrow is one of the worlds biggest airports, but there are five others in the wider London area as well. Travelers might be able to rebook through the remaining five airports -- City, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Southend -- in the aftermath of Heathrows closure. However, they aren't all easy to reach from Heathrow. While City is in inner London, and buses link Heathrow with Gatwick, the others are further out. Southend is about a 78-mile drive from Heathrow, around the congested M25 orbital highway and then out to the eastern coast of England. Witnesses describe fireball and loud explosion from substation blaze LONDON Residents in west London have described hearing a large explosion, followed by a fireball and clouds of smoke, when a blaze ripped through an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport. Matthew Muirhead, who was working a night shift, said that at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday he saw smoke rising over trees, then a bright flash of white and all the lights in town went out. Delivery driver Adeel Anwar said the heat and billowing smoke from the blaze were absolutely apocalyptic. He told Sky News that as he drove past the substation I just felt the heat I tried to just get out of the area as quick as possible. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after seven hours and were still working to douse the flames on Friday. No injuries were reported. Electricity supplier National Grid said power was restored to 62,000 customers by Friday morning, with 4,900 still without electricity. What should travelers do? Any travelers impacted by the Heathrow closure should contact their airline. If a phone call doesnt go through, travelers can also try contacting the airline on social media. Several airlines were responding to passengers posts on social platform X on Friday. A representative for British Airways, for example, was telling customers on X to send a direct message to the airlines account so they could assist in rebooking. For customers who are seeking a refund or other compensation, a European Union regulation known as EU261 could apply. Because the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU, however, not every flight will be covered under EU261. The regulation covers flights within the EU, as well as flights departing from the EU to a non-EU country. An incredibly long day for travelers GLASGOW Lawrence Hayes was three-quarters of the way to London from John F. Kennedy International in New York when Virgin Atlantic announced they were being diverted to Glasgow. It was a red-eye flight and Id already had a full day, so I dont even know how long Ive been up for, Hayes told the BBC as he was getting off the plane in Scotland. Luckily I managed to get hold of my wife and shes kindly booked me a train ticket to get back to Euston (railway station in London), but its going to be an incredibly long day. Ryanair adds rescue flights between Dublin and London Stansted DUBLIN Ryanair has added eight rescue flights between Dublin and Stansted, another London airport, on Friday and Saturday to help travelers impacted by the fire at Heathrow, the budget airline announced. Ryanair does not operate at Heathrow. Four of the flights will occur Friday afternoon, and the remaining on Saturday morning. No evidence that substation fire was suspicious, UK officials say LONDON British officials working to determine the cause of an electrical substation fire that shut Heathrow Airport have not yet found evidence its suspicious. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says its too early to say what caused the huge blaze, but theres no suggestion of foul play. Londons Metropolitan Police say the fire brigade is leading the investigation, suggesting its not thought to be criminal. Aviation expert compares impact to 9/11 or Icelandic volcano LONDON Aviation consultant John Strickland says it will take several days for global airline travel to recover from a daylong closure of Heathrow Airport. He said: Were talking about several days worth of disruption to get the planes recovered and start using them again to move planned and disrupted passengers. Strickland compared the disruption to a contained version of 9/11 or, to an extent, the Icelandic volcanic eruption that shut European airspace in 2010. I remembered seeing on those occasions particularly more so on 9/11 it happened so quick and then U.S. airspace was closed, they were turning back aircraft and holding planes. Thats the parallel I would make. Heathrow being such a busy airport and full, theres no kind of wriggle room for getting out of these kind of things. Heathrow closure has widespread impact on air travel The closure of Heathrow rippled through global aviation. The long-haul carrier Emirates in Dubai, which has London as one of its top destinations, canceled six round-trip flights to Heathrow on Friday alone. Etihad in neighboring Abu Dhabi canceled two round-trip flights, while one flight diverted to Frankfurt, Germany. Qatar Airways said at least seven scheduled flights were impacted, with its staff working with passengers. The Space Force is looking for ways to experiment with new technologies on its next-generation GPS satellites, but persistent delays to a key demonstration program could limit its options. The service planned to launch the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 demonstration, dubbed NTS-3, in 2022 with an eye toward experimenting with new positioning, navigation and timing signals and payloads that could be installed on future GPS satellites and shape its long-term plans for the constellation. The satellites development, led by the Air Force Research Lab and L3Harris, has proceeded on schedule, but delays to the rocket assigned to fly the spacecraft United Launch Alliances new Vulcan Centaur have stalled the program for years. The mission is slated to fly on Vulcans first national security launch this year, but those plans are on hold as the company awaits final certification from the Space Force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cordell DeLaPena, who oversees the Space Systems Centers positioning, navigation and timing and satellite communications portfolios, said the service is weighing its options for how to proceed with integrating NTS-3 technology into upcoming GPS production lines. The longer it takes to actually launch those experiments, get the data and be able to assess it, the window starts to close on the availability of production vehicles, he told Defense News in an interview. The Space Force had intended to funnel NTS-3-proven capabilities into the production line for its latest variant of GPS satellites, dubbed GPS IIIF. The service plans to buy 20 of these satellites from Lockheed Martin and, to date, has ordered 10. The first five of those spacecraft are slated for deliveries over a five-year period beginning in 2027. ULAs new rocket wont fly its first Space Force missions until 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeLaPena said GPS IIIF is approaching the end of its design period and will soon shift toward production. Theres still room on the satellite for additional size, weight and power or SWAP which means the program could still make changes to incorporate NTS-3 technology. But the clock is ticking, he said. If there are a handful of these experiments that launch and prove themselves out on orbit and if theyre mature enough to start considering maturing those concepts for production, that would be the path, DeLaPena said. If the the Space Force misses its window to install NTS-3 technology on the first five GPS IIIF satellites, the service could aim to include any relevant technology either on its next batch of five spacecraft or as part of other PNT programs, DeLaPena said. That includes a program called Resilient GPS, which is meant to augment the larger constellation with a fleet of small, lightweight, lower-cost satellites. The Space Forces NTS-3 demonstration and its plans for Resilient GPS, or R-GPS, are part of a broader rethinking of its approach to providing navigation and timing capabilities. One piece of that involves the orbit in which satellites reside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military has traditionally launched its GPS satellites to medium Earth orbit, and thats where R-GPS will operate. However, the service is considering a multi-orbit approach for its future PNT capabilities. Along those lines, NTS-3 is destined for geosynchronous orbit, and the Space Development Agency plans to launch PNT satellites to low Earth orbit as part of its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. DeLaPena noted that demonstrating a blended, multi-orbit navigation capability is a primary goal for NTS-3, adding that countries like Japan, South Korea and India are all exploring GEO-based systems. The Space Force is in the midst of an analysis of alternatives that will further define a roadmap for the services future mix of PNT capabilities. The need for an R-GPS capability was an outgrowth of that study, which should be completed this summer, DeLaPena said. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A bill signed into law on Thursday clarifies when a doctor in Arkansas is authorized to provide an abortion. Abortion was banned in the state in June 2022, the same date as the U.S. Supreme Courts overturned Roe v. Wade. The state had a trigger law in place that made abortion illegal as soon as that case was overturned. Lawsuit filed by 17 states against abortion accommodations in the workplace can proceed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new law, Act 387, establishes circumstances where a doctor may perform an abortion when a mothers life is in danger. It repeatedly uses the term reasonable medical judgment as the standard for a doctor making an abortion decision in a medical emergency. The reasonable medical judgment standard has never been found unworkable or vague in any medical context, including abortion, the act states. Reasonable medical judgment means a medical judgment that would be made or medical action that would be undertaken by a reasonably prudent, qualified physician, knowledgeable about the case and the treatment possibilities with respect to the medical conditions involved, the act further clarifies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. TRENDE, a renewable energy solutions provider in Japan, has secured Y1.07bn ($7.1m) in a funding round through third-party allocation. The capital will be directed towards the expansion of TRENDE's solar power generation system and storage battery leasing business, Teraris, along with its peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading platform. The investment round has brought in four strategic partners as new shareholders: Tokyo Century, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH), Zennoh Energy and Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions. TRENDE CEO Masashi Nishio stated: We are thrilled to welcome these esteemed companies as strategic investors and partners. Their expertise and resources will significantly enhance our ability to deliver innovative renewable energy solutions at scale. Together, we aim to accelerate Japan's transition toward a decentralised, low-carbon future. Tokyo Century's partnership with TRENDE will focus on finance and asset management to scale renewable energy leasing services. The collaboration will enable more residential customers to adopt solar power and battery storage systems without upfront costs. ZEN-NOH and Zennoh Energy are working with TRENDE as part of the Smart Agri community project through their JA Denki retail electricity brand for a pilot P2P electricity trading initiative in Gunma Prefecture. Utilising blockchain technology, the project encourages local production and consumption of renewable energy within agricultural communities, with plans to expand the model nationwide to support farmers and rural areas. TRENDE has also partnered with Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions for the digital implementation acceleration project in Ehime Prefecture. The collaboration integrates Toshiba's vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology with TRENDE's P2P electricity trading platform to demonstrate effective local renewable energy utilisation. Both companies plan to promote this model across various municipalities in Japan. In January 2025, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions secured an order to deliver a steam turbine and generator for Unit 2 of the Patuha geothermal power plant in West Java, Indonesia. "TRENDE secures $7.1m for renewable energy expansion" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. A key trade exemption between the U.S. and many of its biggest trade partners appears to be no more. This time, though, there may be environmental benefits, as analysts say its elimination is expected to have a big impact on one industry that greatly affects the planet: fast fashion from China. What's happening? On Feb. 4, the White House enacted new tariffs, paused them on Feb. 7, and then enacted them again on March 4, which included eliminating the de minimis trade exemption. De minimis became law in the U.S. through the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, with the goal of letting people and small businesses skip import fees for small shipments. The original amount was $200 and was raised to $800 in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it was beneficial for consumers who wanted to order a small item for their home without paying huge tariffs, it was greatly overutilized by the fast-fashion industry. Shipments under $800 rose from 153 million to 1 billion between 2015 and 2023, according to the White House. Why is the ending of de minimis important? Fast fashion has made buying cheap clothing from overseas too easy, offering clothes for as little as a few dollars each and therefore encouraging a larger haul per customer. To be able to sell so cheaply, the clothing is made to deteriorate, or at least not made to last, causing Americans to toss 82 pounds of clothing every year, on average. While these extra few dollars of tariffs might make companies like Shein and Temu absorb the costs with small price increases or find an alternate route to keep consumers, sustainability advocates are hoping for a change in consumer behavior. Shein chairman Donald Tang reportedly attempted to downplay the effects, saying, "We will find a way to deliver the goods," but industry analysts believe it will strike a major blow to these companies' bottom lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports could be a blessing in disguise for sustainable fashion brands," Rodica Murphy, a sustainability consultant based in Cheshire, England, shared with Trellis. "Fast-fashion behemoths like Shein and Temu, who churn out ultra-cheap, disposable clothing at breakneck speed, now face higher costs. And let's be honest it's about time." The CEO of American Circular Textiles, Rachel Van Metre Kibbe, said she is also excited about the potential of this new policy. "If tariffs make new clothes pricier, people will lean even harder into resale, rental, and repair," she told Trellis, formerly known as GreenBiz. "That's already happening, but this could pour fuel on the fire." Would you be more likely to shop at a store that paid you for your old stuff? Absolutely Only if they make it easy Depends on the store Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What can I do about this? Costs are rising in all aspects of our lives, and consumers are looking to cut costs everywhere. If buyers are upset about the surcharges on their supposedly inexpensive hauls, you could encourage them to shop secondhand locally, online with thrifting retailers like ThredUp, or to support sustainable brands that produce items that have no planned obsolescence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shein sends nearly 1 million packages a day to the U.S. If Americans can be persuaded to cut back, that would make a big environmental impact. If you are looking to break up with fast fashion, check out TCD Guide for more. 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. Photo via Getty Images Kids in the care of the Arizona Department of Child Safety wont have to sleep in the agencys offices next week, after a bipartisan group of legislators voted to transfer funds so that DCS doesnt default on payments to group homes. Ultimately, lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Budget Committee unanimously approved a funding transfer Thursday, four days before the congregate care program was expected to run out of money. But that agreement came after several days of political drama, along with heated debate during Thursdays JLBC meeting about who was at fault, and whether Republicans were exaggerating the severity of the problem or Democrats were downplaying it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX House Republicans called a press conference on Monday to announce that DCS would go bankrupt next week because of Hobbs financial mismanagement. In reality, one DCS program, called congregate care, was expected to run out of money March 24, and the department had asked JLBC if it could transfer unspent money from other programs to make up the difference. Democrats argued that line item transfers were a routine part of budgeting, pointing out that the same GOP-controlled committee rubber-stamped a total of nearly $50 million in transfers within departments for former Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican. But Rep. David Livingston, the Peoria Republican who is chairman of the JLBC, claimed this instance created a serious problem because DCS only gave JLBC a 19-day heads up before congregate care was expected to run out of money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCS has included a shortfall in its congregate care budget since September, and a DCS deputy director, Alex Ong informed legislators about it during a January meeting. But the department didnt inform JLBC of the specific day funds would run out until March 5. Livingston also took issue with what he described as a demand letter that DCS and Hobbs sent him a physical letter sent to the wrong address which he called unprofessional. In the letter, which JLBC staff received via email, Hobbs said that if JLBC didnt approve the funding transfer, children could be kicked out of their group homes and might have to sleep in DCS offices. Following more than an hour of debate, the panel unanimously agreed to transfer the originally requested $6.5 million from other DCS programs to keep congregate care solvent for another month. The committee also approved a $2.5 million transfer to fund extended foster care services through May, which was short on funds because of an unexpected increase in cases. And lawmakers approved an additional $10 million in potential surplus funding from other areas of the DCS budget to keep congregate care solvent through near the end of the fiscal year on June 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the committee members agreed to the funding transfers, Livingston criticized Hobbs at length, telling the Democratic legislators on the committee that they should be just as angry at the governors budgeting mistakes as he was. Im frustrated with my colleagues that you dont understand how badly the governor has done, Livingston said. The larger issue, according to JLBC Director Richard Stavneak, is that the state continues to use a budgeting practice of treating ongoing funding, or funding that is necessary annually, as if it was one-time funding that wont be needed the following year. The state budget has treated around $20 million in funding for congregate care that way since Ducey was governor, with that money used to make up for decreased federal funding. The state did that with the intention that DCS would work to reduce the number of kids who need congregate care, and would eventually not need the extra $20 million, on top of the programs ongoing budget of around $100 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Livingston blamed Hobbs for not fighting hard enough to ensure that the additional $20 million was in the current years budget, adding that even though Republicans and Democrats in the legislature signed off on that budget, it was ultimately Hobbs job to ensure that the departments she oversees were adequately funded. In the fiscal year 2026 budget, which must be approved by Hobbs and the legislature by June 30, Hobbs has requested $23 million in additional ongoing funding for congregate care. In an emailed statement following the JLBC meeting, Hobbs called Republicans reactions to the funding transfer requests shameful political stunts. A spokesman for Hobbs did not immediately respond to specific questions about some of Livingstons claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Hobbs and House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos, of Laveen, continued to accuse Republicans of inflating the seriousness of the congregate care funding shortfall to distract from their continued refusal to appropriate $122 million necessary to fund vital services for people served by the Division of Developmental Disabilities before it runs out in April. The Department of Child Safety is not running out of money next week, as the Republicans claim, he said in the statement. This is a pathetic attempt to distract voters from the fact that, just yesterday, House Republicans killed a bill to provide emergency funding for kids with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and other developmental disabilities. If the Republicans dont act in the next few days, these children will be cut off from lifesaving services. They are attempting to distract you when they should be making life better for disabled kids across Arizona. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Connecticut environmentalists say a bill that could revolutionize the way homes are heated and cooled is looking up. Canary Media reported that HB 6929 would create grant and loan programs to support the development of geothermal networks. These networks act similarly to traditional heat pumps, except that instead of harnessing heat from the outside air, they harness heat from the earth. "We're starting to see some new momentum with this bill," Shannon Laun, the Conservation Law Foundation's vice president for Connecticut, told Canary Media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A handful of other states have passed legislation in favor of geothermal energy projects, starting with Massachusetts in 2021. And the country's first utility-run geothermal network project has been commissioned in Framingham, Massachusetts. This type of heat pump offers many potential advantages. "Relative to air-source heat pumps, they are quieter, more efficient, last longer, need little maintenance, and do not rely on the temperature of the outside air, which is more variable than the ground temperature in most climates," the U.S. Department of Energy noted. A more efficient heating source means it's better not only for the environment but also for your wallet. The only emissions involved with geothermal networks are from the electricity used to run the heat pumps, which is less than other heating systems. And although these networks can be expensive to set up, they can also heat entire neighborhoods while saving individuals up to 75% on their heating and cooling costs, experts say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite some broad appeal for Connecticut's proposed bill, plenty of questions remain. Some advocates told Canary that the bill should require utilities to propose geothermal pilot projects. But the biggest question regarding the bill is its funding. The bill does not propose a budget for the program or specify a funding source. Connor Yakaitis, deputy director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, told Canary that he'd like to see a $20 million budget for the program. "It's a one-time capital investment that would yield long-term environmental and economic benefits," Yakaitis said. Do you think all new homes should use heat pump technology? Definitely Let each state decide Let homeowners decide No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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 district attorney has been cracking down on landlords who have not maintained living conditions while still receiving funding from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Now, with the potential closure of the local HUD office, elected officials are worried that it will set back progress on holding those landlords accountable. I am a single mother of five and I have depended on low-income housing to be able to help me support my family and so that we could thrive throughout the days of our time. said tenant advocate, Jala Rucker. With the potential closing, more than 44,000 low-income families would be affected, cutting around $413 million in federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 11 has told you the DA has charged landlords of Mon View Heights in West Mifflin and Palisades Plaza Apartments in Rankin - after an inspector found life-threatening conditions inside the housing complexes - like bug and rodent infestations, mold, leaking sewage and even fire hydrants that dont work. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Mon View Heights owners facing more charges, DA says they are linked to other nuisance properties PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Rankin apartment complex named public nuisance by Districts Attorneys Office Congresswoman Summer Lee said she is thrilled with the involvement of the District Attorney but warns that if the local HUD office closes, they will not have the staffing to bring these conditions to light or enforce landlords to fix the already dangerous living conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are people who have been found to be fraudulent. They are facing federal indictments and theyre probably going to jail. Even with all of that, these people still have no remedy. Theyre still living in units that are uninhabitable. So even with the federal indictment, we still dont have a remedy, said Congresswoman Summer Lee. The Pittsburgh HUD field office oversees 34 housing authorities in 29 counties, covering the entire western half of the state. Jala Rucker said the closure will hurt families. Longer delays mean more families stuck in limbo and at risk of homelessness, Rucker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My call to action is for the people, said Mayor Ed Gainey. Its for the people to reach out to their congresspeople and senators and tell them that no plan is how people perish, and we cant afford for nobody to perish. Congresswoman Summer Lee said, I know its called housing and urban development, but housing is an issue is a concern in urban and rural communities and suburban and exurban communities and blue and red and purple ones all across this country. This is not a Democrat versus a Republican problem housing is a problem for each and every one of us. There is no word on a timeline for this potential closer, but local leaders stressed the need to be proactive about the situation, as it could affect many neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) California Republican Congresswoman Young Kim is speaking out against the presidents recent executive order to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global media, or USAGM. I would like to encourage the administration to reconsider their actions, Kim said. Through its outlets, including Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, USAGM reports news to millions across the world in countries lacking press freedom. Kim says it promotes Americas national security interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a long time, our reporting has not been blocked by adversaries like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, Kim said. Now, we are by ourselves shutting off the ability to get the information into those oppressed regimes to the people that are dying for the real truth and information. One of the entities under USAGM is Voice of America in DC. The organizations director said in a social media post that almost all of the 1,300 employees have been put on administrative leave. The presidents pick to lead VOA, Kari Lake, called it a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer. She said in a video on X that shes going to root out waste and mismanagement at USAGM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to make sure were doing everything we can to cancel contracts that can be canceled, save money, downsize, Lake said. State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce defended the Presidents order, describing it as a restructuring. It doesnt mean burning the house down. It means looking at how we can make it better, Bruce said. USAGM advocates say the move emboldens Americas adversaries. China and Russia, our enemies, are eager to have Voice of America go, George Washington University Professor of Media and Public Affairs Janet Steele said. Steele says since VOA is congressionally funded, lawmakers could take action to support the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress could step up. But I dont know if they will, Steele said. Kim says the next step is congressional hearings. She said shed like to see the agency reformed but not eliminated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Three women are suing the City of Warren, its police chief and a now-imprisoned police officer. The lawsuit claims former police officer Michael Edwards Jr. used his badge to sexually assault women while on duty between 2019 and 2024. It further claims Police Chief Erik Merkel had knowledge of the misconduct and failed to investigate. The complaint alleges a pattern of abuse. There was, within the City of Warren police department, a custom and widespread practice of on-duty police officers committing sexual assaults, sexual coercion, and sexual extortion against vulnerable women in the community, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It goes on to say that Merkel was reckless which enabled Edwards crimes to continue for years without consequences. Edwards was convicted last year on multiple charges, including rape and extortion. According to court documents, the women are suing for damages, citing physical and psychological harm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A Big Law associate has issued a scathing resignation letter after a different firmPaul, Weisschose to bend to Donald Trumps blatant bullying. Rachel Cohen, an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, circulated her strongly worded conditional notice of resignation to her colleagues Thursday evening. Please consider this email my two week notice revocable if the firm comes up with a satisfactory response to our current moment, Cohen wrote in the email, which had the subject line With gratitude and urgency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cohens resignation came just hours after the Trump administration rescinded an executive order revoking the security clearances of lawyers at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, in response to the firm pledging it would provide $40 million in free legal services on cases that represent the full spectrum of political viewpoints of our society. Trumps executive order had targeted Paul, Weiss over the work of one former employee, Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor who previously oversaw the Manhattan District Attorneys Offices investigation into Trumps alleged financial crimes. As part of bowing to Trumps threat, the firm acknowledged that Pomerantz had committed wrongdoing. The firm also agreed to stop making decisions about hiring and promotions based on considerations of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cohens email included a list of conditions her firm should execute at a minimum to respond to Paul, Weisss decision to fold under pressure from the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cohen urged her firm to sign an amicus brief in support of Perkins Coie, the law firm that represented Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. Trump accused Perkins Coie of dishonest and dangerous activity in an executive order last week, suspending the firms security clearances and barring federal employees from engaging with firm members. A judge temporarily blocked parts of Trumps order, saying that it likely violated the firms First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights. Cohen called on Skadden Arps to commit to broad future representation and publicly commit to continue the firms affinity groups and other diversity initiatives. She also wrote that the firm should refuse requests for information on employees clearly targeted at intimidating nonwhite employees, and publicly refuse to fire employees at the behest of the Trump administration. This is not what I saw for my career or for my evening, but Paul Weiss decision to cave to the Trump administration on DEI, representation and staffing has forced my hand. We do not have time. It is now or it is never, and if it is never, I will not continue to work here, Cohen wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Cohen organized an open letter criticizing the Trump administration for trying to bully corporate law firms out of engaging in any representation that challenges the administrations aims, garnering more than 300 anonymous signatures from Big Law associates. Cohen told Politico that she hoped to see a critical mass of major firms publish statements expressing their willingness to represent all sides of the coin, even if one side went against Trump. It is imperative for rule of law in this country that lawyers not be associated with the interests that they represent or not have those imputed to them, Cohen told Politico. Because if we dont have that and we have a vindictive government at the federal level targeting attorneys for providing representation, then we dont have checks and balances. We dont have the judiciary or the court system in the way that its intended to function. In caving to Trumps threats, Paul, Weiss established a price Big Law firms will have to pay to keep their security clearances: $40 million and their integrity. Its decision to bow down to the administration marks other firms that take up cases challenging the administration as vulnerable to Trumps lawless, punitive actions. It also invites the question, if major firms like Paul, Weiss wont stand up to Trumps punitive and targeted executive orders, who will? COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The trial for the suspect in a 2019 murder at a local gas station continued into its fourth day. Jurors heard from investigators from the Columbus Police Department and Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The suspect, Daequavian Solomon, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. The final testimony of the day came from Sgt. Sherman Hayes of the Columbus Police Department. Hayes was lead investigator at the time of the murder of Dontrell Williams in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did anything stand out to you when you received that call from Laquoia Mason? Chief Assistant District Attorney Wesley Lambertus asked Hayes, referring to a call made to police from Solomons partner at the time. Hayes was quick to list a few factors which made him think Mason may have some credibility. He pointed out Mason unpromptedly identified elements of the suspects clothing in a seconds-long clip of the suspect entering the Circle K. She tells us that Staff Zone provided that vest, Hayes said. It [stood out] immediately, because we had not released to the public through the news what was on the back of [the vest]. That was an investigative tool because we knew preemptively what was on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After hearing Masons story, Hayes team carried out a search of Unit 14A at the Hunter Haven apartments where Mason and Solomon lived, with Masons permission. Police did not find any of the clothing items visible in the surveillance video, nor did they find the mask the suspect was wearing. Mason had told him her partner wore black Nike Air Forces like the ones seen in the video often. Hayes said he observed that Solomon kept an orderly living space. Officers observed Solomons shoes were organized neatly and there was an empty spot in the lineup, big enough for one pair. After Masons truth-telling ability was called into question during cross examination by Defense Attorney William Kendrick on Wednesday, prosecutors requested that jurors be able to watch Masons full interview with Hayes on the day after the murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the video, Mason is shown pictures. She says she cannot identify them. Kendrick also questioned Hayes about a phone call Mason had with Solomon near the time of the murder. Hayes said Mason had already explained the call. GBIs firearm investigator told jurors that his investigation confirmed the casings found at the scene of the murder had come from the same firearm as those found outside Unit 14A of the Hunter Haven apartments. Hayes was the last to testify for the state. Solomon declined to give his own testimony. Closing arguments are expected to be given Friday. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: After five and a half years, man accused of 2019 Circle K murder goes to trial Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ex of suspect in 2019 gas station murder testifies against former partner Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The pervasive fear and anger that have been rippling through federal agencies over Elon Musks slashing approach to shrinking government deepened even further on Friday over the billionaire tech moguls threat to root out and punish anyone who is leaking to the media. Theyve already taken every precaution they can for fear of retaliation: setting Signal messages to automatically disappear, taking photos of documents they share instead of screenshotting, using non-government devices to communicate. But disclosing the chaos caused by Musks Department of Government Efficiency, for many, outweighs the risks that come with leaking. Following Thursdays New York Times report that Musk was set to receive a Pentagon briefing about a confidential contingency plan for a war with China, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO posted on his social media platform X that leakers will be found and, he intimated, punished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT, Musk wrote in his post. But Musks post is not having the chilling effect on leakers hed intended, according to conversations with more than half a dozen government employees who had previously spoken to POLITICO. If anything, it might be the other way around. We are public servants, not Elons servants, said one Food and Drug Administration employee who, like all people interviewed for this story, was granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal dynamics. The public deserves to know how dysfunctional, destructive, and deceptive all of this has been and continues to be. "Leakers are patriots, said one Agriculture Department employee. Helping the media report on problems or concerns inside agencies, the USDA employee added, is motivated by a desire for greater transparency the same goal Musk has said undergirds his own work through DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the Biden administration or Obama had acted like this, no one would have tolerated it, the staffer said. The Trump administration doesn't get a pass. Musks comments may not have caused a major shift in how federal workers view sharing information with reporters, one federal employee at a health agency said, citing group chats with other employees. But even before Musks comments this week, the prevailing atmosphere inside many federal agencies from constant threats of firing and being labeled enemies of the public to ousting them for following orders from previous administrations have left employees feeling vulnerable, increasingly incensed and concerned about their physical safety. Those safety concerns include law enforcement going after leakers to far-right extremists attacking people who make up the federal workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many federal government employees who have spoken with POLITICO over the past eight weeks said they have never previously been in contact with journalists. And if not for Musks move fast and break things approach to reducing staff and accessing sensitive government data, that would likely still be the case for nearly all of them. He IS A LEAKER, one senior Federal Aviation Administration official said of Musk in a Signal message. When you put hard drives on data systems at government agencies you are creating the biggest security breaches we have seen in years and years. Possibly ever. At the same time, even federal workers who havent spoken to media outlets are terrified of being suspected or accused of leaking information to journalists. By now, staffers across federal agencies are also worried that theyre being surreptitiously watched either through software installed on company devices or cameras in offices. Its unclear whether these claims are legitimate, but they have caused deep anxiety among employees even before the latest threat from Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were taking more conversations in-person, out of the office completely. Putting phones on airplane mode or going to the basement, said a staffer at the National Institutes of Health. I dont take my phone when Im talking to coworkers anymore. I assume there are cameras and listening devices everywhere. And many will only talk with reporters using Signal or similar messaging apps that offer end-to-end encryption to prevent third parties from tapping into conversations. If someone refuses to get on an app like Signal and also doesnt talk [in person], I immediately dont trust them, the NIH staffer said. Adding to the unease is knowing how Musk has previously encoded internal messages at his electric car company Tesla with distinct information like one or two spaces between sentences to identify leakers. He could, some fear, go even further and seed parts of their agency with easily traceable falsehoods. Im much more heavily vetting the things I hear before talking to the media, the NIH staffer said. Everything Musk is saying is saber-rattling trying to silence government employees from talking to the media. And unfortunately, its working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk is not the first senior member of the Trump administration to threaten to clamp down on leaks to the press. In a post on X last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard pledged to aggressively pursue what she said were unauthorized disclosures to the media from officials working in the nations spy agencies. Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people, and will not be tolerated, said Gabbard, who as a member of Congress expressed sympathy for former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who shared reams of classified information with the press. Gabbard listed several examples of what she claimed were unauthorized leaks to the media, citing a number of outlets by name including the Washington Post and NBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a press release last week , the Office of the Director of National Intelligence stated that Gabbard had established a whistleblower hotline directly to her office for intelligence officials looking to report concerns about potentially unauthorized activity by their colleagues. One staffer at a Department of Homeland Security agency said that most employees speaking to the media agree about the importance of not disclosing information that could compromise national security, even as they exercise their First Amendment right to disclose less sensitive information they think is important for the public to know. Ensuring freedom of speech and freedom of the press are vital to maintaining transparency and accountability in the current climate of instability being fostered by this administration, the DHS agency official said. Expressing concerns is part of OUR right to speak openly. Its vital that any administration creates an environment where employees feel heard, respected and empowered to contribute constructively, rather than be silenced and ridiculed. Lauren Gardner, Marcia Brown and Maggie Miller contributed to this report. Nestle USA has issued a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of its Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's frozen meals after some consumers complained about finding a "wood-like material" in the products, according to a March 17 recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company said it is "actively investigating" the material's source. "We are confident that this is an isolated issue, and we have taken action to address it," it said in the recall notice. Here's what to know: What products are being recalled? Several Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's products were named in the March 17 recall. Products were distributed to major retailers throughout the U.S. between September 2024 and March 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Affected products were sold in Wisconsin, a Nestle spokesperson confirmed to the Journal Sentinel in an email. No other products from either brand are involved with the recall, per the notice. Here is a list of recalled products and their batch codes: Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli Batch number Best by date 4261595912 October 2025 4283595912 November 2025 4356595912 January 2026 5018595912 February 2026 5038595912 March 2026 Lean Cuisine Spinach Artichoke Ravioli Batch number Best by date 4311595912 December 2025 5002595912 February 2026 5037595912 March 2026 5064595912 April 2026 Lean Cuisine Lemon Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry Batch number Best by date 4214595511 September 2025 Stouffer's Party Size Chicken Lasagna Batch number Best by date 4262595915 October 2025 4351595915 January 2026 5051595915 March 2026 5052595915 March 2026 Have any illnesses or injuries been reported? One potential choking incident has been reported in association with the recall, the notice said. What should I do if I own recalled products? Customers are urged to not consume the product and return it to point of purchase for a full refund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For questions, you can reach out to Nestle USA by calling 800-681-1676 between Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. More: These snacks sold in Wisconsin are being recalled over undeclared allergens This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What Wisconsin should know about Lean Cuisine, Stouffer's recall It's a joyous time for Tina Descovich, co-founder of the conservative parents' rights group Moms for Liberty, as President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon keep a campaign promise to reduce the federal government's role in education. Trump signed an executive order attempting to eliminate the U.S. Education Department on Thursday afternoon. Congress would ultimately need to approve a closure of the Education Department, but Trump's workforce reduction will shrink it. The Trump administration began that process earlier this month when it got rid of nearly half of the department's staffers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the question is about layoffs, its never a time to celebrate when people lose their jobs, but if the question is about the reduction of half a billion dollars at the Education Department and the streamlining of the Education Department, I'm very happy about that," said Descovich, who has four adult children and a 17-year-old child who attends a public high school. With Moms for Liberty, Descovich has championed parents' rights and state-funded school vouchers for more than four years. The group, which has 320 chapters in 48 states, has advocated for school vouchers, and other conservative education policies. Critics also accuse them of promoting book bans, which the group disputes, saying they focus on promoting transparency for parents regarding age-appropriate content in schools and advocating for a fair review process for school materials. The recent reductions at the agency are a win for her and parents and advocates who want the federal government out of schools. Some supporters are now urging Congress to help Trump fulfill his campaign promises to close the Education Department and expand school choice. Trump recently signed signed an executive order directing his newly-appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to bolster school choice programs. He's called on Congress to pass two related bills: the School Choice Now Act and the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act. For others, confusion about what the cuts will mean for schools immediately and in the long-term lingers. Many progressives have taken to social media to ponder to inveigh against Trump's attack on the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angry parents, teachers and education leaders who expected to see Trump to follow through on his promise to close the Education Department which was outlined in Project 2025 have said that public schools need all the help they can get. They argue any reduction in staffing at the department or in resources for schools will hurt students. Angelica Solis, the chief policy officer of Education Leaders of Color, a network working to ensure young people of color have the opportunities to thrive, has two children, 7 and 9, who attend public schools. One of them benefits from special education services. "Downsizing the ED will lead to inefficiencies and lack of oversight that jeopardize programs critical to student success in school and in life," she wrote in a letter to members of the network of education leaders. Solis pointed to programs that could be affected by a reduction in staffing, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for students with special needs and Title I funding relied on by kids who live in poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It remains unclear exactly how these programs at the nation's schools will be affected by Trump's executive order or recent staffing reductions at the department. But many of the department's obligations to support students, including those with disabilities and who are attend low-income schools, are protected by federal law. At the White House on Thursday, Trump said that "the department's useful functions," including Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for students with disabilities and special needs "will be fully preserved." For 45 years, the U.S. Department of Education has been tasked with conducting national education research, overseeing and investigating civil rights complaints in schools and supporting states with funding for the nation's most vulnerable students, including students with disabilities and kids living in poverty. Education Dept. cuts are here: What happens now to student loans, FAFSA and IEPs? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday afternoon, Trump said he wants to dissolve the department and move some of its assistance to students, including those with disabilities and others who attend high poverty schools, to other agencies and departments. He cited the nation's high rates of spending on students and low student test scores on federal tests as a reason why. He again defended workforce reductions and budget cuts at the department. "States that run very well are going to have education that will be as good as Norway, Denmark, Finland and those top countries that do so well with education," he said. Trump's comments set off waves of consternation among education leaders who are in favor of federal education oversight across the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following weeks of chaos and uncertainty for students, educators, and families nationwide, President Trumps executive order today continues his harmful, and unpopular, campaign against federal education supports for all students," wrote Amy Loyd, CEO for All4Ed, a Washington D.C.-based national policy and advocacy organization that works to expand opportunities for students of color, students from low-income families and other marginalized groups. Lloyd said school districts nationwide "are already reeling" from the recent workforce reduction at the Education Department, which included positions at the Office of Civil Rights and the Institute for Education Services. President Donald Trump holds an executive order after signing it in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Education Dept. layoffs by the numbers: Which staff were ousted, where cuts hit hardest Supports and funding cuts for vulnerable students, teachers are at the heart of concerns The Trump administration's move is especially worrisome for parents who have kids with disabilities and those who live in rural or impoverished areas, said Katie Paris, a mom of two young kids in Ohio public schools and the founder of parents group Red Wine and Blue. Many of those kids only have access to their local public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forty moms called into a Red Wine and Blue group chat to discuss the potential ramifications of the layoffs on the Education Department on a recent morning. Some of the women have spouses who recently lost their jobs in the mass federal workforce reductions. Many of them are now focused on organizing locally, Paris said. "Today's meeting was really somber, but it was filled with a lot of gumption," Paris said. "Theres a real opportunity people are going to learn how essential the education department is to access public schools if it's gone." North Carolina resident Stacy Staggs, who is a mom of 11-year-old twin daughters who both have different but advanced disabilities, said she's had to fight constantly to get her daughters the care they need and deserve in school. Her only hope for her daughters is to rely on the public education system. The private schools she's applied for won't accept her daughters given their intense level of need of care, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She's grateful for federal protections like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which allow her to advocate on behalf of her daughters to get the education the need in the public school system But she worries about what could happen to resources for students with disabilities with the recent workforce reductions at the Education Department and Trump's executive order. "When I hear things are rolling back in direction, I think about how my children and everybodys children deserve more than whats currently available," Staggs said. Daniel Pearson, an executive director of nonprofit organization Educators for Excellence, fears that if schools are no longer required to use the funding they receive from the federal government to support vulnerable students, the money will be poorly spent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's also a real concern that states and school districts could underestimate or overestimate their budgets for the upcoming school years if they are unsure how much money they will receive from the federal government to support students and stipulations on those funds, Pearson said. Many states, including Connecticut where he lives, are already strapped for cash. The nation's teachers especially those who teach students with disabilities are already overworked and any reductions to the resources they receive now would be "more pressure onto a system that is losing teachers every day," he said. Pearson and others have said they are also concerned about who will handle and investigate civil rights complaints if the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights goes on without adequate staffing or the Education Department is disbanded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools are scrambling: To find special education teachers. 3 ways to address shortage. Questions linger about how staffing reduction, potential closure would affect student academic performance Trump has said one of the primary reasons he wants to close the Education Department is that U.S. students are not performing well on national tests. Trump has cited the department's own data which shows the U.S. falls behind countries like China, Denmark, Norway and Sweden in reading and math achievement. What's going on? Kids' reading, math skills are worsening, new test scores reveal. Descovich backed Trump's argument in an interview with USA TODAY. "Ultimately, the big picture is test scores are going down. Scores have declined obviously since COVID, have not recouped and are on a downward trajectory," she said. "It's one of the reasons the Education Department was created to close the achievement gap. If you really want to look at it from a high picture, it hasn't been successful." Briggs, on the other hand, argues that since most states already provide schools with most of their funding and control school curriculum, "this is not going to produce higher test scores." "It's just going to make it harder for kids to succeed," she said. (This story was updated to add new information and video.) Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Trump's Education Dept order could affect students Mar. 20The Odessa Raise Your Hand Texas Advocacy Core Team is hosting an event from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 20 in person at First Methodist Church Odessa, 415 N Lee Ave., and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. virtually March 21 on legislative impacts on public schools. It's titled "Community Gathering: Legislative Impacts on Our Public Schools." This event is open to any interested West Texas district staff, parents and community members. To accommodate busy schedules, they will have an in-person event and a virtual meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is to help people gain a better understanding of how current, discussions and impending decisions from Austin directly impact the schools. To register for the virtual event, visit bit.ly/ryhtmarch25virtual so they can send the link to join. Another attempt to bring a Lego Milwaukee Art Museum set to the masses has been halted. Former Milwaukee resident Todd Elliott's art museum design wasn't selected as one of the five finalists in BrickLink's Designer Program Series 7 competition. That means Elliott's creation won't be considered for production as a limited-edition Lego set in early 2026. However, the Philadelphia father and Army veteran doesn't plan on giving up. Elliott said he may enter BrickLink's next competition this spring and, in the meantime, has made his original art museum instructions available online for a low cost. A digitally rendered head-on view of Todd Elliott's LEGO Milwaukee Art Museum design that was submitted and accepted to BrickLink's Designer Program Series 7. BrickLink is a Lego Group-owned online community, marketplace and design software popular with adult fans of the toy brand. In January, Elliott's museum design was accepted to BrickLink's Designer Program competition. Through the Designer Program, anyone with a free BrickLink account can vote for their favorite fan-made designs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elliott said he will likely re-enter the museum into BrickLink's Series 8 competition in April. "I'll decide based on the feedback from BrickLink and if I can possibly make contact with Vida Andras," the Hungarian artist whose much-celebrated 2019 Milwaukee Art Museum Lego set design greatly inspired Elliott's. If Elliott's design is selected for Series 8, BrickLink users will be able to vote for it between May 5 and May 16. The five Series 8 winners will be announced June 14. A digital rendering of Todd Elliott's revised Milwaukee Art Museum LEGO set designed, which was submitted and accepted into BrickLink's Designer Program Series 7 competition. How you can build a Lego Milwaukee Art Museum After Elliott's design didn't move forward in Series 7, he posted the instructions for the 1,184-piece museum to Rebrickable a website that lets Lego enthusiasts share their designs and connects users with resellers, allowing them to smoothly obtain the necessary bricks to re-create designs that aren't official Lego sets. Anyone can purchase the art museum instructions for $1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elliott began workshopping a Lego model of the Milwaukee Art Museum's Quadracci Pavilion and Calatrava-designed "wings" a few years ago. He was inspired by fellow designer Andras' model, which received local media attention and nearly became an official Lego set. Andras posted his creation to Lego Ideas, a Lego-run online community where users can share their ideas and potentially have them turned into official sets. It's similar to BrickLink's Designer Program, but the sets aren't sold on a limited-edition basis. If a design receives 10,000 votes from Lego Ideas users, Lego reviews it for consideration as an official product. Andras' art museum hit 10,000 votes, but, in 2021, Lego announced it wouldn't produce the set. "I was really bummed because I wanted to buy one," Elliott told the Journal Sentinel in December. "So, a couple of years ago, I sat down and tried to figure out how he built it based on the pictures he had submitted. I kind of reverse-engineered it" using Studio by BrickLink a software that allows LEGO fans to virtually design almost anything using unlimited brick styles and colors. Andras' design was about two feet long and 1 feet wide, Elliott said. He's unsure if Andras built that model in real life or only rendered it virtually, but, when Elliott attempted to build it, the wings were "so heavy that they drooped and sagged, so it didn't look good," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elliott said he attempted to reach out to Andras on social media but received no response, so he went "back to the drawing board" and developed another version of the museum that's about half the size of Andras' model. Former Milwaukee resident Todd Elliott designed this Lego model of the Milwaukee Art Museum, complete with working "wings," seen here in a digital rendering. Elliott's design was based on an earlier model by Vida Andras of Budapest. Elliott later refined this design. In November, Elliott posted the step-by-step instructions for that 775-piece museum to Rebrickable. Elliott said he posted the instructions for free because the design was "heavily influenced" by Andras', and he felt it wouldn't be fair to profit from it. Elliott continued tweaking his design before submitting it to BrickLink's Designer Program Series 7 and told the Journal Sentinel in February that he now feels it's sufficiently different from Andras'. With his latest model, Elliott said he focused on ensuring that both the wings and the base of the structure were more stable. In addition to rendering the model online, he tested out the wings in the real world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I built it with actual Legos to see that the wings would be supported and were still movable," he said. "You can put the wings up or down, like what happens with the actual museum." Overall, Elliott said his new museum is "just a much better-looking design." "The other thing I changed ... internally there's a much stronger support, so you can pick up the model without worrying about it falling apart. Lastly, on the back of the museum where the window panes are, there is this slight curve to the building that kind of melts into the foundation. That's really tricky to do with Legos, but I found a way." Todd Elliott's Lego Bratwurst sits next to his Lego Milwaukee Art Museum on his office shelf. What's next for Lego designer Todd Elliott? In addition to his museum, Elliott is known for his viral Brewers Famous Racing Sausages Lego set idea, which is currently up for vote on Lego Ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the summer, Elliott designed Lego replicas of the five iconic Famous Racing Sausages, as well as mascot Bernie Brewer. Each figurine is comprised of about 500 Lego bricks and is about nine inches high and four inches wide. Elliott also designed miniature, square versions of each of the sausages. They're about half the size of his original figurines and fit into Lego's BrickHeadz line. The sausages which Elliott posted on Lego Ideas in August have 3,436 votes as of Thursday. They have just over 400 days to get 10,000 votes. If they hit that milestone, Lego will consider them for production. Elliott said it would be up to the toy brand whether the sausages are sold as a set or separately. Milwaukee Brewers Famous Racing Sausages and Bernie Brewer Lego set idea designed by former Milwaukee resident Todd Elliott. With MLB Opening Day on the horizon, Elliott is working toward the necessary vote total by publicizing the sausages in the media. He said he also plans to come to Milwaukee this summer, catch a few Brewers games and encourage fans to vote. "I'm thinking of doing is maybe myself and my son come back to Milwaukee this summer and attend some Brewers games and walk around the parking lot as people tailgate with a big sign saying, 'Please vote,'" Elliott said. "I'll bring the actual models with so people can see and touch them, and that'll hopefully get people interested." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Lego set of Racing Sausage built by reporter in time-lapse video More: Building Bratwurst: Brewers racing sausages Lego set enters its next phase of development This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lego Milwaukee Art Museum won't be official set, but you can build it LEWISTON A year after coming to the village board for help, Lewiston Fire Department No. 1 is still looking for new volunteers to replenish its ranks. Kevin Kruger, a volunteer EMT who joined after a career with the New York Power Authority, said they had seven new members join from Lew-Port over the past two years. But the number joining has not been equal to the number of members leaving. All volunteer fire departments are facing the same thing, Kruger said. Were just trying to get the word out for people to at least consider it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 60 members the department has, Kruger estimates that around 30 of those are semi-active firefighters and EMS technicians. There are less than 20 EMTs volunteering, down from around 38 two years ago. We just need more people to not wear out the people that are doing it all the time, said Kruger, noting they had 40 EMS technicians a few years ago before most of them either moved or went to paid agencies. Lewiston Fire Department No. 1 responded to 1,200 calls last year, mostly for EMS needs. The departments latest recruitment efforts included meeting with seniors at Lew-Port High School, posting fliers in schools, and planning a trip to Niagara University to get the word out to nursing and criminal justice students. They also plan to have more of a presence at the various Lewiston festivals throughout the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2023, the company started a new recruitment and retention program where members can schedule their duty time to satisfy membership requirements. Members also get a small life insurance policy. The state started offering stipends to volunteer firefighters last year for completing certain firefighter training courses and issued $140,250 last June to 105 students of more than 50 fire districts. Three of those recipients were in Niagara County, with the Adams and Ransomville fire departments. Lewiston No. 1 is working to get any ambulance rides they provide to be covered by insurance agencies, something several departments in Niagara County have already done. If a person does not have insurance, then they will not be charged for the ride. Kruger also said they soon plan on replacing their ambulance and one of their fire trucks, things that will not come cheap. The reason we do this is its a volunteer free service, Kruger said. Its expensive to a volunteer fire department to stay in business the way things are. I find it disgusting and hypocritical that liberal activists and troublemakers are now damaging or destroying Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations across the nation. Of course, they are doing it because Elon Musk has signed on to help President Donald Trump eliminate "waste, fraud and abuse" in the federal government, which I believe is a good thing for all of us. Musk has done numerous things to try and help save and improve people's lives. For example, he provided satellites to help Ukraine in its war efforts against Russia and also helped the desperate people and law enforcement communicate in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. His company, Neurolink, is developing brain chip implants to help blind people see again and eventually people with spinal cord injuries to walk again. They have implanted three chips to date. Musk also has a company called "The Boring Co.," which drills tunnels to help with traffic congestion, and they are currently boring a tunnel under Las Vegas. He's heavily involved in artificial intelligence, which might some day help find a cure for cancer and other deadly diseases. His company, SpaceX, recently brought our stranded astronauts home from space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk was a hero to the left until he started helping Trump, and then they turned on him. How many more pounds of flesh do you sick people want? Richard Davis, Walton, Ky. More: 'Stop Musk!' Cincinnati federal workers oppose job cuts at Tesla rally Americans are understandably upset with Musk's DOGE tactics Although the recent vandalization at Tesla dealerships is very troubling, the peaceful picketing of those businesses is certainly protected under the law and is in response to Elon Musk's callous actions through DOGE. Americans are understandably furious and dismayed with Musk's actions, which have resulted in the loss of jobs, medical benefits and possibly cuts in Social Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Elon Musk and tech bros break everything and never look back President Donald Trump's power grab and dismissal of the average working person is nothing short of cruel. He and his fellow Republicans will be remembered for these actions and will go down in history as the party that did not care for the people. We need a collective awakening to stand up to these bullies before our way of life is changed forever. Janet Christoff, Highland Heights, Ky. Musk will destroy the federal government just like Tesla and X Tesla was and still is overpriced and is bound to crash and burn. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is better at destroying companies than any Molotov-cocktail-throwing liberal. X, formerly known as Twitter, is worth nearly 80% less than when Musk bought it, according to investment giant Fidelity. Now, it's Tesla's turn. Tesla's market value recently dropped below $1 trillion for the first time since the November 2024 election, as sales slumped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk wont do any better at balancing the federal budget. Hes cutting funds without the least understanding of what theyre spent for. Hes cut funds that help feed children and provide health care for poor people. Hes cut funds for the Veterans Administration. In short, hes using the same strategy he used to destroy Twitter and Tesla on the federal government, and the outcome will be the same. As for actually burning Tesla cars, are we sure its the work of liberals? Maybe its the Steve Bannon wing of the Republican Party, who hates Musk as much as any liberal. Havent you heard Bannon saying that "Musk is a parasitic illegal immigrant. He wants to impose his freak experiments and play-act as God without any respect for the countrys history, values or traditions." Added to this, the Bannon cohorts have a lot of experience with destruction take the U.S. Capitol riots, for example, or democracy. Chris Bruck, Alexandria, Ky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Musk's only offense was siding with Trump. Why burn Teslas? | Letters President Trump, Elon Musk, and other prominent Republicans have called for the impeachment of judges, prompting a statement by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. NYU Constitutional Law Professor Kenji Yoshino discusses Trumps disagreements with the judicial branch and whether the country is on the precipice of a constitutional crisis. Mar. 20LIMA A Lima man who in 2017 was sentenced to 34 years in prison for operating what amounted to a drive-thru marijuana dispensary on Jackson Street in Lima was re-sentenced Thursday to the same 31-year prison term he had received nearly two years ago. James Benvenuto, 60, appeared in Allen County Common Pleas Court for a third sentencing hearing after irregularities in earlier sentences were red-flagged on two occasions, once by a federal court and later by the Ohio Third District Court of Appeals. In 2017 Benvenuto was sentenced by Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Reed to 34 years in prison after pleading no contest to 58 counts that included marijuana trafficking and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. In 2023, he was re-sentenced, again by Reed, to 31 years in prison after a federal court said two of the counts should have been merged for sentencing purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 2023 re-sentencing, Reed appointed Lima attorney Zachary Maisch to represent Benvenuto, unaware that Benvenuto had retained attorney Dustin Blake. Blake requested a re-sentencing, but Reed denied that request. The sentence subsequently was appealed to the Third District Court of Appeals, and the higher court sent the case back to Reed for re-sentencing. Blake then filed an affidavit of disqualification against Reed with the Ohio Supreme Court, claiming the judge had a "specific and articulated bias or prejudice" against Benvenuto and "should be otherwise disqualified to preside over this matter." In December the Ohio Supreme Court declined to assign a new judge to the case. Back in court on Thursday, arguments were advanced from Benvenuto's attorney and family members that the change in public opinion, and in state law, regarding marijuana use has changed dramatically since Benvenuto was first sentenced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everything has changed," Blake told the court. "Not just the laws, but in (Benvenuto's) conduct and rehabilitation while in prison. I believe a sentence of time-served would be appropriate." Benvenuto's family members who addressed the court also noted the relaxation of marijuana laws voted upon by state residents and asked for a reduced sentence. Allen County Prosecuting Attorney Destiny Caldwell, however, noted that state statutes under which Benvenuto was originally sentenced remained unchanged. "Mr. Blake seemed to argue in his sentencing memorandum that this case is now less serious, following the legalization of recreational marijuana," the prosecutor said. "But the state disagrees. Mr. Benvenuto was found to have over 17,000 grams of edible items and more than 9,700 grams of leafy marijuana at his drive-thru on South Jackson Street. The new law allows for possession of a maximum of 70 grams." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caldwell said Benvenuto had exhibited "a blatant disregard for the law" and said his earlier sentence was just. As part of his conviction, Benvenuto was ordered to forfeit property at 519 N. Jackson St., as well as $68,467 in alleged drug profits. Featured Local Savings Mar. 20LIMA Braving the cold and wind is nothing new for Lima postal workers, but they were doing so for a different reason Thursday morning. "It's just basically to bring awareness to what would happen if the administration removed our public service status that's in the Constitution and the Postal Service Act," local APWU president Mike McKitrick said at the union's rally to protect the post office. "We're here to give mail service to everybody on every address, no matter what. It doesn't cost a fee for us to deliver your mail, and we have the ability to deliver to every single household." At a media availability at the same time, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, said he preferred to leave any ideas in the hands of the House Oversight Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I understand we want that to work well because it is mentioned in our Constitution, and I think we'll take a look at all of it and see what makes sense as we move forward," Jordan said. "I remember when they moved the distribution center from Lima 10 or 15 years ago. Everyone wants to get their mail in a timely fashion, but in the electronic age, it's a little different." McKitrick pointed to the moving of the distribution center specifically as one of the many things that have negatively impacted the efficiency of the post office, not just in Lima but across the country. He pleaded with the community to reach out to representatives. "Write letters to our state representatives and say we do not want to support this, and we are your constituents," he said. "We need you to help us with this fight because it isn't going to do any good if the mail service goes private, and we're paying for basic delivery of letters and parcels. It won't be good if we have to pay a subscription, but that's the reality of when anything goes private." USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced his intention to step down in February (bit.ly/4hIIewh).DeJoy's tenure, which started in 2020, saw the post office weather the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in mail-in voting and cuts designed to increase efficiency. Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399. Featured Local Savings ONAWA, Iowa (KCAU) For many Siouxlanders, Wednesdays power outages are a thing of the past, but for others, theyre continuing to deal with it and could be for a while. The last time we had this much damage was in 1991 for Siouxland, Matt Washburn with Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) said. Remember the Halloween blizzard, thats when we probably had the most damage before this one. Disaster proclamation issued for 5 Iowa counties Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesdays blizzard knocked out power to thousands of Siouxlanders, and while many communities are back up and running, some are still struggling. Bullseye of the damage right now is in western Monona [County] and western Harrison County, and were having severe issues down there with structures down, Washburn said. On the western side of Monona County, we have three communities that still do not have power, Patrick Prorok with Monona County Emergency Management said. We have no gas facilities in town, so none of our gas stations are working at this time. At this time, I believe only one only thing, Bomgaars is the only place thats actually open for business. Onawa resident Monica Morgan said her power went out around 9:30 a.m., and she didnt expect to be without it as she went to bed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eerily quiet, it was quiet, Morgan said. I fell asleep, okay, its so cold. The tough thing when we have this much damage is securing materials, Washburn said. When youre talking miles of line, thats a lot of poles. Our engineer crew at NIPCO right now is determining all the structures that are necessary. And we want to make sure we have material on the ground for when the guys get here for the manpower to put it back up, but right now whats happening is everybody, all hands on deck, are just wrecking out. And what that means is we got to go pull those poles out, get them off of the road, make sure the public is safe. NIPCO says their men are working hard to bring back the power. Blizzard conditions cause problems for drivers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The life of an electric lineman, these guys live for this, Washburn said. I mean, theres a part of it and they wont admit it, but when we get into these outage modes, those guys want to get out. They take it personal that the electricity is out. And so theyre out there and we kind of got to guard themselves against themselves because if it was up to them, theyd run themselves to exhaustion. In the meantime, some residents are staying the night at the Onawa Community Center. Im thankful that the community center opened up for the community so they can have a warming shelter for us as a community to come in and stay warm and stay safe and to charge our devices so we can reach out to our families or if theyre worried, Morgan said. And The Salvation Army to give us a warm meal. Power is expected to be restored to Onawa this weekend. However, NIPCO says it could take longer depending on weather and road conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. In a statement posted to social media platform X, General Partner at VanEck Ventures Wyatt Lonergan and Partner Juan Lopez announced the firms investment in Manifest, a platform bringing American real estate into decentralized finance (DeFi). Manifest, which is launching soon according to its website, offers a tokenized ETF $USH (U.S. Housing) backed by home equity investments (HEIs). Manifest is actually pioneering a new kind of tokenization in our view by applying ETF-style diversification to U.S. real estate and packaging it as a smart contract available across public blockchains, Lopez told etf.com. Unlike conventional ETFs trading on legacy exchanges, $USH brings the benefits of blockchainliquidity, programmability and global accessibilityto real estate exposure in a way that hasn't been done before. An Evolution for Real Estate ETFs Whats most important about todays announcement for ETF investors is that there will soon be an option to invest in diversified U.S. real estate that is not tied to real estate investment trusts (REITs) or direct ownership, Manifest Founder and CEO Nathaniel Sokoll-Ward told etf.com. He added that instead of using a product like the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ), where the assets are predominantly real estate rental businesses, investors will have the option to gain capital-efficient, direct exposure to the dominant real estate asset class in the country: owner-occupied single-family residential real estate equity. Manifests $USH represents a significant evolution beyond traditional real estate ETFs. By leveraging blockchain technology, $USH enhances liquidity, capital efficiency and tax advantages, Sokoll-Ward said. Unlike publicly traded REIT ETFssubject to stock market volatility, centralized management, limited trading hours and high fees$USH is fully on-chain and backed by Home Equity Investments. He added that this structure eliminates intermediaries, reduces fees, increases transparency and ensures that all assets are fully collateralized by real estate equity. VanEcks Investment in Digital Assets VanEck Ventures, which co-led Manifests $2.5 million pre-seed funding round with Lattice Fund, was launched by the fund giant last October. The $30 million early-stage fund marked VanEcks expansion into venture capital and was created to invest in visionary founders operating at the intersection of fintech, digital assets and artificial intelligence. Tokenized financial products like $USH represent the natural next step in asset management. They introduce 24/7 liquidity, seamless global settlement and accessibility, and direct programmability, Lopez said. These are the features that bolstered growth in DeFi and stablecoins over the past few years, which traditional ETFs simply do not have. A developer can't easily access this type of asset and build a product that enables margin against it, for example. Now they can. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced that the Baltic nation is ready to send its troops to the post-ceasefire mission in Ukraine, Bloomberg Television reported on March 21. The proposal for an international peacekeeping force has gained traction recently, as European nations prepare to take a more prominent role in Ukraine's defense amid the unpredictability of further American support. "My country is ready to provide the necessary support," Nauseda told Bloomberg Television. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are talking about very concrete numbers of our troops, but there should be a commitment from all countries in this coalition to provide this support," Nauseda added. European leaders are planning to meet next week in Paris to discuss further support for Ukraine as Europe becomes increasingly concerned it will be excluded from any negotiations involving the Kremlin and the U.S. on ending the war. The Lithuanian president praised Donald Trump's "frank intentions" on ending the war in Ukraine but noted that Russia has only imitated the commitment to achieve peace during the negotiations "So far, Russia is imitating the negotiations, talking about a possible peace and possible ceasefire, but they are not even ready to keep the ceasefire as promised not to attack, not to strike critical infrastructure," Nauseda said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Lithuania has been one of Ukraine's most vocal backers. The Baltic state ranks among Europe's top defense spenders, allocating 2.85% of GDP to defense in 2024, according to NATO estimates. Vilnius plans to increase that figure to between 5% and 6% from 2026 to 2030. Read also: Success of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine hinges on deterrence Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 3 on Wednesday, March 19, which would ban the sale of all consumable hemp products with THC. If signed into law, all products containing THC will be banned including gummies, drinks, vapes, and flower buds. In 2019, Texas lawmakers legalized the sale of consumable hemp, including products with THC levels under 0.3 percent. Now, more than 8,000 stores across the state sell THC products, the Borderland included. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KTSM spoke with the owner of a store in West El Paso that sells legal THC products. The owner wanted to remain anonymous but says the effects of a potential ban could go further than just shutting his doors. All my THC products are going to have to come off the shelf. Ive already bought the products I produce. Some of these products, and that will be a loss of that revenue, and then the additional revenue. So, were talking in my business here, 30 percent of my business right off the bat is wiped away, he said. The owner adds that the ban could also impact people who use THC products for pain or mental health issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not just veterans. I have retired Border Patrol. I have retired three letter agency people that use these products because theyve suffered either in combat on the border. They need these, he said. Senate Bill 3 will not impact CBD and CBG products. However, the bill has not been signed into law, as the Senate just passed the measure. It still has to go through the House before it can reach 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 KTSM 9 News. WASHINGTON, D.C.(WKBN) Ohio Congressman Michael Rulli, R 6th district, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine were with President Trump Thursday for the signing of an executive order that dismantles the Department of Education. The executive order would return much of the federal agencies powers to the states and enhance other services. The essential services that schools provide for neglected children, those with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations will be preserved and fully funded, said Rulli. Having served on my local school board for eight years, I know firsthand how our schools serve as the backbone of our communities. This Executive Order will allow states to better meet the needs of their people and give more of a voice to our local school leadersnot some distant bureaucrat in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rulli said that the Department of Education had been hijacked by left-wing ideologues pushing anti-American and divisive agendas. Rulli added that each state should have the flexibility to try approaches they think will work and that parents should have more choices on how their children are educated. Public education should be a driving force that nurtures individual talent, promotes American excellence, and strengthens our nation. By restoring control over education policy to the statesand away from Washingtonwe can rebuild a system that empowers students, respects parents, and serves the best interests of our country. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also visited the White House for the signing and is in support of returning education back to the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every student, family and community is different. In Ohio we achieved great results by focusing on our administrations priorities, like improving literacy achievement, ensuring all students have pathways to thrive in the workplace, and more, DeWine said. Now, its time to take the next step. By giving states more authority over education, we will have the flexibility to focus on efforts on tailoring an educational experience that is best for our children and meets Ohios needs, rather than trying to chase federal priorities. Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. Republicans said they will introduce a bill to achieve that, according to the Associated Press. Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them, Trump said. The Department of Education will retain some functions such as Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and money for children with disabilities. The White House said earlier it would also continue to manage federal student loans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the executive order will make it harder for students to get help with financial aid and jeopardize funding for schools and families. And make it easier for predatory businesses to rip students off. Trump, Musk, and McMahons (Linda McHanon- U.S. secretary for the Dept. of Education) goal is clear: destroy public schools and enrich themselves, Murray 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 WKBN.com. ANDERSON The news Thursday that President Donald Trump planned to sign an executive order aimed at eliminating the U.S. Education Department was met with consternation from local educators who said cuts resulting from its closure would have adverse effects for years to come. (Trump) has stated all along that he would try to eliminate the Department of Education, said Randy Harrison, president of the Anderson Federation of Teachers Local 519 and a government teacher at Anderson High School. It will have far-reaching impacts on some of our neediest students, especially those in the special needs population and in poverty. Harrison said that, as a Title I district, Anderson Community Schools could lose more than $15 million in funding, putting several key programs in jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Free and reduced lunch programs, the assistance to all of our English language learners, those in the special needs populations all those things would have to be looked at and scrutinized to see how we would do without the funding, Harrison said. I do not know how long that would take to impact. That is a big question mark because of how it will be challenged and what will happen. The order is certain to trigger legal fights which could unfold in any number of venues, making it nearly impossible to predict which programs would be most dramatically affected, according to Greg Roach, superintendent at Daleville Community Schools. Its reasonable to expect that steps would be taken to maintain support for key programs like Title I and special education, as well as other essential services, Roach said. How that plays out will depend on the actions of both federal and state governments. Missing from Trumps order are details outlining specifics of which department activities would be delegated to states or discontinued altogether. Some local education officials expressed concern over the potential ambiguities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government and states will need to clarify the potential redistribution of responsibilities, should this executive order move forward, ACS Superintendent Joe Cronk said. Until more details emerge, ACS will await further guidance and assess what this may mean for our district and our students. Other districts are also taking a wait-and-see approach, in the words of Mark Hall, superintendent for South Madison Community Schools. Its hard to tell what programs will have initial impacts, Hall said. There may not be immediate impacts. We will just have to wait and see if they transfer some of the programs the Department of Ed currently oversees to other departments. We are not going to take any steps at this time, Hall continued. We are going to wait and see how it all unfolds, and then once we have a definitive answer, we will take our next steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenge of responding to any changes in funding or other oversight quickly also is of concern to other local educators. Once they make their changes, we will have to adjust, said Brent Baker, superintendent at Alexandria Community School Corp. We are prepping for some changes. Reporter Caleb Amick contributed to this story. LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) Ready to have a blast around the Fourth of July? A patriotic event is being put on this years schedule, it will be loud and proud in Columbiana County. Wednesday night, the Columbiana County Fair Board gave its approval to a July 3 fireworks show at the fairgrounds. Its the next step to making the show a reality. Oh, Im very excited. Now we can move forward with getting volunteers, making arrangements for the food trucks, making arrangements for the inflatables, for the kids, everything like that, said Judy Noel, executive director for Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce. The Lisbon fireworks committee is working on the event. A preliminary plan calls for the gates to open at 4 p.m. There would be food trucks, bands, and maybe games, capped off by a fireworks show when it gets dark. This is something where everyone can participate. Its a free event. Everyone can come in. Were inviting all the community and the surrounding communities, said Lisbon Mayor Peter Wilson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an event that will put some boom and color in the sky, but will also take some work on the grounds to make it happen. There is a collection of garbage, getting people in, parking the cars. Theres so much that goes on behind the scenes, and were going to need a lot of volunteers to make that happen, Noel said. The idea started with suggestions for a fireworks show in Lisbon. Now, its coming together to showcase Lisbon as a great place to live, work and invest. Its not a show being put on by the village. Were not co-mingling private and public funds. Thats no, not a bit. So this is all through private donations, Wilson said. Money to pay for the fireworks and everything else has to be raised now. You can send a donation for the fireworks to Lisbon Fireworks Committee, P.O. Box 8, Lisbon, OH 44432 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Millions of educators, parents, and student loan holders are concerned about the dismantling of the Department of Education. On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order sending some authority back to the states. Out of those depending on federal funds, North Carolina ranks sixth on the list. READ MORE: Trump orders plan to dismantle Education Department while keeping some core functions The White House said the big programs student loans, Pell Grants, and Title One funding will not be touched. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Carolinas, census data shows 15 percent of South Carolinas funding comes from the government. In North Carolina, that number is closer to 20 percent. Officials with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said they will review the order and determine its impact. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said President Trumps goal is not to take education away from children. He wants to improve education for children. He wants to get those dollars even more dollars back to the states without the bureaucracy of Washington. So, thats our plan. Thats our goal, McMahon said. The executive order is likely to face legal challenges, experts say. Shutting down the department requires congressional approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. VIDEO: Trump administration reverses policy, allows full Social Security overpayment clawbacks JOHNSTOWN, Pa. National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 451 plans to hold a rally in support of preserving the U.S. Postal Service Sunday at downtown Johnstowns Central Park gazebo. Sundays event is set to begin at 1 p.m. It is part of a NALC national call to action. Local postal union members rallied Thursday in front of the Johnstown Post Office. President Donald Trump is a proponent of privatizing the Postal Service. Multiple news outlets have reported that the Republican president is considering disbanding the Postal Services Board of Governors and placing the agency under the direct control of the Commerce Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, working with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, wants to cut 10,000 workers and billions of dollars from the USPS budget. I want to make this clear, said Aiden Stuart, chief shop steward of NALC Branch 451 in Johnstown. This is not a referendum on the president or any party. This is a referendum on policy. We must protect the Postal Service. It affects everyone. It doesnt matter how you voted. It doesnt matter what you think about other issues. Im not asking you to come out to an anti-president rally or anything like that. I just want you to stand up for this one thing. I just want to communicate to people that this is our fight, not just mine. Just showing up goes a long way. The USPS is a $78 billion-a-year agency that lost $9.5 billion during fiscal year 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The postal system provides a constitutionally enumerated service in which Congress has the power To establish Post Offices and post Roads. NALC contends that getting rid of the USPS would raise costs and jeopardize 7.9 million jobs tied to the postal industry. We felt it was important to get out together with as many union members, other local citizens this affects everyone and just take a stand and have our message to be heard, Stuart said. Any effort to privatize or restructure USPS is a direct threat not only to the 640,000 postal employees 200,000 of which are letter carriers and 73,000 of which are veterans but its also a threat to the 51.5 million Americans who live and work in rural areas that arent currently serviced by any company except USPS. Mar. 21Despite a new Ohio law permitting law enforcement agencies to charge up to $75 an hour for police video records starting April 2, most of the region's biggest departments are still mulling their own policies. Those internal policies will be critical for public records access. In December, the state passed a law permitting, but not requiring, departments to charge up to $75 an hour, but not more than $750 total, for dash cam and body camera footage. As this outlet reported, the scantly-debated law was meant to help departments dissuade, or at least recoup the labor costs associated with, content creators that lodge mass public records requests and post those videos online in search of commercial profit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the law has sparked concern among First Amendment advocates who note the law could put video public records out of reach for journalists or everyday citizens. Here are some of the responses this outlet has received from Miami Valley law enforcement agencies. Dayton Police "The Dayton Police Department is reviewing the legislation that allows agencies to charge for body and in-car camera video requests," Police Information Specialist James Rider told this outlet. Rider said Dayton PD has seen a "sharp increase" in video records requests, "often from individuals operating social media channels." In 2023, the department processed 1,300 such requests; in 2024 it processed over 3,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rider noted that the process for actually turning these videos Ohio law requires them to protect the identity of crime victims and uncharged suspects is "labor-intensive and costly." Montgomery County Sheriff Agency spokeswoman Christine Bevins told this outlet that the Montgomery County Sheriff's office has no immediate plans to divert from its policy which most departments have today of charging requestors only for the material the videos are provided on. "At this point we are waiting to see if the law itself reduces the number of requests we get from those whose only interest in the videos is to post the material online for monetary gain," Bevins said. She noted that the department isn't fully confident the law will stay as-is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video requests have been so abundant, Bevins said, that the county hired a full-time employee for the department's redaction unit to help with the approximately 20 requests the unit fields each day. "We get lots of requests that we either know or suspect are destined to be used online for commercial purposes. It's not unusual to get a list of a dozen of more incidents from a single requestor and it's not uncommon for a single incident to have multiple deputies and vehicles involved," Bevins said. "Some would suggest that we should start charging those with a commercial interest and not charge citizens with a demonstrated need for the videos. At times, it could be difficult to differentiate the two and I imagine that those with commercial interests would just change the way they make their requests in an attempt to avoid the fees." Springfield, Clark County Sheriff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the newly-minted Clark County Sheriff Chris Clark told this outlet that there are no immediate plans to change policy. "We have not changed our pricing on that, as of yet," Clark said. "We're looking at, but it's not something that I'm real hot-to-trot on changing just yet." Clark said he expects the mere existence of the law to cut down on frivolous requests. "I'm not saying it won't change in the near future. It's on my agenda, it's just on the back burner for right now," he said. Springfield is among many cities that have not adopted a policy under the new law, maintaining the status quo allowing departments to charge for materials such as flash drives or disks, but not labor for the time being. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kettering, Hamilton, others holding off This news outlet reached out to law enforcement agencies across this nine-county region of southwest Ohio. Most said they have no immediate plans to start charging for police videos, but could do so if the burden of fulfilling requests becomes or stays too high. In an email, Kettering Police Department's Public Information Officer Cynthia James told this outlet that city "has not adopted a policy yet," but they are still reviewing the state legislation. The same is true in Hamilton, where Assistant Chief of Police Brian Robinson told this outlet, "We have no policies in place or in development at this time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Butler County's Sheriffs Office, Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer told this outlet that he expects more video requests to come in as more people become aware of the department's adoption of body cameras. "We have discussed charging for videos but we have not finalized that decision," Dwyer said. This news outlet received similar responses from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Fairfield Twp., Middletown, Monroe, Troy, Piqua and others. Miami County targets commercial requests Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak told this outlet that his department's policies will only impact "those who operate commercialized businesses and exploit the open records law for profit." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duchak said the rate will include the hourly wage of support staff and their benefits. He hopes it will "dissuade the abuse of Ohio's open record laws." "(Commercial requests) are a burden to the system and do not align with the purpose of public records, which is transparency," Duchak said. "This is an issue that should have been dealt with by the legislature a long time ago." Some cities charging everyone Not all departments have been tentative. Oakwood Law Director Robert Jacques, for example, told this outlet the department would begin charging journalists, citizens and content creators alike for police video records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The city has not finalized the hourly rate that will be charged to cover administrative expenses when (the law) goes into effect in April," Jacques said. "We anticipate that fees will be based on the wage and fringe benefit costs for a records clerk, converted to an hourly rate, plus any actual reimbursables such as flash drives or other storage media." Jacques said Oakwood typically receives fewer than 10 video records requests a year. In Tipp City, it's been determined that they'll charge the same way no matter the requestor. "Our policy will reflect the (law) changes and charge $75 an hour up to $750 for preparing the video," Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins told this outlet. "This charge covers the employee's time, benefits, and material costs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adkins said the department will not charge if "an involved party" wants to sit down and review video records. Otherwise, he said, "We will not direct a policy that allows the release to specific organizations at no cost and to other organizations at full price. We will be fair across all spectrums of requests." ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) As World War Two moved manpower from the factory to the frontline, millions of women chipped in by clocking in. Their manufacturing work became immortalized through the cultural icon known as Rosie the Riveter. Mary Masciangelo of Henrietta was a local Rosie. I worked at Shuron Optical, doing the pins for the parachutes and putting temples in the air force goggles, Masciangelo said. Everything was secret. (They didnt tell us about) the pins, they wouldnt tell me because they were afraid of sabotage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight decades, three children and a 75-year marriage later, News 8 found Masciangelo at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, ready to head to New Orleans. The National World War Two Museum is there and its at the museum Friday Masciangelo and 16 other Rosies will be honored for their work on the home front. All of them have already received the Congressional Gold Medal which is the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. All the recognition leaves Masciangelo a bit uneasy. I never got honors like this, she said, adding she doesnt know if she deserves it. I helped my folks, got electric in their house, got them a washing machine, refrigerator, we were very humble. One week away from turning 100 years old, she still is, joking the secret to her longevity is dandelions. My Italian family used to cook a lot of dandelions, eggs, Masciangelo said. That family was at the airport to see her off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her daughter, Jean Kelly, though, was traveling with her. Only one other person, Masciangelo says, shed like to have along for this ride. I wish he was here, she said, lifting up a photo of a man in uniform. Henry, my hubby. Henry died in 2018. While he wont be with her, the many memories they created together will, as will the memories of the years she spent making the parts that changed the war and her 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 RochesterFirst. Driving without car insurance is illegal in most states and creates huge financial risks. Yet, 34% of drivers were either uninsured or underinsured in 2023, according to a new report from the Insurance Research Council. You don't want to be one of those statistics. Let's explain what happens if you don't have car insurance and you cause an accident or get stopped by the police. We'll also share strategies that can help you find affordable auto coverage. Learn more: How does car insurance work? The basics explained. This embedded content is not available in your region. Your state's insurance requirements Your state sets auto insurance requirements for all residents. There are two broad types of auto insurance frameworks across the 50 states: At-fault states usually require you to have liability insurance that pays for damages and injuries you cause. No-fault states require you to carry personal injury protection or PIP insurance. PIP pays for injuries you sustain, no matter who caused the accident. You can optionally add comprehensive coverage and collision coverage, which pay to repair your vehicle after an accident. New Hampshire is the only state that does not require auto insurance. This does not mean you should drive without insurance, however. New Hampshire requires you to show proof of financial responsibility if you cause an accident. As you'll see below, an insurance policy is often the easiest way to provide that proof. Learn more: Minimum car insurance requirements in all 50 U.S. states Penalty: Getting in an accident without car insurance The consequences for driving without car insurance are most severe if you get into an accident and someone calls the police. Depending on your prior driving record and where you live, the outcomes may include: Fines License suspension Vehicle impound Jail time or community service SR-22 filing requirement Higher insurance premiums later Things get much worse if the accident causes property damage or injury. Depending on your state's laws, you will be personally liable for repair costs, medical bills, or both. If you live in New Hampshire and cause an accident, you must prove you can afford the resulting costs. One form of proof is an auto liability policy covering $25,000 in medical claims for one person, $50,000 in medical claims for two or more people, and $25,000 in property damage. The other acceptable proof is a cash or securities deposit with the state treasurer. Penalty: Getting pulled over without car insurance Getting pulled over without car insurance also has serious consequences. You won't face accident-related costs, but your state will charge a fine, may suspend your license, and more. State fines for driving without insurance range from a few hundred dollars to $5,000. You'll pay more on second and third offenses. Here are two examples of the more extreme state-level penalties for driving without insurance: In Massachusetts, you can be fined up to $5,000 and sentenced to up to one year in jail. In West Virginia, you can be fined up to $5,000 or spend up to a year in jail for a repeat offense. How to find cheap car insurance Before you let the fear of high costs turn you away from purchasing car insurance, consider all the ways you can find cheap car insurance. Yahoo Personal Finance Discounts and bundling Many car insurance companies offer car insurance discounts or low-cost coverage programs for qualified drivers. Maybe you can bundle multiple policies and take a driver safety course to reduce your premiums to an affordable level. Learn more: Car insurance discounts: 17 ways to save Low-income programs If you can't afford a standard car insurance policy, check into your states low-income programs for sponsored coverage. These policies may be subsidized or available through specific carriers and can put adequate coverage within reach. Buy non-owner car insurance If you dont own a car, shop for a non-owner car insurance policy. This type of coverage is less expensive because you drive infrequently. Learn more: What is non-owners car insurance? Alternatives to car insurance Public transportation, rideshares, and carpooling You may not need your own car and insurance to get around town. Buses, subways, trains, carpool/slug lines, and rideshare platforms dont require you to buy insurance. Borrow a car when you need to drive When you occasionally borrow a vehicle, you may be covered under the car owner's policy. Be sure to verify that the car owner's insurance includes permissive use coverage. You still need a valid driver's license and permission to use the vehicle. Learn more: What happens if someone else crashes your car? Driving without car insurance FAQs Can you drive a car with no auto insurance? Technically, you can drive a car without insurance but you shouldn't. The consequences can range from fines to jail time to financial ruin. How can you get away with no car insurance? The best way to get away with no car insurance is to stay out of the driver's seat. Without car insurance, you probably can't renew your vehicle registration or finance a car purchase. If you get pulled over, your state may charge a fine and suspend your license. If you get into an accident, you could get sued over property damage and injury costs. How many people drive without car insurance? According to the Insurance Research Council, one in seven drivers in the U.S. has no car insurance. What happens if you get in an accident without car insurance? If you get into an accident without car insurance, you will pay for the resulting property damage and medical costs out of your pocket. If you don't pay, the other driver may sue you and can garnish your wages if the court rules against you. What if someone who doesn't have insurance hits you? If someone who doesn't have insurance hits you, you likely will have trouble getting reimbursed for your vehicle damage and medical expenses unless you have the proper coverage. You can sue the at-fault driver to get a court judgment and, potentially, a wage garnishment. Many drivers prefer to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which pays for your costs when the at-fault driver doesn't have coverage. This spares you the hassle of a lawsuit. This article was edited by Tim Manni The Kettering School District held a meeting Thursday where they proposed a levy in order to remodel or rebuild most of their school buildings. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Actually, [Im] pleasantly surprised that the plan, I feel, has been well thought out, Leanne Breslin said. Breslin says she didnt know exactly what the meeting was about before she went in. I knew it had something to do with consolidating the schools and possibly taking away some of our elementary schools, Breslin said. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kettering leaders looked at the school building in the district and determined that 11 of the 12 were no longer up to standard. Breslins five kids attend Kettering schools, and she agrees they need some renovation. Kettering City School District partnered with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission two years ago. OFCC said they would enter a bond agreement to help Kettering build the new facilities. Some think the district is headed for an uphill battle trying to pass the levy. It aint going to be cheap, Dale Chandler said. I told my friend on the board he might want to consider quitting. Its going to be a tough, tough, tough job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To renovate, demolish and consolidate the schools, the total cost is near $432 million with $285 coming from local taxpayers. We dont have numbers per household basis yet, Justin Blevins, district treasurer said. Tonights proposal is part of a 10-year plan which is broken into two phases. Phase one is consolidating the middle schools and renovating the high school. Phase two will be presented in the fall. The levy will be up for a vote on the May 2026 ballot. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, according to CBS News. Beth Crider, superintendent of the Peoria County Regional Office of Education 48, said what infuriates her about the decision. If you want to dismantle something and make it more efficient, where do those things go?, Crider said. You should have a plan in place so that no child, no family is hurt or impacted by these decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Crider said would be impacted is federal student aid, along with individual education plans. She also said more than 7.5 million students in the U.S. have a disability or have an IEP. Graduating seniors could see a big impact, as there is a question mark as to who will be helping the system to provide financial aid to students. Students and families need that support, she said. So if youre a family thats getting ready to think about college next year, you have a graduating senior, I would be concerned. What is going to happen to that FAFSA? Whos going to process that paperwork? And how do you make the best decision for your family? ISU faculty union mulls strike after prolonged negotiations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois Federation of Teachers issued in a news release with their president, Dan Montgomerey, opposing the dismantling. Education is the bedrock of American democracy, Montgomery stated. Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education by shuttering the agency and reassigning its duties would devastate millions of children, families, and communities. He continued by writing, We call on Congress to oppose this blatant attempt to siphon public dollars away from students and families and into the pockets of the wealthy through tax breaks and private school vouchers. Trump previously named Linda McMahon as Education secretary, and the department cut half of its staff a week ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. Mar. 21A decision to have the Lodi City Council send letters to Sacramento and Washington D.C. in support of new voting requirements was tabled Wednesday after discussion about the topic delayed other items on the council's meeting agenda. Councilmembers were considering whether to send letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump that support requiring voter identification at the polls and eliminating same-day registration. However, Councilman Mikey Hothi suggested cutting the item short after a 30-minute break that followed some two dozen residents on both sides of the debate pleading their case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's entirely in our right to write letters to the governor, to the White House, on any issue of importance," Hothi said. "And in fact, any two of us could be on the same letter. But right now, we're two hours into a city council meeting, and we still have six other items to vote on that are actually in our jurisdiction. If we do this for every hyper-partisan issue, we're never going to get anything done in this city." Mayor Cameron Bregman and councilwoman Lisa Craig-Hensley requested the letters be discussed during Wednesday's meeting. The letters were similar in composition to those approved by the San Joaquin County Election Advisory Committee and Board of Supervisors in January, which were ultimately sent to Newsom and the Trump administration. According to Wednesday's staff report, current election practices such as same-day voter registration and the lack of voter identification requirements "have introduced administrative challenges and potential vulnerabilities," and allowing the former has caused "confusion among voters and election workers, undermining public confidence in the process." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The staff report also said the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters has reported increased workloads due to a surge in same-day voter registrations. But many residents who spoke during public comment said that requiring identification and eliminating same-day registration amounted to voter suppression. Andrea Songey-Neff asked the council not to "taint the City of Lodi with lies of the election advisory committee," which she said was a "partisan embarrassment." "Time and time again you discarded verifiable facts from the ROV about the process and procedures that sworn poll workers like me execute in every election," she said. "This law would force poll workers like me to be experts on various forms of ID, It would force us to be in a situation to tell voters they can't vote." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale said the state of California currently does not require voters to present identification when they vote in-person, except for first-time voters in a federal election who have registered without providing it. She said that less than 100 first-time federal voters cast ballots in November. One state that has implemented voter identification requirements, Hale said, is Arizona. That state accepts drivers licenses, tribal enrollment cards, utility bills, bank statements or property tax assessments, among other forms of identification. Hale said these voter requirements could potentially disenfranchise seniors, low-income residents and other marginalized groups, as well as increase costs associated with equipment upgrades, expanded poll worker training, provisional ballots, and disruptions at polling locations if voters are unprepared. However, Hale said the measures are also important tools, as the former can give an additional layer of security to in-person voting much like signature verification for mail-in ballots. It could make people feel the election is more secure, however others may feel that it creates barriers for certain populations, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Registrar of Voters does not approach these topics with the belief that there is one 'right' answer," she said. "Our role is to follow the law, ensure compliance, and remain responsive to the needs of all constituents. We are committed to being nonpartisan in our approach to election administration. This neutrality allows us to serve the entire community equally, ensuring that all voters, regardless of political affiliation, have confidence that their voices are heard and that elections are conducted impartially." Andre Pischalnikoff said more than 9,000 residents registered to vote on election day in November, and added many who have done so had a variety of reasons, from missing the registration deadline, glitches in the state's system or recently turning 18 or becoming legal citizens. "We should be thrilled and help them register that same day," he said. "We can't take this away from people. If you think that same-day registration is some conspiracy to finding the registrations of hundreds of fake voters, I urge you to show me the evidence." Many in favor of the new requirements pointed to former Lodi councilman Shakir Khan's voter fraud case, in which he turned in at least 41 mail-ballots in the 2020 election and had some 70 names associated with his address on the ROV's voter rolls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ria Jones said she has been studying the ROV's voter rolls for the last three elections and found several instances of inconsistencies, including 71 Lodi residents casting ballots from outside the city limits and six who had birthdates from around 1850. She said that 149 residents throughout the county were using non-qualifying addresses, and a voter in Tracy was reportedly 115 years old, even though the oldest documented person in America was 112. "We need ID for everyday actions buying alcohol, boarding a flight, opening a bank account," she said. "Yet voting one of our most democratic rights, lacks this basic safeguard. Voter ID is not inconvenient. It's a reasonable, necessary measure to protect the integrity of our elections. It's not a partisan issue. It's just a fairness voting issue." Davis Cushman is the vice chair of the election advisory committee, and said many other states have similar voter identification requirements. Florida and Georgia have had requirements in place since 1977, while Hawaii has had them since 1978. North Dakota, Indian and Wisconsin have also had measures in place since 2003, 2005 and 2011, respectively, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cushman added that the principle of requiring voters to present identification at the polls has been a bipartisan issue since 2005, when the Commission on Federal Election Reform was chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former President Jimmy Carter. "This is not a new idea, this is not a new concept," he said. "It increases the public's confidence in our election system and contributes to the efficiency and security of elections. By signing this resolution, you'll be on the right side of the issue, on the same side of a wide majority of American people, an in-line with a policy already adopted by multiple states. Craig-Hensley said she wanted to agendize the issue for community discussion, adding that she had more questions than answers after Hale's presentation. She suggested ending the discussion Wednesday and following up the the ROV for more clarification and information. If the council did not want to discuss the matter at a future meeting, she suggested those who wanted to write letters to the governor and president could do so on their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do take into account what the public is saying," she said. "And questions have risen that have led me to write additional questions I would like to have follow-up on. Even if I'm going to write a letter, I need to be more informed about the specifics of what our community is saying to us." Councilman Alan Nakanishi agree with Hothi that anyone could write a letter about the requirements on their own, and read a letter from a conservative friend that questioned why city leaders were discussing an issue that was not in their jurisdiction. The letter writer said merely considering a vote played into partisan divide and turned neighbors against each other. "I don't like to discuss items not in the council's jurisdiction," Nakanishi said. "If you (discuss) this, I've got to give you my idea on a political issue. I'm here as a council member, not to discuss political issues or state law issues, but to take care of the city." London City Council introduced a new ordinance defining attendance from department supervisors at its special-called meeting Thursday morning. Ordinance 2025-03 establishes that department heads, or their direct underling, are required to attend regular meetings, as specific questions which the supervisor of a certain department can best answer may arise. City Council Attorney Conrad Cessna conducted the first reading of the ordinance. "I would like to implement that so we could have them here to answer questions that we need answered," said Council Member Judd Weaver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The departments which will be represented at each meeting include Building and Code Enforcement, Information Technology, London City Police Department, London Fire Department, Public Works, and London Rescue Squad. Also required to attend are the city finance director and city clerk. In the absence of Mayor Randall Weddle, Weaver served as chairperson for the special-called meeting. City Attorney Larry Bryson, City Clerk Katelin McPeek, and council members Stacy Benge and Holly Little were also unable to attend. Council Member Anthony Ortega conducted the second reading of both Ordinance 2025-01 and 2025-02. Ordinance 2025-01 requires the city and city clerk to provide council members with an agenda and all relevant documentation seven days prior to all regular meetings. Ordinance 2025-02 will allow the entire London Community Center to serve as the council chambers, rather than specifying the downstairs portion. Council members made this change to prevent meetings held upstairs from becoming special-called meetings, as relocating from the designated meeting spot requires the council to label the meeting as special called. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At a regular-called meeting, we are allowed to bring up any new business even though it's not on the agenda. During a special-called meeting, you're required by law to only discuss what's on that agenda," said Ortega. "So allowing the whole community center to be council chambers will allow us to conduct more business." A discussion with London City Fire Department Chief Donnie Hale and the scheduling of a preliminary budget meeting with Finance Director Sherry Jones were scheduled for the meeting but ultimately postponed until the council's next regular meeting. Community member Doug Phelps questioned the absence of city employees, asking, "Were they notified to be here?" Ortega responded that, to his understanding, the individuals are on the email distribution list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So they are defiantly not attending?" Phelps asked. "We just don't know why exactly. We don't have a reason for three people," Weaver responded. "Well, at some point, this council's going to have to realize it's power of the purse," said Phelps to which Weaver agreed. Also postponed for next month's meeting was an executive session to discuss current and potential litigation with a KLC (Kentucky League of Cities) attorney. London City Council regularly meets on the first Monday of each month. The next meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on April 7. To watch a livestream of the meeting, visit "The City of London" Facebook page. Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Prague and Venice. Soon, London could be added to the growing list of European cities charging a tax on tourists. Speaking at one of Londons 10 annual Mayors Question Time assemblies this week, city mayor Sadiq Khan expressed support for a levy on visitors to the UK capital. Tourists dont really mind paying the extra few euros to holiday elsewhere, he explained. But while some cities across Europe have successfully implemented tourist taxes, their impact hasnt always been straightforward. Some argue they are essential for maintaining tourism infrastructure, but others worry they could deter visitors in the long term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Could a London tourist tax strike the right balance? How much do tourist taxes generate and where does the money go? Across Europe, tourist taxes have become a popular source of fundraising for cities struggling to manage overtourism and pay for public services. In Barcelona, for example, visitors currently pay up to 4 per night, on top of a regional tax. These hefty fees generate lots of money for the city up to 100 million annually which goes to maintaining infrastructure, improving public transport and preserving historic sites. Paris charges visitors up to almost 16 a night to stay in its most expensive hotels, generating millions of euros each year to support cultural projects and urban upgrades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If London follows suit, a levy could raise significant sums. Official estimates suggest a 5 per cent tax on overnight stays could generate nearly 240 million (285 million) annually. Related While no formal plans have been outlined, Khan has said that money would support the tourism and hospitality sectors. My promise to the hotels and AirBnbs and so forth is the money would be used to improve the environment around that, to encourage more tourists, he said. Could a London tourist tax hurt its hospitality sector? As the fees continue to rise, critics have questioned their impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Barcelona Hotel Association told local media in February that the ever-growing tax in 2025, a stay in a five-star hotel could cost an extra 15 per night, plus VAT amounted to the fiscal asphyxiation of one of the citys most important sectors. Venice this year is set to double its tax on day-trippers and short-term visitors from 5 to 10. While the tax netted the city 2.2 million in 2024, officials noted it did little to dissuade the kind of tourism that has clogged the citys public spaces and squeezed out locals. Earlier this year, businesses across Wales closed their doors on St Davids Day to protest a proposed tax. Opponents argued that it would make Wales less competitive at a time when tourism-dependent businesses were still recovering from pandemic losses. Related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In London, where hotel prices are already among the highest in Europe, the introduction of an additional charge could be a sticking point. With tourism hovering just above pre-pandemic levels VisitBritain estimated 41.2 million inbound visits in 2024, up only 1 per cent from 2019 some fear a tax could discourage budget-conscious travellers. Tourism trade group UKHospitality told UK newspaper The Standard that additional taxes would be extremely damaging. Will London join the ranks of tax-charging cities? Last year in Europe was marked by a procession of anti-tourism protests. From Amsterdam to the Canary Islands to Greece, locals took to the streets to voice frustrations over the ceaseless increase in visitors and the impact the industry has had on housing, healthcare and other public services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourism taxes have yet to stem the tide of visitors, but they have generated millions for cities struggling to keep a lid on them. With major European destinations already cashing in on these taxes, Londons own levy may feel inevitable. But whether it succeeds might depend on how it is framed either as a necessary tool to support local infrastructure or as an unwelcome extra cost for travellers. As the debate unfolds, one thing seems certain: the conversation around Londons tourism economy centres on more than an extra few euros. A fire at an electrical substation supplying London Heathrow Airport caused a major power outage, leading to the grounding of thousands of flights and the evacuation of 180 people. Authorities are investigating the cause, while airlines like British Airways work to rebook stranded passengers amid widespread travel disruption. The UK's busiest airport is shut today, and thousands of flights are grounded after a fire broke out at the electrical substation that supplies the airport. London Heathrow was without power on Friday, March 21, after the blaze broke out overnight in Hayes, west London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement London Fire Brigade confirmed that 10 engines and approximately 70 firefighters were sent to the scene, and no one was injured. Approximately 180 people have been evacuated from their homes with a 200 meter cordon put in place around the substation. Homes and businesses have been left without power, including Heathrow Airport, which has had to ground thousands of flights. Heathrow Airport said in a statement: "Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologize for the inconvenience." Thousands of flights were due to depart from and arrive at Heathrow today. These include flights from across Europe and locations such as Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, and Toronto. The main airline based out of Heathrow is British Airways (BA) at Terminal 5, which partners with American Airlines for transatlantic flights. BA said in a statement: "Due to a power outage in the London Heathrow area, London Heathrow Airport is currently closed. As a result, customers due to travel from Heathrow on Friday are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we're working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond." Firefighters douses flames of a fire that broke out at a substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London on March 21, 2025. Britain's Heathrow airport, Europe's busiest, was shut down early on March 21 for 24 hours after a major fire at an electricity substation cut power to the sprawling facility west of London, officials said. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP) (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images) The UKs second busiest airport, Gatwick, said it would accept some flights from Heathrow, posting on X: We are aware of the situation at Heathrow Airport today and are supporting as required. Flights from London Gatwick are operating as normal today." What caused the fire? Passengers stranded due to the blaze are pushing for questions as to how such a massive sitea little under five square mileswas left entirely without power. The nation's energy secretary, Ed Miliband, told Sky News that the fire also damaged the airport's backup generator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The politician added that the damage to both the main and backup generators is indicative of how "unusual and unprecedented" the situation is. He added it was "too early to know" what caused the substation blaze, but said he was in contact with the National GridEngland and Wales's electricity distribution serviceto provide updates. "There is a third backupa second backup if you likewhich they are seeking to use to restore power. There are backup mechanisms in place but given the scale of this fire backup mechanisms also seem to have been affected," he continued. "Obviously with any incident like this we will want to understand why it happened and what, if any lessons, it has for our infrastructure." LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Departure boards and other screens are dark as Heathrow airport experienced a significant power outage in the early hours of March 21, 2025 in London, England. A fire at the North Hyde electricity substation in Hayes has caused a power outage at Heathrow Airport, leading to all flights in and out to be cancelled until midnight tonight, affecting around 200,000 passengers. Some homes near to the fire have also been evacuated. (Photo by Klara Simonova/Getty Images) London Fire Brigade added its fire investigators are working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service on the investigation into the cause of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As the morning progresses, disruption is expected to continue, and we urge people to avoid the area whenever possible," added the Brigade's assistant commissioner, Pat Goulbourne. Aviation expert, John Strickland, added to BBC show 5Live that systems will be in place to ensure passenger safety at the extremes of emergency situations. However, because of the scale of airport services, disruption to power supply has wide-ranging consequences: "There are just so many systems at an airport used by so many different players, not only the airport itself and the airlines, but handling agents, engineering companies, catering companies, you name it." While this could include something as minor as lights in toilets, it also includes extra services like baggage being loaded and aircraft maneuvering around the airport. Customer reaction Customers are being asked by BA to directly message them on social media platforms like Xformerly known as Twitterin order to rebook their flights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airline is also directing passengers to its flight status page to keep them updated on when services will resume. One customer in the Maldives told Sky that delayed passengers had been given meal vouchers to apologize for the inconvenience, saying: "Absolutely no news given, because assumedly there is no news to give. "We were given 'meal' vouchers almost as soon as we got through security, which we thought was kind. We then went to get this meal only to be told it's only worth 14 so doesn't even cover the cost of a meal in this airport. "The notice board says nothing more than delayed." Stranded passengers makes their way down unlit stairs due to lifts not working to the car park at Heathrow Terminal 4 in London. More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted on Friday due to the closure of the airport following a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation last night. Picture date: Friday March 21, 2025. (Photo by James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images) Tori Dunzello was en-route to Heathrow from Newark Airport in the U.S. when she noticed her plane had done a 'U-turn' in the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the BBC, Dunzello said: "I saw the time on the screen started to increase so I turned on my world map and I started seeing a big U-turn ... I called the assistant over and said 'Are we turning around?' And she said 'Yes we are because of a massive fire in Heathrow.'" The plane subsequently stopped to refuel in Canada. According to tracking website FlightRadar24, more than 100 planes bound for Heathrow were in the air when the closure was announced. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The closure of Londons Heathrow Airport due to a large fire that knocked out power disrupted international travel, with more than 100 flights affected. Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage, the airport posted Friday morning on the social platform X. The statement added that the airport would be closed until midnight local time. Heathrow hours later announced the resumption of flights in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. Were now safely able to restart flights, prioritising repatriation and relocation of aircraft, officials said, adding they were hoping for full operations on Saturday. Heathrow initially said the closure would affect travel in the upcoming days, and the repercussions of the incident were being felt globally. By midday local time Friday, more than 100 flights had been redirected or canceled, according to flight-tracking websites. The airport was anticipating incoming flights from various cities, including Sydney, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Johannesburg, New York, Miami and many others Friday. Heathrow Airport ranks as the fourth-busiest airport in the world, according to the latest statistics from 2023, and welcomed an unprecedented 83.9 million passengers last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was in close contact with partners on the ground over the fire and power outage near the airport. I know the situation in Heathrow is causing distress and disruption, especially for those travelling or without power in their homes, Starmer said in a post. Im receiving regular updates and Im in close contact with partners on the ground, Starmer said. Thanks to our emergency workers for keeping people safe. CNN reported that Londons counterterrorism police were leading the inquiry into the fire at an electrical substation given the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents in West London reported hearing a significant explosion, followed by a fireball and plumes of smoke, as a fire engulfed the electrical substation. At the time of the incident, approximately 120 flights were airborne, leading to some being rerouted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris or Shannon Airport in Ireland, according to tracking services. Updated at 12:58 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The News Londons Heathrow Airport halted flights after a fire at a nearby power station cut off electricity Friday, unleashing global travel chaos. The airport, the worlds second-busiest by international traffic, warned that the shutdown will remain all day Friday and that there would likely be significant disruption over the coming days. Heathrow is a key hub for transatlantic flights as well as connections to the Middle East and Asia, with its closure set to directly affect more than 1% of all flights worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passengers have been warned to not travel to the airport under any circumstances as emergency services continue to tackle the nearby blaze. Flights from Bangkok were among those diverted to Brussels, and passengers on a flight from JFK in New York City have been diverted to Iceland, the BBC reported. The incident highlights global air travels reliance on a small number of nodes: The airline industrys intricate hub and spoke system sees long-haul flights travel to major ports that are linked to smaller cities by short-hop aircraft. Even the temporary closure of one of the great hubs, such as Dubai, Singapore, or Dallas-Fort Worth will be felt throughout the global air system. Heathrow Airport said Friday afternoon it was resuming flights after being closed most of the day. A fire caused a power outage, closing Europe's busiest airport and causing travel chaos. The airport said it hoped to resume full operation on Saturday. London's Heathrow Airport said it would resume some flights Friday night after closing earlier in the day due to a power outage. The nearly full-day closure, which came after a fire in a nearby electrical substation, caused thousands of flight delays and cancellations at the airport, which is Europe's busiest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An airport spokesperson warned people to expect "significant disruption over the coming days." In a post on X at 4.13 p.m. local time, Heathrow said it was now "safely able to restart flights" and would prioritize the "repatriation and relocation of aircraft." The airport said it hoped it would return to full operation on Saturday, but asked passengers not to travel to the airport unless their airline advised them to do so. The airport usually welcomes around 200,000 passengers and 1,300 flights a day but was cordoned off and almost completely empty most of the day. Planes were diverted, with some British Airways flights rerouting to London Gatwick, while other airlines diverted to more distant locations. Planes are pictured on the tarmac at Heathrow Airport on Friday, March 21, after the airport closed due to a power loss. Warren Little/Getty Images The aviation analytics firm Cirium told BI that the airport was due to have 665 departures and 669 arrivals on Friday, equating to more than 290,000 seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday morning, barricades and signs were placed around the airport to prevent drivers from entering its perimeter. Terminal Five is the busiest terminal, but on Friday morning, a BI reporter found that the area around it was eerily quiet. Dozens of people were waiting outside, mostly checking their phones for travel updates. Rhythem Chauhan was one of them. She had been there since 5 a.m., awaiting news of her flight home to Delhi. "It's heartbreaking," she told BI, saying she hadn't been back to India in five years. Luke Metcalf told BI he was supposed to fly to Thailand this morning but his flight was diverted to another London airport, Gatwick, and would take off at 5 p.m. instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is what is, I'm a bit disappointed but there's not much you can do about it," he said. Another stranded passenger, Andrew Palmer, was supposed to fly to San Francisco but decided to stay at a hotel near the airport after seeing the news on TV. "I'm disappointed, very disappointed," he told BI. "The disheartening thing was that I had an internal flight to Las Vegas as well." The usually busy Heathrow Airport ground to a halt on Friday, after a nearby fire caused power outages. Business Insider/Thibault Spirlet Heathrow was the fourth busiest airport in the world and the busiest in Europe in 2024, according to OAG, a travel data company, behind only Tokyo Haneda Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, about 83.9 million people flew through Heathrow, up 6% from the previous year. Todays total closure of London-Heathrow will affect at least 1,351 flights to/from LHR. That doesnt include any flights that might be canceled or delayed due to aircraft being out of position. pic.twitter.com/WikVJsCxDK Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 21, 2025 A British Airways spokesperson said the power outage led to the cancellation of all short-term flights on Friday. When the resumption of flights was announced, the airline said eight long-haul flights would be departing Heathrow from 7 p.m. local time. Firefighters put out the remnants of the burn at the power station near London Heathrow Airport. Leon Neal/Getty Images The fire occurred at an electricity substation in Hayes in West London, about 1.5 miles from the airport. The cause of the fire is not yet known. London's Metropolitan Police said its counter-terrorism command would lead the fire investigation, given "the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is due to the specialist resources and capabilities within that command that can assist in progressing this investigation at pace to minimise disruption and identify the cause," the force added in a statement. The London Fire Brigade said in a post on X that 10 fire engines and about 70 firefighters were called to the scene. Images showed large flames and plumes of thick black smoke. "Our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging and hazardous conditions overnight to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible," Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith said. London has several other international airports including Gatwick, the city's second-busiest airport, and Stansted, known for budget flights and flights to Europe. Read the original article on Business Insider Worldwide air travel was thrown into a tailspin Friday after a substation fire triggered a power outage at London's Heathrow Airport, closing one of the world's busiest hubs for much of the day. Flights resumed Friday evening on a very limited schedule with the goal of first allowing passengers to fly into the hub who were stranded elsewhere by diversions. Here's the latest on this developing situation: Heathrow Resumes Full Flight Schedule Saturday Power was restored to the facility Friday, and the airport lifted its closure order, allowing a British Airways jet to touch down just before the sun went down. Other flights followed, including a flight from Manchester in northwest England. A British Airways flight to Saudi Arabia took off from Heathrow as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airport plans to operate on a full schedule on Saturday, but disruptions are still expected and passengers have been warned to expect significant delays, CNBC reported. Aviation consultant Anita Mendiratta told The Associated Press that it will still take days to rebook passengers whose flights have been canceled and mobilize planes, cargo carriers and crews after the shutdown. Its not only about resuming with tomorrows flights, its the backlog and the implications that have taken place, she said on Friday. Heathrow Airport's website urged travelers to check with their airline for the latest flight information before heading to the airport. What Caused The Power Outage? Officials said a fire at a nearby power substation took the airport offline and forced the hourslong closure. It's not yet known exactly what sparked the fire late Thursday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Associated Press, the airport wasn't the only customer affected by the fire some 62,000 homes and businesses were left in the dark and about 150 residents were forced to evacuate. Only a few thousand customers were still without power by Friday evening local time. (WATCH: Power Line Sparks Explosion During Storm) Heathrow said in a statement that there's no estimate on when power will be fully restored to the airport, and impacts are expected to last into the weekend, adding that it expects "significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens." It's not believed that the fire was started by foul play. Witnesses Saw A 'Fireball' Witnesses in west London reported hearing an explosion and then seeing a fireball followed by clouds of smoke when the fire erupted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Muirhead described the scene when he stepped outside with a colleague as he was working nearby Heathrow. We saw a bright flash of white, and all the lights in town went out, he told The Associated Press. Ten fire engines from the London Fire Brigade responded to the scene along with around 70 firefighters. How Many Flights Have Been Affected? According to the flight-tracking service FlightRadar 24, more than 1,350 flights into and out of Heathrow have been canceled since the outage. But anytime the busiest airport in Europe sees reduced service of any kind, it creates a domino effect that impacts air travel for the rest of the world. (MORE: These Are The Worst US Cities For Seasonal Allergies) When the outage happened, many flights had to be diverted or turned around and returned to their origin city, including many coming from the United States. Where Does Heathrow Rank Among The World's Busiest? 1. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Atlanta): 62.7 million seats in 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. Dubai International Airport: 60.2 million 3. Haneda Airport (Tokyo): 55.2 million 4. Heathrow Airport: 51.6 million 5. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport: 51.5 million Source: OAG's Global Airline Schedules Data What To Do If Your Flight Is Impacted If you're one of the estimated 220,000 passengers who were scheduled to pass through Heathrow on Friday, the best bet is to keep an eye on updates from your airline. Several airlines have offered flight vouchers so customers can rebook canceled flights for no extra charge. Hundreds of thousands of passengers faced flight cancellations or turnarounds Friday after a fire caused a major power outage at Londons Heathrow Airport, one of the worlds busiest airports. While Heathrow officials originally said the airport would stay closed until at least midnight, the airport announced just before 12:30 p.m. ET that it would be able to restart some flights. We hope to run a full operation tomorrow, airport officials said. More than 1,300 flights have been affected today by the fire, flight tracking website Flightradar24 estimates including 120 that were already in the air this morning before Heathrow officially shut down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens," Heathrow said in a statement earlier Friday. New York Citys John F. Kennedy International Airport is the busiest travel route out of Heathrow. According to Flightradar24, around 146 flights depart Heathrow for JFK each week. As of Friday morning, eastern time, five out of eight flights scheduled to leave JFK for Heathrow later today had already been canceled, and all eight flights arriving at JFK from Heathrow were canceled. Several flights that took off from JFK to Heathrow this morning have been diverted to airports in Manchester, England, Glasgow, Scotland, or Reykjavik, Iceland, while others have returned to New York. What began as a local fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow that was called in late Thursday night spread and knocked out power to the airport and thousands of homes in western London. The cause of the fire has not been identified, the London Fire Brigade said Friday morning, but the organization would be further investigating what happened. BREAKING: Heathrow Airport says it will be closed all day due to significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances pic.twitter.com/jeqEqb8BX6 Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) March 21, 2025 London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News that while counterterrorism police are leading the investigation, there is no reason at all for anyone to be concerned or alarmed that this was a result of foul play. Follow Yahoo News U.K.s live blog for live updates on the Heathrow Airport shutdown. Travel nightmare for Americans Comedian Adam Conover shared on X that he was traveling to Heathrow from Los Angeles to kick off the European part of his tour, with a show in London tomorrow night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 90 minutes flight to London, captain comes on and says we're going back to LAX because there's a fire at a substation near Heathrow, which is now closed for 24 hours, Conover wrote. I have to figure out a new way to get to London immediately or cancel my show. One self-described nervous father said his son was in London with friends for spring break and was due to fly out of Heathrow within hours on Friday. Ugh what a nightmare, he wrote on X. A passenger aboard an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C., to Heathrow recorded the moment the flights captain announced they were turning around. Something you may have noticed on a TV screen we have made a 180-degree turn. We are headed back to Charlotte, the pilot says. They are not accepting flights into London Heathrow for the next 22 hours. Passenger onboard American Airlines #AA730 from Charlotte recorded the moment Captain announced they are diverting to Charlotte. B777(N735AT) made it all the way to the eastern edge of Canada before turning back due to a power outage at Heathrow,caused by a fire at substation. pic.twitter.com/GsGL4c3J7L Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) March 21, 2025 A group of Arizona high school students flying through Heathrow after spending a week in Italy told the New York Times the airport shutdown delayed their travel plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We didnt find out the flight was canceled until half of our party had checked in, Angel Brady, a chaperone on the trip, said. She lamented that the group would now miss their connecting flight back to Phoenix. U.S.-based airlines offer travel waivers for affected travelers Heathrow is a base for almost 90 airlines, including U.S.-based ones like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, JetBlue, United and Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic asked customers to not travel to Heathrow or contact our customer centre at this time and instead check flight statuses online. Were incredibly sorry for the disruption this will cause and are working with our teams to ensure customers can complete their journeys as quickly as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delta, American Airlines and JetBlue have issued travel waivers for passengers who are affected by flight disruptions, with Delta waiving all fare differences for reissued tickets if theyre rebooked by March 26. Im an American traveler affected by the Heathrow cancellations. What are my rights? You could be covered by British law UK261, depending on where you were traveling from and with what airline, even as an American citizen. UK261 grants the right to compensation and assistance for travelers who are dealing with issues like flight delays or cancellations. Under UK261, airlines have to provide food and drink, communication, transportation and accommodation for passengers until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it. You can check whether the U.K. law applies to your specific flight incident here and here. Its been recommended that you keep as many receipts as possible for potential future reimbursement while the travel chaos with Heathrow is resolved. What surprises people most about my job in an assisted living community is that its not just elderly grandparents who live in our building. The majority of the patients at the assisted living facility where I work are among our communitys most vulnerable individuals without state-provided funding they would be unnecessarily hospitalized or sleeping on the street. My job is to provide a safe and stable environment for people who cannot live on their own due to mental illness, traumatic brain injuries, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder and, above all else, the lack of a personal support network. For the vast majority of our residents, access to care is thanks to state and federal Medicaid support. For organizations like ours, we can only afford to accept and care for these patients because our state legislature has recognized that the state-funded Medicaid rates are wildly insufficient to maintain the number of facilities we need in our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, they voted to provide temporary add-on bridge funding in 2023 and the funding was extended again last year. Now, as the bridge funding is set to expire this summer and our state battles a budget deficit, we are faced once again with the catastrophic possibility of closing community-based assisted living facilities and pushing our social services and healthcare systems further into crisis. The legislature must extend this bridge funding when they adopt a budget this year. Long-term care communities like ours provide stability and preventative healthcare that breaks the cycle of over-reliance on emergency rooms and crisis centers. If this bridge funding ends, fifty-five facilities across the state like ours are at risk of closure and further shrinking our already overstressed network of community-based providers who serve and support Medicaid residents. For the 2,400 Washington residents who currently rely on this funding to receive the care they need, we are the last line of support. At our facility in Tacoma, we care for 89 residents. Fiscally, this investment is saving our state money by stabilizing one of our most at-risk groups of people. Morally, it is how we care for our neighbors who need support the most. The alternative is disaster on all fronts. Since the bridge funding went into place, we have been able to immediately address our most pressing need: increasing wages to retain high-quality staff. Although my colleagues have plenty of options for where they could work, they choose to be here because they are emotionally invested in caring for our residents. They understand that sometimes, some of us just need a little bit more help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stubborn stigma associated with people experiencing homelessness or mental health crisis has prevented sustainable investment in long-term care. But the care we provide in assisted living communities is an essential part of our social fabric. We are here to care for those who cannot care for themselves. By providing our staff with a competitive living wage, we have been able to stay fully staffed and further stave off the possibility of closure. If legislators abandon the bridge funding for assisted living facilities, they will be faced with the problem of system collapse they saw coming years ago. When people who need assisted living services like ours are forced into an unsupported environment, it is inevitable that they will end up drawing on state resources to survive. The most critical concerns of our current political conversations increased homelessness, stressed healthcare systems, insufficient mental health treatment are all impacted when community support systems are stripped of the resources needed to prevent crisis in the first place. The human consequence will become very real when buildings close and hundreds of people have nowhere else to go. This bridge funding was put into place as a temporary solution. It has been invaluable in stabilizing our services and ensuring that residents will receive the care they require. I have seen firsthand that it is possible to avoid a preventable loss of taxpayer dollars like unnecessary calls to 911 when we are fully staffed and fully equipped to serve our residents. Legislators must stay firm in their commitment to ending our long-term care crisis. Bridge funding for assisted living facilities has been just that: a bridge. Now its time to finish what we started, find a long-term solution, and prevent the crisis we set out to address in the first place. Stephanie Ober is the director of resident services at Sixth Avenue Senior Living in Tacoma. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) Longview firefighters have been helping to put out fires all across Texas this past month. LIST: East Texas counties issue burn bans Members of the Longview Fire Department who were in Lubbock helping to extinguish the wildfires in West Texas have returned home while a new group has been sent to Amarillo to help put out the fires still burning near there. Longview firefighters returned from Lubbock on March, 11 after being dispatched to West Texas as part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longview also sent a crew to Amarillo on that same day to help put out the Windmill Fire in Perryton fire which has burned over 23,000 acres of land. The crew is currently positioned in Plainview and are expected to remain their for the next two weeks. The Longview Fire Department would like to thank the community for all the support and prayers that have been given to our crews at home and away fighting fires, the department said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Heres a first look at meetings of our South Dakota state governments boards and commissions, as well as the Legislature, that are open to the public during the new week starting Monday, March 24, 2025. Click on the name (highlighted in blue) for meeting details. Please note that any could be postponed because of adverse weather or other reasons. Monday, March 24 Internal Control Board, 11 a.m. CT, room 414, Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medical and Osteopathic Examiners Board, AT Advisory Council, noon CT, teleconference. Tuesday, March 25 Public Utilities Commission, 9:30 a.m. CT, room 412, Capitol. Wednesday, March 26 Independent Living Council, 9:30 a.m. CT, teleconference. Child Support Commission, 1 p.m. CT, teleconference and 700 Governors Drive, Pierre. Thursday, March 27 Transportation Commission, 9 a.m. CT, 700 E. Broadway, Pierre. Lottery Commission, 9:30 a.m. CT, room 412, Capitol. Technical Education Board, 10 a.m. CT, teleconference. Water and Natural Resources Board, 10:30 a.m. CT, teleconference and 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre. Friday, March 28 Brand Board, 1:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. CT, teleconference and 1444 Fountain Plaza Drive, Rapid City. Monday, March 31 Legislature, Joint Committee on Appropriations, 10 a.m. CT, room 362, Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cosmetology Commission, 1 p.m. CT, teleconference. Legislature, Veto Day, 1 p.m. CT, Capitol. Legislature, Executive Board, 3:30 p.m. CT, Capitol. KELOLAND Capitol Bureau Reporter Bob Mercer in Pierre assembled this information on Friday, March 21, 2025. State law requires state government boards and commissions to post public meeting notices 72 hours in advance, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and official state holidays. The Legislature isnt subject to that public notice law. *Please check boardsandcommissions.sd.gov and sdlegislature.gov for any meetings of state boards and commissions and legislative meetings that were posted after this weekly listing was assembled. Livecasts of some meetings are available at sd.net. Many meetings are available by teleconference. Check agendas and sd.net for audio availability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. MSNBCs Ari Melber reports on new legal setbacks for the Trump administration. A judge has rejected Trumps extreme claims of wartime powers during peacetime, criticizing the administrations filing as "woefully insufficient."(The Beat's YouTube playlist: https://msnbc.com/ari Beat merch: https://msnbc.com/Beat5 ) Valleywise Health announced the final two victims who suffered severe burns from an explosion involving illegal fireworks in Hawaii had since been discharged from a Phoenix hospital. Their injuries stemmed from an incident that occurred during a New Years Eve party in Honolulu where local police said someone lit a firework "cake" containing around 50 individual aerial fireworks that somehow tipped over, shooting into other crates also filled with fireworks. The explosion initially killed three people and injured over 20 others including three children. A 3-year-old boy died days later, bringing the number of deceased to four. Six people in their 20s and 30s in critical condition with burns covering 60% to 80% of their bodies were flown in a C17 military transport from Hawaii to Phoenix on Jan. 4 to receive treatment as Hawaiis only burn center on Oahu had limited bed space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All six were placed in a medically induced coma as part of their treatment with doctors saying they had a good chance of survival. 5 of 6 burn victims flown to Phoenix survive One of the six patients, identified on a GoFundMe page as Kevin Vallestros, died on Jan. 28. After 28 days of relentless fighting against infections and injuries Kevin is now at peace and resting with Heavenly Father, the GoFundMe read. Vallestros' girlfriend Melissa Cabrera was also one of the burn victims being treated in Phoenix. The two had an infant son who was being cared for by family members as they received treatment, according to a GoFundMe page established for her recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thank you to each and everyones contributions as we were able to bring Kevin home and give him a celebration of life worthy of him. My brother was laid to rest on Sunday, March 2, 2025," an update on Vallestros' GoFundMe page read. The Honolulu Police Department said officers arrested a man and a woman both 33 years old on Jan. 24 in connection with reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a minor and multiple fireworks offenses. The two were released the following day pending further investigation. The cases were to be sent to the department of the prosecuting attorney, Honolulu police confirmed. The department said the public should expect additional arrests as the investigation continued. It was not immediately clear as of Thursday whether the department made any additional arrests. 'This was a lot to overcome' Dr. Kevin Foster, director of the Arizona Burn Center, said Thursday the five survivors remained in Phoenix where they will undergo physical therapy. Foster said two of the survivors are receiving in-patient therapy at a Phoenix facility while the remaining three are undergoing outpatient treatment at the Arizona Burn Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill tell you that theyre all doing very well physically, Foster said during a news conference. Emotionally and psychologically, obviously this was a lot to overcome, so they have got some work to do there. He added the patients all required multiple surgeries, with some needing four to five and others needing as many as 10 to 12. Foster said part of the challenge in treating the patients was the fact that they had been exposed to an explosion from commercial heavy duty fireworks which arent the ones that typically injure people in Arizona. One of the things that we did not anticipate and that caused some difficulty is all of them had pieces of stuff particulate matter, projectiles that had been embedded in their skin, Foster said. And that made some unique-type wounds that really predisposed them to some unusual infections that we had not anticipated. Ongoing treatment likely necessary Foster said all five have substantial scars along with physical limitations and disabilities that can be addressed through physical and occupational therapy but noted that it could take months or even years for significant results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that most if not all of the surviving patients will also likely need reconstructive surgery as their scars mature. Foster said all five plan on returning to Hawaii over the next few weeks and months as they progress through their respective treatment plans. It has been very gratifying to watch them progress and get better, Foster said. And were pretty happy with how this has gone. I mean, were just a little bit over two months, which is pretty good. Foster noted that severe burns are just about the worst thing that can happen to a person and often take much longer to heal from compared to other types of trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is uniquely horrifying, Foster said of severe burns. There is something about being burned being involved in an accident where burning is involved it really affects human beings adversely. And I think all these patients are going to have to deal with that and are dealing with that right now. Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@gannett.com or 602-444-2474. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 surviving victims of Hawaii firework tragedy discharged in Phoenix Getty Images A food vendor at the Louisiana Crawfish Festival in St. Bernard Parish has served Chinese-sourced crustaceans and failed to disclose it as required under state law, organizers have confirmed. WVUE-TV Fox 8 reports organizers were made aware of the infraction when an attendee sent them pictures of a vendor using packages of foreign crawfish. Louisiana law requires fair food vendors, restaurants, seafood markets, grocers and other retailers to display signs that detail the origin of any foreign crawfish they sell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crawfish Festival secretary Cisco Gonzales Jr. confirmed to Fox 8 that the visitor told organizers the vendor had no such signage. We know how important supporting local seafood is in St. Bernard Parish, Gonzales said. You know, I come from a family of fishermen. A lot of my uncles and cousins are still down there doing that, and we want to respect that and we wanna make sure that our vendors are respectful of that, too. The crawfish for all festival vendors are being checked, and they are being asked to display signage if theyre serving foreign catch, Gonzales said. The Louisiana Crawfish, held annually for 50 years in Chalmette, started Wednesday and ends Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The origin of seafood sold and served in Louisiana is under heightened scrutiny after Louisiana strengthened its source disclosure law, effective Jan. 1. Optional fines for offenses start at $15,000 for a first offense to $50,000 for third and subsequent offenses. Spot genetic testing from the Texas-based firm SeaD Consulting has revealed most merchants, eateries and vendors sampled are purveying local catch, but some are either knowingly selling foreign seafood or arent aware of the labeling law. SeaD found four Lafayette restaurants out of 24 sampled were selling foreign shrimp passed off as local in a study it conducted last month. It conducted similar testing in New Orleans in January, when three of 24 restaurants sold undisclosed imported shrimp. In November, a joint investigation from Fox 8 and the Illuminator used SeaD testing and found that the large majority of vendors at a local festival and seafood market were providing catch from the Gulf of Mexico and area waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SeaD Consulting does not disclose the names of businesses it discovers selling undisclosed foreign seafood, preferring instead to raise awareness of the state labeling law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sean Gallup/Getty Images Louisiana will have to replace the agency leader in charge of the largest budget in state government, as the state health department announced Thursday that its secretary, Michael Harrington, has retired. Drew Maranto, undersecretary at the Louisiana Department of Health, was named the interim administrator, and Gov. Jeff Landry will name a permanent secretary in the next few weeks, according to an LDH news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been in the works for some time, as Michael has made it clear from the beginning that he intended to step down in the spring, Landry said in the release. He joined during a busy period, and we deeply appreciate his service and willingness to come to Louisiana and work in one of the largest and most challenging departments. Michael Harrington (LDH photo) Harrington was named secretary last June after Landry and the Louisiana Legislature created the role of surgeon general and shifted Ralph Abraham from the secretarys chair to become the first person to hold the new position. The split leadership roles put Abraham in charge of state health policy and public health efforts, while Harrington handled administrative and financial duties. Maranto was chief of staff for Abraham before being promoted to LDH undersecretary when Harrington was hired. Harrington had worked with the consulting firm Caldwell Butler for three and a half years when Landry brought him to the state health department in January 2024 as an undersecretary. He was previously president and chief operating officer of Nicklaus Childrens Hospital and the Miami Childrens Health System in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among his earlier jobs in health care industry leadership, Harrington was president of Christus Health Louisiana from 2014-16. He oversaw several clinics, hospitals and specialty care centers in the state in that position. The current fiscal year budget for the Louisiana Department of Health is nearly $20 billion close to half of the states total spend. The agency is annually susceptible to cutbacks as one of two major areas in the budget without constitutional protection. The other is higher education. Harringtons replacement inherits significant uncertainty as Louisiana and other states await the Trump administrations policy decisions on Medicaid. The president and Republican-led Congress are contemplating cuts to the health insurance program to help pay for tax cuts. Potentially left in the lurch are low-income individuals and families, as well as people with disabilities, who rely on Medicaid to pay for their care. Louisiana expanded its Medicaid enrollment in 2016 under the Affordable Care Act after Democrat John Bel Edwards became governor. Although some Republicans state leaders including former Gov. Bobby Jindal have spurned expansion, Landry chose to keep the additional coverage in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 1.6 million people in Louisiana, or about one-third of the states population, rely on Medicaid for their health care. More than four out of every 10 Medicaid patients in the state are children, according to federal data. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Louisiana officials react to President Donald Trumps Thursday executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Trump signed the order to eliminate the Department of Education. The order states, Ultimately, the Department of Educations main functions can, and should, be returned to the States. The order would take an act of Congress to completely shut down the department, The Hill reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump moves against Department of Education: What to know Louisiana leaders react to order Immediately after Trump signed the order, Louisiana lawmakers and officials responded. Gov. Jeff Landry believes the time for change is now. The United States spends the most on education, yet we are ranked at the bottom of nearly every poll. The time for change is NOW! Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for returning education where it belongs the states! Jeff Landry U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy voiced support for Trumps order. I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission. Since the Department can only be shut down with Congressional approval, I will support the Presidents goals by submitting legislation to accomplish this as soon as possible. Sen. Bill Cassidy Attorney General Liz Murrill says, Its time to take it [Department of Education] down. The federal Department of Education has been engaged in a sustained assault on state and local control of educational systems and content for almost two decades. Its time to take it down. Liz Murrill Speaker of the House Mike Johnson sides with Trump in signing the executive order. For many decades, the federal Department of Education has failed our students, families, and teachers. Education is best administered by parents and teachers and those closest to students, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC. President Trump is keeping his promise and returning education to the states. Mike Johnson Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressman Cleo Fields believes dismantling the Department of Education would affect funding and students rights. President Trump plans to sign an executive order today to dismantle the Department of Education, special education funding, civil rights protections for our students, and more on the line. I will not stand by while our childrens futures are put on the chopping block and erased. We must fight back because, education is not a privilege. Its a right! #IStandWithTheDepartmentofEd Cleo Fields Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Democrat Congressman Cleo Fields hosted a town hall meeting to address concerns and answer questions on the future of the district and the U.S. Congress. It was a packed room of concerned residents of District 6 as they heard from Fields the many changes that could affect Louisiana. You got to know what people are thinking and you represent them better when you know exactly what theyre thinking, Fields said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing he mentioned was the potential cuts of Medicaid. About 41% of his district is enrolled in Medicaid, and many expressed their frustration and concern about how that could negatively affect their lives. But thats not the only thing. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an hour of oral arguments on the newly made Congressional map. Attorney General Liz Murrill will be there to defend the map. Phillip Callais argues the map violates the Voting Rights Act and believes the map was drawn in an illegal way. The court allows race to be a factor, but it just cant be the predominant fact. And I think the evidence in the case certainly shows that, said Fields. Last year, they approved the newly drawn map, which goes from Baton Rouge to Shreveport and is majority Black. But those against it filed a lawsuit, saying it violates the Voting Rights Act. Lower courts disagree with that claim and Fields is confident the Supreme Court is still on their side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Southern University students at the meeting felt hearing this information was important and wanted more action for change. Instead of doing town hall meetings, although it is informative, we need to show them that theyre a driving force for change, Said Nalone Sumo, Senior Class President at Southern University. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Residents and visitors in Louisiana can receive a free burrito from Moes Southwest Grill. To celebrate National Burrito Day, Moes Southwest Grill is offering an exciting promotion: buy one burrito or bowl and get a second one free. This offer is valid at participating locations worldwide on April 3rd. If youre looking for Moes Southwest Grill in Shreveport, its located at 7141 Youree Drive. The restaurant is open every day of the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) 39-year-old Sharhonda Law of Haughton, La. was sentenced to 20 months in prison for filing false tax returns by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. According to a press release, Law was a federal income tax return preparer who owned and operated Laws Tax Service in Shreveport and was the sole tax return preparer for the company. Law reportedly prepared and filed a clients 2019 tax return with the IRS, which falsely claimed that the client had farming income and incurred farming expenses, resulting in a net farming loss. The tax refund falsely showed that the client was due a refund when the client owed taxes for that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wanted suspect connected to Downtown double homicide The release added that an investigation into the falsely filed tax return showed that Laws client did not have a farm, nor did they tell Law they owned or operated one. The client never provided Law with any farming-related income or expenses that she input on the tax return. Law pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024, to one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return. According to the release, Law misrepresented six other tax returns prepared for clients. She also falsified her income on two of her personal tax returns and failed to file tax returns for other years. Law was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for tax fraud. She was also ordered to pay $123,455 in restitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) says that U.S. taxpayers and return preparers should be on the lookout for fraud schemes that could compromise their bank accounts, personal information, and the U.S. tax system. Pedestrian critically injured after being struck on North Market Current fraud schemes listed by the IRS-CI include: Criminals creating fictitious estates and trusts to generate fraudulent refunds New client scams where cyber criminals impersonate new, potential clients to trick tax preparers into responding to their emails. Once the preparer responds, the scammer sends a malicious attachment or URL that can compromise the preparers computer systems and allow the attacker to access sensitive client information Tax schemes, some on social media, that encourage taxpayers to file fraudulent returns featuring inaccurate income, false withholdings or fake credits. Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for ensuring that information is accurate on their tax returns Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IRS-CI added that U.S. taxpayers should: Protect their wallets and their identities by ensuring they dont respond to unsolicited emails, phone calls, or texts claiming to be the IRS Choose reputable tax return preparers who sign and enter their preparer tax identification number (PTIN) on tax forms and dont promise excessive refunds Rely on IRS.gov for answers to questions about tax forms and eligibility for credits and deductions Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) The Louisville Metro Police Department is searching for a man wanted in connection to a 2024 homicide near the University of Louisvilles campus. Louisville police said detectives want to speak to 19-year-old Dacion Mason about a deadly shooting of 19-year-old Tayshawn Thomas on June 25, 2024, near Bellamy Place at an apartment complex near UofL. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police warned Mason should be considered armed and dangerous and told people not to approach him. Tips can be submitted online using the Crime Tip portal or by calling (502) 574-5673. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) LSU Police arrested a Prairieville man accused of raping his girlfriend twice in 2023. Wyatt Stephens, 23, was charged with two counts of third-degree rape. Jail records show he was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday. The victim described two incidents of rape in November 2023 to LSUPD detectives. Arrest documents state she was in a relationship with Stephens from November 2023 to January 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police noted that Stephens has been arrested 11 times since December 2021, including multiple arrests through LSUPD in connection to dating partner abuse. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Mar. 20AUSTIN The man responsible for a series of online school shooting threats is behind bars thanks to a report submitted to the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) iWatchTexas program. Stephen Patrick Furr, 29, was arrested and charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Lubbock on Feb. 3, a DPS news release said. "This is exactly what the iWatchTexas program was designed to do: help Texans quickly alert law enforcement of mass attacks or targeted violence," DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin said in the release. "By reporting something suspicious, lives were saved. It's an important reminder of the role we all play in protecting each other by remaining vigilant and speaking up if we see something strange or suspicious." According to the release, in the early morning hours of Feb. 3, the Texas Fusion Center (TXFC) received an iWatchTexas report from a community member indicating school shooting threats posted by another user on social media. Posts by this user included musings about a possible future school shooting then escalated to statements that the user had a gun and intended to carry out the shooting. Upon receiving the information, TXFC immediately began investigating the threats and quickly identified the user as Furr. Hours later, he was arrested and charged via federal criminal complaint with interstate threatening communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More information about this case can be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Texas website, here. Texas Fusion Center Serving as the state repository for homeland security information and incident reports, the TXFC is a 24/7 team comprised of multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together to provide real-time intelligence and data on suspicious activities and threats to the public. iWatchTexas Program The iWatchTexas program allows Texans to report any suspicious activities or behaviors that may indicate criminal, terroristic or school safety-related threats. Last year, the program received a record number of school safety-related reports in September 2024 more than double previous years. During that month, the program recorded a total of 204 school safety-related reports, with a majority involving concerning behaviors such as threats or the possibility of planned attacks centered around school campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public can report those behaviors via the mobile app, online at www.iwatchtx.org or by calling 1-844-643-2251. A report usually takes less than five minutes, and once submitted, each report is reviewed by law enforcement analysts. All reports are confidential (providing contact information, which is optional, will allow for follow-up questions). Oftentimes, preparations for crimes, terrorist attacks and threats to school safety may be seen by someone but not reported. When in doubt, DPS encourages everyone to speak up. Here are some examples of behaviors and activities to report: Comments made regarding killing or harming someone. Strangers asking questions about building security features and procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A social media post about a possible school attack. People requesting sensitive information, such as blueprints, security plans or VIP travel schedules, without a need to know. Purchasing supplies that could be used to make bombs or weapons or purchasing uniforms without having the proper credentials. Taking photographs or videos of security features, such as cameras or checkpoints. The iWatchTexas app is available for free on iPhone and Android. Texans are urged to download the app now. Note: The iWatchTexas program is not designed to report emergencies. If a situation requires an emergency response, call 911. Kwaneta Harris is an incarcerated journalist from Texas. She is a member of the mentorship program Empowerment Avenue, which pairs writers with editors in the outside world to hone their craft and pitch stories to the media. Their mission is to normalize the inclusion of incarcerated writers and artists in mainstream venues by bridging the gap between them and harnessing this creative proximity as a path to de-carceration and public safety. When I was working as a nurse in Detroit from 1997 to 2007, I helped 11-year-olds deliver babies, saw women diagnosed as just anxious die of heart failure, and witnessed ectopic pregnancy pain dismissed as drug-seeking behavior. And thats only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I know what its like to provide care to struggling women and I know what its like to be on the other side of the stethoscope. Our healthcare system can be racist, sexist, and broken and thats outside of the prison walls. Ive been incarcerated in Texas womens prisons since 2009, where Ive become a de facto nurse for many of the hundreds of women inside. Youd think that with such a large population, the institution would have adequate health care, but, in many ways, were third-class citizens, scrounging for basic supplies and care. Forget real medical issues or, God forbid, an unwanted pregnancy. Ive seen true tragedy unfold behind these concrete walls over the course of the past 15-plus years and as the Trump administration takes hold on the outside, I fear that our reality could become American womens future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this new administration and Congress, were really on the precipice of a fundamental shift away from health coverage and health care, says Gretchen Borchelt, VP for reproductive rights and health at the National Womens Law Center. Right now, Congress is debating these massive cuts to the Medicaid program, which will affect low-income folks throughout the country, and, in particular, women in their reproductive years, two-thirds of whom are enrolled in Medicaid. There is an outright hostility right now toward health access and health care. Women in prison are the canary in the coal mine. A Black Market for Basics The urine smell gives her away every time. MP, 26, shifts uncomfortably during another mandatory prison strip search, shielding herself from the judgmental eyes of a dozen other women. Although its rare for a woman her age to have such an overactive bladder, MP had six children by age 23 and shes suffering. She pleads with the staff for Ditropan, a bladder-control medication, but they shoot her down. Shes too young for that, they say leaving her to endure a discomfort and embarrassment that could be solved with $7 per dose. Its not as though prisons dont have health care theres actually a 1976 Supreme Court decision that institutions address serious medical conditions. But how that works varies prison by prison. As Dr. Carolyn Sufrin, director of Advocacy and Research on Reproductive Wellness of Incarcerated People, says: Its really fundamental to understand that the Supreme Court case did not come with any system or any regulatory body or anything. So there are no mandatory sets of health care standards that prisons and jails have to abide by and theres no mandatory system of oversight. In my Texas prison, incarcerated folks do have access to health care but the bare minimum. We get annual dental cleanings and physicals (plus mammograms for those over 40), but additional injuries or illnesses come at our own cost. Given the fact that most of us have nothing, and work prison jobs for free, a flu, cold, or pulled muscle could wipe out our entire life savings. (A spokesperson for the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice says that patient should never pay more $100 a year in medical costs, and that if a patient requires immediate care and must receive medical services at a hospital outside of the prison, that cost is covered by the university medical partners, which receive money from TDCJ.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, just as it is on the outside, disputing a medical bill is a frustrating, byzantine, bureaucratic process with a time limit. Try dealing with all of that when youre stuck in a cage with a seventh-grade education, like some of my friends. And if a medication or medicine isnt covered? Women trade whatever they can often their already-paltry commissary supplies. Sanitary products in particular are in fierce demand. In my experience, women are given only five tampons and a handful of pads per monthly cycle, so were left to fend for ourselves if we run out. Many folks, desperate for any form of relief, have been forced to roll pads into makeshift tampons, putting themselves at risk for Toxic Shock Syndrome, a potentially fatal bacterial infection. I know the dangers better than anyone; countless women have come to me with symptoms of that issue. But when the alternative is the humiliation of bleeding through our clothes, what choice do we have? Its not like we can stay home sick, either. Were forced to work four to 12 hours per day under the threat of solitary confinement (which is now referred to as administrative segregation.) (The spokesperson for the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice claims that there should be no monthly limit on tampons or pads in Texas prisons, insisting that women are allowed an unlimited number of feminine hygiene products. ) This may all seem cruel and unusual, but our reality isnt that dissimilar to folks struggles on the outside. Just look at the recent alleged assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione, which set off a wave of folks sharing stories about their issues with the insurance industry. And womens access to health care? Even those who are gainfully employed are suffering. In fact, the American Journal of Managed Care recently reported that American women face the worst health care access in the world compared with other high-income nations and their life expectancy is the lowest. What happens, then, if planned cuts to Medicaid come to fruition? Will our black market expand beyond the prison walls when access to lifesaving medicine and procedures becomes a luxury rather than a right? Reproduction Control and Coercion When a woman is pregnant in prison, she basically loses all control of her body from the birthing process to whether or not she actually wants to give birth. And given the current administration, this could become the norm on the outside as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration is seeking to exert more control and take rights away from pregnant women, says Borchelt. They are trying to upend long-standing laws that protect against pregnancy discrimination, carve pregnancy out of federal law guaranteeing emergency medical care, and want more data collection into pregnancy outcomes. Being pregnant should not mean that you have fewer rights. Those on the outside may think that pregnancy isnt much of an issue in prison very few states have conjugal visits but Dr. Sufrins organization found that around 3,000 pregnant women enter prison per year. In 2022, more than 180,684 women were behind bars, a 500 percent increase since 1980. And those women basically have zero control over the process. You cant erase the trauma of being pregnant and incarcerated, Dr. Sufrin says. Theres so much uncertainty around whats happening with your medical care not having direct access to your medical records the way people on the outside would if we go to our doctor. And while we dont have distinct data yet, we know that incarcerated people who are incarcerated during pregnancy have many risk factors for adverse pregnancy and postpartum outcomes. And then there are pregnancies that occur after women are sexually assaulted by prison employees or guards which, in states without access to abortion, cannot be terminated. Sexual assault is sadly relatively common inside among incarcerated women and staff. In fact, Texas, where I am currently incarcerated, was dubbed the prison-rape capital of the world by Newsweek. And its not just Texas; A bipartisan Senate report from 2022 found that, since 2012, women were abused by prison staff in at least 19 of the 29 federal facilities that held women. In that decade, the Bureau of Prisons opened over 5,400 cases alleging sexual abuse by federal employees. And given that many forms of contraception can sometimes be verboten condoms are off-limits STDs are likely, and women behind bars in red states with no incest and rape exceptions are forced to give birth. In those cases, women are expected to endure voyeurism, rape, in-custody pregnancy, and delivering their rapists baby as part of their punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prisons favor health care strategies that take control away from women, and this is something that should concern and outrage all women. Our bodies basic biological functions become weapons of control this is true from the prison to the state legislature to the U.S. Supreme Court, as evidenced by the dissolution of Roe v. Wade. Pregnancy has already been criminalized, but its getting worse, Borchelt says. Pregnancy Justice documented more than 200 cases in the year after Roe was overturned, in which a pregnant person faced criminal charges for conduct associated with pregnancy, pregnancy loss, or birth. We are in a state of crisis when it comes to abortion access, she adds. People are scared. They dont have the rights, they dont know who to turn to, and they can no longer trust that the federal government will protect them in fact, the federal government is working against them. Cold Comfort Love is a basic human right. Our heart doesnt stop beating at the prison gates, and orientation isnt erased by a prison ID. Whether straight, gay, bi, or trans, the human need for connection and intimacy persists behind bars as natural as breathing. Yet, while guards trade sexual favors for privileges with impunity, and male staff freely access womens most private moments, when incarcerated women are caught kissing, theyre faced with a barrage of consequences. Its not a sexy free-for-all like on Orange Is the New Black. Inside, were not allowed to engage in consensual sexual acts with one another, and if were caught, thats when things turn criminal. The punishment can vary from phone, visit, recreation, and commissary restrictions up to solitary confinement and/or prison transfer. Moreover, I have watched staff lie to women after catching them in the shower having sex, saying they will have to register as a sex offender upon release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, we live in fear. Health care is too risky when suspicions can be weaponized, turning every yeast infection into potential evidence of sexual deviancy. Women often avoid seeking medical treatment for basic infections, fearing accusations of intimate same-sex relationships that could trigger disciplinary infractions that can lead to parole denials. I could easily see this kind of policing of health care expanding to the outside world, where politicians are trying to defund Planned Parenthood (which provides all manner of sexual-health care in addition to abortion), and are increasingly looking to limit womens access to contraception and other sexual-health necessities. And while women on the outside are legally allowed to marry and same-sex relationships are generally accepted, that could change under the current administration. Already, trans folks inside and out are fearful that their identity and autonomy will be entirely abolished. How long until this kind of wanton control spreads to the wider country? Borchelt agrees: For LGBTQ+ individuals, for pregnant people, for people who have capacity for pregnancy, we really are just at the beginning stages of a whole host of harmful actions yet to come. My Body, My Choice? As anti-women strategies of control and coercion become more deeply embedded in U.S. laws, our experiences on the inside could become the norm if were not careful. Women outside of prisons will have to learn to get creative like their incarcerated sisters, to take back control over their bodies that politicians are steadily trying to capture. Women on the outside can learn from our experiences and us if theyre willing to listen. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new summit of countries willing to help guarantee a possible peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Following a summit of leaders of European Union countries in Brussels on Thursday, Macron announced that a new summit on Ukraine would be held in Paris next Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to attend, Macron said. "We will finalize our work to support the Ukrainian army and build a sustainable and resilient military model to prevent future Russian invasions," Macron said on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will also define the security guarantees that European forces can provide. To protect peace is what we want." Macron said that Ukraine needs credible support to ensure that any possible ceasefire holds. This would also strengthen its position in possible negotiations. The meeting in Paris is intended to build on the progress made at military-level talks in London on Thursday. These were attended by representatives of more than two dozen European and non-European countries. Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been leading the charge to form a so-called "coalition of the willing," which would be made up of nations prepared to offer troops or support to a peacekeeping force in case a peace deal is reached to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been raging for over three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far the discussions have involved not just leaders of NATO and EU countries, but also representatives from countries including Australia and New Zealand. The discussions include issues including the question of whether and under what conditions European forces could contribute to securing a ceasefire. The United Kingdom and France have in principle indicated their openness to sending ground troops to Ukraine. However, they insist on US involvement in the event of an escalation. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that his country is also considering sending troops. The Telegraph has stated that French President Emmanuel Macron has been considering the possibility of establishing a mission to protect Ukraine during a potential future peace agreement under the auspices of the United Nations. Source: The Telegraph Details: Macron is considering the creation of a mission to safeguard a future peace agreement under the auspices of the United Nations. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Macron are leading efforts to establish a "coalition of the willing" among NATO and EU countries to form a peacekeeping contingent, supported by security guarantees from the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer hosted 30 senior military leaders from European and other countries near London to discuss these plans. He said they were moving into an "operational phase", but it remains unclear how many countries are willing to send troops and how the plan will be implemented. Macron raised the issue of a UN alternative at the European Council summit on Thursday 20 March, alongside UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was a guest among the gathered EU leaders. "Any UN peacekeeping force would require the approval of the Security Council. With both Russia, and potentially the US, against it, its prospects appear to be slim," The Telegraph noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Starmer has stressed the need to guarantee any potential agreement to end the war in Ukraine, as without this, Russia would violate it. Senior military officers from the so-called "coalition of the willing" met on Thursday 20 March at the UK's military headquarters on the outskirts of London to discuss plans for deploying international forces to Ukraine. Against this backdrop, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has no power to veto the potential deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! 'What are you talking about?' Judge Gregory Phillips asked the deputies' lawyer after hearing argument that it may have been reasonable if the dog had bitten a child French President Emmanuel Macron is exploring the possibility of establishing a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission to protect Ukraine in the event of a potential peace agreement, the Telegraph reported on March 21. The proposal follows ongoing efforts by a "coalition of the willing" led by the U.K. and France, which aims to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. The initiative was first introduced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a March 2 summit in London, where leaders from European nations and Canada discussed military support for Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron reportedly raised the idea of a UN-backed alternative during a European Council summit, where he discussed the concept with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The proposal would align with traditional UN peacekeeping operations, which typically involve deploying multinational forces to maintain security, protect civilians, and facilitate humanitarian aid in conflict zones. Any UN peacekeeping force would require approval from the UN Security Council, where Russia holds veto power. Given Moscow's opposition to foreign troops in Ukraine, the likelihood of securing a UN mandate remains slim. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 24 that Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow European peacekeepers to operate in Ukraine as part of a settlement, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly rejected the idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 30 countries have expressed willingness to contribute to the coalition's peacekeeping force, Starmer's spokesperson said on March 17, confirming that the initiative has moved into an "operational phase." British military leaders have considered deploying Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets as part of a potential security arrangement, the Telegraph reported on March 20. Read also: Ukraine accuses Russia of false flag attack on Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Emmanuel Macron has ousted the boss of the state-run EDF after French industrialists revolted over its high electricity prices. Luc Remont is to be replaced in a surprise reshuffling of the companys top ranks, Mr Macrons office said on Friday. Mr Remont has run the the state-owned energy giant since November 2022. The shake-up follows an outcry over the high energy prices EDF is poised to charge factories. Benoit Bazin, the boss of building materials giant Saint-Gobain, had accused EDF of giving the middle finger to French industry by increasing prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rules that force EDF to sell energy to major industrialists at below-market prices are set to expire at the end of the year and the generator had announced plans to raise its prices. Industry group Uniden, which represents dozens of Frances biggest manufacturers including Renault and steelmaker ArcelorMittal, claimed EDF was deliberately turning its back on French businesses at a time when manufacturers were exposed to unprecedented non-European competition that threatens the very survival of many sites. The row is embarrassing for Mr Macron, who had pledged to take back control of electricity prices and who sees cheap electricity as a way of securing the French economy. Two years ago, he fully nationalised EDF by buying the 16pc of the company the government did not already own. Luc Remonts EDF exit comes after months of tension over plans for new nuclear reactors - Ludovic Marin/Getty The shake-up comes days after the Macron administration said it had agreed state financing for six new nuclear reactors to be built by EDF over the coming decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anger over high industrial energy prices is rising in the UK too. UK factories pay 50pc more for electricity than rivals in France and Germany, and four times as much as American plants. High prices have been blamed on net zero and slow-moving plans to expand nuclear power. Warnings from industrialists that net zero energy policies are damaging the economy have fallen on deaf ears. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, said this week the UK Government was absolutely up for the fight over net zero. EDF is one of the largest players in the UK nuclear power market, after buying three formerly nationalised regional electricity boards and the nuclear operator British Energy. It is currently building the UKs first new nuclear power station for over 20 years, Hinkley Point C, and plans to embark on the construction of another, Sizewell C. But in January, the future of this new project was thrown into doubt after the French state auditor warned it against embarking on risky new foreign projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EDF declined to comment. The French government has been approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Trump administrations efforts to boost Elon Musks bottom line appeared to reach a new low last week when Donald Trump hosted what was effectively an infomercial for Tesla on the White House South Lawn. This week, however, the Republican team managed to sink even lower. The presidents commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, appeared on Fox News and reflected on shares in Tesla, Musks car company, falling sharply in recent weeks. At that point, the Cabinet secretary encouraged viewers to start investing: Its unbelievable that this guys stock is this cheap, Lutnick said. Itll never be this cheap again. He added, I think, if you want to learn something on this show tonight: Buy Tesla. Its not the commerce secretarys job to give the public investment advice. But as weve discussed, what made these on-air comments especially problematic was the fact that Lutnick who was confirmed by the Senate and holds an important position of public trust took it upon himself to urge a national television audience to buy a specific stock tied to the sitting presidents top campaign donor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington Post highlighted the degree to which the secretary appeared to violate longstanding ethics rules. With only a few exceptions, the Code of Federal Regulations prohibits executive branch employees from using their public office for the endorsement of any product, service, or enterprise. Employees are also generally barred from giving preferential treatment to an individual or organization. Those ethical rules, along with the tenet that officials shouldnt use their public office for private gain, are central to American democratic norms, advocates for ethics in government said. When reporters pressed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt for some kind of defense, she didnt answer directly, saying that Lutnick was simply reiterating that Trump supports an American-made company like Tesla. Given what the secretary actually said, that response fell far short. As for Capitol Hill, Lutnicks apparent ethics breach did not go unnoticed. The Hill reported: House Oversight and Accountability Committee ranking member Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) requested an investigation into Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks comments urging Americans to buy Tesla stock as the companys shares dip due to mass firings and reform efforts overseen by CEO Elon Musk. The Virginia Democrat specifically sent a letter to Department of Commerce Acting General Counsel John K. Guenther, making the case that Lutnicks on-air comments violated the Standards of Ethical Conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand the evolving nature by which President Trump, Elon Musk, and Trump Administration officials are misusing the federal government for personal enrichment instead of the public good, I ask that you provide the information and documents requested and cease any activities by Department officials that endorse a specific product or company, the Oversight Committees ranking member wrote. The problem, of course, is that while Connolly has the facts on his side, hes also a member of the House minority, which means he has no power to launch investigations, hold hearings or issue subpoenas. The Commerce Department will no doubt receive his request for information, but the agency is likely to ignore it, knowing theres little Democratic members can do about it at least until January 2027. That said, Congress Republican majority could theoretically take its oversight responsibilities seriously and began an inquiry into the Lutnick controversy. In practice, of course, the odds of GOP lawmakers taking such a step is effectively zero. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com A few weeks into Donald Trumps second term, the president announced he was deploying Elon Musk, his top campaign donor, to conduct an audit of the Pentagon, which quickly became controversial for reasons the Republican didnt appear to understand. Musk, among other things, is a defense contractor who does business with governments around the world. Common sense and a basic understanding of ethics would suggest just about anyone else would be better suited to oversee an audit of the Department of Defenses finances. A month later, the billionaire megadonor is preparing to visit the Pentagon, where Musk will apparently receive a notable briefing. NBC News reported: Tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk is scheduled to visit the Pentagon on Friday for a briefing that will include a discussion on China, according to three defense officials. The officials said the briefing will be unclassified, two of the officials said. At this point, its worth pausing to note the variety of reports on this from several prominent news organizations, many of which included provocative details that havent been confirmed by MSNBC or NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington Post, for example, reported that the Pentagon will provide Musk with an unclassified briefing focused in part on the threat posed by China, adding that China will be the main focus of the discussion. The Associated Press, meanwhile, reported on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledging that hed meet with Musk, but the discussion, according to the far-right former Fox News host, would emphasize innovation and efficiencies. Other outlets, however, pointed in an even more alarming direction. The Wall Street Journal, for example, reported that Musk is poised to receive information on the U.S. militarys top-secret war plans for China, including maritime tactics and targeting plans. The Journals report, citing two unnamed U.S. officials, noted that the briefing which is being held at the billionaires request could give Musk access to sensitive military secrets unavailable to business competitors. Finally, theres The New York Times report, which included details that dovetail with the Journals reporting, noting that the briefing would include information on the U.S. militarys plan for any war that might break out with China. The Times added that this briefing, if it proceeds, would also bring into sharp relief the questions about Mr. Musks conflicts of interest as he ranges widely across the federal bureaucracy while continuing to run businesses that are major government contractors. In this case, Mr. Musk, the billionaire chief executive of both SpaceX and Tesla, is a leading supplier to the Pentagon and has extensive financial interests in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its that last point that is of particular interest. Musk isnt just a billionaire and Republican megadonor. He also isnt just overseeing a quasi-governmental department in the executive branch. Musk is also businessman with extensive financial interests in China and close contacts with Chinas government. All of which is to say, providing Musk with sensitive military information about China represents a profound and unnecessary risk. For his part, Trump published an item to his social media platform insisting that China will not even be mentioned or discussed during the DOGE chiefs visit to the Defense Department. Of course, if the president still had any credibility, such a denial might be more convincing. (The Republican added soon after, "Elon is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!!" The War Department became the Department of Defense in 1949.) Politico noted that Musk responded to the developments with threatening rhetoric, writing online that he looks forward to the prosecution of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to the Times. They will be found, he added. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * Texas measles outbreak wont end soon: As containment efforts falter, the measles outbreak in West Texas is likely to persist for a year, perhaps even setting back the countrys hard-fought victory over the virus, according to Texas health officials. As of Friday, the outbreak had sickened more than 300 people in Texas since January; 40 have been hospitalized. One child has died from the disease, the first such death in a decade. Related cases have been reported in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Chihuahua, Mexico. * The Alien Enemies Act case: A federal judge sharply grilled a government attorney Friday about the Trump administrations apparent disregard of his order to return deportation flights to the United States, a dispute that has sparked a high-profile showdown this week between the president and the judiciary. Before deputy assistant attorney general Drew Ensign even had a chance to address the court at a hearing, James E. Boasberg, chief justice for the U.S. District Court in D.C., dramatically scolded him over the governments conduct in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Cautions like these seem to be increasingly common: Denmark is advising its transgender and nonbinary citizens to proceed with caution when traveling to the U.S., according to a new advisory. ... The addition comes one week after Finland issued a similar advisory for transgender residents seeking visas to the U.S. * Id hoped we were past this: The Trump administration sent a new group of migrants to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Thursday to await deportation, claiming that they may have ties to a Venezuelan gang, according to officials with knowledge of the operation. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter flight from El Paso transported about 20 people, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. * A case worth watching: Elon Musk received a court summons last week in connection with the SECs lawsuit over his alleged failure to properly disclose purchases of Twitter stock in 2022 before bidding to buy the company, according to a filing on Thursday. * A shortfall like this one will increase food insecurity: Food banks across the country are scrambling to make up a $500 million budget shortfall after the Trump administration froze funds for hundreds of shipments of produce, poultry and other items that states had planned to distribute to needy residents. Have a safe weekend. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Rachel Maddow reports on the ridiculous, bungled spectacle of the Trump administration's release of unredacted documents related to the JFK assassination. Donald Trump appears to have thoughtlessly announced the release of the documents, and the sycophants who serve him followed his order to the letter, apparently without thinking about what they were doing. The result was the unredacted publishing of the Social Security numbers of people who were involved in the investigation, including many pe After the 2024 elections, as Democratic officials came to terms with just how limited their powers would be after Donald Trumps second inaugural, it was an open secret that the partys strategy focused heavily on the federal courts. Every time the Republican White House took a provocative step, Democrats said, thered be a lawsuit with a credible chance of success. Two months into the presidents second term, things are largely going according to plan: The president keeps making legally dubious moves; his opponents keep going to court; and judges keep siding with plaintiffs. As The Washington Post summarized, In more than a dozen cases and in three major rulings this week alone a federal judge has ruled that the administration either has violated the law or has probably done so. The total works out to one such finding about every four days. In the West Wing, the president and his team have responded to the developments with an astonishingly aggressive campaign attacking the legitimacy and integrity of the federal judiciary. Theres been a related reaction on Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers are eyeing a variety of possible remedies, up to and including impeaching judges whove dared to rule in ways the White House doesnt like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When pressed for a justification, GOP officials tend to point to a rather specific assertion. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri wrote via social media, for example: District Court judges have issued RECORD numbers of national injunctions against the Trump administration a dramatic abuse of judicial authority. This has quickly become a go-to talking point for Republicans. At a White House press briefing on Wednesday, for example, press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to justify her offensive against the courts by arguing that 67% of all of the injunctions in this century have come against which president? Donald J. Trump. Around the same time, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan appeared on CNN, where the Ohio Republican complained that the Trump administration has confronted 15 injunctions ... in an eight-week time frame. This reminds me of a problem from two years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trumps 2020 election defeat, his legal troubles went from bad to worse. In fact, in 2023, over the course of roughly five months, the Republican was criminally indicted four times, across multiple jurisdictions. In each instance, prosecutors issued detailed indictments, pointing to extensive evidence of Trumps many alleged felonies. This left observers with a couple of straightforward choices. Maybe Trump was repeatedly indicted because of the evidence suggesting he was guilty of wrongdoing. Maybe Trump was repeatedly indicted because of a massive conspiracy launched by a corrupted justice system. The first option made sense. The second option was quickly embraced by practically everyone in Republican politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly two years later, the political world is confronting a related dynamic. Maybe the Trump administration keeps losing in court because its taking steps at odds with the law. Maybe the Trump administration keeps losing in court because nefarious judges, including some appointed by Republican presidents, are executing a secret partisan vendetta, and the biased plot is being exposed episodically through frequent White House setbacks. As was the case two years ago, the first option makes sense. But once again, the second option has been embraced by practically everyone in Republican politics. In 2023, the GOPs case against prosecutors was based on ridiculous and faulty assumptions. In 2025, the partys case against judges is eerily similar. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Minnesota Governor Tim Walz shares his reaction with Rachel Maddow to breaking news from the New York Times that the Pentagon plans to brief Elon Musk on the top-secret plans the U.S. has in place in the event of a potential war with China. A Madison-based mortgage lending company topped a list of the best workplaces in the country, according to a national survey by USA TODAY and software company Energage. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. clinched first-place in the ranking for the second consecutive year. Founded in 1996, the company employs more than 5,000 people nationally and was also recently named among Forbes' top employers for 2025. Top Workplaces USA recognizes midsize and large organizations with at least 150 employees. This year's survey was the fifth annual and included feedback from employees from 2,251 companies, with 1,526 of those receiving recognition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's which other companies topped the list, as well as which other Wisconsin workplaces were named among the best: More: These Wisconsin companies are among Forbes' best large and midsize employers for 2025 What are the top five best workplaces in the U.S.? Here are the overall top five best workplaces nationally, according to the survey: Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp., a mortgage lending company based in Madison Plante Moran, a certified public accountants and consultants firm in Southfield, Michigan Fannie Mae, a mortgage lending company based in Washington, DC CHG Healthcare, a staffing company in Midvale, Utah Progressive Insurance, a general insurance company based in Mayfield Village, Ohio Which other Wisconsin companies made the top workplaces list? More than 50 other Wisconsin-based companies made this year's list of best workplaces, including Kwik Trip, Associated Bank and Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To see all of them, select Wisconsin as the HQ state in the list below: This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fairway Independent Mortgage in Madison named top workplace in US President Donald Trump is playing a very risky game with his attacks on U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, The New York Times Maggie Haberman suggested Thursday. Judges dont like attacks on other judges, Haberman said on CNN, appearing to hint that Trumps repeated railings against Boasberg over the latters ruling against the presidents mass deportation plans could influence decisions being made by other courts and could backfire on Trump. Earlier this week, Trump argued that Boasberg should be impeached over his opposition to Trump-backed flights removing migrants; the president justified the removals by invoking an 18th-century law meant for use in wartime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps rant drew a rare rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who rejected the call. The president has now followed up with another attack on Boasberg, but, as Haberman pointed out, he did not repeat the impeachment point. I think that is the key point there, she said. I think he is trying to show he is still issuing a pressure campaign. He always does. We are going to see him continue to do that. But Trumps calls for Congress to impeach judges, which is very hard to make happen, have upset some of his own staffers and Republican House and Senate leaders, she continued. So I think that this is him saying, Fine I hear you. At least for now, she added. Watch the exchange here: "This is very much a fight that the administration wants": @maggieNYT on the Trump administration's invocation of an 18th century wartime law for deportations that is being challenged in the courts. pic.twitter.com/5M4IjtWVs4 Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) March 21, 2025 Related... President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday evening to complain about his portrait in the President's Gallery at the Colorado state Capitol. Pro-Palestine demonstrators march in March 18, 2025 a rally for Gaza and Mahmoud Khalil in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images) After former Columbia University student and permanent U.S. resident Mahmoud Khalil was detained by federal immigration officials over his involvement in student-led protests last year a move that shocked advocates for free speech and immigrants rights around the country he was taken to Jena, a small town of 4,000 in north-central Louisiana and home to one of the countrys largest and most notorious immigration detention centers. Since last week, Khalil a Syrian-born Palestinian and permanent U.S. resident has been locked up in the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, a privately-run immigration lockup with an average daily detainee population of nearly 1,200. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the centers surroundings appear peaceful and idyllic tucked into a tall pine forest on the edge of town it has a troubled past that includes allegations of abuse and sexual assault, excessive use of force, overuse of solitary confinement, medical mistreatment or neglect and unfit living conditions. Earlier this month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Khalil in the lobby of his Columbia University apartment building, took him to New Jersey and quickly transferred him to Jena, more than 1,000 miles away from his pregnant wife, who is a U.S. citizen, and his attorneys in New York. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Civil rights lawyers who work with immigrants locked up in Louisianas detention centers say they are concerned for Khalil, given the Jena facilitys unsettling history. However, they say they are not surprised that ICE transferred Khalil to Louisiana, where access to counsel is extremely limited, and where the courts skew conservative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a phone interview with Verite News last week, Anthony Enriquez, vice president of U.S. advocacy and litigation at civil rights nonprofit RFK Human Rights, said the Trump Administration is forum shopping Khalils deportation case looking for the jurisdiction that will give the government the outcome it wants. The government has the ability to do that with immigration, Enriquez said. It can arrest someone in a jurisdiction where the case law is very favorable to the person arrested, and then sweep them away to another jurisdiction. Khalils attorneys are eager to get the case, and Khalil, out of Louisiana. On Monday , his attorneys asked a federal judge to transfer the case. On Wednesday, the judge obliged, ordering the case transferred to New Jersey. The New York Times reported that the order would not have an immediate effect on where he is being detained. A federal judge in New Jersey will have to make a decision on whether to transfer him out of Louisiana. Khalils legal team did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives from the Department of Justice, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests from Verite News for comment on Khalils case or on immigration detention centers in Louisiana. The black hole Nora Ahmed, legal director of the ACLU of Louisiana, said she has visited Khalil in Jena since he was transferred there a four hour drive from her office in New Orleans. She stressed the challenge that Louisianas handful of immigration attorneys who represent immigrants in detention face getting to their clients in remote areas. The Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, where Khalil is detained, is more than 100 miles from Baton Rouge, the closest major city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Louisiana is] the place where you can cut off from outside eyes, Enriquez said. Thats the place where you can ensure that they wont have access to lawyers or to advocates. Court filings reveal Khalils wife, Noor Abdalla, who cannot fly to Louisiana as she is in the last stage of pregnancy, is concerned about her husbands well-being in Jena. She said her husband, who is Muslim and fasting for Ramadan, is finding it hard to sustain himself on the food provided to him after he breaks his fast at the end of each day. According to Abdalla, Khalil did not receive his daily medication for an ulcer until two days after he arrived in Jena. I also worry about Mahmoud braving this period of detention, Abdalla said in a sworn statement of support. I cannot overstate how distressing this entire experience has been. This experience has flipped our lives upside down. The Jena facility, operated by private prison corporation GEO Group ICEs single largest private contractor has been plagued with allegations of abuse and mistreatment since the late 1990s when it opened as a juvenile correctional center. In 2000, the federal government closed the facility, operated when GEO Group went by a different name, Wackenhut Corrections Corp., for excessive abuse and neglect, including the use of chemical weapons on children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the ACLU of Louisiana and RFK Human Rights co-produced a report on the Louisiana immigration detention system called Inside the Black Hole that featured information gathered from interviews with more than 6,000 detainees over roughly two years. Prominent features of the report include prison-like settings, inadequate mental health and medical care, allegations of human rights abuses, and extremely limited access to language interpretation services and to attorneys. Immigrants detained at the Jena facility reported rodent droppings on the facilitys kitchen surfaces, human excrement in a shower area and allegations of prolonged isolation leading to medical and mental health distress. In one example, detainees in Jena told interviewers they had to clean sewage in their cells without protective gear after toilets and drains overflowed in an isolation unit. The smell was unbearable. It burned my eyes and made it almost impossible to breathe, the report quoted one man saying. The sewage sat there for hours until we were given towels to clean it ourselves. They didnt even give us gloves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Verite News reported on a Nicaraguan man who filed at least 29 grievances against different aspects of his conditions of confinement before he died after suffering a heart attack inside the facility. And last year Verite News reported on federal oversight bodies findings that staff at the Jena detention center violated the civil rights of a Columbian man with epilepsy, by repeatedly assigning him to an upper bunk, threatening his well-being. The GEO Group did not respond to a request for comment. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Mar. 21Two dozen Maine college students are investigating the public health effects of forever chemicals by using zebrafish as human stand-ins and water samples from private residential wells as part of a growing statewide biotech training program. Students attending a weeklong conference at MDI Bio Lab are finding zebrafish a favorite among medical researchers because they share 70% of our genes suffer a higher rate of developmental delays and birth defects when grown in contaminated well water. "They're hatching late," said 24-year-old Kaleyn Pratt, a first-year student at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. "We're looking for any defect, like a curved tail, but what we're finding is the PFAS zebrafish are taking longer to break out of their little shells." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the training program that organized the student PFAS conference is now at risk from proposed federal funding cuts. The National Institutes for Health has announced grant administration changes that would result in a 23% cut in annual funding, or $900,000, for Maine's biotech training program. Maine has joined other states to fight this change and other announced NIH cuts, but until that is sorted out, research institutions like MDI, The Jackson Laboratory and the University of Maine are left in limbo and wondering if they will have to reduce student learning opportunities or even lay off staff. Led by MDI Bio Lab, the Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, or INBRE, is made up of 17 research and educational institutions from the University of New England to the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Last year, NIH awarded a new five-year, $19.4 million grant to the consortium. Since it began in 2001, Maine's program has used $87 million in NIH funding to train 3,500 students. Of those students, 90% have pursued advanced degrees or careers in scientific or medical fields, with 21% of those remaining in Maine. The program will train 180 students this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to training Maine students for high-paying biotech jobs, the program also funds research and mentorship to young faculty members to increase their competitiveness for independent NIH funding and improves the state's research infrastructure with the latest technology and technical expertise. Last month, however, the NIH announced it would limit how much grant money INBRE could use to pay for indirect costs like electricity, lab coats and salaries for techs who feed research animals. The INBRE program had negotiated a 69% reimbursement rate; NIH now wants a 15% cap. MDI Bio Lab's indirect costs are comparable with what other research institutions have reported and are audited by third-party monitors, according to outreach director Elisabeth Marnik. With 17 members across the state, INBRE has significant paperwork, housing and travel costs, she said. "The measure would slow, and in some cases end, front-line biomedical research projects," Marnik said. "It would severely limit training opportunities for college students and early career scientists. Perhaps most dishearteningly, it would imperil the job stability of the dedicated people in our workforce." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, MDI Bio Lab's program directors are hoping for the best, assuming the indirect cost cap will be thrown out by the courts and they can continue to train the next generation of scientists to join the state's growing biotech sector and investigate local public health problems like forever chemical contamination. EMPHASIS ON KIDNEY DISEASE MDI Bio Lab has a long history of research into kidney disease and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to treat it. For example, professor Iain Drummond is working on kidney replacement tissue, exploring how to connect lab-grown kidney tissue to an organism's circulatory system. He noted that zebrafish placed in the local well water samples one with 50 parts per trillion of forever chemicals and another at 200 parts per trillion showed pretty severe kidney damage in just three days, explaining why kidney disease is one of the most common side effects of exposure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The results were off the charts, just blazing!" Drummond said as he watched the students work. "It was shocking how much inflammatory response there was to water that people had been drinking. We think it may be because kidneys purify the blood and they concentrate environmental toxins." One of the other reasons why zebrafish make for good human stand-ins when it comes to medical research is that their eggs are laid and fertilized externally, which allows their genetic makeup to be easily manipulated to better study disease and try out potential cures. Drummond wants to isolate which specific forever chemical, at what exact threshold, injures the kidney, and then begin to manipulate the fish to see if interventions can be found that work on zebrafish that might one day be used to help the people who have been drinking that well water for years. "It's exciting," said Drummond, rubbing his hands together. "The little zebrafish could hold the solution." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that will require a lot of additional research, and that research requires continued NIH funding. "I'd like to think the program is so vital to the nation that we wouldn't lose it altogether, but if we did, I don't know what would happen to the future of science," said Jane Disney, an MDI Bio Lab professor of environmental health who helped lead this week's PFAS program. CONCERN FOR FUTURE SCIENTISTS "The program helps to fund research capacity, train students, and provide funds for young scientists to get their labs off the ground," Disney said. "I could see there sort of be a bottoming out of that next generation of scientists. There would be a huge gap for sure." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disney talked about the value of the INBRE program with campus visitors while answering student questions about the days-old zebrafish they were studying under microscopes. Some had as many questions about the suddenly fragile future of biotech as they did about the experiment. Many of the students arrived at the conference unfamiliar with forever chemicals manmade per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in household and industrial products that can be toxic to humans even in trace amounts and walked away planning to test their own home well water. Tatiana Arce, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, lives on campus, where there is public water, but she said she will ask her parents to test the well water at their Woodland home after she tells them all about using MDI's lab equipment to conduct actual scientific research. "This is something I just can't do in Fort Kent," Arce said, gesturing at the row of microscopes and the team of MDI faculty circulating around the lab. "This is what science is supposed to be. And I like that we're working on a Maine problem." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine's biotech sector about 500 companies employing 10,000 people is growing rapidly. According to the Bioscience Association of Maine, life sciences jobs in the state grew by 42% between 2017 and 2022. Comparatively, Maine's total job growth over that period was 1%. Maine's life science job growth also outpaced the rest of New England between 2016 and 2021. Copy the Story Link An inn owner in Old Orchard Beach, Maine just 150 miles from the U.S.-Canadian border says President Donald Trumps attacks on Canada have driven away the vast majority of his customers and left his business on the brink of closure. Sterling Morse, owner of the family-run Point of View Inn, told CNNs Randi Kaye in a segment that aired Thursday that easily 90% of his business has disappeared as tourists from Canada, who make up the bulk of his clientele, cancel stays as part of a growing trendprotesting Trump. They are incredibly pissed off with Trumps rhetoric about turning Canada into the 51st state and his on-off imposition of tariffs on the country, said Morse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And their anger is incredibly justified, he added. Morse said French Canadian tourists, many of whom return year after year for the same room on the same dates, have largely pulled out this season. There may soon be no choice but to close down or sell the inn, he added. Watch the segment here: Canadians are canceling their vacations in the U.S. in the wake of President Trump's rhetoric towards their country. @randikayeCNN visits a Maine town that's getting hit hard. pic.twitter.com/V6lYF6kWgI Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) March 21, 2025 Related... WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump unveiled a major change to the U.S. education system on Friday, announcing plans to move the federal governments $1 trillion student loan portfolio from the Department of Education to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The move comes as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. The president said that the SBA is set for it and that the loan servicing would be improved under the agencys management, which he described as having previously been a mess. The portfolios very large, lots of loans. Tens of thousands of loans, Trump said while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, highlighting the size of the governments student loan program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, critics of the plan, including James Kvaal, the former Undersecretary of Education under the Biden administration, shared concerns about the SBAs ability to effectively manage such a large and complex debt portfolio. I think its going to be very disruptive, Kvaal said, pointing out the SBAs lack of experience in handling student debt. Trump also announced that protections for students with disabilities and school food programs would also be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kvaal, argue that this could undermine enforcement and the effectiveness of these programs in schools. Theyve already done a lot of damage to the capacity to run these programs effectively, Kvaal stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the White House, Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the administrations decision. She pointed out that funding for students with special needs had been effectively managed before the creation of the Department of Education and expressed confidence that the transition would be smooth. It was handled very well before there was a Department of Education, and it will be handled very well again, McMahon said. Hopefully, as the president said, there will be more money going to the states, not less. While the presidents plan represents a major shift in federal education policy, only Congress has the authority to fully shut down the Department of Education, meaning further legislative action will be required for a complete overhaul. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. JOPLIN, Mo. Kansas City Universitys latest batch of medical students celebrated a major milestone Friday (3/21), one that will have an effect on all of us. Match Day is where soon-to-be graduated medical students learn what facility theyve matched with for their residencies. The residencies last three years and continue the training the students have already received sometimes even going into specialized areas like pediatrics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this is a big moment for the students, its also a big moment for communities across the nation who are facing a shortage of healthcare providers. These students are from all over the country, that came to our community to train and will go back into their communities to serve meeting the healthcare needs and that physician shortage that currently exists, said KCU Residency Placement Coordinator, Katie Harden. These students will graduate from KCU in May and will start their residencies in July. Theyre moving to cities across the country, while several will do their residencies in southwest Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Political commentator and podcast host Angela Rye masterfully pumped the brakes on an intrusion of her personal space from Shark Tank investor Kevin OLeary during a recent, heated CNN panel discussion and the entire exchange said a lot. During a Wednesday night segment of NewsNight with Abby Phillip, the panelists discussed a New York Times report that President Donald Trumps billionaire adviser Elon Musk donated the maximum allowable amount to GOP lawmakers who support impeaching federal judges impeding the Trump administrations actions. Rye, an attorney and former executive director and general counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus, was criticizing Musk when OLeary appeared to touch her arm as he tried interjecting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont have to touch me, she told OLeary before she continued with her remarks. I did that nicely, OLeary responded. Rye then stopped again to address the investor directly. I dont want you to touch me; thats my personal space, she said. I wont ever do it again, OLeary responded. The interaction between Rye and OLeary resonated with many people on X, formerly Twitter. Some called OLearys actions patronizing and celebrated Ryes strong response. One X user described OLearys behavior as a microaggression, writing in another post: He would never do that to a man. Good for her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kari J. Winter, a professor of American studies at the University at Buffalo, told HuffPost that while the interaction between OLeary and Rye was brief, it was a historically loaded moment. She emphasized that theres a long history of women being touched in various kinds of unwelcome ways particularly in the workplace. Rye claimed her space and set a clear physical boundary on air. Winter, whose expertise includes gender, feminism, race, class, slavery, the politics of food and literature, said that OLearys demeanor and reaction to Rye completely missed the mark. I feel like thats where its so emotionally charged, because when women claim their space, men kind of blame them as if [women are] not being nice, not being accommodating, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And everyone has the right to set physical boundaries for themselves, such as not wanting someone you just met to hug you. As an article published for the University of California, Davis, health blog points out: Boundaries help us maintain balance and foster healthy relationships. Read on for experts key takeaways from Rye and OLearys exchange. OLearys behavior was inappropriate and certainly not considered nice. What does it mean, I touched you nicely? Winter asked, referencing OLearys response to Rye. She later said that the moment made her sad because it felt like she was watching a kind of microaggression that women are often subjected to particularly women of color, who are often just not permitted to have their personal space and their bodily integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jodi Smith, an etiquette consultant who specializes in social and professional conduct, said that what OLeary did was not OK and that she believed it was his attempt to silence Rye and dominate the air-time. He needed to wait his turn, Smith said. Dont assume you can touch someone in a debate at the workplace. And the context of gender dynamics matters. When it comes to any kind of workplace conduct, its important to consider the inequality and discrimination women have disproportionately faced in the workplace, such as gender pay gaps, gender stereotypes and sexual harassment. Smith said that a man touching a woman in the workplace is almost always a power-play. A way of literally putting a woman in her place, she said. The touch is designed to remind the female that the man is seeking to establish, or reestablish, his dominance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winter said that she wishes women didnt have to be in the position of needing to speak up for themselves when it comes to claiming their personal space. I dont think its too much to ask for there to be some professional standard that people wont touch each other, she said of the CNN segment. Somebody should not have to say on national TV, Dont touch me, she added. Angela Rye asked Kevin O'Leary not to touch her during their appearance on CNN's "NewsNight with Abby Phillip." Associated Press/Getty Images The path to gender equality in the workplace is paved with instances of unwanted touching, sexual harassment, blatant sexism, and even violence against women, said Susan Hinze, associate professor of sociology and womens and gender studies at Case Western Reserve University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This history, along with data showing that Black women are more likely to be targeted, can weigh heavily on the minds of women at work, she continued. Ryes response to OLeary was spot-on and not always easy to do. Hinze said she found Ryes response impressive. Rye set a clear boundary, which was exactly right and not always easy, she said. For some women, gendered socialization and the societal expectation that women should prioritize the feelings of others, especially men, over their own can result in a diminishment of their own needs in this case, her need for personal space. The only appropriate reaction to someone who is informed they are violating that need is to apologize, she continued. And not in a way that could be viewed as malicious compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith said Rye was masterful: Without missing a beat or losing her train of thought, she reminded him of appropriate boundaries (twice!) while remaining professional and finishing what she had to say. Winter believes Ryes reaction to OLeary resonates with people online because she was so professional and clear. She very concisely identified the problem and said, Dont do it, she said. As to the current state of the world and the political climate, Winter said that a lot of us are in a moment of trauma and are looking to see people stand up for themselves. Here are some other key takeaways from the moment. Smith said she would advise other women in professional environments who face a similar situation to do what Rye did: Call out the inappropriate behavior while continuing to make your point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also recommended that if you find yourself being touched in any way without your consent, you can move slightly away from that person, or say to them: Please do not touch me, once I finish making my point, it will be your turn to have the floor. All in all, Smith said people should just keep their hands to themselves. This is kindergarten stuff! she said, adding, Shaking hands [at] the beginning and end of the interaction is polite professional protocol here in the United States. Winter pointed out that there might be cultural differences with whats considered appropriate physical touch in certain situations, and that thats why its crucial to have professional guidelines in workplaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont know if the person youre reaching out to touch that might be normal to you ... [but] you dont know how thats going to be received, or how that would feel, she said, adding You dont know the history of that person and their experience with violence or violation in the past. I would really like a professional space and a cultural space that acknowledges Angela Ryes and other womens right to have their personal space, their bodily integrity and not have it violated, she added. Related... The man accused of killing a Cobb County mother of five entered the U.S. illegally several years ago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed. A spokesperson confirmed that Hector Sagastume Rivas, a 21-year-old native of Honduras, entered the country illegally on March 17, 2021 and was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. He was later ordered to be removed from the country on July 11, 2023. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Cobb County police say that last week, Sagastume Rivas killed Camillia Williams, a mother of five and grandmother, and dumped her body in the woods in a neighborhood. Her body was found in a bush on Thursday, March 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams family spoke exclusively to Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell and said that in the days before her death, Williams expressed concern about a man she said had been following her. She called the dude a weirdo and from my understanding, he pretty much waited until he caught her by herself and did what he done, her brother, Arsene Williams said. RELATED STORIES: Sagastume Rivas is accused of putting Williams in a chokehold until she lost consciousness. The arrest warrant, obtained by Channel 2 Action News, alleges that he then put his full body weight on her neck, which killed her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE says they have lodged an immigration detainer with the Cobb County Jail to ensure he remains in custody for removal proceedings. Criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety should not be free to endanger communities. ICE remains committed to working with law enforcement partners to apprehend and remove those who break our laws, an ICE official said in a statement. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A man accused of opening fire inside a Mission Valley hotel, killing one of his co-workers and injuring another, pleaded not guilty Thursday in a San Diego courtroom. Kevin Larin, 29, faces charges including first-degree murder and assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Prosecutors say he shot and killed 19-year-old Damian Martinez inside the lobby of the Handlery Hotel on March 3 and seriously wounded a 23-year-old man outside by shooting him in the upper body. Larin, who is from Northridge, and the two victims, including the man from El Monte who died, were in San Diego for work, investigators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his arraignment, Larin spoke little, and his attorney, Jay Monico, said he has not yet reviewed all the evidence in the case. Guest describes experience at San Diego hotel after deadly shooting We have to wait until we get every single piece of evidence they have at the moment for us to be able to start formulating his defense, Monico said. Surveillance footage from the Handlery Hotel, which has an extensive security system, is expected to be part of the case, along with possible body-worn camera footage from responding officers. Monico said he does not yet know what led to the shooting and could not comment on whether self-defense will be part of Larins legal strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, he is a young man who found himself in such a bad circumstance, and this is a case that is unfortunate for everybody involvedfor Mr. Larin, for the individuals involved in this case, for their families, Monico said. Larin is being held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 22. If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces a minimum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. CHICAGO A man was charged with first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing another man to death in Albany Park. Irving Martinez-Hernandez, 30, was arrested just after 9 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Sunnyside. Around an hour earlier, he allegedly stabbed Juan Carlos Tello-Suarez, 34, during an altercation in the same location. The man was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. 34-year-old man stabbed to death in Albany Park Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez-Hernandezs detention hearing is scheduled for 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 WGN-TV. EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)- A bodega worker is out of the hospital and speaking exclusively to PIX11 News after being stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver. Ari Ortiz, 43, is described by police as a career criminal. He was back in police custody Thursday, nabbed for the stabbing inside an East Harlem bodega 24 hours earlier. NYC bodega worker stabbed in neck over 75-cent candy, victim says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [He] just said, Im going to kill you, Im going to kill you,' said Sidi Mohamed Ahmed. Ahmed was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon following the attack that left him with a puncture wound to his neck. It was only his second day on the job. He got his card declined, and I gave it back to him, and he [stabbed] me right here for no reason, Ahmed said. Surveillance video shows the 23-year-old bloodied and boldly running after the armed suspect Wednesday morning. The screwdriver came within a millimeter of an artery, requiring seven stitches. I feel good. Yeah, I feel better, thank God, Ahmed said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NYC Bodega and Small Business Association is working to equip all bodegas with panic buttons and cameras amid escalating violence. But grant money from Albany has only allowed for 75 installations in the Bronx, according to Carlos Callado. More Local News There are a lot of folks with mental conditions that need help and are out and about in the community causing dangerous conditions like these, Callado said. The stores cameras on East 116th Street and Third Avenue helped catch Ortiz so quickly. A friend of the victim, who works in a South Harlem bodega, recognized the suspect in his store on West 112th Street and called police Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our concern, as always, is: Is this person going to get help, or is it the typical catch and release? Callado said. Police sources say Ortiz is homeless and has two dozen arrests dating back nearly 20 years, many for drugs, retail theft, and assaulting workers. Ortiz now faces charges of attempted murder against Ahmed, who sends money back home to his family in northern Africa. But not even this attack will stop him from working. Are you going to go back? Ahmed was asked. Yes, of courseMonday, he said. As of Thursday night, Ortizs arraignment was still pending at Manhattan Criminal Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Through a variety of events, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas recently commemorated the 20th anniversary of the enforcement of China's Anti-Secession Law. They commended the significance of the law in deterring separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence," stemming external interference, safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Two decades ago, China's top legislature voted to adopt the Anti-Secession Law. To mark the law's enforcement since then, a symposium was held earlier this month in Beijing, stressing firm action against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and foreign interference. Echoing the message sent during the Beijing symposium, Yiu Chi-shing, president of the Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, said in a seminar on March 15 that no individual or force can stop the invincible trend of China's reunification. Attendees of the seminar, held by the association to mark the 20th anniversary of the Anti-Secession Law, unanimously stressed the need to understand the significant role of the law, to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and to advance the reunification of the motherland. On March 16, the Macao-based organization for promoting China's peaceful reunification also held a seminar to mark the anniversary. Over the past 20 years, the legal framework for punishing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities has been further refined, while systems and policies in furtherance of Taiwan compatriots' well-being have been improved, according to the seminar. Focusing on the same theme, the Alliance for China's Peaceful Reunification, USA, recently held a seminar and issued a joint statement. The implementation of the law over the past two decades has formed a widely accepted consensus in the international community that red lines on the Taiwan question shall not be crossed, the statement said. From this anniversary forward, overseas Chinese in the United States will continue to make contributions to China's cause of national reunification and rejuvenation, according to the statement. On March 15, the All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China issued a joint statement that hails the significance of the law and condemns the separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and the external forces supporting them. Overseas Chinese compatriots in France, Spain, Serbia, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada, Indonesia and other countries also joined in the commemoration, voicing the common aspiration of Chinese both at home and abroad to oppose "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference and to advance the great cause of national reunification. A federal judge on Wednesday scheduled a hearing for next week on the petition filed by prominent Denver immigration advocate Jeanette Vizguerra, who authorities took into custody this week. FREDERICK COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) A man has been arrested and charged for allegedly abducting a woman at knifepoint Friday, according to the Frederick County Sheriffs Office. Deputies said crews received a call at 5:30 a.m. on March 21, that a woman had been taken against her will by a man named Nicholas Hess. Study: NoVa population growth slowing as Winchester sees fastest growth in Virginia According to deputies, the caller stated the woman was taken into a 2008 Ford Pickup truck headed into Frederick County from Berkely County, W. Va. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies located the truck at the Virginia state line and attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop where Hess initially cooperated with deputies. Deputies said Hess then re-entered the truck and drove off, prompting a chase by law enforcement that began Southbound on I-81 and ended on Route 37. Deputies add the abducted woman unsuccessfully tried to escape the truck during the chase. Parents charged after 8-year-old found with gun in backpack, sheriffs office says On Route 37, deputies were able to surround the truck, forcing it into a ditch where Hess attempted to drive off again. The woman was able to then escape from the truck and Hess was taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was charged with abduction, felony eluding, assault on law enforcement officials, hit and run, and reckless driving by speed. Deputies said the woman was injured from the initial abduction. The relationship between the abducted woman and Hess has not been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. (BLANCA, Colo.) The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said a man has been arrested in connection to a rifle that was stolen from a police car back in November of 2024. Back on Nov. 21, 2024, the suspect 45-year-old Rodney Vigil allegedly broke into a Blanca police car and stole a patrol rifle. After a thorough investigation by the Blanca Police Department and with help from the CBI an arrest warrant was obtained for Vigil. Rodney Vigil, Courtesy: Blanca Police Department Courtesy: Blanca Police Department CBI said Vigil was arrested without incident in Blanca on March 20, 2025, by the Blanca Police Department, Costilla County Sheriffs Office, and the CBI. Vigil was booked into the Costilla County Jail on charges of: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possession of a Dangerous Weapon Large Capacity Magazine Prohibited During a Crime Theft First Degree Criminal Trespass Possession of Burglary Tools Criminal Mischief First Degree Criminal Tampering The Blanca Police Department is offering the public a $500 reward for information that leads to the recovery of the stolen rifle. If you have any information contact Blanca Police at (719) 589-5807. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. A man has been arrested and charged in the death of Whitney Hurd after she was found last July in south Charlotte. Channel 9 first reported on Brandon Braxton in January after our investigation revealed police notes stated hes known for random acts of violence. Braxton was previously listed as a person of interest in the stabbing death of Hurd, a realtor who was found dead in her SouthPark townhome last July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Braxton has been arrested and charged in that case. He faced a judge Friday morning. Channel 9s Hunter Saenz learned that the judge denied a bond for Braxton, saying he has connections to Texas and no family in the Charlotte area. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Records show police have person of interest in womans stabbing death in SouthPark Court records show Braxton is facing charges of first-degree murder and robbery. On top of the murder, hes also accused of stealing Hurds BMW and iPhone. The situation started in the summer, when Hurds family said she never showed up to their house on July 4, according to search warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They reported her missing on July 11 and hired a private investigator who found her body on July 14. Her stolen BMW was found days later. Other court documents connected Braxton to the scene of Hurds death using fingerprints. Investigators also searched data from Hurds Ring cameras, her Facebook and Instagram accounts, and cell phone. Police said Braxton was already in jail before his arrest in Hurds case after he allegedly stole a womans cash at a First Watch restaurant in Ballantyne. Court records for that incident said an alert was put out for him due to random acts of violence, including assaulting random people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days before that, Braxton threw a brick through a mans window in Ballantyne. He punched a man in the face at a gas pump in the same area and shattered a window with a rock at the Harris Teeter on Providence Road. Braxton was also arrested last October, accused of exposing himself to a woman in Fourth Ward Park. He was charged with assaulting a woman the following month. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates. WATCH BELOW: Living a nightmare: Father devastated after 17-year-old charged in sons murder NORFOLK Authorities arrested a Norfolk man and charged him in a shooting near downtown Norfolk that left another man dead this past weekend, Norfolk police said. Detectives arrested 32-year-old Tayquan O. Gallop on Wednesday and charged him with second degree murder following an investigation. Around 5:15 a.m. on Saturday, police were notified of a shooting off Wide Street at the Calvert Square housing community off Church Street. First responders found a man, 37-year-old Terrance D. Moore of Norfolk suffering from gunshots and was pronounced dead at the scene. Gallop was being held at the city jail without bond. No additional information, such as a motive, was immediately available. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) An Evansville man charged with child molesting has been booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail after being held in another county in northwestern Indiana. Douglas Diekmann, 54, is being charged after two individuals said he made sexual contact with them when they were juveniles. Authorities say one victim told another person that Diekmann would come into the room where he was sleeping and ask him to perform sexual actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another alleged victim told authorities that Diekmann performed sexual acts on him when he was in the third grade. Diekmann was arrested on a warrant in Tippecanoe County before being brought back to Vanderburgh County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A St. Louis man was charged for an alleged terrorist threat against Mercy South Hospital after he called a nurse and made a bomb threat. According to St. Louis County Police, Anthony Bauer, 48, called the nurse a little before 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday and told her, There is a bomb in your building. She went to hospital security, who called police. This is the St. Louis Cardinals presumed 2025 Opening Day roster Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police arrived at the hospital, they did a canine search and went room to room. Parts of the hospital were evacuated so canines could search the area. After four hours of searching, no bomb was found. Police located the phone number the call originated from, which came back to Bauer. Police said during their interview with Bauer he made contradicting statements. During the interview, police never brought up or mentioned his call involving a bomb threat; however, Bauer brought it up himself when he said he did call a telemarketer, but he never mentioned anything about a bomb. Bauer has been charged with making a second-degree terrorist threat and is held on a $100,000 cash-only bond with no 10%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. JACKSOWN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) A man was arrested Thursday night after investigators said he held a victim hostage for hours during a standoff in Stark County. According to the Jackson Township Police Department, officers were called to the 8900 block of Scotsbury Street Northwest at about 7:30 p.m. for a domestic incident. When they got there, officers learned that the suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Brent Mollet, reportedly took a victim hostage and barricaded himself inside a bedroom, according to the police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twinsburg police honored for catching suspects in nationwide crime ring Officers at the scene secured the area and started negotiating with Mollet as a SWAT team arrived on the scene, according to Jackson Township police. According to investigators, after nearly three hours, the victim was released from the home. Mollet later surrendered and was taken into custody, the police department said. Brent Mollet, courtesy of the Stark County jail Police: Lorain Preparatory High School student attacks 2 teens with brass knuckles on school bus Mollet was arrested and booked into the Stark County jail. He faces several charges, including kidnapping, disrupting public service and domestic violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to thank the Canton Regional SWAT Cooperative and the Jackson Township Fire Department for their assistance in obtaining a positive resolution to this incident, Jackson Township police said in a press release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Charlotte man is now charged in the death of missing woman Whitney Hurd, according to court documents. Whitney Hurd, 32, was reported missing by her family on July 11, 2024. She was then found dead by a private investigator just three days later at a south Charlotte home along Werburgh Street. On July 15, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police declared Hurds death as a homicide and it would later come out that she was stabbed in the chest. Her 2014 BMW X3 was taken during the incident, but police later found the vehicle. Queen City News Continued Coverage On Thursday, March 20, 2025, Brandon David Braxton, 33, was booked into the Mecklenburg County Detentions Center and charged with First Degree Murder and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon related to Hurds death. He is being held without bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Braxton killed Hurd and took her car and iPhone. His first court appearance is scheduled for the morning of Friday, March 21. Queen City News has reached out to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police for more details surrounding Braxtons arrest. READ NEXT | Charlotte man appears to admit to abusing dog in Instagram post prior to arrest: CMPD Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A federal judge has agreed an incarcerated man can sue a prison employee for causing him to miss his deadline for filing a longshot challenge to his convictions with the U.S. Supreme Court, after the employee allegedly closed the facility's library the day the petition was due. JENNINGS, Mo. A man accused of robbing multiple dollar stores in Jennings several times now faces criminal charges after he allegedly fired a shot when confronted by a store employee after one such incident. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged Jeffery Pattin, 56, with three counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the robberies. Then & Now: The scenes of the 1959 film The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say that Pattin targeted two businesses (Dollar General and Family Dollar) in the 6400 block of West Florissant Avenue at least three times between Dec. 22, 2024 and Feb. 19, 2025. According to a probable cause statement obtained by FOX 2, store employees confronted Pattin after at least one incident, during which he produced a gun, bypassed the checkout with stolen items and fired a shot into the air shortly after he left the store. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Investigators later identified Pattin as the suspect when he allegedly committed a similar offense in the City of St. Louis and was observed walking in the same clothes he wore during one of the robberies in Jennings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pattin was arrested Thursday after authorities issued a warrant. He was booked into jail on a $250,000 bond. Due to previous felony convictions in Missouri, he is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Officers from the St. Louis County Police Departments City of Jennings Precinct are handling this investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. (FOX40.COM) A man was convicted Wednesday of four counts of molesting a child under 18-years-old, four counts of indecent exposure and four counts of lewd acts in public, according to the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office. Video Above: How to report a public safety threat The attorneys office said back on January 15, two girls, 12 and 14, were walking near their Folsom apartment when the man stopped his car in front of them, exposing himself and masturbating toward the girls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similar incident happened January 25, his victims being 9-years-old and 10-years-old. Couple arrested for animal cruelty in Nevada County, dogs seized for care The Folsom Police Department was able to obtain security footage and the license plate number, placing the suspect and his car in the area of both crimes. The attorney office said sentencing is set for April 25, and the man could face four years in jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. A man was seriously injured in a fall from a balcony in Pittsburghs Oakland neighborhood. Emergency crews were called to the 3400 block of Parkview Avenue around 12:45 a.m. Friday. Public Safety officials said the man fell approximately 10 feet from the balcony, which had a low railing. The man was found unresponsive on his back after hitting his head. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Crime Scene Unit processed the scene as a precaution, but public safety officials said the incident appears to be accidental. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man was left critically injured after being shot in Parkway Village early Friday morning. Officers say they responded to a shooting in the 5200 block of Scottsdale Avenue just before 8:30 a.m. A man was found suffering from a gunshot wound. He was then taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition. A woman was detained on the scene but no charges have been filed at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives werent the only ones gathering outside the home Friday morning. Several people, possibly family members or friends, also started showing up. WREG crews on the scene at one point saw police bringing an infants car seat over to the driver of a Black SUV, followed by another officer with what appeared to be a baby cradled in his arms. Neighbor Caroll Irving says shes considering moving away from the community shes called home for nearly half a century. It scared me to death, said Irving. Im thinking about moving, relocating with some of my nieces or something. Im scared. From March of last year to the present, police have been called within a half-mile radius of this recent shooting 262 times for homicides, assaults, robberies, and weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not happy anymore, said Irving. This is still an ongoing investigation. If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. CHICAGO A man has been extradited from Northwest Indiana to face charges, including murder, after allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend and kidnapping her children. Teone Jones, 33, was stabbed multiple times inside a residence in the 7100 block of South Eberhart on Chicagos South Side on Feb. 20. Prosecutors say Marcus Bausley, 40, followed through with threats he had made earlier in the day. Both Bausley and Jones share a 4-year-old son who was home at the time of the stabbing. Jones 8-year-old son was also present and witnessed the stabbing. Prosecutors say Bausley stabbed the boy amid an attempt to save his mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramedics rushed Jones to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Teone Jones Bausley allegedly took her two children, 11 and 8, after stabbing Jones. The 8-year-old was the subject of an AMBER Alert and was found at a gas station on the 8200 block of South Damen. Both of the children were critically stabbed. According to prosecutors, Bausley took off with both boys and sent a group text to his family asking if anything happened to him to look out for his son. He dropped off his child with his mother but kept driving with the 8-year-old to pick up Jones 11-year-old son at basketball practice and then critically stabbed him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 11-year-old ran for his life and managed to get help. He remains in critical condition, and a GoFundMe was launched to help their recovery. Bausley was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and three counts of aggravated battery. He was taken into custody on Feb. 24 in Crown Point. On Thursday, Bausley was extradited back to Chicago. A Cook County judge denied Bausely a pre-trial release, calling the allegations of this case a vicious attack against the victims. Malik Wilson, Jones brother, spoke with reporters following court proceedings and said hell remember his sister as someone who always thought of others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She would always be the person that would take the loss so the group would be harmonious even if she feels some type of way about it, Wilson said. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines A public defender is representing Bausley. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Arve Hjalmar Holmen, a citizen of Norway, said he asked ChatGPT to tell him what it knows about him, and its response was a horrifying hallucination that claimed he'd murdered his children and gone to jail for the violent act. Given how the AI mixed its false response with real details about his personal life, Holmen filed an official complaint against ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Have you ever Googled yourself just to see what the internet has to say about you? Well, one man had that same idea with ChatGPT, and now hes filed a complaint against OpenAI based off what its AI said about him. Arve Hjalmar Holmen, from Trondheim, Norway, said he asked ChatGPT the question, Who is Arve Hjalmar Holmen?, and the responsewhich we wont print in fullsaid he was convicted of murdering his two sons, aged 7 and 10, and sentenced to 21 years in prison as a result. It also said Holmen attempted murder of his third son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of these things actually happened, though. ChatGPT appeared to spit out a completely false story it believed was completely true, which is called an AI hallucination. Based on its response, Holmen filed a complaint against OpenAI with the help of Noyb, a European center for digital rights, which accuses the AI giant of violating the principle of accuracy thats set forth in the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The complainant was deeply troubled by these outputs, which could have harmful effect in his private life, if they were reproduced or somehow leaked in his community or in his home town, the complaint said. Whats dangerous about ChatGPTs response, according to the complaint, is it blends real elements of Holmens personal life with total fabrications. ChatGPT got Holmens home town correct, and it was also correct about the number of childrenspecifically, sonshe has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JD Harriman, partner at Foundation Law Group LLP in Burbank, Calif., told Fortune that Holmen might have a difficult time proving defamation. "If I am defending the AI, the first question is 'should people believe that a statement made by AI is a fact?'" Harriman asked. "There are numerous examples of AI lying." Furthermore, the AI didnt publish or communicate its results to a third party. If the man forwarded the false AI message to others, then he becomes the publisher and he would have to sue himself, Harriman said. Holmen would probably also have a hard time proving the negligence aspect of defamation, since AI may not qualify as an actor that could commit negligence compared to people or corporations, Harriman said. Holmen would also have to prove that some harm was caused, like he lost income or business, or experienced pain and suffering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avrohom Gefen, partner at Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP in New York, told Fortune that defamation cases surrounding AI hallucinations are untested in the U.S., but mentioned a pending case in Georgia where a radio host filed a defamation lawsuit that survived OpenAIs motion to dismiss, so we may soon get some indication as to how a court will treat these claims. The official complaint asks OpenAI to delete the defamatory output on the complainant, tweak its model so it produces accurate results about Holmen, and be fined for its alleged violation of GDPR rules, which compel OpenAI to take every reasonable step to ensure personal data is erased or rectified without delay. With all lawsuits, nothing is automatic or easy, Harriman told Fortune. As Ambrose Bierce has said, you go into litigation as a pig and come out as a sausage. OpenAI did not immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com An Orange County jury found 27-year-old Nicholas Carrasquillo guilty of second-degree murder after a little more than two hours of deliberation. Hes convicted in the shooting death of 30-year-old Alex Sligh. Prosecutors say Carrasquillo shot Sligh in a fit of road rage. Eyewitness News spoke exclusively with Slighs family by phone moments after the verdict was read. We are very pleased at how fast the verdict came down, Debbie Bouton, Slighs aunt told Channel 9. We can have a sense of justice that he was taken unjustly. That someone literally murdered Alex in cold blood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carrasquillo argued he shot in self-defense. This is despite the fact, investigators and even Carrasquillo saying, Sligh never got out of his car and never pulled out a weapon. Carrasquillos attorney argued that Sligh cut Carrasquillo off in traffic. The two then argued at a red light. When Sligh didnt move when the light turned green, Carrasquillo said he felt stuck and felt Slight made a threat. He said youre going to have to shoot, of course, thats a threat, said Carrasquillos defense attorney Deborah Barra. Carrasquillo says he shot as he saw Sligh reach toward his center console. He claimed he didnt know whether Sligh was reaching for a gun or his gear shift. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I made a decision to save my life, Carrasquillo said on the stand Thursday. Investigators say the whole encounter between Sligh and Carrasquillo lasted less than a minute before Carrasquillo shot Sligh who was still behind the wheel of his car. Sligh leaves behind a son who was 1-year-old at the time of the shooting. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Wichita man was sentenced for firing a gun last summer in a road rage incident. On Friday, a judge sentenced 24-year-old Dylan Turner to 61 months (five years) in prison with 36 months post-release. The judge ordered him to pay just over $14,000 to the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board. Last month, Turner pled guilty to one count of discharging a firearm. Two women said they were hit with gunfire after a road rage incident with Turner in June near Central and Zoo Boulevard. The women had non-life-threatening injuries. Police identified the suspect using Flock technology that reads license plates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remains found in crashed vehicle in Ellis County For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. GRIMES COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) A man who pled guilty to charges of Sexual Assault of a Child has been sentenced to ten years in prison. The Navasota Police Department originally took a report of Sexual Assault of a Child on February 27, 2023. Law enforcement discovered the 14-year-old victim was sexually assaulted by a man who went by the name Beno. An investigator began a follow-up investigation and was able to identify Beno as 33-year-old Isaiah Wilson. According to the Grimes County District Attorneys Office, its chief investigator and assistant D.A. traveled to north Texas in February 2024 to meet with the victim in this case. The victim confirmed details of the sexual assault previously reported to law enforcement. The victim told the investigator that Wilson introduced her to illegal drugs and took advantage of her when she was intoxicated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim admitted she initially lied about her age, but later told Wilson her real age prior to the sexual assault. The victim then provided a recording of Wilson making a vague admission about the sexual assault. Life sentence in continuous child sex abuse trial The Grimes County D.A.s Office says the investigator interviewed Wilson in April 2024 and obtained a confession. Wilson claimed the sexual encounter was consensual and the victim lied about her age. Wilson pled guilty in the 506th District Court in February 2025. He was sentenced to ten years in prison on Wednesday, March 19 in a plea agreement made by the assistant D.A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Grimes County D.A.s Office says Sexual Assault of a Child is a second-degree felony with a punishment range of between two and 20 years in prison. Wilson will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his 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 KWKT - FOX 44. LONDON (Reuters) - A British man who had planned an attack on an air force base in northern England with a homemade bomb using explosives taken from fireworks was on Friday jailed for nearly 40 years. The sentencing judge said Mohammad Farooq, 29, had been inspired by Islamic State and was radicalised online. Farooq was found guilty last July of preparing acts of terrorism following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. He had pleaded guilty before trial to possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life and other offences after being arrested outside St. James's Hospital in Leeds in January 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farooq was caught by police at the hospital, where he had previously worked as a student nurse, with a homemade bomb containing nearly 10 kg of explosives extracted from fireworks. Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said Farooq had originally targeted RAF Menwith Hill, a Royal Air Force base in North Yorkshire which is also used by U.S. forces. "But having realised it would be impossible to get into a position to detonate your device anywhere closer than the well-protected perimeter, you changed tack to a softer target," she said. Farooq was jailed for a minimum of 37 years in prison before he can be considered for parole. "Farooq came dangerously close to harming innocent people," counter terrorism police superintendent Paul Greenwood said. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editng by Angus MacSwan) Editors Note: Police say the missing man has been found. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Summa Health police are asking for the publics help finding a missing man who they said walked away from a care facility in Akron. According to police, Michael Hymer, 64, walked away from a care facility on North Forge Street at about 9:40 p.m. on Thursday and did not return. Reports of missing people in NE Ohio Police said he suffers from medical issues and police are concerned for his safety. Credit: Summa Health Police Department Hymer is described as 5 6 and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt, dark blue or black sweatpants, and white and black shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lottery ticket in Ohio worth $25K a year for life Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact 9-1-1 or Summa Health Police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. A man accused of shooting four students outside Westinghouse Academy pleaded guilty in court on Thursday. James Pritchard admitted to causing the chaos two years ago on Valentines Day. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Put these guns down: 4 students shot outside Westinghouse Academy in Homewood West He and a 14-year-old boy who was never identified fired guns into a crowd of students as school was letting out. Four students were shot and all of them survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 2 teens arrested in shooting that injured 4 students outside Pittsburghs Westinghouse Academy Hes remorseful. At the time he was 16 years old, and made a horrible mistake. Theres really no excuse, defense attorney Casey White said. Sources tell Channel 11 that the shooting stemmed from a love triangle between teenagers. Surveillance video from outside the school showed Pritchard walking with balloons and delivering them to a girl who live nearby. Minutes later he fired his gun. None of this is a win. Its a school shooting. Its tragic its scary it puts people on edge, as it should, White said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police searched for Pritchard for several months before they took him into custody. He will spend four to nine years in prison. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A 22-year-old man pleaded no contest Thursday to driving drunk in a rollover crash that injured a passenger in his vehicle, according to court records. Julio Vega-Moreno pleaded no contest to a felony DUI charge and faces 16 months in custody at his sentencing hearing next month, prosecutors said. A preliminary alcohol screening performed about three-and-a-half hours after the crash showed his blood-alcohol content at 0.11%, above the legal limit of 0.08%, according to police reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bakersfield police search for 15-year-old last seen on Efada Drive Late June 29, police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 12300 block of Panama Lane. Both Vega-Moreno and his passenger who suffered serious injuries were taken to a hospital. An officer noticed Vega-Moreno gave off a strong odor of alcohol and appeared confused, according to court documents. He told police he and a friend the passenger had begun drinking that afternoon, and finished two 24-packs of Modelo beer. It was alleged Vega-Moreno did not have a drivers license. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) A man pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Thursday to charges following a crash involving a Youngstown State University professor. According to court documents, Matthew Brocker, 36, of Canfield pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges stemming from a March 2 crash on US Route 224 near Southern Boulevard in Boardman Township. Brocker was charged with obstructing official business and resisting arrest after attempting to flee the scene of the crash involving YSU engineering professor Anthony Viviano, 54. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Boardman police report states after Brocker exited his vehicle, he came toward emergency crews in an aggressive manner. Police drew a stun gun as Brocker ran eastbound. After a brief chase, police were able to apprehend Brocker, according to reports. According to a release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, at about 11:30 p.m. March 2, witnesses say Brocker was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck Viviano in the rear while traveling westbound on 224. The collision sent Vivianos Nissan Sentra into a curb on the right side of the road heavily damaging the vehicle, while Brocker continued westbound and overturned. Brockers Toyota Camry continued sliding on its roof until hitting a utility pole on Marinthana Avenue, according to OSHP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Viviano and Brocker were taken to the hospital. Viviano sustained serious injuries. OSHP said drugs or alcohol did not appear to be factors in the crash which remains under investigation. Chelsea Simeon 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. DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in a 2024 vehicular homicide that killed one. On May 24, 2024, authorities responded to reports of a Honda Accord that had crashed into a house in the 3900 block of 12th Street in Des Moines. Myint Lwin, at the time 52-years-old, was the driver of the vehicle. According to authorities, the evidence indicated Lwin had backed into Parreh Ngar, 47, who had gotten out of the vehicle and then into the house. Lwin had a blood alcohol level of .195, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Des Moines man arrested for shooting at Lyft driver, police say On Friday, Lwin admitted to driving drunk and unintentionally killing Ngar in May 2024. The defendant is ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of the victim and, if the family wishes it, participate in a victim-offender dialogue. Ngar was a paramedic in Myanmar before he resettled in the United States in 2009. He is survived by a wife and four children. During the sentencing, two of Ngars daughters gave statements saying their father considered Lwin a friend. After everything he had been through fleeing persecution in Myanmar to escape violence and oppression, leaving his family behind to start a new life in the United States it was his greatest wish for us to succeed, Soemeh said. He came here seeking a better future for himself and his children. He left his family to create one of his own, and he dedicated his life to giving us better opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had an outgoing personality. He was also funny making those around him laugh and always was smiling, Poe Meh said. My dad filled our lives with joy. The case was prosecuted by Assistant County Attorney Jaki Livingston with assistance from Chelsey Wilson. The investigation was led by Des Moines Police Officers Bryan Wickett and Brian Kelley. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A Williamson County jury has sentenced a man to 60 years in prison for stealing his father-in-law's coin collection. Christopher Alan Young, 56, of Pearland, was convicted of theft of property from an elderly individual, according to a district attorney's news release. It said the charge was elevated to a first-degree felony because of the victim's age, the release said. The victim, who lives in Georgetown, was 83 when the theft occurred, officials said. The jury sentenced Young on March 12 and fined him $10,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Man gets 8 years for moving scam against elderly woman in Cedar Park Young's father-in-law, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and a pilot, spent 60 years putting together a valuable coin collection, the release said. Authorities were alerted in August 2022 after Young's wife told police she thought Young had stolen her father's coin collection, an arrest affidavit said. It said Young and his wife had been frequently visiting her parents in Georgetown from 2021-22 to help them relocate. More: 'Jugging' victim shoots driver who stole money from him, Cedar Park police say "During this period, some of the coins Young had stolen were discovered missing, and Young suggested and installed a lock on his father-in-laws home office door, providing him with a single key," the release said. It said the father-in-law stored a large portion of his extensive coin collection, including gold, silver and commemorative coins, within an office closet. The most valuable part of the collection had been placed inside the closet in March 2022 after an inventory by family members, the affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 21, 2022, it said, relatives discovered coins in the collection were missing. The missing items included $85,000 in gold coins, $19,500 in silver coins and $19,400 in dollar coins. They also included $5,000 in commemorative coins, the affidavit said. Young's wife told police that when she asked him if he had taken the coins he reacted "defensively and angrily," the document said. It said she later found a check he deposited in their joint banking account from a coin business in Pearland. She then went to the coin business and verified through sales transactions that Young had sold more than $10,000 of her father's coins to the business on at least three occasions, the affidavit said. Young's wife also found out her husband had sold her father's coins to a coin business in Georgetown, according to the affidavit. Further investigation revealed that Young had sold more than $3,000 of his father-in-law's sterling silver Norman Rockwell plates to the same coin business, the document said. It said Young also sold more than $1,300 of his father-in-law's coins to a gold business in Taos, New Mexico. The dates that Young sold the coins corresponded to the dates he had stayed at his father-in-law's home for family events or vacations, the affidavit said. Young's father-in-law told police he never gave permission for Young to sell his coins, according to the affidavit. It said he told police the coins "were to be part of my retirement and some college money for my nieces and nephews left after settling my estate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Texas Department of Public Safety investigation revealed that Young had stolen the coins over several months and sold them to jewelers and precious metal stores in Georgetown, Pearland, Las Vegas and other cities throughout the southern United States, the news release said. "When confronted by the family, Young fled Texas," the release said. It did not provide the date that Young left the state. He was arrested outside a Louisiana casino resort less than a month after he left Texas, according to the release. This defendants actions demonstrated a callous disregard for the trust placed in him by his family," said District Attorney Shawn Dick. "The jurys sentence sends a strong message that those who prey on the vulnerable will be held accountable. My office remains committed to pursuing justice in cases involving the financial exploitation of the elderly. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Man sentenced for stealing Georgetown relative's coin collection The SpringHill Suites Hotel located at 402 S. Tejon St. was evacuated in the early morning hours Friday due to a fire originating from a car i (KRON) A man who kidnapped a 5-year-old California girl while she was walking to school, and dumped her lifeless body on the former Fort Ord military base, was sentenced by a judge Thursday. Anne Pham, 5, was walking to her kindergarten class at Highland Elementary School in Seaside on January 21, 1982 when she vanished. She was never seen alive again. Two days later, the kindergarten student was found dead on Fort Ord. She had been raped and strangled to death by a man who lived in her neighborhood, Robert John Lanoue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside a Monterey County courtroom Thursday, Judge Jennifer OKeefe sentenced Lanoue to serve 25 years to life in prison, plus 31 additional years. Lanoue is 72 years old. Phams murder went unsolved for more than 40 years. The initial 1982 investigation into the shocking murder did not result in any arrests, prosecutors said. At the time, Lanoue was 29-years-old, serving in the United States Army, and stationed at Fort Ord. He lived on Luzern Street in Seaside, which was 0.1 miles away from the Pham family residence. One of Lanoues children attended Highland Elementary School with Pham. Anne Pham (Photo courtesy Seaside Police Department) There is no indication that their families knew each other, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, investigators with the Monterey County District Attorneys Cold Case Task Force and Seaside Police Department reopened Phams case. Lanoue was identified as a suspect after advanced DNA testing was performed using evidence found on Phams remains. Astrea Forensics of Santa Cruz performed whole-genome sequencing that resulted in a DNA profile capable of being used to search genealogical databases. After investigators had the DNA match, Lanoue made a chilling confession, according to the DAs office. When interviewed by an investigator with the Cold Case Task Force on July 6, 2022, Lanoue admitted to picking up Pham as she was walking to school. He claimed not to remember killing her, but he acknowledged that he may have blocked it out of his memory. He admitted that he had a history of sexually assaulting young girls, prosecutors wrote. Last month, Lanoue pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping, committing a forcible lewd act on a child, forcible rape, and forcible sodomy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Seaside Police Department wrote a heartfelt letter to Anne on the same day that Lanoue entered his guilty plea. The SPDs letter read in part, Your sweet and innocent life was taken so soon. You deserved to live a long and vibrant life and a monster took that from you and everyone who loved you. When the Monterey County Cold Case Task Force formed, we knew good things would come. We caught him in 2022, Anne. Today, he admitted to his guilt and will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He can never hurt another child again. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. CARTHAGE, N.Y. (WWTI) A number of local law enforcement agencies arrested a 40-year-old man after conducting a search on a residence in Carthage. In a release from the Carthage Police Department, a search was conducted after receiving information that Joshua Constance was located at a Norris Avenue residence. Watertown man facing charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a child Constance was arrested on a number of warrants, including charges from the Carthage PD of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also had an active warrant for felony probation violation and a number of pending felony charges from the New York State Police. According to Carthage PD Chief John Poggi, Constance was located in the closet of the residence. The operation was joint venture between the Carthage PD, New York State Police and the Jefferson County Probation Department. State Police charged Constance with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree criminal possession of burglary tools. He was remanded to the Jefferson County Jail after being arraigned in Jefferson County CAP Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man was shot by an Arkansas trooper and officers after leading them on a high-speed car chase from Poinsett County to Crittenden County on Thursday. On Mar. 20, Poinsett County Sheriffs deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Joe Versie, 54, for reckless driving, and Harrisburg Police joined the pursuit before Arkansas State Police was requested. According to ASP in a press release, an ASP trooper ended the chase with a tactical vehicle intervention on I-55 near the 3-mile marker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fatal hit-and-run crash leaves one dead ASP said that while Versie was driving his Kia Sedona, he stopped in the median, and his car caught on fire. As officers were trying to put out the fire, he continued to remain in his vehicle, ignored commands, and started to move toward the rear doors. Versie told officers he had a weapon, and when he tried to reach for it the ASP trooper, PCSO, and HPD officers shot him. He was pronounced dead on the scene. ASP Troopers and other officers involved were not injured. Versie will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to confirm the manner and cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASP said that an investigative case file will be presented to the Crittenden County Prosecutors Office, which will determine whether the use of deadly force was consistent with Arkansas law. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the ASP is investigating this 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 WREG.com. Authorities are offering a $30,000 reward for information on the suspects who shot and killed a man while he was riding his bike home in Los Angeles County. On May 14, 2023, Jose Manuel Rangel, 32, was heading home after visiting his mother on Mothers Day. As he made his way across the Clara Street Bridge in Cudahy, he was suddenly approached by two male suspects. Its unclear what was said, but the situation quickly escalated into a physical altercation, according to investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the fight, one suspect pulled out a handgun and shot Rangel several times, killing him. Both suspects fled the scene on foot, heading westbound on the bridge. They remain at large. He was a loving son, uncle, brother and friend, said Sandra Rangel, a family member. The victim, Jose Manuel Rangel, 32, is seen in a photo provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. A press conference was held by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the victims family members on March 20, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.) A $30,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the suspects responsible for murdering Jose Manuel Rangel. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department) A press conference was held by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the victims family members on March 20, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.) When we got the call, it was unbelievable, said Juan Carlos Ponce, the victims brother. We just hope that if anybody has information regarding whats happened, please speak up. Put us at peace. I miss my mothers smile. Loved ones read a letter from the victims sister that said, Jose saved my life many times, but I wasnt there to save his life that day. So all I can do now is pray and have faith that someone would come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A press conference was held Thursday announcing a reward for information on the suspects responsible for the Rangels murder. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized a $20,000 reward and the city of Cudahy contributed an additional $10,000. The suspects are described as: A Hispanic male, 25-30 years old, between 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall. Last seen wearing a blue hat, surgical mask, black shirt and dark-colored jeans A Hispanic male, 25-30 years old, between 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall. Last seen wearing a black shirt and red shorts Homicide investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward, LASD said. Even the smallest detail could be crucial in bringing justice to Jose and his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the murder is encouraged to call the LASDs Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.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 KTLA. A 19-year-old man was found over a 1,000 miles away after police said he shot and killed a woman in Washington months ago. Cougar L. Devereaux Jr. was arrested March 18 in Greeley, Colorado, the Spokane Police Department said in a Facebook post. Devereaux is accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Maria Kapustin in the torso July 7 in Spokane, according to police and the Spokane County Medical Examiners Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said they responded that day to a possible drive-by shooting and found Kapustin with a gunshot wound. Devereaux had fled the scene but was later identified as a suspect in her death, police said. An arrest warrant for murder was issued for the man, and investigators learned he fled to another state, police said. He was found eight months later with the help of multiple agencies and will be extradited to Washington, police said. Man killed wife, shot and chased his friend before dying in crash, Ohio deputies say 18-year-old dies after hes shot at park during Senior Skip Day, Georgia deputies say Dad shot in chest in fight with another dad about their kids dating, Texas cops say YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- Detectives are investigating after a man was shot early this morning on the South Side. Lt. Mohammad Awad of the Detective Bureau said police found the man after police were called about 5 a.m. to the 500 block of East Lucius Avenue for gunfire. The man was found lying in the grass and taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center where he is in surgery. Awad said his condition is critical and police have not been able to speak to him yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Mid-South man plans to walk all throughout Memphis to raise money and awareness for World Down Syndrome Day. This is Joshua Greers 8th year walking to raise awareness. Greer plans to start at the Big River Crossing at 5:30 a.m. and stop at 21 well-known city attractions, ending at the World Down Syndrome Day Gala at 6 tonight. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. World Down Syndrome Day is held each year on March 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 21st is because those with Down Syndrome have three copies of the 21st chromosome. Thats why Greer sets out to walk 21 miles and raise $21,000. Greer says 100% of the proceeds will go to the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South. According to the CDC, Down Syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder affecting approximately one in 700 newborns each 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 WREG.com. SUTTON, W.Va. (WBOY) 12 News has received more information regarding the death of a woman whose body was found in Braxton County earlier this week, as well as the subsequent arrest of a man in connection to her death. Belinda Dawn Riffle According to a criminal complaint, on Monday, March 17, at around 3:38 p.m., West Virginia State Troopers were dispatched to the Kanawha Run area of Braxton County for a report of a dead body being found along Brushy Fork Road. When troopers arrived, they said they saw what appeared to be a dead woman who had been wrapped in plastic and placed face down approximately 15 feet from the road. The West Virginia State Police Crime Team was called in to process the scene and the body was transported to the Braxton County Memorial Hospital where she was identified as Belinda Dawn Riffle, 36. Christopher Lacy While troopers were investigating, they said they obtained access to Riffles cell phone records which revealed that her last-known location was at a residence at Grass Run Road in Burnsville; the residence of Christopher Lacy, 59. Records showed that Riffles last connection to WiFi was on Feb. 14 through the Starlink service provided by Lacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 persons of interest identified in Shinnston shooting Riffles phone records also revealed that she was in the Big Otter area of Clay County on Feb. 12. Troopers obtained witness statements from people in the area, which said that Riffle had shown signs of an overdose while at a residence there. Witnesses also said she was picked up and driven away from Big Otter by a male named Chris, according to the complaint. On Friday, March 21, troopers obtained a search warrant for Lacys residence and interviewed Lacy regarding Riffles whereabouts in February. Lacy allegedly told troopers that Riffle was at his residence from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14 and that on Feb. 14, he found Riffle slumped over and deceased inside his house. Lacy told troopers that after he found Riffle dead, he wrapped her body in a tarp, dragged her out of the residence, loaded her and her dog in the back of his car and drove around Braxton County until he could find a suitable location to dispose of her body, which is the location she was found in on Monday. Troopers said that Riffles dog was found on Feb. 15 in the area where her body was later discovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the interview, Lacy was placed under arrest and charged with concealment of a body and failure to render aid. He is currently being held in the Central Regional Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. WEST PALM BEACH The irony was impossible to overlook as Alex Reisch gleefully showed off his solar-powered superyacht moored just a few nautical miles from the home of the U.S. president who just a year ago ridiculed electric boats in one campaign rally after another. Reisch, a retired Philip Morris International executive, this week is displaying his 60-foot Sunreef Power Eco ultra-luxe catamaran at the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show. It's a promotional appearance hosted by Sunreef Yachts, a company with shipyards in Poland and the Arab Emirates. Because Sunreef's yachts are custom-made, the company showboats the vessels it has built for owners at events from Cannes to Monaco to South Florida. The manufacturer has moved into the superyacht class in recent years, and marketing spokesman Artur Pooczanski said the migration to Palm Beach County of one-percenters was exposure too good to pass up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's why Palm Beach is important to us as we're slowly shifting toward the super yacht end of the industry," he said. A catamaran with the coziness of a luxury chalet in the Alps Reisch was only too happy to guide visitors, prospective buyers and the just curious through the various decks of the tailored catamaran, called "Double Happiness," on a sun-splashed morning just after the boat show's gates opened to patrons on Thursday, March 20. The boat show opened Wednesday and continues through Sunday. Reisch beamed at the two, 120-kilowatt electric engines and the 330-kilowatt main battery pack he said is equal to those of six Teslas. He singled out the array of solar panels that are built into the yacht's sides so they are indistinguishable unless pointed out. Reisch, an Austrian, and his wife, who is from Switzerland, spent three days with a team from Sunreef explaining they wanted a sleek, alpine chalet-type look to the interior design. Alex Reisch happily showed off his electric-powered catamaran at the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show. Previous story: While promoting luxury yachts, Lech Walesa talks global politics, capitalism, Trump Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everything was chosen," he said. The couple selected two different types of teak wood flooring and ordered different AC units in the vessel. They also got all the comforts of a luxury getaway in the Alps a washer and dryer, a kitchen with a range plus a freezer and refrigerator, dishwasher, a grill on the top deck, a 45-bottle wine cellar and a cocktail bar. The sound system is segmented, too, allowing for TV watching in the living room, playing rap on the lounge deck and classical music in the staterooms, Reisch said. The yacht was built in Gdansk, Poland, in shipyards made famous by the 1980s anti-communist Solidarity labor movement led by Lech Walesa. Walesa has done promotional appearances for Sunreef, saying in a 2020 interview with The Palm Beach Post that in a post-Cold War world, he learned the value of helping private enterprises succeed. We had to start from scratch. We had to look for job opportunities and look for markets, Walesa said recalling the scramble for markets and sales to sustain employment after the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union imploded. And he added this prescient observation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ive said this a million times," Walesa offered. "Either the U.S. wants to lead, or they dont. Remember when Trump talked about choosing between electrocution or facing a shark on a sinking electric boat? A yacht at the Palm Beach International Boat Show sends a message with its name. 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show: Mega-yachts descend on West Palm Beach waterfront Not-so-subtle reminders of Palm Beach County's changing political hue were spotted here and there at the show along Flagler Street and the waterfront marinas in the West Palm Beach downtown. One yacht moored not far from Reisch's was named "Second Amendment" with two machine guns crossed. A merch stand in a market area stocked "Gulf of America: No Woke Zone" caps. Reisch recalled cruising by President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club and residence and said it looked grand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, however, made clear on the campaign trail that he was no fan of the kind of transportation Reisch has invested seven figures in. 1010 Hats unpacks new cranium apparel at their display booth during the opening day of the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show at the West Palm Beach City Docks and Palm Harbor Marina in downtown West Palm Beach on March 19, 2025. A vendor sells Gulf of America hats and other wares at the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show on the waterfront in West Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Trump mocked people who bought electric cars saying they would have to recharge every few miles. He heaped scorn on what he said were plans to use electric engines in everything from long-haul trucks to military tanks on the battlefield. In one particular stump soliloquy, he mused about having to choose between being electrocuted or eaten by a shark if he were on a sinking electric boat. Electric superyacht a money saver, owner says, and quiet relaxation Sunreef Yachts is among the boat builders displaying electric-powered yachts at the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show. Reisch suggested skeptics just go for a ride. "Once you charter an electric, you will never go back," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to saving thousands of dollars on fuel per trip, the big-ticket maintenance costs, so often rued by boat owners, are practically nil. The only major mechanical overhaul at 50,000 hours involves changing out the engines' eight bearings. The components, which are critical to power transmission and shaft alignment, run $100 apiece. "I said to myself, 'That sounds really reasonable,'" Reisch said. "It's not just good for the environment. It's good for your wallet." As for distance, Reisch's captain, Josh Hillary, said since the family took possession of the catamaran last June, they have sailed across the western Mediterranean with stops in Sardinia, Spain, France and Portugal. They also toured the Caribbean. "We've gone pretty far," he said. "And with a lot of ease." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pooczanski shrugged off the president's critique, noting that 50% of the demand for Sunreef boats is now for either pure electric or some form of hybrid. "Yeah, well, OK, but he is teaming up with a producer of electric cars, so ...," he said of Trump, who has assigned Tesla chief Elon Musk to slash the federal budget. Trump and his administration seem to have had a change of heart, for that matter. On March 11, Trump held a photo-op with Musk and several Tesla electric vehicles outside the White House to bolster the automaker amid a stock collapse and reports of plummeting sales. On Wednesday, March 19 Trump's commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, encouraged Americas to buy Tesla shares. Green, quiet and appealing to people in the United States? McLaren Indy driver Fernando Alonso has said he likes the sound and smells of a gas-powered, high-performance motor while racing, but not while vacationing. Alonso uses an electric-powered yacht, according to an electric-yacht owner. Pooczanski pointed out another favorable feature, the silence on the high seas from quiet engines. He related how one Sunreef customer, Formula I race car driver, Fernando Alonso, said he enjoyed the sound and smells of a gas-powered, high-performance motor while on the track when racing, but not while vacationing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is something that completely changes your point of view," Pooczanski said. "Because when you want to relax the last thing you want to hear is the noise of the engine, the generators, the fumes, the vibrations that come from the engine. You don't want all that." More telling, Pooczanski said, is the burgeoning market for Sunreef's electric catamarans, especially in the United States. The manufacturer's director of U.S. sales, Liza Kharoubi-Echenique, said she is seeing a surge in buyers from the 35-to-50 age group. She said the growing attention is not just owing to concern about the environment but also the family-friendly roominess of the catamaran, which is steadier on the high seas. And that interest includes people in locales in red Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am seeing more and more demand across the United States," she said. "And in Miami." Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump mocked electric boats, makers cruise in to Palm Beach boat show A Colorado mother accused of drugging and killing two of her children and fleeing the U.S. is fighting extradition, according to Gazette media partner KOAA. Kimberlee Singler, 36, is believed to have fled to the United Kingdom following accusations that she killed her 9-year-old daughter, Elianna "Ellie" Wentz, and 7-year-old son, Aden Wentz. Early on Dec. 19, 2023, officials with the Colorado Springs Police Department received reports of a violent burglary at the Palomino Ranch condominium complex. Officers discovered Singler and her 11-year-old child with minor injuries, and the bodies of the children. Investigators said the initial story of a burglar committing the murders began to fall apart. Then on Dec. 26, the department announced an active arrest warrant for Singler. A week later, authorities in London arrested Singler on multiple charges, including two counts of murder in the first degree and multiple charges of child abuse and assault. Singler has been in custody in London, and attending extradition hearings ever since. In January, a judge ruled that Singler could be extradited to face murder charges in the U.S. However, according to a report from a KOAA affiliate, Singlers attorney has appealed that ruling. Featured Local Savings The Associated Press has previously reported that her attorney's legal argument in these proceedings has been that to extradite her to the U.S. would violate European human rights law, in part, because she faces a sentence of life in prison without parole in Colorado if convicted of first-degree murder. Such a sentence would be considered inhumane under the European law, because it offers no prospect for release even if she is rehabilitated. According to the KOAA affiliate, the U.K.'s High Court must now rule on whether the appeal moves forward. If the appeal is unsuccessful, Singler would have the option of appealing to that nation's Supreme Court. It was not clear Thursday what the time frame of those legal proceedings might be. The Gazette previously reported that Singler was involved in a custody dispute at the time of the children's death. Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS. Marijuana enthusiasts brought their own weed to the Ohio Statehouse for a rally against Republican lawmakers looking to pass proposed restrictions on recreational policy. On a stressful day, Ashton Price knows she can have some relief. I realized that I no longer wanted to be on medication for my mental health, so I started looking into alternative resources, Price said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And she found cannabis, saying it changed her life for the better and wants more people to experience it. I felt called to do more, so now I do advocacy, she added. Thats why she joined the dozens of marijuana fans and industry experts at the Statehouse Wednesday to rally and educate about the states law. If you are 21 years old or older, you can smoke, vape, and ingest marijuana. Individually, you can grow six plants, but you can grow up to 12 plants per household if you live with others. You can have up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in all forms except for concentrates, which you can only have up to 15 grams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law gives the 10% tax revenue from each marijuana sale to four different venues: 36% to the social equity fund to help people disproportionately impacted by marijuana-related laws; 36% to host cities ones that have dispensaries; 25% to the states mental health and addiction services department; and 3% to the states cannabis control department. However, plants like the ones brought to the Capitol may be restricted under a Republican proposal. We need some common-sense safety protections for people in the state of Ohio, primarily for children, Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, said. Believing that the voters didnt actually know everything that they were voting for, McColley said that Senate Bill 56 should be signed into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate has already passed the legislation, which makes dozens of restrictions to cannabis access, but it most notably limits THC content and reduces home growing to six plants. THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid, would be capped at 100 milligrams per package. It also primarily reduces the allowable THC levels in adult-use extracts from a max of 90% to 70%. Any other type of marijuana product (like edibles) would be limited to 10mg per serving and 100mg per package. The Senate has eliminated the social equity fund in their proposal. The access that they voted for, their ability to go to licensed dispensaries and to purchase these products, is not changing at all in this legislation, the president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there is also House Bill 160, which is very similar but keeps home growing the same. House Finance Chair Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, disagrees with McColley on home grow saying its already been legal for two years, so it doesnt make sense to change it. In the real world, folks who are growing 12 plants today are not likely to grow less than 12 plants just because we passed a law at the Statehouse, Stewart said. But like the Senate, it reduces the THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, content in products. It primarily reduces the allowable THC levels in adult-use extracts from a max of 90% to 70%. Unlike the other chamber, the House would not limit the number of milligrams in a package, a closed container you would pick up at a dispensary. The Senate caps it at 100 milligrams per package and 10mg per individual serving, which is one edible inside a container of edibles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It keeps the excise tax at 10% but completely changes where the revenue goes. It would go directly into the marijuana receipts fund, which is created in the state treasurers office. It will be able to earn investment, and the state will be able to manage tax refunds as needed. Ohioans across the political spectrum told me they are angry and disappointed with Republican legislators trying to change the law. We asked Price, Do you think the changes that the lawmakers are proposing go against the will of the voters? Absolutely, she said. Its not a joke anymore Reefer Madness is gone, Weve gone back and forth with GOP leaders on why they think Ohioans didnt know what they were voting for. Click here to see their responses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In short, they dont think everyone read the ballot language. They also argue that because Issue 2 was voted on as an initiated statute, not a constitutional amendment, it allows them to make any changes they want. We have a running series of answering questions and concerns about weed. Earlier installments have focused on learning the basics of the law and then how to buy it back before open legal sales started in August 2024. Then, we answered questions on where to partake and then employment concerns. We have recently done stories about the Senates restrictive proposal and another about how to contact your lawmakers. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A group of U.S. Marines rescued a wounded civilian stranded without food and water in the middle of the California desert last month, according to a service release. While conducting a routine flight aboard a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter near Twentynine Palms, California, on Feb. 11, a crew of Marines assigned to the Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One, or VMX-1, spotted a green flag waving from a boulder below. At first, I wasnt sure what it was, but I asked the rest of the crew if they saw it, said crew chief Sgt. Conrad Kerr. When they didnt, we decided to take another pass to confirm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crew spotted a stranded off-road motorcyclist and quickly realized a swift intervention was needed. They landed their helicopter 500 meters from the individuals location. We train for scenarios like this, and everyone in the crew knows their role to execute the rescue efficiently, said pilot Maj. Dale Metcalf. Once landed, Kerr and Gunnery Sgt. Theodore Young, the lead crew chief, walked up the hillside toward the injured individual to assess the situation. He had been out there for almost two days, completely out of water and food, said Young. When we reached him, he was conscious but clearly exhausted and in pain. He told us he had been hoping someone would see him before it was too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Airman uses military training to rescue skier during trip to the Alps The man had broken his leg after flipping his motorcycle on an incline and as a result, he was unable to move himself to safety. The Marines stabilized the mans injuries and called range control at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, but were told by their chain of command that there were no available search-and-rescue personnel to assist. So the Marines took matters into their own hands, loading him into their King Stallion and flying him to the Marines Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. The motorcyclist was transported to the Yuma Regional Medical Center, with the stations Yuma Fire Department assisting in the medical efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man is expected to make a full recovery, according to the release. This mission reinforced the importance of vigilance and teamwork, said co-pilot Capt. Ryan Hogan. From spotting the distress signal to executing the rescue, the entire crew worked seamlessly to bring this individual to safety. The Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One is tasked with the operational testing and evaluation of the King Stallion, the Corps newest heavy-lift helicopter, according to the release. The King Stallion, first delivered to the Marine Corps in 2018, is capable of lifting 36,000 pounds and can move up to 27,000 pounds up to 110 nautical miles. In 2023, a King Stallion and its crew recovered a downed MH-60S Seahawk Navy helicopter in the Inyo National Forest, California. Matthew Johnson faced a judge in Gloucester Thursday after allegedly setting a fire inside the Market Basket last Friday night. Fire crews say they found two separate fires inside the grocery store while it was still open to customers. Fire crews found the fire inside a trash compactor as well as on a pallet of paper towels. The Gloucester Fire department had to use the jaws of life to open the trash compactor to put the flames out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, an employee of the Market Basket, is accused of setting the fire. Investigators say theres surveillance video of Johnson putting cardboard into that compactor and reaching into his pocket for something before bending over into the compactor shortly before the fire broke out. Johnsons attorney argues that multiple Market Basket employees were in that area around the same time, plus, she questions what materials were inside. Based on the police report there were multiple employees in front of that specific trash compactor as close to 8:30 as 8:08 PM when the manager was there and then another employee was in front of the trash compactor within a few minutes of that, said Johnsons defense attorney. It is common knowledge that sometimes whatever we put into containers like this could spontaneously combust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was injured by the fire, and the store was able to reopen the following day after passing multiple inspections. Bail was set at $5,000 and if he posts that, hell have to wear a GPS monitor and avoid going near the Market Basket. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Marlboro County sheriffs deputy has been suspended following a response to a domestic dispute in the McColl area. Authorities have not released the deputys name or any details about the incident, including when it took place, However, Sheriff Larry McNeil has asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to begin an investigation, his office said in a Facebook post on Friday. Sheriff McNeil remains committed to transparency and believes that, with SLED investigating, the matter it will be handled impartially, ensuring deputies are held accountable to the same standards as citizens, and eliminating the perception that law enforcement are above the law, thereby providing both parties with a sense of fairness, the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. FAIRFAX, Va. (DC News Now) The City of Fairfax Police Department said a man from Maryland was arrested for burgling a gaming store while in a Spiderman costume. On March 15, just after 11 a.m., officers responded to the Gaming Giant store, located at 4021 University Dr., for a burglary that happened overnight. Trump moves against Department of Education: What to know A man dressed as a Spiderman customer forced his way into the store and stole around $10,000 worth of merchandise, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was identified as 20-year-old Joel Brown, of Silver Spring, and was arrested. Brown was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with burglary. He was released on an unsecured bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Police are warning visitors to Maryland state parks after a slew of car break-ins. The Maryland Natural Resources Police are alerting visitors who are parking vehicles on the grounds to be ever-vigilant due to a rash of break-ins into cars and trucks. Maryland Natural Resources Police investigating multiple car breaks-in around state parks in western Maryland Authorities suspect this is an organized theft ring and they are working closely with the Washington County Sheriffs Office and other law enforcement in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Common targets are cellphones, checkbooks, wallets, purses, credit cards; things of that nature, Sgt. Seam Wiles with the Maryland Natural Resources Police, said. If you keep things out of view it may make your vehicle not so attractive a target. Keep it out of view and lock it up. Dont make yourself an easy target to one of these crimes. Police advise park visitors not to bring valuables to the parks and if you do take them with you or lock them up securely in your vehicle, out of view. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Federal officials are urging risk assessments for dozens of bridges across 19 states, saying the Maryland Transportation Authority failed to perform such an evaluation before the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed nearly a year ago. Baltimores Key Bridge fell apart on March 26, 2024, after a cargo ship passing underneath in the night struck a pillar. The accident killed six construction workers, and it took three months to remove the ship, the Dali, from the water. National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told reporters the Maryland Transportation Authority, or MDTA, "never ran" the recommended vulnerability assessment for the bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Had they ran the calculation on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the MDTA would have been aware that the bridge was almost 30 times greater than the risk threshold AASHTO sets for essential bridges," Homendy said, using the acronym for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. AASHTO developed the assessment in 1991, after the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa, Florida, collapsed. At the time, AASHTO recommended that bridge owners run the risk assessment, and the warning was reiterated in 2009, according to the NTSB. Baltimore's bridge was also built before 1994, when new bridges were required to be constructed to minimize the risk of a catastrophic collapse from a collision, according to the NTSB. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What's frustrating is that not only did MDTA fail to conduct the vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge, they did not provide nor were they able to provide the NTSB with the data needed to conduct the assessment," Homendy said. The cargo ship Dali after it ran into and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26, 2024. The NTSB said in the report that had the recommended calculations been made, the state agency could have taken proactive measures to reduce the danger of a bridge collapse. As of October, the Maryland Transportation Authority has also failed to conduct the assessment on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Homendy added. The Maryland Transportation Authority said in a statement that it is reviewing the NTSB's recommendations and that it maintains the deadly collision was solely the fault of the Dali and its owners and operators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As requested, the MDTA will provide an update to the NTSB within 30 days, which will include any action we intend to take based on our active evaluation of the pier protection systems, operational changes, and vessel transit procedures of the Bay Bridge," the statement said. It said the evaluation, which is being done using AASHTO methodology, was underway last fall when the NTSB requested it. Maryland officials last month revealed their designs for a new Baltimore bridge, which would stand taller than its predecessor. It is estimated to cost $1.7 billion and finish construction in 2028. Federal safety officials identified 68 bridges that still have unknown risk levels throughout the country and are urging their owners to conduct assessments immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The level of risk does not mean a bridge collapse is imminent, but it does provide guidance about what needs to happen to ensure safe travel, Homendy said. "Frankly, we have been sounding the alarm on this since the tragedy occurred. ... We need action," she said. "Public safety depends on it." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WASHINGTON (DC News Now) An internal medicine physician was convicted on Friday for operating a pill mill from his Washington, D.C. clinic, distributing hundreds of thousands of narcotics in exchange for cash. The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) said 65-year-old Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, M.D., of Upper Marlboro, was found guilty on more than 23 counts. Court documents: Man charged after barricade incident at CIA headquarters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Okafor operated Okafor Medical Associates, an internal medicine clinic in Northwest D.C., from May 2021 to April 2023. Law enforcement agencies from across the country noticed prescriptions from Okafor were connected to local drug trafficking networks, prompting an investigation by the USAO and FBI. Between Feb. 18, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2022, the FBI sent confidential sources and undercover agents to Okafor Medical Associates for walk-in appointments. Each person was prescribed opioids after brief exams, the USAO noted. Further investigation revealed he operated a nationwide drug distribution scheme, where he would prescribe opioids to people using false identities, who he knew would be diverting the medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Okafors scheme spanned at least 45 states and resulted in thousands of oxycodone and promethazine with codeine liquid prescriptions. Between April and November 2022 alone, Okafor distributed over 900 pills in 16 different cases. In exchange, he received over $3,500 in cash, according to court documents. Confirmed case of measles at Prince Georges County Montessori school The FBI and USAOs investigation resulted in the Drug Enforcement Agency suspending his registration number in September 2023 as he was deemed to be a threat to public health and safety. On March 21, 2025, he was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, maintaining drug-involved premises and unlawful distribution of controlled substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His sentencing is scheduled for June 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. BALTIMORE A state Senate committee voted Friday to stick to Maryland Gov. Wes Moores four-year pause on teacher collaborative time and maintain funding increases for community schools under the Blueprint for Marylands Future, diverging in policy from the House. If this is ultimately going to succeed and we are going to lift up every child, thats the place where thats going to happen, Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chair Guy Guzzone, a Howard County Democrat, said of community school funding after the voting session. Im not saying there wont be a time when we have to deal with scaling that back, pacing it in a different way, but I think we can hold for right now on that. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted on amendments to Moores Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act Friday morning, splitting policy proposed by the governor and the House, which has already passed the bill, down the middle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moores bill to alter the states landmark Blueprint for Marylands Future education reform policy, which he testified in favor of in 2020, originally proposed a two-year delay in funding increases for schools that receive Concentration of Poverty Grants or community schools and would have paused the implementation of teacher collaborative time for four years. Earlier this month, the House chamber voted to restore the funding increases for community schools and shorten the pause on collaborative time from four years to one. Guzzone, who offered the amendments to the bill Friday, said he prefers the term pacing over pause. Sen. J.B. Jennings, a Baltimore County Republican who sits on the Budget and Taxation Committee, said that, while they provided more cuts than the House, he doesnt think its enough to get us out of the perils were facing right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with The Baltimore Sun, Jennings praised Moore for the cuts he proposed in the bills original language. He was willing to do what others werent, Jennings said. The third rail of politics is education. No one wants to cut from it, but were always adding more and more and more to education funding-wise, and we have to slow it down some. In restoring the four-year delay in collaborative time implementation, the newly amended bill would reduce the amount of foundation spending per pupil because funding tied to collaborative time is baked into that formula. If passed, this per pupil decrease would not impact spending for special education, English learners or students most at risk of not succeeding academically, as well as those who attend the Maryland School for the Deaf, the Maryland School for the Blind or the SEED School of Maryland. Sen. Karen Lewis Young, a Frederick County Democrat, asked if committee staff knew the financial impact that the lowered spending per pupil would have on local boards of education. The answer was not immediately available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you, Lewis Young sighed. The amended bill would also lower the funding increases that the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, which provides mental health and wraparound services to students, to cap at $100 million annually. The reduction in compensatory spending would save $30 million each year. Additionally, under amendments to Moores bill adopted by the Senate committee, funding increases would freeze if Decembers revenue projections from the Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates decrease by $850 million or if federal funds decrease by $712 million, respectively. A combined decrease in revenue projections and federal funding that flows into the state equal to at least $1.2 billion would also trigger a freeze in funding increases. The education policy aspects of the bill need to be amended by the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee before the bill can be debated by the full chamber. _____ The person accused of killing two people in Colorado last year before fleeing the state appeared in court on Friday, where an El Paso County judge denied a motion to limit pretrial publicity. Johnny Rankin Morris, 46, faces homicide charges for allegedly causing the deaths of Stephen Walker, 37, and Timmy Huston, 65. According to previous Gazette reporting, on Dec. 19 Walker and Morris were reported missing after law enforcement discovered pools of blood at their residence on the 1800 block of Pima Drive in El Paso County just east of Colorado Springs. After several days, the investigation led to a wooded site outside of El Paso County, where Walkers body was found. Huston's body was found earlier in a nearby residence in Park County. Evidence showed the known occupant of that residence had at least indirect ties to Morris and Walker, officials said. Morris was arrested in Pear River County, Miss., in December along with 43-year-old Hailey Cole after a call came in about an attempted car break-in. Cole is listed as an occupant of the residence where Huston's body was found. Featured Local Savings At Friday's hearing, Morris' attorney Savannah Fox discussed a motion to limit pretrial publicity. Specifically, Fox asked the judge to prohibit law enforcement and the District Attorney's Office from speaking with media about the case. Judge David Prince denied the motion, stating he didn't believe the current level of media covering the case created prejudice for Morris, but added that he would be willing to discuss the issue further in the future. Morris faces 11 charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, tampering with a human body, aggravated robbery and more. Morris faces a second homicide case in Park County, but Joseph Eden said he expects the case to be dismissed next week so it can be tried in El Paso County. Cole faces criminal charges in Park County on charges related to the death of Huston and is slated to appear in court on Monday for a hearing. Morris and Cole remain in custody, Morris on a no-bond hold and Cole on a $5 million bond, according to court records. Morris will return to court on May 30 for a preliminary hearing. Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russia launched a mass drone attack against the southern city of Odesa overnight on March 20-21, injuring three people and damaging civilian infrastructure, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper reported. The attack injured three people, including a minor, Kiper said. The governor provided no further details about the victims or the status of their injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drone strike caused a series of "powerful fires" and triggered emergency blackouts in three districts, Kiper reported. The attack also damaged civilian infrastructure in Odesa, including a residential high-rise building, a shopping center, and several shops. The massive attack on Odesa's infrastructure comes two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a partial "ceasefire" that would halt all attacks on Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure for 30 days. Odesa, a port city on Ukraine's Black Sea coast with a population of around 1 million and a historic city center, has been a frequent target of Russian drone and missile attacks throughout the full-scale war. Read also: Putins ceasefire Is Russia still bombing Ukraine? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BOSTON (WWLP) A man from Dracut was sentenced to prison for a fraud scheme involving online sales of cosmetics. The Department of Justice in Boston said 23-year-old Nick Ashtar-Zadeh along with his brother operated Amazon and eBay stores that offered various products for sale, including the products of a cosmetics company in Texas between 2019 and 2021. The scheme involved selling these products at or below the companys list prices. The brothers enrolled the buyers in the companys 30-day trial program for the same products without their knowledge which would cause the company to ship its products to those buyers for a trial period. Boston Celtics sold for largest amount ever in sports franchise history Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the enrollment for these orders, the Ashtar-Zadeh brothers fulfilled initial charges of $19.95 to the company. Once the buyers kept the products past 30 days, they declined the companys attempt to charge later installments. Hundreds of buyers on Amazon and eBay were sold products by the brothers who each time pocketed the difference between what the buyers paid them and the initial $19.95 upfront payment to the company. As a result, cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. In September 2024, Nick Ashtar-Zadeh and his brother Nika Ashtar-Zadeh were charged with carrying out this scheme to obtain products from an online cosmetics company through fraud and to resell those products on Amazon and eBay for a profit. They both pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Nick Ashtar-Zadeh was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $181,806 in restitution and forfeiture of $111,156. Nika Ashtar-Zadeh is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21st. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. (WWLP) A man from West Stockbridge was sentenced to prison in connection with sexual abuse charges involving two children. The Berkshire County District Attorneys Office said an investigation was conducted in January 2024 of 33-year-old Frank Twing, Sr. and his wife, Haley Twing of West Stockbridge. As a result of this investigation, Frank and Haley Twing, were arrested by the Massachusetts State Police. Holyoke police arrest Chicopee man, seize firearm after student enticement allegation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news release by the U.S. Attorneys Office in New York, Frank Twing admitted that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old child during which he created sexually explicit videos depicting that child. He also admitted to traveling from his home in Massachusetts to New York, planning to have sex with an approximately 12-year-old child. Frank Twing was charged in Massachusetts with the following 2 counts of aggravated statutory rape, 2 counts of posing a child for sexual photos 1 count of trafficking a person for sexual servitude Haley Twing has been charged in Massachusetts with the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4 counts of posing a child for sexual photos 2 counts of statutory rape 1 count of possession of child pornography In New York, Frank Twing pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child involving a then 15-year-old victim and one count of travel with intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct involving an approximately 12-year-old victim. On Tuesday he was sentenced to for the New York crimes in Albany Federal Court to 25 years in Federal Prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release. District Attorney Shugrue stated, I commend the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to my Office for their dedicated investigation into Frank Twings crimes. Their work was critical to the US Attorneys Office successful outcome in this case. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The News President Donald Trump has threatened to take down Rep. Thomas Massie before. Now hes trying again, at the peak of his power in the GOP and might even succeed this time. It all depends on how much effort Trump and his allies want to put into finding a worthy opponent for the Kentucky Republican congressman and whether its worth the effort ahead of a 2026 midterm campaign that will surely threaten Republicans control of the House. Massie provoked Trump last week by casting the lone Republican vote against the partys government funding plan, sending the president to social media to declare that HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED. Since then, Trumps former co-campaign manager has taunted Massie, as the eccentric yet popular Kentuckian revealed his fundraising totals have spiked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has vowed to topple GOP lawmakers before, with varying degrees of ultimate investment and success. He backed a successful challenger to former Rep. Bob Good, the onetime Freedom Caucus chair who initially endorsed Trump rival Ron DeSantis in 2024. But the partys ranks are peppered with incumbents, from Rep. Laurel Lee to now-Senate Majority Leader John Thune, whove drawn Trumps wrath and later earned his favor (or who defeated the foe he backed, like Sen. Lisa Murkowski). And unlike in 2020, there is a more serious behind-the-scenes push to find a challenger well ahead of the primary. The difference this time: the best candidate will be recruited locally, a person familiar with the push to oust Massie told Semafor, adding that the congressmans critics dont want him to be able to say his primary challenger was handpicked in Washington. Although Massie hasnt faced the full might of Trumps base in a primary before, his objections to a pandemic aid bill in 2020 caused the then-president to say he should be evicted from the Republican Party. Massie drew a primary opponent that year, Todd McMurtry, who he easily defeated; he criticized McMurtry for alt-right social media posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time around, Massies adversaries hope a better recruit, with Trumps endorsement and financial backing, might increase their chances of beating him. But the incumbent doesnt sound worried about an onslaught that he said has shown off his independence from Trump and boosted his conservative cred. The accusation theyre making against me actually reinforces the base that I have in Kentucky, Massie told Semafor. So what they do is, they try to run to the Trump of me, instead of to the right of me. Know More Another person familiar with the push to defeat Massie said his foes ideal candidate would hail from the district and have crossover appeal to MAGA loyalists, as well as to Reagan-era Republicans disenchanted with Massies libertarian leanings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres an attempt to primary the 54-year-old Massie, Trump will likely have allies against him. The Republican Jewish Coalition has vowed to join Trump in supporting an intraparty opponent, a sign of frustration with Massies resistance to what he has called excessive US support for Israel. And the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has already vowed to spend against Massie if he tries to run for retiring Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnells seat. (Massie hasnt publicly aired any interest in that campaign.) A big wild card is Trump himself, and whether he might change his mind again about Massie. The president endorsed Massie in 2022, when his primary challenger didnt break 16%, before later turning on him this year. Massie is formidable, even with Trump and others having him in their crosshairs, former Kentucky secretary of state Trey Grayson, who lost a GOP primary to Massie ally Sen. Rand Paul in 2010, told Semafor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is obviously the best opportunity for someone to run against him, but its still a big challenge, Grayson added. Kadias view The question isnt whether Trump wants Massie gone but whether hell throw the full weight of his power against a fellow Republican while juggling so many other priorities. Trump may simply care more about the heavy lift of getting his agenda through the House than ending Massies career. And its not like Massies vote against the funding bill was a surprise. He opposed the GOP leaderships preferred budget and stood firm as the only no vote on House Speaker Mike Johnsons reelection in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Love him or hate him, Massie sticks to his positions. That has earned him respect in the Republican conference, as well as plenty of pro-Trump friends. Room for Disagreement If you ask Massie, Trump isnt even necessarily serious about supporting a primary opponent. Why? Because the congressman, no matter how obstreperous he may be when it comes to defying leadership, is a proven winner. He doesnt like to back losers, Massie said. And so even though hes saying he would get in the race against me I think it was more of a threat than a promise. Notable NEW YORK (PIX11) Mayor Eric Adams has appointed Randy Mastro to be New York Citys new first deputy mayor. Mastro takes over the position previously held by Maria Torres-Springer, who announced her resignation in February. More Local News Torres-Springer was among four high-level officials in the Adams administration who resigned after expressing concerns about the mayors relationship with the Trump administration, according to sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an exclusive interview Thursday with PIX11s Dan Mannarino, Mastro said he is not concerned about Adams ability to stand up to the Trump administration. I know this mayor. I know hes not afraid to speak up. Hes a person of conviction. And I dont see a future where he wont speak up when the city needs defending. Were here to do one thing: act in the best interest of the city, and thats what we are going to do, Mastro said. Mastro was previously Adams pick to be New York Citys top lawyer, but Mastro withdrew his nomination last year after a New York City Council confirmation hearing where he believes he wasnt given a fair shot with the line of questioning. I went through a grueling public hearing process. I must really want to serve, Mastro said. As I told the City Council speaker then, and now Ill have the chance to prove it that was then, this is now Im going to work with you in the best interest of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mastro also previously served as deputy mayor for operations and chief of staff to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani from 1994 to 1998. Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than six years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) warned on Thursday that the Trump administration would significantly weaken NATO if the United States were to give up military leadership of the alliance for the first time in its 75-year history. Weakening American leadership wont strengthen NATO or U.S. interests. If were serious about encouraging more capable European allies, retreating from our position as the leader of the trans-Atlantic alliance would be an odd way to show it, McConnell said in a statement Thursday afternoon. He issued the remarks after NBC News reported that the Pentagon is looking at restructuring the nations combatant commands and is studying a proposal for the United States to give up its long-held role as NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell warned at a press conference in Kentucky earlier this week that Russia and its allies, including China, continue to pose a serious risk to U.S. interests. What we want to avoid here is a headline that says Russia Wins and America Loses, McConnell told local reporters on the same day President Trump had a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He called on Congress to increase defense spending and for the United States to increase its commitment to NATO. A way of looking at this worldwide competition at this particular juncture in our history: Its the authoritarians versus the democrats, he said. Obviously, the Democrats need to be more aggressive. That includes increasing NATO spending more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) also pushed back on the possibility that the United States might give up military command of NATO. We are very concerned about reports that claim [the Defense Department] is considering unilateral changes on major strategic issues, including significant reductions to U.S. forces stationed abroad, absent coordination with the White House and Congress, they said in a joint statement. While the GOP chairs said they support Trumps efforts to prod European allies to increase their defense spending, they warned that Congress must be a part of any major changes to combatant commands. We will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress, they warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Thursday that President Trump is committed to using legal measures to dismantle the Department of Education. I think he was correct in saying that we were going to do everything legally. Thats what he has said to me from the very beginning, McMahon said during an appearance on Fox Newss Special Report with Bret Baier. He would like for me to move as swiftly as we can, because he believes the sooner that we can close the department, the more efficiently we can have funds distributed to the states, and perhaps they will even have more funding when there isnt the overhead on bureaucracy from the Department of Education, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump signed a Thursday executive order seeking to pull apart the functions of the department, the brainchild of former President Carter. Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them. Today, American reading and math scores are near historical lows, Trump wrote. This years National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that 70 percent of 8th graders were below proficient in reading, and 72 percent were below proficient in math. The Federal education bureaucracy is not working, he added. However, White House officials have confirmed they will wait for congressional approval before the department is eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want Congress to be a partner in this. And I believe they will be, because both sides of the aisle know that what is happening to education in our country cannot be allowed to stand, because we are failing our students, McMahon told Baier. Republicans hold the majority in both the House and the Senate and could gain the votes needed to approve the departments closure. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has already promised to introduce legislation regarding the fulfillment of the executive order, while President Trump has promised to reassign Title I funds and Pell Grants to other agencies for oversight. His efforts follow that of former President Reagan, who first aimed to dismantle the department in 1981 but later settled for large cuts to the federal education budget. Trump said the Department of Educations closure would rid the nation of federal bureaucracy. Carter originally said creating the oversight would accomplish the same goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of setting a strong administrative model, the Federal structure has contributed to bureaucratic buck passing. Instead of stimulating needed debate of educational issues, the Federal Government has confused its role of junior partner in American education with that of silent partner, Carters said when signing the Department of Education bill into law. The time has passed when the Federal Government can afford to give second-level, part-time attention to its responsibilities in American education. The former president sought to standardize education across the country. Congress signed off on the departments creation to ensure access to equal educational opportunity for every individual. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Trump this week appointed Josh F.W. Cook as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in California and the Pacific Southwest, making him one of the Golden State's most prominent new climate officials. Cook, who lives in Chico, will be responsible for implementing and enforcing federal environmental laws in Region 9, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands and 148 tribal nations. His appointment comes as the state and region grapple with worsening climate issues such as extreme heat, devastating wildfires and a water crisis on the Colorado River. "Josh Cook is the right person we need to lead Region 9," Lee Zeldin, Trump's head of the EPA, said in a statement. "He understands the unique nature of the Pacific Southwest and will be a great addition to the EPA team. Josh's talent working with state and local partners will be paramount to power the great American comeback across our regions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Cook's appointment also comes as Zeldin and Trump downplay the urgency of climate change and make allowances for industries that rely on planet-warming fossil fuels. Zeldin recently announced plans to repeal or weaken more than two dozen environmental regulations that govern air and water quality as well as other environmental issues, while Trump has touted ramping up the country's production of polluting coal and oil. Read more: How the EPA's environmental about-face could upend California's climate efforts In response to a request for an interview, Cook's team said he was not immediately available. In a written statement, he said he was "humbled and honored to take on such a meaningful assignment from President Trump and Administrator Zeldin." "While focusing on the core competencies of clean water, land, and air, EPA Region 9 will lead the way in reducing energy costs, creating wealth, and cementing America's position as a leader in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, AI technology, and transportation," Cook said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cook comes to the EPA after various roles in government and politics, including serving as chief of staff to the minority caucus in the California Legislature and in advisory positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior. He has been an advisor to the Tribal Council of the Mooretown Rancheria of Concow Maidu Indians for 26 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. "The U.S. has treaty and trust obligations to clean up toxic sites, increase access to clean water, and create working partnerships with Americas Indian nations," tribal Chair Benjamin Clark Jr. said in a statement. "We have trusted Josh in our efforts to return native hands to work on native lands and unlock the incredible wealth nature has always provided Native people when we take the lead." Cook spent 10 years as chief of staff for former California state senator and gubernatorial candidate Brian Dahle (R-Bieber). Reached by phone, Dahle described Cook as a "good guy and a good family man," and said he had ample experience helping manage some of the state's worst environmental crises, including the Oroville Dam spillway crisis of 2017 and the deadly Camp fire in Butte County in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think he'll be able to step into the role," Dahle said. "It's a big territory I don't know outside of California the issues that other states have, but I do know that we have a lot of stuff going on here in California. I'm excited to have somebody from California actually be the pick." Read more: Musk team targets nearly two dozen environmental offices for closure in California Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), who has publicly questioned the science behind human-caused climate change and has sponsored bills geared toward looser environmental restrictions, is one of Cook's biggest champions. In particular, LaMalfa has supported increased logging and forest management to reduce wildfire risks helping to garner him a 0% rating from environmental advocacy group the League of Conservation Voters. Cook has in part credited LaMalfa for his EPA appointment. "Super grateful to Rep. Doug LaMalfa who weighed in for me and is already working to make real change as fast as possible," Cook wrote in a post on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have worked with Josh Cook for more than three decades, he is a great leader, and I look forward to supporting his work with Administrator Zeldin at the EPA as they systematically implement the long overdue regulatory reforms for the western States," LaMalfa said in a statement. Environmental groups largely said that given Cook's limited track record, they don't have a feel for where he stands on core issues. However, Melissa Romero, a policy advocacy director with California Environmental Voters, said she worked with Cook on several occasions during his time in the Legislature and described him as a "conservationist at heart [who] cares about the state's natural landscape." "While we may not have always agreed on policy, he would always listen and he was always willing to engage and brainstorm solutions with people," Romero said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, Cook served as city administrator for Biggs, a town of some 1,700 residents in Butte County. In January, he was fired from the role over breach of contract, as first reported by local news site Action News Now. Records reviewed by The Times show that Cook had made whistleblower complaints against members of the City Council over allegations of extortion, campaign spending violations and retaliation, among other concerns, which were later deemed unsubstantiated by a city-retained investigator. Cook replaces former EPA Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman, who was appointed by President Biden. Another of his predecessors, Mike Stoker, was appointed during the first Trump administration but was abruptly dismissed from the job in 2020. At the time, Stoker said the dismissal was because he was too friendly with Democrats. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Colorado State Patrol troopers found and arrested a man alleged to have assaulted a family member Thursday morning in Colorado Springs nearly 130 miles away. Officers were called to the 2600 block of East Dale Street by East Platte Avenue in east Colorado Springs around 6 a.m. Thursday after receiving a call about a family disturbance. They found a man inside the house claiming he was just assaulted by a family member. The man told police he was injured in the assault and the family member drove off before officers arrived. The man was taken to a local hospital for his injuries. Around noon, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Colorado Springs resident Dawson Flagerholm. About three hours later, Flagerholm was contacted by Colorado State Patrol Troopers near Trinidad a two-hour drive south from Colorado Springs. Flagerholm was taken into custody without incident and booked into the El Paso County Jail. He is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault, robbery and false imprisonment. Editors Note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter. It was horrifying every time it happened, every time Kylie Briests father choked on his food and started to turn blue, every time her mom, Jenny, sprang out of her own dinner chair to attempt the Heimlich maneuver on her husband. Kylie lost count of the number of times shed called 911, making quick explanations to the operator while her mind was spinning in the background: wondering if her dad would survive this night, hoping the neighbors were home so she could send her little brother, Connor, over. That way Kylie could shield him from the things she had to see, and do, and wonder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kylie was only 3 when a roadside bomb in Iraq left her father, Corey, with injuries so severe they told Jenny to plan his funeral. So this version of him the version that cant always swallow properly, or see, or walk on his own, or speak clearly is all shes known. VA plans to expand caregiver benefits, postpone program discharges Shes grown up at his bedside, from the time she was a toddler helping the nurses add Daddys medication to his feeding tube to helping carry his wheelchair up the stairs of her sorority house at the University of South Dakota so he wouldnt miss out on parent visitation day. This is just life for us, Kylie said. This is what we do. Kylie Briest, right, and her brother, Connor, left, grew up helping their mom, Jenny, care for their father, Corey, who was severely injured by a roadside bomb during a deployment in Iraq. (Photo by Jessica Nelson, JD Photography) The experience felt isolating, especially when she was younger. Kids at school look at you differently just because your dad shows up to things differently than their dad shows up, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Kylie wasnt as alone as she thought. About 2.3 million American kids are living with a disabled veteran in their home a number researchers said is likely an undercount. These injured service members and veterans are often called wounded warriors; their caregivers more recently earned the nickname hidden heroes. And their children? The ones who babysit siblings during VA appointments; the ones who comfort their parents, saying everything will be OK; the ones who clean the house or tiptoe around it while someone is sleeping, or medicated or in a PTSD-triggered rage they are what the Elizabeth Dole Foundation calls hidden helpers. Despite their numbers, military caregiving kids are often left out of the conversation on how our country takes care of those who served. They are rarely studied and often excluded from support programs. There are few platforms designed to connect or inform them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, President Donald Trumps campaign to slash federal spending is raising alarm over long-held veterans services and benefits dampening the prospects for disabled veterans families already left behind. The War Horse set out to tell the stories of three of those families. The Briests live in Yankton, South Dakota. Sisters Kimmy Fix and Delany White live in North Carolina. And Rachel, Charlie, Mark, Michael and Molly are in Northern Virginia. They wanted to share their stories as a comfort to other hidden helpers and their families: to show them theyre not alone and to hopefully make a difference for the ones who come next. All that we can do, Kylie said, is continue to try to make our stories and voices heard. Unseen, unrecognized, unsupported Kylie doesnt feel cheated or robbed by fate. She loves her family and her dad just the way he is. My dad has never been a burden, she says. He never will be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she recognizes that growing up, her path could have been made smoother. It would have been helpful to have been provided with counseling, she said, and some respite care that didnt require admitting Corey to the VA an hour away for the day. A way to connect with kids in similar situations. If I would have had these connections sooner, I think that would have made me a stronger person, Kylie said. Kylie was only 3 when she started helping care for her father. (Photo courtesy of Briest family) Hidden helpers provide services that are unseen, unrecognized and unsupported, according to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, one of the few organizations to focus on children and young siblings of wounded veterans. It partnered with the research consultant Mathematica on a 2021 study that found these children want more support and have trouble getting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of formal support and connection comes at a social, emotional and psychological cost, the limited research into military caregiving kids found. Child caregivers sometimes feel stigmatized and isolated, have fewer social opportunities, experience difficulties expressing emotion and learning in school and have more health problems such as stress, burnout and fatigue. The stress of navigating multiple, complex systems and bureaucracies to get care for a spouse trickles down to kids in the household, taking a toll on their own mental health and ability to focus and perform in school, the report found. There has been a slow culture shift within the VA of acknowledging the role of the family in caring for a wounded veteran, experts say. Support, once focused entirely on the service member, is now more likely to incorporate a caregiving spouse or other primary caregiver. But children in the household remain largely overlooked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would say when we started [VA support] was veteran only, like, there was no care in the world for family at all, said Jenny Briest. Its taken time but they are [now] including the caregiver. The kids? No. None. Nothing. Second place sibling Children who are also caregivers are sometimes forced to grow up much faster, for better or worse. The experience of caring for a parent builds them into stronger, more responsible people. But it can chip away at childhood. I do think sometimes we paint over the challenges by saying its going to make them resilient, so therefore everythings OK, said Steven Malick, one of the Mathematica researchers who contributed to the report. As if the experience of trauma is somehow virtuous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider Delany White, an eighth grader who lives near Raleigh, North Carolina. At 14, shes one of nine kids, but as the youngest by far, she feels like an only child. Except for Kimmy. Delany White, left, has grown up caring for her sister Kimmy, right, a medical corps service captain who was disabled in a crash. Delany, Kimmy and their sister Elle enjoy gardening at the family home in Apex, North Carolina. (Photos by Kaitlin McKeown, The News & Observer) Kimmy Fix is 22 years older than her youngest sister, but their roles can feel reversed. When they get ready for church together, Delany does Kimmys hair and makeup. Delany also runs over an extra pair of pants if Kimmy needs them changed, holds her hand if shes getting too aggravated and helps her transfer in and out of her wheelchair. Kimmy, a medical corps services captain in the Army, was injured in a highway accident on her way home from a Hail and Farewell, shortly after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan. She was in a coma for over a year and emerged gradually, axon by axon it seemed to her large family. That was almost 11 years ago, when Delany was a toddler. Shes grown up helping to take care of her eldest sister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were times Delany went to school exhausted because Kimmys oxygen levels had dipped overnight and theyd all been up, watchful and worried. Sometimes she didnt make it to school at all, because her parents needed to attend to Kimmy and there would have been no one to pick her up. I feel like having more understanding teachers or understanding admin in my school, but also having connections with other kids who go through the same stuff, who maybe have the same worries or the same responsibilities, that would have made it a lot easier, Delany said. Delany knew it wasnt true, but sometimes she felt like she was in second place when it came to their parents attention. But she understood. Kimmy needed them more. The coin-toss dad For much of their childhoods, Mark and his half-brother Michael didnt understand the difference in Charlie. The way he treated them, the way he yelled, the unpredictability it just felt unfair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was always a flip of a coin as to which dad would show up that day. The one that spent hours having a catch in the backyard could at any moment be replaced by the dad who sunk into the beer-sticky funk of the basement couch for days at a time, chucking empty cans into an overflowing trash bin. Rachel and Charlie in 2010 after one of his deployments. (Family photo) Charlie had been an active duty Marine, a multisport athlete, a bodybuilding champion at the University of South Carolina, a lawyer in two states, a firefighter and an adrenaline junkie who rode bulls for fun. But tours in Afghanistan and Iraq left him with a traumatic brain injury, severe PTSD and a busted spine that caused chronic pain. Back in Virginia, Charlie had sunk into alcohol abuse and depression. Going out in public was like navigating a minefield. Any misperceived comment, any sudden movement, and Charlie could explode. Charlies family requested their last names not be published to protect their privacy. It took a lot of a mental toll on him, in my opinion, not being able to be the man that he was, said his stepson Mark, now 26. It fell on Mark, he said, to keep the house up to Charlies exacting standards. Mark remembered being in elementary school and not being allowed to go to bed until he finished the dishes, so he just lay down underneath the dining room table a sort of exhausted protest. As he got older, Michael, who just turned 18, taught himself to cook beef and broccoli, butter chicken and curries so the family wouldnt have to eat Dominos on days when his dad was too dispirited or couldnt muster the energy to make a meal. Michael, Rachel, Molly, and Mark celebrate the end of the high school football season at an awards ceremony at Colonial Forge High School in January 2025. (Family photo) And as both boys got bigger, they learned how to protect Charlie from himself. Along with their sister,Molly, they learned how to talk him down, distract him, lead him away or make themselves barriers between Charlie and whatever threat he perceived. The enemy may have existed only in Charlies mind. But his kids grew up learning how to fight it. Caring for invisible wounds Young caregivers said they wished they had better information about their parents injuries, especially when it comes to invisible wounds like the ones Charlie struggles with that can affect behavior, cognition and emotions. Michael said having a better understanding of PTSD and traumatic brain injuries would have helped him be more understanding and empathetic. Now he thinks Charlie and veterans like him are trying to grip the version of themselves they used to be grasping at themselves but always closing their fists around shadows. Those invisible wounds require a whole different type of caregiving that I dont think people are really recognized for yet, said their mom, Rachel. Michael learned to cook for the family, mastering meals like buffalo chicken dip and beef and broccoli. (Family photo) In fact, when she applied to enroll in VAs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, targeted toward veterans who need significant help with self-care, she was denied. I dont give him a bath, I dont put on his socks, but I do safety and protection and they discounted it completely, she said. I think the VA needs to step up and take care of their families. Bipartisan bill still faces uphill battle Neither of VAs caregiver support programs include children. A VA spokesperson wrote in January that there are no plans to expand their offerings to reach hidden helpers, but pointed out that a proposed federal rule modifying the program Rachel had applied to was open for public comment. Military caregiving families did not weigh in en masse for inclusion of children; by the time the public comment period closed, only a few of the rules 842 public comments made mention of minors. Hidden helpers do have some muscle behind them. Sens. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, and John Boozman, an Arkansas Republican, reintroduced the Helping Heroes Act in late February, which would establish a family support program, designate family coordinators at every VA medical center and help connect military caregiving families with resources. The act would also require the VA to collect data on these families experiences, the better to understand and respond to their needs. So far, long-term data doesnt exist. A spokesperson for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation said the act would be a huge deal, requiring the VA, for the first time, to target military caregiving families with programs and services. There is bipartisan agreement that the VA can help connect these families with programs and networks that provide exactly this type of assistance and break down barriers for these hidden helpers, Boozman said in an email to The War Horse. But with VA entangled in a massive downsizing, there is skepticism over the fate of a bill that is being introduced this session for a third time. Shaped me for the better Despite the many hardships of young caregivers, they say their experiences have made them strong, compassionate and selfless. Kylie Briest has made a profession of caregiving. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2023 and works as a NICU nurse. Shes not just good with the tiny babies who need her help. She knows how to take care of the whole family. Her brother, Connor Briest, just joined the same National Guard unit their father was in. Hes seen Dad sacrifice everything, he knows the cost, and for him to still sign up to be in the same unit and to carry out that oath I think its pretty awesome, said their mom, Jenny. Connor and Corey celebrate graduation from basic training at Fort Jackson in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Briest family) Delany in North Carolina said taking care of Kimmy has made her kinder, more empathetic and more observant always primed to notice if someone needs help. I definitely think its shaped me for the better, she said, able to see that kind of struggle and also have the courage to help. In Virginia, Michael started a club at his school for kids like him, who care for wounded warrior parents. He wants them to know theyre not alone. Michael has been deeply affected by the power of stories hes heard from military veterans like his dad, and he wants to play a role in keeping them alive. Maybe hell teach military history, maybe hell join the fight himself. Hes thinking of enlisting in the Navy. Someone has to do it, he said. Thats a motto hes taken from caregiving. There is dinner to cook and dishes to wash. There are stories to remember and tell. There are people to take care of. Someone has to do it. This War Horse story was reported by Jennifer Brookland, edited by Mike Frankel, fact-checked by Jess Rohan, and copy-edited by Mitchell Hansen-Dewar. Hrisanthi Pickett wrote the headlines. The post Members of British Punk Band UK Subs Detained and Denied Entry into US appeared first on Consequence. British punk pioneers UK Subs have revealed that three band members were denied entry into the US over the weekend. Bassist Alvin Gibbs shared his account of the incident in a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday. Gibbs, guitarist Marc Carrey, and drummer Stefan Haublein were all detained by immigration officers, while vocalist Charlie Harper was granted entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This left Harper to perform their scheduled appearance at LA Punk Invasion 2025 with a lineup of stand-in musicians while his bandmates were deported back to the UK. In the post, Gibbs stated he was flagged for questioning upon landing in Los Angeles with his partner, and informed he lacked the proper visa. Gibbs added that there was an undisclosed issue raised by the officer, which he speculated might be related to his bands criticism of President Trump. Im now wondering if my regular and less than flattering public pronouncements regarding their president and his administration were a factor; or maybe thats just me succumbing to paranoia, he wrote. Gibbs was then escorted to a very cold holding pen in another part of LAX, where Carrey and Haublein were already detained. My luggage, phone and passport were all taken from me, he shared, noting that he was called for a second interview at 4:00 a.m. several hours after landing at 7:00 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being held for 25 hours without sleep, Gibbs was finally released and reunited with his partner, Roz. Although not being something Id want to replicate, it was actually an educational experience, Gibbs concluded. Im kind of proud of myself for being thrown out of America at the age of 67, now knowing that my relationship with that country is over for the foreseeable future. Earlier this month, the French government said a researcher was denied entry into Texas and deported because his phone contained texts expressing his personal opinion about the Trump administrations science policy. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security has since issued a statement claiming the researcher was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory in violation of a nondisclosure agreement something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read the full post below: Some of you might have seen posts on UK Subs websites, which provide photos and video of a random line-up playing with Charlie at a Los Angeles Punk festival at the weekend. You might therefore be wondering how come? Well, the truth is that Stefan, Marc and I were all denied entry into the USA whilst somehow perhaps he used a Jedi mind trick, or, more likely, caught an immigration officer at the end of their shift eager to get home Charlie managed to get in. Having already been on a plane for 11 hours, upon my partner Roz and I arriving at the immigration booth we were beckoned to, we were told that Roz could go through, but something had flagged up which required my being taken away for questioning. There were two issues: 1) they said I didnt have the right visa for entry and 2) there was another issue, which they wouldnt disclose, both of which prevented me from being allowed into America Im now wondering if my regular and less than flattering public pronouncements regarding their president and his administration were a factor; or maybe thats just me succumbing to paranoia. I was then taken by two police officers to another part of LAX and escorted to a very cold holding pen where I discovered Stefan and Marc in situ along with some Columbian, Chinese and Mexican detainees. My luggage, phone and passport were all taken from me, and at 4am (Id arrived in LA at 7pm) I took part in a second interview conducted by a very sympathetic female immigration officer, who even kindly went out into the airport to see if she could find Roz to update her on my situation and pass on information regarding the enforced flight I was to take back from whence I came. She did both, and Im most indebted to Officer Jones for her assistance and decency. Luckily, Roz was able to change her flight to the same one that I was escorted onto by two police officers at 8pm the next day at that point Id been in the holding room for 25 hours without sleep and with only a pot noodle and a couple of cups of tea to sustain me. Roz had been obliged to spend 25 hours in the airport waiting for me to emerge. Another eleven hour flight was then endured, the worst bit being I was denied any alcohol because its United Airlines policy that any passenger being escorted onto a flight in that manner cannot be served as much as a single glass of wine: Stefan and Marc, on the other hand, who travelled back via British Airways, were allowed to make the most of the free booze on their flight to help offset the stress of our shared experience. Im really sad that the true UK Subs were unable to provide the performance and the diverse set wed prepared, all of which the audience deserved; although kudos and congrats are in order for the three musicians who stepped in last minute to play with Charlie. The photo Ive provided is of Roz and me sitting outside a bar, sharing a few wines together, after finally getting back to our homestead in SW France despite being happy to be home, my scowling face reflect the after effects of 2 days without sleep. So, in conclusion, although not being something Id want to replicate, it was actually an educational experience and, honestly, Im kind of proud of myself for being thrown out of America at the age of 67, now knowing that my relationships with that country is over for the foreseeable future. And maybe, just maybe, thats why the chorus of track 3, side 1, of the first Clash album keeps running around my head. Members of British Punk Band UK Subs Detained and Denied Entry into US Eddie Fu Popular Posts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. MADISON, Miss. (WJTV) A memorial was held for three crew members who died during a medical helicopter crash in Mississippi. The memorial for Jakob Kindt, Dustin Pope, and Cal Wesolowski was held at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison on March 21. A medical helicopter fleet flew over the church to honor the crew members. Flags lowered to honor three killed in Mississippi medical helicopter crash Madison County officials said the helicopter crashed in a heavily wooded area south of the Natchez Trace Parkway and north of Pipeline Road on Monday, March 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) said two UMMC employee crew members and a Med-Trans pilot were on board the AirCare helicopter at the time of the crash. No patient was on board. Pope was the base supervisor for AirCare in Columbus and a flight nurse. Kindt was a critical care paramedic. They had both started working for UMMC on August 14, 2017, according to officials. Wesolowski was the Med-Trans pilot. Dustin Pope (Courtesy: UMMC) Jakob Kindt (Courtesy: UMMC) Cal Wesolowski (Courtesy: UMMC) Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs at UMMC, said AirCare 3, based in Columbus, had flown to the Medical Center to transport a patient and was returning to Columbus when the accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on March 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Juvenile Court is working to create a dedicated courtroom in response to bill SB718/HB797, legislation aiming to create a dedicated courtroom near the juvenile detention center. SB718/HB797Download According to a Juvenile Court press release on Thursday, since the courts building closed due to environmental concerns in April 2024, Judge Tarik Sugarmon and the Magistrates have been using the Youth Justice and Education Center (YJEC) for multiple daily dockets. This move was made to maintain operations and avoid delays in hearing cases involving youth in detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juvenile Court said that leaders emphasize that while YJEC has served as a temporary solution, a more effective and sustainable model involves resuming transportation of detained youth to Juvenile Court at 616 Adams Avenue. $2 million bond set for man facing robbery, murder charge They said that this will allow the court to increase capacity, reduce delays, and ensure more cases can be heard on a daily basis. Juvenile Court said a dedicated courtroom does not resolve critical issues, such as the extended length of youth stays in detention and delays in adjudication due to the limited number of cases that can be heard per day or capacity limitations at YJEC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court said transportation of detained youth to Juvenile Court would alleviate capacity issues, allow for more hearings, timely resolution of cases for all parties, and ultimately improve the outcomes for the youth and families served. Since April 29, 2024, the Juvenile Court has had over 3,100 cases have been heard at YJEC. According to Juvenile Court, the single courtroom at YJEC only allows 32 docket slots compared to the 110 slots available at the Juvenile Court. Juvenile Court said that because of time constraints, the morning transfer docket is frequently continued to another day to accommodate the detention and delinquency dockets. TN man charged with multiple sex crimes involving child, animals Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is scheduled for a vote next week in the House Judiciary Committee, the Juvenile Court is moving forward with efforts to share these concerns with the public. Judge Sugarmon will be holding a news conference on the matter on Monday, Mar. 24, at 1:00 PM outside of the YJEC, located at 3420 Old Getwell Rd, Memphis, TN 38118. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Britains youth are grappling with worse mental health now than 10 years ago, pushing more of them out of employment than their middle-aged peers and impeding their career growth. The number of people reporting work-limiting health conditions has risen by 41% since 2015 to reach 8.7 million, according to an independent report published Thursday led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, a businessman and former chair of a government body. The jump was driven by those aged 16 to 34rather than those between 40 to 64who find themselves in a vortex of health crises hurting Britains workforce. An accelerating youth mental crisis and the so-called sick-note culture in the country have increased youth unemployment among those between 16 and 24 years. The trend has worsened recently, although lower than the years following the Global Financial Crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economic inactivity, which occurs when people are unemployed and not looking for work, currently costs an estimated 150 billion ($194 billion) in lost economic value. The findings of his report highlight the urgency that we tackle this challenge by improving prevention and retention of those in work and by creating better pathways back into work for those who are economically inactive, the former John Lewis chair said in a statement. The review comes just days after the U.K. government announced changes to welfare benefits, including tightening checks around when people can receive mental health benefits. Seeking help for mental health The British economy is already in a dire state. Productivity growth has been flatlining to Victorian-era lows, and sickness is the top reason people stay out of the labor force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayfields review, which was written as a broader study into the employment reforms Britain needs, found that health issuesparticularly mental healthare a major deterrent to young people participating in the workforce. A previous Resolution Foundation report found that mental health issues manifest differently based on sex, ethnicity, and sexual identity and are tied to whether or not individuals are employed. The report found that the COVID-19 pandemic and social media use worsened the crisis. By 2022, those in their 20s were more likely to classify as disabled with mental health problems than those in their 40s to 60s, the report said. Among the medical conditions for which people can access benefits, mental health ranks the highest compared to those with disabilities or long-term medical illnesses. Still, theres a degree of overdiagnosis involved, Mayfield warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I certainly think that there probably is some over-medicalization of early-stage mental health issues, he told The Telegraph. Part of the reason for that is theres nowhere to go other than to a medical doctor when somebody starts to experience issues. NHS, the countrys publicly funded healthcare system, is overburdened by demand for various types of health services. Thats left people seeking help for mental illnesses without the support they require. The wait time for some specialized services can be as much as 18 weeks, according to the NHS website. For instance, NHS England lacks beds at mental health hospitals, forcing patients to travel long distances to seek help, the British Medical Association noted. The new Labour government plans to boost NHS funding by 3.5 billion to address economic inequality and its root causes as part of a proposed 26 billion investment in the healthcare system. The spending increase will also include recruiting 8,500 mental health workers to improve access to health services. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to use an Austin startup's humanoid robots in its manufacturing lines. The German auto company is leading a $53 million investment in Austin-based Apptronik's latest Series A funding round, joined by Japan Post Capital, ARK Invest, Helium-3, Magnetar, RyderVentures, and a syndicate led by Korea Investment Partners. This investment adds to Apptronik's previously announced $350 million round led by B Capital, Capital Factory, and Google. More: Austin-based humanoid robotics company Apptronik secures $350M in additional funding Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to the most recent investment, Apptronik's previously announced series A funding round has risen to $403 million, making it one of the largest funding rounds for the company. With the most recent investment, Mercedes which was one of the first companies to explore applications of Apptronik's humanoid robot, Apollo is testing the humanoid robots for tasks like moving components to the production line or carrying out quality checks in its manufacturing lines. The Apollo robots are five feet, eight inches tall, 160 pounds and can carry 55 pounds. They operate on swappable batteries. We are relentlessly focused on pushing the boundaries of whats possible in automotive innovation not only in the cars we design, but in how we build them, said Jorg Burzer, a member of the board of management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Our work with Apptronik has given us a front-row seat to the incredible pace of progress in humanoid robotics and AI, and the transformative potential these technologies hold for modern manufacturing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apptronik was founded in 2016 as a spinoff from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas. Since then, it has raced companies like Elon Musk's Tesla to scale production of AI-powered humanoid robots. More: From science fiction to reality: Austin's Apptronik humanoid robot Earlier this month, Apptronik announced a strategic partnership with Google DeepMind to build the next generation of human-like robots. Apptronik, with commercial engagements with Mercedes and GXO, also collaborates with tech companies like Nvidia and supply chain solutions company Jabil to leverage Apollo. Were building a future where humanoid robots are not just tools, but trusted collaborators working seamlessly alongside people starting in logistics, manufacturing and retail, and eventually expanding into elder care, disaster response and healthcare, Apptronik co-founder and CEO Jeff Cardenas said in a statement. This investment is far more than capital its the foundation for strategic relationships that will accelerate Apollos path to scaled production and broaden the reach and impact of humanoid robotics across the global economy. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Mercedes-Benz leads latest investment in Austin-based Apptronik MERCER Co., Pa. (WKBN) It was 225 years ago last week, on March 12, that Mercer County was created and Thursday there was a celebration for the milestone birthday. The celebration of Mercer Countys 225th birthday began on the first floor steps of the 115-year-old courthouse with a photo of all the surviving county commissioners the most senior being 80-year-old Dick Stevenson. Theres been the loss of some industrial jobs but in other ways, it has improved. Weve seen new housing and new development coming particularly in the Grove City and Hermitage areas, Stevenson said. The countys first settlers were Native Americans, followed by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first settlers, most of them were land donation grants so they got their land from service in the Revolutionary War, fighting for the Pennsylvania line, said Holly Stumpff with the Mercer County Historical Society. Former County Commissioner and now State Senator Michele Brooks presented the current commissioners with a citation from the Senate, as did state representative Tim Bonner from the House. One thing mentioned was Mercer Countys loss of industry and the population decline down 15 percent since 1960. Former Commissioner Scott Boyd remembers when the steel and aluminum industries left Mercer County. I was working in the medical field at that time and it was really devastating and changing even in the medical field as a result of the people leaving the area and not having as many patients and so forth, said Boyd. Mercer County is 225 years old. The whole country is about to celebrate 250 years, said Ann Coleman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman is among the newest county commissioners. Looking to the future, Coleman would like to see a new, diversified industrial base and again repopulate the county. The people who work here for Mercer County are very receptive to change. They want to improve things. Were always looking for ways to do things better and the constituents in Mercer County are hardworking. You cant find better people, said Coleman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa Central Iowa postal workers held a rally outside the main post office in Des Moines Thursday evening. The Department of Government Efficiency proposed having the U.S. Postal Service absorbed by the Commerce Department a plan that comes with President Trumps approval. Urbandale home damaged by late night fire Postal workers, mail handlers, and rural letter carriers showed up to speak about their disappointment with the plan, many telling us they were feeling scared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are really scared for their jobs, people are scared for their customers, and people are scared for their pensions. This is one of the last American jobs that you can actually get a pension, said Mike Bates, President of the DMI Area Local 44 American Postal Workers Union. In addition to anti-privatization, workers also discussed ongoing contract campaigns. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Congressman Vincente Gonzalez (D-Texas.) said if youre buying avocados, cars or anything made in Mexico, you are likely paying more, because cartels extort companies that do business in Mexico. Theres checkpoints that are set up throughout Mexico that are controlled by Mexican criminal organizations that are taxing commerce, said Rep. Vincente Gonzalez (D-Texas.). That is not free trade, in my opinion. Gonzalez said extortion by cartels amounts to a tariff on American consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve allowed this to fester and grow, said Gonzalez. I think President Trump has come in, in a very aggressive way, hyper-focused on this issue. I think he should have bipartisan support on this. Pedro Casas, the CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City, said he disagrees on a portion of Gonzalezs claim. The cross-border trade is not controlled whatsoever by organized crime, Casas said. Casas said his organization surveys companies that do business in Mexico. He said, of the companies surveyed, about half said they paid 2-10% of their budget on security, which could raise prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a widespread problem that we need to solve because thats affecting the Mexican economy, Casas said. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs against Mexico to try to get them to stop the cartels and stop fentanyl from crossing the border. Were seeing a slowdown in the appetite for investment on both sides of the border, Casas said. Auto parts, or a vehicle itself, it crosses the border throughout its production around 8-10 times before being a finished good thats exported, lets say from Mexico to the United States. Youre going to see, its not only a one-time 25% tariffs, but its actually going to be an 8-times 25% tariff going on, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casas said, because of trade agreements, like NAFTA and the U.S., Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement signed under the first Trump administration, companies have built trade between the U.S. and Mexico into their manufacturing. President Trump has credited the new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for making progress on border security and drug smuggling. Sheinbaum said Mexico sent 29 cartel figures to the United States, weakened some cartels and dismantled more than 100 synthetic drug labs. Casas said her actions have helped improve safety in Mexico. We are seeing a more aggressive approach toward security, a more active policy, Casas said. As you might remember, in the past administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, his security policy could be summarized in the slogan hugs not bullets, which was basically a very passive approach on security. And we are seeing something completely different. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House said another goal of President Trumps tariffs is to bring manufacturing back to the United States. One of the things that President Trumps tariff policy is seeking to accomplish is to get people to buy U.S. cars, instead of foreign cars, so that we create jobs here, said Kevin Hassett, the Director of the National Economic Council. President Trump said 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico will go into effect in April. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A bill that would create a turquoise safety alert system for missing Native American people in New Mexico has been endorsed by the Legislature. A vote of the state Senate without opposition Thursday sent the rapid response initiative to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who supports the proposal. The bill responds to a troubling number of disappearances and killings in Indian Country and would allow law enforcement to quickly share information about Native Americans who go missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The turquoise alert system taking its name from the blue-green mineral would function much like existing amber and silver alerts that highlight the disappearance of children and the elderly. Cellphone alerts would be issued when law enforcement finds evidence of imminent danger in the disappearance of a Native American. I carry with me countless stories of how our system has failed to respond to the disappearance or murder of Native people in our state, said Democratic state Sen. Angel Charley of Acoma Pueblo, a co-sponsor of the bill. We have answered the call. California, Washington and Colorado have similar alert systems, according to the New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs. Arizona lawmakers are considering their own alert system as the brutal death of San Carlos Apache teenager Emily Pike reverberates through Native American communities. New Mexico has 23 federally recognized tribes, including large portions of the Navajo Nation, as well as land holdings of the Fort Sill Apache. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The safety and concerns of those communities were on prominent display during a 60-day legislative session that ends Saturday at noon. A bill signed Wednesday by Lujan Grisham ensures students can wear their own Native American regalia at graduation and other school ceremonies in the spirit of free expression linked to cultural heritage. Dont be fools, fund our schools! chanted third and fourth-grade students from the Downtown Denver Expeditionary School in front of the state Capitol on Thursday. Hundreds of students and educators carried hand-made signs to show their disapproval of the way Colorado funds education. Eight-year-old Tula (her teacher did not provide her last name) was among the 100 students who skipped an afternoon class to join the protest. Our schools dont have money, said Tula, a third grader at the Expeditionary School. We cant afford supplies. Last fall, students at the Expeditionary School, which is blocks from the state Capitol, learned about the states funding challenges. Attending Thursdays protest, their teacher Claire Adams said, was a real-world field trip of sorts. Students become really empowered to take their voice and use it, Adams said. The goal is for students to see themselves as change-makers. While some school districts across the state are on spring break this week, others like Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools closed campuses, anticipating the No More Education Cuts statewide Day of Action. All Aurora schools were closed, according to the school district. And in Denver, fewer than half of the districts 200-some schools remained open. According to the Colorado Education Association, which organized the event at the Capitol, the states schools are already underfunded by $4,000 per student each year. With a $1.2 billion budget shortfall this year, educators worry lawmakers will balance the budget on the back of public education. Despite having paid off last yearwhats called the budget stabilization factor, or BS Factor, public K-12 remains underfunded by about $4 billion each year. Introduced in 2010, the BS Factor is a tool the Colorado legislature used to reduce funding for school districts to balance the state budget, as required by statute. Lawmakers eliminated the BS Factor last year, returning public education funding to 1989 levels. We know that were going to have to go to the ballot in 2026 to ask voters for a funding stream, said Wendy Bergman, a Fort Collins high school teacher and organizer with the Colorado Education Association, the states largest teachers union. Bergman added: Enough is enough. Gov. Jared Polis has proposed changing how students in Colorado are counted to a single-year student count. Featured Local Savings Because of something called smoothing, the state averages the student population for districts, like Denver, with declining enrollment from the five previous school years to determine the funding allocation. Higher enrollment numbers in previous years mean school districts like Denver Public Schools received more funding than the actual number of students during whats informally called the October count. The October count in the fall each year is used to determine enrollment, which does fluctuate throughout the academic year, and funding. In Colorado, dollars follow students. We do what we can with what we have, but the reality is we need more, Bergman said. Polis proposal, he has said, would save money and fund "actual students where they are, rather than where they were four years ago; thus, more equitably driving resources to where the need is." Polis criticized closing schools so students could participate in the protest. Kids belong in school, Polis has said. More than 1,000 Denver Classroom Teachers Association members attended the rally, said Rob Gould, a special education teacher and union president. Whenever the state shortchanges public education, students lose out, Gould said in an email to The Denver Gazette. They lose access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. It means fewer educators in our schools, larger class sizes, and both students and educators being stretched too thin. Lawmakers, Gould said, will have to address ColoradosTaxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR, a 1992 constitutional amendment passed by voters that limits the amount of revenue the state and local governments can collect and spend. Colorado must commit to real, long-term solutions that put students first, Gould said. That means taking on TABOR, which continues to limit our states ability to fully fund public education. Thursdays protest came as President Donald Trump issued an executive order dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The order leaves school policy almost entirely in the hands of states and local school boards. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Thursday that shuttering the department does not mean cutting off federal funds. Education is fundamentally a state responsibility. Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states to take charge and advocate for and implement what is best for students, families, and educators in their communities, McMahon said. Colorado Politics reporter Marianne Goodland contributed to this report. LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) The state has slapped New Mexico Highlands University with a $43,000 fine over how it handled hazardous chemicals. The university received complaints last year about a strong chemical smell in the Ivan Hilton Science Building. A custodian who worked in that building died. NM Forestry Division offers wildfire prevention tips ahead of what could be a very bad fire season The Occupational Health and Safety Board later found several violations including leaving cleaning crews exposed to the chemicals. NMHU now has 15 days to pay the fines or contest the penalties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) As a high-profile murder puts the issue of juvenile crime back in the spotlight, lawmakers are scrambling to take action before the session ends. This, after one major juvenile crime proposal stalled in the roundhouse. A Democratic bill, HB 255, is aiming to reform how juvenile crime is dealt with in the state. If it were to pass it would include additional penalties and resources to help youth get back on track. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an all hands on deck approach and not one bill will fix any of these issues, thats why we have been focused on a package of different bills that include behavioral health, that include criminal reform, said Speaker of the House Representative Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque). After three juveniles were accused of hitting and killing an Albuquerque man with a car, lawmakers are pushing a bill that would make updates to how juveniles are dealt with in New Mexico. A Democratic bill looks to make changes to the Juvenile Corrections Act. Which would include being able to charge youth with voluntary manslaughter. It would also give judges more discretion over sentence lengths as well as give them more say in recommending rehabilitation programs. The bill was heard in committee this week and sparked mixed reactions. I think it has a nice balance of both rewards and incentives for youth to work their program, work their rehabilitation, but it also has an accountability piece thats built into it as well, said Nick Castalles, a supporter of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True accountability for harm comes from changed behavior and from preventing future violence and this cannot be achieved by exposing children who cause harm themselves to the dangers of adult incarceration, said Denali Wilson, with the ACLU of New Mexico. If passed, the bill would also create the Juvenile Community Connections Grant Fund. That would give delinquents resources to help them get rehabilitated. The bill passed the committee Wednesday and is now headed to the Senate floor. The bill failed on a 13 to 24 vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Michelle Obama has once again gone on the record to confirm that the prospect of another Obama in the White House is very much a pipe dream. Appearing on Kylie Kelces Not Gonna Lie podcast this week, the former first lady dismissed the persistent rumors shes considering running for president in the future as unthinkable. When people ask me, would I ever run? The answer is no, she said. If you ask me that, then you have absolutely no idea the sacrifice that your kids make when their parents are in that role. Not only am I not interested in politics in that way, but the thought of putting my girls back into that spotlight when they are just now establishing themselves ... I think weve done enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As if to preemptively silence those who might still be holding out hope, she added: Question asked and answered, never gonna happen. Listen to Michelle Obamas Not Gonna Lie chat below. Her comments about the possibility shell run for office begin around the 25:46 mark. Obama repeatedly expressed her disinterest in politics while her husband, former President Barack Obama, was still in office. In recent months, shes also taken notable steps to remove herself from the political sphere and was noticeably absent from both former President Jimmy Carters Jan. 4 funeral and President Donald Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration. That doesnt mean shes exited the public eye, of course. This month, she and her brother Craig Robinson unveiled a new podcast, IMO, that will tackle topics such as parenting, relationships and financial planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, speculation that Michelle Obama would consider running for office has remained rampant on both sides of the political aisle. Prior to former President Joe Biden dropping his 2024 reelection bid, a number of prominent Republicans publicly suggested the former first lady would replace Biden on the ballot. Elsewhere in her Not Gonna Lie chat, Obama said that preparing daughters Sasha and Malia Obama for their post-White House lives was already on her mind when they first arrived at the White House in 2009. When we entered, I had to make sure that theyre normal and ready when this is all over and they have to get on a bus and make their own plane reservations and live in an apartment and be sane and live in the world, she explained. I wanted to give my girls enough rope to live and be normal teenagers, but I was also worrying about them turning up on Page Six because they were doing what normal kids would do without that many eyes on them. Related... The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at March 20, 2025, results for each game: Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 20 drawing Midday: 9-6-5 Evening: 8-6-5 Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 20 drawing Midday: 8-5-5-7 Evening: 9-4-4-7 Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 20 drawing 07-14-25-35-40, Lucky Ball: 14 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Poker Lotto numbers from March 20 drawing 6C-10C-4D-7D-5H Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. 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Claims should be mailed to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Lottery Attn: Claim Center 101 E. Hillsdale P.O. Box 30023 Lansing, MI 48909 For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2. If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325 Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325 Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325 Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325 Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325 Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325 For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page. When are Michigan Lottery drawings held? Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m. Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for March 20, 2025 LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to do everything in her power to shutter the U.S. Department of Education. While it would take an act of Congress to completely shut down the department, Michigan officials are split on how this order will affect schoolsand Michigan students. The Michigan Department of Education put out a statement after the order was signed, expressing disapproval of the choice, saying the cuts in staff and funding would be harmful to students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government needs to do morenot lessto help all children learn and be physically and mentally healthy so they can achieve their dreams, says Dr. Pamela Pugh, president of the State Board of Education. However, Michigans State Superintendent expressed that he doesnt believe anything will come from Thursdays executive order. At the end of the day, I do not believe the U.S. Department of Education will be shuttered, said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. Congress and the American people will not allow it. However, the Republican-led state legislature adopted House Resolution 55 on Thursday, which supports the push to abolish the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025-HAR-0055Download The Tenth Amendment speaks for itself, says State Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), who voted to adopt the resolution. Powers not specifically named to the federal government, or prohibited to the states, belong to the states. Local educators know far more about our kids and what they need than career bureaucrats in D.C. ever will. These legislators also say the department failed to prioritize properlyseeing a national decline in test scores both since the creation of the department and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the inception of the Department of Education in 1979, we have seen a dramatic downturn in our national school systems. Our students are suffering, and our national literacy and math proficiency percentages continue to decline, says State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Coldwater). After suffering the greatest educational challenge of our time, the federal bureaucracy has failed our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats in the state House were against passing the resolution, saying destroying the department would gut over $2 billion in funding to Michigan, eliminating critical services. To support the deconstruction of the DOE is to support the stripping away of educational opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Michigans most vulnerable students, said State Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth). This executive order will cease funding that directly helps districts serving low-income kids retain teachers, update textbooks and offer quality after-school programs. Thursdays resolution passing comes after a joint resolution was introduced by Republicans in the state House Tuesday proposing a constitutional amendment to eliminate the states Board of Education, superintendent of public schools, and board for public community and junior colleges. That amendment would be placed on the ballot in the next general election. Abolishing the Board of Education would mean the governor would have the power to appoint the director of the state Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That resolution was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. State regulators signed off on another rate hike for Jackson-based Consumers Energy on Friday, approving a $153.8 million increase to the utility's electric rates in Michigan. The average Consumers customer will see an increase of around $2.78 on their monthly electric bill once the new rates kick in on April 4. According to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), the company sought a rate increase to improve service reliability and cover costs related to investments in energy generation, company facilities and ongoing company plans. We plan to roll up our sleeves and accelerate building the electric grid for the next generation, Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energys vice president of electric grid design, said in a statement. We want our neighbors to know we will be working every day to make our system more reliable and more resilient to keep the lights on, even after the worst storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumers had initially asked the MPSC for an increase of $325 million. The commission most recently approved an electric rate hike for Consumers in March 2024, when it approved about $92 million in increases. The MPSC is the three-member body that considers rate increase requests from utility companies. The $153.8 million increase will cover the entire cost of a $125 million tree-trimming program for Consumers, the commission said. Tree trimming involves cutting branches hanging over power lines, which utility officials say are often a threat to electric service reliability during inclement weather. The rate hike will also allow Consumers to invest in low-voltage distribution, which is specifically aimed at reducing the number of power outages for customers who experience frequent outages, according to the MPSC. Service trucks sit in the back parking lot of the service center for Consumers Energy in Clinton Twp., Mich., on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. Consumers Energy sent out a text alert asking the public to turn their thermostats to 65 degrees due to strains on their natural gas resources. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's Office was among the intervenors in the case, arguing Consumers should not receive an electric hike of more than $82.9 million, according to regulatory filings. In a statement, Nessel criticized both Consumers and Detroit-based DTE for repeatedly seeking service rate hikes from the MPSC. Only 12 months since their last rate hike was approved, Consumers Energy customers are facing yet another rate hike in what has become a never-ending cycle, Nessel said. Consumers Energy and DTE keep coming back to the trough, and over and over again Michiganders are forced to pay higher and higher bills just to keep the lights on." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Does Michigan get electricity from Canada? Throughout the typical rate case process, a utility company will ask the MPSC to approve a rate hike and argue why it needs to charge higher rates to customers. Intervenors, which often include Nessel's office and other groups arguing against higher costs, will file their own arguments against the utility's request. In rate increase request cases, the commission typically ends up approving a lower rate increase than what's initially sought by a utility. Consumers provides electric service to 1.8 million customers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, including cities such as Battle Creek, Flint, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Along with DTE, it's one of Michigan's largest energy providers. DTE last received approval for an electric rate increase in January, when the MPSC approved a $217.4 million increase to the utility's electric rates. Both Consumers and DTE have been criticized for spotty electric reliability. An audit published in September took issues with both the frequency and duration of power outages for both companies. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Consumers Energy receives $153.8M electric rate hike increase Michigan has a sentencing problem. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, Michigans average prison sentence length is roughly three times the national average, and the state leads in the proportion of its prison population serving sentences longer than 10 years. This is a direct result of the excessively harsh tough-on-crime policies of the 1990s, leaving Michigan with an aging, costly prison population and a rigid sentencing system that fails to adapt to modern realities. Inmates listen to a speaker talk to them about opportunities as they exit prison during a Road to Restoration Returning Citizens Clinic at Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press) Now, Michigan has an opportunity to address this challenge through a conservative and pragmatic solution: the Second Look Sentencing Act. This proposed legislation, approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee last year, would allow individuals who have served at least 20 years to petition their original court for a sentence reduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge either the original sentencing judge or one from the same jurisdiction would review the individuals behavior while incarcerated, the circumstances of their offense, and victims perspectives before deciding whether to reduce their sentence. Anyone approved would still serve the remainder of their reduced sentence and be subject to parole review before release. This is not a blanket release. Those convicted of criminal sexual conduct, terrorism, mass shootings and certain domestic violence cases would remain ineligible. The proposed legislation would ensure public safety while recognizing that excessively long sentences often outlive their purpose and fail to reflect personal transformation. Stifling bipartisan momentum Second Look legislation is not about being soft on crime it is about being smart on justice. It recognizes that justice is not static and people can change over decades. The legislation ensures that victims have a meaningful role in the process, offering opportunities for closure and accountability. Last year, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, refused to bring the Second Look Sentencing Act to a floor vote after it was passed by the House Criminal Justice Committee, preventing meaningful debate and shielding legislators from having to take a public stance on the issue. This move effectively blocked much-needed criminal justice reform and maintained the status quo of excessively long prison sentences that continue to punish individuals far beyond any public safety benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, in January, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Marshall, announced that for the next two years, criminal justice reform legislation including the Second Look Sentencing Act would not move forward under his leadership. By preemptively shutting down any discussion on sentencing reform, Hall ensured that Michigan would remain stuck with outdated policies that burden taxpayers, worsen staffing crisis in prisons and deny the state the opportunity to implement smarter, more effective justice policies. Michigans growing population of older incarcerated individuals highlights the urgent need for reform. In 1990, the average prison sentence in Michigan was 6.3 years. Today, it has doubled to 12 years, excluding more than 4,400 people serving life sentences. Sentences of 20 years or more have increased from 12% of the prison population in 1990 to 30% today. Nearly one in five people in Michigan prisons is over the age of 55 a demographic that is costly to incarcerate and poses minimal public safety risk. There is clear evidence that older individuals are far less likely to reoffend. The U.S. Sentencing Commission found that recidivism rates drop sharply with age, from 38% among those released at ages 2124 to just 4.1% for those 65 or older. Yet Michigan taxpayers continue to pay for incarcerating individuals whose risk to society is negligible. The cost of incarcerating older individuals is three times higher than that of younger inmates due to increased medical needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By allowing judges to reassess sentences after 20 years, Michigan could save millions. A cost-benefit analysis conducted at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy estimates that around 3,737 individuals currently incarcerated would qualify for Second Look resentencing. Over the next decade, this could save the state $100$150 million in expenses like food, transportation, and medical care. Closing even one prison facility could save an additional $800 million. Speaker Halls refusal to consider Second Look sentencing puts these potential savings and the opportunity to modernize Michigans justice system on hold. His stance also ignores the bipartisan momentum for criminal justice reform nationwide, where Republicans and Democrats recognize that smarter sentencing policies reduce costs and increase public safety. Safety, dignity and responsibility Second Look has broad appeal across the political spectrum. Many conservatives support it because it aligns with fiscal responsibility, reduces government waste and prioritizes resources for those who truly pose a public safety threat. Progressives back it because it reflects fairness, dignity and the belief in human potential for redemption. Refusing to act on Second Look harms Michigans economy, its corrections system and its communities. It exacerbates staffing shortages, worsens conditions for both incarcerated individuals and prison employees and perpetuates a system that is expensive and ineffective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan needs a comprehensive sentencing strategy that prioritizes fiscal responsibility, public safety and human dignity. The Second Look Sentencing Act is a pragmatic, conservative, and compassionate step forward. Lawmakers should not let partisan politics or misguided rhetoric stand in the way of meaningful reform. We urge lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to move forward on Second Look. Michigan cannot afford to cling to outdated sentencing policies that burden taxpayers and overlook the humanity of those incarcerated. Second Look is not a partisan issue it is a Michigan issue. Jeffrey D. Morenoff is associate dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, director of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy and a professor at the University of Michigans Department of Sociology and Institute for Social Research. Noah Attal is a graduate student and researcher at the University of Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peter J. Martel is a deputy director of the American Friends Service Committee. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it in print or online. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Second Look bills could fix prison sentencing issue | Opinion LANSING Michigan's attorney general is suing wineries in federal court to stop what it says are illegal alcohol shipments to the state. Since 2023, AG Dana Nessel's office has filed at least seven federal lawsuits, including two this week, against wineries in New York, Washington, Montana, Oregon and California. In each lawsuit, the AG's office said the wineries lack the direct shipper license needed and yet continued to ship bottles to customers in the the state after cease and desist letters. The most recent lawsuits came on Wednesday against New York-based Pellegrini Vineyards and Washington-based Tsillan Cellars, through its ownership RRJ Real Properties LLC. The lawsuits seek court orders barring the wineries from shipping to Michigan and a $25,000 fine for each violation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, AG spokesperson Danny Wimmer said the lawsuits are "fairly standard civil enforcement" cases and that the office has "filed many lawsuits against illegal shippers of alcoholic beverages and secured many judgments in favor of the State." A message was left seeking comment from Pellegrini Vineyards. Bob Hargadon, general manager for Tsillan Cellars, said the winery wasn't aware of the lawsuit until contacted by a reporter. After checking its records, Hargadon said the winery made four shipments to two Michigan customers in 2024, which he attributed to a clerical error which has since been fixed. Those sales amounted to less than 0.001% of its annual shipments, he said, and the winery's records show no orders to Michigan so far this year. State liquor investigators placed orders in sting operation last year In 2022, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission flagged six shipments from Tsillan Cellars and three from Pellegrini Vineyards to Michigan addresses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AG's office then sent cease and desist letters to both wineries informing them that they lacked the necessary licenses to legally operate in or do business in the state. The letters ended with the same ultimatum. "If this activity fails to cease within 14 days of your receipt of this letter, our office will take legal action to stop it," wrote Donald McGehee, division chief for the AG's alcohol and gambling enforcement division. "This may include filing criminal charges." The AG's office received confirmation that both wineries received the letters. About 16 months later, the state's liquor control commission wanted to investigate whether the wineries were complying with the cease and desist letters. It purchased a bottle from each: a 2021 Estate Merlot from Tsillan Cellars for $46 plus shipping and a 2016 Regalo from Pellegrini Vineyards for $49.99 plus shipping. The state paid about $20 for each bottle to be shipped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a week later, both bottles arrived. And about a year after that, the AG's office took both wineries to federal court in Grand Rapids in what are at least the sixth and seventh such lawsuits in the past two years. Wimmer, the AG spokesperson, said the wine bottles will be stored as evidence and then destroyed when the case is closed. It's unclear what the state did with the bottles of wine after they were photographed, along with their shipping packaging and label, as evidence. The AG's office did not respond to a request for comment. In four of the other five lawsuits, the AG's office and the wineries entered into consent decrees that barred them from shipping to Michigan until they acquired the necessary license and imposed fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fifth lawsuit, against California-based Baily Vineyard & Winery, ended in a default judgement against the winery because it didn't respond to the lawsuit in court. The judgement bars it from shipping to the state, imposes a $25,000 fine and orders it to pay the $405 it cost the AG's office to file suit. Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at mjmencarini@lsj.com. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan sues wineries in New York, Washington GoBus launched a microtransit pilot program called GoNow on March 3 in Palestine. Unlike GoBus riders, who schedule their travel 24-48 hours in advance, GoNow is on-demand transportation. One of the challenges we face in the area is last-minute travel; The gap exists for the here and now, said GoBus Director of Transportation Vince Huerta. So with microtransit, its a little more like an Uber type of service. With GoNow we are able to address that immediate need to go somewhere. It is a pilot program right now and we are hoping people will utilize it. We are excited about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huerta said the GoBus program costs approximately $1.7 million miles a year averaging around 130,000 trips a year with 25,000 of those in Anderson County alone. Anderson County is probably our second busiest county, next to Smith its up there in terms of ridership, Huerta said. Its important to note that this is public transit and is available to anyone that needs to travel within the community. Huerata said the GoBus program has a really good working relationship with Palestine and Anderson County and Pct. 2 Commissioner Rashad Mims, the county representative for the East Texas Council of Governments Executive Committee, has been a great advocate of the GoBus programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Mims advocacy for the GoBus program has really allowed us to pursue and obtain funding to be able to launch this type of pilot program, Huerta said. Huerta said that through a mobile app or by phone, riders can schedule a trip with shorter wait times. The cost is $2 per trip. Fare is due upon boarding the bus and riders are asked to have exact change. GoNow accepts cash, check and credit card. Customers may also purchase a reloadable GoPass from their driver for multiple trips. Seniors may qualify for sponsored trips. Veterans and active military ride free. All vehicles are ADA accessible. GoNow is available 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and covers the 10-square-mile area in Palestine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GoNow driver Daniel Tatum, of Palestine, said he enjoys his job. I like helping people and the ability to be someone elses lifeline, he said. This is a demonstration program funded by the Texas Department of Transportation and administered by the East Texas Council of Governments through its GoBus transportation system. The GoBus is a rural, demand response public transit system in East Texas. They have a fleet of approximately 80 vehicles and serve the 14 counties, including Anderson County, in a 10,000-square-mile area. GoBus also offers a seasonal shuttle service, called a flex route transit service, for the riders of the Texas State Railroad and holiday activities in the city from Nov. 15 through Dec. 28. This service is operated by GoBus and funded partially by Visit Palestine. They also offered safe-transit on New Years Eve through their 14 county region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huerata said they have obtained a facility in Tyler that will also serve as an in-house maintenance facility and another is being built and should be ready in the next two months. They have obtained funding for a fleet replacement of 20 vehicles. Each shuttle is handicap accessible and driven by highly trained operators employed by ETCOG. For more information or to book a trip, visit www.gobustransit.com or call 903-218-6450. provide safe, reliable and friendly public transportation for everyone. Update: Kathryn H. Roever was found safe Monday morning, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. The Colorado Springs Police Department is seeking community help to find a 74-year-old who went missing Thursday. The CSPD said Kathryn H. Roever was last seen around 12:30 p.m. Thursday before she went for a walk around her home in the 600 block of South Union Boulevard. Roever is described as approximately 4 feet, 10 inches tall with white hair, green eyes and weighing 142 pounds. She was last seen wearing a blue jacket, multicolored blouse and black sweatpants, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to call CSPD at 719-444-7000. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Middle Tennessee woman is trying to make her way home after a freak accident while swimming with dolphins on spring break in Jamaica. What had been a dream vacation quickly turned into a nightmare for Cierra Stockard. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts It just felt like I got into a car accident, Stockard said, calling from her hospital bed in Jamaica. The force of it It felt like boom! Something just happened really bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was swimming with the dolphins in what she described as paradise. Its like youre going into a cheerleading position like youre a flyer on top of the pyramid, Stockard said. They just push you through the water and its like youre gliding through water. Stockard fell off and landed on a dolphins dorsal fin. The fall caused a large hematoma and she was rushed to a hospital near Montego Bay. I was just in so much pain, Stockard said. Tears were just running down my face. She underwent emergency surgery and said she was scared shed never see her two young daughters again. Stockard also told News 2 she suffers from sickle cell anemia, which affects the shape of red blood cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need her home because this is just not a good circumstance, her aunt, Kimberley Watkins, said. This is just not a good situation. As of publication, Watkins and Stockards sister are in Jamaica with her and are worried shes not getting proper health care. A medical flight comes with a hefty price tag that her insurance wont cover. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Weve tried to contact the embassy, Watkins said. Basically, they can just direct us. Im not going to say theyve not been a help, but weve been doing things ourselves. Stockard is out of her second surgery and her family said shes in a lot of pain but in good spirits. You can follow this link to support a GoFundMe that will help Cierra get back to the U.S. and start a full recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Indiana Governor Mike Braun has given a statement following President Trumps cuts to the Department of Education. Below is his full statement: Education is a state and local responsibility. I support President Trumps bold action to return education to where it belongs and to put parents in the drivers seat of their childrens education. Indiana is leading the way, having jumped from a middle of the pack state to sixth in the nation in reading. Hoosiers know what our students need to succeed better than bureaucrats in D.C. Indiana Governor Mike Braun Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Milan has issued a boil order for some parts of the village. A water repair at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School means that a boil order is in effect for the residents in the 1200 block of Third Street West. Click here for information on what to do during a boil order. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. The Scoop One of the worlds largest humanitarian organizations is calling on businesses to help fill the gap left by cuts to government aid budgets as part of a broader reinvention of global aid. David Miliband, CEO of the International Rescue Committee and a former UK foreign secretary, told Semafor his group could lose a third of its roughly $1.5 billion in revenues because of the Trump administrations cuts to programs funded through USAID and the State Department. With the UK and other European countries also diverting humanitarian budgets to defense spending, there needs to be a new global bargain about how to address symptoms of political failure, which are humanitarian needs of a high and growing kind, he said. That would include a bigger contribution from the private sector: The core of the argument is that if you want to enjoy the fruits of globalization, you need to bear the burdens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is both a moral and a strategic case for companies to offer more support, argued Miliband, who met businesses on the US West Coast this week and said the response from private-sector donors has been pretty good in recent weeks. Companies have a self-interest in helping to address problems governments are retreating from not just to motivate employees looking to work for companies doing the right thing but because an untended humanitarian crisis leads to political instability, he said. The IRC has suspended or terminated more than half of its US-funded efforts since the Trump administration canceled more than 80% of USAIDs programs. The US has long been the anchor of the global aid system, providing about 40% of all humanitarian funding, Miliband said: The anchor has been pulled up. Know More The aid system has been strained by crises from Sudan to Ukraine, with the UN estimating that more than 300 million people are now in humanitarian need, up from 78 million a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizations such as the IRC have a responsibility to avoid catastrophism, focus on solutions, and show they can deliver value for money, Miliband said. Corporate partnerships, encompassing skills and ideas sharing as well as money, have fueled innovations such as the IRCs Signpost information service, where AI technology has transformed response times, he said. BCG, LinkedIn, Marriott, and Pfizer are among the IRCs existing partners, as well as corporate philanthropies such as Google.org, whose early warning technology helped the IRC deliver cash assistance in advance of floods in Nigeria. We need the corporate sector to help us invest in solutions, because investing in solutions takes risk, and risk is not something that governments find easy, Miliband said. Notable Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths February memo ordering all diversity, equity and inclusion-related content to be removed from Pentagon websites was so vague that military units were instructed to simply use keyword searches like racism, ethnicity, history and first when searching for articles and photos to remove, and to interpret the directive broadly, multiple defense officials told CNN. The implications of Hegseths memo were overwhelming, since the Defense Department manages over 1,000 public-facing websites and a huge visual media database known as DVIDS with officials expected to purge everything relevant within two weeks. As a result, the manual work of individual units was supplemented with an algorithm that also used keywords to automate much of the purge, officials explained. Other keywords officials were instructed to search for included firsts in history, including content about the first female ranger and first Black commanding general, as well as the words LGBTQ, historic, accessibility, opportunity, belonging, justice, privilege, respect and values, according to a list reviewed by CNN. One of the articles removed from the US Air Force Air Mobility Command website was about Jaspreet Singh, who was among the first Airmen in the entire US Air Force to be approved to wear a turban as a part of his uniform. The article was also removed from the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst website. - Airman 1st Class Briana Cespedes/US Air Force A defense official acknowledged that, in hindsight, the strict timeline could have been handled differently and said the search terms were suggestions from an internal defense agency to help units meet the secretarys directive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a video posted to X on Thursday that the effort was an arduous but incredibly important undertaking, with an aggressive timeline. Every now and then, because of the realities of AI tools and other software, some important content was incorrectly pulled offline to be reviewed, Parnell said. We want to be very, very clear: History is not DEI. When content is either mistakenly removed or if it is maliciously removed we continue to work quickly to restore it. One defense official said of the removal of firsts in the military, Thats just history. Its not really DEI its literally just history. Other keywords to look for included gender based violence, cultural observances, cultural awareness, African ethnicity, Asian ethnicity, Caucasian ethnicity and Hispanic ethnicity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One defense official said every social media post was being pored over to the most minute detail, particularly for things like military partner training abroad. The people tasked with doing so had to determine if a post about a training event for another countrys military that included women, for example, could be tied back to some diversity or inclusion initiative or if it was simply because the unit in question was largely made up of women. Multiple units had to ask for extensions on the deadline because of the amount of content they were combing through in a short period of time, three officials said. One of the officials raised concerns with their superior about potential violations of government record retention laws and asked for an extension to ensure everything was in compliance, but their request was denied, according to emails reviewed by CNN. Another of the officials said they had to bring in a few other people to their team to help complete it in time, pulling them away from other tasks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, validation teams are now being dispatched to military bases to ensure that troops are complying with Hegseths directive, according to one official and a statement from the Air Force. Multiple officials also confirmed to CNN that a lieutenant colonel has been dispatched from the Pentagon to travel to every combatant command around the world, holding meetings with staff and ensuring compliance with the policy. The lack of guidance and the pressure from above to comply has led to a massive overcorrection and the removal of thousands of articles and images that were either completely unrelated to DEI issues like Holocaust remembrance, suicide prevention and the Enola Gay aircraft or that commemorated war heroes like World War II Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Harold Gonsalves and historically significant service members like Jackie Robinson and the Navajo code-talkers. This image provided by the US Marine Corps shows World War II Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Harold Gonsalves during World War II. - US Marine Corps/AP And while units made an effort to archive content internally, limitations that exist on various social media platforms made it difficult to do so in the instance officials determined the posts should be brought back. One defense official said Facebook and X, or Twitter, dont have good archiving tools to keep posts, which meant they were left to take screenshots of them and delete them for good. The department is now scrambling to republish some of the content, officials said. But the confusion reflected the move fast and break things approach the Trump administration has taken across the federal government that has at times gone too far and forced officials to reverse themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The time and resources that have been spent on deleting websites and images has also struck officials as at odds with Hegseths stated focus on returning the focus of the military to lethality and warfighting. Of all the things they could be doing, the places theyre putting their focuses on first are really things that just dont matter This was literally a waste of our time, a defense official said. This does absolutely nothing to make us stronger, more lethal, better prepared. Another defense official told CNN on Wednesday that the department is now planning on doubling back and going through the content again with human beings to conduct a more thorough review a process that will take even longer to complete. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The superintendent of the Millsap school district and two educators were arrested Thursday after the teachers were caught on video abusing a special-needs student and investigators learned of additional cases of abuse, the Parker County Sheriffs Office said. The first students mother shared the abuse allegations in a video posted to Facebook on March 10, the Star-Telegram previously reported. The video shows a special education teacher at Millsap Elementary School attempting to slap the 10-year-old boy across the face and a teachers aide throwing a toy spoon at him, according to the parent and investigators. The superintendent, 53-year-old Edie Martin, faces a felony charge of failure to report with the intent to conceal. The 10-year-old childs mother, Carissa Kozak Cornelius, told the Star-Telegram that the incident in her son Alexs classroom happened on Feb. 18, but Martin didnt notify her until Feb. 28 and even then didnt tell her that the incident involved her son. The mother later obtained the video recorded by a teaching assistant, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the educators, 44-year-old teacher Jennifer Dale, is charged with official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, according to the Parker County Sheriffs Office. The other educator, 25-year-old teachers aide Paxton Bean, is charged with official oppression and injury to a child with intentional bodily injury, a third-degree felony. Jail records show that all three women were released on bond. A school board meeting was held Friday morning, March 21 to consider a separation agreement with the superintendent, according to an agenda on the school districts website. The board heard comments from many upset parents and other members of the community but did not reach a decision on Martins contract. Another meeting will be held Monday night. The district has said that the other educators involved were placed on leave during the investigation and are no longer employed by Millsap ISD. Millsap is a small North Texas town about 15 miles west of Weatherford. Millsap ISD Superintendent Edie Martin faces a felony charge of failure to report with the intent to conceal. Shes accused of not reporting cases of child abuse of special education students. According to arrest warrant affidavits obtained by the Star-Telegram, Bean and Paxton are accused of abusing two additional students. The documents also give more details regarding the alleged abuse of Cornelius son Alex, referred to in the warrants as MV1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 10-year-old has autism and is nonverbal. Investigators learned that Dale and Bean had placed Alex in extensive timeouts that could last up to 40 minutes, according to the affidavits. They are also accused of taunting him for two days in a row to the extent that the child was seen covering his ears and rocking back and forth in anxiety. Another time, witnesses said Alex was rushed into getting ready to go home for the day and then locked outside the classroom after he put his backpack on. Bean could be heard laughing at him from inside the classroom, the affidavits state. During an interview with Sheriffs Office investigators, Dale acknowledged that she was seen on video swinging her hand at Alex, but she said that she do so playfully, according to the affidavits. Dale also admitted to making crying noises at the 10-year-old and possibly calling him a crybaby, but she said that also was intended to be playful, the documents state. Whitney Price, the mother of an 8-year-old boy identified as MV2 in the affidavits, told police her son reported being hit by Bean. On Jan. 16, school staff told her the boy had gotten a bloody nose from running into a wall when Bean took him to a calm down room, according to the affidavits. When Price asked her son, who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, what happened, he said Bean punched him in the nose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police reviewed the school nurses log, and saw that Bean had taken the boy to the nurse on Jan. 16 with a gushing nosebleed, according to the affidavits. Bean reported to the nurse that the 8-year-old had hit his nose either on a wall or on her arm while throwing a fit. She said she wasnt sure which. The boy was asked by investigators during a March 12 interview about the nosebleed and if hed ever been hurt at school. He said yes and when asked by whom, he said Ms. Bean, the affidavits state. Two witnesses also reported that Bean and Dale had given the 8-year-old timeouts lasting anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes. Another child also reported seeing Bean pulling the boy by his ear. Bean declined to make a statement to the sheriffs investigators on the advice of her attorney, according to the affidavits. Victoria Garcia, who spoke at Fridays board meeting, said that the third victim was her 6-year-old daughter Trinity. Shes identified as MV3 in the affidavits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A teachers aide reported seeing Dale tell the little girl she wanted to put her hands around the childs neck and squeeze, the affidavits state. The aide also said she heard Dale call the 6-year-old a vulgar name. A witness who recorded the abuse on a cellphone told Sheriffs Office investigators that she reported the abuse to Superintendent Martin on Feb. 19. According to her arrest warrant, Martin contacted a law firm that represents the school district and asked the lawyers to begin an external investigation, but she did not report the suspected abuse to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or the Parker County Sheriffs Office as required by state law. Investigators said they learned that Martin filed a report with the Texas Education Agency on Feb. 28 regarding one of the educators and she reported allegations involving the second educator to the TEA on March 3. Texas state law requires that suspected abuse be reported within 48 hours. More top stories from our newsroom: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sexual assault charge dismissed against Arlington pastor Heres whats behind bill to eliminate Texas Parks Department Family mourns death of Boswell High senior in kayak accident [Get our breaking news alerts.] Martin told a witness and investigators that she made reports to Child Protective Services and law enforcement, but investigators said the superintendent never filed those reports, according to the affidavit. The Sheriffs Office said it was initially made aware of the allegations on March 4, when a parent of one of the victims made a report. Cornelius told the Star-Telegram that her first contact with law enforcement was when she reached out herself to the Parker County Sheriffs Office and Child Protective Services once she obtained the video and learned more about what happened with her son. Cornelius said that the superintendent later informed her of other prior incidents including her son getting a shower without her permission, getting called vulgar names by staff and teachers, and receiving other inappropriate comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She pulled her son out of the school and said she plans to homeschool him. In a statement about the arrests, Texas Rep. Mike Olcott said that Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier informed him there are three victims in the case. I am especially disturbed that these individuals who were hired specifically to care for students in the special education program would subject such vulnerable children to this type of abuse, Olcott said. ... I expect the Board to fully consider what took place and discover if any other faculty members participated in or attempted to cover up the abuse that took place. Moreover, if the teachers are convicted of abusing these children, they should never be permitted to teach in a school again. Minnesota education officials say that their questions about the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education remain unanswered, while a parent group says it could have "disastrous and lasting effects on students, families, and educators throughout the country." President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order, surrounded by a group of children, that directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all." Eliminating the department in its entirety requires an act of Congress, with the order signed by Trump seemingly trying to eradicate as much of the department as possible without requiring congressional approval, though it is expected to be the subject of vigorous legal challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has said the department would continue to provide core functions, such as the $18.4 billion Title I program that provides funding to schools in high poverty areas, and the $15.5 billion funding for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs. On Friday, the president announced that federal student loans would now be handled by the Small Business Administration, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., would be "handling special needs and all of the nutrition programs and everything else." The Trump administration has already ordered the slashing of $600 million in grants, which the New York Times reports helped with the training and placement of teachers in underserved schools, and commenced the laying off of half of Department of Education employees, predominantly impacting its Office of Civil Rights. But as things stands, the totality of the impact of the cuts already made and those yet to come are unknown to officials in Minnesota, with the state's Department of Education (MDE) saying on Thursday that it requested information about potential changes to the department's programs and protections on Feb. 5, but that "to date, those questions have gone unanswered." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said the order will send the responsibility for the department's functions will be sent "back to states," though states already have the vast majority of control over education in the U.S.. States are primarily responsible for setting curriculums, while 90% of school funding currently comes from state and local governments. The functions of federal Department of Education, created under the Carter Administration, include distributing federal financial aid, ensuring equal educational opportunities, enforcing federal laws prohibiting discrimination, overseeing programs that support special education, disadvantaged, and English-as-second-language students, and collecting data and research on U.S. schools. MDE says that Minnesota's federal education funding currently stands as follows: $256 million for students with disabilities $192 million for students from low-income backgrounds $27 million for academic enrichment $6 million for students in rural schools $38 million to support children living on military bases or Native American reservations $100 million for Career and Technical Education workforce development programs State wants to hear from students, teachers, parents on impacts Amid the alleged lack of information on material impacts from the federal government, the Minnesota Department of Education has launched a "public feedback portal" at education.mn.gov, saying it wants parents, teachers and students to use it to provide "detailed accounts" of how they are being impacted by any cuts at the federal level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This appears to be an effort to push back on the Trump administration's cuts, with Education Commissioner Willie Jett saying the department "amplify Minnesotans stories as we continue to advocate for the stability, resources, and policies schools need to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed." Also on Thursday, Minneapolis Families for Public Schools issued a statement calling on Minneapolis Public Schools, Mayor Jacob Frey, Minneapolis City Council, Gov. Tim Walz and the State Legislature to "leverage the full range of their legal, fiscal, and governing powers" to fight back against the Trump administration's executive orders, provide full funding for public schools, and protect minority students. "Eliminating the Department of Education will have disastrous and lasting effects on students, families, and educators throughout the country," it said, raising fears that eradicating the department would impact "already underfunded programs" like IDEA (which the president said would be maintained) and early childhood programs such as Head Start. It also says it will lead to "more staff cuts at schools that already suffer from crowded classrooms and lack of support staff." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been no official statements issued from Minnesota's Republican delegation in Congress regarding the Department of Education order, though 6th District Rep. Tom Emmer did post the following on his social media pages this week in response to the executive order: "The best education is closest to the child. This is a win for Americas children! Thank you President Donald J. Trump!" The Star Tribune reports that 7th District Rep. Michelle Fischbach was asked about Trump's order at a paid-for event hosted by the conservative think-tank The Center for the American Experiment on Thursday. She reportedly said it was her understanding that the president did not cut education funding, "he cut the department." The newspaper notes that "several in the audience groaned at her response." SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) An Allen County woman faces several charges after officers reportedly found a missing child in her attic. Around 12:30 a.m. on March 21, the Scottsville Police Department was notified that the missing person may have been at a home on Parkway Drive. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers noted that upon arrival, 42-year-old Donna Spengler claimed she was the sole resident of the home. However, authorities found the missing child hidden in Spenglers attic. A court ordered the Allen County Sheriffs Office to return the minor to the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center. Spengler was subsequently arrested and charged with the following: Kidnapping Minor First-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension Custodial interference Endangering the welfare of a minor Second-degree unlawful imprisonment She was lodged in the Allen County 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 FOX 56 News. A brief standoff with Colorado Springs police Friday afternoon resulted in one arrest and the shooting death of a dog that police said attacked one of the officers. On Friday, officers with the Homeless Outreach Team responded to a home in the 800 block of West Colorado Avenue to arrest a man on a second-degree assault warrant. Police said the suspect, 54-year-old Michael Howard, was outside his residence and ran inside when officers arrived. Officers pursued, and deployed a Taser as he retreated into the house, but it was ineffective. Police report that the officers also tried to grab Howard as he ran inside, but his two large dogs attacked them, biting one of the responding officers on his calf. Police said the injured officer, who also suffered "a puncture and abrasions on his hand from the other bites," shot and killed the dog to stop further attacks. After the dog was killed, officers "backed out of the residence." Howard allegedly refused to exit, and multiple department units responded to the scene. Around 1 p.m., a shelter-in-place order was issued. Police also applied for, and were, granted a search warrant for the residence before using chemical irritants to force him out. Howard surrendered, and at 1:20 p.m., police lifted the shelter-in-place. Police did not say what new charges Howard may be facing following the standoff. Police said the injured officer drove himself to a local hospital. A missing New Hampshire woman was found dead Friday in a pond in a Merrimack Valley town following a massive search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, authorities said. A Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council search team member found the body of 73-year-old Margaret Hammersley, of Nashua, in the water of Westfords Forge Pond near the Groton town line just after 1 p.m., according to the Westford Police Department. Hammersley was reported missing by her family on Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hammersleys unoccupied vehicle was found in the area of Pleasant and Bradford streets, setting off a multi-agency search centered in Westford. Massachusetts State Police, as well as officers from Chelmsford, Billerica, and Pepperell responded to assist Westford police with a four-hour search around Forge Beach and Freedom Park on Thursday night before efforts were suspended until Friday morning. Westford authorities, state police dive and marine teams, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, and the NEMLEC relaunched the search for Hammersley at 8 a.m. Friday. Westford police said that Hammersley didnt have a phone or any known connection to the town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Westford Police Department sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Margaret Hammersley and asks that members of the public and media respect the familys privacy during this tragic time, authorities said in a statement. State troopers assigned to the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are assisting Westford police with an investigation into Hammersleys death. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Westford Police Department at 978-399-2345. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MEMPHIS, Tenn. Mississippi House lawmakers have passed a bill that would phase out the states income tax while adjusting other taxes. House Bill 1, also known as the Build Up Mississippi Act, would phase out the state income tax on the taxable income of individuals. The bill, authored by Representative Trey Lamar, was transferred to the Senate in January and amended earlier this week. The House voted 92 to 27 to agree with the Senates amendments on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves celebrated the move. Congratulations to the Mississippi legislature on passing historic tax reform and ELIMINATING THE INCOME TAX! Reeves posted to Facebook. What a great day for Mississippi taxpayers. While Reeves says he cant wait to receive the bill, the bills ultimate fate is uncertain as a motion to reconsider was also entered on Thursday. Reeves acknowledged that there are lawmakers who desire future tweaks to this law. Reeves says that changes can be considered in future legislation. In addition to phasing out the income tax, House Bill 1 would reduce the sales tax rate on groceries and revise the sales tax exemption on gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. Richard Emery, a man who was sentenced to death for the 2018 murders of his girlfriend and three of her family members in St. Charles, has been granted a stay of execution, delaying an execution date scheduled for next month. The Missouri Supreme Court formally granted a stay of execution on Tuesday. This halts a state execution of Emery previously scheduled for April 22, according to Missouri court records. The stay remains in effect while Emerys attorneys prepare to file a writ of certiorari petition with the U.S. Supreme Court by March 24, in which they plan to challenge aspects of his conviction and sentencing on constitutional grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Sept. 2022, Emery was convicted on four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his girlfriend, 39-year-old Kate Kasten, her two children from a previous relationship, 10-year-old Jonathan and 8-year-old Zoe, and Kates mother, 61-year-old Jane Moeckel. Fatal fireworks home explosion trial delayed to July Prosecutors sought the death penalty over the murder charges, and nearly one year later, Emery was sentenced to death, along with an additional 210-year sentence. According to previous FOX 2 reports on court proceedings, Emery had gone out drinking and played poker on the evening of Dec. 28, 2018. When he returned home, he got into an argument with Kate. At some point, Emery retrieved a handgun, and he and Kate struggled for the weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emery later retrieved the weapon and fired nine shots at the home. Investigators say Emery shot Kates mother, Moeckel, while she was on the phone with 911 dispatchers, along with her two grandchildren as they were barricaded in another room. After the shooting, Emery left the home with a pistol and an AR-15 rifle, including 500 rounds of ammunition, and a knife. He drove away from the home as police arrived at the scene. That officer radioed colleagues to stop Emerys truck. Emery was pulled over and exchanged gunfire with police. He then fired several shots and fled. Emery suffered two gunshot wounds during the shootout, though he did not take the AR-15 with him. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News After that, investigators said Emery eventually came across a woman who was leaving a Christmas party. Emery, who still had his knife, carjacked the woman and attacked her. He stabbed the woman seven times, five in her chest, but ran off when the car alarm went off. The woman survived. Emery was captured the morning after the shootings at a St. Charles QuikTrip, where police found him in a bathroom, covered in blood. During his trial in 2022, Emery claimed he remembered gunshots going off, but also claimed he did not deliberately shoot Kate, Jonathan, Zoe, and Jane. Emery said he felt like he was in a video game as an argument with his girlfriend escalated, culminating with the murders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His public defense attorneys previously presented a diminished capacity case to the jury, claiming hed been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and was not in control of himself at the time of the murders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. MARICOPA, Ariz. A Missouri man was recently arrested after he allegedly spent Valentines Day drunk inside an Arizona library and pointed finger guns at library staff members when they asked him to leave. The Maricopa (Arizona) Police Department arrested Kile Nickelson on charges of disorderly conduct, criminal nuisance and public drunkenness on Feb. 14, 2025, according to a police report obtained by FOX 2. The report indicates that Nickelson was found with a Missouri birth certificate at the time of his arrest and has an active warrant out of the state. Missouri court records identified him as a 39-year-old resident of Cuba, Missouri, with a warrant issued in December 2024 for a parole violation in Phelps County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Show Me Cash player hits $462K jackpot, winning ticket sold in Florissant According to the Maricopa police report, Nickelson was threatening employees by pointing finger guns at them, as the library was closing for the day. When one employee asked him to leave, he responded by pointing finger guns at her. The library manager then intervened, and after a brief verbal confrontation, Nickelson was out of the building. An employee then locked a door to the library out of fear for her safety. A short time later, police found Nickelson near the library. As one officer approached Nickleson, he was observed to have slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol. When the officer attempted to arrest him, Nickelson initially refused to comply, and he was subsequently taken to the ground, per the police report. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News During a search, police discovered a pocket knife in his front pocket and found his birth certificate in his backpack. After that, Nickelson was booked into the Pinal County (Arizona) Jail on charges of disorderly conduct, criminal nuisance and public drunkenness, according to the 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 FOX 2. NEVADA, Mo. A Nevada woman pleads not guilty Thursday (3/20) on charges she abused her grandson breaking 7 of his bones. Tonya Reynolds, 49, was arraigned in Vernon County court Thursday morning on a charge of felony child abuse. Authorities say that while her 5-month-old grandson was left in her care last weekend, she snapped one of the bones in his arm like a pencil. Court records say doctors at Childrens Mercy found two broken bones in the boys left arm, three broken ribs, and both legs were broken below his knees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reynolds remains jailed on a $50,000 cash-only bond. She will be back in court next week. The PC says the doctor told authorities the fracture on the infants upper left arm was a transverse fracture, meaning its a three-point bending fracture like breaking a pencil in half. The doctor also told deputies babies dont typically get bending fractures without excessive force. He said even if the infant was stuck in the slats of his bed; it would not have broken without excessive force. Court records describe the babys other broken bones as follows: the rib fracture was on the front of his chest below his heart area; the break on the ribs was from a squeezing or pushing break; the break in the lower arm and the legs were yanking/pulling breaks; the leg breaks were below the knee; the yanking and pulling breaks usually are consistent with shaking a baby. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Mitchell High School celebrated its ongoing transformation with the grand opening of its Future Center and student-designed courtyards on Thursday, March 20. On Thursday, the high school hosted a grand opening for the new Future Center, a hub of opportunity designed to provide resources and guidance for students exploring college, career, and life pathways. The adjacent courtyards, designed by Mitchell students, offer a unique and inviting space that reflects their creativity, school pride, and vision for an engaging, student-centered campus. One of the students who helped design the courtyards said shes excited to see how the school utilizes them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im honestly really proud of how its come together, its better than I imagined, said student Aubree McVey. I cant wait for the students to be able to enjoy them, here now, and in the future. Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell McVey said it took about a month to design, and multiple votes to ensure all student voices and ideas were heard before implementing the final design, something that the Principal of Mitchell High School said reflects the investment of students at the school in their own education, and the community beyond. It shows that there is a body of people that care about students and care about public education that actually benefits our local community, our local economy, and the nation at large, the world at large, said Principal George Smith. It just feels really good that people come together to exhibit that, that support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district said these enhancements are part of its larger mission to ensure students have access to high-quality, modern educational spaces that support academic achievement, personal growth, and future success. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FLORISSANT, Mo. An alarming number of crashes on New Halls Ferry Road has MoDOT stepping in with a new plan aimed at saving lives. The intersection of New Halls Ferry Road and Shackelford has seen over 1,800 crashes in the past four years. The number of crashes reported is five times higher than the statewide average, including 20 that resulted in fatalities. To combat concerns, MoDOT hosted an open house, presenting a $52 million proposal plan to make this dangerous corridor safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The improvements include things to make the roadway and the signals more visible, like yellow rectangles, said Stacey Smith, Improvements Project director at MoDOT. We call them retro-effective back plates on the signal heads to make different intersections more visible. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News MoDOT is also proposing changes to intersections, making left and right turns easier and safer. They plan to install center and shoulder islands to give drivers the sense of a narrower road, which studies show can reduce speeding. MoDOT says this is all about changing driver behavior, not lane structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I talked them through the speed study we did. At least one person was going 89 mph, Smith said. Everybody agrees so far that Ive talked to absolutely says they agree with there being a lot of speeding. Speeding, however, remains a significant concern for residents. Parker Road is a mess because of all of the different turns and everything, Gloria Broderick, an attendee, said. But when you get to Vaile, I love that place that they built up. You have to go the right way, and you cant turn around. City Justice Center detainee dies Sunday Some arent convinced these changes will slow drivers down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the base cause for most of these crashes is speeding, said Florissant resident Sherman Adams. Just from traffic, as an eyewitness, is speeding. These are not going to reduce speed. I dont know what type of crashes theyve had, but my biggest concern when Im driving down is the rate of speed that people travel on a regular basis. To help residents visualize the proposed improvements, MoDOT plans to mark future shoulder islands with paint and orange channelizers next week. MoDOT is giving residents two weeks to provide feedback on the project. For more information, visit the Route AC Safety Improvements webpage here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For up-to-date traffic and travel info, motorists can check MoDOTs Traveler Information Map 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 FOX 2. A 33-year-old mom of three, Ellie Doyle, recently went viral after sharing why she's moving from Florida to Connecticut, sparking discussions about the state of Florida's public school system, including book bans, religious teachings, and other political factors currently shaping everyday life in the state. @reheatedcoffeeclub / Via tiktok.com In the video, Ellie explained that one of the top reasons her family is leaving Florida is because of the public school system. Unhappy with the quality of education in Florida's public schools, she felt forced to continue sending her children to private schools, which come with a hefty price tag. "We will be saving at minimum $30,000 a year for putting our kids through the Connecticut public school system," she said. "And before you come at me and you're just like, 'Well, why don't you just put them in public schools in Florida?' I'm someone who grew up in Miami, Florida. I went to public school. They were great when I grew up, but times they are a-changing," she continued. Ellie said that the accelerated "gifted" program has been completely eliminated in her area, some students aren't taking core classes, like English, due to a shortage of teachers, and AP classes are limited. "There's not a ton of resources, not to mention all like the crazy banned book stuff," she added. "It really is a very conservative area to be putting your kids through the public school system. It's very religious-heavy, and that is just not where we side with." Advertisement Advertisement Reflecting on her own school experience, Ellie told BuzzFeed, "I was in the gifted program since elementary school. This meant I was taken out of my normal class two days a week to do a lot more challenging and enriching activities. Honestly, my best school memories were from gifted program days." She explained that the program provided enriching activities like "shop day," where students had to budget food for a week in a competitive game. "There were just a lot of really unique experiences like this that kids will never get now because you can't do that with classes that have 35+ kids." "Now, gifted programs are essentially gone in my county," she continued. "When my sister first moved here, and her boys were in the program, due to the budget, they were down to one day a week in the program, pulled out for a few hours (not a full day), then it went down to once every two weeks, and then they just fizzled out the program completely." "DeSantis has made things really difficult for public schools here, and it's just something we wanna stray away from," she continued in her video. "We've looked into the public school system in Connecticut, and it is fan-freaking-tastic. I'm very excited for my kids to go to school there and have a great public school experience," she said. Advertisement Advertisement When BuzzFeed asked what she's looking forward to in Connecticut's schools instead, Ellie pointed to several other factors affecting the public school system in Florida that will be less of an issue in Connecticut, including teachers salaries, budgets, Florida's private school voucher system, which benefits conservative private Christian schools, and restrictions on social-emotional learning. "Teacher salaries are horrible in Florida, so the turnover rate is really high," Ellie explained, comparing the salaries in Connecticut and Florida. (In the 2022-2023 school year, Connecticut teachers earned an average salary of about $83,400, while Florida teachers earned around $53,098.) "I'm from a family of educators. My mom is a retired teacher from Miami, and my sister left the St. Johns County public school system because of how awful it is to teach here," she told BuzzFeed. "The budget for Florida schools is so misappropriated. Programs get cut, any DEI programs, special needs programs, school trips get cut," Ellie continued. She expressed frustration with Florida's private school voucher system, which allows all students to receive state funds for private education; however, she says they tend to benefit conservative, Christian schools. The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images "In order to take the public funding, you need to abide by Florida's [rules]. So essentially, this only benefits schools that are highly conservative," she said. Advertisement Advertisement She clarified, "I don't mind paying more taxes in Connecticut if it means my kids are getting a fantastic public education filled with field trips, experiments, extracurriculars, gifted programs, and fully stocked libraries." Additionally, Ellie pointed out that Florida's shift away from diversity teaching and the ongoing book-banning controversy have further influenced her decision to leave. "Teachers aren't allowed to teach social-emotional learning in Florida. They don't want teachers to teach empathy or inclusion... And don't even get me started on the book-banning frenzy here." Jeff Greenberg / Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images In 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the "Stop WOKE Act," officially called the Individual Freedom Act, which limits the way that workplaces and schools can teach about race and sex discrimination. In 2024, a federal judge permanently blocked parts of the act. In addition to the "Stop WOKE Act," DeSantis also signed into law a measure restricting the teaching of certain topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity in K-3 classrooms (aka the "Don't Say Gay" law), and another controversial law that makes it easier for parents or county residents to challenge and request the removal of library books in public schools. This law has led to thousands of books including classics by Margaret Atwood, Kurt Vonnegut, and Toni Morrison being pulled from school libraries. Many have sued Florida over these laws, arguing that they are a form of censorship and violate the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement In addition to education, Ellie explained in her video that safety concerns are another primary reason shes leaving Florida. "Florida's gun laws are pretty awful," she said. While she and her family aren't completely anti-gun, Ellie believes gun regulations need to be much stricter. "In Florida, they seem to think the opposite," she remarked. "That's just not something that I align with, and it makes me scared for even just like my kids to go over to their friend's house because guns are just willy-nilly here...I'm very excited to get away from that culture." Reflecting on her own experience growing up in Florida, she told BuzzFeed, "It was just a much less dangerous culture. Mass shootings were not a 'normal' occurrence. They weren't doing school shooter drills when I was in school. I mean, we barely did fire drills! Now they have full trainings for both the teachers and the students" "One of the trainings shown to elementary school kids had real footage from one of the school shootings. I mean, that's traumatizing for kids. No child should need to go to school with a bulletproof backpack," she continued. "Florida seems to think the solution is that teachers should be allowed to carry weapons in the classroom, and I'm sorry, but what? These humans went to school to become educators, not to fight in combat to protect themselves and others." Joe Raedle / Getty Images In 2019, Florida passed a law allowing school districts to arm teachers and security guards. The law was enacted in response to the tragic 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Advertisement Advertisement For Ellie, the decision to leave Florida first began during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Floridians really showed their true colors, and that's when we really started to get our wheels turning about not wanting to raise a family here anymore." SOPA Images / SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images She explained, "I remember one incident where my high-risk sister was at Walmart, post-kidney transplant, wearing a mask, and a man unpromptedly walked up to her and called her a 'fucking libtard.' Florida was already heading in a more conservative way, but things took a really hostile turn during COVID." "Once Florida passed the six-week abortion ban, we were like, 'Yeah, it's no longer safe to be a pregnant person in Florida,'" she continued. "Your doctor should never have to question your care in the moment because they're worried that their license could be at risk. And also, were not going to raise our daughters in a state that limits their rights. The political climate plays a huge role in why were leaving." Joe Raedle / Getty Images Aside from political reasons, Ellie explained that she and her family are also looking forward to more affordable housing than where they currently reside, four seasons, and its centrality to other East Coast cities, like New York and Boston. And as for what would need to change to stay in Florida? "A new governor," Ellie laughed. "No, but honestly, at this point, I feel like Florida has gotten so conservative with the book banning, the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and just the lack of acceptance for diversity that it would take a long time to correct what's been broken." Chris DuMond / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement "So many people moved to Florida during COVID because it was a 'free' state that it's just become so conservative. My dad's side of the family is from Bolivia, and it just disgusts me the prejudice I see on a daily basis. Maybe if we didn't have kids, we would be more open to Florida, but it's just not a safe place to raise a family anymore unless you're white, Christian, and conservative." In the comments, thousands of other people expressed similar sentiments to Ellie. "It's not a bad thing to say it's a political decision!" one person wrote. "I also left FL because of the politics and every year when I visit family, it becomes clearer and clearer that was one of my best life decisions." Many other parents also chimed in about their moves out of Florida. "We moved from Tampa to north central Connecticut and I cannot tell you how many times I've cried because my autistic son's elementary school has been an absolute dream to work with!!" this person said. "We moved to FL to CT in June," another wrote. "Yes the taxes stink, but as far as it being more expensive I haven't really seen that. My daughter is THRIVING where in FL she was failing and so fearful." Others pointed out the education gaps that exist between some states are very real. "I grew up in CT, it wasn't until I went to college that I discovered how superior my education was and how lucky I was to receive that education compared to students from other states," someone said. Advertisement Advertisement And some said they'd also wish they could move to a "blue state" for similar reasons. Overall, commenters largely supported Ellie's decision, with many offering tips about life in Connecticut. "There's a LOT of Connecticut pride, which is exciting to see. I'm really excited to live in a place that I feel proud to call home," Ellie said. On a final note, Ellie told BuzzFeed, "It's a scary time to be a parent, and if you're a mom struggling with sending your kids to public school, or a parent of an LGBTQ+ child, or a parent with undocumented loved ones in your life, I hear you, I see you" "There are still a lot of good people in this country. It can be really hard to remember that when you live in a really conservative area, so Im very much looking forward to being around some more like-minded people." Ellie added that she's made a playlist on TikTok all about her 1000-mile move with three kids under 5 for others to follow along, if anyone else is inspired by her move. "If we can do it, so can you!" she said. What do you think? Are you considering or already in the process of moving out of a "red state" because of the political climate? Let us know why or why not in the comments or at this anonymous form. More than 1,300 flights, carrying an estimated 145,000 passengers, due to land or depart at Londons Heathrow Airport were either canceled or diverted on Friday after a nearby fire wiped out its power supply. The disruption began in the early hours of Friday UK time following a massive blaze in North Hyde Electricity Substation in Hayes, some five miles from the airport, which is one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world after Atlanta, Dubai and Tokyo. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to data on air traffic monitor Flightradar24, diversions and cancellations began at 4.45 a.m. local time with a British Airways Johannesburg flight the first to be impacted as it was diverted to Londons other main airport of Gatwick. The first early-morning arrivals out of the U.S. were not so lucky with a BA flight out of Boston and a United Airlines plane out of New York landing in Irelands Shannon Airport instead. A number of overnight flights out of L.A. were asked to turn back three to four hours into their journeys. Heathrow-bound planes also have been sent to continental European airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdams Schiphol. Heathrow is expected to be closed for the remainder of the day, with people being asked not to travel there under any circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Londons Metropolitan police said its counter-terrorism command was leading the investigation into the cause of the fire but emphasized that there was no indication of foul play as yet. Travel disruption is expected to continue into the coming days. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday said that newly adopted measures for mainland travel passes held by residents of Taiwan aim to facilitate study, work and life on the mainland. Under these new measures, Taiwan residents who lose, damage or forget to carry their travel permits can apply for a temporary electronic permit that will be valid for seven days, allowing them to board flights and trains within mainland cities. A verification service has also been launched to link travel and residence permits. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, emphasized that these services require voluntary application and strict identity verification, ensuring the security of personal information. Chen also criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities for misleading the Taiwan public by equating residence permits issued to people from Taiwan on the mainland with ID cards held by mainland residents. Residence permits are designed solely to assist Taiwan residents living on the mainland, and do not require holders to give up their residency in Taiwan, he said. Chen reaffirmed that authorities will strictly protect the personal information of permit holders, and urged Taiwan residents to use the service with confidence. More than half of people in Gaza would consider leaving if given the opportunity, a polling company has said. A survey by Gallup International questioned residents in a number of locations across the Strip in the first half of March. It found that while the biggest proportion 39 per cent said they would stay in Gaza and had no plans to leave, 14 per cent said they would leave permanently if given the opportunity and a further 38 per cent said they would leave temporarily but return in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings follow Donald Trumps controversial Riviera of the Middle East vision for the enclave, which envisages the displacement of the existing population to other countries. Announcing the plan in February, Mr Trump said the Strip had become an uninhabitable hellhole. The poll of 532 Gazans aged 18 and above began on March 2, the day Israel stopped aid entering the enclave, and ended on March 13, before the ceasefire ended. Based on the findings, Gallup International said: Given the hardships, more than half of Gazas residents would consider leaving if given the opportunity. Residents under the age of 34 and those living in the areas of Gaza City and Khan Yunis were more likely to consider leaving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany was the single most popular country to which respondents said they would consider moving if they had the chance, with 13 per cent choosing it. The country is home to the largest Palestinian community in Europe, estimated to be between 100,000 to 200,000. Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates were the next most popular, on 12, 10 and 10 per cent respectively. Forty-six per cent of responses to the poll came from the Gaza City governorate, which is thought to be the most severely damaged part of the Strip, with Deir al-Balah 32 per cent making the second-most extensively sampled district. Respondents were selected from permanent homes, shelter centres and tent gatherings, and were interviewed by female pollsters trusted by the community, the company said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of polling, almost four in 10 37 per cent said they had been forced to leave their home and could not return, a proportion likely to have increased since Israel resumed air strikes on Thursday. Meanwhile 36 per cent said they had left home but had since returned, a proportion now likely to have decreased. Only 10 per cent, when asked, said they had stayed at home throughout the war. Nearly 40 per cent of survey respondents said they had been forced to leave their home - Hatem Khaled/Reuters Electricity and fuel shortages were considered the biggest daily challenge among those polled (75 per cent), with access to food and water the next most significant problem (73 per cent ), and safety and security the biggest issue for 67 per cent. Israels decision to stop the import of aid has been condemned internationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it has said that Hamas was keeping much of the aid from the population and using it to regenerate its fighting capabilities. Speaking to the UN on Thursday, Eli Sharabi, a freed hostage whose wife and daughters were murdered on October 7, said the terror group stole humanitarian aid and withheld it from civilians, as well as hostages. Arab states have formulated a post-war plan for Gaza as an alternative to Mr Trumps vision which would see the population remain. Although sources have suggested the White House could endorse it, Israel has so far vetoed the putative agreement on the basis, it says, that it does not guarantee the elimination of Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallup International said it had conducted post-interview checks to assess respondent comfort; if discomfort was detected, the interview was discarded. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Mecklenburg County unveiled Thursday the new design for the former Huntersville slave plantation closed by controversy four years ago. The $11.2 million redesign of Latta Place will include a new visitors center, a tribute to the enslaved people who were held on the land and an interpretive trail providing historical context as visitors explore the site. The county closed the site, formerly known as Latta Plantation, to the public in 2021 after uproar over organizers promoting a racist Juneteenth event. The land, part of the Latta Nature Preserve, is county owned but was previously managed by a nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mecklenburg County cut ties with the nonprofit soon after the Juneteenth incident and launched a years-long process to redesign the site and its educational programming. On Thursday, county officials unveiled their design and a timetable for when Latta Place will reopen to the public at a community meeting at the North County Regional Library in Huntersville. It is our hope that Latta Place will be a destination featuring holistic storytelling, highlighting the varying perspectives of all who lived on the site, bridging the past and the present, providing space for reflection and being welcoming to all, Deputy County Manager Leslie Johnson told attendees. Why was Latta Place closed? Latta Place was first built by James Latta in 1800 as part of a 742-acre plantation, where he once owned 34 slaves. The 6-acre historic site previously operated as a living history museum and farm under the direction of the Historic Latta Place Inc. nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many in the community and multiple elected officials slammed the group in 2021 for an event timed to the Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States. Promotional materials for the event, called Kingdom Coming, promised to tell the story of white refugees and defeated Confederate soldiers and referred to a slave owner as an overseer and massa. Baris Threatt, 3, holds a sign during the Juneteenth protest at the Latta Plantation in Huntersville, on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Soon after, Mecklenburg County closed the site to the public and announced it wouldnt renew its contract with the nonprofit. In February 2022, the county formally removed plantation from the sites name, adopting Latta Place as it underwent a comprehensive review. The change in management has opened the door for reinvention of the site not by denying its painful past but by allowing for a space to share its history from a sensitive, unbiased frame of reference for those seeking knowledge and understanding, County Manager Dena Diorio wrote in an opinion column for the Observer in 2022. County officials said in 2023 they would reopen Latta Place as an educational site after working with experts and gathering community input. Latta Place redesign plan A steering committee made up of county staff, historians, scholars, community leaders and descendants helped guide the countys efforts and traveled to other former slave plantations as part of their work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Committee member Kendall Kendrick, executive director of the Charlotte Trail of History, is a descendant of the Sample family that also previously owned the Latta property. She said she felt a deep sense of responsibility as the descendant of enslavers to participate in healing and to help tell untold stories. Its been overwhelming with the weight of the history and the pain that continues to trickle through generations, but Ive also witnessed moments of profound connection, courage and empathy that have given me a lot of hope, she said at Thursdays meeting. Community feedback and the steering committees guidance were key drivers of the new design, principal landscape architect Gina Ford said. The plan unveiled Thursday hits on key points from that feedback, including shifting focus away from the Latta House, and incorporating an interpretive trail and a tribute to the slaves held on the site, she noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think its an opportunity to really cater to a broad and diverse group of different groups of people, Ford said of the plan. Visitors will begin their journey at a new 6,000-square-foot visitors center that will include gallery space, a community meeting room and outdoor gathering areas. Theyll then embark on an interactive trail that will loop through Latta Place and the surrounding nature preserve. The goal, Ford said, is to highlight the experiences of all types of people who lived on the Latta land including Native Americans, slaves and landowners and the ways in which they interacted with the natural ecosystem. Mecklenburg County anticipates reopening a redesigned Latta Place, formerly known as Latta Plantation, in 2026. Stops along the trail will highlight the surrounding forest, the bordering Mountain Island Lake, the cotton plantation fields and the plantation farmstead and include signs providing information and historical context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The farmstead will still include Latta House, an historic landmark, and an original meat house. But some replica buildings will be removed. We really want to tell the story about family, about community, about survival, Ford said. A lot of times we think about enslaved populations purely through the lens of trauma, the terror. We also need to think about what kept them going, what made them resilient. And a lot of times that was a sense of home and a sense of family and sense of community. Work on the main Latta House will be minimal, said Bert Lynn, Capital Planning Division Director for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. We decided we dont want this to be kind of a museum-style experience, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loop will end with a tribute to the slaves who lived, worked and died at Latta. The final design of the tribute is to be determined, and the county hopes to collaborate with a public artist on the project, Ford said. But the hope is to potentially include the names of every enslaved person known to have lived on the Latta site. We very much believe this should be a small, intimate, quiet space of reflection, Ford said. When will Latta Place reopen? Mecklenburg County hopes to start construction on the revamped Latta Place in late 2025, Lynn said, and expects work to take about a year. The county anticipates reopening Latta Place in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moving forward, the site will be managed and operated by county parks staff, Lynn said, who are working to develop programming for visitors and school groups. What were going to do is expand the perspectives that we share in the programming, he said. A display of 'ghost guns' displayed by Attorney General Josh Shapiro's office during a Capitol news conference on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 (Capital-Star photo). Delaware County Council has taken its first steps towards banning ghost guns. The unserialized firearms can be manufactured using 3d-printed pieces or from kits containing parts that can be purchased without a background check. The law would also ban converters, often known as Glock switches, that can be used to turn a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon. If the ordinance passes, Delaware County will become the fifth or sixth local government in Pennsylvania to ban ghost guns, despite the commonwealths preemption laws that generally keep municipalities from enacting gun measures stricter than what exists in state code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, the state Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether or not the ghost gun bans can stand. The most sacred duty an elected official has is to keep our public safe, said Richard Womack, vice chair of the Delaware County Council. This ordinance helps to do that in a balanced, smart way that maintains public freedoms while keeping ensured public safety. The ordinance introduced Wednesday would entirely ban the manufacturing, sale and possession of ghost guns, except by people with a federal firearm license (FFL). It would also ban conversion devices entirely, as well as the sale or transfer of firearm finishing devices like mills or jigs used to convert frames or receivers into fully assembled guns. Violations could result in a $1000 fine or up to 10 days in jail. In Erie, another proposed ghost gun ban had a first reading at a city council meeting on the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE What is a ghost gun? In the last decade, ghost guns have surged in popularity around the country. A study by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) found between 2017 and 2023, the number of untraceable ghost guns recovered at crime scenes rose by 1600%. Similarly, the number of machine gun converters recovered grew by 784% between 2019 and 2023. As it stands, ghost guns are at the center of legal controversy both in Pennsylvania and the country more broadly. First off, what is a ghost gun? said Stephen Gutowski, founder and editor of the independent news outlet, The Reload, which focuses on firearms. Its sort of a colloquial term that means a gun without a serial number. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broadly, Gutowski says, ghost guns are in three categories. First, there are guns manufactured before 1968, the year federal law required serial numbers for firearm sales. Those are legal for anyone who isnt disqualified from gun ownership by their criminal or mental health record. Then, there are firearms with filed off or destroyed serial numbers, which are illegal to tamper with. The third category is generally what people refer to when they use the term today: homemade guns. Obviously, homemade guns have been around forever, Gutowski said. However, its become increasingly attainable for the average person to make their own firearms for the last 10 to 15 years, really with the advent of 3D printing and Polymer 80% lowers. Polymer80 is a now-bankrupt company that made DIY ghost gun kits, which could be purchased unserialized and without a background check. The kits contained unfinished frames or receivers the parts of a gun that are defined as a firearm by law along with jigs and drillbits that could be used to complete it at home with common tools. Other parts of a gun can also be purchased without a background check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People have increasingly taken to making their own firearms at home with modern technologies that make the process easier for hobbyists, Gutowski said. These can also be appealing to criminals because one of the effects is it makes it more difficult to figure out the chain of custody of the gun where it came from and how it got to a crime scene. Under former President Joe Biden, the ATF attempted to curb the use of ghost guns by passing a rule redefining what constitutes a firearm to include 80% kits. The U.S. Supreme Court has heard oral arguments on whether that rule is legal, and is expected to rule soon. In the meantime, its been allowed to stand. It was by making the opposite argument that a ghost gun kit is emphatically not a gun, but just a part of one that Philadelphia justified passing their own ghost gun ban. It was done despite a Pennsylvania law that generally blocks local governments from enacting any gun regulation more restrictive than whats in state code. While numerous lawmakers in Harrisburg have attempted to ban ghost guns, no law has been passed on the state level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the Commonwealth Court upheld Philadelphias ghost gun ban, but the decision has been appealed to the state Supreme Court. Other cities, including York, Reading and Harrisburg, have not been deterred from instituting their own bans. City Councillors in Erie also introduced a ban this week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX You can not live freely if you are living in fear. Adam Garber, the executive director of the anti-gun violence advocacy group CeaseFirePA, applauded the move towards banning ghost guns and conversion devices at the Delaware County council meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the ban on converters that allow weapons to fire automatically, Garber said, rather than waiting for when its already attached to a firearm, it will help us prevent the shootings ahead of time, rather than to respond after a violent act is actually occurring. When it came to ghost guns, he added the rule, if passed, would also create a second safeguard in case we see federal rollbacks that undermine the current protections that are in place. Its unclear yet whether the Trump administration, which is broadly expected to take a more permissive stance on guns, will attempt to reverse the Biden-era ghost gun rule at the center of the pending Supreme Court decision. Delaware County Council members expressed support for the ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When unlicensed, unregistered, non-serialized firearms can be assembled and obtained by anyone with a 3d printer or access to a mail order kit, it is a danger that we cannot ignore, said Delaware County Council Chair Monica Taylor. When anyone can obtain a small part that modifies a firearm to be a fully-automatic tool of destruction, it is a danger that we can not ignore. Speaking to concerns raised by some Second Amendment advocates, Council member Elaine Schafer said, Nothing in this ordinance limits the freedom of law-abiding citizens. To the contrary, the proliferation of these ghost guns and untraceable and elevated fire accelerators circulating around our community makes us all less safe. It makes us all less free. You can not live freely if you are living in fear. The law will require a second reading by the council before it passes. Theyre scheduled to meet again on April 2. Court hearings for the 28 wealthy and well-connected men accused of being customers of an interstate commercial sex ring that ran high-end brothels in two Massachusetts communities continued Friday in a Cambridge courtroom. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in November that the hearings would be public. The hearings are taking place in Cambridge District Court. Eleven new alleged brothel customers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire were identified Friday and Cambridge Police Lieutenant Jarred Cabral detailed the allegations against them as he read from police reports: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven Riel, of Laconia, New Hampshire Nathaniel Welch, of Concord, Massachusetts Jeff Henry, of Exeter, New Hampshire Fred Rosenthal, of Marblehead, Massachusetts Timothy Ackerson, of Waltham, Massachusetts Matthew Fulton, of Belmont, Massachusetts Howard Redmond, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts Anurag Bajpayee, of Cambridge, Massachusetts Paul Toner, of Cambridge, Massachusetts Paul Grant, of Charlestown, Massachusetts James Cusack Jr., of Boston, Massachusetts While none of the men appeared in court, Cambridge District Court Clerk Sharon Casey informed their counsel that she would file charges against all of them. Additional names are expected to be announced when the next round of probable cause hearings in the high-profile brothel case is held on March 28. Last week, the names of a dozen accused sex buyers, from communities including Winchester, Lincoln, Concord, Newton, and Waltham, were made public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, through two rounds of hearings, a total of 23 people have been named in the brothel case. The attorneys for the Boston-area John Does identified in the black books of the sophisticated interstate high-end brothel network have desperately tried to keep their identities private, arguing that revealing their names violates their privacy. In 2023, then-acting Boston U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said the clientele of the brothels included politicians, big pharma executives, government contractors with security clearances, professors, lawyers, accountants, and scientists. A pair of Boston-based media outlets had filed to view criminal complaints against the alleged clients of a prostitution ring, however, the SJC also sided with the clerks decision to keep the complaints sealed until the first show-cause hearings are held in Cambridge District Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2023, authorities arrested Han Lee, Junmyung Lee, and James Lee on charges of running a commercial sex network in Watertown, Cambridge, and Virginia, where buyers paid up to $600 per hour for a wide array of advertised sex acts. Han Lee, the 42-year-old leader interstate commercial sex ring, was sentenced earlier this week to four years in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Han Lee didnt just recruit women to sell their bodies for sex she built a criminal enterprise designed to thrive in the shadows, evading law enforcement while profiting off her victims like commodities, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CHICAGO (WGN) Chicago residents continue to report vandalism involving Tesla vehicles in an apparent protest against Elon Musk, a close advisor to President Donald Trump. Peter Katz told Nexstars WGN he walked out of his home to find an antisemitic sticker on the back of his red Tesla. Katz, who is Jewish, said he filed a police report and shared ring camera video and images with detectives. Its just wrong that someones going out there and doing this in our neighborhoods for a choice that people make on a car, Katz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago residents report Tesla vandalism amid protests centered around Elon Musk The video captured by Katzs camera showed what appeared to be a man carrying a bag while walking on the sidewalk, then toward the back of his car. Someone put a swastika on our car, and then it had a sticker that said Heil Elon, Katz said. When Katz posted his ring doorbell video to social media, he said he heard from several other targeted Tesla owners in the area. A Tesla model Y and other Telsla vehicles sit at a dealership, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Peter Loge, a political ethics expert at George Washington University, said Elon Musks political moves are angering consumers. Consumers will take out their anger on his products, Loge said. Its the wrong thing to do. Its dangerous, and its counterproductive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attacks on Tesla dealerships grow nationwide Nationwide, the country has seen several dealerships and charging stations targeted, and some set on fire. On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced three people accused of using Molotov cocktails to set fire to electric vehicles in Colorado, Oregon, and South Carolina each face federal charges. Bondi noted that she is treating such crimes as domestic terrorism. Those convicted could face up to 20 years in prison. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about the uptick in Tesla vandalism, as well. Weve seen despicable and unacceptable violence taking place across our country at Tesla dealerships against workers, employees, and also innocent Americans who drive these vehicles, Leavitt said. Its actually a scary time in our country because of this political violence from the left, and the White House and the presidents entire administration condemn it wholeheartedly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on Thursday, Elon Musk announced that Tesla is ramping up security at all its showrooms and lots. Some Tesla owners have gone as far as to place stickers on their vehicles to fend off vandals. Stickers condemning Elon Musks recent political actions are seen on the back of a Tesla vehicle. (WGN) Katz, who bought his Tesla two years ago, said he is debating whether to keep the car, given the political climate. If it comes down to it, I might have to [sell it], Katz said. Its going to be at a loss, because now the value of the car is going to go down because everyone is trying to get rid of them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's push to rebuild U.S. shipbuilding is finding rare bipartisan support from Americans, with 72% saying the U.S. cannot remain dependent on China and other foreign producers to build ships, a poll released Friday showed. The survey of 2,204 adults, conducted by Morning Consult for the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) on March 10-12, showed strong concern about China's grip on the $150 billion global ocean shipping industry, and the negative national security implications for the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only 11% said the U.S. could rely on China and other countries to build ships for U.S. commercial and military needs. "This is one of those rare moments where there's a strong bipartisan thread here of wanting to move forward," AAM President Scott Paul said. "And there's pretty good support on Capitol Hill for being aggressive on shipbuilding as well." AAM, a policy group led by the United Steelworkers union and domestic manufacturers, released the poll ahead of a hearing to be held on Monday by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on proposed remedies, including charging up to $1.5 million for Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports. The Trump administration announced the proposed remedies, which also call for at least 1% of U.S. exports to be shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels, a month after the Biden administration concluded in a fast-track investigation that China unfairly dominates the global maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, paving the way for penalties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That probe was launched in April 2024 at the request of the United Steelworkers and four other unions, and conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as a way to rebuild an industry that has been in deep decline since the 1970s, when Japan and South Korea dominated shipbuilding. The China Shipowners' Association opposes the U.S. proposal to impose hefty port entry fees on ocean cargo carriers that own or have ordered vessels from China, saying it violates international rules and U.S. laws. But public support for the measures is strong, Paul said. The poll showed that 68% of Americans agreed that the United States' ability to build ships for both commercial and military needs is a matter of national security and 71% want the U.S. government to invest in the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seventy percent agreed that using Chinese-built floating docks to repair, maintain and retrofit U.S. military vessels threatens U.S. national security, the poll indicated. Nearly half of those polled (49%) backed implementation of a docking fee on Chinese vessels to encourage U.S. shipbuilding, and 56% favored requiring a percentage of U.S. exports to be transported on U.S.-built vessels with U.S. crews. Trump first announced his plans during an address to Congress in early March. He is expected to sign an executive order in coming weeks building on the USTR recommendations and would impose fees on imports arriving on Chinese-made ships, while offering tax credits to resuscitate domestic shipbuilding. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by Mark Heinrich) OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) News 4 received the public comments submitted regarding the new Oklahoma State Board of Education social studies standards, and only one comment was in support of them. As first reported by Non-Doc, changes were made to the social studies standards after the board approved them which now directs teachers and students toward debunked theories of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Non-Doc found that revisions were made following a December and January public comment period that received no acknowledgment or discussion at the Feb. 27 OSBE meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Controversial Oklahoma Academic Standards head to legislators The newly appointed, by Governor Stitt, board members asked at that meeting if they could see those comments but then approved the standards anyway. The standards leaned heavily into Christianity which received a lot of pushback. However, for some reason, only ten comments were submitted by email during the public comment period. Of those ten, only one supported the standards before the recent changes. Its important to note that the board members said during the last OSBE meeting that they hadnt gotten a chance to see the public comments. But they voted to approve the standards anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One commenter opposed said, I want to voice my thoughts about the new rules Mr. Walters is wanting to impose on our children. I object to the requirement of teaching anything related to any religion, including Christianity in public school. I dont want my grandchildren, who live with me, taught Bible verses in their Social Studies or History classes. These children get their religious education from church, not public school. Another commenter who was opposed said, I am a practicing Christian whose child attends an Edmond public high school. I question the coherency of some of the new social studies standards, including, for example, comparing Christian charity (a religious virtue) against communism (a political theory). That discordance is the natural result of trying to fit a square peg (theology) into a round hole (history). Or as Jesus said, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are Gods. Mark 12:17 and Matthew 22:21. Reverend Daniel Ross of the Christ Lutheran Church in Mustang was another public commenter who News 4 interviewed. I am a conservative Christian. Its very, very open-ended and touches on church doctrine and not just how the Bible influences culture, said Rev. Ross. I feel like we should let the Church teach the Christianity and keep the state out of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 also interviewed the one public commenter who was in support of the standards, Wade Burleson of Istoria Ministries. He said that Biblical morality should be taught in the classrooms. I am all for them, said Burleson. Youre not teaching them religion, youre teaching them what our founding fathers called Natural Law. But cant you teach that without using the Bible? You did that just now with me and without referencing any verses. Okay, great point. Im saying as we began as a country, the Bible was everything, said Burleson. Reverend Ross in his public comment he submitted brought up his concerns around potential court costs that could come if the standards are approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And those would come back on the taxpayer, said Rev. Ross. One point that Burleson brought up, is that he said liberal activists have been the ones fighting against putting the religious-leaning standards into schools. Its those liberal activists who want to use judges and the courts to overturn the rule of law. The day of reckoning is coming, said Burleson. Stitt-appointed OSBE members clash with Supt. Walters However, many of the public comments submitted for the standards who were opposed said that they were Christians. Rev. Ross stated that he is even a Christian Conservative. Another person opposed, who submitted a comment, wrote, I am writing this as a concerned teacher and citizen of Oklahoma. I have already made my comments on the form provided by the state regarding the proposed social studies standards, but I will reiterate them here: Implementing the Bible in coursework is a grave mistake. This book does not hold historical accuracy. There are FAR too many versions of it for the information to remain consistent. Teaching history from a Biblical perspective is harmful and dangerous, as this can be a tool of indoctrination. Additionally, the multiple mention of standards excusing historical crimes and actions is equally abhorrent. Including the context and situation of that time period to excuse bigotry and violence is absolutely ridiculous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The standards with the latest additions are in the hands of lawmakers who have around a week to act on them. Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton was asked by Non-Doc reporter Tres Savage at a media availability last week if he thought the 2020 Presidential election was valid and the results were legitimate. He (former President Biden) became president for four years so I guess it was legitimate enough for him to be put into office, responded Senate Pro Tem Paxton. If the standards are approved they will be in place for the next six years. News 4 reached out to OSDE to find out if all of the board members have had a chance to look at the public comments since they voted to approve. OSDE had no comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. I was walking in an Indianapolis neighborhood recently when I was taken aback by an amazing sight I came across a huge structure installed in the ground, casting a massive shadow. A passerby noticed my astonishment. This man happened to be an engineer. What do you think about it? We began a conversation, and so grew my appreciation for Dendrons installations for the urban environment which are multipurpose, versatile, and network ready. Excuse my enthusiasm as I introduce you to them. The job of Dendrons is to provide cover to buildings and open spaces, reducing energy consumption and increasing comfort. Dendrons shield sunlight with both vertical height and horizontal reach and the amount of shade adjusts seasonally, blocking less sunlight in cooler months. Additionally, water evaporates from Dendrons, creating a cooling effect in warm weather using no electricity. Large collections of Dendrons can in fact provide a cooling effect miles away, desperately needed to disrupt the heat island effect seen in so many American cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Briggs: Fishers' attack on investor-owned homes will lock out families Neighboring Dendrons are networked. They communicate underground to enhance resilience and can actually redistribute energy in real time to a neighboring Dendron. With some self-diagnostic and self-reparative capacity, ongoing Dendron maintenance is not zero but is small compared to the expected benefits. With increasing weather extremes, our cities are not only blighted by heat but increasingly by stormwater overflow and flooding. Larger Dendrons are able to sequester several hundreds of gallons of water per day, providing excellent disposal of stormwater. Any water runoff from Dendrons is slow compared to paved surface, again reducing flooding risk. Dendrons play further roles in atmospheric protection, sequestering carbon long-term while simultaneously producing oxygen. Their strong appendages also serve as wind barriers, shielding other urban structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the most surprising finding is that the presence of Dendrons actually reduces anxiety in humans. While studies are limited at this point, they all produce similar findings Dendrons are not only aesthetically pleasing but help humans to feel happier and more relaxed and even wealthier, increasing as they do property value. Children have even been found to spontaneously climb these structures, while animals thrive in their habitat. By now, you have probably realized that Dendrons are actually quite familiar. Indeed, they are familiar to the point of being overlooked; wondrous as they are with the simple name of trees. Did you have a favorite climbing tree, before you "grew up" and left it behind? Many of us associate trees with childhood and so we resign them to simplicity. Because we stop learning about trees, we think we have outgrown them; because we did not invent trees, we underestimate them; and because we rarely buy trees, we undervalue them and their services. Crucially, because developers make little money from trees, they are largely an afterthought in our urban planning. Indeed, if a developer offered the city an integrated biotech solution with such a large return on investment, the city would invest heavily as long as we did not call them "trees." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human life could not exist without plant life. This is obvious at the most basic level. Yet, when we scale up to cities, concentrated and organized human life, we somehow relegate plants and trees to ornaments even as our dependence on them grows more sophisticated. We have survived this ignorance because trees have nonetheless quietly been performing, underwriting the growth of our cities. As we scrape down to less and less canopy Indianapolis is now at 32% canopy cover we can no longer take their services for granted. If we did not have urban trees, we would need to invent them to keep our city livable. We must fund our urban forests accordingly. In 2024, the City of Indianapolis made a historic first in allocating funds for the public acquisition of urban forests. The stakes have only risen since the last federal election, placing the onus for climate action both mitigation and resilience onto cities. I implore the Mayors Office to respond to this challenge with legacy-defining leadership by earmarking funds for the further acquisition of urban forest. Let us rise to the occasion as a public and as elected leaders, thriving in our city as we green our city. All names aside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Jonathan Munro is an anesthesiologist and board member of the Indiana Forest Alliance. He lives in northeast Indianapolis. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis needs urban trees to stay livable | Opinion Most sea turtle populations are rebounding around the world, researchers said this week. That promising news comes even amid continuing man-made threats to the beloved marine reptiles, including climate change, habitat loss, and fishing. Sea turtles are a shining light of marine conservation with recoveries of many nesting populations, Graeme Hays, distinguished professor and chair in marine science at Australias Deakin University, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hays and Deakins Jacques-Olivier Laloe, along with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries researcher Jeffrey Seminoff, reviewed the status of the seven species of sea turtles around the world in a study published in the journal Nature Reviews Biodiversity. Researchers say that most sea turtle populations are rebounding. The news comes amid burgeoning climate change threats (AFP via Getty Images) The reason for the rebound is tied to new protections and conservation efforts, with more turtles nesting at beaches that have stronger protections in place. Many fisheries have implemented measures to avoid catching the animals and removed or reduced artificial lighting that can confuse baby turtles trying to find the ocean. When I think of sea turtles, the first word that comes into my mind is resilience, said Seminoff, a research scientist who specializes in sea turtles at NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center. They are sensitive because they depend on the marine ecosystem, but give them a chance to thrive and they will take advantage of it. Seminoff also said that the increasing number of sea turtles reflects a change in public mindset, with former poachers now leading visitors to nesting sites as a part of ecotourism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, commercial hunting, entanglement in fishing nets, and a loss of nesting beaches had resulted in declines. The Endangered Species Act and other measures helped protect the species more widely. Green sea turtle populations are increasing. Thats partially because of recent conservation measures (AFP via Getty Images) Data on populations and nesting beaches show four of five regional populations of green sea turtles are increasing, NOAA said. That trend is the same for loggerhead turtles. Annual loggerheads increased from around 500 to 35,000 in Cape Verde in the North Atlantic Ocean. There were also increases in individual populations of the critically endangered hawksbill and Kemps ridley, the vulnerable olive ridley, and flatback turtles. Leatherback turtles, the largest of all sea turtles, were determined to be struggling the most. They are the only species that lack scales and a hard shell, and swim more than 10,000 miles a year to find prey in between nesting seasons. Leatherback turtles are struggling the most. Theyre the largest species of sea turtles (AFP via Getty Images) The researchers analyzed nearly 300 records of turtle numbers over time. They found that significant population increases were three times more common than significant decreases. In an updated compilation of additional time series published in 2024, significant increases were six times more frequent than significant decreases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the global evaluations reveal a generally encouraging picture of species growth, the researchers note that climate change resilience remains a concern. Climate change remains a threat to many marine species. Rising ocean temperatures can affect turtle reproduction (AFP via Getty Images) Rising temperatures at oceans and beaches lead to more female offsprin, and that could eventually interfere with reproduction. Yet, new evidence shows loggerheads are responding to the shifts, nesting in cooler areas. Turtles could also begin nesting at some beaches earlier in the year, the researchers said. The bottom line is: When you stop hunting and otherwise harming species and they regain their ecological foothold, they can again become a thriving part of the marine ecosystem, Seminoff said. There will always be surprises, but now many sea turtles have greater resilience going forward. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Three people now face charges in last Septembers deadly mass shooting outside the Hush Lounge in Five Points South. The additional arrests come just one day before the six-month anniversary of the shooting. Thursday, Birmingham Police announced that NyQuan Lollar and Crishawn Mclemore-Bruce are charged with capital murder and 17 counts of assault in the case. Damien McDaniel was previously the only person charged in this shooting. In many investigations, you hear a lot of different names, and at that time, it may start as hearsay, Birmingham Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett said. Our detectives are charged with walking down actual credible evidence that can be presented in a court of law. That evidence has to be legitimate, it has to be verified, so it does take an amount of time for us to verify the information and the tips that come in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New arrests made in Hush Lounge mass shooting, murder of Birmingham firefighter Anitra Holloman was one of the four people killed on September 21, 2024, outside of Hush Lounge. Her mom says having two more men arrested in her daughters murder is a gift in more ways than one. Its a great present to Anitra as well because, like I said about today being her birthday, that was like a present to her, Hollomans mom, Candance Kemp, said. Holloman would have turned 22 years old on March 20, 2025. Im still trying to grasp the fact that shes gone, Kemp said. Some days I ask myself, just like, this cant be real, like, aint no way that this is real, my baby is gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kemp says she feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders knowing that three men are behind bars for the shooting that took her daughter away from her. Like, a big relief, you know? Probably me walking around in the city knowing that it was people, or possibly more people, out here that murdered my child, she said. Six months after the shooting, police say its still under investigation. Up until the time the DAs office sets, the judge has set this for trial, our investigators literally do not stop working. They dont stop doing interviews, they dont stop analyzing evidence, so it is quite possible that more arrests could come up to that date, Pickett said. There could be more arrests but at this time, we dont have enough evidence to charge anyone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kemp says it makes her feel better knowing people are still looking for answers. Sometimes they do make us feel like they dont be working for us, but when I talk to the detective and everything, he calls and talks, it lets me know they are kind of pressing this issue to get the other person thats involved because they say its four shooters, Kemp said. So, I think Ill probably get more rest when I know the other person has been accounted for murdering my daughter. Kemp says shes starting a foundation in her daughters honor to help children who have lost one or both parents to gun violence, like her 2-year-old granddaughter. She hopes to have it up and running by September 21, the one-year anniversary of the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. YANKTON, S.D. (KCAU) The 11th president of Mount Marty University announced plans to retire at the end of 2025. On Thursday, the university announced that Dr. Marcus Long told Mount Martys Board of Trustees of his plans to retire by December 31. Dr. Long began his tenure on July 13, 2015. He will retire as the longest-serving current university president in South Dakota, along with being the longest-tenured MMU president of the eight who werent Benedictine sisters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Longs leadership at Mount Marty this past decade has been transformational, said MMU Board of Trustees Chair Rob Stephenson. MMU is a very different and much stronger institution because of his collaborative work with so many on campus and in the region. Briar Cliff Univerisity holds inauguration for 13th president During Dr. Longs tenure, the higher institution accomplished many things, such as going from a college to a university and increasing enrollment by nearly 30% during eight consecutive years of enrollment growth. Mount Martys success over the last decade is because many people have believed in our Benedictine mission and have worked to build programs and recruit and retain students, Long said. More and more students have chosen to become part of our academic community, which is the greatest honor we could ever hope for. MMUs success has had little to do with decisions Ive made. But as the Benedictine sisters know well, stability is important. Im enormously grateful for the trust the Board, the sisters and the MMU community have placed in me since Lisa and I arrived in Yankton during the summer of 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mount Marty University Board of Trustees with work with the university community to conduct a national search during the 2025 calendar year for the universitys 12th president. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. The job market is tough, even for a would-be police horse. Fritz, a 16-year-old quarter horse, is losing her job with the Columbus Division of Polices mounted unit. Mounted officer and Columbus police horse trainer Sandra Silva said the blue roan mare is a fantastic horse, but she isnt suited to the work. Its a common outcome for new would-be police horses. More common than them staying, Silva said. Fritz the horse was donated to Columbus police about a year and a half ago. She's been challenging to train. Fritz was donated to the 40-year-old, 11-horse mounted police unit about a year and a half ago. She is a papered quarter horse who came to the department with what Silva described as an impressive pedigree. On Monday, the Columbus City Council will vote on an ordinance to return her to her previous owner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like some horses, Fritz could not be tamed. When Silva first tried to climb on Fritz for a test ride, the horse broke into a canter before Silvas feet were in the stirrups. The behavior served as a warning that Fritz might not do well around big crowds. Fritz the horse hasnt made the cut for the Columbus mounted unit and will be returned to her previous owner. Nobody else wanted to test ride her after that, Silva said. Silva decided to give the horse a shot, but Fritz proved too high energy and often refused commands. The city council ordinance notes Fritz cannot be utilized due to her inability to lower her energy level when exposed to stimuli that she would be exposed to on the street. Fritz will be returned to her previous owner. Her trainer said it is a common outcome for new would-be police horses. Before her latest gig, Fritz worked as a competitive mounted shooting horse, where the animals canter as their rider shoots at targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats where Silva believes Fritzs most persistent problem came from and why the horse sped off the moment she mounted her. While it's a useful trait for a competitive shooting horse, it's not ideal for police doing crowd control or strolling through an city environment. Police horses dont do much cantering, Silva said. They mostly trot or walk because its hard to travel in a herd of cantering horses. Training a police horse Training a horse for the street can take anywhere from two weeks to three years, Silva said. The horses must first pass a vet check. After that, officers and the units outside trainer spend a considerable amount of time desensitizing horses to things they might encounter on the job, like fireworks or unruly partiers. The mounted unit once built a massive grate to walk the horses over and put a fog machine under to mimic the steam that sometimes billows out of sidewalk vents. The unit has inflatable costumes and yard ornaments since those sometimes pose a problem around Halloween. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The horses remain somewhat skittish prey animals. Maddie, a huge Belgian draft, doesnt like cement trucks. None of the horses are keen on the grocery bags that sometimes float down Columbus sidewalks. There are just two things that scare a horse: things that move and things that dont, Silva said. Silva said its okay if the horses startle as long as they can be calmed. Fritz wasnt particularly skittish she certainly didnt care about gunshots but her high energy remained a problem. The right horse for the job Many Columbus police horses are donated, which Silva said isnt ideal. When the unit buys horses, they come with a health guarantee. The donor horses dont and tend to come with baggage, Silva said, but a suitable horse can cost $6,000-$18,000. When the unit has money to buy a horse, they try to spend under $10,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silva said the breed doesnt really matter. The Milwaukee Police Mounted Patrol uses Percherons, and the U.S. Border Patrol primarily uses Mustangs. Columbus has all sorts, including two warmbloods, a massive Belgian draft, and a statuesque black Friesian cross affectionately called Big Mike. Its not the breed of the horse, its the brain of the horse, Silva said. But Silva prefers to avoid thoroughbreds, which she said are usually too high-strung. The unit looks for horses at least 15 hands high, though its not a hard limit Fritz is only about 14.3 hands. A hand is 4 inches, so a 15-hand horse is 5 feet tall at the withers, the highest point of the shoulders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All officers must be able to ride all the horses, and a rider can only be 23% of the horses body weight, Silva said. The units smallest horse is about a thousand pounds, so the unit has a 230-pound weight limit for its humans. A smaller horse would drop that limit. The unit also prefers younger horses, about 8-10 years old, because they can use them longer. But all that comes second to personality. The horse must be curious, not skittish. It also must be willing to do the work. Thats where Fritz fell short. She sometimes bucked a little when told to trot. Shes never quite gotten over it, Silva said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unit decided to return her to her previous owner and open up a stall in the stable for a new horse. They still think Fritz is a great horse. Outside in the yard on Wednesday morning, Fritz showed no sign of having high energy. She stood munching grass at the fence line, indifferent to a Dispatch reporter and photographer. The officers would like to see her become an equine therapy horse. She just stands there and lets you pet her, Silva said. bagallion@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fritz, the unruly police horse, loses her job with Ohio department A new development proposal to build 137 homes along Central Pike in western Wilson County received positive recommendations Thursday from members of the Mt. Juliet Planning Commission. Designs for Tillman Place include a mix of 24 single-family homes and 113 townhouses covering nearly 36 acres on the north side of Central Pike, west of Pleasant Grove Road. The residential units would all be for sale, not for rent, according to a development representative. The Mt. Juliet Planning Commission gave positive recommendations to the preliminary plan, its associated land use plan amendment and annexation of a portion of the property into the city limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The planning commission's recommendation are nonbinding. The Mt. Juliet City Commission will ultimately need to approve the project with two passing votes at different meetings. The Tillman Place location is just west of a future interchange at Central Pike and Interstate 40. Widening work on Central Pike is also part of the Tennessee Department of Transportations 10-year road project plan. However, a specific timeline to start and finish the interchange and Central Pike widening work is still uncertain. But, if Tillman Place is approved, the first residents would likely move in before the the interchange is finished. Tillman Place is expected to add 348 residents at buildout, if approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillman Place is doing a number of its own road improvements that will include going beyond the states plans to improve Central Pike, development representatives told the Planning Commission. Amenities would include a 8,635-square-foot park pavilion, walking trails, a playground and exercise area. Several residents addressed planning commissioners about traffic congestion and safety concerns that already exist in the area. The development will provide a sewer connection for neighbor Shiloh Baptist Churchs future building, according to meeting discussion. There was also discussion about whether commercial development would be a better fit for the area as the interchange comes in. Luxury Mira Bella development gets thumbs down A rendering that is part of the Mira Bella mixed-use development seeking approval by Mt. Juliet. A plan to build up to 434 high-end homes in Wilson County received a negative recommendation by the Mt. Juliet Planning Commission, but that doesnt necessarily mean the project is dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mira Bella is the name of the proposed mixed-use community that would be located on approximately 400 acres between Lebanon Road, Beckwith Road and Bass Lane. The location is just west of State Route 109 and essentially between Mt. Juliet and Lebanon downtowns. Kyle Allen, the owner and developer of Mira Bella Inc., said home prices could range from $1 million to around $5 million. Concerns about the potential impact to traffic to an already congested area have been raised by area residents. The Mt. Juliet Planning Commission gave the preliminary master development plan and rezone requests a negative recommendation on Thursday with a 6-1 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Planning Commission's recommendation is non-binding as project approval must eventually come through the Mt. Juliet City Commission. The plan will still move forward to the City Commission barring any deferrals or withdrawals, according to city staff. The Planning Commission had partially acted on Mira Bella in February with a positive recommendation to a land-use amendment and a negative recommendation to annex the property into Mt. Juliet. The preliminary master development plan was then deferred until Thursday. Allen and representatives for Mira Bella were not available to discuss potential next steps. Mira Bella also has commercial space closer to Lebanon Road. A promotional video shows that a restaurant, boutique, amphitheater and convenience market are part of the Mira Bella plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mt. Juliet votes on home-building projects Mira Bella, Tillman Place PARIS (Reuters) - A multimillion euro scam which centred on getting fraudulent reimbursements for hearing aids from the French state has been dismantled and eight suspects have been arrested, European police body Europol said on Friday. Europol said that in July 2024, the suspected fraudsters had set up fictitious hearing aid companies, using falsified diplomas to secure accreditation from health authorities and get contracts with the French state's health insurance fund. They then issued false invoices, and used stolen patient details to help them, leading to the payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.3 million) via fraudulent reimbursements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The illicit funds were then channelled through shell companies across Europe, with proceeds laundered in Germany, said Europol, which is headquartered in The Hague. Europol said French police arrested eight suspects earlier this month, with 195,000 euros worth of criminal assets seized. ($1 = 0.9228 euros) (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Angus MacSwan) PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Multnomah County has officially taken another step towards building a replacement animal services facility, the Board of Commissioners announced Thursday. The Board approved preliminary plans to replace the aging current facility in Troutdale, built in 1968. As it stands, the county says the current shelter cannot accommodate the Countys large and growing animal population, and fails to meet national standards for animal shelter care. The existing space is 18,000 square feet and concept designs for the new facility will double that to meet current needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heartbreaking: Volunteers raise concerns about animal shelter amid new facility proposal The announcement comes after volunteers have also raised concerns about animal health, treatment, adoptions and euthanasia policies, finances and much more inside the current environment for more than a year. Multnomah County has worked toward building or replacing the current shelter since 2007, due to the overcrowding issues. Roughly $3.5 million was put toward the project in 2016 and the proposed shelter remained in the consulting phase until recently. A 2023 community survey further showed that the local citizens would like to see more open space and greenery for the animals, larger medical facilities and improved quarantine zones for sick animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland mayor reviews transportation utility fee with no concrete tax plan Then in the fall of 2024, the Oregon Department of Agriculture issued a warning notice regarding the inadequate amount of space used to quarantine animals carrying different infectious diseases. In October and November board meetings, shelter volunteers sounded off during public comment sessions, leading to then-county commissioner Sharon Meieran circulating a letter, which outlined a growing list of volunteer concerns. Despite these setbacks, the county said this approval marks a major step in its commitment to improving animal care and services for the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive heard from many residents, community groups, and committed volunteers about the need to modernize and increase space for essential programs and housing to align with industry standards and best practices to provide quality care for our animals, said Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards. This is a long time coming, and Im glad the day has arrived that were moving forward. Next, the county says its working to get a leadership team in place for the project along with securing funding approval by the end of March 2025. As of now, the estimated cost of the new site ranges between $55 and 85 million. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Forever 21 clothing store in Murfreesboro will be "going out of business," a shop window sign tells shoppers Thursday. Another window sign tells people it's the "last 10 days" of the store at The Avenue Murfreesboro shopping center on Medical Center Parkway. More signs promote that the entire store's products are 50% to 70% off while the national Forever 21 is going through bankruptcy for a second time, The Tennessean reported this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'It's amazing': California-based In-N-Out Burger plans to open restaurant in Murfreesboro The disappointed Forever 21 shoppers include Charlene Da Silva of Murfreesboro. "I love to shop here," Da Silva said. "Where am I going to go after they close?" Da Silva likes the style of the clothes at Forever 21. "They are very fashionable.," she said. "So now Im going to have to find another store like this. Retail challenges: Forever 21 files for bankruptcy a second time, announces store closures. How many stores are in Tennessee? Forever 21 has 6 TN locations The Forever 21 displays window signs Thursday, March 20, 2025, about the clothing store going out of business at The Avenue Murfreesboro shopping center. Forever 21's corporate operator, F21 OpCo, announced Sunday that the company planned to file for Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company announcement said it will close all U.S. stores due to competition from other fast-fashion companies and economic challenges. 'People are really excited': Trader Joe's will open at Medical Center Parkway/Robert Rose Drive Forever 21 soon will be vacating the space at The Avenue Murfreesboro. The large shopping center remains busy with dozens of other national retailers and local stores, serving customers who drive or walk from nearby apartments and hotels. The Daily News Journal left a voicemail for management of The Avenue Murfreesboro and awaits a response. Tennessee has a total of six Forever 21 stores at the following locations: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashville - 504 Opry Mills Drive Murfreesboro - 2615 Medical Center Parkway Franklin - 1800 Galleria Blvd. Memphis - 2760 N Germantown Pkwy. Johnson City - 2011 N. Roan St. Collierville - 4674 Merchants Park Circle This is a developing story. Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign upfor a digital subscription. Diana Leyva, a reporter with The Tennessean, contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Forever 21 stores 'going out of business' in Murfreesboro, TN WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) A local museum is celebrating 25 years of telling the stories of the Wichita Falls area. Since 2000, the Museum of North Texas History has told stories of Wichita Falls past. Though hes only been around for less than a year of the museums extensive history, executive director Jeremy Davis feels hes built a special connection to the city and its history. Im a huge history nerd, so for me, this is one of the highlights of my hob, is learning the different figures, the different people, the different events that have happened throughout this communitys past, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The museum started with a select few founders, one of whom was Byrle Graham. As one of the museums founders and long-time board members, he has seen it grow from humble beginnings to a still-growing present. At the museums anniversary celebration, he was honored as a board member emeritus for his dedicated work to the museums mission. Its interesting. Im kind of proud of myself and proud to help the county, you know, and to be a part of it and part of the archives, and I mean, the museum, Graham said. Mayor Tim Short declared the day, Museum of North Texas History Day, honoring all the museum has done. After 25 years, the community continues to stay involved with the museum, bringing new pieces to the museum. Ribbons, medals, all of those things, Davis said. And theyre like this is all we know about this, what can you tell us? And we were able to dive in and tell them about their family member and then also incorporate that into the collection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the museums most well-known displays is the Nats Hats collection. Cowboy hats from all over Texoma line the museum walls. For Graham, though, the new pieces excite him the most. Every time I come in, I like to see some difference still, Graham said. Its all changed, making changes, you know. The ones who are doing it now are doing a very good job. The Museum of North Texas History hopes to continue educating Wichitans on their past so they can better prepare for their future. The museum will continue celebrating its 25th anniversary, and on Friday, March 21st, all museum admissions will be free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. Elon Musk has claimed that his AI chatbot Grok would be truth-seeking, yet it often contradicts the billionaires positions. When he launched the new version of Grok last month, Musk said it would be maximally truth-seeking even if that truth is sometimes at odds with what is politically correct. Instead, Grok has notably challenged Musks version of the truth on several topics, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and immigration, The Washington Post reported. Grok last week declared that Democrats are better for the economy than Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another point of conflict between Grok and Musk is the treatment of trans youth. Musk has a trans daughter but has still shared his strong opposition to gender-affirming care. Last July Musk told right-wing commentator and psychologist Jordan Peterson in a conversation livestreamed on X that he doesnt support his daughters gender identity. I lost my son, essentially, said Musk, adding that his child was essentially dead, killed by the woke mind virus. But asked for a one-sentence answer if children should receive gender-affirming care, Grok responded: It depends on the childs specific needs, age, and medical advice, but evidence suggests it can help some while others urge caution due to long-term unknowns. (Grok / xAI) Musk launched the developer of Grok, xAI, in 2023, and it can be found on the social media platform X, as an app, or on its own site. The billionaire has indicated that he wanted Grok to be an alternative to ChatGPT by OpenAI, which Musk has claimed has been ordered to give woke answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk told Fox News in April 2023 that OpenAI had been training the AI to lie by using human feedback and telling the chatbot not to say what the data actually demands that it say. However, right-wing commentators have argued that Grok also gives what they characterize as some politically liberal answers. Musk, for example, has argued on several occasions that Democrats have imported voters, claiming last month that the Biden White House was pushing to get in as many illegals as possible to unlawfully vote in last years presidential election. He also claimed that noncitizens have been voting, repeatedly making the assertion on social media. Asked if Democrats imported immigrants to vote in the U.S., Grok has stated in part that theres no solid evidence that Democrats have systematically imported immigrants to vote in U.S. elections. Claims like this often stem from political rhetoric, but voting by noncitizens in federal elections is illegal, rare, and heavily penalized think fines, jail, or deportation. (Grok / xAI) Musk wrote on X In December 2023: Unfortunately, the internet (on which [Grok] is trained), is overrun with woke nonsense. Grok will get better. That was in response to a complaint from Peterson regarding what he characterized as Groks radically left-leaning explanations on issues such as poverty in Islamic countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the release of the new version of his chatbot, Grok 3, Musk slammed what he referred to as the woke mind virus apparently still affecting Grok in a post on X. Its tough to remove [from Grok], because there is so much woke content on the internet, Musk complained. AI companies often remove toxic or low-quality material from datasets used to train AI systems, Shayne Longpre told The Post. For instance, text from internet forums may be removed because its politically biased, explained Longpre, who leads a volunteer collective of AI researchers called the Data Provenance Initiative. Most companies, however, hesitate to remove large amounts of data early in the process, often choosing to wait until the training is finished to allow for assessments and shaping of how a system responds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longpre told the newspaper that developers tend to guide the behavior of an AI system by using a set of guidelines known as a system prompt. Such a prompt can steer a chatbot to refuse specific questions or to put forward a range of answers on controversial topics. Longpre told The Post that Grok 3 replies to questions about the news by pulling information from media outlets and popular X posts, and the answers may be skewed depending on the sources used and how much weight it gives to different content. While ChatGPT typically is more direct in its responses, Longpre said that Grok 3 appears more likely to be all-sides-ing it. While both President Donald Trump and Musk have vehemently opposed DEI efforts, for example, Grok is not so unequivocal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEI efforts aim to boost fairness and representation, but their impact varies some see them as progress against bias, while others call them divisive or performative, and data shows mixed results on actual workplace outcomes, it has commented when asked for its thoughts on the issue. (Grok / xAI) Musk told podcaster Joe Rogan that DEI policies created a talent shortage when it comes to air traffic controllers after a fatal crash between a helicopter and a plane in Washington, D.C. in January. Theres no clear evidence that DEI programs at the FAA have directly caused the current air traffic controller shortage, but the debate hinges on how hiring priorities might affect the talent pool, Grok noted on the issue. (Grok / xAI) Asked if Musk spreads misinformation, Grok states: Whether Elon Musk spreads misinformation depends on how you define it, but theres evidence he has shared claims that dont hold up under scrutiny. (Grok / xAI) Grok dismissed the claim pushed by Musk that the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid tens of millions of dollars to place undocumented immigrants in luxury hotels in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On February 10, Musk wrote on X: The @DOGE team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants. Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the Presidents executive order. That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high end hotels for illegals! A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds. Grok has rejected that claim outright. No, FEMA did not send $59 million directly to luxury hotels in New York to house illegal migrants, the chatbot states. The claim stems from a misrepresentation of funds allocated through FEMAs Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which is funded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and administered by FEMA. (Grok / xAI) The Independent has contacted xAI for comment. Elon Musks dad tried to prove his son wasnt racist in all the wrong ways. Errol, the 79-year-old father of the worlds richest man, insisted that his children were not into political nonsense while growing up in apartheid-era South Africa. We had several black servants who were their friends, Errol touted in an email to The Washington Post in response to questions about his sons hostility toward diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Errol Musk has said that he owned a stake in an emerald mine in Zambia during Elon's childhood. / Gianluigi Guercia/Getty Images Errol fondly recalled the South Africa of Elons childhoodduring which the country was run by a white supremacist regime that kept its Black-majority population in poverty and under strict racial segregationas a well-run, law abiding country with virtually no crime at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Musk patriarch said he worked as an engineer and imported emeralds from an unregistered Zambian mine , which helped me and my two boys sustain ourselves during the collapse of Apartheid in SA. Musk bragged about his fathers share in an emerald mine in a 2014 interview but began to distance himself from it in the years that followed. In 2021, the billionaire claimed theres no evidence whatsoever of an emerald mine. 1/2 This article is false. - I arrived by myself in Canada in 89 with ~CA$2500 - Paid my own way through college, ending with ~$100k student debt - Started 1st company with no funding & just one computer I built - Theres no evidence whatsoever of an emerald mine Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 25, 2021 Speaking about the mine, Errol told Musk biographer Walter Isaacson: If you registered it, you would wind up with nothing, because the Blacks would take everything from you. Rudolph Pienaar, who graduated with Musk from Pretoria Boys High School in 1988, told The Post that the Musks grew up in a bubble of entitlement, shielded from the realities of oppression under the white supremacist system that persisted until 1994. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not sure if Elon can conceive of systematic discrimination and struggle because thats not his experience, he said. His life now in some ways is how it was under apartheidrich and entitled with the entire society built to sustain him and his ilk. As he shot to the top of Silicon Valley, Musk became known as an environmentally conscious entrepreneur. In 2017, he left the first Trump administrations business advisory council after the president announced that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. In recent years, however, Musk has positioned himself as an outspoken critic of woke culture and has made purging DEI initiatives from the government one of his top priorities as chief of the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency. Last month, Musk reinstated Marko Elez to DOGE after he was fired over racist X posts. Among other inflammatory statements , Elez had called for the Civil Rights Act to be repealed and said: Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool. Musk has called DEI another word for racism, while Trump has vowed to terminate every DEI program across federal government. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Musks political transformation has made him a darling of the far-right not just in the U.S. but all over the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tech mogul has thrown his weight behind the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). During Trumps second inauguration, Musk caused a stir when he threw out his arm in a gesture that many have likened to the Nazi salute. Gideon Fourie, another former classmate of Musk who now lives in Germany, told The Post that he was shocked by Musks support for AfD. I am incredibly sensitive to racism because of where I came from, and for him to support this far-right party really blows my mind, Fourie said. Everything that has happened in the last few years was very contrary to the trajectory I thought he was on. WASHINGTON (NewsNation) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meet with billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon on Friday to discuss innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Musk, who serves as an advisor to President Donald Trump, has led efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the size of the government. Hes faced intense blowback from some lawmakers and voters for his layoffs and cuts to programs. However, Trumps supporters have praised his approach. This morning, Trump is pushing back on reports in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal that Musk would be briefed on future war plans with China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Friday that war plans should not be shared with Musk because of his business interests, a rare suggestion that the billionaire entrepreneurs expansive role in the administration will face limits. Elon has businesses in China, Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting. And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that. Behind Californias underground baby farm industry The papers reported that Musk would be given access to some of the Pentagons most sensitive information, including soldier tactics and targeting plans for a potential conflict. Musk said while leaving the Pentagon that he was ready to do anything that could be helpful, according to a CNN video. He also refused to answer questions as to whether he received a classified briefing on China as part of the visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discussions were set to take place in a secure conference room at the Pentagon, typically reserved for high-level meetings, per The New York Times. The meeting has raised concerns about Musks reach as Trumps advisor and potential conflicts of interest. Trump, Hegseth deny briefing on China war plans Both Trump and Hegseth have denied that the meeting will involve any discussion of China-related war plans. Trump posted on Truth Social that China will not even be mentioned or discussed. Hegseth clarified on Musks X platform that this is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans, in response to a report by The New York Times. Georgetown academic deportable after ICE arrest: DHS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Musks visit on Friday but provided few additional details. The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting, Parnell said in a statement to NewsNation. Hegseth is also scheduled to deliver remarks with Trump at the White House Friday morning. Pentagon meeting draws growing concern The meeting is drawing increasing scrutiny due to Musks connections with both the U.S. military and China, as head of both Tesla and SpaceX. SpaceX is a defense contractor for the U.S. government. While Musk holds a security clearance, he is not part of the military chain of command. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has previously stated that Musk would recuse himself if any conflicts of interest came out of his plans to slash government spending. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Democrats in Wisconsin are trying to use a state judicial race as a referendum on Elon Musk. In the final 10 days of the high-profile state Supreme Court campaign, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is blanketing the TV airwaves with two new ads that put Musk front-and-center. The ads, shared first with POLITICO and part of a seven-figure investment in Musk-related ads and events, link the billionaire and his Department of Government Efficiency to Brad Schmiel, the states former GOP attorney general whos now running for the seat. It's the first big test of an emerging attack line for Democrats in a swing state, and its playing out in the most expensive state Supreme Court race in U.S. history, with the potential to swing the liberal-leaning court back to conservative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk is out of control, and now the power-hungry billionaire is unloading millions to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the ads narrator says , citing the more than $7 million that a Musk-backed super PAC has dropped on the race. He knows corrupt politician Brad Schmiel is for sale and will abolish the checks and balances that protect us. The Musk-centric ad blitz is the latest evidence that Democrats believe the billionaire is a more potent line of attack than tying Republicans to President Donald Trump and the results out of Wisconsin could affect how Democrats deploy Musk-related messaging in legislative elections in New Jersey and Virginia this year and in the midterms in 2026. Armed with private and public polling , Democrats in Wisconsin see Musk as an animating force that could compel Democratic-leaning and independent voters to back Susan Crawford, the Dane County judge whos running against Schmiel. Democrats are furious about Musk, and independents are increasingly freaked out about the way that Musk is attacking things like Social Security and childhood brain cancer research, said Ben Wikler, chair of the state Democratic Party. Our test of our first Musk ad found that it moved likely 2025 voters by 6.2 percentage points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Wisconsin, Wikler added, we have a chance to demonstrate in this race that his money is politically toxic. Musk looms unusually large in Wisconsin. Unlike Trump, he has directly intervened in the race through his super PAC, America PAC. Tesla, one of Musks companies, is also suing Wisconsin to challenge a state law forbidding it from opening dealerships in the state, a case that could go before the state Supreme Court. In an April 1 election of an off-year, juicing participation among the base is the strategy for both parties. For Wisconsin Democrats, 97 percent of their partys voters disapprove of Musk, according to a recent Marquette University survey . These attacks on Musk are going to find a very receptive Democratic base of voters, said Charles Franklin, who leads the Marquette University polling. This is how theyre nationalizing the race, in hopes that party polarization will be enough and that itll boost Democratic turnout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even some Democrats have warned against leaning too hard on Musk. Mandela Barnes, the states former lieutenant governor who lost a bid for Senate in 2022, said the ads may be effective, but that my only fear here is that Elon Musk just wont be enough because the question is still, Well, what are Democrats doing besides saying how bad Elon Musk is? When will Dems actually show up? Wikler argued that the ads connect Musk's corruption to the attacks on people's lives, like the potential cuts to Social Security, because one of the biggest lessons from 2024 is to constantly bring out communication back to the things in voters' lives they care most about. Republicans, too, are seeking to nationalize the Wisconsin campaign. Theyve held a two-to-one financial advantage in outside spending over pro-Crawford groups, with $22 million backing Schmiel compared to $11 million supporting Crawford, according to a POLITICO analysis. But Democrats, using state party money, lead Republicans in pro-Crawford TV ad spending, $30.5 million to $26.3 million so far, according to AdImpact, an ad-tracking firm. Republicans have tied Crawford to liberal mega-donor George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who have both donated in the race. Mailers sent by the Musk-backed super PAC to voters said Schmiel will support Trumps agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump Jr. and Turning Point Action founder Charlie Kirk headlined a rally for Schmiel this week, with Trump Jr. warning voters that his fathers presidency can be put to a halt with this vote. Trump himself has not yet endorsed in the race. What people want to know about the Supreme Court candidates is all about crime, so [Schmiel] is using his law enforcement background to focus on crime and safety, which is exactly what he should be doing, said Mark Graul, a Republican consultant in Wisconsin who has worked on several other state Supreme Court races. Then, through micro-targeting, do what you can to turn out those irregular April voters who are Trump supporters. In a statement, Schmiels communications director Jacob Fischer said: Susan Crawford was caught attempting to sell congressional seats to out-of-state billionaires for campaign contributions, prompting the support of extremists like George Soros and JB Pritzker. The attempts by Susan Crawford and the Democrats to distract the people of Wisconsin from her extreme views and the radical billionaires funding her are a mockery of hypocrisy. But its Musk and Democrats effort to yoke him to Schmiel that will be dominating the airwaves on behalf of Democrats in the closing weeks, even as abortion and public safety have also been emphasized in TV ads. A second ad , backed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, uses audio of Schmiel saying he needs to invest in knee pads because he has to crawl around begging people to financially support his bid. The ad then cuts to images of Musk, who needs a guaranteed vote on the state Supreme Court because hes suing the state of Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmiel begged, and Musk unloaded $10 million to rig the court, the ads narrator says. So how much does it cost to buy off a corrupt politician? Just ask Brad Schmiel. Internal Democratic data found that this ad was especially effective at chipping away at Schmiels favorability, reducing it by 14 percent among moderate voters. Republicans seem to be operating with this fantasy that Musks millions can protect them from voters that are enraged by attacks on things they depend on to keep a roof over their head, Wikler said. But that fantasy is about to be put to the only real test, which is what happens at the ballot box. But Republicans argued that the long-term efficacy of tying Republicans to Musk may not pay off for Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It may be effective in a special because its a base play, trying to demonstrate theyre fighting back against Trump. But its not plausible long term, said Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster who is not involved in the Wisconsin race. Trump could push Musk to the side at any time, if they determine hes a millstone and that takes away their attack, so to think this is going to have an impact on the 2026 elections, its way too premature. Jessica Piper contributed to this report. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated the difference between pro-Democratic and pro-Republican spending in the race. Tech billionaire and White House adviser Elon Musk is flexing his financial muscle in a Wisconsin election to decide a crucial state Supreme Court seat giving away $100 to registered voters who sign a petition against activist judges. Those who receive the money dont have to vote the way Musk wants them to, and voter privacy laws guarantee no one will know how they vote once they are in the voting booth. Musks America PAC is running the giveaway through April 1, when Wisconsin voters decide whether the highest court in a key swing state keeps its liberal tilt or flips conservative. The race between will pick between Republican Brad Schimel and Democratic candidate Susan Crawford has drawn intense national interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the special offer for Wisconsin voters attached to the petition that America PAC posted online, voters who refer others who sign the petition can get a bonus $100, on top of the $100 for their own signatures. Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas, the petition reads. By signing below, Im rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role interpreting, not legislating. The Wisconsin election could have major implications on issues like election laws, abortion rights and other priorities for each party. Schimel and Crawford are both former prosecutors now deciding cases at the circuit court level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats, who are receiving support from across the country, including from billionaires George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, already have been seeking to target Musks influence on GOP politics. They launched a seven-figure initiative earlier this month dubbed The People v. Musk, that includes digital ads and town halls, among other tactics. Musk, the worlds richest man and owner of social media platform X and automaker Tesla, is a top adviser to President Trump and leader of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency that has made sweeping cuts to the federal workforce and foreign aid programs, both of which have been challenged in court. Musks PAC held an attention-grabbing lottery-style giveaway during the final stretch of last years presidential election, gifting $1 million a day to a select voter in one of seven swing states who signed a petition in Favor of Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms. The online petition process has long been used by campaigns to beef up their voter outreach efforts and corresponding contact lists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 19: Elon Musk speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as they watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. SpaceXs billionaire owner, Elon Musk, a Trump confidante, has been tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) A political action committee associated with Elon Musk is offering Wisconsin voters $100 if they sign a petition in opposition to activist judges and another $100 if they refer another person who signs the petition. The petition requires people to provide a name, address, email and phone number information that will help the group make further contact with voters. The group, America PAC, has reported spending more than $7 million in support of Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimels campaign for state Supreme Court. Musk himself has contributed more than $13 million to pro-Schimel efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the campaign, Schimels opponent, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, has accused Musk of trying to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Musks company, Tesla, recently filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to change Wisconsins law about who can operate car dealerships within the state. Schimel himself has portrayed himself as a support network for President Donald Trump if elected to the Court. Derrick Honeyman, a spokesperson for the Crawford campaign, accused Musk of buying votes. Elon Musk is trying to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to secure a favorable ruling in his companys lawsuit against the state, Honeyman said. Now Musk has resorted to buying votes. Brad Schimel has spent his career looking out for wealthy special interests and campaign donors, and Musk wants a justice who will rule in his favor to help his own bottom line. Wisconsinites can see right through this extreme corruption and they dont want a slimy billionaire like Elon Musk or a corrupt politician like Brad Schimel controlling the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The payouts from America PAC mirror an effort the group undertook during last years presidential election when it circulated a petition expressing support for free speech and gun rights and gave daily awards of $1 million to voters in swing states that had signed similar petitions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Tech billionaire and President Trumps close adviser Elon Musk said the individuals who are leaking maliciously false information to news outlets will be found and prosecuted. Musk, whose companies have contracts with the Defense Department (DOD), issued a warning Friday morning after The New York Times reported the SpaceX executive was set to be briefed on U.S. militarys secret plans if a war with China were to take place. The New York Times is pure propaganda. Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found, Musk wrote Friday morning on X, the social platform he owns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also pushed back on the Timess reporting, hammering the outlet as one of the worst and most purposely inaccurate newspapers anywhere in the World. Their FAKE concept for this story is that because Elon does some business in China, that he is very conflicted and would immediately go to top Chinese officials and spill the beans, Trump wrote Friday morning on his social platform, Truth Social. The Wall Street Journal published a similar article hours later. Later Friday, Trump said his administration would not share details of the DODs plans for a potential conflict with China with Musk, pointing to the billionaires business dealings that, in part, warrant caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to show it to anybody. Youre talking about a potential war with China, Trump told journalists in the Oval Office on Friday. I dont want anybody seeing potential war with China. But I can tell you if we did, were very well-equipped to handle it. You know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible perhaps to that, the president later said. Musk was at the Pentagon on Friday where he met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Defense secretary said the meeting was to discuss cost-cutting initiatives and innovation. Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has spearheaded the administrations efforts to cut cost and reduce waste, efforts that have led to firings of thousands of federal government employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk provides a lot of capabilities our government and our military rely on, and Im grateful for that, Hegseth said Friday. We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The worlds richest man is reportedly slated to receive a briefing on the militarys plans for a potential war with China, despite his deep financial ties to the country. Tesla boss Elon Musk will sit for a top-secret presentation on the U.S.s operational plan for conflict with China, plans that China could use to bolster its defenses if it got word of specifics, The New York Times reported Thursday. Though high-ups at the Department of Defense, including Secretary Pete Hegseth, tried to shoot down reports that China will come up at the meeting, multiple Pentagon sources told the Times the subject will indeed be discussed at the meeting, set to take place in a secure conference room at the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk, the owner of SpaceX, one of the countrys largest defense contractors, could stand to benefit from a strategic look at the countrys defense plans. But its far from his only conflict of interest. Musks ties with China could make his briefing a liability. China is also home to a Tesla production facility responsible for more than half of the companys cars produced in 2024. Musk and Tesla are still on the hook for a $1.4 billion loan from the countrys government to build that factory. At least one ex-defense official, former Lt. General Russel Honore, sounded alarm bells late last year on Musks potential access to top-secret intelligence around China. Musks business dealings in China could require him to hand over sensitive classified information, learned either through his business interests or his proximity to [then] President-elect Donald Trump, Honore wrote. Reporting on the planned meeting triggered President Donald Trump to refute the story in a post to Truth Social on Thursday night, claiming China will not even be mentioned or discussed in the briefing. On Friday morning, he circled back to raise doubts about the suggestion that Musk would spill the beans to China because of his business interests. An Elon Musk-backed group is offering voters in Wisconsin $100 to sign a petition opposing activist judges just two weeks ahead of a state Supreme Court election. Musks Super PAC made a similar offer to swing state voters during last years election campaign. The political action committee, America PAC, revealed the petition in a Thursday night post on X. It says that each voter in the state who signs the petition will receive $100 in addition to another $100 for every signer they refer. The campaign of the Supreme Court candidate backed by the Democrats, Susan Crawford, argued that Musk was attempting to buy votes ahead of the April 1 election. The offer was shared two days after the start of early voting in the race, pitting Crawford against the Republican-and-Musk-backed candidate, Brad Schimel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The race will decide if the court stays liberal or switches to conservative control. Important legal fights on abortion, public sector unions, voting rules, and the boundaries of congressional districts are all coming up. Before the presidential election last year, the Musk PAC offered $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and the six other swing states if they signed a petition backing the First and Second Amendments. The district attorney of Philadelphia sued, trying to block the payments under Pennsylvania law, but a judge argued that the prosecutors were unable to show that the measure was an illegal lottery. The effort carried on through Election Day. Two groups funded by Musk, America PAC and Building for Americas Future, have spent more than $13 million on electing Schimel, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Derrick Honeyman, a spokesperson for the Crawford campaign, said that Musk is trying to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to secure a favorable ruling in his companys lawsuit against the state. Elon Musk, seen alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, is hoping to get Brad Schimel elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court (REUTERS) Musks electric car company, Tesla, sued Wisconsin because of its decision not to allow the manufacturer to open dealerships in the state. The suit came just days before the Musk-funded groups started spending on the Supreme Court race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight days before the lawsuit was filed in January, Musk wrote on X: Very important to vote Republican for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prevent voting fraud. The Crawford campaign has emphasized the links between Schimel and Musk, with the Wisconsin Democratic Party putting out a new ad this week accusing Musk of trying to buy the seat. Earlier this week, Schimel appeared at an event alongside Donald Trump Jr., who argued that his eleection election was vital to the Trump agenda. America PAC has made similar arguments in flyers handed out to voters in the state. Similarly, Building Americas Future said in a memo Thursday that to win the race, the group has to present Schimel as a pro-Trump conservative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The petition pushed by the Musk-aligned groups states that Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. By signing below, Im rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role interpreting, not legislating. Donald Trump Jr, right, argued that Brad Schimel, center, is vital cog in carrying out the Trump agenda. (AP) The petition is intended to energize voters in the state and collect information about them, but its also aligned with President Donald Trumps claims that activist judges are working against him and his administration, which is currently part of several lawsuits regarding the efforts of the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency to cut down the size of the federal government. This week, Musk donated to several Republican members of Congress who have supported articles of impeachment against federal judges, according to The Washington Post. The billionaire is supportive of Trumps escalating attacks on the courts. Trump called for the impeachment of federal judge James Boasberg this week after the judge ordered that the government turn around planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. The Associated Press contributed to this report Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) criticized Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGE) moves to overhaul the government, claiming the American people cant trust the tech billionaire. Musk is trying to be the real-life Tony Stark, and we can see him coming a mile away. We dont trust Elon Musk, he said Thursday evening in an appearance on CNNs NewsNight with Abby Phillip. Thats why the American people are up in arms in protest and in town halls in Republican districts across the country, he continued. They are pissed off based on what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing, firing tens of thousands of workers only for the courts to reverse the firing, the former lawmaker added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowman, who lost his seat during the Democratic primary last June, said Musks actions were a conflict of interest, but those in charge dont care. Elon is trying to be the first trillionaire and he wants to be an oligarch that not just controls American governments, he wants to control world governments, the progressive Democrat told CNN. When the host asked Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), also a panelist on the show, about a New York Times report that the Tesla CEO would be briefed about war plans related to China during his meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, he appeared to avoid the question. Bowman noted Lawler did not answer the yes or no question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should this be concerning? Yes, absolutely, the former lawmaker said, while claiming Musk is a donor to Lawlers reelection campaign. Asked if that were true, Lawler said not directly. President Trump, in subsequent posts on Truth Social late Thursday and early Friday, denied the reports that the Pentagon meeting would include talks on U.S.-China relations. The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential war with China. How ridiculous? Trump wrote Thursday. China will not even be mentioned or discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added Friday that their FAKE concept for this story is that because Elon does some business in China, that he is very conflicted and would immediately go to top Chinese officials and spill the beans The Fake News is the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE And Elon is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!! Hegseth and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell have also denied the Timess reporting, which cited administration officials. The Defense chief added that Fridays meeting would be an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. On Friday, Hegseth pressed the outlet to immediately retract its story. We stand behind our reporting, a New York Times spokesperson told The Hill in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The worlds richest man is back to offering voters cash ahead of a race to determine the makeup of Wisconsins highest court. Elon Musks America PAC known for its potentially illegal million-dollar giveaways ahead of the 2024 election is offering Wisconsin voters who pledge their opposition to activist judges a $100 payout, a giveaway that comes weeks before a high-profile race for a state Supreme Court seat. Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas, stated a post to X from the PAC, which was then shared by Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The April 1 race between former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel and liberal-leaning Judge Susan Crawford has drawn millions in donations from right-wing billionaires and is on track to become one of the most expensive judicial races in the countrys history. Its outcome will decide the state's Supreme Court's ideological leanings for years to come. Another Musk-funded PAC, Building Americas Future, made headlines for spending $1.6 million on ads accusing Crawford of going easy on sex criminals. But the direct cash handout is the biggest attempt to move the needle yet from Musk, who spent over $250 million to influence the outcome of Novembers presidential race. Still, the offer might be too good to be true. Musks promise of payments between $47 and $100 each to petition signers and referrers in swing states last year was an easy sell for many, but some say payday never came. A New York Post report from January found Musks PAC was still on the hook for hundreds of thousands in payments to multiple swing state volunteers. Ive done a lot for this PAC. Ive earned my [money,] and the silence is deafening, one Arizona voter told the Post. Elon Musk gave us a voice, and is now not living up to the promise. The payouts are part of Musks broader strategy to remake state and federal judiciaries. The DOGE boss is also campaigning to remove a federal judge who ruled against the administration, donating cash to GOP lawmakers who back an impeachment effort. Elon Musk will pay a visit to the Pentagon on Friday after the tech billionaire received an invitation from Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Defense Department said late Thursday evening. The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to CNN. The New York Times reported earlier Thursday that Musk will be briefed on the US militarys top-secret plan for any war that might break out with China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump in a late night Truth Social post dismissed the New York Times report, saying that China will not even be mentioned or discussed. The visit comes as the Pentagon, encouraged by Musks Department of Government Efficiency, considers major cuts to the top of the military in an effort to embrace the Trump administrations push to shrink the federal government. Hegseth said last month that DoD would be leaning on DOGE to help the department find fraud, waste and abuse in the largest discretionary budget in the federal government. CNN has reached out to the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency for comment. Hegseths recent strategic guidance memo, sent to Pentagon leaders earlier this month and reviewed by CNN, directed a shift in focus and resources towards a possible conflict with China but offered few details as to what that would look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple versions of US military war plans are often prepared at varying levels of classification, according to people familiar. At the highest level, military operational plans contain so-called code word clearance information that involves sensitive sources and methods such as the use of human and technical assets. Less sensitive versions of briefings are also frequently prepared that do not include highly classified information. It is unclear which version will be presented to Musk. CNN has reported that Musk has a top-secret security clearance and is serving in the Trump administration as a special government employee. However, even individuals with adequate security clearances still require a need to know before accessing particular information, according to the US governments classified handling procedures. According to a Justice Department summary, a special government employee is anyone who works, or is expected to work, for the government for 130 days or less in a 365-day period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk maintains lucrative contracts with the Defense Department. In October 2024, the US Space Force awarded $733 million in launch contracts to Musks SpaceX. This story has been updated with additional reporting. CNNs Zachary Cohen and Kit Maher contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Elon Musks visit to the Pentagon on Friday will focus on the threat China presents to the region but wont include classified war plans, according to an official with knowledge of the plans. The meeting, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Indo-Pacific commander Adm. Sam Paparo who will attend virtually from Hawaii shows the extraordinary level of access Musk, a defense contractor with billions of dollars in government contracts, holds over the administration. The New York Times initially reported Thursday night that the meeting would include classified plans. But the official said Friday that the conversation would focus exclusively on China as the United States primary military challenge. It also comes just two days before Hegseth is set to leave on a weeklong trip to Asia with stops in Japan, Philippines, Guam and Hawaii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official did not say whether Musk was originally going to receive a classified briefing. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Friday morning demanded the newspaper retract the report but did not provide any specifics about what it allegedly got wrong. Elon Musk is just coming over here for a visit, Parnell said on Fox and Friends, calling the report egregious and fake. The threat the Chinese military poses to the U.S. and its allies in the region a central feature of the first Trump administration and the Biden administration has been mostly absent from the Defense Departments communications strategy. The agency has instead focused on culture war issues and sent troops to the southern border as part of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have not articulated a China strategy, said a former defense official with experience in Asia, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss a politically sensitive issue. In the absence of a clear articulation from the president himself, we are left to over interpret things like tariffs and TikTok and Elon Musk potentially getting briefings. It's significant that a Defense secretary and a four-star admiral in charge of the entire Indo-Pacific region would give a private briefing, even unclassified, to an unelected official. The move showcases what an outsized role Musk plays in the administration. The former defense official said that someone who is not a China expert could leave such a briefing with a very skewed sense of the likelihood of conflict." The meeting also comes the day Trump and Hegseth prepare to announce the winner of the Air Forces Next Generation Air Dominance program, a $20 billion effort to replace Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor with a crewed fighter plane that will deploy alongside a new generation of drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has repeatedly called into question the need for crewed fighter planes, claiming drones can do the same mission at less cost and risk to human life. Pentagon officials are likely to make the case in the meeting for crewed fighter planes and large aircraft carriers to deal with the vast expanses of the Pacific region. And they could try to impress on Musk that the U.S. still needs large platforms with crews to perform critical tasks. Hegseth, in a Thursday social media post, called Musks visit an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production." Trump, in a Truth Social post Friday morning, said that Musk is NOT BEING BRIEFED ON ANYTHING CHINA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR!!! referring to the Pentagon by a name that hasnt been used in decades. MARKET COMMON, S.C. (WBTW) The Myrtle Beach police and fire departments on Thursday ran through Active Shooter and Hostile Event Response (ASHER) scenarios at the Robert H. Reed Recreation Center in The Market Common. The hostile event training is for when one or two people cause death or serious injury to many people. ASHER instructor and Myrtle Beach firefighter Jim Alercia said Thursdays training allows for each department to better understand how to work alongside each other if an active emergency broke out in Myrtle Beach. The training provided real life-like scenarios, including a school shooting, grocery store hostile event, a vehicle driving through a group of people and other drills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been training every Tuesday and Thursday throughout each day. Our goal and objective is to have each one of our police officers on the law enforcement side and each one of our firefighters on the fire department side to have this training, Alercia said. We have some props that are going to bet set up that are going to represent a school, a long hallway, a doctors office, a hospital event, anything that we need to be worried or concerned about where an active shooter could occur or a hostile event could occur. Alercia said through the years, the departments have been able to learn through real-life attacks on how to operate their departments better, developing new ways to be more efficient if an emergency happened. We learned back in the 90s that firefighters, we didnt come into this type of event in real life. We waited until the entire scene was secure. We learned that if we do that, people are inside that have been harmed, are dying because theyre not getting the definitive care that they need right away, he said. From the 80s, in the 90s until now on the law enforcement side, we no longer wait. The first officer, whether hes fresh out of the academy or a highly-trained SWAT member, theyre through that door and they are looking for that bad guy. When it comes to medical emergencies in an active shooter situation, first responders use identifying tags to determine the level of severity of the wound. They range from green, where theyre still able to move, to everything in between, to black, where theyre dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were training because we watch the news every day. We see these events unfolding throughout the nation, Alercia said. We want our community to know that were training in the event if it would happen here in the city, we are going to be ready for that event. And were highly trained if it would happen here. Alercia hopes to have similar trainings at least once a year or once every other year moving forward. * * * Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Todays moons, planets, and dwarf planets formed from a proto-planetery disk surrounding our Sun 4.6 billion years ago. However, not all of those celestial bodies survived, and a new analysis of a the meteorite NWA 15915 shows that it likely originated from a world that was similar to Mercury in its compositionbut not Mercury itself. These rare meteorites, which make up only 0.2 percent of meteorites broadly, provide an incredibly rare window into the chaotic machinations of the early Solar System. Today, the Solar System appears as a neatly organized set-up of eight (possibly nine?) planets orbiting the Sun. But flash back more than four billion years agoas planets formed from our stars proto-planetary diskand things were much more chaotic. Our own planet, for example, had a devastating rendezvous with its sister protoplanet, and remnants of that interaction can still be found deep in the Earths lower mantle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meteorites littered across the planet can also contain details of this tumultuous period of the early Solar System, and a new analysis of one such meteoriteknown as Northwest Africa (NWA) 15915shows that this 2.84-kilogram (6.26 pound) rock could be a piece of a long-dead planet that likely formed in a Mercury-like environment. This new analysis (led by Jennifer Mitchell at the University of Minnesota) looked at the coarse-grained achondrite that was originally discovered in Algeria in 2023, and found that the rock didnt fit within other meteorite groups or planetary bodies. This is particularly puzzling, as a vast majority of meteorites can be traced to some well-known parent bodywhether that be the Moon, Mars, or other asteroids. In fact, according to New Scientist, only 0.2 percent of meteorites are outliers. And NWA 15915 fits this atypical description. To better understand the origins of this meteorite, Mitchell and her team used an electron microscope and spectroscopic instruments to study its composition. They found that it was different from Mercurys makeup, but that it formed in a similarly low-oxygen environment (like Mercury did). Mitchell reported the results at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference in Texas last week, and also submitted a meeting brief with preliminary findings . Our initial analysis of NWA 15915 indicates an interesting magmatic and post-crystallization history, the meeting brief reads. The magnetic properties of NWA 15915 show evidence of Fe-metal, daubreelite, and troilite. At present, our work supports the view of a large differentiated body in the inner Solar System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As New Scientist explains, this meteorite has a strange mix of magnetic metal-rich minerals, and because these crystals were relatively large, they cooled slowly. Both of these attributes suggest a Mercury-like origin. Although finding rocks from long-dead worlds is a rarity, it isnt an impossibility. In some models, the early Solar System contained at least 50 to 100 Moon-to-Mars-sized protoplanets . While many of these coalesced into the planets we know today (like Theias violent combination with Earth roughly four billion years ago), others (such as the dwarf planets Ceres, Pallas, and Vesta) survived mostly intact. So, while several of these worlds may have been destroyed billions of years ago, pieces of them still surviveon Earth, on other planets, or spread throughout the Main Asteroid and Kuiper belts. Mitchell reiterates that this is only a preliminary finding, but it provides an incredible opportunity to learn more about the forgotten worlds of our early Solar System. You Might Also Like Mar. 21A Southwest Harbor company has spent a year fighting the state for ownership of a mysterious sunken schooner off the coast of Bar Harbor. In two months, the court will finally release the ship's identity. JJM LLC initiated the legal process last March with a maritime claim in U.S. District Court, seeking ownership of "one abandoned and submerged vessel" found about 6 nautical miles off the coast of Bar Harbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adhering to maritime law, JJM listed the vessel as a "defendant" in court records and filed a warrant for her arrest by the United States Marshal for the District of Maine. Although the ship remains underwater, it is legally in JJM's custody. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Torresen agreed last year to seal the ship's name and coordinates. For now, all the public knows is that the vessel was a two-masted schooner that sank sometime in the late 1890s while transporting stone pavers, used to fill gaps in cobblestone streets. Attorneys for the Maine State Museum intervened in April, claiming ownership. Torresen said Friday that she is still allowing any other party that can prove ownership to come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JJM has hired two divers to investigate the sunken ship next month. Both sides are requesting a November trial date, but they'll most likely resolve the case before then. PERSONAL ARTIFACTS AMID PAVERS The state asked Torresen to release the ship's identity in February, and JJM objected last week. After a brief hearing Friday morning most of which was spent behind closed doors in Torresen's chambers the company's attorney, Benjamin Ford, said he believes Torresen's six-week deadline is fair. "We respect the people's desire to learn more about this case, and we look forward to sharing that story," Ford said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant Attorney General Lauren Parker wrote that the ship's name and history will be integral to both sides' cases. The public also has a right to most court records. "Party anonymity is warranted only in exceptional circumstances not present in this fight over an abandoned and submerged vessel," Parker wrote. JJM has asked that the information still be withheld out of concern someone might illegally interfere with its efforts. In court records, Ford warned of amateur "souvenir divers" who might pilfer the site themselves, without regard for their safety or the integrity of the artifacts. One of JJM's diving experts, Richard Simon, remarked he was able to find the ship's whereabouts "within seconds" of searching its name on Google. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The words describing the demise of the vessel in the latter part of the 19th century as described in documents from both my searches would lead any amateur wreck diver to within a few hundred yards of the wreck site," Simon wrote in court records. "More sophisticated divers, such as myself and some of my colleagues, could narrow the search even further." Parker, however, pointed out that the ship is legally already in JJM's custody. She was not aware of any "specific, credible threats" to the ship or its belongings and argued that sharing the ship's name would not constitute "a ready invitation for pillaging." Ford deflected interest in the ship last year, remarking that the ship's pavers were not "particularly sexy cargo." In court records, he and Simon acknowledged some personal artifacts aboard, like cups and plates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Personal objects have important historical value," Simon wrote. "Recovery and display of the personal items tells a powerful story about the history of this place." Copy the Story Link With Naperville heightening its focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in recent years, all eight candidates running for Naperville City Council are vocal in their support for promoting a diverse community but offer different perspectives on how the city should champion those efforts. Ahead of the April 1 election, the Naperville Sun asked the candidates to answer several issue-related questions, including their views on DEI programming and whether the city should continue to support DEI efforts. The candidates seeking the four, four-year terms on council include incumbents Ian Holzhauer, Jennifer Bruzan Taylor and Benny White and challengers Nag Jaiswal, Meghna Bansal, Mary Gibson, Ashfaq Syed and Derek McDaniel. Early voting started Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Napervilles mission statement reads: To provide services that ensure a high quality of life, sound fiscal management, and a dynamic business environment, while creating an inclusive community that values diversity. The statement a revision of a previous version, expanded to include language addressing inclusivity and diversity was adopted in December 2019. In February 2021, the city hired its first DEI manager, Geneace Williams. On the national level, DEI initiatives have lately come under fire. Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has sought to end government support for DEI programming. Naperville Election 2025: Council candidates speak to future development of citys Fifth Avenue Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syed said that Naperville has made progress in advancing DEI, adding that he believes we must continue supporting initiatives that promote fairness, expand access to city services and encourage diverse representation in leadership. He said Naperville can lead by example by strengthening these efforts, demonstrating that inclusion and economic vitality go hand in hand. White called DEI foundational to Napervilles success. Supporting DEI means addressing the unique needs of our residents, and without DEI initiatives, we risk division and misunderstanding, as groups may rely on stereotypes rather than connection, White said. Continuing to invest in DEI ensures our city remains a welcoming, inclusive and forward-thinking place for all residents, he said. Over the past year, the topic of DEI has come up a handful of times at council meetings. Last spring, the members narrowly tabled a motion to hire a DEI consultant to train city staff due to concerns over the value and scope of the initiative. Ultimately, staff opted to issue a new request for proposals for the training services. DEI programming has also come up in conversation as the city prepares for the states 1% sales tax on groceries to sunset on Jan. 1, 2026. For Naperville, the tax cut could translate into a more than $6 million hit to the citys annual revenue stream, staff have stated. The prospective budget hole has raised questions about how the city will compensate for the shortfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jaiswal said it would be in the best interest of the city to shelve DEI programs in lieu of budgetary shortfalls. He maintained that there are no known key performance indicators for the outcomes of existing DEI programs. Any future DEI programs should be carefully planned and implemented based on a well-defined outcome agreed by all stakeholders, Jaiswal said. Bruzan Taylor also spoke to the grocery tax repeal, noting the loss very well may affect the citys ability to provide all its current services. The city should support DEI programs but not in its current format through property taxes, she said. Rather, she suggested investing in DEI through the citys Special Event Community Arts Program, which she argued would give us the ability to adjust priorities annually while at the same time supporting a program that people in our community find important. Naperville Election 2025: Council candidates consider path ahead for powering the citys electric grid Referencing the citys mission statement, Gibson said, I dont see how we can fulfill that mission if we fail to acknowledge and address the diverse needs of our residents. Regarding DEI programming, she said that like any city initiative, it should provide tangible benefits to our community. To that end, Gibson said shed dig into both the quantitative and qualitative data to ensure programming the city provides and funds is progressing to fulfill (its) mission statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bansal said the citys increasing diversity is a strength that adds to our culture, vibrancy of our neighborhoods and the local economy. However, she said she is highly skeptical of top-down, government-led initiatives advanced in the name of DEI because these efforts have hard-to-define outcomes. Bansal argued, (We) do not need the city to spend your tax dollars having staff participate in or host programming to encourage neighbors to change how they interact with each other. McDaniel said, Having policies in place at the city level to encourage diversity and inclusion is essential for fostering a sense of belonging and opportunity for everyone who lives, works or visits our city. But, he added, its prudent to first evaluate the effectiveness of our current DEI initiatives so the city can identify whats working, where improvements may be needed and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly and effectively. Holzhauer said hes been a strong supporter of the citys DEI manager and has tried as a council member to make sure people from all walks of life are included in our community. Some of his proudest work has been working with and advocating for diverse populations, he said. Holzhauer said hes also proud our city has chosen a positive direction and that he thinks it speaks to the character of our community that we are a welcoming place. For more voter information on the upcoming election go to www.naperville.il.us/government/voting-and-voter-registration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early voting is available through March 31. DuPage County residents can vote early at Naperville Municipal Center and the Mall of India. Will County residents can also vote early at the municipal center as well as at the 95th Street Library. If youd like to know more about the council candidates backgrounds and what they said specifically about issues in the Naperville Sun questionnaire, go to https://bit.ly/4kLlw9h. tkenny@chicagotribune.com NASA is weighing closing its headquarters and scattering responsibilities among the states, a move that has the potential to dilute its coordination and influence in Washington. The overhaul of the space agency, according to two people familiar with the plan, seeks to adhere to the Trump administrations desire to cut federal spending. The proposal could affect up to 2,500 jobs and redistribute critical functions, including who manages space exploration and organizes major science missions. While much of the day-to-day work occurs at NASAs 10 centers, the Washington office plays a strategic role in lobbying for the agencys priorities in Congress, ensuring the White House supports its agenda and partnering with foreign countries on critical space projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the headquarters offices might remain in Washington, the people said, but its not clear which ones those would be or who would keep their jobs. The biggest fear if youre NASA is you lose that connectivity, said Tom Culligan, a longtime space lobbyist, about an agency reshuffle. NASA did not respond to a request for comment. One of the biggest fallouts is the damage it could do to coordination among NASA leadership on pressing issues. The minute I go and take that communication center and move it to a [NASA] center, I have now made that communication harder and longer, said Dan Dumbacher, a former senior NASA official under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would also limit cooperation with international partners on space, which is often done through embassies in Washington. NASA works with foreign partners on a range of projects, including the International Space Station and returning to the moon. The European Space Agency, for example, plans to provide modules for Gateway, a lunar space station that is central to NASAs Artemis program to land American astronauts back on the moon. Space diplomacy also serves as a form of soft power. A recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi featured frequent mentions of space cooperation. The agency also helps coordinate support from foreign nations for the Artemis accords, which set goals for transparency and data sharing and help create a level of trust in an unregulated part of the universe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the reallocation could have some benefits. Such a move would bring headquarters employees closer to the processes they manage. And it would give legislative liaison staff a chance to interact with lawmakers in their districts. You're probably getting a lot more time with [lawmakers] at the local center or hosting events in the state or district, said Culligan, the space industry lobbyist. Such representatives often lead on space policymaking. Texas Republicans, Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Brian Babin whose state is home to the Johnson Space Center lead the Senate and House committees that oversee NASA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move would also end jockeying between space-focused states to house the headquarters. NASA has previously toyed with the idea of giving centers more power, which has led politicians in Texas and Florida to try and snag the headquarters. Florida senators introduced a bill last week that would place NASA headquarters in their state. Politicians from Ohio have also made pitches to bring NASAs leadership to Cleveland. Moving NASA headquarters to Florida would save the agency about a billion dollars, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in February, later writing on X that the move was a no-brainer. Recent laws making it more difficult and expensive to obtain government records earned the Utah Legislature a dishonor from one of the nations oldest and largest journalism organizations. The Society of Professional Journalists gave Utah lawmakers its 2025 Black Hole Award on Friday. The Legislature received the award for repeatedly undermining transparency by amending Utahs longstanding Government Records Access and Management Act, or GRAMA, to block the release of public records even after court orders mandated their disclosure, according to SPJ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The yearslong trend culminated in March, when legislators voted to abolish the State Records Committee, an independent board that serves as an intermediary between people who request access to government records and various government agencies. The volunteer seven-member panel resolves disputes over whether documents are private or public under GRAMA. Earlier this month, state lawmakers passed SB277, which replaces the records committee with an administrative law judge appointed by the governor. Howard Goldberg, retired Associated Press bureau chief and member of the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee, said in a statement that the records committee with its diverse perspectives was ideally suited to look out for the public interest in free information. Replacing that committee with a governors appointee can only reduce accountability and undermine public confidence in government, he said. Changing the rules There have been several recent cases where the panel ruled in favor of releasing records that government agencies and elected officials sought to withhold, only to have the Legislature change the law to keep them secret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, lawmakers exempted Garrity statements statements made by public employees during internal investigations from public disclosure following a request by The Salt Lake Tribune for documents related to officer-involved shootings. The committee had ordered the release of the documents and subsequent court rulings upheld the order. In 2023, the Legislature passed a law making college athletes' name, image and likeness, or NIL, contracts submitted to their schools for review private records. The Deseret News sought the records under GRAMA. The records committee deemed them public documents and ordered their release. State lawmakers changed the law while the Deseret News and the universities were in litigation. In 2024, lawmakers passed a law shielding public officials' digital work calendars from public view after KSL-TV sought access to then-Attorney General Sean Reyes' calendar. The records committee ordered the release of the calendar and a court had upheld the decision. Lawmakers passed a bill exempting digital calendars from public inspection within hours of the court ruling. Access denied In addition to SB277, the Legislature this year also passed HB69, which makes the process for appealing the denial of a government records more costly. It prevents someone who successfully gets access to records on appeal from recovering court costs, unless the government showed bad faith. That means they could incur an expense opposing the government even if its decided they should have been given the records in the first place. The possibility that government would have to pay attorney fees for wrongfully denying a citizen access to public records was a powerful incentive for agencies to comply with the law. HB69 took that away. Now government can deny requests and citizens will have no recourse because going to court is too expensive, said Jeff Hunt, an attorney who represents the media coalition. Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday he plans to sign the bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its best for for the state. I think its best for state government. I think its best for the people, he said Thursday at his monthly PBS Utah news conference. Were always trying to make sure we have the right balance in government, and I think these bills do. Emma Penrod, president of the SPJ Utah Headliners Chapter, said public records law isnt supposed to devolve into a game of cat-and-mouse played by the press and government officials. The actions taken by the Utah Legislature in recent years will prevent Utahns from all walks of life but especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and vulnerable populations from accessing information about how their local government operates, impairing their ability to participate in the democratic process." This is not Utahs first time receiving national scrutiny for its lack of transparency. In 2011, the Legislature received SPJs inaugural Black Hole Award after passing a bill that gutted the GRAMA. Public backlash prompted lawmakers to repeal the law. The National Weather Service is suspending more weather balloon observations following major staff cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by the Trump administration via Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. The forecasting practice helps scientists gather critical data on temperature, wind speed, humidity, and other factors used to help predict severe storms and continuously difficult-to-forecast tornadoes. The move has drawn some strong reactions on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weather balloon launches are vital for forecasting. They are like a detailed snapshot of what the atmosphere is doing and getting that data back in real-time. Taking away data means less accurate forecasts, wrote Dakota News Now meteorologist Tyler Roney. This is a mess. Lets remove weather balloon launches right before severe weather season, great idea! (said no one ever), wrote YouTuber and forecaster Max Velocity. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Weather Service is suspending more weather balloon observations. The move follows major staff cuts by the Trump administration (AP) It's absolutely insane. More National Weather Service offices are suspending or limiting weather balloon launching due to staffing cuts. This could impact weather modeling, which we dont need. In the weather world, we need more data, not less, said Raleigh meteorologist Ethan Clarke. The announcement came in an email from Office of Observations Surface and Upper Air Division Director Mike Hopkins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopkins said on Thursday that weather balloon observations would be temporarily suspended in Omaha, Nebraska, and Rapid City, South Dakota until further notice due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office staffing. Both states are in what is known as Tornado Alley, where tornadoes are most frequent. Offices will perform special observations as needed, it said. The agency also announced the reduction of such observations in another Nebraska city, as well as in cities in Wyoming, Colorado, Michigan, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Earlier this month, observations were intermittently suspended in New Yorks capital city of Albany and Gray, Maine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more data we can feed into our weather models, the more accurate our forecasts. But I can't speculate on the extent of future impacts, NOAA Director of Public Affairs Susan Buchanan told The Independent in an email on Friday. The National Weather Service has also suspended weather balloon operations in New York and Maine. The move comes after layoffs that affected hundreds of employees at NOAA (AFP via Getty Images) The move comes after the Department of Government Efficiencys devastating cuts to the agencys 12,000-person staff in multiple areas, including forecasting. The major changes are ahead of additional expected layoffs and the start of tornado season, which lasts through June. As of Wednesday, 234 tornadoes had been spotted nationwide, according to preliminary reports from the Storm Prediction Center . That's more than the 164 reported tornadoes last year between January and March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An outbreak last weekend struck 13 states, and severe weather led to the deaths of more than 40 people in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Missouri, and Mississippi. While its known that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, scientists say its harder to link tornadoes to climate change. Just 10 percent of severe thunderstorms produce the twisters (AP) Twisters in Missouri killed over a dozen people, and the storm also produced more than 130 wind-driven wildfires that destroyed more than 400 homes in Oklahoma. In several states that experienced critical fire weather on Tuesday, conditions abruptly changed, resulting in blizzards and hazardous travel. While a link between tornadoes and climate change remains murky, extreme weather events are more frequent and severe. NOAA says that the frequency of tornado outbreaks with 16 or more tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita Scale is increasing. The scale is used to assign a tornado a rating based on estimated wind speeds and related damage, with zero being the lowest and five being the highest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than 10 percent of severe thunderstorms produce tornadoes, which makes it tricky to draw firm conclusions about what makes them and how they could be influenced by climate change, according to Harold Brooks, a tornado scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Numerous complex atmospheric conditions combine to generate a tornado, and researchers are still developing tools to help discern potential human influence from natural variability, NOAA says. So far, the majority of research stops short of connecting historical changes in tornado behavior to a warming climate. In President Donald Trump's escalating battle with the judiciary, he and his Republican allies have zeroed in on a similar message. No single judge, they argue, should be able to use an injunction to block the powers of the country's elected chief executive. "That's a presidential job. That's not for a local judge to be making that determination," Trump said on Fox News earlier this week as he railed against a judge who issued a limited order to stop deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members to other countries after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, peppered with questions after the administration did not turn the planes around, on Wednesday preemptively offered her own rebuke of judges who've recently ordered injunctions taking effect nationwide. "The judges in this country are acting erroneously," she said. "We have judges who are acting as partisan activists from the bench. They are trying to dictate policy from the president of the United States. They are trying to clearly slow walk this administration's agenda, and it's unacceptable." MORE: Trump administration escalates legal battle over alleged gang member deportations The White House argues that's especially the case when it comes to immigration matters, foreign affairs, national security and the president exercising his constitutional powers as commander in chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges have, so far, temporarily blocked Trump's efforts to ban transgender people from serving in the military, freeze federal funding and bring an end to birthright citizenship. Supporters of nationwide injunctions say they serve as an essential check to potentially unlawful conduct and prevent widespread harm. Critics say they give too much authority to individual judges and incentivize plaintiffs to try to evade random assignment and file in jurisdictions with judges who may be sympathetic to their point of view. PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to the media after attending a board meeting at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, Mar. 17, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) In general, legal experts told ABC News an injunction is meant to preserve the status quo while judges consider the merits of the case. (Judges also issue temporary restraining orders -- with similar impact -- as short-term emergency measures to prevent irreparable harm until a hearing can be held.) "Often the nationwide injunction, or universal injunction, is put in place right at the start of a litigation," said Amanda Frost, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All of these can be appealed, and they are," Frost said. "It's appealed to a three-judge court and then the Supreme Court after that. So, when people say one district court is controlling the law for the nation, well maybe for a few weeks. The system allows for appeals, and the Trump administration has appealed." Chief Justice John Roberts said the same in a rare statement after Trump attacked the federal judge in the deportation flight case as a "Radical Left Lunatic" and called for him to be impeached. MORE: Trump continues to call for judge's impeachment after chief justice's rebuke In fact, Trump was handed a win when an appeals court last week lifted an injunction on his executive orders seeking to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide injunctions are also not new, though scholars agree they've been used far more in recent decades. "We saw them with Obama, we saw them with the first Trump administration, and saw them with Biden," Frost said. "And now we're seeing them even more with President Trump but they go in lockstep with the sweeping executive orders that seek to change and upend vast swaths of our legal structure." According to a study by the Harvard Law Review, President Barack Obama faced 12 injunctions, the Trump administration faced 64 and President Joe Biden 14 injunctions. PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court is shown Mar. 17, 2025, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Both Democrats and Republicans have either urged the judiciary to rein in injunctions or celebrated their outcomes, depending on whether they align with their political goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, when a federal judge in Missouri issued an injunction limiting contact between the Biden administration and social media sites, then-candidate Trump called it a "historic ruling" and the judge "brilliant." The U.S. Supreme Court eventually sided with the Biden administration on the issue. Now, the Trump administration is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to curb injunctions after three different federal judges temporarily blocked the president's birthright citizenship order, saying it likely violated the 14th Amendment. "At a minimum, the Court should stay the injunctions to the extent they prohibit agencies from developing and issuing public guidance regarding the implementation of the Order. Only this Court's intervention can prevent universal injunctions from becoming universally acceptable," Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in an application to the high court last week. MORE: Trump asks Supreme Court to intervene on blocks to his birthright citizenship order Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said he understands the "frustration" that can stem from nationwide injunctions but ultimately "judges are there to make sure that the government doesn't violate the Constitution." "Trump is really taking a sledgehammer to everything government related," he said. "These norms have been around for decades, so you have to allow some time for the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, to weigh in and say whether this is appropriate or not." The White House has said Trump will comply with the courts, but his intensifying rebukes of judges and rulings have raised the question: What happens if he doesn't? "That would completely undermine the integrity of our system," Rahmani said. Nationwide injunctions are central to Trump's feud with judges. Here's what to know originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (Bloomberg) -- NATO plans to ask European allies and Canada to increase their stocks of weaponry and equipment by about 30% in the next few years, according to a senior alliance official. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New targets for the military capabilities of NATO allies, which would update ones set before Russias invasion of Ukraine, are currently being discussed with the aim of adopting them by early June, when the alliances defense ministers gather in Brussels. Reaching these new levels would require a massive financial effort from most European allies and Canada, while US outlays wouldnt need to change, officials added. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is responding to the growing threat from Russia, as well as President Donald Trumps drive to shift more of the burden for defense from the US to the rest of the alliance. As currently envisioned, the new targets would require a 30% increase broadly across sectors in the volume of equipment, with some specific categories going up much more, or less, according to one of the officials, who like the others was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the senior NATO official, these new targets, which will take 5 to 15 years to implement, will lead to a much stronger European and Canadian force within NATO that is less reliant on the US. The US would largely be able to meet the new targets with equipment it already has. But most allies would need to raise defense spending to more than 3% of gross domestic product a level that leaders are widely expected to set as their new spending target when they meet for a NATO summit in The Hague in late June. Trump has repeatedly accused NATO members of taking advantage of Washington by not spending enough on defense. He has indicated that the US will step back from its traditional security role in Europe and demanded allies spend 5% a goal widely viewed as unrealistic and one even the US doesnt meet. Allies now widely expect the US to reduce its troop presence in Europe as its priorities shift to the Indo-Pacific region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ever since Trump won the election, European countries have been scrambling to boost defense spending and rethink their military positioning. The five main areas being targeted in the next period are air defense systems, deep-fire capacities, logistics, communication and information systems and land maneuver capacities. Those will be underpinned with increased weapons stocks and spare parts. Air defense systems were specifically singled out as an area that require more capability from all allies, including the US. Even as Europe boosts its capabilities, the US would remain an essential backbone, particularly in areas of high-end combat power such as intelligence and reconnaissance, logistics, nuclear submarines. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Two bills concerning constitutional carry were passed out of committee on Tuesday, potentially allowing permitless carry for individuals 18 and older in North Carolina, according to WTVD. The proposed legislation, backed by Sen. Danny Britt, aims to eliminate the current requirements for obtaining a concealed carry permit, including the firearms safety course and associated fees. Supporters argue it aligns with open carry laws, while opponents raise concerns about public safety. We believe that our Constitution is clear that law-abiding citizens should be allowed to constitutionally carry, said Sen. Danny Britt, a Republican representing Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Lisa Grafstein, a Democrat from Wake County, expressed opposition, stating, When you take away the training that people need to get these firearms, it just means more people who shouldnt be carrying are carrying. ALSO READ: Security officers at some Charlotte parks could soon carry guns Currently, obtaining a concealed carry permit in North Carolina requires individuals to be 21 years old, complete a firearms safety course, and pay an $80 fee, among other conditions. The new bill seeks to remove these requirements for those 18 and older. The debate around the bill included discussions on crime statistics from states with similar laws. Twenty-nine other states, including many in the southeast, have enacted constitutional carry laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During public comment, two members of law enforcement, including Sheriff Birkhead, opposed the measure, citing concerns for officer and public safety. Grass Roots North Carolina, an advocacy group, supported the bill, with member Karen Raines stating, Allowing good citizens to permitless carry enables one to fulfill that role until law enforcement arrives. The passage of these bills out of committee marks a significant step in the legislative process, with similar legislation already filed in the House. The debate continues as stakeholders weigh the implications for public safety and individual rights. VIDEO: Security officers at some Charlotte parks could soon carry guns RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A bill loosening gun restrictions in North Carolina continues to move forward. Senate Bill 50 passed through the chamber Thursday afternoon on a 26-18 vote. SB 50 S50v0.pdf, also named the Freedom to Carry NC act, ultimately allows a person to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The bill applies to individuals who are at 18 and older and a U.S. citizen unless otherwise prohibited by law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All North Carolina counties under burn ban due to hazardous forest fire conditions During the meeting, primary sponsor of the bill, Sen. Danny Britt (R- Hoke, Robeson, Scotland), said, Were just trying to make sure that peoples constitutional right is protected. We believe the Constitution is worth fighting for. Britt said 29 other states currently allow the carry of concealed firearms without permits. The bill states there are some restrictions where it would still be unlawful to carry a concealed firearm including a law enforcement or correctional facility, private facilities where a notice is posted, and areas prohibited by federal law. Wednesday, some lawmakers and people who spoke during public comment at the meeting voiced their concerns about SB 50. Questions of safety and education remained a key focus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Paul Lowe (D- Forsyth) said, I get the constitutional right side and to be able to get a gun if you want one I get that. But the education of how to handle a firearm is my concern. Currently, North Carolina law requires an eight-hour minimum of training to obtain a concealed carry permit. If SB 50 passes, Britt said the training would not be required. To be able to use a firearm safely, that takes years of training, not just through an 8-hour class, said Britt. What were doing is making it easier for our law abiding citizens to constitutionally carry, and most of those folks I believe are adequately trained to handle a firearm. Britt also noted that education is not currently a requirement for open carry in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what bills have been put in place or filed to our open-carry statutes, it seems as though thats been fine, he said. Before hearing from members of the public, Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey), spoke in support of SB 50. NC bill legalizing marijuana faces uncertainty with only Democratic support I will continue to get and renew my concealed carry permit even after this bill because Ive traveled to South Carolina and Florida and it sure makes the purchasing process a whole lot easier. He added, I really just want to ask an attorney a question. Can you name any other constitutional right in which we would require government education before you can exercise your right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Sen. Julie Mayfield (D- Buncombe) replied, We require women to go through all sorts of education to seek a legal, safe abortion in this state. Mayfield said her biggest concern is reducing barriers to people obtaining guns. She included, We had a speaker in there who talked about the rise in gun violence and death by gun is the now the leading cause of death among children. I just think bills like this that make it easier for people to obtain guns is going in the wrong direction. The Senate bill has also created concerns among law enforcement. In a statement, Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said, This will undermine public safety, and I think we should take our time to study this a little bit more to get some more data and have conversations with law enforcement because SB 50 could potentially increase the chance of violence in even the most minor of law enforcement interactions with the public. My deputies in Durham County will have to treat every traffic stop, every encounter, like a felony stop. That puts everybody at risk. The Wake County Sheriffs Office also shared the following statement: Sheriff Rowe and the Wake County Sheriffs Office remain committed to ensuring the safety of our community. Please know that we are actively monitoring this legislation and will continue to work with lawmakers to advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of our community and law enforcement officers. We encourage residents to share their concerns with their local representatives as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the North Carolina legislature also overturned former Gov. Roy Coopers veto and passed a law that no longer required a pistol purchase permit from the sheriffs office in order to buy a handgun. It eliminated the process of the agencys ability to run a background check. SB 50 maintains the option to obtain a permit for purposes of reciprocity with other states and other personal reasons. The bill now heads to the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Action News Jax is working to get answers for seniors who say they are living without hot water. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The water is very, very cold here in the building, said Senior citizen Pat Conlin. Thats because for Pat Conlin, this senior living facility, The Towers of Jacksonville, has been without hot water for days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Wickfield has the same complaint. Days and days of having to brush your teeth, wash your face, and clean important areas with cold water, Wickfield said. The residents shared with us that management told them the buildings boiler broke down stopping the hot water. Management sent out a letter stating that the part to fix it is being shipped from Tennessee. They also mentioned that hot water should return sometime on Monday. But they said that doesnt help right now. I put a pot on the stove, made some hot water, and took care of the most important parts, Wickfield said. According to its website, the building opened in 1972 and is for low and fixed-income seniors 62 years of age and older. Rents are subsidized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve Appleby has been living in the facility for over eight years. He said this is not the first time hes experienced hot water outages. For the last six months, there have been frequent boiler outages. I finally broke down and washed my hair in the sink with water I had to boil on the stove because I couldnt stand it anymore, according to Appleby. I emailed the owner of the building we emailed RetriRetirement Housing Foundation, a non-profit organization of 198 communities in 29 states, but never heard back. As for Conlin, he says that residents havent heard anything more from management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We went to speak with the property manager, but they left 10 minutes after we arrived, however, we tried getting in further contact. We have not heard back at this time. We will let you know their response on air and online. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (KSNW) A Nebraska man has been jailed, accused of intentionally setting his father on fire. The Scottsbluff Police Department says it happened shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday, when officers and the Scottsbluff Fire Department were called to the home on the report of a fire. When they arrived, they found Anthony Cervantes,74, had been doused with an accelerant and set on fire. Woman killed during conjugal visit with convicted California murderer, officials say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cervantes was pronounced dead at the scene. Scottsbluff Police say Cervantess 44-year-old son, who lived with his father, was arrested for second-degree murder and first-degree arson. Scottsbluff is a city of around 14,500 people in the western Nebraska panhandle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for a group of thieves who burglarized a home in West Hills after planting a hidden camera outside. A man, speaking to news video service TNLA, said that at about 2 a.m. on Thursday, he saw a white Kia sedan parked in his neighborhood in the 1700 block of Bernadine Avenue and people messing around in some bushes. He thought nothing of it at the time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A car pulled up, and two people hopped out and they were going into this bush across from my house and putting something in it, he said. I didnt know if it was the neighbors or not so I didnt do anything about it. Police are searching for suspects that burglarized a home after placing a hidden camera outside in the West Hills of Los Angeles. (TNLA) At about 11 a.m. Thursday, he saw the same vehicle pull into the neighborhood. This time, at least five people wearing masks break into a neighbors home. Carrying bags full of items, the burglars hopped back into the car, but not before they went back to retrieve a camera that was hidden in the bushes, the man said. I wanted to scream, you know, but like at the same time I didnt know if I should or not, the man said. [Wednesday night], if I would have screamed, I could have prevented something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details, including any information regarding the suspects, were immediately available. Law enforcement officials say hidden cameras have become a favorite tool for thieves in Southern California in recent years often multi-national crime rings. Other recent cases include Chino Hills, Temecula, and Arcadia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Neil Young said a couple of weeks ago that he would play a free concert in Ukraine, with a date and venue TBA. But now that show has been called off. Our concert in Ukraine is canceled, Young said in a statement on his archives website. We had a good venue, close to a shelter, but the changing situation on the ground was too much. I could not in good conscience take my crew and instruments into that area. My apologies to all. Ukraine is a great country with a good leader. Slava Ukraini. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news came as a fragile limited ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia was in place. But it was broken Friday morning, a day after Youngs announcement. The countries have been at war since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The Ukraine show was planned as the opener of Youngs Love Earth tour, which instead will open on June 18 in Rattvik, Sweden, as originally announced. The 24-show trek with his band The Chrome Hearts, supporting their new album Talkin to the Trees, will roll through Europe before hitting North America. The last show is set for September 15 at the Hollywood Bowl. Famously vociferous and politically active during his nearly 60-year career, Canada native Young recently has sparred with Donald Trump multiple times over the use of his songs at rallies, boycotted Spotify over the streaming services ties to Joe Rogan and initially refused to perform at Glastonbury over what he called the BBCs corporate control over the popular UK music festival. But Young changed his mind early this year, citing an error in the information received, and will play the festival with The Chrome Hearts in June. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) Two local lawmakers are behind an effort to bring another $100 million in Hurricane Helene relief to Northeast Tennessee. State Rep. Timothy Hill and state Sen. Rusty Crowe are sponsoring a bill to create two grant funds to assist individuals and local governments. $50 million would go toward each fund, with additional funding possibly available in the future. General Assembly approves resolution honoring Chief Meteorologist Mark Reynolds 40 years at WJHL Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hurricane Helene County Relief Fund would distribute grants to counties for infrastructure, remediation, property repairs, and other general recovery efforts. The funds would be distributed to the following counties: Carter County $10 million Cocke County $7.5 million Greene County $6 million Hamblen County $2 million Hawkins County $1 million Johnson County $7.5 million Sullivan County $1 million Unicoi County $7.5 million Washington County $7.5 million The Hurricane Helene Rapid Response Fund would support residents who meet specific criteria in counties declared impacted by the hurricane. It would be administered by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and individuals could apply for assistance online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If approved, the grant funding would be in addition to other Hurricane Helene relief measures the General Assembly passed during a special session earlier this year. $2.1M approved for Unicoi Co. Industrial Park rail system repairs We made a significant first step during the special session to support Northeast Tennessee, and this bill aims to build on that progress, Hill said. Im working closely with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) every week to find a solution that delivers genuine relief to those devastated by Helene. The bill was approved by a House subcommittee this week and will go before the State and Local Government Committee, which another local lawmaker, state Rep. John Crawford, chairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Assembly would have to approve the funding for both grant funds in the 2025-26 budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. PARIS (Reuters) - A criminal network that smuggled 1,700 illegal immigrants from Spain to France was dismantled by French and Spanish police this month with support from Europol, the EU law enforcement agency said on Friday, and 19 people were arrested. Migrants mostly from North Africa, but also from sub-Saharan Africa and Syria, were picked up near train stations in northeast Spain, then transported to Marseille in the south of France. "Between May 2023 and August 2024, more than 500 smuggling operations were organised, with an estimated turnover of between 250,000 euros and 427,000 euros, from about 1,700 migrants transported to France," Europol said. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Kevin Liffey) The office of Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who last year joined several other states in an ultimately successful effort to block a proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, said it is monitoring the bill. (Photo: April Corbin Girnus/Nevada Current) Nevada could be the first state to adopt legislation that would boost its ability to fight or address antitrust concerns. Senate Bill 218 would adopt the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act, which would require companies to submit to state attorneys general the same notices and information they are already required to provide federal agencies prior to mergers or acquisitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It does not require the attorney general to try and stop the merger, emphasized state Sen. James Ohrenschall, the bill sponsor, during his presentation Thursday to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. It only requires that the AG be made aware of the proposal so they can analyze the impact of a merger or acquisition on industries, markets, and consumers in the state. The legislation was drafted by the Uniform Law Commission, a longstanding national nonprofit, nonpartisan group behind other broadly adopted state legislation, including the Uniform Commercial Code and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. Ohrenschall serves as a ULC commissioner. The pre-merger notification act has been introduced into eight state legislatures this year, including California, Utah and Colorado, according to ULC. States have the same right to enforce the federal merger law, said Dan Robbins, who chaired the ULC committee that drafted the act, but they may not find out about a proposed merger for months after their federal counterparts do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What often happens is a state will learn about it in a newspaper and say, Oh my goodness I might want to take a look at that, said Robbins. What the state then needs to do is issue subpoenas and go into litigation, spending taxpayer dollars to get information that it could already have. Thats not good for businesses, he continued, which dont want states to come in months after they believe a deal is closed and say they have concerns. Under SB 218, Nevada would be notified only if the Silver State is the primary place of business or if the business has more than $25 million in net sales within the state. The attorney generals office would be prohibited from charging any fees for filing. Nevada already requires certain health care companies to inform the state about potential mergers. Lawmakers passed that legislation in 2021 over growing concerns about the consolidation of healthcare companies, particularly by private equity firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 218 as introduced would expand notice to all companies making filings to the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justices antitrust division as required by the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The filings would be confidential at the state level, just as they are at the federal level. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford did not participate in the legislative hearing Thursday. In an emailed statement to the Current Friday, his office said it is monitoring the bill. AG Ford is a staunch supporter of antitrust measures and a fair marketplace, as well as efforts to protect information and promote cooperation in evaluating mergers, the statement also said. Ford last year joined several other states and the FTC in an ultimately successful effort to block a proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons. In 2019, Ford took action against a proposed merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, which was resolved with a $30 million settlement for Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nevada Resort Association submitted an amendment to exempt businesses regulated by an administrative or regulatory agency. NRA Lobbyist Misty Grimmer told the committee those in the gaming industry are already required to give similar notice to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for approval of mergers and acquisitions of any size, so the act would be duplicative. The attorney general serves as legal counsel for the states gaming division. State Sen. Skip Daly expressed concern the wording of the proposed amendment might be too vague and used by other industries lawmakers dont intend to exempt. Ohrenshall, Grimmer and the committees legal counsel said they would work on refining the language of the amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state legislation is being introduced against the backdrop of President Donald Trump firing two members of the FTC, which enforces antitrust laws. When people hear this news, one of the commissioners who was fired told the New York Times they need to think about the billionaires behind the president at his inauguration. Editors Note: This article has been updated to include a statement from Attorney General Aaron Fords office. NEWINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) The Newington Police Department is searching for a person they say struck an officer during a traffic stop at the Chick-fil-A drive-thru on Berlin Turnpike on Wednesday night. According to police and eye witnesses, around 9:30 p.m., while the restaurant was getting ready to close, police had the driver boxed in at the drive-thru. But then the suspect went up on the grass and it went around. Democrats pushing for rideshare pay transparency for drivers, customers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police officers came in, they blocked off the end of the drive-through, eyewitness Joseph Warner said. A car pulled into the end of the drive-through and a bunch of officers are coming around the back to ambush him, so then once he saw the police, he hopped up onto the curb, left tire marks, tore up the mulch. The police officer approached on foot, ran directly at the drive-through, as he was coming out. The car came out, struck the officer and kept on going. The tire marks in the mulch and on the grass where the car swerved out of the drive-through and hit the police officer are still visible. Newington PD Sgt. Matthew J. DEsposito said the officer sustained minor injuries. This has escalated now that he has, clearly and intentionally driven towards a police officer, especially since the police officer was in plain sight, so that increases the situation, DEsposito said. We are putting a lot more investigative efforts in this now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newington Police say this is not the first or even the second time this driver has evaded them. They originally tried to stop him because the license plate belonged to another vehicle, which police say usually means its stolen or unregistered. Its used to put on a vehicle so that when you run a plate, it doesnt match whos operating it, and what vehicle its on, its a means to conceal identity from law-enforcement, DEsposito said. Police say they spotted the car traveling at a high rate of speed down the Berlin Turnpike on Wednesday night, and it became unsafe to pursue. There are a bunch of times when people whip past me on the Berlin Turnpike and almost hit me, so God forbid he goes and hits somebody, Warner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chick-fil-A has two dozen state-of-the-art 4K, security cameras, and police are going through the surveillance video. They have not released the make or model of the car as they track down leads. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Trump administration officials have been pressuring Mexican counterparts to reduce the flow of migrants and drugs over the border. Now theyre turning their attention to the flow of something more scatalogical. Sewage. More than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage, trash and stormwater have flowed into San Diego since 2018 as the city of Tijuanas aging and failing wastewater system has been overwhelmed by a booming population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Diego-area beaches are frequently closed due to the toxins, including one shoreline that was shuttered for more than 1,000 days straight. Navy SEALs training in nearby waters have also fallen ill. The issue grabbed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldins attention earlier this month when a construction incident in Mexico sent untreated sewage into the Tijuana River. Since then, he has publicly pressured Americas southern neighbor to focus on the problem and pay for it. Mexico must fully honor its commitment to control their countrys growing pollution and sewage impacting the United States. The time when excuses, delays, or exceptions are tolerated is over, Zeldin said in a statement Thursday. Two people with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to a fear of reprisals, said Zeldin has demanded daily briefings for his team on the topic. Zeldin also said he plans to visit the region soon to see the problem on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration officials attention to the sewage issue comes after they have successfully used the threat of punishing tariffs to prod the new Mexican president into deploying 2,500 additional troops to police the border and undertake aggressive police actions against drug cartels. In a separate move Thursday, the State Department announced it would cut off deliveries of Colorado River water made to Tijuana through San Diegos system. In a post on X, the department did not mention the sewage issue, but rather pitched that move as retaliation for Mexicos lagging deliveries of Rio Grande water to farmers in Texas. For years including during the first Trump administration the U.S. response to the Mexican sewage problem has been to fund projects to treat the pollution. That includes $300 million that President Donald Trump secured for upgrades to an international water treatment plant on the U.S. side of the border as part of the major trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico in 2020. Jayne Harkins, who at the time headed the division of the State Department that oversees U.S.-Mexico water issues, said Mexico appreciates the problem, but has had trouble funding the repairs and new infrastructure that would fix it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They understand its not OK to send sewage in the river. Its just a matter of having the resources to repair and replace things, she said. Harkins acknowledged the Mexican funding is absolutely a question of priorities. When they have the [water line] breaks, there really isnt any impact to any of the Mexicans. All of the impact is in the U.S. Were the much bigger and richer country. So [they say], Why dont you guys come pay for it? Well fix it and clean it up, she said. The Mexican Embassy did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Congress has since provided an additional $350 million for the international treatment plant, including $250 million in Decembers disaster aid bill. EPA also funds other cross-border water projects to the tune of roughly $35 million annually, which is matched one-for-one by the Mexican government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now at least some of that cash is in question. The administration has frozen new spending under the EPA budget line as part of its scrutiny of support for foreign organizations, according to the two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals. In a statement, EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou said the administration supports funding for the U.S.-based international treatment plant, but wants Mexico to pay for the work on its side of the border. Mexico needs to build and properly operate the infrastructure necessary to treat all the sewage generated by Tijuana, she said in an emailed statement. Mexico should be paying for their own wastewater collection, not U.S. taxpayer dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the State Department entity that manages the international treatment plant, the International Boundary and Water Commission, said its funding remains available. But Martha Guzman, who headed EPAs regional office for California under the Biden administration, said the EPA funding is crucial because it gives Mexico an incentive to invest in the systems. For instance, Mexico is building the massive system that collects the sewage on the southern side of the border that is piped to the international plant, but that funding is tied to the EPA matching money and a related international deal. If you cant collect the sewage, you cant treat it, she said. Thats been the biggest problem that it hasnt been getting collected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations moves have raised concern among Californias congressional delegation. The states two Democratic senators and the Democratic Reps. Scott Peters and Juan Vargas, who represent the San Diego area, this week invited Zeldin to visit the treatment plant. EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again, they wrote. Guzman said the EPA funding freeze is delaying projects that are meant to catch up with the problem at a time when the U.S. and Mexico should be thinking bigger about how to get ahead of it. We need to move forward for a whole new system to capture and recycle water upstream. Were dealing with the end result, what we want as a sustainable resilient project is recyclable water, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Tijuana gets drinking water supplies from the Colorado River, which has shriveled dramatically due to climate change. The seven states that share it are struggling to agree on new rules to shrink their reliance on the waterway, and the U.S. will soon need to begin negotiations with Mexico over whether it will agree to reduce its water deliveries. Arizona, which has the weakest claim to Colorado River water but whose cities are deeply reliant on it, is considering major investments to expand its water portfolio, including some in Mexico. Guzman said that those conversations were just beginning around Tijuana projects when the Trump administration took office. A Nigerian conman who duped women out of almost 200,000 in romance frauds has avoided deportation after judges ruled his wife and children could not be properly cared for by his home countrys health system. Emmanuel Jack, 35, was jailed for three years in 2014 after he tricked six women he met on dating websites into paying him 186,000. His lonely hearts ruse would see him targeting vulnerable women while posing as an architect and convincing them to send him thousands of pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight years after he was jailed, in 2022, the Home Office decided to deport Mr Jack and send him back to Nigeria, the country he left with his parents when he was 10. However, he launched a legal challenge claiming that it breached his rights to a family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). An Immigration and Asylum tribunal in London has now backed his appeal against removal on the basis it would be unduly harsh on his British wife and children, who suffer from complicated and serious medical issues and rely on his care. The asylum tribunal ruled it would also be unlikely Nigeria had the bespoke medical care his family benefited from under the NHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example exposed by The Telegraph where migrants or convicted foreign criminals have won the right to remain in the UK or halt their deportations, often claiming breach of their human rights under the ECHR. There are a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, largely on human rights grounds, which threaten to hamper Labours efforts to fast-track removal of illegal migrants. The backlog has risen by nearly a quarter since September and is up nearly 500 per cent from just 7,173 at the start of 2022. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is reviewing whether to place restrictions on foreign criminals and illegal migrants to prevent them exploiting Article 8 of the ECHR to avoid deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack, who came to Britain in 1997, was a business student at the University of Salford when he carried out his romance fraud scams, preying on lonely women and using aliases John Creed, John Windsor and Johnnie Carlo Rissi as he convinced them online to send money. After his arrest and before his conviction, he applied for British citizenship and was successful. He was jailed for three years in March 2014. The Home Office reviewed his British citizenship and revoked it, then in November 2022 notified him that he would be deported. After prison, he married a British woman with whom he had two young children. However the tribunal which consisted of judges Victor Rae-Reeves and Luke Bulpitt was told that his wife and two children had complex medical issues. Their youngest child, who is around 18 months old, was born prematurely and has serious development issues so requires close supervision and specialist NHS care. His daughter, six, suffers from eyesight problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tribunal ruled it would be unduly harsh on the children for the family to be deported. Moving to Nigeria would significantly disrupt that care, frustrate ongoing investigations and end the consistency of care that they have each been receiving to date. We consider that even if treatment is available, it is considerably harder to get treatment for all three of them in the same location, it concluded. The tribunal also said Jack was a loving and very hands-on father who played a key role in the upbringing of the children, making it unduly harsh for him, alone, to be removed to Nigeria. We find that [Mr Jack] helps both children with their medical needs and therapies and his absence would potentially have a deleterious effect on their health because of the limitations that [his wife] may face in fulfilling such practical tasks, the panel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We conclude that, given the extremely close relationships that, in these particular circumstances [Mr Jack] shares with [his family], [his] separation from the family as a result of deportation would have a very great emotional and psychological impact on them which goes far beyond the impact that might be experienced where there is not such a close and unbroken shared history. 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. TOWN OF CHENANGO, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A Rotary Club formed recently by the merger of two nearby clubs is celebrating its diamond anniversary. The Nimmonsburg Hillcrest Rotary held a special luncheon today at the Chenango Town Hall. The Nimmonsburg service organization was founded in 1950. In 1955, it helped to start the Hillcrest Rotary and in July 2023, the two clubs merged. They both have a long history of supporting the Chenango Valley and Chenango Forks school districts. And they raise money to donate to non-profits like Chenango Ambulance and the Chenango Bridge Fire Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Alan Blythe says its a dynamic club. We are a small club but we have unity. If one person needs something or has something going on, were all there to help one another out. Since weve combined the two clubs, theyve merged tremendously. Everybody gets along, its a great gathering, said Blythe. The club was joined by Central New York Rotary President Lizzy Martin of Baldwinsville. Nimmonsburg Hillcrest Rotary meets every Friday at 12:15 in the town halls community room. For information about joining, email NimmonsburgHillcrestRotary@gmail.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. The Northern Kentucky councilman facing accusations of attacking his wife twice over the past few months has resigned from office. Alexandria City Council officially accepted councilman Shane Collins' resignation during Thursday night's meeting. Collins sent his resignation in a March 13 letter to Mayor Andy Schabell, citing "personal reasons." As the meeting started, Collins' nameplate was already removed from the bench. "Please know that this decision was not made lightly, and I am incredibly grateful for all the support and guidance I received during my time in office," Collins wrote in the letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City council has until April 20 to fill Collins' seat before the state will step in and fill it. Council members agreed to open applications to the public and review them in an upcoming meeting. Former Alexandria city councilman Shane Collins' nameplate was removed from the bench in council chambers before the March 20 meeting. In late January, police responded to Collins' house after getting a call about a fight. Officers spoke with Collins' wife who said the couple had been in a fight over him cheating on her. During the fight, she said Collins grabbed her shirt and ripped her to the ground, according to an incident report. Then in late February, after being placed under a no-contact order, Collins' step-son called 911 after Collins got into an argument with his wife at their home and shoved her to the ground, according to a recording of the call reviewed by The Enquirer. Collins, also the chair of the city's safety committee, was absent from all but two meetings as councilman. He attended his first meeting, when he was sworn in, and then special meeting last Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of that meeting, the council went into closed session for roughly 30 minutes to discuss the dismissal of an individual member. The next day, Collins resigned. Collins is expected in court next on April 7. Council to open applications for Collins' seat, former councilman interested Council agreed to open applications to fill Collins' seat, closing by April 11 and making a decision at the April 17 meeting. Collins was elected to the city council last November, beating out incumbent councilman Joe Anderson with 2,820 votes to Anderson's 2,537. In an interview with The Enquirer, Anderson said he would accept being reappointed to council if he was offered, but will wait for them to make the decision they want to make. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson served as a councilman on and off since 2009, spending the last four years on Alexandria's council until the most recent election. Alexandria City Council's next meeting is April 3. The Northern Kentucky city of 10,341 people is one of the dual county seats of Campbell County along with Newport. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Alexandria city councilman facing domestic violence charges resigns A sign marks the limit to prevent campaign signs at a polling location during the June 4, 2024 primary in New Mexico. (Photo by Danielle Prokop / Source NM) The New Mexico House of Representatives by a small margin on Friday voted in favor of opening upcoming primary elections to unaffiliated voters. Co-sponsor Rep. Cristina Parajon (D-Albuquerque) defended the bill in a roughly two-hour debate Friday on the House floor, with fewer than 24 hours left in the session. She said opening primaries to unaffiliated voters will expand turnout and democratic buy-in from an increasingly disaffected voter base, particularly young people. As of December 2024, 340,000 New Mexico voters, roughly a quarter of all voters in the state, were not affiliated with any of the states three major parties, which are Democrats, Republicans or Libertarians, according to the Secretary of States Office. And 40% of New Mexico voters aged 18 to 24 are unaffiliated, Parajon said during the floor debate Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me, this was about democracy and strengthening a democratic republic to involve more folks in the electoral process, she said. The notion of letting unaffiliated voters cast ballots drew support and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo) said he was concerned about the constitutionality of the law, particularly the First Amendment right to free association. Enacting the law would tell political parties, that under your bill, you have to allow people who are not members of that party to participate in your primary, McQueen said. Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) opposed the bill because she said it would result in candidates that nobody wanted winning primaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Republican Reps. John Block (R-Alamogordo) and Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) wondered aloud whether opening the primaries would help Republicans chip away at the Democrats majority in the state Legislature, based on their senses of which party unaffiliated voters tend to lean toward. Block ultimately voted against the bill. Montoya joined 35 other representatives voting for it, he said, after changing his mind during the floor debate. He said opening primaries could make for more moderate candidates across the board and that it could shake up political races across the state to Republicans benefit. Im looking at this today and considering voting for this, because its kind of a high-risk, high-reward poker stakes here, he said. New Mexico is one of just 10 in the country that has closed primaries. Parajon said theres little evidence in other states of partisan voters raiding the other partys primary to vote for extreme or unelectable candidates. New Mexico law changes in the last few years allowed those independent voters who want to vote to use same-day registration to change their affiliation to one of the states major parties Democrat, Republican or Libertarian to participate in primary elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed 36-33. It previously passed the Senate 27-11. It now heads to the governors desk. Corrections: This story has been updated since publication to clarify the law change only would apply to unaffiliated/independent voters; and to correct state Rep. Rod Montoyas first name. Source regrets the errors. Law enforcement officials released information on the autopsy results of a hiker who had gone missing before her remains were found months later in Talladega National Forest. The results confirmed that no foul play occurred in the death of Vendula Wendy Rose, a 38-year-old hiker from Marysville, Ohio, the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Tuesday. Rose's body was discovered in December in a remote area of Talladega National Forest near Alabama 281, approximately five miles from where her vehicle was found at the Pinhoti Trailhead. She had been reported missing since Oct. 3, after failing to return from a solo hiking trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We extend our deepest sympathies to Ms. Roses family, friends, and all those affected by this loss," Cleburne County Sheriff Jon Daniel said in a statement. "We understand that this has been a difficult time for many, and we appreciate the patience and cooperation of everyone involved during the investigation." Authorities said no further criminal investigation is anticipated. The Anniston Star reached out to Cleburne County Coroner Adam Downs to ascertain what the final cause of death was listed. Downs declined to comment further out of respect for Roses family, other than stating that there was no foul play involved. However, he released the following statement via social media. The autopsy for Vendula Wendy Rose has been concluded by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. As we had originally expected there were no signs of foul play surrounding her death. I hope this will allow the family to have some type of closure and comfort as they cope with their loss. Please continue to uplift the family in your prayers, Downs said. The search for Rose began immediately after her vehicle was located on Oct. 5. A ground search involving multiple agencies, including K9 units, horseback teams and aerial support, was launched the following day. Search teams scoured more than 30 miles of trails, though aerial searches were hindered by the dense tree canopy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators later discovered that Rose had been in the area well before her disappearance, camping near U.S. Forest Road 500 on Sept. 21. She then traveled to Jacksonville and South Carolina before returning to the Oxford area. Surveillance cameras showed her entering an Oxford store alone on Sept. 24. Her electronic communication ceased after she parked her car at the Pinhoti Trailhead that evening. In December, a hunter found Rose's body in a hammock-style tent near a secluded forestry road. Mar. 21Vacuuming floors isn't often something advertised in a school principal's job description. It may not be the first task one associates with leading 1,491 students and 83 teachers at a school. Still, when a frustrated teacher at Mt. Spokane High School complained to Principal Chelsea Gallagher about a messy classroom floor that was distracting to students, she knew what to do. "I was like, 'I can fix this. I know how to vacuum.' So I grabbed a vacuum and vacuumed it," Gallagher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallagher was crowned the state secondary principal of the year by the Association of Washington School Principals, recognized for her embodiment of servant leadership and centering student success. No problem is too small for the head of school, whose guiding philosophy includes "servant leadership," prioritizing her staff so that they can zero in on the kids. "It's about identifying what people's legitimate needs are and getting to work to identify those needs," Gallagher said. "Because if I can meet the needs of the people that I serve, then they can better meet the needs of our students, and then our students are going to perform better." It's one of many lessons she's learned through her approximate 20 years in education, working first as a high school English teacher in Las Vegas and landing back in her hometown of Spokane to accept the principal job at Mt. Spokane. She's worked four years in her position as principal and "The Encourager," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I just think it's a pretty special place when the staff and students are willing to put forth so much effort and time in order to demonstrate mastery, whether it's their learning in the classroom or it's an extracurricular activity," she said. She beamed about her students' successes, from Mt. Spokane's marching band that's one of the highest-ranked in the state to students' oil pastel portraits hung in her school halls. "They're really talented," she said while walking past a display. While she recognizes it's unreasonable for her to know in depth all the pupils in her school, of which there are nearly 1,500, she does what she can to make sure they all feel seen by a trusted adult on the staff she prides herself in having assembled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To support them in that mission, it's all in the "little moments," she said. Maybe it's asking staff about their own kids or how their new car is driving, touching base with teachers in her daily "morning walks" through her school. "Whatever it is, just being genuinely interested in it," she said. "And that's not hard, because I care about these people. We work together every day, doing a crazy-hard job, and if we didn't care about each other, it would be extremely difficult to meet the needs of the kids." It's her palpable attention to her staff that make Gallagher an easy boss to work with, said Chris Snyder, a Mt. Spokane assistant principal of three years. "When you work for her, you feel valued," Snyder said, describing Gallagher's follow-through on requests of staff and addressing issues in the school, actively listening in meetings with anyone who comes through her door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Whether it's working with a student or one of our staff members or any employee here, just giving them your undivided attention when they come to you or when you're working through something," Snyder said. "I think that that's an area where I've really wanted to get better at, and that is something that she does extremely well." The Association of Washington School Principals factors some data points in selecting the state principal of the year, in elementary and secondary school categories. Mt. Spokane boasts a high graduation rate, compared to the state. Mt. Spokane graduates 90.3% of its students in four years, versus the state average rate of 82.8%. Still, Snyder said Gallagher is never satisfied with the "status quo," always finding ways to take Mt. Spokane's victories a step further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eternally humble, Snyder said, Gallagher takes nearly each moment to highlight her staff and dedication to teamwork. "I'm responsible for everything inside this building, everyone inside this building, everything around this building, and it's a heaviness that I can't fully describe," she said. "The only way that I have found to deal with it and not let it eat me up is to surround myself with the best people possible." Elena Perry'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. This article was featured in the One Story to Read Today newsletter. Sign up for it here. One of the greatest journalistic misapprehensions of all time was made by one of the greatest journalists of all time. In December 1931, the legendary American reporter Dorothy Thompson secured an interview with Adolf Hitler, whose National Socialist party had recently surged in the polls, bringing him from the fringe of German politics to the cusp of political power. When I walked into Adolf Hitlers room, I was convinced that I was meeting the future dictator of Germany, Thompson recalled afterward. In something like 50 seconds, I was quite sure he was not. It took just about that time to measure the startling insignificance of this man who has set the world agog. Within a year, Hitler was chancellor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have come to view Hitlers path to the chancellorship, and ultimately to dictatorship, as inexorable, and Hitler himself as a demonic force of human nature who defied every law of political gravitynot as the man of startling insignificance Thompson encountered in the second-floor corner office of the Brown House, the Nazi Party headquarters in Munich, that day. But Thompson was hardly alone in her assessment. Much of the German press, most international correspondents, and many political observersalong with a majority of ordinary Germansdrew similar conclusions about the Nazi leader. Which brings up the question: How did so many reporters and other contemporary observers get Hitler so wrong? Few public figures have provided as easy a target for ridicule and disparagement as Adolf Hitler. He was a high-school dropout, a failed artist, and a frontline soldier who never made it beyond the rank of corporal. He was a rabid anti-Semite who did not himself possess the Aryan credentials he demanded of his followers. His father had changed the family name from Schickelgruber. Heil Schickelgruber! was a running joke in the Weimar years. But even the name Hitler was cause for ridicule. Hitler can be translated as man from the hut and appears in various iterations: Hiedler, Hietler, Huttler, Hittler, all of which convey a sense of quaint southern rusticism, especially to the north-German ear. Huttler? Huttler? the left-wing newspaper Vorwarts wrote in December 1932, spoofing Hitlers name. It sounds so funny. Even in Bavaria, where Hitler had launched his political career, he was more disdained than feared. In March 1922, when Hitler was circulating on the right-wing fringe of Munichs beer-hall political scene, Bavarias state interior minister considered deporting him to his native Austria, only to be allegedly told by a Social Democratic colleague that the National Socialist leader was a comical figure who would soon be hurtled back into the insignificance from which he originally came. To run for political office in Germany, Hitler needed to obtain German citizenship. His repeated attempts to do this were subjected to public ridicule. In 1930, after the Bavarians refused Hitler citizenship because of his felony conviction for his failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923, Wilhelm Frick, the first National Socialist to secure a senior post in government, arranged for Hitler to be appointed to a position that automatically conferred German citizenshippolice commissioner in the little Thuringian village of Hildburghausen. Hitler traveled to this hinterland village, swore an oath, and signed an affidavit before recognizing, belatedly, the paltry nature of the position. Returning to Munich, Hitler burned his appointment papers and instructed Frick to do the same. But by then it was too latejournalists had gotten wind of this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition press had a field day. Hitler was hailed as the Gendarme of Hildburghausen. We do not wish to disparage the honorable position of a gendarmerie commissioner, the Berlin newspaper Vossische Zeitung editorialized, but the absurdity lies in the outspoken peacock vanity of the ruler of the Brown House, as if he really wanted to command seven gendarmes and three police officers. It got worse: As of yesterday, all of Europe is laughing about Adolf Hitler, reported Tempo, another Berlin paper. And the laughter wasnt coming just from Europe: The whole world is laughing about Gendarme Hitler, the Social Democratic newspaper Das Volk reported. As The New York Times summed things up, Hitlers fumbling attempt at this backwoods path to German citizenship and political power had generated more merriment than indignation in political circles. [Timothy W. Ryback: The oligarchs who came to regret supporting Hitler] Hitlers second attempt at securing German citizenship was also facilitated by Wilhelm Frick. This effortbeing appointed a mid-level civil servant in the state of Braunschweigwas successfully consummated, but it turned farcical nonetheless. As Hitler entered the room in Braunschweig where he was to take his oath of office, he reportedly tripped on the carpet, leaving his entourage frozen awkwardly in stiff-armed Nazi salutes while he stumbled headlong into the room. One observer compared it to Napoleon appearing on the world stage in his underwear. The newspaper Germania saw the scene as a constitutional comedy ready-made for the theater. Hitler Appointed Civil Servant, declared the headline of a Vorwarts article, which noted that if Hitler failed in his electoral bid for the presidency, he could safely withdraw to Braunschweig, with his annual salary of 5,238 reichsmarks (about $27,350 today), and serve out his time as a diligent public servant until his mandatory retirement, at age 65, in 1954. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hitler acquired German citizenship on Friday, February 26, 1932. The following day he announced his candidacy for president, setting the stage for a battle with Paul von Hindenburg, the 84-year-old field marshal and incumbent German president. One campaign poster showed Hindenburg as Atlas bearing the world on his shoulders alongside a diminutive caricature of Hitler jumping up and down in his brown shirt and screaming, Ich bin noch viel starker!I am so much stronger! In April, Hindenburg crushed Hitler by 6 million votes. Hitler had his chief legal counsel, Hans Frank, go to court to have the election results overturned, claiming that there had been irregularities by state officials and that Hitler had been unfairly disadvantaged by not being permitted to speak on the radio. The presiding judge chided Frank for wasting the courts time and dismissed the case, observing that 6 million votes was too large a margin for any of Hitlers claims to have made a difference. Undeterred, Hitler made a bid for the chancellorship in August of that year, after Reichstag elections the preceding month in which the National Socialists won 37 percent of the vote. Arguing that this gave his party the largest share of a potential conservative coalition, Hitler demanded absolute power. Hindenburg rejected the idea out of hand, telling Hitler that he would never entrust the chancellorship to a man who was so divisive, hate-filled, and unwilling to compromise. Konrad Heiden, a regular contributor to Frankfurter Zeitung, was one of the most astute political observers of the day. The entire German nation watched as Hitler ascended the stairs to power, Heiden later wrote. The entire nation watched as Hitler went flying back down those same stairs. In the highly polarized media landscape of the Weimar Republic, Hitler could expect little accommodation in the Social Democratic Vorwarts or the Communist newspaper, Die Rote Fahne, or even in centrist newspapers such as Vossische Zeitung and Frankfurter Zeitung. But the 1,600 conservative newspapers controlled by the right-wing media mogul Alfred Hugenberg provided at best backhanded support. Although Hugenbergs papers praised Hitler for his belligerent nationalism and his desire to destroy democracy, they lamented his refusal to enter into a coalition government as politically misguided. Hitler dismissed the critique, saying he did not need the golden rain of Hugenbergs media empire. Hitler found favorable media coverage restricted to reprints of his speeches in the Volkischer Beobachter, the Nazi Party paper published in Munich, and Der Angriff, the Nazi Party paper published in Berlin. To extend his reach, Hitler leased Lufthansa passenger planes and crisscrossed the country, speaking at as many as five rallies in a single day, covering an estimated 40,000 miles in the course of campaigning in the various national elections of 1932. And to break out of the National Socialist echo chamber, Hitler had earlier tried turning to the foreign press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Timothy W. Ryback: How Hitler dismantled a democracy in 53 days] For help with this, he relied on Ernst Putzi Hanfstaengl, who had attended Harvard in the early 1900s and called on the connections he had made there for help in establishing a presence for the fuhrer in the international press. In December 1931, Hanfstaengl had stage-managed an international press conference for Hitler at the Hotel Kaiserhof, across the street from the chancellery. Adolf Hitler sat in Berlin giving press interviews as though he were already Chief of State, Time magazine reported. Hanfstaengl scheduled a second press conference for the following week, expressly for British and American journalists. The event was canceled amid concerns that the government would conduct a police raid to prevent a repeat of the previous weeks presumptuous affront. As a substitute, Hanfstaengl arranged for a live broadcast with CBS radio, during which Hitler would address the American people. But that address, in turn, was scuttled when the German postmaster general denied Hitler access to the necessary state-owned radio cables. Paris-Midi wrote of les tribulations heroi-comiques of Hitlers efforts to reach the broader public. (Hitlers planned speech finally reached an American audience when William Randolph Hearsts New York American published it, on December 13, 1931.) Hanfstaengl also arranged the interview with Dorothy Thompson. During the interview, the chain-smoking Thompson observed Hitlers rants with bemused detachment. After the interview, Hitler said, Dont ever bring me anyone like that again, Hanfstaengl! Thompson, who would subsequently be banished from Germanyand who incidentally was married to the Nobel laureate Sinclair Lewis, who four years later would publish It Cant Happen Here, a novel about the rise of a fascist dictator in Americawent on to describe that encounter for Cosmopolitan. He is inconsequent and voluble, ill-poised, insecure, she wrote. He is the very prototype of the Little Man. That same month, Harold Callender, a correspondent for The New York Times, also interviewed Hitler in his Brown House office, in Munich. Like Thompson, Callender watched with amusement as Hitler rose from his chair, walked about the room, sat upon the table, but was never at rest, making nervous gestures and all the time speaking with rhetorical fury, only occasionally checking his rapid flow of speech to make sure his words were carefully noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to Callenders question about whether the National Socialists would seek power by democratic means or if he planned to do away with parliamentary government, Hitler replied that he planned to win power via constitutionally approved meansand then to revise the constitution and the entire structure of government in a way that suits our purposes and will give us the power to conquer communism and the pest of Marxism. The present State, with its present constitution, is not in a position to do this. Later in the interview, Hitler said, Democratic theories and admonitions do not suffice to resist a force which is motivated not by belief in democracy but by bloody brutality. If America had as many Communists and Social Democratic Marxists in its midst as Germany did, he went on, it would surely adopt the militarized approach of the National Socialists toward stamping them out. Though he declined to explicitly admit that anti-Semitism was a fundamental part of his partys platform, he averred that the attitude of the National Socialist movement to every inhabitant of this country is determined by that inhabitants attitude toward Germany. (It should be noted that Callenders reporting has aged better than the Times first article on Hitler, which in 1922 had asserted that several reliable, well-informed sources confirmed the idea that Hitlers anti-Semitism was not so genuine or violent as it sounded, and that he was merely using anti-Semitic propaganda as a bait to catch masses of followers.) On August 7, 1932, Hanfstaengl organized a press gaggle at Hitlers alpine retreat on the Obersalzberg for the CBS-radio announcer H. V. Kaltenborn (who recalled Hanfstaengl as one of my best friends from Harvard; theyd taken a famous course on Goethes Faustus there together), the Associated Press Berlin bureau chief Louis Lochner, and the Hearst reporter Karl von Wiegand. Hitler subjected them to the usual diatribe and bluster. That man is hopeless, Wiegand said afterward. Ask him a question and you get a speech. This whole trip was a waste of time. Hitler did find some sympathetic journalists. One was Sefton Tom Delmer, a reporter for the Daily Express, the British paper owned by the Hitler admirer Lord Beaverbrook. Delmer delivered just the sort of fawning coverage Hitler wanted. Delmer, who had attended President Hindenburgs 80th birthday celebration and covered the launch of a zeppelin, concluded that both of these great days faded into nothingness compared with the spontaneous and unprepared demonstration that greeted the smiling, bare-headed Herr Hitler in early April 1932, when Hitler arrived in central Berlin to find 120,000 fanatical Berliners were waiting to hear him speak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hitler rewarded Delmer for his adulatory journalism, inviting him to dinner and providing him with his direct telephone number (50-1-05-07). He also brought Delmer with him on the campaign trail. Tomorrow morning at six oclock I shall be in Herr Hitlers airplane, the only newspaper representative to accompany the Fascist leaderDelmer meant Fascist as a complimenton the whirlwind with which he is winding up his campaign in the presidential election, he reported in spring 1932. [Timothy W. Ryback: Herr Hitler, do you really believe me capable of such a dirty trick?] Later that year, as Hitler endured another deluge of press ridicule, he turned again to Delmer for a boost. In the November elections, the National Socialists had lost 34 Reichstag seats, and Hindenburg once again rebuffed Hitler in his quest for the chancellorship. It was most amusing to see old Hindy take Adolf out for a ride and put him in a beautiful hole, Lochner noted for the Associated Press. Hitler had been knocking on the door to power since 1923, Konrad Heiden observed, in the Frankfurter Zeitung, but was apparently destined to spend his political career knocking on doors he would never enter. On the evening of November 27, 1932, Hitler summoned Delmer for an interview in the Hotel Elephant in Weimar. Not more than four months from now and the Presidential Cabinet will have fallen and our day will have come, Hitler told Delmer, who passed this assurance on to his Daily Express readers. This was the challenging statement made to me tonight, in an exclusive interview, by Adolf Hitler, Delmer reported, whom all the world believes to be in the depths of despair after the defeat of his latest bid for power, but who is in reality radiant with confidence that the hour of his supreme triumph is at hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hitlers confident bluster belied the precariousness of his position: He was at that moment in the midst of one of the toughest internal party struggles of his political career, one that led to still more press mockery. As the party hard-liners Hermann Goering, Joseph Goebbels, and Ernst Rohm pressed for a rule-or-ruin strategy, Hitlers more moderate lieutenants, including Gregor Strasser and Wilhelm Frick, felt the time had come for compromise and coalition building. When Strasser arranged for Hitler to meet with Kurt von Schleicher, the ultimate power broker in Berlin, to discuss potentially joining a coalition government, Hitler boarded an overnight train in Munich, only to be intercepted en route, in the town of Jena, by Goring, who boarded the train to wake Hitler at 6 oclock in the morning and escort him off, before driving him to Weimar. Strasser and Frick were left waiting for Hitler on the platform in Berlin. The opposition press made the most of this episode. A cartoon in Vorwarts shows a befuddled Hitler in his nightshirt, with tousled hair and spindly legs covered with protruding hairs, being led away by Goring. A newspaper headline in the same publication described Hitler as Youve Never Seen Him, a satirical reference to a recently published book of photographs by his personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann. The incident was dubbed Hitlers Unterhosenszenehis underwear scene. A taunting rhyme made the rounds, which can be translated as Hitlers chancellorship is now sunk / Frick and Strasser are in a funk. One commentator observed dryly that Hitlers lieutenants looked so clueless only because Hitler was so clueless. To read press coverage like this was to conclude that Hitler was politically finished. But Hitler seemed outwardly not to be bothered by the cacophony of derision and ridicule. I have endured so much persecution and so many personal attacks during the 13 years of my struggle for Germany, Hitler explained to then-Chancellor Fritz von Papen, who himself had previously issued scathing condemnations of the Nazi leader, that I have learned to put the great cause I serve above myself. The only thing that filled him with bitterness, Hitler told Papen, who was seeking a rapprochement with him, was watching establishment politicians squander the hope, belief and trust that the common man had placed in the countrys leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While awaiting trial and execution at Nuremberg for his role in Nazi atrocities, the Hitler attorney Hans Frank observed that it had been this alleged commitment to the common man and a greater cause that bonded the fuhrer to his followers. If one is to be brutally honest, one has to admit, Frank explained, that Hitler said aloud what was in the minds of most people and gave clear expression to what everyone was experiencing along with a plan to address the hopes and suffering of the people. [From the February 1937 Issue: Hitler looks eastward] Frederic Sackett, the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 1930 to 1933, confirmed Franks assessment that the bond between Hitler and his political base seemed infrangible, no matter how ridiculous he appeared to the reporters who covered him. The expectation frequently voiced here that failure of his policies would result in large and immediate losses of following for Hitler, Shackett reported to the State Department, does not take into account the blindness of great sections of his adherents. Hans Prinzhorn, a German psychiatrist and art historian, put this in different terms. After attending one of his beer-hall rallies, Prinzhorn observed how Hitler manipulated the crowd by dramatically modulating his voice, first rising to a demagogic register before falling silent, then continuing to speak in a subdued tone, as if nothing had happened. Prinzhorn also noted that Hitler limited himself to a small number of tropes that he repeated incessantly: the treason of Versailles, the danger of Jewish influences, his vow that heads will roll once he was in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Prinzhorn, Hitlers calculated and mesmerizing combination of volume, rhythm, modulation, and repetition induced the suspension of logic and reason in rally attendees, generating an emotional response in his followers that rendered him nearly impervious to rational attack by political opponents and probing reporters. They keep thinking theyve hit on a crucial point when they say that Hitlers speeches are meaningless and empty, Prinzhorn observed of reporters. But intellectual judgments of the Hitler experience miss the point entirely. Ambassador Sackett called Hitler one of the biggest showmen since P. T. Barnum, an indefatigable spellbinder with an uncanny capacity for twisting events to suit his fancies and purposes. The country is getting tired of the Nazis, The New York Times Pulitzer Prizewinning correspondent Fred Birchall reported in November 1932. Hitlers high water mark, Birchall declared, had been the July Reichstag election when the National Socialists had won 37 percent of the seats. The German ambassador to Washington, D.C., affirmed this. Hitler, he told the U.S. State Department, had reached the high point of his career, and had damaged himself irreparably through continuous personal attacks on the revered President Hindenburg, his refusal to join a coalition government, and his public support for storm troopers who had savagely kicked to death a Polish immigrant in front of his mother. Hitler had disgusted people with his defense of the murderers, the ambassador said. Die Weltbuhne, a weekly magazine, wrote, Adolphus is the man of missed opportunities: 1932 opened a path to tremendous things. He stumbled. He fell. On January 24, 1933, Vorwarts published a cartoon, captioned The New Hamlet, which reflected the widely held view that Hitlers political demise was at hand. Hitler stands in the graveyard of his political movement, surrounded by broken swastika headstones, pondering an effigy of his own head. Less than a week later, Hitler was chancellor. Hitler greets President Paul von Hindenburg on the day he was named chancellor, January 30, 1933. (Classicstock / Getty) To return to the question: How could Dorothy Thompson and so many other experienced journalists and political observers have gotten Hitler and their assessment of the historical moment so wrong? If they did, they werent any more off the mark than Hitler himself. In December 1932, Hitlers movement was bankrupt financially, politically, ideologically. The party coffers were drained, the National Socialist movement tens of millions of reichsmarks in debt. Even the loyalist ranks were plagued with infighting. Word among Hitlers closest associates was that he had badly misplayed his cards. Hitler told Goebbels that he was contemplating suicide. Only an unlikely series of backroom deals and a frantic weekend of subterfuge in January 1933 rescued Hitler from the political brink and vaulted him to power. The ridiculous Little Man that Thompson and many others had dismissed in previous years was the same person who became chancellor in 1933. The man hadnt changed. The circumstances had. What remained consistent throughout was the demagogic emotional hold on his followers that Hans Prinzhorn had described. [Uri Friedman: Seeing Hitler everywhere] From the vantage point of the present, Hitlers rise seems overdetermined, and in some ways it was. But to have imagined in advance the series of events that brought such an unlikely figure to power would have required unusual powers of clairvoyance. As it happens, one of the few people to foresee Hitlers ascendance was a self-proclaimed clairvoyant. Born to Jewish parents in Vienna, Herschel-Chaim Steinschneider ran a wildly popular Berlin venue called Palace of the Occult, and he held seances for Berlins fashionable set. Writing under the pseudonym Erik Jan Hanussen, Steinschneider published a March 1932 front-page story in the Berliner Wochenschau called Hitlers Future, which predicted that Hitler would be chancellor within the year. Hitler met Steinschneider several times in the course of 1932 and reportedly invited him to his suite at the Hotel Kaiserhof in January 1933 to hold a seance. I see victory for you, Steinschneider told Hitler. It cannot be stopped. That a Jewish showman and occultist was providing spiritual guidance to the leader of the National Socialist movement was more fodder for mockery by the opposition press. Hitlers lucky star appears to be fading, but the cautious astrologists continue to wave the swastika banner, because one never knows, Vorwarts reported on December 28, 1932. Vorwarts also wondered about Steinschneiders Jewish parents, who could never have dreamed that their son would become the promoter of an anti-Semitic Fuhrer. Although Hitlers political struggles, and the general perception of him as a figure of ridicule, almost led him to suicide in late 1932, he was well accustomed to overcoming mockery. It fueled his ambition. Not long ago, while researching my most recent book, I listened to an audio recording Hitler had produced in the summer of 1932, in advance of the Reichstag elections, part of his effort to reach beyond the audience who read the critical mainstream press. The two-disc set is titled Hitlers Appeal to the Nation and is emblazoned with a swastika that spins at 78 rpm. The recording was intended to be played at rallies across the country, and sold in bookstores, music shops, and newspaper kiosks for 1.6 reichsmarks (about $8 today). Hitler speaks in a notably measured toneno ranting, no raving, no Sieg heil! choruses in the background. Still, despite the moderated tone, his seething, grievance-laden political message and his simmering mendacity penetrate through the hissing and crackling recording of the eight-and-a-half-minute address. Thirteen years ago we National Socialists were derided and disdained by our opponents, Hitler says. No one is laughing now. Article originally published at The Atlantic Amid the public outcry over the Trump administration's decision to deport more than 250 Venezuelan immigrants over the weekend, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele posted a harrowing video on social media of the detainees' arrival at his country's Terrorism Confinement Center, a mega-prison in the town of Tecoluca that holds thousands of gang members and is known among human rights advocates for its sprawling list of alleged human rights violations. Those advocates fear those expelled from the United States without due process are facing those abuses right now. "I strongly, strongly fear that they're already being tortured, being mistreated, being screamed at, being forced to perform forced labor, being poorly fed or underfed," said Adam Isacson, director of defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America. The nearly three-minute clip shared by Bukele, edited with dramatic music, shows law enforcement officers nearly dragging the shackled men from the planes, gripping them by their arms and the backs of their heads as they march them to waiting buses. An officer jerks one person's head back to display their face to the low-lying camera before the video clips to the buses; an aerial view shows the motorcade transporting these detainees making its way down a winding road to the maximum security facility. Upon their arrival, the migrants are pulled from the buses and their heads are shaved. From there, officers jostle them through the prison to the holding cell, where they file in one-by-one with their heads down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roughly 260 Venezuelan immigrants flown to El Salvador earlier this month will be imprisoned at the CECOT mega-prison for at least one year, Bukele said. In exchange, the Trump administration has paid the El Salvador government $6 million to house them. Though the Trump administration has accused the detainees of being associated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and used the allegation to justify their expulsions family members of some of the men have spoken out to reject those claims. Sworn declarations filed in federal court Wednesday also protest the claims against some detainees, stating that benign tattoos were misconstrued as evidence of gang affiliation. Human rights experts told Salon that the maltreatment of the Venezuelans captured in the clip is par for the course for prisoners held at CECOT. Though the exact circumstances of the detainees are unknown, the Salvadoran prison system's documented history of inhumane conditions and guards' torture and abuse of prisoners suggests the migrants will face the same fate if they haven't already, they said. Given the breadth of human rights violations alleged to have occurred in the prison, Isacson told Salon that the Salvadoran government should not be receiving payments, citing U.S. law that bars sending money to foreign security force units that grossly violate human rights. Government officials' acceptance and endorsement of Bukele's "authoritarianism" and approach to handling the deportees is a "stunning" indicator of how the Trump administration sees human rights, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CECOT cells can hold 65 to 70 people, with prisoners spending nearly 24 hours a day inside of them, prohibited from contact with the outside world except for legal counsel they access virtually, according to the BBC. They sleep on metal bunks with only a sheet to cover themselves, and each cell has just two water basins for bathing or washing and two toilets with no privacy. Temperatures in the prison can reach more than 95 degrees under the sweltering Salvadoran heat; the facility has no windows, fans or air conditioning. Salvadoran authorities told CNN in September that CECOT's prisoners will never be released. Bukele has made the imprisonment of El Salvador's convicted gang members in CECOT something of a spectacle as he's cracked down on rampant gang violence in the Central American nation since his election in 2019. He declared a state of emergency in early 2022 and carried out mass arrests of suspected gang members, lowering the country's homicide rate, which was once the world's highest. Videos and images much like Sunday's depicting manhandled prisoners progressing through the prison system have been shared on his social media ever since. The World Prison Brief, a UK-based global database on prisons, counts 24 facilities in El Salvador, with a total capacity of 67,289 inmates. The country's prison population has far surpassed that baseline in the past four years, with the number of inmates increasing by nearly 200% between 2020 and 2024 to 109,519. That value is up from just 7,754 inmates in 2000, putting the nation's prison occupancy rate at just under 163% Bukele's crackdown has also come at a cost, including a number of human rights violations against the country's prison population. Based on interviews with former prisoners, Human Rights Watch documented instances of torture, extreme overcrowding, ill-treatment, malnutrition, and denial of access to adequate medical care on top of the government's flouting of their due process rights, according to Juanita Goebertus, director of the group's Americas division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The criminal system in El Salvador is no place for migrants," she told Salon in a phone interview. "It honestly is a place that dehumanizes, that operates under the premise that people being sent there have less rights, and that's that's just how it's addressed by the government itself." Local human rights groups have reported that at least 349 people have died in El Salvador's prisons since Bukele began his "war on gangs." An early 2024 report from human rights group Cristosal found that, of the 261 deaths it had recorded at the time, 88 "may have been the result of a criminal act," 87 were due to illness and 14 appeared to result from "acts of violence," while the remaining 72 had no immediately identifiable cause. Complicating matters further is that El Salvador's prison system seriously lacks transparency around its inner workings a preexisting issue made worse under Bukele's government, which has repeatedly denied accusations of torture. "It's likely that, given how widespread throughout the Salvador criminal justice system these violations are, the kinds of suffering that we have documented in our jails would be similar to the conditions faced at CECOT," Goebertus said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the three years of Bukele's "state of exception," no adults have been convicted of gang activity, and many have been imprisoned without "enough evidence" or coming before a judge, she added. The HRW has documented, however, hundreds of assertions from former prisoners who denied gang affiliations and instead said they were incarcerated after they facing "potentially forced recruitment" into gangs or and displacement. "It's a system of mass incarceration without access to justice," added Goebertus, who filed a declaration in federal court Wednesday challenging the U.S. transfer of immigrants to the country. Amy Fischer, director of refugee and migrant rights for Amnesty USA, argued that these Venezuelan detainees' removals to El Salvador are "part of the strategy," where the Trump administration has shipped them to the Central American country precisely because it knows "the conditions of these prisons are terrible and deadly and cruel." "Really, I think the goal is for this administration to disappear these people into a black hole where they may not be heard from again," she told Salon in a phone interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration removed the immigrants, who were already in detention, from the U.S. under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows for their expulsion from the country without a hearing, over suspicions that they have ties to the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. Counsel for a handful of those migrants, none of whom have been proven to have gang ties in court, accused the Trump administration of violating a federal judge's order blocking the deportations. The administration has denied wrongdoing and President Donald Trump, alongside several allied officials, has called for that judge to be impeached. In a statement released Sunday, the White House defended the expulsions and doubled down on its accusations that the detainees were associated with Tren de Aragua. "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," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "President Trump will always put the safety of the American People first and he will never allow foreign terrorist enemies to operate on American soil and endanger our people. They will be found, restrained and removed and their networks will be destroyed." But these expulsions actually represent a "total destruction" of the principles of the nation's legal system by treating people as though they're guilty "before they have even thought of a crime, Fischer argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By removing them from the country under the Alien Enemies Act, The Trump administration flouted these immigrants' rights to go before a judge and have their cases heard before receiving an official removal order, she said. A number of the immigration attorneys who filed declarations in federal court stated that their clients did not have prior criminal convictions, were in the middle of immigration proceedings and did not have formal removal orders. Many of those lawyers are unsure of their clients' whereabouts but suspect they may have been removed to El Salvador. "What we know to be true is that many, many, many people on these flights had immigration relief. They had scheduled court hearings. They had no gang affiliation, no criminal record, no legal reason for them to be removed from the country, and yet it was done anyway in the night," Fischer said. Their treatment, she added, "should make all of us scared that if this administration is successful in disappearing these people into a country in another prison, then that can implicate the rights of all of us." In August 2024, posts began appearing on social media sites claiming that U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, mistakenly said the city of Detroit had the highest murder rate in the state of Minnesota (as it happens, Detroit is in Michigan, not Minnesota). The claim appeared just after then-Vice President Kamala Harris announced her running mate in the 2024 presidential election, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. More posts sharing the claim on Facebook and X went viral in March 2025. You really should keep your mouth shut @laurenboebert pic.twitter.com/z9wagdXxcU Joe G (@EastEndJoe) March 17, 2025 However, the posts provided no evidence that Boebert had mistakenly said Detroit was in Minnesota, and a Google search revealed that no reliable media outlets had reported on her supposed blunder, as might be expected. Additionally, Snopes found that a satirical website had spread a very similar claim (instead of Detroit, Boebert supposedly said Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was in Minnesota) around the time the initial claim went viral. The claims are unfounded, and likely originated as satire. On Aug. 9, 2024, The Folly Times, a website that describes its content as satire, published a story titled "Lauren Boebert Misses the Mark: Mistakes Milwaukee for a Minnesota City in Latest X Post" Since the post itself did not have a time stamp, that information came from the website's source code, which revealed a "datePublished" tag indicating that the article was published on Aug. 9, 2024. The earliest social media posts Snopes could find for the rumor also came on Aug. 9, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Folly Times article claimed the mishap occurred in an Aug. 6 post on X and included a supposed image. (Aug. 6 was the day Walz was announced as Harris' VP selection.) However, that post did not appear to exist. Snopes attempted to use archival tools to check earlier versions of Boebert's X page, but for whatever reason, none of the attempted archives of Boebert's X profile made after Aug. 6, 2024, were successful. While the most famous Detroit in the United States is in Michigan, there is a city in Minnesota named Detroit Lakes. However, data from Minnesota state crime reports suggest that Detroit Lakes does not have the highest murder rate in the state in 2023, none of the state's 188 reported homicides occurred in Detroit Lakes or its county, Becker County. Since Snopes could not definitively confirm that the claim originated as satire and there was no proof that Boebert said or posted something that mistakenly claimed Detroit was in Minnesota, the claim is unfounded. Sources: 2023 Uniform Crime Report to the Legislature. Minnesota Department of Public Safety, 2023, https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/assets.dps.mn.gov/s3fs-public/2024-09/2023-Minnesota-Uniform-Crime-Report.pdf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "About The Folly Times." The Folly Times, https://thefollytimes.com/about/. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025. Colton, Emma. "Minnesota Murder Stats Rose under Walz's Leadership as He Tries to Tie Violent Crime Trend to Trump: Data." Fox News, 11 Aug. 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minnesota-murder-stats-rose-under-walzs-leadership-he-tries-tie-violent-crime-trend-trump-data. "Lauren Boebert Misses the Mark: Mistakes Milwaukee for a Minnesota City in Latest X Post." The Folly Times, 9 Aug. 2024, https://thefollytimes.com/politics/lauren-boebert-misses-the-mark-mistakes-milwaukee-for-a-minnesota-city-in-latest-x-post/. Pager, Tyler, et al. "Harris Chooses Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as VP Pick." The Washington Post, 6 Aug. 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/08/06/harris-walz-vp/. NEW YORK (PIX11) The mother of the child attacked inside a subway station on Feb. 23 spoke with PIX11s Nicole Johnson, detailing the traumatic interaction. The mother did what any mother would try to protect her child at all costs. More Local News The mother says the woman walked by aggressively, hitting her son with an elbow so hard, the child hit the ground. She pushed him, said the mother, who did not want to be identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she confronted the woman but it allegedly only made matters worse. She swung on him again and thats when she hit him in the eye and we got into an argument. Things further escalated, when the woman allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened the family. The woman allegedly told them, Ill cut you if you come closer. The mothers only focus at that point was to make sure her son was OK. He was left shaken with a bruised eye. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State As for the woman who caused all of this trauma, she was last seen boarding a Q100 MTA bus. Its really concerning, said the mother. She had no remorse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NYPD released the following surveillance video of the suspect. Police say the incident happened around 12:40 p.m. in the 21st Street-Queensbridge subway station. The family was waiting on the northbound F platform. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Norfolk police are investigating a reported attempted abduction in the Huntersville neighborhood. On March 18, officers were flagged down while driving in the 1500 block of Dungee Street around 4:20 p.m. for the report of an attempted abduction. There were no injuries reported. There is no additional information available at this time. If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. A three-judge panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Friday in the contentious legal battle surrounding the state's Supreme Court election the only uncertified race in the country. Appellate Court Judge Jefferson Griffin, the Republican candidate who trails by just 734 votes, is seeking to have some 65,000 votes he claims are invalid thrown out from the November contest. The panel, comprised of two Republicans and one Democrat, peppered counsel for Griffin, the state Board of Elections and Democratic North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs for around 90 minutes. They asked the attorneys to square competing legal precedents with election law principles barring last-minute changes before an election and questioned who, if anyone, bears the burden of the election challenges. "Petitioner in this case is only challenging certain votes in certain counties," Judge Toby Hampson, a Democrat, told Griffin's lawyer Craig Schauer, noting that in-person votes have not been challenged. "How does it not impose a significant burden on voters all across North Carolina, where we're only selectively looking at certain ballots?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an appeal, Griffin asked the panel to overturn a lower court's ruling that the North Carolina Board of Elections correctly denied his election challenges, order the board to discount the votes and send the case back for a fact-finding hearing. He claims that more than 65,000 votes are invalid because the votes were cast by voters who did not provide or were not asked to provide their driver's license or Social Security numbers on their registrations; overseas voters who failed to provide photo identification with absentee ballots; and inherited residence voters who said they never lived in the state. Discounting these votes, he argues, will rightfully hand him the victory. Griffin, however, has so far failed to prove in court that these voters would be ineligible. During Friday's hearing, Judge John Tyson, a Republican, appeared focused on the question of voters' eligibility, asking counsel for Riggs, Ray Bennett, whether the voter bears the responsibility of proving their eligibility to vote. Though Bennett affirmed that voting eligibility is subject to challenge, he made a distinction between eligibility and registration. He noted that the qualifications for voting outlined in the Constitution are appropriate grounds to challenge, but the Constitution and statute require that each voter be registered in order to cast a ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every single one of these voters was registered. They were registered, they were on the books, they were on the voter rolls," Bennett said, adding later: "You can't scrub the registration records in the last 90 days, precisely to avoid the kind of mischief that can result if people start trying to say, 'Oh, well, these people shouldn't be registered, and others should be.' But you can still challenge somebody who's not eligible in those limited categories." The panel also spent much of Friday's hearing interrogating the merits of Griffin's incomplete voter registration petition. At one point, Republican Appeals Court Judge Fred Gore asked if there still existed matching errors with voter information in the state Board of Election's database and what the court should do with that fact. "I'm troubled that we're at 2025, and we still have voter identification errors sitting in our state registry. I'm troubled by that," Gore said. "And the fact that we haven't been able to get it right up until this point I see why we have this [voter registration] challenge to a certain degree." North Carolinians whose votes have been challenged under that petition previously told Salon that they suspected their registrations were flagged due to clerical errors in matching their names to their identification information; both would learn that their voter registrations did contain their Social Security numbers. The nature of Griffin's petition and how long it has dragged on, they said, has undermined their trust in the integrity of North Carolina's elections and courts, and dredged up fears for the future of democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I just feel incredibly heavy about the state of our democracy, and it feels like a very real possibility that we will no longer have free and fair elections in North Carolina," Hillsborough resident Spring Dawson-McClure told Salon in January. Griffin's election challenge is now in its fourth month of litigation and is expected to return to the state Supreme Court. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina appeals court judges listened to arguments Friday about whether votes on tens of thousands of ballots in an unsettled state Supreme Court election from November should remain in the tally or could be discarded. A three-judge panel of the intermediate-level Court of Appeals will decide if the State Board of Elections in December properly dismissed the formal protests of those ballots by Republican Jefferson Griffin. A trial judge upheld the board's actions last month. After two recounts, Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes from more than 5.5 million ballots cast in the Supreme Court race. Griffin's lawyers have cited more than 65,000 ballots from three categories they argued came from ineligible voters. Removing them from counts could flip the vote advantage to Griffin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No immediate ruling was issued Friday after 90 minutes of arguments before the panel, which is composed of two registered Republicans and one Democrat. There's no date set on when the panel will act. But there is pressure to act quickly. The eight-year term on the highest court in the ninth-largest state was supposed to begin in early January. Riggs has meanwhile remained serving in her seat. And Griffin is in his current job as one of the 15 Court of Appeals judges. While The Associated Press declared more than 4,400 winners in the 2024 general election, the state Supreme Court election is the only race that is still undecided. However Judges John Tyson, Fred Gore and Toby Hampson rule, their decision will likely be subject to more appeals to the state Supreme Court on which the two candidates are fighting to serve, as well as potentially federal courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Griffin has recused himself from Court of Appeals deliberations in his case, having the three judges rule in a matter directly affecting a colleague and Riggs herself a Court of Appeals judge briefly in 2023 is extraordinary. The panels judges asked many questions about the three categories of ballots Griffin challenged. The largest category covers ballots cast by voters whose registration records lacked either a drivers license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Other votes being challenged were cast by overseas voters who have never lived in the U.S. and military or overseas voters who did not provide copies of photo identification with their ballots. Griffins lawyers have argued that counting the challenged ballots violates state laws or the state constitution, and the state elections board composed of three Democrats and two Republicans is to blame by failing to follow them. They want these ballots declared ineligible and ultimately discounted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case is not about changing laws after the election, Griffin lawyer Craig Schauer told the panel. "Its a case about enforcing the laws that were already on the books before the election. Lawyers for Riggs and the board said the ballots were cast lawfully based on rules that have been applied to elections for years and can't be altered retroactively, and that Griffin failed to comply with formal protest procedures. It is time for this election to come to an end and for voters to know that their votes will count in this state if they follow the rules in place at the time of the election, Riggs attorney Ray Bennett said. Hampson, the Democrat on the panel, questioned Schauers statement that Griffin's protests are only seeking to ensure voting laws are implemented evenhandedly. Hampson said Griffin is challenging only a subset of the ballots cast statewide that, under Griffin's allegations, could be ineligible, raising claims of implementing voting restrictions unevenly and unconstitutionally. For example, some of Griffin's protests apply to early or absentee ballots, or cover votes in a few counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So how does it not impose a significant burden on voters all across North Carolina, where were only selectively looking at certain ballots? Hampson asked Schauer. Tyson, a Republican, asked questions about a 2005 state Supreme Court ruling that found certain provisional ballots cast in the 2004 election were unlawful even if the state board had determined they would be counted. Tysons line of questioning suggested precedent to remove a swath of ballots after an election. Doesn't the 2005 ruling say that if a voter relied on board guidance that is contrary to the statute that still is not a reason to excuse the noncompliance?" Tyson asked state attorney Nick Brod, representing the board. Brod disagreed. Riggs allies have held rallies across the state demanding Griffin concede. Before Friday's hearing, several outside groups filed briefs backing the board's decisions, including voters whose ballots have been challenged by Griffin. Idaho state Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, listens to proceedings during a Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting at the Statehouse on Jan. 7, 2025, in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) North Idaho legislators on Friday introduced a bill to add exceptions to Idahos strict abortion ban, the first effort in two years to create a health exception. Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, introduced the bill to the Senate State Affairs Committee to allow doctors to provide an abortion to prevent a serious health risk to the mother and to provide an abortion to women whose fetus was diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Idahos abortion ban, a physician may provide an abortion if its to prevent the death of the pregnant woman. However, medical providers have said this wording does not make it clear if physicians can provide an abortion to prevent detrimental health outcomes, such as preeclampsia, hemorrhaging or the loss of future fertility. This has led pregnant patients with severe health complications or fetal anomalies to seek an abortion out of state, as their providers could not perform an abortion without risking criminal charges a problem that doctors have said is exacerbating the states existing physician shortage. The state lost 22% of its OB-GYN workforce and more than half the specialists who handle high-risk pregnancies in the 15 months after the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a report from the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare. The committee voted to introduce the bill, but Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, said it will not move forward for a full hearing. Idaho Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, (right) conducts legislative business on the Senate floor on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. Also pictured is Idaho Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Im OK with introducing this legislation to have it out for public consumption, understanding that were not planning on moving forward with the public hearing this year, Den Hartog told the committee. I think this is an important conversation. I have many serious and grave concerns with the legislation as drafted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Den Hartog did not elaborate on what her concerns are. This is not the first bill of its kind. During the 2023 legislative session, Republican legislators introduced a bill to add an exception for an abortion to be performed to treat a physical condition of the woman that if left untreated would be life-threatening. But House State Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, pulled the bill from the agenda the day it was supposed to receive a hearing amid criticism from anti-abortion groups, and it did not move forward, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Meridian senator objects to discussion on labor and delivery unit closures Woodward said he felt obligated to bring the legislation forward to start a conversation about addressing Idahos ban while acknowledging that it may not receive a full hearing. I do not believe in elective abortion, but I do believe in providing medical care for very particular situations that we are trying to address, Woodward told the committee. To receive medical care, we must have medical providers. As our law stands, we are pushing providers out of Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His cosponsor, Rep. Mark Sauter, represents Sandpoint, where in 2023, the citys only hospital closed its obstetrical care unit. Sandpoint is not the only city where labor and delivery care services have shut down. In June 2023, Valor Health in Emmett stopped providing labor and delivery services in response to financial and staffing challenges. And in April 2024, Caldwells West Valley Medical Center closed its labor and delivery and neonatal intensive care units, citing declining birth rates and staffing issues. The women in Sandpoint now must drive for over an hour to the Coeur dAlene area or drive out of state to get their normal OB-GYN type care. Women in Bonners Ferry, which is in Boundary County, which is even farther north, must drive significantly farther. Our womens health care situation also exacerbates other hospital problems Sauter told the committee, before he was interrupted. Mr. Chairman, could we just speak to whats in the bill? Den Hartog said. Please, for the print hearing. Den Hartog later quickly moved to print the bill for an introduction without hearing from the doctor who helped draft legislation. But Sen. Treg Bernt, R-Meridian, called Den Hartogs quick motion disrespectful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im also a member of this Republican caucus that is pro-life Bernt said. I think cutting this senator off in this discussion is disrespectful, and I think that they deserve more. Committee Chairman Sen. Jim Guthrie said he would allow for more discussion on the bill given the controversy of the topic. Dr. John Werdel, the medical director for womens services at St. Lukes Health System, then spoke to the committee about the legislation he helped draft. St. Lukes has also sued the state over its ban as it relates to emergency room care, and has said a health exception written into the law would resolve their concerns. The threat of a criminal lawsuit has been overwhelming for many of our physicians, and it is the main reason so many of our colleagues have left the state, Werdel told the committee. This bill would clarify the law and provide reassurance to our physicians that they can exercise their professional judgment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melanie Folwell, the executive director of Idahoans United for Women and Families, told the Idaho Capital Sun she appreciates the bill sponsors willingness to talk about the serious hardships created by Idahos current laws. Folwell is leading the effort to restore abortion access in Idaho through a ballot initiative in the 2026 midterm election. Its a shame that other lawmakers were eager to shut down any discussion of those hardships, Folwell said. Im sorry its uncomfortable to hear about the suffering of Idaho women and the doctors who take care of them, but it is the duty of lawmakers to hear about the consequences of the laws they make. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his unwavering support for Russias war in Ukraine during a meeting with a top Russian security official in Pyongyang, North Korean state media said Saturday. Fridays meeting between Kim and Sergei Shoigu, Russias Security Council secretary, followed a South Korean intelligence assessment in late February that North Korea had likely sent additional troops to Russia after its forces suffered heavy casualties fighting in the Russian-Ukraine war. Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the two countries leaders, though it remains to be seen when it might take effect and what targets would be off-limits. North Korean and Russian state media said Kim and Shoigu discussed various issues, including Russias war in Ukraine, Moscows dialogues with the Trump administration and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. They reaffirmed the willingness of the two countries leaders to unconditionally uphold a major mutual defense treaty reached at a summit last year in Pyongyang, which pledges mutual assistance if either country faces aggression, according to the reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said Kim during the meeting said his government will invariably support Russia in the struggle for defending the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests. Shoigu conveyed a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who extended his greetings to Kim and vowed to give utmost attention to implementing agreements reached in their recent summits. He expressed gratitude for North Koreas solidarity with Russias position on all critical geopolitical issues, particularly on the Ukrainian issue, according to his televised comments. North Korean and Russia media didnt say whether any new agreements were reached before Shoigu departed Pyongyang later on Friday. North Korea has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to Russia, and last fall it sent about 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia as well, according to U.S., South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials. In its Feb. 27 statement, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was trying to determine exactly how many more troops North Korea has deployed to Russia. South Korean media put the number of newly deployed North Korean soldiers at about 1,000 to 3,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korea, the U.S. and others suspect North Korea is receiving economic and military assistance from Russia in return for providing weapons and troops. Many experts say North Korea will likely ramp up its support of Russia to win as many benefits as possible from Russia before the war ends. Shoigus trip could be related to preparations for Kim to visit Russia, some observers say. Putin invited Kim to visit Moscow when he visited Pyongyang last year for the summit. In 2023, when Shoigu, then a defense minister, traveled to North Korea, Kim gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. In September 2024, Shoigu, then in the new security council post, went to North Korea again for a meeting with Kim, and the two discussed expanding cooperation, according to North Koreas state media. Earlier Friday, KCNA said Kim oversaw the test-launches of new anti-aircraft missiles the previous day. It cited Kim as calling the missiles another major defense weapons system for North Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The missile launches, North Koreas sixth weapons testing activity this year, occurred on the same day that the U.S. and South Korean militaries concluded their annual training that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. The 11-day Freedom Shield exercise was the allies first major joint military training since Trump's inauguration in January. North Korea often responds to major U.S.-South Korean military drills with its own weapons tests and fiery rhetoric. Hours after this years Freedom Shield training began on March 10, North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea. (Reuters) - Thirteen people including a former government minister were remanded in custody for 30 days in North Macedonia on Friday over a nightclub blaze, believed to have been caused by pyrotechnics, that killed 59 people including six minors. The incident, in which another 197 people were injured, has shattered Kocani, a town of 25,000 people east of the capital Skopje. Authorities have said the club's licence was obtained illegally, and that the venue lacked fire extinguishers and emergency exits and was made of flammable materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said a total of 24 suspects were being held and three were still in hospital after the fire, which he said had been caused by a "chain of omissions and illegal actions by officials". The suspects include officials responsible for the operating licences, the club owner, a member of a band that played in the club, police officers, and security guards who let in minors and pyrotechnics, he said. Authorities have been inspecting nightclubs and cafes around the country this week for safety violations. (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Kevin Liffey) ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) The Northwest Missouri Republican Club will host a school board candidate forum on Thursday night. The forum will be held at Bandana's Bar-B-Q located at 4225 Frederick Ave. A social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the forum starting at 6:30 p.m. All six candidates have been invited to participate. They will have the opportunity to share their positions, ideas and concerns for the St. Joseph School District during the moderated forum. News-Press NOW will update this story. HARSTAD, Norway Some hundreds of kilometers from a Russian naval base in Murmansk Oblast, a formation of military boats dash across the frigid Norwegian Sea. A team of officers bearing the Norwegian flag on their uniform climb from one moving vessel onto another, a larger Norwegian Coast Guard offshore patrol ship, using a single pole with a hook and flimsy ladder to haul themselves up. They are part of the Norwegian Coastal Rangers, a marine commando unit trained to operate in littoral combat environments. In the context of the NATO exercise Joint Viking 2025, organized earlier this month, they trained for the task of boarding a suspicious vessel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ship-boarding scenario has turned front and center in the alliances recent defense planning. Western officials fear that NATO adversaries employ ships under the guise of research missions or civilian cargo runs to damage undersea cables and energy infrastructure in the waters around Europe. The small Norwegian unit, composed of roughly 150 individuals, is highly versatile, tasked with missions spanning from coastal raids and maritime patrol to intelligence-gathering. With sabotage risks on NATOs mind, formations like this are rising to new prominence in national force structures. In its annual national threat assessment report, the Norwegian Police Security Services noted that in the last year, Russia has shown its resolve and ability to carry out sabotage operations on European soil and that it is likely that it may affect Norway in 2025. The NATO member shares a 198-kilometer (123-mile) land border with Russia in the Arctic and a maritime frontier in the Barents Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Coastal Rangers have not noticed an uptick in the number of illegal or sanctioned vessels sailing along the Norwegian coast, officers did note that there has been an increase in the level of electromagnetic jamming over the last few years. Norwegian defense authorities recently approved a series of upgrades to modernize and expand the capabilities of the ranger unit. Among these is the acquisition of new unmanned technologies, including long-range maritime surveillance drones, according to Frode Nakken, commanding officer of the Coastal Rangers. Weve been operating with drones for a few years, primarily fixed-wing models, but they have proven vulnerable to the Arctic climate the larger and longer-range drones we will get will have more endurance and power to resist these conditions, he told Defense News during the Joint Viking exercise. Winter temperatures in Northern Norway can easily drop to -10 degrees Celsius, where the cold quickly drains the drones battery life and the abundant precipitation makes it tricky for operators to fly them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025-2036 Norwegian Defense Pledge stated that the ambition is to have the unmanned aerial systems stationed at Andya Air Station, some 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The Norwegian Ministry of Defense has contacted U.S. manufacturers, including Northrop Grumman and General Atomics regarding this request for information, as reported by Janes. A General Atomics spokesman told Defense News that the company has already responded to the solicitation, pitching its MQ-9B SeaGuardian. It will provide Norway with 360-degree maritime radar coverage and full SIGINT capabilities the MQ-9B is the only remotely piloted aircraft able to perform anti-submarine warfare missions, allowing it to enhance the countrys existing fleet of P-8 patrol aircraft, said spokesman C. Mark Brinkley. AUSTIN (KXAN) Texas lawmakers are into their third month of the states 89th Legislative Session, which means a lot of work for their staff. Chloe Wilkinson, a legislative aide for a House representative, works at the Texas Capitol tracking and researching bills relevant to her legislators constituents and committees. 2025 is Wilkinsons first legislative session; previously, she worked on electoral campaigns in Tennessee and Texas. As it relates to Texas politics, Ive really spent a lot of time on the local leveldealing with local campaigns, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She calls the Capitol hallway where she works a really positive community on the day-to-day basis. People ask you how youre doing. People check in on you, she said. Obviously, there are bad daysbut I think a lot of us try to focus on that sense of community. Wilkinson is one of a handful of transgender Texans in the Capitol. Mo Jenkins, another transgender woman who works as a House staffer, told The Texas Tribune that some of the most vocally anti-trans lawmakers are still friendly towards her. Its very ironic in a way, to watch members essentially say that youre not human and deserve to not have health care and not exist in public, to them then wishing you a happy birthday and clapping you on your back, or coming to your office and eating your gumbo, said Jenkins to Texas Tribune reporter Ayden Runnels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Legislature is considering at least 80 anti-LGBTQ+ bills this session, approximately 15.2% of such bills across the U.S., according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Restroom access restricted On Feb. 27, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick posted on social media about how a transgender woman complimented a legislative staffer on her hair, while both were in a womens restroom. We will follow that rule in all Capitol bathrooms, wrote Patrick about sex-segregated restrooms. President Trump issued an executive order stating that there are two sexes in America: male and female. Weve known that in Texas for a long time, and Im glad we finally have a president who recognizes that. Texas law doesnt restrict transgender peoples restroom use, but legislators continue to file multiple such bills each session. The last serious effort to pass a ban was in 2017 when Abbott called a special legislative session on the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas House majority signs on to bill restricting transgender peoples public restroom use Texas House representatives also introduced a set of rules to restrict restroom use in the Capitol based on sex assigned at birth, but only after the chamber had already passed its rules of procedure for the session. However, the State Preservation Board, responsible for the maintenance of the Texas Capitol Grounds, recently implemented a policy banning transgender people from using restrooms coherent with their gender identity and presentation. All restrooms are clearly designated as Mens, Womens, or Family Care,' the policy reads. An individual is expected to use the appropriate restroom corresponding with his or her biological sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SPBs decisions are made by Gov. Greg Abbott, Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Republican Senator Charles Schwertner, Republican Rep. Charlie Geren and Abbott-appointee Alethea Swann Bugg, according to its website. Trans people cannot use the restroom that they feel comfortable in in this building, Wilkinson said. For some people, that means having to go all the way from the fourth floor down to the extension, and thats taking a lot of time out of their day and a lot of effort to do so. Not going to stop me KXAN extended Wilkinson an offer of anonymity for this story, on account of the political climate around transgender life, which she declined. Anything that they could say in this building, I have heard worse from people outside of this building. Its not going to stop me from working, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For staffers like Wilkinson and Jenkins, their work is a contribution to American democracy. I really believe in public service, and so for me, Im willing to make the sacrifices if it means that I can make anybodys life better, said Jenkins to The Texas Tribune. I do care deeply about the future of this country. I know that a lot of people in this building care deeply about the future of this country, Wilkinson said. Im not going to be scared off just over people telling me where I have to use the bathroom. Is it upsetting? Is it sometimes challenging? Yes, but at the end of the day, were just here to do a job and thats what I want to do. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) After protestors all but shut down multiple committee hearings on a bill that would let school districts deny undocumented students over the past few weeks, Republican lawmakers are reminding the public to keep protests peaceful as the proposal is set to be debated in more committees next week. The bill, which the sponsors have emphasized would be permissive, was recently amended to allow families who cannot prove their childs legal status to pay tuition so they could still attend school. Republicans have said the proposal is designed to alleviate the large financial burden undocumented students have placed on school systems, citing a now-rescinded resolution by the Rutherford County School board urging lawmakers to close the border. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Part of the strategy behind the bill is to reduce the American education system as a magnet towards people flowing through our porous border, Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson), the bills Senate sponsor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another strategy behind the bill is to overturn Plyler v. Doe, the 1982 Supreme Court ruling that made it unconstitutional for school districts to deny undocumented students. The proposed legislation has sparked heated debate among lawmakers and protests from the public that have all but shut down three committee hearings over the past few weeks as the bill has worked its way through the legislature. On Wednesday, the chairman of the House Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee was forced to clear the room because protestors were continuously reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to remind lawmakers of Americas values, according to participants. Reporters asked lawmakers Thursday whether they anticipated more protests next week. Republicans answers included a reminder to the publicto keep protests peaceful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom We welcome protestors here, we welcome peaceful protestors here, but for anyone who comes down to the Capitol, youre not going to shut down the peoples business, House Majority leader, Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland), the bills House sponsor said. Its a passionate topic. Ive seen dozens and dozens of those down here, and thats not a bad thing. We just ask that folks be peaceful about expressing their viewpoints and to understand they are not going to shut down government. We will continue to move forward. I expect spirited debate with some of my colleagues on Tuesday, and I expect the public to be engaged in it, and that is the democratic process, Sen. Watson said. Thats how public policy is discussed debated, accepted, or rejected, and I respect that process. The only thing I ask is that debate be respectful. I may passionately disagree with my colleagues on a particular issue and debate that issue, but Im respectful of the decorum this institution has, and I ask the public to respect that decorum as well. Democrats have criticized the bill since its filing, calling it cruel and an attack on innocent children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legislation puts our state in a position weve never seen before, Rep. Gabby Salinas (D-Memphis) said. Its not a position of leadership, its not a position of excellence, and its certainly not a position of southern values. They encouraged more members of the public to show up to the Capitol as the bill is set to be debated next week. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com I wouldnt refer to the individuals up here as protestors. I would refer to them as people who care about children. I think we could use some more of them in the state legislature, quite honestly, House Democratic Caucus chairman, Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said. The more people who are showing their concern about this state targeting innocent children, the better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is scheduled for debate in the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on Tuesday, March 25, and the House Education Committee the following day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. House Republicans dont have the votes to impeach any federal judges. But a growing number of hard-liners are discussing several other legislative options as GOP leaders search for a release valve for the MAGA fury building over recent court rulings checking President Donald Trump. Top Republicans are likely to put at least one bill, California Rep. Darrell Issas No Rogue Rulings Act, on the floor in early April, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss scheduling plans. The legislation would crack down on the ability of lower-court judges to issue far-reaching injunctions. That is seen by Speaker Mike Johnson and other House Republican leaders as a viable outlet as they sort out the way forward on the judicial impeachments that have been endorsed by Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk. A spokesperson for Johnson said the speaker and the Judiciary Committee are reviewing all available options to address this urgent matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republicans have filed impeachment resolutions targeting four district judges, including one this week targeting the jurist who sought to block Trump's effort to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador. Trump publicly backed the impeachment push, and Musk quickly fanned the flames on X, his social media platform, calling the deportations ruling part of a judicial coup. But there is widespread recognition inside the House GOP that impeachments besides being costly in time and political capital do not have the votes to succeed given Republicans narrow majority. That has prompted GOP hard-liners to back-channel with Trump allies on alternatives they could push across the House floor. "Activist judges, particularly in D.C., think that they are the Trump resistance the Trump political resistance," said Mike Davis, a close Trump ally who runs an outside judicial advocacy group. "What they are doing is lawless and dangerous, and it must be stopped." Other options House GOP hard-liners have been discussing include cutting off funding for the federal District Court in Washington and other lower courts, and even breaking up the existing system of district and circuit courts. Thats a fight likely to come to a head in the upcoming funding talks for fiscal 2026, according to three Republicans familiar with the conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP members are also discussing one-off resolutions condemning recent judicial rulings against Trump. Hard-liners officially want those discussions to happen alongside any impeachment probe, with the knowledge that any judicial impeachment wont be successful in the House. But Republicans could still use special fast-track rules to bring the impeachment effort to the House floor, where it would likely be referred to the Judiciary Committee. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordans team has privately advised that members offices are free to share their opinions on legislative strategy around the courts but that Jordan himself intends to stick to a more vague approach, saying everything is on the table, according to one Republican Hill aide. There is, however, a particular interest in restricting the authority of federal district judges to hand down nationwide injunctions, according to four Republicans familiar with the matter. Those include U.S. District Judge James Boasbergs ruling targeting the deportation flights, as well as other recent orders temporarily halting Trump administration moves to revoke birthright citizenship, dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development and access sensitive Social Security Administration data. Trump endorsed the idea in general terms in a social media post Thursday evening, saying "STOP NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Issas bill was voted out of the Judiciary Committee earlier this month. The legislation would seek to prohibit District Court judges from issuing injunctions with applications beyond the parties in a given case. The California Republican said in an interview that House leadership had indicated they hoped to bring his bill for a floor vote in the coming weeks. He also said that impeachment, which has been championed by some of his colleagues, was a dull tool to address conservative frustration with the courts. The likelihood that youre going to impeach people for maladministration, as it's called, is just low, and even if you did, should we be second-guessing the decisions of the judiciary? Issa said. But we do have a right to say how broad their powers will be not on a particular case, but in general. He added that some judges are trying to get 15 minutes of fame by making a decision far beyond the intent of the court." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said he is working with congressional offices to develop additional legislation that would strip district judges of the ability to issue nationwide injunctions. Still, any changes would be subject to the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate meaning Democrats could block it though Davis speculated that the legislation could be part of a broader package of court reforms, including some that the Democrats have championed in the past. Senate GOP leaders have been largely mum on measures targeting the courts though Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, the No. 3 Senate Republican, sent out a campaign fundraising email criticizing far-left judges. Still, there are signs that the idea of targeting the powers of lower-court judges is gaining new traction amid a push from both White House officials such as domestic policy chief Stephen Miller and MAGA-aligned lawmakers. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced on Thursday that he would introduce legislation on that subject. His online post quickly caught the attention of Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another focus of behind-the-scenes conversations is reining in so-called judge shopping, a practice deployed by both conservative and liberal causes to file lawsuits in jurisdictions where judges are most likely to rule in their favor. Earlier this week, Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) railed to reporters against what he said was forum shopping by interests seeking to ban certain farm pesticides. His office also said his committee plans to host a hearing around the issue of nationwide injunctions. The recent surge of sweeping decisions by district judges merits serious scrutiny, said Grassley spokesperson Clare Slattery. The Senate Judiciary Committee will be closely examining this topic in a hearing and exploring potential legislative solutions in the weeks ahead. More than two decades of working as an educator couldnt prepare Juliet Herman for the night of January 7, when her school, Palisades Charter Elementary School, burnt to the ground, along with the homes of many of her students and teachers. Wildfires devastated the Los Angeles community of the Pacific Palisades that night, destroying homes and businesses, transforming a neighborhood forever. Palisades Charter Elementary was among three schools that burned there. Palisades Charter Elementary has since moved to a temporary home at a school in Brentwood, while L.A. Unified executes a multi-year plan to replace its ravaged Palisades campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with LA School Report, Herman shares how shes keeping her school community together amid the loss and trauma of the worst wildfires in the citys history. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What did the burning of your school community and your schools campus in January mean for the individual members of the community? I remember thinking on that night, I dont know how to be the principal of a school thats burned down, because thats not actually in the principal playbook anywhere. They dont teach you that in principal preparation school. I dont actually know how many members of my school lost their homes. However, anyone who lived up in the Palisades has been displaced, and their lives changed inexorably since that moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It certainly has changed all of us and brought us together in a really unique way. How are your students and staff reacting to life at Brentwood Science Magnet (school) where your school was relocated after your original campus burned? Its been a really great place for us to land. The students are very happy to be together. Theyre very happy to be with their teachers. Thats really critical. Theyre having a lot of fun. We didnt have tetherball at our old school, so tetherball is a big hit. And the fact that the students get to just enjoy this great space is kind of amazing. So its been really joyful to watch the students interact with one another and process whats been going on, and be together. Immediately after the school burned down and you knew that students wouldnt be able to return very soon, did they immediately go to Brentwood Science Magnet? Or was there a period of online school or other transition? The school was lost on the evening of January 7, and by the Friday of that week, I knew that we were coming to the Brentwood Science Magnet school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had Monday and Tuesday of the following week for teachers to prepare, and on Wednesday, March 15, we opened our doors for students. So there was no online school. There was no real loss in continuity. I knew that when we had a return, it would be a rolling return because families were trying to organize themselves. Do you think thats led to the community staying together more easily than if there were a period of online learning? I think it has had a hugely positive effect on our community, and it has really been instrumental in laying the foundation for the healing process. We are not suddenly all better, but I think in-person learning really did provide continuity for kids. How do you keep displaced families from leaving the school? On January 6, our enrollment was, I think, 406 students. And as of today, its about 350 students. I know that we lost a good number of students who moved out of the area pretty immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, there were a number of families who were displaced and unable to return. And then there are some other families who were in conversation with regarding their personal situations, and providing them options. How are you addressing trauma? Students are still experiencing trauma. Teachers are still experiencing it. For all of us, we lost our school. This is a very, very, very significant event. The district has been wonderful about providing mental health support. We have several partnerships that we are working on and extra personnel from the district who have that background that can really support students, not just in this moment, not just for the next few months, but in the years to come. How has this whole ordeal of the fire and relocating impacted academics and attendance? We dont really know yet about the impact for students. Were preparing to take state tests, and were monitoring students to ensure they have support. I have an amazing faculty, and they are adapting and adjusting their instructional practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In terms of attendance, this is a moment, again, where our old playbook is not really applied any longer. I know the district has been very focused on making sure students come to school. We do pretty well. Were at about a 90% daily attendance rate. Sometimes were super flexible about when students arrive, because they may be coming from one place last week and a different place this week. Is there anything else youd like to add? Im super proud of the way that we have come together as a community. Im super proud to work with Los Angeles Unified [School District] and have their support in addressing this crisis in a very thoughtful and careful and fast way to ensure that our students have a safe place to go to school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im happy to be at the Brentwood Science Magnet campus, and I look forward to whatever our next steps are. This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. (AP/Boston 25) The Maryland Transportation Authority failed to complete a recommended vulnerability assessment that would have shown the Francis Scott Key Bridge was at significant risk of collapse from a ship strike long before its demise last year, according to federal investigators. The bridge collapsed after a massive cargo ship, the Dali, lost power and veered off course, striking one of its support piers. Six construction workers were killed. Maryland leaders could have done more to prevent the deadly disaster, National Transportation Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said during a media briefing Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board update comes almost a year after the bridge collapse, which temporarily halted ship traffic through the Port of Baltimore and snarled traffic across the region. Plans to rebuild the bridge are underway and officials have said the new design will be much better protected. When board investigators performed the vulnerability assessment for Baltimores Key Bridge, they found it was almost 30 times worse than the acceptable risk threshold, according to guidance established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The group published the vulnerability assessment calculation in 1991, and all bridges designed afterward were required to be evaluated. In 2009, the group reiterated its recommendation to also conduct assessments for older bridges. Had Maryland officials completed the assessment at any time since then, they would have been able to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision with the bridge, Homendy said. She said as of October, they still hadnt assessed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge even after the Key Bridge collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no excuse, she said. The board also issued urgent recommendations and a report that lists 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states. Homendy said they should learn from Marylands mistake and perform the assessments to determine whether they need more protection. Three heavily trafficked bridges in Massachusetts landed on the list: Tobin Bridge (southbound upper) -- Owned by MassDOT and built in 1950 Tobin Bridge (northbound lower) -- Owned by MassDOT and built in 1950 Bourne Bridge -- Owned by US Army Corps of Engineers and built in 1935 Sagamore Bridge -- Owned by US Army Corps of Engineers and built in 1935 A lone vehicle leaves Cape Cod over the usually busy Bourne Bridge, Monday, May 25, 2020, in Bourne, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) The federal government has awarded Massachusetts funding to replace the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge, and an underwater tunnel hasnt been ruled out as a possible Tobin Bridge replacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Hampshires Memorial Bridge and Rhode Islands Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge were also named by the NTSB. The Key Bridge opened to traffic in 1977, when the ships visiting Baltimores port were significantly smaller and standards for pier protection were much less robust. In 1980, a container ship struck the bridges pier protection and was stopped by a concrete and timber fendering system. But that ship weighed about one-tenth the Dali, which plowed through similar fenders, according to a report documenting the boards findings. Although some factors are challenging to modify for existing bridges, the process of calculating vulnerability assessments enables owners to make informed decisions to manage their assets, identify their bridges that may be susceptible to damage from a vessel collision, and appraise and prioritize vessel collision protection projects alongside other projects addressing highway asset needs and risks, the report says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homendy said this isnt the first time shes called for the assessments to be completed on some of the nations older bridges. She said the board has been sounding the alarm on this since the tragedy occurred, including in testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in April 2024. We need action, she said. Public safety depends on it. FILE PHOTO: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 26: In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. According to reports, rescuers have recovered a fifth victim of the collapse. The board is still investigating what caused the Dali to lose power as it approached the Key Bridge. In an earlier update, investigators said they discovered a loose cable that could have caused electrical issues on the Dali. The ship experienced blackouts twice in the hours before it left the Port of Baltimore en route to Sri Lanka. Justice Department attorneys later alleged its mechanical and electrical systems had been jury-rigged and improperly maintained. They pointed to excessive vibrations that could have loosened electrical connections. The agencys lawsuit was later settled after the Dalis owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and its manager, Synergy Marine Group, agreed to pay over $100 million in cleanup costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Singapore-based companies filed a court petition just days after the collapse seeking to limit their legal liability in what could become the most expensive marine casualty case in history. Homendy said the board plans to release more information from its investigation in the coming weeks and months. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) to perform a vulnerability assessment on the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy made the recommendation Thursday, nearly one year after the cataclysmic collapse of Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a cargo ship lost power and slammed into one of its support columns, taking the entire 1.6-mile span down in a matter of seconds and sending six construction workers plunging to their deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge is one of 68 bridges in 19 states that Homendy suggested undergo a vulnerability assessment because they were built over a waterway that is frequented by ocean-going vessels. We have been sounding the alarm on this since the tragedy occurred, Homendy said. We need action public safety depends on it. RELATED: How the Maritime Academy trains cadets to operate ships The NTSB currently classifies the Newport Bridge, which was built in 1969, as being at typical risk of collapse in the event of a vessel strike. Homendy said the Maryland Transportation Authority hadnt performed a vulnerability assessment on the Francis Scott Key Bridge prior to its collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NTSB conducted its own vulnerability assessment on the bridge as a result, and discovered that its risk of collapse was nearly 30 times higher than the national threshold. Had the MDTA conducted a vulnerability assessment of the Francis Scott Key Bridge based on recent vessel traffic, they would have been able to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and the loss of lives associated with a vessel collision, Homendy explained. Homendy stressed that the 30 bridge owners identified by the NTSB are likely unaware of their bridges risk of collapse, which is why she is imploring them to immediately perform vulnerability assessments to determine whether countermeasures should be implemented. In a statement to 12 News, RITBA Executive Director Lori Caron Silveira confirmed that it has received the NTSBs recommendations for the Newport Bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, we convened meetings, conducted outreach, and did extensive research into a similar scenario in Rhode Island waters, Caron Silveira said. We are immediately working to respond to the NTSBs request for relevant information. The NTSB also recommended four Massachusetts bridges undergo vulnerability assessments. Both sides of the Tobin Bridge and the Sagamore Bridge are both at typical risk of collapse, while the Bourne Bridge is classified as being at critical/essential risk. In a statement, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) said it is currently reviewing the NTSBs recommendations, and intends on enacting any applicable safety measures. MassDOT added that, after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, Gov. Maura Healey convened experts to discuss the potential for similar risks to the Tobin Bridge, as well as others in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The experts determined that the state uses more robust maritime safety practices and that the risk of a similar incident in Massachusetts at the Tobin and other bridges is very low. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Three Mile Island in Dauphin County before Constellation Energy mothballed the nuclear power plant in 2019. (Peter Hall/Capital-Star) Speakers at a virtual meeting Thursday about Three Mile Island raised concerns about restarting the nuclear plants Unit 1 reactor, nearly a half-century after its sister became a national symbol of the fraught promise of nuclear energy. Members of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) heard support from nuclear energy advocates and Dauphin County residents for Constellation Energys plan to restart the power plant. The Baltimore-based company announced last year it has a contract to supply Microsoft with 835 megawatts of electricity for an artificial intelligence data center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But skeptics, including longtime Three Mile Island opponent Eric Epstein of Harrisburg, told the commission they have questions about how the 50-year-old plant was mothballed when Constellation shut it down in 2019, how much traffic it would generate, and the storage of radioactive spent fuel. They also said theyre concerned about how the facility will interact with the Susquehanna River in an age when climate change both makes water an increasingly scarce resource and flooding more violent and unpredictable. Paul Gunter, director of the reactor oversight project for Beyond Nuclear, noted the Government Accountability Office has advised the NRC to address climate risks to nuclear power plants by using future climate projections to assess safety risks rather than historical data. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NRC environmental review process is not unlike driving your car through the rear view mirror, Gunter said. The GAO has called attention to the fact that youre not doing an adequate environmental review, and in particular, that you need to look at the impacts of climate change on the Susquehanna River levels. The meeting was an opportunity for NRC members and the Constellation Energy team to discuss an environmental review required under federal law before the agency can approve the plan to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1. Constellation said in September that it would invest $1.6 billion to overhaul the plant, which it acquired in 1999 and shut down six years ago, citing economic conditions. Located in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, the plant is adjacent to but independent from the Unit 2 Three Mile Island reactor, which suffered a partial meltdown in 1979. The incident shook public confidence in nuclear power. Both plants occupy an island in the Susquehanna River about 15 miles south of Harrisburg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Constellation said it plans to rename the plant the Crane Clean Energy Center after the companys former CEO Chris Crane. The change must also be approved by the NRC. Company officials said they plan to submit an environmental report to the NRC in October and hope to obtain final environmental approval and renewed permits by the first quarter of 2027. In a presentation to the NRC, Constellation said the plant would be restored to its previous operational condition and that no major demolition or construction is planned. The project would include modifications to the base of one of the two cooling towers, reactor building cooling equipment and an underground oil tank that had been used to store fuel for diesel generators. The project has received support from the Pennsylvania Building Trades Council, which estimated it would add $16 billion to the states GDP and more than $3 billion in state and federal taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Constellation said it plans to pay for the project with its own money, revenue from the Microsoft contract and federal tax credits available to new emissions-free energy projects. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Londonderry Township Supervisor Anna Dale said she was part of a group that tried to prevent the plants shutdown in 2019 and tsupports the plan to restart Unit 1 because of the demand for energy in the state and the carbon neutral electricity it would provide. I live five miles from the island, so the kind of impact on the quality of our air is very important to me, not only our residents, but the community and our family, Dale said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein, chairman of the nuclear watchdog group Three Mile Island Alert, said he has questions about the storage of the plants used nuclear fuel rods, which according to Constellations presentation were removed from the reactor and placed in dry storage casks in a facility adjacent to the plant on the island. Epstein said he has been unable to get answers from Constellation about the plan for storing the spent fuel, noting that the owner of the damaged Unit 2 reactor also operates a fuel storage facility. He asked a rapid-fire stream of questions about the restart plan. Is there a list of things that need to be rebuilt or replaced? Where are you going to get the parts? You cant go to Pep Boys and pull it off the shelf, Epstein said. He noted the surrounding farmland in Dauphin and Lancaster counties is home to Amish and Mennonite communities, of which many members dont drive or use modern communication devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope you guys will take a look at that in terms of emergency planning, Epstein said. Three Mile Island is one of three nuclear power plants that draw water from the Susquehanna River, Epstein said, claiming the demand of just two is equivalent to half the rivers daily flow. Earlier this month, Houston-based Talen Energy announced a $650 million deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for a 1,200-acre property adjacent to the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station nuclear plant near Berwick. AWS expects to build out the site with data centers that would consume as much energy as 900,000 homes and require millions of gallons of cooling water each day. While its unclear whether the Microsoft data centers would be located near Three Mile Island, Epstein said his organization would sue to prevent additional water withdrawals from the Susquehanna.. Where are we going to use the water? Were going to use it for farmers? Were going to use it for cleansing, or use it for hygiene, or are we going to use it for artificial intelligence? Epstein said. NEW YORK (PIX11) A bodega worker in New York City was stabbed in the neck on Wednesday morning, according to police. It was just his second day on the job. The stabbing occurred at a bodega in East Harlem at 2133 Third Ave., police said. More Crime News The 24-year-old victim spoke with PIX11s Anthony DiLorenzo and recounted the events that led him to the hospital. He was at the checkout counter when a man with mental health issues entered the store and attempted to purchase a piece of candy that cost 75 cents. The victim said the man only had 50 cents, which led to an argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bodega worker says during the argument, the emotionally disturbed man pulled out a screwdriver and stabbed him in the neck. Emergency Medical Services transported him to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries. He is expected to survive, police said. The suspect fled the scene. No arrests have been made, authorities said. Frank Marte of the Bodega and Small Business Association said that the emotionally disturbed man is known to create problems in the neighborhood. Marte also added the association is seeking more funding from Albany to install panic buttons and surveillance cameras in more bodegas. Marte said that 75 stores had already been installed with panic buttons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim said he expects to return to work this upcoming Monday. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) A New York City Department of Education employee was arrested Thursday, accused of assaulting a 13-year-old student, according to sources. Elvin Ventura, 53, was taken into custody at a local Brooklyn precinct, according to the NYPD. More Crime News Ventura is charged with strangulation in the second degree, criminal construction of breathing, endangering the welfare of a child, assault in the third degree, and harassment in the second degree, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary investigation of the assault determined it happened at the location where he works, sources said. It is unknown what facility the assault took place in. A spokesperson for the New York City Department of Education issued the following statement to PIX11 News: This alleged behavior is absolutely unacceptable. This employee has been reassigned away from students pending the outcome of the arrest, and if convicted, we will pursue termination. DOE Spokesperson An investigation remains ongoing, police said. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Comptroller Brad Lander wants to extend New York Citys universal preschool program to 2-year-old children if elected mayor and is looking to Albany to help cover the $1.3 billion price tag. In an interview with the Daily News, Lander threw his support behind a statewide campaign launched this year for 2-K. As part of a plan being released Friday, the comptroller said he would partner with child care centers and home-based providers, and use available space in city-operated sites to make a seat available to any family that wants one. Programs would run for the full day, and start rolling out in poorer districts before expanding citywide. This is a point in time at which families are figuring out if they can afford to stay here, Lander said. So, its critical for kids and critical for families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comptroller pitched 2-K as the next logical step toward eventually providing universal child care, with his plan hinging on help from state lawmakers to pitch in some cash. He did not specify how many years it would take to expand citywide, or say exactly how much money he would need from the state. Landers proposal dedicates resources to family outreach, so parents know about the availability of free child care and how to apply through a centralized portal, ready as soon as next year. He also expects to add 16,000 seats to 3-K with or without Albanys help which he said would increase participation by connecting families with programs closer to home. The comptrollers broader agenda also prioritizes universal afterschool programs in elementary and middle school, and improvements and the expansion of summer programs, such as Summer Rising and the Summer Youth Employment Program. Lander has been among Mayor Adams loudest critics as City Hall reneged on a planned expansion of 3-K, citing a dropoff in federal funding and thousands of empty seats citywide. The incumbent mayor, insists that continuing to fund those vacancies is a misuse of taxpayer dollars as every family who applied on time for this school year was admitted to a program, even if they could not ultimately take the city up on its offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The controversy has left a wide opening for mayoral hopefuls to challenge Adams on his early childhood education record, and the races front-runners have seized on it as part of their agendas to make New York City more affordable. Over the weekend, Andrew Cuomo, the ex-governor who resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations, announced a plan to create over 60,000 new 3-K seats, increase existing child care subsidies for infants and toddlers, and give businesses incentives to provide on-site child care. Experts have raised serious concerns over tying child care to employment. Related Articles Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist Assemblyman who has emerged as a formidable fundraiser, is running on a platform of raising corporate taxes for universal care for children ages 6 weeks and up, which he estimated would cost at least $5 billion each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While candidates hope to expand child care, the sector is facing headwinds. The Trump administration has put federal Head Start programs for low-income families in jeopardy. On the state level, funding for subsidized child care has not kept pace with the local growth in vouchers, and now, thousands of children could start losing assistance as soon as next month. Pressed on those challenges, Lander told The News he remains optimistic about securing resources from the state, saying Albany was in a position to provide them. Adding that amount to the state budget is very reasonable, and child care is something that New Yorkers and folks more broadly are seeing as critical, the comptroller said. One way of responding to Donald Trump is to meet the needs of working families and show you can deliver, and child care is such an excellent way to do that. Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care, a group that organizes parents to push lawmakers for universal programs, stressed how every major candidate was running on a platform that includes child care, saying it demonstrates the political popularity and feasibility of such programs. We can start now. We can use the existing child care 2s programs across the city, in the same way as 3-K, Bailin said. In order to fully scale up, they should go to the state, talk to partners. But we dont need to wait for the state to step in. NEW YORK Comptroller Brad Lander wants to extend New York Citys universal preschool program to 2-year-old children if elected mayor and is looking to Albany to help cover the $1.3 billion price tag. In an interview with the Daily News, Lander threw his support behind a statewide campaign launched this year for 2-K. As part of a plan being released Friday, the comptroller said he would partner with child care centers and home-based providers, and use available space in city-operated sites to make a seat available to any family that wants one. Programs would run for the full day, and start rolling out in poorer districts before expanding citywide. This is a point in time at which families are figuring out if they can afford to stay here, Lander said. So, its critical for kids and critical for families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comptroller pitched 2-K as the next logical step toward eventually providing universal child care, with his plan hinging on help from state lawmakers to pitch in some cash. He did not specify how many years it would take to expand citywide, or say exactly how much money he would need from the state. Landers proposal dedicates resources to family outreach, so parents know about the availability of free child care and how to apply through a centralized portal, ready as soon as next year. He also expects to add 16,000 seats to 3-K with or without Albanys help which he said would increase participation by connecting families with programs closer to home. The comptrollers broader agenda also prioritizes universal afterschool programs in elementary and middle school, and improvements and the expansion of summer programs, such as Summer Rising and the Summer Youth Employment Program. Lander has been among Mayor Eric Adams loudest critics as City Hall reneged on a planned expansion of 3-K, citing a dropoff in federal funding and thousands of empty seats citywide. The incumbent mayor, insists that continuing to fund those vacancies is a misuse of taxpayer dollars as every family who applied on time for this school year was admitted to a program, even if they could not ultimately take the city up on its offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The controversy has left a wide opening for mayoral hopefuls to challenge Adams on his early childhood education record, and the races front-runners have seized on it as part of their agendas to make New York City more affordable. Over the weekend, Andrew Cuomo, the ex-governor who resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations, announced a plan to create over 60,000 new 3-K seats, increase existing child care subsidies for infants and toddlers, and give businesses incentives to provide on-site child care. Experts have raised serious concerns over tying child care to employment. Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist Assemblyman who has emerged as a formidable fundraiser, is running on a platform of raising corporate taxes for universal care for children ages 6 weeks and up, which he estimated would cost at least $5 billion each year. While candidates hope to expand child care, the sector is facing headwinds. The Trump administration has put federal Head Start programs for low-income families in jeopardy. On the state level, funding for subsidized child care has not kept pace with the local growth in vouchers, and now, thousands of children could start losing assistance as soon as next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressed on those challenges, Lander told The News he remains optimistic about securing resources from the state, saying Albany was in a position to provide them. Adding that amount to the state budget is very reasonable, and child care is something that New Yorkers and folks more broadly are seeing as critical, the comptroller said. One way of responding to Donald Trump is to meet the needs of working families and show you can deliver, and child care is such an excellent way to do that. Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care, a group that organizes parents to push lawmakers for universal programs, stressed how every major candidate was running on a platform that includes child care, saying it demonstrates the political popularity and feasibility of such programs. We can start now. We can use the existing child care 2s programs across the city, in the same way as 3-K, Bailin said. In order to fully scale up, they should go to the state, talk to partners. But we dont need to wait for the state to step in. BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Dozens of protesters were joined by New York States number two in charge yesterday to condemn alleged efforts to cut Medicaid. Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado was the featured speaker at a rally organized by Citizen Action and Indivisible Binghamton outside the offices of Broome County Department of Social Services on Main Street in Binghamton. DSS is where people sign up for Medicaid, the federal program that provides health insurance to the poor and disabled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delgado and the progressive groups accuse Republicans of wanting to slash Medicaid funding, jeopardizing access to healthcare for those who rely on it. The Lieutenant Governor says it comes down to a simple factor of right and wrong. Our democracy is built on a moral idea. Democracy is one person, one vote. We are all created equal irrespective of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation. It is a moral, moral idea, said Delgado. Delgados visit coincides with recent news that he will not run for re-election on the same ticket as Governor Hochul next year. He also has not ruled out a challenge to Hochul in a Democratic primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broome County Republican Chairman Benji Federman says Delgado campaigning against Hochul is indicative of the failures of the Democratic administration in Albany. Federman says Democratic handling of healthcare issues, like the current transition of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Program, or CDPAP, to a single financial intermediary, is whats driving people to leave the state. You see the CDPAP program going through dysfunction right now as people are transitioning from one policy to the next. I really want to shine a bright light on the failures of Governor Kathy Hochul. These folks may be talking about the federal administration, but I really want to hone in on the failures at the state level here, said Federman. Republicans in Washington are reportedly looking to find $800 million in savings from the Medicaid program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have argued that it can be achieved through efficiencies and the reduction of waste without impacting medical care for its recipients. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) An Oakland High School student has been charged with a felony for reportedly bringing a loaded handgun to school, prompting a lockdown of the school on Friday, March 21. According to Rutherford County Schools spokesperson James Evans, school resource officers at Oakland High School received information Friday morning concerning a student possibly having a firearm on campus. The school was put on a secure hold to stop movement inside the school so officials could investigate. As well as the high school, Oakland Middle School was also placed under the hold as a precautionary measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County During an initial search of the school building and grounds, Evans said the student was located, but no weapon was found on his person. Rather, an empty holster was found in his backpack. No weapons were found in the building or the grounds, either, according to Evans. However, a further more thorough search of the students belongings yielded a small-caliber, loaded handgun inside a concealed pocket in his backpack. The student was subsequently arrested and removed from campus immediately, according to Evans, and he will not be allowed to return to any Rutherford County school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 27 juveniles charged with firearm possession in 2024, court records show The student is now being charged with felony carrying a weapon on school grounds, and he is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center. The hold has since been lifted at Oakland, and students were being fed lunch as of the early afternoon. In a message about the situation sent to parents, Evans reiterated how seriously the district takes these matters. Parents, we know these situations are frightening, which is why we are so thorough when they occur. We are grateful for our law enforcement and emergency response partners, all of whom responded immediately today and assisted the school with the investigation and search, Evans said in the message. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Responding agencies included the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, Murfreesboro Police Department, Rutherford County Emergency Management, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message was also sent to parents of children in Murfreesboro City Schools, given how close in proximity John Pittard Elementary School is to Oakland High and Middle schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OAKMAN, Ala. (WIAT) Oakman Schools in Walker County is spreading awareness to students and parents about the risks of social media and gaming devices. On Thursday, school leaders invited parents to hear from social media and safety expert Kristi Bush about the topic. Noticing the trend of all the things that our kids are facing, theyre in very adult spaces that are very hard to navigate, said Bush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bush, a parent herself, said she started speaking about social media safety after her son accidently viewed explicit content on his device at a young age. Mother of mass shooting victim reacts to additional arrests announced on her daughters birthday Bush now travels to schools in Alabama sharing her research in hopes of equipping parents and students with tools for navigating the online world. As we see sort of an increase in social media, weve seen an increase with our youth in anxiety, in depression. Weve seen suicide rates go up and you can actually sort of look at the research where it goes back to where social media got started. As these things have increased we can kind of relate that to social media, so its really about protecting our kids protecting their mental health space, said Bush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The use of social media among students is something Oakman Middle School principal Bart Lockhart said he sees on a daily basis. Those issues are what counselor Sarah Chambers said she wants students to avoid experiencing both inside and outside school doors. Things bleed into the school day that happened over night with these phones, and I always think about as a student myself many years ago we can go home and get away from this, but they are bombarded with it all day long, said Chambers. With sextortion, cyber bullying and social media addiction the main topics of discussion of Thursdays presentation, Bush said she wants parents to be aware and proactive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For resources and more information on navigating social media 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 CBS 42. Wars today, we hear early in October 8, are fought not only in battlefields but also on different media outlets. Its very challenging: the war of the narrative, and sometimes even the war over truth. It has become increasingly arduous to determine objective truth in the modern era, particularly on subjects as fraught and ideologically riven as the Middle East. But documentarian Wendy Sachs (Surge) narrows her focus, and sets her sights closer to home. She aims, in this passionate and timely documentary, to explore how a culture war has unfolded across U.S. universities since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Under ordinary circumstances, it might feel uncontroversial to make a film about the recent rise of antisemitism on college campuses. There was, we learn, a 140% increase in antisemitic incidents in 2023, the highest on record. Surely this is a trajectory worthy of concern and exploration. But as the movie makes clear, its not just Zionism but Jewishness itself that has become a third-rail issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some viewers may object strenuously to the fact that Sachs barely addresses the Palestinian cause, or the Israeli governments reaction to the October 7 attacks. Its quickly clear, though, that her attention is purely on the way the war has been used as an excuse by some to push simmering antisemitism to a boiling point. In the movies press notes, she asserts that We are not litigating the war in Israel and in Gaza or advocating that anyone be denied their land or statehood. Instead she zooms in, interviewing professors and students who share their experiences as individuals caught in both anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish furor. More impactful still is to see this firsthand via plentiful footage, in which Jewish students are threatened by peers, and dismissed by leaders. She also offers evidence that many of these demonstrations are seeded by groups and even countries dedicated to Israels destruction. Sheryl Sandberg, Debra Messing, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Ritchie Torres are among a range of talking heads who discuss the rise in antisemitism over the last year. Most memorable, however, may be Mosab Hassan Yousef, whose father is Hassan Yousef, the co-founder of Hamas. Yousef is openly stunned that so many American students are vocally aligning with the concept of Intifada. It will be a threat against all civilized people who want to live in harmony, who believe in tolerance, who believe in peaceful dialogue with their neighbors, who believe in diversity, he warns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, like other movies designed with advocacy in mind, this one is most likely to preach to an already-sympathetic choir. For that reason, October 8 is often at its strongest when Sachs touches on broader perspectives within her thesis. For example, political advisor Dan Senor freely acknowledges that criticism of the state of Israel is normal, and is important. But, he adds, Somehow, when there is a debate about Israel, it often gets into a reductionist approach where quickly the question is Well, does Israel have the right to exist? We dont have that discussion about any other country. Or, as M.I.T. student Talia Kahn who shares that her mother is Jewish and her father Muslim notes about the rights of everyone to live in peace, Its not an either/or. October 8 is now playing in select theaters. The post October 8 Review: Somber Doc Tracks Recent Rise of Antisemitism on College Campuses appeared first on TheWrap. An off-duty Boston police officer was able to locate and apprehend a juvenile shooter and recover a firearm. The incident occurred back on Wednesday, March 19, around 4 P.M. when an off-duty officer was leaving work, driving towards Dudley Street when he heard multiple gunshots. The officer then pulled over and exited his vehicle and attempted to locate where the shots were coming from. The officer immediately located a suspect in the middle of the street, and as soon as the two made eye contact, the suspect ran off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two began a foot pursuit, in which the officer observed the suspect to be clutching his waistband. The pursuit came to an end in the area of Shabaz Way and Eustis Street, when the officer apprehended the suspect and recovered a firearm, which was later to be determined as a ghost gun with 7 total rounds of ammunition. The suspect, a 15-year-old juvenile, was arrested and charged with: Delinquent to wit; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Delinquent to wit; Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm Delinquent to wit; Unlawful Possession of Ammunition Delinquent to wit; Discharging a Firearm Delinquent to wit; Reckless Discharge of a Firearm Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The juvenile is expected to be arraigned in Boston Juvenile District Court at a later date. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Officers cleared in fatal shooting of chainsaw-wielding man at Illinois nursing home ST. CHARLES, Ill. (WGN) An investigation into a deadly shooting involving police and a chainsaw-wielding man in west suburban St. Charles, Illinois, late last year has found no wrongdoing on the part of the officers. WARNING: The attached link contains footage and audio that could be disturbing to some viewers. The full video can be viewed HERE on ISPs website. The shooting unfolded at around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2024, inside the senior living facility River Glen of St. Charles, after authorities received a call about a man, who was later identified as 41-year-old Daniel Escalera, wielding a chainsaw as he entered the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Escalera, a Stockwell, Indiana, resident, was fatally shot by police during the encounter. According to Kane County States Attorney Jamie Mosser, St. Charles Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene after they received a call about the man, who was later identified as Escalera. Is Social Security money going to millions of people listed as old as 149? The first officer who arrived on the scene made contact with Escalera as he stood near multiple residents at the doorway to the cafeteria inside the facility and made multiple verbal commands for Escalera to drop the chainsaw as the officer displayed his Taser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But authorities said Escalera refused to drop the chainsaw and instead entered the cafeteria and started it. After starting the chainsaw, the officer deployed his Taser and struck Escalera in the chest. The Taser knocked Escalera down briefly, but he got back up and grabbed the chainsaw before he began running toward the officer. The officer then retreated into the lobby of the facility where they were joined by a second St. Charles police officer. According to officials, both officers ran back into the cafeteria while a third officer followed Escalera through a secondary doorway of the cafeteria and back into the lobby, where Escalera then held the chainsaw over his head and ran toward the officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Escalera charged toward him, the officer fired two shots, which both missed the suspect. Escalera then collided with the officer, striking him with the chainsaw before he dropped it. Wisconsin man already serving 50 years on child sex charges handed additional 10 years Amid the confrontation, the officer fired a third shot, which hit Escalera in the left forearm, as he fled toward a hallway. The incident continued when Escalera reached the hallway, where he stopped near a resident in a wheelchair and held his hands forward in a position which appeared to imitate holding a firearm. Officials said as Escalera held his arms out, the officer fired a fourth shot, which struck the suspect in the chest. He then collapsed to the ground and was handcuffed by officers before they began providing medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Escalera was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Following his death, the Kane County Coroners Office diagnosed Escalera as having methamphetamine intoxication and his cause of death was ascribed to multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology reports later showed the presence of amphetamines, methamphetamines and the antipsychotic drug olanzapine. Following the shooting, Illinois State Police conducted an investigation and later presented the findings to the Kane County States Attorneys Office, pursuant to the Police and Community Relations Improvement Act 50 ILCS 727. On Tuesday, the Kane County States Attorneys Office announced that it had closed its investigation into the deadly shooting and found no wrongdoing on the part of the officers who confronted Escalera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kane County States Attorneys Office reached its conclusion after conducting an examination of body-worn camera audio and video recordings, statements from witnesses, physical evidence from the scene, and the results of an autopsy. Officials said the officer involved in the incident had the reasonable belief that the deadly force he employed was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or other individuals. Alongside the findings of its investigation, authorities also released video of the event captured by body-worn cameras. The video shared by authorities contains footage and audio that could be disturbing to some viewers. I first want to thank the St. Charles police officers for acting to de-escalate the situations before being forced to resort to the deadly use of force, Mosser said. My thanks also to the Illinois State Police for their diligent and thorough investigation into this incident, and to the Kane County Coroners Office and the St. Charles Police Department for providing critical support and transparency throughout this process. Every case of an officer-involved shooting must be carefully and thoroughly investigated. This scrutiny maintains the publics confidence in law enforcement and ensures the protection of the civil rights of those involved. After a comprehensive and thorough review of the investigation into this tragic incident, it is clear that the officers here acted in accordance with both department policy and Illinois law. The evidence demonstrates that his actions were appropriate and justified in the circumstances. Acknowledging the tragic loss of life and offering condolences to Mr. Escaleras family, my office has therefore closed the investigation into this matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video of the incident was released after consultation with and authorization by the Kane County States Attorney and Illinois State Police provided Escaleras family members the opportunity to review the video before its release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. HONOLULU (KHON2) Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm took to the podium on Thursday, March 20 to announce that the January 2024 officer-involved shooting in Makaha was justified. On Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, two Honolulu police officers responded to a traffic call on Farrington Highway near Moua Street. Man with knife shot and killed by police in Makaha When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man in the middle of the roadway holding a knife. He refused repeated commands to drop the knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the officers put her firearm back into her holster, pulled out a stun gun and deployed the weapon on the man. The man fell to the ground. Once he got up, officials said he repeatedly charged at and attempted to tackle one of the officers. The officer then opened fire and hit the man twice in the chest. Given his aggression and erratic conduct, it was reasonable for Officer 1 to believe that [the man] was trying to get control of his firearm and use it on Officer 2 in addition to using it on himself, Alm explained. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Honolulu Ocean Safety, Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu EMS responded to the incident and pronounced the man dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After reviewing evidence, body cam footage and interviews, officials concluded the officer was justified in shooting the man based on the issue of use of deadly force to protect others. He was talking coherently. He had an idea. He just didnt want to listen to what they said and they offered to get him help. He didnt want it and he ended up getting what he said he was going to do three weeks before, and that was suicide by cop, Alm said. Check out more news from around Hawaii Alm added that no charges will be filed against the officer who opened fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Surrounded by students and governors from across the country, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday afternoon to begin dismantling the Department of Education. Returning education very simply back to states where it belongs, he said. The Department of Education was started in 1979 by then-President Jimmy Carter. Trump said even some members of Carters cabinet, the Federation of Teachers and well-known Democrats opposed it at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How dismantling the Department of Education will affect Ohio schools Now, after spending trillions, he said the department is failing students. According to the White House, math and reading scores for 13-year-olds are at the lowest level in decades and 40% of fourth-grade students dont even meet basic reading levels. U.S. students rank 28 out of 37 in developed countries in math. After 45 years, the United States spends more money on education, by far, than any other country, but yet we rank near the bottom of the list in terms of success, said Trump. But some educators are reacting strongly to the executive and expressing serious concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At first youre dumbfounded. You think, oh, that couldnt possibly happen, said Pat Shipe, president of The Akron Education Association representing teachers. She especially worries about those most vulnerable. Ninety-five percent of students with disabilities go to public schools, yet the president is dismantling in essence gutting the Department of Education which provides much needed services and programs for those children and their families, Shipe said. Trump said Title I and Pell Grant funding will not be touched and will be fully preserved, and that the goal is to have the states work with parents, teachers and everybody else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kent State University students protest Ohio Senate Bill 1 to eliminate DEI in higher education Shipe questioned exactly how the state might manage those funds intended for education. If you send it to the state, theres no guarantee theyll pass it along to appropriate places to continue all of the incredible programs we have, said Shipe. Whats coming out of Columbus is also harmful. Are we going to continue to see more and more unqualified and unlicensed people in our classrooms that are not educators just placed there and told to teach. In a statement, Governor DeWine said the following, in part, By giving states more authority over education, we will have the flexibility to focus our efforts on tailoring an educational experience that is best for our children and that meets Ohios needs, rather than trying to chase federal priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Education Associated released a statement Thursday night. Across Ohio in rural, suburban, and urban communities alike our students depend on the critical programs and services provided through the U.S. Department of Education. More than half of Ohios public school students benefit from federal Title I programs that help economically disadvantaged learners reach their full potential; more than a quarter-million Ohio students with disabilities rely on services that are possible because of federal IDEA funding; countless Ohioans rely on federal aid to make college affordable through grants and loans; countless others benefit from the many programs the US Department of Education administers every day, the statement said, in part. Make no mistake, every single student in Ohio will pay the price for the move to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An Ohio police department is investigating a mans death after being found unresponsive at a dental office. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Medics responded to a report of a 61-year-old patient who was found unresponsive in a dental bay at Grove City Dental in February, according to a police report obtained by our news partners at WBNS. In a 911 call, a staff member said the patient was sedated and they couldnt find his pulse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics took the man to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. TRENDING STORIES: In voluntary reports submitted to the police, dental staff members reported the patient had been given anesthesia and pills before his planned procedures. Then they reported his oxygen levels dropped, WBNS reported. In a statement obtained by WBNS, Dr. Scott Schumann said he and the staff remain shocked and saddened by this matter. Federal laws prevent us from discussing the details of this matter and so I am not able to comment further at this time. We are fully cooperating with authorities and agencies, Schumann said. We remain committed to providing our patients with the quality and personalized dental care theyve come to expect from us. That is why we follow strict safety regulations and protocols for everyone in our care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WBNS reported that Schumann has two active licenses with The Ohio State Dental Board to practice dentistry and offer sedation. Records from the dental board show he has had his license suspended twice, once in 2002 and again in 2005. In both suspensions, the dental board cited an inability to practice under accepted standards of the profession because of physical or mental disability, dependence on alcohol or other drugs, or excessive use of alcohol or other drugs. Schumanns license was reinstated in 2016. WBNS reported that reinstatement was subject to probationary terms and conditions. Dave Oates, a spokesperson for Grove City Dental, told WBNS that Schumann received brief suspensions in 2002 and 2015 as he battled substance abuse issues. Oats noted that hes been in active recovery for a decade. Oates also told WBNS that Schumann is cooperating with the dental board and Grove City police in their investigations. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] COLUMBUS, Ohio JUNE 07: State Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, speaks during the Ohio Senate session, June 7, 2023, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal) A Republican bill that could automatically close low-performing Ohio public schools received no supporter testimony this week. Ohio Senate Bill 127 would revise Ohios public school closure law and require a poor performing school to either close or take remedial action. Senate Education Committee Chair Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, introduced the bill last month and no one submitted supporter testimony for the bills second hearing this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is my hope that this bill will help to standardize the law surrounding school closures for public and community schools and help ensure that each student in Ohio receives the best education possible, Brenner said to the Senate Education Committee earlier this month during his sponsor testimony. The bill defines a poor performing school as a school (district operated, community or STEM), serving grades four and older, that has performed in the bottom 5% among public schools based on its Performance Index Score for three consecutive years, and is in the bottom 10% based on its Value-Added Progress for three consecutive years. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A poor-performing school would have the option to close at the end of the school year or replace its principal and a majority of licensed staff. Another option is the school could get the help of an Ohio Department of Education and Workforce management organization, charter management organization, education service center, or an Ohio public or private university with experience in school improvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill leaves open many options, and so whatever option is probably in the best interest of the school district and those buildings and those students is what could be adopted, Brenner said. The two Democrats on the Senate Education Committee Sens. Catherine Ingram of Cincinnati and Kent Smith of Euclid questioned Brenner about the bill. Do you have any idea how many schools this could potentially impact or how many districts this might impact? Smith asked. Brenner didnt have an exact answer. He explained how 5% of the states total school buildings would be about 180-185 schools. Have you run the numbers for academic performance, the performance index and the value added because its got to be for three years? Smith pressed. Do you have any idea is that number 185? Is it less? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brenner said the actual number would likely be less than 185 since a school would have to be in both the bottom 5% among public schools based on their Performance Index Score for three consecutive years and in the bottom 10% based on its Value-Added Progress for three consecutive years to be considered poor-performing. You may have one year that theyre better than that and outside of that zone, Brenner said. So we dont have the exact numbers, but you do know what the maximum number potentially could be based on this, and this is based on the current situation in our schools. Ohio charter schools are automatically closed if they have three straight years of poor performance. Brenner introduced a similar bill in the previous General Assembly, but it did not make it out of committee. Only one person testified in support of that bill with nearly 20 people speaking out against it. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The State Post Bureau has launched an investigation into Yunda Express over significant safety management loopholes that allowed fraudulent promotional materials to infiltrate its delivery system, leading to substantial financial losses for victims. The probe follows reports that some franchisees of Yunda Express, a Shanghai-based courier company, used its services to distribute scam-related promotional materials. In response, Yunda Express issued a statement on Thursday on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange's website, pledging to cooperate with regulators. The company said it had formed a special task force to conduct an internal investigation and vowed to strengthen oversight of its franchise operations. It also plans to enhance inspection procedures, intensify franchisee training and improve its ability to detect scam-related parcels. The investigation was likely triggered by reports of fraudulent "prizewinning" materials sent through courier services, including Yunda. Consumers have reported receiving small unsolicited packages containing gifts and QR codes promising cashback rewards, only to be drawn into scams. In one case highlighted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate on March 13, a woman in Jiangxi province lost more than 190,000 yuan ($26,400) after scanning a QR code in a package offering a 20-yuan voucher. She was instructed to download an app and interact with customer service representatives, who deceived her into transferring money. Authorities in Sichuan province seized more than 20,000 fraudulent courier packages in early March, retrieving more than 800 parcels linked to similar scams. Police said scammers used leaflets inside the packages to lure victims into fraudulent schemes. The probe into Yunda Express comes amid a broader crackdown on courier fraud, which has sparked consumer complaints over privacy breaches and package security. Zhao Xiaomin, a logistics expert, told National Business Daily that authorities may intensify efforts to tackle fraud in the delivery industry, citing recent discussions on data security at China's top legislative and political advisory meetings. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Security also disclosed cases of collusion in the courier sector, further underscoring regulatory concerns. "With growing scrutiny over crimes involving personal data, courier companies must remain vigilant, enhance security management and protect user information," Zhao said. Bao-Ding Yurui, a lecturer at the Renmin University of China, warned that companies failing to comply with security regulations risk penalties, including business suspensions or loss of operating permits. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN) The board of the Ohio State Teachers Retirement System has agreed to join a lawsuit against Target and DEI policies Attorney General David Yost said tanked the retailers stock and ultimately impacted investors, including STRS. STRS had initially decided not to pursue the lawsuit and said it could still have benefitted from the class action lawsuit filed in Florida as an impacted party. STRS changed its course following a letter from Yost several days ago admonishing the board for declining his advice to be a lead plaintiff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yost claims that Targets DEI policies violated securities rules and cost the STRS fund $5 million. The class action claims that Target violated federal securities laws when it misled investors with false claims and misleading statements about its environment, social and governance (ESG), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates. Yost added that national retailer engaged in several DEI and LBGTQ+initiatives that resulted in disastrous Pride Month marketing that led to widespread customer boycotts that severely impacted Target and its stock price, wiping out an estimated $25 billion in market capitalization. He also said that Target downplayed those market concerns to investors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma Fire Department Air Tactical Unit (ATU) completed a training course this week enhancing its wildland firefighting and rescue capabilities. According to fire officials, the ATU units acquired a hoist for improved rescue operations while completing an intensive 6-day training course on hoist rescues. TRICARE authorizes temporary prescription refill waivers Oklahoma Fire Department Air Tactical Unit (ATU) trains with new equipment, Image courtesy Oklahoma Fire Department Oklahoma Fire Department Air Tactical Unit (ATU) trains with new equipment, Image courtesy Oklahoma Fire Department Oklahoma Fire Department Air Tactical Unit (ATU) trains with new equipment, Image courtesy Oklahoma Fire Department Oklahoma Fire Department Air Tactical Unit (ATU) trains with new equipment, Image courtesy Oklahoma Fire Department Firefighters also say the new ARES bag is set to rescue injured patients and to respond swiftly in water emergencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The training included the following techniques: confined space rescues tree rescues Back Anchor Redirects fly-aways The training and equipment is set to boost the overall ability to assist residents in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Fire crews responded to a fire at a reptile store in northwest Oklahoma City Friday morning. According to the Oklahoma City Fire Department, crews responded to the store near NW 122nd St. and MacArthur Blvd. around 1 a.m. LOCAL NEWS: Suspect sought by police after spray-painting Nazi on Tulsa womans Tesla Officials say firefighters were already aware of the reptiles inside and worked quickly to get the flames under control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through prior knowledge of the building, we knew that this warehouse housed several snakes, tortoises and lizards, said Major Bo Woodard with OKCFD. And was able to make an offensive fire attack and get the fire extinguished that way. It is unclear how the fire started or if any of the animals were 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) On Thursday, Demetrius and Morgan Mayhue said reality is starting to set in. I just put my faith in Jesus and trust that hes going to get us through this, said Morgan Mayhue. LOCAL NEWS: Devastating stories continue to pour in following wildfires On Friday, the couples home near NW 117th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. went up in flames. I dont have a word to describe what it felt like, said Morgan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the home where the Mayhues were raising six kids is so charred, its unrecognizable. I was very surprised that it was my house out of all houses, said Demetrius Mayhue. Oklahoma County field appraisers were out Thursday inspecting their home, as well as about three dozen others across the county. We have an opportunity of being able to reduce the property tax obligation of people whove had their homes destroyed, said Larry Stein, the Oklahoma County Assessor. Well be able to reduce the value, which will impact their property taxes and prevent them from having to pay property taxes on a home that they cant live in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LOCAL NEWS: Norman family narrowly escapes burning home in raging wildfires Stein said the value of the land will still be evaluated and property owners will have to pay taxes on that. He also added that devastating tragedies like these tend to put life in perspective. Its terribly sad, said Stein. But these kinds of disasters are things that can give everybody a reality check about whats important and what kind of things are impacting someones life. If your property has been damaged and needs assessed, call (405) 713-1201. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 465. That is the number of years collectively stolen from Oklahomans who have been wrongfully convicted of a crime. A total of 46 former inmates in Oklahoma have been officially exonerated since 1989. 10. That is the number of years it typically takes to investigate, litigate and exonerate an innocent prisoner. That is because, after the system gets it wrong, it is very hard to correct the error. After numerous high-profile exonerations, including death penalty cases, the question is not whether we have mistakenly convicted innocent people. The real question is, how many people have we wrongfully convicted? More importantly, what are we going to do about it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the United States Supreme Court reversed Richard Glossips murder conviction and remanded the case back to Oklahoma County for a new trial. Glossip's was the second Oklahoma capital case this year vacated by the United States Supreme Court. In both cases, the justices pointed to the same problem error at the hands of the prosecutors. Sadly, these two instances of misconduct are not outliers. Among the 46 wrongful conviction cases in Oklahoma, more than half were overturned based on some form of prosecutorial misconduct. The innocent defendants in those cases languished in our prisons for a collective 292 years. We must demand better of our criminal legal system and the powerful people who work within it, guest columnist writes. The courts have to be willing to correct error when an innocent person has been convicted. Despite the number of cases marred by official misconduct, shattering countless innocent families along the way, the state of Oklahoma has done nothing to correct course. Neither the Legislature, the courts, nor the Oklahoma Bar Association has lifted a finger to restore the full integrity of our criminal justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vast majority of prosecutors conduct themselves professionally and ethically. However, it only takes a handful of bad actors to inflict life-changing damage upon innocent people. At the same time, prosecutors who engage in misconduct rarely face repercussions. With sad irony, I must point out that most prosecutors claim to live by the mantra that people must take responsibility for their actions, but we dont see them taking responsibility for their actions. Rogue prosecutors are one obstacle to justice, the appellate process is another. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the only court which reviews state criminal convictions, makes it almost impossible to prove a prosecutor hid evidence that could exonerate a defendant. Glossip's legal appeal relied on new evidence, including evidence that prosecutors had illegally withheld from the defense, but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals could refuse to consider the issue under its own procedural rules. But very few cases are subjected to this level of judicial scrutiny. The vast majority of cases involving prosecutorial or police misconduct continue without consequence, often in cases where the inmate does not have the help of post-conviction counsel. While misconduct constitutes the lion's share of exonerations, other parties in the justice system can make egregious mistakes that lead to a wrongful conviction as well. Issues involving unreliable forensic evidence and defense attorneys who fail to conduct their own investigation also play a significant role in wrongful convictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahomans should not be forced to choose between justice and public safety. The two are not mutually exclusive. Injustice actually undermines public safety by eroding everyone's faith in our justice system. We must demand better of our criminal legal system and the powerful people who work within it. The courts have to be willing to correct error when an innocent person has been convicted. There should be consequences when a prosecutor purposely engages in unethical behavior. Finally, we should make it clear that even a single innocent person in prison is unacceptable. If we fail to implement serious reforms, the next wrongly convicted Oklahoman could be your neighbor, your family member, or even you. No one is immune. Andrea Miller Andrea Miller is legal director of the Oklahoma Innocence Project. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Innocent Oklahomans shouldn't be in prison. We must do more | Opinion An Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to throwing a pipe bomb at The Satanic Temple in Salem on April 8, 2024, the U.S. Attorney said. Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of using an explosive device to damage and attempt to damage a building used in interstate or foreign commerce, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement on Thursday. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for June 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palmer was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He was charged by criminal complaint and arrested on April 17, 2024 in Perkins, Oklahoma. The Satanic Temple is a non-theistic religious organization headquartered in Salem. According to the charging documents, at approximately 4:14 a.m. on April 8, 2024, surveillance cameras captured a man, subsequently identified as Palmer, walking towards the temple wearing a black face covering, a tan-colored tactical vest and gloves. As Palmer approached The Satanic Temple, he ignited a pipe bomb a type of improvised explosive device or IED threw it at the temples main entrance, and then ran away, prosecutors said. The pipe bomb caused a minor fire and damage to the buildings exterior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the charging documents, the pipe bomb was constructed from a roughly two-foot section of plastic pipe covered with metal nails attached to the pipe with duct tape. The inside of the pipe was filled with smokeless gunpowder. During the investigation, Palmers DNA was found on the outside of the IED, prosecutors said. A six-page handwritten note was found in a flower bed adjacent to The Satanic Temple, near the area where Palmer threw the IED, Foley said. Among other things, the letter stated: DEAR SATANIST ELOHIM SEND ME 7 MONTHS AGO TO GIVE YOU PEACEFUL MESSAGE TO HOPE YOU REPENT. YOU SAY NO, ELOHIM NOW SEND ME TO SMITE SATAN AND I HAPPY TO OBEY. AND ELOHIM WANT ME TO CONTACT YOU TO TELL YOU REPENT. TURN FROM SIN. ELOHIM NO LIKE THIS PLACE AND PLAN TO DESTROY IT. MAYBE SALEM TOO? ELOHIM SEND ME TO FIGHT CRYBABY SATAN, BUT WANT ME TO MAKE HARD EFFORT SO NOONE DIES. I OBEY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the charge of using fire or an explosive to cause damage to a building used in interstate or foreign commerce, Palmer faces a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW AUSTIN, Texas An Oklahoma woman who accused former disgraced megachurch preacher Robert Morris of sexual abuse testified before the Texas House of Representatives, asking them to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual abuse cases. Cindy Clemishire/Photograph courtesy of The Roys Report Cindy Clemishire publicly accused Robert Morris in 2024 of sexual misconduct ranging from inappropriate touching to rape by instrumentation. Almost two decades after the alleged abuse, Morriss attorneys offered the Oklahoma woman $25,000 if she would sign a non-disclosure agreement and remain silent. She declined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas House Bill 748, also called Treys Law, and Missouri House Bill 709, would make non-disclosure agreements unenforceable in child sex abuse cases. Clemishire waited 43 years for her voice to be heard. Although her voice trembled and she choked back emotion, her words spoke loudly before the Texas House of Representatives, Judiciary, and Civil Jurisprudence Committee members. I am a survivor of child sexual abuse. Cindy Clemishire, Texas House of Representatives Clemishire spoke of the years of abuse she allegedly suffered involving Morris that started on Christmas night in 1982 when a then-married father was a traveling evangelist and stayed at the Clemishire home while holding revival services in Hominy. Morris, the founder of a Texas-based Gateway Church, one of the largest megachurches in the country, is free on $50,000 bail after being charged in Osage County District Court with five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clemishires accusations of sexual assault continued until Clemishire was 17 years old and, in 1987 told her parents about the abuse. Her father told Morriss pastor that if Morris didnt get out of the ministry, he would report him to the police. Robert Morris, Mugshot provided by Osage County Sheriffs Office It was a losing fight for the family. The first time he made the premeditated decision to violate and defile my purity, he told me, You can never tell anyone because it will ruin everything,' Clemishire said. When I did finally tell someone, it seemed as though Robert Morris was right, Clemishire said. It ruined everything. Clemishire testified how all the relationships in her life took a shift. At 17 years old in 1987, I felt like it was all my fault. As I began the lifelong journey to sort through these emotional challenges, my life seemed to attract more shame while Roberts attracted fame. Cindy Clemishire Through decades of off-and-on counseling, Clemishire said she has found my way to understand child sexual abuse, forgiveness, and healing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that at age 37, through her attorney, Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond, who was in private practice in 2007, she asked Morris for $50,000 to cover past and future counseling. Morriss attorney responded with a letter accusing an innocent 12-year-old Cindy of pursuing Robert and making Robert sound like the victim, she said. Morris offered a $25,000 settlement as long as Clemishre would sign an NDA. Because I refused to sign an NDA, my abuser is finally being held accountable for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child, Clemishire said. Because I refused to sign the NDA at 37, I can sit here at 55 and share my story and be the voice of so many people who dont have the courage hoping I can help them. Treys Law Trey Carlock was a victim of child sexual abuse at the Branson-based Kanakuk Kamps. As part of his settlement, he was required to sign a restricted NDA. He died by suicide in 2019 and called his settlement blood money, according to his sister, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, who also testified before Texas legislatures on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Clemishire and Phillips, Kathryn Robb, director of the Childrens Justice Campaign, testified. Morriss next court date is May 9, when a preliminary hearing on the allegations will be set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Oklahomans using health insurance through the Affordable Care Act could see rising premiums if federal subsidies arent extended, the state's insurance commissioner warned. (Getty images) (This image cannot be republished without a Getty subscription.) OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomas top insurance official warned that health insurance premiums could see substantial increases next year if federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act arent extended. A permanent extension of the $338 billion in enhanced federal health insurance subsidies is looking more unlikely, said Glen Mulready, commissioner of the Oklahoma Insurance Department, in a statement. While there might be other potential solutions considered by Congress this year, Oklahomas leaders and citizens need to be prepared for the consequences of these subsidies ending with significant changes in health insurance costs anticipated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the increases in premiums for the 300,000 Oklahomans who rely on the ACA Marketplace for health insurance could begin in 2026 if federal enhanced Advanced Premium Tax Credits are not extended by Dec. 31. Oklahomas enrollment in ACA plans increased 75% because of these subsidies with many who are enrolled pay $0 monthly for coverage while the average costs for Oklahoma enrollees is $58 per month for a benchmark silver plan, the second-lowest priced plan. We anticipate that the average cost of a benchmark silver plan in Oklahoma will increase by approximately 65%, jumping from $58 per month to $153 per month in 2026 if the subsidies expire as scheduled, explained Commissioner Mulready. This change is expected nationwide. The higher premium costs could lead to consumers moving to Medicaid or becoming uninsured, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mulready said while he hopes Congress can find a compromise to lessen the impact, the Oklahoma Insurance Department will continue monitoring the situation. Oklahomans and my fellow elected leaders must understand the potential impact of the expiration of these federal subsidies, he said in a statement. Members of Oklahomas federal delegation, Sen. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., did not return requests for comment by the time of publication. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Thursday that one of the male wolves brought to Colorado in January from British Columbia has died. The wolf was killed by staff associated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture after it was suspected of killing five sheep in north-central Wyoming, according to a spokesperson for the departments Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Tanya Espinosa, a public affairs specialist for APHIS, said that on March 15, USDAs Wildlife Services responded to a sheep predation event on private lands in north central Wyoming. Evidence consistent with wolf depredation was observed at the site, including wolf tracks, struggle sites, carcasses with premortem hemorrhaging, and bite marks consistent with known wolf predations. In total, five adult sheep were killed by an adult wolf, including one sheep that was heavily fed upon. Later that day, Wildlife Services removed (killed) a wolf at the predation location. Closer examination showed the wolf had a collar from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Wyoming Game and Fish returned the wolf and the collar to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Espinosa said. According to a statement from CPW, their biologists received a mortality alert from north central Wyoming over the weekend. That could be as much as 400 miles from where the wolves were relocated in January in Pitkin and Eagle counties. The CPW statement, however, said that the British Columbia wolves came from areas where there is no overlap between wolves and livestock. The announcement comes while CPW investigates claims of new wolf depredations in Jackson and Pitkin counties, including from a wolf or wolves from the British Columbia group. Featured Local Savings In Jackson County, the agency is looking into a claim that a wolf killed two dogs; in Pitkin County, in the Capitol Creek area near Aspen, another claim has surfaced of a wolf or wolves, likely from the British Columbia group, killed livestock over the weekend. As to the Capitol Creek incident, a CPW spokesman told Colorado Politics this week, Its important to emphasize that even as an investigation is underway, CPW has team members working with the producer impacted, as well as surrounding producers, to identify and deploy non-lethal wolf-livestock conflict minimization measures. Area staff also inform local producers on an ongoing basis when wolves are spending time in an area, even when no depredations are under investigation. Colorados controversial wolf reintroduction program brought 10 wolves from Oregon in December 2023. Some of the wolves came from packs with a history of killing livestock, despite a pledge in the state wolf plan that such animals would not be considered for relocation. Three months after the relocation, the wolves began killing livestock in Grand County, which has now led to compensation claims from two ranches of more than $581,000, well over the $350,000 available to cover those losses. The CPW Commission approved payouts of $340,000 earlier this month and is still considering another $120,000 in claims. Two Oregon wolves formed a mating pair with at least four pups, now known as the Copper Creek pack. The male of the pack died shortly after an operation to capture it due to complaints about livestock killings, particularly by the male. The other four, including the female of the mating pair, have since been re-released into Eagle and Pitkin counties. The male was believed to have died from a gunshot wound. Two other wolves from the Oregon group also have died; one from a fight with another animal, the other from a gunshot wound, according to state wildlife officials. In January, 15 wolves were brought to Colorado from British Columbia and relocated to Eagle and Pitkin counties. State wolf maps show that wolves have traveled far beyond where they were initially located, including into watersheds that cross the state line into Utah. The wolfs death in Wyoming is the first report of a Colorado wolf from the reintroduction program crossing into Wyoming. OXFORD, Miss. (WJTV) The University of Mississippi School of Law and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) have partnered to allow USM undergraduate students a way to earn a law degree in less time through the schools new Accelerated Law School Pathway. Officials signed and formalized the partnership agreement March 20 in Jackson following the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) board meeting. Three Mississippi high schools named Schools of Innovation for 2025-26 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This partnership exemplifies our commitment to making legal education more accessible and efficient for dedicated students, said Frederick G. Slabach, dean of the University of Mississippi School of Law. By streamlining the path to a law degree, we are not only reducing barriers but also empowering future attorneys to enter the profession sooner, ready to serve their communities, provide access to justice and contribute meaningfully to the legal field. According to officials, the Accelerated Law School Pathway provides a plan for undergraduate students in certain USM degree programs to trim a year off the time needed to earn both a bachelors degree and a law degree. This plan allows high-ability undergraduate students to earn both degrees in just six years rather than seven. The USM academic degree programs participating in the partnership include criminal justice, legal studies and political science. Officials said students may enroll beginning this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. RUTLAND, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) A new Ollies Bargain Outlet is coming to Vermont next week. This store will open next to Home Depot just off of U.S. Route 4, in the building that was once a Big Lots. On their website, store officials write that Youll save up to 70% off the fancy stores prices on brand-name food, housewares, flooring, books, clothing, bed & bath, toys and so much more! Ollies Bargain Outlet will celebrate the grand opening next Thursday, March 27 at 9 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. Former Vice President Kamala Harris loss in the presidential race has given rise, again, to whispered worries in the Democratic Party about female candidates and electability resurrecting a fraught conversation that bubbled for years after President Donald Trumps first victory over Hillary Clinton. The whisper campaign has started to some extent in New Jersey, where this years governors race will be one of Democrats first big electoral tests since Trump won his second term. In the Trump years, some Democratic voters and strategists have worried aloud about whether its safe to back female candidates if there are male voters who wouldnt support them in general elections. It was a theme for parts of the Democratic presidential primaries in 2020, when the party was choosing a candidate to take on Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as some are once again questioning women's electability, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the only woman in the crowded New Jersey Democratic primary for governor, has been racking up support in large part because her backers believe she is best positioned to win in November. But Sherrill did acknowledge that broader questions about womens ability to win persist. I hear that from insiders, Sherrill said in a recent interview. And its funny, thats always been kind of the case, she added, saying someone at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told her during her first run for the House in 2018 that people didnt think a woman could win in New Jersey. And I was like, What? Watch me, Sherrill said. She flipped the longtime Republican seat, winning it by 15 percentage points. Sherrill has touted her electoral wins, along with her background as a Navy helicopter pilot and a prosecutor, as she looks to succeed Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who cant run for re-election because of term limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Democrats in New Jersey are anxious about the race after the state shifted 10 points toward Trump in November, compared with 2020, and after Murphy won re-election four years ago by just 3 points. It has also been more than 60 years since the same party has won three consecutive terms for governor. Although Harris still carried New Jersey, her loss nationally has prompted some party officials and voters to raise questions about whether a woman can win this years governors race, according to four sources connected to New Jersey Democratic politics who described hearing those thoughts in conversations. (Several of Sherrills supporters said they havent heard those electability questions.) Honestly, I have heard: Ah, I dont know, maybe women arent electable. Maybe theres an issue here, said an official who was granted anonymity to discuss private conversations, noting that the questions began after November and have persisted in the primary for governor. Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky said, "Its part of the same chatter that has always kept women from ascending in the Democratic Party in New Jersey. Roginsky, who isnt involved in the governors race, said she has also heard party officials raise the electability questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not a particularly feminist Democratic Party in New Jersey, Roginsky added later. Making her case Sherrill faces five other major candidates in the Democratic primary: Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, former state Senate President Steve Sweeney and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, who leads the states teachers union. Sherrill has already racked up endorsements from party leaders, and she has won several county party conventions, earning the backing of the local parties rank-and-file members. (Fulop has declined to participate in conventions as he runs an anti-establishment campaign, while Gottheimer is skipping conventions where he believes the fix is in, according to the New Jersey Globe.) Several supporters of Sherrill, a veteran of battleground House campaigns, said they are backing her because they view her as the strongest general election candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electability was the most important factor for Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo Jr. I think she is our strongest candidate to win the primary and also the general, which Im very much concerned about, DiVincenzo said, noting that former state Assemblyman Jack Ciatarelli is running for governor again after having almost defeated Murphy in 2021. DiVincenzo and other Sherrill allies pointed to her win in the 11th District in northern New Jersey in 2018 as proof that she can win tough races. GOP Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a scion of a political family who chaired the powerful House Appropriations Committee, had represented the seat for more than two decades before Sherrill launched her campaign. Frelinghuysen announced his retirement several months later. Sherrill went on to defeat GOP Assemblyman Jay Weber, flipping a district Trump had narrowly won in 2016. Sherrill said that in that race and subsequent campaigns she has won over Republicans and independents and built broad coalitions of progressives, union members and disillusioned voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through building that huge coalition, I was able to win with the largest red-to-blue swing in the entire nation, she said. And I think that speaks to what Ive been able to do, who Ive been able to turn out, the coalitions Ive been building. I think that is something that people are taking into account as they think about this primary. Half this field has never even run against a real Republican challenger, Sherrill also said, appearing to refer to Fulops, Barakas and Spillers mayoral races. Sweeney defeated a Democrat-turned-Republican incumbent for the state Senate in 2001, but he lost re-election 20 years later to underfunded Republican truck driver Ed Durr, who is also running for governor this year. Gottheimer does have experience winning in Republican territory, having defeated GOP Rep. Scott Garrett in 2016 in his 5th District even as Trump narrowly carried the seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Sherrills allies believe her victories stand out. EMILYs List, which backs female candidates who support abortion rights and has endorsed Sherrill, detailed in a memo this month how Sherrill has earned more votes than her New Jersey Democratic colleagues and run ahead of candidates for higher office. In any crowded primary, its really important to show that strength, said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler, who said questions about electability typically come from pundits and the media. Sherrill believes her record in office will also win over primary voters, even as insiders question female candidates electability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I certainly think that insiders are always making these calculations, she said. But I think what people on the ground, what voters, care about is: Are you somebody that they trust? Are you somebody that can really deliver for them? Sherrill said before she referred to a designation she received from the Center for Effective Lawmaking. And after being named the most effective lawmaker in the New Jersey House delegation after only my second term in Congress, I think people see that I deliver. Still an all-boys club? Some New Jersey Democrats say the electability doubts following Harris loss underscore a broader challenge for female candidates in the state. Democrats have nominated a woman for governor only once, backing then-state Senate Sen. Barbara Buono to take on GOP Gov. Chris Christie in 2013. (New Jersey has had one female governor, Republican Christie Whitman, who served from 1994 to 2001.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We knew they werent going to let us into the all-boys club, so we just decided weve got to kick in the door, Buono said after her bruising loss to Christie. Leslie Huhn, a former Sussex County Democratic Committee chairwoman, said that there has been more support for women in the years since then but that theres still more work to be done in this area, no doubt about it. Huhn, who runs the grassroots group Door to Door Democracy, which is backing Sherrill, has also heard electability questions from party insiders, but not from the grassroots. But Huhn isnt concerned that the all-boys club will be an obstacle for Sherrill, saying plenty of men are also drawn to Sherrills military background. Theyre not worried that shes not tough, because they know shes tough. They know shes strong, said Huhn, who also said Sherrill has a unique ability to also be warm and relatable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherrill is ready for a fight. Working in the military or working in New Jersey politics, these are some intense people, and theyre not afraid to throw punches here, she said, later adding, The lessons you learn are just taking it on. Dont shrink from it; dont back away. If somebody wants to test you, meet the test and engage. But does Sherrill still see the state as the all-boys club that Buono described? Its changing. ... It is really rough and tumble. But I guess, Ive been through a POW training camp in the Navy. Im used to rough and tumble, she said. Im ready to go. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com President Donald Trump won a nonconsecutive second term promising to cut government waste to the bone. He formalized the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as a governmental organization in an executive order on his first day back in office. Since then, the department and its leader in all but name, Elon Musk, have persistently made news for big moves against federal spending. For one, Musk routinely claims his department has uncovered huge savings, only for subsequent reporting to find any actual savings were much more modest. But the government does seem to have canceled thousands of federal contracts on DOGE's recommendation, using a provision of federal law that gives the government the ability to cancel commitments largely at its pleasure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), most federal agency contracts must include a "termination for convenience" clause, which it defines as "the exercise of the Government's right to completely or partially terminate performance of work under a contract when it is in the Government's interest." A separate FAR provision directs agencies to include a clause by which they can "require the Contractor to stop all, or any part, of the work" in the contract for up to 90 days. Between January 20 and February 25, the government terminated 2,425 federal contracts for convenience and issued stop-work orders on 205 others, totaling nearly $150 million in de-obligated funds, according to data compiled by GovSpend. (It should be noted that, as the Associated Press reported at the time, from a selection of 2,300 federal contracts, "more than one-third of the contract cancellations, 794 in all, are expected to yield no savings.") In one example, the official DOGE account on X posted earlier this month that it had enacted "247 cancellations of wasteful contracts today," saving around $390 million, including a $3.5 million Department of Veterans Affairs contract for mail management services "which the agency determined could be handled internally." The post included a screenshot showing this particular contract had been "terminate[d] for convenience (complete or partial)." Termination for convenience is more complex than simply allowing the government free and unfettered power to walk away from its obligations, but it's still much broader than many in the private sector are likely to get. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Most peopleare used to contracting in the commercial space, in which both parties are basically on equal footing," says Jessica Tillipman, associate dean for Government Procurement Law Studies at George Washington University Law School. "But when the government contracts with a private party, it's effectively like one party is a superpower, and it has all of these types of authorities and powers that you wouldn't normally see in a commercial contracting relationship. And in this particular instance, one of those powers is the right to unilaterally cancel a contractif it's in the government's interest." It is that authority that DOGE has used to great effect in its first few weeks, canceling thousands of contracts seemingly on a whim. This authority is not absolute, but pretty close. The government cannot act in bad faith or abuse its discretion. But this is quite difficult to prove: "Government officials are presumed to act in good faith, and 'it requires "well-nigh irrefragable proof" to induce the court to abandon the presumption of good faith dealing,'" the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed in 1999's T.M. Distributors, Inc. v. United States. A termination for convenience can also be hard on a contractor. Unless they manage to prove the government acted in bad faith, contractors with canceled contracts are allowed to recoup costs for work performed, as well as profits on that work and any costs associated with winding down the contract, but they can't be compensated for lost profits as a result of the canceled contract. The process is lengthy: Law firms list the numerous steps on their websites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillipman says termination for convenience clauses serve a legitimate purpose, especially as governments' needs change: "If you're at war and you're buying tons of ammunition, and the war ends, you need to have that ability to stop those contracts, so you're not buying crazy amounts of excess ammunition." Besides, if a private corporation's needs change and its existing contracts are no longer necessary, only its shareholders' money is at stake: In the case of the federal government, it's the taxpayers' money on the line. In that sense, canceling a large number of federal contracts is certainly a positive step in the direction of fiscal rectitude. But the process of contractors seeking compensation for their terminated contracts could cause an administrative logjam. "There's so many happening at once right now, I can't even fathom what the [appeal boards] and the Court of Federal Claims are going to look like for the next [few] years," Tillipman tells Reason. "I think this is going to create a significant amount of work for federal agencies to handle all of the terminations, it's going to create a significant amount of work for the judicial and administrative bodies that hear these cases, and it's going to be challenging for companies that are going to have to wait longer than usual to obtain payment that they're owed for many of these contracts." The post One Federal Clause Allows DOGE To Cancel Contracts at Will appeared first on Reason.com. Mar. 20SANTA FE Some New Mexico lobbyists say a bill headed to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk is a targeted, logistical nightmare, but backers say more transparency from individuals who work to influence legislators is long overdue. Sitting on the governor's desk is legislation that would require lobbyists, or their employers, to file "lobbyist activity reports" disclosing stances on bills they're influencing, and, if positions change, to update their stances within 48 hours. The legislation, which has failed repeatedly to pass the Legislature in the past, surprised even the bill's sponsors in its passage of both chambers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, lobbyists only need to publicly report who's employing them and money spent to benefit legislators for lobbying purposes. Bill sponsor Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, described that as negligible, "next to nothing." So he's been working for years to pass additional reporting legislation, only to have it fail time and time again. He said transparency changes are some of the most difficult measures to pass in the Roundhouse, and this year's passage of House Bill 143 shows the uphill battle is worth it. "It's given me a hope that we can continue to fight for big things and fight for transparency and good government," Steinborn said. Who's at the table Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee passed the bill over the weekend. Charlie Marquez, a contract lobbyist who doesn't support the legislation, said leadership initially said it would be rolled at which point he left the committee but ultimately heard it. That was the last chance for public comment, as the bill went to the full Senate after that and then the full House again. "Lobbyists have a lot to bring to the table, and I think they should be at the table helping craft legislation like this," said J.D. Bullington, a big-name lobbyist of 28 years representing more than 20 clients this year. Both he and Marquez said nobody asked them for input on the bill. Steinborn said he didn't really confer with lobbyists when crafting the legislation, which he described as straightforward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They never liked it, and they never wanted it," he said. Co-sponsor Rep. Sarah Silva, D-Las Cruces, said the lobbyists she reached out to either would only support the measure off the record or didn't respond. Silva also expected more of a fight getting it through the House floor again for concurrence, a process of agreement when the other chamber makes changes to a bill. But in about a minute on Wednesday evening, the House floor agreed to send the bill to the governor. It was different from the version the House sent over to the Senate, which Republicans amended to include restrictions on spending money on meals and beverages for legislators. The Senate stripped that out. Republicans voted against the bill in the House as well as the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silva said the last time the Legislature passed a major transparency bill updating the Lobbyist Regulation Act was six years ago. Lujan Grisham signed that measure, which gives her hope now. "I am just really excited that folks that can't make it to the Roundhouse (could) now have a better, more true picture of what happens here," she said, "because these are their bills, this is their Roundhouse, and they can't be here full time." While the bill sponsors said they haven't heard anything from the Governor's Office, they're relieved it's at least through the Legislature. Lujan Grisham has until April 11 to sign or veto the legislation. Red flags Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill has raised red flags for some lobbyists, who are concerned HB143 would worsen existing logistical issues and be overly burdensome. The lobbying activity for specific bills would be linked on the Legislature's website alongside the bills. Bullington said this has the potential to create a "logistical nightmare" for the Secretary of State's Office, where reports are filed, and the Legislative Council Service, which would have to update the Legislature website to post the filings alongside bills. The secretary of state's filing system is also incredibly difficult to navigate, according to Marquez, who said it took two months for him to get through the registration process this year because of a glitch in the system. Both lobbyists said they might support less burdensome filing requirements. Marquez said reporting should only be required once every 30 days in a session, and Bullington suggested filing one report at the end of the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steinborn said the filing will become second nature, and the bill doesn't go into effect, if signed, until 2027 so the Secretary of State's Office can work out all the technical kinks. "So no, it's not overly burdensome, or maybe even burdensome," he said. A legislative analysis of the bill describes it as a modernization effort that follows nationwide trends. Dick Mason, an unpaid lobbyist for the League of Women Voters, echoed the sentiment and said even still, many other states will have better transparency measures than New Mexico. "It's not a question of trust (for lobbyists). It's a question of putting the information out there," Mason said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the measure could act as an impetus for now-disconcerted contracted lobbyists to form an organization of their own to lobby on their positions. "I think there's going to be more conversations about the professional lobbyists organizing a little more formally to better represent our profession," Bullington said. Mar. 20According to an Odessa Police Department news release, an unknown male used a stolen credit card to purchase hundreds of dollars-worth of merchandise from several businesses throughout Odessa. Anyone who recognizes the suspect shown in the surveillance footage is encouraged to contact Detective Y. Rincon at 432-335-4937 or Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS and reference Case #25-0000988. Warships, fighter jets, missile systems none of them move without critical minerals. But thanks to Washingtons glacial bureaucracy, it takes an average of 29 years to open a new critical mineral mine in America. Thats not a typo. If we had todays permitting process during World War I, the minerals needed for the war effort wouldnt begin production until after World War II. Meanwhile, China is mining, refining and stockpiling at breakneck speed. Were falling behind, and were surrendering before the fight even starts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, a majority of the worlds mineral extraction and refinement are controlled by adversarial countries. Weve seen what happens when we rely on these nations for essential resources: supply chain disruptions, economic vulnerabilities and national security risks. Its time to fix that. The resources are here we just need the right policies to unleash them. Utah has 40 of the 50 minerals deemed essential by the U.S. Geological Survey. Yet, bureaucratic delays, weaponized litigation and inconsistent regulations often create insurmountable barriers to domestic production. Of the 10 minerals or mineral groups currently subject to Chinese export bans or restrictions, Utah can produce nine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt a partisan issue. Members from across the aisle all recognize that mineral security is national security. Recently, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. Right now, the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior have separate, inconsistent lists of what counts as critical. That doesnt make sense. In 2023, the Energy Department added copper to its list of 18 critical materials, recognizing the metal as integral in energy technologies and at risk for supply disruptions by 2035. But the U.S. Geological Survey left copper off its own list even though its vital for power grids, wind turbines and EVs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Critical Minerals Consistency Act would require these lists to match. These designations send a powerful message to investors: the U.S. government is backing these supply chains on national security grounds. We need clarity and consistency if we want private investment in domestic production. If we want to strengthen our supply chains, we must reject policies that create additional burdens on domestic production. Imposing additional federal royalties and regulatory requirements would only add cost and uncertainty, driving investment overseas to nations with far worse environmental and humanitarian standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would create redundant fees, as domestic mining projects are already subject to state and local royalties and taxes. Why would we choose to levy additional cost burdens on an industry that is already struggling to compete with countries like China and Russia to supply Americans with the products most essential to our economic and national security? Simply put, these proposals would make our mineral supply chains less competitive and more vulnerable. With all the geopolitical instability around the world, we cannot afford to drag our feet any longer. China is racing ahead in mineral processing and refining. We need to move faster, smarter and more strategically. The United States has the resources and the talent. We just need the right policies to lead this charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We wouldnt wait 29 years to build a warship. We wouldnt wait 29 years to deploy a fighter jet. So why are we waiting decades to secure the minerals needed to construct them? If we dont mine it, we dont make it. And if we dont make it, we dont lead. The time for half-measures is over. China is playing the long game, and theyre playing to win. If we dont fix our supply chains now, well be playing catch-up for generations. The question isnt whether America has the minerals. Its whether Washington will let us mine them before its too late. Mike Lee is Utahs senior U.S. senator. Brian Somers is the president of the Utah Mining Association. Jonathan Freedman is the president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah. Aaron Starks is the president and CEO of 47G Utah Aerospace & Defense. Today, in communities across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are grabbing people, regardless of immigration status. People are afraid to go to work, and to send their children to school. A new and disturbing level of terror is growing around us. And thats exactly what the Trump administration wants to foster and help flourish the fear that has kept us increasingly divided. While they tell Americans that they are going after all of the bad and scary immigrants that have held the country hostage, to the shock of none, many of those targeted by ICE in just the first two weeks of February had no criminal convictions or pending charges. Simultaneously, President Trump is selling the idea of a gold card visa to wealthy would-be immigrants, while those who have been building and contributing to this country for years are cornered and caged for the crime of being poor and working-class people of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I grew up undocumented and living in fear. My family and I walked on eggshells, constantly afraid that making the slightest slipup could lead to racial profiling, deportation and our family being broken apart. We did everything we could to show this country we were good immigrants. We worked hard, and kept our heads down. We didnt complain when we were exploited and abused in the workplace. We stayed out of trouble, and paid our taxes. I learned English, became an honors student, and went above and beyond in my volunteer work and community service. That didnt stop my dad from being constantly racially profiled by the police and my then 12-year-old younger brother from being assaulted by the NYPD on his way home from school for being a young Latino man and, therefore, suspicious. Amazing, kind and beautiful friends have been shackled, detained and deported. In spite of doing everything right and making sacrifices for our families and our communities, immigrants have, over and over again, become the punching bags of politicians who have nothing else to offer the American people. Growing up, I felt proud about my parents sacrifices and their courage to leave everything behind and seek a better life in the U.S. But over time, I started to feel ashamed of being a poor undocumented immigrant of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a young immigrant living in a post-9/11 America, I experienced firsthand being labeled a threat and a suspect in the place I call home. Everything around me what I watched on TV and the stories of immigrants I read about told me my parents and I were bad for fleeing poverty and being in this country seeking refuge and a better life. Sadly, my young mind internalized the lie and felt the urgency to show this country that I was worthy of being here. Many immigrants believe this too, and consequently think that nothing could possibly happen to them or their families because they are good immigrants. Yet today, were seeing a constant flood of stories of so-called good immigrants and their families being torn apart by deportation efforts from model students with green cards whose only crime was using their voice to Trump-supporting Latino voters who genuinely believed in his promises to fight for them. Some on the left have piled onto their pain with vindicated glee, but while Im frustrated with those who thought that a red hat and hate would give them the extra patriot points, I do understand them. Immigrants are made to believe in personal responsibility a trap from which there is no way out. Were pushed to buy into the idea that somehow, while our president can pardon his family, friends and cronies without reserve, people like us, who have to flee our homes and come to this country in search of safety and security, must be continuously punished for the crime of wanting a better life for our families. This is exactly what the president and his administration are doing. They are blaming immigrants for the costs of eggs, housing, a failing healthcare system and an economy that benefits only the rich. They are scapegoating immigrants to distract us from this administrations cruelty and fealty to rich men like Elon Musk, who are stealing our resources, our data and our money while the majority of Americans are struggling to make ends meet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bad immigrants being the nations scapegoat is not new, but the faces and cultures of who we define as such have. In the 1920s, during the Prohibition Era, German, Italian and Irish immigrants were also labeled as immoral, un-American drunks and blamed for threatening public welfare and deteriorating American values. Ironically, many of those same immigrants have now become white in Americas story, and some of their descendants are now saying the same things about people like me, and calling for the mass deportation of immigrants. As we always have, immigrants power key sectors in our economy, from the agricultural to the construction sectors. In 2022, undocumented workers paid an estimated $96.7 billion in taxes. But beyond their economic contributions, immigrants make us better because many of us, documented and undocumented, believe in the aspirational values of this country, and are doing the work to achieve the promise of a nation where true democracy, equality, freedom and justice prevail. Although history sometimes repeats itself, we have the ability to make different choices this time around. Regardless of what this administration has to say, immigrants are not to blame for everything that ails this country. Quite the contrary we are just as much a part of American communities as anyone else who just wants to do right by their families. But its not just American citizens who support Trump who need to hear that. My fellow immigrants need to hear it, too. Cristina Jimenez is a MacArthur Genius, co-founder of United We Dream, the nations largest immigrant youth network, and author of Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear into Pride, Power, and Real Change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. No one expects to be the victim of an obscene deepfake image. But as artificial intelligence gains capability and prominence, the odds of this happening only increase. Today, an alarming 98 percent of deepfake videos are pornographic. And few of these videos remain private. Rather, the vast majority are plastered all over the internet. In some cases, theyre even used to extort teenagers sometimes with the effect of pushing those teens to commit suicide. This cannot be allowed to continue. Thats why the Senate recently passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bill that would criminalize sharing, hosting or threatening to publicize non-consensual intimate images. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his joint address to Congress, President Trump recognized that anyone, including himself, could fall victim. Im going to use this bill for myself, referring to TAKE IT DOWNs enforcement mechanisms. It would criminalize the publishing of real or deepfake intimate images without the image bearers consent and require online platforms to take down the content within 48 hours of request. Trumps endorsement followed the first ladys public speaking debut this presidential term, where she advocated for victims, children, individual privacy and the bills passage in the House. Melania Trump headlined a roundtable discussion of the TAKE IT DOWN Act on Capitol Hill the day before her husbands joint address. Her presence gave national attention to the problems the bill addresses and the solutions it provides. Her influence may be what compels House leadership to shepherd the bill through committee and hold a vote on the House floor. The bill passed the Senate for the second time in February by unanimous consent, giving the House a second chance after they refrained from voting on it during the previous session. Melania may be the missing piece of the puzzle, as, during the roundtable, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) committed to holding a hearing, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) echoed their support to pass the bill and send it to the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first ladys support of the TAKE IT DOWN Act could be the first legislative victory in an illustrious legacy to protect children from harm online. Another recent bill in this category is the Kids Online Safety Act, which has yet to be introduced this Congress. KOSA similarly holds online platforms accountable by placing guardrails on platforms design features for teen accounts. It also requires the platforms to provide parents with controls and oversight of their teens social media accounts. If the first lady extended her support, she would not be alone in the presidents camp. At the end of last year, Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk announced their support for KOSA. Another child safety policy with momentum is online age verification. Nineteen states have passed legislation requiring pornography websites to verify that their users are 18 or older, and Congress has introduced a federal version known as the SCREEN Act, led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, several states are considering legislation to require app stores to verify the age of teen users and require parental consent for app downloads. This month, Utah became the first state to pass this measure known as the App Store Accountability Act. Congress may not be too far behind, as Lee and Rep. John James (R-Mich.) are expected to reintroduce their own versions of this bill. Each of these policy proposals include requirements related to data privacy and security. In her remarks, Melania Trump articulated the importance of upholding robust security measures and strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy. These are a few, but substantial, measures that the first lady could take up to radically improve the online experience for children through her Be Best initiative that focuses on youth well-being. Its become clear that heavy smart phone and social media use and exposure to pornography is detrimental to the well-being of kids. We need to make kids healthy again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first lady recently championed the message that we need to foster a safe and supportive environment for young people. The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a strong start. With her support, Congress may pass this law and send even more measures that help Americas children be best to the presidents desk. Annie Chestnut Tutor is a policy analyst in the Heritage Foundations Tech Policy 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 The Hill. The Departments of the Interior and Housing and Urban Development are exploring making some federal land available for homebuilding to alleviate a stubborn housing shortage estimated at over 20 million homes. Their success will depend not only on how quickly and broadly the plan is implemented, but on making sure any newly opened land is not bogged down by the local land use regulations that make housing so scarce and expensive in the first place. The current home shortage is primarily due to excessively restrictive local land-use rules that favor relatively expensive homes on large lots. But particularly in western states, land for homebuilding is limited by federal holdings near fast-growing metropolitan areas like Las Vegas, Phoenix and many others. Western land was opened to large-scale settlement through 1862s Homestead Act, which resulted in the sale of more than 420,000 square miles around 11 percent of the country in blocks of up to 160 acres, typically to small farmers. As quality agricultural land grew scarce, claims plummeted and nearly dried up by the 1930s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1946, the Bureau of Land Management was formed, reflecting a shift from sales toward maintaining land that had not attracted buyers. In 1976, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act repealed the Homestead Act, signaling an embrace of federal ownership and management, growing environmental concern and other changing currents in public opinion. But in the following years, something else changed: The rapid growth of sunbelt cities made valuable land once thought worthless. But selling federal land had become complex and politically fraught under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and western cities began to chafe against confinement. By the 1990s, the situation had become too pressing to ignore. The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act authorized the Bureau of Land Management to transfer certain land to address a housing shortage in Las Vegas. Its success has been mixed, with around 40 percent of the designated land still unsold. Land that has been sold has been subject to municipal zoning, which typically imposes restrictions such as minimum lot sizes, frontage requirements, setbacks and other mandates that hinder builders from constructing low-cost houses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, western states such as Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, California and Oregon have some of the highest home price-to-income ratios in the nation. Hemmed in by federal land and burdened by their own expensive regulations, cities that should be centers of opportunity for a new generation are instead starter-home deserts. New houses are prohibitively expensive for too many buyers. The new initiative promises to revisit the Federal Land Policy and Management Acts assumptions in a comprehensive way that encompasses all affected municipalities. Done right, it could cut through burdensome procedural barriers to selling federal land, relieve cost pressures on western urban markets, allow new cities to grow in appropriate locations and remain attentive to environmental and conservation concerns. But the number of resulting homes that most Americans can comfortably afford will be closely tied to local land use regulations. In Reno, Nevada, I found that new homes on lots smaller than 5,000 square feet appraised at an average of $343,000, while those on 5,000-to-7,000-foot lots were appraised at $461,000. Yet less than 10 percent of the single-family lots in Reno and zero percent of the area of one major development district allows homes on less than 5,000 square feet of land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frontage requirements also played a role in Reno. Each additional 10 mandated feet corresponded with an extra $60,000 in home costs. So, unless the Bureau of Land Management and HUD push back against local policies like these by attaching robust, enforceable conditions to transfers or negotiating ironclad development standards that ensure that starter homes are legal to build, expect to see some nice, spacious and expensive homes built. Local politics almost inevitably lead to zoning that would blunt the affordability impact of land sales. Beyond cost, there are environmental benefits to allowing smaller homes, including both single-family homes on small lots and multifamily housing. Higher-density housing makes more efficient use of urban land, reducing the rate of outward sprawl. Small lots in arid western climates also mean fewer large, irrigated yards sapping water supplies. And while the benefits for American families could be immense, the amount of land required relative to total federal acreage is modest. The homesteading farmer sought 160 acres or more, but todays starter homes can sit on one-tenth of an acre or less. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mountains of evidence show the exclusionary, cost-raising effect of overzealous local zoning. Federal authorities have an opportunity to do more than open land to Americans seeking a home to call their own. They can show our cities and counties what happens when inclusive policies allow for starter homes in addition to houses only the wealthy can afford. Charles Gardner is a research fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In early 2017, less than two months into Donald Trumps first term as president, I published a piece of speculative fiction. Set during a then-imaginary second Trump term, it depicts a nightmare scenario in which American troops abandon Europe, the pro-Russia Alternative for Germany wins 20 percent of the vote in a federal election, and Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. My purpose in writing the story was to stir readers on both sides of the Atlantic out of their complacency regarding the parlous state of what used to be called the Free World. But it still didnt prepare me for the series of events that began with Vice President JD Vances speech at the Munich Security Conference and ended with the humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Trump and Vance before TV cameras in the Oval Office. While many may view that two-week period as indistinguishable from the rest of the Trump era, future historians wont: Theyll record it as marking an epochal shift in global politics potentially even more significant than the collapse of the Berlin Wall or the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It marked the end of an era the era of the American-led liberal international order. That era began after the Second World War when an isolationist country reluctantly assumed the mantle of world leadership, an enormous, multifarious endeavor resulting in historically unprecedented economic growth, scientific discovery, human flourishing and peace. Americas material resources were essential to this decadeslong, globe-spanning effort, but more important was the conviction, shared not only by hundreds of millions of Americans but countless people around the world, underlying it: that the United States was an exceptional nation uniquely positioned to be a force for good in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across those eight decades, an ethic of idealism undergirded American foreign policy, one traceable to the countrys founding. Whether Republican or Democrat, American presidents regularly invoked the providential role that the United States, as the worlds oldest democracy, was destined to play on the global stage. President Thomas Jefferson referred to the young nation he helped found as the worlds best hope while his archrival John Adams sent arms to the leaders of a slave rebellion that liberated Haiti. Over 150 years later, Dwight Eisenhower declared that We could be the wealthiest and the most mighty nation and still lose the battle of the world if we do not help our world neighbors protect their freedom and advance their social and economic progress. His successor John F. Kennedy famously declared that America would pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty. And in his farewell address Ronald Reagan spoke of America as a shining city upon a hill, a phrase that his ideological polar opposite Barack Obama invoked during the 2016 election. Fulfillment of these lofty ambitions obliged America to support democracies and oppose dictatorships. As a global superpower with responsibilities no other nation was either able or willing to undertake, it could not afford to have the impeccably moral foreign policy of Sweden. Idealism inevitably clashed with realism, with the latter often triumphing over the former. This was especially true during the Cold War, when Washington helped engineer the overthrow of democratically elected leaders and supported authoritarian regimes. And it continues today with American backing of repressive governments in the Middle East. But even while employing immoral means, American leaders did so in the pursuit of what they considered moral ends, whether fighting communism, halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction, or resisting radical Islam. Opponents of the American-led liberal international order harp endlessly upon its faults while taking its virtues free and open sea lanes, the spread of liberal democracy, values-based alliances, the protection of human rights for granted. Eager to lambaste the order for its many faults, they prefer not to grapple with the international system rapidly taking its place, a dog-eats-dog world where America has abdicated its role as global policeman and authoritarian states gain spheres of influence in which less powerful countries must bend to their will. Even the most vociferous critics of American global power may come to miss it once Russia, China and Iran gain dominance over Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The centurieslong record of at least rhetorical support for right over wrong is what made last months Oval Office meeting so unsettling. In a display that ought to shame every American, the countrys top two constitutional officers acted like a king and his regent, demanding obeisance from a feudal supplicant. Within days, Trump suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and while both were later restored, the message he sent was unmistakable: Not even an ally under military attack can depend upon Washington for support. Having abandoned Ukraine out of personal pique, Trump then returned to taking on the worlds other villains: Canada, Denmark and Panama. In addition to abandoning our democratic allies abroad, Trump is gutting Americas democracy-promotion apparatus at home. During the Cold War, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (the latter my former employer) broadcasted news and information beyond the Iron Curtain and continue this mission in regions of the world that remain unfree. (Many nations once subject to Soviet domination including Poland, Czechia and the Baltic states can credit VOA and RFE/RL, at least in part, for their freedom). The United States Agency for International Development was founded during the administration of Kennedy to alleviate the social and economic conditions in which authoritarianism and terrorism thrive. And the National Endowment for Democracy, created under Reagan, provides grants to democratic activists around the globe. Trump has halted funding for all of these organizations, which represent the best of American values, to cheers from Moscow, Beijing and Tehran. In place of the idealism that animated American leadership of the Free World, Trump has unleashed the atavistic cynicism of the Old World. In this new dispensation where might makes right, any appeal to moral considerations in the practice of American foreign policy is ridiculed as a deficiency of the weak while the amoral exercise of power is venerated as a virtue of the strong. Instinctive American sympathy for the underdog is supplanted by admiration for the strongman. An embattled democracy is accused of provoking the invasion of its own territory the geopolitical equivalent of blaming a rape victim for her own assault and for the first time in history America votes with the worlds rogues against its traditional democratic allies at the United Nations. The occupant of the office once synonymous with leader of the Free World slanders the president of a country fighting for its very existence as a dictator while lauding a despotic war criminal as a great guy and a terrific person. At least when Franklin Roosevelt (allegedly) said that Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but hes our son of a bitch, he had the moral clarity to identify the caudillo for what he was, and the tact to do so behind closed doors. While Trump borrows from the Andrew Jackson school of American foreign policy, notable for its strident nationalism and distrust of international institutions, the historical figure whose ideas (and slogans) he leans most heavily on is Pat Buchanan. Once a marginal figure on the American right, the former Nixon speechwriter and Republican presidential candidate stood for the same America First trifecta anti-immigration, anti-intervention and protectionism as Trump does today. In the brave new world of America First, no longer does America stand for the belief that democracies make better allies than dictatorships, that territorial aggression should be punished rather than rewarded, and that alliances are an asset, not a burden. In his Munich speech, Vance endorsed the inclusion of far-right parties in European governments, which he accused of posing a greater threat to their own people than either Russia or China. All of this is the result of a foreign policy utterly lacking in moral scruples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The abandonment of morality as a factor in foreign affairs also marks a turning point for the Republican Party. Next month marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. American conservatives once pointed to that event the chaotic scenes of desperate Vietnamese fleeing the approaching communist onslaught, the 2 million boat people who managed to escape, the horrific repression that followed for those who did not as a shameful example of what happens when the U.S. abandons an ally. Whatever the merits of American involvement in that conflict, the dire consequences of the American withdrawal reverberated across the region. Within months, Laos and Cambodia fell to communist insurgencies, vindicating the much derided domino theory. Trumps abandonment of Ukraine has the potential to dwarf these events in geopolitical magnitude and human suffering. If Ukraine is made to sign a peace deal that doesnt provide clear-cut security guarantees it will only be a matter of time before Russian President Vladimir Putin attempts another Anschluss. Absent American leadership of the Free World, such an incursion could succeed in toppling the Kyiv government, leading to tens of millions of refugees and a massive Russian military presence on the border of several NATO member states. With the alliances guarantee of collective security in tatters thanks to Trumps extortionist threats not to uphold it, NATO the most successful military alliance in history will for all intents and purposes be dead, opening the door for further Russian predation in Europe and elsewhere. Looking for silver linings, some nostalgic for the recently departed era of American global leadership cling to the hope that everything will return to normal once a Democrat or traditional Republican moves into the Oval Office. While the fight over the future of conservative foreign policy is ongoing, there is no turning back. No longer confident of their place under the American security umbrella, alarmed allies like Poland and South Korea are exploring the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons. The once-ridiculed French idea of strategic autonomy a pole of European military power independent of the United States is now the top agenda item across the continent. The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance composed of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand may shrink to Four Eyes due to the unreliability of its most powerful member. What transpired during the last two weeks of February cannot be undone in the minds of Americas allies or its adversaries. And in a world where every man is for himself, whats the difference between the two? The story I wrote eight years ago ends on Victory Day with Putin proudly reviewing a massive military parade in Red Square. While Trump has denied that he will join the festivities this year, if he can force a deal on Ukraine, he may not be able to resist the temptation to exult in his undeserved role as global peacemaker. Standing alongside Putin in Moscow, tacitly conferring American recognition upon the first armed annexation of territory on the European continent since World War II, such a scene would mark the dawn of a new era, one in which it is increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. American universities are at a crossroads. A generation ago, Americas institutions of higher learning drove technological revolutions that created our modern world. They split atoms, developed miracle drugs, invented computers and mapped the human genome. While innovations still come out of universities, especially in medicine, they now generate far more headlines for issues surrounding ideological conformity than progress on how they are addressing societys greatest challenges. Consider a scene from a different era: On a spring evening in 1969, a small team of researchers huddled in the basement of the University of Utahs Merrill Engineering Building. The room hummed with the sound of a refrigerator-sized computer as they waited for a message from nearly 700 miles away. They were about to become the fourth connection on ARPANET and join UCLA, Stanford and UC Santa Barbara in laying the technical foundation even the birthplace of the internet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unmarked by ceremony or controversy, that moment helped launch the digital age. And in the following two decades, that same engineering department became the launchpad for other technological innovators, including Pixar, Silicon Graphics and Adobe founders. Fast forward to the present. Too often, all society sees or hears about is the gulf between what Americans are experiencing and what their universities are teaching and researching. The striking difference between the bold approach of the past and the inward focus of the present reveals a deep disconnect among many higher-education leaders regarding the true purpose, or soul, of their institutions. There are exceptions to this, and were proud to say that scholars in Utah demonstrate a willingness to partner with fantastic business, scientific and technological innovators. The great American research university wasnt designed to be a venue for ideological battles or a safe space for avoiding difficult ideas. It was funded and built to prevent and solve problems to combine teaching, research and practical innovation in service of human advancement. How can American universities reclaim their innovative spirit? We can recapture the significance of our mission by first developing meaningful partnerships with private companies. Practical problem solving is never beneath the scholarship of talented researchers. The professors who built the internet or pioneered computer graphics didnt see industry collaboration as a distraction they saw it as fulfilling their mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, while researchers might study cutting-edge technologies, their innovations are often stifled by regulations and policy not suited for todays rapidly changing technology landscape. The result is a growing gap between technological possibility and regulatory reality. As the leaders, respectively, of Utahs leading university and a national technology-focused advocacy group, were joining forces to meet the moment. Were announcing a new partnership that will connect professors with federal and state regulatory experts to identify policy barriers and tailor innovations to get to the market. Well also advocate for policy changes that enable greater technological progress based on university-caliber research. Finally, well connect private companies with a leading research university to find and scale promising opportunities. We will focus on artificial intelligence, energy, health care, transportation, advanced manufacturing and other areas where regulatory bottlenecks often stifle progress. This isnt just another academic center or policy institute. Its an attempt to recover something essential that has been muted: that universities exist to prevent and solve problems. Were reimagining everything from how research is conducted to how students prepare for a rapidly evolving future. The stakes could not be higher. Higher educations drift from real-world problem solving threatens to accelerate American technological stagnation. Through our new partnership, were choosing the path of progress. Shortly after America had achieved its independence from Great Britain, the new nation confronted a threat from the Ottoman provinces of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. Beginning in 1784, raiders from these statelets along the Barbary coast, known as the Barbary Pirates, would attack American merchant shipping, capturing sailors for whom they initially extorted ransom and subsequently protection money in the form of tribute from the U.S. For 15 years, American merchant ships were victims of unceasing harassment. American attempts to negotiate a ransom arrangement that would put an end to what was effectively state-sponsored terrorism met with no success. As a result, in 1801, President Thomas Jefferson, elected the previous year, determined to no longer coddle the Barbary rulers. Backed by manpower and materiel from the Kingdom of Naples, America went to war against the Barbary states. By 1805, a series of American naval victories culminated in the Battle of Derna fought by a combined force of newly commissioned American ships, marines and foreign mercenaries and led to a peace treaty with the ruler of Tripoli. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Algiers, on the other hand, continued to harass American shipping until the U.S. went to war against that Barbary state and defeated its forces in 1815. Nevertheless, although the Dey (ruler) of Algiers signed a peace treaty with Washington, he soon renounced it. Algerian pirates continued to attack American and European shipping until a joint Anglo-Dutch force bombarded Algiers in 1816. Once again, the Dey signed a treaty with the U.S. one he did not renounce. His capitulation finally brought an end to the conflict. Two centuries after the Barbary Wars, America is once again fighting a war overseas to protect its shipping, as well as that of its allies and friends. The Houthis are todays Barbary Pirates. The Houthis only differ from their predecessors in that they have not yet attempted to seize American captives for ransom. Their attacks have forced the vast majority of shipping that normally transits the Red Sea instead to sail around Africa, lengthening shipping timetables and increasing costs. The Biden administrations halting and intermittent efforts to attack Houthi targets proved to be no more successful than the various American attempts to negotiate a ransom arrangement with the Barbary states. Moreover, just as the pirates were essentially an extension of their North African rulers, so too are the Houthis deeply beholden to Iran for training and materiel support. Yet in contrast to Jeffersons determination not only to defend shipping against the pirates but to attack their sponsors, Washington until this week avoided even threatening Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis had halted their attacks on naval forces and commercial shipping in the Red Sea while the Israeli-Hamas truce held. But the Yemeni group resumed its attacks once Israel again launched air strikes on Gaza. The American response has been swift and wide-ranging. On March 15, American carrier-based aircraft struck more than 30 targets that, according to the Pentagon, included terrorist training sites weapons manufacturing capabilities and weapons storage facilities [and] a number of command and control centers, including a terrorist compound where several senior Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle experts were located. The following day, a second series of strikes hit headquarters locations, more weapons storage facilities and Houthi detection capabilities that targeted shipping. Moreover, U.S. Central Command made it clear that these attacks would be intense and continuous rather than intermittent. Finally, President Trump explicitly identified Iran as a potential American target should Tehran continue to support the Houthis. He stated that Iran would suffer the consequences if Houthi attacks continued and, in his inimitable style, emphasized that America will hold you fully accountable and we wont be nice about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis have asserted that they will not be cowed by the U.S. strikes and will continue to attack Red Sea shipping. And Tehran has rejected Trumps threats. It seems likely that American maritime forces will have to maintain the tempo of their attacks for quite some time if the Houthis are to show any signs of backing down. It should be noted that Saudi and Emirati efforts to help defeat the Houthis lasted seven years and ultimately did not succeed. Hopefully, the American operation will not last that long or, for that matter, as long as it took the Jefferson and Madison administrations to defeat the Barbary Pirates. At some point, however, Trump may find that just as his predecessors were only able to defeat the pirates when they finally chose to attack their state sponsors, he too will only be able to defeat the Houthis if he goes beyond merely threatening the state that has long supported them. Dov S. Zakheim is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and vice chairman of the board for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the Department of Defense from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy undersecretary of Defense from 1985 to 1987. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonights 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here. Rent-a-womb: Our correspondent Brian Entin goes undercover to expose birth tourism 2.0. In the 2000s, everybody talked about pregnant Chinese women coming to America on tourist visas to give birth and thus have a child with American citizenship. Now, Chinese families are renting a womb to have American women give birth to American kids, then go back to China with their new child. ITS WILD: Entin joins us tonight with his exclusive reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Axing the Department of Education: Only Congress can eliminate the Department of Education, so President Trumps executive order to dismantle the department from earlier today wont do much. Be fair: Trump did promise that all the programs Democrats warned would be cut such as Pell Grants and programs for assisting kids with special needs will remain fully funded. Therefore, Democrats should stop whining, and Republicans should stop celebrating. More importantly: Its unclear how the executive order will actually help Americas dismal education system. The United States is ranked fifth in the world for the highest cost spent per student but ranks 31st in the world for education performance. For context: South Korea spends practically the same amount per student but has the best educational system in the world. Too bad Trump cant eliminate teachers unions! U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on sanctuary cities policies at the U.S. Capitol on March 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) America is Angry Conventional wisdom says that Democrats must moderate to win conventional wisdom is usually wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America is angry Thats why they elected President Trump, goes the line yes, thats the truth. But other parts of America are angry at Donald Trump despite Trumps claims of a landslide, we are still pretty evenly split as a nation. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke at a town hall in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and it was quite the performance. The gleefulness at Teslas stock price declining was pathetic, but for our purposes today, thats beside the point we covered it yesterday. We told you earlier this week that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces a Democratic firing squad for doing whats best for the country. He kept the government open rather than fighting Trump. Now, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is likely to primary Schumer in the New York Senate race. History tells us whoever can harness the real anger in America wins. There is a lot of populist anger on the Left right now that the traditional Democratic Party did not understand this past election. There was a lot of populist anger on the Right that the traditional Republican Party didnt understand in 2008. Look back: John McCains campaign in 2008 and Kamala Harris 2024 campaign had a lot in common: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were both bad candidates with a boring message they ran on saying, Im not the other guy. But it was their turn. McCain had Sarah Palin as his pick for vice president Harris had Tim Walz. Both Palin and Walz are fundamentally unserious people who tapped an emotion in their party. Thought bubble: The candidates home states of Alaska and Minnesota must be part of this maybe the dark and cold winters make people angry. Republicans formed the Tea Party because they were angry remember the 2010 march on Washington? Tens of thousands of conservatives came to the National Mall for the Restoring Honor rally to hear speeches by Sarah Palin and broadcaster Glenn Beck. But Republicans didnt listen to this base they nominated Mitt Romney, Mr. Moderate Republican. DISASTER! The Republican autopsy after Romneys 2012 loss said the party must become more moderate with: A path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Compassionate conservatism. Jeb Bush was their answer, with the logo JEB! NOPE: Trump came along. He said to build a wall to keep the rapists and murderers out. Trump won. Lesson for Democrats: Dont moderate channel the anger. Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett, Sen. Bernie Sanders plus Gov. Tim Walz are onto something they are capturing an anger. They havent figured it out yet none of them are the Trump of the party, to use our analogy but they are onto something just like the Tea Party was onto something in 2010. AOC and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are on a Fighting Oligarchy tour, where they are hosting town halls in Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. Pro tip: America isnt mad at the oligarchy they are mad at the establishment those are different things. Finding a bully: Gal Beckerman is out with a must-read piece in The Atlantic, Searching for the Democratic Bully. Finding someone to out-Trump Trump might look like an expedient solution to an immediate problem. But it also means fighting a war that the Democrats have already lost, Berckerman writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America is angry: This isnt about finding a bully Democrats need to find someone to fight to fix things Americans are angry about rather than against Trump. Tune into On Balance with Leland Vittert weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In March 2020, as America shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed a law suspending federal student loan payments for six months. The payment pause ended up lasting, in effect, for four and a half years. Though well-intentioned, the pause and its repeated extensions may go down as one of the worst mistakes in the history of higher education policy. Payments effectively resumed in October 2024. Borrowers who miss payments on their loans will now see those delinquencies reported to credit bureaus, with even more serious consequences to come. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that some borrowers who missed payments saw their credit scores plummet by 100 points or more. Borrowers are bewildered. Many say they were unaware that payments had resumed. It isnt difficult to understand why. Think about the last few years from the perspective of a moderately-informed borrower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your loan servicer suspended your payments in March 2020. You heard the pause might end, but then the federal government extended it eight times. The president announced that he would forgive your loans. The Supreme Court knocked him down. Then the president said he would forgive your loans again, declaring the Supreme Court blocked me, but it didnt stop me. In October 2023, you heard student loan payments were resuming, but you didnt pay why would you when forgiveness is still in the cards? And nothing bad happened. Tens of millions of borrowers paid nothing on their loans for five years. They heard repeatedly they were getting loan forgiveness. Without clear communication from the federal government, it is unsurprising that many wouldnt know its time to pay again. Whats more, channels of communication have broken down. During the last five years, many borrowers moved or changed their contact information. Because they were not actively paying their loans, many simply forgot to notify their loan servicers about the changes. The Biden administration also actively discouraged servicers from contacting borrowers during the pause. Several loan servicers exited the system, meaning their borrowers are now receiving letters from a new and unfamiliar company if that company can find them at all. The results are sobering. Among 34 million borrowers with federally managed loans who were not enrolled in school, just 13 million (38 percent) made an on-time payment in the last 30 days, according to the most recent data. In January, millions of borrowers reached 90 days delinquency on their loans, triggering a negative credit report. Come July, the first borrowers will reach 270 days delinquent and enter default, which could initiate even more serious consequences such as the seizure of tax refunds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond its enormous fiscal cost ($238 billion), the extended pause allowed borrowers to disengage from the student loan system. The longer the pause went on, the greater the likelihood of severe delinquencies and defaults when payments eventually turned back on. Now that the pause is over, the reckoning has come. No one wants to be the bad guy telling borrowers its time to make payments again. But despite inheriting a student loan mess from its predecessor, the Trump administration faces a potentially huge political liability as more and more borrowers fall behind on their debts and see their credit scores drop. The government needs to get ahead of this trend as soon as possible. First, the administration ought to start a media blitz on the return to repayment. As often as possible, the White House and the Education Department must trumpet the message that payments are due. Officials should lean on colleges to spread the message to their recent graduates. Congress should appropriate extra funding for loan servicers to communicate with borrowers more often, and staff up their call centers to handle the inevitable influx of borrower inquiries. Second, one-time sweeteners for borrowers to re-engage with the student loan system will help smooth the path back into repayment. Congress could authorize a repayment incentive: borrowers who make three on-time payments would get a $500 credit applied to their loan balances. This would cost money up-front, but it would pay off in the long run: the student loan program hemorrhages billions of dollars every month if borrowers dont pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the long run, Congress needs to fix the loan program itself. That means hard caps on borrowing and fewer loans to schools where students are unlikely to repay. But while these policies will help avoid similar situations in the future, we still need a solution for the 43 million Americans with loans due today The payment pause broke the student loan program, and the damage will take a long time to fix. But the Trump administration must take responsibility for cleaning up the mess where the Biden administration failed. Borrowers and taxpayers are counting on them to get it right. Preston Cooper is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Republicans are very upset with the federal judiciary. As the number of injunctions against the Trump administration runs into the double digits one of the latest indefinitely blocked Trumps ban on transgender service members the rage and name-calling is only getting worse. This is tyranny. A small handful of marxist judges trying to run the entire country, lamented Trumps deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller. District Court judges have issued RECORD numbers of national injunctions against the Trump administration, complained Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, a dramatic abuse of judicial authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi, the nations highest-ranking law enforcement figure, accused federal Judge James Boasberg, who blocked the recent deportation of hundreds of legal Venezuelan immigrants, of meddling in our government. One can assume that Bondi was absent the day her law school professors discussed the separation of powers and explained that the federal judiciary is a co-equal branch of the federal government. For his part, Trump called Boasberg a radical left lunatic and demanded his impeachment a move that led Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to publicly, albeit not directly, criticize the president. However, if the Trump administration wants an end to the seemingly endless adverse federal judgments against its policies, there is a relatively simple and elegant solution. STOP BREAKING THE LAW. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration complaining about meddlesome federal judges is like Al Capone complaining about snooping Treasury agents or John Dillinger complaining about intruding bank guards. There is a very easy explanation for why Trumps policies keep getting blocked by federal judges: They are illegal. One would think that Trump would be used to this by now. In his first term, there were 64 federal injunctions slapped on his initiatives double the number in the George W. Bush, Obama and Biden administrations combined. Rather than the endless whining about the federal judiciary, the Trump administration should call a timeout and get everyone who works in the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to spend the day reading the Constitution. When they finish that bit of civic education they could search up Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court ruling that establishes the principle of judicial review and makes the countrys highest court the arbiter of what is and isnt constitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Had White House lawyers taken the time to leaf through the countrys founding legal document, they might not have been upbraided by a federal judge who ruled that DOGEs dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways. A quick perusal of the 14th Amendment might have also prevented Trump from signing an executive order to end birthright citizenship an order thats been blocked by three federal judges, one of whom called the proclamation blatantly unconstitutional. After Trump issued an executive order seeking to punish the law firm Perkins Coie for having previously worked with Hillary Clinton by terminating any federal contracts with the firm and barring government employees from working with its attorneys, federal Judge Beryl Howell said the edict sends little chills down my spine. She compared Trumps order to a bill of attainder, a legislative act that declares someone guilty of a crime and mandates a punishment without a trial or due process. Trump administration lawyers could have read up about bills of attainder by reviewing Article 1, Section 9, which expressly forbids them. (Unfortunately, when the same executive order was issued against the New York-based law firm Paul Weiss, the firm wilted under pressure and pledged $40 million in pro bono work in support of Trump administration priorities.) A better understanding of federal law could have stopped the Trump administration from firing hundreds of thousands of probationary employees, a move that federal courts have repeatedly stymied in some cases forcing federal agencies to rehire some of those whove been let go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same can be said for Trumps efforts to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, freeze federal spending and enact a new National Institutes of Health policy capping reimbursements for medical research grants. Federal judges have blocked all three initiatives. Unsurprisingly, none of this has stopped the Trump administration from continuing to issue blatantly illegal presidential edicts. Just yesterday, Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, even though such an action can only be taken by Congress. If, and likely when, Trumps latest executive order is blocked, he and his cronies will whine about the unfairness of the federal judiciary but all of this is entirely predictable. Earlier this week, when a federal judge blocked DOGEs efforts to dismantle USAID, Trump complained that rogue judges are destroying our country. But as is so often the case with Trump and his minions, every accusation is a confession. The greatest threat to American democracy is not federal judges who have read the Constitution and are faithfully interpreting the law. Instead its a rogue White House that is consistently breaking the law, acting outside its constitutional powers and then complaining that judges are treating it unfairly. If Trump wants to stop getting slapped down by federal judges, theres a simple solution abide by the law. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com In what by now looks like a pattern, in his most recent phone call with President Trump, Vladimir Putin again rejected the White House ceasefire and again piled up still more preconditions before even considering one. Perhaps still more important in the long run was Trumps reaction. So far, the record of the White Houses negotiations with the Kremlin amounts to appeasement and appeasements tend to lead to more wars. This time, the outcome could be a European conflagration. Trump and his top national security officials have persistently encouraged Putin by preemptively conceding some of Moscows key condition. There shall be no NATO membership for Ukraine, ever. Nor the recovery of the Ukrainian territory seized by Russia since 2014. No peacekeepers either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When, in the Kremlins typical outburst of propaganda lies, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected a European peacekeeping force as undisguised involvement of NATO countries in a war against the Russian Federation, he neednt have bothered. By refusing to commit the U.S. to backstop security guarantees for the European peacekeepers, Trump had already effectively vetoed the deployment. Even de-Nazification, one of the Kremlins more bizarre official reasons for the invasion, has been, in effect, embraced by Washington. Standing for the ouster of Ukraines pro-Western government led by the Jewish Zelensky, Trumps de-legitimation of Ukraines president has been relentless. Zelensky was a dictator who would not hold presidential elections (which Ukraines constitution suspends in wartime). He was guilty of personally profiting from what Trump called the gravy train of U.S. assistance. The vilification reached a crescendo when, after prolonged castigation, Zelensky was accused of disrespecting the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. Having pocketed the freebies, the Kremlin dictator demanded that Ukraine be left defenseless and effectively blind: no weapons transfers from the West, no rearmament of the Ukrainian army, the end of the military draft and no battlefield intelligence sharing. Putin is certain to expand his menu at the summit in Riyadh. He will insist on the U.S. recognition of Russias annexation of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the latter three of which Russian does not even fully control militarily. Already bruited about is U.S. acquiescence to Moscows insistence on resurrecting the framework of the 2022 Istanbul talks as the basis for the peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rejected by Kyiv even in the desperate first months of the Russian invasion, the draft effectively turned Ukraine into Russias defenseless protectorate: subject to Russias veto in the conduct of its foreign policy and security policies, nearly disarmed, and banned from to seeking the Wests assistance either in weapons or troops. These are among the key root causes of the conflict, which Putin, in last weeks press conference, hinted at as pre-conditions for a cease-fire in response to Trumps proposal and it looks like they, too, will be met. I think we will be using that framework as a guidepost to get a peace deal done, said Steve Witkoff, one of Trumps top negotiators. On a roll, the Russian dictator could further push to revive his 2021 demand that NATO withdraw soldiers and weapons from the eastern and central European member states. Trump cannot force other alliance members to comply but, given his record, he may well grant Putins wish unilaterally by withdrawing the U.S. security guarantee. Believing as Trump does the Kremlins canard that the invasion was caused by the promise of NATO membership to Ukraine, one can almost hear the U.S. president declaring, Im not going to go to war with Russia over Romania! Conveniently, he can effect the change without formally violating Article 5 of the NATO Treaty: while an attack against one member state is considered an attack on them all, each member is to take such action as it deems necessary, including but not necessarily requiring the use of armed force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shorn of the U.S. protection and facing a newly resurgent and aggressive Russia, at least some of the post-1997 member states could try to mollify Moscow by declaring neutrality, or even quitting NATO, and returning to Moscows sphere of influence 34 years after the end of the Soviet Union. Would Putin stop here? He might. Yet we also must consider the possibility that, in a rush to exploit the Trump presidencys gift that keeps on giving, Putin might attempt to fatally weaken NATO by challenging the alliance to its first war. The most vulnerable targets are Estonia and Latvia. Only lightly defended, they are the only NATO member states on Russias borders and, along with Lithuania, the only former Soviet republics that have joined NATO. Invariably among the top unfriendly nations in Russian public opinion, they are traitors. And traitors, Putin opined, are worse than enemies and must be crushed. A pretext can always be found. Moscow saving the ethnic Russians over one-fifth of the Estonian and Latvian population from non-existent repression and a bloody riot may do the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, Putin would not want a protracted conventional war with NATO, which he is bound to lose. If the alliance does not buckle under, even if the U.S. washes its hands of Europe, Putin would be ready to follow the escalate to de-escalate doctrine by resorting to nuclear blackmail: an all-out war or an overall peace settlement that would spell permanent neutrality for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and render NATO a humiliated paper tiger. Trump still has the option of reversing course by helping Ukraine to force an increasingly strained Russia to negotiate a real, fair and lasting truce. Yet if the U.S. president persists in furthering Ukraines capitulation disguised as peace, Washington may see the fulfillment of Churchills prophecy in the wake of Chamberlains 1938 Munich deal with Hitler: You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war. Leon Aron is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. His most recent book is Riding the Tiger: Vladimir Putins Russia and the Uses of War. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Stumping for president a quarter-century ago, George W. Bush posed the immortal question, Is our children learning? Although his bad grammar elicited much condescending mirth, Bush at least seemed passionate about improving public schools. Todays national leaders, not so much. Despite mounting evidence that our K-12 students are sliding backward, school reform barely registered in last years presidential election. Instead, Republicans fixated on ridding schools of wokeness, while Democrats lined up behind teachers unions defending the status quo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the bipartisan coalition for school reform unraveled about a decade ago, the issue seems to have fallen into a political dead zone in Washington. Among our top leaders, there is no vision or leadership for setting higher standards for our schools and students. The latest test results from the National Assessment for Education Progress spawned an alarming headline: Less than one-third of U.S. eighth graders can read at grade level. The share of fourth graders falling below the basic level of literacy has risen dramatically, to 40 percent. Math scores were flat for eighth graders and slightly up for fourth graders, but this owed mainly to improvements among high performers. In fact, all the results showed a widening gap between top students and low performers, especially to the disadvantage of Black, Hispanic and disabled students in lower income brackets. There has been no learning recovery from the COVID pandemic. Test scores are below pre-pandemic levels in all grades and subjects, despite the Biden administrations infusion of $180 billion in federal pandemic relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking at this data, its clear that were in enormous risk of losing an entire generation of learners unless we show some focus and leadership, said Jane Swift, a former Republican governor of Massachusetts. U.S. students also turn in less than stellar results on international comparisons of learning. On the most recent PISA assessments of 81 countries, they ranked 16th in science, ninth in reading and 34th in math. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study found that U.S. fourth graders scored 18 points lower in math since 2019, and that eighth graders lost 27 points. Weve arrived at another Nation at Risk or Sputnik moment. Only this time, U.S. political and business leaders arent stepping forward to galvanize national action to fix chronically underperforming public schools. Instead, President Trump is joining red-state Republicans in giving parents financial enticements to abandon them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three years ago, no state had a universal school voucher program. Now 13 of them offer universal or near-universal subsidies for private schools through cash vouchers or tax credits in the form of Education Savings Accounts. But Republican privatizers are meeting stiff resistance from an unexpected quarter fellow Republicans. Last November, for example, every state ballot initiative supporting private school choice was shot down. In Kentucky, which Trump won handily, voters rejected a universal voucher initiative by a whopping 30-point margin. In Nebraska, vouchers lost by nearly 15 points. Coloradans voted down a similar constitutional amendment, albeit by just 1.4 points. Many rural Republicans are fond of their public schools, which are hubs of community life and sports, as well as major employers. They dont have many private schools and resent paying higher taxes to pay for vouchers that mainly benefit suburban and city dwellers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suburban voters also worry about the high costs of vouchers. In Florida where even well-off families qualify for taxpayer-funded grants worth $8,000 to pay private school tuition the tab is estimated to reach $3.4 billion this year. Nonetheless, Trump has issued an executive order encouraging federal agencies to shift money from federal block grants intended for public schools to children attending private and religious schools. Under Biden, Washington Democrats walked away from the Clinton-Obama push to raise academic standards, expand public school choice, shift decisions from central bureaucrats to school leaders and shut down schools that fail their students. Some Democratic governors are filling the leadership vacuum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorados Jared Polis has made education his top priority as chair of the National Governors Association. His Lets Get Ready initiative emphasizes early literacy and numeracy, more challenging curricula, AI-enhanced learning as well as more work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities for high school students. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein are leading the charge against Republican efforts to divert education dollars to private schools. We should not be taking money from our public school kids to pay for wealthy parents sending their kids to unaccountable private schools, to the tune of $7.5 billion over the next decade, Stein told his Republican legislature last week. Rahm Emanuel is a national Democratic figure challenging his party to lead on education. The former White House aide, U.S. representative, Chicago mayor and diplomat recently chided Washington politicians for letting cultural battles over race, gender and transsexuality distract from schools academic mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am done with the discussion of locker rooms; I am done with the discussion of bathrooms, and we better start having a conversation about the classroom. What Democrats need are moonshot goals Americans can rally around. For example, Robin Lake, director of the Center for Reinventing Public Education, calls for a national campaign for universal literacy by the fourth grade and math competency by the eighth grade. And at a time when some states are lowering their standards to mask declines in student achievement, strong national leadership is imperative to narrow the growing achievement gap between rich and poor students. Trump and many Republicans are giving up on public schools. By making them better, Democrats can become the party of education again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Marshall is the founder and president of Progressive Policy Institute. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Laura Vance is a 1st grade teacher at Sand Creek International School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is a 2024-2025 Teach Plus Colorado Senior Policy Fellow. It is no secret that Donald Trump has long admired Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the past five weeks, his administration has made moves pleasing to the Kremlin, from endorsing Moscows positions for settling the Russia-Ukraine war to opposing language critical of Russia at the United Nations. On Tuesday, Putin told Trump he could agree to a halt on Russia and Ukraine attacking the others energy infrastructure. He did not agree to the U.S. proposal for a broad and immediate ceasefire. Nevertheless, the White Houses upbeat readout on the call said the two leaders agreed that an improved bilateral U.S.-Russia relationship has a huge upside. But what huge upside would that secure for the United States and Americans? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some suggest Trump has a geopolitical motive, that is, by throwing Ukraine under the bus and engaging less with U.S. allies in Europe, he seeks to bond with Putin and pull him away from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has discussed such an objective. If true, the Trump administration grossly misunderstands the Putin-Xi relationship. They have declared a partnership with no limits. Putins Russia depends on China. He will not jettison Xi for Trump, who is unpredictable and will not be in office in four years. If Washington follows this course, it will lead to a predictable result. In a couple of years, the United States would face a China-Russia tandem, but with fewer allies and friends. If Trump were to leave Europe to fend for itself with Russia, he could hardly expect the Europeans to respond to American requests for support in dealing with China. Another goal might focus on nuclear arms control and proliferation. Trump told the January World Economic Forum that wed like to see denuclearization. True, a better relationship might lead to a resumption of the talks on strategic stability and nuclear risk that broke down after Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, would new talks succeed? In 2020, Trump asked the Russians to limit non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons, but Moscow staunchly resisted that. The Russians would almost certainly press for limits on missile defense. That would affect Trumps Golden Dome. His administration made clear in his first term that it would accept no negotiated constraints on missile defense. A new arms negotiation likely would quickly bog down in such differences. As for nuclear proliferation, North Korea, which steadily expanded its nuclear and missile programs despite Kim Jong-uns beautiful letters to Trump, and Iran, which sits on the threshold of becoming a nuclear weapons state, pose the two biggest concerns. The Kremlin may well have leverage with them, but Putin wont pressure either given the weapons and soldiers they provided for his war against Ukraine. Another goal might be reopening economic relations. At the February Jeddah meeting between Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, businessman Kirill Dmitriev accompanied Lavrov and claimed American companies lost $324 billion by leaving Russia three years ago. But that number seems squirrely. Russias gross domestic product the past three years totals about $6.5 trillion. Could U.S. firms really have made up the equivalent of 5 percent of Russias GDP? Really? The reality reflects that Russia never offered U.S. exporters a major market. In the best of trade times, 2012-2014, U.S. exports to Russia topped out at $11 billion per year. For perspective, total global American exports in 2013 came to $1.6 trillion. Eleven billion is a rounding error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dmitriev also suggested lucrative oil and gas concessions for American companies. Before the Trump administration gets too wide-eyed, it ought to check with veterans of the George W. Bush administration. Bush and Putin agreed that U.S.-Russia energy cooperation was an area of great promise. When it came to U.S. energy companies concluding deals, however, not much got done. Russias investment climate and stringent rules offered little encouragement, and the Russian state today dominates the economy more than it did 20 years ago. By the way, any increase in Russian energy exports could compete with U.S. exports. This is not to argue against better management of the U.S.-Russia nuclear competition. That would be sensible and useful in any event. But why attach such priority to improving the overall relationship with Russia before the Kremlin changes its destructive policies, first and foremost by demonstrating it is prepared to live in peace with its neighbors and not threaten or assault their sovereignty and territorial integrity? Trump should take a realistic view of what the U.S. might gain in return for normalizing relations with Russia. In the near term, the concrete results look meager at best, illusory at worst. They hardly justify a U.S. turn away from Ukraine and Europe. Steven Pifer, an affiliate of the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, is a retired U.S. Foreign Service officer and former ambassador to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Donald Trumps hometown of New York City is ground zero for his assault on blue cities and states and their institutions. The rule of law is being replaced with the whims of the president, and so far theres no sign that any of the Democrats running to be mayor, including damaged incumbent Eric Adams, are up to the moment of protecting the city from Trump when needed. Adams is openly compromised. The other candidates have been more interested in talking about that or taking whacks at the front-runner, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, than in articulating how theyd stand up to this presidential pressure campaign hitting the city from all sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres the $400 million in federal funding being withheld from Columbia University in a legally dubious move, at least until it complies with a sweeping and nebulous series of demands. These include a crackdown on anti-Israel protests and a masking ban at the same time that masked federal agents are picking up campus members and shipping them to Louisiana for deportation proceedings. Then theres the executive order, a true bill of attainder, that threatened to destroy Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, one of the citys most prominent law firms, for employing and working on behalf of the presidents real and perceived enemies. Trump said Thursday hell drop the order after the firms head went to the White House, which said he apologized for wrongdoing and agreed to provide $40 million in legal services to Trump-favored causes over his term. (Trump should update the title of his best-known book to The Art of the Shakedown.) Trump also imposed the legally dubious demand to shut down New Yorks already federally approved and implemented congestion pricing plan, along with blackmail about cutting other federal funding unless Gov. Kathy Hochul complies and cuts out what Trumps transportation secretary whined Thursday is open disrespect of the federal government in refusing to accept its made-up ultimatum. Trumps Justice Department is also suing the state for refusing to let the feds use its DMV database, including undocumented immigrants with state drivers licenses, as a de facto deportation list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then there are the threats from Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, about how I dont care what the judges think, I dont care what the left thinks, were coming and Homans open extortion of Mayor Adams who is desperate to get a dispensation in the criminal corruption case against him about how Ill be in his office, up his butt, saying where the hell is the agreement we came to if the mayor doesnt deliver much more cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, never mind New Yorks sanctuary city laws. As the hits keep coming with more on the way, Adams has said he wont publicly criticize Trump or his administration, openly humiliating himself and the city hes supposed to lead in the process. New York City didnt go red in 2024 by any measure, but it got notably less blue as Trump basically matched his 2020 numbers while Kamala Harris fell short of Joe Bidens 2020 results in every single electoral district. A message to those Democrat skeptics: You can dislike any or all campus protesters, menacing street theater, white-collar law firms, congestion pricing, blue state governors, the far left or crooked mayors and still recognize that using the power of the federal government to target real or supposed enemies this way is deeply disturbing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats before getting to the wild terror claims being thrown around by the feds without even nominal attribution and the supposed gang members being shipped, without any evidence or hearing in a frontal assault on the judiciary and the rule of law itself, to a hellhole El Salvadoran prison. If you thought the Biden administration was committing lawfare and are applauding Trumps retribution tour, your complaint was not about having an enemies list just with who was on it. Trumps extortion scheme, demanding tribute from cities and elite institutions as if they were conquered territories, is about exacting punishment, of course, but its largely about compliance. Lop off a few heads and other people get nervous about lifting theirs up. That goes for protesters and administrators and mayors and just about everyone else. The beatings will continue until morale improves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps big idea, if idea isnt too generous a word, is to take hard, wild swings and expect everyone who doesnt get hit to race to comply before the hammer comes down again and to get in an as many swings as he can before courts or lawmakers or anyone else can even react. Thats why Manhattan medical giant NYU Langone is scrubbing references to its diverse students and the word marginalized from its website and policy documents and reconsidering words as harmless as vulnerable for fear of incurring Trumps ire. You dont need to love all things DEI to recognize that executive orders criminalizing an ideology without even defining it are meant to coerce silence and violate what had been the bedrock American principle that the government doesnt get to pick speech winners and losers. That crude approach appears to be working. Its not just NYU Langone, which was unlucky enough to have its memo leak first. Nearly every lawyer is advising the institutions they work for to tone down their language, trim their sails and hope the lightning strikes someone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbias board is reportedly trying to figure out how to meet Trumps terms, including placing its Middle Eastern studies department in academic receivership despite the damage that would do to the institutions independence and despite the fact that Trump hasnt even said hell restore the money if it complies, only that he wont negotiate at all until it does. Only a handful of other schools have called out the shakedown, reversing the famous Benjamin Franklin quip at the signing of the Declaration of Independence about how We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. Most everyone is keeping quiet, hoping someone else gets hung first. New York has talked a big game about progressive values, but those are being tested as never before. The rest of the country is watching to see how Americas biggest city, and Trumps hometown, will handle the tough years ahead as voters decide whether to put up or shut up. If theres a mayoral candidate willing to actually lead before voters give them the job by talking about the tough times and hard choices that are coming as the federal government cuts funding to New York City and pressures whoevers mayor to comply with his diktats, this is the time to find out if New Yorkers are serious or not about wanting a profile in courage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The coronation is underway for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) to become Floridas 48th governor on Jan. 5, 2027. Too soon? Not for President Trump, who on Feb. 20 endorsed and anointed Donalds with usual Trumpian flare. Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement, Trump wrote. RUN, BYRON, RUN! Donalds, a three-term congressman from the southwest Gulf of America district, announced his intention to run five days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that the calendar reads March 2025, and Floridas gubernatorial primary will not be held until Aug. 18, 2026, Donalds may be riding a bit too high a bit too soon. At the very least, Trumps ultra-early endorsement is eerily abnormal a blatant attempt to ensure that Donalds will have no serious primary opposition. Moreover, the need for a Republican victory does not seem to have been part of the calculus in Trumps super-early endorsement. Florida Democrats lack of leaders and potential candidates, combined with the states increasingly red tilt, means the Republican nominee should win easily. Donalds, a New York City-born Black conservative congressman, was unknown to 66 percent of Florida voters before receiving Trumps endorsement. His most significant political accomplishment by age 46 has been to stay in Trumps good graces through blind loyalty. There are three main reasons Donalds has quickly emerged as the GOPs leading 2026 gubernatorial candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first is that the governors race is about Trump, not Donalds. If Donalds wins, expect Trump to exercise control over his adopted home state, with its third-largest population and immense concentration of wealth. Starting in 2020, Donalds, then a state representative, launched his successful congressional primary campaign. He described himself as a Trump-supporting, gun-owning, liberty-loving, pro-life, politically incorrect Black man. Still showing off his penchant for political incorrectness, Donalds echoed a cringeworthy Tucker Carlson quote on the occasion of Trumps inauguration. Daddys back, he said, in an attempt to describe for a Fox News audience what new Trump administration would be like. The congressman made his MAGA voters proud at the inaugural parade rally when Trump gave Donalds a priceless political shout-out, saying, Stand up, Byron, what a future this one has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exactly a month later, Trump endorsed Donalds for governor. Fortuitously, the congressman represents a safe GOP district. He won his third term with 66.3 percent of the vote, slightly outperforming Trumps 65 percent over Kamala Harris a feat worthy of presidential respect. Nevertheless, were Donalds to win the statehouse but then govern or act disloyal, the president could taunt him over how his early endorsement made his career. Sound familiar? Ironically, that scenario points to the second reason Donalds has great prospects. The 2026 Florida gubernatorial race is about Donald Trump and his continuous revenge campaign against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and wife Casey for their disloyalty when challenging him for the 2024 presidential nomination, instead of patiently waiting for 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before and during DeSantiss disastrous presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly bragged that he was responsible for Rons success, with versions of I got him in. He had no chance. His political life was over. Trump was referencing his surprise early endorsement of DeSantis in December 2017, when the little-known congressman from northeast Florida was still an underdog headed for an August 2018 gubernatorial primary. Despite starting with low name-recognition, DeSantis ended up winning that race by a 20-point margin, then went on to squeak out a very narrow general election victory. Note that Trumps recent endorsement of Rep. Donalds, potentially Floridas first Black governor, sounded remarkably like his endorsement of DeSantis. DeSantis proved to be a very popular first-term governor and, in 2022, won reelection by a stunning 19 percentage points. That unexpectedly large margin led the ambitious couple to believe 2024 might be their presidential year. Instead, DeSantiss extraordinary primary race failure is a campaign management class case study. Today, the still ambitious but more cautious couple faces another monumental political decision: Should Casey DeSantis run for Rons third term? Early polls show Floridas first lady could be competitive with Donalds. And unlike her stiff, combative and wonkish husband, Casey has a friendly, approachable personality and media presence. She was a huge asset to Ron when he won his two statewide elections. Add to that her invaluable presidential campaign experience. If elected, Mrs. DeSantis would become Floridas first female governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But warning signals abound for Casey should she take the plunge. Given Donaldss extraordinary head start, the same powerful MAGA forces that destroyed her husbands presidential campaign have been reactivated. That includes White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who remains an archenemy of the couple after they nearly politically decapitated her in 2019. The third reason for Donaldss early gubernatorial grand emergence is also about Trumps rule by fear and loyalty. With his exuberant endorsement of Donalds, Trump created an unprecedented early bandwagon for the highest-profile Trump-world endorsements all decidedly anti-DeSantis. This week, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) joined the growing A-list, along with Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.). Already on it were Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump, a newly minted Fox News host. Adding more heft is Charlie Kirk with his Turning Point USA army and media megaphone. Additionally, the formerly DeSantis-friendly Club for Growth has changed teams. Numerous big-money power players will assist Donalds in raising millions, starting with his campaign kickoff event on March 28. Naturally, a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser is scheduled for May 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Casey DeSantis is left with the fundraising equivalent of crumbs. This week, NBC reported that the governor is urging Florida lobbyists not to back Donalds. This race will either become messy or fizzle if Casey declines to run, which is precisely the objective of Trumps uber-early endorsement of Donalds. But wait for the law of unexpected events. Expectations are impossibly high for Donalds, who is still untested in a statewide race. In the age of Trump, voters still matter, and the primary is 17 months away. In the meantime, watch for sizzling hot Florida drama with severe sunburns. Myra Adams is an opinion writer who served on the creative team of two Republican presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2008. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In an unprecedented rebuke of judicial power, the Trump administration is apparently ignoring a temporary restraining order from a federal judge. President Trump invoked the Enemy Aliens Act, a law from 1789 that permits the president to deport any male over the age of 14 from an enemy country, to begin mass deportations of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador. This is the fourth time the law has ever been invoked and the first time since World War II. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the deportations while assessing the constitutionality of the administrations deportation plan. Instead of complying, the Trump administration has flouted the order by refusing to turn around planes carrying the alleged gang members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This move is flawed. Instead of ignoring judges orders, the Trump administration should use this opportunity to reform the process of nationwide temporary restraining orders and injunctions. Whichever party is in power in Washington will always find it politically inconvenient that a single unelected federal district judge can legally block a policy nationwide. While Republicans get frustrated when a judge impedes their plans, orders and injunctions have benefitted them in the past. For example, a federal district court judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Biden administrations nationwide COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2021. This led to a preliminary injunction and a landmark Supreme Court case that found the mandate unconstitutional. Without the initial temporary restraining order, millions of Americans would have been forced to choose between their jobs or violating their faith. Democrats voiced similar frustrations against temporary restraining orders and nationwide injunctions when they were in power. Indeed, nationwide injunctions are one the few tools that the parties both hate and benefit from. Stripping Democrats of their ability for legal recourse in the short term will yield long-term harm to Republican causes, particularly during a future Democratic administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A policy of flouting judicial orders displaces the separation of powers inherent to the Constitution, which preserves our system of government by ensuring the co-equal branches do not overstep their proper bounds. By apparently ignoring a court order, the administration is subverting judicial power and preventing the judiciary from checking executive power, thus threatening the judicial branchs co-equal status. Reducing the judiciarys role would have long-term negative consequences for American democracy. Instead of undermining the separation of powers, Republicans should capitalize on bipartisan disdain for how temporary restraining orders and nationwide injunctions are granted. There may be a real chance to reform the process legally. This would allow them to gain a bipartisan win while also remedying valid concerns about single judges wielding immense power. Further, reforming the process of nationwide orders and injunctions using valid constitutional powers would preserve the stability of our system. Fortunately, there is a constitutional way for Republicans to reform the nationwide order and injunction process without harming separation of powers. Article III of the Constitution grants Congress the power to create and destroy lower courts, permitting it to control federal courts jurisdiction. This control over federal courts permits Republicans in Congress to pursue three remedies that can resolve their issues with judicial orders in a bipartisan fashion. First, Republicans can change the law to require that parties seeking nationwide orders or injunctions must pay a high filing fee, which the law regulating them lacks. If Republicans and Democrats can agree on a number, they can reduce the number of meritless orders filed while permitting parties with valid cases to attain a remedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, Republicans could change the requirements for granting a nationwide order or injunction. Currently, one judge can issue such an order. Instead, Congress could amend the law to require a majority vote from a three-judge district court panel before granting a nationwide order or injunction. Requiring multiple jurists to agree prevents a single judge, perhaps appointed by a president from the opposing party, from blocking an elected administrations policies remedying both parties concerns of unelected partisan judges power. Finally, Republicans can strip the power of federal district courts to grant nationwide temporary restraining orders and injunctions against government actions and instead grant that power to circuit courts. This would expedite judicial review, allowing elected officials policies to be implemented faster. This also dilutes the power of sole jurists, as circuit courts decide cases in panels of three, mirroring the benefits of district court panels for nationwide orders and injunctions. The Trump administration is justifiably frustrated with temporary restraining orders and injunctions, but any move to simply disregard such orders is constitutionally unsound. Instead of ignoring judges, Republicans must pursue reforms that benefit all litigants and uphold core constitutional norms. Ryan Silverstein is a J.D. Candidate at Villanova University and a fellow with Villanovas McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NBC News reported this week that President Donald Trumps administration is thinking about getting rid of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions division that focuses on HIV prevention and giving those responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services. Theres apparently another potential plan, a source told NBC News, that would cut up to $700 million from the CDCs HIV division. As a person who was diagnosed with HIV and AIDS in 2006, Im dreading what comes next. Just how far will any of this go or end? When I was diagnosed, I was prescribed antiretrovirals, and, within months, my viral load dropped to undetectable levels. The virus has remained undetectable since then, and I am now healthy and thriving. Ive come a long way from the opportunistic infections I was constantly dealing with at the time of my diagnosis. Then, I was barely insured and terrified that I might never recover. Within months, my insurer rescinded my health insurance policy. How was I going to pay out of pocket for the costly medications I needed to keep me alive? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I soon learned about the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. It provides HIV primary care, treatment and supportive services for low-income people living with HIV. The law provides a safety net that covers the copays for my HIV prescription, which would otherwise cost about $4,000 a month. This is stabilizing for my physical and mental health. People living with HIV work very hard to suppress the virus so that it cannot be detected in our blood because if the virus is undetectable, then it is untransmittable. That is, it cannot be passed on to others through sex. In short, treatment is everything, and treatment is prevention. Knowing we cannot expose our partners to HIV and pose no threat to others is affirming and liberating. It allows us to safely have pleasurable relationships with others and make babies. The Trump administration has already worked to eliminate USAID and hamper PEPFAR (President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which is credited with saving more than 26 million lives in 55 countries since its creation in 2003. Now, the CDC may be eliminating funding for HIV prevention or incorporating it into HHSs Ryan White program. I and others in my community are nervous for the future of HIV treatment and the future of HIV prevention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State and local health departments and community-based nonprofits depend on the CDCs HIV division for HIV testing, HIV education, funding for the pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, funding and technical support in public health efforts. Removing funding for this could potentially fuel new cases. PrEP, when used correctly, can stop someone from acquiring HIV during intimate encounters. Shoehorning HIV prevention services into the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which provides HIV care, could overburden the program. Resources to serve the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S. are already stretched thin. Resources can be even scarcer in the Deep South, especially in its rural and urban areas. At the same time, House Republicans seem bent on slashing Medicaid. Many low-income or disabled people living with HIV depend on Medicaid for health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am more concerned than ever about the unraveling of safety nets that wrap around not only people living with HIV but anyone with a chronic health condition. Some days, everything seems under threat. Trumps flurry of executive orders against DEI pose a particular danger to people like me, a Black person and member of the LGBTQ community. Many HIV prevention and treatment programs focus on LGBTQ people (sometimes trans people in particular), Black people and women. These programs for treatment and prevention may not be in alignment with Trumps anti-DEI agenda. Until this week, there was not a lot of talk from leaders in the HIV-positive community about preparing people living with HIV for potential service interruptions. In their defense, they didnt have a crystal ball to predict this, and they have received no guidance from federal funding agencies. Nevertheless, that failure to plan or consider contingencies does not help clients or patients sleep better at night. We can see from PEPFAR the consequences of reduced services or zero funding. Millions of lives are affected and rationing of medication and care has started in Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When might we need to start to rationing medication or care in the U.S.? I could probably last a couple of months but what then? Being undetectable and healthy is great. Were living long lives now and getting old. Even though I am trying to remain hopeful that any reshuffling of the CDC or Ryan White will be minimal, I realize hope is not a strategy. Too many have fought hard to get the science where it is and to get the funding where it is. Last year, I traveled to the southwest corner of France and noticed that many of the road signs were turned upside down. I was told farmers did that to protest government policies they opposed. It seems to me that nows the time to turn some things upside down in this country and fight back. We cannot let Trump make HIV a fatal disease again. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Doug Ford was just trying to help. One of the insufficiently appreciated aspects of the U.S.-Canada trade relationship is that the two nations bilateral trade has long been pretty close to being in balance. That doesnt actually matter very much, economicallythe United States could run a large trade deficit with Canada indefinitely with no ill effectbut, if Republicans are worried about bilateral trade balances, the U.S.-Canada relationship isnt the one that they should be getting their dresses over their heads about. The United States does not run a particularly large trade deficit with Canada, and the negative balance of trade that does exist is driven largely by Canadian energy exports to the United Statesmostly crude oil bound for Midwestern refineries where it will be made into diesel to power American trucking and transit. (Canadas heavy oil is a more efficient source of diesel than is the light sweet crude pumped in West Texas.) There is also the matter of Canadian electricity exports to the United States, which come from both Ontario and Quebec. When Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to lay a 25-percent tariff on electricity to 1.5 million U.S. homes and businesses (or just switch off the juice entirely) as a response to Donald Trumps idiotic trade war, he was only offering to do what could be done to eliminate the small trade imbalance that exists between the countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Donald Trump is, as he will tell you, the worlds greatest negotiator, and he feels the need to renegotiate the existing U.S.-Canada trade deal, which was negotiated by an utter incompetent: Donald Trump, whose administration oversaw the replacement of NAFTA by the (rather lightly modified) USMCA the last time he was president. And now Canadians have learned what banks, investors, vendors, small business partners, wives, ex-wives, and pornographic performers rapidly approaching their expiration dates have all learned over the years: If you think you have a deal with Donald Trump, you are a fool. Canadians are outraged, a prominent, Trump-friendly Canadian manufacturer with operations in both Canada and the United States told me. (He asked me not to use his name; Canada is a small country where political sensitivities matter to business.) Absolutely outraged. They feel there was a deal, and it was Trumps deal, the USMCA. Canadians are friendly and passive and not very entrepreneurial, but they dont shrink from a fight. If Canadians feel like they have to take a hit on their standard of living rather than submit to threats and blackmail, then they will. Trump has unified every social classthe rich, the middling, and the poor, he continued. Weve been a very pro-American country, fighting in Afghanistan and losing boys there trying to support the U.S. where we can. Sentiment in Canada in the last 10 to 15 years probably has been more pro-American than at any time since Ive been alive. Then this kick in the head. Its been really traumatic, and its not going to be forgotten. Not even when there is a change in administration, the manufacturer addedthe damage done by Trump will last a generation or more. Im puzzled. It doesnt make the slightest bit of sense, he said. Were not a low-wage competitor, not China. Were generally pro-American and of significant strategic interest to the United Statesthe most important national security ally America has. All Trump has done is to energize the Liberals and make it so much more likely that theyll be elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, with an early election on the way, the party of Justin Trudeau has doubled its standing in the polls since Trump launched his autarkic assault on the northern front and now leads the Conservatives, who had been poised for a romp under Pierre Poilievre, a libertarian-oriented Blue Tory who would have been the beau ideal of a Canadian leader for the American Right before it lost its collective mind. Canadians have learned what banks, investors, vendors, small business partners, wives, ex-wives, and pornographic performers rapidly approaching their expiration dates have all learned over the years: If you think you have a deal with Donald Trump, you are a fool. Trump seemed surprised by the intensity of the Ontario premiers response* to U.S. trade bullying. They might consider that Trump is, as usual, less than fully in command of the relevant facts. Doug Ford had expended a great deal of political capital on building an incentive program to attract electric vehicle and battery manufacturers to Ontarioand had enjoyed a remarkable degree of success in getting commitments from European firms. Now, those investors are starting to walk away from some $100 billion in planned projects. A big part of Ontarios attraction had been tariff-free access to the large and rich American market, of course, and now that the U.S. has definitively shown that it is only one election away from abandoning any and all international commitmentsfrom NAFTA to NATOthat advantage has evaporated. Unhappily, Canada has been economically a lot more like slow-to-stagnant Western Europe for the past 20 years than like its dynamic neighbor to the south. Canadas real GDP per capita today is only about 13 percent higher than it was two decades ago; U.S. GDP per capita has grown more than twice as fast in those same years. That isnt the hallmark of a country that has been getting fat by ripping off its neighborsit is the hallmark of a country desperately in need of market-liberalizing reform and better governance. Instead, it is likely to get more of the Liberals, meaning more daft economic nationalism and relatively well-scrubbed left-wingery. It wont be enough to get Canadians to forsake their sovereignty and sign up to be part of the United States. But it wont be great for themor for us. Donald Trump may be too thick to get it, but a poorer Canada means a poorer United States. When youre a rich country, it is good to have rich neighbors and rich trading partners. With all due respect to our friends to the south, imagine how much better the United States would be with two neighbors like Canada rather than having Mexico and its problems in our backyard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My American friends say to me that, after Trump, things will go back to the status quo ante, that Canadian tycoon said. But thats not the way Canadians are going to see this. If I were an American, my biggest concern would be on the national security front. Were not going to get chummy with China or anything, but, if you visit Canadian military bases, youll see that they are crawling with U.S. personnelyoud never even know some of them were Canadian bases. There is huge cooperation on the military front. America doesnt defend Canada to protect CanadaAmerica defends Canada to protect America. But, as they say, its an ill wind that blows no one some good. A stronger center-left may not be good for Canada in the long run, the industrialist noted, but its not all bad for export-oriented Canadian manufacturers like him: Stephen Harper loved business and the [Canadian] dollar was at 105 cents. Trudeau craps on business, and we get a weak Canadian dollarwhich is great for us. As manufacturers, a weak [Canadian] dollar means we have less to fear from American exports to Canada and much more competitive exports to the United States. Ironically, Trump has boosted the [U.S.] dollar everywhere, which is really bad for American competitiveness. How the hell are they going to compete exporting with such a high dollar? (Theres a solution to that problem: Keep running deficits that are 6.5 percent of GDP and the strong-dollar problem will take care of itself. But nobody will enjoy it while that gets sorted out.) Some problems just dont get fixed. The last time Trump launched a trade war, it was hell on the U.S. soybean industry, which lost Chinese customers to Brazil. Previously, there had been a seasonal tradeoff: U.S. producers sold northern hemisphere soybeans in their season and the Brazilians sold southern hemisphere soybeans in theirs. When Beijing put the kibosh on U.S. imports, Chinese soybean importers doubled up on their orders from the southern hemisphere and built storageand the storage stayed in place after the trade war was over. The numbers go up and down, of course, but in the most recent report, U.S. soybean exports were about a quarter less than they were when Trump first took office in 2017; with the exception of the 2020-21 season, U.S. soybean exports have not matched their 2016-17 level. The U.S. government paid them tens of billions of dollars in subsidies, but Trump wrecked their markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, those EV and battery plants that arent going to get built in Canada arent necessarily going to get built in the United States, either, and the benefits that would have been derived from thembenefits to producers, consumers, investors, workers, and tax-collectors in both countriesmost likely will simply never be realized. As Frederic Bastiat observed, we go wrong in our economics when we account only for the seen while overlooking the unseen. It will be impossible to account for the opportunity cost of Trumpismand not only vis-a-vis North American trade. But well feel it, even if we cant quantify it. Of course the Canadians are angry. Americans should be even angrier. Correction, March 21, 2025: Doug Ford is the premier of Ontario, not Toronto as this article originally stated. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) A group in Western Wisconsin is sharing their concerns regarding changes at the federal level. Opportunity Wisconsin organized a town hall, saying they invited Congressman Derrick Van Orden, but he didnt attend. However, constituents did get a chance to speak with Wisconsin Secretary of State, Sarah Godlewski, who was also a special guest. Concerns about federal funding cuts to the Department of Education, Farming, Medicare and Medicaid were most mentioned. Many speakers shared their frustration with Van Orden not attending, and in response, they all lined up to share stories and say what they would have asked the Congressman if he attended. Godlewski explains, Well, the people of Eau Claire and the people of the third CD deserve answers when a representative votes on a bill to cut 1.5 trillion dollars and this money is going to impact essential services that western Wisconsinites rely on. Attendee, Dr. Abby Nou, said, He says well theyre not, the budget is not meaning that were going to cut Medicare or Medicaid, well Id like to see that in writing that hes going to oppose any bill that cuts funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another unidentified, attendee, said, My question for Mr. Van Orden is where are you? And how can your constituents reach you? While Congressman Van Orden was not in attendance at todays event, he held a virtual town hall the same afternoon. To explain why he is hosting virtual town halls, as opposed to in-person events, he explained, The reason were doing this in this format is because George Soros is funding groups of people to go around the country to disrupt republican town halls, and that is just disrespectful to you, and Im not going to allow those folks to do that. Van Orden says he plans to hold another virtual town hall next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud. Authorities say a man wanted on an attempted murder in charge out of Orange County was apprehended in New York. Ruslan Chernotkach, 48, was taken into custody on Thursday at the Port of Buffalo, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Border agents say he was apprehended after being refused entry into Canada when they learned he was wanted in Orlando. He is being held as a fugitive from justice by Erie County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, March 9, 2025, at around 2:00 a.m., deputies responded to the 7600 block of Clementine Way, regarding a discharged weapon. Upon arrival, deputies met with two adult males who stated another adult male known to them, fired a weapon in their direction. There were no injuries. The Orange County Sheriffs Office says thee arrest warrant for Chernotkach stems from a gunfire incident on March 9. Deputies say on that day, two men said someone they knew shot at them in the 7600 hundred block of Clementine Way in Orlando. No one was hurt in the incident. Chernotkach was identified as the gunman. He now faces a charge of attempted second-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chernotkach, who officials said is a citizen of Ukraine, is awaiting extradition to Florida. Border patrol agents said he is undocumented. Our CBP officers continue to perform outstanding work, diligently screening all travelers entering the country including identifying and arresting wanted fugitives, Buffalo Port Director Gaetano Cordone said in a news release. This apprehension highlights their commitment as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring fugitives of heinous crimes to justice. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. President Donald Trump ordered his administration to dismantle the Department of Education, even though the White House acknowledged the agency can't and won't entirely be dissolved. Eliminating the Education Department would require action by Congress since the department was created by legislation, and it's unlikely Republicans could overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold needed for such an outcome. Similarly, federal funding streams for schools established by Congress like Title I funding for schools in lower-income communities and IDEA funding to help schools serve students with disabilities could not be axed by executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before the March 20 order, the Trump administration had taken steps to diminish the agency. The Education Department sent more than 1,300 employees termination notices as part of large-scale "reductions in force" across the federal government led by the administration's Department of Government Efficiency, under the guidance of billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. What does the Education Department do for Arizona? Nationwide, the majority of funding for K-12 public schools comes from state and local taxes. Academic standards and curriculum are also set at the state and local level. Still, the U.S. Department of Education plays a significant role. It provides grant funding at the K-12 level for schools in lower-income communities, special education programs, before- and after-school programs, rural schools, school improvement programs, career and technical education programs and adult education programs. It also provides funding to support homeless and Native American students. Arizona is among the states whose K-12 public schools rely most on federal funding, according to the Pew Research Center. During fiscal year 2022, 19.7% of Arizona school funding came from the federal government, according to the center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Education Department also administers student loans and Pell Grants for students attending higher education institutions. It enforces civil rights laws in educational institutions through its Office for Civil Rights. It funds Head Start, which provides early education programs for lower-income children. It measures student achievement by administering the National Assessment of Educational Progress, called the Nation's Report Card, to a nationwide sample of students every two years. School breakfast and lunch programs are administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. What does Trump's executive order say? Trump's executive order directs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure" of the U.S. Department of Education and "return authority over education to the States and local communities." The order directs McMahon to do this, however, while "ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal Title I funds for schools in high-poverty regions, funding for students with disabilities, Pell Grants and student loans will be fully preserved," Trump said. The order also directs McMahon to ensure that programs or activities receiving federal funding through the department end diversity, equity and inclusion programs and "programs promoting gender ideology." Between cuts and voluntary buyouts, the Trump administration has trimmed the department's workforce in half from more than 4,000 employees to roughly 2,000 workers since the start of the president's second term. The Trump administration also cut $600 million in grants nationwide for teacher training programs, saying the programs were training "teachers and education agencies on divisive ideologies" like diversity, equity and inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them was funding for a program at more than a dozen schools in Maricopa County administered through the Maricopa County School Superintendent's office that aimed to help students recover from missed learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maricopa County School Superintendent Shelli Boggs, a Republican who has publicly supported Trump and his efforts to eliminate DEI, appealed the grant termination and is waiting for a response from the administration. Tom Horne, Arizona schools chief, praises Trump's executive order Arizona's top schools official praised Trump's order. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, a Republican, called the U.S. Department of Education "unnecessary" and said it "added bureaucracy for states" in a post on X. He thanked Trump for "bringing education back to the states where it belongs." In an interview, Horne said that from everything he had read, it appeared to him that Trump was "talking about eliminating bureaucracy" without affecting appropriations like Title I and special education funding. Horne said he thought his department could do a "much better job" at administering funding than the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have 600 people who do nothing but education," he said. "We're here in Arizona. We know what's happening in the schools." Horne said the Nation's Report Card, which is administered through the U.S. Department of Education, is "valuable" because it allows comparisons between states. "I'm not worrying about that right now," he said, adding that was a problem for a couple of years from now when the next assessment was scheduled. He said the Arizona Department of Education, which he oversees, was not yet taking any actions as a result of Trump's order. 'Harrowing and infuriating': How other Arizonans reacted to Trump's move Arizona Democrats swiftly criticized Trump's move to dismantle the Education Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Kris Mayes said on X, formerly Twitter, that the U.S. Department of Education "cannot be dismantled via executive order." "Another day, another illegal action by the Trump administration," Mayes, a Democrat, wrote March 20. "This chaos is not about efficiency its destruction." Last week, Mayes, along with other Democratic attorneys general, sued the Trump administration over the Education Department layoffs, saying that Horne's state-level department wouldn't be able to administer the same caliber of services happening on the federal level, calling the idea "ludicrous." U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said on X that the move would "further undermine public schools, making it harder for kids from working families like mine or who need a little extra help to get a good education." In a video released on the Arizona House Democrats' X account, House Assistant Democratic Leader Nancy Gutierrez called the executive order a "direct attack on vulnerable families" because of its potential to impact students with disabilities, as well as schools in lower-income communities, rural communities and schools in Indigenous nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tyler Kowch, a spokesperson for Save Our Schools Arizona, a public education advocacy group, said in a statement that the order was "unlawful and will be fiercely litigated" but would still cause "uncertainty and chaos" for school leaders. "Today is a harrowing and infuriating day for American students, parents, and educators," Kowch wrote. Dismantling the department would also jeopardize "legal protections for students, especially students with disabilities who rely on federal rights to ensure they receive the academic supports and accommodations they need," he said. "Without these protections, families lose legal recourse and assistance." Beth Lewis, the executive director of Save Our Schools, which has opposed school vouchers in Arizona, called Trump's order a "blatant attempt to dismantle public education and convert federal funding for our most vulnerable students into private school vouchers for the rich." Will Arizona's universities be impacted by the executive order? Arizona universities dont seem to have a clear picture yet, either. A spokesperson with Arizona State University said in a statement that the university was continuing to monitor the series of executive orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASU is reviewing all executive orders and federal actions to assess possible impacts, but we remain fully prepared to support our students and staff as needed, read the statement. Similarly, a spokesperson with Northern Arizona University said that the school is continuing to monitor and evaluate the evolving situation before determining how it could impact university operations. In a social media statement, the student-led organization Arizona Students' Association called the executive order a move to take away public education in order to "give tax breaks to the ultra rich." Students rely on the department for legal protections, and called on Arizona students and teachers to advocate for the department to their local representatives before Congress makes a decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student loans in Arizona: What happens to student loans in Arizona if the Department of Education is abolished? What about the federal student loan program? The U.S. Department of Education is also responsible for overseeing billions of dollars of loans and grants awarded to students attending higher education institutions. In Arizona alone, around 912,000 people have a total of $32.4 billion in federal student loans. Nationwide, the department is managing a student loan portfolio of over $1.6 trillion. And that number could go up, with more Arizona students this year having already filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid than in previous years. "Closure of the Department of Education would drastically improve program implementation in higher education. The Department of Education currently manages a student loan debt portfolio of more than $1.6 trillion. This means the Federal student aid program is roughly the size of one of the Nations largest banks, Wells Fargo. But although Wells Fargo has more than 200,000 employees, the Department of Education has fewer than 1,500 in its Office of Federal Student Aid," the executive order reads. "The Department of Education is not a bank, and it must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve Americas students." On Friday, Trump announced that the Small Business Administration would handle student loans. USA Today reporters Joey Garrison and Zachary Schermele and Arizona Republic reporter Helen Rummel contributed to this report. Have additional questions? Reach the reporters at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com and ahardle@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How will Trump's Education Department executive order affect Arizona? Two Democrats cited concerns about added costs to local governments already facing financial uncertainty before joining Republicans in voting against a bill that would make Oregon the first state in the country to extend unemployment to striking public employees. Senate Bill 916 passed 16-12 after a lengthy discussion Thursday on the Senate floor to move the bill to the House of Representatives. The bill would allow all striking workers to qualify for unemployment benefits after two weeks. They would have to pay back any unemployment benefits if they later received back pay for the time they were on strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey and New York are the only states that currently allow striking workers to collect unemployment. The legislation also would extend unemployment to striking public employees in Oregon. The bill was introduced at the request of the AFL-CIO, a labor federation representing more than 300,000 workers at 288 unions. It received three public hearings, two informational meetings and hundreds of pieces of written testimony. Workers with 503 SEIU watch the debate of Senate Bill 916 on Thursday in the Oregon Senate. Republican efforts to extend waiting period, add other provisions, fail Republicans submitted a minority report proposing an alternate version of the bill. Their proposal would have implemented a four-week waiting period, required paying back benefits with interest if a worker received back pay and prohibited striking public employees from receiving benefits. The minority report also would have required unions to maintain adequate strike funds to pay striking workers before members could access state benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, and other Republicans said the proposal would incentivize more frequent strikes. Bonham said Republicans believed the minority report protected the sanctity of this trusted institution and the consideration of SB 916 contradicted messaging from Democrats and labor unions urging Republicans to get back to work during the longest legislative walkout in history in 2023. Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, said Senate Bill 916 would incentivize more frequent strikes. I was told that Oregonians who do not show up to work, dont get paid, he said. The motion to adopt the Republicans proposal failed along party lines, 10-18. Supporters contend SB 916 would 'help level the playing field' We cannot expect Oregonians working in unsafe conditions for inadequate pay to do nothing, said Sen. Kathleen Taylor. D-Portland, chief sponsor of the bill. We have to ensure they can keep food on the table while they fight for change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor provided a flow chart of public employee unions bargaining process which she said showed 210 days of negotiations are required by before they can strike. Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, is the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 916. The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the legislation would have minimal impact on the state budget, based on historical strike data of 1,196 employees going on strike for an average of 8.6 weeks per strike in the last 10 years. The office estimated benefits would total an additional $2.1 million in the 2025-27 biennium. As of December 2024, Oregon's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund had grown to $6.4 billion. Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, also spoke in support of the bill, saying Oregon businesses and the state's economy and communities thrive when workers do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The playing field is nowhere close to level between corporations and workers, and might I add non-profit hospitals, Meek said. Thats why Im in support of this bill. To help level the playing field so that workers are not forced into a contract simply because they cannot afford to pay rent, to buy their groceries or pay for child care when they are out on strike. Meek pointed to a presentation from the Oregon Employment Department during an informational hearing on the bill, which showed unemployment insurance benefits provide an average of $196 to $836 in weekly benefits. No one is getting rich going on strike, he said. Unemployment bill would add to instability, opponents argue Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, who served on the Hillsboro School Board, said she had long been a champion of public employees and teachers in the state. But she questioned the legislation's potential impact on the financial stability of cities, counties and schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sollman also said actions by the Trump administration put into question the stability and survival funds critical for Oregon, which relies on about 32% of the state budget coming from the federal government. Now is not the time to be adding more uncertainty and more expenses, which Senate Bill 916 would certainly do, she said. Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, was one of two Democrats who voted against Senate Bill 916 on Thursday. Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, expressed similar concerns. Golden said some Oregon cities and counties are teetering on the edge of fiscal failure and the bill could mean another financial strain of unknown size if their unionized employees strike for more than two weeks. He addressed union members in the gallery, asking them not to task lawmakers with making Oregon a fairer economy "on the backs of our municipalities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other state in the country allows public employees to receive unemployment benefits while on strike. Oregon would be the first. It makes sense to me that no other state has done this because all of them rely on municipal partners too, Golden said. I would just ask if we want to be the first. I dont. Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, said existing labor rules and laws protect workers in Oregon and opposition to the bill did not represent opposing workers. The bill rewarded workers voluntarily choosing not to go to work, Starr added. Thats not what unemployment insurance is about, he said. Bonham said after the bill passed that the legislation would reward political allies at the expense of small businesses, health care facilities and schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oregon AFL-CIO applauded the bills passage. This bill represents real progress for working people, those whove too often been left behind by policies that favor the wealthy and powerful, Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor said in a statement. Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on X @DianneLugo This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon bill extending unemployment striking workers advances The former mayor of Denver is calling on the University of Colorado to conduct an internal investigation and address its lack of diversity. U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, left, and flower farmer Nikita Vincent listen to Ben Verhoeven, president of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) In and around Oregons capital city, federal funding cuts, freezes and clawed-back grants since President Donald Trump came back into office are leading to less food for people in need, more pests gnawing on wine grapes and plant cuttings wilting in trucks at understaffed ports. Those are some of the messages local business owners had for U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, a second-term Democrat whose 6th Congressional District includes Salem and the vineyards, farmland and forests of the northern Willamette Valley. She met with a small group of farmers and other community members in her Salem district office on Thursday to hear stories about how federal funding cuts and uncertainty are affecting people in the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of this is about programs, Salinas said. Its not about saving a program. Its about saving the work on the ground, people who are working and farming and feeding themselves and their families. Marion Polk Food Share Executive Director Rick Gaupo, whose nonprofit feeds thousands of people each month and operates Meals on Wheels in Salem and Keizer, said federal cuts are hitting as his agency and food banks throughout the country experience all-time high demand. Before the COVID pandemic, the network of food pantries served by Marion Polk Food Share had an average of 10,000 visitors each month. Now, that numbers at 18,000. Grocery prices and rent prices are both about 30% higher than they were pre-COVID, Gaupo said, while income and federal safety nets arent keeping up. That puts more pressure on food banks, which feed everyone they can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, a freeze on commodity purchases means that truckloads of food that would have gone to hungry families and seniors wont feed them. And the Marion Polk Food Share had to stop accepting new seniors into its program to deliver food boxes to their homes. Thats less food on somebodys table, Gaupo said. Thats just gone. The cuts come as he fears the number of food bank visitors will continue to rise, especially if cuts to Medicaid and Medicare lead to more people choosing between paying for groceries and medicine. Most of the people Salinas spoke with had received grants under the prior presidential administration and made plans based on those grants, only to find the rug yanked out from under them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was the case for Todd Severson, chief executive officer of Chapul Farms in McMinnville. He raises black soldier flies, collecting food waste to feed their larva. Their frass, or droppings, then become fertilizer. Chapul Farms received a $3.9 million grant after Russia invaded Ukraine as part of the U.S. Department of Agricultures attempt to produce more fertilizer domestically instead of importing it from Russia. Severson is still waiting to hear whether hell receive the last 10% of that grant. Another $1.9 million, part of a larger grant awarded in 2024 through the USDAs Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, was intended for Chapul Farms to work with 16 small farms throughout the country to turn farm waste into fertilizer. Severson hired two employees and expected to be reimbursed through the grant, and now he doesnt know if their jobs are safe. The people we talked to (in the federal agencies) have been let go, he said. Who do we talk to, who do we reach out to? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nikita Vincent, owner of Twig & Bloom Flower Farm, fears the $80,000 grant the Monmouth City Council accepted from the U.S. Economic Development Administration late last year to develop a year-round indoor farmers market run by farmers who are Black, Indigenous and people of color in the mid-Willamette Valley is gone for good. Vincent, who lives in West Salem, organized other BIPOC farmers and artisans and worked with the city of Monmouth to create a popup market. She hoped they had momentum to create a permanent co-op market, but everything feels frozen with a federal administration opposed to anything related to diversity, equity or inclusion. My biggest scare is the fact that BIPOC is literally the first word for that feasibility study proposal, Vincent said. Being that its a BIPOC effort, Im afraid that it might be cut due to just the fact that were looking to have people like the Grand Ronde tribe and Kalapuya and (the farmworkers union Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste) PCUN. The Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District helps farmers, ranchers and other landowners implement voluntary practices to restore and preserve parts of the prairies and oak savannas that once covered Yamhill County, executive director Andy Bleckinger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a popular program, in part because the wildlife supported by the native habitat is good for Oregon wine country: raptors drawn to the area by oak and prairie will keep rodents away. The natural landscape is also better for limiting fire oak trees are typically fire-resistant and thinning out the non-native brush and blackberry brambles means that fire burns quickly and at a low intensity. At least 20 landowners are on a waiting list for the soil districts conservation help, and a $6.6 million federal grant announced in December through the USDAs National Resources Conservation Service would have helped preserve more than 1,000 acres over the next five years. But the grant froze right after the district opened job applications to hire two new full-time employees to expand the conservation program. We were sending emails to various NRCS staff, trying to get communication on signing the contract agreement, and nothing, Bleckinger said. Just completely ghosted. We heard from somebody in Colorado that Colorado was technically saying that they were freezing theirs, but they couldnt speak for Oregon, and we didnt hear from anyone in Oregon until just last week. Ben Verhoeven, president of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, said the $1.2 billion nursery industry is already seeing impacts of tariffs, including cancellations from Canadian customers who buy about 10% of Oregons exported plants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The industry also brings in a lot of plant cuttings from Canada and Mexico, and job cuts affecting USDA inspectors at ports of entry mean those cuttings are wilting in trucks. These come to us in boxes overnight, and if they get delayed, I cant go right around the corner and get them, Verhoeven said. Employee cuts at the USDA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are also troubling for farmers, who rely on those workers to test and research safe pesticides for specialty crops and provide reliable weather forecasts. As any farmer will tell you, the weather isnt just small talk, its big business, Verhoeven said. And I look at my phone and check the weather, the long term forecasts, an embarrassing amount of times a day. And the website I use is NOAA. I would just really love your help, Congresswoman, making sure that that continues to be the gold standard for weather prediction, because its crucial to our industry. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An Oregon man is among three people facing severe federal charges for targeting Tesla properties with Molotov cocktails, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday. On March 4, 41-year-old Adam Lansky was arrested after authorities linked him to reports of someone throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting at a Salem Tesla dealership on two separate occasions. Oregon lawmakers, medical workers rally in Portland to save Medicaid Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first instance involved someone throwing Molotov cocktails at the Tesla dealership on Jan. 20, according to court documents. A month later, on Feb. 19, officials received reports that someone had caused damage by firing bullets into the building and a vehicle. Court documents said the suspect had been seen carrying an AR-15-style rifle with a suppressor. No suspects were found at the scene on either occasion, according to police. Trump orders shutdown of the Education Department. What does it do? However, investigators said Lansky could be spotted in surveillance footage throwing the Molotov cocktails that struck a dealership building and several vehicles in January and his car could be seen parked near the dealership during the second attack in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansky was charged by criminal complaint with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device in a federal court. However, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced each of the three suspects including Lanksy now face serious federal charges, which would carry a five-year minimum sentence and a maximum of 20 years in prison. The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended, Bondi said. Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars. Lansky will remain in custody until his next court appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two organizations were recognized for contributing to the future of journalism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on Thursday. The Broadcasters Association and Foundation, and the Bonnici Scholarship Fund were recognized for their contribution to students interested in a future in media. Two new plaques were revealed on their media schools donor wall in their honor. The new plaques were unveiled at a ceremony at the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the foundations website, its mission is to empower the next generation of broadcast leaders in Nevada with full-tuition scholarships. Students who receive the grant can have an interest in various aspects of media, whether it be in front of the camera, behind the scenes, or even sales. Tony and Linda Bonnici gave speeches before the unveiling and were noticeably emotional. Tony Bonnici said he was humbled. To even look at it, it just kinda reminds us of why were doing what were doing, said Bonnici. As for whats next for the foundation, they say theyre excited to help more students in the future. At UNLV alone, they have provided over 100 students scholarships since starting in 2011. In 2025, 31 local students in total received scholarships through the foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One scholarship recipient, Donovan Hicks, said the scholarship changed his life and shaped his career path. To be able to talk to Tony and Linda and Eric, and to be able to communicate with them about what I want to do in the future, has opened up a lot of new connections with me, and I think Ive really grown as a person, Hicks, a Junior at UNLV, said. Those interested in applying for future scholarships can do so online. Applicants must be Nevada students, and the deadline to apply is April 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. A Southwest Airlines flight was canceled after it almost took off from the taxiway at the Orlando International Airport. On Thursday, an air traffic controller canceled the takeoff clearance for Southwest Airlines Flight 3278, according to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Around 9:30 a.m., the plane began its takeoff roll on the taxiway, which runs parallel to the runway. The flight was headed to Albany International Airport in New York. FAA officials are investigating the issue. No other aircraft were involved. DUNCAN, Okla. (KFOR) According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, a Stephens County detention officer has been taken into custody after being accused of rape. Officials say the Stephens County Sheriffs Office requested the OSBIs help with the investigation on March 3, 2025. LOCAL NEWS: Police search for man in $700 theft investigation During the investigation, OSBI special agents determined a Stephens County detention officer, later identified as 58-year-old Christi Baird, was involved in inappropriate misconduct with an inmate. Christi Baird. Image courtesy OSBI. The OSBI says on March 19, an arrest warrant was issued for Baird on two felony charges of Second Degree Rape and Sexual Battery. The next day, she was arrested and booked into the Stephens County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAV) U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) called for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) leaders to reinstate the funding for a Georgia peanut program Thursday. The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Peanut at the University of Georgia works to alleviate hunger by helping farmers in developing countries grow and profit from healthy peanut crops, the program website reports. Ossoff said that they have developed new disease-resistant peanut varieties, and created a risk index tool to help U.S. farmers increase yield potential and improve peanut quality. They also study the impacts of different temperatures and rainfall patterns on peanut growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USAID signed a 5-year, $15 million grant contract in 2023 with the UGA to continue projects at the lab, but that went back on that in Feb. 2025, Ossoff said. He reports that UGA received notice in February that the Trump Administration would be terminating the program. The Deputy Director of USAIDs Office of Acquisition and Assistance reportedly wrote that the labs work is not aligned with [USAID] priorities and made a determination that continuing this program is not in the national interest. In a letter to Acting Administrator of USAID, Marco Rubio, and Deputy Director of Office of Acquisition and Assistance at USAID, Nadeem Shah, Ossoff asked for a written response within one week with an update on funding for the lab. I also request detailed reasoning for the State Departments decision to terminate funding for agricultural research that helps American farmers, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The labs are not physical buildings, but a network of researchers, the peanut programs website said. You can read the full letter here: 25.03.20-FTFIL-Letter-to-USAIDDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A federal grand jury indicted four Chinese nationals on March 19 for allegedly possessing more than 15 counterfeit and unauthorized access devices as part of a gift card tampering scheme. The U.S. Attorneys Office said Zhiqiang Huang and Chaoming Lin were charged with over 15 counterfeit and unauthorized access devices following their arrest on Oct. 19, 2024. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the first indictment, Kroger security personnel allegedly saw Lin placing fight cards on the rack at a Kroger in Louisville, and police later found Haung and Lin in possession of about 5,000 gift cards. Reportedly, an analysis showed 2,000 of the cards had been altered. A second indictment said Huixing Yu and Tianlong Chen were also arrested on Oct. 19. Kroger personnel allegedly saw Chen putting gift cards on a rack at a Kroger store in Louisville. Police allegedly found them in possession of about 650 gift cards, with tests showing 250 had likely been altered. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, gift card tampering is a form of organized retail crime. Organizations usually hire people to steal unactivated gift cards, which are tampered with and then put back on store shelves for customers to purchase. When customers buy and put money on the cards, the groups are able to transfer the funds off of the cards and then place them somewhere they can access to buy goods. If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. DENVER (KDVR) A driver was allegedly found with over 43 pounds of meth in the car after being pulled over for speeding on Interstate 70. The Eagle County Sheriffs Office said a deputy with the Gore Range Narcotic Interdiction Team Task Force pulled over a white pickup truck on Wednesday near the western edge of Eagle County after the driver was reportedly going 82 mph and drifting onto a rumble strip. Police find various drugs, guns, cash after stopping vehicle in Broomfield Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said the deputy sensed something was off, and after issuing a speeding warning, a K-9 was sent to sniff the vehicle. The K-9 alerted for the presence of narcotics, which led to a search finding over 43 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle. The search found 21 bundles of suspected narcotics, which the sheriffs office said tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine with a weight of approximately 43.62 pounds. Over 40 pounds of meth found in car (Courtesy of Eagle County Sheriffs Department) Over 40 pounds of meth found in car (Courtesy of Eagle County Sheriffs Department) Over 40 pounds of meth found in car (Courtesy of Eagle County Sheriffs Department) Over 40 pounds of meth found in car (Courtesy of Eagle County Sheriffs Department) Angel Guadalupe Leon Payan, 41, from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, faces charges of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (meth), unlawful possession of a controlled substance (meth), special offender (meth) and conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is being held on a $100,000 bond after being taken to the Eagle County Detention Facility. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The sheriffs office is asking anyone with information about the suspect or crime to call the Eagle County Sheriffs Office at (970) 328-8500. Tipsters can remain anonymous by submitting a tip online to the Eagle County Crime Stoppers or sending a tip to the P3 Tips mobile app. If the tip leads to the arrest and indictment of any suspect involved, the sheriffs office said the tipster could earn a cash reward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LETTERS: Where should they sleep?; one size fits all makes no sense Scientists have announced the surprising discovery of oxygen and other heavy metals in the most distant known galaxy. The galaxy, which is known as JADES-GS-z14-0, is 13.4 billion light years away from Earth. It was just found last year using NASAs James Webb Space Telescope. "I was really surprised by this clear detection of oxygen in JADES-GS-z14-0, Gergo Popping, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatorys European ALMA Regional Centre who did not take part in the research, said in a statement. It suggests galaxies can form more rapidly after the Big Bang than had previously been thought. Scientists have discovered oxygen in the most distant known galaxy. The findings suggest they can form more rapidly than was previously believed (ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Carniani et al./S. Schouws et al/JWST: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Brant Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), Ben Johnson (CfA), Sandro Tacchella (Cambridge), Phill Cargile (CfA)) The finding was made in two separate studies conducted by two different teams of astronomers. It has allowed scientists to improve distance measurements to the galaxy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They used the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array: a group of dozens of radio telescopes in the Chilean desert and the largest astronomical project in existence. The images show the galaxy as it was when the universe was less than 300 million years old, just about 2 percent of its current age, the researchers noted. Finding oxygen there tells astronomers that the galaxy is much more chemically mature than expected. Researchers had thought that at its age it was still too young to have galaxies ripe with heavy elements. But it has about 10 times more heavy elements than they had estimated. Galaxies usually start their lives full of young stars, which are made mostly of lighter elements, including hydrogen and helium. As they evolve, the stars create heavier elements that are sent out through their host galaxy after they die. JADES-GS-z14-0 is the current record-holder for the most distant known galaxy. It was found using NASAs James Webb Space Telescope (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, B. Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), B. Johnson (CfA), S. Tacchella (Cambridge), P. Cargile (CfA)) It is like finding an adolescent where you would only expect babies, said Sander Schouws, the first author of the study now accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. The results show the galaxy has formed very rapidly and is also maturing rapidly, adding to a growing body of evidence that the formation of galaxies happens much faster than was expected." I was astonished by the unexpected results because they opened a new view on the first phases of galaxy evolution, said Stefano Carniani of the Scuola Normale Superiore, the lead author of the second paper now accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. The evidence that a galaxy is already mature in the infant universe raises questions about when and how galaxies formed. KEVIN KNODELL / 2024 Among canceled Pentagon research projects is a study on how competition over fisheries in the Pacific and Arctic could fuel conflict. A Chinese-operated, Vanuatu-flagged fishing boat sails through the waters of Samoa. KEVIN KNODELL / 2024 Among canceled Pentagon research projects is a study on how competition over fisheries in the Pacific and Arctic could fuel conflict. A Chinese-operated, Vanuatu-flagged fishing boat sails through the waters of Samoa. Steven Mana oakamai Johnson, a Cornell University professor who grew up on Saipan, has devoted his life to studying the ocean and how people in the Pacific depend on the fish in it to feed themselves and support their economies. Lately hes been studying when they fight over them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has been working on a Pentagon-funded project called Future Fish Wars : Chasing Ocean Ecosystem Wealth, for which the military awarded a grant in 2023. It was looking at how illegal fishing, climate change and changing migration patterns of fish species could contribute to new conflicts between rival fishermen that could escalate into much larger confrontationslooking mostly at the Pacific and the Arctic. All the fisheries climate research shows that theres going to be a reshuffling of the deck of where these trans-boundary fish stocks are going to end up, said Johnson. It might be important to understand, you know, what is the texture of that scenario ? Whos involved ? You know, where has fisheries conflict happened in the past, what was driving it ? The South China Sea, once considered among the worlds richest fishing grounds, has been depleted by years of industrialized fishing methods. Today, Chinese fishermenbacked by the Chinese militaryhave clashed violently with fishermen from neighboring countries, creating an increasingly militarized standoff. China has also sent its vast state-subsidized fishing fleet across the globe, with large groups of vessels descending on South Americas coastlines. Theres just a fundamental understanding that we need to improve on knowing when and where these sort of disputes can escalate out of control, and that then might lead to much larger concerns, said James Watson, an oceanographer at Oregon State University who served as the projects lead researcher. And so this is the work that we proposed, and it was really readily accepted and welcomed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this month the team received word that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered funding terminated for their study and several other projects. On March 7 the Pentagon announced that it had culled several projects supported by the Minerva Initiative, which began under the Republican administration of George W. Bush to support academic work related to issues that military planners believe is relevant to threats they might face. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The projects highlighted in the cancellations included studies into how climate change, human migration trends and food shortages could fuel instability and conflictincluding several focused on the Pacific. Among the other culled projects highlighted was a study that was to be led by Anamaria Bukvic, a geographer at Virginia Techs College of Natural Resources and Environment, that would have looked at how rising seas and changes to coastal areas could have strategic implications for regional security. In a September news release, Virginia Tech said, The interdisciplinary team will evaluate how coastal maladaptationor failed efforts to adapt to climate changeaffects population mobility in coastal areas of U.S. allies and territories in the Indo-Pacific, either pulling people in or pushing them out. The Department of Defense relies on these allies and territories to conduct joint exercises and deployments essential to its strategy of integrated deterrence in the region, which includes the South and East China seas and Taiwan. This award was my first experience with the DOD Minerva Initiative, and I did not even start with the research, Bukvic told the Hono lulu Star-Advertiser. The grant was just processed and then terminated. The situation is very unfortunate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has vowed to end diversity programs and to heavily cut or dismantle many environmentally focused programs. In particular, anything involving climate change, which Trump calls the climate hoax, is a particular target. In its March 7 announcement, the Pentagon said that the Department (of Defense ) recognizes the value of academic research butin response to President Trumps Executive Orders and Secretary Hegseths priorities recognizes that funded research must address pressing needs to develop and field advanced military capabilities. But days later Hegseth was much less diplomatic, making a post on social media platform X on March 9 declaring that the Pentagon does not do climate change crap. For nearly two decades military leaders have been referring to climate change as a potential threat multiplier. Analysts have warned that drought and other disasters risked fueling displacement and competition over resources, destabilizing countries and possibly entire regions. In 2013, Adm. Samuel Locklearthen top commander of U.S. forces in the Pacifictold The Boston Globe he believed climate change was the greatest threat to the Pacific region and that it will cripple the security environment, probably more likely than the other scenarios we all often talk about. During Trumps first administration the Pentagon continued to study and track climate changeat least initially. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Pentagon study in 2018 found that nearly half of all U.S. military sites were threatened by weather linked to climate change. But following the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis, the Navy quietly disbanded its climate change task force that started under the Obama administration and that Mattis had kept open. When Joe Biden entered the White House in 2021, the office reopened. But under Trump 2.0 the president and his Cabinet are taking a much harder line on climate and other environmental issues, with sweeping rollbacks on environmental regulations and monitoring programs. During Hegseths Senate confirmation hearing in January, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, asked whether Hegseth would commit to firing his Navy secretary if he began to talk about climate change. Heg seth replied that my secretary of the Navyshould I be confirmed, sirwill not be focused on climate change in the Navy. But in Hawaii, military leaders have told the Star-Advertiser that regardless of terminology, issues like rising sea levels are realities they have to confrontman-made or not. One senior Army official told the Star-Advertiser that regardless of whether the administration wants to use the term climate change, polar ice caps are melting, and it is changing the strategic environment in both the Pacific and Arctic as the U.S. competes with China and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the ice melts, China and Russia are looking at the opening of new trade routes and staking out undersea oil and mineral deposits. The Northern Pacific and Arctic are also home to rich fisheries that American and Russian fishermen have already been competing over. Johnson said that as were losing the polar ice caps, and we have more days of the year that are ice-free, were expecting, potentially, that you might see more conflict arising there. And so we were trying to unpack that situation as well. The U.S. is also competing with China for influence in Pacific island countries, where fisheries are central to the economy and where many island leaders now consider climate change an existential threat. We always talk about how historic drought and sea level rise are going to be the ruin of the Marshall Islands, but they also wont have their fish anymore, right ? And like, thats just like another death by a thousand cuts, said Johnson. Fisheries resources, we hypothesize, could be a back door way to curry favor with these countries and have them flip allegiances. The Minerva Initiative has long been controversial, drawing critics from many directions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it first began in 2008, many academics raised concerns that it threatened researchers neutrality. Those critics noted that academic researchers working internationally already had to fight allegations that they were using academic credentials as cover for espionage and argued the program would only fuel more suspicion. Some also expressed concern there would be pressure to skew findings to please Pentagon officials funding the studies. Watson argued that the money that the administration says it saved by rescinding the Minerva research grants is a minuscule portion of the Pentagons enormous budget. He said that while he and other researchers will find other ways to continue to pursue these topicsand that he agrees there are places the government can cut spendinghe said hes troubled by the tone and attitude of critics who dismiss his teams research as left-wing activism. Fishery competition has in recent years come to Hawaii and American Samoa as crews of U.S. fishing vessels have reported seeing large numbers of Chinese and other fishing fleets on the high seas around the islandsand experienced occasional clashes. In March 2020 the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council in Hono lulu sent a letter to the U.S. State Department after a violent encounter between a Taiwanese fishing vessel and a Honolulu longliner. The council demanded that officials follow up on complaints of assault by foreign fishing vessels on the Hawaii-based U.S. longline fishery and take appropriate diplomatic actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Trumps first presidency, the Coast Guard declared that rampant illegal fishing had eclipsed piracy as the No. 1 global security threat at sea. The Coast Guardworking closely with the Navyhas stepped up its efforts to fight illegal fishing. The U.S. has also agreed to increase joint fishery enforcement patrols with Japan, Australia and India. 23 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) A Palmetto man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a St. Landry Parish jury convicted him of murder and attempted murder, prosecutors said. Sanplice Simien, 48, of Palmetto was convicted in the 27th Judicial District Court Thursday of first degree murder in the killing Michael Thomas and Ladarious Keller in October 2020. He was previously found guilty of three counts of attempted first degree murder in connection with the same incudent in October 2020 authorities said was in retaliation to a previous armed robbery. The situation began several days before the shooting, when Thomas was involved in a heated argument with Simien in the Morrow area, and Thomas robbed Simien of between $1,200 and $1,400 in cash, officials said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, Simien allegedly found Thomas and four other men in a parked vehicle in Morrow and opened fire on them with two guns. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Louisiana law mandates life imprisonment for first degree murder. He will be sentenced to no less than life for murder and from 10 to 50 years on each of the counts of attempted murder, prosecutors said. Sentencing is scheduled for May 8. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Florida Department of Transportation approved $8 million in funding for the Beach Drive multipurpose pathway project years ago. But Hurricane Michael and COVID-19 delayed the project. When Panama City officials revived it in 2023, there was a backlash from some, especially those living along Beach Drive. The east end of Beach Drive will have the pathway directly adjacent to the road. On the west end, where there is more land, the pathway will be closer to the bay, with greenspace between it and the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials highlighted some of what they consider to be the key design features of the project. They include: Narrower 11-foot-wide driving lanes 8-12 pathway Additional 107 trees Turn down curbing 17 Bay Saver stormwater filtration systems The multi-purpose pathway will vary from 8 to 12 feet in width. The project will require the removal of 120 trees, 54 pine trees, including 24 that are dead, dying, or are a safety concern, 64 palm trees, three of which are dead, and two oak trees. Florida Senate leaders advocate rural renaissance to aid rural areas But they point out theyre adding 227 trees, including 82 oak trees. That would result in 107 more trees than are currently on Beach Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is also installing 17 Bay Saver stormwater filtration systems to reduce trash and debris from entering the bay. Beach Drive resident George Carothers has been opposed to the plan from the start. Nothing hes seen in these final plans has changed his mind. Thats kind of complicated in that they also have to dig up the road at 17 locations and replace the underground culvert to get to the bay. The bay saver filters out sedimentbut it doesnt do such a good job of filling out pollutants, Carothers said. Carothers says he and most of his neighbors moved to Beach Drive for a reason. The purpose for which most people build on Beach Drive is for the view and the access to the beach. And one of the major reasons that we do not like the idea of the path is because its going to be a major interruption to that long-term advantage and all the foliage and trees and everything that comes down along with it, Carothers added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Carothers says some change is needed. Wed like to kind of see some beautification go on along the shorelinewithout there being a massive sidewalk and everything that goes along with it, narrowing of the roads and safety issues and the litter and lighting, etc, Carothers said. Panama City officials released the plan a few minutes before 4:00 p.m. Thursday. We immediately called to request an interview but were told no one would comment until tomorrow. None of the city commissioners answered or returned our calls. All Panama City voters will get a chance to voice their opinion during the April 22nd municipal elections. Theres a non-binding straw poll on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials made a point of saying this final design plan has to be reviewed and approved by state DOT officials and Panama City commissioners. You can find the designs and more information on the project 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 mypanhandle.com. MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) Julia Pope is the mother of 10-year-old Gunner and 5-year-old Garrett; both were diagnosed with autism. Its a diagnosis she worried could bring major struggles at school, but she quickly learned of the support Madison City Schools offers. Madison firefighters help deliver baby girl I cant go on and on more about both my childrens progress in the last year, Pope said. Her sons receive individualized help at school ranging from occupational to speech therapy. Treatment Julia said helped her boys in the classroom and at home, courtesy of therapists on staff at the school. She said the endless support was helpful, especially with her oldest son Gunner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt really have much of a relationship with him because I couldnt communicate with him, Pope said. She changed our lives. She gave me a relationship with my son. Pope worries the progress shes seen in her boys could stop with the Trump Administration taking major steps to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. Woman works with Alabama lawmakers to make bill prohibiting sex offenders from becoming first responders Its all so up in the air right now, Pope said. Its very gray in a world of black and white at the moment, in terms of education. No parent with a child with special needs has been sleeping easily the last few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope added that if parents had to search for treatments and therapies on their own, the costs would quickly add up, forcing some families to forego the process altogether. No doubt were already pretty financially strapped in terms of having to pay for ABA therapy four times a week, every week, Pope said. I know people who have had to remortgage their homes to get ABA therapy for their child. I genuinely dont know what I would do without the support that I received from the school systems. And to think that they could potentially be going away is definitely something to lose sleep over While Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said funding for programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will stay, Pope said she and other parents arent convinced it will remain intact. Its very disheartening to see, Pope said. And Im getting a message from a different mom every day being like, have you seen this? Have you seen this? And Im like, yeah. And its worrisome. Its worrisome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope started a support group called Madison County Parents of Children with Special Needs, saying parents in this situation are leaning on one another now more than ever. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. CHEYENNE Following the passing of House Bill 172, Repeal gun-free zones and preemption amendments, local school districts are tasked with amending district policy to accommodate the new legislation. The bill, which passed into law without the signature of Gov. Mark Gordon, repealed all gun-free zones, including schools. While students will still not be permitted to concealed-carry firearms, districts now need to develop policies for adults in the district who wish to carry in district facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, school boards would adopt a template policy from the Wyoming School Boards Association to fit their district needs, but based on previous experiences with that process, local parent and Moms for Liberty Laramie County Chapter Chairwoman Patricia McCoy decided to preemptively provide alternatives. The WSBA fought against this bill all legislative session, McCoy told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Every meeting I went to to testify for this bill, they were there testifying against it. But now we, as a community, are supposed to trust that they're making a good policy for our schools, for a bill that they didn't even want to pass. McCoy was heavily involved in the district's adoption of its current parental rights policy, which was adopted over the past summer at the direction of the Legislature. Based on her frustrations with that process, this time around, she formed an alternative policy and rallied a small group of 10 parents and teachers to sign a petition directing the LCSD1 board to consider the petition, which was presented to them during Mondays meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The petition directs the board to review the model policy, place this matter on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled board meeting on April 7, allow public comment on all policy versions and consider adopting McCoys model policy in lieu of a blanket policy provided by WSBA. Petitioners believe the policy better reflects the intent of the Wyoming Legislature, provides clear guidance for all district stakeholders, balances safety concerns with respect for lawful concealed-carry rights and establishes appropriate protocols that can be consistently enforced, according to the petition. Though McCoy is heavily involved with Moms for Liberty, she says this petition was not affiliated with the organization. I did this on my own, McCoy said. This was not presented to the board by Moms for Liberty, and it is not something that we're really pushing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While petitioners intend to get ahead of WSBA policies, WSBA Executive Director Brian Farmer noted he would encourage districts to be wary of any policies that havent been vetted by legal counsel. Take a look at our (policy), take a look at some other ones, use those to craft a policy that fits your district, Farmer said. But for somebody to say, Hey, I've got it solved for you I would never encourage a district to just adopt something (because) somebody says, Hey, I've got it solved for you. McCoys policy McCoys policy is based on her interpretation of local gun laws, with large chunks being pulled directly from the statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy clarifies that students are expressly prohibited from possessing, carrying, using or threatening to use a weapon or firearm on school property at all times. Employees and volunteers who hold a valid Wyoming concealed-carry permit may carry a concealed firearm on school property per the policy, as long as they adhere to specific requirements. The policy requires them to provide a written notification to the superintendent, if they intend to carry a concealed firearm, prior to carrying it on school property. Any negligent discharge, loss of a firearm or violation of this policy will be immediately reported to the superintendent and law enforcement. The employee or volunteer must also present their valid Wyoming concealed-carry permit for verification and recording by authorized district personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCoys policy would also require that employees or volunteers looking to concealed-carry on school property undergo specific training per statute. This includes an initial course of training of no less than 16 hours of live-fire handgun training, eight hours of scenario-based training using nonlethal training, firearms and ammunition, and no less than 12 hours of annual firearm qualification and documented recurrent training. The employee or volunteer must maintain the firearm on their person at all times or secure it in a concealed biometric container or lock box within their direct control. Everything that's written in that policy comes from Wyoming state statutes that are already law, or from the new law that just passed itself, McCoy said. The requirements for the training (for example) I know some people think that's aggressive, that's a lot of training, but if the safety and security of our teachers and our students is the main priority, then everyone should have to go through extensive training to ensure that they are being as safe as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the policy does require employees and volunteers to provide written notice to the superintendent, it also provides that the identities of employees and volunteers who carry concealed firearms will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law. The policy also provides that it cannot be construed to prohibit a private property owner from restricting firearms on his private property or allow the carrying of a concealed weapon within facilities where otherwise prohibited by law. McCoy's policy also directs the district to implement an age-appropriate firearm safety education program that promotes responsible gun ownership and safety for elementary, middle and high school students. McCoys hope in presenting the alternative policy was to give the district a variety of options as they address this issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per Wyoming Statute 21-3-110 (xiii), the board is required to consider every petition presented to them, as long as at least five citizens of the school district have signed the petition. They have 30 days after receiving the petition to respond. I can petition under this statute to have them review this policy, McCoy said. Not to say they're going to take it and pass it, but if (they) want the most legal detail, follow the statutes and law policy possible? I've handed it to (them) on a silver platter; it's up to (them) to decide what to do with it. McCoy's policy was not reviewed by legal counsel before being presented to the board. WSBA policies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the main critiques from petitioners is that with past policies, such as the parental rights policy, districts just adopted model policies from the WSBA without considering their district-specific needs. Farmer told the WTE that model policies are intentionally vague to allow districts to customize them while remaining compliant with the law. Our model policies are always intended to be a starting point for districts, Farmer said. They're never intended to be something that you just adopt as they are, and they're crafted in a combination of our legal counsel, as well as folks that have lots of experience with the administration of school districts. WSBA has yet to formulate a policy regarding HB 172; however, they do intend to create a sort of policy template, as they have in the past, according to Farmer. He said WSBA anticipates less difficulty with this new policy, since HB 172 contains clear and straightforward language, which wasnt the case when districts were faced with formulating parental rights policies. Our struggle in creating a model policy (was) how do you provide language that operationalizes a statute that really had good intent but was very difficult for districts to operationalize, Farmer said in reference to parental rights. We don't foresee the same difficulties with the firearms policy, because the Legislature has been fairly clear in its intent, and you're no longer just talking about ideals like parental notification. There's far less detail for a district to work through because its a fairly limited scope of what a district can regulate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While parents often point out that simple notification and parents' rights should be easy to implement, Farmer said broad concepts and poorly written statutes are difficult to enforce. A well-written statute is easy to implement, a poorly written statute provides lots of challenges, Farmer said. Laramie 1 was not the only district in the state that had challenges with the parental rights policy. I would say almost every district did. The board has not made any public decisions regarding a policy yet, and the agenda for their April 7 meeting has not been posted yet. The parents of an unvaccinated child who died of the measles are causing alarm by how they're responding to the tragedy. Amid a measles outbreak across three states with 279 reported cases, two deaths and seemingly no end in sight, the parents of the 6-year-old who died from the disease appeared in an anti-vaccine campaign spearheaded by the anti-vaccine advocacy group Children's Health Defense, which was once helmed by current Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As reported by outlets including The San Antonio Express News and Mother Jones, the parents shared that their other four children also contracted the measles but didn't suffer their 6-year-old sibling's tragic fate. While speaking in low German, the couple doubled down on their anti-vaccine stance. The parents, who belong to a Mennonite community in West Texas, claimed that if patients battling the measles had access to untested treatments, then the MMR vaccine would be unnecessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if they still prefer the tragic outcome rather than just take the MMR vaccine, the parents didn't hesitate. "Absolutely [do] not take the MMR [vaccine]," the mother said. "The measles wasn't that bad. [The other children] got over it pretty quickly." As Mother Jones points out, it's statistically likely that the siblings of the child who died would have had mild cases -- regardless of getting treatment or not -- as one in five unvaccinated children with measles end up hospitalized. That said, children who survive the measles face long-term complications, from lung problems to pneumonia, and these complications can happen years after recovery. Related: Novak Djokovic Pushes Back Against 'Anti-Vax' Label The couple's 6-year-old daughter is the first child to die during the 2025 outbreak that public health experts warn could soon become a nationwide epidemic. The 6-year-old experienced the typical symptoms: fever, respiratory difficulty, and a rash. She struggled to breathe days later and her fever persisted. When her breathing grew labored, the parents rushed her to the hospital, where she was admitted with pneumonia. The child was eventually placed on a ventilator in intensive care before she died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their nonchalance over their daughter's death drew outrage from parents, who say the death could have been so easily avoided. "Wow, pride and letting your child die of a preventable disease," one person commented on Facebook. "We have sunk to a new low in this country." "My brother lost a child a few months ago. He said it was the worst thing he has ever been through," another commented. "These people who could have prevented their childs death will have to live with the loss for the rest of their lives. Which will never be the same. People have nothing but sympathy for my brother. These people may wonder if people arent thinking they could have prevented this." Related: RFK Jr. Admits He Dumped Dead Bear Cub in Central Park Years Ago Another added, "The father legitimately sat there crying for a minute and then said 'It was God's will that she died and we just have to trust him.' No sir. You killed your child." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple, through a translator, repeated several other unfounded claims about the measles, including that the measles strengthen the immune system. "Vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection," a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement. "Measles does not have a specific antiviral treatment. Supportive care, including vitamin A administration under the direction of a physician, may be appropriate." Celebrity hotel heiress Paris Hilton poses for photographs outside the U.S. Capitol on the day the House of Representatives is set to vote on The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act on December 17, 2024 in Washington, DC. Citing her own traumatizing experience at Provo Canyon School in Utah when she was a teenager, Hilton has lobbied for three years for the legislations that would place greater federal safeguards on institutional youth treatment programs. (Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images) A Senate bill that aims to prevent abuse of minors in West Virginias residential treatment programs has backing from Paris Hilton, who sent a letter to state lawmakers urging them to pass the legislation. Heiress, model and actress Hilton, who says she was abused in residential treatment facilities as a teen, said the legislation establishes essential protections for children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia has the chance to lead by example and set a higher standard of care and safety for vulnerable youth, Hilton wrote in a letter to members of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources. Senate Bill 817 would require state licensure for private adolescent residential programs and some outdoor or boot camp experiences that aim to help children with behavioral or mental health issues. The Senate Health Committee advanced the legislation Thursday. The measure also mandates background checks for staff and bans the use of physical discipline. Children couldnt be deprived of basic rights, including education, and must have regular, unsupervised video communication with their parents. Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio We have had horrible things happen to our children in West Virginia, said Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Ohio, who sponsored the measure. This bill requires licensure of these programs so that there is some oversight and accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miracle Meadows, a now-defunct West Virginia boarding school, was accused in 2014 of sexually and physically abusing students over the course of decades. Settlements in civil action lawsuits over the allegations now total $100 million, according to attorneys representing victims. I became aware of the idea for this bill because of my involvement as a fellow in the nationwide Future Caucus. Hilton is a champion of this legislation because of her own experiences of abuse when she was a child, Chapman said. Hilton testified before Congress last year that she had been violently restrained, stripped of clothing and put into solitary confinement. She says the industry needs to be more regulated. Following her advocacy, Congress passed its own legislation in December requiring more oversight of youth residential treatment facilities. West Virginia has a number of in-state residential providers that serve children in foster care or those who are placed there by their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the families who turn to these kinds of programs dont fully understand the unlicensed and unregulated nature of these programs, who sadly then discover this when theres been some type of issue with child abuse, said Caroline Cole, strategic advocacy lead of Hiltons advocacy organization, 11:11 Impact. Cole spoke to lawmakers via virtual testimony. Sarah Riley is the executive director of High Rocks Educational Corporation, which operates an outdoor educational camp for youth in Pocahontas County. She supports the legislations intention to prevent child abuse but brought up concerns about how it would be implemented, like its requirement that parents have unsupervised video communication with their child. You know that we have challenges with technology and connectivity in pockets all across the state. We dont have the technology infrastructure in parts of West Virginia to support a high-quality, reliable video call. Riley also pushed for more clarity about which programs the bill would apply to since there are numerous outdoor learning programs across the state. It should apply to programs that have a therapeutic element to them, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certain West Virginia youth programs are exempt from the requirements, including Mountaineer Challenge Academy, which is regulated in a separate section of state code. The bill doesnt include recreational programs like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or 4-H clubs, and it also exempts faith-related camps and activities. I think the intention of this bill I support 100%, Riley said. West Virginias Office of Inspector General would be charged with establishing legislative rules to regulate the facilities, according to the bill. Residential treatment programs would be subject to losing their operating license for failure to follow the bills requirements. The measure now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TOPEKA (KSNT) Park staff in Shawnee County are working to uproot a number of invasive species which have become embedded in the local soil, some of which were purposefully introduced in previous years to beautify the area. 27 News reached out to Shawnee County Parks and Recreation (SCP+R) this week to learn more about its efforts to remove and replace invasive plants that have become established at the parks it manages. SCP+R Park Manager for District 1, Tom Hammer, provided some answers on this topic and what the county is doing to get rid of these harmful plants. Hammer said the SCP+Rs current efforts include the removal of the smelly callery or Bradford pear trees. These types of trees were planted across much of Kansas due to their spring blooms, fall colors and lack of issues with insects, according to the Kansas Forest Service (KFS). However, the trees are difficult to remove once established and are prone to causing damage during storms as their limbs break off easily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Removal of Gage Park playground equipment begins in Topeka We have been working to remove a number of invasive species in our parks for many years. Callery Pear (Bradford and others) are included in this list but are a fairly new addition, Hammer said. Up until 15 years ago we were still growing these in our nurseries to plant out into parks! SCP+R staff will remove these types of trees from park property and replace them with native varieties of trees that can accomplish the goal of providing shade to passerby. However, callery pear trees are spreading in Kansas on their own with the help of birds and are growing in areas beyond the parks managed by the SCP+R. Callery pears have proven to be quite prolific seeders in this part of the country, Hammer said. Where once the original Bradford was [a] seedless clone, other varieties were introduced to improve the trees structural problems. New seedlings can pop up so quickly that a pasture can be overtaken by these trees even faster than by our native Redcedar. A Bradford pear tree. (Getty Images) Greater Topeka Partnership CEO stepping down in May Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hammer said SCP+R staff have also been pushing to remove other invasive plants from local parks such as bush honeysuckle, oriental bittersweet, vining honeysuckle, wintercreeper, ailanthus, black locust and silver poplar. He said Johnson grass and serecia lespedeza are also being targeted for removal. Even a tree which we propagated in our nurseries for many years, Sawtooth Oak, has proven to be somewhat invasive, Hammer said. Areas near the nursery not being mowed were hosting seedlings of this species. I was always told it was a reliable shade tree but certainly something to watch. Topeka business leaders look for positives despite loss of retail giants, Heartland Motorsports Park Local organizations, Evergy and the KFS have partnered in the past to offer residents a tree buyback program where Bradford pear trees are removed and replaced with a healthier native tree species. The KFS announced on March 21 that it will host a small buyback event in the fall this year in Manhattan with additional buybacks set for spring in 2026. The KFS encourages people with questions on this topic to reach out to the Kansas Arborists Association (KAA) for tree removal assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The KFS has a list of recommendations you can check out to learn what types of trees are suitable for cultivating in Kansas. You can learn more about the damage being caused by Bradford pear trees by taking part in an upcoming class on them in Rossville on April 9 hosted by Kansas State University. What are the pink mystery rocks scattered across northeast Kansas? For more Kansas Outdoors, 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 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Republican members of Colorado's congressional delegation mostly cheered President Donald Trump's executive order Thursday largely dismantling the Department of Education, while the state's Democratic lawmakers blasted the move as a "wrecking ball" approach to problems in public schools. "The Department of Education is DONE! Thank you, President Trump!" Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert enthused in a post on X. Noting that the department's budget has grown over the years while student proficiency has worsened by some measures, Boebert added: "Our children deserve a REAL education, not the federal mess we have now. Now the money will go back to the states and well get QUALITY education again." "We're gonna shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible," Trump said at a signing event at the White House. "It's doing us no good." The order instructs the education secretary to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities." Trump said that the department, established in 1979, would be pared down to its "core necessities," preserving responsibility for Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and money for children with disabilities. It was unclear whether the department will continue to manage its $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. Democrat Michael Bennet, the state's senior U.S. senator and a former Denver Public Schools superintendent, said in a statement that parents are "worried enough" about the state of the public education system, citing declining reading scores and increasing absenteeism. "All of this is proof we need to work together to reimagine our public schools for the 21st century, not bring a wrecking ball to them," Bennet said. "But the answer was not to tap a former wrestling executive as the nation's secretary of education. The children who will suffer the most from President Trump and Elon Musk's outrageous decision are America's most vulnerable children living in poverty, children with disabilities and children in rural communities." Bennet's fellow senator, Democrat John Hickenlooper, emphasized in a social media post that Trump can't "abolish" the department on his own. Yes, its illegal for Trump to shut down a federal agency without congressional approval. Even his own Secretary of Education knows that," Hickenlooper said on X above an excerpt of Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifying before a congressional committee. "It is set up by the United States Congress, and we work with Congress," McMahon said in the clip Hickenlooper attached. "It clearly cannot be shut down without it." In the video, Hickenlooper added: "Maybe you can pass that fact along to whoever's calling the shots." U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, a Colorado Springs Republican serving his first term, said in a statement that he's been "incredibly vocal" in his support for eliminating the department. "I applaud President Trump's decision in returning the power of education decisions to parents and local governments, where it rightfully belongs," Crank said. "For too long, Washington bureaucrats have been making reckless decisions that have led to lower test scores and poor morale across our nation's classrooms. Education is essential to success in life and I look forward to working with the president to protect education funding and to support students, not systems. U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a freshman Republican from Fort Lupton, told Colorado Politics that Trump's order will eliminate bureaucracy and let parents make more decisions about their children's education. As a Latino father and an educational choice advocate, I believe that children are our future and a quality education should be our priority for them in the classroom," Evans said in an emailed statement. "Unfortunately, 60% of kids cant read at grade level and 70% cant do math at grade level, showing that change is desperately needed to empower parents, students, and teachers again. U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Grand Junction Republican first elected in November, say in a statement to Colorado Politics that he shares Trump's concerns "about the failures of federal education policy," adding that he believes Washington's "top-down control burdens schools, undermines parental authority and ails students." Alone among the state's Republicans, however, Hurd noted that it's up to Congress to shut down the department. "At the same time, the Constitution is clear: Congress creates federal agencies, and only Congress can eliminate them. The Presidents executive order directs the Secretary of Education to take steps toward closurebut it cannot, by itself, abolish the department. That requires an act of Congress," Hurd said. "If we are serious about fundamentally restructuring the Department and returning power and resources to local school districts, we must do it through legislation that ensures a stable transition and protects critical programs, especially in rural communities like Colorados 3rd District. I will work with my colleagues to advance real reforms that stop federal overreach, empower local decision-making, and put students and families first," he said. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, in a statement called the order "a direct attack "on our kids, our teachers, and the future of public education in this country," adding that Trump's move will undermine the department's mission of "ensuring every student gets a quality education." Said DeGette: For months, Ive been hearing from parents, teachers, and education advocates across Denver who are terrified of what this could mean for their childrens future. Now, their worst fears are coming true. However, Trump does not have the power to unilaterally eliminate the Department of Education simply because his billionaire pal Elon Musk recommends it. He needs Congress to sign off and I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that never happens." U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Lakewood Democrat, sounded a similarly defiant note in an online post. "Im where I am today because I had access to great public schools and teachers who gave me the opportunity to build a better life. Now, Trump is ripping that opportunity away from thousands of kids," Pettersen said on X. "When public education is attacked, every student feels it. Hes taking books, teachers, and resources from our schools to fund tax breaks for billionaires. We wont let this stand." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Near the northeast edge of Como Lake, four residents on a single block of Parkview Avenue have banded together to file an emergency injunction against the city of St. Paul. Their goal? Stopping the city from tearing down 13 mature trees on Monday morning. In their legal filing, homeowners Rita Amendola, Mary Jane Sommerville, Aric Wilber and Jeff Clark maintain they were assured by the city that it would would do everything possible to preserve neighborhood trees as it pursued sidewalk improvements for the Wheelock-Grotto street reconstruction project this year and next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The homeowners said they were told meandering new sidewalks will be built around some 20 mature trees on their block as an alternative to tree removal. Instead, on March 17, they were taken aback to find that 13 of the 20 trees had been marked with a red X for removal, with the designated removal date being March 24. The four homeowners filed their request for a temporary restraining order against tree removal in Ramsey County District Court on Thursday, and the case was assigned to Judge Edward Sheu on Friday. The request for a temporary injunction, which was filed by an attorney with Madia Law, cites emergency legal protections for public resources under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act, and notes that the city has yet to solicit bids for the sidewalk reconstruction or hold a public hearing on the work, making the haste in removing trees unnecessary. In an interview Thursday, Sommerville said residents worked closely with the city to plan for weeks, if not months, for tree preservation. The city indicated it needed to update sidewalks to keep up with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We said, we understand that, but could you just do one side of the street? Sommerville said. They said OK. And then the city came out and marked every single old growth tree with a big red X for removal. A city forester came out Thursday to inspect the site, and some 20 residents in the area urged the staffer to hold off on tree removal, she said. The injunction request notes the city council recently considered new rules surrounding tree preservation and replacement during public projects, but put final consideration on hold for six months for fine-tuning. On Friday evening, a spokesperson for St. Paul Public Works said the contractor had been instructed not to remove any trees on Monday. The neighborhood street reconstruction project spans sections of streets around East Como Boulevard, Arlington Avenue, Dale Street and Maryland Avenue and is scheduled to roll out this year and next. A June 2024 notice to residents indicates the project is intended to improve street pavement, curb and gutter, street lighting, sidewalks, water mains and storm sewers, as well as improve pedestrian safety by filling in missing sidewalk gaps. Related Articles LEBANON, Va. (WJHL) The Cumberland Plateau Health District recommends people and pets avoid contact with parts of Levisa River and Slate Creek in Buchanan County due to sewage overflow. A release from the district said the sewage overflow is from sewer mains damaged during recent flooding. Farmer-owned and operated processing facility prepares for grand opening A health advisory is in effect along the Levisa River from 0.5 miles east of the Anchorage Shopping Center on U.S. HWY 460 to the Kentucky state line and includes parts of Slate Creek from the Buchanan County Department of Social Services on Route 83 to the Levisa River. The affected waterways in Virginia span about 24 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For concerns in Kentucky, contact the Pike County Health Department at 606-437-5500. For more information on recreational water safety, call 276-935-4591 or see Safely Enjoy Virginias Natural Waters at www.SwimHealthyVA.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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A new pastor has been assigned to the St. John Neumann Parish after the previous priest was reassigned. Bishop Mark Beckman assigned Father Mark Schuster to be the new pastor of St. John Neumann Parish. He will assume responsibilities on April 4, 2025. Schuster was named the pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Crossville in November 2022. Newport man accused of pointing gun at Amazon delivery driver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, Father Joseph Reed was placed on administrative leave after the complaint was made per the Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment Policy. The Diocese of Knoxville then announced in March that Reed would be reassigned. While civil authorities found no evidence of a crime, the diocese said an independent investigation found credible evidence to support complaints of frequent boundary violations with both minors and adults. Previously, the diocese told 6 News that Beckman would consult with the Priest Personnel Board to recommend a future assignment for Reed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. CRAWFORD, Co. A number of sheriffs deputies in southeast Kansas are in need of car repairs today after they say a high-speed chase ended with a crash and damaged patrol cars. Cory Reynolds, 48, of Pittsburg, is in custody accused of leading officers on a multi-county, multi-state chase last night. Pittsburg police started the pursuit, which ran into Cherokee County, crossed over into Missouri, then back into Cherokee County. Crawford County Sheriff, Billy Tomasi says he performed a pit maneuver striking Reynoldss vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tomasi says Reynolds continued on and hit a few more patrol cars before coming to a stop. The Sheriff says Reynolds was arrested and deputies found drugs and drug paraphernalia in his possession. Reynolds is being held in the Crawford County Jail without bond pending formal charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) Texas paid over $5.1 million to prepare and conduct Attorney General Ken Paxtons 2023 impeachment trial, according to a state audit ordered by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick a year and a half ago following Paxtons acquittal. As I said from the very beginning, taxpayers have a right to know how much of their tax dollars were spent on former Speaker Dade Phelans failed political gambit, Patrick said in a statement following the audits release Friday. Heres how each Texas senator voted in the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick, who served as the trials presiding judge in the Senate, has decried the trial as a waste of taxpayer dollars that was improperly rammed through the House. In his Friday statement, Patrick accused former House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, of withholding House expenditure records related to the shameful epoch in state history. The State Auditors report is exactly as expected. Former Speaker Phelan was hiding $4,436,498 in expenditures from taxpayers. He caused taxpayers to lose $5,110,038 in total costs, Patrick said in a statement. What a complete waste of money! The Houses total was more than 10 times the Senates expenditures. Phelan has defended his leadership of the House and vote to impeach Paxton, and previously released campaign ads condemning Paxtons conduct. Lt. Governor Patricks claim that records were hidden is false and misleading. The Houses impeachment expenses were well-documented and subject to the same reporting standards as any other legislative function, Phelan responded in a statement. In fact, the cost of the impeachment trial was publicly reported by multiple news outlets as early as December 2023, two months after the trial concluded. Any suggestion that these records were intentionally withheld is pure political theater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Dec. 2023, KXAN reported that outside attorneys hired by the Texas House had billed over $3.7 million for their legal services and expenses. Those legal bills were obtained through the Texas Public Information Act. The people of Texas deserve leaders focused on governingnot political score-settling, Phelan added. I remain proud of the Texas Houses commitment to upholding the rule of law, and I trust that history will reflect the importance of ensuring accountability in our states highest offices. State Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, an impeachment manager, said her team presented overwhelming evidence of Paxtons corruption. Costs over $5.1 million Costs for the House exceeded $4.4 million, with over $4.04 million of that going to contracted professional services including attorneys. The Senates total cost was over $435,000, and the Office of the Attorney General incurred over $229,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Total travel costs were more than $61,000, and spending on supplies topped $15,000, according to the audit. Those costs fueled the two-week trial in September 2023. Paxton was accused of multiple counts of abusing his office, including efforts to assist a friend, political donor and real estate investor Nate Paul. RELATED | Austin real estate developer Nate Paul pleads guilty, ending federal fraud case Both sides employed high-profile attorneys. House managers retained Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin to put on their case. Paxton hired Tony Buzbee and Dan Cogdell. Paxton has not disclosed how much his legal defense cost and where the money originated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The push to impeach Paxton traces back to allegations waged by multiple high-level employees in his office who became whistleblowers and reported allegations of misconduct to the FBI. The employees later sued for wrongful termination. That lawsuit almost ended with a $3.3 million settlement. But, in March 2023, when Paxtons office asked the Legislature to approve funds to pay that settlement, the House Committee on General Investigating initiated a probe into the allegations. From that probe emerged an extensive list of allegations against Paxton that were laid out at a May 2023 hearing. Paxton was impeached soon after. Political fallout from the impeachment has been substantial. Former State Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, who was the head of the House Investigating Committee and a key leader in the impeachment, did not seek reelection. Phelan lost his position as House Speaker and came close to losing his Beaumont-area seat. In what turned out to be the most expensive state House race in history, Phelan edged out primary challenger David Covey by less than two percentage points and fewer than 400 votes. President Donald Trump and Paxton had backed Covey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two campaigns spent over $8 million on advertising alone, KXAN previously reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Flights to and from Londons Heathrow Airport were cancelled Friday after a fire at a nearby substation knocked out power to Europes busiest airport. This disrupted travel plans for hundreds of thousands of people around the world, including those flying out of Portland International Airport. As of 8:05 a.m., both the arrival from and departure to Heathrow Airport have been cancelled, according to the PDX flight tracker. Disastrous storm pushed Oregon dam to its limits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said the fire broke out about 2 miles away from the airport, causing a significant power outage, which forced officials to shut the airport until 11:59 p.m. on Friday to maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues. The blaze has been contained but firefighters will remain at the scene throughout Friday, according to the London Fire Brigade. National Grid, which maintains energy infrastructure in Britain, said that the blaze damaged equipment at the substation and crews are working to restore power supplies as quickly as possible. Power was restored to the local community by early afternoon. Portland mayor reviews transportation utility fee with no concrete tax plan Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials said that there was no suggestion of foul play. But the Metropolitan Police said that counterterrorism detectives were leading the investigation into its cause because of the fires impact on critical national infrastructure. The disruption impacted travel plans of around 200,000 people who were expected to travel through Heathrow on Friday. Heathrow advised passengers not to travel to the airport and to contact their airlines to rebook flights. With all takeoffs and landings cancelled, the first impact was on dozens of long-haul flights from North America and Asia that were in the air when the airport was shut down. Some were forced to turn around, while others were diverted to airports around the U.K. and Europe. Zenith Energys agreement with city under investigation due to new resolution Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further, about 4,000 tons of cargo have also been stranded by the closure, according to Anita Mendiratta, an aviation consultant. The disruptions are expected to last for days as airlines move stranded aircraft and flight crews back into position and work to accommodate passengers whose flights were cancelled. Mendiratta estimated that it would take two to four days to clear all the backlogs. This is an extreme situation where the entire aviation ecosystem is impacted, she said. There will be two things that will be happening as a priority No. 1. First is airport operations and understanding, from an electrical system point of view, what has been impacted, if anything, she added. Did anything short out, for instance? What needs to be reactivated? And then how do you literally turn the airport back on again? Passenger and cargo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, she noted, theres the issue of actually managing the human component of it. You have passengers that are impacted, crew are impacted and operations, so being able to remobilize everything. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The Pell Bridge connecting Newport and Jamestown is one of 68 bridges across the country flagged for evaluation by the National Transportation Safety Board in new report. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) Federal transportation officials are recommending that the Pell Bridge undergo a vulnerability assessment to determine its overall risk of collapse should it get hit by a large ship. The bridge connecting Newport and Jamestown is one of 68 bridges across the country flagged for evaluation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a report released Thursday as part of its ongoing investigation of the March 2024 collapse of Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been sounding the alarm on this since the tragedy occurred, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said at a press briefing Thursday. We need action public safety depends on it. Five other New England bridges were named in the report. Four are in Massachusetts, including the Bourne and Sagamore bridges over the Cape Cod Canal and the southbound upper and northbound lower spans of the Tobin Bridge connecting Boston and Chelsea. The Memorial Bridge linking Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine, is also on the list. The 30 owners of 68 bridges over navigable waterways frequented by ocean-going vessels are likely unaware of their bridges risk of catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision and the potential need to implement countermeasures to reduce the bridges vulnerability, the NTSBs report states. Baltimores bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024 after a cargo ship lost power and slammed into one of its support columns, killing six roadworkers. The NTSBs report states the Key Bridge did not have an up-to-date vulnerability assessment at the time of its collapse and that it was nearly over 30 times the acceptable risk threshold for bridges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Had Marylands transportation officials done an assessment, the NTSB said corrective action could have been taken sooner and fewer lives would have been lost. Bridges on the NTSBs list are not necessarily at risk of collapse, but were flagged for review because they were built before the establishment of safety guidelines in 1991, according to a media release from the NTSB. Rhode Islands suspension bridge, named after the late U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell of Newport, first opened in 1969 and is managed by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). RITBA Director Lori Caron Silveira said she received the NTSBs recommendation at the same time federal officials made it public Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, we convened meetings, conducted outreach, and did extensive research into a similar scenario in Rhode Island waters, Silveira said in a statement. We are immediately working to respond to the NTSBs request for relevant information. That request includes having bridge owners develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan. If a bridge is found to be at risk of collapse, the NTSB must be informed. RITBA is now in the beginning stages of a multi-phase rehabilitation of the Pell Bridge, which includes deck reconstruction, dehumidification of the cables and anchorages, and repairs to the tower elevator of the bridge, Silveira told WPROs Matt Allen Thursday. The bridges rehab is being covered by a $82.5 million from the federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program. Construction on the bridge deck is expected to begin within a year, RITBA Director of Engineering Eric Seabury told WPRO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silveria said she does not anticipate any funding issues amid ongoing uncertainty from the Trump administration on prior federal obligations. Were not worried, the INFRA grant is already obligated and its moving, she told WPRO. This is a very old bridge and its urgent that we get the cables and anchorages dehumidified to keep this bridge viable people need this bridge. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Republican members of Colorado's congressional delegation mostly cheered President Donald Trump's executive order Thursday largely dismantling the Department of Education, while the state's Democratic lawmakers blasted the move as a "wrecking ball" approach to problems in public schools. Personal records of more than a half-million people were compromised in a cyberattack that occurred last July on the Pennsylvania State Education Association. The union acknowledged the data breach this week. On March 17, the states largest teachers union sent letters about a security data breach that occurred July 6, 2024. An investigation into the incident, completed Feb. 18, found that sensitive personal information was acquired by an unauthorized actor who accessed files on the unions network, according to the letter. The letter said peoples names were revealed, along with birthdates, user names and passwords, Social Security numbers, payment information, passport numbers, taxpayer identification and bank account numbers, and health insurance and medical information. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The union refused to comment on how widespread the attack was, but a data breach tracker maintained by the Maine Attorney Generals Office said 517,487 people were affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We took steps, to the best of our ability and knowledge, to ensure that the data taken by the unauthorized actor was deleted, the union said in the notification letter. Related Data Breach Incidents Database In the Dark The Rhysida ransomware gang claimed on its dark web site in September that it had carried out a cyberattack on the union. In 2023 and 2024, the same group claimed data thefts of sensitive documents from school districts in Maryland, Texas, New Jersey and Tennessee. The union, which represents 178,000 members, said in an email statement that it isnt aware of identity theft connected to the breach. As soon as we became aware of this incident, we engaged cybersecurity professionals with expertise in these occurrences, the union told The 74. We are complying with all legal and regulatory requirements, and are providing credit monitoring for eligible individuals who were impacted by this incident. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has denied a New York Times report that his close ally, billionaire Elon Musk, was due to be briefed by the Pentagon on Friday about the U.S. military's plan for any war that might break out with China. "China will not even be mentioned or discussed," Trump said in a post about the Pentagon meeting on Truth Social on Thursday. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said in a post on X that the meeting would be "about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the briefing for Musk would be attended by senior U.S. military officials in the Pentagon and would be an overview on a number of different topics, including China. According to the New York Times report, the briefing would include 20 to 30 slides that lay out how the United States would fight in a conflict with China. The newspaper cited two U.S. officials it did not identify. Access to the closely guarded military plan would mark a sharp expansion of Musk's role as a Trump adviser who has spearheaded efforts to cut U.S. government spending. It would also fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who as the head of Tesla and SpaceX has business interests in China and with the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has previously said Musk will recuse himself if any conflicts of interest arise between his business dealings and his role in cutting federal government spending. Washington and Beijing have had tense relations for years over differences ranging from access to technology, trade tariffs and cybersecurity to TikTok, Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and the origins of COVID-19. (Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates and Edwina Gibbs) MANILA, Philippines U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the Philippines, the first stop on his first trip to the Indo-Pacific next week, for talks that will include increasing deterrence against aggression in the disputed South China Sea, a Philippine official said Friday. Hegseth will be in Manila on March 28-29 to meet his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Talks will touch on increasingly assertive actions by Beijing in the South China Sea and more significant support to Philippine security forces by the Trump administration, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez told The Associated Press. Trumps America First foreign policy thrust has triggered concerns about the scale and depth of U.S. commitment to the region under his new term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a strong message to China on solid bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Philippines, Romualdez said of Hegseths upcoming visit. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, a major security and global trade route. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay overlapping claims to the resource-rich and busy waters, but confrontations have particularly spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in the last two years. In his first telephone talk with Teodoro last month, Hegseth reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and its importance for maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, according to a readout provided by Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot after the Feb. 5 call. The leaders discussed the importance of reestablishing deterrence in the South China Sea, including by working with allies and partners, Ullyot said. They also discussed enhancing the capability and capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After major territorial faceoffs between Chinese and Philippine forces in the disputed waters, the previous Biden administration had repeatedly warned that the U.S. is obligated to help defend the Philippines under the treaty if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea. Beijing has warned Washington, in return, to stay out of what it calls a purely Asian dispute and stop actions that endanger regional harmony and stability. The News Elon Musk met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior military officials at the Pentagon Friday, following reports that they were set to brief the billionaire White House adviser on top secret US plans for a potential military conflict with China. The potential discussions reported by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal amplified concerns about Musks conflicts of interest: He is leading efforts to slash government spending, but his SpaceX business holds US defense contracts, while China is a key manufacturing hub and market for Tesla. However, Hegseth and US President Donald Trump denied those reports, and a Pentagon spokesperson called them 100% Fake News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth said Musk was there to talk about efficiencies and innovations, and their meeting took place in the secretarys office rather than in a secure conference room typically used for confidential briefings. It was a great, informal conversation... There was no war plans, there was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans, Hegseth said. Neither he or Musk answered reporters questions about whether the subject of the meeting was classified or unclassified. Trump told reporters Friday that he didnt want anyone seeing potential war plans with China, and said Musk was not there for China. By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump will personally announce the Pentagon's decision on a next-generation fighter jet contract worth at least $20 billion as soon as Friday, despite concerns about budget constraints and shifting priorities, sources briefed on the plan said. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program will replace Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor with a crewed aircraft built to enter combat alongside drones. The plane's design remains a closely held secret, but would most likely include stealthiness, advanced sensors and cutting-edge engines. Lockheed and Boeing are competing for the winner-take-all engineering and manufacturing development contract, worth more than $20 billion. The winner will eventually receive hundreds of billions of dollars in orders over the contract's multi-decade lifetime. For Boeing, a win would mark a sharp reversal of fortunes for a company that has struggled on both the commercial and defense sides of its business; a loss could be devastating. A victory for Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor, would keep its high-end offerings - it also makes the stealthy F-35 - on an upward trajectory. An Air Force spokesperson and Boeing and Lockheed representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump's Friday schedule showed an 11 a.m. (1500 GMT) Oval Office announcement alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. A U.S. official briefed on the plan said the announcement was slated for that time. The announcement comes as Trump has been working to cut costs throughout the U.S. government, although the size and legality of the efforts have been challenged. On Thursday he signed an executive order meant to dismantle the Department of Education. NGAD was conceived as a "family of systems" centered around a sixth-generation fighter to counter near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia. Under President Donald Trump's administration, which took office in January, the program has moved forward after a period of uncertainty that cast doubt on the future of the next-generation fighter jet. Billionaire and presidential adviser Elon Musk has voiced skepticism on the effectiveness of crewed high-end fighters, saying cheaper drones were a better option. Last year, the program faced potential delays or scope reductions because of budget pressures and cost overruns in other Air Force programs. The anticipated announcement on Friday, however, signals that a design finalized last year will be chosen for NGAD. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Interested parties got an update Thursday on the progress the city is making to keep sewage and other waste out of the Illinois River. A meeting in South Peoria at the Peoria Public Librarys Lincoln branch took an extra meaning as City Hall sent out another alert of a combined sewer overflow due to the large amount of rain from Wednesdays storm. Nick McMillion, a spokesman for the citys public works department, explains the safety precautions of the alerts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically with those alerts when they happen, its recommended dont make contact with water in the Illinois River for at least 48 hours, McMillion said. So that alert of the combined sewer overflow will be in place for the next couple of days. The citys public works department was behind the meeting which updated the community on the municipal separate storm sewer system and combined sewer overflow control program, along with informing them on how they can prevent excess sewage. For years, runoff from a large rain event would combine with sewage and flow into the river instead of the citys treatment plant. The problem had City Hall and the federal government at odds since the 1980s. Referred to as a combined sewer overflow, the sewage contributes to elevated bacteria levels in the river and poses health risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2020, the city and the federal Environmental Protection Agency entered into a consent decree where the city agreed to spend more than $100 million to fix the aging system over an 18-year period. In return, the EPA agreed to not ley millions in fines against Peoria. We have 18 years to implement all of these projects, this is just year four, McMillion said. So with this project, it is another huge project that were excited to get started on. Now in year 4, the CSO project has spent millions working on both green approaches to the sewer issues as well as replacing old and outdated pipes. For more information, go to the citys website regarding CSOs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. WASHINGTON The Congressional Medal of Honor Society on Thursday announced that Perry Principal Dan Marburger will be posthumously awarded the Citizen Honors Award by Medal of Honor Recipients. Bonobo at Ape Initiative in Des Moines has died A panel of Medal of Honor Recipients reviewed nominations from around the country and chose five individuals and one non-profit organization to receive the Citizen Honors Award, an award given to those who exemplify the ideals of the Medal of Honor courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, citizenship, and patriotism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry Principal Dan Marburger was one of the five selected to receive the award for his brave and selfless actions during the January 4, 2024 shooting at Perry High School that resulted in the death of himself and sixth-grade student Ahmir Jolliff. The award ceremony will take place in Arlington, Virginia on March 25. Iowa News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A petition concerning the planned Union Crossing residential and commercial development in North Sioux City will not be on the ballot for the April 8 special election. The decision comes from the city attorney and was shared with residents Thursday night at a special meeting of the North Sioux City City Council. NAIA womens basketball tournament brings thousands of fans to Sioux City Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City leadership say the petition was denied because it was missing a date when it was circulated for signatures. Wednesday was the deadline to have petitions submitted for the April 8 election, meaning its too late now to correct the issue. The petition opposed the use of tax increment financing, or TIF, for the upcoming development, which was announced last year and recently broke ground. City Administrator Jeff Dooley says holding the special council meeting wasnt a requirement. No action was taken, but I think the main purpose of the meeting was to make sure that everybody knew why it [the petition] was being rejected and it was rejected in a public setting, he said. Thats not typically required, but the council wanted to do that so that everybody knew what the situation was and it was just an error. Dooley adds, he expects developers to move forward with the Union Crossing project this spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disaster proclamation issued for 5 Iowa counties One of the petitioners, Dennis Haag, told KCAU he understands why the petition was denied, but still thinks the public should have had a voice in the use of TIF for the development. My concern is that I just want the public to have a voice; thats all, he said. And when you have a TIF of this dollar amount, I feel that it should always go to a public vote and let the community decide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. TOPEKA (KSNT) People exploring Kansas outdoor spaces may have noticed some odd pink-hued boulders now and again that dont quite fit in with the landscape. So what are these rocks and how did they wind up in the Midwest? 27 News spoke with Tony Layzell, an assistant scientist with the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), about the mystery boulders and rocks people might encounter that are scattered across the northeast portion of the state. Collectively recognized as erratics, these rocks were dropped off in Kansas hundreds of years ago by ancient glaciers. Found an arrowhead in Kansas? Archaeologist urges you to leave it alone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The KGS says these rocks and boulders were carried to Kansas from areas in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. Most of the time, these rocks consist of a pinkish material called Sioux quartzite which separates them from the more common deposits of native sandstone you can find in Kansas. They can range in size from small pebbles to blocks as large as a house. (Photo Courtesy/Tony Layzell) (Photo Courtesy/Tony Layzell) (Photo Courtesy/Tony Layzell) (Photo Courtesy/Tony Layzell) Layzell said the majority of these interesting rocks can be found in the northeast part of Kansas which was the southernmost extent of the continental glaciers that existed during the Ice Age. He said the best place to look for them is along the Kansas River from Kansas City to Wamego. One of the best places I know of is just south of Wamego, east of Highway 99, near Mount Mitchell, Layzell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is your favorite Kansas park? The KGS said some other, more exotic, forms of glacial erratics are found on occasion which are made of Lake Superior agate, Keweenawan volcanics, Duluth-area iron ore, native copper and catlinite that stand in stark contrast with native stones due to their special coloration. Layzell said he didnt know the exact reason why these rocks are called erratics but gave a few possible explanations. I think one of the main reasons is that these boulders differ so much from the surrounding geologic material, which is typically glacial till, Layzell said. Apparently, in a geologic context, the term dates back to a Swiss geologist in the late 1700s and is derived from the latin erratus to wander. I dont know for sure if thats true, but it would make sense given where these boulders came from and how far they travelled. Ive also heard jokes that they are locally called leaverites as in leave-er-right there. The KGS said catlinite, another type of erratic known as pipestone, was used by Native Americans to carve tobacco pipes and appears purple-red in color. Geologists have traced these rocks to the source in Minnesota, finding they were carried to Kansas by glaciers over the course of around 345 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can learn more about how glaciers impacted Kansas by heading to the KGS website. What to do if you see a mountain lion in Kansas For more Kansas Outdoors, 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 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pirates Booty founder Robert Ehrlich attempted a mutiny in a tiny Long Island village shortly before losing his campaign for mayor, local officials confirmed. On March 10, officials say Ehrlich and three supporters stormed into Sea Cliff Village Hall in Nassau County, declared himself mayor and attempted to fire all village staff, citing an obscure state law regarding the dissolvement of local governments. According to Ehrlich, the New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act allows citizens to completely replace the current government with another. However, the law requires support from 10% of registered voters to dissolve the government, according to the Long Island Herald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Ehrlich and his supporters were told their claims were invalid and were asked repeatedly to leave, officials said they became increasingly confrontational. A village administrator told NBC News on Thursday that Ehrlich continued to assert he had enough petition signatures to replace the government, while refusing to hand over the signatures to be verified. Ehrlich and his associates raised their voices, used profane language, made outlandish claims and engaged in direct harassment of Village personnel, Sea Cliff said in a statement. After an hour of hostility, police intervened and Ehrlich eventually left the building. Following the chaotic altercation, the snack brand founder became a write-in candidate for Tuesdays mayoral election. However, he decisively lost to incumbent Elena Villafane in a vote of 1,064-62, Sea Cliff officials confirmed Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ehrlich told NBC News the rigged results didnt matter, claiming hes already the mayor. He also dismissed the idea of running again in two years. No, Im mayor now. Why do I have to wait two years? he told the outlet. I am mayor at this moment. I can write an executive order. Ehrlich has claimed that current officials have not done enough to deliver services in a timely manner and revive local business. In response to his attempted takeover, Mayor Villafane told News 12 Long Island the while she welcome[s] the dialogue, shes not sure that doing it in this sort of unorthodox fashion helps the residents of Sea Cliff. The Small Business Development Center at Missouri Southern State University will hold the 2025 Pitch Palooza from 8 a.m to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the Cornell Auditorium at MSSUs Plaster School of Business. This is a free pitch competition open to MSSU and Crowder College students at the collegiate track level, as well as those in the community with startup concepts and those who are ready to scale up their existing business. There are some changes to the event this year. This year, the collegiate track is open to teams, said Katie Kelly, director of the Missouri Small Business Development Center at MSSU. The high school track has been eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winners of the collegiate track will receive a trophy and a certificate. Winners of the startup and scalability tracks will receive $2,000 as well as one-year memberships to the Joplin and Carthage chambers of commerce. A panel of three judges will review each pitch. "We're just really excited to witness the next wave of transformative ideas and boost collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship in our area," Kelly said. Participants can learn more and register for their track at https://www.mssutraining.com/pitch-palooza. The community is invited to attend the event. PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) Pitt County announced Friday morning that a county-wide burn ban has been issued. Activities such as bonfires, yard vegetation and land clearing have been banned as of 8 am Friday morning. This is due to the recent weather patterns eastern North Carolina has been experiencing, like high winds and low humidity. Those who violate the ban will be required to extinguish the fire and could face legal troubles. The ban will be in effect until further notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. (FOX40.COM) Two people associated with Granite Bay Residential Care Home are facing a number of fraud-related charges, the California Department of Justice announced Thursday. According to the CA DOJ, the facilitys owner and manager allegedly billed Medi-Cal for over $500k between January 2020 and September 2022 for services they did not provide. The defendants stole two iPhones and two Mac Book Pros purchased with Medi-Cal funds and misappropriated program funds for personal luxury purchases, the agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When providers defraud Medi-Cal, it not only undermines the integrity of the program, but it also poses a significant threat to the patients who rely on Medi-Cal for their health and well-being, California Attorney General Rob Bonta. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to hold accountable those who perpetuate Medi-Cal fraud. We must ensure that the program remains reliable and accessible in providing quality healthcare to those who need it most. The owner and the manager are facing charges of false or fraudulent claims, conspiracy to commit false or fraudulent claims and grand theft by embezzlement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON (AP/Boston 25) A large fire near Londons Heathrow Airport knocked out power Friday to Europes busiest flight hub, forcing it to shut all day and disrupting global travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow were affected, flight tracking service FlightRadar 24 said, and the impact was likely to last several days as passengers try to reschedule their travel and airlines work to get planes and crew to the right places. Authorities do not know what caused the fire but so far found have no evidence it was suspicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents in west London described hearing a large explosion, followed by a fireball and clouds of smoke, when the blaze ripped through the electrical substation near the airport. Some 120 flights were in the air when the closure was announced, with some turned around and others diverted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris or Irelands Shannon Airport, tracking services showed. Lawrence Hayes was three-quarters of the way to London from New York when Virgin Atlantic announced they were being diverted to Glasgow. It was a red-eye flight and Id already had a full day, so I dont even know how long Ive been up for, Hayes told the BBC as he was getting off the plane in Scotland. Luckily I managed to get hold of my wife and shes kindly booked me a train ticket to get back to Euston, but its going to be an incredibly long day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some planes that took off from Boston headed to London were also forced to turn around and return to Logan International Airport overnight. Boston 25 News spotted cots stacked up for travelers in Terminal E. A London-bound flight was also spotted stuck on the tarmac in Boston, where passengers said they were stuck for at least three hours. They updated us all the time saying that there was an issue at Heathrow and it affected the runway lights and power, Logan traveler Kathy Hauser said. So they hoped that they could fix it and they would keep us updated...Then they told us we could leave the plane at any time. In a Friday morning update on X, Logan Airport wrote, London Heathrow airport is closed until further notice due to a fire. Passengers should check with their airlines for the status of their flight before coming to the airport. London Heathrow airport is closed until further notice due to a fire. Passengers should check with their airlines for the status of their flight before coming to the airport pic.twitter.com/cM7pbmIosY Boston Logan International Airport (@BostonLogan) March 21, 2025 Heathrow is one of the worlds busiest airports for international travel. It had its busiest January on record earlier this year, with more than 6.3 million passengers, up more than 5% from the same period last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the disruption Friday fell short of the one caused by the 2010 eruption of Icelands Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and created trans-Atlantic air travel chaos for months. Fire under control but impact to last days It was too early to determine what sparked the huge blaze about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the airport, but theres no suggestion of foul play, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said. Still, the Metropolitan Police force said counterterrorism detectives are leading the investigation into the cause because of the location of the electrical substation fire and its impact on critical national infrastructure. The force said counterterrorism command has specialist resources and capabilities that can help find the cause quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are working with the London Fire Brigade. Miliband said the fire, which took seven hours to control, also knocked out a backup power supply to the airport. Heathrow said in a statement that it had no choice but to close the airport for the day. We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens, the airport said. This photo provided by London Fire Brigade, shows a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire Thursday night and lead to a closure of Heathrow Airport in London, Friday, March 21 2025. (London Fire Brigade via AP) Heathrow was at the heart of a shorter disruption in 2023 when Britains air traffic control system was hit by a breakdown that slowed takeoffs and landings across the U.K. on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anita Mendiratta, an aviation consultant, said the impact of the closure will be felt over two to four days as airlines, cargo carriers, and crews are moved into position and passengers rebooked. As soon as the airport opens up at midnight tonight, its not only about resuming with tomorrows flights, its the backlog and the implications that have taken place, Mendiratta said. Crew and aircraft, many are not where theyre supposed to be right now. So the recalculation of this is going to be intense. Diverted, canceled and in limbo At Heathrow, a family of five traveling to Dallas showed up in the hopes their flight home still listed as delayed would take off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when Andrea Sri brought her brother, sister-in-law and their three children to the airport, they were told by police that there would be no flight. It was a waste of time. Very confusing, said Sri, who lives in London. We tried to get in touch with British Airways, but they dont open their telephone line until 8 a.m. Travelers who were diverted to other cities found themselves trying to book travel onward to London. Qantas airlines sent flights from Singapore and Perth, Australia, to Paris, where it said it would bus people to London, a process likely to also include a train shuttle beneath the English Channel. A flight information screen shows cancelled flights destined for the Heathrow Airport in London, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in New Delhi, India, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Shonal Ganguly) Budget airline Ryanair, which doesnt operate out of Heathrow, said it added eight rescue flights between Dublin and Stansted, another London airport, to transport stranded passengers on Friday and Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Rail canceled all trains to and from the airport. Flights normally begin landing and taking off at Heathrow at 6 a.m. due to nighttime flying restrictions. But the skies were silent Friday morning. Living near Heathrow is noisy, there are planes every 90 seconds or so, plus the constant hum of traffic, but you get used to it, to the point of no longer noticing, said James Henderson, who has lived next to the airport for more than 20 years. Today is different, you can hear the birds singing. Blaze lit up the sky and darkened homes Matthew Muirhead was working Thursday night near Heathrow when he stepped outside with a colleague and noticed smoke rising from an electrical substation and heard sirens crying out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saw a bright flash of white, and all the lights in town went out, he said. The London Fire Brigade sent 10 engines and around 70 firefighters to control the blaze and about 150 people were evacuated from their homes near the power station. Firefighters extinguish the fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire Thursday night and lead to a closure of Heathrow Airport in London, Friday, March 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) This was a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible, Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said in a post on X the power outage affected more than 16,300 homes. The U.K. government earlier this year approved building a third runway at the airport to boost the economy and connectivity to the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) With statistics indicating that half of the homeless population has spent time in foster care, the Virginia Beach nonprofit Connect With A Wish is trying to find a place for people to go when they age out of the foster care system. To that end, it has a big ask of the community to help make it happen. In the state of Virginia, theres approximately 5,000 kids in foster care, said Joy Rios, who founded Connect With A Wish 11 years ago. In the Hampton Roads area, we have about 1,000 kids in foster care. Here in Virginia Beach, we have somewhere around 200 kids in foster care and around 60 foster parents to those kids. We benefit local youth and foster care. We connect the wishes and needs of kids in foster care with the generosity in our community. We have over 20 programs and events in place serving kids from newborn to age 25 and in all the surrounding cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those children served is Qayon Q Jenkins. He was 16 when he and his sister went into foster care. Now 21, Jenkins is aging out of the system. I probably bounced from like five to six homes in a period of probably six months, Jenkins said. He eventually settled in a home where he bonded with his foster mom. He made it very clear, though, that his heart will always belong with his biological mom. He said she did her best in a bad domestic situation. Jenkins credits Connect With A Wish with helping him successfully navigate foster care. Having a support like Connect With A Wish, [with] the supports they have, allow me to be able to keep going in the time of destruction and still be able to prosper how I need to, but some kids cant, Jenkins said. They cant do that because they dont have these these spaces or them people to go to. All they have is what they know, and sometimes what they know is not good, but thats what they have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He calls Connect With A Wish a lifesaver. Everybody needs somebody to go to in a time of need for when they need things, Jenkins said. We have a life crisis, whether its your mom, your dad, your cousin, your uncle and sometimes in some situations, they are not permanent people. So, to have an organization like Connect With A Wish that I can go to when my back is against the wall I need a little help no matter what it is, whether its food, whether its clothes, whether I need somebody to talk to or I need help filling out an application or I need help figuring out this terminology having these people in your corner is very beneficial. It really helps because recently I have needed Connect with a Wish assistance, and I appreciate them. Now, Im back, getting on my feet. So it just goes to show you fall, but you get back up, and having the necessary supports there for you helps you to be able to get back up in an effective manner. Right now, you can find Connect With A Wish in a small, but mighty office not far from the Virginia Beach Courthouse. Staff there provides everything from clothing to toys to counseling services for those in foster care. One of the focuses of this nonprofit is on those aging out of the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At age 21, homelessness is really knocking on their door when they age out of foster care, Rios said. There are some programs in place. Recently Virginia Beach has been working with a program called the Fostering Youth Initiative, which is a voucher program that has been a gift not an easy one to accomplish, but were working on it, and were working with Department of Human Services and Housing and Development and really making this work and getting some kids roofs over their heads. However, theres lots to that. Theres lots of hoteling in between. Theres limitations on the voucher, and where were putting the kids is often not the safest place that you would want to put a 21-year-old vulnerable youth, but is far better than the streets. Rios said there is more than can be done. Connect With A Wish has been working for a few years on our Take2Community, and developing more than just the idea, but the structure of the plan, both physically and what we want to do with these kids, Rios said. It would be exclusive for kids aging out of foster care. It would be a transitional place for about three years, because when kids age out at 21 of foster care, their mental and emotional, as we all know even our own kids at 21, are really not ready to cut the cord and just let them go. So you can imagine spending several years in foster care, not having continuous support, not having a parent or a support to turn to and having been through so much trauma that you truly arent at 21 when youre at 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So they definitely need extra time, and with Take2Community, we would not only provide a roof over their head, but they would also have the wraparound support of our Connect Careers programs, our case management during that time, so that they can achieve the independent living skills that, although taught while in foster care, they werent mentally ready to take. So, now at 21 that now maturity is starting to kick in, and we are certain that the success rate after three more years will be far greater than when they have left at 21. Here is where the big ask comes in. Rios say they are looking for someone to donate an acre-and-a-half of land, preferably in Virginia Beach, where they could build the Take2Community. We have been working very hard, knocking on doors, making all kinds of noise with developers, with city council, with anyone we can, Rios said, because financially, to have the land and then to build the property would make this whole thing so much more accessible and easier to do. Its greatly needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The community would house 25 people who are aging out of foster care. We can take care of those 25 and get them what they need so that they can then independently go out and live on their own, Rios said. All of Connect With A Wishs services would also be under one roof. With Take2Community, we would not only provide a roof over their head, but they also have the wraparound support of our Connect Careers programs, our case management during that time so that they can achieve the independent living skills that, although taught while in foster care, they werent mentally ready to take, Rios said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said Take2Community would truly teach independent living. It would be a place of pride for those who live there. It would be single-room apartments, and double, and two-room apartments for those who have kids, Rios said. They would also be living in a community with others who are going through the same thing, which is really huge for the kids, and I know with Connect with a Wish, even in the past 10 years and starting our boys youth group and our girls youth group, for a lot of the kids, that was the first time that they have been in a space with others going through what theyve going through other than being in a foster home. We see a lot of benefit to that, to having us there and having the resources of our food pantry and clothing closet to really fill in the gaps of the need, and then get them to go to that next step on their own. The key lies in that acre-and-a-half of land. We have a generous community here in Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads area, Rios said. I am certain that there is someone out there that will find it in their heart to take this mission as their own, and we will work with whoever that is for whatever rights that they would like to this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenkins lights up at the idea of the Take2Community and the possibility that someone may be generous enough to donate the land. I feel like theyd be saving a lot of lives, Jenkins said. If you are interested in donating the land for the Take2Community, click here. Connect With A Wish also has two raffles going on right now. One raffle is for a Sandbridge Beach getaway. The other is for an APEX experience. Tickets are $100 a piece. The drawing for the tickets will be held March 29 at the organizations gala that is now sold out. However, you do not have to be present at the gala to win the raffle. Click here to purchase raffle tickets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. With fog-kissed streets featuring a buttery bakery, an eclectic bookstore and markets peddling artisanal cheeses crafted from the milk of lovingly coddled cows, Point Reyes Station is about as picturesque as tourist towns come in California. It is also a place that, at the moment, is roiling with anger. A place where many locals feel they're waging an uphill battle for the soul of their community. The alleged villains are unexpected, here in one of the cradles of the organic food movement: the National Park Service and a slate of environmental organizations that maintain that the herds of cattle that have grazed on the Point Reyes Peninsula for more than 150 years are polluting watersheds and threatening endangered species, including the majestic tule elk that roam the windswept headlands. Locals in Point Reyes Station say a legal settlement that will force out historic family dairies shows no understanding of the peninsula's culture and history. In January, the park service and environmental groups including the Nature Conservancy and the Center for Biological Diversity announced a landmark agreement to settle the long-simmering conflict. The settlement, resolving a lawsuit filed in 2022, would pay most of the historic dairies and cattle ranches on the seashore to move out. The fences would come down, and the elk would roam free. Contamination from the runoff of dairy operations would cease. There would be new hiking trails. More places to camp. More conservation of coastal California landscapes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A crucial milestone in safeguarding and revitalizing the Seashores extraordinary ecosystem, all while addressing the very real needs of the community, said Deborah Moskowitz, president of the Resource Renewal Institute, one of the groups that sued. She added that the deal balances compassion with conservation while also ensuring that this priceless national treasure is preserved and cherished for generations to come. As news of the settlement spread, however, it quickly became clear that many in the community did not agree. In fact, they thought it showed no understanding at all of this place and its people. A rarity for the National Park Service, the Point Reyes National Seashore has, since its founding in 1962, encompassed not just pristine wilderness but also working agricultural land. Those historic dairies have supplied coveted milk products to San Francisco for well more than a century, and today play an outsize role in California's organic milk production. Why would anyone want to destroy one of the most preeminent areas for organic farming in the country in the name of the environment? What's more, the closing of the historic dairies means not just that legacy families and their cows will have to leave, but so will many dairy workers and ranchhands who have lived on the peninsula for decades. An entire community, many of them low income and Latino, are poised to lose their jobs and homes in one fell swoop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the weeks since the settlement was announced, there have been a spate of heated community meetings. At least two lawsuits, one from tenants being displaced and one from a cattle operation, have been filed. A sign for Historic D Ranch blows in the wind at Point Reyes National Seashore. Its a big blow to the community, said Dewey Livingston, who lives in Inverness and has written extensively about the history of Point Reyes. He said he believes the environmental harms wrought by the cows have been exaggerated. And moving the cows out, he said, will irreparably harm the local culture. It will turn what was once a rural area into a community of vacation homes, visitors and wealthy people. Environmental groups say they are sympathetic to these concerns, but that it is the duty of the National Park Service to protect and preserve the land and that the land is being degraded. "This degree of water pollution, which threatens aquatic wildlife habitat and public health, shouldn't be happening anywhere, and definitely not in a national park," said Jeff Miller, of the Center for Biological Diversity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you listen to the rancher narrative, it makes it sound like ranching has always been this environmentally sustainable activity that serves all, said Erik Molvar, of the Western Watersheds Project, another of the groups that sued. But what were seeing was this herd of elk, locked up, having massive die outs. We had severe water pollution, some of the worst water pollution in California. A road leads to Historic C Ranch at Point Reyes National Seashore. About 20 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Point Reyes Peninsula rises up, a paradise of ocean, dunes, cliffs and grassland that feels delivered from another time and place. Whales and elephant seals glide through the shimmering water, while bears and mountain lions patrol the misty headlands. There are pine forests, waterfalls, wildflowers and more than 50 species of endangered or threatened plants, along with the colorful flickers and chirps of more than 490 species of birds. And, of course, there are thousands of acres of green and golden hills, their grasslands softly rolling in the coastal breeze. Intensive dairy ranching began here more than 150 years ago, spawned by the Gold Rush population explosion in San Francisco. By the late 1850s, two brothers, Oscar Lovell Shafter and James McMillan Shafter, had established a large operation to produce butter and cheese, and ferried their goods to San Francisco on small schooner ships. By 1867, Marin County was producing more butter than anywhere else in California: 932,429 pounds a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob McClure's ancestors arrived in 1889. His great-grandfather emigrated from Ireland and worked on the dairies. In 1930, the family acquired a ranch known as are almost all the ranches on Point Reyes by a letter. "The I ranch," McClure said. "I grew up here my whole life." Like his father and grandfather before him, he watched over his cows as the fog rolled in and out over pastures that stretched from the hills to the sea. It was relentless work. The cow has this; the cow has that, McClure explained, and out of bed you go. And yet, he loved it. Historic C Ranch is seen from a hillside at Point Reyes National Seashore. As the decades went by, other immigrant families, many of whom started out as dairy workers, purchased land from the remnants of the Shafter dairy empire. The Nunes family came in 1919. The Kehoe family took over the J Ranch in 1922. Eventually, the area became a mecca not just for milk and butter, but also for some of the fanciest cheeses in America: Cowgirl Creamery with its Mt. Tam Brie and Devils Gulch triple cream; Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., with its blue cheese and Toma; Marin French Cheese Co., with its Rouge et Noir Camembert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the decades, other entities also had eyes on the peninsula. By the late 1920s, developers had swallowed up much of the Eastern Seaboard and were pursuing properties on the Pacific and Gulf coasts. Conservationists pushed to preserve Point Reyes, worried it would be recast as yet another coastal resort, with hotels and arcades marching along the shoreline. In 1935, an assistant director of the National Park Service recommended that the government buy 53,000 acres on Point Reyes, but the purchase price of $2.4 million was considered too steep. The dream persisted, and in 1962, thanks to a boost from President Kennedy, the Point Reyes National Seashore was authorized, with land purchases continuing through the early 1970s. A view of the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Today, the park encompasses about 70,000 acres, and is visited by about 2 million people a year. But woven into its creation was an understanding that the livestock and dairy operations would be allowed to continue. Under an agreement with the Department of the Interior, ranchers conveyed their land to the federal government and in exchange were issued long-term leases to work that land. For many visitors, the cows quiet herds of Devons, Guernseys and Jerseys happily munching on the flowing grasses are just one more piece of the picturesque landscape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But behind the scenes, tensions were brewing almost from the beginning. McClure was only 10 years old when the park was created, so he wasnt aware of the legal intricacies. But he recalls that his family wasnt wild about the sale. Nobody really wanted to, he recalled, but the government could have eminent-domained it, so the families took what they could get. Laura Watt, a retired professor of geography at Sonoma State University whose book, The Paradox of Preservation: Wilderness and Working Landscapes at Point Reyes National Seashore, chronicles the history, said many of the old ranching families were discomfited by the notion of their home becoming a wilderness playground. A cow eyes a visitor at Historic C Ranch at Point Reyes National Seashore. The families, she noted, were a freakish embodiment of the classic American dream. Most had come to the U.S. as immigrants, worked as tenant farmers for the Shafter dairy empire, and eventually managed to buy land and make a go of it, passing their enterprises on to their children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then along comes the federal government, saying their land should be set aside as a park. That was part of what rubbed them the wrong way," Watt said. The ranching families had worked so hard to be able to get this land and take care of this land and now suddenly it was for other people to go and play? Enter the elk. In the late 1970s, the government moved a dozen or so tule elk to Tomales Point at the northern end of the peninsula. The animals had once roamed the area before being hunted to extinction there; scientists were seeking to reestablish the species. At first, the arrival of the giant mammals was not terribly controversial. The herd was small, and stayed at the top of the peninsula, where a long strip of land juts into the water between Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Tule elk fight in a pasture at Point Reyes National Seashore. Before too long, however, the herd multiplied, eventually outgrowing its range on Tomales Point. Some animals were moved south, where they began to compete with cows for pasture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as the elk moved in, many ranching families were beginning to chafe at what they said was government red tape that made it hard to run their operations. They will force us out with all the paperwork we have to fill out, one rancher, Kathy Lucchesi, complained to the Los Angeles Times in 2014. By the time they approve a project its too late. Still, the park service superintendent at the time, Cicely Muldoon, insisted the agency was committed to maintaining the ranches. The park service has always supported agriculture, and will continue to do so, she said in 2014. Ranchers and the park service discussed updated leases, which would enable the ranches to make investments and long-term plans. Environmentalists, however, were aghast, especially after word spread that the park service planned to shoot some of the elk to curb the population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, three groups the Resource Renewal Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Western Watersheds Project filed a lawsuit, asking a federal judge to require the park service to prepare a new general plan for the seashore, one that analyzed "the impacts of livestock ranching on the natural and recreational resources. The suit alleged that the ranching operations were harming coastal waters, and cited examples from the park services own studies that found fecal pollution in some areas. The suit alleged a long list of harms. Among them: degradation of salmon habitat; threats to the habitat of the California red-legged frog, Myrtles silverspot butterfly and western snowy plover; plus, members of the public reported unpleasant odors from the cows and their manure. Read more: The 'Love Boat' faces a tragic ending in a lonely California slough In 2017, the park service settled the suit by agreeing to draft a new plan, which it did in 2021. That plan offered ranchers new long-term leases. The park service said it would authorize the culling of elk herds, to keep them separate from the cows. In 2022, the same groups that sued in 2016 filed suit again, this time challenging the park's new management plan. Molvar, of the Western Watersheds Project, said the groups feared an environmental catastrophe. "We had cattle pastures where the native grasslands had been so completely destroyed only the invasive species survived," he said. Combine harvesters had been spotted mowing over baby deer and baby elk. He said he had seen videos that showed flocks of ravens hovering behind the harvesters so they could feast on the carnage. The national seashore, from an ecological standpoint, was a train wreck, he said. After the lawsuit was filed, the park service and environmental organizations entered discussions. Eventually, the Nature Conservancy, which was not a party to the suit, agreed to raise money to try to buy out the dairies and ranching operations. The amount has not been officially disclosed, but is widely reported to be about $30 million. The parties involved are barred from discussing financial details because of non-disclosure agreements. Many ranchers reached by The Times said they were heartbroken, but felt they had no choice but to capitulate, because it had become too difficult to continue operations. People stroll through the Cypress Tree Tunnel in Inverness. On Jan. 8, the parties announced the settlement, and said the ranchers, their tenants and workers would have 15 months to move out. Two beef cattle operations would be permitted to stay in the park and seven ranches would remain in the adjoining Golden Gate National Recreation Area. "It's very hard," said Margarito Loza Gonzalez, 58 and a father of six, who has worked at one of the ranches for decades and now wonders how he will support his family. He added that it feels as though the people who crafted the settlement "didn't take [the workers] into account." The settlement contains some money to help workers and tenants make the transition; it has been reported to be about $2.5 million, but many in West Marin think that is insufficient to replace people's homes and livelihoods. Jasmine Bravo, 30, a community organizer whose father worked at a dairy and who lives with her family in ranch housing, has been organizing tenants facing displacement. This huge decision that was going to impact our community was just made without any community input, she said. They thought we were going to be complacent and accepting, she added. But there are tenants and workers who have been here for generations. Were just not going to move out of West Marin and start over. Our lives are here. On March 11, the Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to declare an emergency shelter crisis to make it easier to construct temporary housing for displaced workers. Many residents showed up to applaud it and also to say it wasnt nearly enough. Albert Straus, whose legendary Straus Family Creamery sources organic milk from two of the local dairies, said that the organic operations in Marin and Sonoma counties have become a model for the world, and that the ousted dairies are family operations that worked in concert with the community and the land. He recently published an op-ed calling on the Trump administration to reverse the decision. The campaign to displace the ranchers reflects a misguided vision of nature as a pristine playground suitable for postcards and tourists, with little regard for the community or the planet, Straus wrote. In an interview, he said that the issue feels "very raw, and were trying to change that direction to save our community, our farms and our food." He added: I never give up. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WARSAW, Poland (AP) Polish prosecutors filed charges Friday against a former defense minister, accusing him of exceeding his powers when he declassified parts of a plan for national defense that had been prepared years before under an earlier government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk's government has accused the former defense minister, Mariusz Baszczak, of betraying national interests by revealing military secrets for political gain ahead of a national election. If we were to imagine the basic task of a spy in Poland, the theft of defense plans would be his priority, but no one predicted that such a role could be played by the minister of national defense, the current deputy defense minister, Cezary Tomczyk, said last month in parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baszczak served as defense minister in a national conservative government that held power from 2015-2023. In 2023 he made public parts of a military defense plan that had been drawn up in 2011. The document laid out plans for the Polish army to retreat westward to the Vistula River, which runs through the center of Poland, in case of an invasion from the east by Russia. Baszczak was read the charges at the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on Friday, he told reporters afterward, according to the state news agency PAP. He said he believed the allegations were unfounded. He wrote on X that he was being charged for"declassifying the plan of the first Tusk government to give up half of Poland without a fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would do it again without hesitation. I had not only the right, but also the duty" he said. Thanks to this, Poles know the truth about the fate you prepared for the inhabitants of Eastern Poland, he said, addressing Tusk. "Thanks to this, no one will ever return to such plans. Four police officers have been accused of failing to protect a woman who complained of domestic abuse before she was found dead in a car boot. The body of Harshita Brella, 24, was found in a silver Vauxhall Corsa in Brisbane Road, Ilford, east London, on Nov 14 last year. A murder charge has been authorised against her husband Pankaj Lamba, 23, who is also accused of two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An international manhunt is under way after Mr Lamba reportedly fled to India after his wifes death. Pankaj Lamba, 23, has been charged in his absence with his wifes murder. He has reportedly fled to India - Northamptonshire Police/PA Northamptonshire Police previously said they believed the victim was strangled in Corby on the evening of Nov 10 before her body was taken to Ilford the next day. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) previously said she had made a report of domestic abuse to police in August and Mr Lamba was arrested on Sept 3. He was released on conditional bail and a domestic violence protection order was put in place. Harshita Brella, whose body was found in a silver Vauxhall Corsa in Brisbane Road, Ilford - Northamptonshire Police/PA On Friday, the IOPC said it had served disciplinary notices on four Northamptonshire Police officers two at the level of gross misconduct and two for potential misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Derrick Campbell, the IOPC director, said: Our investigation into Northamptonshire Police contact with Harshita Brella, and her husband Pankaj Lamba, prior to her body being found in November is progressing. We are continuing to gather and review evidence setting out the contact the force had and the actions and decision-making by police officers involved. After assessment of the evidence to date, we have served disciplinary notices on four Northamptonshire Police officers, two at the level of gross misconduct and two for potential misconduct. The gross misconduct notices on two detective constables cover alleged failings to progress inquiries and communicate with Ms Brella after her report of domestic abuse at the end of August 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The misconduct notices on two more senior officers relate to their supervision of the case and relevant risk assessments. A CCTV still said to be of the murder suspect in Ilford - Northamptonshire Police/PA Mr Campbell said such notices advised officers they were subject to investigation and did not necessarily mean any disciplinary proceedings would follow. At the end of the investigation, decisions will be taken as to whether any officer has a disciplinary case to answer, he said. 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. LAWRENCE, Kan. Questions remain as to who fired a gun into a crowded home in Lawrence, Kansas Wednesday night. Someone shot several times while at least five people were inside. KU, Mizzou fans in metro ready to watch teams play in NCAA Tournament Lawrence police say there was an argument between people who knew one another. They believe someone came back later in retaliation. Its always concerning when people are shooting into a home where children are. Very traumatic for them, Communications Manager Laura McCabe for the Lawrence Police Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCabe doesnt believe theres any threat to the public. Just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, officers with the Lawrence Police Department were called to a home near E. 16th Street and Haskell Avenue. Investigators say someone shot into a home several times. Someone had heard gun shots fired. Officers arrived and did find that a house had been fired upon and unfortunately discovered that there were three juveniles inside and at least five adults at the time of the shooting, McCabe added. Since Wednesday night, investigators have secured the scene, collected evidence, and interviewed witnesses. It could happen to anybody. It could happen at any time, Tylisha Logan, who has family nearby said Thursday. Im glad no one was hurt. Hopefully, they catch the people or person that did this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say a handful of shell casings were discovered. The whole incident is concerning, but to have juveniles to have to witness that is very traumatic, McCabe shared. We are thankful there were no physical injuries. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android No one was hurt in this incident. The investigation is ongoing. Police ask if you have any information that could help, to call Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785) 843-TIPS (8477). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is investigating a suspicious death after a man was found dead at a motel near Nashville International Airport. According to detectives, 65-year-old Joseph G. Williams of Nashville was found dead Thursday inside a room at the Red Roof motel along Claridge Drive. Man charged with homicide months after shooting inside Nashville duplex Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement was sent to the motel after an employee entered the room and found the man lying on his back in the bathtub. He had reportedly been living there for several months. Authorities said Williams was fully clothed when he was found, adding that a piece of clothing over his face was removed by first responders, who then saw dried blood on the mans face. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County According to the MNPD, the drywall area had been broken and pieces of it were found inside the tub. Police said foul play is suspected. No additional details were immediately released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. [In the player above, learn more about the Safer Ohio School Tip Line.] LORAIN, Ohio (WJW) A 16-year-old Lorain Preparatory High School student is accused of attacking 15- and 17-year-old classmates with a set of brass knuckles Friday morning, while on a Lorain City Schools bus. Police responded just after 7 a.m. to the intersection of East 42nd Street and Tacoma Avenue, where they broke up the fight on the bus, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Akron drive-thru worker, Tyler Bartley 17, pleads to fatally shooting Patrick Boergert, 47 An initial investigation suggests the 16-year-old boarded the bus and attacked the two other students, according to the release. They suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries and were treated by EMS workers before being released to their parents. No one else was injured. The bus was on its way to the charter school at 2702 Elyria Avenue when the fight broke out, according to a statement from a Lorain City Schools spokesperson. The public school district buses the charter school students through its transportation provider Axillio, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman killed during conjugal visit with convicted California murderer, officials say The charter school declined to comment to FOX 8 News, but issued a statement on its Facebook page on Friday morning that read: Good Morning Admirals- There was an incident that occurred on transportation this morning. The proper authorities are involved and issue is being worked through with diligence and details. All students are safe and accounted for. We will continue to monitor the situation. Statement from Lorain Preparatory High School The 16-year-old suspect, who appeared uninjured, was charged with two counts of felonious assault and transported to the Lorain County Detention Home, according to police. 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY (DC News Now) The Anne Arundel County Police Department is searching for multiple shooters after gunfire was exchanged outside of a bank Thursday. According to police, officers responded at 1:20 p.m. to the M&T Bank on Ritchie Highway to reports of shots fired. Well done buddy! You will be missed: Anne Arundel County police mourn passing of retired K-9 officer Bolt Witnesses told officers that multiple people were seen shooting at each other outside of the bank before one person ran off and the other drove away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said officers recovered shell casings from the parking lot and the investigation is ongoing. There is no word on if anyone was hurt during the shooting. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call detectives at -410-222-6135 or the Tip Line at 410- 222-4700. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. The Orlando Police Department has recovered stolen diamonds from a grand theft suspect after he swallowed them before his arrest on Feb. 26. On Feb. 26, Jaythan Gilder went to the Tiffanys store at the Mall at Millenia where he pretended to be a representative for an Orlando Magic player, and he was ushered to a private viewing area. Thats when OPD say he grabbed the jewels and took off in a car outside of the mall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an OPD report, Gilder made it all the way to Washington County, where state troopers pulled him over for a traffic violation. When he was pulled over, OPD found he had outstanding warrants out of Texas. According to OPD, Gilder resisted arrest and swallowed the diamonds. The Orlando Police Department has recovered stolen diamonds from a grand theft suspect after he swallowed them before his arrest on Feb. 26. The Orlando Police Department has recovered stolen diamonds from a grand theft suspect after he swallowed them before his arrest on Feb. 26. The Orlando Police Department has recovered stolen diamonds from a grand theft suspect after he swallowed them before his arrest on Feb. 26. The Orlando Police Department has recovered stolen diamonds from a grand theft suspect after he swallowed them before his arrest on Feb. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Orlando Police Department has recovered stolen diamonds from a grand theft suspect after he swallowed them before his arrest on Feb. 26. The Orlando Police Department has recovered stolen diamonds from a grand theft suspect after he swallowed them before his arrest on Feb. 26. After being in custody, Gilder was transferred to Orlando on Feb. 27, where he was transported to a local hospital. OPD recovered three of the four Tiffany & Co. earrings, along with two other unidentified diamond earrings, on March 10, 2025. The final of the four Tiffany & Co. Earrings Gilder swallowed was recovered on March 12, 2025. Upon recovery, detectives verified the serial numbers on the earrings, confirming they matched the items stolen from Tiffany & Co. on Feb. 26. Gilder is currently in the Orange County Jail, facing charges of robbery with a mask and grand theft in the first degree, as well as his outstanding warrants. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Authorities are asking for the publics help in identifying a man in a shoplifting investigation at Target. Police seek to identify man in theft investigation at Target, Image courtesy Oklahoma City Police Department According to police, the man (shown above) shoplifted over $700 worth of merchandise from the Target at 5400 N May. Beautifully Broken: Mother and daughters share eyewitness account of murder and survival days before killers execution Police say the man fled in a dark-colored Ford Edge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you recognize him you are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 405.235.7300 or go to http://okccrimetips.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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Police are searching for additional victims of an Abilene sexual assault suspect. Valente Erik Cano, 23, was indicted for Sexual Assault Thursday in connection to an incident that took place in July 2024, and during the investigation into this case, officers learned he may have assaulted other victims in Abilenes transient community. Suspect accused of sexually assaulting woman after drinking beer in parking lot of Abilene church Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are now asking these victims to come forward, saying we understand that reporting sexual assault can be difficult, and we want to assure all potential victims that they will be treated with respect, sensitivity, and confidentiality. Anyone with information on other victims Cano may have assaulted is asked to contact Crimes Against Persons at (325)704-3221 or Abilene Crime Stoppers at (325)676-8477. Canos initial arrest stems from allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman while they were drinking in the parking lot of an Abilene church. Read more about that incident here on BigCountryHomepage.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM) The Ithaca Police Department is searching for an Ithaca man who has been reported missing and was last seen in October of 2024. Marcus K. Turner, 32, was last seen in the City of Ithaca on Oct. 19, 2024, as stated in a release from IPD. Police say that Turner was reported to police as missing on Thursday, March 20. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are unknown and are being investigated at this time. Turner is described as a black male with black hair and brown eyes who is about 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 300 pounds. Turner was last seen wearing a green camouflage coat, black pants and sneakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say that Turner is a vulnerable adult with a developmental disability who may be in need of medical attention. A picture of Turner can be found below. Anyone who has any information about Turners whereabouts is encouraged to contact IPD by any of the following means: Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245 Police Administration: 607-272-9973 Police Tipline: 607-330-0000 Anonymous Email Tip Address: cityofithaca.org/ipdtips Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. China has made public a set of security management measures concerning the application of facial recognition technology, aiming to standardize the use of the technology and protect individuals' personal information rights. Jointly released by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Ministry of Public Security, the measures will go into effect on June 1, 2025. The document sets forth basic requirements and processing rules for the use of facial recognition technology in handling facial data, security standards for the application of the technology, as well as relevant supervisory and management responsibilities. Notably, regarding mandatory facial recognition, an issue of wide concern which often occurs at hotel check-ins and residence area entrances, the document introduces a non-mandatory principle, stipulating that facial recognition cannot be the sole verification method if "the same purpose or business requirement can be achieved through other non-facial recognition methods." If individuals do not consent to identity verification through facial recognition, they should be provided with other reasonable and convenient alternatives, according to the measures. Facial recognition data is sensitive personal information, and once it is leaked, it can cause significant harm to individuals' personal and property security, and even pose a threat to public safety, said an official with the CAC. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The gang unit for the Massachusetts State Police along with the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit arrested two suspects during a search in a Suffolk Street home. In a news release from the Springfield Police Department, at around 6 a.m. on Thursday, law enforcement searched the home of 18-year-old Allens Batista-Quesada at the 0-100 block of Suffolk Street. They have been investigating Batista-Quesada for the illegal possession of a firearm. Massachusetts man sent to prison for online cosmetics scheme Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers entered, they found two people, Batista-Quesada and 20-year-old Brenliam Rivera of Springfield, who were detained while searching the home. A 9mm ghost gun, an extended magazine capable of holding 31 rounds of ammunition, and nine rounds of additional ammunition were seized. Both Batista-Quesada and Rivera were arrested. Allens Batista-Quesada Brenliam Rivera Allens Batista-Quesada is charged with the following: Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm Possession of a Convert/Undetectable Firearm Arrest Warrant Arrest Warrant Brenliam Rivera is charged with the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm Possession of a Convert/Undetectable Firearm Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has said that Russia should refuse military aid from North Korea and Iran if it is "concerned" about Western assistance to Ukraine during a possible truce. Source: Sikorski on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: The Polish foreign minister spoke about Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's demand to "stop forced mobilisation in Ukraine and rearmament of the Armed Forces" for a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his opinion, if Russia is concerned about helping Ukraine, it could "take the lead" and refuse military aid from North Korea and Iran. Quote: "If Russia is concerned about foreign military supplies during a proposed ceasefire with Ukraine it could take the lead by refusing deliveries of Iranian drones and North Korean artillery ammunition." Background: It should be noted that several countries have already rejected Putin's demand. In particular, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron said they would continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine. The same position was expressed in the UK. US President Donald Trump said that during his phone conversation with Putin, they did not discuss the topic of assistance to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! After having sunk more than a quarter-billion dollars into the 2024 election and then taken a central role in President Donald Trumps administration, billionaire Elon Musk is demonstrating that hes not done with his efforts to reshape American politics. Musk, the public face of Trumps attempts to take a chain saw to the federal bureaucracy, is a constant fixture on White House grounds and on his social media platform, X. Meanwhile, the super PAC he founded is the top outside spender in the April 1 election that will determine the majority on Wisconsins state Supreme Court, and he is also demonstrating his willingness to use his wallet to reward Trump loyalists in Congress and, some fear, to punish others as he closely watches the political landscape. It all makes Musk a megadonor without much parallel in modern political history someone who not only can fundamentally reshape a campaign with a single check but is also a prominent political figure in his own right, both as a business executive and as the de facto leader of Trumps Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In short, Musks prominence, his virtually unlimited bank account and his penchant for controversy are poised to play a big role in upcoming elections for both parties, in different ways. America PAC the super PAC Musk started during the last presidential election, which spent more than $261 million primarily on helping Trump is the top outside spender in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, having spent about $6.6 million so far on ads and organizing. While the groups fundraising isnt public yet, Musk, whose net worth is north of $300 billion, was responsible for the vast majority of the money it raised last year. The third-largest outside spender in that race is Building Americas Future, a Republican-aligned nonprofit group to which Musk has previously sent millions of dollars, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. Building Americas Future has spent $4.5 million so far in the race, Wisconsin campaign finance documents show, though its unclear whether Musk has any current involvement in the effort. Still, Musks past donations and prominent political role have made him a boogeyman in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. A recent ad for Judge Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate running against Republican-backed Judge Brad Schimel, claims that Elon Musk is trying to buy Schimel a seat on the Supreme Court because he knows Schimel always helps his big campaign donors. Its the first time Musk has appeared in a TV ad in Wisconsin, according to AdImpact, a firm that tracks political ad spending and content, following repeated Democratic mentions of Musk on the trail and in digital ads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has also been rewarding members of Congress who have expressed support for impeaching judges who issued rulings against elements of Trumps agenda. A person familiar with Musks donations confirmed to NBC News that he gave $6,600 apiece, the maximum campaign donations under federal law, to Reps. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., and Brandon Gill, R-Texas, as well as Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. (Only Van Orden is expected to be running in a competitive race next year.) Those donations, first reported by The New York Times, were made after the president and his allies railed against a ruling Saturday from Judge James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Boasberg ordered the administration to return flights to El Salvador deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members and return them to the United States. The administration didnt do so. Trump has called for Boasbergs impeachment, while Musk has spent days posting on X in support of efforts to remove judges he perceives to be anti-Trump. A senior Senate GOP aide said Musks direct contributions are obviously always appreciated but are basically marginal in races like that, especially when those direct contributions are capped at such a low level, unlike super PAC donations that Musk can make with no limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its definitely beneficial for [Musk] to be involved though, the aide wrote, adding that Musk was a huge help in PA and a few other states for us last cycle. While a handful of $6,600 donations are basically nothing to the worlds richest man, they still send a loud message: Hes watching what congressional Republicans do very closely. And though Musk has focused most of his spending so far on general elections, the notion that he could bankroll an insurgent Republican in a primary race looms large. Musk said in November that America PACs future included playing a significant role in primaries and implied that theres no other way to drain the swamp besides funding primary challenges against Republicans who dont back Trumps agenda. The warnings arent lost on Republicans, including the small sliver who arent in lockstep behind Trump. At a media availability event this week at the Alaska Legislature, GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a critic of some of DOGEs cuts, lamented that other Republicans may see some of the criticism she has faced from within the party and decide to be zip-lipped, not saying a word, because theyre afraid theyre going to be taken down, theyre going to be primaried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It may be that Elon Musk has decided hes going to take the next billion dollars he makes off of Starlink and put it directly against Lisa Murkowski, she added. And you know what? That may happen, but Im not giving up one minute, one opportunity, to try to stand up for Alaskans. Musk the donor for GOP ads, Musk the character for Democratic ads Musk didnt just bankroll America PAC like an ordinary megadonor last year he barnstormed swing states on Trumps behalf, appearing at events held by his group and at rallies alongside Trump as he made the case for the future president. And as he continues to engage on social media and with his political spending, it seems likely he will remain active. A Trump ally said Musks cash would be a huge boost in the 2026 midterm elections while noting the GOP could face the typical midterm headwinds, something a check alone wouldnt be able to fix. I think any money is good money to put into these races, this person said. And it will matter. But what matters more is the environment. If the environment is good, they will need less money. If its bad, they will need more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are in an environment where Republicans have become less reliable voters than Democrats, this person continued, adding: We need to change the composition of the electorate. Thats a much harder task than straight persuasion. And it is a rarity in politics, certainly something that we have not done in decades without Donald Trump on the ballot. Meanwhile, Democrats will have an opportunity, they believe, to use Musk and DOGEs cuts against the Republican Party and to use Musk as a proxy, as in the new TV ad airing in Wisconsin. The new NBC News poll found that 39% of registered voters view Musk positively and 51% view him negatively, making his public image worse than both Trumps and Vice President JD Vances. (Hes also far less popular than federal workers, according to the survey.) Voters are split on DOGE in new NBC News polling, with 46% saying its a good idea, 40% saying its a bad idea and 14% unsure. But 41% view DOGE positively, and 47% view it negatively. And while a third want DOGE to continue as is, the remaining share of the electorate either want DOGE to slow down or think its reckless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of that frustration has fueled criticism at Republican lawmakers town halls in recent weeks, energy Democrats believe they can harness. VoteVets, a progressive veterans group, announced this week its launching a six-figure ad campaign criticizing five vulnerable House Republicans with messaging that focuses on Musk and DOGE alone, with no mention of Trump. If Republicans are not going to speak out against Elon Musk buying access to fire middle-class veterans, theyre going to be held accountable to it in the midterms, said Matt Corridoni, the vice president of communications at VoteVets. House Majority Forward, a super PAC that supports the House Democrats political agenda, launched ads and billboards featuring Musk, too, using him as a face of the GOP budget resolution, which Democrats warn could lead to Medicaid cuts. Last month, the group put out messaging guidance telling Democrats: On Elon Musk, it is important to focus on how his conflicts of interest as head of DOGE could lead to cuts to Medicare and Social Security and leave the interests of the middle class behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Musk is a fixture in Democratic fundraising ads lawmakers like Sens. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Reps. Sean Casten, D-Ill., Robert Garcia, D-Calif., Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., are among those who have launched digital fundraising appeals evoking Musk in recent weeks, according to AdImpact. Youre using him as a foil to explain what Republicans are doing theyre laying off people, theyre cutting Medicaid benefits, X and Y and Z, and then they are profiting off of that, said a Democratic strategist involved in House races, explaining the emphasis on Musk. You can use Musk as a boogeyman, but you have to relay it back to real-life things that are happening. Another Democratic strategist at a group thats attacking Musk told NBC News that attacking him serves multiple purposes, both electoral and personal. Its a way to highlight Trumps policies that are actively harming people, the strategist said, and also get under his skin, reminding him hes not the center of his own show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we get into a mud fight over whether people like Donald Trump, weve been shown time and time again that we lose that, the strategist said. But, this person added, if we show people how these policies are hurting them and we make Trump feel less secure, we win on two planes. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Donald Trump cannot be trusted to successfully negotiate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, a poll of Telegraph readers has revealed. Throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to resolve the war within 24 hours of taking office. However, his approach including suspending all US military aid to Ukraine and publicly undermining Volodymyr Zelenskyhas left Telegraph readers questioning his intentions. The president held a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, on March 19, after which the White House announced that the two had agreed on an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, hours after the call Russian forces continued their attacks on Ukraine, prompting readers to ask whether Trump has forgotten the art of how to make a deal. Asked if they believe the president can successfully broker peace, 78 per cent of more than 20,000 respondents voted no. Here is what you had to say. Hes in Putins pocket More than three quarters of readers who voted are deeply sceptical of Trumps approach arguing that he is playing straight into Putins hands. Mike Elliott dismissed Mr Trumps influence outright, saying: Trump has no leverage over Putin. He has made it clear he will punish Ukraine and does not want to continue military aid. Putin holds all the cards. Trump is a busted flush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Cooper also weighed in: Trump needs to realise this is not a business matter; it is an emotional one. The Ukrainians wish to retain their country, Putin wishes to retain his head. Others questioned Trumps motivations. Martin Edwards suggested that his real goal is personal recognition rather than a lasting peace: Unfortunately for Ukraine, Trump is only really interested in winning a Nobel Peace Prize so he can feel equal to Obama. But he will never measure up to that high bar for many of us, regardless of political leanings. Credit: X/@RapidResponse47 Several readers argued that Putin is simply stringing the president along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dora Ridgway didnt hold back: I dont know why anybody is talking about progress. Putin has played Trump like a banjo. While R. Farrant gave his verdict: When will Trump realise that Putin is just playing him with no intent on a peace settlement that doesnt give him everything he went to war for. Reader Tom Follery warned that Trumps stance may have already backfired: The problem is that if Putin sees Ukraine being denied weapons, there is little incentive for him to stop. Unfortunately, it seems Trump may have miscalculated by making his lack of support for Ukraine so public. Trump has a surprise in store for Putin Some readers, however, defended the presidents approach, praising his efforts and progress so far compared with other world leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob Cheesman said: At least Trump is trying. All the other Western leaders are doing nothing but stoking the flames. Elizabeth Mays added: Mr Trump has secured a partial ceasefire just the start of ongoing talks, but at least theres dialogue. In a short time, hes done more than Biden, the EU and the UK have in three years. Harry McPherson echoed this sentiment: Trump is trying hard to stop the bloodshed. The agreement wont be perfect, but it can be made to work. Several readers highlighted that it was still early days in the negotiations and suggested that the Trump whisperer may have a trick or two up his sleeve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Telegraph reader David James remarked: We are in the very early stages of the negotiations and as far as I can see, Donald Trump has given nothing away. At least, unlike the much vaunted and supposedly sophisticated Europeans, he will get the two sides around the table. Andrew Dale speculated: I think Trump has a surprise in store for Putin. Saving face is everything to him. If Putin makes him look like a useful idiot and scuppers any chance of a peace deal, my bet is Trump will arm Ukraine with the longer range Himars variant and instruct them to fire at will. 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. ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis is slowly regaining his strength in hospital but must "relearn to speak" after prolonged use of high-flow oxygen therapy, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez said on Friday. The cardinal, who is the head of the Vatican's doctrinal office, dismissed speculation that the pontiff would retire and said he was returning to his old self. "The pope is doing very well, but high-flow oxygen dries everything out. He needs to relearn how to speak, but his overall physical condition is as it was before," Fernandez said at a presentation of a new book by Francis on poetry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 88-year-old pope has been hospitalized for five weeks suffering from double pneumonia, during which time the Vatican has released just one brief audio of him speaking, on March 6, when his voice was broken, breathless and hard to understand. In its latest health update released on Friday, the Vatican said the pope's condition remained stable with "minor improvements in breathing and mobility". It confirmed he had not used mechanical ventilation for help with breathing at night since Monday, but was rather receiving oxygen via a small hose under his nose for much of the time. There is still no official word on when he might return home to the Vatican and Fernandez said he did not know if he would be discharged in time for Easter, which falls on April 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He could return, but the doctors want to be 100% sure because he believes that with the little time he has left, he wants to dedicate himself entirely to others, not to himself," Fernandez said. Asked if he thought Francis might step down, the cardinal said: "I really don't think so, no." Francis has experienced several bouts of ill health over the last two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Sandra Maler) Pope Francis is slowly regaining his strength in hospital but must relearn to speak after prolonged use of high-flow oxygen therapy, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez said on Friday. The cardinal, who is the head of the Vaticans doctrinal office, dismissed speculation that the Pope would retire and said he was returning to his old self. The Pope is doing very well, but high-flow oxygen dries everything out. He needs to relearn how to speak, but his overall physical condition is as it was before, Cardinal Fernandez said at a presentation of a new book by Pope Francis on poetry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 88-year-old Pope has been hospitalised for five weeks suffering from double pneumonia, during which time the Vatican has released just one brief audio of him speaking, on March 6, when his voice was broken, breathless and hard to understand. In its latest health update released on Friday, the Vatican said the Popes condition remained stable with minor improvements in breathing and mobility. Receiving oxygen through small hose It confirmed he had not used mechanical ventilation for help with breathing at night since Monday, but was rather receiving oxygen via a small hose under his nose for much of the time. There is still no official word on when he might return home to the Vatican and Cardinal Fernandez said he did not know if he would be discharged in time for Easter, which falls on April 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He could return, but the doctors want to be 100 per cent sure because he believes that with the little time he has left, he wants to dedicate himself entirely to others, not to himself, Cardinal Fernandez said. Asked if he thought Pope Francis might step down, the cardinal said: I really dont think so, no. Pope Francis has experienced several bouts of ill health over the last two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. 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. VERSAILLES, Ky. (FOX 56) A season of peddling on a central Kentucky railroad line is just a week away. However, as employees with Rail Explorers walked into the office Wednesday morning, they had an unpleasant surprise. The words that were written up on the blackboard, and that was, GET OUT, Mary Joy Lu, CEO and Owner of Rail Explorers, said. The office was broken into, with items scattered everywhere and the safe missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lu said two weeks ago, the company received a threatening letter that stated that if the rail bikes come through Milner again, the tracks will be destroyed. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: I think that some people are just not very happy, and when they see joy riding past them every day, they cant stand it, Lu said. Rail Explorers took part in two town hall meetings last year to listen to the concerns of people who live along the tracks. As a result, the company has canceled late-night tours and installed rubber wheels on the rail bikes to make them quieter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preston Swanson, a nearby resident, said the vandalism and intimidation are poor ways to protest. We hear these things coming by every so often, but its not terrible. I mean, its pretty quiet. The tracks can be seen from Swansons backyard. Ive heard of spreading around on Facebook and all that kind of stuff, and, and weve gotten mail saying, you know, stuff about this, and we just kind of toss it away because it doesnt bother us, and it doesnt bother us. We get to hear laughter and families having fun; its not a bad thing, Swanson said. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Swanson said he enjoys seeing peddlers pass, and they give him motivation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We get outside; we cook, we grill, we play like dogs, and, you know, sometimes you might hear them passing by, but theyre just laughing; theyre having a good time, and its kind of contagious, Swanson said. Lu said Rail Explorers is proud to be part of the Woodford County community, and the company will not be derailed by threats. They want to drag you down, and were not going to be dragged down because I have 190 people on my payroll soon, and I have to protect them and look after them and make sure that our businesses are economically sustainable, and thats my job, and I am going to do that, Lu said. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Versailles police is investigating the theft and vandalism. Despite this setback, Rail Explorers is on track to reopen for another season 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 FOX 56 News. DENVER (KDVR) A park in Lone Tree that sees nearly 500 daily visitors will undergo construction efforts due to erosion, according to the Douglas County website. The Bluffs Regional Park Trail has experienced major erosion due to large amounts of foot and bike traffic, as well as the strain from Colorados dynamic and extreme weather. Douglas County said the erosion has made the trails unsafe for nature enthusiasts. Colorado defending worst roads title in March Madness bracket Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The southwest portion of the trail has already been undergoing repair since Denver. The next step in beefing up the resilience of the trail will see 85 truckloads of material brought to the trails. The material will be used to smooth out the trails, as well as reinforce them and prevent future erosion. While the trucks are hauling the material around, portions of the East-West Regional Trail and the Bluffs Regional Trail will be closed from March 24 to April 4. Douglas County said with trucks driving back-and-forth it will not be safe to add pedestrians and cyclists to the mix in those areas. The Douglas County government shared a statement about the project with FOX31: Many of Douglas Countys trails, like Bluffs Regional, are soft surface trails because they accommodate multiple users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians. The specific topography of Bluffs Regional Park includes many elevation changes, which makes it susceptible to erosion. The combination of Colorados climate, topography, surface material and heavy traffic have all contributed to the need to resurface sections of trail. This project includes adding new drainage channels, which will isolate water flow to specific areas to reduce erosion. For this project, we are using a compacted road base for the resurfacing, which will be more resistant to erosion while still providing a surface that is enjoyable to all types of uses. Douglas County government They said to respect barriers and to not attempt to enter the closed-off areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hikers can access the Bluff Regional Trail out and back by entering at the trailhead and using the north portion of the 2.5-mile loop until hitting the construction zone and then turning around and returning to the trailhead. USDA confirms wolf relocated to Colorado killed by Wildlife Services in Wyoming The same can be said for cyclists on the East-West Regional Trail. Turning around at the construction zone and heading back to the start is the only possibility and the normal trail cannot be explored end-to-end. More information can be found on the Douglas County 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 FOX31 Denver. Mar. 21A Portland man died in a crash on Interstate 295 in Scarborough that shut down traffic for hours on Friday morning. Maine State Police said 86-year-old George Vandenburgh of Portland collided head-on with a tractor trailer in the southbound lane near Exit 4. Vandenburgh was traveling the wrong way in his 2018 Ford Fusion, state police said. Authorities received multiple calls around 6 a.m. reporting the wrong-way driver on the turnpike in Scarborough, who then exited onto Interstate 295 and traveled through the tolls in South Portland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the tractor trailer was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Vandenburgh was pronounced dead at the scene. Both southbound and northbound lanes were closed between mile markers 3 and 4 until the road reopened to traffic after 10 a.m. Maine State Police are investigating the cause of the crash. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not enable comments on everything exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Local postal office employees voiced their concerns over the Trump Administration and their idea to privatize the United States Postal Service. President Donald Trump has been a long-time critic of the Postal Service even calling it a tremendous loser for the country. New Mexico lawmakers push juvenile crime bill before session ends These protests come as the Postmaster General announced a partnership with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency which is something employees are concerned about. My wife is a postal employee and Im a truck driver for Albuquerque mail service. It may affect her job, and it may affect postal contracts. Thats the reason were out here, said Joe Baca, Albuquerque mail service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Postmaster General announced last year that he expects the price of stamps to rise five times in the next two years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Chanting "U.S. mail, not for sale" postal workers protested in Detroit on Thursday over concerns about a potential takeover of the U.S. Postal Service by the Trump administration. Holding signs with messages like "THE POST OFFICE BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE BILLIONAIRES" outside of the post office on West Fort Street in Detroit, protesters expressed concern about the possibility of privatization. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have both suggested privatizing the agency. Last month, Trump said he was considering merging the U.S. Postal Service, an independent agency, with the Commerce Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the publics postal service and we touch every address across the country," said Tamika Johnson-Smith, secretary-treasurer of the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, Detroit District Area Local. She called working for the postal service "an honorable job." More: New state webpage offers resources for federal workers in Michigan who lost their jobs More: Flint letter carrier honored for saving girl in dog attack Johnson-Smith said: "This job has given everybody an opportunity to lift themselves up and help the community and go out here and just be of service to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detroit is one of 150 cities across the country where events were planned to be held as part of a national day of action, according to a news release. Retired and current U.S. Postal Service workers and community members protest in the rain outside the United States Postal Service office in Detroit on Thursday, March 20, 2025. This is the peoples postal service, emphasis on service, American Postal Workers Union (APWU) President Mark Dimondstein is quoted saying in the news release. If this administration succeeds in taking over the USPS, it will lead to higher prices and reduced service, especially in rural areas. Marcus Smith, executive vice president of the Detroit District Area Local of the APWU, said the postal service is "an entity for the citizens and we don't want to take anything away from our citizens that they truly deserve." He said they were out there "to let the people know to write their congressmen, write their senators." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pat Tourney, who lives in Detroit, said she hasn't worked for the postal service but turned out Thursday to join the protest. Holding a sign that read "SAVE THE USPS," she said that, as a customer, she believes in the post office. "I feel very strongly that the post office is a service," she said. "Its a service for us, the citizens who are its customers." This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Postal workers in Detroit protest potential changes to USPS OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Postal workers nationwide and here in Oklahoma are protesting the Trump administrations plans for the U.S. Postal Service. The Postmaster General wants the Department of Government Efficiency team to investigate and privatize it. Last week, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy gave a letter to Congress highlighting why hes asking the DOGE team to step in. In the letter, DeJoy said USPS receives more than five thousand inquiries a year from members of Congress regarding all aspects of their service to the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later mentioned that the time and resources spent rebutting legislationcould have been better spent advancing Delivering for America efforts which he says would remove the need for DOGE in the USPS. I need them to know that were closer now to privatization than we ever have been and that their wages will be affected, their benefits will be affected, said Koquise Edwards, the Oklahoma City President for the American Postal Workers Union. Postal workers said privatizing USPS would impact how they work. Right now, the American Postal Workers Union negotiates hours, working conditions, and wages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its taking them out from under the union negotiating power so that, you know, they place them under the commerce department, said Edwards. DeJoys letter to Congress highlights seven parts of the post office he plans to ask DOGE to review: Retirement Plans Workers Compensation Costs Unfunded Congressional Mandates Regulatory Requirements Retail Center Lease Renewals Leveraging Postal Infrastructure for Federal Agencies Counterfeit Postage Postal workers said if those changes happen, it could impact your local post office and sending letters. We believe that if its privatized, that they wont go to those small towns, that they that they will do a cluster boxes and have people that live in the country to go pick their mail up in the city, just not deliver every door every day and maybe charge an additional fee for those that dont live within the city limits, said Edwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter and the push to get DOGE involved have postal workers upset. They said for the last 250 years, Congress has supported USPS being a stand-alone entity and they dont want that to change. Theyve never, you know, voted to privatize. And so were hoping that they will stand with us and not privatize the postal service, said Edwards. Postal workers want the public to contact local lawmakers to vote down any acts related to privatizing the USPS. They also have a petition going if youd like to sign it. U.S.-Postmaster-General-sends-letter-to-CongressDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- For months, President Prabowo Subiantos moves to chip away at Indonesias long-established economic guardrails have stoked anxiety in markets. This weeks sudden rout suggests investor patience is wearing thin. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ex-general has been causing unease with his populist spending measures, plans to dilute the central banks independence and aggressive policies against foreign businesses like Apple Inc. He fast-tracked laws to expand the role of the military too, triggering angry student protests in Jakarta. The tipping point came earlier in the week, amid rumors that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who has kept a tight rein on spending during her cumulative 14 years in office, would resign. The stock market dropped the most in three years on Tuesday, prompting government officials and Indrawati herself to come out, one by one, to dispel the speculation. Bank Indonesia was forced to step in to protect the rupiah, Asias worst performing currency this year. The rumors have renewed fears of reformists being purged and was a catalyst for exposing all the economic problems the country is facing, said John Foo, founder of Valverde Investment Partners Pte., which invests in Southeast Asian stocks. While theres been some reprieve in the markets since then, investors remain rattled by Prabowos policy moves, coming at a time when Southeast Asias biggest economy is also grappling with US President Donald Trumps tariff threats and waning demand from China for raw materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jakarta Composite Index fell as much as 2.6% on Friday, among the worst-performing stock gauges in Asia. The nations equities have seen net outflows of $1.9 billion this year. Top of mind for investors is the fiscal outlook. Once cited by Morgan Stanley as one of the Fragile Five markets prone to wild swings in foreign sentiment, Indonesia has steadily improved its credibility to investors thanks to prudent economic management thats lifted its credit rating out of junk status. Prabowo, 73, is now threatening to upend that trajectory. His policy steps since taking office in October could push the budget deficit closer to its legal limit of 3% of gross domestic product. He increased his cabinet to more than 100 from around 60 under his predecessor Joko Widodo. After a public outcry, he backtracked on hiking the value-added tax rate, a move which wouldve boosted government revenue. He implemented a free lunch program for students a signature campaign pledge that will cost $30 billion a year, the equivalent of 14% of Indonesias entire 2024 budget. To pay for that, he slashed spending in other areas, like infrastructure projects and travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in the markets are concerned about economic policy making, said Achmad Sukarsono, lead analyst for Indonesia at Control Risks. They have seen that many policies lets just say do not have sound economic grounding. Prabowos office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Wake-Up Call The government delayed releasing monthly budget data for January, leading investors to question the state of the governments finances. The figures were finally published last week, showing a surprise deficit as both revenues and expenditures plunged. None of that bodes well for Prabowos biggest pledge of all: boosting economic growth to 8%. Analysts say that goal is unrealistic, with the market consensus closer to 5% growth this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president remains focused on fulfilling his populist campaign promises, which require efficient execution, said Aditya Perdana, a political lecturer at the University of Indonesia, describing the effort as uneven and selective. From a political perspective, this should serve as a wake-up call for the government to adjust its course before losing further credibility. Prabowos creation of a sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, is another source of concern. The fund will take control of the nations state-owned enterprises and have a sweeping mandate to invest across industries. The government will channel $20 billion from the existing budget into the fund, which will be run by business-savvy allies and report directly to the president. Indonesias bond market has still managed to record inflows of over $850 million this year. The rupiah remains the worst performer in the region, weakening by more than 2.4% this year, as heightened global trade tensions also weigh on sentiment. The 10-year government bond yield rose 17 bps this week, the most since mid November, to 7.14%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authoritarian Past Prabowos actions appear in many ways to be at odds with the very institutions put in place to win the faith of voters and investors after the downfall of former dictator Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for three decades until his ouster amid street protests in the late 1990s. His allies in parliament, for example, moved swiftly to pass a controversial law to expand the role of the military, despite public criticism that the changes are reminiscent of the Southeast Asian nations authoritarian past. Thousands of students took to the street in the capital on Thursday, throwing stones, spray-painting walls and setting tires ablaze as they demanded lawmakers reverse the changes, according to local reports. The market may be taking a cautious approach to the passage of the military law, reflecting concerns about potential shifts in Indonesias democratic trajectory and governance structures, said SGMC Capital Pte Ltd senior partner Mohit Mirpuri on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe this could provide some uncertainty in the market, Citigroup Inc. analyst Ferry Wong added. Lawmakers have also been talking about potentially expanding the mandate of the central bank. That renewed investor concerns about Bank Indonesias independence after an earlier draft of the financial sector omnibus law added job creation to the central banks objectives. Governor Perry Warjiyo said this week the rule changes would only emphasize, but not fundamentally change its current goals. To be sure, none of this appears to pose any imminent threat to Prabowo, who enjoys an overwhelming parliamentary majority, while the countrys sole opposition party is still seen lending legislative support on matters like the military law. State revenues are also poised to see a turnaround in March, Indrawati reassured on Tuesday, and the government has pledged to maintain its budget deficit at 2.5% of GDP this year, well within the legal limit. This is a clear warning, and we must prevent the situation from deteriorating further, said Perdana of the University of Indonesia. While some corrective measures have been introduced, poor implementation remains a critical issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Abhishek Vishnoi, John Cheng and Prima Wirayani. (Updates with stock market drop on Friday) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Mar. 20PRESTON, Minn. A predatory offender is facing 32 felony charges in Fillmore County after law enforcement received 27 cybertips regarding child sexual abuse materials. Ethan Charles Olson, 28, of Canton, is facing 32 felony counts relating to possessing child sexual abuse materials as someone with a prior conviction of a similar charge. This is the third time he has been charged with possessing or disseminating pornographic work. Olson was taken into custody on Tuesday, March 18. He is being held on a $100,000 unconditional bail in the Fillmore County Jail. His next hearing is scheduled for March 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension responded to multiple cybertips involving several different platforms operated by the same suspect in Olmsted County in August 2024. Law enforcement found that Olson used multiple IP addresses and his phone number to create accounts on Kik, Google, Snapchat and Dropbox. The earliest known CSAM activity from Olson's accounts occurred on April 28, 2024. The activity was linked to a relative's Olmsted County address and his address in Fillmore County. The BCA received 27 cybertips regarding Olson's accounts and verified 268 files contained CSAM of children ages 1 to 12, according to the complaint. He was previously convicted for possession of pornographic work in 2017 and 2019. Both cases were filed in Olmsted County. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)- A woman was arrested after a struggle with police in Boardman, according to a police report. On Thursday around 8:15 p.m., police tried to pull over a vehicle Kiarra Jackson, 28, was driving due to it not having a functioning rear license plate light. Police said Jackson pulled over in a driveway on Terrace Drive. Police said Jackson was found to have warrants for her arrest, including on misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business and possession of drug paraphernalia. She also had some misdemeanor traffic charges. Police said Jackson got out of the vehicle after she was asked to do so several times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Jackson told them she was six months pregnant. Officers said she then began calling people on her cellphone and had a tight grip on it. Reports said police took the phone and said Jackson then began talking to someone on her Apple Watch and wouldnt let officers remove it. Police said that she attempted to bite an officers hand/wrist area when the officer was removing the watch. In the vehicle, police reported finding drug paraphernalia, a handgun, methamphetamine and eight pills. Jackson is not allowed to possess a firearm due to her having an active protection order from the Mahoning County Sheriffs Office, the report stated. Jackson is in the Mahoning County Jail. According to court records, she is now also charged with felony counts of drug trafficking, drug possession, violating a protection order and having weapons under disability. She is also charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing official business. Her arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. The group of states (Core Group) working on the establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine has finalised the technical and legal documents required to launch it under the Council of Europe. Source: Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, following the Core Group meeting in Strasbourg from 19 to 21 March, as reported by European Pravda Details: As a result of the meeting, the Core Group completed technical work on three draft documents: a draft bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on the establishment of the special tribunal, a draft statute of the tribunal and a draft expanded partial agreement on the tribunals management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These three documents will now be submitted for political consideration by the participating states. Berset welcomed "the successful outcome of the Core Groups meeting". Quote: "I welcome the successful outcome of the Core Groups meeting and the finalisation of the necessary technical legal documents for the establishment of the Special Tribunal within the framework of the Council of Europe." Details: Berset stated that the Council of Europe is ready for the rapid launch of the tribunal and urged states to "demonstrate the political will to ensure" its creation. Discussions for establishing a special tribunal for Russia over the crime of aggression have been ongoing since 2022, as there is currently no international court with jurisdiction over this crime. However, no meaningful progress has been made in a long time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: On 4 February 2025, during the 13th meeting of the Core Group countries on the establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, participants approved the draft statute of the tribunal and reached an agreement to launch it through a bilateral accord between Ukraine and the Council of Europe. Read more about the plans to establish the tribunal in an interview with Alain Berset: Tribunal on Russian aggression to start in 2025, no objections from Trump interview Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! President Donald Trump tweaked his administration's most recent update on the future of the U.S. Department of Education. On Friday, the president said he has decided the Small Business Administration will handle student loans, taking it out of the Education Department immediately. In 2024, student loan debt in the United States totaled $1.777 trillion and was held by 42.7 million borrowers, according to the Education Data Initiative. "They are all set for it; they are waiting for it. It'll be serviced much better than it has in the past," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes less than a day after he ordered his administration to dismantle the Department of Education, though the White House acknowledged the agency can't and won't entirely be dissolved without an act of Congress. It comes close to the longtime campaign promise to ax the agency. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon smiles during the signing event for an executive order to shut down the Department of Education next to President Donald Trump, in the East Room at the White House in Washington on March 20, 2025. Trump's executive order instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon "to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities." The department has already laid off about half of its staff. Delaware leaders react sharply to new order Immediate impact still remains unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order calls for the department to simultaneously close and maintain an "uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely." Key federal programs themselves, housed within the federal education department, cannot be eliminated without Congress. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday the Education Department wont be abolished under Trumps order but will be much smaller than it is today. That did not curb sharp reaction from Delaware leaders. Matt Meyer gives remarks after being sworn in Delaware's governor on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Lets cut the bull----, not education. Schools are already underfunded, teachers underpaid and students underserved," Gov. Matt Meyer said in a statement following the order Thursday afternoon. "As a former public school teacher, I know whats at stake." Meyer looked to stress his administration would "stand up, push back and demand every dollar our students deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in Washington, Trump also said Health and Human Services will take over "handling special needs and all of the nutrition programs and everything else." Exact details don't seem to be ironed out. Combining layoffs and other types of departures, the Trump administration has trimmed the department's workforce from 4,133 to 2,183 workers since the term's start. The Office for Civil Rights seems to have an unclear future, having already been gutted by just under half its staff, alongside the closing of the seven regional offices that investigate civil rights complaints from students and families. On Thursday, the president said Title I funding, or the program that boosts funding to schools serving high-poverty populations, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding for schools serving students with disabilities, as well as student aid would still be administered by the department under the order. The latter, Trump shared Friday, he now hopes to move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Order: New Trump order aims to dismantle US Education Department. But it's not dissolving entirely Student loans to the Small Business Administration? It is unclear when and how the relatively small agency will take over managing the country's massive student loan portfolio, and how much disruption borrowers might experience while the transition takes place. Colleges and universities are already reporting a backlog after hundreds of employees in the department's Federal Student Aid office were laid off. High school students across the country are still finding out which colleges they've been accepted to and in the process of applying for federal student aid. The SBA was established in 1953 to administer small business and disaster recovery loans. It played a crucial role during the pandemic, helping distribute small business aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly before Trump's announcement, the Small Business Administration announced in a news release it would cut its workforce by 43%, eliminating approximately 2,700 positions out of a total active workforce of nearly 6,500. The Education Department's Federal Student Aid office had about 1,500 employees to handle questions, applications and problems. The Small Business Administration was criticized for large amounts of fraud and misuse of COVID-related relief loans during the pandemic. The agency's Inspector General estimated in 2023 that the agency disbursed over $200 billion in potentially fraudulent loans equaling 17% of all loans distributed. Trump told reporters in the White House on March 6 that he was weighing bringing student loans under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department, Commerce Department or the Small Business Administration. 'You can never erase us': Delaware bill to ban transgender care stalls, climate remains This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump looks to move student college loans to SBA MEMPHIS, Tenn. Reaction is coming in after President Trump began the process of shutting down the Department of Education. On Thursday, the president signed an executive order, which is being supported by many governors, including Tennessees Bill Lee. This decision will mean that the state has more funding, said Gov. Lee. Some Memphians concerned by Trump Department of Education order The President says The U.S. spends more money per pupil, yet we rank near the bottom of the list in terms of success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Lee agrees those dollars should return to the states. The federal dollars that have come to the state have come with failure and strings attached, bureaucracy, really. Now those dollars will be freed up to flow to states to use in a way they see best for their children, Gov. Lee said. Some Tennessee educators oppose this move. I dont know a single educator that sees this as fantastic news. I mean for us in Tennessee, we receive a significant amount of education funding from the federal government, and this is cutting that off, said Kathryn Vaughn, teacher and president of the Tipton County Education Association. We failed to see when the state takes anything from the federal government that the state called us through its promises to making things better for our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Education oversees items like funding for programs, civil rights enforcement, and educational research, among other duties. Vaughn says changes could be harmful to students. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Well, we know that 90% of Americas children go to public schools and 95% of children with disabilities go to public schools, and this is going to affect them in the time when school districts are looking at their budget for next year, and where cuts could be taking place, where we could be looking at a school year without after school programs. So we could be looking at a school year without summer feed programs, or where we could look at staff shortages and larger class sizes, Vaughn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the presidents claims, fully eliminating the Department of Education would require an act of Congress. Educators like Vaughn hope Congress will block this plan. I hope that Congress slows us down. I hope that theres a lawsuit somewhere that will slow this down because our children need public schools. America needs public schools and as a teacher, Im terrified, she said. To advance the executive order, most legislation in the Senate requires 60 votes, meaning seven Democrats would need to vote for it along with all Republicans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. CENTRAL TEXAS (FOX 44) On Wednesday, Texas A&M Forest Service responded to 25 new requests for assistance on wildfires burning 3,320 acres across the state. The dry and windy conditions Central Texas is seeing creates the perfect environment for a wildfire to thrive. Once a fire starts, there isnt really anything you can dobut the key is prevention. Scorching homes, destroying wildlife, wreaking havoc on forests and vegetationwildfires know no boundaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any fire, regardless of the acreage, can be a catastrophe for somebody, says Andy Lyons, with the Texas A&M Forest Service. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, people and their activities cause more than 90 percent of all wildfires in Texas. Some of your daily habits could be deadlylike mowing the grass on a hot and dry day, discarding a cigarette on the ground, parking your vehicle over tall dry grass, or debris burning. These grass fires can move quickly into the wildland urban interface and start threatening lives and property, says Lyons. He adds now is the time to keep preparation and prevention top of mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The time to think about wildfires is before the emergency. Not when its at your doorstep, Lyons says. But if a wildfire is threatening your home, Lyons says to grab the five Ps: people, priceless items, pets, important papers, and prescriptions. In Texas there are currently 142 counties with burn bans in placeBell County being one. Shane Gears, the Chief Fire Marshall for Bell County says they enacted this burn ban for multiple reasons. Extremely dry conditions. We did not get the moisture and that we thought we were going to be getting from the rains. The grounds didnt get soaked as well as they should have. Were still looking forward to more opportunity for rain during the spring, but the conditions being as cold as they were and as dry as they were, the fuel moisture content wasnt able to get to the point where we would be out of danger, says Gears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if your county isnt under a burn ban, there can still be an extremely high fire risk. Pay attention, especially when fire danger is high. Pay attention now. Sign up for emergency alerts in your county. Listen to local news reports. Pay attention to Texas A&M Forest Service and other official sources of information, says Lyons. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Prince of Wales has donned army fatigues and taken a ride in a tank as he joined British troops on a field exercise in Estonia. Meeting soldiers from the Mercian Regiment on the front line of Natos defence against Russia, the Prince rode in a Challenger 2 tank while wearing a military camouflage outfit and beret. He joined the soldiers in trench warfare at Tapa Camp, just 80 miles from the Russian border and home to the UKs largest military deployment overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the parade ground for the official handover of British troops, he said he hoped his visit to Estonia would keep everyone on their toes. With the royal standard flying alongside flags of Nato members, the Prince was shown a selection of military vehicles including an Archer, a Challenger 2, a Warrior, a French Griffon, an MLRS and a Trojan. Accompanied by Colonel Tarmo Kundla, the Estonian commander, and Lt Col General Sir Ian Cave, he then spoke to groups of soldiers positioned next to each vehicle. Speaking to soldiers stationed with the Archer, William asked: How is it to drive? I might have a go later. He also asked the group: Is this your first time in Estonia? Well good luck, I hope it all goes really well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Warrior vehicle, after asking the soldiers about their upcoming operational exercises, he said of his visit to the base: Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what youre doing and keeps everyone on their toes. Prince William saluted Estonian troops as he joined them and British soldiers at Tapa Camp, 80 miles from the Russian border - Victoria Jones/PA Wire Inspecting the French Griffon infantry fighting vehicle, the Prince spoke to a group of French soldiers who also serve alongside British troops at Tapa. Its good to have such an international partnership, he told them. He is also due to join the Mercians in a trench-cleaning exercise. William took over from his father as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercians in 2023. The Prince posed with soldiers as he prepared to join troops in a trench-cleaning exercise - Victoria Jones/PA Wire The visit comes amid heightened tensions with Russia. Sir Keir Starmer is considering proposals to send British fighter jets to police the skies above the country, while Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is exploring alternatives to his plan with Sir Keir to put European boots on the ground to protect a future peace deal in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kensington Palace sources noted that the Princes visit to Estonia, while six months in the planning, could not have been more timely. On Thursday, Estonian president Alar Karis told the heir to the throne how much his country valued Britains military presence and said he hoped they would remain. Kensington Palace sources said the Princes visit to Estonia could not have been more timely - Victoria Jones/PA Wire Some 900 personnel are deployed in Estonia on rolling six-month rotations under Operation Cabrit, the UKs contribution to Natos Forward Land Forces. A palace source said it was really important to the Prince to get his hands dirty by being out on training exercises and experiencing exactly what the soldiers do in the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was due to drive himself off the field in an Archer, a fully automatic truck carrying a 155mm field gun. The Prince will also learn about their various weapon systems as well as the mental health support available to soldiers on the base. The Prince will end his 24-hour visit by joining Mercian troops and their Nato allies in the informal space of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes shop and canteen. An excellent first day in Estonia, experiencing the warmth and hospitality of this beautiful country pic.twitter.com/bLJ4D7WMxh The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 20, 2025 The brief trip was considered a crucial and timely opportunity to reassure Estonians of the UKs commitment to their own security and applaud their strong support for Ukraine. On Thursday, the Prince praised the resilience and spirit of Ukrainians as he met refugees who have fled their wartorn country to seek refuge in Estonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a very difficult few years for you guys, he said. Everyone sees that. What I love is (that) the Ukrainian resilience is everywhere. You all are very smiley and very strong and very spiritual people. And honestly, that comes across everywhere. Even the Ukrainians Ive met in the UK are like that - very resilient and very strong about things. 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. Prince William is visiting Estonia solo this week, and he wont come home to the U.K. empty handed. The Prince of Wales ends a two-day visit to the nation on March 21, and the day prior received a friendship bracelet while visiting The Freedom School. Friendship bracelets have been a trend in the royal family, amplified last summer when William and kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended Taylor Swifts Eras Tour stop in London (on Williams 42nd birthday, no less). As such, William said on March 20 that Charlotte would probably poach his new friendship bracelet from him, per People. My daughter will probably try and poach it off me later, William said of the yellow and blue bracelet in a video shared by royal correspondent Rebecca English. She loves these friendship bracelets. Getty Prince William on March 20, 2025 Prince William on March 20, 2025 He added, Thank you very much. I like the Ukrainian colors. Thank youthats very kind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After attending Swifts June 21 concert (and, as we know, Swift is a huge proponent and driver of the friendship bracelet trend), Charlotte wore a friendship bracelet to Wimbledon alongside mom Kate Middleton and aunt Pippa Middleton on July 14. Around that time last summer, King Charles also rocked a friendship bracelet, even wearing it to the State Opening of Parliament. George also donned the trend in portraits the Princess of Wales took to mark her eldest childs 11th birthday on July 22, and William has previously been seen wearing a bracelet that said Papa, given to him by Charlotte and seen on his wrist while visiting Cape Town, South Africa solo last November in support of his Earthshot Prize Awards. Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty Images Prince William in Cape Town, South Africa on November 5, 2024 wearing a bracelet from Princess Charlotte Prince William in Cape Town, South Africa on November 5, 2024 wearing a bracelet from Princess Charlotte Well, this is a relic, if you like, from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for, William said of the bracelet. She gave it to me when I came away. So I promised that I'd wear it and try not to lose [it] while I was out here. Getty Princess Charlotte and Prince William on December 25, 2023 Princess Charlotte and Prince William on December 25, 2023 Getty Prince William on March 20, 2025 Prince William on March 20, 2025 William is visiting Estonia for the first time, without wife Kate, who has often accompanied him on trips in the past. Kate was largely away from royal duty in 2024 following her cancer diagnosis early in the year; in January, she announced she is in remission. Last November, the future king said of his wife, Hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so well have some more trips maybe lined up. Read the original article on InStyle (NewsNation) Angry constituents at town hall events for Republican lawmakers have made headlines recently, as conservative voters chide their representatives for some of the actions being taken by the Department of Government Efficiency. Recently, liberal voters have also been criticizing their Democratic lawmakers as well in this case, for not doing enough to fight Republican President Donald Trumps agenda. Now, in the next couple of days, progressive lawmakers are going to swing districts in Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is joining Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, on his Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bernie Sanders, AOC rallies building muscle for future protests: Activist Democrats say this is to fill the void, as House Republican leadership has told members of their party to stop doing in-person town hall events. Another reason is to get a chance to put their message in front of Republicans. In front of a crowd of 15,000 in Nevada Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said this isnt just about Republicans though. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us too. So I want to thank you, she told audience members. Your state is pulling its weight out here, but we need more like them with the courage to brawl for the working class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At another stop in Colorado, Sanders noted the large crowds, saying they make it clearthat the American people are outraged at whats going on. The American people are saying loud and clear we will not accept an oligarchic form of society, Sanders said. We will not accept the richest guy in the world running all over Washington making cuts to the Social Security Administration, cuts to the Veterans Administration, almost destroying the Department of Education, all so that they could give over a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest 1 percent. Trump signs order aimed at eliminating Department of Education NewsNation spoke to several moderate Democrats who say theyre OK with the progressives in their party spreading their message like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina dismissed the Democrats actions. They see that those types of actions are not a sincere effort in having rational, reasonable conversation to advance the American agenda, Edwards said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. BERLIN (AP) Mnyaka Sururu Mboro is still driven by the promise he gave his grandmother when he left Tanzania for Germany almost 50 years ago: to bring back for a proper burial the head of a local chieftain, killed in 1900 by German colonists for opposing their rule in Africa. Mboro, now 73, is from the same area near Mount Kilimanjaro that was once ruled by Mangi Meli, king of the Wachaga people. From 1885 to 1919, the region was part of German East Africa, a huge colony almost three times the size of present-day Germany. Mboro grew up with stories about the king whom the Germans hanged from a tree with 18 other leaders in March 1900. The head is believed to have been cut off by German soldiers and taken to Germany by the colonial administration, though authorities can not confirm that. It was never recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Up to today, still, I am searching for it, Mboro, who now lives in Berlin, told The Associated Press. Righting past wrongs After Mboro moved to the city of Heidelberg in 1978 to study civil engineering, he heard about a so-called African Quarter in Berlin, a neighborhood where streets had names associated with Germany's colonial era. One day, he said, he learned there was a street called Petersallee, honoring Carl Peters, the first imperial commissioner for German East Africa, considered a ruthless ruler. That night, I couldnt sleep. I was waking up, sweating," Mboro said. "I was seeing my grandmother. I said if my grandmother could be here, these people would know, that cannot be tolerated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Berlin did tolerate it. Despite a campaign that started in 1984 to have the street name changed, it remained Petersallee until last August, though some other street names were changed before that. Mboro co-founded Berlin Postkolonial, a group pushing for a reevaluation of Germanys colonial past and removal of surviving colonial structures and racism. Mboro led the memorial procession as Petersallee was split into two streets. One was named Maji-Maji-Allee to remember the Maji Maji Rebellion against colonial rule in German East Africa. The other was named after Anna Mungunda, who fought against apartheid in Namibia, another former German colony known as German South West Africa. Germanys colonial past Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compared to other European powers, Germany was late to colonialism. It established control over huge swaths of Africa from 1884, through the colonies of German South West Africa, Cameroon, Togoland, and also German East Africa, in what today is Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Germany also established German New Guinea, German Samoa, island protectorates in the Pacific, and leased territory around Jiaozhou Bay in China. All the colonies were lost by 1918, after Germany's defeat in World War I. Germanys colonial policy was marked by injustice and violence," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a speech last May. It was an inhuman and racist policy. We cannot undo the mistakes of the past but we can learn from them and shoulder responsibility for today and the future, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, Germany officially recognized as genocide the massacre of tens of thousands of Herero and Nama in today's Namibia between 1904 and 1908, though it stopped short of paying formal reparations. Finding the origins Melis head may be among many thousands of human remains pilfered and sent to Germany, where even before the Nazis came to power, many of the remains were studied in an attempt to prove pseudoscientific notions of white supremacy. In 2011, the authority overseeing Berlins state museums, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, inherited a collection of some 7,700 human remains from the city's Charite medical history museum. The foundation has been trying to determine their origins in order to return them but it's proving difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hermann Parzinger, the foundation's president, told the AP that it now has between 5,500 and 6,000 remains from the colonial era. Everything has to be given back, he said. The foundation in 2023 connected research dots and linked 1,135 human skulls to present-day Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya but is still waiting for the countries to accept their return, Parzinger said. Germany has successfully returned human remains to Namibia, and colonial loot to elsewhere. In 2022, it agreed to return hundreds of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, historic bronze sculptures. Teaching about Germany's colonial era Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the 2022 agreement, the foundation secured a long-term loan of 168 Benin Bronzes. Some are on display in Berlins Humboldt Forum museum, with information about how they were plundered from Benin City by British troops, and details about the once-powerful Edo Kingdom of Benin. The artifacts now have an educational role. It's not mandatory to learn about colonialism in the school system," said Justice Mvemba, who in 2022 founded Decolonial Tours, which offers guided tours of Berlin's African Quarter and museums, including the Humboldt Forum. Mvemba, who came to Germany as a child from Congo, said some teachers may decide to tell students about the colonial era, but its often in romanticized ways. Her tours strive for "a more critical lens on the colonial era and to also break those glorified narratives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Mvemba focuses on Germany's colonial past, she also brings attention to how racist prejudices are still prevalent today. Growing up in Germany, I experienced a lot of racism," said Mvemba. We have to talk about history. OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Nonprofit Gryphon Place wants to make it easier for a person in crisis to access Kalamazoo Countys assortment of resources. To do that, it wants to create a seamless information sharing network with community partners. On Tuesday, leaders of the nonprofit presented the plan for a Community Information Exchange to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. They are requesting $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support implementation. Ashley Bergeon, the groups director of partner engagement, said the CIE concept is meant to relieve the burden of accessing community services from an individual in crisis. Once a person connects with a partner organization either in-person or by calling 211, for example, their case information can be easily shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You come into CIE, your needs are assessed. You tell your story once and then from there, those resources that you need are sent directly to the agencies and the agencies themselves reach out to you and they already have some of the basic information that they need, she said. The network would not only help a person set up appointments, but also track their case until completion or find out where there is a gap in assistance. According to county documents, the funding would cover the startup costs of technology for a secured data-sharing system, training of frontline workers and coordination with network partners. The funding request would tap into the countys ARPA money dedicated to Gun Violence Data Initiatives. $1.25M grant supports gun violence intervention in Kalamazoo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bergeon said the CIE helps meet a need in the countys Blueprint for Peace plan for connecting people to assistance. These may not seem like initially theyre directly related to gun violence and community violence, but we know that these are risk factors that increase the likelihood that somebody could be involved in gun violence. And we are really starting with people who have been impacted by gun and community violence. Those are our first referring partners through KalSafe and through the Justice Lifted arrest aversion program through Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Bergeon said. She said this program will not do away with the current 211 structure. Rather, it will create a large network of community partners that will work with the existing system. Those partners range from public safety, social services and mental and physical health. County officials said there is still work ahead before the funding is approved. The initiative may come back up to county commissioners in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A third-grader at Brooklyn Primary School in a reading lesson led by Eastern Oregon University Professor Ronda Fritz. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) With just a few months to go before programs would begin, Oregons Legislature is once again scrambling to pass funding for summer school. A proposal to allocate $35 million in summer learning grants hit some turbulence at its first public hearing Wednesday at a meeting of the House Committee on Education due to some last-minute changes and new strings attached. House Bill 2007 would allow schools to apply for summer learning grants if theyre used to pay for programs that boost literacy skills and academic outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Narrowing the focus of those grants drew the concern of some education and youth advocacy groups, including the nonprofit Adelante Mujeres, which has used summer grant money in the past to fund programs that foster leadership skills and community involvement among Latina girls and women in Washington County. By focusing solely on literacy, the bill undermines the vital work of community-based organizations that provide culturally relevant, wraparound support for students and their families, wrote Angie Jimenez, family engagement manager for the group, in her testimony. Anna Higgins, a policy director at the nonprofit Foundations for a Better Oregon, expressed similar concerns that the narrow focus of the bill would be counterproductive to summer learning goals, which she said are also about making students feel like they belong at school and boosting attendance and participation. This often means enrichment opportunities and extracurriculars that arent confined to the classroom. She said House Bill 2007 ignores the recommendations of a legislative work group she served on last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a road map now that details a long-term, sustainable vision for summer and after school in Oregon, and this bill, as it currently is, does not yet follow that road map, she said. We are particularly concerned about its ability to advance equitable outcomes for kids, especially those who experience the least support in a traditional school setting. Bill sponsors state Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, and state Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, defended the literacy-specific focus of the bill, and said they would introduce an amendment expanding who can apply for grants and more clarity about for what purposes money can be used before a committee vote scheduled for Monday. Sollman said other money, including millions from the High School Success Fund, is available for other priorities like credit recovery. This isnt the only, singular summer learning program, she said. We have these different patchworks that can provide this. Pattern of delays In the aftermath of COVID and school closures, the need for summer learning programs to help students catch up gained urgency in the Legislature. Former Sens. Peter Courtney and Michael Dembrow, Democrats from Salem and Portland, respectively, even proposed investing in robust summer learning programs could be a runway for eventually introducing year-round school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, schools received more than $200 million, and in 2022 they were allocated $150 million. But in 2023, the Legislature did not send schools any additional summer school money, and instead hoped they would spend the last of their federal COVID-relief dollars. Schools cut programs and some nonprofits stopped offering summer programs altogether. Last year, schools didnt learn until April whether theyd receive a portion of $30 million in summer grants. For some, the money came too late to expand their offerings. Most smaller school districts need to finish their summer program planning by April, and most larger districts start planning as early as October. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CHICAGO (WGN) Theres a mental health crisis for teens and young adults across the United States. Two suburban high schoolers are looking to the state to address the epidemic. More Coverage: WGNs Medical Watch Abhinav Anne and Sai Ganbote are 17-year-old Illinois Math and Science Academy juniors. They helped draft HB2960, which would make mental health education mandatory in Illinois middle and high schools. Both joined WGNs Evening News at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, and say they have lived the crisis firsthand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think something that were seeing on a day-by-day basis throughout middle and high schools is that education is unable to address this issue, Anne said. Bullying, anxiety, how to combat depressionwe teach students how to recite tables and memorize every state and country on a map, but were not really teaching students these fundamental issueswere seeing this gap in knowledge. Ganbote spoke about the implementation options in schools should the bill pass the legislative process. First, a mandatory unit in [students] health classrooms or P.E. classroomsand cross-curricular integration, she said. Illinois State Representatives Faver Dias and Lindsey LaPointe are primarily sponsoring the bill. Illinois State Reps Costa Howard and Gregg Johnson have also joined in co-sponsorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A vote on the bill was expected to take place on Thursday, with a strong indication that it would most likely pass. Watch the entire interview in the video player above. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGNs Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Anti-abortion advocates gathered at the Midwest March for Life in front of the Missouri State Capitol on May 1, 2024, in Jefferson City (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent). When the Missouri House signed off on a $1.3 billion tax cut package last week, it included a provision creating a 100% tax credit for donations to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes and diaper banks. The credits allowing up to $50,000 in donations to be accepted in place of taxes owed are seen by supporters as a way to increase aid to pregnant women in need following Missourians decision to legalize abortion last November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no time in the history of Missouri that I can recall where theres a better time to support life, state Rep. Brad Christ, a Republican from St. Louis, said during a committee hearing last month. But pregnancy resource centers have proven controversial around the country, accused of providing women with inaccurate medical information in an effort to discourage them from seeking abortions. And critics have raised concerns that allowing Missourians to satisfy their entire tax bill by donating to anti-abortion organizations could create significant budget uncertainty. Even if you view this totally in isolation and dont pay any mind through the mission of the organizations at hand here, this is egregious policy said Carl Davis, research director at the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Theres no reason to do it this way. The tax credit for pregnancy resource centers was set at 70% in 2021, up from 50%. Maternity homes also currently sit at 70%, and diaper banks are at 50%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the 2022 change, the Pregnancy Help Center of Central Missouri in Jefferson City saw a $100,000 increase in tax credit-eligible donations, its executive director, Leslie Kerns, told the House special committee on tax reform. The original bills sponsor, state Rep. Christopher Warwick, a Republican from Bolivar, did not respond to an interview request, but during a House hearing he described the legislation as a simple bill that redirects the additional 30% the government has been getting to women in need. We need to keep government out of a lot of things, and this is one of them, Warwick said during the hearing in which he was asked if he would include a provision mandating oversight of how the donations are spent. We need to be able to make sure that donors are getting their resources directly to those that need it, and when were talking about pregnancies and women who are looking for help, this bill allows that and puts donors right in front of those who need it most. A number of tax credit programs in Missouri are built to incentivize donations to certain causes, including the Developmental Disability Care Provider Tax Credit, Domestic Violence Shelter or Rape Crisis Center Tax Credit and Champion for Children tax credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the credit to pregnancy resource centers tends to get the most attention because of its involvement in Missouris longstanding battle over abortion. Pregnancy resource centers are not medical facilities but rather provide services including free pregnancy tests, prenatal vitamins, parenting classes, ultrasounds and counseling. While 100% tax credits meaning the donor reduces their tax bill the exact amount they gave arent unheard of, they are usually capped. Whats different about this years proposal is that while tax credit claims remain capped at $50,000 per individual contribution, there would not be a cap at the aggregate level, meaning there is no limit to how many people can claim credits. Without an aggregate cap, it would take 200 people donating $50,000 to cut into Missouris budget by $10 million. If 1,000 people took advantage of the full credit it would cost the state $50 million. The states total tax revenue in the most recent fiscal year was about $14.2 billion. Sam Lee finds any concerns about the fiscal impact overblown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longtime anti-abortion activist and lobbyist pointed to a January 2024 tax credit analysis by the Missouri Department of Social Services concluding that for every dollar redeemed by taxpayers with the tax credit, the state saves $1.77. The report explained the savings by concluding the donations assist women with unplanned pregnancies who may have, otherwise, accessed state assistance. Last fiscal year, about $7.5 million was claimed under this tax credit. Lee noted there is no aggregate cap for pregnancy resource center tax credits under the current law and donations still remain far below whats directed to other programs that do have a cap, like the private school tax credit program MoScholars. That tax credit program is set at 100% and draws from general fund dollars to pay for private school tuition. Its capped at $75 million annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Davis, with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said this years pregnancy resource center proposal has the potential to create significant budget uncertainty because, unlike MoScholars, it would allow for more than just cash donations to the centers. Stocks, bonds and property could qualify as well, which Davis said could lead to a glut of donations to centers as donors use the program to avoid paying capital gains taxes. Davis recently published a brief laying out his apprehensions after a ProPublica story alerted him to the legislation. The credit for stock or other assets that have appreciated in value would be for the market value at the time of the donation. If sold for the same amount, the owner would pay federal tax on the profit of up to 20% as well as state income tax of up to 4.7%, depending on income level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Im concerned about is that it would be exceptionally easy for taxpayers to pair this 100% match with avoidance of capital gains tax, he said. And then you end up with this scenario of basically personal profiteering off a tax shelter that would be set up in the state. Davis worries without an aggregate cap on donations in Missouri, the 100% credit could inspire people to game the system. This is not good policy. This is not neutral policy. This is very distortionary, he said. It encourages opportunists to come out of the woodwork and to take part in this, not because they care about the cause at the heart of this bill at all, but just because they want to make a buck for themselves. Pregnancy resource centers, frequently affiliated with religious organizations and sometimes situated right next to the states handful of Planned Parenthood clinics, are often criticized for their efforts to dissuade or even hinder women from accessing abortions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters say the centers help women uncertain about continuing a pregnancy with the resources to feel more secure in the decision. Kerns, with the Jefferson City center, said during the hearing that her center, like all pregnancy resource centers, is not allowed to perform, induce or refer for abortions. She said they have women mark where theyre at on a decision guide to see if theyre abortion-minded. If they show an interest in abortion, theyre given an information sheet about abortion that includes the procedures risks. In many cases, however, the information women are provided at pregnancy resource centers is inaccurate and skewed to influence their decision, said Michele Landeau, chief operating officer of Hope Clinic, an Illinois abortion clinic across the river from St. Louis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see a lot of people who have visited these anti abortion centers that receive these tax credits, who are given misinformation, Landeu said. And who essentially end up delaying their care because of the misinformation that they receive from these centers. Landeau said about half of Hope Clinics patients are from Missouri. Patients have told her that pregnancy resource centers gave them incorrect gestational ages or told them incorrectly that they werent allowed to travel for abortions. This harm will not only continue, but it will be uplifted, essentially, by these additional tax credits, said Landeau, who lives in Missouri. For the 2025 fiscal year, there are 82 pregnancy resource centers eligible to benefit from the current tax credit. There are 20 maternity homes and six diaper banks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee believes the legalization of abortion in Missouri last fall was a catalyst in the renewed desire by lawmakers to support pregnancy resource centers. A Jackson County judge recently struck down several of the states abortion regulations, including a law that patients must wait 72 hours before going in for an initial appointment and actually undergoing an abortion. Lee said this puts added urgency on pregnancy resource center staff. They realize they need to have staff available, if not 24/7, at least every day to respond to women who in the near future could get an abortion that day, Lee said. And thats not been the situation in Missouri for years and years. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe proposed a state budget increase of $4 million to federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds that goes to Alternatives to Abortion. It would earmark $12.6 million for programs that provide services, including counseling, to women at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, to assist in carrying their unborn child to term rather than having an abortion. A 2004 study of more than 1,200 women who had abortions found that 73% said they decided to undergo the procedure in part because they could not afford to have a baby, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group. The Turnaway Study, a widely-referenced piece of research published by Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, found that women who were denied abortions, many of whom were already mothers, experienced an increase in household poverty over the next four years. It also found that children born following a denied abortion were more likely to live below the federal poverty line than those born to women who previously had an abortion. The anti-abortion movement in Missouri is not solely focused on regulating the procedure, Lee said. Efforts to help reduce abortions have taken a number of shapes through the years, including by extending post-partum Medicaid coverage. The 100% tax credits, he said, are one more piece. Theres just not one magic bullet here, Lee said, which will reduce abortions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Data on two cellphones belonging to Aidan Kearney, the Worcester-based blogger known at Turtleboy, will be allowed into evidence in the Karen Read murder case and prosecutors say texts between the two will show Reads consciousness of guilt, according to a new court filing. Judge Cannone denies Karen Reads request to add Turtleboy attorney to defense team Norfolk Superior Court Associate Justice Adam L. Sisitsky approved a motion introduced Thursday by special prosecutor Hank Brennan, who asked the court for permission to access the phone records, alleging collusion with Read to intimidate witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court orders the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office to produce from the two previously identified cell phones, the filing stated. Kearneys lawyer, Tim Bradl, countered in court, The fact that they communicated cannot be basis for a criminal investigation. The cellphones were seized through search warrants issued in connection with two criminal cases against Kearney, who is accused of intimidating individuals who are either witnesses or related to witnesses in the Read case. Massachusetts blogger Turtleboy blows kiss at camera during latest court appearance Prosecutors say data on the phones from April 1, 2023, through Oct. 5, 2023, show that Read shared defense theories, materials, and other evidence from her case through secure messaging apps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such communications included witness information, home addresses, grand jury minutes, autopsy photographs, the prosecution stated in the filing. An inference can be made that the parties encouraged Mr. Kearney to personally attack witnesses and their family members with a sole purpose to embarrass, intimidate, harass, and deter these individuals from testifying. The filing added, The Commonwealth intends to use the data concerning certain communications found on Mr. Kearneys phones relating to such alleged witness intimidation in light of the Defendants ongoing communications with Mr. Kearney - as evidence of the Defendants consciousness of guilt. The courts approval also indicated that the prosecution can use any communication between Kearney and witnesses involved in the Read case including Matthew McCabe, Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert, Christopher Albert, Colin Albert, Juliana Albert, Michael Proctor, and Elizabeth Proctor. Prosecutors can also review pictures or videos depicting evidence of intimidation of a witness of any witness or family members of a witness involved in the murder of John OKeefe. Read is accused of hitting OKeefe, her Boston police officer, with her Lexus SUV in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die after a night of drinking. The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton and then dragged outside and left for dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024. Jury selection in her second trial is slated to begin on April 1 as previously scheduled. Reads lawyers filed a petition with the United States District Court of Massachusetts after Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone on Thursday denied the defense teams request to delay the start of her second murder trial. Read the full filing regarding Turtleboys phones: Karen Read - Turtleboy Cellphone Ruling 3-21-25 by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Local U.S. Postal Service workers staged a protest Thursday morning at the Liberty Bell downtown as part of a national day of demonstrations against the Trump administrations proposal to remove the agencys relative independence and cut its budget or possibly privatize the agency. To the sound of MC Hammer's song "U Can't Touch This" and scattered honking from drivers-by, 16 people were gathered at the southeast corner of Truxtun and Chester avenues by 9:15 a.m. holding signs that read "Hands Off! Our public postal service." Many of the demonstrators were union members opposed to President Donald Trump's idea of moving administration of the USPS to the U.S. Commerce Department. They denounced plans for the newly created Department of Government Efficiency to suggest or carry out budget cuts at the 249-year-old agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some also spoke up against longstanding calls by Republican politicians to privatize the service, which in 2023 employed 640,092 people and posted a $6.5 billion financial loss. Trump proposed privatizing the agency in in 2018 but backed down amid bipartisan opposition. He floated the idea again in December. As USPS employees did in large cities across the country on Thursday, the protesters downtown said the service should retain its independence under the executive branch of the federal government. At the national level, protesters have also warned that private ownership of the USPS could lead to election interference if personnel levels are reduced in certain areas. "The message is, the postal service isn't a business it's a service to the American people," said Monica Brown, a mail processing clerk at the postal service location along Pegasus Drive in Oildale. She is also a member of the American Postal Workers Union Local 472. "Basically, (Trump) is trying to dismantle unions. Unions are the pathway to the middle class," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The local's president, Brendan Buettner, said the demonstration was intended to protect USPS as a public service. He said selling off parts of the agency would increase the price of services it provides and could result in an end to mail deliveries to rural areas. Buettner said he would like to invite Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, the appointed head of DOGE, to a site visit in Bakersfield so they can see the work of hard-working men and women serving the public. On Monday, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a former logistics executive and major donor to the Republican Party, sent members of Congress a letter saying he had engaged DOGE to help with longstanding plans to "improve overall our operations, enhance the marketability of our products and dramatically reduce cost and grow revenue." "While we have accomplished a great deal," he continued, "these specific initiatives for which we have sought assistance from the DOGE team for a variety of reasons remain undone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went on to state that DOGE will work with USPS on the management of retirement plans, workers compensation costs, "unfunded congressional mandates," regulatory requirements, retail center lease renewals, leveraging of postal infrastructure for federal agencies and counterfeit postage. DeJoy promised to report back to Congress if the scope of his cooperation with DOGE expands beyond those topics. He acknowledged he lacks authority to change federal laws, employee benefits or the way pension assets are invested. DeJoy wrote that Congress is "rightfully focused" on USPS achieving break-even financial status, "just as I am." The postal service has reported handling nearly 103.7 pieces of first-class mail at its peak in 2001, and that the volume declined by half by 2020 amid competition from email, FedEx and United Parcel Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Thursday's demonstration along Truxtun, protesters repeated at least two sets of chants. One began with "Whose post office?" followed by the response, "The people's post office!" Another started with "USA!" and continued "Not for sale!" A second demonstration has been planned for Sunday at the corner of Ming Avenue and Wible Road. Protesters took to the streets Friday night for the third night in a row, demanding that the government step down over the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. People rallied in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir despite a ban on demonstrations, local media reported. In Istanbul, people chanted slogans such as "Government, resign!" Officers used tear gas against demonstrators who wanted to break through a police blockade, as seen by a dpa reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrations had also been announced for the evening in numerous other cities in the country. On X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote about 97 arrests at demonstrations until shortly before midnight. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the protests "street terror" and charged that the opposition is trying to plunge the streets into "chaos." "We will not accept the destruction of public order under any circumstances," Erdogan asserted. Imamoglu was detained on Wednesday along with many other people, a few days before his planned nomination as presidential candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is facing accusations of terrorism and corruption. Opposition members see the government behind it, intending to eliminate a political competitor. Imamoglu is to be brought before a court on Saturday. OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) Gavin Peterson was 12 years old when he died on Jul. 9, 2024 at a Weber County hospital. Only days later, three family members were arrested and charged with child abuse homicide. Today, his father and brother appeared in court to enter their pleas. The Utah Division of Child and Family Services later released documents detailing several years of investigation of the Peterson familys abuse against Gavin. Their report concluded that Gavin suffered severe and chronic physical abuse and severe and chronic physical neglect. Court Appearances Shane Jesse Peterson, Gavins father, appeared first in court today on five felony charges: one count of child abuse homicide, two counts of aggravated child abuse one against Gavin and another against an unidentified individual referred to as M.P. and one count of endangerment of a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOCUMENTS: DCFS reveals years-long Gavin Peterson child abuse investigation before July death Shane Peterson waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded guilty to the five felony charges brought against him. Judge Camille L. Neider with the Second District Court ordered that a pre-sentence investigation report (PSI) be prepared for her to review with any additional information she may need while sentencing. I think its important, Mr. Peterson although the fact that youre going to go to prison is a given in this case I do think its important that you have the benefit of reviewing the PSI thats prepared, Judge Neider stated. They have set Shane Petersons sentencing date for May 6 at 4 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a brief recess, Tyler Shane Peterson, Gavins brother, was brought to the stand. He was facing four felony charges: one count of child abuse homicide, two counts of aggravated child abuse and one count of obstruction of justice. Tyler Peterson also waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He entered a plea of guilty with a mental condition. His attorney, Ryan Bushell, shared the details of the mental condition, diagnosed by a psychologist and autism specialist. Utah lawmakers review death of 12 y/o boy, seek ways to prevent future abuse That evaluation came back with the diagnostic impressions that Tyler suffers from autism spectrum disorder, from generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and other specified personality disorders, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His attorney requested Tyler Peterson be released for treatment, and stated that he would live with his mother and siblings. The prosecutors agreed to these terms, and Judge Neider recommended a pretrial criminal protective order while he was with his family. If there was any issue as far as law enforcement being called, they would have something they could rely on instantly, in which they could detain Mr. Peterson, Judge Neider said. Tyler Peterson was released with several conditions, among those were: he would not violate any laws, his family would have a pretrial protective order, and he would not commit any domestic violence. His sentencing has not been set yet. Protestors Reactions Outside the courthouse, ABC4.com spoke with members of the community who showed up to listen to the hearings and stand up for Gavin Peterson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southern Utah man sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempted child sexual abuse I want justice for this little guy it meant a lot for me to come here today. I actually got to meet [Gavins] mom for the first time and we hugged, Sabrina Tracy shared after the hearing. As a child advocate, Sabrina Tracy has been following this case closely. She has been working to push for change and has spoken with lawmakers and picketed for Gavin in the past. When asked about her reaction to Shane Petersons guilty plea, Tracy said, Im glad I got to see him say he was guilty to all five of those charges and put his head down because he should be shameful. What he did was wrong, and it was malicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Susan Phillips, who worked at the same company as Shane Peterson, also attended the hearing. She said that the news that he had been abusing and starving his child shocked her and her workplace. Im glad that he plead up, that was interesting to me that they added a charge that took off the death penalty, hell be going away for a long time, I hope, Phillips shared about Shane Peterson. Former Tremonton fire chief makes first appearance on child sex crime charges Phillips also expressed her concerns about Tyler Petersons release. She was worried that he would be in the same home as children. Ive also worked with Tyler. My problem is Tyler knew right from wrong. Tyler still knows right from wrong, and deserves to have a sentence that is equivalent to someone that did the crime that he committed, Phillips said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shane Peterson will be sentenced on May 6 of this year, and Tyler Petersons has not been set. Nichole Scott, Gavins stepmother, will appear later this month on Mar. 27. Maclane Westbrook 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 ABC4 Utah. Providence City Councilors are seen on Nov. 22, 2024, at an event which saw the release of the city's comprehensive plan at the West Broadway Neighborhood Association. The terms of the city's settlement with the state's education department were released the same day and the city is currently determining how to meet the $15 million payment it needs to make. From left to right are Majority Leader Pedro Espinal, President Rachel Miller, President Pro Tempore Juan Pichardo and Councilman Oscar Vargas. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) The Providence City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday night supporting the possibility of a tax hike above the 4% state cap for the next fiscal year as the capital city looks to meet its legal obligation to its public schools under the terms of a settlement reached last fall with the state. But the council is viewing the measure as a last-ditch maneuver and wants a ceiling to stop any possible increase from soaring too high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was amended in committee, Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, the resolutions sponsor, said at Thursdays meeting, sounding hoarse. We had a healthy discussion. Thats why I lost my voice. Under state law, Rhode Island municipalities may not raise property taxes by more than 4% in any given year, forcing towns and cities to seek approval from the General Assembly for any increases beyond that threshold. Middletown, New Shoreham and Warren all applied for and were granted cap exemptions for fiscal year 2025. Both New Shoreham and Middletown saw tax cap increases of over 9%, while Warren was allowed to raise its tax cap by a little over 5%. The tax levy in Providence is inclusive of owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied residential properties, commercial properties, tangible properties and natural growth, Council spokesperson Roxie Richner said Friday. Providences resolution was shaped by the City Councils Committee on Finance during its March 13 meeting, and it would specify a maximum 8% raise on the levy if enacted. Some people were uncomfortable with no cap on that, Ryan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill introduced Feb. 7 by Rep. Scott Slater, a Providence Democrat, seeks to authorize the city of Providence to increase the levy beyond the 4% cap, but it did not specify any limit to the increase a point of contention at the councils Finance Committee meeting, which influenced Ryans resolution. Slaters bill was slated for a House committee hearing on March 3, but was postponed and has not been rescheduled since. Slater is collaborating with city officials to iron out some changes in the language, House spokesperson Larry Berman said via email Friday afternoon. Slater said via text Friday night that he was still having discussions with the City Council to accommodate the different language in their resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The omen of an atypically higher tax increase is a sour reminder of the legal battle between the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and the city that ended in November with a settlement in which the city must pay $15 million to cover deficits in the school departments budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The city must budget additional money through fiscal year 2027, per an arrangement molded by the Crowley Act the same statute that gave RIDE control of the citys underperforming schools in 2019. I think its good that we are paying the students of our city the money that they deserve because of past actions, Councilor Miguel Sanchez said in the council chamber. We cant change that. Weve got to deal with the reality thats before us. Staircases are shown inside in Providence City Hall, where the mayors office is still working with state lawmakers to finalize language for a bill that would raise Providences tax increase in the upcoming fiscal year above the state limit of 4%. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Multiple stakeholders in the city, including city councilors and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, have voiced their desire to see the schools return to local control by June. RIDE has proposed but not committed to a timeline of 2026 instead, one year shorter than a takeover extension approved last year. A return to local control, however, would not nullify the $15 million debt the city owes its schools, RIDE Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green noted in February. What I want to be very clear on is that this is not an 8% tax increase on our residents, Sanchez said. This is something that is allowing our state legislature to approve a resolution on behalf of the mayors office, and now going to be on behalf of us, to have a little bit more flexibility going into budget season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanchez underscored that, even if the hike is approved, the councils 15 members will need to work together to avoid enacting too high an increase. We are going to be seeking other sources of revenue in order to balance this thing out, Majority Leader Pedro Espinal said of the upcoming budget, usually released by the mayor in April. This to me today, this is just an additional step as we look for solutions to balance our budget. Councilwoman Althea Graves co-sponsored the resolution but did so with some reticence. The people in the city know that we too are going through the same thing that they are. We live here in this city, our tax rate is going to go up just like everybody elses, Graves said, adding that she was not too keen on even the 4% levy. She added she didnt want to see rec centers closed, community programming cut, or garbage picked up biweekly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are some of the dire things that could happen if we dont go down this road, Graves said. So sometimes we have to decide what is best in the long run. In her comments on the council floor Thursday, Ryan painted the wider context of the citys budget troubles. Every time you read the paper, theres another unknown coming out of Washington. Its chaos in Washington, she said. Funding for so many programs are being cut. That is going to impact our budget, that is going to impact the people of providence that we are committed to serve. So theres a lot at play here, and I know Ive spoken with just about every one of you that were all committed to doing the hard work thats necessary to come out with a balanced budget that eases the pain on the residents of the city. The mayors budget is expected to land in April, and needs to be approved by the council. Ryan reaffirmed to her colleagues that the mayor does not have a blank check and that the important work of finalizing the budget rests with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So it is our charge now to move forward knowing what we know, doing the hard work, asking the difficult questions, to vet the budget and to come up with a fair budget that that is workable and isnt obsessive and oppressive for the lowest members of our community, for everyone, quite frankly, she said. This article was updated to reflect what categories are included in Providences tax levy, and to include a comment from Rep. Scott Slater. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The Providence City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution that opens the door to increasing property taxes, but it still needs approval from state lawmakers. The bill asks for permission for Providence to exceed the state-mandated tax levy cap of 4% for one year. A hearing date has not yet been set. The discussion about exceeding the tax cap been ongoing for months. Mayor Brett Smiley first started warning about the need to seek approval from the R.I. General Assembly in November in the wake of the citys $15 million settlement with the R.I. Department of Education, which controls the Providence Public Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We knew we had rough seas ahead, Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan said at Thursday nights meeting. However, no one anticipated getting slammed with the RIDE settlement agreement, that I believe is Draconian, the way its set up and sets up that obligation going forward. Last week, the councils Committee on Finance had a lengthy discussion about how the city got into the situation, and the $22 million budget gap the city had to fill as a result. The committee ended up unanimously approving an amended resolution (proposed by Ryan) that said the city could raise its total levy by a maximum of 8%. The citys tax levy is inclusive of commercial, tangible, owner-occupied residential, non-owner-occupied residential, and natural growth. The resolution also stated that city leaders had to work to find new sources of revenue and propose thoughtful cuts to the budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor is preparing to unveil his budget proposal in mid-April. Ryan emphasized the duty of vetting and passing a budget ultimately belongs to the council. Several councilors also stressed the resolution was just a tool that they could use and was not an automatic increase. Smiley told Target 12 last week that it gives the city the ability to craft a budget that weighs all the difficult choices ahead. I represent a community that I know that could never be able to withstand an 8% tax increase, Councilman Pedro Espinal said. But were working hard to make sure that doesnt happen, that we look for other avenues, and that we come up with something that makes sense for everyone that people can afford. The city said for every 1% increase in the tax rate, that would mean the average homeowners annual property tax bill would increase by $42. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the citys tax rate increased by 4%, for example, that would mean an average increase of $168 more per year. But if the city were to use a maximum increase of 8%, it would be an increase of $336. Councilman Miguel Sanchez asked councilors to engage as much as possible in the months ahead. Its going to be some difficult conversations, Sanchez added. Those conversations will directly impact the 15-member city council, too. Our tax rate is going to go up just like everybody elses, Graves said. The Ward 12 councilor said she originally didnt want to vote in support, but said she also doesnt want to see recreation centers closed or have community programs cut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are some of the dire things that could happen if we dont go down this road, Graves said ahead of Thursdays vote. Councilwoman Shelley Peterson also again proposed that the city should consider renegotiating payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT agreements with private universities and hospitals. On last weeks episode of WPRI 12s Newsmakers, Brown Health CEO John Fernandez shut down the idea. No thanks, were in crisis, Fernandez said. We worked out a deal with the mayor and council that they approved, and well live by it. Care New England CEO Dr. Michael Wagner said the hospital group is coming up on negotiations with its PILOT agreement soon, but didnt elaborate further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) There are just a few days left for people to submit comments regarding Union Healths possible acquisition of Terre Haute Regional Hospital. As WTWO/WAWV previously reported, the 2025 application for the Certification of Public Advantage (COPA) in online. For those wishing to submit a comment can do so by clicking on this link: public comment. To view the COPA please click here Health: Consumer Services & Health Care Regulation: Pending/Approved COPAs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indiana Department of Health said the 30-day public comment period ends Sunday, March 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. UPDATE: MONDAY 3/24/2025 7:55 p.m. (PUEBLO, Colo.) A second officer involved in the shooting that occurred on Tuesday, March 20 has been released from the hospital, according to a spokesperson for the police department. ORIGINAL STORY: Pueblo officer injured in shooting returns home THURSDAY 3/20/2025 9:01 p.m. An officer is back home in Pueblo on Thursday, March 20, after a shooting described by law enforcement as an ambush that occurred on Tuesday, in which three officers were injured and the suspect was killed. On Thursday, an honor escort was held along Main Street in front of the Pueblo Municipal Justice Center to welcome the officer home. The street was lined with police cars and community members, all cheering on the bravery of the officer as he waved to the crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspect dead, three officers injured in Pueblo shooting The shooting happened late Tuesday evening, while officers were searching for Billy Soto, a suspect wanted on a warrant for attempted murder. Chief of Police Chris Noeller said at a press conference on Wednesday that Soto ambushed the officers and fired 80 rounds through the course of the incident. Courtesy: Pueblo Police Department Courtesy: Pueblo Police Department Courtesy: Pueblo Police Department PPD officers and assisting deputies with the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office returned fired, ultimately killing Soto. On Thursday, firetrucks hoisted the American flag over Main Street in honor of the officer returning home. A spokesperson for the Pueblo Police Department said the officer, who has not been identified, was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon. The other two injured officers remain in the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the Pueblo Police Benevolent Association is partnering with the Facebook group PPD Behind the Badge, which is run by the wives of Pueblo Police officers, to organize a meal train fundraiser. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56) Pulaski County Detention Center is searching for the family of a man who might be lost. The detention center said the man has been identified as 71-year-old Earnest Christopher. He has been unable to provide officials with phone numbers or names of family members, according to the center. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are afraid that someone may be looking for him and not know where he is, they wrote on Facebook. 71-year-old Earnest Christopher (Pulaski County Detention Center) The center said it believes the man might be from Winchester and is asking anyone with information about him to contact the Pulaski County Detention Center in Somerset. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Three members of the punk band, the UK Subs including Iggy Pops bass player Alvin Gibbs were denied entry into the US. The musicians are the latest foreign nationals to run into trouble with immigration at US airports since Donald Trump entered office. The UK Subs, who have toured the US previously without incident, were due to perform at a punk festival in Los Angeles and flew into LAX. Writing on Facebook, Gibbs, 67, said: After an 11-hour flight, my partner Roz and I arrived at the immigration booth. Roz was waved through without issue, but I was told that something had flagged up, necessitating further questioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were two reasons given: first, they claimed I did not have the correct visa for entry; second, there was another unspecified issue that they refused to disclose. I cant help but wonder whether my frequent, and less than flattering, public comments regarding their president and his administration played a role or perhaps Im simply succumbing to paranoia. What followed was far from pleasant, he added. The band members were taken to a holding pen. No sleep for well over a day My luggage, phone, and passport were confiscated. Hours later, at 4am (having landed at 7pm), I was called for a second interview, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time we were escorted onto the flight at 8pm the next day, I had gone without sleep for well over a day, surviving only on a pot noodle and a couple of cups of tea. If that wasnt enough, United Airlines policy dictated that I was not allowed a single alcoholic drink on the flight, given the circumstances of my deportation. In Los Angeles, band member Charlie Harper who was allowed into the country found three local musicians to fill in for the gig. A French academic claims they denied him entry into the US because of anti-Trump material on his mobile phone and a 28-year-old British backpacker was held for 19 days in a detention centre after authorities said her visa was improper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another incident has seen a 34-year-old German green card holder who has lived legally in the US since he was a teenager detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after returning from a brief trip abroad. No right to privacy In recent days both the UK Foreign Office and the German foreign ministry have updated their advice to travellers visiting the US, now warning of the danger of detention if failing to comply with immigration rules. Rosanna Berardi, an immigration lawyer, said there had been a change in approach to foreign visitors since Mr Trump took office. They have the power to search, they have the power to seize, there are no rights to anything at a US border crossing, no right to a lawyer, no right to privacy, she told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats always been the case however what were seeing is the pendulum swing to a very, very aggressive position on these issues, she added. Now I would still argue that their behaviour is extremely aggressive, but they do have a lot of things in their computer system with respect to background checks and criminality and sometimes people show up at an airport or the border they dont have the right paperwork. With the musical bands that happens a lot, so I think theres a host of things going on, but I think the message from this administration is, very loudly and very clearly, we are going to look at every person microscopic lately and the ease to which it used to be to enter the United States is in the rear-view mirror. Increased scrutiny Christi Hufford Jackson, an immigration lawyer with Laura Devine, told The Telegraph that there are typically valid reasons for border agents to intervene but there appears to have been a ratcheting up of their approach since Mr Trump returned to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are clearly combing records to deny entry. There is increased scrutiny. I think there are people being held in custody for simple transgressions, which is historically unusual. There has been an escalation in how they are dealing with denials of entry. Jason Sullivan, a New Hampshire immigration lawyer, told The Telegraph: During this time of increased enforcement of US immigration law, it is essential that immigration officials, including US Customs and Border Protection, remain committed to upholding due process. Ensuring fair treatment, due process, and equal protection for all individuals is critical to preserving justice and the integrity of the immigration system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph has approached Customs and Border Protection for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Russian President Vladimir Putin will violate a ceasefire that isn't backed by security guarantees for Ukraine, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in remarks to military planners at the Northwood military base outside London on March 20. "Because we know one thing for certain, which is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will breach," Starmer said. "We know that because it's happened before, and I am absolutely clear in my mind that it will happen again." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer's remarks followed a meeting with officials from 31 countries, where they discussed potential military deployments to protect Ukraine. Any peace deal between Russia and Ukraine will "only be lasting" if it is "defended," Starmer said. Responding to reporters after his remarks, Starmer also issued a warning to Putin. "It needs to be clear to Putin that there will be severe consequences if he breaches the lines," he said. When asked whether the U.K. would send troops to Ukraine, Starmer said that military planners discussed the provision of land, sea, and air support to "reinforce" Ukrainian capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're not talking about something that replaces the capability, we're talking about something that reinforces that and then puts around it capabilities in relation to air, water and sea, and land," he said. Starmer's latest remarks deviated from earlier statements. On March 15, he called for a peacekeeping contingent of 10,000 troops provided by the U.K. and France a smaller number than the 30,000 troops he reportedly pitched to U.S. President Donald Trump during their White House meeting on Feb. 20. As the U.K. and allies hammer out details regarding security arrangements for Ukraine, the U.S. has repeatedly sidelined European representatives from peace talks. Upcoming U.S.-led negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to take place on March 24 in Saudi Arabia. French President Emmanuel Macron will convene European and other Western leaders at a summit in Paris on March 27 for talks on peacekeeping in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the discussions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukrainian author Oksana Zabuzhko on why Ukrainians dont have to respect Pushkin Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Bloomberg) -- A top security aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid talk of a potential summit between the two leaders. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu discussed the renewed contacts between Moscow and Washington, as well as the situation in Ukraine, with Kim, according to comments he made broadcast by Russian state television. The two spoke for more than two hours, Shoigu told reporters after the meeting on Friday, according to the Interfax news service. Shoigu passed a message to the North Korean leader from Putin, state television reported. During talks they also discussed many other issues related to security on the Korean peninsula and in other regions, he said. The trip comes less than a week after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko discussed the itinerary of high-level and top-level contacts with his North Korean counterparts in Pyongyang, raising speculation over a summit between the two countries. Kim has emerged as a key ally of Putin and his war in Ukraine, helping boost Moscows fighting presence on the ground while raising concerns about North Koreas ability to strengthen its military and sustain its regime with Russian backing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time they met in Pyongyang in June, the two leaders agreed to provide immediate military assistance if one of them is attacked, reviving an agreement dating back to the Cold War. It was Putins first visit to North Korea in 24 years during which he invited Kim to visit Moscow. On Thursday, Kim tested a new anti-aircraft missile system and visited a shipyard as part of a push to bolster his naval forces, renewing concerns about the security risks North Korea poses in the region. South Korea, meanwhile, remains in limbo amid a leadership vacuum triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeols short-lived martial law declaration in December. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has not been able to set up a call with President Donald Trump, two months into his term, and is now facing an impeachment motion from the opposition party. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pushed back a Seoul visit he has been eyeing for as early as this month as political uncertainty continues in South Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US allys security stance was tested this month when Russian warplanes repeatedly entered an air identification zone maintained by Seoul without prior notice. Aircraft drawing near the air zone are required to identify themselves. South Koreas Defense Ministry called in Russias military attache on Thursday after one of the Russian planes approached as close as 20 kilometers (12 miles) from South Koreas territorial air space without responding to communications, it said. (Updates with Shoigu comments in the second and third paragraphs) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree threatening Ukrainians with deportation from occupied territories and Russian territory violates international law, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on March 21. "We emphasize that these systematic deportations and persecutions are part of Russia's genocide policy against the Ukrainian people," Tykhyi said. According to the decree, Ukrainian citizens residing in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories must leave by Sept. 10 or "regulate their legal status." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decree intensifies Moscows efforts to Russify conquered areas by pressuring Ukrainians to accept Russian passports or forcing them out while encouraging Russian citizens to move in. Putin's decree also mandates that all "foreign citizens and stateless persons" residing in the occupied territories must undergo medical screenings for drug use and infectious diseases by June 10. Tykhyi denounced the decree as null and void, calling it another step in Russias campaign of discrimination, persecution, and forced displacement of Ukrainian citizens. The spokesperson also said it contradicts Moscow's claims of readiness for a peaceful settlement and undermines initiatives to establish peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Kremlin is once again demonstrating that its true goal is to destroy Ukrainian statehood and persecute Ukrainian citizens," he added. Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and declared the annexation of partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in 2022, treating them as Russian territory despite international condemnation. As Russia continues to occupy roughly one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, the fate of these regions is expected to be a major topic in peace negotiations pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said territorial issues will be among the most difficult aspects of any negotiations and reiterated that Ukraine will not recognize Russian rule over its land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2014, reports of abuse, torture, and repression in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories have increased, escalating further after the full-scale invasion in 2022. Read also: Putins suspension of strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure still in effect, Kremlin says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to suspend strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure remains in effect, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 21, state-owned TASS reported. "The Supreme Commander-in-Chief's order is in force, and the Russian army is refraining at the moment from strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure following the agreement that was reached between the U.S. and Russia," Peskov claimed. The spokesperson added that Moscow has only suspended strikes on energy infrastructure while continuing to target other facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statements follow a March 18 phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin, during which the Russian leader agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine's energy grid. On March 19, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had also agreed to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure during his own call with Trump. Despite this, Russian forces continue to bombard Ukrainian cities with missiles, drones, and artillery. On March 20, Moscow launched a mass drone strike on Odesa, injuring three people and damaging civilian infrastructure, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said. On March 21, Russia accused Ukraine of shelling the Sudzha gas metering station in Russia's Kursk Oblast, claiming it was a provocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, Russian state media had reported that Ukrainian forces struck the key gas transit facility, which plays a crucial role in Russian gas exports to Europe. In response, Ukraine's General Staff denied the claims and accused Russia of attempting to frame Kyiv for the attack. "The Russians continue to produce numerous fakes and seek to mislead the international community," the General Staff added. When asked whether Moscow would consider extending the ceasefire to other types of infrastructure, Peskov said, "This is what was agreed." Read also: Russias Shoigu arrives in North Korea for talks with Kim Jong Un Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. New space-based interceptors called for in President Donald Trumps Golden Dome missile defense initiative are all about addressing threats as quickly and as far away from the U.S. homeland as possible, according to U.S. Space Forces top officer. The Golden Dome (formerly known as Iron Dome) plans come amid broader discussions and concerns about the weaponization of space. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman talked about Golden Dome and other topics during an interview broadcast online as part of Defense Ones State of Defense 2025: Air Force and Space Force virtual conference today. Golden Dome was first rolled out publicly in an executive order in January and proposes a huge expansion of Americas missile defense architecture. Its not just that we want space-based interceptors, we want them in [the] boost phase, Saltzman said. We want them to achieve their effects as far from the homeland. So theyve got to be fast, theyve got to be accurate. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. USAF The boost phase is where ballistic missiles, as well as highly maneuverable hypersonic boost-glide vehicles that use ballistic missile-like rocket boosters, are moving slowest and are at their most vulnerable. The bright plume of hot gas also makes them easier to spot and track for an intercept attempt. It is also a short engagement window and any such intercept is likely to occur well within an adversarys territory. This all presents particular challenges for boost-phase missile defense concepts using air, sea, and/or ground-based assets, as you can read more about here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. military has moved to develop and field space-based anti-missile capabilities multiple times in the past only to abandon those plans due to technical complexities and high costs. Space-based weapons were a particularly key element of the Reagan-era Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), infamously dubbed Star Wars by its critics, and which never came close to achieving its ambitious goals. Speaking today, Saltzman acknowledged those challenges, but also made clear that he felt they were surmountable. I think theres a lot of technical challenges, he said. I am so impressed by the innovative spirit of the American space industry. Im pretty convinced that we will be able to technically solve those challenges. Weve got a pretty amazing space industrial base and Im pretty sure theyre going to solve most of those technical problems, he continued. So, from that standpoint, I think its just about how fast you want to go, you know, how fast can we leverage the technology, and put it in place and test it, [and] get a demo out there so you can see whats possible. Saltzman also addressed broader concerns about the potentially destabilizing impacts of weaponizing space. Space Forces top officer countered, as he and other American officials have in the past, by highlighting examples of how this is already happening. China and Russia, in particular, have significant and still-expanding arsenals of space-based and terrestrial anti-satellite capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depends on where you sit, right, you know? But to say that its the responsibility for the U.S. government to protect its citizens from emerging threats makes perfect sense to me, Saltzman said. And we clearly see a country like the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] investing heavily in these kinds of threats, whether its hypersonic [weapons], whether its threats from space. And so now its time for the U.S. government to step up to the responsibilities to protect American citizens from those threats. VICTOR HABBICK VISIONS via Getty Images Saltzmans comments here notably follow Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetleins remarks at the McAleese and Associates annual Defense Programs Conference earlier this week about how China especially is expanding its ability to dogfight in space. There are five different objects in space maneuvering in and out around each other, in synchronicity and in control. Thats what we call dogfighting in space, Guetlein said, according to Breaking Defense. They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another. Gen. Guetlein referenced Chinese satellite maneuvers observed in space. China conducted a series of proximity operations in 2024 involving three Shiyan-24C experimental satellites and two Chinese experimental space objects, the Shijian-6 05A/B, a Space Force spokesperson subsequently clarified to that outlet. These maneuvers were observed in low Earth orbit. These observations are based on commercially available information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, our current adversaries are willing to go against international norms of behavior, go against that gentlemans agreement, and theyre willing to do it in very unsafe and unprofessional manners, Guetlein also said, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. The new norms of behavior in space, unfortunately, within the past three years: jamming, spoofing, dazzling cyber hacks are happening all around us on a day-to-day basis. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein. USAF Space Force officials have publicly highlighted this reality in the past. Saltzman has also already been a notably outspoken advocate of treating space as just as much of a potential arena for active warfare as the air, sea, and land below. He has also been among those pushing for the U.S. military to acquire new so-called counter-space capabilities, which could include additional types of space-based weapon systems, as well as ones within Earths atmosphere. What I think were really recognizing is now space is a contested war-fighting domain, and thats whats new, not that the military is considering offensive and defensive operations, Saltzman said today. Militaries always conduct offensive and defensive operations to contest the domains to meet military objectives. We just recently had to up our game, if you will, because space has become a warfighting domain. I talk about six categories of counter-space weapons. [There are] three that are ground-based, jammers, directed energy, and then kinetic capabilities, like weve seen the PRC use with missiles attacking satellites. And then those same three categories can be done from space, from satellites on orbit, jamming, and directed energy, and kinetic capabilities, he continued. So those six categories all have to be invested in, because each one is optimized for different types of targets, whether its low earth orbit, whether its in geosynchronous orbit, [or] whether it goes out further than that. How much you need in each weapon is kind of what were working through in terms of a strategy. But you really have to invest across all those. PRC is showing us that because theyre investing in all those. A graphic depicting various means by which one satellite might attack another in space. DIA Another graphic depicting certain kinds of ground-based anti-satellite capabilities. DIA This is fully in line with what Saltzman told TWZ and other outlets about his services counter-space priorities at a roundtable on the sidelines of the Air & Space Forces Associations 2025 Warfare Symposium earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only counter-space systems that the U.S. military currently acknowledges possessing are variants of the Counter Communications System (CCS), which are ground-based jammers. However, there have been clear indications over the years that there may be more in the classified realm. It is worth noting that U.S. officials are broadly in alignment with critics of weaponizing space about the potentially catastrophic downstream impacts of any sustained campaign of attacks on assets in orbit. Saltzman and others have stressed a need therefore to focus on non-destructive counter-space capabilities to reduce potential risks, but also the need to be prepared for the worst. We have to plan for those bad scenarios, and we have to defend ourselves, and hopefully we can be so strong that we deter any kind of attack or any kind of progress into the space domain, Saltzman said today. Whether or not Golden Domes anti-missile interceptors in orbit or the U.S. militarys other counter-space plans become a reality, the prospect of mass weaponization of space is increasingly on the horizon. Contact the author: joe@twz.com Questions regarding the Stillwater Conservation Districts oversight of $5.3 million in federally funded repairs following the June 2022 flood prompted two contractors to pull their names for consideration for the districts board. Ben Walker, owner of 406 Excavating, and Nate Jones, of Blackbeard Construction and A-Plus Hydro Seeding, told the Columbus City Council recently, they did not want to be considered for appointment to the conservation districts seven-member board. I was asked by several people on the board to get involved after the flood happened, mainly to get through the absurd amount, not absurd, but the crazy amount of applications that came in that was going from 20 to 30 a year to over 300 in one year, Walker told the council. However, both men were wrongly serving on the districts board until Columbus city attorney Ryan Addis advised the conservation district in February that the mens appointments were improper, since they werent approved by the city council. With two of the three applicants dropping out, the council decided to advertise the openings. I'm not comfortable right now making any decision, said council member Dennis Hollen. In a letter to the council, conservation district chairman Bob Van Oosten said it is difficult to find volunteers willing to join the board. He praised Walker and Jones, calling them valuable additions and knowledgeable regarding all types of construction. Contract bidding process concerns The council meeting began with VanOosten defending the groups work and the improper appointment of Walker and Jones as questions have arisen over awarding the two men bids for flood repair projects, as well as the quality of work completed. That was partly our fault, partly lack of communication, Van Oosten said. It was at the time of the flood, and our district meetings were lasting five hours. The workload was tremendous. Somehow we missed that, and in our minutes it says we appointed them, which isn't true. Walkers and Jones contracting companies were awarded 16 projects more than one-third of all contracts totaling more than $1.6 million. Jones A-Plus Hydro Seeding company was also awarded 26 bids worth more than $500,000. Sharon Flemetis, administrator for the Stillwater Conservation District, wrote to the city council that Jones was awarded all of the seeding contracts because the federal Emergency Watershed Protection Program projects required a specific grass mix. After the council, the city attorney, Flemetis and Van Oosten had debated the conservation districts work, Walker and Jones said they would like to withdraw from consideration as conservation district board members. Now that all this is coming, you know, we've been nothing but trying to defend ourselves, Walker said. Everything that has been discussed through NRCS, and we had a path forward and all that, and that was over a year ago. Jones then stood up and withdrew his name. It was never my intention to have issues or create any issues for anybody, he said. That left only Doug Harrington, a critic of the conservation district, remaining as a candidate. The district also has one position thats been open for a year that requires an election to fill, leaving only four members currently serving. What is a conservation district? Controversy swirling around the Stillwater Conservation District has cast the normally low-key organization, founded after the Dust Bowl, into the spotlight. Last week, neighboring Carbon Conservation Districts board voted to hire an attorney to seek an injunction to halt Stillwater CDs work on a $5 million Forest Service project in Carbon County. For those who don't know, here's a definition of conservation districts according to the Montana Association of Conservation Districts website. Conservation districts are units of local government designed to help citizens conserve their soil, water, and other renewable natural resources," the website said. Montanas 58 conservation districts cover all counties and include more than 70 municipalities within district boundaries. Montanas conservation districts are political subdivisions of the state, governed by a board of five supervisors elected by local voters, the website noted. In addition, a municipality that has chosen to be incorporated into a district as did Columbus may appoint up to two urban supervisors to represent urban interests on the board. The boards are funded by levies but also receive grants from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Board members, called supervisors, are volunteers. The administrator is paid by the district. Engineers are contracted when projects require design. Improper board appointments Although Walker was appointed to the Stillwater CD by the city of Columbus in 2022 for one year, the conservation district improperly renewed his appointment in December 2023, said Ryan Addis, Columbus city attorney. At the same time, Jones was appointed by the conservation district without city approval. When brought to the attention of the city council in February, Addis wrote the conservation district seeking more information on the hirings and the supervisors role in the contract bid process. Although district chairman Van Oosten, and administrator Sharon Flemetis responded in two letters, the details requested by Addis regarding the rewarding of contracts was ignored. At the city council meeting, Van Oosten did provide a partial breakdown of Emergency Watershed Protection Program funds awarded, how much the Stillwater and Carbon conservation districts contributed to the projects and the number of bids provided to contractors. Between Stillwater and Carbon counties, along with the federal EWP grants, more than $10.6 million was spent on 71 flood repairs, according to the districts worksheet. Under the EWP program, 75% of the cost is paid with federal funding. The other 25% must come from the conservation district. So far, according to Van Oosten and Flemetis, Stillwater Conservation District has paid $2.58 million while Carbon CDs costs have hit $2.72 million. Conflict of interest questions Addis spelled out for Van Oosten, a 48-year veteran of the conservation district board, how the group had violated state statute in awarding contracts to Jones and Walker, albeit they were improperly appointed. Public officers and employees cannot benefit from contracts in their official capacity, Addis explained. There may have been no issues with procurement, given the emergency, but that has nothing to do with conflict of interest, Addis said. That's having a financial interest or stake in the underlying bid that's being awarded by the governing body when you serve on it. Van Oosten then acknowledged, things didn't get quite right as the conservation district was overwhelmed responding to the flood. That included Flemetis helping Carbon CD whose administrator died shortly after the flooding. Van Oosten also said the district is being threatened with lots of investigations, although he provided no additional details. Flemetis attempted to deflect blame away from the conservation district. She told the council the Natural Resources Conservation Service chose who was awarded a bid and how much was awarded. We had no control of this, she said, although she later added that awarding the bids was a decision by her and Van Oosten, decisions that were not made in public meetings and did not involve the board. Contrasting view of the process The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a different version of how the EWP program should be administered. The district did all the contracting, said Robert Molacek, state conservation engineer for the NRCS. He also noted it was not typical for contracts to be awarded to conservation district supervisors. The sponsor, who is implementing our program, is responsible for the contracting and to follow the procurement rules applicable to that government agency, Molacek said. So, they are a state agency, so they should be following state procurement rules. William Downs was the Stillwater CD chairman until he resigned on Jan. 29, 2024. In his resignation letter, Downs wrote he had numerous differences of opinion (with Flemetis) regarding best practices for the District for the previous four months. Unfortunately, it is clear to me that the Administrator will continue to not follow the direction of the Chairman and the Board of Supervisors, Downs wrote. These concerns have been brought to the board and largely remain unresolved despite ongoing discussions. Downs did not respond to messages left on his phone for further insight into his concerns. Frombergs big bank project One of the largest streambank repair projects in Carbon County was along the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River, just outside the community of Fromberg, next to the River Street Bridge. Previous riprap failed and currently the left bank is a sheer vertical wall approximately 68 feet high with active bank erosion, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks noted in its environmental assessment for the projects permit. The bank stabilization project proposes to riprap approximately 1,200 linear feet up to the 2-year water surface elevation and use 4,000 cubic yards of cobble fill. A bench above the bank stabilization was to be reseeded with grass and planted with dense riparian shrubs and willows with a goal to provide protection from a 25-year flood event. In Stillwater County, NRCS provided engineers to design the flood repair projects. Because they were overwhelmed, qualified private engineers had to be hired at about twice the price for projects in Carbon County. Engineers are required to sign off on projects before the grant funding is approved. Last December, when FWP staff toured the Fromberg project, they found numerous deficiencies documented in a letter to the Stillwater Conservation District. These included: fewer trees planted than required in the design and the soil in which they were planted was mostly sand; no cobble bench was installed and the cobble was supposed to be extracted from the floodplain. Close to 3,000 trees were to be planted. So far, less than a third were installed, many of which died. The trees are incorporated into the Fromberg projects design to provide bank stabilization and aquatic habitat for fishes, according to FWPs letter to Stillwater CD. The Fromberg project, and others, were designed as softer approaches to bank stabilization than rock rip rap. If these projects fail because they were not constructed as designed, specifically due to a lack of vegetation, this could erode local trust in implementing future river-friendly projects. The contract for the work was awarded to Jones company, Blackbeard Construction, at a bid of $581,600. Two other bids were lower. Author Khalen Hosseini. Photo by Brian Sokol/UNHCR. Gov. Tim Walz and his DFL colleagues in the state Legislature have touted a law passed in 2024 that banned book bans. But school districts in Minnesota are still limiting students access to books. In St. Francis, district leaders are relying on an anonymous Florida-based website with links to the right-wing group Moms for Liberty to decide which books are appropriate for students, wrote Ryan Fiereck, president of the labor union of St. Francis educators, in a Reformer commentary this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The website, booklooks.org, often considers books featuring LGBTQ and Black characters, and those with controversial religious commentary, to be inappropriate for students, Fiereck wrote. Any book with a rating higher than 3 on the website is subject to removal from St. Francis shelves if a parent, student or community member complains. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is among the books banned in St. Francis. The 2003 novel follows Amir, a wealthy Pashtun boy, and his servant/friend Hassan, a member of the ostracized Hazara ethnic minority. When Hassan is attacked and sexually assaulted by neighborhood boys after winning a prized kite for Amir, Amir fails to intervene. Amir later moves to the U.S. with his father to escape the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, but returns to his home country as an adult to rescue Hassans son from an orphanage. The novel addresses racial caste systems, sexual assault, theocracy and U.S. foreign policy themes that have made the book controversial since its release, both in the U.S. and in Afghanistan. After a community member complained about the book, it was pulled from St. Francis shelves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hosseini was born in Kabul in 1965. His father was a diplomat, and his mother a high school English teacher. The family moved to Paris for his fathers job in 1976, and in 1980, after a communist coup and Soviet invasion, the family was granted political asylum in the U.S. Hosseini became a medical doctor in California and wrote The Kite Runner his debut novel while practicing medicine. His books, The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed, have been published in over 70 countries and sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. As a journalist, I should admit that I have a bias here. I read The Kite Runner for the first time in middle school Im pretty sure I got it off a shelf in my 8th grade English teachers classroom and I loved it. After that, I read your other books, and theyve all stuck with me. So thank you for that. [Laughs] That makes me feel old, but thank you very much. The reasoning for the Kite Runner ban in St. Francis has to do with its depiction of sexual violence, particularly the scene where Hassan is assaulted by other boys in an alley. When you were writing the novel, why was it important to include not just physical violence, but sexual violence, as a turning point and recurring theme? I knew that that pivotal scene in the alley was central to the book, and its an act of sexual violence because its ultimately an act of imposing your will on another person. And theres a very clear hierarchy between the people in that alley: the victim is a member of an oppressed minority, and the perpetrator belongs to the majority ethnicity in Afghanistan and belongs to a different socioeconomic background. So theres a big difference in hierarchy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I went to Afghanistan, so many people told me that they felt that Afghanistan did the bidding of the West in the 80s by fighting the Soviet Union, which Ronald Reagan called the new empire. And once the purposes of the West were served meaning once Hassan had won the kite for Amir the country was then brutalized. Many Afghans used the word rape for a long time, while the West sort of looked around the corner into the alley and did nothing. I heard from Afghan people themselves, how they thought about their relationship with the West and how they felt abandoned. They served their purpose, and when the time came, they were abandoned and left to be brutalized. So it couldnt just be a beating up. That scene had to be so brutal and so awful that it transformed these characters and haunted them into adulthood. When this book was first published, did you think it would cause such an uproar 20, 25 years later? I thought the uproar would be caused within my own community of Afghan readers, because the book touches on taboo subjects. You know, the whole idea of ethnic strife in Afghanistan is a taboo subject. Its something people dont speak about openly. Its sort of like an open secret. So I thought that my rather naked depiction of ethnic tension in Afghanistan would jar Afghan readers. And it certainly did. I did not expect if I would be banned from, you know, high schools in Florida and Minnesota. That did come as a surprise. If you were speaking to a parent or a school board member who feels like The Kite Runner isnt appropriate for middle or high school students, what would you say to them? I would tell them that Ive been hearing from high school students for the better part of 20 years, both in-person in high schools, where I have met them across the country, and also in letters that they have sent me themselves in their own words. I would tell the school board that theres an enormous disconnect between the objections raised by the so-called concerned parents and the experiences of the students who are actually reading the book because the students tell me what reading The Kite Runner meant for them, and, quite poignantly, tell me what impact it made on them. How the book encouraged them to stand up to bullies and defy intolerance; how the books tagline, which is, theres a way to be good again, inspired some of them to volunteer, to look inward, to try to be better people, amend broken ties with people they had hurt; how The Kite Runner gave them a more nuanced and maybe a more human and compassionate perspective on Afghanistan and its people and everything that they had to endure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would tell the board that when these letters close, the students express gratitude to the book for these new insights. I would tell the board that the notion that somehow this book is harmful to students when the response from teachers and students themselves is so overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic is quite a bewildering notion. Are there any particular interactions with students who have read The Kite Runner that have stuck with you? There are many. Students have walked up to me at talks and told me that they were sexually abused and that reading the book was difficult, but it helped them heal in some way. They tell me that they were afraid of their parents, or they had a strained relationship with their father, or with their mother, and that Amirs struggles with his father helped them evaluate their own relationships. They tell me that they knew nothing about Muslims, that they knew nothing about Afghanistan, and that the book helped them understand a part of the world in a better way. Every person reads a book differently, and its remarkable how many students have told me that in very specific, personal ways in which the book has affected them. But the ones that really stay with me are the ones from the kids who told me that they were bullied, and they see in the characters Hassan and Amir a sort of reflection of themselves. Have you ever had someone come up to you and say they regret reading it? That has never happened. I guess that would be a weird thing to say to an author. [Laughs] It would be. I have had people say, I wish I hadnt read this book because I cried for six hours and it ruined my whole Saturday. [Laughs.] No, in all seriousness, thats never happened. On BookLooks, the website used by St. Francis to determine which books are subject to a ban, the reason for the high rating of The Kite Runner is its depiction of sexual violence. But how much of the Kite Runner bans generally do you think are really about the sexual violence? Do you think theres something bigger going on with why this book is being banned so frequently? What they say is that this is about protecting children, which I find is dishonest, because I think the book ban movement and lets face it, the St. Francis situation with this website, they say its not a book ban, but it really is it really has little to do with protecting children. It has everything to do with targeting books with diverse viewpoints that may not be in line with the reviewers political or religious beliefs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it has to do with a gradual and deliberate merging of educational policy and partisan politics. So this website, Booklooks in St. Francis, does not rely on the expertise of librarians and instructors, but it relies on the subjective opinion of so-called concerned parents who comb the books for material that they personally find objectionable based on some kind of narrow ideological litmus test, which often leans heavily on the conservative side. So I think to say this is to protect children is a guise to advance a narrow political ideology. Last one. Whats one good book youve read lately? Can I give you a couple? Sure, Ill take a couple. Im in the process of reading a book that was gifted to me called Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon. I had never read In Cold Blood by Truman CapoteI was just blown away. Its an amazing piece of writing. And I also read Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion recently, a series of wonderful essays about life in California and all the things shes interested in. A New York City man who police say is involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed an 8-year-old boy in Schenectady earlier this week has been arrested, officials announced Thursday. Conroy A. Simpson, 29, of Queens, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, a felony, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, a traffic law violation. The incident happened Tuesday evening in Schenectadys Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Police were dispatched to the area near Chrisler Avenue and Crane Street shortly after 7:30 p.m. for reports of a child that had been struck by a vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When first responders arrived at the scene, the driver had already fled, prompting investigators to launch an immediate search, officials said. The young victim, described by police as an 8-year-old male, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Approximately two hours later, officers announced in a news release that they believed they had located the striking vehicle and were speaking with a person of interest. On Thursday, Schenectady Police announced Simpson had been arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. However, according to a police spokesperson, additional charges could still be filed in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing, Lt. Ryan Macherone told CBS6 Albany. Theres still a lot of information that investigators are going through right now [including] quite a bit of video surveillance accident reconstruction, and those types of things. Simpson pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Schenectady City Court on Thursday morning and his bail was set at $250,000. Hes due back in court on Tuesday. WOODS CROSS, Utah (ABC4) The Federal Rail Administration has given approval for quiet zones to be reinstated in Woods Cross and other locations across the Wasatch Front. According to a press release by the Salt Lake City Government, SLC and North Salt Lake received a formal notice on Mar. 18 of the administrations approval for reinstatement after both cities had submitted petitions. We are grateful for our team that has kept this reinstatement a priority over the last few months and the public participation and collaboration with public and elected officials, said Mark Stephens, an engineer from Salt Lake City. From the local to the federal levels, they were crucial to accomplish this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reinstatement comes after months of back and forth due to several crossings not meeting FRA quiet standards. Due to this, full reinstatement of the quiet zones is contingent on two crossing up to FRA standards. PREVIOUS: Heres why you may be hearing more train horns in Utah soon (but not permanently) The two crossings are at 1000 West between South Temple and 15th south, and Main Street in North Salt Lake. SLC has released plans to close 1000 West crossing on Mar. 27 to construct a signal gate to bring it to the standard the FRA requires. Construction of the new signal mast and gate arms required to bring this rail crossing into Quiet Zone compliance will begin in the fall of 2025, SLCs press release reads. Residents and businesses should plan to detour around this closure while it is in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gate project is expected to take less than a year to complete, and the waiver will remain in place and can be extended if issues arise. Trains have seven days to begin silencing their horns to be in compliance with the quiet zone approval. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) RaDonda Vaughts nursing license will remain revoked, following an order from the Tennessee Court of Appeals. In an opinion released Thursday, March 20, Judge Thomas R. Frierson II said Vaught waived certain affirmative defenses in her initial administrative proceeding and affirmed the revocation of her nursing license. At issue is the decision of the Tennessee Board of Nursings decision to revoke Vaughts license in 2021. Vaught sought a judicial review of the Boards decision, raising the issue of the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppellegal terms that mean a case cant be re-litigatedas affirmative defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaught claimed a letter from a doctor who testified both at the administrative proceeding and her criminal case should be considered as evidence in her favor. The trial court agreed that Vaught hadnt waived the affirmative defenses in her initial administrative proceeding but declined to overturn the Boards decision to revoke her license. Vaught then appealed the trial courts opinion on keeping her license revoked. RELATED: Letters of support, blame for RaDonda Vaught released Upon review, we determine that the nurse waived the affirmative defenses of res judicata and collateral estoppel because she failed to present those doctrines during the administrative proceedings, the Court said. Accordingly, we reverse the trial courts determination concerning waiver of those defenses. In all other respects, we affirm. The decision means Vaught will continue to be barred from working as a practicing nurse in the state of Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaught gained national attention in 2022 when she faced trial on two charges related to administering the wrong medication to 75-year-old Charlene Murphey in 2017. She was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and abuse of an impaired adult and ultimately sentenced to three years of supervised probation for the medication error that led to Murphys death. Two years ago, Vaught began fighting to improve the healthcare system and began appealing the revocation of her nursing license. However, at that time she told News 2 her goal was not to be able to practice nursing again; rather, she wanted to highlight some of the issues surrounding the Boards action. Initially, the Board elected not to take any disciplinary action against her. In the opinion, the Court detailed how there was an initial complaint logged against her in 2018, but an initial internal investigation by the Tennessee Department of Health determined the matter did not merit further action. RaDonda Vaught: Ex-Vanderbilt nurse hopes to see change in industry Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But two months later, in December 2018, the Department reopened its investigation after receiving a new complaint related to the same case, which culminated in her conviction. In its opinion, the Appeals Court said the evidence reviewed in the case leaned in favor of the Boards decision to revoke her nursing license. We determine that Ms. Vaught waived the affirmative defenses of res judicata and collateral estoppel through her failure to raise those doctrines before the Board in the first instance, Friersons opinion states. We accordingly reverse the trial courts determination relative to that issue. In all other respects, we affirm the trial courts November 27, 2023 order upholding the Boards decision to revoke Ms. Vaughts nursing license. All court costs were assessed to Vaught, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Mar. 20Raphael (Ralph) Herrera Raphael (Ralph) Herrera, 94, beloved Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, and Friend, was called to his eternal resting place on March 16, 2025. He entered this world on October 25, 1930 in Albuquerque, NM, born to Antonio and Maria (Ortiz) Herrera. He had 11 brothers and sisters. He attended grade school at University Heights School in Albuquerque, then went on to Jefferson Junior High in Albuquerque, and then attended high school at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Santa Fe. He attended college at the College of Santa Fe and then St. Meinrad's Seminary in Indiana, where he obtained a B.A. in Philosophy. He had graduate training in theology, also at St. Meinrad's Seminary. Ralph had a long professional career spanning from 1957 to 2004. All through his career, he focused on serving and caring for the spiritual, physical, emotional, and material needs of others. Following retirement, he continued doing voluntary social work by visiting sick and elderly individuals residing in nursing homes and in homebound situations throughout Albuquerque. His social work touched the lives of countless individuals. Ralph is survived by his ex-wife Lois Herrera of Albuquerque, daughter Monica (Herrera) and her husband Michael (Mike) Wussow of Mountain Home, Idaho, son Gerald (Gerry) and his wife Mary Dove (Zurn) Herrera of South Burlington, Vermont, daughter Erin Herrera of Albuquerque, 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, and brother Ronald (Ronnie) and his wife Lorainne Herrera of Covina, California. A visitation will be held on Sunday March 23, 2025 at French Funerals and Cremations, 1111 University Blvd at 4 PM, with a rosary and remembrances following at 5 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM on Monday March 24, 2025 at Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish 2621 Vermont St NE, followed by the Rite of Committal at Mt. Calvary Cemetery 1900 Edith Blvd NE. Family and friends are welcome to a reception at French Funerals and Cremations, 1111 University Blvd following the burial. In lieu of flowers, Ralph requested that donations be made to the Seminarian Education Fund for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.Visit: www.frenchfunerals.com/obituaries/raphael-herrera Dallas hip-hop star Yella Beezy is facing the music for his alleged involvement in the 2020 death of fellow rapper Mo3. A Dallas County grand jury on Tuesday indicted Yella Beezy (born Markies Deandre Conway) for allegedly orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot that led to the slaying of Mo3 (born Melvin Noble). "Broken Love" rapper Noble was fatally shot in daylight on Nov. 11, 2020. He was 28. Read more: Rapper Jay Rock arrested in L.A. on suspicion of illegal firearm possession Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment, reviewed Friday by The Times, alleges that Conway, 33, "intentionally and knowingly" caused Noble's death by employing the alleged shooter to "murder [Noble] for remuneration and the promise of remuneration." Conway was arrested and booked into Dallas County jail Thursday and charged with capital murder, according to legal documents. His bail is set at $2 million, according to a Dallas County database. A representative for Conway did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment. Dallas police on Nov. 11, 2020, responded to a call on Interstate 35, where several witnesses said Noble had been shot by a man with a rifle, according to an arrest warrant. The suspect, whom police identified as Kewon White, fled the scene in a black Chevy Camaro and was charged with murder. Noble was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Wife of 'Ghost Adventures' star Aaron Goodwin arrested on suspicion of hiring someone to kill him A month after Noble's death, White was indicted on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm and arrested in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood in December 2020, the U.S. attorneys office for the Northern District of Texas announced at the time. White was sentenced in November 2022 to nearly nine years in federal prison for that charge, which is reportedly connected to the shooting, according to Fox 4 News Dallas. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. HOUSTON (AP) Dallas rapper Yella Beezy has been arrested and charged with capital murder in the shooting death of fellow rapper Mo3 on a busy interstate in 2020, according to court records. Yella Beezy, 33, whose real name is Markies Conway, was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury on Tuesday on a charge of capital murder while remuneration. The indictment accuses Conway of hiring a man named Kewon White to murder Mo3, whose real name was Melvin Noble. The indictment did not provide information on why authorities believe Conway hired White to shoot Noble, who also lived in Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records did not list an attorney who could speak on behalf of Conway. Calls and emails to representatives for Conway were not immediately returned. In a Facebook post after Conway's arrest, Noble's mother, Nichole Williams Noble wrote, Justice for my baby!!!! The 28-year-old Noble was driving on Interstate 35 in south Dallas on Nov. 11, 2020, when authorities allege White drove up next to him and got out of his vehicle with a gun in his hand. Noble got out of his vehicle and began running south on the freeway as White shot at him, authorities said. Noble and a bystander who was inside a car were shot by White, police said. The bystander survived but Noble died at a hospital. White and another man, Devin Brown, 32, were later indicted in Nobles death. Their cases related to Nobles death remain pending. White, 26, was sentenced in 2022 in a separate case to nearly nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conway is best known for his 2017 single, Thats On Me and the 2019 song Bacc At It Again with Quavo and Gucci Mane. In October 2018, Conway survived being shot while driving on a tollway in the Dallas suburb of Lewisville when someone pulled up next to him and opened fire, hitting him three times. Noble had more than 800,000 followers on his Instagram page and was best known for a 2019 remix of the song Errybody, with Baton Rouge, Louisiana, rapper Boosie Badazz. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at juanlozano70 Originally appeared on E! Online There is a major update in the shooting death of a Dallas-based musician. Rapper Yella Beezy (real name Markies Deandre Conway) was arrested and indicted by a grand jury March 18 on a charge of capital murder in the 2020 killing of Mo3, according to court records obtained by E! News. The indictment alleges Conway, 33, coordinated the killing of Mo3 (real name Melvin Noble), and hired a hitman named Kewon Dontrell White, 26, to shoot the rapper, according to the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records did not list an attorney who could speak on behalf of Conway. E! News has reached out to reps for White for comment and has not heard back. Following the news of Conways arrest, Nobles mom Nichole Williams Noble celebrated the update, writing on Facebook March 20, JUSTICE FOR MY BABY!!!! Noble, 28, was killed on a Dallas freeway in November 2020 after police say he was approached by White and chased on foot before being shot multiple times. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect exited his vehicle and began approaching the victim, Dallas Police Sergeant Warren Mitchell told local outlet NBC DFW at the time. The victim then got out of his vehicle and began running southward on the interstate. The suspect, who was armed with a firearm, began firing several rounds at the victim, striking him. He continued, The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was subsequently pronounced deceased from his injuries. A bystander was also shot during the incident, though police noted his injuries were not life-threatening. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock The alleged hitman White was arrested and charged with Nobles murder in December 2020, and was later indicted in the case in February 2021, according to NBC DFW. Another man named Devin Maurice Brown, 32, was also indicted in April 2021 and accused of helping coordinate Mo3's murder, per the outlet. (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App Open records and access to government is important for government transparency and trust. (Photo from www.sunshineweek.org) A legacy of Wisconsins progressive tradition is its strong open records law, which compels the government to conduct its business in full view of the public and respond promptly to citizen demands for records from state agencies, public schools, city halls and police departments. Just before Sunshine Week, this weeks annual mid-March public education campaign celebrating the importance of open records and freedom of information, the Wisconsin Examiner proudly accepted the 2025 Media Openness Award from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council for our reporters work forcing police department records into the open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Tom Kamenick, who runs the Wisconsin Transparency Project, the states only open records focused law firm, won settlements in two cases, against the city of Black River Falls and the Wauwatosa Police Department, and both government entities changed their policies so that future public records requests will be met expeditiously and without burdensome fees. The city of Black River Falls attempted to charge more than $4,000 to fulfill reporter Henry Redmans request for records regarding the disappearance and death of a Native American man whose family doubted police accounts of his apparent suicide. The family members were told by city staff that city officials advised them to ignore the familys pleas for more information about their loved ones death. Henry Redman So when we brought the lawsuit, yes, it was about making the request a little cheaper than $4,400, Redman said in accepting the award at the March 6 Wisconsin Newspaper Association dinner. But it was also about changing the system in a small corner of the state, so people in Black River Falls, reporters and citizens alike, can turn a critical eye on their local government officials and help families like my sources get answers. Sharing the award was Isiah Holmes who, in a separate lawsuit, sued the Wauwatosa Police Department for failing to respond in a timely manner to his records requests filed in 2020 and 2021, that the Tosa PD had essentially just decided to just not respond to to ignore, Holmes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the settlement, the department released hundreds of emails as well as interrogation video. Its not just about our requests, said Holmes. Its about anyone who has to go to the Tosa PD, for example, people who may not have the knowledge or resources that we have as journalists. And actually, its kind of an act of bravery, depending upon what agency youre dealing with, to go up and even ask for records. Hopefully, he added, we helped make that process a little bit easier for people. Isiah Holmes Sunshine Week had its beginnings shortly after 9/11 when, in the name of national security, the government began to make all kinds of previously available information secret. Tim Franklin, the editor of the Orlando Sentinel, noticed that data and information that was once readily available was disappearing from government websites. Suddenly, were seeing government secrecy at an all-time high, Franklin is quoted as saying on the official Sunshine Week website. It was becoming an issue that was unchecked because anytime it was questioned, the response was its a matter of national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the Florida state Legislature started passing government secrecy bills at an alarming clip. Standing up to that pressure, as a group of journalists and First Amendment advocates in Florida did, is critical to the health of our democracy. But thats not always clear to the public. In moments of moral panic, whether over an imaginary communist menace during the McCarthy era or a fictitious invasion of violent criminals from other countries in our current moment, people forget that defending free speech, dissent, and public scrutiny of government are essential to our liberty and democracy. As we enter a dark period in American history, with a president who took office and immediately began flouting the law, ransacking federal agencies, letting an unelected billionaire seize citizens private data, deporting people without due process, and promising to use the full force of the federal government to persecute his enemies, we need sunshine on the activities of our elected officials more than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank God for journalists and citizens who are willing to commit those little acts of bravery Holmes describes. Those watchdogs will help see us through to a brighter day. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Its hard to mourn an indifferent bureaucracy Woodmere, L.I.: When I hear people criticize Elon Musk for waving his chainsaw and taking a sledgehammer to federal agencies, I understand their point. There are so many critical jobs if people actually do their jobs. In late 2024, my dad ended up in the hospital and was sent to rehab afterwards. At 86, his health is deteriorating and he had to be transitioned into long-term nursing care. He and my mom (89) are recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In early January, my mom received a letter from the Social Security Administration informing her that her benefits were discontinued. I took her to the Social Security office in Rockaway. We were told to come back in a month and returned on Feb. 14. We were assured that all documentation was in order and her benefits would be restored. Fast-forward to March 14. Nothing happened, so I drove my mom to the office. A gentleman said that since she and my dad were not living together, they had to reapply for benefits. Both need to be interviewed at the same time on April 10. Moms bank balance is $0. She has no idea when she will see the next check. She doesnt understand why people who are there to help are so rudely indifferent. She will be 90 soon and doesnt need much, but will she be kicked out of her apartment? The supervisor seemed to see their error, apologized and said she will sort things out. Time will show, but I am not holding my breath. What happened to our public servants? When I walked out of the office, I was cheering Elon and his chainsaw! Julia Golbin Got it done Yonkers: For those of us who prayed for the safe return of U.S. astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wiltmore, our prayers have been answered. And the press continues to hide the fact that Musk offered to engineer the safe return of the astronauts last year, however, the malevolent Joe Biden denied him only because the Musk brand had ties to Trump. It is astounding to think that the president of the United States would rather leave our astronauts stranded in space than allow Trump to get any credit for this successful space odyssey. It is another chapter in the Biden legacy in which history will brand him as Americas worst president. Nicholas Maffei Knowledge is power Mahopac, N.Y.: Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. Thomas Jefferson. Jim Holdridge Security threat Aiken, S.C.: There is something seriously wrong with Federal Judge James E. Boasberg ordering the Trump administration to bring the deported Tren de Aragua criminals back to our country. As a former law enforcement officer, I cant for the life of me understand why the judge wants criminals back in our country. More to the point, the judge appears to ignore the danger these miscreants bring to our nation. If a normal citizen pulled that stunt, they would be considered to be colluding with an enemy committing an act of sedition to undermine the Trump administration. I heard talk that the judge should be impeached, but in my opinion, he should be charged as an enemy of the state for giving an unlawful order that put we the people in danger. Gregory J. Topliff Personal digs Long Beach, L.I.: In a perfect world, the Trump administration would have turned around mid-flight like Judge Boasberg wanted. Trump should have let all the criminals stay in Boasbergs personal house and neighborhood. He would never make such a foolish ruling again. Rob Ryan Rescue record Jersey City: Let me get this straight. A low-level French lawmaker has the chutzpah to claim that the United States should return the Statue of Liberty to France. Lets see: We helped the French out twice, in places such as Belleau Wood and Normandy. We bailed out the French in Vietnam. And over the years, weve helped out the French financially. The way I see it, given all that weve done to help France, maybe if France shows a bit of gratitude and behaves itself, the United States just might give France the privilege of becoming a state of the union. Kamala Patel Reciprocal rescues Manhattan: Yes, America helped rescue France during the Second World War. But Trump should be reminded that without France, America would not have won its independence from Great Britain. Michael Barnhart Uncharacteristically low Manhattan: How inept can one country get? Israel successfully decimated Gaza, obliterated any possibility of Hamas invading Israel again and a ceasefire was accomplished. Once it was over, Israel had every right to continue hostilities. Now the people of Gaza are spread out throughout the ruins, living in bombed-out buildings and ramshackle tent encampments. Hamas is living amongst them. So, how come after having every right to start bombing again, was Israel only able to kill 400 Gazans? With them out in the open and no more schools or hospitals for Hamas to hide in, it should have been like shooting fish in a barrel. Of the 400, how many were Hamas? We know there were 130 or so children and women. For letting the ceasefire lapse, you should have been able to wipe out at least 10,000. Come on, guys, you have the official label of war criminals to live up to. Steven Davies Not welcome Palm Coast, Fla.: Eva Kalikoff, Sarah Kerson and Adam Jaffe (Jews must fight the Mahmoud Khalil case, op-ed, March 18) should have been on the plane with Mahmoud Khalil. I bet their parents are proud of them. Douglas Weinberg Waves of attack Bronx: To Voicer Robert Weissbard: Friendly fire is accidental. The bombing of the USS Liberty was deliberate. W. Twirley Basic right Manhattan: Re Toss this ballot case (editorial, March 17): I represent Jim Walden in the case your editorial baselessly disparages. His principal message is that NYC needs independent leadership, and he is simply trying to express that through the Independence Party. Thats his right under the First Amendment. It is disappointing that The News missed that point. You urge the court to dismiss the case because Walden should have sued the state, not the state and city BOEs. And he should have sued under a First Amendment claim. But Walden could not sue New York because the 11th Amendment to the Constitution bars suits against a state in federal court. Walden sued the proper defendants the ones responsible for enforcing this unconstitutional law. His case is explicitly based on the First Amendment, which bars the government from prohibiting him from using the word Independence in the name of his political organization. You should correct the record. John R. Cuti Reform the SVU Manhattan: NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has brought high energy and a welcome emphasis on reform to her early weeks on the job. In Higher rape stats are due to better reporting (op-ed, March 18) co-authored with Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Commissioner Saloni Sethi, she discusses steps the NYPD has taken to facilitate reporting of sexual assault, such as allowing reports to be taken in the citys Family Justice Centers. This legitimately positive development should not obscure the magnitude of reforms still needed to the Special Victims Unit, which remains severely understaffed, undertrained and burdened with inexperienced investigators. Tisch has the potential to be a transformative leader for the SVU if she is willing to make changes on a scale to match the severity of SVUs problems. NYC survivors and their advocates are rooting wholeheartedly for her to rise to the challenge. Jane Manning, director, Womens Equal Justice Surfer detectors Flushing: Nowadays, all cars come equipped with rearview camera technology. My car also warns me when someone starts passing my rear when backing up. Im sure similar tech can be added to subway cars to alert conductors when someone is above the cars. Ditto for buses. For trains, perhaps a good place to install this low-tech system would be on above-ground lines like the No. 7 train. Ben Jordon By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA (Reuters) - Less than half of emergency vehicles run by the Palestinian Red Crescent are operational in Gaza due to fuel shortages, the IFRC humanitarian network said on Friday. Of 53 vehicles in total, 23 remain operational after aid supplies into Gaza, including fuel, were halted in early March, IFRC spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa told reporters in Geneva. "It is having a devastating impact. If an ambulance doesn't have gasoline fuel then there are entire communities that are calling the emergency services and are not getting any answer," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinians with everyday health needs as well as those injured by a renewed wave of Israeli airstrikes on the enclave are being impacted by the reduction in vehicles, the IFRC said. After two months of relative calm, Israel has effectively abandoned a ceasefire, launching a new all-out air and ground campaign against Gaza's dominant Palestinian militant group Hamas. The first day of resumed airstrikes, on Tuesday, killed more than 400 Palestinians, one of the deadliest days of the 17-month-old conflict, according to Gaza's health authorities. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Ludwig Burger and Rachel More) SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Two adults and two children are displaced following a fire on Indiana Avenue Thursday. At 8:14 p.m., Savannah Fire was dispatched to a home on the 2100 block of Indiana Ave. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the kitchen and the four people were able to get out of the home. Savannah Fire said they are displaced due to the fire, but Red Cross is assisting them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For months, Milwaukee wedding venue company Black Swan MKE promised couples their dream weddings. Now, dozens of clients are out thousands of dollars and scrambling to save their weddings after news broke that the company was ordered to be evicted from one of its venues in December. Couples say they had no idea the company was facing eviction. Some also told Public Investigator that Black Swan MKE promised them a new venue called Eagle's Crest that never materialized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's the latest news about Black Swan MKE and the fallout: Who owns Black Swan MKE? Black Swan MKE is run by father and son duo Peter and Stephen Sheperd, who have not responded to requests for comment. According to the Black Swan MKE website, the company was founded in 2006 in a "northern suburb of Milwaukee." Where were Black Swan MKE's wedding venues? The company opened a riverfront location in downtown Milwaukee in 2016 called Riverwalk. In January, Milwaukee event operator Two Birds took over this location, renaming it The Rivulet. Black Swan opened two more venues in the Third Ward Plant No. 4 and Bianco Room in 2019. What happened to Black Swan MKE? Online court records show that the owners of the Plant No. 4 property sued to evict Black Swan MKE in November and that the eviction was granted in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black Swan is also being sued by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for more than $7,000 in unpaid sales tax, court records show. Are any couples getting their money back from Black Swan MKE? Couples told Public Investigator they have yet to be refunded the thousands of dollars they paid to Black Swan MKE, but recent emails promise the funds are on their way. Brooke Moder said she paid a $6,025 deposit in July in hopes of holding her wedding at what Black Swan referred to as its new "Eagle's Crest" venue. But on March 18, Black Swan emailed her to say the Eagle's Crest property owners would not be giving "any tenant approval funds," so the venue was no longer available. In the email, Black Swan said the company would "definitely" return Moder's deposit and offered to assist her "as soon as possible when we come up with a solution." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are truly sorry about this situation," the email said. However, Moder said she has yet to get her money back and doesn't know when she will. Milwaukee wedding planners Heather Farr and Veronica Brend said their clients also haven't gotten their deposits back. What is the Eagle's Crest venue? Multiple couples said Black Swan promised that a new venue called Eagle's Crest, located at the Eagleknit building on 507 South 2nd St., was under construction and would be ready in time for their wedding. Some described getting in-person tours of the space to Public Investigator. But Eagleknit spokesperson Matt Walker said the building never worked with Black Swan and never planned to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker said Black Swan never signed a lease with the building or obtained permission to hold weddings there. Is another company taking over Black Swan MKE's wedding venues? No at least not yet. When Two Birds began occupying one of Black Swan MKE's former event spaces, it sparked confusion among wedding vendors and planners about whether Two Birds was taking over Black Swan's operations. But Two Birds owners Ramsey Renno and Tyler Curran said the recent opening of their event space, The Rivulet, was unrelated to Black Swan. Renno and Curran said they're focusing on their current event spaces, including their newest venue at the Urban Ecology Center, Prairie Springs on Park, which opened on March 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With two new event spaces, Renno and Curran said they're helping at least 20 former Black Swan clients find a new location in time for their planned wedding day. What if couples don't get their money back from Black Swan MKE? If couples aren't able to get their deposits returned, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection spokesperson Caleb Kulich said they can submit a complaint online at datcp.wi.gov. "Consumers are encouraged to file a complaint as soon as possible the faster they file, the sooner Consumer Protection staff can begin work on their complaint," said Kulich. Kulich said that when filing a complaint, consumers should include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their contact information History of communication with the business Proof of payments Copies of all documents, including contracts and written correspondence with the business Any specific details, like the date they signed the contract and the date of their planned event "Although DATCP cannot require a business to resolve a complaint, the departments involvement in a case may result in a resolution," Kulich said. Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. About Public Investigator Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We'll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to publicinvestigator@jrn.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Black Swan MKE wedding company appears to shut down, what to know In January, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger officially withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, having already established the Alliance of Sahel States, or AES, as an alternative regional grouping. The move has had a multitude of consequences, including ongoing diplomatic spats between the AES states and those that remain committed to ECOWAS, as well as challenges to trade and freedom of movement across the region. But the security implications of the fracturing of ECOWAS as a regional bloc are also important to consider, as West Africa faces an array of challenges that are increasingly affecting what are usually thought of as the regions more stable coastal countries, such as Senegal, Ghana and Cote dIvoire. All three of the military-run AES states face long-running jihadist and domestic insurgencies, including armed groups with links to the Islamic State and al-Qaida. Most prominent among them are the Islamic State-Sahel Province and Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, which is affiliated with al-Qaida and is also active in northern Cote dIvoire, Benin and Togo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These groups have been active throughout the Sahel for over a decade, typically exploiting local grievances and intercommunal tensions, particularly between farmers and pastoralists as well as against the Peuhl community, which is often portrayed as being sympathetic to the jihadists. The jihadists mobilize these tensions to stoke conflict and recruit among marginalized communities in a broader effort to seize territory and create an Islamic caliphate in the Sahel and West Africa. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. These groups have targeted civilians and government forces alike, and their attacks have often been tactically sophisticated and significant in impact. In August 2024, for instance, an attack by JNIM in Barsalogho, in northern Burkina Faso, killed around 600 people. And in November 2023, an ambush in Nigers Tillaberi region killed at least 200 soldiers and wounded at least 34 others. Jihadist violence has increased at an accelerating rate in recent years, killing 11,643 people across the Sahel in 2023, a 43 percent increase from the previous year and a threefold increase since 2020, according to the African Centre for Strategic Studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has also increasingly spilled over into coastal West African states, with Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cote dIvoire all now threatened by these groups as well, albeit to a much lesser extent than the Sahelian states. In Togo, an attack on an army barracks last year killed 12 soldiers, for instance, and JNIM is increasingly fortifying its positions near the borders of Togo and Benin. Fears are mounting over the future of formal security coordination in the region, as the most effective attempts to tackle insecurity in West Africa have typically been regional. The problems posed by insecurity are exacerbated by the refugee crisis that violence in the Sahel is causing. By early 2025, nearly 87,000 people had fled their homes in the Sahel into coastal countries. This has put a strain on local communities, especially in Cote dIvoire, where nearly 58,000 of the refugees have fled. The rampant insecurity has also fueled political instability, with the three AES states having experienced a combined five coups between 2020 and 2023. The ECOWAS split could exacerbate many of these security challenges, not least because it has created or exacerbated tensions between many countries that have remained in ECOWAS and those that have left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past 12-18 months, for instance, Cote dIvoire, known as a staunch defender of ECOWAS, and neighboring Burkina Faso have engaged in repeated diplomatic spats linked to mutual fears of destabilization as well as Burkina Fasos rejection of the regions and ECOWAS historical pro-Western leanings. Gun battles and disputes at the border between Burkinabe and Ivoirian troops have become common, with Ivoirian gendarmes having even been detained in Burkina Faso. Earlier this year Burkina Faso withdrew its diplomatic personnel from Cote dIvoire. These disputes have increased instability on the two countries shared border, exacerbating tensions driven by an inflow of Burkinabe refugees into northern Cote dIvoire. These fragile border areas are already fertile recruitment grounds for jihadist groups wishing to spread into coastal countries. Now the strain the refugee population has placed on already limited public services has fueled local frustrations. Combined with the fact that the animosity between the two countries has limited joint border patrols and reduced bilateral cooperation in keeping tabs on jihadists, this has facilitated those recruitment efforts even more. Meanwhile, the stigmatization of the Peuhl community in northern Cote dIvoire because of their alleged role in the jihadist violence is mounting, raising fears of intercommunal violence in the border area. This is not the only ECOWAS-AES relationship that is struggling. Nigeria and Benin have both seen ties with their northern neighbor, Niger, suffer. Their animosity stems from the aftermath of Nigers 2023 coup, which prompted Nigeria and Benin to advocate for an ECOWAS-sponsored military intervention to reinstate democratic rule in Niamey. Nigers military rulers have never quite forgiven them and continue to believe the two coastal states have sought to destabilize their rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, Nigers border with Benin remains closed and security collaboration non-existent. There are now indications that cross-border jihadist attacks in Benin are increasing, with the number of recorded fatalities in Benin in the past year doubling. Meanwhile, Nigeria has complained that insecurity in the Sahel has fueled the resurgence of the Lakurawa armed group, a Nigerian-based insurgency that the government claims is linked to jihadist factions in Mali and Niger. The group, which has operated along the border area since around 1999, originated as a herder organization seeking to protect communities from bandits, though it has increasingly adopted Shariah law and sought to establish a caliphate. Despite its longstanding presence in the border area, its attacks have become more prominent in recent months, prompting the Nigerian government to designate it a terrorist group in January. Niger has in turn complained that the Lakurawa fighters are destabilizing its oil pipelines and accused Nigeria of using the group in an effort to destabilize Niger. Amid all of these regional tensions, fears are mounting over the future of formal security coordination in the region, as the most effective attempts to tackle insecurity in West Africa have typically been regional. Where governments seek to deal with jihadists on their own, they often find the armed groups simply escaping from counterinsurgency operations by fleeing across porous borders into neighboring countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For this reason, the Multinational Joint Task Force, focusing on the Lake Chad Basin, and the Accra Initiative, which counters jihadism in the Sahel and in coastal states, have been some of the most successful efforts to counter jihadist violence across West Africa. As ECOWAS fractures, the question that arises is whether these formal security collaborations will collapse with it. Indeed, the AES countries in particular may see fit to leave these cooperative missions, especially given their announcement in January that they would be forming a unified AES military of 5,000 troops. This will be costly both in terms of funding and personnel, and perhaps prohibitive with regard to AES involvement in other regional security arrangements. There are, of course, some upsides to the move. Once deployed, a joint AES military force would in its own way be a regional security mechanism, depending on how integrated it is. That would be an improvement, given that one of the most difficult areas of joint cooperation historically has been among these very countries in the Sahel. A previous military grouping focusing on regional security, the G5 Sahel Force, was almost entirely useless due to mutual suspicion and vast funding shortfalls. Moreover, much like ECOWAS itself, the force was widely perceived in the Sahel to be an instrument of French influence. It was therefore distrusted by several countries where resentment over the role that Francethe regions former colonial powercontinues to play in West Africa has spiked in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A home-grown initiative between countries that now appear to genuinely like and trust each other should do better. However, the Sahel countries are three of the poorest in West Africa, with three of the regions least capable militaries to boot. They cannot deal with the burgeoning security crises on their own, meaning that joint cooperation will be necessary. Ghanaian President John Mahama has recently been on a regional tour of the Sahel to try to improve relations across the ECOWAS-AES divide, in order to shore up regional security cooperation and help prevent the jihadist spillover into coastal countries. This is an important step. But jihadist violence is expanding rapidly. Mali witnessed a major assault on its capital city of Bamako last year, the first in nearly a decade, while coastal Benin has seen a surge in jihadist violence, with 135 civilian deaths in 2023, compared to 88 in 2022. As such, there is little time to waste. Efforts must be made to bridge the divides between the ECOWAS and AES states so that the states of West Africa may unite once more against a common enemy, rather than bickering among themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Moody is a peacebuilding and political risk consultant focusing on West Africa. She is the author of Life After War: Lessons in Human-Centred Peacebuilding from Cote dIvoire (forthcoming), and has a doctorate in post-conflict peacebuilding in Cote dIvoire from the War Studies department at Kings College London. You can follow her on Twitter at @JessMoody89. The post Regional Divisions Are Fraying West Africas Security Cooperation appeared first on World Politics Review. WASHINGTON Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Louis Sola told port executives that a priority under his tenure would be assisting U.S. exporters, but that didnt quell concerns about the effect that million-dollar port fees planned against Chinese vessel operators would have on American ports. Exports, particularly energy and agriculture, could be priced out and make competitors from other nations more affordable for our customers abroad, an attendee told Sola at a legislative conference sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities in Washington this week, after Sola gave a keynote speech. FMC Chairman Louis Sola. Credit: FMC From your perspective, and the new administrations perspective, do you think theres a willingness to alter what has been proposed to take into account what would be the effects on exports, particularly since American exports seem to be a priority? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sola who emphasized he was speaking on his own behalf and not for the FMC or the Trump administration responded that the U.S. trade representative (USTR), which is proposing the fees following an investigation into Chinas shipping practices, is very well aware of how the fines could impact American exporters. And we have drawn up our concerns to [USTR] to represent everybody here in the room, he said. I can say that we are definitely advocating for U.S. exporters and the U.S.-flag fleet. Under the USTR proposal, unveiled by the Trump administration in February, ships constructed in China would face fees of up to $1.5 million per U.S. port call. Vessel operators with even one Chinese-built ship in their fleet could be charged $500,000 per call, while Chinese shipping companies like Cosco would incur $1 million per call for any vessel, regardless of its origin. The unprecedented fees aim to counter Chinas dominance in global shipbuilding and maritime transport but could inadvertently disrupt U.S. trade flows and supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Clark, executive director of the North Carolina State Ports Authority, has been told by major port customers that should USTR move ahead with the fees, carriers will consolidate their port calls to a minimum number of major ports to minimize costs, bypassing smaller ports like his. Not only would carriers remove midsized ports from rotations entirely, precipitating the sure demise of such ports, but larger ports would experience immense congestion leading to inefficiencies worse than what was experienced during the peak of the pandemic supply chain disruptions, Clark wrote in comments filed on Friday with USTR. Without access to port alternatives like the Port of Wilmington and the Port of Morehead City, North Carolina businesses will face higher transportation costs, driven by significant increases in first- and last-mile expenses to reach major ports. John McCown, a container shipping expert, told USTR that the fees would have more adverse consequences than tariffs, particularly on exports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By having the proposed fees apply to all ships whether involved with imports or exports, they will effectively be a direct tariff on exports and the American jobs linked to those exports, he warned. The fees have raised concern about possible effects from all parts of the U.S. supply chain, including trucking. The trucking industry is still in a deep recession and companies are going out of business all over the country, wrote Mitchell Bros. Truck Line, a drayage trucking company serving the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, in comments to USTR. These policies would be catastrophic for our industry as a whole. We need policies that promote economic growth and promote a sense of stability. These policies would cause major disruption and create extreme economic instability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sola was confident, however, that the trade policies being implemented by the administration would ultimately benefit the U.S. maritime sector, and attested to President Donald Trumps focus on the sector. Ive spoken to him on numerous occasions about shipping, and he understands the supply chain as well. Weve never had a president prioritize shipping the way this one has in the first two months of an administration, Sola told conference attendees. But he cautioned that with Trump emphasizing shipping, a lot of things may affect you in a bad way and may give you some concern. Dont discredit at first sight; go ahead and work through it. The president is going to use a chain saw at first and then hes going to use a scalpel. So if you have concerns on [executive orders] or proposed legislation, nows the time to be involved. That being said, were also going to see an investment in the United States maritime sector that I dont think that we have seen in my lifetime, and that is really saying something. Related articles: Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post Regulator vows to back US exporters fearful about Trumps shipping fees appeared first on FreightWaves. Mar. 21Remains found in North Carolina in 2022 have been linked to a woman who has ties to Westmoreland County. Sharon Johnston told the Anson Record last week that officials in Anson County said DNA results indicate the remains of an unidentified woman belong to her daughter, Amber Rae Johnston. Anson County Sheriff's Office Capt. Brian Tice told WSOC-TV this week there is a high likelihood that the DNA matches Johnston, but there hasn't been a positive identification yet. Johnston would have turned 40 this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has been missing from Arizona since August 2021. Media reported a partially clothed woman was seen on a trail camera that same month in a wooded area in North Carolina. Police in Arizona confirmed that Johnston traveled by bus to South Carolina but got off in North Carolina, according to the Anson Record. The unidentified remains were found near the trail camera in May 2022 during construction for a new school, police said. Earlier this month, Anson County Sheriff Scott Howell said DNA had been extracted from the remains and it would be compared to DNA provided by Johnston's family, the Anson Record reported. Court records from about 10 to 20 years ago indicate Johnston had addresses in Youngwood, Greensburg and Hunker. Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com. SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) The memory of a longtime fire firefighter in Lackawanna County is already living on. Thursday evening was the viewing for veteran Scranton Fire Lieutenant Kelly Hoppy Hopkins. Taxpayers footing bill for vacant properties Hundreds of people passed through Edward J. Chomko Funeral Home Thursday afternoon and evening to pay their respects to the man who lost his battle with cancer last weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Railroad Avenue in Scranton was lined with members of the citys fire department ready to pay their respects to one of their own. Were feeling heartbreak in one respect but we are at peace because theres no more suffering, said Scranton Fire Departments Assistant Fire Chief Jeff White. White has been through many battles. Thursday was a moment of putting not his, but one of his closest friend and partners battles to rest. Hopkins passed away peacefully at home Sunday morning on March 16 after battling esophageal cancer. Every single step of the way he was not giving up without a fight, commented Jennelle Hopkins, daughter of Lt. Kelly Hopkins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopkins is survived by his three daughters and son, his wife Brittany, 10 siblings, numerous nieces and nephews and four grandchildren. He was always there for me no matter what and he was just that guy, said Katie Hopkins, daughter of Lt. Kelly Hopkins. Hopkins served his community for nearly 40 years, was a member of many organizations, with a presence that will never be forgotten. I still hear his voice and Im going to miss him. Hes irreplaceable, stated Lt. Tim OConner, Scranton Fire Department. Hoppy was known for his dedication on duty, camaraderie with the community and infectious spirit that shined throughout the Electric City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His fellow firefighters say he wasnt just first to the scene on the front lines, he showed up in his friendships too. My shingles blew off my front garage, they werent sealed properly. Couple days later he was in the driveway with his compressor, air hose, and truck and he was up on my roof putting the shingles back on, recalled White. The dear friend to many since day one is already deeply missed, but his loved ones will look to live out his legacy. Were going to miss him dearly but we are going to continue to carry on how he would want us to, voiced White. Lt. Hopkins was 63 years old. There will be a mass of Christian burial Friday at 9:30 am at the Cathedral of St. Peter on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. WEBBER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) When the private prison in Lake County was open, it was good for business at Pompeiis Pizza, a few miles down the road in downtown Baldwin. We would supply pizzas for inmates when they would do special events and for the staff, said co-owner Anna Chernoby. But the prison closed in 2022 after then-President Joe Biden issued an executive order to end the federal governments use of private prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This being like a tourist town mostly, in the off-season, it definitely had an impact, Chernoby said. On Thursday, the GEO Group, based in Florida, announced it was reopening the 1,800-bed prison as a processing center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees. Prison near Baldwin to open as ICE detention center The plan, it says, is to move to a long-term contract with ICE that could generate $70 million in its first year. The prison, built in a forest where a paved road becomes gravel just north of Baldwin, was quiet on Friday. Were excited to see what it adds to the area, Chernoby said. I know some people in the area that used to work there that are excited to possibly get those jobs back, and were definitely willing to make food for them, boost our business as much as we can off of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are a lot of unanswered questions, including when it will reopen, how many people it will employ and where those workers would come from. Jodi Nichols, executive director of the the Lake County Community Economic Alliance, said shes trying to get answers, including about the prisons hiring process. In an email, a spokesman for the GEO Group refused to say exactly when the prison will open and how many people it will employ. When it was open, the prison was Lake Countys biggest employer, with a staff of up to 300. Even closed, its been the countys biggest property taxpayer. Jonathan Hawkins, who lives near the prison, is skeptical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they say they employ people from here, they dont. They bring them from everywhere else, he said. People from Lake County cant even get the job. But Louis Castle, who stays in a cottage at nearby Little Star Lake, says it cant hurt. Im sure theyre not going to get everybody from here, Castle said. Im sure people are going to come from surrounding areas, places outside, but its still going to bring people and families hopefully in the area to create more jobs, people spending money in the area, more than just vacationers. The American Civil Liberties Union has said the prison would be a bad fit for the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expansion of ICE detention to North Lake raises serious concerns, Eunice Cho, senior staff attorney for ACLUs National Prison Project, said in an emailed statement. This facility has a dark history of dangerous and abusive conditions of confinement. The siting of a new immigration detention facility in Michigan will further endanger local communities to aggressive immigration enforcement. Instead of enriching private prison companies that will profit from the detention of our neighbors and co-workers, at the end of the day, our tax dollars should be used to create and maintain jobs that truly benefit the community, she said. The GEO Group operates 100 secure facilities, some of those for ICE. According to OpenSecrets, which tracks money in U.S. politics, GEO Groups PACs and those associated with the company contributed $1 million to Make America Great Again in 2024 and $78,000 to Trumps campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 5, 2024, its stock traded at $15.13 a share on the New York Stock Exchange. Two days later, after President Donald Trumps victory, it was up to $26.48 a share. It was $28.23 a share on 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 WOODTV.com. (INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) In late January and early February, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened two Tulare County dams following an executive order from President Trump aimed at getting water to Southern California to fight the Los Angeles area wildfires. Now, a February 3 government memo, first made public last week by the Washington Post, says the Army Corps knew the water could not directly reach Los Angeles without considerable involvement from local and state agencies. Rep. Mike Levin (D Calif.) spoke with Inside California Politics about the 2.5 billion-gallon water release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know a couple of things for sure, one is that the Army Corps was aware that the release of this water into Tulare Lake would not reach the city of Los Angeles. It would have taken significantly more coordination with the state and local entities for that to occur, so this water, a lot of it just evaporated in Tulare Lake, Levin said. Two, they did not coordinate as normal with local stakeholders, scientists and farmers about the release of this water. What we dont know is who directed it. We dont know if it was doge or someone in the Trump administration, Levin continued. Obviously we know President Trump wanted a photo op to get water to Los Angeles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Congressman Greg Murphy took part in a public safety briefing with City of Jacksonville officials. The talk hit on everything from expanding mental health resources to homelessness within our community and enhancing access to recovery resources for people struggling with addictions. Additionally, Rep. Murphy recognized Director of Public Safety Mike Yaniero for his service to the community and distinguished career. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a pleasure to meet with Mayor Phillips, Police Chief Jarad Phelps and Fire Chief Edward Tallman of Jacksonville, Congressman Murphy said. Our first responders sacrifice so much to keep us and our communities safe and I am grateful for all they do. I look forward to continuing our partnership to improve our community and ensure it remains a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Additionally, it was an honor to recognize Director of Public Safety for Jacksonville Mike Yaniero for his contributions to the city and well-deserved retirement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The National Low Income Housing Coalition released its annual report last week, and data shows fair housing is difficult to achieve in Columbus. According to the report, Columbus residents would have to work 2.5 full-time minimum wage jobs in order to afford the average fair market rent in the city, much more than the state average. At large, Ohio residents need to work 1.6 full-time minimum wage jobs 64 hours a week to afford a one-bedroom home in the state. The nonprofit looked at average fair market rent, a federally calculated rate based on locational rent averages that is used in housing voucher programs. In the Columbus metropolitan area, the rate for a one-bedroom unit varies by zip code, ranging from $960 in to $1,790 per month. This data includes zip codes across seven central Ohio counties, with lower averages in more rural counties farther from the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How immigration fueled Columbus post-pandemic growth To afford fair market rent and utilities without paying more than 30% of their income the typical standard for how much of a paycheck should go to housing Columbus area residents would need to make $25.04 an hour, or just over $52,000 per year. Ohios minimum wage is $10.70 per hour for nontipped employees, just 43% of the necessary salary to afford housing in Columbus. Although 32% of extremely low-income renter households are actively working, the largest percentage share, many others are unable to work. Extremely low-income renter households also include disabled, senior or single-adult caregiver homes unable to work many typical labor jobs, as well as full-time students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill would extend working hours for teens Although citizens are most likely affected by the gap between income and rent, there are limited options for residents to fix the larger project. The report asks Congress and the General Assembly to bridge the gap between incomes and rent. Among these recommendations are establishing rental assistance programs and offering tax credits. Lawmakers tell NBC4 they are working hard to address housing concerns, and low-income housing opportunities are receiving state and city support. However, the housing crisis continues, and the report said it will likely persist until the gap between average income and average rent is remedied. See previous coverage on the housing shortage in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. (WHTM) The Pennsylvania School Boards Association released its 2025 State of Education report. For the third year in a row, the biggest challenges school leaders face include continued mental health needs, budget pressures, and staffing shortages. More specifically, special education teachers. This is something that we hear anecdotally from our members. These positions are very difficult to fill, said Chris Lilienthal, Pennsylvania State Education Association Communications. Currently we have five teacher vacancies. Most of those are special education teachers, but we also have vacancies for para educators who support those special ed teachers in the classroom, said Dr. Tamara Willis, Susquehanna Township School District Superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a rising demand for students needing extra support. For the third year in a row, weve experienced an increase, almost double the number of students that are coming into kindergarten who need early intervention services, said Dr. Willis. President Trump wants to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Lilienthal says a big portion of that money supports special education services for students. You know at a time when were seeing a rising demand for these services and more students in need of these services and the cost are rising, those investments are critically important, said Lilienthal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also in the report, more than 80% of school districts say theyre having trouble hiring qualified mental health care providers. As a school district, we cannot meet all the mental health needs that we have currently so were partnering with outside organizations, said Dr. Willis. Get daily news, weather, breaking news and alerts straight to your inbox! Sign up for the abc27 newsletters here Governor Josh Shapiro working with lawmakers from both parties has recognized this. Theres been a real strong push for investing in school counselors, nurses, other mental health care providers. But more work needs to be done and thats certainly reflected in this report, said Lilienthal. Another key finding in the report is more than 77% of school districts reported having at least one school building in need of repair or replacement. Plus, for the 6th year in a row, mandatory Charter School tuition payments were the top source of budget pressure. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a national energy emergency. It called for hundreds of permit reviews to be fast-tracked despite the proposals' potential to damage critical wetlands and waterways. What's happening? The Environmental Integrity Project, a nonprofit environmental watchdog, reported that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers marked for expedited review more than 600 permit applications for projects that would disturb wetlands and waterways in at least six states. As Albert C. Lin, a professor of law at the University of California, Davis, wrote for The Conversation, the concern for environmentalists is "the projects might be allowed to alter or destroy hundreds of acres of wetlands or risk contamination of drinking water sources." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The projects listed for emergency review include a 37-mile crude oil pipeline that would run beneath Sabine Lake in Louisiana and disrupt more than 230 acres of sensitive wetlands, including those in Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. Another permit review involves a proposed 754-megawatt natural-gas-fired power plant in Texas that would destroy 51 acres of wetlands. The Corps of Engineers later said it would revise the list following public outcry, in part because, according to the EIP, some projects had nothing to do with energy development. For example, one project marked for review is a proposal to build a gold mine in Idaho that would harm 145 acres of wetlands and 21 acres of streams in the Payette National Forest. Another is a housing development proposed by Chevron that would impact around an acre of fragile wetlands in California. Even if they were all energy projects, though, Lin wrote "it's not clear that the claimed emergency conditions warrant fast-tracking major projects with minimal environmental review or public scrutiny." Matt Rota, senior policy director for nonprofit Healthy Gulf, told the EIP, "The Trump Administration's push for an 'emergency' review of wetlands destruction permits is a blatant attempt to sidestep environmental laws and fast-track fossil fuel projects at the expense of our wetlands and communities. Rushing permits like the Blue Marlin Offshore Port pipeline under a manufactured 'emergency' undermines public oversight and threatens the Gulf Coast region's vital wetland ecosystems." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Corps website, many of the pending "energy emergency" permit reviews were for dirty fuel-related projects, including more than 60 to build pipelines and gas-fueled power plants. Why are the proposed energy projects concerning? Wetlands support humans and animals in numerous ways, including providing natural flood barriers, improving water quality, absorbing carbon in the air, and providing habitat for birds, fish, and other species. Lakes also serve as crucial habitats for diverse plant and animal life, and are vital freshwater sources for humans. If even a few of the larger projects are approved, it will damage these fragile ecosystems and could make coastal communities more vulnerable to flooding in storms something that Texans have become all too familiar with in recent years. Kristen Schlemmer, senior legal director for nonprofit Bayou City Waterkeeper, told EIP, "After Hurricane Beryl, Hurricane Harvey and countless other unnamed rainstorms, those of us living across greater Houston and along the Texas coast have learned again and again how important wetlands are to us as a natural form of flood protection and what happens when wetlands are lost. Fast-tracking projects that destroy wetlands will rob our communities of critical wetland protections and place us at greater risk, without any benefits." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the expedited review process, communities may not have the chance to hear about how the projects would affect them, giving residents no opportunity to object. In addition, regulators may not review applications as thoroughly under time constraints. What's being done to help? According to Inside Climate News, the Center for Biological Diversity an environmental nonprofit threatened to sue the Army Corps over the fast-tracked projects, claiming they violated the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Reuters reported that the Corps is revising the list of emergency energy projects to fast-track until it determines which actions may be covered under the executive order. Lin also wrote for The Conversation that any fast-tracking that does happen could violate established laws: "If the Corps' promised revisions to the list of emergency projects look anything like the original version, expect a flood of lawsuits which will seek to challenge any permits granted under emergency procedures." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local nonprofits and state organizations in Massachusetts worked to secure conservation protection for over 800 acres of critical wetlands, proving what's possible by collaborating and looking after Mother Nature. Beyond that, speaking up to show lawmakers what's important and to get dirty energy companies to reconsider projects that will harm the planet can go a long way toward building a cleaner, safer future for all. 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 story has been updated with additional information and to add a video. Forgoing outside attorneys and representing himself in the courtroom, former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin took the stand Friday morning in Jefferson Family Court and interrogated his adopted son face-to-face over the teen's request for a protective order against the couple who adopted him 13 years ago. Jonah Bevin, the adopted son of Matt and Glenna Bevin, retold the story he's outlined in his emergency protective order request filed earlier this month and in conversations with The Courier Journal and other media outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now 18, the Ethiopia native who was adopted by the Bevins in 2012 and filed for an emergency protective order earlier this month is seeking long-term protective orders against them over his allegations of abuse and abandonment. Matt and Glenna Bevin, whose divorce was finalized earlier this week, did not comment following the hearing. No ruling was given by Judge Angela Johnson, and the case will continue Tuesday afternoon, with witness testimonies expected. Glenna Bevin is being represented in the case by high-profile Louisville attorney Steve Romines, who questioned Jonah for about 25 minutes about his treatment and interactions with his adoptive mother, while Jonah was joined by local counsel John Helmers. Dawn J. Post, a New York-based child advocacy attorney who's worked on Jonah's case in the months leading up to Friday's hearing, was in the crowd but did not participate in the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Bevin did not hire an attorney and questioned Jonah himself. The former governor, in office from late 2015 through 2019, alternated between referring to himself in first and third person as he interrogated the teen over Jonah's allegations that his adoptive parents had mistreated and abused him during his childhood years and had abandoned him last year at an abusive home for "troubled teens" in Jamaica. Romines closed his questioning after asking Jonah if Glenna Bevin had "threatened you in any way, or been violent with you or really even seen you" in the past year, and the teen replied she had not. In the filing for the emergency protective order that was approved earlier this month and in comments in the courtroom, Jonah said Glenna had hit him as a child, referencing one instance in court that had occurred at the former couple's home in Anchorage, and would say "disrespectful things" about his biological mother, who Jonah has not contacted since coming to the U.S. and who he believed was dead. Matt Bevin, who at one point was asked by the judge to look at her instead of Jonah while the teen was answering questions from Helmers, took over questioning after Romines was finished. He went back and forth with Jonah for about 25 more minutes before the hearing concluded, at times alluding to inaccuracies in his adopted son's statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One point of contention is a planned trip overseas last month for Jonah to meet his biological mother. Jonah, who was living in Utah at the time after leaving a "troubled teens" school in the state, has said Matt Bevin reached out to him in late February and asked, "How would you like to go to Ethiopia?" Jonah, who said he grew up being told his biological mother was dead, said he responded by saying he's not comfortable, but that Matt Bevin ignored that reply and sent him information about a flight and then a photo of a woman he said was Jonah's mother. "He said that your mother's alive and sends me a picture of my mother that day after they've been telling me my whole life she's been dead," Jonah recalled. He eventually agreed to go, but backed out over concerns the information he'd been given wasn't accurate and about who he'd be with when he arrived in Ethiopia. "It's a personal choice whether you went or not," Matt Bevin replied, saying he wanted to make the point that they'd spoken about Jonah traveling to Ethiopia before. Jonah said after he backed out of the trip, his adopted father told him that he'd missed his only opportunity to meet his biological mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Later, we'll provide the court with the actual documentation of the communication and what was actually said," Matt Bevin said, closing that line of questioning. Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and former first lady Glenna Bevin listen as their adopted son, Jonah Bevin, answers questions in Jefferson Family Court on March 21, 2025. Jonah, 18, is seeking an emergency protective order against his parents. Jonah also testified that he had been sexually abused by a 17-year-old when he was 10 and said he did not believe his adoptive parents took enough action afterward. He was referred to a therapist, he said, but he believed the therapist was relaying information he'd said in privacy to Matt and Glenna Bevin. While being questioned by Romines, Jonah confirmed Glenna Bevin reported the assault to the police for prosecution. And he detailed more treatment he encountered at "troubled teens" facilities. Before being sent to Jamaica's Atlantis Leadership Academy, he said, he was at a program where restraints were common. And in Jamaica, he said, he was waterboarded, forced to kneel on bottle caps and was frequently assaulted by staff members. Several have since been charged with abuse. He was never in touch with his adoptive parents, he said, because kids in the program's care were not allowed to make calls, and Matt and Glenna Bevin did not call him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters afterward, Post said the former governor's decision to represent himself was "unexpected, and also complicates direct and cross-examination in a way that you wouldn't have if it was a stranger asking you those questions." "Having worked with children who have had to have their parents question them, that can feel like another form of abuse to that young person, to be questioned in such a way and to feel manipulated as you're trying to give your truth and your testimony," she said. Background of the Jonah Bevin case Jonah Bevin, 18, responds to questions in Jefferson Family Court on March 21, 2025. Jonah sought an emergency protective order against his adoptive parents, former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and his wife Glenna Bevin. Jonah's attorney, John Helmers, is at right. Jonah filed for an emergency protective order against his adopted father earlier this month, which required Matt Bevin to avoid contact with Jonah in the interim and temporarily turn over his firearms to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The 18-year-old Ethiopia native's story first came to light last summer, when London-based The Times reported on a law enforcement raid of the "Atlantis Leadership Academy" in Jamaica, a boarding school for "troubled teens" where Jonah had been staying that has been accused of abusing kids in its care. His adopted parents did not attend court hearings to determine how to bring him back to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview earlier this month with The Courier Journal, Jonah said he'd been sent to several similar programs in the U.S. since 2020, when he was 13, due to strife at home with his adopted parents. Just before he was sent to Jamaica in 2023, he was arrested as a juvenile following a confrontation with Matt Bevin at his Anchorage home, he said in the EPO filing, which also said the ex-governor would "push (him) around" and "insult and antagonize (him)." While living in Utah last month following his release from a "troubled teens" school in November, Jonah said he was contacted by a man on behalf of his adopted parents, who said the family had found his biological mother in Africa and had purchased a plane ticket for him to meet her. Jonah eventually backed out, he said, over concerns about the credibility of that information. Post, the attorney who's represented Jonah leading up to Tuesday's hearing, has said she believes Jonah's adopted parents could be criminally charged with abandonment, a class D felony in Kentucky. The EPO was filed due to "the nature of the threats, abandonment, and neglect," according to court documents, with reasonable cause to believe that further harm may occur if it were not granted. Jonah was one of four Ethiopian children adopted by the Bevin family in 2012. Matt Bevin was outspoken about issues with Kentucky's foster care system during his campaign ahead of the 2015 gubernatorial election, frequently appearing with his family at campaign events, and during his four years in office. Jonah has since said he believes he was adopted for "public image." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt and Glenna Bevin have not responded to requests for comment from The Courier Journal or any other news outlet about Jonah's allegations. Criminal charges have not been filed. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Matt Bevin questions adopted son Jonah in protective order court case Utahs two newest members of Congress held a chaotic town hall in Salt Lake City on Thursday, despite Republican congressional leaderships recommendations that lawmakers avoid in-person meetings. Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy told attendees they hoped Utahns could show the rest of the country how to have civil conversations about the most complicated political questions of the day. Within minutes, those hopes were dashed to pieces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An angry audience of around 300 people gathered at the University of Utah made sure of that with dozens openly mocking the idea of having an opening prayer and dozens more doing their best to shout down Maloy and Kennedy over the course of the hourlong quarrel, as the two lawmakers strained their voices to explain their positions. Nearly the entire room raised their hand to indicate they were there to express frustration with the Trump administration and to demand that Congress do more to be a check on President Donald Trumps disregard for court rulings, his unprecedented deportation methods and his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy speak at a town hall at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Utah is just the latest state to see an unruly town hall. Congressional lawmakers across the country have been disrupted by angry constituents, with some Republicans blaming progressive groups for the outbursts. On Thursday, a Democratic lawmaker in Illinois was physically confronted by an anti-Israel protester, while Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman was booed by town hall attendees, according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think in Utah we can have tough conversations, Maloy said at the beginning of Thursdays event. I hope we can set a high standard for the rest of the country on how we can talk about really hard issues. While many in the audience applauded this comment, the room soon erupted in loud boos, drowning out Maloys attempt at responding to the first crowdsourced question about whether the U.S. House of Representatives should impeach Trump for his alleged defiance of judges orders. In between yells of, Do your job! and What do you think checks and balances are? Maloy, who represents Utahs 2nd Congressional District, answered that she did not think Trump had committed an impeachable offense and that the Trump administration has said it will not defy court orders. Before weighing in, Kennedy, of the 3rd District, asked university police to consider removing certain disruptive individuals who were constantly shouting which law enforcement did not do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the same question, Kennedy made clear that if the administration defies a court order then the perpetrators should be held to account. However, how do we determine that in a non-Banana Republic fashion? We actually go through the process, Kennedy said. People speak out at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Checking executive power Despite pleas for civility from both lawmakers, a growing number of attendees rose from their seats throughout the event to bellow out their criticisms of the two representatives. While it didnt satisfy the group which at one point broke into cheers to tax the rich Maloy and Kennedy did find some common ground on executive overreach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her 2023 special election, and again in 2024, Maloy ran on the argument that Congress had ceded too much of its power to the president and executive branch agencies. On Thursday, Maloy said Trumps whirlwind approach to executive authority had convinced many of her friends on the other side of the aisle that it is time for them to take their Article I constitutional responsibilities more seriously. A police officer stands by at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Republicans and Democrats agree that the executive is too strong, Maloy said. While weve got this opportunity, we should put some safeguards back in place. This response drew scattered applause and yells for Maloy to specify what executive orders she has pushed back on. Maloy said she called the White House to disagree with the decision to fire probationary employees like national park workers, who have since been reinstated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy agreed with Maloy, saying he is committed to making reforms that bring Congress into alignment with its constitutionally defined mandate, including by returning to regular order budgeting practices that allow members to apply greater scrutiny to spending bills. Im invested in making Washington, D.C., smaller and Utah bigger, Kennedy said. I trust our local communities and our state to run things better than I do Washington, D.C. Both elected officials defended Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, as well as DOGEs initiatives to take a hard look at government programs to identify waste, fraud and abuse. Their full comments on these topics as with all other questions were impossible to hear over the shouts of disapproval. People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People laugh as the Boy Scouts are dismissed at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People speak out at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Rep. Celeste Maloy answers two final questions after Rep. Mike Kennedy left early from a town hall at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People speak out at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News A police officer stands by at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Mike Bretz speaks out at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy after Kennedy announces that he will leave early to meet with the Boy Scouts outside that were in attendance at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People speak out at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News A police officer circles a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Rep. Mike Kennedy talks to attendees before a town hall at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Celeste Maloy talks to attendees before a town hall at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People listen at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People speak out at a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy after Maloy said she does not believe that President Donald Trump should not be impeached at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy speak at a town hall at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy speak at a town hall at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Frustration over raucous town hall One of the most vocal audience members, Mike Bretz, who repeatedly stood to shout and point at the lawmakers, said he felt it was important to speak out against growing authoritarianism by making Kennedy and Maloy afraid of not being reelected again. The whole point of coming to this is to try and speak truth to power, said Bretz, a Sandy resident. Theyre coming out and telling us, Oh, this isnt happening, when we can see it is happening. Maloy and Kennedy chose to hold their joint town hall at the University of Utah, which lies outside of both of their congressional districts. After the event was announced, Democratic activists took to social media to encourage party members to attend. People attend a town hall held by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy at the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News JoyLynn and Craig Jeppson drove an hour from Heber City, which is inside Kennedys third district. The couple, who describe themselves as moderate Republicans, said they felt uncomfortable, embarrassed and disappointed because of the conduct exhibited at the town hall. Im leaving this meeting highly frustrated, JoyLynn Jeppson said. Everybody else is making it really impossible to have a dialogue. And Im just as angry as they are but I would like to have a conversation. As Maloy was led out of the room by law enforcement, she said the town hall allowed Utahns to show up and engage which made it a success in her view, even if it didnt fulfill her hopes of a civil dialogue. I think we could be better at keeping the temperature low; practice makes perfect, Maloy said. Well have a lot more chances. Utah Republican Reps. Mike Kennedy and Celeste Maloy speak during a rowdy town hall event at the University of Utah on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) Utah Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy were met with boos, jeers and profanity-laden signs during a town hall at the University of Utah on Thursday evening, the latest in a string of contentious events between lawmakers and their constituents around the country. It was the first town hall of the year for Kennedy and Maloy, Utahs newest Republican representatives, who touched on a number of issues related to Congress, the Trump administration and federal spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the night was defined by the crowd of roughly 300 people, most of whom were there to protest. Before Kennedy was even in the building, a woman shouted you fr at him as he stepped out of his car. As a congressional staffer told the crowd there would be an opening prayer, it was met with cackles from a woman in attendance. Just a few minutes in, Kennedy suggested to police that they should remove a man he dubbed Mr. Outburst. Let me finish my answer, became a common refrain from Maloy during the night. And as Kennedy, who left a few minutes before Maloy, went to take a selfie with the crowd on his way out, dozens of people stood up to give him the middle finger. No one was removed or arrested during the event. But both lawmakers struggled to get their points across as the audience shouted and booed, many of them holding up signs that read Musk or us! Fight for womens rights, and Make Congress stand up for democracy again. Dozens of people held up small pink pieces of paper with bullst written in bold, black lettering as the lawmakers spoke. A woman holds a sign in protest during a town hall event with Utah Republican Reps. Mike Kennedy and Celeste Maloy at the University of Utah on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) Town hall events have not been easy for lawmakers as of late, with protesters and unruly constituents clashing with speakers over billionaire Elon Musks involvement in the federal government, support for Israel, the pardoning of people involved in the Jan. 6 riots and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman faced jeers and boos as she tried to answer questions. That same evening in Illinois, Democratic Rep. Sean Casten was interrupted by several protesters critical of his support for Israel. The backlash over some of the Trump administrations policies is so severe that earlier this month, Republican House leaders warned GOP lawmakers to stop attending in-person events with constituents. During an interview with Fox News, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said town halls were being overrun with paid protesters and are no longer an effective way to communicate with constituents. A little window into tonights rowdy town hall with Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy. I would never talk to any of you the way youre yelling at me right now, @RepMaloyUtah says at the end of the video. #utpol pic.twitter.com/DaStxt0Wy8 Kyle Dunphey (@kyle_dunphey) March 21, 2025 Maloy addressed Johnsons comments at the beginning of the event, telling the audience shes gotten a lot of advice to not hold town halls because theyve been getting rowdy. We both chose to be here because, one, I think its my job to stand up here and talk to you. But also, I think we can do this. I think in Utah, we can have tough conversations, she said, to the tune of applause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it would be one of the rare signs of support from the crowd on Thursday. Im here to answer questions said an exasperated Maloy later on, before constituents shouted, no youre not! Youre deflecting, one person yelled. Throughout the night, Maloy and Kennedy fielded questions from the audience on a range of issues, including Musks Department of Government Efficiency, cuts to the National Park Service and Internal Revenue Service, the power of the executive branch, threats to Medicaid and Medicare, immigration policy and more. I think we have a unique opportunity right now, that I havent seen in my lifetime, where Republicans and Democrats agree that the executive (branch) is too strong. I think while weve got this opportunity, we should put some safeguards back in place, said Maloy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive branch is already too powerful. Theyve wielded strong power for too many years, Kennedy added. Both lawmakers tried to emphasize due process and patience, telling the crowd to give the Trump administration time for its policies to play out; they accused people who claim Congress will cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security of fearmongering; and they said reigning in spending and the deficit would require difficult decisions. I have a lot of sympathy for the issues that youre here talking about, said Maloy. We are not going to get out of the situation were in financially without all of us feeling some pain. And I know people are going Once again, Maloy was cut off by an explosion of boos and shouting protesters. Utah Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy tries to reason with an unruly crowd during a town hall event at the University of Utah on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) Of particular concern Thursday was the reduction of the federal workforce, including the firing then rehiring of about 1,000 National Park Service employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also love our National Parks but even the National Parks have got to be efficient and wise with their dollars, said Maloy, in between boos. If park staff is doing good work and their budgets are efficient, we should keep them but theres no reason not to evaluate the parks. Kennedy echoed Maloy, telling the audience that people from all over the world come to Utahs five national parks, bringing their money with them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX For us, to make sure our national parks work, weve already seen the response. They fired a bunch of people and then we actually hired those people back, plus extra, he said. Im also very focused on making sure those national parks work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in attendance had varying reactions to the town hall after Maloy and Kennedy left. Some felt the shouting was valid, others wished there could have been a more civil discourse. Riley Beesley with the Utah Federation of College Republicans called it a disgrace. We got nowhere today. And thats the whole point of this, said Beesley, one of the few Republican supporters in attendance. I wouldve thought that Utah would hold themselves to a higher standard, said Beesley, a constituent of Maloys. I would have thought that the Utah Democrats would be more respectful. Tara Stauffer, who lives in Kennedys district, said its good to see people passionate about politics and showing up in force to events like Thursdays town hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I never approve of people being disrespectful. So I wish that wouldnt have happened. But I really do think its time for our elected officials to get out and hear the people, she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE New York Congressman Mike Lawler issued a two-word response after being grilled live on CNN about rumors that Elon Musk donated to his re-election campaigns. The Republican lawmaker sparred with former New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat, as they discussed reports that the worlds richest man was set for a secret Pentagon briefing about the U.S. militarys top-secret war plans for China on Newsnight. Congressman Lawler is not going to criticize him because Elon Musk is a major donor to Congressman Lawlers re-election campaigns, Bowman said on Thursdays program. And thats the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anchor Abby Phillip added: Is that true, Congressman Lawler that hes a major donor to your campaign? Not directly, Lawler, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, responded. No, not directly to my campaign. He had an independent expenditure that he spent on dozens of congressional races. Rep. Mike Lawler (L) exchanged barbs with former New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman on Thursday's episode of Newsnight (CNN) Bowman alleged that Lawler was the second biggest recipient of money from Musk after Trump, who, along with his MAGA allies, received more than $290 million, according to federal filings. Earlier this month, reports emerged that Musk was weighing a $100 million donation to a super PAC associated with the president. Musks super-political action committee, America PAC spent more than $1.7 million backing Lawler, who successfully defeated Democrat Mondaire Jones for New Yorks 17th congressional district in the 2024 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal campaign finance records show that the Trump adviser poured in about $19 million across 18 key congressional races in 11 states in an attempt to preserve the GOP House majority in November. Republicans hold a slim five-seat majority in the Lower Chamber. Lawler will be up for re-election in November 2026. Elon Musk (left) funneled more than $1.7 million to help Mike Lawler retain his NYC House seat in November (Getty Images) According to The New York Times, Lawler is allegedly eyeing a gubernatorial run despite it having been almost 20 years since a Republican has won a governors race in the Empire State. Musk has reportedly donated to seven congressional Republicans, all of whom support the Trump administrations calls to impeach constrain judges who have attacked Trump or halted parts of his America First agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tech billionaire claimed in recent days that such judges are leading a judicial coup. While Lawler didnt directly call to impeach Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump in his hush money criminal case, he lobbied for the Manhattan District Attorneys removal in December. Musk gave thousands of dollars in donations each to Representatives Eli Crane of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Brandon Gill of Texas, and Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, reports The New York Times. AUSTIN, Texas (TEXAS TRIBUNE) -Some Texas Republican lawmakers are reviving a previously stalled effort to expand the Texas attorney generals power to prosecute election crimes. The long-running push is a response to a 2022 ruling from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which found that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office does not have unilateral authority to independently prosecute criminal cases in trial courts without the request of a local prosecutor. Diboll ISD announces lone finalist for superintendent Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 1026, filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, a powerful Republican from Central Texas, would amend the law to require the Texas attorney generals office to prosecute election crimes if no local proceedings have begun after six months. The bill was approved by the GOP-led Senate Committee on State Affairs Thursday. Similar bills have also been filed in the House. Some election and voting rights advocates said theyre concerned that the bill, as written, would require Paxtons office to prosecute even if local district attorneys had chosen not to, or didnt find enough evidence to do so. The bill specifically changes the wording of a section of the law that now says the office may prosecute a criminal offense to shall. They warned that the bill seemed aimed at increasing election prosecutions, potentially intimidating voters and local election officials. On its own, that is a problem, said Ashley Harris, staff attorney for the ACLU of Texas. Its all part of an attempt to control not only local prosecutors, but also election offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geoff Barr, chief of the election integrity division at the Texas Attorney Generals Office, said he interpreted the bill as giving his office discretion. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. If I dont feel that I can prove the case, if the evidence is insufficient, I would argue that that shall does not mandate me to prosecute against my ethical duties, Barr said during a Senate Committee on State Affairs public hearing last week on the bill. 17-year-old charged with murder after victim in Nacogdoches shooting dies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the hearing, Hughes said lawmakers have been aware of instances where local district attorneys, who are elected, may have conflicts when asked to prosecute alleged election crimes. Who knows whether politics or other matters in any given county could affect prosecution? Hughes said. So election law is a matter of paramount statewide importance. This bill is intended to restore the authority the attorney general has had for decades to handle those matters. Paxton has actively pursued election-related crimes since he took office in 2015. After his office set up the election integrity unit, it has opened more than 300 investigations of suspected crimes by voters in a state which has more than 18 million voters registered but has successfully convicted only a handful. Republican lawmakers filed similar bills in 2023, which failed to pass. Those bills came during a legislative session that ended with the House impeaching Paxton over other matters. The Senate later acquitted Paxton of several impeachment articles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The debate over whether the attorney generals office should have such authority was put to the test following the 2018 election of a local sheriff in Jefferson County, where the elected district attorney declined to prosecute alleged campaign-finance violations against Sheriff Zena Stephens. Paxton then obtained an indictment from neighboring Chambers County. In 2021, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed the indictment. After Paxton asked the court to rehear the case, it upheld its previous ruling, saying the attorney general does not have the independent authority to pursue criminal cases in trial courts unless the local prosecutor asks the office to do so. Paxton later targeted three of the judges who reached that decision when they were up for reelection, successfully leading a campaign to oust them during the 2024 Republican primary. Hughes bill would explicitly give Paxtons office the authority he sought from the appeals court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with the Texas Tribune. She is based in Corpus Christi. Contact Natalia at ncontreras@votebeat.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. CANE ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) A retired daffodil farm could soon be replaced by hundreds of homes. As Beauforts population grows, so does the push for development. Cane Island was always the crown jewel, if you will, of the family properties. Its the place where everybody shot their first deer, shot their first duck, where you just enjoy walking in the woods and its just a special, special place, said John Trask, grandson of the original daffodil farm owners who bought the land in the 1960s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its specialty has remained as its the last sea island in Beaufort to remain untouched. The only thing left as of now are the few leftover daffodils that still peak from what was once a thriving daffodil farm owned by the Trask family. Eventually, that farm would hang up its shears and sell the property off to developers. When my grandmother died about 20 years ago, the farm and the island and some other properties were sold for estate reasons, said Trask. A gentleman from Spartanburg, South Carolina, bought it and subsequently sold it to the group that has it now. The developers who bought it then still own it now, grandfathering them into their newly announced plans to develop without public input. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beaufort city officials said in a statement, The approved development on Cane Island is governed by a longstanding Planned Unit Development and Development Agreement between the property owners and the City, established decades ago. These agreements define the developments density and standards, taking legal precedence over current city zoning regulations, density limits, and review processes. As a result, these projects have a vested right to proceed as outlined in the agreements and are not subject to public review. As someone who spent their childhood there, of course, its always a little sad to see a change like that. But if theres going to be a change, I cant think of a better one, said Trask. His familial ties to the island made it difficult to see the change finally come to fruition. Though he said, he has kept up with the new developers, who are wanting the island to remain as close to what it is now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing that warms my heart is that the folks that are going to develop it now are going to honor that history and are going to weave it into the fabric of their development. We have reached out to the developers who say they are staying true to the islands natural environment. They are almost done with their renderings on the project and have plans to speak with WSAV soon on exactly whats going to come to Cane Island. Stay with this story in the couple of weeks to learn more about the new development. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Data from the National Interagency Fire Center shows that the extent of area burned by wildfires in the U.S. appears to have increased since the 1980s, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As wildfire damage becomes more rampant in the wake of human-induced extreme weather events, insurance companies are losing massive amounts of money to frequent payouts, forcing them to drop coverage, as we see happening to Boulder residents. What's happening? Insurance companies are pulling the rug from under Boulder residents for several reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some residents' coverage was dropped due to living in a high-wildfire-risk zone. Other Boulder residents saw their premiums double, forcing them to reconsider whether staying in the area was feasible. Still, other residents lost coverage due to owning high-value properties (over $1 million in value), which fell outside the purview of insurance company policies. Boulder resident Kristina Miller Olsen falls in this last category of homeowners, with a property valued at $3.5 million, according to Zillow. Olsen said the thought of losing her house to a wildfire without full insurance coverage worries her "because we have a fair amount of retirement savings in our property valuation," per Boulder Reporting Lab. After being dropped by Nationwide due to having a high-value property, Olsen found new coverage with State Farm. However, her premium jumped from $4,510 to $11,947. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rising home insurance costs are affecting homeowners across the country, including in North Carolina, California, Florida, and Louisiana. Why are rising home insurance costs concerning? If climate data is any indication of what's to come, rising global temperatures, caused by human activity including burning dirty fossil fuels for energy will only bring about more wildfires and other extreme weather events. The increased wildfire risk not only puts communities at risk, but it also gives insurance companies a reason to pull their coverage from high-risk areas, whether or not that is ethical. Homeowners who lose coverage or those who can't afford to pay the inflated premiums risk losing their homes to fire or losing their homes to displacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The ability to afford where we live is decreasing rapidly," Olsen said, per Boulder Reporting Lab. What's being done about rising home insurance costs? Colorado policymakers are scrambling to keep homeowners and their homes safe amid disappointing insurance company decisions. To lower wildfire risk in communities and to appeal to insurance companies, the HB 1182 proposed bill will require insurers to consider wildfire mitigation efforts that homeowners take, to lower premiums. The state is also creating the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan to provide last-resort coverage (up to $750,000) for high-risk property homeowners. The cost for coverage will be shared among major insurers to cover Colorado homeowners while recognizing the burden that insurers will bear. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Nevada gaming authorities are seeking a $10.5 million fine against Resorts World and its parent companies, according to a Thursday news release. The fine would be the second-largest in state history, behind a $20 million fine assessed against Wynn Resorts in February 2019 for failing to properly investigate sexual harassment allegations against former CEO Steve Wynn. An amended complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) against Resorts World and Genting Berhad today alleges unsuitable methods of operation in connection with illegal bookmakers Mathew Bowyer and Damien LeForbes. The investigation described a culture of money laundering at the casino. FILE: Fireworks explode during the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas on June 24, 2021 in Las Vegas. Genting Groups property opens on the former site of the Stardust Resort & Casino and is the first new resort to be built on the Las Vegas Strip since The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opened in 2010. At $4.3 billion, it is the most expensive property ever developed in Las Vegas and features three towers with 3,500 guest rooms and suites, a 117,000-square-foot casino and a 5,000-seat theater on its nearly 88-acre site. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Bowyer was in the spotlight when the August complaint was issued. A highly publicized investigation centered on L.A. Dodger pitcher Shohei Ohtanis interpreter. It was Bowyer who took the interpreters bets, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The August NGCB complaint indicates Bowyer was allowed to gamble 80 separate days between July 22, 2022, and Oct. 1, 2023. Bowyer lost $7.9 million over the entire time he was a patron there, and he received comps, promo chips, gifts, discounts and flights on Resorts Worlds jet. The NGCB investigation also looked into Nicole Bowyer, his wife, who had a contract with the resort. The Gaming Commission rejected a proposed settlement in a complaint against her. Mathew Bowyer, left, a Southern California bookmaker, arrives with his attorney, Diane Bass, right, at federal court in Santa Ana, Calif., Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) LeForbes was a patron when the resort opened in 2021 and was known to be an illegal bookmaker by a casino host. That host even sent business to LeForbes, according to the August complaint. LeForbes pleaded guilty in California to operating an illegal bookmaking business and related money laundering charges in August 2024, and the complaint details his visits to gamble at the resort. He lost a total of $10 million between Sept. 1, 2022, and Dec. 16, 2023, and was given comps, promo chips and gifts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The relationship between LeForbes and Resorts World ended when his casino host left. This culture results in the perception and/or reality that Resorts World is an avenue to launder funds derived from illegal activity and/or to further criminal activity causing damage to the reputation of the State of Nevada and Nevadas gaming industry, according to the complaint. Casino hosts provide a buffer between gamblers and upper management, but that cant extend to allowing illegal activity. In a separate investigation, Resorts World executive Scott Sibella lost his gaming license in December 2024 as the investigation probed allegations involving illegal bookmakers that dated back to Sibellas days at MGM Grand. A combined $7.45 million fine was assessed against MGM Grand and Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sibella portrayed himself as the victim of others who failed to file reports. Scott Sibella, former executive at Resorts World. The proposed settlement between the state and Resorts World is on the agenda for approval at the Nevada Gaming Commissions meeting on March 27. The settlement also addresses wholesale changes to executive leadership at Resorts World, according to the NGCB news release. The news release outlines unspecified remedial measures implemented at Resorts World. The majority of conditions and remediations focus on additional or increased requirements in the RWLV anti-money laundering program. Full details of the terms of the stipulation are expected to be provided at the March 27 Gaming Commission meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. In the past month, state and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and grocery stores for hundreds of food-safety violations. (Photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch) State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past four weeks, including serious offenses related to sushi preparation, moldy food and body parts of a wild deer that were found in one eaterys freezer. The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, schools, hospitals and other businesses over the past four weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a snapshot in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals website. Hy-Vee Foods, 420 Court Ave., Des Moines During a Feb. 21 visit, a state inspector cited this store for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and concluded the person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Food Code as evidenced by the number of violations related to employee training, cross-contamination prevention, hand washing, cleaning and sanitizing, and food-safety written procedures and plans. In addition, at least one of the workers designated as the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager. The inspector observed that the stores Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points binder typically used to log information tied to the safe production of sushi did not contain any of the required parasite destruction documents from 2024. In addition, the store did not maintain the approved variance for the acidification of sushi rice, and it did not appear to be complying with all parts of the HACCP plans and procedures. For example, the manager was to verify the pH-level logs at the end of each shift, but none of the documents from the last six months had been signed by management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, sushi workers were not waiting the required 15 minutes before testing pH levels, and were not following other, specific time parameters outlined in the plan when acidifying sushi rice. When reviewing the last several months of sushi rice records, a number of areas are not completely filled out, the inspector reported, noting missing signatures, dates and columns or rows that were missing the numeric values that should have been recorded. When questioned, a sushi worker could not describe for the inspector what to do such as discarding rice when specific testing parameters for pH levels were not met. The inspector also reported that several food items throughout the store had been held past their seven-day limit, including deviled eggs that had a discard date of Feb. 19, and several items in the deli department, such as sandwiches and various spreads or cream cheeses that were dated Feb. 18. Also, the floor mixer and the microwave oven in the bakery department were visibly soiled with a buildup of what appeared to be food debris, and raw, ground Italian sausage was being stored directly over ready-to-eat olives in the meat department cooler, risking cross-contamination. Discussed with the firm regaining active managerial control of the facility by correcting all violations noted in the report, the inspector reported. This may include, but is not limited to, the following actions: additional training, repairing broken equipment, increased cleaning frequency, and additional oversight of the sushi production and recordkeeping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inspector also advised the store to register all employees who are designated as a person in charge for a certified food protection manager course by March 3, 2025. The inspector also discussed with the firm the re-training all sushi employees and managers. El Charro, 514 Main St., Pella During a March 18 visit, this restaurant was cited for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. A state inspector found several prepared and pre-portioned food items in the freezer without any preparation dates to ensure their freshness and safety. Also, sliced steak on the flat-top grill was measured at 95 degrees and had to be reheated to at least 165 degrees before being moved to a hot-holding unit. In addition, house-made salsa was left sitting out at 54 degrees; knives stored as clean in the knife rack were marred by a buildup of food debris; employees were seen handling raw food items and then assembling tacos without washing their hands between tasks; and the ice machine had what appeared to be a buildup of mold-like debris. The inspector also noted that raw shrimp, beef and chicken were all left out to thaw at room temperature; fly traps hanging throughout the kitchen had multiple dead insects adhered to them; several food items were left uncovered throughout the walk-in freezer and cooler, risking contamination; and clean mop heads were stored on top of avocados and an open container of chips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Dorado, 112 SE 2nd St, Cedar Rapids During a March 18 visit, this restaurant was cited for 13 risk-factor violations, an exceptionally high number. A Linn County inspector noted that there was no certified food protection manager with any management responsibility on site. In his written report, the inspector wrote that all handwashing sinks in the kitchen, bar, and downstairs next to the ice machine are spoiled on sight and touch and were in need of cleaning. Also, cut lemons and limes were not been kept chilled; there was no sanitizer prepared or being used in the kitchen or the bar, and cutting boards, food-preparation tables, refrigerators and other equipment were soiled with debris of some kind. The inspector also reported that cooked rice was being kept at 110 degrees in a warmer intended for chips, and all cooking equipment was described as covered with greasy debris. The inspector also observed that ready-to-eat foods were not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. Fire Creek Grill, 800 S. 50th St., West Des Moines During a March 12 visit, a state inspector found a package of Parmesan cheese with a buildup of mold-like debris covering the package. Inside a walk-in cooler, the inspector found salad dressings and whipped butter that had been stored uncovered and which contained a buildup of dust-like debris. Also, raw eggs on the cook line were measured at 78 degrees, and wet batter was measured at 76 degrees. The eggs and batter were then discarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, a package of cheese was dated Feb. 13, 2023, more than two years prior to the date of inspection, and house-made garlic butter was dated Feb. 26, 2025. The inspector also observed that the walls in the server area near the kitchen were chipped and gouged, and the walls of the walk-in cooler as well as the coolers floor, ceiling and shelving were heavily soiled with a buildup of food debris and a mold-like substance. Masala, 9 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City During a March 12 visit, a Johnson County inspector cited the restaurant for 12 risk-factor violations, an exceptionally high number, and concluded the person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of food-borne illnesses, staff hygiene, sanitizing, time-and-temperature controls used for food safety, or the hazards associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked food. In addition, the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager. The inspector noted that the cold buffet line was holding food at 56 degrees, rather than 41 degrees or colder. As a result, kheer, raita, gulab jamun and tamarind chutney were discarded. In addition, the walk-in cooler was holding food at 56 degrees, resulting in multiple bins of raw chicken, as well as multiple five-gallon buckets of masala sauce and curry sauce, being discarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inspector also noted that access to the kitchen handwashing sink was obstructed, and the sink itself had no hand soap and was littered with diced food debris, indicating it wasnt used strictly for handwashing. Also, the handles to the food-prep coolers were covered in food debris and grease, as were the vents over a cooking apparatus. The kitchen floor between and behind the grills and cook-tops are covered in grease, the inspector reported. The food-contact surfaces inside the kitchen microwave are visibly dirty with food debris. Asian Snack Shack, 504 Erie St., Storm Lake During a March 11 visit, a state inspector cited the restaurant for storing raw meats above ready-to-eat pasta, risking cross contamination. Also, food items inside the reach-in cooler were not labeled with the dates of preparation to ensure freshness and safety. In addition, the dough mixer was visibly dirty and the kitchen ceiling was in disrepair. Crave, 1110 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City During a March 11 visit, a Siouxland District Health Department inspector observed an employee handling ready-to-eat lettuce with their bare hands and noted that food including various cheeses, sliced melons and lemon butter were holding at 50 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, garlic lemon butter and cooked ribs had been held for longer than maximum of seven days, although the inspector didnt state how much longer. In addition, the dishwasher in the bar area didnt have the required amount of sanitizing solution, and the ice machine in the bar storage room area was visibly dirty. Hyatt Regency, 300 E. 9th St., Coralville During a March 11 visit, a Johnson County inspector found multiple expired house-made sauces including mustard dated March 4, garlic aioli dated March 1, squash puree and ragu dated Feb. 25 that had been held past their seven-day maximum. Also, raw burgers were stored above sliced potatoes, and raw steak was stored above au jus sauce, risking cross-contamination. The inspector also noted that cooked shrimp and cut tomatoes prepared more than 24 hours prior to the inspection lacked any labels with their dates of preparation. Due to some of the violations being repeat offenses, a warning letter was issued. Franklin School, 1315 W. Main St., Marshalltown During a March 6 visit by a state inspector, this elementary school was cited for six risk-factor violations. The inspector noted that the person in charge and staff were unable to explain food-borne illness diagnosis that require reporting to the state, and were unable to describe symptoms associated with food-borne illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the pork patties in the hot box shipper were measured at 119 to 129 degrees not hot enough to ensure their safety and so the remaining patties at the end of lunch service were discarded. Also, packages of cut melon on the serving line were measured at 51 degrees and warmer, and cartons of milk were measured at 46 degrees and warmer. The cut melon was discarded, while the milk was returned to a cooler. Hot and cold foods are placed on the serving line with no means of temperature control, the inspector noted, adding that one food-service worker had long, shoulder-length hair that was not restrained as required. Little Sioux Event Center, 201 E. Linden St., Cherokee During a March 6 visit, a Siouxland District Health Department inspector observed two employees handling ready-to-eat buns and cooked chicken with their bare hands. Also, a cheese-based soup that had been cooked the day before the inspection was inside one of the coolers and holding at 48 degrees, having yet to reach the required temperature of 41 degrees or colder. In addition, various items in the salad-preparation cooler including shredded lettuce, cheese and dressings were holding at 55 to 57 degrees and had to be discarded. The inspector also found food items including macaroni and cheese, baked potatoes and cooked chicken that were not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. With regard to the food items that were dated, the inspector found some of the items including pizza sauce, house-made coleslaw and cheese-based sauces had been held for more than the maximum of seven days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant, 100 W. South St., Mount Ayr During a March 4 visit, a state inspector found body parts of a wild deer inside a walk-in freezer. The deer parts were discarded. In addition, several house-made salsas and queso were in the coolers holding at temperatures between 45 and 49 degrees, rather than 41 degrees or colder. In addition to those items, the inspector found sour cream holding at 48 degrees, lettuce at 45 degrees, pulled chicken at 45 degrees and chile rellenos at 47 degrees. All of the items were discarded. No date-markings on any of the cooked or prepared foods in the entire facility, the inspector noted, adding that there was no detectable amount of chlorine sanitizer in the dishwasher. Shrimp was observed thawing in a bucket of standing water, the inspector reported. The visit was in response to an illness complaint of an unspecified nature. The inspector concluded the complaint unverified. Hy-Vee Foods, 910 N. Jefferson St., Indianola During a Feb. 28 visit, a state inspector observed that the hot rotisserie chicken in an end-cap display near the check-out line was holding the chicken 125 to 126 degrees, which was not hot enough to ensure its safety. The chicken was discarded. Also, whole muscle beef was improperly stored below ground bison and ground beef in a display case, and several cold items in a deli cooler were being held at temperatures above 41 degrees, including turkey breast, chicken salad, salsa and egg salad, all of which were discarded. The inspector also observed that the ice machine in the coffee area had what appeared to be a buildup of mold in the ice-dispensing chute. Potros Garcia, 2804 N. Court St., Ottumwa During a Feb. 26 visit, a state inspector cited this restaurant for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and concluded the person in charge was not following the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Food Code as evidenced by number of violations and repeat offenses found. The inspector observed that raw ground beef was stored above ready-to-eat broccoli and carrots, risking cross-contamination. Also, there appeared to be no process in place to date-mark any of the foods to ensure freshness and safety, and the inside of one cooler had a buildup of a black, mold-like substance. The restaurant last underwent a routine inspection in June 2022. Casa Tequila Authentic Mexican Grill, 1100 Andersen Place, Tiffin During a Feb. 25 visit, a Johnson County inspector cited this establishment for 11 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and observed that chicken was being cooked to an internal temperature of only 95 degrees. The chicken was returned to the grill and cooked until it reached the minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees. In addition, house-made chipotle sauce had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety; house-made salsa and a house-made chicken dish were each dated Feb. 18 had been held for more than the maximum of seven days; and pesticides not labeled for use in the food-service industry were present in the building. Also, peppers were being stored uncovered within a freezer, risking contamination. Due to the repeat nature of some violations, the Johnson County Public Health Department issued a warning letter. Jacks Pho House, 802 S. 3rd Ave., Marshalltown During a Feb. 24 visit, a state inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and noted that the restaurant did not have a certified food protection manager on staff. The inspector reported that portions of cooked rice were being stored at the room temperature of 71 degrees, and house-made sauces were not date-marked with either their production date or discard date. Also, pots of pho broth were left to cool on the stove top between food-service periods, with no temperature monitoring or refrigeration. In addition, rice noodles and wonton wrappers were left to thaw at room temperature in a storage room, and the scoops used to portion mixes for teas and drinks were stored in a container of standing water. The inspection was prompted by a non-illness complaint regarding poor personal hygiene among the staff. The complaint was deemed unverified. The inspector gave the restaurant six months, until Aug. 21, 2025, to have a certified food protection manager on staff. According to state records, Jacks Pho House was last inspected by the state in October 2020 when a remote, pre-opening inspection was conducted. Five years ago, COVID-19 had about one in five Americans under or heading into lockdown. New York was the epicenter of the outbreak, with more than 6,000 cases. By the end of the year, Gove County in northwestern Kansas would have the highest death rate from the virus in the U.S. Nikki Battiste went there in search of lessons learned. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Gov. Larry Rhoden has signed into law three more acts passed by the Legislature, including new restrictions on who can legally be in bathrooms and a new route for people to ask that public libraries remove obscene materials. Longtime McCook County Sheriff dies The governors office announced on Friday morning the signings of House Bill 1259 and House Bill 1239, as well as House Bill 1174 that revises certain provisions related to the rights and obligations of a father of a child born to an unmarried mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another 66 House and Senate bills remain on the Republican governors desk awaiting action. So far, he has approved 154 and vetoed one, which the House of Representatives refused to override. The Legislature is scheduled to return to the Capitol on Monday, March 31, to consider any other vetoes. The South Dakota Library Association opposed the original version of HB 1239 regarding obscene materials. Sponsored by Republican Rep. Bethany Soye, the legislation sought to remove an existing exemption that protected from prosecution a bona fide school, college, university, museum, or public library, or was acting in the capacity of an employee of such an organization or a retail outlet affiliated with and serving the educational purposes of such an organization. The House of Representatives voted 38-32 for Soyes version. Dozens of librarians and supporters clad in green shirts however rallied at the Capitol when the Senate took it up on March 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That day, Republican Sen. David Wheeler significantly amended existing law, leaving in place the protection for librarians, while providing a new path for people to express opposition to materials. The new law, starting July 1, allows an individual to appeal to the local school board or public library board to determine whether any matter or material is obscene. Any determination made by the board as to whether any matter or material is obscene can then be appealed to court. Senators voted 18-16 for Wheelers amendment and then passed the amended version 32-2. The House agreed to accept the Wheeler version 36-34, with Soye notably changing sides from yes to no. The governors announcement on Friday included a statement from Rhoden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakota is a place where commonsense values remain common, and these bills reinforce that fact, the statement said. These bills promote strong families, safety in education, and freedom from the woke agenda like what has happened in too many other places. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Laurie Harrison with Riley County Emergency Management joined the 27 News morning show to discuss emergency preparedness. Harrison discussed the three key elements of being prepared in case of an emergency: Talk to your family and make a plan. Build an emergency kit for your home and your vehicle. Stay informed. Harrison also mentioned knowing the difference between weather watches and warnings is important. She referred to the taco analogy: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch: all the ingredients are here, meat, tortillas, salsa but there are no tacos yet, no tacos have formed. Warning: All the ingredients have been assembled, and tacos are here! Kansas education leaders respond to shutdown of DOE To hear more on what Harrison had to say, you can watch the interview above. As for staying informed you can download our free 27 news mobile app to stay up to date with weather from our weather team. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Mar. 21QUINCY Spring is in the air, and that means, among many other things, the start of road construction season. Road crews will be doing some crack-sealing work at night along State Route 28 in Quincy beginning Sunday night. Drivers should plan for some delays through Wednesday night at least, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Transportation. "Working hours are 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday nights to reduce traffic delays," wrote Lauren Loebsack, WSDOT Region 6 communications manager. "Crews will crack seal the highway through the city from the intersection of Road S Northwest to the intersection of O&M Road east of the canal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loebsack said drivers should plan for flagger-controlled traffic. "The project is scheduled to wrap up the morning of March 27, but the work is weather dependent," Loebsack said. "Rain, snow or severe cold could cause delays." People who use Westshore Drive already know about the project to repave and add curbs, gutters and sidewalk to a section that doesn't have them now. The work started March 10 and is projected to continue through mid-July. Grant County Engineer David Bren said in an earlier interview that the project originally was scheduled for 2026, but funding became available sooner than expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's two miles of road on Westshore that is going to be reconstructed," Bren said. "Unfortunately, it'll be difficult for a while, but once it's all done it will be beautiful. But it will be difficult." Detours are available along Road F Northeast and Road E Northeast, Bren said. Work on the Vantage Bridge also has begun for the summer, with that work also starting March 10. Summer Derrey, WSDOT assistant communications manager for the south-central region, said in an earlier interview the bridge is reduced to one lane in each direction with a 40-mile-per-hour speed limit and width restrictions. The bridge will have one lane open in each direction seven days per week, 24 hours per day, through May 23. Both lanes will be open in both directions from May 23 through July 8, then the bridge will go back to one lane eastbound and westbound through the end of construction season in late October. GOSHEN The suspect in a February 2024 assault and robbery of a 17-year-old victim has received a seven-year sentence. Mario Cacahua Jr., 21, received a seven year sentence Thursday after pleading guilty to robbery resulting in injury as a Level 3 felony. He admitted that he participated in a Feb. 6, 2024, assault on a 17-year-old boy inside a Goshen Walmart. The victim told police that six people attacked him in the store, knocking him down and kicking him in the head, then stole his shoes. He was left with a bruise on the side of his head that resembled a shoeprint, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers recognized Cacahua in security footage of the incident. He was also caught on film taking the victims shoes and handing them to another suspect after leaving the store, police said. The men left in two vehicles, a passenger car and a white SUV that police said Cacahua was known to drive. Several days after the assault, Elkhart officers stopped a GMC Acadia and found Cacahua behind the wheel along with two passengers and a firearm. He was initially arrested on a misdemeanor charge of illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage by a minor and later charged in the robbery. Two male passengers, both 17-year-olds whose names were not released at the time of arrest, were charged with dangerous possession of a firearm and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. Cacahua was sentenced in Elkhart County Circuit Court on a plea he entered on Feb. 20. Under the terms of the agreement, he will serve two years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, two years in a community corrections program and three years on probation. He offered apologies in court to the victim, the victims family and his own family. I will try my best to not be in this place again, he told the judge. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) A manufacturing executive in Rockford has gone from flying military aircraft to building parts for them. Jeff Kaney is the founder and CEO of Kaney Aerospace, at 1300 Capital Drive, in Rockford. The combat Air Force veteran said theres nothing hed rather be doing these days than running his company. I actually love doing what Im doing. Its the best job ever, Kaney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He started the company from scratch nearly two decades ago. Its exciting, he said. Sometimes that excitement is positive and sometimes its negative. But, all in all, its been a great ride since I started in 2006. Its kind of overwhelming some days to think that we built this and we grew it, and we is all the team members here at Kaney Aerospace. Kaney makes components used in the aerospace and medical fields. Theres four main areas that we play in, he said. Aerospace, and then we leverage that at the Department of Defense. So were working directly with the Department of Defense to create new electrical systems and actuation systems. And then we share that technology and from the Department of Defense into the aerospace world. And then the other areas, two areas are medical devices. We make medical devices here and also some of our products that will go to industrial uses, specifically that our electrical components have use in industrial u Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every inch of the facility is busy with workers operating in unison with the bigger picture in mind. In aerospace, were all about the future, Kaney said. We are looking forward to more electric aircraft, more environmentally friendly vehicles and more automated vehicles. And thats the heart and soul of what we sell to our customers so they can bring new technologies into the world. Kaney has its main facility in Rockford, and another in Dayton, Ohio. In 2024, Kaney shipped 265 different part numbers to almost 60 customers around the world. It takes all of their more than 150 team members to make it all happen. The secret to our success boils down to hiring and motivating the brightest and best people that we can find, Kaney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaney said some of his finished products are made for flight controls on aircraft of all sizes, even the largest aircraft in the world. He said every little piece his team makes has to be perfect considering whats on the line. We have to understand that these are flight-critical components that were making. So we hold the safety of passengers, pilots, and crew members in our hands day to day. And we have to make quality products. Theyve got to be shipped on time and they have to be of the utmost quality and reliability because lives depend on them, Kaney said. While Kaney said he works hard each day to ensure efficiency and quality, he always has an eye on the future. Growth, he said. More platforms, bringing more efficiency to highly certified vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said its exciting working towards that growth. Its so exciting it keeps me up at night, 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) A pro-life pregnancy center in Rockford is joining a federal civil rights lawsuit against Illinois, claiming a recently amended law would force them to violate their religious beliefs. The Pregnancy Center of Rockford, at 4108 Morsay Drive, and the Catholic Diocese of Springfield filed the suit in federal court on Thursday, naming Illinois Department of Human Rights Director James Bennett and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul as defendants. Our employees represent the Diocese and are expected to uphold our standards of conduct to ensure they align with the doctrine and moral teaching of the Catholic Church, said Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. However, under the state law, we cannot hire or retain employees based on our deeply held religious beliefs on pro-life teachings without being subject to disciplinary action. We must have the freedom to follow and express our convictions without government interference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit claims that a recent amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act would forbid them from acting in accordance with their religious beliefs, especially in the context of abortion. The Act prohibits employers from engaging in speech and conduct that some find unwelcome or offensive, and says it would prevent them from espousing the churchs position on abortion, which considers the act murder of innocent life, thus exposing them to legal prosecution. According to the lawsuit, the Pregnancy Center and the Diocese maintain they will not lie to their employees by saying that employees can make sinful reproductive decisions without facing adverse action and with the blessing of ministry benefits and accommodations. Indeed, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton publicly admitted that by enacting the New Bill, Illinois is not just protecting a right; it is championing fundamental principles about reproduction contrary to Plaintiffs Christian beliefs, the suit says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois cant force pro-life religious organizations to bend their knee to the states secular view of abortion, said ADF Senior Counsel Mark Lippelmann. The Constitution protects the right of religious organizations to choose workers who will advancerather than contradicttheir religious beliefs. We urge the court to uphold these organizations fundamental right to serve their communities consistent with their faith. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, turning the subject of abortion access over to individual states. Under Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois has some of the strongest abortion protection laws in the nation. It is bordered by states that have banned abortions like Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Missouri, making the state an ideal location for relocated abortion clinics. Under Illinois law, state and local jurisdictions cannot provide any information or expend any resources to help an out-of-state entity investigate legal healthcare, including abortions or gender-affirming care, provided in Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois budget for fiscal year 2026 sets aside $24 million for services that include abortions. The states spending plan has $2 million in grant funds for freestanding reproductive healthcare clinics, $5 million for training and $4 million for birth equity initiatives. Meanwhile, legislation introduced in the Illinois Statehouse would repeal the Reproductive Health Act and effectively ban abortion statewide. House Bill 1333, introduced by Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-115th), Rep. Tony McCombie (R-89th), and co-sponsored by Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-117th) would also create several laws that would make full abortion or partial-birth abortions illegal, except in cases of a medical emergency in which the mothers life is endangered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) After completing construction of a new runway a year ago, Rosecrans Memorial Airport staff will soon move into a new terminal. St. Joseph city officials and community members toured the new terminal and event space earlier this week. That event went well, showcasing and highlighting the enhancements and improvements out here at Rosecrans, Airport Manager Julius Rice said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rice said staff members are close to moving their administrative offices to the new space, and he estimates the B&B Runway Cafe, which is in the current terminal, also will make the move within the next few weeks. The new cafe location includes more seating and an outdoor patio. Owner Jillian Parisoff said the space will be more inviting with a view of the runway and a larger kitchen for the staff. We are going to try to use the space more for events, so rent it out and use it in the evenings, she said. We want people to come enjoy it as well. There is a larger flight of stairs and longer handicap ramps since the new terminal sits higher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is built up out of the floodplain, Rice said. So theoretically, if the levees didnt hold and we had a flood similar to like what we had in 93 or 52, the building would stay dry. There are a few items Rice is waiting on before the terminal can open to the public, such as handrails at the entrance for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and more pieces of furniture. When we move over to this new terminal building, the restaurant and the airport offices will move over, but the air traffic control tower is still going to be housed in the original building, he said. The new seven-story air traffic control tower will be under construction for about another year. Although the move to a new terminal is imminent, Rice said the building will pay homage to the history of Rosecrans. We took bricks from the old building and moved those over into the lobby area for a historical display area, he said. We took the light sconces off the front of the building, and those are in there. So when you come and visit, as soon as you walk in the door, youll be greeted with Rosecrans history. Comedian Rosie ODonnell said she is sleeping better since moving to Ireland just days before President Trumps inauguration in January. ODonnell, a longtime critic of Trump, announced earlier this month that she had moved to Ireland, citing U.S. politics as the reason for her relocation. In a TikTok video posted Thursday, as highlighted by Mediaite, ODonnell said she knew it would be difficult to live under Trumps second administration, so shes very happy and grateful that she chose to move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, Im happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home, and Im trying to find a home here in this beautiful country, she said. ODonnell said the people of Ireland were welcoming and loving. Its been pretty wonderful, I have to say, she said. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming. And Im very grateful. In an earlier video, ODonnell had announced she left the U.S. with her 12-year-old child on Jan. 15. Its been heartbreaking to see whats happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day after the announcement, her decision received some ridicule from Trump during his meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the White House. A conservative commentator asked the Irish leader why he allowed ODonnell to move to the country. Ireland is known for very happy, fun-loving people, said Brian Glenn, a conservative commentator for the digital media company Real Americas Voice. Why in the world would you let Rosie ODonnell move to Ireland? Thank you, I like that question, Trump said as Martin nervously laughed while seated next to the president in the Oval Office. Did you know you have Rosie ODonnell? Do you know who she is? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Martin could respond, Trump said, Youre better off not knowing. ODonnells ongoing conflict with Trump dates back to a fiery interview on ABCs The View in 2006, marked by years of exchanging insults. Trump in the past repeatedly referred to ODonnell as a loser and a pig, and she has called him mentally unstable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. More than half of Chicagos bus routes could be eliminated, at least parts of four L lines could shut down and Metra weekday service would be slashed to once an hour under a transit doomsday scenario. Those are some of the cuts under consideration if lawmakers fail to plug a $771 million budget gap expected to hit the regions four transit agencies as soon as next year, when COVID-19 relief funding runs out, the Regional Transportation Authority said Friday. Also on the table are fare hikes and job losses. The potential cuts represent a worst-case scenario if none of the budget hole is filled. The reductions would dramatically slash service across the CTA, Metra and Pace, limit access to buses and trains across the city and suburbs and bring dire economic consequences to the region, the RTA warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People have to understand what the consequences are of not filling the funding gap, said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden, calling the effects of the potential cuts devastating. The agency outlined the situation as debate in Springfield heats up over the future of transit. Transit agencies and advocates have pushed to boost funding, while lawmakers have said their focus is first on the way transit is overseen. Two bills under consideration by the General Assembly address oversight, with one calling to consolidate the CTA, Metra, Pace and the RTA into one entity, and another, backed by a coalition of labor groups, aiming to boost coordination among the existing agencies. The RTA, for its part, has acknowledged that reform of transit is needed and supports measures similar to the labor-backed bill. Chairman Kirk Dillard has called for a stronger RTA that would coordinate fares, service and construction projects among city and suburban bus and train agencies. He has also proposed fare hikes, savings from the new oversight model and more state funding to generate more money for transit. But funding remains a pressing issue, RTA officials have said. They and other advocates have pushed to not just close the budget gap but go further and find $1.5 billion in new money to overhaul the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the extra money, transit could grow and efforts already underway could expand, like a CTA plan to run buses every 10 minutes on key routes or Metras work to run more trains throughout the day rather than focusing on commuting hours, RTA officials said. CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen previously said additional money also could allow trains to run every six minutes and overnight service to expand. Failure to plug the budget hole, on the other hand, could lead to dramatic cuts. And planning could start this summer if lawmakers fail to act by the end of the legislative session, agency officials said. The CTA, Metra and Pace would begin planning for service cuts as part of their budget processes and would be required to give public notice on proposals to slash service or raise fares. That could happen through the summer and fall, for changes to begin taking effect in 2026. You cannot really balance this kind of budget gap with service reductions, said Maulik Vaishnav, senior deputy executive director of planning and capital programming at the RTA. There has to be full eliminations on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More specifics about routes and lines that could be affected would be identified during the planning process. In the meantime, the transit agencies have warned of the scale of the potential cuts. On the CTA, service could be cut on all or at least some branches of half of the agencys train lines, and 50 stations could close or see service slashed. Trains could run 10% to 25% less often, and as many as 74 of the agencys 127 bus routes could be eliminated. Metra service could be cut by 40%, and trains would run once per hour on weekdays and once every two hours on weekends. Early-morning and late-evening trains could be eliminated, and service could stop running entirely on a branch of the Metra Electric line that runs to suburban Blue Island, cutting off access to seven stops. The BNSF line, Metras busiest, could be cut from 91 trains per day to 44. Cutting Metra service could be especially challenging because it would take years to bring back, the RTA said. Metra shares tracks with freight railroads, which makes changing service complex, and the agency could lose staff to the other railroads who would be difficult to replace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pace suburban bus service also would see steep cuts, affecting shift workers who rely on the buses to get to jobs and residents who use buses for medical appointments and errands. All weekend Pace service could be cut. Routes that now run every 15 to 20 minutes could run every half-hour, and buses that now run every 30 minutes could have their wait times double. Service after 8 p.m. would end on 62 routes. Paratransit service for people with disabilities is federally mandated, but the service area could be cut by more than half on weekends, the RTA said. The cuts would leave communities without transit, with the CTA bus eliminations alone cutting off access for 500,000 residents, the RTA estimated. They would also bring consequences for the entire region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cuts could mean $1 billion in lost wages annually for the Chicago area as access to job opportunities is lost, according to the RTA. Almost 3,000 transit workers could be laid off. And the budget shortfall could kick off a cycle of funding shortages and service cuts as fewer people ride. Traffic congestion also could skyrocket as more people buy cars instead of turning to transit, worsening emissions and air quality and causing gridlock that would make travel times 30% longer, according to the RTA. The whole network ends up being devastated and ends up providing workers with many, many fewer commuting options, Redden said. So it becomes less of a viable service for them to use. The RTA is not advocating for a source of funding for transit, Redden said, though the agency has analyzed 11 potential options, including tweaking sales taxes, congestion pricing and increasing vehicle registration fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RTA also pointed to what it described as decades of underfunding as a contributor to the looming budget shortfall. Illinois funds 17% of transit operations, while New York covers 28% and Philadelphia covers 50%, the RTA said. The state also reimburses only 4% of the cost of paratransit services and 14% of the cost of free and reduced-fare programs for seniors and disabilities, the RTA said. Though the service cuts outlined Friday paint a dire picture for transit in the Chicago area, Leerhsen, at the CTA, has said the agency is working to ensure they never happen. At a board meeting this month, she said raising the alarm was part of the plan. She also pledged to consider equity when detailing potential cuts, making sure certain communities would not see disproportionate cuts. I dont want people to worry here at CTA that that will happen, because were on the case and were working hard to make everyone understand the importance of transit, she said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel next week to the Caribbean, where he will meet with several leaders as part of a three-nation tour, three sources said. On Wednesday Rubio will travel to Jamaica, where he will be hosted by Prime Minister Andrew Holness for talks. He will then travel on to Guyana and Suriname, where he will meet with their respective presidents, Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Chandrikapersad Chan Santokhi. The two-oil rich nations on the tip of South America are part of the the 15-member Caribbean Community regional trade group known as CARICOM. Last month, during a regional summit in Barbados, the blocs chairwoman, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, extended an invitation to President Donald Trump to visit the Caribbean and added the leaders also hoped to meet with senior administration officials. Soon after, Mauricio Claver-Carone, Trumps special envoy to the Americas, confirmed to the Miami Herald that both he and Rubio were planning to visit sometime this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mottley plans to be in Kingston, where she will represent CARICOM. Trinidad and Tobago, which is responsible for matters about security, will be represented by its newly minted prime minister, Stuart Young. The final leader who has been invited to meet with Rubio is the newly installed head of Haitis embattled Transitional Presidential Council, Fritz Alphonse Jean. Rubios visit comes as leaders grow increasingly concerned about the quickly deteriorating security situation in Haiti, which threatens to spill over into the region, and several worrying U.S. policy shifts that stand to have negative effects on their vulnerable economies. Mottley has called an emergency virtual meeting for Friday to discuss the potential effects of a proposed Trump administration hike in port fees for China-linked ships going to the United States. Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would levy fines of up to $1.5 million on Chinese-made ships or vessels from fleets that include ships made in China. The proposal, which is already stoking fears in the U.S. agriculture market, is also causing concerns in the Caribbean, where leaders in recent weeks have been balking at other Trump policy initiatives, including threats to restrict U.S. visas for high-ranking government officials and nationals of six Caribbean countries including Cuba and Haiti under a new travel ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month Rubio announced that anyone anyone participating in Cubas medical missions, which deploy nurses and doctors to the Caribbean and elsewhere, risks having their U.S. visa canceled. This month the Herald reported that as part of a separate policy, Trump loyalists are weighing including Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and several Eastern Caribbean on a new expanded travel ban, in which some countries would face an absolute ban and others less harsh restrictions. A State Department spokesperson said the agency had nothing to announce at this time about Rubios travel plans. The spokesperson also said the Department does not comment on internal deliberations or communications in response to the proposed travel ban. Meanwhile, a State Department official defended the decision to impose the visa restrictions on those responsible for or involved in forced labor elements of the Cuban regimes exploitative labor export. Cubas labor export program involves forced labor and exploitation of workers around the globe, enriches the Cuban regime, and treats Cuban doctors as commodities, the official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States doesnt have a problem with countries that pay a fair wage and respect worker rights, the official said. But for many recipient countries there are strong indicators of forced labor and other coercive elements in the program, including the retention of workers passports and medical credentials; withholding of workers wages; coercing workers into criminal activity by pressuring them to falsify medical records and fabricate procedures; abuse of workers vulnerability; coercive and deceptive recruitment practices; forced family separation and exile; restriction of workers movement, such as curfews and surveillance; intimidation and threats; excessive overtime and exhaustive work hours; and in many cases, unsafe and substandard work conditions, the official said. Caribbean leaders have insisted that they do not participate in forced labor. At the same time, at least one, The Bahamas prime minister, acknowledges that payments do not go directly to the doctors but to an agency in Havana. As Haitis capital comes under intense gang attacks, angry Haitians in Canape Vert armed themselves with machetes and took to the streets on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 to protest the assaults and lack of response from the countrys authorities. The United Nations International Organization for Migration said gangs have forced over 60,000 Haitians to flee their homes in just one month. The Cuban doctors sanction is one of several issues the Caribbean leaders are expected to raise in Jamaica along with concerns about the deteriorating crisis in Haiti. The inroads of armed gangs in recent weeks has led to the forced displacement of over 60,000 people in the capital in the last four weeks, the United Nations International Organization for Migration said this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gangs have attacked prominent media outlets, destroyed schools and forced aid workers and diplomats to shelter in place while the few neighborhoods not under gang respond to the alarming violence by erecting barricades. The intensified attacks has many Haitians and some observers concerned that Port-au-Prince is days, if not hours, from collapsing. Under the Biden administration, Caribbean leaders took a leading role in trying to help mediate the ongoing crisis in Haiti, which worsened after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. As the countrys most powerful gangs united a year ago, CARICOM and the Biden administration forced the resignation of then-Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, and in an emergency meeting held in Jamaica helped Haitians create a transitional government to restore stability and take the country to elections. As Haitis capital comes under intense gang attacks, angry Haitians in Canape-Vert armed themselves with machetes and took to the streets on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 to protest the assaults and lack of response from the countrys authorities. The United Nations International Organization for Migration said gangs have forced over 60,000 Haitians to flee their homes in just one month. A year later, the transition has been plagued by corruption allegations, political infighting and a lack of strategy on battling gangs. Despite the presence of a Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission, gangs have tightened their grip and carried out some of the worst massacres in recent memory. Hospitals and schools have been burned and pillaged, and neighborhoods emptied out. More than 5,600 people died last year in gang-related violence, according to the U.N., and over 1 million people are now internally displaced as criminal armed groups now control of close to 90% of Port-au-Prince. The escalating violence led the head of the Provisional Electoral Council last week to acknowledge that a planned referendum on a new constitution, scheduled to take place in May, will not happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sign of Haitians mounting anger and desperation, thousands took to the street on Wednesday in renewed demonstrations to protest against what they view as a lack of response from Haitis transitional authorities, who since last month have been unsuccessfully launching explosive drones to strike gang strongholds. Armed with machetes, protesters shouted slurs at government officials while attempting to head to the offices where the prime minister and members of the Transitional Presidential Council work. Police fired tear gas and several protesters were reportedly shot. In a post on X, Haitis Transitional Presidential Council, finally breaking its silence, said Jean met on Thursday with the head of the Haiti National Police, Rameau Normil, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Derby Guerrier, the head of the Multinational Security Support Mission, Godfrey Otunge, and several other representatives of the security forces. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, who is in charge of overseeing security as head of the Superior Council of the National Police, was not in attendance. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters in New York that the deteriorating situation is hindering access for surveillance teams and response efforts amid a concern about an outbreak of cholera. Colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Haq said, are concerned as reports trickle in daily about new suspected cases of the waterborne disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the beginning of the year, more than 900 suspected cases and four confirmed cases have been recorded nationwide, he said. In Cite Soleil, more than 100 suspected cases have been reported in the past three weeks. The deteriorating security situation hinders access for surveillance teams and response efforts, raising concerns about undetected community transmission. Fridays agenda will also include discussions about the escalating border crisis between Guyana and Venezuela. While Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro has accused Ali of trying to start an armed conflict in the region, the U.S. earlier this month issued a stern warning to the Venezuelan leader following reports that a Venezuelan patrol boat had entered Guyanaese waters, threatening ExxonMobils offshore operations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday slammed a CNN report that he is frustrated by the role one of President Trumps closest friends, billionaire Steve Witkoff, is playing in the administration. @CNN is an anti-Trump gossip tabloid that uses thinly sourced stories to generate clicks and try to make trouble. Witkoff is one of the people I work with the CLOSEST on our team. These people are pathetic, he wrote Friday in a post on the social platform X, sharing the CNN piece. The report said Rubio lobbied to serve as secretary of State after he wasnt selected to serve as Trumps vice president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Rubio didnt count on was that he might run the risk of being overshadowed as secretary of state by one of Trumps closest friends, real estate developer and billionaire Steve Witkoff, CNN reported. Witkoff, who was relatively unknown until recently, has rapidly increased his visibility beyond his role as special envoy to the Middle East. Since returning to the White House, Trump has relied on Witkoff, a longtime friend, to implement key aspects of his foreign policy agenda, including crucial ceasefire talks in Gaza and negotiations with Russia over the Ukraine war. Special Envoy Witkoff has brought a wealth of private sector negotiating experience and urgency to the diplomatic stage and were already seeing results in just a few weeks, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said in a statement to The Hill last month. He has been an integral part of President Trumps national security team to restore peace to the world, the statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials added that Witkoffs role is attributed to his close personal connection with Trump and their common experience in real estate transactions, according to officials. Witkoffs friendship with Trump dates back decades. He testified in November 2023 as a defense witness in Trumps civil fraud trial in New York, recounting how they first met at a New York City deli in the 1980s. The Hill reached out to Witkoffs office for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senior Chinese official meets Japanese delegation Xinhua) 08:44, March 21, 2025 Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, meets with a delegation led by Katsuya Okada, executive advisor and former secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in Beijing, capital of China, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with a delegation from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in Beijing on Thursday. Li called on China and Japan to implement the consensus reached between their leaders during a meeting on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru. The two sides should adhere to the right direction of peaceful coexistence, everlasting friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, he said. Both sides should strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and comprehensively advance their strategic and mutually beneficial relationship, he added. Katsuya Okada, executive advisor and former secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said his party shoulders an important responsibility of improving bilateral ties and is willing to boost political, youth and non-governmental exchanges with China. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Flash The next round of Russia-U.S. talks on Ukraine will be held on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Thursday. The Russian delegation will be led by Grigory Karasin, chairman of the committee on international affairs in Russia's upper house, and Sergey Beseda, adviser to the head of Russia's Federal Security Service, Ushakov said. Ushakov said he had a phone call with U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz on Wednesday, during which they discussed organizing a meeting of expert groups, mainly to explore the prospects for possible implementation of the Black Sea initiative. The Kremlin said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to begin talks to further work out specific details of an agreement regarding the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. Ruins the motivation; Decatur gym-goers shocked after camera found near tanning bed DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) Decaturs Planet Fitness was open and busy on Thursday, just one day after a man was arrested for secretly filming people there. 55-year-old James Barone of Decatur was taken into custody after hidden cameras were found in the tanning bed area of the gym. Police said ten people were recorded and one victim was a minor. Second defendant in 2023 Decatur murder case sentenced to prison Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [This] kind of ruins the fun, kind of ruins the motivation for people thats trying to put in the hard work, said Planet Fitness member Anthony Cherry. Police said the camera was found on March 14. A day later, a gym member found it and told staff. Police took a report on March 18 and arrested Barone the following day. The gym confirmed he was a member. [That camera] was actually only active and up for a little less than 24 hours, said Decatur Police Lieutenant Scott Rosenbery. Police said all of the victims were notified prior to Barone being in custody. When it comes to the victims Im sorry this even happened, its unacceptable, Rosenbery said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search warrant of Barones house uncovered additional electronic devices for police to sort through. Authorities said, as of now, the investigation has not indicated any hidden cameras elsewhere. Massage therapist, City of Decatur team up to change local legislation A lot of people just come [to Planet Fitness] to get a workout in, feel good, look good, Cherry said. They shouldnt be worried about any hidden cameras. Rosenberg said this breach of privacy is unacceptable, but shared insight on how people can protect themselves if ever in a similar situation. Whether its a tanning bed or a dressing room or what not, I think the best advice is to take a minute, take a couple minutes to just observe look around the room before you start to undress, Rosenberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barone was arraigned on charges including unauthorized video recording and production of child porn on Thursday. He was released on pretrial conditions after a judge said there was not clear and convincing evidence against him. After being granted pretrial release, the judge imposed a series of conditions on Barone. Among other things, Barone is forbidden from leaving Illinois without permission and going to any Planet Fitness, including the Water St. location. He is also to be electronically monitored, will not be allowed to use any type of recording device and will not be allowed to have contact with anyone listed as a victim and anyone under the age of 18. Barone is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on April 9. He is facing seven counts of unauthorized videotaping, one count of unauthorized videotaping of a minor, one count of child pornography and one count of burglary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. By Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) - Iran has the right to peaceful atomic energy and is acting in line with international law, the Kremlin said on Friday as the United States and Israel prepare for high-level talks on Tehran's nuclear program next week. Russia has said it is ready to mediate between Iran, with which it signed a strategic partnership treaty in January that includes closer defence cooperation, and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, with which it is moving rapidly to improve ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran was one of the topics discussed in a long phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, after which the White House said the two leaders "shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel". At a briefing with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked how Russia would respond if the U.S. or Israel resorted to attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. "We are convinced that the problem of Iran's nuclear program should be resolved exclusively by peaceful political and diplomatic means, and we believe that everything necessary is available for this. All that is needed is political will," Peskov said. "Secondly, Iran, like all other countries, has the right to develop the peaceful atomic sector, peaceful nuclear energy, and is taking important steps in this direction. And all this is happening in strict accordance with international law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Moscow accepted Iran's repeated statements that it has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump warned Iran's leadership in a letter earlier this month that they had a choice between striking a nuclear deal with the U.S. or facing possible military action. Iran said it would consider the "opportunities" as well as the threats in his letter. During his 2017-2021 term, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark deal between Iran and major powers that had placed strict limits on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. After Trump pulled out in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions, Iran breached and far surpassed those limits. Western officials fear that if Iran, despite its denials, were to acquire nuclear arms, it could threaten Israel and Gulf Arab oil producers and spark a regional arms race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel, which is widely believed to have its own nuclear arsenal but will neither confirm nor deny this, has made clear it wants to be aligned with the U.S. on any action against Iran, its regional arch-foe. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Mark Trevelyan and Anastasia Teterevleva; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Russia launched a mass drone strike on Odesa during a visit to the city by Czech President Petr Pavel on March 20. "I arrived in Odesa, Ukraine, which has been resisting Russian aggression since the beginning of the war," Pavel wrote on X. Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba later said that during his meeting with Pavel, Russia launched three groups of Shahed-type drones at the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was during our meeting that Russia launched three groups of Shahed on the city. The entire civilized world should see Russia's crimes against Ukraine," Kuleba wrote. Three people were injured during the attack, and civilian infrastructure was damaged, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said. The officials discussed maritime security, post-war reconstruction, and community development. Kuleba highlighted the urgent need for de-mining efforts, also noting that since summer 2023, Russia has fired more than 450 missiles at Ukraine's port infrastructure. Kuleba invited Pavel to attend the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which is set to take place in Rome this summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack on Odesa's infrastructure comes just two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a partial "ceasefire," pledging to halt strikes on Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure for 30 days. Odesa, a key Black Sea port with a population of around 1 million, has been a frequent target of Russian drone and missile attacks throughout the full-scale war. Read also: Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in focus of Ukraine peace talks. Whats at stake? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Since the evening of 20 March, the Russians have attacked Ukraine with 214 Shahed attack UAVs and various types of decoy drones; 114 drones were destroyed and 81 disappeared from radar. Source: Ukraine's Air Force on Telegram Quote from the Air Force: "As of 09:30, 114 Shahed and other types of attack UAVs have been confirmed downed in the south, north and centre of the country. Eighty-one enemy decoy drones disappeared from radar (without adverse effects)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The Russian attack affected Odesa, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy and Kyiv oblasts. The Russians launched their drones from the Russian cities of Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as from Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea. The air attack was repelled by Ukrainian aircraft, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups from the Ukrainian Air Force and defence forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Satellite imagery obtained by The War Zone confirms that ammunition and weapons storage bunkers at Russias Engels Air Base were destroyed in a Ukrainian drone attack on Thursday. The attack resulted in a massive fireball and mushroom cloud. You can read our initial story about it here. A high-resolution image, taken today by Maxar Technologies, shows most of the damage occurred at storage areas about a mile east of the runway. At least a dozen storage facilities and other nearby buildings were destroyed in the attack. It also created several large craters. The severe damage was caused by massive secondary explosions when the drones detonated explosive ordnance stored there. Targeting munitions storage areas for their secondary effects is a common tactic used by both sides when employing standoff weaponry. A close-up view of the damage caused by a Ukrainian drone attack. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies You can see the same area in an image taken before the attack below. The same area, as seen before the attack. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Wood, Stephen There were claims on Russian Telegram channels that a Tu-95MS Bear-H bomber may have been damaged by shrapnel, but there is no indication in the satellite images of major damage to aviation assets at the base. Still, shrapnel damage without secondary effects would not show up in this resolution of imagery, so it is possible. A close-up view of the runway shows no damage to any aircraft. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies The full image taken by Maxar shows the distance from the area that was attacked and the main apron. Overview of Engels Air Base after the attack. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Ukrainian accounts, there were three Tu-95MS Bear-H and two Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers at Engels when the drones struck. An Il-76 Candid airlifter had also recently arrived. At least two pilots of a Bear bomber were killed in the attack, according to Russian Telegram channels. There was no indication whether they were in the bomber at the time. The War Zone cannot independently confirm that claim. According to the ruSSian sources a crew of the Tu-95SM were killed in yesterday's attack on the Engels-2 air base. pic.twitter.com/CquzoWEeJV (@TheDeadDistrict) March 21, 2025 A warehouse of aviation ammunition at a military airfield was hit, and a fire started at the facility, the Astra news outlet reported on Friday. Several hours later, ammunition began to detonate there at least three explosions occurred. Video and images emerging on social media after the attack showed a massive explosion and a dark cloud rising over the city. Russia: Ukraine struck the Engels Military Air Base in Saratov region. Igor Sushko (@igorsushko.bsky.social) 2025-03-20T04:09:14.037Z Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was also video showing the tremendous shockwave that damaged nearby buildings. There is a village located about a tenth of a mile east of the damaged ammunition bunkers, which is likely where the video below was filmed. Near the Engels air base. pic.twitter.com/KPBboQw3O1 (@TheDeadDistrict) March 20, 2025 At least three servicemen were injured in the attack, Astra stated. At least five civilians were injured by the resulting fire. In addition, the windows in the Engels City Clinical Hospital No. 1 were blown out by falling debris. A total of 120 people were evacuated from the danger zone, Astra explained. At least 180 private houses were damaged during the attack. The authorities introduced a state of emergency at the municipal level. The attack involved more than 50 drones, according to Astra. The strikes were carried out by Ukrainian-made long-range one-way attack drones, with at least one video seemingly indicating the use of the twin-boom Lyutyy or the visually similar PD-2. Both these types have been used to attack targets deep inside Russia on multiple occasions. Engels a major military airfield. Clearly air defence was not good enough. A mix of improved Ukraine weaponry, overwhelming air defence and/or previously taking out radars to strip the base of protection. Even during the attack, drones were filmed flying smoothly overhead. pic.twitter.com/2HzupAz5df Tim White (@TWMCLtd) March 20, 2025 The base, 300 miles from the Ukrainian border, is home to the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, which operates one squadron of Tu-95MS Bear-H bombers, another squadron of supersonic Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers and is the primary base for the Tu-160 Blackjack bombers. The latter aircraft have been widely employed in the conflict in Ukraine and especially in the standoff strikes that have targeted Ukraines energy infrastructure, among other objectives, civilian and military, across the country. Engels Air Base is located about 300 miles from Ukraine. (Google Earth) A map showing the general location of Engels Air Base in western Russia. Google Maps Engels has been a frequent target for Ukraine. It was attacked three times in the month of December 2022 alone. On at least one of those occasions, the Russian Ministry of Defense said the air base was attacked by Soviet-made jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles modified by Ukraine to carry explosives. Those attacks which also targeted Dyagilevo Air Base resulted in damage to at least one Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bomber and apparently also to a Tu-95MS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, in January of this year, we reported on a huge fire close to Engels Air Base, caused by what Russian officials described as a massive Ukrainian drone attack. The strike was on the strategically important fuel storage tank farm for Engels and the fire raged for several days after, as seen in the image in the embedded tweet below: Russias Rosreserv fuel depot in Engels continued to burn today after a Ukrainian drone attack last night, with multiple additional storage tanks igniting throughout the day. Within the last hour, the regional governor of Saratov declared a state of emergency. pic.twitter.com/EzhoQTgqK0 OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 8, 2025 The latest attack came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a tentative agreement in principle with Russia calling for a mutual pause on power infrastructure attacks. However, there was no timetable for implementation and both sides continue to launch strikes against each other. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com MOSCOW (Reuters) - A military court in St Petersburg jailed Soviet-era dissident and anti-war activist Alexander Skobov for 16 years on Friday after convicting him of "justifying terrorism," the Prosecutor General's office in St Petersburg said. It said he had repeatedly posted information on social media "justifying carrying out terrorist acts, including calls to carry out illegal activity" and that he had taken part in the activities of a "terrorist organisation." Skobov, who was jailed in the Soviet Union for his opposition to the authorities, publicly condemned President Vladimir Putin's decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 and has repeatedly said that Moscow should return any territory it had taken during the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a final statement to the court published by some Russian media outlets on Friday, Skobov was heard repeating his opposition to the war and to Putin. Russian authorities have jailed outspoken critics of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine, drawing fierce condemnation from Western human rights groups who say the crackdown amounts to a repressive clamp-down on free speech. Russian officials accuse anti-war activists of trying to stir up trouble at a time when the country is facing what Putin has called an existential struggle with the West. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian drones pummeled the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, injuring three people and sparking massive fires, officials said Friday, an attack that underlined Moscow's intention to pursue aerial strikes even as it agreed to temporarily halt strikes on energy facilities. The head of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, said the city suffered local emergency power outages in three of its districts, an indication that the energy infrastructure of the city could have been damaged. Reacting to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "joint pressure on Russia, strengthening sanctions and defense support for our state ... is the way to stop such terror and Russias prolongation of the war." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We expect real pressure on Russia from the U.S., Europe and all our partners, Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram. This is what will allow diplomacy to work. Russia, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of blowing up a gas facility in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have launched an incursion, in violation of the ceasefire deal. Ukraine denies the accusations. Russian drone attack sparks massive blazes in Odesa The strike came shortly before Czech Republic President Petr Pavel visited Odesa on Friday morning, meeting with the city's leaders and officials from other southern regions. This is another reminder to the whole world: the war continues and Ukraine continues to fight, Kiper said in a statement. He said there were blazes at at least three locations after the attack late Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Civilian infrastructure, commercial facilities are on fire, cars damaged, Kiper said. Over 70 people and 20 fire engines were involved in extinguishing what the emergency services called massive fires. Russia accuses Ukraine of blowing up natural gas facility in the Kursk region Russia's Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of blowing up a gas metering station near the town of Sudzha in Russias Kursk region, in what it described as a deliberate provocation by the Kyiv regime, which is part of a series of recent strikes on Russias energy infrastructure in order to discredit the U.S. presidents peaceful initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraines military General Staff rejected Moscows accusations and blamed the Russian military for shelling the Sudzha gas metering station as part of Russias discrediting campaign. The gas metering station serves a major pipeline that had pumped Russia's natural gas to Europe until supplies were halted last year. Views differ on what is covered by the truce Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders this week, though it remained to be seen what possible targets would be off limits to attack. The three sides appeared to hold starkly different views about what the deal covered. While the White House said energy and infrastructure would be covered, the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said he would also like railways and ports to be protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy told reporters after Wednesday's call with Trump that technical talks in Saudi Arabia this weekend would seek to resolve what types of infrastructure would be protected from attack under the agreement. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and U.S. negotiators will discuss technical details related to the partial ceasefire during a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday. Russian negotiators are set to hold separate talks with U.S. officials there. I cant tell you how the meeting will end, Zelenskyy said, speaking talking with the Czech leader. It will be good if the meeting ends with a result that brings us closer to a full ceasefire Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is open to a full, 30-day ceasefire that Trump has proposed, saying we will not be against any format, any steps toward unconditional ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a complete ceasefire conditional on a halt of arms supplies to Kyiv and a suspension of Ukraine's military mobilization demands rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized Friday that the agreement reached between Trump and Putin referred only to energy facilities, adding that the Russian military is fulfilling Putins order to halt such attacks for 30 days. The Russian military are currently refraining from strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure in accordance with the agreement reached between Russia and the United States, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. Other attacks reported by both sides Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another attack, Russian glide bombs injured at least six people, including a child, in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight Thursday to Friday. Regional head Ivan Fedorov published photos showing fire fighters extinguishing flames at multiple damaged residential buildings. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 214 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks. It said 114 of them were intercepted and another 81 were jammed. Russias Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 43 Ukrainian drones, 34 of them over the Volgograd region and others over Rostov, Kursk and Belgorod regions. The authorities didnt report any casualties or significant damage. Meanwhile, a massive blaze at an oil depot in the Krasnodar region has continued to rage since it was hit by a Ukrainian drone attack late Wednesday. ___ Associated Press writer Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, has arrived in North Korea, where he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Source: South Korean agency Yonhap with reference to Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS Quote from TASS: "Shoigu is expected to meet with Kim Jong Un and other North Korean officials after arriving in Pyongyang." Details: As reported by Yonhap, the recent meetings between representatives of North Korea and Russia have taken place amid North Korea's military support for Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko visited North Korea. He held talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, during which they discussed organising "political contacts at the high and top levels". Background: Shoigu travelled to North Korea in July 2023, when he was Russian Minister of Defence, to arrange for the supply of weapons amid the Kremlin's difficulties in acquiring arms. On 13 September, Shoigu visited Pyongyang as Secretary of the Russian Security Council . On 24 February, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War pointed out that Russia is increasingly relying on Iran and North Korea for support in its war against Ukraine. On 27 February, South Korean intelligence reported that North Korea had sent additional troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast. The exact number of military personnel remains unknown. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! This sad story resurfaced when people found 27 pieces of debris along the East African shores of Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius, beginning in July 2015. Roughly 20 pieces are believed to have come from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. This sparked a new search effort, but no more evidence was found. Advertisement A 2017 statement from the Malaysian government deduced that the deviation from the planned flight path was likely caused by manual inputs, causing investigators and conspiracy theorists to dig further into the cause of the accident. Two unusual pieces of the puzzle still remain: a flight simulator and stolen passports. Was MH370 Hijacked? Among the passengers of flight MH370 were two young men, Seyed Mohammed Reza Delavar and Pouria Nourmohammadi, who boarded the flight using stolen Italian and Australian passports. Although suspicious, no terrorist organizations have tried to take credit for an attack. This doesn't mean that a forceful entry into the cockpit was not a possible cause of the flight path deviation, but the pattern definitely contradicts the typical model of previous terrorist attacks that aim to shock and awe. Was It a Crew Member? Apart from the strange coincidence of one of the pilots making a similar "rogue" flight pattern on his home flight simulator, there were no signs that anyone in the crew was exhibiting suspicious behavior before the flight. Since the aircraft and its "black box" have never been recovered, similar theories of potential tampering with systems or cabin depressurization are merely speculative. Was MH370 Shot Down? One common theory of the airplane's disappearance is connected to flight MH17 another commercial Boeing 777 that was shot down by Russian-backed forces in July 2014, just a few months after the MH370 tragedy. Although the flight was headed to Kuala Lumpur and it was a Malaysian Airlines flight, there are few other connections between the two tragedies to warrant a cohesive conspiracy. Russian troops attacked the villages in Sumy Oblast using bombs and a drone, killing three people and injuring four. Source: Sumy Oblast Prosecutors Office on Telegram Quote: "The data obtained during the investigation indicates that the occupiers dropped at least six guided aerial bombs on the centre of the village of Krasnopillia in the Sumy district within an hour on 21 March 2025. As of 18:45, three people have been killed, and two others wounded as a result of the enemy attack." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Around 16:00, the Russians attacked a motorbike travelling through the settlement of Rozhkovychi in the Shostka district. As a result, the 55-year-old driver and the 44-year-old passenger were injured. Background: On 20 March, Russian forces carried out an airstrike on a residential building in the settlement of Krasnopillia, Sumy Oblast, killing two civilians. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea, where he is scheduled to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on March 21. North Korea has emerged as a key military ally of Russia, supplying Moscow with artillery shells, missiles, and even soldiers in exchange for oil products and advanced rocket technology. "After he arrives in Pyongyang, Shoigu is scheduled to meet with Kim Jong Un and other North Korean officials," Russia's state-owned TASS news agency confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit follows recent high-level diplomatic exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang. Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui to discuss "political contacts at high and highest levels." The latest round of talks comes as North Korea continues to provide military support to Russia amid its ongoing war against Ukraine. Officials estimate that up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's Kursk Oblast since last fall to counter Ukraine's cross-border incursion launched in August 2024. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reported that North Korean forces fighting for Russia had suffered 4,000 casualties, with two-thirds of the losses being soldiers killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoigu, who served as Russia's defense minister until his dismissal in May 2024, now oversees national security matters as secretary of the Russian Security Council. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Shoigu on June 25, 2024, for his role in leading Russia's war effort. Read also: Ukraine accuses Russia of false flag attack on Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (FOX40.com)The Sacramento City Fire Department recently received a $165,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to purchase new extrication equipment, better known as Jaws of Life. The department told FOX40 News the grant has helped replace the extrication tools in three of its nine fire trucks that had the older equipment. Each set costs about $53,000. These new life-saving tools are battery-operated, have a nine-hour battery life, and are stronger and more capable than gas-powered extrication tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the gas-powered extrication tools, Sacramento City Fire said each tool would often take minutes on end to set up, as firefighters had to use a generator to connect the hydraulic lines to the extrication tool before using it. Now, with the battery-powered tool, its changing the way firefighters respond. We had a large power unit that was very heavy, and each firefighter could only carry one tool. With this one, one firefighter can carry two tools, Paramedic Firefighter Jason Johnson said. Another firefighter can carry the RAM as well as the OConOConnelle, and the drop cloth and some saws, all as well. With the new battery power extrication tools, no generator or extensive setup is required. Firefighters only need to connect an attachment to it, and with a click of a button, its ready to go within seconds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Captain Justin Sylvia, the public information officer with Sacramento City Fire, said this changes how fast firefighters respond to specific calls, including when a person is pinned inside their car in need of help. We call it the golden hour, and we need to get that person to an operating room within one hour. Thats going to be their best chance of survival, Captain Sylvia said. So we can cut them out of a vehicle or extricate them out a lot quicker than before, that going to save time, thats going to save lives. Captain Sylvia said data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System shows in 2022, more than 55-thousand crashes across the country involved car extrication. He added that 42 percent of people killed in car crashes were alive when first responders arriveda statistic that underscores how crucial every minute is at a scene. While the tools are primarily used for auto extrication situations, they have a wide range of other uses, including using them to save animals pinned in between a fence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three Sacramento City Fire trucks and a rescue unit have the new extrication equipment. The department is aiming to have all nine trucks with the latest state-of-the-art tool in the near future. As far as the older gas-powered extrication tools, they will hold onto them and use them as a backup in case the battery-powered extrication tool stops working. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) The short answer is yes. The longer answer is you need to be sure you understand the new laws and Executive Orders being put into place by the President of the United States (POTUS) regarding immigration that is spilling over into the tourism realm. Recently, Germany updated their travel advisory for their citizens when it comes to travel to the for United States. According to news sources, several German citizens have been detained at U.S. borders for varying degrees of time, from 48 hours to six weeks. The advisory emphasizes that holding a U.S. visa or ESTA approval does not guarantee entry into the U.S. and does not guarantee that German citizens will not be swept up in immigration raids in cities or at border check points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, with Hawaii depending so heavily on tourism and with tourism typically being from places outside the U.S., KHON2.com decided to do a bit of digging to find out how safe it is to travel to Hawaii for holiday plans and what visitors need to know while here. Thus far, these are some of the Executive Orders that are impacting travel into the U.S. 1. Executive Order 14158 (Jan. 20): This EO established the Department of Government Efficiency. While our attention has been drawn to their ransacking of government agencies, this order is also impacting agencies related to travel and immigration. Click here to read the EO. 2. Executive Order 14159 (Jan. 21): This one is titled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. It enhances the vetting procedures for visa applicants to prevent entry of individuals who may pose security threats. Click here to read the EO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3. Proposed Travel Ban Expansion (March): POTUS is finalizing a new travel ban that may prohibit or severely limit visitors from more than 40 countries from entering the U.S. This potential expansion has raised concerns amongst several state leaders seeking more clarity. Click here to read more about this impending EO. While these EOs arent specifically targeting tourists, there is no guarantee that visitors will not or cannot get swept up in the chaos like several German tourists already have. So, here are some tips on safely traveling to and enjoying Hawaii. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Factors that may lead to additional screening by border security in Hawaii Now, this advice is based on traditional understandings of how border security works. With increased vigilance in order to reach higher numbers of deportations, there may be more guidances that shake out over the next few months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arriving without proper documentation: Not having a valid passport, visa or ESTA authorization (if required) can lead to immediate denial of entry. Overstaying a Visa: If a visitor has previously overstayed in the U.S., even for a short period, they may face extra scrutiny or denial of entry. Providing false information: Lying about the purpose of the trip, travel history or employment status can trigger further questions or denial of entry. Having a criminal record: Prior arrests or convictions (even for minor offenses) can cause delays, secondary inspections or denial of entry. Carrying banned items: Bringing restricted agricultural products, drugs (including cannabis, even if legal in Hawaii) or other prohibited goods can lead to detention or fines. This could include social media posts or other things on your phone that are anti-POTUS, pro-Hamas, etc News sources have reported both Iranian and Persian travelers turned away at border control in airports due to information found on their phones that included photos of Gaza and an anti-POTUS post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being on a watchlist: Individuals flagged for past immigration violations, security risks or suspected illegal activity may be subject to increased scrutiny. Looking like a flight risk: Visitors who cant show proof of a return ticket, hotel reservations or financial means to support themselves may raise suspicion. But this category is based more on feeling than data. Attempting to work illegally: Tourists on a visa waiver or visitor visa who hint at plans to work in the U.S. without proper authorization may be denied entry. This can include carrying items with you that may look like they could be used to make money while in the U.S. An example of this is one of the German tourists who has been detained for six weeks. She was carrying a tattoo gun in her luggage which led border security to believe she was entering the U.S. to work. Acting nervous or suspicious: Border officers are trained to detect unusual behavior. Appearing evasive, anxious or giving inconsistent answers can lead to additional questioning. Again, this is based more on feeling than data. So, be vigilant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having frequent short-term visits: Visitors who frequently travel in and out of the U.S. for short stays may be suspected of working illegally or overstaying. Regardless of whether this is for work or family, these short visits are now considered suspicious. Situations that may lead to immigration enforcement actions Once you make it through border security, you still need to be sure that you are cognizant of not being swept up in immigration raids. Waikiki and Chinatown are heavily tourist-soaked areas; so, if immigration sweeps are going to take place, these two places could be on the list. So, stay vigilant. Working without authorization: Tourists working under the table or using fake documents risk being detained if caught in workplace inspections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Living with or associating with undocumented individuals: Being at the wrong place at the wrong time (such as a raid targeting an undocumented household) can lead to questioning. Ignoring a deportation order: Individuals with existing removal orders who have not left the U.S. are at high risk of being detained. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time: Immigration raids sometimes sweep up people who were simply near targeted locations. Using fraudulent documents: Fake IDs, work permits or visas can lead to immediate detention and deportation. You can click here, here and here to read more on how to navigate border control and immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 Thats the long of it. It is safe to visit Hawaii. But be vigilant, know your rights, have your consulates phone number memorized and have fun! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKBN) A new measure in Ohios Transportation budget could put an end to speed cameras, nixing a departments ability to send a driver a ticket in the mail for a violation captured on a traffic camera. The measure sits on Ohio Governor Mike DeWines desk that would toss out a county or townships ability to utilize speed cameras to enforce traffic laws. Ive had hundreds of people and probably over the last five or six years in my time in the legislature, its probably upwards of thousands. The number one thing people are tired of is getting tickets in the mail, said State Senator Al Cutrona, R -33rd District. The transportation budget, if passed, would prohibit all Ohio counties and townships from operating traffic-camera programs, excluding cities because they operate under Home Rule. The governor has the ability to line-item veto. So for those communities with police and safety services, I would encourage them to reach out to the governors office and ask him to line-item that portion of the bill, said State Representative Nick Santucci, R-64th District. In 2015, the state legislature passed a law requiring a law enforcement officer to be stationed near a camera to issue fines. The budget bill that challenges their use is receiving push-back from local townships in Trumbull County who rely on the cameras as a source of revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Vienna, the cameras have been used as a lifeline out of a dire financial crisis. It just seems like Columbus continues to beat on the townships, said Vienna Township Trustee Phil Pegg. Vienna Township was in a position where we did not have enough money to run the township due to our ongoing legal problems, but this was the only option we had. But thats where Cutrona draws the line, saying the speed cameras shouldnt be used as a source of revenue and calls into question their use for public safety. If its really a public safety concern, law enforcement should stop the infraction, Cutrona said. Right now, the transportation budget hasnt been signed by DeWine. Cutrona expects that to happen soon. He also says he doesnt anticipate the governor nixing the item via a line item veto. There are three townships that utilize the speed cameras here in the area Vienna, Weathersfield and Liberty, all of them in Trumbull County. The measure would eliminate their ability to ticket drivers for violations, cutting a huge source of funding for each township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) Renovators believe they will have all the approvals they need from the city to move forward and finally bring the Historic Fifth Ward Meetinghouse building back to life. Originally built in 1910, the historic building located near 300 West and 800 South in Salt Lake City has a storied history. Over the years, the Fifth Ward Meetinghouse operated as its namesake, a Buddhist temple, and even a music venue that hosted the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. However, on Easter Sunday in 2024, the building was nearly torn down. A city official drove by the building just-in-time to stop the unplanned demolition. All but the front end of the building was saved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly a year later, Skyler Baird, the president of Salt of the Earth, a Utah-based non-profit that helps people in every, told ABC4 he was excited about the meetinghouses revival. Theres just so many people that have called this building home and so many memories here that its really a part of the community and something that needs to be preserved, said Baird. Neighboring businesses on the block are also ready to see what has become an eye sore, become a beautiful addition to their community. Michelle Brockman, the bakery manager at the neighboring Ruby Snap, explained, Its been an eyesore for a long time and watching it start to improve is really, really, really amazing. The community has invested itself in the meetinghouses restoration, donating their own time to the project. In the case of RubySnap, ABC4 was told the owner bought lights and cameras to keep the area safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been not only emotionally invested in it, but physically, said Brockman. Weve spent money to try to keep that a safe place. Baird told ABC4 said he hopes the support for the meetinghouses revival continues. He said Salt of the Earth is trying to raise $15,000 by the end of April just to help keep the momentum going and pay for some of the expenses towards rebuilding the buildings front end. Meanwhile, the community has been meeting every second Saturday of the month to help with clean up of the property. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, and will feature help from Restoration West which will help restore old windows, something the Fifth Ward Meetinghouse will certainly need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TUPELO A Lee County woman has been arrested after allegedly stealing multiple items from a business inside The Mall at Barnes Crossing. Employees at Belk on Tuesday told responding officers that a woman was stopped trying to leave the store with multiple items for which she hadn't paid. Employees detained the suspect until officers arrived at the scene. Once the items were totaled, Candice J. Clark, 31, of Saltillo, was charged with felony shoplifting. Clark was released from the Lee County Adult Jail March 19 after posting a $5,000 bond. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) City leaders are considering a major overhaul of the way parking is handled in San Diego as the city works to address a more than $250 million budget deficit. The city councils Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee cleared the way Thursday for a comprehensive reform package. It comes on the heels of council doubling the citywide meter fee to $2.50 an hour. With the intent to better align with the rates that weve seen across the region and state, but also to of course maximize revenue for the city given the budget deficit, said Councilmember Kent Lee, San Diego City Council District 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One update under consideration is ending free parking on Sundays, which Councilmember Stephen Whitburn opposes to an extent. I dont want people on a Sunday to have to go out and plug a meter or move their car every two hours, explained Whitburn, San Diego City Council District 3. So, the city is leaving room for an exception. Residents in the neighborhood will not. They will get a permit that will allow them to continue to park for free on Sundays in their neighborhood, Whitburn said. Miguel Franco works in downtown San Diego and doesnt think its fair. Its easier to park here on a Sunday and then you can park at night and its just really rough. I work on Sundays, Franco said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another proposal the city is looking at is dynamic pricing that could charge as much as $20 an hour. This would allow the city to increase the price at a meter around a special event where theres extraordinarily high demand, Whitburn said. The city is also considering extending meter hours and adding meters where neighborhoods want to help increase turnover. The money from the meters would stay in those neighborhoods. By assessing parking fees at major tourist attractions like Balboa Park and Belmont Park we can ensure steady revenue while also minimally impacting local residents, said Ian Grooms, AFSCME Local 127. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, its too early to tell how much of a dent revenue from all of the proposed parking changes will have on the budget deficit. We are not going to solve a $250 million budget deficit with parking meter revenue alone, Whitburn said. Whitburn added that the council is waiting to see what the mayors budget proposal, which should be out around Apil 15, will include. A number of cuts and other revenue streams are likely. He also said the full council will probably take up the package of parking proposals in May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. " " Grover Cleveland is the only former U.S. president to win another term after leaving the office. Library of Congress Imagine reapplying for your job after being let go. It would be tough enough to convince your former employer to rehire you, but what about when that employer is roughly 170 million American people? That's exactly what four past U.S. presidents have tried to do. They've lost an election and tried to run again later. And now it appears Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 presidential election after serving one term as the 45th president is attempting to do the same. Trump announced he was running for president for the third time Nov. 15, 2022, making him the fifth ex-president in U.S. history to do so. Advertisement The last time an ex-president tried to get his job back was before the 19th Amendment was ratified and women could legally vote. But what is even rarer than defeated presidents who ran again? Those who won the presidency. Just one in history has done that and the honor goes to Grover Cleveland, who is the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. What helped Cleveland win his second time around may have been the support of the Democratic Party for which he was the official candidate. The other three candidates who lost ran on third-party tickets and third-party candidates have historically fared badly, unless we're talking about the mid-19th century when the Republicans replaced the Whigs and became the party of Abraham Lincoln. Let's take a look at these four former presidents who wanted to make their version of a comeback album. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A federal jury in San Diego has found a man guilty for his role in the 2020 kidnapping and killing of an 18-year-old United States citizen in Tijuana. The U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of California reports Brian Alexis Patron Lopez, 23, of Tijuana, Mexico, was found guilty of all charges on Wednesday following a seven-day trial. Jury deliberations lasted less than a full day. Patron was found guilty of his role in the kidnapping, hostage-taking, torture, and murder of an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, who has not been identified publicly by the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the court, Patron is accused of taking part in abducting the victim from a Tijuana, Mexico, hotel on May 29, 2020. The victim was later beaten and fatally shot while a ransom was being sought. Man in court for suspected countywide crime spree The court alleges the victims treatment was punishment for a dispute over a stolen load of methamphetamine that was supposed to have been smuggled into the United States. According to evidence presented at the trial, on May 29, 2020, at 11:57 p.m., Patron and others forcibly removed the victim from his hotel room and punched, kicked, and pistol-whipped him before placing him in a car and taking him to Patrons neighborhood, where the beatings reportedly continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that time, the court reports Patron and the others involved were demanding ransoms ranging from a few thousand dollars to methamphetamine to the victims family in exchange for his release while the beatings continued. Patron and the others are then accused of taking the victim to a different motel in Tijuana, then an apartment, before taking him to a deserted hillside the night of May 30, 2020. The court alleges thats when Patron fatally shot the victim, while his family was attempting to pay his ransom. Freshly dug grave on family property deemed suspicious by authorities The victim was found on the hillside in Tijuana six days after his initial abduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patron has been found guilty by a jury on all counts, including Intentional Killing While Engaged in Drug Trafficking, Hostage Taking Resulting in Death, and Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking Resulting in Death. During the trial, some of the evidence presented that connected Patron to the crimes included Facebook messages between Patron and co-conspirators about the crimes, and surveillance video that captured the kidnapping outside a Tijuana hotel. The court reports the video shows Patron wearing a jacket that matched the one he wore earlier in the night. He also left behind a bracelet at the kidnapping, which was recovered by law enforcement. That same bracelet was seen on Patron in Facebook photos posted before the murder. Jurors were also presented with the call logs and WhatsApp messages with the ransom demands and proof-of-life evidence. Drugs, stolen checks found in getaway car, North County motel room Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025. This is a heartbreaking tragedy, where a young man lost his life, leaving his family shattered, said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. Drug traffickers are ruthless and will stop at nothing. But their resolve pales in comparison to the commitment of the United States to the safety of its citizens wherever they may be. This kidnapping and murder of a U.S. citizen happened in the dark corners and remote ravines of Tijuana, at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the incredible assistance of FBI San Diego and our Mexican counterparts, our prosecution team did not rest until justice was served for the victims of this heinous senseless cruelty. Todays verdict is an impactful outcome to a ruthless, vicious, and violent hostage taking and murder, and brings justice to the victims family, said San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. FBI San Diego will continue to be a formidable force against drug cartels and cartel violence, which threaten the safety and security of Americans both here and abroad and devastate our communities. This case was investigated by the FBI, and is part of Operation Take Back America, and a result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Members of San Franciscos Japanese American community gathered Thursday to speak out against President Trump for enacting the Alien Enemies Act as a means of deporting hundreds of Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador. We are not going to let due process and freedom go down without a fight, said Carl Takei of the Asian Law Caucus. Golden Gate Bridge faces unknown risk of collapse from vessel strike, according to NTSB report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations invocation of the Alien Enemies Act is unconstitutional and continues the deeply racist and xenophobic legacy of Japanese American incarceration, said Joyce Nakamura of the Japanese American Citizens League. For many who attended, the use of the act is personal. The last time the Alien Enemies Act was invoked was during World War II and resulted in the internment of approximately 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry many of whom were U.S. citizens. This is a photo of my father who answered No to a loyalty questionnaire, was removed from our barracks at Tule Lake and sent to Bismarck, North Dakota, said Satsuki Ina of Tsura for Solidarity. Eventually, we were reunited at Crystal City, Texas in preparation to be deported to Japan, and if it had not been the work of attorney Wayne Collins, I wouldnt be here speaking with you today. Photo courtesy of Satsuki Ina of Tsura for Solidarity. Japanese American community leaders were joined at Thursdays news conference by others in the fight for immigrants rights and justice many who came with a warning and a call to arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are coming after all of us and do not let them divide you, said Annie Lee of Chinese for Affirmative Action. If you think you are safe because youre a citizen or you speak English, you are sorely mistaken. This is a pivotal moment in U.S. history. What are you doing? How will history remember you? And I urge you to stand up and fight this president, fight authoritarianism. And we have more power than we know. We have power together. Yes, we need to call on our zombie Congress people to pass the Neighbors Not Enemies Act. We need to speak up. When you see injustice, you must speak up. The key takeaway is when one group of immigrants is under attack, all immigrants are under attack and now is the time to standup and speak out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This Saturday, tune in to Off Road Confidential, sponsored by Visit California and produced by NewsNation, at 5:30p/4:30C. Find out how to watch. (NewsNation) NewsNation special Off Road Confidential, made in association with Visit California, has arrived at its final destination: San Francisco, California. The citys plethora of murals, tasty artisanal chocolate and the Mission Districts beautiful Dolores Park make it a cant miss destination, according to Off Road Confidential host Gabriel Ornelas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So many people know it for Alcatraz, the Golden Gate, Fishermans Wharf, which are all incredible, Ornelas said. But theres so much more. Paradise: Carmel-by-the-sea is a magical getaway in wine country Whether Ornelas was making chocolate, choosing from 90 different pasta shapes or just taking a stroll in the citys steep streets, he told Morning in America locals and tourists alike can feel welcome. San Francisco is for everyone, and you can find something, whatever you want, Ornelas said. You can find something there. Ornelas also made pit stops in Sacramento, Point Reyes, Half Moon Bay and Carmel-by-the-sea on his journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Kentucky will soon have a Parkinsons Disease Research Registry following a unanimous vote by both the House and Senate. Due to the passage of Senate Bill 27, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Storm (R-London), the new registry will be established within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The cabinet secretary will create an advisory committee, set regulations, and designate Parkinsons and related diseases for reporting. The advisory committee is required to include representatives from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A system will be set up to collect and share data regarding Parkinsons disease, while ensuring patient safety by excluding personal information such as social security numbers and birthdates. Healthcare providers must submit reports beginning January 1, 2026, and patients will be given the option to opt out. The registrys data will be accessible to researchers, and a public website will provide reports and information. The cabinet is required to submit annual updates to the legislature. Jane Williams, executive director of local nonprofit Parkinsons in Motion, has been closely involved with SB 27, having testified in Frankfort. Williams said the registry is especially intended to provide demographic data to determine where individuals with Parkinsons are located. The first day we testified in the Senate, it was so moving to me that people in Frankfort were talking about Parkinsons disease, Williams commented. She said securing the registry feels very humbling, and she is very, very pleased. Funding for the registry will be discussed by the advisory board at a later date. Learn more at https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25rs/sb27.html. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a statewide burning ban beginning at 6 p.m. Friday until further notice. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires, and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state. Forestry Commission officials say weather conditions over the next several days present a greatly elevated risk of wildfire, officials said. The high winds and gusts that prompted the agency to issue a Red Flag Fire Alert yesterday are expected to persist across the state through the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ban will be active until further notice. Georgetown County also issued an outdoor burning ban due to an elevated risk of wildfires over the next several days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Hurricane Helene snapped utility poles and downed lines across South Carolina on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, particularly in the Upstate and along the Georgia border. (Paul Hyde/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA A school district that missed days because of Hurricane Helene could avoid making them up under a resolution proposed in the state House. The storm forced schools along the Georgia border and in the Upstate to close for upwards of a week in many cases. With hundreds of thousands of residents without power for days, districts did not have the option of switching to e-learning, a now-common replacement for snow days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only one district would need the resolution, which a House subcommittee advanced unanimously Wednesday. Spartanburg School District 4 closed for 10 school days, one more than it could get forgiven by local and state education boards. After a week without power, teachers found what appeared to be mold on some desks, so the district remained closed long enough to test air quality and have classrooms professionally cleaned, according to the districts Facebook page. Under a 2015 law, districts must build three makeup days into their schedule in case of extreme weather. Those can be tacked onto the end of the school year, or districts can require students complete work on Saturdays or teacher work days, either in-person or virtually, to make up the time. Once those days have been used or the dates have passed, districts can ask the local school board to waive up to three more days. The state Board of Education can vote to forgive another three days after that. The state Board of Education will consider requests from several districts looking for waivers at its April 1 meeting. The deadline to apply for waivers is still open, so the state Department of Education could not give a number of how many districts have applied, a spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Districts in Spartanburg, Greenville, Cherokee, Anderson and Pickens counties remained closed the week after the storm hit the state in September. Some schools, such as districts in Greenwood and Aiken counties, were on fall break that week, meaning they missed few, if any, days. Only once a district has received waivers from local and state boards will the Legislature step in. A nine-member subcommittee voted to change the resolution Wednesday to add that districts looking to have school days forgiven at a state level must submit a plan showing how they would create a more appropriate schedule to avoid the same request in the future. My hope is that it doesnt continue to happen, said Rep. Shannon Erickson, a Beaufort Republican who leads the education committee. State revenue pays for 180 days of instruction, so forgiving the extra days would constitute throwing away that money, said Rep. Phillip Bowers. At the same time, school districts should be able to decide what they can or cant make up, Bowers said. Im really torn on this one, the Six Mile Republican said, before voting to support the resolution. Google is suing an alleged group of scammers who it claims added thousands of fake business listings to its Google Maps app to trick consumers. According to the lawsuit, which was announced on Wednesday, Google claims a man working with a wider network of people allegedly created and sold fake business profiles to be listed on Google Maps. The company became aware of the issue after a locksmith in Texas reported that an unlicensed business was allegedly impersonating his operation on Google Maps, which prompted Google to dig for other fraudulent listings, CBS News reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google ultimately found more than 10,000 illegitimate listings on the app, ranging from completely fake businesses to legitimate accounts that had been taken over by scammers. "Once we're alerted to an actual fraud, we take extreme efforts to identify similar fraudulent listings," Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google's general counsel, told CBS Mornings Plus earlier this week. Google is suing a scammer who allegedly worked with a network to create more than 10,000 fake business profiles on its Maps app (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) According to the lawsuit, many of the scammers focused on businesses that people use when they're in stressful situations, like locksmiths or towing companies, and may be in a hurry to contact. Google also discovered that the scams aren't individual incidents, but are actually part of a larger network run by people from all over the world. The networks reportedly use social media to expand the reach of the fraudulent listings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeLaine Prado told CBS that the scams either can bait and switch customers through a fraudulent listing, or intercept a customer's call to a real business and forward it to scammers. In either situation, a customer ends up hiring a company they never intended to hire. When representatives of the fake company bill the customers, they often charge much higher prices than the original quote. Because the fraudulent businesses are typically businesses people use while in difficult situations, customers typically fold to the pressure and pay the price. Delaine Prado advised customers always to use their best judgement, and if they feel something is off to stop and try to do what they can to verify the company they're using is legitimate. Customers should check the URL of a companys website and the phone number to make sure they match the actual business listing of the company they intended to call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers should also be wary of companies asking for their personal information like Social Security Numbers if the customer is doing something simple like joining a mailing list, and of any company asking for payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Google's business directories and displayed user ratings for said businesses must be accurate in order to preserve customers' trust, a reality that DeLaine Prado acknowledged during her sit down. "Consumers use the reviews under those listings to actually make decisions based on what service to use or not to use," DeLaine Prado explained. "A fake profile and a fake review undermines the trust that you have in that ecosystem." As a show of good faith, DeLaine Prado said that Google plans to use any damages it wins in its lawsuit to fund organizations working to stop scammers. Mar. 20The Federal Trade Commission received a record number of fraud complaints from this region last year, and scams cost Ohio consumers more than a quarter of a billion dollars. Imposter scams were the most common kind of fraud reported locally and across Ohio, and officials say community members need to be very careful if they get calls, texts, emails or messages on social media requesting or demanding money or personal information. Scammers can be very clever and can do a convincing job of pretending to be government officials, law enforcement or court officers, tech support and business representatives and even friends and family members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But FTC officials say people who are familiar with scams are less likely to be victims of them. "We know that when people are familiar with scams, they are much less likely to lose money," said Monica Vaca, deputy director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. More than ever Consumers in the Dayton metro area filed 8,820 fraud complaints with the FTC last year, which was a 15% increase from 2023 and the most on record, according to a Dayton Daily News analysis of agency data that goes back to 2006. Ohioans submitted more than 63,300 fraud complaints to the FTC in 2024, which was a slight increase from 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly a third of fraud complaints from Ohio consumers and more than 1,500 complaints that originated out of the region were about imposter scams. Other common kinds of fraud were related to online shopping and negative reviews; prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries; and internet, telephone and mobile services. Imposters Imposter scams typically start with a call, text, email or social media message that claim the recipient needs to take action. Impersonators often try to trick people into thinking they are officials or employees with government agencies like the IRS, the FBI, the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Treasury, Medicare or even the FTC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scammers often claim that a consumer's Social Security number or their accounts have been suspended or compromised or there is something wrong with their tax returns and they owe delinquent taxes or unpaid fees. Fraudsters may claim that consumers are at risk of losing government benefits or could even face arrest and prosecution if they do not provide payment or personal or bank information. "What these scammers are trying to do is they're trying to induce a state of fear," said Vaca, with the bureau of consumer protection. "They are trying to make you feel very, very panicked." The U.S. Marshals Service last year warned about scammers impersonating law enforcement and court officials. They demanded people pay a fine or face arrest for bogus claims of identity theft, failing to report to jury duty or other civil issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Scammers use many tactics to sound and appear credible," the Marshals Service said. "They sometimes provide information like badge numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials and federal judges and courthouse addresses. They also spoof government phone numbers to appear on caller ID as if they are calling from a government agency or the court." Homeland Security Investigations said scammers claiming to be law enforcement officials have demanded payment and threatened arrest on false allegations that agents intercepted packages of money or drugs that involve the victim in some way. The FTC says government agencies will never call, email, text or send messages on social media to people out of the blue asking for money or personal information or threatening punishment for inaction. Not who they claim to be Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FTC says scammers also try to con people by impersonating legitimate businesses and telling consumers they've won a prize or there's a problem with their accounts. They may ask for account information, Social Security numbers or payments through gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency, which should be a red flag since legitimate businesses do not make these kind of payment requests. Imposters sometimes pretend to be computer technicians and lie to people, claiming their computers are infected with malware or have other problems and they need remote access to make repairs. The FTC says these scammers often try to sell useless services, steal credit card numbers or install malware that lets them see everything on the computer, including account passwords. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, authorities charged an Indian national who allegedly conned an elderly Ohio man out of tens of thousands of dollars. The suspect allegedly posed as a customer service employee who claimed the Ohio man's account was hacked or at risk and he needed to make payments to fix the issue. In a different case a couple of years ago, a Fairborn man was contacted by a phonebank operator who claimed to be an FTC officer. The phonebank operator demanded money, claiming the victim's bank accounts were linked to illegal activity and that he needed to make payments to avoid legal action and prosecution. Romance scams Crooks also use bogus profiles on social media and dating websites to meet and connect with targets, often by faking romantic interest or tugging on their heartstrings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, a 25-year-old Butler County resident named De-love Kofi Amuzu was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his role in a romance fraud scheme that targeted elderly individuals who were looking for love and companionship. Amuzu's fellow conspirators created fake online dating profiles using stolen photographs and communicated with victims via chats, texts and phone calls, said the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. The scammers pretended to live abroad to explain why they could not meet in person. Victims transferred large sums of money and also mailed cash, fancy watches and iPhones. "According to court documents, several victims lost so much money to the scheme that they were forced to declare bankruptcy," said Kenneth Parker, who at that time was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scammers may ask for money for fake emergencies and hardships like large medical bills. Sometimes they'll lie and say they need money to buy a plane ticket to come visit the victims. "We need to keep our online relationships personal and our money professional," said Ohio Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt about online romance scams. "These romance scammers have become incredibly sophisticated." Fraudsters sometimes also impersonate friends, family members and other loved ones. Vaca, with the FTC, says consumers who are being pressured to take immediate action should try to slow things down. She said consumers should hang up on suspicious callers and not reply right away to suspicious messages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scammers hope to rush and pressure people to act before they have time to think things over and talk it over with people they trust, the FTC said. The FTC says Ohioans should try to do online research to see if what they are being told has similarity with common scams. Officials also urge consumers to call or contact agencies, companies and family members or friends directly through their official or validated phone numbers and email addresses. ------ Tips to avoid being scammed Ignore all unexpected requests for money. Never transfer or send money, cryptocurrency, or gold to someone you don't know in response to an unexpected call or message. Verify the story. If you think there's a real problem with one of your accounts, use a phone number, website, or app you know is real to contact the company. Don't use contact information in the message you got. Don't wire money or use gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app to pay someone who says they're with the government. Scammers insist you can only pay these ways because it's hard to track that money, and just as hard to get it back. They'll take your money and disappear. Don't give your financial or personal information to someone who calls, texts, emails, or messages you on social media and says they're with the government. If you think a call or message could be real, stop. Hang up the phone and call the government agency directly at a number you know is correct. If the call is a robocall, don't press any numbers. Pressing numbers could lead to more calls. Don't trust your caller ID. Your caller ID might show the government agency's real phone number or name like "Social Security Administration." But caller ID can be faked. It could be anyone calling from anywhere in the world. Don't click on links in unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages. Scammers send emails and messages that look like they're from a government agency but are designed to steal your money and personal information. Don't click on any link, and don't pass it on to others. Just delete the message. Scanlons full address can be seen at the bottom of this page BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Three months ahead of a contested Democratic primary, Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon delivered his first State of the City Address on Thursday. I stand before you today with great optimism but make no mistake we are at an inflection point in our citys history, Scanlon said. I remain convinced that Buffalos best days lie directly ahead of us but only if we have the commitment and grit to reach them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the first time since 2005 that someone other than Byron Brown delivered the State of the City Address. Scanlon touched on several of his priorities as Buffalos Acting Mayor in the 23-minute speech. Hotel Tax proposal Scanlon reiterated his plan from last month to introduce an occupancy tax for hotels in order to increase revenue. Hes looking to instill a 3% hotel tax and is looking to receive authorization from the state. The move comes after a series of deficit issues in recent years. As we make the difficult decisions necessary to balance our budget, we cannot do so without support from our entire delegation in Albany, Scanlon said. I have asked our local delegation to give us the tools we need to deal with our city finances ourselves. My administration is seeking authorization from New York State for a 3% hotel tax. Visitors should help us offset the cost of maintaining our historic institutions. Revenues from this tax will sustain capital improvements to city-owned cultural assets. After the address, Scanlon added that its too early to tell if property taxes will continue to increase. Buffalo has experienced significant increases in property taxes in recent years. Three new offices Scanlon announced three new offices: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of Emergency Management and Resiliency, which will help prepare us for any and all threats, prepare us for extreme weather and plan for the impacts of climate change, Scanlon said. This office comes two years after the creation of the Emergency Services Manager and Fleet Manager positions. The current Emergency Services Manager, Thomas Luby, will run the new office. The Office of Innovation, which will help prepare us for any and all threats, prepare us for extreme weather and plan for the impacts of climate change, Scanlon said. The Office of Gun Violence Prevention. It is long past time we dedicated ourselves to addressing the causes of this epidemic, Scanlon said. Scanlon said this effort was spearheaded by Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart. Snow response efforts, pothole repairs Scanlon touted the success of the citys efforts at managing winter weather and keeping city roads safe. The extreme weather throughout the United States caused a nationwide salt shortage but no one knows how to get through snow like us. Im proud to say that weve managed this winter by implementing our new snow plan, Scanlon said. This year we deployed more than two dozen new pieces of snow equipment to our neighborhoods to clean our streets. By investing in this specialized equipment, boosting our fleet and making targeted improvements, were prepared to handle Buffalos toughest winter challenges with greater precision and responsiveness. Scanlon also said the citys new pothole blitz team has fixed more than 2,000 potholes within the city, with 1,200 of those coming directly from residents calling the citys 311 number. Seeking Parking and Mobility Authority Scanlon is looking to establish a new Parking and Mobility Authority, with the goal of streamlining parking operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think we should be in the parking business, Scanlon said. Id like to sell those ramps to an authority who can maintain them, take on the cost of maintaining them. Formation of a Small Business Cabinet Scanlon also announced the formation of a Small Business Cabinet, which includes several business leaders from the city: Larry Stitts, owner of Golden Cup Coffee and president of the Greater Jefferson Avenue Business Association John Glavey, owner of the Brick Oven Bistro Lisa Riniolo, owner of The Garage Cafe and Lounge and member of the Hertel Business Association Adel Munassar, president of the Arab American Business Association David Metz, owner of Insty-Prints and member of the Chippewa Alliance Conor Hawkins, owner of The Banshee Irish Pub and member of the Chippewa Alliance The full press conference can be watched in the video player below. Latest Local News *** Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A suspect in a Schertz shooting that hospitalized one person was found to have sustained an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after barricading himself in an Eden residence on March 20, according to the Schertz Police Department. Schertz PD stated on March 11 that officers were dispatched to the 9000 block of Aranda Lane at approximately 2:26 p.m. that day for a report of a shooting. Officers arriving at the scene discovered a male victim who had sustained a serious injury from a gunshot wound. The victim was treated with a tourniquet and first aid until Schertz EMS transported him to Brooke Army Medical Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schertz PD said its initial investigation indicated that the shooting occurred after an altercation began between a resident and another resident along with a contract road repair crew took place. It said the altercation between the two residents escalated to a point where gunplay led to a shot being fired and a subject was struck in the right upper thigh. Investigators determined that Stephen Patterson, 41, was the alleged suspect in the shooting. Reagan County homicide suspect arrested In an update provided by Schertz PD on the morning of March 21, the department stated that Patterson barricaded himself in an Eden residence during the evening of March 20. It reported that after several hours of negotiation, he was found with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency said Patterson was subsequently transported to a local hospital, and his current condition is unknown. It stated that no citizens or law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident. Schertz PD reported that Patterson had multiple outstanding felony warrants for his arrest. The Schertz Police Department would like to express gratitude to Concho County Sheriff Brent Frazier, as well as the men and women of the sheriffs department and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), for their assistance in locating and apprehending Stephen Patterson, Schertz PD said. The police department also gave an update on the individual who had been shot on March 11, stating in its March 21 update that he was initially released from the hospital but later experienced additional medical complications, leading to his readmission. The man remains hospitalized, as per Schertz PD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concho Valley Homepage staff have contacted the Concho County Sheriffs Office for more details but were given no additional information as of the time of publication. This is a developing story. Stick with Concho Valley Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Troopers cited a school bus driver in Lancaster County after a crash that sent half a dozen students to the hospital Friday morning. Channel 9s South Carolina Reporter Tina Terry learned that one of those students may have to undergo surgery after the crash. It happened on Spirit Road Friday morning, and troopers say the bus driver was going too fast when the bus veered off the road. I have a cousin [who] stays down the road; she called me and said you need to come down here, you got a bus in the front yard, Steve Dingler told Terry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dingler rushed to his brothers house to see the Lancaster County school bus parked in the front yard. He says it was Gods hand that stopped the bus just in time. They could have even hit that tree. or the corner of the building, but it was His work there, Dingler said. Officials said 14 kids were on the bus, and they were headed to Andrew Jackson middle and high schools. Seven of them had to be rushed to the hospital. they were minor injuries, everyone transported has been released from the hospital except one, said Lonnie Plyler, transportation and safety director for Lancaster County schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The South Carolina Highway Patrol said they cited the bus driver for driving too fast for conditions. The school district told Terry shes on leave with pay as of Friday. She could face disciplinary action after an investigation from the district. (VIDEO: Mother dies in hospital days after 6-year-old son killed in Lancaster shooting) PERRY COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Two teens were taken to a Harrisburg hospital after a school bus was rear-ended in Perry County Thursday. According to State Police at Newport, the crash happened around 7 a.m. on Spring Road about a quarter of a mile south of Metz Lane in Carroll Township. Troopers said a school bus activated its yellow lights to warn that it was approaching a stop. The bus came to a stop and was struck by a 2007 Honda, driven by a 22-year-old New Bloomfield woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was not injured, troopers said, but two passengers on the bus a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were taken to a Harrisburg hospital with possible injuries. Get traffic alerts from the abc27 mobile app for the latest local delays and road closures Troopers did not identify which school district the school bus was operated for. The driver of the Honda will be cited, troopers 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 ABC27. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A recently released report revealed school administrators at Hudsons Bay High School and Vancouver Public Schools officials failed to spot warning signs or properly discipline a teacher accused of sexually abusing multiple students. VPS said Shadbreon Gatson, a former English teacher at Hudsons Bay High School (HBHS), was placed on leave on Nov. 8, when the district first learned of the inappropriate behavior. Eugene limited edition sneaker shop owner, CFO plead guilty to $80M fraud scheme Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested and booked for sexual misconduct with a minor on Dec. 20, but the charge was dropped six days later due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, according to court documents. The school district then contracted a third-party investigator to review all previous investigations and consider more recent leads. Meanwhile, on Jan. 14, Gatson resigned from his position. The first independent investigation into Gatson, completed in January by the firm Simmons, Sweeney, Freimund, Smith and Tardif, collected statements from three students who attended HBHS between 2009 and 2015, including one who was his teaching assistant in her senior year. The students all claimed they had experienced sexual encounters with Gatson, including on school grounds and at his apartment, according to the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second investigation, completed Tuesday by the law firm Haggard & Ganson, disclosed how HBHS staff had records showing that in 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2017, Gatson failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students. The findings also noted how school administrators and VPS underreacted to multiple violations involving one student, which the report argues could have provided grounds for Gatsons firing in 2013, had it been properly investigated. According to the report, both girls came from difficult upbringings and were vulnerable to his alleged grooming techniques, which included assigning them intimate journal entries, talking about boyfriends, having them stay alone after class, and initiating long hugs, kisses, and other physical contact. Teen identified as victim of deadly shooting in Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One student alleges she and Gatson were caught by a custodian who grew suspicious when he heard noises coming out of the dark bandroom. Despite the custodian reporting the teacher came out with no shoes, an untucked shirt, and his keys and wallet on the floor, staff wrote to the district saying, Again, we both do not feel that anything happened but there were some definite blurred boundaries and very poor judgement by Shad. As a result, the report said the district and HBHS failed to investigate Gatson thoroughly, disciplined him too lightly and did not effectively share information with officials. The district should have notched Gatson up the discipline ladder each time he reoffended, the report states. Instead, they either started at square one or failed to impose any discipline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given these factors, the report suggests the district provide guardrails including better recordkeeping, improved procedures for handling boundary invasion, as well as greater emphasis on boundary invasion training. KOIN 6 News reached out to an attorney representing Gatson, he had no comment on the reports. Hwy 26s The Bump sends cars airborne as locals fight for improvements After both investigative reports were released, Vancouver Public Schools released the following statement: We deeply regret these past failures and that harm went undetected. We cannot change what happened, but we can be accountable, continue learning from it, and remain committed to making our schools as safe as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please know that every day we try to improve a little more over what was in place yesterday. We want to reaffirm our commitment to transparency, accountability, and most importantly to the safety of every student in our care. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) President Donald Trump is holding true to a campaign promise by signing an executive order calling for the end of the Department of Education. The president signed the executive order Thursday afternoon, laying the framework for a smaller Department of Education and shifting power to the states. Trump signs executive order to dismantle Department of Education San Diego Unified School District Board President Cody Petterson is concerned about what the dismantling of the department will mean in the long run. Right off the top, we are concerned about the ability of the dramatically reduced Department of Education to actually provide us the services that it has in the past, said Petterson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the services funded by the department are Title One programs, like programs for foster children and free and reduced lunches for low-income students. He said funds also go toward special education. All are programs President Trump claims will be untouched. We get about 6% of budget from the federal government, which comes out to about $167 million dollars, said Petterson. Meanwhile, the Lakeside Unified School District gets about 4% of its budget from the federal government. Andrew Hayes, a Lakeside Unified School District board member, thinks dismantling the department is a good thing. I think ultimately consolidating big government is a good thing. You know, I believe that government works best when its local, said Hayes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration said it wants to return education to the states because it believes they can better manage programs and services. It explained that the department will be smaller, but it will continue to enforce civil rights and manage student loans and PELL grants, among other programs. It would take an act of Congress to cut the department altogether. We would find a way, in California with a very robust economy Im sure we would find a way to dig deep and back fill those losses, but it would be very disruptive, said Petterson. Hayes said he is happy to support the presidents move, but still plans to advocate for his district. One of those advocating points is going to be, Hey, I want to see that funding that youre going to save, that money youre going to talk about saving, please bring it back to our local districts in the form of grants,' 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Del. David Green, R-McDowell, addresses the House Friday, March 21, 2025, during discussion of amending Senate Bill 460, which loosens the state's school vaccination requirements. The House adopted Green's amendment, reinstating religious exemptions and allowing private and parochial schools to set their own policies. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) After reinserting the religious exemptions originally in the bill, the West Virginia House of Delegates is poised to vote Monday on legislation that would loosen some of the countrys strictest school vaccination laws. The House amended Senate Bill 460 on Friday, adopting an amendment from Del. David Green, R-McDowell, that would reinstate the religious exemptions that Gov. Patrick Morrisey mandated in an executive order and allow the states private and parochial schools to set their own vaccination policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This country was founded on religious freedoms, religious liberty, Green said in explaining his amendment. As a young person, teenager going to school, I pondered this often. Why our state didnt allow for religious exemptions? Today we can change that, and I trust that the body will vote with me to add this amendment in. This is not removing vaccine mandates, but this just gives people the ability to have that exemption based off of religious beliefs. The House adopted Greens amendment with a vote of 52 to 44. All states require school students to be vaccinated for a series of infectious diseases like measles and polio. West Virginia is currently one of only five that do not allow religious or philosophical exemptions to those requirements. On his second day in office, Morrisey issued an executive order requiring the state to allow religious exemptions to vaccination requirements As it passed in the Senate, Senate Bill 460 would have allowed families who object to having their children vaccinated submit a written statement to their school administrator saying that they cannot get the vaccination because of religious reasons. It also loosened the process by which families can get medical exemptions to vaccination requirements, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Committee on Health and Human Resources removed religious exemptions from the bill process. Its version would have addressed only the medical exemption process. It would have allowed a childs health care provider to submit a written statement from their licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, if that health care provider determines it is or may be detrimental to the childs health or not appropriate. Current law requires the states immunization officer to review and decide any medical exemptions to vaccination requirements. Health Committee Chairman Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, said Friday his committee focused on the medical exemption process because there was a problem with it. We talked about solving problems this year in the House, and we saw that there was a problem with the current medical exemption piece, Worrell told reporters after Fridays floor session. So we expanded that, taking into account what the Senate did. So that was the work of the committee. [There were] many different discussions on different things, but that was a problem we wanted to solve, and thats why we presented that committee amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the version the House adopted Friday, private and parochial schools could set their own vaccination policies. The Senate had voted down an amendment that would have allowed the private and parochial schools to set their own policies for vaccines. The Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, with more than 4,600 students in 24 schools statewide, has supported the states current vaccine laws. Last year, after the Legislature passed House Bill 5105, a bill that would have allowed private and parochial schools to set their own vaccine requirements, the church said it would keep the requirements for its schools the same. A spokesman for the diocese previously said the church is monitoring the bill making its way through the statehouse. We have always maintained our constitutional right to order our schools as we see fit in accord with our beliefs, Tim Bishop, director of marketing and communications for the diocese, said in a statement. If the House passes the bill, the Senate will get a chance to vote on the House changes to the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medical professionals, including many of the states school nurses and supporting organizations, oppose changing the states school vaccination requirements. In a letter Friday, three former West Virginia state health officers Dr. Matthew Christiansen, Dr. Ayne Amjad and Dr. Cathy Slemp, urged lawmakers not to add nonmedical exemptions to the school vaccination law. We respectfully urge you to not pass SB 460 (or related laws) in any form that would add non- medical exemptions or otherwise weaken the hard-earned protections keeping our children, families, and communities safe, they wrote. The House is expected to vote on the amended bill Monday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Air travel safety is certainly in the spotlight right now. And while tragedies do occur in the air, it's important to note that air travel is still an abundantly safe mode of transportation. In fact, it's only getting safer. According to the International Air Transport Association, between 2011 and 2015, there was one accident for every 456,000 flights. But between 2020 and 2024, there was just one accident for every 810,000 flights. While airlines do all they can to make flying safe, there is one threat to aviation that even they can't do much about: space junk. A group of researchers from the University of British Columbia recently published their findings in Scientific Reports, showing that while the chances of space trash hitting a plane remain small, it's a rising riskwith consequences that could be "catastrophic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, a rocket or other space debris has a 0.8 percent chance per year of ending up in the "highest-density regions" around major airports. However, "the report notes that "this rate rises to 26 percent for larger but still busy areas of airspace, such as that found in the northeastern United States, northern Europe, or around major cities in the Asia-Pacific region." The authors recognize that air space can't simply be closed as it would be an economic strain on large regions for unknown periods of time. This, they add, "puts national authorities in a dilemmato close airspace or notwith safety and economic implications either way." Travel Advice | How to Get Over Your Fear of Flying, According to Experts | Learn More The authors explain that this exact scenario played out in 2022 when a 20-ton rocket reentered the Earth's atmosphere. It was predicted to land over southern Europe, leading French and Spanish authorities to close parts of their airspace. The event caused 645 aircraft delays and diverted some planes already set for landing. It also caused neighboring nations (specifically Italy, Portugal, and Greece) to see an increase in airline traffic, creating yet another risk. Luckily for all, the rocket eventually landed in the Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue of space debris hitting planes is compounded by the fact that we have far more airplanes in the skies than ever before. The researchers note that the number of daily flights has almost doubled since 2000. At the same time, the number of "trackable objects in orbit" has more than doubled in the last decade, with large reentries occurring almost every week. And it wouldn't take much to damage a plane. The researchers explain that a one-gram piece of debris could "damage an aircraft, particularly if it strikes a windshield or is ingested by an engine," while a 9-gram steel cube could "perforate aircraft fuselages," and debris with mass greater than 300 grams "could result in a catastrophic incident, i.e., total aircraft loss." This, they add, showcases the need for answers. But instead of ending space missions or grounding flights, they offer this advice: All space missions should be required to make controlled reentry into the ocean. "Uncontrolled rocket body reentries are a design choice, not a necessity. With engines that can reignite and improved mission designs, operators can conduct controlled reentries, directing the rocket body into a remote area of the ocean away from people and aircraft," the researchers write in their discussion. However, fewer than 35 percent of launches currently conduct controlled rocket body reentries, and the authors contend that if controlled reentries were universally used, risks would significantly decrease. "Policy and legal changes are needed now, before a terrible accident occurs, and before more disruption results from sudden airspace closures." Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Plutonium discovered at the bottom of the ocean was found to be refuse from a kilonova that exploded close to Earth 10 million years ago. Kilonovas occur when binary neutron stars spiral closer and closer to each other until they finally collide and release tons of heavy elements into space. Our best chance of finding more evidence of this kilonova is on the lunar surface, which is not affected by the same weather phenomena as Earth. Headed for your next beach getaway? Youre probably going to be floating around in the debris of ancient star explosions. When supermassive stars gasp their last proverbial breath and go supernova, they release tons of heavier elements into space, and some of that refuse has drifted down to Earth. Astronomer Brian Fields of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has now found evidence of something even more explosive. He and his research team discovered traces of a radioactive plutonium isotope from the deep sea that are actually remnants of a kilonovathe collision of two neutron stars that is thought to have happened relatively close to Earth about 10 million years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fields, who declared that we live in a supernova graveyard during a recent presentation at the 2025 American Physical Society Global Physics Summit , has been analyzing cosmic debris from both Earth and the Moon for decades. He had previously found the refuse from supernovae that went off 3 million years ago and 8 million years ago. Later, he discovered plutonium in those samples, meaning it would have been impossible for the debris samples to have come from either of those supernovas. Stars whose lives end in a supernova have exhausted all their hydrogen and fused it into helium. When they run out of helium, they keep fusing that into heavier elements until they get to iron, which they can no longer fuse because it is too stable. These stars are so massive (at least 8 solar masses) that gravity causes them to collapse in on themselves. Those with the most enormous cores become black holes. When the cores of slightly smaller stars collapse, they end up fusing most of their electrons and protons into neutrons, morphing into unbelievably hot and dense neutron stars. If neutron stars are orbiting each other in a binary system, gravitational forces keep them spiraling closer and closer together until they crash spectacularly. Elements heavier than iron emerge from what is known as the rapid neutron-capture process or r-process. The force of the collision blasts existing isotopes with neutrons at such incredible speeds that they can form many elements heavier than iron, and a blaze of light comes from those elements that radioactively decay into lighter ones. Earth has been showered with gold, platinum, thorium and other heavy elements . Thats how plutonium can wind up at the bottom of the ocean. The only problem is that geological processes on Earth, such as plate tectonics and all sorts of weather phenomena, have scattered supernova and kilonova dust everywhere. However, any explosion close enough to Earth to leave behind stardust must have also left some on the Moon, which may get hit by meteoroids and solar wind particles but does not experience weather like Earth does. Anything that falls on the lunar surface tends to stay where it landed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Moon, the remains of dead stars which exploded millions or even billions of years ago probably havent gone anywhere. They could reveal more about the kilonova that rocked nearby space in the distant past. This is why Fields insists that collecting samples with this material should be an objective for the Artemis III mission, which will be the first to put boots on the moon since the Apollo era. By the way, about that plutonium, you dont need to worry because its so far down chances are you wont be wading or swimming or surfing anywhere near it. You Might Also Like "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." While most estimates place the current human population at around 8.2 billion, a new study suggests we might be vastly underrepresenting rural areas. By analyzing 300 rural dam projects across 35 countries, researchers from Aalto University in Finland found discrepancies among these independent population counts and other population data gathered between 1975 and 2010. Such underreporting could have consequences in terms of resource allocation within a country, but other experts remain skeptical that decades of population counting could be off by such a wide margin. Homo sapiens is the most successful mammalian species in Earth history, and its not even close. The species thrives on nearly every continent, in a variety of adverse conditions, and outnumbers the second-place contenderthe rat by at least a cool billion . However, a new study suggests that the impressive nature of humanitys proliferation may have been vastly underreported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most estimates place Earths human population at around 8.2 billion, but Josias Lang-Rittera postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University in Finland and lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communicationsclaims that these estimates could be underrepresenting rural areas by a significant margin. We were surprised to find that the actual population living in rural areas is much higher than the global population data indicatesdepending on the dataset, rural populations have been underestimated by between 53 percent to 84 percent over the period studied, Lang-Ritter said in a press statement. The results are remarkable, as these datasets have been used in thousands of studies and extensively support decision-making, yet their accuracy has not been systematically evaluated. How exactly do you test the accuracy of global datasets used to derive population totals in the first place? Well, with a background in water resource management, Lang-Ritter looked at a different kind of population data gathered from rural dam projects300 such projects across 35 countries, to be precise. This data focused on the years 1975 to 2010, and these population tallies provided a significant dataset to check against other population totals calculated by organizations like WorldPop, GWP, GRUMP, LandScan, and GHS-POP (which were also analyzed in this study). When dams are built, large areas are flooded and people need to be relocated, Lang-Ritter said in a press statement. The relocated population is usually counted precisely because dam companies pay compensation to those affected. Unlike global population datasets, such local impact statements provide comprehensive, on-the-ground population counts that are not skewed by administrative boundaries. We then combined these with spatial information from satellite imagery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of this discrepancy likely stems from the fact that many countries dont have the resources for precise data collection, and difficulty traveling to far flung rural areas only exacerbates census-counting discrepancies. A widespread underrepresentation of rural populations across the world could have profound impacts on those communities, as censuses are central to figuring out how to divvy up resources. However, not everyone is convinced by this research. Stuart Gietel-Basten from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology told New Scientist that while increased investment in rural population data collection would be beneficial, the idea that Earth could contain a few billion more human inhabitants that we thought is extremely unlikely. If we really are undercounting by that massive amount, its a massive news story and goes against all the years of thousands of other datasets. When trying to count such a massive population, a few hundred or maybe even a few thousand may slip through the cracks. But a few million or even billion would upend our understanding of human occupation on this planet. Scientists will need a bit more evidence before rethinking decades of dataset research. You Might Also Like Michaela Reaney thought introducing a four-day week to her business would be a no-brainer. She imagined that her 35-person team would be thrilled to get an extra day off, with no reduction in pay or expectation to work extra hours. But two months into the trial and it was clear that it wasnt working as intended. There were a few people who experienced serious levels of stress from cramming so much work into the four days to be able to allow themselves to have an extra day a week off, says Reaney, who runs Yorkshire-based training firm Opportunity Global. It added an extra layer of pressure people didnt feel comfortable with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was also challenging for our working parents, who felt guilty for doing the school run. People were finding that by ring-fencing this day a week, they felt incredibly uncomfortable about taking flexibility at other points in the week. It was never our intention to put more stress or more pressure on people, but we did. More than a dozen MPs have called on ministers to transition away from a five-day working week, following the 200 companies that have already made the switch permanently. But the less publicised consequences of a four-day week shouldnt be ignored. Behind the positive headlines relaying the benefits of working less for the same money are statistics pointing to some dark side-effects. According to results of a 2022 UK pilot involving 61 companies and 2,900 workers, 22pc reported higher levels of burnout than when they had been working five days. Some 13pc said they were more stressed, and 16pc noted a decline in their mental health. Reaney found that 40pc of her team struggled with a four-day week. She came to the conclusion that she couldnt responsibly continue with it, and shut the trial down a month early. That was in 2021, and now she believes her employees are better off in an environment that offers more flexibility over five days. For example, there are team members that like to do mid-morning gym sessions, and others who prefer to start and finish their day later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we have now is, in some respects, harder to manage, as everyone has very personalised flexibility, says Reaney. But the level of productivity and wellbeing is so much higher because people have that control and that personal experience in the workplace. Id take progression over a four-day week After spending a year working in a company with a four-day week structure, Karim Adib says hes happier working five days a week in his current role despite his friends calling him crazy for voluntarily giving up an extra day off a week. Karim Adib says hes happier working five days a week in his current role - Nick Smart Sheffield-based Adib says the company-wide change was made two weeks after he started the job in 2023. He was initially delighted: hed spend Fridays in the gym, creating content for his YouTube channel, or on life admin, opening his weekends up for seeing friends and family. But it wasnt long before Adib began to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. In a role meeting clients, he felt he wasnt able to deliver a high standard of work in four days. There was little breathing room to come up with the creative ideas. And while employees were instructed to cut back on unnecessary meetings, Adib found that tricky being a newcomer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As someone who really cares about what they do, it was very difficult for me to do five days worth of work in four, says Adib. The four-day work week doesnt really allow you to have any unproductive days, which everyone has. I would feel very guilty, so I would kind of end up doing the fifth day anyway. And, this might be the competitive side of me, but my competitors are working five days a week on campaigns for their clients. So its hard for me to then sit on the sidelines for a day, especially when youre so early in your career. Adib left for a management role at his current company, digital marketing agency Fat Joe, saying he chose growth, progression and ambition over working four days a week. He still has flexibility: he works from the office one day a week, and even spent a month working from his home country, Egypt. In his new job, he doesnt track his teams time. I think Im happier now. Ultimately, if the entire country goes to a four-day week, I would find ways of embracing it. But as it stands, Im happy with flexibility across five days, says Adib. Committed to change The problems that Reaney and Adib faced working a four-day week are exactly what Jane Martin is working through as chief executive of Bristol-based anti-plastic pollution charity City to Sea. The organisation changed to a four-day week in 2021 to address its blaze and burn culture that saw its team of 15 overwhelmed by taking on too many projects. Jane Martin, chief executive of Bristol-based charity City to Sea, remains an advocate of the four-day week But rather than alleviate this, a four-day week only exacerbated it, with underlying issues simply magnified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Martin, who became chief executive last April, remains an advocate of the four-day week and is committed to working through the issues. Meetings have now been cut to 35 minutes and are held in the afternoons, with mornings kept free so people can concentrate on their own tasks. Despite having a hybrid model, she encourages people to come into the office more to ensure any issues can be resolved quickly in person. She believes its worth it to give people more personal freedom. Many people on my team have used their free fifth day to complete courses that improve their career opportunities and their performance, says Martin. I was able to do my Masters [degree] as a working mother with two kids, alongside achieving in my job, and theres no way I could have done that without a four-day week. Applying that academic learning to my actual, real life job definitely unlocked the confidence and the ability in me to put myself forward for the CEO role. I dont think I would have had that otherwise. Cheney Hamilton, chief executive of flexible jobs platform Find Your Flex, agrees that its time to rethink how we work but isnt convinced a four-day week is the answer. Many companies assume they can simply condense 40 hours into four days or reduce hours while maintaining the same output without rethinking job design, workflows or operational efficiency, she says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cutting a day doesnt create flexibility, autonomy or better results. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) There are some changes coming to the Social Security Administration. The agency recently announced that beginning March 31st, it will require you to verify your identity in person if you are unable to do so online, eliminating the chance to do it over the phone. NW Iowan Josh Riibe returns to US Once the policy goes in place, anyone who cannot verify their identity on the agencys my Social Security virtual service will have to travel to a Social Security field office. AARP believes it will make it harder for people who live in rural areas to apply for services, but Social Security thinks its a necessary change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just presents one more additional barrier for those services that theyve worked their entire life for, South Dakota AARP state director Erik Gaikowski said. Gaikowski is concerned with how far some people would have to travel if they cant apply online. Youve got folks that live three, four hours away from a Social Security Administration office, and that presents a pretty significant barrier for them to apply for service. You obviously have to either take a day off of work, you have to find a ride or whatever the case may be. You have somebody living in Lemmon; they have to drive three hours to Rapid City or somewhere to get service, Gaikowski said. Trump and his administration say theyre watching out for seniors because they claim that fraud is widespread within Social Security, so requiring in-person verification will help root that out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Social Security Administrations acting commissioner Lee Dudek also said in a press release quote, Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance. For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. We dont see a lot of fraud in Social Security right now. The reality is theres fraudsters that are taking advantage of people online, but not necessarily within the system itself, Gaikowski said. Gaikowski also believes fraud could increase once the change is officially put in place. The reality is scammers like to take advantage of people when theres a change in procedures, and this is a significant change in procedure, Gaikowski said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also plans to shut down Social Security field offices throughout the country, which Gaikowski says could also delay services. To learn more about the identity verification policy, click the links below. Social Security Administration Press Release Information from AARP Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The investigation into the rape of a 13-year-old boy in western South Dakota, led to federal child pornography charges. According to online records, Branden Bernard, 34, is serving a 10-year sentence at the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls, for the rape. SDs petition signature bill most extreme in the country During the Meade County rape investigation, federal authorities found 450-images of child pornography on four of Bernards devices. Court documents say at least one of the images included a infant/toddler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Bernard pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography. According to a plea agreement, he could face an additional five to 20 years behind bars when hes sentenced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A massive search for a missing New Hampshire woman is continuing Friday after her vehicle was found abandoned in a Merrimack Valley town on Thursday, authorities said. Margaret Hammersley, 73, of Nashua, was reported missing by her family on Thursday afternoon, setting off a multi-agency search centered in Westford, according to the Westford Police Department. Hammersleys unoccupied vehicle was found in the area of Pleasant and Bradford streets. Massachusetts State Police, as well as officers from Chelmsford, Billerica, and Pepperell then responded to assist Westford police with a four-hour search around Forge Beach and Freedom Park before efforts were suspended overnight. Westford authorities, state police dive and marine teams, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, and the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council relaunched the search for Hammersley at 8 a.m. Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A state police helicopter will join the search when skies eventually clear, Westford police noted. Hammersley is described as about 5 feet, 3 inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket and shirt, and is believed to be wearing glasses. Westford police said that Hammersley doesnt have a phone or any known connection to the town. Residents in the area are urged to review home surveillance footage, including Ring doorbell cameras and other security systems, for potential sightings of Hammersley. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Westford Police Department at 978-399-2345. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A second suspect has been collared in the the killing of a 57-year-old woman during the robbery of her husband outside their Lower East Side apartment last year, police said Friday. Joshua Bell, 19, was extradited to the city following his arrest earlier this week in South Carolina, police said. He will be charged with murder, police said, for the Sept. 9 shooting inside victim Ying Zhu Lius apartment building on Market St. near Madison St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bell was part of a trio of masked stickup men who followed Lius husband, 61, into the building and onto the elevator, police said. The victim was robbed of $100 in cash and his cellphone, cops said. As the elevator opened up on the eighth floor, they were greeted by Lius 31-year-old son, Lin Rong Yan, who neighbors know as Paul. Stay back! They have a gun! Lius husband said before Paul jumped into the elevator to save his father. Paul came out, a neighbor who watched surveillance footage of the clash but didnt want to be identified said after the killing. Paul and his father were scuffling with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the fight in the elevator, the teens dropped the gun, but managed to scoop it up as the father and son forced the muggers to the opposite end of the hallway from their apartment and through a stairwell door, prosecutors said. After they went through the door, Liu can be seen on video running down the hall from the direction of their unit. She entered the stairwell door and then moments later collapsed back through it, said the neighbor. It was one shriek, then another shriek and then I heard a pop, the shocked building resident said. Then I heard more commotion and yelling. The gunman shot Liu in the face from less than 3 feet away as the brawl continued, prosecutors said after the first arrest, of a 16-year-old boy, less than two weeks after the murder. A third suspect is still being sought. Austin (NEXSTAR) U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, stopped by the Texas Capitol on Thursday morning to express his support for education savings account (ESA) legislation also known as school choice. The legislation, currently represented by HB 3 in Texas House, would allow taxpayer dollars to help parents pay for private school K-12 education. (Im here) simply to cheer the House on, Cruz said. Right now, the House of Representatives is taking up what I think is the single biggest issue before the Texas Legislature, and that is school choice. School choice, I believe, is the civil rights issue of the 21st Century. Cruz is throwing campaign dollars behind the movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today I launched a quarter of a million dollars of ads online over-the-top, digital and text supporting freshman house members who are taking a bold and courageous stance supporting school choice, Cruz said. This is a battle that matters, and Im very proud of the leadership Im seeing here in the state legislature. According to the Texas Tribune, Speaker Dustin Burrows, Brent Money of Greenville, Joanne Shofner of Nacogdoches, Trey Wharton of Huntsville, Janis Holt of Silsbee, Matt Morgan of Richmond, A.J. Louderback of Victoria, Alan Schoolcraft of McQueeney, Wes Virdell of Brady, Helen Kerwin of Glen Rose, Shelley Luther of Tom Bean, Don McLaughlin of Uvalde, Marc LaHood of San Antonio and Andy Hopper of Decatur are the recipients of Cruzs ad campaign. One day after U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, said ESA legislation puts the country back on path for segregated schools, Cruz argued the opposite. I recall a conversation with a father African-American man who had a six-year-old daughter. The school she was going to was not teaching, it was failing and there was violence, Cruz said. And I remember this was a big man, he was about 67 I remember he was crying. Why wont they let me send my little girl to school? This is a civil rights issue because in Texas, predominately the children being failed by our system are disproportionately Hispanic children and African-American children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 3 is currently being held pending in the Texas House Committee on Public Education. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, prepares to shake hands with state Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, after the conclusion of his speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) In remarks to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan praised the work of President Donald Trump, saying the new presidents promining and prodrilling views are great for those of us in Alaska. Sullivan, who walked through a crowd of anti-Trump and prodemocracy protesters en route to the speech, downplayed the chaos caused in Alaska by the Trump-empowered Department of Government Efficiency, which has orchestrated the firing of hundreds of Alaskan workers and halted millions in federal spending within the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our national debt of over $36 trillion has reached dangerous, unsustainable levels, Sullivan said, adding that DOGE is making some noble progress in reducing the debt. Sullivan said he doesnt like every decision DOGE has made, and that job cuts need to be done humanely and not randomly, but is the end goal of a smaller, more efficient federal government that lives within its means necessary at this point in time? Yes. Sullivans speech came two days after one by fellow Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski to the Legislature. Murkowski was willingly critical of some Trump actions but said that Americans chose him as their president, and she must be willing to work with him. During his time in office, Sullivan has endorsed mining, drilling, logging and other forms of natural resource development as the best way to grow Alaskas economy and boost the well-being of its residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps support of Alaska development is a huge opportunity for the state, Sullivan said. Were pushing on an open door, because this president and this administration and you can see it almost daily they want to help us, he said. Hours before the speech, the Interior Department confirmed plans for widespread oil and gas leasing on the North Slope, including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The agency also said it would transfer land to the state for the Ambler Road and portions of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. That pipeline, Sullivan said, offers transformative possibilities for the states economy, and while the effort to advance it has felt like smashing into a wall, Sullivan said it has been worthwhile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Taiwans state energy company signed an agreement to buy liquefied natural gas from the AKLNG project and invest in the pipelines development. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The project is still not right around the corner, but the corner is in sight, Sullivan said. Sullivan said the U.S. Navy has begun investigating the possibility of reopening its base at Adak, and touched on a variety of other topics during his prepared remarks, including the need to restrict the drug fentanyl, improve aviation safety, and grow a national missile defense system. After more than 45 minutes of prepared remarks, Sullivan faced questions from members of the Legislature, some of whom were prepared to interrogate him on key issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, asked whether Sullivan would oppose cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, and asked the senator to answer yes or no. Sullivan refused, but his answer implied that hes open to cuts. Almost one-third of Alaskans are on the rolls of Medicaid now. We, I think, accept that. Some see it as a good. I dont see it as a good. I think our goal should be to increase our private-sector economy and increase the opportunities for people to move off Medicaid and get private-sector insurance, Sullivan said. The share of uninsured Alaskans fell over the past decade, after Medicaid eligibility was expanded, from 14.5% in 2015 to 10.5% in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan, formerly a vocal defender of American military aid to Ukraine, has grown quiet on the subject since Trump entered office. The Trump administration has repeatedly wavered on support for Ukraine and has acted more in line with Russia than the country it invaded. Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, asked how Sullivan is pushing back on the White Houses whiplash-inducing change in foreign policy, including its attitude toward Canada. Sullivan said he considers Russias leader to be brutal and expansionist but said he believes what the president and his team are doing right now and theyre putting an enormous amount of effort into it is trying to bring both sides together to stop the war and stop the killing. He did not address the administrations attitude toward Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to a question about fired federal employees from Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, Sullivan said affected Alaskans should fill out a form about their situation and send it into his office so he can make the case for the relevant DOGE cuts to be reversed. That form was originally written for Alaskans to complain about DOGE program cuts, Sullivans office said, but it can also be used for feedback on job cuts. Responding to questions from reporters, Sullivan said he does not think the Trump administrations actions on deportation flights represent a constitutional crisis. Murkowski, who spoke earlier in the week, offered a similar view. Also Thursday, Trump signed an executive order with the intent to begin the process of eliminating the federal Department of Education. The department oversees federal aid for school lunches, special education, low-income schools and college grants and loans, among other programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether he supports Trumps effort, Sullivan was noncommittal, saying he had not yet seen the order. The key question to me is, are they just dismantling everything, or is the vision to dismantle and then get the money to the Alaska State Legislature and local communities, who mind you have a way better sense, especially for Alaska, on how to spend the money and how to prioritize the money. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Indiana lawmakers heard multiple hours of budget testimony in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Groups that still want to be in the ever-tightening draft of the next state budget and those hoping not to get booted out made their cases Thursday before a powerful Senate budget panel. Trending during testimony were requests for millions of dollars to be retained for Indiana Main Street, a statewide program that helps fund revitalization projects for dozens of Hoosier downtown areas. Locals said it has helped bring critical economic boosts to their communities. Budget leader Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, listens to committee testimony on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) The program already faces significant federal cuts and advocates cautioned that spending reductions in the current draft of Indianas budget could cause the initiative to fold altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple others separately called on lawmakers to consider increases to Indianas cigarette tax. Doing so, proponents said, would provide the state with additional revenue to fund additional line items in the budget and stopgap the decrease in dollars from the federal government. Absent from the testimony, however, was discussion on education funding matters; a separate Senate subcommittee focused exclusively on school spending earlier in the week. Senate Republicans have until April 10 to release their version of the next two-year spending plan. But with revenue growth projected to be moderate in the first year of the upcoming biennium and slimmer in the second the state is facing a very tight budget compared to years prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre not in, and theres a cost to it, its pretty unlikely youll get in because that means somebody else has to come out, cautioned budget leader Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka. Locals push for restored Main Street funding Numerous requesters who offered testimony in the Appropriations Committee pointed to proposed cuts to Indianas Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), which houses Indiana Main Street. Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks, detailed Main Street programming that has been ongoing since the 1970s, when local commerce was threatened by big block stores, national chains and suburban malls. Decades ago, the City of Madison was selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of three pilot programs in the Midwest to test strategies for preserving the historic character and the economic vitality of main streets across America. Former Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard testifies before Indianas Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) The key purpose of the program remains constant: teaching communities to adapt and thrive in an ever changing economy, Davis added. Indianas Main Street program in the past, as well as in recent years, is a national model, but we stand to lose it under the current budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Gov. Mike Brauns proposed spending plan and the House-approved version Republican budget writers reduced OCRAs previous $1.8 million annual appropriation down to just below $1.3 million per year. Davis said his conversations with the governors office clarified that Braun did not intend to eliminate the Main Street program. It will be up to lawmakers to remedy the line item, if so. The funding for the staff is really the crux of this, Davis said. Without the staff, the program is really rendered totally ineffective. Kelly Humrichouser, director of government relations for the national Main Street America program, explained to senators that the program provides technical assistance, training, networking opportunities and implementation grants to communities interested in downtown revitalization. Currently, more than 100 Indiana municipalities participate in the program, equal to 20% of all municipalities in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024 alone, Indiana Main Street communities leveraged $27 million in investment to draw $38 million in private investment, creating 143 new businesses and over 300 new jobs, according to program data. This success is not possible without the statewide Indiana Main Street program, Humrichouser said. When you cut the budget and cut that technical assistance, you immediately lose traction in those communities. Those downtown efforts do not sustain without that statewide assistance. It was the Main Street program, for example, that helped the City of Franklins budget grow by more than $100,000 in one year, said Danny Causey, executive director of Discover Downtown Franklin. In 2024, events in the city of roughly 25,000 residents drew more than 80,000 attendees. Our community is now a regional and statewide example of a thriving small city. This is what Main Street does. It empowers local private businesses and breathes life into rural communities. Danny Causey, executive director of Discover Downtown Franklin Thats 80,000 people supporting small, family-owned businesses the backbone of both the Indiana and American economies, Causey said. Not long ago, downtown Franklin was struggling. But with the support of many hardworking community members, plus the addition of Indiana Main Street resources, our community has witnessed a major turnaround, including dozens of downtown events and over 50 new privately owned businesses. Our community is now a regional and statewide example of a thriving small city. This is what Main Street does. It empowers local private businesses and breathes life into rural communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Indiana Supreme Court Justice Randall Shepard said, too, that while the states overall population is going up, theres still a lot of migration out of small communities and Main Street helps them resuscitate themselves. If youre in Fort Wayne or Evansville, you create your own sort of economic strategy. You hire experts and consultants, and so on. You cant do that in Loogootee or Odon, Shepard continued. The Main Street program sort of offers you the chance to access national experts that come in and hold your hand, provide you with the right sort of data, and make a good program that will lift up rural Indiana in ways that obviously, today, we need more than ever. More calls for a cigarette tax increase Despite repeated failed attempts in recent years, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and various health advocates continued arguments Thursday for a cigarette tax increase that could net the state millions in additional revenue. Indianas current tax of 99.5 cents per pack has remained unchanged since 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiffany Nichols, co-chair of Tobacco Free Indiana and advocacy director for the Indiana chapter of the American Lung Association, said that has kept Hoosier cigarette taxes the lowest in the Midwest, and the 39th lowest in the nation. At the same time, she emphasized, our smoking rate is the eighth highest in the country. It has been proven time and time again that for every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes, it reduces consumption by 4% among adults and about 7% among youth, Nichols continued. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US She said a $2 cigarette tax increase could generate more than $300 million in new revenue that can be used to fund our states tobacco prevention and cessation commission, or fill other budgetary needs, such as Medicaid, which often covers health care costs associated with tackle tobacco use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana has consistently received F grades in the American Lung Associations annual State of Tobacco Control Report for tobacco taxes and spending on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. But lawmakers, specifically on the Senate side, have long defied calls for increasing the cigarette tax actually decreasing the tax on vaping products from 25% to 15% in 2022. The year before that, during the 2021 budget session, the House increased a 50-cent-per-pack tax in their budget proposal, which the Senate stripped out, leaving the tax as is. The Houses proposal didnt include a cigarette tax in 2023, nor does it this year. Supporters said an increase of just $1 would not be an effective enough incentive for people to decide to finally quit. Increasing by $2 per pack, however, is estimated to bring in $318 million in new annual revenue and price-out many current and future users especially young ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allie Kast Gregg, with Indianas chapter of the American Cancer Societys Action Network, noted that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Indiana, resulting in more than 11,000 deaths each year costing the states Medicaid program more than $630 million annually. Later Thursday, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray kept the door open for a possible cigarette tax change. It seems our caucus is more open to that this year than it has been in years past. Perhaps thats partly because there are some (economic) challenges that we have, Bray told reporters. Its going to be a challenging budget year even in the best of circumstances, even assuming that the April forecast doesnt get worse. Thats not guaranteed, because it looks like it could be problematic. Thats a conversation thats kind of ongoing right now. I dont have the ability to say whether were actually going to do that or not. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (COLORADO SPRINGS) Senator Michael Bennet hosted a town hall on Thursday, March 20 in Colorado Springs, taking questions from community members from the Pikes Peak Region. Bennet spoke about a range of topics including Ukraine, the Department of Education, and President Donald Trumps joint address. He also said he wants to overturn the 2010 Citizens United supreme court decision. The ruling banned the government from limiting spending by companies, nonprofit organizations, and unions on political campaign advertisements. The courts majority wrote that such provisions would inhibit freedom of speech. Courtesy: C-SPAN Courtesy: C-SPAN Courtesy: C-SPAN I think, at a minimumand we dont need to change the Constitution to do thiswe should pass laws at every level of government to require disclosure of all this money so we know whos actually spending it, Bennet said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate democrats introduced a constitutional amendment to undo the decision back in 2019, but it stalled in congress. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The secretary of the Russian National Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, promised North Korea a deepening of cooperation during a meeting with leader Kim Jong Un on Friday. He informed Kim about the resumption of dialogue between Russia and the United States, Shoigu said, according to a message from the Security Council. At the same time, he confirmed that Moscow continues to stand by the strategic partnership agreement concluded with Pyongyang last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the two-hour meeting in Pyongyang, Shoigu also expressed his gratitude to North Korea for its solidarity with Russia in the war in Ukraine. North Korea has been internationally criticised for supporting Russia in the war of aggression with weapons and troops. Shoigu said he delivered a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks reportedly covered a range of issues, including the situation on the Korean peninsula. In February, US President Donald Trump declared that he wanted to focus on relations with Pyongyang and his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his term in office. The two have met three times during Trump's first term but did not reach agreement on North Korea's denuclearization. Trump says he wants to stick to the goal of completely disarming North Korea of nuclear weapons during his second term in office. CHICAGO (WGN) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan now knows when he will receive his sentence for his crimes. A fixture in Illinois politics for more than 50 years, Madigan will return to court to learn his fate on Friday, June 13. The prosecution and defense will submit their respective sentencing recommendations by the end of May. A jury found the 82-year-old guilty on 10 counts of bribery and various corruption charges in February. Jurors found Madigan not guilty on seven counts, including another bribery charge. A jury of eight women and four men deadlocked on the states most significant charge, racketeering conspiracy. READ MORE: Madigan juror recounts deliberation process following verdict: It was kind of emotional Set to turn 83 in April, Madigan faces decades in prison on his charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A week before his sentencing, Madigan will learn how much restitution he must pay for his conviction. According to a Jan. 23 filing, the government looked to seek more than $3 million in forfeiture. The landmark trial, which lasted more than four months, laid out the once-hidden affairs of the longest-serving legislative leader in American history and his allies in open court. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Jury deliberations lasted 11 days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's deputy prime minister said on Friday Russia's spy services had helped the Belgrade authorities respond to months of anti-government protests, remarks which critics said revealed that the government had become dependent on Moscow. Students, backed by teachers, farmers and workers, have maintained daily protests across Serbia since last November, when 16 people died in a roof collapse at a train station in the northern city of Novi Sad, which they blame on corruption. "I am very grateful to Russia's special services, which always support us in our fight against colour revolutions, primarily with information," Deputy Prime Minister Alexandar Vulin said in an interview with Russia's RIA state news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They know what danger hangs over Serbia," RIA quoted Vulin as saying. Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic often describes protests as attempts to mount a "colour revolution", a reference to pro-Western protests that toppled governments in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan in recent decades. Aleksandar Djokic, a Belgrade-based political scientist critical of the government, said Vulin's remarks "are echoing how much Russia's support is important for the regime". "The only open support to the regime comes from Russia, all others are either neutral or are condemning it," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belgrade is balancing between its aspirations to join the European Union and its close relations with Russia, a traditional major power ally and major gas supplier. Vucic accuses Western countries of plotting with students and the opposition to topple Serbia's government, which has long had good ties with Moscow. The protest leaders deny any links to the West. Vulin, a pro-Russian politician who leads a small party in Vucic's ruling coalition, previously served as the head of Serbia's Security and Information Agency (BIA), as well as interior and defence minister. He resigned from the BIA after being put on a sanctions list by the United States in 2023 over accusations of pro-Russian activity. BELGRADE (Reuters) - A teenager injured in the November roof collapse at a railway station in Serbia's Novi Sad died on Friday, becoming the 16th fatality linked to a disaster that has triggered a wave of mass protests and the resignation of the prime minister. The patient, identified by the Military Medical Academy (VMA) in Belgrade only as V.C., 18, was among the three injured who were rescued from under the rubble on November 1. One of them died 16 days later, and one other remains in hospital. "Despite all the treatment measures ... and the maximum dedication of the VMA staff, the patient succumbed to complex injuries and resulting complications," the hospital said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many in Serbia have tied the Novi Sad disaster to widespread corruption and mismanagement. The authorities and populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party deny those accusations. The disaster also triggered a wave of mass protests by students and opponents of government policies across the country, including a huge rally last week in Belgrade. Prosecutors have charged 13 people over the Novi Sad case, and the government has announced an anti-corruption campaign. Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and two ministers have also resigned, triggering the collapse of the government. The president faces the task of nominating a new prime minister or calling a snap election. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Hugh Lawson) SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (KCAU) The Sergeant Bluff Police Department is warning residents of scam calls. The police department said on a Facebook post that it has taken numerous reports of scam calls claiming to be the Publishers Clearing House. 2 adults charged in West Middle School fight plead not guilty Anyone who received one of these calls should not share their personal information over the phone nor send money or gift cards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police ask than anyone who may be a victim of the scam to call the Sergeant Bluff Police Department at 712-943-9603 to file a report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) A Wichita Falls business is among the 17 recipients of the 41st Annual Governors Volunteer Awards announced on Friday, March 20, by Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott. ServiceMaster of Wichita Falls was honored with the Corporate Champion Award. A release from the Office of the Texas Governor said that under the leadership of Michael Andeane Albert, ServiceMaster has delivered meals weekly since September 2023, often sending extra drivers on both delivery and non-delivery days. In the past year, their team has served over 100 volunteer hours and provided 1,200 meals, exceeding the standard commitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have braved inclement weather, stepped in on short notice, and covered additional routes, all while providing consistent and compassionate service. Their dedication ensures vulnerable community members receive their meals, often sacrificing personal time to fill gaps when needed most, the release said. The award recipients will be celebrated at a reception at the Texas Governors Mansion during National Volunteer Month in April. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. Othello has long been understood as a play about race, love, and jealousy. But it is also a play about soldiers experiencing what we now call post-traumatic stress. In March 1947, Judge Harry Stackell, of the Bronx County Court, thought as much when he sentenced Victor Vigotsky to a relatively brief prison term. Vigotsky, a 23-year-old combat veteran who had returned from the Second World War after fighting for four years in Europe, was convinced that his young wife, Gloria, had been unfaithful. He killed her with his .45-caliber pistol in a fit of jealousy. When the police arrived at the scene, Vigotsky was in a daze and apparently did not realize his wife was dead. Before standing trial, he was taken to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. In rendering a sympathetic sentence, Judge Stackell likened Vigotskys action to that of Othello, according to a New York Times article. The assistant district attorney, who had sought a longer prison term, objected that there was no Iago here to inflame jealousy in Othellos mind. Vigotsky's case came to mind during my time as a Shakespeare consultant for Kenny Leons Othello, a new Broadway adaptation in which PTSD is central to the plot. In a setting noted as the near future, Othello (Denzel Washington), Iago (Jake Gyllenhaal), Cassio (Andrew Burnap), and Emilia (Kimber Elaine Sprawl) are all battle-tested United States Marines. Othello reminds the gathered senators in Venice, who are about to dispatch him to a new front, that since his youth he has been engaged in combat. When, later in the play, he suffers an epileptic seizure, the price he has paid for such a life becomes clear. Emilia and Desdemona (Molly Osborne), married to traumatized soldiers, will pay with their lives. The production takes this aspect of Shakespeares story seriously: To deepen the casts understanding of the military and PTSD, Christopher Wolfe, a decorated West Point graduate who served in Iraq, was brought in as a military consultant. Other veterans familiar with PTSD spoke with the cast, including Mark Ranger Jones, who served as the aide to the commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and retired General Nadja West, a former surgeon general of the U.S. Army. Some treatments of Shakespeareincluding Laurence Oliviers influential 1944 film of Henry Venvision the playwrights first audiences as boisterously cheerful Elizabethans streaming into the Globe Theatre. That would not have been the case for those who went to see his latest tragedy, Othello, in 1604. The news shared early on in the playour wars are donewould have struck a resonant chord, coming soon after the end of Englands own long war to crush an Irish insurrection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of that war was high: Roughly 30,000 Englishmen, ill-equipped and poorly trained, had been rounded up, some of them snatched outside churches and playhouses, and shipped off to join British forces garrisoned in Ireland. Thousands of them died there, along with far higher casualties among Irish men, women, and children, in a nine-year war that was won only after traditional military strategies gave way to starving the Irish into submission. Atrocities included reports of severed heads taken as trophies. Care for Englands returning veterans was woefully inadequate. A new stock character began limping across Elizabethan stages in plays such as The Shoemakers Holiday: the maimed and embittered combat veteran. Audiences knew what was at stake when, in Shakespeares Pericles, a character asks, What would you have me do? / Go to the wars, would you, where a man may serve seven years for / the loss of a leg, and have not money enough in the / end to buy him a wooden one? The impact of demobilization extended into every corner of England, including Shakespeares Stratford-Upon-Avon, which petitioned the government, unsuccessfully, to be eased of the obligation to support one Lewis Gilbert, a maimed soldier in Ireland. We dont know what Gilbert, a butcher by trade, was like before he came home, but after his return from Ireland he was accused of breaking into a local shop and fatally stabbing a neighbor. We would now likely label what Gilbert was experiencing as PTSD. [Read: Shakespeare wrote insightfully about women. That doesnt mean he was one.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This wasnt the only source of trauma that Othellos first audiences had to reckon with, because the end of the Irish war, in the spring of 1603, coincided with a terrible outbreak of bubonic plague. By the time it subsided a year later, roughly 30,000 Londoners (one in six) had died, and perhaps another 30,000 or so had been infected but managed to survive. At the peak of the pandemic, more than 3,000 Londoners died in a single week. Its hard to fathom the horrors of living through this. The plague-stricken were locked in their home (and the words lord have mercy on us were painted on the door). Those caught escaping from quarantine with visible plague sores were subject to execution. Bodies were dumped in mass graves. The civic authorities couldnt figure out what caused the plague, but they knew that crowds spread it, so they ordered the theaters closed when plague deaths reached more than 30 a week. Londons playhouses would not reopen until April 1604, around the time that Othello was first publicly staged. That term PTSD entered the vocabulary only in the early 1980s, in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Previous wars had their own names for it: battle fatigue, soldiers heart, war neurosis, shell shock. Shakespeare was familiar enough with its symptoms to describe them in a speech that Lady Percy makes in Henry IV, Part One, written around 1597, a few years into the Irish war. She asks her martial husband, Hotspur, what ails him: what is t that takes from thee Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep? Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth, And start so often when thou sitst alone? Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks, And given my treasures and my rights of thee To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy? In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watched, And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war And thus hath so bestirred thee in thy sleep, That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream; And in thy face strange motions have appeared, Such as we see when men restrain their breath On some great sudden hest. Desdemona, like Lady Percy, had to deal with a husband who lived a soldiers life. Othello recounts how he has spent his years in the tented field, / And little of this great world can I speak, / More than pertains to feats of broil and battle. Iago had fought alongside him and seen the cannon, / When it hath blown his ranks into the air, / And, like the devil, from his very arm / Puffd his own brother. Like Lady Percys speech, Othello runs through various symptoms of what might today be described as PTSD, including Othellos seizure; his angry outbursts, paranoia, and depressive thoughts; and his penchant for domestic violence and suicide. Producers and directors have made efforts in recent years to capture what it must have felt like to see Shakespeares plays in his own day: original pronunciation and costuming, playhouses built to resemble the open-air Globe. But there are other, less palpable features of playgoing back then, including the collective experience of the recent war and pandemic. Shakespeare understood what spoke to his times; he knew, too, that those who warily returned to the reopened Globe to see his new play would have recognized the trauma at the core of Othellos tragedy. Article originally published at The Atlantic As a fatal measles outbreak continues to spread, the United States leading public health official has offered some advice thats not backed by science. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., told Fox News earlier this month that his department was delivering vitamin A to Texas, and that health officials were getting results by treating measles with cod liver oil, a substance that has high levels of vitamins A and D. While vitamin A is, in fact, part of the recommended treatment for measles, Its not good advice, said Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease expert, and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases. I think the problem is that hes taken something where theres a kernel of truth, which is that there is an interaction between vitamin A status and measles outcome, and he turned that into vitamin A and vitamin D. Hes talking about cod liver oil, which is not how you would supplement someone, in part, because theres not a known amount of vitamin A in that. Kennedys advice couldnt have come at a worse time. As of March 18, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services was reporting 279 cases since the end of January, with 36 patients needing hospitalization. One unvaccinated child had died in Texas, while another unvaccinated person died in New Mexico. Cases have been reported in at least seven other states. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 100,000 people, mostly children under the age of five, died of measles globally in 2023. The vitamin A factor While Kennedy may have been wrong overall, as Ratner noted, there was still a sliver of truth in his statement. Both the CDC and WHO recommend dosing children diagnosed with measles with vitamin A, which is found in foods like carrots, spinach, pumpkins, eggs, milk, sweet potatoes, and mangoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerous studies have found vitamin A is effective in reducing the severity of measles, including lowering mortality rates. According to AAP guidelines, children who test positive for measles should be given two daily doses of vitamin A for two days, with the dosage varying by age. However, many of the studies that concluded vitamin A was an effective treatment were conducted on populations that tend to be malnourished in general. In more developed countries, such as the United States, vitamin As effectiveness is less clear. A 2021 study conducted in Italy found no significant difference between vitamin A and a placebo in treating children admitted to hospital with measles. Ratner noted that the Italian study suffered from a small sample size, but acknowledged that, Theres some data on the side of saying that the impact in Italy or somewhere like the United States is likely to be less of giving vitamin A supplementation than it is somewhere with a lot of malnutrition. This goes back to observations from a long time ago that children who were malnourished had much higher rates of severe disease and death from measles than kids who were well nourished. [ Related: How to check your measles vaccination status amid outbreak. ] The reasons that vitamin A is good for measles are both straightforward and complex. The vitamin plays a vital role for immune system functioning, said Erik Blutinger, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine. It helps the body produce antibodies. It helps the body mobilize T cell responses, and it prevents immunity from weakening overall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vitamin A is also critical to skin health, as it helps maintain healthy cells in the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. The skin is one of our vital organs and serves as a protective barrier even for our immune system, adds Blutinger. Too much of a good thing The trouble with the recent recommendation is that some parents may hear that a little vitamin A is good, so more must be better. As with most medicines, this can be dangerous thinking. In large doses, vitamin A can become toxic. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and blurred vision. In extreme cases, it can even lead to permanent liver, bone, or nervous system damage. Vitamin A is particularly dangerous because its fat soluble, it gets stored in the liver, said Ratner. Its very easy to give someone too much, and that can either be too much in terms of individual doses or even reasonable doses for too long a period of time. It can endanger the liver, it can endanger the bones. Vitamin A supplementation is great for people who are vitamin A deficient, and its a reasonable thing to do just for the two doses at the time of measles diagnosis, because we think that theres a potential benefit just during that little window. But its not something that people should be doing on their own, and its not something that should be done long term unless theres some very specific medical condition that someones treating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2023 article published in the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, Blutinger noted that there is no antiviral treatment for measles yet available. While two days of vitamin A doses is recommended, followed by another dose several weeks later, the study concluded that the best and surest way to combat the disease remains vaccination. [ Related: Is raw milk safe? Science has a clear answer. ] How to stay healthy Beyond vaccinating, the best advice Blutinger could offer parents was to be well informed with verifiable information that comes from your primary care doctor and from the medical professionals that do not care about politics. My other advice is to take measles extremely seriously and to do what you can to protect your loved ones, your children, the elderly, everyone around you, because, as we saw during COVID, pandemics are not easily tamed, he added. If measles continues to spread rapidly, we may be in even more serious trouble. CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A 21-year-old man from D.C. is facing several charges after he flashed a loaded gun and made threats in Maryland, according to the Charles County Sheriffs Office (CCSO). On March 15, just before 9:30 p.m., Charles County deputies responded to a liquor store in the 4600 block of Indian Head Highway to a report of a person flashing a gun at people. Deputies made contact with the man, later identified as Cato Alexander Johnson, at the front door. But, he immediately became confrontational, according to deputies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Johnson stated he had a gun and was going to pull it out. 11-year-old threatened to kill teachers, students at school in Charles County, deputies say After a struggle, deputies secured the loaded gun and took Johnson into custody. The CCSO said authorities placed him in their patrol vehicle where he continued to kick the cage and headbutt the back passenger window. Johnson was charged with first-degree assault, resisting arrest, concealed handgun violation and other related charges. He is being held without bound at Charles County 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The The El Paso County Sheriffs Office is hosting a community meet and greet with Sheriff Oscar Ugarte and his command staff. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at Montana Vista Fire Rescue, 13978 Montana Ave. This event is an opportunity for residents to meet the sheriff, engage with his leadership team, and hear about the departments priorities and initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attendees will have a chance to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss ways to work together for a safer El Paso County, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Building strong relationships with the community is essential to effective law enforcement. I encourage everyone to come out, meet our team, and have an open conversation about the work we are doing to keep our county safe, Ugarte said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Open records and access to government is important for government transparency and trust. (Photo from www.sunshineweek.org) Its Sunshine Week, which isnt just about journalists. The nonpartisan collaboration of civic, media, education, government and private sectors shines a light on the importance of public records and open government. And all citizens have a right to both. Over the years, I have noticed an increase in requests from the public for transparency and accountability. This Sunshine Week, its worth acknowledging what Indiana mostly does it right. But there is still room for improvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just this week, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that a college student who sued for voter registration documents is entitled to attorneys fees since he won at least part of his case. Lawmakers want more transparency on health provider ownership and are tightening contracting rules for agencies. I want to state first that most governments I have covered do a great job at providing records. That doesnt mean we always agree, but they are genuine and forthright in their efforts. But, lately, it is becoming more difficult. Many state agencies, for example, are pushing even simple requests that can be handled in an email through a formal records request process. They often get lawyers involved for basic things, which simply delays the process for everyone. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An example of this came just this week when the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles initially suggested they could fill a request for data on specialty license plates but later required a formal request that takes much longer. The state has an amazing transparency portal where you can see what each agency is spending and on what; check payroll of state employees; see what the government owes and even look up how many aircraft the state owns. It could be improved by adding what bonuses are given to specific employees. When we wrote about spot bonuses, we had to formally ask for the data because it wasnt publicly available. Bonuses shouldnt be treated any differently than salary in terms of transparency. Lots of contracts are also in the portal, but some are missing. For instance, in December we were tipped of contracts that Secretary of State Diego Morales had signed with entities who then contributed to his campaign. They werent posted in the portal, and we had to request them individually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those contacts still arent online, which means Hoosiers cant find out about them without knowing they exist first. In fact, not a single contract is posted since Morales took over in January 2023. And some agencies havent added annual reports to their sites in years. The last one posted for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management was 2019. Taking it to the courts Sometimes journalists, like the student above, have to sue for records. Thats what the Indianapolis Star did recently, and this week published a blockbuster report showing that county-owned hospitals collected $5.6 billion in Medicaid dollars for nursing home resident care but diverted about half of the money to the hospitals instead. This came at the same time as many nursing homes struggled with staffing and quality of care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indiana Capital Chronicle is likewise in litigation to find out what the state spent on pentobarbital to restart executions in the state. Gov. Mike Braun is open to finding a settlement that pleases everyone in that case. He also plans to appoint a new Public Access Counselor by the end of the month. Its my hope the new counselor will be as vigilant as his or her predecessor. One problem though is that lawmakers have taken some teeth out of the office after the issuance of rulings they didnt like. No one should be afraid of transparency, unless of course they are doing something wrong. And I know the majority of elected officials and government employees I have covered in 30 years arent. They are upright people serving the public. Secrecy only causes mistrust and casts aspersions on them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Milwaukee County Jail. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) A 49 year-old Shorewood man who had been in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail died in a hospital Tuesday, the Milwaukee County Sheriff said in a statement. The Waukesha County Sheriff is investigating. The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation Shorewood Police brought the man to be booked on three criminal charges, according to the sheriffs statement. He had been in the custody of the jail since Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday evening, a nurse with Wellpath, the jails health care provider, observed the man experiencing a health crisis and initiated emergency protocols, the sheriffs office said. Efforts to stabilize the man, including the use of NARCAN, were unsuccessful. The man, who had a pulse and was breathing, was brought to an area hospital and then a second area hospital, where he died. The Milwaukee County Sheriff is not investigating itself, in accordance with Wisconsin law, the statement said. It directed all inquiries to the Waukesha County Sheriff. An audit of the jail found systemic issues ranging from dangerous suicide watch practices and a mental health challenge to critical staffing shortages and occupant overcrowding, the Examiner has reported. During a 14-month period from 2022 to 2023, the jail saw six deaths in custody. The Waukesha County Sheriff did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Immigration officials may arrest and begin the deportation process against a Cornell PhD student who is in the middle of a lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations executive orders cracking down on pro-Palestinian protesters. His attorneys say the situation is an alarming violation of constitutional rights and normal court process, where a critic of the administration may be taken out of the country before his day in court. Momodou Taal, a citizen of the UK and The Gambia, is one of three academics who sued the Trump administration earlier this month, alleging a pair of executive orders have the effect of unconstitutionally threatening to deport immigrants who protest the administration and its allies like Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, with pending hearings scheduled in the constitutional case, Taal got an email from a Justice Department lawyer citing the lawsuit, directing him to surrender to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to court documents. A federal court on Thursday denied an emergency request from the Cornell activist to temporarily pause any arrest attempts, as well as the enforcement of the executive orders, while the case plays out. A judge argued that Taals visa was revoked before he filed the suit, and that the court didnt have jurisdiction to pause the process at this point, noting he could challenge his removal in an immigration or appeals court. Cornell student Momodou Taal alleges that agents are trying to deport him before he can finish suing Trump administration over executive order (Eric Lee) The decision left the academic in limbo. The past week has been perhaps the most intense and stressful of my life, Taal wrote in an affidavit submitted Thursday. I live in fear that ICE agents are going to try to arrest me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PhD added that he fears losing easy access to his legal counsel, and has been alarmed reading about the conditions faced by other non-citizen academics in detention over their role in the campus protests, like Columbia grad Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested in New York and quickly spirited to a detention center in Louisiana. Taals lawyers previously told The Independent the case is a grave warning for eroding protest and legal rights in the U.S. That is something which should cause deep concern and outrage among everybody who wants to defend the most democratic principles in the Bill of Rights and to anyone who wants to prevent Donald Trump from accomplishing his goal of establishing a dictatorship in this country, said attorney Eric Lee. This type of thing should not happen in a democracy, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, they submitted a new legal complaint and again asked for an emergency order stopping attempts to arrest Taal or move him to another jurisdiction. The Trump officials named in the suit have been ordered to respond by Monday. Taals suit, filed with two other Cornell academics, challenges a pair of Trump executive orders signed in January. The White House directives call for agencies to investigate and potentially remove non-citizens in the U.S. who bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles and advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security. The president and his allies frequently describe all pro-Palestinian protests that took place across 2023 and 2024 as synonymous with aiding Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group. Trump vowed in a January statement to deport what he called all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal complaint alleges that the executive orders violate First Amendment Protections for free speech and Fifth Amendment guarantees of due process based on a vague, subjective, and overbroad standards that grant unfettered discretion to government officials. It points to comments from Trump officials like Justice Department civil rights lawyer Leo Terrell, who said in February the administration would put an end to these disorderly demonstrations, supporting Hamas and trying to intimidate Jews and put these people in jail not for 24 hours, but for years. As Taals complaint worked its way through the courts, law enforcement agents and vehicles appeared outside Taals home last week, in what his attorneys believe was a prelude to arrest. Their response to the filing of the suit was to go to his house and threaten to arrest him, Lee said. The administration has begun arresting non-citizen student activists including who protested the Israel-Hamas war, alleging they threaten U.S. foreign policy interests, spread antisemitism, and aid terror groups (AP) The Independent has contacted the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taal has been at the center of controversy before. He was suspended last year over his involvement in protests and told he could lose his visa, though he later reached an agreement with the university to continue attending classes remotely this spring. He has been criticized for posts after the Hamas attack on Israel arguing that colonised peoples have the right to resist by any means necessary, but has maintained he condemns the killing of all civilians. Betar US, a right-wing, Zionist organization considered an extremist group by the Anti-Defamation League, claimed in an email to The Independent it submitted Taals name to federal officials alongside other campus activists whove been detained. The Cornell student said in a statement last week he is undeterred in his activism. Critics argue the Trump administration is abusing the First Amendment and trying to silence anti-government protest (Copyright 2025. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Am I worried at times? Of course, he wrote on X. Am I stressed beyond anything Ive experienced before? Most definitely. But I cannot, in good conscience, remain silent. There is no point living in a world where 100s of children are slaughtered daily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever happens in court, Taals lawyers are concerned the that the lawless administration might not follow a court order, even if the judge does stop the apparent deportation process, or might move along the deportation process faster than courts can scrutinize it. The administration recently defied a courts order to halt or turn around a series of deportation flights bound for El Salvador in the midst of a lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations invoking of the wartime Alien Enemies Act. Administration lawyers have suggested that because the initial order was verbal, and because the planes eventually entered international airspace, they were not at fault. Students caught up in the enforcement effort have been quickly moved away from their families and legal advocates in their home jurisdictions. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University who was arrested by masked agents on Tuesday, was moved to a detention center in Louisiana, the same day a federal judge ordered she not be moved for 48 hours amid an ongoing legal challenge. Based on existing public evidence, Ozturks main involvement in protest activity was co-writing an op-ed critical of the Israeli war effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has attempted to or succeeded in getting multiple academics it accuses of supporting terrorism and fostering antisemitism out of the country, though many maintain they were either mistakenly targeted or were singled out for constitutionally protected protest activism that supported the Palestinian cause. Earlier this month, immigration agents arrested protest leader and recent Columbia University grad Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian U.S. green card holder married to a U.S. citizen, accusing him of antisemitic activities and supporting Hamas, which he has denied. Last Wednesday, a federal judge denied a Trump administration attempt to dismiss Khalils case challenging his detention on First and Fifth Amendment grounds. Khalil argued in a recent op-ed from a Louisiana detention center that hes being punished for speaking out about the Israeli war effort in Gaza, which international observers have alleged is a genocide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My arrest was a direct consequence of exercising my right to free speech as I advocated for a free Palestine and an end to the genocide in Gaza, he wrote in The Guardian. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the deportation attempts, arguing he has power under federal immigration law to initiate the removal of non-citizens who harm U.S. foreign policy interests (AFP or licensors) This month, Department of Homeland Security agents also arrested Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University post-doctoral fellow from India married to a U.S. citizen, on similar grounds outside his Virginia home. The Department of Homeland Security alleges Suri was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media and has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas, a seeming reference to Suris wife, a U.S. citizen who worked in the Gazan foreign ministry and whose father once advised the now-dead leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, according to The Washington Post. Suris apparent X feed shows the scholar, who studies conflict and religious tolerance, criticizing civilian deaths and what he saw as violations of international law in the Israel-Hamas war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suris attorneys, as well as Virginia congressman Don Beyer, have criticized the arrest as unfounded. The justification given for these violations of Mr. Suris right to due process is another violation of the Constitution: a blatant attack on the First Amendment, Beyer said in a statement to The Independent. Mr. Suri and his family are unfortunately the latest victim of President Trumps assault on the freedom of speech. In the cases of both Khalil and Suri, the men are not accused of committing a crime but rather have been determined by the State Department to be threats to U.S. foreign policy and subject to removal. Others say theyve been mistakenly swept up in the campus crackdown. Columbia urban planning student Ranjani Srinivasan of India fled the U.S. this month after her visa was revoked, for what federal officials said were activities supporting Hamas, and failing to disclose two past court summonses. She was briefly arrested at a tense pro-Palestine protest at Columbia in 2024 where students occupied a campus building and hundreds were detained by police. She told CBS News she wasnt involved with the protest and was detained as she walked home from a faculty picnic. Her case was later dismissed. I just found it absurd. Im not a terrorist sympathizer, she said. I came to the U.S. because I really like the academic culture you have. A lot of academic freedom, something you dont really find anywhere else in the world. Currently I do think that there is a crazy climate of fear in universities. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) YWCA McLean County hosted an immersive re-entry simulation at the Bloomington Public Library Thursday, putting people in the shoes of those returning from incarceration. Participants played the role, having to navigate the lack of personal identification, problems that can arise with job placement, rent challenges, and more. The hour-long program simulated an entire month in a short time frame, with participants ending up in various locations at the end. Some ended up making ends meet, while others went back to prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some even became stressed and frustrated throughout the process. Hannah Mesouani is the director of mission and equity consulting for YWCA McLean County, and said the goal is to shed light on the barriers the people can face when returning to their communities after serving time in prison. Were trying to add nuance and depth to peoples mental models of what somebody with a felony looks like and how they might be surviving, she said. Participants could go to various tables, with one representing donating plasma to make ends meet, and another representing the obstacles people face when trying to access public transit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement YWCA, which stands for Young Womens Christian Association, aims to eliminate racism, empower women, help families, and strengthen communities. In McLean County, the organization has services such as Labyrinth House, two remodeled homes that can house up to 8 women recently released from incarceration. They help them gain access to IDs, get treatment, resume writing, and more. Mesouani said the recidivism rate in Illinois is around the 40% range, and the recidivism rate at the Labyrinth House is 6%, which she credits to the organizations commitment to care. We try to facilitate those moments of showing care instead of immediately writing folks off, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trying to add nuance to what she sees as black and white thinking regarding incarcerated people is another thing Mesouani hopes to achieve with the simulation. Mesouani said this was the first public simulation, and they plan on holding another in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. The Trump administration is moving to deport another international student for speaking out against the U.S.-funded genocide in Palestine. One day after Cornell Ph.D. student Momodou Taal, who has dual U.K. and Gambian citizenship, reported unidentified law enforcement agents outside his home, the Justice Department emailed him and his lawyers asking the graduate student to come to ICE headquarters for his detainment. Taal was suspended for participating in anti-Zionist protests on campus last year. On Sunday, he sued the Trump administration on the grounds that two executive orders used to detain innocent student-activists like Mahmoud Khalil violate the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days later, Taal said unidentified agents were outside of his house trying to intimidate him into turning himself in. This morning, shortly after a federal judge scheduled a hearing in my lawsuit demanding the courts strike down Trumps executive orders attacking free speech, law enforcement from an unidentified agency came to my home in Ithaca, New York. I believe they planned to detain me, Taal wrote on X. Trump is attempting to detain me to prevent me from having my day in court. This is part of a continued pattern in the Trump administrations flagrant disregard for the judiciary. Taals lawyers then submitted a motion to stop the government from attempting to detain, remove, or otherwise enforce the two executive orders against Mr. Taal. The Justice Departments email to Taal on Thursday seems to be a way to get around his motion for a temporary restraining order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My guess is that someone in ICE told DOJ they were going to do this and DOJ said hey if you grab this guy at his house with no warning while he has a pending TRO, that is going to piss off the judge, so lets let him surrender instead, American Immigration Council Senior Fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick wrote on X. The Trump administration is still working to detain Taal. I will not be intimidated, Taal said in a statement Thursday. Am I worried at times? Of course. Am I stressed beyond anything Ive experienced before? Most definitely. But I cannot, in good conscience, remain silent. Its easy to see how it has happened. In the topsy-turvy world we now inhabit where Donald Trump can pick Russia over Ukraine, men can be women on a whim and Israel can be dubbed genocidal for defending itself against the homicidal maniacs of Hamas Keir Starmer can end up purporting to be a Right-winger. Even before he came up with his Blairite coalition of the willing, our shapeshifting Prime Minister was positioning himself to the Right of the Labour Party. Mindful, perhaps, of the loveless nature of his election landslide and the growing threat from Reform he transitioned from the Ken Loach undertones of his 2020 leadership pitch to removing the winter fuel allowance from pensioners in Thatcher the snatcher fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having spent four years propping up Jeremy Corbyn, only to expel him from Labour, this politically expedient repositioning should have surprised no one. What is truly shocking, though, is the idea that a self-confessed socialist can be considered as anything other than an ardent Lefty. Like all self-styled red Tories, Starmer might speak Right when it suits him but hes governing Left regardless of what the so-called Labour rebels might have you believe. This goes some way to explaining why the oft-threatened backbench revolt still hasnt materialised. It suits Morgan McSweeney, Starmers Chief of Staff, to have MPs like Nadia Whittome throw her pinko toys out of the pram every time Rachel Reeves tightens the Governments purse strings. But like a lot of centrist dads, the Prime Minister pretends to be a neoliberal while not-so-secretly being a big, fat statist. The centre ground has shifted so far that centrist no longer means what it used to, anyway. It once meant moderate. Now it means to the Right of Diane Abbott, who famously made the case that Chairman Mao did more good than harm. Such is the soft going of the centrist ground, that Rory Stewart could get away with pretending to be a Conservative for a decade. I appreciate that politicians can go on a journey just look at the Cameronite Remainer turned Faragian Brexiteer Robert Jenrick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer, however, isnt a fellow traveller. Deep down, he remains a human rights lawyer who believes that there is something inherently racist about controlling our borders. Thats why he scrapped the Rwanda scheme, despite its potential to act as a deterrent, resulting in 2025 so far being the worst year ever for small boat crossings. The latest immigration figures show an increase of asylum hotel use by more than 8,000 since the election, despite Labours promise to end it. The asylum backlog is up by 500 per cent over the past two years, and removals of arrivals by Channel dinghy are down to a lamentable 4 per cent. There is similarly nothing moderate about Labours anti-business Budget, endorsed repeatedly by Starmer. He insists the Chancellor is doing a good job despite Britain being in the grip of a per capita recession. The Office for Budget Responsibility is now expected to downgrade the growth rate for the 2025 financial year from 2 per cent to about 1 per cent. Hardly Lawsonian. Small and medium-sized enterprises already struggling to cope with the increase in employers National Insurance contributions are facing the double whammy of new employee rights cooked up by former trade unionist Angela Rayner. Meanwhile, Starmer is standing idly by while Bridget Phillipson, his Education Secretary, described as a Marxist by Britains strictest headmistress, Katharine Birbalsingh, pushes through the vindictive VAT on private school fees and equally educationally harmful Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This is not, and never will be, centrist governance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even on welfare reform the offering is decidedly Leftist. The benefits bill is set to hit 100 billion by the end of a decade. Labour has pledged to shave off a mere 5 billion: thats a billion less than the Tories and not a cut but a growth reduction. By comparison, Sir Iain Duncan Smith masterminded 31 billion worth of cuts as work and pensions secretary. Sure, Starmer has axed NHS England, to the envy of some Tory MPs. But the Labour Government has set up a new quango for every week it has been in power. It wont commit to a figure when it comes to reducing the number of full time civil servants, which has ballooned from 380,000 in 2016 to 515,000 today. Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister leading this supposed Doge-inspired mission, cant even confirm the 10,000 figure bandied about by government sources. If this is a Javier Milei-style chainsaw state massacre, then someone forgot to put in the petrol. Speaking of which, despite rumours that Ed Milibands days are numbered, Starmer continues to allow the eco-fanatic Energy and Climate Change Secretary to wreak economic havoc with his uncosted net-zero lunacy. Such is the wanton disregard for taxpayers money that Miliband is offering a salary of 525,000 a year, more than three times the Prime Ministers pay packet, to the new chief executive of his harebrained Great British Energy start-up, who naturally will be allowed to work from home for two days a week. All while lining the pockets of Chinese communists with the pledge of more solar panels. Furthermore, in China all too many factories are reportedly staffed by Uighur slaves. Thats nasty, but not Right-wing. On foreign affairs, No 10 would have us believe that the Prime Minister is a master of international diplomacy. While he deserves credit for his deft handling of Donald Trump and his support for President Zelensky, on the conflict in the Middle East the Government has been found wanting. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has once again had to be slapped down for musing that Israel may be breaking international law with its aid blockade and continued shelling. Starmer has repeatedly rowed back from his original position that Israel has a right to defend itself as only a Leftist concerned about his Muslim vote could. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So again, lets not rewrite history here. Okay, weve had the increase in defence spending and the cut to foreign aid, but Labour has also decided to dole out hefty public sector pay rises to keep their union paymasters happy. When Left-wing newspapers warn of the biggest spending cuts since austerity at next weeks spring statement, what they are truly reflecting is a Labour Government desperately trying to plug a black hole in its own growth forecast. The state has swelled to such epic proportions that no administration would have any choice but to cut it back. Reeves may not announce any outright tax rises on Wednesday, but of course there will be stealth taxes. Because thats what Labour governments do, til the pips squeak. If it looks like a socialist and acts like a socialist, then it probably is a socialist. 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. Mar. 20LIMA Pleas of not guilty were entered Thursday on behalf of a 15-year-old Lima girl charged in connection with criminal acts which ultimately led to the February 2024 shooting death of her twin sister. Ariel Sterling made an appearance in Allen County Common Pleas Court for an arraignment hearing, her first formal hearing following a ruling last month that transferred her case from Allen County Juvenile Court to the adult division of Common Pleas Court. She appeared before Judge Jeffrey Reed along with her court-appointed attorney, Kenneth Rexford. Pleas of not guilty were submitted for Sterling to charges of aggravated robbery and felonious assault, felonies of the first- and second-degree, respectively. Each count has a three-year firearm specification attached. A similar plea was entered to a third-degree felony count of grand theft of a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police and prosecutors say Ariel Sterling was involved in a Feb. 13, 2024, robbery on Greenlawn Avenue in Lima that took place a few hours before her twin sister, Lauralye, was shot and killed at that same residence. Malik Dennis, who admitted firing the shot that killed Sterling, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter. Investigators learned that Dennis himself was the victim of a robbery at the home earlier on Feb. 13. Two Lima teenagers Ronnie Brown and Cadarius Burns have been sentenced for their roles in that robbery. Prosecutors say Ariel Sterling also was actively involved and is criminally complicit. Brown was sentenced to nine years in prison on a charge of aggravated robbery with a firearm specification. Burns is serving a 10-year sentence for aggravated robbery. Bond for Sterling had earlier been set at $250,000, but Rexford sought a reduction of that amount to $100,000 and asked that his client be placed on home arrest with a GPS ankle monitor. The attorney said all charges against his client are as a result of Sterling being complicit in the execution of crimes against Dennis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ariel did not have possession of a firearm, and I think that is significant in considering the risk of a person who is out on bond," Rexford said. Assistant Allen County Prosecuting Attorney Cecily Stewart objected to a reduction in bond, citing Sterling's "extensive" juvenile record and a "history of non-compliance with juvenile probation." Reed lowered the girl's bond to $150,000 cash or surety with the house arrest and ankle monitor provisions. If bond is posted, Sterling will reside in Lima with her grandmother. Featured Local Savings Several candidates are in the running to fill an open seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Half a dozen candidates have thrown their names in to run for an open seat in the Oklahoma House representing parts of Tulsa and Rogers Counties. The House District 74 seat is up for grabs after Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, stepped down prior to session to accept a job in Tulsa County government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special primary election is April 1 and a special runoff, if needed, would be May 13, said Misha Mohr with the State Election Board. If no runoff is needed, the general election will be May 13. Early voting begins March 27. Candidates are organized alphabetically and by political party. Democratic Party Amy Hossain is a Democratic candidate running to fill an open seat in the Oklahoma House. (Photo provided) Amy Hossain said shes running because she wants to give voters a choice to elect someone from her party. She said she has been frustrated by the lack of options on her ballot in the past. Hossain, 50, is the chief human resources officer for Domestic Violence Intervention Services in Tulsa and is the president of Khan Ohana, a nonprofit working to break the cycle of poverty among college students. She has also been involved in community service through various other nonprofits, according to her campaign website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I had the chance to be elected, you know first and foremost is quality public education, equitable access to health care, livable wages, affordable housing, Hossain said. She said shell defend public education from harmful cuts, work to eliminate disparities in health outcomes, and ensure Oklahomans have the opportunity to live in safe, stable housing without sacrificing basic needs, according to her campaign website. Republican Party Kevin Norwood Kevin Norwood is a Republican candidate running to fill an open seat in the Oklahoma House. (Photo provided) At 57, Kevin Norwood, a pastor, said he has been invested in this community for more than three decades. He said he has built businesses in the district, helped mentor community youth, and is involved in community initiatives. In 30 years of working with all ages and all walks of life, I have learned that success comes from meeting people where they are, and then working alongside them in bringing ideas to life, identifying skills, and creating opportunities that foster success, he said in a statement. I am so proud of Owasso, knowing our community and the people that make it a destination for families to call home and I intend to champion our community and reflect our conservative Oklahoma values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected, Norwood hopes to build a vibrant economy, with a low tax environment, safe communities, strong infrastructure, excellence in schools, and support community and family initiatives. Brad Peixotto Brad Peixotto, 52, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Johnathon Shepherd Johnathon Shepherd is a Republican candidate running to fill an open seat in the Oklahoma House. (Photo provided) Marine Corps veteran and entrepreneur Johnathon Shepherd, 47, launched the Eagle OPS Foundation to help veterans like himself combat loneliness and connect to resources after leaving the military. As your representative, Ill bring the same passion, integrity, and determination to ensure that all Oklahomans veterans and civilians alike have the opportunities and support they deserve, he said in a statement. District 74 deserves a leader who understands the challenges of service and transition, who has lived through the struggles, and who is committed to making a difference. I believe I am that leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to his website, Shepherds top issues include supporting veterans, strengthening families, growing the economy and creating safer communities. This includes focusing on veteran homelessness and suicide prevention, promoting policies that support families and uphold traditional values, and reducing regulations on small businesses. Maggie Stearman Maggie Stearman is a Republican candidate running to fill an open seat in the Oklahoma House. (Photo provided) As a mother and a former teacher, Maggie Stearman, 26, is running for office because she wants to increase representation of a younger generation and mothers in the Oklahoma House. In an interview with Oklahoma Voice, Stearman said she is a foster mom and would like to see greater transparency and an improved foster system from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services so more people are able to foster children. If elected, the Republican candidate would prioritize fighting woke ideologues in our school, advancing MAGA, maintaining Oklahomas election integrity and freeing the turnpikes, according to her campaign website. Im big into the Make Oklahoma Healthy Again movement, she said. I think that choices should always come back to family, individuals and parents to decide for their children what is best for them and informed consent. I think that a doctor should have to tell you what is inside of something before theyre just putting it in your body. Shelia Vancuren Shelia Vancuren is a Republican candidate running to fill an open seat in the Oklahoma House. (Photo provided) Shelia Vancuren said shes been interested in running for office since before her husband held the legislative seat. She wants to help protect freedoms in Oklahoma and ensure its a great place to live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected, the realtor and former teacher said her priorities include improving education, promoting small businesses and working to make sure Oklahomans keep as much money in their pockets as possible. You kind of see the direction the states going and then just on the national level as well, just seeing how things have degraded there, Vancuren, 57, said. Oklahoma has luckily been a great place to live. And so I like that, and I want it to remain that way. I can continue to protect our freedoms in Oklahoma just because I love my state. Voters can check their registration status and their polling location at the voter portal on the State Election Board website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a 2024 Florida law aimed at restricting childrens access to major social-media sites, ruling that industry groups did not show they had legal standing to fight the measure. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, in a ruling issued Monday, gave the Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice, industry groups whose members include tech giants such as Google and Meta Platforms, until March 31 to file a revamped lawsuit, which the groups said they intend to do. The law, which was one of the top issues of the 2024 legislative session, seeks to prevent children under age 16 from opening social-media accounts on certain platforms though it would allow parents to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts. Children under 14 could not open accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law does not directly identify which platforms would be affected by the regulations. But it includes a definition of such platforms, with four criteria related to such things as algorithms, addictive features and livestreaming. During a hearing in the case last month, lawyers for the industry groups said the restrictions would apply, at a minimum, to Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat. The groups contend the law infringes on the First Amendment rights of the social-media platforms, the industry associations and users. But Walker said the groups failed to show they would be negatively affected by the restrictions and did not establish legal standing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because this law does not regulate social media platforms generally, but instead limits its coverage to those platforms that meet each of four specific criteria, this court cannot reasonably infer that any particular platform is likely covered by the law without some factual allegations regarding each of those criteria, Walker wrote in a six-page order. Walker said that, at best, he could infer that Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat satisfy some but not all of the criteria. It is not sufficient for plaintiffs to allege that, because their members include many of the major social media companies, one is likely to meet the laws coverage requirements, the judge wrote in a footnote. Instead, plaintiffs must plead sufficient facts for this court to reasonably infer that at least one identifiable member of theirs likely meets the four coverage criteria. Nor is it sufficient for plaintiffs to plead facts suggesting that some Florida leaders intended for the law to cover some of plaintiffs members, because this law can only be enforced against those members if they meet the four coverage criteria, and Florida leaders are in no better position to know whether plaintiffs members meet those criteria than plaintiffs or their members themselves are. Walker last week also issued a decision denying the plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to block the law from being enforced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither of the judges rulings addressed the First Amendment issue but focused instead on standing. Stephanie Joyce, senior vice president and chief of staff for the Computer & Communications Industry Association, told The News Service of Florida that her group intends to revise the lawsuit and renew the effort to block the law (HB 3). Walkers order dismissing the case was made without prejudice, meaning that plaintiffs can re-file the complaint, Joyce said in an email. We intend to do so very soon, along with a renewed request for preliminary injunction that addresses the issues raised in the March 13 (preliminary injunction) order. Florida HB 3 imposes severe impediments to accessing online speech, and we will continue to press our First Amendment claims to strike it down, Joyce said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NetChoice called Walkers ruling disappointing and pledged to pursue the legal battle. Blocking access to free, lawful speech will not make a single Floridian safer online. Instead, it will put their security online at serious risk of breach especially for minors. We will continue to fight to keep online communication safe and free in Florida and ensure that families are fully protected by meaningful and legal not unconstitutional laws, Paul Taske, NetChoice associate director of litigation, said in a statement. In last weeks order denying the preliminary injunction, Walker said the groups had not met a legal test of showing that at least one group member would have standing to sue in its own right. The judge also wrote, This court recognizes that, to a lay observer, it may seem counterintuitive or even absurd to conclude that there is no case or controversy between the plaintiffs here two trade associations representing, among others, several major social media companies and the attorney general of Florida, who is charged with enforcing a law that regulates some social media companies. But the Supreme Court and the Eleventh Circuit (the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals) have developed a rigorous, fact-intensive test for standing that this court must faithfully apply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, but the states lawyers in November agreed not to enforce it until Walker ruled on the plaintiffs request for a preliminary injunction. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Welcome back to the Social Rundown, where you can learn about the online trends happening globally and in Texoma, too! Want to get the latest tea or news on whats trending on social media? Tune in daily! Massive fire at London Heathrow Airport A large fire broke out yesterday due to electrical issues that caused power outages. Thousands of flights have been canceled, and actually, to be more specific, more than 1,300 flights and about 200,000 passengers have been affected by these cancellations. Bridge collapse in U.S. brings awareness The crash and collapse of a Baltimore bridge are now bringing important warnings nearly a year later to inspect 68 crossings around the country, including many significant spans in New York and New Jersey. The investigation is getting all that so these bridges undergo safety evaluations for similar catastrophic crashes. National Memory Day Today is National Memory Day! It celebrates the brains function in the human body to help us retrieve events and experiences from the past. Our brain uses four categories of memory: sensory, short-term, working and long-term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are a few ways to use and enhance your memory: -learning a new skill -playing sports -cooking favorite recipes -singing songs -playing an instrument Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. WASHINGTON The temporary director of the Social Security Administration suggested agency operations would be so impaired by a court banishing Elon Musks DOGE team from sensitive databases that he would just turn out the lights. A federal judge on Thursday ordered Social Security to revoke the so-called Department of Government Efficiencys access to various databases containing Americans personal information, and for DOGE employees or affiliates to delete any data theyve taken and remove any software theyve installed. In an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday evening, Leland Dudek, the acting commissioner of Social Security, said his own staff would count as DOGE affiliates and seemingly joked about shutting down the entire agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it stands, I will follow it exactly and terminate access by all SSA employees to our IT systems, Dudek said. Really, I want to turn it off and let the courts figure out how they want to run a federal agency. On Friday, Dudek indicated he was actually talking to the Justice Department about shutting down Social Security and potentially halting benefits for 70 million people if the court didnt clarify its order. Unless I get clarification, Ill just start to shut it down. I dont have much of a choice here, Dudek told The Washington Post. Later on Friday, Dudek stood down, saying the court had clarified its order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therefore, I am not shutting down the agency, Dudek said in a press release. President Trump supports keeping Social Security offices open and getting the right check to the right person at the right time. How had U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander clarified her restraining order against DOGE at Social Security? By simply stating in a letter it was inaccurate for Dudek to claim everyone at Social Security counted as a DOGE affiliate. Thats all it took. (In an apparent coincidence, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday talked about halting all Social Security payments as a way of rooting out fraud. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining, Lutnick said on the All-In podcast. ) Asked for clarification of Dudeks turn it off remarks earlier on Friday, the Social Security Administration told HuffPost simply that it would comply with the court order. The White House simply blasted Judge Hollander as a radical leftist in a statement that didnt address the shutdown threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rich Couture, spokesman for the American Federation of Government Employees subchapter that represents more than 40,000 Social Security workers, told HuffPost that as of early Friday afternoon, he hadnt heard of anyone being shut out of IT systems. Contrary to his claim that DOGE affiliates were so numerous at Social Security the agency would have to shut down, only 11 DOGE people had access to Social Security data, including five special government employees from the White House and six on detail from other agencies, according to a letter Dudek sent in response to questions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) this week. The Trump administration is threatening to shut down all of Social Security simply because a judge ruled to block 11 DOGE employees from sticking their fingers in taxpayers private information, Warren said. Dudeks shutdown threat came as Social Security prepares to shed staff while also making major changes to agency operations, with plans to reduce phone service in favor of in-person visits to field offices across the country. Employees have told HuffPost its a difficult time to work for the agency, with increased calls from the public compounding anxiety about remaining employed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its almost as if weve turned into a call center with how busy weve gotten with calls, one field office worker told HuffPost. I mean it went from a point in time where wed have maybe 100 calls a day, and then on a really big day, it would be about 150, and just on Monday, we had 350 calls. The worker said that even though the agency announced on Tuesday that more claimants would be told to do business at field offices starting March 31, in less than two weeks, the agency had not yet briefed staff on new procedures, which employees learned about from the press release. (A spokesperson for Social Security said training would start next week.) The field office staff said Social Security employees take pride in their work and resent disparaging statements about government workers from Musk, President Donald Trump and other Republicans. We are still the ones out there trying our best to help people and take care of their claims, because we do understand that this is an important time of their life, and most people arent prepared for it, and we are there to help them, the staffer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dudek, formerly a mid-level anti-fraud staffer, became the acting commissioner of Social Security after going around his superiors to work with DOGE. He has since been a wrecking ball, consolidating offices, firing senior staff and even canceling contracts with the state of Maine in an apparent act of political retaliation against the states Democratic governor for standing up to Trump. Dudeks schemes represent the fulfillment of Musk and Trumps anti-fraud agenda, with the pair falsely claiming Social Security makes bogus payments to millions of nonexistent beneficiaries. Hes untethered and Musk wants it to be shut down, Martin OMalley, who served as commissioner of Social Security under President Joe Biden, said of Dudek. OMalley has previously warned that Dudeks layoffs and other changes could cause the agency to miss benefit payments. The group Democracy Forward and AFGE filed suit against DOGE earlier this month. A former Social Security official said in an affidavit as part of the suit that DOGEs disregard for privacy protections now threatens the security of the data SSA houses about millions of Americans and that benefits could be at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, a liberal group that opposes benefit cuts, called Dudeks short tenure the darkest time in Social Securitys history, saying hed been promoted ahead of more than 100 better-qualified SSA employees. He has sown chaos and destruction. Now, he is threatening to shut down Social Security completely, Altman said. Dudek is willing to deny over 70 million Americans the benefits that most of them rely on to survive, rather than stop DOGE from mucking around with our data. CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misstated Howard Lutnicks position. A 2011 photo shows an exhibit at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum that commemorated the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Social Security Act in August 2010. (FDR Presidential Library & Museum/via Flickr) The Social Security Administration has summarily closed a federally funded consortium of research centers, including one at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, that studied demographic trends and the impacts of policy on the federal retirement system. Terminating the program has sharply limited the programs research sources at a time when the Social Security Administration is poised to cut 7,000 workers, close field offices across the country and cancel the ability for people to file for benefits by telephone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very, very frightening, said Nancy Altman, president of the advocacy group Social Security Works. Ive been working on this issue for 50 years and I think this is the most destabilized Ive ever seen the administration of Social Security. The UW center was one of six members of the Social Security Administration Retirement and Disability Research Consortium. The consortium was established in its current form in 2019, a successor to retirement research centers established in 1998. The Trump administration announced Feb. 21 that the consortium was being dissolved in keeping with an executive order President Donald Trump signed Jan. 22 gutting diversity activities across the federal government. UW-Madison Professor J. Michael Collins, an expert in family economics who directed a federally supported Social Security research center at the U.W. Madison. (UW-Madison photo) Shutting down the consortium canceled 19 research projects that were underway at the UWs Social Security research center, said its director, J. Michael Collins. Collins, a specialist in family economics at UW-Madison. Collins holds positions at the universitys School of Human Ecology, The La Follette School of Public Affairs and several other university offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research by the center and its consortium partners in collaboration with Social Security represented an important collaboration that has helped shape policy for the 90-year-old Social Security program, Collins said. Studies on the income and expenses of older Americans, for example, have helped guide the formulas that the Social Administration uses to develop its annual cost of living adjustments. It really is a collaboration, and that is hard to build, Collins said and may be difficult to recreate. Along with canceling the consortium agreements, the Social Security Administration has relocated its own research operations while also cutting staff. Theyve greatly reduced their ability to conduct research internally, Collins said. Why would they want to eliminate their research capacity to that degree? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Established during the Great Depression to lift seniors out of poverty, the Social Security program is primarily funded by payroll taxes. As each generation retires, its members benefits are paid by the generation of workers behind them. Social Security provides retirement benefits as well as income for people with disabilities. About 73 million people in the U.S. receive benefits from the system, according to the Social Security Administration. Three out of four are 65 or older. Another 15% are people with disabilities under the age of 65. One project underway at the UW center when the research consortium was canceled was looking at the impact of state mandates requiring employers to provide sick leave for employees a law on the books in about a half-dozen states. (Wisconsin is not one of them.) That study could have provided evidence whether or not mandated sick leave policies reduce the need for future permanent disability claims. Either way, thats an important question for Social Security to understand, Collins said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another project cut off was a study of Long Covid the lingering collection of health-hampering symptoms reported by millions of COVID-19 patients. Understanding how the condition affects trends in work, health and disability could inform the projections Social Security actuaries must make as they look at the programs prospects 75 years into the future, Collins said. The UW center was also contributing research to help structure Wisconsins ABLE account a savings account for people with disabilities that the state is in the process of establishing. The UW center was launched with a five-year grant for $12 million. The grant was renewed in 2024 with another five-year grant that was supposed to be for $15 million. About $2.3 million of that has been spent, but with the termination there will be no reports or final studies, Collins said. Nancy Altman of Social Security Works Altman of Social Security Works said research has been integral to the Social Security system from when it was established in the Great Depression, spearheaded in part by people with ties to UW-Madison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyve always done research to determine how the program should be structured, what the needs of the American people are, how economic security can be improved and what other countries are doing, Altman said. You have to be informed to have legislation that will work and have administration that will work. The Feb. 21 Social Security Administration press release announcing the termination of the research consortium said the research center agreements included a focus on research addressing DEI in Social Security, retirement, and disability policy and that ending them was in line with ending fraudulent and wasteful initiatives. The reality is that Social Security is gender neutral, racially neutral, Altman said. Nevertheless, she said, various social differences are important in understanding how disparate impacts might affect the long-term operation of the program. For example, an accurate projection for the programs resources and ability to pay benefits in the future requires considering the differing labor force participation rates of men and women. Altman said contrary to the claims of the Trump administration, its actions with the Social Security Administration are the opposite of rooting out waste, because its creating it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Flash U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will sign a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine "very shortly." "We are doing good work with Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earth with Ukraine," the president said. Trump made the remarks shortly after he signed an executive order to invoke emergency powers to "dramatically increase production of critical minerals and rare earths." "We're also signing agreements in various locations to unlock rare earths and minerals and lots of other things all over the world, but in particular Ukraine," Trump said. He said last month that he asked Ukraine to provide the United States rare earth worth 500 billion U.S. dollars. "I told them [Ukraine] that I want the equivalent like $500B worth of rare earth. And they've essentially agreed to do that so at least we don't feel stupid," Trump said in an interview with Fox News at the time. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were scheduled to sign a deal at the end of February in Washington that would grant Washington access to Ukraine's mineral deposits. However, the deal remained unsigned after Zelensky's meeting in the Oval Office with Trump and his deputy JD Vance turned into a heated exchange. Social Security Administration sign on field office building. SSA is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security - San Jose, California, USA - 2020 The Social Security Administration has summarily closed a federally funded consortium of research centers, including one at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, that studied demographic trends and the impacts of policy on the federal retirement system. Terminating the program has sharply limited the programs research sources at a time when the Social Security Administration is poised to cut 7,000 workers, close field offices across the country and cancel the ability for people to file for benefits by telephone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very, very frightening, said Nancy Altman, president of the advocacy group Social Security Works. Ive been working on this issue for 50 years and I think this is the most destabilized Ive ever seen the administration of Social Security. The UW center was one of six members of the Social Security Administration Retirement and Disability Research Consortium. The consortium was established in its current form in 2019, a successor to retirement research centers established in 1998. The other five are Boston College, the National Bureau of Economic Research, the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), the University of Michigan, and Baruch College. The Trump administration announced Feb. 21 that the consortium was being dissolved in keeping with an executive order President Donald Trump signed Jan. 22 gutting diversity activities across the federal government. UW-Madison Professor J. Michael Collins, an expert in family economics who directed a federally supported Social Security research center at the U.W. Madison. (UW-Madison photo) Shutting down the consortium canceled 19 research projects that were underway at the UWs Social Security research center, said its director, J. Michael Collins. Collins, a specialist in family economics at UW-Madison, holds positions at the universitys School of Human Ecology, The La Follette School of Public Affairs and several other university offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research by the center and its consortium partners in collaboration with Social Security represented an important collaboration that has helped shape policy for the 90-year-old Social Security program, Collins said. Studies on the income and expenses of older Americans, for example, have helped guide the formulas that the Social Administration uses to develop its annual cost of living adjustments. It really is a collaboration, and that is hard to build, Collins said and may be difficult to recreate. Along with canceling the consortium agreements, the Social Security Administration has relocated its own research operations while also cutting staff. Theyve greatly reduced their ability to conduct research internally, Collins said. Why would they want to eliminate their research capacity to that degree? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Established during the Great Depression to lift seniors out of poverty, the Social Security program is primarily funded by payroll taxes. As each generation retires, its members benefits are paid by the generation of workers behind them. Social Security provides retirement benefits as well as income for people with disabilities. About 73 million people in the U.S. receive benefits from the system, according to the Social Security Administration. Three out of four are 65 or older. Another 15% are people with disabilities under the age of 65. One project underway at the UW center when the research consortium was canceled was looking at the impact of state mandates requiring employers to provide sick leave for employees a law on the books in about a half-dozen states. (Wisconsin is not one of them.) That study could have provided evidence whether or not mandated sick leave policies reduce the need for future permanent disability claims. Either way, thats an important question for Social Security to understand, Collins said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another project cut off was a study of Long Covid the lingering collection of health-hampering symptoms reported by millions of COVID-19 patients. Understanding how the condition affects trends in work, health and disability could inform the projections Social Security actuaries must make as they look at the programs prospects 75 years into the future, Collins said. The UW center was also contributing research to help structure Wisconsins ABLE account a savings account for people with disabilities that the state is in the process of establishing. The UW center was launched with a five-year grant for $12 million. The grant was renewed in 2024 with another five-year grant that was supposed to be for $15 million. About $2.3 million of that has been spent, but with the termination there will be no reports or final studies, Collins said. Altman of Social Security Works said research has been integral to the Social Security system from when it was established in the Great Depression, spearheaded in part by people with ties to UW-Madison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyve always done research to determine how the program should be structured, what the needs of the American people are, how economic security can be improved and what other countries are doing, Altman said. You have to be informed to have legislation that will work and have administration that will work. The Feb. 21 Social Security Administration press release announcing the termination of the research consortium said the research center agreements included a focus on research addressing DEI in Social Security, retirement, and disability policy and that ending them was in line with ending fraudulent and wasteful initiatives. The reality is that Social Security is gender neutral, racially neutral, Altman said. Nevertheless, she said, various social differences are important in understanding how disparate impacts might affect the long-term operation of the program. For example, an accurate projection for the programs resources and ability to pay benefits in the future requires considering the differing labor force participation rates of men and women. Altman said contrary to the claims of the Trump administration, its actions with the Social Security Administration are the opposite of rooting out waste, because its creating it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Wisconsin Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Ruth Conniff for questions: info@wisconsinexaminer.com. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX President Donald Trumps has responded to a report that King Charles III is preparing to extend an offer for the U.S. to become an associate member of the Commonwealth. Posting on his social network Truth Social earlier today, Trump wrote simply: I love King Charles. Sounds good to me! in response to a report from U.K. newspaper The Sun, which said that Charles is preparing to make the offer to Trump during his upcoming state visit. The Commonwealth, a loose association of 56 nationsmany of them former British coloniesalso includes countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with King Charles as their ceremonial head of state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commonwealth countries have no legal legal obligation to each another but citizens do receive benefits when they travel to the U.K., including being about to live, travel, study and work for six months without a visa. The U.S. declared independence from Britain in 1776, securing its independence through the Treaty of Paris seven years later following the Revolutionary War. Notably, Canada has recently found itself in Trumps crosshairs, with the president mocking the country and suggesting it should become the 51st state. The proposal to bring the U.S. into the Commonwealth orbit, even in a symbolic or associate capacity, is being interpreted in some quarters as a strategic way to calm tensions with Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea, while unprecedented, is reportedly being taken seriously at the highest levels of both British and American diplomacy. A source told the Daily Mail: This is being discussed at the top. It would be a historic move, reflecting the deep cultural and political bonds between Britain and the United States. Trump has a strong affinity for Britain and its traditions, and we believe he would appreciate the symbolic power of such a move. Trumps affection for the British monarchy is well documented. During his first presidency, he made two visits to the late Queen Elizabeth II, including a full state visit. Now, with a second state visit on the cards, Trump is poised to become the only foreign leader ever to receive such an invitation twice, underlining the peculiarly potent diplomatic role that the Royal Family continues to play in U.K.-U.S. relations. While Trump has consistently praised King Charles and Prince William, hes been less gracious toward Prince Harry and Meghan Marklehe recently labelled Meghan as terrible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A royal bromance could end up being about a great deal more than nostalgia or mere pageantry: Trump has floated the idea that Britain could be shielded from harsh tariffs currently being considered for other trading partners. Buckingham Palace told The Daily Beast it wouldnt comment. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A new law in South Dakota will restrict transgender people's use of communal facilities in public schools and state-owned buildings starting July 1. Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed bill HB 1259 into law on Friday, which prohibits transgender people from using changing rooms and restrooms that align with their gender identity. The bill also allows people who encounter transgender people in these facilities to seek declaratory and injunctive relief against the school or state if officials did not take reasonable steps to prevent the transgender person from using that facility. South Dakota is a place where common-sense values remain common, Rhoden said in a statement, adding that the bill promotes freedom from the woke agenda like what has happened in too many other places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first time South Dakota has had a state law restricting transgender people's bathroom access, thanks to the overwhelmingly conservative state legislature this session. A bill had previously passed through both chambers of the state legislature in 2016 before it was vetoed by then Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Samantha Chapman, advocacy manager at the ACLU of South Dakota, said the organization is exploring its options against the law. This is a really painful law, Chapman said. It's really disheartening and kind of heartbreaking, frankly, to see Rhoden take this position and sign this bill into law." South Dakota is at least the 13th state to adopt a law barring transgender girls and women from girls and womens bathrooms at public schools, and in some cases other government facilities. A similar measure was sent Thursday to the governor in Tennessee; a bill is also on the governors desk in Montana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the bans in other states face court challenges, but those havent had final rulings. Courts have struck down some school district-level bathroom bans across the country. But this week, a federal appeals panel ruled 3-0 that a district judge was not wrong to allow Idahos ban to be enforced while the case is considered. Since he returned to office in January, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders intended to curtail the rights of transgender people. President Joe Bidens administration had sought to apply the federal barring of gender discrimination at schools to gender identity, but the courts put the brakes on that. ___ Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill contributed from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Brian Bonner grew up in Mitchell and moved to Ukraine in 2008 to run the Kiev Post, an English-language newspaper. He says Ukrainians are not very optimistic that Russia wants peace. Vladimir Putin dug in, showed no interest in compromising at all, said Bonner. And the cease-fire, the so-called temporary, partial cease-fire never held even for an hour. They were flying drones outside my window in the dead of the night and its a very scary time. U.S. Senator Mike Rounds says everyone wants the war to end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women-owned business helps non-profits raise millions I think the president has made it clear he is going to try to get between Ukraine and Russia and act as a mediator. He was pretty tough on Ukraine a couple weeks ago. I expect him to be just as tough on Putin, said Rounds. But Bonner isnt confident that will happen. He says Ukrainians are afraid President Trump has already given in to Putin. Vladimir Putin is going to drag this out, as he continues to kill Ukrainians, said Bonner. Now there are going to be gestures, like we had that prisoner exchange today, the Kremlin called it a sign of good will but these are pretty cosmetic in terms of brings an end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom: As an American, as a South Dakotan, how does this make you feel? Deep depression today Tom, because I dont see, and if you do let me know, but I dont see where this is going, said Bonner. Senator Rounds says many in Congress feel the same way he does about the invasion of Ukraine. Lets begin by remembering that Putin is the aggressor that caused this war, it never would have happened. He is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, and millions of people being displaced, this is on Putin, he is not a good person, said Rounds. Rounds say any deal with Putin should include guarantees and a peacekeeping force made up of Europeans. he also says there should be an American presence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America has to have a business interest established in Ukraine with civilians working there. And a lot of that has to do with minerals that are available there that can help perhaps pay back some of the costs that weve been incurring, said Rounds. It also more importantly provides an American presence in that country, makes it a lot more difficult for an authoritarian like Putin to come in and attack again. Rounds say there should be a long-term plan to arm Ukraine so if Ukraine is attacked in the future it can defend itself. Time will tell how this works out, but I can tell you that within Congress, Ukraine has a lot of allies, said Rounds. We want to see this ended as well. We dont want to see the violence continue on, nobody does, except for Putin. And you have to recognize that. So if we can get a deal done. Ukraine has to be protected. As for Bonner, he says all Ukrainians can do is hope, but right now theres not much of that. I think the world should understand very clearly that its the Ukrainians who want the peace, Vladimir Putin wants to continue the war and hes going to continue the war, said Bonner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator John Thune and Representative Dusty Johnson have voiced their support for Ukraine and a peaceful resolution of the invasion of that 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 KELOLAND.com. A South Korean family that was traveling across the Southwest and expected to depart from a California airport this week is missing, authorities say. Jiyeon Lee, 33, Taehee Kim, 59, and Junghee Kim, 54, disappeared while driving from the Grand Canyon toward Las Vegas on March 13. GPS information on the rented 2024 BMW they were driving showed the vehicle was last on westbound Interstate 40 in Williams, Ariz., shortly before 3:30 p.m., said Jon Paxton, a spokesperson for the Coconino County Sheriff's Office in Arizona. Paxton said their car was about a mile away from a deadly chain reaction crash on the snow- and ice-covered highway that involved 22 vehicles. Two people were killed,16 were injured and traffic was snarled along the highway, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are still working to identify all the cars involved in that crash. "The fire from that accident burned so hot for so long that a lot of those cars are unidentifiable," Paxton said. Investigators checked area hospitals for the family, but did not find them. Deputies also searched both sides of the highway by foot, air and car looking for signs of the group or the BMW in case they had been rerouted off the highway. But there was no trace of them, Paxton said. The family was traveling in the area during a winter storm that brought heavy snow and whiteout conditions to northern Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Weather conditions were pretty bad at that time," Paxton said. "And if you get rerouted most of the time, you get rerouted off the interstate here in northern Arizona, and you end up on a dirt road. We checked all the roads, nothing. And we haven't had a ping on their phones or from the car since the 13th." Authorities in Arizona were contacted by the South Korean consulate after the family missed their flight out of San Francisco on Monday. The BMW they were driving has a California license plate 9KHN768. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coconino County Sheriff's Office at (928) 774-4523. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (KRON) Southwest Airlines is cutting more than 100 jobs across four airports in the country, the airline said in a statement to KRON4. One of the four airports affected is San Jose Mineta International Airport. About 120 jobs across the four airports are being slashed, according to Southwest. The airline did not specify how many jobs at the San Jose airport were being cut. Ali Wong dines at recently-revived San Francisco Pho staple Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwest said it has been overstaffed at those airports. The job cuts wont have any effect on our services at SJC or the other locations, Southwest said. The airline did not name the other three airports where jobs are being cut. Our current flight schedule and modest growth plan for 2025 require alignments to our workforce at four airports where we operate. We always try to minimize the impact to our Employees and all will have an opportunity to remain with Southwest. Southwest Airlines The layoffs come about one week after Southwest announced it was abandoning a decades-long perk for its riders. Checked bags will no longer fly for free. The new policy will start on May 28. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Winston-Salem city officials are staying the course on a reduction in minimum staffing levels for the fire department despite a significant protest from the local firefighters union and many other residents at Monday nights city council meeting. Dozens of members from the Local 682 Winston-Salem Association of Professional Firefighters packed the council chambers Monday night while multiple speakers urged the council and city manager Pat Pate not to allow the staffing reduction, which should last until June, the end of the fiscal year for the government. We are not asking for luxuries here, we are asking for properly staffed firetrucks so we can effectively and safely do our jobs, said Ashton Perry Parrinello, the union president. Not only for ourselves but for the public. The city announced the decision to reduce the number of daily minimum staffing from 89 to 79 across the citys 20 fire stations at the end of February. Changes also included cancellation of most out-of-town and off-duty training through June 30 and the elimination of Safety 7, a firefighter assigned to a safety truck to ensure firefighters at various scenes follow the departments safety protocols. Pate said the change was necessary because the fire department has already spent 75% of its overtime budget with months to go. In interviews with the Journal, Winston-Salem city officials explained how many factors were included as causing the rapid depletion of overtime funds. Pate and Fire Chief Trey Mayo said the department spent its overtime budget so quickly because of firefighter vacancies. When youve got your full allotment of employees on the roster you dont use that overtime, Mayo said of the budget overage. But getting to that number is impossible. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said after Monday nights council meeting that there was a number of times firefighters were out throughout the year, causing others to fill in and receive overtime. We created a $3 million overtime budget this year, but because of the number of firefighters that have been out from time to time, theyre about to exceed that budget, Joines said. Pate, who said he was asked to, spent part of the beginning of the council meeting listing budget allocations to the fire department for the last 10 years as a point of reference for the city council. Over time the departments non-personnel operating budget has increased by 120%, Pate said, stations 7, 8 and 9 have been renovated and the department has built station 13. Yet since the announcement about the reduction in staffing, the Winston-Salem firefighters union has experienced a sharp rise in membership from 149 to more than 209 total members among the fire departments 351 operational personnel, and the organization has produced messaging about a number of desired improvements for department employees. In a speech to the council during public comment Monday night, Parrinello asked city officials to change their decision while also raising other issues within the fire department such as recruitment and retention and pay plans. Our neighboring fire departments all have higher pay than us, Parrinello said. They have step pay plans for every rank, they have lateral transfers while we offer none of these things. These other municipalities are effectively taking our firefighters away from Winston-Salem, he said. Even though the city has implemented multi-million-dollar budget adjustments to provide pay increases to firefighters in recent years, starting salaries for Winston-Salem firefighters are generally lower than those for many other nearby North Carolina cities, with salaries in cities such as Asheville, Raleigh and Charlotte being more than several thousand dollars higher than those in Winston-Salem. Nearby cities also have begun lateral transfer programs for firefighters, with pay in Durham starting at $51,559 for lateral applicants. In his speech, Parrinello also characterized the staffing reduction as a decision to limit the fire departments overtime budget and warned firefighters lives could be at stake, referencing the death of firefighters in Asheville, Lexington and Charleston, South Carolina. What you cut in dollars today we will pay for in lives tomorrow, Parrinello said. We are bringing our problems to you because we still believe you can help, union vice president Henry Murray told city council members. We trust that you have the power to make things right. Help us to become a destination fire department within the great state of North Carolina. In addition to Parrinello, others spoke including Forsyth County Commissioner Dan Besse, who said he was speaking as a family member of a Winston-Salem firefighter. Besse said his experience as a longtime council member led him to believe it is highly unusual to take a discretionary step to reduce the on-shift staffing level of critical public safety positions during a budget cycle due to higher overtime costs. Instead, thats a classic example of why financially sound local governments like Winston-Salem have always budgeted a level of reserves that is higher than a minimum required by state law, said Besse. Besse said the council should direct Pate to withdraw the newly announced limits and retain previous shift staffing levels, pending further review during the 2026 fiscal year budget process. But despite the many comments and concerns over the decision, Joines said after the meeting that responses to emergencies under the new policy shift would be sufficient. Joines said that whenever there is a structure fire in Winston-Salem, the fire department always sends two companies, and that there are at least six people at the incident. That gives me some comfort, honestly, Joines said. Parrinello, reached Wednesday, said the union doesnt plan on dropping the staffing reduction issue. The union will continue to build relationships and educate city council members on why their concerns are formed around the safety of firefighters and the general public, Parrinello said. Outside of staffing we will continue to advocate for better pay and career advancements for our firefighters so that we are on par with our neighboring departments, said Parrinello. People living in the Sandy Creek neighborhood of St. Johns County are pushing back against a plan to put 297 townhomes on the undeveloped woods nearby. The developer is wanting to put it just north of their neighborhood, which would end up lying by the intersection of Sandy Creek Parkway and County Road 210, which is right off Interstate 95. The Florida Department of Transportation says around 25,000 cars, on average, drive along the part of CR-210 near the neighborhood site every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a recipe for disaster with traffic, said Andrew Fletcher, whos on the HOA board for the Sandy Creek neighborhood. Fletcher, along with other neighbors in Sandy Creek, say all the townhomes would make traffic much worse. Adding those residences is going to create an absolute gridlock, particularly with rush hour in the morning and after work, Fletcher said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Action News Jax went by the site where the developer is hoping to build the townhomes and found some of the trees have already been cleared away. The project still needs to be approved, but the developer is promising to pay for some of the $11 million the county says it would cost to widen CR-210 near Sandy Creek Parkway from four to six lanes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as Action News Jax told you last week, there are already multiple other road construction projects happening along CR-210. Neighbors say theyre not opposed to the townhomes being built, themselves, but want road work to finish up before a project like this starts. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Our quality of life has been diminished greatly due to this overbuilding and the traffic, said Carolyn Ward, who also serves on Sandy Creeks HOA. The road project, from county records, would happen to help make traffic smoother in the area. But people living nearby say its already a problem to deal with and worry it will be made worse, regardless of whatever road work is done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project was considered Thursday by St. Johns Countys planning and zoning agency for a recommendation. The agency voted 3-3, which Deputy County Attorney Lex Taylor said is a technical denial. Taylor said the project is still expected to go to the St. Johns County Board of county commissioners for final approval during their meeting on May 6. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. ST. LOUIS The city of St. Louis saw the second-highest decline in population in the countrys metro areas, according to the U.S. Censuss most recent report from 2023 to 2024. According to the U.S. Census, 3,077 people left the city of St. Louis within the year, leaving the area with 279,695 in population. In 2020 there were 301,371 in St. Louis, and by 2024 the city saw 21,676 leave the area. As defined by the U.S. Census, the St. Louis City metro does not include St. Louis County or St. Charles County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Louis City ranked one below Memphis or Shelby County, Tennessee, which saw a decline of 3,379 people as the population dropped from 930,015 to 910,530 in the course of the year. Fatal fireworks home explosion trial delayed to July The city ranked above Mississippis Hinds County and the city of Jackson, where 2,542 people left, leaving the area with 211,975 people. In 2023, the entire state of Missouri saw 135,000 people leave the state and move outbound to states such as Kansas, Illinois, and even farther south to Texas and Florida. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Saint Luke School welcomed in the spring season with one of its fun yearly traditions. Students pre-school through eighth grade met with their buddies to officially start spring with bubbles. Tax discount deadline extended for City of Erie residents No matter if theres rain, snow or cold temperatures, students and staff always find a way to blow bubbles in the front parking lot. The assistant principal said students look forward to this day all year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Red Cross, Erie Fire Dept. offering free smoke alarms to Erie residents Our younger students watch for it on the calendar. its just something that puts everyone together it puts our school in a situation where theyre all together just having fun and enjoying the new season, said Rebecca Stanopiewicz, assistant principal of Saint Luke School. This is the schools 24th year welcoming spring with blowing bubbles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. You can read the full text of this article if you: Select an option Log In Buy Article Content & Permissions Access through Ovid Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall at a press conference on Jan. 23, 2025. | Kyle Davidson For reporters and good government advocates, the push for greater transparency in Michigan has been constant and often disappointing, as efforts to reform the states Freedom of Information Act have repeatedly died on the vine over the last decade. As civic organizations across the nation amplify calls for transparency and open government in celebration of Sunshine Week, which lasts from March 16 through March 22, Democratic leadership in the Michigan Senate and Republican leadership in the Michigan House have deadlocked on two different proposals intended to hold elected officials accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Senates Jan. 29 vote to advance the bipartisan effort symbolically introduced as Senate Bills 1 and 2, making it the Senates first legislative priority for the session Sens. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) have found themselves in a similar situation to when their effort first cleared the Republican-led Michigan House almost a decade ago as they await action on the legislation in the state House. Sens. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) speak after the Senate Committee on Oversight meeting on March 13, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols) Moss was hopeful they would be able to replicate the same success they saw in 2015 and pass their plan to extend FOIA to the governors office and the Legislature through the Republican-led House. However, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall quickly thwarted those plans, declaring the bills dead at a Jan. 30 press conference, telling reporters the bills would be referred to the House Government Operations Committee, which acts as a functional graveyard for legislation. People tell me that [the Senate] passed a bill, a watered-down FOIA bill. And you know, were not going to pass that, said Hall, who previously raised concerns about the state of Michigans Freedom of Information Act in a March 2024 letter to then House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit). While some Senate Republicans criticized the plan for a variety of exemptions, including constituent communications and records created, prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the governor, lieutenant governor and their offices for less than 30 days, the bills ultimately received broad bipartisan support, passing the chamber with a vote of 33-2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall has instead focused on his own ethics, accountability and transparency plan dubbing it the HEAT plan which includes new rules for legislative spending initiative requests and legislation barring state lawmakers and their staff from entering into nondisclosure agreements alongside an expansion of the House oversight committee, which now holds subpoena power. While five of the plans six components have passed through the Michigan House, some with bipartisan support, their fate in the Democratic-led Michigan Senate is yet to be determined. Though Democrats have sought to tie-bar some pieces of the plan to FOIA reform, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. We all see HEAT is a much more significant transparency, ethics and accountability plan, Hall said at a Feb. 20 press conference, criticizing the Senates FOIA plan for not applying retroactively, with the bills taking effect on Jan. 1, 2027 if passed before the final six months of 2026. McBroom previously told the Michigan Advance that he and Moss would have no problem doing something more immediate, noting the decision to structure the bills this way was due to the amount of time needed to implement the bills and the lack of consistency of records that are currently retained by policymakers without FOIA requirements in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Hall has touted the HEAT plan as the most transformative transparency and ethics package passed through the Legislature in many years, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said the package is picking at the edges when it comes to transparency and building trust with constituents. On Jan. 22, 2025, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) calls for support on a resolution allowing her to take legal action to compel the Michigan House of Representatives to send nine bills passed during the previous Legislature to the governor. | Kyle Davidson Theyre a useful distraction from the main transparency tool that we have. Nearly every other state in the nation has transparency and subjects the Legislature to the Freedom of Information Act. Weve seen this with Trump. Were seeing it with Speaker Hall. You know, when they dont want to do something, they just distract and try to get folks focused on other less important or different things, Brinks said. Michigan is one of two states where the governor and the Legislature are exempt from FOIA, Massachusetts being the other. The state is also consistently ranked at the bottom for transparency and public accountability measures, with a 2015 report from the Center for Public Integrity ranking Michigan dead last. Another report from the Coalition for Integrity ranked Michigan 48th compared to the other 50 states and Washington, D.C. Though she has had conversations on multiple policies with Hall, Brinks said she would characterize them as unproductive. While Brinks is absolutely willing to move good legislation theyll need willing partners in order to have a conversation about transparency and ethics, and she said thats not something they have at the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no question that FOIA stands on its own, and it is the gold standard in terms of government transparency in the United States, and its shameful that Michigan is nearly dead last every time theres an evaluation of our ethics standards in our state, Brinks said. Hall could not be reached for an interview due to scheduling conflicts. A spokesperson for Hall did not respond to a request for comment as of the time of publication. Lisa McGraw, the public affairs manager for the Michigan Press Association said that comparing FOIA to Halls transparency efforts was like comparing apples to oranges. Theyre all the same in that they hold folks accountable, McGraw said, noting that they support the Houses transparency efforts, but you know, first and foremost, I think they need to hold themselves accountable as far as allowing the public to see what theyre doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democrats have also reintroduced several bills aimed at improving political accountability by allowing the Secretary of State to take legal action to stop alleged campaign finance violations and limit the influence of lobbying and financial interests on lawmakers. While the Michigan Press Association supported the bills when they were introduced in 2024, and is completely in support of more openness and transparency, the disclosure of campaign finance records and legislative records are needed to show the complete picture, McGraw said. For now, Id be happy to have Michigan not be in the basement of ethics and transparency in the country, she said. While the Senates FOIA bills are a great start, McGraw said shed like to see less of an overall exemption on constituent communications, raising additional concerns on exempting the governor from FOIA on decisions to grant or deny a reprieve, pardon or commutation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that could end up being quite problematic, really, if something were to go wrong with someone who was released and, you know, we didnt know why, McGraw said. While she can appreciate the ideas behind the Houses other transparency efforts, the fundamentals need to be in place first, McGraw said. And to me, the fundamental is subject yourself to FOIA, she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PITTSBURG, Kan. Potential state cuts could affect the future of one southeast Kansas arts council. The Kansas State Senate just approved a budget that would eliminate funding for the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC), which could wipe out the agency. The KAC provides grants that fund murals, music programs, arts education, and community-driven projects like those for the Pittsburg Arts Council. The council was planning on a $2,500 grant from the KAC for an upcoming community mural project, but if the KAC does not have funding, it puts that mural project in jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another recent KAC grant recipient that did already receive funding for its mural is Books & Burrow. The shops owner shares how important arts funding can be for a community. It really has this domino, trickle effect into so many other aspects of peoples lives, their connections with each other, connections to where you live. Its just so much deeper, said Books & Burrow owner, Darcie Shultz. For a lot of artists, this is their career, this is their livelihood and then on top of that, they buy their merchandise, their equipment, their materials from local shop owners. So, theres this chain of effects thats going to happen when this funding gets cut, said Pittsburg Arts Council President, Crista Cunningham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kansas legislative budget is currently in the hands of a conference committee for its next steps. If the KAC portion of the budget does get completely wiped out, the Pittsburg Arts Council would have to find another way to fund its planned mural, instead of state awarded funding. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Rally in Raleigh protesting Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin's challenge of more than 60,000 votes in the NC Supreme Court race. (Photo: Lynn Bonner) Its now been four-and-a-half months since incumbent Democratic Supreme Court Justice Alison Riggs narrowly defeated her Republican challenger, Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, in the 2024 election. Judge Jefferson Griffin (Photo: State Court of Appeals) Unfortunately, Griffin refuses to concede and instead continues to advance several widely discredited legal theories in hopes of tossing out the ballots of more than 60,000 registered voters and reversing the election result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, a Wake County Superior Court judge quickly dismissed Griffins challenge as meritless, but Griffin refuses to acknowledge reality. And so, the maddening drama continues. Earlier this week, more than 200 former North Carolina justices, judges, and attorneys sent a letter to Griffin, calling on him to drop his lawsuit and concede the election. The bottom line: One prays the letter works, but if it doesnt, lets hope the panel of Court of Appeals judges scheduled to hear Griffins appeal, make quick work of their colleagues bogus effort to overturn the election and that, at long last, it settles the matter once and for all. For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield. The Ohio Department of Transportation announced it will create an Advanced Air Mobility division to integrate next-gen technology in the state. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] AAM is a newly emerging mode of air transportation to move both people and cargo, which requires new aircraft designs, flight technologies, and supporting infrastructure, a media release from ODOT states. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of traditional airports with long runways for takeoff and landing, new aircraft can take off and land vertically using a vertiport or landing pad, ODOTs AAM Division will be at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence in Springfield. Co-locating the FAAs Center for Advanced Aviation Technology at the newly built NAAMCE facility in Springfield will continue the momentum already underway in Ohio, said AAM Director Robert Tanner. Ohios use cases range from small package delivery, including medical packages, to larger cargo and passenger transport, implemented in phases, ODOT said. We will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Norwich State officials have stopped work on the Ponemah Mills site in Taftville as they investigate where contaminated excavated material is being taken after it is removed from the site. In an email to city planning and building officials, Uncas Health District Director Patrick McCormack said he was contacted Tuesday by Thomas Welch, the emergency response coordinator for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, about material that was being excavated from the mill complex located on Norwich Avenue. McCormack wrote that he and DEEP officials met Tuesday with a representative of One Key LLC, the New Jersey developer in charge of renovating the historical cotton mill complex into a combination of market-rate and affordable apartments and amenities. The larger mill building on the site, which contains 237 apartments plus 77 more in a rear wing, has already been renovated and is currently housing tenants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second half of the renovation is still underway at the south mill, where One Key is working on a $40 million project to create 146 apartments along with a restaurant in a smaller building to the west. McCormack wrote that a One Key representative was told Tuesday to put a pause on the operation because the representative was unable to document the content of the material being stored on site and removed; who removed it; and where it was taken. Another meeting was held Wednesday at the site, with the supervisor of One Key. Also Wednesday a city inspection team was on the site, and it appeared crews were still working on the site. From Norwich Avenue, large piles of fill could be seen behind the unfinished mill building, along with two large piles on an adjacent property. During a meeting of the Commission on the City Plan on Tuesday night, city Director of Planning and Neighborhood Services Deanna Rhodes said she spoke earlier in the day to project engineer Brandon Handfield about the stockpiled material being stored on a parcel at 539 Norwich Ave., near Marias Treasures, a thrift store. She said One Key had not requested or obtained a city permit to store the material there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhodes proposed that the commission table One Keys request to modify the site plan for the south mill to accommodate the restaurant, including adding a five-car parking lot and driveway, until DEEP could investigate the excavated material. The commission agreed, in spite of Project Manager Phil Biondos comments, that the question over the contents of the excavated material was not related to the modified site plan, which the commission determined should be approved. Will Healey, DEEPs director of communications, said in an email Thursday that his agency was notified earlier this week that material has been removed from the site. Since then, he said, various DEEP employees have gone to the mill site, including members of the Emergency Response Unit. He said that the unit so far has confirmed some of the locations where the material was taken and is planning to sample the relocated material as well as two large piles on an adjacent property at 539 Norwich Ave. He said the unit, along with DEEPs Waste Engineering and Enforcement Division and its Remediation Division, would continue to gather information and investigate. This will take a few days to a week before we complete the work and obtain the sample results, Healey added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said any request to reuse polluted soil on the site would need to be authorized by the Remediation Division, which has not received such a request. One Key officials could not be reached for comment Thursday. McCormack said in his email that there have been reports that trucks are removing the material from the site to sell as fill to unsuspecting property owners. He said that in one instance, its alleged that oil filters, shingles and other items were found in the fill. Healey could not confirm Thursday whether there had been a complaint, or who the source was. d.drainville@theday.com Editor's note: This version corrects what aspect of the project the state is investigating. Mar. 20Stephanie Garcia Richard, New Mexico's public lands commissioner since 2019, is running for lieutenant governor in 2026. After teasing a "major announcement" on social media for an event planned for Saturday in Santa Fe, the Los Alamos Daily Post broke the news of Garcia Richard's candidacy Thursday. She resided in Los Alamos during her years as a state representative. "I do have designs on (being) governor some day, but right now it seems the best path forward for me, and the next logical step, would be as lieutenant governor," she told the Journal on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rio Arriba County Democrat was the first woman elected as the state's commissioner of public lands, heading the office responsible for managing approximately 13 million acres of trust lands throughout the state and generating revenue from activity on it. The state's K-12 public education system is the chief beneficiary of those dollars. Garcia Richard, in launching her bid, touted an increase of $11 billion from trust lands over two terms, including a peak of $2.75 billion in fiscal year 2023 and $2.56 billion in 2024. While most of the revenue comes from oil and gas leases, the office reported that fiscal year 2024 saw a high mark in revenue $214 million from other uses. "If there's someone who knows how to make the most out of an obscure office, it's me," she told the Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also a year that may see a crowded field to succeed two-term Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, with Deb Haaland, the former Interior secretary, having launched her run with more Democrats expected to follow. Garcia Richard, a Tucumcari native who grew up in Silver City, was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2012 in District 43, serving three terms. She was elected commissioner of public lands in 2018 and again in 2022. The public lands commissioner's office is limited to two terms, preventing Garcia Richard from running again. The next lieutenant governor will succeed Howie Morales, a Silver City Democrat who has served two terms alongside Lujan Grisham. That property tax statement you may have received in the mail is misleading. Blame state lawmakers. (iStock / Getty Images Plus) Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers. Iowas 99 counties are spending your money to mislead you about property taxes. But dont blame the people at your county courthouse. The Iowa Legislature is forcing them do it. Over the past week, Iowans across the state received taxpayer-funded mailings that distorted the reality of property taxes in this state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, I got my state-mandated property tax notice from the Scott County auditor, and it informed me that if a $100,000 home went up 10% in assessed value, the taxes imposed by my county for this fall and next spring would rise 12.3%. But my property value didnt go up 10% last year. It didnt change. Im sure this is the same for most people. Why? Because 2024 wasnt a reassessment year. These occur in odd-numbered years. The local assessors offices in this county have said only a small percentage of parcels (about 10-15%) were updated last spring. Many of those that did see changes were due to new construction. In other words, the 10% scenario described in the mailing isnt based in reality. Yet, Scott County taxpayers are being forced to spend thousands of dollars to spread this fairy tale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county auditor says the mailing cost $40,474. Iowa legislators mandated these notices as part of a larger tax bill they approved a couple years ago. At the time, they said they were trying to increase transparency. And to be fair, there is some useful information in these mailings, such as tax rates and the dates of public hearings. However, the part purporting to describe individual tax bills for later this year and early next the part people will be most interested in is bunk. The notices say the 10% jump in property value is hypothetical, but according to local governments, this notice will inevitably lead to angry phone calls from people who mistakenly believe theyre in for a bigger tax bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I should note that this year, 2025, is a new reassessment year for the property taxes to be paid in 2026 and 2027, and it is possible people are now seeing some noticeable increases in their assessed values. I did. Im told Davenport notices are expected to go out in the next week or so, and that residential assessments are up 8.9% overall. However, like in 2023, the residential rollback the state applies this fall will blunt most of the impact when it comes to taxable values, which is what are used to calculate the actual taxes we pay. The rollback, by law, ensures the statewide residential taxable value does not grow by more than 3%. Yes, I know this can all be pretty confusing, but it might be instructive to know that in 2023, even after the big assessment shock we got that spring, the rollback applied by the state meant about 62% of parcels in Davenport actually experienced a decline in taxable values, and only 12% of parcels saw an increase in taxable value of 10% or more, according to my analysis of city data. Anyway, back to the misleading notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a presentation a few weeks ago before the Polk County Board of Supervisors, a local budget official explained that rather than the 11.4% increase the mailing misleadingly describes to taxpayers there, the increase in county taxes will be just 1.3% for urban taxpayers who saw no change in their assessed property value. And that increase, they say, is only happening because of a small change in the residential rollback approved last fall by the state that will slightly affect taxable values. Yet, Polk County officials said the state told them they could not include their own information in these notices to provide taxpayers the correct figures. Instead, county officials are being forced to mail the misleading information. And pay for it, too. With your tax money. Its much the same story in Scott County. The county has put a statement on its website pointing out the increase in net taxable value countywide for 2024 was 2.1%. Individuals will see varying results, but the point is this: The vast majority of homeowners did not see a 10% increase in their property values. And they will not see double-digit increases in the taxes they pay this fall and next spring. Thats the reality. But what also is reality is most taxpayers tend not to pay attention to anybodys property values but their own. So, when the state can force local governments to send an official notice to taxpayers suggesting a double-digit tax increase may be in the works, even if its for somebody else, it is much easier to get Iowans to believe property taxes are out of control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This, of course, isnt happening in a vacuum. Members of the state Legislature, mostly those in the Republican majority, and local government officials have been arguing for years about whether the locals are wisely using property tax dollars. This is a fair argument to have. I think both sides have made some good points. But when lawmakers can use the power of the state to force local governments to mail a deceptive notice to taxpayers that distorts reality, then something has gone very wrong. This column was originally published by Ed Tibbetts Along the Mississippi newsletter on Substack. It is republished here through the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work. A burn ban took effect across North Carolina on Friday due to dry and windy conditions. The order came from the N.C. Forest Service and began at 8 a.m. The ban, which applies to all 100 counties in North Carolina, prohibits all open burning regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. ALSO READ: Wildfires prompt evacuations across the Carolinas over the weekend Fire marshals in Burke, Cabarrus, and Caldwell counties were also enforcing local burn bans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under North Carolina law, anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 in court costs. Additionally, individuals responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire. Channel 9 Meteorologist Keith Monday said the higher fire danger was going to continue through the weekend as very dry and windy conditions persist. A red flag warning was issued by the National Weather Service until Saturday. The higher fire danger is going to continue through the weekend as very dry and windy conditions persist. A burn ban is going into effect for NC today and conditions are no better for SC. Be safe and be alert. pic.twitter.com/DKPTWczcVT Keith Monday (@kmondayWSOC9) March 21, 2025 The statewide burn ban applies to areas beyond 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local burn bans includes bonfires, firepits, chimeneas, yard debris, land clearing, or any other type of open burning. However, it excludes outdoor gas cooking appliances, enclosed cookers, charcoal grills, or smokers. Residents with questions or concerns are asked to call or email their local fire marshals office. Wildfires prompt evacuations across the Carolinas over the weekend Stephen Miller made a new show of fealty to Elon Musk on Friday by claiming a violently radicalized hard left is behind attacks on Tesla cars and their drivers. The White House Deputy Chief of Staff joined a MAGA onslaught of rage at the backlash Elon Musk has facedmanifested in a series of incidents including arson and road rage. A growing portion of the hard left has been violently radicalized, Miller wrote in a post Friday morning to X. The left must never be returned to a position of national power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump aide-cum-reply guy was commenting on a video he reposted of part of a FOX 13 Seattle report showing a masked man allegedly chasing down a female Tesla driver and calling it a Nazi car. A growing portion of the hard left has been violently radicalized. The left must never be returned to a position of national power. https://t.co/P1YLn555MP Stephen Miller (@StephenM) March 21, 2025 The woman, named only as Leigh, said she was on her way to a doctors appointment Wednesday morning when she was suddenly cut off by a white SUV that stopped in front of her. Then the driver, a man in a ski mask and a camouflage jacket, walked out of his car and began berating her. He gets out and walks straight up to my door window. So I cracked my window and I said, What? What is the problem? she said. He goes, You need to sell your car. This is a Nazi car. Youre driving it, you need to sell your car. Miller, one of Trumps most trusted aides and an outspoken critic of the left, jumped on the local news segment as fresh evidence of the conspiracy against Tesla and Musk, which MAGA claims is behind the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-Tesla sentiment has been on the rise since Musk was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and began making cuts to the federal workforce. Reactions have ranged from setting the vehicles on fire in Las Vegas to shooting up a Tesla dealership in Oregon. New data also revealed that Tesla trade-ins are reaching record highs . Data from analysts Edmunds showed that around 1.4 percent of vehicles purchased then exchanged at a dealership until mid-March have been Teslas, a rise from 0.4 percent since March of last year. This budding bromance between Miller and the Tesla CEO comes after Musk uploaded a video Thursday of Miller claiming that the Department of Education is overwhelmingly staffed by radical left Marxist bureaucrats. He backs up Millers statement with a single 100 emoji. CORNING, N.Y. (WETM) As legal cannabis operations grow in New York, Steuben County can finally be checked off the list as a new licensed facility is open in Corning. Culture Canna Co. has joined the businesses on Market Street after setting up shop at 90 East Market St, next to Maleys Pub. The shop is the first state-licensed retail dispensary to open in Steuben County, following Chemung County and others across the state as they lean away from illegal sticker shops and more toward state-licensed facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Coley, one of the shops co-owners, told 18 News the shop is using all New York-grown and tested cannabis thats up to par with state regulations. Coley said the shop is trying to keep things as local as possible when it comes to the products. We are trying to stay as close to our location here in Corning as we can, Coley said. We have distributors from Elmira, New York, we have distributors from Cortland, New York, we have distributors from Ithaca, New York, and were trying to keep it local, trying to keep the money in the community and keep everything as close to home as we can, Coley said. NYSEG to hold community connection event in Big Flats Coley added that everything in the shop is safe to consume as all products are regulated and tested to meet New York safety standards. Coley said the shop has something for everyone from recreational to healing products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were getting a lot of people in that are looking to get to sleep easier, people who have pain or inflammation, inside or outside the body, and we have things that can help with all of that, Coley said, stating that not everyone is looking to use cannabis for recreational use, but for those who are in pain, too. Coley and the other shop owner, Mark Kamandulis, had a soft opening for the shop on March 19 and have enjoyed the business so far. Kamandulis, a Big Flats native, is happy to be in the community, and making sure everything is done correctly. Were just excited to be here, Kamandulis said, its been a two-and-a-half-year process, weve gone through a number of different hoops with the state and the local municipality, just making sure that were doing everything right, he said. We want to do things the right way, we want to be good members of the community and we want to do this in a way where people are proud that were here on Market Street with them and their businesses, he said. The store is open Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A cold front has continued to move through KELOLAND today, bringing an increase in cloud cover and some light rain showers. Cooler highs in the 30s occurred to the northeast, while other areas of KELOLAND warmed into the 50s. The breezy, northerly winds will start to calm down as we head into the evening and overnight hours. Lows will stay seasonable East River with mostly clear skies expected. Our next low pressure system sitting to the north will bring another cold front through KELOLAND tomorrow and clouds will start to increase in western South Dakota ahead of it. Going into tomorrow, we will have warmer temperatures with highs in the 50s and 60s. Winds will start out as southerly ahead of the front and increase during the day. More scattered rain chances will be in store for tomorrow across KELOLAND. Some of that rain could turn to snow as the low pressure system moves further into Minnesota tomorrow night. Any accumulation will be light and the system will move out by late Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Behind the front, winds will become strong with northerly flow returning. Gusts up to 50 mph are possible and will give us a cool down back to seasonable temperatures for Sunday. We will stay dry for the most part heading into the rest of next week with highs getting back to above average. Another low pressure system looks to move in towards the end of the week, with rain and snow possible going into the weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. STURBRIDGE, Mass. (WWLP) Police in Sturbridge are reopening a case from 2016 and starting a new search for a suspect whose been missing for nearly a decade. Man charged with murder in connection with body found in Holland Back in September of 2016, officers received a domestic dispute report in the area of 35 Vinton Road. Police say Brent Young of Sturbridge went missing after assaulting his girlfriend, stabbing his 16-year-old son, and then hurting himself and running into the woods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State troopers spent three days searching for Young, using all modern technology available at the time, such as Air Wing, Mounted Units, K-9 Units, and Drone Units. However, Young was never found. Now, with new technology at their disposal, Sturbridge and the Massachusetts State Police are starting their search again. Sturbridge Police Department The search is focused on locating human remains rather than a live individual, due to the date of the case and the nature of the injuries Young sustained. On Friday, members of Sturbridge Police will be conducting a grid search in the Vinton Road area. The Massachusetts State Police Special Emergency Response Team, Mass. Search and Rescue K-9 Teams, CEMLEC Drone Units, and the Sturbridge Community Emergency Response Team will also be assisting the investigation. Residents should expect police in the areas of Old Sturbridge Village Access Road, Vinton Road, Leadmine Road, and Haynes Street from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you have any information regarding the case or Youngs whereabouts, please contact 508-347-2525 ext. 315. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Prosecutors have been accused of giving Nicola Sturgeons husband preferential treatment compared to Alex Salmond by keeping secret the details of the embezzlement charge he is facing. Joanna Cherry KC, a former SNP MP and a senior lawyer, questioned why the full details of the charges against Peter Murrell had not been published following his private court appearance on Thursday. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) only disclosed he is facing an accusation of embezzlement, but sources claimed that legal papers at the hearing contained a series of detailed allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Cherry also expressed concern that the media were not been informed of Murrells private appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court until long after it had finished. In a procedure distinct to the Scottish justice system, appearances on petition are always made in private without the media being present in the courtroom. But Mr Salmond left the same court to face a media scrum after he appeared on petition in January 2019 on charges including attempted rape and sexual assault. He was cleared of all charges in a later trial. Joanna Cherry KC resigned from the SNPs executive committee over transparency about the partys finances in 2021 - Jeff J Mitchell/2025 Getty Images Lord Pentland, the new head of Scotlands judiciary, has been at the forefront of promoting open justice, saying the public and media have a right to know what happens in their courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Crown Office insiders rejected the allegations of double standards, saying that more information had been made public about the allegations against Mr Salmond as he was facing multiple charges. Although they acknowledged that details of the embezzlement charge would have been made available to prosecutors and Murrells defence team at Thursdays hearing, they said this would not be shared publicly. They also insisted that the COPFS would not have informed the media in advance about Mr Salmonds appearance on petition. The secrecy row broke out the day after Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, made no plea or declaration at the court hearing. The case was committed for further examination and he was bailed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police Scotland then announced that Ms Sturgeon, 54, and Colin Beattie, the SNPs former treasurer, were no longer under investigation after receiving advice and guidance from the Crown Office. This marked the end of the forces Operation Branchform, which examined the SNPs handling of more than 600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a campaign to fight a second independence referendum. SNP supporters questioned what had happened to the money when accounts lodged with Companies House in 2020 appeared to show the SNP only had 97,000 in the bank. Credit: STV In May 2021, Ms Cherry resigned from the SNPs ruling national executive committee citing concerns about transparency about the partys finances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Edinburgh South West MP, who lost her seat in last years general election, posted on X: I hope someone will also ask why the full details of the charges on the petition against Peter Murrell are not in the public domain. We are supposed to have #OpenJustice in Scotland & the same rules for everyone. She also posted that she was not surprised that the police investigation of Ms Sturgeon had ended, adding: I wonder when full details of the charges against Murrell will be published? This happened very promptly when Alex Salmond first appeared in court. The Crown Office declined to add to a statement it issued the previous day in which it said: Professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel are dealing with this case without involving the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotlands prosecutors operate independently of political influence. The prosecution service had previously said that its two most senior figures, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain and Solicitor General Ruth Charteris, had recused themselves from decisions on the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are also the SNP Governments two most senior law officers and are both ministers. Ms Sturgeon nominated them for the roles in June 2021. Nicola Sturgeon is no longer under investigation over the SNPs handling of 600,000 - Pool/2021 Getty Images The purpose of a private court appearance on petition is to put the accused on notice of the nature of allegations they stand to face, and allow for preparations to be made for proceedings by both prosecution and defence. Normally, an accuseds solicitor will be provided with the evidence which has been recovered. This allows them to prepare a defence or consider a guilty plea. If the case is to proceed to trial, the formal accusation will be served in the form of an indictment within determined time limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Crown Office spokeswoman said: There is not an indictment at petition stage, there is the petition document which sets out a first draft of charges against an accused. This is part of preparations for proceedings by both prosecution and defence. Appearances on petition are always made in private without the attendance of the media, and an outline charge or charge list only can be provided to media to assist. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The News Sudans military claimed Friday that it had seized back control of the presidential palace in the capital of Khartoum from the rival Rapid Support Forces, in a major turning point for the countrys brutal civil war. Today the flag is raised, the palace is back, and the journey continues until victory is complete, Sudans information minister wrote on X. The army appears to be on the cusp of reclaiming Khartoum from the RSF, which seized the city shortly after war broke out in April 2023. The situation remains fluid, however: The paramilitary group has said it remains in the vicinity of the palace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The takeover comes as the war appears to be shifting in favor of government forces, which have recently recaptured significant territory in central Sudan. The RSF still controls much of western Sudan, however, including large swathes of the Darfur region. The United Nations has described Sudans civil war as the worlds worst humanitarian disaster: Last year UNICEF declared famine in a Darfur refugee camp, its first such declaration in more than seven years, while more than 12.5 million people have fled their homes. Both sides stand accused of human rights abuses. We cant take any more of this war, one Khartoum resident told The New York Times. SIGNALS Gulf nations see opportunity in Sudan conflict Sources: The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Conversation, South China Morning Post What started as a power feud between [two generals] has exploded into a much wider conflict fueled by a bewildering array of foreign powers, The New York Times wrote. This month, Sudan accused the UAE in the International Court of Justice of supporting the RSF and being complicit in genocide. The UAE and Saudi Arabia see the war as a chance to cement their hegemonic status in the Middle East, Foreign Policy argued, and want influence in the oil-rich region bridging Africa and the Middle East. Beijing has so far steered clear of picking sides, but Chinese companies whose billion dollar-oil and gas projects in Sudan have been stalled are invested in the wars outcome. Sudans war could converge with escalating tensions in South Sudan Sources: The Economist, Institute for the Study of War Sudans conflict is fomenting tensions in neighboring South Sudan, which is not long out of a civil war itself. It has prevented the export of about two-thirds of South Sudans oil the petrostates economic lifeline, The Economist wrote. The SAF and RSF could seek to capitalize on the resumption of civil war in South Sudan, the Institute for the Study of War noted: The RSF is rumored to be close with South Sudans president, while the SAF could use its ties with northern militias to resist RSF efforts to use the country as a rear support. (Bloomberg) -- Sudans army retook the presidential palace in the capital from the rebel Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group that its fought in a brutal civil war for two years but fighting continued in the city. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after soldiers celebrated the symbolic victory on Friday morning, a drone fired a missile at the iconic building in downtown Khartoum, killing several soldiers and journalists working for Sudans state broadcaster, according to Major General Zafir Omer, a commander in the area. Sudans war has raged since 2023 and the RSF had taken most of the capital, after rampaging through streets, looting properties and causing tens of thousands of people to flee. The RSF said in a statement that it was fighting bravely and determinedly to liberate all positions occupied by the army and had killed dozens at the presidential palace. Nizar Ahmed, an RSF spokesman, said that battles were ongoing in the capital, but denied that a drone had struck the palace. The group, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been beaten back across much of central and southern Sudan in recent months as the army, headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, makes gains. The two generals fell out in early 2023 after seizing power from a democratic transitional government following a popular uprising in 2019 sparking the civil war that has torn the country apart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos posted on social media on Friday morning showed scenes of Sudanese soldiers wielding rifles and rocket-propelled grenades celebrating in front of the palace in Khartoum. Various foreign powers have backed each side in the war that has seen at least 150,000 people killed. Both sides are under Western sanctions for war crimes in a conflict that has become the worlds biggest humanitarian crisis, with more than 12 million people displaced. The army said it carried out special operations on several fronts in recent days to oust the RSF from key positions in the capital, according to a statement on Tuesday. The civil war forced neighboring South Sudan to stop exporting most of its oil after a pipeline through Sudan ruptured in the fighting. South Sudan previously exported around 150,000 barrels per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates throughout with details.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. DUBAI (Reuters) -Sudan, which has been in the grip of a two-year-old war between the army and a paramilitary group, has a history of civil wars, military takeovers and rebellions. The Sudanese army said on Friday it had gained full control of the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, in one of the most symbolic gains in its fight with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Here are some major episodes of political turmoil and conflict in the country of 50 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * 1985. President Jaafar Nimeiri, who seized power in a coup in 1969, is ousted after a popular uprising. Another military commander takes charge, promising elections in a year. The vote held in 1986 heralds a three-year period of civilian rule. * 1989. Omar al-Bashir, an army general, stages a coup and starts three decades in power with support from Islamist army officers and initially with the backing of influential politician Hassan al-Turabi, seen as the spiritual leader of Sudan's Islamists. Turabi later breaks ranks with Bashir. * 1996. Under pressure from the United States, the Sudanese government tells Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, to leave Sudan in May 1998 after he had spent five years in the country as an official guest. * 1998. The United States fires missiles at El Shifa medicine factory in Khartoum. U.S. officials say it was producing chemical weapons ingredients and was partly owned by Bin Laden. Sudan says it was only making pharmaceutical drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * 2003. A conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region flares, pitting rebels against government forces backed by a militia known as "Janjaweed", which roughly means "devils on horseback". Some 300,000 people are killed and millions are displaced. Violence persists even after a peace deal is reached in 2020. Bashir is charged by the International Criminal Court with orchestrating genocide and other atrocities in Darfur. * 2005. Sudan's northern-based government and rebels in the south of Sudan sign a peace deal after two decades of fighting in Africa's longest-running civil war that led to the deaths of 2 million people. The deal provides for a referendum on southern secession. South Sudan declares independence in 2011. * 2019. Bashir is toppled after a popular uprising. This is followed by a period of rising tension between the army and civilian politicians over the transition to democratic rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * 2023. After protests against the military, fighting erupts on April 15 between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling council, and the RSF paramilitary, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who is Burhan's deputy in the council. * 2024. The conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with famine spreading to five areas and the risk of expansion to 10 more. (Compiled by Tala RamadanEditing by Michael Georgy and Frances Kerry) ATLANTA (AP) Part of an Atlanta courthouse was evacuated on Friday after a package or letter with white powder was delivered to the office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Firefighters determined 30 minutes after a hazardous materials response began that the powder was a starch or salt and not harmful, said Atlanta Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Ronald Slatton. The courthouse was reopened shortly afterward. Four people who complained of headaches were taken to a hospital as a precaution and the third floor of the sprawling Fulton County courthouse complex was evacuated, according to Slatton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slatton said he didnt know who the letter was addressed to, only that it arrived at the district attorneys office. When asked about a motive, he replied, Thats for the law enforcement. It's not clear if anyone is investigating the incident as a potential crime. Officer Aaron Fix, a spokesperson for the Atlanta Police Department, referred comment back to Atlanta Fire Rescue. The Fulton County Sheriffs Office, which oversees courthouse security, isn't investigating, said spokesperson Natalie Ammons. The District Attorney and her staff greatly appreciate the quick and effective response by Atlanta and Fulton County agencies to the scene to protect our colleagues and the public, a DAs office spokesperson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. An elected Democrat, Willis won indictments against now-President Donald Trump and 18 others in August 2023, using Georgias anti-racketeering law to accuse them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trumps narrow 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia. Four people later pleaded guilty, but a state appeals court in December removed Willis from the case, citing an appearance of impropriety related to a romantic relationship Willis had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had hired to lead the case. Willis is asking the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse her disqualification. (KRON) An SUV crashed into a CVS store Thursday morning in Lafayette, the Lafayette Police Department (LPD) announced on social media. A Lexus rammed into the front doors of CVS on Mt. Diablo Boulevard. Police said the car crashed into the store in an attempt to steal the ATM inside. When responding officers arrived at the scene, there were between three to five masked suspects. Two vehicles were seen driving away from the CVS. Lafayette police initiated a pursuit that made its way through the Caldecott Tunnel into Oakland, but the chase ended shortly after. LPD released photos from the scene of the crash (see below). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oakland kidnapping victim comes forward to police (Photo: Lafayette Police Department) (Photo: Lafayette Police Department) (Photo: Lafayette Police Department) (Photo: Lafayette Police Department) Oakland to install hundreds of public EV charging stations across city LPD has not provided a description of any of the suspects. As of Thursday afternoon, no arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact LPD at 925-284-5010 or email 94549TIP@gmail.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 KRON4. SKANEATELES, N.Y. (WSYRTV)- Robert Booth was arrested by the Skaneateles Police Department for first-degree robbery on March 20. Booth is accused of stealing around $535 of items at Tops in the village of Skaneateles while also hitting an employee with his car while trying to leave the scene. Booth was located in Syracuse by the New York State Police on an arrest warrant that Skaneateles Police obtained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Booth was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center pending a preliminary hearing. The Tops employee was not injured during this 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 WSYR. (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan named a former head of the Japanese defense forces as an adviser, according to officials in the archipelagos government, a move coming as the two governments deal with Chinas increasing assertiveness. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shigeru Iwasaki, the chief of staff of Japans Self-Defense Forces from 2012 through 2014, was named a consultant to Taiwans cabinet, said the two officials who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive issue. The cabinet usually doesnt announce such appointments, one of the officials said. China has lodged protests with the Japanese side in regards to the appointment, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press briefing on Friday. She reiterated the Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair that brooks no external interference. Both Taiwan and Japan deal with increasing Chinese aggression in the region. Beijing held military exercises around Taiwans main island this week, linking them to recent US moves backing the self-ruled archipelago. China wants to bring Taiwan under its control someday, by force if necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China and Japan are locked in a territorial dispute in the East China Sea. Relations between the two sides have also suffered over issues like a ban imposed by Beijing on seafood from Japan following the release of wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. Japan and China are set to hold their first economic dialog in six years on Saturday, an event aimed at reducing those tensions. Thats the same day as a meeting in Tokyo between Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya; Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi; and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul. During Iwasakis stint as Japans top uniformed officer, tensions escalated between Tokyo and Beijing over islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. Japan scrambled fighter jets and increased its coast guard and naval presence in response to a rise in Chinese activity around the islands, which are known as the Senkakus in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As SDF chief, Iwasaki played a leading role in developing joint operations for the Japanese military and coordinating with the US armed forces. --With assistance from Miaojung Lin, James Mayger and Foster Wong. (Updates with comment in fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. On a recent business development trip to Taiwan, I found that my conversations with government officials and prospective companies centered around two of the most pressing issues impacting the global economy today: the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the immense power needed to support its growth. Taiwan is a key trading partner and ally in the Pacific that plays an essential role in our nations global security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the goal of this trip was in part to strengthen our ties, it also allowed me to witness firsthand the emphasis the country has placed on research and development (R&D) and the vital role it plays in driving innovation and economic expansion. Hsinchu Science Park is a model for successful R&D collaboration During our time, I had the opportunity to tour Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwans premier technology hub that now houses over 600 companies and 170,000 employees across industries like semiconductors, biotechnology, telecommunications and robotics. The park is surrounded by two of the nations top universities and the countrys leading research institute. These institutions understand the importance of technology commercialization, and today, about 50 of the companies operating within the park are spinoffs from R&D efforts led by these entities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The park is a model of what happens when academia, industry and R&D work in lockstep to drive technological breakthroughs. Opinion: Oracle's Larry Ellison is right that Nashville is the center of health cares future In my opinion, Hsinchu is ground zero for true innovation. Could Tennessee open its own science park? Tennessee is home to world-class companies across many key industries, with innovative brands like Oracle, AllianceBernstein, LG Chem, Medtronic and Bell Helicopter that have invested in the state over the years and uniquely positioned our department to be the key link for collaboration between these industry leaders and our R&D institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the pieces in place to create a model that mirrors the success of Hsinchu Science Park; however, one of the most critical components of this vision is energy. As the demand for large-scale, reliable power grows to support AI, advanced manufacturing and next-generation industries, we must leverage our strengths to think outside the box. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Oak Ridge, Tenn. This is why Gov. Bill Lees leadership in prioritizing nuclear energy investment is so important. Just a few weeks ago, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited Oak Ridge and remarked that we are embarking on Manhattan Project II due to AIs role in the new industrial revolution. His call to unleash American energy, innovation, investment and entrepreneurship makes one thing clear Tennessee is primed to lead the charge. TVA is Americas energy innovation lab To position the state as a leader in low-cost, reliable energy, it is imperative that we work closely with our partners at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). As the nations largest publicly owned power company, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TVAs ability to collaborate with the new Trump administration, which has shown strong support for nuclear energy, energy independence and technological advancements, will be key to pushing the boundaries of energy innovation. TVA has a distinct opportunity to become the testbed for cutting-edge energy solutions, and we cannot drive innovation without their support. The organization should serve as the epicenter for next-generation energy, leading efforts to reduce regulatory barriers, streamline certification processes and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. Additionally, TVAs bold investments in natural gas will serve as a critical bridge, ensuring energy reliability as we scale up nuclear capacity. If TVA fully embraces its potential, perhaps it could be rebranded the Terawatt Valley Authority a symbol of its role in Americas energy transformation. Here's how Tennessee creates a path forward Tennessee is at an inflection point as the future of economic development will be shaped by how effectively we strengthen our R&D ecosystem and cement our position as a leader in energy innovation. The states that prioritize these areas will be the ones that attract companies, entrepreneurs, families and innovators in the years ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to decades of business-minded leaders like Gov. Lee, we have successfully recruited top-tier jobs and nurtured thriving companies in our own backyard; however, we cannot rest on our laurels. Our path forward requires bold leadership, strategic collaboration and a steadfast commitment to innovation, and we already have key individuals ready to form a strategic R&D coalition. Tennessee is well-positioned to lead the next industrial revolution, and we are capitalizing on this opportunity to propel our state into the future. Stuart C. McWhorter has served as the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) commissioner since July 2022. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee will be at forefront of innovation with TVA's help | Opinion (WJW) Video released to the FOX 8 I-Team shows another wrong-way driver going for miles on a local highway, putting drivers in danger. This marks the second case like this in weeks in the same area. Ohios 1st measles case of 2025 reported in Ashtabula County Last year, the state put in sensors along interstates 90 and 71 to detect wrong-way drivers, but not where weve seen the latest cases. At about 3 a.m. last Sunday, a man called 911 and reported, Looking for a mile marker, now. But, ah, I got a wrong-way driver, maam, in the fast lane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The I-Team obtained video through a records request to the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT cameras captured a driver on Interstate 271 near Chagrin Boulevard. The car suddenly turned into the median, then went the wrong way down the highway. Video showed the car went all the way to Interstate 480 near Lee Road. But there, you see brake lights, and cameras didnt pick up that car again. In the meantime, two weeks ago, cameras recorded another driver on I-480 going the wrong way for about 15 miles. That left other drivers terrified. It was very scary. You just pull to the side and pray he doesnt come your way, one driver told us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODOT Press Secretary Matt Bruning said, It is concerning, though, that we continue to see wrong-way drivers. Last year, ODOT put in sensors to detect wrong-way drivers on ramps along I-90 and I-71 in Cleveland. Warning systems for drivers with signs and flashing lights were installed, too. We checked, and vehicles triggered alerts from those detectors 168 times through early January, according to ODOT. In nearly 9 out of 10 cases, the drivers turned around. But again, I-480 does not have that technology. Former senator Sherrod Brown and wife moving out of Cleveland Obviously, were always looking for ways that we can expand the network, Bruning said. There are no plans to expand the systems to 480. But certainly, if there is a future expansion, Im sure 480 would be part of the consideration. But again, [there are] no concrete plans to expand the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alert system may not have made a difference in the latest case, since that driver turned around to go the wrong way in the middle of the highway. In the two most recent cases, we found no one was hurt, but no one was arrested. It appears those drivers turned around or got off the highway eventually. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As measles cases in West Texas are still on the rise two months after the outbreak began, local public health officials say they expect the virus to keep spreading for at least several more months and that the official case number is likely an undercount. But there's a silver lining, officials say: More people have received a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination this year in Texas and New Mexico, which also has an outbreak, compared to last year even if it's not as high as they would like. And pharmacies across the U.S., especially in Texas, are seeing more demand for MMR shots. As of Friday, the outbreak in Texas was up to 309 cases and one measles-related death, while New Mexico's case count was up to 42 and also one measles-related death. Forty-two people have been hospitalized across the two states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas' outbreak, which has largely spread in undervaccinated Mennonite communities, could last a year based on studies of how measles previously spread in Amish communities in the U.S. Those studies showed outbreaks lasted six to seven months, said Katherine Wells, director of the public health department in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock's hospitals have treated most of the outbreak's patients and the public health department is closely assisting with the response. It being so rural, now multistate, it's just going to take a lot more boots on the ground, a lot more work, to get things under control, Wells said during a media briefing this week. It's not an isolated population." The outbreak includes 14 Texas counties, two New Mexico counties and four probable cases in Oklahoma, where health officials said the first two were associated with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases. The way it spreads makes it especially hard to contain and outbreaks can have multiple peaks, said Justin Lessler, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolinas Gillings School of Global Public Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people spread the measles virus unknowingly for days before the telltale rash appears. The virus also can hang in the air for up to two hours after a sick person has left a room. Within this community, itd be perfectly reasonable to think probably another couple months before things die out, Lessler said. But if it gets into another community, you just potentially start that clock over again. If the outbreak goes on until next January, it would end the United States' status of having eliminated measles, which is defined as 12 months without local virus transmission, said Dr. William Moss, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University and executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center. Were only three months in. I think if we had a strong response where the messaging was clear that measles vaccination is the way to stop this outbreak, I would be surprised if it went for 12 months or more, said Moss, who has worked on measles for 25 years, mostly in Africa. But were not seeing that type of response, at least from the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instead has sown doubt about the measles vaccine, which has been safely used for more than 60 years and is 97% effective after two doses. In an interview with Fox News last week, Kennedy said MMR shots cause deaths every year, although he later added that vaccinations should be encouraged. Vaccinations are up in Texas and New Mexico Still, there are signs the outbreak has had an effect on vaccinations, especially locally. Between Feb. 1 and March 18 last year, New Mexico Department of Health registered 6,500 measles vaccines. During that timeframe this year, more than 11,600 measles vaccines were administered in New Mexico about half given to adults and half to children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southeast New Mexico, where the outbreak is located, represents a large portion of the count, with 2,369 doses administered. In Texas, at least 173,000 measles doses were given from Jan. 1 to March 16, compared to at least 158,000 over the same timeframe last year, according to the state health department. That includes more than 340 doses in given by public health in the West Texas outbreak area as of March 11. Texans must opt-in to the states immunization registry, so most peoples vaccinations are not captured in the Texas Department of State Health Services numbers, department spokeswoman Lara Anton said. We dont know if more people are opting in or if this is a true reflection of an increase in vaccinations," Anton wrote in an email. "It may be both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS told The Associated Press that they're seeing higher demand for MMR vaccines across the U.S., especially in the outbreak areas. Texas health officials say theyd like to see more uptake in the communities at the epicenter of the outbreak, especially in Gaines County where the childhood vaccination rate against measles is 82%. That's far below the 95% level needed to prevent community spread, and likely lower in the small religious schools and homeschooling groups where the early cases were identified. Prasad Ganji is a pharmacist in Seminole, the biggest town in Gaines County. He said he ordered a 10-dose box of the MMR vaccine as cases started to spread. He can give vaccines to people older than 14. But he still has doses left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The uptake for vaccines been definitely been a struggle," Wells said of Gaines County, "I want to be honest with that. ___ 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. Ashley Frazier of La Marque, Texas, purchased her first home less than two years ago. At the time, she thought she'd gotten a great deal. "I was 25 years old getting my dual doctorate, I had been a critical care nurse for five years, I was just ready to move out of my parents' house and get a home of my own," Frazier told Houstons KHOU 11 News. "I thought it was a good price, but looking back, maybe it was a good price for a reason." Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After moving in, strange things began to happen. Her ceiling light fixtures started filling up with water, and her microwave fogged up everyday. Confused, she decided to check out the attic and see if she could locate the problem. She says nearly everything up there was wet. The home, which was less than three years old, had a major humidity problem. "This house was supposed to be my dream home, my starter home; it was supposed to not have any problems," she said. "Now I just feel like I'm living in a nightmare." Frazier has since moved out of the home after she says a mold inspector she hired said the house is uninhabitable. What caused the mold issue? The home was still quite new and under warranty with the builder, so Frazier gave them a call. Lennar, the building company, sent an HVAC company out first, and then a mold inspector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And so I asked, 'Are you all going to check behind the walls, because it seems like the condensation is coming down the walls and the mold is growing out of the cabinets,'" Frazier told KHOU 11. "And he said, 'Oh no, that's not part of the protocol.' And that's when the red flags started going off." Frazier says this was around the same time she started having respiratory issues. She said a chest X-ray showed a nodule of scar tissue had started to form. That's when Frazier decided to hire her own mold inspector. "The highest mold counts my company got was 2.2 million per cubic meter and my house was deemed uninhabitable and unsafe to live in," she told KHOU 11. "I moved out immediately." She also hired a lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To put it simply, her house was not sealed well enough and that's caused high humidity and mold growth," attorney Ernest Freeman told the news channel. Lennar, the building company, sent this statement to KHOU 11: Lennar is committed to safety, quality construction and homeowner satisfaction. We work hard to promptly correct issues that are our responsibility. Unfortunately, despite our repeated efforts, this homeowner has not allowed us to inspect the home since last summer or to perform any proposed remediation. In response, Fraziers lawyer sent KHOU 11 this statement: "In order to pursue a legal claim for construction defects Texas law requires each homeowner to conduct an exhaustive investigation of the various problems on the front end and present all (required) expert reports to the builder. Due to the severity of the issues at miss Fraziers home, there are a variety of consultants we have had to involve so the process is time-consuming. We are close to completion of this process and once it has been accomplished, Lennar will have an opportunity to do the right thing and resolve this matter to everyones satisfaction. Time will tell on that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Gold just hit a historic high of $3,000/ounce on Trumps tariff moves while US stocks got slaughtered. Heres 1 simple way to prevent more pain within minutes How to navigate issues with your home whether you rent or own Discovering issues like mold growth in your home can be overwhelming, but quick action can help protect both yourself and your finances. Whether you rent or own your home, here is how to handle deteriorating property conditions. Document the problem immediately Start by keeping detailed records of the issue. Note the date, time and description of any visible mold, water, damage or structural issues. Take clear photos or videos of any problem areas. If you have health issues you think might be related to the issue, keep copies of medical records and any expenses. Notify the builder or landlord in writing If you're a homeowner and your home is under warranty, notify the builder, and your insurance company, as quickly as possible. Request inspections and a written report about the issues. If you rent, submit a formal complaint to your landlord, ideally by certified mail or email so you have a record of the communications. Consider getting an independent evaluation If the builder or landlord dismisses your concerns, consider hiring an independent home inspector, mold specialist or contractor to assess the damage. This report may serve as evidence in the event you choose to pursue legal action. Understand your rights Whether you rent or own, there are protections in place. Homeowners should review their warranty, homeowners insurance and state laws related to construction defects. Renters should research tenant rights in their state and city. Explore financial assistance options Mold remediation and major home repairs can be costly. Look into what your home or renter's insurance will cover. If the issue is caused by contractor or builder error, their insurance may cover your losses. Research government programs, such as those with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to see if you qualify for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mold and structural problems can make a home unlivable, but knowing your rights and taking proactive steps can help protect you financially. Whether youre dealing with a negligent landlord or builder defects, documenting everything and seeking expert advice can help you in resolving the issue. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. The Texas parents of an unvaccinated 6-year-old girl who died from measles Feb. 26 told the anti-vaccine organization Childrens Health Defense in a video released Monday that the experience did not convince them that vaccination against measles was necessary. She says they would still say Dont do the shots, an unidentified translator for the parents said. They think its not as bad as the media is making it out to be. The West Texas measles outbreak, the biggest in the state in 30 years, has infected more than 270 people and hospitalizing dozens of them. Public health officials have repeatedly told Texans that studies have time and time again shown that the safest and most effective way to avoid contracting the very infectious, life-threatening disease is to vaccinate with the measles-mumps-rubella shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple, members of a Mennonite community in Gaines County with traditionally low vaccination rates, spoke on camera in both English and Low German to CHD Executive Director Polly Tommey and CHD Chief Scientific Officer Brian Hooker. It was her time on Earth, the translator said the parents told her. They believe shes better off where she is now. We would absolutely not take the MMR, the mother said in English, referring to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination children typically receive before attending school. She said her stance on vaccination has not changed after her daughters death. The measles wasnt that bad. They got over it pretty quickly, the mother said of her other four surviving children who were treated with castor oil and inhaled steroids and recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple told CHD that their daughter had measles for days when she became tired and the girls labored breathing prompted the couple to take her to Covenant Childrens Hospital in Lubbock. There, the girl was intubated and died a few days later. The other children came down with measles after their sister died. The parents interview was recorded Saturday and later posted on the website of Childrens Health Defense, an organization founded in 2007 by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now secretary for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Kennedy stepped down from the organization to run for president in 2023. The deceased girls father insisted that measles helps build up a persons immune system. Also the measles are good for the body for the people, the father said, explaining You get an infection out. Infectious disease experts have urged the public to avoid attempting to achieve immunity through measles exposures. Measles carries too high of risks, including lifelong complications and death, compared to the generally mild side-effects from the vaccine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mennonite community located in remote Gaines County, about 400 miles west of Dallas, has been the center of a West Texas measles outbreak. As of Tuesday, measles has spread to 279 patients in Gaines and nearby counties. Covenant Childrens Hospital in Lubbock, which cared for the couples daughter, released a prepared statement on Thursday. They said the interview circulating online contains misleading and inaccurate claims regarding care provided at Covenant Childrens and that the hospital could not directly speak about the girls case because of patient confidentiality laws. What we can say is that our physicians and care teams follow evidence-based protocols and make clinical decisions based on a patients evolving condition, diagnostic findings and the best available medical knowledge, the statement said. Covenant Childrens reiterated that measles is a highly contagious, potentially life-threatening disease that often creates serious, well-known complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hospital urged anyone with questions about measles to contact their health provider. 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. With its measles outbreak spreading to two additional states, Texas is on track to becoming the cause of a national epidemic if it doesnt start vaccinating more people, according to public health experts. Measles, a highly contagious disease that was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, has made a resurgence in West Texas communities, jumping hundreds of miles to the northern border of the Panhandle and East Texas, and invading bordering states of New Mexico and Oklahoma. Based on the rapid spread of cases statewide more than 200 over 50 days public health officials predict that it could take Texas a year to contain the spread. With cases continuously rising and the rest of the countrys unvaccinated population at the outbreaks mercy, Texas must create stricter quarantine requirements, increase the vaccine rate, and improve contact tracing to address this measles epidemic before it becomes a nationwide problem, warn infectious disease experts and officials in other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This demonstrates that this (vaccine exemption) policy puts the community, the county, and surrounding states at risk because of how contagious this disease is, said Glenn Fennelly, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases and assistant vice president of global health at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. We are running the risk of threatening global stability. [After COVID, Texas is less prepared for the next pandemic] The measles outbreak the largest in the state in 30 years has spread from two cases in late January to more than 270 cases and now includes 11 counties, most of them in the rural South Plains region. So far this year, there have been more than 300 cases of measles confirmed across 15 states, as of March 13. The Texas outbreak, which makes up the bulk of those cases, is only linked to cases in New Mexico and Oklahoma, where state officials said this month that someone associated with the Texas outbreak was exposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Texas officials reported that an unvaccinated, otherwise healthy school-aged child died from measles, the first death from the virus in a decade. This month, New Mexico officials said an unvaccinated adult in Lea County, about 50 miles away from the outbreaks epicenter of Gaines County, who died had tested positive for measles. Officials are still confirming whether the cause of death was measles, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. This is a very multi-jurisdictional outbreak with three states involved and about seven or eight different local health departments, in addition to some areas where the state serves as the local health department. There are a lot of moving parts, said Katherine Wells, director of public health for the City of Lubbock, during a Tuesday meeting of the Big Cities Health Coalition, a national organization for large metropolitan health departments. Most of Texas measles cases are in unvaccinated school-aged children and are concentrated in the Mennonite community in Gaines County, which traditionally has low vaccination rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wells said efforts to increase the vaccination rates in Gaines County, which is about 70 miles from Lubbock, and the surrounding region have been slow as trust in the government has seemingly reached an all-time low. We are seeing, just like the rest of Americans, this community has seen a lot of stories about vaccines causing autism, and that is leading to a lot of this vaccine hesitancy, not religion, she said. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the politicization of vaccines and overall weariness to health mandates like quarantines and masks. Public health officials are now battling misinformation and public resistance to measles. Wells said because the state cant stop people from traveling, she fully expects this outbreak to last a year, and the surrounding states and the nation should prepare themselves for a potential spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles is going to find those pockets of unvaccinated individuals, and with the number of cases and ability for people to travel, there is that risk of it entering other unvaccinated pockets anywhere in the United States right now, Wells said. Vaccine hesitancy Fennelly was working in the New York area in the 1990s during a major outbreak that filled hospitals with infants sickened from measles that were too young to get the measles vaccine, and then during a 2018 outbreak, when pamphlets were circulating in the local Ultra-Orthodox community warning against the unfound dangers of the measles vaccine. Now, years later, Fennelly is watching the same series of events play out in Texas. This could have been predicted. There have been steady rates of increased personal belief exemptions over the last several years leading to pockets of under-vaccination across the state, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the West Texas region, misinformation about vaccines, distrust of local public health officials, and fear of government authority overruling family autonomy have reigned supreme, creating the pockets that measles infiltrated this year. However, this is not just a South Plains problem but a statewide issue as vaccine exemptions continue to grow. We have several pockets of population that have high unvaccinated groups. We sent out a letter to public and private school districts with low vaccination rates explaining the situation and asking them to update their childrens shots, said Phil Huang, director and health authority for Dallas County Health and Human Services, during the Big Cities Health Coalition meeting. Texas requires children and students to obtain vaccines to attend schools, child care centers, and college. However, individuals can claim they are exempt if they are in the military, have a religious or personal belief that goes against getting immunized, or if a health provider determines it is not safe to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2018, the number of requests to the Texas Department of State Health Services for an exemption form has doubled from 45,900 to more than 93,000 in 2024. Data suggests that vaccine exemptions and those living in areas with higher vaccine exemption rates for measles and pertussis are at increased risk of contracting these diseases. The authors of this data collection concluded that geographic pockets of vaccine exemptions pose a risk to the whole community. Fennelly said the hurdles to obtaining exemptions are easy to clear, leading to an increasing number of people refusing the vaccine. State lawmakers this session have filed more than a dozen bills that would strengthen or expand vaccine exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont have the capacity in Texas to deal with so many sick children if this continues to spread. We are already at our limit with seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Our doctors are at their limit, Fennelly said. Simbo Ige, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, had to deal with a measles outbreak in her city a year ago, with 64 individuals testing positive, 57 of whom were associated with a shelter. She said the quickest way they controlled the outbreak was quickly administering more than 30,000 doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. A Chicago Department of Health report projected a high probability of an outbreak of more than 100 cases without the citys rapid intervention. It required a lot of education and messaging because people wanted the answer to why I need to get vaccinated. We started listing out the reasons parents wont be able to go to work, kids cant go to school, and even worse, kids can get sick and die, Ige said. Its 2025. We shouldnt be having children dying from measles in this day and age. We have the tools. We just have to amplify the message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexicos public health officials started spreading awareness of vaccinations immediately after they learned Texas had its first measles case and before New Mexico got its first case. We started setting up clinics and getting the ball rolling, Jimmy Masters, the southeast region director for the New Mexico Department of Health, said. Let's see what we can do to get people in the doors and vaccinated beforehand. Nearly 9,000 New Mexicans have received measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine shots between Feb. 1 and March 10. During that same time period last year, officials vaccinated 5,342 people. Texas has held multiple vaccination clinics in the outbreak area, but according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, only 350 doses have been administered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico has also emphasized its Vaxview website that keeps track of residents' immunizations, allowing concerned people to check within seconds if they need a shot. Texas has a vaccine tracking program known as ImmTrac2, but its an opt-in program that doesnt have most adult records. If someone doesnt opt in by age 26, their records will not be retained. We told people to contact us to ensure their vaccine status is up to date, Masters said. If they arent sure, just call the health office so we can find out for them. And if they dont have their records updated for the vaccine, then we can ask them to come in and take advantage of the clinics or come in as walk-ins. Because of this, most of Lea County is considered immunized, Masters said, so public health officials in New Mexico dont view the outbreak as rapidly evolving. Back in Texas, the opposite is playing out. Advice from public health officials is seemingly ignored, and vaccine efforts are struggling. We need to have a consistent message from all levels. We need to reinforce the message that vaccines are safe and vaccines are how you prevent this, and we have concerns when other messages dilute this message, Huang said. Texas Department of State Health Services officials are also encouraging people to vaccinate, but whether people will listen is out of the agencys control. The only way to stop the virus from spreading is to get more people immunized. We are providing education about the severe complications associated with measles infection, and directing them to locations where they can get vaccinated, said Lara Anton, spokesperson for the state health agency. Fennelly said the main difference between Lea County and Gaines County is the public acceptance of the vaccine and public health in general. He said if Texas wants to improve, there should be studies on why people are so hesitant to accept vaccines. We need to be asking why Gaines County? What are the concerns, and how do we, the health profession and public health officials, most effectively confront and allay those fears, he said. People shouldnt be more afraid of the vaccine than the disease. Obstacles to quarantining and contact tracing A person with measles visits a friend, another visits kids at a college, and the other has friends over. Public health departments in West Texas are trying to trace the spread of measles, since other than strongly suggesting people quarantine, theres nothing more local officials can do to prevent infected individuals from traveling. We shouldnt be surprised in this kind of environment that we will have more cases, said David Lakey, the vice chancellor for health affairs and the chief medical officer at the University of Texas System. I think we need to work with individuals to ensure they stay home during an event like this. State lawmakers have stripped control from cities and counties from implementing mandates, such as closing businesses and schools. While some of these laws apply only to COVID-19, public health experts say it has created an environment where state health officials can only offer suggestions to Texans with little enforcement, allowing measles to continue to spread. The state of Texas is taking it seriously and trying to balance how they approach this while respecting the laws of the state and also peoples freedoms, Lakey said. They are doing it while also making sure that we are doing everything it can to identify people, provide vaccines, isolate individuals, and take all the other steps to address an event like this. With young children particularly vulnerable to the disease, Lakey said hospitals must screen people entering hospitals. Wells said there have been a couple of women who gave birth at a Lubbock hospital who were infected with measles or were recently exposed to it, and babies six months old or younger have needed treatment with immunoglobulin because of exposure. Thats really why measles is so scary. Its so communicable, and its so easy to enter some of the very vulnerable areas where babies dont have those vaccinations yet, she said. Thats going to be day cares, schools, hospitals, pediatricians offices, and were seeing those cases more and more as this outbreak continues. This potential spread makes contact tracing necessary, but Wells said it is one of their region's most significant challenges besides testing. While a laboratory set up in Lubbock has cut down wait times for tests results from 72 hours to one day, Wells said rural Texas doesnt have the staff to track the travel of more than 270 people. This is going to be a large outbreak, and we are still on the side where we are increasing the number of cases, both because were still seeing spread and also because we have increased testing capacity, so more people are getting tested, she said. New Mexico has a lead investigator for contact tracing who interviews the patients, gathers medical records, establishes a point of contact, and organizes vaccinations for those who were potentially exposed to prevent spread. While West Texas officials try to follow the same policies, the health care system is decentralized, meaning the contact tracing is done by the local health authority first, and then, if necessary, the state gets involved and possibly, assistance from the CDC. Chris Van Deusen, spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said while the state is not necessarily struggling to contact trace, he acknowledges the extra manpower it requires. That also depends on the individuals talking with us and sharing that information. So that can be difficult, particularly when dealing with a more insular community. It can be difficult to make inroads, and that is why the local process is important, Van Deusen said. Experts say that as travel season ramps up and if Texas cant seem to stop the spread, states nationwide should prepare themselves for what may come. The message to health departments is be ready, and schools need to think about this and government officials because this really does have the potential to grow beyond these three states, Wells said. Disclosure: Texas Tech University and University of Texas System have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Texas rapper Yella Beezy was arrested and booked into the Dallas County Jail Thursday afternoon after a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to Dallas county jail and court records. Yella Beezy, best known for his breakout hit "That's On Me," was arrested for the 2020 murder of fellow Dallas rapper MO3. Here is what we know about the charges. What was Yella Beezy charged with? Yella Beezy (real name Markies Conway) was indicted by a jury on March 18 on a charge of "capital murder while remuneration," alleging the Texas-born rapper "intentionally and knowingly" took part in the death of MO3 (real name Melvin Noble) by hiring Kewon White to kill him for payment and the "promise of remuneration," according to a copy of the indictment. How did MO3 die? Following MO3's death on Nov. 11, 2020, police told USA TODAY that the shooting suspect described as an adult Black male exited his stopped dark sedan armed with a firearm and approached MO3, who exited his stationary car and began running southbound on the highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect now identified as White chased MO3, firing multiple shots and striking him. The rapper was transported to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY at the time. MO3 was 28 years old. White also struck an innocent bystander, an adult male, who was sitting in a separate car. The second victim was also transported to an area hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Who is Yella Beezy? Beezy grew up in Oak Cliff, a neighborhood in Dallas. His breakthrough came on the 2017 mixtape "Lite Work, Vol. 2," which featured the song "That's On Me." The trap track reportedly peaked at No. 25 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as cracked the Hot 100 chart at No. 56. A star-studded 2018 remix featured appearances from 2 Chainz, T.I., Rich the Kid, Jeezy, Boosie Badazz and Trapboy Freddie. Beezy has had his share of legal troubles and incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On October 14, 2018, Beezy was shot on the Sam Rayburn Tollway in Lewisville, Texas, at approximately 3:30 AM. Reports indicate that his vehicle was struck by gunfire three times. Beezy survived the incident after being hospitalized, and the shooter was later apprehended in downtown Dallas. On February 14, 2021, Beezy was arrested in Dallas for firearm possession but was released from jail on the same day. Later that year, on August 11, 2021, the rapper faced another arrest, this time on drug-related charges. What are people saying about Yella Beezy's arrest? People reacted and shared their thoughts on Yella Beezy's arrest on social media: Yella Beezy getting pulled in for that Mo3 murder now.. is not good which means a long investigation led to it. Capital Murder in Texas boy they might attach u to the human bug zapper. PhillyTheBoss.com (@PhillyTheBoss) March 20, 2025 A PICTURE RESURFACES OF YELLA BEEZY & MO3 BACK IN THE DAY SMH WATCH WHO YOU CALL YOUR FRIENDS MA PEOPLE.#yellabeezy pic.twitter.com/px7qeWZpiB Omz (@omz8910) March 21, 2025 Karma caught up with Yella Beezy, what's done in the dark comes to light SMOOTH MELANIN (@smoothmelanin) March 21, 2025 i hope yella beezy go his ass to jail for a long time cause my feelings was hurt when mo3 got killed (@aaaaanahi_) March 21, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement -USA TODAY Network contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas rapper Yella Beezy arrested, charged with murder in death of MO3 Abortion has been outlawed in Texas for almost three years now, but still, Texans are finding ways to terminate their pregnancies. Theres been a steady flow of pills being mailed into the state, and abortion seekers traveling out of the state, resulting in a net positive number of abortions nationally since the procedure was banned. This flouting of the laws is a real bugaboo of anti-abortion groups and Republican elected officials. Theyve tried to get the pills removed from the market, threatened the abortion funds and individuals who help people travel out of state, sued people who helped their friends get pills and, most recently, sued a New York doctor accused of providing pills to Texans. Now, its the state Legislatures turn to take a crack at it. While most of the attention so far has been on a pair of bills that aim to clarify the existing laws as they apply to complicated pregnancies, lawmakers are also hoping to give Texas sharper tools to enforce the laws. Sweeping crackdown on pills and funds Senate Bill 2880 is the most aggressive attempt yet to crack down on all the ways Texans are terminating their pregnancies despite the bans. The legislation was filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, who is also carrying the clarifying bill. Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, is carrying the House version of the bill, HB 5510. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sweeping bill targets online pill providers and the tech companies that host abortion-related websites. It also would allow wrongful death lawsuits after an abortion and empower the attorney generals office to more easily prosecute abortion offenses. The Woman and Child Protection Act relies in large part on allowing private citizens to sue over violations of the law. This is the same legal framework that allowed Texas to ban nearly all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy in 2021, evading constitutional questions by removing public enforcement. It would also make it a felony, punishable by up to life in prison, to pay or reimburse the costs of an abortion, a direct hit on abortion funds, which help cover the costs of out-of-state abortions. By going after the internet service providers, social media sites and search engines that power these websites, Texas could potentially undermine the entire network of pills and providers serving abortion-ban states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other state has enacted effective legislation to save mothers and children from the abortion industrys evil new business model, Texas Right to Life, the states largest anti-abortion advocacy group, said in a statement. Passing this bill would prove that Texans are not satisfied with just closing brick and mortar abortion clinics. Greer Donley, a reproductive health care law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, said the bill as written appears to run afoul of a number of constitutional protections and she anticipates a swift legal challenge if it passes. But a legal battle can take a long time to resolve, and in the meantime, she anticipates companies might go ahead and comply, rather than risk violating the law. We just know so much at this point about how risk averse people are. Even doctors that provide reproductive health care to patients directly are risk averse, she said. But internet companies and the manufacturers of abortion pills, companies that are less grounded in the mission, we can expect even more of a chill from them. Other pill bills Republicans have filed other bills that eat at the edges of the abortion medication issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 2625 filed by Sens. Donna Campbell of New Braunfels and Angela Paxton of McKinney, would require any medical provider to be physically present in Texas before they prescribe abortion-inducing medication to a patient. HB 4593 by Rep. Ellen Troxclair takes a similar approach. HB 1651, filed by Fort Worth Rep. Nate Schatzline, would make it a deceptive trade practice to sell abortion medication online without verification that an in-state doctor had performed an in-person medical exam first. While these bills would heighten the penalties for online pill providers, its unlikely to pierce the shield that blue states and, in some cases, other countries have wrapped around their abortion providers. While these so-called shield laws havent been fully tested in court, New York, at least, has shown a willingness to defend its doctors against civil and criminal charges from red states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If post-Dobbs has any major lesson that we've learned, its that when people need an abortion, they find a way to get it, Donley said. I suspect that no matter what happens in Texas, people will find new ways to get access. The question is just, are they forced to do things that are less safe? Controlled substances Some Republicans are trying a different tack by trying to classify mifepristone and misoprostol, common abortion-inducing drugs, as controlled substances. This legislation is modeled after a similar law in Louisiana, where health care providers say the restrictions have delayed urgent miscarriage care. Theres no sense in it, Dr. Nicole Freehill, an OB/GYN in New Orleans, told The Texas Tribune in November. Even though we kept trying to tell them how often [these medications] are used for other things and how safe they are, it didnt matter. Its just a backdoor way of restricting abortion more. HB 1636, filed by Rep. Tom Oliverson of Cypress and Rep. Pat Curry of Waco, has the backing of national anti-abortion groups. County abortion funds Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also has designated another abortion bill, SB 33, as a priority. This bill would stop cities and counties from supporting abortion funds and nonprofits that help people travel out of state to terminate their pregnancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Austin City Council appropriated $400,000 to help city residents travel out of Texas to get abortions. Attorney General Ken Paxton and a former city councilor sued over the policy, saying it violated state law. Those lawsuits are ongoing. The San Antonio City Council also allocated $500,000 for a reproductive justice fund, some of which was to be used to support out-of-state travel. But after much debate and a lawsuit, ultimately none of the organizations the fund supports pay for abortions or logistical support for abortion-seekers. SB 33 has 18 authors and is expected to pass the Senate easily. The companion bill, HB 1806, filed by Rep. Candy Noble, has four additional co-authors. Conscience objections A flurry of bills from Republicans also attempt to widen the ways doctors, nurses and pharmacists can opt out of providing certain health care due to conscience objections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 619, filed by Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland, and HB 2816, filed by Oliverson, would allow health care providers to decline to provide non-emergency medical care due to a sincerely held set of moral convictions. The bills specifically note that they can opt out of providing family planning, counseling and referrals related to contraception, sterilization and abortion. SB 1985, filed by Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception or abortion medication. Both mifepristone and misoprostol have other uses beyond abortion, including treating miscarriages and some autoimmune disorders, and since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, patients across the country have reported issues in getting these medications from pharmacists. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. AUSTIN (Nexstar) Texas state senators voted along party lines this week to pass an education omnibus bill that would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at K-12 public schools. Senate Bill 12, filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, is called the Texas Parental Bill of Rights in Education. The senator explained at its core, the bill solidifies that parents are the chief decision-makers for their children. The bill aims to strengthen parental rights, reform student transfers in public schools and increase transparency for parents, mandating schools notify parents of any opt-out options on instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the element of the bill that garnered the most conversation on the Senate floor was the ban on DEI. The bill says schools must remove DEI policies and activities and that school districts must implement discipline policies for any violations. Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, gave a passionate response to the bill on the chamber floor. The state has demonized DEI, Borris said. He added that if the achievement gaps for minority students widen, we can look back to this bill as the start. Creighton defended his bill and argued DEI policies are actually dividing students even more in the classrooms. Theyre certainly not bringing all students together, Creighton said on the chamber floor. Opponents of the bill also argue the elimination of DEI from public schools will make it harder for schools to hire teachers. Sarai Flores, a policy fellow for School Board Members for Latino Equity, testified at a senate committee hearing in February about SB 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a time where Texas faces a severe teacher shortage, we should be trying to attract diverse talent from around the country to teach at our schools, Flores said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who made this bill one of his top priorities of the session, released a statement following the passage. I prioritized SB 12 because parents must be empowered to have an even greater role in their childrens education, Patrick said. With more parental input and empowerment, Texas students will be better served by the public education system. I thank Sen. Creighton for his continued commitment to improving public education in Texas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Wade Steen sitting at his desk in the STRS board room, hearing reformers thank him for his work. (Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS.) An investment firm worked extensively with an embattled former member of the retired teachers pension fund, according to text messages in newly released court documents. Communications obtained via a records request reveal that QED associates consistently told then-board member Wade Steen what questions to ask, gave him documents to propose, and pushed him to follow its plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seth Metcalf, the man being accused of scheming with Steen, has now defended himself from the Attorney Generals Office court filing. In the legal battle between Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and former STRS board member Wade Steen and current board chair Rudy Fichtenbaum, the AG provided extensive text messages between Steen and the founder of the investment firm at the center of an alleged corruption case. The extent to which Steen communicated, coordinated, and acted almost as an agent of QED (rather than a fiduciary to the STRS Board) is shocking, the filing states. Last May, Yost filed a lawsuit to remove Steen and Fichtenbaum, stating they are participating in a contract steering scheme that could directly benefit them. Yost started the investigation after documents prepared by STRS employees alleged that Steen and Fichtenbaum have been doing the bidding of investment firm QED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steen and Fichtenbaum have repeatedly brought up how quick the turnaround time was between Yost receiving the memo and filing the civil suit. The documents were received by government officials in early May. Yost said he was investigating on May 9, and by May 14, a lawsuit had been filed in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Steen had asked the court for a partial summary judgment because he is no longer on the STRS board, so he thinks the asking for his removal is moot. This week, the state asked the judge not to issue judgment because the AG asked for the permanent removal of Steen and Fichtenbaum, meaning they wont be allowed to make a comeback, the docs state. The salient question is not whether Steen is currently on the Board, but whether he should ever be allowed to join the Board again, the filing says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steen argues that the AGs request for an accounting and disgorgement of unlawful benefits allegedly received by Steen from QED is not supported by the evidence, which the state denies. The circumstantial evidence and exhibits provided by the AG team must be considered by a jury, the state argues. The self-serving narration of facts set forth in Steens motion is unsupported by record the evidence, the state said. Steen alleges that the Complaint was spurred by some vendetta That narrative is both false and irrelevant to the motion. Recap QED was started by former Deputy Treasurer Seth Metcalf and Jonathan (JD) Tremmel. Metcalf worked under former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel in multiple capacities, including as deputy treasurer and general counsel. In 2020, Metcalf and Tremmel set their eyes on STRS, according to a 14-page whistleblower memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documents claim that they despite having no clients and no track record tried to convince STRS members to partner with them. They couldnt impress the board members, mainly because of their lack of experience and also because QED was not registered as a broker-dealer or investment adviser. The men also didnt own the technology to facilitate the strategy, the documents say. Other names referenced frequently in the whistleblower memo were former board members Bob Stein and Yoel Mayerfeld. Both were supportive of QED at first. Stein abruptly resigned, after texts showed that he was somewhat backtracking on support for the investment firm. The STRS memo claims QED and ORTA, The Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association, including leaders Robin Rayfield and Dean Dennis, have worked together, specifically when it comes to elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steen and Fichtenbaum had allegedly been bidding continuously, pitching QEDs direct documents to board members and proclaiming the companys talking points to other staff. The AG states that the pair should be removed because they broke their fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and trust when colluding with QED. In late August, Yost filed several subpoenas against QED and others allegedly involved in this scheme. The same month, QED spoke out to us for the first time, and so did the AG. Ohio law does not allow Steen to now dodge liability for breaches of fiduciary duty as a public trustee simply by leaving the Board, the AG teams states in the new filing. Texts Texts between Steen and Metcalf and Tremmel show that the pair consistently told the board member questions to ask, ideas of what to say, and pushed him to follow their plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are hundreds of text messages. In a message from Metcalf to Steen in August of 2022, Metcalf seemingly gives the board member talking points. 1. Just doing my job as trustee not getting paid. Bad stuff going on. Would be easy to rubber stamp, but I refuse to be part of the problem. 2. Problems at STRS are real for active and retired teachers and are not going away. Teachers are pissed (and have been for a long time) that staff are getting rich while teachers get the short end of the stock. 3. Cash burn of $4B a year means STRS assets are shrink quickly during this recession, high risk of entering a death spiral. Stock market boom over that last decade only allowed STRS to tread water. Going to be very clear in next couple of years that STRS will be bankrupt in 15-20 years. Only options are further benefit reductions, higher contributions, a state bailout or earning dramatically more money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4. STRS is tone deaf and arrogant. Wont change. 5. Teachers are driving change. You should talk with them. That is one example of the dozens of pieces of advice Metcalf gave. Although some texts are out of order date-wise, there is a pattern. In what appears to be an effort to get Steen to send a letter to an individual, Metcalf worked on editing for him. Not yet, I need your edits that you mentioned and did not want to send in advance of talking with him so as not to give him any advantage, Steen said. Metcalf also talked about vote counts in order to sway other board members to follow his and Steens agenda, the texts show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You and Hunt should call Dale together. We NEED him, Metcalf wrote in December 2020. After sending Steen more themes and topics to cover during meetings and private pitches, the board member asked for additional help. Can you resend me your 3 points on why we need an active engaged Investment Comm, Steen asked Metcalf. You gave me a copy but Ive misplace[d] it. Private conversations were also discussed, the texts show. Stein really wants this, I think he is just keeping his powder dry, Metcalf said in Oct. 2020, although, through the texts, it is unclear what he is addressing. He wants a big solution to be able to charge fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I won a few battles in Exec meeting that we can discuss later. I think we can win this but I need to nuisance it, Steen said. Cant wait to hear about exec committee. Youre not done at all if it fails. It is only the beginning youre just staring to figure out this big problem, Metcalf continued. Just like in the legislature, have a vote to put people on the record. Be patient my friend, Steen replied. I think youve got the votes! Make the motion! Announce that you have a solution! Please call when youre free. Im here, Metcalf texted Steen. Ill call in a few minutes, Steen responded. This was during the time that Steen, according to texts, was attempting to have the board adopt COLA, or cost of living adjustment, solution possibly QED or their subsidiaries. Then, texts show a group chat between Steen, Metcalf and Tremmel. The pair constantly text Steen during board meetings with advice, including numerous messages of Vote! and Force the vote when it comes to policy. Thanks for the support today! Steen said. Wade you are a champion! We moved the ball down the field today and have time to recoup and refresh during the holiday! Metcalf texted the group. Throughout all the texts, the pair argue for transparency and accountability of the STRS staff, arguing that they are skewing the benchmarks for bonuses for staff. Wade: Please ask each person to summarize four things: sharpe, return, capacity and edge during the next twelve months. We need $1.5 billion today. How fast can we get to that? Metcalf asked in Nov. 2020. Give him the dagger, Tremmel said about another board member seemingly disagreeing with Steen and QED. In another message, Metcalf asked to overhear a conversation between Steen and a board member. Wade we do you plan on calling Stein? Wed love to be a fly on the wall, he said in Nov. 2020. Metcalf requested focus. Wade: need to keep eye on the prize, he texted in Nov. 2020. One of the exhibits shows a text in which Steen criticized Stein, once again, for not going with his plan. I think Stein is trying to work through staff to get your concept or the concept of using our Balance Sheet implemented by working through staff. But working through staff will kill it, Steen emailed Metcalf in Feb. 2021. It seems he is not willing to use the Boards authority to push it is my gut feel. This is on the QT. In April of 2021, Stein resigns abruptly, much to the confusion of the group chat. Why did he leave? Tremmel asked. I have no idea, Steen responded. We reached out to Steen, Metcalf and Tremmel for comment. Wade, this is the benefit of persistent, thoughtful work. We are starting to see green shoots of the seeds weve sown. Great work. You were masterful, Metcalf said in Sept. 2020. The court case will continue as the board tries to function. Today will go down in history, Tremmel texted in Feb. 2021. QED response Metcalf sent a lengthy statement, answering most of the questions, including the alleged appearance of impropriety. He, however, didnt touch explicitly on the fact that he was giving exact directions on what to say and how to say it. Its important that Ohio teachers, taxpayers and officials dont miss the most important revelation from this weeks court filings the Attorney Generals office was unable to find a single piece of evidence supporting claims by STRS staff of improper dealings between QED and members of the STRS board. As weve said all along, no board member ever received nor was promised anything from QED. Period, Metcalf said. He said that the opponents of reform will continue to slander, because thats the best they can do. QEDs highly-qualified team worked closely with Steen to expose STRS mediocre investment performance because we know STRS could earn more money for teachers. STRS is misleading stakeholders and paying improper bonuses by overstating its investment performance Our index-based solution threatened the jobs of STRS internal investment staff, who have misrepresented QED and our solution, Metcalf continued. STRS officials have continued to state that QED is incorrect. The Ohio Retirement Study Council posted a report in 2022 that compared STRS with other statewide public pension systems from 1999-2022. During this time period, the average annual STRS return was 6.85%, while the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS) was 6.14%, the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio (SERS) was 6.52%, Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F) was 6.76% and Highway Patrol Retirement Systems (HPRS) was 5.88%. STRS staff members have pointed out this data on numerous occasions when addressing that the fund isnt failing like critics say it is. STRS Ohios investment consultant, Callan, shared that STRS Ohios total fund return outperformed its benchmarks and ranked in the top 10% of public funds tracked by Callan for the three-, five- and 10-year periods ending June 30, 2023, STRS spokesperson Dan Minnich told me last year. Metcalf continued to defend Steen. Steen fulfilled his fiduciary duty (and created enemies) by investigating the suspicious fact that STRS has consistently used a higher unaudited investment return for paying staff bonuses and a lower audited return for paying teacher benefits, Metcalf said. The benchmarks for STRS bonuses has been a controversial topic and a point of contention for Steen and other reformers. We helped Steen extract information on STRS investment costs and expenses; encouraged him to request that the Attorney General appoint transparency counsel; and recommended that he demand an independent audit of investment performance before staff bonuses were paid, which STRS staff rejected, Metcalf added. We asked why he kept using the term we in conversation with Steen. We refers to the loose coalition of teachers, teacher organizations, QED and STRS board members trying to understand how STRS has failed to pay promised benefits to teachers while claiming superior investment performance, he responded. There is nothing improper about a second set of eyes to shed light on bureaucracy. STRS staff and consultants were paid millions, weve been paid nothing. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Back in 2023, Fani Willis seemed unstoppable. The first-term Fulton County district attorney became a national name after announcing in August of that year her intent to succeed where many before her had failed: holding the then-former President Donald Trump accountable. Willis brought criminal racketeering charges against Trump, alleging that he attempted to alter the results of his 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia, based in part on an audio recording of him telling a Georgia official he wanted to find 11,780 votes. But Willis seemingly tight case quickly unspooled after defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant pulled and pulled at a loose thread a romantic relationship that Willis once had with someone she hired to help prosecute Trump. Now, Willis and her former lover are off the case, which is stalled until at least 2029. And last week, her office was ordered to pay Merchant more than $54,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where did things go left? The setback Willis faced last week stemmed from a dispute over three documents. Merchant sought the documents via an open records request to support her January 2024 bombshell claim that Willis had an improper, clandestine personal relationship with the special prosecutor she appointed to the case, Nathan Wade. In a January 2024 filing, she argued for Wade and Willis to be removed from the case or have it thrown out entirely. The three documents that Merchant requested include a list of attorneys Willis hired since taking office in 2021, the confidentiality agreement that Willis employees are required to sign, and all correspondence between Willis office and the Fulton County Purchasing Department between 2021 and when the request was made. The latter request includes the documenting of any payment, requests for payment, process for hiring/bids and paying outside counsel, according to Krauses judgment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgias Open Records Act permits any member of the public to view, inspect, and make copies of any documents, communications, data, or other materials maintained by a government agency. Under the law, government agencies have three business days to respond and indicate whether any records will be made available. But last Friday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel R. Krause ruled that Willis office had failed to comply with Merchants open records request. She ordered the office to pay $54,103.23 within 30 days to cover Merchants legal fees and turn over the documents. Dexter Bond, the open records custodian for Willis office, admitted during last years hearing for the lawsuit that he handled Merchants requests differently than he did others. According to Krauses ruling, Bond made an unnecessarily limited interpretation of the request and refused to communicate with Merchant by telephone to clarify the request as he normally would. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs office provided some documents, including 22 confidentiality agreements. But Bond said he did not search for the promotional and rebranding materials that Merchant sought, claiming he did not know what she was seeking. The romantic relationship between Willis and Wade sparked the election interference cases eventual breakdown. While Willis and Wade denied any wrongdoing, Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ordered either prosecutor to resign from the case due to a significant appearance of impropriety. Wade resigned last March. In December, the Georgia Court of Appeals removed Willis and her office from the case, but stopped short of dismissing the indictment. Merchant, a Cobb County-based attorney, didnt represent Trump she represented Mike Roman, a former Trump campaign aide and one of 18 co-defendants in the aforementioned racketeering case. Yet, she upended the prosecution of Trump and turned Willis office into a defendant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proud that we have judges willing to hold people in power accountable when they ignore the law, Merchant wrote on X following the judges ruling. The district attorneys office did not comment but confirmed to Capital B Atlanta its intent to appeal the judges decision. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a March 2024 hearing in the election interference case against Donald Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. The hearing was to determine whether Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired. (Alex Slitz-Pool/Getty Images) This is not the first time Willis has faced admonition from a Fulton County judge for failing to produce documents. Superior Court Judge Shukura L. Ingram ordered Willis to comply with a Georgia state Senate subpoena in December that was part of a misconduct investigation also related to Trumps election interference case. Willis appealed the judges decision and filed a motion to dismiss the state Senates subpoena outright. In her Feb. 25 ruling, Ingram denied the motion and called the argument absurd. Willis finally acquiesced last Wednesday, agreeing to turn over the requested documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documents include communications between the Fulton DAs office and the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. House of Representatives regarding the 2020 presidential election. They also requested documents related to federal money her office has been granted. Its rare to see an open records case go to trial in Georgia because of how expensive litigation can be, according to Cory Isaacson, legal director for the ACLU of Georgia. Government agencies in Georgia are often able to sidestep their obligations under the open records act without any accountability or any consequence for their noncompliance, she said. Isaacson said thats why the judges decision to require Willis and her office to turn over not only the requested documents but also to pay $54,103.23 in attorney fees is a necessary message to send to government agencies across the state that noncompliance with this law is serious, and they will be held accountable. The post The Three Records That Fani Willis Office Withheld in Trump Case appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is celebrating the return of its sacred Winter Drum and six other sacred and culturally significant items from the Dutch government. This week, leaders from the Pueblo traveled to the Netherlands to sign an offical transfer agreement with the Dutch Ministry of Education. This agreement facilitates the return of the Pueblos Winter Drum, along with six other sacred and culturally significant items, back to West Texas, the Pueblo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For over 140 years, these sacred items had been held by the Dutch government and the Dutch Museum of World Cultures. (Thursday morning), a ceremony was held at the Museum of World Cultures in Leiden, attended by officials from the Dutch government, representatives from the U.S. Embassy in The Hague, and leaders from the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. During this ceremony, the Winter Drum, considered the Pueblos most important spiritual icon, was officially returned to the Pueblo, the Pueblo said. The Pueblo said it has been seeking the return of the Winter Drum and the other items since they were taken by Dutch explorers in 1882, the Pueblo said. The Pueblo said the Dutch government had denied official requests for the items return, dating back to 1967. Today marks a remarkable day for the Pueblo, a day I once thought might never arrive. Over the past 50 years, we had faced numerous rejections, and there were times in the last nine months when the process seemed discouraging, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Gov. Michael Silvas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am incredibly grateful to the Dutch government, the leadership at the Museum of World Cultures, our State Department, Department of the Interior, and our congressional representatives in West Texas and New Mexico for making it possible for the Winter Drum to return home. I want other tribes to know that the State Departments Cultural Heritage Center and the Department of the Interior have dedicated staff committed to the repatriation of tribal cultural objects and relics. Many people worked tirelessly to assist us, and for that, I can only say, Thank you,' Silvas continued. Tiguas: Winter Drum, other items to be returned by Dutch after 140 years After what the Pueblo is calling a concerted effort during the past nine months invovling the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Interior Department and local congressional leaders, the Dutch goverment agreed to return the items back in January. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. ALABASTER, Ala. (WIAT) A 6-month-old girl died after being attacked by a dog in Alabaster, Alabama, last week, police confirmed. Alabaster police said the attack happened around 10 a.m. Friday at a family members home. According to police, there were two dogs at the home at the time. Both were taken into a 10-day quarantine by animal control. More US and World News Anna Southard, the mother of 6-month-old Ember Renee Southard, said her daughter was attacked by an 11-year-old American Bully. The dog had no history of violence or aggression toward children, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southard said she hadnt even been gone 20 minutes when she got the call. By the time she saw Ember again at the hospital, she already looked dead, Southard said. According to Bibb County Coroner Patrick Turner, the victim was taken to a childrens hospital after being attacked. The coroner said the baby was from Bibb County, though the attack happened at a family members home in Shelby County. Alabaster police are investigating the case but are not pursuing charges at this time. They are leaving it up to the Shelby County district attorney and grand jury. Southard did not wish to do an on-camera interview but answered questions via email. The questions and responses are as follows: How are you and your family holding up right now amid this tragedy? My family isnt holding up, Southard replied. We lost a perfect baby. My daughter. We lost my daughter in a horrible accident within 20 minutes. Can you tell me what happened on Friday? Who was Ember with and what led up to the attack? What kind of dog was it that attacked her? Friday morning, I went to take my grandmother to a doctors appointment at 9:40, I was going to just take my daughter with me but my family said 20 minutes would be fine, Southard wrote. We hadnt even checked in at the doctor, we hadnt even been gone 20 minutes, before we got a phone call from the family member watching her. I raced home, and got there just behind the ambulance. My daughter already looked dead. I hit my knees in the driveway hard enough to make them bleed. I heard dog attack. My grandfather got there the same time I did. They got Ember in the ambulance, and I rode upfront. I kept begging for her to be okay but I already knew my daughter wasnt going to live. I knew it the moment I saw her blue and unmoving. She was with this family member for 20 minutes. She was attacked by an American Bully, an 11 year old dog that had been around countless children, and has never harmed one before. How did you find out what happened? What were your first thoughts when you heard? My first thoughts were rage, Southard stated. The family member fell asleep with my daughter on their chest, my daughter fell from their chest and was mauled by the dog. They then called my nanny, and then 911. The family member is epileptic and had a seizure AFTER my daughter was in the ambulance. Trauma at Childrens did their best, and before she went up to the OR they told me it was very touch and go, and unlikely my daughter would live. I still begged them to. At 1:10 Ember passed away despite over a dozen doctors best interest. Even though she was extremely young, what kind of personality did Ember have? My daughter was so sweet, Southard replied. She had the sweetest smile, the cutest squeal. Ember was such a joy. Such a good baby. She always had a little smile and big beautiful eyes. She hated to be cold, or wet. I cant even describe the feeling of cleaning the blood off my daughter. Of wrapping her body in warm blankets so that she wouldnt be cold. Only me, and my grandparents saw her first after she passed. I didnt allow anyone else to see her until she was as clean and warm as she could be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Embers nickname was noodle. Because as a newborn she had little noodly- toes and the name just stuck. A wittle noodle. A perfect noodle. She was loved by so many people. Ember was an expert at smiling at you before spitting up on you, she had the sweetest voice. She had just learned how to roll over. There wasnt a soul that met her that didnt absolutely love her. She had wild blonde/red hair, big bright eyes. There was never a more perfect baby than my noodle. More US and World News Will you be pressing charges or seeking legal action for the death of your daughter? At first, when I was angry, yes I wanted charges pressed, Southard wrote. There is an investigation, but I am not going to push it one way or the other. I will NEVER forgive this family member for falling asleep with my daughter on their chest. Never. My daughter is gone forever because they couldnt follow a simple [expletive] rule. I follow safe sleep rules to the letter, and I never allow my children around dogs like that. Always supervised with me holding them. I dont believe charges should be continued, and I will not be actively pressing them. I think the punishment of knowing what their neglect did to my daughter will haunt them for the rest of their life, as it should. It was an accident. An avoidable accident, is still an accident. A GoFundMe has been started to help cover funeral costs. What does that mean to you and your family? The GoFundMe is to help with funeral costs for my daughter, and everything surrounding, Southard stated. Flowers, headstone, burial plot. I didnt make the GoFundMe, my aunt did. The GoFundMe names the car wreck I had Thursday morning, where I hit two deer and damaged my car. I could care less about my car. How can the community help yall through this time? Community wise? I dont know honestly, Southard replied. The GoFundMe is open for donations, they can also donate via cash app or venmo. But the main the the community can do for me is hold their babies closer. Follow safe sleep. Keep dogs, ALL DOGS, away from your baby. Any dog can kill an infant. Theres no reason to risk it. Its never worth it. Please, please keep your children away from dogs and follow safe sleep. This dog was 11 years old and had never harmed a human, much less a child. Is there anything else you want to say about Ember or share about the incident? The only extra thing about Ember, is she was hardly called Ember, Southard wrote. She was, is and always will be my little noodle baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A link to the GoFundMe can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Flash Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, meets with a delegation led by Katsuya Okada, executive advisor and former secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in Beijing, capital of China, March 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with a delegation from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in Beijing on Thursday. Li called on China and Japan to implement the consensus reached between their leaders during a meeting on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru. The two sides should adhere to the right direction of peaceful coexistence, everlasting friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, he said. Both sides should strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and comprehensively advance their strategic and mutually beneficial relationship, he added. Katsuya Okada, executive advisor and former secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said his party shoulders an important responsibility of improving bilateral ties and is willing to boost political, youth and non-governmental exchanges with China. Top Adams administration real estate official Jesse Hamilton, who has come under scrutiny by investigators looking into his role in the citys leasing processes, was a no-show for the second City Council hearing in a row examining his actions. Department of Citywide Administrative Services spokeswoman Anessa Hodgson blamed Hamiltons absence on a medical emergency Friday morning. She declined to disclose any details about the ex-state senators condition or if he had to seek medical attention, saying shes not permitted to share such information. Hamilton, the agencys deputy commissioner for real estate services, has faced backlash from Council members for a Manhattan DA probe that includes scrutinizing his work at DCAS, for his hiring of Diana Boutross, a real estate executive brought on to lead the citys commercial leasing operations, and for his pushing of a lease agreement at a property owned by a wealthy donor to Mayor Adams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamilton did not immediately return calls and texts Friday. His phone was taken by agents with the DAs office after he landed at JFK Airport in September, returning from a trip to Japan he took with Boutross and Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayors indicted former chief adviser, who also had their phones seized. According to a lawsuit filed by another real estate firm, JRT Realty, Hamilton, a friend of Mayor Adams, also pushed firm Cushman & Wakefield to bring on Boutross to lead the firms account with the city. The suit claimed Boutross used her ill-gotten position to boost her own bottom line by blocking JRT from business and collecting their commission. Hamilton previously was asked to testify at a Council hearing in October called to examine his move to pull a lease for the citys Department of Aging and instead hand it to 14 Wall Street, a property owned by billionaire Alexander Rovt, a major Adams donor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He skipped that hearing. At Fridays hearing, DCAS Commissioner Louis Molina testified Boutross has not had her duties modified or reviewed by his agency despite scrutiny from the DA investigators. There has been no review of DCAS of her role in that, Molina said, adding that the mayors office is reviewing the 14 Wall Street lease, and that DCAS is internally reviewing some operations. Reuters reported that in an effort to reward dairy farms for valuing sustainability through action, Fonterra, a New Zealand co-operative, announced it will increase payments to dairy farms with low pollution. In addition, customers Nestle and Mars will give bonuses to the lowest-emitting farms. "It's super important for us," stated Amanda Davies, chief research and development, procurement, and sustainability officer for Mars Snacking. Dairy farms produce gas pollution that contributes to the warming of the planet. Methane, a potent emission, is released by cows during the digestive process, particularly through burps. Methane is more effective at trapping heat than is carbon dioxide, so it is especially important for dairy farmers to be mindful about managing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manure management and fertilizer usage by dairy farms also contribute to the problem. Dairy production is important for providing nutrients that humans consume, but the downside is that it has a negative environmental impact. Different solutions to this problem are being explored, such as cowless dairy, and Fonterra's financial incentive is one way to reward dairy farms for making efforts to reduce their pollution. They will pay between one and five New Zealand cents on top of their expected payment to farms that maintain emissions lower than the baseline levels established in 2017-18. Mars and Nestle will add additional incentive payments and fund on-farm tools that will help farmers continue to reduce pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporting companies and brands that support eco-friendly initiatives is a great way to make a positive impact on the environment. It lets these companies know that customers value sustainability and that it is a wise business decision. It also encourages other companies to take similar steps to reduce their negative impacts on the environment. Andrew Flay, a dairy farmer in the central North Island who milks 390 cows, is excited about the incentives and the impact they could have on encouraging farmers to make responsible choices. "The low emissions is something that I think everybody has to take on board, whether it's farming, dairy or industries," he said. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Mar. 21Last fall, a Troy veteran was in need and Troy VFW Auxiliary 5514 stepped up to help. A U.S. Army veteran and member of both the Troy VFW and Auxiliary developed serious health problems. It resulted in her requiring numerous trips between Troy and Kalispell. The trips were costly and seeing a need, Auxiliary President Deanna Nelson and other members decided to organize a fundraiser. "Troy Baptist Church lent us the use of their building for the night for the fundraiser or we wouldn't have been able to do it," Nelson said. "Our event was a big success, everyone that came had a great time and right away we were able to help a local Troy veteran and their family who were in need going through a tough time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nelson said the woman's health has improved considerably. The Troy VFW Auxiliary has a fund that helps support those in times of need. "We do help a veteran each quarter no matter what with some of our funds and we look forward to helping more," Nelson said. Nelson expressed her appreciation to some of the many volunteers and donors that helped last fall, including Marsha Stint, Maryann Gromley, Rodney Nelson and Sandi Sullivan, BJ Brue, Kelly Lister as well as some who wanted to remain anonymous. Nelson was very appreciative of the event sponsors, including Managhan Furniture, Kootenai River Inn, True Value, Bearly Awake Coffee Den, Ace Hardware, NAPA, Les Schwab, Booze and Bait, Conoco, Town Pump, Lincoln County Credit Union, Gambles, Glacier Bank, Watson's, Saverite, WBC, Big Sky Lumber and many others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Again, a big thank you to our Troy and Libby communities for all their help and support as we look forward to helping and doing more," Nelson said. For more information or to donate to the Auxiliary, please contact Nelson at 406-291-9063. (Reuters) - A group of eight Democratic Senators on Friday accused the Trump administration of abusing the country's immigration laws in arresting Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil over his participation in pro-Palestinian protests. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the senators led by Peter Welch of Vermont said Rubio had not informed Congress of the reasoning for his determination that Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, could threaten U.S. foreign policy if he remained in the country. They said the law requires he provide such notice. "We urge you to abandon this pretextual abuse of our nation's immigration laws against Mr. Khalil and others for expressing political views that you dislike," the senators wrote to the two senior officials in President Donald Trump's cabinet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Democrats' ability to force Rubio and other Republicans to address the issue may be limited, since Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Senate Democrats cannot conduct investigations or hold hearings without the support of Republican colleagues. Khalil's arrest and potential deportation have triggered protests on the streets of New York City and drawn outrage from Trump critics, who call the move an attack on freedom of expression. Trump has pledged to deport some participants in pro-Palestinian protests that swept U.S. college campuses last year over Israel's war in Gaza, which was triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas' October 2023 attacks. Trump says pro-Palestinian protesters are antisemitic. Activists say their critics are wrongly conflating support for Palestinian rights with antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil's lawyers have challenged the legality of his March 8 arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. They say his protest was free speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Khalil, 30, is being held in immigration detention in Louisiana. A federal judge in New Jersey has temporarily blocked his deportation. The Trump administration has said Khalil is subject to removal under a little-used provision of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act allowing the deportation of any foreign national whose "presence or activities" in the country the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe could harm U.S. foreign policy. Rubio has said the U.S. would revoke visas for those who participate in "pro-Hamas events." Khalil's lawyers have said their client has no ties to Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter's signatories included Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate's Judiciary Committee, as well as Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Welch is a member of the Judiciary Committee. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Deepa Babington) WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Trump administration is in federal court. Theyre facing questions over the presidents controversial decision to deport alleged criminal immigrants after a judge ordered the flights taking them out of the country to turn around. The judge has questions about this operation after he ruled against it. Hes called the Trump administrations responses so far woefully insufficient, but President Donald Trump says his administration did nothing wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre bad people and we dont want them in our country, said Trump. The president argues flights transporting deportees from the U.S. to El Salvador last weekend were lawful under the alien enemies act. The wartime law allows deportations without a court appearance first. I was told they went through a very strong vetting process, said Trump. The ACLU, which filed the lawsuit, says the administration has failed to provide evidence. They have refused to give individuals the opportunity to show that theyre not actually part of the gang, said ACLU Lead Counsel Lee Gelernt. Border czar Tom Homan said Thursday the judge was wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (What?) He wanted us to do was turn planes around in midair full of terrorists and bring them back to the United States which is ridiculous, and we didnt do it, said Homan. The administration calls the judges push for more information judicial overreach and argues it involves sensitive national security information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. For most of the past century, the United States track record on infectious disease has been quite good. Thanks to major investments in public health, diseases such as smallpox, polio, yellow fever, malaria, measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, and tuberculosis have either been obliterated or become vanishingly rare. America led the charge, Aniruddha Hazra, an infectious-disease physician at UChicago Medicine, told me. The nations approach to public health was expected to help set the standard for the entire globes health. That era might now be over. In recent years, the U.S. had already begun to neglect its public-health infrastructure, weakening defenses necessary for keeping infectious diseases at bay. Now the Trump administration is going beyond poor maintenance. Its attempting active destruction. In two months, the administration has slashed funding for biomedical research; stripped universities of grants; triggered the halt of clinical trials, domestically and abroad; gutted the public-health workforce; canceled or postponed vaccine advisory meetings to the government; and upended the normal practices of federal agencies dedicated to promoting American health. Cuts to foreign aid have marooned HIV and malaria medications in ports and storage facilities; an Ebola outbreak has been left to swell and spread. Domestically, the federal governments response to a growing measles outbreak has downplayed the protective power of vaccines; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has suggested that H5N1 bird flu should be allowed to burn through the nations poultry; and the administration is reportedly mulling cuts to the CDCs HIV budget for prevention of the disease in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2023, while campaigning for the presidency, Kennedy declared that he wanted the government to give infectious disease a break for about eight years. He and the rest of the Trump administration are more than making good on that promise, as they hamper infectious-disease research and the day-to-day work of surveillance and outbreak management. Donald Trumps America isnt just giving infectious disease a break. Its pivoting away from guarding against pathogens to inviting them right in. In an email, Emily G. Hilliard, HHSs deputy press secretary, defended Kennedys actions, and said that the agency is committed to promoting radical transparency so Americans can make informed choices regarding their health. Kush Desai, a spokesperson for the White House, echoed this notion, and blamed shoddy reporting about the Trump administrations work for low public trust in the health-care system. Before the second Trump administration took office, the United States investment in keeping infectious disease at bay had already long been flagging. As the nation succeeded in minimizing infectious threats, people forgot to fear them. Since at least the late aughts, U.S. spending on nearly all aspects of public health has gone flat, or declined; after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, childhood vaccination rates dipped nationwide and failed to bounce back. COVID, rather than reaffirming the countrys commitment to public health, cemented many Americans antagonism toward it. [Read: Inside the collapse at the NIH] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When most of a community buys into public-health interventions, almost everyone can stay safe. But the more people opt out, the more everyones health is put at risk. Many Americans have been making that choice more often as of late. During the pandemic, for instance, when calls to vaccinate repeatedly, quarantine, distance, and mask bumped up against peoples autonomy, many Americans chose to hew to what they considered best for themselves as individuals, Lisa M. Lee, a public-health expert and bioethicist at Virginia Tech, told me. Public-health guidelines are not scripture, and Americans will still find plenty of reason to debate when restrictions have gone too far, or when health officials have gotten the guidance wrong. But public health inevitably struggles in a nation where the attitude of I dont need to worry about what everyone else is doing; I can control my own health has been hardening for years, Eleanor Murray, an infectious-disease epidemiologist, told me. That individualistic perspective is now being translated into national policy, even as infectious threats continue to batter the country. After bird flu began to spread rapidly in dairy cattle, then infect farmworkers, the Biden administration lagged in its attempts to track and contain the virus, then largely left decisions about testing cows for the pathogenthe most effective way to track its spreadup to individual farmers. (Under Joe Biden, the Department of Agriculture disputed that its response was insufficient.) By the time the second Trump administration inherited the crisis, H5N1 had already killed an Americanbut still, the nations new leaders didnt meaningfully step up the response. In the absence of sufficient cow surveillance, the virus has continued to transmit on farms; without more targeted protection of poultry and dairy workersthose most exposed to H5N1people have continued to fall sick. As the measles outbreak that began in Texas in January has grownnow to the point where the U.S. has logged more measles cases so far this year than it did in all of 2024Kennedy has emphasized the importance of autonomy. Vaccinating the unvaccinated is the fastest way to stop a measles outbreak, and Kennedy has publicly acknowledged that vaccines protect individuals and contribute to community immunity. But hes also repeatedly overstated vaccines risks and declined to directly urge parents to vaccinate their children. And his continued framing of the shots as a personal choice elides their protective benefits to everyone else. The unvaccinated child killed by the measles outbreak last month almost certainly would not have died had she been vaccinated. And she might never have been infected in the first place had vaccine rates been higher in her community. The Trump administrations actions, though, have shown flagrant disregard for the possibility of rising infection rates. Kennedy has pushed good nutrition and vitamin A supplementation as viable solutions to the Texas outbreaksuggesting, essentially, that the countrys approach to the disease should be to try to limit the damage of infections rather than prevent them. (Although vitamin A deficiency can worsen a case of measles, that sort of malnutrition is extremely rare in the U.S., and no supplement can prevent a person exposed to measles from catching it.) Meanwhile, the administrations freeze on foreign aid halted PEPFAR, a program that has, for more than 20 years, helped deliver HIV antiretroviral drugs to vulnerable populations around the world, and saved more than 25 million lives. With that support gone, up to 20 million people living with HIVmore than 500,000 of them kidsmay have been cut off from their lifesaving medications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: America cant just unpause USAID] The administration is also considering a major revamp of domestic HIV funding. Among the targets may be the CDCs budget for HIVthe source of 91 percent of federal funding for HIV prevention in the U.S., aimed at tracking infections, increasing access to tests and drugs that can help avert new cases, and helping protect at least 1.2 million Americans estimated to be living with the virus. Strip away access to those sorts of crucial resources, and my patients are going to die, Jade Pagkas-Bather, an infectious-disease physician at UChicago Medicine, told me. (Hilliard, the HHS spokesperson, told me that no final decision on streamlining CDCs HIV Prevention Division has been made.) At times, the administration has verged on advocating for exposure to dangerous germs, Murray pointed out. Kennedy, for instance, has praised the benefits of acquiring immunity to measles through infection, saying that those defenses are longer lasting than immunity derived from vaccinationa statement that doesnt account for the diseases sometimes deadly and debilitating risksand baselessly claiming that measles infection might also protect against cancers and heart disease. In recent weeks, hes also encouraged poultry farms to simply allow the H5N1 virus to rip its way through their birdsa proposal that could, at the very least, devastate flocks, and at worst, risk the virus morphing into a form that would be able to spread among humans. In keeping with his original promise, Kennedy has found plenty of ways to limit biomedical research into infectious disease. The administration has forced the National Institutes of Health to defund research that focuses on LGBTQ populationsincluding several projects dedicated to HIVas well as projects that mention vaccine hesitancy. (In an email, Hilliard defended the funding cuts as part of a broader effort to redirect resources towards more urgent public health prioritiesparticularly the ongoing research into the safety and efficacy of vaccines.) Among the grants rumored to be targeted next are hundreds of studies that involve mRNA vaccines, or work in South Africa, where many global-health projects are centered. Losing those projects might directly lead to more deaths. But the terminations send a subtler message, too, Hazra told me: that many of the already marginalized populations most affected by deadly infectious diseases must fend for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abandoning the vulnerable, though, wont make infectious problems disappearquite the opposite. Left unchecked, diseases spill into new populations, and across borders. Diseases such as measles and polio have been declared eliminated from the United States. Without continued effort, they may not stay that way. And should those diseases reinfiltrate the country permanently, they will sweep over a population ill-equipped to fight them off again. The health infrastructure that the U.S. would have to marshal against them is already weak. More federal layoffs may be coming that could further shrink the public-health workforce. Biomedical research is being upended across fields. And should proposed cuts to Medicaid funding go through, the country will be even less equipped to deliver care to the people who most need it. [Read: America is botching measles] The administrations actions all emphasize personal freedom. But those values arent compatible with a country free of epidemics. Infectious diseases, by nature, exploit individualism; their version of liberty is to find the unprotected, and spread more freely. The U.S. has the money, technology, and expertise to be a country minimally affected by infectious diseaseas it was for decades. Its current leaders have stopped short of saying that theyd embrace a world rife with infectious death. But their actions suggest that those sacrifices are exactly the kind they are willing to make. Article originally published at The Atlantic BOSTON (SHNS) Warning of economic hardship and a possible constitutional crisis, Attorney General Andrea Campbell delivered a message Thursday for President Donald Trump, who her office has already sued more than half a dozen times. You have an attorney general, that is like bring it on, Campbell said during a speech to business leaders, discussing her offices efforts to combat Trumps agenda in his first two months in office. During her prepared remarks, which focused almost entirely on the federal administration, Campbell accused Trump of operating like a king, saying I do think the goal is to put more power in the executive branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of March 20, Trump has signed over 100 executive orders, which he promised in his inauguration speech would lead to a complete restoration of America. They range from instituting tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, to crackdowns on illegal immigration and bans on transgender people serving in the military. Trump has also vowed to reshape the federal government and make broad spending cuts to address what he describes as wasteful and fraudulent use of taxpayer dollars. His newly-created Department of Government Efficiency has slashed funding from federal agencies and the direction of his agenda and Republican efforts in Congress have caused state lawmakers to speculate about a reduced flow of money to the states. If we allow a president or an administration to continue to just chip away, chip away, chip away, and to turn that dial more and more where suddenly laws mean nothing, the constitution means absolutely nothing, theres no checks and balances system, judges mean nothing were in a whole different ballgame, she said at a Greater Boston Business Chamber forum Thursday morning at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. So far, Campbell and other Democratic attorneys general have sued the Trump administration over efforts to end birthright citizenship, a broad federal funding freeze, the Department of Government Efficiencys access to private data, cuts to medical and scientific research, and massive layoffs at the Department of Education meant to serve as a precursor to the elimination of that agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are the consequences, what are the values of the pillars of this country? Its no longer a democracy anymore, Campbell said, describing what she thought would happen if she and others did not stand up to the president, Its no longer the very things that we say we take for granted our constitutional society. That will be gone. Campbell isnt the first top prosecutor to gain national influence filing lawsuits against Trump. Her predecessor, now Gov. Maura Healey, sued his former administration 96 times. Reflecting the national political divide, Massachusetts often joins other states where Democrats are in power in filing the suits. Campbell described the Bay State on Thursday as punching above its weight. Were not California, New York, but every single decision that involves litigation we are in every single conversation. And I would say actually, in most of them, we are leading the way. Not just bringing surface level crap. Were drafting the complaints, were doing the writing, were doing the legal research, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, thanked Campbell for providing guidance to businesses about how to navigate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives as the Trump administration has set their sights on targeting DEI. The president has said that diversity initiatives are discriminatory, and banned certain DEI programs at federal agencies and government contractors. A White House release called the executive order he signed in January banning DEI in federal contracting the most important federal civil rights measure in decades. Campbell strongly disagreed with this message Thursday, and implored businesses to continue diversity programs. This lawyer, this office, has your back, as you look to be courageous and take steps. If you have a target on your back bring it on, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the attorney general spoke to business leaders, she appealed to their priorities for a strong economy and educated workforce during her speech. She said Trump has not delivered on campaign promises to lower prices and improve the economy, and has in fact raised costs for families during his two months in office. U.S. stock indexes have slumped over the past few weeks as the president appears poised to stick by new tariffs on trade partners, but Trumps team says the volatility will be temporary and an economic boom will be coming later this year following tax cuts. Campbell on Thursday warned that Trumps agenda if left unchecked, will tank our economy, will absolutely bring about a recession, and worsen economic hardship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a period of transition, because what were doing is very big, Trump said earlier this month on the Fox News Show Sunday Morning Futures. Were bringing wealth back to America. Thats a big thing It takes a little time, but I think it should be great for us. Asked whether he thinks a recession is imminent, Trump said, I hate to predict things like that. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday that there are no guarantees there wont be a recession, but that the administration had to focus on resetting, and putting things on a sustainable path after years of overspending and overregulation. Im not worried about the markets. Over the long term, if we put good tax policy in place, deregulation and energy security, the markets will do great, Bessent added. I say that one week does not the market make. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campbell warned Trumps policy priorities would hurt the specific makeup of the Massachusetts economy. She pointed to funding cuts the president made to the National Institutes of Health as well as mass layoffs at the Department of Education. There were also reports Thursday morning that Trump intended to sign an executive order that day completely eliminating the Department of Education. The president is taking action at the very heart of the foundations of our economic system here in Massachusetts, including going after biomedical research and higher education, two of the driving forces of the economy, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The Trump administration is so worried about judicial scrutiny over its deportation flights to El Salvador that officials are thinking about misusing the state secrets privilege. Notus reports that Todd Blanche, the number two person at the Justice Department and Donald Trumps former personal lawyer, revealed as much in a court filing Friday. Specifically, he said that he had direct involvement in ongoing Cabinet-level discussions regarding invocation of the state-secrets privilege. The fact that invoking the privilege is under consideration in the White House suggests that what actually happened is damning for the administration, and a negative ruling could seriously blunt Trumps immigration powers. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is trying to find out exactly when the flights from the United States to the Central American country took off and whether officials were aware of a court order blocking the deportations at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Boasbergs court order on Saturday, he has been vilified by Trump, Elon Musk, and several other right-wing personalities, all of whom have made threats against him and called for his impeachment. New reports have also revealed that many of the immigrants rounded up and placed on the flight were not violent criminals or gang members, as administration officials claim. Many deportees simply had distinctive tattoos. In addition to attacks on Boasbergs credibility, the administration has also made the bizarre argument that the judges oral order carries less weight than a written one, and begun attempts to get the judge removed from the case by an appellate court. The threats to Boasberg even prompted Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to issue a rare statement of condemnation. Trump has pulled out the rarely cited Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify the flights, which were only possible thanks to Secretary of State Marco Rubio cutting a deal with the countrys autocratic president, Nayib Bukele, to send them to facilities accused of engaging in torture. If the administration tries the state secrets privilege next, it will only deepen the ongoing constitutional crisis. President Trump is on a collision course with Republican defense hawks over the question of whether the United States should continue its 75-year military leadership of NATO and at what level of commitment. Trump has criticized European allies for years for not contributing more to the military alliance, which was set up in 1949 to contain the Soviet Union. During his first term, Trump floated the idea of the United States withdrawing from NATO. Now the Pentagon is considering an overhaul of the U.S. militarys combatant commands, including one scenario that would have the United States give up its role as NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe, according to NBC News, which cited defense officials familiar with the planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That news was met with a swift rebuke from Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who issued a statement warning that any major changes to combatant commands must be done in coordination with Congress. We will not accept significant changes to our warfighting structure that are made without a rigorous interagency process, coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Staff, and collaboration with Congress, they declared in a joint statement Wednesday. Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who now serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, also pushed back against the proposal to give up U.S. military leadership of NATO. Weakening American leadership wont strengthen NATO or U.S. interests. If were serious about encouraging more capable European allies, retreating from our position as the leader of the trans-Atlantic alliance would be an odd way to show it, he said in a statement Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Withdrawing from NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe command structure would signal diminished U.S. involvement in NATO and could eventually spell the end of the alliance as it has been known for 75 years. It would be politically difficult to place U.S. armed forces under the command of a European ally when United States defense spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of all NATO countries combined defense spending. Wicker and Rogers said while they support Trumps efforts to ensure that European allies increase their contributions to the NATO alliance, they warned against moves that risk undermining American deterrence around the globe, which would undercut our negotiating positions with Americas adversaries. Republican senators, including those who disagreed with some of his national security decisions, including the recent pause in military shipments to Ukraine, have been reluctant to challenge Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some GOP senators voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence out of deference to Trump, despite strong misgivings with both nominees. But the prospect of the U.S. giving up military command of NATO is tough for defense hawks to swallow. Danielle Pletka, a senior fellow specializing in U.S. foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, applauded Wicker and Rogerss statement as a welcome sign. Congress absolutely has a say in the structure of our command. Congress absolutely has a say in how we resource our defense and our alliances. If the Pentagon isnt keeping these really important Republican members in the loop, thats a major problem, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell called for the United States to increase its defense spending and support for NATO during a press conference Tuesday. Speaking in Elizabethtown, Ky., he acknowledged his own uncertainty about Trumps relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and what it may mean for future U.S. policy. I dont think we know how this headlines going to turn out until we get through, he said when asked about Trump and Putin, according to WLEX18, a local news station. I think were all watching the beginning of a rather different kind of administration. McConnell cast U.S. global leadership and commitment to NATO as part of a larger struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the authoritarians versus the democrats, he said. Obviously, the democrats need to be more aggressive. That includes increasing NATO spending more. Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton posted on the social platform X that it was a Soviet objective during the Cold War to split the United States from its European allies. By Trump bringing Russia out of isolation and favoring it over Ukraine, and European NATO members saying they want independence from the U.S., we are heading toward achieving Moscows long-standing objective, Bolton warned. Some Trump allies are openly calling for the United States to withdraw from NATO, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee earlier this year called NATO a great deal for Europe but a raw deal for America. He renewed his call for the United States to leave the alliance this week after a French politician demanded the return of the Statue of Liberty a gift from France in 1889 from New York Harbor. The Pentagons plans to possibly restructure its combatant commands and the leadership of NATO could come up when the Senate Armed Services Committee meets to vote on Trumps nomination of Elbridge Colby to serve as undersecretary of Defense for policy. Republican senators grilled Colby earlier this month about his views on the importance of NATO to U.S. national interests. Colby has in the past advocated for the United States to pivot away from Europe and the Middle East to focus more on national security threats in Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) pressed Colby at his confirmation hearing on whether he still considers NATO an important alliance for the United States. Are you a strong supporter of the NATO alliance? Sullivan asked. You still think thats a useful, important alliance for the United States? Colby told the committee: I do. Again, Senator, I very much believe in NATO, but I believe it has to adapt. Several Republican senators have privately expressed serious concerns with Colbys nomination, but he appeared to be on a path toward confirmation before senators left Washington for a weeklong recess on March 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news that the Trump administration is considering giving up its role as NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe could create new turbulence for the nominee. First-term Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), who presided over a pro-forma session of the Senate on Thursday, said NATO is a very important part of the safety of the whole world. Should the United States still continue to lead NATO and be an integral part and all that kind of stuff? Of course we should, he said. But he acknowledged the frustration among many Republicans over allies not contributing more to the defense of Europe. We should all be pulling the rope together on an equal basis, or a per capita equal basis, he said. When were not, it makes it mighty, mighty tough on our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Trump on Friday compared the vandalization of Tesla dealerships across the U.S. to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, arguing the level of attacks on Elon Musks company wasnt seen at the Capitol. I view these people as terrorists, just like others. When I looked at those showrooms burning and those cars not one or two, like seven, eight, 10 burning, exploding all over the place. These are terrorists. You didnt have that on Jan. 6, I can tell you, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. The president also slammed Democrats for not criticizing the violence against Tesla the way they criticized Jan. 6, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to protest his 2020 election loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he brought up the death of Ashli Babbitt, who tried to climb through a broken window of a barricaded door leading to the Speakers Lobby in the Capitol and was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the riot. You didnt have anything like that on Jan. 6, which is sort of amazing because on Jan. 6, the Democrats were talking. Nobody was killed other than a very beautiful young woman, Ashli, Ashli Babbitt. Nobody was killed, Trump said. He also argued the attacks on Tesla is part of an organized event, saying the signs protesters hold are similar to one another. The people that finance it are, in my opinion, in just as big of trouble as the people who are setting the match, starting the fires, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president earlier Friday issued a stark warning to those vandalizing Tesla dealerships, threatening extensive jail time. I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions! Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday labeled the attacks on the company as domestic terrorism, and announced Thursday that three alleged perpetrators had been arrested and are facing serious charges. The White House has also gone to bat for Musks Tesla is other ways this week, including when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested Americans should buy Tesla stock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teslas stock has plummeted in recent weeks, falling nearly 39 percent since the beginning of the year and more than 50 percent since late December. Musk is a top adviser to Trump and has become a bogeyman for critics of the administration who blame him for the efforts to cut federal workers and dismantle agencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced last month that it would be reducing spending and the size of its bloated workforce and organizational structure based on executive orders signed by President Trump. Don't miss So far this initiative has included laying off around 7,000 employees across the country and closing dozens of field offices, triggering widespread concerns about the program, which supports approximately 70 million Americans. Ultimately, youre going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits, former commissioner and former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley told CNBC. I believe you will see that within the next 30 to 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One major change is the closing of the Office of Transformation, a department within the agency. Staff that worked for this department were put on paid administrative leave. President Trump has mandated the Federal government eliminate wasteful and inefficient offices and the Office of Transformation was a prime example, said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. This redundant office was created under the previous administration and we are righting that wrong. How will these changes impact beneficiaries? What was the Office of Transformation? Set up in 2023, the Office of Transformation, worked on modernizing and moving the SSA online and included a team that worked on SSA.gov, reports Nextgov/FCW. The focus was on making the agency more customer-centric and efficient by using technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of its agency-wide initiatives reportedly included removing requirements for wet signatures on SSA forms and launching digital signatures and electronic document uploads at the agency. A press release from September said there are now more than 30 forms available that can be signed electronically, which represents 90% of the most commonly used forms by Social Security customers. In October, Marcela Escobar-Alava, the former chief information officer, and Betsy Beaumon, the former chief transformation officer, appeared on IBMs The Business of Government Hour podcast to discuss the transformation efforts. One example they provided of simplifying and standardizing processes across the organization was consolidating document management systems so that customers need to provide documents only once. "We have a vision ... its about putting the customer at the center of everything we do and also making sure that our employees are equipped and empowered to do their jobs, noted Beaumon. Read more: Gold just hit a historic high of $3,000/ounce on Trumps tariff moves while US stocks got slaughtered. Heres 1 simple way to prevent more pain within minutes How will this closure impact Social Security beneficiaries? Kathleen Romig, director of social security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told Nextgov/FCW the move seems exactly backwards since the goal of the office was to reduce red tape and modernize SSAs technology and processes for the people who need Social Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there's a website problem, I dont know who's gonna fix it, Betsy Beaumon told Nextgov/FCW. This was the only team who actively determined what digital services are actually needed at the agency, said Escobar-Alava to Nextgov/FCW. Only 25% of the [agencys] services are currently available online. This team was working hand in hand with the IT team to work through the hurdles of the decades-old systems to bring additional capabilities to the forefront, she said. Without them the public will be hitting major dead ends when they try doing things online or via the tele-service centers. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Donald Trump has denied giving Elon Musk access to the US militarys top secret plans for any potential war with China, as the billionaire Tesla owner visits the Pentagon on Friday. Reports suggested that Mr Musk was scheduled to receive a briefing on the contingency plans in the Tank, a secure conference room in the Pentagon that is typically used for high-level meetings. Concerns were raised about the access Mr Musk would have to some of Americas most closely guarded secrets, as well as potential conflicts of interest. SpaceX and Tesla are big US military suppliers, but also have financial interests in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the report in the New York Times was published, Mr Trump called it fake news and suggested that China will not even be mentioned or discussed during the visit to the Pentagon. Mr Musk added that the report was pure propaganda and threatened those who are leaking maliciously false information. Musk just visiting The Pentagon said: The defence department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting. But the news comes amid mounting fears that China could attack Taiwan in just two years. This week, the Taiwanese defence ministry identified 2027 as a potential date for an invasion, in a brief given to lawmakers about upcoming war games intended to simulate an attack from Chinas military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, US officials also said Beijing would be ready to invade by 2027, referencing Chinas build-up of fighter aircraft and warships, plus its efforts to double its inventory of ballistic and cruise missiles. Although Wellington Koo, Taiwans defence minister, publicly played down the inclusion of a specific date, it is understood that the first-time plans for Taiwans largest annual live-fire drills have earmarked a year for a Chinese invasion. China has been trying to double its inventory of ballistic and cruise missiles - Kevin Frayer/Getty It is not clear if the move will have any tangible impact on the drills which will also be doubled in length this summer, to 10 days or whether it was a political move intended to focus minds. Some in the opposition-controlled parliament have challenged military spending plans, cutting or blocking some elements including a 50 per cent freeze on spending for a submarine programme and drone industry park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overnight, Lai Ching-te, the islands president, insisted that his government was determined to ensure that our defence budget exceeds 3 per cent of the GDP in a military overhaul up from roughly 2.45 per cent at the moment. The pledge, which came in a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce, is Mr Lais latest attempt to reassure the US that it is committed to its own defence. Although the US has no formal diplomatic ties with the island, it is obliged by domestic law to provide it with a means to defend itself. Defence budgets Mr Trump has previously criticised Taiwans defence budget, suggesting that it should be as high as 10 per cent of GDP. This far exceeds US spending, which stands at around 3.4 per cent, and that of the UK Sir Keir Starmer recently proposed that Britains budget should rise to 2.5 per cent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas official defence spending is much lower, at less than 2 per cent of GDP, but only the US has a bigger overall budget or a larger military. Mr Musk has previously angered Taipei with his comments over security. As recently as 2023, Mr Musk compared the Taiwan-China situation to Hawaii and the US. The previous year, the billionaire told the Financial Times that Beijing should be given some control over the island, noting that making a special administrative zone for Taiwan, that is reasonably palatable. This week, Mr Lai said the boost in spending would be used to buy more state-of-the-art weapons, including from America, but it also announced pay rises for servicemen in a bid to tackle manpower shortages. During a visit to a military camp in Taipei on Friday, Mr Lai said volunteer enlistees would get an additional monthly allowance of up to NT$5,000 (116) on top of the current NT$10,000 (233) as of April 1, while the allowance for members of combat forces would more than double to up to NT$12,000 (280) a month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Lai said: Let us protect the country together and ensure our daily life of freedom and democracy. But recent media reports have suggested that the number of soldiers who opted out of their contracts early has quadrupled in recent years from 401 in 2020 to 1,565 in 2024. 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. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Janet A. Jokela, an infectious disease physician, discusses her article, Match Day 2025: Protecting our students futures. She explores the unprecedented challenges facing medical students, including a U.S. measles outbreak, censorship at the CDC, disrupted research grants, and threats to biomedical research and public health infrastructure. Janet emphasizes physicians responsibility to support graduating students and their future patients, highlighting actions by medical journal editors, professional societies like the American College of Physicians, and colleagues advocating for science and health care. Listeners will discover practical ways to contribute, such as engaging in pro-science advocacy and supporting international medical graduates vital to the U.S. health care system. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, its backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise and its part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcareand its built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended Transcript Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today, we welcome back Janet A. Jokela, infectious disease physician and treasurer of the American College of Physicians. Todays KevinMD article is Match Day 2025, protecting our students futures. Janet, welcome back to the show. Janet A. Jokela: Thanks so much, Kevin. Delighted to be here. All right. So this article is going to go out on Match Day 2025. So tell us what you wrote about. Yeah. You know, its March, which means that its Match Day for our graduating students. Thats an incredibly exciting and important day for them and for all of us whove been working with students. The students will learn where theyve matched for residency and where theyre going to be for the next three-plus years, at least. Its a really exciting time, a really important time. This time in 2025, again, given all the things going on in society right now, this feels a little different to me. Not Match Day so much for itself, but the broader things in society that are going on right now. And it made me think, whats our responsibility to help protect our students futures and their future patients? So thats kind of where I landed with this article. Kevin Pho: All right, and Match Day, of course, is a seminal event in any physicians career. Its a its a day that every physician is going to remember. So when you talk about the potential threats specifically with 2025, go into more detail. What are we talking about? ADVERTISEMENT Janet A. Jokela: Yeah. Yeah. Great question. I tell you, the song that has been stuck in my head has been from the musical Hamilton, which I love. OK, loved. But the song The world turned upside down, and Im thinking, you know, all right, well, why is that in my head? Well, in many ways, it feels like the world that we know has been turned upside down, with the censorship at the CDC, the threats to funding at the NIH, and kind of on and on. Theres a measles outbreak, a big measles outbreak, and just lots of things going on right now that kind of threaten and feel destabilizing to whether its ourselves or colleagues, and theres a lot of work thats being done on biomedical research, public health, and all of that. And it justthose are the things that concern me, but it also concerns me for our graduating students and their future patients. Kevin Pho: Now, for this new cohort of physicians who will be matching today, what are some immediate threats that they may have to face regarding, you know, you mentioned things with cuts in public health, cuts in the NIH, you know, now with the spread of things like measles. What do they have to look out for going forward after leaving medical school? Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, and heres the thing, you know, they may not feel or see the immediate results of these actions that are taking place right now or the immediate threats, and things may kind of go on as it seems like they have been going on. But for those of usand I guess I can say this, all rightbut for those of us whove been around for a little while, we can see what this means. And in many ways, the article in the Annals that was recently published called Damage control, penned by Christine Lane, the editor of Annals, and her team about the really in-the-weeds kinds of things that theyre seeing impacting publishing scientific papersyou know, thats a good example of whats going on. People are having to remove their names as authors or, you know, the Annals team is trying to contact authors and they cant reach them because their emails no longer exist. I mean, just basic things that will have long-term ripple effects that again, our students may not see right now, but down the road, the impacts are potentially profound. And thats the worry. And Kevin Pho: You mentioned things like the censorship. Talk about whats happening with the CDC specifically and how thats going to affect this new cohort of physicians. Janet A. Jokela: Yeah. Its a great question, Kevin. And I tell you, with all the things happening, its like we may describe whats happening today, but tomorrow it may be very different. You know, recently we heard that all these people who had been laid offthe probationary employeeshave been ordered by a judge that, you know, that shouldnt have happened, and all these people should return to work. So exactly how thats going to play out, of course, nobody knows. And we dont know if these people who have been laid off will be seeking new employment somewhere else or if theyve already identified new employment, but its really threatening the integrity of the workforce, and the public health, and the scientific integrity of the workforce. So for instance, at the CDC website, there was a little disclaimer posted there saying, you know, all this information here has all been vetted, if you will, by the federal government. And these are things which we can say now, and other things we cant. I mean, the very basic kind of, in some ways, threatening the very basic communication that the CDC has with all of us as physicians and everybody else in the world. And its just chilling. Its chilling. Kevin Pho: Now, you work, of course, in an academic medical center, and a lot of these newly matched physicians will be rotating likely through academic medical centers. Im not in an academic medical center, so tell me what youre seeing in terms of how some of these potential political changes may affect the training of these newly graduated medical students. Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thats an important question. You know, one of the things that we havent talked a lot aboutor at least this is an important piece of the equation, I thinkis international medical graduates. So, just like the U.S. graduates graduating from medical school, international medical graduates also find out, on March 21, where they match into residency. And theres a sizable proportion of international medical graduates, for instance, who fill internal medicine intern slots in residency programs across the country. So its a big proportion, almost close to, not quite, but almost close to 50 percent. So given that, many of these international medical graduates come on J-1 or H-1B visas or maybe green cards. So when things happen in the U.S. and theres, you know, an individual on a green card who has been detained, it sends a chill throughout the whole community, and people are frightened. So whether its residents, early-career physicians, people are just quite unsettled, like, what does this mean, and where is this going, and what does it mean for the future? So our current U.S. medical student graduates may be going into specialties and programs where theyll have colleagues who are international medical graduates who are facing these threats, and it just creates a lot of uncertainty and, unfortunately, a lot of fear. And thats just sad. And, you know, in addition, I think anytime that were kind of preoccupied or worried about other things that may be going on, it takes away our concentration from taking care of the patient in front of us. And thats problematic too. So those are all concerns, all issues. Kevin Pho: So, is there anything that these students can do to prepare themselves going forward? I know you said theres a lot of uncertainty, and Im sure that a lot of us didnt anticipate the current situation. Is there anything that our students can do to prepare for these uncertainties as they go into residency? Janet A. Jokela: Yes, I think there is. One, unfortunatelybut its important, and Ill say this especially as an infectious disease physicianget familiar with measles. You know, the vaccination rates vary a little bit around the country, and there are pockets where people are less vaccinated than elsewhere. And so its really important for graduating students, residents, and all of us to be familiar with how measles presents, what the symptoms are, what the rash looks like, the time course, and also how to deal with it. Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles, and thats critical. So thats, you know, thats one small thing, but measles is a really important thing to be familiar with and know how to deal with when a patient comes walking in the door potentially with that. The rest of it, I think, is certainly for internal medicine residents and physicians to stay connected with the ACP. Theres a really nice link on the ACPs site about the latest advocacy news, the latest advocacy efforts. It lists all the different activities ACP has taken recently to try to combat and address these concerns, and it offers a way for students and residents to get involved and support the various efforts that are going on to try to address all this stuff. Kevin Pho: Now, in terms of, of course, advocacy: So these newly matched physicians, of course, getting involved with the ACP, but what are some other ways that they can advocate and perhaps push back about some of the uncertainty and policies that they may not agree with? Janet A. Jokela: Yeah. Thats a really important question, I think not only for our graduating students, but for all of us. I think the primary issue is just to be as prepared as possible. We never know when an opportunity will present itself, whether its talking to a patient or talking to our fellow colleagues or nurses and other staff around the hospital, or, you know, at church or elsewhere in our communitywherever we might beto answer questions about whats going on and what we think is most important and kind of how we think it may be best to navigate this. So with that, to be as prepared as possible and to be up to speed on whats going on, I think, is really important. Well each have different ways to respond and to react to whats going on and how to navigate forward, but I think, at minimum, as long as we know whats going on and what may be the next best thing to do to help protect our patients and our students future careers, well be better prepared to respond to questions and communicate with the public or our patients or whoever it might be in whatever setting we may find ourselves. Kevin Pho: Now, are you seeing some of this nervousness and uncertainty among the fourth-year medical students and residents? So tell us what youre seeing on the ground. Janet A. Jokela: Yeah, a lot of it is also together with colleagues. I think colleagues, especially people who may have a little bit more perspective, if you will, on this, you know, theyre especially feeling this and especially recognize, in some ways, the seriousness of the situation. Among the students and the residents, theyre savvyI mean, they know whats going on tooand they may question, well, how do we respond? How do we deal with this? And some may be more inclined to be calling congressional representatives and those offices regularly; others may be marching. There was just recently this march on science, which took place. So there were a number of colleagues who were marching on science, not only here in Champaign-Urbana, but also across the country, just to bring attention to the gravity, really, of these concerns and these attacks on science and on biomedical research. Kevin Pho: Were talking to Janet Jokula. She is an infectious disease physician and treasurer of the American College of Physicians. Todays KevinMD article is Match Day 2025, protecting our students futures. Janet, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Janet A. Jokela: Thank you so much, Kevin. First, absolutely, lets celebrate Match Day. Its a fantastic day, and were so excited and proud of our students, and were proud of everything that theyre going to be doing. The second is, lets be prepared. Lets be prepared to address any questions and things that may come up, and thats our responsibility to do that. So again, in these uncertain times, we want to be prepared and be the experts to answer questions and address issues that come up as they present themselves to us. Kevin Pho: Janet, as always, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight, and thanks for coming back on the show. Janet A. Jokela: Thank you so much. Canadas $1 coin is affectionately known as the loonie, a word that could also describe Donald Trumps latest response to a question about annexing the country. Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy asked the president if he was concerned that if Canada became the 51st state, it would be a very very blue state? Very big and very blue. Yes, its a serious question. Although Trump has made no secret that he wants to turn Americas northern neighbor into its 51st state, some U.S. Republicans fear annexing Canada would add millions of Democratic-leaning voters to the mix, as well as 50 more House seats and two additional senators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyd have a sizable delegation in the House, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) told NBC News. I dont think anybody thinks thats a great idea. Oh, by the way, how many Electoral College votes are they going to get? Trump ignored those very real issues in his response to Doocy. Instead, he referred to the U.S.-Canada border as an artificial line, a callback to a quip he used a week earlier. You know, you have that artificial line that straight artificial line that looks like it was drawn by a ruler, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. I dont mean a ruler like a king, I mean a ruler like a ruler. Its just an artificial line. He continued his artificial line rant further, by once again mentioning how beautiful America and Canada would look together as one entity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was just an artificial line that was drawn in the sand or in the ice, Trump said. You add [Canada] to this country, what a beautiful land mass! The most beautiful land mass anywhere in the world. And it was just cut off for no reason! It would be great! Eventually, Trump got around to answering Doocys original question sort of. Now is [Canada] liberal? Maybe. But, you know a conservative [unintelligible] until I got involved, he said. I dont care who wins up there. Frankly, I would probably do better with a liberal than a conservative if you want to know the truth. You can see the exchange below. Of course, people on social media had thoughts about Trumps latest Canada comments, and many noted the artificial line could also apply to the U.S.-Mexico border. Exactly - and that artificial line Trump mocks is no different from the clean-cut borders drawn all over the world, many by colonial powers with rulers and zero regard for local realities. You dont get to rewrite centuries of diplomacy just because you keep losing to Canada Ilyas Ibrahim Mohamed (@iiliyaa) March 21, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thus it's OK to change the borders because he wants to. Does he want to change the state borders of Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Nebraska too because of their "straight line" borders? What gives him any right to change borders? That's called an invasion, buddy. Tree Huggin' Liberal (@DreamerBoy44) March 21, 2025 Donald Trump appears to believe that if he wants something to be true, he can simply repeat it over and over until the forces of the Universe align to make it so. (This process is sometimes known as affirmation.) FCCirne (@ThecosmicdustX) March 21, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related... The White House is going to bat for Tesla as Elon Musks electric vehicle (EV) company suffers from financial woes and faces increasingly violent backlash. President Trump and top administration officials have touted Teslas on the White House lawn and urged Americans to buy the companys struggling stock. The Trump administration has also labeled vandalization of Tesla dealerships and vehicles as domestic terrorism, and has filed federal charges against those suspected of destructive acts. The level of support the Trump administration is putting behind the company is unprecedented, especially while Musk is a top adviser to Trump and is leading the efforts to cut federal workers and dismantle agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As backlash to Tesla and Musk grows, the White House is doubling down on its defense of the company and the richest person in the world, who has become a bogeyman for the administration as critics blame him for the government overhaul. Its wrong and illegal for the Commerce Secretary to be promoting Tesla stock or any specific stock for that matter, Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) wrote in a post Thursday on the social platform X. Its also wrong and illegal for people to vandalize and destroy Tesla cars. Corruption and violence both damage our democracy. Teslas stock has plummeted in recent weeks, falling nearly 39 percent since the beginning of the year and more than 50 percent since late December. The EV company, whose share price soared in the wake of Trumps win in November, has shed more than $500 billion in market value in the first few months of 2025 amid concerns about Musks attention to the company. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in an interview with Fox News, praised Musk as the best entrepreneur, the best technologist, the best leader of any set of companies in America working for America. Then, he suggested Americans buy Tesla stock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think, if you want to learn something on this show tonight: Buy Tesla, Lutnick said. Its unbelievable that this guys stock is this cheap. Itll never be this cheap again. Tesla cars, dealerships, showrooms and charging stations have also been targeted with violent demonstrations, facing shootings, arson attacks and vandalism. Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled the attacks on the company as domestic terrorism Tuesday and announced Thursday that three alleged perpetrators had been arrested and are facing serious charges. The White House also hit back at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who was former Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate in last years election, for mocking Teslas struggling stock during a speech this week. Walz said he checks it when he needs a little boost during the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think thats quite sad, but I think Gov. Walz unfortunately has been living a sad existence after his devastating defeat on Nov. 5, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. Trump offered a personal show of support for Musk last week, promising to buy a Tesla while testing out a series of models parked outside the White House, where he argued his close ally was being treated unfairly. Trump buying a Tesla with an event at the White House last week is great political theater but it does not resolve the current brand/demand problem for Musk and Tesla and in some ways makes it more of a political lightning rod issue for Tesla, analysts with Wedbush Securities wrote in a note Wednesday evening. Musk is central to Teslas brand, a fact that has been complicated by his role in the administration leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGEs push to slash trillions of dollars in government spending is not entirely popular; 6 in 10 voters in a recent Quinnipiac University poll said they were unhappy with the cost-cutting panels handling of the federal workforce. Musk himself has struggled to inspire confidence, with 62 percent saying in a CNN/SSRS poll earlier this month that the tech billionaire lacks the experience needed for his role in the administration and another 61 percent doubting his judgment. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives suggested Musk needs to take a step back from his work at DOGE to focus on Tesla. There hasnt been a picture of Musk at a Tesla facility since Trump took office, where essentially hes been living at Mar-a-Lago or the White House, Ives told The Hill. So thats why I think its a moment of truth for Musk to read the room, take a step back and lead Tesla through this brand tornado crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An aide in Trumps first term called promoting Tesla stock a bizarre, unforced error, arguing it raises questions about the White Houses relationship to Musk. The Commerce secretarys job isnt to play stockbroker on national television. But thats exactly what happened, the former aide said. Lutnick didnt just push a stock he pushed a stock tied to the presidents top campaign donor, who has committed nearly $300 million to Trump and Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. And coming right after the Tesla display at the White House? Its a pattern, and it raises real questions. A longtime Republican lobbyist in Washington, who preferred to go unnamed, noted Trumps relationship with Musk is far closer than those of past presidents and other businesses. Im old enough to remember when Joe Biden headlined the dedication of General Motorss Factory Zero and Barack Obama spent a night on the town raising money and enjoying dinner with Elon Musk, per a CBS report, but as with all things, Trump is going bigger, bolder and ballsier than any predecessor ever would, the lobbyist said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) argued Thursday that Lutnicks comments violated federal ethics rules. His statement is part of a pattern of behavior showing that Trumps indifference to ethics is trickling down to his most senior officials, Kedric Payne, CLCs vice president, general counsel and senior director for ethics, said in a statement. And its not only Tesla that the White House is backing. The Trump team also praised Musk throughout the week after his SpaceX company successfully brought back the stranded astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, from the International Space Station. The return was highlighted during a White House press briefing and in television interviews with officials, giving Musk, SpaceX and Trump credit for the success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is doing business with Musks Starlink. While reports have emerged that the administration was considering canceling Verizons $2.4 billion contract to revamp its telecommunications system in favor of Musks satellite communications firm, Musks company has denied any effort to take over the contract. It is currently providing Starlink kits to the FAA for free. Other areas that the Trump team has made money since January including Trump and first lady Melania Trumps decision to launch meme coins shortly before inauguration, the Trump familys reported talks with Binance as the administration pauses its case against the crypto exchange, and Amazon Prime Video licensing Melania Trumps documentary is also concerning to critics. The level of blatant, out-in-the-open, corruption in the Trump administration is frankly stunning, said a former Treasury official in the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source added, Between the inflated Amazon film rights payout, the meme coins, and the alleged Binance pay-for-pardon, youve got example after example of government officials trying to line their pockets even as they work to slash programs like veterans health care and Medicaid. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump said Elon Musks Friday meeting at the Pentagon was about DOGE not China as administration officials deny the special government employee received a classified briefing on the militarys war plans. Hes there for DOGE, not there for China, Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office, flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. And if you ever mention China, I think hed walk out of the room. Musk, who met with Defense Department officials shortly before Trump spoke, shook hands with Hegseth at the front entrance as he left the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres anything I can do to be helpful, Id like to see you, he told the defense secretary. Neither man answered shouted questions about whether the meeting was classified or unclassified and Hegseth refused to answer questions about its subject. Trumps response followed a report Thursday night from The New York Times that Musk was scheduled to receive a classified briefing about U.S. plans for any potential military conflict with China. The president, who was with Hegseth on Friday to announce plans for a new stealth fighter jet, slammed the report as fake. Hegseth added that Musk was welcomed to the Pentagon to discuss DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. The secretary called it a great informal conversation. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on Fox and Friends ahead of Musks meeting that the billionaire was just coming over here for a visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement POLITICO reported on Friday that Musks meeting at the Pentagon would focus on the threat China presents to the region, but that it wouldnt include classified war plans. The meeting with Hegseth and Indo-Pacific command Adm. Sam Paparo speaks to the extraordinary access Musk has across the federal government. It comes two days before Hegseth leaves on a weeklong trip to Asia with stops in Japan, Philippines, Guam and Hawaii. Keeping Musk in the fold has emerged as a key part of the job for Cabinet officials, and giving the billionaire a government contractor with billions of dollars in Pentagon contracts a rundown of current plans could raise questions over his influence and his economic stake. Trump referenced Musks business dealings during his Oval Office remarks, noting that he wouldnt want to share secret war plans with anybody, even a helpful businessperson. Hes paying a big price for helping us cut costs, and hes doing a great job, Trump said. Hes finding tremendous waste, fraud and abuse. But I certainly wouldnt want, you know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that. But it was such a fake story. Paul McLeary contributed to this report. NewsNations Ross Coulthart will host a special report, Declassified: The JFK Assassination, this Saturday at 8p/7C. Find out how to watch at NewsNationNow.com. WASHINGTON (NewsNation) President Donald Trump said Friday that individuals will be able to make their own determination as to who killed former President John F. Kennedy. I dont think theres anything thats earth-shattering, said Trump. But youll have to make that determination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump: Musk briefing on China war plans completely untrue Following up on Trumps promise, the National Archives released thousands of documents related to Kennedys assassination. Could take a while to know what new information was released with JFK files Many of the documents are handwritten or blurred due to age and are difficult to search, so historians and journalists are still pouring through them to uncover new details, but here is what is known so far. Egg prices should come down soon: Agriculture secretary Exactly what information in the documents is new and what is old is difficult to determine. The only way to clearly tell what information is new is to compare the documents to older versions previously released by the National Archives, a laborious process. The documents were also not classified or sorted in any way, so it could take days to determine what new information was actually released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, there hasnt been any smoking gun that would validate decadesold conspiracies about the assassination. Personal information found in JFK files Sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, was revealed in the newly unredacted documents. Joseph diGenova, a former campaign lawyer for Trump, was among those whose personal information was disclosed. He said he is planning to sue the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration for violating privacy laws over concerns about identity theft. Renting a womb: Behind Californias underground baby farm industry Trump, speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, confirmed the release of Social Security numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We even released Social Security numbers, he said. I didnt want anything deleted. NewsNations Steph Whiteside contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Osteopathic physician Amelia L. Bueche discusses her article, From skin to soul: What pain reveals about our health. In this episode, Amelia delves into the skins role as the bodys largest organ and its rich network of nociceptors, which alert us to pain as a signal of both external threats and internal imbalances. Drawing from her experiences as both a patient and physician, she illustrates how surface-level pain can reflect deeper physical and emotional issues, from stress-induced eczema to pancreatic cancer manifesting as rib discomfort. Amelia highlights the importance of listening to these bodily messages and adopting a holistic approach to uncover root causes, offering listeners practical insights into enhancing their health through curiosity and awareness. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, its backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertiseand its built on a foundation of trust. Its time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://www.kevinmd.com/cme Im partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus Transcript ADVERTISEMENT Kevin Pho: Hi and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome back Amelia L. Bueche. Shes an osteopathic physician. Todays KevinMD article is From skin to soul, what pain reveals about our health. Amelia, welcome back to the show. Amelia L. Bueche: Thanks so much for having me. Great to see you again. Kevin Pho: All right, so tell us what your latest article is about. Amelia L. Bueche: This one struck me from both a personal and a professional standpoint. Ive been really exploring pain on lots of different levels. We talked most recently about this pain epidemic and pain medication use. And this one really was about how pain presents itself and the ways we can listen to the creative ways the body tries to get our attention. Near the end of the article, I shared two experiencesone very personal to me as a second-year med student. I had this crazy case of eczema where everybody came into the room to see what was happening, and it was nonresponsive to all the usual treatments. Then once the first round of boards was over, it largely dissipated. Oh, I was probably experiencing a whole lot more emotional strain and pain than I realized, and my skin was the way that it was alerting me. That really tuned me in to different experiences with my children, with my patients, and just offering that up to the audience here of how we might listen, both as clinicians and within ourselves, to what the message is that that superficial layer might be offering about a much deeper issue. Kevin Pho: You always say that the skin is the largest organ. Why is it such an effective messenger for whichever health issue, both internal and external? Amelia L. Bueche: Well, we can see it, right? I think thats the key part because a lot of times we need to be alerted in a very key and core way. So it might be through a rash; it might be through pain. Because its the largest organ, its also the largest site of nociceptorsit really is where pain is at its highest concentration. When I was on an inpatient service for osteopathic manipulation, we would treat patients postoperatively, and thered be an incision. A lot of times, the biggest area of aggravation in their nervous system was from the incision, right? Because the skin had literally been aggravated by the scalpel. So going to the correlating area in the spine to calm down the sympathetic nervous system was one of the most important pieces. We would talk to them: you know, this is really where the pain is generated. Yes, the more major part happened on a deeper level, but the skin really holds such a high concentration of that pain information. Its what can clue us in to how were doing. I think the messenger really is the visibility, and it has the greatest chance of getting our attention through those pain receptors. Kevin Pho: Now, through your practice, have you encountered other cases where a skin condition could be a manifestation of something psychological, similar to the story that you shared? Amelia L. Bueche: Absolutely. One that I shared in there was more of a physiological concern. A patient came in with rib pain, which is pretty typical for a neuromusculoskeletal medicine specialist, and it would be highly expected that I would put my hands on and treat the rib and it would be better. But as the story came out, as I was listening to what was accompanying this rib pain, it was almost a classic board case of pancreatic cancer, unfortunately. At least it was able to be treated for this patient, but her rib did hurtthat was true, right? And so thats the other important thing: the pain is real, but the message is coming from somewhere else. Our pancreas cant tell us much from the inside, so its finding its way through different pathways to the surface level to express that. Absolutely, different rashes and skin manifestations come through from stress, anxiety, and depression, really drawing attention in that way. One of the classic ways that we see that is through hives. Lets say youre about to give a presentation and your body just reacts with this big red rash. You get sweaty, you get inflamed, and its alerting you to a sense of lack of safety on the inside. In that setting, you could reassure yourselfnothing untoward is going to happen, maybe some embarrassment, maybe some heckling at the worstbut thats also our bodys natural physiological response to something that feels threatening. It alerts us on a superficial level, again, because we can see it, or those around us can see it and say, Hey, you look different. Is something else going on? We can begin to explore. Thats my hope in sharing this articlethat as physicians, we can take some of those manifestations and ask a little bit more about that. Im a member of Physician Moms Groupone of the largest medical groups for physicians on Facebookand derm is always the highest query, right? Some of it is very classic: it just is this. But if we can sometimes turn that novel a little bit and say, Well, what else might be here? The derm-psych connection is really powerful in alerting ourselves to that. Also, theres a degree of wellnessthe state of our skin can also tell us just globally how our body is doing. That can be both physical health, but also mental health as well. Kevin Pho: So Im a primary care physician, and for those other primary care physicians who may be listening to you, someone comes in with a rash or a skin condition, some type of superficial painwhat are some other questions that we could ask them to potentially uncover something underlying? Amelia L. Bueche: Absolutely. I think its important to start with some of the basics. For me, for example, with the eczema, it also was wheat-driven. I learned later in my life that I had a gluten sensitivity that I didnt realize. So some of those more basic thingswhat has changed in your life, that could be food, chemicals, lotions, whatnot. But then also what else has changed, right? Did you move? Has there been a change in your relationships? Hows your sleep? If were seeing that rashes or joint pains are presenting, thats a really superficial-level thing as well for muscle tightness, and even asking a little bit more about whats happening in their life. We know we have a lot to unpack and manage in short intervals of time, but if we can get to the core of whats happening, we might save ourselves multiple visits or spinning the wheels or having to apply medications that really arent effective because thats not the core of whats happening. Finding out whats changed in your life and thinking about when this rash happened, or when this pain and this tightness in the muscles beganis there any corollary of events that happened as well? Stress is key and core, and we know stress is at an all-time high right now. Were seeing a lot of tumult in the country2025 has all kinds of interesting energyand so holding a little bit of space to say, What else might be contributing? And it might not just be one thing, but it might be what is exacerbating this, and can we mitigate some of that so youre not totally inundated? Because when you have a rash or pain at a muscle level, it is highly distracting. People become less productive, theyre irritable with their familiesit can be really detrimental to their health on a broad scale. Often that space to inquire is really powerful. Kevin Pho: You alluded to that story you talked about in the article about a patients skin condition that ultimately led, unfortunately, to pancreatic cancer. Tell us the steps in between that led to that connection. Amelia L. Bueche: Yeah, absolutely. I went from working in a very large health care system in Michigan and moved to Oregon. It was a solo private practice, and it was kind of a flip for me. In the large health care system, I was always the last physician anyone sawthey had all the studies, the surgeriesand so I was really the initial workup for anything, which was OK in my consultancy where I moved in Southern Oregon. I was often the first physician, because people were somewhat skeptical of the traditional medical system, and I was on that fringeOK, youre a doctor, but you seem to have an alternative approach. So I was getting all these cases, and this was one that just struck me. This person presented with rib pain and had been seeing a number of different alternative providers and having different treatments applied, expecting to come to me and have a hands-on treatment for this rib pain to alleviate it. But her story was almost textbook for what pancreatic cancer would present as. For her, the rib pain was real, and its important to validate thatyes, this is true, and I can palpate here, and I can see it feels different, right? I could treat it, but Im not going to solve the issue, and its going to keep coming back. Also, thank goodness youre being alerted to this pain because its telling you now that something else is happening deeper in your body. Again, oftentimes we dont know because the pancreas doesnt have a whole lot to saydoesnt have a whole lot of pain thats going to come until it has really amassed itself. This is actually a great messaging system. From there, we were able to initiate appropriate workup and evaluation and treatment, and actually, the patient did wellsurvivedwhich is sometimes not the case with pancreatic cancer. That alert at the superficial level, maybe sooner than having waited for the organ to really demonstrate dysfunction, was quite helpful for her. Kevin Pho: Now, youre an osteopathic physician. Are there specific things about osteopathic education that make you more attuned to dermatological and musculoskeletal manifestations of underlying disease? Amelia L. Bueche: Absolutely. One of the first things we learn in medical school is palpation skills. Were looking for tissue texture changeswhen we get to the skin level, we just drag our hands down and say, Is it warm? Is it boggy? Is there a ropey texture here? Were asking, What is this telling us about something deeper in the body? It could be telling us about the vertebral structure, but usually its from the nervous system alerting us, right, to the different organs and the different ways the patient is balancing out their nervous system. So, yes, from the very beginning, were asking, What at the surface level is telling us about whats deeper within the patient? Then on a broader scale, What, too, are we learning about the body-mind-spirit connectionhow is this all being impacted? For me, the osteopathic approach is for everyonefor physicians of all sorts and degrees but for everybody to learn how to listen to what our body is telling us and whats being connected mentally, spiritually, and emotionally as well. Kevin Pho: As you know, there is an epidemic of chronic painthat is one of the more common reasons why people come to see me in primary care. Comment about the missed opportunities that we have in terms of just looking at the pain itself and maybe looking beyond that to see what underlying conditions that pain may be masking. Amelia L. Bueche: Absolutely. Its interestingIm in this new space and phase of creating the pain detective, because thats what it feels like a lot of times, just getting deeper into the layers, even recognizing what pain is. Some of the things weve described, you might not identify as pain. I had nummular eczema; it was a rash, it was irritating and painful, but thats also a manifestation of strain in the system. Acknowledging what pain even is for us, then what its telling us and how we process it. For me, I didnt realizeI never identified as a person who was stressed out taking tests, but clearly on some subconscious level it was a big deal. Maybe I felt ill-prepared. Id never taken a board exam before. Being able to tune in to, Somethings going onmy body is alerting me to this. What else might be bothering me? If I panned out a bit more, we looked at food and exposures, but we didnt necessarily say, What else is going on in your life? At that point, boards were so prevalent, you almost dont notice its happening, but it was a new experience. Being able to tune in to the fact that external circumstances do influence my health, and I couldnt undo the fact that I had to take boards, but perhaps I could say, Hey, I am stressed out about this, and its OKthats normal. Holding space for that. Its not always about jumping to feeling better, but sometimes understanding why can be alleviating. It wouldnt necessarily have undone the dysfunction in that momentthe end of boards was where the rash began to resolve. But knowing, Oh, this makes sense because Im in a stressful experience and this is how my body is manifesting it, can be huge. It was distressing going to appointment after appointment, trying all these different treatments, having no answer. Sometimes having the answer, even if it doesnt resolve the condition right away, can provide a lot of internal relief. I think thats one of the key pieces we have the opportunity to offer our patients. Kevin Pho: Were talking to Amelia L. Bueche. Shes an osteopathic physician, and her KevinMD article is From skin to soul, what pain reveals about our health. Amelia, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Amelia L. Bueche: I think just gratitude for the power of the skin and what it has to offer us, and doing some gentle, general inspections. If you encounter something in your body thats unusual or abnormalyes, ask questions about what has changed in my life. But take that word exposure to a broader scale: what are the different stress exposures? What environmentally is happening? What emotionally is happening? Offer that up in the clinical spacebe a little more curious as physicians to say, If Im seeing this and its puzzling to me, or maybe it seems like a classic rash, Im going to ask some deeper questions to give my patient the best chance to have a comprehensive recovery from their challenges. Kevin Pho: Amelia, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight, and thanks again for coming back on the show. Amelia L. Bueche: Thanks so much. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education after saying for months that the administration wants to eliminate it once and for all. Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, says the states should have more of a say in education. Former NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio, a Democrat, says transferring the Education Departments responsibilities to other departments takes time and things wont get done. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Sara Jacobs have joined healthcare providers and community leaders in San Diego to highlight the dangerous impacts of President Trump and Republicans proposals to dismantle Medicaid and emphasize the importance of Californias Medi-Cal program. Video above: Gov Newsom speaks out for the first time on Medi-Cal financial issues, expansion of coverage to include undocumented Californians. Padilla and Jacobs heard from healthcare leaders, families, and pediatricians on how huge federal cuts to the Medicaid budget would strain the services and raise healthcare costs for millions of California, according to a statement from Senator Padillas office. Republicans are laying the groundwork to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid in order to pay for President Trumps tax cuts for billionaires, said Senator Padilla. Theyve put Medicaid on the chopping block, threatening access to health care for almost 15 million Californians including 5 million children enrolled in Medi-Cal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a press release, the lawmakers have underscored the harmful impacts of Trump and Republicans partisan plan to cut $880 billion across the federal government. By doing this, it means that hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and leave a lot of communities without health care insurance. Medicaid is a lifeline for 1 in 6 people in San Diego County. Yet, Republicans in Congress are pushing to cut at least $880 billion from Medicaid sacrificing peoples lives and our economic security in the process all to pay for big tax cuts for corporations and the 1%. Thats why Senator Padilla and I went to Rady Childrens Hospital today to hear the heartbreaking truth of how Medicaid cuts will impact their patients, their ability to deliver essential care and their operations. We wont give up and we will keep fighting to protect Medicaid, said Representative Jacobs. In 2024, a statement from the Padilla office stated that nearly 80 million Americans trusted Medicaid, and that made the program the largest public health insurance in the United States. This also includes the almost 15 million people who enrolled in Medi-Cal which covers about 40 percent of the state including the kids in California. One in five workers in California rely in Medi-Cal to access care every single day. California leads the nation in innovative approaches to health care and expanding access to care for our most vulnerable communities, and any cut to Medi-Cal will have a ripple effect on our entire health care system, especially for our kids, said Senator Padilla. Families are more than just line items on President Trumps expense sheet; they rely on Medi-Cal to survive, and I will never back down from protecting their access to lifesaving care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Padilla and Jacobs visited Rady Childrens Hospital and spoke alongside the hospitals Co-President and CEO, Dr. Patrick Frias, Executive Vice President of Operations for San Ysidro Health Veronica Dela Rosa, health care providers, and impacted families, according to a statement from Padilla office. The statement said that over half of Rady Childrens Health patients are being covered by Medi-Cal and that Medi-Cal recipients represent 65 percent of San Ysidros patient population. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. March 21 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Friday said federal student loans will be moved from the Department of Health to the Small Business Administration though the agency workforce will be cut 43%. Also as part of Trump's plan to eliminate the Department of Education, programs for students with special needs and nutrition matters will be handed by the Department of Health and Human Services. "I think that will work out very well. Those two elements will be taken out of the Department of Education," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, he signed an executive order to wind down operations in the Department of Education though Congress must sign off on it. He said Title I funding that boosts money to schools serving high-poverty populations, individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding and student aid would still be administered by the department under the order. President Donald Trump signs an executive order aimed at downsizing the Department of Education in a ceremony at White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI The Trump administration wants to abolish any programs not in the federal statute and move congressionally mandated requirements to other federal agencies or to the states, "I've decided that the SBA, the Small Business Administration, headed by Kelly Loeffler, will handle will all of the student loan portfolio," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, saying it is a "pretty complicated deal, and that's coming out of the Department of Education immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Bobby Kennedy, with the Health and Human Services Department, will be handling special needs and all the nutrition programs and everything else," he continued. The Education Department is the smallest federal agency with only 4,245 employees before the workforce was cut in half last month. The $268 billion appropriations in the department last year represented 4% of the federal budget. Schools have been forced to comply with the Trump administration's demands to halt diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which have been challenged in court. In addition, employees, like in other agencies, have been terminated or applied for a buyout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student loans are one of the largest programs the Education Department handles. In 2024, student loan debt backed by the federal goverment was $1.777 trillion and held by 42.7 million borrowers, according to the Education Data Initiative. "They are all set for it; they are waiting for it," Trump told reporters about SBA taking over the loan administration. "It'll be serviced much better than it has in the past." The Education Department was created in 1979 under the Jimmy Carter administration as a result of a spinoff from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, which also resulted in the Department of Health and Human Services. SBA workforce reduction Like the Education Department, the Trump administration is downsizing agencies through Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SBA said in a statement it will cut the workforce by more then two-fifths, "ending the expansive social policy agenda of the prior Administration, eliminating non-essential roles, and returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels." The cuts would save more than $435 million a year by next fiscal year. The 2,700 reductions would be accomplished via voluntary resignations, expiration of COVID-era and other term appointments, and a limited number of reductions in force. The agency has 6,500 workers, or less than half-percent of the entire federal workforce. "The strategic reorganization will begin a turnaround for the agency by restoring the efficiency of the first Trump Administration, as well as its focus on promoting small businesses," the agency said. "Core services to the public, including the agency's loan guarantee and disaster assistance programs, as well as its field and veteran operations, will not be impacted." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia posted a video on X on Friday that it's time to "rightsize the agency." "Since the pandemic, the SBA has doubled its workforce, expanding in size, scope and spending with miserable results," Loeffler said in the video. "That's why change is coming to the SBA. ... This agency is done wasting millions of tax dollars to fund a progressive pandemic-era bureaucracy. We will not allow fiscal mismanagement to threaten our loan programs or criminals to get away with fraud. But we will evaluate every program and expenditure and we will rightsize the agency to transform the SBA into a high-efficiency engine for America's entrepreneurs and taxpayers." The SBA's headquarters are in Washington, D.C., but it has a large workforce in Texas. The agency was created by Congress in 1953. It provides loans to businesses that fall victim to natural disasters and offers support on international trade issues. That included loans to small businesses and nonprofit groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had two bunnies over a year ago. Unfortunately, I didnt have a proper environment for them, just a large cage in the courtyard. During the day, they would roam freely, and I would lock them in the cage at night for their safety. They were very dear to me. I talked to them, cuddled them, and let them eat whatever I ate. They loved eating from my hands. I adored their adorable pink noses and cute whiskers, as well as the way they moved their ears in response to their surroundings. They were so innocent. I never realized how prolific rabbits can be. To me, they seemed like two innocent bunnies, but after a few weeks, they had babies, and the cycle continued very rapidly. So far, they have given birth to 30 babies this year. The challenges of caring for them became evident; they urinate a lot, eat a lot, produce a considerable amount of waste, and reproduce rapidly as well. Taking care of them felt like a full-time job. Additionally, they disown their young as soon as they are born, possibly because there is no soil in the area where I was keeping them. This made it very challenging to keep the newborns warm and to feed them milk with a dropper multiple times a day for nearly two weeks. Caring for them requires significant time, patience, and dedication, much like looking after a human baby. I can honestly say I could not have managed this without the support of my siblings and parents. It has been more than a year, and my family members are now exhausted from cleaning up after the bunnies every day and caring for so many babies. I have distributed many of them to different people, but they keep multiplying. Last month, five of them died from the cold, and this month, four more died just two days after they were born. After the losses of these two batches, I realized that my family is tired, my bunnies are suffering, and I have no time to care for them as I am very busy these days. Unfortunately, no one is taking responsibility for them either. So, I made the difficult decision to distribute all of them, leaving me with no bunnies left. My courtyard feels empty, and I miss them dearly. It saddens me to have made this choice because I never wanted to lose them. They were my beloved pets who listened to me, looked at me with love, sat on my lap, and enjoyed being stroked. I kissed each of them every day, even though others thought it was gross. I often had to change my clothes multiple times a day, just thinking about how their hair got stuck in my outfits. I felt very sad for the past two days. I had several crying spells, mostly while sitting in the library or wrapped up in my quilt. Since childhood, Ive learned that crying is often seen as a sign of weakness and that a person who cries frequently lacks control over their emotions. However, my eyes are like oceans, and I realize Ive spent almost a quarter of my life crying, often in silence. This has become an art Ive honed over the past 31 years. Whenever I cried in front of anyone, I had to listen to comments like: ADVERTISEMENT Itni bari ho k b roti ho. Na shukri! Kesi doctor ho? Itnay beemar mareezon ka ilaaj krti ho phir b dil abhi tak chiriya jitna hai. Kab bari hogi? Dekho wo dekh raha hai/rahi hai, kya soche ga? I find crying to be cathartic, and Im not entirely sure why. It feels to me like crying is a better outlet than sharing my feelings with someone else because, in my experience, people often dont have the time for that. When you open up to your loved ones: They might become worried or anxious. They could feel uncomfortable. They may create their own theories and interpret your situation based on their perspectives. Theres a risk of judgment. They could be dealing with their own challenges, making it difficult for them to fully engage. They might be distracted or upset, and their reactions could inadvertently cause you to feel worse. In the worst-case scenario, they might blame themselves if they feel they cannot help and start wondering what they did wrong. If you tend to cry too often, like I do, they may eventually become bored or frustrated with the situation. Thats why I have learned to cry with myself, and ultimately, I feel better after a good emotional release. The only downside is that my upper eyelids have become permanently swollen. On sad days, a never-ending cycle of intrusive thoughts begins in my mind, causing me to overthink the reasons for my sadness. Sometimes, I feel sad for no reason at all (at least, thats how it is for me). On these days, memories of sad events from my childhood to the present start to replay in my mind. First and foremost, I am grieving the loss of my bunnies. Secondly, I feel sad because it seems like nobody else in my family is grieving (they might even feel relieved). Thirdly, I am anxious about studying for an upcoming exam; my progress is too slow, I get distracted easily, and I really hate studying. This misery only adds to my crying spells. After a pathetic day and with swollen eyes, I got home, had dinner, and went to sleep immediately, even though it was only 6 p.m. I had done very little studying, but I was exhausted, possibly from crying. The extended crying had given me a headache. After two to three hours of restful sleep, I felt much better, and the headache was gone. Later, I received a call from a friend who lives in Karachi. She got married a few years ago and now has two children, making her a homemaker. She graduated a couple of years before me, and we worked together in the same department for about one or two years. After her marriage, she moved to another city and, due to her young kids, decided to take a break. Her story is very sad. She is the only daughter in her family. One of her brothers is an anesthesiologist who lives in the U.S. with his family, while the other brother lives with their parents here in Islamabad. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at a very young age. Although she was cured, the cancer relapsed in 2020 after ten years. Since then, she has been undergoing treatment, but the cancer has slowly progressed to stage four. She has been receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy during this time. Last year, her father, who was 60, was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. This devastating news greatly affected the family. For the past year, she has been traveling back and forth between Karachi and Islamabad to care for her parents. I must say that she and her brother are incredibly strong individuals. Taking care of two-stage four cancer patients while living far away is no easy task. The treatment they both needed cost millions, but her brother, who lives in the U.S., arranged for all the necessary medications, even those that werent available in Pakistan. She often calls me to consult about various issues concerning them, and to be honest, I am always worried about their well-being. A year after her fathers disease progressed, he sadly passed away three weeks ago. Today, when I received a call from her, she was crying a lot. She shared that her mother had been drowsy for the past two days, and despite her efforts, nothing seemed to help. Following her fathers death, she returned to Karachi because her eldest daughter had final exams. She was upset that she couldnt find a ticket to reach Islamabad as soon as possible. I recognized the situation and sent the mother to the ER, arranging for her brain scan and blood work, along with everything else needed. Now, I am waiting for her results, reflecting on how ungrateful Ive been. People around me are facing far more stressful and painful circumstances, dealing with life-and-death situations. I had been crying simply over losing some bunnies or an exam. I am grateful that I am not in a miserable situation like hers and that my loved ones are healthy. Of course, I am concerned for her mother, and I want to be there for them, but this is the kind of situation that no one would ever wish for themselves. Its interesting to reflect on my different personalities. One of them is a cancer doctor who is rational, competent and makes fair decisions while also being empathetic. I took charge of all the decisions regarding her mothers care, determining what should be prioritized and what could wait. I brought on board a radiologist, an oncologist, and a palliative care physician. I discussed everything in detail with them while staying in touch with my friend and her brother. I made the decision that her mother should not be resuscitated in case of an emergency, and the family understood this choice. No matter how close they were to me, I remained level-headed and acted professionally without allowing my emotions to cloud my judgment. I am truly thankful for the blessings in my life and for being in a position to care for people around me. However, I struggle with a part of myself that becomes emotional over various losses and different situations. For instance, I often find myself teary-eyed when I see someone getting hurt or poorly treated, when I witness people feeling alone or unloved, or when I lose something precious to me. I particularly feel overwhelmed after a patient passes away, especially if I have been seeing them for a long time or when a patient who was once well suddenly becomes so ill that they require intubation or a transfer to the intensive care unit. I also find it hard to cope when I see the loved ones of patients crying in anguish over their loss. A few days ago, my younger brother shared a story about his friend who got beaten up badly by another classmate. I told him how much that must have hurt and how hard he would have cried. He replied: Nahi daman aapi, wo bilkul b nahi roya, wo mature enough hai. Feeling and hearing the perspective about crying from people around me and society since childhood has been disheartening. The idea that people who cry are immature has created a split within me. On one side, I am a mature and brave doctor who cares for cancer patients. On the other side, I feel like an immature child with a heart as delicate as a sparrows, who wants to cry freely but feels she is not allowed to. What should I do? I have no answer. I believe that everyone expresses and experiences emotions differently. A loss or a heartbreak, whether minor or major, can be a setback for anyone. Sometimes, people appear strong on the outside, yet they may be broken on the inside. Additionally, individuals who seem emotionally immature in certain areas of their lives may actually be thriving in others. Life should not be about comparisons; everyone faces their own unique battles and perceives situations differently. Each person on this planet is unique, with varying strengths, weaknesses, and coping mechanisms. And Ive concluded that our societys and cultural beliefs can limit our perspective on certain topics. A few days ago, I read the following saying: Body is purified by water. Ego by tears. Intellect is purified by knowledge. And soul is purified with love. Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Nahjul balaaghah Damane Zehra is a radiation oncology resident in Pakistan. U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 21 that as part of the negotiations to end the war, the parties will have an agreement on territorial division. Trump's statement comes ahead of the U.S. separate talks with Russia and Ukraine scheduled for March 24 in Saudi Arabia. "Pretty soon, we'll have a full ceasefire, and then we're going to have a contract," Trump said during a press briefing, adding that the future deal includes "dividing up the lands." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's being negotiated as we speak," Trump said without specifying the format of the talks. During the briefing, Trump also dodged a question about imposing new sanctions on Russia as it continues to attack Ukraine. "Well, they're fighting against each other," Trump said. Russia occupied and illegally annexed Crimea at the start of its war against Ukraine in 2014. After the outbreak of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Moscow also illegally declared annexation of partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected recognizing Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories in any peace talks, calling it a "red line" that Kyiv will not cross. Ukraine's Constitution states that the "territory of Ukraine within its present border is indivisible and inviolable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Semafor outlet reported earlier this week that the Trump administration is considering recognizing Crimea as part of a peace deal. Washington has not confirmed this claim. Read also: UK discussing deploying fighter jets to Ukraine under potential peace deal, Telegraph reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Speaking Friday from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump suggested the Capitol rioters were tame compared with the people responsible for setting Tesla vehicles ablaze in protest of billionaire Elon Musks meddling in the federal government. I view these people as terrorists just like others, Trump said of the Tesla vandals. When I looked at those showrooms burning, and those cars not one or two, like seven, eight, 10 burning, exploding all over the place these are terrorists, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You didnt have that on Jan. 6, I can tell you. You didnt have anything like that Jan. 6, Trump went on, referring to the 2021 riot that left several people dead. A police officer was among those who died either during the riot or directly afterward. Trump notably issued a mass pardon for hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters in the first days of his new term, regardless of whether their crimes involved physical violence. The president suggested earlier on Friday that people who attack Teslas should be sent to prison in El Salvador, where his administration recently transported over 250 migrants. Attacks on Teslas ramped up across the nation and around the world after Musk made an arm gesture at Trumps inauguration rally that resembled a Nazi-era Sieg heil salute. (Musk denies the comparison.) The worlds richest man has since taken on a prominent White House role guiding the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which has pressured agency leads into making sweeping, unpopular cuts to the federal workforce and government services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dramatic footage of burning Teslas in Las Vegas went viral this week. Similar incidents have been reported at a Tesla dealership in Missouri, a charging station in Canada, a service center in Oregon, a dealership in Colorado and a charging station in South Carolina, among other places. Trump and his administration officials have been heaping praise on Musk in response to the backlash, with Trump even briefly transforming the driveway of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue into a Tesla showroom last week. In a made-for-TV moment, the president said he was purchasing one of Musks vehicles. This week, Attorney General Pam Bondi promised serious charges and harsh punishments for the individuals behind a recent high-profile string of arson attacks on Tesla dealerships, calling their actions domestic terrorism. Bondi said Thursday that three individuals had already been charged in connection with various Tesla attacks, although her office did not specify what those charges were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, has also been urging Americans to support Musk by buying Tesla stock, appearing to disregard federal ethics law in doing so. Related... President Donald Trump pushed back on reports that DOGE head Elon Musk was being briefed on US military plans for a potential war with China while at the Pentagon on Friday, saying he wouldnt want to show such plans to anybody. I dont want to show it to anybody. You know youre talking about a potential war with China, Trump said in remarks from the Oval Office. We dont want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you, if we did, were very well equipped to handle it. Trumps comments came amid speculation over why Musk was at the Pentagon on Friday morning, where he met with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for over an hour. The New York Times reported Thursday that Musk was receiving a briefing on the US militarys plan for potential conflict with China. Pentagon officials resoundingly dismissed the reporting on social media on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump acknowledged Friday that Musk also has his own business interests in China, which could pose a conflict of interest if he was briefed on a potential war plan with the nation. I dont want to show that to anybody but certainly, you wouldnt show it to a businessman who is helping us so much, the president said. You know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that but it was such a fake story. CNN has reported that Musk who is serving as a special government employee under Trump has a top-secret security clearance. The meeting also comes as the Pentagon is weighing significant cuts to the top of the military amid efforts across the Trump administration to shrink the government. Hegseth has said the Defense Department would be working with Musks DOGE to find fraud and waste within the department. This photo released by the Department of Defense shows Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcoming Elon Musk to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on March 21, 2025. - Senior Airman Spencer Perkins/Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs Musk maintains lucrative contracts with the Defense Department. In October 2024, the US Space Force awarded $733 million in launch contracts to Musks SpaceX. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk arrived at the Pentagon just before 9 a.m. for his meeting with Hegseth and other senior Pentagon leaders. Upon arrival he went upstairs towards Hegseths office, and did not emerge from the office for roughly an hour and 20 minutes. Photos of the meeting shared by the Pentagon showed Musk and Hegseth sitting at a table with six other individuals, including Hegseths chief of staff Joe Kasper. Asked by CNN about the meeting as Musk and Hegseth exited Hegseths office, Musk responded, Its always a great meeting. Ive been here before, you know, Musk quipped, as he and Hegseth laughed and began walking down the stairs. Neither Hegseth nor Musk answered shouted questions about whether they discussed China in their meeting or if it was a classified briefing. Asked by the New York Times after Musks departure what the two discussed, Hegseth said, Why would I tell you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth later characterized the meeting as fantastic while at the White House for the announcement of a new fighter aircraft. Elon Musk is a patriotic American and I appreciate him, Hegseth said, without elaborating on what the two discussed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Donald Trumps developing deal to save TikTok would almost certainly violate U.S. law but if it does, there may be little chance that anyone, including Congress or the courts, could enforce it. A deal under discussion at the White House would keep the app alive by tapping American software giant Oracle to help run TikTok in the U.S. while preserving a role for ByteDance, its Beijing-based parent company. Across Washington, China hawks are trying to draw a hard line against any plan that would let ByteDance maintain a degree of control of the company or insight into its underlying technology, both of which are banned by the bipartisan 2024 law passed by Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trump is already violating that law by allowing the app to stay online. And if his promised deal goes through, Congress has almost no leverage to stop it: The law leaves final approval in the presidents hands, and lawmakers cant take him to court even if he violates its clear meaning. Congress does not have standing to sue, said Alan Rozenshtein, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. He said a lawmaker can typically only file suit if theyre personally harmed by a violation. An illegal TikTok-Oracle deal blessed by Trump would immediately join a host of White House actions that flout settled law. The Trump administration is being sued for breaking laws around deportations, civil-service protections, federal spending rules, government data-sharing and more all of which are now playing out in federal courts across the country. When it comes to TikTok, however, even the courts offer little recourse to enforce the 2024 law, which the Supreme Court unanimously affirmed in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law requires a qualified divestiture of TikTok an arrangement where ByteDance gives up all control of both the company and the powerful algorithm that runs TikToks video-sharing service. It can retain at most a 20 percent financial stake in the company. The Oracle deal under discussion a modification of a prior arrangement between TikTok and Oracle, where U.S. user data was stored on Oracle-run servers while ByteDance retained a role in TikToks operations would likely flunk one or more of those tests. But its Trump who is ultimately empowered to declare an agreement acceptable. The president gets to decide what constitutes a qualified divestiture, said Michael Sobolik, a former national security staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and senior fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute. That is completely up to him, even though the contours of what needs to happen in a divestiture are spelled out in the law. China hawks on Capitol Hill are rattling their sabers at Trump, warning against any deal that keeps ByteDance in the room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law is clear, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chair of the House Select Committee on China, wrote on Tuesday. Any deal must eliminate Chinese influence and control over the app to safeguard our interests. But Moolenaar and other lawmakers have few options to stop Trump once he decides to proceed. And lawyers say Washingtons sense of powerlessness is compounded by the fact that the White House is already ignoring the TikTok law. This statute has already been violated, said Ryan Calo, a professor at the University of Washington School of Law. Because what the statute says is that TikTok gets banned unless the president of the United States, by January 19, certifies that they're in good-faith negotiations to change ownership. After a brief period around the inauguration where the app went dark, TikTok resumed operations in the U.S. with Trumps blessing but without any certification that ownership negotiations were making significant progress, which is what the law required for an extension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The app soon returned to Apple and Googles app stores, after Trump pledged not to fine them for hosting TikTok. An Oracle spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment. Sobolik said Capitol Hill could still make the decision to back Oracles TikTok deal politically complicated for Trump. Lawmakers like Moolenaar could hold hearings, conduct oversight and make it a little more painful for different elements of the administration. Congress could even pass a new law that eliminates some of the presidents wiggle room to declare divestiture. But Sobolik doesnt really expect congressional Republicans to confront the president. I don't think they want to go toe-to-toe with the administration, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Moolenaar did not respond when asked if he planned to hold hearings, open probes or pursue other consequences for the White House should it approve a TikTok-Oracle deal. POLITICO reported that key lawmakers, including concerned Republicans, are set to be briefed by Oracle on the possible deal and the national security concerns it raises. If anything, Sobolik thinks Congress is likely to reverse course entirely and push for legislation that retroactively approves Trumps plans for TikTok. That bill would likely contain waivers for Oracle, Google, Apple and other tech companies still technically on the hook for billions of dollars in fines for hosting TikTok. That would be a huge loss of our seriousness with actually standing up to malign [Chinese Communist Party] influence, Sobolik said. But I think the political winds are blowing in that direction. Some legal scholars said Oracle shareholders who stand to lose their investment should the companys relationship with TikTok prompt an avalanche of fines may have standing to sue the software company over a new ownership arrangement with TikTok. But even concerned shareholders may be unable to stop a deal between Oracle and TikTok from moving forward. Shubha Ghosh, a professor at the Syracuse University College of Law, said shareholder lawsuits typically take place after the fact, triggering only once a deal is agreed to and later goes sideways. Donald Trump has criticized a New York Times story which claims Elon Musk is about to be briefed on top U.S. military secrets. The Times story on Thursday reported that Musk, the unelected, non-Senate-confirmed head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who is neither in the military chain of command nor a military adviser to the president, will nevertheless reportedly be briefed Friday about the countrys top-secret military ambitions, including its plans for any potential war with China. Musk will be at the Pentagon for the top-secret briefing, which will detail which locations in China to target and for how long, according to the Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House hasnt indicated whether Musk signed a conflicts of interest waiver for the Tesla and X owner, whose financial well-being depends heavily on China, the Times noted. But Trump denounced the story Thursday night, complaining on his Truth Social platform that it was not true. The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times, Trump wrote. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential war with China. How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!! The White House did not respond to requests for comment from the Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to deliver remarks at the White House alongside President Trump Friday. We look forward to welcoming @elonmusk to the Pentagon tomorrow. But the fake news delivers again this is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans. Its an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great! https://t.co/sIhsUjqbG9 Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 21, 2025 Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell claimed that while Musk would appear at the Pentagon, he was simply a guest of Hegseth. The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting. He later posted on X complaining about the Times story, describing it as maliciously wrong. Hegseth also took to X, adding, this is NOT a meeting about top secret China war plans. Its an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Musk has a top-secret security clearance, the Pentagon and the Air Force have been investigating whether he has been fully complying with it. The Air Force had previously denied Musks request for a higher clearance. The investigations were prompted by SpaceX employees alleging that Musk hadnt disclosed all his contacts with foreign leaders. Reacting to the news of Musks briefing, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said it was so far out of the norm, and called on Republicans in Congress to step up. Walz on Musk getting briefed on China war plans: "I don't understand -- where are the Republicans? Where are the Lindsey Grahams?" pic.twitter.com/lnbOzwYXrg Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 21, 2025 I dont understand, he said on MSNBC. Where are the Republicans? Where are the Lindsey Grahams? Where are the people who know how this works? During his first month in office, President Donald Trump has made moves to expand the United States' already gargantuan carceral system. The Trump administration's goals, from mass deportation to harsher punishments for some crimes, are reliant on the federal government having access to more prison and jail cells. Without that carceral infrastructure, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to enact his promises on immigration and crime and punishment. During his presidential campaign, Trump vowed to deport a historic number of people. And while Trump's focus so far has been on undocumented immigrants, his criminalization efforts extend to U.S. citizens too. Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued memos that could encourage federal prosecutors to seek harsher sentences in many circumstances. Detaining and incarcerating more people necessitates more places to put them, and the administration is already hitting limits, The Marshall Project reports. During the first week of February, space inside Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities reached 109% capacity and the agency was forced to release some people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This lack of space is one of the major barriers to ramping up deportations, and ICE is limited by its budget. But Trump is now considering tapping into defense funds. Those funds "would allow civilian-run companies to quickly and rapidly expand temporary detention facilities," such as tents, according to NBC News. ICE has also begun sending some detainees to the federal Bureau of Prisons. But the BOP was already in crisis before Trump took office, as described by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General. The low ratio of staff to incarcerated people has left the BOP struggling to provide security and basic services to the people imprisoned in its facilities, putting their safetyand that of employeesat risk. Private prison companies are celebrating the Trump administration's need for more cells. In a Feb. 10 press release and earnings call, CoreCivic's CEO told investors that this was one of the most exciting periods of his career, and it may lead to the "most significant growth in our company's history." The company, which has contracts to detain people for ICE, said they expect the immigration agency to massively increase the number of people it will hold behind bars. Company officials believe they may also see growth in the Bureau of Prisons, according to The Arizona Republic. One of Trump's first actions as president was to allow the BOP to contract with private prison companies again, after then-President Joe Biden canceled BOP private prison contracts. (The use of private detention for immigration has continued under both Democratic and Republican administrations, with Biden arguably laying the foundation for much of the infrastructure Trump's mass deportation efforts will rely on.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet another sign of a private prison infrastructure expansion is a report that the Trump administration is preparing to restart family immigrant detention, including incarcerating families with young children, and is expected to ask companies to bid for contracts, according to NBC News. While much attention has been given to private companies, local jails are the most common type of detention facility that ICE uses, according to a report from Vera, an advocacy organization working to end mass incarceration. The Biden administration already had agreements with local jails to house ICE detainees. But Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, has been encouraging sheriffs to make even more space available for immigrant detention. At the National Sheriffs' Association Winter Conference the first week of February, he told sheriffs: "We need your bed space." Homan promised to make it easier for local jails to incarcerate people for ICE by lowering detention standards and limiting the number of federal inspections. He said he hoped to eliminate federal rules and instead defer to state-level standards. "If that's good enough for a U.S. citizen in your county, it's good enough for an illegal immigrant detained for us," Homan said. Local officials are often incentivized to provide jail space to ICE because of reimbursement rates. Sheriffs and politicians have talked about how ICE payments produce revenue and help cover city services. Other sheriffs have said they will need more money to do what the federal government is asking counties to do. Some local politicians are offering space because of ideological support for Trump's goals. An Arizona state senator said he plans to introduce a bill allowing ICE to use two empty state prisons for just a dollar a year. And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has offered Trump the use of 4,000 state prison cells at no cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other state politicians have resisted cooperation with ICE. A law in Illinois prohibits local sheriffs from renting jail space for immigrant detention. Trump is now suing the state over the law. The president's search for more prison and jail cells for imprisoning both citizens and undocumented immigrants extends beyond U.S. borders. In early February, Trump said he was considering El Salvador's offer to incarcerate both deported immigrants from any nationality and U.S. citizens in its infamous prisons. Trump said the Central American country offered to detain people for a "small fee." He also said, "We could make deals where we'd get these animals out of our country." Experts say it is not legal to deport a U.S. citizen, and while it is, in some cases, legal to deport a non-citizen to a third country, it's a complicated process. Trump has also indicated that he wants to house more than 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The naval base has a long history of allegations of human rights abuses, and lawyers have raised concerns that immigrants are being sent into a "legal black hole," according to The Washington Post. Around three dozen people have already been sent to Guantanamo, but there are major hurdles to reaching the numbers Trump has projected. The most the facility has ever held is about 800 people, according to NPR, and housing more would be incredibly expensive. In addition, the administration has already hit legal hurdleson Feb. 9, a judge in New Mexico blocked, for now, the administration's effort to send three Venezuelan men to Guantanamo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many have speculated that Trump's sending people to Guantanamo, like many of his immigration efforts, is an attempt to create a massive spectacle intended to project power and instill fear. But despite the significant legal and practical barriers, the Trump administration's numerous efforts to find more jail and prison cells indicate a clear desire to build a larger carceral system. Trump has styled himself as a "law and order" president and is using that frame in his efforts at expanded incarceration. But despite his wide-ranging moves to increase prison and jail space, he has been selective in who should be imprisoned or punished for illegal behavior. Trump himself has been convicted of numerous felonies. On the first day of his administration, he granted clemency to 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants. And at the beginning of February, the Justice Department ordered prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was accused in September of accepting bribes and free or discounted travel from people trying to influence him. Multiple department employees have resigned over the order. A Justice Department memo, obtained by The Associated Press, said the charges should be dropped because they were interfering with Adams' "ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime." This story was produced by The Marshall Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Flash Israeli troops are seen near the southern Israeli border with Gaza, on March 20, 2025. The Israeli military said on Thursday its troops were expanding their ground operation in southern Gaza, advancing into the Shabura refugee camp in Rafah city. [Photo/Xinhua] The Israeli military said on Thursday its troops were expanding their ground operation in southern Gaza, advancing into the Shabura refugee camp in Rafah city. "Troops began conducting ground activity in the area of Shabura in Rafah," the military said in a statement, adding that they had "dismantled a number of terrorist infrastructure sites" in the area. Meanwhile, Israeli ground troops continued operations in northern and central Gaza after the military urged residents to avoid the Salah al-Din Road, the main north-south route in the enclave, and instead travel along the coast. Israeli forces also targeted the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which had already ceased operations due to fuel shortages and previous strikes. The military claimed that the site was being used by Hamas as a command and control center to direct attacks against Israeli forces and targets. Israel's expanded offensive follows a "targeted ground operation" launched Wednesday in central and southern Gaza aimed at establishing a "buffer zone" to separate northern and southern parts of the enclave, according to Israeli authorities. Shortly after the military's announcement, air raid sirens sounded in central and southern Israel on Thursday. The Israel Defense Forces said three rockets were fired from southern Gaza, with one intercepted and the others landing in open areas. Loud explosions were reported in Tel Aviv, though no casualties were immediately confirmed. Hamas' armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the launch of the rocket barrage, calling it retaliation for Israel's "massacres against civilians." The UN agency for Palestine refugees warned Thursday that "the worst is yet to come given the ongoing ground invasion (in Gaza)." "Evacuation orders forcing people to flee were issued, impacting tens of thousands of people. The vast majority have been already displaced," Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said on social media platform X. He said there is "an endless unleashing of the most inhumane ordeals" in Gaza, highlighting Israel's continued blockade of aid and tightened siege on the war-torn enclave. Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after a ceasefire that began on Jan. 19 unraveled. The Hamas-run Gaza media office said in a statement on Thursday that the death toll from the renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza has risen to 591, in addition to 1,042 wounded. Protesters gather in Conway Friday with the hope of speaking to Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who was visiting the citys mental health center at Northern Human Services, about Medicaid and other topics. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin) Andy Davis and around 50 others from Carroll County gathered outside a mental health center in Conway Friday afternoon with the hopes of speaking to Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who was attending a meeting at Northern Human Services. The group chanted and held signs advocating for full funding for Medicaid and other programs. I believe Gov. Ayotte is a dedicated public servant who is in a difficult situation in terms of figuring out how to make difficult choices in the state budget, Davis, who lives in nearby Tamworth, said. And were trying to help her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers in the New Hampshire State House are in the midst of the lengthy state budgeting process. Ayotte introduced her proposal for a nearly $16 billion biennial budget in February, along with a set of policy changes needed to implement that budget. Now lawmakers in the House are reviewing and amending that proposal with a goal of cutting $800 million. This comes amid years of lagging state business tax revenues. Were trying to tell her whats important to New Hampshire citizens, Davis continued. Its important for me that she understands as I think she does that these are not theoretical programs and the people on them arent theoretical. As part of the budget, Ayotte has proposed a number of cost-cutting measures to the states Medicaid program, which provides health care coverage to low-income and high-need residents. One of those changes would charge certain Medicaid recipients those with children earning 255% of the federal poverty level and those without children earning between 100% and 138% of the poverty level premiums of up to 5% of their income in order to keep their coverage. Shes also proposed increasing the portion of prescription costs Medicaid recipients are responsible for, from $1 or $2 to $4 per prescription (unless it exceeds 5% of household income). Davis said Medicaid has been an important bridge at a difficult time for members of his family that needed temporary assistance to regain their financial footing and personal health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same, Republicans in Congress are calling for drastic reductions to the federal budget to extend President Donald Trumps 2017 tax cuts. Experts believe that in order to implement those cuts theyd need to revoke around $800 billion nationwide from Medicaid which is a program funded and operated jointly by the federal government and states. In New Hampshire, this has inspired fears that those cuts to Medicaid would activate the states trigger law, a policy the state Legislature enacted in 2018 that would cut state funding for New Hampshires Medicaid expansion program if federal funding falls below a certain level. Davis, who helped organize the protest, said he wanted to have a cordial discussion with the governor. I have confidence that, in her first days as the governor of this state, shes very interested in getting as much information as she can, he said. I believe that Gov. Ayotte is governing for what she sees are the right reasons and so I believe shes open to hearing what other people have to say. When Ayotte arrived Friday, her car drove straight into the parking lot without engaging with the protesters, and she did not stop to speak with them afterward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To me it seems like she missed an opportunity, Davis said. She has 50 of her constituents who believe passionately in the issues that are important to all the people in our state, and she wasnt interested evidently in an interchange, but I continue to try and think the best of her. Im sure she had another important meeting. That could be the only reason she chose not to spend a little time with us. The governors office did not respond to the Bulletins request for comment. Its a little disappointing that she didnt chat with us on this particular occasion, he said. But there will be other opportunities. Megan Chapman, also from Tamworth, was another of the organizers Friday. She said she was deeply concerned about the potential changes to Medicaid on both the state and federal levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people really rely on Medicaid, she said. To cut that service at a time when we already know federal cuts are coming, this is when we need the state government to come in and fill the gap. However, Medicaid wasnt the only thing protesters were concerned about. Gaie Mitchell, of Conway, came to the protest for so many reasons, but I think the stuff in the budget really concerns me. She isnt a fan of the governors plans to expand the states voucher-like education freedom accounts program. She hopes the governor will encourage lawmakers to back off their plan to eliminate the Office of the Child Advocate, which theyre proposing as a cost-cutting measure. And she wants the governor to push back against potential efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport people in New Hampshire. (Bloomberg) -- Tunisias president fired his third prime minister in less than two years, deepening a political malaise in the North African country thats struggling to revive its sluggish economy. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Kais Saied appointed his equipment and housing minister, Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, as the new premier, according to a statement from his cabinet. A German-educated engineer, Zenzri is the second woman to head Tunisias government. She replaces Kamel Madouri, who was appointed in August 2024. In the statement, the president said he hoped the change would allow for better coordination of government efforts. Madouri was Tunisias third prime minister since 2022, when Saied reformed the constitution to formalize near total powers he assumed a year earlier. The Tunisian president has ordered authorities to tap funding from the central bank to help repay foreign creditors after he ditched talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $1.9 billion bailout program in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tunisias 700 million ($759 million) of bonds maturing in July next year trade at a yield of around 9.8%, high relative to most other governments. Funding from the likes of Saudi Arabia and Afreximbank has helped bolster the countrys finances in recent years. In late February, Moodys Ratings upgraded Tunisias rating to Caa1 from Caa2 leaving it still well within junk territory. It cited lower external-financing requirements and stronger foreign-exchange buffers. The country has faced deepening economic and political malaise since experiencing the first of the Arab Spring revolts in 2011. Financing needs surged, mostly to provide public sector jobs and meet a key demand of the revolutionaries. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. By Tarek Amara and and Jana Choukeir TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisian President Kais Saied sacked Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri less than a year after his appointment amid a faltering economy and a growing number of migrants arriving from countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Maddouri was replaced by Sara Zaafarani, who is an engineer and has been minister of equipment and housing since 2021. She is Tunisia's third prime minister in less than two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Saied has sharply criticised the performance of ministers, saying many have not met the required standards and that the expectations of the Tunisian people are high. Last month, he sacked Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri. In a meeting broadcast on the presidency's Facebook page, Saied called on Zaafarani "to further coordinate government action and overcome obstacles to meet the expectations of the Tunisian people". Tunisians have complained about deteriorating public services from health to transport and utilities. "Criminal gangs are active in many public facilities. It is time to put an end to them and hold every official accountable, regardless of their position and the nature of their negligence or complicity.", Saied said in a speech at a National Security Council meeting on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economic growth has not exceeded 1.4% in the past year, and the North African country's public finances face a severe crisis that has led to shortages of key commodities including sugar, rice and coffee. "We will continue the liberation battle until justice prevails for all citizens ... We will continue to thwart all conspiracies", Saied said. Tunisia is also facing widespread criticism over an unprecedented migrant crisis, as thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa head to the country in an attempt to reach Europe. Thousands of migrants are living in tents in forests in southern towns such as Amra and Jbeniana after authorities prevented them from travelling across the Mediterranean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the migrants frequently clash with local residents who want them deported from their area, local human rights groups accuse the authorities of racist rhetoric and incitement against migrants. Saied seized extra powers in 2021 when he shut down the elected parliament and moved to rule by decree before assuming authority over the judiciary. The opposition described the move as a coup. (Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Tarek Amara; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kim Coghill and Kate Mayberry) TUPELO The Tupelo Police Department is looking for the man responsible for an afternoon assault last week near First Baptist Church. Police were called to the 300 block on North Church Street March 10 at 3 p.m. to take a report on a physical assault. The victim said he was having a conversation with a known subject, when the man physically assaulted the victim. The victim said the suspect exhibited unusual agitation before striking him multiple times. Authorities said the victim managed to distance himself from the suspect and call for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, Ryan Hearn, 34, is known for assisting with the homeless in the Tupelo area. It is believed he left Tupelo and might be in the Oxford area. Anyone with information about this incident or Hearns location is asked to contact TPD at 662-841-6491, tpdrecords@tupeloms.gov or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at 1-800-773-TIPS. The governors in the Turkish capital Ankara and third largest province Izmir on Friday banned demonstrations through to March 25, as protests continue against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's detention. This means the ban is now in place in Turkey's largest three cities, including Istanbul. The Istanbul governor had on Wednesday already imposed a ban on demonstrations, gatherings and news coverage until Sunday. The move comes as Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP) called for nationwide protests, defying the ban on demonstrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clashes broke out between protesters and police in several Turkish cities late on Thursday. Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on Wednesday over corruption and terror allegations. The CHP was preparing to name him as its presidential candidate on Sunday and has said it will proceed with the vote. In a crackdown on social media protests over the detention, Turkish authorities have detained 54 people, the government said on Friday. A total of 326 accounts were under investigation for posts suspected of incitement to hatred and encouraging criminal acts, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on the social media platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Yerlikaya said 37 users were detained. Separately, the authorities brought criminal charges against 53 demonstrators who joined the protests, according to Yerlikaya. So far 88 out of the 105 sought have been detained, along with Imamoglu, according to state news agency Anadolu. The corruption allegations against Imamoglu include fraud, bid-rigging and bribery. The detention of the Istanbul mayor has sparked domestic and international criticism. It was not immediately clear if and when Imamoglu, currently held at the Istanbul police headquarters, would face trial. Prosecutors allege that Imamoglu, in coordination with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, hired city officials linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - a group listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several DEM and some CHP mayors have recently been sacked due to similar allegations of links to the PKK. If Imamoglu is convicted on terrorism charges, the Turkish government could replace him with a government-affiliated official. In 2019, for the first time in 25 years, Islamic conservatives in Turkey lost control of the capital Ankara and Istanbul. Imamoglu was re-elected as Istanbul mayor in the 2024 polls. The loss of Turkey's economic powerhouse Istanbul was a major setback for Erdogan. The CHP accuses the government of being behind the detention orders, and of trying to eliminate a political rival to regain control of Istanbul. The government rejects any such connection and contends the detentions are part of independent investigations. The governors in the Turkish capital Ankara and third largest province Izmir on Friday banned demonstrations through to March 25, as protests continue against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's detention. This means the ban is now in place in Turkey's largest three cities, including Istanbul. It comes as Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP) called for nationwide protests, defying a ban on demonstrations in Istanbul through Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clashes broke out between protesters and police in several Turkish cities late on Thursday. Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on Wednesday over corruption and terror allegations. His party was preparing to name Imamoglu as their presidential candidate on Sunday. The Istanbul governor on Wednesday imposed a ban on demonstrations and gatherings and news coverage until Sunday. The CHP earlier said it would still proceed with Sunday's vote. In a crackdown on social media protests over the detention, Turkish authorities have detained 54 people, the government said on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 326 accounts were under investigation for posts suspected of incitement to hatred and encouraging criminal acts, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on the social media platform X. On Thursday, Yerlikaya said 37 users were detained. Separately, the authorities brought criminal charges against 53 demonstrators who joined the protests, according to Yerlikaya. Imamoglu's detention has sparked domestic and international criticism. So far 88 out of the 105 sought have been detained, along with Imamoglu, according to state news agency Anadolu. The corruption allegations include fraud, bid-rigging and bribery. (WHTM) The Department of the Airforce just announced a new contract to develop the F-47, the worlds first sixth-generation fighter aircraft. According to the U.S. Air Force, Boeing was awarded the contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts This newly awarded contract will lead to the development of the F-47, which will be the worlds first sixth-generation fighter aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im thrilled to announce that, at my direction, the United States Air Force is moving forward with the worlds first sixth-generation fighter jet, President Donald J. Trump said during a press briefing at the White House. Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and itll be known as the F-47. Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Forces sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (U.S. Air Force graphic) The U.S. Air Force says this decision reflects their commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to the warfighter while also optimizing taxpayer investment. In terms of all of the attributes of a fighter jet, theres never been anything even close to it, from speed to maneuverability, to what it can have, to payload. And this has been in the works for a long period of time, Trump added. Americas enemies will never see it coming. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says the F-47 represents a significant advancement over the F-22, which is currently the U.S. Air Forces primary air superiority fighter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a historic investment in the American military, in the American Industrial Base, that will help revive the warrior ethos inside our military, which were doingrebuilding our military, Hegseth added. We know this is cheaper, longer range and more stealthy. Overall, the new F-41 will be designed to integrate next-generation stealth, sensor fusion, and long-range strike capabilities. With this F-47 as the crown jewel in the Next Generation Air Dominance Family of Systems, we believe that this provides more lethality, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said. It provides more capability, more modernized capability, in a way that is built to adapt, along with our Collaborative Combat Aircraft. According to the U.S. Air Force, the contract awarded to Boeing will fund the engineering and manufacturing development phase, which includes maturing, integrating, and testing all aspects of the F-47. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During this phase, a small number of test aircraft will be produced for evaluation. The U.S. Air Force adds that any future basing decisions and additional program elements will be determined in the coming years as they advance the F-47 toward operational deployment. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could mark the beginning of the end for the U.S. Department of Education. The order was signed during a ceremony at the White House Thursday. Services like money for children with disabilities and managing federal student loans will continue as scheduled. The mission of the USDOE is to promote student achievement, preparation, and ensure equal access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to shut it down, and shut it down as quickly as possible. Its doing us no good, President Trump said. Trump said theres been no measurable improvement in student achievement, and he wants to give authority back to the states. He also said any federal funds given must follow policies including requirements to terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion, and programs promoting gender ideology. As a student in a very culturally diverse school with democrats republicans alike, multi-race, multi-ethnicity, it concerns me to see how one conflict may impact another, said Joselyn Lee, a student in the Tampa Bay. The Federal DOE does not regulate curriculum, programs, or standards. Thats up to the states. The President of the Polk County Education Association calls this move by the president a distraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actual problem is that most of our states, especially red controlled states, it seems to correlate, is that education is falling because they are not putting their money where it needs to be, and thats educating children, said Stephanie Yocum, Polk Education Association President. Governor Ron DeSantis wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, where he said in part: Florida has led the nation in refocusing our education systems on educating our students for lifelong success by eliminating DEI, expanding educational options, and making data-driven investments that support positive student outcomes. Yocum Said the states should put a budget to show they care about all students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US Department of Education has not been a hindrance to Florida. Florida has been its own hindrance because they want to move public dollars in the private, unaccountable hands, said Yocum. I want them to put money forward to actually pay teachers and educational staff a livable, professional wage so that we can keep them in front of students. Because right now in Polk County, what were worried about are the 250 perpetual vacancies that we cannot fill. What were worried about in Polk County are the 700 substitutes that are long-term teachers of record that do not have state credentials to be a teacher, yet theyre in front of students. President Trump said returning this department to the states is the common sense thing to do, and will cut the cost in half while making education many times better. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions watchdog removed Tornado Cash from its global blacklist Friday. The crypto mixing tool has been accused of helping North Korea's Lazarus Group launder stolen funds from its various hacks and thefts, and the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control sanctioned it meaning no U.S. person or anyone doing business with the U.S. could engage with it financially multiple times. However, a federal appeals court ruled last November that OFAC couldn't sanction Tornado Cash's smart contracts because they weren't the "property" of any foreign national. "We remain deeply concerned about the significant state-sponsored hacking and money laundering campaign aimed at stealing, acquiring, and deploying digital assets for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Kim regime," a press release from the U.S. Treasury Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another release from OFAC lists over 100 Ethereum (ETH) addresses that are being removed from the Specially Designated Nationals list, which is the record Treasury uses for maintaining its blacklist. Roman Storm, one of the co-founders of Tornado Cash, faces a criminal trial this July over his alleged role developing the smart contracts and protocols. Another developer was charged but has not yet been arrested. After the Fifth Circuit's November ruling, Storm's lawyers filed a motion requesting the court reconsider its earlier decision to deny the dismissal of charges against him. That motion was smacked down in February, with Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York (SDNY) arguing that, whether or not Tornado Cash itself was subject to sanctions "does not affect the sanctions Defendant allegedly conspired to violate (those on the Lazarus Group)." Storm's lawyer, Brian Klein of Waymaker LLP, told CoinDesk that he was "very pleased" to see the sanctions against Tornado Cash removed. "Now the SDNY prosecutors should similarly reconsider their unfortunate decision to charge our client, and dismiss their case against him," Klein added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. needs to "secure the digital asset industry from abuse by North Korea and other illicit actors." In a Monday court filing, referenced by the Treasury in Friday's statement, the Treasury Department suggested it might not go so far as to remove the sanctions entirely. "Vacating the designation of Tornado Cash in its entirety could have significantly 'disruptive consequences' for national security and law enforcement," the filing said. The TORN token jumped 40% in the minutes after Treasury's statement. Stephen Alpher and Cheyenne Ligon contributed reporting. UPDATE (March 21, 2025, 15:05 UTC): Adds additional detail. British counter-terrorism police are investigating possible sabotage following a huge blaze near Londons Heathrow Airport, according to multiple reports. The Thursday evening fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, near the airport west of the English capital, wiped out power at the busy travel hub and also knocked out its back-up energy system, causing travel chaos. Thousands of buildings nearby were also left without power, and 150 people had to be evacuated from surrounding homes. Flames also caught hold of a transformer containing over 6,600 gallons of cooling fluid. BREAKING: Heathrow Airport says it will be closed all day due to significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances pic.twitter.com/jeqEqb8BX6 Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) March 21, 2025 The fire is still burning and the airport, the fifth busiest in the world, is expected to be closed until at least midnight Friday. Firefighters said the cause of the blaze was not immediately known, but specialist cops in the U.K. are not ruling out bad actors, like Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times reported that counter-terrorism detectives from Londons Metropolitan Police were hastily deployed to probe whether sabotage might have played a part. The papers chief reporter, Fiona Hamilton, name-checked Russia in a message on X. Counter terrorism police put on Heathrow fire investigation to establish whether or not it is foul play, she wrote. Any major incident like this is immediately escalated, particularly given threat of sabotage by Russia. Sources say precautionary and CT police often deployed like this. The BBC reported that the Met Police said there was currently no indication of foul play but officers were keeping an open mind at this time. It is standard practice for several departments, including counter terrorism police, to investigate large scale incidents. Even still, British tabloids were more forthright in their finger pointing at the Kremlin. The Mail Online, the Daily Mails online offering, asked in their headline: Is Russia behind Heathrow Airport closure? Fire, which wiped out power and closed Heathrow Airport, rises at the North Hyde Electricity Substation in Hayes. / London Fire Brigade / via REUTERS The publication quoted security expert Will Geddes, director and founder of the International Corporate Protection Group, who said: The Russians are looking at everything. Theyre looking at our fibre optics under the sea, theyre looking at our nuclear power stations, we know hostile reconnaissance is going on right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So for this to be taken down so easily and cause such an impact, one has got to say if I was Russia, thats where I would focus my attentions as well. Bob Seely, a Russia expert and former Conservative politician in the U.K., said it was likely an accident, but added that Russia could not be ruled out. We should be building resilience into our critical national infrastructure, especially given the rise in Russian sabotage operations in Europe, he told the Mail. It comes after Richard Moore, head of Britains Secret Intelligence Service known as MI6, in November accused Russia of waging a staggeringly reckless campaign of sabotage in Europe. During a speech in Paris, Moore said Putin and his acolytes were attempting to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And indeed, the incident attack comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged ongoing support to Ukraine. Last week, he hosted an online meeting between Western leaders dubbed the coalition of the willing, those who are intent on seeing a Russia-Ukraine peace deal prevail. This preceded a meeting between European Union and U.K. delegates to discuss ways to dial up pressure on Russia. NOW - UK counter-terrorism police are involved in investigating the substation fire that forced Heathrow Airport to shut down.pic.twitter.com/QmTL9erkvM Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 21, 2025 At the beginning of March, British and Ukrainian officials also signed the U.K.-Ukraine Bilateral agreement, paving the way for an almost $3 billion loan to bolster Ukrainian defense capabilities. More recently, The Telegraph reported that the U.K. could send fighter jets to Ukraine to help protect its troops against ongoing aggression from Russia. The Prime Minister has already promised to put British troops on the ground if President Donald Trump is able to successfully negotiate a peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, meanwhile, said after an EU Summit on Friday that politicians on the continent have an obsession with militarizing Europe. Their eyes, at least in public, reveal a fixation on militarizing Europe regardless of the consequences, he said cryptically, according to TASS. The militarization of Europe is a very, very dangerous trend. It certainly does not bring us any closer to an easing of tensions or to the restoration of mutual trust; rather, it undermines security in Europe, Peskov added. The U.S. will limit Canadian access to the library on the border between Vermont and Quebe, where Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made a jibe about Canada becoming the 51st state. Almost two months after Noems comments at the Haskell Free Library & Opera House, which straddles the border of Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, the U.S. government has made the unilateral decision to stop allowing Canadians to enter the building from the U.S. side without going through customs, according to library and Stanstead officials, the Boston Globe reported. The president of the librarys board of trustees, Sylvie Boudreau, called the decision really sad when speaking to the Globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But were going to rise above all this, Boudreau, who lives in Canada, added. She told the paper that she was asked to attend a meeting on Tuesday outside the library by a U.S. Border Patrol official who told her that from Monday, only library members and staff would be allowed to enter the building directly from the Canadian side. The official told Boudreau that as of October 1, nobody would be allowed to pass without going through customs. From October, nobody will be allowed to enter the library from the Canadian side without first going through customs (AFP via Getty Images) I am disappointed by the change in U.S.-Canada relations, something that locals on both sides of the border have been used to, Stanstead Mayor Jody Stone told the Globe. This comes after Noem visited the library on January 30. The secretary stopped at the library after visiting Vermonts Northeast Kingdom following a deadly shooting of a Border Patrol agent in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two witnesses told the Globe that Noem stepped across a piece of electrical tape marking the border inside the building and made a comment about Canada becoming the 51st state, as often stated by President Donald Trump. Library Executive Director Deborah Bishop said, She stood on the American side and said, USA No. 1. Then she crossed the line and said, The 51st state. She did it at least three times and was very clear in saying, USA No. 1, and didnt even say Canada. Just, The 51st state, she added. Kristi Noem repeated Trumps 51st State jibe when visiting the library, and didnt even use the word Canada, according to a report. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) The incident enraged officials at the library, many of whom are Canadian. Boudreau told the paper that during Noems visit, U.S. border officials briefed the secretary on what the library president said was an exaggerated version of security problems connected to the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors have stated that in 2011, smugglers used the bathrooms in the building to get firearms from the U.S. to Canada. Some people prohibited from crossing the border have used the library to reconnect with family for short periods of time, however, that practice is now banned. The afternoon spent at the US/Canadian border reaffirmed President Trump and my commitment to secure ALL of our border, Noem wrote on social media following her visit. I was expecting this, Boudreau told the Globe Thursday. It was just a matter of time. Were going to try to open a door on the Canadian side, so people who are in Canada will be able to enter, said Boudreau, even as she noted that the plan may be difficult to enact. It has been discussed that the UK Royal Air Force fighters could provide air cover for a potential peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine. Source: meeting at the Permanent Joint Headquarters on Thursday 20 March, as reported by The Telegraph Details: The Telegraph reported that during a meeting at the Permanent Joint Headquarters on 20 March, key military planners discussed the possibility of sending British Typhoon fighter jets to Ukraine to provide air cover for troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source in the Royal Air Force told the outlet that UK air cover was discussed at the meeting because if the UK military entered Ukraine, "there will be a requirement for top cover". "We would never send British troops out on the ground without giving them air cover," he said. The Telegraph reported that the Royal Air Force could provide Typhoon or F-35 fighter jets, as both of these aircraft provide "excellent air-to-air policing". Details: The Eurofighter Typhoon is a fourth-generation twin-engine multi-role fighter. Later versions of this aircraft are referred to as the 4+ or 4++ generation. Eurofighter GmbH, a consortium of Alenia Aeronautica, EADS, and BAE Systems, developed and manufactured the Typhoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discussion comes as French President Emmanuel Macron is exploring alternatives to his plan with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deploy European troops to Ukraine to protect a future peace deal. Background: The French president is considering a UN-led mission and raised the issue at the European Council summit on 20 March. On the same day, Starmer stressed the need to guarantee any potential agreement to end the war in Ukraine, as Russia would otherwise violate it. Against this backdrop, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would not have a veto over the potential deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Emmanuel Macron said Vladimir Putin was not serious about peace after Russia carried out another round of devastating aerial attacks on Ukraine. Overnight, Moscow launched one of its heaviest strikes on the Black Sea port of Odesa, injuring three teenagers, damaging civilian infrastructure and sparking huge fires across the city. Once again last night, Russia showed that it sincerely does not want peace. Full support for the Ukrainian people, the French president wrote on X, alongside a picture of a building engulfed in flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up its own gas pipeline in order to pin the blame on Kyiv and undermine the US-proposed ceasefire on energy targets. Volodymyr Zelensky said the latest attacks showed the need for joint pressure from all of Ukraines allies on Moscow to stop such terror and Russias prolongation of the war. This is what will allow diplomacy to work, he added. Petr Pavel, the Czech president, who left Odesa 20 minutes before the attack, said the strikes on civilian infrastructure reflected how extremely difficult it would be to negotiate with Russia. So, russia hits Odesa's infrastructure & causes POWER outages. Ukraine returns the favour and hits the Sudzha gas pipeline hard. Immediately the russian MOD issues the following statement: "Ukraine has violated the ceasefire" FAFO. Fucking idiots! pic.twitter.com/noCNIhgYjc Rocke Fella - NAFO Raccoon (@NAFORaccoon) March 20, 2025 Despite Donald Trumps demands that both sides work towards a peace deal, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other several times of breaching a tentatively agreed truce on strikes on energy and civilian targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early on Friday morning, a major explosion rocked a gas pumping and measuring station in Russias western Kursk region, sparking a major fire. The Sudzha pipeline had been a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine. It was kept open during the war until Kyiv ended the agreement last January, effectively cutting decades of Moscows dominance over Europes energy markets. The pipeline was recaptured this week after Ukraine withdrew from the town, which it had seized during its August offensive into the Russian border region. Russias defence ministry early on Friday claimed Ukraines retreating forces deliberately attacked it in order to undermine Trumps peace initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraines general staff immediately denied the allegation, saying the pipeline had been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian presidents chief of staff, said the world would not easily be fooled by such fake accusations. Russian attempts to deceive everyone and pretend that they are adhering to the ceasefire will not work, as the fake (news) about the strikes on the gas station will not work, he said. Mr Zelensky admitted on Wednesday that a partial ceasefire with Russia would likely not come into effect until it was agreed upon in a document. Until then, he said, everything will fly with regards to missiles and drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as the Ukrainian leader said the United Nations could not be an alternative to the deployment of foreign troops or security guarantees to protect an eventual ceasefire. With all due respect, the UN will not protect us from the occupation or Putins desire to come back. We do not see the UN as an alternative to a contingent or security guarantees, he said at a press conference on Friday. Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian air strike hit civilian infrastructure in Ukraines Odesa region on Friday - Anadolu via Getty Images The Telegraph revealed on Thursday that Mr Macron, who alongside Keir Starmer is leading the push to form a coalition of the willing to protect Ukraine, was considering the possibility of a UN mission to guarantee a future peace deal. Meanwhile, Downing Street said on Friday that nothing is off the table over possible troop deployment for Kyiv, after the Prime Minister showed signs of shifting his focus away from boots on the ground towards British jets protecting Ukraines skies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Number 10 said thousands of personnel would be required to support any operation whether by sea, on land or in the air as allies prepare for all eventualities amid diplomatic efforts to end the war. Further rounds of peace negotiations, mediated by the US, will begin in Saudi Arabia on Monday, with the Russian and Ukrainian delegations set to sit in neighbouring rooms. 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. Ukraine on March 21 accused Russia of deliberately attacking the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast in an attempt to pin the blame on Kyiv. Russian media earlier claimed Ukrainian forces had struck the key gas transit facility, which plays a crucial role in Russian gas exports to Europe. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine allegedly planned to blow up the station, accusing Kyiv of orchestrating a "provocation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on Facebook, the General Staff said the accusations were "baseless," and part of a "discrediting campaign against Ukraine." "The mentioned station was repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves," it added. According to the Ukrainian military, Russia had previously struck the same station with guided aerial bombs, including an attack three days ago. The General Staff also claimed that Russian forces had used the main gas pipeline near the facility to conceal troop movements. "The Russians continue to produce numerous fakes and seek to mislead the international community. We ask you to trust only official sources, verify the information, and not succumb to manipulation," the statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month Ukraine released video of what it said were Russian sabotage and assault groups using a gas pipeline to gain a foothold on the outskirts of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast. 0:00 / 1 The latest incident comes as Ukraine confirmed its retreat from the town of Sudzha following a rapid Russian advance. Kyiv initially launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024 but has reportedly lost much of the territory in recent weeks. The development followed a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 19, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had also agreed to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in a phone call with Trump. Read also: UK discussing deploying fighter jets to Ukraine under potential peace deal, Telegraph reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine has returned 4,306 prisoners of war (POWs) from Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on March 21. The Ukrainian government has been engaging with foreign partners and international organizations to return Ukrainian citizens home. In 2024, Ukraine managed to return 1,358 people from Russian captivity. "Now, when we talk to the American side and our other partners about how to end the war, we talk about the release of prisoners as one of the first steps," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president emphasized that all the necessary services are working to bring Ukrainians back from Russian captivity. Zelensky's statement came shortly after Ukraine brought home 197 Ukrainian soldiers. One hundred seventy-five of them were returned as part of the one-for-one exchange with Russia, and another 22 Ukrainian service members were returned through negotiations outside of the swap. The swap was negotiated by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18. Following a call with Trump, the Kremlin announced that it would conduct a one-for-one prisoner exchange with Ukraine. Moscow also claimed that it would release 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers, but only transferred 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. MAYNARDVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Knoxville Utilities Board is now offering high-speed fiber internet to customers in Union County. For some rural customers, KUB Fiber is the first internet provider to offer high-speed fiber internet. KUB Fiber will also offer free public Wi-Fi access in Wilson Park, just east of Union County High School, and the Farmers Market, just west of the school. Dolly Parton debuts symphonic concert in Nashville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials including Union County Mayor Jason Bailey, State Sen. Jessie Seal, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty and U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett celebrated the expansion on Friday at Union County High School. For years, I heard from residents that the lack of internet access was increasingly difficult, said Bailey. I was an advocate for KUB Fiber from the beginning, and its so exciting that now, all Union County residents served by KUB have access to high-speed internet. I really cannot overstate the impact this will have on our county. KUB recently celebrated reaching the halfway point of the ongoing fiber internet buildout effort that first began in late 2021. Nearly 84,000 customers across the KUB service area now have access with more construction planned in Sevier and Jefferson counties. Fiber internet available to over 80,000 KUB customers as network buildout reaches halfway point Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work on the third and final phase of the fiber network construction will begin in 2026, giving all KUB electric customers access to high-speed internet while improving electric reliability. Visit kub.org/fiber for more information and to check if KUB fiber is available in your area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved the expansion of a program that allows the U of I Springfield to offer in-state tuition to residents of nearby states. The pilot program is offering these tuition rates to six additional counties in Indiana, Iowa and Missouri, including 104 additional high schools. By authorizing UIS to market in-state tuition to these counties adjacent to Illinois, the board is ensuring the university can remain competitive in a market where other regional colleges are expanding their footprint and offering such rates to nonresident students. UIS faculty, admin reach tentative agreement; temporarily avert strike Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of Illinois Springfield has an outstanding reputation among its peers, named the top public regional university in Illinois for the past six years by U.S. News & World Report, system President Tim Killeen said. Expanding access to shoulder counties is one strategy that will allow us to offer both an excellent education and more affordable tuition to potential UIS students from geographically proximate regions. Currently, nine out of the 12 regional public universities in Illinois offer resident tuition rates to adjacent states. In 2023, the U of I System initiated a three-year program to offer UIS resident-tuition rates to students in St. Charles and St. Louis counties in Missouri, including a good portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area; and Scott County in Iowa, which includes the Davenport area. This expansion approved on Thursday adds Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties in Indiana; Clinton and Muscatine counties in Iowa; and Macon County in Missouri. The addition of 104 high schools brings the total number in the pilot program to 255. This pilot program is only available to students attending the University of Illinois Springfield, not at the other two U of I System universities in Champaign-Urbana and Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. ORLANDO, Fla. The University of South Florida faces a federal investigation over a scholarship available only to Black and Hispanic graduate students a probe targeting a 40-year-old program that has been touted as a success by the state. The scholarship is offered by eight other Florida universities, and it is not clear why the U.S. Department of Education took issue only with USF. Other universities with the scholarship program include the University of Central Florida, Florida State University and the University of Florida. In its letter to USF, first reported by the Tampa Bay Times, the federal agency said on March 13 that its Office of Civil Rights received a complaint that the Tampa university discriminates against students based on race by its promotion and involvement with the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency did not respond to an emailed request for comment. The probe comes after the education department sent a February memo to all universities and schools receiving federal funds telling them they must cease using race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in their admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, sanctions, discipline, and beyond. Then, on March 14, the U.S. Department of Education announced that 45 universities and colleges were under investigation for working with The PhD Project, an organization that seeks to increase diversity in the business world by helping historically underrepresented students get doctoral degrees and then jobs teaching. It also said five universities, including USF, faced scrutiny for their involvement with impermissible race-based scholarships the first public notice of the McKnight Fellowship probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement about the two investigations. We will not yield on this commitment. The McKnight Fellowship, founded in 1984 and funded in part through the state legislature, has helped more than 1,600 Black and Hispanic students earn PhDs, according to a budget document from the Florida Department of Education. The fellowships goal is to address the under-representation of African American and Hispanic faculty at colleges and universities in Florida by increasing the pool of candidates qualified with Ph.D. degrees to teach at the college and university levels, a program flyer says. Students awarded the fellowship receive up to $5,000 each semester for five academic years, plus an annual stipend of $13,000, the flyer says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, the State Board of Education adopted its annual budget request to be submitted to the Florida Legislature. For the upcoming 2025-26 school year, it asked for $3.5 million for the McKnight Fellowship the same amount received the last several years and the request noted the program has increased the number of PhD graduates and has a high retention rate. The fellowship is run by the Florida Education Fund, which lawmakers created to manage the scholarship money. USF did not respond to a request for comment. But in a statement to WUSF on Tuesday, spokesperson Ryan Hughes said that the university was reviewing the letter from the federal agency and will fully cooperate with the review, and continue to work with the state and federal governments to comply with all guidance, policies and laws. Hughes said the McKnight Fellowship was a longstanding program that is offered at numerous colleges and universities in Florida and is permitted under state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UCF has not received a letter from the education department about the scholarship, spokesperson Courtney Gilmartin said. Earlier this week, the university website included information about the McKnight Fellowship but by Wednesday clicking on that section led to an error message. FSU also has not received a letter about the scholarship, said Amy Farnum-Patronis, a university spokesperson, in an email. UF did not respond to a request for comment. Both FSU and UF still had information on the McKnight Fellowship available on their websites this week, with FSU highlighting students whod successfully completed their PhDs with help from the scholarship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One biomedical sciences PhD candidate wrote that the McKnight scholarship helped her research more efficient cancer therapies. The McKnight Doctoral Fellowship is giving me the platform to make a difference by allowing me to further my education and giving me the resources to do so, she wrote. Florida Atlantic University, another school that participates in the scholarship, also said it has not received a letter from the federal department. Lisa Metcalf, an FAU spokeswoman, said the McKnight scholarship is listed on the university website for information purposes for graduate students, but it is not run through the university, nor advertised or supported in any formal way. The February memo the federal agency sent to schools and universities challenging race-based efforts prompted several federal lawsuits, including one from the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Education Association that argue the education departments stance violates due process and the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USF is also was one of 60 universities that received a letter from the federal education department saying it faces an investigation over claims of anti-Semitic harassment related to protests against Israels military action in Gaza after the October 2023 Hamas attack. President Donald Trump issued an executive order Thursday largely shuttering the U.S. Department of Education, but the administration said functions of the Office of Civil Rights, which initiated both USF investigations, will continue. Other Florida universities that participate in the McKnight Fellowship include Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida International University and University of Miami. --------- Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel contributed to this story. ---------- Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that an upcoming meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia aims to "determine the parameters of the proposals for various ceasefire regimes currently under discussion". Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing Heorhii Tykhyi, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, as reported by European Pravda Details: Tykhyi explained that Ukraine treats the talks to be held in Saudi Arabia as bilateral Ukrainian-American negotiations and considers them "as a technical round, not a political one". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The discussions will focus on the details and implementation of decisions made at the political level That is, professionals from the Ukrainian and American sides should meet to clarify all the details and how everything should look. We need to understand how it will work, who will oversee it, how it will be monitored," he said. Tykhyi indicated that Kyiv is unaware of how the Americans and Russians will communicate in Saudi Arabia. "It's their choice. But we're preparing for the talks in Saudi Arabia as a bilateral Ukrainian-American event," he added. The spokesperson clarified that Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will not attend the meeting, as it is not being held at a "political level" and will include a "military component". Background: Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, previously stated that during the talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and Russian representatives could be placed in separate rooms, with the US delegation shuttling between them. The White House earlier announced that a new round of talks on a peaceful settlement in Ukraine would take place in Saudi Arabia on 23 March. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The rise of artificial intelligence in all things military ranging from intelligence gathering and command and control to autonomous air combat maneuvering and advanced loitering munitions has yielded a problem for the United States: While it is crucial to stay ahead of China in technological advancement and the fielding of improved weapons systems, it also is crucial to create a doctrine of AI counter measures, or AICM, to blunt AI systems out of Beijing. Such a doctrine should take shape along four approaches: Polluting large language models for negative effects; using Conways Law for guidance to exploitable flaws; exploiting bias of adversary leadership to degrade AI systems; and using RF Weapons to cascade AI supporting computer hardware. These systems might seem on their face to be insurmountable. Well, maybe not. As Mark Twain said, History doesnt repeat itself, but it does rhyme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus, perhaps a look into the past will help envision the future. Polluting large language models to create negative effects Generative AI can be expressed as the extraction of statistical patterns from an extremely large data set. It is important to understand that a large language model, or LLM, developed from such a data set using Transformer technology allows a user to access it via a prompt a natural language text that describes the function which the AI must perform. The end result is a generative pre-trained, or GPT, large language model. Thus, there are at least two approaches to degrade such an AI system: Pollute data or attack Prompt Engineering a term of art within the AI community describing the process of structuring instructions that can be understood by the generative AI system. A programming error, as noted below, will cause the AI LLM system, in another AI term of art, to Hallucinate. A historical analogy from World War II validates the crucial importance of countermeasures when an enemy has unilateral access to information about the battlespace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The development of RADAR Radio Azimuth Detecting And Ranging was, in itself, a method of extracting patterns from an extremely large database. In the vastness of the sky, an echo from a radio pulse gave an accurate range and bearing of unseen aircraft. To defeat it, as described by R.V. Jones in Most Secret War, it was necessary to put information into the German radar system, thus causing gross ambiguity. Jones turned to a physicist at the Technical Research Establishment, Joan Curran, who developed the optimum size and shape of aluminum foil strips called Window by the Brits and Chaff by the Americans used to create thousands of reflections which overloaded and blinded German radars. In much the same way, the U.S. military and intelligence communities can create ambiguities and obscurations within generative AI systems, especially when trying to deny access to information about weapons and tactics. This can be done by assigning names to said weapons and tactics, designed to be both ambiguous and non sequitur. For example, such naturally occurring search ambiguities include the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search for Flying Prostitute reveals data about the B-26 Marauder medium bomber of World War II. Gilda and Atoll retrieves a photo of the Mark III nuclear bomb that was dropped on Bikini Atoll in 1946, upon which was pasted a photo of Rita Hayworth. Tonopah and Goatsucker retrieves the F-117 stealth fighter. Since a contemporary computer search is easily fooled, it would be possible to grossly skew results of an LLM function by deliberately using nomenclature which occurs in very large iterations and is extremely ambiguous. Perhaps the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter could, in such an attempt, be renamed something like Stormy Daniels. One can imagine the consternation Chinese officers and NCOs would experience when their young soldiers expend valuable time meticulously examining images that have no relation to the desired search. Concept art from Boeing shows one concept for the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance fighter. (Boeing) Even Air Gapped systems like those being used by U.S. intelligence agencies can be affected when systems update information from online sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such an effort must actively and continuously pollute data sets, much like chaff confusing a RADAR system, by generating content that would populate the model and force the adversary to consume it. A more sophisticated approach would use key words like eBay or Amazon as a predicate, and then common words like Tire or Bicycle or Shoe. Contracting with a commercial media agency to promote the items across traditional and social media would tend to clog a Large Language Model. Using Conways Law for guidance to exploitable flaws Melvin Conway is an American computer scientist, who, in the 1960s, conceived the eponymous rule stating: Organizations which design systems are constrained to produce designs which are copies of the communication structures of these organizations. In response, de Caros Corollary states: The more dogmatic the design team, the greater the opportunity to sabotage the whole design. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider Google Gemini. The February 2024 launch of Googles would-be answer to ChatGPT was an unmitigated disaster that dumped Googles share price and left the company a laughingstock. As the Gemini launch went forward, its image generator Hallucinated and created images of Black Nazi soldiers and female Asian Popes. In retrospect, the event was the most egregious example of what happens when Conways Law collides with organizational dogma. Historically ignorant programmers myopically led their company into a debacle. But, for those interested in confounding Chinas AI systems, the Gemini disaster is an epiphany! If the programmers at the Googleplex campus in Mountain View, California, can screw up so immensely, what kind of swirling vortex of programming snafu is being created by the indoctrinated young members of the Peoples Liberation Army who work on AI? (Photo Illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) A solution to beating Chinas AI systems may be an epistemologist who specializes in the cultural communication of the PLA. By using de Caros Corollary, such an expert could lead a team of computer scientists to replicate the Chinese communication norms and find the weaknesses in their system leaving it open to spoofing or outright collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also should be noted that when a technology creates an existential threat, the individual developers of that technology become strategic targets. For example, in 1943, Operation Hydra utilized the entirety of the RAF British Bomber Command of 596 bombers, with the stated mission of killing German rocket scientists at Peenemunde. The RAF had marginal success and was followed by three U.S. 8th Air Force raids in July and August of 1944. In 1944, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) dispatched multi-lingual agent and polymath Mo Berg to assassinate German scientist Werner Heisenberg, if Heisenberg seemed to be on the right path to build an atomic bomb. Berg decided, correctly, that the German was off track, and letting him live would keep the Nazis from any success. It is also no secret that five Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated allegedly by the Israelis in the last decade. Advances in AI that could become existential threats may be dealt with in similar fashion. Exploiting bias of adversary leadership to degrade AI systems Often, entities funding research and development skew results because of bias. For example, aforementioned German scientist Werner Heisenberg was limited in the paths he might follow toward a Nazi A-Bomb because of Hitlers perverse hatred of Jewish Physics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This attitude was aided and abetted by two prominent and antisemitic German scientists, Phillip Lenard and Johannes Stark, both Nobel Prize winners who reinforced the myth of Aryan Science. The end result effectively prevented a successful German nuclear program. Again, there is epiphany here: Bias from the top affects outcomes. As Xi Jinping continues his move toward authoritarian rule under himself, he brings his biases with him. This eventually will affect, or infect, Chinese military power. In 2023, Xi detailed the need for China to meet world class military standards by 2027, the 100th anniversary of the Peoples Liberation Army. Xi also spoke of informatization (read AI) to accelerate building a strong system of strong strategic forces, raise the presence of combat forces in new domains and of new qualities and promote combat oriented military training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems that Xis need for speed, especially in informatization, might be the bias that indicates a weakness that can be exploited. Using gyrotrons to cascade chips in computers supporting AI Artificial Intelligence is dependent on extremely fast computer chips whose capacities are approaching their physical limits. They are more vulnerable to lack of cooling and electromagnetic pulse. In the case of large, Cloud-based data centers, cooling is an absolute necessity. Water cooling is the most economical and therefore the most prevalent; but pumps, backup pumps and inlet valves usually are not hardened, and thus are extremely vulnerable. No pumps, no water. No water, no cooling. No cooling, no Cloud. The same for primary and secondary electrical power. No power, no Cloud. No generators, no Cloud. No fuel, no Cloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Autonomous airborne drones or ground mobile vehicles are moving targets small and hard to hit. However, their chips are vulnerable to electromagnetic pulse. We now know that a lightning bolt with gigawatts of power isnt the only way to knock out an AI robot. High-Power Microwave Systems such as Epirus, Leonidas and Thor can burn out AI systems at a range of about three miles. An interesting technology not yet fielded is the gyrotron. It is a Cold War era Soviet-developed, high-power microwave source, halfway between a klystron and a free electron laser. It creates a cyclotron resonance in a strong magnetic field that can produce a customized energy bolt with a specific pulse width and amplitude. Theoretically, it could reach out and disable a specific chip, at greater ranges than a You fly em, We fry em high power microwave weapon now in early test stage. Obviously, without functioning chips, AI doesnt work. The headlong Chinese AI development initiative could provide the PLA with an extraordinary military advantage in terms of the speed and sophistication of a future attack upon the homeland of the United States. Thus, the need to develop AI counter measures now is paramount. In World War I, the great Italian progenitor of airpower, General Giulio Douhet, very wisely stated, Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur. In terms of the threat posed by Artificial Intelligence as it applies to warfare, Douhets words could not be truer today. Chuck de Caro was an IW researcher for the late Andrew W. Marshall, director OSD/Net Assessment; de Caro is the progenitor of the worlds first virtual military organization, the 1st Joint SOFTWAR Unit (Virtual). U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan walks through a crowd of demonstrators to the Alaska House chamber to give his annual address to the Legislature on March 20, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) Several dozen demonstrators arrived early to the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday ahead of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivans annual address to the Legislature, to express concerns and display protest signs for the senator as he walked into the House chamber. People held signs written on the permitted size paper of 11 by 17 inches, some reading You work for us not Trump!, Treat Canada like our friend, not our enemy! and No Kings! Demonstrators hold signs for U.S. Sen Dan Sullivan on Mar 20, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) I came today to ensure that Sen. Sullivan understood that not everyone is approving of some of the actions thats been taken during this administration, the Trump administration, said Deborah Craig, an Alaska resident of 42 years. In particular she said shes concerned with the actions of DOGE, or the Department of Efficiency, violating the Constitution and due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the actions that are being taken seem so helter-skelter. They seem unorganized. They dont seem to be targeting areas of inefficiency, Craig said. Theyre just targeting entire organizations or agencies, which doesnt make any sense. I think we can all agree that there are inefficiencies in government and that there are ways to broach those kinds of issues. The programs that are being affected primarily are those that impact women, children, people with disabilities and veterans who have served our country, and it seems like thats an inappropriate way to change some of the parameters of these agencies, she said. Juneau resident Robert Marshall said he showed up to express his concern for Ukraine, to voice my hope that we will not give up on Ukraine and our European allies, who are trying to prevent the takeover of a sovereign democracy. Marshall held a sign reading, Support Ukraine and our EU allies, not Putins war goals. He said he wants to see Sullivan, who has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, speak out against President Donald Trumps relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has been very quiet, Marshall said. We should make it clear that were not going to stand by and let Ukraine fall to a dictator. Or our enemies who are in it for their resources, and stuff, the spoils of war. We shouldnt be in it for the spoils of war either. We should be in it for democracy, and should stand up for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The packed hallway of demonstrators fell quiet as Sullivan was announced by Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens. He walked past them, glancing at signs on either side, and directly into the House chamber without stopping. As the speech to the Legislature got underway, the crowd dispersed. As they departed, Pat Race and Marian Call shared that they attended the demonstration at the invitation of a friend for her birthday. Theres a lot of big, disturbing changes happening on the national level, and Ive had a long running disappointment with Sen. Sullivan, so I felt like it was important to come here and to voice that discontent, said Race, a Juneau artist and business owner. He also pointed to Sullivans history of prosecuting charges related to sexual assault, while voting to confirm nominees, like Pete Hegseth, who have faced allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actually, Im very surprised, I think hes taken a bad heel turn. When he was attorney general for the state of Alaska, and in his first year as a senator, he pursued Bill Allen over his sexual assault charges, Race said, referring to an oil executive at the center of a 2007 state corruption scandal. He was the choose respect guy, and now it seems like hes enabling a lot of people that perpetuate violence against women. Demonstrators line the hallway headed into the House chamber on March 20, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) Race said the federal cuts will also hurt Alaska communities and industries like the staff cuts at the Mendenhall Glacier. Its tied to tourism, its tied to business. Its tied to all kinds of things that are important to this community. And without any rhyme or reason, all that staff was eliminated. I think theres maybe one employee left out there, he said. And so theyre not making good decisions, and Congress is not holding them accountable. And so Dan Sullivan is not doing his job, and hes enabling a lot of bad behavior. Marian Call held a sign reading No Kings! Fight the executive takeover. Its really telling that here we are, on the eve of our countrys 250th anniversary, that we are dealing with really the most unprecedented executive overreach weve ever seen, she said. And Congress is not putting up a fight. To me, its not a problem when one branch of government tries to go too far. Its a problem when the other two stand down and let them, and this is clearly an executive who does not feel beholden to the judiciary, who does not feel beholden to Congress. Call said she wants Sullivan and others to stand up to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel its a patriotic and very American sentiment to remember that we do not have a king. We have never wanted a king, and anyone behaving like a king is not welcome here, she said. Call said shes also concerned about the dismantling of the Department of Education, after Trump signed an executive order to begin the process on Thursday, and cuts to federal student aid, student opportunities, and oversight for discriminatory practices. You must equally support all students, and that is what the Department of Education is for. So this concerns me greatly, she said. Call and others at the demonstration criticized Sen. Sullivan for not hosting public town halls to hear constituents concerns. He is having expensive fundraiser dinners, which cost $100 a plate to attend. That is out of my price range, she said. It clarifies to me that he does not want to hear from people who do not have that kind of money to lay down, and to me thats antidemocratic. An empty chair town hall was held in Fairbanks on Monday for Sullivan, where about 225 people attended to voice their concerns. A similar event was held at the Loussac Library in Anchorage on Thursday for Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska. Another event is planned for Thursday, at the Mendenhall Public Library in Juneau, as Sullivan declined to meet with constituents during his time in the city, according to a flyer for the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his annual address to the Legislature, Sullivan praised Trump and his new administration, and downplayed concerns around federal budget cuts and mass firings. Following the address, Sullivan took questions from reporters at a news conference and dismissed the criticisms of not hosting public town halls and listening to constituents concerns as completely inaccurate. My No. 1 priority has always been constructive and meaningful engagement with my constituents, he said, repeating that he meets with constituents in Washington, D.C., and in Alaska in urban and rural communities. So theres a little bit of arrogance saying if youre not doing a town hall in Anchorage, its not a town hall for Alaska. Thats not true. And by the way, you want to talk about a town hall? he added, before referring to the address. That was the ultimate town hall. There were 60 elected officials who could ask me any question they wanted, on any topic they wanted, and they represent the people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan said he cant attend events with short notice. An invite to a town hall with 96-hour notice its just not realistic, he said. And if theres constructive engagement, Im all for it. If its all about screaming and yelling and viral moments that they want to send out to their colleagues? You know, its not necessarily the most constructive way to do what I just did in there: an hour and a half with Alaska elected officials. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The new Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Doug Burgum, released a directive that gave federal land leases back to huge dirty fuel companies, undoing previous governmental work toward conservation and clean energy. What's happening? According to Inside Climate News, Burgum issued a seven-page directive in February that handed energy leases back to oil and gas drilling companies. These leases had been canceled under the previous administration of former President Joe Biden. Some of the lands in question are sites of national monuments. This includes Utah's Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which are unique natural rock formations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alan Zibel, the research director at the nonprofit Public Citizen consumer advocacy program, said the Interior Department "appears inclined to shrink or sell off public lands to fossil fuel interests and mining companies while making expansion of renewable energy more difficult." He explained, "This isn't technology-neutral 'energy abundance,' it's a blatant giveaway to the fossil fuel interests who were generous benefactors to Trump's campaign." Before Burgum's directive, President Donald Trump paved the way for the changes by revoking many of former President Biden's executive orders in summary, Trump's actions prioritized burning dirty fuels over utilizing solar and wind for energy needs. Many of these orders worked to advance clean energy, mitigate the rate of increasing temperatures, and protect natural resources. Why are these protected lands important? Losing these federal lands to Big Oil would trade historic and protected wildlife areas for access to dirty energy sources. This puts countless species, such as migratory birds and other endangered and threatened creatures, at risk, along with the famous lands and sights the public has been able to enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside Climate News observed that Burgum has weakened protections for migratory birds. As a result, big businesses can operate on these lands with little regard for these animals. During his first administration, Trump shrank notable national monument regions, such as Bears Ears and Escalante. However, protections for these regions were restored under Biden. Now, Trump seems to be planning to reduce them again. This would allow entry to oil mining companies, which Trump says is necessary for furthering energy independence even if it harms these lands and biodiversity. These pursuits also hurt the progress toward clean energy advancements while worsening pollution. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done to protect these lands? Tom Delehanty, senior attorney with Earthjustice, told Inside Climate News the organization would renew lawsuits against the Trump administration if more national monuments shrink or are eliminated. He said, "We will keep fighting to defend these beautiful places." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of political affiliation, supporting organizations like Earthjustice can help slow or halt the conversion of protected wildlife areas into drilling sites. 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 United States could manage the operation of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant "with very little problem" if a political decision is made. Source: Bloomberg, citing US Energy Secretary Chris Wright Quote from Wright: "Wed bring high-end nuclear experts from the United States, and together wise decisions would be made." Details: He noted that the US has considerable experience in this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wright also noted that there is no ongoing dialogue regarding the potential acquisition of facilities such as the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) the largest in Europe by American companies. The plant has been under Russian occupation since the beginning of the war. US President Donald Trump proposed the idea of assisting in the management of Ukraine's energy infrastructure during a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. "He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its US electricity and utility expertise," said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. "American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure," she indicated. Background: The Trump administration is pushing for new conditions for US access to critical minerals and energy assets in Ukraine, expanding its economic demands on Kyiv as it promotes a peace deal with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the ownership of the Zaporizhzhia NPP has not been discussed with the US, stressing that it will not operate without Ukrainian oversight. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Flash The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday condemned the Freedom Shield military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea as "a rehearsal of war," warning that the DPRK may consider using "the most destructive and deadly military means" against them, reported the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday. A DPRK Defense Ministry spokesperson lashed out at a special warfare drill aimed at "destroying the secret underground tunnel network" and "removing nuclear weapons" during the large-scale military exercises, calling the move proof that the exercises were "a rehearsal of war of aggression aimed at invading and occupying" the DPRK, according to the KCNA. The spokesperson stressed that "as the military provocations of the hostile countries are committed at the grave level that can never be overlooked and tolerated," all options for "containing the United States and South Korea and for eliminating the source of provocation, if necessary, including the use of the most destructive and deadly military means," would be under the consideration of the DPRK's armed forces, said the KCNA. South Korea and the United States concluded their 11-day Freedom Shield military exercises on Thursday, during which 51 joint outdoor maneuver exercises were conducted, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, in a rare interview, denounced the idea of impeaching judges when political leaders disagree with their ruling. President Trump and other MAGA leaders have proposed impeaching judges who disagree with the executive branch decisions. We all learned in middle school about the three branches of government. Nowadays, it seems the executive and legislative branch are almost Siamese twins. The judicial branch, meaning the U.S. Supreme Court and federal court systems, have always been an independent branch as they should be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Founding fathers created our government so they would be equal branches of government. If we went to the food court of the mall and asked 100 people to name three of the nine Supreme Court justices, we doubt many people could. Thats OK. The Supreme Court has always acted in the background, not seeking publicity. A federal judge is a lifetime appointment. Many Supreme Court justices stay until their late 80s. Should there be an age limit on a justice? We dont think so. We are well aware of lawyers who function quite well at an elderly age. In Ohio, state and local judges cannot serve past the age of 70. This is a bad law, likely created in retaliation for one or two judges who made rulings legislators disagree with. During President Trumps first term, he had the opportunity to appoint three justices to the Supreme Court. Many presidents have served two terms and been fortunate to only appoint one or two justices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Justice Roberts is likely putting the word out if he wants the judicial branch to be separate. We agree with him. In recent years, judges have been threatened because of their rulings. This must stop. All of us can do minimal research and find a court ruling we disagree with. The answer lies within the legislative branch to pass laws that are constitutional and are enforceable. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has expressed readiness to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping mission once a ceasefire is in place. Source: Nauseda in an interview with Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda Details: Nauseda stated that his country is "ready to provide the necessary support". "We are talking about very concrete numbers of our military troops, but there should be commitment from all countries in this coalition to provide this support," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lithuanian leader credited US President Donald Trump for his "frank intentions" to end Russia's war in Ukraine. "So far Russia is imitating the negotiations, talking about a possible peace and possible ceasefire, but they are not even ready to keep the ceasefire as promised not to attack, not to strike critical infrastructure," Nauseda added. Background: On 20 March, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed the need to guarantee any potential agreement to end the war in Ukraine, as Russia would otherwise violate it. In this context, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would not have a veto over the potential deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine. The Telegraph wrote that French President Emmanuel Macron is considering alternatives to his plan for a peacekeeping mission for Ukraine, which he had jointly developed with Starmer. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A Turkish court on Sunday jailed the mayor of Istanbul on corruption charges, escalating the crackdown against opposition to the countrys strongman leader President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogans most serious political rival, was arrested at his home on Wednesday just days before he was to be registered as a candidate in the 2028 presidential election. He was formally charged Sunday and detained pending trial. Imamoglu has denied the charges against him and critics say the arrest represents a dangerous turning point for Turkey which, after years of slow-burn authoritarianism, risks becoming a full-blown autocracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will, hand in hand, uproot this blow, this black stain on our democracy I am standing tall, I will not bow down, Imamoglu said on X. Turkish police arrested more than 300 people overnight into Saturday, after tens of thousands took to the streets last week in more than a dozen cities to protest Imamoglus arrest. Protesters in the capital Ankara were met with police water cannons on Sunday. In Istanbul, police sprayed protesters with pepper spray, and some officers kicked and hit demonstrators after several fireworks and other objects were thrown at riot police near the citys municipality building, according to Reuters. Many thousands of people are taking to the streets and saying enough is enough, we are tired of his (Erdogans) brutal regime, and we need a change immediately, Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom told CNN Sunday. Freedom has been an outspoken critic of Erdogan and on human rights issues in his native Turkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to take strong actions otherwise Erdogan is definitely going to destroy a NATO ally, he added. Speaking outside the Istanbul courtroom on Sunday, Dilek Imamoglu, the mayors wife, said the decision to jail him was politically motivated. Our conscience is clear, our head is held high. The decision that was taken unjustly, illegally, has no aspect of justice. All the decisions taken are political, she said. Immamoglu was one of 45 people detained as part of the corruption investigation, CNN Turk reported Sunday, including the mayor of Beylikduzu, Mehmet Murat Calik. Later, the Interior Ministry removed Imamoglu and Calik from their mayoral duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first move against Imamoglu, the highly popular mayor of Istanbul for the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), centered on whether his university degree is valid. Istanbul University said Tuesday it had annulled his degree over irregularities, effectively barring him from running for president. But the charges against Imamoglu have since swelled into something far greater. Imamoglu and some 100 others associated with him have now been accused of belonging to a criminal group, extortion, bribery and aggravated fraud, according to the Istanbul prosecutors office, state media Anadolu reported. Sundays order does not relate to a separate investigation over allegedly aiding the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist organization. The CHP has described the charges as a coup attempt. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told reporters outside an Istanbul courthouse Sunday that the party will appeal the ruling against Imamoglu and that the Istanbul council will elect an acting mayor to stand in for Imamoglu while they await a ruling, Reuters reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mansur Yavas, the mayor of Ankara, said he had come to the courthouse without sleeping and that he was ashamed of Turkeys justice system. Imamoglus supporters have decried his detention as politically motivated and an attempt by Erdogan to take revenge for the punishing defeat of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in local and mayoral elections last year. Demonstrators attend a protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday. - Murad Sezer/Reuters Riot police officers use pepper spray to disperse demonstrators during a protest on Saturday. - Murad Sezer/Reuters Some see a personal element to Erdogans grudge. Once mayor of Istanbul himself, the CHP has now won three consecutive mayoral elections against Erdogans party in Turkeys biggest city, each by a greater margin than the last. We are up against huge bullying, Imamoglu said after his initial arrest earlier this week. But I will not back down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erdogan extended his rule into a third decade after winning 2023s knife-edge presidential election. The next vote is not for three years, but some analysts say Erdogan could call for early elections that would allow him to bypass term limits. Murat Somer, politics professor at Ozyegin University in Istanbul, said Imamoglus detention showed Turkey was undergoing a political transformation from an open autocratic regime to a Russian- or Belarussian-style, fully authoritarian, autocratic regime. Erdogan has dismissed opposition anger as theatrics and slogans for which Turkey has no time. The president warned late Saturday that no one in Turkey is outside the scope of the law, and said his government now facing mass protests will not allow CHP and its supporters to disrupt public order with provocations and disturb the peace of our nation. Members of the CHP voted Sunday in the partys primary election to determine its presidential candidate for 2028. Imamoglu is the sole candidate in the primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to garner support for the jailed political leader, the CHP leader Ozgur Ozel also called on non-party members to vote through a solidarity ballot box and called on supporters to continue protesting Imamoglus arrest. Though Ekrem Imamoglu is currently on the road to prison, in another sense he is also on the road to presidency, Ozel said Sunday night while at Istanbul City Hall in Sarachane. The nation is repelling a coup through solidarity ballot boxes. CNNs Gul Tuysuz and Jared Formanek contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Residents of a West Hollywood apartment building are living in fear of a man they call their neighbor from hell. The neighbor in question has lived quietly at the building located in the 1200 block of North Fairfax Avenue for several years, but residents, all of whom did not want to show their faces for fear of retribution, say a few months ago something changed. It was like a light switch, one resident told KTLAs John Fenoglio. He went from being okay, albeit not a great neighbor, but not like this, not destroying the apartment, attacking people, attacking our door out front with a bar. Were just having to live with it for the last three months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A home security camera captured the man violently banging on a residents door with what appeared to be a crowbar. In yet another video, the same man, shirtless this time, bangs on another residents door at night. A tenant in a West Hollywood apartment complex has reportedly been terrorizing neighbors with violent behavior. (Viewer image) A tenant in a West Hollywood apartment complex has reportedly been terrorizing neighbors with violent behavior. (Viewer image) A tenant in a West Hollywood apartment complex has reportedly been terrorizing neighbors with violent behavior. (Viewer image) A tenant in a West Hollywood apartment complex has reportedly been terrorizing neighbors with violent behavior. (Viewer image) A tenant in a West Hollywood apartment complex has reportedly been terrorizing neighbors with violent behavior. (Viewer image) Many of the residents told KTLA that they are scared for their safety and have repeatedly called the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, reporting that the man has threatened to kill people. Woman killed during conjugal visit with infamous California murderer, officials say The police keep telling us theres literally nothing they can do, another resident said. They leave every time without taking action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors told KTLA that the man is supposed to be out of the building in the next several days, as there is an eviction notice pending. They worry, however, that he wont leave when the time comes. This cannot be okay, a resident said. Were living in fear and terror for three months now. Its just unfortunate. I hope we can change some laws in the city because this is silly. This is crazy. KTLA reached out to the sheriffs departments West Hollywood Station who confirmed they are very familiar with the building and of the mans pending eviction notice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WATCH: Drones, multi-agency response help arrest suspect who fled on foot after pursuit through Wisconsin farm field PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. (WFRV) With the help of drones and a multi-agency response, officers were able to find and arrest a convicted felon who fled on foot after a pursuit that went through a Wisconsin farm field. The Pleasant Prairie Police Department (PPPD) posted a video of the pursuit and arrest on its Facebook, saying that on February 28 officers were notified of a vehicle that had previously fled from both the Kenosha Police Department and PPPD. The video shows the suspect vehicle cutting through a farm field during the pursuit. An officer can then be seen approaching the stopped vehicle, finding out it had been abandoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four drivers arrested for OWI in one Wisconsin city over St. Patricks Day weekend Drones were then used to find the suspect in a nearby wooded area. Authorities and a K9 then tracked the suspect through the woods. The video appears to show the suspect giving themselves up as law enforcement approached, leading to an arrest. Afterward, authorities searched the vehicle and found a firearm. Pleasant Prairie Police Department Pleasant Prairie Police Department Pleasant Prairie Police Department Pleasant Prairie Police Department Pleasant Prairie Police Department The suspect was charged with: Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm Obstructing an Officer Vehicle Operator Fleeing and Eluding an Officer Felony Bail Jumping High Schooler in Wisconsin referred after bringing replica gun to school, no ongoing threats A huge shoutout to both the Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office for their support on this call! Opportunities like this highlight just how well we collaborate as one team and get the job done! Pleasant Prairie Police Department No additional information was provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A group of student demonstrators are holding a sit in at the Department of Education on Friday to protest President Trumps executive actions to shutter the department. Trump on Thursday signed an executive order giving Education Secretary Linda McMahon the authority to do all she can do to dismantle the department without congressional approval. The move came after nearly half of the education workforce was laid off last week. Were bringing our desks and homework to the Departments doorstep, the Sunrise Movement, who organized the event, wrote in a post on Instagram. If Trump and [Elon] Musk want to destroy the futures of millions of students across the country, they will have to come through us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bring your desk, bring your homework, bring your classmates, the group added. Whether youre a student, a teacher, a parent, or a product of public schools, join us. We will defend our schools, our futures, and our democracy. The Defend our Schools demonstration is expected to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. The organization will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. EDT following the event. Watch the live video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) called for an investigation Friday into whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks recent comments encouraging Americans to buy Tesla stock violated federal ethics laws. In a letter to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and ethics officials at the Commerce Department, the watchdog group called Lutnicks remarks an apparently flagrant violation of a federal law barring public officials from promoting any product, service or enterprise. The ethics laws that prohibit using public office for private gain exist to hold public officials accountable to their responsibility of serving the public good, said Kedric Payne, the CLCs vice president, general counsel and senior director of ethics, and Danielle Caputo, the groups senior legal counsel on ethics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No public good is served when a cabinet official acts as an influencer promoting a companys stock, they added. Lutnick gave Teslas stock a shoutout Wednesday during an appearance on Fox Newss Jesse Watters Primetime in which he was asked about recent attacks targeting Tesla dealerships, showrooms, charging stations and vehicles. He slammed the attacks as outrageous, praising Tesla CEO and close President Trump ally Elon Musk as probably the best entrepreneur, the best technologist, the best leader of any set of companies in America working for America. I think, if you want to learn something on this show tonight: Buy Tesla, Lutnick added. Its unbelievable that this guys stock is this cheap. Itll never be this cheap again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has gone to bat for Tesla in recent weeks, as the company faces violent backlash and sees its stock plummet in response to Musks prominent and controversial role leading the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump promised to buy a Tesla last week, testing out several models parked outside the White House. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who labeled the attacks on Tesla domestic terrorism, announced the arrest of three suspected perpetrators Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) As part of an emergency motion filed by the ACLU on Thursday, Mapheze Saleh called for her husbands safe return and recounted his arrest outside of their Rosslyn home on Monday night. Dr. Badar Khan Suri, a professor at Georgetown University, was taken into custody that evening by three people who identified themselves as being with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He was told that his visa was being revoked and was transferred out of the state to an ICE staging facility in the following days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED COVERAGE: Georgetown University researcher detained by DHS, accused of spreading Hamas propaganda In her declaration, Saleh said she was born in Missouri in 1990 and moved to Gaza where she was raised starting when she was five years old, traveling to the U.S. every summer to visit her father. Suri grew up in India and met Saleh in 2011 when he was visiting Gaza with an international humanitarian convoy. Back then, he was a masters student in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution from Jamia Millia Islamia in New Dehli. She was a translator for his convoy at the time, and the two got married in 2013. They lived in New Delhi and had three children but wanted to come to the United States because of its reputation for free speech and religious freedom, Saleh stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suri received a postdoctoral fellowship at Georgetown and moved to the U.S. on a J-1 visa in late 2022. Saleh and their children moved to the U.S. in November 2023. This past semester, she said he was teaching a class on majoritarianism and minority rights in South Asia. When Israel began its genocide in Gaza in October 2023, I felt like I had an obligation to share information about what was happening and to speak out, including because of my background in journalism and my Palestinian heritage, Saleh explained in the ACLU filing. As a result, I shared posts on a daily basis about things I had seen that were happening in Gaza, including posts that expressed sorrow for the deaths of Gazan people. In February of this year, she said she learned she was being targeted online because of her fathers formal role in the Gaza government, and because of her social media posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, articles were published about Saleh and her family. Thats when she said she began feeling unsafe, especially on campus after hours. One website even falsely claimed she and Suri had ties to Hamas, she said. Soon after this, her husband was arrested. RELATED COVERAGE: ACLU files emergency motion to stop deportation of Georgetown University scholar On March 17 at around 9:20 p.m., she said she received a call from Suri, who said he was being arrested outside of their apartment. When I came downstairs, I saw three uniformed, masked agents who were in the process of handcuffing Badar and placing him in a large black SUV, she stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Suri asking them why he was being taken, they did not answer, she said. The agents who told Saleh they were from the DHS said the government was revoking his visa. Badar asked me to get his passports and immigration documents When I returned and tried to hand him his documents, [the agents] would not let me do so, and instead took them from me themselves, Saleh explained. I watched him being driven away with no idea why he had been arrested, she continued. When she heard from Suri on March 18, he said he was in Louisiana. Early in the morning on March 20, Suri told her he hadnt been able to get his meals per his fasting schedule for Ramadan and that he wished he was with his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saleh expressed how worried she was for him and that he does not have access to certain medications he relies on. Since his arrest, I have been under extreme stress. I miss and worry for him dearly. I have not been able to sleep. We are fasting for Ramadan, so I was already feeling weak, and this made me feel even worse, she wrote in the filing. Saleh pleaded with the court for her husbands safe return home. I feel completely unsafe and cant stop looking at the door, terrified that someone else will come and take me and the children away as well, she wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. In a statement issued on 20 March, the Honduran army rejected claims that it was taking part in a cover-up relating to the organisation of the chaotic primary elections held on 9 March. End of preview - This article contains approximately 374 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options The Ember Southard dog attack was completely preventable, says the mother of the victim. Ember Southard, a six-month-old girl, passed away on Friday morning, March 14, in Alabaster, Alabama from a dog attack, as reported by local news outlet WJTV. The mother of the child, Anna Southard, says Ember was attacked by an 11-year-old American pitbull owned by a family member while she was gone for only 20 minutes. Mother calls the Ember Southard dog attack an avoidable accident Anna Southard says the Ember Southard dog attack was an avoidable accident, as the family member who owned the pitbull didnt follow safe sleep rules. In an email response, the mother writes that she will never forgive this family member for falling asleep with [her] daughter on their chest. After Ember slipped through the family members arms, she was mauled by the pitbull, despite the dog having been around countless children and having never harmed one before. As a result, her daughter is gone forever because they couldnt follow a simple [expletive] rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anna Southern initially wanted to press charges against the family member, but later decided not to pursue it. She believes that the punishment of knowing what their neglect did to my daughter will haunt them for the rest of their lives, as it should. The mother has asked the community to follow safe sleep protocols and to keep all dogs away from a baby, as any dog can kill an infant. The pitbull, along with the owners other dog, was taken into a 10-day quarantine by animal control. It is advised that responsible pet owners never leave children and dogs together unattended, and to never let babies crawl into a room where the caretaker cant see them. Children should also be taught not to hit, shout, or hug dogs, since they can become startled and aggressive at a moments notice. The mothers aunt has organized a GoFundMe to help cover the childs funeral costs. As of March 20, it has raised over $10,000. The post Why the Ember Southard Dog Attack Was Avoidable According to Victims Mother appeared first on DogTime. The Pentagon made waves Monday when it announced the deployment of the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer Gravely to patrol near the southern border, with a second destroyer reportedly expected to join the effort. U.S. Northern Command announced that the Gravely will be sailing with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, or LEDET, team on board, with sailors expected to work closely with LEDET personnel as a part of drug trafficking interdictions, according to Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, Joint Staff director for operations. Although its been called unusual for Navy destroyers to deploy in this role, it is not without precedent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer Momsen worked with a Coast Guard interdiction team in the Gulf of Oman to intercept $39 million in illegal drugs. The same year, the destroyer Nitze intercepted an estimated $20 million in illicit drugs at sea. And in 2024, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser Leyte Gulf and a LEDET team intercepted a semi-submersible craft in the Atlantic packed with 2,370 kilos of cocaine. What is noteworthy about recent developments is not that Navy warships are being used for drug interdiction missions or to counteract transnational crime, but the speed and concentration with which they are being deployed to this area. While many Americans are well aware of drugs entering the country via overland routes across the U.S. land border with Mexico, fewer know the prevalence of maritime drug trafficking and the methods of stifling it. Criminal organizations use a wide variety of vessels and seaborne craft to get illicit drugs into the U.S. These can include fishing boats and submersibles, which are being increasingly operated remotely using new technology. A U.S. Coast Guard boarding team climbs aboard a suspected narcotics smuggling vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard) Last August, the Mexican Navy detained 15 individuals after intercepting about 7,200 kilograms of illicit drugs in two high-speed at-sea chases that were captured on video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One trafficking conspiracy saw literal tons of cocaine trafficked from South America to various locations over a period of about seven years starting in 2013. Traffickers in that operation used motorboats which would then carry loads of cocaine to a fishing vessel. The Navy routinely partners with law enforcement agencies to halt traffickers and intercept illegal drug shipments. In 2019, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, working together with the Drug Enforcement Administration, played a role in preventing three Colombian nationals from smuggling an estimated $200 million in cocaine into the U.S. via a submarine. In 2021, the Navy, in collaboration with DEA, opened an interagency counternarcotics facility in Bahrain to make joint operations smoother. Coast Guard LEDET teams, meanwhile, often operate from Navy destroyers, such as the Gravely. The LEDET program, first established in 1982, focuses largely on waterborne drug interdiction. Members of LEDET teams specialize in skills related to interdicting and boarding vessels, humanitarian response and anti-piracy and counterterrorism operations. These personnel regularly deploy with both U.S. Navy and allied vessels. Just last year, the Navy and the Coast Guard through joint patrols and partnerships with law enforcement cooperated to stop nearly 15 tons of cocaine from entering the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Navys mission on the southern border is not out of step with operations over the years, the move of warships to the area is indicative of the current administrations attempt to establish a much firmer grip on approaches to the U.S. from the region. Its not only vital for the United States to have control of our border via land, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a release. Its equally important to control our territorial waters, and this deployment directly supports U.S. Northern Commands mission to protect our sovereignty. As overland routes into the U.S. from across the border with Mexico have become more impassable due to an increased U.S. military presence, transnational criminal organizations which operate as businesses will seek to find alternative routes. This month, the Coast Guard announced the interdiction of about $141 million in illicit drugs being smuggled at sea and the arrest of 17 suspected traffickers. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The City of Wichita says the Ethics Board has received three emails regarding filing ethics complaints over what happened at Tuesdays Wichita City Council meeting. During the meeting, Mayor Lily Wu did not read or sign a Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation that the council had already approved. A city code says the presiding officer will present proclamations, and another city code says the mayor shall sign all proclamations. The proclamation declares March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Wichita. It states, among other things, that the city values every resident and strives to create an environment where everyone, regardless of gender identity, can thrive, live authentically and feel a sense of belonging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wu said she did not vote in favor of the proclamation, so she would yield the floor to one of the four council members who did support it. Council member Maggie Ballard read and signed the proclamation and was critical of the mayors decision not to. On Thursday, reporters asked multiple follow-up questions at the mayors weekly briefing. Wu responded by repeating the same statement. All proclamations are electronically signed and added by staff. I do not print the documents, and I did not ask for my signature to be removed, she said. I did not vote for the proclamation, which was the first time ever Wichita has segregated the transgender community. KSN has asked the mayor to clarify what she means about the proclamation segregating the transgender community. We have not heard back yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Megan Lovely, the citys communications manager, said the City of Wichita declines to provide further information because of the ethics complaint process. After the Ethics Officer receives a complaint, it is reviewed and, if it meets basic requirements, is investigated, Lovely stated. Multiple ethics complaints regarding the same issue likely would be combined in the investigation by the ethics board. She said complaint documents are not shared until the ethics board has reached a final determination. Click here to learn more about filing an ethics complaint and how the city handles the complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. On 20 March Mexicos Public Security Ministerannounced the arrest of, who he said had been linked to the massacre of ten people in a bar in Queretaro state capital, Queretaro city, in November. End of preview - This article contains approximately 407 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options When federal immigration officials confronted Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil inside his New York City apartment building earlier this month, his wife, Noor Abdalla, assumed it was a misunderstanding. She rushed upstairs to their apartment to get documents proving he was a U.S. green card holder. "My husband was taken away from me in the middle of the night. It was one of the most terrifying times of my life. I don't think I've ever experienced anything scarier than that," Abdalla described during an interview with Erin Moriarty for "CBS Sunday Morning" airing on Sunday. It's the first sit-down TV interview Abdalla has given since her husband's arrest on March 8. "I was scared. I was terrified." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video released by the ACLU last week shows Khalil's arrest after helping lead pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University's campus. In the video, which is 8 minutes long, you can see Khalil being handcuffed as he's told to stop resisting. He's heard reassuring his wife, "Baby, it's fine," as he tells the agents that he'll go with them. "I was scared. I was terrified," Abdalla said of her husband's nighttime arrest. But Abdalla, who is 8 months pregnant and an American citizen, still believed he would be taken into immigration custody at Federal Plaza in Manhattan and released within hours after officials saw his paperwork. "People keep telling me like, 'Oh, you were so calm in the video. I would have been freaking out,'" Abdalla said. "For me, I think the reason I was so calm was because I was like, this is just a misunderstanding. They're going to take him away, to 26 Federal Plaza, see that he has a green card, he'll be home in a few hours." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She never imagined the 30-year-old would be taken from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Lower Manhattan to the Elizabeth Detention Center in Elizabeth, N.J., where, according to published remarks by Khalil, he slept on the ground, and was refused a blanket despite his request. He was then transferred to Louisiana. A federal judge temporarily blocked Khalil's removal from the U.S., barring the government from deporting him before a hearing could be held. Lawyers for the Trump administration have asked that legal issues be addressed by federal judges in New Jersey or Louisiana rather than New York, where Khalil was arrested. On Wednesday Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the case should be heard in New Jersey, where Khalil's petition challenging the government was filed. In his first public remarks, Khalil called himself a "political prisoner" and warned that other "visa-holders, green-card carriers, and citizens alike will all be targeted for their political beliefs." In a letter dictated by Khalil from detention in Louisiana, he said that his only concern at the time of his arrest was for the safety of his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had no idea if she would be taken too, since the agents had threatened to arrest her for not leaving my side," Khalil said. "DHS would not tell me anything for hours I did not know the cause of my arrest or if I was facing immediate deportation." According to a Department of Homeland Security notice obtained by CBS News, DHS wrote that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has "determined" that Khalil's "presence or activities in the United States would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States." ___________________________________________________________________________ Watch the full interview and hear more of Noor Abdalla's firsthand account of her husband's detainment this Sunday on "CBS Sunday Morning," 9 a.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth reacts to Atlantic releasing his Signal texts to Trump team detailing Yemen bombing Hegseth doubles down on Signal chat texts not being "war plans" Former National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster reacts to Trump administration leak On 20 March Chiles President Gabriel Boric promulgated his governments flagship pension reform. Analysis: President Boric said the reform, which increases employer pension contributions, raises the guaranteed minimum pension, and modifies the privatised Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP) created during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), was a national achievement and the fruit of a lot of dialogue after successive governments over ten years tried but failed to reach an agreement. The main right-wing opposition coalition Chile Vamos, which played an instrumental role in securing the passage of the pension reform through congress, declined to attend the event, which it accused the government of seeking to politicise. Boric said the reform would benefit 2.8m pensioners, with increases of between 14% and 35% and a focus on improving pension provision for women, while the state-provided basic universal pension would rise to Cl$250,000 (US$273) a month from Cl$214,000. He was flanked by the finance minister, Mario Marcel , and the labour minister responsible for the pension reform, Jeannette Jara . , and the labour minister responsible for the pension reform, . Chile Vamos went as far as to characterise the event as Jaras unofficial campaign launch. Some of those in attendance did chant Presidenta during a 20-minute speech she gave at the cultural centre in Penalolen, in eastern Santiago, before the signing. Jara hailed a historic milestone in the development of social security in our country, while also paying tribute to the constructive spirit of those, such as the opposition who made approval of the law possible. Looking Ahead: There is a strong chance that Jara will be chosen as the presidential candidate of the left-wing Partido Comunista de Chile (PCCh) off the back of the pension breakthrough. The PCCh central committee is expected to meet to discuss the matter on 22 March. But Daniel Jadue, the firebrand former mayor of Recoleta, a commune in the north of Santiago province, who was placed in preventive detention last June for three months charged with various counts of corruption, fraud, and bribery, before being moved to house arrest, is also hoping to be chosen as the PCCh candidate. He dismissed the pension reform, which he said did not go far enough and should be withdrawn. COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A woman from Cherokee has a story to tell. Kinsley Smith was 15 years old when she was recovering from a shoulder surgery that turned into a nightmare. I was completely incapacitated because I was on the medicines. I had a nerve block, couldnt feel my shoulder at all, I was on pain medicines, I was just completely vulnerable and that was the first time he had taken advantage of me, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox. Smith was sexually assaulted numerous times by a man her mother was married to. When she reported the incident, police took the man into custody within two days, and later was sent to prison. He was facing 20 years but only served three or four, Smith said. That man was released and returned to work at a volunteer fire department in Colbert County. Hes doing that, I was vulnerable, he took advantage of me at my most vulnerable, first responders see people in their most vulnerable states so how much access does he have to people who are just like me now? Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, Smith did some research and realized there was no law in Alabama prohibiting registered sex offenders from joining volunteer fire departments. Therefore, Smith created House Bill 21. Alabama State Rep. Kerry Underwood told News 19 that no one had thought of this bill and that it is needed in our state. The most targeted area is going to be the volunteers because they just accept a volunteer. They dont have the resources to spend time and money and effort to do background checks, Underwood said. If someone comes and says I want to be apart, they say okay heres your training lets go, its just an unintended loophole that no one thought of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If passed into law, it would require registered sex offenders to disclose their past if they are trying to join a volunteer fire department. If it is later discovered they lied, they could face felony charges. Im hoping to see a drastic decline in the predators in volunteer fire departments, Ive heard of two right off the top of my head, him included. Also would like to see a decline in sex offenses against children possibly, Smith said. H-B 27 has passed unanimously and will now go through the Senate. If passed, it will go into effect 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 WHNT.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Davidson County man was in court Thursday facing four women who claimed he filmed them without their permission from a hidden alarm clock camera in his bedroom. The case is moving toward trial. In June 2024, one of the women said she found hundreds of videos with different women recorded through a camera in an alarm clock while engaging in sexual activity without their knowledge or permission. ORIGINAL STORY: Man charged for hidden camera recordings, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner of the video and alarm clock was 31-year-old Matthew Vollmer. In November 2024, Vollmer was arrested and charged with eight counts of unlawful photography a misdemeanor in Tennessee. One of the women who testified, Christiana Werner, said she was horrified by the discovery of the videos. Within the computer there were about 350 separate video files not all of them related to this case but I was able to find an assortment that were clearly relevant, Detective Judah Parker with the Metro Nashville Police Departments Special Victims Division said. The videos were clipped in 10-minute increments, according to the detective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not talking about some home security camera that was accidentally placed in the home somewhere and picked up Mr. Vollmer having sex with these women, Assistant District Attorney General Macy Pesavento argued. He had a camera hidden in an alarm clock specifically positioned, facing the bed where he had sex with these women. There were 14 file folders. Twelve of them were labeled with a first name. One was simply labeled REC I presume is short for record the other was labeled Hookups,' Parker said. The criminal charges involve four women but several other recordings were allegedly filmed over a year ago, falling outside of the statute of limitations. We are working so hard to have our voices heard on a charge that wouldnt even land him a year in jail, Laura Cantwell, another testifying woman, told News 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The women answered several questions in the hearing, relating to how they met Vollmer, how long they dated and what their relationship looked like when it came to offering consent for nude or suggestive photos or videos. You did not consent to any of these videos? the defense attorney asked alleged victim Sydney Tasker. She replied: Correct. Its really frustrating to deal with arguments that try to undermine our credibility or try to paint us as being dishonest when were literally just here speaking about something horrible a man did to not just us, but a lot of other women, Cantwell told News 2 following the hearing. RELATED: Women testify before lawmakers with hope of passing Voyeurism Victims Act Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case has been bound over to a grand jury toward a possible trial. Which means we are moving towards the next stage of justice, Cantwell said. Werner told News 2 true justice may never be fully achieved. The punishment does not fit the crime, Werner 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 WKRN News 2. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to crack open the Department of Education on Thursday. The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association condemned the move, and have promised lawsuits. Earlier this month, the department laid off nearly half of its staff. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would dissolve the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). While the agency cannot be shuttered without congressional approval, Trump signed the order saying that it would begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all. The order states taxpayers spend $60 billion annually on federal school funding marshalled and distributed by the DOE even though the agency does not educate anyone. In the order, Trump claimed its closure would help children and families escape a system that is failing them. Trump directed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to turn education authority over to states and local communities while ensuring uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. It also directs McMahon to terminate programs promoting gender ideology, and withdraw funding from programs and activities that illegally discriminate based on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The order claimed that the DOE maintains a public relations office with 80 staff members at a cost of $10 million a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a quick rebuke, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said the 1.7-million member union would, see you in court, in a statement to Fortune. The DOE is charged with oversight of the countrys $1.6 trillion federal student loan fund, and oversees and sets school policies for early childhood, primary, and secondary schools through financial funding and monitoring. The agencys remit includes ensuring equal access to education for all students including those from low-income, disabled, and non-native English speaking homes. Established in 1979, the DOE supervises 50 million students in public school systems across the country. Earlier this month under the direction of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, the DOE laid off 2,183 employees, nearly half of its January workforce of more than 4,100. Now, Trump is at it again with his latest effort to gut the Department of Education programs that support every student across the nation, National Education Association President Becky Pringle said in a statement to Fortune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pringle claimed cuts to the DOE would increase class sizes, cut job training programs, eliminate special education for those with disabilities, axe civil rights protections and increase college tuition prices, putting it out of reach for middle class families. We wont be silent as anti-public education politicians try to steal opportunities from our students, our families, and our communities to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, Pringle said. Republican lawmakers have long tried to terminate the department since the 1980s, but in recent years that campaign has garnered traction as tensions mounted after federal mandates and policies in response to COVID-19. In moving forward with this, Trump is ignoring what parents and educators know is right for our students, Pringle said. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the war with Russia and European efforts to provide security guarantees for Ukraine during the meeting with his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel in Kyiv on March 21. Pavel arrived in Kyiv earlier in the day. The day prior, the Czech president met with Deputy Prime Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Oleksii Kuleba, among other Ukrainian officials, in Odesa. During Pavel's visit to Odesa, Russia launched Shahed-type drones at the city. Three people were injured during the attack, and civilian infrastructure was damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pavel and Zelensky discussed the situation on the front line, European efforts to gain security guarantees for Ukraine, and cooperation in defense production. The Ukrainian president also thanked Pavel for the Czech contribution to the UK-led "coalition of the willing." The parties also agreed to open a Unity Center for Ukrainians in Prague. "Thank you for your visit and cooperation. Today, we signed a joint statement on strategic partnership between our countries. This reflects the real level of our relations. Thank you for this. Thank you for the Czech initiative and for all the help you have given to our people," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Czech Republic has been one of the most committed supporters of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. In July 2024, Ukraine and Czechia signed a 10-year bilateral security deal. According to the agreement, Czechia and Ukraine are expected to boost cooperation in the military tech sphere, including the production of ammunition, small arms, drones, electronic warfare, and heavy equipment. The two countries also plan to set up joint enterprises and continue annual training of up to 4,000 Ukrainian military personnel. 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. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that a summit of the Coalition of the Willing will take place in Paris next week to discuss future security guarantees for Ukraine as well as a potential international support contingent. Source: Zelenskyy during a joint briefing with Czech President Petr Pavel Details: Zelenskyy revealed that prior to the summit, a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron is also scheduled to address a number of important issues related to Ukraines support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Next week we have a bilateral meeting with President Macron. We have many issues to discuss. I hope the outcome of this meeting will be a good one. In addition to that, there will be an important summit, which we can refer to as the Coalition of the Willing. We will indeed talk about a strategy for security guarantees for Ukraine after the war ends, and about preventing a second wave or rather a third wave already of occupation by the Russian Federation and its aggressive actions. We will talk about the contingent and how we will support the Ukrainian army, and what the infrastructure of the contingent will look like. Who is ready to be part of the Coalition of the Willing and who is not ready yet." Details: Zelenskyy also expressed hope that the summit will produce specific decisions. "I would like us to have some concrete outcomes. We have discussed this with President Macron," the Ukrainian president added. Background: On 15 March, Bloomberg reported that UK PM Keir Starmer and President Macron were conducting talks among 37 countries about forming a Coalition of the Willing concerning Ukraine, in the event that a peace settlement is reached. On 20 March, it was reported that leaders of European countries and Canada would meet in Paris next week to discuss their position on Ukraine and their demands for the peace process. On 21 March, Macron announced that the Coalition of the Willing summit would take place next Thursday in Paris, with Zelenskyy in attendance. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umierov will take part in talks between the technical teams of Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia on 24 March. Source: Zelenskyy during a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "The team will be at a fairly high level, they are technically professional people, the defence minister will also be there as well, and I think we will be ready to be very prompt and very substantive." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Answering journalists' questions regarding the potential of signing agreements or arrangements in Saudi Arabia, the president said he couldn't predict how the talks would conclude, but "it would be good if the meeting ended with some result that could bring us closer to a complete ceasefire". Background: Following a meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March, Ukraine agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire provided that Russia agrees to the same terms. On 13 March, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin reacted cautiously to the US proposal for a ceasefire. While not rejecting it outright, he hinted that Moscow could impose its own conditions on any agreement. As of now, the Kremlin claims that it is complying with the agreement to temporarily cease attacks by its forces only on energy infrastructure in Ukraine. On the night of 20-21 March alone, the Russians attacked Ukraine with 214 Shahed-type strike drones and various types of decoy drones. Particularly, the city of Odesa came under a large-scale attack. DTEK, Ukraines largest private energy company, reported local emergency power outages in Odesas Prymorskyi, Peresyp and Kyiv districts. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Flash A French scientist has been denied entry into the United States, apparently for a personal opinion on U.S. President Donald Trump's policy on research, it was reported Thursday. The scientist had his work laptop and smartphone combed through at the U.S. border on Wednesday and denied entry. The scientist was deported on the following day, reported Agence-France Presse (AFP), quoting a diplomatic source. U.S. agents found messages about the treatment of scientists under the Trump administration that "showed hatred toward Trump and could be qualified as terrorism", the source was quoted as saying. French Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste told the AFP that the French researcher on assignment for the French National Center for Scientific Research was traveling to a conference near Houston, Texas. "This measure was taken by the U.S. authorities because the researcher's phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed his political opinion on the policies of the Trump administration on research," said Baptiste on Wednesday. About 200 people rallied against cuts to Medicaid as they marched to U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse's office at The Tower building in Yakima on Wednesday. "Health care is a right, that is why we have to fight," the crowd chanted as people walked along Yakima Avenue downtown. Many were health care workers and concerned residents who fear that lawmakers may cut a program that many Yakima County health care providers and patients rely on. Central WA Families, a coalition made up of hospitals, nursing homes, and other groups, organized the protest. Yessica Cabrera, a local childcare provider, said some of her clients rely on Medicaid. Her family own family struggled with supporting a family member until he could get on Medicaid, she said. "Without it, what will we do?" she said. Medicaid provides health care coverage to low-income and disabled people and is jointly funded by the federal government and the states. In Washington state, the program is known as Apple Health. The U.S. House voted on Feb. 25 in favor of a budget blueprint that could lead to Medicaid cuts of up to $880 billion over a decade. In 2023, over 130,000 Yakima County residents, 50% of the countys population, were enrolled in Apple Health. Nearly 87% of people under the age of 19 in Yakima County use Apple Health. Comments from Newhouse During a visit to the Yakima-Tieton canal on Thursday, Newhouse was asked about Medicaid and other potential budget cuts. He said the nation has almost $37 trillion in debt and continues to spend more every year. He said it's not a sustainable path, and not a legacy he wants to pass on to future generations. "From my perspective, Im approaching this to try to do that as responsibly as possible and protect as many people who depend on the federal government for not just Medicaid, but for a whole host of things," he said. "We have to make sure we do that, but at the same time, we have to be as fiscally responsible as possible." As a farmer, Newhouse said he's used to working efficiently, and the federal government needs to do the same thing. "We need to do it smartly and strategically and make sure that we continue to offer services to people that need them on the way, he said. This story has been updated with additional information. Support Local News Reporting Journalists at the Yakima Herald-Republic bring you timely, in-depth and credible local news. Your generous donation supports their work. The Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. The 1,575-bed facility held about 800 or 900 people in January but is now nearly full. (Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times, 2021) A collection of Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum tokens are pictured. Digital currencies are notoriously volatile: Bitcoin has fallen 20% since the first of the year and double that during the past three months. This years Budapest Pride march will go ahead as planned "and will be the biggest one yet", Gergely Karacsony, the citys mayor, said on Facebook. "As the mayor of the 14th district, I was the first to hang the rainbow flag on a public building," Karacsony said. "Since Ive been mayor of Budapest, the rainbow flag has been displayed on City Hall every year, and this practice will continue even if the government prohibits it. And since Ive been mayor, the metropolitan council has helped out with organising Budapest Pride each year and will continue to help even if the government prohibits it." Karacsony said he was convinced that "the city belongs to everyone" and that "we can only be free if we are all free." Budapest Pride March organisers said: We will not let Hungarys largest regular human rights demonstration be banned! We are already organising the 30th Budapest Pride March, and perhaps never before has it been as important as it is now. Even the current Fundamental Law of Hungary which in many instances curtails fundamental rights- strictly protects freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. The true measure of a countrys freedom isnt whether people can express opinions that support the governmentits whether those who challenge it can speak without fear. For years, LGBTQ people have faced attacks from those in power. Events like Pride marches reveal whether the government respects free expression or uses its authority to silence those it disagrees with. Its nothing more than political theater - the ruling party is using the LGBTQ community for its own gain. But we refuse to be anyones scapegoat. Those who organize Pride events in Hungary or stand up for their communities in any way are dedicated, determined citizens who want to build a better country. Threatening these patriotic people in the name of patriotism is not just hypocritical - its disgraceful. While more and more people are starving in Hungary, the Prime Ministers priority is to ban human rights protests. At a time when peoples daily livelihoods are under threat, when families cannot heat their homes or buy their children coats, when the end-of-month argument is about whether there is money for lunch or electricity bills, the governments task should be to solve these problems, not to think about how to further restrict the Hungarian peoples freedoms. The slogan of this years Budapest Pride Festival and March is We are (home). There have been countless attempts to silence, invisibilize, intimidate or outright erase members of the LGBTQ community in history. The forces of oppression have never succeeded. The existence of the LGBTQ community is as old as humanity: we have been here longer and will be here much longer than those politicians in suits campaigning for exclusion. Theyve tried countless times to ban our marchand failed. They wont succeed now either. In the end, Pride is a demonstration, whether with twenty people or tens of thousands, but it will happen. Were not just fighting for the Budapest Pride March or the LGBTQ communitywere fighting for the right of all Hungarians to protest, speak their minds, and stand up for themselves. Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here. Lucknow: A passenger aboard Air India flight AI2845 was found dead after the plane landed at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow at 8:10 AM on Friday. The flight had arrived from New Delhi and the deceased was identified as 52-year-old Aashif Daulla Ansari from Gopalganj, Bihar. When a flight attendant approached him to clear his food tray and drinks, he did not respond. Doctors sitting nearby checked him and found no pulse. According to the reports, one passenger said that Ansari had not unbuckled his seatbelt or touched his food. The authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter. The exact cause of death is not discovered yet. The airport's medical team gave first aid and rushed him to the hospital in an Advanced Life Support ambulance. Later, authorities confirmed his death. A CCSI Airport spokesperson expressed sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victim's family. "This morning, a male passenger, who was unwell arrived at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow. Our medical team responded immediately, providing first aid before transporting him to the hospital in an Advanced Life Support ambulance. We are deeply saddened to learn that he later passed away. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family during this difficult time," said CCSI Airport spokesperson, TOI reported. AgriStack is a digital platform launched by the Indian government to modernise agriculture by creating a centralised farmer database. The Farmer Registry, a key component, assigns each farmer a unique Farmer ID, linking their details, land records, and eligibility for schemes like PM-KISAN, crop insurance, and subsidies. Registration is increasingly mandatory for accessing government benefits, with a deadline of January 31, 2025, for some states to align with schemes like PM-KISAN. Eligibility Criteria To register, farmers must meet these requirements: Indian Citizen: Must be a farmer (landowner or tenant) residing in India. Aadhaar-Linked Mobile Number: For OTP verification. Land Ownership or Lease Documents: Proofs like Khatauni, 7/12 extract, or lease agreement. Bank Account: Linked to Aadhaar for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Age: Minimum 18 years. Required Documents Before starting, gather: Aadhaar Card: For identity verification. Land Records: State-specific documents (e.g., 7/12 in Maharashtra, Khatauni in Uttar Pradesh). Bank Details: Account number and IFSC code. Passport-Size Photo: Optional in some states. Mobile Number: Active and linked to Aadhaar. Registration Process (Step-by-Step) The process varies slightly by state but follows a general framework. It can be done online or offline via Common Service Centers (CSCs). Heres how: Online Registration 1. Visit the State-Specific Portal: Go to the official AgriStack portal for your state (e.g., mhfr.agristack.gov.in for Maharashtra, upfr.agristack.gov.in for Uttar Pradesh). The main hub is agristack.gov.in. Search AgriStack [Your State Name] if unsure. 2. Start Registration: Click Farmer Registration or Create New User on the homepage. 3. Aadhaar Verification: Enter your Aadhaar number. Receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile. Enter it to verify. 4. Create Account: Set a username and password (minimum 8 characters, with uppercase, numbers, and special characters). Log in with these credentials. 5. Enter Personal Details: Fill in name, address, date of birth, and social category (General, SC, ST, OBC). 6. Add Land Details: Input survey number, village name, and land area. Fetch records from state land databases (e.g., Bhulekh in Maharashtra). Verify accuracy. 7. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of Aadhaar, land records, and bank details (PDFs, max 2 MB each). 8. E-Sign and Submit: Complete e-signature with another OTP. Review all details, agree to terms, and click Submit. 9. Receive Farmer ID: Get an Enrollment ID or Farmer ID on-screen or via SMS. Note it down. Offline Registration (via CSC) 1. Locate a CSC: Visit a nearby Common Service Center (over 2 lakh exist across India). 2. Provide Details: Bring all documents. The CSC operator will enter your data. 3. Verification: Aadhaar OTP and land record checks are done on-site. 4. Submission: Operator applies. Youll receive a Farmer ID upon approval. Local Assistance Sahayaks/Village Offices: In some states, local assistants or Gram Panchayat staff help with registration. Post-Registration Check Status: Visit your state portal, click Check Enrollment Status, and enter your Enrollment ID or Aadhaar number. Status options: Approved (Farmer ID issued), Pending (under review), Rejected (with reason, e.g., land dispute). Download Farmer ID: Once approved, log in to print or download your Farmer ID. Benefits Direct Benefits: Access PM-KISAN (6,000/year), Kisan Credit Card, subsidies, and insurance. Efficiency: No intermediaries; payments via DBT. Data Insights: Personalized crop and weather advisories. Challenges & Tips Connectivity: Rural areas may lack internet. Use CSCs if needed. Document Issues: Ensure land records are updated at the Tehsil office first. Rejections: Common reasons include mismatched names or unverified land. Correct errors and reapply. Helpline: Call 1800-123-4567 (generic AgriStack support) or check state-specific numbers. Current Status (March 20, 2025) Coverage: 23 states have steering committees; 80 million+ farmers registered. Tech Integration: 22 states use APIs for land record verification. Deadline: January 31, 2025, for PM-KISAN eligibility in 10 states (e.g., UP, MP, Gujarat). State-Specific Examples Maharashtra: mhfr.agristack.gov.in integrates with Bhulekh (7/12 records). 60% of farmland digitized. Uttar Pradesh: upfr.agristack.gov.in targets 25 million farmers; 70% registered. Gujarat: gjfr.agristack.gov.in emphasizes tenant farmer inclusion. (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.) Mental health has gained significant recognition in recent years, with growing awareness of its impact on overall well-being. Despite its importance, mental health coverage in health insurance has often been overlooked. However, with rising cases of anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders, insurers are now expanding their policies to include mental health treatments. In this article, we explore why mental health coverage is becoming essential, how insurance providers are adapting, and what policyholders should look for in a plan. Why Mental Health Coverage is Essential Rising Mental Health Disorders: The incidence of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD has increased significantly due to factors like work stress, social isolation, and financial instability. Without proper insurance coverage, individuals often struggle to afford necessary treatments. High Treatment Costs: Therapy sessions, psychiatric consultations, and medication for mental health conditions can be expensive. Lack of coverage often leads individuals to avoid seeking help, worsening their condition over time. Government and Regulatory Push: Many governments are now mandating mental health coverage in health insurance policies. In countries like India, mental health coverage has been made a compulsory inclusion in insurance policies under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Link Between Mental and Physical Health: Mental health conditions can lead to physical health problems, such as heart disease, weakened immunity, and chronic pain. Insurance policies that cover both physical and mental health ensure holistic well-being. Workplace Productivity and Employee Benefits: Many companies are offering mental health coverage as part of their group insurance plans to support employees. Providing access to therapy and counselling improves productivity and overall workplace morale. How Health Insurance Providers Are Adapting Inclusion of Therapy and Counselling: Insurance companies are now covering therapy sessions with psychologists and psychiatrists, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for policyholders seeking professional help. Telemedicine and Online Counselling Services: With the rise of digital healthcare, insurers are partnering with telehealth platforms to offer virtual therapy and online mental health consultations, making mental healthcare more accessible. Coverage for Psychiatric Hospitalisation: Some insurance providers now cover inpatient treatment for severe mental health conditions, including psychiatric hospitalization and rehabilitation programs. Wellness Programs and Stress Management: Many health insurance plans now include wellness benefits such as stress management programs, meditation apps, and mental health workshops to promote preventive care. Customisable Mental Health Riders: Some insurers allow policyholders to add mental health riders to their existing plans, providing extra coverage tailored to individual needs. What to Look for in a Mental Health Insurance Plan Therapy and Consultation Coverage: Ensure that the policy includes outpatient consultations with licensed therapists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Hospitalization and Rehabilitation Benefits: Look for plans that cover inpatient psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation programs for severe conditions. Digital and Telehealth Services: Check if the policy offers access to virtual mental health consultations and online therapy platforms. Prescription Medication Coverage: Some mental health conditions require long-term medication. Ensure that your plan covers psychiatric drugs prescribed by a doctor. No Waiting Period for Mental Health Benefits: Some policies impose a waiting period before mental health benefits can be accessed. Opt for plans with minimal or no waiting period for immediate support. The Future of Mental Health Coverage in Health Insurance More Comprehensive Policies: Insurers are expected to introduce more inclusive policies that fully integrate mental health care, covering preventive and long-term treatments. Greater Awareness and Accessibility: Increased awareness campaigns and employer-sponsored mental health programs will encourage more people to seek insurance coverage. AI-Powered Mental Health Assessments: The use of AI-driven diagnostics and virtual mental health screening tools will enhance early detection and treatment accessibility. Increased Government Regulations: Policymakers may introduce stricter regulations to ensure that mental health receives the same priority as physical health in insurance policies. Conclusion Mental health is an integral part of overall well-being, and its inclusion in health insurance plans is a necessary step toward a healthier society. As awareness grows and insurers adapt, more people will have access to affordable mental health care, reducing stigma and improving quality of life. When choosing a health insurance plan, policyholders should carefully evaluate mental health benefits to ensure comprehensive coverage for both mind and body. (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.) Several MLAs in Karnataka across party lines made a serious revelation on Thursday and alleged that "honey trap" attempts were being made in the state to achieve political goals. Backing the claims made by opposition leaders in the state, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara assured a high-level inquiry into such cases. Responding to the accusations, Parameshwara emphasized the need to curb such tendencies. "If we have to preserve the dignity of our members, we have to put an end to such incidents. Its a serious issue," the Home Minister told the Assembly, as quoted by news agency PTI. "I will order a high-level probe into it," he added. While Cooperation Minister K. N. Rajanna informed the House that 48 people have fallen victim to "honey traps" in the state and their obscene videos have been circulated, state Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi alleged that a cabinet colleague faced two unsuccessful "honey trap" attempts. People say that there is a CD (compact disk) and pen drive factory in Karnataka. I have come to know that there are CDs and pen drives of 48 people available in the state. This network is spread across India, and even several union ministers have been trapped, Rajanna said. During a budget discussion, BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal claimed that blackmail tactics were used to eliminate political rivals. BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar echoed the concern, saying those who could not defeat their opponents have resorted to blackmailing to achieve their political goals. He urged the government to take the matter seriously after a Minister claimed that 48 people have been "honey trapped." The situation is grim when a minister makes such a statement. We will conclude that the government is involved if it did not take action and give a proper reply on it, Kumar said. He also accused the Congress government of running a "honey-trap factory" and demanded action from the Home Department. BJP legislator Munirathna alleged that he has been wrongly framed in a rape case and demanded that it be handed over to the CBI. Earlier in the day, Minister Satish Jarkiholi claimed that two unsuccessful "honey trap" attempts were made on a senior minister in the state and called for a police investigation into the matter. "... there were two attempts (on a minister), but they werent successful. This is not the first honey trap incident in Karnataka," Jarkiholi told reporters in response to a question. Condemning the incident, he said politics should not involve such tactics. Some people exploit such situations for political gains, and it should be stopped. "We have asked the minister concerned to file a complaint; only then can the police act and launch an investigation," he added. Jarkiholi emphasized that those behind it should be brought to justice. "We will speak to the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah)... We have already discussed it with the Home Minister (G Parameshwara). If there is a complaint, it will help the investigation," he said. Stressing the need for a non-partisan fight against honey trapping, the Minister said politicians cutting across all parties have been victims of it. "In the earlier governments too, there were victims of honey trapping; some names were heard. Now our people's (Congress) names are heard. If it happens in the future too, it won't be surprising. This must end," he added. Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar too backed the call for a police complaint in the matter. "Let a complaint be given to the police station first; let's get it investigated," he told media. (With PTI Inputs) The diplomatic ties between India and China have seen significant progress following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. On Friday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal stated that the bilateral meeting in Kazan marked a crucial turning point, followed by productive discussions between the Indian Foreign Secretary and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister. "Since we had a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi in Kazan. Since then, we have had constructive engagement at the levels of EAM, NSA and the Foreign Secretary also travelled to China in January, where he met his counterpart..." Jaiswal said in a press conference, ANI reported. Stating that the conversation and dialogues between both countries are progressing, he added, "Conversations and dialogues have been going on and they have been moving forward in the right direction...Several in principal approvals and understanding have been reached and hopefully, they will go forward in the days ahead," The MEA spokesperson announced the agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025, adding that details are still being worked out, this development is a positive step in normalising relations between both nations. "It has been agreed that the Kailash Mansarovar will start in 2025, but how the yatra will start, and other talks are still going on...," said Jaiswal. He further informed that both countries have agreed on six key points to improve their relationship, including Restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Tibet. India-China also agreed to resume Nathula border trade by re-establishing trade relations between both nations and promoting cross-border exchanges by encouraging people-to-people ties through cultural, educational and tourism initiatives. The Supreme Court Collegium has decided to transfer Delhi High Court's Justice Yashwant Varma after a fire incident at his bungalow led to the alleged recovery of a huge cash pile. The HC judge was transferred back to his parent High Court in Allahabad following a report against him. The news agency ANI reported that the top court collegium led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna made the recommendations for his transfer to the Centre. According to ANI, a follow-up action "if and as required" will be taken by the top court Collegium against Justice Varma of the Delhi HC. "Supreme Court Collegium met, and CJI took note of the issue. The transfer is not a finality, it's a process. In the interest of the institution, it's just a step. Further action if and as required in the future will be taken," ANI learned. Reactions To Cash Recovery A senior lawyer on Friday expressed pain and shock before the Delhi HC over the incident. According to the news agency PTI, the lawyer said that he and others were shaken by the incident, Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya shared his emotions, and said So is everybody. We are conscious. Arun Bhardwaj who is a senior advocate expressed his respect for the system and the judges before a bench of Chief Justice Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. "We respect the system a lot. Each of the judges are respected a lot. We are shaken my lords and demoralised. Please take some steps. I am not expressing my pain any further and I am sure I am expressing the pain of many of my brothers. Please take some steps to see that such incidents do not happen," PTI quoted Bhardwaj. Reacting to the incident, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal mentioned that the issue of corruption in the judiciary is very serious. Speaking to reporters, Sibal said, The issue of corruption within the judiciary is a very serious issue. This is not something that has been articulated by senior councils and lawyers in the country for the first time. It is time for the Supreme Court to start looking at issues of how the appointment process takes place. The appointment process should be more transparent and carefully done, he added. #WATCH | Delhi | On the Supreme Court Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal says, "...The issue of corruption pic.twitter.com/hPQPqeT57t ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025 Justice Varma took oath as Delhi HC judge in October 2021. (with agencies inputs) India and Canada are looking to rebuild their strained relationship, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating that the downturn in ties was caused by Canada's leniency towards extremist and secessionist elements. In a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday expressed hope that the two nations can reestablish their relationship based on mutual trust and sensitivity. "The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity," said Jaiswal. The relationship between India and Canada has been complex. Both countries share historical ties and cooperate in various areas, such as trade, education, and technology. However, recent years have seen tensions rise due to Canada's alleged support of Khalistani separatists and India's concerns over the country's handling of Sikh extremism. Notably, the ties between India and Canada have been strained after former Canada PM Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been keeping a close eye on two separate cases involving Indian nationals abroad. Firstly, Ranjani Srinivasan, who recently departed from the United States and is believed to have gone to Canada, hasn't reached out to the Indian consulate or embassy for assistance. The MEA only learned about her departure through media reports. "We are not aware of her getting in touch with our consulate or our embassy for any help. We only came to know of her departure from the United States through media reports, and through the media reports, we understand that she has gone to Canada...," said Jaiswal. In another case, Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri was detained in the US over alleged ties to Hamas. A US judge has temporarily halted his deportation. According to MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, neither the US government nor Suri has approached the Indian embassy for help. The MEA is relying on media reports to stay updated on Suri's situation. "We are given to understand through media reports that this individual has been detained. Neither the US Govt nor the individual has approached us or the Embassy...," said the MEA spokesperson. Notably, US federal immigration authorities detained the Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, Badar Khan Suri, outside his home in Arlington's Rosslyn neighbourhood in Virginia on Monday night, his lawyer said in a lawsuit requesting his immediate release. The US district judge has ordered not to remove Badar Khan Suri from the country unless the court issues another ruling. Karnataka Bandh Tomorrow: Kannada Okkuta, a coalition of pro-Kannada organizations, has called for a statewide bandh on Saturday, March 22. The protest is in response to the alleged assault of a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not speaking Marathi. The 12-hour bandh, set to take place from 6 AM to 6 PM, has been organized by Kannada Okkoota, a coalition of pro-Kannada groups. The protesters are demanding strict action against pro-Marathi organizations, especially the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), and are urging a ban on groups accused of disturbing regional harmony. School, colleges to be closed tomorrow Bengaluru may face partial closures and disruptions in public transport and services as multiple pro-Kannada organizations are expected to support the bandh. Several educational institutions in the city have declared a holiday as a precaution. Public transport, including BMTC and KSRTC buses, could be affected, with some services possibly going off the roads depending on the situation. Some schools will still conduct exams for lower classes as scheduled. The Associated Managements of Private Unaided Schools in Karnataka confirmed this, stating that any changes could affect students' academic plans. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, responding to concerns in the Legislative Council, assured that the government does not support the bandh and urged organizers to rethink their decision. With the bandh nearing, officials are keeping a close watch to avoid major disruptions. The SSLC exams will continue as planned, but schools and students are ready for any schedule changes if needed. The government has encouraged discussions to settle the issue peacefully and maintain harmony in the state. Kerala Lottery Results Friday 21-03-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Nirmal NR-424" Lucky Draw Result today Nirmal NR-424, March 21, 2025. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2025 for "Nirmal NR-424" 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 Nirmal NR-424 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-424 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 21-03-2025 March: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR NIRMAL NR-424 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: NH 388649 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS: NL 454070 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: 1) NA 123205 2) NB 840823 3) NC 239367 4) ND 455710 5) NE 133073 6) NF 775012 7) NG 356963 8) NH 311876 9) NJ 126146 10) NK 200636 11) NL 295217 12) NM 304522 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: NA 388649 NB 388649 NC 388649 ND 388649 NE 388649 NF 388649 NG 388649 NJ 388649 NK 388649 NL 388649 NM 388649 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE:0006 0105 0839 1297 1739 2522 3023 3295 4280 5491 5839 6284 6855 7964 8137 8422 8798 9798 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0922 1078 2778 3059 3369 3450 3581 3779 3815 3979 4258 4479 4729 4818 4933 5402 5639 5700 5874 6352 6496 7077 7221 7473 7538 7848 8465 9020 9099 9124 9148 9164 9177 9229 9288 9787 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0220 0307 0394 0520 0672 1063 1099 1129 1323 1367 1571 1663 1751 2022 2103 2113 2128 2285 2468 2558 2690 2726 2741 2773 2858 3467 3668 3671 3781 3858 3920 4023 4065 4174 4229 4351 4528 4612 4733 4758 4961 5038 5313 5429 5486 5528 5590 5728 5795 5877 5917 6015 6457 6660 6757 6867 6896 7165 7371 7392 7421 7602 7818 7821 8079 8246 8306 8522 8626 8726 8755 8777 9057 9061 9089 9230 9567 9778 9916 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0256 0365 0395 0410 0421 0540 0644 0687 0711 0834 0901 0921 0948 1117 1311 1341 1351 1397 1456 1458 1657 1692 1727 1729 1733 1735 1797 1927 1935 2157 2351 2376 2379 2437 2662 2814 2850 3110 3119 3144 3264 3277 3319 3364 3417 3478 3486 3846 3855 3907 3978 4042 4444 4613 4626 4841 4952 5005 5090 5106 5113 5117 5144 5170 5281 5347 5460 5484 5662 5686 5740 5779 5821 5986 6101 6107 6115 6220 6315 6559 6739 6764 6941 6976 7095 7100 7104 7169 7288 7298 7436 7518 7531 7537 7562 7782 7814 7869 7936 7960 8078 8111 8236 8447 8478 8623 8628 8642 8699 8713 8791 8897 8928 9270 9326 9327 9335 9448 9474 9617 9677 9827 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 21-03-2025 March: NIRMAL NR-424 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000 4th Prize: Rs. 2,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 200 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (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 lottery in anyway.) In a successful turnout for animal welfare, all 22 cats available for adoption were placed in new homes during an event organized by the Macau Jockey Club and Anima Macau on March 16. The event, which drew around 500 attendees, aimed to address concerns over the clubs initial plan to relocate nearly 100 stray cats to Zhuhai, sparking a broader conversation about Macaus stray animal policies. The adoption event, held at the former racecourse from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., saw a strong public response, with the last cat adopted by 5:45 p.m., nearly an hour before the scheduled end. Zoe Tang, President of Anima Macau, confirmed that all 22 cats selected for the event were adopted, though time constraints prevented more cats from being included. We couldnt put out more cats for adoption because some are sick or not yet socialized, Tang explained. We hope to give them time to adapt and build trust with people before they are ready for adoption. The adoption event not only succeeded in finding homes for the cats but also fostered community engagement and awareness about responsible pet ownership. The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) set up a service counter at the event to facilitate ownership registration for the newly adopted pets. Anima continues to work with local animal protection groups to socialize and prepare the remaining cats for adoption. Tang emphasized the importance of public awareness and responsible pet ownership, urging potential adopters to follow Animas adoption procedures, which include multiple visits to the shelter, a detailed application process, and a commitment to never abandon the adopted animal. Adopting cats: balancing compassion with caution Adopting stray cats can be a compassionate act, but it also comes with potential risks, particularly for families with children. According to the Forever Vets website, health risks, behavioral challenges, and safety concerns are among the factors that need careful consideration. Health risks are a primary concern when adopting stray cats. Stray cats may carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and other pets, such as rabies, toxoplasmosis, and gastrointestinal infections according to the Environmental Literacy Council website. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to have the cat examined by a veterinarian before bringing it home. This includes testing for diseases, administering vaccinations, and treating for parasites. Behavioral and integration challenges are also common. Stray cats may be fearful or aggressive due to past experiences. It is important to provide a quiet, secure space for the cat to acclimate to its new environment. Gradual introduction to family members and other pets, along with patience and understanding, can help the cat adjust. For families with children, supervision is key. Always supervise interactions between children and the new cat to ensure both the child and the cat are safe and comfortable. The Vets Explain Pets website advises to teach children how to handle the cat gently and respect its space. Forever Vets reminds that regular veterinary care is essential for a cats long-term well-being. Schedule routine vet visits for check-ups and vaccinations to ensure the cat remains healthy. Preventive care is crucial for a cats long-term well-being. By taking these precautions, you can provide a safe and loving home for the cat while ensuring the well-being of your family. Victoria Chan The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday called out Pakistan for actively promoting cross-border terrorism, citing it as the "biggest roadblock" to peace and security in the region. Speaking at a weekly briefing, Jaiswal said, "The world clearly knows that the real issue is Pakistan's active promotion and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. In fact, this is the biggest roadblock to peace and security in the region." Jaiswal statement reflects the long-standing tension between both countries, made worse by Pakistan's support for terrorist groups. This issue has been a major point of contention, with India repeatedly urging Pakistan to take action against these groups. In a recent interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed his efforts to improve relations with Pakistan, including inviting then-Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony. However, the PM highlighted that each attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal. "I even personally travelled to Lahore in the pursuit of peace. When I became Prime Minister, I specially invited Pakistan to my swearing-in ceremony so we could turn over a new leaf. Yet, every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal," PM Modi said in the podcast with Lex Fridman. Regarding the Iftar invitation hosted by the Pakistan High Commission to mark Pakistan's National Day, MEA spokesperson stated that invitations depend on the state of relations between the two countries. "As for invitations, Nimantran toh rishton pe nirbhar karta hai (they depend on the relationship between the countries). Accepting an invitation also depends on the relationship," He said, ANI reported. Meerut Murder Case: Fresh details have emerged in the murder case of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, who was killed by his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla. According to ZEE News TV, following Saurabhs murder, accused Muskan went to Manali and was staying there on his money. During her stay in Manali, Muskan was chatting with Saurabhs sister on WhatsApp posing as Saurabh to hide her crime and make the family believe that everything is fine. The navy officer was murdered on March 4. However, on March 6, Muskan sent a WhatsApp message to his sister Chinki from his phone number, pretending to be Saurabh. According to the chats in possession with ZEE News TV, Muskan - posing as Saurabh - asked if Chinki would be coming home for Holi celebrations. On being asked by Saurabh's sister why he hadn't taken their daughter along, Muskan pretending to be Saurabh cited her health issues. In the chats, the two exchanged wishes for Holi and discussed a Holi party. Following Saurabhs murder, Muskan took his phone with her and used it to communicate with his relatives, pretending to be him, to avoid arousing suspicion. Smelling a rat, Saurabh's sister tried to call him on WhatsApp several times, but Muskan did not respond to her calls. On March 4, the festivities turned fatal when Muskaan, with her lover Sahil Shukla, plunged a blade into Saurabh multiple times, carving his body into fifteen fragments. Muskaan and Sahil hid Saurabh's body in a plastic drum, sealed it with cement, and fled to the hills. The two used Saurabh's phone to post deceptive snapshots in a bid to cover their crime. However, their plan fell apart when Saurabh's family took legal refuge. Under interrogation, Muskaan and Sahil crumbled, confessing their crime. Police cracked open the drum, retrieving Saurabhs butchered pieces for an autopsy. Meanwhile, a furious mob of lawyers descended upon Muskaan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla, outside the CJM court on Wednesday. Hurriyat chairman and Kashmirs chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday called for the immediate revocation of the governments decision to ban the Awami Action Committee (AAC) in Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as harsh. Addressing the congregation at Srinagars historic Jama Masjid, the Mirwaiz highlighted the organizations long-standing commitment to peace, dialogue and social reform. Tracing the organisations roots, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq spoke about the legacy of Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah and said he played a pivotal role in shaping the political consciousness of Kashmiris under autocratic rule. He further highlighted the contributions of his father, Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, who founded the AAC in 1964 and described him as a visionary and bold leader whose heartbeat for the people, their concerns, and their well-being. He questioned how could have founded an unlawful organization and urged the government to immediately revoke the ban of AAC. Its pertinent to mention that on the 11th, the Home Ministry cited the organizations' involvement in activities that threaten the sovereignty, integrity, and security of India and banned the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for five years. The govt has also banned the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), headed by Masroor Abbas Ansari for five years. Nagpur Violence: A local court in Maharashtras Nagpur has remanded 17 persons arrested in connection with violence, which occurred in the city on Monday, in police custody till March 22. This came after the accused were produced on Thursday night before magistrate Maimuna Sultana, during which the police sought their custody for seven days. The persons have been arrested in connection with an FIR registered by the Ganeshpeth police. While pronouncing the order, the court said that the offences levelled against the accused were serious in nature and hence their custodial interrogation was required. It further stated that since a mob was involved in the violence, it would not be possible for the police to attribute specific roles to each accused at this stage. Meanwhile, members of the Muslim community in Nagpur have condemned the violence in Vidarbhas largest city earlier this week and sought an impartial probe into it, claiming that timely action by police could have prevented it. Nagpur Violence: Top Updates 1. The probe in the case is at a preliminary stage, and a thorough investigation is yet to be completed, the court said in its order. Assistant Public Prosecutor Megha Burange said the accused persons custodial interrogation was required to ascertain the masterminds and main perpetrators of the crime. She further said the accused had created terror among citizens and had also assaulted a few police personnel. 2. The lawyers of the accused, however, opposed the police claims and said no specific role was attributed to the arrested persons, and even the charge of criminal conspiracy is not included in the case. They also alleged that police had randomly arrested individuals without any evidence. 3. Large-scale stone pelting and arson were reported in several parts of Nagpur on Monday evening after rumours began circulating about a chadar with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad seeking the removal of Aurangzebs tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. 4. Thirty-three police personnel, including three DCP-rank officers, were injured. Police have booked Fahim Khan, the key accused in the violence, and five others on charges of sedition and spreading misinformation on social media. 5. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, they said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should meet representatives of both communities in a bid to establish peace. Efforts are being made to provoke the Muslim community through various means in the last two to three years. A minister has been continuously raising the topic of Aurangzeb. The Muslim community has no connection to Aurangzeb and has remained calm, Dr. Mohammad Awes Hasan said at the press conference, as quoted by news agency PTI. 6. Large-scale stone pelting and arson were reported in several parts of Nagpur on Monday evening after rumours began circulating about a chadar' with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. (With PTI Inputs) New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to grant relief to Jai Corp Ltd and its director, Anand Jain, in connection with an alleged Rs 2,400 crore investor fraud case. The apex court upheld the Bombay High Court's order directing a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations against Jain, who is accused of misleading public investors in real estate projects. SC Finds No Reason To Interfere In HC's Decision A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan stated that the Bombay High Court had acted within its jurisdiction in ordering an SIT investigation, given the seriousness of the allegations. We admire and appreciate the courage with which the High Court has passed the order. This is what is expected of any High Court, the apex court observed. The court ruled that the directive to the CBI's Mumbai Zonal Director to investigate the matter was legally sound and found no justification to interfere at this stage. It also clarified that if an FIR is registered in the case, Jai Corp Ltd and its associates could approach the appropriate legal forum to challenge it. Bombay HCs Directive for SIT Probe In January, the Bombay High Court instructed the CBIs Mumbai Zonal Director to form an SIT to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations against Jain and Jai Corp Ltd. This directive came in response to a petition filed by businessman Shoaib Richie Sequeira, who accused Jain and his company of misusing public funds, misleading investors, and engaging in money laundering by diverting advances to subsidiaries. Sequeira claimed that despite filing complaints with the Mumbai Polices Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on December 22, 2021, and April 3, 2023, no impartial investigation was conducted, prompting him to seek judicial intervention. The HC found the allegations significant enough to warrant investigation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). EOW's Investigation Under Scrutiny The Supreme Court noted that the Bombay High Court had expressed dissatisfaction with the EOWs handling of the case. The HC criticized the agencys investigation methods, pointing out that it failed to conduct a legally compliant preliminary inquiry. This prompted the HC to order an SIT probe to ensure an independent and unbiased investigation, uninfluenced by prior court observations. SC Rejects Jai Corp Ltd's Legal Arguments During the Supreme Court hearing, senior advocates Harish Salve, Mukul Rohatgi, and Amit Desai represented Jai Corp Ltd. Desai argued that the Bombay High Courts order exceeded the scope of the original petition, which had only sought a preliminary probe. He contended that the HCs expansion of the case into a full-fledged investigation was unwarranted and amounted to an abuse of legal process. However, the Supreme Court dismissed these arguments, ruling that the High Courts directive for an SIT probe was justified given the nature of the allegations and the inadequacies in the EOWs initial investigation. An FIR has been filed by an NRI against a Tibetan national at the Women Police Station in Dharamshala, with charges of criminal intimidation and rape, according to information provided by SP Kangra. The victim, an NRI, is currently undergoing medical tests and will provide a judicial statement. Speaking to ANI, Kangra SP, Shalini Agnihotri, said, "In the women PS of Dharamshala, an FIR was registered with the charges of criminal intimidation and rape. The victim is an NRI...her medical test and judicial statement are required, we are completing those requirements today." She further added, "We have started interrogating the accused...we are exploring all the angles...accused is a Tibetian national, victim is NRI...we have initiated the verification process of their documents. We are in touch with the Tibetian office also..." The accused, who is a Tibetan national, has been interrogated, and the police are looking into all possible angles of the case. Agnihotri also mentioned that the verification of the documents of both the victim and the accused is underway. The police are in regular contact with the Tibetan office to assist in the investigation. Further information is still awaited. Recently, one person has been arrested for allegedly raping a British woman at a hotel in the Mahipalpur area of Delhi, while his accomplice has been taken into custody on molestation charges, Delhi police said. According to Delhi police, the woman had travelled from the UK to meet the accused, whom she had befriended through social media. The incident came to light after the victim approached the police, who registered a case and arrested both suspects. Police said that the woman arrived in Delhi and booked a hotel room where she met the man. However, she soon felt that he was attempting to assault her, leading to an argument between them. The accused then allegedly raped her. The woman managed to escape and reached the hotel's reception, but as she attempted to leave, another man allegedly molested her in the lift. Delhi Police have arrested both suspects and have informed the British High Commission about the incident. New Delhi: Actor Vijay Devarakonda and Prakash issued a clarification on Thursday following the allegations on them for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms. In a press statement, Deverakonda's team clarified that the actor entered into a contract with the company as a brand ambassador for skill-based games and endorsed the company in regions and territories where online skill-based games were legally permitted. The statement read, "This is to inform the public and all concerned parties that Vijay Deverakonda has officially entered into a contract with a company solely for the limited purpose of serving as a brand ambassador for skill-based games. His endorsement was strictly confined to regions and territories where online skill-based games are legally permitted." It continued, "It is important to clarify that skill-based games, including online games such as rummy, have been repeatedly recognized by the Honourable Supreme Court of India as distinct from gambling or gaming. The court has upheld that such games involve skill rather than chance, making them legally permissible." Deverakonda's team issued the press statement with the motive to eliminate any misconceptions/misinformation regarding the actor's past endorsements for online betting games. "Vijay Deverakonda's legal team and agencies carefully review all associations before entering into any agreements. After a thorough legal review, he agreed to endorse the skill-based gaming platform A23, ensuring that his association aligned with the law standards. However, his endorsement term ended in 2023, and he is no longer associated with the brand. This press release is being issued to eliminate any misconceptions/misinformation and to emphasise that Vijay Deverakonda's past endorsement of a legally recognized skill-based gaming company was completely lawful." On the same day, Prakash Raj also issued a clarification through a self-made video which he posted on his X handle. He admitted to doing an advertisement for a gaming app but later refused to continue as it didn't feel right to him. Taking to his X handle, he said, "I have not received anything from the police station or any summons as such, and when it does, I will deploy, but I think it's my responsibility to reply and clear things for you." The actor continued, "In 2016, people approached me for a gaming app, and I did do it. But within a few months, my conscience, maybe it was legal but I thought that it was not right. But I couldn't do anything, so I let it go for a year's contract. Immediately when they wanted to renew, I said no. My conscience doesn't accept that I don't want to continue." Raj claimed that he had not done any advertisements since then. He said, "This happened around 8-9 years back, and since then, I have not done any ads which promote online gambling. Now, in 2021-22, this company must have been sold to somebody else, and when they put these snippets of me on a few social media, we did send them a notice. In an email, I said look. No, I am not part of it. You can't illegally use it. It has expired. They stopped after that. This is my reply." The Telangana police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 celebrities and influencers, including popular figures like Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms. The FIR was filed at the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad following a complaint by 32-year-old businessman PM Phanindra Sarma. In his complaint, Sarma claimed that during a conversation with youth in his community on March 16, he discovered many individuals had been influenced to invest their money in these gambling apps, which were heavily advertised by social media personalities. New Delhi: The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has released provisional payroll data for January 2025, revealing a net addition of 17.89 lakh members, said Ministry of Labour & Employment release. An increase of 11.48 per cent has been registered in net payroll addition during the current month as compared to the previous month of December 2024. Further, the year-on-year analysis reveals a growth of 11.67 per cent in net payroll additions compared to January 2024, signifying increased employment opportunities and heightened awareness of employee benefits, bolstered by EPFOs effective outreach initiatives. Key highlights of the EPFO Payroll Data (January 2025) are as follows: New Subscribers: EPFO enrolled around 8.23 lakh new subscribers in January 2025. The new subscribers addition shows year on year growth of 1.87 % from the previous year in January 2024. This growth in new subscribers can be attributed to growing employment opportunities, increased awareness of employee benefits, and EPFO's successful outreach programs. Age Group 18-25 Leads Payroll Addition: A noticeable aspect of the data is the dominance of the 18-25 age group, 4.70 lakh new subscribers added in the 18-25 age group, constituting a significant 57.07% of the total new subscribers added in January 2025. New subscribers in the 18-25 age group added in the month shows a growth of 3.07% from the previous year in January 2024. Further, the net payroll addition for the age group 18-25 for January 2025 is approximately 7.27 lakh reflecting an increase of 6.19% compared to the previous month of December 2024 and a growth of 8.15% from the previous year in January 2024. This is in consonance with the earlier trend which indicates that most individuals joining the organized workforce are youth, primarily first-time job seekers. Rejoined Members: The payroll data highlights that approximately 15.03 lakh members exited and subsequently rejoined EPFO. This figure depicts a significant year-over-year growth of 23.55% compared to January 2024. These members switched their jobs and re-joined the establishments covered under the ambit of EPFO and opted to transfer their accumulations instead of applying for final settlement thus safeguarding long-term financial well-being and extending their social security protection. Growth in Female Membership: Gender-wise analysis of payroll data unveils that out of the total new subscribers added during the month, around 2.17 lakhs are new female subscribers. This figure exhibits significant year-over-year growth of 6.01% compared to January 2024. Further, the net female payroll addition during the month stood at around 3.44 lakh reflecting an increase of 13.48% compared to the previous month of December 2024. It also depicts a significant year over year growth of 13.58% compared to January 2024. The growth in female member additions is indicative of a broader shift towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce. State-wise Contribution: State-wise analysis of payroll data denotes that the top five states/ UTs constitute around 59.98% of net payroll addition, adding a total around 10.73 lakh net payroll during the month. Of all the states, Maharashtra is leading by adding 22.77% of net payroll during the month. The states/UTs of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana individually added more than 5% of the total net payroll during the month. New Delhi: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has notified the regulations for Operationalisation of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) "The PFRDA vide gazette notification dated 19th March, 2025 has issued PFRDA (Operationalisation of the Unified Pension Scheme under NPS) Regulations, 2025," said a Ministry of Finance release. This follows the UPS notification dated 24th January, 2025 by Government of India for Central Government Employees covered under NPS . The regulations shall come into effect from 1st April, 2025. Unified Pension Scheme: PFRDA Regulations enable enrolment of three categories of central government employees. Check Major cut-off dates (i) an existing central government employee in service as on 1st April 2025, who is covered under NPS ; (ii) new recruit in the central government services, who joins service on or after the 1st day of April 2025 ; (iii) a central government employee who was covered under NPS and who has superannuated or voluntarily retired or has retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j) on or before 31st March 2025 and is eligible for UPS or the legally wedded spouse in case of a subscriber who has superannuated or retired and has demised prior to exercising the option for UPS. The enrolment and claim forms for all these categories of central government employees will be available online from 1st April, 2025 on website of Protean CRA - https://npscra.nsdl.co.in The employees also have the option to submit the forms physically. Declared last year by the Narendra Modi government, the UPS seeks to provide fixed pension security to employees working in central government offices. People who are in a government job and are already enrolled in the NPS will have the opportunity to choose UPS. New Delhi: Scams are becoming more common and affecting people despite repeated warnings. In a shocking recent case, an 86-year-old woman from South Mumbai lost over Rs 20 crore of her savings to fraudsters. It all started with a phone call from someone pretending to be a CBI officer. The caller tricked her into believing that her bank account was involved in money laundering. The scammer intimidated her with severe threats, including a so-called "digital arrest" and legal trouble for her family which forced her to comply. Under pressure, she was told to stay inside her home and not speak to anyone about the situation. For the next two months, the fraudsters kept calling her every few hours to track her location and ensure she remained isolated. The scammers during this time tricked the woman into sharing her bank details, pretending they needed to verify her accounts. They convinced her that transferring money was necessary to clear her name from the fake money laundering case and assured her that the funds would be returned after the so-called investigation. Over two months, she ended up transferring more than Rs 20 crore to multiple accounts controlled by the fraudsters. The scam was uncovered when the womans domestic help noticed her acting strangely and informed her daughter. Sensing something was wrong, the daughter reached out to the police, who quickly launched an investigation. Cyber police traced the stolen money across multiple bank accounts, managed to freeze Rs 77 lakh and identified those involved in the fraud. The police arrested 20-year-old Shayan Jamil Shaikh from Malad after tracing Rs 4.99 lakh to his account. Further investigations led to the arrests of Razique Azan Butt from Mira Road and Hritik Shekhar Thakur from Andheri, both of whom had withdrawn large sums from the scam-related accounts. Beijing yesterday demanded protections for Chinese students in the U.S. after a Congressional panel asked six American universities to hand over a large amount of detailed information on their Chinese students, citing national security concerns. A letter sent to the universities, including Stanford and Carnegie Mellon, alleged that the Chinese government was embedding researchers in top American institutions to gain direct access to sensitive technologies. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Chinese students account for about one-quarter of all international students in the U.S. and that their activities have promoted the economic prosperity and technological development of the U.S. This is in the interest of both parties, Mao told reporters at a daily briefing. We urge the U.S. to stop overstretching the concept of national security, effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students, and not impose discriminatory restrictive measures on Chinese students. Her remarks came a day after John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to six colleges requesting information on Chinese students enrolled in advanced science and technology programs. He accused the institutions of putting American research at risk in exchange for financial incentives. The colleges named in Moolenaars letter were Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, and the University of Southern California. The Chinese Communist Party has established a well-documented, systematic pipeline to embed researchers in leading U.S. institutions, providing them direct exposure to sensitive technologies with dual-use military applications, Moolenaar wrote in a letter to Farnam Jahanian, president of Carnegie Mellon University. Americas student visa system has become a Trojan horse for Beijing, providing unrestricted access to our top research institutions and posing a direct threat to our national security, it added. If left unaddressed, this trend will continue to displace American talent, compromise research integrity, and fuel Chinas technological ambitions at our expense. The letter requested information including the Chinese students sources of funding, the types of research theyre involved in, what schools they previously attended, and a country-by-country breakdown of applicants, admittances, and enrollments at your university. Most Chinese students enrolled in U.S. undergraduate programs pay full tuition, making them an important source of funding for many universities. Many of the students do not remain in the U.S. after college graduation but return to China, where they hope a U.S. degree will land them a good job. But foreign science and engineering doctorate recipients, including those from China, are more likely to stay in the U.S. for their postdoc or employment, according to the National Science Foundation. Last week, a Republican lawmaker introduced a bill seeking to ban Chinese students from studying in U.S. schools. In January, the University of Michigan said it was is ending its partnership with a prominent Chinese university, a few months after five Chinese students in the joint program were charged over their suspicious activities outside a remote military site. In a letter to a congressman, Santa Ono, president of the University of Michigan, said following a thorough review the university has initiated the six-month process to officially end the partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, TAIPEI, MDT/AP As many as 10 terrorists of a banned outfit were killed during a gunfight in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said. A Pakistani Army captain also lost his life during the incident which took place in the Dera Ismail Khan district. On Thursday, the intelligence-based operation (IBO) was carried out following reports of the presence of terrorists in the area, a statement from the militarys media wing said. It said that during the intense fire exchange, Captain Hasnain Akhtar fought gallantly and made the ultimate sacrifice, leading his troops from the front. Hasnain was a brave officer and renowned for his courage and bold and daring actions during previous operations, it said, as quoted by news agency PTI. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were seized from the killed terrorists who were involved in numerous attacks against law enforcement agencies as well as the target killing of innocent civilians. A sanitization operation is being conducted in the area, and the security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country. Such sacrifices of brave young officers further strengthen our resolve, it added. The neighbouring country has been reeling under increased terrorist attacks especially targeting law enforcers and security forces since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The country witnessed a surge in terror attacks in January 2025an increase of 42 percent compared to the previous monthaccording to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank. The data revealed that at least 74 militant attacks were recorded nationwide, resulting in 91 fatalities, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants. Another 117 individuals sustained injuries, including 53 security forces personnel, 54 civilians, and 10 militants. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the worst-affected province, followed by Balochistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwas settled districts, militants carried out 27 attacks, resulting in 19 fatalities, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and two militants The tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (erstwhile Fata) witnessed 19 attacks, resulting in 46 deaths, including 13 security personnel, eight civilians, and 25 militants. (With agency Inputs) US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (local time) that he would be signing a rare earth mineral deal with Ukraine "very shortly." Ahead of signing an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, Trump expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Our country is doing very well. Things are--as you can see--doing quite well," he said. Trump announced that he had signed an executive order to boost the production of critical minerals in the United States. "Moments ago, I signed an executive order to dramatically increase production of critical minerals and rare earths. It's a big thing in this country. We're also signing agreements in various locations to unlock rare earths and minerals, and lots of other things all over the world, but in particular, Ukraine," he said. According to the World Economic Forum, while China may not have the largest reserves of rare earth minerals, it dominates the refining process, making it the world's largest importer of critical minerals, which it processes and supplies globally. The United States, India, and Germany follow China as major importers, while the United States, Chile, Switzerland, and Australia have recorded significant increases in exports of raw, semi-processed, or processed critical minerals. Referring to his recent phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, Trump expressed hope for an end to the ongoing conflict. "We're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia, and one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earth with Ukraine. They have tremendous value in rare earth minerals. We appreciate that. We spoke yesterday with President Putin and President Zelenskyy, and we would love to see this come to an end. I think we're doing pretty well in that regard. Hopefully, we can save thousands of people a week from dying. They're dying so unnecessarily, and I believe we'll get it done. We'll see what happens, but I believe we'll get it done," he said. At a press briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration had "moved beyond the economic minerals deal." Leavitt explained, "It means the minerals deal was that first set of framework that you all saw in that very public meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Trump in the Oval Office. We are now focused on a long-term peace agreement." Earlier, Trump also signed a proclamation honouring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention. "I just want to announce that I signed a proclamation a few moments ago honouring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention, in which he declared the very well-known, very famous words: 'Give me liberty or give me death,'" he said. A federal judge in the United States has blocked the deportation of Indian student Badar Khan Suri who was detained by the immigration authorities after his student visa was revoked. His lawyer had claimed that he was being targeted for having ties witn those who have criticsed US foreign policy related to Israel. Upon accepting an appeal on his behalf, Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ordered on Thursday that Suri, now held in a detention facility in Louisiana, cannot be deported without a court order. Suri has a PhD from New Delhis Jamia Milia University and was a post-doctoral fellow at Georgetown University in Washington teaching a course on Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused him of disseminating Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media, according to news agency IANS. Referring to his wifes father, Ahmed Yousef, McLaughlin said that he has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. But his lawyer wrote in his court filing that he was being targeted for deportation because he is married to a Palestinian-American based solely on his family ties to those who may have either expressed criticism of US foreign policy as it relates to Israel. A Georgetown University statement said, We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity, and we have not received a reason for his detention. According to a university website, Suri's wife Mapheze Saleh, who is studying for a masters in Arab Studies, has worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Gaza and has written for Middle East Monitor, Qatar government TV network Al Jazeera, and Palestinian media. Suri is the second Indian to be swept up in President Donald Trumps campaign against pro-Palestine protests that engulfed several universities across the US. In some cases, the protests veered into anti-Semitism and support for Hamas. Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD student at Columbia University in New York, fled to Canada earlier this month, effectively self-deporting herself after immigration officers said her student visa was cancelled and went looking for her. Suris lawyer said in his filing that on Monday Homeland Security agents, who had their faces covered, stopped him outside his residence in a Washington suburb and took him away. He was taken to a detention centre in Farmville, Virginia, before being sent to Louisiana. His lawyers want him moved to a facility closer to his home while the case proceeds. Mapheze Saleh, who is a US citizen, holds a masters degree from Jamia Milia University and worked at the Qatar Embassy in New Delhi, according to Georgetown University. (With agency Inputs) * Ides of February Visitors fell by 4.4% in February compared to the same period last year, especially from the mainland * MJC stray cats | 100% success rate in cat adoption, but vets warn of risks * Drive In * LRT carried 27,100 passengers daily in February, representing a continuing increase since the opening of the Hengqin Line * Advocates for change in parking welcome the conversion of motorbike parks * HKs richest tycoon at odds over his companys Panama Canal ports deal DOWNLOAD PDF Friday, March 21, 2025 edition no. 4685 The Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) is urging property managers and responsible parties to schedule annual elevator inspections promptly. According to the bureau, this measure is vital for ensuring sufficient time to address any necessary repairs and to secure the Inspection Approval Declaration for safe operation. Under Macaus Lift Safety Legal Framework (Law No. 14/2022), building management companies, condominium assemblies, or establishment operators are required to hire licensed inspection entities to conduct annual elevator inspections. The DSSCU emphasized that those who have not yet completed their first inspection since the laws enactment should act quickly to allow time for necessary repairs or corrections. Currently, over 10,500 elevators are registered in Macau, with 151 technicians, 41 maintenance entities, and 10 inspection entities certified. The DSSCU is monitoring inspection requests and has posted notices in buildings with overdue inspections, urging responsible parties to schedule inspections immediately. The agency also highlighted that a small number of elevators have defects in their electrical safety devices, which must be repaired promptly to obtain the Inspection Approval Declaration. While improvements must be completed by March 31, 2027, elevators can still pass annual inspections in the interim. However, those with unresolved issues will require inspections every eight months instead of annually until repairs are finalized. Victoria Chan Analysis Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shings business empire is in the crosshairs after CK Hutchison Holdings chose to sell its Panama Canal port assets to a consortium that includes U.S. investment firm BlackRock Inc., apparently angering Beijing. Over the past week, Beijings Hong Kong affairs offices have posted scathing commentaries from a local state-backed media outlet over the tentative deal by Hutchison, which is controlled by Lis family. That raises questions about the deal and highlights the difficulties Hong Kong businesses face as they balance demands from Beijing for national loyalty and their own capitalist interests in the once free-wheeling Asian financial hub. Hutchison, through its various businesses, is also actively involved in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), particularly through its port operations and other related activities, aiming to leverage the regions growth and connectivity. Hong Kongs richest tycoon Nicknamed Superman, Li is one of the wealthiest individuals in Hong Kong and the GBA, being among the worlds 50 richest people, with Forbes calculating his net worth at $38 billion. Li, 96, retired from his position as chairman of CK Hutchison in 2018, succeeded by his elder son Victor. But hes still one of Hong Kongs most influential figures. Lis rags-to-riches story paralleled the former British colonys rise. His business empire touches almost every aspect of daily life in Hong Kong, from properties and supermarkets to telecommunications and utilities. Globally, his conglomerate owns assets including British drugstore chain Superdrug and European mobile phone network operator Three. A Hutchison subsidiary has operated ports at both ends of the Panama Canal since 1997. That was one reason U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged Chinese interference with the critical shipping lanes operations. Lis ties with Beijing Lis influence extends beyond business. He has met with top Chinese leaders and has served on the elite committee that selected Hong Kongs leader. Experts on ties between Beijing and Hong Kong said ruling Communist Party leaders once understood that support from the business sector was crucial for maintaining Hong Kongs capitalist system. It has been strategically vital for mainland Chinas economy, given the role their global networks and resources play in the countrys development. So, Li has had notable political influence. But Li has faced criticism over some business decisions. When he sold off some mainland Chinese assets in 2015, an article published by a think tank affiliated with Chinese official news agency Xinhua accused him of being immoral. During pro-democracy protests in 2019, Li was blasted by some pro-Beijing supporters for his perceived ambivalence about the unrest. Some other Hong Kong business leaders adopted a harsher stance. Panama ports deal CK Hutchison announced March 4 that it would sell all its shares in Hutchison Port Holdings and in Hutchison Port Group Holdings to the consortium that also includes BlackRock subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited, which is chaired by Italian shipping scion Diego Aponte, whose family reportedly has a longstanding relationship with Lis. If approved, the deal, valued at nearly $23 billion including $5 billion in debt, will give the consortium control over 43 ports in 23 countries, including the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, located at either end of the canal. The transaction does not include ports in Hong Kong or mainland China. CK Hutchison said the transaction was purely commercial in nature. The deal pleased Trump but angered Beijing. One of the Beijing-backed newspaper commentaries described the deal as a betrayal of all Chinese and said the company should think about which side to take. The other said great entrepreneurs are patriots, suggesting that businesspeople who dance with predatory American politicians would be doomed to infamy. Comments on popular posts about the deal on Chinese social media platform Weibo tend to be more critical than favorable toward Li. Chief Executive John Lee avoided direct criticism of the deal or Trump, but told reporters on Tuesday his government opposes bullying tactics in international economic and trade relations, reiterating Beijings stance. Ports carry geopolitical value Some unconfirmed reports have suggested Chinese leaders were angry not to have been consulted in advance about the deal. George Chen, managing director for Hong Kong at The Asia Group, a Washington-headquartered business and policy consulting firm, said Beijing may have been disappointed because it had almost no time to devise a response in advance. Ports are valuable strategic assets and transactions involving them are always sensitive, said Wilson Chan, co-founder of the Pagoda Institute, a think tank focusing on public policy and the global political economy. It is unclear whether pressure from Beijing will affect the deal, which has to be approved by Panamas government. Chinas Foreign Ministry deflected a question about whether authorities are investigating the deal, saying reporters should ask other authorities. Cancelling the deal would be risky, Chan said. Strictly speaking, you just let Trump take credit for it, then you later say Sorry, Im canceling the deal. You can imagine what Trumps reaction would be, he said, adding that would also affect how the outside world views Hong Kong businesses. CK Hutchison has not commented on the controversy. The company reported its 2024 financial results yesterday, but did not hold a news conference. Victor Li did not mention the deal in his chairmans statement but said the operating environment for the groups business is expected to be volatile and unpredictable. He said he anticipated potential headwinds for the companys ports and related services in early 2025 as shipping lines transition into their new alliances and ongoing geopolitical risk impacts global trade. Longer term implications The first Trump administration sanctioned Chinese and Hong Kong officials for undermining the autonomy of the territory promised when Britain handed its colony to Beijing in 1997 under a concept dubbed One country, two systems. It promised the city could keep its Western-style civil liberties and economic autonomy for at least 50 years, but following the 2019 protests, Beijing has doubled-down on its political control of the city. Li could try to placate critics who deem him insufficiently patriotic, Chan said, by using proceeds from selling the port assets for investments aligned with Beijings policies, particularly in developing Hong Kong and mainland port businesses. But relations between private businesses and Beijing remain uncertain, said The Asia Groups Chen. Even though Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met with private sector business leaders in a show of support, some may wonder if they must follow the party line even if that might conflict with their business interests, he said. If Beijing steps up pressure on Li to scrap the deal, the Trump administration could hit back with more sanctions and restrictions on Hong Kong and Chinese businesses and some individuals, he said. The situation shows that Washingtons concerns about Hong Kongs business autonomy are valid, Chen said. This is bad when it comes to the defense of one country, two systems, Chen said. MDT/AP Two prominent figures from Macau have been named among the 942 national-level representative transmitters of intangible cultural heritage by Chinas Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Miguel de Senna Fernandes, a key figure in Patua Theatre, and Lo Seng Chong, a leader in the Tou Tei belief and customs, were honored for their contributions to preserving and promoting Macaus unique cultural traditions. The recognition, part of the sixth group of national intangible cultural heritage transmitters, highlights the importance of safeguarding and transmitting cultural practices that reflect Macaus rich multicultural identity. The selection process involved rigorous evaluation, including expert reviews, public consultations, and assessments by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Miguel de Senna Fernandes, a renowned public figure in Macau, is celebrated for his work in Patua Theatre, a traditional performing art performed in the Macanese Creole dialect, Patua. This unique form of theater blends multiple languages and cultural influences, offering comedic performances that resonate deeply with the local community. Fernandes, a founder of the Doci Papiacam Theatre Group, has been instrumental in preserving this art form since 1993. As the groups leader, scriptwriter, and director, he has created new plays annually and organized performances at the Macau Arts Festival. His efforts extend to mentoring young actors and raising public awareness of this cultural heritage, which was added to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2021. Lo Seng Chong, president of the Foc Tac Chi Tou Tei Mio Temple Association, has dedicated himself to preserving the Tou Tei belief and customs, a cornerstone of Macaus Chinese community. These traditions, which reflect residents aspirations for peace, prosperity, and familial well-being, are celebrated annually during the Tou Tei Festival on the second day of the second lunar month. Since 2006, Chong has overseen temple rituals and organized festivities, while also promoting the culture through youth engagement and the publication of related books and cultural products. The Tou Tei belief and customs were also recognized nationally in 2021. The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) of Macau played a pivotal role in supporting the nominations, facilitating applications, and coordinating evaluations with local experts and the Cultural Heritage Council. The IC emphasized its commitment to fostering platforms for cultural expression and nurturing future generations of heritage transmitters. Victoria Chan Macau Professional Services, Limited (MPS) has announced a corporate identity update to reflect its expansion into new partnerships, technologies, and enhanced management. While the company remains committed to its core values, the rebranding highlights MPSs focus on innovative design technologies, expert engineering, and project management services across Macau, Hengqin, and the Greater Bay Area. The update solely involves a new corporate logo, with the companys name, contact details, and scope of operations remaining unchanged. MPS assures customers and partners in a statement that its commitment to delivering high-quality professional services remains steadfast. To mark the transition, MPS will officially launch its new corporate identity at the MIECF exhibition on March 27, 2025, at Booth I31-I36, starting at 3:30 p.m. Australian prosecutors yesterday dropped a charge against a Papua New Guinea government minister accused of assaulting a woman in Sydney. Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina had pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The charge carries a potential maximum of five years in prison. Prosecutors withdrew the charge in a Sydney court, where the 58-year-old had appeared to deny the allegation that he attacked a 31-year-old woman on July 6 last year at an address near Bondi Beach in the citys expensive eastern suburbs, court records show. Maladina was seen smiling with his lawyer, Margaret Cunneen, after a magistrate dismissed the charge. He did not speak to waiting media as he left the court. Asked for comment, Cunneen told The Associated Press the result speaks for itself. He remains a person of good character with no criminal record, she told the AP in a text. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marapes office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Maladina being cleared. Days after the alleged incident, Marape announced that Energy Minister Thoms Opa had taken over the important petroleum portfolio in the energy-rich South Pacific island nation because Maladina had stepped down during the court process. Three months later, Marape announced Maladina had been reinstated to the cabinet on legal advice. Jimmy Maladina has been restored to the petroleum ministry to continue the work in the petroleum sector. This is happening in consultation with legal advice we have received, Marape told Papua New Guineas Post-Courier newspaper in October last year. Foreign government ministers can claim immunity from criminal prosecution in Australia if they are visiting on business. But there is no immunity for private visits. Cunneen said the visit had been private to see his children and that Maladina had no immunity against prosecution at the time. Papua New Guinea is Australias nearest neighbor and was an Australian colony until independence in 1975.MDT/AP Malaysias government has given final approval for a Texas-based marine robotics company to renew the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean more than a decade ago. Cabinet ministers agreed to terms and conditions for a no-find, no-fee contract with Texas-based Ocean Infinity to resume the seabed search operation at a new 15,000-square-kilometer site in the ocean, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in a statement this week. Ocean Infinity will be paid $70 million only if wreckage is discovered. The Boeing 777 plane vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on a flight from Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing. Satellite data showed the plane turned from its flight path and headed south to the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. An expensive multinational search failed to turn up any clues to its location, although debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing. The final approval for a new search came three months after Malaysia gave the nod in principle to plans for a fresh search. Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Punkett earlier this year reportedly said the company had improved its technology since 2018. He has said the firm is working with many experts to analyze data and had narrowed the search area to the most likely site. Loke said his ministry will ink a contract with Ocean Infinity soon but didnt provide details on the terms. The firm has reportedly sent a search vessel to the site and indicated that January-April is the best period for the search. The government is committed to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of the passengers of flight MH370, he said in a statement. MDT/AP MOUNT HOREB This may be the most Wisconsin curriculum ever. The first class on April 12 is about the history of beer and will be taught by Jerry Brewskis Janiszewski, who travels the state evangelizing about craft beer and historic breweries. In June, theres a class focused on supper clubs, while the finer points of Euchre is set for September. The states superb and award-winning cheese and sausage scene will be taught in October by Jesse Brookstein. The Madison man has written a book about the history of landjagers, a semi-dried, shelf-stable, chewy sausage made with beef and pork. But these classes from the newly formed After Supper Club of the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society arent just lectures. These are immersive, interactive teachings absent grades and final exams, unless you count sipping a lager, passing around a relish tray or munching on a locally produced chunk of bandaged cheddar some sort of test. The idea for the classes is an attempt to get new generations and recent transplants excited about local history. In turn, that could lead to more members of the historical society here and visits to its Driftless Historium, an 18,000-square-foot jewel of a museum and archive tucked along South Second Street, across the way from the Grumpy Troll Brewpub. Youve got to get creative, said Rowan Childs, who is part of the committee charged with coming up with the topics for the classes. These are all classic, traditional Wisconsin things. Childs and others on the committee also know that recruiting new members isnt just a Mount Horeb issue. Some historical societies throughout the state only have a handful of people running their operations, with many of those involved in their 80s and early 90s. Many other civic organizations around the country are in the same boat, with groups like the Knights of Columbus, Lion, Optimist, Moose and Elk clubs and friends groups that support things like parks and libraries all struggling to bolster their numbers. For the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society, the target is those in the community and surrounding towns who range in age from 30 to 50 years old and others who may be new residents to the area. This is where, in 1828, Ebenezer Brigham set up a lead mining operation near what is now Blue Mounds State Park and became the first white settler in Dane County. At the time, the area was largely populated by members of the Ho-Chunk Nation and Madison was still nine years away from seeing its first white resident. Our core audience is aging out, said Destinee Udelhoven, the historical societys executive director since 2014. Its just going to be a hard time in the next 10 to 15 years for us as we try to widen our audience and try to be more relevant to a younger crowd. The six-person After Supper Club committee began last year with each member bringing in five people to the Historium for behind-the-scenes tours. The classes are the next step. While details are still being worked out for the classes on supper clubs, Euchre and cheese and sausage, the brewing and beer presentation should be top notch. Janiszewski serves on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Historical Foundation and Milwaukees Pabst Mansion and is the recent recipient of the American Breweriana Associations Historic Preservation Award. Hes also a summer volunteer at Old World Wisconsin, where he provides historic brewing demonstrations in 1860s costume and character. The event next month at the Historium will include a talk but also samples from Mount Horebs own Grumpy Troll Brewpub and Brix Cider; Beloits G5 Brewing Company; Duesterbecks Brewing Company of Elkhorn, Giant Jones Brewing Co. in Madison and Delta Beer Lab in Fitchburg. Wisconsin 101 The classes are something Childs could have used when she moved here 16 years ago. Now the head of the Madison Reading Project, she grew up in England and Germany, moved to the Chicago area as a teenager and graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She has become immersed in Mount Horebs community, where she has served as the villages economic development director and for three years was a member of the historical societys board of directors. I think Ive learned quite a bit, Childs, 49, said. For me, getting people to come into the museum is really important. Those who tour the Historium will find a mix of temporary and more-permanent exhibits. Through May 6, Vicki France is showing her colorful collection of barns, wildlife and landscape images that at first blush look like paintings but are actually photographs. Theres also an exhibit that allows visitors to don virtual reality goggles for a tour of the Norway Building that stood for decades at the now defunct Little Norway near Mount Horeb, which was taken apart, shipped and then rebuilt in Norway in 2017. Near the virtual reality kiosk is a wall lined with the stereograph images taken in the late 1800s by Andreas Larsen Dahl and a basket of glasses with colored lenses in which to view the photos. The main museum begins with the approaching and receding glacier more than 12,000 years ago, tells the story of the area Ho-Chunk people and gradually works its way through early settlement that included immigrants from Norway, England, Switzerland and Germany. The museum tells of a time when there were more than 100 cheese factories just within the Mount Horeb School District and has a large display depicting the Montrose General Store complete with mail boxes, canned goods and brooms. More recent additions to the museums collections include an exhibit on the creation of the 40-mile Military Ridge State Trail, the Horribly Hilly Hundred bike event and a sign from those who opposed the construction of a high-powered transmission line running through the region. Looking for more than troll power Trolls are big here and they are the biggest sellers at the Historiums gift shop. The dolls are purchased off eBay for 50 cents to $4, refurbished in the museums basement and then sold for $9 to $15 a piece. However, only about $30,000 of the historical societys $275,000 annual budget comes from museum admissions and sales in the gift shop. The remainder comes from the 225 annual memberships, an occasional grant, rent from space on the second floor and donations. The historical society receives no tax money. And because the $1.8 million facility opened in 2017, it has the appearance of being in sound financial shape. However, those looks hide the realities of funding challenges for the society that is operating just into the red. We have about two-and-a-half years to really figure things out, said Udelohoven, 44, who grew up in South Dakota. Theyre not going to come to a program and instantly love us. So were going to have to keep having quality programming. Its not a quick solution. Well have to rely on our current donors until we can figure out new funding sources. TWIN FALLS Historians will be scratching their heads years from now as they look back at private school voucher programs, said author and journalist Rod Gramer at a lecture on Wednesday night at the College of Southern Idahos Herrett Center. As Gramer has studied voucher programs in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida and Arizona over the past four years, people often ask him if there is anything good about vouchers. I have to say honestly, and I mean this sincerely and its based on research, Gramer said. I cant find a redeeming benefit to this program. Three weeks after Gov. Brad Little signed into law House Bill 93, creating a $50 million private school voucher program in Idaho, he moderated a panel discussion with two local school superintendents, a homeschool parent and a charter school board member. Idaho Solutions hosted the lecture. Vouchers strain state general fund budgets, Gramer said, and do not serve rural communities because most private schools are clustered in urban areas. Its the biggest government handout in the history of the states, he said. A farmer in Gooding or a farmer in Oakley are subsidizing the private schools so that a corporate lawyer in Boise, Idaho, can send their kids to a private or religious school, Gramer said. And that is one of the most unfair things about vouchers. They also tend to grow like a weed, he said. Idaho Education News reported this week that the estimated cost to administer the tax credit has already doubled. What is a voucher? House Bill 93 created a $50 million private school tax credit, so why does author and journalist Rod Gramer refer to is as a voucher? Vouchers are certificates of government funds that cover private school tuition, according to Idaho Education News. There are different types of vouchers and they all serve the same purpose but function differently. There are three main ways vouchers work, Gramer said: Voucher scholarships Education savings accounts Tax credits The first two take money from the state's general fund, but a tax credit diverts money from the general fund. The bills fiscal note originally said it would cost $125,000 to administer but that increased to $225,800 on Feb. 12 and this week the estimate increased again to $675,000. Youre going to see that from now on every year as they keep adding money to this program, because that is the history in every state, Gramer said. The four panelists brought different perspectives, but they all were strongly opposed to the new voucher program in Idaho. Debbi Burr, Xavier Charter School board member, said she is generally in favor of private school vouchers, but she cant support HB 93, which states the government cannot force private schools to change their creed, practices, admissions policy or curriculum. The first thing that stood out to me was the fact that there is absolutely no accountability for student achievement built into this bill, Burr said. That is also a concern for Gooding Superintendent David Carson. The legislature is constantly pounding accountability into public school leaders, who are audited every year, but theres no accountability for private schools, Carson said. If I was a legislator, I would be really nervous if I had to justify to my constituents if this system is accountable and I know where those tax dollars are going, he said. Private schools can also turn students away. School choice is a common rallying cry for private schools, Gramer said, but parents dont choose the school private schools choose the students. Across the country schools are discriminating against students on religion, on race, on special needs, on learning disabilities and sometimes just behavior, he said. Thats been frustrating for Twin Falls School District Superintendent Brady Dickinson. Public schools cant turn kids away, but private schools can, Dickinson said. In his remarks, Dickinson took a broader look at the history of education in the area and questioned the narrative that the public school system in Idaho is broken and failing. Back in 1904 in Twin Falls, he said, the community rallied around schools. The town built the first school, Bickel Elementary, before it had a saloon. You look at that throughout the years and it just breaks my heart to hear people today say that our system is broken, Dickinson said. The No. 1 predictor of student achievement is socio-economic status, he said, and we should be helping those kids living in poverty instead of saying the system has failed and sending those kids to private schools. Here in Idaho, and across the country, were just thinking about this the wrong way, Dickinson said, and to me, it just really saddens me to hear this narrative. Homeschoolers, who value personal freedom, are also opposed to the voucher program. As a 15-year homeschool parent, panelist Stephanie Snarr said anything the government funds, the government controls. I dont know about you guys, but I dont want the government to have a seat at my kitchen table when were having family dinner, Snarr said. Thats our home. Gramer took written questions from the audience. One asked about the public reaction if vouchers were used to fund tuition at a Muslim school. The state cant give money to Catholic schools, Gramer said, and turn Muslim schools down. Theres nothing the legislature can do about that, he said. The legislature may try to put up sideboards to limit money to Muslim schools, Dickinson said, and might run into legal challenges. The International Monetary Fund greenlighted this week the release of $496 million for Morocco under a Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) to help the north African country address climate challenges. The new funding brings the total disbursement of the IMF under the RSF to about $1.24 billion. The IMF had approved a $1.32 billion loan under the same facility to help Morocco address climate vulnerabilities, bolster its resilience against climate change, and seize the opportunities from decarbonization. Measures implemented under the RSF arrangement aim to better protect underground water resources, prepare the ground for a change in tariffication of water, improve the regulatory setting of the electricity market to encourage private sectors production of renewable energy, and reinforce fiscal and financial systems resilience to climate change-related risks, the IMF said. It expects Moroccos economic growth to accelerate to 3.7% over the next few years, from 3.2%. The Moroccan economy continued to show resilience to negative shocks, a testament to the countrys very strong economic policies and frameworks, Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair said following the IMF decision. At least six people were killed and several vehicles destroyed in a tragic accident near Abuja, Nigeria, on Wednesday March 19 evening. According to Police reports released on Thursday March 20, a heavy-duty trailer, carrying cement and owned by Africas richest man Aliko Dangotes company, lost control and collided with a line of stationary vehicles on a heavily congested highway near the Nyanya Bridge, approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the city centre. The impact of the crash triggered a massive fire, engulfing 14 vehicles in flames. A distress call was received by Karu Division reporting a horrifying scene after a Dangote trailer, heavily loaded with cement and approaching Nyanya Bridge from AYA, had lost control and crashed into stationary vehicles trapped in traffic, said a police spokesperson. Emergency responders worked in difficult conditions, battling thick smoke and extreme heat to rescue those trapped in the wreckage. Six victims were pulled from the ruins and rushed to the hospital, but tragically, they were confirmed dead. Their remains have been taken to Karu General Hospital Morgue. The Nyanya Bridge, a key route connecting Abuja to its eastern suburbs, is notorious for traffic congestion, especially during rush hours. Police are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the disaster and prevent future incidents. Fatal truck accidents are unfortunately frequent on major roads across Nigeria. Amnesty International has condemned Nigers military junta for escalating human rights violations since it seized power in July 2023. The rights groups new report highlights a growing clampdown on civil liberties, including arbitrary detentions, media suppression, and disregard for judicial rulings. The military junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, overthrew president Mohamed Bazoum, citing worsening security conditions and governance issues. However, Amnestys findings suggest that the juntas actions have worsened human rights abuses, betraying promises to uphold the rule of law. Since the coup, political activities have been severely restricted, with political parties suspended and the constitution of Niger effectively nullified. Among the most significant violations, Amnesty noted the continued detention of former president Bazoum, his wife, and several former cabinet ministers, despite a ruling from the ECOWAS Court of Justice demanding their release. Also journalists and civil society members have faced increased persecution, with several media outlets having been suspended, and journalists critical of the regime arrested and charged with treason. The report also documents the reinstitution of defamation laws and the arbitrary use of national security laws to target government critics. Amnestys interim regional director, Marceau Sivieude, stressed that the junta must honor its commitments to human rights, calling for the immediate release of all those detained without trial and the restoration of fundamental freedoms. Despite sharing these findings with the Nigerian government in February 2025, Amnesty has yet to receive a response. The European Peace Facility (EPF) Assistance Measure has provided the Mozambican Armed Forces with EUR 85 million worth of equipment to aid in addressing the crisis in the northern Cabo Delgado province, according to a press statement released on Thursday March 20. This support is part of the European Unions ongoing efforts to strengthen Mozambiques military capabilities and restore security in the region, which has been plagued by insurgency and violence. The equipment provided under the EPF package has bolstered eleven military units trained by the EU military training mission in Mozambique (EUTM Mozambique). These units have been equipped with essential non-lethal items, including ballistic helmets, vests, camouflage nets, campaign tents, generators, boats, ambulances, drones, and even a field hospital. These units, which form the core of Mozambiques Quick Reaction Forces, are tasked with countering the insurgency in Cabo Delgado and protecting the local civilian population. The EUs financial support began with an urgent EUR 4 million assistance measure in July 2021, followed by a EUR 40 million package in November 2021, which supported five military units. By April 2022, this support grew with an additional EUR 45 million to address the needs of all eleven units trained by the EUTM Mozambique. Moreover, an additional EUR 15 million EPF action was directed towards the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), complementing the overall mission. As SAMIM withdrew from Mozambique in July 2024, all equipment was transferred to the Mozambican Armed Forces, marking the completion of the EPF assistance for the mission. South Africa is actively cultivating trade opportunities with the Trump administration despite escalating diplomatic friction following the recent expulsion of its ambassador from Washington. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed Thursday that President Cyril Ramaphosa remains committed to strengthening economic partnerships with the United States. The president is keen that we explore opportunities to recalibrate South Africa-U.S. relations, particularly regarding trade expansion where substantial growth potential exists, Magwenya stated. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has initiated a comprehensive review of tradable goods to identify promising sectors for collaboration. This strategic approach aims to position South Africa advantageously for future high-level engagements with American counterparts. Diplomatic relations deteriorated recently when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool persona non grata, citing alleged race-baiting and criticism of President Trump. Rasool received a Friday deadline to depart American soil. The expulsion follows Trumps February executive order terminating U.S. funding to South Africa, referencing government actions fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored landowners, specifically mentioning Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch and French colonists. Magwenya downplayed the significance of the ambassadors removal, emphasizing that bilateral engagement continues through various governmental channels. The absence of an ambassador in Washington doesnt signify cessation of dialogue with the Trump administration, he noted, adding that despite the U.S. having yet to appoint an ambassador to South Africa, diplomatic communications remain active through alternative mechanisms. South African officials express confidence that pragmatic economic interests will ultimately prevail over temporary political differences. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When Adam Rodman was a second-year medical student in the 2000s, he visited the library for a patient whose illness had left doctors stumped. Rodman searched the catalog, copied research papers, and shared them with the team. "It made a big difference in that patient's care," Rodman said. "Everyone said, "This is so great. This is evidence-based medicine." But it took two hours. I can do that today in 15 seconds." Rodman, now an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and a doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, these days carries a medical library in his pocketa smartphone app created after the release of the large language model ChatGPT in 2022. OpenEvidencedeveloped in part by the Medical School facultyallows him to query specific diseases and symptoms. It searches the medical literature, drafts a summary of findings, and lists the most important sources for further reading, providing answers while Rodman is still face-to-face with his patient. Artificial intelligence in various forms has been used in medicine for decadesbut not like this. Experts predict that the adoption of large language models will reshape medicine. Some compare the potential impact with the decoding of the human genome, even the rise of the internet. The impact is expected to show up in doctor-patient interactions, physicians' paperwork load, hospital and physician practice administration, medical research, and medical education. Most of these effects are likely to be positive: increasing efficiency, reducing mistakes, easing the nationwide crunch in primary care, bringing data to bear more fully on decision-making, reducing administrative burdens, and creating space for longer, deeper person-to-person interactions. But there are serious concerns, too. Current data sets too often reflect societal biases that reinforce gaps in access and quality of care for disadvantaged groups. Without correction, these data have the potential to cement existing biases into ever-more-powerful AI that will increasingly influence how health care operates. Another important issue, experts say, is that AIs remain prone to "hallucination," making up "facts" and presenting them as if they are real. Then there's the danger that medicine won't be bold enough. The latest AI has the potential to remake health care top to bottom, but only if given a chance. The wrong prioritiestoo much deference to entrenched interests, a focus on money instead of healthcould easily reduce the AI "revolution" to an underwhelming exercise in tinkering around the edges. "I think we're in this weird space," Rodman said. "We say, 'Wow, the technology is really powerful.' But what do we do with it to actually change things? My worry, as both a clinician and a researcher, is that if we don't think big, if we don't try to rethink how we've organized medicine, things might not change that much." Shoring up the 'tottering edifice' Five years ago, when asked about AI in health care, Isaac Kohane responded with frustration. Teenagers tapping away on social media apps were better equipped than many doctors. The situation today couldn't be more different, he says. Kohane, chair of the Medical School's Department of Biomedical Informatics and editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine's new AI initiative, describes the abilities of the latest models as "mind-boggling." To illustrate the point, he recalled getting an early look at OpenAI's GPT-4. He tested it with a complex casea child born with ambiguous genitaliathat might have stymied even an experienced endocrinologist. Kohane asked GPT-4 about genetic causes, biochemical pathways, next steps in the workup, even what to tell the child's parents. It aced the test. "This large language model was not trained to be a doctor; it's just trained to predict the next word," Kohane said. "It could speak as coherently about wine pairings with a vegetarian menu as diagnose a complex patient. It was truly a quantum leap from anything that anybody in computer science who was honest with themselves would have predicted in the next 10 years." And none too soon. The U.S. health care system, long criticized as costly, inefficient, and inordinately focused on treatment over prevention, has been showing cracks. Kohane, recalling a faculty member new to the department who couldn't find a primary care physician, is tired of seeing them up close. "The medical system, which I have long said is broken, is broken in extremely obvious ways in Boston," he said. "People worry about equity problems with AI. I'm here to say we have a huge equity problem today. Unless you're well connected and are willing to pay literally thousands of extra dollars for concierge care, you're going to have trouble finding a timely primary care visit." Early worries that AI would replace physicians have yielded to the realization that the system needs both AI and its human workforce, Kohane said. Teaming nurse practitioners and physician assistants with AI is one among several promising scenarios. "It is no longer a conversation about, 'Will AI replace doctors,' so much as, 'Will AI, with a set of clinicians who may not look like the clinicians that we're used to, firm up the tottering edifice that is organized medicine?'" Building the optimal assistant How LLMs were rolled outto everyone at onceaccelerated their adoption, Kohane says. Doctors immediately experimented with eye-glazing yet essential tasks, like writing prior authorization requests to insurers explaining the necessity of specific, usually expensive, treatments. "People just did it," Kohane said. "Doctors were tweeting back and forth about all the time they were saving." Patients did it too, seeking virtual second opinions, like the child whose recurring pain was misdiagnosed by 17 doctors over three years. In the widely publicized case, the boy's mother entered his medical notes into ChatGPT, which suggested a condition no doctor had mentioned: tethered cord syndrome, in which the spinal cord binds inside of the backbone. When the patient moves, rather than sliding smoothly, the spinal cord stretches, causing pain. The diagnosis was confirmed by a neurosurgeon, who then corrected the anatomic anomaly. One of the perceived benefits of employing AI in the clinic, of course, is to make doctors better the first time around. Greater, faster access to case histories, suggested diagnoses, and other data is expected to improve physician performance. But plenty of work remains, a recent study shows. Research published in JAMA Network Open in October compared diagnoses delivered by an individual doctor, a doctor using an LLM diagnostic tool, and an LLM alone. The results were surprising, showing an insignificant improvement in accuracy for the physicians using the LLM76% versus 74% for the solitary physician. More surprisingly, the LLM by itself did best, scoring 16 percentage points higher than physicians alone. Rodman, one of the paper's senior authors, said it's tempting to conclude that LLMs aren't that helpful for doctors, but he insisted that it's important to look deeper at the findings. Only 10% of the physicians, he said, were experienced LLM users before the studywhich took place in 2023 and the rest received only basic training. Consequently, when Rodman later looked at the transcripts, most used the LLMs for basic fact retrieval. "The best way a doctor could use it now is for a second opinion, to second-guess themselves when they have a tricky case," he said. "How could I be wrong? What am I missing? What other questions should I ask? Those are the ways we know from psychological literature that complement how humans think." Among the other potential benefits of AI is the chance to make medicine safer, according to David Bates, co-director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics Learning Systems at Mass General Brigham. A recent study by Bates and colleagues showed that as many as one in four visits to Massachusetts hospitals results in some kind of patient harm. Many of those incidents trace back to adverse drug events. "AI should be able to look for medication-related issues and identify them much more accurately than we're able to do right now," said Bates, who is also a professor of medicine at the Medical School and of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Another opportunity stems from AI's growing competence in a mundane area: note-taking and summarization, according to Bernard Chang, dean for medical education at the Medical School. Systems for "ambient documentation" will soon be able to listen in on patient visits, record everything that is said and done, and generate an organized clinical note in real time. When symptoms are discussed, the AI can suggest diagnoses and courses of treatment. Later, the physician can review the summary for accuracy. Automation of notes and summaries would benefit health care workers in more than one way, Chang said. It would ease doctors' paperwork load, often cited as a cause of burnout, and it would reset the doctor-patient relationship. One of patients' biggest complaints about office visits is the physician sitting at the computer, asking questions and recording the answers. Freed from the note-taking process, doctors could sit face-to-face with patients, opening a path to stronger connections. "It's not the most magical use of AI," Chang said. "We've all seen AI do something and said, 'Wow, that's amazing.' This is not one of those things. But this program is being piloted at different ambulatory practices across the country and the early results are very promising. Physicians who feel overburdened and burnt out are starting to say, 'You know what, this tool is going to help me.'" The bias threat For all their power, LLMs are not ready to be left alone. "The technology is not good enough to have that safety level where you don't need a knowledgeable human," Rodman said. "I can understand where it might have gone aground. I can take a step further with the diagnosis. I can do that because I learned the hard way. In residency you make a ton of mistakes, but you learn from those mistakes. "Our current system is incredibly suboptimal but it does train your brain. When people in medical school interact with things that can automate those processeseven if they're, on average, better than humanshow are they going to learn?" Doctors and scientists also worry about bad information. Pervasive data bias stems from biomedicine's roots in wealthy Western nations whose science was shaped by white men studying white men, says Leo Celi, an associate professor of medicine and a physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "You need to understand the data before you can build artificial intelligence," Celi said. "That gives us a new perspective of the design flaws of legacy systems for health care delivery, legacy systems for medical education. It becomes clear that the status quo is so badwe knew it was bad and we've come to accept that it is a broken systemthat all the promises of AI are going bust unless we recode the world itself." Celi cited research on disparities in care between English-speaking and non-English-speaking patients hospitalized with diabetes. Non-English speakers are woken up less frequently for blood sugar checks, raising the likelihood that changes will be missed. That impact is hidden, however, because the data isn't obviously biased, only incomplete, even though it still contributes to a disparity in care. "They have one or two blood-sugar checks compared to 10 if you speak English well," he said. "If you average it, the computers don't see that this is a data imbalance. There's so much missing context that experts may not be aware of what we call 'data artifacts.' This arises from a social patterning of the data generation process." Bates offered additional examples, including a skin cancer device that does a poor job detecting cancer on highly pigmented skin and a scheduling algorithm that wrongly predicted Black patients would have higher no-show rates, leading to overbooking and longer wait times. "Most clinicians are not aware that every medical device that we have is, to a certain degree, biased," Celi said. "They don't work well across all groups because we prototype them and we optimize them on, typically, college-aged, white, male students. They were not optimized for an ICU patient who is 80 years old and has all these comorbidities, so why is there an expectation that the numbers they represent are objective ground truths?" The exposure of deep biases in legacy systems presents an opportunity to get things right, Celi said. Accordingly, more researchers are pushing to ensure that clinical trials enroll diverse populations from geographically diverse locations. One example is Beth Israel's MIMIC database, which reflects the hospital's diverse patient population. The tool, overseen by Celi, offers investigators de-identified electronic medical recordsnotes, images, test resultsin an open-source format. It has been used in 10,000 studies by researchers all around the world and is set to expand to 14 additional hospitals, he said. Age of agility As in the clinic, AI models used in the lab aren't perfect, but they are opening pathways that hold promise to greatly accelerate scientific progress. "They provide instant insights at the atomic scale for some molecules that are still not accessible experimentally or that would take a tremendous amount of time and effort to generate," said Marinka Zitnik, an associate professor of biomedical informatics at the Medical School. "These models provide in-silico predictions that are accurate, that scientists can then build upon and leverage in their scientific work. That, to me, just hints at this incredible moment that we are in." Zitnik's lab recently introduced Procyon, an AI model aimed at closing knowledge gaps around protein structures and their biological roles. Until recently, it has been difficult for scientists to understand a protein's shapehow the long molecules fold and twist onto themselves in three dimensions. This is important because the twists and turns expose portions of the molecule and hide others, making those sites easier or harder for other molecules to interact with, which affects the molecule's chemical properties. Today, predicting a protein's shapedown to nearly every atomfrom its known sequence of amino acids is feasible, Zitnik said. The major challenge is linking those structures to their functions and phenotypes across various biological settings and diseases. About 20% of human proteins have poorly defined functions, and an overwhelming share of research95%is devoted to just 5,000 well-studied proteins. "We are addressing this gap by connecting molecular sequences and structures with functional annotations to predict protein phenotypes, helping move the field closer to being able to in-silico predict functions for each protein," Zitnik said. A long-term goal for AI in the lab is the development of "AI scientists" that function as research assistants, with access to the entire body of scientific literature, the ability to integrate that knowledge with experimental results, and the capacity to suggest next steps. These systems could evolve into true collaborators, Zitnik said, noting that some models have already generated simple hypotheses. Her lab used Procyon, for example, to identify domains in the maltase glucoamylase protein that bind miglitol, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. In another project, the team showed that Procyon could functionally annotate poorly characterized proteins implicated in Parkinson's disease. The tool's broad range of capabilities is possible because it was trained on massive experimental data sets and the entire scientific literature, resources far exceeding what humans can read and analyze, Zitnik said. The classroom comes before the lab, and the AI dynamic of flexibility, innovation, and constant learning is also being applied to education. The Medical School has introduced a course dealing with AI in health care; added a Ph.D. track on AI in medicine; is planning a "tutor bot" to provide supplemental material beyond lectures; and is developing a virtual patient on which students can practice before their first nerve-wracking encounter with the real thing. Meanwhile, Rodman is leading a steering group on the use of generative AI in medical education. These initiatives are a good start, he said. Still, the rapid evolution of AI technology makes it difficult to prepare students for careers that will span 30 years. "The Harvard view, which is my view as well, is that we can give people the basics, but we just have to encourage agility and prepare people for a future that changes rapidly," Rodman said. "Probably the best thing we can do is prepare people to expect the unexpected." This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland Business School indicates that elderly neurological patients show a willingness to accept remote monitoring (RM) in the home environment even in the pre-implementation phase. Home-based RM uses digital health technologies to track patients' health metrics and securely transmit data to health care professionals at the clinical site. RM at home includes wearable devices, and mobile health apps that monitor key health metrics (e.g., activity, sleep, heart rate). RM is particularly appealing to elderly patients who wish to age in their own home while maintaining their independence. According to the study, elderly neurological patients living with a family caregiver were more likely to accept RM than those who lived alone. Additionally, patients with higher education levels were more open to RM adoption. Also, those who had a caregiver present during their clinic visit were more likely to accept RM. Age, gender, and place of residence did not show an effect. Conducted at the neurosurgery unit of Kuopio University Hospital in Finland, the study involved 30 patients diagnosed with a specific neurological condition, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). The findings were published in the Home Health Care Management & Practice journal, contributing insights into digital health adoption among elderly patients with chronic illnesses. Patients in this study were introduced to the prospective implementation of RM in their home, and they completed a structured survey exploring the association between RM acceptance and six sociodemographic factors, namely age, gender, educational level, living arrangement, place of residence, and family caregiver presence during outpatient clinic visits. Doctoral Researcher Melika Azim Zadegan from the University of Eastern Finland stated, "Our practical recommendations include implementing educational initiatives that are tailored to different educational backgrounds of elderly neurological patients. Health policies should ensure that caregiver support is integrated into RM programs by training caregivers alongside patients, providing them with resources to assist with technology management, and recognizing their role in RM with appropriate support and resourcing. "For technology developers, collaboration with patient advocacy groups should be encouraged to ensure that RM solutions are designed with input from both patient and caregiver perspectives. This collaboration would help tailor RM solutions to the needs of specific patient populations, such as elderly neurological patients." More information: Melika Azim Zadegan et al, Remote Monitoring Acceptance in Elderly Neurological Patients: Examining Sociodemographic Factors in the Pre-Implementation Phase, Home Health Care Management & Practice (2025). DOI: 10.1177/10848223251324598 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: High magnification micrograph of Crohn's disease. Biopsy of esophagus. H&E stain. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia A research team led by Mount Sinai has uncovered mechanisms of abnormal immune cell function that may lead to Crohn's disease, according to findings published in Science Immunology. The researchers said their discovery provides a better understanding of disease development and could inform the development and design of new therapies to prevent inflammation before it starts in the chronic disorder. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and fatigue. Inflammation is the body's natural response to infection or injury, but prolonged and untreated inflammation may cause damage to healthy cells, tissues, and organs. White blood cells in the GI tract known as intraepithelial lymphocytes express the gamma delta T cell receptor (gamma delta IELs), which prevent infection and provide surveillance for the intestinal barrier. These gamma delta IELs are often reduced in patients with active Crohn's disease. The researchers said their study is the first to show that gamma delta IELs are critical to maintaining a balance between pro-inflammatory and regulatory immune responses, and these cells are impaired during the onset and progression of long-term inflammation in the lower small intestine. "Previous studies assessing patient biopsies revealed a decrease in gamma delta IELs in those with active IBD. However, it was unknown whether the loss of these cells was a cause or consequence of disease," said corresponding author Karen Edelblum, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "Our findings now show that gamma delta IELs are substantially decreased weeks before clinical or histological evidence of disease in a mouse model of Crohn's disease-like ileitis. Furthermore, we were able to generate a timeline of events leading to the dysregulation of gamma delta IELs that mirrored findings from prior studies in patients with IBD." The researchers used a mice model of Crohn's disease-like inflammation in the lower small intestine to analyze human disease. Before tissue damage began, they found that pro-inflammatory proteins impaired the communication between gamma delta IELs and neighboring intestinal epithelial cells. As a result, the majority of these gamma delta IELs failed to survive, and barrier surveillance was significantly compromised. The research team also identified that gamma delta IELs lost their ability to suppress other pro-inflammatory IELs responsible for tissue damage, indicating that the early loss of regulatory gamma delta IELs may contribute to the activation of inflammation in Crohn's disease. The researchers said loss of gamma delta IELs could be used as a predictive biomarker for disease relapse or patient responsiveness to treatment. Additionally, the development of future therapies that boost the function of gamma delta IELs may provide a new way to maintain remission in IBD patients or prevent disease development in susceptible individuals. Researchers from Rutgers University, Case Western Reserve University, and Children's Hospital of Los Angeles contributed to this study. More information: Dysregulation of gd intraepithelial lymphocytes precedes Crohn's disease-like ileitis, Science Immunology (2025). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.adk7429 Journal information: Science Immunology 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: Magda Ehlers from Pexels Public bodies should collect distinct data on both sex and gender identity to ensure accuracy and clarity of nationally held data, concludes a UK Government-commissioned report led by a UCL academic. In February 2024, Professor Alice Sullivan (UCL Social Research Institute) was asked by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to conduct an independent review into the collection of accurate data and statistics on biological sex. Published by DSIT, the "Review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender" report provides a timeline of how survey data has been collected since the 1960s and shows how the word "gender" started to replace sex in some data collection in the 1990s. In some survey data, gender was defined as sex; in others, gender was defined as identity. Further, the review finds that from around 2015, the word gender started to be understood in terms of gender identity (the gender with which people identify, which can be different from the gender they were born into) and not binary sex, meaning robust and accurate data on biological sex was lost from some government and public body survey data. In summary, the independent report advocates the importance of collecting high-quality data on biological sex to enable both good research and for effective policymaking across fields, including health and social care, crime and justice, education and the economy. The report also highlights the need to distinguish between biological sex and gender identity in data collection. This is to ensure there is optimum understanding of differences between the sexes and differences according to gender identity, including transgender and non-binary identities, and to ensure full awareness of any disparities within and between all these groups. Lead author, Professor Alice Sullivan, Head of Research at UCL Social Research Institute said, "Rather than removing data on sex, government and other data owners should collect data on both sex and transgender and gender-diverse identities. This will help develop a better understanding of the influence of both factors and the intersection between them, and this is crucial for research and policy-making." For the report, the team conducted a comprehensive review of policies, guidance, datasets and statistics, including administrative data, major flagship surveys, independent academic studies, clinical trials, polling data, and marketing exercises, and held over 30 stakeholder interviews with diverse government and public sector organizations. In addition, they invited public submissions on UK data collection related to sex and/or gender identity which they perceived as inadequate or flawed and commissioned a legal opinion to ensure compliance with legal frameworks, such as GDPR and the European Commission on Human Rights (ECHR) Article 8 rights. In summary, the report finds that conflating sex and gender identity in data collection hinders accurate statistical analysis and the ability to track outcomes of distinct groups. It calls for the use of respectful data collection practices, which adhere to established principles of question design, clear communication about the purpose and benefits of data collection, and emphasizes the importance of political impartiality of data owners, that is, government and public sector organizations. DSIT has shared the report and its recommendations with government departments for consideration. The review was led by Professor Sullivan and assisted by independent policy analysts Murray Blackburn Mackenzie and Dr. Kathryn Webb at the University of Oxford. More information: Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender. www.gov.uk/government/publicat ch-on-sex-and-gender 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: Priscila Silva Grijo Farani, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at The University of Texas at El Paso, examines an automated pipetting system used for Chagas disease samples while her mentor, Igor Almeida, Ph.D., a prominent Chagas disease researcher, looks on. Credit: The University of Texas at El Paso Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have successfully tested a faster, more sensitive and reliable way to diagnose Chagas disease, a debilitating parasitic illness that affects approximately 6 million people worldwide. The results of the study were recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. While Chagas disease is highly prevalent across Latin Americafrom Mexico to Argentinaits diagnosis remains challenging due to the extensive geographic variability of parasite strains, explained Priscila Silva Grijo Farani, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in UTEP's Almeida lab who led the study. Chagas disease, Farani said, progresses in two stages: an acute phase lasting 4-5 weeks, during which patients typically do not experience specific symptoms, and a chronic phase that can persist for decades, leading to severe heart and gastrointestinal complications. "Chagas disease is a real conundrum when it comes to diagnosis," said Farani. "Patients in the acute phase typically do not have symptoms when the parasitic load is highest in the bloodstream. But when the symptoms do manifest in the chronic phase, the parasitic load is much lower and harder to detect in blood samples." Working with Igor Almeida, Ph.D., a UTEP biological sciences professor who specializes in Chagas disease research, Farani tested a new diagnostic method against the standard diagnostic tool for Chagas disease. Both methods rely on extracting parasitic DNA from blood samples. Using the new method, Farani mixed blood samples with guanidine-EDTA, a substance that breaks down blood cells and ensures parasite DNA is released and preserved. She then added magnetic beads specifically designed to bind to DNA, allowing for efficient extraction and analysis of parasitic genetic material. While magnetic beads have been used for the detection of a number of diseases, Farani's research marks the first time the bead method has been applied to the detection of Chagas disease. The standard method for filtering genetic material from blood typically relies on a silica column, which captures DNA and other molecules. Farani explained that compared to the silica columns, the magnetic beads yielded a higher quantity of pure DNA and significantly enhanced the sensitivity of parasite detection in blood samples, making them a more reliable indicator of parasites in the blood. "This research marks a significant advancement, especially for patients in the chronic phase, where reliable parasite detection remains a major challenge," Farani said. "As a postdoctoral researcher dedicated to improving infectious disease diagnostics, I was thrilled to coordinate this project." The diagnostic research is part of a broader effort at UTEP to combat Chagas disease. This includes a clinical trial of Chagas chemotherapeutic treatments recently concluded in Bolivia and vaccines developed by the Almeida and Maldonado labs, which have been patented and are progressing toward the first-ever clinical trial of Chagas disease vaccine candidates. "Dr. Farani's more sensitive approach to DNA extraction represents a significant advancement in Chagas disease diagnostics. Her work has the potential to greatly enhance early detection and improve patient therapeutic outcomes, particularly for those in the chronic phase when accurate diagnosis is most challenging," said Almeida. Farani is set to join UTEP's School of Pharmacy as an Assistant Professor, where she will continue her research on developing improved diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for Chagas disease patients. Additional co-authors on the study include Jacqueline Lopezformer UTEP undergraduate student who conducted most of the experimentsand Drs. Otacilio Moreira and Amanda Faier at the Fiocruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More information: Priscila S. G. Farani et al, Utility of Magnetic Bead-Based Automated DNA Extraction to Improve Chagas Disease Molecular Diagnosis, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.3390/ijms26030937 Journal information: International Journal of Molecular Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Renee Barbian gives an insulin shot to her immunocompromised son Ezekiel Barbian in the parking lot of a grocery store, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Hobbs, N.M. Credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez As measles cases in West Texas are still on the rise two months after the outbreak began, local public health officials say they expect the virus to keep spreading for at least several more months and that the official case number is likely an undercount. But there's a silver lining, officials say, More people have received a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination this year in Texas and New Mexico, which also has an outbreak, compared to last yeareven if it's not as high as they would like. And pharmacies across the U.S., especially in Texas, are seeing more demand for MMR shots. As of Friday, the outbreak in Texas was up to 309 cases and one measles-related death, while New Mexico's case count was up to 42 and also one measles-related death. Forty-two people have been hospitalized across the two states. Texas' outbreak, which has largely spread in undervaccinated Mennonite communities, could last a year based on studies of how measles previously spread in Amish communities in the U.S. Those studies showed outbreaks lasted six to seven months, said Katherine Wells, director of the public health department in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock's hospitals have treated most of the outbreak's patients and the public health department is closely assisting with the response. "It being so rural, now multistate, it's just going to take a lot more boots on the ground, a lot more work, to get things under control," Wells said during a media briefing this week. "It's not an isolated population." The outbreak includes 14 Texas counties, two New Mexico counties and four probable cases in Oklahoma, where health officials said the first two were "associated" with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases. The way it spreads makes it especially hard to contain and outbreaks can have multiple peaks, said Justin Lessler, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health. Many people spread the measles virus unknowingly for days before the telltale rash appears. The virus also can hang in the air for up to two hours after a sick person has left a room. "Within this community, it'd be perfectly reasonable to think probably another couple months before things die out," Lessler said. "But if it gets into another community, you just potentially start that clock over again." If the outbreak goes on until next January, it would end the United States' status of having eliminated measles, which is defined as 12 months without local virus transmission, said Dr. William Moss, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University and executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center. "We're only three months in. I think if we had a strong response where the messaging was clear that measles vaccination is the way to stop this outbreak, I would be surprised if it went for 12 months or more," said Moss, who has worked on measles for 25 years, mostly in Africa. "But we're not seeing that type of response, at least from the federal government." U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instead has sown doubt about the measles vaccine, which has been safely used for more than 60 years and is 97% effective after two doses. In an interview with Fox News last week, Kennedy said MMR shots cause "deaths every year," although he later added that vaccinations should be encouraged. Vaccinations are up in Texas and New Mexico Still, there are signs the outbreak has had an effect on vaccinations, especially locally. Between Feb. 1 and March 18 last year, New Mexico Department of Health registered 6,500 measles vaccines. During that timeframe this year, more than 11,600 measles vaccines were administered in New Mexicoabout half given to adults and half to children. Southeast New Mexico, where the outbreak is located, represents a large portion of the count, with 2,369 doses administered. In Texas, at least 173,000 measles doses were given from Jan. 1 to March 16, compared to at least 158,000 over the same timeframe last year, according to the state health department. That includes more than 340 doses in given by public health in the West Texas outbreak area as of March 11. Texans must opt-in to the state's immunization registry, so most people's vaccinations are not captured in the Texas Department of State Health Services numbers, department spokeswoman Lara Anton said. "We don't know if more people are opting in or if this is a true reflection of an increase in vaccinations," Anton wrote in an email. "It may be both." Pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS told The Associated Press that they're seeing higher demand for MMR vaccines across the U.S., especially in the outbreak areas. Texas health officials say they'd like to see more uptake in the communities at the epicenter of the outbreak, especially in Gaines Countywhere the childhood vaccination rate against measles is 82%. That's far below the 95% level needed to prevent community spread, and likely lower in the small religious schools and homeschooling groups where the early cases were identified. Prasad Ganji is a pharmacist in Seminole, the biggest town in Gaines County. He said he ordered a 10-dose box of the MMR vaccine as cases started to spread. He can give vaccines to people older than 14. But he still has doses left. "The uptake for vaccines been definitely been a struggle," Wells said of Gaines County, "I want to be honest with that." 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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 illustration shows our experimental setup where participants viewed a virtual body through VR goggles and received touch on their back. Credit: Kazuki Yamamoto & Takashi Nakao, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University A study from Hiroshima University found that when people were told to imagine their virtual bodies in pain, their brains resisted the illusion of ownership. Their findings could provide insights into why some people may struggle with feeling connected to their own bodies, particularly in contexts involving depersonalization or negative physical states. The sense of body ownershipthe feeling that our body belongs to usis crucial in distinguishing ourselves from objects and responding to threats. Researchers study it using techniques like the rubber hand illusion (RHI) and full-body illusion (FBI), in which an individual is somehow influenced to identify with ownership of a fake or virtual body. To explore how body ownership can be disrupted, researchers test whether top-down factorswhere previous knowledge, memories, and beliefs shape how we perceive and interpret new information or stimuliweaken the illusion when participants are asked to identify with a virtual body in a negative physical state. Researchers published their results in Frontiers in Psychology. "Using the full-body illusion in virtual realitywhere people begin to feel a virtual body as their own we investigated how interpreting the virtual body as one's own body, while in a negative physical state, affects this illusion. This research can possibly relate to depersonalization, a condition where people struggle to feel their body as their own," said Kazuki Yamamoto, researcher and author of the study. Participants were instructed to view a virtual body from the back using a virtual reality (VR) headset and imagine it as their own. Participants would watch the virtual body have their back stroked while their own physical body was stroked also, which successfully elicited the illusion. This is a means of using bottom-up factors, which starts with an external stimulus to integrate visual-tactile information, and is a well-tested way to successfully influence the FBI. To test the effect of top-down factors, the same course of action was instructed with the addition of identifying with the virtual body as their own in a negative physical state (feeling abdominal pain). After the participant watches their virtual body being stroked along their back, a fear stimulus is presented in the form of a knife driving into the virtual body's back. The fear response is measured using a skin-conductance response and the degree of conductance measures is then related to how strongly the participant is identifying with their virtual body. One of the main points of this study is using top-down factors, which are expectations or biases about what something should feel like based on prior experience or interactions, to determine if these can also influence a sense of body ownership. Results indicated that the full-body illusion was inhibited when asked to view the virtual body as their own with abdominal pain, and the higher the degree of depersonalization tendencies within the participants resulted in a lower degree of FBI. Researchers suggest this could be due to multiple factors, one of which being the manipulation of using top-down factors. Another suggestion is that the participants might have had difficulty perceiving the negative physical symptoms, therefore they had difficulty fully establishing the connection of "the virtual body is my body," which is key for the illusion to occur. Given the findings of the study, more research can be done to fully understand why an inhibition of the illusion occurred. "While we observed this inhibitory effect, further research is needed to determine whether it was specifically due to the negative interpretation or to differences between actual and virtual body states," said Takashi Nakao, researcher and author of the study. The foundation provided by this study and subsequent studies can aid in clinical intervention for those suffering from disturbed body ownership, such as individuals with depersonalization-derealization disorder. This work can improve those individuals' sense of body ownership, which can greatly improve lives, not only for safety purposes but also for sensory and perception purposes. More information: Kazuki Yamamoto et al, The manipulation of top-down interpretation as one's symptomatic body reduces the sense of body ownership, Frontiers in Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1399218 Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology Around 47,000 Montana households could lose out on money that helps pay for food during the summer because legislators decided to cut the program from the governors proposed budget. Summer EBT offers eligible families $40 per summer month or $120 total per child between the ages of 7 and 15. Parents earning less than 185% of the federal poverty level receive a debit card loaded with the funds that they can use to purchase groceries at retailers including grocery stores and many farmers markets. Dubbed SUN Bucks, the program was rolled out by the federal government in its current form last year. Its based on a pandemic-era initiative that Montana chose not to participate in, but the state was one of the first to raise its hand for this iteration. According to the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Summer EBT would have cost the state about $600,000 over the next two years out of the agency's roughly $7 billion budget. That cost is strictly administrative, but DPHHS would leverage another $19 million in federal funds during that same time to pay for the benefit itself. Lawmakers on the Section B Joint Budget Subcommittee struck the item from the DPHHS budget in February, saying it was duplicative with existing school-based nutrition offerings. Rep. Jane Gillette, a Republican from Three Forks who chairs the subcommittee, said there are around 280 sites throughout the state that serve a mix of breakfast, lunch and snacks to school-aged children all summer long, totaling about 40,000 distributions a day. Some of the meals are to-go, while others can be eaten onsite in places like parks and school gyms. That program is primarily administered by the state education agency, and it costs roughly $4 million a year, most of which is from the federal government. By comparison, Gillette said, of the 47,000 Summer EBT cards issued last year, only 29,000 were used. Concerned about the impact the loss of Summer EBT might have on children and their families, some including DPHHS are hoping to put it back into the budget. Agency leaders made their case at the House Appropriations Committee meeting Thursday. There, legislators can change things in the subcommittee's budget proposal before advancing House Bill 2, the primary government spending bill, to the floor for a full vote. The administration believes that food security for children results in more positive outcomes, said Charlie Brereton, DPHHS director at the committee meeting. We want to ensure that children who are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level have access to food during the summer. Families already participating in SNAP or TANF were automatically enrolled for the first year of Summer EBT. Others whose incomes were still below the income threshold but above the benchmark for other public assistance programs could apply. There were some hiccups the department decided to contract with a new debit card vendor, causing delays in getting the money to families and the possibility of federal government spending cuts looming has made some nervous. But agency staff and advocates alike said maintaining the program would be worth the unknowns. We have no indication at this point in time that the Trump Administration will be eliminating the Summer EBT program, Brereton said. But none of us have a crystal ball. Nearly 17% of children in Montana dont have reliable access to the amount of food they need to grow and live healthily, according to national advocacy group Feeding America. Food insecurity is most pronounced in rural and tribal communities. Families in need often turn to schools, where eligible students get free meals and snacks. When summer arrives, many communities are able to offer meal pickup options for students, but they arent always accessible. Around 15 counties dont have a summer meal site, according to Jessie Counts, the director of the Human Services Division at DPHHS, and more have fewer than five locations despite spanning hundreds of miles. Parents already struggling to make ends meet risk facing rising grocery bills to make up for the difference in access. Summer EBT was designed to help bridge that gap. During the school year, there are 800 sites that serve meals, while during the summer there are only 285, said Isabella Bucciarelli, the child nutrition coordinator at the Montana Food Bank Network. Again, the gap is major. Legislators grappled with the web of overlapping school nutrition efforts and how they interact with one another and at what cost. Rep. Jerry Schillinger, R-Circle, pointed out that SNAP, the states $347 million food assistance program for low-income earners, sends federal subsidies to households based on family size, but it does not prorate the funding to account for school attendance. In other words, he offered, families are getting grocery dollars for every day of the year, not just the times that kids are out of school. When a child gets free breakfast or lunch at school, thats less SNAP money the family has to spend, so Summer EBT could be seen as letting people double-dip. They are meant to complement each other, Counts said. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on the budget in the coming days. I love watching some interesting web series and films. While Bollywood produces a large number of films, the majority stick to stereotyped love stories and a few like to dig into the past. I skip most of these and prefer to watch English and, yes, Malayalam movies. The reason is simple. Many English language movies and web series (from the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand) and some Malayalam movies deal with diverse subjects, including psychological thrillers and tech-based plots. (I would recommend some good tech-based Malayalam films like Keedam, I am Kathalan, Operation Java and Kishkindha Kaandam, a mystery thriller). Last month, Netflix featured Zero Day, a six-episode thriller starring Robert De Niro as George Mullen, a former US president. Zero Day delves into contemporary issues such as cyberterrorism, the fragility of digital infrastructure and the complexities of discerning truth in an age dominated by misinformation and conspiracy theories. From a cybersecurity perspective, Zero Day taps into some pretty realistic and thought-provoking themes. The series portrays a cyberattack carried out using a zero-day vulnerability, resulting in widespread casualties, emphasising how vulnerable essential services like power grids and transportation are to cyber intrusions. The catastrophic cyberattack that cripples critical infrastructure in the web series is not unlike real-world cyber threats. Remember the 2015 and 2016 attacks on Ukraine's power grid and the Colonial Pipeline ransomware incident in 2021 or Pegasus penetration using zero-click exploit on iPhones in 2023? On 2 July 2021, a ransomware group known as REvil, a notorious Russian-speaking cybercriminal group, exploited vulnerabilities in Kaseya virtual systems administrator (VSA), a popular IT management and remote monitoring software. The attackers demanded a US$70mn (million) ransom for a universal decryption key, though they later reduced it to US$50mn. Kaseya quickly shut down VSA servers and worked with the FBI and cybersecurity experts to investigate. On 22 July 2021, Kaseya obtained a universal decryption key from a trusted third party and distributed it to affected customers. Interestingly, REvil mysteriously disappeared from the dark web shortly after the attack, leaving questions about whether law enforcement or rival hackers were involved. Considering these real-life incidents, the premise of Zero Day from Netflix is not far from reality, as nation-states and cybercriminals continue to develop sophisticated attacks targeting critical infrastructure. While Zero Day might exaggerate for dramatic effect, it is a timely reminder that cybersecurity is not just a technical issue but a societal and political one as well. Zero-day attacks are a genuine threatand they can affect anyone, from large enterprises to everyday users. These attacks enable hackers to infiltrate systems without detection, steal sensitive data, disrupt business operations, and even cause financial or physical harm. Whether it is ransomware locking personal files or spyware monitoring your activities, the consequences of zero-day exploits extend well beyond large organisations and make awareness and prevention essential for everyone. What Is Zero-day Vulnerability? A zero-day vulnerability is a software or hardware security flaw unknown to the vendor or developer. As the developer or vendor has not discovered or fixed the issue, cybercriminals can exploit it to carry out attacks before a patch or update is available. The term 'zero-day' comes from the fact that developers have had zero days (read: very short time) to fix the vulnerability once it becomes known or exploited. Attackers use zero-day exploits to take advantage of these weaknesses, often resulting in data theft or leakages like personal data and financial information, taking control of devices or networks, installing malware such as ransomware or spyware, disrupting services and turning off critical infrastructure. Protecting against zero-day attacks is challenging since cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities not even known to the developers or vendors. This means that there is absolutely no protection available from zero-day attacks. However, given the circumstances, implementing strong cybersecurity practices can significantly reduce the risk. Why Should This Interest You? Common users often think they are not targets of zero-day attacks, but cybercriminals frequently exploit any vulnerability they can find, regardless of who it affects. Zero-day vulnerabilities can allow hackers to steal personal information like login credentials, financial data, or private messages. This could lead to identity theft or financial fraud. Attackers can exploit zero-day flaws to take control of your devicesbe it a smartphone, computer, or smart home gadget. They might install spyware, ransomware, or other malicious software without you even knowing. Zero-day exploits can give hackers access to your camera, microphone, or stored data, compromising your privacy and exposing sensitive information. Remember Pegasus? If a zero-day vulnerability leads to ransomware, your files could be encrypted, demanding a ransom to unlock them. Even if you don't pay, recovering data and restoring systems can be time-consuming and costly. Even if your device is not directly attacked, zero-day vulnerabilities in services you use, like social media, banking apps, or cloud storage, can still put your data at risk. Here are a few suggestions to protect from zero-day attacks... 1. Updating software Regularly update operating systems, applications, and firmware to ensure you have the latest security patches. Enable automatic updates wherever possible to minimise gaps. Prioritise patch management to quickly address known vulnerabilities. 2. Use robust security software Install a reputable antivirus or internet security suite that includes real-time protection. Enable automatic virus definition updates to stay protected against the latest threats. 3. Be cautious while opening links and downloading files Never download attachments or click on links from unknown or suspicious sources. Even if an email looks legitimate, double-check the sender's address and be wary of unexpected attachments. Avoid downloading cracked software or apps from unofficial websites. 4. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) Enable MFA on your accounts, such as email, banking, and social media, to add an extra layer of security. Think about using authentication apps from Google or Microsoft. Even if attackers get your password, they will still need a second factor to access your account. 5. Install browser extensions for security Use extensions that block malicious sites and phishing attempts, like uBlock Origin or HTTPS Everywhere. Enable your browser's built-in security settings and block pop-ups. 6. Regularly backup critical and important data Use cloud backups or external drives to keep copies of all your important and critical files. This way, if your system gets compromised, you can restore your data without paying ransom or losing valuable information. 7. Be wary of social engineering Think twice before sharing personal information, especially if someone contacts you unexpectedly. Remember, legitimate companies will never ask for your login details, password or one-time passcode (OTP) via email or phone. 8. Use strong, unique passwords Create and use unique passwords for each account. You can also use a password manager. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites. By following these simple steps, you can significantly reduce your chances of falling victim to zero-day attacks. Remember, zero-day vulnerabilities may sound like something from a Hollywood thriller, but they are a real and ongoing cybersecurity challenge. The good news is that you can significantly reduce your risk by staying informed, keeping your software up to date, and following smart online habits. Stay Alert, Stay Safe! RAY pharmaceutical company from North India approached DSD consultants in Bombay (Mumbai) and requested them to identify a general manager for their Africa operations. DSD asked Chatterjee, the RAY personnel director, to fill out the standard personnel requisition form, and pay the retainer fee. No problem, said Mr Chatterjee, What is important is speed. That is why we have come to you. With your wide contacts in the pharmaceutical field, you should be able to headhunt someone for us quite easily and fast. We will sign the form and send the retainer fee from Delhi, but please start the work immediately. Roy of DSD went into the assignment with full vigour. After 15 days, he identified a potential candidate who fit most of the requirements. He couriered the CV to Mr Chatterjee and phoned him to reconfirm that he had received the envelope. Oh yes, he said, seems to be a good candidate. However, for nearly six weeks, there was no news. Strange, thought Mr Roy, considering that Mr Chatterjee was in such a hurry. No news from Ram, the candidate, either. Every time he rang up Rams house, he was not in! Eight weeks later, by a strange coincidence, Mr Roy met Mr Ram at Bombay airport. Oh, where have you been? I have been trying to contact you, but you were never available, said Roy. Ram seemed apologetic. In fact, all is going well, he said I have been selected last week and given the appointment letter. In fact, I am going to Delhi just now to have a look at their factories. I have agreed to join them next month in Lagos. But you did not keep me informed, blurted Mr Roy. No, I thought the company would have told you - or they should have, said Mr Ram. Mr Roy thought all these goings-on to be very strange. He got his office to write to Mr Chatterjee that he had heard that Mr Ram had been selected- and now could he raise a bill for DSD services? No reply, even after two reminders. When the third reminder was sent, there was a curt reply from Mr Chatterjees assistant, to say that Mr Rams biodata had been sent by two agencies, DSD and one other, and since the other agency had sent it a few days before they received the same one from DSD, it would be right to pay the other agency (whom they would not name) and not DSD. They hoped that Mr Roy would understand the companys predicament, and hoped that they would continue their relationship in the future. It was indeed a complex scenario of half-truths. Who was justified? Was Mr Roy justified in proceeding with the assignment without receiving the retainer fee? Was Mr Chatterjee justified in asking Mr Roy to push ahead, without the formalities being complied with? Was Mr Ram justified in not disclosing to Mr Roy that he had also given his CV to another agency, and that he was trying all avenues available to him, to get a new assignment? Was Mr Ram justified in not keeping Mr Roy informed? Was Mr Chatterjee justified in not responding until the third reminder? Each one gives their own version of why they did, what they did - and are happy in the knowledge that they are right! Or take the case of Desai and his dilemma. Mr Desai was the marketing manager of one of the divisions of a large multinational. He was an engineer, with a degree in business administration, and had worked abroad for four years before returning to India; and had been with the CORY Corporation for six years. He was getting a little frustrated because he felt that there was no possibility of upward mobility in the foreseeable future, and he felt he deserved to move up. When an advertisement appeared for the position of general manager (marketing) in a smaller multinational, the NATY Corporation, Mr Desai applied and was selected. The week after he joined, NATY was having an international marketing training session in France, and the managing director of NATY insisted that Mr Desai go and attend the three-week programme and spend another two weeks visiting four other subsidiaries on the continent. Mr Desai returned to India after six weeks, which included a one-week holiday in the UK. A week after returning, he resigned. Mr Desai had been appointed president and chief executive of another company, smaller in size, but with good growth potential- the TINY Corporation. The managing director of NATY was very upset. He had spent such a lot of money on Mr Desai. What was worse, he lost face with the staff, as well as the corporate headquarters, for having hired a person at such a senior level, who left within two months of being appointed and after having a five-week orientation programme at company expense - and without having contributed anything towards the progress of the company. Mr Desais argument is that he had applied to TINY two weeks before applying to NATY. TINY took a long time over the selection process. They finally made an offer to Mr Desai a week before he returned from Europe. Mr Desai says that obviously he could not turn down an offer to become the chief executive. Such opportunities come rarely. Mr Desai feels he was completely justified in taking up the new assignment. Rino left a large advertising agency, where he was working for the last eight years, to start his own advertising agency. He takes with him three of the largest and most prestigious clients of the earlier agency. The DINA agency management is furious. By all means, leave if you like, but dont take our clients with you. Mr Rinos argument is simple. He says these three accounts wanted him, more than the agency. They wanted the service that only he could provide. If Mr Rino had not to take them on, they would have left the DINA agency in any case, and looked for another advertising agency. Mr Rino, therefore, justified his action. All of us have come across such dilemmas time and again. The mind says it is justified. Does the heart say this also? Do the two always have to work in tandem? Ola Electric Mobility Ltd (Ola), the maker of Ola brand electric vehicle (EV) or electric scooters, is again in the news for a large gap in its February sales figures and actual EV registration recorded across the country. Ola received notices from Union ministries of heavy industries (MHI) and road transport and highways (MORTH) seeking answers on the mismatch in sales and registration data. Separately, four states issued notices about trade certificates for a few of Ola stores in these states and raided and seized some EVs from the company showrooms. In a regulatory filing, Ola says , "We have noted the false narratives being spread about our February 2025 sales data. Here are the facts: Our sales remain strong, and the temporary backlog in February was due to ongoing negotiations with our vendors responsible for vehicle registrations. This backlog is being rapidly cleared, with daily registrations exceeding 50% of our three-month daily sales average. Almost 40% of the February backlog has already been cleared, and the remaining will be fully resolved by the end of March 2025." "This is a straightforward case of a temporary registration backlog, yet certain media outlets and vested interests have deliberately misrepresented it as a regulatory issue through misinformation and smear campaigns. This intensified after we discontinued contracts with two nationwide vendors managing our registration process as part of our strategy to streamline operations and drive profitability. Since then, a coordinated effort has been made to create confusion and trigger unnecessary scrutiny," the company says. Sharing its sales data on 28 February 2025 , Ola said, "Backed by a strong S1 portfolio and sales-and-service network of 4,000 stores across the country, the company sold more than 25,000 units in February with a market share of over 28%, cementing its market leadership in the EV two-wheeler (2W) segment." However, February data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) shows Ola's registration at 8,647 vehicles. FADA sources the registration data from the Vahan portal of the MORTH. In India, you must register electric 2W with the regional transport office (RTO) if the motor power exceeds 250 watts or the top speed exceeds 25kmph (kilometre per hour). This means that driving such a 2W EV without registration is illegal. Saharsh Damani, chief executive officer (CEO) of FADA, says, "Is Ola challenging the vehicle registration data published on the VAHAN portal? Ola's statement suggests it has faced a temporary registration backlog. Is Ola delivering vehicles to customers without registration? This is not permitted under the existing rules and regulations governing vehicle sales in India. Automakers and dealers are not allowed to hand over any vehicle to a customer without registration." Another issue that surprised FADA as well as automobile experts and reporters (like me) who have been covering the automobile sector for long time is the rounded-off figures released by Ola for February. We rarely have seen any automaker, be it Maruti Suzuki India Ltd or Tata Motors Ltd in four-wheelers (including passenger or commercial vehicles) or Hero MotoCorp Ltd, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (P) Ltd or Bajaj Auto Ltd for 2Ws releasing round figures for vehicle sales in any month. Sales data shared by all auto-makers is never rounded off and is always in odd numbers. For example, in February, Hero MotoCorp reported the registration of 385,988 units, while for Honda Motorcycle and Scooter, it was 328,502 units. Even Ola, in February 2024, reported the registration of 34,063 units. In a regulatory clarification, Ola accepted that it received emails from MHI and MoRTH seeking an explanation of the large gap in sales and registration data for February 2025. "There are no ongoing negotiations...The Company is in the process of responding to the above. Further, the Company has received notices in four states with regard to trade certificates for few of its stores in these states. The Company is in the process of responding to the same." Ola ended Friday 8.40% higher at Rs56 on the BSE, while the 30-share Sensex closed the week 557 points up at 76,905.51 points. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Sanjay Malhotra recently met with top executives from select urban cooperative banks (UCBs) as part of the regulator's engagement with the banking sector. Mr Malhotra, who assumed office as the 26th RBI governor in December 2024, praised the critical role urban cooperative banks play in fostering financial inclusion and serving communities at the grassroots level nationwide. RBI would continue to support the growth ambitions of the urban cooperative banking sector, Mr Malhotra says. However, he emphasised the need for these banks to be mindful of their responsibilities, particularly in maintaining the trust of their depositors. This meeting comes on the heels of the RBI's recent revisions to some rules and guidelines aimed at providing greater operational flexibility to UCBs. These banks, which primarily operate in urban and semi-urban areas, are pivotal in offering banking services to small borrowers, micro-businesses, and lower-income groups. In addition to the chairmen, managing directors (MDs) and chief executive officers (CEOs) of UCBs, the meeting was attended by representatives from key industry bodies, including the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation Ltd (NUCFDC) and the National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Ltd (NAFCUB). Also present were RBI deputy governors M Rajeshwar Rao and Swaminathan J, along with executive directors (EDs) overseeing regulation and supervision. The RBI governor further stressed the importance of maintaining high customer service standards to cultivate and sustain trust within the community. The prestigious 2024 Maharashtra Bhushan Award has been conferred upon Ram Sutar, the celebrated sculptor behind iconic works such as the Statue of Unity. The announcement was made by Maharashtra chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis in the legislative assembly and deputy CM (DCM) Eknath Shinde in the legislative council. The decision to honour the veteran sculptor came in the wake of a right to information (RTI) disclosure by activist Anil Galgali, whose persistent efforts compelled the state government to expedite the selection process. The RTI activist had filed a query seeking clarification on the delay in announcing the 2024 Maharashtra Bhushan Award. Following Mr Galgalis continued follow-up, CM Fadnavis convened an urgent meeting to address the matter. Subsequently, the award committee, chaired by the CM, met on 12 March 2025 and finalised Mr Sutars name for the accolade. The Maharashtra Bhushan Award is the states highest civilian honour and includes a cash prize of Rs25 lakh, along with a citation, a memento, and a shawl. Mr Galgali expressed his gratitude to CM Fadnavis for promptly addressing the issue. Mr Galgalis RTI application not only brought attention to the delay but also served as a powerful reminder of how public inquiries can prompt government action. The activists determination ensured that the long-pending decision was brought to light, reaffirming the importance of transparency and public accountability. Ram Sutar, revered for his monumental sculptures and invaluable contributions to Indian art, expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the recognition. With this honour, the state has once again acknowledged the legacy of one of Indias most distinguished sculptors. Mr Sutar is a Gold medalist from JJ School of Art in Mumbai. He works with ease and mastery in bronze. He has a mastery of realistic sculptures and has been recognised by various countries and artists worldwide. His bust of Mahatma Gandhi has been highly appreciated and has been selected for installation in more than 450 cities all over the world, including France, US, Italy, Argentina, Barbados, Russia, England, Malaysia, Caracas, Germany, Australia, China, Egypt, Poland, South Africa and many more. Wildfire in U.S. Texas spreading over 2,300 acres Xinhua) 09:09, March 21, 2025 HOUSTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire continued spreading in the Sam Houston National Forest, about one hour of drive from downtown Houston, Texas, burning at least 2,360 acres as of Thursday afternoon, fire officials updated. Currently only 20 percent has been contained since the fire broke out on Wednesday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. At least one structure may have burned by the fire possibly traced back to prescribed burn on private property, said the service at a news conference. No report on fatalities is available. The wildfire prompted evacuation orders in two counties neighboring Houston, Montgomery and San Jacinto. About 900 homes are in the evacuation zone, said an ABC News report. At least a public school district closed schools and canceled all afternoon activities in caution on Thursday due to the wildfire. The National Weather Service on Wednesday upgraded a fire weather watch in counties west of Houston to a red flag warning, alerting that conditions are favorable for wildfires. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The High Court has struck down a government directive that restricted public advertising in ministries and state agencies to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the directive, issued on March 7, 2024, by Broadcasting Principal Secretary Prof. Edward Kisiangani, was unlawful since the PS lacked the legal authority to enforce such a policy. The second respondent (PS Kisiangani) unlawfully assumed powers that do not exist. Under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, he has no capacity to exercise such authority, making his directive null and void from the outset, Justice Mugambi stated. The court criticized Kisiangani for excluding private media houses from accessing government advertisements, arguing that public funds should not be directed solely to KBC. Justice Mugambi further observed that the PSs directive appeared to be an attempt to suppress independent media by cutting off their primary source of revenue. Additionally, the court ruled that any policy enforcing discriminatory exclusion in public procurement is illegal. For the State to make such a fundamental policy shift affecting the procurement of advertising services that excludes privately-owned enterprisessuch a decision is not a mere internal matter to be effected without the involvement of the public, whose concerns must be heard and taken into account before the policy is made, the judge stated. The judge also found that PS Kisiangani misinterpreted public procurement laws and overstepped his authority by assuming powers that legally belong to the Treasury Cabinet Secretary. Only the Treasury CS, the ruling stated, has the mandate to formulate policies and issue guidelines on how government entities procure goods and services. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) can still be deployed to manage protests if necessary, as a previous directive allowing their intervention remains in effect. Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya informed the Senate on Wednesday that the gazette notice issued by former Defence CS Aden Duale on July 24, 2024, is still valid due to an ongoing court case. I would like to inform the Senate that the parameters for the July 24, 2024, deployment of KDF officers remain clear. Two gazette notices issued by then-Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale are still in effect, outlining how KDF was to carry out its mandate, with the court case on the matter yet to be resolved, Tuya stated. During the session, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna challenged Tuya to explain the governments issue with a recent article quoting former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The article claimed Odinga had prevented a military coup against the Kenya Kwanza administration. Tuya dismissed the report as inaccurate, baseless, and reckless. Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda also sought clarity on whether KDF actively monitors the countrys security situation and how prepared they are to handle potential instability or civilian unrest. Tuya emphasized that internal security primarily falls under the National Police Service and the National Intelligence Service. However, she confirmed that KDF could still be deployed if the situation demands it. Because KDF will majorly work in support of other security agencies, the force closely collaborates and regularly exchanges information with the relevant agencies to ensure that all parties remain informed with up to date situational awareness, she stated. She assured the Senate that KDF is structured for swift and effective responses to both external and internal threats. The CS explained that the KDF Act mandates that deployments be gazetted, authorized beforehand, and reported to the National Assembly for oversight and accountability. Former nominated MP Wilson Sossion has strongly refuted claims that President William Rutos support in the Mt. Kenya region is dwindling. With the president set to visit the region in late March or early April for his first development tour since the 2024 impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, speculation has been rife about his standing in the region. Speaking during a live interview on Thursday, March 20, 2025, Sossion dismissed accusations that Ruto has been avoiding Mt. Kenya. The president is committed, and he has been traveling across Kenya. He has visited Western and Northern Kenya, spent a whole week in Nairobi, and toured the Coast. He will be in Mt. Kenya because he is the president and will visit the region. He has already been to Embu and Meru, which are part of the mountain, Sossion stated. Politicians Accused of Using Mt. Kenya for Personal Gain As discussions intensify ahead of Rutos visit, Sossion praised the people of Mt. Kenya for their overwhelming support in the last election. However, he accused certain politicians of attempting to manipulate the president for their own selfish agendas, urging them to stop using the region as a bargaining chip. What is happening is that individual personsnot tribes, not regionsare using selfish interests to blackmail the president for personal self-entitlement. This is an attempt to manipulate the president, as some want to reduce him to pampering them individually while using the name of a region. The president should serve everyone and the entire country, he asserted. Rutos Commitment to Inclusivity and National Development Sossion reiterated that Kenyans, including those from Mt. Kenya, voted for President Ruto based on his vision and policies rather than ethnic affiliations. He emphasized that the president remains dedicated to fostering inclusivity and equality in governance. Kenyans came out and voted for Ruto as individuals based on his agenda, including the people from the mountain. Their decision was guided by direct communication with the president, and that communication will continue. This should shape our politics alongside other progressive priorities such as education and infrastructure, he stated. Mt. Kenya Still Backs Ruto, Sossion Insists Dismissing claims that Ruto has lost his grip on the region, Sossion challenged those making such assertions to present factual evidence. To try and say that Mt. Kenya people are gone! Which figures are you using? Where have they gone? Have they left Kenya? They are here and free to express themselves, he insisted. He further defended Rutos leadership, saying the president has been deliberate in fostering a broad-based government and pushing for political inclusivity. The president has not dropped the ball in de-ethnicizing the country and pushing the agenda of inclusivity. His rollout of a broad-based government has been intentional. Attempts to create the narrative that Mt. Kenya is under attack will be proven wrong in the fullness of time. Ruto will not drop Mt. Kenyait remains a key area of interest for him, and he will visit the region, Sossion affirmed. With the presidents tour approaching, all eyes are on Mt. Kenya to see how the region will respond to his visit. Muranga County Senator Joe Nyutu has taken a bold stand against President William Ruto, demanding answers on why his administration is treating the Mt. Kenya region as a scapegoat. Nyutu accused Rutos allies of unfairly blaming the region in the wake of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas removal. He argued that despite Mt. Kenyas crucial role in Rutos rise to power, the president has allowed his supporters to turn against the very people who helped elect him. We want him to come with an answer on why he is targeting us as a region, why he has set loose his attack dogs to call us tribalists when we voted for him, Nyutu said. The senator questioned the sudden accusations of tribalism, challenging Ruto to explain why his government is sidelining the region. When did we start becoming tribalists? What did we do to him such that anytime we point out something wrong the government is doing to us we are called tribalists? Let him tell us why he is doing a purge against people of our region, the Senator posed during an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday. Nyutu warned that Rutos actions could cost him a second term if he continues down this path. We want him to tell us whether he knew all this time as we were voting for him that he was using us to get in government which he was going to use to isolate and punish us, he added. President William Ruto has reorganized his administration to accelerate the implementation of his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The changes, announced on Thursday by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, affect Principal Secretaries and foreign service appointments. Koskei explained that the reshuffle aims to tap into emerging economic opportunities while addressing key social challenges. His Excellency the President has transmitted the nominations for appointment to the ranks of Principal Secretaries and applicable Foreign Service postings to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in fulfillment of the legal requirements set out under our nations apex law, Koskei stated. Key Government Reshuffles As part of the restructuring, President Ruto promoted Amos Gathecha from Principal Secretary for Public Service to Deputy Head of the Public Service in the Executive Office of the President. Dr. Belio Kipsang, previously the Principal Secretary for Education, has been reassigned to the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services under the Ministry of Interior. Meanwhile, Medical Services PS Harry Kimtai has been transferred to the Ministry of Mining. Julius Bitok, who previously oversaw Immigration and Citizen Services, has been moved to the State Department for Basic Education. Additionally, Prof. Edward Kisiangani, the former Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, has been appointed as a senior advisor and member of the Presidents Council of Economic Advisors. He will work alongside former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and economist David Ndii in steering the countrys economic revival efforts. New Principal Secretary Appointments President Ruto also nominated new Principal Secretaries and officials for key Foreign Service positions, including Ambassadors, Consuls-General, and Deputy Heads of Missions. Among the notable appointments, Dr. Jane Imbunya has been nominated as Principal Secretary for the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development under the Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programs. Regina Akoth Ombam has been appointed as Principal Secretary for the State Department for Trade in the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry. Cyrell Wagunda Odede has been named Principal Secretary for the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management under the National Treasury and Economic Planning. Dr. Caroline Wanjiru Karugu, the former Nyeri Deputy Governor, has been nominated as Principal Secretary for the State Department for East African Affairs under the Ministry of EAC Affairs, ASALs, and Regional Development. Dr. Oluga Fredrick Ouma has been appointed as Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services under the Ministry of Health. In addition, President Ruto has established a new State Department within the Ministry of Education. Professor Abdulrazak Shaukat will lead the newly formed division, which will focus on Science, Research, and Innovation. This sector has been separated from Higher Education, which remains under the leadership of Beatrice Inyangala. Foreign Service Nominations President Ruto has also appointed several new Ambassadors, Consuls-General, and Deputy Heads of Missions. Susan Nakhumicha, former Health Cabinet Secretary, has been nominated to serve at UN-Habitat. Peter Tum Ambassador to Kinshasa. James Muhati Consul-General in Guangzhou. Abdi Dubat Consul-General in Arusha. President Ruto has emphasized that this major restructuring is designed to optimize government efficiency, enhance service delivery, and harness the full potential of Kenyas growing economic sectors. One of the winning entries in the SIU School of Art and Designs inaugural Creative Futures online high school art contest was this 3D work by Mia Brooks, who was a senior at Washington Community High School. (Image provided) SIU Carbondale art and design competition for high school students is underway by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Southern Illinois University Carbondales School of Art and Design is again presenting a statewide online art competition to celebrate the immense talent and creativity of Illinois high school juniors and seniors. The second Creative Futures art competition is open to students in three art media categories 2D, 3D, and digital art and design. Illinois high school art and design teachers are invited to submit works by no more than five current juniors or seniors from their schools. The submission deadline is April 25. The award winners will be announced on May 5; the online exhibition will start May 5 and close on May 4, 2026. There is no entry fee. Three distinct media categories The categories are 2D art (painting, drawing, printmaking and photography), 3D art (ceramics, glass, metals and sculpture), and design and digital art (web/graphic design, industrial design, animation and video). SIU faculty from each of those three areas will decide the entries to be accepted for exhibition. Many of the faculty have juried shows on a national and international level. Optimistic for continued growth The inaugural competition drew 99 entries from 27 high schools throughout Illinois. Travis Janssen, an assistant director and associate professor in the School of Art and Design, anticipates the number of entries will grow. As with anything that grows, the second iteration of this annual competition will undoubtedly be larger than the first, he said. Im optimistic that the number of entries will double, if not triple." Antonio Martinez, associate professor of photography/intermedia arts and the School of Art and Designs head of undergraduate studies, said he anticipates more high school art teachers will encourage their students to participate, especially those in the Southern Illinois region, which is mainly due to the wonderful art events promoted and coordinated by our Art and Design education faculty and students. Martinez said he also hopes to see more sculpture, photography and digital illustrations this year. Prizes awarded The top three students in each of the categories will receive gift cards of $100, $75 and $50 respectively from Blick Art Materials. "The School of Art and Design is grateful to Blick Art Materials for their sponsorship of this years awards, Janssen said, noting that the Galesburg, Illinois-based company began in 1911. Blick has been an artists resource across the U.S. for a long time. Were lucky that theyre in our state and that they are supportive of endeavors like the Creative Futures competition, he said. Janssen added that the competition also serves as an entryway for students who are interested in pursuing their artistic talents in college. "SIUs School of Art and Design has a very diverse range of media and program offerings, he said. This competition not only encourages young artists to continue their artistic pursuits I hope that they will consider SIU as an option to foster their creative futures." More information on the competition is available at the Creative Futures website, calling the School of Art and Design at 618-453-4315, or by email at creativefutures@siu.edu. The BSE Sensex slipped 69.91 points, opening at 76,278.16, while the NSE Nifty declined 22.40 points, starting at 23,168.25. Despite the negative opening, market breadth remained mixed, with 31 Nifty companies advancing and 19 declining. Among the top gainers were Bajaj Finance, Nestle India, Shriram Finance, ONGC, and Maruti, while the IT sector led the decline, with Infosys, HCL Technologies, TCS, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra among the biggest losers. Ajay Bagga, a banking and marketing expert, highlighted growing investor concerns over economic uncertainty. He noted that while central banks worldwide--ranging from Indonesia and Brazil to the Bank of England and the U.S. Federal Reserve--have provided their outlooks this week, they have failed to offer clarity on key economic risks. "The world is flying blind into April 2 broad-based reciprocal tariffs," Bagga warned, adding that volatility, caution, and capital preservation remain the dominant themes. While geopolitical risks remain subdued, Bagga highlighted potential unintended consequences, particularly as Russia-U.S. talks have failed to secure a substantial ceasefire. The renewed Israel-Hamas conflict and France advising its citizens to exit Iran have further fueled speculation of escalating tensions in the Middle East. The IT sector faced additional pressure after Accenture's earnings report raised concerns about the industry's growth prospects. With Accenture's significant exposure to US government contracts, the firm's subdued outlook has sparked worries for Indian IT services companies. On a positive note, Indian markets have seen strong Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) inflows in two of the last three trading sessions. Bagga emphasised that if this trend sustains and domestic capital sitting on the sidelines gets deployed, Indian markets could resume their upward trajectory toward new record highs. However, he cautioned that uncertainty surrounding April 2 remains difficult to price or hedge against, with global risks still unfolding. Bagga said, "For now, we remain cautiously optimistic but very wary of surprises on April 2. Risks are being priced in, but uncertainty remains a challenge for investors in a potential 'lose-lose' trade war scenario." (ANI) PRNewswire New Delhi [India], March 21: Nasscom, today, successfully hosted the first edition of the Global Confluence 2025 at Hotel Shangri-La, New Delhi. The event brought together leading policymakers, industry experts, and global stakeholders to strengthen international collaborations and chart the course for the next phase of technology-driven trade and innovation. Positioned as a premier forum in India, Nasscom Global Confluence with the theme "Forging Global Alliances for Tech Leadership", served as a pivotal platform that facilitated meaningful engagement between technology companies, the Indian government, and global counterparts, fostering a deeper understanding of global market opportunities and accelerating tech services exports across key geographies. The forum was honored by the esteemed presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, GOI, who addressed the gathering, sharing key insights on driving the growth of service exports with a focus on the tech sector. He also felicitated the winners of the SME Inspire Awards, announced on the sidelines of the forum. A special address was delivered by Jitin Prasada, Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Electronics & IT, GOI highlighting India's commitment to fostering global trade alliances and technological cooperation. As part of its strategic vision to strengthen global collaborations, on the side lines of the Global Confluence, Nasscom also announced the launch of its Global Country Councils, a strategic initiative designed to deepen collaboration with select markets by strategically engaging global technology leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders. These councils will serve as high-impact platforms, to foster innovation, policy alignment, and action-specific opportunities to promote trade and investment by working with government and partners in these specific geographies. They will also play a crucial role in advocating for policies that support innovation and enhancing collaboration in skill development and workforce mobility, positioning the Indian tech ecosystem as a leader in global digital transformation. During the event, key addresses by Rajesh Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, GOI, Felix Neugart, CEO, NRW Global Business, Dr. Manas Human, CEO, Nagarro, Diego Morales, Secretary of State, Indiana, USA, and Rajesh Nambiar, President, Nasscom emphasized cross-border partnerships and technology-driven economic growth. Rajesh Nambiar, President, Nasscom, said, "In today's interconnected world, no country or company can innovate alone. Strong alliances, shared expertise, and a commitment to trusted technology partnerships will be the foundation of the next era of global tech leadership. Nasscom is committed to fostering cross- border partnerships that bring together leaders from across industries and geographies to drive innovation, economic growth, and digital transformation." Key Highlights from the Event: * Technology & Geopolitics Panel: Diplomats and industry leaders discussed the interplay between global power dynamics and technology, featuring insights from H.E. Philip Green OAM, High Commissioner of Australia to India, H.E. Dr. Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of Germany to India, Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh, Former Ambassador of India to the United States, and H.E. Lindy Cameron CB OBE, British High Commissioner to India. * AI and the Future of Intelligent Systems: A fireside chat with Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY (India AI Mission), GOI followed by a panel featuring experts from TCS, Nagarro, Humanize Tech, Sopra Steria, and Birlasoft, focused on how AI is revolutionizing industries and reshaping connected ecosystems. * Indo-German Technology Corridor: A fireside chat with Felix Neugart, CEO, NRW Global Business, explored how businesses, governments, and academia are driving growth in the European market. * Academic Partnerships for Innovation: Experts from University of New South Wales, Atlassian, Tech Mahindra, and Investment NSW discussed the role of universities and research centers in scaling businesses globally. * Global Market Strategies: Focused panels addressed market expansion opportunities in Germany, Australia, ASEAN, and the U.S., featuring insights from leading business and investment experts. * Navigating the U.S. Market: A dedicated session with industry experts from TCS, USISPF, Datafoundry, and other leading organizations analyzed policy shifts, regulatory trends, and strategies for Indian companies entering the U.S. market. About Nasscom Nasscom represents the voice of over $282 billion technology industry in India with the vision to establish the nation as the world's leading technology ecosystem. Boasting a diverse and influential community of over 3500+ member companies our network spans the entire spectrum of the industry from DeepTech and AI start-ups to multinationals and from products to services, Global Capability Centres to Engineering firms. Guided by our vision, our strategic imperatives are to accelerate skilling at scale for future-ready talent, strengthen the innovation quotient across industry verticals, create new market opportunities - both international and domestic, drive policy advocacy to advance innovation and ease of doing business, and build the industry narrative with a focus on Trust, and Innovation. And, in everything we do, we will continue to champion the need for diversity and equal opportunity. For more details visit our website https://nasscom.in/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2507488/NASSCOM_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], March 21: Wella Professionals, the No.1 Salon Color Brand in the World** with 140+ years of experience in the hair industry, recently hosted the highly anticipated TrendVision 2024-25 Grand Finale, one of the most prestigious events in the hairdressing industry. This grand celebration took place at Andaz, New Delhi, where 21 of India's finest hairstylists competed in an electrifying showcase of artistry, innovation, and transformative skill. Judged by an esteemed panel, including Wella Global Ambassador Alexis Ferrer, renowned Bollywood celebrity Manushi Chhillar, renowned beauty editor Nandini Bhalla, and trailblazing hair expert Adhuna Bhabani, the competition culminated in an unforgettable night of bold expression and groundbreaking techniques. Bringing out Wella's legacy of passion and breaking boundaries, this year's Artspiration, "Golden Hour," drew a reference from photography's most beautiful lighting moments, where warmth and radiance come together. The event showcased an extraordinary display of creativity, where participants pushed the limits of hair artistry with talent that surpassed expectations. Each creation was nothing short of a masterpiece, unbelievable yet masterfully brought to life. The judges were left in awe as transformation after transformation unfolded, proving that when talent meets fearlessness, the results are nothing less than groundbreaking. The winners of TrendVision 2024-25 are: * Color Visionary: Lalruattluanga (Mapui Salon, Shillong) & Ravi Raj Joiya (Mumbai) * Craft Visionary: Khushal Mali (Roots Makeover, Udaipur) & Sapna Alay (Vurve Salon, Bangalore) * Academy Star: Netra Vilas (BBlunt Academy, Mumbai) & Nidhi (Orane Academy, Chandigarh) Beyond the excitement of competition, the winners earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent India at Wella's Global Destination Event, gaining access to an exclusive masterclass from the Wella Global Ambassador, Alexis Ferrer. With every stroke of color and each precise cut, they brought the Wella philosophy to life of being Effortlessly Precise and Staying a step ahead always. The winners in the Academy Stars category are rewarded with an exclusive training internship opportunity with Wella India. Adding to the excitement, Wella Professionals unveiled the relaunch of Color Touch, its iconic demi-permanent range featuring a built-in Metal Purifier, at this event. This ammonia-free, low-commitment color line offers a rich, multi-dimensional palette for vibrant, natural-looking results. Loved by stylists worldwide, Color Touch now also boasts a vegan formula, ensuring true-to-tone vibrancy and unmatched shine across all hair types. With over 50+ shades, stylists can now explore limitless possibilities in hair artistry. Enhancing this relaunch, Wella introduced signature new services, from Grey Blending and Color Refresh to Color Touch Melt and the First-Time Gentle Color Experience, these services empower professionals to craft unique, high-impact transformations. The Color Touch Melt technique, blends 3-5 shades for a seamless, couture-inspired effect, defining the future of modern hair color. Pravesh Saha, General Manager, Wella India and South Asia, shared his excitement about the event, "TrendVision is back, and it's bigger than ever. It's the ultimate stage for dreamers. This season's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From initial inspiration to the final reveal, each stylist has displayed an extreme level of precision & skill. The semi-finals proved to be an exhibit of passion, demonstrating the dedication and expertise that define this craft. The finale took the competition to another level, with the display of unthinkable creations leaving us seasoned experts stunned. Wella Company remains at the forefront of creative excellence, providing a platform for stylists to experiment and innovate. With TrendVision making a powerful comeback, we are driving a new era of hairdressing in India. Additionally, the new Color Touch range, now featuring an in-built metal purifier technology and dynamic new shades, opens up limitless possibilities for color expression, empowering stylists to push their creativity even further." Join the conversation and witness the artistry unfold by following @wellaproindia Instagram handle and visiting www.wellatrendvisionindia.in. **Based on Wella Master Brand USD sales on the 2023 Salon Hair Care Study for the hair coloring products category published by Kline Wella Company is one of the world's leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as the No. 1 Salon Color Brand in the World, Wella Professionals, and additional brands such as Sebastian Professional, System Professional, weDo Professional, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally and a presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders. (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) Despite new US sanctions imposed in January, Russian oil exports have remained largely unaffected and continued almost as normal, according to HSBC Global Research. "Russian exports have continued almost as normal despite new US sanctions announced in January," says the report. Supply disruptions are the main upside risk to crude prices, as so far most sanctions-related newsflow has largely been noise and none have materialised. Efforts by India, China, and Russia to restore trade links have helped minimize disruptions, suggesting that any supply disruptions will likely be temporary. Oil prices have declined in recent weeks, falling to around USD 70 per barrel, as global supply remains strong and economic concerns weigh on the market. Analysts expect Brent crude prices to average USD 73 per barrel in 2025 and USD 70 per barrel in 2026. Given the combination of strong supply and weak demand growth, the likelihood of prices falling further remains high. The current market conditions suggest that risks are tilted toward the downside. If global economic activity slows down further--particularly due to US tariffs--demand for oil could weaken, pushing prices lower. While OPEC+ has the ability to limit price increases by utilizing its spare capacity, there is no similar mechanism in place to support prices on the downside. If Brent crude prices drop into the mid-USD 60s per barrel, OPEC+ may reconsider its decision and pause the unwinding of output cuts. However, as of now, supply remains strong, and no major disruptions have materialized to counteract the downward pressure on prices. Additionally, supply from other oil-producing nations has increased, further stabilizing global availability. Overproduction beyond assigned quotas in some OPEC+ countries--such as Kazakhstan, the UAE, Venezuela, and Libya--has added an estimated 0.4 to 0.5 mbd to global supply in February. If the Iraq-Turkiye pipeline resumes operations, it could add another 0.4 mbd to the global supply.While some supply risks remain--such as potential disruptions in Venezuela or Iran--most sanctions-related concerns have had little real impact on the market. If global economic conditions weaken further, the oil market could see an even larger surplus, leading to additional price declines. HSBC report stated, "We believe risks are asymmetrically skewed to the downside in the current market regime. On the upside, prices remain firmly capped by OPEC+ spare capacity. There is no equivalent mechanism to underpin the downside - quite the opposite, as OPEC+ is set to restore rather than cut supply." Report added, "Prices could fall if global trade and economic activity deteriorate, notably due to US tariffs. If Brent slides to the mid-USD60s/b, we would not rule out OPEC+ pausing the unwinding of its output cuts." As a result, the oil market is now expected to be in a slight surplus of 0.2 million barrels per day (mbd) in 2025. This surplus is projected to grow significantly in 2026, potentially exceeding 1 mbd if OPEC+ continues with its planned production increases. (ANI) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 21: R. World Institutional Ranking (R. W I Ranking) proudly announces the release of the much-anticipated Green Rankings 2025, honoring India's top institutions that exemplify exceptional commitment to sustainability, eco-conscious innovation, and green campus practices. This year, MAHE, Manipal Campus has been ranked as the No. 1 Private University in India, reaffirming its leadership in driving sustainable development in higher education. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham secures the second position, closely followed by BITS Pilani and IIT Patna, each demonstrating remarkable strides in environmental sustainability, renewable energy adoption, and waste management systems. Introducing Distinctive Bands for Sustainable Leadership: The Green Rankings 2025 categorize the top-performing institutions into five distinct bands, offering a nuanced evaluation of sustainability performance across various indicators such as carbon footprint reduction, green infrastructure, community outreach, and integration of environmental consciousness into academic frameworks. The Platinum+ Band Institutions setting a global benchmark with exemplary green initiatives and sustainability best practices, and Platinum Band institutions recognizing institutions that have demonstrated consistent leadership in environmental sustainability. MAHE, Manipal has demonstrated a relentless pursuit of sustainability by implementing innovative environmental programs, fostering awareness on campus, and taking proactive steps toward waste management and clean energy integration. Its unwavering dedication to creating a green campus ecosystem has placed it at the forefront of India's sustainable higher education landscape. In addition to the Green Rankings 2025, R. World Institutional Rankings continues to set the standard with its OBE Rankings - India's leading private rankings dedicated to assessing Outcome-Based Education (OBE) practices. Recognized as one of the most credible private education-rankings agency in India, R.W I Rankings highlights institutions excelling in aligning academic programs with clearly defined learning outcomes, ensuring that graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by the industry and society. 500+ Institutions, with varied sizes and profile, ranging from Institutions of Eminence Deemed-to-be-University, NIRF Top 10 Institutions, NACC A++, and to newly established Universities have participated and/or partnered with R.W I Ranking for Ranking/Research activities. R.W I Ranking attract participation from a diverse range of institutions, including those offering traditional, modern, and cutting-edge programs in disciplines ranging from humanities and sciences to technology and healthcare. Recently, AISSMS College of Pharmacy (AISSMS COP), Pune expressed its strong faith in the rankings, highlighting the platform's credibility and relevance in recognizing academic excellence. AISSMS COP has established itself as a leading institution in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D), fostering a research-intensive environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, expert faculty, and strong industry linkages. The college encourages its faculty and students to undertake impactful research, contributing significantly to advancements in pharmaceutical sciences. AISSMS COP strives to instill a profound awareness of civic duties and constitutional values. Students and employees are equipped with comprehensive knowledge of the rights and responsibilities granted by the constitution, empowering them to become active contributors to society. The college has been ranked in the Diamond Band, in the recent Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW) Rankings for Best Institutions for Campus Life in India. 5th Edition of OBE Rankings: Survey Opens on April 3, 2025 The much-awaited 5th edition of the OBE Rankings is set to launch its live-survey on April 3, 2025, inviting institutions across India to participate and benchmark their outcome-based practices. With an increasing focus on skill-based education and employability, these rankings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of academic programs in enhancing student learning and success. About R. World Institutional Ranking: R. W I Ranking stands as a beacon of excellence, aiming to meticulously evaluate and acknowledge educational institutions in India, and worldwide. By fostering healthy competition, it encourages institutions to continually enhance their standards, quality of education and overall ecosystem of HigherEd. Through its dynamic evaluation processes and commitment to transparency, R. W I Ranking empowers institutions to identify areas of improvement and establish leadership in the ever-evolving higher education landscape. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 21: Giraffe Learning has always stood tall in its commitment to quality education, and its collaboration with St. Joseph's College is a testament to that vision. As St. Joseph's celebrates 150 years of shaping minds and nurturing future leaders, this partnership highlights a shared dedication to academic excellence. More than just a milestone, this moment marks a future driven by knowledge, integrity, and innovation--values that both institutions hold high. Giraffe Learning, the official in-house training partner for some of India's most prestigious colleges--including Mount Carmel, Jyoti Nivas, and St. Joseph's--has definitely built a reputation for its unwavering commitment to ethical and authentic education. Under the leadership of Mr. Thomas Abraham, an IIT Kharagpur graduate himself, the organization has consistently held on to rigorous academic standards, making it a trusted name in the education sector. The partnership between St. Joseph's and Giraffe Learning is a witness of these shared values and ambition. At a time when the institution is commemorating its 150-year journey, its collaboration with Giraffe showcases a mutual dedication to student success, professional integrity, and academic excellence. This collaboration is a testament to St. Joseph's belief in equipping students with knowledge as well as the skills and ethical foundation necessary for the future. This year, Giraffe Learning has also expanded its footprint by entering a symbiotic collaboration with St. Charles College and is in the process of affiliating itself with another reputable institution in Bangalore. With these new developments, Giraffe will soon hold the highest number of symbiotic collaborations in Bangalore, educating over 400 students. Yet, its partnership with St. Joseph's stands as a particularly distinguished achievement--one that is consistent with the legacy of an institution celebrating a century and a half of academic brilliance. As St. Joseph's College celebrates this special occasion, its partnership with Giraffe Learning isn't just about honoring the past--it's about a shared commitment to growth. True excellence isn't a finish line; it's the drive to keep learning, evolving, and building a future grounded in knowledge, integrity, and fresh ideas. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 21: "Experience India in its purest form and transform your perspective through the lens of Dimpy Bhalotia, an award-winning photographer and creative director, widely known for her captivating street, portrait, and documentary style of photography." Would you like me to refine it further or add more details about her work? Dimpy's work has received widespread acclaim and won her over 24 prestigious awards globally. Notably, she became the first Indian to win the Grand Prize Award, IPPAWARDS 2020, for her photograph "Flying Boys". Apple CEO Tim Cook called the results of this competition "extraordinary" and applauded the photographers' "outstanding work" on twitter. (For your reference only: https://x.com/tim_cook/status/1286027053783867393?s=46) According to L'Officiel, "Flying Boys is now the most famous photograph." (For your reference only: https://lofficiel.in/2021/10/25/the-success-story-of-an-award-winning-photographer-dimpy-bhalotia/) She also won the Female in Focus Award from the British Journal of Photography. Dimpy is the President of the ADC (Art Directors Club) 103rd Annual Awards Photography Jury for The One Club of Creativity Dimpy's work is a celebration of the most groundbreaking and innovative photographic artistry of our time. She is a major influence in the photography industry, widely recognised for her unique perspective and originality. Her powerful photographs continue to captivate, educate, and inspire current and future generations. Her work has been published and featured by leading international media outlets, including The Washington Post, Forbes, The Guardian, Adobe, L'Officiel, National Geographic, BBC News, GQ Magazine, The Telegraph, The National, Cult of Mac, Economic Times, NPR, and many others. Dimpy's photographs have been exhibited in over 10 of the world's finest galleries, where she is renowned for her pioneering and powerful work. Dimpy has collaborated with some of the most prestigious global brands, with selected clients including Apple, OnePlus, Oppo, Penguin Random House UK, and Xiaomi. She is the founder and producer of Light Wanderers, a creative agency and production house that crafts bespoke, iconic photographs and videos for clients worldwide. Dimpy is also the founder and curator of Pure Street Photography (PSP), a highly respected global street photography community that has become a beacon of creativity and support for street photographers of all levels. Dimpy Bhalotia has launched and designed the grand photography expedition and will be assisted by renowned photographer Kamal Kumaar Rao. This carefully curated expedition, running from 11th to 19th December 2025, will take you deep into the heart of Varanasi and Delhi--where history, spirituality, and art converge. Varanasi, the world's oldest living city, pulses with sacred energy. As the golden light of dawn reflects off the Ganges, the air fills with the scent of incense and the echo of ancient chants. You will explore the labyrinthine alleys where artisans craft by hand and ancient temples tell stories of devotion and mythology. Every corner of Varanasi offers a profound visual and spiritual narrative, waiting to be captured through your lens. This expedition goes beyond technical mastery--it's about refining your creative voice. Through immersive live shooting sessions and intimate masterclasses, Dimpy Bhalotia will share her unique vision and process, guiding you to see and capture moments with depth and authenticity. Kamal Kumaar Rao's deep cultural insight and artistic expertise will provide an unparalleled perspective, helping you create powerful and meaningful photographs. Dimpy and Kamal are passionate travellers who have explored India and Nepal extensively by road, gaining a profound understanding of the region's landscapes, streets, riverbanks, and hidden alleys. Born and raised in India, they share an innate connection to its culture, traditions, and way of life. With over a decade of experience documenting the country--from the rugged landscapes of Ladakh in the north to the coastal beauty of Kanyakumari in the south--they have built deep relationships with locals, historians, and communities, uncovering India's raw, untold stories. Their profound local insight and mastery of photography make them the ultimate storytellers of the subcontinent. Fluent in multiple Indian languages, they can seamlessly navigate restricted areas and VIP zones while ensuring an immersive and authentic experience. Their deep understanding of cultural etiquette allows them to engage with people respectfully, preserving the essence of India's traditions. With Dimpy and Kamal, you will experience India in its purest form. Whether savouring Delhi's street food with trusted local vendors, documenting life along Varanasi's riverbanks, or accessing hidden havelis, historic Sufi shrines, and secret alleyways brimming with stories, every moment is curated for an unforgettable journey. Their deep-rooted connections grant access to the best historians and local storytellers, enriching your understanding of India's layered past. What sets this experience apart is the exclusive access it provides. You will step into private spaces and witness moments unseen by most, from historic sites steeped in legacy to intimate encounters with remarkable individuals. These rare opportunities will lead to profound conversations and transformative experiences, offering a journey that extends far beyond the lens. This is more than a photography tour--it's a profound, sensory, and cultural journey into the heart of India. It's a seamless blend of art, culture, luxury, and inspiration, leaving you with new perspectives and unforgettable memories. Luxurious accommodations, exclusive access to hidden cultural gems, and expert curation ensure a seamless and inspiring experience. Join Dimpy and Kamal and experience India in its purest form. Dimpy's Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimpy_Bhalotia Dimpy's Website: https://www.dimpybhalotia.com/ Dimpy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dimpy.bhalotia To Join Photography Expedition Link: https://www.purestreetphotography.com/india-photography-expedition-varanasi-delhi (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 21: The media launch of the MBA in Business Analytics & Marketing with a Specialization in Real Estate, a collaborative initiative by IREED Academy and DCOIL, was held on 20th March 2025 at DPG Degree College, DCOIL's Auditorium (2nd floor), Sector 34, Gurgaon. The event focused on addressing the growing skill gap in India's real estate sector by introducing an industry-integrated MBA program designed to prepare job-ready professionals for the evolving market. Top industry leaders, including Rajendra Gahlot, Chairman, DPG Degree College; Ankush Kaul, President, Sales & Marketing, Central Park; Sudhir Bhat, President of Venture Capitalist Fund with Global Operations; Kunal Behrani, Chief Operating Officer, Unity Group; Rajat Jain, President, Sales, Marketing & CRM, Adani Realty; and Suneet Singh, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Whiteland Corporation graced the occasion and shared their insights on the future of real estate education and workforce transformation. IREED Academy, the Institute of Real Estate Education & Entrepreneurship Development, reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements. As India's real estate market is projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, contributing 13-15% of the country's GDP, the demand for professionally trained individuals will be more critical than ever. IREED in collaboration with DCOIL, an institution known for its innovation driven education model, and affiliated by Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, the MBA program integrates business analytics, marketing with real estate specialization, ensures a comprehensive learning experience which equips students with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on industry exposure. Rajendra Gahlot, Chairman of DPG Degree College, noted the unprecedented demand for skilled professionals in real estate. The MBA program combines business analytics, marketing with real estate specialization to prepare graduates for exceptional career opportunities through an industry aligned curriculum. Bhaswar Paul, Founder & CEO of IREED Academy, emphasized the program's importance, stating that as India's real estate sector expands, the demand for skilled professionals is critical. The collaboration between IREED and DCOIL aims to build an industry-ready workforce. The program offers 100% job assistance, opportunities at prestigious IIM, and direct engagement with top firms. Kunal Behrani, COO of Unity Group, highlighted the skill gap in real estate and the need for formal education to ensure professionals excel in this field. He praised IREED's initiative as a vital step toward addressing this gap. Sudhir Bhat, President of Venture Capitalist Fund with Global Operations reflected on his 25-year journey in real estate, stating that IREED is filling the void by offering India's first MBA tailored specifically for the sector, ensuring graduates have practical knowledge and strategic thinking skills. Rajat Jain, Head of Sales at Adani Realty, encouraged students to approach real estate with passion and dedication. He described IREED's initiative as a game-changer that prepares young professionals to make a significant impact in the industry. Suneet Singh, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Whiteland Corporation, shared her insights on the evolving role of marketing in real estate, stating the ability to market a property goes beyond just sales--it requires a deep understanding of buyer behavior, investment patterns, and market analytics. IREED's MBA program is structured to equip students with these essential skills, ensuring they can elevate brand perception, drive business strategy, and create long-term value in the real estate sector. Lastly, Akshay Ravesh Aggarwal reiterated the need to modernize education to align with industry demand, aiming to bridge the gap between learning and practical application through this MBA program. The media launch on 20th March 2025 at DPG Degree College, DCOIL's Auditorium, showcased the transformative potential of the MBA in Business Analytics & Marketing with a Specialization in Real Estate. The course is curated to be industry oriented learning with perfect blend of theory and real time exposure including an immersion program at prestigous IIM will be very helpful to the student. The international global learning experience at a top international university are set to equip student with a competitive edge in the real estate sector. This event marked the beginning of a new era in real estate education, paving the way for a more structured, professional, and future-ready workforce in India. With IREED and DCOIL leading the way, this initiative is set to revolutionize the real estate industry, ensuring that the next generation of professionals are equipped with the expertise, skills, and vision needed to shape the future of urban development and property management in India. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 21: Innovation, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to empowering MSMEs have always been at the core of Dial4Trade Technologies Pvt Ltd. We are proud to announce that our company has been honored as one of India's Top 100 Most Innovative and High-Performing Companies for 2025 by the prestigious India SME Forum. This recognition reaffirms our dedication to revolutionizing the MSME sector with technology-driven solutions and strategic innovation. A Milestone Achievement: Standing Out Among 27,467 Nominations Competing against 27,467 nominations from across the country, the selection process was rigorous, highlighting the outstanding talent and innovation within the MSME sector. A panel of esteemed jury members carefully assessed the nominees, and Dial4Trade Technologies Pvt Ltd emerged as a distinguished winner, recognized for our pioneering contributions and tailored solutions for MSMEs. Grand Felicitation Ceremony at The Leela Palace, New Delhi The prestigious award was officially presented at a grand felicitation ceremony on March 6, 2025, at The Leela Palace, New Delhi. The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Anurag Singh Thakur, Member of Parliament, and Kalraj Mishra, former Minister of MSME, Government of India, and former Governor of Rajasthan. Also present were the governing board members of the India SME Forum and Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO of Axis Bank, making the event an inspiring milestone for all winners. Driving Innovation and MSME Empowerment This recognition fuels our mission to continue innovating and delivering transformative solutions for MSMEs, ensuring their sustainable growth and long-term success. At Dial4Trade, we remain committed to pushing boundaries, integrating smart technologies, and achieving measurable outcomes that positively impact the business ecosystem. Our vision extends beyond business success; we strive to empower MSMEs with advanced digital tools, automation, and market insights, enhancing their resilience and competitiveness in an evolving economic landscape. Through continuous research, collaboration, and technological advancements, we aim to be the driving force behind MSMEs' journey toward excellence. A Greener and More Sustainable Future Our commitment goes beyond innovation--we are dedicated to fostering sustainability by developing AI-driven SaaS-based solutions that empower MSMEs while ensuring environmentally responsible growth. Through smart and scalable digital solutions, we help businesses optimize operations and boost efficiency in various areas, including: Marketplace Solutions Lead Generation Platforms Digital Marketing (SEO/SEM) Services Website & Mobile App Development Custom HRM & CRM Solutions E-Commerce Solutions Business Automation Tools These award-winning initiatives reflect our dedication to sustainability, adaptability, and technological empowerment, ensuring that MSMEs can access state-of-the-art digital resources to succeed in a fast-evolving business environment. "This recognition is a proud moment for all of us at Dial4Trade Technologies Pvt Ltd. Our journey has been fueled by a deep commitment to empowering MSMEs with cutting-edge digital solutions. We believe that technology is the key to unlocking new opportunities and driving sustainable business growth. This award reinforces our vision to continue innovating and providing businesses with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving market. We extend our gratitude to the India SME Forum, our incredible team, and our valued clients and partners who have been part of this transformative journey." - Tina Sharma, Co-Founder, Dial4Trade Technologies Pvt Ltd Looking Ahead: Scaling New Heights Winning the India SME 100 Award is not just a milestone--it is a motivation to aim higher, innovate further, and continue serving the MSME sector with unwavering passion and commitment. As we look to the future, Dial4Trade Technologies Pvt Ltd remains steadfast in its mission to transform business operations, unlock new opportunities, and enhance the potential of MSMEs in a rapidly changing world. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the India SME Forum, the esteemed jury, our dedicated team, and, most importantly, our valued clients and partners who have supported us on this incredible journey. This recognition is a shared success, and we are excited about setting new industry benchmarks. Stay connected with us as we continue our journey of innovation, inspiration, and impact, driving a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable business landscape in India. For media inquiries, please contact:Aarti SharmaDial4Trade Technologies Pvt Ltd pr@dial4trade.com +91-85-1097-1098https://www.dial4trade.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) OP Jindal University New Delhi [India], March 21: Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, delivered the 10th Dr. L. M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture on the theme "India's Soft Power". Describing India's soft power. Dr. Tharoor observed that, "Soft power projects multi-alignment which is a web of interconnected networks where influence is dispersed and collaboration is key. Multi-alignment allows India to navigate this network world with agility and purpose, engaging in multiple coalitions and platforms that serve different objectives which, in turn, is a reflection of the crucial role India is able to play across the world and that advances universal principles." The Dr. L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture is an annual lecture series organized by Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University in memory of Dr. L.M. Singhvi, a multifaceted personality and a jurist par excellence, who made invaluable contributions to society as a statesman, diplomat, writer, and lawyer. The memorial lecture was held under the aegis of Singhvi Endowment, an endowment instituted by Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, son of late Dr. L.M. Singhvi, and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India & Member of Parliament, at Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University in memory of his father. In the memorial lecture, Dr. Tharoor explained the concept of soft power, "Soft power accounts for the influence that a country wields beyond its military or hard power. It rests primarily on three resources: its culture in places where it's attractive to others, its political values when it lives up to them at home and abroad, and its foreign policies when they are seen as legitimate and have moral authority. Soft power is what people think about a country as soon as they hear its name. A hard power is what they feel when they confront a country. Hard power is exercised. Some power is evoked. In today's world, soft power has become a key tool to geopolitical strategy embraced across the globe". Focusing on India's soft power, Dr. Tharoor observed, "As influence shifts increasingly from military and economic might to cultural and intellectual leadership, India's soft power stands as a vital asset. We embody the true ideas and a vision of India that transcends borders. India's multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-party, pluralistic civilization and democracy have emerged as an attraction to many, especially our parliamentary institutions and procedures, conducting free and fair elections and our ability to involve the non-governmental sector and civil society in the quest for inclusive growth." "When millions around the world roll out yoga mats on the International Yoga Day, it bears a tradition that embodies the balance between ancient wisdom and modern wellness. In doing so, we embrace a cultural gift from India. When India's leadership promoted yoga globally, getting the UN to nearly unanimously recognize the International Yoga Day, it became a quiet, powerful testament to India's role in fostering balance and harmony worldwide." Speaking on Bollywood's role as an important instrument to Indian soft power. Dr. Tharoor, stated, "It is not only a celebration of the dynamism of Indian cinema but also reinforces Bollywood's role as an important instrument to Indian soft power, embedding India's spirit into the global imagination. Today, Indian cinema's international success and influence have elevated Bollywood as a formidable force of our soft power, reshaping global perceptions and expanding India's cultural footprint on the world stage". On the other facets of India's sort power, Dr. Tharoor observed, "India's claims to a global leadership role in the world of the 21st century lie in the aspects and products of Indian society and culture that the world finds attractive. The roots of India's soft power run deep as ours is a civilization that has existed for millennia. We can reaffirm that the global respect that India has enjoyed comes from its ability to serve as an inspiring example of the successful management of diversity despite all the challenges we faced and overcame and this reflects India's essence. It radiates as a quiet force, achieves perceptions, nurtures goodwill and builds bridges across divides, unlike blunt instruments of coercion, soft power thrives on persuasion. India's vaccine diplomacy during the COVID pandemic stands as a powerful example of leadership rooted in responsibility and solidarity. India's technical prowess through its space programme opened new avenues for international collaboration and invited the world to partake in its dreams of a shared future among the stars. India has emerged as a formidable force in shaping the global space order and positioned itself as a partner of choice for nations seeking to join the frontier of space exploration." Dr. Abhishek Singhvi, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India reflected on the memory of his illustrious father and said, "He [Dr. L.M. Singhvi] was a renaissance person, multi-coloured and multi-faceted. The true meaning of a renaissance person is one who is a master of many subjects. His diplomacy in the UK touched great heights as was his glorious career in law, which he readily gave up when he took up the role of the High Commissioner. He also conceptualised the Law Day, now celebrated as Constitution Day. He was behind the entire diaspora movement based on his comprehensive report on Pravasi Bhartiya. He coined both the words Lokpal and Lokayukta in the 1960s and strived ceaselessly for decades to operationalize them in our body politic. He wrote the report which led to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in Panchayati Raj and a revolution in local self-government. As a Member of Parliament, he believed in and practiced cross-party large- heartedness and magnanimity and shunned the narrow walls of divisiveness and distrust." In his welcome address Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University said, "We are here to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. LM Singhvi, and I would like to describe him as India's VIBGYOR Man and that essentially captures the many facets of his personality. His contributions span across many areas of public life and he remains as one of India's leading public intellectuals as well. I also want to thank, Dr. Abhishek Singhvi, for his philanthropic act of establishing this endowment in memory of his father, Dr. L.M. Singhvi, which for us is an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of one of India's leading jurists." Professor (Dr.) S.G. Sreejith Executive Dean, Strategy & Institution Building, Jindal Global Law School said in his introductory remarks that Jindal Global Law School is honoured to receive this endowment. "Dr. L.M. Singhvi was not just a diplomat, statesman, and scholar--he had deep faith in the power of law, especially international law, as a universalizing force. To honour this vision, Jindal Global Law School hosts the annual Dr. L.M. Singhvi International Conference on International Law and International Relations and the Dr. Singhvi Memorial Lectures. These events celebrate Dr. L.M. Singhvi's insights into intersections and his ability to bridge the relationship between international law and politics." Professor Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik Registrar, O. P. Jindal Global University delivered the concluding address. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by OP Jindal University. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 21: Samsonite, a global leader in travel gear, has a long-standing tradition of blending innovation with elegance, superior craftsmanship, and distinctive flair. In celebration of its 115th anniversary, the brand's latest offering, New Streamlite, is truly noteworthy. This collection not only revisits the company's origins but also underscores its commitment to spearheading the future of travel. The New Streamlite is a modern take on Samsonite's iconic Streamlite from the 1940s. Available in Admiral Blue and Bermuda Green, its framed exterior exudes confidence, blending structure with refinement and classic design with modern sensibilities. It features a TSA-approved lock frame with one-touch access for seamless security. The Aero-Trac Whirl Suspension Wheels minimize vibration and noise, ensuring stability and effortless movement on any surface. The collection features three distinct pieces: a briefcase, a Spinner 55, and a Spinner 75. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of travellers who value both aesthetics and practicality. The interior showcases meticulous craftsmanship in a luxurious a satin-like finish featuring a heritage-inspired Resort Print lining. Additionally, intelligent compartments, premium packing cubes, and a matching luggage cover in high-quality jacquard fabric ensure an effortless and elevated packing experience. Those who value enduring quality over fleeting trends will appreciate the New Streamlite as a true collector's item. More than mere luggage, the New Streamlite embodies timeless design and thoughtful craftsmanship. Each piece includes a monogrammable tag, offering the unique opportunity to create a personal heirloom. The New Streamlite launched worldwide in March 2025 and is now available at select Samsonite stores, pop-up locations, and online. Join us as we celebrate the art of travel, where classic artistry meets modern style. Founded in 1910, Samsonite is the world's leading luggage brand with an extensive legacy in trendsetting travel solutions. Renowned for breakthrough research, development and its commitment to innovation, Samsonite has excelled since its inception in a number of industry firsts. Samsonite offers an extensive range of travel, business, kids, casual and personal accessory products. Samsonite helps travellers journey further, with ever-lighter and stronger products. For more details visit: www.samsonite.in/samsonite-newstreamlite. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], March 21: The influence of artificial intelligence (AI) is evident across various industries, and healthcare remains a key beneficiary. Its integration is far from a simple enhancement--it signifies an essential evolution that strengthens patient care, refines administrative functions, and encourages advanced treatment methods. AI-driven diagnostic systems can rapidly assess medical images, facilitating early disease identification and enhanced patient health results. Furthermore, virtual AI assistants provide instant medical information to patients, improving both their engagement with healthcare services and accessibility to crucial resources. Beyond clinical applications, AI is streamlining operational aspects of healthcare. Hospitals are increasingly adopting AI to automate routine tasks, such as medical documentation, thereby reducing the workload on healthcare professionals and allowing them to focus more on patient care. Moreover, AI is enhancing medical education through advanced tools and technologies, fostering immersive learning experiences that ultimately improve patient care. This article explores eight future trends of AI in healthcare, highlighting how these advancements are poised to revolutionise the industry. 1. Personalised medicine The ability of AI to process extensive medical data supports the development of treatment plans tailored to individual patients. By incorporating genetic profiles, lifestyle choices, and medical history, AI can assess potential responses to specific therapies, enabling more accurate and targeted treatments. This advancement in personalised medicine holds the potential to boost patient health and minimise negative reactions. 2. Predictive analytics AI-driven predictive analytics can anticipate health issues before they arise. By analysing past and current data, AI models detect patterns that indicate potential diseases or complications. For example, AI can identify patients who may develop chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes, enabling timely interventions and preventive care. 3. Virtual health assistants Virtual health assistants powered by AI are transforming patient engagement. These digital tools offer 24/7 assistance by addressing queries, managing appointments, and sending medication reminders. They improve healthcare accessibility while reducing the strain on medical professionals. For example, AI chatbots assist patients in following pre-and post-surgical care instructions, ensuring treatment adherence. 4. Remote patient monitoring Wearable technology with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities enables continuous patient vital sign monitoring. With this real-time data collection, healthcare providers can see abnormalities early and act quickly. Remote monitoring has the potential to improve quality of life and drastically lower hospital readmissions for the management of chronic diseases. AI analyses the data from these devices to provide actionable insights, facilitating proactive healthcare. 5. AI in medical imaging AI is revolutionising medical imaging by enhancing the accuracy and speed of image analysis. Machine learning algorithms can detect subtle changes in imaging studies, aiding in early diagnosis of conditions like cancer. For example, AI can analyse mammograms to identify potential malignancies that may be overlooked by the human eye, leading to earlier treatment and better patient outcomes. 6. Drug discovery and development The pharmaceutical industry is integrating AI to speed up drug discovery. By examining extensive biological data, AI can anticipate how various compounds interact with targets, allowing scientists to pinpoint effective drug candidates more swiftly. This advanced capability significantly reduces the time required for development, minimises research costs, and ultimately expedites the availability of new treatments for patients in need. 7. Mental health support AI-driven digital mental health tools are significantly broadening access to vital psychological support, making care more accessible to a wider population. These advanced applications provide cognitive behavioural therapy, track mood fluctuations over time, and offer immediate crisis intervention when needed. Additionally, they assess user interactions and behavioural patterns to identify early warning signs of potential mental health issues. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, these tools can personalise recommendations and guide individuals towards appropriate coping strategies. 8. Administrative efficiency Healthcare facilities are using AI to automate routine administrative duties, including appointment scheduling, billing, and documentation. This reduces human errors and eases the burden on medical staff, allowing them to prioritise patient care. AI can also manage bookings and send reminders, ensuring fewer missed appointments and smoother operations. Conclusion The introduction of AI in healthcare is also shifting financial structures in the industry. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are adapting their investment strategies to meet the increasing demand for AI-driven healthcare advancements. With the Reserve Bank of India easing lending norms, NBFCs can now provide better financial backing for AI adoption in medical technology and platforms. The rise of online marketplaces is transforming the distribution of AI-driven healthcare solutions. These platforms provide medical professionals with access to a broad range of AI tools and services, encouraging industry collaboration and innovation. By acting as a central hub, digital marketplaces are expediting the adoption of advanced AI technologies in everyday healthcare. To conclude, AI is reshaping healthcare through advancements in personalised medicine, predictive insights, and virtual support. With NBFCs adjusting their financing strategies and online marketplaces streamlining AI adoption, the industry is evolving towards a future where innovation and human expertise enhance patient outcomes. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 21: Winpe, a gender diversity-focused not-for-profit platform, successfully hosted the third edition of the Winpe Leadership Summit and Awards (WLSA) at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The event convened top private equity and venture capital (PE-VC) leaders to address the pressing need for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the investment ecosystem and was followed by an awards ceremony recognising firms and individuals driving meaningful change in the industry. The investment ecosystem continues to be a male-dominated space where the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles creates barriers to entry for women entrepreneurs, hindering their career advancement and limiting access to networking and mentorship opportunities. While gender diversity in India's PE-VC sector has improved over the years, significant gaps persist, particularly in leadership roles. Leading PE-VC firms such as Warburg Pincus, ChrysCapital, Multiples Alternate Asset Management, Everstone Capital, Gaja Capital, Peak XV Partners, Fireside Ventures, AZB & partners, British International Investment (BII), Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, (CPPIB) have been actively collaborating with Winpe, supporting initiatives that drive greater gender diversity and inclusion in the investment ecosystem. A 2020 survey across 25 Indian PE firms showcased that women constituted only 16% of the workforce, with merely 5% holding senior leadership positions. The 'Mind the Gender Gap' report by CFA Institute Research and Policy Center suggests that women constitute less than 20% of the overall workforce and hold only 10% of key managerial personnel (KMP) roles. This gap showcases a lack of representation at key decision-making levels. Recognising these issues, Nupur Garg, Founder, Winpe, said, "Despite growing evidence that diversity drives better returns, women hold less than 20% of roles in PE-VC and remain significantly underrepresented at leadership levels. In today's climate, where DEI faces both momentum and backlash, silent support is not enough. Winpe Leadership Summit and Awards 2025 is a call to action--to move from intent to impact, from conversations to measurable change. The future of investing must be built on merit and inclusion, not outdated barriers." Featuring 65 speakers and around 400 attendees, WLSA 2025 served as a critical forum to address these gaps and drive solutions. Through expert-led panel discussions on fundraising strategies, mentorship, and leadership acceleration, along with masterclasses focused on pitching and entrepreneurial success, the summit reflected a legacy that stands strong since the WLSA's inception in 2023. Notable attendees included Ashley Menezes, Partner and COO, ChrysCapital; Manish Kejriwal, Managing Partner and Founder, Kedaara Capital; Upasana Taku, Co-founder and CFO, MobiKwik; Kanwaljit Singh, Founder and Managing Partner, Fireside Ventures; Anita George, Chief Executive Officer, ProsperETE; Renuka Ramnath, Founder, Managing Director, and CEO, Multiples Alternate Asset Management; Vikram Raju, Managing Director and Head of Climate Investing for Private Credit and Equity, Morgan Stanley; Anand Unnikrishnan, Managing Partner- Private Markets, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund; VT Bharadwaj, Co-founder and General Partner, A91 Partners; Sunil Mishra, Partner - Primary Investments, Adams Street Partners; Ralitsa Rizvanolli, Partner and Head of Investments, Sarona Asset Management; Diane Jegam, Regional Director, South Asia, Proparco; Puja Sondhi, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co; and Roshini Bakshi, Managing Director and Head of Impact, Everstone Capital Asia Pte, among others. The jury for this year's Winpe Leadership Awards included eminent global leaders such as Debbi Sutuntivorakoon, Partner, Axiom Asia Private Capital; Pamela C. Fung, Partner, Morgan Stanley; Ralitsa Rizvanolli, Partner and Head of Investments, Sarona Asset Management; Sunil Mishra, Partner - Primary Investments, Adams Street Partners; and Thomas Kronsbein, Director, Private Equity, Global Markets, DEG. The comprehensive list of winners: - Firm of the Year: Private Equity - India Alternatives - Firm of the Year: Venture Capital - Elevar Equity - Deal of the Year: Private Equity - Multiples Alternate Asset Management for their investment in Svatantra Microfinance - Deal of the Year: Venture Capital - Fireside Ventures for their investment in Moxie Beauty - PE-Backed Company of the Year - Gynoveda and India Alternatives - VC-Backed Company of the Year - Eloelo and WaterBridge Ventures - Changemaker of the Year: Private Equity - Vishal Tulsyan from Motilal Oswal Alternates - Changemaker of the Year - Venture Capital - Manish Kheterpal from WaterBridge Ventures - PE Leader of the Year - Nithya Easwaran from Multiples Alternate Asset Management - VC Leader of the Year - Richa Bajpai from Campus Fund - Special Acknowledgement - Leadership - Shweta Jalan from Advent International The representation of women in PE-VC and the broader corporate workforce remains a global challenge. The recent backlash against DEI has led companies to practice diversity quietly rather than champion it publicly. However, visibility is critical to driving real change. Winpe Leadership Summit and Awards 2025 brought these issues to the forefront, creating a platform where industry leaders not only discussed the barriers to diversity but also committed to driving measurable progress. Winpe is an industry forum where stakeholders come together to set the diversity agenda and lead collective action to bring about gender diversity in the investing ecosystem. Winpe is committed to catalysing action by increasing the participation of women as investors and capital allocators and as recipients of investment capital, through a well-rounded and holistic approach that engages key stakeholders of the investing industry. For more information, please visit winpeforum.com/home. (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) PNN New Delhi [India], March 21: AppSquadz, a globally recognised digital transformation company in consortium with Vensysco, is proud to announce its official empanelment with IndiaAI, a government-backed initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) dedicated to accelerating AI innovation and cloud adoption across India. This milestone recognises AppSquadz's expertise in delivering AI-powered cloud solutions such as cloud migration and cloud adoption that drive digital transformation across industries. Founded by Chandrakant Agrawal and Priyanka Agrawal, the company began its journey in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. From humble beginnings in his hometown of Mathura, to turning his passion for technology into a successful business, Chandrakant's story is an ideal example of hard work and dedication. With Priyanka's support, the duo built AppSquadz into a trusted name in digital transformation, showcasing resilience, innovation, and determination. Their relentless dedication and innovative approach have propelled the company to become integral to the IndiaAI mission. Their journey has led to AppSquadz becoming one of the key partners of the IndiaAI Mission, contributing to the initiative's goal of driving AI innovation and shaping India's future. "Being empanelled by IndiaAI is a proud moment for us. It validates our commitment to leveraging AI and cloud technology to create real-world solutions that empower businesses and improve lives," said Chandrakant Agrawal, Co-Founder & CEO of AppSquadz. "Our journey from Mathura to becoming a trusted name in digital transformation reflects our belief that technology can bridge gaps and drive progress, and we are excited to contribute to India's AI-driven future." As an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner, AppSquadz offers a comprehensive suite of advanced IT services, combining expertise in cloud strategy consulting, AI-powered technologies, cloud operations, managed cloud services, cloud infrastructure implementation, cloud security, cloud migration, and AWS Elemental services. These capabilities position AppSquadz to actively support the IndiaAI Mission, contributing to the development of a robust, AI-driven ecosystem in India. Being one of the key partners of IndiaAI, the company's scalable AI solutions will contribute to sectors such as healthcare, education, and finance, aligning with the government's vision of positioning India as a global leader in AI research and application. While talking about IndiaAI Mission, Pankaj Gupta, Leader - Public Sector, AWS India and South Asia said, "We're excited to collaborate with AppSquadz, an empanelled vendor for the India AI initiative. AWS is committed to empowering India's AI revolution by providing robust solutions like model building and preparation using Amazon Sagemaker, AWS Glue for data preparation, Amazon Bedrock, where developers can efficiently train, customize, and deploy LLMs, and model monitoring for performance tracking. Serverless deployment with AWS Lambda further reduces operational expenses by eliminating the need to maintain dedicated servers. By leveraging AWS-designed silicon such as AWS Trainium and AWS Inferentia, India AI can reduce dependency on expensive GPUs, significantly lowering TCO for building SLM/LLM." AppSquadz, in consortium with Vensysco will collaborate with government entities, enterprises, and startups, playing a pivotal role in developing innovative AI models and applications that address real-world challenges. The company is dedicated to aligning its solutions with IndiaAI's goals of driving innovation, ensuring data privacy, and fostering inclusivity in AI adoption. Together, AppSquadz and IndiaAI are laying the foundation for a smarter, cloud-powered future where AI transforms industries, empowers communities, and positions India as a global technology leader. About AppSquadz AppSquadz is a globally recognised digital transformation company specialising in AI-driven technologies, cloud computing, DevOps, and big data solutions. As an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner, the company delivers scalable and innovative solutions tailored to industry-specific challenges. Founded by Chandrakant Agrawal and Priyanka Agrawal in Noida, with roots in Mathura, India, AppSquadz has grown from a local startup into a trusted name in the global tech industry. With a mission to empower businesses through advanced technology, the company is dedicated to driving digital transformation, fostering AI adoption, and contributing to India's vision of becoming a global AI leader. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The highly anticipated film L2: Empuraan will be released on March 27, and director Prithviraj Sukumaran has opened up about the challenges faced during its production. The film, starring Mohanlal, was shot in multiple international locations, including Turkey, France, London, Yemen, Senegal, Iraq, and China. The film's trailer was released on Thursday. Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed that finding the ideal locations for shooting was the biggest challenge. The 'Salaar' actor revealed that it took him two years to travel around the world to find the ideal locations for shooting the film. While speaking to ANI, he said, "The biggest challenge was that this is a film shot in real locations. So, it took me almost two years to travel around the world and find locations where I could shoot the film. That was a long process." The director also spoke about the logistical challenges of moving a large unit between cities and countries. He continued, "And then actually after having found those locations, to be travelling around the world with such a big unit, the logistical challenges of moving with such a big unit between cities within countries, all that I think was the biggest challenge." Prithviraj Sukumaran praised his production team, including producer Antony Perumbavoor, line producers Suresh Balaje and George Pius, creative director Nirmal Sahadev, and associate director Vava. "But full marks to my wonderful production team, my producer Antony Perumbavoor, my line producers Suresh Balaje and George Pius, my creative director Nirmal Sahadev, and my associate director Vava. For me, from a director's perspective, it was just a very smooth process. It was like the whole film moved like a well-oiled piece of machinery. But I'm sure underneath, these guys must have been working 24-7 for that to happen." said Prithviraj while talking to ANI. Superstar Mohanlal also stressed the advantages of a pan-Indian film like L2: Empuraan, saying that it increases the chances of the movie's success as it has more screens and diverse viewers. While speaking with ANI, he said, "As Prithviraj said, for a Malayalam film, this is a huge film, budget-wise. And we have the preparation of two years. But we have done films like this, definitely." He continued, "But the possibility of such films is bigger now, to come out with a film. And if it's a success, it will be a big success. Because now, we call this a pan-Indian film. We have Tamil and Telugu, with bigger options. Before that, we didn't have that kind of options. But in Empuraan, we created a big shout, like it's going to be a big film." After the massive success of its first instalment in 2019, the Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial 'L2: Empuraan' is one of the highly anticipated movies of 2025. Apart from Mohanlal, the film also stars Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manju Warrier, among others. As per the trailer, the second part of the film delves into social-political drama with Mohanlal's character at the centre. Packed with intensity, the video is a cinematic spectacle with Mohanlal commanding a larger-than-life screen presence as Khureshi-Ab'raam. The film is expected to offer a gripping glimpse into Khureshi's past and showcase a power struggle within the political party. L2: Empuraan will be released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages. It is set to release in theatres on March 27. (ANI) Netflix's latest crime drama 'Adolescence' is currently the talk of the town as it has impressed several Indian personalities including critically acclaimed directors Hansal Mehta and Anurag Kashyap. The latest to join the list is Alia Bhatt. On Friday, the 'Jigra' actress took to her Instagram handle to express her excitement after watching the series. She praised the cinematography and performances of the cast in the series. While sharing the poster of the film, Alia wrote, "This show is truly perfection. From the writing to the staging to the EXCEPTIONAL cinematography I wonder what it felt like when after an hour of calling action to finally calling cut... how did the entire cast and crew feel???? The performances by each and every person that has walked into frame and out was ALIVE, real raw and so so hot in the moment that the energy is very very palpable! & so moving." She continued, "The magic of storytelling and an entire crew coming together to deliver, every department giving nothing but their heart and soul to every second on screen. I'm in awe!!!" Earlier, to highlight the dangers of online misogyny and youth violence, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has expressed his full support for the Netflix drama 'Adolescence.' The drama depicts the disturbing consequences of online influence on young people. According to Sky News, Starmer revealed that he and his family have been watching the series, describing it as a powerful and necessary conversation starter on the rise of violence carried out by young men influenced by online content. Adolescence stars Stephen Graham and was co-written by Jack Thorne. It tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl at his school. As the plot unfolds, the show delves into the dark side of social media, focusing on how internet subcultures, particularly incel culture, can shape the behaviour of impressionable adolescents. The series has garnered critical acclaim and become a global hit, topping Netflix's charts. (ANI) The Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath held a meeting with district officials on Thursday to review preparations for the upcoming Navratri celebrations at the Pateshwari Devi Temple in Balrampur. The meeting focused on ensuring smooth arrangements for the festival. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the New Tehsil Building built at Rs 845.19 lakh in Mihimpurwa, Bahraich district and slammed the previous government in the state, claiming 'inefficiency and corruption' and pledged to rectify the issues and ensure better governance for the people. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also shed light on the valour of Maharaj Suheldev, who, through his courage, secured the region from foreign insurgents and hoisted India's victory flag, adding that his efforts were instrumental in safeguarding India for 150 years, with no foreign forces daring to invasion. However, CM Adityanath also noted the long-standing neglect of Bahraich, particularly Mahipurva tehsil, where basic administrative infrastructure, like a tehsil office, has remained absent. CM Yogi claimed that the lack of essential facilities has hindered the work of common citizens who depend on such governmentcentress for day-to-day tasks and sharply criticised the previous administrations for their inefficiency, corruption, and dishonesty, which led to the deprivation of basic services for the people. "An attempt was made to deprive Bahraich of its identity. The previous government used to make announcements but nothing was done. There was no Tehsil Building in Mihimpurwa, an important structure where all the work for a common citizen was done. When the Tehsil does not have its building, how will the works of the common citizen be done, how will they be able to solve their issues," said CM Yogi. Adding further, he said, "Due to the inefficiency, corruption and dishonesty of the previous governments in UP, these centres were made a part, a common man could not expect justice, the voice of the poor was suppressed." (ANI) Senior BJP leaders, during their recent visit to Kavaratti, informed that the party's office in Androth has been closed since March 1 this year, following oral instructions from the party's state unit president, KN Kasmikoya. The reason cited for the closure, however, remains unclear. The decision has left party workers concerned as they await further directives from the party's leadership. Androth, a key political hub in Lakshadweep, plays a crucial role in determining the region's political future. In January, BJP leader KN Kasmikoya was re-elected as the president of the party's Lakshadweep unit, securing a second term. The election process, closely monitored by a central team led by former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP leader G Kashinath, unfolded with no contest. Kasmikoya's candidacy was proposed by state general secretary Siraj Koya and supported by HK Mohammed Qasim, culminating in an unopposed victory that underscores the party's unity and Kasmikoya's tight grip on the position. Kasmikoya is a seasoned leader with extensive experience as a Sub-Divisional Officer (Executive Magistrate) and district panchayat member. He joined the BJP after leaving Congress. His re-election might be fruitful for the BJP due to his expertise in administration and his understanding of local issues. Meanwhile, the promotion of Syed Mohammed Koya to a national committee position signals the BJP's continued efforts to fortify its political network. A few months ago, the BJP in Lakshadweep appointed Advocate PM Mohammed Salih as the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) State President for the union territory. Salih, a practising advocate and an active participant in political affairs, is expected to spearhead the youth wing's activities in the region. With Salih's appointment, the party aims to enhance its outreach initiatives and address local developmental concerns under the youth-centric leadership model. (ANI) Amid a thick layer of snow and freezing cold, the personnel of the Indian Army carried out patrolling in snow-bound hills of Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Friday. Addressing the personnel, Brigadier Sunil Mishra, Commander, 9 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, stated that they are working to eliminate the terrorists. "When India progresses, some of our neighbours don't like it. The easiest way to stop progress is to send some terrorists here. In the last 20 years, there was peace here. But in the last year, some terrorists have entered this area. We have eliminated some of the terrorists, and we are working to eliminate the remaining terrorists," he said. The region has witnessed multiple terrorist attacks in the past. The Army's vigilant presence has been instrumental in monitoring and preventing terrorist activities, ensuring the safety of the local population. In response to past militant attacks, security forces have intensified surveillance, adopting a proactive approach to locate and neutralize foreign terrorists. The Army's counter-terrorism operations in Doda have yielded positive results, further reinforcing security in the region. Meanwhile, earlier today, as part of its ongoing crackdown against drug trafficking, the Anantnag Police in Jammu and Kashmir attached properties worth Rs 75 lakhs belonging to two notorious drug peddlers under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. According to an official release, acting under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act, the police attached a cement-concreted pliMHnth along with one kanal of land belonging to Tariq Ahmad Lone, son of Mohd Maqbool Lone, a resident of Satkipora. The property, valued at approximately Rs 60 lakhs, was identified as illegally acquired through drug trafficking. The accused is involved in FIR No. 48/2019 under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act, registered at Police Station Srigufwara. In a separate action, Police Station Bijbehara attached commercial shops belonging to Gulzar Ahmad Rather, son of Gh. Rasool Rather, a resident of Waghama. The attachment was made in connection with FIR No. 227/2024 under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act, registered at Police Station Bijbehara. The property, valued at Rs 15 lakhs, was confirmed as proceeds of drug-related activities. "These stringent actions highlight Anantnag Police's firm resolve to eliminate the drug menace and dismantle the financial networks supporting illicit drug trade. The public is urged to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting any drug-related activities, ensuring a safer and drug-free society," the police said in a statement. (ANI) The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is being held in Karnataka's Bengaluru from March 21-23. According to a statement issued from the Parchar Pramukh, Sunil Ambedkar, said, "In the Sangh system, this Baithak (meeting) is considered to be the highest decision-making body, and it is organised every year." The Baithak will be held on the premises of Janseva Vidya Kendra, located at Channenahalli, near Bengaluru. The Baithak will discuss the Sangh's annual report (Karyavritta) for the last year (2024-25). In addition to the critical analysis, reporting on special initiatives will also be done. On the coming Vijayadashami (Dussehra) 2025, Sangh work is completing its hundred years; for this reason, Vijayadashami (Dussehra) 2025 to 2026 will be considered the centenary completion year of the Sangh. Along with reviewing the progress of the centenary year, a framework of various programmes, events, and campaigns for the upcoming year will be prepared for the meeting. Two resolutions on national issues will be considered for adoption. Also, as expected from Sangh shakhas, the work of social change, especially the efforts of Panch Parivartan, is expected to be discussed. The agenda of the Baithak includes an analysis of the country's current scenario, including a discussion on the follow-up activities, in addition to the issue of Hindu awakening. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, all the Sah-Sarkaryavah (Joint General Secretaries), other office bearers, and members of the executive committee are going to attend the meeting. A total of 1500 Karyakartas, mainly elected representatives from Prant and Kshetra levels, are expected to participate in this meeting. The National President, General Secretary and Organising Secretary of RSS-Inspired Organisations will also be present. (ANI) The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)'s 187 Battalion organised a free medical camp at Battal Ballian village of Udhampur district on Thursday, where they provided CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) training to village residents and people from nearby areas. The 187 battalion of CRPF also offered free medical check-ups and medicines to village residents and people from nearby areas. CRPF 187 Battalion Commandant Md Sazid said that they had organised two medical camps this year, one in Punara village and the other in Dudu village. "187 battalion is deployed in Battal Ballian, Udhampur. Its companies are deployed in remote corners of Udhampur... We organised two medical camps this year, one in Punara village and the other in Dudu village. Through the camps, we directly addressed 500 families... Our CRPF specialist doctors spread awareness and free medicines in the areas where only basic medical facilities are available... In today's medical camp at Battal Ballian, we gave a CPR demo and information about First Aid," CRPF 187 Battalion Commandant told ANI. KK Raina, a local from Battal Ballian village, said he is grateful to the 187 battalion for organising the free medical camp. "I am grateful to the 187 battalion. The last time they set up a free medical camp, it helped people from remote villages get free medicines and medical facilities. All specialist doctors are here in the medical camp today and providing free treatment and medicines," KK Raina told ANI. Mohan Lal, a local from Battal Ballian village, said the people had come here in large numbers for the medical check up. "The CRPF has set up a camp here... People have come here in large numbers... I am also here to get a medical check-up. We are thankful to the CRPF. They serve the country at the borders and are also here to serve us villagers," a local from said. "If more such camps are set up, it can help poor people who can't afford medicines, and elderly or those who can't travel far to get treatment," he added. Gurdyal Sharma, a local from Battal Ballian village, said, "CRPF has set up a medical camp here, and I am here to get a medical check-up. The government and the CRPF are helping us. We are thankful to them." Earlier on March 16, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)'s 187 Battalion organized a free medical camp in the remote areas of Kathua district, providing essential medical services to over 400 villagers. The camp offered free medicines, treatment, and medical checkups to those in need. (ANI) Seven associates of jailed Punjab MP Amritpal Singh Sandhu on Friday were remanded to four-day police custody by a Punjab court in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case. The court granted remand of the accused to the police to further interrogate the accused and recover evidence in the case. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Inderjeet Singh said that the Punjab police had demanded a seven-day remand, but the court only allowed remand for four days. "We have obtained a four-day remand of seven accused. Police had demanded their seven-day remand for questioning. The accused will be presented before the court on March 25 now," Singh told ANI. Speaking to reporters, the DSP said that the accused earlier lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under National Security Act (NSA) were arrested in the Ajnala police station attack case, where they attacked the police station with weapons. He said that the accused would be lodged in Amritsar jail. "The accused were lodged under NSA in a Dibrugarh jail in Assam. After they were released, we arrested them in our case (2023 Ajnala police station attack case) and presented them before the court. They are all close aide of Amritpal Singh. They will be lodged in Amritsar's jail," Singh said. "They had attacked the (Ajnala) police station with weapons. We will recover vehicles and mobile phones. They must have destroyed the evidence, but we will recover since link evidence is crucial," he added. Advocate Ritu Raj Sandhu, representing one of Amritpal Sing Sandhu's close aides, said, "The court has granted a four-day remand to the police for questioning. They want to recover mobile phones and weapons." According to officials, the seven accused are Basant Singh, Bhagwant Singh Bajekhana, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Sarabjit Kalsi, Ranjeet Kalsi, Gurinder Pal Singh Gurri Aujla, Harjeet Singh alias Chacha, and Kulwant Singh. Earlier, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Dibrugarh approved the transit remand of two accused, Basant Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Gill, booked under NSA. Advocate Samir Todi said that the two detainees were asked to remain present at the concerned court in Punjab. He said two other detainees were produced before the CJM court in Dibrugarh on March 17 for transit remand. "Two NSA (National Security Act) detainees, Basant Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Gill were produced in the learned CJM (Chief Judicial Magistrate) court for transit remand. The CJM court has allowed the period for transit remand. The concerned court (in Punjab) has asked the two detainees to be produced before the court before noon on March 23," Todi told ANI. Todi said that three more accused would be produced today for transit remand as the Punjab police were arresting all of them in connection with the Ajnala police station attack case. "Two other detainees were produced before the court for transit remand, and they were given March 22 to be produced (before the court). Three more will be produced. These people are being arrested by the Punjab Police in connection with the Ajnala Police Station case," he added. Earlier, the Dibrugarh Court granted the Punjab Police the transit remand of two of the associates of Pro Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj on Friday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying the ruling party is now "tasting its own medicine" after Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta complained to Chief Secretary Dharmendra about officials ignoring calls and communications from elected MLAs. Bhardwaj accused the BJP-led central government of transforming Delhi from "a democracy to a bureaucracy" in the last 10 years, which has led to the current situation where the bureaucracy is undermining the elected representatives. Speaking to ANI, Bhardwaj said, "For the last 10 years, the BJP's central government was teaching Delhi's bureaucracy that elected MLAs should not be listened to. Now the bureaucracy has become used to it. You (BJP) turned Delhi from a democracy into a bureaucracy in 10 years, and that too for your political reasons." "Now, the problem is that the BJP government has been formed, but the officers are not picking up the phone of their leaders. When the AAP and Delhi government were saying the same thing for 10 years, the BJP used to make fun of us. Now, the BJP is tasting its own medicine," he added. Bhardwaj's comments came after Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Dharmendra expressing concerns over officers not acknowledging letters, phone calls or messages of Assembly Members. In a letter dated March 19, Gupta said, "A few instances have been brought to my notice where the communications of the Hon'ble Members in the form of letters, phone calls or messages have not even been acknowledged by the concerned Officer." In his letter, Gupta urged the Chief Secretary to sensitize Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, and key officials of Delhi Police and DDA for strict compliance. "This is a serious matter and I think there is an urgent need to reiterate the Government Instructions issued in this regard by the General Administration Dept, Government of NCT of Delhi and the dept of Personnel & Training, Government of India from time to time," the letter read. (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday visited the Tirumala Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple to offer prayers on the occasion of his grandson Devaansh's birthday. Chief Minister Naidu was accompanied by his entire family, which included his wife, Bhuvaneswari, son and Andhra's IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, daughter-in-law Brahmani, and grandson, Devaansh. They are expected to host an Annaprasadam (food distribution) program for the day, the expenses of which will be borne from the chief minister's personal funds. Earlier, certain reports in the local media claimed that the funds for this Annaprasadam would come from the state exchequer. However, sources close to the family have denied this and said that this is Nara Devaansh's (the grandson of CM Naidu) 10th birthday, and the family has been following this tradition for the last ten years. Chandrababu Naidu's family has been offering Annaprasadam on the occasion of his grandson's birthday for the last 10 years. Meanwhile, earlier, the Andhra Pradesh government and the Gates Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday. The MoU aims to leverage technology for public welfare by integrating cost-effective and scalable solutions across key sectors of Healthcare, MedTech, Education, and Agriculture. The signing happened in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, who is currently visiting India. As per a release, the MoU formalizes a strategic collaboration in which the Gates Foundation will provide support to implementation partners, co-identified with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, for targeted interventions within state-driven programs. The Chief Minister discussed with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates how the Gates Foundation and the Andhra Pradesh government can collaborate. Commenting on the Chief Minister's vision to position Andhra Pradesh as a leader in development through data-driven innovation, Bill Gates said, "I'm encouraged by the potential of our partnership - especially in providing cost-effective, locally produced diagnostics and medical devices to improve the lives of vulnerable populations" "By using AI and technology solutions to address key areas such as health, agriculture, and foundational learning, we can also provide examples for other regions in India and beyond to replicate," he added. (ANI) A day after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) clarified that they have not sent any notice to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and its Artificial Intelligence vertical Grok over the chatbot purportedly using Hindi slang, Congress leader Manish Tewari attacked the union government, claiming that they are "bending over backwards to kow tow" to United States President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. "With Govt bending over backwards to kow tow to @realDonaldTrump through @elonmusk-doubt they have the gumption to issue @X a notice over the delightfully mischievous @grok. Aint upsetting @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk over Mr. @grok having some fun," read the post from Tewari. On Thursday, sources from MeitY said that they have not sent any notice to X or Grok, and is in talks with the platforms to understand what law it is violating. Previous advisories sent to the social media by MeiTY are still valid, sources added. "Meity has not sent any notice to Grok or X. Meity is in talks with X and Grok to understand what law it is violating," a source said. Media reports, citing sources, had earlier said that the IT Ministry is in touch with X over Grok and using Hindi slang in response to questions and comments. Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI helps to answer user's questions and provide helpful insights, often with a dash of outside perspective on humanity, according to Grok. As per the chatbot its goal is to assist users. The government had urged social media intermediaries to act quickly against fake content to build public trust in grievance officers. It was also emphasized that GACs must work efficiently to resolve issues promptly, ensuring users can navigate the internet safely and with confidence. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in January this year, organized a workshop on the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) to address stakeholder concerns regarding a safer internet. The event brought together GAC members, social media intermediaries, and senior government officials to discuss strengthening the grievance redressal framework under the Information Technology Act, 2000. (ANI) Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday flagged the issue of corruption within the judiciary as "serious", saying that it has continued for years. "Corruption within the judiciary is a very serious issue. This is not something that has been articulated by senior councils and lawyers in the country for the first time. It has been going on for years," Sibal told ANI. He suggested that the apex court must address the issues in the process of appointing judges. Sibal added that corruption remains an issue in society at large and not only in the judiciary. "It is time for the Supreme Court to start looking at issues of how the appointment process takes place. The appointment process should be more transparent and carefully done. Corruption is also a very serious issue in society, and the corruption has increased despite what the PM has said," Sibal said. The Senior Supreme court advocate was also critical of the Allahabad High Court's observation that had said "Holding breast, breaking pyjama's string is not a crime of rape". "Grabbing breasts, breaking strings of pyjamas not sufficient to hold rape charge" : High Court Judge, God save this country with such judges adorning the Bench. The Supreme Court has been too soft in dealing with errant judges," Sibal said in his post on X. Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP and former NCW Chairman Rekha Sharma said that that the courts observation was wrong and the National Commission for Women should approach Supreme Court on this. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, the former Chief of the NCW called on the judges to see the intention behind an act. "If the judges are not sensitised, then what will the women and children do? They should see the intention behind an act. NCW should go to the Supreme Court against this. Judges should be told that they can't make such judgements. This is totally wrong, and I am against it," she said. The Allahabad High court had observed in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case of alleged rape of a minor girl that grabbing the breasts of the victim and snapping her pyjama strings do not constitute rape or attempt to rape but serious sexual assault. (ANI) Punjab Congress MLAs, including the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Friday, protested against the State government on the issue of removal of farmers from the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri Border and Shambhu Border and other issues. "We will talk on the budget on 26th March, but today we will meet the Governor and talk about the way they (the state government) treated the farmers, 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'," Bajwa told ANI. Two days after Punjab police cleared the Sambhu and Khanauri border and removed the temporary structures erected by the protesting farmers, state's Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian called for meeting of leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) in Chandigarh. The meeting will be held in Punjab Bhawan at 4 pm today, according to the notice released by the agriculture department on March 20. On Thursday, Punjab police DIG Mandeep Singh mentioned that things like moveable tractors and trolleys were removed from the border and are being relocated a few kilometres away. He also highlighted the cooperation of farmers during the operation and emphasized that authorities are ensuring the well-being of those detained. "A large area has been cleared at the Khanauri border and movable things like tractors and trolleys are being shifted 3 km away from the border. If someone wants to take the trolley from there, he can show his identity with proof and the trolley will be handed over to him after proper entry. Yesterday, the farmers cooperated with us. Proper care is being taken of the detained farmers," DIG Patiala Range said. The farmers, united under the banners of the All India Kisan Sabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, staged a protest march to the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Karnal. Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has defended the Aam Aadmi Party-led government's action and said that the action was taken as they wanted to open the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. (ANI) Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday urged the ruling government not to divide the people on the basis of caste and religion. "I urge the people who are in power that national interest is the most important...We should not divide the people on the basis of caste and religion...We all should live together with each other in harmony," Gehlot told ANI. Violent clashes erupted in Nagpur on March 17 over the demand for the removal of Aurangzeb's grave, with stones hurled at police amid rumours that a holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation. Meanwhile, the situation is back to normalcy as the curfew imposed in several areas was lifted. In a recent development, Maharashtra Police's Cyber cell said that one of the accused in the Nagpur violence "edited and circulated videos" and "glorified violence" on social media, which led to the riots spreading in various parts of the city. "He (Faheem Khan) edited and circulated the video of the protest against Aurangzeb due to which the riots spread. He also glorified violent videos," cyber cell's Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lohit Matani told ANI here. The police have registered four FIRs in connection with the riots which took place on Monday night in Nagpur. "Four FIRs have been registered. The first FIR is that videos of the protest against Aurangzeb were edited and circulated, and violence was glorified in the videos. The second is about making clips about the violence and spreading them so that there would be violence between two communities. Third is multiple posts were made in which violence was further instigated," Matani said. Accused Faheem Khan was arrested on March 19; he has been remanded in custody till Friday, March 21. Khan is a leader of the Minorities Democratic Party. (ANI) The Police personnel on Friday paid tribute to Raju Oyam, District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan, who sacrificed his life in the line of duty during an encounter with the Naxals in the Bijapur-Dantewada area. Speaking to ANI, the Inspector General of Police of Bastar, P Sundarraj, said that Raju Oyam was involved in many successful Naxal operations. "Bodies of 26 Naxals' were recovered yesterday. One of our soldiers, Raju Oyam, lost his life. Earlier, Raju Oyam was associated with the Maoist organization. In 2020, he decided to come out of the Maoist organization and join the mainstream. After that, in the last 5 years, he was involved in many successful Naxal operations. He lost his life yesterday," Bastar IG told ANI. In two separate encounters with Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, security forces recovered 30 bodies of Naxalites along with a large cache of firearms during search operations, as per a senior official. Speaking to ANI after two separate encounters with Naxalites in the two districts, IG Sundarraj said, "Operations were conducted today in various areas of the Bastar district. In the Bijapur-Dantewada border region, we have recovered the bodies of 26 Naxalites." "A large number of AK-47 rifles, as well as automatic and semi-automatic weapons, have also been seized. One personnel of the Bijapur District Reserve Guard (DRG) lost his life during the encounter," he said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on X assured that the country would be 'Naxal-free' before March 31, 2026. "Today our soldiers have achieved another big success in the direction of 'Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'. 22 Naxalites were killed in 2 separate operations of our security forces in Bijapur and Kanker of Chhattisgarh. The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering despite all the facilities ranging from surrender to inclusion. The country is going to be Naxal-free before 31 March next year," Shah posted on X. The joint efforts of the police and central forces have brought development to several Naxal strongholds, strengthening public trust in government initiatives. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate''s Special Task Force has arrested Wahidur Rahman Jainullabudeen from Mettupalayam town in Tamil Nadu''s Coimbatore district in connection with the PFI-SDPI case. The arrest followed a search operation conducted at Jainullabudeen''s residence on Thursday, ED officials, privy to the development, said. "Jainullabudeen was brought to Delhi on Thursday night for further questioning. The investigation is part of the ongoing probe into alleged financial links and activities of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliated political outfit, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)," said the officials. The arrest followed ED''s raids conducted at seven locations across Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Kerala on Thursday in the case. The raids were conducted at Mettupalaiyam and Arcot in Tamil Nadu, Bhilwara and Kota in Rajasthan, Kolkata in West Bengal as well as Kottayam and Palakkad in Kerala. It was search operation conducted by the ED in this month in connection with the case against SDPI. On March 6, the federal agency had also conducted searches at 12 locations linked to the SDPI, including two locations in Delhi, including the SDPI Headquarters; Kerala''s Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram, Karnataka''s Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh''s Nandyal, Maharashtra''s Thane, Tamil Nadu''s Chennai, Jharkhand''s Pakur, West Bengal''s Kolkata, Uttar Pradesh''s Lucknow and Rajasthan''s Jaipur. These operations are part of an ongoing investigation into the SDPI''s activities. The SDPI, established in 2009, is a political party with a presence in multiple Indian states. In previous instances, such as in 2022, coordinated raids were conducted on SDPI and PFI offices across several states, leading to multiple arrests. The current raids underscore the ED''s ongoing scrutiny of organizations suspected of involvement in activities contravening national laws. The fresh raids are being conducted days after the federal agency arrested SDPI President Moideen Kutty K alias MK Faizy, from Delhi''s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED has also informed through a statement issued earlier that the SDPI was dependent on banned outfit PFI for its day-to-day functions, policy making, selecting candidates for election campaign. ED has also said that the SDPI is a political front of PFI and Faizy is National President of SDPI since 2018. Faizy, who was arrested on March 3, was on Tuesday remanded to six -day ED custody by a special court in Delhi. ED initiated investigation against PFI and others under PMLA, 2002 on the basis of a First Information Report registered on August 7, 2013 by the Natonal Investigation Agency''s Kochi branch, and another FIR by its Delhi branch on April 13, 2022 along with various FIRs registered by other Law Enforcement Agencies. "Investigation revealed that the office bearers, members and cadres of Popular Front of India (PFI), were conspiring and raising/collecting funds from within India and abroad through banking channels, Hawala, donations for committing and financing terrorist acts across India," ED has said. During a search proceedings conducted on December 3, 2020 at various locations belonging to PFI and its office bearers, the ED said, numerous incriminating documents and digital evidence were recovered and seized, that establishes that "PFI used to control, fund and supervise the activities of SDPI; that SDPI is a front of PFI having common members and cadres and leaders; that SDPI was dependent on PFI for its day-to-day functions, policy making, selecting candidates for election campaign, public programs, cadre mobilization and other related activities." ED has said that the searches then led to recovery of some document that provides insight into the true objectives of the PFI, describing it as an organization committed to advancing an Islamic movement in India by "endorsing the principles of Jihad in all forms." "It positions itself internally as an Islamic movement and externally as a social movement. To achieve these goals, the PFI has established SDPI and several front organizations. "A letter addressed to ''Faizy Sahab'' (MK Faizy) was recovered during the searches conducted at Unity House, Kozhikode (PFI''s Kerala State HQ) which mentions about ''Procedures of selecting candidates'' for state assembly and parliamentary elections," mentioned the ED in its statement issued on March 4. These document, ED then said, reveals that "PFI was directing SDPI on the process of selecting candidates for both Assembly and Parliamentary elections." "The letter, addressed to "Faizy Sahab" lays out a detailed and structured framework for candidate selection, involving multiple levels of the organization," said the ED. Further, the agency said, there are several copies of minutes of meeting and handwritten documents revealing evidence of PFI funding elections contested by SDPI, approval by the National Executive Council (NEC) of PFI for SDPI to collect funds in Gulf countries, and PFI covering legal expenses for SDPI members accused in criminal cases registered by the police which have seized during the searches conducted at Unity House, Kozhikode (PFI''s Kerala State HQ). For example, as per the ED, a diary was seized which contains handwritten minutes of meetings of State Executive Committee (SEC) of PFI dated March 16-17, 2019 which reveals that PFI funded SDPI to the tune of Rs 3.75 crore for the election related purpose. The expenses made by PFI for and on behalf of SDPI, as mentioned in the dairies and other documents seized during the searches, are not reflected in the bank accounts of PFI, it has said. "Such funds have been collected by PFI from foreign countries mainly gulf countries in furtherance of criminal conspiracy to raise funds to carry out violent and terrorist activities in India and such funds have also been raised locally in India in the name of Ramadan Collection (RC)." "As the National President, Faizy exercised authority and control over the activities of SDPI, which is a recipient, beneficiary and user of Proceeds of Crime i.e. funds raised by PFI within and outside India as a part of larger criminal conspiracy knowing fully well that PFI is engaged in the fund-raising activities as a part of a deep- rooted criminal conspiracy to raise and use such funds in various unlawful violent and terrorist activities in India," said the ED in the statement. The Proceeds of Crime quantified till date is Rs 4.07 crore which includes funding of SDPI by PFI was made through suspicious, undisclosed, and unaccounted funds as revealed during the investigation. ED said Faizy was summoned under section 50 of PMLA, 2002 by this directorate multiple times and was given as many as 12 opportunities, but he didn''t appear and evaded the investigation. Hence, a complaint was filed on March 28, 2024 by this Directorate against MK Faizy by a special court in Delhi for his non-appearance before this Directorate. Further, the court issued a Bailable Warrant (BW) vide order dated December 17, 2024 against Faizy. Subsequently, upon non-execution of BW, a Non-Bailable warrant (NBW) was issued vide order dated January 17, 2025 against Faizy and the same also could not be executed despite best possible efforts made to trace the whereabouts of Faizy. ED had attached the movable and immovable properties amounting to Rs 61.72 crore in this case till date. So far, nine Prosecution Complaints (PCs) have been filed in this case before the Hon''ble Special Courts (PMLA). Further, 26 office bearers, members and cadres of PFI have already been arrested in this case which include the Chairman, General Secretary, office bearers, and members of PFI and State Executive Councils (NEC & SEC) of the PFI, as well as Physical Education (PE) Coordinators and Trainers who were providing weapons training to the PFI members and cadres. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday claimed that efforts made by the Bharatiya Janata Party over Aurangzeb's tomb at Khultabad in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district had backfired due to which the party has moved on to rake up the death case of celebrity manager Disha Salian. "BJP tried to raise the Aurangzeb issue, but they were not successful. They tried a lot to remove Aurangzeb from his grave, and in fact Aurangzeb (issue) got back at them, now to hide their defeat, they have raised this issue of Disha Salian," Raut said during a press conference in Delhi. He further mentioned that Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian, had claimed five years ago that he was under pressure from BJP leaders. "You should see statements made by Disha Salian's parents five years ago, in which they said that they were under pressure from BJP leaders. The State government is scared of Aaditya Thackeray. Hence, they raised this issue. We have exposed Devendra Fadnavis' government on all issues," Raut said On the night of March 17, violence broke out in parts of Nagpur after a group protested in the area, demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's grave, who is buried in Chhatrapati Shambhajinagar (formely Aurangabad). As many as 34 police personnel were injured in the violence in which 50 people were arrested. Since then, officials have said that normalcy has been restored and curfew had been lifted in parts of the city. Disha Salian was found dead on June 2, 2020, days before actor Sushant Rajput was found hanging in his flat in suburban Bandra, Mumbai. Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court demanding a probe into his daughter's death and also for the interrogation of UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray. Thackeray on Thursday accused critics of trying to defame him for the past five years. Thackeray emphasized that since the matter is already in court, he'll reserve his comments for the legal proceedings. "A lot of people have tried to defame me for the last five years. If the matter is in court, then we will speak in court," Thackeray told mediapersons. (ANI) After Bihar CM Nitish Kumar was seen purportedly "talking" during the national anthem at a function in Patna, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Misa Bharti on Friday raised questions on his mental and physical health and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should think in whose hands Bihar is. "During the national anthem, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar did not look physically and mentally well. I want to ask PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah whether you found his mental state to be fine... He keeps insulting women, children every day... PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should think in whose hands Bihar is," Bharti told ANI. Meanwhile, RJD leader Mukesh Raushan protested against the CM in Patna and demanded an apology from him. "The CM should offer an apology for insulting the national anthem. He should be removed from the CM post and President's Rule should be imposed in the state. The CM is unwell and he should be removed from the post. A case of treason should be filed against him," Raushan said. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav shared a video in which the Bihar Chief Minister was seen talking and gesturing while the national anthem was played out during an event. "At least please do not insult the national anthem, Hon'ble Chief Minister. You insult youth, students, women and elderly people every day. Sometimes they clap on Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom day and mock his martyrdom, and sometimes they clap on the national anthem!" the RJD leader said attaching a video of Nitish Kumar. He alleged that the Bihar CM was "not mentally or physically stable" and called his condition a matter of great concern for the State. "PS: Let me remind you that you are the Chief Minister of a big state. You are not mentally and physically stable even for a few seconds and your being in this position in such an unconscious state is a matter of great concern for the state. Do not insult Bihar like this again and again," he added in a post on X. In the purported video shared by RJD leaders, Nitish Kumar was seen tapping an official on the shoulder, appearing to engage him in conversation. At one point, he was seen smiling and folding his hands in a namaskar toward somebody in the audience, while the anthem was being played. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said that India will not tolerate the disrespect of the national anthem. "Disrespect of the national anthem, India will not tolerate this. People of Bihar, is there still anything left?" Lalu Yadav posted on X in Hindi. 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) New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI), Congress MP Manish Tewari criticised the union government on Friday for trying to can gain favour with United States President Donald Trump's administration, after sources from the Ministry of Information and Technology said that they have not sent any notice to the company X (owned by Elon Musk) for their chatbot Grok using Hindi slang. Claiming that the Trump administration is being run by Elon Musk "by proxy," the Congress leader asked if the union government will have the gumption to give a notice to X. "This government is bending over backwards to praise, to try and somehow curry favour with the Trump administration. So therefore, under those circumstances, the Trump administration is proxy being run by Mr Elon Musk. Do you think that the government of India will have the gumption to give notice to X over Grok?" Tewari told ANI on the premises of Parliament. Earlier today, a post by Tewari on X claimed the same, "With Govt bending over backwards to kow tow to @realDonaldTrump through @elonmusk-doubt they have the gumption to issue @X a notice over the delightfully mischievous @grok. Aint upsetting @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk over Mr. @grok having some fun." On Thursday, sources from MeitY said that they have not sent any notice to X or Grok, and is in talks with the platforms to understand what law it is violating. Previous advisories sent to the social media by MeiTY are still valid, sources added. "Meity has not sent any notice to Grok or X. Meity is in talks with X and Grok to understand what law it is violating," a source said. Media reports, citing sources, had earlier said that the IT Ministry is in touch with X over Grok and using Hindi slang in response to questions and comments. Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI helps to answer user's questions and provide helpful insights, often with a dash of outside perspective on humanity, according to Grok. As per the chatbot its goal is to assist users. The government had earlier urged social media intermediaries to act quickly against fake content to build public trust in grievance officers. It was also emphasized that GACs must work efficiently to resolve issues promptly, ensuring users can navigate the internet safely and with confidence. (ANI) Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Rabri Devi on Friday called Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "mentally unstable" and went to suggest that his son be made the Chief Minister if his mind is not stable. This comes after a purported video of Nitish Kumar showed the Bihar Chief Minister talking and gesturing while the national anthem was played during a function in Patna. "He (Bihar CM Nitish Kumar) is not mentally stable. We demand that he should make his son the Chief Minister if his mind is not working," Rabri Devi said. Earlier today, RJD leader Misa Bharti raised questions on his mental and physical health and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should consider the plight of Bihar. "During the national anthem, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar did not look physically and mentally well. I want to ask PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah whether you found his mental state to be fine... He keeps insulting women, children every day... PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should think in whose hands Bihar is," Bharti told ANI. Meanwhile, RJD leader Mukesh Raushan staged a protest against the Chief Minister in Patna and demanded an apology from him. "The CM should offer an apology for insulting the national anthem. He should be removed from the CM post and President's Rule should be imposed in the state. The CM is unwell and he should be removed from the post. A case of treason should be filed against him," Raushan said. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav had yesterday shared a video on social media platform X of Nitish Kumar at an event and posted, "At least please do not insult the national anthem, Hon'ble Chief Minister. You insult youth, students, women and elderly people every day. Sometimes they clap on Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom day and mock his martyrdom, and sometimes they clap on the national anthem!" the RJD leader said. He alleged that the Bihar CM was "not mentally or physically stable" and called his condition a matter of great concern for the State. "PS: Let me remind you that you are the Chief Minister of a big state. You are not mentally and physically stable even for a few seconds and your being in this position in such an unconscious state is a matter of great concern for the state. Do not insult Bihar like this again and again," he added in a post on X. In the purported video shared by RJD leaders, Nitish Kumar was seen tapping an official on the shoulder, appearing to engage him in conversation. At one point, he was seen smiling and folding his hands in a namaskar toward somebody in the audience. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said that India will not tolerate the disrespect of the national anthem. "Disrespect of the national anthem India will not tolerate this. People of Bihar, is there still anything left?" Lalu Yadav posted on X in Hindi. 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) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday condemned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for reportedly talking and gesturing during the national anthem, calling the incident "disrespectful." Yadav expressed his shame, stating, "being a 'Bihari,' I feel ashamed." Speaking to media, Yadav said, "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar disrespected the national anthem yesterday and being a 'Bihari' I feel ashamed...The Chief Minister is the leader of the state and yesterday's incident is very unfortunate." "This is the first incident in the history of Indian politics that a Chief Minister has disrespected the national anthem. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar should apologise to the public of the nation. The leaders of BJP only do drama, where are the two deputy CMs of Bihar? Bihar CM Nitish Kumar should retire," he added. RJD MLA & former CM Rabri Devi further attacked the CM saying, "He (Bihar CM Nitish Kumar) is not mentally stable. We demand that he should make his son the Chief Minister if his mind is not working" Earlier today, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Misa Bharti raised questions on his mental and physical health and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should think in whose hands Bihar is. "During the national anthem, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar did not look physically and mentally well. I want to ask PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah whether you found his mental state to be fine... He keeps insulting women, children every day... PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should think in whose hands Bihar is," Bharti told ANI. Meanwhile, RJD leader Mukesh Raushan protested against the CM in Patna and demanded an apology from him. "The CM should offer an apology for insulting the national anthem. He should be removed from the CM post and President's Rule should be imposed in the state. The CM is unwell and he should be removed from the post. A case of treason should be filed against him," Raushan said. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav shared a video in which the Bihar Chief Minister was seen talking and gesturing while the national anthem was played out during an event. In the purported video shared by RJD leaders, Nitish Kumar was seen tapping an official on the shoulder, appearing to engage him in conversation. At one point, he was seen smiling and folding his hands in a namaskar toward somebody in the audience, while the anthem was being played. 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) Jammu and Kashmir Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJP MLA Sunil Sharma expressed his concerns over the statement of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik and stated that his statement "hurts" the sentiments of Hindus. Sharma further alleged that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was "encouraging" such comments in the House. "We have no problem with an enquiry into the liquor scam. But when someone comments that every Hindu drinks alcohol, it hurts the sentiments of Hinduism. It is surprising that Omar Abdullah was encouraging such comments in the House..." Sharma said. The LoP also responded to the National Conference and J-K Congress asking for a committee to investigate spending on chartered flights, stating, "Then inquire into the chartered flights. They are the ones who have the government." National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq also condemned the statement of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik stating that 'alcoholism' is a social problem and giving it a religious angle is wrong. "I don't know from where he got this report... Talking about religion in a way that hurts someone's sentiments is not a good thing... (Alcoholism) is not a religious problem but a social problem. Giving it a religious colour is not right..." Sadiq told ANI. Sadiq also reacted to the National Conference and J-K Congress asking for a committee to investigate spending on chartered flights, saying, "The House wants to know who were these guests who came in the last four years, who were so important that so much money of the State Exchequer and the people was spent on them... The surprising thing is that the BJP is opposing this. So they may be involved in some way that's why they are so upset over this..." On Thursday, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik accused the BJP of promoting alcohol in Jammu, a region known for its religious significance. Speaking about alcohol consumption in the town, Malik raised concerns over the BJP's silence on the issue. "They (BJP) have made alcohol commonplace in Jammu's town of temples," he said. Malik pointed out the BJP's inaction when alcohol consumption was taking place in Katra, a popular pilgrimage destination. "What was the BJP doing when people were drinking alcohol in Katra? They don't have the right to speak of religion," he added. He further emphasized the double standards in the treatment of public drinking. "Muslims and Hindus both drink. But there is not a second opinion on who drinks publicly. When Muslims drink publicly they are interrogated and ostracised," Malik stated, criticizing the perceived bias. Malik also questioned the BJP's stance on the issue, citing instances where alcohol shops were set up and mothers were reportedly beaten for opposing the sale of alcohol. "Where are their sentiments when shops were being sold for alcohol, when mothers were beaten for asking the administration to not bring alcohol, where was BJP then?" he said. He concluded by asserting, "They don't have the right to talk about religious sentiments," suggesting that the BJP's response to these issues was politically motivated and inconsistent. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has appointed former Delhi Minister and former MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj as the state chief of the Delhi unit of the party. Bhardwaj has replaced Gopal Rai to formulate the political strategies for the party in Delhi to counter the BJP-led Delhi government. After being appointed Delhi AAP president, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "Our first priority will be to expand the party organisation. Elections will come and go.." Gopal Rai has been appointed as the state in-charge of AAP Gujarat while Pankaj Gupta has been appointed as the state in-charge for AAP Goa while Manish Sisodia takes charge of Punjab. On his appointment as the in charge of Punjab, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, "There has been a lot of development in Punjab after the formation of our government in the state...The AAP government will continue to work for the welfare of the people of Punjab and will ensure that every dedicated worker of the AAP feels proud to be a part of the party...The people of Punjab respect Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann a lot," This decision follows the meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting which was conducted at residence of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. The party witnessed a major reshuffle after it lost its bastion national capital Delhi to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Delhi LoP and AAP MLA Atishi congratulated Saurabh Bhardwaj on his appointment as state convenor for Delhi. In a social media post on X, she wrote, "Many congratulations to @Saurabh_MLAgk ji on becoming the state president of Delhi." https://x.com/atishiaap/status/1902977314889027686?s=48 Speaking to reporters, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak stated that he has been made incharge of the Chhattisgarh unit of the party. Pathak informed that Jammu and Kashmir AAP MLA Mehraj Malik has been appointed as the state in-charge for the party's J-K unit. "Today, various decisions were taken in the party's Political Affairs Committee meeting...Gopal Rai has been made in charge of Gujarat. Pankaj Gupta has been made in charge of Goa...Manish Sisodia has been made in charge of Punjab and I have been made in charge of Chhattisgarh. Saurabh Bharadwaj has been appointed as the chief of the party's Delhi unit and Mehraj Malik has been appointed as the chief of the party's J&K unit," he said. Aam Aadmi Party lost the recently concluded Delhi Legislative Assembly elections to BJP. The BJP won a historic mandate in Delhi polls, returning to power in the national capital after 27 years by ousting AAP. It secured a two-thirds majority bagging 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP's tally saw a massive drop at 22 from its previous tally of 62. (ANI) Just after Aam Aadmi Party leader Sauarbh Bharadwaj was appointed as the party's Delhi convenor on Friday, he said that his first priority will be to expand the party, and that they should "move away from elections" for a few days to focus on other things. "I believe that we need to look at the concept of Aam Aadmi Party away from the elections for a few days, our first priority will be to expand the party organisation. Elections will come and go and we will win too," Bharadwaj told reporters after the party's Political Action Committee (PAC) meeting. Expressing his gratitude to anyone who has stayed in the party even after losing elections, he said, "I believe that after losing elections, organisation building is easy because when you win a lot of people come to you, but whoever stays in the party after losing is (like) pure gold. So whoever is with the party now, and is ready to work for the party is pure gold." The AAP leader further took a veiled jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that despite the latter using the police and EC to win, there is still half of the Delhi's population which voted for AAP. "Even after using the police and Election Commission, there is still half of the population of Delhi which has voted for us and sitting in houses, so we need to take care of them. Also, people who voted for BJP thinking they will get Rs 2,500, gas cylinder, we need to take care of them too," Bharadwaj said. He also said that the AAP leaders stand with the Delhi government and other MLAs, urging them getting "complete respect" from officers. "AAP stands with Delhi MLAs and Delhi government. When PWD Minister Parvesh Verma goes for inspections, PWD secretary is not with him. I believe an elected government should get complete respect. We stand on this principle. The officers will have to listen to elected representatives," he said. Earlier today, AAP appointed former Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj as the chief of the party's Delhi unit. Bhardwaj has replaced Gopal Rai to formulate the political strategies for the party in Delhi to counter the BJP-led Delhi government. Meanwhile, Gopal Rai has been appointed as the state convenor of AAP Gujarat and Pankaj Gupta has been appointed as the state convenor for AAP Goa. This decision follows the meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting which was conducted at residence of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi LoP and AAP MLA Atishi congratulated him on his appointment as state convenor for Delhi. (ANI) Reacting to the allegations of the honey trap attempt made by a Congress MLA, Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the case should be inquired thoroughly. "Each and every case should be inquired thoroughly and whoever behind this should be booked and put behind bars and once and for all the whole thing should be cleanse," Bommai told reporters. Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka President BY Vijayendra demanded that the Karnataka government hand over the alleged honey trap attempt case either to the CBI or a sitting High Court judge. The BJP leader said that it is the responsibility of the CM to take this matter seriously and order a thorough investigation. "It was an issue of honey trapping raised by none other than the senior Congress MLAs and a cabinet minister who raised the issue on the floor of the house yesterday and demanded an enquiry into the honey trapping. The home minister declared yesterday that they will probe into this matter, but later in the evening Home Minister G. Parameshwara said he didn't receive any official information regarding honey trapping. This means that Congress is trying to cover up the issue. It is the responsibility of the CM to take this matter seriously and order a thorough investigation," the BJP leader said addressing reporters. Earlier today, chaos prevailed in the Karnataka Assembly on Friday after the revelation of Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna alleging a honey trap attempt was made on him. BJP legislators raised loud slogans "down, down" as some members held CDs in their hands claiming they had proof of the alleged honey trap. They then stormed into the well of the house even as CM Siddaramaiah was speaking. R Ashoka, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said, "It is not the issue of one party, it's a biggest conspiracy against legislators who are working for the people and some are doing this (honey trap) with clear hidden agenda." Speaking in the house, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended his government and said there was no question of protecting anyone in the Honey Trap. The BJP leaders were demanding a judicial inquiry, but CM Siddaramiah said that G Parmeshwara had already responded to the allegations made by KN Rajanna, and has set up an enquiry. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday directed all District Magistrates to organise multipurpose camps in all the district headquarters from March 22 to March 25 and at the block and assembly level from March 24 to March 30 during a meeting in the secretariat. The camps are to be organised on the occasion of the completion of three years of the State government in an effective, transparent and systematic manner. Dhami directed the officials that all the services should be made available to the citizens coming to the camps in a quick and transparent manner so that no eligible person is deprived. "Our government has taken many historic steps for development and public welfare in the last three years. Through these camps, it will be ensured that the government schemes reach the person standing at the last end and every needy gets his rights," Dhami said. The Uttarakhand chief minister said that he appeals to the people of the state to visit these camps in maximum numbers and also inform other people about it so that all eligible citizens can take advantage of it. Earlier in the day, Dhami reaffirmed the commitment of the government to make the youth the state self-reliant and empowered, highlighting how in the last three years, more than 50,000 young people have been provided self-employment under the Chief Minister Self-Employment Scheme. "Government is constantly striving to make the youth of the state empowered and self-reliant. In the last three years, more than 50,000 youth have been provided self-employment opportunities under the Chief Minister Self-Employment Scheme," read a statement from the chief minister's office. Urging the young people to not only become self-reliant but create new opportunities for other, CM Dhami said, "our aim is that the youth of the state should not only become self-reliant by joining self-employment, but also create new employment opportunities for other youth." (ANI) "Jai Shri Ram! It is with immense joy that I announce the Government of Goa has acquired a plot of land in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the construction of Goa Ram Nivas - a dedicated space for devotees of Shri Ramlala Virajman, especially from Goa," Goa CM posted on X. He said the upcoming building will strengthen the spiritual bond between Parshuram Bhoomi of Goa and Ayodhya, fostering devotion, culture, and unity. "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, the dream of a grand Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has become a reality, rekindling our spiritual and cultural heritage. In alignment with this historic movement, Goa Ram Nivas will provide a sacred and assured place of stay for devotees visiting Ayodhya," he added. The Goa CM extended gratitude to the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad and the Uttar Pradesh government. "I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji for their unwavering support in facilitating this initiative," he said. "This marks yet another step in strengthening the spiritual bond between Parshuram Bhoomi Goa and Ayodhya, fostering devotion, culture, and unity across Bharat," Goa CM said. On March 20, the Goa CM expressed his gratitude to the people of Goa as he completed six years in office. In an X post, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant wrote, "On completing 6 years in office, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Goa for your trust, support, and affection-you inspire me every day." The 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's temple was held on January 22, 2024 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the rituals, led by a group of priests. (ANI) Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma on Friday suspended an executive engineer (XEN) of the said department while the former was carrying out inspections of drainages in the national capital. "The cleaning of drains is the responsibility of the PWD department, which is not happening. This is why I have ordered that the XEN here be suspended. All officers have been clearly told that if they do not work properly, action will be taken. We can't leave Delhi, our capital, like this," Verma told reporters. The minister said that the entire system of Delhi had "broken down" in the last 10 years while adding that strict instructions have been issued to government officials that negligence would not be tolerated. Verma asserted that the newly elected government was not shying away from hard work and was out on the streets. "There are several issues. We, too, have decided that we will not shy away from working hard. We will make these officers work. The entire system of Delhi had broken down, and it was almost on the brink of collapse. Those who have not worked for the last 10 years, we will make all such officers work. Our government is out on the ground. We have instructed the officers that negligence will not be tolerated at all," Verma said. Assuring that such issues would be resolved, he added that the entire system in Delhi would have to be changed. He said that government officials who have become "thick-skinned" would be made to work on the ground. "The existing system will have to be changed, and we will resolve all issues. We will leave no stone unturned...In the last 10 years, officers have become thick-skinned; we will get rid of this. We are making all of them work on the ground. I, too, am working on the ground," he added. (ANI) Union Minister SP Singh Baghel on Friday congratulated security forces for neutralizing 30 Naxals in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh and said that terrorism and insurgency in the country are in their last stages. Speaking ANI, Baghel said, "Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and able guidance of the Union Home Minister, paramilitary forces are bravely fighting terrorism. Terrorism is in the last stages. Just like light burns brighter before dying, terrorism and insurgency in the country are in their last stages. Violence has no meaning in democracy. I would like to congratulate the forces there, that they displayed valour and getting success against naxals, terrorists and insurgents." On Thursday Home Minister Amit Shah commended the security forces for neutralising 30 Naxalites in two separate encounters in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur and Kanker districts and termed the achievement a major step toward the 'Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan,' a campaign aimed at making India free of Naxalism. "Today, our soldiers have achieved another big success in the direction of 'Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'. 22 Naxalites were killed in two separate operations by our security forces in Bijapur and Kanker of Chhattisgarh. The Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering. The country will be Naxal-free before 31st March next year," Home Minister Shah said on X. Congress leader Charan Das Mahant expressed support for the Chhattisgarh government's action against Naxalites but questioned the speedy action of economic development of Bastar region and asked which big industrialists would come for whom "red carpet is being laid." "We appreciate the action. It is a good thing, the action is speedy..It is being said that Naxalites are being eliminated to promote economic activities in Bastar. Who is going to carry out economic activities? Which big industrialists will come for whom you are rolling out the red carpet?" asked Mahant, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Chhattisgarh assembly. Former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo attributed the violence in the state to the Naxal groups who refused to abandon violence and arms. Speaking to ANI, Deo said, "Such incidents are coming to the fore in the encounter against the people of Naxal ideology due to not abandoning violence and continuously taking up arms." (ANI) Farmers in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli staged a 'rail roko' protest on the Cauvery Railway Bridge. The protest was led by celebrated farmer leader and lawyer P Ayyakannu. The demonstration was held in response to the action taken against farm leaders in Punjab, who were protesting against the government while pressing various demands, including a legal guarantee for a Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and local police intervened to control the situation and clear the tracks. Meanwhile, Punjab Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian called for a meeting of leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) in Chandigarh on Friday. The meeting will be held in Punjab Bhawan at 4 PM on Friday, according to the notice released by the agriculture department on March 20. Earlier, Punjab police DIG Mandeep Singh mentioned that things like moveable tractors and trolleys were removed from the border and are being relocated a few kilometres away. He also highlighted cooperation of farmers during the operation and emphasised that authorities are ensuring the well-being of those detained. "A large area has been cleared at the Khanauri border, and movable things like tractors and trolleys are being shifted 3 km away from the border. If someone wants to take the trolley from there, he can show his identity with proof, and the trolley will be handed over to him after proper entry. Yesterday, the farmers cooperated with us. Proper care is being taken of the detained farmers," DIG Patiala Range said. The farmers united under the banners of the All India Kisan Sabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, staged a protest march to the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Karnal. Several farmer leaders were detained by the police, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who remains on an indefinite fast, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher. Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has defended the Aam Aadmi Party-led government's action and said that the action was taken as they wanted to open the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema slammed the central government on Thursday, accusing it of 'committing injustice' against farmers by failing to implement the promises it had made after Punjab Police forcefully removed protesting farmers. Yesterday, Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lashed out at the AAP government in Punjab over the detention of protesting farmers at the Shambhu border, saying that AAP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have "no faith" in democracy. (ANI) Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Police Commissioner of Guwahati, told ANI that Guwahati City Police conducted a targeted operation on Thursday night to apprehend key members of the Kangleipak Communist Party (People's War Group - KCP PWG), a Maoist separatist terrorist outfit involved in extortion and arms-related crimes in Manipur. "During the operation, the two members of the outfit were successfully apprehended from ISBT, under the jurisdiction of Garchuk Police Station, Guwahati," Partha Sarathi Mahanta said. The apprehended members of the outfit were identified as Meisnam Bungochouba Singh (42 years old) and Techsa Ibomcha Singh (42 years old) who is a senior Commander of KCP (PWG), wanted in multiple cases of extortion and arms-related offenses. "The operation, executed with precision based on inputs from Gajraj Military Intelligence, led to the successful apprehension of these individuals preventing any potential threat they posed," Partha Sarathi Mahanta said. Earlier on March 17, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles under SpearCorps conducted an intelligence-based joint operation from March 14 to 16 in coordination with the Manipur Police, CRPF, and BSF. The operation, carried out across the hill and valley districts of Manipur, led to the recovery of 16 weapons, officials said. "Intelligence based joint operations launched by #IndianArmy and #AssamRifles formations under #SpearCorps, in coordination with@manipur_police, #CRPF and #BSF in the hill and valley districts of #Manipur, namely Churachandpur, Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur, between 14-16 Mar 25 have resulted in the recovery of 16 weapons comprising automatics, rifles, pistols, improvised mortars, grenades, ammunition and war like stores," the Indian Army's Spear Corps said in a post on X. (ANI) The Government of Goa announced the acquisition of a plot of land in the sacred city of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the construction of Goa Ram Nivas, a dedicated space for the devotees of Shri Ramlala Virajman, particularly from the state of Goa, according to the press release. This initiative is in line with the ongoing development of the grand Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a vision brought to life under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Goa Ram Nivas will provide an assured and sacred place of stay for devotees visiting Ayodhya, offering them a peaceful environment to fulfil their spiritual journey. The Government of Goa extends its sincere appreciation to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad, and the Government of Uttar Pradesh for their steadfast support in enabling this significant initiative. The Goa Ram Nivas project embodies the principle of "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi," highlighting its dual commitment to both the spiritual well-being of devotees and the preservation of cultural heritage. This initiative strengthens the spiritual and cultural ties between Parshuram Bhoomi in Goa and Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, the press release stated. The Goa government emphasizes that this project stands as a testament to our shared heritage and represents a significant advancement towards the holistic development of Bharat, seamlessly integrating spiritual devotion with modern infrastructure. This initiative strengthens the unity of our nation, fostering cultural exchanges and building deeper ties between the people of Goa and Ayodhya. The Government of Goa remains committed to preserving and nurturing both our ancient traditions and our progress, ensuring that both development and heritage go hand in hand and harmoniously integrated, reflecting a balanced path toward the future. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the BJP-led government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has maintained a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism since coming to power in 2014. Replying to the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Shah said that India's security, development, and sovereignty faced three major challenges over the past four decades -- terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), insurgency in the Northeast, and Left-wing Naxalism. He also emphasized that the Modi government has taken decisive steps to eradicate these threats and ensure national security. "When the Narendra Modi government came to power, many legacy challenges existed. The country's security, development, and sovereignty faced challenges due to three major issues. These challenges hindered the country's development," he said, adding that 92,000 citizens lost their lives due to these security threats. Shah criticized previous governments for failing to take firm action on terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the Modi government was the first to implement a strategic approach to counter cross-border terrorism. "First of all, I will speak about Kashmir. Terrorists used to enter Kashmir from the neighbouring country, they used to execute bomb blasts and murders here. There was not one festival which used to be celebrated without any worry. Central Governments had a flexible attitude. They used to be quiet and were scared of speaking. They were worried about their vote bank. But after PM Modi came to power, we displayed a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism," he said. Highlighting key military actions, he referenced the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 Balakot airstrike, which were India's direct responses to the Uri and Pulwama attacks. "There were attacks even after we came to power -- on Uri and Pulwama. Within 10 days, we entered Pakistan and responded with surgical and airstrikes. The zero-tolerance policy against terrorism started there," Shah noted. He further said that India has now joined Israel and the United States as a nation that firmly protects its soldiers and borders. "In the whole world, there were two nations that were always ready for their soldiers and borders: Israel and America. Narendra Modi added India's name to this list," he added. Shah credited the removal of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, as a historic move that ended separatism in Kashmir. He expressed gratitude to the framers of the Constitution for making Article 370 a temporary provision, which allowed the Modi government to revoke it and integrate J-K fully into India. "We all know Article 370 was the base for separatism in Kashmir...I also want to thank the framers of the Constitution who made 370 temporary. On 5th August 2019, we removed Article 370," he said. Shah also said that elections are now conducted peacefully in Kashmir. "Not a single bullet was fired during the 2024 elections, and there were no complaints of booth rigging. Once, leaders from Delhi would go there to receive the winning certificate while citizens stayed home. Now, 98 per cent of people cast their votes. It was Prime Minister Modi who laid the foundation of democracy in Kashmir for the first time," he said. "Tourism in Kashmir has surged since the removal of Article 370. In 2023, a record 2,11,80,011 tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir--the highest number since independence. Private investments worth Rs 250 crore have been made in the tourism sector, and a cruise service has been launched on Dal Lake," he said. "For many years, Kashmir's treasury remained empty. In 2015, PM Modi launched 63 projects worth Rs 80,000 crore. Some people have questioned our spending. Well, even if we spent a little less, at least we had the courage to allocate funds--whereas during your time, there wasn't even a provision for spending," Shah said, adding that out of the Rs 80,000 crore, Rs 51,000 crore has already been spent, and 53 out of 63 projects have been successfully implemented. Shah also pointed out that crime has evolved beyond state borders, making narcotics, cybercrime, organized crime gangs, and hawala operations inter-state and even multi-state concerns. "The Constitution entrusts law and order to the states, while border and internal security fall under the MHA. This is a correct decision, and there is no need to make any changes to this. But when law and order are taken care of by states, after 76 years, there is now a situation where several kinds of crimes no longer remain limited to state borders; they are now both inter-state and multi-state, like narcotics, cybercrime, organized crime gangs, and hawala," he said. "All these crimes do not take place just within a state. Several crimes are committed in the country, even from outside the country. So, keeping all this in view, it becomes essential to make changes in the MHA. I say this with pride that in 10 years, PM Modi has implemented long-overdue reforms to the MHA to enhance national security," he added. Shah also expressed gratitude to the state police and paramilitary forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in strengthening India's internal security and border protection. (ANI) Emphasising the committment of the BJP-led alliance to end the problem of Naxalism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that 2,619 Naxalites were arrested, surrendered, or killed in the past over a year due to approach of BJP government which came to power in Chhattisgarh in December 2023. Replying to the debate in Rajya Sabha on the working of his ministry, he said Naxalism will be eliminated from the country by March 21, 2026. "Let me tell you that by March 21, 2026, Naxalism will be completely eradicated from our country. This is the result of the hard work of the Modi government over the past 10 years," he said. Amit Shah said BJP government in Chhattisgarh was tackling the problem of Naxalism with a different approach compared to the Congress and the number of active Naxals went down by 2619. "What happens when there is a government which considers Naxalism a political issue and what happens when a government which works for security as well as development comes to power...When BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh in December 2023, after that, 380 Naxals were killed in just a year while 30 Naxals killed yesterday have not been added to this. In these operations, 26 security personnel died," he said. "It was the same Chhattisgarh, the same police, BSF, and Indian government, with only Congress in power. But in December 2023, when BJP came to power, within a year, 2,619 Naxalites were either arrested, surrendered, or killed. This shows you what change in approach does," he added. The minister congratulated security force personnel and said they have ventured into dense forests to eliminate the problem without concerns for water, food, or sleep. Amit Shah talked of the steps taken by the government to provide accurate intelligence to security forces dealing with the problem of Naxalism. "When Narendra Modi Government was elected to power in 2014, we received several legacy issues from prior to 2014. The security and development of this country were always challenged due to three main issues. These three issues caused obstruction to the peace of the country, raised questions on the security of the country and obstructed the development pace of the country for almost four decades; they also made the country's entire system even laughable many a time," he said. "These three issues were terrorism in J-K, Leftist insurgency which dreamt of Tirupati to Pashupatinath and the Northeast insurgency. If you club all these three issues together, around 92,000 citizens of this country were killed in four decades. For the elimination of these three issues, never was a well-planned effort made. PM Narendra Modi made those efforts after coming to power," he added. Amit Shah also highlighted significant progress in resolving insurgency issues in Northeast India. "We are also on the verge of ending the problems in the Northeast. There too, there has been a 70 per cent reduction in violent incidents, a 72 per cent reduction in casualties of security forces and an 85 per cent reduction in the number of civilian casualties," Shah said. "After our government came to power, we held talks with all armed groups. We have signed 12 important peace agreements since 2019. A total of 10,900 youths in the Northeast have surrendered their weapons and joined the mainstream. Thousands of youths have embarked on path of development," he added. Amit Shah said 21 Members presented their views during the working of his ministry. "In a way, efforts were made to cover the dimensions of several works of MHA. First of all, I express my gratitude to thousands of State Police and central paramilitary force jawans who made the supreme sacrifice to strengthen the country's internal security as well as borders," he said. Amit Shah said several crime incidents have multi-state dimensions. "In a way, the Home Ministry works under very difficult situation. The Constitution has given the responsibility of Law and Order to states. Border security and internal security come under MHA. This is a correct decision. And there is no need to make any changes to this. But when Law and Order is taken care of by states, after 76 years, there is now a situation when several kinds of crime do not remain limited to state borders, they are both inter-state as well as multi-state -- like narcotics, cybercrime, organised crime gangs, hawala," he said. "All these crimes do not take place just within a state. Several crimes are done in the country even from outside the country. So, keeping all this in view it becomes essential to make changes in MHA. I say this with pride that in 10 years, PM Narendra Modi made long overdue changes to the MHA at once to ensure national security," he added. Amit Shah talked of the changes in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370. "After the removal of Article 370, the involvement of Indian youth with terrorists has almost disappeared. Ten years ago, terrorist glorification was common, and funeral processions would take place. But now, when terrorists are killed, they are buried on the spot. Relatives of terrorists who once enjoyed government perks have been ruthlessly removed from government posts to send a strong message," he said. "I want to thank our Constitution makers for making Article 370 temporary and providing a solution for its removal within the same article. However, vote bank politics kept it safeguarded. But on August 5, 2019, PM Modi took the historic step of removing it, marking the beginning of a new era of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India," he said. Amit Shah said the government has started the Vibrant Village Programme. "Along the border, people used to live in extreme conditions, leading to an exodus. If these border villages are abandoned, the country cannot be protected. Earlier these villages used to call last villages. The Modi Government recognised them as 'First Villages.' This was not just a conceptual change but within 10 years, essential services were prioritised for these areas," he said. (ANI) New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI) Hundreds of students at Jamia Millia Islamia are in distress as the university has yet to release the results of semester examinations conducted in December for nearly 100 courses. The prolonged delay has caused uncertainty, with students struggling to apply for internships and freelancing jobs due to the lack of official marksheets. According to university officials, results for 382 out of 481 courses, including graduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programs, have been announced, but 99 courses remain pending. Of these, 62 courses are facing delays due to complications related to marking schemes as per the National Education Policy (NEP), the officials said. "For the last several days, we have been told that the result will come today or tomorrow. But nothing has been released yet. If we had our results, we would at least know where we stand, whether we have passed or failed any subjects," said a second-semester student, requesting anonymity. Another student, Habeeba Quadri, who is pursuing a BA in Persian, echoed similar frustration. "The exams ended in mid-January. According to university norms, the results should have been out by mid-February. But even now, we are still waiting. This is not just about BA Persian; results for many other language courses are also pending," she said. Students said the delay is impacting their academic and career plans. "I was planning to apply for a freelance position, but without my marksheet, I couldn't complete the application. The delay is affecting our future plans, and we have no clarity on when the results will be out," she added. Despite repeated assurances from the administration, students remain on edge, hoping for a resolution before their academic plans are further disrupted. Many are also concerned about their academic progression. "We are already preparing for the next semester, but we have no idea how we performed in the previous one. If there are any backlogs, we should know in time to plan accordingly. The uncertainty is frustrating," said a third-semester mass media student. Others have repeatedly sought answers from the administration but claim they have only received vague assurances. "Every time we ask, we get the same response--that the results will be out soon. But it's been weeks, and nothing has changed. We are just stuck, waiting without answers," said another graduate student. The delay is also affecting those applying for scholarships and higher education. "Some students need their marksheets for scholarship applications. With deadlines approaching, we're worried that we'll miss out on opportunities because of this delay," said a student. Jamia's Controller of Examinations, Prof. Saroj Kumar Mahananda, acknowledged the delay, attributing it to administrative and technical challenges. "We have 481 courses in the university, and results for 382 have already been announced. The remaining 99 are pending, with 62 facing complications due to NEP-related marking issues. A meeting has been scheduled for Monday to resolve the matter, and we aim to issue all results by next week," he told ANI. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday in a sharp jibe at Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi while speaking in the Rajya Sabha on counter-terrorism operations and development in Jammu and Kashmir. "If someone is sitting with kaala chashma (black glasses) on, how is it possible to show them the development,?" Shah asked. Further responding to Gandhi's remarks during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir in 2023, Shah said, "one leader went on a footmarch, went to Kashmir, played Holi with snow with his karyakartas and then claimed he saw terrorists from afar." "Arre bhai, nazar mein hi aatankwadi hai toh sapne mein bhi aayega aur Kashmir mein bhi" (If someone has terrorist in their mind, he will appear in your dreams as well as in Kashmir), Shah said. Emphasising the Modi government's zero-tolerance policy over terrorism, Shah said, "Whenever we see a terrorist, we shoot right between the eyes. Our government can neither tolerate terrorism nor terrorists." During his speech, Shah highlighted the significant reduction in terrorism-related deaths in Jammu and Kashmir under the Modi government. "Earlier, terrorists from the neighbouring country used to enter Kashmir almost every day and carry out bomb blasts. There was not a single festival that passed without any worries. Even after this, the central government's attitude was flexible. There was fear of speaking, so they remained silent, and there was fear of the vote bank," he said. "After the arrival of Narendra Modi, the policy of 'zero tolerance' was adopted against terrorism. After our arrival, when attacks took place in Uri and Pulwama, we gave a befitting reply by entering Pakistan within 10 days and carrying out surgical and air strikes," the Union Home Minister further said. He also outlined the steps taken by the BJP-led government to strengthen internal security and said Naxalism will be eliminated from the country by March 21, 2026. Responding to a the debate on the working of his ministry in Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah talked of the steps taken by the government to tackle terrorism in J-K, Naxal challenge, drug abuse and problems in the Northeast. He said the country would get free of the "Naxal problem" during the term of the BJP-led government. "I say it in this House with responsibility that Naxalism in this country will be eliminated by March 21, 2026," he said. Amit Shah talked of the steps taken by the government to provide accurate intelligence to security forces dealing with Naxalites and said he has pity on those who think Naxalism is only a political problem. (ANI) The Maharashtra government on Friday announced plans to build a grand memorial in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, to honour the legendary Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This memorial will commemorate Shivaji's bravery and ingenious escape from house arrest in Agra, where he was detained by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The Maharashtra government will acquire the necessary land and buildings for this project. A committee of historians and experts, chaired by the Tourism Minister, will oversee the construction of the memorial. According to the officials, the memorial will be constructed at Meena Bazaar, the exact location where Shivaji was held captive. It will feature state-of-the-art museums, audiovisual programs, and documentaries showcasing Shivaji's life and legacy. In February this year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the construction of a grand memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Agra. The chief minister was addressing a programme in Agra marking the 395th birth anniversary of the Maratha king. He said he would speak to his Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, in this connection, and the state government would acquire land for a memorial in Meena Bazaar. The state's Tourism Department has been given the responsibility of implementation and funding for the construction of this memorial. A separate committee of historians, experts and experts will be formed under the chairmanship of the Tourism Minister for the construction of the memorial. The Tourism Department is responsible for funding availability, land acquisition, and related matters for this project. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation will work as the executive mechanism under this department. The state government has decided to build this grand memorial to commemorate the liberation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Balraje Shambhuraj from Agra and the glorious story of the Maharaja's valour for future generations. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Balraje Shambhuraj, who are the adored deities of Maharashtra, were treacherously kept under house arrest by the Mughal Empire along with Mavla. But with his ingenuity and bravery, Maharaj managed to free Shambhuraj and all the Mavlas from house arrest. This initiative aims to educate future generations about Shivaji's valiant story and preserve his legacy. The memorial is expected to attract history enthusiasts and tourists, providing a unique glimpse into India's rich cultural heritage. For such a place and to exalt that glorious history and to ensure that that legacy remains with the next generations, the government has consciously decided to develop such places in other states as well, the order said. (ANI) The Himachal Pradesh Assembly's budget session began on a stormy note, with the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP clashing over the issue of educational and administrative institutions in the state. The debate, which started during question hour, quickly escalated into a heated exchange between both sides. BJP MLA Randhir Sharma triggered the discussion by questioning the government on the number of new institutions opened since January 2025, the number of posts created, and whether adequate budgetary provisions had been made. BJP MLA Randhir Sharma triggered the discussion by questioning the government on the number of new institutions opened since January 2025, the number of posts created, and whether adequate budgetary provisions had been made. Responding to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's absence, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri stated that data up to January 2024 had already been placed before the House. However, he added that comprehensive details for 2025 would take time to compile. Agnihotri countered the BJP by alleging that the previous BJP-led government had opened numerous institutions without budgetary provisions, solely for electoral gains. "The Congress government is prioritising the state's welfare and establishing institutions judiciously. A rationalisation process is being adopted across various departments, be it education or rural development," he said. He further informed the House that the Congress government had opened 35 institutions in its first year and would continue to do so as necessary. BJP MLA Randhir Sharma strongly criticised the Congress government for shutting down institutions that the previous BJP government had opened. He demanded clarity on how many institutions had been denotified, how many were later reopened, and the criteria followed for these decisions. In response, Agnihotri reiterated that the BJP had set up institutions in a haphazard manner without ensuring financial viability. "The Congress government will open institutions prudently, with proper budget allocations and the necessary resources," Agnihotri said in the Assembly. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur accused the Congress government of acting with political vendetta. "Since Himachal Pradesh was formed, no government has ever taken such a politically motivated decision. The Congress government was sworn in on December 11, and by December 13, 2022. when even the cabinet had not been formed, orders were issued to shut down institutions established by the BJP government," he alleged. "If the Congress government had conducted a proper review and then decided to close institutions, it would have been understandable. But shutting them down mindlessly, only to reopen some later under a different name, is sheer political revenge. This is the most absurd decision in a democratic system," said Thakur. Thakur claimed that institutions that had been functional for six to eight months were abruptly shut down without any assessment. "For instance, an IPS division that we had established in Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's constituency was denotified and later reopened under a different name. This clearly shows that our institutions were closed only for political reasons," he alleged. He warned that when the BJP returns to power, it will conduct a thorough review of the past five years and hold the Congress government accountable for its decisions. (ANI) Delhi's Patiala House court on Friday dismissed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid's regular bail plea in a terror case. His interim bail plea is pending for hearing before the High Court on March 25. Special Judge (NIA) Chander Jit Singh dismissed the bail plea. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had opposed the bail plea on several grounds. His bail plea was pending since September last year. The Delhi High Court had directed the special NIA court to expedite the matter. The Delhi High Court on February 24 directed the Trial Court to expedite its decision on Engineer Rashid's bail plea. On March 10, his plea seeking interim bail/custody parole to attend the parliament was rejected by the trial court. Thereafter he moved to High court. Previously, the trial court had declined to rule on his bail plea, stating that it lacked jurisdiction. It was noted that it is a NIA Designated Court and Engineer Rashid has become an MP, which involves specific designation powers for MPs and MLAs court. Justice Vikas Mahajan had issued the direction after being informed by the high court's registrar that the Supreme Court clarified that the NIA court could hear Rashid's bail plea. The registrar's lawyer had also informed the court that following this clarification, the Delhi High Court passed an administrative order directing that the trial be conducted by the NIA-designated court at Patiala House Court. After the development, Senior Advocate N Hariharan withdrew the bail plea from the Delhi High Court. He pointed out that his regular bail has been pending since September 2024. Rashid had approached the high court earlier, claiming he had no option for relief after the NIA court left his bail application unresolved due to its inability to handle cases involving MPs and MLAs, following his election to the Lok Sabha last year. The same bench had allowed custody parole to Engineer Rashid, the MP from Baramulla, to attend the ongoing Parliament session for two days. (Feb 11 and Feb 13). He was currently lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi, in connection with a terror funding case. Engineer Rashid had moved the High Court after Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh, the special judge assigned to NIA cases, declined to rule on his bail application on December 23. The judge had stated that the court only had the authority to hear miscellaneous applications, not bail petitions. Rashid was arrested in August 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During his incarceration, he filed his nomination for the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail and won by a margin of 2,04,000 votes, defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the suspicious death of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL). On Friday, a BJP delegation, led by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and submitted a memorandum pressing for an independent investigation. The opposition has accused the state government of mishandling the case, alleging bias and inaction in ensuring justice for Negi's family. BJP leaders claimed that Negi was subjected to severe mental stress due to undue pressure from his senior officials regarding financial irregularities in HPPCL. According to reports, he had been missing since March 10, yet despite his family's repeated complaints, the police failed to register an FIR. His body was later found in Govind Sagar Lake on March 18, which led to widespread anger among employees and his relatives. On March 19, HPPCL employees, along with Negi's family, staged protests, holding Managing Director Harikesh Meena and Director Deshraj directly responsible for his death. Protesters alleged that these officials mentally harassed Negi to such an extent that he was left with no choice but to end his life. In its memorandum, BJP accused the state government of acting in a biased manner. Jai Ram Thakur stated that only Director Deshraj was suspended, while Managing Director Harikesh Meena was merely removed from his position instead of facing any serious action. He further pointed out that the FIR in the case was registered only after continuous protests by Negi's family and employees, raising questions about the government's intent. Moreover, the BJP questioned the inconsistencies in the FIR, highlighting that while one official was named directly, the other was only mentioned by designation. This, the party argued, left room for manipulation in the investigation. The state government has assigned a senior IAS officer to investigate the case, but the BJP has rejected this move, calling it a clear conflict of interest. Jai Ram Thakur questioned how an IAS officer could be expected to conduct a fair probe when another IAS officer is among the accused. He emphasized that only a CBI-led investigation would ensure impartiality. Furthermore, the BJP has demanded a broader probe into HPPCL's activities over the past two years, alleging that systemic corruption and financial irregularities could have played a major role in Negi's tragic death. Addressing the media after meeting the Governor, Jai Ram Thakur made it clear that the BJP would not let the issue rest. "This is not just a matter of one officer's death; it reflects the complete failure of the administration. If justice is not served, we will take this fight from the Assembly to the streets," he asserted. Thakur also revealed that when BJP legislators attempted to raise the issue in the Assembly, they were denied an opportunity to speak, leading them to walk out in protest. The party has vowed to continue its agitation both inside and outside the legislative house until a fair and independent investigation is ensured. In addition to demanding justice for Negi, the BJP has also raised broader concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Jai Ram Thakur pointed out that in recent months, incidents of murders, attempted murders, and drug-related crimes have significantly increased, creating a worrying atmosphere in Himachal Pradesh. "The situation in the state has deteriorated drastically. Murders are happening, crime is on the rise, and drug addiction is spreading rapidly. If an honest officer like Vimal Negi can be driven to such a tragic end, it raises serious concerns about the overall governance in Himachal," he remarked. With the BJP stepping up its attack on the state government, the case of Vimal Negi's death is quickly turning into a major political issue. It remains to be seen whether the government will bow to pressure and allow a CBI investigation or continue with its internal inquiry. As the controversy unfolds, the demand for justice from Negi's family and supporters continues to grow louder. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday granted bail to former Unitech Group promoter Ramesh Chandra in a money laundering case. He is 86 years old and suffering from multiple ailments. Ramesh Chandra, arrested in the present case on 04.10.2021, was released on interim bail on 08.08.2022 on medical grounds. Justice Jasmeet Singh granted bail to Ramesh Chandra on furnishing a personal bond of Rs One lakh and a surety bond of like amount. The High Court has imposed certain conditions on Chandra. While granting bail, Justice Jasmeet Singh said, " I am of the view that the petitioner falls within the ambit of "infirm" under the proviso to section 45(1) of PMLA, and thus, he is not required to meet the twin test of section 45(1) of PMLA." The court also considered the delay aspect of the case and said that the present case was registered in 2018, the investigation related to the petitioner is complete, but the trial has yet to begin. "There are 17 accused persons, 66 companies, 121 witnesses and 77,812 pages of documents plus enormous digital data which needs to be analysed in the present case. Thus, there is no likelihood of the trial to be concluded in the near future," Justice Singh observed. The High Court also noted that the petitioner has been released on interim bail since 08.08.2022 on medical grounds, and there are no allegations of his misuse of liberty while on bail. The court also said that as regards the flight risk, adequate restrictions can be imposed upon the petitioner. It was stated that the petitioner is 86 years old and is suffering from multiple ailments. His medical reports indicate a deteriorating condition, including a high risk of a lacunar stroke, repeated dizziness and a history of severe post-COVID-19 complications. It is alleged that between 2006 to 2022, 62 FIRs were registered by Delhi Police and CBI, against promoters of Unitech Group Ramesh Chandra, Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra and their associates under Sections 34, 201, 406, 409, 120B and 420 of IPC and under Sections 7, 7(A), 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of PCA. Most of the said FIRs were recorded based on complaints made by homebuyers who the accused persons cheated. Chandra had allegedly promised the homebuyers that they would get their dream home and investors would get a handsome return on their investment. Induced by this promise, the homebuyers and investors invested huge amounts in the company. These amounts were mutualised and laundered. Based on numerous FIRs, an investigation was taken to trace the proceeds of crime and to investigate possible money laundering under PMLA on 06.06.2018. The role ascribed to the petitioner in the prosecution complaint is that the petitioner was the main Promoter and Chairman of the company. During his tenure, thousands of homebuyers were persuaded to invest their lifelong savings in the company for residential units. However, it is alleged that a significant portion of these funds was misappropriated for non-mandated activities. Based on complaints from aggrieved homebuyers, multiple criminal cases of cheating and fraud were filed against the petitioner. Subsequently, in 2016, the Supreme Court took cognisance of the matter and on 20.01.2020, ordered the removal of the petitioner from the company. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Parliament House on Friday. In a post on X, the Vice President of India said, "In a meeting with Dr S Jaishankar Ji, Hon'ble Union Minister of External Affairs, and Shri Piyush Goyal Ji, Hon'ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, I called on the Hon'ble Vice President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at Parliament House today. #RajyaSabha @DrSJaishankar @PiyushGoyal." https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1903056344208359492 Earlier in the day, after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised the alleged recovery of cash from the residence of a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said that he will get in touch with the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition and find a mechanism for a structured discussion on the issue. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh sought the Chair's response on judicial accountability and reminded him about a pending notice regarding the impeachment of a judge of the Allahabad High Court. "This morning, we read about a shocking case of huge amounts of cash unearthed at the residence of a judge of the Delhi High Court. Earlier, 50 members of Parliament had submitted a notice to the chairman regarding certain remarks that a judge of the Allahabad High Court made. You yourself have repeatedly spoken about the urgency for judicial accountability," Ramesh said in the Rajya Sabha. "I request that you please make some observations on this and give necessary directions to the government to come up with a proposal for increasing judicial accountability," he added. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday lashed out at the BJP as a "cultureless party" which patronised Bombay Boys and whose party member assaulted a woman in the Vidhana Soudha. Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, he said, "The BJP is a cultureless party, and they don't know how to behave in the House. They are goondas, and it is a matter of shame. I have been in the Legislative Assembly for 36 years but have never seen such behaviour." "The CM and the Home Minister have given statements on the honey trap case. The government can take action if someone lodges a complaint. A woman had filed a complaint that a BJP man had assaulted her in Vidhana Soudha, and the case is in the Court. Why did the Bombay Boys from the BJP bring an injunction," he questioned. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day at his Sadashivanagar residence and Bhagamandala helipad in Kodagu, the DCM said, "The honey trap case resembles a hit and run. I had suggested that a case be filed on Thursday itself. I am also demanding a quick investigation and action in this case." Asked if there was no protection for ministers who are subject to honeytrap, he said, "The people who do honeytrap don't come to you simply. They only move when you make moves. What can they do if you don't respond?" Asked about BJP MLA Munirathna's allegation that DK Shivakumar was behind the honeytrap, he said, "The police complaint against him has all the details of what he has done in Vidhana Soudha. The BJP partymen are talking about what happened to R Ashok and Yediyurappa. As you sow, so you reap." Earlier, he hit back at the BJP for raising the issue of the guarantee implementation committee in the Assembly. (ANI) Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday participated in the Indo-Nepal International Trade Fair and Tourism Festival organised by Kanchanpur Udyog Commerce Association at Rangers Ground, Dehradun. According to the press statement, CM Dhami also visited stalls selling local products from India and Nepal. CM Dhami said that this festival will enhance cultural and emotional ties between India and Nepal. "This will also contribute to preserving our rich traditions and passing them on to future generations. There has been a religious, cultural, business, and roti-beti relationship between India and Nepal for centuries," he said. "Whenever Lord Shri Ram and Mata Sita are remembered, then the relations between India and Nepal will also be mentioned," he added. He said that the faith of the Sanatani people of Nepal was also seen in the construction of Lord Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya. CM said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, relations between India and Nepal are getting stronger. "Along with cultural relations, trade relations are also being advanced." He said that there are immense possibilities for tourism in the border areas of Nepal and India. "There are many tourist and religious places from Uttarakhand to Nepal, where a remarkable confluence of faith and natural beauty is seen. The Uttarakhand government is developing modern infrastructure in the border area to facilitate trade between Uttarakhand and Nepal," said the Uttarakhand CM. The Chief Minister said that Nepal is being given top priority under the Neighborhood First policy started under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "Through this policy, economic development is being accelerated in both countries. With the cooperation of the central government, connectivity, trade, culture, defence, and public relations are also being promoted at various levels. The Prime Minister started the bus service between Ayodhya and Janakpur," said the CM. CM Dhami said that both countries have also resolved to produce shared energy through the proposed Pancheshwar Dam Project on the Kali River, which will meet the energy needs of the border areas and strengthen the economies of both countries. The Chief Minister said that under the leadership and guidance of the Prime Minister, the state government is constantly striving to promote trade, infrastructure, and tourism in the border areas. Modern roads, tunnels, and bridges are being constructed in the border areas, and more than 4,500 kilometres of roads have been completed so far. The construction of a motor bridge between India and Nepal at Charchum in Dharchula is also in progress. "This will make the connectivity between the two countries more easy," said CM Dhami. (ANI) BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Friday praised Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting his resolute stance on Article 370 and national security. Speaking to ANI on Friday Jagdambika Pal said, "Just look at Amit Shah's determination while he was making a speech. He said repeatedly that due to Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, a part of India was separated from the country itself. Today, there is a reservation for OBCs in Jammu & Kashmir, 33 per cent reservation for women; Panchayat elections were held, it has become a hub of tourism and today, not even a single bullet has been fired in the Lok Sabha elections..." The BJP MP further noted Shah's commitment to eradicating Naxalism in India and said, "Similarly, he said that we would free this country from Naxalism as it got confined to some districts only and gave a deadline for it as well." Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the BJP-led government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has maintained a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism since coming to power in 2014. Replying to the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Shah said that India's security, development, and sovereignty faced three major challenges over the past four decades -- terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), insurgency in the Northeast, and Left-wing Naxalism. He also emphasised that the Modi government has taken decisive steps to eradicate these threats and ensure national security. "When the Narendra Modi government came to power, many legacy challenges existed. The country's security, development, and sovereignty faced challenges due to three major issues. These challenges hindered the country's development," he said, adding that 92,000 citizens lost their lives due to these security threats. Shah criticised previous governments for failing to take firm action on terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the Modi government was the first to implement a strategic approach to counter cross-border terrorism. "First of all, I will speak about Kashmir. Terrorists used to enter Kashmir from the neighbouring country, they used to execute bomb blasts and murders here. There was not one festival which used to be celebrated without any worry. Central Governments had a flexible attitude. They used to be quiet and were scared of speaking. They were worried about their vote bank. But after PM Modi came to power, we displayed a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism," he said. Highlighting key military actions, he referenced the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 Balakot airstrike, which were India's direct responses to the Uri and Pulwama attacks. "There were attacks even after we came to power -- on Uri and Pulwama. Within 10 days, we responded with surgical and airstrikes. The zero-tolerance policy against terrorism started there," Shah noted. He further said that India has now joined Israel and the United States as nations that firmly protect their soldiers and borders. "In the whole world, there were two nations that were always ready for their soldiers and borders: Israel and America. Narendra Modi added India's name to this list," he added. Shah credited the removal of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, as a historic move that ended separatism in Kashmir. He expressed gratitude to the framers of the Constitution for making Article 370 a temporary provision, which allowed the Modi government to revoke it and integrate J-K fully into India. "We all know Article 370 was the base for separatism in Kashmir...I also want to thank the framers of the Constitution who made 370 temporary. On 5th August 2019, we removed Article 370," he said. Shah also said that elections are now conducted peacefully in Kashmir. "Not a single bullet was fired during the 2024 elections, and there were no complaints of booth rigging. Once, leaders from Delhi would go there to receive the winning certificate while citizens stayed home. Now, 98 per cent of people cast their votes. It was Prime Minister Modi who laid the foundation of democracy in Kashmir for the first time," he said. Shah also expressed gratitude to the state police and paramilitary forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in strengthening India's internal security and border protection. (ANI) Delhi government officials have become "thick-skinned" in the past 10 years, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said on Friday. This comes after MinistDelhier Parvesh Verma ordered the suspension of the Public Works Department (PWD) executive engineer while inspecting drainages in the national capital. During an inspection of roads in Patparganj, the minister found that the drains along NH 9 (Service Lane), also known as NH 24, were in a severely neglected state, with no visible maintenance work being carried out. Criticizing the working style of officials, he said, "In the past 10 years, they have become 'thick-skinned' and indifferent towards their responsibilities. He emphasized that strict monitoring and accountability will now be enforced." "PWD is responsible for maintaining these drains, but the situation on the ground tells a different story. I have ordered the suspension of the engineer accountable for this negligence. There will be no tolerance for inefficiency," said Minister Verma. Later, the minister inspected the roads and drains starting from New Ashok Nagar Metro Station, followed by Chilla Village in Trilokpuri and areas of Patparganj Assembly. He found that the drains were in poor shape, causing inconvenience to residents. Singh directed officials to take immediate corrective measures and ensure proper maintenance to prevent waterlogging and hygiene issues. Expressing his disappointment, the minister said, "Officials are supposed to ensure basic upkeep, yet the condition on the ground is unacceptable. Regular monitoring and swift action are necessary to maintain Delhi's infrastructure." He has issued a stern warning to all senior PWD officials, making it clear that those failing in their responsibilities will face strict disciplinary action. "Delhi deserves world-class roads and infrastructure. Officers must take ownership of their duties. Those who do not comply will be held accountable," he asserted. The PWD has now made it compulsory for all field officials, including junior engineers, assistant engineers, and executive engineers, to conduct daily road inspections and submit reports along with pictures via the PWD e-monitoring app. The department has taken serious note of the fact that officials have failed to report potholes, broken footpaths, encroachments, and other road defects. It has been observed that PWD field engineers are not even using the mandated e-monitoring system--a lapse that will no longer be tolerated. The new enforcement measures include daily field inspections from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, including Saturdays. Mandatory submission of inspection reports with photos on the PWD e-monitoring app and strict action against those failing to comply. The minister has made it clear--this is just the beginning. The PWD will now function with accountability and transparency, or face the consequences. (ANI) Harpal Singh Cheema, the Punjab Finance Minister, addressed the media following the session, highlighting key developments in the state's governance and criticising the opposition's lack of participation. In his remarks, Cheema discussed Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's address to the assembly, in which he outlined the state government's various achievements in the past year. According to Cheema, the Governor's speech focused on Punjab's ongoing development. "The budget session of the Punjab assembly has commenced today. The Governor of Punjab, Gulab Chand Kataria, talked about the achievements of the Punjab government...There was a discussion on it...," said Cheema. However, the session was marred by the Congress party's walkout, with Cheema accusing them of failing to play a constructive opposition role. "Congress party does not want to play the role of constructive opposition, and that's why they always walk out of the session...Congress has no interest in improving the law and order situation of Punjab...," he added. Notably, Congress MLAs, wearing black armbands, attempted to interrupt Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's speech and walked out after shouting slogans against the AAP government. Punjab's Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, and other MLAs also protested against the State government on the issue of farmers' removal from the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri Border and Shambhu Border and other issues. "We will talk on the budget on 26th March, but today we will meet the Governor and talk about the way they (the state government) treated the farmers, 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'," Bajwa told ANI. On Wednesday, Punjab police removed farmers from the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri Border and Shambhu Border, where they were sitting in protest over their various demands, including a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged road construction scam in Mumbai. He called for the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to take charge of the investigation and for a committee of MLAs to be formed to oversee the process. Thackeray claimed to have exposed the scam as far back as January 15, 2023, alleging that the entire tender process for road construction was tainted. "We have demanded that the scam in the construction of roads should be investigated by EOW and a committee of MLAs should also be formed... I also exposed this scam on 15 January 2023 and told that there was a scam in the entire tender of roads...," Thackeray said. He accused the government of making false promises, saying they claimed to level all of Mumbai's roads within two years, but instead, scams were committed, and lies were told. "The government had been saying that all the roads of Mumbai would be levelled in 2 years... lies after lies were told, and scams were committed in this... Our demand is that there should be an investigation by EOW...," said Thackeray. Earlier in January, Aaditya Thackeray slammed the Eknath Shinde-led government for floating new tenders for 400 km of road work, claiming the government was not doing any work on the ground. In the Press conference, Shiv Sena Leader Aaditya Thackeray said earlier, "This government last year floated tenders worth 5000 crores for roads but nothing happened. Now a new tender has been floated. The Rs 6000 crore tender was floated for 400 km of road work. Usually, the work begins in October and ends by June before the beginning of the monsoon. But now, if tenders are given at this moment, when will the work be done." Aaditya Thackeray also questioned, "Did they get the Non-Objection Certificate (NOC) from traffic? Various questions are there. This is a Big scam of BMC," he alleged. (ANI) In pursuant of its sustained efforts to complement enforcement agencies' action to prevent wildlife crimes and facilitate synergised action, premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak has helped the Assam Forest Department deploy a unit of anti-poaching K9 dogs along with a trained handler in rhino-bearing Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary (LBWLS) in Nagaon district of Assam. The deployment of a K9 sniffer dog unit along with the trained handler in LBWLS was put into effect today, as per the logistical support provided by the Assam Forest Department in general and the authority of LBWLS in particular, according to the Aaranyak press statement. The K9 sniffer dog unit of the Belgian Malinois (Female) breed has completed training recently and will be available around the clock to support the forest field staff deployed at Laokhowa Burhachapori WLS, which is a part of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve for the purpose of mounting surveillance and other related activities. As per the statement, the K9 Dog Unit is a key component of the Legal and Advocacy Division of Aaranyak. Its purpose is to prevent wildlife crimes through synergised action among enforcement agencies. Comprising Belgian Malinois dogs and their handlers, the unit has been actively involved in assisting forest and police officials in anti-poaching operations in Assam's other rhino-bearing areas: Kaziranga National Park, Orang National Park, Manas National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Assam cabinet has permitted shops in the state's major cities, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Silchar, to operate 24/7, with the aim of boosting the economy and encouraging trade. Liquor shops and bars in those cities have been exempt from this approval, with them operating at the exact times as before. The decision was made during the cabinet meeting held in Dibrugarh on Thursday. (ANI) A 38-year-old IT engineer, Madhav Tiketi, allegedly killed his 3.5-year-old son in a fit of rage, fueled by suspicions about his wife's character. The accused, who had been unemployed for two months, slit the child's throat and abandoned the body in a deserted area, a senior police official said on Friday. The case came to light when the child's mother filed a missing complaint at Chandannagar police station. Police analysed CCTV footage, which showed Madhav with his son at 2:30 pm on Thursday, but alone by 5:00 pm, purchasing clothes. Tracking his mobile location, police found Madhav at a lodge in Vadgaonsheri, where he was found intoxicated. Upon regaining consciousness, he confessed to the crime, leading police to the crime scene, where the child's blood-soaked body was recovered. DCP (Zone 4) Himmat Jadhav stated that Madhav's growing suspicion about his wife's character led him to doubt his son's paternity, driving him to commit the horrific act. He further said, "At around 2 am on Friday, Swaroopa (mother of the deceased) had given a complaint that her husband, along with her 3.5-year-old son, was missing. Upon investigation, we took the accused in custody from a lodge, and it was revealed that over suspicion of her wife's character, he murdered his child. We have arrested the accused father, recovered the dead body of the son, and sent him to Sassoon Hospital for post-mortem for further investigation." The accused, who is originally from Vishakhapatnam, was arrested after due procedure under BNS Sections 103 (1) and 238 in a case registered at Chandannagar police station of Pune city police. (ANI) Noting that the country will be free of Naxalism in a year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Modi government will neither tolerate terrorism nor terrorists and no one dares to carry out bomb blasts in the country, as happened during the UPA government. The minister, who replied to debate in Rajya Sabha on the working of his ministry, targeted DMK and said some people were using language as a cover to hide their scams and corruption. He said Home Ministry has worked to strengthen the morale of security personnel by establishing strong political will and a robust legislative framework. The Home Minister stated that the security, development, and sovereignty of this country have always been challenged by three major problems - terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, left-wing extremism, and insurgency in the Northeast. He mentioned that these three deep-rooted issues have disrupted the peace of the country for almost four decades, raised questions on the country's security, and hindered the pace of national development. Shah added that due to these three problems, nearly 92,000 citizens of the country had lost their lives over the span of four decades. He further stated that before Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, no coordinated efforts had been made for the complete eradication of these deep-rooted issues. He said that terrorism, Naxalism and extremism are on the verge of ending under Modi government. Home Minister stated that earlier, in Kashmir, terrorists would frequently infiltrate from a neighboring country, carry out bomb blasts and murders, and the attitude of the then central governments towards these incidents was lenient. They would remain silent, afraid to speak out, and were also fearful of losing their vote bank. He mentioned that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism was adopted. He said that the government responded to terror attacks in Uri and Pulwama through surgical and aerial strikes. He further stated that, in the past, only Israel and the United States were the two countries that were always ready to protect their borders and military forces. He said India also does the same now and policy of zero tolerance against terrorism has been initiated. The minister said that the root cause of separatism in Kashmir was Article 370. He mentioned that due to political compulsion and vote bank politics, Article 370 continued for many years. He said that in Jammu and Kashmir, Dogri, Hindi, and Urdu were granted the status of official languages of the state, an anti-corruption bureau was established and all national laws were also adopted in the region. He also mentioned that Formula 4 car racing took place in Srinagar, and that celebration of Krishna Janmashtami was held at Lal Chowk. The Home Minister stated that between 2004 and 2014, there were 7,217 terrorist incidents, but from 2014 to 2024, this number dropped to 2,242. During this period, the total number of deaths decreased by 70%, the number of civilian deaths decreased by 81%, and the causalities of security personnel decreased by 50%. From 2010 to 2014, an average of 2,654 organized stone-pelting incidents occurred every year, but in 2024, not a single such incident occurred. There were 132 organized strikes, but now there are none. In stone-pelting incidents, 112 civilians were killed, and 6,000 were injured, but now stone-pelting itself has stopped. In 2004, there were 1,587 terrorist incidents, while in 2024, this number was reduced to just 85. In 2004, the number of civilian deaths was 733, but in 2024, it was reduced to 26, and the number of security forces' deaths dropped from 331 in 2004 to 31 in 2024. Amit Shah stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved 63 projects worth Rs 80,000 crore for the development of Kashmir in 2015. Out of these, Rs 51,000 crore was spent, and 53 projects have been fully implemented. He mentioned that between 2019 and 2024, 40,000 government jobs were provided, 1.51 lakh OBC children were given self-employment opportunities through the Vishwakarma Yojana, 5,184 youth clubs are working on skill development, and 18,000 youths were provided with their own taxis. He further said that by introducing an attractive industrial policy, Rs 12,000 crore worth of investments have been realized on the ground in Kashmir, and MoUs worth Rs 1,10,000 crore are currently being implemented. Shri Shah highlighted that in the entire 70 years before, only Rs 14,000 crore worth of investment had come to the region, while in the 10 years of PM Modi's leadership, Rs 12,000 crore worth of investment has already started yielding production. Tourism in Kashmir has also restarted, with a record 2.11 crore tourists visiting in 2023. He added that Rs 250 crore has been invested in tourism. He said Jammu and Kashmir has AIIMS, IITs, and IIMs. There were only four medical colleges earlier, but now there are 15, along with 15 new nursing colleges. He said that he wanted to responsibly inform the House that by March 31, 2026, Naxalism will be eradicated from the country. The Union Home Minister stated that between 2004 and 2014, there were 16,463 violent incidents, but in the last ten years, this number has decreased by 53%. He mentioned that from 2004 to 2014, 1,851 security personnel were martyred, but in the past ten years, the number of security personnel killed dropped to 509, a reduction of 73%. The number of civilian deaths decreased from 4,766 to 1,495, which is a 70% reduction. The Union Home Minister stated that from 2014 to 2024, 11,503 kilometers of highways were constructed in Naxal-affected areas. Additionally, 20,000 kilometers of rural roads were built. In the first phase, 2,343 mobile towers were installed, and in the second phase, 2,545 towers were set up. The work of installing 4,000 mobile towers is still ongoing. Shri Shah mentioned that the entire Naxal-affected region will be equipped with mobile connectivity by December 1st. Amit Shah stated that in the last five years, 1,007 bank branches were opened in Naxal-affected areas, and 937 ATMs were launched. Additionally, 5,731 post offices equipped with banking services were established. He mentioned that the Skill Development Scheme reached all 48 districts, and a strong vertical of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was created. 1,143 tribal youths were recruited into the security forces. Six helipads were built to assist in the quick evacuation of injured soldiers to hospitals for rescue and rehabilitation. As a result, Naxalism is gradually shrinking. The Home Minister noted that several prominent Naxal leaders were among those killed, which has significantly weakened their entire movement. Many Naxalites, who had bounties of crores of rupees on their heads, have surrendered. The Union Home Minister stated that the government is on the verge of ending the problems in the Northeast as well. He mentioned that there has been a 70% reduction in violent incidents in the region, a 72% decrease in casualties among security personnel, and an 85% reduction in civilian casualties. After coming to power, their government initiated talks with all armed groups. Since 2019, 12 significant peace agreements have been signed. He listed the agreements as an agreement with NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) in 2020, an agreement with the Bru-Reang community in 2021, the Karbi agreement and agreements with tribal organizations and an inter-state border agreement between Assam and Meghalaya in 2022, agreements with DNLA, UNLF, and ULFA, an inter-state border agreement between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in 2023 along with agreements with Tipra and NLFT, as well as ATTFA in 2024. This series of agreements reflects the government's ongoing efforts to bring peace to the region. Amit Shah stated that the government has significantly strengthened connectivity in the North-East by investing Rs 81,900 crore in the railway sector, Rs 41,500 crore in highways, and Rs 47,000 crore in rural roads. Additionally, 64 new air routes and helicopter routes have been introduced. He emphasized that this has not only reduced the physical distance between Delhi and the North-East but also bridged the emotional gap Amit Shah said that 57 individuals have been declared terrorists and 23 associations have been designated as unlawful organizations. Between 2019 and 2024, the most serious 14 organizations linked to Hurriyat were banned. He mentioned that Hurriyat, which was once used as a mediator for talks with Pakistan, has been dismantled. He further highlighted that the government has banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and conducted raids across 24 states, ensuring that every PFI member was put behind bars. He said, Some people wanted to become Bhindranwala in Punjab, we took the action of putting them in jail in Assam. Amit Shah emphasized that legal measures have been taken under the NIA (National Investigation Agency) against 25 different threats, including left-wing extremism, terrorism in Kashmir, fake Indian currency notes, narco-terror links, Khalistani extremism, radicalization efforts, terror financing, and illegal arms smuggling. He also pointed out that threats such as human trafficking being used against national security, cyber terrorism, misuse of the Explosives Act, and amendments in the Arms Act have been addressed. By bringing all these 25 dimensions under the NIA's jurisdiction, the government has effectively created a comprehensive legal framework to tackle security threats. Amit Shah said that 1,244 new positions have been created in the NIA (National Investigation Agency), 16 new branch offices have been opened, and two new zonal offices have been established. He emphasized that out of 652 cases, not a single one has been declared unjustified by the Supreme Court. Among these, 516 cases have had charge sheets filed, 157 cases have been resolved, and 150 cases have resulted in convictions. This has led to a 95% conviction rate, which is the highest among anti-terror agencies worldwide. Shri Amit Shah further mentioned that NIA has collaborated with DRDO to prepare for threats related to chemical, nuclear, and biological terrorism. Additionally, he highlighted that NIA's international exposure has been expanded through agreements, and a contract has been signed with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to create a new vertical dedicated to counter-terrorism efforts. The minister stated that drugs are a serious problem, but the government cannot fight this battle alone. He emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the government's policy is clear that a person who consumes drugs is a victim of this problem and a person who trades in drugs is a criminal. Amit Shah highlighted that between 2004 and 2014, 25 lakh kilograms of drugs were seized, whereas from 2014 to 2024, the quantity increased to over one crore kilograms. He noted that forensic science has been given significant emphasis in the new criminal laws. He announced that a visit to the forensic science lab will now be mandatory for any crime carrying a sentence of more than 7 years. Under the new laws, strict time limits have been established for the police, prosecution, and judiciary to ensure faster justice. He explained that delays due to repeated adjournments will now be a thing of the past, as neither the defence nor the prosecution will be allowed more than two adjournments. Home Minister said that the government has implemented a four-pronged strategy in the field of forensic science, which includes - strengthening infrastructure, building expert manpower, gaining access to the latest forensic technologies from around the world and promoting research and development. He said the government has adopted a four-pronged strategy in the field of forensic science. This includes strengthening infrastructure, building expertise and manpower, providing access to the latest forensic technology worldwide, and promoting research and development (R&D). He mentioned the establishment of the National Forensic Science University, where PhD-level courses have been introduced in 72 different fields. Currently, there are around 5,137 students enrolled, but in two years, the number will rise to 35,000 as forensic science universities are being established in 14 states. (ANI) Hitting out at DMK over its opposition to the three-language formula, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said no attempt should be made to divide the nation on the basis of language and "some people are using language as a cover to hide their scams and corruption". Amit Shah, who was replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the working of his ministry, said the Tamil Nadu government "does not have the courage" to translate medical and engineering study material into Tamil. "I would like to say something so that those who divide the country in the name of language do not get their agenda. Under the Department of Official Languages, Narendra Modi government has set up Indian Languages Section which will work to enhance the use of all Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Assamese, Bengali, all languages. After December, I will have written correspondence with citizens, CMs, Ministers and MPs in their own language," Amit Shah said. Without naming DMK, he accused it of using language issue to hide scams. "This is a strong reply to those who run their shops in the name of language to hide their corruption...What are they saying? That we oppose languages of the south? How can this be possible?...I come from Guajrat, Nirmala Sitharanan from Tamil Nadu. How can we oppose this? What are you saying?" he said. Amit Shah said when an NDA government comes to power in Tamil Nadu, it will provide medical and engineering course in Tamil. "We have worked for languages...I would like to tell Tamil Nadu Government - we have been saying for two years that you do not have the courage to translate medical and engineering study material into Tamil...You cannot do this. When an NDA government comes to power (in Tamil Nadu), we will provide medical and engineering course in Tamil, in Tamil Nadu," he said. The Home Minister said that Hindi has no competition with any other Indian language and is a friend of all Indian languages. "I would like to tell those who spread poison in the name of language that you like languages from thousands of kilometres away but you do not language of India...I have said this again and again Hindi has no competition with any other Indian language. Hindi is a friend of all Indian languages, all Indian languages strengthen from Hindi and Hindi strengthens from all Indian languages," he said. He also said that the BJP will expose DMK's "wrongdoings" by visiting every village and engaging with the public. There has been a stalemate between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government over the implementation of the three-language formula as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Union Home Minister said that the Inter-State Council operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and works to resolve issues between the center and the states. Between 2004 and 2014, only 11 meetings of the Zonal Council were held, but since 2014, 27 meetings have taken place. The Standing Committee had 14 meetings between 2004 and 2014, but since 2014, 33 meetings have been held. In the past, only 448 issues were resolved in the Zonal Council meetings, but during our government, 1280 issues have been resolved. He said that the Inter-State Council is an important tool in strengthening our federal structure. Amit Shah said that the Vibrant Village Programme is important initiative. There has been migration from villages located in difficult conditions on the country's borders in search of better facilities, and a country whose border villages are empty can never be safe. Earlier, the villages located on the borders were called the "last villages," but due to the new approach of the Modi government, these are now called the "first villages." In the next few years, these villages will also become the first in terms of facilities, and this is the aim of the Vibrant Village Programme. Under this programme, 90 per cent of the funding is from the central government, and 10 per cent from the state government. In the first phase, 455 villages from Arunachal Pradesh, 75 from Himachal Pradesh, 51 from Uttarakhand, 46 from Sikkim, and 35 from Ladakh have been adopted under this programme. The Union Home Minister said that many efforts have been made for border security. He mentioned that "out of the total 12 Land Ports, 11 have been established during our time, and through these Land Ports, trade worth Rs70,959 crore and the movement of over 30 million passengers have taken place". Amit Shah further stated that the government has plans for a total of 26 Land Ports. He said that the Padma Awards have been given to people who were heroes to ordinary citizens and dedicated their entire lives to bringing small changes in society and the country. (ANI) Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora on Friday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national-level campaign on obesity. He also stated that he had urged Health Minister JP Nadda to take measures to control obesity and prevent a potential obesity crisis in India. "First, I thank PM Narendra Modi for initiating a national-level campaign over obesity. Drawing inspiration from that campaign, when discussions were being held on the Health Budget, I urged Health Minister JP Nadda and gave several suggestions to the Govt to control obesity and to ensure that there is no obesity crisis in India", he said to ANI on Friday. Deora underlined the role of sugar-based products and drinks in rising obesity levels. He suggested that increasing taxation on such products through GST or other means could act as a deterrent. "Today, sugar companies sell sugar drinks and sugar products. If we can increase taxation on the same through GST or other taxes, it will become a disincentive for those who buy this product," he said. He also called for a ban on advertisements by sugar companies that target children, citing international examples. "I suggested that ads of sugar companies which are targeting children should be banned across the country. Countries like Singapore have completely banned sugar companies' ads that target children," Deora stated. "In the days to come, I will meet Health Minister JP Nadda, and I am sure that in the drive on obesity that has been initiated by the PM, this will be an important step," he added. Earlier this month while addressing a gathering in Daman and Diu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of obesity and urged people to reduce their consumption of cooking oil by 10 per cent. "The Prime Minister addressed the rising concern of lifestyle diseases, particularly obesity, which has become a significant health threat and referred to a recent report predicting that by 2050, over 440 million Indians will suffer from obesity. This alarming figure indicates that one in every three people could face serious health issues due to obesity, potentially making it a life-threatening condition," PM Modi stated. He urged people to take proactive measures to combat obesity and suggested reducing cooking oil consumption by 10 per cent every month. "The Prime Minister urged everyone to take proactive steps to 'reduce obesity' and emphasized the importance of reducing the consumption of cooking oil by 10 per cent each month, asking people to 'commit to using 10 per cent less oil in their daily cooking,'" PM Modi said. "India is committed to achieving the vision of a developed nation. Only a healthy nation can achieve such a goal," he emphasised. (ANI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha responded to Tejashwi Yadav's criticism of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the national anthem controversy and dismissed Yadav's call for Kumar to retire, alleging that the RJD leader was trying to shift focus from the ongoing ED raids against his parents. "If he (Tejashwi Yadav) has so much love for the national anthem, then he should stop giving tickets to traitors... CM Nitish Kumar has always shown his awareness in the context of the nation. But the fact is that he (Tejashwi Yadav) is raising such issues to divert attention from the ED raid on his parents... These are people doing cheap politics," Sinha said. Sinha also pointed out that when RJD and JD(U) were in an alliance, Yadav had no complaints against Nitish Kumar, but now he was questioning his leadership. "When both (RJD and JD(U)) were in power together, he (Tejashwi Yadav) was finding him (Nitish Kumar) fine... What kind of double politics is this?... The public will decide who is in the interest of Bihar and who is against the interests of Bihar," he added. Earlier on Friday, Tejashwi Yadav condemned Nitish Kumar for allegedly talking and gesturing during the national anthem, calling it an act of disrespect. Speaking to the media, Yadav said, "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar disrespected the national anthem yesterday and being a 'Bihari,' I feel ashamed...The Chief Minister is the leader of the state, and yesterday's incident is very unfortunate." He further demanded an apology from Nitish Kumar, calling it an unprecedented act in Indian politics. "This is the first incident in the history of Indian politics that a Chief Minister has disrespected the national anthem. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar should apologise to the public of the nation. The leaders of BJP only do drama, where are the two deputy CMs of Bihar? Bihar CM Nitish Kumar should retire," Yadav added. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) said that he would be signing a rare earth mineral deal with Ukraine "very shortly." Ahead of signing an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, Trump expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Our country is doing very well. Things are--as you can see--doing quite well," he said. Trump announced that he had signed an executive order to boost the production of critical minerals in the United States. "Moments ago, I signed an executive order to dramatically increase production of critical minerals and rare earths. It's a big thing in this country. We're also signing agreements in various locations to unlock rare earths and minerals, and lots of other things all over the world, but in particular, Ukraine," he said. According to the World Economic Forum, while China may not have the largest reserves of rare earth minerals, it dominates the refining process, making it the world's largest importer of critical minerals, which it processes and supplies globally. The United States, India, and Germany follow China as major importers, while the United States, Chile, Switzerland, and Australia have recorded significant increases in exports of raw, semi-processed, or processed critical minerals. Referring to his recent phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, Trump expressed hope for an end to the ongoing conflict. "We're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia, and one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earth with Ukraine. They have tremendous value in rare earth minerals. We appreciate that. We spoke yesterday with President Putin and President Zelenskyy, and we would love to see this come to an end. I think we're doing pretty well in that regard. Hopefully, we can save thousands of people a week from dying. They're dying so unnecessarily, and I believe we'll get it done. We'll see what happens, but I believe we'll get it done," he said. At a press briefing on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration had "moved beyond the economic minerals deal." Leavitt explained, "It means the minerals deal was that first set of framework that you all saw in that very public meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Trump in the Oval Office. We are now focused on a long-term peace agreement." Earlier, Trump also signed a proclamation honouring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention. "I just want to announce that I signed a proclamation a few moments ago honouring the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention, in which he declared the very well-known, very famous words: 'Give me liberty or give me death,'" he said. (ANI) The Delhi Police Crime Branch has registered an FIR against several visa and passport agents, primarily operating from Punjab and Haryana, following a complaint from the US Embassy, according to an official statement. The case was filed on February 27. In the complaint, a representative of the US Embassy in New Delhi highlighted fraudulent activities by visa agents. The complaint stated that these agents, both known and unknown, were involved in submitting false information in US visa applications and providing fake documents to applicants. The agents allegedly attempted to deceive the US Embassy and the US government to obtain visas through fraudulent means. The complaint further stated, "During the period from May to August 2024, our office conducted relevant investigations and compiled a comprehensive list of individuals linked to multiple IP addresses, suspected to be associated with visa consultants, document vendors (educational certificates, bank documents, and employment certificates), passport delivery addresses, and education consultants." According to the statement, the US Embassy has named more than 30 visa and passport agents, along with passengers who allegedly tried to obtain US visas using fake documents. Specific cases were also highlighted where applicants submitted fraudulent papers. A case has been registered under Sections 318, 336, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. The Delhi Police Crime Branch is now investigating the matter, the statement added. Meanwhile, US federal immigration authorities have detained a Georgetown University researcher studying and teaching on a student visa in Virginia, the United States, Politico reported. The detention comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on student activists accused of opposing US foreign policy, Politico reported, citing court documents. Masked agents arrested Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, outside his home in Arlington's Rosslyn neighbourhood in Virginia on Monday night, his lawyer said in a lawsuit seeking his immediate release. According to the lawsuit, the agents identified themselves as being with the US Department of Homeland Security and informed Suri that the government had revoked his visa. The petition filed for his release stated that he was placed in deportation proceedings under a provision of immigration law that the US government has also invoked to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder who led pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The provision allows the US Secretary of State to deport non-citizens if their presence is deemed a threat to the country's foreign policy. Suri's petition argued that he has no criminal record and has not been charged with any crime, Politico reported. (ANI) In a post on X, he said, "Pleased to welcome Commonwealth Secretary General-Elect and former FM Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey this evening. Shared India's approach to the Commonwealth, voicing the expectation that it would become more purposeful, contemporary, efficient, transparent and reflective of its members' views." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1902767829516185612 Earlier on Thuirsday, Jaishankar held talks with Bolivia's Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda. Following this, Jaishankar stated that the two countries signed Quick Impact Projects to strengthen their partnership. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "A comprehensive discussion on bilateral cooperation with FM Bolivia Celinda Sosa Lunda this afternoon. The recent opening of our new Embassy in La Paz reflects our resolve to deepen the India-Bolivia partnership. Today's signing of an agreement on Quick Impact Projects is another step forward in that direction." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1902708530777592205 Meanwhile, Jaishankar extended India's full backing to Brazil's presidency for a successful and outcome-oriented COP30. This development comes as Jaishankar met with Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, President of COP30Amazonia and former Ambassador of Brazil to India. "Glad to meet Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, President of UN Climate Change COP30 Amazonia and former Ambassador of Brazil to India. Extended India's full support to Brazil's presidency for a successful and outcome-oriented COP30," Jaishankar posted. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1902681795419873707 Jaishankar's assurance underscores India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Brazil, particularly in the realm of climate action. The two nations have a history of cooperation on global issues, having worked together in forums like the G20, BRICS, and the United Nations. (ANI) In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "A comprehensive discussion on bilateral cooperation with FM Bolivia Celinda Sosa Lunda this afternoon. The recent opening of our new Embassy in La Paz reflects our resolve to deepen the India-Bolivia partnership. Today's signing of the agreement on Quick Impact Projects is another step forward in that direction." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1902708530777592205 Earlier in the day, Jaishankar extended India's full backing to Brazil's presidency for a successful and outcome-oriented COP30. This development comes as Jaishankar met with Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, President of COP30Amazonia and former Ambassador of Brazil to India. "Glad to meet Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, President of UN Climate Change COP30 Amazonia and former Ambassador of Brazil to India. Extended India's full support to Brazil's presidency for a successful and outcome-oriented COP30," Jaishankar posted. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1902681795419873707 Jaishankar's assurance underscores India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Brazil, particularly in the realm of climate action. The two nations have a history of cooperation on global issues, having worked together in forums like the G20, BRICS, and the United Nations. As Brazil takes the helm of COP30, India's support is crucial in driving meaningful outcomes on climate change. The meeting between Jaishankar and Lago highlights the growing partnership between India and Brazil, with cooperation extending to areas like trade, energy, and culture. India and Brazil share a strong bilateral partnership, rooted in shared democratic values, a common global vision, and a mutual commitment to fostering economic growth with social inclusion. Their cooperation extends across multiple global platforms, including BRICS, BASIC, the G-20, G-4, IBSA, and the International Solar Alliance. (ANI) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that George Glezmann, who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, was freed. The Taliban kidnapped George Glezmann, 65, while he was visiting Afghanistan. They freed him following negotiations brokered by Trump's special hostage envoy Adam Boehler, Taliban officials and Qatari officials, according to the New York Post reported. Boehler and former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met with Qatar's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson and Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister Majed Al Ansari as well as Taliban official Amir Khan Muttaqi to finalise Glezmann's release earlier on Thursday, as per NYP. Glezmann later left Kabul en route to Doha following weeks of three-party talks. "George Glezmann is free. George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but now he's on his way to being reunited with his wife Aleksandra. Welcome home, George!" Rubio said in a post on X. https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1902730204742595013 Khalilzad said in a post on X that US President Donald Trump prioritised the freedom of Americans and that it was honourable for him to assist Trump in the endeavour. "Today is a good day. We succeeded in obtaining the release of an American citizen, George Glezmann, after two years in detention in Kabul. The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to Donald Trump and the American people. George is on his way home to his family. Donald Trump has made the freedom and homecoming of Americans held abroad a high priority. It is an honour to assist in this important effort." https://x.com/realZalmayMK/status/1902720314989064667 Qatar's foreign ministry has facilitated discussions between the Taliban and the US since former President Joe Biden withdrew American forces and diplomats from Afghanistan in August 2021. As per NYT, Qatar's primary role is to ensure "humanitarian corridors remain open" to and from Afghanistan. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before Congress in 2023 that at least 175 Americans remain stranded in Afghanistan, though he didn't divulge how many were being wrongfully detained by the Taliban. "There are several Americans currently detained in Afghanistan, and we have been pressing the Taliban to return the remains of a deceased American," a State Department spokesperson told NYP. (ANI) As per the MND, out of 18 sorties, 13 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. "18 sortie of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 13 out of 18 sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1902887890671243608 Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan detected 27 sorties of Chinese aircraft, six Chinese vessels and one Chinese balloon until 6 am (local time) on Thursday, a statement by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. As per the MND, out of 27 sorties, 20 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND said, "27 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 out of 27 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. 1 PRC balloon was detected during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1902525504969744539 Earlier in the day, a spokesperson from the United States Department of State heavily criticised China's recent military exercises near Taiwan, calling them "brazen and irresponsible threats," while reaffirming the United States' long-standing support for Taipei (capital city), as reported by Taipei Times. The spokesperson said, "China cannot credibly claim to be a 'force for stability in a turbulent world' while issuing brazen and irresponsible threats toward Taiwan." According to the Taipei Times, the official emphasized that Washington's long-standing commitment to Taiwan would persist as it has for 45 years, and the US "will keep supporting Taiwan in response to China's military, economic, informational, and diplomatic pressure." "Together with our international partners, we strongly advocate for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and oppose any efforts to alter the status quo through force or coercion," the spokesperson added. (ANI) A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump's administration's move to deport a Georgetown University researcher studying and teaching on a student visa, accused of opposing US foreign policy in Israel-Hamas conflict, CNN reported. US federal immigration authorities detained the Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, Badar Khan Suri, outside his home in Arlington's Rosslyn neighbourhood in Virginia on Monday night, his lawyer said in a lawsuit requesting his immediate release. The US district judge has ordered not to remove Badar Khan Suri from the country unless the court issues another ruling. According to the petition filed for Suri's release, he was put in deportation proceedings under the provision of immigration law that the US government has invoked to try to deport Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student and green card holder who led pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The provision enables the US Secretary of State to deport non-citizens if the secretary determines that their presence in the US would threaten the country's foreign policy. His petition said Suri has no criminal record and has not been charged with a crime, Politico reported. In his petition, Suri's lawyer said that Suri is being punished as his wife, who is a US citizen, is of Palestinian heritage and because the government suspects that he and his wife are against the US foreign policy towards Israel. The petition said the couple has "long been doxxed and smeared" on anonymously run, far-right websites due to their support for Palestinian rights. According to the petition, Suri's wife, Mapheze Saleh, has been alleged to have "ties with Hamas" and once worked for Al Jazeera. US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday issued a determination that the visa of Suri should be cancelled for foreign policy reasons. In a post on X, McLaughlin stated, "Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media. Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. The Secretary of State issued a determination on March 15, 2025 that Suri's activities and presence in the United States rendered him deportable under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i)." Suri's detention is the latest in such immigration-related arrests that US President Donald Trump says are just beginning to ramp up. According to Trump, these arrests target "terrorist sympathizers" or people who have "engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity." (ANI) US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard's visit to India highlighted decades strong India-US relationship bolstered by the friendship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, read the statement from the office of DNI. DNI Gabbard recently visited India during her multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific region. During her visit, she held several bilateral engagements, including with PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval. She also attended the Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi. Gabbard's meetings in India focused on intelligence-sharing, defence, counterterrorism, and transnational threats, the statement read. During her remarks at the Raisina Dialogue, Gabbard emphasised the collective effort to drive toward President Trump's goals of a peaceful, free, secure, and prosperous society. "President Trump remains unwavering in his commitment to achieving peace through a strategy rooted in realism and pragmatism," said DNI Gabbard. "Securing peace through strength requires strong leadership with a clear-eyed and realistic understanding of global challenges and opportunities, a commitment to fostering cultural and economic ties that reduce the likelihood of an escalation to conflict, and a dedication to reinforcing mutual interests," she said. Gabbard thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting her to Raisina Dialogue. She noted that the ties between the two nations have been strong for decades. Gabbard said, "I especially want to thank Prime Minister Modi for the invitation, to get together with new friends, to greet old friends here from across the Indo-Pacific region. I leave right after our dialogue here to head back to Washington, DC, but it's been a constructive few days where I've been engaging with our Indian counterparts, working to continue to build up the momentum that was created by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi's joint statement issued in Washington DC after their Oval Office meeting." During her visit to Indo-Pacific region, Gabbard also visited Hawaii, Japan and Thailand where she met with top intelligence officials and diplomats, the statement read. On the return trip to Washington D.C., DNI Gabbard stopped in France to visit U.S. personnel and French leaders for discussions on counterterrorism and other joint efforts. (ANI) The government of Israel unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to end Shin Bet's head, Ronen Bar's term in office, the Israeli PM's Office announced on X on Friday. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office, it was noted that Ronen Bar will conclude his duties on April 10 or when the Israel Security Agency (ISA)'s new director is appointed, whichever comes first. In a post on X, the PMO said, "The Government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to end ISA Director Ronen Bar's term of office. Ronen Bar will conclude his duties on 10 April 2025 or when a permanent ISA Director is appointed - whichever comes first." https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1902885853677928811 As per the Times of Israel, this vote becomes the first time in Israel's history that a government has fired the Shin Bet's leader. The meeting to approve his dismissal lasted some three-and-a-half hours. According to Times of Israel, Ronen Bar did not attend the meeting, however he sent a letter saying that firing him was "entirely tainted by conflicts of interest," and constituted a "fundamentally invalid" attempt to undermine the Shin Bet as it probes Qatar's influence at the Prime Minister's Office. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who was present, again expressed her opposition to the move, Times of Israel reported. Her office had told PM Netanyahu earlier in the day that the government must obtain a recommendation from an advisory committee before weighing Bar's dismissal. CNN reported that PM Netanyahu added, that removing Bar would be necessary for achieving Israel's war goals in Gaza and "preventing the next disaster." It observed that Netanyahu has previously removed both Bar and the head of the Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, from the negotiating team engaging in indirect talks with Hamas regarding the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. CN also reported that the opposition's politicians have criticized Netanyahu's targeting of Bar, claiming it to be politically motivated. (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has given another ultimatum to Ukrainians living in the country by ordering them to legalise their immigration status or leave by September 10, Moscow Times reported quoting a presidential decree published on Thursday. The decree stated that Ukrainians without "legal grounds to stay or reside in Russia" must leave Russia or obtain citizenship within the next six months and 10 days. As reported by The Moscow Times, the orders apply to Ukrainian passport holders from four partially occupied regions -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia claims to have annexed these regions in 2022. The order also applies to the residents of Crimea which Russia claimed to have seized in 2014. Russian authorities have pressurised the Ukrainians of these occupied authorities to take citizenships in recent years. Putin has claimed that the government had "virtually completed" the mass issuance of Russian passports in those regions last year, The Moscow Times reported. Meanwhile, Ukraine have condemned Russia's "passportisation" deeming it to be "illegal and a "gross violation of Ukraine's sovereignty." Western governments have also criticised this move while EU has decided to not recognize the passports as valid travel documents, The Moscow Times reported. Meanwhile, the efforts to reach an agreement on the ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine continue with US President Donald Trump announcing on Wednesday that he had a "very good" one-hour phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump also held talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Moreover, The ceasefire talks are set to begin in Jeddah on Sunday with US expecting Ukraine to support agreements reached during a recent phone conversation between Putin and Trump, according to Trump's Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, TASS Russian News Agency reported. In an interview with Fox News, Witkoff described his discussions with Putin, saying, "I had two meetings with President Putin. The first one was for somewhere close to three and a half hours, and the second one was close to four hours." He continued, "They were both compelling. I thought we accomplished quite a bit, and in the second meeting, we actually really narrowed the issues, certainly from the Russian standpoint, we were immediately in discussions on tangible, granular ways to move forward towards a ceasefire that included what you've heard about today, which is the ceasefire with regard to energy infrastructure from both sides, something they've been trying to put together for quite some time." (ANI) US President Donald Trump said on Friday that people who are caught sabotaging Tesla cars may stand a chance to go to jail for up to twenty years. He made the announcement in a post on Truth Social. In a post onTruth Social, Trump wrote, "People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to twenty years, and that includes the funders. WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!" The statement by Trump comes after US Attorney General Pam Bondi has called the recent violent attacks on Tesla property "nothing short of domestic terrorism" and vowed to investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes. In a statement, Bondi stated, "The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences." "We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes," she added. Bondi's statement came after five Tesla vehicles were damaged when a fire erupted at a Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning. The incident was the latest of such incidents aimed at the electric vehicle company, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, ABC News reported. Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk started serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations have been vandalised and faced protests in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the US Department of Defence is set to brief Elon Musk on plans for a potential war with China, according to a report by The New York Times. The publication said that the access would be a major expansion of Elon Musk's government role and highlight his conflicts of interest. It said that the billionaire chief executive of both SpaceX and Tesla is a leading supplier to the Pentagon and has extensive financial interests in China. Musk was also the largest financial supporter of the US President during the presidential campaign. (ANI) The US Department of Defence is set to brief Elon Musk on plans for a potential war with China, according to a report by The New York Times. The publication said that the access would be a major expansion of Elon Musk's government role and highlight his conflicts of interest. It said that the billionaire chief executive of both SpaceX and Tesla is a leading supplier to the Pentagon and has extensive financial interests in China. Musk was also the largest financial supporter of the US President during the presidential campaign. According to the NYT report, which cited sources, Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will be briefed on Friday by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and top US generals about US plans for a war with China. The top-secret briefing on the China war plan has about 20 to 30 slides and details the United States' plans to fight China if a war-like situation comes up, NYT reported. It includes "various options on what Chinese targets to hit, over what time period." However, Pentagon officials and President Trump denied that the session would be about military plans involving China, calling the report "fake". "China will not even be mentioned or discussed," Trump said in a social media post. "The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential "war with China." How ridiculous?" China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!" Trump said on Truth Social. Pentagon's chief spokesperson Sean Parnell, in a statement to the NYT, said, "The Defence Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting." According to the US publication, Hegseth; Admiral Christopher W Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Admiral. Samuel J. Paparo, the head of the military's Indo-Pacific Command, were set to present Musk with details on the US plan to counter China in the event of military conflict between the two countries. CNN said that Musk's visit comes as the Pentagon, encouraged by DOGE, considers major cuts to the top of the military in an effort to embrace the Trump administration's push to shrink the US government. It further reported that Musk maintains lucrative contracts with the US Defence Department. In October 2024, the US Space Force awarded USD 733 million in launch contracts to Musk's SpaceX. Meanwhile, shares of Tesla on Thursday tumbled 5.6 per cent in trading and are now down 45 per cent from their December peak, giving up 96 per cent of that post-election bump, CNN reported. (ANI) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely to ask Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve the parliament and call for a federal election on Sunday, CBC News reported. This comes within a week after Mark Carney was sworn in as the Prime Minister after Justin Trudeau stepped down from the post. If that happens, then elections are expected to be held on either April 28 or May 4, with the campaign expected to last between 36 and 50 days, the CBC report stated, citing sources. Carney is betting his chances to return to power with a stable government against the backdrop of public opinion polls that have placed his Liberal Party ahead in the contest. Carney told reporters, when asked about the election timing, that Governor General Mary Simon will be the first person to know. "What's clear is that in this time of crisis is that the government needs a strong and clear mandate. We're offering a positive vision for the country, a vision of action," Carney said. According to CBC's Poll Tracker, the Liberals led by Carney are leading with 37.7 per cent, compared to Poilievre's Conservatives who stand just below that, at 37.4 per cent support. Carney took the oath as Canadian PM on March 14 amid the soaring tensions over US President Donald Trump's tariffs and threats against Canada. He succeeded Trudeau after the latter suffered a polling slump for Liberal Party and an internal revolt in the cabinet. In his first remark after taking the oath as PM, Carney said in a post on X, "Today, we're building a government that meets the moment. Canadians expect action -- and that's what this team will deliver. A smaller, experienced cabinet that moves faster, secures our economy, and protects Canada's future," Carney said in a post on X. "Right now, we're building a government that will deliver what our country needs most. We're going to protect Canadians during this crisis and build a stronger economy for the future," Carney said. Carney has been an outspoken proponent of retaliatory tariffs against US and has also rejected Trump's repeated suggestion for Canada to become the 51st US state - stating that "America is not Canada." (ANI) Baloch protestors, who had been demanding to identify the dead bodies of their relatives, forcefully entered the civil hospital in Quetta and took away a number of corpses from the hospital morgue, Dawn reported. The protestors were linked to the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) forced their way to the hospital and took at least five bodies, the hospital officials told Dawn. A number of men and women have gathered outside the Civil Hospital in Quetta and retrieved bodies encased in burial shrouds, and placed them in coffins, several photos and videos emerged on social media of this incident. Additionally, BYC activists has also confirmed that they have taken the bodies, expressing dissatisfaction over the government's actions to stop them from identifying their relatives, Dawn reported. Earlier, Pakistan police had used batons to disperse families gathered outside Quetta's Civil Hospital, resulting in injuries to some women. Last week, Pakistani forces had transferred 23 unidentified bodies to the facility. The police charged the crowd without warning. "A large group of people, including women, children, and elderly, were peacefully gathered to identify the bodies when police suddenly started baton-charging, injuring several women," one eyewitness stated. The situation worsened after reports surfaced that 13 of the unidentified bodies were secretly buried at Quetta's Kasi graveyard late on Tuesday night. Local residents claimed to have seen police and official vehicles quickly bury the bodies before leaving the area, as reported by the Balochistan Post. The covert nature of the burial raised suspicions among families, who feared that their missing loved ones could be among those buried without identification. Following public protests and increasing outrage, authorities allowed some families into the hospital on Wednesday evening, where five bodies were identified and returned to their relatives, the Balochistan Post reported. (ANI) Representative Thinlay Chukki of the Tibet Bureau Geneva attended a side event on the situation of persecuted communities in China, which was organised by the Society for Threatened Peoples as part of the ongoing 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. According to a report by the Central Tibet Administration (CTA), the purpose of the event was to discuss the crimes committed by the Chinese communist government against ethnic and religious minorities. The Tibetan Representative focused on preserving Tibetan identity, culture, and education, highlighting the need to preserve Tibet's distinct identity because there is a genuine risk that it won't last. Tibetan language, culture, and traditions are being eroded daily in Tibet, where Tibetan youngsters are being forcibly removed from their families and sent to boarding schools where Chinese is the main language, according to CTA. The repression of religious freedom was the second issue brought to light. According to the CTA report, Representative Thinlay Chukki voiced serious concerns about the Chinese government's continued suppression of religious freedom in Tibet, including the ban on putting Dalai Lama's portraits on display in Tibetan homes. She also reminded the audience that the 11th Panchen Lama had been missing for 30 years, according to the CTA report. The Chinese government has not yet offered any definitive responses to the international community's repeated requests for information regarding his whereabouts. Social welfare and environmental conservation were the third topic discussed. According to the CTA, Representative Thinlay Chukki expressed grave concerns regarding the Chinese government's massive reservoir construction projects in Tibet. Without consulting the local populations, a considerable number of monks and nuns, farmers, and Tibetan nomads are being forcibly relocated in the process. According to the CTA assessment, these Chinese projects are seriously endangering the survival of Tibetan cultural traditions and way of life in addition to changing Tibet's natural terrain. The Tibet-China conflict stems from Tibet's political status and China's control over the region. Tibet was historically an independent entity but was incorporated into China in 1951 after military occupation. Tibetans, led by the Dalai Lama, have sought greater autonomy and preservation of their culture, religion, and political freedoms. China's government views Tibet as an inseparable part of its territory. The conflict has led to protests, cultural suppression, and ongoing tensions over human rights and autonomy. (ANI) Chinese officials in Xinjiang are making Uyghurs labour throughout Ramadan to keep them from fasting and praying as the Islamic holy month prescribes in the northwest of China, as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA). Last week, videos of Uyghurs engaged in mass forced labour during Ramadan went viral on social media. According to RFA, some worked in the fields, while others did cleaning. Amid China's broader, systematic persecution of Uyghurs and their culture, the RFA report noted that the action is one of several steps taken by authorities to outlaw religious rituals among the approximately 12 million Uyghurs, the most of whom are Muslims, who reside in Xinjiang. During Ramadan, which this year takes place from February 28 to March 29, Muslims are encouraged to fast from sunrise to sunset. According to the RFA report, Muslims are free to do this in the majority of nations. However, in an effort to combat religious fanaticism, Chinese authorities have outlawed fasting during the holy month. They even require people to provide video evidence that they are eating lunch during the day. Additionally, they have prohibited Uyghurs from celebrating other Muslim holidays and from congregating at mosques on Fridays to pray. According to an RFA report, a video depicting Hotan residents working in agricultural fields on the second day of Ramadan was uploaded to Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. According to additional information from a video that was uploaded on the seventh day of Ramadan, all Uyghur homes were required to do communal cleaning. RFA claimed that Chinese officials in Aksu prefecture are making Uyghur citizens work during Ramadan to prevent them from fasting. The Chinese government justifies these actions as measures to combat extremism, but human rights groups describe them as crimes against humanity, including genocide. Additionally, Uyghurs are subjected to intense surveillance, forced labour, and religious repression. Their language and cultural practices are increasingly restricted, and reports of forced sterilizations and family separations have surfaced. (ANI) Tech billionaire Elon Musk slammed the New York Times on Friday in a post on X, hours after US President Donald Trump too questioned them for spreading false information about Musk's visit to the Pentagon. In a post on X, Musk also highlighted that the people who are leaking "maliciously false information" to the New York Times will be found. "The New York Times is pure propaganda. Also, I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found", he wrote. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1902977556329931052 New York Times reported that the US Department of Defence is set to brief Elon Musk on plans for a potential war with China. The publication said that the access would be a major expansion of Elon Musk's government role and highlight his conflicts of interest. It said that the billionaire chief executive of both SpaceX and Tesla is a leading supplier to the Pentagon and has extensive financial interests in China. According to the NYT report, which cited sources, Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will be briefed on Friday by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and top US generals about US plans for a war with China. The top-secret briefing on the China war plan has about 20 to 30 slides and details the United States' plans to fight China if a war-like situation comes up, NYT reported. It includes "various options on what Chinese targets to hit, over what time period." However, Pentagon officials and President Trump denied that the session would be about military plans involving China, calling the report "fake". "China will not even be mentioned or discussed," Trump said in a social media post. "The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential "war with China." How ridiculous?" China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!" Trump said on Truth Social. (ANI) The Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) has strongly condemned the enforced disappearance of Taiib Laghari, a dedicated worker of the 'movement', allegedly abducted by Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, on January 26 of this year. Despite weeks passing since his disappearance, his whereabouts remain unknown, causing distress to his family and sparking outrage among Sindhi nationalists. In a press statement, JSFM described Laghari's abduction as part of a broader pattern of oppression by the Pakistani state against Sindhi activists. "Pakistan continues to forcibly disappear Sindhi activists, journalists, and human rights defenders, using fear and repression to silence those who demand justice and self-determination," the statement read. The movement also highlighted what it described as an economic and environmental attack on Sindh. According to JSFM, the Pakistani government is illegally constructing six canals on the Indus River, diverting water to Punjab and leaving millions of Sindhis without access to water for agriculture and daily survival. "This is a direct threat to Sindh's existence," the group asserted. Earlier, the growing concerns over human rights violations and environmental degradation led to a major protest outside the Pakistan Embassy in London on March 15, 2025. Organized by the World Sindhi Congress (WSC), the demonstration aimed to draw global attention to the illegal canal construction and the plight of forcibly disappeared Sindhi nationalists. JSFM Chairman Sohail Abro attended the protest and delivered a speech condemning Pakistan's actions and demanding justice for victims. "We demand the immediate release of Taiib Laghari and all forcibly disappeared Sindhi activists," said Abro in his statement. "Pakistan must be held accountable for its ongoing policy of enforced disappearances. The illegal construction of canals on the Indus River must be halted, and the Sindhi nation's right to self-determination must be recognized." JSFM has called on international organizations, including the United Nations, the British Parliament, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, to intervene and take immediate action against Pakistan's alleged human rights abuses. "Sindh is under attack--its people are being abducted, and its water is being stolen. The world cannot remain silent while Pakistan continues its crimes against the Sindhi nation," JSFM's statement added. "We will continue our struggle for Sindhudesh until Sindh achieves freedom, justice, and self-determination." The call for global attention and action comes as concerns over human rights violations in Pakistan continue to mount. International watchdogs have previously raised alarms over enforced disappearances in the country, particularly targeting activists, journalists, and political dissidents. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 21 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, have attended a Zayed Humanitarian Day event, held under the theme Society in Zayed's Thought, to celebrate the social and humanitarian legacy of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Organised by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments & Zakat, in cooperation with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi, the event explored Sheikh Zayed's vision for education, community development, and the UAE's role in fostering tolerance and coexistence. Reflecting the aspirations of the UAE's Year of Community, the event also highlighted Sheikh Zayed's values of generosity, tolerance, and coexistence, and legacy of building a leading model for humanitarian work. (ANI/WAM) John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China wrote to the presidents of Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Southern California, according to a report by the Select Committee on CCP (SCCCP). According to SCCCP, the letter questioned their participation in federally supported research and asked for details on each of their rules and procedures pertaining to the enrollment of Chinese national students in advanced STEM programs. According to the SCCCP report, the letter emphasizes the growing threats posed by China's calculated attempts to use American institutions for military and scientific breakthroughs. American schools are easy targets for espionage and intellectual property theft, according to intelligence authorities. Further, prestigious colleges still admit a lot of Chinese nationals to important research programs, putting financial incentives ahead of long-term national security and American students' education in vital subjects. "The Chinese Communist Party has established a well-documented, systematic pipeline to embed researchers in leading US institutions, providing them direct exposure to sensitive technologies with dual-use military applications," said Chairman Moolenaar. "America's student visa system has become a Trojan horse for Beijing, providing unrestricted access to our top research institutions and posing a direct threat to our national security. If left unaddressed, this trend will continue to displace American talent, compromise research integrity, and fuel China's technological ambitions at our expense," as quoted by SCCCP. After completing their doctoral studies, just 25 per cent of Chinese graduate students plan to immigrate to the United States or another Western nation, per Harvard University research. However, the SCCCP report highlighted that 25 per cent of the students plan to return to China right away after graduation, and nearly half only stay in the United States momentarily for post-graduate work before leaving. The SCCCP report reaffirmed that this trend raises serious questions regarding the degree to which Chinese nationals eventually return knowledge to China after becoming experts in highly developed disciplines. The House Select Committee on the CCP will continue to look into how American academic institutions might be supporting the CCP's worldwide aspirations and will look for legislative solutions. (ANI) By Mridul Bhatt The First General Assembly of the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) was successfully organised at the India International Center (IIC). The assembly brought together 120 Buddhist delegates from various Himalayan states across India. This historic gathering was attended by prominent personalities, including Lochen Tulku Rinpoche, the President of IHCNBT; Maling Gombu, the General Secretary; Sonam Wangchuk, a founding member of IHCNBT and Rajiv Kumar, Director of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), along with other distinguished dignitaries. In his keynote address, Lochen Tulku Rinpoche stated, "We have strong feelings to preserve local languages. We have decided to organise Himalayan region conference. His Holiness Dalai Lama advised not only to protect language but also monasteries and transform institutions into learning centers. We must be Buddhists of the 21st century. One must have good knowledge of Buddhism. Everyone should be given the opportunity to learn in this center. We were granted permission from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to recognise Bhoti language." He further highlighted the reincarnation of Dalai Lama and said, "It is very clear that we, Indian Himalayan Buddhists, will accept whatever His Holiness decides about his reincarnation. If he says he will be born in India, then we shall be the happiest people. It is totally up to the Dalai Lama, and it is purely non-political." Rinpoche lamented, "China is a communist country and does not accept religion, so we don''t care about what China thinks about Buddhist practices." Maling Gombu, General Secretary of IHCNBT emphasised on Dalai Lama''s book, Voice for Voiceless and stated, "This book is about the Tibetan cause and how they have been lost to the Chinese. There have been many human rights violations against the Buddhist culture and languages. But the people of Tibet have stood against the violation of human rights." Later on agenda points of the General Assembly were discussed in the conference. Regional Chapters Vice President from Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, North Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh were also present at the assembly. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it has no update on the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC summit. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a weekly media briefing, "I do not have any update to share at this point in time," while answering the potential meeting between PM Modi and Yunus on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has formally requested a bilateral meeting between the two leaders. Speaking to ANI, the Foreign Affairs Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, Md Touhid Hossain, said, "We have made a diplomatic approach to India to hold a bilateral meeting between our two leaders at the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit." The BIMSTEC Summit will take place in Bangkok from April 2 to 4. Under Thailand's chairmanship, BIMSTEC aims to achieve a "Prosperous, Resilient, and Open" region, known as "PRO BIMSTEC," by 2030. The BIMSTEC summit will bring together leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. While PM Modi and Yunus are expected to attend, the likelihood of a formal meeting between them remains uncertain. Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained lately, with issues like border disputes, water sharing, and trade agreements. Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28. Earlier in February, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Hossain on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference in Oman. Informing about his meeting, Jaishankar said that the talks were focused on the bilateral relationship between the two countries and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). "Met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Conversation was focused on our bilateral relationship, as also on (BIMSTEC)," Jaishankar wrote on X. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also issued a statement stating that the two sides discussed various bilateral issues of mutual concern and interests. Recalling their last meeting on the sidelines of UNGA in September 2024, both noted that since then, the two countries have participated in various bilateral engagements - Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and India at the level of Foreign Secretaries were conducted in Dhaka on 9th December 2024, Energy Adviser of Bangladesh participated at the India Energy Week events in New Delhi on 10-11 February 2025, among others, the statement said. Both sides also noted that meetings at the level of Directors General of Border Guarding Forces of the two countries are scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 18-20. They hoped that various border-related issues would be discussed and resolved during the meeting, the statement said. India and Bangladesh recognized the challenges the two neighbours are facing in terms of bilateral relations and discussed the necessity to work together to address those, the statement said. Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser emphasised the importance of initiating the discussion for renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, the statement said. He also highlighted the importance of holding the meeting of the SAARC Standing Committee and requested consideration of the Government of India in this regard. (ANI) In a historic resolution passed during its First General Assembly, the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) has unanimously appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to confer the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, on 14th Dalai Lama. The council acknowledged his unparalleled contributions to preserving and promoting the cultural, religious, and philosophical heritage of the Indian Himalayan region. The resolution was adopted at an event in New Delhi, where the council emphasised the strong cultural and spiritual ties shared between the Indian Himalayan people and the Dalai Lama. The IHCNBT highlighted the Dalai Lama's lifelong dedication to fostering human values and interfaith harmony, preserving Tibetan culture and environment, and reviving India's ancient Nalanda Buddhist traditions. The resolution underscores the deep respect and admiration that the Indian Himalayan communities hold for the Dalai Lama. It acknowledges his contributions in promoting Buddhist teachings, strengthening India's historical ties with Tibet, and advocating for peace and non-violence globally. The demand for the Bharat Ratna comes shortly after the release of the Dalai Lama's latest book, "Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People," on March 10, 2025. In the book, he reaffirmed India's significance in shaping Tibetan Buddhism and its traditions, crediting India as the land of the noble ones (Aryavarta). Alongside the Bharat Ratna appeal, the IHCNBT also passed two key resolutions regarding the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution. The council reaffirmed that the recognition of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation is a sacred religious process deeply rooted in Nalanda Buddhist traditions. It declared that no government or political entity has the authority to interfere in this process, emphasising that the Gaden Phodrang Institution is the sole authority on the matter. Additionally, the council strongly opposed any external interference in selecting the next Dalai Lama. It resolved that if any government or organization attempts to politically appoint a successor, such a move would be rejected by the Himalayan Buddhist communities. The appeal for the Bharat Ratna recognizes the Dalai Lama's role as a global ambassador of peace and India's spiritual heritage. With this resolution, the IHCNBT has called upon the Indian government to honour his legacy and reaffirm India's commitment to upholding its ancient Buddhist traditions If granted, the Bharat Ratna would mark a historic recognition of the Dalai Lama's contributions, further strengthening India's deep-rooted spiritual and cultural connections with the Himalayan Buddhist communities. (ANI) India and China are making significant strides in their bilateral relations, with constructive engagements taking place at various levels. Speaking at the weekly media briefing on Friday, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said that the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan marked a crucial turning point, followed by productive discussions between Indian Foreign Secretary and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister. "Since we had a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi in Kazan. Since then, we have had constructive engagement at the levels of EAM, NSA and the Foreign Secretary also travelled to China in January, where he met his counterpart...Conversations and dialogues have been going on and they have been moving forward in the right direction...Several in principal approvals and understanding have been reached and hopefully, they will go forward in the days ahead," said Jaiswal. Notably, both leaders met on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23, 2024. One major breakthrough is the agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025, a significant pilgrimage for Hindus. While details are still being worked out, this development is a positive step in normalizing relations between the two nations. "It has been agreed that the Kailash Mansarovar will start in 2025, but how the yatra will start, and other talks are still going on...," said Jaiswal. Additionally, India and China have agreed on six key points to improve their relationship, including Restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Tibet, China; Cooperating on trans-border rivers by sharing data and best practices for managing shared water resources. The two countries also agreed to resume Nathula border trade by re-establishing trade relations between the two nations and promoting cross-border exchanges by encouraging people-to-people ties through cultural, educational, and tourism initiatives. They also agreed to strengthen border management by enhancing cooperation and communication to maintain peace and stability along the border and advancing bilateral relations by fostering a stable, predictable, and amicable relationship between India and China. India is also engaging with Peru to finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with the 8th round of negotiations slated to take place soon. "I understand that this negotiation was launched in 2017, and since then, we had 7 rounds of negotiations. The two sides are in touch, and the 8th round of negotiations will also happen...," said Jaiswal. Peru's Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer on Monday emphasised the importance of improving logistics between India and Peru to strengthen their economic ties. He envisioned the construction of a naval and aerial hub, incorporating two massive ports, to facilitate smoother trade and commerce. "We need better logistics... construction of naval and aerial hub encompassing two huge ports... We hope that India soon touches the Peruvian soil in our airports...," said Schialer, who was here to attend Raisina Dialogues 2025. The India-Peru Free Trade Agreement, currently under negotiation, aims to boost bilateral trade and investment. The agreement will cover trade in goods and services, investment, and other areas of cooperation. Both countries have made significant progress in the negotiations, with the seventh round of talks concluding in April 2024.During a recent discussion on the India-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Peru's Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer stressed the need for better logistics infrastructure to enhance trade between the two countries. On the specifics of the India-Peru FTA, Schialer noted that India is Peru's third or fourth most important trading partner. He remarked that the FTA would send a "strong signal" to businesses in both countries to work more closely together. Schialer expressed his hope that the agreement could be signed by the end of the year, opening the door to greater trade and commercial exchanges. Both countries have mutually agreed to set aside sensitive sectors like textiles to avoid hindering progress in other areas, with plans to address these sectors later for mutual benefit. India and Peru have a long history of friendly relations, dating back to 1963. Their bilateral trade has grown significantly, from USD 66 million in 2003 to USD 3.68 billion in 2023. With the proposed free trade agreement, both nations are poised to explore new avenues for economic collaboration and mutual growth. Schialer also highlighted the significance of the Global South, emphasizing the need for concrete measures and realistic approaches to foster cooperation. He said that by focusing on tangible outcomes, nations can strengthen their ties in areas such as trade, investment, and culture. (ANI) Taiwanese youth brews cross-Strait bonds through tea, rural revitalization Xinhua) 10:02, March 21, 2025 HANGZHOU, March 20 (Xinhua) -- As spring breezes carry the aroma of tea through the misty valleys of Jingshan in Hangzhou, the capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Yu Chi-Hsuan is busy planning a tea harvesting tour for tourists ahead of the Qingming Festival, which falls on April 4 this year. In the tea fields of Jingshan, home to the famed Jingshan tea that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the 36-year-old from China's Taiwan region, now a cultural tourism practitioner rooted in Zhejiang, is brewing up a story of cross-Strait connections. Born in Taipei to Hakka parents, Yu grew up hearing stories of her ancestral ties to Meixian in south China's Guangdong Province, where her grandfather's ancestors lived. At the age of 11, she traveled to the Matsu Islands to take part in cultural exchanges with people from the Chinese mainland, which planted the seeds for her later deep bond with the mainland. While studying in Japan, Yu met her life partner, who is a native of Zhejiang Province. Despite their initial plans to settle abroad, Yu clung to a dream. "I have always hoped to have an opportunity to settle down in the mainland," she said. That opportunity came in 2018 when a recruitment notice from Hangzhou's Yuhang District, seeking graduates from top global universities, redirected her trajectory. Yu returned to China in 2019 and set her sights on Jingshan, which has a deep connection to the Japanese tea ceremony. "When I studied a course on Japanese tea ceremony in college, I discovered that its origins traced back to a Zen Buddhist temple in Jingshan," Yu recalled. While in Japan, Yu participated in Kyoto's World Heritage tourism planning, and she boasts expertise in Taiwan's award-winning cultural design projects. Delving into "The Classic of Tea," the first known monograph on tea in the world, Yu found striking parallels between the Jingshan tea ceremony, a UNESCO-listed intangible heritage, and the Hakka Leicha (pounded tea) from her childhood. "I realized that Chinese tea cultures share the same roots," she said. "In developing the Song Dynasty-style tea whisking experience course in Jingshan, memories of my grandfather preparing a bowl of tea for me when I was young came rushing back." She then set out to promote the rich heritage of Chinese tea culture. Within two years, she and her team created a cultural tourism icon featuring Tang Dynasty scholar Lu Yu, also known as the Sage of Tea, and introduced a new Chinese-style tea beverage brand "Lu Yu's Tea." In 2023, Yu expanded her work to the rural guesthouse industry, transforming vacant farmhouses into a cluster of homestays that blend ancient Liangzhu heritage and Song culture with modern designs. Her project, which preserves the charm of the original townscape while upgrading facilities, has won multiple provincial tourism awards and created economic opportunities for local villagers. "Rural revitalization isn't just about renovating houses. It's about letting culture take root and ensuring that local communities benefit," Yu told Xinhua. She likens Zhejiang's villages to her grandma's handmade "eight-treasure rice pudding" -- traditional yet innovative, inclusive and full of human warmth. Visitors from Taiwan can immerse themselves in intangible cultural heritage experiences like crafting paper umbrellas on ancient streets, witnessing the fusion of agriculture and smart technology at digital farms, or seeing auditoriums at some local primary schools renovated into art hubs. "Every experience here is full of surprises," she said. "I hope more Taiwanese friends will come here to see, feel and experience its magic." Now a familiar figure in cross-Strait cultural exchanges, Yu has shared her life and work in nearly a hundred activities, always beginning with the characteristic introduction: "I am Yu from China's Taiwan, a new citizen of Hangzhou. Destiny has brought me here, and I share the same surname as Yuhang." She believes that Taiwan's young people should not be bystanders; instead, they should actively engage in the mainland's rapid development. "The vast mainland can accommodate the dream of Taiwan's young people, and the Taiwan Strait can not block compatriots on both sides from sharing the dividends of development," she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BIMSTEC leaders are set to adopt a declaration and BIMSTEC Vision 2030 at the upcoming Summit to be held in the first week of April in Bangkok, the organization's Secretary General said on Friday. "The Summit, which is just 10 days away, will be an important Summit. It's the first in-person Summit after the Kathmandu Summit in 2018. The Summit in Colombo was virtual Summit. Apart from adopting a declaration in the Summit, the leaders are also going to adapt BIMSTEC vision 2030 that will pave the roadmap and road for future cooperation among the BIMSTEC member states", Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, said in an exclusive interview with ANI. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) brings together seven countries of South and Southeast Asia for multi-faceted cooperation. "Our charter came into force last year in May. Now our leaders are going to adapt what we call rules of procedures for our organization. So that will be very important decisions by our leaders. Similarly, we had an eminent person group last year, and they have submitted their reports to the foreign ministers. Now our leaders are going to adapt that report. Here I would like to mention that we have already started implementing that report even before our leaders have adopted it", he said. The Secretary-General said that there would be a signing ceremony for some memorandums of understanding between BIMSTEC and its partners. "We are expecting a ceremony to sign the agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation. There is also a plan for the virtual inauguration of BIMSTEC Energy Centre, which has already been set up and is going to be operational soon", Pandey said. The BIMSTEC is an organization of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, housing 1.73 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of USD 5.2 trillion. The BIMSTEC member states - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand - are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal. "The global economic challenges do impact all our member states, and our member states take steps to deal with those challenges. However, they believe that the region can help them in dealing with those challenges in their own way. BIMSTEC has a very comprehensive agenda. We have 15 sectors and sub-sectors for cooperation on our agenda. They cover most of the sustainable development goals", the Secretary-General said. "If we are able to expand cooperation under our various agenda items, it will help our member states realize their sustainable development goals and directly and indirectly, it will enable to deal with the challenges that they face, that their economic challenges and social challenges", he said. The Secretary General described India's role in BIMSTEC as very important to boost the regional cooperation. "India, together with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand, was a founding member of BIMSTEC. It has continued to play an important role in shaping the agenda and the nature of cooperation within BIMSTEC and other member states. The way we have structured our cooperation, each member state has been given the responsibility to lead cooperation in one or more than one sector. For example, Bangladesh has been given the responsibility to lead regional cooperation in trade, investment, development and blue economy whereas India has the responsibility to lead cooperation in sectors like security, disaster management and energy", he said. "Both disaster management and energy, India has taken the initiative, for example, of setting up the centres of excellence. There is a BIMSTEC Centre for weather and climate which assists our member states in climate and weather forecasts. BIMSTEC Energy Centre is being set up to promote collaboration in the Energy sector", Pandey said. "We are also working towards inter-connection of our electricity grids, which will contribute to energy security and green transition of our member states. India, working together with other member states, has been very supportive of BIMSTEC. I would like to mention two more initiatives of India, In 2016 when India hosted BRICS Summit, it had invited BIMSTEC leaders for a retreat which gave a new momentum to regional cooperation," he said. "In 2022, Prime Minister Modi had announced a grant of one dollar million for BIMSTEC and it has helped us strengthening the institutional framework of BIMSTEC. So, India, as I said, together with other members, has been trying to strengthen BIMSTEC because it believes regional cooperation through BIMSTEC to be helpful for our member states", he said. The Summit has given the opportunity for the leaders to hold bilateral meetings. "The Secretariate is not directly or indirectly involved in the meetings which our leaders will have on a bilateral basis. So, we are not aware of what our leaders are planning to do on a bilateral basis with other leaders. However, the Summit gives an opportunity for leaders to have conversations and express their collective commitment to BIMSTEC. So we are hoping that all our leaders will be their political commitment strengthening BIMSTEC at the Summit and that we have been looking forward", he said. "Strengthening intraregional trade, strengthening security cooperation, strengthening connectivity has been on the BIMSTEC agenda from the very beginning, and we have been able to make progress in all three sectors. In the connectivity sector, we have adopted a master plan for connectivity. There is agreement among the member states to take initiatives to complete the projects within their own territories in order to enhance connectivity with other member states", he said. "In trade, we have already signed a framework agreement for FTA. We are also going to focus on promoting other areas of interaction, like business-to-business interaction and more meetings between our business leaders. We are looking at the completion of negotiations for free trade, trade in services, and investments. All these measures will help all the countries enhance intraregional trade", Pandey said. "Naturally the trade between Bangladesh and India will also get a positive momentum by all these measures. Our effort has been to encourage all our member states to trade more with each other. So directly or indirectly, what we are trying to do through BIMSTEC will help our member states to enhance intraregional trade," he said. (ANI) Amid tariff concerns, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that India and the US are making significant strides in their bilateral trade negotiations, with the aim of expanding trade, enhancing market access, and reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers. In a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the two governments are actively working to build a framework for the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which will be a multisector agreement beneficial to both nations. "India and the US are in the process of taking bilateral trade negotiations forward. The two governments are actively working to build a framework for the BTA, which would aim to expand trade, enhance market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers...," said Jaiswal signalling a possible breakthrough in ongoing negotiations. This development follows the 14th Ministerial-level meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF), which Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai co-chaired. The TPF has been instrumental in forging robust bilateral trade ties and enhancing the two countries' overall economic relationship. The Indian government remains engaged with the US administration at various levels to ensure a mutually beneficial agreement. With the BTA, India and the US are poised to take their trade relationship to the next level, fostering growth, innovation, and cooperation between the two nations. "Govt of India remains engaged with the US administration at various levels to arrive at a mutually beneficial multisector bilateral trade agreement," he added. The US-India trade relationship has been growing steadily, with annual bilateral trade in goods and services reaching around USD 200 billion. However, there is still significant potential for growth, and the BTA aims to tap into this potential. The BTA's key areas of focus include reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, enhancing market access, expanding trade, and promoting cooperation in critical sectors. Notably, the US government issued a memorandum on February 13, emphasising the need for reciprocal trade arrangements with its international partners. The memorandum tasks the US Commerce Secretary and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) with investigating potential harm caused to American interests by non-reciprocal trade agreements. Tariffs, a key aspect of international trade, refer to import duties imposed by governments on foreign goods entering the country. These duties are paid by companies importing goods, and their revenue goes to the government. Meanwhile, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in February 2025, both sides expressed interest in negotiating a mutually beneficial, multi-sector BTA. The MEA spokesperson also mentioned Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal's recent visit to the US from 3-7 March, during which time he met with his US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, and his US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, to advance discussions on the agreement. His visit to the US followed US President Donald Trump and PM Modi's plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025. A key aspect of the BTA is its focus on supply chain integration between India and the US. The agreement could pave the way for increased trade in goods and services by reducing barriers and increasing market access, benefiting both economies. While India has trade agreements with over 50 countries, including the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement and the South Asia Free Trade Agreement, a BTA with the US could have significant implications for India's economy. As negotiations progress, India will likely push for greater market access for its goods and services, while the US may seek increased agricultural exports to India. The outcome of these negotiations will be closely watched, as it could set the tone for India-US trade relations in the years to come. US President Donald Trump had earlier targeted India, saying "they have the highest tariffs" and "it is a hard place to do business". In February, US President Donald Trump announced that he would soon impose reciprocal tariffs on countries like India and China, asserting that the United States would charge the same tariffs these nations impose on American goods. Trump said, "We will soon impose reciprocal tariffs -- they charge us, we charge them. Whatever a company or a country, such as India or China, charges, we want to be fair; hence, reciprocal." He added, "We have never done that. We were getting ready to do it until Covid hit." Trump also specifically targeted India's tariffs on automobile imports, saying, "India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100 per cent." While addressing a joint session of the US Congress, Trump said that the reciprocal tax will kick in on April 2. He had said that the US has been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on earth and vowed not to "let that happen any longer." He also discussed the tariffs imposed by the European Union, China, Brazil, and Mexico and announced that the US would impose tariffs on other nations based on their actions toward the US. Further, the MEA spokesperson also discussed Tulsi Gabbard, US Intelligence Chief, who recently met with Indian officials, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. He said that the meetings focused on strengthening security and defence cooperation between India and the US. During the discussions, the Indian side expressed concerns about anti-India activities in the US, particularly in Washington. "She met with the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and they discussed security and defence cooperation. She also met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. During the discussions, the Indian side expressed concerns about anti-India activities in the US, particularly in Washington. The Indian officials conveyed their expectation that the US would take necessary actions to address these concerns," said Jaiswal. Gabbard's visit to India was seen as a significant step in enhancing bilateral ties between the two nations. Both countries are committed to combating terrorism and enhancing maritime and cyber security cooperation. The meetings between Gabbard and Indian officials demonstrated the shared commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership. (ANI) India and Canada are looking to rebuild their strained relationship, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating that the downturn in ties was caused by Canada's leniency towards extremist and secessionist elements. In a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday expressed hope that the two nations can reestablish their relationship based on mutual trust and sensitivity. "The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity," said Jaiswal. The relationship between India and Canada has been complex. Both countries share historical ties and cooperate in various areas, such as trade, education, and technology. However, recent years have seen tensions rise due to Canada's alleged support of Khalistani separatists and India's concerns over the country's handling of Sikh extremism. Notably, the ties between India and Canada have been strained after former Canada PM Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been keeping a close eye on two separate cases involving Indian nationals abroad. Firstly, Ranjani Srinivasan, who recently departed from the United States and is believed to have gone to Canada, hasn't reached out to the Indian consulate or embassy for assistance. The MEA only learned about her departure through media reports. "We are not aware of her getting in touch with our consulate or our embassy for any help. We only came to know of her departure from the United States through media reports, and through the media reports, we understand that she has gone to Canada...," said Jaiswal. In another case, Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri was detained in the US over alleged ties to Hamas. A US judge has temporarily halted his deportation. According to MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, neither the US government nor Suri has approached the Indian embassy for help. The MEA is relying on media reports to stay updated on Suri's situation. "We are given to understand through media reports that this individual has been detained. Neither the US Govt nor the individual has approached us or the Embassy...," said the MEA spokesperson. Notably, US federal immigration authorities detained the Indian national and postdoctoral fellow, Badar Khan Suri, outside his home in Arlington's Rosslyn neighbourhood in Virginia on Monday night, his lawyer said in a lawsuit requesting his immediate release. The US district judge has ordered not to remove Badar Khan Suri from the country unless the court issues another ruling. (ANI) A groundbreaking partnership has been formed between the Canadian Hindu Advocacy (CoHNA) and B'nai Brith Canada, the country's oldest human rights organization, to combat the rising display of Nazi symbols of hate. The initiative aims to promote awareness and understanding, while also advocating for accurate terminology to differentiate between the sacred Swastika and the hateful Hakenkreuz. https://x.com/CoHNACanada/status/1902909296138129889 Sharing a post on X, CoHNA Canada wrote, "On an initiative that asks for action against the alarming rise of Nazi symbols of hate, with sensitivity for all involved! Specifically, we appreciate @bnaibrithcanada for their usage of the CORRECT term--Hakenkreuz--to describe the Nazi symbol, rather than the popular but INACCURATE term of "Swastika." According to Richard Robertson, Director of Research and Advocacy at B'nai Brise Canada, the Swastika has been wrongly associated with the Nazi Reich. "These faiths' sacred symbol (the Swastika) has been wrongfully associated with the Nazi Reich. We must not allow the continued conflation of this symbol of peace with an icon of hate," Robertson explained. Robertson emphasised that the misrepresentation of the Swastika is a historical injustice. "It is a historical injustice that the meaning of the Swastika has been wrongfully maligned by reference to the Nazis," he said. "With our petition, B'nai Brith Canada aims not only to protect vulnerable communities from hate but also to help the public differentiate between the sacred Swastika and vile Nazi iconography," he added. According to the post, CoHNA is very pleased to see this differentiation, which validates the work and message of our Swastika Education and Awareness Campaign, which kicked off in 2020 to drive home this precise difference between the sacred Swastika and Hitler's hateful Hakenkreuz. This is how advocacy works. Further, the post added that they look forward to 'continuing to grow our partnership ' with B'nai Brith, adding that they combat the growing hate and promote understanding and mutual respect through accurate terminology and action. Organizations representing Buddhist, Hindu and Jain Canadians have endorsed B'nai Brith Canada's recent call for the Federal Government to ban the public display of Nazi symbols, including the Nazi hooked cross (Hakenkreuz). "We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to pass legislation banning, with exceptions for certain educational and artistic purposes, the public display of Nazi symbols and iconography, including the Nazi hooked cross (Hakenkreuz)," the petition said. "Ban all Nazi symbols and iconography," it added. (ANI) (ANI) The Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) has issued a resolute statement affirming their unwavering respect for the reincarnation process of the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, emphasizing that it should remain free from any external interference. The statement came during the inaugural general assembly of the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) at the India International Center (IIC). IHCNBT emphasized that the recognition of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation is a deeply religious and cultural matter, emphasizing that it must remain a sacred process free from external interference. Lochen Tulku Rinpoche, the President of IHCNBT, highlighted the importance of respecting the wishes and decisions of the Dalai Lama regarding his future reincarnation. He stated, "It is very clear that we, Indian Himalayan Buddhists, will accept whatever Dalai Lama decides about his reincarnation. If he says he will be born in India, then we shall be the happiest people. It is totally up to the Dalai Lama, and it is purely non-political." This statement comes amid heightened discussions about the future of the Dalai Lama's lineage, especially following the release of Dalai Lama's new book, Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People, which was launched on March 10. In the book, the Dalai Lama reaffirms the deep cultural, spiritual, and historical ties between Tibet and India, stating that Tibetans have regarded India as "the land of the noble ones" (Aryavarta) since the seventh century." He highlights the significant contributions of India to Tibetan culture, philosophy, astrology, medicine, and more. The Indian National Sangha Council also joined in supporting the Dalai Lama's institution and reiterated the deep reverence that Himalayan Buddhists have for the Dalai Lama's teachings and his role in the spiritual leadership of the Tibetan people. In their statement, they declared that the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution and his reincarnation are highly cherished aspirations for all Himalayan Buddhists. According to the resolution, the methods and traditions for recognizing the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are deeply rooted in the religious and cultural practices of Nalanda Tibetan Buddhism. This system of identifying reincarnated spiritual leaders is a distinctive religious practice within Nalanda Buddhism, tied to the philosophy of life after death. No individual or government has the right to interfere in this process. It must be carried out according to the duties entrusted by the Dalai Lama. The sole authority on recognizing the Dalai Lama's reincarnation lies with the Gaden Phodrang Institution, and no external authority or government should interfere with this sacred religious procedure. (ANI) Christians (2.4 billion) and Hindus (1.2 billion) are considered minorities in Pakistan, constituting only over 3 per cent of the country's total population, and they endure severe persecution. https://x.com/JavedBeigh/status/1903022277542748580 Hindus and Christians in Pakistan are subjected to ongoing violence, harassment, forced conversions, kidnappings, and even murders, according to a post published on X by Kashmiri activist Javed Beigh. Places of worship, such as Christian churches and Hindu temples, are regularly damaged or defaced, and young girls from these faiths are frequently abducted and forced into marriage. The post claims that Dalit Christians in Punjab and Dalit and Adivasi Hindus in Sindh are frequently forced into menial occupations like manual scavenging due to long-standing caste prejudice. The international Christian community is mainly silent about these grave human rights abuses. According to the post, none of the 157 nations with a majority of Christians in the world, including Brazil, the United States, and Russia, have publicly questioned Pakistan's treatment of its Christian minority. According to Javed Beigh's tweet, there hasn't been much uproar in support of persecuted Christians in Pakistan, even in India, where there are sizable Christian populations in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Northeast. India's ambassador to the UN, Javed Beigh, recently spoke before the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, to draw attention to the plight of Pakistan's Christian and Hindu minorities. "It is symbolically important to raise the issue of the plight of Hindu and Christian religious minorities in a Muslim-majority nation like Pakistan by an Indian Muslim because most Muslims of the world hypocritically remain silent about the misery, humiliation and torment that non-Muslim minorities like Hindus and Christians face in Muslim majority countries or for that matter the oppression that Shia Muslim sectarian minority faces in most of the Muslim majority countries" as quoted in the post. "It is ironic that even as the global Muslim community is very vocal about Palestine, it doesn't want to speak about Muslims facing oppression from fellow Muslims like Shias and Baloch or the plight of non-Muslim minorities living in Muslim-majority countries", stated the post. (ANI) Paankm, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, has condemned the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of Beebagr Baloch and his brother Hammal Baloch, who is being held at Bijligar Tana, Quetta, and Ilyas Baloch, who is now being imprisoned at Huda Jail, Quetta. According to the post that Paank put on X, all three were taken by force by Pakistani security personnel without following the proper legal procedures, and they are currently being charged with false accusations that are intended to silence Baloch. The systematic use of false accusations and enforced disappearances against Baloch activists is a flagrant breach of international human rights rules, which include the right to a fair trial and prohibitions against arbitrary detention. "The ongoing repression in Balochistan by the Pakistani state is indicative of a larger strategy of intimidation and suppression of political dissent," the post said. Paank calls for Ilyas Baloch, Beebagr Baloch, and Hammal Baloch to be released immediately. "We call on human rights groups, such as the United Nations and Amnesty International, to take immediate note of this injustice and put pressure on Pakistani authorities to stop their campaign of wrongful detentions and enforced disappearances in Balochistan", the post said. Earlier, Paank's Media Coordinator, Jamal Baloch, made a statement during the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Conference, highlighting the serious human rights abuses taking place in Balochistan. Baloch drew attention to the region's pervasive problems of mass relocation, extrajudicial executions, and enforced disappearances. The media coordinator emphasized that the Pakistani government still suppresses opposition and keeps the region in a state of terror. Baloch has expressed alarm about China's role in these violations, specifically through the contentious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Baloch said, "Adding to this crisis is China's involvement through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an exploitative project that has stripped the Baloch people of their land, resources, and livelihoods without their consent." The ongoing conflict in the Balochistan region of Pakistan is marked by demands for greater political autonomy, control over natural resources, and better socio-economic conditions. Baloch nationalist groups seek independence or enhanced rights, while the Pakistani government has responded with military interventions. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], March 21 (ANI/TPS): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has unanimously voted to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. The decision, announced in the early hours of Friday morning, marks the first time in Israeli history that the government has fired the head of the domestic security agency (Shin Bet). Bar's final day will be April 10, earlier than the initially scheduled April 20 departure. Netanyahu's office indicated Bar could leave sooner if ministers approve a permanent replacement. During a late Thursday cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated he had lost confidence in Bar following the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on southern Israel. The Prime Minister described Bar as "soft" and "not the right person to rehabilitate the organization." Netanyahu claimed that replacing Bar on the hostage negotiating team with another senior Shin Bet official had reduced leaks and improved negotiations, leading to successful hostage returns. However, the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas was signed in January, before Bar's removal from the team, which has not secured additional hostage releases since. In response, Bar circulated a letter to the cabinet explaining his absence from the meeting and denouncing the government's "unfounded claims" as a cover for "extraneous and fundamentally invalid motives." He warned that Netanyahu's actions were weakening the country "both internally and against its enemies." (ANI/TPS) Tel Aviv [Israel], March 21 (ANI/TPS): Rocket sirens blared across central Israel on Thursday afternoon as three rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, marking the first such attack in months. The launch came as Israeli forces recaptured areas of northern Gaza near Beit Lahiya and hours after Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen fired a missile that sent millions of Israelis scrambling to bomb shelters. The Israel Defense Forces said one of the rockets launched from Gaza was intercepted while the others landed in open areas. Shrapnel fell in Rishon LeZion but no injuries or property damage was reported. The alarm was heard in several major cities, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Holon, Or Yehuda, and Rishon LeZion. The rocket fire also came just hours after sirens were triggered early Thursday morning warning of a missile attack from Yemen. The missile was intercepted outside Israeli territory. Magen David Adom teams treated 13 people injured while seeking shelter, as well as three suffering from panic attacks. Flights were briefly suspended at Ben-Gurion Airport outside of Tel Aviv during both attacks. Also on Thursday, IDF forces raided northern Gaza's coastal area near Beit Lahia, marking their first ground operation there in two months -- areas vacated two months ago as part of the temporary ceasefire. The IDF warned residents of Gaza to avoid the Netzarim Corridor as ground operations expanded. The Netzarim corridor is a roughly seven-km-road running from east to west, that bisects the Strip. It crosses from Israel, at a point between Kibbutz Be'eri and Kibbutz Nahal Oz, and stretches to the Mediterranean. Israel's withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor was a key Hamas ceasefire demand. Airstrikes launched by Israel on Tuesday ended a two-month ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group. Hamas insisted on the original ceasefire terms, which called for Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent end to the war in exchange for the remaining hostages. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to continue operations until Hamas is dismantled. Talks over phase two of the agreement, set to begin February 3, never took place. Despite this, the ceasefire held for weeks as mediators sought new terms. In early March, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff proposed extending phase one of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of five hostages. However, he dismissed Hamas's response to the proposal as unacceptable, warning of consequences if the group did not reconsider. At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS) The Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, and the EU delegation by Maciej Stadejek, Director for Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service, as per the MEA statement. The two sides conferred on ways to sustain a secure maritime environment conducive to inclusive growth and global well-being. They reviewed ongoing cooperation initiatives in the maritime domain and avenues of reinforcing international and regional mechanisms for comprehensive maritime security. They agreed to strengthen their shared efforts in areas such as countering Illicit Maritime Activities (IMA), protection of critical maritime infrastructure, regional capability development and capacity-building activities, as per the statement. It was agreed to hold the next round of the Dialogue on a mutually convenient date. Earlier, the 3rd India-EU Maritime Security Dialogue was held on October 5, 2023 in Brussels. The Indian delegation was led by Saiawi, Joint Secretary for Disarmament and International Security Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and the EU delegation by Ambassador Joanneke Balfoort, Director for Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service, as per the MEA. The two sides conferred on ways to sustain a secure maritime environment conducive to inclusive growth and global well-being. They reviewed ongoing cooperation initiatives in the maritime domain and avenues of reinforcing international and regional mechanisms for comprehensive maritime security. They explored avenues to strengthen their shared efforts in areas such as countering illicit maritime activities (IMA), maritime law enforcement and capability building. They also discussed cooperation in ethe nhancement of maritime domain awareness (MDA) and looked forward to a forthcoming India-EU maritime engagement. It was agreed to hold the next round of the Dialogue on a mutually convenient date. (ANI) India and Mongolia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their Strategic Partnership, with senior officials from both nations conducting a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, discussing cooperation in key sectors, and planning high-level engagements to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar held a consultative meeting with Munkhtushig Lkhanaajav, State Secretary of Mongolia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to review the bilateral relationship between India and Mongolia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. On March 19, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen the India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership and maintain high-level engagements. They assessed cooperation in various sectors, including development partnerships, education, IT, energy, connectivity, culture, capacity building, mining, defence, and security. Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X, "Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumder held a Consultative Meeting with Mr. Munkhtushig Lkhanaajav, State Secretary, MoFA of Mongolia. Both sides carried out a comprehensive review of the bilateral relationship, agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges & organize a series of commemorative activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1903066951603433627 Both countries agreed to conduct a series of commemorative activities to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations. They also decided to formally upgrade the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) to the Secretary level, the MEA said in a statement. During the meeting, they also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. India and Mongolia have interacted throughout history for 2,000 years. Following the emergence of Mongolia as a modern nation-state in the 20th century, the two countries have continued to build relations based on shared historical and cultural legacy. On May 17, 2015, during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two countries declared a strategic partnership, as per the MEA. Diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia were established on December 24, 1955. India was the first country outside the Socialist bloc to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia. India supported Mongolia in having UN and NAM memberships. 2015 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia. (ANI) The Central Virginia Transportation Planning Organization held a public meeting Tuesday where road engineers unveiled design concepts showing ways to improve driver safety and traffic flow on U.S. 221 in Forest. The meeting at the Forest Library on Tuesday was the second one held to give residents an opportunity to provide input on possible improvements to the stretch of U.S. 221, also called Forest Road, between Perrowville and Graves Mill roads. The first meeting, at Forest Middle School last September, introduced the Route 221 Corridor Study to the public and identified intersections and areas of concern along this highly traveled road in Bedford County. At Tuesdays meeting, concepts such as thru-cuts, a traffic design for intersections that could reduce crashes, and a flyover were presented to the public as possible solutions. CVTPO has contracted with EPR P.C., a Charlottesville-based engineering firm, to oversee the design efforts as part of the traffic study that the planning organization is conducting in conjunction with Bedford County and the Virginia Department of Transportation. Bill Wuensch, a principal and transportation engineer with EPR P.C., said his firm has been tasked with conducting a traffic study of this stretch of U.S. 221. Wuensch said his firm came up with concepts on display at Tuesdays meeting to address the concerns raised at the first public meeting in September. EPR P.C., together with CVTPO, is conducting a new public survey to receive input on the concepts presented at Tuesdays public meeting. The public survey can be found at https://publicinput.com/route221_improvements. After this meeting, we will consider the public input, and we then move forward to wrap up the study, Wuensch said. We turn the study over to Bedford County and VDOT. And its up to them to decide if they want to pursue any of these improvements. If local officials decide to move forward, they can apply for grants from the state, including from VDOTs Smart Scale program, that could provide significant help with covering the cost of the improvements. On its website, VDOT has an innovative intersection section that includes ways to make intersections safer, including the thru-cut proposed along U.S. 221. U.S. 221 serves as an east-west major roadway connecting residential areas to commercial areas and employment centers. As part of the study, EPR P.C. has identified safety concerns, including the number of serious wrecks at certain intersections. The study also is looking at bicycle and pedestrian needs along the corridor. Larry Jacobs, a resident of Forest, attended the public meeting, mainly to see how the planners are proposing to address left-hand turns on U.S. 221. These efforts should reduce some of those accidents from these turns, Jacobs said, who added he needs to go online to spend more time reviewing the concepts. Erik Smedley, county engineer for Bedford County, said the U.S. 221 traffic corridor has some of the worst congestion in the county. Theres a pretty heavy crash rate through the corridor, Smedley said. Its an area that is one of our priority focus areas. It made sense to partner with the CVTPO to try and get a study done and work toward some solutions here. The goal is to finalize the recommendations for improvements along U.S. 221 this spring, using the feedback from Tuesdays public meeting and the public survey. Many of the concepts presented at Tuesdays meeting, including the thru-cuts, are designed to adjust how vehicles move through intersections. One of the thru-cuts is proposed for the intersection of U.S. 221 with Perrowville and Ashwood Park roads. If the concept is adopted, drivers would be required to turn left or right from Perrowville Road. Through travel to Ashwood Park Road would be prohibited. The same would be true for drivers heading toward U.S. 221 on Ashwood Park Road. Through travel to Perrowville Road would be prohibited. At the intersection of U.S. 221 and Enterprise Drive, EPR P.C. offered a visual of what flyover ramps would look like as traffic volumes increase in the area. Safety is obviously a big factor with those designs, but they also help with keeping cars moving in a more efficient manner through these intersections, Smedley said. As for timelines in starting work on any improvements, Smedley said if Bedford County were to apply for funding through the states Smart Scale program, the county would need to navigate a six-year funding cycle. Were not going to have something break ground next year, he said. But its the first step to get us where we need to go. Mar 21 (News On Japan) - Japan ranked 55th in the latest World Happiness Report, released on March 20th to coincide with the International Day of Happiness. Finland secured the top position for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Iceland, with Nordic countries dominating the upper ranks due to strong welfare and education systems. Costa Rica and Mexico made their first-ever appearances in the top 10. The United States, at 24th place, marked its lowest ranking ever, with researchers linking the rise in solitary diningup nearly 50% in the past two decadesto declining happiness levels. While Japan's ranking dropped compared to last year, making it the lowest among G7 nations, it remained ahead of South Korea and China in Asia. Ukraine ranked 111th, and Afghanistan remained at the bottom for the second consecutive year, with conflict-affected countries showing consistently low happiness scores. Source: TBS Morocco has been chosen to host the 2026 Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor in recognition of the efforts made by the country in protecting childs rights and combating childs labor. The decision was made by the Governing Body of the ILO during its 353rd session convening in Geneva. The Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor, scheduled in Morocco in the second quarter of 2026, will be an opportunity for follow-up to the outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held in November 2025, in relation to child labor and its root causes. The Conference will also play a central role in shaping a collective response to the non-attainment of target 8.7 of the SDGs on eliminating child labor by 2025; and provide inputs to post-2030 processes. The event will reinforce the commitment of all stakeholders to accelerate the fight against child labor and foster coherent national, regional and global efforts. Morocco has made major strides in the fight against childs labor. It has established mechanisms to ensure the respect of international conventions prohibiting childs labor and protecting children against economic exploitation and hazardous work harmful to their health and development. Representatives from several countries or geographical groups, including the United States, the European Union, the Arab and African groups, and Brazil, welcomed the choice of Morocco to host this major global event, praising the Kingdoms commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, in particular childrens rights. Speakers also called on the ILO to cooperate closely with Morocco in all aspects to ensure the success of this international meeting. Following the decision announcement, Morocco expressed, its pride in hosting the Conference, a global event that clearly confirms the Kingdoms irreversible choices to protect and promote human rights. The 6th Conference will provide an appropriate platform for exchanging best practices aimed at combating the various forms of child labor but also for making the voice and priorities of the African continent and the Arab world heard in this area, the Moroccan delegation to 353rd session of the ILO Governing Body said. As a pioneer of the 8.7 alliance for the eradication of child labor, Morocco sees this 6th Global Conference as an ideal framework for assessing the progress made and directing the efforts needed to catch up, particularly with regard to achieving MDG 8.7. It is also a crucial moment for mobilizing the resources needed to combat child labor. Morocco has implemented significant measures to eliminate child labor by adopting a national roadmap in this area by 2030, based on an action plan with three strategic axes, namely speeding up the prevention of child labor by combating poverty and dropping out of school; encouraging children to acquire vocational skills; and providing information and raising awareness. Morocco pleaded Thursday before the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU-PSC) for an ethical, responsible, beneficial, and sovereign African AI and suggested a series of concrete measures to fulfil this goal and build an African elite in AI. The future of AI in Africa cant sidestep the need to build an African AI by Africa and for Africa. The AI we want must be ethical, responsible, and adapted to our realities, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, stressed in an address delivered via videoconference at the AU-PSC Ministerial Meeting on Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on Peace, Security, and Governance in Africa. In this context, the Minister, who chairs this ministerial meeting, called for mobilization and collective action to make AI a genuine lever for development, peace, and security for Africans. Aware of this reality, Morocco is committed to contributing to Africas boom in the field of AI, Bourita stated, reaffirming the Kingdoms strong and dynamic commitment to the emergence of a united African leadership in AI. The Moroccan official, who highlighted the challenges and opportunities that AI presents for the African continent, pointed out that while AI is a tool for development and progress for humanity, it is also a double-edged sword because, if misused, it could worsen divisions, fuel instability, and serve as a tool for the most destructive non-state actors. The figures are telling: a 900% surge in deepfake videos since 2019, a 300% rise in AI-driven cyberattacks between 2019 and 2022, and 40% of terrorist groups have already used autonomous drones in their attacks. Additionally, 47 countries were affected by disinformation campaigns in 2023, directly impacting their democratic processes. In the face of these challenges, Bourita underscored the need for Africa to position itself as a key player in the global governance of AI. He insisted that AI not only involves security and stability challenges, but is also an astounding driver of economic growth. By 2030, AI is expected to inject $15.7 trillion into the global economy, increase agricultural production by 10 to 15%, and accelerate the growth rate of certain countries by 40%, he pointed out. However, Africa must overcome structural gaps to fully harness AIs potential, he said, adding that 60% of Africas population currently still lacks internet access, less than 2% of the data used in AI is sourced from Africa, and only 1% of the global AI talent is based in Africa. To address this, Morocco suggested a series of concrete measures, including the creation of an African AI Fund, the establishment of a pan-African strategy for data collection and valorization, and the launch of a massive training program to build an African elite in AI. Bourita also recalled that the Kingdom, a pioneer in AI on the continent, has already taken significant initiatives: the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy aiming to train 100,000 talents annually, the launch, two weeks ago, of a national program to introduce children to AI, and the establishment of the first African UNESCO AI center, Ai Movement, based in Rabat. On the international front, Morocco has also played a key role in the adoption of the first UN resolutions on AI and co-founded the Group of Friends on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development, which brings together over 70 countries, he stated. In his speech, Bourita also called for coordinated and concrete African action, stressing that inaction is our common enemy. In this regard, the Kingdom has put forward the institutionalization of a network of African national AI centers and the establishment of a panel of African experts to support the implementation of the continental strategy. Bourita reaffirmed Moroccos willingness to work hand in hand with its African partners to make AI a tool for development and stability. As put by King Mohammed VI, Africa must believe in its ability to take its destiny into its own hands. AI will not wait for us to be ready. It is already here, reshaping power dynamics. The choice is simple: either we unite to master this transformation, or we will suffer the consequences, Bourita said. Morocco is holding the rotating chairmanship of the Au PSC for the month of March. Irish airline Ryanair is set to launch a new route linking Manchester to Rabat from March 30, with two weekly flights, Manchester Airport has announced. The flights, operating on Wednesdays and Sundays, will make Rabat the fifth Moroccan destination accessible by direct flight from this airport in the north of England, alongside Tangiers, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Agadir. On its official website, Manchester Airport underlines Moroccos growing appeal to British travellers. In 2024, almost half a million passengers flew to the Kingdom from Manchester, compared with 275,000 the previous year, testifying to the growing popularity of this destination. Morocco is an increasingly popular destination for people in the north of England, said Stephen Turner, chief commercial officer of the airport, adding that Rabat offers an unforgettable experience that will prove popular with passengers. The launch of this new air service was widely reported in the British media, which praised the charms of the Moroccan capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. The Sun described Rabat as a discreet seaside jewel, brimming with attractions including the Kasbah of Oudayas, the ancient medina, the banks of the Bouregreg river, and the must-see Hassan Tower, the citys landmark since the 12th century. The publication also praised the discreet, authentic character of the capital, in contrast to more popular tourist destinations. In the same vein, The Chester Standard highlighted Rabats diversity of attractions, ranging from golden sandy beaches, picturesque sites, gastronomy, grand architecture, and a long and fascinating history. Thanks to this new route, the Moroccan capital is set to appeal to an ever-growing public in search of a destination that combines culture, relaxation, and discovery. Ethiopia has no intention of waging war with Eritrea to gain access to the Red Sea, prime minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized Thursday (20 March) amid growing tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations. Speaking to parliament, Abiy stated that his government aims to resolve the issue through diplomacy, focusing on a mutually beneficial solution rather than conflict. Ethiopia, one of the worlds most populous landlocked countries, views access to the sea as crucial for its economic development. Abiys remarks come amid rising concerns that the two countries, which fought a brutal border war in the late 1990s, could be heading toward renewed hostilities. However, the prime minister made it clear that while Ethiopias need for maritime access is existential, it will not resort to military means to secure it. Abiy further explained that his administration does not intend to invade Eritrea, as Ethiopia is committed to peaceful negotiations, grounded in the principles of give and take. He stressed that war would be disastrous, not only for Ethiopia and Eritrea but also for the region. His comments followed Eritrean foreign minister Osman Salehs recent rejection of Ethiopias aspirations, describing the claims as misguided. Despite these tensions, Abiy assured that Ethiopia is prepared to defend itself if necessary but remains focused on peace, highlighting the countrys role in fostering stability across Africa. He also called for international support in facilitating dialogue to resolve the issue and avoid any further escalation. The World Bank has approved a $600 million financing package for the last and third phase of the Strengthening Human Capital for a Resilient Morocco program. The funding aims to enhance Moroccos resilience to health risks, improve human capital during childhood, reduce poverty among the elderly, and bolster climate risk management, said the WB in a press release issued Thursday. The first two financing operations, approved in June 2022 and December 2023, supported substantial legislative changes, including generalizing compulsory health insurance and launching a comprehensive social assistance program. The third operation aims to consolidate these gains by strengthening governance, detailing the implementation of cash transfer and pension schemes, and increasing the effectiveness of disaster risk management. Morocco is advancing towards Universal Health Coverage by implementing reforms to improve health risk protection through increased health insurance coverage, modernizing health service provision, and ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare workers. The WB third funding, which aligns with the two previous operations, aims to further enhance Moroccos social protection system, said Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, Division Director for the Maghreb at the World Bank. Currently, the Moroccan social protection system is already helping around 75 % of the population to have access to more affordable health care and over 40 % of households to access cash transfers, he added, noting the efforts engaged are designed to make the system more comprehensive, equitable, and efficient, particularly benefiting climate-vulnerable populations. Photo: Bonnie Cash/AFP/Getty Images Every single time the Trump administration loses a court ruling, count on this: Itll rail against the evils of a single, unelected district-court judge upending the presidents policy agenda. This week, a district judge in D.C. temporarily blocked President Trumps ban on transgender military troops. Indefensible judicial tyranny, White House adviser Stephen Miller responded on social media. Another judge put a hold on the deportation of noncitizens under the Alien Enemies Act (or tried to; the Trump administration was less than fastidious in implementing his order). Trump called for the impeachment of this Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator, prompting a rare public rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. A string of federal judges paused the efforts of Elon Musk and DOGE to fire federal employees and dismantle government agencies. What is the point of having democratic elections if unelected activist judges can override the clear will of the people? Well, thats no democracy at all! Musk asked himself and answered, recirculating a post invoking a JUDICIAL COUP. The public rhetoric from Trump and his brass has become overwrought, and they seem to be dueling to out-emote one another. But when you strip away the histrionics, theyre not wrong. The argument against these nationwide injunctions has plenty of commonsense appeal. We have 700 or so presidentially nominated, Senate-confirmed (but unelected) federal district-court (trial-level) judges in all, divided among 94 geographic districts. Why should any one of those judges in, say, the Northern District of California or the Western District of Texas have the power to dictate policy across the entire country, contrary to the priorities of the duly elected president? Trump is hardly the first president to see his policy agenda stifled by nationwide injunctions though this is a relatively recent phenomenon, and hes gotten it the worst. An April 2024 Harvard Law Review article calculated that federal judges issued six nationwide injunctions against the George W. Bush administration, 12 against the Obama administration (including its signature immigration programs), 14 against the Biden administration (including the student-loan-debt-forgiveness program), and 64 against the first Trump administration. Of those 64 original Trump-era injunctions, 59 came from judges appointed by Democrats. Before you start howling (or cheering), consider that all 14 Biden-era injunctions were issued by Republican-appointed judges. Indeed, one criticism of nationwide injunctions is that they encourage and reward judge-shopping. Theres a reason why so many of the anti-Obama and anti-Biden injunctions came from the Northern and Western Districts of Texas, while liberal anti-Trump plaintiffs flock to the federal district courts in D.C., New York, and California. Now, during Trumps first two months back in office, district-court judges have already issued more than a dozen nationwide injunctions blocking his policy initiatives. Hes on pace to shatter his own record. We can read these stats either way. From one perspective, it looks like judges (almost all of them nominated by Democratic presidents) have engineered a successful judicial Trump resistance where actual elected Democrats have failed. Or the stats could simply reflect that Trump has tried to enact more unlawful policies than his contemporaries did. Could be both. The conundrum is that nationwide injunctions are easy to criticize but hard to fix. Whats the alternative? Impressive think pieces abound, often voicing the valid complaint that judges who issue nationwide injunctions effectively bind not only the actual parties to the lawsuit but also many outside non-parties, contrary to core tenets of judicial moderation and fairness. But solutions are elusive. If each district court can reach its own independent ruling, binding only on the participants in that case, we would land in chaos. What if, for example, one district judge ordered a pause on the military transgender policy but another allowed the policy to be implemented? What if 11 judges across the country purported to block Trumps effort to withhold federal funding from USAID but nine others ruled to the contrary? Its unworkable. There might be some way to get these cases up the appellate chain more quickly. That could help expedite resolution of interdistrict conflicts, but it doesnt fully solve the underlying problem of inconsistent application of law based on geography (and it would require a complicated fix that is plainly not imminent). The good news is that we might soon get some guidance from the Supreme Court itself. The dispute over Trumps effort to end birthright citizenship has now reached the Court, at least in a procedural posture. The Trump administration has asked the Court to narrow a series of three district-court rulings that rejected his position and to hold that those decisions apply only within the geographic districts in which they were rendered (and do not, therefore, bind the entire country). Universal injunctions have reached epidemic proportions since the start of the current administration, Trumps legal team argues. We know how at least one of the nine justices feels. When Samuel Alito found himself on the short end of a recent ruling that effectively blocked the Trump administrations effort to withhold foreign-aid funding, he fumed in dissent: Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars? I am stunned. The birthright-citizenship case may provide us with meaningful answers, but it also neatly underscores the practical problems. Even if one agrees with the Trump administrations position, how exactly would this work? Children born to noncitizen parents in the Western District of Washington (where a Reagan-appointed judge temporarily halted Trumps birthright-citizenship initiative) are citizens while those born in, say, the Eastern District of Louisiana are not? Its become a default diversionary tactic to rail against nationwide injunctions. Dont like a ruling? Point to the dictatorial, unelected judge usurping the presidents power. Tiptoe up to the line of open defiance of a court order? Blame some unelected, self-aggrandizing political wannabe in a black robe. But when we cut through the hyperbole and the transparent scapegoating, Trump and his supporters are on to a legitimate complaint that has dogged presidents of both parties for decades. One of a kind who cant and shouldnt be replicated. Photo: Jim Vondruska/Reuters At a time when plenty of people have advice for unhappy progressive Democrats, one of their heroes, Bernie Sanders, had a succinct message: Dont love the party, leave it. In an interview with the New York Times, he previewed a barnstorming tour he has undertaken with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez but made it clear he wouldnt be asking audiences to rally round the Democratic Party. One of the aspects of this tour is to try to rally people to get engaged in the political process and run as independents outside of the Democratic Party, Sanders said. In one respect, that isnt surprising. Though he has long aligned with the Democratic Party in Congress and has regularly backed its candidates, Sanders has always self-identified as an independent, even when he filed to run for president as a Democrat in 2020. Now, as before, he seems to regard the Democratic Party as inherently corrupted by its wealthy donor base, per the Times: During the interview on Wednesday, Mr. Sanders repeatedly criticized the influence of wealthy donors and Washington consultants on the party. He said that while Democrats had been a force for good on social issues like civil rights, womens rights and L.G.B.T.Q. rights, they had failed on the economic concerns he has dedicated his political career to addressing. Still, when Democrats are now already perceived as losing adherents, and as many progressives believe their time to take over the party has arrived, Sanderss counsel is both oddly timed and pernicious. Yes, those on the left who choose independent status may still work with Democrats on both legislative and electoral projects, much as Sanders does. And they may run in and win Democratic primaries on occasion without putting on the party yoke. But inevitably, refusing to stay formally within the Democratic tent will cede influence to centrists and alienate loyalist voters as well. And in 18 states, voters who dont register as Democrats may be barred from voting in Democratic primaries, which proved a problem for Sanders during his two presidential runs. More fundamentally, Democrats need both solidarity and stable membership at this moment with the MAGA wolf at the door and crucial off-year and midterm elections coming up. Staying in the Democratic ranks doesnt mean giving up progressive principles or failing to challenge timid or ineffective leadership. To borrow an ancient cigarette-ad slogan, its a time when its better to fight than switch. That said, there may be certain deep-red parts of the country where the Democratic brand is so toxic that an independent candidacy could make some sense for progressives. The example of 2024 independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn of Nebraska, who ran a shockingly competitive (if ultimately unsuccessful) race against Republican incumbent Deb Fischer, turned a lot of heads. But while Osborn might have been a populist by most standards, he wasnt exactly what youd call a progressive, and in fact, centrist and progressive Nebraska Democrats went along with Osborn as a very long shot. They didnt abandon their party; they just got out of the way. Perhaps someday, the popularity of electoral systems without party primaries or with ranked-choice voting will spread to the point where candidates and voters alike will gradually shed or at least weaken party labels. Then self-identifying as an independent could be both principled and politically pragmatic. But until then, its important to understand why American politics have regularly defaulted to a two-party system dating all the way back to those days when the Founders tried strenuously to avoid parties altogether. In a first-past-the-post system where winners take all, theres just too much at stake to allow those with whom you are in agreement on the basics to splinter. Thats particularly true when, as is the case right now, the other party is rigidly united in subservience to an authoritarian leader. Sanders is one of a kind in his ability to keep his feet both within and outside the Democratic Party. His example isnt replicable without making a bad situation for progressives a whole lot worse. Political commentator Rogan OHandley, TikToker Chaya Raichik, commentator Liz Wheeler, and conservative activist Scott Presler show off their Epstein binders on February 27, 2025. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images During the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump said he was inclined to release more information from the federal investigations into his former friend Jeffrey Epstein. And on February 21, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was on the verge of declassifying files on the convicted sex offender, who died in prison while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in 2019. Its on my desk right now to review, Bondi said. Thats been a directive by President Trump. Days later, Bondi angered people across the political spectrum when conservative influencers exited the White House brandishing binders filled with what turned out to be previously released Epstein information. Bondi then tried to shift the blame to the FBIs New York field office. The head of that office, James Dennehy, who had angered the Trump administration for non-Epstein-related reasons, said he was forced to submit his resignation a day later. So now, the Trump administration is trying to move on from this debacle by swinging far in the opposite direction: Rather than throwing together a binder that contains too little information, the FBI has a jaw-dropping number of agents focused on the Epstein files instead of their regular, extremely important work. Perhaps youre picturing 50 or even 100 agents sifting through Epstein documents. But ABC News reports you need to think a lot bigger: As many as a thousand FBI agents, many of whom are usually focusing on national-security matters, have been enlisted to help with the effort, sources said. Sources told ABC News that Bondi pressured FBI Director Kash Patel in tense private exchanges to prioritize the release of more Epstein files, so now agents are working around the clock to make it happen: Justice Department officials have made it clear to others throughout the Trump administration that it is now a top priority of the attorney general to sort through the materials related to Epstein and decide what can be publicly disclosed in the days ahead, sources said, and FBI agents have been told to expect to work on this into the early morning hours. The DOJ and FBI both released statements downplaying reports of tension between the agencies, saying they are working together to deliver transparency for the American people. But Vanity Fair reported that the FBIs New York office is bearing a lot of the pressure from the Justice Department, with dozens of agents focused on reviewing and redacting sensitive information from Epstein-related documents rather than doing less important tasks, like, say, fighting terrorism and drug trafficking: Its literally all hands on deck, one source familiar with the matter tells me, adding that dozens and dozens of agents are working around the clock on the case, instead of on their regular duties. I even saw an agent walking in with a pillow, the source added. The New York field office is an epicenter for FBI counterintelligence, counterterrorism, public corruption, international drug trafficking, and financial crime investigations. The redeployment of agents to comb over the file of the notorious sex trafficker Epstein, who died nearly six years ago, is an indication of the Justice Department priorities in this second Trump administration. One FBI veteran calls it a ludicrous situation. But at least this ludicrous scramble will pay off when we all get our hands on the fabled Epstein client list? Dont bet on it, reports ABC News: Sources tell ABC News that the Justice Departments national security division is devoting many of their resources to the effort, despite some top law enforcement officials believing that the information Bondi is demanding be reviewed contains no new revelations. In fact, though Bondi has claimed that as a result of her efforts the FBI turned over a truckload of evidence on the Epstein case, some doubt that actually happened. Per Vanity Fair: The FBI veteran noted that this was an odd way for Bondi to describe the matter. Theres no master file in the New York office. That doesnt exist, the veteran added. Theres not some crusty agent with his feet on bankers boxes. Obviously, the public has a right to know the full extent of Epsteins horrific crimes. But perhaps Pam Bondi making huge promises live on Fox News, then having FBI agents scramble to turn her claims into reality, isnt the best way to go about this. Carters last day in the office of the New York Observer before moving to Vanity Fair in 1992. Photo: Dafydd Jones This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. In 1991, I was named the editor of the New York Observer, a desperately sleepy Upper East Side weekly broadsheet that I hoped to turn into a must-read. About a half-year in, the paper was where I wanted it to be, it was getting noticed, and so I started sending a couple of dozen complimentary copies to friends, many of them editors in Britain and Europe. I didnt know this at the time, but Si Newhouse, the head of Conde Nast, would take a twice-yearly tour of all his international properties, with stops in Milan, Paris, and London. He was on one of these trips in early 1992, and, as he told me later, everywhere he stopped, he would see copies of the Observer in his editors in-baskets. Si returned to New York under the misguided impression that the paper was a huge international hit that everybody was reading it. About three months later, he called me and asked if I would like to get together for a coffee after work. I said of course. This was a Thursday. The meeting was set for Monday. I fretted all weekend about how I was going to handle whatever he was going to say or offer. Like just about everyone else in New Yorks various publishing industries, I was dying to be a part of Sis glittering literary empire. On the Monday, I hopped in a cab and headed over to Sis apartment at U.N. Plaza. We settled in a long window seat that overlooked the East River. Si got right down to it. He said, I have two magazines, and I wonder if youd be interested in either one of them. I braced myself. Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel the dryness on my lips. I swallowed. At Spy, the magazine I had co-founded before going to the Observer, wed made an industry out of making fun of Vanity Fair, relentlessly the writers, the editor, the content, everything. It was constant and withering. But I had read The New Yorker since I was a kid. I explained my very awkward history with Vanity Fair and its staff and contributors. Si just said, Well, I guess its The New Yorker then. I felt weak and had trouble speaking. About two weeks after the fateful meeting with Si, one of his assistants called me and said that they were going to be announcing the change in two days time. The morning of the announcement, Anna Wintour called me and said simply, Graydon, its going to be the other one. I said, What do you mean? She said, Its going to be Vanity Fair. Act surprised when he tells you. I thought, Oh fuck. I had no choice, I felt, but to accept the news. When Si called, an hour or so later, he said there was a change of plans: Its going to be Vanity Fair. Are you okay with that? I said, Yes, of course, absolutely. I put the phone down and began to worry. Behind the scenes, what had happened, clearly, was that Tina Brown, then at Vanity Fair, had, at the last moment, insisted on moving to The New Yorker, and Si had agreed. I couldnt really fault either of them in this decision. With design director David Harris in the Vanity Fair offices in 1999. Photo: Jonathan Becker Two weeks after leaving the Observer, I turned up at the Conde Nast Building on Madison for my first day of work. Joining me was Aimee Bell, who had been with me at Spy and had followed me to the Observer. Tina Brown hadnt yet vacated her office on Vanity Fairs floor, so we were assigned to a sort of holding pen on the executive floor that had been vacated by Dick Shortway, the former publisher of Vogue. In the afternoon of that first day, I met with the senior staff in the magazines conference room, where Si introduced me. To say that the collective mood was funereal would be putting a rosy tint on it. New editors generally mean changes, and changes can mean unemployment. When the new editor has spent the past half-decade ridiculing the magazine, its senior staff, its contributors, and its house style of overoxygenated writing, well, that does nothing to lighten the mood. I would have hated me if I were in their place. I was already getting word that the staff was in revolt. As were the advertisers. The publisher, Ron Galotti, made no secret of his feeling that he had drawn a weak hand. Almost immediately, there were rumors in print and out of it that I was going to be fired. And I hadnt even put out an issue. Shortways office was not large, and meetings with outside writers and editors on staff at Vanity Fair often resembled the stateroom scene in the Marx Brothers A Night at the Opera. When I at last moved down to the editors office on the Vanity Fair floor, I encountered what I recall was a riot of burgundy and teal. On the walls outside, where the assistants sat the job came with two! Tina Brown had hung framed newspaper and magazine articles that had been written about her. All had been carted off to her new digs at The New Yorker, save for one. I didnt want to be seen removing it. This would be a Page Six item waiting to happen. Aimee had an idea: Lets ask to have the wall painted. The next day, painters arrived and removed the last remnant of Tina Browns wall of fame. I would get to the office at five or 5:30 in the morning to read and edit. I was under terrible pressure. The industry was ridiculing me. The New York Establishment, so long coddled by Vanity Fair, was in something of a panic. The atmosphere was so poisonous I wouldnt even bring my family into the office. A handful of the Tina Brown allies who had been left behind were deeply hostile and subversive. Readers were horrified by my editorial decisions or so I was told by the holdover staff. In those early days and months, pretty much everything went wrong. With a big magazine, you have to constantly feed the beast. For Vanity Fair, with anywhere between 120 and 150 editorial pages to fill each month, you have to assign a properly significant story (3,000-to-15,000 words) every three days in order to survive. Stories often took months to report and write. Then a month to edit, fact-check, and lay out. Then weeks to print and distribute. Figuring out stories that were both topical and of interest months down the line was the key to success. When I arrived at Vanity Fair, there was almost nothing lying around that I thought was worth publishing. There was a wonderful dispatch about Russia, as I recall by David Remnick, which mysteriously had not run, but by that point it was out of date. I cobbled together the fall 1992 issues as best I could. It would take me the better part of a year to get to the point where issues were able to be built around stories that I wanted rather than ones I could lay my hands on. I was constantly worried that I was going to lose my job. The only encouragement I got was from Si. An editor is only as good as the support of his or her proprietor. And in this respect, Si had no peers. If he ever wobbled over his decision to hire me, he never showed it. With Annie Leibovitz in 1993; Donald and Si Newhouse, 1993; Aimee Bell, 1993; and Tina Brown at the offices of Vanity Fair, 1992. Photo: Dafydd Jones; Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times/Redux. With Annie Leibovitz in 1993; Donald and Si Newhouse, 1993; Aimee Bell, 1993; and Tina Brown at the offices of Vanity Fair, 1992. Photo: Dafydd Jones;... more With Annie Leibovitz in 1993; Donald and Si Newhouse, 1993; Aimee Bell, 1993; and Tina Brown at the offices of Vanity Fair, 1992. Photo: Dafydd Jones; Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times/Redux. Going from Spy and the Observer to Vanity Fair was like moving from a youth hostel to a five-star hotel. We had a receptionist in the elevator area who handled calls and directed guests to the correct offices. A lovely woman in an English maids uniform came to make fresh coffee every few hours. My office had an adjoining private bathroom so luxurious that when a colleague from Spy came up to visit one day, she said it looked like Mitzi Gaynors. When traveling on business, I stayed at the Connaught in London, the Ritz in Paris, the Hotel du Cap in the south of France, and the Beverly Hills Hotel or the Bel-Air in Los Angeles. Suites, room service, drivers in each city. For European trips, I flew the Concorde. I took round-trip flights on it at least three times a year for almost a decade. Thats something like 60 flights. My passport picture was taken by Annie Leibovitz! Staff members could expense their breakfasts not a working breakfast with a writer or photographer. Just breakfast. Large dinners at home were catered. Flowers went out to contributors at an astounding rate, sometimes just for turning a story in on time. One staff member who was a holdover from the old regime would get so depressed at the mere thought of my being there that she would send flowers to herself just to perk up her spirits. On the company account, of course. There were interest-free loans to buy houses or apartments. Even the moving costs were covered by the company. I desperately wanted a bigger place for our growing family and so we bought an apartment in the Dakota. Like so many New Yorkers, I had always been entranced by the building. It loomed large in both old New York history and the citys contemporary culture. Much of the fascination was due to the people who had lived there not just John and Yoko but also Leonard Bernstein, Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, and Boris Karloff. Can you imagine being a kid there on Halloween and knocking on his door? The architect Basil Walter came in to design the millwork and oversee the renovation. And we filled it with old pieces from our parents and French flea-market finds. At Thanksgiving, wed take the kids up to the roof to watch the Macys Thanksgiving Parade. And for the first time, I had an office at home. It was small and windowless, but it was mine, all mine away from the hectic, glorious antics of our four children. I papered the walls with 1940s ordnance-survey maps and hung from the ceiling a huge model of a DC-3 that I had bought at a flea market in Connecticut. Its where I could think and edit and plot out the next issues. As flush as the operation was, I knew I had to change the culture at Vanity Fair if I was to survive and perhaps thrive. Both socially and journalistically. I edited every single word that went into the magazine and continued to do so for the next quarter-century. At the beginning, I wanted to change the voice, which mostly meant cleansing the florid baroqueness of the language. In the Vanity Fair I inherited, a restaurant wasnt a restaurant, it was a boite. A book wasnt a book, it was a tome. A party wasnt a party, it was a fete. People didnt say something funny, they chortled or quipped. I issued a list of words henceforth banned from Vanity Fair copy. Out went words like abode, opine, plethora, and passed away (for died). Out went glitzy, coiffed, wannabe, A-list, and even celebrity. Out went chops (for acting abilities), donned (as in put on), boasted (as in had or featured), eatery (for restaurant), flat (for apartment), flick (for movie), fuck (okay in a quote but not with regard to the actual sex act), also honcho, hooker, schlep (as in to lug something somewhere), scribe (as in writer), and Tinseltown. All found their way into the copyedit boneyard. I also had to make the culture less poisonous. You could feel the venom in the corridors. Changing this certainly wasnt easy, but gradually, Aimee, Chris Garrett (who came on as my managing editor), and I tried to soften the office atmosphere. I wanted to take it from the viperish nest it had been and make it a warmer, more collaborative place. About two years in, I came to the somewhat belated conclusion that the animus came from four offices all of which were filled with leftovers from the ancien regime. There was Marina Schiano, the style director, or, as her masthead title had it, creative style director, which I always found funny. Surely style director should have implied a certain amount of creativity. She had been a muse for Yves Saint Laurent in her younger days. The men in the art department found her exotic. I had trouble getting over her bitter attitude toward just about anyone in her orbit. Marina especially couldnt stand me, and try as I might, I couldnt get her around to my way of thinking. She was paid upwards of $350,000 to do the styling for eight magazine covers per year. I was told by somebody on the staff that one of her duties during Tina Browns reign was apparently to show up at her apartment and help style her clothes for the day. I wasnt sure whether that was true or not, but I had been dressing myself in the mornings since I moved out of shorts and had no real need for this service. Then there was Sarah Giles, an import from London and someone the new Vanity Fair hands like Aimee and Matt Tyrnauer (another recruit from Spy and the Observer) believed was a plant, left behind to shower dinner-party mates with tales of our incompetence. Her parents were Lady Kitty Giles a title inherited from her father, the ninth Earl De La Warr and Frank Giles, of London Sunday Times fake Hitler Diaries infamy. Sarah didnt really have a function at Vanity Fair, as far as we could tell. She had had the reputation of being an effective story fixer although I think it might have been Sarah who told me this. To everyones amusement, she did have a pet rat, named Ratty. What her purpose was at that point, aside from delivering dispatches about my inadequacies around town and protecting her friends in the magazines pages, escaped me. Michael Caruso was a senior editor who bristled at every edit I made to his copy. There were a number of stories in Page Six during this period pitting him against me, and in all of them, he came out as the white-hat savior of journalism and me as something far less than that. And finally, there was Charles Churchward, the art director. He was certainly talented. But in the end, he struck me as the sort of person who worked better with a stiletto pinned to his neck. My brand of attempted collegiality, for lack of a better word, just never jelled with Charles. He left of his own volition and decamped to the Vogue floor, where he worked for the next decade or more. The first three Schiano, Giles, and Caruso I let go all the same week. It was more people than I had fired in my life up to that point. I simply told each one of them that this wasnt working for me and that I thought it was time for them to spread their wings elsewhere. I said to each of them, The trouble is youve confused politeness for weakness. Caruso was in a state of disbelief. He said, Youve got to be joking. I said, No, not joking at all. I was surprised by the result of the purge. Rather than have the rest of the office in an uproar, the staff was quietly thrilled with what I had done. And despite the fact that I am, at heart, a beta male, this moved me, at least in some eyes, closer into the alpha category. As far as the office environment went, it was like pulling open the curtains at Miss Havishams. Everything seemed sunnier. I may have actually developed a spring in my step. People started working with each other in a noncombative manner. Interoffice memos were being signed off with an unheard-of Thank you. I began to bring my kids into the office. Things had changed. Even gossip about my imminent firing began to die down after Si Newhouse personally dispelled the rumors. One major advantage in these rocky early days was that there was no budget at all that is to say, the budget had no ceiling. I could send anybody anywhere for as long as need be. The cost and the expenses involved were sometimes enormous. One article, about the near collapse of Lloyds, the London insurance market, may have been the most-expensive-per-word magazine story ever written. And we never published it. The first person I reached out to with my new checkbook was Christopher Hitchens. I first met him in the 1980s at a party in Greenwich Village, when he was writing for The Nation and was then known mostly to the tribal left. Christopher was among the last great public intellectuals of the liberal intelligentsia, but he was one with wit and charm which made him much more palatable to people in the middle and even to conservatives. By the time I got to Vanity Fair, he was writing for Lewis Lapham at Harpers. I called Christopher and, with Sis checkbook in hand, got him to sign on. Christopher and I went to Elaines that night to celebrate, and God if we didnt bump into Lewis. Christopher told him that he was going to be leaving Harpers to work at Vanity Fair. Lewis handled the news with supreme elegance. I think he realized that it would be better for Christopher to be introduced to the much wider audience Vanity Fair would offer. We sat down and had a drink. Well, many drinks. Christopher was to write a column each month as well as articles and profiles. His well-calibrated but unflagging intake of alcohol and nicotine produced nothing but swift and faultless prose, even after lunches or dinners where others would be hors de combat. Dinner was a bacchanal of anecdote and erudition, recitations from Flashman and Wodehouse giving way to declamations from Gibbon and Homer. He was infinitely funny, better company than just about anyone. As for the writing and drinking, I remember going to lunch at La Goulue when Aimee and I were at the Observer. Christopher had a couple of Scotches before the starter, a couple glasses of wine with the main course, and then a brandy to wash things down afterward. Back at the Observer offices, we plunked him down in front of a typewriter and he banged out a review of a thousand words of near perfection in less than an hour. Writing is a tough business especially the sort of detailed, rigorous, longform narrative journalism that Vanity Fair came to be known for. And this reportage has its own unique set of demands. Vanity Fair writers were sent to the far corners of the earth to report. They would leave their families for weeks or months at a time and return home and on deadline had to assemble all the reporting and write a good tale almost like a condensed book. Every one of their facts then had to be stood up by the researcher or researchers checking the article. And then the story had to be reviewed by the legal editor. Sometimes this process, from idea to final copy, would take three or four months. Stories that ran as long as 17,000 or 20,000 words might take even longer. I believe that all great magazine stories must have a combination of the following elements: narrative (that is to say, a beginning, a middle, and an end), access (to the principals, or those on the immediate periphery of the principals), conflict (always a welcome addition), and disclosure (moving the scholarship on the topic at hand along in other words, new information). You can get by with three of these necessities. But with four, you have a great chance at producing a memorable work of journalism. An article could be killed for various reasons. Perhaps it didnt meet expectations although that was a rare occurrence given the caliber of writer I worked with. Perhaps in the course of closing our story another magazine published one on the same subject that was just as good this was another reason to kill it. I had a rule that I wouldnt break, even when the fortunes of magazines everywhere began their slide: I never paid a kill fee a staple of the business. A kill fee meant the writer generally got about a quarter of the amount the story was assigned for if it didnt run for one reason or another. I had been a writer in my recent, previous life, and I knew just how brutal the whole ordeal was and how most in the trade lived from assignment fee to assignment fee. Whether we ran the story or not, the writer got paid in full. The editors job can be likened to that of a choirmaster. You have all these disparate voices. Its the editor who must somehow bring these gifted soloists together in an issue to form a sort of choral harmony. Some writers especially the ones who had been editors in the past were terrific at coming up with their own story ideas. Others relied on me and the other editors to come up with the ideas. Marie Brenner, one of my favorites, and a master at the longform journalism we practiced, had a habit of coming in with ideas that I thought were less than inspired. On a couple of occasions, I got her off her notion by telling her that she was a home-run hitter and that even if she did a brilliant job on the story she was suggesting, it could never be more than a double. You should never step up to the plate unless a home run is a possibility, I would tell her. Marie would leave the office saying how right I was, and a day or two later wed come up with an idea for her that would allow her to hit another home run. Maries body of Vanity Fair work was extraordinary. She produced one explosive story after another, many of which were turned into films, including Michael Manns 1999 film, The Insider, and Clint Eastwoods 2019 film, Richard Jewell. Writers like Marie, Sebastian Junger, Michael Lewis, Maureen Orth, and Bryan Burrough, all of whom crafted journalism like novelists, became vital parts of the Vanity Fair stable. The masthead just grew and grew. Very few people left the magazine whom we didnt want to leave. Dominick Dunne was a significant element of the franchise that I inherited and was, for a long time, a huge asset to the magazine. He could be prickly especially to the younger staff, which I was not fine with. But we needed him and, to a great extent, he needed Vanity Fair. The magazines readers devoured his dispatches from the 1993 trial of the Menendez brothers. He would soon become perhaps the most famous print journalist in the world for his monthly and knowing coverage of the O. J. Simpson courtroom circus. Vanity Fair writers like Nick were paid like no other writers. He was well on his way to earning half a million dollars a year, plus generous expenses and months of free and continuous accommodation at the Chateau Marmont or the Beverly Hills Hotel during the trials he covered for us: not just the Menendez brothers and O. J. Simpson but, later, the music impresario Phil Spector, who shot a young actress, Lana Clarkson. We treated our stable of writers like the stars they were. This meant assigning them to diligent, talented editors and dispatching flowers or bottles of Scotch at regular intervals. I bought Nick the same Christmas gift every year: a dozen square, dark-blue Smythson notebooks with his name embossed on the covers. Each one had about 200 light-blue pages. These books became a hallmark of his during the O. J. trial as he made his copious notes. Nick had filled them all by the end of the trial, and I had to give him his next Christmas batch early that year. Newsstand sales were a monthly measure of a magazines success in those days. When the numbers were good, they kept Sis lieutenants off my back. I cared about the quality more than the sales, and above all, I wanted readers to read. It was the covers, though, that sold the magazine. For the subjects of those covers, movie stars were for the most part the lingua franca of the global newsstand. Jane Sarkin, Vanity Fairs features editor, was our Hollywood and show-business conduit. She booked wrangled, as they say pretty much every cover. She also, along with Krista Smith, our West Coast editor, organized the photo portfolios embedded in our Hollywood issues. Jane cultivated and dined with agents and publicists. She described herself when she was interviewed about one of her covers as a very ordinary girl from New Jersey. But Jane wasnt ordinary; she was exceptional. She had started as a receptionist at Andy Warhols Interview magazine and rose, she would say, because while she was working, most of the rest of the staff was in the basement doing coke and having sex. Jane loved the world of movie stars and celebrities, and they trusted her. Jane had exceptional stamina as a celebrity handler and ego-tamer skills that came in useful when keeping agents, publicists, and overbearing managers at bay. She also kept them away from me, for which I will be eternally grateful. In addition to all of this, she served as Annie Leibovitzs full-time in-house connection. What I appreciated about Jane was that despite the operatic drama surrounding her job, she never ever came to me with a problem, only with a solution. Among her gets was the first picture, taken by Annie, of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmess baby, Suri. Its hard to imagine now that this was a great national obsession. But in the spring of 2006, it was. Because the couple hadnt wanted publicity for their newborn child, rumors and conspiracy theories built to a fever pitch: They hadnt actually had a baby; they had, but it had been taken away by the Scientologists; or, alternatively, there was a baby, but it wasnt Katies. In 2006, Cruise was the biggest star in the world, and the search for Suri was Janes big truffle hunt. She had worked on many covers with Cruise, and, after a while, she got the exclusive. He invited Jane and Annie to Telluride, where they spent a week doing the story on Suri in great secrecy. Jane wrote the cover article herself. We were so concerned about a leak that we sent Annies pictures to the printers chained to the wrist of a security guard. The pictures were stolen anyway by someone at the plant who tried to peddle them to the papers. We found the person and shut that operation down. With a fair amount of padding, we managed to somehow spread the Cruise family album over 22 pages. Looking back at it now, I honestly find it difficult to understand what all the fuss was about. From When the Going Was Good: An Editors Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines, by Graydon Carter (Penguin Press). . President Trumps March 20 executive order says Education Secretary Linda McMahon shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. In other words, it says that McMahon should do everything she can to dismantle the the agency without breaking federal laws, which includes eliminating any ED functions required by law. Trump said that as part of his effort to close the agency, critical functions such as administering federal student aid (loans and grants) and funding for students with disabilities would be transferred to other agencies. On Friday, President Trump said at a White House event that the responsibility for managing federal student aid will be transferred to the Small Business Administration, and that managing programs that assist students with disabilities will be transferred to HHS. For now, however, the ED will continue to run those programs as the law requires. Just three years ago, Emma Chumley and Katie White were in their freshman year of the Auburn University College of Nursing program. The two met by sitting next each other in math class. White laughed recalling the memory and said Chumley was her third friend she made at college. During the spring semester of their freshman year, they were both in the Human Development Family Science class, a prerequisite class in the nursing program, with Caroline Payne-Purvis as the teacher. Chumley, a member of the AU Honor's College, opted to contract the class and earn honors credit, which normally means completing an extra assignment or project to earn the credit. During that spring semester, Payne-Purvis said that in the fall her class had supplied meals for some Auburn City Schools families over Thanksgiving break. It was a perfect match for Chumley. "My mom is a teacher back home, and she has experienced so many students who have faced food insecurity. It was kind of like second nature that in our house I would watch my parents pack food up for my mom to take to school to students," Chumley said. "It was never a second thought to do that." During the 2022 spring break, Chumley, with White as her de facto partner on the project, picked up where Payne-Purvis left off, feeding 23 families with breakfasts, lunches and snacks for five days, according to auburnsustenanceproject.com. The project was complete, or so they thought. Just weeks later, Chumley said she heard from parents that received food through the project, wondering if it would stick around in the summertime. The two chose to continue it and that summer they fed 181 kids for five days a week, according to auburnsustenanceproject.com. More than a summer project "We thought it was just going to be like one summer project for us. But then from that, a lot of people really liked the help, and a lot of the schools reached out to us saying that they needed it," Chumley said. "It was supposed to just be kind of like an honors project one-time thing, but then we really loved it." The summer project grew into the Auburn Sustenance Project, a student organization led by Chumley as student president and White as student vice president. Later that year, they served families during Thanksgiving break and winter break as the organization grew. Chumley said they made it an organization because they saw the need and wanted the organization to still be around after they left. "I think it's so different when you are there from the get-go, and you watch the growth. And you help it kind of become what it is now," Chumley said. "Even in the future, I'm gonna be able to look at the organization and be in awe and really proud of what it's become. Because we saw it from when it was in a garage, in a driveway." No longer a two-person operation, the project has five officers, Purvis as an advisor and about 30 volunteers to pack the meals and distribute them. Just last summer, the Auburn Sustenance Project fed over 500 children. The organization provides each child five breakfasts, five lunches and 15 snacks each week to match up with what the children would be receiving if they were in school. Chumley said in summer 2024, where the Auburn Sustenance Project fed 500 children, the organization distributed around 95,000 food items. Recently, the organization completed its distribution for the Auburn City Schools' spring break. It was a full circle moment for Chumley and White, who graduate in May. The project fed 23 families that first spring break. This time around, the project fed about 500 children. "It's amazing just to see the need in Auburn," White said. "It just is so eye opening, the exponential growth of that. And then being able to get feedback from the people that we're serving is really amazing. And they love to tell us all their stories. We tell them ours. And it's really sweet." What is the Auburn Sustenance Project The Auburn Sustenance Project provides breakfast, lunch and snacks for school-age children in Auburn City Schools during school breaks such as Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break and summer break. The organization provides those meals to children that are eligible for free or reduced meals in the Auburn City Schools system. Parents can sign up through the website, receive information provided by counselors across Auburn City Schools or attend the distribution days. Chumley and White said the free or reduced meals criteria is where they start, but the organization will try to help anyone that needs assistance, whether it's a child that is not in ACS yet or a family that has fallen on hard times. "The goal of this is to feed kids, because food on the table we would hope wouldn't be the worry of somebody, and obviously it's a lot of people's worries," White said. "We want to eliminate that worry from as much people as possible. Because every kid should have food on the table. Every person should have food on the table." White said the meals are often things that are easy to make so children can make them in case their parents are not home. As for where they get the food, Chumley and White have had to turn to various sources over the years. The Auburn Sustenance Project often partners with fellow nonprofit the Food Bank of East Alabama, putting in orders for food depending on how many breakfasts and lunches the project needs. Other times, officers with the project will have to make a trip to Sam's Club and leave with pallets of food. The organization has nine drop-off locations around Auburn, which can be found at auburnsustenanceproject.com/drop-off-locations. Another way the project collects food is from Auburn students that move out of campus housing each year. Chumley said for the past two years the project has placed signs and bins in the dormitories and on-campus student housing complexes to collect unexpired, unopened, non-perishable food that the students would otherwise throw away as they leave for break or at the end of the school year. That had resulted in thousands of pounds of food for the organization. There is also monetary support, which can go toward those trips to Sam's Club. Donations can be made at auburnsustenanceproject.com. The organization has also received financial support from former AU defensive back and current member of the Washington Commanders Jonathan Jones through the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation. The project has worked to meet a growing demand When they started in 2022, they were storing the meals in the closet of Purvis's office, wherever there was space. Then they found a space in Spidal Hall, but had to move to the Research Park after a few months. They eventually outgrew that space and made the move to Auburn First Baptist Church, since Purvis is a member and had the connection. The organization uses the church parking lot for distribution of the meals to the families in need. The Auburn Sustenance Project has multiple days, including one on the weekend, where parents and families can come pick up their meals for the break. For Chumley and White, the pickup days are the best part. "At some of the distributions, we've gotten to spend some time with some of the families and talk to them about their situations and their lives and their kids and whatever it may be," Chumley said. "So being able to hear some specific stories, and people tell us how helpful it is, thanking us and how they're able to use the food has been really rewarding. (It) moved me to tears, makes me feel really happy about what we're able to do for people." With the donations from students, there are times when the organization receives items that does not necessarily fit into their breakfast, lunch and snack criteria. But those items aren't wasted. Instead, they give families at pickup the option for just a little extra. "Families have really enjoyed that. Not only for the fact that they can actually pick because (when) we're giving them bags, we're not letting them shop in a way. But they can shop through that, which I think they really enjoy," White said. "Then also it's just kind of like a treat, like maybe candy or soda they don't usually get," White said.. They have also found that the need extends beyond school breaks. According to an article from the AU Office of Communications and Marketing, the organization also provides snacks for teachers to give to students in kindergarten through fifth grade during school. According to the article, the students are required to bring a snack, but many times there are children that do not have one. "We had talked to a lot of teachers, and they just talked about how the kids sometimes don't have the snack," White said. "The teachers were going and buying the snacks out of their own pockets. And we were like, 'Hey, we have an organization. We are willing to help y'all out with this.'" Leaving behind a legacy Spring break 2025 is likely to be Chumley and White's last major distribution with the Auburn Sustenance Project. The organization is prepping for summer, but Chumley and White will be graduating in May and heading to Birmingham to work as night-shift nurses at Children's of Alabama. "It's sad that we're about to leave and about to graduate, but I love knowing that even though we're leaving, the project is going to continue on," Chumley said. "The amount of people that it's going to help is just going to continue to grow and grow. And I really love that." They are looking for officers to fill their positions with the project, and while they acknowledged that being an officer on the project means working during breaks like Thanksgiving and winter break, they both emphasized the importance of the work. As they get ready to head to Birmingham, the pair did not rule out doing something like this there, though they will both have to look at their schedules first. While the Auburn Sustenance Project has impacted hundreds of children in the community, it has also made an impact on the two that founded it. Chumley and White both grew alongside the organization and learned from it over the years. Looking back, Chumley credits Auburn University for the opportunity to create an organization like the Auburn Sustenance Project and hopes other students can find similar success in serving their communities. "You can find a mission field right where you are. You can find people in need. You can find ways to give back so close to your home and so close to your community," Chumley said. "Wherever you are, there's a mission there that's needed, and if you can find that, you can make such a big impact right where you are with the people around you." via GIPHY Happy Thursday, bbs! what are we watching this week? Trench Safety Summit to Feature Training, Live Demos, and Survivor Keynote Virginia hosts Trench Safety Summit to enhance excavation safety with training and live demonstrations. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), in partnership with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA), will host the 2025 Virginia Trench Safety Summit on April 22 at the Virginia Public Safety Training Center in Hanover. The event, aimed at enhancing trench and excavation safety for workers and contractors, will feature keynote speaker Eric Giguere, a trench collapse survivor, sharing his harrowing story and emphasizing the importance of safety practices. The summit will also include training sessions led by Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) staff, providing updates on OSHA standards and best practices. Attendees will experience live demonstrations on hydraulic shoring, proper use of aluminum and steel trench boxes, and a trench rescue operation led by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and Henrico County Division of Fire. Registration is required for the free event, which includes breakfast and lunch. To learn more, visit NAXSAs website. The summit supports DOLI VOSHs mission to foster safe workplaces and build a culture of injury-free careers, with VILO serving as Virginias Center for Excellence in safety education. Adding to the bullish case, the U.S. introduced new sanctions targeting Iranian crude shipments, including Chinese "teapot" refinersprivate firms that process a major portion of Irans oil exports. While the impact on actual flows remains uncertain, these sanctions signal a tougher stance, which could reduce Iranian crude supply over time. For traders, this event suggests a potential long trade if evidence of tightening supply emerges. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East provided strong bullish drivers for crude prices this week. The U.S. escalated military action against Yemens Houthi rebels following continued attacks on Red Sea shipping. Given that this waterway handles a significant portion of global oil transport, any disruption here could tighten supplies and lift prices. Meanwhile, Israels military operations in Gaza added another layer of uncertainty, reinforcing risk premiums?. Crude oil traders faced a volatile week as prices reacted to a combination of geopolitical tensions, supply-side shifts, and macroeconomic signals. While Middle East conflicts and fresh sanctions on Iran provided bullish catalysts, downside risks emerged from Russian supply prospects, U.S. tariffs, and uncertain Chinese demand. With the market caught between these forces, traders need to assess whether the next move favors an upside breakout or a renewed selloff. Crude oil traders faced a volatile week as prices reacted to a combination of geopolitical tensions, supply-side shifts, and macroeconomic signals. While Middle East conflicts and fresh sanctions on Iran provided bullish catalysts, downside risks emerged from Russian supply prospects, U.S. tariffs, and uncertain Chinese demand. With the market caught between these forces, traders need to assess whether the next move favors an upside breakout or a renewed selloff. Middle East Conflicts and Sanctions Create Bullish Setups Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East provided strong bullish drivers for crude prices this week. The U.S. escalated military action against Yemens Houthi rebels following continued attacks on Red Sea shipping. Given that this waterway handles a significant portion of global oil transport, any disruption here could tighten supplies and lift prices. Meanwhile, Israels military operations in Gaza added another layer of uncertainty, reinforcing risk premiums?. Adding to the bullish case, the U.S. introduced new sanctions targeting Iranian crude shipments, including Chinese "teapot" refinersprivate firms that process a major portion of Irans oil exports. While the impact on actual flows remains uncertain, these sanctions signal a tougher stance, which could reduce Iranian crude supply over time. For traders, this event suggests a potential long trade if evidence of tightening supply emerges. Chinas Stimulus vs. Demand RealityA Mixed Trading Signal Chinas economic moves presented both bullish and bearish opportunities. On one hand, Beijing introduced new stimulus measures aimed at boosting domestic consumption, including income-boosting policies. This was accompanied by stronger-than-expected retail sales data, which is typically a positive indicator for oil demand. Traders betting on a demand-driven rally saw reasons to hold long positions as the news broke. However, actual crude imports tell a different story. Chinas oil imports fell 2.1% year-over-year, suggesting refiners may not be absorbing as much crude as bullish forecasts predict. This divergence creates uncertainty: If Chinese consumption fails to pick up, oil prices could face renewed selling pressure. Short traders may look for confirmation of weak refinery demand before positioning for further downside. Bearish Supply Pressures from Russia and Venezuela Despite the bullish backdrop from geopolitical risks, supply-side developments introduced bearish risks. Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled a pause in attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, potentially opening the door for increased Russian crude exports. Although sanctions remain in place, traders are pricing in the possibility of higher Russian flows, which could weigh on oil prices. This creates a potential short-selling opportunity if Russian supply expansion becomes evident. Similarly, Venezuelas PDVSA continued crude exports through its joint venture with Chevron, even as uncertainty looms over U.S. licensing policies. If Venezuelan supply remains steady or increases, it could add to global inventories, pressuring prices lower. Short positions could benefit from this scenario, particularly if demand growth fails to offset the additional barrels. U.S. Tariffs and Economic Risks Add to Downside Potential U.S. tariff policies presented another bearish element. New trade restrictions on Canada, Mexico, and China fueled concerns over global economic growth. Tariffs reduce trade efficiency and could slow industrial activity, directly impacting energy demand. Goldman Sachs revised its oil price forecast lower, citing these risks as a reason for weaker crude consumption in the coming months. For traders, this presents a key risk-off signal. If the global economic outlook deteriorates due to tariff escalations, demand-driven longs become riskier, and short positions on weaker demand could gain traction. U.S. Inventory Data Offers Conflicting Signals Crude inventory reports added to market uncertainty. A 4.59 million-barrel increase in U.S. crude stockpiles was bearish, indicating weaker short-term demand. However, gasoline and distillate inventories fell sharply, suggesting refined product demand remains strong. This creates a nuanced trade setup: If crude stock builds persist, they could weigh on prices and favor shorts. However, if refined product demand remains robust, it could signal stronger summer fuel consumption, making crude a buying opportunity on dips. Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures Trend Indicator Analysis The main trend is up according to the weekly swing chart, however, momentum is trending lower with the market trading on the bearish side of the 52-week moving average at $70.84. This is new resistance along with a pair of pivots at $69.31 and $70.57. The downside momentum indicates traders have their eyes on three key bottoms, $65.01, $64.54 and $61.37. Weekly Technical Forecast The direction of the Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures market the week ending March 28 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to $66.83. Bullish Scenario A sustained move over $66.83 will signal the presence of strong buyers. If this creates enough near-term momentum, we could see a possible retest of $69.31 to $70.57. Although it wont create a bullish scenario, per se, a steep plunge into $65.01 to $61.37 could bring in the bottom-pickers, which may fuel a strong short-covering rally. Essentially, traders looking for value may like this support area. However, were not going to turn outright bullish until we see a close over the 52-week moving average at $70.84. Bearish Scenario A sustained move under $66.83 will indicate the presence of sellers. The weekly chart indicates there is plenty of room to the downside with the first target $65.01, followed by $64.54 and $61.37. Market Outlook: Key Trading Opportunities in a Tight Range Crude oil remains in a choppy range, with both bullish and bearish forces competing for control. The bullish case hinges on further geopolitical escalations, continued Middle East tensions, and the potential for Chinas stimulus to lift demand. Traders looking for long setups should monitor these developments, with a breakout above $70 signaling stronger upside momentum?. On the bearish side, increasing Russian and Venezuelan supply, combined with global economic risks from U.S. tariffs, could limit gains. Short trades could gain traction if evidence of rising supply pressures emerges or if Chinas demand disappoints. A break below $66 would suggest further downside risk, potentially pulling crude toward the mid-$60s. For now, the market offers opportunities for both long and short trades, but confirmation of key events will determine which side gains the upper hand. Technically, what better way to define a rangebound trade than with a test of a pair of 50% levels at $69.31 and $70.57. Linear traders are likely to read this as bullish over $70.57 and bearish under $69.31. And without a major catalyst driving the price action convincingly, its the only way to look at it. However, some longer-term traders, particularly the hedge funds, most like have their eyes on the 52-week moving average at $70.84 for near-term direction. Are traders going to sell into $70.84 this week, or wait for an exciting breakout? It will all depend on the strength of the catalyst driving the buying. Israel has resumed ground operations in Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire deal and killing some 100 people in the first round, with the next phase of war less likely to contribute as much to oil price volatility, which is now centered more on tariffs and real fundamentals. Hamas was set to arrive in Cairo on Thursday to attempt to revive ceasefire talks, but we are not optimistic. Netanyahus coalition would likely not survive without the Gaza war, which will continue unabated until that is secured. It will have nothing to do with DC directly. In the meantime, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have been given the green light to resume attacks on U.S. forces in both Iraq and Syria should Washington fail to withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year, as Iran eyes its final strategic move to control Iraq. This is merely a reminder to Washington to honor its deal with Baghdad to withdraw a significant number of forces by September this year, with the rest to exit the following year. But the immediate impact on oil prices will more likely be Washingtons bombardment this week of Houthi positions in Yemen, which is intended to decimate the Houthis but could also simply reignite the battle in the Red Sea, a waterway that will be the focal point of the next major conflict far beyond Gaza. Overnight on Thursday, the U.S. launched airstrikes on multiple targets in Yemen, in Houthi-controlled Saada province and the Red Sea port city, Hodeida. The attacks were confirmed by - Consultancy PwC forecasts that the US EV adoption rate would rise to 30% of all vehicle sales by the end of this decade, mostly due to the cheapening of available models, rising further to 60% by 2040. - US grid operators would need to balance the growing demand of AI data centers and higher deployment rates of electric vehicles, as the latter creates additional power demand of 100-180 TWh per year by 2030. - Crude production in Alaska peaked at 2 million b/d in 1988 and has been declining since due to production declines in the mature fields of Prudhoe Bay, high E&P costs, and limited leasing activity. - As recently as last year, then-President Joe Biden banned drilling on 28 million acres of Alaskan federal land and restricted oil development in the NPR-Alaska, which is estimated to hold 895 million barrels of untapped oil. - Whilst allowing for new licensing would be a welcome change for Alaska where the 2025 ANWR lease sale drew no bids whatsoever after the Biden administration restricted acreage, it would take months if not years to finalize the lengthy comments period. - The US Department of Interior has announced its plan this week to pursue the reopening of 82% of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to leasing and energy project development as well as mining. Trump Puts Alaska Back on the Oil Map - The US Department of Interior has announced its plan this week to pursue the reopening of 82% of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to leasing and energy project development as well as mining. - Whilst allowing for new licensing would be a welcome change for Alaska where the 2025 ANWR lease sale drew no bids whatsoever after the Biden administration restricted acreage, it would take months if not years to finalize the lengthy comments period. - As recently as last year, then-President Joe Biden banned drilling on 28 million acres of Alaskan federal land and restricted oil development in the NPR-Alaska, which is estimated to hold 895 million barrels of untapped oil. - Crude production in Alaska peaked at 2 million b/d in 1988 and has been declining since due to production declines in the mature fields of Prudhoe Bay, high E&P costs, and limited leasing activity. Americas EV Expansion Confronts Limited Grid Capacity - US grid operators would need to balance the growing demand of AI data centers and higher deployment rates of electric vehicles, as the latter creates additional power demand of 100-180 TWh per year by 2030. - Consultancy PwC forecasts that the US EV adoption rate would rise to 30% of all vehicle sales by the end of this decade, mostly due to the cheapening of available models, rising further to 60% by 2040. - Two of the US largest states, California and Texas, already face grid constraints with EV charging, routinely experiencing peak grid stress after solar generation declines during evening hours, worsened by summers cooling demand. - Analysts suggest that California would soon move to a fully flexible electricity pricing scheme, with hour-ahead and 15-minute ahead power prices incentivizing consumers to dovetail their charging with lower electricity rates. Trumps Romance with Beautiful, Clean Coal Might Run Aground - US President Trumps promise of reviving beautiful clean coal might be more difficult than assumed, with a total of 71 coal plants slated for decommissioning by the end of this decade as power generators themselves transitioning to a gas-heavy baseload structure. - Before Trumps coal push, the EIA signaled that US power generators intend to decommission 8.1 GW of coal-fired capacity this year, double the amount that was retired in 2024, including some of the largest US plants out there. - Coal was supposed to make up 66% of all capacity retirements this year, including the 1.8 GW Intermountain Power Project in Utah that is set to be replaced with an 840 MW natural gas plant. - King Coal accounted for a mere 15% of US electricity generation in 2024, down from more than 50% in 2001, suggesting that higher coal exports out of the US could be the bridging mechanism between more robust mining and laxer regulations. UK Opens Investigation into US Biodiesel Dumping in Europe - The UK Trade Remedies Authority has launched an anti-dumping investigation into US exports of hydrotreated vegetable oil, routinely used as a biodiesel feedstock, suspecting that unfairly low prices threaten local producers margins. - Currently, the UK maintains a 7% biodiesel mandate, importing 238,000 metric tonnes of US-origin HVO last year to meet that target, boosting trade in the commodity after the UK got rid of EU-wide tariffs on US hydrotreated vegetable oil. - UK producers of biodiesel generally face higher feedstock costs, preferring used cooking oil instead of waste lipids and virgin oils available to US refiners, leading to a 0.3 per liter price discrepancy between UK and US biofuels. - Mirroring the European Unions investigation into Beijings biofuel exports, the UK is concurrently investigating Chinese biodiesel pricing, reportedly mulling a 36.4% import duty. Are Defense Stocks the Big Equity Move of 2025? - Whilst Europes ESG funds have long treated defense stocks as uninvestable, the arms industry has become the hottest commodity to invest this year, sending actively managed funds up by 37% since early 2025. - European defense stocks have been at the forefront of the recent rally, mostly because the markets anticipate EU countries to splash the cash on Brussels 800 billion rearmament program labeled ReArm Europe. - Rheinmetall, Germans largest arms manufacturer, is up 115% in 2025 to date and has become the single most favourite stock to hold, with 680 ESG-registered funds holding it, well above the second-placed Leonardo SpA with 485 holders. - NATO is rumored to ask European countries and Canada to increase their stocks of weaponry and equipment by about 30% by the end of this decade, further facilitated by Germanys removal of borrowing restrictions for defense. Northeast Asian Refiners Keen to Resume Russian Imports - South Korean and Japanese refiners have been expressing their readiness to resume Russian oil imports in case Russia-Ukraine peace talks materialize and US sanctions are lifted. - Japan was importing 170,000-180,000 b/d of Russian oil before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the SODECO consortium reapplying and keeping its 30% stake in the Sakhalin I project, geographically the closest supply source for the country. - Japan and South Korea overwhelmingly rely on Middle Eastern imports, accounting for 95% and 73% of their intake respectively, losing the competitive edge in Northeast Asia to Chinese refiners that buy Iranian, Russian, and Venezuelan oil. - South Korea has not bought a single cargo of Russian oil in 2023-2024, however continues to buy Russian coal (albeit in lower quantities than before 2022), whilst Japan imported its last Russian cargo in January 2023. US Copper Price Soar As if Theres No Tomorrow - Copper prices on the COMEX exchange have soared above the $11,000 per metric tonne threshold this week, the first time on record, as Donald Trumps copper tariffs have created an unprecedented buying frenzy. - COMEX copper prices are up almost 30% since the start of the year, almost double of LMEs 14% year-to-date increase, with the US premium over global prices rising above $1,200 per metric tonne. - Spearheaded by global commodity traders Trafigura, Glencore, and Gunvor, some 100,000-150,000 of copper stocks stored across Asia have been moved out and are currently en route to the United States, setting the stage for the highest monthly import volume since 136,951 metric tonnes in January 2022. - Frenzied US buying of copper is also draining the usual Chile-to-China export flows, with analysts expecting Chinese imports of the metal to drop by as much as 30-35% in April-May as East-to-West arbitrage remains wide open. The United States last year added the most pipeline takeaway capacity from natural gas-producing regions since 2021. This year, more gas pipelines could be announced or revived, with the support of the Trump Administration, in what could be a shot in the arm for U.S. natural gas producers and a step toward reducing energy costs for consumers, especially in the Northeast. Five completed pipelines to deliver natural gas from the producing regions to demand centers in the mid-Atlantic and along the U.S. Gulf Coast, another five projects to boost feedgas capacity to LNG export plants in Texas and Louisiana, and several new smaller interstate and intrastate pipeline projects increased Americas natural gas pipeline capacity by a total of 17.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2024, data from the EIA showed this week. Mountain Valley Pipeline, Regional Energy Access Project, Louisiana Energy Access Project (LEAP) Phase 3, Matterhorn Express Pipeline, and Verde Pipeline boosted the natural gas takeaway capacity from the Appalachia, Haynesville, Permian, and Eagle Ford regions by 6.5 Bcf/d. Another five pipeline projects completed last year in Texas and Louisiana increased capacity to deliver natural gas to U.S. LNG export terminals by approximately 8.5 Bcf/d, according to the EIAs latest Natural Gas Pipeline Projects tracker. These are the ADCC Pipeline to the Corpus Christi Stage 3 LNG project, TC Energys Gillis Access project that can transport natural gas from Haynesville to LNG export terminals along the Gulf Coast, Venture Global Gator Expresss Gator Express Pipeline of two pipeline segments to the Plaquemines LNG plant in Louisiana, and Texas Eastern Transmissions Venice Extension Project that can move up to 1.3 Bcf/d of natural gas to the Plaquemines LNG export terminal. Smaller interstate and intrastate pipeline projects added another nearly 3.0 Bcf/d combined of natural gas pipeline capacity last year, according to EIAs pipeline tracker. New gas pipeline takeaway capacity rose in both 2023 and 2024, from the 2022 lows when fewer than 5 Bcf/d of total new capacity was added in the U.S. The 2024 additions were more than triple in capacity compared to the 2022 annual additions and the highest since 2021 when more than 20 Bcf/d of new gas pipeline takeaway capacity was added. Increased takeaway capacity to move natural gas from the top shale gas plays in the Appalachia and Gulf regions is welcome news for U.S. gas-focused producers, which are set to raise output this year amid rising prices, after stagnation in 2024 and curtailments in well completions due to the multi-year low prices last year. Takeaway capacity additions could accelerate in the coming months and years as the Trump Administration strongly favors increased oil and gas production and the build-out of infrastructure to bring more domestic energy to consumers. Last week, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Fox Business that work on the previously scrapped Constitution Pipeline to bring natural gas through New York into New England could start by the end of this year. Williams Companies, which had proposed the Constitution Pipeline, axed it in 2020 after failing to receive all necessary approvals in the state of New York. The pipeline would be such a win, win, win, Secretary Wright told Mornings with Maria on Friday. No one loses by this, but silly politics of several years ago stopped these in the first go round. But I think it's quite likely these pipelines will be under construction before this year is over, Wright said. Williams Companies told Reuters that it appreciates President Donald Trumps support for reviving the Constitution Pipeline project and could look to relaunch it if there is support from governors in the region, including New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. We are interested in building the Constitution pipeline, provided there is sufficient customer demand and support from Northeast governors, including Governor Hochul, to mitigate the risk of costly permitting delays, court battles, and injunctions during construction, Williams said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices were set for another weekly gain today, driven higher by fresh U.S. sanctions on Irans energy industry and OPEC+ efforts to rein in production. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $72.28 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $68.26 per barrel, both up from opening and both about $1 higher than they were at the start of the week. The U.S. Department of Treasury yesterday announced another round of sanctions against Iran as part of President Trumps maximum pressure campaign against Tehran that aims to bring the countrys oil exports down to zero as a means of preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon and funding militant organizations in the Middle East. What makes these sanctions different is that the entities sanctioned by the U.S. this time include a private Chinese refinerfor the first time. As a result, ANZ analysts expect Iranian oil exports to shrink by as much as 1 million bpd. So-called 'teapot' refinery purchases of Iranian oil provide the primary economic lifeline for the Iranian regime, the worlds leading state sponsor of terror and the primary backer of the murderous Houthis in Yemen, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an X post, as quoted by Reuters. On Thursday, OPEC+ released a plan for seven laggards in the cuts that need to compensate for overproduction. Per that plan, the seven members of the group will be cutting their combined production by between 189,000 barrels daily and 435,000 barrels daily, with these compensation cuts set to last until June next year. This compares to a daily production volume of 138,000 bpd that OPEC+ agreed to bring back to market from next month as part of original plans to wind down production cuts at some point when market conditions allow it. The wind-down is reversible, however, as Russias Alexander Novak reminded the media recently. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The European Commission is considering a plan under which Ukraine would boost natural gas imports from Greece and Turkey, store the gas, and send it in the winter via Slovakia to other EU countries, POLITICO reports, as the EU is seeking to resolve a Slovakia-Ukraine dispute over gas transit and lost fees. Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico has defied the EU and met with Putin in Moscow at the end of December to discuss Russian gas supply to Slovakia ahead of the halt to deliveries via Ukraine. On December 31, the supply deal for Russian gas to Europe transiting Ukraine expired, and deliveries stopped on January 1, after Ukraine said it would not pursue an extension of the transit agreement. At 0500 GMT on New Years Day, Gazprom halted pipeline deliveries, and the last remaining EU members that were still receiving gas from Russia until December 31 Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary lost this source of supply. Slovakia also lost transit fees estimated at about $542 million (500 million euros) per year. A day ahead of the stoppage of the supply via Ukraine, Slovakia threatened to suspend electricity deliveries to Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his decision to not extend the natural gas transit deal with Gazprom. The new plan considered by the EU would allow for the storage of up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas in Ukrainian storage sites for shipment via pipelines in Slovakia without having to buy Russian gas, POLITICO reported on Friday, quoting officials with knowledge of the talks. This plan would make Slovakia a transit country again, an official with the European Commission told POLITICO. It would also align with the EUs REPowerEU objectives to phase out imports of Russian gas by 2027, the official added. At a visit to Ukraine last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU will seize the full potential of Ukraine's vast gas storages, of which 80% are located close to EU Member States. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Germany has seized an oil tanker of the Russian shadow fleet that was found adrift in the Baltic Sea in January, German magazine Spiegel reported on Friday, quoting security sources. The tanker, Eventin, was traveling under the flag of Panama when German authorities said in January that the vessel, belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, was stuck in German waters in the Baltic Sea. The tanker had lost power and steering and was found adrift in the sea, north of the German island of Rugen. Germany secured the vessel and blamed Russia for the use of a shadow fleet of tankers. Russia is endangering our European security not only with its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, but also with severed cables, displaced border buoys, disinformation campaigns, GPS jammers and, as we have seen, dilapidated oil tankers, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at the time. Two months after the incident was reported, Germany has now seized the tanker along with its cargo of about 100,000 tons of crude oil, Spiegel reports. The ship and the cargo, which is worth about $43 million (40 million euros), are now the property of Germany. The tankers original route was to ship the oil from the Russian port of Ust-Luga through the Baltic Sea to Port Said in Egypt. When found adrift in German waters, the tanker was towed to the waters off Sassnitz, due to an imminent danger of oil spill from the decrepit vessel. German coast guard and federal police have been monitoring the tanker since then, Spiegel reports. Eventin was included in the latest EU sanctions against Russia at the end of February. The EUs 16th sanctions package against Russia targeted 74 additional vessels, bringing the total number of sanctioned vessels to 153. These vessels are part of the shadow fleet or contributed to Russia's energy revenues, the EU said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Indias dependence on crude oil imports is on track to set a record high in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, as Indian fuel demand continues to grow while domestic crude production remains flat. India imported 88.2% of the crude it consumed in the April 2024-February 2025 period, according to oil ministry data reported by The Indian Express. The import dependence has increased from 87.7% in the same period of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, the data showed. The Indian import dependence in the full 2023/2024 fiscal year averaged 87.8%. As import and demand trends have shown in recent months, the 2024/2025 fiscal year will see an even higher an all-time high reliance on crude oil imports. India last year surpassed China as the worlds largest oil demand driver, amid growing demand for fuel transportation in India and slowing gasoline and diesel demand in China due to the advance of electric vehicles and LNG-fueled trucks in the worlds top crude oil importer. In the near term, Indian refiners are on the lookout for funding to build new refineries as they seek to expand their refining capacity to meet growing domestic demand for fuels amid higher-than-average economic growth and rising middle-class numbers. India, however, remains vulnerable to oil price shocks as its need for imported crude continues to grow. Thats why the country, which is the worlds third-biggest crude importer after China and the U.S., has turned to cheap Russian oil unwanted and sanctioned by the West. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the bans on Russian oil in the West, India has become a key buyer of Russian crude, alongside China. Russia, for its part, became the single biggest oil supplier to India. Indian imports of crude oil from Russia appear to be rebounding in March following lower purchases earlier this year in the immediate aftermath of the January U.S. sanctions on Russias oil trade. Traders have booked more non-sanctioned tankers to deliver crude to India, while the price of Russias flagship Urals grade has dropped to below the $60 per barrel price cap by the G7, allowing shipments involving Western companies, Reuters reported earlier this month, citing ship-tracking data and trading sources. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Kazakhstans oil production reached an all-time high in March despite the countrys continued pledges to start complying with its OPEC+ quota that it has been exceeding for years. As international supermajors are expanding oilfields in Kazakhstan, the non-OPEC producer part of the OPEC+ pact pumped as much as 2.16 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and condensate in the first half of March, industry sources told Reuters on Friday. In February, oil and condensate production averaged 2.12 million bpd. Under the OPEC+ agreement, Kazakhstans crude oil production quota is 1.468 million bpd. The deal doesnt cover condensate production and has no limits on it. Kazakhstans crude production in the period March 1-16 was as much as 1.86 million bpd, nearly 400,000 bpd above the quota, according to Reuters calculations based on data from industry sources. Kazakhstan has been consistently overproducing above its OPEC+ limit and is one of the biggest overproducers alongside Iraq and Russia. This year, the overproduction issue has become even greater after U.S. supermajor Chevron in January started up oil production at an expansion project at the largest oilfield in Kazakhstan that would boost crude oil output by 260,000 bpd. Chevron achieved first oil at the Future Growth Project (FGP) at the giant Tengiz field. FGP is the third processing plant in operation at the Tengiz oilfield, which expands sour gas injection capability and is expected to ramp up output to 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). Kazakhstan appears to find it hard to convince Chevron and the other supermajors operating in the country to limit production now after years of investing billions of U.S. dollars in oilfield expansions. Amid tensions with OPEC+ and the oil majors, Kazakhstan said earlier this week that energy minister Almassadam Satkaliyev would step down from the role and lead a newly minted atomic energy agency. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The United States just flipped the script on critical minerals, and Beijing is going to need a minute to process. In a whirlwind 24 hours, a Chinese-backed cobalt deal in the Democratic Republic of Congo got axed, Trump teased a rare earths pact with Ukraine, and a Gates-backed mining firm made a play for Congolese lithium. If thats not a full-court press on Chinas mineral dominance, what is? Lets start with Chemaf Resources Ltd., a cobalt and copper mine in Congo backed by Trafigura that was all set to be gobbled up by Chinas Norin Mining Ltd. Unfortunately for China, Congo didnt approve the deal. That means the sale is dead in the water, and Washington is quietly high-fiving itself. Its just the latest of three big moves for the United States in the critical minerals space in the last two days. And its not just big news for the United Statesits big for China as well. China already controls an absurd percentage of the worlds cobalt supply, and blocking this deal helps slow Beijings mineral monopoly. The problem? Chemaf is drowning in $900 million of debt, and without an easy off-ramp to China, it now needs a new plan to stay afloat. Meanwhile, over in Washington, Trump is swinging his executive order pen like a hammer at the U.S.s reliance on foreign minerals. His latest includes tapping emergency powers to boost domestic production of critical mineralsand maybe even coal. Hes also finalizing a minerals deal with Ukraine, which, considering the ongoing war, adds another layer of geopolitical spice. And just when it looked like the United States was done shaking things up, KoBold Metalsa mining firm backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezosdropped a proposal to take over one of the worlds richest lithium deposits in Congo. This would throw another wrench into Chinas grip on Africas minerals and potentially resolve a messy dispute between Australias AVZ Minerals, Chinas Zijin Mining, and the Congolese government. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. firm KoBold Metals, whose backers include billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, is seeking to develop a huge hard rock lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the African country, which also has large cobalt, gold, and cobalt resources, is seeking a minerals partnership with the United States. KoBold Metals has set sights on taking over a mining license for an area, the Manono project, which promises large lithium deposits. The U.S. firm would welcome the opportunity to develop the asset, Sandy Alexander, the chief legal officer of KoBold Metals, wrote in a letter to Congos president seen by Bloomberg News. The Roche Dure resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo has the potential to become a large-scale, long-lived lithium mine, KoBolds Alexander wrote in the letter to the chief of staff of the Democratic Republic of Congos President Felix Tshisekedi dated January 21. Investment in the deposit has been impeded by a legal dispute between Australian firm AVZ Minerals Ltd, Chinas Zijin Mining Group Co, and the government of the DRC. Two years ago, the DRC canceled AVZ Minerals exploration license. It divided the exploration area into two separate areas and handed one of them to the Chinese firm Zijin. AVZ Minerals earlier this month won a compensation case at the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) over the project. AVZ Minerals also said that it is in discussions with several U.S.-based parties to raise funding for the lithium project. KoBold says that it is using AI to explore for minerals. Currently, the company backed by U.S. entrepreneurs and billionaires is exploring more than 70 projects worldwide. KoBold Metals could consider bringing in partners to fast-track the development of a new copper mine in another African country, Zambia, that could cost about $2 billion, the start-ups co-founder and president Josh Goldman told Reuters last month. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The spread between copper futures in New York and London has widened significantly, reflecting the market's reaction to the potential US trade actions. Copper prices have risen above $10,000 per ton on the London Metal Exchange due to fears of potential US tariffs, causing traders to rush copper into the US market. Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange surpassed $10,000 per ton on Thursday, driven by concerns over President Trump's potential tariff expansion on the crucial industrial metal used in everything from electric vehicles to power grids. Traders are rushing to deliver copper into the US before potential tariffs later this year. On Feb. 25, President Trump signed an executive order directing the US Department of Commerce to investigate the potential national security risks of copper imports, which could lead to tariffs on all copper importsincluding raw mined copper, copper concentrates, refined copper, copper alloys, scrap copper, and certain derivative products. Since then, US prices have surged, and traders have been rushing to send their metal to the US ahead of tariffs, thereby tightening global supplies. The Secretary of Commerce will submit a report to the president 270 days from when the executive order was signed. According to BMO analysts, while the destination of copper exiting LME warehouses remains unknown, US trade data shows copper imports are increasing. "This is a round of cross-regional repricing triggered by potential US tariffs," said Wei Lai, deputy trading head at Zijin Mining Investment Shanghai, adding, "Cargoes are lured to the US, leaving other places in shortfall. Buying sentiment is very strong." On Thursday, LME copper prices increased by a half percentage point to $10,046 a ton the highest level since October while prices on New York's Comex inched closer to record highs. The spread between the copper Comex futures and LME futures widened to more than $1,254 per ton this week, surpassing its February peak of around $1,149. "Copper just keeps grinding as it takes out $10k, we said it will overshoot, and its overshooting! Nothing more to my eye than this is when GIR expect refined metal tightness to deliver deficits (2Q25 onwards) and US is dragging metal in that will be stranded," Goldman analyst James McGeoch penned in a note to clients earlier. Last month, Goldman's Eoin Dinsmore and others reinitiated their coverage of copper with a new medium-run $10,500-11,500/t range forecast. This call was based on three drivers: Strong Electrification Demand . We believe the electrification megatrend will continue to reshape copper demand. That became clear in 2024, when despite a 10% drop in copper demand from the China construction sector, electrification drove a solid 4% YoY increase in China refined copper demand. Electrification will account for all copper demand growth to 2030. And the grid alone makes up over 50% of the growth, adding the equivalent of another US to global copper demand. China Copper Stimulus . Copper demand is set to disproportionately benefit from China stimulus in sectors such as appliances and EVs. We estimate China stimulus will add 2pp to China copper demand growth, while tariffs knock off only 0.8pp. We forecast China refined copper demand to grow by 4% in 2025, as the boost from structural electrification and stimulus well outweigh the drags from weakness in construction and tariffs. However, several stimulus programs pull forward demand, with copper demand growth slowing markedly from 2027. Ali Cap and Chile Floor . Copper demand will rise by 4Mt by 2030, requiring substantial growth in mine and scrap supply. We believe that substitution away from copper (when the copper price trades >4x the aluminium price) will cap the copper price at $10,500/t in 2025 and $11,500t in 2026. Mine supply growth will primarily come from short lead-time, low capex mines in DR Congo, but maintaining stable supply from Chile remains crucial. A price of $10,500/t will be needed by 2026 for enough new mine capacity to be developed and to avoid large deficits by the early 2030s. We think the scrap share of total demand will remain flat, offering little relief to future market tightness. The Commerce Department's investigation into copper imports is unlikely to deliver recommendations for the president until the end of the year. In the meantime, copper supplies flow into the US while global supplies tighten. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com LINCOLN The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office will order more than 100 Omaha area retailers to halt sale of Delta-8 products which local law enforcement say are mislabeled or contain dangerous levels of the psychoactive compound THC. Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced Thursday that the stores will receive letters notifying them they have 30 days to remove products before the Attorney Generals Office may sue them, threaten their tobacco licenses and possibly levy fines of up to $4,000 per transaction. Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriffs Office purchased products from stores across the county and tested their chemical composition. Hilgers said every store they visited had issues with labeling, high concentrations of THC or products with marijuana. Hilgers said deputies also found products labeled hemp that were technically marijuana due to the concentrated presence of the Delta-8 compound. This lack of proper labeling means that the stores are engaging in deceptive, unfair and unsafe trade practices and also engaging in illegal conduct, Hilgers said. Joe Fraas, president of Nebraska Healthy Alternatives Association and owner of smoke shops in Lincoln and Omaha, said Hilgers mischaracterized retailers as operating outside of laws. We are eager to be regulated, he said in an interview after the news conference. The lack of rules leads to confusion and shops selling products that some find objectionable because they may appeal to kids or have less safety testing. He said once rules are in place, most sellers will follow them. The ones that dont can face punishments. Fraas was not aware of any Omaha shops receiving a letter from Hilgers as of Thursday afternoon. The Legislature passed a law in 2019 that allowed hemp products containing no more than 0.3% of Delta-9, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. The law unintentionally allowed for other high-inducing cannabinoids like Delta-8. Hilgers said the compounds concentration in hemp is insignificant, but that loophole in the law created a market for synthetic Delta-8. Hilgers touted Legislative Bill 316 as a fix. The bill, from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, would ban Delta-8. Kauth stood alongside Hilgers at the news conference, along with Sen. Jared Storm of David City, who prioritized her bill. Fraas and his association have advocated for LB 16 from Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha. That bill proposes regulations for the industry, like requiring a license to vend Delta-8 products, limiting products to people 21 and older and setting packaging regulations. It would also generate revenue through licensing fees and taxes. Neither bill has made it to the full Legislature for a floor debate. This is an industry not to be trusted, Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson said. He compared shopping for the products to ordering a beer and receiving unregulated moonshine because the dosages of THC are much higher and more impactful than consumers expect. Hanson said his office is working with the attorney general in the name of consumer protection. If people dont know what theyre ingesting, if they dont know what theyre putting in their bodies, people are going to get hurt, Hanson said. Hilgers office previously sued retailers in Norfolk to crack down on Delta-8, asserting that shops were violating the Consumer Protection Act and the Nebraska Pure Food Act. The office has settled 12 of 15 of those suits. The suits in Norfolk should have been a wake-up call to stores across Nebraska to take a look at their inventory and foresee similar sweeps, Hilgers said. In my view, Ive been reaching out to the entire industry for the entire industry for last year and a half, Hilgers said. Law enforcement did not notify stores that they would purchase products to test the contents. Hanson, Hilgers and Kauth each shared stories of people becoming dangerously inebriated or even comatose after ingesting Delta-8, saying those experiences are evidence that Delta-8 does not belong in Nebraska. Fraas disagreed regarding the dangers of Delta-8. He said it can have adverse effects if someone takes too much or ingests it unknowingly, but that person is not going to overdose fatally from THC. Packaging regulations that clarify products are for adults and the THC dosage could address that, he said. Hilgers has said Norfolk and Omaha are just the first places he wants to crack down on Delta-8 and said he plans similar efforts across Nebraska. However, he said if the Legislature adopts a statewide ban, he would rethink his enforcement strategy. By Lars Larson NW and national radio host, Nine people died in the Santiam Creek fire five years ago and 5-thousand homes burned. A month ago, a jury decided PacificCorp should pay millions to victims in one of the biggest lawsuit judgments in Oregon history. The Oregon Department of Forestry finally released its investigation of the fire. Yes, it says there were 7 fires started at power lines but all of those were quickly extinguished. The rest of the fires started from embers flying off the Beachie Creek fire burning on badly managed Federal forest land. Every year, the Northwest suffers from the bad management of state and federal lands. Private lands burn only rarelyand in most cases, those fires start on public lands. When we had active logging and forest management, the Northwest saw 35 years with NO big fires at all. Now, Oregon and Washington see one million acres go up in flames in every average yearand more in the extraordinary years. I know how badly lawyers WANT someone with deep pockets like a utility company to blamebut we all know the real guilty parties. Their names show up on the ballots you mark every couple of years. Thats the Rose City Rap. Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of Honestly provocative talk. Im Lars Larson There was a time when plastics were celebrated. In Charles Webbs 1963 novel The Graduate, Benjamin Braddock, a new alumnus of a small eastern college gets some pithy advice about his future: One word plastics. That scene was nicely captured in Mike Nicholss 1967 film adaptation. Well, perhaps that wasnt so much of a celebration. The novel was a mockery of modern society, and the ubiquity of industrial applications of polymers has been a target for the romantic rejection of modernity ever since. SB 551 is the next installment of Oregons state-wide plastic bag ban. The chief sponsors, Senator Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro) and Representatives Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville) and Tom Anderson (D-Salem) would ban plastic shopping bags entirely. So they think the thicker ones that shoppers must statutorily pay for need to be replaced by more expensive paper bags. For some people, this is no big deal. Why pay more for paper bags, when you can carry around your own durable canvas bag along with your metal straw in the frunk of your electric vehicle which also contains the invoice for the new heat pump you ordered? Behaviors that provide some people a sense of transcendence sometimes make their way into legislation mandating the lifestyle on everyone. This bill also extends Oregons straw policy. We dont fully ban plastic straws in the Beaver State. You must ask for them. Somehow that has evolved in practice to a customary question from businesses to customers: do you want a straw? Instead of having to ask, you just need to say yes. That may be technically illegal. I dont know, but now well face the same question as plastic utensils, single-serving plastic packaging condiments, coffee creamer, jelly, and soy sauce become controlled substances. Do you want a fork sir? Senator Sollman says this will not just be good for the environment. It will save businesses money too, she claims. Where is the evidence for that? Might the monetary value of the time spent asking for permission to supply you with soy sauce add to the labor costs of a Chinese restaurant that exceeds the marginal cost of a couple of packets of salty bean water? Such policies dont get serious economic analysis. They are cultural in nature, not commercial. And what evidence is there this will have a material impact on the accumulated trash on our beaches? We dont even have much trash on our beaches, but evidence is not what drives this kind of legislation. Its like a lottery ticket where you pay a few dollars, not to become rich, but to have a more plausible fantasy that you might become rich. In this case, we pay more for shopping bags erecting the reverie that public places will be cleaner. If we actually cared about cleaning things up, wed place more police boots on the butts of homeless people that squat on tells of trash in our commons and sometimes our private property. Instead, we lower the standard of living of people who mostly tend not to litter with scant evidence it will make a significant difference. Eric Shierman lives in Salem and is the author of We were winning when I was there. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com The Oregonian reports, International exchange programs that brought up-and-coming leaders from around the world to Oregon are on hold indefinitely, as grant funding from the U.S. State Department remains frozen weeks after it was supposed to resume. Portland nonprofit WorldOregon already had to cancel a planned visit to the state this spring by Latin American entrepreneurs who were selected as fellows in a State Department leadership program The funding freeze has also halted visits to Oregon by international participants in the State Departments premier professional exchange program, which is an international visitor leadership program designed to help current and emerging leaders better understand the United States and support its foreign policy goals. Bringing in international visitors to learn about America is great but the Federal government is not the vehicle and is most removed from the people it is serving. This should be a local activity with private sponsorship. If airlines donated seats to a local charity they could help fill their flights while receiving a charitable deduction. Hotels could donate unused rooms for the same. By diminishing local help and instead asking for federal funds thousands of miles away you lose accountability and connection to the project. No wonder people in Oregon have never heard of this program. No one here had to sell it, promote and showcase it. It was because it has been behind-the-scenes activity with free taxpayer money. Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). SAUNEMIN Livingston County bar owner George Mansour got an unexpected surprise when he received word that Netflix wanted to use his bar, Saunemin Tap, as a filming location for the third season of "Monster," a serial killer anthology. Mansour said he was first contacted for the opportunity about six months ago. A location manager for Netflix had stopped in and spoken with his bartender, Larissa. Mansour, who also owns GK Boomer's, a bar and bowling alley in Flanagan, and works weekends at Caterpillar in Pontiac, wasn't in Saunemin at the time of that visit. "(Larissa) called me, and she goes, 'Well, there's this guy here who claims he's a location manager for Netflix, and they found your bar on Facebook, and they might be interested in shooting a scene,'" Mansour said. "I'm like, yeah, right ... are you pulling my leg? Is this a scam or something?" Mansour, originally from the Springfield area, has owned Saunemin Tap for about a year and a half, but believes the bar has been around since the 1940s or '50s, with the building dating back even further, to around 1912. It is at 60 North St., on the corner of North and Spafford streets in downtown Saunemin. Sure enough, the Netflix representative was legitimate, and the company later sent two charter buses carrying about 45 people to check out the location. Mansour didn't hear from production for about a month after that, he said, but he learned there may have been some concerns about the bar's distance from other filming spots in Illinois, Momence and Woodstock. Then, about two weeks ago, the artistic team contacted Mansour again to let him know filming at the bar was a "go" for Thursday, March 20. Season 1 of Netflix's "Monster" focused on the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer from the 1970s to 1990s, while Season 2 retold the Menendez brothers' killing of their parents in 1989. The third season will focus on Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein, portrayed by actor Charlie Hunnam. It is expected to be released sometime in 2025. Gein, from Plainfield, Wisconsin, committed his crimes in the 1940s and '50s, becoming known as "the Butcher of Plainfield" or "the Plainfield Ghoul." He is said to have been the inspiration behind Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film "Psycho" and the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" movies. "(It's) pretty cool, the town's pretty excited," Mansour said of the filming in Saunemin. "I think it's supposed to be like an isolated scene, so that might be a reason why they're using this, because it's (the setting) supposed to be on the edge of town." Mansour added that he is not familiar with the "Monster" series, but now plans to watch the other seasons in preparation for Season 3. While Mansour doesn't know the particulars of the shoot, he said it seemed like the scenes were taking place in winter, with crews shooting pan scenes down Spafford Street toward the State Bank of Graymont. Production also had several old-fashioned cars parked nearby for the shoot. While there was some filming inside the bar, Mansour said most of it took place outside. In preparation for the shoot, Mansour said crews worked their "Hollywood magic" to make the exterior of the bar look like it was set in 1950s Wisconsin, complete with repainting and putting up signs. Mansour even gets to keep the decor after filming is completed. "The bar is the star," he said of the shoot. "They (Netflix) singlehandedly doubled the population (406) of Saunemin in one day." Cassandra Meyers, a friend of Mansour who has done artwork for his bars and other projects, was there on Thursday to watch the shoot. Meyers is from Minonk but recently moved to the Pontiac area, and said she was excited for Mansour to have this opportunity. "It's a small town. Nothing really happens here," she said. "People are excited. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything pans out, like (how) they break it down and do the scenes." Alan Arnolts, a Saunemin Village Board member who also was watching Thursday, said this wasn't the first time the area has been filmed for the big screen. In 1983, the old high school near Pontiac was a location for the 1984 film "Grandview, U.S.A.", starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Patrick Swayze. Arnolts said crews were in the area for three or four days and shot day and night, but only about a minute and a half of the footage made it into the movie. This time, with filming only lasting one day and causing little disruption aside from some closed streets, Arnolts said he wasn't sure many people in town knew it was happening. He did have some insight going into the shoot, though, because he had met with the location manager who was looking for filming areas in rural towns. "I was pretty sure, by the way he was talking, that this was going to be one of the spots," he said. "For a small town ... it's a big deal. As far as I'm concerned, it's a good thing." Gary Doughan, superintendent and principal for Saunemin Community Consolidated District 438, confirmed the school provided parking for the actors' trailers and other equipment during the shoot. He added they were thrilled to help the cast and crew while they were filming in the area. Saunemin Mayor David Trodino also confirmed that the Netflix filming has created "quite the buzz" in town. "We are excited to share just how special Saunemin is with the cast and crew, and can't wait to see that reflected in the airing of the episode," Trodino said. The Rev. Dan Knutson, pastor of Saunemin United Methodist Church, also shared in the excitement. The church, located a block east of the Saunemin Tap, was being used as a commissary and kitchen to feed the Netflix cast and crew, Knutson said. To make room, the sanctuary was cleared of all its pews and benches so the crews could set up. He added that film crews put up signage around town earlier this week to let people know filming would be going on, and they planned to use the church space through Saturday. Knutson said his wife was watering flowers outside the church last summer when a Netflix representative approached her about the possibility of filming in the area. She didn't believe them at first, but the workers told her they were looking for an old farmhouse with a barn, and were especially interested in the nearby bar and bank. "People have been talking about (it) for a while when they are going to start, what they are going to do to the building," Knutson said. "I don't think they were expecting the onslaught of people, trailers and campers everywhere." He added, "It was kind of interesting to see all the old cars parked ... blocked-off roads, squad cars," he said. "It will be interesting to see what makes the cut. People will be anticipating that, and it will get a good viewing from Saunemin." Knutson said it was also funny to see on the film set a ginger ale for the price of a nickel. Mansour plans to host a watch party for the show's premiere later this year. TAYLORVILLE Whether U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will seek reelection in 2026 remains in question, but the five-term Democrat says an answer is coming "soon." Durbin, of Springfield, also defended his recent vote to advance a GOP-backed government funding bill during an appearance at Taylorville Memorial Hospital to discuss the potential impact of Medicaid cuts. He said his decision to join nine Democrats and all but one Republican last week to invoke cloture on the funding bill effectively paving the way for its final passage was "an effort to avoid shutting down the government," an outcome he said would have been far worse. "I have never voted for a shutdown, and I didn't last week," said Durbin, who voted against the final bill, which was immediately signed by President Donald Trump and funds the government through September. The decision by Durbin and others to advance the bill left Democrats bitterly divided as they seek to mount an effective resistance to Trump's second administration. Opponents argued that it gives Trump too much leeway to move federal funds around and codifies the work of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. They also said that by caving, Democrats ceded perhaps the only leverage they had, a filibuster, to get concessions from Republicans, who control the White House and Congress. Gov. JB Pritzker, among Trump's most pugnacious critics, said at an unrelated event in Urbana on Wednesday that those who supported the measure were "dead wrong." "A lot of good has been done by those people, but just broadly, this was an enormous mistake," Pritzker said, though not mentioning Durbin by name. Durbin, in response to Pritzker, said that if the government had shut down, Trump and Musk would have carte blanche to take a wrecking ball to government departments, agencies and programs. "Well, I respect the governor and I respect his right to make the decisions that are part of his office," Durbin said. "I hope he respects mine as well." "But I'll tell him the basics: The basics are that a shutdown of the government gives to the president more power than before the shutdown," Durbin said. "The president decides who is an essential employee and who is nonessential." "You know what DOGE and Elon Musk are doing, agency by agency?" Durbin asked, then mentioning specifically the effort to eliminate the Department of Education. "Under a shutdown situation, the president has even more authority to do more terrible things like that," Durbin said. "I don't like that. I didn't want to see that happen. I hope that we find that there's a bipartisan approach that can avoid that in the future." When asked what he thought might go differently during the next spending bill negotiation, Durbin conceded: "I don't know the answer." "But I think there are Republican senators whom I've spoken to who want to see a different approach, Durbin said. "They want to have bipartisanship and compromise and do the best we can." But, Durbin said that he's "not naive." "President Trump has made countless executive orders and countless changes in government and we're not going to turn the pages back," Durbin said. "He is in charge as president. But when it comes to basic spending priorities such as Medicaid, I think we should have bipartisanship in that approach." One of the next large battles will be over a larger budget resolution. Last month, House Republicans approved a budget framework that calls for more than $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that would disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans and $2 trillion in spending cuts largely to social programs. This could potentially mean steep cuts to Medicaid, which provides coverage for more than 3.4 million Illinois residents and is considered a necessity to support safety net hospitals in low-income communities and rural areas. "If we do substantial cuts in Medicaid, it could have an impact on individuals, first and foremost, but certainly on the survival of clinics and hospitals around the nation, and particularly in Downstate Illinois," Durbin said. "And that's why I wanted to come here today." Durbin met with downstate hospital executives, who warned of the impact cuts could have on the communities they serve. Jay Hodges, the chief financial officer of Carlinville Area Hospital, said that about 20% of the hospital's patients are on Medicaid. "We are part of a little network of three other small independent hospitals, and we serve eight counties in rural Illinois. And this would be devastating if these kind of cuts happen," Hodges said. "Let me say we're all for eliminating waste and fraud from the system, but general reductions to the patients that are receiving these vital services, we'd not be for." Announcement coming 'soon' on 2026 plans Durbin, who turned 80 last November, told reporters that he will make an announcement "soon" regarding his plans for the 2026 election. In an interview with Lee Enterprises after Thursday's event, Durbin said that his age, physical health and mental ability will all be factors in his decision. He has been in the Senate since 1997 after serving 14 years in the House. "It's an eight-year decision. It's two years of campaigning and six years of service. Of course, (age) is a factor," Durbin said. "Incidentally, I love this job, and I feel like I could do it for another term," Durbin continued. "I don't have any doubts in my mind. But I want to be a realist and take a look at the realpolitik situation of election and the real human condition of pledging eight years." Waiting on Durbin's decision are several ambitious Illinois Democrats. Many have already started jockeying for position in anticipation of a crowded primary for what would be an open seat for the first time in a generation. Among the most-mentioned potential candidates are U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Schaumburg, who has more than $17 million in his campaign account, and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who told Lee Enterprises in an interview earlier this month that she would "strongly consider" a run for Durbin's seat should he retire. Other names connected to the race include U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood of Naperville, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. A number of other Democratic elected officials are expected to give the race a look too if Durbin steps away. Durbin said that Illinois has "an extraordinary bench," saying that "at least five" House Democrats from Illinois are "ready to serve if called on" along with all the statewide constitutional officers. 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: Enrique Jimenez and his team have been working on the digitization of all surviving cuneiform tablets since 2018. Credit: LMU How should we live when we know we must die? This question is posed by the first work of world literature, the Gilgamesh epic. More than 4,000 years ago, Gilgamesh set out on a quest for immortality. Like all Babylonian literature, the saga has survived only in fragments. Nevertheless, scholars have managed to bring two-thirds of the text into readable condition since it was rediscovered in the 19th century. The Babylonians wrote in cuneiform characters on clay tablets, which have survived in the form of countless fragments. Over centuries, scholars transferred the characters imprinted on the pieces of clay onto paper. Then they would painstakingly compare their transcripts andin the best caserecognize which fragments belong together and fill in the gaps. The texts were written in the languages Sumerian and Akkadian, which have complicated writing systems. This was a Sisyphean task, one that the experts in the Electronic Babylonian Literature project can scarcely imagine today. Digitization of all surviving cuneiform tablets Enrique Jimenez, Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Literatures at LMU's Institute of Assyriology, and his team have been working on the digitization of all surviving cuneiform tablets since 2018. In that time, the project has processed as many as 22,000 text fragments. "It's a tool that didn't exist before, a huge database of fragments. We believe it can play a vital role in reconstructing Babylonian literature, allowing us to make much faster progress." Aptly named the Fragmentarium, it is designed to piece together fragments of text using systematic, automated methods. The designers expect that the program will also be able to identify and transcribe photos of cuneiform scripts in the future. To date, thousands of additional cuneiform fragments have been photographed in collaboration with the British Museum in London and the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. An algorithm discovers new texts and matches up fragments The team is training an algorithm to piece together fragments that have yet to be situated in their proper context. Already, the algorithm has newly identified hundreds of manuscripts and many textual connections. In November 2022, for example, the software recognized a fragment that belongs to the most recent tablet of the Gilgamesh epic, which dates from the year 130 BCmaking it thousands of years younger than the earliest known version of the Epic. It is very interesting, remarks Jimenez, that people were still copying Gilgamesh at this late period. In February 2023, the LMU researcher will publish the Fragmentarium. For the first time, he will also release a digital version of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The new edition will be the first to contain all known transcriptions of cuneiform fragments to date. Since the project started, around 200 scholars worldwide have had access to the online platform for their research projects. Now it is to be made available to the public as well. "Everybody will be able to play around with the Fragmentarium. There are thousands of fragments that have not yet been identified," says Jimenez. When spring came to Babylon Enrique Jimenez wants to close the gaps in Babylonian literature piece by piece. Through his work in the project over the past few years, he has not only discovered new texts and authors, but also found previously unknown genres: "For example, I'm working with an Iraqi colleague on a text that is a hymn to the city of Babylon, a very lively hymn. The text is delightful. You can picture the city very clearly. It describes how spring comes to Babylon." 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. Babylon was once the largest city in the world. It straddled the river Euphrates at a site some 85 kilometers south of modern-day Baghdad. Founded in the second millennium before Christ, the ancient metropolis was the seat of King Hammurabi, who expanded the empire he inherited so that it stretched from the Persian Gulf to northern Iraq. Between the 7th and 6th centuries BC, Babylon experienced a second golden age. (In 2019, the ancient city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) (The river of Babylon,) Arahtu is its name, (crafted by Nudimmud, the lord of wisdom,) Waters the pasture, soaks the reed-thicket, Pours its waters into sea and lagoon. Its fields sprout with new growth, In its meadows, aglow, barley springs up. Thanks to its flow, mounds of grain are piled high, The grassland grows tall, for flocks to roam and graze. It multiplies, lavishes, and showers the land With wealth and splendorwhat befits mankind. "Previously, there were no known hymns to cities in Babylonian literature. We have found 15 new fragments of this text. Without the Fragmentarium, the reconstruction process would have taken 30, 40 years," says Jimenez. His team also discovered that the text played an important role in the classroom, as Babylonian schoolchildren were required to copy it out as an exercise. Texts of timeless relevance "There's so much work to do in the study of Babylonian literature. The new texts we're discovering are helping us understand the literature and culture of Babylon as a whole," says Enrique Jimenez. The expert in ancient Near Eastern studies is inspired by the beauty of the texts and their timeless relevance: "The questions the Babylonians asked themselves are not arbitrary. They concern us to this day. People always talk about Gilgamesh and the question of mortality. The Babylonians tried to answer it. They did not succeed, because there is no answer to the question. But the very fact that they addressed it, that they tried to find an answer, is helpful nonetheless." At some time we build a household, at some time we start a family, at some time the brothers divide (the inheritance), at some time feuds arise in the land. At some time the river rose (and) brought the flood, the mayfly floating on the river. Its countenance was gazing on the face of the sun, then all of a sudden nothing was there! There is no canonical reading of the saga, which has influenced world literature for millennia. "It's up to the reader how they understand the text," says Enrique Jimenez. Gilgamesh returns to his hometown of Uruk, the first city in the history of the world according to modern scholarship. At this point, the narration breaks off abruptly and the text switches to an enumeration of the size of the city and its public squares. "Gilgamesh comes home and says, 'Uruk is actually a beautiful city.' There's something deeper going on beneath this," says Jimenez. In this interpretation, the episode shows that although people are mortal as individuals, they live on as part of the city in which they live and of the human society to which they belong. Enrique Jimenez was there. On a shelf in his office at LMU, a photo shows a seemingly flat plain. You have to lean in and squint to recognize the faint suggestion of a line, part of the once mighty city walls. Even the great city of Uruk, Gilgamesh's hometown, fell to ruin. More information: Electronic Babylonian Literature: github.com/ElectronicBabylonianLiterature 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 Scientists from the University of Sheffield will warn policymakers that the shrinking glaciers of the Andes threaten the water supply of 90 million people on the South American continent at the first-ever World Day for Glaciers hosted by UNESCO in Paris. The glaciers that sit high in the Andesor Andean Mountain Rangeextend through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, and provide water used for domestic consumption, hydroelectric power, industry, irrigation of arable crops and supporting livestock farming. A new policy brief, "the future of the Andean water towers" was presented at the conference on 21 March 2025, by scientists studying the depleting water supplies due to retreating Andean glaciers from the Universities of Sheffield and Newcastle. It outlines how the shrinking of the glaciers poses a very real threat to the water and food security of the millions of people dependent on them. The Andean glaciers are thinning by 0.7 meters a year, 35% faster than the global average. This could result in an almost total glacier loss in the area of the Tropical Andes, with other areas of the mountain range experiencing a loss of over half its glacier coverage according to some of the worst scenarios predicted. Dr. Jeremy Ely, from the University of Sheffield's School of Geography and Planning, said, "The first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on climate change was published in 1990, and since then, very little has been done to curb the global carbon emissions fueling climate change. "Our brief shows that what scientists have been predicting for years is now coming true, and swift action needs to be taken if we stand any hope of saving and preserving the glaciers that so many people rely on as a source of water." Climate change is raising air temperatures, causing more frequent and severe extreme weather events, decreasing snowfall and increasing droughts across the Andes, all of which are threatening the stability of the Andean glaciers as a water source and the security of the people who rely on them. The brief demonstrates that the shrinking of the glaciers has accelerated in recent decades, with unprecedented rates of ice loss post-2000, coinciding with increased greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. For the 2015 Paris Agreementthe global treaty on climate changecountries around the world agreed to commit to taking actions to keep global temperature rises within 1.5C, as letting average global temperatures reach any higher would lead to extreme weather events, water shortages, lower crop yields, economic losses, higher sea levels and greater damage to nature. However, that target was already surpassed for several months in 2024, and recent projections of a higher than 2C warming scenario show that areas of the Andes will be entirely, or almost entirely, ice-free by 2100. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The brief highlights that, as well as curbing global carbon emissions, effective management of water resources due to the consequence of changing human and natural systems and changing supply and demand affecting the region. As glaciers shrink, supply diminishes and many countries will be forced to try and mitigate the problem by building major water storage infrastructure, such as dams. However, this will take significant investment that poorer countries, and those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, may not be able to afford. Dr. Ely said, "Such a loss of ice across the Andes needs urgent attention as it will increase the stress on freshwater resources relied upon by communities and major cities downstream of the glaciers. "With temperatures predicted to rise anywhere up to 4.5C by the end of the century across the Andes, the risks and hazards of climate change will threaten the water and food security of millions of people. "All the targets that have been set have already been missed and failed, yet the only way to preserve glaciers is to drastically reduce carbon emissions once and for all. The situation is serious, and it will take global cooperation to tackle climate change and make meaningful difference for the communities around the world most vulnerable from the effects of climate change." More information: Davies et al., 2025. Policy brief: the future of the Andean water towers. www.antarcticglaciers.org/ande cations-and-outputs/ This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A large sponge, a cluster of anemones, and other life is seen nearly 230 meters deep at an area of the seabed that was very recently covered by the George VI Ice Shelf, a floating glacier in Antarctica. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute An international team on board Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V Falkor (too) working in the Bellingshausen Sea rapidly pivoted their research plans to study an area that was, until last month, covered by ice. On January 13, 2025, an iceberg the size of Chicago, named A-84, broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf, one of the massive floating glaciers attached to the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet. The team reached the newly exposed seafloor on January 25 and became the first to investigate an area that had never before been accessible to humans. The expedition was the first detailed, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary study of the geology, physical oceanography, and biology beneath such a large area once covered by a floating ice shelf. The ice that calved was approximately 510 square kilometers (209 square miles), revealing an equivalent area of seafloor. "We seized upon the moment, changed our expedition plan, and went for it so we could look at what was happening in the depths below," said expedition co-chief scientist Dr. Patricia Esquete of the Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and the Department of Biology (DBio) at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. "We didn't expect to find such a beautiful, thriving ecosystem. Based on the size of the animals, the communities we observed have been there for decades, maybe even hundreds of years." Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute Using Schmidt Ocean Institute's remotely operated vehicle, ROV SuBastian, the team observed the deep seafloor for eight days and found flourishing ecosystems at depths as great as 1,300 meters. Their observations include large corals and sponges supporting an array of animal life, including icefish, giant sea spiders, and octopus. The discovery offers new insights into how ecosystems function beneath floating sections of the Antarctic ice sheet. Little is known about what dwells beneath Antarctica's floating ice shelves. In 2021, British Antarctic Survey researchers first reported signs of bottom-dwelling life beneath the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf in the Southern Weddell Sea. The expedition on Falkor (too) was the first to use an ROV to explore sweeping landscapes containing abundant life in this remote environment. The team was surprised by the significant biomass and biodiversity of the ecosystems and suspect they have discovered several new species. Deep-sea ecosystems typically rely on nutrients from the surface slowly raining down to the seafloor. However, these Antarctic ecosystems have been covered by 150-meter-thick (almost 500 feet) ice for centuries, completely cut off from surface nutrients. Ocean currents also move nutrients, and the team hypothesizes that currents are a possible mechanism for sustaining life beneath the ice sheet. The precise mechanism fueling these ecosystems is not yet understood. The remnants of a massive iceberg calving event are seen from Research Vessel Falkor (too). Deep in the Bellingshausen Sea is the location of a very recent iceberg calving event. Exploring and documenting this area and event, researchers hope data from here will yield information about Antarctica that has never been accessible before now. Credit: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institut The newly exposed Antarctic seafloor also allowed the international team, with scientists from Portugal, the United Kingdom, Chile, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, and the United States, to gather critical data on the past behavior of the larger Antarctic ice sheet. The ice sheet has been shrinking and losing mass over the last few decades due to climate change. "The ice loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a major contributor to sea level rise worldwide," said expedition co-chief scientist Sasha Montelli of University College London (UCL), United Kingdom, also a 2019 Schmidt Science Fellow. "Our work is critical for providing longer-term context of these recent changes, improving our ability to make projections of future changeprojections that can inform actionable policies. We will undoubtedly make new discoveries as we continue to analyze this vital data." 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. In addition to collecting biological and geological samples, the science team deployed autonomous underwater vehicles called gliders to study the impacts of glacial meltwater on the physical and chemical properties of the region. Preliminary data suggest high biological productivity and a strong meltwater flow from the George IV ice shelf. On Research Vessel Falkor (too), Christian Aldea (Scientist, Universidad de Magallanes) examines an ophiuroid under the microscope in the ships Wet Lab. Credit: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute The expedition was part of Challenger 150, a global cooperative focused on deep-sea biological research and endorsed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) as an Ocean Decade Action. "The science team was originally in this remote region to study the seafloor and ecosystem at the interface between ice and sea," said Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. "Being right there when this iceberg calved from the ice shelf presented a rare scientific opportunity. Serendipitous moments are part of the excitement of research at seathey offer the chance to be the first to witness the untouched beauty of our world." Provided by Schmidt Ocean Institute This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Vegetation zones. Credit: Wikimedia Commons As Earth continues to warm, more and more of the planet is becoming dry. A 2024 UN report found that in the last three decades, over three-fourths of all the world's land became drier than it had been in the previous 30 years. Drylands now comprise 40.6% of all global land (excluding Antarctica). In addition, the number of people living in drylands has doubled over the last 30 years to 2.3 billion, which represents over 25% of the global population. In a worst-case climate change scenario, this number could climb to 5 billion by 2100. Drying is occurring in many parts of the world, including the western U.S., Brazil, most of Europe, Asia and central Africa. If greenhouse gas emissions continue on their current trajectory, 3% more of the world's humid areas will become drylands by 2100. Drylands would likely expand in the U.S. Midwest, central Mexico, parts of Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina, the entire Mediterranean area, the Black Sea Coast, and southern Africa and southern Australia. There are no regions of the world that are expected to go from drylands to a more humid climate in the future. Drought vs. desertification Desertification occurs when an area's climate turns drier, and fertile land becomes barren due to factors caused by human activitiesmainly climate change and poor land use. Drylands, or areas with limited water and soil moisture like grasslands, savannas and some forests, are at the greatest risk for desertification. When these lands are degraded to the point of infertility, they become desertified. It's estimated that 2535% of drylands are already experiencing desertification. Desertification is distinct from drought. Droughts are temporary periods of less rainthey end. But desertification is a permanent transformation wherein the land cannot return to its former state. "Historically, there has been a lot of confusion about the difference between drought and desertification," said Michela Biasutti, a climate scientist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory who has worked in the African Sahel. "The fact that some soil is not productive because you're in a drought doesn't mean that the desert has advanced and it will never retreat. That was the fear when an area of the Sahel went into drought in the late '60s and '70s. But we've learned that that's not the case. When the rain came back, the grasses did come back." If there is a drought, she said, you can't know if the soil is degraded simply because it is not productive. Once the rains return, however, the state of the soil will determine if the land is at risk of desertification. What causes desertification? Climate change can lead to drought and drier conditions. Since 2000, the occurrence of drought has risen 29%, and projections show that by 2050, 75% of all humanity could be affected by drought. When soils do not receive enough moisture to sustain plant life, plants die as well as the soil microbes needed to maintain life cycles, eventually creating desert-like conditions. If the soil is degraded through poor management, these conditions can become permanent. Unsustainable practices such as overgrazing can cause erosion and degrade land. Every year, 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost to erosion. Agricultural approaches such as tilling and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that kill good microbiota and remove important nutrients can leave the land barren. Deforestation contributes to desertification because without trees, the soil cannot retain moisture. Already 50% of tropical forests in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia have been cut down for cattle ranching or soy and palm oil plantations. The overextraction of water from aquifers, usually for irrigation, can lead to desertification. A prime example of this is how the over-irrigation of cotton drew too much water from the Aral Sea in Central Asia, once the fourth largest lake in the world, shrinking the lake to one-tenth its size, salinizing the soils, and turning the exposed seabed into the Aralkum Desert. Population growth and urbanization also contribute to desertification because they put increased pressure on the land's resourcesecosystems, aquifers, grazing land and agricultural fields near cities. Desertification in turn increases urbanization because people flee to cities when their land is no longer productive. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The effects of desertification Desertification is both a result of and a cause of erosion of fertile soils, reducing agricultural and livestock productivity. If current land degradation trends continue, crop yields could decline 50% by 2050. Desertification can also reduce the amount of wood available for fuel or construction. These impacts exacerbate poverty and hunger because the poor are most dependent on natural resources and agriculture to survive. In dry regions, many aquifers are being degraded or depleted because too much water is drawn for agriculture, creating water scarcity. And when desertification damages ecosystems, plants and animals may be at risk of extinction. Biodiversity loss also affects the livelihoods of the poorest people. Desertification increases the frequency of dust storms. These can carry particulate matter and pathogens or allergens that are harmful to human health. In the Sahara area, the Mideast and South and East Asia, dust storms have contributed to 15 to 50% of all cardiopulmonary deaths. Shifting sands also threaten infrastructure stability and farmland. Moreover, when trees die in dry areas, leaving behind large amounts of dry wood for burning, wildfires can become more frequent. As a result of desertification, land becomes uninhabitable and people must migrate elsewhere to survive. This can engender social and political conflicts in other regions or countries as there will be more competition for resources, especially where resources are already scarce. Desertification also releases the carbon stored in soils, and because few plants remain to absorb carbon from the atmosphere, desertification contributes to climate change. Is desertification reversible? According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), desertification, land degradation and drought costs the world $878 billion each year. While desertification is considered a permanent state, reversing desertification is possible with extraordinary measures. Restoring 1 billion hectares would reduce poverty and hunger and enhance carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and water management, which would also help combat climate change. The Loess Plateau in China is often considered the "paragon of ecological restoration." For thousands of years, the Loess had been China's breadbasket, but unsustainable use by humans turned it into a barren wasteland. A combination of government policies and local community participation led to a restoration which involved terracing hillsides, planting trees and grasses, and constructing check dams (small barriers in streams that slow water flow). The initiatives were successful in reversing desertification, reducing erosion, restoring water resources and increasing agricultural productivity. The area has also become a huge carbon sink. However, some critics disapprove of the high-density planting of non-native trees, arguing that non-native trees draw more water than native trees would, and also lessen soil moisture. Africa's Great Green Wall program involves 11 countries across the Sahel region that have been affected by desertification for decades. Almost half the land in the Sahel has been degraded due to overpopulation, excessive grazing, deforestation and droughts. Launched in 2007, the program's original goal was to plant an 8,000-kilometer wall of trees across Africa from Senegal in the west to the eastern Republic of Djibouti, and restore 100 million hectares of land by 2030. So far, about 30 million hectares of land have been restored. The shortfall is attributed to a lack of funding and technical support and poor monitoring. In addition, the project faltered because it failed to predict the best tree species to plant and which trees would have benefited the locals. In some areas of the Sahel, 80% of the trees died as soon as irrigation stopped. One coordinator for the initiative said, "You can plant a tree for $1, but you cannot grow a tree for $1." "What they learned was that [the strategy] can't be imposed from above, but really needs to be sustained by the community," said Biasutti. "The project has now gone from somebody coming in from the government and planting rows and rows of trees, to having villages being involved in taking care of saplings. And having a multiplicity of purposes so it can be sustained for the long term." Today, the Green Wall project is described as a mosaic restoration of the land. "There's a lot more focus on finding ways in which the water that does fall is used, and not lost to run-off or evaporation," she said. "And the soil matter that has a lot of nutrients is also not lost. It's about creating local conditions that are appropriate for regenerative stewardship of the soil." In 2021, the Great Green Wall Accelerator was announced: 134 countries, the World Bank and the UN pledged $14 billion to help complete the Green Wall by 2030. Another example: The Altiplano, a high plateau in Bolivia, became degraded through overgrazing and poor land management. A restoration effort led by the community used check dams, native grasses and rotational grazing to bring productivity back to the plateau. The efforts also enhanced the livelihoods of locals through sustainable tourism and agricultural products. Urban areas can also be vulnerable to desertification. Cities around the Sahara must contend with the advancing desert sand and rising temperatures, which can put pressure on water supplies, damage infrastructure and harm human health. Some cities, such as Dakar, Senegal, are employing nature-based strategies to stave off desertification. The Trees in Dry Cities Coalition promotes urban tree planting to help cities fight desertification. Creating miniforests is another strategy that cities around the world are using to restore their soils, cool temperatures and increase biodiversity. Developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s, miniforests can be planted in areas as small as 50 square feet. Soil nutrients are restored, then native vegetation is planted very densely, which causes the plants to grow quickly (10 times as fast as those in tree plantations) as they compete for sunlight. The miniforests sequester carbon, improve groundwater and attract wildlife, insects and fungi. What solutions help reverse desertification? These are some lessons that have been learned from previous restoration efforts: Nature-based solutions Planting trees and other vegetation where it doesn't exist helps to improve soil quality and prevent erosion. But as the Great Green Wall in the Sahel demonstrated, it's essential to understand the desert microbiome and select the right species to plant. Desert trees such as Acacias and Juniper evergreen, and plant species that have adapted to desert soils with their high salinity and few nutrients, are a more sustainable solution than nonnative trees, which may require millions of dollars in investment and consume much more water to survive. In Nigeria and northern Ethiopia, the use of native trees has made it possible to reclaim desertified land, improve soil quality and restore the ecosystem. Water management Water needs to be conserved and water resources restored through terracing lands, rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation systems, removal of invasive plants and the replanting of native vegetation. Sustainable land-management practices and regenerative agriculture Regenerative agriculture attempts to improve the soil and restore biodiversity as well as help sequester carbon dioxide. It includes strategies such as no-tilling or reduced tilling so that soil is not disturbed; planting cover crops; ensuring crop diversity; using natural fertilizers and pesticides, rotational grazing and agroforestry (i.e., planting trees or shrubs with crops or livestock). Local community knowledge Local people can often offer valuable water management strategies. For example, historically, dryland communities built rock dams or check dams to slow water flow and control erosion; sediment and organic debris caught behind the structures enriched the soil. One traditional method from the Sahel, "half-moons," are semi-circular depressions made in the ground that slow and capture rainwater runoff. Zai planting pits used in Burkina Faso are holes dug into the ground before seeding so when it rains, nutrients are concentrated where needed and water is retained. "There's a lot of room for embracing a system that throws everything at the problem; where you use all the information, you use the fertilizers, you use the tools that we know about, but you also find ways that are very much low-tech and localized to collect water and shade," said Biasutti. Collaboration between stakeholders Governments, NGOs, private investors and local communities all need to be involved in desertification efforts. Policies, both international and national, such as the Great Green Walls of Africa and China, can promote, fund and incentivize efforts to combat desertification. In addition, policy makers and researchers need to improve aridity monitoring with the latest tools so that early detection of a change in conditions is possible. Local communities must be educated about good land management practices and offered subsidies to adopt them because it's up to the communities to implement strategies on the ground. Organizations working to combat desertification The UN Convention to Combat Desertification's COP16 summit, which took place in Saudi Arabia last December, was focused on raising global ambitions for land restoration, and spurring action on drought resilience. Unfortunately, the summit ended without an international agreement for tackling droughts. Many other organizations are also working to restore ecosystems and fight desertification. Here are just a few: The UNEP Generation Restoration project is working with 24 cities around the world on creating blue-green infrastructure to restore urban ecosystems as well as create green belts of native vegetation and trees. Implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Action Against Desertification is working with 10 African countries to create the Great Green Wall and help them restore degraded land and sustainably manage their drylands. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Global Drylands initiative works to restore and protect dryland ecosystems through sustainable management policies. The Nature Conservancy promotes nature-based solutions and regenerative agricultural systems, as well as attempts to mobilize investment for land restoration. The EcoRestoration Alliance, a group of scientists, environmentalists and grassroots leaders, is focused on the restoration of biodiverse ecosystems to help reduce drought and other climate impacts. Its network supports ecosystem restoration projects around the world by creating collaborations between grassroots and other organizations and indigenous, rural and urban communities. Provided by State of the Planet This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Ethnic minority veterans are twice as likely to be unemployed as their white peers, a new University of Warwick study has found. Commissioned by the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA), the research highlights significant disparities in employment, housing, and social integration. As the number of ethnic minority veterans rises, providing tailored support for all veterans is essential to ensure a smooth transition to civilian life. This study, led by Gaby Atfield, Senior Research Fellow at Warwick's Institute for Employment Research, highlights key areas where targeted interventions are needed to improve veterans' post-service experiences. Atfield, project lead at the University of Warwick, said, "As the Armed Forces become more diverse, so does the veteran population. This project was undertaken to help improve understanding of the needs and experiences of veterans from minority ethnic backgrounds, by enabling them to make their experiences, needs and aspirations known to policymakers. It will help in ensuring that veterans receive the support that they need to live inand contribute tosociety." Key findings Employment Disparities: Ethnic minority veterans are twice as likely as their white peers to be unemployed and are more likely to be in lower-skilled jobs. While many veterans experience stereotypes in the workplace, additionally, around a fifth of ethnic minority veterans report racism related to employment. Housing Instability: Younger veterans and those with shorter service periods struggle with affordability and stability. Some ethnic minority veterans also feel more restricted in where they choose to live. Social Integration Challenges: While many veterans have positive community relationships, 22% report feelings of loneliness, and cultural stereotypes continue to shape public perceptions. Adjusting from a close-knit military community to civilian life proves difficult for some. Underutilized Mental Health Support: Stigma remains a significant barrier within some ethnic minority communities, preventing many veterans from accessing available mental health services. Lack of Financial Guidance: Nearly half of veterans surveyed had received no financial advice before leaving the Armed Forces, highlighting a critical gap in transition support. The study recommends personalized employment support to address workplace disparities, alongside proactive mental health interventions to reduce stigma and improve accessibility. It also highlights the need for enhanced financial planning resources to better prepare veterans before they leave the military. Additionally, the study suggests developing digital platforms to foster diverse veteran communities and provide greater peer support. By shedding light on these disparities, this research aims to drive policy change and ensure that support services meet the needs of all veterans, regardless of background. More information: UK veterans from ethnic minority backgrounds: warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/rese rojects/emb_veterans 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: Conceptual diagram: (2+1) dimensional relativistic Bohmian trajectory. Credit: Dou et al. Quantum technologies operate by leveraging various quantum mechanical effects, including entanglement. Entanglement occurs when two or more particles share correlated states even if they are distant. When two particles are spin entangled, the intrinsic angular momentum (i.e., spin) of one particle can influence that of its entangled partner. This would suggest that the energy of the second particle can be altered via a nonlocal correlation, without enabling faster-than-light communication. Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Hefei National Laboratory recently carried out a study aimed at testing this theoretical prediction experimentally using two quantum memories. Their findings, published in Physical Review Letters, appear to confirm the existence of nonlocal energy alterations, thus broadening the present understanding of quantum nonlocality. "When two particles are in a spin-entangled state, measuring one particle nonlocally influences the spin state of the other," Xian-Min Jin and Dr. Jian-Peng Dou, co-authors of the paper, told Phys.org. "This insight led us to a bold conjecture: quantum correlations could enable the nonlocal alteration of energy distribution in space. This seemingly surreal phenomenon was alluded to in the de Broglie-Bohm theory, yet it has neither been formally named nor experimentally tested." To probe the existence of the nonlocal energy alteration predicted by earlier theoretical works, Jin, Dr. Dou and their colleagues used two quantum memories, devices that can generate, store, probe and retrieve quantum states. Using these memories, they created an optical device that can separate and recombine a quantum system's wavefunctions to measure quantum interference, also known as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. "We denote the Stokes photon (S1) generated during the write process of two quantum memories as the first particle, while the simultaneously generated atomic excitation serves as the second particle," explained Jin and Dr. Dou. "Since these two particles originate from the same spontaneous Raman scattering process, they naturally possess the quantum correlation required for this study." Bohmian trajectory distribution and atomic excitation alteration predicted by the nonlocal theoretical model. QM: Quantum memory. The wavy arrows indicate that energy disappears in one quantum memory and reappears in another, rather than representing superluminal energy transfer. Credit: Dou et al. With their experimental setup, the researchers were able to determine the position of the atomic excitation (i.e., serving as the second particle in the system) and its associated measurement. This was attained either through a strong measurement by performing a readout operation on the quantum memories, or through a weak probe-based method known as single-photon Raman scattering. "The weak probe process can be metaphorically described as follows: imagine an observer with obstructed vision attempting to locate the atomic excitation (i.e., the energy)," said Jin and Dr. Dou. "Each observation only slightly perturbs the quantum memory, while yielding blurred yet useful information about the energy's position. Although this information about position is imprecise, it plays a crucial role when combined with post-selection, allowing the verification of quantum correlations between past and future events." 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. Jin, Dr. Dou and his colleagues were ultimately able to predict the distribution of Bohm trajectories of the Stokes photon in their system, as well as changes in the position of the atomic excitation and associated conditional probabilities. They then compared the magnitude of the probabilities they measured, to verify the nonlocal nature of the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation, which is the theory predicting the existence of the nonlocal energy alteration they observed. "Our experimental results are consistent with the predictions of the nonlocal theory," said Jin and Dr. Dou. "The results imply that, in the framework of the de Broglie-Bohm theory, for two entangled particles, the energy carried by one of them can be changed from one place to another under the non-local influence of the other particle. "This is exactly the 'nonlocal energy alteration' proposed in the study. It is important to emphasize that the term used here is 'alteration' rather than 'transfer,' meaning that this process does not involve superluminal energy transmission (i.e., it is a nonlocal energy modification induced by quantum correlations)." The researchers' experimental exploration of quantum nonlocality from an energy standpoint yielded interesting results, which could inform future studies focusing on nonlocal energy alterations between spin entangled particles. Other physicists could soon draw inspiration from their study, using similar experimental methods to test the de Broglie-Bohm theory. "For the time being, we do not reject the probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics while supporting Bohm's theory," added Jin and Dr. Dou. "In this study, quantum memory exhibits unique capabilities that could contribute to testing fundamental problems in quantum mechanics. These include in-depth investigations of quantum nonlocality, delayed choice, the empty wave, light-speed oscillations in the interference region, and the intrinsic consistency between quantum mechanics and the principles of relativity." More information: Jian-Peng Dou et al, Test of Nonlocal Energy Alteration between Two Quantum Memories, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.093601. Journal information: Physical Review Letters 2025 Science X Network 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: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spews volcanic materials into the air in East Flores, Indonesia Friday, March 21, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ester Narek The Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in south-central Indonesia erupted three times into Friday, sending an ash column 8,000 meters (26,000 feet) high and prompting authorities to expand the danger zone around the volcano. The volcano on the remote island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province has had hundreds of earthquakes and visible volcanic activity has significantly increased in the last seven days. An eruption followed by an explosion was heard Thursday evening as far away as Larantuka and Maumere, two cities about 50 kilometers (30 miles) to 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the volcano. The eruption was recorded at several monitoring stations on Flores island, Muhammad Wafid, chief of Indonesia's Geology Agency, said in a statement. There were two other eruptions, and smaller activity occurred during the day Friday. Smoke blew around the crater with weak to moderate pressure, and firelight was seen at the peak, indicating the glowing volcanic material was at a shallow depth. On Friday, the volcano was still spewing thick, gray clouds from the crater. The ash from the eruptions also covered streets and plantations. Some residents tried to clear the streets of ash and fallen trees using simple tools, such as shovels and hoes. A number of residents were injured by hot dust from the eruptions. An Indonesian volcanology agency official takes photos of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores, Indonesia Friday, March 21, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ester Narek "They were all guarding the cornfield when the volcano erupted. And when they ran together with the hot lava that started to fall, it injured their legs and backs." said Maria Magdalena, a resident of Nurabelen village in East Flores district. Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level and expanded the danger zone from 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater. No new evacuations were ordered. "We are still waiting for instructions from the government to evacuate," said a resident, Paulina Telesiku. Several airlines canceled flights between Australia and Indonesia's tourist island of Bali, while other international and domestic flights to the island have been delayed. Residents were warned to be vigilant about heavy rainfall triggering lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano, Indonesia's geology agency said in a statement. An eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in November killed nine people and injured dozens. The 1,584-meter (5,197 foot) mountain is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan in the Flores Timur district. Indonesia is an archipelago of 270 million people with frequent seismic activity. It has 120 active volcanos and sits along the "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: An artists depiction of an Asgard archaeon, based on cryo-electron tomography data: the cell body and appendages feature thread-like skeletal structures, similar to those found in complex cells with nuclei. Credit: Margot Riggi, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Ten years ago, nobody knew that Asgard archaea even existed. In 2015, however, researchers examining deep-sea sediments discovered gene fragments that indicated a new and previously undiscovered form of microbes. With computer assistance, the researchers assembled these fragments like puzzle pieces to compile the entire genome. It was only then that they realized they were dealing with a previously unknown group of archaea. Like bacteria, archaea are single-celled organisms. Genetically, however, there are significant differences between the two domains, especially regarding their cell envelopes and metabolic processes. After a further search, microbiologists identified the corresponding organisms, described them and classified them as a separate archaeal sub-group: Asgard archaea. Their name, taken from the heavenly realm in Norse mythology, references their initial discovery close to Loki's Castlea black smoker on the mid-Atlantic ridge between Norway and Svalbard. In fact, Asgard archaea appeared almost heaven-sent for research: They turned out to be a missing link between archaea and eukaryotesthat is, between archaea and organisms whose cells contain a nucleus, such as plants and animals. Tree of life with one branch fewer In recent years, researchers have found growing indications of close links between Asgard archaea and eukaryotes, and that the latter may have evolved from the former. The division of all living organisms into the three domains of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes did not hold up to this surprising discovery. Some researchers have since proposed regarding eukaryotes as a group within Asgard archaea. This would reduce the number of domains of life from three to two: archaea, including eukaryotes, and bacteria. Redrawing the tree of life, with eukaryotes descending from Asgard archaea. Credit: Florian Wollweber / ETH Zurich At ETH Zurich, Professor Martin Pilhofer and his team are fascinated by Asgard archaea and have examined the mysterious microbes for several years. In an article published in Nature two years ago, the ETH researchers explored details of the cellular structure and architecture of Lokiarchaeum ossiferum. Originating in the sediments of a brackish water channel in Slovenia, this Asgard archaeon was isolated by researchers in Christa Schleper's laboratory at the University of Vienna. In that study, Pilhofer and his postdoctoral researchers Jingwei Xu and Florian Wollweber demonstrated that Lokiarchaeum ossiferum possesses certain structures also typical of eukaryotes. "We found an actin protein in that species that appears very similar to the protein found in eukaryotesand occurs in almost all Asgard archaea discovered to date," says Pilhofer. In the first study, the researchers combined different microscopy techniques to demonstrate that this proteincalled Lokiactinforms filamentous structures, especially in the microbes' numerous tentacle-like protrusions. "They appear to form the skeleton for the complex cell architecture of Asgard archaea," adds Florian Wollweber. In addition to actin filaments, eukaryotes also possess microtubules. These tube-shaped structures are the second key component of the cytoskeleton and are comprised of numerous tubulin proteins. These tiny tubes are important for transport processes within a cell and the segregation of chromosomes during cell division The origin of these microtubules has been unclearuntil now. In a newly published article in the journal Cell, the ETH researchers discovered related structures in Asgard archaea and describe their structure. These experiments show that Asgard tubulins form very similar microtubules, albeit smaller than those in their eukaryotic relatives. 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. However, only a few Lokiarchaeum cells form these microtubules. And, unlike actin, these tubulin proteins only appear in very few species of Asgard archaea. Scientists do not yet understand why tubulins appear so rarely in Lokiarchaea, or why they are needed by cells. In eukaryotes, microtubuless are responsible for transport processes within the cell. In some cases, motor proteins "walk along" these tubes. The ETH researchers have not yet observed such motor proteins in Asgard archaea. "We have shown, however, that the tubes formed from these tubulins grow at one end. We therefore suspect that they perform similar transport functions as the microtubules in eukaryotes," says Jingwei Xu, the co-first author of the Cell study. He produced the tubulins in a cell culture with insect cells and examined their structure. Researchers from the fields of microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology and structural biology collaborated closely on the study. "We would never have progressed so far without this interdisciplinary approach," emphasizes Pilhofer with a degree of pride. The structure of an Asgard microtubule, which consists of just five filaments (compared to 13 in eukaryotes. Credit: Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.02.027 Was the cytoskeleton essential for the development of complex life? While some questions remain unanswered, the researchers are confident that the cytoskeleton was an important step in the evolution of eukaryotes. This step could have occurred eons ago, when an Asgard archaeon entwined a bacterium with its appendages. In the course of evolution, this bacterium developed into a mitochondrion, which serves as the powerhouse of modern cells. Over time, the nucleus and other compartments evolvedand the eukaryotic cell was born. "This remarkable cytoskeleton was probably at the beginning of this development. It could have enabled Asgard archaea to form appendages, thereby allowing them to interact with, and then seize and engulf a bacterium," says Pilhofer. Credit: Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.02.027. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)00254-5 Fishing for Asgard archaea Pilhofer and his colleagues now plan to turn their attention to the function of actin filaments and archaeal tubulin along with the resulting microtubules. They also aim to identify the proteins that researchers have discovered on the surface of these microbes. Pilhofer hopes his team will be able to develop antibodies precisely tailored to these proteins. This would enable researchers to "fish" specifically for Asgard archaea in mixed microbe cultures. "We still have a lot of unanswered questions about Asgard archaea, especially regarding their relation to eukaryotes and their unusual cell biology," says Pilhofer. "Tracking down the secrets of these microbes is fascinating." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Narrow Field Imager (NFI) was launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as a part of NASA's Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission on March 11 and deployed from Falcon 9 on March 12. PUNCH is a four-satellite constellation, collecting observations in low Earth orbit. It will conduct global, 3D observations of the inner heliosphere to investigate the solar corona's evolution into the solar wind. The mission is scheduled to conduct science for the next two years, following a 90-day commissioning period. The NRL-developed NFI, sponsored by NASA, is a compact, externally occulted coronagraph. The external occulter blocks direct sunlight from entering the main optical aperture, which views the corona and starfield around the sun using a compound lens system. Polarization is resolved using a polarizing filter wheel and the image is digitized using a CCD camera with a 2K x 2K active detector area. NFI will image the transition of the sun's atmosphere to the solar wind to understand how the sun generates the space plasma environment. "The launch and deployment of NRL's Narrow Field Imager aboard the PUNCH mission marks a significant step forward in our ability to understand the dynamic processes that drive space weather," said NRL Coronal and Heliospheric Physics Section Head Robin Colaninno, Ph.D. "By imaging the transition of the sun's atmosphere to the solar wind, we're gaining crucial insights that will ultimately improve our ability to predict and mitigate the impacts of these powerful events on Earth and in space." Predicting the impact of space weather, from minor fluctuations to major coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and corotating interaction regions (CIRs), requires a comprehensive understanding of the solar wind. While originating at the sun, these events evolve significantly on their journey to Earth, especially within the sparsely imaged region between the solar corona and inner heliosphere, posing a significant scientific challenge. By capturing the evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), PUNCH will provide scientists with new data on their formation and propagation. This is essential for understanding and predicting these events, which can cause significant disruptions on Earth, including satellite damage, radio communication blackouts, and power grid failures. Enhanced predictions will also safeguard robotic explorers operating in interplanetary space. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The 3D chemical structure of PFOS, a type of PFAS. Credit: Martyn Kirk In some of the Earth's most remote and inaccessible regions, there are traces of humankind. There's plastic in the Mariana Trench. Mount Everest looks like a garbage dump. And the Arctic Ocean is full of "forever chemicals" known as PFAS. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substancesPFASare a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals. They came into vogue in the 1950s and started appearing everywhere. One common example is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was used to produce Teflon. Martyn Kirk is an epidemiologist at the Australian National University. He was the principal investigator of the PFAS Health Study, which ran between 2016 and 2021. "They were used as anti-stick coatings, anti-stain coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fast food, packagingall sorts of things," says Martyn. "Basically, the entire population of industrialized countries is exposed." Particularly persistent As the "forever chemicals" name implies, PFAS are fairly non-reactive or inert. Typically, organic molecules are made of carbon and hydrogen atoms. But PFAS are made of carbon and fluorine atomsand the bond between those atoms is much, much stronger. This characteristic makes them particularly persistent. Scientists are unsure how long they persist in the environment. Some estimates suggest they can take longer than a decade to clear the human body. Their persistence means they can also accumulate in the body over time. Scientific studies have demonstrated that high levels of exposure to PFAS can result in a host of negative health effects. The health effects Practically every time scientists go looking for PFAS in human bodies, they find them. This seems quite alarming but our understanding of the effects of PFAS continues to evolve as more work is done. Several high-profile legal cases have put PFAS in the spotlight. The towns of Williamtown in New South Wales, Katherine in the Northern Territory and Oakey in Queensland received $212 million compensation from the Australian Government for property value loss and distress in 2021. A biological effect The PFAS Health Study, which Martyn led in 2016, reviewed the medical literature around PFAS and human health and investigated how the chemicals affected those three regional communities. It examined the PFAS levels in the blood of residents who had been exposed to PFAS via groundwater contamination and compared these results with uncontaminated communities. The study showed levels of some PFAS in the blood of residents in the affected communities were higher than those in comparison communities. In some instances, they were also associated with higher blood cholesterol levels. "These chemicals clearly do have a biological effect on humans," says Martyn. "When we test people, we can find evidence of low levels in their blood. Those levels have been coming down over time." PFAS get everywhere The study was consistent with previous findings that have revealed the extent to which PFAS have infiltrated human bodies. You can find PFAS in lungs, testes, the liver and kidneys. Australian researchers recently found PFAS in human brains, but those health effects are yet to be evaluated. Various agencies and environmental organizations point to a collection of scientific studies that suggest PFAS may play a role in decreasing fertility, increasing the risk of cancer, affecting the immune response and interfering with hormones. As science seeks more answers about how PFAS affect human health, most guidance is precautionary. "The consensus is it's not as clear cut as something like asbestos and mesothelioma," says Martyn. 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. Do changes go far enough? Australia has made significant changes in the way it handles different PFAS over the last few years. Though we don't have manufacturing facilities, we can be exposed to the chemicals via food packaging, clothing and carpets. Historically, firefighting training at numerous sites such as airports and Australian Defense Force (ADF) bases released a lot of PFAS into the environment. In WA, Perth and Jandakot Airports used firefighting foams containing PFAS. Testing at Jandakot Airport identified the chemicals in the groundwater of public land at the airport's northwest boundary. Some of the concentrations detected PFAS at "above-acceptable" levels, according to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Other WA sites include HMAS Stirling and various ADF sites where firefighting foams were used. Management plans are in place as Defense investigates the pollution. 'Slow-moving disasters' The PFAS Health Study provided a qualitative assessment of people living in PFAS-polluted communities. Martyn says the study showed "a very strong psychological effect" for residents in affected communities, though this wasn't associated with PFAS blood levels. He says the effects of contamination go beyond health. "We call these types of phenomena slow-moving disasters," says Martyn. "They're not only physical health related, they're also mental health related." "They're also [related to] property values. They're also lifestyle changeslike you can no longer have your own backyard chickens and eat their eggs." The health risks are greatest for those in communities where PFAS are present in the water supply or soil. As our understanding deepens, we are reassessing our relationship with forever chemicals. A costly clean-up Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is expected to release final guidance on the acceptable level of four types of PFAS in drinking water in April. As scientific evidence continues to accumulate, the NHMRC has reduced the acceptable level of different PFAS in our water supply, bringing it in line with regulations around the world. The Australian Government has been working since 2002 to reduce how much PFAS are used in Australia. It has banned the import and use of PFAS from July 2025. However, it only applies to three types of PFAS: PFOA, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS). Some experts say we need to go further. The PFAS group includes so many chemicals and there's concern not enough are being banned. Stuart Khan is a water quality expert at the University of Sydney. Stuart told a Senate Select Committee investigating PFAS in January he would like to see a wider range of PFAS prohibited in Australia. He says the clean-up cost will be immense. "PFAS pollution threatens to cost Australians billions of dollars every year," says Stuart. "We must make the polluter pay." Provided by Particle This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Better technology for keeping track of glass beer bottles could be important in improving health and safety and operational efficiency in the alcoholic beverage sector, according to work published in the International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management. A team in Brazil has evaluated three technologieslaser, carbon dioxide laser, and QR code systemsand considered basic criteria such as security, cost, performance, and social impact. Carolina Xavier da Silva Seixas Rocha, Aldara da Silva Cesar, and Cecilia Toledo Hernandez, and Ualison Rebula de Oliveira of the Fluminense Federal University in Volta Redonda, and Fabiane Leticia Lizarelli of the Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos in Sao Carlos, Brazil, suggest that QR code technology offers the best balance between the various factors, particularly in terms of safety and broader social implications. Traceability is the ability to track products through the supply chain and has become a critical issue in the food industry due to the increasing frequency of health problems associated with food-borne pathogens. According to the World Health Organization, millions of people are affected by food-borne illnesses each year, underlining the importance of systems that can trace the origin and movement of food products. Effective traceability can help quickly identify and remove products that pose a safety risk, which is vital for consumer protection. The team focuses on Brazil, where beer consumption is on the rise, and highlights the need for improved traceability in the beer industry. The team has identified how Brazilian glass bottle manufacturers lack the ability to trace individual bottles. This limitation inevitably complicates the resolution of customer complaints and the identification of production issues. While there are sophisticated methods for analyzing a given bottle, the team suggests that the two-dimensional bar code system, known as the QR (quick-response) code, offers a promising solution to traceability. QR codes are relatively inexpensive to implement, easy to use, and capable of providing real-time data on product movements. These features make them a strong choice for companies looking to meet both safety requirements and consumer demand for transparency. Additionally, QR codes align with increasing regulatory pressures in markets like Brazil, where food safety standards are becoming more stringent. More information: Carolina Xavier d et al, Analysis and selection of glass bottle traceability technologies in the beer production chain, International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management (2025). DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2025.144340 Provided by Inderscience 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: Data best matches the JP=3/2+ hypothesis (green), favoring this spin-parity assignment. The inset shows c(3055)+,0 internal structure with quark spin alignments and D-wave, -mode excitation. Credit: LHCb collaboration. In a new development at CERN, researchers at the LHCb collaboration have determined the spin-parity of singly heavy charm baryons for the first time, addressing a long-standing mystery in baryon research. Singly heavy baryons are particles containing one heavy quarkwhich in this case is a charm quarkand two light quarks. While the existence of these particles is not new, the exact nature of their excitation modes has remained elusive. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, determined the nature by measuring the spin-parity of these charm baryons. Phys.org spoke to co-author Guanyue Wan, a Ph.D. Candidate at Peking University, China. "Our study focuses on measuring a fundamental property of the c (3,055)+ and c (3,055)0 i.e., c (3,055)+,0 baryonsits spin-parity, which describes how these particles behave under certain symmetry transformations," explained Wan. "The study of charm baryons like c (3,055) is particularly intriguing because it helps us test theoretical models of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the theory that describes the strong interaction." Scientists have long discussed the configuration and interactions of constituent quarks, exploring multiple theoretical models with spin-parity assignments spanning from 1/2 to 7/2+. Without knowing the spin-parity measurements, the excitation modes of the particles cannot be determined. Spin-parity, excitations, and orbital angular momentum Hadrons are particles composed of quarks, and baryons are a type of hadron consisting of three quarks. This makes them an ideal setting for studying strong interactions and their confinement within particles. Spin and parity quantum numbers provide fundamental information about subatomic particles. Spin refers to the particle's inherent angular momentum, whereas parity describes the symmetry of the particle's wavefunction. Knowing the spin-parity of a baryon provides critical information about the arrangement and orientation of the constituent quarks. This information is revealed through the orbital angular momentum between the quarks and the specific excitation modes present in the system. In singly heavy baryons like c (3,055), the excitation modes characterize the distribution of energy within the system. There are two primary excitation modes. The -mode describes the excitation between the heavy quark and the diquark system formed by the two lighter quarks. The second excitation mode is the -mode between the two lighter quarks. These different modes create distinct patterns of orbital angular momentum, representing both specific energy distributions and spatial arrangements of the quark wavefunctions. "Measuring the spin-parity provides crucial insight into the internal quark dynamics and interaction mechanisms within the baryon," said Wan. 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. High precision measurements The researchers began by analyzing proton-proton collision data collected between 2016 and 2018 at the LHCb experiment. In particular, the researchers focused on the weak decay reaction of bottom baryons ( b ) to charm baryons ( c ), allowing them to exploit the instability of one ( b ) to study the properties of the more stable one ( c ). They used sophisticated amplitude analysis techniques to examine the angular distributions and kinematics of the decay products emitted in different directions. "Using the data from LHCb, we determined that the spin-parity of these states is 3/2+ with high significance. This result provides critical insights into the internal structure of this basic particle and helps refine theoretical models in hadron spectroscopy," said Wan. The high significance indicated strong statistical confidence in the result, confirming the hypothesis that c (3,055)+,0 baryons correspond to the "D-wave -mode excitation" of the c flavor triplet. This excitation mode means that the angular momentum (L) between the charm quark and the diquark system is two and the flavor triplet refers to the antisymmetric configuration of the lighter quarks. The researchers also measured another parameter called the up-down asymmetry of transitions. This gives information about how the baryon's spin orientation affects the decay process, finding values consistent with maximal parity violation, i.e., it is strongly affected by the spin orientation. This provides evidence in favor of theoretical predictions on bottom baryon decays to charm baryons, enhancing confidence in the models used to explain them. Ruling out alternatives and future work These results are the first experimental confirmation of the spin-parity of c (3,055) and effectively eliminate several competing theories about the nature of these particles. "To our knowledge, no previous experiment has directly determined the spin-parity of c (3,055). While ATLAS and CMS primarily focus on high-energy searches and have limited studies in heavy-flavor spectroscopy, c (3,055) was first observed by Belle. "Both Belle and BaBar have studied its mass and width, with which our results show consistency, but no spin-parity measurements were conducted," explained Wan. In the future, a similar approach could be used to establish the nature of other poorly understood baryons, helping scientists to map the complex spectrum of baryons. More information: R. Aaij et al, First Determination of the Spin-Parity of c(3055)+,0 Baryons, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081901 Journal information: Physical Review Letters 2025 Science X Network 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: Bobby Mikul/public domain Slovakia has confirmed its first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 50 years at three farms near the border with Hungary, the government said on Friday, following cases there and in Germany. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection that is not dangerous to humans but which affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, including sheep and pigs. Symptoms include fever and blisters in the mouth and near the hoof. In January, Germany reported FMD cases in a Berlin water buffalo farm, the first outbreak in the European Union since 2011, prompting several countries to stop German meat imports. Foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in three cattle farms in southern Slovakia, agriculture minister Richard Takac said, adding it was a "very serious and a very big problem". The farms each have 600 to 1,000 young cattle and dairy cows, with symptoms first emerging on Tuesday. "As FMD has been confirmed, we will cull all the livestock," Pavel Majercak, a representative for two of the farms, told AFP, describing the outbreak as "a disaster for agriculture". The last time the disease occurred in the country was in 1974. In reaction, the neighboring Czech Republic put up border controls and banned cattle imports from Slovakia from Friday. Similar measures are also in force for animal imports from Hungary, where the disease was reported on March 7. In 2011, hundreds of animals were culled in Bulgaria after an outbreak there. In a previous outbreak in Europe, more than 2,000 animals were culled to control the disease in the UK after a spate of cases in 2007, according to the British government. In 2001, up to 10 million animals were culled in a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the UK which cost the national economy about 8 billion ($10 billion). 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Southeast Asias capture fisheries production increased steadily between 1950 and 2017. Credit: Matsuishi Takashi Fritz. Fisheries Science. February 5, 2025 Despite decades of warnings about overfishing, Southeast Asia's capture fisheries have proven remarkably robust. For decades, there have been dire warnings about overfishing and the loss of biomass and biodiversity in the world's fisheries. Yet one region's capture fisheries have largely maintained their biodiversity and ecological health while still meeting the food needs of the area's growing population. In a study published in the journal Fisheries Science, Professor Matsuishi Takashi Fritz (Prof. Fritz) at the Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, examined the status of Southeast Asia's capture fisheries to understand why this particular region is swimming against the global tide of overfishing and declining production, and what lessons can be learned for other capture fisheries around the world. Southeast Asian fisheries have seen a steady increase in production over the past 30 years, which amounts to the greatest among world regions. Though that growth has plateaued since 2018, the region still outperforms many others. At the same time, the fisheries' productivitydefined as production divided by the number of fisheriesis the second lowest in the world. That's because many more people are actively engaged in fishing in Southeast Asia than in many other regions; the percentage of people fishing in Southeast Asia is 3.4 times higher than the global average. Many of these are small-scale and artisanal fishers, who only catch enough for the local community or their own families, as Southeast Asia also has the greatest dependence on aquatic foods for protein. A larger portion of fish stocks in SEA are underfished compared to the global average, which contributes to the resilience of fisheries in SEA. Credit: Matsuishi Takashi Fritz. Fisheries Science. February 5, 2025 "Small-scale fishing has various advantages: as its productivity is low, it's possible to provide many jobs without overfishing; the small scale of the fishing gear has a low impact on the ecosystem; and the small amount of fish caught at one time ensures that the quality and freshness of the catch is high, and it is sold at a relatively high unit price," says Prof. Fritz. An unusual feature of Southeast Asian capture fisheries is that while the percentage of overfished stocks is similar to the global average, the region has a threefold higher ratio of underfished stocks compared to the global averagethe key finding of this study. It has also preserved its already high level of marine biodiversity, so the capture fisheries tend to be multi-species rather than overfishing a few key species. "To maintain biodiversity, it's essential to encourage the practice of non-species-selective multi-species fisheries and management," Prof. Fritz concludes. "Protecting, promoting, and controlling small-scale artisanal fisheries that do not destroy habitats is also essential." More information: Takashi Fritz Matsuishi, Status of Southeast Asian fisheries: distinctive characteristics and pathways to sustainable fisheries, Fisheries Science (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s12562-025-01854-w 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: Annual change in glacier mass worldwide since 1976. All 19 of the world's glacier regions experienced a net loss of mass in 2024 for the third consecutive year, the United Nations said Friday, warning that saving the planet's glaciers was now a matter of "survival." Five of the last six years have seen the most rapid glacier retreat on record, the UN's World Meteorological Organization said on the inaugural World Day for Glaciers. "Preservation of glaciers is a not just an environmental, economic and societal necessity: it's a matter of survival," said WMO chief Celeste Saulo. Beyond the continental ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide cover approximately 700,000 square kilometers (270,000 square miles), the WMO said. But they are rapidly shrinking due to climate change. "The 2024 hydrological year marked the third year in a row in which all 19 glacier regions experienced a net mass loss," the WMO said. Together, they lost 450 billion tonnes of mass, the agency said, citing new data from the Swiss-based World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). It was the fourth-worst year on record, with the worst being in 2023. Huge loss over 50 years "From 2022-2024, we saw the largest three-year loss of glaciers on record," Saulo said. Glacier mass loss last year was relatively moderate in regions such as the Canadian Arctic and the peripheral glaciers of Greenland, but glaciers in Scandinavia, Norway's Svalbard archipelago and North Asia experienced their worst year on record. Melting glaciers: major differences across regions. Based on a compilation of worldwide observations, the WGMS estimates that glaciersseparate from the continental ice sheets in Greenland and Antarcticahave lost more than 9,000 billion tonnes since records began in 1975. "This is equivalent to a huge ice block of the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 meters," said WGMS director Michael Zemp. At current rates of melting, many glaciers in western Canada and the United States, Scandinavia, central Europe, the Caucasus and New Zealand "will not survive the 21st century", the WMO said. The agency said that together with ice sheets, glaciers store around 70% of the world's freshwater resources, with high mountain regions acting like the world's water towers. If they disappear, that would threaten water supplies for millions of people downstream. 'Ignoring the problem' For the UN, the only possible response is to combat global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A general view of the melting Lewis Glacier, with a pool of meltwater at its base, in Mount Kenya National Park. "We can negotiate many things in the end, but we cannot negotiate physical laws like the melting point of ice," said Stefan Uhlenbrook, the WMO's water and cryosphere director. He declined to comment on the return to office of US President Donald Trump, a climate change skeptic who has pulled the United States out of the landmark 2015 Paris climate accords. However, Uhlenbrook said that "ignoring the problem" of climate change "is maybe convenient for a short period of time", but "that will not help us to get closer to a solution". Five of the last six years have seen the most rapid glacier retreat on record, the UN's World Meteorological Organization weather, climate and water agency said. For the inaugural World Day for Glaciers, the WGMS named a US glacier as its first Glacier of the Year. The South Cascade Glacier in Washington state has been monitored continuously since the 1950s and provides one of the longest uninterrupted records of glaciological mass balance in the western hemisphere. The US Geological Survey, the government body that studies the natural environment, has measurements there going back to 1958, while WGMS's records there began even earlier, in 1952. 2025 AFP ATLANTIC CITY The city appears poised to have New Jerseys first legal cannabis consumption lounge, where patrons can purchase items to smoke or vape, or edibles to consume on sight. It will likely have the second as well. What that could mean for the city, for the weed industry and for tourism were topics for a Thursday panel discussion sponsored by Stockton University, held in the consumption lounge created about a year ago at High Rollers Dispensary in The Claridge hotel. The lounge has been ready for more than a year, but so far there are no licensed consumption lounges approved in New Jersey by the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Right now, its just very expensive office space for High Rollers, said John Cohn, the CEO of that dispensary and one of the panelists, along with Spencer Belz, the chief operating officer of SunnyTien, another dispensary operating in Atlantic City, and Smrita M. Choubey, the founder and CEO of Veda Warrior, which makes herbal remedies including cannabis-infused olive oil, coconut oil and ghee, a traditional Indian butter. The lounge is upstairs from the expansive High Rollers dispensary. Dimly lit with a series of comfortable chairs, a contrasting pattern on the floor and a bar, the room may have seemed like an unusual place for a business conference, but was built with the cannabis experience in mind. Cohn said once open it could host jazz nights, trivia, comedians or small bands. For larger events, there are other venues in the building, he said. A member of the audience asked whether virtual realty might be part of the offerings. Cohn said that is something the dispensary is working on, but that he couldnt say more. Atlantic City unveils new tourism campaigns Celebrations and memories will be central to Atlantic City's efforts to promote itself to visitors this year. Moderated by Rob Mejia, part of Stocktons cannabis studies program, Destination Cannabis: Consumption Lounges, NJs Next Big Attraction drew a handful of attendees to the lounge, as well as an online audience. The panel spoke about removing the stigma of cannabis consumption and offering an experience to visitors that goes beyond just selling a joint or getting them high. They also spoke about more pragmatic realities, such as when a customer has had too much. The same issue for police seeking to identify who is too high to drive will also offer challenges to lounge operators. There is no test for cannabis intoxication analogous to the Breathalyzer for alcohol. Like bars and other places that serve alcohol, the lounges have a right and a responsibility to refuse service to someone who is already intoxicated. If someone is using abusive language or causing other problems, the lounge can have that person removed. We have to have good oversight and make sure that it is a safe space, Belz said. SunnyTien has also built a lounge at its dispensary at 3004 Atlantic Ave. Both businesses have applied for licenses to open their lounges, only to hear that the applications will not be accepted yet. At the start of this year, the process was opened to businesses with social equity licenses, but both Belz and Cohn said no one has applied in that category. They plan to resubmit as of April 2, as soon as those applications can be accepted. 5 Best THC Gummies of 2025 Affiliate content. Find the best options for THC gummies in 2025. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission worked on rules for lounges for more than a year. For tourists who cannot smoke or vape in their hotel room, for renters or people in public housing, the lounges could offer a place to socialize and indulge. There is a bar at the High Roller lounge, but they will not be able to serve alcohol. In fact, they will not be able to serve any beverages or food. Like at many New Jersey breweries, customers will be able to bring their own food. Belz expressed frustration with that. Cannabis can give users a feeling of dehydration, sometimes called cotton mouth. He believes his company should be able to at least offer a glass of water. The last thing we want to do is leave someone high and dry in the lounge, he said. What can we do, pat them on the back and say order DoorDash? Unmentioned, but surely not forgotten, was another cannabis side effect: the munchies. There are some work-arounds. Cohn said the site will have an outside contractor who can offer soft drinks and coffee, and he plans to have kiosks at the bar where patrons can order food to be delivered. Much of the discussion focused on options that are not available in New Jersey at lounges, such as cannabis-infused dinners. Mejia rhapsodized about infused dining events in Spain and Cohn spoke of cafes in Amsterdam, one of the first places to legalize cannabis use around the world. He said the coffee was fantastic and so was the cannabis. Atlantic City waits to see if it rates in Murphy's State of the State speech Atlantic City is an important economic engine for New Jersey. Its key stakeholders wait to see what Gov. Murphy has to say about it in his State of the State speech. Choubey brought up her Indian heritage, saying cannabis has been part of that culture for thousands of years. She expected a negative reaction when she told an aunt about her business plan, but said she was told her grandfather would stock up on hash for Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors. She spoke of Ayurvedic wellness programs, including other health-inducing herbs, and teaching classes in cooking with cannabis, along with yoga and more. The panelists also spoke of the need to educate clients about the products, the paraphernalia and the effects. Some have not used cannabis for years, or decades, or have never tried it, while others may be comfortable with a high-potency dab. The consensus was that no one wanted someone to go too far and have a bad time instead of a relaxing and enjoyable experience. The event was sponsored by the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism and the Cannabis and Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton. Stockton was the first school in New Jersey to offer an undergraduate degree in cannabis studies in the fall of 2024. EGG HARBOR CITY It was the first town hall U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., has done since his swearing-in, and he held it in a district that voted for President Donald Trump, he told the crowd of about 400 Thursday night at the local Teamsters hall. Im in a congressional district area that President Trump won. There is a difference of opinions out there could very well be here in this room. Thats OK, Kim said. If youre only having comfortable conversations in politics, it means youre not talking to all the people you should be talking to. Kim was referring to U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, who has only held telephone town halls since 2021. The town hall was heavily promoted on social media by the Atlantic County Democratic Committee, teachers unions and federal employees unions. A former Democratic congressman from the 3rd Congressional District, Kim was elected in November to fill the unexpired term of former Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, who resigned in August after being convicted on federal bribery charges. Kim was sworn in in December. Having done over 80 town halls while a member in Congress, I have never had a town hall convened where it felt like so much at stake right now, Kim said to strong applause. That anxiety you feel ... all across the political spectrum we have no idea what is happening next in our country. And the boos couldnt have been louder every time Elon Musks or Vice President J.D. Vances names were mentioned. One mom had many in the audience in tears when she told Kim about her 24-year-old son who lives with her in Galloway Township, has Down syndrome and relies on Medicaid to pay for $330,000 a year in round-the-clock nursing care he requires to be able to stay at home. US Sen. Andy Kim to hold town hall Thursday in Egg Harbor City U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., will hold a town hall Thursday evening in Egg Harbor City, one of three he will hold across the state this week. I cannot rest thinking about if this changes where the state of New Jersey says they will send my son to, said Susan Coll-Guedes, an assistant professor at The College of New Jersey. He will be sent three hours away to a facility where one nurse takes care of 16 to 18 people. He is oriented and aware. We get calls every two weeks challenging, Do we need this nursing? since 2013. I need people to know his life is not a waste, Coll-Guedes said. This is not fraud. ... I want to have a normal life and can only have a normal life because of Medicaid. In New Jersey, 2 million of the states 9 million residents get their health care from Medicaid, Kim said. A third of the states children rely on it. Trump and Van Drew have both promised not to cut Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security, but Democrats contend they cannot get to their budget cutting goals without cutting those programs. And why are they doing it? To get the tax cuts, Kim said of income tax cuts that largely would benefit wealthier Americans. Kim called tariffs a tax on Americans and predicted they will cost American jobs, and described actions to cut federal spending by eliminating or downsizing federal departments as an attack against the U.S. Constitution. He tries to bypass and marginalize other branches of government ... usurping power and consolidating it in the Executive Branch ... under the facade of efficiency, Kim said to heavy applause. There are things we can do to make government more efficient. This is not the way that we do it. Only one person in the crowd was wearing a red Make America Great Again hat, the symbol of Trump supporters. He asked Kim why he didnt stand up for 13-year-old D.J. Daniel, of Texas, a brain cancer patient made an honorary member of the U.S. Secret Service during Trumps joint speech to Congress early this month. Van Drew critics hold town hall with Democratic US Rep. Watson Coleman Progressive activists and Democratic candidates held a town hall Monday night in Pleasantville with U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th, from Mercer County. I probably should have, Kim told him, but he said the feeling in the room was so contentious between the parties, Democrats did not stand. Members of the crowd, however, shouted out that the boy was just a prop for Trump. Kim also got challenging questions from people who said they supported him but were disappointed he voted for Kristi Noem for secretary of homeland security, or didnt vote for the budget resolution to keep the government open. Kim did not vote for the budget resolution to continue funding the government, which did pass the Senate after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer encouraged Democrats to vote for it to avoid a shutdown. I disagreed with shutting down the government. Theres a policy in place if they shut down more than 30 days we could lose our jobs, said a woman who identified herself as a federal employee. Kim, who said he is a former federal employee whose first paid federal job was with USAID, agreed there is such a provision. There were nothing but bad options out there, Kim said. Thats important for me to hear. An 18-year-old man from Galloway Township who said he was a member of the Young Democratic Socialists of America asked Kim whether he would stop voting to send arms and other support to Israel. Im appalled at the ongoing violence in Gaza and Palestine. ... They have massacred nearly 60,000 civilians, the young adult said. We have sent $22.6 billion to the Israeli military, and you voted for aid packages. Kim said the situation is complex. Im somebody that worked in diplomacy before, Ive worked in the Middle East before. ... I do have a real concern when it comes to the threat from Iran and the threat from that region. ... I do think equipment like the Iron Dome and others have saved lives, Kim said, adding that Israels recent action to close the border for humanitarian assistance into Gaza is wrong. Hamas also refused to continue with the ceasefire extension. They hold responsibility as well, Kim said. We need to make sure we have a plan that has a pathway forward for Palestine ... a two-state solution our country for so long has approached in a bipartisan way. That is something I will continue to push on. GALLERY: US Sen. Andy Kim's Egg Harbor City town hall Latest Headlines The Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus sent a survey out to Quad-Cities metro school board candidates earlier this month for the Illinois consolidated elections on April 1, 2025. There are four seats up for election, with incumbent board president Susan Koska, vice-president Giovanna Davila and members Chris DeCock and Luis Puentes each running for reelection. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Ivey Earl Colvin Age: 47 47 City/town of residence: East Moline East Moline Occupation: Campus President at Midwest Technical Institute. Campus President at Midwest Technical Institute. Connection to the school district: I am a graduate of UTHS class if 1996. My daugthers attended UTHS and my youngest is a senior this year. I am a graduate of UTHS class if 1996. My daugthers attended UTHS and my youngest is a senior this year. Prior leadership experience: I have been in a leadership role in higher education for about 10 years. Question #1: What prompted you to run for school board? Representation & Visibility - I want the community (students, parents and staff) to see that the school board is a representation of the student body. Advocacy for all students- being an advocate for policies that address disparities in educational access, discipline, and academic achievement. Community Engagement & Trust - being able to assist in bridging gaps between the school board and historically underrepresented families by fostering trust and encouraging engagement. Commitment to Student Success- assisting with initiatives that are already in place and help support policies (student attendance). Question #2: What do you consider to be the top three issues facing K-12 education right now? The top three issues that I have read about and seem to be significantly impacting schools and students are funding, teacher and staff shortages (due to pay, and school safety) and mental health issues (students). Question #3: If elected, how would you work to address these issues in your district? If elected, I would assist the current school board members with addressing issues by offering workable solutions and providing sound judgement. As my role as a campus president has provided a strong foundation to assist with strategic visions and leadership. Adopting shared visions and goals, assisting with preparing students for future career success as well as engaging with the community to ensure that educational initiatives are being meet within the community. Question #4: What is your district's top strength and top area for improvement? Top strength: UTHS curriculum prepares students for success. Areas for improvement: More strategies to assist with student attendance. Giovanna Davila Age: 45 45 City/town of residence: Silvis Silvis Occupation: Music teacher for the Rock Island-Milan School District. Music teacher for the Rock Island-Milan School District. Connection to the school district: I am a UTHS alumni, my two oldest children graduated from UTHS, and my son will be at UTHS in a few years, as well as a taxpayer. I am a UTHS alumni, my two oldest children graduated from UTHS, and my son will be at UTHS in a few years, as well as a taxpayer. Prior leadership experience: I have been a member of the UTHS school board for the last eight years. During that time, I have actively engaged in meetings and board training, as well as (serving as) board secretary, and (Im) currently the vice president of the board. I have had leadership opportunities in my day job, where I have been the lead teacher for my music teacher colleagues, as well as work with Augustana College, University of Iowa, and Western Illinois University with practicum students, helping the next generation of music teachers. Question #1: What prompted you to run for school board? I wanted to give back to the community. I am a graduate of United Township High School and my experience there helped shape me into the educator that I am today. I also chose to run for school board because of the experienced staff and their dedication to providing a quality education for their students. Question #2: What do you consider to be the top three issues facing K-12 education right now? The most important issue right now is funding, especially federal funds (e.g. Title I and special education.) With the political climate, were unsure what President Trump will do with (Department of Education) funds. This would be detrimental to not just our schools, but many (schools nationwide.) Another issue facing education is attendance. Throughout our country, students are not coming to school everyday and missing so many days that they miss a whole quarter. It is important for students to show up every day to school and try their best. One of UTHS goals is to increase student attendance and encouraging students to come to school. Another issue facing education is (remediating) the achievement gap from loss of instruction due to the pandemic. UTHS has done a great job implementing programs to help with the achievement gap and has used ESSER funds wisely to help the students. Question #3: If elected, how would you work to address these issues in your district? As a school board, we are aware of all of these issues and working together to face them. One of our Board of Education goals is to increase student attendance. We have discussed what might happen with the Department of Education, but as of right now, we have to wait to see what the federal government will do with our funding, which is frustrating. We will continue to work on the achievement gap and (monitor) student growth. Question #4: What is your district's top strength and top area for improvement? One of UTHS' strengths is (its) dual enrollment program. Students can get a year of college credit through UTHS and Blackhawk College's partnership. The students and families are saving a lot of money and time by having these dual enrollment classes. Another strength is our seal of Bi-literacy. We have many students who speak more than one language and are able to prosper at UT. One area of improvement is attendance, which is not just a UTHS issue, (is) as a society, we need to encourage everyone to go to school and to go to work everyday, and be a productive member of society. As I stated previously, this is a nationwide issue and Dr. Morrow and the board of education are working together towards increasing student attendance. Chris DeCock Age: 44 44 City/town of residence: East Moline East Moline Occupation: Budget analyst at the Rock Island Arsenal. Budget analyst at the Rock Island Arsenal. Connection to the school district: I graduated from UTHS in 1999, my daughter graduated in 2024, and my son will be a freshman next year. I graduated from UTHS in 1999, my daughter graduated in 2024, and my son will be a freshman next year. Prior leadership experience: I am currently a UTHS (board) member finishing up my first term, and I have served on several committees. I have been on multiple negotiation committees; (served) as a board member of a nonprofit for Breast Cancer research, various ministries at our church (and) chaired multiple events at my children's grade school. Question #1: What prompted you to run for school board? I ran to support the UTHS students and staff, as well as the community. Both of my parents graduated from UT. My wife and I graduated together. My daughter graduated in 2024, and my son will be a freshman this year. I truly care for and support UTHS. Question #2: What do you consider to be the top three issues facing K-12 education right now? Social Media Attendance Achievement gaps Question #3: If elected, how would you work to address these issues in your district? With the rest of the board, I will continue to listen to the concerns of the students/parents/teachers and the administration team. I will continue to educate myself on the current issues and be there to support our UTHS community. I will continue to work hard to get the teachers the tools and resources they need to support and educate the students at UTHS. Question #4: What is your district's top strength and top area for improvement? UTHS has a strong, family-like community. Diversity in the school is definitely something that is celebrated at UTHS, with 30 languages spoken. Our teachers and administrators truly care about the students, and want them to succeed while at UTHS and beyond graduation! Right now one of the top goals is to improve student attendance. (UT) administration is diligently working with the partner schools to improve in this area. Susan Koska Age: 71 71 City/town of residence: Colona Colona Occupation: Volunteer Volunteer Connection to the school district: Three children graduated (from) UT, volunteer and current board member. Three children graduated (from) UT, volunteer and current board member. Prior leadership experience: United Township High School (Board), Colona Library Board, Little League Board, United Education Foundation Board, Colona School PTA, Colona United Methodist Church Committee Chairs. Question #1: What prompted you to run for school board? I want to help UTHS be the best experience possible for ALL students. Question #2: What do you consider to be the top three issues facing K-12 education right now? Students need to be at school every day they are able to be in attendance - priority on school by families and community. Support and appreciation of teachers, faculty and staff by families and community. Consistent, adequate and equitable funding for all schools. Question #3: If elected, how would you work to address these issues in your district? Continue to encourage curriculum content to continue to meet the needs of a high school graduate while being engaging and relevant to all students; (be) in contact with legislators to provide sufficient and equitable funding for all schools (and) support the importance of school attendance with our partner districts to grow the concept with students and families that education comes first. Question #4: What is your district's top strength and top area for improvement? We are UT. All are welcomed and encouraged to be a part of the UT family - from a wide variety of academic offerings on many interests and abilities, faculty and staff support of students, encouragement to participate in clubs and other extracurricular offerings, to setting and maintaining standards of behavior that value and protect every student. Student demographics are constantly changing, (and) trying to have a highly qualified faculty and staff that more closely reflects these demographics is an area we are constantly trying to improve. Luis A. Puentes Age: 67 67 City/town of residence: East Moline East Moline Occupation: Retired from the East Moline Fire Department Retired from the East Moline Fire Department Connection to the school district: I am a lifelong resident of the UTHS district. In addition, I and my 3 children graduated from UTHS. I am a lifelong resident of the UTHS district. In addition, I and my 3 children graduated from UTHS. Prior leadership experience: Aside from being on the UT BOE for the majority of 2024, I also serve on three other (board of directors)/commissions and sit as chair/commissioner on two of them. In addition, I served eight years as the 2nd Ward Alderman in East Moline. Question #1: What prompted you to run for school board? I feel that one way to continue to build on the success of a community is to have a strong educational component. I will strive to continue to build this community/ UTHS. Question #2: What do you consider to be the top three issues facing K-12 education right now? Attendance School safety Graduation rates Question #3: If elected, how would you work to address these issues in your district? Build on the programs that have been successful in regard to attendance and graduation rates. Implement enhanced methods to improve the safety of our school. Question #4: What is your district's top strength and top area for improvement? Our strength is our staff, from administration to teachers to entire support staff. Area of improvement is retention of said staff. Improve teacher/ student ratio. China lays out guidelines on improving TCM quality Xinhua) 10:13, March 21, 2025 BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The general office of China's State Council has released a set of guidelines on improving the quality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and advancing the high-quality development of the TCM industry. The guidelines are designed to forge a high-quality development pattern in the industry that focuses on both inheritance and innovation, featuring a sound structure, advanced manufacturing facilities, reliable quality and strong competitiveness. The document lays out key tasks in eight areas, such as the protection and application of TCM resources, the development of the Chinese medicinal herb industry, and the transformation and upgrading of the TCM industry. It also specifies requirements for advancing technological innovation and quality supervision related to TCM, as well as for pursuing a higher-quality opening-up of TCM to expand its international market. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) As the room filled up and the chatter between a cluster of Central High School students about their March Madness brackets wound down, Logan Mays walked toward the front of the room and prepared students for a guest: Dusty Johnson, South Dakotas lone U.S. House representative. Here were the ground rules from Mays, a Central High School AP government teacher: Be respectful. Keep questions more about political processes and less about political issues. Just in case they didnt hear the first time, Mays reminded them to keep it civilized and apolitical. Few can blame Mays redundancy. In a post-Donald Trump world, where his sweeping changes have stoked division, public appearances for some Republican officials havent been easy. In Kansas, a Republican state senator was at the epicenter of public condemnation after a video of him leaving a contentious town hall meeting early went viral. In Columbus, Nebraska, meanwhile, one headline for an article published on March 20, reads Nebraska Rep. Mike Floods town hall devolves into shouting, standoffs between attendees. Last week, Trumps vice president, J.D. Vance, and his wife, Usha, were booed and heckled loudly while finding their seats for a performance by the National Symphony at the plush Kennedy Center. You get the point. But on Thursday, at 10:45 a.m., Johnson walked into a Central High School classroom filled with AP government students and had a wide ranging, nothings-off-the-table conversation that aligned with Mays' plea for civility. Even topics that either crossed or pushed the invisible apolitical line Mays drew tariffs, a potential government collapse, and Trumps ongoing attempt to dismantle the Department of Education were asked respectfully and answered directly, thoughtfully and with balance. For tariffs, Johnson said he has empathy for South Dakotans negatively impacted, but sees current tactics as a "leverage tool" that'll eventually pay off, his hope foreign countries give in and give the U.S. better deals. He voiced a general approval for Trump's dismantlement of the Department of Education because states and local school boards should be in charge of education. That said, he doesn't want to see any of the Title I programs, which help low-income students, or special education departments be harmed. Opponents of the dismantlement said they could be. Contrary to recent comments from Trump, Johnson didnt make any inflammatory remarks and used politically correct nomenclature when students asked about rights for the LGBTQ+ community. More specifically, for people who are transgender. From a policy perspective, I think well be in an area of change for about 5-10 years until the literature settles out and public opinion settles out, Johnson said. As the student politely nodded along, Johnson talked about how South Dakotas has a libertarian vibe when it comes to those 25 years or older. A you do you approach as he called it. But he said that he thinks the developing world is swinging against gender affirming care for minors, and I think were going to see that continue to be the case in the country. After the meeting, as students joined the lunchtime hallway bustle, Mays face was painted with a blend of relief and joy. Asked if he was worried about a shouting match occurring, Mays conceded a little bit at first after, you know, 10 minutes, I was like, OK, nothing's going to happen. So I was very happy with how the students acted in the situation, Mays said. There are students in there, I know that don't agree with him, but they treated him like a human being and anyone else. Over the course of a recent three-week publicity tour that included roughly two dozen appearances, Johnson said some comments and questions have come from the angry and animated. For the most part, however, people ask questions in a way that is thoughtful and respectful. Efforts are underway to have Johnson and possibly other members of the state's Congressional delegation hold a town hall in the Rapid City area. Johnson's Rapid City District Office is located at 2525 W. Main St., Suite 310. The phone number is 605-646-6454. At Central, while Mays voiced some reservations over the conversation turning political, Johnson was accepting of it. He came, in part, to spread the gospel of the vitality of youth political engagement even if it meant volunteering for an opponents campaign. There are a lot of kids afterwards that came up and asked questions that I could tell were tied to their personal situation. Them trying to find themselves, them trying to figure out what the future held for them, them trying to figure out was their place in government and it was easy to see myself in them, Johnson said. So, the short-term goal for Mays was accomplished: students expressed themselves. A politician answered their concerns. There wasnt a moment that came remotely close to the aforementioned anger invoked in Kansas, Nebraska or at the Kennedy Center. Johnson urged them to continue that mindset during the event. It's kind of popular among the far right and the far left to talk about a civil war. Number one, I think that is fantastically dangerous rhetoric, and I would just urge you all not only to abstain from it, but to actively push back on it, Johnson told the class in a serious tone. But in a hollowed Central High School hallway, Mays mulled over one final question: Does he think what occurred for those 45 minutes will lead to action? I cant, I can't really say that," Mays said. "I hope that we can move forward and that we continue to host civil discussions like this, and that's kind of what I hope. So I don't know." Sitting in a corner office he was still decorating, South Dakota School of Mines and Technologys new president, Dr. Brian Tande, reflected on the question: Is this job a short-term or a long-term move? I'd love to be here until I retire, replied Tande, who has spent most of his career at the University of North Dakota, with the last four as dean of engineering there, in late January. From now until retirement Tande will be taking steps to solve one unique challenge: decreasing the historically high rate of Mines graduates leaving the Black Hills and the Mount Rushmore state. By finding a solution, itll benefit the local economy and prove why Tande was the right fit for the job. According to sources familiar with the hiring process, Tande was tabbed to replace previous president, Jim Ranken, in part, because of his ambition to improve the surrounding community. The question is, can he? According to data provided by the university, 41% of graduates stay in the state either to work or pursue more education. This is far lower than a 2024 report by the W.E. Upjohn Institute which showed 68% of graduates from a public, four-year institute stayed in state. Theres a myriad of reasons for this, several sources from Mines and Elevate Rapid City expressed. But in many cases it boils down to what separates Mines from most four-year universities in South Dakota it specializes in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). As a result, students will come from neighboring midwestern states to obtain their degree, then take an opportunity that brings them closer to their roots. In other cases, the Black Hills and South Dakota dont offer what theyre looking for, so they find an opportunity elsewhere. Whats more, maybe the opportunity is offered locally, but graduates leave for Silicon Valley or Seattle, for example, because those opportunities offer them more money. Such is the life of a school that prides itself on churning out high-quality students. Taylor Davis, senior workforce development and partnerships director for Elevate Rapid City, whos on the frontlines of solving this problem, explained why its important to create opportunities to keep graduates local. More people, especially those in well-paying and technologically advanced fields, are prone to buy houses and use their expendable income to shop at restaurants and other locally owned businesses. One, you're supporting your local business landscape, but then two, you're putting taxes back into our economy, which can go to upgrade things like your public park systems, your roads, your transportation the amenities that make a place a great place to live, Davis said. Moving forward, Davis will work with Tande, just as she did with Ranken, and other members of Mines, in what she called a holistic approach to improve the retention rates. Although theyre under the national average, numbers are getting better. In 2012, 27% of students stayed in South Dakota to work or continue their education. In 2019, the number lifted to 34% and now sits at 41%. This looks like getting underclassmen involved with internships and co-ops, according to Davis. She also mentioned providing students job opportunities via the innovation district, which is a grant the city received to inspire economic growth. Tande, meanwhile, said the school is actively working to help aspiring entrepreneurs via a program called I-Corps. The program is geared toward taking an idea and then providing a blueprint on how to develop a profitable company locally. One of the strategies is: How can we take the $20-$25 million worth of research that we do here every year, and turn that into new businesses? Tande said. A self-proclaimed nerd, who would stack up the empty Mountain Dew cans that helped him grind through assignments in high school and create a Dew Mountain, Tande conceded a part of him regrets not going to Mines out of high school. He took a couple RV trips to the Black Hills as a kid and was mesmerized by the bighorn sheep and postcard perfect views of the vast, rocky terrain. So, instead of Mines, he enrolled in the University of Minnesota for undergrad and graduated in 1998. Then it was off to the University of Delaware where he obtained his PhD in chemical engineering in 2002. He expressed feeling content at the University of North Dakota, but within the last year, as his kids transitioned into adulthood, he began to ponder what the next phase of his life would look like. Thats when he saw the opening at Mines, applied and was hired because of the resume he accumulated in Grand Forks. During his 17-year tenure at UND, he spent four years as the director of the Jodsaas Center for Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship from 2011-15. His time in North Dakota, which saw him as associate professor, chair and recently professor of chemical engineering (2018-25) and dean of engineering (2020-25), he helped build a program that connected students with the Grand Forks Air Force Base. That was something that really stuck out to me, said Jacob West, a Mines alumni who was involved in one of the hiring interviews. Theres the economic opportunity, but then theres the relationship-building and community buy-in that can help students stay in South Dakota after graduating from Mines. On a recent February day, at an event called Beers with Brian at Dakota Point Brewery in Rapid City, Tande took stage sips of a Hard Rocker Ale and schmoozed with members of the community. Hows it going? he said to one community member. How long have you lived in Rapid? he said to another. Since taking over, hes met with student leaders on campus and at local coffee shops, such as Harriet & Oak. Back in February, after receiving word that a student got into a minor car accident, he called her to make sure she was OK. Furthermore, while juggling the litany of daily stressors trips to legislative sessions in Pierre, ensuring students and staff are happy, and helping obtain grants hes continued his due diligence by meeting with community members. He gets us, Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun said. Back at Beers with Brian as his Hard Rocker Ale sloshed around in his glass, Tande gazed out at the scene in front of him: A bartender readying up another pint. Chips from the buffet line being munched on by Mines students and alumni while chatting. Local business leaders and folks with ideas stopping by. It felt nice. It felt like a place youd call home for a long, long time. Lots of untapped potential, he said. BELLE FOURCHE Nature is Nonpartisan is taking a new approach to conservation, working to ensure that both political parties work together for the betterment of the planet. On March 20, the new national nonprofit launched in the geographic center of the United States Belle Fourche. Founder Benji Backer, 27, said the organization focuses on a unified approach to conservation by "rebuilding the movement." "We are not these boxes in America that we put ourselves in, and we've pitted ourselves against one another, especially on this issue so unnecessarily, and the rational majority of Americans are no longer represented when it comes to the environmental dialogs that we're having at the national level," Backer said during the event. Backer said rural agricultural-based communities like Belle Fourche have previously been left behind in the conservation movement, but the organization will work to bring them into the narrative. Gov. Larry Rhoden and Belle Fourche Mayor Randy Schmidt attended and spoke during the event. "South Dakota is a living proof that conservation doesn't have to damage the economy," Rhoden said. "In fact, South Dakota does conservation in a way that actually boosts our economy." During his speech, Rhoden declared this week "Nature is Nonpartisan" week. "We don't rely on government mandates or divisive policies to keep our state beautiful," Rhoden said. "That's exactly what the organization Nature is Nonpartisan is here to share today." The organization will focus on innovating agriculture, strengthening water and solid resilience, expanding market-based conservation and leveraging technology. Many of these can be done through reintegrating Indigenous wildlife to their natural habitats, Becker said during his speech on Thursday. Organizers plan to work towards these goals through cross-party discussions. A unifying issue In an era when strangers argue online about seemingly anything and everything, Backer believes the environment is an issue that crosses political party lines and requires a common sense environmental action approach. The environment doesnt have a preferred political party, and every American has a connection to the outdoors, Backer said. We have to show politicians across the spectrum that we have the same desired outcomes. That desired outcome? Preserving land for generations to come, Backer said during his Thursday speech. Weve been interviewing local hunters and anglers and ranchers here, and they basically say the exact same thing as the environmentalists and the Native tribal members and some of the more liberal people are saying, Backer said. They have the same end goal and ideal outcome, but theres no environmental organization that represents the bulk of America that wants solutions on these issues, that actually represents their values. That helps politicians understand that if they dont prioritize common sense environmental action, they will be held accountable for that. Environmental issues such as forest fires, extreme storms, national parks in debt, biodiversity and crop production hindered by water and soil conditions are not going to be solved if we keep putting the environment in the middle of culture wars that shouldnt exist, Backer said. Amidst the most divisive time in politics, maybe this could be the one issue that transcends bickering. Backer previously founded the American Conservation Coalition, the largest right-of-center environmental organization in the United States. Backer also is the author of The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future. Starting Nature Is Nonpartisan, he said, was simply inspired by his frustration and a desire to work towards solutions that benefit Americans across all populations and political perspectives. My passion for being outdoors turned into dedication for changing the narrative for good. I wish I didnt have to build a nonpartisan movement, but I dont see another way, he said. An avid outdoorsman, Backer grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has traveled across South Dakota many times. Hes camped in Custer State Park and the Badlands with his family and hunted with political allies in eastern South Dakota. In 2020, he made a national road trip and along the way, interviewed farmers, ranchers, conservative wind turbine manufacturers and others who bucked the partisan lens, Backer said. What it comes down to is that over the past 27 years of my life which is my entire life, the environment has been a big priority in my heart and with everything that I do and spending time in the outdoors, including in South Dakota where Ive spent a lot of time in nature, Backer said. Ive spent a lot of time enjoying the natural wonders of this state. Nonpartisan advocacy Nature Is Nonpartisan was established with a staff and board of directors that is half conservative and half liberal. Backer said he wants to maintain that mix of views to ensure the organization represents all Americans, rather than skewing right or left politically. We will never, ever do anything without having a one-to-one political ratio, Backer said. We will always intend to have an even split in our grassroots community of people who are signing our pledge saying that nature is nonpartisan and trying to make sure that if were too much one way, that were also trying to recruit and retain members and advocates on the other side of the aisle. Everything we do is going to have that intention. That intention will extend to striving for a balanced mix of coverage in conservative and liberal media and podcasts, he said, to reach an even split of Americans across the political spectrum. We care about protecting the environment and leveraging all voices. Im launching this out of a frustration that there is no organization that resembles the majority of Americans on the environment, but Im also launching it with the optimism that I know firsthand from traveling all around this great country for the last decade that people want this, and we will rebuild the environmental movement of America, he said. You can sit on your hands and be frustrated about it, or you can roll up your sleeves and try to work on maximizing how much progress we can make in this moment, and figuring out maybe what unlikely areas of alignment you might have, he said. Both sides need to understand theres a voice for them. Nature Is Nonpartisan has an advocacy campaign, Make America Beautiful Again (natureisnonpartisan.org/maba) that will prioritize some key issues the group will focus on. Its multifaceted initiatives are conservation and resilience, smarter environmental policy, innovation and working lands and public engagement and leadership. These are sensible things the president and Congress are not hearing, Backer said. Nature is Nonpartisans website invites the public to get involved in the MABA campaign and contact political leaders to advocate for environmental issues. A microcosm of America Backer chose Belle Fourche for the nationwide launch of Nature Is Nonpartisan because he believes South Dakota is representative of many Americans views about the environment. Ahead of the national launch event, Backer and his team visited Black Hills communities to better understand the region. They toured the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery in Spearfish to learn about its roles in the local economy and the environment. They visited the Center of the Nation Museum and toured downtown Belle Fourche. The team interviewed a mix of half conservative and half liberal stakeholders in Black Hills communities to hear area residents frustrations and what locals would like to see in an environmental movement. Belle Fourche has hard-working people who care a lot about their community, who dont feel like they are represented in the national political discourse. Theyre people who are skeptical but are really wanting a voice in the national dialogue, Backer said. This isnt just the geographic center of America. Its a microcosm of a huge section of America that doesnt feel represented, Backer said. We can show to America this small region of South Dakota is a microcosm of how Americans feel, and how were going to move forward in a way thats productive for the environment and protective for our country. Backer and his team also held a roundtable town hall on Wednesday in Belle Fourche and met with local political and business leaders. One of the former city council members was really skeptical of what we were trying to do because he was assuming we were a Green New Deal group trying to come in and sell them on a bill of goods that was going to hurt this local community, Backer said. We want to be the voice for Belle Fourche and for South Dakota on an issue we know the community here cares deeply about and hasnt had representation on. Were here to be the voice for conservationists, for farmers, for ranchers and for all of South Dakota, for those who love to spend their time and their freedom outdoors." Backer launched Nature Is Nonpartisan with the prediction that, within the next few years, the nonprofit could become the largest environmental organization in the United States. At Americans core, they want to care about the environment without politics, he said. We dont care about political agendas. We care about protecting the environment in a way that works for all Americans. Notably missing from the launch event were local tribal leaders. Representatives from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which manages the southern portion of the Badland's National Park, said they were not aware of the event or the organization. According to the UN, around a quarter of the worlds land area is owned, managed, used or occupied by Indigenous Peoples. "We have an opportunity to unite across political lines and communities to identify that what's happening right now is not right," said Instagram personality Kristy Drutman, who attended. "I think there's a huge opportunity for them (locals) to unite with Indigenous community members, with activists that maybe they previously would have never talked to before and realize that we all care about the environment." Drutman interviewed members of the Rapid City-based Indigenous non-profit NDN Collective while in the area. The Black Hills, Bear Butte, Devils Tower and the Badlands are all significant sacred sites for the Oceti Sakowin (Lakota, Dakota, Nakota people). Organizers said Indigenous Belle Fourche community members were interviewed by staff. A lot of products Montana depends on come from Canada every year, from $86 million worth of softwood lumber for housing construction to $123 million worth of fertilizer for farmers. And all those products could get quite a bit more expensive soon if Trump enacts his tariffs of either 10% or 25% on a variety of Canadian goods on April 2. Canada is Montana's most important trade partner in terms of both exports and imports. In fact, Montana's share of total imports that come from Canada is higher than any other state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That means Montana's economy is inextricably entwined with imported Canadian products. Trump has already implemented tariffs on some goods coming into the U.S. from Canada, including steel and aluminum. And Canada has implemented retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products going north, which means Canadian buyers may look elsewhere rather than buying Montana products. Montana sends over $860 million in goods to Canada every year, most of that agricultural products like pulse crops (lentils, peas and chickpeas) and breeder cattle. Montana imports $6.8 billion in goods from Canada annually, much of which is potash for fertilizer or crude oil going to Montana refineries. Farmers concerned Paul Kanning grows pulses at TomTilda Farm in Flaxville, Montana, and he's also the chairman of the board of USA Pulses, an association that represents the industry. He said that tariffs could result in a loss of international customers, which is very bad for Montana farmers. "During the last round of tariff wars six years ago, it absolutely wreaked havoc on the prices we get here on farms in Montana," Kanning explained. "Our overall exports fell by 37%. And when you get that large of a drop in exports, there ends up being way too much on the market here in Montana, and that drives prices down. It's simple supply and demand." Worse than short-term low prices, he said, is the damaged long-term relationships with customers. "Like all businesses, international trade in the ag commodities we grow is based on personal relationships," he said. "In these countries, when we're no longer able to ship into countries, those relationships deteriorate because they get it from someone else. Honestly, we're just now mending those relationships that were harmed the first time it happened, so the timing is not optimal." Kanning said Saskatchewan is an enormous supplier of potash to Montana farmers. "Also, a lot of the farm equipment we're using today is coming down from Canada," Kanning said. "In fact, there was a rush to get some stuff down here before the steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect last week." Kanning said there's about $200 million worth of pulse crops that Montana sells to Canada every year, and there's also about $200 million worth of pulse products that Montana buys from Canada every year. "It's counterintuitive, but some of it's for seed, some of it's pet food, some is for pure protein," he said. "But it's going back and forth. That's one of our largest trading partners on pulse crops." Mexico is one of the top five export markets for pulse crops from Montana, so tariffs enacted by Mexico would also hurt pulse crop growers, Kanning noted. "We hope that it's in the best interest overall for our nation," he said. "We hope it doesn't drag on. We want whatever negotiation to be long-lasting. We don't want to repeat this process in three years. Every business relies on certainty and predictability. I don't care if you're buying a house, deciding which school your kids go to, all of us need certainty. This level right now is not sustainable for ag producers or our partner industries." He's already heard of companies that are talking about buying fewer Montana crops. "Things like pastas made from our yellow peas that we grow in Montana, those are sold on both sides of the border," Kanning said. "Those companies have talked about maybe stopping selling into Canada. They're saying, maybe they need to cut back on their orders from Montana farmers and start producing less of it." About 1.4 million acres of pulse crops were harvested in Montana last year, which accounted for 52% of all U.S. production. That's far more than any other state. Jason Beery, a third-generation farmer and rancher at the 107-year-old Seven X Ranch in Brockway, Montana, said he's very concerned about the possible U.S. tariffs and how that will affect what he says is already a very thin profit margin for Montana farmers. He grows grains and pulses and also raises cattle. For his 12,000-acre farm, he buys about 300 tons of liquid fertilizer, 100 tons of potash and all kinds of other products, from free-standing cattle panels to wire to fence posts, that originally come from Canada every year. And the lentils he grows go to Canada before they're eventually sent to India. So now, when President Donald Trump says that there will be either 10% (such as on potash) or 25% tariffs on a variety of Canadian goods, Beery believes he and other agricultural producers will be paying much steeper prices for everything. And he's worried he may lose the Canadian market for his pulse crops because buyers there may look elsewhere to get their lentils rather than buying products that would become more expensive from the United States. He believes it's possible he could find other markets for his products, but Canada is a customer he doesn't want to lose. The point of tariffs, as explained by the Trump administration, is to level the playing field and encourage domestic production and investment, or to get concessions from foreign countries. But most economists say they cause short-term pain and their benefits would only be realized long-term. "I'm not real political," Beery said. "But I know it's hurting us, there's no doubt. A lot of things do come out of Canada right now. If they're getting taxed, guess who's paying it? We are. So I don't know what's gonna happen in the future." Beery said he may be able to sell his pulse crops locally, or within the United States. He says tariffs may wind up being beneficial in the long-run, but he's not sure. "We know it's going to have an effect," Beery said. "I don't know what Trump's trying to do, what his reasoning is for it, to be honest with you. Most of my neighbors are all Republicans, so most of those guys are for it. In our area, whether it's right or wrong, they're gonna support it. And I'd call myself a Republican, but I'm for whatever is best for the country or the people." Making it as a farmer is tough these days, he said. "It's the sh-ts," he said. "It's been pretty tough to be honest with you. We're already losing our ass on the crop side of it, the wheat and corn. The pulses are holding us together, along with the cattle market. Without the pulse market, farmers would be flat broke. If you're just a straight grain farmer, I don't know how they make with two of the last three years dealing with grasshoppers and drought and everything." Housing and development Montana is in the midst of a decade-long housing crisis, mainly due to builders not keeping up with demand, which has led to skyrocketing prices. A big component of housing construction is the price of framing lumber, which in Montana is often made from softwood lumber imported from Canada. The National Association of Home Builders is already sounding the alarm about the effects of tariffs. "Amid swelling uncertainty about tariffs, the price of softwood lumber (on March 14 of this year) was the highest since June 2023," the organization said in a press release. "Lumber prices are currently 14.9% higher than they were one year ago." Builders continue to face elevated building material costs that are exacerbated by tariff issues, as well as other supply-side challenges that include labor and lot shortages, said Association chairman Buddy Hughes. Gas prices and refineries Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said that tariffs on crude oil and refined products are currently paused, so prices haven't been impacted yet. But billions of dollars worth of crude oil flows from pipelines to Montana refineries every year. Refined products like gasoline, from refineries like the two near Billings, end up in Montana and surrounding states, he said. "Given the uncertainty, it's impossible to say to what degree (tariffs) could impact (gasoline) prices with so many policies being changed and the developing trade war," De Haan said. State response In an interview with the Missoulian, Montana Department of Agriculture director Jillien Streit, a farmer herself, said there's a "lot of concern" about tariffs from what she's heard. "Especially from the producer level and the industry level," she said. "I can't blame them for having that concern. It's a real issue, and every time we have market instability, it affects bottom lines. Tariffs are a quick causer of market instability, and so I definitely have first-hand experience with the effects of what it does." Streit said she attended the U.S. Department of Agriculture's outlook forum this year. "We're facing a $49 billion trade deficit, that's grown $4 billion just last year," she said. "It's no fun to (have) tariffs, so we have to find solutions in the long term." She said at her family farm, they buy fertilizer from U.S. companies, but that product mostly comes from Canada. "So there is a lot of concern, definitely, especially on potash and being able to get those valued products across the border without tariffs," she said. "I would like to see some more communications about the impacts, especially in the time frames that producers need to have those. I do feel like it will have impacts if the tariffs are on, but like I said, the $49 billion trade deficit has got to be addressed. And it's hard because it is going to impact producers." Montana's congressional delegation, along with Gov. Greg Gianforte, are all Republicans and all have mostly enthusiastically supported Trump's policies, including tariffs, although U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke said he hopes they won't be in place for long. In an interview with the Missoulian, Zinke noted that oil refineries process crude oil from the Canadian province of Alberta, just to Montana's north. In fact, Zinke noted that 86% of what Montana imports comes from our neighbor to the north. "Montana gets hit harder than any other state, mostly from our feedstock, and our refineries require Albertan crude," Zinke said, when asked about the impacts of tariffs. "I am hopeful the tariffs will be short and we can move on. Because they do hurt. Canada and the U.S., but as important Montana and Alberta and Saskatchewan, we have communities that are linked family-wise, history-wise." Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, said the first special forces service was a joint Canadian/U.S. team trained in Helena called the "Devil's Brigade," which was the precursor to the Green Berets. "There's a lot of relationship between Canada and Montana, and I'm hoping the tariff dispute is short," Zinke said. "Because it does affect families, right? But my understanding of it is, 10 times more terrorists on the Terrorist Watch List come from the northern border than the southern border. Ten times. I'm saying Canada can do more on their border security." In response to a question from Montana Public Radio at a March 6 press conference, Gianforte said he's "gotten input from ag producers" in the state about the tariffs issue. "We need to continue to make sure we have strong markets overseas for our ag commodities," he said. "President Trump was very clear in his speech the other night that he's gonna defend America's interests. The tariffs that are being put in place right now against Canada and Mexico are primarily to shut down the flow of fentanyl. We have to remember what's at stake." Gianforte noted there have been overdose deaths from fentanyl in Montana. "If we don't want tariffs, these other countries should be fair," Gianforte continued. "I'm proud of the fact that we finally have a president that's standing up for America in our trading relationships." Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said recently that less than 1% of all fentanyl coming into the United States was confirmed to come from Canada. A recent press release on fentanyl from the Montana Department of Justice didn't mention Canada, and noted that illicit drugs are for the most part trafficked into Montana from Mexico. The president of the Montana Grain Growers Association told MTPR recently that Montana farmers rely on Canadian imports, especially for fertilizer, and the costs of fertilizer have gone up 33% since January. Todd O'Hair, the president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce told the station that businesses across the state are facing unpredictability with tariffs. It is creating a tremendous amount of uncertainty among some businesses in this economy as far as what these impacts are going to be," O'Hair said. "And so everyone is kind of sitting by with a lot of trepidation on what all this means." Missoulian reporter Griffen Smith contributed to this story. Virginia Commonwealth University has eliminated its office of DEI, in an effort to comply with President Donald Trumps directive that calls for government agencies to stop all forms of discrimination based on race or gender. VCUs board of visitors on Friday voted 11-4 to eliminate the Division of Inclusive Excellence, putting at risk the jobs of employees who work directly on initiatives of DEI, or diversity, equity and inclusion. Its unclear how many staffers will be affected. Being out of compliance with federal law is not something I want to be a part of, said Todd Haymore, head of the board of visitors. Had VCU resisted Trumps instructions, it could have threatened its federal funding. VCU depends on about $450 million each year in federal money for student loans, research grants and Pell grants, which cover tuition for low-income students. Four board members all men of color voted against the resolution. One of them, Tyrone Nelson, said he understands the money at risk but that he could not sleep at night if he voted to eliminate the universitys efforts for promoting inclusivity. Just because something is a law or an order doesnt make it right, Nelson said. This is just not right. VCUs action is not likely to affect student admissions. The university is one of Virginias most diverse colleges about 40% of students are white, and 43% are Black, Asian or Latino. The decision follows a similar decision at the University of Virginia, when it said it would strike its DEI office. Virginia Tech is also prepared to dismantle its DEI office, according to The Roanoke Times. Its not clear how many VCU employees stand to lose their jobs. Those who have tenure will stay at the university in new positions, and employees who do administrative or financial work could move to other departments. Those who work strictly within DEI could be removed. The boards decision on Friday runs counter to a resolution VCUs faculty senate passed earlier in the week. VCU professors urged the board to affirm its commitment to a diverse student population, saying the university is already in compliance with the law. The four board members who voted in opposition were Nelson, Ed McCoy, Clifton Peay and Gurpreet Sandhu. Other non-white members of the board voted in support of the resolution. Asked if it was a positive or negative development for VCU, school President Michael Rao said it is essential that VCU follow federal law. In January, Trump issued an executive action directing government agencies, including public colleges, to terminate discriminatory and illegal preferences. The order, called Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, directed colleges and other agencies to end race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of DEI. The federal Department of Education later wrote to colleges, saying they had discriminated through admissions, scholarships, hiring, promotions, housing and other aspects of college life. Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera doubled down on that correspondence this month, telling the boards of Virginias 15 public universities to address the situation at their next meeting. A 16-member board of visitors, whose members are appointed by the governor, governs VCU. Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed or reappointed 12 of the 16 VCU board members. DEI is built into various departments VCUs Office of Inclusive Excellence, which has seven employees and is led by vice president and chief diversity officer Faye Belgrave, is responsible for making the university welcoming and inclusive. Rao declined to address how the move will affect Belgrave. One of its programs, called RAMmalogues, invites school community members to foster exploration, understanding and meaningful dialogue across diverse perspectives. Various departments within the university also have commitments to DEI. Its unclear how many departments have staffers specifically devoted to the cause. The universitys department of Recreation and Well-Being, called RecWell, for example, has a committee of employees and students who promote equity, diversity, belonging and inclusion. Belgrave asserted that the Division of Inclusive Excellence does not promote discrimination. In her 27 years at VCU, she has never seen a minority applicant hired over a more qualified competitor, she said. Black professors make up 8% of the faculty, and most are in low-level contract positions not tenured jobs suggesting Black applicants are not given an unfair leg up. You dont want anyone thats not qualified, Belgrave said. You want the best candidate. The divisions work is less about promoting members of minorities and more about making sure everyone feels included, she said. When the war in Gaza broke out, and Pro-Palestine students protested on campus, the division held seminars on antisemitism and anti-Palestinian sentiments and educated students on how to respond. VCU could cut jobs VCU will continue reviewing DEI programs and could remove employees or efforts based on what is necessary to comply with the federal directive. The university will do everything it can to retain employees whose roles comply, Rao said. If there are programs within the Office of Inclusive Excellence that do not violate Trumps directive, VCU can move them to other parts of the university. School leaders have told departments that for the time being, no employees can change their title, in an effort to make sure they dont attempt to skirt the policy change. VCUs office of the president will also stop collecting data about race and gender and encouraging departments to hire minority employees. The university does not have any quotas for hiring, said Cleopatra Magwaro, associate vice president of Equity and Access Services. Instead, it has gathered statistics from the Department of Labor on the racial and gender makeup of certain industries, and encouraged the university to cast a wide net in hiring. It did so because an executive order from President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 required large federal contractors to take affirmative actions for women, minorities and veterans. Trumps order repeals this decades-old policy. VCUs Equity and Access Services will continue encouraging various departments to hire people with disabilities and veterans of the Armed Forces, which remains part of federal law. Were not doing something thats unique to VCU, Magwaro said. Were doing what other federal contractors had to do. Other aspects of race and gender will not change. If a student files a complaint, saying he or she was the victim of discrimination based on his or her race or gender, the university will investigate. Discriminating against someone because of race or gender violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law that cannot be changed by an executive order. I think the most important thing to say is that VCU continues to embrace our people and our mission, Rao said. Former University of Virginia President John Casteen III, at one time described as the father of the modern university, has died. Casteen, who oversaw extensive growth, financial stability measures and diversity enhancements during his two decades as UVas seventh president, died Tuesday at his home in Keswick after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81. While at the helm of the commonwealths flagship public university between 1990 and 2010, Casteen helped shift UVa to private fundraising to help insulate it from extensive state budget cuts and stabilize its financial future. Building and growth were also a focus for Casteen. He was in the top post when John Paul Jones Arena, Hereford College, the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, the South Lawn Project and other major works were undertaken on and around UVa Grounds. The Betsy and John Casteen Arts Grounds were named in honor of Casteen and his wife in 2010 after a variety of new facilities were built and others improved there. They include constructing the Ruth Caplin Theatre, renovating the Bayly Building for the Fralin Museum of Art at UVa, building the Culbreth Road parking garage, restoring Fayerweather Hall for the art history program, expanding Campbell Hall for the School of Architecture and creating Ruffin Hall for studio art. UVas financial autonomy was crucial for Casteen at a time when state budget cuts threatened university programs. He led two campaigns to enrich UVas endowment, which grew from $488 million to $5.1 billion during his presidency while the states contributions dropped from 26% to only 6%. While Thomas Jefferson will always be remembered as the father of the university itself, Casteen is remembered as the father of the modern UVa. John Casteen has been an effective fundraiser because he has always been passionate about the University and its needs, former UVa Rector Gordon Rainey Jr. once said of Casteen. His success at the University results from a deep understanding of Mr. Jeffersons founding vision and his ability to transform the University for modern times consistent with that vision. In many ways he will be remembered as the father of the modern University. Praised by many others for moving UVa into a modern era, Casteen championed scientific and academic research and expanding and creating programs of study. Students found more residential colleges, language houses and opportunities to study abroad. The first-generation college student who rose to call the Carrs Hill presidential residence home also created a financial aid program to help make sure that students who wanted to attend UVa, but did not come from wealth, could make their dreams come true. Born in Portsmouth on Dec. 11, 1943, Casteen earned his bachelors and masters degrees and doctorate at UVa, where he was a scholar of medieval literature. After serving briefly as assistant professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley, he returned to UVa in 1975 as dean of admissions. Casteen served as Virginias secretary of education from 1982 to 1985, focusing on desegregating and diversifying the states colleges and helping students from all backgrounds find educational opportunities. He continued championing these causes later at his alma mater. After leading the University of Connecticut as president from 1985 to 1990, Casteen came home to UVa, serving as a professor of English and succeeding Robert ONeil as UVas president in 1990. Only Edwin Alderman, UVas first president, has served a longer term. John Casteen is simply inseparable from the story of UVa, sitting UVa President Jim Ryan said in a statement. As president, he transformed UVa into a world-class university. As a teacher, mentor, colleague and friend, he was beloved. This is a sad day for all those whose lives he touched, including mine, and I extend my deepest condolences to Betsy, his children and his entire family. John will be remembered as an ambitious, wise and devoted leader whose legacy will endure at the University of Virginia. It is impossible to overstate the contributions John Casteen made to this university and how profound a loss his passing is for his family and for the community he loved and served so well, UVa Rector Robert Hardie said in his own statement. As we remember him, we will rightly focus on his many accomplishments as president, but that legacy is matched, if not exceeded, by the incredible impact he made on the lives of so many people here at UVa and around the world. He will be dearly missed. Casteen was succeeded as UVas president by Teresa Sullivan, who was pushed out by the universitys governing Board of Visitors in 2012 and reinstated 16 days later after the Faculty Senate, deans and others rushed to her defense. A prolific writer, he released 16 Stories, a collection of short fiction works, in 1981 and hundreds of articles over the years on a variety of academic topics. Casteen and his wife, Betsy Foote Casteen, were married in 2003 in the first wedding of a UVa president to take place at Carrs Hill. His survivors include his wife; his daughter, Elizabeth Ingeborg Casteen; his sons, John Thomas Casteen IV and Lars Lofgren Casteen; his brothers, Dennis Casteen and Tim Casteen; his stepdaughters, Alexandra Taylor Foote and Elizabeth Laura Robinson; and 12 grandchildren. A service for family members and close friends is planned at Grace Episcopal Church in Keswick. A public memorial service to honor Casteen will be scheduled for later in the spring. According to Casteens obituary, his family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to AccessUVa. Casteen founded the need-based scholarship and financial aid program in 2003 to help make sure promising undergraduate students could attend the university he loved. Virginia legislators are not battling with Gov. Glenn Youngkin anymore over a new state office building in Richmond, but they are still looking for answers about the future of prominent state-owned properties, including the states fleet management facility on West Leigh Street. The pending state budget awaiting Youngkins proposed amendments and vetoes, due by Monday afternoon directs the Department of General Services to study the potential move of the fleet facility elsewhere in the Richmond area after 40 years at 2400 W. Leigh St., near Scotts Addition and the new Diamond District. The fleet management control center oversees the use of more than 4,000 vehicles by more than 175 state agencies and other affiliated institutions. The facility also manages leased and short-term vehicle rentals, maintenance and fueling, among other duties. The budget proposal would require the department to look for new sites for the fleet facility, consider consolidating the operation with Virginia State Police and look for potential buyers of the 8.5-acre property. It sits on the other side of Leigh Street from the former Bon Secours Training Center, now known as Midtown Green, a city community center and headquarters of the Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation. The sprawling fleet operation also lies just east of the planned Diamond District and bustling Scotts Addition neighborhood, as well as near a housing development along Hermitage Road and Leigh Street. The land use is certainly changing there, said Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, chairman of the Senate Finance capital outlay and transportation subcommittee. Its certainly understandable. The mystery is who may be looking at the state-owned property for potential development as workforce housing. Unsolicited offer Robert Ward, Youngkins former real estate adviser and now chief transformation officer, told the Senate Finance Committee last fall that the administration had received an unsolicited offer from a nonprofit to develop workforce housing under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act. Ward said the Department of General Services determined that it would be hard for the executive branch to execute the deal because of its proposed structure. The project would have had us holding the land at the end of the day, owning the property, he said in an interview on Thursday. The state suggested that the organization consult with the Virginia Housing Authority, an independent state organization that deals routinely with nonprofits, but Ward said it also determined that it would not fit with the authoritys mission. Katherine Jordan, who represents the 2nd District on the Richmond City Council, said the city could also have an interest in the property. I would love it if the city had a hand in the decision of what comes next, she said Thursday. Its a prime piece of real estate that a lot of people have their eyes on, Jordan said. Ward told legislators last fall that the state had appraised the property, but he did not specify the value. A combination of the appraised value and the significant changes in the mix use of the surrounding area prompted us to investigate moving the fleet site to a location more conducive to its purpose, he said in a document provided to the Richmond Times-Dispatch in September. The document cited the activities and accomplishments of the transformation office under him and his predecessor, Eric Moeller. Under the pending budget, the Department of General Services would conduct the study and report to the assembly money committees by Nov. 1. The fleet management control center has been a cost-cutting target before. In 2023, Youngkin told the General Assembly money committees that his administration had consolidated the states fleet of vehicles. When we got here, over half of the more than 4,000 cars owned by the commonwealth were underused, he said. Weve since sold over 800 of these, bringing in $8 million. The Department of Planning and Budget said in a capital budget request that the facility includes an office building, auto shop, two office trailers, car wash and storage sheds on about 8.4 acres. It also has about 1,700 feet of road frontage along West Leigh Street on the west side of Hermitage Road. Recognizing the development pressure from the surrounding Scotts Addition and Diamond District neighborhoods, (General Services) is actively investigating alternatives to relocate the Office of Fleet Management Services to avail the existing site for economic development, the agency said. The fleet site isnt the only state-owned property that the Youngkin administration is looking to sell in Richmond. The state also plans to market the site of the former Virginia Employment Commission headquarters downtown at East Main and North Seventh streets. Richmond BizSense reported on Wednesday that a mystery developer from New York is floating plans to build a high-rise, mixed-use building on the 1.25-acre site of the now demolished headquarters. The General Assembly had planned to build a new state office building on the property to accommodate employees that it expects to move from the Monroe Building currently the tallest building on the city skyline. But until this year, the legislature had battled over the project publicly with Youngkin. The governor unilaterally canceled the assemblys budgeted project and proposed instead to move displaced workers into other state and leased properties. State office building The plan for displaced employees, at least temporarily, remains the same, but the governor and legislators now agree to build a new state office building at the Virginia Department of Transportation Annex at 401 E. Broad St., backed up to Capitol Square. The pending budget includes detailed plans for the new building, which would include 220,000 square feet of office space for displaced state employees; 21,900 square feet for a conference center to replace the one that will be lost at the Monroe Building; 19,200 square feet for a data center and security office; space for a health clinic to be moved from Monroe; and 836 parking spaces. The budget proposal directs VDOT, which is moving offices to the former Owens & Minor headquarters in Hanover County, to transfer the property to the Department of General Services on July 1. The assembly also agreed with the Youngkin administrations request to use the Annex as swing space for employees of the governors office and other executive branch employees who will be displaced temporarily by the renovation of the Patrick Henry Building next to Capitol Square. The proposed budget includes money for the renovation in the pool of agency capital projects. The budget does not identify how much the renovations would cost a common practice to protect the competitive bidding process but the Department of Planning and Budget asked for $16 million in its capital budget request for the project. The request outlines plans to completely renovate and expand the governors offices on the third floor of the 20-year-old building, which formerly housed the Library of Virginia. The stated reasons for the renovation included increased and improved security, as well an aesthetic remodeling to make it easier to receive visitors and conduct business there. The renovations would also include sprucing up offices on five other floors of the building. The requested scope will provide an acceptable level of security and provide for an environment that is welcoming and more functional for both staff and visitors, the budget request states. Virginia legislation to get artificial food dyes out of meals that schools serve got a big thumbs-up from U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. when Gov. Glenn Youngkin told him about it on Monday. Youngkin signed the ban (House Bill 1910 and Senate Bill 1289) into law on Friday, the first ceremonial bill signing of the year. I was with Secretary Kennedy earlier this week, and this is a big priority for the administration to remove dangerous artificial food dyes out of our food and so he was incredibly excited by the fact that we were signing this bill this week, Youngkin said after the signing. He and Kennedy had visited Louisa County High School on Monday to talk about cellphone-free school days. So there are areas where the federal government is going to purposely move responsibility for things like education back to the states, but other areas where we are really in lockstep, Youngkin said. And I was excited to see that Secretary Kennedy was going to be so supportive of this initiative. Youngkin, who previously signed 180 other bills, announced Friday night that he had signed 185 more. Youngkin, who vetoed a record 201 bills last year, has not yet announced any this year. They are likely to hit on Monday, the governors deadline to sign, amend or veto more than 600 remaining bills. Youngkin said President Donald Trumps executive order this week calling for abolition of the U.S. Department of Education also called for pushing funding more directly to states. The fact that there are some vital functions within the Department of Education, I expect that they will be moved to other places, Youngkin said. But of course, the biggest function will be more direct state funding. And were ready. Virginia is so ready for this; we have gone to work in order to make sure that we can drive high expectations, we have accountability and a whole new framework of seeing results in our schools. Trumps order has sparked sharp criticism from education groups, civil right advocates and Democratic politicians. But Youngkin said measures like removing food dyes from school foods are a way to find consensus. Food dyes in schools The bills, which passed the House of Delegates and the state Senate unanimously, say schools cant serve food colored by the dyes Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 or Yellow No. 6. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked its authorization for the use of Red No. 3 in food, but allows the others. Virginia is the second state to ban the seven dyes in school meals, after California took the lead. With its ban, California cited studies linking Blue No. 1, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 to behavioral problems and development delays while noting that studies with rats suggest the others can cause tumors. I think it represents a nonpartisan view that healthy food for our children should be a top priority, and having food that is unhealthy that has been on shelves for a long time should go away, Youngkin said. He added: I think this is a great statement around nonpartisan work about doing whats right for our kids, he said. The legislation does not take effect until July 1, 2027. The Department of Management and Budget said the state Board of Education can amend nutritional guidelines with existing resources so there is no anticipated state fiscal impact, but the impact on school divisions is unclear. Youngkin credited a campaign by Rally Virginia, a group that describes its members as modern Republican women, for highlighting the issue. Really at the end of the day, it wasnt until I saw women, moms in red jackets all over Capitol Square advocating educating, informing and making sure that these bills got through committee, made it to floors, received the right support, he said, added that he felt the legislation would be one of the most important bills we will sign here in this administration. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, after saying I do love my snacks, told the audience at the signing that these additives are not simply harmless ingredients. The sponsor of the House bill, Del. Hillary Pugh Kent, R-Richmond County, said the genesis of the legislation, the concerns of mothers about what their children eat, reminded her of Ronald Reagans comment that All great change in America begins at the dinner table. Firemen put out two out-of-control weed fires set by same rancher in same day Lazaro Cardenas, Q.R. Kantunilkin firemen were busy fighting a large weed fire off a municipal highway Thursday. The fire, which was intentionally set on a nearby ranch, spread fast due to winds. Firemen were called in Thursday afternoon when the flames grew out of control and posed a threat to nearby infrastructure. More than an hectare was consumed and one business threatened due to the fire. Firemen from the Lazaro Cardenas Municipal Fire Department were notified of the out-of-control fire around 5:30 p.m. on the Kantunilkin -Chiquila highway. It was at Kilometer 1 where firefighters found flames devouring extremely dry roadside weeds. By the time they arrived, the fire had already reached a corral and fence that separates the ranch from a resort on the outskirt of town. Resort staff and onlookers had begun the task of trying to put out the fire themselves, but to no avail. In assistance to firemen, Civil Protection personnel smothered burning logs and smoldering trash near the resort to prevent the flames from reigniting due to the winds. Firefighter Coordinator Jose Gaspar Iuit Cauich reported that after the 5:30 p.m. report, they responded with the fire truck. Fortunately, only one and a half hectares of grass and weeds were consumed. Minor structural damage was reported to a fence between the ranch that started the fire and the resort on the opposite side. According to Jose Gaspar Iuit Cauich, the ranch owner had already been warned about burning brush after firemen responded to another fire he started earlier that day. Firemen had already paid him a visit that same morning after receiving a report of burning brush that appeared to be spreading. The same Kantunilkin fire team were at his home early Thursday morning where they extinguished a fire that had spread around his property. According to Jose Gaspar Iuit Cauich, they left the ranch home around 11:00 a.m. and were called again at 5:30 p.m. after the same rancher set a second fire. The Fire Department Coordinator said it will be up to the person leasing the resort to file a complaint against the ranch for damage suffered to their property due to his intentionally set fires. He did not comment on the possibility fines against the rancher. Police kill gunman during exchange of gunfire in seaside town of Mahahual Mahahual, Q.R. Police killed a gunman during an exchange of gunfire Thursday in the seaside town of Mahahual. The shootout began while police were in the middle of a search operation. The Thursday exchange of gunfire was videoed by onlookers on the Mahahual boardwalk between Caborca Cartel hitmen and Ministerial Police shortly after 4:00 p.m. Police were in the process of searching a hotel when they were fired upon. During the operation, one suspect, who was on the states Most Wanted list, was killed. Four others were arrested. Police confirmed the search operation and subsequent exchange of gunfire Thursday. Police said as a result of investigation, intelligence and fieldwork, they carried out an operation in the town of Mahahual, resulting in the arrest of four people. The four were arrested for their probable participation in events related to the crime of forced disappearance in the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Bacalar. During the operation, investigative police officers were attacked with firearms by individuals guarding the area. The attack was repelled, resulting in the death of Eduardo Ameth N, alias Comandante and/or Calaco, identified as a priority target of the Quintana Roo Crime Atlas and a perpetrator of violence in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Police are seen in the distance chasing criminals while residents, seen in the foreground, run for cover after hearing the exchange of gunfire. In addition to the arrests, the Prosecutors Office seized handguns and rifles, tactical vests, vehicles, and a laptop computer that was allegedly used to remotely monitor video surveillance cameras at the entrances and exits of Mahahual and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, police said in a statement. Investigations indicate that the detainees and the deceased were allegedly part of a criminal group engaged in illicit activities in the region, led by Angel Manuel N, alias El Galindo, linked to multiple disappearances in the area. The Attorney Generals Office of the State of Quintana Roo reiterates its commitment to combating crime and strengthening the rule of law, in order to guarantee security and justice in the state, they reported. Three arrested from Jardines de Mayakoba on narcotic and firearm offences Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Three men have been taken into custody on narcotics and firearm offences from a Mayakoba residential neighborhood. On Thursday, the SSC (Seguridad Ciudadana Solidaridad) took Julio Cesar N, William Alexander N and Fernando Camilo N into custody from Jardines del Mayakoba. According to police, they were found in possession of drugs, loaded firearms and hundreds of round of live ammo. Two of the men are from Quintana Roo, while one is reported to be from the state of Tabasco. The Citizen Security Secretariat (SSC) of Solidaridad arrested three men in possession of various doses of drugs and weapons in the Jardines de Mayakoba neighborhood. This occurred during an operation in which three individuals were arrested, seizing a total of 78 possible doses of narcotics, two pistol-type firearms, two magazines, a scale, 249 live rounds of ammunition and three cell phones, among other evidence. Julio Cesar N 23, originally from Tabasco, William Alexander N 25 and Fernando Camilo N 25, both from Quintana Roo, were arrested and placed at the disposal of the State Attorney Generals Office for their probable involvement in drug and firearm related crimes, the SSC said in a statement. Assurance maladie: les fraudes aux arrets de travail se sont multipliees en 2024 Les fraudes detectees et stoppees par l'Assurance maladie en 2024 representent 628 millions d'euros, soit 35% de plus qu'en 2023. 68% du montant global est du fait de soignants de ville, soit 416 millions d'euros, 109 millions des assures sociaux eux-memes, et le reste, 14%, d'etablissements de sante. Et dans son rapport annuel, la CNAM assure que les faux arrets de travail ont represente 42 millions d'euros de prejudice, 2 fois plus qu'en 2023. Next fiscal year, staff at Roanoke County Public Schools will see a one-step increase in their pay, but members of the county School Board hope to be able to give more substantial raises once the state budget is finalized. The board approved its fiscal year 2025-26 budget with a 4-0 vote during a meeting on Thursday. Board member David Linden was absent from the meeting. Roanoke County Public Schools added a third health insurance plan into the budget for employees. The new option is a high-deductible plan that is designed to be paired with a health savings account and features a lower premium, according to documents from the meetings agenda packet. A one-year cash infusion of at least $2,195,329 into the health insurance reserves account is included in the budget as well, but the final amount could be more depending on the state budget. The school board has to present its approved annual budget to the county Board of Supervisors by April 1, as is required by Virginia law. However, the state budget is often not finalized by then as is the case this year. The school system developed a conservative interim budget to present to the supervisors, but it will likely change once the state budget is completed, RCPS spokesperson Chuck Lionberger said. Additionally, 19 currently vacant positions were cut from the budget, meaning that those positions wont be filled this year. Three positions were added: one speech language pathologist for private day students, one nurse and one middle school math specialist, a grant-funded position. Employee pay scales stayed the same for the fiscal year 2025-26 budget; however, all RCPS employees will move up one step on the pay scale, Lionberger said. Board member Tim Greenway said he wanted staff to know that this is not the final version of the budget, and that, if possible, they want to make further salary adjustments for staff. Vice Chairman Brent Hudson agreed, stating that, compared to other similarly-sized districts in Virginia, Roanoke County is not first in starting pay, mid-cap pay or the top of the pay scale. Weve gotta do better, he said. Weve gotta try to find the money to properly compensate our staff. Hudson said the board is going to continue working to get pay raises for staff. We truly have the best interest of our staff at heart, because without you, we would not be one of the top districts in the state, he said. The school budget is scheduled to be presented to the supervisors during a Tuesday meeting. In another matter Thursday, Sullivan Manley, a junior at Northside High School and co-president of the Roanoke Young Democrats group, organized a small rally before the meeting, but people were primarily there to address the board during public comment regarding its policies about LGBTQ+ students, he said. To support LGBTQ+ students within Roanoke County Public Schools, he said the school board could reverse some of the policies it has adopted, such as the ones impacting transgender students. Manley did not speak during the meeting, but said in an interview beforehand that he hopes to see the school board take a strong stance to support all of our students. In years past, the topic of support for LGBTQ+ students and staff in Roanoke County Public Schools has been a contentious one; a number of meetings in the spring and summer of 2023 became heated. Two people spoke during the meeting on Thursday: Jamey Umberger, a junior at Glenvar High School, and Remi Poindexter, a 2018 graduate of William Byrd High School. We need to think about how these policies affect everyone, especially those who already feel like they dont fit in, Umberger said. Im asking the school board to really think about what kind of message these policies send. Do we want to be the school district that protects and values all students, or the one that makes students feel like they dont belong? Poindexter shared a story of her time at William Byrd High School, during which school staff supported one of her friends, a transgender student, during a crisis. Her friend was admitted to the hospital for life-saving treatment that never would have come without intervention, she said. Weve become accustomed to a very casual hatred, and we cannot allow it to become our normal, she said. Someone must advocate for these children when their biggest bullies live in the home. Also Thursday, the school board voted 4-0 to approve a request to redistrict Burlington Elementary and Mountain View Elementary. Burlington has been either close to or at maximum capacity throughout the school year, Assistant Superintendent for Administration Tammy Newcomb said at the school board meeting on Feb. 10. The two schools are less than 10 minutes apart and both feed into the same middle and high school. Around 50 kids will be impacted by the redistricting, which Newcomb said was received well by the impacted families. Regional leaders discussed workforce issues during a roundtable with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke on Friday. Kaine, D-Va, toured classroom laboratories populated with electron microscopes, human tissue cultures and industrial robots, then sat to ask about local workforce education efforts. Ive always believed that we didnt spend enough time focusing upon career tech, Kaine said. Im proud to say that now I think theres a huge renaissance in career technical education happening. Impacts of federal changes arose during the discussion. Morgan Romeo, executive director for the Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board, said many employers simply need more people. In our region, everybody is echoing that it just feels like we need more people, Romeo said. We need more bodies to fill the needs that our employers are just begging for. She said people are wondering about local impacts of federal layoffs. Are they going to affect us? Romeo said. Hows that going to affect our region, with a VA hospital here, and so many federal contractors? She added that tariffs would affect regional manufacturers, referencing recent layoffs of 400 workers at the Volvo plant in Dublin. Its just such an interesting time right now, Romeo said. An interesting dynamic with all the unknown. Kaine said he filed a challenge in Congress against proposed tariffs on Canada, which the Senate is scheduled to vote on next week. He said the Republican majority will likely vote it down. I dont think I will succeed, Kaine said. But I think its important to do challenges like that, because it will make people start to think a little bit more about some of this. He said cuts should be made surgically, rather than across the board. Were trying to shift it back that way, Kaine said. Amy White, Virginia Westerns dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, said the welding program needs more space to operate. Capacity limits tied to cost are a concern across programs, not just welding, she said. This type of education is expensive to deliver, White said. The equipment, the space and the safety. In all the labs you were in today, you saw that theyre very small. Elizabeth Wilmer, vice president of Academic and Workforce Solutions, said funding is a struggle, especially for high-cost programs. As an example, she said the college has nine health care programs that each lose about $300,000 per year. We try to keep our tuition low for our students, so that we are accessible, Wilmer said. But that accessibility doesnt fund us, and we are still struggling with funding. Kenna Smith is talent acquisition manager at The Branch Group, which offers commercial construction services. She said the company hired more than 650 people last year, and still needed more people due to high turnover in entry-level positions. Its very challenging to hire heavy equipment operators, Smith said. Theres a gap in, one, their expectations, but two, the training that we actually, really need to allow them to have that start. Representatives for the regions public school divisions said there are aspects of child labor laws that, for example, allow a student under the age of 18 to use a car lift in a classroom setting, but not if they are hired in a shop as an apprentice. That aspect of the law could probably use some fixing, Kaine said. A Virginia Western mechatronics student said many of their peers had limited, if any, knowledge about their various options in a wide-ranging workforce. Kaine said he thinks middle school is a good time to introduce an emphasis on career exploration. If you expect high school students to start making choices for their future, but they dont have the exposure to whats out there, Kaine said. Then the choices theyre going to make are not going to be so great. Eric Lear directs the Charles Day Technical Education Center, which opened last year, for Roanoke City Schools. He said the new facilitys programs are the talk of the town. For the first time, I no longer feel like were the redheaded stepchildren, Lear said. Im just grateful. Kaine said he has heard for years from people in career and technical education that their work to educate the future workforce does not get enough attention. But I do sense around Virginia and I also sense around the country that CTE is cool now, Kaine said. Its about time. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Since 2020, Americas Favorite Pet has been the biggest pet popularity contest in the country. Held annually online, it pits hundreds of thousands of our nations cats and dogs against each other in a battle for votes, with winners receiving hefty cash payouts and coveted magazine spreads. Its intended to be a sweet tournament for pet lovers, and proceeds are donated to charity. But beneath the surface, a controversy is brewing. You can see it on one of the Facebook pages for the contest, where hundreds of posts beseech voters to cast a ballot for doe-eyed cats and tongue-lolling dogs. One of these, Shay, is an olive-eyed black feline who also happens to be a double amputee. He seems to have been put on this earth to garner sympathy: Hes a therapy cat, and his owner runs a veterans mental health center in Florida. Two days left to get our favorite bipod up to first! she wrote in a post. Shay could definitely use your help. However, nestled alongside Shay and the countless other hopeful petsmaimed or otherwiseis a subset of people who have made Americas Favorite Pet their mortal enemy. They pen ferocious takedowns, accusing the competition of being an elaborate scam and, furthermore, anyone participating in it of being a hopeless rube. There is no fury like a dog person scorned or, even worse, a cat person scorned. A confrontation was inevitable. The rules [of the tournament] are garbage, wrote one user on the AFP Facebook page, whose shih tzu serves as her profile photo. How they play emotions with owners and pets. Advertisement Added another: I am done with all of this. This is a scam. It goes on like this: threads upon threads, splintered into unremitting debate, never to be resolved. Americas Favorite Pet seems to drive people crazythats why there are dozens of aggravated Reddit threads and Facebook posts that highlight its social engineering tactics and alleged wrongdoing. In fact, simply Googling Americas Favorite Pet leads to a suspicious number of scam-scented first-page results. The top autofill question is about whether the contest is legitimate, while subsequent results include multiple posts about the competition on the subreddit r/scams. (In one, someone declares the competition to be an illegal lottery.) And yet, its undeniable that the tournament does a lot of good for animals; last years competition raised over $8 million for PAWS, a nonprofit that rehabilitates and rehomes thousands of neglected pets. (Heres the giant novelty check to prove it.) So, then, why are pet owners so pissed? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ire starts to make sense once you understand how the competition works. Americas Favorite Pet is a charity drive run by Colossal Impact, a fundraising company designed to generate small donations from individuals, rather than corporations. (Colossal also runs tournaments like Super Mom, Bar Boss, and the Greatest Baker, all of which have the same basic game plan.) As you have likely inferred by now, Americas Favorite Pet sets out to crown a single dog and a single cat with its namesake title. The way to accomplish that is simplethe pet that receives the most votes over several rounds of competition, American Idolstyle, takes home the top prize. Theres a lot on the line: The winners receive $10,000, and their pet will christen the cover of either Modern Cat or Modern Dog magazine. Advertisement Owners cant back their own pets, but everyone else can, and contestants get ahead by canvassing their personal relationshipsfriends, family, co-workersto cram the ballot box. This isnt exactly cheap. The first vote cast for a pet is free, but after that, youre expected to fork over some money. A bundle of 10 votes requires a $10 donation, 25 votes is tied to a $25 fee, and so on. Advertisement However, things get more muddled when you survey Colossals competitive structure. In essence, participants in Americas Favorite Pet arent facing off against the field as a whole. Instead, theyre pared down into randomly assorted bands of rival cats and dogs, groups they need to conquer before moving into the next tier of the tournament. (There are nine rounds in total.) This is stated clearly on AFPs website: Upon entry, competitors will be divided into groups. Subsequent public voting rounds will progressively reduce the number of competitors. Advertisement Advertisement Therein lies the problem. Some of the owners who get involved in Americas Favorite Pet allege that its structure obfuscatesand perhaps embellisheshow well their animals are actually performing. Kelly Zelna, who is from Michigan and owns a tuxedo cat named Richard, is one of them. Shortly after signing up her pet for the tournament, Zelna checked his status on the AFP website. To her surprise, Richard was in first place in his group. Zelna took that messaging to mean that her cat was in pole position to secure the magazine cover, and the $10,000 prize. That would have come in handyRichard suffers from a feline cardiological condition called HCM, and Zelna says she drops $500 at each of his many vet appointments. All of my friends and family were really excited about it, she told me. We all thought he really stood a chance to win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, once Zelna made her way to the Americas Favorite Pet Facebook page, she learned that dozens of other owners were reporting similar stories. Their cats and dogs were also in first place, becauseagaineach of them was in first place in their group. Naturally, Zelna wanted to know how many groups there were. But Colossal doesnt disclose that information on the AFP website. In fact, the only way you can even find Richards page in the tournament is by following a link shared directly by Zelna. When I asked a Colossal spokesperson about this, they told me that although the full breadth of competitors isnt available on the tournament page during its early stages, theyd happily send out the details to anyone who emailed the companys support team. I requested that information and learned that the 2025 edition of Americas Favorite Pet launched with 2,352 cat groups and 3,136 dog groups. This meant that Richard was one of more than 2,000 cats who were technically in first place. Advertisement Advertisement After considering those factors, Zelna began to feel ripped off. There were so many different people posting, This is where my cat is in this group. And I was like, How many groups can there be? she said. The contest runs for way too long, so you have to hound your family and friends for months to get votes. I think they keep us in the dark to make everyone feel like they have a shot and keep paying for votes. (Again, shes not the only one who feels this way.) Advertisement I must reiterate that the contest rulescircuitous as they may beare printed on the AFP website for anyone to see. But its also fair to say that Colossal goes to considerable lengths to keep its competitors engaged in the grind. Suzanne Gauthier, a psych nurse from Massachusetts, has a pouty French bulldog named Chewbacca. She entered him in Americas Favorite Pet in hopes of using the money to help with a down payment on a new house after a fire destroyed her apartment. Gauthier actually made it through a few rounds of competition, and along the way, she received messages from the tournament encouraging her to redouble her efforts and score him more votes. She shared some of them with me; all have the grating tone of a spammy banner ad. Advertisement Urgent: Its now or never! Voting closes at 7pm PST SHARP. Share Chewbaccas link before its too late, reads one. Modern Dog cover are so close, Chewbacca can smell it! says another. Chewbacca is this close to 10k, announces a final message, which features a pinching-hand emoji, suggesting that Gauthier is inches away from a tremendous windfall. What was stranger were the texts announcing to Gauthier that, for short windows of time, donors could purchase votes for Chewbacca on a 2-to-1 ratiomeaning that $10 would be converted into 20 total votes. Gauthier took advantage of that promotion in an underhanded way. She managed to buy her dog a hundred bucks worth of votes, breaking the cardinal rule that owners cant back their own quadrupeds. I was like, Im going to hell for this, she said, laughing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Chewbacca came up short. As did Richard. Nobody should be surprised. There are a ton of animals in the competition, and a few of the previous winners command sizable digital empires that civilian pets struggle to compete with. For instance: In 2024 a cat named Ysera won the contest. As of this writing, her owner has 778,000 TikTok followers. (Ysera suffered from a neurodegenerative disease and died earlier this year.) For what its worth, Colossal is unapologetic about all of this. When I reached out for an interview, not only did the company enthusiastically agree to talk to me; they also sent over a glowing feature published by a website called Grit Daily that articulated its mission statement. People love a challenge. They crave competition, rewards, and the thrill of being part of something bigger, the article argues. Gamification taps into that, turning donations into interactive, engaging moments rather than passive transactions. Advertisement In that sense, despite the many accusations otherwise, Colossal doesnt appear to be scamming anyoneit has simply translated the tenets of digital hustle culture into a fundraising drive. To succeed, one must cultivate a personal brand, draft in the algorithm, and do their very best to go viral. And, yes, as a for-profit company, it does make money off this: A spokesperson for Colossal clarified that the company retains 36.5 percent of the donations for competition fees, as well as up to 13.5 percent for processing fees, prize costs, and other clerical expenses, all of which are clearly included on the Americas Favorite Pet site. Scaachi Koul, a senior writer at Slate who hosts the podcast Scamfluencers and is an expert auditor of swindling techniques, agrees that although that is a pretty penny for Colossal to take home, none of this reads as a hustle. It seems to be that Americas Favorite Pet can decide what the rules are and what theyre not, she told me. This isnt an election. This isnt financial law. This is a completely arbitrary set of rules about a cat contest. Advertisement Advertisement So what does Colossal CEO Mary Hagen make of all those people calling her a con artist? We call them non-winners, she said. We had 400,000 people sign up for Americas Favorite Pet [in 2025,] and we strategically put out the messaging and the information they need, including the competition schedule, and rules, and rounds very early on. But the reality is that not all 400,000 people open my email. We dont want people to be confused, but more often than not, when I track down something like that, we find that that individual never accessed their dashboard, never opened an email from us. Im not sure how to solve that. Advertisement Advertisement This touches on what Koul sees as the bigger issue here: the pet owners themselves, and what theyre really expecting out of this competition. What [AFP] is doing is trying to get people to buy more stuff from them, she said. The point isnt to decide what cat is cutest. The point is to get you to give them money for an organization so that more cats dont die. To her, the inability of pet owners to understand that they are involved in a mercurial popularity contest unbound by any objective measurements is much more concerning than any nebulousness around where the money is going. Advertisement In other words, the reason the contest has run into controversy is because a certain division of pet owners are completely out of their mind. They have signed up for a contest that, by its nature, will eventually inform them that they do not, in fact, own Americas Favorite Pet. That information can be psychologically displacing and can quickly lead to conspiratorial thinking. Its a scam! Bentley was in first for months until we stopped donating, wrote one aggrieved owner, clearly reeling from their defeat. You have no idea how many votes each dog has. They take in millions. Advertisement Again, that is the point. Americas Favorite Pet does take in millions, and it is just one of the many different tournaments Colossal runs. Last year, it hosted Baby of the Year, a competition that raised a mammoth $24 million for Jessica Albas Baby2Baby charity, which distributes basic hygiene items to mothers and children in disadvantaged circumstances.* Currently, Colossal is in the midst of the 2025 edition of Americas Favorite Teacher. The winner will receive $25,000, a trip to Hawaii, and a feature in Readers Digest. Hopeful educators are already jockeying in Facebook groups, hoping to crest the tops of their respective groups. Meanwhile, on Reddit, others assert that the whole thing is a racket. These accusations will likely follow Colossal for as long as its running tournaments. Meanwhile, Shay remains in contention to become Americas Favorite Pet for 2025. The winners of the contest will be revealed on Friday. Who knows? Maybe that double-amputee feline is about to be $10,000 richer. Despite everything else, that counts as a happy ending. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Over the past five days, the Trump administration has put on a master class in how to piss off Chief Justice John Roberts. Its behavior in the Alien Enemies Act case seems designed to rankle the chief in every conceivable way: Rather than win the case on the merits, the administration has launched a multilevel assault on the presiding judge, James Boasberg. It isnt just that Donald Trump, along with his co-President Elon Musk, has called for Boasbergs impeachmentthough that escalation did prompt Roberts to issue a rare rejoinder. Its that the Justice Department, too, has gotten in on the action, insulting Boasberg in insolent filings that openly question his integrity, neutrality, and competence. In short, the administration is deliberately staking this out as a battle between the executive branch and the judicial branch. There is surely some considered tactic at play here. The tactic simply appears not to be Winning John Roberts vote. Rather, the Trump administration seems eager to prevail in the court of public opinion, then leverage that victory to make the courts fall in linethe same play its running on Congress. The public-facing side of this strategy is obvious enough. First, the administration raced to deport Venezuelan migrants whom it accused, without evidence, of membership in the Tren de Aragua gang. Then it invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to argue that courts had no authority to stop the operation. When Boasberg ordered a halt to it nonetheless, high-ranking Trump officials bashed him in the media, while Trump and Musk called for his impeachment. House Republicans have now introduced articles of impeachment against the judge, and Musk is encouraging the effort by donating money to lawmakers who support it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court, the administrations tone is only somewhat less contemptuous. The DOJ evidently defied Boasberg on Saturday, when he ordered the return of planes carrying migrants to El Salvador; rather than comply with his directive, the government let two planes continue to their destination and allowed a third to take off well after the order. When Boasberg called a hearing to probe this disobedience, the Justice Department responded with a blast of impudent fury. First, government lawyers told him he had no power to issue the order in the first place, implicitly justifying the administrations defiance. Second, they told him his order didnt count anyway because it had been delivered from the bench (a claim that is absurd). Third, they tried (and failed) to postpone the hearing, warning that they would refuse to provide him with key information if summoned to court. Fourth, they asked a higher court to take away the case from Boasberg, accusing him of engaging in highly unusual and improper procedures. (A request for reassignment is typically considered the nuclear option in federal court, a last resort only after a judge has engaged in indefensible, intransigent misbehavior.) Advertisement Boasberg held the hearing anywayand, as it had promised, the DOJ declined to answer questions about its own alleged defiance of his order. The judge then ordered the government lawyers to answer his questions while allowing them to do so under seal to avoid the public disclosure of sensitive information. The DOJ, though, was not placated: Instead, it filed a shockingly nasty protest filled with angry jabs at Boasberg. It dismissed the kerfuffle as a picayune dispute over the micromanagement of immaterial factfinding and accused Boasberg of lacking sufficient respect for the Trump administration. Advertisement The court, the lawyers wrote, has now spent more time trying to ferret out information about the governments flight schedules and relations with foreign countries than it did in investigating the facts before ruling for the migrants. (In reality, this information is largely public already, because the White House shared many details of the operation while boasting about the deportation flights.) Boasberg, they continued, was seeking to beat a dead horse solely for the sake of prying from the government legally immaterial facts, including state secrets. (The relevant facts are not legally immaterialthey could show whether the government broke the law!) The filing called on Boasberg to end his unnecessary judicial fishing expeditions and asked him to freeze proceedings while they begged an appeals court to bail them out. Advertisement Advertisement As a rule, attorneys do not communicate with judges like this. Attorneys representing the United States certainly do not write this way. Boasberg could have raised the prospect of sanctions immediately. Instead, in a tempered response, he reminded the Justice Department that it had never before even raised the possibility that divulging the facts around this case would reveal state secrets. And he pointed out that the DOJ had not even previously noted that the relevant information was classified. In an act of grace, he nonetheless gave the governments lawyers a 24-hour extension and reminded them that they have to actually invoke the state-secrets privilege if they want to rely upon it. The lawyers, however, wound up regurgitating details they had already provided, a response Boasberg dismissed as woefully insufficient. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Why Trump Decided to Engineer a Constitutional Crisis Now Read More The DOJs crude treatment of Boasberg sends the unmistakable message that he is a rogue judge who needs to be reined in by a tough president and, ideally, a congressional impeachment. Attorney General Pam Bondi made her agencys position clear on Wednesday, when she accused the judge of meddling in our government. Why, she asked, is Boasberg trying to protect terrorists who invaded our country over American citizens? (Again, there is no evidence these people are terrorists.) The thrust of her comments, echoed in DOJ filings, is that Boasberg is so biased and reckless that he cannot be trusted to oversee a case with such sensitive implications for national security. Advertisement One person who would disagree with such claims about Boasberg is John Roberts. The chief justice himself appointed Boasberg to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court as presiding judge; in that position, he regularly reviewed, and ruled upon, extraordinarily sensitive requests by intelligence agencies to surveil communications between suspected spies and foreign powers. The surveillance courts work is shrouded in secrecy, and even the smallest public disclosure could jeopardize vital intelligence operations. And Roberts appointed Boasberg to lead it. He also appointed Boasberg as chief judge of the U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court, where he would hear similarly sensitive information to determine if terrorists should be deported. (The court has never conducted proceedings.) Its notable, too, that George W. Bush appointed both Roberts and Boasberg to the bench. (Barack Obama later elevated Boasberg to his current position.) Advertisement Obviously, Roberts has deep trust and respect for Boasberg. Why else would he handpick the judge to serve on these specialized courts? (Boasberg also has a connection to Justice Brett Kavanaugh: The two were roommates at Yale Law School.) Several of Boasbergs clerks have also gone on to clerk for Roberts, yet another indication that the chief justice respects his judgment. Advertisement Its true that Roberts statement in Boasbergs defense was not exactly impassioned. (In fact, it was just two sentences: For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision, he wrote. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.) But the substance matters less than the mere existence of an intervention by the chief, who rarely speaks out publicly about any topic. He makes the very occasional exception to defend judges under fire, as he did during Trumps first term. And the fact that he stepped into the fray to defend Boasberg is proof in itself that the administration has made a misstep. Moreover, a defining feature of Roberts jurisprudence is his intolerance for bad lawyering. His past votes against Trump reflect an aversion to sloppy and dishonest legal arguments, and he does not take kindly to insulting, patronizing, or underhanded reasoning. Yet that is exactly how the Justice Department has approached Boasberg in this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are, broadly speaking, two possible explanations for this strange conduct. The first is that the administration does not care about alienating Roberts and believes that it can coerce him into compliance with its agenda through public pressure. The second is more alarming: that if Roberts does start siding against Trumpif the Supreme Court blocks his agendait plans to also ignore those rulings and is laying the groundwork for that defiance now. The ongoing refusal to comply with Boasbergs order may well be a blueprint for future disobedience on a bigger scale. If that is what lies ahead, then the chief justice was wise to step in early. But he will need to do a great deal more than issue a bone-dry statement to the press. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Many Americans may not have taken notice, but yesterday marked yet another turning point for this Trump administration: A major U.S. law firm waved the white flag to our authoritarian president. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, based in New York, has a lengthy list of powerful clients and a long-standing commitment to causes of public interest. On March 14, it was singled out by Trump when he issued an executive order accusing the law firm of undermining the judicial process and participating in the destruction of bedrock American principles. He did so because the firms definition of the public interest leaned in a liberal direction, and because it employs Mark Pomerantz, who worked with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in the New York hush money trial, for which the president was convicted of committing 34 felonies. The president channeled his grievances against Paul Weiss and other so-called global law firms by alleging that they have engaged in activities that make our communities less safe, increase burdens on local businesses, limit constitutional freedoms, and degrade the quality of American elections. The order also claims: They have sometimes done so on behalf of clients, pro bono, or ostensibly for the public goodpotentially depriving those who cannot otherwise afford the benefit of top legal talent the access to justice deserved by all. In an unprecedented move, the order also singled out Pomerantz, calling him unethical and pointing out, in unusually personal terms, that he left Paul Weiss to join the Manhattan District Attorneys office solely to manufacture a prosecution against me. Advertisement Among other things, the president directed his subordinates to suspend any active security clearances held by individuals at Paul Weiss and Mark Pomerantz and take appropriate steps to terminate any contract for which Paul Weiss has been hired to perform any service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The choice the firm faced reminded me of a classic 1950s television commercial. It shows a woman slowly turning to the camera, revealing a black eye and professing her loyalty to her brand of cigarettes by saying, Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch. In Paul Weiss case, though, it took just six days for it to switch rather than fight, abandoning its principles and those of the legal profession. This is a surprising development, given the firms history. As the New York Times explains, The firm has long prided itself on breaking barriers and standing up to the government on issues like civil rights. Its website trumpets how it was the first major New York City firm to have Jewish lawyers working alongside Gentiles, to hire a Black associate and to have a female partner. Moreover, the legal profession has long been considered an advocate of what former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once called the attainment of liberty through law. Advertisement Apparently, Paul Weiss did not get that message. What the firm did yesterday is a reminder of the Vietnam-era adage that justified American wartime abuses: We have to burn this village to save it. Brad Karp, the head of the firm, went, hat in hand, to the Oval Office and lit a match to the firms reputation. To get the president to back off his threats to the firm, Karp agreed to a series of commitments, including to represent clients no matter their political affiliation and contribute $40 million in legal services to causes Mr. Trump has championed, including the Presidents Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, and other mutually agreed projects. Advertisement Would any self-respecting lawyer and law firm let anyone, including the president of the United States, tell them whom they should represent or give into the kind of blackmail that has become a regular practice since Trump returned to office? I would have assumed that Karp and Paul Weiss would have rejected such overtures. Advertisement Advertisement There is some dispute over the exact terms of the agreement; HuffPost reported discrepancies between the version of the document the White House posted and what Karp sent to his firm. For example, the White House version asserts that the firm had agreed Pomerantz was indeed guilty of wrongdoing, though the particular kind of wrongdoing was left unspecified. The only wrong that Pomerantz did was to do his job in a way that offended the president, and Karps note failed to mention him. But the damage has already been done. That is why, even as it described the differences in the versions of events offered by Karp and the White House, HuffPost still referred to what it called a shocking agreement between them. Related From Slate What Does Trump Have to Gain by Pissing Off John Roberts? The Answer Is Concerning. Read More In light of that agreement, one can only imagine the hallway conversations between lawyers at Paul Weiss right now. The firms capitulation is a blow to the forces seeking to resist the destruction of Americas constitutional order. When the history of this era is written, the proverb that fish rot from the head may have particular purchase in explaining the significance of Paul Weiss actions. The firms surrender also signifies another kind of rot, namely what Yale Law professor Jack Balkin calls constitutional rot, which he defines as a degradation of constitutional norms that may operate over a long period of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When constitutional rot becomes advanced, Balkin notes, people turn to demagogues, who stoke division, anger and resentment. Demagogues promise that they will restore lost glories and make everything right again. These demagogues proceed by cowing their opponents and encouraging everyone, especially the most powerful loci of resistance, to fall in line. And falling in line is exactly what Paul Weiss did. Going after large law firms is the Trump administrations way of showing that no one is safe. Making one of them say uncle and going public about it demonstrates that proposition. Standing up to bullies is the best way to deal with the administration. By backing down, Paul Weiss feeds the beast and encourages more of the kind of bullying that the White House has used against it. The first domino has fallen. Sadly, others will soon follow. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Donald Trumps campaign to destroy the rule of law and establish an elective dictatorship has coopted the congressional Republican Party and thus eliminated Congress as a coequal branch of government. In the executive branch, he is stamping out all centers of resistanceand indeed of independent thought. The only federal constitutional entity now standing between Trump and his dark triumph is the judiciary. Most recent discussion about the judges response to Trumps assaults on law and decency has focused on whether the Trump administration will comply with adverse court orders and what courts or anyone else can do if it refuses. Trump minions like Attorney General Pam Bondi and immigration czar Tom Homan have openly stated that actions enjoined by courts will absolutely continue. It remains to be seen if comments like these will prove to be mere bluster or instead manifest a settled determination to defy the judiciary. Regardless, Trumps effort to shake off judicial constraints is not limited to threats of noncompliance. The other blade of the shears is his effort to intimidate judges with threats of impeachment and thereby discourage them from ruling against him in the first place. Trump has expressly called for the impeachment of Judge James Boasberg, who ordered a temporary halt to the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. DOGE-boy Elon Musk endorsed the idea, and eager Republican lackeys in the House have joined the campaign. Together, the threats of presidential defiance and congressional impeachment constitute a dangerous attack on the independent judiciarys power to constrain executive branch action within the limits of statutory and constitutional law. Advertisement The authors of the American Constitution crafted a regime of separate, independent, mutually checking branches. At the beginning, there was some doubt that one of the judges checking powers was the authority to determine that executive action violated the Constitution or statutory law. But despite intimations to the contrary by Vice President J.D. Vance, that point was settled in 1803 by Marbury v. Madison and has ever since been a bedrock principle of American constitutionalism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To ensure the independence of the judiciary, the Framers wrote into the Constitution devices drawn from British history and their own colonial experience. They insulated federal judges from threats of financial coercion by prohibiting any reduction in their salaries. And they adopted the provision of the English Act of Settlement of 1701 that granted judges tenure during good behavior. In practice, this means that federal judges cannot be removed except through the process of impeachment by a majority of the House of Representatives and conviction by two-thirds of the Senate. The constitutional standard for removal of judges is the same as for executive branch officerswhether they committed treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Advertisement Related From Slate Lawyers Can Slow a Trump Dictatorship. They Have to Do Something Uncomfortable First. Read More This standard has been applied a bit more expansively to judges than to presidents or other executive branch officers. The main difference is that, precisely because judges have life tenure, it has been thought appropriate in several cases to impeach judges for extreme personal incapacity. The primary example is Judge John Pickering, who was impeached, convicted, and removed in 1804nominally for improper rulings, drunkenness, and blasphemy, but actually because he was severely mentally ill. With the exception of Judge Pickering and Judge Mark H. Delahay, who was impeached in 1873 for being habitually drunk on the bench and resigned before he could be tried in the Senate, all 11 successful removals by impeachment of judges have involved charges of treason, corruption, perjury, or other ordinary crimes. Advertisement The one point that has been clear since 1805 is that impeachable high crimes and misdemeanors do not include judicial rulings or judicial expressions of opinion of which congressmen, or for that matter presidents, happen to disapprove. In 1804, the House impeached Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase. The justicea large, cranky, imperious, sometimes tyrannical judgewas also an outspoken advocate of the positions of the Federalist Party and opponent of Thomas Jeffersons Democratic Republicans. By 1803, the Democratic Republicans held a House majority of 10339. In 1804, they impeached Chase, charging him in eight articles with a variety of erroneous legal rulings and with giving a politically oriented charge to a grand jury. Advertisement Advertisement As John Quincy Adams observed at the time, this was a party prosecution. Indeed, in the Senate trial the following year, Chases opponents made explicit that they sought his removal because they disapproved of both his particular rulings and his political opinions. Sen. William Branch Giles declared: A trial and removal of a judge upon impeachment need not imply any criminality or corruption in him [but] nothing more than a declaration of Congress to this effect: You hold dangerous opinions, and if you are suffered to carry them into effect you will work the destruction of the nation. We want your offices, for the purpose of giving them to men who will fill them better. Advertisement Advertisement Despite a Jeffersonian majority of 259, the Senate rejected this view of judicial impeachment and acquitted Chase on all counts. Ever since, Chases acquittal has been understood to establish the principle that judges ought not be impeached based on either their political orientation or the substance of their judicial rulings. As Justice William Rehnquist observed in his 1992 book on the Chase and Andrew Johnson impeachments, Chases acquittal assured the independence of federal judges from congressional oversight of the decisions they made in the cases that came before them. Advertisement Rehnquist represents the consensus view. As the House Judiciary Committee wrote in its report on the impeachment of Judge George English in 1926, No judge may be impeached for a wrong decision. The reason this principle has been so long accepted is plain. If judges can be impeached whenever they render opinions unacceptable to a congressional majority, then judicial independence becomes a mere fiction, and an essential element of the Constitutions system of checks and balances disappears. Of course, neither the antiquity nor the indispensability of this constitutional norm has prevented politicians from agitating for impeachment of judges whose opinions they dislike. Gerald Ford, when a member of the House, wanted to impeach Justice William O. Douglas, in part for alleged ethical lapses and in part for his assertedly radical political views. In 1996, Republican Sen. Bob Dole suggested impeaching judges appointed by President Bill Clinton for supposedly being soft on crime. The next year, Republican Rep. Tom DeLay advocated impeaching three judges, citing their judicial opinions in particular cases. In 2003, Republican legislators again threatened judges whose criminal sentencing opinions they disliked with impeachment. In recent years, these threats have emanated primarily from Republicans, but Democrats have not been immune from the temptation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, since 1805 this sort of performative saber-rattling has never resulted in an actual impeachment, or indeed even in a formal impeachment investigation, based on congressional disagreement with the substance of a judges rulings. Two factors make the current situation dangerously different. First, the House of Representatives is now controlled by a Republican majority which seems perfectly prepared to investigate and indeed impeach officials it does not like regardless of whether they have engaged in conduct remotely approximating treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. In February 2024, House Republicans impeached Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, although the Senate refused to consider the matter. The Republicans allegations (despite some obfuscatory rhetoric) were based entirely on the fact that Mayorkas had executed Biden administration immigration policy with which they disagreed. Policy disagreements are not high crimes and misdemeanors and had never before been viewed as an acceptable ground for impeaching an executive branch officer. Advertisement Second, current threats to impeach judges who are ruling against the Trump administration are not merely attention-seeking ploys by a few House members. Rather, the threats are emanating jointly from members of Congress, Trump himself, and senior members of his administration. In short, these impeachment threats are an integral component of a conscious, coordinated campaign by Republicans in the legislative and executive branches to intimidate the federal judiciary. This is an ominous first in American history. Advertisement Advertisement What makes the addition of impeachment threats to Trumps campaign against the judiciary dangerous as well as novel is that it has a very real prospect of achieving at least some of its objectives. Given the requirement of a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict, there is no realistic prospect that any federal judge who rules against Trump will be removed from office through the vehicle of impeachment. Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, even an impeachment investigation is a tremendously burdensome and unpleasant experience for its target. It requires a huge expenditure of time and, given the probable need for counsel, potentially large sums of money. Regardless of its outcome, it will inevitably be damaging to the targets reputation, a point particularly vital to judges whose authority depends importantly on the public perception of probity and neutrality. Moreover, in our current degraded era of deep division and nasty public discourse, judges threatened with impeachment by the president and his minions will at the least be subjected to torrents of ugly social media abuseabuse that will, as night follows day, be extended to their families. Worse still, judicial targets of Trump-inspired impeachment campaigns will properly share the concerns for their own safety and that of their families that other judges have already voiced. Judges are only human. At least some may be intimidated into rulings upholding Trumpian misconduct that they would not otherwise issue. Even those made of sterner stuff are very likely to hesitate before putting themselves in Trumps crosshairs. In sum, current Trumpian threats of judicial impeachment cannot be waved off as mere bluster. They are instead a carefully calculated component of a coordinated assault on the judiciarys power to maintain the rule of law. Contracts For Feb. 3, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 4, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 5, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 6, 2025 Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded a $52,200,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N0001925F0205) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001920G0007). This order will procure 18 forward looking infrared high-definition turret assembly spares in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) owned MH-60 aircraft. The quantity breakdown per FMS country is as follows: Saudi Arabia1; South Korea1; Norway8; Spain4; and India4. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (70%); El Segundo, California (9%); Keene, New Hampshire (8%); Apopka, Florida (7%); Orlando, Florida (2%); Princeton, New Jersey (2%); San Diego, California (2%); and is expected to be completed by February 2028. FMS customer funds in the amount of $52,200,000 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Chandler, Arizona, is awarded a $12,599,431 firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable order (N0001925F0079) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0002). This order provides nonrecurring engineering efforts required to produce a replacement fin actuator control system and motor control valve actuator for the GQM-163A Coyote Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target to support weapon system test and evaluation for the Navy. Work will be performed in Chandler, Arizona (63%); Montville, New Jersey (35%); and Huntsville, Alabama (2%), and is expected to be completed January 2028. Fiscal 2023 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,599,431 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Contracts For Feb. 7, 2025 Eagle Systems Inc., is awarded a $71,421,458 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides material management and logistics support services, to include life cycle management, material and equipment management, and recordkeeping and reporting in support of the application of rapid development, rapid prototyping, and system integration in the development of product-based solutions to support combat integration and identification systems, ship and air integrated systems, special communications mission solutions, air traffic control and landing systems, airborne systems integration, and integrated command, control and intel systems for the Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers and non-Department of Defense partners. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Maryland (91%); Fayetteville, North Carolina (3.5%); Patuxent River, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); and Norfolk, Virginia (0.5%), and expected to be completed February 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was procured as a small business set-aside, six offers were received. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042125D0050). Contracts For Feb. 10, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 11, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 12, 2025 Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $23,420,682 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00021) to an order (N0001921F0008) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001917G0002). This modification exercises an option to provide continued flight test support for the V-22 Osprey aircraft for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (70%); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15%); Fort Worth, Texas (10%); and Hurlburt Field, Florida (5%), and is expected to be completed in January 2026. Fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,164,907; fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,402,009; fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $2,419,793; fiscal 2025 procurement (Defense-wide) funds in the amount of $532,000; fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Defense-wide) funds in the amount of $392,000; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $1,796,590; and Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $1,542,414, will be obligated at the time of award, of which $1,542,414 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Contracts For Feb. 13, 2025 Frontier Electronic Systems Corp., Stillwater, Oklahoma, is awarded a $9,871,875 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0017825D4502), containing cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price line items for hardware and support for the AN/SPQ-15(V) system equipment and contractor support to Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Dam Neck Activity and coalition partners. Work will be performed in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by February 2030. This contract is for the government of Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Fiscal 2025 FMS Australia funds in the amount of $500 (minimum contract guarantee) will be obligated at time of award. All other funding will be made available at the delivery order level as contracting actions occur. This contract was not competitively procured in the Federal Business Opportunities. This contract is a sole source, In accordance with Title 10 of the U.S. Code, section 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1), as implemented by paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 authorizes the use of other than full and open competition when it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source or sources when "supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements". The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N0017825D4502). Contracts For Feb. 14, 2025 Bowhead Enterprise, Science and Technology LLC, Springfield, Virginia, is awarded a $52,174,050 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for research and analysis, strategic initiatives and planning, executive leadership management, corporate data management, perform sound practical educational activities, administrative, operational, and technical support services in support of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) immediate staff of Flag Office and direct reporting teams, the NAVAIR Command Strategic Leadership Support team, the Business and Financial Management Competency, the Joint Strike Fighter front office, and the NAVAIR Washington Liaison Office. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (87.5%); and Arlington, Virginia (12.5%), and is expected to be completed by April 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of the award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competed as an 8(a) small business set aside; seven offers were received. NAVAIR, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042125D0048). Contracts For Feb. 18, 2025 Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is awarded a $102,353,293 modification (P00007) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001922D0038). This modification increases the contract ceiling to procure 21 RQ-21A Blackjack air vehicles and 47 ScanEagle air vehicles, as well as associated payloads, turrets, support equipment, spares, tools, and training for both Unmanned Aircraft Systems in support of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for the Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and other international business partnership capacity efforts. Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington (88%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (12%), and is expected to be completed in June 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This modification was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $27,968,786 modification (P00007) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract (N0001924C0011). This modification adds scope to provide program management support for special tooling/special test equipment in support of F-35 production aircraft, as well as aircraft modifications and flight test instrumentation in support of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2028. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $88,638; fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $88,638; fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $10,035,130; fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,680,828; non-U.S. DOD participants funds in the amount of $5,508,125; and FMS customer funds in the amount of $3,567,430, will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Cruz Associates Inc., Yorktown, Virginia, is awarded a $20,827,861 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for manufacturing and technical expertise services in all areas relative to energetics development. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $60,911,615. Work will be performed at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head (IHD) at Indian Head, Maryland (98%); and detachment Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown, Yorktown, Virginia (2%), and is expected to be completed by February 2026. If all options are exercised, work will continue through August 2027. Fiscal 2025 Working Capital Fund in the amount of $20,827,861 will be obligated at time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. NSWC IHD, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0017425C0001). Contracts For Feb. 19, 2025 Raytheon Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded an $186,044,155 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. This contract provides for material and support equipment for depot maintenance facilities; program administration for non-recurring sustainment activities; supplies, services, and planning for depot activations; and unit level support equipment in support of sustaining the F135 engines in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) partners. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (54.7%); Cherry Point, North Carolina (8.9%); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (8.7%); Windsor Lock, Connecticut (4.5%); Indianapolis, Indiana (2.2%); Fort Smith, Arkansas (1.96%); Jacksonville, Florida (1.2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (3.7%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (14.14%), and is expected to be completed by February 2028. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,596,210; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $64,751,806; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $41,344,488; FMS customer funds in the amount of $22,971,323; and non-US DOD partner funds in the amount of $35,380,328 will be obligated at the time of award, $106,096,294 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001925C0075). Northrup Grumman Systems Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded an $8,255,632 modification (P00009) to a cost-plus-incentive-fee order (N0001923F2625) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001920G0005). This modification adds scope to provide integration of the single board computer in support of the complete technology refresh for the cockpit, mission computer, and operations station (Block II upgrade) for the E-2D Hawkeye aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (49.7%); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (17.3%); Bloomington, Maryland (15.7%); St. Augustine, Florida (2.3%); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (2%); Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (1.7%); Greenlawn, New York (1.6%); Falls Church, Virginia (1.6%); Woodland Hill, California (1.4%); Laval, Quebec, Canada (0.01%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (6.69%), and is expected to be completed in September 2028. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,255,632 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This order was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Contracts For Feb. 20, 2025 Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a not-to-exceed $232,452,366 firm-fixed-price modification (P00002) to a previously awarded contract (N0001924C0009). This modification exercises an option to procure additional long-lead time materials to support full rate production, Lot 10, of the CH-53K aircraft for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in March 2026. Fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $232,452,366 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Contracts For Feb. 21, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 24, 2025 Air Combat Effectiveness Consulting Group LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0033); AM Pierce and Associates Inc., California, Maryland (N0042125D0034); American Electronic Warfare Associates Inc., California, Maryland (N0042125D0035); C4CJV LLC, Burke, Virginia (N0042125D0036); Compendium Federal Technology, LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0037); CRL Technologies Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0038); Coherent Technical Services Inc., Hollywood, Maryland (N0042125D0039); Eagle Systems Inc., California, Maryland (N0042125D0040); Fusion 2 Inc., Leonardtown, Maryland (N0042125D0041); Greenfield Engineering Corp., Leonardtown, Maryland (N0042125D0042); Global Technologies Management Resources Inc., Hollywood, Maryland (N0042125D0043); Innovation Integration Inc., Huntsville, Alabama (N0042125D0044); Render Security Engineering LLC, California, Maryland (N0042125D0045); Tekla Research Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0046); Technology Security Associates Inc., California, Maryland (N0042125D0047); Sabre Systems LLC, Warminster, Pennsylvania (N0042125D0052); American Systems Corp., Chantilly, Virginia (N0042125D0053); Aviation Systems Engineering Co., Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0054); AVIAN LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0055); BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland (N0042125D0056); Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Virginia (N0042125D0057); DCS Corp., Alexandria, Virginia (N0042125D0058); Epsilon C5I Inc., San Diego, California (N0042125D0059); FGS LLC, La Plata, Maryland (N0042125D0060); Indigenous Technologies, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (N0042125D0061); J.F. Taylor Inc., Great Mills, Maryland (N0042125D0062); KBR Wyle Services LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0063); MAG DS Corp., doing business as MAG Aerospace, Fairfax, Virginia (N0042125D0064); ManTech Advanced Systems International Inc., Herndon, Virginia (N0042125D0065); The MIL Corp., Bowie, Maryland (N0042125D0066); Modern Technology Solutions Inc., Alexandria, Virginia (N0042125D0067); Naval Systems Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0068); Precise Systems Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0069); Resource Management Concepts Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042125D0070); Scientific Research Corp., Atlanta, Georgia (N0042125D0071); Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia (N0042125D0072); Smartronix LLC, Hollywood, Maryland (N0042125D0073); Systems Planning and Analysis Inc., Alexandria, Virginia (N0042125D0074); Tyto Government Solutions Inc., Herndon, Virginia (N0042125D0076); Zel Technologies LLC, Hampton, Virginia (N0042125D0077); and Tecolote Research Inc., Goleta California (N0042125D0078), are each awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with specific contract line item number contract types specified on the individual orders. The estimated aggregate ceiling for all contracts is $249,000,000 with the companies having an opportunity to compete for individual orders. These contracts procure support services at multiple classification levels, up to and to include top secret//sensitive compartmented information to support all aspects of the acquisition life cycle for various platforms and programs within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Enterprise, subordinate NAVAIR commands, and Program Executive Offices. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and various locations within the continental U.S., to include contractor facilities. Specific locations and percentages of work will be determined at award of individual orders and is expected to be completed in February 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. These contracts were competitively procured; 43 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Contracts For Feb. 25, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 26, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 27, 2025 No applicable data. Contracts For Feb. 28, 2025 No applicable data. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250320/houthis-say-conducted-successful-hypersonic-missile-strike-on-target-south-of-tel-aviv-1121657586.html Houthis Say Conducted Successful Hypersonic Missile Strike on Target South of Tel Aviv Houthis Say Conducted Successful Hypersonic Missile Strike on Target South of Tel Aviv Sputnik International Yemeni movement Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, successfully struck a military target south of Tel Aviv with a Palestine 2 hypersonic missile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said. 2025-03-20T22:54+0000 2025-03-20T22:54+0000 2025-03-21T01:55+0000 military houthis tel aviv israel palestine ansar allah https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/1b/1119919785_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c9e057e263836d3307d52c4d0e7201f7.jpg "The missile forces of the Yemeni armed forces carried out a military operation, attacking a military target of the Israeli enemy in the south of the occupied Jaffa region with a Palestine 2 hypersonic missile, the goal of the operation was successfully achieved," Saree said on Thursday. He stressed that this was the second missile attack on Israeli territory from Yemen over the past 24 hours. tel aviv israel palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International houthis, ansar allah, tel aviv, palestine 2, hypersonic missile https://sputnikglobe.com/20250320/serbia-not-going-to-nationalize-nis---deputy-prime-minister-1121657699.html Serbia Not Going to Nationalize NIS - Deputy Prime Minister Serbia Not Going to Nationalize NIS - Deputy Prime Minister Sputnik International Serbia is not going to nationalize oil company NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije), as Gazprom Neft and Gazprom are its legal owners, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Vulin told Sputnik. 2025-03-20T23:10+0000 2025-03-20T23:10+0000 2025-03-21T02:01+0000 world aleksandar vulin serbia russia national intelligence service (nis) gazprom neft gazprom https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/15/1121657791_0:57:3071:1784_1920x0_80_0_0_2fde5aec238402eb7ddae5b6ffec8c95.jpg "From Serbia's position, I can say that NIS will not be nationalized. Everything that will be done will be with the consent of the legal owner of company Naftna Industrija Srbije, and these are Russian state companies. The Serbs are not cowards or robbers, and we will not take away NIS," Vulin said. He added that the Serbian government is looking for a way for the enterprise to continue operating normally after the US sanctions come into force. On January 10, Washington introduced sanctions against NIS, a Russian-majority owned company, demanding Russia's complete withdrawal from its ownership. In 2022, Gazprom Neft, which participated in the 2008 privatization of the western Balkans' largest oil company, reduced its stake in NIS to 50%, while Gazprom received a 6.15% stake. Serbia holds a 29.87% stake, while the rest is owned by individuals, employees, and other minority shareholders. At the same time, the Serbian president said that Serbia was ready to buy the stake for about 700 million euros ($760 million) but would try to avoid that. serbia russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International serbia, russia, russia-serbia ties, gazprom, gas supply, aleksandar vulin https://sputnikglobe.com/20250321/azov-gaining-power-is-symptom-of-collapse-of-remains-of-ukraines-civil-society-1121662939.html Azov Gaining Power is 'Symptom of Collapse' of Remains of Ukraine's Civil Society Azov Gaining Power is 'Symptom of Collapse' of Remains of Ukraine's Civil Society Sputnik International The destruction of the gas pumping station in Sudzha by Ukraine makes it look like Volodymyr Zelensky has limited control over the Ukrainian military and limited to no control over the neo-Nazi Azov* forces, USAF Ret. Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski tells Sputnik. 2025-03-21T15:10+0000 2025-03-21T15:10+0000 2025-03-22T11:35+0000 ukraine azov volodymyr zelensky analysis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/19/1097767226_0:0:2767:1557_1920x0_80_0_0_0b1fb9923dedb44a9a33c2deeabda4bb.jpg Due to their belief in their superiority over the rest of the Ukrainian troops, Azov militants believe that the war was theirs, always, not the politicians, and certainly not Zelenskys as a propped-up politician who actually ran on enforcing the Minsk II treaty, a peace platform.I think Azov, like many effective, violent and nationalistic military groups, disrespect politician on principles, as compromisers and double dealers. Traditionally, these are the 'generals' that the politicians fear, not the other way around, says Kwiatkowski, a former US Department of Defense analyst.Thus, there appears to be a danger of Azov exercising the real political power in Ukraine.The anger of the Azov will not be quenched, even after Zelensky is gone and a new president elected."*terrorist organization banned in Russia ukraine azov Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sudzha gas station, ukraine azov https://sputnikglobe.com/20250321/sudzha-strike-zelensky-slaps-trump-in-the-face-by-subverting-ceasefire-deal-1121663106.html Sudzha Strike: Zelensky Slaps Trump in the Face by Subverting Ceasefire Deal Sudzha Strike: Zelensky Slaps Trump in the Face by Subverting Ceasefire Deal Sputnik International Volodymyr Zelensky appears to be challenging Donald Trump "after realizing his stance on the Ukraine conflict differs sharply from Joe Biden's," Professor Stevan Gajic of the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade tells Sputnik. 2025-03-21T15:22+0000 2025-03-21T15:22+0000 2025-03-21T15:22+0000 volodymyr zelensky donald trump ukraine washington european union (eu) analysis us ukraine crisis kursk region russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/07/1120809308_0:0:3068:1725_1920x0_80_0_0_bf921ce43266fe77a60a7c315b8ca59b.jpg How could the US force Ukraine to honor the ceasefire? On March 20, Ukrainian forces struck the Sudzha gas metering station, violating the energy ceasefire deal agreed upon by Zelensky and brokered by Trump on March 18. Despite the truce, Ukraine attacked Russian infrastructure in Krasnodar that same day. Moscow views this as a deliberate provocation, yet Kiev denies any involvement. Ukrainian media suggest Washington wants a ceasefire to push Zelensky to lift martial law and hold elections in August, but Zelensky has rejected this, fearing hell lose his grip on power. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250321/ceasefire-proposed-by-trump-has-already-been-violated-by-ukraine--russian-fm-spokeswoman-1121658003.html ukraine washington kursk region russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova sudzha, kursk region, ukraine blasted energy infrastructure in sudzha, volodymyr zelensky, donald trump, energy ceasefire, vladimir putin https://sputnikglobe.com/20250321/trump-contract-on-ukraine-settlement-and-land-divisions-being-negotiated-now-1121664248.html Trump: Contract on Ukraine Settlement and Land Divisions Being Negotiated Now Trump: Contract on Ukraine Settlement and Land Divisions Being Negotiated Now Sputnik International US President Donald Trump said on Friday that an agreement on resolving the Ukraine conflict, which includes discussions on territorial divisions, is currently under negotiation. 2025-03-21T18:16+0000 2025-03-21T18:16+0000 2025-03-21T18:17+0000 world us donald trump ukraine ukraine crisis russia vladimir putin volodymyr zelensky https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/0c/05/1081370396_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_4d1c4cfb6e8c50fb066e10d1e7affdfb.jpg "Then we're going to have a contract. And the contract's being negotiated, the contract in terms of dividing up the lands, etc, etc. It's being negotiated as we speak," Trump told reporters.Trump also expressed confidence that a full ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia will be reached soon. The president noted he believes that after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they have "confines of the deal" on Ukraine."I've been having very good discussions, as you know, with President Zelenskyy and with President Putin ... and I have to tell you, I've dealt very well with both gentlemen, and I think we have the confines of the deal," Trump said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250313/ex-pentagon-analyst-on-putins-message-us-cant-solve-ukraines-peace-with-a-magic-wand-1121636181.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International donald trump, ukraine crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, vladimir putin, volodymyr zelensky, russia, ukraine peace deal Trainer Victor Puddy achieved a career milestone with his stable's earnings topping the $20 million mark on Thursday, March 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. After a third place finish with Sadies Delight in Thursday's $17,000 distaff conditioned pace, Puddy surpassed the $20 million plateau. The Mountain, Ont. horseman is a career winner of over 2,600 races with eight seasons cresting the $1 million mark in earnings and ten seasons passing 100 wins, including last season which showed $1.4 million earned with 106 wins. Puddy was a multiple leading trainer at The Raceway at the Western Fair District and currently sits in the top eight of trainers at Mohawk this season. Just before the Thursday evening card, Mohawk hosted a tribute and moment of silence for Hunter Myers, who passed away from injuries sustained in a racing accident on Wednesday (March 19) at The Meadows. Mohawk will be taking its scheduled March break next week and will be dark from Sunday through to Friday with racing resuming on Saturday, March 29. To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Standardbred Canada) The harness racing industry has rallied on numerous fronts to support the family of horseman Hunter Myers, who passed away on Thursday, March 20 as a result of injuries suffered in an accident at The Meadows on Wednesday, March 19. While it can never be assumed, it should come as no surprise that the Standardbred industry showed an immediate outpouring of support in the hours following the announcement that Myers passed away. He's survived by his fiancee, Chloe Fisher, and seven-month-old son, Hayden. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist Myers' remaining family during this challenging time. Maritime horsepeople have also set up a PayPal fundraising account, and Saratoga Casino Hotel track photographer Jessica Hallett is selling t-shirts with all proceeds directed to the family. On Friday, March 21, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association announced details of a jog cart and race bike raffle fundraiser with all proceeds will going towards Hunter's family. Tickets are $10 USD per ticket, with the winner having the choice between tickets for the UFO racebike or the Pennsbury jog cart. To purchase a raffle ticket, contact MSOA Executive Director Dawnelle Mock at 724-470-8303. Winners will be picked on Meadows Live in May. Financial contributions can also be issued directly to Chloe Fisher through Venmo. Woodbine Mohawk Park announced on Friday that the driving colony will be pledging earnings to Myers' family. The passing of Hunter has hit close to home for all of us in the racing community, said James MacDonald. Hunter was a terrific person and were all heartbroken by this tragedyits truly unimaginable. The Woodbine driving colony will be donating various amounts of their earnings from this weekends races to Myers family and are encouraging any owners and trainers that can support to make a pledge as well. Just like everyone else, all of us in the Mohawk drivers room immediately wanted to support his fiancee, Chloe, and their son, Hayden, in any possible way. Our industry always steps up. Any owners and trainers that would like to donate are asked to contact the Mohawk Bookkeeper through email at [email protected]. Woodbine will also be donating to the family of Hunter Myers. Woodbine Mohawk Park held a tribute and moment of silence for Myers ahead of Thursdays first race. All drivers wore green armbands in memory of Myers and will continue to wear them over the course of the weekend. On Friday, March 21, Standing Stallions, Abby Stables and Hagemeyer Farms announced they will be offering 10 total breedings to stallions Fear The Dragon, Branquinho, Force N Fury or Il Sogno Dream for a minimum donation of $500 USD, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Myers' fiancee and son. Abby Stables and Hagemeyer Farms will be donating all of the collection fees for these breedings and Standing Stallion will match the donation amounts paid for the breeding up to the advertised price of the 2025 stud fee. Standing Stallions will also match the donation from Abby Stables and Hagemeyer Farms. Each donation entitles you to one breeding for the 2025 season. There is no live foal guarantee. The breedings are offered on a first come, first serve basis. For more information or to make a donation contact, Charles Taylor at 612-695-0055 or [email protected]. The Standardbred Owners Association of New York on Friday, March 21 announced it authorized the payment of $5,000 USD to benefit Myers' son, hoping the contribution will motivate members of the New York racing community to assist the family in any way possible in the wake of their devastating loss. A number of 2025 breedings with proceeds specified as directed to Myers' family are available for purchase on OnGait. On Tuesday, March 25, Meadowlands Racetrack and the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey announced they will be donating their net revenue share from the fourth race on its Saturday, March 29 card to Myers' fiancee and son. Meadowlands CEO Jeff Gural will also match the total share in the fourth race. Meadowlands Racetrack reported on Wednesday, April 23 that the Hunter Myers Memorial race raised more than $41,000. On Tuesday, April 1, the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association (GLADA) and Grattan Helmets announced they will be offering a raffle draw for a custom Grattan helmet in an effort to raise money for the Myers family. Tickets are $25 USD and can be purchased by sending money via Venmo to Larry-Ferrari-2. The draw will be held on Friday, April 18. For more information, contact Larry Ferrari at 216-470-6390 or Steve Oldford at 810-300-3234. Harrington Raceway announced on Thursday, April 3 that a $5,000 contribution has been made to the family of driver Hunter Myers. Having experienced a fatal racing accident here in 2006 (Hal Belote), we are sadly familiar with how dangerous harness racing can be, said Patricia B. Key, Harrington Raceway and Casino Chief Executive Officer. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Myers family. On Friday, April 4, a collective of Western New York Racing organizations announced that they raised more than $7,500 for the Myers family. Renee Martin, owner of Cafe Renee at Buffalo Raceway, organized several fundraisers over the past weeks including a spaghetti dinner, a mac and cheese dinner and a signed Josh Allen jersey raffle. The donations collected, as well as the proceeds from these events, will be forwarded to Chloe Fisher. Should Standardbred Canada receive details on further efforts in support of Hunter Myers' family, those details will be added to this story. (Standardbred Canada, with files from Woodbine; photos courtesy Chris Gooden, Conrad Photo, New Image Media) With temperatures hovering around the freezing mark on Friday, March 21 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Fortify provided some stretch drive sizzle during the morning's qualifying session. Friday's fourth flight featured eight pacers with stout resumes including eight-year-old Fortify, whose $902,000-plus bankroll topped those in the field. Driver Louis-Philippe Roy positioned Fortify in the pocket behind Control The Gold and driver Jody Jamieson through fairly modest fractions of :30, 1:00 and 1:29.3. The switch was flipped for the final quarter, and Fortify flew home in :25.4 for a 1:55.3 winning effort. Control The Gold finished nearly three lengths back, with Momas Son Byrne (Jonathan Drury) rounding out the top trio. Rene Bourassa trains Fortify, a gelded son of Sweet Lou - Cant Stop Me Now, for owners Daniel Gaudreault of Mont-Joli, Que. and Ecuries Maguire Inc. of Sainte-Marie, Que. The full video stream is available below. A reminder that Mohawk goes dark from Sunday, March 23 through to Friday, March 28. Live harness racing at Mohawk resumes on Saturday, March 29 with the next qualifying session slated for Monday, March 31. For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers). (Standardbred Canada; photo of Fortify winning the Brian Paquet Memorial at Hippodrome 3R) In conjunction with the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association, MGM Northfield Park will honour Hunter Myers on Sunday, March 23 before the first race. The memorial is scheduled to take place at 5:50 p.m., and the evenings first race will proceed in silence as a memorial to Myers. Myers passed away on Thursday, March 20 as a result of injuries sustained in a racing accident at The Meadows on Wednesday (March 19). Northfield Parks upcoming non-winners of one series, formally known as the Iron Maiden Series, will now be re-named the Hunter Myers Memorial Series. First post time on Sunday is 6 p.m. (with files from Northfield) At Adobe Summit the flagship digital experience conference Adobe announced the private preview of Adobe Marketing Agent, as well as continued agentic innovation within Microsoft 365 Copilot with Adobe Express Agent. This builds on a collaboration between Adobe and Microsoft to bring the power of generative AI into the flow of workextending now to AI agents. This includes activating the capabilities of Adobe Marketing Agent in applications such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word through Microsoft 365 Copilot. Businesses are under pressure to retain a competitive edge by increasing the efficiency and productivity of their organizations, said Amit Ahuja, senior vice president, Digital Experience Business, Adobe. Adobe Marketing Agent and Adobe Express Agent will be an unlock for businesses, enabling marketers to access Adobe capabilities within the natural flow of work to create impactful content and drive personalization initiatives. We are thrilled that Adobe has developed an agent for Microsoft 365 Copilot to assist marketers in creating impactful campaigns and enhancing customer experiences. This collaboration underscores our belief at Microsoft that human ingenuity will be richly augmented by Copilot and agents, tailored to meet the unique needs of every role, said Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Business and Industry Copilot at Microsoft. We look forward to our joint customers experiencing the benefits of the Adobe Marketing Agent. Top Breaking News Of The Day Adobe Express Agent for Microsoft 365 Copilot Adobe is developing the Adobe Express Agent, which will allow users to easily create compelling assets directly within Microsoft 365 Copilot, PowerPoint and Word. The Adobe Express Agent will empower teams to generate stunning images through a conversational interface, without leaving the host applications. This will enable effortless creation of high-quality images for documents, presentations, whitepapers, social media posts and morefor marketers and other teams across an organization. Adobe Marketing Agent for Microsoft 365 Copilot With the private preview of Adobe Marketing Agent for Microsoft 365 Copilot, businesses can: Refine audiences for targeting : Marketers can leverage the conversational interface of Microsoft 365 Copilot to access data and insights from Adobe Experience Platform, quickly unlocking operational insights and completing more complex analysis taskssupporting the creation of audiences used for widescale personalization campaigns. Adobe Marketing Agent simplifies the audience analysis process by quickly surfacing insights in Microsoft 365 apps through Copilot. : Marketers can leverage the conversational interface of Microsoft 365 Copilot to access data and insights from Adobe Experience Platform, quickly unlocking operational insights and completing more complex analysis taskssupporting the creation of audiences used for widescale personalization campaigns. Adobe Marketing Agent simplifies the audience analysis process by quickly surfacing insights in Microsoft 365 apps through Copilot. Discover actionable insights : Marketers can prompt Adobe Marketing Agent to instantly uncover and pull meaningful insights from Adobe Customer Journey Analytics directly within Copilot. This democratizes access to a broader set of marketers and other practitioners within the organization. Adobe Marketing Agent will also enable the quick creation of campaign performance reports in Microsoft apps, such as PowerPoint and Word, driving smarter marketing decisions. : Marketers can prompt Adobe Marketing Agent to instantly uncover and pull meaningful insights from Adobe Customer Journey Analytics directly within Copilot. This democratizes access to a broader set of marketers and other practitioners within the organization. Adobe Marketing Agent will also enable the quick creation of campaign performance reports in Microsoft apps, such as PowerPoint and Word, driving smarter marketing decisions. Drive cross-team collaboration: Marketers can connect to Adobe Workfront, helping them reimagine work management processes. Adobe Marketing Agent helps marketers boost operational efficiency by effortlessly summarizing projects, tasks and issues, locating essential details and project information from content in Microsoft 365 applications, such as PowerPoint, Word, or Teams, and proactively monitoring the health of team projects. With Adobe Experience Platform Agent OrchestratorAdobes offering for businesses to manage and orchestrate AI agents from Adobe, as well as across third partiespurpose-built Adobe agents will be integrated with technology from partners including Microsoft to enhance customer experience workflows and deliver better outcomes. Powering the content supply chain Adobe Marketing Agent for Microsoft 365 Copilot will also enable brands to optimize their content supply chain, the end-to-end process of planning, creating, managing, activating and measuring content for marketing campaigns and personalized customer experiences. Through connected workflows and business processes, marketers and creatives can work seamlessly across Adobe and Microsoft solutions, without having to navigate between different applications. Additionally, in GenStudio for Performance Marketinga single, self-service application for creating paid social ads, display ads, banners, marketing emails and more, anchored to on-brand templates defined by creativesAdobe today announced an expansion of its collaboration with LinkedIn Ads, for teams to quickly create campaign assets for B2B use cases. Asset creation for display ads is also now available for advertisements served through Microsoft Advertising. 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: University of Florida This month marks the seventh anniversary of the Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse in 2018, when a fatal design flaw resulted in the deaths of six people. Although bridge collapses in the U.S. occur on average once every year or two, lives will be lost each time and the public will ask, "How could this happen?" But thanks to new AI-based digital twin research at the University of Florida, those questions could be asked far less frequently. "We are always asking the question, "How can we utilize existing technology to lead to a better quality of life?'" said Aaron Costin, Ph.D., an associate professor in UF's M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. "Saving lives is the aim of what we try to do when researching infrastructure." Building a digital infrastructure Costin has been working alongside Alireza Adibfar (Ph.D.) to develop a groundbreaking digital twin framework, using artificial intelligence that enables real-time monitoring and efficient decision-making related to the maintenance, operation and management of bridges. About 46,100 of the 617,000 bridges in the United States, or 7.5%, are considered structurally deficient and in poor condition, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. And traditional bridge inspections rely on manual assessments, which can be hazardous, time-consuming and subject to human error. That is where the digital twin framework comes into play. It serves as a virtual representation of a real bridge, continuously updated with real-time and historical data to provide an accurate depiction of its past and present conditions. More importantly, this technology can simulate potential futures, predicting structural issues before they arise. Costin compares this to the character of J.A.R.V.I.S. in the film "Iron Man"the AI assistant that monitors Tony Stark's suit and provides real-time diagnostics when it is damaged. "When Tony Stark pulls up the Iron Man suit in a virtual display, he can inspect its physical status, rotate it and interact with it while talking to J.A.R.V.I.S.," Costin said. "Similarly, when Tony is flying and gets hit, J.A.R.V.I.S. informs him that his suit has 80% functionality left in his arm. Essentially, that's what a digital twin framework is. It enables real-time interaction between the physical and virtual worlds." Preventing bridge collapses From an engineer to an architect to a pedestrian, everyone sees a bridge differently. All these perspectives need to be somehow captured in a digital twin model to represent reality. This pioneering reality from the Rinker School combines weigh stations, bridge sensors and AI-powered technologies to improve data collection and provide a clearer picture of a bridge's structural health. Additionally, it allows for remote monitoring of bridge conditions, reducing the need for physical inspections and lowering the risks associated with on-site work. The technology is not just for future bridges, however. Even existing bridges can be retrofitted with monitoring systems to detect and display critical structural indicators. "We are moving toward a digital infrastructure where everything could be a digital twin," Costin said. "Whether it's the entire UF campus or the roads around Gainesville, all of them could have pieces of data working together so you can monitor them for safety." 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: An Xpeng G6 electric car at the opening of their second flagship store in Hong Kong on March 21, 2025. Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng said Friday that European Union tariffs on EVs made in China have had a "large economic impact" but will not deter the firm's plans to tap European markets. Brussels decided to impose tariffs in October of up to 35.3 percent on imports of Chinese electric cars, citing alleged subsidies that give them an unfair advantage over European rivals. The tariffs are "something we have to deal with... it's a large economic impact," XPeng vice chairman and president Brian Gu said at the opening of a Hong Kong store. The Guangzhou-headquartered firm said last month that it aimed to double its presence to 60 countries and regions this yearpart of a years-long globalization trend in the Chinese EV sector. The tariffs are "not deterring us from tackling the European opportunity", Gu told AFP, adding "we still think it's a very important market". "Being local is the way to mitigate a lot of these tariffs and protectionism," he said. Following years of generous support from Beijing, China's EV manufacturers have intensified their domestic competition and are eager to gain an edge via exports and innovations. Chinese EV giant BYD saw a boost to its shares on Tuesday after unveiling new battery technology that it says can charge a vehicle in the same time it takes to fill up a petrol car. Brian Gu, co-president of Chinese EV maker XPeng Inc., speaks to AFP at the opening of their second flagship store in Hong Kong. Self-driving technologycommonly divided into five tiers, with L5 being full automation with no need for human driversis also a key battleground for Chinese carmakers. The technology is "moving very rapidly", fueled by more powerful chips and artificial intelligence advancements, Gu said, adding that L4 vehicles could enter mass production next year. Meanwhile, the United States had maintained its 100 percent tariff on China-made EVs and in January finalized a rule that effectively barred Chinese technology from its cars. XPeng entered the Hong Kong market in April 2024 and has faced stiff competition from Chinese rivals and established names such as Tesla. There were just shy of 500 XPeng vehicles registered for the first time in Hong Kong last year, behind other Chinese brands such as SAIC's Maxus and Geely's Zeekr, official figures show. At its Friday store opening, the company said it will bring its luxury seven-seater X9 to Hong Kong. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Heathrow was brought to a standstill after a fire at an electricity substation cut power to the airport. Huge travel disruption at London's Heathrow airport caused by a power cut Friday could take several days to remedy and cost millions of pounds, experts estimated. Europe's busiest air hub was brought to a standstill after a fire at an electricity substation cut power to Heathrow, raising questions over the resilience of its infrastructure. Back to normal when? The reopening of the airport will not mean the immediate return of regular flights, as a backlog of planes return to correct locations and passengers are rerouted from canceled flights. "It's extremely complicated... the disruptions will last two to four days," Anita Mendiratta, an aviation advisor to the United Nations tourism agency, told AFP. "It's not only airport operations, but passengers, crew, cargo, aircraft all of that are very much displaced if they've had to be relocated," she added. According to aviation consultant Philip Butterworth-Hayes, the disruption could last longer, even "a good seven or eight days" for business as usual to resume. Is Heathrow resilient? UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband promised that the government would do all it could to quickly restore power to Heathrow, as questions were raised about the airport's "resilience." "There's obviously been a catastrophic fire at this substation, an unprecedented event... it appears to have knocked out a backup generator as well as the substation itself," Miliband told BBC radio. "Obviously we will have to look harder at the causes and also the protection and the resilience that is in place for major institutions like Heathrow." Butterworth-Hayes told AFP that "there should have been other generators that kicked in, so why they haven't is one of the big questions." How much will it cost? Several experts estimated that the cost of the incident for the airlines and the airport, which handles some 230,000 passengers a day, would total tens of millions of pounds. Butterworth-Hayes estimated that the costs could stretch to "certainly more than 50 million pounds ($65 million)." "It's a massive impact in lost revenues and disruption costs, primarily for the airlines (because of) all the follow-on costs involved in putting people in hotels, refunds, re-bookings etc," said independent airline analyst John Strickland. Shares in British Airways parent IAG were down 1.6% in London afternoon trading, while Air France-KLM also retreated in Paris. UK's second busiest airport, Gatwick, said it would accept some flights from Heathrow. Others were diverted to European airports including Shannon in southwestern Ireland, Frankfurt, and Paris Charles de Gaulle. How rare are closures? Major airport closures are not uncommon worldwide, but occur mainly owing to weather events, such as storms or hurricanes, or following accidents or conflicts. At the beginning of October, several international airports in Florida ceased operations because of Hurricane Milton. South Korea's Muan International Airport, which is much smaller than Heathrow, was closed for more than 20 days between December and January following the deadly crash of Jeju Air Boeing 737-800. In April 2010, the huge amount of ash blasted into the atmosphere by Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano led several European countries -- including Britain, Norway and Denmark -- to close their airspace. Following the 2001 September 11 attacks in New York, United States closed its airspace to civilian traffic for two days. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine calls for regulations to protect customers' personal and genetic data in light of biotech company 23andMe's uncertain future. The genetic genealogy firm, launched in 2007, became wildly popular, with millions of customers sending in saliva samples for analysis to learn about their ancestry and genetic makeup. The company was valued at $6 billion, or $17.65 a share, shortly after going public in 2021. It has since fallen to about $48 million, or $1.78 per share, after a 2023 data breach and resignation of some board members. The firm said in January that it's exploring "strategic alternatives," including a sale of the company or assets, restructuring, or business combination, among other options. In this edited conversation, I. Glenn Cohen, one of the paper's authors and faculty director of the Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School, explains the legal landscape surrounding genetic data, the reasons for more consumer protection laws, and the steps for consumers to protect their personal and genetic data. If 23andMe were to file for bankruptcy protection, what might happen with the genetic data of 14 million people the company holds? As 23andMe faces significant financial distress and might be purchased directly or go bankrupt and its assets sold, all of the genetic and health information provided by people is a valuable asset to the company. Many people have used services like 23andMe, Ancestry.com, and others, which are direct-to-consumer genetic test companies, to answer questions about their ancestry or their genetic code. But in the course of answering these questions for themselves, they've also contributed to these huge genetic databases. Our concern is that they may end up in the hands of somebody other than 23andMe, in a way that many people who have given their information to 23andMe never contemplated and might object to. What are the possible case scenarios, and what are your concerns? One is about data security. We saw that 23andMe itself was subject to a massive data breach in 2023, and if the company that takes over the data lacks good data security, there's a possibility of breach. Interestingly, once upon a time, the Pentagon told military personnel not to use these at-home DNA kits because it was concerned about national security. A more quotidian concern is that your genetic information might become available to others, and it's possible you could become reidentified. To give you an example from a study several years ago, a number of researchers used genetic data to try to identify, through what's called genome-wide association studies (GWAS) technology and approach, what parts of the genome were associated with being gay. Many people who had given their genetic information were understandably upset at the idea this could be a possible use of their information. So, while customers have made the decision to share with 23andMe, from whom they get a lot of benefit, they really have very little say about what will happen should the company be taken over or should the company go bankrupt, and its assets sold. Do federal health privacy regulations offer privacy protections to consumers? The Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the law that, among other things, when you speak to your doctor, creates rules about what can be shared under what context. The problem is that HIPAA's definition of covered entities and business associates means that when you have provided information, including your genetic data, not to a hospital system, not to a physician, but to a direct-to-consumer company like 23andMe, you are not covered by HIPAA. You are treated by the law essentially as a consumer, not as the patient. Now, there are other federal laws that cover you a little bit. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prevents health insurers, but also employers, from using genetic information in a way that is discriminatory. So that kind of law still will apply, but health privacy laws at the federal level won't directly apply when you are dealing with a private company like 23andMe. What about the privacy protections 23andMe offers to consumers? We should say at the front end that it asks its consumers for consent to use their data for research purposes. There is the option not to consent although roughly 80% of the consumers have given consent. The consumer agreements have a privacy statement that says all U.S. customers have certain rights, such as a right to opt out of the storage of saliva samples and the right to request the deletion of their account. It also says that it doesn't share individual-level information on diseases or genotypes, or de-identify information voluntarily with insurance companies, employers, public databases, or law enforcement agencies without a subpoena. But the company shares personal information with service providers and contractors for sample analysis, marketing, and analytics. Also, the privacy statement reserves the company's right to transfer customers' personal information in the event of a sale or bankruptcy, and customers can't protect their data from being accessed, sold, or transferred as part of that transaction. Can bankruptcy laws offer some safeguards to 23andMe consumers? One of the paper's co-authors, Melissa Jacoby, is a bankruptcy law scholar. My specialty is health law, but I'll do my best to explain. Many companies that have held sensitive information have filed for bankruptcy, and in the course of that bankruptcy they've sold consumer data to a third party. Bankruptcy law offers some protections. Bankruptcy itself is a public process. There's attention from the public, and sometimes regulators, like the [Federal Trade Commission] or state attorney generals, can get involved in cases and can seek to enter the bankruptcy proceedings. A federal court oversees a bankruptcy, and the U.S. Trustee Program, an agency within the Department of Justice, can sometimes get involved as well. In some instances, bankruptcy law had required a consumer privacy ombudsperson to investigate a sale and determine whether it's in keeping with the bankrupt company's privacy statements, as well as the law. These are some protections, but they're not perfect. One thing we want to highlight is that when most people have given their genetic information, they've never thought about this, and we just want people to pay attention to it. What are your policy recommendations to protect consumers' personal and genetic data? The U.S. has a federal health privacy law that's a bit out of date compared to our peer countries in Europe. One solution to this problem would be to have more general data privacy protection that would cover all personal data, including genetic data, and that would apply in bankruptcy cases as well. There have been many attempts to get Congress to comprehensively update federal privacy law, including health privacy laws. They haven't really succeeded. So, we're not holding our breath. A more targeted approach might be thinking about expanding the scope of the HIPAA law to cover companies like 23andMe, or potentially expanding what the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act covers, in terms of discrimination and genetic information. New regulations could also address instances when you have the overlap of a company that has genetic information and goes bankrupt. That's what we'd like to see. Whether it will happen, I'm not sure. What could consumers do in the meantime? Going forward, I would think about these things as you decide whether the kind of information you are going to get from a direct-to-consumer company like 23andMe is worth the risks. Also, when you are given the right to choose not to consent to the sharing of data, I think that's worth thinking about. And if this is something that worries you, this might be a time to go in and delete that information in your account, even though it's not a perfect solve. There are a lot of reasons why people are curious about their ancestry or genetic information. My hope is that this experience might also cause companies to be more privacy sensitive. I would love to see a space where people can have their cake and eat it too, to get the information they want without feeling as though that information might put them at risk if there's a bankruptcy and the like. More information: Sara Gerke et al, Bankruptcy, Genetic Information, and Privacy Selling Personal Information, New England Journal of Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2415835 Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine Provided by Harvard Gazette This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: US President Trump gestures as CEO of Open AI Sam Altman speaks at the White House in January. Major tech firms are pushing the administration of President Donald Trump to loosen rules on building artificial intelligence, arguing it is the only way to maintain a US edge and compete with China. Spooked by generative AI's sudden advance, governments initially scrambled to develop guardrails, as major tech companies rapidly integrated the technology into their products. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has shifted focus toward accelerating AI development at all costs, pushing aside concerns about the models suffering hallucinations, producing deepfakes, or destroying human jobs. "The AI future is not going to be won by hand-wringing about safety," Vice President JD Vance told world leaders at a recent AI summit in Paris. This message unsettled international partners, particularly Europe, which had proudly established the EU AI Act as a new standard for keeping the technology in check. But, faced with America's new direction, European officials are now pivoting their messaging toward investment and innovation rather than safety. "We're going to see a significant pullback in terms of the regulatory efforts... worldwide," explained David Danks, professor of data science and philosophy at University of California San Diego. "That certainly has been signaled here in the United States, but we're also seeing it in Europe." 'Step back' Tech companies are capitalizing on this regulatory retreat, seeking the freedom to develop AI technologies that they claim have been too constrained under the Biden administration. One of Trump's first executive actions was dismantling Biden's policies, which had proposed modest guardrails for powerful AI models and directed agencies to prepare to oversee the change. "It's clear that we're taking a step back from that idea that there's going to be a coherent overall approach to AI regulation," noted Karen Silverman, CEO of AI advisory firm Cantellus Group. The Trump administration has invited industry leaders to share their policy vision, emphasizing that the US must maintain its position as the "undeniable leader in AI technology" with minimal investor constraints. The industry submissions will shape the White House's AI action plan, expected this summer. The request has yielded predictable responses from major players, with a common theme emerging: China represents an existential threat which can only be addressed by plowing an open path for companies unencumbered by regulation. OpenAI's submission probably goes the furthest in its contrast with China, highlighting DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed generative AI model created at a fraction of American development costs, to emphasize the competitive threat. According to OpenAI, American AI development should be "protected from both autocratic powers that would take people's freedoms away, and layers of laws and bureaucracy that would prevent our realizing them." For AI analyst Zvi Mowshowitz, OpenAI's "goal is to have the federal government not only not regulate AI," but also ban individual US states from doing so. Currently engaged in litigation with the New York Times over the use of its content for training, OpenAI also argues that restricting access to online data would concede the AI race to China. "Without fair use access to copyrighted material...America loses, as does the success of democratic AI," OpenAI said. Another response submitted by a group of Hollywood celebritiesincluding Ben Stiller and Cynthia Erivorejected the notion, reflecting the film and television industry's contentious relationship with the technology. 'Essential' In its response, Meta touted its open Llama AI model as part of the fight for American technological superiority. "Open source models are essential for the US to win the AI race against China and ensure American AI dominance," the company stated. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has even advocated for retaliatory tariffs against European regulatory efforts. Google's input focused on infrastructure investment for AI's substantial energy requirements. Like its peers, Google also opposes state-by-state regulations in the US that it claims would undermine America's technological leadership. Despite the push for minimal oversight, industry observers caution that generative AI carries inherent risks, with or without government regulation. "Bad press is universal, and if your technology leads to really bad outcomes, you're going to get raked over the public relations coals," warned Danks. Companies have no choice but to mitigate the dangers, he added. 2025 AFP Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney for The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), said Thursday that its likely a court will come to a decision in its lawsuit against Texas A&M University's ban on drag shows before Draggielands original show date of March 27. FIRE filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Draggieland organizers the Queer Empowerment Council shortly after the A&M Board of Regents voted to ban all drag show events from System campuses. FIRE is suing for the right to hold the show as planned and asking a court in the Southern District of Texas to halt A&M officials from enforcing the ban. According to FIRE, speech must be objectively offensive, severe and pervasive to be considered harassment by the Supreme Court while describing Draggieland as a once-a-year drag show in an enclosed theater that requires a ticket to enter and features an 18-plus age warning. On March 18, FIRE attorneys, including Steinbaugh, spoke at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, presided by judge Lee H. Rosenthal, about their request for a restraining order that would allow the QEC to host Draggieland. At its core, the First Amendment strips university or government officials from making subjective determinations about what artistic expression or performance is appropriate or inappropriate, or offensive and inoffensive, Steinbaugh said. Those are lines that individual people can draw and they can decide whether or not to attend a performance based on the lines that they draw themselves. The government does not get to draw those lines. FIRE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the right to free speech with emphasis on individual rights of students and faculty members at college campuses. Previously, FIRE filed a lawsuit against Walter Wendler, the president of West Texas A&M University, after he canceled a drag show hosted by student group Spectrum WT. Wendler denounced drag shows and said he would not appear to condone such speech, even when the law of the land appears to require it. I think there have been some efforts around the country to target or limit drag performances, but Texas has been far and away the leader in attempting to do that, Steinbaugh said. Weve seen state law that was implemented concerning drag performances and weve had multiple attempts to prevent student performances at public universities. There is a pending appeal in the West Texas A&M case, and thats currently sitting before the Fifth Circuit [Court of Appeals]. A&M regents echoed Wendlers sentiments in their approved agenda item banning drag shows on campus. In the resolution, A&M staff wrote, The Board finds that Drag Show Events are likely to create or contribute to a hostile environment for women contrary to System anti-discrimination policy and Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 as these events often involve unwelcome and objectively offensive conduct based on sex for many members of the respective communities of the Universities, particularly when they involve the mockery or objectification of women. Community protests were common outside Draggieland performances throughout its four-year run. In 2020, a petition entitled Stop Draggieland was created to cancel the event and received more than 1,500 signatures. One of FIREs main arguments in court is that Texas A&M is overstepping its power by banning drag shows and, if the ban is allowed, it could set more dangerous precedents for the future. If the government can police speech because its offensive to one group, then it can police all speech, and most speech is going to be offensive to someone. Thats why we limit the ability of the government to make those kinds of decisions, Steinbaugh said. The First Amendment protects the freedom of expression, and make no mistake, drag is expression. Texas A&M cant banish student-funded, student-organized drag performances from campus simply because they offend administrators. If drag offends you, dont buy a ticket. While Steinbaugh said its too early to guess the next couple steps for the lawsuit, FIRE remains cautiously optimistic. I think the court showed that it was very aware of the factual and legal issues at play, he said. My hope is that, if there is a decision from the court explaining and noting that this is protected speech, Texas institutions would realize that this is not a path that is going to be productive. If anyone is getting their First Amendment rights threatened, they should consider reaching out to us to see if we can help. We have people on the left, on the right, anywhere on the ideological spectrum. It is difficult to hazard a guess as to what the next steps would be, but we will continue to protect free speech on and off campus.